Tc2 · Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.3.15e
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Tc2/
In granade at the siege eke had he be
In algreth had he ryden and in belmarye
At Cartage was he and eke in satalye
Whenne they were wonne and in the grete see
At many a noble aryue had he be
At mortalle batailles had he be fiftene
And fought for oure feith at Tramyssene
In lystes thryes and hath slayne his foo
This ylke worthy knyght had be also
Som[…]yme wᵗith the lorde of Palathie
Ageyne anothir hethen man in Turkye
And eủermore he had a souereyne pryce
And though he was worthy he was wise
And of his port as meke as a mayde
He nevir yet vylaynes worde seyde
In alle his lyff to noman̉er wight
He was a gentille ꝑparfitt knyght
For to telle you of his aray
His hors were good but he was not gay
Of fustian he wered a gipioun
Alle besmerede wᵗith his habergyoun
For he was late come fro his viage
And sent for to do his pilgremage
WIth hym there was a semely yonge Squyer
A louer and luste bachyler
With lockes crulle as they were leyde in presse
Of twanty yere of Age he was I gesse
Of his stature he was of evene lenthe
And wondirly delyuere and grete of strengthe
And he had be som tyme in chyualrye
In Flaundres in Artoyse and in Picardy
And borne hym welle as of alitle space
In hope to stonde in his ladyes grace
Enbrowede was he as hit were amede
Alle fulle of freysh floures white and rede
Syngynge hewas or floytynge alleday
He was as freyshe as ys the Moneth of May
Short was his gowne wᵗith sleves longe and wide
Welle couth he sitt an hors and therto feire ryde
He couth songꝭes make and welle endyte
Iuste and daunce portray and eke wryte
So hote he louede that by nyghtertale
He slept nomore than a nyghtyngale
Curtese hewas lowly and seruysable
He carf before his fader at the table
A yeman had he and seruantes nomoo
At that tyme for he lyst to ryde soo
And he was cled in cote and hood of grene
A sheffe of arowes bryght and shene
Vnder his belt he bare fulle thryftly
Welle coude he dresse his takille yomanly
His arowes drouped not wᵗith Fethers lowe
And in his honde he bare a myghty bowe
A not hede he had wᵗith abroun visage
Of wodemannes crafte coude he alle the vsage
Vppon his arme he bare a gay bracer
And by his side a swerde and a bokler
And on that othir side a gay daggare
Harneysede welle and sharpe as poynt of spere
A Cristofre on his breste fulle shene
An horne he bare a bawdryke grene
A Foster was he sothly as I gesse
There was also anonne A Pryoures
That of hir smylynge was symple and koy
Here grettest oth was by seynt loy
And she was clepede Eglentyne
Fulle welle she songe seruyce dyuyne
Entoynede in hir voice fulle semely
And frenshe she spake fulle fotously
After the scole of Stratford at the bowe
For frenshe of Parys vas vnto hir vnknowe
At mete welle taught was she wᵗith alle
She let no morcelle from hir lyppes falle
Ne wete hir fyngers in hir sauce depe
Welle couth she cary a morcelle of mete
That no drope felle on hir breste
In curtesye was sett fulle mekely hir lest
Hir overlyppe weped she so clene
That in hir cuppe there was no ferthynge sene
Of grece whan she had dronke hir draught
Fulle semely after hir mete she raught
And sekyrly she was of grete desport
Of plesauᵃnce and amyable of port
And peynede hir to countirfete chiere
Of court to be statly of manere
And to be holde digne of reuerence
But for to speke of hir conscience
She was so charytable and so petous
She wolde wepe and she sawe amous
Kaught in a trappe yf hit were dede or blede
Of smale houndes had she that she fedde
With rost fleyshe mylke and wastelle brede
But sore wept she yf eny of hem were ded
If men smote hem with yerde smart
And alle was conscience and tendre hert
Fulle semely hir wymple pynchede was
Her nase tretise hir eyen grey as glas
Hir mouth smale and therto soft and rede
But sikyrly she had a feire forhede
Hit was almost a span brode I trow
For hardely she was not vndirgʳow
Fulle fetise was hir cloke as I was ware
Of smale coralle aboute hir arme she bare
A peire of bedes gauded alle with grene
And there on hynge a broche fulle shene
On the whiche that first was writte a croned .A.
And after that Amor vincit omnia
Anothir Nonne with hir ther was
Fulle feire of hewe and bright of face
That was hir chapleyn and prestes thre
Amonke there was feire for the maistre
Whiche afore that tyme had be
An out ryder he louede venore
A manly man to be an Abbot able
Fvll many adeynte hors had he in stable
And when he rode men myght hir brydille here
Gyngelynge and whistelynge in the wynde clere
And eke as lowde as deth a chapelle belle
There as the lorde was keper of the selle
The reule of Seynt Maure and of seynt benet
By cause he helde hit somwhat streyte
This ylke monke let olde thynges passe
And helde after the newe worlde the space
He yaf not of the text a pullet henne
That seith that hunters be not holy men
Ne that a monke what that he is recheles
Is lyke to a Fyshe whanne it is waterles
This is to sey amonke out of a cloystre
But that text holde y not worth an oystre
And I sey that his opynyon was good
Whate shulde he stodye and make hym wode
Vppon a booke alwey in cloystre to powre
Or swynke with hondes and laboure
As Austyn did / but howe shalle the worlde be seruede
Let Austyn haue his swynke to hym reseruede
Therefore he was a pricasoure aryght
Grehoundes he had as mylke white
Of prykynge and of huntynge for the hare
Was alle his luste for nothyng wolde he spare
I sawe his sleues purfilde at the honde
With grice and that the fynest of a londe
And for to fasten his hode vndir the chynne
He had of golde wrought a coryous pynne
And eke his face as he had be anoynt
He was a lorde fatt and in good poynt
His eyen stepe and rollynge in his hede
That stemyd as a furneyes of lede
His botes sowpille his hors in grete a state
Nowe certeynly he was a feire prelate
He was not pale as a forpyned goste
A fat swan louede he best of eny roste
His palfrey was / as broun as a bery
He was a porke hogge for the maystry
A Frere there was awanton and a mery
A lymytoure and a fulle solemne man
In alle the orderys foure ys none that so wolle can
Somoche of dalyaunce and feire langage
He had made many a feire maryage
Of yonge womēn at his owne coste
Vntille his Order he was a noble poste
Fulle welle louede and fulle famyliar was he
Wᵗith Frankelens ovir alle in his contre
And wᵗith worthy yomen of the toun
For he had power of confessioun
And plesaunt was his absolucoun
To them that had grete contricoun
And seyde hym selfe more than a curat
And of his ordre he was lycenciat
And an esy man to yeue penaᵃunce
There he wiste to haue a good pitaᵃunce
Vnto a poure ordre for to yeue
Whenne that aman is welle I shryve
Yf he yaue he durst make avaᵃunte
Yf that a man was repentaᵃunte
Many a man harde is of hert
He may not wepe though he sore smert
Therefore in stede of wepynge and pᵃrayers
Men muste yeue siluere to the poure freres
Hit tipet was I fossede fulle of knyves
And wᵗith pynnes to yeue feire wyves
And certeyn he had a mery note
Merely coude he synge and play at the rote
Of tithynges / he bare vtterly the pryc
Milke white he was as the floure delice
Therto stronge he was as a champioun
And knewe the tavarnes well in eủery toun
And euery Osteler and tapstere
Better than a lazar or a beggestere
Forto vnto suche aman as he
Accordeth not as by his faculte
To haue of suche seke Lazars acqueyntance
Hit is not honest hit may not avaunce
For to dele with suche poraille
But wᵗith riche and sellers o vitaille
And ouer alle there as riches shuld aryse
Curteyse he was and lowe of seruyce
There was noman no where so vertouse
He was the best begger in his house
For though a wedowe had not a sho
So plesaunt was his in pryncipio
Yet wolde he haue a ferthynge or he went
His purchas was better than his rent
And barke he couth as hit were a whelpe
In louedays there couth he mykyl helpe
For there he was lyke a cloystrere
With a thredbare cope as a poure frere
But he was lyke a maister or a pope
Of dubbil . worstede was his semy cope
And rounde was as abelle out of presse
Somwhate he lysped for his wantounesse
To make his englysh swete vppon his tong
And in his harpynge whenne he had Isonge
His eyen twynkled in his hede aright
As done the sterres in the Frosty nyght
This worthy Frere was called hubbard
AMarchaᵃunt there was wᵗith a forked berde
In motley on high on his hors he sate
Vppon his hed a flaundres bever hatte
Hit botes claspid feire and fetously
His resons he spake fulle solempnely
Shewynge alwey the encrece of his wynnynge
He wolde the see were kept for eny thynge
Betwyxt Middelburgh and Orewelle
Welle coude he in his eschanges selle
This worthy man his witt fulle well besette
There wist no wight that he was in dette
So estatly was he of gouernance
With his bargeyns and wᵗith his cheuesaᵃunce
For soth he was aworthy man with alle
ANd soth to sey I not howe men hȳm calle
A Clerke there was of Oxenford also
That vnto logik had longe I go
And lene was his hors as a rake
And he was not right fat I vndirtake
But loked holowe and therto sobirly
Fulle thredbare was his overest courtby
For he had gote hym yet no benefice
Ne was not wordly to haue an office
For hym was leuyr to haue at is beddes hede
Twanty bokes Iclad in white and rede
Of Aristotle and of Philosophie .
Than robes riche or Fidle or sawtrye
But alle be that he was aphilosophre
Yet had he but litle golde in cofre
But al that he myght of his frendes haue helpe
On bokes and on lernynge he hit spent
And besely gan for the soules pray
Of hem that yaue hym wherwith to scolaye
Of study toke he most cure and hede
Not o worde spake he more than nede
Short and quyk and high of sentence
Sownynge moral vertu was his prudence
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
And therwᵗith fulle soft was his speche .
A Sargeaᵃunte of lawe ware and wyse
Was there that oft had be at the ꝑparvyse
That was also riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of grete reuerence
He semede suche his wordes were so wise
Iustice he was fulle ofte in assise
By patent and by pleyne Cōmmyssioun
For his science and his high renoun
Of fees and Robes had he many on
So grete a purchasoure was ther no where non
Alle was fee symple to hym in effect
His purchas myght not be to hym suspect
Nowhere so besy aman as he there was
And yet he semede besier than he was
In termes had he caas and domes alle
That from the tyme of kynge williām were falle
Therto he coude endite and make athynge
There couth no wyght pynche at his wryttynge
And euery statute coud he pleyne by rote
He rode but homly in a medle cote
Igirt with a syncte of silke wᵗith barres smale
Of his aray telle I no lenger tale
A Frankeleyn was in his compenye
White was his berde as the deysye
And of his complexion was sanguyn
Welle louede he by the morowe a cuppe of wyne
To lyue in delyte was euer his wone
For he was Epicuries owne sonne
That helde apynyon that pleyne delyte
Was verey felicite parfite .
An householder and that a grete was he .
Seynt Iulyan he was in his countre
His brede his Ale was alwey after one
A better wynode man was nowher none
Withoute bake mete was he nevir in his hous
His Fyshe his Fleyshe and that so plentous
Hit showede in his hous of mete and drynke
Of alle deyntes that men couth thynke
After the sundry season of the yere
So chaıııgede he his mete and his soper
Fulle many a fatt partriche had he in mowe
And many a breme and luce in stewe
Wo was his cook but his sauce were
Poynant and sharpe and redy al his geere
His table dormaunt in his halle alwey
Was redy couerede alle the longe day
At sessions there was he lorde and sire
Fulle ofte tyme he was knyght of the shir
A lace and a Gipser of silke
Hynge at his girdille as white as morowe mylke
A shereue had he be and a coronoure
Was nowhere suche aworthy vauesoure
AN hadirdayssher ther was and a Carpenter
A Web a dyer and a tapiser
And they were clothed alle in o lyuere
Of a solempne and a grete fraternyte
Fulle freysh and newe her gere piked was
Here knyves chapid were not wᵗith bras
But alle wᵗith siluere wrought fulle clene ⁊and welle
Here girdelys and her powches euerydele
Welle semede eche of hem a feire Burgeys
To sitt in the yelde halle at the deys
Eueryche for the wisdome that he can
Was happely for to be an Aldirman
For cateille had they ynough and reste rent
And here wyves wold hit welle assent
And elles certeyne they were to blame
Hit is fulle feire to be called Madame
And go to vigilles alle before
And haue a mantelle rially Ibore
A Cooke they had wᵗith hem for the nones
To boille the chekenes and the mary bones
And powder marchant tart and galyngale
Welle knowe he adraught of london ale
He couth roste / seth / boylle and frye
Make mortrewes and welle bake apye
But grete harme was it as it thought me
For on his chyn a Mormale had he
And blanke Manger made he with the bes
A Shipman was there that wonede fer beweste
For ought I wote he was of dertemoth
He rode vppon a rouncy as he couth
In a gowne foldynge to the kne
A dagger and a lace hangynge had he
Aboute his neck vndir his Arme a doun
The hote somer had made his hewe alle broun
And certeynly he was agood felowe
Fulle many adraught wyne he had drawe
Fro burdeux warde while the chapmān slepe
Of concience toke he no kepe
At fulle many a bataile in that londe
He faught and had the higher honde
But of his crafte to rekon welle his tide
His stremes . and his daungers hym beside
There was none suche from hul in to Cartage
For wyse he was though he were fulle of corage
Hardy he was and ware to vndirtake
With many a tempest his berde hath quake
He knewe alle the hauens that there were
From Englonde in to the Capfenestre
And euery cryke in brytayne and in spayne
His barge was called the Maudeleyne
WIth vs there was . a Doctour of phisik
In the worlde was there none hȳm lyk
To speke of Phisik and Surgerye
For he was grounded in Astronomye
He kept his pacient a grete dele
In hour be magik naturelle
Welle couth he of fortune the Accident /
Of his ymage for his pacyent
He knewe the cause of euery maladye
W̉ere hit of colde / hete / moyst or drye
And were engendred of whate humour
He was a verey ꝑparfitt practesour
Tho cause he knew and of his harme the rote
Anone he yaue the sekeman hit bote
For redy alwey be his apotecaryes
To sende hym drugges and his lettewaryes
For eche of them made other for to wynne
Her frendshippe was not new to begynne
Fulle welle knew he the olde Esculapius
And Diascorid and eke platearyus
Olde Ypocras / haly and eke Galiene
Serapyon / Rasis / and eke Avicene
Auerrois / Damascene / and Constantyn
Bernard / Gatisden and Gilbertyn
Of his dyete mesurable was he
For it was of no suꝑperfluyte
But of grete noryshynge and digestible
His stody was but litle on the bible
In sangwen and in perce Iclad wᵗith alle
Lynede wᵗith taffate and with sandalle
And litle he was of his dispence
He kept that he wan in the pestilence
For golde in Phisik is a cordialle
Therfore he louede golde in specialle .
A Good wiff ther was of beside bathe
And she was somdele deef and that was scathe
here
Of cloth makynge had she suche an haunt
She passede hem of ypre or of gaunt
In alle the Paryshe wyff was there non /
That to the Offrynge be fore hir shulde gone
And yf there certeyn wroth was she
Thanne was she out of alle charite
Hir kercheues fulle fyne were of grounde
I durst sey they weyede thre pounde
That on a sonday were on hir hede
Hir hosyn were of fyne scarlett rede
Fulle streyte y tyede and shoes fulle newe
Bolde was hir face feire and rede of hewe
She was a worthy womān al hir lyue
Housbandes at the churche had she fyue
Withouten othir compeny in youth
But herof nedeth not to speke as nowth
At Acres had she bene and at Iherusaleme
She had passede throwe many a stronge reme
At Rome she had bene and at Babyloyne
At seynt Iames in Galice and at Coleyne
She coude moche of wandrynge in the wey
Gap tothed was she sothly to sey
Vppon an Ambler fulle easely she sate
Iwympled welle and on hir hede an hatte
As brode as it were a bokeler or a targe
A fote mantele aboute hir hippes large
And on hir heles a peire of spores sharpe
In feloshippe coude she laugh and carpe
Of remedyes of loue she coude ꝑpar chaᵃunce
For of that art she coude the daᵃunce
A Good man there was of Relygioıı̄un
And was a poure ꝑperson of a toun
But riche he was and holy of werk
He was also a lernede man a clerke
That cristes gospelles truly wolde preche
His paryshons deuotly wolde teche
Benygne he was and wonder diligent
And in aduersite fulle pacient
And suche he was ꝓprouede oft sithes
Fulle loth were he to curse for his tithes
But rather wolde yeue out of doute
Vnto his pouer paryshones aboute
Of his offrynge and his sustenaᵃunce
He coude in litle thynge haue suffisaᵃunce
Wyde was his paryshe and houses fer asondir
But he let not for reyne ne for thoundir
In siknesse nor in myscheff to visite
The ferrest in his parysh more and lite
Vppon his fete / and l in his honde a staff
This noble ensample vnto his sheepe he yaff
That first he wrote and aftirwarde taught
Out of the gospell the wordes he caught
And this figure he ekede therto
That if golde ruste what shuld Iren do
For aprest to be foul . in whom we trust
No wondir is a lewde man to ruste
And shame it is yf a prest take kepe
A slotty shepherde and a clene shepe
Wolle ought aprest ensample to yeve
Be his clennes / howe his shepe shuld lyve
Be sett not his benefice to hire
And let his shepe acombre in the myre
And ron to london to seynt Poules
And seke hym a chauntrie for soule
Other with a bretherede to be witholde
But dwelle at home and kepe his folde .
So that the wolfe ne had the maystrye
He was a shippard and not a mercenarye
And though he holy were and vertous
He was not to a synful mān to despitous
But in his speche discrete and benygne
Ne of his techynge daungerous ne digne
To drawe folke to heuen with feirenesse .
Be good ensample this was his besynesse .
But it were eny ꝑpersone obstinat
Whedir he were of high or lowe estate
Hym wolde he snybbe sharply for the nonys
A better prest I trowe nowhere none ys
He wayted aftir no pompe ne reuerence .
He had no spicede conscience
But cristes lore and his apostelys twelue .
He taught but first he folowede hym selue .
WIth hym there was aplowmān was his brothir
That had led of dunge many a fother .
A trew swynker and a good was he
Leuynge in peace and parfitt charite
God louede he best with alle his herte
At alle tymes they he gamede or smerte
And then his neighbore right as hym self
He wolde threysh and therto digge and delf
For cristes sake for euery poure wight
Withouten hire yf it lay in his myght
His tithes payde he both feire and welle
Of his propre swynke and his catelle
In a tabard he rode vppon a mere
A sompnore and A Pardener also
A Mancipill and my selfe there was nomo
There was also a Reve and eke a Millere also
THe myller was a stout carle for the nones
Fulle bigge he was of brayne and bones
That proued welle for evir there he cam
At wrastlynge alwey he wolde alwey haue the ram
He was short shuldred a thicke qnarre
There was no dore that he nolde heue of the barre
Or breke it at rennynge with his hede .
His berde as eny sowe or wex was rede
And therto brode as hit were a spade
Vppon the cop of his nose he had
A wert and theron stode a tuft of heres
Rede as the brustles of a sowes eres
His nostrelles blake were and wide
A swerde and a bokerer bare he by his side
Hit mouth as grete as a furneys
He was a iangeler and a ioly hardeys
And that was most of synne and harlotryes
Wolle coude he stele corne and tolle thryes
And that he had thombe of golde parde .
A white cote and blewe hode wered he .
A bagpipe coude he blowe and sowne .
And therwᵗith he brought out of towne
A Gentille Manciple was there of the temple
Of whiche a catour myght take ensample
For to be wise in beynge of vitaille
For to be wise in beynge of vitaille
For whedir he payde or toke be taile
Algate he wayted so on his acate /
That he was ay before and in good state
Nowe is not that of god a feire grace
That suche a lewde mannes witt shalle pace
The wisdome of an hepe of lernede men
Of maistirs had he moo than thries ten
That were of lawe expert and corious
Of whiche there were a docen in that hous
Worthy to be stywardes of rent and londe
Of eny lorde that is in Englonde .
To make hym leue be his owne goode
In honoure detles but he were wode
Othir lyve scarsly as hym lyst desire
And for to helpe alle the shire
In eny cause . that myght falle or happe
And this Manciple sett alle her cappe
A Reve there was a slendre colerik man
His berde is shaue . as nyght as he can
His herys were be his eres rounde I shore
His top was docked like a prest before .
Fulle longe was his legges and fulle lene .
Lyke a staff there nys no calfe y sene .
Welle coude he kepe a garner and a bynne
There was non Auditour coude of hȳm wynne
Welle wiste he . by the drought and by the reyne
The yeldynge of his sede and of his greyne
His lordes shepe his nete and his deirye
His swyns his hors his store and his pultrye
Was holy in this Ryves gouernynge
And by his couenant yaue the rekenynge .
Sith his lorde was twenty yere of Age
There coude noman brynge hym in rerage
There nas bailly ne non othir hyne
That coude his sleyght or his covyne
They were of hym adrad as of the deth
His wonynge was feir vppon an heth
With grene teeys shadowed was his place
He coude better than his lorde purchace .
Fulle riche he was astored preuely
His lorde he coude pleace discetly
To yeue ayen to hym of his owne good
And haue thanke and yet a cote and an hode
In youth he had lerned a good mystere
He was a wel good wright a Carpentere
This Reue sate vppon awelgood stott
That was alle pomel grey and hight scott
A longe surcote of Perce vpon hȳm he had
And by his side he bare a rusty blad
Of Northfolke was this Reve of whiche I telle
Beside a toıı̄un men calle Baldilwelle .
Tucked he was as is afrere aboute
And euyr he rode the hynderest of the rowte
A Sompnere wᵗith vs was in that place
That had a rede cherubyn face
For sausfleme he was wᵗith eyen narowe
Hote he was and lykerous as a sparowe
With blake browes scalled and pilled berde
Of his visage children were aferde
There nas quyksiluere litarge ne brymstone
Borace ceruce ne oyle of tartre none
Ne oynement that ychith or byte
That myght helpe his whelkes whit
Ne of his knobbis syttynge in his chekes
Welle louede he Oynons garlek and lekes
And for to drynke rede wyne as red as blode
Than wolde he speke and cry as he were wode
And when he had welle dronke the wyne
Than wolde he speke no worde but latyne .
Fewe termes had he two or thre .
That he had lerned of som man of degre
No wondir is he herde it alle the day
And eke ye knowe welle that a iay
Can clepe watte as welle as the pope
But who coude hym in othir thyngꝭes grope
Than had he spent alle his Philosophie
A questio / quid queris / wolde he crye
He was a gentille harlott and a kynde
A better folowe shuld nomān fynde
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyne
A good felowe to haue his concubyne
A twelf moneth and excuse hym at the fulle
Fulle pⁱriuely a fynche eke coude he pulle
And yf he founde owher a good felowe
He wolde teche hym anone to haue awe
In suche caas of the Archidekenes curs
But yf mannes soule were in his purs
For in his purs he shulde punyshede be
Purs is the Archideknes helle seide he
But welle I wote he liede in dede .
Of cursynge ought eche man to drede
For cursyng wolle sle right as soylynge saueth
And also ware hym of significauit
In daunger had he at his owne gise .
Alle the yonge girles of the dyocyse .
and knewAnd knewe of her councelle and was of her rede
A garlonde he had set vppon his hede
Asgrete as hit were an Alestake
A bokeler had he made hym of a Cake
WIth hym there rode a gentil ꝑpar donere
Of rouncyvale his frende and his compere
That streyght was come from the Pope of rome
Fulle lowde he songe come hedir leue grome
This sompnore bare to hym a stiff burdone
Was nouyr trompe of halfe so grete a sowne
This ꝑpardener had heere as yolowe as wexe
And smoth hit hynge as doth a stryke of flexe
Be hynde his lockes that he hadde
And there wᵗith his shuldrys ouer spradde
But then hit lay by culpons one and one
And hode for colde wered he none
For it was trussede vp on his walet
Hym thought he rode on the newe get
Dissheuyld saue is cappe he rode albare
Suche glarynge eyen had he as hath an hare
His walet beforn hym had he in his lappe
A vernacle had he sowede vppon his cappe
Brett fulle of pardon come fro rome alhote
A voice he had as smale as hath a goote
No berde had he ne nevir shulde haue
Asmoche was it as it were newe shaue
I trowe he were a goldynge or A mare
But of his craft from Berwik vnto ware
Ne was there nowhere suche A pardenere
For in his male he had a pilowe beere
Whiche that he seide was oure ladies veyle .
He seide he had a gobett of the seill
That seynt Petir had when that he went
Vppon the see tille IħuIhesus crist hym hent
He had a crosse of laton fulle of stones
And in a glasse he had pigges bones
But wᵗith this reliques when that he fonde
A poure ꝐParsone dwellynge vppon londe
Vppon a day he gate he gate hym more mone
Than the ꝑparsone gate in monthes thre
And thus hath he feyned flatryes ⁊and Iapes
He made the person and the peple his apes
But truly to telle at the laste
He was in churche a noble eccleciaste
Welle coude he rede a lesson or a story
But alderbest he songe an offretory
For welle he wiste whēn that songe was songe
He must p̉reche and file awhile his tunge
To wynne siluere as he welle can
Therfore he songe the meryer than
NOwe haue I tolde you shortly in a clause
The state the aray the noonbre ⁊and the cause
Whi that assembled was this compenye
In Southwerke at this gentille hostelrye
That hight the Tabard faste by the belle
But nowe is tyme to you for to telle
Howe that we bare vs that ilke nyght
When that we were in the hostry ali stght
And after wolle I telle of oure viage
And alle the remenant of oure pilgrymage
But first I you pray of youre curtesye
That ye ne rekene not my vylony
Thought that I pleynly speke in this Matere .
To telle you here wordes and her chere
And though I speke her wordes propirly
For this ye knowe as welle as y
Who shalle a tale telle after a man
He muste reherce as nere as he can
Euery worde yf hit be in his charge
Al speke he so rudely and so large .
Or elles he muste telle his tale vntrewe
Or sey thynges or feyne wordes newe
He may not spare al though he were his brothir
He mote sey as welle o worde as a nothir
Criste spake hym selfe brode in holy wryt
And welle ye wote no vilany is it
Eke Plato seith who so can it rede
The worde muste be cosyn to the dede
Also I pray you for yeue it me
Al though I sett not folke in her degre
Here in this tales as they shuld stonde
My witt is short ye may welle vndirstonde
GRete chere made oure ost to vs eủerychon
And to soper sett vs anon
He seruede vs with vitaille at the beste
Stronge was the wyne and drynke vs liste
A semely man oure host was with alle
For to be a marchal in a lordes halle
A large man he was with eyen stepe
A feirerburges is there none in I chepe
Bolde of his speche and welle was I taught
And of manhode lacked he right noght
Eke therto was he right a mery man
And after soper to pley he began̄
And spake of mirth a monge othir thynges
When that had made oure rekenynges
He seyde thus nowe lordynges tendirly
Ye be to me welcome hertely
For by my trouth yf I shalle not ly
I sawe not this yere so mery a compeny
At ones in this herborowe as nowe
Feyne wolde I do you myrth yf I wist howe
And of my mirth I am right now be thought
To do you ease and it shalle coste you noght
Ye go to Caunterbury god you spede
The blessede martir quytt youre mede
And welle ye wote as ye goo by the weye
Ye shappen you to talke and to play
For truly comfort ne myrth is none
To ryde by the wey dom as a stone
And therfore wolle I make you disport
As I seyde erst and do you comfort
And yf it liketh you alle be one assent
For to stonde at my Iugement
And for to werke as I shalle you sey
To morowe whan ye ryde on the wey
Nowe by my fadir soule that is dede
But ye be mery I shalle you yeve my hede
Holde vp youre honde wᵗithoute more speche
Oure councelle shalnot longe be to seche
Vs thought not worth to make vs wyse
And graunted hym without more avise
And bade hym sey his verdit as hym list
Lordynges quod he nowe herkeneth for the best
But take it not I pray you in dysdeyne
This is the poynt to speke it short and pleyn
That eche of you to short with youre wey
In this viage shalle telle tales twey
To Caunterbury warde I mene it so .
And homeward he shalle telle oþ̉er talles to
Of aventures that whilom haue befalle
And whiche of you bereth hym best of alle
That is to sey that telleth in this case
Tales of the best sentence and most solace
Shalle haue a sopere of oure alther cost
Here in this place sittynge by this post
When that ye come ayen from caunterbury
And for to make you the more mery
I wille me solfe go wᵗith you and ryde
Ryight at myn owne cost and be your gide
And who that wille my iugement with sey
Shortly shalle pay alle that is spent by the wey
And yf ye vochesaff that hit be soo
Telle me anone withouten wordes moo
And I wille hertly shape me therfore
This thynge was graunted and othes swore
With fulle glad hert and prayn hym also
That he wolde vouchesauff to do so
And that he wolde be oure gouernoure
And of oure tales Iuge and reportoure
And sett a sopere at a certeyne pryce
And wol be reuled at his devise .
High and lowe and alle be one assent
We be accordede to the Iugement
And therevppon the wyne was fett anone
We dronke and to rest went we echone
Withoute eny lenger taryyng
A morowe when the day gan sprynge
Vppe ros oure oste and was alle oure cokke
And gadred vs alle in a flocke
And forth we rode litle more than apaas
Vnto the watrynge of seynt thomas
And there oure ost gan his hors areste
And seyde herkeneth lordynges yf ye lyste
Ye wote oure forewarde and I you recorde
Yf evesonge and morowe son accorde .
Lett se nowe who shalle telle the first tale
As evir mote I drynke wyne or Ale
Who that wolle be rebel to my iugement
Shalle pay for alle that is be wey spent
NOwe drawe cutt or that ye ferthir twynne
Whiche shalle the first tale begynne
Sir knyght quoth he maister and my lorde
Draweth cutt for that is myn accorde
Cometh hedir quoth he my lady pryores
And ye sir Clerke let be youre shamfastnes
And stody not ley on honde euery man
Anone to withdrawe eủery wight began
And shortly to telle as hit was
Were it be aventure fortune or caas
The soth is this the cutt felle on the knyght
Of whiche fulle blythe and glad is euery wight
And telle must he as hit was reason
Be forward and by composicion
As ye haue herde whate nedeth wordes mo
And whan this good mān sawe that it was so
As he that was wise and obedyent
To kepe his forwarde by his fre assent
He seyde sithens I shalle be gyn the gam
Whate welcome be cutt a goddes name .
Nowe let vs ryde and herken whate I sey
And with at worde we ryden forth oure wey
And he began with right a mery chere
And seyde anone . his tale as ye shalle here . //
Explicit . Prologus .
Here begynneth the knyghtes tale folowynge
Whilom as olde story telleth vs
There was a duke that hight Theseus
Of Tebes he was lorde and gouernoure
And in his tyme suche a conqueroure
hat gretter was there noon vnder the sonne
Fulle many a riche countre had he wonne
That with his wisdome . and chyualrye
He conquered alle the reame of femenye
That whilom was cleped Sithea
And wedde the quene Ipolita
And brought hir home in to his Couintre
With moche glorie and solempnyte
And eke hir yonge sustre Emelye
And thus with victory and melodye
Lete I this worthy duke to Athenes ryde
And alle his hoste in armes hym beside
And certes if it nere to longe to here
I wolde haue tolde fully the matere
A knighte there was and that a worthie man
That fro the tyme that he first began
To riden out / he loued Cheualrye
Trouth honour fredome / and Curtesy
Full worthy was he in his Lordes warre
And therto had he ridden no man so farre
As well in Christendome as in heathnes
And euer had honour / for his worthynes
At Alisaunder he was / when it was wonn
Full ofte tyme / he had the bourde begon
Abouen all nations in Pruce
In Lettow had he riddenbeen / and in LuceRuce
No Christian man / so ofte ofin his degree
In Garna[a3v]
When that Aprile with his shourꝭes soote
The drought of Marche / had perced the roote
And bathed every vaine / in suche licoure
Of which vertue / engendrid is the floure
When Zephirus / eke with his soote breath
Enspired hath / every holte and heath
The tendre Croppes / and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram / half his Course ironne
And smale foules / maken melodie
That slepen all nyght / with open eye
So pricketh hem nature / in hir courage
Then Longen folke / to go on pilgrimage
And Palmers to seken / straunge strondes
To ferne seke halowes / couth in sondrie Londes
And specially / fro every shires ende
Of Englande / to Caunterbery they wende
The holie blisfull martire for to seke
That hem hath holpen / when they were seke
So It befell it it that season vp/ on a daie
In Southwarke / at the Taberd as I laie
Redy to go wende / on my Pilgrymage
To Caunterbery with deuoute courage
That nyght was come into that ones hostelrie
Well nyne and twenty / in a company
Of sondrie diuers folke / by auenture ifall
In felyshippe / and Pilgrimes were they all
That toward Caunterbery woulde rid
As A Chamber and stables wern wide
And well wexen they eased / at the best
And shortly / when the sonne was at rest
So had I spoken / with hem euerchone
That I was / of her felishipp anone
And made forwarde / early for to rise
To take oure waie / wthere as I you devise
But Nethelesse / while I haue tyme and space
Or that I ferther / in this tale pase
Me thinke it / accord a[…] it were to reason
To tell you all the Condicion
Of eche of hem / so as it semed me
And whiche they were / and of what degree
And eke in what araie / that they were in
And at a knyght / then will I first begynn
A knight there was and that a worthy man
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To riden out / he loued Cheualrie
Trouth / honor / fredome and curtesie
Full worthy was he in his lordes warre
And therto had he ridden / no man so farre
As well in Christendome / as in heathennes
And euer had honour / for his worthynesse
At Alisaundre he was / when it was won
Full oft tyme / he had the bourde begon
Abouen all nations in Pruce
In Lettow had he ridden / and in Luce
Non Christian man / so ofte of his degree
In Garnad