Ph2 · Geneva (Coligny), Foundation Martin Bodmer Cod. Bodmer 48
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Ph2/
[2r]
Whan that Apⁱrile wᵗith his shouris sote
The drought of March hath ꝑpercid to þᵉ Rote
And bathid euery veyn in full licour
Of which vertue engendrid is þe flour
Whan zephirus eke with his swete brethe
Enspirid hath in euery holt and hethe
The tendir croppis and the yong Sune
Hath in the Ramme his half cours y rıı̄unne
And smale foules maken melodie
That slepen all night with open iye
So prikith hem nature in her couragꝭes
Than longen folk to go on pilgⁱrimagꝭes
And Palmers to sechen straunge strondꝭes
To ʆserue halows couth in sundrie londꝭes
And speciali from euery Shiris ende
Of Englond to Cauntirbury they wende
The holi blisful martir forto seke
That hem hath holpen whan thei wer seke
¶ Befill that in that sesoıı̄un vpon a day
In Suthewerk at the Tabard as I lay
Redi to wende on my pilgremage
To Cauntirbury wᵗith deuout courage
At night were come into that hostrye
Wele nyne and twenti in a cumpany
Of sundrie folc bi auenture y falle
In felaship and pilgⁱmes wer thei all
That toward Cauntirbury wolden ride
The Chambirs and the stables wer wide
And wel we weren easid at the best
And shortli whan the Sıı̄unne was to rest
Er had I spoken wᵗith hem eủerychone
That I was of their felaship anone
And made forward erli forto rise
To take oure weye as I did deuise
But natheles whils that I haue time ⁊and space
Or that I further in this tale pace
Me think it accordaunt vnto resou
To tell you alle the Condicio
Of eche of them so as it semed me
And which thei were and of what degre
And eke what array that thei wer in
And at a knight than wil I first begyn
¶ A knight ther was ⁊and þat a worthi ma
That fro the time that he first began
To ride out he loued Cheualrye
Trouth honour fredam and curtesy
Ful wurthie was he in his lordis werre
And þ̉erto had he riden no man mor ferre
As wel in Cristendom as in hethnesse
And eủer honoured for his wurthinesse
At Alexander he was whan it was won
Ful ofttime he had the bord begıı̄unne
Abouen alle nacioıı̄uns in Pruce
In lettoes had he riden and in Ruce
No cristenman so ofte of his degre
In Garnade at the Sege eke had he be
Of Algazir . and riden in Belmary
At lies was he and at Sataly
Whan thei wer won ⁊and in the gret See
At many a noble Armee had he be
At mortal batails had he ben fiftene
And fought for oure feith at Tramassene
In listis thrice / ⁊and alway slayn his fo
This ilk wurthi knight had ben also
Sumtime with the lord of Palacy
Ayens anothir hethen in Turky
And eủermore he had soủereyn price
He was ful wurthi and ful wise
And of his port as meke as a maid
He neủer yit no vilany said
In al his lif to no maner wight
He was a veray parfit gentil kniȝt
And forto telle you of his array
His hors were good but he was not gay
Of fustian he ware a gipoıı̄un
Al besmotird with his haburgeo
For he was late y com from his viage
And went forto do his pilgremage
¶ With hym ther was his son A yong Squier
A louyer and A lusty Bachiller
With lockis curle as they were leid in psse
Of twenti yere of age he was I gesse
Of his stature he was of euen length
And wondirly delyủer and of gret strength
And he had ben sumtime in Chyuachy
In Flaundris in Artois and Picardie
And born him wele as of so litle space
In hoop to stond in his ladies grace
Enbroudid was he as it were a mede
Al ful of fressh floures white ⁊and rede
Synging he was or floiting al the day
He was as fressh as is the moneth of May
Short was his goun wᵗith sleues long ⁊and wyde
Wel couth he sitte on hors and feire ride
He couth songis make and wele endite
Iust and eke daunce and wel purtray ⁊and write
So hote he loued that by nyghtir tale
He slept no more than doth A nyghtingale
Curteys he was louly and ʆseruisable
And carf beforn his fadir at the table
¶ A Yoman had he and ʆseruauntꝭes no moo
At þat time . for he lust to ride so .
And he was cladde in Cote ⁊and hood of grene
A Shef of pecocke arowes bright ⁊and kene
Vndir his belt he bare fulle thriftily
Wel couth he dresse his tacle yomanly
His Arowes drouped not wᵗith fethirs low
And in his hand he bare A mighti bowe
A not hede had he wᵗith a broun visage
Of wode craft wel couth he al the vsage
Vpon his arme he bare a gay Bracere
And bi his side a Swerde and A Bokeler
And on that othir side a gay Dagge
Harneised wel and sharp as point of Spere
A xpofir on his brest of siluer shene
An horne he bare the girdil was of grene
¶ A Forster was he sotheli as I gesse
Ther was also A Nonne A Prioresse
That of hir smyling was full stᵃunge ⁊and coy
Hir gretist othe was but by seint loy
And she was callid madame Eglantine
Ful wel she sang the seruice diuine
Entuned in hir nose fulle semely
And frenssh she spac ful feir and fetisly
Aftir the Scole of Stratford at Bowe
For frenssh of Paris was to hir vnknow
At mete wel ytaught was she wᵗith all
She lete no morcell from hir lippis fall
Ne wette hir fingirs in hir sauce depe
Wele couth she cary a morcell ⁊and wel kepe
That no drope fill vpon hir brest
In curtesy was sette ful mochil hir lest
Hir oủerlippe wipid she so clene
That in hir cuppe was no ferthing sene
Of grees / whan she drunke had hir drauȝt
Ful semeli aft̉er hir mete she raught
And sicurli she was of gret Disport
And ful plesaunt and amiable of port
And peyned hir to countirfete chere
Of Court / and to be stately of maner
And to be holden digne of Reủreence
But forto speke of hir Conscience
She was so cheritable and so pitous
She wold wepe if that she sawe A mouse
Caught in a trappe / if it wer dede or bled
Of smale houndis had she that she fedde
Wᵗith rostid flessh or milke and wastil brede
But sore wept she if eny of hem were dede
Or if men smote it with a yerde smert
And all was Conscience and tendir hert
But semeli hir wimple y pinchid was
Hir nose streight hir iyen grey as glas
Hir f mouth ful small ⁊and therto soft ⁊and rede
And sicurli she had a feire forhede
It was almost a spanne brood I trow
For hardili she was not vndirgrow
Ful fetice was hir Clook as I was war
Of smal Coral about hir arme she bar
A peire of bedis / gaudid all with grene
And theron hyng a broche of gold ful shene
On which ther was first writ a crouned A
And aftir . Amor vincit omnia
Anothir nonne with hir hadde She
That was hir chapleyn / and p̉restis thre
¶ A Monk ther was a feir feir þe maistry
An Out Rider that loued wel venery
A manli man to be an abbot hable
Ful many a deyntee hors had he in stable
And when he rood men might his bridil her
Gyngling in a whistling winde As clere
And eke as loude as doth the chapel belle
Ther as this lord was keper of the Celle
The rule of seint Maure or of seint Benet
Because that it was olde ⁊and sumdele streit
This yong monk lete olde thingis pace
And held aftir the new world the trace
He yave not of that text a pulled henne
That seith that hunters be not holy men
Ne that a monke whan he is rechilles
Is likned til a fissh that is watirles
This is to seyn a monk out of his cloist̉er
But that text held he not wurth an oystir
And I seid that his oppiniou was gode
What shuld he studie ⁊and make himselue wode
Vpon a book in cloistir alwey to poure
Or swink with his handis and labour
As Austine bidde / hough shal the world be ʆserued
Lat Austyn haue his own swink to him reʆserued
Therfore he was a pricasour a right
Grehoundis he had as swift as foule in flight
Of pⁱriking and of hunting for the hare
Was his lust / for no cost wold he spare
I sawe his sleues were purfeld at hond
Wᵗith grice . and that the finest of a lond
And forto fasten his hood vndir his chyn
He had of gold y wrought a ful curious pyn
A loue knotte in the grett̉er ende ther was
His hede was balde that shone as any glas
And eke his face as it had ben Anoynt
He was a lord ful fatte and in good point
His iyen stepe and rolling in his hede
That stemed as a fourneis of a leed
His botis souple his hors in gret estate
Now certeinli he was a feire prelate
He nas not pale as a forpyned goost
A fatte Swanne loued he best of any rost
His palfray was as broun as any bery
¶ A Frere ther was A wantou ⁊and A mery
A limitour a ful solempne man
In all the ordirs four is none that can
So moche of daliaunce and of feir langage
He had made full many A mariage
Of yong women at his own cost
Vnto his ordir he was a noble post
And welbeloued and familiar was he
With frankleyns oủer all in his cuntre
And wᵗith wurthy women of the toun
For he had power of Confessioun
As seid himselue more than a curat
For of his ordir he was licenciat
Full swetely herd he confessiou
And plesaunt was his absoluciou
He was an esy man to yeue penᵃnce
Ther as he wist to haue A good pitaıı̄unc
For vnto a poor ordre forto yeve
Is signe that A man is wel y shryue
For if he yave he durst make a vaunt
He wist that a man was repentᵃunt
For many a man so hard is of his hert
He may not wepe al þough him sore smert
Þ̉erfore in stede of weping and prayeris .
Men mut yeve siluer to the poore freris
His tipet was y farcid full of knyues
And pynnes forto yeve yong wives
And certeinly he had a mery note
Wel coude he sing and pley on a Root
Of yeddingꝭes he bare vttirli the price
His necke white was as the floᵘur delice
Þ̉erto he strong was as a Champiou
He knew the taủernes wel in al þe toun
And euery hostiller and Tapstere
Bette then a lazar or a Begster .
For vnto such a wurthi man as he
Accordid not as bi his facultee .
To haue with seke lazars aqueintaıı̄unce
It is not honest it may not avaunce
Forto dele with no such pouraile
But al with riche and sellers of vitail
And oủerall ther as ꝓprofit shuld arise
Curteis he was and louli of ʆseruice
Ther nas noman nowher so v̉ertuo9
He was the best begster in his hous
For though a widow had not a shoo .
So plesaunt was his in principio
Yit wold he haue a ferthing or he wet
His purchace was wel bett þan hˢ rent
And rage he couthe as it were a whelp
In louedayes ther coude he much helpe .
For ther he was not like a cloistrer
Wᵗith a threde bare coop as a poor scoler
But he was like a maistir or a Pope .
Of double wurstede was his semy coop
That roundid as a belle out of the presse
Sumwhat he lipsid for his wantounesse
To make his englissh swete vpon his tıı̄unge
And in his harping when that he had sunge
His iyen twinclid in his hede aright
As done the sterris in the frosti night
This wurthi limitour was clepid huberd
A merchaunt was ther wᵗith a forkid berd
In mottlee . and high on hors he satte
Vpon his hede a flaundrissh beủer hatte
His botis clapsid feir and fetisly
His resons he spake fulle solempneli
Sownyng alwey thencrece of his wynyng
He wold the See were kept for any thing
Betwene Middilburgh and Orwelle
Wel coude he in eschaunge shieldis selle
This wurthi man ful wel his witte besett
Ther wist no wight that he was in dette
So statly was he of his goủernaunce
With his bargeyns ⁊and wᵗith his cheuesaunce
Forsoth he was a wurthy man wᵗith all
But sothe to sey I note hough men him call
¶ A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also
That vnto logic hadde long y . goo
And lene was his hors as is a Rake
And he nas nat right fatte I vndirtake
But lookid holowe and therto soburly
Ful thredebare was his oủerest courtpye
For he had goten him yit no benefice
Nor was so worldli forto haue office
For him was leuer haue at his beddꝭes hede
Twenti bokis cladde in blak or rede
Of Aristotle and his Philosophie
Than Roobis riche or fidil or gay sautry
But al be that he was a Philosophir
Yit had he but litle gold in Cofir
But Alle that he myght of his frendꝭes hent
On bookis and on lernyng he it spent
Of studie toke he most cure ⁊and most hede
Not a word spac he more than was nede
And that was seid in fourm ⁊and reủerence
And short and quikke ⁊and ful of high sentēnce
Sownyng in moral v̉ertue was his speche
And gladli wold he lern and gladli teche
¶ A Sergeant of lawe ware and wise
That often had ben at Parvise
Ther was also ful riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of gret reủerence
He semed such his wurdis wer so wise
Iustice he was ful ofte in assise
Bi patent and bi plain cōmmissiou
For his science and for his high renou
Of fees and Roobis had he many one
So gret a purchacer was nowher none
Al was fee simple to hym in effect
His purchasing might not be infect
No wher so bisy a man as he þ̉er nas
And yit he semed bisier than he was
In termes had he case and domes all
Þᵗat fro the time of king william was y fall
Therto he coude endite ⁊and make a thing
Ther coude no wight pinche at his writīng
And eủery statute coude he plain bi rote
He rode but homeli in a medlee cote
Girt with a seint of silk wᵗith barris smale
Of his array telle I no lenger tale
¶ A Frankleyn was in his cumpany
White was his berde as is the daisie
Of his complexiou he was sanguine
Wel loued in the morow a sopp in wine
To live in delite was euer his wonne
For he was Epicorues own sonne
Þat held oppiniou that plain delite
Was veray felicite parfit
An housholder and that a grete was he
Seint Iulian he was in his cuntre
His brede his ale was alweyes aft̉er one
A bett̉er envined man was neủer none
Without bakemete was neủer his hous
Of fressh fissh and flessh ⁊and þᵗat so plenteuoꝰus
It sned his hous of mete and drink .
Of all deintees þat men coude bethink
Aftir the sundrie seasons of the yer
So chaungid he his mete and his souper
Ful many a fatte partrich had he in Mue
And many a breme ⁊and many a luce in stue
Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
Poynant and sharp and redi al his gere
His table dormaunt in his halle alwey
Stood redi couerd al the long day
At Sessions ther was he lord and sire
Ful oft time he was knight of the shire
A Shireve had he ben and Countour
Was nowher such a wurthie vauesour
¶ An haburdassher and a Carpinter
A Webbe . a Dyer and a Tapicer
Al thei were clothid in one lyueree
Of a solempne and a grete frat̉ernite
Ful fressh and new her gere y pikid was
Her knyues were chaped not with bras
But all with siluer wrought ful clene ⁊and wele
Their girdils and their pouchis eủery dele
Wel semed eche of them a feir bourgeis
To sitte in a gild halle on a Deys
Eủerych for the wisdam that he can
Was shappli to ben an Aldirman
For catel had thei enough and rent
And eke their wyues wold it all assent
And ellis certeyn thei wer to blame
It is ful feir to ben y clepid madame
And go to vigils alle before
And haue a mantel rialli y bore
¶ A Cook thei had wᵗith hem for the nones
To boile the chekens wᵗith the maribones
And poudir mchaunt tart and galingale
Wel coude he kn know a draught of londou ale
He coude roste and sethe and boile and frye
Make mortreus and wele bake a pye
But gret harm was it as thought me
That on his shynne a mormal had he
For blankmanger that made he wᵗith þᵉ best
¶ A Shipman was þ̉er wonnyng ferr bi west
For ought I woot he was of dertmouth
He rood vpon a Rounsi as he couthe
In a goun of falding to the knee
A dagger hanging on A lace had he
About his necke vndir his arm a doun
The hoot somer had made his hue al broun
And certeinli he was a good felawe
Ful many a draught of wine had he draw
Fro Burdeux ward whils the chapma slepe
Of nyce conscience toke he no kepe
If that he fought and had the higher hond
By watir he sent hem home to eủery lond
But of his craft to reken wel his tides
His stremes and his daungers him besides
His herborou and his mone his lodemenage
Ther nas none such from hull to Cartage
Hardi he was and wise to vndirtake
Wᵗith many a tempest had his berd be shake
He knew al the hauens as thei were
Fro Scotlond to the Cape of funister
And eủery crike in Britayne and i in Spayn
His barge y clepid was the Maudleyne
¶ Ther was also a Doctour of Phisic
In al the world ne was ther one him like
To speken of Phisic and of Surgery
For he was y groundid in Astronomye
He kept his pacient a fulle gret dele
In his houres bi his magic naturell
Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent
Of his ymages for his pacient
He knew the cause of euery malady
Were it hoot or cold moiste or drye
And wher it engendrid ⁊and of what humoᵘur
He was a veray parfite practisour
The cause y knowen ⁊and of his harm þᵉ rote
Anon he yaue the seke man his bote
Ful redi had he his Appoticaryes
To send him his dreggis ⁊and his letuaries
For eche of hem made othir forto wynne
Their frendship was not new to begyn
Of his diete mesurable was he
For it was of no Superfluite
But of gret norisshing and digestible
His studie was but litle in the bible
In sanguine and in perce he clad was all
Y lyned with taffata and wᵗith sendalle
And yit he was but easy of dispence
He kept that he wanne in the pestilence
For gold in phisic is a Cordiall
Therfor he loued gold in especiall
¶ A good wif ther was besides Bathe
But she was sumdel deef ⁊and þat was scathe
Of clothe making she had such an haunt
She passid hem of Ipres and of Gaunt
In al the parissh wif was ther none
That to offring S beforn hir shuld gone
And if ther did certeyn so wroth was she
That she was out of alle charite
Hir kerchifꝭes ful fine were of grounde
I durst swere thei weiden ten pounde
That on a sunday weren vpon hir hede
Hir hosen wer of fine scarlet rede
Ful streit y teyed ⁊and shone ful moist ⁊and new
Bold was hir face and feir and rede of hue
She was a wurthi woman al hir lyue
Husbondis at the church dore she had fyue
Withouten othir cumpani in youth
But therof nedis not to speke as nowth
And thrice had she ben at Ierusalem
She had passid many a strong streme
At Rome she had ben and at Boleyn
In Galis at seint Iame and at Coleyn
She couth moche of wandring bi the wey
Gat tothid was she sotheli forto seye
Vpon an ambuler easili she satte
Y wimpild wel . and on hir hede an hatte
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe
A foot mantel about hir hippis large
And on hir helis A peir of sporis sharp
In felaship wel couth she laugh ⁊and carp
Of remedies of loue she couth ꝑperchaunce
For she couth of that Art the olde daunce
¶ A good man ther was of Religiou
He was a poor parsoıı̄un of a toun
But riche he was of holi thought ⁊and werk
He was also a lerned man a Clerk
That cristis gospel truli wold preche
His parisshen deuoutly he wold teche
Benyngne he was and wondir diligent
And in aduersite also fulle pacient
And such he was pued ful ofte sithis
Ful looth were him to curs for his tithis
But rathir wold he yeue out of dout
Vnto his poor parisshens about
Of his offring and eke of his substuᵃnce
He couth in a litle thing haue sufficiaunce
Wide was his parissh ⁊and housis ferr asondir
But he lette not for rayne ne thundir
In sekenesse or in mischef to visite
The ferrest of his parissh moche ⁊and lit
Vpon his fete And in his hand a staffe
This noble ensample to his shepe he gaffe
That first he wrought ⁊and aft̉erward he tauȝt
Out of the gospel he the wurdis raught
And this figure he hadde therto
That if gold rust what shuld Iren do
For if a preest be foule on whom we trust
No wundir is a lewde man to rust
Shame it is and if a pste take kepe
A shitten shephurd and a clene shepe
Wel aught a prest ensample forto yeve
By his clennes hou that his shepe shuld lyue
He sette not his benefice vnto hire
And leue his shepe encumbird in the myre
And rynne to londoıı̄un vnto seint poulis
To sechen him a Chauntery for soulis
Or with a broþirhede to be withold
But duellis at home and kepis wel his fold
So that the folc ne make it not a mistery
He was a shephurd and not a mcenary
And though he holi were and vertuous
He was not to sinful men to despitous
Ne of his speche daungerus ne digne
But in his teching discrete and benyngne
To draw folk to heuen with feirnesse
Bi good ensample this was his bisinesse
But it were any parsooıı̄un obstinate
What so he were of high or low estate
Him wold he snybbe sharpli for the nones
A bettir prest I trow no wher none is
He waitid aftir no pompe ne reủerence
Nor maked him a spiced conscience
But cristis lore and his apostles twelue
He taught but first he folued it himselue
¶ With him ther was A plouȝman hˢ broþ̉er
That had y lad of dunge ful many A fothir
A true swinker and a good was he
Lyuyng in peas and parfite charite
God loued he best with alle his hool hert
At al times though him gramed or smert
And then his neibour right as himselue
He wold thressh and therto dike ⁊and delue
For cristis sake for eủery poor wight
Wᵗithouten hire if it lay in his might
His tithis paid he ful feire and wel
Bothe in his ꝓpropre swinke ⁊and in his catel
In a tabard he rood vpon A Meer
¶ Ther was also a Reve and a Miller
A Somonour and a pardoner also
A Maunciple and myselue þ̉erwer no mo .
The Miller was a stout carle for þᵉ nones
Ful bigge he was of braun ⁊and eke of bones
That p̉reued wel . for eủer ther he cam
At wrestling he wanne alwey the gam
He was short shuldird brood a thik carr
Þ̉er nas no dore that he nold heve of barr .
Or breke it at a rennyng wᵗith his hede .
His berd as any sow or fox was rede .
And therto brood As it were a Spad
Vpon the toppe right on his nose he had
A wert . and theron stood a tuft of heris
Rede as brustils of a Sowis eris
His nosethrillis were blac and wide .
A Swerd and a bokeler bare he bi his side
His mouth as gret was as a fourneis
He was a Iangler as goliardeis
And that was most of synne ⁊and harlotries
Wel couth he stele corne and tolle thries
And yit he had a thumbe of gold parde
A white coot and a blue hood werid he
A bagpipe wel couth he blow and soun
And therwᵗithal he brought us out of toun
¶ A gentil Maunciple was þ̉er of Temple
Of whom al Catours might take exemple
Forto be wise in bying of vitailes
For whethir he paid or took bi tailles
Algate he waitid so in his acate
That he was ay beforn and in good state
Now is not that of god a ful gret grace
That such a lewde mannes witte shal pace
The wisdam of an hepe of lerned men
Of maistirs had he moo than thrice tenne
That were in lawe expert and curious
Of which ther were a doseyn in an hous
Wurthi to be stuwardis of rent and lond
Of any lord that is in Englond
To make him lyue bi his ꝓpropre good
In honour dettles but if he were wode
Or lyue as scarceli as him list desire
And able forto helpen alle a Shire
In any case that might falle or happe
And yit this maunciple sette þeir aldir capp
¶ The Reue was a sclendir coloric man
His berd was shaue as nigh as eủer it can
His here was bi his eris rounde y shorn
His toppe was dockid like a prest beforne
Ful long were his leggis and ful lene
Like a Staffe . ther was no calf y sene
Wel couthe he kepe a garner and a byn
Ther was none Auditour couth on him wyn
Wel wist he bi the drought and bi the rayn
The yilding of his sede and of his grayne
His lordis shepe his nete his deyerie
His swine his hors his gese and his pultrie
Was hooli in this Reues gouernyng
And bi his couenaunt yaue the rekenyng
Syn that his lord was xxᵗⁱ . yere of age .
Ther couth no man bring him in arrerage
Ther ne was bailli herd neithir hyne
That he ne couth his sleight ⁊and his covyne
Thei were adrad of him as of the dethe
His wonnyng was ful feir vpon an heth
Wᵗith grene trees y shadowed was his place
He couth bett̉er than his lord purchace
Ful riche he was y storid priueli
His lord couth he pleas wel subtili
To yeue and lene him of his own goo
And haue a thank and yit a coot and an hood
In youthe lerned he had a good mister
He was a wel good wright a Carpinter
This Reve he sate upon a wel good stot
That was a pomeli grey and hight scot
A long surcote of perce upon he had
And bi his side he bare a rusti blad
Of norfolk was the Reue of which I tell
Be side a toun men calle it Baldiswel
Tuckid he was as is a frere about
And eủer he rood the hindirst of our rout
¶ A Somonoᵘur ther was wᵗith us in þᵗat place
That had a fire rede cherubins face
For saucefleme was he wᵗith iyen narow
And hoot he was and lecherous as a sparou
With scalled browis and pilled berd
Of his visage children were aferd
Ther nas quicsiluer litarge ne brenston
Burage Corus nor oile of tartre none
Ne oynement that wold clense and bite
That him might help of his whelkꝭes white
Nor of the knobbis sitting on his chekis
Wel loued he garlik oynons and eke lekꝭes
And forto drink strong wine rede as blode
Than wold he speke and crie as he wer wode
And whan that he had wel drunken the wine
Than wold he no word speke but latine
A fewe t̉ermes he hadde two or thre
That he had lerned out of sum degre
No wundir is he herd it alle the day
And eke ye know wele hou that a Iay
Can clepe watte as wel as the poop
But whoso couth in oþ̉er thingꝭes him grope
Than had he spent alle his Philosophie
Ay questio quid Iuris wold / he crie
He was a gentil harlot and a kinde
A bett̉er felou shuld men not finde
He wold suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe to haue his Concubyne
A twelue month / and excuse him at full
Ful priueli a finche eke coude he pulle
And if he founde owhere a good felaw
He wold teche him to haue none awe
In such case . of the Archediacons curs
But if a mannes soule were in his purs
For in his purs he shuld y punisshid be
Curs is the Ardiacons helle seid he
But wel I woot he lied right in dede
Of cursing ought eche gilti man drede
For curse wil slee right as soiling saueth
And also war him of a Significauit
In daunger had he at his owne gise
Yong gerlis of the same Diocise .
And knew her counceil ⁊and was al þ̉er rede
A garlond had he sette vpon his hede
As gret as it were for an ale stake
A bokeler had he made of a Caak
¶ Wᵗith him ther rood a gentle pardoner
Of Rouncyuale . his frend and his comper
That streight was come fro the court of Rome
Ful loude he song com hidir loue come
The Somonour bare to him a stiffe burdoun
Was neuer trumpe of half so gret a soun
This pardoner had heer as yelou as wex
But smothe it hing as doth a strike of flex
By vncis hing his lockes that he hadde
And therwith he his shuldirs oủerspradde
But thynne it lay bi culpons one and one
And hood for iolite werid he none
For it was trussid up on his walet
Him thought he rood al of the new Iette
Distheuelid saue his cappe he rood al bare
Such glaring iyen had he as an hare
A v̉ernacle had he sowed upon his cappe
His walet aforne him in his lappe
Brett ful of pardoıı̄un comen fro Rome al hot
A voice he had as small as hath a goot
No berd had he ne neuer shuld haue
As smothe it was as it were late y shaue
I trow he were a gelding or a mare
But of his craft from Berwik vnto war
Ne was ther such anothir pardonere
For in his male he had a pillow bere
Which as he seid was oure ladi vaile
He seid he had a gobet of the Saile
That seint petir had when þat he went
Vpon the See . til IħuIhesu him hent
He hadde a cros of latou ful of stones
And in a glas he had piggis bones
But wᵗith this Reliques when þat he fond
A poor parsou duelling vpon lond
Vpon one day he gat him more money
Than that parsou gat in monthis twey
And thus with feined flatery and iapes
He made the parsou and the peple his apes
But truli to tellen at the laste
He was in church a noble eccliaste
Wel couth he rede a lessou and a storie
But aldir best he sang an offertorie
For wel he wist whan that song was sunge
He must preche and wel affile his tunge
To wynne siluer as he wel coude
Therfore he sang the merierli ⁊and loude
¶ Nowe haue I told you sothli in a clause
Thastate tharray the nombre ⁊and eke the cause
Whi that assemblid was this cumpany
In Suthwerk at this gentil hostrye
That hight the tabard fast bi the belle
But now is time to you forto telle
Hou that we bare us that ilke night
Whan that we were in that hostrie alight
And aftir wil I telle of oure viage
And alle the remenaunt of oure pilgⁱmage
But first I pray you of youre curtasy
That ye narret it not my villany
Though that I plainli speke in þis matier
To telle you their wurdis and þeir cher
Ne though I speke their wurdis ꝓpropirli
For this ye knowen al so wele as I .
Who shal telle a tale aftir a man
He mut reherce as nygh as euer he can
Eủerych wurd if it be in his charge
Al speke he neuer so rude and large
Or ellis he must telle his tale vntrue
Or feyn thing or finde wurdis new
He may not spare al though he wer hˢ broþ̉er
He must as wel seye oo wurd as anoþir
Crist spac himselue ful brood in holi writ
And wel ye woot no villain is it
Eke Plato seith whoso can him rede
The wurdis mut be cosin to the own dede
Also I pray you to foryeue it me
Al haue I not sette folk in their degre
Here in this tale as that thei shuld stond
My witte is short ye may wel vndirstond
¶ Greet chere made oure host us eủerychon
And to souper sette vs he anone
He ʆserued vs with vitail at the best
Strong was the wine ⁊and wel to drink us lest
A semeli man oure host was withall
Forto ben a Marchalle in an halle
A large man he was with iyen stepe
A feirer bourgeis was ther none in chepe
Bold of his speche and wise ⁊and wel y tauȝt
And of manhode him wantid right nouȝt
Eke therto he was right a mery man
And aftir souper pleyen he began
And spac of mirth among othir thingꝭ
Whan that we had made oure rekenyngꝭ
And seid thus / now lordis truly
Ye ben to me welcum right hertili
For be my trouth if that I shal not ly
I saw not this yere so mery a cumpany
Attones in this herborou as be now
Fayne wold I do you mirth wist I hou
And of a mirth right now I am bethou
To do you ease And it shal cost you nought
Ye gone to Cauntirbury god you spede
The blisful martir quite you your mede
And wel I wote as ye gone bi the wey
Ye shapen you to tale and to pleye
For truli cumfort ne mirth is þ̉er non
To ride bi the wey dombe as a stone
And therfore wil I make you disport
As I seid erst and do you sum cumfort
And if you liked alle bi one Assent
Forto stonde hool at my Iugement
And forto werken as I shal you seye
To morow when ye riden bi the weye
Now be my fadir soule that is dede
But ye be mery I wil geve you my hede
Hold up your handis wᵗithouten mor speche
Oure counsail was not long forto seche
Vs thought it was not wurth to make it uyce
And grauntid him wᵗithouten moor avice
And bad him sey his verdit as him lest
Lordingꝭes qd he now herkneth for the best
But takith it not in disdeyn I you prayen
This is the point to speke short ⁊and plaine
That eche of you to shorten wᵗithour weye
In this viage shal tellen talis tuey
To Cauntirbury ward . I mene it so
And homward ye shul tellen othir two
Of auentures that whilom haue befall
And which of you that berith him best of all
This is to seye that tellith in this case
Talis of best sentence and most solace
Shal haue a Souper at oure aldir cost
Here in this place sitting bi this post
Whan that we come ageyn fro Cautbury
And forto make you the more mer
I wil myselue goodli with you ride
Right at myn own cost ⁊and be your gide
And whoso wil my Iugement wᵗith sey
Shal pay alle that we spend bi the wey
And if ye vouchsaue that it be so
Telle me anone wᵗithout wurdis moo
And I wil erli shape me therfore
This thingꝭes were grauntid ⁊and our othis swor
Wᵗith ful good hert / ⁊and praiden him also
That he wold vouchsauf forto do so
And that he wold ben oure goủernour
And of oure talis Iuge and reportour
And sette a souꝑper at a certeyne price
And we wil rulid be at his deuyse
In high and low . ⁊and thus bi one assent
We ben accordid to stond to his Iugemēmt
And ther upon the wine was fette anon
We dranken and to rest went echone
Withouten any lenger tarying
At morou whan the day began to spⁱring
Vp rose oure host / and was our aldir cok
And gaderid vs togiders in a flocke
And furth we riden a litle mor than A paas
Vnto the watring of Seint Thomas
And ther oure host began his hors to rest
And seid lordingꝭes herkneth if you lest
Ye woot your forward and ye it recorde
If euensong and morowsong both accorde
Lat se now who shal telle the first tale
As eủer mote I drink wine or ale
Whoso be rebel vnto my Iugement
Shal pay for al that bi the wey is spent
Now drawith cutte or that we furþ̉er twyn
He that hath the shortist shalle begynne
Sir knight qd he my maist̉er ⁊and my lord
Now drawith cutte for that is myn acord
Cometh nere qd he my ladi Prioresse
And ye sir clerk lat be your shamefastnes
Nor studie not ley hand to euery man
Anon to draw eủery wight beganne
And shortly to tellen as it was
Were it bi auenture chaunce or cas
The sothe is this the cutte fil to þᵉ kniȝt
Of which ful glad and blithe was eủery wiȝt
And telle he must his tale as was resou
By forwarde and by Composiciou
As ye han herd what nedith wurdꝭes mo
And whan this good man sie þᵗat it was so
As he that wise was and obedient
To kepe his forward by free assent
He seid syn I shal begynne the game
What welcum be the cutte in goddis name
Now lat us ride and herkneth what I seye
And wᵗith that wurd we riden furth our wey
And he began with right a mery chere
His tale anon . and seid as ye may here
The prolog of the knightꝭes tale
Whilom as olde Stories tellen̄ vs
Ther was a Duke þat hight Theseus
Of Athenes he was lord ⁊and goủernour͗e
And in his time such a Conquerour͗e
That grett̉er was ther none vnd̉er the Sūnne
Ful many a riche cuntre had he wūnne
What with his wisdom and his chiualry
He conquerd all the Ream of Feminy
That whilom was clepid Scithia
And weddid the Quene Ipolita
And brought hir home wᵗith him to hˢis cūntr͗e
With much glorie and gret solempnite
And eke hir yong sustir͗e Emelie
And thus with victorie ⁊and wᵗith melodie
Lete I this noble Duke to Athenes ride
And al his host in armes him beside
And certis if it nere to long to here
I wold haue told you fulli the maner͗e
Hou wonne was the Ream of Feminy
By Theseus and his Cheualry