Bo1 · Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 414
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Bo1/
[2r]
Whan that April with his shouris sote
The drought of March hath ꝑpercid to þe Rote
And bathid euery veyne in such licour
Of which vertu engendrid is the flour
Whan zephirus eke with his swete brethe
Enspirid hath in euery holt and hethe
The tendir croppis and the yong Sūnne .
Hath in the Ramme his half course y ronne .
And smale foulis maken melodie .
That slepen alle the nyght with open eye
So priketh hem nature in her coragis
Than longen folk to go on pilgrimagis
And palmers forto seche straunge londis
To ferne halowis couthe in sundry strondis
And specialy from euery Shiris ende .
Of Englond / to Cauntirbury they wende
The holy blisful martir forto seke
That hem hath holpen whan that they wer seke .
¶ Befille þat in that seasoıı̄un on a day .
In Suthwerk at the Tabard as I lay
Redy to wende on my pilgrimage
To Cauntirbury with ful deuout corage .
At nyght were comen into that hostery
Welle nyne and twenty in a c[…]pany
Of sundry folk by auenture y […]le
In felaship and pilgrimes were they alle .
That toward Cauntirbury wolden ride
The chambre and the Stablis weren wide .
And wele we weren easid at the best
And shortly whan the Sūnne was to r[…]
So had I spoken with hem euerichone
That I was of her felaship anone
And made forward erly forto rise
To take oure wey ther as I you diuise .
¶ But natheles while I haue time ⁊and space
Or that I further in this tale pace
Me thinke it accordaunt to reasoıı̄un
To telle you alle the condicioıı̄un
Of eche of hem so as it semed me .
Of which they were / and of what degre
And eke in what array that they were in
And at a knyght than wille I first begyn .
A Knyght ther was and that a wurthy man
That fro the tyme that he first beganne .
To ride out / he loued cheualrye .
Trouth honour fredam and curtesy
Ful wurthy was he in his lordis werre
And therto had he riden̄ noman̄ more ferre .
As wel in cristendame as in hethenesse
And euer honourid for his wurthinesse
¶ At Alizaundre he was whan it was wonne
Ful ofte he had the boord begonne
Abouen̄ alle nacions in Pruce
In lettow hadde he ben̄ and in Ruce
No cristenman so ofte of his degre .
In Gernade at the Sege eke had he be .
Of Algazir / and riden in Belmarye .
At lieys was he and atte Satalye .
Whan they were wonne / ⁊and in the gret See .
At many a noble armee hadde he be
At mortal batailes had he ben fiftene
And fouȝt for oure feith at Tramyssene
In listis thries / and ay slayn̄ his fo .
This ilke wurthy knyght had ben also
Sumtime with the lord of palatye
Ageyn anothir hethen in Turkye .
And eủermore he had souereyn̄ price .
And though that he were wurthy he was wise
And of his port as meke as is a mayde
He neuer yit no vilany ne seid
In al his l[…]time vnto no wight .
He was a […]eray parfit gentle knight
But forto telle you of his array
His hors were good but he nas nat gay
Of fustian he werid a gipoıı̄un
Al besmotird with his haubergeoıı̄un
For he was late y come from his viage
And went forto do his pilgrimage
¶ With him ther was his soıı̄un a yong Squyer
A lovyer and a lusty Bachiller
With lockis curle as they were leid in presse
Of twenty yere of age he was as I gesse
Of his stature he was of euen length
And wondirly delyuer and of gret strength
And he had ben sumtime in Chiuachy
In Flaundirs in Artoys and in picardy
And born him wel as of so litle space .
In hoop to stond in his ladyes grace .
Enbroudid was he as it were a mede .
Alle ful of fressh flouris white ⁊and rede .
Synging he was or floiting al the day
He was as fressh as is the moneth of May
Short was his goun̄ with sleues long ⁊and wide
Wel couth he sitte on hors and feire ride
He coude songis make and wel endite
Iuste and eke daunce and wel purtrey ⁊and write
So hote he loued that be nyghtirtale
He slept no more than doth a nyghtingale .
Curteis he was louly and ʆseruisable
And carf beforn his fadir at the table .
A yeman had he and ʆseruauntis no mo
At that time / for he lust to ride so .
And he was cladde in cote and hood of grene .
A Shef of pecoc arowis bright and kene .
Vndir his belt he bare fulle thriftily
Wel coude he dresse his tacle yomanly
His arrowis droupid not with fethirs low
And in his hand he bare A mighty bow .
A notte hede had he with a broun̄ visage
Of wodecraft wel coude he alle the usage .
Vpon his arme he bare a gay bracere .
And by his side a Swerd and a bokeler
And on that othir side a gay Daggere .
Harneysid wel and sharp as point of Spere .
A xp̄christofir on his brest of siluer shene
An horn he bare the baudrik was of grene
A Forster was he sothely as I gesse .
Ther was also a Nonne a prioresse .
That of hir smyling was ful simple ⁊and coy
Hir grettist othe was but by seint loy
And she was clepid madame Eglantine
We Ful wel she song the ʆseruice diuine
Entuned in hir nose fulle semely
And frenssh she spake ful feir and fetisly
Aftir the Scole of Stratteford at bowe
For frensshe of Paris was to hir vnknow
At mete wel taught was she withalle .
She lete no morcelle from hir lippis falle
Ne wette hir fingirs in hir sauce depe .
Wel coude she cary a morcelle and wel kepe
That no drope fille upon hir brest
In curtesy was sette ful mochil hir list
Hir oủerlippe wipid she so clene
That in hir cuppe ther nas no ferthing sene
Of grece / whan she drunken had hir draught
Ful semely aftir hir mete she raught
And sicurly she was of gret disport
And ful plesaunt ⁊and amyable of port
And peyned hir to countirfete chere
Of court / and to be statly of manere
And to be holden digne of reuerence
But forto speke of hir conscience
She was so cheritable and so pitous
She wold wepe if that she saugh a mouse
Caught in a trappe / if it were dede or bledde
Of smale houndis had she þat she fedde
With rostid flessh or mylke and wastle brede
But sore wept she if any of hem were dede
Or if men smote it with a yerde smert
And al was conscience and tendir hert
But semely hir wimple pinchid was
Hir nose streite hir eyen grey as glas
Hir mouthe ful smalle and þerto soft ⁊and rede
But sicurly she had a feire forhede .
It was almost a spanne brode I trow
For hardily she was nat vndirgrowe
Ful fetice was hir cloke as I was ware
Of smalle coral about hir arme she bare
A peire of bedis gaudid al with grene
And theron hyng a broche of gold ful shene
On which ther was first writen̄ a crouned . A .
And aftir amor vincit omnia .
Anothir nonne with hir had she
Þat was hir chapleyn̄ and prestis thre
A monke ther was a feir for the maistry
An outryder that loued venery
A manly man to be an abbot able
Ful many a deynte hors had he in stable
And whan he rode men myght his bridil here .
Gynglyng in a whistling winde as clere
And eke as loude as doth the chapel belle
There as this monke was keper of the Selle .
The rule of seint Maure or of seint Benet
Because that it was olde ⁊and sumdele streite
This ilke monke lete olde thingis pace
And held aftir the new world the space
He yaue not of that text a pulled henne
That seith that hunters be not holy menne
Ne that a monk whan that he is recheles
Is likned to a fisshe watirles .
Þis is to sey A monk out of his cloist̉er
But thilk text held he not wurth an oyst̉er .
And I seid his oppinioıı̄un was good .
What shuld he studie ⁊and make him selue wode .
Vpon a book in cloistir alwey to poure
Or swink with his handis and laboure .
As Austine bid / hough shal the world be ꝸserued .
Lat Austine haue his ovne swink to him reꝸserued
Therfore he was a pricasour aright
Grehoundis he had as swift as foul in fliȝt
Of priking and of hunting for the hare
Was his lust / for no cost wold he spare .
I saugh his sleues purfild at the hond
With grey and that the finest of a lond
And forto festen̄ his hood vndir his chyn̄
He had of gold wrought a fulle curious pyn̄
A loue knotte in the gretter ende ther was
His hede was ballid that shone as any glas .
And eke his face . as it had ben enoynt
A was a lord ful fatte and in good point
His eyen stepe ⁊and rolling in his hede .
That stemed as a fourneux of lede
His botis souple his hors in gret estate
Now certeinly he was a feire prelate
He nas nat pale as a forpined gost
A fatte Swan loued he best of any rost .
His palfrey was as broun̄ as any bery .
A Frere ther was a wantoıı̄un ⁊and a mery
A lymitour a fulle solempne man̄ .
In alle þe Ordres foure is none that can .
So moch of daliaunce and of feire langage
He had made fulle many a mariage
Of yong women at his ovne cost
Vnto his ordre he was a noble post
And welbeloued and familiar was he
With frankleynes ouer alle in his cuntre
And with wurthy women of the toun̄
For he had power of confessioun̄
As seid himselue more than a Curat
For of his ordre he was licenciat
Ful swetely herd he confessioun̄
And plesaunt was his absolucioıı̄un .
He was an esy man to geue penaunce
Ther͗e as he wist to haue good pitaunce .
For vnto a poure ordre forto yeue
Is signe that a man is wel y shryue
For if he yaue he durst make auaunt
He wist that a man was repentaunt
For many a man so hard is of hert
He may not wepe al though he sore smert
Therfore in stede of weping and prayers
Men mut yeue siluer to the poure freris
His tippet was ay farcid fulle of knyues
And pynnes forto yeue yong wyues .
And certeinly he had a mery note .
Wel coude he syng and pley on a Rote
Of yeddingis he bare uttirly the price
His necke white was as the flouredelice
Therto he strong was as a champioıı̄un
He knew the taủernes wel in alle the toun̄
And euery hostiller and Tapstere .
Bettir than a lazar or a begster͗e .
For vnto such a wurthy man as he
Accordid not as by his facultee .
To haue with seke lazars acqueyntauıı̄unce .
It is not honest it may not avaunce .
Forto dele with no such pouraile
But alle with riche and sellers of vitail
And ouer alle there as profit shuld arise
Curteis he was and louly of seruice
Ther nas no man̄ nowher͗e so vertuous
He was the best begger in his house
For though a wedow had not a sho .
So plesaunt was his in principio .
Yit wold he haue a ferthing or he went
His purchace was bettir than his rent
And rage he coude as it were a whelpe
In louedaies ther coude he mochil helpe
For ther͗e he nas not like a Cloystrere
With a threde bare cope as is a pore scoler͗e
But he was like a maistir or a pope
Of double wurstede was his semycope
That roundid as a belle out of the presse
Sumwhat he lipsid for his wantounesse
To make his englissh swete upon his tunge
And in his harping whan that he had sunge
His eyen twinclid in his hede aright
As done the sterris in the frosty night̄e
This wurthy limitour was clepid huberd .
A m̉erchaunt was ther with a forkid berd
In motley / and high on hors he satte
Vpon his hede a flaundrissh beuer hatte
His botis clapsid feire and fetisly
His resons he spake fulle solempnely
Sovnyng alwey thencrece of his wynnyng
He wold the See were kept for any thing
Betwene Middilburgh and Orewelle
Wel coude he in eschaunge Shildis selle .
This wurthy man ful wel his witte besette
Ther wist no wight that he was in dette
So statly was he of his gouernaunce
With his bargeyns ⁊and with his cheuysaıı̄unce
Forsothe he was a wurthy man̄ withall .
But sothe to sey I note hough men him calle
A Clerc ther was of Oxenford also
That vnto logic long hadde y go
And lene was his hors as is a Rake
And he nas not right fatte I vndirtake
But lokid holow and therto soburly
Ful thredebare was his oủerest courtpye
For he had goten him yit no benefice
Ne was so worldly forto haue office
For him was leủer haue at his beddis hede .
Twenty bokis cladde in blacke or rede .
Of Aristotle and his philosophie .
Than Robis riche or fidil or gay Sautry
But albe that he was a philosophir
Yit had he but litle gold in cofre .
But alle that he might of his frendis hent
On bokis and on lernyng he it spent
And bisily gan for the soulis preye
Of hem that gaue him wherwith to scoley
Of studie toke he most cure ⁊and most hede .
Not one wurd spac he more than was nede .
And that was seid in fourme ⁊and reủerence .
And short and quyk and fulle of high sentence
Sovnyng in moral vertu was his speche
And gladly wold he lerne and gladly teche
A Sergeant of the law both ware and wise
That often hadde ben atte Parvise
Ther was also fulle riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of gret reuerence
He semed such his wurdis weren so wise
Iustice he was fulle ofte in assise .
By patent and by playn Comissioıı̄un
For his sentence and for his high renoun̄
Of fees and Robis had he many one
So gret a purchasour was nowher͗e none
Alle was fee simple to him in effecte
His purchacing myght not be infecte
Nowher͗e so bisy a man as he ther nas
And yit he semed bisier than he was
In termes had he case and domes alle
That fro the time of king william was fall .
Therto he coude endite ⁊and make a thing
Ther coude no wight pynche at his writing .
And euery Statute coude he playne by rote
He rode but homely in a medley cote
Gyrt with a seint of silk with barris smale
Of his array telle I no lenger tale
A Frankleyn was in his cumpany
White was his berd as is the dayesye
Of his complexion he was sanguine
Wel loued he by the morou a soppe in wine
To lyue in delyte was euer his wonne .
For he was Epicorus ovne song sonne
That held oppinion that playne delite
Was veray felicite parfite
An housholder and that a gret was he .
Seint Iulian he was in his cuntre
His brede his ale was alwey aft̉er one
A bettir envined man was neuer none
Without bake mete was neuer his house
Of fressh fisshe and flessh and that so plenteuoꝰus
It sned his hous of mete and drinke .
Of alle deintees that men coude bethinke
Aftir the sundry sesons of the yere
So chaungid he his mete and his soupere
Fulle many a fatte partrich had he in Mue
And many a breme ⁊and many a luce in Stue
Wo was his Cook but if his sauce were
Poynant and sharp̄e and redy alle his gere
His table dormaunt in his halle alwey
Stode redy coủered alle the long day
At Sessions there was he lord and sire
Ful oftyme he was knight of the Shire
A gipser alle of clene Silke
Hyng at his belt as white as eny milke
A Shireve had he ben̄ and Comitour͗e
Was nowher such a wurthy vauesour͗e
An haburdassher and a Carpintere
A webbe a Dyer and a Tapicere
Alle they were clothid in one lyu͗ere
Of a solempne and a gret fraternite
Ful fressh and new her gere y pikid was
Her knyues were chapid nought with bras .
But alle with siluer wrought ful clene ⁊and wele
Her girdilles and her pouchis euerydele
Wel semed eche of hem a feir Burgeys
To sitte in a yild halle on a Deys .
Eủerych for the wisdam that he can̄
Was shaply to ben an Aldirman̄
For catelle had they enough and rent
And eke her wyues wold it alle assent
And ellis certeyn they were to blame
It is fulle feir to be y clepid madame
And go to vigiles alle beforne .
And haue a Mantell riallich y born̄
A Cook they had with hem for the nones
To boile the chekyns with the mary bones
And poudir m̉erchant tart and galingale
Wel coude he know a draught of london ale .
He coude roste and sethe boyle and frye .
Make mortruse and wel bake a pye
But gret harme was it as thought me
That on his Shynne a mormal had he
For blankmanger that made he with the best
A Shipman was ther / wonyng ferre by west
For ought I wote he was of Dertmouthe
He rode upon a Rounsy as he couthe
In a goun̄ of falding to the knee
A dagger hanging on a lace had he
About his necke on his arme a doun̄
The hoot Somer had made his hue al broun̄
And certenly he was a good felaw .
Ful many a draught of wine had he draw .
From Burdeuxward whils the chapman̄ slepe
Of nyce conscience toke he no kepe
If that he fought and had the higher hond
By watir he sent hem home to euery lond
But of his craft to reken wel his tides
His stremes and his daungiers him besides
His herborou his mone and his lodemenage
Ther nas none such from hulle to Cartage
Hardy he was and wise I vndirtake
With many a tempest had his berd be shake
He knew alle the havens as they were
From Scotlond to the cape of Fymistere
And euery cryke in Brytaigne and in Spayn̄
His barge y clepid was the Maudelayn̄
¶ With vs ther was a Doctour of Phisik
In alle the world ne was ther one him lyke
To speken of phisic and of Surgery
For he was y groundid in Astronomye .
He kept his pacient a fulle grete dele
In his houres by his magic naturelle
Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent
Of his ymagis for his pacient
He knew the cause of euery maladye
Were it of hete or cold moiste or drye
And where it engendrid and of what humoᵘur .
He was a veray parfite practisour
The cause y knowen and of his harm̄ þe rote
Anone he yaue the Sekeman his bote
Ful redy had he his Appoticaryes
To send him his dreggies and his letuaries .
For eche of hem made othir forto wynne
Her frendship was not newe to begynne
Wel knew he the olde Esculapius
And Discorides and eke Rufus
Olde ypocras . haly and Galien̄
Serapien Raris and Auicen̄
Auerrois dammastica ⁊and Constantine
Bernard and Gatisten and Gilbertine
Of his diete mesurable was he
For it was of no suꝑperfluite
But of gret norisshyng and digestible
His studie was but litle on the Bible
In Sanguine and in pers he clad was alle
Y lyned with taffata and with Sendalle
And yit he was but easy of dispence
He kept that he wanne in the pestilence
For gold in phisic is a cordialle
Therfore he loued gold in especiall
A good wif ther was besides Bathe
But she was sumdele deef and that
Of clothe making she had such an haunt
She passid hem of ypirs and of Gaunt
In alle the parissh wif was ther none
That to offring beforn̄ hir shuld gone
And if ther did certeyn̄ so wroth was she
That she was out of alle charite
Hir coủerchevis ful fine were of grounde
I durst swere they weyden ten̄ pounde
That on a Sunday were upon̄ hir hede .
Hir hosen̄ were of fine scarlet rede
Ful streight y teyed / and Shoes ful moist ⁊and new
Bold was hir face and feyre and rede of hue .
She was a wurthy woman̄ alle hir lyve
Husbondes at the church dore she had fyue
Without othir cumpany in youthe ·
But therof nedith not to speke as nouthe
And thryes hadde she ben at Ierusalem
She had passid many a strong streme
At Rome she had ben and at Boleyn̄
In Gales at seint Iame and at Coleyn̄
She couth moch of wandring by the wey
Gattothid was she sothely forto sey
Vpon an Ambuler easily she satte
Y wimpild wel / and on hir heed an hatte
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe
A foot mantel about his hippis large
And on hir fete a peire of sporis sharp̄
In felaship wel coude she laugh ⁊and carp̄
Of remedies of loue she couthe ꝑperchauıı̄unce
For she couthe of that art the olde daunce
¶ A good man ther was of Religioun̄
He was a pore parson of a tovne
But riche he was of holy thought ⁊and werke
He was also a lerned man a clerk
That cristis gospel truly wold preche .
His parisshen deuoutly he wold teche
Benyngne he was and wundir diligent
And in aduersite fulle pacient
And such he was proued ofte sithis
Ful lothe were hym to curse for his tithis
But rathir wold he yeue it out of dout
Vnto his pore parisshens alle about
Of his offring and eke of his substauıı̄unce
He coude in a litle thing haue suffisaunce
Wide was his parissh and housis ferre a sundre
But lette not for reyne ne for thundre
In sekenesse or in mystheve to visite
The ferrist of his parissh moch ⁊and lite
Vpon his fete . and in his hand a staff
This noble ensample vnto his Shepe he yaf
That first he wrought and aftirward he taught
Out of the gospel he the wurdis caught
And this figure he hadde therto
That if gold rust what shuld yren̄ do
For if a prest be foule on whom̄ we trust
No wundir is a lewde man̄ to rust
Shame it is and if a prest toke kepe
A shitten̄ Shepherd and a clene Shepe
Wel ought a prest ensample forto yeue
By his clennesse hough that a Shepe shuld lyue
He sette not his benefice to hire
And leve his Shepe encumbrid in the myre
And renne to londoıı̄un vnto seint poules
To seche him a Chauntry for soules ·
Or with a brethirhede to be witholde ·
But duellith at home and kepith wel his fold
So that the folk ne make it not mistery
He was a Shepherd ⁊and not a mercenary
And though he holy were and vertuous
He was not to synful men to despitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
But in his teching discrete and benyngne
To draw folk to heuen with feirnesse
By good ensample / this was his bisynesse
But if it were eny persone obstinate
What so he were of high or lowe estate
Him wold he snybbe sharply for the nones
A bettir prest I trow nowher none is
He waitid aft̉er no pompe ne reuerence
Ne makid him a spicid conscience
But cristis lore and his apostles twelue
He taught / but first he folowid it himselue
¶ With him ther was a plough man þat was hⁱis broþ̉er
That had y ladde of dunge fulle many a fothir
A true Swynker and a good was he
Lyuyng in peas and parfite charite
God loued he best with alle his hole hert
At alle times though him gramed or smert
And than his neighbour as himselue
He wold thressh and therto dike ⁊and delue ·
For cristis sake for euery pore wight ·
Wiþouten hyre if it lay in his myght ·
His tithis payd he fulle feir͗e and welle
Both in his ꝓpropre swinke and his catelle ·
In a tabard he rode vpon̄ a Mere
¶ Ther was also a Reve and a Miller͗e
A Sıı̄unnour and a pardoner also
A Maunciple and myselue ther wer͗e no mo
The Miller was a stout cherle for the nones
Ful bigge he was of brawne and eke of bones
That proued wel / for euer ther he cam̄
At wrestling he wold haue alwey the game
He was short shuldird and brood a thik carre .
Ther nas no dore that he nold heve of barre
Or breke it at a rennyng with his hede
His berd as any Sowe or Fox was rede ·
And therto brood as it were a Spade
Vpon the coppe Ryght of his nose he hade ·
A wert / and theron stode a tufte of heris
Rede as burstils of a Sowes erys
His nosethirles were blac and wyde .
A Swerd and a bokeler bare he be his side
His mouthe as gret was as a gret fourneys
He was a Iangler as golyardeys ·
And that was most of synne and harlotryes ·
Wel coude he stele corne and tolle thryes
And yit he had a thumbe of gold parde
White cote and a blue hood wered he
A bagpipe wel couth he blowe ⁊and sovn̄
And therwithal he brought vs out of tovn̄
¶ A gentle Maunciple was ther of a Temple
Of whom alle Catours might take exemple
Forto be wise in bying of vitayles
For whethir that he paide or toke by tailes
Algate he waytid so in his acate
That he was ay before and in good state
Now is nat that of god a fulle gret grace
That such a lewde mannes witte shal pas
The wisdom̄ of an hepe of lerned men̄
Of maistirs had he mo than thries tenne
That were of lawe expert and curious ·
Of which ther were a doseyn̄ in an house
Wurthy to be Stywardis of Rent and lond
Of eny lord that is in Englond
To make him lyve by his ꝓpropre good
In honure detteles but if he were wood
Or lyue as scarcely as him list desire
And habil forto help alle a Shire
In any case that myght falle or happe
And yit this Maunciple sette ther aldir cappe
¶ The Reve was a sclendre colric man̄
His berd was shaue as nygh as eủer it can̄
His here was by his eris rounde y shorn̄
His toppe was dockid like a prest beforn̄
Ful long were his leggis and ful lene
Y like a staffe ther was no calf y sene ·
Wel coude he kepe a garner ⁊and a Bynne
Ther nas none Auditour coude on him wynne
Wel wist he by the drought ⁊and by the reyne
The yilding of his sede and of his greyne
His lordis Shepe his nete and his deyrye
His Swyne his hors his stede and his pultry
Was hoolly in this Reues goủernyng
And by his couenant yave the rekenyng
Syn that his lord was twenti yere of age
Ther couth no man bringe him in arrerage
Ther ne was bailly hierd neithir hyne
That he ne coude his sleiȝt ⁊and his couuyne
They were a drad of him as of the dethe
His wonyng was feir͗e upon̄ an hethe ·
With grene trees shadowid was his place .
He couth bettir than his lord purchace
Ful riche he was y storid priuely
His lord couth he pleas wel subtily
To yeve ⁊and lene him of his ovne good
And haue a thank and yit a cote and an hode
In youth lerned he had a good mystere
He was a wel good wright a Carpinter͗e
This Reue he sate vpon a wel good Stot
That was pomely grey and hight Scot
A long Surcote of perce vpon he hadde
And by his side he bare a rusty blade
Of Norfolk was the Reve of which I telle
Beside a toun̄ men̄ calle it Baldiswelle
Tuckid he was as is a frere about
And euer he rode the hynderst of oure rout
A Somonour ther was with us in þat place
That had a fire rede cherubins face ·
For sauceflume was he with eyen narow ·
And hoot he was and lecherous as a Sparow
With scallid browis and pillid berd
Of his visage children were afferd
Ther nas quiksiluer litarge ne brymstone ·
Borage Corus nor oyle of tartre none
Ne oynement that wold clense and bite
That him might helpe of his whelkis white
Nor of the cnobbis sitting on his chekis
Wel loued he garlik oynons and eke lekis
And forto drink strong wine reed as blood
Than wold he speke and crie as he were wood
And whan he had wel drunken the wine
Than wold he no wurd speke but latine
A few termes he had two or thre ·
That he had lerned of sum decre
No wundir is he herd it al the day
And eke ye know wel hough that a Iay
Can clepe watte as wel as the pope .
But whoso couth in othir thingis him grope
Than had he spent alle his philosophie
Ay questio quid iuris wold he crie
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde
A bettir felow shuld men none finde
He wold suffre for a quart of wine
A good felou to haue his concubine
A . xij . month / ⁊and excuse him atte fulle
Ful priuely a fynche eke couth he pulle
And if he founde owhere a good felaw
He wold teche him to haue none awe
In such caas of the Archdiacons curse
But if a mannes soule were in his purse
For in his purse he shuld y punysshid be ·
Curse is the Archdiacons helle seid he
But wel I wote he lyed right in dede
Of cursing ought eche gilty man̄ to drede
For cursing wil sle right as soiling saueth
And also war him of a Significauit
In daunger had he at his ovne gise
Yong gerlis of that Diocise
And knew her counseil ⁊and was al her rede
A garlond had he sette vpon his hede
As gret as it were for an ale stake
A bokeler had he made of a Cake
¶ With him ther rood a gentil Pardonere ·
Of Rouncivale / his frend ⁊and his compere
That streiȝt was comen fro the court of Rome
Ful loude he song come hidir loue come
The Somonour bare to him a stiffe bourdoun̄
Was neuer Trumpe of half so gret a sovne
This pardon̉er had heer̄ as yelou as wex
But smothe it hyng as doth a strike of flex
By ovncis hyng his lockis that he had
And therwith he his shuldirs oủersprad
But thynne it lay by culpons one ⁊and one
But hood for iolite werid he none
For it was trussid up on his walet
Him thought he rood al of the new Iette
Discheuelid alle save his cappe he rood bare
Such glaring eyen had he as an hare
A vernacle had he sowid upon his cappe
His walet beforn him in his lappe .
Brette fulle of pardoıı̄un come fro Rome al hote
A voice he had as smalle as hath a gote
No berd had he ne neuer shuld haue
As smothe it was as it were late y shave
I trow he were a gilding or a Mare
But of his craft from Berwik vnto ware
Ne was ther such anothir pardoner͗e
For in his male he hadde a pelow bere
Which as he seid was oure lady vayle
He seid he had a gobet of the Sayle
That seint petir had when that he went
Vpon the See til iħuIhesu him hent
He had a Cros of latoıı̄un fulle of stones ·
And in a glas he hadde piggis bones ·
But with thees Reliques whan̄ that he fonde
A pore parsoıı̄un duelling vpon lond .
Vpon oo·day he gat him more money
Then that ꝑpersoıı̄un gat in monthis twey
And thus with feyned flatery and iapes
He made the parsoıı̄un and the peple his Apes
But truly to telle at the laste
He was in church a noble eccliāste
Wel couth he rede a lessoıı̄un ⁊and a Storie ·
But aldirbest he sang an Offertorie
For wel he wist when that song was sunge
Him must preche and wel affile his tunge
To wynne Siluer as he wel coude
Therfore he sang the merierly ⁊and loude
¶ Nowe haue I told you sothely in a clause
Thestate tharray the nombre ⁊and eke the cause
Why that assemblid was this cumpany
In Southwerk at this gentil hostery
That hight the Tabard fast by the belle
But now is time to you forto telle
Hough that we bare us that ilke night̄
When that we were in that hostry alight̄
And aftir wille I telle of oure viage
And alle the remaynant of oure pilgⁱrimage
But first I pray you of your curtesy
That ye narret it not my vilany
Though that I plainly speke in this matier͗e
To telle you her wurdis and her chere
Ne thoug I ne speke her wurdis ꝓpropirly
For this ye knowen̄ also wele as I ·
Whoso shal telle a tale aftir a man̄
He mut reherce as nygh as euer he can̄
Euery wurd if it be in his charge
All speke he neuer so rudely and large
Or ellis he must telle his tale vntrue
Or feyne thing or finde wurdis newe
He may not spare al though he wer̉e his broþ̉er
He must as wel sey one wurd as anoþ̉er
Crist spac himselue ful brode in holy writte
And wel ye wote no vilanye is it
Eke plato he seith whoso can̄ him rede
The wurdis mut be cosyn to the ovne dede
Also I pray you to foryeue it me
Al haue I not sette folk in her degre
Here in this tale as þat þey shuld stond
My witte is short ye may wel vndirstond .
¶ Greet chere made oure host us euerichone
And to the Souper sette he us anone
He ʆserued us with vitaile at the best
Strong was the wine ⁊and wel to drink us lest
A semely man oure host was withall
Forto be a marchal in any halle
A large man he was with eyen stepe
A feirer bourgeis was ther none in chepe
Bold of his speche and wise and wel y taught̄
And of manhode him lackid right nought
Eke therto he was right a mery man̄
And aftir Souper to pley he began̄
And spac of myrth among othir thingis .
Whan that we had made oure rekenyngꝭes
And seid thus / now lordis truly
Ye ben to me welcum right hertily
For be my trouth if I shal not lye
I saugh not this yere so mery a cūmpany
Attones / in this herborou as be now .
Fayn̄ wold I do you mirth wist I how .
And of a mirth now right I am bethought̄
To do you ease and it shal cost you nought̄
Ye gone to Cauntirbury god you spede
The blisful martir quite you your mede
And wel I wote as ye gone by the wey
Ye shapen you tales and to pley
For truly cumfort ne mirth is ther none
To ride by the wey dombe as eny stone
And therfore wil I make you disport
As I seid erst / and do you sum̄ cumfort
And if you liked alle by one assent
Forto stond hole atte my Iugement
And forto werken as I shalle you sey
To morou whan ye riden̄ by the wey
Now be my fadir soule that is dede
But ye be mery I wil geue you myn̄ hede
Hold up your handes withouten more speche
Oure counseil was not long forto seche
Vs thought it was not wurth to make it nyce
And grauntid him withouten more avise
And bad him sey his verdit as him lest
¶ Lordinges coth he now herkneth for the best
But take it not in disdeyne I you prayen̄
This is the point to speken short ⁊and playn̄
That eche of you to short wᵗith oure weye
In this viage shalle telle tales twey
To Cauntirbury ward I mene it so
And homward ye shullen telle othir two .
Of auentures that whilom haue befalle
And which of you that berith him best of alle
That is to sey that tellith in this case .
Tales of best sentence ⁊and most solace
Shal haue a Souper at oure aldir cost
Here in this place sitting by this post
When̄ that we come ageyn fro Caunt̉erbury
And forto make you the more mery
I wil myselue goodly with you ride
Right at myn̄ ovne cost ⁊and be your͗e gide
And whoso wil my Iugement withsey
Shal pay alle that we spend by the wey
And if ye vouchsave that it be so
Telle me anone without wurdis mo
And I wil erly shape me therfore
This thingis were grauntid ⁊and our͗e othis swore
With ful glad hert / and preyd him also
That he wold vouchsave forto do so
And that he wold ben̄ oure goủernour͗e
And of oure tales Iuge and reportour͗e
And sette a Souper at a certeyn̄ price
And we wil rulid be at his diuise
In high and low / ⁊and thus by one assent
We ben̄ accordid to stond to his Iugement
And therupon̄ the wine was fette anone
We dranken and to rest wenten echone
Withouten̄ eny lenger tarying
At morou when the day began to spⁱringe ·
Vp rose oure host and was oure aldir cok
And gadird us togider in a flocke
And furth we riden̄ a litle more then̄ a pace
Vnto the watring of seint Thomas
And ther͗e oure host began̄ his hors to rest
And seid lordis herkneth if you lest
Ye wote your forward and ye it recorde
If euensong ⁊and morou song both accorde
Lat se now who shal telle the first tale
As eủer mote I drink wine or Ale
Whoso be rebelle to my Iugement
Shal pay for alle that by the wey is spent
Now drawith cutte or that we further twyn̄
He that hath the shortist shalle begynne
¶ Sir knyght coth he my mais̉er ⁊and my lord
Now drawith cutte for that is myn̄ accord
Cometh nere coth he my lady prioresse
And ye sir clerc lat be your shamefastnesse
Ne studieth nat ley hand to euery man̄
Anone to drawe euery wight began̄
And shortly forto telle as it was
Were it by auenture chaunce or cas
The sothe is this the cutte fil to þe knight̄
Of which ful glad and blithe was eủery wight̄
And telle he must his tale as was resoıı̄un
By forewarde and by composicioıı̄un
As ye han herd what nedith wurdis moo .
And when this good man̄ saugh that it was so
As he that wise was and obedient
To hi kepe his forward by fre assent
He seid syn̄ I . shal begynne the game
What welcum be the cutte in goddis name
Now lat us ride ⁊and herkenth what I sey
And with that wurd we riden̄ furth oure wey
And he began̄ with right a mery chere ·
His tale anone / and seid as ye may here
¶ Iamqꝫue domos patria Scithice post aspera
gentis prelia laurigeno .
gentis prelia laurigeno .