The Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer/Franklin’s Tale/Prologue
The Franklin's Prologue
The Prologue of the Franklin's Tale.
THESE gentle Bretons in the old time made lays of diverse adventures, rhymed in their early Breton tongue; which lays they sang to their instruments, or else read them for their delight; and one of them I have in remembrance which I shall relate with good-will as best I am able. But, sirs, sith I am a homespun man, I pray you at my beginning to excuse me for my rude speech. Sure I learned never rhetoric; what I speak must be bare and plain; I slept never on the mount of Parnassus, nor learned Marcus Tullius Cicero. Colours I know none, in sooth, but such colours as grow in the mead, or else such as men dye or paint. Colours of rhetoric be too dainty for me ; my spirit discerneth naught of such matter. But if ye list ye shall hear my tale.