| Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340–1400). The Complete Poetical Works. 1894. | | | | The Canterbury Tales | | Epilogue to the Nonne Preestes Tale |
| | | ‘SIR Nonnes Preest,’ our hoste seyde anoon, | |
| ‘Y-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon! | |
| This was a mery tale of Chauntecleer. | |
| But, by my trouthe, if thou were seculer, | |
| Thou woldest been a trede-foul a-right. | 5 |
| For, if thou have corage as thou hast might, | |
| Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene, | |
| Ya, mo than seven tymes seventene. | |
| See, whiche braunes hath this gentil Preest, | |
| So greet a nekke, and swich a large breest! | 10 |
| He loketh as a sperhauk with his yën; | |
| Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen | |
| With brasil, ne with greyn of Portingale. | |
| Now sire, faire falle yow for youre tale!’ | |
| And after that he, with ful mery chere, | 15 |
| Seide to another, as ye shullen here. | | | | |
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