Fi · Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum McLean MS 181
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Fi/
[2r]
Here bigynneth the Talys of Cauıı̄unt̉erbiry
Compiled by Geffrei Chaucers
Compiled by Geffrei Chaucers
WHan̄ that Aprile with his schoures soote
The drouthe of marche hathe persed þᵉ rote
And bathed euery veyne in suche lycoue
Of which vertu engendred is þᵉ floure
Whan zepherus eke with his swete breth ·
Enspyred hath in euery holt and heth
The tender croppes and þe yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram̄ his halfe course y ronne
And smale fowles make melody
That slepen all nyght with open yȝe
So pirikketh hem nature in her corages
Than̄ longen folke to gone on pylgrymages
And Palmers for to seke straunge strondes
To ferne halowes kowthe in sondry londes
And specially from eủery schyres ende
Of Englond to Caunterbyry þey wende
The holy blysfull martir to seke
That hem hath holpen when þey were seke
Byfell that in that sesoıı̄un vp on̄ a day
In Southwerke at Tabard as y lay
Redy to wende on my pylgrymage
To Caunterbyry with full deuoute corage
At nyȝte was com̄me in to that hostellery
Well xxix on a Company
Of Sondry folke by auenturez y falle
In felawschip̄e and pylgrymes were þey alle
That toward Caunterbyry wold ryde
The Chaumbres / and stables were wyde
And well were esed at the best
And schortely whan̄ the sonne was to rest
So had y spoken̄ with hem eủerychone
That y was of here felawschip̄ anon̄e
And made forward erly to Aryse
To taken oure wey there as y yow devyse
But nathelese while y haue tyme and spase
Or that y further in this tale passe
Me thenketh hit acordant to resoıı̄un
To tellen yow alle the condicyoıı̄un
Of yche of hem as semed me .
And which they were and of which degre
And eke in what aray þey were yn̄
And at a knyght than̄ wol y furst bygyn̄
¶ A knyght þer was and þat a worthy man̄
That fro the tyme that he furst bygan̄
To Ryden̄ oute he loued Chyualery
Treuth honour͗ fredom̄ and curtesye
Full worthy was he in his lordes werr͗e
And þ̉er to had he Ryden̄ dyủerse cuntreys ⁊and ferr͗e
As well in Crystendom̄ as in hethenesse
And eủer honoured for his worthynesse
At Alysaunder he was whan hit was wonne
Full ofte tymes had he þe bord bygonne
Above all nacyoıı̄uns in Pruse ·
In lettewe had he reysed and in Ruse
No crystenman̄ ofter of his degre
In Garnade at the Sege eke had he be
In Algazir͗ and ryden in Belmary
At lyeys was he and at Sataly
When̄ they were wonne and in the grete see
At many a noble armes had he be
At mortayle Batayles he had be Fyftene ·
And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene ·
In lystys thryes and ay slayn̄ his foo
This worthy knyght had ben̄ also
Som̄etyme with þe lord of palatye
Ageyn̄ a nother hethen in Turkye
And eủer had a Soủereyn̄ pⁱrise
And though he were worthy he was wyse
And of his porte as meke as ys a mayde
He neủer ȝytte no velony sayde ·
In alle his lyfe vn to no man̉er wyght
He was a veray ꝑperfyte gentell knyght
For to tellen yow of his aray
His horse were goode but he was not gay
Off Fustyan̄ he wered a Gyppoıı̄un
All bysmoterd with his habergeoıı̄un
For he was late com̄e fro his vyage ·
And wente for to doon his pylgrymage
¶ With hym ther was his sonne a yonge Sqwyer
A lover and a lusty Bacheler
With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse
Of twenty yere of Age he was as y gesse
Of his stature he was of even̄ lenght
And wonderly delyuer of gret strenght
And he had somtyme be in Chyualery
In Flaundres Artoys and pykardy
And bare hym well as of so lytel spase ·
Inne hope for to stonde in his lady grace
Enbrouderd was he as hit were a mede
Alle full of fresch floures white and rede
Syngynge he was or floytynge alle þe day
He was as fresche as ys þe moneth of may
Schorte was his goune with sleves longe and wyde
Well cowde he sytte on a goode horse and ryde
He cowde songes made and well endyte
Iuste and eke daunse purtrey and wryte
So hote he loued þat by nyght tale
He slepte no more þan doth a niȝtyngale
Curteys he was lowly and servysable
And kerfe byfor his fader at þe table ·
¶ A yeman̄ had he and ʆseruauntꝭes no mo
At that tyme for hym luste ryde so
And he was cladde in cote and hode of grene
A Schefe of pekok arowes bryght and clene
Vnder his Belte he bare full thryftely
Well cowde he dresse his takel yemanly
His arowes drowped not with fedurs lowe
And in his hande he bare a myghty bowe
A notte hede had he with with broun̄ vysage
Of wodecrafte well kowde he alle þe vsage
Vpon his Arme he bare a gay Braser
And by his syde a swerde and a Boclere
And on that oþ̉er syde a gay dagger
Harneysed well and scharpe as poynt of spere
A Crystofer on his brest of syluer schene
A horne he bare þe Bawdryk was of grene ·
A Foster was he sothely as y gesse
¶ There was also A Nonne a Pirioresse
That of hir smylynge was sympul ⁊and coy
Hur grettest othe was by seynt loy ·
And sche was clepud madame Englentyn̄ ·
Full well sche songe þe ʆseruyse devyne
Entermuted in hur nose full semely
And Frensche sche spake full feire and fetusly
After the scole of Stratford at þe bowe
For Frensche of Parys was to hur vnknowe
At mete well y taught was sche with alle
Sche lete no mossell fro hur lyppꝰus falle
Ne wette hur Fyngres in hur sause depe
Well kowde sche kary a mossell and well kepe
That no drope ne fell vp on hur brest
In curtesy was sette full mych hur lyste
Hur oủerlyppe wyped sche so clene
That in hur cuppe þ̉er was no ferthyng sene
Of grese when̄ sche had dronken hur draught
Full semely after her mete sche raught
And sykerly sche was of grete dysporte
And ful plesaūt and amyable of porte ·
And peyned hur to counterfete chere ·
Of courte and for to be estately of manere
And to be holden dygne of Reủeren̄s
But for to speke of hur conscyen̄s
Sche was so charytable and pytous
Sche wold wepe and sche had sene a Mows
Kaught in a trappe yf he were dede or bledde
Of smale houndes had sche þat sche fedde ·
With Rosted flesch mylke and wastel bred
But sore wepte sche yf any of hem were dede
Or yf men̄ smot hit with a yerde smertt
And all was conscyens and tender hert
Full semely hur wympull pynched was
Hur nose ful streyght hur yȝen̄ grey as glasse
Her mouth ful smal and þ̉erto softe and rede
But sykerly sche had a fayre forhede
Hit was almost a span̄ brod y trowe
For hardely sche was nought vndergrowe
Full fetys was hur cloke as y was war͗
Of smale corall aboute hur Arme sche bar͗
A peyre of Bedys gaudyed all wᵗith grene
And þer one henge a Broche of gold ful schene
On which þer was writon̄ a crouned A
And after Amor vincit omiā
A noþ̉er nonne with hur had sche
That was hur chapleyn̄ ⁊and p̉erstꝭes thre
¶ A monke þ̉er was a fayr͗ for the maystry
An oute ryder þᵗat loued venery
A manly man̄ to ben an abbot able
Ful many a deynte horse had he in stable
For when̄ he rode men myȝt his brydel here
Gynglynge in a whistelyng wynde as cler͗
And eke as lowde as doth þe chapell belle
There as he was lord a keper of a Selle
The Rewle of seynt Maure or seynt Benet
By cause hit was old and somdele streyte
This monke let such old thyngꝭes passe
And held aft̉er þe newe worldꝰus pase
He yaffe nought of þat texte A pulled henne
That seyth that hunters be not holy men̄
Ne that a monke when̄ he ys recheles
Ys lykened to a Fysche that ys waterlesse
This ys to sey a monke oute of his cloyster
But that texte helde nought worth a noyster
And y seyd his opynyou was goode
What schuld he studye and make hym self wode
Vp on̄ a Boke alwey in cloyster to poure
Or swynke with his hondes and laboure
As Awstyn̄ byddeth how schall þe world be obserued
Lette Austyn̄ haue his swynke to hym reʆserued
Therfor he was a prykasour Aryght
Greyhoundꝰus he had as swyfte as foule in flyght
Of pirikkynge and huntynge for þe har͗
Was all his luste sette for no coste wold he spar͗
Y sygh his sleues purfyled at the honde
With grys and þat þe fynest of alond
And forto festen̄ his hode vnder þe chynne
He had of gold wrought a full curyous pynne
A love knotte in the ende þ̉er was
Hys hede was balled þat schone as glasse
And eke his fase as he had be Anoynte
He was a lord full fatte and in gode poynte
Hys yȝen̄ stepe and rollyng in his hede
That stemed as a Furneys of lede
Hys botes sowple his horsez in gret Astate
Now certenly he was a feyre prelate
He nas not pale as a Forpyned goste
A Fatte swan̄ loued he best of Any Roste ·
His palfray was broun̄ as a berye
¶ A Frere ther was also a wantone anda mery
A lymytoure a full solempne man̄
In alle theorders foure ys none that kan̄
So myche of dalyauns and fayre langage
He had made full many a maryage
Of yonge wōmmen at his own̄ coste
Vn to his order he was a nobull poste
Full welbyloued and famulyer was he
With Francleyn̄s oủer alle in his cuntre
And with worthy wōmmen of the tonū
For he had power of confessyonū
As he seyd hym selfe more þan A curate
For his order he was lycencyat
Full swetely herd he confessyoıı̄un
And plesaunt was his absolucyoıı̄un
He was an esy man̄ to yeve penance
There as he wyste to haue a gode pytanūs
For vn to a pore order for to yeve
Ys signe þat a man̄ ys well schryve
For yf he yaffe he durst make avaun̄t
That he wyste þat man̄ full repentaun̄t
For many a man̄ so harde ys herte
He may not wepe althouȝe hym sore smert
Therfore in stede of wepyng and prayers
Men̄ mot yeve syluer to þe pore Freres
Hys Typet was ay fassed full of knyves
And pynnes for to yeve fayre wyves
And certeynly he hade a mery note
Well cowde he synge and pley on the rote
Of such thyngꝭes bare he utterly þe pirise
His nekke was white as the floure delys
Therto he was stronge as a champyoun̄
He knewe the tauerners well in eủery toun̄
And eủery hosteler and tapster
Bett̉er þan a laser or a begger
But he wold not dele with none such porayle
But all with rych folke and sellers of vytayle
And oủer all there as profet schuld aryse
Curteys he was and lowly of ʆseruyse
Ther nas no man̄ nowhere so vertuouse
He was the best begger in his house
For þouȝe a wydow had not a scho
So plesaunt was his In pirincipio ·
Yette wold he haue a halpeny or he went
His purchase was mych bett̉er þan his rent
And rage he kowde as hit were a whelpe
In lovedayes coude he myche helpe
For ther he was not lyke a cloystrer͗
With a thredebare cope as a pore scoler͗
But he was lyke a mayster or a pope
Of dowbull worsted was his semy cope
That rounded as a Belle oute of þe presse
Somwhat he lypsed for his wantonesse
To make his Englysch swete vp on his tonge
And in his harpynge when̄ þat he had songe
His yȝen̄ twyncled in his hede Aryght
As don̄ the sterres in the Frosty nyght
This worthy lymytoure was clepud huberd
¶ A Marchaunt also ther was with a forked berd
In motle and hiȝe on a horse he sate
Vp on his hede a Flaundres bever hatte
His Botes clapsud feyre and fetusly
His resoıı̄uns he spake full solempnely
Schewynge alwey the Encrese of his wynnynge
He wold þe see wer͗ kepte for Any thynge
Bytwyxe myddeburgh and orewell
Well kowde he bye eschaunge and selle
This worthy man̄ full well his wytte bysette
Ther wyste no wyght þat he was in dette ·
So estately was he of his goủernaun̄s
With his Bargaynes and his chevyschaunse
Forsoth he was a worthy man with alle
But sothely to seyn̄ y not how men hym calle
¶ A clerke þer was of Oxenford also
That vn to logyk had long y go
As lene was his horse y vndertake
And he was not ryght fatte y vndertake
But loked holowe and þer to soburly
Full thredebar͗ was his oủerest courteby
For he had goten hym no benefyse
Ne was so worldely to haue offyse
For hym was leuer to have at his beddus hede
Twenty bokes cladde in white ⁊and rede
Of Arystotle and his philosophie
Than̄ Robes Riche fythel or Sawtry
But alle by þat he was philosopher͗
Yette hadde he but lytek gold in cofer
But all þat he myght of his Frendꝰus hente
On bokes and on lernynge he hit spente
And bysyly gan̄ he for the soules pray
Of hem that fonde hym wherewith to scole ay
Of study toke he most cure and kepe
Nought oo word spake he more þan̄ was nede
And þat was seyd in forme and reủerens
And schorte and qwykke and full high of senten̄s
Sownynge in morall vertu was his speche
And gladely wold he lerne and gladly teche
¶ A Sergeaunt of lawe also war͗ and wyse
That often̄ tyme had ben̄ at parvys
That was also full of excellense
Dyscrete he was and of gret Reủerens
He semed such his wordes were so wyse
Iustyse he was full ofte in assyse
By patent and by comyssyoıı̄un
For his scyens and for his hiȝe renoun̄
Off fees and Robes had he many one
So grete a purchaser nas nowher͗ none
All was fee sympull to hȳm in effecte
His purchasynge myȝte nouȝte ben infecte
Nowhere so Byssy a man̄ as he þ̉er nas
And yette he semed bysyer þan̄ he was
In termes had he caas and domes alle ·
That fro the tyme of kynge Willam wer͗ falle
Therto he kowde endyte and make a thynge
There kowde no wyght pynche at his wrytyng
And eủery statute kowde he pleyn̄ by Rote
He rode but homely in A medle cote
Gyrde with a seynte of sylke with barrꝰus smale
Of his Aray tell y no leng̉er tale
¶ A Francleyn̄ was in þat company
White was his berde as is þe daysy
Of his complexyoun̄ he was sangweyn̄
Well loued by the morow a soppe in wyne
To lyue in delyte euer was his won̄e
For he was Epyourues own̄ son̄
That helde opynyon̄ that pleyn̄ delyte
Was veray felicite parfyte
An householder and þat a gret was he
Seynte Iulyan̄ was he in his cuntre
Hys brede his ale was allwey after one
A Better envyned man̄ was nowher͗ none
Withoute Bakemete was neủer his house
Of Fysche of Flesche and þat so plenteous
Hit sewed in his house of mete and drynke
Of alle deyntees þat men̄ kowde thynke
After the sondry sesoıı̄uns of the yere
So chaunged he his mete ⁊and his soper͗
Full many a Fatte partrych had he in mewe
And many a Breme and many a luse in stewe
Wo was his coke but his sause were
Poynan̄t and scharp̄e and redy all his ger͗
Hys tabull dorman̄t in his halle allewey
Stode redy keủered all þe longe day
At Sessyon̄s þer was he lord and sire
Full ofte tymes was he knyght of the schir͗
An Anelas and a Gypser all of sylke
Henge at his gurdul as white as mylke
A Schiref had he be and a comptoure
Was nowher͗ such a worthy vauasour͗
¶ An haburdascher and a carpenter
A webbe a dyer and a Tapeser͗
And they wer͗ clothed in o lyuere
Of a solempne and a grete fraternyte
Full fressche and newe her gere a pyked was
Her knyves were nought chapud with Brasse
But alle with syluer wrought full clene and wele
Her gurdels and her powches eủerydele
Well semed yche of hem a Feyre Burgesse
To sytte in a yeldehalle on a deys
Eủeryche for the wysdom̄ þat he kan̄
Was schaply to ben̄ an alderman̄
For goode had þey y nowh and rente
And eke her wyves wold þ̉erto assent
And elles certeyn̄ þey were to blame ·
Hyt ys full feyre to be clepud madame
And gone to vygylyes alle byfor͗
And haue a mantel ryally y bor͗
¶ A Cooke they had with hem for þe nones
To Boyle the Chykon̄s with þe mary bones
And pouder Marchaunt tart and Galyngale
Well kowde he knowe a draught of gode london Ale
He kowde Roste sethe Broyle and frye
Make mortreux and well bake a pye
But harme hit was as thought me
That on his schyn̄ a Marmole had he
For Blankemaunger þat made he wᵗith þe best
A Schipman̄ was þ̉er wonynge ferr͗ by west
For ought y wotte he was of dertemouth
He Rode vp on A Rounsy as he kowth
In a goune of faldynge vn to þe kne ·
A dager hangynge in a lase had he
Aboute his nek vnder his Arme a doun̄
The hete somer had made his hewe al broun̄
And certeynly he was a gode felawe
Full many a draught of wyne had he drawe
From Burdeux ward while þe m̉erchauntȝ slepte ·
Of nyse conscyens toke he no kepe
Yf þat he faught and had þe hyȝer honde
By water sende he home schippꝰus of dyủerse lond
But of his crafte to reken̄ wel his tydes
His stremes his daungers hym bysydes
Hys herborow his mone and his lodemenage
Ther nas none such fro hulle to cartage
Hardy he was and wyse to vndertake
With many a tempest had his berde be schake
He knewe all the hauenes as they were
Fro Gutlond to þe Cāe Fenyster͗
And eủery Cryke in Breteyn and spayn̄
Hys Barge clepud was þe Maudeleyn̄
¶ With us þ̉er was a doctour of phisyk
In alle this world was þ̉er none hy lyke
To speke of Phisyke and Surgery
For he was grounded in Astronomy
He kept his pacyens full gret dele
In owres by magyk naturell
Well kowde he fortune the ascendent
Of his magyk for his pacyent
He knewe the cause of eủery malady
Were hit of hete colde moyste or drye
And where engenderd and of what humour
He was a veray parfyte praktysour͗
The kawse y knowe and of his harme þe rote
A non̄e he yaffe the sekeman̄ his bote
Full redy had he his Apotecaryes
To sende hem drugges and letewaryes
For yche of hem made oþ̉er for to wynne · hur͗ Frendeschippꝭes·
Hur Frendeschippes nas not newe to bygynne ·
Well knewe he þe olde Escalapius
And discorides and eke Rufus
Olde ypocras halye and Galyen̄
Serapyoū Razis and Amyen̄
Ameroys Damascien̄ and Cōmstantyn̄
Bernard and Gatysden and Gylbertyn̄
Of his dyet mesurable was he
For hit was of no suꝑperfluyte ·
But of grete noryschynge and degestible
Hys studye was but lytull on þe byble
In sangweyn̄ he clad was all
Lyned with Taffata and sendall
And yette he was But esy of dyspense
He kepte þat he wan̄ þat he wanne in pestyes
For gold in Physyk ys Acordyall
Therfore he loued gold in specyall
¶ A Goode wyfe þ̉er was of bysyde · Bathe
But sche somdele def and þᵗat was skathe
Of cloth makyng sche had such a haunte
Sche passed hem of y pres and of Gaunt
In alle the parysch wyfe was þ̉er none
That to þe offrynge to for͗ hur schuld gon̄
And yf þ̉er dyd certeyn̄ wroth was sche
And full often oute of Charyte
Hur kerchyfs full fyne were of grounde
I durst swere they weyed ten pounde
That on a sonday were up on hur hede
Hur hosen were of fyne scarlet rede
Full streyȝte y tyed and schoes moyst ⁊and newe
Bolde was hur fase . fayre and Rody of hewe
Sche was a worthy woman̄ all hur lyve
Husbondes at the church dore had sche had fyve
With oute oþer company in youthe
But þerof nedeth not to speke as nowth
Thryes had sche ben̄ at Ierlm̄Ierusalem
Sche had passed many a straunge strem̄
At Rome had sche be and at Boloigne
In Galys at seynte Iames and at Coloigne
Sche kowde myche of wandrynge by the wey
Gat tothed was sche sothely to sey
Vp on̄ an aumbeler softely sche sate
Y wympled well and on hur hede a hatte
As Brode as ys a Boklere or a targe
A fotemantell aboute hur hyppꝰus large
And on hur feete a peyre of spurrꝰus scharp̄e
In Felawschīe well kowde sche lawgh ⁊and karpe
Of Remedyes of love sche knewe ꝑperchaunse
For sche knewe of þat arte þᵉ old daunse
¶ A Goode man also þ̉er was of relygyoun
And was a pore ꝑpersoū of A toune
But ryche he was of holy thought ⁊and werk
He was a lerned man and a clerk
That crystes Gospell trewly wold prech
Hys parysschoıı̄uns devoutely wold he teche
Benygne he was and wonder dyligent
And in adủersite full pacyent
And such was he preved ofte sythes
Full loth were hym to curse for his tythes
But Rather wold he yeven̄ oute of doute
Vn to his pore paryschoıı̄uns Aboute
Of his Offryngꝭes and his substaun̄s
He kowthe in lytel haue suffysaun̄s
Wyde was his parysch and housez ferr͗ a sonder
But he ne lefte nought for reyn̄ ne thonder
In sekenesse ne in̄ myschef to vysyte
The ferrest in his paryssh mych and lyte
Vp on his feete and in his hond a staffe
This nobull ensaumpul to his schepe he yaffe
That furste he wrought and afterward taught
Oute of the Gospel he þe wordes caught
And this figure added eke þer to
That yf gold ruste what schal Iren̄ doo
For yf a preste be foule in whom̄ we truste
No wonder ys though a lewd man̄ ruste
And schame hit ys yf a preste take kepe
A Schyton̄ scheperd and a clene schepe
Well ought a preste ensaumpul to yeve
By his clennesse how þᵗat his schepe schuld lyve
He sette nought his benefyse to hyre
And lete his schepe acombred be in þe Myr͗
And ran̄ to londoū vn to powles
For to seke a Chauntery for sowles
Or with a Brederhede to be withold
But dwellud at home and kept his folde
So þat þe wolfe ne made hit not myssekarye
He was a Scheperd and not a Mercenary
And though he holy wer͗ and vertuous
He was nought to syfull men̄ dyspytous
Ne of his speche daungeroūs ne digne
But in his techynge dyscrete and benygne
To drawe folk to heuen by fayrenes
By goode Ensaumpul this was his byssynesse
But hit were · Any ꝑpersoūn obstynatt
What so he were of hiȝe or lowe estate
Hym wolde he snybbe scharpely for the nones
A Bett̉er preste y trowe nowher͗ none ys
He wayted aftur · no pompe ne reủerence
Ne maked hym a spysed conscyens
But crystes lore and his aposteles twelve
He taught but furst he folowed hyt hȳm selve
¶ With hym þ̉er was plowman his broder
That had y ladde of donge many a fother
And a trewe swynker and a gode was he
Lyuynge in pees and in ꝑperfite charyte
At all tymes þough he gamed or smerte
God loued he best with all his herte
And þan his neyȝtbur ryght as hym selve
He wold thressch and þ̉er to dyke and delve
For crystes sake for eủery pore wyght
With oute hir͗ yf hit lay in his myght
His tythes payd he fayre and well
Both of his proper swynke ⁊and his catell
In a tabard he rode up on a mere
¶ There was also a Reve and a myller
A Sompnour͗ and a pardoner also
A Mauncypull and my self þ̉er was no mo
The myller was a stoute carle for þe nones
Full bygge he was of Brawn and bones
That proued well for oủer all þ̉er he com̄
At wrastelynge he wold haue awey þe Ram̄
He was schorte schulderd a thykke knarr͗
The nas no dor͗ þᵗat he ne wold heve of harr͗
Or breke hit with rennyng with his hede
Hys berde as any sowe or foxe was rede·
And þ̉er to brode as hit were a spade
Vp on þe cop̄ of his nose he had
A wert and þer on̄ stode a tufte of herys
Rede as þe Brystel of a sowys erys
Hys nose thrylles blake were and wyde
A swerde and a Bocler bare he by his syde
His mouth as grete as a Furneys
He was a Iangler and a Golyardes
And þat was most of synne ⁊and harlotryes
Well kowthe he stele corne and tolle thryes
And yette he had a thoumbe of gold ꝑperde
A white cote and a blewe hode werud he
A Baggepype wel cowde he blewe ⁊and sowne ·
And þ̉er with alle he brought us oute of þe toun̄
¶ A Gentel Mancyple þ̉er was of a temple
Of which acatours myste take ensaumple
For to be wyse in byenge of vytayle
For wheþ̉er þat he payd or toke by tayle
Algate he wayted so in his achate
That he was ay byfore and on gode astate
Now ys not þat of god a ful feir grace
That such a lewde mannꝰus wytte schal pase
The wysoom̄ of ahepe of lerned men̄
Of Maysters had he mo þan thryes ten̄
That were of lawe expert and curyous
Of which þer was a doseyn in þat house
Worthy to be Stywardes of Rent ⁊and lond
Of Any lord þᵗat ys in Englond
To make hym lyue by his propur goode
In honoure dettelesse but he were wode
Or lyve as skarsely · as hym luste desyre
And able for to helpen alle a schire
In any case þat myght falle or happe
And yette this mauncyple sette all theyre capp̄
¶ The Reve was a sclender coleryk man̄
Hys berde was schave as nygh as eủer he kan̄
Hys here was by his eres full rounde y schorne
Hys toppe was dokked lyke a preste byforne
Full longe were his legges and lene
Y lyke a staffe þ̉er was no calfe seene
Well cowth he kepe a Garner or a bynne
Ther was none Audytour cowde on hȳn wynne
Well wyste he by the drought and reyn̄
The yeldynge of his seede and his greyne
Hys lordes schepe his nete his dayrye
Hys swyne his horse his store and pultry
Was holly in this Reves goủernynge
And by his couenante yaffe he rekenynge
Sythen̄ that his lord was xx yer͗ of Age
There kowde no man̄ brynge hym in Arrerage
There nas bayly herde noþ̉er hyne
But he ne knewe his sleyght and covyne
They were a dradde of hym as þe deth
Hys wonnyng was full feyre on a heth
With grene trees schadowed was his plase
He cowde bett̉er þan his lord purchase
Full ryche was he astored pryvely
Hys lord he cowde ples sotelly
To yeve and lene hym of his own̄ gode
And haue a thanke and yette a cote ⁊and hode
In youthe had he lerned a gode mystere
He was a gode wryght a Carpentere
This Reve sat vp on̄ a well gode stotte
That was pomely grey and hight scotte
A longe surcote of pers he had
And by his syde he bare a rousty blade
Of Norfolk was this Reve of which ytell
By syde a toune men̄ clepe baldeswell
Tukked he was as ys a Frere aboute
And eủer he Rode þe hyndrest of our rowte
¶ A Sompnour͗ with us also þ̉er was
That had a fyry cherubynz fase
For sauseflem̄ he was with yȝen̄ narowe
As hote ⁊and lecherous as ys a sparowe
With scabbed browes blak and pylled berd
Of his vysage chylder were ofte aferde
There nas quyk syluer lytarge ne brymston̄
Boras Orsure ne oyle of tart̉er none
Ne oynement þat wold clense ⁊and byte
That hym myght helpe of his whelkꝭes white
Nor of the knobbz syttyng of his chekes
Well loued he garlyk oynoıı̄uns ⁊and lekꝭes
And for to drynke stronge wyne rede as blod
Then̄ wold he speke and crye as he were wode
And when̄ that he well dronken̄ had þe wyne
Then̄ wolt he speke no word but latyn̄
A Fewe termes had he two or thre
That he had lerned oute of som̄ degre
No wonder as he herde hit all þe day
And eke ye knowe well how þᵗat a iay
Kan̄ clepe watte as wel as þe pope
But ho so cowthe hym in oþ̉er thyngꝭes grope
Then̄ had he spende alle his philosophie
Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crye
He was a gentell harlot and a kynde
A Better felaw myght no man̄ fynde
He wold suffer for a quarte of wyne
A gode felaw haue his concubyne
A twelfemoneth and excuse hym at fulle
Full pⁱriuely a Fynche eke kowde he pulle
And yf he fonde owhere a gode felawe
He wold teche hym to haue non̄e awe
In suche caase of þe Erchedekon̄s curse
But yf mannꝰus soule be in his purse
Purse ys þe Erchedekon̄s helle seid he
For in his purse he schuld punysched be
But well y wote he lyed ryght in dede
Of cursynge ought yche man̄ hȳm to drede
For curse woll slee ryght as soylynge saveth
And also ware hym of a Significauit
In daunger had he at his own̄ gyse
The yonge Gyrles of þe dyocyse
And knewe her counsell and all hur rede
A Garlond had he sette on his hede
As grete as hit were for an ale stake
A Bokler͗ had he made hym of a kake ·
¶ With hym þ̉er rode a gentel ꝑperdoner͗
Of Rouncyvale his Feende and his comper͗
That streyȝt was com̄e fro þe court of Rome
Ful lowde songe he Com̄e to me love com̄e
This sompnour bar to hy a styffe Burdonū
As of a trompe a gret sowne
This pardoner had here as yelow as wax
But smothe hit henge as do strykes of Flax
By ounces henge hys lokkꝭes þᵗat he had
And þerwith he his schuldrez oủerspradde
But thynne hit lay by culpoūs one and one
But hode for iolyte wered he none
For hit was trussed up in his wallet
Hym thouȝte he rode all of þe newe gette
Discheueld saue his capp̄e he rode al bare
With glarynge yȝen had he as an hare
A vernycle had he sewed on his cappe
His walet byfore hym lay in his lappe
Bret full of pardon̄ com̄e fro Rome a hote
A voys had he as small as a gote
No berde ne had he ne neủer schuld haue
All smothe hit was as hit were late schave
Y trowe he were a geldynge or a mare
But of his crafte fro Berwyk to War͗
Ne was þ̉er such a noþ̉er ꝑperdoner
For in his male he had a pyllewe bere
Which þat he seyd was oure lady veyle
He sayde he had a Gobbet of þe sayle
That seynt petur had when þat he went
Vp on the see tyll IħuIhesu cryste hym hente
He had a crosse of laton̄ full of stones
And in a Glasse he had pygges bones
But with þese relykꝭes when̄ þᵗat he fonde
A pore ꝑperson̄ dwellyng up on lond
Vp on a day he gate hym more money
Then̄ that þe ꝑperson̄ gate hȳm in monethꝰus twey
And thus with feyned flaterynge ⁊and Iapes
He made þe ꝑperson̄ and þe pepul his Apes
But trewly to tellen at þe laste
He was A nobull ecclesiaste
Well kowde he rede a lesson̄ or a story
But alderbest he songe an Offerotory
For well he wyste when þat songe was songe
He most preche and well afyle his tonge
To wynne syluer as he well kowth
Therfore he songe so mery and lowde
¶ Now haue y tolde you sothely in A clause
The Estate þe Aray þe noumber and þe cause
Why þat assembled was this company
In Suthwerk at this gentel hostellery
That hight þe Tabard fast by the bell
But now ys tyme to you for to tell
How þᵗat we beren̄ us þat ilke nyȝte
When̄ we were in the ostrye Alyght
And After woll y tell yow of our͗ vyage
And all the reuenante of our͗ pylgimage
But furst y p̉rey yow of your͗ curtesye
That ye rette hit not my vyleny
To tellen her wordes and her chere
Though þat y pleynely speke in this mater͗
Ne thouȝe y speke her wordes ꝓproperly
For this ye knowe as wel as y
Who so schall tellen̄ a tale after͗ A man̄
He mot reherse as nyȝe as eủer he kan̄
Eủery worde yf hit be in his charge
Al speke he neủer so rudely and large
Or elles mot he tell his tale vntrewe
Or feyne thyngꝭes or fynde wordes newe
He may not spare al thouȝe he were his broder
He most as well sey one worde as a nother
Also y p̉rey yow forȝyve hit me
All haue y not sette folke in hur͗ degre
Here in this tale as þey schuld stonde
My wytte is schorte ye may vnderstonde
Grete chere made oure oste us eủerychone
And to soper sette us anon̄e
He served us with vytayles at þe best
Stronge was þe wyne and well drynke us lyste
A Semely man̄ oure oste was with alle
For to ben a Marchal in a halle
A large man̄ he was with yȝen̄ stepe
A fayrer Burgeys was none in chepe
Bolde of his speche wyse and wel taught
And of manhode hym lakked nought
Eke þ̉erto he was ryght A mery man̄
And after soper to pleyen̄ he bygan̄
And spake of myrth amongꝭes oþer thyngꝭes
When̄ that we had made our rekenyngꝭes
And seyd þus now lordyngꝭes truly
Ye ben̄ to me welcome right hertely
For by my trouth yf y schal nought lye
Y syȝe not this yere so mery a company
At ones in this herborow as ys now
Fayn̄ wold y done yow myrthes wyste y howe
And of a myrthe y am now bythought
To done yow ese and hit schal cost nought
Ye goon̄ to Caunterbyry god yow spede
The blysfull Martir qwyte your͗ mede
And well y wote as ye go by the wey
Ye schapen yow to talen ⁊and pley
For truly myrth ne counforte is none
To Ryde by the wey doumbe as a stone
And þ̉erfore woll y make yow dysporte
As y seyde erste and don̄ yow som̄ counforte
And yf ye lyke all by one assente
For to stonde at my Iugement
And for to wyrke all as y schall yow sey
To morow when̄ we ryde by the wey
Now by my fader sowle þat is dede
But ye be mery y woll gyffe you my hed
Holde up youre handes with oute more speche
Oure counsell was not longe to seche
Vs thouȝte hit was noth worth to make hit wyse
And graunted hym with oute more avyse
And bad hym sey his verdyte as hȳm lyste
Lordyngꝭes quoth he now herkeneth for þe best
But take hit nought y paray yow in dysdeyne
This is the poynte to speke schorte ⁊and pleyn̄
That yche of yow to schorte with his wey
To kaunterbyry ward schall tell tales twey
Of auentures that haue byfalle
And which of yow þat bereth hym best of alle
That ys to seyn̄ that telleth in this case
Tales of Best sentens and most solas
Schall haue a soper at oure aller cost
Here in this plase syttynge by this poste
When̄ that we comen̄ ageyn̄ fro kaunterbyry
And for to make yow þe more mery
Y woll my selfe goodely with yow Ryde
Ryȝte at al myne own̄ cost and be youre gyde
And whoso woll my Iugement with sey
Schall pay that we spend by the wey
And yf ye vouche safe that hit be so
Tell me anon̄e with oute wordes mo
And I woll erly schape me therfore
This thynge was graunted and oure othes swore
With full gladde herte and preyen̄ hym also
That he wolde vouchesafe for to doo so
And þat he wold be oure goủernoure
And of oure tales Iuge and reportoure
And sette a soper at a certeyn̄ pryse
And we woll rewled be at his devyse
In high and lowgh and thus by one assent
We ben acorded to þe Iugement
And þ̉er vpon̄ the wyne was fette anon̄e
And dronke and to reste wente eủerychone
With oute any lenger taryenge
A morow when̄ the day gan̄ sprynge
Vp rose oure oste and was oure alder kokke ·
And gaderd us to geder in a flokke
And forth we ryden̄ lytell more then a pase
Vn to the waterynge of seynt Thomas
And ther͗ oure oste gan̄ his horse areste
And seyd lordyngꝭes herken̄ yf ye lyste
Ye woote youre for ward and y hit you record
Yf euensonge and morow songe acorde
Lete se now who schall tell the furst tale
As euer mot y drynke wyne or Ale
Who so be rebell to my Iugement
Schall pay for all that by the wey is spent
Now draweth cutte or that ye further twynne
Which that hath þe schortest cutte schall bygynne
¶ Sir͗ knyght quoth he my mayst̉er ⁊and my lord
Now draweth cutte for for þat is myn̄ acorde
Comethe nere quoth he my lady pirioresse
And ye ʆser squyer lete be youre schamefastnesse
Ne studyeth not ley honde to eủery man̄
Anone to drawe euꝰery wyght bygan̄
And schortely to tellen as hit was
Were hit by aventure sorte or case
The soth is this þe kutte felle to the knyght
Of which blyth and gladde was eủery wyght/
And tellen forth his tale hit is reson̄
By forward and composicyoun̄
As ye haue herde what nede wordes mo
And when̄ this goode man̄ sawh hit so
As he þat was wyse and obedyent
To kepen̄ his forward by his fre assent
He seyd sythen̄ y schaƚƚlle bygynne the game
What welkome be the cutte on goddes name
Now lete us ryde and herken̄ what y sey
And with þat worde we ryde forth oure wey
And bygan̄ with ryght a mery chere
His tale a non̄e and seyd as ye may here
Here endeth þe prolog of þis / Boke
Here bigynneth the Knyghtꝭes Tale
WHilom̄ as olde storyes telle us ·
There was a Duke hight Theseus
Of Athenes he was lord and gouernour
And in his tyme such a conqueroure
That gretter was none vnder sonn̄e
Full many a ryche cuntrey had he wonne ·
What with his wysdom̄ and chyualery
He conquered all the lond of Femynye ·
That whilom̄ was clepud Sythia
And wedded þe quene ypolyta
And brought hur hom̄e in his cuntre
With mych glorye and solempnyte
And eke hur yonge huster Emelye
And þus with victorye and melody