came to the Tabard. The inn was under most excellent superintendence, the Host being one of the very best of his kind, and it had prospered greatly ever since it had come into his hands. He was of substantial well-to-do appearance,1 with shrewd jovial countenance, and all the air of a man who could command obedience to his wishes. main concern was to make his guests feel comfortable and at home; he could laugh and talk with the best of them; and he secured their respect by his upright manly behaviour, and skilful management. His As soon as possible after our arrival, supper was announced, and the Host assigned us our places at table with as much tact as any master of ceremonies could have done. Everything set before us was of the best, and we did ample justice to it, as we were all holiday-seekers, bent on doing our utmost to enjoy ourselves. After the table had been cleared, and we had paid our reckonings, and were enjoying our wine, the Host, from his place in front of us, addressed us as follows: "Sirs, I bid you most heartily welcome, for you are certainly the largest 1 A largé man he was with eyen stepe, A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe : G and pleasantest company that I have had in the Tabard this year; and that being so, it would give me much pleasure if I could in any way contribute to the enjoyment you have a right to expect in the course of your outing. And I have just thought of a plan which, in my opinion, would add greatly to the happiness of the journey, and which has the substantial advantage of making no demands whatever upon your purses. You are all bound for Canterbury: well, I assure you that I wish one and all a good journey, and I hope that the blissful martyr will grant to every one the desire of his heart. But, surely, instead of each riding silently and separately on his way, it would be far better that you should ride in company, and that every one should do what he can for the enjoyment of all. If you will enter heartily into my plan, I feel certain1 that you will derive great pleasure from it; and if you approve of it in a general way, hold up your hands to show that you do so." The reasonableness of the proposal was so evident, that, without any consultation over it, we at once agreed to follow his advice, and requested him to tell us the details of his plan. "Very well then," said he, "what I propose is this: that, out of the 1 Now by my fader soulé that is deed, great number of merry tales and tales of adventure1. which, no doubt, you all know, you should each tell two as you ride on your way towards the sacred shrine, and two more on the return journey; and that, when we are once more met round this table, we should decide as to who has told the best tale, and treat him to a supper as his reward. And in order that I may do what I can to render my plan successful, I shall be glad to go with you myself, paying my own expenses, and doing my best to secure your comfort. But I may as well tell you that I shall be very exacting as a leader, that I shall tolerate no rebel in the camp, and that, if any one does really attempt to show signs of refractoriness, his punishment shall be nothing less than the payment of the whole of the expenses of the journey. Be good enough, therefore, at once to let me know if you approve of my proposal, that I may be able to make the necessary arrangements for carrying it out." We again agreed, without any deliberation on the matter, and thanked him for his kindness; we requested him to be our guide and manager on the way, to be the judge as to who had told the best tale, and to fix the price and nature of the supper 1 Talés of best sentènce and most solas. as he best knew how to do; in fact, we promised absolute submission1 to all his behests, and agreed to everything he had said. As by this time it was somewhat late, and we all wished to be on the road as early as possible in the morning, we drank to the success of the plan, and went to rest, anticipating much pleasure from our holiday, so happily begun. And we wolde rewled ben at his devys, |