Having sketched, in the opening lines of the Hous of Fame, the medieval system of dream lore, Chaucer announces that he will relate a dream more wonderful than ever came to man before. The importance of this remarkable dream is emphasized. It can be told only after an invocation of Morpheus, and the lives of the listeners will be affected by having merely heard it. May the mover of all bless the dreaming of them who “take hit wel;” may they have success in love or in whatever they most desire; may they be shielded from poverty, harm, mishap, and disease. But woe betide the scoffer! If any man “misdeme” it, through scorn, or jape, or villainy,
That (dreme he barfoot, dreme he shod),
That every harm that any man
Hath had, sith [that] the world began,
Befalle him thereof, or he sterve,
And graunte he mote hit ful deserve,