Bifel that, in that sesone, on a day, in Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay, redy to wenden on my pilgrimage to Caunterbury with ful devout corage, At night, there cam into that hostlrye wel nine and twenty in a companye of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle, in felawship, and pilgrims wer they alle, that toward Caunterbury wolden ride. The chambres and the stables weren wide, and wel we weren eased, atte best; But shortly, ere the sunne was to reste, so hadde I spoken with hem evrichon, that I was of hir felawship anon, and made forward early for to rise, to take our way there, as I you shal devyse.