"The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, Words of the Knight and the Host

As for myself, I take a great displeasure
In tales of those who once knew wealth and leisure
And then are felled by some unlucky hit.

But it’s a joy to hear the opposite,
For instance tales of men of low estate
Who climb aloft and growing fortunate
Remain secure in their prosperity

But it’s a joy to hear the opposite,
For instance tales of men of low estate
Who climb aloft and growing fortunate
Remain secure in their prosperity

But it’s a joy to hear the opposite,
For instance tales of men of low estate
Who climb aloft and growing fortunate
Remain secure in their prosperity

I heartily beg you’ll talk of something else.

But for the clink and tinkle of those bells
That hang your bridle round on every side,
By my salvation, by the Lord that died,
I simply should have fallen down asleep
Into the mud below, however deep.

By my salvation, by the Lord that died,
I simply should have fallen down asleep
Into the mud below, however deep.

Your story then would have been told in vain,
For, quoting the authorities again,
“When lecturers find their audiences decrease
It does them little good to say their piece.”

‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘yes, Host, I’ll do my best,
Not to be merry would deserve reproach.’

And he immediately began to broach
His story to us as we all rode on