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 But that I am forbid
 To tell the secrets of my prison house,
  I could a tale read more 
 But that I am forbid
 To tell the secrets of my prison house,
  I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
   Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
    Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,
     Thy knotted and combined locks to part,
      And each particular hair to stand on end
       Like quills upon the fretful porpentine. 
Out of their saddles into the dirt--and thereby hangs a tale.
Out of their saddles into the dirt--and thereby hangs a tale.
 At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, without 
adding any more to what has already been said; read more 
 At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, without 
adding any more to what has already been said; for it would be 
foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short the history 
itself. 
 I hate
 To tell again a tale once fully told.  
 I hate
 To tell again a tale once fully told. 
 When thou dost tell another's jest, therein
 Omit the oaths, which true wit cannot need;
  Pick out read more 
 When thou dost tell another's jest, therein
 Omit the oaths, which true wit cannot need;
  Pick out of tales the mirth, but not the sin. 
If a nation loses its storytellers, it loses its childhood.
If a nation loses its storytellers, it loses its childhood.
 Why do you laugh? Change but the name, and the story s told of 
yourself.
 [Lat., Quid rides?]
read more 
 Why do you laugh? Change but the name, and the story s told of 
yourself.
 [Lat., Quid rides?]
  Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur.] 
Soft as some song divine, thy story flows.
Soft as some song divine, thy story flows.