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THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.
PROLOGUE.
Our worthy host perceived by the altitude of the sun that it had performed one quarter of its day's journey: so, suddenly turning his horse round, he said:—'My masters! it is already ten o'clock; my advice therefore is, that you lose no time, but get forward on your journey. Time is ever on the wane, and steals away from us, both while we sleep, and during our waking hours of negligence—as the mountain stream never returns from the plain to its source. Sir Man of Law, since you have consented to submit to my judgment, now tell your tale according to agreement:—abide by the summons, and you will at least have acquitted yourself of your duty.'
