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From The Summoner's Tale, lines 552-578:
The host is puzzled by the intellectual challenge of dividing the indivisible fart		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Summoner's Tale
lines 579-588: The lord's squire offers the solution if he is rewarded


The wordes of the lordes squier and his kervere for departynge of the fart on twelve

       Now stood the lordes squier at the bord,
580That karf his mete, and herde word by word
Of alle thynges whiche I have yow sayd.
"My lord," quod he, "be ye nat yvele apayd,
I koude telle, for a gowne-clooth,
To yow, sire frere, so ye be nat wrooth,
585How that this fart sholde evene deled be
Among youre covent, if it lyked me."
       Now the lord's squire stood ready near the board
580To carve his meat, and he heard, word for word,
All of the things that I to you have said.
"My lord," said he, "be not ill pleased indeed;
For I could tell, for cloth to make a gown,
To you, sir friar, so you do not frown,
585How this said fart evenly doled could be
Among your fellows, if the thing pleased me."
       "Tel," quod the lord, "and thou shalt have anon
A gowne-clooth, by God and by Seint John!"
       "Tell," said the lord, "and you shall have anon
Cloth for a gown, by God and by Saint John!"




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From The Summoner's Tale, lines 589-622:
A theory on dividing the indivisible fart		 Next