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Home , General Prologue, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

The Norton Anthology

o» r

FIFTH EDITION

Margaret Ferguson

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

Mary Jo Salter

MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE

Jon Stallworthy

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Norton anthology of poetry / [edited by] Margaret Ferguson, Mary Jo Salter, Jon Stallworthy.—5th ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-393-97920-2 (pbk.) 1. . 2. American poetry. I. Ferguson, Margaret, W., 1948— II. Salter, Mary Jo. III. Stallworthy, Jon. PR1174.N6 2004b 821.008—dc22 2004058100

W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110 www.wwnorton.com W. W. Norton & Company Ltd., Castle House, 75/76 Wells Street, London WIT 3QT 1234567890 THE / 19

Herkne0 to my roun.0 listen I song An hendy hap ichabbe yhent— . . .

Fowls in the Frith4

Fowles in the frith, The fisshes in the flood, And I mon° waxe0 wood:0 must I go I mad Much sorwe° I walke with sorrow 5 For beste of boon5 and blood.

I Am of Ireland6

Ich° am of Irlonde, I And of the holy londe Of Irlonde.

Goode sire, praye ich thee, 5 For of0 sainte0 charitee, sake of I holy Com and dance with me In Irlonde.

GEOFFREY CHAUCER ca. 1343-1400

FROM THE TALES

The General Prologue

Whan that April with his° showres soote° its /fresh The droughte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veine in swich licour,1 Of which vertu2 engendred is the flowr; 5 Whan Zephyrus° eek° with his sweete breeth the West Wind I also Inspired0 hath in every holt° and heeth0 breathed into /grove /field The tendre croppes,0 and the yonge sonne shoots Hath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,3

4. This poem, with a musical accompaniment a longer poem; it is written in prose in the manu- designed for two voices, appears on one side of a script. The first three lines are the burden, or page in a manuscript comprised mainly of legal refrain. texts (it contains no other poems). The title means 1. Such liquid. Veine: i.e., in plants. "Birds in the Woods." 2. By the power of which. 5. Either "the best" or "beast" of bone. The ambi- 3. The sun is young because it has run only half- guity allows for both religious and erotic interpre- way through its course in Aries, the Ram—the first tations. sign of the zodiac in the solar year. 6. This lyric may be a fragment or an extract from 20 /

And smale fowles0 maken melodye birds That sleepen al the night with open ye°— eye So priketh hem° Nature in hir° corages0— them I their I hearts Thanne longen folk to goon° on pilgrimages, go And palmeres for to seeken straunge strondes To feme halwes,4 couthe0 in sondry0 londes; known I various And specially from every shires ende Of Engelond to Canterbury they wende, The holy blisful martyr5 for to seeke That hem hath holpen0 whan that they were seke.0 helped!sick Bifel° that in that seson on a day, it happened In Southwerk6 at the as I lay, Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage To Canterbury with ful° devout corage, very At night was come into that hostelrye Wei nine and twenty in a compaignye Of sondry folk, by aventure0 yfalle chance In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle That toward Canterbury wolden0 ride. would The chambres and the stables weren wide, And wel we weren esed at the beste.7 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,8 So hadde I spoken with hem everichoon0 every one That I was of hir felaweshipe anoon,0 at once And made forward9 erly for to rise, To take oure way ther as I you devise.1 But nathelees,0 whil I have time and space,2 nevertheless Er° that I ferther in this tale pace,0 before I proceed Me thinketh it accordant to resoun3 To telle you al the condicioun Of eech of hem, so as it seemed me, And whiche they were, and of what degree,0 social rank And eek in what array that they were inne: And at a thanne0 wol I first biginne. then A Knight ther was, and that a worthy man, That fro the time that he first bigan To riden out, he loved chivalrye, Trouthe and honour, freedom and curteisye.4 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,° war And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,0 further As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse,0 heathen lands And5 evere honoured for his worthinesse. At Alisandre6 he was whan it was wonne;

4. Far-off shrines. Palmeres: palmers, wide- 1. I.e., where I describe to you. ranging pilgrims—especially those who sought out 2. I.e., while I have the opportunity. the "straunge strondes" (foreign shores) of the 3. It seems to me according to reason. Holy Land. 4. Courtesy. Trouthe: integrity. Freedom: gener- 5. St. Thomas a Becket, murdered in Canterbury osity of spirit. Cathedral (1170); his shrine was associated with 5. I.e., and he was. healing. 6. The Knight has taken part in campaigns fought 6. , site of the Tabard Inn, was then a against three groups who threatened Christian suburb of London, south of the Thames River. Europe during the fourteenth century: the Mus- 7. Accommodated in the best possible way. lims in the Near East, from whom Alexandria was 8. I.e., had set. seized after a famous siege; the northern barbari- 9. I.e., (we) made an agreement. ans in Prussia, Lithuania, and Russia; and the THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 21

Ful ofte time he hadde the boord bigonne7 Aboven alle nacions in Pruce; In Lettou had he reised,° and in Ruce, campaigned No Cristen man so ofte of his degree; 0 In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be Granada Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye; At Lyeis was he, and at Satalye, 0 Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See Mediterranean Sea 0 At many a noble arivee hadde he be. military landing At mortal batailes8 hadde he been fifteene, And foughten for oure faith at Tramissene 9 0 In listes thries, and ay° slain his fo. thrice I always This ilke° worthy Knight hadde been also same Somtime with the lord of Palatye1 0 Again another hethen in Turkye; against 0 And everemore he hadde a soverein pris. reputation And though that he were worthy, he was wis,2 0 And of his port as meeke as is a maide. demeanor 0 He nevere yit no vilainye ne saide rudeness In al his lif unto no manere wight:3 0 0 0 He was a verray, parfit, gentil knight. true I perfect I noble But for to tellen you of his array, 0 4 His hors were goode, but he was nat gay. horses Of fustian he wered a gipoun5 Al bismotered with his haubergeoun,6 For he was late° come from his viage,° lately I expedition And wente for to doon his pilgrimage. With him ther was his sone, a yong Squier,7 A lovere and a lusty bacheler, 0 With lokkes crulle as° they were laid in presse. curly I as if Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Of his stature he was of evene° lengthe, moderate 0 0 And wonderly delivere, and of greet strengthe. agile I great And he hadde been som time in chivachye8 In Flandres, in Artois, and Picardye, And born him wel as of so litel space,9 In hope to stonden in his lady° grace. lady's 0 Embrouded was he as it were a mede, embroidered I mead, meadow 0 Al ful of fresshe flowres, white and rede; red 0 Singing he was, or floiting, al the day: whistling He was as fressh as is the month of May. Short was his gowne, with sleeves longe and wide

Moors in North . The place-names in the fol- 4. I.e., gaily dressed. lowing lines refer to battlegrounds in these contin- 5. I.e., he wore a tunic of thick cloth underneath uing wars. the coat of mail. 7. Sat in the seat of honor at military feasts. 6. All rust-stained from his hauberk (coat of mail). 8. Tournaments fought to the death. 7. The vague term "Squier" (Squire) here seems 9. Lists, tournament grounds. the equivalent of "bacheler," a young knight still in 1. "The lord of Palatye" was a Muslim; alliances the service of an older one. of convenience were often made during the Cru- 8. On cavalry expeditions. The places in the next sades between Christians and Muslims. line are sites of skirmishes in the constant warfare 2. I.e., he was wise as well as bold. between the English and the French. 3. Any sort of person. In , negatives 9. I.e., considering the little time he had been in are multiplied for emphasis, as in these two lines: "nevere," "no," "ne," "no." 22 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

Wel coude he sitte on hors, and faire ride; 0 He coude songes make, and wel endite, compose verse 1 0 Juste and eek daunce, and wel portraye and write. sketch So hote0 he loved that by0 nightertale0 hotly I at I night He slepte namore than dooth a nightingale. Curteis he was, lowely,0 and servisable, humble And carf biforn his fader at the table.2 A Yeman hadde he3 and servants namo° no more At that time, for him liste° ride so; it pleased to And he4 was clad in cote and hood of greene. 0 A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and keene, arrows 0 0 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily; bore I properly Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly:5 His arwes drouped nought with fetheres lowe. And in his hand he bar a mighty bowe. A not-heed° hadde he with a brown visage. close-cut head 0 Of wodecraft wel coude he al the usage. knew Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer,6 0 7 And by his side a swerd and a bokeler, sword And on that other side a gay daggere, 0 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere; mounted 8 0 A Cristophre on his brest of silver sheene; bright An horn he bar, the baudrik9 was of greene. 0 0 A forster was he soothly, as I gesse. forester I truly Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse,1 That of hir smiling was ful simple0 and coy.° sincere I mild Hir gretteste ooth was but by sainte Loy!2 And she was cleped0 Madame Eglantine. named Ful wel she soong° the service divine, sang Entuned in hir nose ful semely;3 0 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, elegantly After the scole of Stratford at the Bowe4— For Frenssh of was to hire unknowe. 0 0 At mete wel ytaught was she withalle: meals I besides 0 She leer no morsel from hir lippes falle, let Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce deepe; 0 Wel coude she carye a morsel, and wel keepe take care 0 That no drope ne fille upon hir brest. should fall In curteisye was set ful muchel hir lest.5 Hir over-lippe wiped she so clene 0 That in hir coppe° ther was no ferthing seene cup I bit 0 Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte; grease 0 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. reached 0 6 And sikerly she was of greet disport, certainly

1. Joust (fight in a tournament) and also dance. 1. The Prioress is the mother superior of her nun- 2. It was a squire's duty to carve his lord's meat. nery. 3. The Knight. Yeman: ; an independent 2. Eloi, or Eligius, a saint associated with journeys commoner who acts as the Knight's military ser- and craftsmanship, was also famous for his per- vant. sonal beauty, courtesy, and refusal to swear. 4. I.e., the Yeoman. 3. I.e., chanted in a seemly manner. 5. Tend to his gear in a workmanlike way. 4. The French learned in a convent school 6. Wristguard for archers. ("scole") in Stratford-at-the-Bow, a suburb of Lon- 7. Buckler (a small shield). don, was evidently not up to the Parisian standard. 8. A medal of St. Christopher, patron saint of trav- 5. I.e., her chief delight lay in good manners. elers. 6. Of great good cheer. 9. Baldric (a supporting strap). THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 23

And ful plesant, and amiable of port,0 mien And pained hire to countrefete cheere7 Of court, and to been statlich0 of manere, dignified And to been holden digne8 of reverence. But, for to speken of hir , She was so charitable and so pitous0 merciful She wolde weepe if that she saw a mous Caught in a trappe, if it were deed0 or bledde. dead Of9 smale houndes hadde she that she fedde With rosted flessh, or milk and wastelbreed;0 fine white bread But sore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;' And al was conscience and tendre herte. Ful semely hir wimpel0 pinched0 was, headdress /pleated Hir nose tretis, hir yen greye2 as glas, Hir mouth ful smal, and therto0 softe and reed,° moreover I red But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed: It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe,3 For hardily,0 she was nat undergrowe. assuredly Ful fetis° was hir cloke, as I was war;0 becoming I aware Of smal° coral aboute hir arm she bar dainty A paire of bedes, gauded al with greene,4 And theron heeng0 a brooch of gold ful sheene,0 hung I bright On which ther was first writen a crowned A,5 And after, Amor vincit omnia.6 Another Nonne with hire hadde she That was hir chapelaine,0 and preestes three.7 secretary A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrye,8 An outridere9 that loved venerye,0 hunting A manly man, to been an abbot able.0 worthy Ful many a daintee0 hors hadde he in stable, fine And whan he rood,0 men mighte his bridel heere rode Ginglen0 in a whistling wind as clere jingle And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle.1 The rule of Saint Maure or of Saint Beneit, By cause that it was old and somdeel strait2— This ilke° Monk leet olde thinges pace,0 same /pass away And heeld° after the newe world the space.3 held He yaf nought of that text a pulled hen4 That saith that hunteres been0 nought holy men, are Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,5 Is likned til0 a fissh that is waterlees— to

7. And took pains to imitate the behavior. 8. I.e., a superlatively fine one. 8. And to be considered worthy. 9. A monk charged with supervising property dis- 9. I.e., some. tant from the monastery. 1. If someone struck it with a rod sharply. 1. Prior of an outlying cell (branch) of the mon- 2. Her nose well-formed, her eyes gray (a conven- astery. tional color for the eyes of heroines in romances). 2. Somewhat straight. Saint Maure and Saint 3. A handsbreadth wide, I believe. Beneit: St. Maurus and St. Benedict, authors of 4. Provided with beads to mark certain monastic rules. prayers. Paire: string (i.e., a rosary). 3. The course, or direction. I.e., he followed the 5. An A with an ornamental crown on it. new direction of things. 6. A motto meaning "Love conquers all." 4. He didn't give a plucked hen for that text. 7. Later there is only one priest, who tells "The 5. Reckless; careless of rule. Nun's Priest's Tale." 24 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

This is to sayn, a monk out of his cloistre; But thilke° text heeld he nat worth an oystre. that same And I saide his opinion was good: 0 0 What sholde he studye and make himselven wood why I crazy Upon a book in cloistre alway to poure,° -pour, read intently 0 Or swinke with his handes and laboure, work As Austin bit?6 How shal the world be served? Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved! 0 Therfore he was a prikasour aright. hard rider Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowl in flight. 0 Of priking and of hunting for the hare riding 0 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. pleasure 0 I sawgh his sleeves purfiled at the hand fur-lined 0 With gris, and that the fineste of a land; gray fur And for to festne his hood under his chin He hadde of gold wrought a ful curious7 pin: 0 A love-knotte in the grettere ende ther was. greater His heed was balled,0 that shoon as any glas, hold And eek his face, as he hadde been anoint: He was a lord ful fat and in good point;8 0 His yen steepe, and rolling in his heed, protruding That stemed as a furnais of a leed,9 0 His bootes souple, his hors in greet estat°— supple I condition Now certainly he was a fair prelat.1 0 He was nat pale as a forpined gost: wasted-away A fat swan loved he best of any rost. 0 His palfrey was as brown as is a berye. saddle horse 2 0 A Frere ther was, a wantoune and a merye, jovial 0 A limitour, a ful solempne man. ceremonious In alle the ordres foure is noon that can° knows 0 So muche of daliaunce and fair langage: sociability He hadde maad ful many a mariage Of yonge wommen at his owene cost; Unto his ordre he was a noble post.3 Ful wel biloved and familier was he With frankelains over al4 in his contree, And with worthy wommen of the town— For he hadde power of confessioun, 0 As saide himself, more than a curat, parish priest 5 For of° his ordre he was licenciat. by Ful swetely herde he confessioun, And plesant was his absolucioun. He was an esy man to yive° penaunce give Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce6 For unto a poore ordre for to yive 0 Is signe that a man is wel yshrive; shriven, absolved

6. I.e., as St. Augustine bids. St. Augustine had a "limitour" (line 209) he has been granted exclu- written that monks should perform manual labor. sive begging rights within a certain limited area. 7. Of careful workmanship. 3. I.e., pillar, a staunch supporter. 8. In good shape, plump. 4. I.e., with franklins everywhere. Franklins were 9. That glowed like a furnace with a pot in it. well-to-do country men. 1. Prelate (an important churchman). 5. I.e., licensed to hear confessions. 2. The "Frere" (Friar) belongs to one of the four 6. Where he knew he would have a good donation. religious orders whose members live by begging; as THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 25

For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt He wiste7 that a man was repentaunt; For many a man so hard is of his herte He may nat weepe though him sore smerte:8 Therfore, in stede of weeping and prayeres, Men mote0 yive silver to the poore freres.9 may His tipet0 was ay farsed0 ful of knives scarf/packed And pinnes, for to yiven faire wives; And certainly he hadde a merye note; Wei coude he singe and playen on a rote;° fiddle Of yeddinges he bar outrely the pris.1 His nekke whit was as the flowr-de-lis;° lily Therto he strong was as a champioun. He knew the tavernes wel in every town, And every hostiler0 and tappestere,0 innkeeper I barmaid Bet than a lazar or a beggestere.2 For unto swich a worthy man as he Accorded nat, as by his facultee,3 To have with sike0 lazars aquaintaunce: sick It is nat honeste,0 it may nought avaunce,0 dignified / profit For to delen with no swich poraile,4 But al with riche, and selleres of vitaile;0 foodstuffs And over al ther as profit sholde arise, Curteis he was, and lowely of servise. Ther was no man nowher so vertuous:0 effective He was the beste beggere in his hous.° friary And yaf a certain ferme for the graunt:5 Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt.0 assigned territory For though a widwe0 hadde nought a sho,° widow I shoe So plesant was his In principio6 Yit wolde he have a ferthing0 er he wente; small coin His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.7 And rage he coude as it were right a whelpe,8 In love-dayes9 ther coude he muchel0 helpe, much For ther he was nat lik a cloisterer, With a thredbare ,° as is a poore scoler, cloak But he was lik a maister1 or a pope. Of double worstede was his semicope,0 short cloak And rounded as a belle out of the presse.0 bell mold Somwhat he lipsed for his wantounesse2 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;

7. I.e., for if a man gave, the Friar would assert spiritual needs of precisely those classes the Friar that he [the Friar] knew. avoids. 8. Though he is sorely grieved. 5. And he paid a certain rent for the privilege of 9. Before granting absolution, the confessor must begging. be sure the sinner is contrite; moreover, the abso- 6. A friar's usual salutation: "In the beginning lution is contingent upon the sinner's performance [was the Word]" (John 1.1). of an act of satisfaction. In the case of Chaucer's 7. I.e., the money he got through such activity was Friar, a liberal contribution served both as proof of more than his regular income. contrition and as satisfaction. 8. And he could flirt wantonly, as if he were a 1. He absolutely took the prize for ballads. puppy. 2. Better than a leper or a female beggar. 9. Days appointed for the settlement of lawsuits 3. It was not suitable because of his position. out of court. 4. I.e., poor people. The oldest order of friars had 1. A man of recognized learning. been founded by St. Francis to administer to the 2. I.e., lisped in affectation. 26 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

And in his harping, whan he hadde songe,° sung His yen twinkled in his heed aright As doon the sterres0 in the frosty night. This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd. A Marchant was ther with a forked beerd, In motelee,3 and hye on hors he sat, 0 Upon his heed a Flandrissh bevere hat, Flemish 0 His bootes clasped faire and fetish/. elegantly 0 His resons he spak ful solempnely, opinions 0 0 Souning alway th'encrees of his winning. sounding I increase He wolde the see were kept for any thing4 Bitwixen Middelburgh and Orewelle. Wei coude he in eschaunge sheeldes5 selle. 0 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: em-ployed. 0 Ther wiste° no wight that he was in dette, knew I person 0 6 So statly was he of his governaunce, dignified 0 0 With his bargaines, and with his chevissaunce. gainings I borrowing Forsoothe he was a worthy man withalle; 0 But, sooth to sayn, I noot how men him calle. don't know A Clerk7 ther was of Oxenforde also That unto logik hadde longe ygo.8 As lene was his hors as is a rake, And he was nought right fat, I undertake, But looked holwe,° and therto sobrely. hollow 0 0 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy, outer I cloak For he hadde geten him yit no benefice,9 0 Ne was so worldly for to have office. secular employment For him was levere1 have at his beddes heed Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed, Of and his philosophye, 0 2 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrye. fiddle But al be that he was a philosophre3 Yit hadde he but litel gold in cofre;° coffer But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,° take On bookes and on lerning he it spente, And bisily gan for the soules praye 0 Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye. study 0 Of studye took he most cure and most heede. care Nought oo° word spak he more than was neede, one And that was said in forme4 and reverence, 0 5 And short and quik, and ful of heigh sentence: lively 0 Souning in moral vertu was his speeche, resounding

3. Motley, a cloth of mixed color. of becoming a cleric, but he was not bound to pro- 4. I.e., he wished the sea to be guarded at all costs. ceed to a position of responsibility in the Church. The sea route between Middleburgh (in the Neth- 8. Who had long since matriculated in philosophy. erlands) and Orwell (in Suffolk) was vital to the 9. Ecclesiastical living, such as the income a par- Merchant's export and import of wool—the basis ish priest receives. of 's chief trade at the time. 1. He would rather. 5. Shields, ecus (French coins), were units of 2. Psaltery (a kind of harp). transfer in international credit, which he ex- 3. The word may also mean "alchemist," someone changed at a profit. who tries to turn base metals into gold. The Clerk's 6. The management of his affairs. "philosophy" does not pay either way. 7. The Clerk is a student at Oxford; to become a 4. With decorum. student, he would have had to signify his intention 5. Elevated thought. THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 27

And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. A Sergeant of the Lawe, war and wis,6 That often hadde been at the Parvis7 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. Discreet he was, and of greet reverence— He seemed swich, his wordes weren so wise. 0 Justice he was ful often in assise circuit courts 0 By patente and by plein° commissioun. royal warrant I full 0 For his science and for his heigh renown knowledge Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. 0 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon; speculator in land Al was fee simple8 to him in effect— His purchasing mighte nat been infect.9 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas;° And yit he seemed bisier than he was. In termes hadde he caas and doomes1 alle That from the time of King William2 were falle. Therto he coude endite and make a thing,3 0 Ther coude no wight pinchen at his writing; cavil 0 0 And every statut coude he plein° by rote. knew I entire I heart 0 4 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote, unpretentiously 0 Girt with a ceint° of silk, with barres smale. belt I transverse stripes Of his array telle I no lenger tale. A Frankelain5 was in his compaignye: 0 Whit was his beerd as is the dayesye; daisy Of his complexion he was sanguin.6 Wei loved he by the morwe a sop in win.7 To liven in delit° was evere his wone,° pleasure I custom For he was Epicurus8 owene sone, That heeld opinion that plein° delit full Was verray felicitee parfit.9 An housholdere and that a greet was he: Saint Julian1 he was in his contree. His breed, his ale, was always after oon;2 0 A bettre envined man was nevere noon. wine-stocked Withouten bake mete was nevere his hous, 0 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous plenteous 0 0 It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke, snowed I food Of alle daintees that men coude thinke. 0 After the sondry sesons of the yeer according to 0 0 350 So chaunged he his mete and his soper. dinner I supper

6. Wary and wise; the Sergeant is not only a prac- country man, whose lower-class ancestry is no ticing lawyer but one of the high justices of the impediment to the importance he has attained in nation. his county. 7. The "Paradise," the porch of St. Paul's Cathe- 6. A reference to the fact that the 's tem- dral, a meeting place for lawyers and their clients. perament is dominated by blood as well as to his 8. Owned outright without legal impediments. red face (see note to line 423). 9. Invalidated on a legal technicality. 7. I.e., in the morning he was very fond of a piece 1. Probably, he had in Year Books ("termes") all of bread soaked in wine. the cases ("caas") and decisions ("doomes"). The 8. The ancient Greek philosopher whose teaching Year Books were compiled from notes taken at is popularly believed to make pleasure the chief trials. goal of life. 2. I.e., the Conqueror (reigned 1066—87). 9. I.e., was true perfect happiness. 3. Compose and draw up a deed. 1. The patron saint of hospitality. 4. A coat of mixed color. 2. Always of the same high quality. 5. The "Frankelain" (Franklin) is a prosperous 28 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

0 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe, cage 0 c And many a breem,° and many a luce in stewe. carp I pike /fishpond Wo was his cook but if his sauce were 0 Poinant and sharp, and redy all his gere. pungent His table dormant in his halle alway Stood redy covered all the longe day.3 At sessions ther was he lord and sire. Ful ofte time he was Knight of the Shire.4 0 0 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk dagger I purse 5 0 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk. morning 0 6 A shirreve hadde he been, and countour. sheriff Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.7 An Haberdasshere and a Carpenter, A Webbe,° a Dye r e , and a Tapicer0— weaver I tapestry maker And they were clothed alle in oo liveree8 Of a solempne and greet fraternitee. 0 Ful fresshe and newe hir gere apiked was; trimmed 0 Hir knives were chaped nought with bras, mounted But al with silver; wrought ful clene and weel 0 Hir girdles and hir pouches everydeel. altogether 0 Wei seemed eech of hem a fair burgeis burgher 0 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a dais. guildhall 0 Everich, for the wisdom that he can, was capable of 0 Was shaply for to been an alderman. suitable 0 0 For catel hadde they ynough and rente, property I income And eek hir wives wolde it wel assente— And elles certain were they to blame: 0 It is ful fair to been ycleped "Madame," called And goon to vigilies all bifore,9 And have a mantel royalliche ybore.1 0 A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones, occasion 0 To boile the chiknes with the marybones, •marrowbones And powdre-marchant tart and galingale.2 Wel coude he knowe° a draughte of London ale. recognize 0 He coude roste, and seethe, and broile, and frye, boil 0 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pie. stews 0 But greet harm was it thoughte me, seemed to That on his shine a mormaP hadde he. ulcer For blankmanger,3 that made he with the beste. A Shipman was ther, woning0 fer by weste— dwelling For ought I woot,0 he was of Dertemouthe.4 know 0 5 He rood upon a rouncy as he couthe, large nag 0 In a gowne of faiding to the knee. heavy wool A daggere hanging on a laas° hadde he strap

3. Tables were usually dismounted when not in nitee," or guild, a partly religious, partly social use, but the Franklin kept his mounted and set organization. ("covered"), hence "dormant." 9. I.e., at the head of the procession. Vigilies: 4. County representative in Parliament. Sessions: feasts held on the eve of saints' days. i.e., sessions of the justices of the peace. 1. A covering or cloak with a train, royally carried. 5. Hung at his belt. 2. Like "powdre-marchant," a flavoring material. 6. Auditor of county finances. 3. A white stew or mousse, from the French blanc 7. Feudal landholder of lowest rank; a provincial (white) + manger (to eat). gentleman. 4. Dartmouth, a port in the southwest of England. 8. In one livery, i.e., the uniform of their "frater- 5. As best he could. THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 29

Aboute his nekke, under his arm adown. The hote somer hadde maad his hewe° al brown; color And certainly he was a good felawe. Ful many a draughte0 of win hadde he ydrawe drink Fro Burdeuxward, whil that the chapman sleep:6 Of nice0 conscience took he no keep0 fastidious I heed If that he faught and hadde the hyer hand, By water he sente hem hoom to every land.7 But of his craft, to rekene wel his tides, His stremes0 and his daungers0 him bisides,8 currents I hazards His herberwe0 and his moone, his lodemenage,0 anchorage I pilotage There was noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.9 Hardy he was and wis to undertake; With many a tempest hadde his beerd been shake; He knew alle the havenes0 as they were harbors Fro Gotlond to the Cape of Finistere,1 And every crike° in Britaine0 and in Spaine. inlet I Brittany His barge ycleped was the Maudelaine.0 Magdalene With us ther was a Doctour of Physik:0 medicine In al this world ne was ther noon him lik To speken of physik and of surgerye. 0 0 For he was grounded in astronomye, because I 2 He kepte° his pacient a ful greet deel tended to In houres by his magik naturel.3 Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent Of his images4 for his pacient. He knew the cause of every maladye, Were it of hoot or cold or moiste or drye, And where engendred and of what humour:5 He was a verray parfit praktisour.6 0 0 The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, known I its Anoon he yaf the sike man his boote.° remedy Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries To senden him drogges0 and his letuaries,0 drugs I medicines For eech of hem made other for to winne: Hir frendshipe was nought newe to biginne. Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,7

6. I.e., drawn (stolen) wine from Bordeaux (the "humors," each of which, like the four elements, wine center of France), while the Merchant slept. was a compound of two of the elementary qualities 7. I.e., he drowned his prisoners. mentioned in line 422: the melancholy humor, 8. Around him. seated in the black bile, was cold and dry (like 9. From Hull (in northern England) to Cartagena earth); the sanguine, seated in the blood, hot and (in Spain). moist (like air); the choleric, seated in the yellow 1. From Gotland (an island in the Baltic) to Fin- bile, hot and dry (like fire); the phlegmatic, seated isterre (the westernmost point in Spain). in the phlegm, cold and moist (like water). 2. I.e., closely. 6. True perfect practitioner. 3. Natural—as opposed to black—magic. In 7. The Doctor is familiar with the treatises that houres: i.e., the astrologically important hours the attributed to the "great names" of (when conjunctions of the planets might help his medical history, whom Chaucer lists in lines 431— recovery). 36: the purely legendary Greek demigod Aescula- 4. Assign the propitious time, according to the pius; the Greeks Dioscorides, Rufus, Hippocrates, position of stars, for using talismanic images. Such Galen, and Serapion; the Persians Hali and images, representing either the patient or points in Rhazes; the Arabians Avicenna and ; the the zodiac, were thought to influence the course early Christians John (?) of Damascus and Con- of the disease. stantine Afer; the Scotsman Bernard Gordon; the 5. Diseases were thought to be caused by a dis- Englishmen John of Gatesden and Gilbert, the for- turbance of one or another of the four bodily mer an early contemporary of Chaucer. 30 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

And Deiscorides and eek Rufus, Olde Ipocras, Hali, and Galien, Serapion, Razis, and Avicen, Averrois, Damascien, and Constantin, Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertin. 0 Of his diete mesurable was he, moderate For it was of no superfluitee, 0 But of greet norissing and digestible. nourishment His studye was but litel on the Bible. 0 0 In sanguin and in pers he clad was al, blood red I blue 0 Lined with taffata and with sendal; silk 0 And yit he was but esy of dispence; expenditure He kepte that he wan in pestilence.8 9 For° gold in physik is a cordial, because Therfore he loved gold in special. A good Wif was ther of biside Bathe, 0 But she was somdeel deef, and that was scathe. a pity 0 Of cloth-making she hadde swich an haunt, practice 0 1 She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. surpassed In al the parissh wif ne was ther noon That to the offring2 bifore hire sholde goon, 0 And if ther dide, certain so wroth was she angry That she was out of alle charitee. 0 Hir coverchiefs ful fine were of ground — texture 0 0 I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound dare I weighed That on a Sonday weren° upon hir heed. were Hir hosen weren of fin scarlet reed,° red 3 0 Ful straite yteyd, and shoes ful moiste and newe. supple Bold was hir face and fair and reed of hewe. She was a worthy womman al hir live: Housbondes at chirche dore4 she hadde five, 0 Withouten other compaigny in youthe— not counting 0 But therof needeth nought to speke as nouthe. now And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem; 0 She hadde passed many a straunge streem; foreign At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, In Galice at Saint Jame, and at Coloigne:5 0 She coude muchel of wandring by the waye. knew Gat-toothed6 was she, soothly for to saye. 0 Upon an amblere esily she sat, horse with an easy gait 0 Ywimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat veiled As brood as is a bokeler or a targe,7 A foot-mantel° aboute hir hipes large, riding skirt 0 And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. spurs

8. He saved the money he made during the plague formed at the church door. time. 5. Rome, Boulogne (in France), St. James (of 9. A stimulant. Gold was thought to have some Compostella) in Galicia (Spain), Cologne (in Ger- medicinal properties. many) were all sites of shrines much visited by pil- 1. Ypres and Ghent ("Gaunt") were Flemish cloth- grims. making centers. 6. Gap-toothed; in medieval , such 2. The offering in church, when the congregation teeth indicated an irreverent, luxurious, sexualized brought its gifts forward. nature. 3. Tightly laced. 7. Like a "bokeler," a small shield. 4. In medieval times, weddings were often per- THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 31

In felaweshipe wel coude she laughe and carpe:° talk Of remedies of love she knew parchaunce,0 as it happened For she coude of that art the olde daunce.8 A good man was ther of religioun, 0 And was a poore Person of a town, parson But riche he was of holy thought and werk. He was also a lerned man, a clerk, That Cristes gospel trewely0 wolde preche; faithfully 0 His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. parishioners 0 Benigne he was, and wonder diligent, wonderfully And in adversitee ful pacient, 0 0 And swich he was preved ofte° sithes. proved I often I times Ful loth were him to cursen for his tithes,9 But rather wolde he yiven, out of doute," Unto his poore parisshens aboute 2 0 Of his offring and eek of his substaunce: property 0 He coude in litel thing have suffisaunce. sufficiency Wid was his parissh, and houses fer asonder, But he ne lafte° nought for rain ne thonder, neglected 0 In siknesse nor in meschief, to visite misfortune 0 3 The ferreste in his parissh, muche and lite, farthest Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. 0 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf example That first he wroughte,4 and afterward he taughte 0 Out of the Gospel he tho° wordes caughte, those I took 0 And this figure he added eek therto: metaphor That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, No wonder is a lewed° man to ruste. uneducated And shame it is, if a preest take keep,0 0 heed A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. befouled Wel oughte a preest ensample for to yive By his clennesse how that his sheep sholde live. He sette nought his benefice to hire And leet his sheep5 encombred in the mire And ran to London, unto Sainte0 Poules,0 St. /Paul's (Cathedral) To seeken him a chaunterye6 for soules, Or with a bretherhede to been withholde,7 But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde, So that the wolf ne made it nought miscarye: He was a shepherde and nought a mercenarye And though he holy were and vertuous, He was to sinful men nought despitous,0 scornful Ne of his speeche daungerous0 ne digne,° disdainful I haughty But in his teching discreet and benigne,

8. I.e., she knew all the tricks of that trade. sheep. A priest might rent his parish to another and 9. He would be most reluctant to invoke excom- take a more profitable position. munication in order to collect his tithes. 6. Chantry, i.e., a foundation that employed 1. Without doubt. priests for the sole duty of saying Masses for the 2. The offering made by the congregation of his souls of certain persons. St. Paul's had many of church was at the Parson's disposal. them. 3. I.e., great and small. 7. Or to be employed by a brotherhood; i.e., to 4. I.e., he practiced what he preached. take a lucrative and fairly easy position as chaplain 5. I.e., he did not hire out his parish or leave his with a parish guild. 32 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse By good ensample—this was his bisinesse. But it° were any persone obstinat, if there What so he were, of heigh or lowe estat, 0 8 Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nones: scold A bettre preest I trowe° ther nowher noon is. believe He waited after9 no pompe and reverence, Ne maked him a spiced conscience,1 0 But Cristes lore and his Apostles twelve teaching He taughte, but first he folwed it himselve. With him ther was a Plowman, was his brother, That hadde ylad0 of dong° ful many a fother.0 carried I dung I load A trewe swinkere° and a good was he, worker Living in pees° and parfit charitee. peace 0 God loved he best with al his hoole herte whole At alle times, though him gamed or smerte,2 And thanne his neighebor right as himselve. 0 0 He wolde thresshe, and therto dike and delve, make ditches I dig For Cristes sake, for every poore wight, Withouten hire, if it laye in his might. His tithes payed he ful faire and wel, 0 Bothe of his propre swink° and his catel.° own I work I property 0 0 In a tabard he rood upon a mere. workman's smock I mare Ther was also a Reeve and a Millere, A Somnour, and a Pardoner also, A Manciple, and myself—ther were namo.3 The Millere was a stout carl0 for the nones. fellow Ful big he was of brawn0 and eek of bones— muscle That preved4 wel, for overal ther he cam At wrastling he wolde have alway the ram.5 0 0 He was short-shuldred, brood, a thikke knarre broad I stout I fellow Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,6 0 Or breke it at a renning with his heed.° running I head 0 His beerd as any sowe or fox was reed, red And therto brood, as though it were a spade; 0 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade tip A werte,° and theron stood a tuft of heres, wart Rede as the bristles of a sowes eres;° ears 0 His nosethirles blake were and wide. nostrils 0 0 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his side. shield I bore 0 His mouth as greet was as a greet furnais. furnace 0 7 He was a janglere and a Goliardais, chatterer 0 And that was most of sinne and harlotries. obscenities Wel coude he stelen corn and tollen thries8— And yit he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.9

8. On any occasion. 625; the Pardoner, at line 671. 9. I.e., expected. 4. Proved, i.e., was evident. 1. Nor did he assume an overfastidious con- 5. A ram was frequently offered as the prize in science. wrestling. 2. Whether he was pleased or grieved. 6. He would not heave off (its) hinge. 3. No more. Reeve: estate manager. Somnour: 7. Goliard, teller of ribald stories. Summoner, server of summonses to the ecclesi- 8. Take toll thrice—i.e., deduct from the grain far astical court. Pardoner: dispenser of papal pardons. more than the lawful percentage. Manciple: Steward. The Somnour appears at line 9. By heaven. Thombe: possibly an ironic refer- THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 33

A whit cote and a blew hood wered° he. wore 0 A baggepipe wel coude he blowe and soune, sound 0 And therwithal he broughte us out of towne. therewith A gentil Manciple1 was ther of a temple, Of which achatours0 mighte take exemple buyers of food For to been wise in bying of vitaile;0 victuals For wheither that he paide or took by taile,2 Algate he waited so in his achat3 That he was ay biforn and in good stat.4 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace That swich a lewed° mannes wit shal pace0 uneducated I surpass The wisdom of an heep of lerned men? Of maistres0 hadde he mo than thries ten masters 0 That weren of lawe expert and curious, cunning Of whiche ther were a dozeine in that hous Worthy to been stiwardes of rente0 and lond Of any lord that is in Engelond, 0 0 To make him live by his propre good own I money In honour dettelees but if he were wood,5 Or live as scarsly as him list desire,6 And able for to helpen al a shire In any caas° that mighte falle° or happe, event I befall And yit this Manciple sette hir aller cappe!7 The Reeve was a sclendre colerik8 man; 0 His beerd was shave as neigh as evere he can; zlose His heer was by his eres ful round yshorn; His top was dokked9 lik a preest biforn; Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, 0 Ylik a staf, ther was no calf yseene. visible 0 Wel coude he keepe° a gerner and a binne— guard I granary Ther was noon auditour coude on him winne.1 0 Wel wiste he by the droughte and by the rain knew The yeelding of his seed and of his grain. 0 His lordes sheep, his neet,° his dayerye, cattle I dairy herd His swin, his hors, his stoor,° and his pultrye stock 0 Was hoolly in this Reeves governinge, wholly And by his covenant yaf2 the rekeninge, Sin0 that his lord was twenty-yeer of age. There coude no man bringe him in arrerage.3 Ther nas baillif, hierde, nor other hine, That he ne knew his sleighte and his covine4— 0 They were adrad° of him as of the deeth. afraid I plague 0 His woning was ful faire upon an heeth;° dwelling I meadow ence to the proverb An honest miller hath a golden 8. Slender choleric. "Colerik" (choleric) describes thumb, which apparently means "There are no a person whose dominant humor is yellow bile honest millers." (choler)—i.e., a hot-tempered person. The Reeve 1. The Manciple is the steward of a community of is the superintendent of a large farming estate. lawyers in London (a "temple"). 9. Cut short; the clergy wore the head partially 2. By talley, i.e., on credit. shaved. 3. Always he was on the watch in his purchasing. 1. I.e., find him in default. 4. I.e., he was ahead of the game and in good 2. And according to his contract he gave. financial condition. 3. Convict him of being in arrears financially. 5. Out of debt unless he were insane. 4. There was no bailiff (i.e., foreman), shepherd, 6. I.e., as economically as he would want. nor other farm laborer whose craftiness and plots 7. This Manciple made fools of them all. he didn't know. 34 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

With greene trees shadwed was his place. 0 He coude bettre than his lord purchace. acquire goods 0 0 Ful riche he was astored prively. stocked / secretly His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly, 0 To yive and lene° him of his owene good, lend I property And have a thank, and yit a cote and hood. 0 In youthe he hadde lerned a good mister: occupation He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. This Reeve sat upon a ful good stot° stallion That was a pomely° grey and highte0 Scot. dapple I was named A long surcote of pers upon he hade,s 0 And by his side he bar a rusty blade. bore Of Northfolk was this Reeve of which I telle, 0 Biside a town men clepen Baldeswelle. Bawdswell Tukked0 he was as is a frere aboute, th clothing tucked up And evere he rood the hindreste of oure route.6 A Somnour7 was ther with us in that place That hadde a fir-reed cherubinnes8 face, 0 For saucefleem he was, with yen° narwe,° pimply I eyes I slitlike 9 And hoot° he was, and lecherous as a sparwe, hot 0 1 With scaled browes blake and piled beerd: scabby Of his visage children were aferd.° afraid Ther nas quiksilver, litarge, ne brimstoon, Boras, ceruce, ne oile of tartre noon,2 Ne oinement that wolde dense and bite, 0 That him mighte helpen of his whelkes white, pimples 0 Nor of the knobbes sitting on his cheekes. lumps Wel loved he garlek, oinons, and eek leekes, And for to drinke strong win reed as blood. Thanne wolde he speke and crye as he were wood; And whan that he wel dronken hadde the win, Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latin: A fewe termes hadde he, two or three, That he hadde lerned out of som decree; No wonder is—he herde it al the day, And eek ye knowe wel how that a jay° parrot Can clepen "Watte"3 as wel as can the Pope— But whoso coude in other thing him grope,0 Thanne hadde he spent all his philosophye;4 Ay Questio quid juris5 wolde he crye. He was a gentil harlot0 and a kinde; A bettre felawe sholde men nought finde: 0 He wolde suffre, for a quart of win, permit A good felawe to have his concubin

5. I.e., he had on a long blue overcoat. in art with red faces. 6. Hindmost of our group. 9. The sparrow was traditionally associated with 7. The "Somnour" (Summoner) is an employee of lechery. the ecclesiastical court, whose defined duty is to 1. Uneven; partly hairless. bring to court persons whom the archdeacon—the 2. These are all ointments for diseases affecting justice of the court—suspects of offenses against the skin, probably diseases of venereal origin. canon law. By this time, however, summoners had 3. Call out "Walter" (like modern parrots' "Polly"). generally transformed themselves into corrupt 4. I.e., learning. detectives who spied out offenders and black- 5. "What point of law does this investigation mailed them by threats of summonses. involve?": a phrase frequently used in ecclesiastical 8. Fire-red cherub's. Cherubs were often depicted courts. THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 35

A twelfmonth, and excusen him at the fulle;6 0 7 Ful prively a finch eek coude he pulle. secretly 0 And if he foond° owher a good felawe found I anywhere He wolde techen him to have noon awe In swich caas of the Ercedekenes curs,8 But if9 a mannes soule were in his purs, For in his purs he sholde ypunisshed be. "Purs is the Ercedekenes helle," saide he. But wel I woot he lied right in deede: 0 Of cursing oughte eech gilty man drede, excommunication 0 For curs wol slee° right as assoiling savith— slay I absolution And also war him of a significavit.' 2 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise° iisposa, The yonge girles of the diocise, And knew hir conseil,0 and was al hir reed.3 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed As greet as it were for an ale-stake;4 A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake. With him ther rood a gentil Pardoner5 0 Of Rouncival, his freend and his compeer, comrade That straight was comen fro the Court of Rome. 0 Ful loude he soong, "Com hider, love, to me." sang This Somnour bar to him a stif burdoun:6 0 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. trumpet This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, 0 0 But smoothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;° hung I hank I flax By ounces7 heenge his lokkes that he hadde, 0 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde, overspread 0 But thinne it lay, by colpons, oon by oon; strands 0 But hood for jolitee wered° he noon, attractiveness I wore For it was trussed up in his walet:° pack 0 Him thoughte he rood al of the newe jet. fashion 0 Dischevelee save his cappe he rood al bare. with hair down Swiche glaring yen hadde he as an hare. A vernicle8 hadde he sowed upon his cappe, His walet biforn him in his lappe, BretfuP of pardon, comen from Rome al hoot.° brimful I hot A vois he hadde as smaP as hath a goot;° fine I goat No beerd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have; As smoothe it was as it were late yshave: I trowe he were a gelding or a mare.9

6. Fully. Ecclesiastical courts had jurisdiction 5. A Pardoner dispensed papal pardon for sins to over many offenses that today would come under those who contributed to the charitable institution civil law, including sexual offenses. that he was licensed to represent; this Pardoner 7. I.e., "to pluck a finch": to swindle someone; purported to be collecting for the hospital of Ron- also, an expression for sexual intercourse. cesvalles ("Rouncival") in Spain, which had a Lon- 8. Archdeacon's sentence of excommunication. don branch. 9. But if: unless. 6. I.e., provided him with a strong bass accompa- 1. And also one should be careful of a significavit niment. (the writ that transferred the guilty offender from 7. I.e., thin strands. the ecclesiastical to the civil arm for punishment). 8. Portrait of Christ's face as it was said to have 2. Under his domination. been impressed on St. Veronica's handkerchief, 3. Was their chief source of advice. i.e., a souvenir reproduction of a famous in 4. A tavern was signalized by a pole ("alestake"), Rome. rather like a modern flagpole, projecting from its 9. I believe he was a castrated male horse or a front wall; on this hung a garland, or "bush." female horse. 36 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

But of his craft, fro Berwik into Ware,1 Ne was ther swich another pardoner; 0 0 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer bag I pillowcase Which that he saide was Oure Lady veil; He saide he hadde a gobet° of the sail •piece That Sainte Peter hadde whan that he wente 0 Upon the see, til Jesu Crist him hente. seized 0 He hadde a crois° of laton, ful of stones, cross I brassy metal And in a glas he hadde pigges bones, But with thise relikes2 whan that he foond° A poore person dwelling upon lond,3 0 0 Upon a day he gat him more moneye in / got 0 Than that the person gat in monthes twaye; two 0 0 And thus with feined laterye and japes false I tricks 0 He made the person and the peple his apes. dupes But trewely to tellen at the laste, He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste; 0 Wel coude he rede a lesson and a storye, liturgical narrative 0 4 But alderbest he soong an offertorye, best of all For wel he wiste° whan that song was songe, knew 0 0 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge must I sharpen To winne silver, as he ful wel coude— 0 Therfore he soong the merierly and loude. more merrily Now have I told you soothly in a clause5 Th'estaat, th'array, the nombre, and eek the cause Why that assembled was this compaignye In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle;6 But now is time to you for to telle 0 0 0 How that we baren us that ilke night bore I < dves I i Whan we were in that hostelrye alight; And after wol I telle of oure viage,0 trip And al the remenant of oure pilgrimage. But first I praye you of youre curteisye That ye n'arette it nought my vilainye7 Though that I plainly speke in this matere To telle you hir wordes and hir cheere,0 behavior Ne though I speke hir wordes proprely;0 accurately For this ye knowen also wel as I: Who so shal telle a tale after a man He moot0 reherce,0 as neigh as evere he can, must I repeat Everich a word, if it be in his charge,0 responsibility Al° speke he nevere so rudeliche and large,0 although I broadly Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe, Or feine° thing, or finde° wordes newe; He may nought spare8 although he were his brother falsify I devise He moot as wel saye oo word as another. Crist spake himself ful brode0 in Holy Writ, broadly

1. I.e., from one end of England to another. 5. I.e., in a few words. 2. —i.e., the pigs' bones that the Pardoner 6. Close by the Belle (another tavern in South- represented as saints' bones. wark, possibly a brothel). 3. A poor parson living upcountry. 7. That you do not charge it to my boorishness. 4. Part of the Mass sung before the offering of 8. I.e., spare anyone. alms. THE GENERAL PROLOGUE / 37

And wel ye woot no vilainye0 is it; rudeness Eek Plato saith, who so can him rede, The wordes mote be cosin to the deede. Also I praye you to foryive it me Al° have I nat set folk in hir degree although Here in this tale as that they sholde stonde: My wit is short, ye may wel understonde. Greet cheere made oure Host9 us everichoon, And to the soper sette he us anoon.° at once He served us with vitaile0 at the beste. food Strong was the win, and wel to drinke us leste.° it pleased A semely man oure Hoste was withalle For to been a marchal1 in an halle; 0 A large man he was, with yen steepe, prominent 0 2 A fairer burgeis was ther noon in Chepe — townsman Bold of his speeche, and wis, and wel ytaught, And of manhood him lakkede right naught. Eek therto he was right a merye man, And after soper playen he bigan, And spak of mirthe amonges othere thinges— 0 Whan that we hadde maad° oure rekeninges — paid I bills And saide thus, "Now, lordinges, trewely, 0 Ye been to me right welcome, hertely. heartily For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lie, I sawgh nat this yeer so merye a compaignye 0 At ones in this herberwe as is now. inn Fain° wolde I doon you mirthe, wiste P how. gladly And of a mirthe I am right now bithought, To doon you ese, and it shal coste nought. "Ye goon to Canterbury—God you speede; The blisful martyr quite you youre meede.4 And wel I woot as ye goon by the waye Ye shapen you5 to talen° and to playe, tell tales For trewely, confort ne mirthe is noon 0 To ride by the waye domb as stoon; stone And therfore wol I maken you disport 0 As I saide erst, and doon you som confort; before And if you liketh alle, by oon assent, For to stonden at6 my juggement, And for to werken as I shal you saye, Tomorwe whan ye riden by the waye— 0 Now by my fader soule that is deed, father's 0 But ye be merye I wol yive you myn heed!° unless I head Holde up youre handes withouten more speeche." Oure counseil was nat longe for to seeche;0 seek Us thoughte it was nat worth to make it wis,7 And graunted him withouten more avis,° deliberation And bade him saye his voirdit as him leste.8 790 "Lordinges," quod he, "now herkneth for the beste;

9. The Host is the landlord of the Tabard Inn. 5. Ye shapen you: you intend. 1. Marshal, one who was in charge of feasts. 6. Abide by. 2. , business center of London. 7. We didn't think it worthwhile to make an issue 3. If I knew. of it. 4. Pay you your reward. 8. I.e., give his verdict as he pleased. 38 / GEOFFREY CHAUCER

But taketh it nought, I praye you, in desdain. This is the point, to speken short and plain, That eech of you, to shorte0 with oure waye shorten In this viage, shal tellen tales twaye°— two 795 To Canterburyward, I mene it so, And hoomward he shal tellen othere two, Of aventures that whilom0 have bifalle; once upon a time And which of you that bereth him best of alle— That is to sayn, that telleth in this cas 8oo Tales of best sentence0 and most solas0— meaning I delight Shal have a soper at oure aller cost,9 Here in this place, sitting by this post, Whan that we come again fro Canterbury. And for to make you the more mury° merry 805 I wol myself goodly0 with you ride— kindly Right at myn owene cost—and be youre gide. And who so wol my juggement withsaye0 contradict Shal paye al that we spende by the waye. And if ye vouche sauf that it be so, 8io Telle me anoon, withouten wordes mo,° more And I wol erly shape me1 therfore." This thing was graunted and oure othes swore With ful glad herte, and prayden2 him also That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so, 8i5 And that he wolde been oure governour, And of oure tales juge and reportour,0 accountant And sette a soper at a certain pris,° price And we wol ruled been at his devis,° wish, plan In heigh and lowe; and thus by oon assent 820 We been accorded to his juggement. And therupon the win was fet° anoon; fetched We dronken and to reste wente eechoon Withouten any lenger0 taryinge. longer Amorwe0 whan that day bigan to springe in the morning 825 Up roos oure Host and was oure aller cok,3 And gadred us togidres in a flok, And forth we riden, a litel more than pas,° walking pace Unto the watering of Saint Thomas;4 And ther oure Host bigan his hors arreste,0 to halt 830 And saide, "Lordes, herkneth if you leste:° it please Ye woot youre forward and it you recorde:5 If evensong and morwesong0 accorde,0 momingsong I agree Lat see now who shal telle the firste tale. As evere mote0 I drinken win or ale, may 835 Who so be rebel to my juggement Shal paye for al that by the way is spent. Now draweth cut er that we ferre twinne:6 He which that hath the shorteste shal biginne.

9. I.e., at the expense of us all. 4. A watering place near Southwark. 1. Will prepare myself. 5. You know your agreement and you recall it. 2. I.e., we prayed. 6. I.e., draw straws before we go farther. 3. I.e., was rooster for us all. THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE AND TALE / 39

"Sire Knight,'' quod he, "my maister and my lord, Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.0 will Cometh neer," quod he, "my lady Prioresse, 0 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse— modesty Ne studieth nought. Lay hand to, every man!" Anoon to drawen every wight bigan, And shortly for to tellen as it was, 0 0 Were it by aventure, or sort , or cas,° luck I fate I chance 0 The soothe is this, the cut fil° to the Knight; truth I fell Of which ful blithe and glad was every wight, And telle he moste° his tale, as was resoun, must 0 0 By forward and by composicioun, agreement I compact As ye han herd. What needeth wordes mo? And whan this goode man sawgh that it was so, As he that wis was and obedient To keepe his forward by his free assent, He saide, "Sin I shal biginne the game, What, welcome be the cut, in Goddes name! Now lat us ride, and herkneth what I saye." And with that word we riden forth oure waye, 0 And he bigan with right a merye cheere countenance His tale anoon, and saide as ye may heere.

The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale1 The Prologue Experience, though noon auctoritee Were in this world, is right ynough for me To speke of wo that is in mariage: 0 For lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age— gentlemen Thanked be God that is eterne on live— Housbondes at chirche dore2 I have had five (If I so ofte mighte han wedded be),

1. The Wife of Bath's prologue and tale have no men. In creating a female character who uses a link to a preceding tale and together occupy dif- version of the English to engage in witty ferent positions in the many manuscript versions battle with generations of literate clerks and their of . Most scholars agree, how- writings about women, Chaucer engages in lively ever, that the Wife's powerful voice begins a but also serious play in an arena of (ongoing) cul- sequence of tales dealing with marriage. In her tural debate. prologue, the Wife draws on and often comically The Wife's tale illustrates some of the claims she questions classical and Christian traditions of anti- makes in her prologue about women's right to be woman and antimarriage discourse in various gen- "sovereign" (to rule) over men. While the Wife's res. At once embodying and satirizing common prologue draws on contemporary history and her stereotypes of women drawn from Christian and own life story, her tale transports us to a distant, classical "authorities" (whom she sometimes com- largely fictional world of . ically misquotes), the Wife speaks from a position Although the Wife at one point "interrupts" her shaped, she claims, by her "experience," rather tale to continue the authority-citing debate of than by "auctoritee." In so doing, she reminds us the prologue, her argument is mostly carried by a that many fewer women than men had access to plot that combines elements from two traditional literacy—and its cultural prestige—during the stories found in many European languages: that of Middle Ages than do today. This was, in part, a knight and a "loathly" lady and that of a man because fewer girls than boys received formal edu- whose life depends on his being able to answer a cation, but also because literacy was commonly certain question. defined as mastery of Latin, the language of the 2. The actual wedding ceremony was performed Church and the priesthood, which was often inac- at the church door. cessible or incomprehensible to women and to lay-