|
His meynee, whiche that herden this affray, |
| Cam lepynge in and chaced out the frere; |
| And forth he gooth, with a ful angry cheere, |
| 495 | And fette his felawe, ther as lay his stoor. |
| He looked as it were a wilde boor; |
| He grynte with his teeth, so was he wrooth. |
| A sturdy paas doun to the court he gooth, |
| Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour, |
| 500 | To whom that he was alwey confessour. |
| This worthy man was lord of that village. |
| This frere cam as he were in a rage, |
| Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord; |
| Unnethes myghte the frere speke a word, |
| 505 | Til atte laste he seyde, "God yow see!" |
| This lord gan looke, and seide, "Benedicitee! |
| What, frere John, what maner world is this? |
| I se wel that som thyng ther is amys; |
| Ye looken as the wode were ful of thevys. |
| 510 | Sit doun anon, and tel me what youre grief is, |
| And it shal been amended, if I may." |
|
| The servants, who had heard all this affray, |
| Came leaping in and chased the friar out; |
| And forth he scowling went, with angry shout, |
| 495 | And found his fellow, where he'd left his store. |
| He glared about as he were some wild boar; |
| He ground and gnashed his teeth, so wroth was he. |
| He quickly sought the manor, there to see |
| The lord thereof, whose honour was the best, |
| 500 | And always to the friar he confessed; |
| This worthy man was lord of that village. |
| The friar came, as he were in a rage, |
| Where sat the lord at dinner at his board. |
| And hardly could the friar speak a word, |
| 505 | Till at the last he said, "God be with ye!" |
| This lord looked up and said then, "Ben'cite! |
| What, Friar John! What kind of world is this? |
| I see right well that something is amiss. |
| You look as if the wood were full of thieves, |
| 510 | Sit down, and tell me what it is that grieves, |
| And it shall be amended, if I may." |
|
