There is a longer preface to the fupplementary tale of " Beryn," written about the fame date as the " Story of Thebes," and printed in the edition of Chaucer's works by Urry, in which the divifions of the day are tolerably well defcribed. The pilgrims there arrived at their defti- nation in Canterbury "at mydmorowe," which is interpreted in the gloflaries as meaning nine o'clock in the forenoon, and then took their lodgings, "ordeyned" their dinner, and, while it was preparing, went to make their otierings to the llirine of St. Thomas in the cathedral church. Meanwhile the Pardoner had feparated from the company, and engaged in a low intrigue with the " tapfter," or barmaid, who offers him a drink, but he tells her he had not yet broken his fall — we are to conclude that this was the cafe with the reft of the company — and
Meat pies appear to have been very common articles of food in the middle ages, and to have been kept always ready at the cooks' Ihops. The offering feems to have taken but a fmall fpace of time, and then —
And sith to the dyner-ward they gan for to stapp (step);
Every man in his degre with (washed) and toke his fete,
As they wer want to doon at soper and at mete;
And wer in silence for a tyme, tyl good ale gan arise.
It appears, therefore, that people did not hold converfation while eating, but that the talk and mirth began with the liquor, whether ale or wine. It was then agreed that they fliould remain that day in Canterbury, and all fup together at night —
To sport and pley us," quod the hoost, " ech man as hym lest (likes),
And go by tyme to foper, and to bed also
So move we erly rysen, our jorney for to do.
Accordingly they all walk forth into the city, where the knight, who with his fon had put on frelh gowns, took the latter to the town walls to explain to him their ftrength, and the charader of the defences ; and as many of the reft as had changes of apparel with them imitated their example.
