Tc1 · Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.3.3

The Book of the Tales of Canterbury: the General Prologue

Tc1 · Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.3.3

Canterbury Tales Project.

talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Tc1/

[1r]

Whan that Aprille with his his shoures soote /

The drouȝte of Marche hath perced to the roote

And bathed eueri veyne in such licoure

Of wich vertu engendred is the floure

Whan zephirus eke with his soote breth

Enspired of eueri holte and heth

The tendre croppis and the yong sonne

Hath in the Ram his half cours I ronne

And smale foules make melodie

That slepen all niȝt with open yhe

So prikketh hem nature in her corages

Than longen̄ folk to gon on̄ pilgrimages

And Palmures to seke straung strondes

To serue halwes couthe in eueri londes

And specialli from eueri shires ende

Of Engelond to Caunterbury thei wende

The holi blisfull martir for to seke

That hem hath holpen whan þᵗat thei were seke

Befel in that season vpon̄ a day

In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay

Redi to wende on my pilgrimage

To Caunterbury with deuoute corage

At niȝt was come in to that hostelrie

Well xxix vpon̄ a companie

Of sōndri folk be auenture I falle

In felaship and pilgrymes were thei alle

That toward Caunterbury wold ride

The hambres and stables were wide

And were wel easid ate beste

And shortli whan the sonne was to reste

So had spoken with hem euerichon̄

That I was in her felaship̄ anon

And made forward erli for to rise

To take oure weie there as I you deuise

But neuertheles whiles I haue space

Er that I forther in to this tale pace

Me thinketh it is accordant with reson

To telle you alle the condicioıı̄un

Of eueri of hem̄ so as semeth me

And wich they were . and of what degre

And eke in what array they were inne

And at the kniȝt than woll I beginne

A kniȝt ther was ⁊and that aworthi man̄

That fro the tyme that he first began̄

To rid[…]t he loued chiualrie

Trouthe honour fredam and curtesie

Full worthi was he in his lordes werres

And therto had he riden noman so ferre

As wel in cristendam as in hethenesse

And euer honoured for his worthinesse

At Alisaunder he was whan it was wonne

Fuloftyme he had the boord begonne

Aboue all nacions in Pruce

In Lectowe had he riden and in Ruce

No cristen man so often in his degre

In Garnade at the siege there had he be

Of Algazire and riden in Belmarie

At Lyes was he and at Satalye

Whan they were wonne ⁊and in the grekissh see

At many anoble Ryuer had he be

At mortall batailles had he ben fiftene

And fouȝten for oure feith at Tramisshene

In lystes thries and alwey slain his foo

This ilke worthi kniȝt had ben also

Somtime with the lord of Palacie

Ayenst an othir hethen in Turkye

And euermore he had souerein pris

And thouȝt that he was worthi and wise

And of his port as meke as a maide

Ne neuer yit no vilenie seide

In all his lif to no maner wiȝt

He was verri gentill and parfiȝt kniȝt

For to telle you of his array

His horse were goode but he was nat gay

Of fustian he war a gipoıı̄un

All be smotreid with his habergeoıı̄un

For he was late I come from his viage

And wente for to don̄ his pilgrimage

Uith him ther ws his Sone a yong Sqire

A louer and a lusti bacheler

With lockes crulled as they wereleid in presse

Of twenti yere of age he was I gesse

Of his stature he was of euene lengthe

And wonder delyuer and of gret strengthe

And he had somtyme ben in chiualrie

In Flaundres in Artrois and in Picardie

And born him well as in litill space

In hope to stonde in his Ladyes grace

Embrouded was he as it were a mede

All full of fressh floures white and rede
[1v]
Synging he was and florting al the day

He was as fressh as is the month of May

Short was his goune his sleues long ⁊and wide

Wel coude he sitte an hors and faire ride

And coude songes make and wel endite

Iouste and daunce wel portraye and write

So hoot he loued that be niȝter tale

He slepte nomore than doth a Niting hale

Curteis he was louli and seruisable

And kerue beforn his fader at the table

A yoman he had and seruauntes nomo

As at that tyme for him list ride so

And clad he was in cote and hood of grene

A shef of Pecok arwes briȝt and shene

Vnder his belte he s bar full thriftily

Wel coude he dresse his takill yomanly

His arwes drouped nat with fetheres lowe

And in his hand he bar a miȝti bowe

A notted hed had he with a broun visage

Of woodcraft coude he all the vsage

Vpon̄ his arme he bar a gay bracer

And on that othir side a gay dagger

And be his side a swerd and a bokeler

Harneised well ⁊and sharpe as point of spere

A cristofre on his breest of siluer shene

An horn he bar the baudrik was of grene

A fostere was he sotheli as I gesse

Ther was also a Nonne a Prioresse

That of her smiling was ful simple ⁊and coy

Her grettest othe was be Seint Loy

And she was callid madame Eglentyne

Full well she sang the seruice diuine

Entuned in her nose full semely

And frenssh she spak full wel ⁊and fetisly

Aftir the scole of Stratford of the bowe

For frenssh of Parys was to hir vnknowe

At mete well tauȝt she was with all

She lete no morsell from hir lippes fall

And wett her fyngers in her sauce depe

Wel couthe she carie a morsell and kepe

That no droppe fell on her brest

In curtesie was sette full mochel her lest

Hir ouir lippe wiped she so clene

That in her cuppe no ferthing was ther sene

Of grece whan she had dronke hir drauȝt

Full semeli aftir hir mete she rauȝt

And sikirlich she was of gret disport

And full plesaunt and full amiable of port

And peined hir to counterfete chere

Of court and to ben estatli of manere

And to be holde digne of reuerence

But for to speke of hir conscience

She was so charitable and so pitous

She wolde wepe yef she saw a mous

Caught in a trappe if it were ded or bledde

Of smale houndes had she that she fedde

Of rosted flessh or milk or wastell bred

But sore she wepte yef oon of hem were ded

And if men smot hem with a rodde smerte

All this was conscience of a tender herte

Full semeli hir wimpill pinched was

Hir nose thrilles hir yhen greye as glas

Hir mouth full small and therto softe ⁊and red

But sekirli she had a faire forhed

It was almost a span brod I trowe

For hardli she was nat vndergrowe

Full fetise was hir cloke as I was war

Of small corall aboute hir arme she bar

A peire of bedes the gaudees al of grene

And theron henge a broche of gold ful shene

On wich ther was writen first a crouned A

And aftirward Amor vincit omnia .

An othir Nonne with hir had she

That was hir Chapelein and prestes three

A Monke ther was a faire for the mastrie

An outerider that loued wel venery

A man̄ to ben an Abbott able

Full many a deinte hors had he in stable

And whan he rod men miȝt his bridell hiere

Gyngling in a whistling wynde as clere

And eke as loude as a chapell belle

Ther as this lord was keper of his selle

The rule of seint Maure or of seint Benet

Be cause it was holden somdell streite

This ilke Monke lete olde thinges passe

And holde after the newe world the space

He yaf nat of the text a pulled henne

That seith hunters beth nouȝt holi men̄

Ne that a monk whan that he is recckeles

Is lik a fissh that is waterles

This is to sey a monk withouten̄ his cloistre

But that text halt he nat worth an oistre

And I said his opinion was good

What shuld he studnd make him selue wood
[2r]
Vpon̄ a book alwey in cloistre and poure

Or swinke with his handes in laboure

And Austyn hou shall the world be serued

Late Austyn haue his labour to him reserued

Therfore he was a pricasour a right

Greyhoundes he had as swifte as foul of fliȝt

Of Priking and of hunting for the hare

Was al his lust for no cost wold he spare

I sauȝ his sleues purfiled at the hand

With grys and that the fynest of the londe

And for to fasten the hood vnder the chyn̄

He had of gold wrouȝt a full curious pyn̄

A loue in the gretter ende ther was

His hed was balled and shon as glas

And eke his face as it had ben enoynte

He was a lord full fat and in good point

His yhen stepe and rolling in his hed

That stemed as a forneis of a Led

His bootes souple his hors in gret estat

Now certainli he was a faire prelat

He was nat pale as a for pined gost

A fat swan loued he best of any roste

His Palfrey was as broun as any berie

A frere ther was a wantoıı̄un ⁊and a merie

A lymitour a full solempne man̄

In all the ordres foure ther is non þᵗat can

So mochell of daliaunce and faire language

He had made many a faire mariage

Of yong wommen̄ of his ougne coste

Vnto his ordre he was a noble poste

Full welbeloued and familier was he

With frankeleines oueral in his contre

And eke with worthi men of eueri toun̄

For he had power of confessioıı̄un

As he seid him self more than the curatt

For of his ordre he was licenciat

Full swetly herd he confessioıı̄un

And plesaunt was his absolucioıı̄un

He was an esi man to yiue penaunce

There as he wist to haue a good petaunce

For vnto a poore ordre for to yiue

Is a signe that a man is well Ishriue

And if he yaf he durst make avaunt

He wist that a man was repentaunt

For many a man so harde is of his herte

He may nat wepe al thouȝ he sore smerte

Therfore in stede of weping and praiers

Men mot yeue siluer vnto poore freris

And certainli pinnes for to yiue faire wyfes

His tipet was ay farsed full of knifes

And certainli he had a mery note

Wel coude he synge and pleyen on the rote

Of tidinges he bar vtterli the pris

His necke white as any flour delys

Therto as strong was as any champioıı̄un

He knew the tauernes wel in eueri toun̄

And eueri hosteler and tapstere

Rather than a beggere or a Lazer

For vnto such a worthi man as he

Accordeth nat as be his faculte

To haue with such Lazers aqueintaunce

It is nat honest it may nat avaunce

For to dele with no such poraill

But alle with riche and sellers of vitaill

And ouer all ther as proufit shuld arise

Curteis he was and louli of seruice

Ther was noman nowher so vertuous

He was the best begger in his hous

And yaf a certain ferme for the graunt

Non of his bretheren cam there in his haunt

For thouȝ a widewe had but a shoo

So plesant was his In principio

Yet wolde he haue a ferthing or he went

His purchas was welbetter than his rent

And rage he coude as it were a whelpe

In Louedayes coude he mochel helpe

For he ne was like no cloistrer

With thredebare cope as is a poore scoler

But he was like a maister or a Pope

Of double worsted was his semy cope

That round as was a belle out of a presse

Somwhat he lipsed for his wantounesse

To make his englissh swete vpon his tonge

And in harping whan that he had songe

His yhen twinkeled in his hed ariȝt

As don theȝ sterres in the frosty niȝt

This Lymytour was I cleped Huberd

A Marchaunt ther was with a forked berd

In motley and high on hors he sat

Vpon his hed a flaundrissh beuer hatt

His bootes clapsed faire and fetisly

His resons he spak ful solemply
[2v]
Shewing alwey thencres of his winning

He wold the see were kept for any thing

Betwix Middilbourgh and Orwell

He coude wel in eschaunging sheldes selle

This worthi man full wel his witt beset

Ther wist no wiȝt that he was in dette

So estatli was he in his gouernaunce

With his bargeins and his cheuesshaunce

For sothe he was a worthi man with all

But soth to sein I nat what men him call

A clerk ther was of Oxenford also

That vnto Logique longe had goo

And lene was his hors as is a rake

And he was nat riȝt fat I vndertake

But loked all lowe and therto sobirly

Ful thredebare was his ouerest courtby

For he gete him no benefice

Ne he was worldli to haue an office

For him were leuer at his beddes hed

Twenti bookes clad in white and red

Of Aristotle and of his Philosophie

Than Roberich or Fedill or Sawtrie

But al be it he was a Philosophre

Yet had he but litil gold in cofre

But al that he miȝt of his frendes hente

On bookes and on lerning he it spente

And besili gan for the soules preie

For hem of whom he had his scoley

Of studie took he most cure and hede

Nouȝt oo word spake he more than was nede

And that was seide in forme of reuerence

And short and quik and full of sentence

Souning in moral vertu was his speche

And gladli wold he lerne ⁊and gladli teche

A Sergeaunt of Lawe was there wise

That often had ben at Paruys

He was also full riche of excellence

Discrete he was and of gret reuerence

He semed such his wordes were so wise

Iustice he was fuloften in assise

By patent and be plein cōmmissioıı̄un

Of fees and robes he had many on̄

So gret a purchasour nowher was non̄

All was fee simple to him in effecte

His purchasing miȝt nat be infect

Noman̄ so besi a man̄ ther nas

And yit he semed besier than he was

In termes had he his cas ⁊and domes alle

That fro the tyme of king william were falle

Therto he coude endite and make a thing

Ther coude no wiȝt pinche at his enditing

And eueri statute coude he pleinli be rote

He rod but homly in a medled cote

I girt with a seint of silk with barres smale

Of his array telle I no lenger tale

A Franklein was in his companie

White was his berde as is the daisie

Of his complexion he was sanguein

Wel loued he in the morwen a sop in wyne

To lyuen in delit was euer his wone

For he was Epicurious ougne sone

That hield opinioıı̄un that plein delite

Was verri felicite parfit

An housholder and that a gret was he

Seint Iulian he was in his contre

His bred his Ale was alwey aftir oon̄

A better envined man was ther non

Withoute bake mete was neuer his hous

Of fissh and flessh that was so plentevous

It souned in his hous of mete ⁊and drinke

Of all deintees that men coude bethink

Aftir the sondri seasons of the yere

So chaungeth he his mete ⁊and his souper

Full many a fat Pertrich had he in his mewe

And many a breme ⁊and many a luce in stewe

Woo was his cook but if his sauce were

Poynant and sharp and redi all his gere

His table dormant in his halle alwey

Stood redi couered all the long day

At Sessions there was he lord and sire

Oft tyme he was kniȝt of the shire

An Anlas and a gipser all of silk

Heng at his girdill as white as morne milk

A Sheriff had he be and Countour

Was nat where such anothir Vauasour

AN haberdassher and a Carpenter

A webster a dyer and a Tapecer

And thei were clothed all in a lyuere

Of a solempne and agret fraternite

Full fressh and newe her gere piked was
[3r]
Her knyues chaped nouȝt was with bras

But wrouȝt with siluer all full shene ⁊and well

Her girdeles and her pouches eueri dell

Wel semed ech of hem a faire burgeis

To sitten in a yelde halle vpon̄ a deys

Eueri forth wisdam that he can

Was lich shape to ben an Alderman̄

For catell had they Inouȝ and rente

And eke her wifes wold it well assente

And elles certein they be to blame

Hit is full faire to be cleped madame

And go to vigilies all before

And haue amantell roiallich I bore

A cook they had with hem for the nones

To boyle the chekenes with the mary bones

And pouder tart marchaunt ⁊and ganyngale

Wel coude he knowe a drauȝt of London Ale

He coude roste and sethe and boile and frye

Make mortrewes and wel bake a Pye

But gret was it as thouȝt me

That on his shine a mormall had he

For Blanmanger made with the beste

A shipman̄ was ther woning fer be west

For ouȝt I wot he was of Dertmouthe

He rod vpon a Rounce as he couthe

In a goune of falding to the kne

A dagger hanging on a lace had he

Aboute his necke vnder his arme adoun̄

The hoot somer had made his hewe al broun̄

And certainli he was a good felawe

Full many a drauȝt of wyn had he drawe

From Burdeuxward whil the Marchant slepe

Of nice conscience took he no kepe

If he faught and had the higher hand

Be water he sent hem hom from eueri lond

But of his craft to rekne wel his tithes

The stremes and the daungers him besithes

His herbergh and monee Lodemanage

Ther was non̄ such from hull to Cartage

He hardi was and wyse I vndertake

With many atempest hath his berd be shake

He knewe well al the hauenes as they were

From Scotland vnto Capefenestere

And eueri crikke in Britayne and in Spaine

His barge it was I cleped the Magdeleine

Uith vs ther was a doctour of Phisique

In all the world ther was non lik

To speken of Phisique and Surgerie

For he was grounded in Astronomie

He kept his pacience a full gret dell

In houres be his making naturell

Wel coude he forme the ascendent

Of his ymage for his pacient

He knewe the cause of eueri maladie

Were it colde hoot moist or drie

And where it engendreth and of what humoᵘur

He was a verri parfit Practisour

The cause he knewe of eueri harme the rote

Anon he yaf the seke man his bote

For redi had he his appotecaries

To sende him drugges and lectuaries

For ich of hem made othir to winne

Her frendship was nat newe to beginne

Wel knewe he the olde Esculapius

And Diascorides and eke Ruphus

Olde Ipocras Haly and Galien

Serapis Rasy and Apien

Bernard Gatisden and Gilbertine

Auerois Damassien and Constantine

Of his diete mesurable was he

For it was of no superfluite

But gret norisshing and digestible

His study nas but litil on the bible

In sanguein ⁊and Perse I clad was he all

I lyned with tiffata and with Sendall

And yit he nas but esi of his dispence

He kepte that he wan in pestilence

For gold in Phisique is accordiall

Therfor he loued gold in especiall

A good wif ther was beside Bathe

But she was somdel deth ⁊and that was scathe

Of cloth making she had such an haunt

She passed hem of Pris and of Gaunt

In all the parissh wif was ther non

That to the offring beforn hir shuld gon

And if ther did certein so wroth was she

That she was out of all charite

Her kirchis full fyne were of ground

I durst well sweren they weyeden x pound

That on the sonday were vpon hir hed
[3v]
Her hosen were of fyn scarlet red

Ful streite I teyed and shoes ful moist ⁊and newe

Bold was hir face ⁊and faire and red of hewe

She was a worthi womman̄ al her lif

Husbondes at the chirche dore had she fyue

Beside othir companie in youthe

For therof nede nouȝt to speke of nouthe

And thries had she ben at Iherusalem

She hath passed many a straunge strem

At Rome had she been and at Boleyn̄

In Caleis at Seint Iames and at Coleyn̄

She couthe moch of wandring be the weye

Gat tothed was she sotheli for to seie

Vpon an ambler esily she satt

I wympled and on hir hed an hatt

As brod as it were a bokeler or a targe

A foot mantell aboute hir hipes large

And on hir heles a peire of spores sharpe

In felauship coude she wel laughe ⁊and carpe

Of remedies of loue she knew ꝑpar chaunce

For she knewe of that art the diliaunce

A good man was there of religioıı̄un

And was a poore Person of a toun̄

But riche he was of holi thouȝt and werk

He was also a lerned man̄ a clerk

That cristes gospell wold preche and teche

His ꝑparisshons deuoutly wold he teche

Benigne he was and wonder diligent

And in such aduersite full pacient

And such he was proued ofte sithes

Full loth were him to cursen for his tithes

But rather wold he yiue hem out of doute

Vnto his poore parisshons aboute

Of his offring and his substaunce

He couthe in litill thing haue suffisaunce

Wide was his parissh and houses fer asonder

But he ne left nouȝt for no reyne ne thonder

In sekenes or in mischef to visite

The forthest in his parissh moch ⁊and lite

Vpon̄ his feet and in his hand a staf

This noble ensample vnto his shepe he yaf

That first he wrouȝt ⁊and aftirward he tauȝt

And in the gospell tho wordes he rauȝt

And this figure eke he added therto

That if gold ruste what shuld Iren doo

For if a preest be a fooll on whom we truste

No wonder is a leude man to ruste

And shame it is if a preest take kepe

A shetin shepperd and a clene shepe

Well ouȝte a preest ensample for to yeue

Be his clennesse hou his shepe shuld lyue

He set nouȝt the benefice to hire

And left his shepe acombred in the myre

And renne to Londoıı̄un vnto seint Poules

To take him a Chauntrie for soules

Othir with a Brotherhod to be witholde

But duelt at hom and kepte wel his folde

So that the wolf may it nouȝt miscarye

He was a Shepperd and nat a mercenarie

And thouȝ he holi were and vertuous

He nas nat to sinfull despitous

Ne of his shepe daungerous and digne

But in teching discret and benigne

To drawe folk to heuene be fairnesse

Be good ensample this was his besinesse

But yef it were any persone obstinat

Whedir he were high or lowe estat

Him wold snibben̄ sharpeli for the nones

A better preste I trowe nowher non is

He wayted aftir no pompe ne reuerence

Ne makid him a spiced conscience

Of cristes lore and his aposteles twelue

He tauȝt but first he folwed it him selue

Uith him ther was a plouȝ man̄ his brother

That had I led of donge full many afother

A trewe swinker and a good was he

Leuing in pees and in parfit chastite

God loued he best with all his herte

At all tymes were it game or smerte

And than his neiȝbour right as himself

He wold thressh and therto dike and delue

For cristes sake with eueri pouer wiȝt

Withoute hyre yef it lay in his miȝt

His tithes paid he full faire and well

Bothe of his propre swinke ⁊and his catell

In a tabard he rod vpon a mere

Ther was also a Reue a Mellere

A Sompnor and a Pardoner also

A Manciple and my self and namo

The Millere was a stoute carll for the nones
[4r]
Full big he was of braun̄ and bones

That proued wel for ouerall ther he cam

At the wrasteling he wold ay haue the Ram

He was short shuldred thikke squarre

Ther was no dore that he ne wold heue of þᵉ harre

Or breke it at arenne with his hed

His berd as any cole fox was red

And therto brode as any spade

Vpon̄ his coppe of his nose a wrette he hade

And theron̄ stood a tuft of heres

Red as the bristelis of sowes eres

His nose thrilles blake were and wide

A swerd and a bokeler bar he be his side

His mouth as gret was as a forneys

He was a iangeler and a galiardeys

And that was most of synne and harlotries

Wel coude he stele corn and tolle thries

And yit had he a thombe of gold parde

A white cote and a blew hood had he

A bag pipe wel coude he blowe ⁊and soune

And therwith all he brouȝt vs out of toune

A gentil Manciple ther was of a temple

Of wich all Catours miȝt take ensample

For to be wise in beying of vitaill

For wethir that he paid or took be taill

Alway he waited so that in his akate

That he was ay beforn and in good estate

Now is nat that of god a full gret grace

That such a leude man̄ his witt shal pace

The wisdam of an hepe of lerned men

Of maistries had he mo than thries ten̄

That were of lawe expert and curious

Of wich thei weren a dosein in that hous

Worthi to ben Stiwardes of rente and londe

Of any lord that is in Engelond

To make him lyue be his propre good

In honoure detteles but if he were wood

Or lyue statly as him list desire

And able helpen̄ all ashire

In any caas that miȝt falle or happe

And yit this Manciple sett her alder cappe

The Reue was a slendir colerik man̄

His berd was shaue as ny as euer he can̄

His heer was be his eres full round I shore

His toppe was dockid lik a preest before

Full longe were his leggis and full lene

Lik a staf ther nas no calf I sene

Wel coude he kepe a berne or a bynne

That ther nas Auditour coude of him winne

Wel wist he be the drouȝt and be the reyne

The yelding of his seed and of his grein

His lond his shepe his neet and his deiry

His swyn his hors his stoor and his pultry

Was holi in this Reues gouerning

And be his couenant yef the rekening

Sythen̄ that his lord was twenti wyntyr of age

Ther coude noman bringen him in arerage

Ther nas bailly heerde nor othir hynde

That he ne knewe his sleiȝte and his couning

They were adrad of him as of the deth

His comyng was ful faire vpon an heth

With grene shadewed was his place

He couthe better than his lord purchace

Full riche he was and stored preuily

His lorde couthe he plesen sotilly

To lene and yef him of his ougne good

And haue a thank and yit a cote and hood

In youthe he had lered a good mester

He was a full good write a Carpenter

This Reue sat vpon a full good stott

That was pomely grey and hiȝt scott

A longe furred cote of Perce he had

And be his side he bar arusti blad

Of Norfolk was this Reue of wich I telle

Beside a toun men clepe it Baldeswelle

Tukkid he was as it were a frere aboute

And euer he rod hinderest of the route

A Sompnor was there with vs in that place

That had a faire red cherubynnes face

For saucefleme he was with yhen narwe

All hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe

With scalled browes blake and piled berde

Of his visage childre were aferd

Ther nas quik siluer litarge nor brymston

Boras Seruce ne oyle of Tartere non

No oynement that wold clensen and byte

That him miȝt helpe of whelkes white

Ne of his knobbes sitting on his chekes

Wel loued he garlik onyons and lekes

And for to drinke red wyn red as blood
[4v]
Than wold he speke and crie as he were wood

And whan he had wel drunke the wyne

Than̄ wold he speke no word but latyn̄

A fewe termes had he tuo or thre

That he had lerned out of som decre

No wonder was he herd it all the day

And eke I knewe well that a Iay

Cam wel clepe watte as doth a Pope

But who so coude in othir thing him grope

That than had he spent all his philosophie

Ay Questioque Iuris wolde he crie

He was a gentill harlott and a kynde

A better felawe shuld a man̄ nat fynde

He wold suffre for a quart of wyn

A good felawe to haue his concubyne

A twelmonth and excuse him ate fulle

Full priuelich a fynche couthe he pulle

And if he fond any where a good felawe

He wold teche him to haue non awe

In such caas of the Archediacons curse

But yef a mannes soule were in his purs

For be his purs he shuld I punisshed be

Purs is the Archediacons helle quod he

But wel I wot he lyed riȝt in dede

Of cursing ouȝt eueri man to drede

For curs will sle lik as a soiling saueth

And also war him of a Significauit

In daunger had he at his ougne guise

The yong gerles of the diocise

And knew ther counseill ⁊and was of her reed

A garlond had he sett vpon his hed

As gret as it were for an ale stake

A Bokeler had he made him of a cake

With him rod there a gentil Pardoner

Of Rouncyvale his frend ⁊and his comper

That streit was come from the court of Rome

Full loude he sang come hider loue to me

This Sompnoᵘur bar to him a stif burdoıı̄un

Was neuer trompe of all so gret a soun

This Pardoner had heer as yelwe as wex

But smothe it henge as doth a strik of flex

Be ounces heng his lockes that he hadde

And therwith his shuldres ouerspradde

But thinne it lay be colpons oon by oon̄

But hood for iolyte were he non̄

For trussed vp in his walett

Him thouȝt he rod al of the newe get

Thus saf his cappe he rod al bare

Such glaryng yhen had he as an hare

A vernicle had he sowed vpon his cappe

His walett beforn̄ him in his lappe

But ful of pardoıı̄un com from Rome al hoot

A vois he had as small as is a goat

No berde had he ne neuer shuld haue

As smothe it was as it were late I shaue

I trowe he were a gelding or a mare

But of his craft from Berwik vnto ware

Ne was ther such an othir Pardoner

For in his male he had a pilwe bere

Wich that he said was oure Lady seall

He seid he had a gobett of the seall

That seint Petir had whan that he went

Vpon the see till Ihu crist him hent

He had a cros of laton full of stones

And in a glas he had pigges bones

But with these reliques whan that he fonde

A poore Person duelling vpon̄ londe

Vpon a day he gat him more money

Than the person gat in monthes twey

And thus with feined flatery and Iapes

He made the person and people his apes

But truli to telle ate laste

In the chirche he was a noble ecclesiaste

Wel coude he rede a lesson or a story

But alderbest he sang an offretory

For wel he wist whan was that song

He must preche and wel fyle his tonge

To winne siluer if he wel couthe

Therfore he sang the merilier and loude

Now haue I tolde you shortli in a clause

The stat the array the ombre and eke the cause

Whi that assembled was this companie

In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrie

That hight the Tabard fast beside the welle

But now is tyme for you for to telle

Hou that we beren vs thilke niȝt

Whan we were in that hoist aliȝt

And aftir woll I telle of oure viage
[5r]
And all the remenant of oure pilgrimage

But first I pray you of your curtesie

That ye rette it nat to my vilenie

Thouȝ that I pleinli speke in this mater

To telle you of the wordes ⁊and of the cheer

Ne thouȝ I speke her wordes propirly

For this ye knowe as wel as I

Who so telle a tale aftir a man̄

He must reherse as ny as euer he can

Eueri word of it be in his charge

Thouȝ he speke neuer so rudeli ne so large

Orellis he must telle his tale vntrewe

Or fein thing or fynde wordes newe

He may nouȝt spare al thouȝ he were his brothir

He must aswell say oo word as an othir

Crist spak him self full brode in holi writ

And well ye wott no vilenie is it

Eke Plato seith who so can him rede

The worde must be cosin to the dede

Also I pray you to foryeue it me

All haue I not sett hou in here degre

Hiere in this tale as I shuld stonde

My witt is short ye shal wel vnderstande

Gret chiere made oure oost vs euerichon̄

And to the souper set he vs anon

He serued vs with vitaill ate beste

Straunge was the wyn̄ and wel to drink vs leste

A semeli man was oure oost with all

For to be a Marshall in a lordes hall

A large man he was with yhen stepe

A fairer burgeis ther is non in chepe

Bolde of his speking and wise ⁊and wel I tauȝt

And of manhod he wanted right nouȝt

Eke therto he was a mery man

And aftirsouper pleyen he began̄

And spak of mirthe among othir thinges

Whan that we had made oure rekenynges

He seid thus now Lordinges truly

Ye be to me riȝt welcome hertely

For be my trouthe if I shuld nat lye

I saugh nat this yere somery acompanie

Atones in herberugh as is now

Fain wold I don to you mirthe ⁊and I wist hou

And of a mirthe I am right now be thouȝt

To don̄ you ease and it shal cost you nouȝt

Ye gon to Caunterbury god you spede

The blisfull martir quite you your mede

And wel I wot as ye gon by the wey

Ye shape to tale and to pley

For truli confort nor mirthe is ther non̄

To ride by the weie as dombe as a ston

And therfor wold I make disport

As I said erst to don you som comfort

And if ye liken alle of oon assent

For to stonden at my Iugement

And for to werchen as I shal you say

To morwe whan ye riden by the way

Now be my faders soule that is ded

But yef ye be mery I will yeue you myn̄ hed

Holde vp your handes withouten more speche

Oure counseill was nat longe for to seche

Vs thouȝt it was nat worth to make it uice

And graunted him withoute more avys

And bad him sey his verdit as him list

Now Lordinges quod he herkeneth for the best

And take it nouȝt I pray you in disdein

This is the point to speke it short and plein

That ich of you to shorte with your weie

In this viage shall telle tales tweye

To Caunterbury ward I ment so

And homward he shal telle othir tuo

Of Auentures that whilom han befalle

And wich of you that bereth him best of alle

That is to seyn that tellith in this cas

Tales of best sentence and most solas

Shall haue a souper all of oure alderes cost

Hiere in this place sitting by this post

Whan that we comen̄ ayen from Caunterbury

And for to make you the more mery

I will my self with you gladly ride

Riȝt at myn ougne cost and be your guide

And so that my Iugement with seye

Shall pay al that we shal spende by the weye

And if ye vouchesaf that it be so

Telle me anon̄ withouten̄ wordes mo

And I will erli shape me therfore

This thing was graunted and oure othes swore

With full glad herte and praien him also
[5v]
That he vouchesaf so for to doo

And that he wolde be oure gouernour

And of oure tales be Iuge and reportour

And sett a souper at a certain pris

And we will reuled be at his deuys

In high and lowe and thus be oon assent

We ben accorded to his Iugement

And thereupon̄ the wyn was fet anon̄

And dranke and to reste went echon̄

Withoute any lenger tarieng

At morwe whan day began to springe

Vp ros oure oost and was oure alder cok

And gadered vs to gider in a flok

And forth we riden a litill more paas

Vnto the watring of Seint Thomas

And there oure oost began his hors areste

And seid Lordinges herkeneth if you leste

Ye wot youre forward and I it you recorde

If euene song and morwe song acorde

Lat se now who shall telle the first tale

As euer mot I drinke wyn or ale

Who so will be rebell to my Iugement

Shal paie for al that bi the weie is spent

Now draweth cutt or we forther twinne

The wich hath the shortest shal beginne

Sir quod he my master and my Lord

Now draweth cutt for this is my accord

Cometh ner quod he my Lady Prioresse

And ye sir clerk lat be your shamefastnesse

Ne studieth nat lay hond to euerichon̄

Anon̄ to drawe eueri wight began

And shortli for to telle as it was

Were it be auenture or soort or caas

The soth it is the knotte fill to the kniȝt

Of wich full blithe was eueri wiȝt

And telle must his tale as was reson

By forward and be composicion

As ye haue herd what nedeth wordes moo

And whan this good man saugh þᵗat it is so

And he was wise and obedient

To kepe his forward be his fre assent

He seid sithan I shal beginne the game

What welcome be the knotte on goddes name

Now late vs ride and herkne what I sey

And with that word we riden forth oure wey

And he be gan̄ right thus with a goodli cheer

His tale anon and seid as ye may hiere

Hiere beginneth the Kniȝt his tale .


Uhilom as olde stories telle vs

Ther was a Duc that Theseus
Hight ·
Of Athenes he was gouernoᵘur

And in his tyme was such conqueroᵘur

That gretter was ther non vnder sonne

Full many a riche contre had he wonne

That with his wisdam and his chiualrie

He conquered all the reigne of Femynye

That whilom I cleped was Sithia

And wedded the quene Ipolita

And brouȝt hir hom with him in to his contre

With moch glory and gret solempnite

And eke his yong suster Emelie

And thus with victory and melodye

Late I this this noble Duc to Athenes ride

And all his oost in armys him beside

And certes if it ner to long to hiere

I wold haue told fulli the manere

Hou was the regne of Femynye

By Theseus and be his chiualrie

And of the gret bataill for the nones

Bitwix Athenys and Amazones

And hou besegid was Ipolita

The faire hardi quene of Sithia

And of the feste that was at her wedding

And of tempest at her hom coming

But al that thing I must as now forbere

I haue god wot a large felde to ere

And weike ben the oxen in my plouȝ

The remenant of my tale is long I now

I nil nat leeten eke non of this route

Lat eueri felawe telle his tale aboute

And late se now who shal the souper winne

And there I lefte I will agein beginne

This Duke of whom I make mencioıı̄un

Whan he almost was cōmen to the toun

In all his wele and his most pride

He was war as he cast his yhe aside

Wher that ther kneled in the high wey

A company of Ladyes twey and twey

Ech aftir othir clad in clothes blake