energies to ombre, contented its readers in fewer pages with the addition only of piquet and chess.

Obsolete words and words of Scottish dialect, with a few more as to the meaning of which some readers might be uncertain, will be found explained in the Glossary that ends this volume.

p. 17CHAUCER’S Manciple’s Tale of Phœbus and the Crow

p. 17

MODERNISED BY LEIGH HUNT.

MODERNISED BY LEIGH HUNT.

NOTE.

The reader is to understand, that all the persons previously described in the “Prologue to the Canterbury Tales” are now riding on their way to that city, and each of them telling his tale respectively, which is preceded by some little bit of incident or conversation on the road. The agreement, suggested by the Host of the Tabard, was, first, that each pilgrim should tell a couple of tales while going to Canterbury, and another couple during the return to London; secondly, that the narrator of the best one of all should sup at the expense of the whole party; and thirdly, that the Host himself should be gratuitous guide on the journey, and arbiter of all differences by the way, with power to inflict the payment of travelling expenses upon any one who should gainsay his judgment. During the intervals of the stories he is accordingly the most prominent person.—Leigh Hunt.

Leigh Hunt

PROLOGUE TO THE MANCIPLE’S TALE.

Wottest [17] thou, reader, of a little town, Which thereabouts they call Bob-up-and-down, Under the Blee, in Canterbury way? Well, there our host began to jest and play, And said, “Hush, hush now: Dun is in the mire. What, sirs? will nobody, for prayer or hire, Wake our good gossip, sleeping here behind? Here were a bundle for a thief to find. See, how he noddeth! by St. Peter, see! He’ll tumble off his saddle presently. Is that a cook of London, red flames take him! He knoweth the agreement—wake him, wake him: We’ll have his tale, to keep him from his nap, Although the drink turn out not worth the tap. Awake, thou cook,” quoth he; “God say thee nay; What aileth thee to sleep thus in the day? Hast thou had fleas all night? or art thou drunk? Or didst thou sup with my good lord the monk, And hast a jolly surfeit in thine head?”

Wottest

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