Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury
1 Whan that Aprill with his
shoures soote
2 The droghte of March hath
perced to the roote,
3 And bathed every veyne in
swich licour
4 Of which vertu engendred is
the flour;
5 Whan Zephirus eek with his
sweete breeth
6 Inspired hath in every holt
and heeth
7 The tendre croppes, and the
yonge sonne
8 Hath in the Ram his half
cours yronne,
9 And smale foweles maken
melodye,
10 That slepen al the nyght
with open ye
11 (So priketh hem Nature in
hir corages),
12 Thanne longen folk to goon
on pilgrimages,
13 And palmeres for to seken
straunge strondes,
14 To ferne halwes, kowthe in
sondry londes;
15 And specially from every
shires ende
16 Of Engelond to Caunterbury
they wende,
17 The hooly blisful martir for
to seke,
18 That hem hath holpen whan
that they were seeke.
19 Bifil that in that seson on
a day,
20 In Southwerk at the Tabard
as I lay
21 Redy to wenden on my
pilgrymage
22 To Caunterbury with ful
devout corage,
23 At nyght was come into that
hostelrye
24 Wel nyne and twenty in a
compaignye
25 Of sondry folk, by aventure
yfalle
26 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes
were they alle,
27 That toward Caunterbury
wolden ryde.
28 The chambres and the stables
weren wyde,
29 And wel we weren esed atte
beste.
30 And shortly, whan the sonne
was to reste,
31 So hadde I spoken with hem
everichon
32 That I was of hir
felaweshipe anon,
33 And made forward erly for to
ryse,
34 To take oure wey ther as I
yow devyse.
35 But nathelees, whil I have
tyme and space,
36 Er that I ferther in this
tale pace,
37 Me thynketh it acordaunt to
resoun
38 To telle yow al the
condicioun
39 Of ech of hem, so as it
semed me,
40 And whiche they weren, and
of what degree,
41 And eek in what array that
they were inne;
42 And at a knyght than wol I
first bigynne.
43 A KNYGHT ther was, and that
a worthy man,
44 That fro the tyme that he
first bigan
45 To riden out, he loved
chivalrie,
46 Trouthe and honour, fredom
and curteisie.
47 Ful worthy was he in his
lordes werre,
48 And therto hadde he riden,
no man ferre,
49 As wel in cristendom as in
hethenesse,
50 And evere honoured for his
worthynesse;
51 At Alisaundre he was whan it
was wonne.
52 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the
bord bigonne
53 Aboven alle nacions in
Pruce;
54 In Lettow hadde he reysed
and in Ruce,
55 No Cristen man so ofte of
his degree.
56 In Gernade at the seege eek
hadde he be
57 Of Algezir, and riden in
Belmarye.
58 At Lyeys was he and at
Satalye,
59 Whan they were wonne, and in
the Grete See
60 At many a noble armee hadde
he be.
61 At mortal batailles hadde he
been fiftene,
62 And foughten for oure feith
at Tramyssene
63 In lystes thries, and ay
slayn his foo.
64 This ilke worthy knyght
hadde been also
65 Somtyme with the lord of
Palatye
66 Agayn another hethen in
Turkye;
67 And everemoore he hadde a
sovereyn prys.
68 And though that he were
worthy, he was wys,
69 And of his port as meeke as
is a mayde.
70 He nevere yet no vileynye ne
sayde
71 In al his lyf unto no maner
wight.
72 He was a verray, parfit
gentil knyght.
73 But for to tellen yow of his
array,
74 His hors were goode, but he
was nat gay.
75 Of fustian he wered a gypon
76 Al bismotered with his
habergeon,
77 For he was late ycome from
his viage,
78 And wente for to doon his
pilgrymage.
79 With hym ther was his sone,
a yong SQUIER,
80 A lovyere and a lusty
bacheler,
81 With lokkes crulle as they
were leyd in presse.
82 Of twenty yeer of age he
was, I gesse.
83 Of his stature he was of evene
lengthe,
84 And wonderly delyvere, and
of greet strengthe.
85 And he hadde been somtyme in
chyvachie
86 In Flaundres, in Artoys, and
Pycardie,
87 And born hym weel, as of so
litel space,
88 In hope to stonden in his
lady grace.
89 Embrouded was he, as it were
a meede
90 Al ful of fresshe floures,
whyte and reede.
91 Syngynge he was, or
floytynge, al the day;
92 He was as fressh as is the
month of May.
93 Short was his gowne, with
sleves longe and wyde.
94 Wel koude he sitte on hors
and faire ryde.
95 He koude songes make and wel
endite,
96 Juste and eek daunce, and
weel purtreye and write.
97 So hoote he lovede that by
nyghtertale
98 He sleep namoore than dooth
a nyghtyngale.
99 Curteis he was, lowely, and
servysable,
100 And carf biforn his fader
at the table.
101 A YEMAN hadde he and
servantz namo
102 At that tyme, for hym liste
ride so,
103 And he was clad in cote and
hood of grene.
104 A sheef of pecok arwes,
bright and kene,,
105 Under his belt he bar ful
thriftily
106 (Wel koude he dresse his
takel yemanly;
107 His arwes drouped noght
with fetheres lowe),
108 And in his hand he baar a
myghty bowe.
109 A not heed hadde he, with a
broun visage.
110 Of wodecraft wel koude he
al the usage.
111 Upon his arm he baar a gay
bracer,
112 And by his syde a swerd and
a bokeler,
113 And on that oother syde a
gay daggere
114 Harneised wel and sharp as
point of spere;
115 A Cristopher on his brest
of silver sheene.
116 An horn he bar, the bawdryk
was of grene;
117 A forster was he, soothly,
as I gesse.
118 Ther was also a Nonne, a
PRIORESSE,
119 That of hir smylyng was ful
symple and coy;
120 Hire gretteste ooth was but
by Seinte Loy;
121 And she was cleped madame
Eglentyne.
122 Ful weel she soong the
service dyvyne,
123 Entuned in hir nose ful
semely;
124 And Frenssh she spak ful
faire and fetisly,,
125 After the scole of
Stratford atte Bowe,
126 For Frenssh of Parys was to
hire unknowe.
127 At mete wel ytaught was she
with alle;
128 She leet no morsel from hir
lippes falle,
129 Ne wette hir fyngres in hir
sauce depe;
130 Wel koude she carie a
morsel and wel kepe
131 That no drope ne fille upon
hire brest.
132 In curteisie was set ful
muchel hir lest.
133 Hir over-lippe wyped she so
clene
134 That in hir coppe ther was
no ferthyng sene
135 Of grece, whan she dronken
hadde hir draughte.
136 Ful semely after hir mete
she raughte.
137 And sikerly she was of
greet desport,
138 And ful plesaunt, and
amyable of port,
139 And peyned hire to
countrefete cheere
140 Of court, and to been
estatlich of manere,
141 And to ben holden digne of
reverence.
142 But for to speken of hire
conscience,
143 She was so charitable and
so pitous
144 She wolde wepe, if that she
saugh a mous
145 Kaught in a trappe, if it
were deed or bledde.
146 Of smale houndes hadde she
that she fedde
147 With rosted flessh, or milk
and wastel-breed.
148 But soore wepte she if oon
of hem were deed,
149 Or if men smoot it with a
yerde smerte;
150 And al was conscience and
tendre herte.
151 Ful semyly hir wympul
pynched was,
152 Hir nose tretys, hir eyen
greye as glas,
153 Hir mouth ful smal, and
therto softe and reed.
154 But sikerly she hadde a
fair forheed;
155 It was almoost a spanne
brood, I trowe;
156 For, hardily, she was nat
undergrowe.
157 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as
I was war.
158 Of smal coral aboute hire
arm she bar
159 A peire of bedes, gauded al
with grene,
160 And theron heng a brooch of
gold ful sheene,
161 On which ther was first
write a crowned A,
162 And after Amor vincit
omnia.
163 Another NONNE with hire
hadde she,
164 That was hir chapeleyne,
and preestes thre.
165 A MONK ther was, a fair for
the maistrie,
166 An outridere, that lovede
venerie,
167 A manly man, to been an
abbot able.
168 Ful many a deyntee hors
hadde he in stable,
169 And whan he rood, men
myghte his brydel heere
170 Gynglen in a whistlynge
wynd als cleere
171 And eek as loude as dooth
the chapel belle
172 Ther as this lord was
kepere of the celle.
173 The reule of Seint Maure or
of Seint Beneit --
174 By cause that it was old
and somdel streit
175 This ilke Monk leet olde
thynges pace,
176 And heeld after the newe
world the space.
177 He yaf nat of that text a
pulled hen,
178 That seith that hunters ben
nat hooly men,
179 Ne that a monk, whan he is
recchelees,
180 Is likned til a fissh that
is waterlees --
181 This is to seyn, a monk out
of his cloystre.
182 But thilke text heeld he
nat worth an oystre;
183 And I seyde his opinion was
good.
184 What sholde he studie and
make hymselven wood,
185 Upon a book in cloystre
alwey to poure,
186 Or swynken with his handes,
and laboure,
187 As Austyn bit? How shal the
world be served?
188 Lat Austyn have his swynk
to hym reserved!
189 Therfore he was a prikasour
aright:
190 Grehoundes he hadde as
swift as fowel in flight;
191 Of prikyng and of huntyng
for the hare
192 Was al his lust, for no
cost wolde he spare.
193 I seigh his sleves purfiled
at the hond
194 With grys, and that the
fyneste of a lond;
195 And for to festne his hood
under his chyn,
196 He hadde of gold ywroght a
ful curious pyn;
197 A love-knotte in the
gretter ende ther was.
198 His heed was balled, that
shoon as any glas,
199 And eek his face, as he
hadde been enoynt.
200 He was a lord ful fat and
in good poynt;
201 His eyen stepe, and
rollynge in his heed,
202 That stemed as a forneys of
a leed;
203 His bootes souple, his hors
in greet estaat.
204 Now certeinly he was a fair
prelaat;
205 He was nat pale as a
forpyned goost.
206 A fat swan loved he best of
any roost.
207 His palfrey was as broun as
is a berye.
208 A FRERE ther was, a
wantowne and a merye,
209 A lymytour, a ful solempne
man.
210 In alle the ordres foure is
noon that kan
211 So muchel of daliaunce and
fair langage.
212 He hadde maad ful many a
mariage
213 Of yonge wommen at his
owene cost.
214 Unto his ordre he was a
noble post.
215 Ful wel biloved and
famulier was he
216 With frankeleyns over al in
his contree,
217 And eek with worthy wommen
of the toun;
218 For he hadde power of
confessioun,
219 As seyde hymself, moore
than a curat,
220 For of his ordre he was
licenciat.
221 Ful swetely herde he
confessioun,
222 And plesaunt was his
absolucioun:
223 He was an esy man to yeve
penaunce,
224 Ther as he wiste to have a
good pitaunce.
225 For unto a povre ordre for
to yive
226 Is signe that a man is wel
yshryve;
227 For if he yaf, he dorste
make avaunt,
228 He wiste that a man was
repentaunt;
229 For many a man so hard is
of his herte,
230 He may nat wepe, althogh hym
soore smerte.
231 Therfore in stede of
wepynge and preyeres
232 Men moote yeve silver to
the povre freres.
233 His typet was ay farsed ful
of knyves
234 And pynnes, for to yeven
faire wyves.
235 And certeinly he hadde a
murye note:
236 Wel koude he synge and
pleyen on a rote;
237 Of yeddynges he baar
outrely the pris.
238 His nekke whit was as the
flour-de-lys;
239 Therto he strong was as a
champioun.
240 He knew the tavernes wel in
every toun
241 And everich hostiler and
tappestere
242 Bet than a lazar or a
beggestere,
243 For unto swich a worthy man
as he
244 Acorded nat, as by his
facultee,
245 To have with sike lazars
aqueyntaunce.
246 It is nat honest; it may
nat avaunce,
247 For to deelen with no swich
poraille,
248 But al with riche and
selleres of vitaille.
249 And over al, ther as profit
sholde arise,
250 Curteis he was and lowely
of servyse;
251 Ther nas no man nowher so
vertuous.
252 He was the beste beggere in
his hous;
252a [And yaf a certeyn ferme
for the graunt;
252a Noon of his bretheren cam
ther in his haunt;]
253 For thogh a wydwe hadde
noght a sho,
254 So plesaunt was his
"In principio,"
255 Yet wolde he have a
ferthyng, er he wente.
256 His purchas was wel bettre
than his rente.
257 And rage he koude, as it
were right a whelp.
258 In love-dayes ther koude he
muchel help,
259 For ther he was nat lyk a
cloysterer
260 With a thredbare cope, as
is a povre scoler,
261 But he was lyk a maister or
a pope.
262 Of double worstede was his
semycope,
263 That rounded as a belle out
of the presse.
264 Somwhat he lipsed, for his
wantownesse,
265 To make his Englissh sweete
upon his tonge;
266 And in his harpyng, whan
that he hadde songe,
267 His eyen twynkled in his
heed aryght
268 As doon the sterres in the
frosty nyght.
269 This worthy lymytour was
cleped Huberd.
270 A MARCHANT was ther with a
forked berd,
271 In mottelee, and hye on
horse he sat;
272 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh
bever hat,
273 His bootes clasped faire
and fetisly.
274 His resons he spak ful
solempnely,
275 Sownynge alwey th' encrees
of his wynnyng.
276 He wolde the see were kept
for any thyng
277 Bitwixe Middelburgh and
Orewelle.
278 Wel koude he in eschaunge
sheeldes selle.
279 This worthy man ful wel his
wit bisette:
280 Ther wiste no wight that he
was in dette,
281 So estatly was he of his
governaunce
282 With his bargaynes and with
his chevyssaunce.
283 For sothe he was a worthy
man with alle,
284 But, sooth to seyn, I noot
how men hym calle.
285 A CLERK ther was of
Oxenford also,
286 That unto logyk hadde longe
ygo.
287 As leene was his hors as is
a rake,
288 And he nas nat right fat, I
undertake,
289 But looked holwe, and
therto sobrely.
290 Ful thredbare was his
overeste courtepy,
291 For he hadde geten hym yet
no benefice,
292 Ne was so worldly for to
have office.
293 For hym was levere have at
his beddes heed
294 Twenty bookes, clad in blak
or reed,
295 Of Aristotle and his
philosophie
296 Than robes riche, or
fithele, or gay sautrie.
297 But al be that he was a
philosophre,
298 Yet hadde he but litel gold
in cofre;
299 But al that he myghte of
his freendes hente,
300 On bookes and on lernynge
he it spente,
301 And bisily gan for the
soules preye
302 Of hem that yaf hym
wherwith to scoleye..
303 Of studie took he moost
cure and moost heede.
304 Noght o word spak he moore
than was neede,
305 And that was seyd in forme
and reverence,
306 And short and quyk and ful
of hy sentence;
307 Sownynge in moral vertu was
his speche,
308 And gladly wolde he lerne
and gladly teche.
309 A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war
and wys,
310 That often hadde been at
the Parvys,
311 Ther was also, ful riche of
excellence.
312 Discreet he was and of greet
reverence --
313 He semed swich, his wordes
weren so wise.
314 Justice he was ful often in
assise,
315 By patente and by pleyn
commissioun.
316 For his science and for his
heigh renoun,
317 Of fees and robes hadde he
many oon.
318 So greet a purchasour was
nowher noon:
319 Al was fee symple to hym in
effect;
320 His purchasyng myghte nat
been infect.
321 Nowher so bisy a man as he
ther nas,
322 And yet he semed bisier
than he was.
323 In termes hadde he caas and
doomes alle
324 That from the tyme of kyng
William were falle.
325 Therto he koude endite and
make a thyng,
326 Ther koude no wight pynche
at his writyng;
327 And every statut koude he
pleyn by rote.
328 He rood but hoomly in a
medlee cote,
329 Girt with a ceint of silk,
with barres smale;
330 Of his array telle I no
lenger tale.
331 A FRANKELEYN was in his
compaignye.
332 Whit was his berd as is the
dayesye;
333 Of his complexioun he was
sangwyn.
334 Wel loved he by the morwe a
sop in wyn;
335 To lyven in delit was evere
his wone,
336 For he was Epicurus owene
sone,
337 That heeld opinioun that pleyn
delit
338 Was verray felicitee
parfit.
339 An housholdere, and that a
greet, was he;
340 Seint Julian he was in his
contree.
341 His breed, his ale, was
alweys after oon;
342 A bettre envyned man was
nowher noon.
343 Withoute bake mete was
nevere his hous,
344 Of fissh and flessh, and
that so plentevous
345 It snewed in his hous of
mete and drynke;
346 Of alle deyntees that men
koude thynke,
347 After the sondry sesons of the
yeer,
348 So chaunged he his mete and
his soper.
349 Ful many a fat partrich
hadde he in muwe,
350 And many a breem and many a
luce in stuwe.
351 Wo was his cook but if his
sauce were
352 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy
al his geere.
353 His table dormant in his
halle alway
354 Stood redy covered al the
longe day.
355 At sessiouns ther was he
lord and sire;
356 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght
of the shire.
357 An anlaas and a gipser al
of silk
358 Heeng at his girdel, whit
as morne milk.
359 A shirreve hadde he been,
and a contour.
360 Was nowher swich a worthy
vavasour.
361 An HABERDASSHERE and a
CARPENTER,
362 A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a
TAPYCER --
363 And they were clothed alle
in o lyveree
364 Of a solempne and a greet
fraternitee.
365 Ful fressh and newe hir
geere apiked was;
366 Hir knyves were chaped
noght with bras
367 But al with silver, wroght
ful clene and weel,
368 Hire girdles and hir
pouches everydeel.
369 Wel semed ech of hem a fair
burgeys
370 To sitten in a yeldehalle
on a deys.
371 Everich, for the wisdom
that he kan,
372 Was shaply for to been an
alderman.
373 For catel hadde they ynogh
and rente,
374 And eek hir wyves wolde it
wel assente;
375 And elles certeyn were they
to blame.
376 It is ful fair to been
ycleped "madame,"
377 And goon to vigilies al
bifore,
378 And have a mantel
roialliche ybore.
379 A COOK they hadde with hem
for the nones
380 To boille the chiknes with
the marybones,
381 And poudre-marchant tart
and galyngale.
382 Wel koude he knowe a
draughte of Londoun ale.
383 He koude rooste, and sethe,
and broille, and frye,
384 Maken mortreux, and wel
bake a pye.
385 But greet harm was it, as
it thoughte me,
386 That on his shyne a mormal
hadde he.
387 For blankmanger, that made
he with the beste.
388 A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge
fer by weste;
389 For aught I woot, he was of
Dertemouthe.
390 He rood upon a rouncy, as
he kouthe,
391 In a gowne of faldyng to
the knee.
392 A daggere hangynge on a
laas hadde he
393 Aboute his nekke, under his
arm adoun.
394 The hoote somer hadde maad
his hewe al broun;
395 And certeinly he was a good
felawe..
396 Ful many a draughte of wyn
had he ydrawe
397 Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that
the chapman sleep.
398 Of nyce conscience took he
no keep.
399 If that he faught and hadde
the hyer hond,
400 By water he sente hem hoom
to every lond.
401 But of his craft to rekene
wel his tydes,
402 His stremes, and his
daungers hym bisides,
403 His herberwe, and his
moone, his lodemenage,
404 Ther nas noon swich from
Hulle to Cartage.
405 Hardy he was and wys to
undertake;
406 With many a tempest hadde
his berd been shake.
407 He knew alle the havenes,
as they were,
408 Fro Gootlond to the cape of
Fynystere,
409 And every cryke in
Britaigne and in Spayne.
410 His barge ycleped was the
Maudelayne.
411 With us ther was a DOCTOUR
OF PHISIK;
412 In al this world ne was
ther noon hym lik,
413 To speke of phisik and of
surgerye,
414 For he was grounded in
astronomye.
415 He kepte his pacient a ful
greet deel
416 In houres by his magyk
natureel.
417 Wel koude he fortunen the
ascendent
418 Of his ymages for his
pacient.
419 He knew the cause of
everich maladye,
420 Were it of hoot, or coold,
or moyste, or drye,
421 And where they engendred,
and of what humour.
422 He was a verray, parfit
praktisour:
423 The cause yknowe, and of
his harm the roote,
424 Anon he yaf the sike man
his boote.
425 Ful redy hadde he his
apothecaries
426 To sende hym drogges and
his letuaries,,
427 For ech of hem made oother
for to wynne --
428 Hir frendshipe nas nat newe
to bigynne.
429 Wel knew he the olde
Esculapius,
430 And Deyscorides, and eek
Rufus,
431 Olde Ypocras, Haly, and
Galyen,
432 Serapion, Razis, and
Avycen,
433 Averrois, Damascien, and
Constantyn,
434 Bernard, and Gatesden, and
Gilbertyn.
435 Of his diete mesurable was
he,
436 For it was of no
superfluitee,
437 But of greet norissyng and
digestible.
438 His studie was but litel on
the Bible.
439 In sangwyn and in pers he
clad was al,
440 Lyned with taffata and with
sendal.
441 And yet he was but esy of
dispence;
442 He kepte that he wan in
pestilence.
443 For gold in phisik is a
cordial,
444 Therefore he lovede gold in
special.
445 A good WIF was ther OF
biside BATHE,
446 But she was somdel deef,
and that was scathe.
447 Of clooth-makyng she hadde
swich an haunt
448 She passed hem of Ypres and
of Gaunt.
449 In al the parisshe wif ne
was ther noon
450 That to the offrynge bifore
hire sholde goon;
451 And if ther dide, certeyn
so wrooth was she
452 That she was out of alle
charitee.
453 Hir coverchiefs ful fyne
weren of ground;
454 I dorste swere they weyeden
ten pound
455 That on a Sonday weren upon
hir heed.
456 Hir hosen weren of fyn
scarlet reed,
457 Ful streite yteyd, and
shoes ful moyste and newe.
458 Boold was hir face, and
fair, and reed of hewe.
459 She was a worthy womman al
hir lyve:
460 Housbondes at chirche dore
she hadde fyve,
461 Withouten oother compaignye
in youthe --
462 But thereof nedeth nat to
speke as nowthe.
463 And thries hadde she been
at Jerusalem;
464 She hadde passed many a
straunge strem;
465 At Rome she hadde been, and
at Boloigne,
466 In Galice at Seint-Jame,
and at Coloigne..
467 She koude muchel of
wandrynge by the weye.
468 Gat-tothed was she, soothly
for to seye.
469 Upon an amblere esily she
sat,
470 Ywympled wel, and on hir
heed an hat
471 As brood as is a bokeler or
a targe;
472 A foot-mantel aboute hir
hipes large,
473 And on hir feet a paire of
spores sharpe.
474 In felaweshipe wel koude
she laughe and carpe.
475 Of remedies of love she
knew per chaunce,
476 For she koude of that art
the olde daunce.
477 A good man was ther of
religioun,
478 And was a povre PERSOUN OF
A TOUN,
479 But riche he was of hooly
thoght and werk.
480 He was also a lerned man, a
clerk,
481 That Cristes gospel trewely
wolde preche;
482 His parisshens devoutly
wolde he teche.
483 Benygne he was, and wonder
diligent,
484 And in adversitee ful pacient,
485 And swich he was ypreved
ofte sithes.
486 Ful looth were hym to
cursen for his tithes,
487 But rather wolde he yeven,
out of doute,
488 Unto his povre parisshens
aboute
489 Of his offryng and eek of
his substaunce.
490 He koude in litel thyng
have suffisaunce..
491 Wyd was his parisshe, and
houses fer asonder,
492 But he ne lefte nat, for
reyn ne thonder,
493 In siknesse nor in meschief
to visite
494 The ferreste in his
parisshe, muche and lite,
495 Upon his feet, and in his
hand a staf.
496 This noble ensample to his
sheep he yaf,
497 That first he wroghte, and
afterward he taughte.
498 Out of the gospel he tho
wordes caughte,
499 And this figure he added
eek therto,
500 That if gold ruste, what
shal iren do?
501 For if a preest be foul, on
whom we truste,
502 No wonder is a lewed man to
ruste;
503 And shame it is, if a prest
take keep,
504 A shiten shepherde and a
clene sheep.
505 Wel oghte a preest ensample
for to yive,
506 By his clennesse, how that
his sheep sholde lyve.
507 He sette nat his benefice
to hyre
508 And leet his sheep
encombred in the myre
509 And ran to Londoun unto
Seinte Poules
510 To seken hym a chaunterie
for soules,
511 Or with a bretherhed to
been withholde;
512 But dwelte at hoom, and
kepte wel his folde,
513 So that the wolf ne made it
nat myscarie;
514 He was a shepherde and
noght a mercenarie.
515 And though he hooly were
and vertuous,
516 He was to synful men nat
despitous,
517 Ne of his speche daungerous
ne digne,
518 But in his techyng discreet
and benygne.
519 To drawen folk to hevene by
fairnesse,
520 By good ensample, this was
his bisynesse.
521 But it were any persone
obstinat,
522 What so he were, of heigh
or lough estat,
523 Hym wolde he snybben
sharply for the nonys.
524 A bettre preest I trowe
that nowher noon ys.
525 He waited after no pompe
and reverence,
526 Ne maked him a spiced
conscience,
527 But Cristes loore and his
apostles twelve
528 He taughte; but first he
folwed it hymselve.
529 With hym ther was a PLOWMAN,
was his brother,
530 That hadde ylad of dong ful
many a fother;
531 A trewe swynkere and a good
was he,
532 Lyvynge in pees and parfit
charitee.
533 God loved he best with al
his hoole herte
534 At alle tymes, thogh him
gamed or smerte,
535 And thanne his neighebor
right as hymselve.
536 He wolde thresshe, and
therto dyke and delve,
537 For Cristes sake, for every
povre wight,
538 Withouten hire, if it lay
in his myght.
539 His tithes payde he ful
faire and wel,
540 Bothe of his propre swynk
and his catel.
541 In a tabard he rood upon a
mere.
542 Ther was also a REVE, and a
MILLERE,
543 A SOMNOUR, and a PARDONER
also,
544 A MAUNCIPLE, and myself --
ther were namo.
545 The MILLERE was a stout
carl for the nones;
546 Ful byg he was of brawn,
and eek of bones.
547 That proved wel, for over
al ther he cam,
548 At wrastlynge he wolde have
alwey the ram.
549 He was short-sholdred,
brood, a thikke knarre;
550 Ther was no dore that he
nolde heve of harre,
551 Or breke it at a rennyng
with his heed.
552 His berd as any sowe or fox
was reed,
553 And therto brood, as though
it were a spade.
554 Upon the cop right of his
nose he hade
555 A werte, and theron stood a
toft of herys,
556 Reed as the brustles of a
sowes erys;
557 His nosethirles blake were
and wyde.
558 A swerd and a bokeler bar
he by his syde.
559 His mouth as greet was as a
greet forneys.
560 He was a janglere and a
goliardeys,
561 And that was moost of synne
and harlotries.
562 Wel koude he stelen corn
and tollen thries;
563 And yet he hadde a thombe
of gold, pardee.
564 A whit cote and a blew hood
wered he.
565 A baggepipe wel koude he
blowe and sowne,
566 And therwithal he broghte
us out of towne.
567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther
of a temple,
568 Of which achatours myghte
take exemple
569 For to be wise in byynge of
vitaille;
570 For wheither that he payde
or took by taille,
571 Algate he wayted so in his
achaat
572 That he was ay biforn and
in good staat.
573 Now is nat that of God a
ful fair grace
574 That swich a lewed mannes
wit shal pace
575 The wisdom of an heep of
lerned men?
576 Of maistres hadde he mo
than thries ten,
577 That weren of lawe expert
and curious,
578 Of which ther were a
duszeyne in that hous
579 Worthy to been stywardes of
rente and lond
580 Of any lord that is in
Engelond,
581 To make hym lyve by his
propre good
582 In honour dettelees (but if
he were wood),
583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym
list desire;
584 And able for to helpen al a
shire
585 In any caas that myghte
falle or happe.
586 And yet this Manciple sette
hir aller cappe.
587 The REVE was a sclendre
colerik man.
588 His berd was shave as ny as
ever he kan;
589 His heer was by his erys
ful round yshorn;
590 His top was dokked lyk a
preest biforn.
591 Ful longe were his legges
and ful lene,
592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no
calf ysene.
593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner
and a bynne;
594 Ther was noon auditour
koude on him wynne.
595 Wel wiste he by the droghte
and by the reyn
596 The yeldynge of his seed
and of his greyn.
597 His lordes sheep, his neet,
his dayerye,
598 His swyn, his hors, his
stoor, and his pultrye
599 Was hoolly in this Reves
governynge,
600 And by his covenant yaf the
rekenynge,
601 Syn that his lord was
twenty yeer of age.
602 Ther koude no man brynge
hym in arrerage.
603 Ther nas baillif, ne
hierde, nor oother hyne,
604 That he ne knew his
sleighte and his covyne;
605 They were adrad of hym as
of the deeth.
606 His wonyng was ful faire
upon an heeth;
607 With grene trees yshadwed
was his place.
608 He koude bettre than his
lord purchace.
609 Ful riche he was astored
pryvely.
610 His lord wel koude he
plesen subtilly,
611 To yeve and lene hym of his
owene good,
612 And have a thank, and yet a
cote and hood.
613 In youthe he hadde lerned a
good myster:
614 He was a wel good wrighte,
a carpenter.
615 This Reve sat upon a ful
good stot
616 That was al pomely grey and
highte Scot.
617 A long surcote of pers upon
he hade,
618 And by his syde he baar a
rusty blade.
619 Of Northfolk was this Reve
of which I telle,
620 Biside a toun men clepen
Baldeswelle.
621 Tukked he was as is a frere
aboute,
622 And evere he rood the
hyndreste of oure route.
623 A SOMONOUR was ther with us
in that place,
624 That hadde a fyr-reed
cherubynnes face,
625 For saucefleem he was, with
eyen narwe..
626 As hoot he was and
lecherous as a sparwe,
627 With scalled browes blake
and piled berd.
628 Of his visage children were
aferd.
629 Ther nas quyk-silver,
lytarge, ne brymstoon,
630 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of
tartre noon,
631 Ne oynement that wolde
clense and byte,
632 That hym myghte helpen of
his whelkes white,
633 Nor of the knobbes sittynge
on his chekes.
634 Wel loved he garleek,
oynons, and eek lekes,
635 And for to drynken strong
wyn, reed as blood;
636 Thanne wolde he speke and
crie as he were wood..
637 And whan that he wel
dronken hadde the wyn,
638 Thanne wolde he speke no
word but Latyn.
639 A fewe termes hadde he, two
or thre,
640 That he had lerned out of
som decree --
641 No wonder is, he herde it
al the day;
642 And eek ye knowen wel how
that a jay
643 Kan clepen
"Watte" as wel as kan the pope.
644 But whoso koude in oother
thyng hym grope,
645 Thanne hadde he spent al
his philosophie;
646 Ay "Questio quid
iuris" wolde he crie.
647 He was a gentil harlot and
a kynde;
648 A bettre felawe sholde men
noght fynde.
649 He wolde suffre for a quart
of wyn
650 A good felawe to have his
concubyn
651 A twelf month, and excuse
hym atte fulle;
652 Ful prively a fynch eek
koude he pulle.
653 And if he foond owher a
good felawe,
654 He wolde techen him to have
noon awe
655 In swich caas of the
ercedekenes curs,
656 But if a mannes soule were
in his purs;
657 For in his purs he sholde
ypunysshed be.
658 "Purs is the
ercedekenes helle," seyde he..
659 But wel I woot he lyed
right in dede;
660 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty
man him drede,,
661 For curs wol slee right as
assoillyng savith,
662 And also war hym of a
Significavit.
663 In daunger hadde he at his
owene gise
664 The yonge girles of the
diocise,
665 And knew hir conseil, and was
al hir reed.
666 A gerland hadde he set upon
his heed,
667 As greet as it were for an
ale-stake.
668 A bokeleer hadde he maad
hym of a cake.
669 With hym ther rood a gentil
PARDONER
670 Of Rouncivale, his freend
and his compeer,
671 That streight was comen fro
the court of Rome.
672 Ful loude he soong
"Com hider, love, to me!"
673 This Somonour bar to hym a
stif burdoun;
674 Was nevere trompe of half
so greet a soun.
675 This Pardoner hadde heer as
yelow as wex,
676 But smothe it heeng as
dooth a strike of flex;
677 By ounces henge his lokkes
that he hadde,
678 And therwith he his
shuldres overspradde;
679 But thynne it lay, by
colpons oon and oon..
680 But hood, for jolitee,
wered he noon,
681 For it was trussed up in
his walet.
682 Hym thoughte he rood al of
the newe jet;
683 Dischevelee, save his
cappe, he rood al bare.
684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde
he as an hare.
685 A vernycle hadde he sowed
upon his cappe.
686 His walet, biforn hym in
his lappe,
687 Bretful of pardoun comen
from Rome al hoot.
688 A voys he hadde as smal as
hath a goot.
689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere
sholde have;
690 As smothe it was as it were
late shave.
691 I trowe he were a geldyng
or a mare.
692 But of his craft, fro
Berwyk into Ware
693 Ne was ther swich another
pardoner.
694 For in his male he hadde a
pilwe-beer,
695 Which that he seyde was
Oure Lady veyl;
696 He seyde he hadde a gobet
of the seyl
697 That Seint Peter hadde,
whan that he wente
698 Upon the see, til Jhesu
Crist hym hente.
699 He hadde a croys of latoun
ful of stones,
700 And in a glas he hadde
pigges bones.
701 But with thise relikes,
whan that he fond
702 A povre person dwellynge
upon lond,
703 Upon a day he gat hym moore
moneye
704 Than that the person gat in
monthes tweye;
705 And thus, with feyned
flaterye and japes,
706 He made the person and the
peple his apes.
707 But trewely to tellen atte
laste,
708 He was in chirche a noble
ecclesiaste.
709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun
or a storie,
710 But alderbest he song an
offertorie;
711 For wel he wiste, whan that
song was songe,
712 He moste preche and wel
affile his tonge
713 To wynne silver, as he ful
wel koude;
714 Therefore he song the
murierly and loude.
715 Now have I toold you
soothly, in a clause,
716 Th' estaat, th' array, the
nombre, and eek the cause
717 Why that assembled was this
compaignye
718 In Southwerk at this gentil
hostelrye
719 That highte the Tabard,
faste by the Belle.
720 But now is tyme to yow for
to telle
721 How that we baren us that
ilke nyght,
722 Whan we were in that
hostelrie alyght;
723 And after wol I telle of
our viage
724 And al the remenaunt of
oure pilgrimage.
725 But first I pray yow, of
youre curteisye,
726 That ye n' arette it nat my
vileynye,
727 Thogh that I pleynly speke
in this mateere,,
728 To telle yow hir wordes and
hir cheere,
729 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes
proprely.
730 For this ye knowen al so
wel as I:
731 Whoso shal telle a tale
after a man,
732 He moot reherce as ny as
evere he kan
733 Everich a word, if it be in
his charge,
734 Al speke he never so
rudeliche and large,
735 Or ellis he moot telle his
tale untrewe,
736 Or feyne thyng, or fynde
wordes newe.
737 He may nat spare, althogh
he were his brother;
738 He moot as wel seye o word
as another.
739 Crist spak hymself ful
brode in hooly writ,
740 And wel ye woot no vileynye
is it.
741 Eek Plato seith, whoso kan
hym rede,
742 The wordes moote be cosyn
to the dede.
743 Also I prey yow to foryeve
it me,
744 Al have I nat set folk in
hir degree
745 Heere in this tale, as that
they sholde stonde.
746 My wit is short, ye may wel
understonde.
747 Greet chiere made oure
Hoost us everichon,
748 And to the soper sette he
us anon.
749 He served us with vitaille
at the beste;
750 Strong was the wyn, and wel
to drynke us leste.
751 A semely man OURE HOOSTE
was withalle
752 For to been a marchal in an
halle.
753 A large man he was with
eyen stepe --
754 A fairer burgeys was ther
noon in Chepe --
755 Boold of his speche, and
wys, and wel ytaught,
756 And of manhod hym lakkede
right naught.
757 Eek therto he was right a
myrie man;
758 And after soper pleyen he
bigan,
759 And spak of myrthe amonges
othere thynges,
760 Whan that we hadde maad
oure rekenynges,
761 And seyde thus: "Now,
lordynges, trewely,
762 Ye been to me right
welcome, hertely;
763 For by my trouthe, if that
I shal nat lye,
764 I saugh nat this yeer so
myrie a compaignye
765 Atones in this herberwe as
is now.
766 Fayn wolde I doon yow
myrthe, wiste I how.
767 And of a myrthe I am right
now bythoght,
768 To doon yow ese, and it
shal coste noght.
769 "Ye goon to
Caunterbury -- God yow speede,
770 The blisful martir quite
yow youre meede!
771 And wel I woot, as ye goon
by the weye,
772 Ye shapen yow to talen and
to pleye;
773 For trewely, confort ne
myrthe is noon
774 To ride by the weye doumb
as a stoon;
775 And therfore wol I maken
yow disport,
776 As I seyde erst, and doon
yow som confort.
777 And if yow liketh alle by
oon assent
778 For to stonden at my
juggement,
779 And for to werken as I shal
yow seye,
780 Tomorwe, whan ye riden by
the weye,
781 Now, by my fader soule that
is deed,
782 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve
yow myn heed!
783 Hoold up youre hondes,
withouten moore speche."
784 Oure conseil was nat longe
for to seche.
785 Us thoughte it was noght
worth to make it wys,
786 And graunted hym withouten
moore avys,
787 And bad him seye his
voirdit as hym leste.
788 "Lordynges," quod
he, "now herkneth for the beste;
789 But taak it nought, I prey
yow, in desdeyn.
790 This is the poynt, to
speken short and pleyn,
791 That ech of yow, to shorte
with oure weye,,
792 In this viage shal telle
tales tweye
793 To Caunterbury-ward, I mene
it so,
794 And homward he shal tellen
othere two,
795 Of aventures that whilom
han bifalle.
796 And which of yow that
bereth hym best of alle --
797 That is to seyn, that
telleth in this caas
798 Tales of best sentence and
moost solaas --
799 Shal have a soper at oure
aller cost
800 Heere in this place,
sittynge by this post,
801 Whan that we come agayn fro
Caunterbury.
802 And for to make yow the
moore mury,
803 I wol myselven goodly with
yow ryde,
804 Right at myn owene cost,
and be youre gyde;
805 And whoso wole my juggement
withseye
806 Shal paye al that we
spenden by the weye.
807 And if ye vouche sauf that
it be so,
808 Tel me anon, withouten
wordes mo,
809 And I wol erly shape me
therfore."
810 This thyng was graunted,
and oure othes swore
811 With ful glad herte, and
preyden hym also
812 That he wolde vouche sauf
for to do so,
813 And that he wolde been oure
governour,
814 And of oure tales juge and
reportour,,
815 And sette a soper at a
certeyn pris,
816 And we wol reuled been at
his devys
817 In heigh and lough; and
thus by oon assent
818 We been acorded to his
juggement.
819 And therupon the wyn was
fet anon;
820 We dronken, and to reste
wente echon,
821 Withouten any lenger
taryynge.
822 Amorwe, whan that day bigan
to sprynge,
823 Up roos oure Hoost, and was
oure aller cok,
824 And gadrede us togidre alle
in a flok,
825 And forth we riden a litel
moore than paas
826 Unto the Wateryng of Seint
Thomas;
827 And there oure Hoost bigan
his hors areste
828 And seyde, "Lordynges,
herkneth, if yow leste.
829 Ye woot youre foreward, and
I it yow recorde.
830 If even-song and morwe-song
accorde,
831 Lat se now who shal telle
the firste tale.
832 As evere mote I drynke wyn
or ale,
833 Whoso be rebel to my
juggement
834 Shal paye for al that by
the wey is spent.
835 Now draweth cut, er that we
ferrer twynne;
836 He which that hath the
shorteste shal bigynne.
837 Sire Knyght," quod he,
"my mayster and my lord,
838 Now draweth cut, for that
is myn accord.
839 Cometh neer," quod he,
"my lady Prioresse.
840 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be
youre shamefastnesse,
841 Ne studieth noght; ley hond
to, every man!"
842 Anon to drawen every wight
bigan,
843 And shortly for to tellen
as it was,
844 Were it by aventure, or
sort, or cas,
845 The sothe is this: the cut
fil to the Knyght,
846 Of which ful blithe and
glad was every wyght,
847 And telle he moste his
tale, as was resoun,
848 By foreward and by
composicioun,
849 As ye han herd; what nedeth
wordes mo?
850 And whan this goode man
saugh that it was so,
851 As he that wys was and
obedient
852 To kepe his foreward by his
free assent,
853 He seyde, "Syn I shal
bigynne the game,
854 What, welcome be the cut, a
Goddes name!
855 Now lat us ryde, and
herkneth what I seye."
856 And with that word we ryden
forth oure weye,
857 And he bigan with right a
myrie cheere
858 His tale anon, and seyde as
ye may heere.
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