Ha3 · London, British Library Harley MS 7333

Canterbury Tales Project.

talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Ha3/

[69r]¶ / XX III / IF /

The prologe of the knyghtes tale

¶ O yee so noble and worthi pryncis and princesse
Oþer estatis or degrees · what euer yee beo þᵗat haue
Disposicione or plesaunce · to rede or here þe stories
Of olde tymis Passed to kepe yow frome ydelnesse
And slowþe · mescheuing oþer folies þat might
Be cause of more harome filowyng / vowcheth sauf
I be seche yowe to fynde yowe occupacioıı̄un in þe Reding
Here of þe tales / of Caunterburye wiche beon
Compilid / in þis boke filowing First foundid yma
Genid and made / boþe for disporte and leornyng
Of all þoo that beon gentile of birthe or of cōndicoıı̄uns
By þe laureal and moste famous poete þat euer /
Was to fore him as in þemvelisshing of oure rude
Moders englisshe tonge · clepid Chaucyer a Gavfrede
Of whos soule · god · for his mercy have pitee of his
Grace Amen
¶ Nowe here firste begynnyþe þe prologe of þe
kneytis tale

Whanne þᵗat Aperyll wᵗith his shoures swoote

Þe drowght of marche hathe perced to þᵉ rote

And baþed eủery veyne · / in suche lykoure

Of wiche vertue · engenderid is þe floure

Whanne zepherus eke : / wᵗith his swete brethe

Enspiryd hathe in eủery holt and hethe

The tendre croppys · and þe yownge sonne

Haþe in þe Rame · his halfe cours eronne

And smale foules · maken melodye

Þat slepen al þe night wᵗith open eye

So prickeþe hēm nature / in þayre courages

Þanne longen folkes to gon on pilgrymages

And palmeris eke / to seche straunge strandes

To ferne halowes · kowþe in sundrye landis

And speciallye · frome euery shyres ende

Of England to Cavnterburye þei wende

The hooly blyssfulle martyr · For to seke

Þat hem hathe holpon whanne þᵗat þei were seke

By felle hit in þᵗat saysoun · on a day

In sowthwerke / at þe tabard as I laye

Redy to weonde · vpon my pilgrymage

To Cauntovreburye wᵗith devoute courage

At night was comēn in to þᵗat hostelerye

Wel nyen and twenty on a companye

Of sundry folke · by aventur efalle

In feleship and pylgrymes were þei alle

Þat towarde Caunturburye wolden Ride

Þe chaumberis ⁊and þᵉ stablis werne weyde

And wele were þei eesed · al at þᵉ beste

And shortly whan þe sonne was to reste

So had I spoken wᵗith hem eủerychoon

Þat I was of hir felishippe A noon

And made forwardis eorly for to ryse

To · take oure weye þer as I yow devyse

But naþelesse · wheyle I haue tyme ⁊and space

Or þᵗat I forþer · in þis tale passe

Me thynkithe hit · Acordaunt to Rayson

To tellen yowe / al þe conducioıı̄un

Of yche of hem / so as it semod me

And wiche þei weren and of what degree

And eke in what araye þat þei wer in

Þus at a knyght I wol fyrst be gynne

¶ ¶ A knyght þer was / and þᵗat a worthy man

Þat from þe tyme / þat he firste bigan

To rydin owte he loved chevallerye

Trouth and honowre / Fredam ⁊and crutesie

Full worthy was he / in his lordis werre

And þer to had he riden no man ferrer

As welle in crystendame / as heþennesse

Oueral honnoured for his worthinesse

At Alisaundir he was whanne it was wonne

Ful oftyn tymis he hade þe borde bygonne

Aboven alle þᵉ naciouns in peyne Pruse

In lecto hade he reyssed / and in Ruyce

No cristenman so ofte of his degree

In Garnade at þe seege / eke had he be

Of Algasire · and ryden in belmarye

At lyes was he · / and at Satalie

Whanne þei were wonne / and in gret see

At many a noble armee had he be

At mortell batayles / hade he be fifftene

And Fowghten for oure feythe at Thramassene

Withe in lystis thryse / And aye slayne his foo

Þis ilke worthy kneyght had ben Alsoo

Some tyme wᵗith þe lord of palatee

Ageynst a noþer heþyn in Turkye

And euermore / he had soủereyne pryse

And þaughe þat he was worthy he was wyse

Of al his porte as meke as any mayde

He neuer yit no velanye ne saide

In all his lyve / vn to noman̉er wyght

He was a verray ꝑperfite trewe kneyght

And For to tellen yowe of his Arraye

Hees hors were good / but he was not gay

[69v]¶ Þe prologe

Of Fustian he werid a Iupoune

Al bysmoteryd wᵗith his haburgeoune

For he was late ecomēn frome his viage

And went þus for to done his pilgrimage

Wᵗith him ther was his son a younge squier͗e

A swyer

A lovyer A lusty bachelere

Withe lockis croulle · as þey were leyde in presse

Wel twenty yere of Age / he was I gesse

Of his stature / he was of evene lengthe

And wonderly deliủere / And gret of strenght

For he had ben som tyme in Cheuauchee

In flaundres Arthoys ⁊and in pycardye

And borne him welle / as of so litille space

In hope to stonde in his ladies grace

Enbrowded was he as it were a mede

Al ful of freysche flowris white ⁊and Rede

Synging he was or flytyng al þᵉ day

He was als Fresshe as is þᵉ monthe of may

Short was his goune wᵗith slevis long ⁊and wyde

Wele koude he sitte on horse / And fayre ryde

He coude songes make / And wel endite

Iouste eke and Daunce wel pourtray And evryte

So hote he lovid þat by þe nightertale

He slepte namore / þane doþe A nightyngale

Courteyse he was lowly ⁊and servisable

And kerff by fore his Fader at þe table

¶ A yoman had he And sarvauntꝭes namoo

¶ þe yoman

As for that tyme / hym list to Riden soo

Þe wiche was cladde in coote ⁊and hode ⁊and grene

A sheff of pecok arowes withe hedis kene

Vndir his belt he bare full thrifftili

Wel covde he dresse / his takle yomanly

Hees Arowes drowped / nowght wᵗith federis lowe

And in his hande he bare Amytye bowe

A notte hede hadde he wᵗith a browne visage

Of wodocraff · koude he wele Al þusage

Vpon his arme / he bare A gay bracere

And by his syde / A swerd wᵗith a brode bokeler͗e

And on þat oþer syde / a Fyne Daggere

Syluer herneysid / and sharp as poynt on̄ spere

A cristofer on his brest of silver shene

An horne he bare þe bauderike was of grene

Sum Forster was he / soþely as I gesse

Þer was Also / a nonne A prioresse

a prioresse

Þat of hir smyling / was ful symple ⁊and coye

Her grettest oþe / was but by saynt loye

And she was clepid / madame Eglentyne

Ful wel she sange þe servyse devine

Entunid in her nose / ful semly

And frēnshe she spake / Right fayre and fetlye

Affter þe scole of Stratford of þe bowe

For frēnshe of paryse / was to hir on knowe

At þe mete welle etawght / was she wᵗith alle

She lete no morsell / from hir lippis falle

Ne wette her fyngeris / in her sause depe

Wele covde sheo carye / a morsel ⁊and welle kepe

Þat noo drope ne fel / vpon her bryste

In courtesye / was sette fully her lyste

Hir ouerlippe / wipid sheo so clene

Þat in hir cuppe þer was no ferþing sene

Of grece þat whan sheo had dronken hir draught

Ful semely Aftir hir mete sheo Raught

And sekirly she was of gret desporte

Ryght plesaunt and amyable of porte

And peynid her to countrefete þe chere

Of courte to beon / estatly of manere

And to be holden dingne of Reuerence

But for to spekyn / of hir consience

Sheo was so charitable · And pytowse

Þat sheo wold wepe yf sheo saughe Amouse

Kaught in a trappe · / yf hit were dede or bledde

Of smale houndis had she þat sheo fedde

Withe Rostyd flesshe / or mylke or wastillebred

Leueþe me sheo wepte / Ful sore whan on was dede

Or yf men smote hit / wᵗith A yerde smerte

And al was conciens · and tendre harte

Ful semly hir wimpille epinchid was

Hir nose was streyght / hir eyeghen grey as glas

Her mowthe mesurable / ful soffte ⁊and Rede

But sekurly sheo had A fayre forehede

Hit was Almoste A spane brode I trowe

Ne dowte yowe nought sheo was not vndirgrowe

Ryght Fetyse was hir cloke / as I was ware

Of smale corall Abovte hir arme she bare

A peyr͗e of bedis gaudeed All wᵗith grene

On weche þer hang / A broche of gold ful shene

Wher on was graven firste A crovnid A

And Aftir Amor vincit omnia

A noþer nonne with hir / þoo had she

[70r]¶ Þe prologe¶ / XX III / F /

That was her chapellayne / and prestes three

A monke þer was a Feyre for þe mastrye

A monke

An outryder / þat lovid venerie

A manly man / to ben an Abbot Able

Full many a deynte hors had he in stable

And whan he Rode he mythe his bridil here

Gyngeling / in a whistelyng wynde als clere

And eke als lowde as doþe þe Chapelle belle

Þer as this lord was keper of þe Celle

Þe rule of saint Maure or of Seint Benette

By cause þat it was olde and sumdele streyte

Þis ilke monke / leet old thyngꝭes passe

And held Aftir þe · nuwe worlde þe space

He gave not of þe texst a pulled henne

Þat seyþe þat hunteris beon nought hooly menne

Ne that a monke · whan he is Recchelesse

Is likenid til a fishe al watelesse

Þat is to seyne · a monke owte of þᵉ clostre

But thilke texste helde he not worthe an oystre

And I Sayde his opynioune / was good

What shulde he studye and make hym selven woode

Vpon A booke Alwey in cloystre poure

Or swynke wᵗith his hondis or laboure

As austyn bid how shalle þe world be servid

Lete Austyn have / his swinke to hym reservid

Þer for he was a prikasour a right

¶noᵃta pShirle

Grehoundis he hade / als swyffte as Fovle of flyte

Of priking and of huntyng for þᵉ hare

Was al his lyfe / For noo coste wold he spare

I seghe his sleves / pourfiled at þᵉ honde

Withe grys and þᵗat þᵉ fynest in a londe

And for to fasten his hode vndir his chynne

He had of golde ewroute A coryovse pynne

A love knotte in þe gret ende graven was

His hede was ballid þᵗat shone as ony glasse

And eke his face / as he had ben anoynte

He was a lorde fulle fatte / and in good poynte

Hees yen stepe / and Roullyng in his hede

Þat steymd as þe fourneys made of lede

Hees boutis souple / his horse in grete estate

Nowe certaynly · he was A feyr prelate

He nas not pale as a forpyned gooste

A fatte swanne loved he best of any Roste

His palfreye was as browne as is burye

A Frere þer was a wantone ⁊and a murye

A Limytoure Right a ful solempne man

In Al þe orderis foure is non þᵗat can

So mochil of dalyaunce and fayr langage

For he hade made ful many mariage

Of yovnge wymmen at his oune coste

Vn to his ordre / he was A noble poste

Ful welbelouid and famulier was he

Wᵗith Frankeleynis ouir al in his cuntree

And wᵗith þe worthy wymmen of þᵉ toune

For he hadde power of Conffescione

And saide hym selfe welmore þan a curat

For of his ordre / he was lysenciate

Fulle swetly hard he / confessioune

And plesaunt was his Absolucioune

He was an Esy man to geve penaunce

Þer as he wyste / to have a good pytaunce

For on to povre ordre / for to gyve

Is gret signe þat a man is wele eshreyve

For yf he gaf / he durst welle make a vaunte

He wyste ther by / a man was Repentaunte

For many Aman is so herde of herte

He may not wepe / al þough hym sore smerte

Þer for in stede of wepyng / And prayers

Men mot gyve silver on to þᵉ pore freres

His typpet was ay farsid ful of knyvis

And of pynnis to gyve þe fayre wyves

And certainly he had a mery noote

Welle coude he syngen and pleyne on a Rote

Of yeddinges he bare vtterly þe pryse

His nekke als white as is þᵉ flore de lyse

a lylye

Þer to he was als stronge as Chaumpyoune

He knowe þe tavernis welle in every tovne

And everiche hostellier / and Tapistier

Bette þane a lasier / or a begstier

For vn to suche a worthy man as he

Acordid nought / as by his faculte

To have wᵗith such seke laisers acqveyntaunce

It is not honeste it may no thyng Avaunce

As For to dele / wᵗith any suche pouraille

But all wᵗith Riche / and sellers of victayle

And ouer al þer as proufyte shoulde Aryse

[70v]

Courtese he was And lowly of service

Þer nas noman no wher so vertuous

He was þᵉ best begger / in his house

For þauhe A wedowe nad but oon shoo

So plesaunt was his Inprincipio

Þat he wold have / A ferthyng or he went

His purchas was wele bett̉er þan was his rent

And Rage he kouþe Right as doithe A whelpe

In love dayes þer kouþe he mochel helpe

For þer he Nas not lyche / A Cloystorier

Wᵗith þe thredbare cope / as a poure scolier

But he was liche Amaistre / or A pope

Of dowble worstede / was his semy cope

Þᵗat Rounded as A belle / owte of þe presse

Somwhat he lypsid / for his wantounesse

To make his Englisshe swete / vpon his tong

And in his harpyng whan þᵗat he had songe

Hees eyen twenkelid in his hede aright

As don þeos sterres / in þe Frosty nyght

Þis worthy lemetoure / was cleped hewberd

¶ A marchaunde was þer / with a Fourched berd

¶ A marchaunde

In motley and heyghe on hors he satte

Vpon his hede / A Flaundrisshe bever hatte

Hees botys claspid / Fayre and fetysely

And al his Raysonis he speke ful solemply

Shewyng Al weyes þe encresse of his wynnyng

He wold þe see were kepte for Any thyng

Be twyxste · Midilborow ⁊and orwell

Wele coude he by eschaunge sheldis selle

Þis worthy man Ful welle his witte bysette

Ther wist noo wyght þᵗat he was in dette

So estately was he of governaunce

Wᵗith his Bargaynes / and wᵗith his chevissaunce

For soþe he was A worthye man wᵗith al

But soþe to sayn / I not howe men him calle

¶ A Clerke þer was of Oxenford Also

¶ A clerke

Þat vn to logyke / had he long goo

Als lene was his hors as is a Rake

And he nas nowte fatte I vndirtake

But loked holow / And þer to sobourly

Ful thredbare was is ouerest courtpy

For he nade goton hym / no benefyse

Ne was so worldly to have an office

For him was lever haue / at his beddis hede

Twenty bookes clade / in blake or Rede

Of Aristotle and his phelosophie

Þanne Robes Riche / or Fydille or Savtrie

But al by þᵗat he was Aphilesopher

Yette had he but A litill gold in coffre

For Al þat he myght / of his frendis hent

Vppon his bookꝭes / and lernyng he hit spent

And besyly gane for þe soules pray

Of hem þat fonde him / wherwithe to scoley

Of studye toke he / moost cure an hede

Nought oon word spake he more þan was nede

And þat was sayd / in fourme ⁊and Reuerence

And short and quike / and ful of hye sentence

Sownynge in moral vertu / was his speche

And gladlye wold he lerne / and gladly teche

A Sargeaunt of þe lawe / ful ware ⁊and wyse

Þat often tymes had ben at parvys

Þat was Also fulle riche off excellens

Discret he was / and of gret Reuerence

Him semid suche / heos wordis were so wyse

Iustice Ful oftyn he was / in Assyse

By patente / and by pleyne coumyssion

For his syens and for his hye renoune

Of Fees and roobis had he many oon

So gret a purchassoure / nas noo whernoon

Al was phesymple to him in effecte

His purchasing might not ben infecte bet

No wher so busy a man as he þer nas

And yette hym semyd besyer þan he was

In termes had he / domes And Cases alle

Þat frome þe tyme of kyng William were falle

Þer to he coude Endite / and make a thyng

Þer kowþe no wight pynche as his wreytyng

And euery statute kouþe he playn be Roote

He Rood homly in a medlee Coote

Girt wᵗith a seynte of silke with barres smale

Of his arraye / telle I noo lenger tale

A Frankeleyne was þer in his compaignye

White was his berd as is þe dayessye

Of his compleccion he is sangwyne

Wel loved he by þe morowyn a soppe in weyne

To lyven in delite · euer was his wonne

[71r]¶ / XX III / FI /

For he was Epicurus owne sonn

i deus deliciciȝ

Wiche helde opyneoun þat playn delite

Was werray felicitee / parfyte

An hovseholder / and þᵗat a gret was he

Saynt Iulian · he was in his cuntrey

¶i a gode hberger

His bred his Ale was Alweys Aftir oon

A better envyned man · was noo where noon

Wᵗithoute bakemete was nevermore his house

Of fushe of Flesshe and þᵗat so plentivouse

Hit snede in his house mete ⁊and drynke

Of Alle Deyntees · þat man koude ought bethynke

Afftir þe sundery saysonis of þe yeere

So chaunged he his mete and his soupere

Full many A fatte parteriche · had he in muwe

And many A breme / pyke And luce In stue

Woo was his Cooke but yf his sauce ay were

Poynyant and sharpe / and Redy al his gere

His table dormant in his halle Alweye

Stode Redye couerd / al þe long daye

At sessiouns þer was he lord ⁊and syre

Wel offte syþes he was knyght of þe shyre

And Anlase and a Gipsere al of silke

Heng at his girdelle whyte as any mylke

A Shirreff hade he ben And a countour

Was nowher suche a worþy vavassoure

An haburdassher

An haburdassher And A Carpentier

A webbe A dyer and a Tappissier

Wiche were cladde al in on liueree

Of A solempne and grete fraternitee

Ful fresshe and newe / al her gere epiked was

Hir knyves nerenot Tappid withe brasse

But al wᵗith siluer wrought Ful clene And wele

Hir girdelis and hir powches eủerye dele

Wele semed eche of hem / a feyr Burgeys

To sitten in a yeldehalle / on hye deyse

Euerych for þe wisdom þᵗat he can

Was shaply for ben An Alderman

For cateyle had they enoughe and Rent

And eke hir wyves wolde hit welle Assent

Ellys certaynly were they foule to blame

It is ful faire to be clepid madame

And at þe vigylles gone all oþer be fore

To have hir mantell ryallyche ebore

A cooke they hadde wᵗith hem for þe noones

To boyle the chekonis wᵗith þe marybonis

And poudre marchaunt · tarte wᵗith galingale

Welle koude he knowe A drawte of london ale

He kouþe Roste ⁊and boyle and seþe ⁊and freye

Maken mortreaux · and wel bake A pye

But harme hit was gret as thought me

Þat on his shyn / a mormal had he

For blāmmangre þat made he with þᵉ best

A Shipman was þeir wonneng far by west

He Rode vppon a Rouncay / as he kouþe

For ought I wot he was of Dertemouþe

In a goune of falding vn to þe knee

A Dagger honging in a lace hade he

Aboute his necke / vnder his arome downe

Þe hote somer / hade made his huwe Albrovne

And certainly / he was a goode felawe

Ful many A dravght of wyne had he drawe

From Bourdeux wardes whiles þe Chapman sleepe

Of nyce consience · toke he litill kepe

Iff þat he faught and had þe hyer hande

By water he sent hem home / to euery lande

But of his crafte to Reken welle hes tydis

Hes streems and hees daungers him besidis

His herborowe his mony his lodemanage

Þer nas non suche frome hull vn to Cartage

Herdye he was / and wyse to vndir take

Wᵗith many A tempest had his berde be shake

He knew well all þe havens as thei were

Forme Goutland to þe Cape de fynestre

And euery Cricke · in Brettaigne and in spaigne

His Barge eclepid was þe maudeleyne

Wᵗith vs was eke A Doctoure of fysike

In All þis worlde þer was noon him like

To speke of Phisik · and of surgerye

For he was grovndid in Astronomye

He kepte his paciens A ful grete dele

In þe houres by magyk naturelle

Ful welle kouþe he fortune þascendent

Of heos ymages for his paciens

He knewe þe cause of euerye maladye

Were hit of hete of colde moyste or drye

Where of engenderid and off what humer

He was A werray ꝑparfite practisoure

Þe cavse he knewe ⁊and of his harome þᵉ Roote

[71v]

A noon he gafe þe seke man his boote

Ful Redy had he heos Appoticaryes

To send him draggees and þeyre letwaryes

For yche of hem made oþer for to wynne

Her frenship nas not nuwe for to be gynne

Wele knewe he þe olde Escalapius

And discorides eke and him Ruphus

Wyse ypocras halye ⁊and Galyene

Serapyon Raȝie and Auiyȝene

Auerios Damascien and Constantyne

Bernerd and Gatisdene and Gylbertyne

Of his dyete / mesurable was he

For he vsed no suꝑperfluite

But of gret nereshyng / And degestible

His studye was but litell on þe bible

In Sangwyne and in pers he cladde was al

Lyned wᵗith taffata and withe sendall

And yete he was but esy of dispence

He kepte þat he wanne / in þe pestelence

For gold in phisike / is a cordialle

Þer fore he lovid golde in specialle

nᵃotaꝑper Shirle

A goode wyff þer was of besydes bathe

¶ the wyff off bath

A good wyf of Bathe

But sheoo was sumdele defe ⁊and þᵗat was skaþe

Of clothe makyng sheo hade suche þanne an haunte

Sheo passithe hem / of ypre and of Gaunte

In Al þe parishe wyf þanne was þer noone

That to the offering / to fore her shulde goiþe

And yf þer did certaine þanne wrothe was shee

Þat she hadde lost / al hir hole charitee

Hir kouerchiefis wel fyne were of grounde

I dourst wel swere · þey wer worth x pounde

That on A sonday were vppon her hede

Hir hosyn were of Fyne skarlette Rede

Ful streyte eteyed And shoos ful moyste ⁊and newe

Bolde was hir face ⁊and fayre ⁊and Rede of huwe

Sheo was a worthye woman al hir live

Husbandes at þe chirche dore had shoo had fyve

Withe owtēn oþer cumpanye / in yowþe

But ther of nedithe nought to speke as nowe

And thryes hade sheo beon / at Ierusalem

Sheo had passid many A fulle straunge streme

At Rome sheo had ben and at grate Bouleyne

In galys at saynt Iame · and at couloyne

Sheo kouþe moche on wanderyng by þᵉ weye

Gate toþed was sheo sooþelye to saye

Vppon an Aumbeller Esely she satte

Ewympuled wele / and on her hede An hatte

Als brode as is A bokeler or a targe

A foote mantell Abovte her hippis large

And on her fete / A peyre of sporis sharpe

In pheleshipe wel kouþe sheo / laughe ⁊and carpe

Of Remedyes of love / sheo knewe par chaunce

For sheo kouþe / of þᵗat arte þolde daunce

A good man was þer / of Religioune

And was A poure ꝑparsoune of A tovne

But Riche he was / of holy thought ⁊and werke

He was Also A lernid man A Clerk

Þat cristꝭes gospelle · trvly wolde Aye preche

His parrisshens devoutly wold he teche

Bennigne he was / and wondir deligent

And in Adversyte · ful pacyent

And suche he was preeved ofte sithis

Ful loþe were hym to curssen for his tyþes

But raþer wolde he yeven · owte of dowte

Vn to his poure parisshenis him Aboute

Of heos offeryngꝭes · And of his substaunce

He kouþe in litil thyng / have suffisaunce

Wide was his parishe howses fer A sondre

But he ne leffte neyþer for Reyne ne thundre

In sekenesse ne in mischef to vesite

Þe firþeste in his parische muche ⁊and lyte

Vpon his Fete / And In his hande a staffe

Þis noble Ensample / vn to heos sheope he gaffe

Þat firste he wrought / And Afftirwardis he taught

Ovte of þe gospell he þoo wordis kaught

And this figure / he added eke þer too

Þat yf golde þouste / what shall þanne yren doo

For yf A prest beo foule / on whom we truste

No wondir is þaughe levde men þanne Ruste

Gret shame it is yf A preeste take kepe

A shitten shepard And A clene shepe

Wel aught A prest / ensaumple for to gyve

By his clennes howe þᵗat his sheope shulde lyve

He should nought sette / his benyfise to hire

And lete his sheope / be comberid in þe myre

And Rynne to london · vn to saynt poules

To sechin him a chaunterye for soulis

[72r]¶ / XX III / FII /

Or wᵗith a broþerhed · to ben wᵗith holde

But dwelle at home / and kepe welle his folde

So þat þe wolfe make hit not miscarye

He was a sheparde / and not a mercenarye

And þaughe he holy were / and vertuous

He nas not to synfull folke despitouse

Ne of his speche daungerovse ne digne

But in his techyng descrete and benigne

To drawen folke · to hevene by fayrnesse

In good Ensample · was his bessinesse

But it were ony parsone · obstinate

What so he were of heght or lowe estate

Him wolde he snibbe sharply for þᵉ noons

A bett̉er prest I trowe þat nowher non is

He wayted affter no pompe ne Reuerence

Ne maked him A spiced conciens

But crystꝭes love and his Apostelis twelve

He taught but first he felowed it him selve

Wᵗith him þer was a ploughman his owne broþ̉er

A plouman

Þᵗat hade eladde of dongge ful many A foþer

A ful gret swynker And a trewe was he

Liuing in pes ay ⁊and in charitee

God louid he beste wᵗith al his hole herte

At Al tymis þaughe he gamed or smerte

And þanne his neghbore · as he dide him selve

He wolde thresshe · And þer to dyke ⁊and delve

For · Crystꝭes sake for every poure wight

Wᵗith outen hire yf hit lay in his myght

Heos tiþes payde · he alle fayre ⁊and welle

Boþe of his propre swynke / and his kataele

In A taberd he Rode vp on a mere

Þer was Also A Ryve ⁊and A Mylner

¶A milner

A Sompner And A pardoner Also

A Maunciple · and my selff þ̉er were no moo

The mylner was a stoute carlle for þᵉ noones

Right bigge he was of braune ⁊and eke of bones

Þat proeued welle · for oueral wher he came

At wrastelyng he wold have þᵉ Ram

He was short sholderid a thikke knarre

Þer nas noon dore he wold heve ought of harre

Or breke it at a Rynnygne wᵗith his hede

His berd as any sweyne · or Fox was rede

And þer to brode as þaughe it were Aspade

Vppon þe coppe · Right of his nose he hade

A wrette and þer on stonde A tuffte of heris

Rede as þᵉ Brystelis of A sowes eris

Heos nostrelles blake were ⁊and weyde

A swerd ⁊and A bokeler bare he be his side

His mowthe Als gret as was an huge furneyse

He was A Iangeler / and a golierdeys

And þat was most of synne · and harlotryes

He kouþe stele corne · and tolle it thryes

And yette he hadde A thumbe of golde ꝑpardee

A weyte coote ⁊and A blewe hode werid hee

A Baggpype welle kouþe he blowe ⁊and sowne

And þer wᵗithal he browte vs ovte of toune

A gentil Maunsiple was þer of þe temple

Of whome Achatours mighten take ensaumple

For to be wyse in bying of vitayle

For whethir þᵗat he paid or toke by tayle

Algate he A waytid soo in his Achatee

Þat he was by forne ⁊and in gode state

Now is not þat of god / A ful hy grace

Þᵗat suche A lewde manis witte shalle passe

Þe wysdome of an hepe of lernid men

Of mastirs had he moo þane thryes ten

That wer͗e of lawe · expert and curyous

Of wiche þer were A douszein in þat hovse

Worthye to ben stewardis of Rent ⁊and lande

Of any lordꝭes þat is in Englond

To make him lyve by his ꝓpropre good

In honoure dettelesse but yf he were woode

Or lyve als scarslye · as him list desire

And Able for to helpen All Ashire

In any case þᵗat might falle or happe

And yette þis maunsiple sette þeyre aller cappe

Þe Reve was A sklendir colorike man

Hes berde was shave als neyghe as eủer he can

Hes here was by hes erys ful Rounde shorne

His toppe was tonsured lyche A preost byfore

Full long were heos leggꝭes · and fulle lene

Elyche A staffe þer nas no calffe essene

Welle kouþe he kepe A garnar or a bynne

Þer nas non auditoure · kouþe on him wynne

Wele wist he by þe drought · and by þe Reyne

Þe yeldyng of his sedee · and of his greyne

Hes lordis shepe his nete his dayerye

[72v]

¶ His sweyne his store his horsse ⁊and his pultrye

Was hooly in this Reuis governinge

And by covenaunt gave his Rekenyng

Sith that his lord was twenty yere of age

Þer kouþe no man bring him in Arerage

Þer nas baylye ne herde ne oþir hyne

Þat he ne knewe · his sleyght and his couvyne

Þei were adradde of him as of þᵉ dethe

Hes wonnyng was ful fayr vppon an hethe

Wᵗith grene trees be shadowid was his place

He kouþe welbetter þanne his lorde purchase

Ful Riche he was / Astorid prevelye

His lorde wele kouþe he plesyn suttelye

To geve and lene him of his oune goode

A have A thanke And yitte A cote an hode

In youþe he hadde lerned / a goode mistere

He was A wel good wreyght · a Carpenter

Þis Reve satte vpon A Right goode stotte

A long sircote of perse he hadde vppon

And by his side · he bare A Rusty blade

Of norfolke was þis Reve of wiche I telle

Be sides a towne þᵗat hitaght baldeswell

Tukked he was as is A Frere A boute

And ever he Roode þe hynmast of oure Route

A sompnonre

A sompnoure was þer wᵗith vs in place

Þat hade a fuyry red Cherubyns face

For saucefleme he was / wᵗith yene narowe

Als lecherous he was as is A sparowe

Wᵗith scalled browes blake ⁊and pillid berde

Of his visage chylderne were A ferde

Þer nas qviksiluer · lytarge or brȳmston

Boras or sour ne oyle of tartre noone

Ne oynement þat wold clens and byte

Ne him might helpen of his wheolkes whyte

Nor of þe knobbis sittyng on his cheokes

Wel loved he garlec onyonis and leekys

And for to drynke strong weyne rede as bloode

Þanne wolde he speke and crye as he were woode

And whanne þat he weldronkon had þe wyne

Þanne wolde he speke · no worde but latyne

A fewe termes had he þanne two or three

That he had leorned owte of some decree

No wondir is he harde hit al the daye

And eke yee konwe hit wele howe þᵗat a Iaye

Can clepe watte as wele as can þe pope

But who so kouþe in oþer thinge him grope

Þanne hadde he spent alle his philosophie

Ay qvestio quid Iuris wolde he crye

He was A gentil / harlote and A kuynde

A better felowe / shalle man nowher fynd

He wolde wele souffre · for A quarte of wyne

A good felowe to have his concubyne

A twelvemonþe and excuse him at the fulle

Ful prevelye eke A Fynche kouþe he pulle

And yf he fonde o wher A good felowe

He wold techin him to have non Auve

In suche cas of þerchedeakens course

But yf manis soule were in his purse

For in his poursse he shulde punysshed bee

Pourse is þe Erchedeakonis hele saide he

But wel I wot he hed right indede

Of courssing aught ych giltiman him drede

For corse wol sleo · right as soyling saueþe

And Also wa[…] him · of A significauit

In daungere had he · right at his owne guyse

Þe yong gyrlles of al þat diosice

And knew her counsale / and what was hir Rede

A garland had he sette vppon his hede

Als grete as it were for an Ale stake

A bokeler had he made hym of A cake

Wᵗith him þer rode · A gentil pardoner

¶A pardonner

Of Rouncivale · his freonde ⁊and his compere

Þat streyte was coume from þe covrte of Rome

Ful lowde he songe come hedir love tome

Þis Sompnour bore to hym a stiffe bourdoun

Was never trompe of vnde ne grete of sown

Þis pardoner hadde here as yelowe as waxsse

But smooþe hit hang / as doþe astrike of flaxsse

By ownces hong þe lookes þᵗat he hadde

And þer wᵗith al hees sholders ouer spradde

But thynne they laye by culponis oon ⁊and oon

And hood for Iolyvetee · ne werid he noon

For hit was trussid vp in his wallette

hym thowght

[73r]¶ / LFFIII /

Him thought he Rode · Al of þᵉ nuwe Iette

Suche glaring eyen · had he as and hare

A vernicle hade he sewed wppon his cappe

And his walet beforne · him in his lappe

Brettfulle of pardoune · comēn frome Rome al hoote

A voyce had he als smal / as any goote

No berd had he · ne neuermore shuld have

Als smoþe it was as it were late shave

I trowe he were A geldyng or a mare

But of his craffte frome Berwike in to ware

Ne was þer suche Anoþ̉er pardoner

For in his wallet he hade Apilowbere

Wich þat he saide · was oure ladies veyle

He saide he hade A gobette · of þe sayle

Þat saint petre hade · whanne þᵗat he went

Vpon þe see · til Ihesus crist him hent

He hade A Croysser of laton ful of stonis

And In a glasse he hadde pigges bonis

But with þoos relikes whanne þᵗat he fonde

A poure persone dwellyng vpon londe

Vppon A day · he gate hym more moneye

Þanne þᵗat þᵉ persone gate · in monthes tweye

And þus wᵗith feyned flateryng and Iapes

He made þe pesone · and þe people heos Apes

But trewly to tellyn at þe laste

He was in cherche A nobele ecclesiate

Wel kouþe he Rede A lesson or A storye

But Alderbest he sang an offratorye

For wel he wist whanne þat song was sunge

He must preche · And wel a file his tonge

To wynne siluer · as þat he wel coude

Þer fore he song so merely and loude

Now have I tolde yowe · sooþely in A clause

Þe state þarraye þe noumbre ⁊and þe cause

Why þᵗat assembled was / þis compaignye

In sothewerke at þis Ientile hostelarye

Þᵗat heght þe taberd fast by þe belle

But now is tyme vn to to yowe to telle

Howe þᵗat wee beeryn vs þᵗat ilke night

Whanne we were in þᵗat hostelarye alight

And afftir wolle I telle yow of oure viage

Wᵗith alle þe Reminavnte · of oure pilgrimage

But first I pray yow of yovre courtesye

Þᵗat ye dyrette it nought · my vilanye

Þoughe þᵗat I speke pleynly in this mater

To tellen yowe þeyre wordes and þeyre chere

Ne þaughe I speke · þeyre wordes propurlye

For þis ye knowen alle / als welle as I

Who so shalle telle atale / Aftir A man

He mote Reherse als nyhe as eủer he can

Eueryche A word yf hit be in his charge

Al speke he neuer / so Rudly ⁊and large

Or ell he mut telle his tale on trewe

Or feyne thynges or fynden wordes newe

He may not spare · al þouhe he were his broþ̉er

He most Als wele · seye · on worde as a noþ̉er

Criste spake him selfe · ful brode in holy wrytte

And welle yee witte · no velany is it

Eke Plato seyþe who so can him Rede

Þe wordis mote nede be cousin to þᵉ dede

Also I pray yowe / þᵗat ye for give hit me

Al have I not / sette folke in hir degree

Here in þis talis / as þat they shulde stande

My witte is short ye may wele vndirstonde

Grete chere made oure hoste vs euerych oon

And to þe souper / sette he vs Anoon

He servid vs wᵗith vitaillꝭes of þe beste

Strong was þe wyne and wele to drinke vs liste

A Semly man · oure host was wᵗithal

Ye for to ben A marchal of An halle

A large man he was wᵗith yen stepe

A Feyrer bourgeys / is þer non in chepe

Bold of his speche · and wyse ⁊and wel etaught

And of manhode him lacked […] right naught

Eke þer to right a mury man

And Affter soper pleyen þus he gan

And spake of mirthe · a monges oþ̉er thinges

Whanne þᵗat he had made oure Rekeninges

And saide þus nowe lordingis trewely

Ye be to me welcom · right hertlye

For by my trowthe · yf þat I Shal not lye

I sawe not this yere so mury A compeny

At oons in þis harborowe / as is nowe

Fayn wold I do yowe myrth and I wiste howe

And wol yee here what I am nowe be thowghet

To don yowe eese and hit shall cost yow noute

Ye gon to Cavntirbury god yow spede

Þe blissfull martir qvite yow yowre mede

And wel I wote as ye gon by the weye

Yᵉ shapen yow to talen ⁊and to pleye

For trewly coumfort / ne no mirthe is noon

[73v]

To Riden by the wey · als Doumbe as a stone

And ther fore wolle I Fynde · yow Disport

As I Saed erste and don yow some comforte

For yf yow likeþe all by oon Assent

For to stonde at my Iugement

And for to wirchen as I Shalle yow saye

To morow whan ye Riden by þᵉ weye

Nowe by my fader sowle þᵗat is ded

But yee be mury I wol gyve yow my hede

Holdiþe vp youre handis · wᵗith oute more speche

Oure counsaile was not long for to seche

Vs thought it was not worthe · to make it wys

And grauntid him wᵗith outen more Avise

And prayde him saye his verdight as him liste

Lordingis quod he now herkenith for þᵉ beste

But take hit not I pray yow in þis deyne

þe ordenaunce of hooste

Þis is þe poynt to speke short ⁊and pleyn

Þat eche of yowe to shorten oþeos weye

In this wiage shalle telle · tales tweye

To Cauntourebyri I mene it right soo

And homewardis . he shal telle A noþ̉er too

Of Aventouris whylom þat haue be falle

And wiche of yowe þᵗat berithe him beste of Alle

Þat is to seyne / þat tellithe in this caas

Tales of best sentens · And moste solace

Shalle have A souꝑper / at oure Alderscoste

Here in this place sittyng by þis poste

Whanne þᵗat we comen A gayne from Caunt̉erbyri

And for make yow þe more mury

I wolle my selfe · wᵗith yow gladlye Ride

Right at myn owne coste · and beo yoᵘur guyde

And whoo soo wille · my Iugement wᵗith seye

Shalle paye al þᵗat we spende by þe weye

And yf yee vowchensauffe þᵗat it be soo

Telle me anoon / wᵗith owten wordis moo

And I wolle erly shapen me þer fore

Þis thyng was graunted and oure oþes swore

Wᵗith Ful good hert and preyden him Alsoo

Þᵗat he wold wouchesaff so […] to doo

And þat he wolde be þus oure governoure

And of owre tales · Iuge ⁊and Reportoure

And sette A sopper at A serten pris

For we weel ben at his devisee

In heght and lowe · and þus by oon Assent

We ben A cordid to þis Iugement

And þer vpon þe weyne was fette A noon

We dronke ⁊and to Reste went everiche oon

Withe outen ony lenger tareyng

A morowe · whan þe day be gan to spryng

Vp Roos oure hooste · and was oure Alder cokke

And gaderid vs to gedir · in A Flocke

And forthe we Redyn A feyre esye pase

Vn to þe watering plase of seynt Thomᵃas

And þer ovre hooste · gan his hors A reste

And saide lordyngis · herkenithe yf ye liste

Yee wote yowr forwarde / if I it yowe recorde

Yf evyn song ⁊and morowe song acorde

Lete seo nowe who shall telle þe firste tale

Als euer mot I drynke weyne or Ale

Who soo beo rekkelle to my Iugement

Shal pay for Al þᵗat by þe wey is spent

Now draueþᵉ cutte · or þᵗat we furþer twynne

Loke wiche þat haþe þe shortest shall byginne

¶ Sir knight quod he · my maister ⁊and my lorde

Now drawethe cutte for þat is myn Acorde

Comiþe […] nere quod he my lady prioresse

And sir Clerke lat be yowre shamefastenesse

Ne studyeþe lay hond to euerye man

Anoon til drawe euery wight bygan

And shortly for to tellen as hit was

Were it by Aventure · or soorte or cas

Þe sooþe is þis þe cutte fel to þᵉ knyght

Of wiche fulle blithe And glad was eủery wight

And tel he mot his tale · as is raysoun

By forwardes pleyne / And Composicioun

As ye have harde what nedeþe wordes moo

And whan þis good man saughe / þᵗat it was soo

As he þᵗat was wys and obedient

To kepe his forward · by his free Assent

And sayde syþen I shalle begynne þe game

What welcom be þe cutte on goddis name

Now late vs Ride · and herkenithe what I saye

And wᵗith þat worde we Riden forthe oure weye

Þus he bygan · wᵗith Right A goodly chere

His tale A noon And sayde / as ye may here

Loo here eondiþe þe prologe of þe Knightes tale /

and Folowyng þe knyght be gynnithe to telle his tale

Wylom was as olde storyes tellyn vs

Þer was a duke þᵗat heyghte theseus

Of Atthens he was lord and gouernoᵘur

And in his tyme such a gret conqueroure

Þat suche oon was þer noon ondir þᵉ son

Fulle manye A Riche countrey had he wonne

What wᵗith his wysdom and his Chivalrye