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GEOFFREY CHAUCER r The . .· Canterbury Tales
COMPLETE .
EDITED BY Larry D. Benson, Harvard University
BASED ON The Riverside Chaucer, Third Edition Houghton Mifflin Company Boston NewYork endent erside is edi in the :who ition: lins filtz lntroduction and > C. CHAUCER'S LIFE 1er >nd Chaucer's Life was written for The River some seventy miles northeast of London. 'ho side Chaucer by Martin M Crow and Vir The city exported wool to Flanders and nd ' ginia E. Leland. It has been slightly imported wine from France. The family ed condensed and occasionally revised for were vintners, wholesale dealers in wine, e. use in this volume. and also held positions in the customs le serviqe. As. often happened in medieval ,t IN COMPARISON with other major English families, _they ·did not always use the same n writers of his time, Chaucer left abundant · surname. Geoffrey Chaucer's paternal records of his life. We have no official documents for great-grandfather was. called Andrew de Dinnington; the life of the author of Piers Plowman or for the Andrew's son, Robert Malyn le Chaucer; Robert's Gawain-poet; records of Gower's life are few and son, John Chaucer. The. name Chaucer, from the confused. But Chaucer, because he was a public ser French, meant maker of shoes or hose; but none of vant, can be traced in the records of his offices. Pub Chaucer's ancestors was, so far as is known, was a lication of Chaucer Life-Records in 1966 brought shoemaker or a hosier. , together the 493 known items and provided a s.ub By the late thirteenth century Robert Chaucer, the stantial basis for a Chaucer biography. These records grandfather, and his wife Mary had settled in Lon of official acts rarely touch on his personal affairs and don. Prosperous people, they continued to hold prop never mention his poetry; they do not give the year of erty in Ipswich. In 1324, John, son of Robert and his birth or the e~act date of his marriage or death. Mary, was kidnapped by an aunt, who intended to But they do document a useful and eventful life. marry him to her daughter in order to keep the Chaucer was a soldier, an esquire of the king's Ipswich holdings in the family. Instead, the twelve household, a member of diplomatic missions, a con year-old boy was freed; the aunt and her accomplices troller of customs, a justice of the peace, a member of went to prison and paid a heavy fine, proof that they Parliament, the clerk of the king's works in charge of were wealthy. building and repair at ten royal residences, and a for John later married Agnes, daughter of one John est official. On the king's business he traveled over Copton and niece of Ramo de Copton, "moneyer" at much of southeast England, to France a number of the mint in the Tower of London. The couple contin times, to Spain, and at least twice to Italy. Chaucer ued to accumulate property. After Ramo's death in yet found time to write thousands of lines, among 1349, a plague year, Agnes inherited, with Ramo's them some c;,fthe best poetry in English. other London property, twenty-four shops and two gardens. In the same year, John Chaucer inherited The Chaucer Family property from his half brother, Thomas Reyron. John and Agnes were, then, owners of substantial London Chaucer came from a well-to-do merchant family property. John Chaucer was a vintner, as his father, that had lived for several generations in Ipswich, stepfather, and half brother had been; like his father,
XIII XIV INTRODUCTION
stepfather, and cousins, he also held positions in the tively ended the possibility that a nephew of his could customs service. gain the crown. But John de la Pole and, after him, Geoffrey Chaucer's parentage is clearly estab three of his brothers continued to assert the claim lished; he described himself in a deed of 19 June until the last of them died in about 1539, a prisoner in 1381 as "son of John Chaucer, vintner, of London." the Tower of London, thus ending the line of But the date and place of his birth are not precisely Chaucer's male descendants. known. For the date, the clearest evidence comes from his deposition of 15 October 1386 in the famous Chaucer.'s Early Home and Youth Scrope-Grosvenor trial (discussed below). There he testified that he was forty years old "et plus" (and Though Chaucer's birthplace is unknown, it is known more), making the date of his birth no later than that his parents, Agnes and John Chaucer, held prop 1345. Some witnesses in that case guessed inaccu erty in Vintry Ward, one of the two wealthiest wards rately at their ages; but Chaucer added a verifiable in medieval London, and in what the sixteenth-cen statement that supports his testimony. He said that tury antiquary John Stow called "the middes and hart he had borne arms twenty-seven years; he had in fact of the city." One Chaucer "tenement" (property hold served in France in the campaign of 1359. It is usual, ing, not tenement in the modern sense) lay on then, to accept a birth date in the early 1340s. Thames Street, which ran parallel to the river and a Fourteenth- and fifteenth-century records tell · block north. It was largely inhabited by vintners, something of Chaucer's descendants. A London law since wine landed at the quays on the Thames could suit of Michaelmas term, 1396, identified "Thomas easily be brought to their cellars for storage. Some Chaucer, esquire~ son of Geoffrey Chaucer, esquire." of London's leading merchants, among the richest Additional evidence that Thomas was the son of men in the city, lived 'in the ward as well. Two of Geoffrey rests upon a statement by Dr. Gascoigne, them, John Stodeye and Henry Picard, served as may . chancellor of Oxford and a neighbor of Thomas, and ors and lent thousands of pounds to the king. John on the use by Thomas of a seal with Geoffrey Chaucer's name is associated with theirs in such I,. Chaucer's coat ofarms and name. A retinue roll com records as wills and deeds. Nobles as well as mer piled at Carmarthen Castle in 1403 lists Thomas chants lived in Vintry Ward. Queen Philippa owned Chaucer with Lewis Chaucer. Lewis seems to have a dwelling there c:alled Tower Royal; after her death it been the lyte Lowys my sane of the tendir age of ten passed to her daughter-in-law, mother of Richard II, year for whom in 1391 the poet composed A Trea Joan of Kent, who took refuge there in 1381. Among tise on the Astrolabe. Two presumed daughters of the people living nearby were Gascon wine mer-~ Geoffrey Chaucer are also sometimes m_entioned, chants, an Italian family, and Flemings; London in Elizabeth Chaucy, a nun at Barking in 1381, and Chaucer's boyhood was a cosmopolitan city. Agnes, ati attendant at the coronation of Henry IV; Wills of neighbors, deeds, and inventories give but the records do not clearly identify them as daugh some idea of the probable plan and furnishings of ters of the poet. the Chaucer home. Above the cellars were the hall Nothing more is known of Lewis, Agnes, or Eliz (not a passageway, but the principal room), the abeth, but many records attest to the distinguished kitchen, a latrine, and upper rooms called ,"solars." career ofThomas Chaucer, as he became one of the They were furnished comfortably with hangings for wealthiest and most influential men in England. the walls and cushions for the benches, and such lux Enriched by marriage to a great heiress and by annu uries as heavy silver pitchers and cups engraved with ities from John of Gaunt, Richard II, and Henry IV, the owners' coats of arms. he served as chief butler to four kings, envoy to No school records for Chaucer have survived, but France, and, often, speaker of the House of Com it is possible to account for some of the knowledge of mons. His daughter Alice married as her third hus Latin classics shown in his works. London merchants' band William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk; their sons in his time could receive a good education. Near grandson John, Earl of Lincoln, was designated heir the Chaucer home on Thames Street. were three to the throne of his uncle, Richard III. Richard's schools, among them the almonry school of St. Paul's defeat and death at Bosworth Field in 1485 effec- Cathedral, which has preserved the inventory of books CHAUCER'S LIFE ·,xv
left in 1358 by a schoolmaster, William de Ravenstone, prisoner, hoped to take the city ofReims and to be for the use of the pupils. As.well as Latin grammars, crowned king of France in Reims Cathedral, tradi treatises on theology, and a few music textbooks, there tional site of the coronation of French. kings. were classics-Virgil's Georgics; Claudian's Rape of _ Chaucer, according to his testimony in the Scrope Proserpina, cited three times in Chaucer's poems; ten Grosvenor case (see below), was at the town of."Ret books of Lucan; the Thebaid of Statius, quoted at the ters" (Rethel), near Reims, which Edward was beginning of The Knight's Tale and partly summarized besieging in December and early January 1359-60. in Troilus and Criseyde; and the Metamorphoses of Chaucer testified that he was captured, but the cap Ovid, Chaucer's favorite ·classical. Latin source. tivity was short. By 1 March 1360 the king had con Chaucer paid tribute, near the end of Troilus and tributed 16 pounds to help pay Chaucer's ransom, and Criseyde (5.1792) to five of the great poets of antiq he was free. Edward's forces were at that date in the uity, Virgile, Ovide, Omer, Lucan, and Stace. Chaucer village of Bretigny, in the vicinity of Chartres. The probably did not know Homer directly, but, as Raven campaign had brought Chaucer within sight of the stone's bequest makes clear, works of the four others great cathedrals ofReims and probably Chartres. were available at St. Paul's school. The last record of Chaucer in the service of Prince The earliest known document actually naming Lionel dates from the peace negotiations at Calais in Geoffrey Chaucer is a fragmentary household account October 1360, when the prince paid Chaucer for car book, June 1356 to April 1359, kept for Elizabeth de rying letters from·Calais to England. Burgh, Countess of Ulster and wife of Lionel, a son of The expedition and messenger service of 1359-60 tdward-iII. It records purchases in April 1357 for were the first of many journeys and commissions for Geoffrey Chaucer-a short jacket, a pair of red and Chaucer. No records have yet been found for him, black hose (?), and a pair of shoes; and, "for neces however, for the years between 1360 and 1366. After saries at Christmas," there was recorded a gift to him the gap in the records the first document concerning of 2 shillings, 6 pence. The relative modesty of the Chaucer is a safe-conduct for the period of 22 Feb gifts suggests that Chaucer was among the youngest ruary to 24 May 1366, granted to Chaucer by Charles and least important of the retainers of the countess, II (Charles the Bad) ofNavarre; it permitted "Geffroy perhaps in his early teens, and perhaps a page. de Chauserre" with three companions, their servants, Life in the countess's household would offer a horses, and luggage, to travel through Navarre. Per young attendant a rich variety of experiences if he haps Chaucer was on a pilgrimage, like many others accompanied her on her almost constant travels. Dur ( and like the Wife of Bath; General Prologue I.466), ing the time covered by the accounts, she spent to the popular shrine of Compostela in Ga/ice at Christmas at Hatfield for a royal hunting party, along Seint-Jame; the customary pilgrimage route crossed with her young brother-in-law John of Gaunt, who Navarre. Or Chaucer may have been sent by the later became the richest and most powerful man in Black Prince to recall English mercenaries from the England; she purchased mourning in London for the forces of Henry of Trastamara, against whom the funeral of the dowager queen, Isabella; she visited a prince was mounting an expedition. Another possible ·royal relative at the convent of Stratford-atte-Bowe explanation for Chaucer's journey is that it was con (where the Prioress learned her French; General Pro nected with arrangements for the later passage of logue l.125); and she was a guest at King Edward's · English troops through Navarre into Castile, where in Great Feast of St. George at Windsor, the king's April of 1367 the prince was to win the battle of favorite castle. Najera and restore to his throne Pedro the Cruel, called in The Monk's Tale (VII.2375) 0 noble, 0 Journeys and the Royal Couri worthy Petro, glorie ofSpayne. · Other events of 1366 may have been more impor From the household of the countess Chaucer seems tant to Chaucer than the Navarrese journey: the evi to have followed her husband, Prince Lionel, into the dence indicates that Chaucer's father died in that year king's army. In September 1359 King Edward and his and that Chaucer married. The last record of John sons, with a large expeditionary force, were invad Chaucer is dated 16 January 1366, when he and his ing France. The king, who held King John of France wife Agnes signed a deed;·on 13 July 1366 Agnes I
XVI INTRODUCTION
was referred to as the wife of Bartholomew atte Inner Temple record "where Geffrye Chaucer was of Chapel. Chaucer's marriage is implied by the record fined two shillings for beatinge a Franciscane Fryer in Cl of a grant, 'on 12 September 1366, of an exchequer fletestreate." It is now known that Master Buckley was Cl annuity of 10 marks to one Philippa Chaucer, damoi~ at that time the keeper of the Inner Temple records, Pt selle of the queen. This annuity was often collected and that the fine was a customary amount. His testi-• so for her "by the hands of" Geoffrey Chaucer. Philippa mony is accepted as very probably true. Mention of or may have been a member of the Ulster household the Manciple (General Prologue I.567) and of the H cl .. ,,.,- during Chaucer's service there; the accounts note in career of the Man of Law (General. Prologue ,1356 and 1358 clothing bought for one "Philippa · I.309-30) seems to show familiarity with the Inns of B Pan." Chaucer's wife seems to have been the
of Gaunt granted a life annuity of 1 o pounds to literature of Italy; but it is now agreed that Chaucer Chaucer "in consideration of the services rendered by might well have been chosen for that mission because Chaucer to the grantor" and "by the grantee's wife he already knew some Italian. The hundred days Philippa to the grantor's late mother and to his con allowed by the 1372-73 journey would hardly have sort." A few days later, on 18 June 1374, the duke given Chaucer time to learn a language. London in ordered alabaster from which the master mason, Chaucer's youth provided better opportunities; many Henry Yevele, was to erect a tomb for Blanche. It is Italian families lived in London, some near the clear that in 1374 John ofGauntwas remembering Chaucer house in the Vintry; Chaucer's father and Blanche; by his grant to Chaucer he may have been grandfather had business dealings with Italians. In rewarding the author of The Book ofthe Duchess. any event, Italy had become, by 1373, a part of Another Lancaster connection was recorded in Chaucer's firsthand experience. · 1369, when Chaucer received 10 pounds as one of A few months after his return from Florence, he the members of the king's household who were to had occasion to deal with Italians again. He was sent accompany John of Gaunt on a military expedition to by the king to deliver a Genoese ship, detained at Picardy (where the Squire of the General Prologue Dartmouth, to her master, a merchant of Genoa and [I.86] served part of his military apprenticeship). an associate of Chaucer's fellow envoy, Giovanni di There is no record of Chaucer's part in the 1369 cam- Mari. This commission has been taken as additional , paign. Nor is it known what was the king's business proof of Chaucer's knowledge of Italian. (It is also that took Chaucer to "parts beyond the seas" in 1370. of interest because the piratical Shipman of the Gen Having made four journeys abroad in fout. y~ars, eral Prologue [I.389] was ofDertemouthe.) 1366-70, Chaucer undertook in 1372..:..73 a commis sion that gave him his first recorded contact with Other Journeys and the Customhouse Italy. He accompanied two Italian merchants, Gio vanni di Mari and Sir Jacopo di Provano, then resi Chaucer seems to have had good fortune during the dents of London, to negotiate on the king's behalf year after his return from Italy. On 23 April 1374, St. with the doge and people of Genoa, who wanted the George's Day, while the king was celebrating the use of an English port. The business discussed may feast at Windsor, he made an unusual grant to have been partly military; Giovanni di Mari, Chaucer's Chaucer. Almost no other business was done on that associate, was in the same year hiring Genoese mer holiday, but King Edward granted the poet a gallon cenaries for King Edward. pitcher of wine daily for life. The wine, it is some The commission given Chaucer before his depar times suggested, may have been the reward for a ture did not name Florence; yet the expense account poem presented to the.king during the festivities. submitted on his return, 23 May,1373, recorded treat Chaucer collected the wine until the death of Edward ing of the affairs of the king "in Genoa and Flo III in 1377; Richard II, on his accession, immediately rence.'? The visit to Florence has seemed significant confirmed the gift and, on 18 April 1378, permitted .to Chaucer scholars because Petrarch and Boccac Chaucer to commute it for an annuity of 20 marks, a cio, still living, were in that region. Chaucer, ifhe did respectable income. not meet them, could hardly have avoided hearing a : In 1374, also, Chaucer obtained a home in London. great deal about them and about Dante, who, though On 10 May, Adam de Bury, mayor of London, and he had died in exile fifty years earlier, was now the aldermen leased to Chaucer, rent-free for life, the revered in Florence. Quite possibly Chaucer obtained dwelling over Aldgate, one of the six gates in the city manuscripts of some of these authors' works on this wall. Chaucer wa·s to keep the apartment in good visit. It is customary in this connection to mention repair, to allow entry for purposes of defense in time the reference to Petrarch in The Clerk's Prologue of war, and he was not-to sublet. Such a lease was not ~(IV.31-33), but with the warping that it is the Clerk, unusual; the city owned dwellings over other gates \ and not Chaucer, who claims to have heard the story and sometimes leased them to city officials. Ralph in The Clerk's Tale from Petrarch. Strode, Chaucer's friend, had a similar apartment over The journey of 1372-73, it was once thought, gave Aldersgate. Adam de Bury, whose name appears on Chaucer his first acquaintance with the language and Chaucer's lease, had been an associate of Chaucer's ,, XVIII INTRODUCTION I I· ' father, had been sent abroad on a mission by the king, over a ten-year period 24,600 pounds a year. Deal and had held a customs office himself. It was once ing with such ·sums, the controller was, reasonably suggested that Chaucer owed the lease to the influence enough, expected to keep the rolls "with his own of King E.dward's mistress, Alice Perrers, who owned hand" and to exercise the office "in his own person." property near Aldgate; but it is more likely that Adam At the end of the fiscal year, .at Michaelmas, con de Bury, because ofhis contact with the Chaucer fam troller and collectors were summoned to the "view," ily, did, as the lease states, make the arrangement. or audit,-a complex and arduous process. The dwelling over Aldgate became, as it turned An incident connected with the customs gave out, very convenient, just a few minutes walk from Chaucer a sizable reward. He was granted, on 12 July the customhouse, where Chaucer was to be employed 1376; the value (71 pounds, 4 shillings, and 6 pence) for the next twelve years. On 8 June 1374 Edward of wool forfeited by one John Kent, who had exported III appointed Chaucer controller of the export tax, or it without paying customs. The sum was important, customs, on wool, sheepskins, and leather, in the port more than seven times Chaucer's annual salary. of London, and of the subsidy, a heavier tax on the Chaucer seems to have been successful as con same merchandise. He was to receive an annual troller. He was appointed on 20 April 1382 to the salary of 10 pounds. Chaucer, the son and grandson additional·controllership of the petty customs, import of men who had held minor offices in the customs and export duties on wine and other merchandise not service, was taking up a family occupation. assessed under the wool customs. He managed to col His task was essential. Because wool was Eng lect his annual salary regularly, a considerable feat land's principal export, much depended on the wool in itself. He remained in office twelve years, longer customs and subsidy. These taxes had helped to than any other controller of his tiine; and he received finance King Edward's wars in the 1340s and 1350s in most years an additional reward for his "unremit and were paying for the smaller military expedit1ons ting labor anq diligence." of the 1370s and 1380s. Wool taxes paid the daily One detail from his experience at the customhouse costs of government, including, often, royal grants explains the background of the line from the Gen and annuities, and supported the costly court of King eral Prologue (I.277) in which we learn that the Mer Edward and, later, of his grandson, Richard IL chant wants the sea protected from pirates bitwixe As controller, Chaucer worked with the collec Middelburgh and Orewelle: customed merchandise tors, the nominal heads of the customs organization was, after 1384, shipped to a central "staple" at Mid for the port of London. The collectors were mer delburg across the sea from Orwell, the seaport"for chants and were making the king large loans on the the Chaucers' home city oflpswich. security of the revenue from the customs. Among While he held the office as controller, Chaucer was these collector-creditors while Chaucer was in office pursuing his literary interests. According to the Eagle were the immensely rich Nicholas Brembre, John in The House ofFame (653-57), Geffrey, when he Philipot, and William Walworth, neighbors of the had made his rekenynges, went to his house_to sit at Chaucer family in Vintry Ward. These three men another book. Presumably the reckonings were at the were leaders of the politically powerful victualers' customhouse, and Chaucer went home to Aldgate to guilds, riche and selleres ofvitaille, like the friends read and write. It is generally believed that during the of the Friar (General Prologue I.248). At the custom years when he lived over Aldgate Chaucer was writ house the collectors were expected to record each ing major poems: The Parliament of Fowls, The day's shipments and the amount of customs o:r sub House ofFame, and Troilus and Criseyde. In addition sidy collected. The controller, Chaucer, kept the he was translating the Consolation ofPhilosophy of "counter-rolls," independent lists against which theirs Boethius from the Latin. It has. been observecftliat were checked. The controller had to monitor the hon Chaucer was most prolific as a writer when he was esty and efficiency of the collectors. Under these con apparently most busy with other affairs. ditions, Chaucer's p·osition at the customhouse But he was too experienced an envoy to be allowed to demanded tact and astuteness. · devote himself entirely to his books and to the custom He had a heavy responsibility because customs house. In 1376, the year when Edward ill and his heir, receipts while he was in office were large, averaging the Black Prince, were both dying, Sir John Burley, CHAUCER'S LIFE XIX knight, and Chaucer, esquire of the king, received self, God ofde/it, and scourge ofLumbardye, appears payment for journeys "on secret business of the in The Monk's Tale (VII.2399-2400). Observation king." The records do not show where they went or of Bernabo and his brother, notorious tyrants, may what matters they discussed. During 1377 Chaucer. have suggested to Chaucer the phrase tirauntz of was sent overseas several times on royal business. In Lumbardye (LGWPro F 374). • February he and Sir Thomas Percy were advanced By 19 September 1378 Chaucer had returned to sums for a mission to Flanders, also described as "the London. He did not go overseas again until his work king's secret business." But the expense accounts at the customhouse had ended. submitted on their return do not mention Flanders. While he was still controller, his name appeared in Instead, they note payment to Chaucer for travel to a: record which is not yet fully understood. One Paris and Montreuil, 17 February to 25 March, and to Cecilia Chaumpaigne, daughter of a London baker, "parts of France," 30 April to 26 June 1377. The William Chaumpaigne, and his wife Agnes, acknowl French poet Eustache Deschamps, who in °1386 was edged, on 4 May 1380, a release to Geoffrey Chaucer to send Chaucer a well-known ballade in his praise, of all kinds of actions (i.e., legal procedures seeking may have been in Paris at that time. redress) in respect of her raptus as well as of any According to Froissart, Chaucer was a member of other matter. The definition of the word raptus in the a mission attempting to negotiate a marriage between context of this 1380 incident has been discussed Richard and a French princess; but Froissart is fre repeatedly. It could have meant physical rape; or it quently inaccurate, and no known English record could have meant abduction, as it did in the account names Chaucer as a member of such a mission until of John Chaucer's kidnapping and in the case after the death of Edward III, 21 June 1377. In fact, Chaucer was appointed to investigate in 1387, the the only official note concerning the purpose of abduction of a young heiress, Isabella atte Halle. The Chaucer's series of journeys to France is dated 6 record, however, is clear; it means that Cecilia March 1381. It speaks of Chaucer as having been in Chaumpaigne clears Chaucer of all responsibility. France "to treat of peace in time of Edward III and Additional facts, equally ambiguous, further com in time of Richard II to discuss a marriage between plicate interpretation of these events. On 30 June the king and a daughter [not named] of his adversary 1380 Robert Goodchild, cutler, and John Grove, of France." A French marriage did not take place, and armorer, citizens of London, acknowledged a general war with France was renewed. release to Chaucer of all actions of law. On the same Chaucer's next mission gave him another oppor day Cecilia Chaumpaigne acknowledged a similar tunity to visit Italy. He and Sir Edward Berkeley release to Goodchild and Grove. Then, in a recogni received funds on 28 May 1378 from "the king's zance dated 2 July 1380 Grove agreed to pay Cecilia treasurers for war," William Walworth and John at Michaelmas 10 pounds, a sum equivalent to Philipot, collectors of the London customs, for a Chaucer's annual salary at the customhouse. It has journey to Lombardy to discuss "certain business been suggested that Grove served as an intermediary concerning the king's war" with Bernabo Visconti, to bring about· a. settlement between Chaucer and lord of Milan, and Sir John Hawkwood, the English Cecilia. It has also been suggested that Grove, man who was·Bemabo's son-in-law and commander because of his financial involvement, was the princi of mercenaries. Official records do not give the result pal in the case and Chaucer only an accessory. of these secret negotiations, but they do indicate_ that Students of medieval.English law disagree on the Lombardy maintained relations with England. interpretation of the records. What is undeniable is Exchequer accounts of December 1378 show King the high social standing of the witnesses to Chaucer's Ricliard's rich gifts tQ messengers from Bernabo and · release: Sir William Beauchamp, chamberlain of the Hawkwood. king's household; Sir William Neville, admiral of the For Chaucer the journey meant a renewal of his king's fleet; Neville's friend, Sir John Clanvowe, acquaintance with Italian literature. The Visconti author of a religious treatise; John Philipot, collector owned famous libraries and had been patrons of of customs;. and Richard Morel, a merchant and Petrarch. The strong impression they made on member of Parliament who lived near Chaucer in Chaucer was recorded in his poems. Bernabo him- Aldgate Ward. XX INTRODUCTION
The next year was marked by an event of much Edmund Staplegate. Such wardships, often granted to ifl: wider significance than the Chaumpaigne case: the the king's retainers, could be lucrative. Staplegate's ap Rising of 1381, the Peasants' Revolt. No record tells father had left large holdings in Canterbury, and Cb us whether Chaucer was at Aldgate when thousand~ Chaucer's profit from the estate was 104 pounds. wi of rebels entered London through that gate or By 1388, records described Chaucer as "of Kent." whether he saw them burn John of Gaunt's palace, the He may have been living in Greenwich. The Host's mt Savoy, or whether he saw them behead Simon Sud reference in the Reeve's Prologue (1.3907) to ci1 bury, archbishop of Canterbury and chancellor of the Grenewych, ther many a shrewe [rascal] is inne has Wl kingdom. A number of the victims cmpe from Vin often been taken to mean that Chaucer himself was 101 try Ward, where Chaucer still owned his father's living in Greenwich and making one of his custom at1 ho.use; they included Richard Lyons, merchant, who ary self-deprecating jokes. th had profited by lending thousands of pounds to the Knowledge of two official positions Chaucer held of king; and scores of Flemings, whose headless bodies in the 1380s strengthens the theory that he was then were, according to the chroniclers, left piled in the living in Kent He was added on 12 October 1385 to R streets near the river. When the Nun's Priest speaks a sixteen-member commission of peace for Kent. casually of the noise made by the mob whan that they Other members were'Sir Simon Burley, the Black 0 wolden any Flemyng kille (NPT VIl.3396), Chaucer Prince's friend, sometimes called the most influen F: was talking of events that may once have been of a tial man in the kingdom of the prince's son, King p good deal more than casual importance to him. Richard II; representatives of leading Kentish fami L The mob was brought under control with the help lies, Cobham, Culpepper, and Devereux; and six ser C of John Philipot, Nicholas Brembre, and William Wal geants-at-law, men of the same high legal rank as lt worth, with all of whom Chaucer had worked at the Chaucer's Man of Law (General Prologue l.309). I customhouse. These "gode and worthi men of the city Membership on a Kentish peace commission in ti of London;" as they were called in a popular account 1385-86 entailed a special responsibility because the a of the revolt, were immediately knighted by the king. French were at that time threatening to invade the l, Chaucer, on 19 June 1381, four'days after the sup south coast of England. In 1386 Cobham and Dev I pression of the revolt, quit-claimed his father's hold~ ereux were also appointed members of a "great and s ., ings on Thames Street to Henry Herbury, a merchant continual council given comprehensive powers over 1 and a man of means. all matters of state" in the kingdom. Chaucer Chaucer may have been gradually ending his con remained a•member of the peace commission, with 1 nections with London. He was beginning to entrust one brief and apparently accidental break, until 15 the work of the customs to deputies. The terms ofhis July 1389, a few days after he had been given another appointment as controller of the petty customs on 20 position. April 1382 allowed him to name a. deputy. During Even more important than Chaucer's appointment his earlier absences, in France, 1377, and in Italy, as a justice of the peace was his election to Parlia 1378, his work had been carried on by deputies. He ment in 1386·as one of the two "knights of the shire" was permitted to employ a deputy at the wool cus (members of the House of Commons) to represent toms from 23 June to 1 November 1383, and again Kent. The Parliament to which he was sent was a for a month beginning 25 November 1384. Finally, turning point in King Richard's reign and in the his on 17 February 1385 he was given leave to appoint a tory of medieval England. When it convened in Octo~ permanent deputy. ber; troops had been called up to defend London against the threatened French invasion. But there Chaucer and Kent were no funds to pay them; they were wandering the London streets searching for food and loot. In the The changes at the customhouse have been taken to sessions of Parliament, powerful noblem~n, led by , suggest that Chaucer had already left London for the king's youngest uncle, Thomas of Gloucester, nearby Kent, a county with which he had had earlier attacked the chancellor and the treasurer of the realm associations. In 1375 King Edward had granted him and compelled Richard to dismiss them. Gloucester the wardship of two Kentish heirs, William Soles and and his allies may have threatened to depose Richard CHAUCER'S LIFE XXI
ifhe did not comply. Though knights of the shire took Membership in the fraternity was something of a a prominent part in the attack, there is no record that custom with the royal family. King Richard and Chaucer was more than a quiet observer. He had ties Queen Anne themselves were enrolled on 26 March with both sides. 1387 when tliey visited the cathedral, site of tlie shrine While he was at Westminster attending Parlia of the boy martyr, St. Hugh of Lincoln, who is men ment, Chaucer, on 15 October 1386, gave his often tioned in The Prioress's Tale (VII.684). It has been cited deposition in the Scrape-Grosvenor case. He argued that this tale was first read on that occasion. was testifying that his friends, the Scrape family, had In the late 1380s an important period of Chaucer's long borne the coat of arms that the Grosvenors Were life came to an end. On 5 October 1386 he gave up attempting to make theirs. Chaucer had, he said, seen the lease of the Aldgate dwelling, where he had lived the device on Scrape armor at the time of the siege for twelve years·. New controllers took his positions ofReims in 1359-60. · at the customhouse. Philippa Chaucer, to whom he had been married for at least twenty-one years, dis Personal Matters appeared from the records after 18 June 1387 _and is presumed to have died. When Chaucer was given a One of the first tributes to Chaucer as poet came from safe-conduct on 5 July 1387 to accompany his friend, France in 1385-86. Though France at that time was Sir William Beauchamp, to Calais, he was making preparing to invade England, Chaucer's friend, Sir the last of a series ofjourneys overseas that he had Lewis Clifford, returned from France bringing begun in 1359, almost thirty years before. He had Chaucer a poem of generous praise, written by the apparently reached a low point in his career. leading French poet of the time, Eustache Deschamps. Chaucer lived safely through 1388 when the king's Deschamps's ballade, with_the refrain "great transla enemies, the Appellants, who dominated Parliament, tor, noble Geoffrey Chaucer," stressed Chaucer's role caused the execution of three men with whom as a cultural intermediary who had made Le roman de Chaucer had worked, Sir Nicholas Brembre of the la rose· accessible to English readers. The poem customhouse, and two members of the Kent peace praised Chaucer extravagantly for his brevity of commission, Sir Simon Burley .and Chief Justice speech, his wisdom, his practical learning. Deschamps Robert Tresilian. Whether or not Chaucer saw them himself, he wrote, would be only a nettle in Chaucer's moving through the London streets to their deaths, he garden of poetry. described such a scene memorably in The Man of At about the same time, two English writers were Law's Tale (II.645-50): commenting on Chaucer's poetry. In late 1385, Thomas Usk, a London clerk, in his prose Testament Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face, of Love called Chaucer "the noble philosophical Among a prees, ofhym that hath be lad poete." He declared that Chaucer surpassed all other Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace, poets in "goodnes of manliche speche" and in sound sense. John Gower's praise in his Confessio amantis And swich a colour in his face hath had . ( 1390), in which he remarked that Chaucer had filled Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad the land with "ditees" and "songes glade," was less _Amonges alle the faces· in that route? ' emphatic. The remark disappears in the course of Gower's later revision of the Confessio, but for struc Chaucer himself seems to have been harmed dur tural reasons, it is now thought, not _because of a ing this time only by suits for debt. Twice, 16 and 25 quarrel between the poets. April 1388, he was sued by John Churchman, col On 19 February 1386, Philippa Chaucer was admit lector of the customs at London. It is, therefore, ted to the fraternity of Lincoln Catliedral. In the same sometimes believed that when he made over his company were the future Henry rv, Henry of Derby, annuities to a certain John Scalby on 1 May 1388, tlie oldest son of John of Gaunt, and Thomas Swynford he was exchanging future income for cash with and John Beaufort, sons of Philippa's sister, Kather which to settle present debts. ine Swynford. Both John of Gaunt and the Swynford Chaucer was not entirely free from· official duties; family had been long associated with the cathedral. he was still a member of the Kent peace commission. XXII INTRODUCTION
But between 1386 and 1389 he had leisure in which Chaucer was appointed on 12 March 1390 to a royal alarf he could work on the General Prologue of The Can- commission "of walls and ditches" for the extensive his" terbury Tales and a number of the tales themselves. marshes between Woolwich and Greenwich; he may v,, then have been living in the latter town. In May and was Clerk of the Works and Forester October of 1390, when King Richard invited knights 139: ,! from overseas to take part in his tournaments, Chaucer fore New official tasks, however, soon demanded his atten- was in charge of putting up "scaffolds," seating for serv tion. King Richard, who had regained power in May the royal and noble spectators, arid lists for the com- T 1389, appointed Chaucer on 12 July 1389 to what was bats at Smithfield. Construction oflists in The Knight's was possibly his most arduous position: he became clerk of Tale (I.1882-84, 1908, 2087-88) has sometimes been mor the king's works. He had responsibility for construction compar_ed to Chaucer's task at Smithfield, One of the _ Eng and repair at ten royal residences and other holdings of October guests was to be installed as a Knight of the pris, the king. One was the Tower of London, serving at that Garter in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where ton time as palace, fortress, prison, armory, mint, and place the order had been founded; accordingly, on 12 July fiel of safekeeping for records. Among other "works" he 1390, Chaucer was commissioned to repair the chapel, WO( oversaw were Westminster Palace, center of govern- described as "ruinous and like to fall to the ground." inc1 ment as well as occasional dwelling for the royal fam- No large building projects were under way during allo ily; the castle ofBerkbamsted; and seven of Richard's Chaucer's clerkship. Average spending by his succes- toll: favorite manors, 'including Eltham and Sheen, men- sors was two and one-half times as great as his. But j tioned in The Legend of Good Women (Pro F 497). He one useful project, undertaken before Chaucer took live was also overseer of hunting lodges in royal forests, office, continued throughout his term ana beyond. It wh1 the mews at Charing Cross for the king's falcons, parks was the rebuilding and e~larging of the wharf beside eve (hunting preserves), gardens, mills, pools, and fences. the Tower of London, where wool was brought for 135 He had purveyors who assisted him at most of these customs levy. The wharf repairs and other works near pm places and a controller who checked his accounts as the Tower cost more than half ofall the money spent gra he had checked those of the customs collectors. by Chaucer in the works office; and, appropriately, ga, Chaucer's clerkship represented ,a heavier and they were paid for by the revenue from wool customs. dm more direct responsibility than did the controllership. Chaucer's previous work as controller of customs had del He was not dealing with such large sums of money as brought him daily to the wharf, and he knew well ue1 he had checked at the customhouse, but he super- what improvements were needed. fie1 vised a great number of craftsmen and arranged for At least once during his clerkship he encountered the purchase, transportation, and storage of large danger. In early Septemb(,::r 1390, probably while La quantities of supplies. He had to find and pay the traveling from one royal manor to another with men, pursue them if they ran away, and, if necessary, money for payrolls, he was attacked by a gang of Tb imprison them; he had to choose, purchase, and store highwaymen and robbed. The robbers were caught, ye building materials, and to see that they were not stolen. tried, and convicted. But the legal records differ so de Chaucer's wages, at 2 shillings a day, amounted to widely that it is not possible to determine whether 13
I • more than three and one-halftimes his base salary at there was one robbery or three; whether the loss was fri the customhouse. 10 pounds, or 20 pounds, 6 shillings, and 8 pence, or Wl i ex I The importance of Chaucer's position is suggested 9 pounds, 43 pence; whether the place was Westmin- I I by the achievements of the king's craftsmen on his ster or Hatcham or the "Foule Oke," a place name or ha payroll. One of them, master mason Henry Yeveley, a tree, in Surrey or in Kent. It is certain, however, that 1~ planned the rebuilding of the naves of Westminster Chaucer was not required to repay the king's money. se Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral, designed the tombs Chaucer's clerkship of the works ended on 17 June to of Richard II and Queen Anne in·the Abbey, and 1391. The robbery, in which he was said to have been ar devised the rebuilding of Westminster Hall, some- wounded, may have caused him to give up the office. times called "the handsomest building in Europe." Or he may have found the financial situation unsatisfac- tb Special occasions made special demands. After a tory; when Chaucer left office, the audit of his account m storm that caused great damage along the Thames, showed more than 87 pounds still owing to him. This was te CHAUCER'S LIFE XXIII
a large sum; it exceeded by 17 pounds the total amount of Chaucer, our beloved esquire going about divers parts of his wages during the entire term of his appointment. England on the king's arduous and pressing business." When Chaucer left the clerkship, another place Henry's accession seems at first glance to have made was waiting for him: at_some time before 22 June little difference in Chaucer's life. The poet and his wife . 1391 he was appointed deputy forester of the royal had received annuities from Henry's father; Chaucer forest at North Petherton in Somerset. Other royal had written The Book ofthe Duchess as a memorial to servants received similar appointments. Henry's mother; and during the last decade Chaucer The forestership, like Chaucer's earlier positions, had received a gift from Henry himself. As king, Henry was a responsible one, demanding skill in handling renewed the grants Chaucer had received from Richard money and men, because forests in late medieval II and granted an additional 40 marks yearly for life. _ England were sources ofrevenue. Royal forests com The envoy of a late poem, The Complaint of Chaucer to prised entire regions that could, and at North Pether His Purse, hailed Henry as true king by right of con ton did, include moor, marsh, pastureland, cultiyated quest, birth, andfree eleccion (line 23), though the , fields, and villages and their churches, as well as Complaint itself suggests that the grants approved by wooded areas. Royal forests yielded many kinds of the new king had not yet been paid. income, such as fees for pasturing cattle and for Chaucer now provided himself with a home near allowing swine to feed on acorns and beech mast, and the court. On 24 December 1399 he took a fifty tolls for traveling forest roads. three-year lease of a house near the Lady Chapel of According to tradition, Chaucer as deputy forester Westminster Abbey, on a site now occupied by the lived at Park House in the forest, though it is not clear Chapel of King Henry VII. For a few months he col whether hi~ duties required that he live there. Wher- lected, or others collected for him, his royal grants: ) _ ever he lived, he did not lose touch with the court. In on 21 February and 5 June 1400 he received partial 1393 Chaucer received from King Richard a gift of 1o payments of the arrears due on his exchequer annu pounds "for good service;' The next year Richard ities. No life records oflater date have been found. granted him an annuity of 20 pounds. Henry of Derby The inscription on Chaucer's tomb iri Westminster gave Chaucer fur to trim a gown of scarlet (a fiiie cloth) Abbey gives the date of his death as 25 October 1400. during the ·year 1395-96. In the same year, Chaucer The tomb may, however, have been erected as late as delivered 1 o pounds to Henry from the royal excheq 1555, and there is no other evidence as to the exact uer. King Richard, reminded of an earlier grant, certi date of his death. He was buried in the Abbey for sev fied to Chaucer in 1398 the yearly gift ofa tun of wine. eral reasons, none of them, so far as we know, related to his being a poet. He had· a right to burial there Last Years because he was a tenant of the Abbey and a member of the parish. Moreover, commoners who had been The mood of the court changed in 1397. After several royal servants were beginning to be buried near the years of peace and moderation Richard moved sud tombs of the kings they had served. No one in England denly to take revenge on the Appellants, who had in in 1400 could foresee that Chaucer's tomb would be 1388 caused the exile or death of a group of his the beginning of Poets' Comer and that Chaucer would friends. The king arrested his enemies, charged them become the "stremes hede" of poetry in English. with treason, and caused them to be imprisoned, exiled, or put to death. Henry, John of Gaunt's son, A CHRONOLOGY OF had been one of the Appellants; he was ex,iled in CHAUCER'S LIFE AND TIMES 1398. When John of Gaunt
1378 Chaucer travels to Italy (Milan) on diplomatic 1388 Some of Richard II's closest supporters mission. removed by the Lords Appellant; some (including Thomas Usk, an admirer of 1378 John Gower and Richard Forester have Chaucer) are executed. Chaucer's power of attorney while he travels abroad. 1389 Chaucer appointed clerk of the works, with responsibility for Westminster, Tower of Late 1370s Chaucer writes Saint Cecelia (possibly later); The House ofFame, Anelida andArcite. London, and other royal estates. 1380 Cecily Chaumpaigne signs a document, 1390 John Gower "publishes" his Confessio aman releasing Chaucer from all actions "in the tis (later revised). case ofmy rape" (de raptu meo). 1390 As clerk of the works, Chaucer has scaffolds · 1380 Birth of Chaucer's second son, Lewis. built for jousts in Smithfield. 1380-82 Chaucer_writes The Parliament ofFowls. 1390 Chaucer is robbed of horse, goods, and a con siderable amount of money at Hacham, Surrey 1381 The Peasants' Revolt. .(perhaps robbed again a bit later). 1381 Death of Chaucer's mother, Agnes. 1391-92 Chaucer writes A Treatise on the Astrolabe 1382 Chaucer's controllership of the customs (with additions 1393 and lateJ). renewed, with permission to have a deputy. 1392-95 Chaucer•writes most of The Canterbury 1382 The Bible is translated into English {the Tales, including probably the "Marriage "WyclifBible"; a later version is made in Group.'' · 1388). '\ 1394 King Richard II grants Chaucer an annuity of 1382-86 Chaucer writes Boece; Troilus and 20 pounds a year. · · Criseyde. - 1385 Chaucer granted a permanent deputy in the 1396-1400 Chaucer writes. the latest of the Tales, customs. including probably The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale (though part is 13.85 Eustache Deschamps sends Chaucer a poem probably earlier), anThe Canterbury Tales: tradition). ' ·The Canterbury Tales
FRAGMENT I ( GROUP A) uI, General Prologue
~
Here bygynneth the Book ofthe Tales of Caunterbury.
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The hooly blisful martir for to seke, The droghte ofl\t1:arch hath perced to the roote, That hem hath holpen whan that they were .seeke. And bathed every veyne in swich licour ; Bifil that in that seson on a day, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay 20 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 5 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage . Inspired hath in every holt and heeth To Caunterbury with ful devout corage, 'i The tendre crQppes, and the yq_nge sonne At nyght was come into that hostelrye · ;Hath in the Ram his half cours yrorine, Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye ·And smale foweles maken melodye, Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle 25 That slepen al the nyght with open ye 10 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, (So priketh hem Nature in hir corages), That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde. ,j Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, The chambres and the stables weren wyde, . ,I,, And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, And wel we weren esed atte beste . . To feme halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30 And specially from every shires ende 15 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon OfEngelond to Caunterbury they wende, That I was ofhir felaweshipe anon, And made forward erly for to ryse, To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse. This text was revised by RALPH HANNA III and LARRY D. BENSON, with materials provided by ROBERT A. PRATT.
I bis: its shoures soote: sweet, fragrant showers 2 droghte: dryness perced: pierced I 7 bllsfui martlr: blessed martyr, St. Thomas a Becket '·3 veyne: vein (of the plants) swlch llcour: such liquid 18 hem hath holpen: helped them seeke: sick 4 Of which vertu: by which power 19 Bifli: it happened seson: season · 5 Zephlrus: the west wind (which blows in Spring) 20 Southwerk: Southwark, across the Thames from London Tabard: the Tabard Inn 6 Inspired: breathed life into bolt and heeth: grove and field 22 corage: spirit, feelings ' 7 croppes: shoots, new leaves yonge: young, because the solar year has just begun 25 sondry folk: various sorts of people with the vernal equinox. The sun has passed through the second half of the zodiacal 25-26 by aventure yfalle In feiaweshlp e: fallen by chance into fellowship · sign Aries (the Ram); the time is thus late April. April 18 is specified in IntrMLT 27 woiden: desired, intended to (11.5), 28 chambres: bedrooms 10 ye: eye 29 esed atte beste: accommodated in the best way 11 priketh hem: spurs, incites them hlr corages: their spirits, hearts 30 shortly: in brief 13 palmeres: professional pilgrims who had been to the Holy Land and carried a 31 everlchon: every one palm frond as their emblem straunge strondes: foreign shores 32 anon: stmightway 14 feme halwes: distant shrines kowthe In sundry londes: known in various lands 33 forward: agreement (i.e., famous) · 34 devyse: tell 6 THE CANTERBURY TALES [I (A) 35-92
But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, 35 This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also Er that I ferther in this tale pace, .. Somtyme with the lord of Palatye 65 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun · Agayn another hethen in Turkye; ', To telle yow al the condicioun And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn pry~,, Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,· ·And though that he were worthy, he was wys;\. And whiche they weren, and of what degree, 40 And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. And eek in what array that they were inne; He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde 70\ And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne. In al his lyf unto no maner wight. A KN-YGHT ther was, and that a worthy man, He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght. That fro the tyme that he first bigan But for to tellen yow of his array, To riden out, he loved chivalrie, 45 .His hors were goode, but he was nat gay. Trouthe and honour, fredom and curfeisie. Of fustian he wered a gypon 75 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, Al bismotered with his habergeon, Arid therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, For he was late ycome ·from his viage, As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, And wente for to doon his pilgrymage. And evere honoured for his worthynesse; 50 With hym ther was his sone, a yong SQUIER, At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne. A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, 80 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. Aboven alle nacions in Pruce; Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce, Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, No Cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55 And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe. In Gemade at the seege eek hadde he be And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie \ 85 Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye. In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie, At Lyeys was he and at Satalye, And born hym weel, as of so litel space, Whan they were wonne, and in the Grete See In hope to stonden in his lady grace. At many a noble armee hadde he be. 60 Embrouded was he, as it were a meede At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, Al ful of fresshe :floures, whyte· and reede.' 90 \J-"'- Syngynge he was, or :floytynge, al the day; . And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene · 7 In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo. /,,., ,k He was as fressh as is the month of May. -J~r !('-\ . \Jv'--i 64 ilke: same 35 nathelees: nonetheless space: opportunity 65 Somtyme: once, at one time Palatye: Balat (in modem Turkey) 36 pace: go, proceed 66 Agayn: against 37 Me thynketh it: it seems to me, I think it acordaunt to resoun: in accord with 67 sovereyn prys: outstanding reputation proper order 68 Although he was a distinguished knight (i.e., brave), he was prudent. 38 condicioun: state, circumstanc·es 69 port: bearing, manner . 39 ech: each (one) 70 vileynye: rudeness 40 degree: social rank 71 no man er wight: any sort of person 41 array: dress 72 verray: true parlit: perfect (complete) gentil: noble 42 wol: will 73 array: equipment · 45 chivalrie: prowess 74 gay: gaily dressed, richly attired 46 Trouthe: fidelity honour: good reputation fredom: generosity of spirit 75 fustian: coarse cloth gypon: tunic curteisie: refinement of manners 76 bismotered with his habergeon: _stained by (rust from) his coat of mail 47 werre: war 77 viage: journey, expedition · 48 ferre: farther 79 Squier: squire, a young knight in the service of another knight 49 hethenesse: heathen lands 80 lovyere: lover lusty: lively bacheler: young knight,-hot yet ·a knight banneret 51 Alisaundre: Alexandria. The places named in lines 51-06 are those where English 81 crulle: curled presse: press (curler) knights campaigned in the fourteenth century. 82 yeer: years 52 bard bigonne: sat in the place of honor 83 evene lenglhe: moderate height 53 Aboven alle nacions: above knights from all nations Pruce: Prussia 84 wonderly: marvelously delyvere: agile 54 Lettow: Lithuania reysed: ridden on raids Ruce: Russia 85 somtyme: for a time, once in chyvachie: on a cavalry expedition 56 Gernade: Granada seege: siege eek: also be: been 86 Flaundres,Artoys, Pycardie: Flanders and parts of northern France, where 57 Algezir: Algeciras, in Spain Belmarye: Morocco (Benmarin) English armies fought 58 Lyeys: Ayash (in modern Turkey) Satalye: Atalia (in modem Turkey) 87 born hym wee!: conducted himself well space: time 59 Grete See: Mediterranean 88 stonden in his lady grace: find favor with his lady 60 armee: military expedition 89 Embrouded: embroidered meede: meadow 62 Tramyssene: Tlemcen (near Morocco) 90 reede:.red 63 In lystes: in formal duels ay: always 91 lloytynge: piping, playing the flute
./ I (A) 93-153] GENERAL PROLOGUE 7
Short was his gowne, with sieves longe and wyde. And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, Wei koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde. After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, 125 He koude songes make and wel endite, · 95 For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe. Juste and eek daunce, and weelpurtreye and write, At mete wel ytaught was she with alle; So hoote he loved~ _that by nyghtertale She leet no morselfrom hir lippes falle, He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. · Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe; Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable, Wei koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe 130 And carfbifom his fader at the table. 100 That no drope ne fille upon hire brest. A YEMAN hadde he and servantz namo In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. At that tymei1'or1wm liste ride so, Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene And he was cladi~ cote and hood of grene. That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng seile A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene, Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily 105 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. (Wei koude he dresse his take! yemanly; And sikerly she was of greet desport, His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe ), And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port, And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. And peyned hire to countrefete cheere A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage; Of court, and to been estatiich of manere, 140 Ofwodecraft wel koude he al the usage. 110 And to ben holden digne of reverence. Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer, But for to speken of hire conscience, And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, She was so charitable and so pitous And on that oother syde a gay daggere She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous Harneised wel and sharp as point of .spere; Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145 A Cristopher on his brest of silver sheene. .115 Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene; With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed. A forster was he, soothly, as I .gesse. ; (\ e,..J .>i-'-'\ But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, ~Th.er was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, / ~uJ Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte; That ofhir smylyng was ful symple and coy; And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150 · Hire gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy; 120 Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was, And she was cleped madame Eglentyne. Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne, Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed. Entun~d in hir nose ful semely; 124 fetlsly: elegantly 125 in the manner of(After the sco/e of) Stratford atte Bowe (rather than that of the 94 koude: knew how to royal court) · 96 Juste: joust eek: als~ weel: well purtreye: draw 127 At mete: at dinner with alle: indeed 97 hoote: passionately by nyghtertale: at nighttime 128 !eel: allowed 98 sleep: slept 130 koude: knew how to wel kepe: take good care 99 lowely: modest (humble) servysable: willing to serve, attentive 131 no drope ne lille: no drop fell 100 carf: carved 132 Her greatest pleasure (lest) was in good manners (curteisie). 101 Yeman: yeoman, freeborn servant he: the Knight namo: no other 133 over-lippe: upper lip l 02 hym lisle: he preferred to 134 coppe: cup ferthyng: speck (spot the size of a farthing) 104 sheer: sheaf 135 grece: grease I 05 bar ful thriftily: bore very properly 136 after hir mete she raughte: she reached for her food 106 koude: knew how to dresse his takel: care for his arrows, equipment for 137 sikerly: truly greet desport: excellent deportment archery yemanly: skillfully, as a good yeoman should 138 port: bearing, manner 107 drouped noght with fetheres lowe: did not fall short because of poorly adjusted 139 peyned hire: took pains countrefete: imitate feathers 139--140 cheere Of court: the manners of the court 109 not heed: close-cropped head broun: very dark 140 estatlich ofmanere: dignified in behavior 111 gay: bright bracer: archer's arm guard 141 dJgne of reverence: worthy of respect 112 bokeler: buckler, small shield 142 conscience: moral sense and solicitude 114 Harneised: ornamented 143 pitons: compassionate 115 Cristopher: image of St. Christopher sheene: bright 144 saugh: saw 116 bar: bore baivdryk: baldric, shoulder strap for the horn 147 rosted flessh: roasted meat wastel-breed: expensive fine white bread 117 forster: forester, game-keeper 148 soore: sorely, bitterly 119 fol: very symple and coy: unaffected and quiet 149 smoot: beat yerde: switch smerte: smartly, painfully 120 ooth: oath Seinte Loy: St. Eligius 151 Ful semyly: very properly wympul: wimple, a head dress that covers all but the 121 cleped:.called face pyncbed: pleated 122 soong: sang service dyvyne: litll!'gy 152 tretys: well formed greye: gray(?); the exact cola,r intended is uncertain. 123 Entuned: intoned - ful semely:•in a very seemly manner, 153 smal: small, elegant therto: moreover reed: red 8 THE CANTERBURY TALES [I (A) 154-214
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; What sholde he studie and make hymselven wooq, It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe; 155 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, 185 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. Or swynken with his handes, and laboure, Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war. As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served? Of smal coral aboute hire arm sl).e bar Lat Austyn have his swynk to hym reserved! A peire ofbedes, gauded al with grene, Therfore he was a prikasour aright: And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, 160 Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight; 190 On which ther was first write a crowned A, Ofprikyng and ofhuntyng for the hare And after Amor vincit omnia. Was al his lust, for no cost.wolde he spare. Another N 0NNE with hire hadde she, I seigh his sieves purfiled at the hond That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre. With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond; A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie, 165 And for to festne his hood under his chyn, 195 · An outridere, that lovede venerie, He hadde of gold ywroght.a 'ful curious pyn; A manly man, to been an abbot able. A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was. Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable, His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, . And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt. Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere 170 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt; 200 And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle His eyen stepe; and rollynge in his heed, . / Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle. That sterned as a fomeys of a leed; The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat. By cause that it was old and somdel streit Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat; This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace, 175 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost. 205 And heeld after the newe world the space. A fat swan loved he best of any roost. He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, His palfrey was as broun as is a berye. ,,- That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men, A FRERE ther was, a wantowne and a merye, Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees, A lymytour, a ful solempne man. :,J:- Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees- 180 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 210 f! ,f This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre. So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. ~:._,~ But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre; He hadde maad ful many a mariage -~~ And I seyde his opinion was good. Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. Unto his ordre he was a noble post.
154 sikerly: certainly 155 spanne brood: about seven to nine inches wide trowe: believe 184 wood: crazy, mad 156 hardily: certainly 185 alwey: always poure: pore over 157 Ful fetys: very elegant, well made war: aware 186 swynken: work 159 peire: set gauded: divided by large beads (gaudes) marking the Paternosters 187 Austyn: St. Augustine, supposed author of a monastic rule bit;. biddeth, commands 160 sheene: bright 189 prikaSour: horseman, hunter on horseback aright: certainly 161 crowned A: an A surmounted by a crown 190 Grehoundes: greyhounds 162 Amor vincit omnia: love conquers all; the phrase could apply to either divine or 191 prikyng: tracking earthly love. 192 lust: pleasure 164 chapeleyne: a nun serving as a secretary to a prioress preestes thre: three 193 selgh: saw purfiled: lined with fur priests; see n. 194 grys: expensive squirrel fur fyneste of a lond: best to be had 165 a fair for the maistrie: an extremely fine or handsome one 196 curious: skillfully made 166 outridere: monk with business outside the monastery venerie: hunting 197 love-knotte: elaborate knot gretter: larger 167 manly: generous, virile 198 balled: bald 168 deyntee: fine 199 enoynt: anointed, rubbed with oil 169 myghte his brydel heere: could hear his bridle 200 in good poynt: in good condition 170 Gynglen: jingle als cleere: as clearly 20 I stepe: prominent or bright 172 celle: a subordinate monastery 202 His eyes gleamed like a furnace under a cauldron (R.). 173 reule of Seint Maure ... Seint Beneit: the Benedictine Rule, established by St. 203 souple: pliant greet estaat: excellent condition Be~d.ict and introduced into France by his follower St. Maurus 204 prelaat: ecclesiastical dignitary 174 somdel streit: somewhat narrow, strict 205 forpyned goost: tormented spirit 175-76 This same monk let old things pass away (pace) and followed the customs of 208 wantowne: jovial, pleasure'loving merye: merry modem times. 209 lymytour: friar licensed (by his order) to beg in a specific district· solempne: 177 yaf: gave text: authoritative written statement pulled: plucked dignified, important 179 recchelees: heedless of rules 210 ordres foure: the four orders of friars kan: knows 180 til: to waterlees: out of water 211 mucbel: much dallaunce: sociability 182 thilke: that nat worth an oystre: i.e., worth nothing 214 post: supporter (pillar of the Church) I (A) 215-277] GENERAL PROLOGUE 9
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he . 215 And over al, ther as profit sholde arise, With frankeleyns over al in his contree, Curteis he was and lowely of servyse; 250 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun; Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. For he hadde power of confessioun, He was the beste beggere in his hous; As seyde hymself, m6ore than a curat, [And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt; · For of his ordre he was licenciat. 220 Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;] Ful swetely herde he confessioun, For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho, And plesaunt was his absolucioun: So plesaunt was his "In principio," He was an esy man to yeve penaunce, Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente. 255 Ther as he wi~te to have a good pitaunce. His purchas was wel bettre than his rente. Fot llllto a povre ordre for to yive 225 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp. Is signe that a man is wel yshryve; In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
For if he y~f1 he dorste make avaunt, For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer He wiste that a man was repentaunt; With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, 260 For many a mati so hard is of his herte, But he was lyk a maister or a pope. He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte. 230 Of double worstede was his semycope, Therfore in stede ofwepynge and preyeres That rounded as a belle out of the presse. Men moote yeve silver to-the povre freres. Somwh li se for his wantownesse, His typet was ay farsed ful ofknyves To make his En lissh sweete u on ge; 265 And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves. And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe, And certeinly ~e hadde a ·murye note:, 235 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght. Ofyedclynges he baar outrely the pris. This worthy lymytour was clepedrHu~ His nekke whit was as the flour-de-ly:s; A MARCHANT was ther with a~oerd, 270 Tlierto he strong was as a champ1oun. In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat; . He knew the·tavemes wel in every toun 240 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat, And everich hostiler and tappestere His bootes clasped faire and fetisly. Bet than a lazar or a beggestere, His resons he spak ful solempnely, For unto swich a worthy man as he Sownynge alwey th'encrees of his wynnyng. 275 Acorded mit, as by his facultee, He wolde the see were kept for any thyng To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce. 245 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle. nat ponest; it may nat avaunce, lt18 249 ther as: where For to deelen with no swich poraille, 250 lowely of servyse: graciously humble 251 nas = nc was, was not vertuous: capable But al with riche and selleres ofvitaille. 252a ferme: fee, fixed payment graunt: grant (ofan exclusive territory for begging) 252b haunt: territory 216 frarikeleyns: landowners over al: everywhere 253 sho: shoe 217 eek: also 254 In principio: in the beginning (the opening words of Gen. 1 and John!, popular 220 licenciat: licensed to hear confessions for devotions) 223 esy: lenient yeve: give 255 ferthyng: farthing 224 wiste: expected pitaunce: gift (literally food allowed to a member of a religious 256 purchas: total income rente: proper income house) 257 rage: romp, sport (or flirt) whelp: pup 225 povre: poor 258 love-dayes: days on which disputes were reconciled 226 yshryve: confessed, penitent 260 povre scoler: poor scholar, student 227 For if a man gave, he (the Friar) dared to assert (R.) 262 double worstede: a very wide (hence expensive) cloth semycope: short cloak 228 wiste: knew 263 rounded: was round presse: casting mold 230 may nat: cannot, is not able to , hym soore smerte: he sorely, painfully, suffers 264 Upsed: lisped wantownesse: affectation 232 moote yeve: must give 266 songe: sung 233 type!: the dangling tip of the hood farsed: stuffed 267 aryght: exactly 234 yeven: give 268 sterres: stars 235 murye: merry, pleasing note: voice 269 cleped: called 236 rote: stringed instrument 271 mottelee: parti-colored cloth hye on horse: in a high saddle 237 For reciting ballads (yeddynges}, he absolutely (outrely) took the prize. 272 Flaundryssh: Flemish 238 Hour-de-lys: lily 273 fetisly: elegantly, neatly 239 champloun: champion, representative in a judicial duel 274 resons: remarks, opinions solempnely: ceremoniously, solemnly 241 everich: every hostiler: innkeeper tappestere: barmaid 275 Sownynge: concerned with, or, making known wynnyng: profit - 242 Bet: better Jazar: leper beggestere: beggar~woman 276 see: sea kept for any thyng: protected at all costs - 243 swich: such 277 Mlddelburgh: a Dutch port Orewelle: Orwell, on the English coast 244 It was not suitable, in view of his official position. 245 silm sick 246 honest: honorable, respectable may nat avaunce: cannot be profitable 247 swich porallle: such poor people 248 vitaille: victuals, provisions 10 THE CANTERBURY TALES
Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. And gladly wolde he leme and gladly teche. Thatl This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys, Was, Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 280 That often hadde- been at the Parvys, 310 Anhc So estatly was he of his govemaunce Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. Seint With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. Discreet he was and of greet reverence- Hisb1 For sothe he was a worthy man with alle, He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise. Abet But, sooth to seyn, I no6t how men hym calle. Justice he was ful often in assise, Withe A CLERKJher was of Oxenford also, 285 By patente and by pleyn commissioun. 315 Offis That unto logyk hadde longe ygo. For his science and for his heigh renoun, It sne' As leene was his hors as is a rake, Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. Of all And he nas nat right fat, I undertake, So greet a purchasour was nowher noon: After But looked holwe, and th~rto sobrely. Al was fee symple to hym in effect; Soch Fld thredbare was his overeste courtepy, 290 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. 320 Ful rn ' For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, Andr Ne was so worldly.for to have office. And yet he semed bisier than he was. Wow For hym was levere have at his beddes heed In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle Poym Twenty bookes, clad in blak ofreed, · That from the tyme ofkyng William were falle. 324 His ta Of Aristotle and his philosophie 295 Therto he koude endite and make a thyng, Stood J:han robes riche, or fithele, or gay s.autrie. Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng; Atsei But al be that he was a philosophre, · And every statut koude he ple)'!l by rote. Ful oJ Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; , He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote, Anar But al that he myghte of his freendes hente, Gip: with a ceint of silk, with barres smale; Heeni On bookes and on lemynge he it spente, 300 Of his array telle I no lenger tale. 330 Ashi1 And bisily gan for the soules preye A °FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye. Wasr Of hem that yafhym wherwith to scoleye. Whit was his berd as is the dayesye; Ar. Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede. Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. A WI N,9ght o word spak he mo_Q@ than was neede, Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyh; Andt And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305 To lyven in delit was evere his wone, 335 . Ofai And short and quyk anctful ofhy sentence; For he was Epicurus owene sone, Ful fr Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, Hir kl ','--,__ But a: 309 Sergeant of the Lawe: a lawyer who belonged to the highest order in his profession 278 sheeldes: A shee/d was a unit of exch'an~ selling shields was a way of borrow- war: prudent 337 That ing money, often at a cost to the seller. -~ 310 Parvys: the porch of St. Paul's Cathedral 338 verr: 279 his wit bisette: used his wits 311 ful riche of excellence: well endowed with superior qualities 340 Sein, 281 estatly: dignified governaunce: behavior, management 312 Discreet ... and of greei reverence: judicious and with much dignity 341 after 282 bargaynes: buying and selling chevyssaunce: financial afrangements, 314 Justice: judge assise: the court of assizes 342 envy borrowing 315 patente: letter of appointment from the king pleyn commlssioun: full jurisdiction 343 bake 283 For sothe: truly _ with alle: indeed 316 science: lrnowledge · 344 pienl 284 noot = ne wool, do not know 317 fees and robes: grants of yearly income (a legal formula) many oon: many a one 345 sue¥. 285 Clerk: university student, scholar 318 purchasour: land-buyer 346 deyn 286 unto logyk hadde longe ygo: had taken (studied) logic a long time 319 fee symple: unrestricted poss,ession 347 Afte1 288 right: very undertake: affirm, declare 320 been infect: be invalidated of the die 289 holwe: emaciated sobrely: grave, serious 323-2\He had in Year Books all the cases (caas) and judicial decisions (doomes) 349 part, 290 overeste: uppermost courtepy: short coat from the time of William I. · 350 bree, 291 benefice: ecclesiastical living 325 endite and make a thyng: draft and draw up a legal document 351 bull 292 office: secular employment 326 pynche at: find a flaw in 352 Poyn 293 hym was levere: he would rather his beddes heed: head of his bed 327 And he lrnew every statute entirely by heart. 353 table 296 fithele: fiddle gay sautrle: elegant psaltry (a harp-like instrument) 328 hoomly: simply medlee: parti-colored 355 Hep 297 al be that: even though phllosophre: the word can mean eitl)er philosopher or 329 Girt: girded ceint: belt barres: stripes 356 knyg alchemist 330 array: dress 357 anla: 299 myghle of his freendes hente: could get from his friends 331 Frankeieyn: landowner 359 shirr 301 gan •.• preye: did pray, prayed 332 dayesye: daisy 360 vava, 302 scoleye: attend the schools of the university 333 complexioun: temperament, balance of the body's fluids, the four "humors" 361 Hab, 303 cure: care blood, phlegm, red or yellow bile (choler), black bile (melancholy) sangwyn: of the 362 Web! 304 o: one neede: necessary sanguine humor (dominated by blood) 363 o lyv 305 in forme and reverence: with due formality and respect (R.) 334 sop in wyn: piece of bread in wine 364 soler 306 quyk: vivid, lively hy sentence: elevated content· 335 delit: delight, pleasure wone: custom, wont 365 geer, 307 Sownynge in: consonant with 336 Epicurus owen~ sone: an Epicurean 366 chap I (A) 337-396] GENERAL PROLOGUE 11
That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel. Was verray felicitee parfit. Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys An housholdere,.and that a greet, was he;_ To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. 370 Seint Julian he was in his contree. 340 Everich, for the wisdom·that he kan, His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; Was shaply for to been an alderman. A bettre envyned man was nowher noon. · For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous, And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente; Of fissh arid flessh, and that so plentevous And elles certeyn were they to blame. 375 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke; 345 It is ful fair to been ycleped "madame," Of alfe deyntees that men koude thynke, And goon to vigilies al bifore, After the sondry sesons of the yeer, And have a mantel roialliche ybore. So chaunged he his mete and his soper. A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe, To boille the chiknes with the marybones, 380 Aiid many a breem and many a luce in stuwe. 350 And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale. Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Wel koude he knowe a draughte ofLondoun ale. Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere. He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye, His table dormant in his halle alway Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye. Stood redy covered al.the longe day. But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, 385 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; 355 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he. Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. An anlaas and a gipser al of silk A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste; .__" Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk. For aught I woot, he was ofDertemouthe. A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour. He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe, 390 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour. 360 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. AN HABERDASSHERE and a CARP~NTER, A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER- Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun: And they were clothed alle in o lyveree The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun; Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee. And certeinly he was a good felawe. 395 ·Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was; 365 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel, 368 girdles: belts pouches: purses everydeel: every bit 369 ech: each (one) burgeys: citizen ofa city (tradesman) 337 That: who pleyn dell!: pure pleasure 370 yeldehalle: guildhall deys: dais \ 338 verray fellcitee parfit: true perfect happiness 371 kan: knows · 340 Sein! Julian: patron saint of hospitality 372 shaply: suitable, fit alderman: city official 341 after oon: of the same (good) quality 373 catel: property rente: income 342 envyned: stocked with wine 375 elles: otherwise 343 bake mete: pie of meat; fowl, or fish 376 ycleped "madame": called "my lady" 344 plentevous: plenteous 377 vigilies: vigils, feasts held on the eve ofa holy day al bifore: in front of every 345 snewed: snowed one, heading the procession 346 deyntees: fine food and drink 378 roialllche ybore: royally carried 347 After the sondry sesons: according to the various seasons. Seasonal adjustment , 379 for the nones: for the occasion of the diet wa8 a health measure. - . 380 chiknes: chickens niarybones: marrow bones 349 partrlch: partridge muwe: pen for birds 381 poudre-marchant tart: a tart spice galyngale: powdered aromatic root used as 350 breem: bream (a freshwater fish) luce: pike stuwe: fish pond a sweet spice 351 but if: unless 383 sethe: sinuner 352 Poynaunt: spicy, piercing geere: utensils 384 mortreux: stews or hashes 353 table dormant: table permanently in place (rather than taken down between meals) 385 harm: pity it thoughte me: it seemed to me 355 He presided at court sessions. 386 mormal: ulcer; see n; 356 knyght of the shire: member of Parliament 387 blankmanger: a thick stew or mousse of chopped chicken or fish boiled with rice 357 anlaas: broad, two-edged dagger glpser: purse with the beste: excellently 359 shirreve: sheriff contour: auditor 388 wonynge: dwelling" fer by weste: far in the west 360 vavasour: feudal landholder 389 For aught I wool: for all I know Dertemouthe: Dartmouth, in Devon, in the 361 Haberdasshere: a dealer in hats or small wares south west 362 Wehbe: weaver Tapycer: weaver of tapestries, rugs, etc. 390 rouncy: carthorse, nag as he kouthe: as best he could 363 o lyveree: one livery, distinctive dress worn by members of a guild 391 faldyng: coarse woolen cloth 364 solempne: dignified, important ·fraternitee: parish~guild 392 laas: cord 365 geere: equipment apiked: trimmed, adorned 393 under his arm adoun: down under his arm 366 cbaped: mounted 395 good felawe: good companion; seen. _12 THE CANTERBURY TALES [I (A) 397-461
Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep. Wel knew he the olde Esculapius, Of nyce conscience took he no keep. And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus, 430 If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond, Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen, By' water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 400 Serapion, Razis, and Avycen, / But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes, . Averrois, Damascien, and Copstantyn, His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides, Bernard, and Gatesden, and~Gilbertyn. His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage, Of his diete mesurable was e, 435 Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage. For it was of no superfluitee, . Hardy he was and wys to undertake; 405 But of greet norissyng and digestible. With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake. His studie was but lite! on the Bible. He knew alle the havenes, as they were, Iµ sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, Fro Gootlond to the cape ofFynystere, Lyned with taffata and with sendal. 440 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne. And yet he was but esy of dispence; His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne. . 410 He kepte that he wan in pestilence. · With us ther was a DocTOUR OF Pms1K; For gold in phisik is a cordial, \ In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik, · Therefore he lovede gold in.special. To speke of phisik and of surgerye, A good WIF was ther OF biside BATHE, 445 For he was grounded in astronomye. But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel 415 Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt In houres by his magyk natureel. She passed hem ofYpres and of Gaurit. Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon Of his ymages for his pacient. That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon; ' 450 He knew the cause of everich maladye, And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye, 420 That she was out of alle charitee. And where they engendred, and of what humour. Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; He was a verray, parfit praktisour: I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 455 Anon he yafthe sike man his boote. Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries 425 Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe. To sende hym drogges and his letuaries, Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. For ech of hem made oother for to wynne She was a worthy womman al hir lyve: · Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne. Housbondes at chirche 397 Burdeux-ward: the direction of Bordeaux chapman: merchant sleep: slept 398 nyce: scrupulous took he no keep: he took no notice 399 If that: if the hyer bond: the upper hand 429-34 The physician knows the standard medical authorities, from the Greeks 401 craft to rekene: skill to reckon (Aesculapius) to ·the contemporary English Gilbertus Anglicus; seen. 402 stremes: currents daungers hym bisides: perils near at hand 435 mesurable: moderate 403 herberwe: harbors, anchorages moone: positions of the moon lodemenage: 439 sangwyn: red pers: blue or bluish gray skill in navigation. Seen. to lines 401-9. 440 taffata, sendal: varieties of silk 404 Hulle: Hull, on the Yorkshire Coast Cartage: Carthage, Tunisia, or Cartagena, Spain 441 but esy of dispence: moderate in (careful about) spending 405 wys to undertake: prudent in his undertakings 442 wan: gained 408 Gootlond ... cape of Fynystere: Probably Gotland aod Cape Finistere 443 cordial: medicine for the heart 409 cryke: inlet Britaigne: Brittany 444 in special: in particular 410 barge: sailing vessel; seen. 446 somdel deef: somewhat deaf that was scathe: that was a pity. See WBPro 111.668. ' 411 Phisik! medicine 447 haunt: skill '4 414 grounded: instructed astronomye: the science of astrology; seen. 448 Ypres, Gaunt: Ypres, Ghent, cloth-making centers in modem Belgium 4 416 houres: astronomical hours magyk natureel: science 450 offrynge: offering (when the people go to the altar with their offerings at Mass) 4 417 fortunen the ascendent: calculate the planetary position 451 wrooth: angry 4 418 ymages: talismatic figures in astrology 452 out of alle charitee: deeply upset 4 420 hoot, could, moyste, drye: the elemental qualities; see n. 453 coverchiefs: linen coverings for the head fyne weren of ground: were fine in 4 421 humour: kind of bodily fluid texture p 422 verray: true parfit: perfect, complete praktisour: practitioner 454 dorste swere: dare swear weyeden: weighed 4 424 Anon: at once boote: remedy 456 hosen: stockings (I 426 drogges: drugs letuaries: electuaries, medicinal mixtures 457 streite yteyd: closely laced moyste: supple 4 427 ech: each (one) wynnefprofit 460 chirche dore: door of the church 4· 428 newe to bigynne: recently begun 461 Withouten: not counting; seen. 4, I (A) 462-526] GENERAL PROLOGUE 13 But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem; Upon his feet, and in his hand a sta£ 495 She hadde passed many a straunge strem; This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, ..... At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte. In Galice at Seint-Jame, and atColoigne. Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte, ' She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye, - And this figure he added eek therto, Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. · That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? 500 Upon an amblere esily she sat, For if a preest·be foul, on-whom we truste, Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat ' 470 No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; And shame it is, if a prest take keep, A foot:mantel aboute hir hipes large, A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, 505 In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe. By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve. Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, 475 He sette nat his benefice to hyre For she koude of that.art the olde daunce, · And leet his sheep encombred in the myre ( A good man was ther of religioun; And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules And was a povre PERSOUN OF ~ TOUN' . To seken hym a chaunterie for soules, 510 But riche he was ofhooly thogh(and werk. · Or with a bretherhed to been withholde; He was also a lemed man, a clerk, But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde, That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche; . So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie; His parisshens devoutly wolde he t<;che. He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie. Benygne he was, and wonder diligent, And though he hooly were and vertuous,· 515 And in adversitee ful pacient~ He was to synful men nat despitous, And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes. Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, Ful looth were hym to cursen for his titm:s, But in his techyng discreet and benygne. But rather wolde he yeven, out .of doute, To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse, Unto his povre parisshens aboute By good ensample, this was his bisynesse. 520 Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce. But it were any persone obstinat, He koude in litel thyng have suffisauns.evi-1,,.A,, 490 What so he were, of heigh or lough estat, Wyd was l:iii ,J;la.ri,~he, and houses fer «so""rider, · Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. But he ne tene" n!u, for reyn· ne thonder, · A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys. In siknesse nor in meschief to visite He waited after no pompe and reverence, 525 Ne maked him a spiced conscience, 462 as nowthe: now 463-66 Jerusalem, Rome, Bo/oigne (Boulogne in France), in GaUce at Seint-Jame 494 ferreste: those farthest away mu·che and Ute: great and small, everyone (St. James ofCompostella in Galicia, Spain), and Coloigne (Cologne) were celebrated 496 ensample: model places of pilgrimage. · 498 tho: those 464 straunge strem: foreign sea 499 figure: metaphor 468 Gat-tothed: with teeth set wide apart (R.) 501 foul: evil 469 amblere:,a pacing horse esily: comfortably 502 lewed man: uneducated man, layman 470 Ywympled wet: wearing a large wimple, a head dress that covers all but the face 503 take keep: is concerhed 471 broOd as is·a bokeler or a targe: broad as a buckler or shield 504 shlten: defiled, foul 472 foot-mantel: an apron-like overskirt 506 clennesse: purity 473 spores: spurs 507 sette nat ... to byre: did not farm out · 474 carpe: chatter, 508 leet: left encombred: stuck 475 remedies of love: remedies for love-sickness per chaunce: as it happened 509 Seinte Ponies: St. Paul's Cathedral 47.6 olde daunce: tricks of the trade, game oflove 510 chaunterie: appointment as a chantry priest, to serve in a chapel endowed for 478 povre Persoun: poor parson prayers for the soul of its patron 482 parisshens: parishioners 511 bretherhed to been wlthholde: to be retained, hired, as its chaplain by a guild 483 Benygne: graciou'.s 513 myscarie: go wrong 485 ypreved: proven ofte sithes: many times 516 despitous: sconifu) 486 He was very reluctant (F11/ loath) to excommunicate (c11rsen) those who did not 517 daungerous: domineering digne: haughty pay the tithes (one-tenth of their income) legally due their priest. . 5 I 8 discreet: courteous 489 offryng: voluntary offerings of the People at Mass substaunce: fixed income 519 fairnesse: graciousness, ltjndness (from property of the Church) 522 heigh or tough estat: high or low rank-- 491 asonder: apart . 523 snybben:.rebuke for the nonys: then, at that time 492 ne lefte nat: did not omit 524 trowe: believe 493 meschief: trouble 525 waited after: expected reverence: ceremony 526 spiced: over-fastidious; seen. 14 THE CANTERBURY TALES [I (A) 527-:588 But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve , He was a janglere and a goliardeys, 560 He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve. And that was moost of synne and harlotries. With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, Wel koude he stelen com and tollen thries; That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother; 530 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. A trewe swynkere and a good was he, A whit cote and a blew hood wered he. Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee. A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne, 565 God loved he best with al his hoole herte And therwithal he broghte us out oftowne. At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte, A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther ofa temple, And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve. 535 Of which achatours myghte take exemple He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve, For to be wise in byynge of vitaille; For Cristes sake, for every povre wight, For wheither that he payde or took by taille, . 570 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght. Algate he wayted so in his achaat His tithes payde he ful faire and wel, That he was ay bifom and in good staat. Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. 540 _Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace \ In a tabard he rood upon a mere. That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace Ther was also a REVE, and a MILLERE, The wisdom of an heep of lemed men? 575 A So MN OUR, and a PARDONER also, Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten, ,.,A MAUNCIPLE, and myself-ther were namo. That weren of lawe expert and curious, The MILLERE was a stout earl for the nones; 545 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous ,. i Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones. Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond That proved wel, for over al ther he cam, Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580 · At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the rain. To make hym lyve by his propre good He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre; In honour dettelees (but ifhe were wood), Ther was no dore that he nolde heve ofharre, 550 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire; Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. And able for to helpen al a shire His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, In any caas that myghte falle or happe. 585 l And therto brood, as though it were a spade. And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe. Upon the cop right of his nose he hade The REVE was a sclendre colerik man. A werte, and theron stood a toft ofherys, 555 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan; Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys; His nosethirles blake were and wyde. A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde. 560 janglere: a teller of dirty stories goliardeys: buffoon 561 harlotries: deeds of harlotry, obscenities His mouth as greet was as a greet fomeys .. 562 stelen corn: steal grain tollen thries: take toll (payment) three times 563 tbombe of gold: golden thumb; an ironic reference to a proverb, with the implica- tion that there are no honest millers pardee: indeed · 530 Who had hauled (ylad) full many a cartload ([other) of dung (dong) 564 blew: blue 531 swynkere: worker 565 sowne: play r 532 pees: peace 567 Maunciple ... of a temple: business agent, purchaser of provisions for a temple, 534 thogh him gamed or smerte: whether it pleased or pained him an Inn of Court (school of law) 535 right as:·exactly as 568 achatours: buyers myghte: could 536 therto: moreover dyke and delve: make ditches and dig 569 byynge ofvltaille: purchase of victuals, provisions 537 wight: person 570 by taille: on credit 538 hire: payment myght: power 571 Algate: always wayted so In his acbaat: watched so carefully (for his opportunity) 540 propre swynk: own labor catel: possessions in his purchases 541 tabard: workman's loose, sleeveless outer garment mere: mare 572 ay blfom: always ahead 544 namo: no others 574 lewed: uneducated pace: surpass 545 earl: fellow for the nones: indeed 576 mo: more 546 byg: strong brawn: muscle 577 curious: skillful 547 over al: wherever 578 duszeyne: dozen 548 have alwey the ram: always win the ram (given as a prize) 579 stywardes: stewards rente: income 549 short-sholdred: stoutly built (with a thick neck) thlkke knarre: stout fellow 581 propre good: own wealth 550 nolde = ne wolde, would not heve of barre: lift off its hinges 582 dettelees: without debts but if he were wood: unless he was crazy 551 at a rennyng: by running against it 583 as scarsly as hym list desire: as economically as he pleased 554 cop: top 585 caas: case, circumstances happe: occur by chance 555 werte: wart toft of herys: tuft of hairs 586 sette hlr aller cappe: deceived them all 556 brustles: bristles. sowes erys: sow's ears 587 Reve: reeve, manager of an estate or farm sclendre: lean colerik: dominated 557 nosethlrles: nostrils by the humor choler 559 greet forneys: large cauldron 588 ny: close kan: can GENERAL PROLOGUE 15 His heer was by his erys ful round yshom; Tukked he was as is a frere aboute, His top was dokked lyk a preest bifom: 590 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route. Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, A SoMONOUR was ther with us in that place, Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene. That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face, Wei koude he kepe a gemer and a bynne; For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe. . 625 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne. As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, Wei wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn 595 With scalled browes blake and piled berd. The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn. Of his visage children were aferd. His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye, · Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon, His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, 630 Was hoolly in this Reves govemynge, Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte, And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge, 600 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white, Syn t!1.at his lord was twenty yeer of age. Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage. Wei loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne, And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood; 635 That he ile knew his sleighte and his covyne; Thanne w_olde he speke and crie as he were wood. They were adrfld of hym as of the deeth. 605 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth; Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn. With grene trees yshadwed was his place. A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, He koude bettre than his lord purchace. That he had lemed out of som decree- 640 Ful riche he was astored pryvely. No wonder is, he herde it al the day; His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly, : . 610 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay To yeve and lene hym of his owene good, Kan clepen "Watte" as wel as kan the pope. And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood. But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, In ·youthe he hadde lemed a good myster: Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie; 645 He 'Yas a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. Ay "Questio quid iuris" wolde he crie. This Reve sat upon a ful good stot 615 · He was a gentil harlot and a kynde; That was al pomely grey and highte Scot. A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde. A long surcote of pers upon he hade, He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn And by his syde he baar a rusty blade. A good felawe to have his concubyn 650 OfNorthfolk was this Reve of which I telle, A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle; Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle. 621 Tukked he was as is a frere: having his long coat hitched up and held by a girdle I (R.), like a friar 589 erys: ears ~ound yshorn: closely cropped 622 hyndreste: last route: company 590 top: top of his head dokked_: cut short biforn: in the front 623 Somonour: a server of summonses for an ecclesiastical court 592 Ylyk a star: like a stick 624 fyr-reed: fire-red cherubynnes: cherub's - 593 gerner: granary bynne: bin (for storing grain) 625 saucefleem: pimpled eyen nanve: swollen eyelids 594 on him wynne: earn anything (by catching him out) 627 scalled: infected with the scall, a skin disease; cf. Adam 3 piled: with hair fallen out 597 neet: cattle dayerye: herd of dairy cattle 629-30 Mercury, lead monoxide (lytarge). sulphur (brymstoon), borax (boras), white 598 hors: horses stoor: livestock pultrye: poultry lead (ceroce), and cream of tartar were all used in medicine. 600 covenant: agreement, contract 631 oynement: ointment byte: burn 601 Syn that: since yeer: years 632 whelkes: pimples, pustules 602 arrerage: arrears 633 knobbes: swellings 603 nas = ne was, was not baillif: manager of a farm hierde: herdsman hyne: servant 634 garleek, oynons, !ekes: garlic, onions, leeks 604 sleighte: trickery covyne: treachery 636 wood: crazy 605 adrad: afraid the deeth: the plague (?); see n. 639 termes: technical terms 606 wonyng: dwelling 640 decree: decretal, text of ecclesiastical law 608 purchace: buY property 643 clepen "Watte": say "Walter'' 609 ricbe: richly astored: provided pryvely: secretly 644 grope: examine 610-12 He couldple~e his lord by lending him some of bis (the lord's) own possessions 644-45 But anyone who knew how to test him further found that to be the extent of (i.e., what he had stolen from him) and thus obtain thanks and a reward besides (R.). his learning. . 613 myster: craft 646 Questio quid loris: The question is, what point of the law (applies)? 615 stot: horse 647 harlot: buffoon, jester 616 pomely: dapple highte: was called 649 suffre: allow 617 surcote: outer coat pers: dark blue 651 atte fulle: completely 620 clepen: call 652 Secretly (discreetly) he also knew how to pluck a finch (trick or swindle someone). 16 THE CANTERBURY TALES And if he foond owher a good felawe, . Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. He wolde techen him to have noon awe A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe; 685 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs, 655 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe, But if a mannes soule were in his purs; Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot. For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be. A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. "Purs is the ercedekenes helle," seyde he. No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have; But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; As smotbe it was as it were late shave. 690 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, 660 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare. For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith, But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware And also war hym of a Significavit. Ne was ther swich another pardoner. -- In daunger hadde he at his owene gise For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, The yonge girles of the diocise, Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl; 695 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. 665 He seyde he hadde a go bet of the seyl A gerland hadde he set upon his heed, That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente As greet as it were for an ale-stake. Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente. A qokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake .. He hadde a croys oflatoun ful of stones, 1 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700 Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, But with thise relikes, whan that he fond at streight was comen fro the court of Rome. A povre person dwellynge upon lond, l loude he soong "Com hider, love, to me!" Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye is Somo_nour bar to hym a stifburdoun; Than that the person gat in monthes tweye; Was nevere tronipe of half so greet a soun. And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes, 705 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, He ,made the person and the peple his apes. But smothe it_ heeng as dooth a strike of flex; But trewely to tellen atte laste, By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde, He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste. An4 therwith he his shuld;'es overspradde; Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie, But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon. But alderbest he song an offertorie; 710 But hooo, for jolitee, wered he noon, 680 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe, For it was trussed up in his walet. He moste preche and wel affile his tonge Hym thoughte he rood al pf the newe jet; To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude; Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare. Therefore he song the murierly and loude. Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause, 715 653 owher: anywhere 655 caas: case, circumstances ercedekenes curs: excommunication Th'estaat, th'array, the nombre, and eek the cause 656 But If: unless 659 wool: know 660 cursyng: archdeacon's curse, excommunication him drede: be afraid 684 glarynge eyen: staring eyes 661 wol slee: will slay assolllyng: absolution · 685 vernycle: Veronica, a reproduction of St. Veronica's cloth, bearing the imprint of \_ 662 war hym: let him beware Signfficavit: order for imprisonment Christ's face; a badge of the pilgrimage to Rome sowed: sewn ,, \ 663 In daunger: in (his) control at his owene glse: as he pleased 686 wale!: pouch, knapsack lappe: large pocket (in a fold of his clothing) )' 664 girles: young wonierl or young people 687 Bretful: brimful pardoun: papal indulgences 665 conseil: secrets al hir reed: adviser of them all 688 voys: voice smal: high goot: goat 666 gerland: wreath 691 trowe: believe geldyng or a mare: a euuuch or a homosexual ·667 ale-stake: sign of an alehouse 692 fro Berwyk into Ware: from one end of England to the other . 668 cake: loafof bread 694 male: pouch, bag pllwe-beer: pillow-case 669 Pardoner: a se11er of indulgences 695 Oure Lady veyl: Our Lady's veil 670 Rouncivale: a hospital at Charing Cross compeer: companion 696 gobet of the seyl: piece of the sail 671 court of Rome: papal court · 698 see: sea til: until hente: took 672 "Com hider ...": Probably the refrain ofa popular song 699 croys: cross latoun: a brass-like alloy 673 stif burdoun: strong bass 702 person: parson upon lond: in the countryside 674 trompe: trumpet soun: sound 703 gal hym: got himself 675 beer: hair wex: wax 704 tweye: two 676 strike: clump, hank Hex: flax 705 japes: tricks 677 ounces: small strands 706 He made fools (apes) of the parson and the people. 679 colpons: strands oon and oon: one by one 707 atte laste: at the last, finally 680 for jolltee: to make an attractive appearance 709 lessoun, storie: liturgical texts, often from the Bible, read during Mass 68 I trussed: packed wale!: pouch, knapsack 710 alderbest: best of all offertorle: Offertory (said or sung when offerings are 682 Hym lhoughte: it seemed to him, he thought al of the newe jet: in the very latest made at Mass) fashion 712 afflle his tonge: smooth his speech 683 Dischevelee: with hair unbound, hanging loose save: save for, except 714 song: sang murlerly: more merrily 715 In a clause: briefly I (A) 717~786] GENERAL PROLOGUE 17 Why that assembled was this compaignye A semely man OuRE HoosTE was withalle Iri Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye For to been a marchal in an halle. · That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. A large man he was with eyen stepe- But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe- How that we bareri us that ilke nyght, Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught, 755 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght; And of manhod hym lakkede right naught. And after wol I telle of our viage Eek therto he was right a myrie man; And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage. And after soper pleyen.he bigan, But first I pray yow, ofyoure curteisye, 725 And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges, That ye n'arette it nat my vileynye, Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges, 760 Thogh that I pleynly speke in-this mateere, And seyde thus: "Now, lordynges, trewely, To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,, · Ye been to me right welcome, hertely; Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely. For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, For this ye knowen al so wel as I: · 730 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye Whoso shal telle a tale after a man, Atones in this herberwe as is now. 765 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan Fayn wcilde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how. Everich a word, if it be in his charge, And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght, Al speke he never so rudeliche and large, To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe, 735 "Ye goon to Caunterbury-God yow speede, Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe. The blisful martir quite yow youre meede! 770 He m;iy nat spare, althogh he were his brother; And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye, He moot as wel seye o word as another. Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye; Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ, For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon , And wel ye woot no vileynye is it. 740 To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon; Eek Plato seith, whoso kan hym rede, And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 775 The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede. As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort. Also I prey yow to foryeve it me, And if yow liketh alle by oon assent Al have I nat set folk in hir degree For to stonden at my juggement, Heere in this tale, as thatthey sholde stonde. 745 And for to werken as I shal yow seye, My wit is short, ye may wel un_derstonde. Tomorwe, whan ye riden by the weye, 780 Greet chiere made oure Hoost us everichon, Now, by my fader soule that is deed, And to the soper sette he• us anon. But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed! He served us with vitaille at the beste; Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche." Strong was the wrn, and wel to drynke us leste. -750 Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche. Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 785 \ 719 faste by: close to Belle: a tavern 721 baren,US: behaved ilke: same Atld graunted hym withouten moore avys, 722 alyght: arrived 723 wol: will viage: journey 751 semely: seemly, impressive withalle: indeed 726 n'arette it nat: do not attribute it to vileynye: rudeness 752 marchal: master of ceremonies 728 cheere: behavior 753 eyen stepe: bright or large eyes; seen. 730 al so: as 754 burgeys: citizen of a city (tradesman) Chepe: Cheapside 731 Whoso: whoever shal: must 756 manhod: manliness, qualities proper to a good man right naught: nothing at all 732 moot rehei:ce: must repeat ny: close kan: knows how 758 pleyen: to play, provide amusement 733 Everich a: every in his charge: his responsibility 760 maad oure rekenynges: paid our bills 734 Al speke he: although he may speak rudeliche: ignorantly, crudely large: freely 763 trouthe: faith 735 moot: must untrewe: inaccurately 764 saugh: saw 736 feyne thyng: make up things 765 Atones: at one time herberwe: lodging 738 o: one · 766 Fayn: gladly doon yow myrthe: make you happy wiste I: if I knew 739 brode: plainly 767 am .•• bythoght: have thought 740 wool: know vlleynye: rudeness 768 doon yow ese: give you pleasure 741 kan hym rede: knows how to interpret him 769 yow speede: give you succe~s 742 cosyn: cousin, closely related · 770 quite yow youre meede: give you your reward 744 AI: although. degree: social rank 772 shapen yow: you intend talen: tell tales pleye: amuse yourselves 746 may: can 776 erst: before · 747 Greet chiere: good cheer us everichon: every one ofus 777 yow liketh alle: it pleases all of you ·by oon assent: unanimously 749 vitaille: victuals, provisions at the beste: of the best sort 779 werken: do 750 wel to drynke us leste: we were well pleased to drink 781 Now by the soul ofmy father, who is dead 782 But ye be: unless you are, if you are not 784 consell: decision nat longe for to seche: i.e., ready at hand 785 worth: worthwhlle make it wys: deliberate on it, raise difficulties 786 avys: discussion 18 THE CANTERBURY TALES And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste. Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge, · · "Lordynges," quod he, "now herkneth for the beste; Up roos oure Roost, and was oure aller cok, But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn. And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok, This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790 And forth we riden a litel moore than paas 825 ,.- That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye, Unto the Wateryng of Seint Thomas; (' In this viage shal telle tales tweye And there oure Roost bigan his hors areste ,, To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so, And seyde, "Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste. And homward he shal tellen othere two,. Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde. Of aventures that whilom han bifalle. · 795 If even-song·and morwe-song accorde, '· And which of yow that b. ereth hym best ofjlle--. · Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. hat is to seyn, that telleth in this caas As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale, U~les of best sentence and moost solaas- Whoso be rebel to my juggement Shal have a soper at oure aller cost Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent. Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,' ·800 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne; Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury. He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne. And for to make yow the moore mury, Sire Knyght," quod he, "my mayster and my lord, I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde, Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord. Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde; Cometh neer," quod he, "my lady Prioresse. And whoso wole my juggement withseye 805 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse, Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye. Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man!" And ifye vouche saufthat it be so, Anon to drawen every wight bigan, Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo, And shortly for to tellen as it was, And I wol erly shape me therfore." 809 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore The sothe is this: the cut fil to the Knyght, With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also - Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght, i That he wolde vouche sauffor to do so, And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun, ,, And that he wolde been oure govemour, By foreward and by composicioun, And of oure tales juge and reportour, As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?. And sette a soper at a certeyn pris, 815 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so, 850 And we wol reuled been at his devys As he that wys was and obedient In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent To kepe his foreward by his free assent, We been acorded to his juggement. He seyde, "Syn I shal bigynne the game, And therupon the wyn was fet anon; What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name! We dronken, and to reste wente echon, 820 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye." 855 Withouten any lenger taryynge. And with that word we ryden forth oure weye, And he bigan with right a myrie cheere 787.volrdit: verdict His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere. 788 quod: said for the beste: the best course of action 790 short and pleyn: clearly and briefly 791 to shorte with: in order (with which) to shorten 823 oure aiier cok: rooster ofus ail (awakened us ail) 792 sbai: must tweye: two 825 paas: walk, the slowest gait of a horse 794 othere two: two others 826 the Wateryng of Seint Thomas: a brook about two miles from London 795 whilom: once, in former times ban blfalle: have happened 827 areste: stop 796 bereth hym best: does best 828 if yow Jeste: if you please 798 sentence: meaning, significance solaas: pleasure 829 foreward: agreement recorde: recall, bring to mind 799 at oure a lier cost: at the cost of all of us 830 That is, if you still agree this morning with what you said last night I l! 803 goodly: gladly 832 mote: may I, 804 gyde: guide 835 draweth cut: draw lots ferrer twynne: depart further (from London) 'I 805 withseye: gainsay 838 accord: decision 806 Shai: must 839 neer: nearer 807 vouche sauf: grant, agree 840 lat be: leave off shamefastnesse: modesty 808 anon: straightway mo: more 844 aventure, or sort, or cas: chance, luck, or destiny 809 shape me: get ready 845 sothe: truth 811 preyden: The understood subject is "we.'' 847 resoun: reasonable, just 814 juge:judge reportour: record keeper 848 composlcloun: agreement 8 I 5 pris: price 853 Syn: since shal: must 8 I 6 at bis devys: as he wishes 854 a: in 817 In heigh and iough: in every respect by oon assent: unanimously 857 cheere: expression 8 I 9 fet: fet_ched 820 echon: each one VI (c) 240-301] THE INTRODUCTION TO THE PARDONER'S TALE 175 For, pardee, Jepte yaf his doghter grace 240 By manere of the cherles chalangyng, 95 For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas! That it was by the assent ofApius; 265 And, God it woot, no thyng was hir trespas, They wisten wel that he was lecherus. But for she ran hir fader first to see, For which unto this Apius they gon To welcome hym with greet solempnitee." And caste hym in a priso_un right anon, And with that word she fil aswowne anon, 245 Ther as he slow hymself; and Claudius, JO And after, whan hir swownyng is agon, That servant was unto this Apius, 270 She riseth up, and to hir fader sayde, Was demed ·for to hange upon a tree, "Blissed be God that I shal dye a mayde ! .But that Virginius, of his pitee, Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame; So preyde for hym that he was exiled; Dooth with youre child youre wyl, a Goddes name!" And elles, certes, he had been bigyled. 5 And with that word she preyed hym ful ofte 251 The remenant were anhanged, moore and lesse, 275 That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe; That were consentant of this cursednesse. And with that word aswowne doun she fil. Heere may men seen ho:w synne hath his merite. ,I ,I Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and.wil, Beth war, for no man woot whom God wol smyte · Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente, 255 In no degree, ne in which manere wyse; And to the juge he gan it to presente, The worm of conscience may agryse 280 As he sat yet in doom in consistorie. Ofwikked lyf, though it so pryvee be And whan the juge it saugh, as seith the storie, That no man woot therof but God and he. He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste; For be he lewed man, or ellis lered, But right anon a thousand peple in thraste, 260 He noot how soone that he shal been afered. To_ save· the knyght, for routhe and for pitee, Therfore I rede yow this conseil take: 285 For knowen was the false iniquitee. Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake. The peple anon had suspect in this thyng, .Heere is ended the Phisiciens Tale. The Introduction to the Pardoner's Tale ---- ·, The wordes of the Hoost to the Phisicien and the Pardoner. Oure Hooste gan to swere as he were wood; Wherfore I seye al day that men may see "Harrow!" quod he, "by nayles and by blood! That yiftes of Fortune and of Nature 295 This was a fals cherl and a fals justise. Been cause of deeth to many a creature. As shameful deeth as herte may devyse · 290 Hire beautee was hire deth, I dar wel sayn. • Come to thise juges and hire advocatz! Allas, so pitously as she was slayn! Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas! Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now Allas, to deere boughte she beautee! Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow. 300 But trewely, myn owene maister deere, 240 Jepte: the biblical Jephtha; seen. 257 in doom in consistorle: giving judgment in court 264 By manere of: by reason of chalangyng: claim 259 anhange: hang 274 blgyied: betrayed (i.e., killed) 260 In thraste: thrust, pushed in 277 merite: reward 263 suspect: suspicions 280 agryse: tremble for fear 285 rede: advise 287 wood: mad 288 ''Alas," said he, "by the nails and blood of Christi" 300 prow: profit, benefit 292 Algate: at any rate 176 THE CANTERBURY TALES [VI (C) 302-355 This is a pitous tale for to heere, Or but I heere anon a myrie tale; T But nathelees, passe over; is no fors. Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde. A I pray to God so save thy gentil cors, Thou beel amy, thou Pardoner," he sayde, C And eek thyne urynals and thy jurdones, 305 "Telle us som myrthe or japes right anon." s Thyn ypocras, and eek thy galiones, "It shal be doon," quod he; "by Seint Ronyon! 320 r: And every boyste ful of thy letuarie; But first," quod he, "heere at this alestake IJ God blesse hem, and oure lady Seinte Marie! I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake." V So moot I theen, thou art a propre man, But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye, F And lyk a prelat, by Seint Ronyan! 310 "Nay, lat hym telle us ofno ribaudye! A Seyde I nat wel? I kan nat speke in terme; Telle us som moral thyng, that we may leere 325 E But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme, So,m wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere." That I almoost have caught a cardynacle. "I graunte, ywis," quod he, "but I moot thynke F By corpus bones! but I have triacle, Upon som honest thyng while that I drynke." L Or elles a draughte ofmoyste and corny ale,. · 315 A T A The·Pardoner's Prologue ll ll ~ V s , Heerefolweth the Prologe ofthe Pardoners Tale, L IJ Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, 6°. T :c "Lordynges," quod he, "in chirches whan I preche, That shewe I first, my body to warente, C I peyne me to ban an hauteyn speche, 330 That no man be so book!, ne preest ne clerk, T And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle, Me to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk. · · 340 s For I kan al by rote that I telle.' And after that thanne telle I forth my tales; T · My theme is alwey oon, and evere was Bulles of popes and ofcardynales, A Radix malorum est Cupiditas. .Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe, ll "First I pronounce whennes that I come, 335 And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe, A And thanne my bulles shewe I, alle and some. To saffron with my predicacioun, 345 VI . Oure lige lordes seel on my patente, And for to stire hem to devocioun . Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones, A Y crammed ful of cloutes and of bones I 303 Passe over: let it be is no fors: it does not matter Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon. A 305 urynals: vessels for analyzing urine jurdones: glass vessels used by physicians 306 ypocras, galiones: medicinal drinks named after Hippocrates and Galen, ancient Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon 350 I medical authorities Which that was of an hooly Jewes sheep. 307 boyste: container letuarie: medicine A 309 theen: prosper 'Goode men,' I seye, 'taak ofmy wordes keep; T 310 Sein! Ronyan: probably St. Ronan, a Scottish saint 311 in terme: in technical language If that this boon be wasshe in any welle, A 312- enne: grieve If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle 313 cardynacle: probably the Host's error for cardiac/e, heart attack [! 314 By corpus bones!: by God's bones! triacle: medicine That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge, 355 315 moyste: fresh, new corny: malty, strong 35 318 bee! amy: fair friend (perhaps used derisively) 36 Radix malorum, etc.: Greed is the root of[all] evils, I Timothy 6.16 321 alestake: pole hung with a garland, the sign ofan alehouse 36 330 hauteyn: impressive, loud · 322 cake: loafof bread 36 332 by rote: by heart 324 ribaudye: ribaldry, coarse jesting 37 333 theme: biblical text for a sermon 37 336 holies: papal bulls (here indulgences) 338 warente: protect 37 337 Iige lordes see!: seal of our liege lord (the bishop) patente: letter patent 345 saffron: flavor with saffron, season predicacioun: sermon . 37 (authorizing his sale of pardons) 347 crlstal stones: glass cases; cf. GP 1.700. 38, 348 cloutes: rags 38 350 in latoun: mounted in latten, a brass-like alloy 38 355 worm: snake 39 39 39 .VI (c) 356-441] THE PARDONER'S PROLOGUE 177 Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge, Myne handes and my tonge goon so yeme And it is hool anon; and forthermoore, That it is joye to se my bisynesse. Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every soore Of avarice and of swich cursednesse 400 Shal every sheep be hool that of this welle Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free Drynketh a draughte. Taak kep eek what I telle: 360 To yeven hir pens, and namely unto me. If that the- good-man that the beestes oweth /For myn entente is nat but for to wynne, 1 Wol every wyke, er that the cok hym croweth, l.And nothyng for correccioun of synne. ) Fastynge, drynken of this welle a draughte, I rekke nevere, whan that they been beryed, 405 As thilke hooly Jew oure eldres taughte, Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberyed! His beestes and his stoor shal multiplie. 365 For certes, many a predicacioun 'And, sires, also it heeleth jalousie; Comth ofte tyrne of yvel entencioun; For though a man be falle in jalous rage, Som for plesance of folk and flaterye, Lat maken with this water his potage, To been avaunced by ypocrisye, 410 And nevere shal he moore his wyf mystriste, And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate. Though he the soothe of hir defaute wiste, 370 For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate, Al had she taken prestes two or thre. Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte 'Heere is a miteyn eek, that ye may se. In prechyng, so that he shal nat asterte He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn, To been defamed falsly; if that he 415 He shal have multipliyng of his grayn, Hath trespased to niy bretheren or to me. Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes, 375. For though I telle noght his propre name, So that he offre pens, or elles grotes. Men shal wel knowe that it is the same, 'Goode men and wommen, o thyng wame I yow: By signes, and by othere circumstances. If any wight be in this chirche now Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances; 420 That hath doon synne horrible, that he Thus spitte I out my venym under hewe Dar nat, for shame, of it yshryven be, · 380 Ofhoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe. Or any womman, be she yong or old, "But shortly myn entente I wol devyse: That hath ymaked hir housbonde cokewold, 1 preche of no thyng but for coveityse. Swich folk shal have no power ne no grace Therfore my theme is yet, and evere was; 425 To offren to my relikes in this place. Radix malorum est Cupiditas. And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame, 385 Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice He wol come up and offre a Goddes name, Which that I use, and that is avarice. And I assoille him by the auctoritee But though myselfbe gilty in that synne, Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.' Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne 430 "By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer, From avarice and soore to repente. An hundred mark sith I was pardoner. 390 But that is nat my principal entente; I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet, I preche nothyng but for coveitise. And whan the lewed peple is doun yset,. Of this mateere it oghte ynogh suffise. I preche so as ye han herd bifoore "Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon 435 And telle an hundred false japes moore. Of olde stories longe tyme agoon. Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke, 395 For lewed peple loven tales olde; And est and west upon the peple I bekke, Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde. C-s dooth a dowve sittynge ·on a be~ What, trowe ye, that whiles I may preche, And wynne gold and silver for I teche, 440 358 pokkes: pocks, pustules 361 good-man: goodman, head of the household oweth: owos 398 yerne: quickly 365 stoor: stock, possessions 405 beryed: buried 368 poiage: soup · 406 goon a-blakeberyed: go blackberry picking , 370 defaute: misdeed 414 asterte: escape 372 miteyn: mitten 420 quyte:-pay back (revenge) doon us dlsplesances: make trouble for us (pardoners) 375 otes: oats 421 hewe: pretense 376 pens: pence, pennies grotes': groats, silver coins worth four pence 424 coveityse: greed 380 yshryven: confessed and forgiven 427 agayn: against 387 assollle: absolve 430 hvynne: depart, turn away from 389 gaude: trick 435 ensamples: exempla, illustrative anecdotes 390 hundred mark: about sixty-six pounds 437 lewed: ignorant, unlearned 396 bekke: nod 397 bernc: barn THE CANTERBURY TALES [VI (C) 442-504 That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully? Nay, I wol drynke licour of the ,vyne Nay, nay, I thoghte it nevere, trewely! And have ajoly wenche in every toun. For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes; But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun: I wol nat do no labour with myne handes, Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale. 455 Ne make baskettes and lyve therby, . 445 Now have I dronke a draughte of corny ale, By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly. By God, I hope I shal yow telle a thyng I wol noon of the apostles countrefete; · · That shal by reson been at youre likyng. I wol have moneie, wolle, chese, and whete, For though myself be a ful vicious man, Al were it yeven of the povereste page, A moral tale yet I yow telle kan, 460 Or of the povereste wydwe in a village, 450 ,Which I am wont to preche for to wynrie. Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne. Now hoold youre pees! My tale I wol bigynne." The Pardoner's Tale Heere bigynneth the Pardoners Tale. In Flaundres whilom was a •compaignye The hooly writ take I to my witnesse Ofyonge folk that haunteden folye, That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse. As riot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes, 465 Lo, how that dronken Looth, unkyndely, 485 Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes; Lay by his doghtres two, unwityngly; They daunce and pleyen at Adam oure fader, and his wyf also,· 505 Of spicerie ofleef, and bark, and roote . Fro Paradys to labour and to wo Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit, 545 Were dryven for that vice, it is no drede. To make hym yet a newer appetit. For whil that Adam fasted, as I rede, But, certes, he that haunteth swiche delices He was in Paradys; and whan that he Is deed, whil.that he lyveth in tho vices. Eet of the fruyt deffended on the tree, 510 A lecherous thyng is wyn, and dronkenesse Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne. Is ful of stryvyng and of wrecchednesse. 550 0 glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne! 0 dronke man, disfigured is thy face, 0, wiste a man how manye maladyes Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace, Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes, And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun He wolde been the moore mesurable 515 As though thou seydest ay "Sampsoun, Of his diete, sittynge at his table. Sampsoun!" Allas, the shorte throte;.the tendre mouth, And yet, God woot, Sampsoun drank nevere no wyn. ¥-Maketh that est and west and north and southf Thou fallest as it were a styked swyn; 556 In erthe, in eir, in water, men to swynke Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honeste cure, To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke! 520 For dronkenesse is verray sepulture Of this matiere, 0 Paul, wel kanstow trete: Of mannes wit and his discrecioun. "Mete unto wombe, and wombe eek unto mete, In whom that drynke hath dominacioun 560 Shal God destroyen bothe," as Paulus seith. He kan no conseil kepe; it is no drede. Allas, a foul thyng is it, by my feith, Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede, To seye this word, and fouler is the dede, 525 And namely fro the white wyn of Lepe Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede That is to selle in Fysshstrete or in Chepe. That of his throte he maketh his pryvee This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly 565 Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee; In othere wynes, growynge faste by, The apostel wepyng seith ful pitously, Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee "Ther walken manye of whiche yow too Id have I That whan a man hath dronken draughtes thre, I seye it now wepyng, with pitous voys-'- 531 And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe, They been enemys of Cristes croys, He is in Spaigne, right at the toune of Lepe:- 570 Of whiche the ende is deeth; wombe is hir god!" Nat at the Rochele, neat Burdeux toun- fO wombe! 0 bely! 0 stynkyng cod, And thanne wol he seye "Sampsoun, Sampsoun!" Fulfilled of dong and of corrupcioun! 535 But herkneth, lordynges, o word, I yow preye, At either ende of thee foul is the soun. That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye, How.greet labour and cost is thee to fynde! Of victories in the OIMTestament, 575 Thise cookes, how they stampe, and streyne, and Thurgh verray God, that is omnipotent, . grynde, Were What was comaunded unto Lamuel- Lordes may fynden oother maner pley Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I; 585 Honest ynough to dryve the day awey. Redeth the Bible, and fynde it expresly · Now wol I speke of othes false and grete Ofwyn-yevyng to hem that hanjustise. A word or two, as olde bookes trete. 630 Namoore of this, for it may wel suffise. Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable, And now that I have spoken of glotonye, And fals sweryng is yet moore reprevable. Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye. 590 The heighe God forbad sweryng at al, Hasard is verray mooder of lesyiiges, Witnesse on Mathew; but in special And of deceite, and cursed forswerynges, Of sweryng seith the hooly Jeremye, 635 Blaspheme. of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also "Thou shalt swere sooth thyne othes, and nat lye, Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo, · And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnesse"; It is repreeve and contrarie of honour 595 But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse. For to ben holde a commune hasardour. Bihoold and se that in the firste table And ever the hyer he is of estaat, Of heighe Goddes heestes honurable, 640 The moore is he yholden desolaat. Hou that the seconde heeste ofhym is this: If that a prynce useth hasardrye, "Take nat my name in ydel or amys.'' In alle governaunce .and policye 600 Lo, rather he forbedeth swich sweryng He is, as by commune opinioun, Than homycide or many a cursed thyng; Yholde the lasse in reputacioun. I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth; 645 Stilboun, that was a wys embassadour, This knoweth, that his heestes understondeth,. Was sent to Corynthe in ful greet honour How that the seconde heeste of God is that. Fro Lacidoniye to make hire alliaunce. 605 And farther over, I wol thee telle al plat And whan he cam, hym happede, par chaunce, That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous That alle the grt:ltteste that were of that lond, That of his othes is to outrageous. 650 Pleyynge atte hasard he hem fond. "By Goddes precious herte," and "By his nayles," For which, as soone as it myghte be, And "By the blood of Crist that is in Hayles, He stal hym hoom agayn to his .contree, 610 Sevene is my chaunce, and thyn is cynk and treye!" And seyde, "Ther wol I nat Iese my name, "By Goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye, Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, This daggere shal thurghout thyn herte go!"- 655 Yow for to allie unto none hasardours. This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two, Sendeth othere wise embassadours; Forsweryng, ire, falsnesse, homycide. For, by my trouthe, me were levere dye 615 Now, for the love of Crist, that for us dyde, Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye, . · Lete youre othes, bothe grete and smale. For ye, that been so glorious in honours,· But, sires, now wol I telle forth my tale. 660 Shul nat allyen yow.with hasardours Thise riotoures thre of whiche I telle, As by my wyl, ne as by my tretee.'1 Longe erst er prime rong of any belle, This wise philosophre, thus seyde hee. · 620 631 Gret sweryng: frequent swearing Looke eek that to the kyng Demetrius 632 reprevable: blameworthy The kyng of Parthes, as the book seith us, 634 Mathew: St. Matthew . 635 Jeremye: Jeremiah the prophet Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, 637 rlghtwisnesse: justice For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; 638 ydel sweryng: profanity 639 firste table: the first three commandments For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun 625 641 seconde heeste: second commandment 643 rather: earlier (in the ten commandments) At no value or reputacioun. 646 that: he who 648 forther over: furthermore al plat: flatly 584 Lamuel: Lemuel, biblical king of Massa 650 outrageous: excessive 587 wyn-yevyng: giving wine justise: the duty of rendering justice 651 nayles: nails 590 deffenden: forbid hasardrye: gambling 652 Hayles: Hales Abbey in Gloucestershire 591 Hasard: dicing lesynges: lies 653 chaunce: a call in dicing (the number the shooter is trying to roll) cynk: five 592 forswerynges: perjuries treye: three 594 catel: property 656 bicched bones: cursed dice 603 Stilboun: possibly the Greek philosopher Stilbo 661 riotoures: debauchers, profligates 604 Corynthe: Corinth, a Peloponnesian city noted for luxury 662 erst er: before prime: first hour of the day, beginning about 6 A.M. 605 Lacidomye: Lacedaemon, Sparta 622 Parthes: Parthia, northern Persia VI (c) 663-746] THE PARDONER'S TALE 181 Were set hem in a taverne to drynke, As though he were his·owene ybore brother. And as they sat, they herde a belle clynke And up they stirte, al. dronken in this rage, 705 Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave. 665 And forth they goon towardes that village. That oon of hem gan callen to-his knave: Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn. "Go bet," quod he, "and axe redily And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn, What cors is this that passeth heer forby; And Cristes blessed body they torente- And looke that thou reporte his name weel." Deeth shal be deed, if that they may hym hente! 710 "Sire," quod this boy, "it nedeth never-a-dee!; 670 Whan they han goon nat fully half a mile, It was me toold er ye cam heer two houres: Right as they wolde han troden over a stile, He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres, An oold man and a povre with hem mette. And sodeynly he was yslayn to-nyght, This olde man ful mekely hem grette, Fordronke, as he sat on his bench upright. And seyde thus, "Now, lordes, God yow see!" 715 Ther cam a privee theef men clepeth Deeth, 675 The proudeste of thise riotoures three That in this contree al the peple sleeth, Answerde agayn, "What, earl, with sory grace! And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo, Why artow al forwrapped save thy face? And wente his wey withouten wordes mo. Why lyvestow so longe in so greet age?" He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence. This olde man gan looke in his visage, 720 And, maister, er ye come in his presence, 680 And seyde thus: "For I ne kan nat fynde Me thynketh that it were necessarie A man, though that I walked into Y nde, For to be war of swich an adversarie. Neither in citee ne in no village, Beth redy for to meete hym everemoore; That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age;. Thus taughte me my dame; I sey namoore." And therfore moot I han myn age stille, 725 "By Seinte Marie!" seyde this taverner, 685 As longe tyme as it is Goddes wille. "The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer, Ne Deeth, allas, ne wol nat han my lyf. Henne over a mile, withinne a greet village, Thus walke I, lyk a restelees kaityf, Bothe man and womman, child, and hyne, and page; And on the ground, which is my moodres gate, I trowe his habitacioun be there. I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late, 730 To been avysed greet wysdom it were, · 690 And seye, 'Leeve mooder, leet me in! Er that he dide a man a dishonour." Lo how I vanysshe, flessh, and blood, and skyn! "Ye, Goddes armes!" quod this riotour, · Allas, whan shul my bones been at reste? "Is it swich peril with hym for to meete? Mooder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete, That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, · 735 I make avow to Goddes digne bones! 695 · Ye, for an heyre clowt to wrappe me!' Herkneth, felawes, we thre been al ones; But yet to me she wol nat do that grace, Lat ech of us holde up his hand til oother, For which ful pale and welked is my face. And ech of us bicoinen otheres brother, "But, sires, to yow it is no curteisye And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth. To speken to an old man vileynye, 740 He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth, 70~ .· But he trespasse in word or elles in dede. By Goddes dignitee, er it be nyght!" In Hooly Writ ye may yourselfwel rede: Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight 'Agayns an oold man, hoor upon his heed, To lyve and dyen ech of hem for oothet, Ye sholde arise;' wherfore I yeve yow reed, Ne dooth unto an oold man noon harm now, 745 665 cors: corpse 667 Go bet: go quickly Namoore than that ye wolde men did to yow 670 boy: servant it nedeth never-a-deel: it is not at all necessary 674 Fordronke: very drunk 709 torente: tore to pieces ·675 men clepeth: one calls, is called 715 God yow see: may God look after you 679 th!s pestilence: during this plague 717 earl: fellow with sory grace: bad luck to you 684 dame: mother 718 forwrapped: completely wrapped up 687 Henne: hence, froDl here 722 Ynde: India; i.e., the most remote place on earth 688 hyne: hind, farm worker page: serving boy 728 kaltyf: wretch 690 avysed: forewarned 731 Leeve: dear 698 brother: sworn brother 732 vanysshe: waste away 702 plight: pledged 734 cheste: strongbox for valuables 736 heyre clowt: haircloth 738 welked: withered 182 THE CANTERBURY TALES [VI (c) 747-830 In age, if that ye so longe abyde. Men wolde seyn that we were theves strange, And God be with yow, where ye go or ryde ! And for oure owene tresor doon us honge. 790 I moot go thider as I have to go." This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte "Nay, olde cherl, by God, thou shalt nat so," 750 As wisely and as slyly as it mygpte. Seyde this oother hasardour anon; Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle "Thou partest nat so lightly, by Seint John! Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle; Thou spak right now of thilke traytour Deeth, And he that hath the cut with herte blithe 795 That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth. Shal renne. to the town; and that ful swithe, · Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his espye, 755 And brynge us breed and wyn ful prively. Telle where he is or thou shalt it abye, And two of us shul kepen subtilly By God and by the hooly sacrement! This tresor wel; and ifhe wol nat tarie, For soothly thou art oon of his assent Whan it is nyght, we wol this tresor carie, 800 To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef1"· By oon assent, where as us thynketh best." "Now, sires," quod he, "if that yow be so leef 760 That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest, To fynde Deeth, turne up this croked wey, . And bad hem drawe and looke where it wol falle; For in that grove I lafte hym, by my fey, And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle, Under a tree, and there he wole abyde; And forth toward the toun lie wente anon. 805 Noght for youre boost he wole him no thyng hyde. And also soone as that he-was gon, Se ye that ook? Right there ye shal hym fynde. 765 That oon of hem spak thus unto that oother: God save yow, that boghte agayn mankynde, "Thow knowest wel thou art my sworeri brother; And yow amende!" Thus seyde this aide man; Thy profit wol I telle thee anon. And everich of thise riotoures ran Thou woost wel that oure felawe is agon. 810 Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde And heere is gold, and that ful greet plentee, Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde 770 That shal departed been among us thre. · Wei ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte. But nathelees, ifI kan shape it so No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte, That it departed were among us two, But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte, Radde I nat doon a freendes tom to thee?" 815 For that the floryns been so faire and brighte, That oother answerde, "I noot hou that may be.· That doun they sette hem by this precious hoard. 775 He woot that the gold is with us tweye; The worste of hem, he spak the firste word. What shal we doon? What shal we to hym seye?" "Bretheren," quod he, "taak kep what that I seye; "Shal it be conseil?" seyde the ,firste shrewe, My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye. "And I shal tellen in a wordes fewe 820 This tresor hath Fortune unto us yiven What we shal doon, and brynge it wel aboute." In myrthe andjoliftee oure lyfto lyven, 780 "I graunte," quad 11iat oother, "out of doute, And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende. That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye." Ey, Goddes precious dignitee! Who wende "Now," quod the firste, "thou woost wel we·be To-day that we sholde hari so fair a grace? tweye, But myghte this gold be caried fro this place And two of us shul strenger be than oon. 825 H9om to myn hous, or elles unto youres- 785 Looke whan that he is set, that right anoon For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures- Arys as though thou woldest with hym pleye, Thanne were we in heigh felicitee. And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye But trewely, by daye it may nat bee. Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game, And with thy daggere looke thou do the same; 830 747 abyde: remain (alive) 789 theves stronge: arrant thieves 758 oon of his assent: in league with him 790 doon us honge: have us hanged 765 oak: oak 793-94 cut • , , Be drawe: lots be drawn 766 boghte agayn: redeemed 796 ful swlthe: very quickly 770 floryns: gold coins 815 freendes torn: friend's turn, friendly act 778 bourde: jest 823 blwreye: betray 779 tresor: treasure 828 ryve: stab VI (C):831-912] THE PARDONER'S TALE And thanne shal al this gold departed be, The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke. My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee. For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke Thanne may we bothe oure histes all fulfille, In cariynge of the gold out of that place. 875 And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille." And whan this riotour, with sory grace, And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye 835 Radde filled with wyn his grete. b.otels. .t}:Ire, . To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye. To his fela'Y:~~ _agayn repaireth he. This yongeste, which that wente to the toun, What nedeth it to sermone·of it moore? Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifoore, 880 The beautee ofthise floryns newe and brighte. Right so they han hym slayn, and that anon. "O Lord!" quod he, "if so were that I myghte 840 And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon: Have al this tresor to myself allone, "Now lat us sitte ~d drynke, and make us merie, Ther is no man that lyveth under the trone And afterward we wol his body berie." Of God that sholde lyve so murye as I!" And with that word it happed hym, par cas, 885 And atte laste the feend, oure enemy, To take the hotel ther the poyson was, Putte in his thought that he sholde poyson beye, 845 And drank, and yafhis felawe drynke also, With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye; For which anon they storven bothe two. For-why the feend foond hym in swich lyvynge But certes, I suppose that Avycen That he hadde leve him to sorwe brynge. Wroot nevere in no canon, ne in no fen, 890 For this was outrely his fulle entente, Mo wonder signes of empoisonyng To sleen hem bothe and nevere to repente. 850 Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir endyng. And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie, Thus ended been thise homycides two, Into the toun, unto a pothecarie, And eek the false empoysonere also. And preyde hym that he hym wolde selle 0 cursed synne of alle cursednesse! 895 Som poyson, that he myghte his rattes quelle; · 0 traytours homycide, 0 wikkednesse! And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe, 855 0 glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye! That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde yslawe, Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye And fayn he wolde wreke hym, if he myghte, And othes grete, of usage.and of pride! On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte. Allas, mankynde, how may it bitide 900 The pothecarie answerde, "And thou shalt have That to thy creatour, which that the wroghte A thyng that, also God my soule save, 860 And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte, In al this world ther is no creature Thou art so fals and so unkynde, alias? That eten or dronken hath of this confiture .... Now, goode men, God foryeve yow youre trespas, Noght but the montance ofa corn ofwhete, And ware yow fro the synne of avarice! · · 905 That he ne shal his lif anon forlete; Myn hooly pardoun may yow alle warice, Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse while 865 So that ye offre nobles or sterlynges, Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a mile, Or elles silver broches, spoones, rynges. This poysoun is so strong and violent." Boweth youre heed under this hooly bulle! This cursed man hath in his hond yhent Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth ofyoure wolle! 910 This poysoun in a box, and sith he ran Youre names I entre beer in my rolle anon; Into the nexte strete unto a man, 870 Into the blisse ofhevene shul ye gon. And borwed [ of] hym large botelles thre, And in the two his poyson poured he; 874 shoop hym: intended 885 par cas: by chance 889 Avycen: Avicenna, Arabic author ofa medical treatise 838 rolleth up and doun: meditates on 890 canon: set of rules fen: a division of Avicenna's book 842 trone: throne 891 empolsonyng: poisoning 848 leve: permission 894 empoysonere: poisoner · 852 pothecarle: apothecary 897 luxurle: lechery 854 quelle: kill 899 usage: habit 855 polcat: weasel bawe: yard 903 unkynde: unnatural 857 wreke hym: revenge himself 906 warlce: cure, save 858 ver:myn: animal pests destroyed: were ruining 907 nobles: gold coins sterlynges: silver pennies 862 confiture: concoction 910 woile: wool 863 montance: amount, size corn: grain 864 forlete: lose 865 sterve: die while: time 866 a paas: at a walk 184 THE CANTERBURY TALES [VI (c) 913-968 yow assoille, by myn heigh power, For he is moost envoluped in.synne . . ~ Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer Com forth, sire Roost, and offre first anon, As ye were born.-And lo, sires, thus I preche. 915 And thou shalt kisse the relikes everychon, And Jhesu Crist, that is oure soules leche, Ye, for a grote! Unbokele anon thy purs." 945 fi~ ~o graunte yow his pardoun to rece.yye, "Nay, nay!" quod he, "thanne have I Cristes ;:, --Por that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve. ==- curs! ~ Bat, sires, o word forgat Im my tale: Lat be," quod he, "it shal nat be, so theech! I have relikes and pardoun in my male, 920 Thou woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech, As faire as any man in Engelond, And swere it were a relyk of a seint, Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond. Though it were with thy fundement depeint! 950 If any of yow wole, of devocion, But, by the croys which that Seint Eleyne fond, Offren and han myn absolucion, I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond Com forth anon, and kneleth heere adoun, 925 In stide of relikes or of seintuarie. And mekely receyveth my pardoun; Lat kutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie; Or elles taketh pardoun as ye wende, They shul be shryned in an hogges toord!" 955 Al newe and fressh at every miles ende, This Pardoner answerde nat a word; So that ye offren, alwey newe and newe, So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye. Nobles or pens, whiche that be goode and trewe. 930 "Now," quod oure Roost, "I wol no lenger pleye It is an honour to everich that is heer With thee, ne with noon oother angry man." That ye mowe have a suflisant pardorieer But right anon the worthy Knyght bigan, 960 T'assoille yow in contree as ye ryde, Whan that he saugh that al the peple. lough, For aventures whiche .that may bityde. ''Namoore of this, for it is right ynough! Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two 935 Sire Pardoner, be glad and myrie of cheere; Doun of his hors and breke his nekke atwo .. And ye, sire Roost, that been to me so deere, Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle I prey yow that ye kisse the Pardoner. 965 That I am in youre felaweshipe yfalle, And Pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer, That may assoille yow, bothe moore and lasse, And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye." • 1 Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe. 940 Anon they kiste, and ryden forth hir weye . I rede that oure Roost heere shal bigynne, Heere is ended the Pardoners Tale. 942 envoluped: enveloped 945 grote: groat, a silver coin worth four pence 946 Cristes curs: damnation 947 so theech = so thee ich. as I may prosper (I swear) 948 breech: underpants 950 fundement: anus depeint: stained 9 I 3 assoil!e: absolve 951 croys: cross Seint Eleyne: St. Helen, discoverer of the true cross 9 I 6 leche: physician 952 colllons: testicles 917 graunte: allow 953 seintuarie: sanctuary, box for relics 920 pardoun:·Pardons, papal indulgences male: pouch, bag 955 shryned: enshrined toord: turd 937 which a: what a seuretee: safeguard 968 ryden: rode