Chaucer, General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales

	Whan that Aprill with his° shoures° soote°	its — showers — sweet, fresh
	The droghte° of March hath perced° to the roote,	drought — pierced
	And bathed every veyne in swich licour°	such liquid
	Of which vertu° engendred° is the flour;°	power — created — flower
	Whan Zephirus° eek° with his sweete breeth	the gentle west wind — also
	Inspired° hath in every holt° and heeth	breathed into — field
	Tendre croppes,° and the yonge sonne	shoots
	Hath in the Ram° his halve cours yronne,°	the constellation Aries — gone half its course
	And smale foweles° maken melodye,	birds
	That slepen al the nyght with open ye°	eye
	(So priketh° hem° nature in hir corages°);	spurs — them — their hearts
	Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
	And palmeres° for to seken straunge strondes,°	pilgrims — shores
	To ferne halwes,° kowthe° in sondry° londes;	distant shrines — known — various
	And specially from every shires ende
	Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
	The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
	That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.°	has helped them when they were sick

	Bifil° that in that seson on a day,	it happened
	In Southwerk at the Tabard° as I lay	Tabard Inn in Southwark, London
	Redy to wenden° on my pilgrymage	go
	To Caunterbury with ful° devout corage,°	very — hearts
	At nyght was come into that hostelrye°	inn
	Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye,
	Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle°	by chance fallen together
	In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
	That toward Caunterbury wolden° ryde.	would
	The chambres° and the stables weren wyde,	bedrooms
	And wel we weren esed° atte beste.	taken care of
	And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,°	sun was about to go down
	So hadde I spoken with hem everichon°	every one
	That I was of hir felaweshipe° anon,°	their company — at once
	And made forward° erly for to ryse,	agreement
	To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.°	describe to you
	But nathelees,° whil I have tyme and space,	nevertheless
	Er° that I ferther in this tale pace,°	before — proceed
	Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun°	it seems to me consistent with
	To telle yow al the condicioun°	nature, state
	Of ech of hem,° so as it semed me,	them
	And whiche they weren, and of what degree,°	social rank
	And eek° in what array° that they were inne;	also — dress
	And at a Knyght than wol I first bigynne.
[The Knight]
	A Knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,
	That fro the tyme that he first bigan
	To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
	Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
	Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,°	war
	And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,°	farther
	As wel in Cristendom° as in hethenesse,°	Christian lands — heathen lands
	And evere honoured for his worthynesse.
	At Alisaundre° he was whan it was wonne.	Alexandria
	Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne°	sat in the place of honor
	Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;°	Prussia (in modern Germany)
	In Lettow° hadde he reysed° and in Ruce,°	Lithuania — campaigned — Russia
	No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.°	social rank
	In Gernade° at the seege eek° hadde he be	Granada — also
	Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.°	Benmarin in North Africa
	At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,°	Ayash (in modern Turkey)
	Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See°	Mediterranean
	At many a noble armee° hadde he be.	battle
	At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
	And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene°	Tlemcen in Algeria
	In lystes° thries,° and ay° slayn his foo.°	tournaments — thrice — always — foe
	This ilke° worthy Knyght hadde been also	same
	Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
	Agayn° another hethen in Turkye.	against
	And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys;°	excellent reputation
	And though that he were worthy, he was wys,°	wise
	And of his port° as meeke as is a mayde.	manners
	He nevere yet no vileynye° ne sayde	rudeness
	In al his lyf unto no maner wight.°	to any kind of person
	He was a verray, parfit gentil° knyght.	true, perfect, noble
	But, for to tellen yow of his array,°	outfit
	His hors° were goode, but he was nat gay.°	horses — dressed fancily
	Of fustian° he wered° a gypon°	cloth — wore — tunic
	Al bismotered° with his habergeon,°	rust-stained — hauberk (coat of armor)
	For he was late° ycome from his viage,°	recently — voyage
	And wente for to doon° his pilgrymage.	in order to do
[The Squire]
	With hym ther was his sone, a yong Squier,
	A lovyere and a lusty° bacheler,	energetic
	With lokkes crulle° as° they were leyd in presse.	curly locks — as if
	Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
	Of his stature he was of evene° lengthe,	average
	And wonderly delyvere,° and of greet strengthe.	agile
	And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie°	a cavalry raid
	In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie,
	And born hym weel, as of so litel space,
	In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
	Embrouded° was he, as it were a meede°	embroidered — meadow
	Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.
	Syngynge he was, or floytynge,° al the day;	whistling
	He was as fressh as is the month of may.
	Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
	Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
	He koude songes make and wel endite,°	write
	Juste° and eek° daunce, and weel purtreye° and write.	joust — also — draw
	So hoote° he lovede that by nyghtertale°	passionately — at night
	He sleep namoore° than dooth a nyghtyngale.	no more
	Curteis° he was, lowely,° and servysable,	courteous — humble
	And carf biforn° his fader at the table.	carved before
[The Yeoman]
	A Yeman° hadde he and servantz namo°	yeoman — no more
	At that tyme, for hym liste° ride so,	he liked to
	And he was clad in cote° and hood of grene.	coat
	A sheef of pecok arwes,° bright and kene,	arrows
	Under his belt he bar ful thriftily,°	carried very properly
	(Wel koude he dresse his takel° yemanly:°	tend to his equipment — skillfully
	His arwes drouped° noght with fetheres lowe°)	fell — poorly arranged
	And in his hand he baar° a myghty bowe.	bore
	A not heed° hadde he, with a broun visage.	close-cut head
	Of wodecraft wel koude° he al the usage.	knew
	Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,°	brightly colored wrist guard
	And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,°	small shield
	And on that oother syde a gay° daggere	bright
	Harneised° wel and sharp as point of spere;	mounted
	A Cristopher° on his brest of silver sheene.°	St. Christopher medal — shone
	An horn he bar,° the bawdryk° was of grene;	bore — strap
	A forster° was he, soothly,° as I gesse.	forester — truly
[The Prioress]
	Ther was also a nonne, a Prioresse,
	That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;°	quiet
	Hire gretteste ooth was but “by Seinte Loy”;°	St. Eligius
	And she was cleped° Madame Eglentyne.	called
	Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
	Entuned in hir nose ful semely,
	And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,°	elegantly
	After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
	For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
	At mete wel ytaught was she with alle:°	She was well educated about eating
	She leet° no morsel from hir lippes falle,	let
	Ne° wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;	nor
	Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe°	take care
	That no drope ne fille upon hire brest.
	In curteisie° was set ful muchel° hir lest.°	good manners — much — pleasure
	Hir over-lippe° wyped she so clene	upper lip
	That in hir coppe° ther was no ferthyng° sene	cup — tiny bit
	Of grece,° whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.°	grease — draft
	Ful semely° after hir mete° she raughte.°	correctly — food — reached
	And sikerly° she was of greet desport,°	surely — manners
	And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,°	appearance
	And peyned hire° to countrefete cheere°	took trouble — imitate the behavior
	Of court, and to been estatlich° of manere,	noble
	And to ben holden digne° of reverence.	held worthy
	But, for to speken of hire conscience,
	She was so charitable and so pitous°	compassionate
	She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
	Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed° or bledde.	dead
	Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
	With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.°	expensive white bread
	But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,°	dead
	Or if men smoot° it with a yerde° smerte;°	struck — stick — smartly
	And al was conscience and tendre herte.
	Ful semyly hir wympul° pynched° was,	nun’s headdress — pleated
	Hir nose tretys°, hir eyen° greye as glas,	slender — eyes
	Hir mouth ful smal, and therto° softe and reed;	moreover
	But sikerly° she hadde a fair forheed;	surely
	It was almoost a spanne brood,° I trowe;°	hand’s width broad — believe
	For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
	Ful fetys° was hir cloke, as I was war.°	well made — aware
	Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
	A peire of bedes, gauded° al with grene,	decorated
	And theron heng° a brooch of gold ful sheene,°	hung — shiny
	On which ther was first write a crowned A,
	And after amor vincit omnia.°	“Love conquers all.”
[The Second Nun]
	Another Nonne with hire hadde she,
	That was hir chapeleyne,° and preestes thre.	supporter
[The Monk]
	A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie,°	extremely fair
	An outridere,° that lovede venerie,°	roaming monk — hunting
	A manly man, to been an abbot able.
	Ful many a deyntee° hors hadde he in stable,	excellent
	And whan he rood,° men myghte his brydel heere	rode
	Gynglen° in a whistlynge wynd als cleere	jingle
	And eek° as loude as dooth the chapel belle.	also
	Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle,
	The reule of Seint Maure° or of Seint Beneit,°	Maurus — Benedict
	By cause that it was old and somdel° streit°	somewhat — strict
	This ilke° Monk leet olde thynges pace,°	same — let old things pass
	And heeld after the newe world the space.°	followed modern customs
	He yaf° nat of that text a pulled° hen,	gave — plucked
	That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
	Ne that a Monk, whan he is recchelees,°	ignores the rules
	Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees,° —	compared to a fish out of water
	This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
	But thilke° text heeld he nat worth an oystre;	the same
	And I seyde his opinion was good.
	What° sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,°	why — crazy
	Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,°	read closely
	Or swynken° with his handes, and laboure,	work
	As Austyn bit?° how shal the world be served?	St. Augustine commanded
	Lat Austyn° have his swynk° to hym reserved!	St. Augustine — work
	Therfore he was a prikasour° aright:	horseman
	Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel° in flight;	a bird
	Of prikyng° and of huntyng for the hare	tracking
	Was al his lust,° for no cost wolde he spare.	desire
	I seigh° his sleves purfiled° at the hond	saw — lined
	With grys,° and that the fyneste of a lond;	squirrel fur
	And, for to festne his hood under his chyn,
	He hadde of gold ywroght° a ful curious pyn;	well-made
	A love-knotte in the gretter° ende ther was.	larger
	His heed was balled,° that shoon as any glas,°	head was bald — mirror
	And eek° his face, as he hadde been enoynt.°	also — rubbed with oil
	He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;°	condition
	His eyen stepe,° and rollynge in his heed,	gleaming
	That stemed as a forneys° of a leed;°	furnace — cauldron
	His bootes souple,° his hors in greet estaat.°	supple — condition
	Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;°	religious figure
	He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.°	tormented ghost
	A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
	His palfrey° was as broun as is a berye.	horse
[The Friar]
	A Frere° ther was, a wantowne° and a merye,	friar — rowdy
	A lymytour,° a ful solempne° man.	hearer of confessions — revered, serious
	In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan°	knows
	So muchel° of daliaunce° and fair langage.	much — small talk
	He hadde maad ful many a mariage
	Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
	Unto his ordre he was a noble post.°	supporter
	Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
	With frankeleyns° over al in his contree,	landowners
	And eek° with worthy wommen of the toun;	also
	For he hadde power of confessioun,°	was able to hear confession
	As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,°	parish priest
	For of his ordre he was licenciat.°	licensed
	Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
	And plesaunt was his absolucioun:°	forgiveness of sin
	He was an esy° man to yeve° penaunce,	lenient — give
	Ther as he wiste° to have a good pitaunce.°	was known — donation
	For unto a povre° ordre° for to yive°	poor — monastic order — give
	Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;°	absolved of sin
	For if he yaf,° he dorste° make avaunt,°	gave — dared — boast
	He wiste° that a man was repentaunt;	knew
	For many a man so hard is of his herte,
	He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte.°	he hurts badly
	Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
	Men moote yeve° silver to the povre freres.°	must give — poor friars
	His typet° was ay farsed° ful of knyves	hood — stuffed
	And pynnes, for to yeven° faire wyves.	give
	And certeinly he hadde a murye° note:	cheerful
	Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;°	harp
	Of yeddynges° he baar outrely the pris.°	songs — completely took the prize
	His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys;°	lily
	Therto° he strong was as a champioun.	what’s more
	He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
	And everich° hostiler° and tappestere°	every — inkeeper — barkeeper
	Bet than a lazar° or a beggestere;°	leper — beggar
	For unto swich° a worthy man as he	such
	Acorded° nat, as by his facultee,°	was suitable — official role
	To have with sike lazars° aqueyntaunce.	sick lepers
	It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce,
	For to deelen with no swich poraille,°	such poor people
	But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.°	food
	And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
	Curteis he was and lowely° of servyse.	humbly gracious
	Ther nas° no man nowher so vertuous.°	was not — well behaved
	He was the beste beggere in his hous;
	(And yaf° a certeyne ferme for the graunt;°[252.1]	gave — fee for his right to beg
	Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;°)[252.2]	territory
	For thogh a wydwe° hadde noght a sho,°	widow — shoe
	So plesaunt was his In principio,°	“In the beginning . . .”
	Yet wolde he have a ferthyng,° er° he wente.	quarter-penny — before
	His purchas° was wel bettre than his rente.°	profit — income
	And rage° he koude, as it were right a whelp.°	be rowdy — puppy
	In love-dayes° ther koude he muchel° help,	days to resolve disputes — much
	For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer°	cloistered monk
	With a thredbare cope,° as is a povre° scoler,	cloak — poor
	But he was lyk a maister° or a pope.	master (of arts)
	Of double worstede° was his semycope,°	worsted wool — short cloak
	That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
	Somwhat he lipsed,° for his wantownesse,°	lisped — affectation
	To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;
	And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,°	sung
	His eyen° twynkled in his heed aryght,	eyes
	As doon the sterres° in the frosty nyght.	the stars do
	This worthy lymytour was cleped° Huberd.	called
[The Merchant]
	A Marchant was ther with a forked berd,
	In mottelee,° and hye° on horse he sat;	multi-colored cloth — proudly
	Upon his heed° a Flaundryssh° bever hat,	head — Flemish
	His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.°	elegantly
	His resons° he spak ful solempnely,°	thoughts — seriously
	Sownynge° alwey th’ encrees of his wynnyng.°	speaking — profits
	He wolde° the see° were kept for any thyng°	wanted — sea — protected at any cost
	Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.	(in Holland) — (in England)
	Wel koude he in eschaunge° sheeldes selle.	currency exchange
	This worthy man ful wel his wit° bisette:°	intelligence — used
	Ther wiste° no wight° that he was in dette,	knew — person
	So estatly° was he of his governaunce	dignified
	With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.°	borrowing
	For sothe° he was a worthy man with alle,°	truly — indeed
	But, sooth to seyn,° I noot° how men hym calle.	to tell the truth — don’t know
[The Clerk]
	A Clerk° ther was of Oxenford also,	scholar
	That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
	As leene was his hors as is a rake,
	And he nas° nat right fat, I undertake,°	was not — avow
	But looked holwe,° and therto sobrely.	hollow
	Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy;°	short coat
	For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,°	position in the church
	Ne was so worldly for to have office.°	secular position
	For hym was levere° have at his beddes heed	he would rather
	Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
	Of Aristotle and his philosophie,
	Than robes riche, or fithele,° or gay sautrie.°	fiddle — psaltery (musical instrument)
	But al be that° he was a philosophre,	even though
	Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
	But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,°	take
	On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
	And bisily gan° for the soules preye	began
	Of hem that yaf hym° wherwith to scoleye.°	gave — go to school
	Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede,
	Noght o° word spak he moore than was neede,	one
	And that was seyd in forme and reverence,°	formally and respectfully
	And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence;°	wisdom
	Sownynge° in moral vertu was his speche,	resounding
	And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
[The Man of Law]
	A Sergeant of the Lawe, war° and wys,	wary
	That often hadde been at the Parvys,°	porch of St. Paul’s
	Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
	Discreet he was and of greet reverence —
	He semed swich,° his wordes weren so wise.	that way
	Justice° he was ful often in assise,°	a judge — the civil courts
	By patente° and by pleyn° commissioun.	royal warrant — full
	For his science° and for his heigh renoun,°	knowledge — reputation
	Of fees and robes° hadde he many oon.	robes given in payment
	So greet a purchasour°was nowher noon:	real estate investor
	Al was fee symple° to hym in effect;	owned outright
	His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.°	rendered invalid
	Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,°	was not
	And yet he semed bisier than he was.
	In termes° hadde he caas° and doomes° alle	by heart — cases — legal decisions
	That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle.°	had happened
	Therto he koude endite,° and make a thyng,°	write — legal deed
	Ther koude no wight° pynche° at his writyng;	person — quibble about
	And every statut koude° he pleyn° by rote.°	knew — completely — by heart
	He rood but hoomly° in a medlee° cote.	simply — multi-colored
	Girt with a ceint° of silk, with barres° smale;	belt — stripes
	Of his array° telle I no lenger tale.	clothes
[The Franklin]
	A Frankeleyn° was in his compaignye.	landowner
	Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;°	daisy
	Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.°	sanguine (ruddy, red)
	Wel loved he by the morwe° a sop in wyn;°	in the morning — bread soaked in wine
	To lyven in delit° was evere his wone,°	sensual pleasures — custom
	For he was Epicurus° owene sone,	(ancient philosopher who valued pleasure)
	That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit°	full sensual pleasure
	Was verray felicitee parfit.°	true perfect happiness
	An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
	Seint Julian° he was in his contree.	(patron saint of hospitality)
	His breed,° his ale, was alweys after oon;°	bread — the same way
	A bettre envyned° man was nowher noon.	wine-stocked
	Withoute bake mete° was nevere his hous	baked food
	Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous,
	It snewed° in his hous of mete° and drynke,	snowed — food
	Of alle deyntees° that men koude thynke.°	delicacies — imagine
	After° the sondry° sesons of the yeer,	according to — various
	So chaunged he his mete° and his soper.°°	dinner — supper
	Ful many a fat partrich° hadde he in muwe,°	partridge — coop
	And many a breem° and many a luce° in stuwe.°	carp — pike — pond
	Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
	Poynaunt and sharp,° and redy al his geere.	poorly prepared
	His table dormant in his halle alway
	Stood redy covered° al the longe day.	covered (with a tablecloth)
	At sessiouns° ther was he lord and sire;	legal sessions
	Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
	An anlaas° and a gipser° al of silk	dagger — pouch
	Heeng° at his girdel,° whit as morne milk.	hung — belt
	A shirreve° hadde he been, and a contour.°	sheriff — accountant
	Was nowher swich° a worthy vavasour.°	such — tenant
	An haberdasshere and a carpenter,
	A webbe,° a dyere, and a tapycer,° —	weaver — tapestry maker
	And they were clothed alle in o lyveree°	one uniform
	Of a solempne° and a greet fraternitee.°	distinguished — guild
	Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;°	their gear was trimmed
	Hir knyves were chaped° noght with bras°	trimmed — brass
	But al with silver; wroght° ful clene and weel	made
	Hire girdles° and hir pouches everydeel.°	belts — altogether
	Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys°	citizen
	To sitten in a yeldehalle° on a deys.°	guildhall — dais
	Everich,° for the wisdom that he kan,	every
	Was shaply° for to been an alderman.°	suitable — councilman
	For catel° hadde they ynogh and rente,°	property — revenue
	And eek hir° wyves wolde it wel assente;°	also their — agree
	And elles° certeyn were they to blame.	otherwise
	It is ful fair to been ycleped° Madame,	called
	And goon° to vigilies° al bifore,°	go — feasts — in front of everyone
	And have a mantel roialliche ybore.°	coat royally carried
[The Cook]
	A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones°	for the occasion
	To boille the chiknes with the marybones,°	marrowbones
	And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.°	(kinds of spices)
	Wel koude he knowe° a draughte of Londoun ale.	recognize
	He koude rooste, and sethe,° and broille, and frye,	boil
	Maken mortreux,° and wel bake a pye.	stews
	But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,°	it seemed to me
	That on his shyne° a mormal° hadde he.	shin — ulcer
	For blankmanger,° that made he with the beste.	white pudding
[The Shipman]
	A Shipman was ther, wonynge° fer by weste;	dwelling
	For aught I woot,° he was of Dertemouthe.	all I know
	He rood upon a rounce,° as he kouthe,	pack horse
	In a gowne of faldyng° to the knee.	wool
	A daggere hangynge on a laas° hadde he	strap
	Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
	The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe° al broun;	color
	And certeinly he was a good felawe.°	companion
	Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
	Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapmen° sleep.	merchants
	Of nyce° conscience took he no keep.°	fastidious — heed
	If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,°	upper hand
	By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
	But of his craft to rekene° wel his tydes,	calculate
	His stremes,° and his daungers hym bisides,	currents
	His herberwe,° and his moone, his lodemenage,°	harbors — skill in navigation
	Ther nas noon swich° from Hulle to Cartage.°	was no one like that — Cartagena
	Hardy° he was and wys to undertake;	bold — wise
	With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
	He knew alle the havenes,° as they were,	harbors
	Fro Gootlond° to the cape of Fynystere,°	Gotland (in the Baltic) — Finisterre (in Spain)
	And every cryke° in Britaigne and in Spayne.	inlet
	His barge ycleped° was the Maudelayne.	called
[The Physician]
	With us ther was a Doctour of phisik;°	medicine
	In al this world ne was the noon hym lik,
	To speke of phisik and of surgerye
	For he was grounded° in astronomye.	educated
	He kepte° his pacient a ful greet deel	cared for
	In houres by his magyk natureel.
	Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent°	calculated the position of the planets
	Of his ymages for his pacient.
	He knew the cause of everich° maladye,	every
	Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,	(the “four humors”)
	And where they engendred,° and of what humour.	were brought forth
	He was a verray, parfit praktisour:°	practitioner
	The cause yknowe,° and of his harm the roote,	known
	Anon° he yaf° the sike man his boote.°	soon — gave — benefit
	Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
	To sende hym drogges and his letuaries,°	medicines
	For ech of hem made oother for to wynne° —	profit
	Hir frendshipe nas° nat newe to bigynne.	was not
	Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,	(a long list of ancient medical authorities)
	And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus,	also
	Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen,	Hippocrates
	Serapion, Razis, and Avycen,
	Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn,
	Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
	Of his diete mesurable° was he,	moderate
	For it was of no superfluitee,°	excess
	But of greet norissyng° and digestible.	nourishment
	His studie was but litel on the Bible.
	In sangwyn° and in pers° he clad was al,	blood red — blue
	Lyned with taffata and with sendal;°	rich cloth
	And yet he was but esy of dispence;°	spending
	He kepte that he wan° in pestilence.°	earned — plague time
	For gold in phisik is a cordial,°	invigorating medicine
	Therefore he lovede gold in special.
[The Wife of Bath]
	A good Wif was ther of biside° Bathe,	near
	But she was somdel deef,° and that was scathe.°	somewhat deaf — unfortunate
	Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich° an haunt,°	such — skill
	She passed° hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.	surpassed — (towns in modern Belgium)
	In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
	That to the offrynge° bifore hire sholde goon;°	ceremonial religious donations — go
	And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth° was she,	angry
	That she was out of alle charitee.
	Hir coverchiefs° ful fyne weren of ground;°	kerchiefs — texture
	I dorste° swere they weyeden° ten pound	dare — weighed
	That on a Sonday weren° upon hir heed.°	were — head
	Hir hosen° weren of fyn scarlet reed,	stockings
	Ful streite yteyd,° and shoes ful moyste° and newe.	tightly tied — supple
	Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed° of hewe.°	red — color
	She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
	Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
	Withouten° oother compaignye in youthe, —	not counting
	But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.°	right now
	And thries° hadde she been at Jerusalem;	three times
	She hadde passed many a straunge strem;°	foreign sea
	At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
	In Galice at Seint-Jame,° and at Coloigne.	Santiago de Compostela
	She koude° muchel° of wandrynge by the weye.	knew — much
	Gat-tothed° was she, soothly° for to seye.	gap-toothed — truly
	Upon an amblere° esily she sat,	saddle-horse
	Ywympled° wel, and on hir heed an hat	dressed in a veil
	As brood as is a bokeler° or a targe;	shield
	A foot-mantel° aboute hir hipes large,	riding jacket
	And on hir feet a paire of spores° sharpe.	spurs
	In felaweshipe° wel koude she laughe and carpe.	converse
	Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
	For she koude° of that art the olde daunce.	knew
[The Parson]
	A good man was ther of religioun,
	And was a povre Persoun° of a toun,	poor parson
	But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
	He was also a lerned man, a clerk,°	scholar
	That Cristes Gospel trewely wolde preche;
	His parisshens° devoutly wolde he teche.	parishioners
	Benygne° he was, and wonder° diligent,	gracious — wonderfully
	And in adversitee ful pacient,
	And swich° he was ypreved ofte sithes.°	such — proved many times
	Ful looth° were hym to cursen for his tithes,°	loath — excommunicate for not paying his fees
	But rather wolde he yeven,° out of doute,°	give — without doubt
	Unto his povre parisshens° aboute	poor parishioners
	Of his offryng°° and eek° of his substaunce.°	donations — also — property
	He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.°	enough
	Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,°	far apart
	But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
	In siknesse nor in meschief° to visite	misfortune
	The ferreste° in his parisshe, muche° and lite,°	farthest — large and small
	Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
	This noble ensample° to his sheep he yaf,°	example — gave
	That first he wroghte,° and afterward he taughte.	practiced
	Out of the Gospel he tho° wordes caughte,°	those — took
	And this figure° he added eek° therto,	metaphor — also
	That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
	For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
	No wonder is a lewed° man to ruste;°	ignorant — go bad
	And shame it is, if a prest take keep,°	heed
	A shiten° shepherde and a clene sheep.	filthy, shit-stained
	Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,°	give an example
	By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
	He sette nat his benefice° to hyre°	parish — rent
	And leet° his sheep encombred in the myre	left
	And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules
	To seken° hym a chaunterie° for soules,	seek — chantry priest
	Or with a bretherhed° to been withholde;	guild
	But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,°	sheep
	So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
	He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
	And though he hooly were and vertuous,
	He was to synful men nat despitous,°	contemptuous
	Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,°	disdainful
	But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
	To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,°	gentleness
	By good ensample,° this was his bisynesse.	example
	But it were any persone obstinat,
	What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,°	social rank
	Hym wolde he snybben° sharply for the nonys.°	scold — at once
	A bettre preest I trowe° that nowher noon ys.	believe
	He waited after° no pompe and reverence,	expected
	Ne maked him a spiced° conscience,	fastidious
	But Cristes loore° and his Apostles twelve	teaching
	He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.
[The Plowman]
	With hym ther was a Plowman, was his brother,
	That hadde ylad° of dong° ful many a fother;°	carried — dung — load
	A trewe swynkere° and a good was he,	hard worker
	Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
	God loved he best with al his hoole herte
	At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,°	whether it pleased him or hurt him
	And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
	He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke° and delve,	dig
	For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,°	poor person
	Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
	His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,
	Bothe of his propre swynk° and his catel.°	own work — property
	In a tabard° he rood upon a mere.°	worker’ outfit — mare
[Reeve, Miller, Summoner, Pardoner]
	Ther was also a Reve,° and a Millere,	property manager
	A Somnour, and a Pardoner also,
	A Maunciple, and myself — ther were namo.°	no more
[The Miller]
	The Millere was a stout carl° for the nones;°	fellow — occasion
	Ful byg he was of brawn,° and eek° of bones.	muscle — also
	That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
	At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.°	prize
	He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;°	big-boned man
	Ther was no dore that he nolde° heve of harre,°	would not — heave off its hinge
	Or breke it at a rennyng° with his heed°.	running — head
	His berd as any sowe° or fox was reed,°	sow — red
	And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
	Upon the cop right° of his nose he hade	very tip
	A werte,° and theron stood a toft° of herys,°	wart — tuft — hairs
	Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;°	ears
	His nosethirles° blake were and wyde.	nostrils
	A swerd° and bokeler° bar he by his syde.	sword — small shield
	His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.°	furnace
	He was a janglere° and a Goliardeys,°	chatterbox — buffoon
	And that was moost of synne and harlotries.°	obscene behavior
	Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;°	get paid three times
	And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.°	by God
	A whit cote and a blew hood wered° he.	wore
	A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
	And therwithal° he broghte us out of towne.	with that
[The Manciple]
	A gentil° Maunciple° was ther of a temple,	noble — business manager
	Of which achatours° myghte take exemple	buyers of provisions
	For to be wise in byynge° of vitaille;°	buying — food
	For wheither that he payde or took by taille,°	on credit
	Algate° he wayted so in his achaat°	in every respect — buying
	That he was ay biforn° and in good staat.°	always ahead — condition
	Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
	That swich° a lewed° mannes wit° shal pace°	such — unlearned — understanding — exceed
	The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
	Of maistres° hadde he mo than thries ten,	masters
	That weren of lawe expert and curious,°	ingenious
	Of which ther were a duszeyne° in that hous	dozen
	Worthy to been stywardes° of rente° and lond	managers — income
	Of any lord that is in Engelond,
	To make hym lyve by his propre good°	own money
	In honour dettelees° (but if he were wood),°	without debt — unless — insane
	Or lyve as scarsly° as hym list° desire;	meagerly — want to
	And able for to helpen al a shire
	In any caas° that myghte falle° or happe;	event — occur
	And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe.°	made a fool of all of them
[The Reeve]
	The Reve was a sclendre° colerik° man.	slender — hot-tempered
	His berd was shave as ny° as ever he kan;	close
	His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
	His top was dokked° lyk a preest biforn°	trimmed — in front
	Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
	Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
	Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
	Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
	Wel wiste° he by the droghte and by the reyn	knew
	The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
	His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
	His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
	Was hoolly in this reves governynge,
	And by his covenant yaf° the rekenynge,	gave
	Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
	Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
	Ther nas° baillif, ne° hierde, nor oother hyne,	was not — nor
	That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
	They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
	His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
	With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
	He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
	Ful riche he was astored pryvely:
	His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
	To yeve° and lene hym of his owene good,	give
	And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
	In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster;
	He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
	This reve sat upon a ful good stot,
	That was al pomely grey and highte scot.
	A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
	And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
	Of northfolk was this reve of which I telle,
	Biside a toun men clepen baldeswelle.	call
	Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
	And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
[The Summoner]
	A Somonour was ther with us in that place,
	That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes° face,	fire-red cherub’s
	For saucefleem° he was, with eyen narwe.°	covered with pustules — narrow
	As hoot° he was and lecherous as a sparwe,°	hot — sparrow
	With scalled° browes blake and piled° berd.	scabby — patchy
	Of his visage children were aferd.
	Ther nas° quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,	was not
	Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon;
	Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
	That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes° white,	pustules
	Nor of the knobbes° sittynge on his chekes.	swellings
	Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek° lekes,	also
	And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
	Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.°	crazy
	And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
	Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
	A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
	That he had lerned out of som decree —
	No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
	And eek° ye knowen wel how that a jay°	also — chattering bird
	Kan clepen° “Watte”° as wel as kan the pope.	call — “Walter”
	But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,°	examine
	Thanne hadde he spent° al his philosophie;	used up
	Ay Questio quid iuris° wolde he crie.	“which point of law?”
	He was a gentil harlot° and a kynde;	scoundrel
	A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
	He wolde suffre° for a quart of wyn	allow
	A good felawe to have his concubyn°	mistress
	A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;°	entirely
	Ful prively° a fynch eek° koude he pulle.	secretly — also
	And if he foond owher° a good felawe,	found anywhere
	He wolde techen him to have noon° awe	no
	In swich° caas of the ercedekenes° curs,	such — archdeacon’s
	But if° a mannes soule were in his purs;	unless
	For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
	“Purs is the ercedekenes° helle,” seyde he.	archdeacon’s
	But wel I woot° he lyed right in dede;	know
	Of cursyng° oghte ech gilty man him drede,°	excommunication — dread
	For curs wol slee° right as assoillyng savith,°	slay — absolution saves
	And also war hym of a significavit.
	In daunger hadde he at his owene gise°	in his own way
	The yonge girles of the diocise,
	And knew hir conseil,° and was al hir reed.	secrets
	A gerland hadde he set upon his heed
	As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
	A bokeleer° hadde he maad hym of a cake.	small shield
[The Pardoner]
	With hym ther rood° a gentil Pardoner	rode
	Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,°	comrade
	That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
	Ful loude he soong° “Com hider,° love, to me!”	sang — hither
	This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
	Was nevere trompe° of half so greet a soun.°	trumpet — sound
	This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
	But smothe it heeng° as dooth a strike of flex;°	hung — piece of flax
	By ounces henge° his lokkes that he hadde,	strands hang
	And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
	But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.°	strands one by one
	But hood, for jolitee,° wered° he noon,	on a whim — wore
	For it was trussed° up in his walet.°	loaded — pouch
	Hym thoughte° he rood al of the newe jet;°	it seemed to him — fashion
	Dischevelee, save° his cappe, he rood al bare.	with hair down, except for
	Swiche° glarynge eyen° hadde he as an hare.	such — eyes
	A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
	His walet° lay biforn hym in his lappe,	traveler’s pouch
	Bretful° of pardoun, comen from Rome al hoot.	brimful
	A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
	No berd° hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;	beard
	As smothe it was as it were late shave.
	I trowe° he were a geldyng° or a mare.°	believe — castrated horse — female horse
	But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware,
	Ne was ther swich° another pardoner	such
	For in his male° he hadde a pilwe-beer,°	pouch — pillowcase
	Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl:
	He seyde he hadde a gobet° of the seyl	piece
	That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
	Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.°	took
	He hadde a croys° of latoun° ful of stones,	cross — brass
	And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
	But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
	A povre° person dwellynge upon lond,	poor
	Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
	Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
	And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
	He made the person and the peple his apes.
	But trewely to tellen atte laste,
	He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
	Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
	But alderbest he song an offertorie;
	For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,	knew
	He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
	To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
	Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
[The Pilgrimage]
	Now have I toold you soothly,° in a clause,	truly
	Th’ estaat,° th’ array,° the nombre, and eek° the cause	social class — clothing — also
	Why that assembled was this compaignye
	In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye°	inn
	That highte° the Tabard, faste° by the belle.	was called — near
	But now is tyme to yow for to telle
	How that we baren us that ilke° nyght,	same
	Whan we were in that hostelrie° alyght;°	inn — dismounted
	And after wol I telle of our viage
	And al the remenaunt° of oure pilgrimage.	rest
	But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
	That ye n’ arette° it nat my vileynye,°	attribute — rudeness
	Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
	To telle yow hir° wordes and hir cheere,	their
	Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
	For this ye knowen al so wel as I,
	Whoso° shal telle a tale after a man,	whoever
	He moot° reherce° as ny° as evere he kan	mst — repeat — close
	Everich a word, if it be in his charge,	every
	Al speke he never so rudeliche° and large,°	roughly — loudly
	Or ellis he moot° telle his tale untrewe,	must
	Or feyne° thyng, or fynde wordes newe.	invent
	He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
	He moot as wel seye o word as another.
	Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
	And wel ye woot° no vileynye is it.	know
	Eek° Plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede,°	also — whoever can read him
	The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
	Also I prey yow to foryeve° it me,	forgive
	Al have I nat set folk in hir degree°	social rank
	Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
	My wit° is short, ye may wel understonde.	intelligence
	Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon,°	everyone
	And to the soper sette he us anon.°	right away
	He served us with vitaille° at the beste;	food
	Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.°	pleased us
[The Host]
	A semely man oure hooste was withalle°	through and through
	For to han been a marchal° in an halle.	steward
	A large man° he was with eyen stepe —	prominent
	A fairer burgeys° is ther noon in Chepe° —	townsman — Cheapside, London
	Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
	And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.°	nothing at all
	Eek° therto° he was right a myrie man,	also — besides
	And after soper° pleyen he bigan,	supper
	And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
	Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,°	paid our bills
[His Proposal]
	And seyde thus: “Now, lordynges,° trewely,	gentlemen
	Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
	For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
	I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
	Atones° in this herberwe° as is now.	at once — lodging
	Fayn° wolde I doon yow myrthe,° wiste I how.°	gladly — entertain you — if I knew how
	And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,°	I just thought
	To doon yow ese,° and it shal coste noght.	entertain you
	Ye goon to Caunterbury — God yow speede,
	The blisful martir quite° yow youre meede!°	pay — reward
	And wel I woot,° as ye goon° by the weye,	know — go
	Ye shapen yow to talen° and to pleye;°	plan — tell stories
	For trewely, confort ne myrthe° is noon	happiness
	To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;°	dumb as a stone
	And therfore wol I maken yow disport,°	entertain you
	As I seyde erst,° and doon yow som confort.	before
	And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
	For to stonden at my juggement,
	And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
	To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
	Now, by my fader° soule that is deed,°	father’s — dead
	But° ye be myrie, I wol yeve° yow myn heed!	unless — give
	Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche.”
	Oure conseil° was nat longe for to seche.	deliberation
	Us thoughte° it was noght worth to make it wys,	it seemed to us
	And graunted hym withouten moore avys,°	consideration
	And bad° him seye his voirdit° as hym leste.°	told — verdict — as he liked
	“Lordynges,”° quod° he, “now herkneth° for the beste;	gentlemen — said — listen
	But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
[Two Stories Each]
	This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
	That ech of yow, to shorte° with oure weye,	shorten
	In this viage° shal telle tales tweye°	voyage — two
	To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
	And homward he shal tellen othere° two,	another
	Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.°	once have happened
	And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle,
	That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
	Tales of best sentence° and moost solaas,°	wisdom — entertainment
	Shal have a soper° at oure aller° cost	supper — all our
	Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
	Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
	And for to make yow the moore mury,°	cheerful
	I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
	Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde,
	And whoso° wole my juggement withseye°	whoever — contradict
	Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
	And if ye vouche sauf° that it be so,	agree
	Tel me anon,° withouten wordes mo,°	now — more
	And I wol erly shape me° therfore.”	prepare myself
[They Agree]
	This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
	With ful glad herte, and preyden° hym also	asked
	That he wolde vouche sauf° for to do so,	agree
	And that he wolde been oure governour,
	And oure tales juge and reportour,°	scorekeeper
	And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
	And we wol reuled° been at his devys°	ruled — discretion
	In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
	We been acorded° to his juggement.	agreed
	And therupon the wyn was fet anon;°	fetched at once
	We dronken, and to reste wente echon,°	each one
	Withouten any lenger taryynge.°	delay
	Amorwe,° whan that day bigan to sprynge,	In the morning
	Up roos oure hoost, and was oure aller cok,°	rooster for all of us
	And gadrede° us togidre alle in a flok,°	gathered — together
	And forth we riden a litel moore than paas°	little faster than a slow walk
	Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas;
	And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste°	stop
	And seyde, “Lordynges,° herkneth,° if yow leste.°	gentlemen — listen — please
	Ye woot° youre foreward,° and I it yow recorde.°	know — agreement — recall
	If even-song and morwe-song° accorde,	morning
	Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
	As evere mote° I drynke wyn or ale,	might
	Whoso be rebel to my juggement
	Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.”
	Now draweth cut, er° that we ferrer° twynne;°	before — farther — separated
	He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
	“Sire Knyght,” quod° he, “my mayster and my lord,	said
	Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
	Cometh neer,“ quod he, “my lady Prioresse.	said
	And ye, sire Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse,°	modesty
	Ne studieth° noght; ley hond to, every man!”	count for
	Anon to drawen every wight bigan,°	at once began to draw every person
	And shortly for to tellen as it was,
	Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,°	whether by chance, destiny, or fortune
[The Knight to Go First]
	The sothe° is this, the cut fil to the Knyght,	truth
	Of which ful blithe° and glad was every wyght,°	happy — person
	And telle he moste° his tale, as was resoun,°	must — reasonable
	By foreward° and by composicioun,°	promise — agreement
	As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
	And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
	As he that wys was and obedient
	To kepe his foreward° by his free assent,	promise
	He seyde, “Syn° I shal bigynne the game,	since
	What, welcome be the cut, a goddes name!
	Now lat us ryde, and herkneth° what I seye.”	listen to
	And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
	And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
	His tale anon,° and seyde as ye may heere.	right away

The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer

Edited by Jack Lynch

Notes