Py · London, Royal College of Physicians MS 388
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Py/
[1r]
Whanne that Aprill . with his showris soote
The drought of Marche . hath ꝑperced the Roote
And bathed eủery veyne . in suche licoure
Of whiche vertu . engendrid is the floure
Whan zephirus eke . with his swete breth
Enspired hath . in eủery holt and heth
The tendre croppis . and the yong sonne
Hath in the Ram . half his cours Ironne
And smale fowlis . maken melodye
That alnyght sleepen . with open ye
So prikkith hem nature . in theyr corages
That longen folk . to gon on pilgrimages
And palmers to seeke . straunge strondes
To ferne halowes . in Vnkouth londis
And specialy . from eủery shyres end
Of Ingland . to Caunterbury they wend
The holy blisful martir . for to seeke
That hem hath holpen . whan they were seeke
Bifel in that season . vpon a day
In Southwerk at the tabbard . as I lay
Redy to wenden . on my pilgremage
To Caunterbury withful deuout corage
At nyght was come . in to that hostelerie
Wele . xxix . in a companye
Of sundry folk . bi aduenture I falle
In felawship . and pilgrymes were they alle
That toward Cauntirbury wolden Ride
The chambres and the stables . weren wide
And wele were . eased at the best
And shortly whan the sonne . was at Rest
So had I spoken . with theym eủerichon
That I was . of theyr felawship anon
And made forward . erly for to rise
To take oure wey . there as I yow devise
But natheles . while I have tyme and spase
Or that I further . in this tale pas
Me thynkith it were . accordaunt to reasoun̄
To telle yow . al the condicioun̄
Of eche of theym . as it seemyth me
And whiche they weren . and of what degre
And eeke in what array . that they were Inne
And at a knyght . than wil I first begynne
A knyght ther was . and that a worthy man
¶ Miles
That from the tyme . that he first bigan
To Riden out . he loved cheualry
Trewth and honour . freedam and curtesy
Ful worthy was he . in his lordis werre
And therto had he Riden . noman ferre
As wele in Cristendom . as in hethennes
And eủere honowred . for his worthynes
At Alisaunder he was . whan it was wonne
Ful oft tyme . had he the boorde bigonne
Above al naciouns . that were in Pruse
In lettow had he reised . and in Ruse
No cristen man so oft . of his degre
In Garnade at the siege . eeke had he be
At Algazar had he be . and in Belmarye
At Leyes was he . and at Satellye
Whan they were wonne . and in the grete see
At many a noble armee . had he be
At mortal batailes . had he be fiftene
And foughten for oure feyth . at Tramyssene
In listes thryes . and ay slayn his foo
This ilke worthy knyght . hadde bien also
Somtyme with the lord . of Palatie
Agayn another hethen . in Turquye
And eủermore he had . a soủerayne prise
And though he were worthy . he was wise
And of his port . as meke as is a mayde
He neủer yit . no Vilanye sayde
In al his live . to nomaner wight
He was a verray . ꝑperfit gentil knyght
But for tellen yow . of his array
His hors were goode . but he was nat gay
Of fustian . he wered a gipioun̄
Albe smotered . with his habirgeoun̄
For he was late come . from his viage
And went for to do . his pilgremage
With hym ther was his sone . a yong squyer
¶ Armiger
A lovier . and a lusty bachiller
With lokkes crulle . as they were leyde in presse
Of xx yeere of age . he was as I gesse
Of his stature he was . of evyn length
And wounder delyủer . and of even strength
And he had be sumtyme . in Cheuache
In flaundris in Artays and in Pikarde
And born hym wele . as of so litel space
In hope to stand . in his Ladi grace
Embrowded was he . as it were a mede
Al ful of fressh flowris . white and Rede
Syngyng he was . or floityng al the day
He was as fressh . as the moneth of May
Short was his gowne . with slevis long and wide
Wele cowde he sitte on hors bak . and faire Ride
He cowde songes wele make . and endite
Iust and daunce . and eke wele portrey and write
So hoote he lovid . that bi nyghter tale
He slept nomore . that doth the nyghtyngale
Curteys he was . lowly and ʆseruisable
And carf before his fadir . at the table
A yoman had he . and ʆseruauntis nomoo
¶ Yoman
For at that tyme . hym list to Ride soo
And he was clad . in cote and hoode of grene
A sheaf of pecok arwes . bright and kene
Vndir his belt he bare . ful thriftily
Wele cowde he dresse . his tacle yomanly
His arwis drowpid nat . with fethers lowe
And in his hand . he bare a myghti bowe
A not hed had he . with a browne visage
Of woode craft cowde he . al the vsage
Vpon his arm bare he . a gay brasere
And bi his side . a swerde and a bokelere
And onthat other side . a gay daggere
Harneysed wele . and sharp as poynt of spere
A Cristofre on his brest . of silủer sheene
A foster was he . soothly as I gesse
Ther was also . a Nonne a prioresse
¶ Prioresse
That of hir smylyng . was ful symple and coy
Hir grettest ooth . was eủer be seynt loy
And she was clepid . madame Eglentyne
Ful wele she song . hir ʆseruice div divyne
Entuned in hir nose . ful semyly
And frenssh she spak . ful faire and fetisly
After the scole . of stratford at the bowe
For frenssh of parice . was to hir knowe
At the mete wele I taught . was she withal
She leete no morsel . from hir lippes falle
Ne with hir fyngres . in hir sawce depe
Wele cowde she carie a morsel . and wele kepe
That no droppe . fil on hir brest
In curtesie was set . moche of hir lest
Hir oủerlip . wipped she so cleene
That in hir couppe . ther was no ferthyng seene
Of grece whan she hadde . dronk hir draught
Ful semely after . hir mete she raught
And sikirly she was . of grete disport
And ful plesaunt . and amyable of port
And poyned hir . to countrefete chiere
Of court and to be . estatly of manere
And to be hold digne . of Reủerence
And for to speken . of hir conscience
She was so charitable . and so pitous
She wold weepe . if she sawe a mows
Caught in a trappe . if it were ded or bled
Of smale houndis had she . that she fed
With rost mete . mylk and wastilbrede
But sore wept she . if any of hem were dede
Or if men smote hem . with a yerd smerte
And al was but conscience . and tendir herte
Ful semely hir wympil . pynched was
Hir noise tretice . hir eyen gray as glas
Hir mowth ful smal . and therto soft and Rede
But sikirly she hadde . a faire forhede
It was almost . a spanbrode I trowe
For certainly she was nat . vndirgrowe
Ful fetice was hir clooke . as I was ware
Of smal coral . aboute hir arm she bare
Apeyre of bedis . gawded al with grene
And theron hyng a broche . of gold ful shene
On whiche was first writen . a Crowned .A.
And after that Amor vincit om̄nia
Another Nonne . with hir had she
That was hir chapelayn . and pristes thre
Monachus
Monk ther was . for the maistrie Anout Rider . that lovid venorie
A manly man . to bien an Abbot able
Ful many a deynte hors . had he in stable
And whan he Rode . men myght his bridel here
Gynglyng and whistlyng . in the wynd so clere
And eke as lowde . as doth the chapel belle
There as this lord . was keper of the selle
The Rule of seynt Mawry . or of seynt Benet
Bicause it was old . and sumdel straite
This ilk Monk . lete old thynges pas
And hield after the newe world . the trace
He yaf nought of that text . a pullid henne
That saith that hunters . be nat holy men
Ne that a monk . that is recheles
Is likened to a fish . that is watirles
This is to seyn . a monk out of his cloistre
But that text hield he . nat worth anoystee
And I say . his oppynioun̄ was goode
What shuld he studye . and make hym self woode
Vpon a booke alwey . in cloister to powre
Or swynk with his handes . and do laboure
As Austyn biddith . how shal the world be ʆserved
Late Austyn have his swynke . to hym reʆserued
Therfor he was . a prikasour a Right
Greyhoundis had he . as any mylk white
Of prikyng and huntyng . for the hare
Was al his lust . for nothyng wold he spare
I sawe his slevis . purfiled at the hond
With grys . and that the fynest in a lond
And for to fastene his hoode . vndir his chynne
He had of gold wrought . a curious pynne
A love knot in the gretter end was
His hed was ballid . and shoone as any glas
And eke his face . as it had bien enoynt
He was a lord fatte . and in goode poynt
His eyen steepe . and rolled in his hede
That stemed . as a furneys of lede
His bootes sowple . his hors in grete estate
Now certainly . he was a faire prelate
He was nat paale . as a forpyned gost
A fatt swan loved he . best of any Rost
His palfray was browne . as any bery
A freere therwas . a Wanton and a mery
A lymytour . aful solempne man
In al the ordres foure . is non that can
So moche of daliaunce . and faire langage
He had maked . ful many a mariage
Of yong wymmen . at his owne cost
Vnto his ordre . he was a noble post
Ful wele beloved . and famulier was he
With franklayns oủeral . in his cuntre
And eke with worthy wymmen . in the towne
For he had power . of confessioun̄
As saide hym self . more than a curat
For of his ordir . he was licenciat
Ful sweetely herd he . confessioun̄
And plesᵃunt was . his absolucioun̄
He was anesy man . to yeve penaunce
Ther as he wist . to have a goode pitaunce
For vnto a poore ordre . to yeve
Is a signe . a man is wele I shreve
For if he yaf . he durst make a vaunt
He wist that a man . was repentaunt
For many aman . so hard is of his hert
He may nat weepe . though he sore smert
Therfor in stiede of wepyng and prayers
Men must yeve siluer . to the poore freeris
His tipet was I farced . ful of knyves
And pynnes to yeve . vnto faire wyfes
And certainly he had . a myrry throte
Wele cowde he synge . and pley on a Rote
Of yeddynges he bare . vttirly the price
His nekke white was . as the floure delis
Therto he strong was . as a Champioun̄
He knew the taủernes . wele in eủery towne
And eủery hostiler and Tampster
Better than a lazer . or a bagster
For vnto suche a worthy man . as he
Accorded nat . as bi his faculte
To have with sike lazers . acqueyntaunce
It is nat honest . it may nat avaunce
For to dolen with . non suche poraile
But al with Riche . and sellers of vitaile
And oủer al there . as profite shuld arise
Curte ys he was . and lowly of servise
Ther was noman . nougher so Vertuous
He was the best begger . that was in his hous
And yaf a certayn ferme . for the graunt
That non of his brethern . com in his haunt
For though a widew . had but a shoo
So plesaunt was . his Inprincipio
That he wold have a ferthyng . or that he went
His purchas was wele bettir . than his rent
And Rage he cowde . as it were a whelp
In lovedayes . ther cowde he moche help
For ther he was nat . like a cloystrere
With a thredbare cope . as a poore freere
But he was like . a Maister or a pope
Of double worstede . was his semy cope
Round as a belle . as it com out of presse
Somwhat he lipsed . for his wantounesse
To make his Inglissh . sweete vpon his tung
And in his harpyng . what he had sung
His eyen twynkled . in his hede a Right
As don the sterris . in the frosty nyght
This worthy lymytour . was clepid hughberd
¶Marchᵃunt
A Marchaunt was ther . wit a forked berd In motley anhy . vpon his hors he sat
Vpon his hede . a flaundris bever hat
His bootes claspid . faire and fetisly
His reasons he spak . ful solempnely
Sownyng alwey . thencres of his wynnyng
He wold the see were kept . for anythyng
Betwixt Middilburgh . and Orewel
Wele cowde he in eschaunge . shieldis selle
This worthy man . fulwele his wit beset
There wist nowight . that he was in det
So estately was he . of his contenaunce
With his Bargaynes . and his chevisaunce
Forsoth he was . a worthy man with al
But sooth to seyn . I not how men hym cal
¶Clerk
A Clerk therwas . of Oxenford also That vnto logik . had long I go
As leene was his hors . as is a Raake
And he was nat Right fat . I vndretake
He looked holow . and therto sobirly
Ful thredbare was . his oủerest courtepy
For he had goten hym . yit no benifice
Ne was so worthy . for to have anoffice
For hym was lever to have at his beddis hed
Twenty bookis . clad in white and Red
Of Aristotil and his philosophie
Than Robis Riche . or fithel or sawtry
But al be that . he was a philosofre
Yit had he . but litel gold in cofre
But al that he myght . of his friendis hente
On bookes and on liernyng . he it spente
And busily gan . for the soulis prey
Of hem that yaf hym . wherwith to scoley
Of study toke he . most cure and heede
Nought oo word spak he . more than was neede
And that was spoke . in forme and Reuerence
And short and quyke . and ful of hie sentence
Sownyng in moral Vertu . was his speche
And gladly wold he lierne . and gladly teche
A ʆsergeaunt of lawe . ware and wise
Seruus legis
That often had bien . at the parvise
He was also . Riche of excelence
Discrete he was . and of gete reủerence
He semed suche . his wordis were so wise
Iustise he was . ful oft in assise
Bi patent . and bi playn commissioun̄
For his science . and for his hye Renoun̄
Of fees and Robis . had he manyon
So grete a purchasour . was ther nowher non̄
Al was fee symple . to hym in effecte
His purchase myght nat be . to hym suspecte
Noughwher so busy aman . as he ther nas
And yit semed he . busyer than he was
In termes had he . cases and domes alle
That from the tyme . of kyng Willᵃm were falle
Therto he cowde endite . and make athyng
Ther cowde no wight . pynche at his writyng
And eủery statute cowde he . playn bi Rote
He Rode but homly . in a Medle cote
Gird with a cors of silk . with barres smale
Of his array . tel I no lengger tale
¶Franklayn
A frankelayn was . in his companye White was his berd . as is daisie
Of his complexioun̄ . he was sangwyne
Wele loved he bi the morow . a soppe in wyne
To live in delite . was eủere his wone
For he was Epicurus owne sone
That holdith oppynioun̄ . that playn delite
Was verray felicite parfite
Anhouseholder . and that a grete was he
Seynt Iulyan he was callid . in his cuntre
His brede his ale . was alwey after oon
A better vyned man . was nowher non
Without bakemete . was neủer his house
Of fressh fissh and flessh . and that so plentivous
It snewed in his house . of mete and drynk
Of al deyntes . that men cowde thynk
After the sundry seasons . of the yeere
So chaunged he his mete . and his sowper
Ful many a fat ꝑpartriche . hadde he in meowe
And many a breeme . and Luce in stiewe
Woo was his cooke . but his sauce were
Poignaunt and sharp . and redy al his gere
His table dormant . in his halle lay
Stoode redy coủered . al the long day
At sessions ther was he . lord and sire
Ful oft hadde he be . knyght of the shire
A baselard harnaysed . and a gipser of silk
Hyng at his girdil . as white as any mylk
A shereve had he be . and coronoure
Was nowher suche . a worthy vauasour
Anhabirdassher . and a carpenter
Habirdasser
A webbe a dyer and a Tapiser
Carpenter
Al they were clothed . in oo lyủeree
Webbe
Of a solempne . and grete fraternite
Dyer
Ful fressh and newe ther gere I piked was
Tapiser
Hir knyves and sethes . nat chapid with bras
But al with siluer wrought . ful clene and wele
Theyr girdils and powches . eủery dele
Wele semed eche of theym . a faire burgeys
To sitte in the gild halle . on a deys
Eủeriche for the wisdam . that he can
Was likly to be . an Aldirman
For catel hadde they I nough and Rent
And eke theyr wifes . wold it wele assent
And ellis certayn . they were to blame
It is ful faire . to be clepid Madame
And go to vigiles . albe fore
And have a Mantel . Rially I bore
¶Cooke
A Cooke had they with hem . for the nones To boile the chekyns . with the mary bones
And powdre marchaunt . tart and galyngale
Wele cowde he knowe . a draught of london ale
He cowde Rost and seeth . boile and frye
Make mortrews . and wele bake a pie
But grete harm was it . as it thought me
That on his shyne . a mormal had he
For blancmanger . made he with the best
¶Shipman̄
A shipman was there . wonyng fer be west As fer as I wote . he was of Dertemowthe
He Rode on a Rouncy . as he wele cowth
In a goun̄ of faldyng . doun̄ to the kne
A dagger hangyng bi a lase . had he
A boute his nekke . vndir his arme a doun̄
The hote som̉er . had made hym al brown̄
And certainly . he was a goode felawe
Ful many a draught of wyne . had he drawe
From Burdeuxward . while the M̉erchaunt sleepe
Of nyce concience . toke he no kepe
If that he faught . and had the hyer hand
Be watir he sent theym hom . to sundry lond
But of his craft . to Rekene wele his tides
His streames and his daungiers . hym besides
His herborow . and his lodemanage
Ther was non suche . from hulle to cartage
Hardy he was and wise . I vndirtake
With many a tempest . had his berd bien shake
He knewe al the havenes . as they were
From Scotland to Capfynistere
And eủery crele in bretaygne and in spaigne
His Barge was clepid . the magdaleyne
With vs ther was . a doctor of phisike
¶Doctor of phisik
In al the world . ne was thernon hym like
To speke of phisik . and of surgerye
For he was grounded . In astronomye
He kept his pacient . a ful grete dele
In his his houres . of magik naturele
Wele cowde he knowe . the fortune ascendent
Of his Images . for his pacient
He knewe the cause . of eủery malady
Were it of hote or cold . moist or drye
And where it engendrid . and of what humoᵘur
He was a V̉erray ꝑparfit . practisour
The cause he knewe . and of the cause the Roote
Anon he yaf . the sike man his boote
Ful redy had he . his Apotecaries
To sende hym drugges . and his lete waries
For eche of theym . made other for to wynne
Theyr frendship was nat . newe to begynne
Wele knewe he . the old Esculapius
And Discorides . and eke Rufus
Old Ipocras haly and Galien
Serapion Razis and avicen
Aueroys Damascen . and constantyn
Bernard Gatisden . and Gilbertyn
Of his diete . ful mesurable was he
For it was . of no suꝑperfluite
But grete norisshyng . and digestible
His studye was . but litel on the bible
In sangwyn and in ꝑperce . he clad wal al
Lyned with Taffata . and with Sendal
And yit he was . but easy of dispense
He kept that he wan . in pestilence
For gold in phisik . is accordial
Therfor loved he gold . in especial
¶Wif of Bath
A goode wif ther was . of beside bath But she was sumdel def . and that was skath
Of cloth makyng had she . suche anhaunt
She passed hem of Ipres . and of gaunt
In al the ꝑperissh . wif was there non
That to the offryng . bi fore hir shuld gon
And if ther dide . certayn so wroth was she
That she was out . of al charitee
Her coủerchiefs . ful fyne were of ground
I durst swere . they weyed doun̄ a pound
That on asunday . were vpon̄ hir hede
Her hosyn were . of fyn skarlet Rede
Ful streite I tied . and shooes moyst and newe
Bold was hir face . faire and Rede of hewe
She was a worthy womman . al hir lyve
Husbondis at the chirche doore . hadde she fyve
Without other compaignie . in yowth
But therof nedith nat . to speke as nowth
And thryes had she be . at Ierusalem
She had passed . many a straunge streame
At Rome had she be . and at Coloyne
In Galice at seynt Iame and at Boloyne
She cowde moche . of wandryng in the wey
Gattothed she was . sothly for to sey
Vpon̄ an Ambuler . esily she sat
I wympled wele . and on hir hed an hat
As brode as a bokeler . or a targe
A foote Mantel . a boute hir hippes large
And on hir helis a paire of spooris sharpe
In felawship wele cowde she . laugh and carpe
Of Remedies of love . she cowde ꝑperchaunce
For of that arte . she cowde leede the daunce
A goode man ther was . of Religioun̄
¶The ꝑparsoıı̄un
And was a poore ꝑparson . of A Town̄
But Riche he was . of gostly thought and werk
He was also . a lierned man a clerk
That Cistes gospel . triewly . wold he preche
His ꝑparisshens . devoutly wold he teche
Benyngne he was . and woundir diligent
And in adủersite . ful pacient
And suche was he proved . oft sithes
Ful loth were he to curse . for his tithes
But rather wold he yeve . out of doute
Vnto his poore ꝑperysshens . round aboute
Of his offryng eke . and of his substaunce
Wyde was his ꝑperissh . and houses fer a sunder
But he left nat . for Reyne ne for thunder
In sikenesse nor in myschief . to visite
The furthest in his parissh . moche and lite
Vpon his feete . and in his hand a staf
This noble ensample . vnto his sheepe he yaf
That first he wrought . and after that he taught
Out of the gospel . these wordes he caught
And this figure . he addid therto
That if gold Rust . what shal Irn do
For if a priest be fowle . on whom we trust
No woundir is . a lewdeman to Rust
Shame it is . if a priest take kepe
A shiten shepperd . and a cleene sheepe
Wele ought a priest . ensample for to yeve
Bi his clennesse . how that his sheepe shuld live
He sette his benefice . nat vnto hyre
And lete his sheepe . encombre in the myre
And ren to london . vnto seynt powlis
To seeken hym a chᵃuntry . for soulis
Or with a bretherhed . to be withold
But dwellith at hom . and kepith his fold
So that the flok ꝑparissh nat . ne myscary
He ways a V̉erray shepperd . and nat a M̉ercenarie
And though he holy were . and V̉ertuous
He was nat to synful men . dispitous
Ne of his speche . daungerous and digne
But in his techyng . discrete and benyngne
To drawe folk to hevene ward . with fairenesse
Bi goode ensample this was his busynesse
But it were any ꝑpersone . obstynate
What so he were . of highgh or low estate
Hym wold he snybben . sharply for the nones
A bettir prist I trowe . nowher non is
He waited after no pompe . ne reủerence
Ne made hym non . spiced conscience
But Cristes lore . and his aposteles twelve
He taught . but first he folwed it hym selve
With hym ther was . a ploughman his brother
¶Ploughman̄
That had I lad of dung . ful many a foother
A triewe swynker . and agoode was he
Lyveng in peas . and ꝑparfite charite
God loved he best . with al his hole hert
At al tymes . though he gramed or smert
And than his neyghburgh . right as hym selve
He wold thressh . and therto dike and delve
For Cristes sake . for eủery poore wight
Withouten huyre . if it lay in his myght
His tithes paied he . ful faire and wele
Both in his ꝓpropre swynk . and his catel
In a tabbard he Roode . vpon ameere
There was also . a Ryve and a Miller
¶Reeve
A sompnoᵘur and a pardoner also
¶Miller
A Maunciple and my self . ther were nomo
¶Sompnouᵘur
The Miller was . a stout carl for the nones
¶Pardoner
Ful bigge he was . of brawn and of bones
¶Maunciple
That preved wele . for eủer where that he cam
At wrastelyng . he wold have the Ram
He was short . shuldred brode a thikke gnarre
Ther was no doore . that he nold heve of barre
Or breke it with a Rennyng . with his hede
His berde as any soowe . or fox was Rede
And therto bl brode . as it were a spade
Vpon the cop of his nose . he hade
A wert . and theron stoode a tuft of heris
Rede as the brustils . of a sowes eeris
Hys nostrels were . blac and wide
A swerd and a bokelier . he bare bi his side
His mowth as grete . as is a furneys
He was a Iangler . a Iolihardeys
And that was most . of synne and harlotries
Wele cowde he stele corn . and tolle thries
And yit he hadde . a thomb of gold ꝑparde
A white cote . and a bliew hoode wered he
A bagge pipe wele cowde . he blowe and sowne
And therwith al . he brought vs out of towne
manciple
A gentil maunciple ther was of a temple
Of whiche a Catour . myght take ensample
For to be wise . in byeng of vitaile
For whether he paide . or tooke bi taile
Algate he wayted so . in his achate
That he was ay be fore . and in goode state
Now is nat that of god . a ful faire grace
That suche a lewde mannys wit shal pace
The wisdom of anhepe . of lierned men
Of maistres hadde he . mo than thries ten
That were of lawe . expert and curious
Of whiche ther wer . a dossen in that hous
Worthy to bien stywardes . of Rent and lond
Of any lord . that is in Inglond
To make hym lyve . bi hys ppre goode
In honoure detles . but if that he were woode
Or live as skarsly . as hym list desire
In any case that myght falle in a shire
And able for to helpen . al ashire
In any case that myght . falle or happe
And yit maunciple . set ther alther cappe
The Reeve was . a sklendir colerik man
Reeve
His berd was shaave . as nygh as eủer it can
His her bi his eeris . ful round I shorn
His toppe was dokked . like a priest beforn
Ful long were his legges . and ful leene
Ful like a staf . ther was no calf I seene
Wele cowde he kepe . a garner and a bynne
Ther was non Auditour cowde on hym wynne
Wele wist he bi the drought . and bi the Rayne
The yieldyng of his seede . and of his grayne
His lordis sheep his neete . his dayrie
His swyn his hors . his steede and his pultrye
Was holy in this Reves . goủernyng
And bi his couenᵃnt . gaf the Rekenyng
Syn that his lord . was twenty yeere of Age
Ther cowde noman bryng hym . in Arrerage
Ther ne was baily . hierde nor other hyne
That knew his craft . his sleight and his covyne
They were a dradde of hym . as of the deth
His wonyng was fulfaire . vpon anheth
With grene trees . shadwed was his place
He cowde bettir . than his lord purchace
Blank page
To yeve and leene hym . of his owne goode
And yit have thank . and cote and hoode
In yowthe lierned he hadde . a goode myster
He was a wele goode wright . a carpenter
This Ryve sat . vpon a wele goode stot
That was a pomel gray . and hight scot
Of nothfolk was this Ryue . of whiche I telle
Biside a towne . men calle Baldiswelle
Tukked he was . as is a frere aboute
And eủer he Rode . hynderest of the Route
A Sompnour ther was . with vs in the place
sompnour
That had a fier rede . cherubyns face
For sausfleame he was . with eyen narowe
And hote he was . and lecherous as a sparowe
With scaled browes . and pilled berd
Of his visage . chieldren were aferd
Ther nas qwike silủer . litarge ne brymston
Borace ceruse . ne oyle of Tarter non
Ne oynement that myght clense and bite
That hym myght help . of his whelkis white
Nor of the knobbis sittyng on his chekis
Wele loved he garlik . oynons and leekis
And for to drynk strong wyne . Rede as bloode
Than wold he swere . and crye as he were woode
And whan that he hadde . wele dronke the wyne
Than wold he speke . noword but latyne
A fewe termes had he . two or thre
That he had lierned out of sum degre
No wonder is . he herd it al the day
And eke ye knowe wele . that a Iay
Can clepe wat as wele . as can the pope
But who cowde . in other thynges hym grope
Than had he sent . al his philosophie
A questio quid Iuris . wold he crye
He was a gentil harlot . and a kynde
A bettir felawe . shuld ther noman fynde
He wolde suffre . for a quarte of wyne
A goode felawe . to have his concubyne
A twelfmoneth . and excuse hym at the fulle
Ful prively . a fynche cowde he pulle
And if he fond oughwher . a goode felawe
He wold techen hym . to have non Awe
In suche a case . of the Archedekens curs
But if a mannes soule . were in his purs
For in his purs . he shuld I punysshed be
Purs is the Archedekens helle . quod he
But wele I wote . he lied right in deede
Of cursyng ought eche gilty man to drede
For curs sleeth . Right as soilyng savith
And also ware hym . of a significauit
In daunger had he . at his owne guyse
The yonge girles of the diocesise
And knewe theyr counseil . and was of theyr Rede
A garlond had he set . vpon his hede
As grete as it were . for an ale stake
A bokeler had he made hym of a cake
With hym ther Rode . a gentil pardoner͗e
Pardoner
Of Rouncivale his friend and his comper͗e
That streight was come . from the Court of Rome
Ful lowde he songe . com hider love come
The sompnour bare to hym . a stif burdoun̄
Was neủer trumpe . of half so grete a sown̄
This ꝑpardoner had her as yolaw as wex
And smoth it hynge . as doth a strike of flex
Bi ounces hyng his lokkes . that he hadde
And therwith he . his shuldres oủer spradde
But thynne it lay . bi coulpons oon and oon
But hoode for Iolite . werid he non
For it was trussed . vppon his walette
Hym thought he Rode . al of the newe Iette
Discheuele save his cappe . he Rode al bare
Suche glaryng eyen had he . as hath anhare
A vernacle hadde he sowed . on his cappe
His wale bi fore hym . in his lappe
Bretful of pardoun̄ . com from Rome al hoote
A voice he hadde . as smal as hath a gote
No berd had he . ne neủer shuld have
As smoth it was . as it were late shaave
I trow he were . a gildyng or a mare
But of his craft . from berwik vnto ware
Ne was ther suche . another ꝑpardoner
For in his male . he had a pilwe beer
Whiche that he saide . was oure lady vaile
He saide he hadde . a gobet of the saile
That seynt petir hadde . whan that he went
Vpon the see . til IħuIhesu Crist hym hent
He had a crosse of laton . ful of stones
And in a glasse . he had piggesbones
But with these Relikes . whan that he fond
A poore ꝑperson . b dwellyng vpon lond
Vpon a soneday . he gate more money
Than the ꝑparson gate . in monethis twey
And thus with feyned . flaterie and Iapis
He made the ꝑperson . and the ꝑparissh his apis
But triewly for to telle . at the last
He was in chirche . a noble ecclesiast
Wele cowde he Rede . a lesson or a story
And altherbest . he song an offitorye
For wele he wist . whan that song was song
He must preche . and file awhile his tong
To wynne silủer . as he wele cowde
Therfor he song . the more merily and lowde
Now have I told yow . sothly in a clause
Thestate tharray the nombre . and eke the cause
Why that assembled . was this compaignye
In southwerk . at this gentil hostillerye
That hight the tabbard . fast bi the belle
But now is it tyme . to yow for to telle
How that we bare vs . that ilke nyght
Whan that we were . in that hostelrye a light
And after wil I telle yow . of oure viage
And al the Remenᵃnt . of oure pilgremage
But first I pray yow . of yowre curtesie
That ye it nat a Rette . for no vilanye
Though that I plainly . speke in this mater͗e
To telle yow theyr wordis and theyr chiere
Ne though I speke . theyr wordis ꝓpropirly
For this ye knowen . aswele as I
Who shal telle a tale . aftir a man
He must reherce . as nygh as he can
Eủeriche a word . if it be in his charge
Al speke he neủer . so rudely ne so large
Or ellis he must telle . his tale vntriewe
Or feyne thyng . or fynd wordis newe
He may nat spare . although he were his brother
He must as wele sey . oo word as another
Crist spak hym self . ful brode in holy writ
And wele ye wote . no vilany is it
Eke Plato he saith . who so can hym Rede
The word must be cousyn . vnto the dede
Also I pray yow . to foryeve it me
Al have I nat sette folk . in theyr degree
Here in this tale . as they shuld stonde
My wit is shorte . ye may wele vndirstonde
Grete chiere made vs . oure host eủerichon
And to the souper . sette he vs a non
He ʆserved vs with vitaile . of the best
Strong was the wyne . and wele drynke vs lest
A semely man . oure host was with al
For to bien a Marchal . in any lordis haƚƚ
A large man he was . with eyen steepe
A fairer burgeys . is ther non in chepe
Bold of his speche . wise and wele I taught
And of manhode . hym lakked right nought
Eke therto he was . a mirry man
And after souper . to pleyen he bigan
And spak of mirth . among other thynges
Whan that we hadde made . oure rekenyngges
And saide now thus . lordis triewly
Ye be to me welcom . right hertily
For be my trowth . if I shal nat lye
I sawe nat this yeere . so mirry a compaignye
Atones in this herborow . as bien now
Fayn wold I do yow plesure . and I wist how
And of a mirth . Right now I am be thought
To don yow eaase . and it shal cost yow nought
Ye Y gon to cauntirbury . god yow speede
The blisful martir . quyte yow yowre meede
And wele I wote . as ye go bi the way
Ye shapen yow . to talen and to play
For triewly comfort . ne myrth is non
To Ride bi the wey . domb as a ston
And therfor wil I . make yow disport
As I saide erst . and do yow comfort
And if yow like . al bi oon assent
For to stonden . at my Iugement
And for to werken . as I shal yow seye
To morow . whan ye Riden bi the weye
Now be my fadir sowle . that is dede
But ye be mirrye . I yeve yow myn hede
Hold vp yowre handis . withouten more speche
Oure counsaile was nat . long for to seche
Vs thought it was nat worth . to make it uyse
And graunted hym . without more advise
And bad hym seye . his v̉eredit hym lest
Lordynges quod he . now herkenyth for the best
But takith it nat . in disdayn I yow prayen
This is the poynt . to speke it short and playn
That eche of yow . to short with oure weye
In this viage . shal tel . talis twey
To caunterbury ward . I meane it so
And homward . ye shal tellen other two
Of Aventures whilom . that han bi falle
And whiche of yow . that berith hym best of alle
That is to sayn . that tellith in this case
Tales of best sentence . and of most solace
Shal have a sowper . at oure alther cost
Here in this place . sittyng bi this post
Whan we com agayne . from caunterbury
And for to make yow . the more mirry
I wil my self gladly . with yow ride
Right at myn owne cost . and be yowre guyde
And who so wil . my Iugement withseye
Shal paie for al . we spende bi the weye
And if ye fouchesauf . that it be so
Telle me anon . with out wordis moo
And I wil erly . shape me therfore
This thyng was graunted and othes I swore
With ful glad hert . and prayed hym also
That he wold fouchesauf . to do right so
And that he wold . be oure goủernour
And of oure talis . Iuge and Reportour
And sette a souꝑper . at a certayn price
And we to be Rulid . at his devise
In high and low . and thus bi oon assent
We bien accordid . to his Iugement
And ther vpon . the wyne was fet anon
We dronken and to Rest . went echeon
Without any lengger taryeng
A morow whan the day . bigan to spryng
Vp ros oure host . and was oure alther cok
And gadred vs to gydre . al in a flok
And furth we Rode . litel more than a pase
Vnto the wateryng . of seynt Thomas
And ther our host . gan his hors aReste
And saide lordynges . herkenyth if yow leste
Ye wot yowre forward . and I it yow recorde
If evensong . and morow song accorde
Late see now . who shal telle the first tale
As eủere mote I . drynk wyne or ale
Who so be Rebel . to my Iugement
Shal pay for al . that be the wey is spent
Now drawith cut . or ye further twynne
He that hath the shortest . he shal begynne
Sir knyght quod he . my maister and my lord
Now drawith cut . for that is myn accord
Cometh nere quod he . my lady Prioresse
And ye ʆsir clerk . late be yowre shamefastnesse
Ne studieth nat . lay hand on eủery man
Anon to drawe eủery wight began
And shortly for to telle . as it was
Were it bi aduenture . soort or cas
The soth is this . the cut fil to the knyght /
Of whiche ful glad and blith . was eủery wight
And tel he must his tale . as was Reasoun̄
Bi forward . and bi composicioun̄
As ye han herd . what nedith wordis mo
And whan this goode man . saw that it was so
As he that wise was . and obedient
To kepe his forward . and his fre assent
What welcom be cut in goddis name
He saide syn I . shalbe gynne the game
Now late vs Ride . and herken what I say
And with tha word . we Riden furth oure way
And he began . with Right a mirry chiere
His tale anon . and saide as ye may here
¶ Iamque domos patria scithice post aspera gentis prelia laurigero
Different script
Whilom as old stories tellen vs
Ther was a duke · that hight Theseus
Of Athenes he was .· lord and goủernour
And in his tyme · suche a conquerour͗e
That gretter was ther non · vnder the sonne
Ful many a Riche contre · had he wonne
What with his wisdom · and his cheualrie
He conquerid al the Reigne of femynie
That whilom was cleped Scithia
And wedded the faire · qwene Ipolita
And brought hir hom with hym in his cuntre