Ds1 · New Haven, Beinecke Library Takamiya Deposit, MS 24
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Ds1/
[1r]
Whan that aprille with his shoures soote
The drouȝte
of Marche hath persed the roote
of Marche hath persed the roote
And bathed eueri veine in such licoure
Of such vertu engendred is the floure
And zephirus eke with his soote breth
Enspired hath eueri holt and heth
The tender croppis ⁊and the yong sonne
Hath in the Ram half his cours ronne
And smale foulis make melodie
That slepe al niȝt with open yhe
So pricketh hem nature in her corage
Than longen folk to gon on pilgrimage
And Palmers for to seche straunge strondes
To ferne halwes couthe in sondri londes
And specialli from eueri shires ende
Of England. to Caunterbury thei wende
The holi blisfull martir for to seke
That hem hxlxx whan that they were seke
So befill it that seson on a day
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
Redi to wende on my pilgrimage
To Caunterbury with ful deuout corage
That niȝt was come in oure Ostry
Well xxix in a company
Of diuers folk of auenture I falle
In felaship and pilgrimes were they alle
And toward Caunterbury wold they ride
The chambres and stables weren wide
And wel were we easid at the beste
And shortly whan the sonne went to reste
So hade I spoke with hem euerichon̄
That I was of her felaship anon
And made forwerd erly for tarise
To take oure weie as I shal you deuise
But neuertheles whil I haue tyme ⁊and space
Er that I in this tale forther pace
Me thinketh it were according to reason
To telle you al the condicion
Of ech of hem so as it semeth me
And wich thei were and of what degre
And eke of what array they were inne
And a kniȝt than wol I first beginne
A Kniȝt ther was ⁊and that a worthi man̄
That fro the tyme that he first began
To ride out he loued chiualrie
Trouth honour fredam and curtesie
And therto had heriden noman so ferre
Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre
As wel in cristendom̄ as in hethenesse
And euer honour for his worthinesse
At Alisaunder he was whan it was wonne
Ful often tymes had he the boorde begonne
Aboue al nacions in Spruce
In Lettowe had he be and in Ruce
No cristen man so ofte in his degre
In Garnade at the sege eke had he be
At Algarise and riden in Belmary
At Layas had he be and at Sataly
Whan thei were wonne and in the gret see
At many a noble arriue had he be
At mortal batailes had he be xv .
And fouȝt for oure feith at Tramissene
Within listes iij. and ay slainhis foo
This ilke worthi kniȝt had ben also
Somtyme with the lord of Palacie
Ageins an othir hethen in Turkie
And euermore he had a souerein pris
And thouȝ he were worthi he was wise
And of his port as meke as is a maide
He neuer yit no velany saide
In al his lif to no maner wiȝt
He was a verri parfit gentill kniȝt
And for to telle you of his army
His hors was good but him self was nat gay
Of fustian he wered a gipon
Al be smotered with his habergeoıı̄un
For he was late come from his viage
And went to do his pilgrimage
With thim therwas a Sone a yong Squier
A louier and a lusti Bachiler
With lokkes crulle as they were leid in presse
Of xx.ti yere of age he was asI gesse
Of his stature he was of euene lengthe
And wonder deliuer and of gret strengthe
And he had be somtime in Chiuache
In Flaunders Artoys and in Picarde
And born him wel as of so litill space
In hope to stonde in his lady grace
Embrouded was he as it were a mede
Al ful of fressh floures white and rede
Singing he was or floiting al the day
He was as fressh as the month of may
Short was his goune his sleues long and wide
Wel coude he sitte an hors and faire ride
He coude eke songes make and wel endite
Iuste ⁊and daunce portraye and eke write
And so hoot he loued that be niȝtes tale
He slepe nomore than doth the Nitinghale
Curteis he was louly and seruisable
He carf before his fader at the table
A yoman had he and seruantes nomo
A that tyme for him list ride so
And was al clad in cote and hood of grene
A shef of pecok arwes briȝt and shene
Vnder his belt he bar full thriftely
Wel coude he dresse his takle and yomanly
His arwes drouped nat with federes lowe
And in his hand he bare a miȝti bowe
A notte hed he had with a broun visage
Of wode craft wel coude he al the vsage
Vpon his arme he bar a gay bracer
And be his side a swerd and a bokeler
And on that othir side a gay dagger
Harneised wel as sharpe as point of spere
A Cristofer on his brest of siluer shene
An horn he bar the baudrik was of grene
A foster he was sothli as I gesse
There was also a Nonne a Prioresse
That of her smiling was full simple and coy
Hir grettest oth was but be Seint Loy
And she was callid madame Eglentine
Full wel she song the seruice diuine
Entuned in hir nose full semely
And frenssh she spak faire and fetisly
Aftir the scole of Stratforde at the bowe
For frenssh of Parys was to hir vnknowe
At the mete wel tauȝt was she with all
She lette nomorsell from hir lippes fall
Ne wet hir fingers in her sauce depe
Wel coude she carie a morsel ⁊and wel kepe
That no drope ne fell nat vpon her brest
In curtesie was set full mochell her lest
Hir ouer lippe wiped she so clene
That in hir cuppe ther was no ferthing sene
Of grece and whan she had dronken hir drauȝt
Ful semeli aftir hir mete she rauȝt
And sikerli she was of gret disport
And full plesaunt and amiable of port
And peined hir to counterfet chere
Of court for to be statli of manere
And for to beholde digne of reuerence
And for to speke of hir conscience
She was so charitable and pitous
She wolde wepe if that she sauȝ a mous
Cauȝt in a trappe if that it were ded or bledde
Of smale houndes had she that she fedde
With rosted flessh or milk and wastel bred
But sore wepte she if any of them were ded
Or if men smot it with a yarde smerte
And al was conscience ⁊and tender herte
Fuƚƚ semeli hir wimple pinched was
Hir nose tretise hir yhen greie as glas
Hir mouth ful smal ⁊and therto smal and red
But sikerli she had a faire forhed
For hardeli she was vndergrowe
It was almost a span brod I trowe
Ful fetise was her cloke and as I was war
Of small corall aboute hir arme she bar
A peire of bedis gaudeed al with grene
And theron heng a broche of gold ful shene
On wich was first write a crouned . A .
And aftir Amor vincit omnia
An othir Nonne with hir had she
That was hir Chapelein / and preestes thre
A Monk ther was faire for the maistrie
An Outrider that loued venery
A manli man to be an Abot able
For many a deinte hors had he in his stable
And whan he rod men miȝt his bridel hiere
Gingeling in a whisteling wynde as clere
And eke as loude as doth the chapel belle
There as the lord was keper of the selle
The reule of Seint Maure or of seint Benet
Be cause it was olde and somdel streit
This ilke monk let olde thinges passe
And held aftir the newe worlde his space
He gaf nat at the tixt a pulled hen̄
That seith that hunters be nat holi men̄
Ne that a monk whan he is reccheles
Is likned to a fissh that is waterles
This is to sein a monk in his cloistre
But that tixt helde I nat worth an oistre
And I said his opinion was good
What shulde he studie ⁊and make himself wood
Vpon a book in cloistre alwey to pore
Or swinke with his hondes and labore
As Austyn bit. ya hou shal the worlde be serued
Late Austyn haue his swink to him reserued
Therfore he was a pricasour ariȝt
Greyhoundes as swift as foule of fliȝt
On preking and hunting for the hare
Was al his lust for nothing wold he spare
I saw his sleues purfiled at the hande
With grise and that the fynest of a londe
And for to fastyn his hood vnder his chyn
He had of golde wrouȝt a full corious pyn
A loue knotte in the gretter ende ther was
His hed was balled that shon as any glas
And eke his face as he had be anointe
He was a lord ful fat and in good point
His yhen stepe and rolling in his hed
That stemed as a furneis of a led
His bootes souple his hors in gret estat
Now certeinly he was a faire prelat
He was not pale and nat forpined goost
A fat swan loued he best of any rost
His palfray was as broun̄ as a bery
A frere ther was a wantoun̄ ⁊and a mery
A Lymitour and a ful solempne man̄
In the ordres iiij is non so wel that can
So moch of daliaunce and faire language
He had made fulmany afaire mariage
Of yong wommen at his ougne cost
Vnto his ordre he was a noble post
Ful wel beloued and familier was he
With frankeleines ouer al in his contre
And with worthi wommen̄ of the toun
For he had power of confession
And plesaunt was his absolucioıı̄un
For swetli herde he confessioıı̄un
He was an esi man̄ to yiue penaunce
There as he wist to haue a good pitaunce
For vnto a poore ordre for to geue
Is signe that a man is wel shriue
For if gaf he durst make avaunt
He wist that a man was repentaunt
For many a man so hard is of his herte
He may nouȝt wepe althouȝ him sore smerte
Therfor in stede of penaunce ⁊and praiers
Men must yeue siluer to the poore freres
His tipet was ay farsed ful of kniues
And pinnes forto yiue faire wyues
And certeinly he made a mery note
Wel coude he singe and pleien on arote
Of yeddinges he bar vtterli the pris
His neckes was white as a flour delys
Therto he was strong as a Champion
He knewe the tauernes wel in eueri toun̄
And eueri Hostillere and Tapstere
Better than a Lasar or a begger
For vnto such a worthi man as was he
Accordeth nouȝt as by his faculte
To haue with seke lasers aqueintaunce
It is nat honest it may nouȝt avaunce
For to dele with such poraile
But al with riche and sellers of vitaile
And ouer al ther profit shuld arise
Curteis he was and louly of seruise
There was noman nowhere so vertuous
He was the best begger in his hous
For thouȝ a widewe had nouȝt a shoo
So plesaunt was his In principio
Yet wold he haue aferthing or he went
His purchas was wel better than his rente
And rage he coude as it had ben a whelpe
In Louedayes ther coude he mochel helpe
For there he was nat lik a cloisterer
With a threde bare cope as is a pore scoler
But he was like a maister or a pope
Of double worsted was his semy cope
Rounde as any belle out of the presse
Somwhat he lipsed for his wantounesse
To make his englissh swete on his tonge
And in his harping whan that he had songe
His yhen twinkeled in his hed ariȝt
As doth the sterres in the frosti niȝt
This worthi Lymitor was cleped Huberde
A Marchaunt ther was with a forked berde
In motleye and high vpon̄ his hors he sat
And on his hed a flaunderissh hat
His botes clapsed faire and fetisly
His resons he spak full solemply
Souning alwey thencres of his winning
He wolde the see were kept for any thing
Bitwen Midelbourgh and Orewelle
Wel coude he in eschaunges sheldes selle
This worthi man ful wel his wit set
There wist no wiȝt that he was in dette
So stedfastli did he of his gouernaunce
With his bargeins and with his cheuesshaunce
For sothe he was a worthi man with aƚƚ
But soth to sein I ne wot hou men him caƚƚ
A Clerk ther was of Oxenforde also
That vnto Logik had longe I go
And lene was his hors as it were a rake
And he was nat riȝt fat I vndertake
But loked holwe and therto sobirly
Ful thredebare was his ouerest Courtby
For he gat gete him yit no benefice
Ne was nat worldli to haue an office
For him were leuer to haue at his beddes hed
XXᵗⁱ bookes clad in blak and red
Of Aristotle and his Philosophie
Than riche robes or fethel or sautrie
But al be thouꝫ he were a Philosophre
Yit had he but litill gold in his cofre
But al that he from his frendes hent
On bokes and lerning he it spent
And besi gan for the soules pray
Of hem that yaf hem wherwith to scolay
On study took he most cure and hede
Nat o worde spak he more than nede
And that was seide in forme ⁊and reuerence
And short ⁊and quik and full of high sentence
Souning in moral vertu was his speche
And gladli wolde he lerne and gladli wold he teche
A Sergeaunt of lawe ther was war and wys
That ful ofte had be at the Paruys
That was riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of gret reuerence
He semed such his wordes were so wyse
Justice had he be ful ofte in assise
Bothe be Patent and plein commissioıı̄un
For his science and his high renoun
Of fees and robes had he many on
So gret a purchasour was nowher non
Al was fee simple to him in effect
His purchasing miꝫt nat ben suspect
Nowhere so besi a man as he ther nas
And yit he semed besier than he was
In termes had he cas and domes alle
That fro the tyme of king William were falle
Therto he coude endite and make a thing
There coude noman pinche at his writing
And eueri statute coude he plein be rote
He rood but homely in a medle cote
But with a seint of silk with barres smale
Of array telle I no lenger tale
A Frankelyn was in this companie
White was his berde as is the daisie
Of his complexion he was sanguein
Wel loued he bi the morwe a soppe in wyn
To liue in delite was euer his wonne
For he was Epiours ougne sone
That hielde opinion that plein delite
Was verri felicite parfit
An housholder and that a gret was he
The grettet of al his contre
His bred his ale was alway after oon̄
A better wined man was nowher non
Withoute bake mete was neuer his hous
Of fissh or flessh and that so plentevous
It sewed in his hous of mete and drink
Of al deintees that any man coude think
Aftir the sondri sesons of the yere
So chaunged he his mete and his soper
Ful many a fat Pertrik had he in mue
And many a breme and many a Luce in stue
Woo was his cook but if his sauce were
Poinant and sharp and redi al his gere
His table dormant in his halle alwey
Stood redi couered al the long day
At the sessions there was he lord and sire
Ful ofte tymes he was kniȝt of the shire
And an Anlaas and a Gipcer of silk
Heng at his girdiƚƚ as white as morwe milk
A sheref had he be of a Countour
Was nowher such a worthi Vauasour
AN Haberdassher and a Carpenter
A Webber a dyer and a Tapcer
And thei were clothed in oo lyuere
Of a solempne and a gret fraternite
Full fressh and newe her gere piked was
Here knifes were nat chaped with bras
But al with siluer al ful clene ⁊andwel
Her girdeles and her pouches eueridel
Wel semed ech of hem a faire burgeis
To sitte in the yeldehalle vpon the high deis
Euerich for the wisdam that he can
Was shapli to be an Alderman̄
For cateƚƚ had they Inouȝ and rente
And eke her wifes wolde it wel assente
And elles certein thei were to blame
It is ful faire to be clepid madame
And go to Vigiles aƚƚ before
And haue a manteƚƚ rially bore
A Cook they had with hem for the nones
To boile the chikenes with the mary bones
And pouder marchaunt tart and ganingale
Wel coude knowen a drauȝt of London ale
He coude roste sethe boile and frye
Make mortrewes and bake wel a pye
But gret harme was it as thouȝt me
That on his shene a mormaƚƚ had he
And blaunchemanger made he with the best
A Shipman there was that woned there be west
For ouȝt that I wot he was of Dertmouthe
He rod on a rouncy as wel as he couthe
In a goune of falding vnto the kne
A dagger hanging on a lace had he
A boute his necke vnder his arme adoun̄
The hoot somer had made his hew al broun
And certainli he was a good felawe
Ful many a drauȝt of wyn had he drawe
Fro Burdeuxward whil the chapman slepe
Of nice conscience took heno kepe
If that he fauȝt and had the higher hond
Be water he sent it hom from eueri lond
But to reken wel of his craft the tides
The stremes and the strandis him beside is
His herberowe his mone and his lodes manage
There was non such from huƚƚ in to Cartage
Hardi he was and wise I vndertake
With many a tempest he had his berde shake
He knew al the hauens as thei were
Fro Gutlond to the Cape de Fenistre
And eueri crike fro Bretaigne in to Spaine
His barge was callid the Magdeleine
With vs ther was a Doctour of Phisik
In al this worlde was non him lik
To speke of Phisik and Surgerie
For he was grounded in Astronomie
He kept his pacient a ful gret deƚƚ
In houres be his magik natureƚƚ
Wel coude he fortune[…]the accident
Of his Images for be his pacient
He knewe the cause of eueri maladie
Whethir it were colde hoot moist or drie
And wherof it engendreth and of what humour
He was a verri parfit Practisour
The cause he knewe and of his harme the roote
Anon he yaf the sekeman his bote
Ful redi had he aƚƚ his appoticaries
To sende him dragges and his lectuaries
For ech of hem made othir forto winne
Her frenship was nat newe forto beginne
Wel knewe he the olde Esculapius
And discorides and eke Rufus
Olde Ipocras and Galien
Serapion Rasis and Aıııizen
Auuerroys Demascien and Constantin
Bernard Gatisden and Gilbertyn
Of his diete mesurable was he
For he was of no superfluite
But of gret norisshing digestible
His study was but litiƚƚ in the bible
In Sanguein and Pers clad with aƚƚ
Lyned with Tiffata and Sendaƚƚ
And yit he was but esi of dispence
For he kept that he wan in pestilence
For gold in Phesik is acordiaƚƚ
Therfor he loued golde in especiaƚƚ
A gode wif ther was beside Bathe
But she was somdel deth and that was scathe
Of cloth making she had such an haunt
That she passed hem of Ipres and of Gaunt
In al the parissh wif was ther non
That to offring afore hir shuld gon
And if ther did certein so wroth was she
That she was out of al charite
Hir couerchers were of fyne grounde
I dorst swere thei weied doun̄ a pound
That on the sonday were vpon her hed
Hir hosen were of fyn scarlet red
Fuƚƚ streit teyed and shoes moist and newe
Bolde was hir face and faire ⁊and red of hewe
She was a worthi womman al hir lyue
Husbondes at the chirche dore had she v.
Withoute othir company in hir youthe
But therof nedeth nat to speke of nouthe
And thries had she ben at Iherusalem
She had passid many a straunge streem
At Rome had she ben and at Boloine
In Gales at seint Iamys and at Coloine
She coude moch of wandring by the way
Gattothed was she sothly to sey
Vpon an Ambeler esily she sat
Wel wimpled and on hir hed an hat
As brod as is a bokeler or a targe
A foote manteƚƚ aboute hir hipes large
And on hir fete a peire of sporis sharpe
In felaship coude she wel laugh and carpe
The remedies of loue she coude par chaunce
For of that art she knewe the olde daunce
A good man ther was of religioūn
That was a person of a poore toun̄
But riche he was of holi thouȝt and werk
He was also a lerned man̄ a Clerk
That cristes gospell truly wolde preche
His parisshons deuoutly wolde he teche
Benigne he was and wonder diligent
And in aduersite full abiding ⁊and pacient
For wich he was preued often sithes
Ful lothe were him to curse for his tithes
But rather wolde he giuen out of doute
Vnto his poore parisshens aboute
Of his offring and eke of his substaunce
He coude in litiƚƚ thing haue suffisaunce
Wide was his parissh and houses fer asonder
But he left nat for reine ne for thonder
In sekenesse and in mischef to visite
The ferthest in his parissh moch and lite
Vpon̄ his feet and in his hand a staf
This noble ensample to his shepe he yaf
That first he wrouȝte and aftirward tauȝt
Out of the gospell he tho wordes cauȝt
And this figure he added eke therto
That if golde ruste what shuld yren do
For if a preste be foule on whom we truste
No wonder is a leude man to ruste
And shame it is if a prest take kepe
A sheten sheperde and a clene shepe
Wel auȝt aprest ensample for to yeue
Be his clennesse hou that his shepe shuld lyue
He set nouȝt his benefice to hyre
And laft his shepe accombred in the mire
Ne renne to londoıı̄un to Seint Poules
To seche him a Chauntry for soules
Or be with a bretherhed witholde
But duellid at hom and kept wel his folde
So that the wolf made there no maistrie
He was a shepherd and nat a mercenary
And thouȝ he holi were and vertuous
He was nat with sinful men despitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
But in his speche discrete ⁊and benigne
To drawen folk to heuen be fairnesse
Bi good ensample this was his besinesse
But and he knewe any persone obstinat
Whethir he were high or lowe estat
Him wolde he snibbe for the nones
A better preest I trowe nowher non is
He waited aftir no pompe ne reuerence
Ne made him a spiced conscience
But cristes lore and his apostels tuelue
He tauȝt. but first he folwed it hym selue
With him ther was a plouȝ man was his brothir
That had lad of donge many a fother
A trewe swinker and a good was he
Leuing in pees and parfit charite
God loued he best with all his hooƚƚ herte
At al tymes thouȝ he gamed or smerte
And than his neiȝbour riȝt as him selue
He wold thresshe and there to dike and delue
For cristes sake for eueri pore wiȝt
Withoute hire if it lay in his miȝt
His tithes he paide ful faire and wel
Bothe of his propre swink and his catel
In a tabard he rod vpon a mere
There was also a Reue and a millere
A sompnour and a Pardoner also
A manciple and my self there was nomo
The Millere was a stout carle for the nones
Full big he was of braune and of bones
That preueth wel for euer where he cam
At the wrasteling he wolde haue the Ram
He was short shuldred brod and athikke gnarre
There was no dore but he it wolde lift of barre
Or breke it with the renning with his hed
His berde as any fox was red
And therto as it were a spade
Vpon̄ the cop of his nose he hade
A werte and theron stood of heres
Rede as the bristelis of sowes eres
His nose thrilles blak were and wide
A swerde ⁊and a bokeler bar he be his side
His mouth was as gret as a forneis
He was a Iangeler and goliardes
And that was most sinne ⁊andharlotries
Wel coude he stele corn and tolle thries
And yit he had a thombe of golde parde
A white cote and a blew hood wered he
A bagpipe wel coude he blowe and soune
And ther with aƚƚ he brouȝt vs out of toune
A gentiƚƚ Manciple was there of a Temple
Of wich catours miȝt take example
For to be wise in bying of vitaiƚƚ
For whethir he paide or took be taile
Alway he awaited so in his cate
That he was ay beforn and in good state
Now is nat that of god a ful faire grace
That such a leude mannes wit shal pace
The wisdam of an hepe of lerned men̄
That maistres haue had mo than thries ten
That of lawe were expert and curious
Of wich there were a dosein in that hous
Worthi to be Stiwardes of rent and londe
Of any lord that is in Englond
To make him lyue be his propre good
In honour douteles but if he were wood
Or lyue as scarsly as him list desire
And able to helpen al a shire
In any caas that miȝt falle or happe
And yit this Manciple set ther alder cappe
This Reue was a slender colerik man̄
His berde was shaue as ny as euer he can̄
His here was be his eres full rounde sworn̄
His top was dokkid lik a preest beforn
Fuƚƚ longe were his leggis and fuƚƚ lene
Like a staf there was no calf asene
Wel coude he kepe a garner and a binne
Ther was non Auditour coude on him winne
Wel wist he bi the drouȝte and bi the rein
The yelding of his corn and of his grein
His lordes shepe his nete his deirye
His swine his hors his stok and his pultrie
Was holli in this Reues gouerning
And be his couenaunt he yaf the rekening
Syn that his lord was xx winter of age
There coude noman bringe him in a rerage
Ther was no baillif heerde nor othir hyne
That he ne knew her sleiȝte and her couine
Thei were adradde of him as of the deth
His woning was faire vpon̄ an heth
With grene trees shadewed was his place
He coude better than his lord purchace
Full riche he was astored priuely
His lord he coude plese full sotilly
To yeue and lene him of his ougne good
And haue a thank and yit a goune ⁊and hood
This Reue sat vpon a wel good stot
Al pomely grey and he hiȝt Scot
Lerned he had in youthe a good meister
He was a good wriȝte a Carpenter
A long Surcote of Perse vpon he hade
And be his side he bar a lusti blade
Of Norfolke was this Reue of wich I telle
Beside a toun̄ men clepe Baldeswelle
Tukked he was as is a frere aboute
And euer he rod the hinderest of the route
A Sompnour was there with vs in that place
That had a faire red Cherubins face
Full sausfleem he was with yhen narwe
And hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe
With scalled browes blake and pilled berde
Of his visage children weren aferde
Ther was neithir litarge quik siluer and brimston̄
Borage Ceruce ne oyle of Tartre non̄
Ne oynement that wolde clense and bite
That him miȝt helpe of his whelkes white
Ne on the knobbes sitting on his chekes
Wel loued he garlik oyneons and lekes
And for to drinke strong wyn̄ as red as blood
Than wolde he speke and crie as he were wood
And whan that he wel dronken had the wyn̄
Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn
A fewe termes had he tuo or thre
That he had lerned out of som decre
No wonder is he herde it al the day
And eke he knowe wel hou that a Iay
Can clepe as wel as can the Pope
But so coude in othir thinges him grope
Than had he spent aƚƚ his Philosophie
Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crie
He was a gentiƚƚ harlot and akynde
A better felawe shulde men nowher fynde
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A gode felawe to haue his concubine
A twelmonth and excuse him at the fulle
Ful priueli eke a fynche coude he pulle
And yef he fonde owher a good felawe
He wolde teche him to haue non awe
In such cas of the Archediacens curse
But if a mans soule heng in his purs
For his purs he shuld pined be
Purs is the Archedekenes helle quod he
But wel I wot he lyeth riȝt in dede
Of cursing ouȝt eueri gilti man to drede
For curs wol sle riȝt as assoiling saueth
And also war him of a Significauit
In daunger had he at his ougne guise
Aƚƚ the yong girles of the diocise
And knewe al her counseil ⁊and knewe al her rede
A garlond he had set vpon his hed
As it were made for an ale stake
A bokeler had he made him of a cake
With ther rod a gentil Pardoner
Of Rouncivale his felawe and his comper
That streit was come from the court of Rome
Fuƚƚ loude he song come hider loue come
This Sompnour bar to him a stif burdoun̄
Was neuer trumpe of half so gret a soun̄
This pardoner had here yelwe as any wex
But smothe hang it as doth astrik of flex
By ounces heng his lockis that he hade
And therwith his shuldres it ouersprade
But thinne it lay be calpons oon and oon̄
And hode for iolite wered he non̄
For it was trussed vp in his walet
Him thouȝt he rod al of the newe get
Discheuele saf his cappe he rod al bare
With glaring yhen as hath an hare
A vernicle had he sewed vpon his cappe
His walet lay beforn him in his lappe
Bret fuƚƚ of pardon come fro Rome al hoot
A vois he had as smaƚƚ as hath a got
No berde had he ne neuer shuld haue
Al smothe it was as it were newe shaue
I trowe he were a gelding or a mare
But of his Berwik fro vnto ware
Ne was there such anothir pardoner
For in his male he had pelwe bere
Wich that he said was oure lady veiƚƚ
He said he had a gobett of the saiƚƚ
That seint Petir had whan he went
Vpon the see tiƚƚ IħuIhesu crist him hente
He had a cros of Latoıı̄un full of stones
And in a glas he had pigges bones
But with these relikes whan that he foıı̄unde
A poore person duelling vpon londe
Vpon a day he gat him more money
Than the person gat in monthes twey
NB
And thus with his feined flaterie and iapes He made the person and the people his apes
But truly to telle ate last
He was in chirche a noble Ecclesiaste
Wel coude he rede a lesson or a story
But altherbest he sang an offretory
For wel he wist whan that song was songe
He must preche and wel afile his tonge
To winne siluer as he wel coude
Therfor he song so mery and so loude .
Now haue I tolde you sothli in a clause
The stat the array the nombre ⁊and the cause
Whi that assembled was this company
In Southwerk at this gentiƚƚ ostry
That hight the tabard fast bi the belle
But now it is tyme for you to telle
Hou that we bare vs that ilke niȝt
Whan we were in the ostry aliȝt
And aftir wil I telle of oure viage
And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage
But first I pray you of your curtesie
That ye arette nat my vilany
Thouȝ that I pleinli speke in this mater
To telle you her wordes and her chere
Ne thouȝ I speke her wordes propirly
For this ye knowe as wel as I
Who shal telle a tale aftir a man̄
He most reherse as ny as euer he can̄
Eueri word and it be in his charge
Speke he neuer so rudeli ne so large
Orellis he mot telle his tale vntrewe
Or feine a thing or finde wordes newe
He maynouȝt spare al thouȝ it were his brothir
He mot aswel sey oo worde as an othir
Crist spak him self ful brode in holi writ
And wel ye wot no vilany is it
Eke Plato seith who that can him rede
The wordes most be cosin to the dede
Also I pray you to forgeue it me
Thouȝ I haue nat set folk in her degre
Hiere in this tale as that they shulde stonde
My witt is short ye may wel vnderstonde
Gret chere made oure oost vs euerichon
And to soper set we vs anon
He serued vs with vitailes at the best
Strong was the wyn and wel drinke vs lest
A semeliman was oure oost with aƚƚ
For to ben a Marschal in an haƚƚ
A large man he was with yhen stepe
A fairer burgeis was ther non in chepe
Bold of his speche and wise wel tauȝt
And of manhod lackid him riȝt nouȝt
Eke he was therto a mery man̄
And aftir soper pley he began
And spake of mirthe among othir thinges
Whan that we had made oure rekeninges
And saide lo lordinges truly
Ye be to me riȝt welcome hertely
For be my trouth yef I shal nat lye
I sey nat this yere so mery a company
At ones in this herberugh as is now
Fain wolde I do you mirthe and I wist hou
And of a mirthe I am riȝt now bethouȝt
To don you ease and it shal cost nouȝt
Ye gon to Caunterbury god you spede
That blisful martir quite you your mede
And wel ye wot as ye gon bi the wey
Ye shapen you to talken ⁊and to pley
For truly comfort ne mirthe is non
To ride bi the weie as dom as it were aston
And therfore wol I make you disport
As I saide erst and do you som comfort
And if you like alle be oon assent
To stonde at my Iugement
And for to werken as I shal you sey
To morwe whan ye ride bi the wey
Now be my faders soule that is ded
But yef ye be mery I wil yeue you my hed
Holde vp your hondes withoute more speche
Oure was nat longe for to seche
Vs thouȝt it was nat worthi to make vs wise
And graunted him withoutemore avise
And bad him sey his verdit as him lest
Lordinges quod now herkeneth for the best
But take it nouȝt I pray you in disdein
This is the point to speke it short and plein
That ech of you to shorte with your weie
In this viage shal telle tales tweie
To Caunterbury ward I mene it so
And homward he shal telle othir tuo
Of auentures that whilom haue be falle
And wich of you bereth him best of alle
That is to sein that tellith in this cas
Tales of most sentence and solas
Shal haue a souper at oure alder cost
Hiere in this place sitting bi this post
Whan we com agein from Caunterbury
And for to make you the more mery
I wil my self goodli with you ride
Riȝt at myn ougne cost and be your guide
And who so wiƚƚ my Iugement with sey
Shal paie al that we spende bi the wey
And if ye vouche saf that it be so
Telle me anon̄ withoute wordes mo
And I wiƚƚ erli shape me therfore
This thing was graunted and her othes swore
With ful glad hert and praid him also
That he wolde vouchesaf so to do
And that he wolde be oure gouernour
And of oure tales Iuge and reportour
And set a soper at a certain prise
And we wil reuled be at his deuys
In high and lowe and thus be oon assent
We be acorded to his Iugement
And thereupon̄ the wyn was fet anon̄
We dronke and to rest went echon̄
Withoute any lenger tarieng
A morwe whan the day gan springe
Vp ros oure oost and was oure aller cok
An gadered vs to gider on a flok
And forth we riden forth a litiƚƚ pace
Vnto the watering of Seint Thomas
And there oure oost began his hors areste
And saide lordes herkeneth if you lest
Ye wot oure forward yef it ye recorde
If euensong ⁊and morwe song acorde
Lat se now who shal telle the first tale
As euer mot I drinke wyn or ale
Who so be rebeƚƚ to my Iugement
Shal paye for al by the weie is spent
Now draweth cut or we forther twinne
For he that hath the shortest shal beginne
Sir kniȝt quod he my mastir ⁊andmy lorde
Now draweth cut for this is myn accorde
Comth nere quod he my lady prioresse
And ye sir clerk lat be youre shamfastnesse
Ne studieth nouȝt lay on to eueri man
Anon to drawe eueri wiȝt began
And shortly to telle as it was
Were it be auenture or sort or cas
The feith is this the cut fel on the kniȝt
Of wich fuƚƚ glad was eueri wiȝt
And telle he must his tale as it was reson
By foreward and be composicion
As ye haue herde what nedeth wordes moo
And whan this good man saw that it was so
As he that wise was and obedient
To kepe his forward be his fre assent
And seide sith I shaƚƚ beginne the game
Welcome be the cut in goddis name
Now late vs ride ⁊and herkene what I sey
And with woord we riden forth oure wey
And he began with riȝt a meri chere
This tale anon and saide on this manere
Hiere beginneth the kniȝtes tale folwing