The Canterbury Tales/Source/The General Prologue: Difference between revisions
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(Applying footnotes from the D. Laing Purves edition, and reversing overzealous alterations in the Modern English of the ELF edition. (66% complete)) |
(Applying footnotes from the D. Laing Purves edition, and reversing overzealous alterations in the Modern English of the ELF edition. (First run finished.)) |
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His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, |
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, |
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And therto brood, as though it were a spade. |
And therto brood, as though it were a spade. |
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Upon the cop right of his nose he hade |
Upon the cop<ref>Cop: Head; German, "Kopf".</ref> right of his nose he hade |
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A werte, and thereon stood a toft of heres |
A werte, and thereon stood a toft of heres |
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Reed as the brustles of a sowes eres; |
Reed as the brustles of a sowes eres; |
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Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde. |
Hise nosethirles<ref>Nosethirles: nostrils; from the Anglo-Saxon, "thirlian," to pierce; hence the word "drill," to bore.</ref> blake were and wyde. |
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A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde. |
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde. |
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His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys, |
His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys, |
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But who so koude in oother thyng hym grope, |
But who so koude in oother thyng hym grope, |
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Thanne hadde he spent al his plilosophie; |
Thanne hadde he spent al his plilosophie; |
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Ay |
Ay 'questio quid juris' wolde he crie. |
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He was a gentil harlot and a kynde, |
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde, |
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A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde; |
A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde; |
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But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon, |
But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon, |
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For it was trussed up in his walet. |
For it was trussed up in his walet. |
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Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet, |
Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet<ref>Newe jet, newe get: new gait, or fashion; "gait" is still used in this sense in some parts of the country.</ref>, |
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Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare. |
Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare. |
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Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. |
Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. |
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But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware, |
But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware, |
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Ne was ther swich another Pardoner; |
Ne was ther swich another Pardoner; |
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For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, |
For in his male<ref>Male, mail: packet, baggage; French, "malle," a trunk.</ref> he hadde a pilwe-beer, |
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Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl; |
Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl; |
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He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl |
He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl |
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For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, |
For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, |
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I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye |
I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye |
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Atones in this herberwe, as is now. |
Atones in this herberwe<ref>Herberwe, herberow: Lodging, inn; French, "Herberge."</ref>, as is now. |
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Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how- |
Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how- |
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And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght |
And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght |
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When Zephyr quickens with his sweet breath, |
When Zephyr quickens with his sweet breath, |
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Has inspired in every holt and heath, |
Has inspired in every holt and heath, |
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The tender |
The tender croppes<ref>twigs, boughs, buds, young sprouts</ref>, and the young sun |
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Into the Ram<ref>Tyrwhitt points out that "the Bull" should be read here, not "the Ram," which would place the time of the pilgrimage in the end of March; whereas, in the Prologue to the Man of Law's Tale, the date is given as the "eight and twenty day of April, that is messenger to May."</ref> one half his course has run, |
Into the Ram<ref>Tyrwhitt points out that "the Bull" should be read here, not "the Ram," which would place the time of the pilgrimage in the end of March; whereas, in the Prologue to the Man of Law's Tale, the date is given as the "eight and twenty day of April, that is messenger to May."</ref> one half his course has run, |
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And little birds make melody |
And little birds make melody |
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There was a housewife come from Bath, or near, |
There was a housewife come from Bath, or near, |
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Who |
Who — sad to say — was deaf in either ear. |
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At cloth-making she had such a haunt, |
At cloth-making she had such a haunt, |
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She surpassed those of Ypres and even of Gaunt.<ref>The west of England, especially around Bath, was the seat of the cloth-manufacture, as were Ypres and Ghent (Gaunt) in Flanders.</ref> |
She surpassed those of Ypres and even of Gaunt.<ref>The west of England, especially around Bath, was the seat of the cloth-manufacture, as were Ypres and Ghent (Gaunt) in Flanders.</ref> |
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Leaving his flock to flounder in the mire, |
Leaving his flock to flounder in the mire, |
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And ran to London, up to old Saint Paul's |
And ran to London, up to old Saint Paul's |
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To get himself a chantry there for souls, |
To get himself a chantry<ref>An endowment to sing masses for the soul of the donor.</ref> there for souls, |
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Nor in some brotherhood did he withhold; |
Nor in some brotherhood did he withhold; |
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But dwelt at home and kept so well the fold |
But dwelt at home and kept so well the fold |
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Hardy and big of brawn and big of bone; |
Hardy and big of brawn and big of bone; |
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Which was well proved, for when he went on lam |
Which was well proved, for when he went on lam |
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At wrestling, never failed he of the ram. |
At wrestling, never failed he of the ram.<ref>A ram was the usual prize at wrestling matches.</ref> |
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He was a chunky fellow, broad of build; |
He was a chunky fellow, broad of build; |
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He'd heave a door from hinges if he willed, |
He'd heave a door from hinges if he willed, |
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A sword and buckler bore he by his side. |
A sword and buckler bore he by his side. |
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His mouth was like a furnace door for size. |
His mouth was like a furnace door for size. |
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He was a jester and a goliardais<ref>Goliardais: a babbler and a buffoon; Golias was the founder of a jovial sect called by his name.</ref>, |
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He was a jester and could poetize, |
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But mostly all of sin and ribaldries. |
But mostly all of sin and ribaldries. |
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He could steal corn and full thrice charge his fees; |
He could steal corn and full thrice charge his fees; |
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And yet he had a thumb of gold, verily.<ref>The proverb says that every honest miller has a thumb of gold; probably Chaucer means that this one was as honest as his brethren.</ref> |
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And yet he had a thumb of gold, begad. |
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A white coat and blue hood |
A white coat and blue hood wore he. |
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A bagpipe he could |
A bagpipe he could well blow and sound, |
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And with that same he brought us out of town. |
And with that same he brought us out of town. |
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There was a manciple from an inn of court, |
There was a manciple<ref>A Manciple — Latin, "manceps," a purchaser or contractor — was an officer charged with the purchase of victuals for inns of court or colleges.</ref> from an inn of court, |
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To whom all buyers might quite well resort |
To whom all buyers might quite well resort |
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To learn the art of buying food and drink; |
To learn the art of buying food and drink; |
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And yet this manciple outguessed them all. |
And yet this manciple outguessed them all. |
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The reeve he was a slender, choleric man |
The reeve<ref>Reeve: A land-steward; still called "grieve" — Anglo-Saxon, "gerefa" in some parts of Scotland.</ref> he was a slender, choleric man |
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Who shaved his beard as close as razor can. |
Who shaved his beard as close as razor can. |
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His hair was cut round even with his ears; |
His hair was cut round even with his ears; |
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And ever he rode hindmost of our troop. |
And ever he rode hindmost of our troop. |
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A summoner was with us in that place, |
A summoner<ref>Summoner, or sompnour; an apparitor, who cited delinquents to appear in ecclesiastical courts.</ref> was with us in that place, |
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Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face, |
Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face, |
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For eczema he had; his eyes were narrow |
For eczema he had; his eyes were narrow |
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No wonder, for he'd heard it all the day; |
No wonder, for he'd heard it all the day; |
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And all you know right well that even a jay |
And all you know right well that even a jay |
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Can call out Wat as well as can the pope. |
Can call out "Wat" as well as can the pope. |
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But when, for aught else, into him you'd grope, |
But when, for aught else, into him you'd grope, |
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'Twas found he'd spent his whole philosophy; |
'Twas found he'd spent his whole philosophy; |
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Just Questio quid juris would he cry. |
Just "Questio quid juris"<ref>Questio quid juris: "I ask which law (applies)"; a cant law-Latin phrase.</ref> would he cry. |
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He was a gentle harlot<ref>Harlot: a low, ribald fellow; the word was used of both sexes; it comes from the Anglo-Saxon verb to hire.</ref>, and a kind; |
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He was a noble rascal, and a kind; |
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A better comrade 'twould be hard to find. |
A better comrade 'twould be hard to find. |
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Why, he would suffer, for a quart of wine, |
Why, he would suffer, for a quart of wine, |
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A curse ought every guilty man to dread |
A curse ought every guilty man to dread |
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(For curse can kill, as absolution save), |
(For curse can kill, as absolution save), |
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And 'ware significavit to the grave. |
And 'ware significavit<ref>Significavit: an ecclesiastical writ.</ref> to the grave. |
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In his own power had he, and at ease, |
In his own power had he, and at ease, |
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The boys and girls of all the diocese, |
The boys and girls of all the diocese,<ref>Within his jurisdiction he had at his own pleasure the young people (of both sexes) in the diocese.</ref> |
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And knew their secrets, and by counsel led. |
And knew their secrets, and by counsel led. |
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A garland had he set upon his head, |
A garland had he set upon his head, |
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A buckler had he made of bread they bake. |
A buckler had he made of bread they bake. |
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With him there rode a gentle pardoner |
With him there rode a gentle pardoner<ref>Pardoner: a seller of pardons or indulgences.</ref> |
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Of Rouncival, his friend and his compeer; |
Of Rouncival, his friend and his compeer; |
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Straight from the court of Rome had journeyed he. |
Straight from the court of Rome had journeyed he. |
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Dishevelled, save for cap, his head all bare. |
Dishevelled, save for cap, his head all bare. |
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As shiny eyes he had as has a hare. |
As shiny eyes he had as has a hare. |
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He had a fine veronica<ref>Veronica, vernicle: an image of Christ; so called from St Veronica, who gave the Saviour a napkin to wipe the sweat from His face as He bore the Cross, and received it back with an impression of His countenance upon it.</ref> sewed to cap. |
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He had a fine veronica sewed to cap. |
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His wallet lay before him in his lap, |
His wallet lay before him in his lap, |
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Stuffed full of pardons brought from Rome all hot. |
Stuffed full of pardons brought from Rome all hot. |
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Of the assembling of this company |
Of the assembling of this company |
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In Southwark, at this noble hostelry |
In Southwark, at this noble hostelry |
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Known as the Tabard Inn, hard by the Bell. |
Known as the Tabard Inn, hard by the Bell<ref>The Bell: apparently another Southwark tavern; Stowe mentions a "Bull" as being near the Tabard.</ref>. |
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But now the time is come wherein to tell |
But now the time is come wherein to tell |
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How all we bore ourselves that very night |
How all we bore ourselves that very night |
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A seemly man our good host was, withal, |
A seemly man our good host was, withal, |
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Fit to have been a marshal in some hall; |
Fit to have been a marshal in some hall; |
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He was a large man, with |
He was a large man, with deep-set eyes, |
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As fine a burgher as in Cheapside lies; |
As fine a burgher as in Cheapside<ref>Cheapside, or Cheap, or Chepe: then inhabited by the richest and most prosperous citizens of London.</ref> lies; |
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Bold in his speech, and wise, and right well taught, |
Bold in his speech, and wise, and right well taught, |
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And as to manhood, lacking there in naught. |
And as to manhood, lacking there in naught. |
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I have not seen, this year, a company |
I have not seen, this year, a company |
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Here in this inn, fitter for sport than now. |
Here in this inn, fitter for sport than now. |
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Fain would I make you happy, knew I |
Fain would I make you happy, knew I how— |
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And of a game have I this moment thought |
And of a game have I this moment thought |
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To give you joy, and it shall cost you naught. |
To give you joy, and it shall cost you naught. |
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He gathered us together in a flock, |
He gathered us together in a flock, |
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And forth we rode, a jog-trot being the pace, |
And forth we rode, a jog-trot being the pace, |
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Until we reached Saint Thomas' watering-place. |
Until we reached Saint Thomas' watering-place.<ref>The watering of Saint Thomas: At the second milestone on the old Canterbury road.</ref> |
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And there our host pulled horse up to a walk, |
And there our host pulled horse up to a walk, |
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And said: Now, masters, listen while I talk. |
And said: Now, masters, listen while I talk. |
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Come near, quoth he, my lady prioress: |
Come near, quoth he, my lady prioress: |
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And you, sir clerk, put by your bashfulness, |
And you, sir clerk, put by your bashfulness, |
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Nor ponder more; out hands, flow, every man |
Nor ponder more; out hands, flow, every man. |
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At once to draw a cut each one began, |
At once to draw a cut each one began, |
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And, to make short the matter, as it was, |
And, to make short the matter, as it was, |