THE PROLOGUE
that hath the shortest shall begin. Sir Knight, my lord and master, draw thy cut now, for that is my will. Come nearer, my lady Prioress; and ye, sir Clerk, let be your shyness and ponder not; every man, lay hand to!"
Straightway every wight began to draw; and to tell briefly how it was, were it by chance or by fate or by luck, the truth is the lot fell to the Knight, for which everyone was full blithe and glad; and he must tell his tale, as was reasonable in accordance with the promise and agreement which ye have heard ; what need of more words? And when this good man saw it was so, as one that was sensible and obedient in keeping his willing promise, he said :
"Sith I shall begin the sport, why, welcome be the cut, in God's name! Let us ride now, and hearken what I shall say." And with that word we rode forward. And he, with full merry cheer, began anon his tale, and said in this sort.
Here endeth the prologue of this book; and here beginneth the first tale, which is the Knight's Tale.
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