The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer modernis'd by several hands. Publsh'd by Mr. Oggle |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III. |
PROLOGUE TO THE FRYAR's TALE. |
 | The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer |  |
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PROLOGUE TO THE FRYAR's TALE.
By Mr. OGLE.
Full, on the Sumner, lour'd the Licenc'd Fry'r,
And, suffocating, boil'd and burn'd with Ire.
Yet, caution'd by our Host, nor Rule he broke,
Nor, till the Dame had finish'd, Word he spoke.
Then threw he, as he thought, a lucky Hit;
For, of his House, he was a parlous Wit.
And, suffocating, boil'd and burn'd with Ire.
Yet, caution'd by our Host, nor Rule he broke,
Nor, till the Dame had finish'd, Word he spoke.
Then threw he, as he thought, a lucky Hit;
For, of his House, he was a parlous Wit.
“Dame, you have led, (quoth He) a merry Life;
“Happy the Man, that marries such a Wife!
“Wedlock's a knotty Point, I must declare;
“But you have touch'd it to a single Hair:
“And, may I die, tho' canvass'd in the Schools,
“'Twas never settled yet by juster Rules.
“Here let me only tell you, by the way,
“Tho' right in most that you was pleas'd to say,
“Yet in your free Citations you are wrong;
“'Tis little less than Petulance of Tongue.
“Beneath your Feet be the Sixth Husband trod;
“But use with due Respect the Word of God.
“'Tis what no Layman should presume to name:
“But, for a Woman—Madam, fye, for Shame!
“Texts and Authorities are sacred Mines:
“Leave Quoting Scripture, to Us sound Divines.
“Happy the Man, that marries such a Wife!
“Wedlock's a knotty Point, I must declare;
“But you have touch'd it to a single Hair:
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“'Twas never settled yet by juster Rules.
“Here let me only tell you, by the way,
“Tho' right in most that you was pleas'd to say,
“Yet in your free Citations you are wrong;
“'Tis little less than Petulance of Tongue.
“Beneath your Feet be the Sixth Husband trod;
“But use with due Respect the Word of God.
“'Tis what no Layman should presume to name:
“But, for a Woman—Madam, fye, for Shame!
“Texts and Authorities are sacred Mines:
“Leave Quoting Scripture, to Us sound Divines.
“Ev'n I myself a Sumner's Story chuse,
“Not aiming to instruct you, but amuse.
“Nam'd I a Sumner? be it understood,
“I mean not, of the Man, to say much Good:
“Like Tyburn-Jack, you know him by his Station:
“A Sumner is a Bawd for Fornication!”
“Not aiming to instruct you, but amuse.
“Nam'd I a Sumner? be it understood,
“I mean not, of the Man, to say much Good:
“Like Tyburn-Jack, you know him by his Station:
“A Sumner is a Bawd for Fornication!”
‘Hold! said our Host, a Churchman should be meek;
‘A Christian you! and with such Rancour speak?
‘Be courteous, humble, as becomes a Priest;
‘Abuse no Friend in Company at least.
‘This the Forbearance of a Fry'r profess'd?
‘Tell on your Tale, and let the Sumner rest.’
‘A Christian you! and with such Rancour speak?
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‘Abuse no Friend in Company at least.
‘This the Forbearance of a Fry'r profess'd?
‘Tell on your Tale, and let the Sumner rest.’
“Nay, quoth the Sumner, give him Length of Rope,
“Pardie! my Staff shall tally with his Cope!
“For I will bring a Licens'd Fry'r to View,
“A Pattern He, of all the Fawning Crew.
“The Merit of their Function I will show,
“And where they hold their Office, all shall know.”
“Pardie! my Staff shall tally with his Cope!
“For I will bring a Licens'd Fry'r to View,
“A Pattern He, of all the Fawning Crew.
“The Merit of their Function I will show,
“And where they hold their Office, all shall know.”
‘No more of this, our Host in Fury cry'd:
‘Begin, I say, Sir Fry'r!’ The Fry'r comply'd.
‘Begin, I say, Sir Fry'r!’ The Fry'r comply'd.
END of the Prologue.
| The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer | |