麒麟小说

THE REEVES TALE（第2页）

forwhenwemaynotdo，thenwillwespeak，

yetinourashescolddoesfirereek。**ske

fourgledes*havewe，whichishalldevise**，*coals**describe

vaun，andlying，anger，covetise*。*covetousness

thesefouresparksbelongenuntoeld。

ouroldelimbeswellmaybeunweld*，*unwieldy

butwillshallneverfai露s，thatissooth。

andyethaveialwayacoltestooth，

asmanyayearasitispassedandgone

sincethatmytapoflifebegantorun;

forsickerly*，wheniwasborn，anon*certainly

deathdrewthetapoflife，andletitgon:

andeversincehathsothetapy-run，

tillthatalstallemptyisthetun。

thestreaflifenowdroppethonthechimb。

thesillytonguewellmayringandchime

ofwretchedness，thatpassedisfullyore*:*long

witholdefolk，savedotage，isnore。

whenthatourhosthadheardthisserning，

hegantospeakaslordlyasaking，

andsaid;"towhatauntethallthiswit?

what?shallwespeakalldayofholywrit?

thedevilmadeareevefortopreach，

asofasouter*ashipman，oraleach**。*cobbler

sayforththytale，andtarrynotthetime:**surgeon

lohereisdeptford，andtishalfpastprime:

logreenwich，wheremanyashrewisin。

itwerehightimethytaletobegin。"