Ha4 · London, British Library Harley MS 7344
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Ha4/
[1r]
WHan that aprille with his schowres swoote
The drought of Marche haþ perced to þe roote
And bathud euery veyne in swich licour
Of which vertue engendred is þe flour
Whan zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Enspirud hath in euery holte and heeth
The tendre croppes and þe ȝonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours I ronne
And smale fowles maken melodie
That slepen al þe night wiþ open yhe
So prikeþ hem nature in here corages
Thanne longen folk to gon on pilgrimages
And palmers for to seeken straunge strondes
To ferne halwes kouthe in sondry londes
And specially from euery schires ende
Of Engelond to Canturbury þey wende
The holy blisful martir for to seeke
That hem haþ holpen whan þat þey were seeke
Byfel þat in þat sesoun on a day
In Southwerk at þe Tabbard as I lay
Redy to wenden on my pilgⁱrimage
To Canturbury with ful deuout corage
At night was come in to þat hostelrie
Wel nyne and twenty in a companye
Of sondry folk by auenture I falle
In felaschipe and pilgryms were þei alle
That toward Canturbury wolden ryde
The Chambres and þe stables weren wyde
And wel we weren esud atte beste
And schortly whan þe sonne was to reste
So hadde I spoken with hem euerychon
That I was of here felawschipe anon
And made forward erly to a Ryse
To take oure weye ther as I ȝow deuyse
But natheles whiles I haue tyme and space
Or þat I ferþere in þis tale pace
Me þinkeþ it acordant to resoun
To telle ȝow alle þe condicioun
Of eche of hem so as it semed me
And which þey weren and of what degre
And eek in what array þat þey were Inne
And at a knight þan wol I first bygynne
A knight þer was and þat a worþy man
That from þe tyme þat he ferst bigan
To ryden out he louede Chyualrye
Trouthe and honour fredom and curtesie
Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre
And þerto hadde he riden noman ferre
As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse
And eủere honoured for his worþinesse
At Alisandre he was whan it was wonne
Ful ofte tyme he hadde þe bord bygonne /
Abouen alle nacioıı̄uns in pruce
In lettowe hadde Reyced and in Ruce
No cristen man so ofte of his degre
In Gernade atte siege hadde he be
At Algesir and riden in Belmarie
At lieys was he and at Satalie
At many a noble ariue hadde he be
Whan þei were wonne and in þe greete see
At mortal batailles hadde he ben fiftene
And foughten for oure feith at Tramassene
In lystes þries and ay slayn his foo
This ilke worþi knight hadde ben also
Somtyme with þe lord of Palatye
Ageyn anoþer hethene in Turkye
And eủeremore he hadde a souereyn prys
And þough he was worþy he was wys
And of his port as meke as a mayde
He neuer ȝit no vilonye ne sayde
In al his lyf vnto no maner wight
He was a verray ꝑperfiȝt gentil knight
But for to telle ȝou of his array
His hors was good but he ne was nouȝt gay
Of fustyan he wered a Gepoun
Al by smoterud with his haburgeoun
For he was late comen from his viage
And wente for to doon his pilgrimage
With him þer was his sone a ȝong squyer
A louyer and a lusty bacheler
With lokkes crulle as þey were layde in presse
Of twenty ȝeer he was of age I gesse
Of his stature he was of euene lengthe
And wondurly delyuer and gret of strengthe
And he hadde ben som tyme in Chiuachie
In Flaundres in Artoys and in Picardie
And born him wel as in so litel space
In hope to stonden in his lady grace
Embrowdid was he as it were a mede
Al ful of fresshe floures white and reede
Syngynge he was or flowtynge al þe day
He was as fressh as is þe moneth of may
Schort was his goune with sleeues long and wyde
Wel cowde he sitte on hors and wel cowde he ryde
He cowde songes wel make and endite
Iustne and eek daunce and wel purtray and write
So hote he louede þat by nightertale
He sleep nomore þan doþ a nightyngale
Curteys he was lowly and seruysable
And carf byforn his fadur at þe table /
A ȝeman had he and ʆseruantes nomoo
At þat tyme for him lust ryde soo
And he was clad in coote and hood of grene
A shef of pocok arwes bright and kene
Vnder his belte he bar ful þriftily
Wel cowde he dresse his takel ȝomanly
His arwes drowpud nouȝt wiþ fetheres lowe
And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe
A not heed hadde he wiþ a broıı̄un visage
Of woode craft cowde he wel al þe vsage
Vpon his arme he bar a gay bracer
And by his side a swerd and a bokeler
And on þat oþer side a gay daggere
Harneysed wel and scharp as poynt of spere
A cristofre on his brest of siluer schene
An horn he bar þe bawdrik was of grene
A forster was he sothely as I gesse
Ther was also a Nonne a prioresse
That of hire smylyng was ful symple and coy
Hire grettest ooth nas but by seynt loy
And sche was clept madame Englēntyne
Ful wel sche sang þe seruise deuyne
Entuned in hire nose ful semyly
And frensch sche spak ful faire and fetysly
Aftur þe scole of Stratford atte Bowe
For frensch of Parys was to hire vnknowe
At mete wel I taught was sche with alle
Sche leet no morsel from hire lippes falle
Ne wette hire fyngres in hire sauce deepe
Wel cowde sche carie a morsel and wel keepe
That no drope fil vppon hire brest
In Curtesie was sett al hire lest
Hire ouerlippe wypud sche so clene
That in hire Cuppe was no ferþing sene
Of grees whan sche dronken hadde hire draught
Ful semely aftur hir mete sche raught
And sikurly sche was of gret disport
And ful plesant / and amyable of port
And peyned hire to counterfete cheere
Of court and ben estatlich of manere
And to ben holden digne of Reuerence
But for to speken of hire conscience
Sche was so charitable and so pitous
Sche wolde weepe if þat sche sawe a Mous
Caught in a trappe if it were deed or bledde
Of smale houndes hadde sche þat sche fedde
With rostud fleissh and mylk and wastel breed
But sore wepte sche if oon of hem were deed
Or if men smot it wiþ a ȝerde smerte
And al was conscience and tendre herte
Ful semely hire wymple I pynched was
Hire nose streight hire eyen grey as glas
Hire mouth ful smal and þerto softe and reed
But sikurly sche hadde a fair forheed
It was almost a spanne brood I trowe
For hardily sche was not vndurgrowe
Ful fetys was hire cloke as I was waar
Of smal coral aboute hire arme sche baar
A peire of bedes gaudid al with grene
And þer on heng a broch of gold ful schene
On which was first I writen a crowned A.
And after þat Amor vincit omnia.
Anothur Nonne with hire hadde sche
That was hire Chapelleyn and prestes þre
A Monk þer was a fair for the maistrie
An out Rydere þat loued venerye
A manly man to ben an abbot able
Ful many a deynte hors hadde he in stable
And whan he rood men might his bridel heere
Gyngle in a whistlyng wynd so cleere
And eek as lowde as doþ þe chapel belle
Ther as þe lord was keper of þe selle
The Reule of seynt maure or of Seint Beneyt
By cause þat it was old and somdel streyt
This ilke monk leet forby hem pace
And helde aftur þe newe world þe space
He ȝaf nat of þat text a pulled hen
That seiþ þat hunters been noon holy men
Ne þat a monk whan he is Cloysterles
Is likned to a fissche þat is watirles
This is to seyn a monk out of his cloystre
But þilke text hild he not worþ an oystre /
And I seide his opinioıı̄un was good
What schulde he studie and make himseluēn wood
Vppon a book in Cloystre alway to powre
Or swynke with his handes and laboure
As Austyn byt / how schal þe world be serued
Lat austyn haue his swynk to him reserued
Therfore he was a pricasour aright
Greyhoıı̄undes he hadde as swifte as fowel in flight
Of prikyng and of huntyng for þe hare
Was al his lust for no cost wolde he spare
I saugh his sleues purfiled atte hond
Wiþ grys and that þe fynest of a lond
And for to festne his hood vndur his chyn
he hadde of gold y wrought a curious pyn
A loue knotte in þe gretter ende þer was
His heed was ballid and schon as eny glas
And eek his face as he hadde be anoynt
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt
His eyen steep and rollyng in his heed
That stemed as a forneys of a leed
His bootes souple his hors in gret estat
Now certeinly he was a fair prelat
He was not pale as a forpyned goost
A fat swan loued he best of eny roost
His palfray was as broıı̄un as eny berye
A Frere þer was a wantoun and a merye
A lymytour a ful solempne man
In all þe ordres foure is noon þat can
So moche of daliaıı̄unce and fair langage
He hadde I made many a fair mariage
Of ȝonge wȳmmen at his owne cost
Vnto his ordre he was a noble post
Ful wel biloued and famulier was he
With Frankeleyns ouer al in his cuntre
And eek with worþi wōmmen of þe toun
For he hadde power of confessioun
As seyde himself more þan a curat
For of his ordre he was licenciat/
Ful sweetly herde he confessioıı̄un
And plesaunt was his absolucioıı̄un
He was an esy man to ȝeue penance
Ther as he wiste han a good pitance
For vnto a poure ordre for to ȝeue
Is signe þat a man is wel I schreue
For if he ȝaf he dorste make auaıı̄unt
He wiste þat a man was repentaıı̄unt
For many a man so hard is of his herte
He may not wepe þough him sore smerte
Therfore in stede of wepyng and prayeres
Men mooten ȝiuen siluer to þe pore freres
His typet was ay farsud ful of knyfes
And pynnes for to ȝiue faire wyfes
And certayn he hadde a mery noote
Wel couthe he synge and pleye on a Rote
Of ȝeddynges he bar vtturly þe prys
His nekke whit was as þe flour delys
Ther to he strong was as a Champioun
He knew wel þe tauernes in euery toun
And euery Ostiller or gay tapstere
Bet þan a lazer or a beggere
For vnto such a worþi man as he
Acorded not as by his faculte
To haue with sike lazars aqueyntaıı̄unce
It is not honest it may not avaunce
For to delen with such poraile
But al with riche and sellers of vitaille
And ouer al þer eny profyt schulde arise
Curteys he was · and lowe of seruyse
Ther was no man no wher so vertuous
He was þe beste begger in al his hous
For þough a widewe hadde but oo schoo
So plesaunt was his In principio
Ȝet wolde he haue a ferthing or he wente
His purchace was bettur þan his rente
And rage he couþe and pleye as a whelpe
In loue dayes ther couthe he mochil helpe
For þer was he not like a cloysterer
With a thred bare cope as a pore scoler
But he was like a maister or a pope
Of double worstede was his semy cope
That rounded was as a belle out of presse
Somwhat he lipsede for wantounesse
To make his Englissch swete vpon his tunge
And in his harpyng whan þat he hadde sunge
His eyȝen twynkeled in his heed aright
As don þe sterres in þe frosty night
This worthi lymytour was called huberd
A Marchaunt was þer wiþ a forked berd
In motteleye high on horse he sat
Vppon his heed a Flaıı̄undrisch beuer hat/
His botus clapsud faire and fetously
His resons he spak ful solempnely
Swownynge alway the encres of his wynnyng
He wolde þe see were kepud for eny þing
Bitwixe Middulburgh and Orewelle /
Wel couþe he in eschange scheeldes selle /
This worþi man ful wel his witte bisette
Ther wiste no man that he was in dette
So estately was he of gouernaıı̄unce
With his bargayns and with his cheuysaıı̄unce
For sothe he was a worþi man with alle
Bot soth to say I not what men him calle /
A Clerk þer was of Oxenford also
That vnto logik hadde longe I go
Also lene was his hors as is a rake
And he was not right fat I vndertake
But lokede holwe and þ̉erto soburly
Ful thredbare was his ouerest courtepy
For he hadde nouȝt geten hym ȝit a benefice
Ne was not worþy to hauen an office
For him was leuer haue at his beddes heed
Twenty bookes cloþed in blak and reed
Of Aristotil and of his philosophie
Thēn Robus Riche or fithul or Sawtrie
But al þough he were a philosophre
Ȝet hadde he but litul gold in cofre
But al þat he might gete and his frendes sende
On bookes and his lernyng he it spende
And busily gan for þe soules pray
Of hem þat ȝaf him wherwith to scolay
Of studie tooke he most cure and heede
Not oo word spak he more þan was neede
Al þat he spak it was of heye prudence
And schort and quyk and ful of gret sentence
Sownynge in moral manere was his speche /
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
A Sergeant of lawe war and wys
That often hadde ben atte paruys
Ther was also ful riche of excellence
Discret he was and of gret Reuerence
He semed such his wordes were so wise
Iustice he was fuloften in assise
By patent and by pleyn comissioıı̄un
For his science and for his heih renoıı̄un
Of fees and Robes had he many oon
So gret a purchasour was þer no wher noon
Al was fee symple to him in effecte
His purchasyng might nought ben to hīm in suspecte
No wher so besy a man as he þer nas /
And ȝit he semed besier þan he was
In termes hadde caas and domes alle
That fro þe tyme þat kyng were falle
Ther to he couþe endite and make a þing
Ther couþe no man pynche at his writyng
And euery statute couthe he pleyn by roote
He rood but hoomly in a medled coote
Gird with a seynt of silk wiþ barres smale
Of his array telle I no lenger tale
A Frankeleyn þ̉er was in his companye
Whit was his berde as þe dayesye
Of his complexioıı̄un he was sangwyn
Wel loued he in þe morn a sop of wyn
To lyue in delite was al his wone
For he was Epicurius owne sone
That heeld opynyoıı̄un þat pleyn delyt
Was v̉erraily felicite ꝑperfyt
An houshaldere and þat a gret was he
Seynt Iulian he was in his coıı̄untre
His broed his ale was alway after oon
A bettre envyned man was no wher noon.
Wiþoute bake mete was neuer his hous
Of fleissch and fissch and þat so plentyuous
Hit snewed in his hous of mete and drynk
Of alle deyntees þat men cowde þynk
Aftur þe sondry sesoıı̄uns of þe ȝeer
He chaunged hem at mete and at soper
Ful many a fat partrich had he in mewe
And many a brem and many a luce in stewe
Woo was his Cook but if his sauce were
Poynant and scharp and redy al his gere
His table dormant in his halle alway·
Stood redy couered al þe longe day
At sessions þer was he lord and sire
Ful ofte tyme he was knight of þe schire
An Anlas and a gipser al of silk
Heng at his gerdul whit as morne mylk
A schirreue hadde he ben and a counter
Was nowher such a worthi vauaser
AN haburdassher and a Carpenter
A webbe a deyer and a Tapicer
Weren with vs eeke clothed in oo lyuere
Of a solempne and gret frat̉ernite
Ful freissh and newe his gere piked was
Here knyfes were I chapud nat with bras
But al with siluer wrought ful clene and wel
Here gurdles and here pouches euery del
Wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeys
To sitten in a ȝeldehalle on þe deys
Euery man for þe wisdom þat he can
Was schaply for to ben an aldurman ·
For Catel hadde þey Inough and rente /
And eek here wyfes wolde it wel assente /
And elles certeyn hadde þei ben to blame
It is right fair for to be clept Ma Dame
And for to go to vigilies al byfore
And han a mantel rially I bore
A Cook þei hadde with hem for þe nones
To boyle chiknes and þe mary bones
And poudre marchaıı̄unt / tart and galyngale
Wel cowde he knowe a drauȝt of londoıı̄un ale
He cowde roste sethe boille and frie
Make mortreux and wel bake a pye
But gret harm was it as it semede me
That on his schyne a mormal hadde he
For blankmanger he made with þe beste
A Schipman was þer wonyng fer by weste
For ought I woot he was of Dertemouthe
He rood vpon a rouncy as he couþe
In a gowne of faldyng to þe kne
A dagger hangyng on a laas hadde he
Aboute his nekke vnder his arm a doun
The hoote somer had maad his hew al broun
And certeinly he was a good felawe
Ful many a draught of wyn had he drawe
From Burdeuxward whil þat þe chapman sleep
Of nyce conscience took he no keep
If þat he foughte and hadde þe heiȝer hand
By water he sente hem hoom to euery land
But of his craft to rikne wel þe tydes
His stremes and his dangers him bisides
His herbergh and his mone his lodemenage
Ther was non such from hulle to Cartage
Hardy he was and wys to vndertake
With many a tempest hath his berd ben schake
He knew wel alle þe hauenes as þei were
From Scotlond to þe cape of fynestere
And euery Cryk in Bretayne and in Spayne
His Barge y clepud was the Magdelayne
Ther was also a Doctour of phisik
In al þis world ne was þer non him lyk
To speke of phisik and of Surgerye
For he was groundud in astronomye
He kepte his pacient wondurly wel
In houres by his magik naturel
Wel cowde he fortune the ascendent
Of his ymages for his pacient
He knew þe cause of euery maladye
Were it of cold or hete or moyst or drye
And where þei engendrid and of what humour
He was a v̉errey ꝑparfiȝt practisour
The cause I knowe and of his harm þe roote
Anon he ȝaf þe syke man his boote
Ful redy hadde he his apotecaries
To sende him dragges and his letuaries
For eche of hem made oþur to wynne
Here frendschipe nas not newe to begynne
Wel knew he þe olde Esculapius
And deiscorides and eeke Rusus
Old ypocras haly and Galien
Serapyon Razis and Auycen
Auerrois damascen and Constantyn
Bernad and Gatisden̄ and Gilbertyn
Of his diete mesurable was he
For it was of no superfluite
But of gret norisching and digestible
His studie was but litel on þe bible
In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al
Lyned with taffata and with Sendal
And ȝit he was but esy in dispence
He kepte þat he wan in pestilence
For gold in phisik is a cordial
Ther fore he louede gold in special
A Good wif was þer of byside bathe
But sche was somdel deef and þat was skaþe
Of cloth makyng sche hadde such an haunt
Sche passed hem of ypris and of Gaunt
In al þe parisshe wyf ne was ther noon
That to þe offryng byforn hire schulde goon
And if þer dide certeyn so wroth was sche
That sche was þanne out of alle charite
Hire keuerchefs weren ful fyne of grounde
I durste swere þey weyȝede ten pounde
That on a sonday were vpon hire heed
Hire hosen were of fyn scarlett reed
Ful streyte y teyed and schoos ful moyste and newe
Bold was hir face and fair and reed of heewe
Sche was a worþy wōmman al hire lyfe
Housbondes atte chirche dore hadde sche fyfe
Withouten oþur companye in ȝouthe
But ther of needeth nouȝt to speke as nouthe
And þries hadde sche ben at Ierusalem
Sche hadde passud many a stᵃraunge streem
At Rome sche hadde ben and at Boloyne
In Galice at seynt Iame and at Coloyne
Sche cowde moche of wandryng by þe weye
Gattothud was sche soþly for to seye
Vppon an amblere esely sche sat
Wymplid ful wel and on hire heed an hat
As brood as is a bocler or a Targe
A foot mantel aboute hire hupes large
And on hire feet a paire of spores scharpe
In felawschipe wel cowde lawghe and carpe
Of Remedyes of loue sche knew ꝑpar chaunce
For of þat art sche knew þe olde daunce
A Good man was ther of Religioıı̄un
And was a pore persoıı̄un of a toun
But riche he was of holy þought and werk
He was also a lerned man a Clerk
That cristes gospel gladly wolde preche
His ꝑparischens deuoutly wold he teche
Benigne he was and wondur diligent
And in aduersite ful pacient
And such he was I proued ofte sithes
Ful loth were him to curse for his tythes
But raþer wolde he ȝeuen out of dowte
Vnto his pore parisschens aboute
Of his offrynge and eek of his substaıı̄unce
He cowde in litel þing han suffisance
Wyd was his parisch and houses fer asondur
But he ne lafte not for reyn ne þondur
In siknesse ne in meschief to visite
The ferrest in his parissche moche and lite
Vppon his feet and in his hond a staf
This noble ensample vnto his scheep he ȝaf
That ferst he wroughte and after þat he taughte
Out of þe gospel he þo wordes caughte /
And þis figure he addid ȝit þ̉erto
That if gold ruste what schulde yren doo
For if a prest be foul on whom we truste
No wondur is a lewid man to ruste
And schame it is if a prest take kepe
A schiten schepperd and a clene schepe
Wel oughte a prest ensample for to ȝiue
By his clennesse how þat his scheep schulde lyue
He sette not his benefice to huyre
And lefte his scheep encombred in þe myre
And ran to londoıı̄un vnto seynte poules
To seeken him a chaunterie for soules
Or with a brethurhede be wiþholde
But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde /
So þat þe wolf ne made it not myscarye
He was a schepꝑparde and no mercenarie
And þough he holy were and vertuous
He was to senful man nought dispitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
But in his teching discret and benigne
To drawe folk to heuen by clennesse
By good ensample was his busynesse
But it were eny ꝑparsone obstinat
What so he were of high or lowe estat
Him wolde he snybbe scharply for þe nones
A bettre preest I trowe ther no wher non is
He waytud after no pompe ne reuerence
Ne maked him a spiced conscience /
But cristes lore and his apostles twelue
He taught and ferst he folwed it himselue
With hem þer was a plough man his broþur
That hadde I lad of dong ful many a foþur
A trewe swynker and a good was hee
Lyuynge in pees and ꝑparfiȝt charitee
God loued he best al his trewe herte
At alle tymes þough him gamed or smerte
And þanne his neighebour right as himselue
He wolde threisshe and þerto dyke and delue
For cristes sake with euery pore wight
Wiþouten huyre if it laye in his might
His tythes payede he ful faire and wel
Bathe of his owne swynk and his catel
In a tabbard Rood vpon a mere
Ther was also a Reeue and a mellere
A sompnour and a ꝑpardoner also
A maunciple and my self þer was no mo
The mellere was a stout carl for þe nones
Full big he was of braun and eek of boones
That preuede wel for ouer al þer he cam
At wrastlynge he wolde bere awey þe Ram
He was schort schuldred broode a þikke knarre
Ther was no dore þat he nolde heue of harre
Or breke it with a rennyng with his heed
His berd as ony sowe or fox was reed
And þerto brood as þough it were a spade
Vpon þe cop right of his nose he hade
A werte and þer on stood a tuft of heres
Reede as þe berstles of a souwes eeres
His nose þurles blake were and wyde
A swerd and a bocler baar he by his side
His mouth as wyde was as a gret forneys
He was a Iangler and a golyardeys
And þat was most of synne and harlotries
Wel cowde he stele corn and tollen þries
And ȝet he hadde a þombe of gold parde
A whiȝt cote and blewe hood wered he
A bagge pipe cowde he blowe and sowne
And þerwiþ al he brought vs out of towne
A Gentil maunciple was ther of a temple
Of which achatours mighten take exemple
For to be wys in beyyng of vitaille
For wheþur þat he payde or took by taille
Algate he wayted so in his acate
That he was ay biforn and in good state
Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace
That such a lewed mannes wit schal pace
The wisdom of an heep of lernede men
Of maystres hadde moo þan þries ten
That were of lawe expert and curious
Of which þer were a doseyn in an hous
Worthi to be stiwardz of Rente and lond
Of any lord þat is in Engelond
To make him lyue by his ꝓpropre good
In honour detteles but if he were wood
Of lyue as scarsly as he can desire
And able for to helpen al a schire
In any caas þat mighte falle or happe
And ȝit þis maunciple sette here aller cappe
The Reeue was a sklendre colerik man
His berd was schaue as neigh as euer he can
His heer was by his Eres neigh I schorn
His top was dockud lyk a preest biforn
Ful longe wern his leggus and ful lene
Al like a staff ther was no calf y sene
Wel cowde he kepe a gerner and a bynne
Ther was non auditour cowde on him wynne
Wel wiste he by þe drought and by þe Reyn
The ȝeeldyng of his seed and of his greyn
His lordes scheep his neet his dayerie
His swyn his hors his stoor and his pultrie
Was holly in þis Reeues gouernynge
And by his couenaıı̄unt ȝaf þe Rekenynge
Syn þat his lord was ·xxᵗⁱ· ȝeer of age
Ther couthe noman bringe him in arrerage
Ther nas baillif ne herde ne oþer hyne
That þey ne knewe his sleight and his couyne
They were adrad of him as of þe deth
His wonyng was ful fair vpon an heth
Wiþ grene trees I schadewed was his place
He cowde bettre þan his lord purchace
Ful riche he was I stored priuely
His lord wel couthe he plese subtilly
To ȝeue him and lene him of his owne good
And haue a þank a cote and eek an hood
In ȝouþe he lerned hadde a good mester
He was a wel good wright a carpenter
This Reeue sat vpon a wel good stot
That was a pomely gray and highte Scot
A long surcote of blew vppon he hadde
And by his side he bar a Rusty bladde
Of Northfolk was þis Reeue of which I telle
Byside a toun men callen Baldeswelle
Tukkud he was as is a frere aboute
And euer he rood þe hynderest of þe route
A Sompnour was þer with vs in þat place
That hadde a fyr reed Cherubyns face
For sawceflem he was with eyȝen narwe
As hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe
Wiþ skalled browes blak and piled berd
Of his visage children weren aferd
Ther nas quyk siluer litarge ne bremstoıı̄un
Boras Ceruce ne oille of Tartre noon
Ne oynement þat wolde clense and byte
That him might helpen of his whelkes white
Ne of þe knobbes sittyng on his cheekes
Wel loued he garleek oynoıı̄uns and ek leekes
And for to drinke strong wyn reed as blood
Thanne wolde he speke and crye as he were wood
And whan that he wel dronken hadde þe wyn
Than wolde he speke no word but latyn
A fewe termes hadde he tuo or þre
That he hadde lerned out of som decree
No wondur is he herde it al þe day
And eek ȝe knowe wel how þat a Iay
Can clepe watte as wel as can þe pope
But who so wolde in oþur þing him grope
Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie
Ay questio quid Iuris wolde he crye
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde
A bettre felaw schulde men nowher fynde
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe han his concubyn
A · xij · moneth and excuse him atte fulle
And pryuely a Fynch eek cowde he pulle
And if he fond owher a good felawe
He wolde teche him for to haue non awe
In such a caas of þe archedeknes curs
But if a mannes soule were in his purs
For in his purs he scholde punyssched be
Purs is the Ercedeknes helle qdquod he
But wel I woot he lyeth right in dede
Of cursyng oweth ech gulty man to drede
For curs wol slee right as assoillyng saueþ
And also ware him of a Significauit
In daunger he hadde at his owne assise
The ȝonge gurles of the Diocise
And knew here coıı̄unseil and was al here red
A garland had he set vpon his heed
As gret as it were for an ale stake
A bokeler had he maad him of a cake
Wiþ him þer rood a gentil Pardoner
Of Rounciual his frend and his comper
That streyt was comen from þe court of Rome
Ful lowde he sang com hider loue tome
The sompnour bar to him a stif burdoıı̄un
Was neuere trompe of half so gret a soun
This ꝑpardoner hadde heer as ȝelwe as wex
But smothe it heng as doth a strike of Flex
By vnces hynge his lokkes þat he hadde
And þ̉erwith he his schuldres oủerspradde
Ful thenne it lay by culpons on and oon
And hood for Iolitee ne wered he noon
For it was trussud vp in his walet
Him þought he rood al of þe newe get
Discheuele sauf his cappe he rood al bare
Suche glaryng eyȝen hadde he as an hare
A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe
His walet lay byforn him in his lappe
Bret ful of ꝑpardoıı̄un come from Rome al hoot
A voys he hadde as smal as eny goot
No berd ne hadde he ne neuer scholde haue
As smothe it was as it ware late I schaue /
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare
But of his craft fro Berwyk vnto ware
Ne was þer such another pardoner
For in his male he hadde a pilwebeer
Which þat he saide was oure lady veyl
He seide he hadde a gobet of þe seyl
That seynt Petur hadde whan he wente
Vppon þe see til iħuihesu crist him hente
He hadde a cros of latoun ful of stones
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones
But with þise reliqes whanne þat he fand
A pore ꝑparsoun dwellyng vppon land
Vpon a day he gat him more moneye
Than þat þe ꝑparsoun gat in monthes tweye
And þus with feyned flaterie and Iapes
He made þe ꝑparsoun and þe poeple his apes
But trewely to tellen atte laste
He was in churche a noble ecclesiaste
Wel cowde he rede a lessoun or a storye
But alther best he sang an offertorie
For wel he wyst whan þat song was songe
He moste preche and wel affyle his tunge
To wynne siluer as he right wel cowde
Therfore he sang ful meriely and lowde
NOw haue I told ȝou schortly in a clause
Thestat þarray þe nombre and eek þe cause
Why þat assembled was þis companye
In Southwerk at þis gentil Ostelrie
That highte þe Tabbard faste by þe belle
But now is tyme to ȝow for to telle
How þat we bare vs in þat ilke night
Whan we were in that Ostelrie alight
And aftur wol I telle of oure viage
And al þe remenaıı̄unt of oure pilgrimage
But ferst I pray ȝou of ȝour curtesie
That ȝe ne rette it nat my vilanye
Though þat I speke al pleyn in þis matere
And telle ȝou here wordes and here cheere
Ne though I speke here wordes ꝓpropurly
For þis ȝe knowen also wel as I
Who so schal telle a tale aftur a man
He moste reherce as neigh as euer he can
Euery word if it be in his charge
Al speke he neuer so Rudely ne large
Or elles he moot telle his tale vntrewe
Or feyne þing or fynde his wordes newe
He may not spare þough he were his broþur
He moste as wel sey oo word as anoþur
Crist spak himself ful broode in holy writ
And wel ȝe woot no vilanye is it
Eke Plato seith who so þat can him rede
The wordes mot be cosyn to þe dede
Also I pray ȝou to forȝeue it me
Al haue I folk nat set in here degre
Here in þis tale as þat þei schulde stonde
My witt is thynne ȝe may wel vndurstonde
GReet cheere made oure ost vs euerichon
And to þe souper sette he vs anon
He serued vs with vitaille atte beste
Strong was þe wyn and wel to drynke vs leste
A semely man oure Ooste was wiþ alle
For to han been a Marchal in an halle
A large man was he with eyȝen stepe
A fairere burgeys is þer noon in chepe
Bold of his speche and wys and wel I taught
And of manhede lakkede he right naught
Eke þerto he was right a mery man
And after soper playen he bygan
And spak of myrthe among oþur þinges
Whan þat we hadde maad oure rekenynges
And sayde þus . lo lordynges trewely
Ȝe ben to me right welcome hertily
For by my trouthe if þat I schal not lye
I ne saugh þis ȝeer so mery a companye
At oones in this herbergh as is now
Fayn wold I do ȝow merthe wiste I how
And of a merthe I am right now bythought
To doon ȝou eese and it schal coste nought
Ȝe goon to Caunturbury god ȝou speede
The blisful martir quyte ȝou ȝoure meede
And wel I woot as ȝe gon by þe weye
Ȝe schapen ȝow to talken and to pleye
For trewely comfort ne merthe is noon
To Ryde by þe weye domb as a stoon
And þerfore wol I make ȝou disport
As I seyde erst and do ȝou som confort
And if ȝow liketh alle by oon assent
Now for to standen at my Iuggement
And for to werken as I schal ȝou seye
To morwe whan ȝe riden by þe weye
Now by my fadres soule þat is deed
But ȝe be merye smyteþ of myn heed
Hold vp ȝoure hond withoute more speche
Oure counseil was not longe for to seche
Vs þoughte it nas nat worþ to make it wys
And graunted him wiþoute more avys
And bad him seie his verdite as him leste
LOrdynges quoþ he now herkeneþ for þe beste
But taketh not I pray ȝou in disdayn
This is þe poynt to speken schort and playn
That ech of ȝow to schorte with ȝoure weie /
In þis viage schal telle tales tweye
To Caunturburiward I mene it so
And homward he schal tellen oþur tuo
Of auentures þat þer han bifall
And which of ȝow þat bereþ him best of all
That is to seye þat telleþ in þis caas
Tales of best sentence and of solas
Schal hau a soper at ȝour alþer cost
Here in þis place sittynge by þis post
Whan þat we comen ageyn from Canturbery
And for to make ȝou þe more mery
I wol my seluen gladly with ȝou ryde
Right at myn owen cost and be ȝoure gyde
And who so wole my Iuggement with seie
Schal paye for al we spenden by þe weye
And if ȝe vouche sauf þat it be so
Telle me anoon wiþouten wordes moo
And I wole erely schappe me þerfore
This þing was graunted and oure othus swore
With ful glad herte and prayden him also
That he wolde vouche sauf for to doon so
And þat he wolde ben oure gouern̄our
The macron on the nasal consonant is not clear because of the quality of the image. However, it was kept without expansion althoihh this reading mya be supported by a comparison with a clearer instance of the stroke in other instances.
And of our tales Iugge and reportour
⁊And sette a souper at a certeyn prys
And we wolde rewled be at his deuys
In heygh and lowe and þus by oon assent
We been acorded to his Iuggement
And þer vpon þe wyn was fet anoon
We dronken and to reste wente echoon
Wiþouten eny lengere taryinge
A morwe whan þat þe day bigan to sprynge
Vp roos oure Ost and was oure althur cok
And gaderud vs to gidur all in a flok
And forth we riden a litel more þan paas
Vnto þe waterynge of seint Thomas
And þere oure Ost bigan his hors areste
And seyde lordus herkeneþ if ȝow leste
Ȝe woot ȝoure forward and I it ȝou recorde
If euesong and morwesong acorde
Lat se now who schal telle ferst a tale
As euere I moote drinke wyn or ale
Who so be rebel to my Iuggemēnt
Schal paye for al þat by the weye is spent
Now draweth Cut er þat we forther twynne
Which þat hath þe schortest schal bygynne
Sire knight quoþ he maister and my lord
Now draweth Cut for þat is myn acord
Cometh ner qdquod he my lady prioresse
And ȝe ʆsir Clerk lat be ȝour schamfastnesse
Ne studieth nat ley hand to euery man
Anon to drawen euery wight bigan
And schortly for to tellen as it was
Were it by auenture or sort or cas
The soth is þis the Cut fil to the knight
Of which ful glad and bliþe was eủery wight
And telle he moste his tale as was resoun
By forward and by composicioıı̄un
And ȝe han herd what needeþ wordes moo
And whan þis goode man seigh þat it was so
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his forward by his fre assent
He seyde syn I schal bygynne the game
What welcome be þou cut a goddus name
Now lat vs ryde and herkneþ what I seye
And with þat word we riden forþ oure weye
And he bigan with right a merie chere
His tale and seide right in þis manere
Whilom as olde stories tellen vs
Ther was a Duk þat highte Theseus
Of Athenes he was lord and gouernour
And in his tyme swich a conquerour
That gretter was ther non vnder þe sonne
Ful many a Riche Contre hadde he wonne
That with his wisdam and his chiualrie
He conquered al the regne of Femynye
That whilom was I cleped Cithea
And weddede the queen Ipolita
And brought hire hoom with him in his Contre
With moche glorie and gret solempnite
And eek hire ȝonge suster Emelye
And þus with victorie and with melodye
Lete I þis noble duk to Athenes ryde