For he to virtue listeth not t'intend, But for to play at dice, and to dispend, #canterburytales

For well I wot that it shall ne'er betide. Let such folly out of your hearte glide. #canterburytales

But for to keep us from that cursed place Wake we, and pray we Jesus, of his grace, #canterburytales

He durste not for very filth and shame Say that he was a Sompnour, for the name. #canterburytales

No have I not twelvepence within my hold. Ye know full well that I am poor and old; #canterburytales

Ne never shall have, term of all their lives. "Peter; so be the women of the stives," #canterburytales

His master knew not always what he wan. Withoute mandement, a lewed man #canterburytales

Whan he had leyser and vacacioun From other worldly occupacioun, #canterburytales

Allas! that any of my nacioun Sholde ever so foule disparaged be!' #canterburytales

If any wight wol clawe us on the galle,       940 That we nil kike, for he seith us sooth; #canterburytales

Yet tikled it his herte, for that he       395 Wende that I hadde of him so greet chiertee. #canterburytales

I wol persevere, I nam nat precious. In wyfhode I wol use myn instrument #canterburytales

Assay, and he shal finde it that so dooth. For be we never so vicious with-inne, #canterburytales

Wayte what thing we may nat lightly have, Ther-after wol we crye al-day and crave. #canterburytales

This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour; And I was yong and ful of ragerye,       455 #canterburytales

For herberwynge by nyghte is perilous. Wel oghte a man avysed for to be, #canterburytales

Than he shende alle the servantz in the place Therfore his maister yaf hym acquitance, #canterburytales

That haunteth dys, riot, or paramour, His maister shal it in his shoppe abye, #canterburytales