| Bifil that in that seson, on a day, | |
20 | In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay | | Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage | | To Caunterbury with ful devout corage, | | At nyght was come into that hostelrye | | Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye | 25 | Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle | | In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, | | That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde. | | The chambres and the stables weren wyde, | | And wel we weren esed atte beste; | 30 | And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, | | So hadde I spoken with hem everichon | | That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, | | And made forward erly for to ryse | | To take our wey, ther as I yow devyse. |
| | It happened that, in that season, on a day | 20 | In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay | | Ready to go on pilgrimage and start | | To Canterbury, full devout at heart, | | There came at nightfall to that hostelry | | Some nine and twenty in a company | 25 | Of sundry persons who had chanced to fall | | In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all | | That toward Canterbury town would ride. | | The rooms and stables spacious were and wide, | | And well we there were eased, and of the best. | 30 | And briefly, when the sun had gone to rest, | | So had I spoken with them, every one, | | That I was of their fellowship anon, | | And made agreement that we'd early rise | | To take the road, as I will to you apprise. |
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