text 80 and text 81. Chaucer's "The Friar's tale"

Page 246. Freeborn. Facsimile from Harley MS 7334.

ORIGINAL TEXT
His worthy lymytour þis noble ffrere
he made alway a lourynge cheere
vpon the Sompnoz but for honeste
No vileyns worde Зit to him spak he
But atte last he sayd vnto þe wyf
Dame quod he god Зiue Зow good lyf
Зe han her touchid also mot I the
In scole matier gret difficulte
Зe han saye mochel þing right wel I say
But dame right as we ryden by þe way
Vs needeþ nougt but for to speke of game
And lete auctorites in goddes name
To preching and to scoles of clergie
But if it like to þis companye
I wil Зow of a sompnour telle a game.


Page 247. Freeborn. Facsimile from Hengwrt MS.

ORIGINAL TEXT

This worthy lymytour / this noble ffrere
He made alwey / a manere louryng cheere
Vp on the Somnour / but for hone{s}tee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
But atte la{s}te / he seyde vn to the wyf
Dame quod he / god yeue yow right good lyf
Ye han heer touched / al {s}o mote I thee
In scole matere / greet difficultee
Ye han seyd muche thyng/ right wel I seye
But dame / here as we ryden by the weye
Vs nedeth nat/ to speken / but of game
And lete Auctoritees / on goddes name
To prechyng/ and to scole of clergye
But/ if it like / to this compaignye
I wol yow / of a Somnour telle a game

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

This worthy limiter, this noble friar,
He turned always a lowering face, and dire,
Upon the summoner, but for honesty
No insolent word as yet spoke he.
But at the last he said to the wife:
"Woman," said he, "God grant you a good life
You have here touched, as I may be,
In school matters of great difficulty;
You have said many things right well, I say;
But lady, here as we ride by the way,
We do not need to talk but of game,
And let authorities in God's name,
To preach and to teach the clergy
But if it pleases to this company
I will you of a summoner tell a game.