Pw · Sussex, Petworth House Leconfield MS 7
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Pw/
[1r]
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote
The drought of marche hath perced to þe roote
And bathes euery veyne in swich licoure
Of which vertue engendrid is þe floure
Whan zephirus ek with his swete breth
Inspired hath in euery holt ⁊and heth
The tendre croppis ⁊and þe yonge sonne
Hath in the ram his half cours yronne
And smale foules make melodye
That slepen al nyght with open eyghe
So priker hem nature in here corages
Than longen folk to gon in pilgrymages
And palmers for to seke straunge strondes
To ferne halowes couthe in sondry londes
And specially fram euery shires ende
Of engelond to Caunterbury they wende
The holy blisseful martir for to seke
That hem hath holpen when that þey were seke
Byfille þat in that sesoıı̄un on aday
In southwerk atte Tabbard as I lay
Redy to wende on my pilgrymage
To Cantirbury with ful devout corage
At nyht was come in to þat hostellerye
Wel nyne and twenty on a companye
Of sondry folk by auenture yfalle
In felaschipe ⁊and pilgrymes were þey alle
That toward Caıı̄untirbery wolde ryde
The Chambres and stables weren wyde
And wel weren esed atte beste
And schortly whan the sonne was to reste
So hadde I spoken with hem euerychon
That I was of here felaschipe anon
And made forward erly for to ryse
To take oure wey there as I you deuyse
But natheles whil I haue tyme and space
Or þat I ferther in this tale pace
Me thynkeþ it accordant to resoıı̄un
To telle yow al the Condicioıı̄un
Of ech of hem so as it semed me
And whiche they were. ⁊and of what degre
And eke in what array þat they were Inne
And at a knyghte þan I wol first bigynne
Aknyght þer was ⁊and þat a worthy man
That fro þe tyme þat he ferst bigan
To riden out. he louede chyualrye
Trouthe ⁊and honour fredom and curtesye
Ful worthy was he in his lordis werre
And therto hadde he ryden no man ferre
As wel in Cristendom as in hethenesse
And euere honoured for his worthynesse
¶ At Alisaundre he was whan it wonne
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
Aboven alle nacioıı̄uns in Pruce
In lettowe had he reysed and in Ruce
No cristene man so ofte of his degre
In Gernade at the sege ek hadde he be
Of Algezire and riden in belmarye
At Lyeis was he and at Satalye
When they were wonne ⁊and in the grete see
At many a noble armeye had he by
At mortel batailles had he ben fyftene
And fouhten for oure faith at tramessene
In lystes thryes. and ay slayne his foo
This ilke worthy knyght had ben also
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
Ayeyn an othir hethen in Turkye
And euere more he hadde asouereyne prys
And though þat he was worthy he was wys
And of his port as meke as is a mayde
He neuer yet no velonye no sayde
In al his lyf vnto nomanere wight
He was a verrey parfit gentil knyght
For to tellen yow of his array
His hors weren gode. but he was not gay
Of fustyon̄ he werede a gepoıı̄un
Al bismotered with his habirgeoıı̄un
For he was late ycome from his viage
And wente for to don his pilgrymage
With hym þer was his sone a yong squyere
A louyere and a lusty bachelere
With lockes crulle as they were leyd in presse
Of twenty yere of age he was I gesse
Of his stature he was of euene lengthe
And wondirly delyuere and gret of strengthe
And he hadde be somtyme in chyuachye
In Flaūnndres in Artoys and in Pikardye
And born hīm wel as of so litil space
In hope to stonde in his lady grace
Embroyded was he as it were amede
All ful of fresshe floures white and rede
Syngynge he was. or floytynge al the day
He was also fressh as ys þe moneth of may
Short was his gowne with sleves longe ⁊and wyde
Wel cowde he sitte on an hors ⁊and faire ryde
He koude songes make. and wel endite
Iuste and eke daūnce and wel portrey ⁊and write.
So hote he louede. that by nygter tale
He slepte namore than doth a nyghtyngale
Corteys he was lowely and servisable
And karf biforn his fadir at the table
Anothir yeman hadde he ⁊and seruaıı̄untes na mo
At that tyme. for hym lyst ryde so
And he was clad in coote ⁊and hood of grene
A sheef of pocok arewes bryght and kene
Vndir his belt he bar full thriftily
Wel couthe he dresse his takel yemanly
Hise arewes drouped noght with feþeres lowe
And in his hond he bar a myghty bowe
A not hed hadde he with a broun visage
Of wode craft wel couthe he al the vsage
Vppon his arme he bar a gay bracer
And by his side a swerd and a bokeler
And on that oþir syde a gay daggere
Harneysed wel ⁊and sharp as poynt of spere
A xp̄christoffre on his brest of seluer shene
An horn he bar the bawdrik was of grene
A foster was he sotly as I gesse
Ther was a nōnne also aprioresse
That of hir smylynge was ful symple ⁊and coy
Hire grettest ooth was but by seyte loy
And she was clepid ma dame Englentyne
Ful wel she song the seruyse divyne
Entuned in hire nose ful semyly
And frenshe she spak ful faire and fetysly
Aftir the skole of Stratford atte bowe
For frensch of Parys was to hire vnknowe
At mete wel I taught was sche with alle
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle
Ne wete hire fyngres in hire sause depe
Wel couthe she carye a morsel ⁊and wel kepe
That no drope ne fille vppon hire breste
In curtesye was set ful mochel hire leste
Hire ouer lippe wiped she so clene
That in hir cuppe ther was no ferthing sene
Of grece whan she dronken hadde hire draughte
Ful semyly aftir hir mete she raughte
And sikerly sche was of gret disporte
And ful plesaunt and amable of porte
And peynede hire to counterfete chere
Of court. and to ben estatliche of manere
And to be holden digne of reuerence
But for to speken of hir Conciense
She was so charitable and so pitous
She wolde wepe yif that she sauh a mous
Kaugh in a trappe yif it were ded or bledde
Of smale houndes had she that she fedde
With rostid flessh or mylk or wastelbrede
But sore wepte she yf oon of hem were dede
Or yf men smoot yt with a yerde smerte
And al was conscience ⁊and tendre herte
Ful semeliche hire wympil pynchid was
Hir nose was streight. hire eighen grey as glas
Hire mouth ful smal ⁊and therto softe and rede
But sekerly she hadde a fair forhede
It was almost aspanne brood I trowe
For hardely she was nouht vndirgrowe
Ful fetys was hir cloke as I was waar
Of smal coral aboute hir arme she baar
A paire of bedys gaudid al with grene
And ther on hyng a broche of gold ful shene
On which þer was first writen a crowned A
And aftir amor vincit omnia
An othir Nonne with hire hadde she
That was hire chapeleyn. ⁊and p̉restes thre
Amonk þer was a fair for the maistrye
An out ridere that loued venerye
A manly man to ben an Abbot able
Ful many a deynte hors hadde he in stable
And whanne he rood . men myhte his brydill here
Gynglynge in a whistelynge wynd as clere
And eke as loude as dooth þe chapel belle
Ther as this lord was keper of the selle
The reule of seynt Maure or of seint Benet
Bi cause þat yt was olde ⁊and somdel streit
This ylke monke leet olde þynges pace
And heeld aftir the newe world the space
He yaf nouht of the text a pulled hen
That seith that hunters be nouht holy men
Ne that a monke whan he is recheles
Is likened tille a fisshe þat is watirles
This is to seye a monke out of his cloistre
But thilke text held he nouht worth an oystre
And I seyde his opynioıı̄un was good
What shulde he studie. and make hymself wood
Vpon a book alwey in cloistre to poure
Or swynke with his hondis and laboure
As Austyn bit. hou shal the world be serued
Lat Austyn haue his swynk to hīm reserued
Therfore he was a pricasour aright
Grehoundes he hadde / as swift as foule in flight
Of prikynge ⁊and of huntynge for the hare
Was al his lust for no cost wole he spare
I seigh hise sleves I purfiled at the hond
With grys ⁊and that the fynest of a lond
And for to festne his hood vndir the Chynne
He hadde of gold wrought a ful curious pȳnne
A loue knotte in the gretter ende þer was
His hed was ballyd that shon as ony glas
And eke his face. as he hadde ben anoynt
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt
Hise eighen stepe and rollynge in his hede
That stemede as a fourneys of a lede
Hise botes souple his hors in grete estate
Now certeynly he was a fair prelate
He nas nat pale as a forpyned goost
A fat swan louede he best of any roost
His palfray was broun̄ as ys a berye
A Frere ther was a watoune ⁊and merye
A lymytour a ful solempne man
In alle the ordres foure is noon that can
So mochel of daliaıı̄unce and fair langage
He hadde made ful many a Mariage
Of yonge wōmmen at his owne cost
Vn to his ordre he was a noble post
Ful wel biloued ⁊and famulier was he
With frankeleynes oueral in his contre
And with worthy wōmmen of the toun
For he hadde power of confessioıı̄un
As seide hym self more than a Curat
For his ordre he was lycenciat
Ful swetely herede he confessioıı̄un
And plesaunt was his absolucioıı̄un
He was an esy man to yeue penaıı̄unce
Ther as he wiste to haue agood pitaıı̄unce
For wnto apore ordre for to yeue
Is signe that a man ys wel yshreve
For yf he yaf he dorste make avaūnt
He wiste þat a man was repentaunt
For many a man is so hard of his herte
He may noght wepe al þouh him sore smerte
Ther fore in stede of wepynge and preieres
Men mote yeue seluer / to the pore freres
His tipet was ay fassed ful of knyfes
And pynnes for to yeue faire wyfes
And certeynly he hadde a mery note
Wel coude he syngen and playen on a roote
Of yeddynges he bar vttirly the pryce
His necke white was as the flour delyce
Therto he was strong as a champioıı̄un
He knew the tauernes wel in every toıı̄un
And eueriche Osteller and tapestere
Bet than a lazer or a beggere
For vnto swich a worthy man as he
Acordith nouht as by his faculte
To haue with swich seke lazers aqueyntaıı̄unce
It is nouht honest / it may nouht avaıı̄unce
For to delen with swich poraille
But al with riche and sillers of vitaille
And oueral ther as profite sholde aryse
Curtays he was and lowely of seruyse
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous
He was the beste beggere in his hous
For þouh a widewe hadde nouht a sho
So plesaunt was his Inprincipio
Yet wolde he haue a ferthyng or he wente
His purchace was wel bettere þan his rente
And rage he couthe as it were riht a whelpe
In louedaies ther coude he mochil helpe
For ther he was not liche a cloistrere
With a thredbare cope as a pore scolere
But he was lyke a maistir or a pope
Of double worstede was his semy cope
That rounded as a belle out of the presse
Somwhat he lipsede for his wantonesse
To make his englyssh swete vppon his tonge
And in his harpynge whan þᵗat he had songe
Hise eyghen twynclede in his hede aright
As doon the sterres in a frosty nyht
This worthy lymytour was clepid hubert
A Marchant was ther with a longe berd
In motle and heyh on horse he satte
Vppon his heued a flaundrisshe beuer hatte
Hise botis clapsid faire and fetisly
His resoıı̄uns he spak ful solempnely
Shewynge alwey the encres of his wynnynge
He wolde the see were kept for any thynge
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle
Wel coude he in eschange sheldes selle
This worthy man ful wel his witte bisette
Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette
So estatly was he of his gouernaıı̄unce
With his bargaynes ⁊and wᵗith his cheuyssaıı̄unce
Forsothe he was aworthy man with alle
But sothely to seyne I not how men hȳm calle
A Clerk þer was of Oxenforde also
That vnto logyk hadde longe I go
As lene was his hors as ys a rake
And he was not right fat I wndirtake
But lokede holewh and þerto soburly
Ful thredbare was his ouerest Courtepy
For he hadde yit geten hīm no benefice
Ne was so wordly to haue office
For hym was leuere haue at his bed hede
Twenty bokes clad in blak or rede
Of Aristotle and his philosophie
Than robes riche or fithel or gay sautrye
But al be that he was a philosofre
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre
But al that he myhte of his frendes hente
On bokes and on lernynge he it spente
And besily gan for tho soules preye
Of hem that yaf hȳm wharwith to skole aye
Of studie took he moost cure ⁊and most hede
Naught a word spak he / more than was nede /
And that was seid in forme and reuerence
And short and quyk and ful hey sentence
Sownynge in moral vertue was his speche
And gladly wolde he lerne ⁊and gladly teche
A sergaıı̄unt of the lawe / war ⁊and wys
That often hadde ben atte parvys
That was also ful riche of excellence
Discret he was and of gret reuerence
He semed swich hise wordis wern so wise
Iustice he was ful often in assise
By patent ⁊and by pleyn cōmmyssioıı̄un
For his science. and for his high renoıı̄un
Of fees and robes hadde he many on
So gret a purchassour was nowher non
Al was fee symple to him in effecte
His purchassynge myht nouht ben infecte
Nowher so besy a man as he ther nas
And yet he semed bisiere than he was
In termes hadde he caas ⁊and domes alle
That from the tyme of kyng william were falle
Therto he cowde endite and make a thyng
Ther couthe no wight pynche at his writyng
And euery statute couthe he pleyne by roote
He rood but homely in a medle coote
Gert with a sent of selk wiþ barres smale
Of his array telle I no lenger tale
A Frankeleyn was in his compaignye
Whit was his berd as is the daieseye
Of his complexioıı̄un he was sangwyne
Wel louede he by the morewe a soppe in wyne
To lyuen in delite euere was his wone
For he was Epiournes owne sone
That helde opynyoıı̄un þat pleyn delite
Was verrey felicite parfite
An houshaldere and that a greet was he
Seint Iulyan he was in his contre
His bred his ale was alleweys aftir oon
A bettir envyned man / was nowher noon /
With oute bakemete was neuere his hous
Of fissche and fleisshe ⁊and þat so plentevous
It snewede in his hous of mete and drynke
Of alle deyntethes that men couthe thinke
Aftir the sondry sesons of the yere
So changed he his mete and his sopere
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in Mwe
And many a breme ⁊and many a luce in stewe
Wo was his cook but his sauce were
Poynant and sharp̄ and redy al his gere
His table dormant in his halle al way
Stood redy couered al the longe day
At sessioıı̄uns ther was he lord and sire
Ful often tyme he was knyght of the shire
An anelas and a gypsere al of silke
Heng at his girdel white as morne mylke
A sherreff had he ben / ⁊and a compⁱtour
Was nowher swich a worthy vauasour
A habirdasshere and a Carpenter
A Webbe. a Diere and a Tapecere
And they were clothid alle in oo lyuere
Of a solempne and a greet fraternyte
Ful fressh and newe here gere apiked was
Here knyfes nere chap nouht with bras
But al with syluer wrought ful clene ⁊and wel
Here gerdelles and her pouches euery del
Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
To sitten in a yeldhalle on a deys
Eueriche for the wisdom that he can
Was shaply for to bene an Aldirman
For catell hadde they I nouh and Rente
And eke her wifes wolde it wel assente
And elles certeyn they were to blame
It is ful fair to be clepid Madame
And gon to vigilies al be fore
And haue a mantel rialliche I bore
A Cook they hadde / with hem for the nones
To boille the chikenes with þe maribones
And poudre Marchant tart of Gallyngale
Wel kowde he knowe a drauht of london̄ ale
He Couthe roste ⁊and sethe ⁊and broyle ⁊and Frye
Maken Mortrews and wel bake a pye
But gret ham was it / as it thouhte me
That on his shene a mormal hadde he
For blank manger that made he with thebeste
A Shipman was ther / wonyng fer biweste
For ouht I woot he was of Dertemouthe
He rood vppon a Rouncy as he couthe
In a gowne of Faldyng to the kne
A daggar hangynge in a lace hadde he
Aboute his necke vndir his arme doıı̄un
The hote somer hadde made his hiew al broıı̄un
And Certeynly he was a good felawe
Ful many adrauht of wyn hadde he drawe
From burdeux ward while the chapmen slepe
Of nyce conscience took he no kepe
Yif that he fauht / and hadde the heihere hond
By watir he sente hem home to euery lond
But of his craft / to rikene wel his tydes
His stremes and his daunger hīm bisydes
His herberuh. his moone ⁊and his lodmanage
Ther nos noon such from hull to Cartage
Hardy he was / and wys to vndirtake
With many a tempest had his berd be shake
He knew alle the hauenes as they were
Fro gutlond to the cape de fynystere
And euery cryke in bretaygne ⁊and in Spayne
His barge y clepid was the maudeleyne
With us ther was a doctour of Fisik
In al this world ne was ther none hȳm lik
To speke of fisike and of surgerye
For he was grounded in astronomye
He kepte his pacient a ful greet del
In houres by his magik naturel
Wel couthe he fortune the assendent
Of his ymages for his pacient
He knew the cause of euery maladye
Were it of hoot or coold or moyst or drye
And wher engendred and what humour
He was a verrey parfit practisour
The cause I knowe and of his harm the roote
Anoon he yaf the sike man his boote
Ful redy hadde he hise apotecaries
To sende hem drugges / and his letuaries
For ech of hem made othir for to wȳnne
Her frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne
Wel knew he the olde Escalapius
And diascoride and ek Rufus
Olde ypocras hayly and Galien
Serapion Rasis and Auysen
Aueroys Damascien and constantyne
Bernard and Gatisden ⁊and Gilbertyne
Of his diete mesurable was he
For it was of no superfluyte
Bot of gret norshinge and digestable
His studie was but litel on the bible
In sangweyn and in perce he clad was al
Lyned with Taffata and with sendal
And yet he was but esy of dispense
He kepte that he wan in pestilence
For gold in Phisik is a cordeal
Therfore he louede gold in special
A Good wiff ther was of besides bathe
But she was somdel def ⁊and þᵗat was scathe
Of cloth makynge sche hadde such an haūnt
She passid hem of ypres and of Gaunt
In alle the parisch wif ne was ther noon
That to the offrynge toforn hir shulde goon
And yf ther dide / certeyn wroth was she
That she was out of al charite
Hir couerchefes ful fyne were of ground
I durste swere they weyeden ten pound
That on a Sonday weren vpon hire hede
Hir hosen weren of fyne scarlet rede
Ful streight I teied / and shoes ful moist ⁊and newe
Bold was hir face and faire / ⁊and red of hiewe
She was a worthi wōmman al hir lyue
Housbondes atte chirche dore she hadde fyue
With outen othir companie in youthe
But ther of nedith nouht to speke as nouthe
And thries hadde she bene at Ierusalem
She had passed many astrange strem
At Rome sche had ben / ⁊and at boloyne
In Galice at saint Iame ⁊and at Coloigne
She koude moche on wandrynge bi the weye
Gat tothid was she sothely for to seie
Vp on an Amblere esily she satte
I wympled wel and on hir heed an hatte
As brood as is a bokellere or a targe
A fot mantel abouten hire hipes large
And on hire feet apaire of spores sharpe
In felaschipe wel couthe sche lawhe ⁊and carpe
Of remedies of loue she kneuh parchaūnce
For she couthe of that art the daunce
A Good man was there of religioıı̄un
And was a pore persoıı̄un of a toıı̄un
But riche he was of holy thouht ⁊and werk
He was also a lerned man ⁊and a clerk
That Cristes gospel treuly wolde preche
His parisschens deuoutly wolde he teche
Benyngne he was and wondir diligent
And in aduersite / ful pacient
And swich he was preued ofte sithes
Ful looth were hīm to cursen for his tythes
But rather wolde he yeuen out of doute
Vnto his poure parisshens aboute
Of his offrynge and of his substānce
He couthe in litil thing han suffisānce
Wide was hise parisshe ⁊and houses fer asondir
But he ne lafte nouthir for rayne ne for thūndir
In sikenesse nor in meschief to visite
The ferrest in his parisch myche and lite
Vp on his fete / and in his hond astaff
This noble ensample to his shepe he yaf
That ferst he wroughte. and aftirward þᵗat he tauhte
Out of the gospel he þo wordes cauhte
And this figure he addede ek therto
That yf gold ruste / what shal Iren do
For if a prest be foul on whom we triste
No wondir is a lewed man to ruste
And shame it is yf aprest take kepe
A shiten sheperde and a clene shepe
Wel ouhte a preest ensample for to yeue
By his clennesse hou that his sheepp̄ shulde lyue
He set nauht his benefice to hire
And leet his sheep acombred in the myre
And ran to london vn to seint Poules
To seke hȳm a chānterye for soules
Or with a bretherhede to bene with holde
But duelte at home / ⁊and kepte wel his folde
So that the wolf ne made it not myscarye
He was a shepperde ⁊and not a mercenarie
And thouh he holy were and vertuous
He was nouht to synful men dispitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
But in his techynge discret ⁊and benygne
To drawen folk to heuene by fairnesse
By good ensample / this was his bisynesse
But it were eny persoıı̄un obstynate
What so he were of heigh or lowh estate
Hym wolde he snebbe sharply for the nones
A bettre prest I trowe þᵗat nowher noon es
He waitede aftir no pompe ⁊and reuerence
Ne maked hym a spiced conscience
But cristes lore / ⁊and hise apostles tuelue
He tauhte / but ferst he folewed in hȳmselue
With hym ther was aplouhman / was his broþir
That hadde I lad of donge ful many afothir
And a trewe swynkere ⁊and a good was he
Lyvynge in pees / and parfit charite
God loued he best with al his hole herte
At alle tymes thouh he gamed or smerte
And than his neihbure riht as hymselue
He wolde thresshe and therto dike ⁊and delue
For cristes sake / for euery pouere wight
With oute hire / yif hit lay in his myght
Hise tythis payed he ful faire and wel
Bothen of his propre swynke and his catel
In a tabbard he rood vp on a mere
Ther was also a Reve and a Mellere
A somenour and a Pardoner also
A Maunciple and my self ther nar na mo
The mellere was a strong carle for the nones
Ful bigge he was / of brawne ⁊and ek of bones
That proued wel / for oueral thare he cam
Atte wrastelynge / he wolde haue a wey the ram
He was short shuldred a thicke knarre
Ther was no dore that he ne wolde heue of barre
Or breke it at arennynge with his heed
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed
And therto brood as þouh it were a spade
Vp on the cop right of his nose he hade
A werte and þeron stood a tuft of heres
Rede as the brysteles of a sowes eres
Hise nose þrilles blak were and wyde
A swerd and a bokelere bar he be his side
His mouthe as greet was as a greet fourneys
He was a iangelere and a goliardeys
And that was moost of synne ⁊and of harlotryes
Wel couthe he stele corn / and tolle thryes
And yit he hadde a thombe of gold parde
A white cote and a blewe hood wered he
A bagge pipe wel couthe he blowe ⁊and sowne
And þerwith al he brouht us out of towne
A Gentil mānciple was þer o a temple
Of which a catour myhte take ensample
For to ben wise in biynge of vitaille
For wheþir þat he payed / or toke by taille
Algate he waitede so in his achate
That he was ay beforn and in good estate
Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace
That such a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wysdom of an hepe of lerned men
Of maystres hadde he mo þan thries ten
That were of lawe expert an Curious
Of wich ther was a doseyn in that hous
Worthy to bene stywardes of Rente ⁊and lond
Of any lord that is in Ingelond
To make hym lyue by his propre good
In honour detteles but if that he were wood
Or lyue als skarsly as hȳm lyst desire
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any cas that myhte falle or happe
And yit this Maunciple sette ther althir cappe
The Reue was a sclendre colerik man
His berd was shaue / as nyhe as euer he can
His heer was by hise eres ful rounde yshorne
His toppe was docked like a prest byforne
Ful longe were his legges and ful lene
I like a staf / ther was no calf ysene
Wel couthe he kepe a Garner or a bynne
Ther was none auditour couthe on hȳm wȳnne
Wel wiste he / by the drought ⁊and by the reyne
The yeldynge of his seed / and of his greyne
Hise lordes sheep̄ / hise neete / hise dayerie
His swyne / his hors / his stoor / ⁊and his pultrye
Was hoolly in this reues gouernynge
And by his covenānt / yaf the rekenynge
Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age
Ther couthe no man brynge hym in a rerage
Ther nas baylyf ne herde nor othir hyne
That he ne knew his sleighte ⁊and his covyne
They were a drad of hym / as of the deth
His wonynge was ful faire vpon an heth
With grene trees / shadewed was his place
He couthe bettre than his lord purchace
Ful riche he was astored pryuely
His lorde he couþe wel plese ⁊and subily
To ȝeue and lene him of his owne goode
To haue a þonke and yit a cote and hode
In ȝouþe he had lered a good mistere
He was a wel good wriȝt a Carpentere
This Reue satte vpon a wel good stot
That was al pomel grey and hight scot
A longe Surcote of Peers vppon he hadde
And by his side he bare a rusty blade
Of Northfolk was þis Reue of which I telle
Besides a toune men clepen it Baldewell
Tukked he was as is a frere aboute
And euere he rode þe hynderest of our route
A Somnoᵘur was ther wiþ vs in that place
That had a fury cherubynes face
For Sauseflewme he was wiþ eyen narowe
Als hote he was and leccherous as a sparowe
With scalled browes. blak and pilled beerde
Of his visage children weren a ferde
Ther nas quyk siluer litarge or bremston̄
Boras orsure no oyle of tartre noon̄
Ne oynement þat wold clense ⁊and byte
That him myght helpe of his whelkes white
Nor of knobbes sitting in his chekes
Wel loued he garlike. oynyoıı̄uns ⁊and eke lekes
And forto drink strong wyne rede as blode
Than wolde he speke and cry as he were wode
And whan he wel dronken had þe wyne
Than wolde he speke no worde but latyne
A fewe teermes had he two or thre
That he had lerned out of som decre
No wonder is he herd to al þe day
And eke ȝe knowen it wel how þat a Iay
Can clepe watt as wel as can þe pope
But who so couþe in oþer þing hȳm grope
Than had he spent al his Philosophie
Ay questio quid iurie wold he crye
He was a gentile harlot and a kinde
A better felawe shul men not fynde
He wolde suffre for a quarte of wyne
A good felawe to haue his concubyne
A twelue month and excuse hym at fulle
Ful pⁱriuely eke a Fynche couþe he pulle
And if he fonde owhere a good felawe
He wold techen hym to han noon awe
In such caas of þe archedekens curs
But if mānnys soule were in his purs
For in his purs he shuld punshed be
Purs is þe erchedekenes Helle seide he
But wel I wote he lyed riȝt in dede
Of cursing ouȝt eche gilty man to drede
For curs wil slee riȝt as assoyling saueth
And also war hym of a significauith
In daunger had he at his owne gyse
The yonge Geerles of þe diocise
And knewe her counsaile ⁊and what was al her rede
A Gallonde had he sette vpon his hede
As grete as it were for an ale stake
A Bokelere had he made hym of a Cake
With hym þer rode a gentile ꝐPardoner
Of rouncyuale his frende and his comper
That streght was cōmmen from þe courte of Rome
Ful lowde songe he come hider loue come
This somnoᵘur bare to hym a stif burdon̄
Was neuere trumpe of half so gret a soun̄
This ꝐPardoner had heer as ȝelowe as wexe
But smoth it henge. as doþ a strike of flexe
By ounces henge his lockes þat he had
And þerwiþ he his shulders ouersprad
But thyn it lay by culpons oon an on̄
But hode for Iolite wered he noon̄
For it was trussed vp in his walette
Hym þouȝt he rode al of þe newe gette
Discheuele sauf his cap he rode al bare
Suche glaryng eyen had he as an hare
A vernycle had he sewed vpon his cappe
His walet biforn him in his lappe
Bret ful of ꝑperdoıı̄un cōmmen from Rome al hote
A voyce he had as smal as a goote
No beerde ne had he. ne neuẻre shuld haue
As smoth it was as it were late shaue
I trowe he were a gelding or a mare
But of his craft from Barwik into ware
Ne was þer suche a noþer ꝑpardoner
For in his male he had a pilowbere
Which þat he seide was oure lady vaile
He seide he had a gobet of þe saile
That seint Peter had whan þᵗat he went
Vpon þe see to IħuIhesu crist hym hent
He had a croys of laton ful of stones
And in a glas he had pigges bones
But wiþ þise relikes whan þᵗat he fonde
A poor person dwellyng vpon londe
Vpon a day he gate hym more moneye
Þan þe persone gate in Monþes tweye
And þus wiþ feyned flateryng ⁊and Iapes
He made þe Person ⁊and þe puple his apes
But trewly to tellen at þe laste
He was in chirche a noble eccłiasteecclesiaste
Wel couþe he rede a lessōn or a storye
But alþerbest he song an offertorie
For wel he wist whan þat songe was songe
He moste preche and wel afile his tonge
To wynne siluer as hewel cowde
Therfore he songe so merily ⁊and lowde
Now have I tolld ȝou soþly in a clause
The astaat. þe aray. þe nombre ⁊and eke þᵉ cause
Why þat assembled was þis companye
In Suthwerk at þis gentil hostrye
That hight þe Tabard fast by þe belle
But nowe is tyme to ȝou forto telle
Howe þat we beren vs þat ilk nyght
Whan were in þat Hostrie a light
And after wil I tellen of our viage
And al þe remenaıı̄unt of our Pilgrymage
But furst I prey ȝou of ȝoure curtesie
That ȝe ne rette it not my vilanye
Þoo þat I pleynly speke in þis mater
To telle ȝou her wordes and her chere
Ne þouȝe he speke her wordes ꝓproprely
For þis ȝe knowen as wel as I
Who so shal telle a tale after a man
He mote reherce as nyghe as euer he can
Eủeriche word if it be in his charge
Al speke he neuere so rudely and large
Or ellis he mote telle his tale vntrewe
Or feyne þinggis or fynde wordes newe
He may not spare al þough he were his broþer
He mot also wel say. oo word as another
Crist spak him self ful brode in holy writte
And wel ȝe wote no vilanye is itte
Eke Plato seiþ who so can hȳm rede
The wordes mote be cosyn to þe dede
Also I prey ȝou forȝeue it me
Al haue I not sette folk in her degre
Here in þis tale as þat thei shuld stonde
My witte is short ȝe may wel vnderstonde
Grete chere made oure hooste vs eủerechon̄
And to þe soper sette he vs anon̄
He serued vs with vitailles at þe best
Stronge was þe wyne and wel drink vs lest
A semely man our hooste was wiþ all
Forto bene a marshal in an hall
A large man he was with yen stepe
A fairer Burges is none in chepe
Bold of his speche. and wise ⁊and wel ytauȝt
And of manhode hȳm lacked right naught
Eke þerto he was right a mery man
And after sopere pleyen he bygan
And spak of myrth amonge oþer þinges
Whan that we had made our rekenyngges
And seide þus. now lordingges trewly
Ȝe bene to me welcome riȝt hertely
For be my trouþe if þat I shal not lye
I seegh not þis ȝere so mery a companye
At ones in þis harborowe as is nowe
Fayne wold I do ȝou merth wist I howe
And of a merþe I am right now by þought
To don̄ ȝou ease and it shal cost nouȝt
Ȝe gone to canterbery god ȝou spede
Þe blisful martir. quite ȝou ȝour mede
And wel I wote. as ȝe goon by þe way
Ȝe shapen ȝou to talen and to pley
For trewly conforte ne myrthe is non̄
To riden by þe wey dombe as a stone
And þerfor wil I. make ȝou disporte
As I seide erste and don ȝou som conforte
And if ȝou likeþ alle by oon assente
Forto stonden at my Iuggement
And forto worchen as I shal ȝou seie
To morowe whan ȝe riden by þe weie
Now be my faders soule þat is dede
But ȝe be mery. I wil ȝeue ȝou my hede
Holde vp ȝoure hondes wiþ out more speche
Our counsaile was not long for to seche
Vs þouȝt it was not worþe to make to wis
And graunted hym wiþ out more avis
And bad him seie his veredit as him lest
Lordingges quod he nowe herkeneþ for þe best
But take it not I prei ȝou in disdeyne
This is þe point to speke short and pleyne
That eche of ȝou to short wiþ our waye
In þis viage shal telle tailles twaye
To Caunterbery ward I mene it so
And homwardes he shal telle oþ̉ere twoo
Of auentures þat han whilom bifalle
And which of ȝou þat bereþ hȳm best of alle
þat is to sey þat telleþ in þis cas
Tales of best sentence and most solas
Shal haue a sopere at our alder cost
Her in þis place sitting by þis post
Whan þat we cōmmen ageyn from Canterburye
And forto make ȝou þe more merye
I wil my seluen goodly wiþ ȝou ride
Right at myne owne cost and be ȝour gide
And who so wil my Iugement wiþseye
Shal pay al þat we spenden by þe weye
And if ȝe vouche sauf þat it be soo
Telle me anoon wiþ outen wordes moo
And I will erly shape me þerfore
þis þinge was graunted and our oþes swore
Wiþ ful glad hert and preien hȳm also
Þat he wolde vouchesauf so to do
And þat he wolde be our gouernour
And of our tales Iugge ⁊and roportour
And sette a sopere at a certeyn price
And we wold rewled bene at his deuice
In heghe and lough and þus by on assent
We bene accorded to þe Iuggement
And þer vpon þe wyne was fette anon̄
We dronken and to reste wente echon̄
Wiþ oute eny lenger tariyng
On morowe whan þe day gan to sprynge
Vp roos oure hooste and was oure alder Cok
And gadered vs to gidere in a flok.
And forþ we riden a litel more þan paas
Vnto þe watering of Seynt Thomas
And þer our hooste gan his hors areste
And seide lordes harkeneþ if yow leste
Ȝe wote ȝoure forward and I it ȝou record
If euensonge and morowsonge accord
Lat see nowe who. shal telle þe first tale
As euer mote I drinke wyne or ale
Who so be rebell to my Iuggement
Shal paye for al þat by þe way is spent
Now draweþ Cut er þat we ferþer twynne
Which þat haþ þe shortest shal bygynne
¶ Sir knyght quod he my maister and my lorde
Now droweþ Cutte for þat is myn accorde
Commeth nere quod he my lady prioresse
And ȝe sir Clerk lat be ȝoure shamfastnesse
Ne stodieth nouȝt lay honde to euery man
Anon to drawe every wight bygan
And shortely forto tellen as it was
Were it be auenture or sort or cas
The soþe is þis þe Cut fille to þe knyȝt
Of which full glad and bliþe was euery wiȝt
And tellen he most his tale as it was reson
By forward and by compocion
As ȝe han herde what needet wordes moo
And whan þis good man seegh þat it was soo
As he þat wise was and obedient
To kepen his forward by his fre assent
He seide siþen I shal bygynne þe game
What welcome be þe Cutte a goddis name
Now lat vs ride and harkeneþ what I saye
And wiþ þat word we riden forþ our waye
And byganne wiþ riȝt a mery chere
His tale anon and seide as ȝe may here
¶ Iam que domos patrias scithice post aspera gentis: Prelia laurigero ⁊c̄etc. Thus endeþ þe Prologe of þis Boke.