Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote,
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
[...] (CT.Prol., Vv.1-4)

Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford
A riche gnof, that gestes heeld on bord,
And of his craft he was a carpenter.
Wyth hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,
[...]  (CT.Mil., Vv.1-4)

Whilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye
A worthy knyght, that born was of Pavye,
In which he lyved in greet prosperitee;
And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee,
[...]  (CT.Mch., Vv.1-4)

Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his tyme swich a conquerour,
[...]  (CT.Kn., Vv.1-4)

At Trumpyngton, nat fer fro Canterbrigge,
Ther goth a brook, and over that a brigge,
Upon the whiche brook ther stant a melle;
And this is verray sooth that I yow telle:
[...] (CT.Rv., Vv.1-4)

A povre wydwe, somdeel stape in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage
Biside a grove, stondynge in a dale.
This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
[...] (CT.NP., Vv.1-4)

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