This Tale would appear by no means to discourage swearing; but mark the distinction drawn between a hearty, deliberate malediction, and the rapid unmeaning oath which sowed the common talk. The lesson was probably the more forcible through the absence of any hypercritical censure of ‘strong language’--censure which would have been vain indeed, in an age when common oaths were thought as much less of, as positive cursing was more of, than in the present day. The rough moral deduced was admirably suited to the coarse and ignorant minds of the lower orders. The Clerk’s Tale. This Sompnour in his styrop up he stood, Upon the Frere his herte was so wood mad That lyk an aspen leef he quok for ire. quaked Lordyngs, quod he, but oon thing I desire; I yow biseke that of your curtesye, Syn ye han herd this false Frere lye, As suffrith me, I may my tale telle. pray suffer This Frere bosteth that he knowith helle, And God it wot, that is but litel wonder,[134] Freres and feendes been but litel asonder.[135] Sir Clerk of Oxenford, our hoste sayde, Oxford Ye ryde as stille and coy as doth a mayde[136] Were newe spoused, syttyng at the bord;[137] This day ne herde I of your mouth a word. I trow ye study aboute som sophyme. sophism But Salomon saith, everythyng hath tyme. For Goddis sake as beth of better cheere, be It is no tyme for to stodye hiere. study Up in his stirrups did the Summoner start, For with this Friar such rage was in his heart, That like an aspen-leaf he shook for ire. “Lordings,” cried he, “but one thing I desire, And I beseech you of your courtesy, Since you have heard this falsest Friar lie, Suffer me, pray, my story now to tell. This Friar boasts of how he knoweth hell; Heav’n knows, that if he does it is no wonder, For fiends and Friars are not far asunder.” “Sir Clerk of Oxford,” then our landlord said “You ride as shy and quiet as a maid Newly espous’d, who sits beside the board; All day we have not had from you a word. I guess, some subtle lore you’re studying. But Solomon says there’s time for everything. Prithee, rouse up, and be of better cheer, It is no time for your deep studies here. “Do not give us a sermon, or something so learned that we cannot understand it. Spekith so playn at this tyme, we yow praye, That we may understonde that ye saye. “Speak to us very plainly, now, we pray, That we may understand the whole you say.” This worthy Clerk answered pleasantly, “Host, I am under your orders, so I will obey you, and tell you a tale which I learned at Padua, of a worthy clerk, who has been proved by his words and work.