Ha2 · London, British Library Harley MS 1758
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Ha2/
[1r]
hEre begynneth the book . of tales of Caunterburye . compiled by Geffraie Chaucers . of Brytayne chef poete . / /
Whan that Aprill . wtith his schoures swote .
The drought of Marche . hath perced to þe rote .
And bathed euery veyne . in suche licoure .
Of whiche vertue . engendrid ys the floure .
And zephirus eke . with his swete breth .
Enspired hath . in euery holt ⁊and heth .
The tendre croppes . ⁊and the yong sonne .
In to the Ram . his half cours ronne .
And smale fowles . maken melodye .
That slepen all the nyght . with open eye .
So priketh hem nature . in here corages .
Than longen folk . to gon in pilgrymages .
And palmers for to seke . straunge strondes .
To ferne halwes . couthe in sondry londes .
And specialy . from euerie schires ende .
Of Englond . to Caunterburye thei wende .
The holy blisfull martyr . for to seke .
That hem hath holpen . whan þat þei were seke .
Byfell that . in that sesoūn on a daye .
In suthwerk . at the Thabard as I laye .
Redy to wenden . on my pilgrymage .
To Caunterbury . with full deuoute corage .
At nyght was come . in to þat hostelrye .
Well nyne ⁊and twenty . in a companye .
Of sondry folk by auenture falle .
In felschip . ⁊and pilgrymes were þei alle .
That towarde Cauntirbury . wolde ryde .
The chambres . ⁊and the stables weren wyde .
And well were esid . at the beste .
And schortly . whan the sonne was to reste .
So had I spoken . with hem euꝰerychon
That I was . of here felaschip anon .
And made forward . erly for to ryse .
To take oure way . there as I you deuyse .
But natheles . while I haue tyme ⁊and space .
OR that I ferþer . in this tale pace .
Me thynketh . it acordaunt to reson .
To tell you . all the condicion .
Of eche of hem . so as it semyd me .
And whiche thei were . ⁊and of what degre .
And eke in what araye . that thei were ynne .
And at a knyght . than woll I first bigynne .
A knyght ther was . ⁊and that a worthiman .
That fro the tyme . that he first bigan .
To riden oute . he loued chyualrye
Trouthe ⁊and honorur . fredam ⁊and curtesie .
Full worthi was he . in his lordis werre .
And therto had he riden . no man ferre .
As well in cristendome . as in hethenes .
And euyr honoured . for his wothynes .
At Alisaundre
he was
. whan it was wonne . Full often tyme . he had the bord bigonne .
A boue all nacions . in Pruce .
In lettow had he reisid . ⁊and in Ruce .
No cristen man . so ofte of his degre .
In Genade at the sege . eke had he be .
Of Algezir . ⁊and riden in Belmarie .
At leyes was he . ⁊and at Satalie
Whan thei were wonne . ⁊and in the gret see .
At mony a noble Arme . had he be .
At mortall bateiles . had he be fiftene .
And foughten for our fayth . at Tramyssene .
In lystes thries . ⁊and ay slayn his fo .
This ilk worthi knyght . had ben also .
Sumtyme . with the lorde of Palatye .
A geyn a nother hethen . in Turkye .
And euyrmore . he had a souerayn pris .
And though that he was worthi . he was wys .
And of his poort . as meke as is a mayde .
He neuyr / yet . no vilenye sayde .
In all his lif . vn to no maner wight .
He was a verraye . ꝑperfit gentill knyght .
But for to tell you . of his araye .
His hors were goode . but he was not gaye .
Of fustyan . he werid a Gipoıı̄un .
All bismotered . with his habergeoıı̄un .
For he was late come . from his vyage .
And went for to done . his pilgrymage .
With hym ther / was . his sone a yong squyer .
A louyer . a lustye bacheler .
With lockes crulle . as thei were leide in presse .
Of . 20ti. yere of age . was he as I gesse .
Of his stature . he was of euene lengthe .
And wondyrly delyuer / . ⁊and gret of strengthe .
And he had ben somtyme . in chyuachie .
In Flaundres . in Artoys . ⁊and in Pikardie .
And born hy well . as of so litell space .
In hope to stonden . in his lady grace .
Enbrawdid was he . as it were a mede .
All full of fresche floures . white ⁊and rede .
Syngyng he was . or flowtyng all the daye .
He was as fresch . as is the monthe of Maye .
Schort was his gowne . with sleues long ⁊and wyde .
Well couthe he sitte on hors . ⁊and fayre ride .
He couthe songes make . ⁊and well endyte .
Iust ⁊and eke daunce . ⁊and well portroie ⁊and wryte .
So hote he loued . that bi nyghter tale .
He slepe no more . than doth a nyghtyngale .
Curteis he was . lowely ⁊and seruysable .
And carf bi fore his Fadir . atte table .
A yeman had he . ⁊and seruauntes no mo .
At that tyme . for hym lust to ride so .
And he was clad . in coote ⁊and hood of grene .
A scheef of pecok arwes . bright ⁊and kene .
Vndir his belte . he bar full thriftyly .
Well couthe he dresse . his takell yemanly .
His arowes drouped nought . with feþeris lowe .
And in his honde . he bare a myghty bowe .
A not heed had he . with a broıı̄un visage .
Of wode craft . well couthe he all the vsage
Vp on his arme . he bare a gaye bracer .
And bi his side . a swerd ⁊and a bokeler .
And on that other side . a gaye daggere .
Harneisid well . ⁊and scharpe as poynt of spere .
A xpofre on his brest . of siluer schene .
An horn he bar . the baudrik was of grene .
A foster was he . sothely as I gesse .
Ther was also . a Nonne a prioresse .
That of hir smylyng . was full symple ⁊and coy .
Here grettist othe . was but bi seynt Loy .
And sche was clepid / ma dame Eglentyne .
Full well sche song . the seruyce deuyne .
Entuned in hir nose . full semely
And frensch sche spak . full faire ⁊and fetisly .
After the scole . of Stratford atte bowe .
For frensch of Paris . was to hir vnknowe .
At mete well taught . was sche with all
Sche let no morsell . fro hir lippes fall .
Sche ne wette hir / fyngers . in hir sauce depe .
Well couthe sche carie a morsell . ⁊and well kepe .
That no drope . ne fill vp on hir breste .
In curtesie was sette . full moche hir leste .
Hir oủerlippe . wyped sche so clene .
That in hir cuppe . ther was no ferthyng sene .
Of grece . whan sche droūnken had hir draught .
Full semely . after hir mete sche raught .
And sikerly . sche was . of gret disporte .
And full plesaūnt . ⁊and amyable of porte .
And peyned hir . to coūntirfete chere . /
Of court . ⁊and to ben estately of manere .
And to ben holden . digne of reuerence .
But for to speken . of hir conscience .
Sche was so charitable . ⁊and so pitous .
Sche wolde wepe . if sche sawe a mous .
Kaught in a trappe . if it were deed or bledde .
Of smale houndis had sche . that sche fedde .
With rosted flesch . or mylke or wastell breed .
But sore wepte sche . if eny of hem were deed .
Or if men smote hēm with a yerde smerte .
And all was conscience . ⁊and tendyrnes of herte .
Full semely her wympell . pynched was .
Her nose was streight . hir yen grey as glas .
Hir mouthe full small . ⁊and ther to softe ⁊and reed .
But sikerly . sche had a fayre forheed .
It was almost . a spanne brode I trowe .
For hardely . sche was not vndirgrowe .
Full fetis was hir cloke . as I was war .
Of smale corall . a boute hir arme sche bar .
A peyre of bedis . gauded all wiþ grene .
And ther on henge . a broche of gold full schene .
On whiche . ther was first . wretyn a crowned A .
And after . Amor Vincit Omnia .
A nother Nonne . with hir had sche
That was hir Chapeleyn . ⁊and prestis thre .
A Monk ther was . a faire for the maystrie .
An out Rider . that loued venerie .
A manly man . to ben an abbot able .
Full many a deynte hors . had he in stable .
And whan he rode men myght his brydell here .
Clynkyng in a whistelyng wynde . as clere .
And eke as lowde . as doth the chapell belle .
Ther as this lorde . was keper of the celle .
The rewle of seynt Maure . or of seynt beneit .
By cause that it was olde . ⁊and somdell streit .
This ilke monke . leet olde thyngis pace .
And heeld after . the newe worlde the space .
He yaf nought of the text . a pulled hen .
That seyeth . that hunters be nought holy men .
Ne that a monke . whan he is recheles .
Is likned till a fische . that is waterles .
This is to seie . a monk . out of his cloistre .
But thilke text . heeld he nought worth an oistre .
And I seide . his opynyon was right good .
What schulde he studye . or make hym self wood .
Vp on a book . in cloistre all weie to poure .
Or swynke with hondis . or laboure .
As Austyn dyd . how schall þe worlde be ʆserued .
Lat Austeyn haue . his swynk to hym reʆserued .
Ther fore he was . a prikasoure a right .
Grehoundis he had . as swifte as foule in flight .
Of prikyng . ⁊and of hūntyng for the hare .
Was all his lust . for no coste wolde he spare .
I sigh his sleues . purfiled at the honde .
With grys . ⁊and that the fynest of a londe .
And for to sustene his hood . vndyr his chynne
He had of golde wrought . a full curious pynne .
A boue the knotte . in the grettir ende ther was .
His heed was balled . that schon as eny glas .
And eke his face . as he had ben anoynt .
He was a lorde full fat . ⁊and in good poynt .
His yen stepe . ⁊and rollid in his heed .
That stremyd . as a furneys of leed .
His botis souple . his hors in gret a state
Now certeynly . he was a fayre prelate .
He nas not pale . as a forpyned gost .
A fat swan loued he . best of eny rost .
His palfrey . was as broūn as is a berye .
A Frere ther was . a wantoūn ⁊and a merye .
A lymytour . a full solempne man .
In all the ordres foure . is ther nought oon þtat can .
So moche of daliaūnce . ⁊and fayre langage .
He had made . full many a maryage .
Of yong women . at his owne cost .
Vn to his ordre . he was a noble post .
Full well biloued . ⁊and famulier was he .
With frankeleynes . ouerall in his contre .
And with worthi . women of the toıı̄un .
For he had power . of confessioıı̄un .
As seide hym self . more than a curat .
For of his ordre . he was lycenciat .
Full swetly . herde he confessioıı̄un .
And plesaūnt . was his absolucio .
He was an esy man . to yeue penaūnce .
Ther as he wiste . to haue a good pitaūnce .
For vn to a pore ordre . for to yeue .
Is signe . that a man is well schryue .
For if he yaf . he dorst make auaūnt .
He wiste that a man . was repentaūnt .
For many a man . so harde is of his herte .
He may not wepe . all though hym sore smerte .
Ther fore in stede of wepyng . ⁊and praiers .
Men most yeue siluer . to the pore freres .
His tipet was ay farsed . full of knyues .
And pynnes . for to yeue faire wyues .
And certenly . he had had a merye note .
Well couthe he syngen . ⁊and pleien on a rote .
Of yeddynges . he bar vtterly the pris .
His nek white . as is the flour delys .
Ther to he was stronge . as is a Champioıı̄un .
He knewe the tauerners . well in eủery toıı̄un .
And euery hostiler . ⁊and Tapster .
Bet than a lazar . or a begger .
For vn to suche . a worthi man as he .
Accordyd nought . as bi his faculte .
To haue wtith suche lazares acqueyntaūnce .
It is nought honest . it may noght auaūnce .
For to dele . with suche porayle .
But all wtith riche . ⁊and sellers of vitayle .
And ouer all there . as ꝓprofite schulde a ryse .
Curteis he was . ⁊and lowly of seruyse .
Ther nas no man . nowher so vertuous
He was the best begger . in his hous .
For though a wydewe . had noght a scho .
So plesaūnt was . his Inprincipio .
Yet wolde he haue . a ferthyng or he wente .
His purchas was well better . than his rente .
And rage he couthe . as it were a whelpe .
In louedayes . ther couthe he moche helpe .
For there was he noght . lik a cloister .
In a thredbare cope . lik is a poủere scoler .
But he was lik . a maister or a pope .
Of double worstede . was his semycope .
That rounded was as a belle . out of the presse .
Somwhat he lipsed . for his wantownesse .
To make his englysch . swete vp on his tonge .
And in harpyng . whan he had songe .
His yen twynkled . in his heed a right .
As don the sterres . in the frosty nyght .
This worthi lymytorur . was cleped huberd .
A Marchaūnt was þ̉ere . with a forked berd .
In motle . ⁊and high on hors he sat .
Vp on his heed . a flaundrisch beuere hat .
His botis clapsed . faire ⁊and fetisly .
His resons he spak . full solemply .
Schewyng alwaye . the encres of his wynyng .
He wolde the see . were kept for eny thyng .
Betwyxe Middelburgh . ⁊and Orwelle .
Well couthe he . in eschaunge scheeldis selle .
This worthi man . full well his witte bisette .
Ther wist no wight . that he was in dette .
So estately was he . of his gouernaūnce .
What with his bargeyns . ⁊and his cheuyssaūnce .
For sothe . he was a worthi man with all .
But sothly to seien . I not how men hym call .
A Clerk ther was . of Oxenforde also .
That vn to logyke . longe tyme had go .
As lene was his hors . as is a rake .
And he was not . right fat I vndir take .
But lokid holwe . ⁊and ther to soberly .
Full thredbare . was his oủerest courtepy .
For he had . geten hym no benefice .
Ne was so worldly . for to haue offyce .
For hym was leuyr . haue at his beddisheed .
Twenty bokes . clad in blak ⁊and reed .
Of Aristotill . ⁊and his philosophie .
Than robes riche . fithell or gay sautrie .
But all be that . he was a philosophre .
Yet had he . but litell golde in his cofre .
But all that he myght . of his frendis hente .
On bokis . ⁊and on lernyng . he it spente .
And besily gan . for the soules preie .
Of hem . that hym yaue wherwith to scoleie .
Of studie . toke he most cure ⁊and hede .
Noght oo worde spak he . more than was nede .
And that was saide . in forme ⁊and reuerence .
And schort ⁊and quyk . ⁊and full of high sentence .
Sownyng in morall vertue . was his speche .
And gladly wolde he lerne . ⁊and gladly teche .
A Sergeant of the lawe . war ⁊and wys .
That ofte . had ben […]t paruys .
That was also . full riche of excellence .
Discrete he was . ⁊and of gret reuerence .
He semed such . hys wordis were so wyse .
Iustice he was . full ofte in assise .
By patent ⁊and pleyn cōmmyssioıı̄un .
For his scyens . ⁊and for his high renoıı̄un .
Of fees ⁊and robes . had he many oon .
So gret a purchasour . was nowher non .
All was fe symple . to hym in effecte .
His purchasyng . myght not ben infecte .
Nowher so besi a man . as he ther nas .
And yet he semyd . besier than he was .
In termes had he caas . ⁊and domes alle .
That fro the tyme . of kyng William were falle .
Ther to he couthe endite . ⁊and make a thyng .
Ther couthe no wight . pynche at his wrytyng .
And euery statute . coude he pleien bi rote .
He rode but homely . in a medly cote .
Girt with a seynt of silk . with barris smale .
Of his a raye . tell I no lenger tale .
A Frankeleyn . was in his companye .
White was his berde . as is the daies eye .
Of his complexion . he was sangwyne .
Well loued he bi the morow . a sop in wyne .
To lyuen in delite . euyr was hys wone .
For he was . epitures owne sone .
That heelde opynyon . that pleyn delite .
Was verray . felicite ꝑperfite .
An housholder . ⁊and that a gret was he .
Seynt Iulian . he was in his Cuntre .
His breed his ale . was alweye after oon .
A bettyr enuyned man . was nowher noon .
With oute bake mete . was neuer his hous .
Of fysch ⁊and flesch . ⁊and that so plenteuous .
It snewed in his hous . of mete ⁊and drynke .
Of all deyntes . that men cowde thenke .
After / the sondry sesons . of the yere .
So chaūnged he his mete . ⁊and his sopere .
Full many a fat partriche . had he in mewe
And many a breme . ⁊and many a pike in stewe .
Wo was his cook . but his sauce were .
Poynant ⁊and scharp . ⁊and redy all his gere .
His table dormant . in his halle alway .
Stood redy coủered . all the long day .
At sessions . there was he lorde ⁊and sire .
Full ofte tyme . he was knyght of þe schire .
An anlas . ⁊and a gipser all of silk .
Heeng at his gyrdell . white as morne mylk .
A schereue had he ben . ⁊and acoronorur .
Was nowher . suche a worthi vauasorur .
An haberdascher . ⁊and a Carpynter .
A Webbe . A dyer . ⁊and a Tapycer .
And thei were clothed . alle in oo lyuere .
Of a solempne . ⁊and a grete fraternyte .
Full fresch ⁊and newe . here gere piked was .
Here knyues . were noght chapid with bras .
But all with siluer / . wrought full clene ⁊and well .
Here gurthels . ⁊and here powches eủerydell .
Well semed eche of hem . a fayre burgeys .
To sitten in a yeldehalle . on a deys .
Eủerych . for the wisdam that he can .
Was schaply . for to ben an Alderman.
For catell thei had y nowe . ⁊and rente .
And eke here wyues . wolde it well assente . /
And ellis receyue . thei were to blame .
It is full fayre . to be clepid ma dame .
And gon to vigiles . all bifore . /
And haue a mantell . ryalliche bore .
A Cook thei hadde . wtith hem for the nones .
To boyle chekenes . with the maribones
And pouder marchaunt . tart ⁊and galyngale .
Well knewe he . a draught of Londoūn ale .
He coude roste . boile ⁊and frie .
Maken mortreux . ⁊and well bake a pie .
But grete harme was it . as it thought me .
That on his schyne . a mormall had he .
For blank manger . that made he wiþ the beste .
A Schipman was there . wonyng fer bi weste .
For ought I wote . he was of dertemouthe .
He rood vp on a Rouncy . as he couthe .
In a gowne of faldyng . to the kne .
A dagger . hangyng on a lace had he .
A boute his nekke . vndyr his arme a doıı̄un .
The hote sonne . had made his hewe al broıı̄un .
And certeynly . he was a good felawe .
Full many a draught . of wyne had he drawe .
Fro Burdeux ward . while the Chapmen slepe .
Of nyce conscience . toke he no kepe .
Yf that he faught . ⁊and had the higher honde .
By water . he sente hem home . to euery londe .
But of his crafte . to reken well his tides .
His stremes . ⁊and his daungers hym besides .
His herberwe his mone . ⁊and his Lodemenage .
Ther was no such . fro hull vn to Cartage .
Hardy he was . ⁊and wys to vndyrtake .
With many a tempest . had his berde ben schake .
He knewe all the hauens . as thei were .
Fro Guthlonde . to the cape of fynystere .
And eủery crike in Brytayne . ⁊and in spayne .
[…]pid was . the Mawdelayne .
[…]n ther was . a doctour of phisik .
[…] all the worlde . ne was ther / non hym lik .
[…]e of phisik . ⁊and of surgerie .
For he was groūnded in astronomye .
He kepte his pacient . a full gret dele .
In houres . bi his magik naturele .
Well coude he fortune . the ascendent .
Of his ymages . for his pacient .
He knewe the cause . of euery maladye .
Were yt of hoot or colde . or moiste or drye .
And where engendrid . ⁊and of what humour . /
He was a verray . ꝑperfit practisour .
¶ The cause knowe . ⁊and of his harme þe rote .
A noon he yaf . the seke man his bote .
Full redy had he . his apothecaries .
To sende hym his dregges . ⁊and his letuaries .
For eche of hem . made other for to wynne .
Here frendschipe . nas nought newe to begynne .
Well knewe he . the olde Esculapius .
And Diascorides . ⁊and eke Rufus .
Olde ypocras . Haly . ⁊and Galien.
Serapioūn . Razie . ⁊and Auycen .
Auerois . Damascien . ⁊and Constantyn .
Bernard . ⁊and Gatesden . ⁊and Gilbertyn .
Of his diete . mesurable was he .
For yt was . of no superfluyte .
But of gret norischyng . ⁊and digestible .
His studie . was not but litell in the bible .
In sangwyn . ⁊and in perse . he clad was all .
Lyned with taffata . ⁊and with sendall .
And yet he was . but esie of dispense .
He kepte . that he wan in pestilense .
For gold in Phisik . is a cordiall .
There fore he loued gold . in speciall .
A Good wif ther was . of beside bathe .
But sche was somdell deef . ⁊and þtat was scathe .
Of cloth makyng . sche had suche an haunt .
Sche passid hem of ypris ⁊and of Gaunt .
In all the parisch wif ne was ther noon .
That to offryng . bifore here schulde goon .
And if ther did certeyn . so wroth was sche .
That sche was oute . of all charite .
Hir couerchiefs . full fyne were of groūnde .
I durste swere . thei weied ten poūnde .
That vp on a sondaye . were vp on here heed .
Hir / hosyn . were of fyne scarlet reed .
Full streyt tyed . ⁊and schoos full moiste ⁊and newe .
Bolde was hir face . ⁊and faire ⁊and reed of hewe .
Sche was a worthi woman . all hir lyue .
Husbondes atte chirche dore . had sche had fyue .
With oute other companye . in youthe .
But herof nedeth noght . for to speke as nowthe .
And thries had sche ben . at Ierusalem .
Sche had passed . many a straunge streem .
At Rome had sche ben . ⁊and at Boloyne .
In Galice at seynt Iame . ⁊and at Coloyne .
Sche couthe moche . of wrandryng by the weie .
Greed tothed was sche . sothly for to seie .
Vp on an ambler . all esily sche sat .
Wympled well . ⁊and on here heed an hat .
As brood as is a bokeler . or a targe .
A foot mantell . a boute here hipes large .
And on here feet . a paire of spores scharpe
In felawschipe . well couthe laugh ⁊and carpe .
Of remedies of loue . sche knewe ꝑperchaunce .
For sche couthe of that arte . the olde daūnce .
A Good man was there . of religioıı̄un
And was . a pore ꝑpersoūn of a toıı̄un .
But riche he was . of holy thought ⁊and werke .
He was also a lerned man ⁊and a Clerke .
And cristes gospell . trewely wolde preche .
His parischens . deuoutly wolde he teche .
Benygne he was . ⁊and wondyr diligent .
And in adủersite . full pacient .
And such he was preued . ofte sithes .
Full looth were hym . to curse for his tithes .
But rather . wolde he yeuen oute of doute .
Vn to his poor parisschens a boute .
Of his offryng . ⁊and of his substaūnce .
He couthe in litill þyng . haue suffisaūnce .
Wide was his parisch . ⁊and houses fer a sonder .
But he ne left / nought . for reyn ne thonder .
In sekenes . nor in myschef to vysite .
The ferthest in his parische . moche ⁊and lite .
Vp on his feet . ⁊and in his honde a staf
This noble ensample . vn to his scheep he yaf
That first he wrought . ⁊and afterwarde he taughte .
Oute of the gospell . he tho wordis kaughte .
And this figure he . addid therto .
That yf gold ruste . what schall yren do .
For yf a preest be foule . in whom we truste .
No wondyr is . a lewed man to ruste .
And schame it is . yf a preest take kepe .
A schitēm scheꝑperde . ⁊and a clene schepe .
Well ought a preest . ensample for to yeue
By his clennes . how his scheep schulde lyue .
He set nought . his bnfice to hire .
Ne lett his scheep . a combred in the myre .
And ren to londoıı̄un . vn to seynt powles .
To seken hym a chauntry . for sowles .
Or with a bretherhede . to ben with holde .
But dwellid at home . ⁊and kepte well his folde .
So that the wolf . ne made it not myscarie .
He was a schepperde . ⁊and not a mercernarie .
And though he holy were . ⁊and vertuous .
He was not to synfull men . dispitous .
Ne of his speche . daungerous ne digne .
But in his speche . discreet ⁊and benygne .
To drawen folke to heuyn . bi fairnes .
Bi good ensample . this was his besynes .
But yf it were . ony persone obstynate .
What so he were . of lowe or high estate .
Hym wolde he snybbe . scharpely for the nones .
A better preest I trowe . nowher non ys .
He wayted after . no pompe ne reuerens .
Ne makid hym . a spiced consciens .
But cristes lore . ⁊and his apostels twelue .
He taught . but first he vsid it hym selue .
With hym ther was a ploughman . was his brother .
That had lad of donge . full many a /fother .
And a trewe swynker . ⁊and a good was he .
Lyuyng in pees . ⁊and ꝑperfite charite .
God loued he best . with all his herte .
At all tymes . though hym gamed or smerte .
And than his neyghbore . right as hym selue .
He wolde þressche . ⁊and ther to dike ⁊and delue .
For cristes sake . for euery poor wight .
With oute hire . yf it lay in his myght .
His tithes paied he . full faire ⁊and well .
Bothe of his propre swynke . ⁊and his catell .
In a tabbarde . he rode vp on a mere .
Ther / was also . a Reue ⁊and a Millere .
A sompnorur . ⁊and a Perdoner also .
A manciple ⁊and my self . ther / were no moo .
The myllere was a stout carle . for the nones .
Full bigge he was . of brawne ⁊and eke of bones .
That preued well . for ouer all ther he cam .
At wrastlyng / . he wolde haue a weye the ram .
He was schort schuldred . a thicke knarre .
Ther ne was no dore . that he ne wolde heue of barre .
Or breke it at a rennyng . with his heed .
His beerd as any sowe . or fox was reed .
And ther / to brood . as though it were a spade .
Vp on the cop . right of his nose he hade .
A werte . ⁊and ther on stood . a tufte of heres .
Reed as the bristelles . of a sowes eres .
His nose thrilles . blake were ⁊and wide .
A swerde ⁊and a bokeler / . bar he bi his side .
His mouthe was as gret . as a gret furneis .
He was a iangeler . ⁊and a goliardeis .
And that was moost of synne . ⁊and of harlotries .
Well couthe he stele corn . ⁊and tollen thries . /
And yet he had . a thombe of golde parde .
A white cote . ⁊and a blewe hood . wered he .
A bagge pipe . well couthe he blowe ⁊and sowne .
And ther with all . he brought vs oute of towne .
A gentill Manciple . was there of a temple .
Of whiche achatorurs . myght take exemple .
For to ben wise . in byeng of vitaile .
For whether that he paied . or toke bi tayle .
Algate he waited so in his achat .
That he was aye biforn . in good a stat .
Now is not that of god . a full fayre grace .
That suche a lewde mannes wit . schall pace .
The wisdam . of an heep of lerned men .
Of maistris had he . mo than thries ten .
That were of lawe . experte ⁊and curious .
Of whiche ther / were . a doseyn in that hous .
Worthi to ben stiwardis . of rent ⁊and londe .
Of eny lorde . that is in Englonde .
To make hym leue . bi his ꝓpropre good .
In honorur detteles . but if that he were wood .
Or lyue as scarsly . as hym list desire .
And able for to helpen . all a schire .
In eny caas . that myght falle or happe .
An yet this manciple . set he alther cappe .
The Reue was . a sklendir colrik man .
His berde was schaue . as nygh as eủer he can .
His her was bi his eres . full rounde schorn.
His toppe was dokked . like a preest biforn .
Full longe were his leggis . ⁊and full lene .
Like a staf . ther was no calf sene .
Well couthe he kepe a gerner or a bynne .
Ther was noon auditorur . couthe on hym wynne .
Well wist he . be the draught . ⁊and bi the reyne .
The yeldyng of his seed . ⁊and of his greyne
His lordis scheep . his neet . ⁊and his dairye .
His swyn . his hors . his store . ⁊and his pultrye .
Was hooly in this Reuys gouernyng .
And bi his couenaūnt . yaf he his rekenyng .
Syn that his lorde . was twenti yere of age .
Ther couthe no man . brynge hym in arrerage .
Ther nas baile . heerde . nor other hyne /
That he ne knewe . his sleight ⁊and his couyne .
Thei were a drad of hym . as of the deth .
His wonyng was full fayre . vp on an heth .
With grene trees . schadwed was his place .
He couthe bettir . than his lorde purchace .
Full riche he was . astorid pryuely . /
His lorde he couthe . plesen subtily .
To yeue ⁊and lene . hym his owne good .
And haue a thanke . ⁊and yet a coote ⁊and an hood .
In yougthe he had lerned . a good mystere .
He was a well good wright . a Carpyntere .
This Reue . sat vp on a full good stoot .
That was all pomely grey . ⁊and hight scoot .
A longe surcote . of peers blewe he had .
And bi his side . he bar / a rusti blad .
Of northfolk . was this Reue . of whiche I telle .
Beside a towne . men clepe Baldiswelle .
Tukked he was . as is a frere a boute .
Andd euer he rood . the hynderist of oure route .
A Sompnorur was there . wiþ vs in that place .
That had . a firy reed cherubynnes face .
For sawceflem he was . with eyen narowe .
And as hoot he was . ⁊and lecherous as a sparowe .
With skallid browis . blaak ⁊and pelid berde .
Of his visage . children weren afferde .
Ther was no quyk siluer / . litarge . nor brymston .
Brace Ceruce . ne oile of tarter / non .
Ne oynement . that wolde clense ⁊and byte .
That hym myght helpe . of his whelkes white .
Nor of the knobbes . sittyng in his chekes .
Well loued he garlik . oynons ⁊and lekes .
And for to drynke . strong wyne . reed as blood .
Than wolde he speke ⁊and crie as he were wood .
For whan that he . well dronken had the wyn .
Than wolde he speke no worde . but latyn .
A fewe termes had he . two or thre .
That he had lerned . oute of som decre .
No wondyr is . he herde it all the daye .
And eke ye knowen well . how that a Iaye .
Can klepe watte . as well as can the pope .
But who so couthe . in other thynges grope
Than had he . spende . all his philosophie .
Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crye .
He was a gentill harlot . ⁊and a kynde .
A bettir / felawe . schulde men not fynde
He wolde suffre . for a quarte of wyn .
A good felawe . to haue a concubyn .
A twelf monthe . ⁊and excuse hym atte fulle .
Full pryuely eke . a fynche couthe he pulle .
And if he fonde . owher a good felawe .
He wolde techen hym . to haue non awe .
In suche caas . of the Erchedekens curs .
But if a mannes soule . were in his purs . /
For in his purs . he schulde punyschid be .
Purs . is the Erchedekens helle . seide he .
But well I wote . he lied right in dede .
Of cursyng . oughte eche gilty man to drede .
For curs woll sleen . right as assoylyng saueth .
And also war hym . of a signyficauyth .
In daunger had he . at his owne gyse .
The yong gerles . of the diocyse .
And knewe here counseile . ⁊and what was all here rede .
A garland had he . set vp on his hede .
As gret as it were . for an ale stake .
A bokeler had he . made hym of a cake .
With hym ther rode . a gentill pardoner .
Of Rounciuall . his frende ⁊and his comper .
That streight was come . fro the court of Rome .
Full lowe he songe . come hider loue to me .
This sompnorur bar to hym . a stif burdoıı̄un .
Was neủer trompe . of half so gret a soıı̄un .
This ꝑperdoner had heer . as yelwe as wax .
But smothe it henge . as doth a strike of flax .
By ounces henge his lokkes . that he hadde .
And ther with he . his schuldris ouerspradde .
But thynne it laye . bi culpūns oon bi oon
But hood for iolyte . werid he non .
For it was trussed vp . in his walet .
Hym thought he rode . all on the newe iet .
Discheuele saaf his cappe . he rode all bare .
Suche glaryng eyen . had he as an hare .
A vernycle had he . sewed vp on his cappe .
His walet laye bifore hym . in his lappe .
Bretfull of ꝑperdoıı̄un . comen fro Rome all hoot .
A voys he had . as small as a goot .
No berde ne had he . ne neuyr / schulde haue .
As smothe it was . as it were late schaue .
I trowe he were . a geldyng or a mare .
But of his crafte . fro Berwik in to ware .
Ne was ther / such a nother pardoner .
For in his male . he had a pelewber
Whiche that he seide . was our / lady veile .
He seide he had . a gobet of the seile .
That seynt Petir hadde . whan that he wente .
Vp on the see . till Ihu Criste hym hente .
He had a croos of latoıı̄un . full of stones .
And in a glas . he had piggis bones .
But with these relikis . whan that he fonde .
A poủere ꝑpersone . dwellyng vp on londe .
Vp on a day . he gat hym more moneye . /
Than the ꝑperson gat in monthes tweye .
And thus with feyned . flateryng ⁊and iapes .
He made the ꝑperson . ⁊and the peple his apes .
But trewly to tellen . at the laste .
He was in chirche . a noble ecclesiaste .
Well couthe he rede . a lesson or a storye .
But altherbest . he song an offertorye .
For well he wiste . whan that song was songe .
He muste preche . ⁊and well affile his tonge
To wynne siluer . as he well coude .
Ther fore he song so merily ⁊and loude
NOw haue I tolde yow . sothly in a clause
The estate the arraye . the nombre ⁊and eke the cause .
Whi that assembled was . this companye .
In southwerk . at this gentill hostelrye
That highte the Tabbarde . fast bi the belle .
But now is tyme . to you for to telle .
How that we baren vs . that ilke nyght .
Whan we weren . in that hostelrye a light . /
And after woll I tellen . of oure viage
And all the remenaūnt . of oure pilgrymage .
But first I praie yow . of your curtesie .
That ye ne rette it . nought my vilenye .
Though that I pleynly . speke in this matere .
To tellen you here wordis . ⁊and here chere .
Ne though I speke . her wordis proꝑperly .
For this ye knowen . as well as . I .
Who so schall telle . a tale after a man .
He moot reherse . as nygh as euer he can .
Eủerye worde . yf it be in his charge .
All speke he neuyr . so rudely or large .
Or elles he moot telle . his tale vntrewe .
Or feyne thyngis . or fynde wordis newe .
He may not spare . all though he were his brother .
He most as well saye . oo worde as another / .
Crist spak hym self . full brode in holi writ .
And well ye wote . no vilenye is it .
Eke Plato saieth . who so can hym rede .
The wordis . moot be cosyn to the dede .
Also I praie you . foryeue it me .
All haue I nought . sett folke in here degre
Here in this tale . as thei schulde stonde .
My wyt is schort . ye maie well vndirstonde .
GRet chere made oure hoost . vs eủerychon
And to the souper / . set he vs a non .
He ʆserued vs . with vitailes at the beste .
Stronge was the wyn . ⁊and well to drynke vs leste .
A semely man . oure hoost was with alle .
For to ben a marchall . in a lordis halle .
A large man he was . with eyen stepe .
A fairer burgeis . is ther non in chepe .
Bolde of his speche . ⁊and wys ⁊and well taught .
And of manhode . hym lacked right nought .
¶ Eke ther to he was . right a mery man .
And after soper . to pleien he bigan .
And spak of myrthe . amonge other thynges
Whan that we had made . oure rekenynges .
And seide thus . now lordyngis trewly .
Ye ben to me . welcome right hertely .
For be my trouthe . if that I schall not lye .
I saugh nought this yere . so mery a companye .
At ones in this herberwe . as is now .
Fayne wolde I don yow . merthe wiste I how .
And of myrthe . I am right now bithought .
To don yow ese . ⁊and it schall coste nought .
Ye gon to Cauntirbury . god yow spede .
The blisfull martir . quyte you you mede .
And well I wote . as ye gon bi the weie .
Ye schapen you . to talken ⁊and to pleie .
For trewly coūmfort . ne myrthe is non .
To ride bi the weie . dombe as eny ston .
And therfore wole I . maken you disporte .
As I seide erst . ⁊and don yow som comforte .
And if you liketh alle . bi oon assent .
For to stonden . at my Iugement .
And for to wirken . as I schall you seie .
¶ To morow . whan we riden bi the weie .
Now be my fadris soule . that is deed .
But ye be mery . I woll yeue yow myn heed .
Holdeth vp youre hondes . wtith oute more speche .
Oure counseile . was nought longe for to seche .
Vs thought it was not worth . to make it wys .
And graūnted hym . with oute more a vys .
And bad hym saye . his verdite as hym leste .
Lordynges qd he . now herkeneth for the beste .
But take it nought . I praie you in disdeyne .
This is the poynte . to speke schort ⁊and pleyne .
That eche of you . to schort with oure weie .
In this viage . schall telle tales tweie .
To Cauntirbury warde . I mene it so .
And homward . he schall tellen other two .
Of auentures . that whilom haue befalle .
And whiche of yow . that berith hym best of alle .
That is to seyn . that telleth in this caas .
Tales of best sentence · ⁊and of moost solas ·
Schall haue a soper · at oure alther coste ·
Here in this place . sittyng bi this poste ·
Whan that we comen a geyn · fro Caūntirbury ·
And for to make you . the more mery ·
I woll my self · goodly witħ you ryde ·
Right at myn owne coste . ⁊and be your gyde
And who so wole · my iugement witħseie ·
Schaƚƚ paie for aƚƚ · we spende by the weie
And if ye vouchesauf · that it be so ·
Teƚƚ me a noon · witħoute wordis mo ·
And I woll erli · schape me ther fore ·
This thyng was graūntid · ⁊and oure othes swore ·
Witħ full glad herte · ⁊and prayen hym also ·
That he wolde vouchesauf · for to done so ·
And he wolde ben · our gouernour ·
And of oure tales · iuge ⁊and reportour ·
And sette a soper · at a certeyn pris ·
And we woll rewled ben · at his deuys ·
In higħ ⁊and lowe · ⁊and thus bi oon assent ·
We ben accorded · to the iugement ·
And ther vpon · the wyne was fet a non̄ ·
We dronke · ⁊and to reste wente echon̄ ·
With oute eny · lenger tariyng ·
A morow · whan the daie began to spryng ·
Vp ros oure host · ⁊and was oure alther cok ·
And gederid vs · to gedir in a flok ·
And fortħ we riden · a litell more than a pas ·
Vn to the wateryng · of seynt Thomas ·
And than oure host · gan his hors a reste ·
And seide lordynges · herkenytħ if you leste ·
Ye wote youre forward · ⁊and I it recorde ·
Yf euynsong · ⁊and morow song accorde ·
Lat se now · who schall telle the first tale ·
As euyr mote I · drynke wyne or ale ·
Who so be rebell · to my iugement ·
Schaƚƚ paye for all · that bi the weye is spent ·
Now drawetħ cut · or that we ferther twynne ·
Whiche that hatħ the schortist · schaƚƚ first bigynne ·
¶ Sir knyght qduod he · my maister ⁊and my lorde ·
Now drawetħ cut · for that is myn accorde ·
Cometħ ner qduod he · my lady priores ·
And sire Clerk · lat be your schamefastnes ·
Ne studietħ nougħt · leye honde to eueri man ·
A noon to drawe · euery wigħt began ·
And schortly for to tellen · as it was ·
Were it bi auenture · or sort or cas ·
Deess͒um foliu