To1 · Oxford, Bodleian Library, Trinity College MS 49
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/To1/
[1v]
When that Aꝑperril . with his shouris . swote
The drought of Marche hath percid the rote
And bathid . eủery veyne in suche licour
Of whiche vertu engendrid is the floure
And zeferus eke witis swete brethe
Enspirith hath in eủery holte and hethe
The tendre Croppis . and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ramme his halfe cours I ronne .
And smale foulis . makyn Meldie
That slepyn al the nyght with opyn eye .
H so pⁱrikith hem nature in hir coragis .
That longyng folkis to goon on pilgrimages .
And palmers for to gon to straunge strondis .
To ferne halwis kouth in sondry . londis .
And specially to from eủery shiris ende .
Of Engelonde to Cauntirbury they wende
The holy blissid martir for to seke
That hem hath holpyn when they were seke
Be fel that on that sesou on a day .
In southwerke atte the Tabarde as I lay .
Redy to wendyn on my pilgrimage .
To Caunt̉erbury with deuoute Corage
Att nyght was com in to that hostelrie
Wel nyne a tw nyne and twenty in o cōmpany
Of sondry folke . by auenture I falle .
In felachipe and pilgrimes wer they alle .
That touward Caunt̉erbury wolde ride .
The Chaumbures and stabulis were wide .
And wel were we esid . at the bete .
And shortly whan the sonne as to reste .
So had I spokyn with hem eủery chone
That I was of hir felaship a none
And made forwarde . herly for to ryse
To take oure wey . ther as youe deuys
But natheles while I haue tyme and space
Me thinkith hit a cording to resoun .
To telle you al the condicioun
Of Eche of hem so as hit semyth me
And whiche they were and what degre
And eke in what aray they in were
And atte a knyght I wille begynne here .
Aknyght ther was . and that a worthi man
That fro the tyme that he firste be ganne
To ridyn oute he louyd Chiualrie
Treuth and honour freedom and curtesie .
Fulle worthi was he in his lordis werre
And ther to had riden no man ferre
As welle in Cristyndome as . in hethynnesse
And eủere honourid for his worthinesse .
At Alisaundre he was whan hit was wonne
Full ofte tyme he had the borde be gonne
A boue al nacions . in pruce
In lettowe had . he reisid and in Ruse
No Cristynman so oftyn of his . degre
In Gernade at the sege eke hadde he bee
Of Algery . had riden in belmarie .
At leis was he . and att satalie
Whenne they were wonne . and in the grete see .
And at many a noble . Armye had he be .
Atte mortaile batailis . had he be fiftene .
And foughtyn for oure feith at transmissene .
In listes thries an ay slayn his foo
This ilke worthi knyght had ben also
Sıı̄unme tyme with the lorde . of palatie
A geyne a nothir hethyn in Turkeye
And eủere more he had a soeủereyne pⁱrise
And though that he worthi were he was wise .
And of his porte as meke as a maide .
He neủere . yit dede . velenye . ne saide
In al his lif vnto no man̉er wight
He was a verrey gentil. ꝑparfit gentil knyght
But for to telle you of his araie .
His hors were goode . but he was nott gaie
Of fustian he werid a Gipou
Al smoterid with his habirgeou
For he was . late come from his . vage
And wente to don his pilgrimage
With hym ther was his sonne a yonge squier
With lx lokkis crulle . and they were leide on presse
Of xxᵗⁱ yere of age was he as I gesse
Of his stature he was of even lengthe
And wondirly delyeủer and grete of strengthe
And he had ben somtyme . in chiualrie
In flaundris . in arteis . in Pkardie
And borne hym welle . in so litil space .
In hope to stonde in his ladies grace .
Enbreidid was his hede as hit were a mede .
And ful of fressh flouris bothe white and rede .
Syngyng he was . and flowtyng al the day .
He was als fressh as the monyth of may .
Short was his gowne . with sleuys longe and wide
Wel koude he sitte on hors . and faire ride .
He koude songes make and wel indite .
Iuste and eke daunce . welle portrei and write
So hote he louyd . that be nyght tale .
He slepe no more than doth a nyghtyngale
Cuteise he was louly and seruysable
And karfe to fore his fadir atte the table
¶ A yeman had . he and seruauntꝭes no moo .
At that that tyme for hym liste to ride soo .
And he was Cladde . in a cote and an hode of grene .
And schef of Pokok o arwes bright and kene .
vndir his belte . he bare ful thriftly .
Wel coude he dresse his takill yomanly .
His sethe Arwis droupid nought with fetheris lowe
In his hande he bare a myghty bowe
A nottid hede . had . he wh[…]e and broune visage .
Of wode crafte welle koude . he the . vsage .
vpon his arme . he bare a gaye brasere
And be his side a sworde and a bokeler
And on that othir side a gay dagger .
Harnaised wel . and sharpe as pointe of spe
Ne that a Monke . whenne that he is recheles .
Is likned till a fissh . that is wat̉erlees
This is to sayn a Monke oute of his Cloistre
But thilke tixte helde . he nought worth an oistre
And I sey his opinyou was gode .
What schulde study and make hym self wode
Vpon a boke in cloistre al way to poure
Othir swynken with ese as houndes and labour
As Austyn haue his swynke to hym reseruyd
Ther for he was . a pⁱrikosour a right
Grehoundes he had as swifte right as foule in flight
Of Pⁱkyng and of huntyng for the hare
Was all his lust for no cost wolde he spare
I saw his sleuys purfilde at the honde
With gris and that the fynest of a londe
And for to festene . his hode . vndir his chynne .
He had of golde wrought a full curious pynne
A loue knotte in the grettest ende ther was .
His heed was ballid that schon as any glas
And eke his face . as he had ben an oynt
He was a lorde ful fatte . and in goode poynt
His eyen stepe and rollyng in his hede
That stemyd as a furneis of lede
His botes sowple . his hors in grete astate
Now serteynly he was afaire prelate
He nas nat pale . as a for pynyd goste
A fatte swanne louyd he best of any roste
His palfrey was as broune as as bury
¶ A Frere ther was a wantaune and a mery .
A lymetour o in contre also a ful solempne man
In all the ordris iiij . is non that canne
So mykill of daliaunce and faire language
He had makid ful many a mariage
Of yonge women . at his owne cost
And to his ordre hee was a noble poste
Full wel belouyd and famulier was he
With frankeleyns oeủer all in his cuntre
And eke with worthi women of the toune
For he had pouer of confessioun
As saide hym self more thanne a curat
For of his ordre he was licenciate
Ful swetely her he confessioun
H and plesaunt was his absolucioun
He was an esy man to yif penaunce
Ther as I he wist to haue agode pitaunce .
For vnto a poure orde for to yif
Is signe that a man is wele I schriue
For yif that he yaf he durst make avaunte
He wist that a man was repentaunte .
For many a man so harde is of herte .
He may nought wepe al though hym sore smerte
Ther for in stede of wepyng and praier .
Men muste gif seluer to the poor freres .
His tipette was ay farsyd ful of knyuys .
And pynnys for to yif faire wyvys
And certeynly he had a mery note .
Welle couthe he syng and play on a rote .
Of ȝeddyng he bare vttirly the pⁱrice
His nekke white was . as the floure delis .
Ther to he stronge was . as a Champioun
He knew the Tauernes wel in eủery toun
And eủery osteler . and tappester be
Bette thanne a lasour othir a begster
For vnto suche . a worthi man as he
A cordid nought as by his faculte .
To haue with sike lasours aqueintaunce .
Hit is not onest he may nott avaunce .
For to delen with no suche pooreile .
But al with riche and sellers of vitaile
And oeủeral ther as profite schulde arise
Curteise he was and louly of seruise
Ther was no man nowher so vertuous .
He was the best begger . in his hous
And though a wedowe had nat a scho .
so plesaunte was his Principio .
That ther wolde he haue . a ferthing or he went
His purchas was wele bettir than his rente
And Rage he couth as hit were right a whelpe
In loue daies couth he mochil helpe .
With thredebare for ther he was not like a cloisterer .
With threde bare cope as is a pore scoler .
But he was like a maister and othir a pope
Of double worstede was his semy cope .
That rounde as a belle . oute of the presse .
Somwhat he lispid for his wantaunenesse
To make his Englisch swettir vppon his tonge
And in his harpyng whenne that he had sounge
His eien twynclid in his hede a right
As don the sterris in the frosty nyght
This worthi lymytour was Clepid huberd
¶ A marchaunte was ther with a forkid berd .
In motle and high on a hors he satte
Vpon his hede a flaunderisch beuer hatte
His B botis clapsid faire and fetously
His reasounes he spak ful solempne ly .
sownyng al wey the encres of his wynnyng
He wolde the see wer kepte for any thing
Bi twixt Middilboug Middilburgh and Orwelle
Wel couthe he in eschaunge scheldis selle .
This worthi man wel his witte besette .
Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette
So estately was he of his goeủernaunce .
With his bargaynes and with his cheuysch saunce
For soth he was . a worthi man with all
But soth to say I nott hou men hym calle
¶ A Clerke ther was . of Oxenford also .
That vnto logik had long I goo .
As lene was his hors . as is a Rake .
He was nat right fatte I vndir take .
But lokid holwe . and ther to sobirly .
Ful thredebare was his oeủerest curtepie
For he had getyn hym ther no benyfice
Ne was so worldly for for to haue an office
For hym was leuer haue at his beddis hede .
Twenty bokis clad in blak othir rede .
Of Aristotile . in his philosophie .
Thanne Robis riche othir phithil . or gay sauterie
But al be that he was a Philosophir
He had he but litle gl golde in his Coffre
But al that he myght of his frendis hente
On bokis and on lernyng he hit spente
And bisily ganne for the soules pray
Of hem that yaf hem wher with to scolay
Of stody toke he most cure and most hede
Not o word spak he more thanne was nede .
And that was said in fourme and reủerence
And schorte and w quykke and ful of high sentence
Sounyng in a moral vertue was his speche .
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
¶ A Sergiaunte of the lawe that was ware and wise
That had ben at the paruys .
He was also full . riche of excellence .
Discret he was . and of grete reủerence .
He semede swiche his wordis . weren so wise .
Iustise he was full often in assise
Bi Patent and by playn Cōmmissioun
For his science and his high renoun
Of fees and robes . had he manyon
So grete a purchasour was nowher non
All was fee . symple to hym in effecte
His purchasyng myght not ben enfecte
Nawher so besy aman as he ther nas .
And yit he semyd bisier than he was
In t̉ermes hadde he cas . and domes all
That fram the tyme . of william wer falle .
Ther to he couthe endite . and make a thing
Ther couthe no wight pynche . at his writyng
And eủery statut couth he playn be rote .
He rod but homly . in a medle cote .
Gert with a sainte . of silke with barris smale .
Of his a ray . telle I no lenger tale
¶ A Frankelayn also was in this companie
White was his berd . as is the daisie
Of his complexcioun he was sanguyne
Wel louyd he be the morwe a sop in wyn
To lyuyn in delite . was eủere his wone
For he was Epucurus owne sonne
That hilde opinioun that playn delite
Was verray felicite and parfit
An housholdir and that a grete was hee
Saynt Iulian he was in his contre
His bred his ale was al waies aftir on
A bettre enuyned man was neủere non
Withoutyn bakemete neủere his hous
Of fissh and flessh and that so plentiuous
Hit snewid in his hous of mete and drinke
Of all dayntees that men couthe thinke
Aftir the sondry sesouns of the yere
So chaungid he his mete and his sopere
Ful many a fat partrich had he in mue
And many a brem and many luce in stue
Wo was his cook bote yif his sauce were .
Poynaunt and scharpe . and redy all his gere
His table dormaunt in his hal al way .
Stode redy cuuerid al the longe day .
Att sessiouns ther was he lorde and Sire
Ful ofte tyme he was . knyght of the schire
An anlaas and a gipser al of selke
Heng at his gurdill . white as morwe mylke
A schereue had he ben and eke countour
Was nowher swich a worthi vauasour
An Haberdassher and a Carpenter ther was .
A webbe a diere and a Tapister .
And they were clothid all in o lyuere .
Of a solempne and a grete frat̉ernite .
Ful fresshe and newe hur gere ay pikid was .
Hur knyuys ner chapid nought with brasse
But all with siluer . wrought ful clene and well
Hur gurdelis and hur nouches . eủery del
Wel semyd eche of hem a faire burgeis .
To sittyn in a ȝeldehalle . on a deys .
eủeriche for the wisdom that he canne
Wer schaply for ben an aldirman
For Catel had they I now and rente
And hir wivis woldyn wel assente .
And els certayn they were to blame
Hit is ful fayre . to be clepid madame
And gon to vigilis al be fore
And haue a Mantell rialliche I bore
A Cooke they had wyth . hem for the nones .
To boile the Chekens with the maribones .
And poudir Marchaunt tarte of galyngale
Wel couth he knowe a draught of londou ale
He couth roste and seth and broile and frie
Makyn Mortrews and welle bake a pie
But grete harme was hit thought me
That on his schyn a marymole had he
For blanke mang that made he with the beste
¶ A Schipman was ther wonyng fer by west
For aught I wote he was of Dertmouthe
He rode vpon a rounsy as he couth
In a goune of falchyg that to the kne .
H A Dagger . hangyng on a las had he .
A boute his nekke vndir his arme doune
The hote somyr hath made his hew al broune
And certeynly he was a gode felawe .
Ful many a draught of wyn had drawe
Fro burdeus ward while that that chapmān slepe
Of nise conscience . toke he no cepe
Yif that he faught and had the hier hande
By wat̉er he sente hem home . to eủery lande
But of his crafte . to rekyn well his tidis .
The stremes and his daungers hym bi sidis
His herberw and his mone and his ledemanage
Ther was no suche fram hēnne to Cartage
Hardy he was and wis to vndirtake
With many a tempest had ben his berde schake
He knew welle . al the hauenes . as thei were
Fro gotlond to the Cape the finis tere
And eủery creke in Britaigne and in spayne
His barge . clepid was . the maudleyn
¶ With vs ther was a Doctour of fisik
In al this . worlde ne was ther noon hym like
To speke of fisik and of Surgerie
For he was groundid in Astronomye
He cepte his pacience of a full grete delle .
In his houris by his magik naturel .
Wel couth he fortunen the assendent .
Of his ymages for his pacient
He knew the cause of eủerych maladie
Were hit of hot . othir colde othir moiste or drie
And were engendrid and what humour
He was a verrey par ꝑparfite practesour
The cause he knew and of his harme the rote
A non he yaf the sikemann his bote
Ful redy had he his Apotecaries .
To send hym drenchis . and his letuaries
For eche of hem made othir for to wynne .
Hir frendship nas . naught newe to be gynne .
Wel knew he . the olde esculapius .
And deiscroides and eke rufus .
Olde ypocras . haly and galien
Serapiou Rasis . and auyzen
Auerrois . Damascien and constantyn
Bernard and gatesdene and gilbertyn
Of his Diete mesurable was hee .
For hit was of no suꝑperfluite
But of gret norishing and digestible .
His stidie was . but litil on the bible .
In Sangyn Sangwyn and in pers . he cl clad was all
Lynyd with taffata and with sendall .
And yit he was . but esy of dispense
He kepte that he wanne in pestilence
For golde in fisik is cordiall .
Ther for he louyd gold in speciall .
¶ A goode wif was . ther of bi side bathe
But sche was sumdell . def and that was skathe .
Of clothmakyng sche had suche an haunt
sche passid hem of ypres and of gaunt
In all the Parissh wiff wif ne was ther non
That offring bifore . hir scholde gon
And yif ther dide . certayn so wroth was sche .
Ther sche was oute of al charite
Hur curchiues ful fyne were . of grounde
I durst swere . they weydyn al oute x pounde
That on a sonday . weryn vpon hir hede
Hir hosyn were of fyne scarlet rede
Ful straite I teide . and schoes ful straite and newe
Bold was hir face and faire and rede of hewe
sche was a worthi woman al hir lif
Housbondis at the Chirche dore sche had fife
Withoutyn othir cumpanie in hir youthe
But ther of nedith nought to speke as nowe
And thris had sche . ben at Ierusalem
Sche had passid many a straunge streme
At Rome sche had ben and at boleyn
In Galeis and at seint Iame and at Coleyn
Sche couth mochil of wandring by the way
Gap tothid was sche soleyn for to say .
Vpon an ambeler esely sche satt
I wymb wymplyd well . and on hir hede an hatte .
As brode . as is a bokeler othir a targe .
A fote Mantell . aboute hir hepis large
And on hur fete . a paire of spurris scharpe
In felawschip wel couth sche laugh and carpe
Of remedies of loue . sche knewe . ꝑpar chaunce
For sche couth of that arte the olde daunce .
¶ A gode man was ther of religiou
And was a poure persoun of a toune
But riche he was of holy thought and werke
He was also l a lernyd man a Clerke
That Cristꝭes gospell trewly wolde preche
His parischons deuoutely wold he teche .
Benygne he was and wondir diligente .
And in adeủersite . ful paciente .
And swiche he was I preuyd oftyn sithis .
Ful loth wer hym to cursyn for his tithis .
But rathir wolde he yif oute of doute
Vnto his poor parischons a boute
Of his offring and eke of his substaunce
He couth in litil thing haue suffisaunce
Wide was his parish and housis fer a sondir
But he ne lafte natt for rayne ne thondir
In sikenes nothir in myschif to visite
The ferrest in his parissh moche and lite
Vpon his fete . and in his hand a staff
This noble insaumple . vnto his schepe he yaf
That fir he wrought and aft̉erward that he taught
And oute of the gospell he tho wordis caught
And eke this figure . he addid eke ther to
That yif gold rust what schal Iryn do
For yif a prest be foule on whom we trust
No wondir nysse a leude man to rust
And schame hit is yif that a prest take ce kepe
A schiten schepherd and a clene schepe
Welle ought a pste . ensaumple for to yiue
Bi his clennesse . hou that his schep schulde leue
He sett nought his benefice to hire
And let his schepe . encombrid in the myre .
And ranne to londou vnto seint poules .
To sekyn hym a chaunterie for soules .
Othir with a brothirhed to ben with holde .
But dwelle at home and kepe wel his folde
So that the wolf ne made hit nought miscarie
He was a schepher and a nought a mercenarie
And though he holy were and vertuous
He nas nought to synfullmen dispitous
Ne of his speche . daungerous ne digne
But in his techinge discret and benygne
To drawyn folke to heuen by fairenesse .
Bi goode insaumple . this was his bisinesse .
But it were any ꝑpersoune obstinate .
What so he wer of high and low estat
Hym wolde hyn he snybben scharply for the nones .
A bett̉er I trow that nawher noon es .
He waitid aft̉er no pompe and reủerence .
Ne makyd hym a spisid conscience .
But Cristis lore and his posteles twelue
He taught but first he folwid hit hym self .
¶ With hym ther was . a plowman was his brothir
That had I lad of dounge full many a fothir
And trew swynker and a gode was he .
Lyuyng in pees . and ꝑparfite charite .
God louyd he best with al his hole herte .
At al tymes . though he gamyd or smerte .
And than his neighboure right as hym selfe .
He wolde thresch and ther dike and delue
For cristis sake with eủery pore wight
With outyn hire yif hit lay in his myght
His tithis paied he ful faire and welle
Bothe of his propre swynk and his catell .
In a tabarde he rode upon a mere
¶ Ther was also a Reue and a Millere
A Somenour and a ꝑpardoner also
A Maunciple and my self ner ther namo .
The Miller was a stoute Carle for the nones .
Ful big he was of braune and eke of bones .
That prouyd wel for oeủeral where he cam
Att wrastelyng he wolde haue al wey the ramme
He was schort schuldrid brode a thikke knarre
Ther ne was no dore that he ne wolde haue of harre
Othir breke hit at arennyng with his hede
His berd as any sow as fox was rede
And ther to brode as though hit were a spade
vpon his coppe right of his nose he had
A werte and ther stode a tufte of heris .
Rede as the bristillis as a sowis eris .
His nostrellis blak blak were and wide
A swerde and a bokeler he bare by his side
His mouth as grete was as a grete furneys
He was yangeler and a goliardeys
And that was most of synne and har lottries .
Wel couth he stele . corne . and tolle thries .
And yit he had . a thombe of gold ꝑparde
A white cote . and a blew hode werid he .
A bag pipe . wel couth he blowe and soune .
And ther with all . he brought us oute of toune .
¶ A gentill Maunciple . was ther of a Temple .
Of whiche a catours myght take example .
For to ben wise in big biyng of vitaile .
For whethir that he paide othir toke bitaile .
Al gate he waitid so on his ag acate .
That he was ay be forne . and in gode state .
Now is hit nott that of god a full faire grace
s that suche a leude manes witte schall pace
The wisdam of an hepe of lernyd men
Of Maistris . had he . mo than thris ten
That weryn of law exꝑperte . and curious
Of whiche ther were . ai doseyn in that hous
Worthi to ben steuwardꝭes of rente and lande
Of any lordis . that is in Engelonde .
To make hym lyue . by his propre gode .
In honoure . sentenles . but he wer wode .
Or lyue a scarsly as hym list desire
And able for to helpen an al an hole schire
In any cas . that myght fall othir hap
And ther this . maunciple sette hur althir hap cap
¶ The reue was a sclendir colrik man
His berd was schaue as nygh as eủer he can
His here was by his ere . ful rounde I schorne
His top was dockid like a prest biforne .
Ful long were his leggis and full lene .
I lik a staf . ther was no calf I sene
Wel couth he kepe . a gerner and a bynne .
Ther was non auditour couthe on hym wyn
Wel wist he by . the drought and by the rayn
The ȝeldyng of his . sed and of his grayn
His lord schip his nete . his deirie .
His swyn his hors his store and his pultrie
Was holy in this reuys goeủernyng
And by his couenaunt yaf the rekenyng
Synne that his lorde was twenty yere of age .
Ther couth no man bring hym in arereage .
Ther nas baili ne herde othir odir hyne
That he ne knew his sleight and his cunnyng
They were of hym a drad as of the deth
His wonyng was ful . faire vpon an heth
With grene trees schaduyd was his place .
He couth bett̉er thanne his lord purchace .
For richeliche a storis he was priuilie
His lorde wel couth he please subtilly .
To yiue and lene hym of his awne gode .
And haue a thanke and yit a cote and a hode
In youth he lernyd and had a gode maister .
He was a wel . gode wright a Carpynt̉er
This Reue sat vpon a wel gode stotte .
That was of a pomyl grey and a hight scot .
A long surcote of pers . upon his hond hade
And by his side he bare a rusty blade .
Of Northfolke was this Reue of whiche I tell .
By side a toune . men clepid Beldiswell .
Ther Tuckid he was . as is a free a boute
And eủere he rode the hyndreste of oure route
¶ A somnour tl was ther with us in that place .
That had a fire rede r cherebyns face .
For sawseflewme he was with eyen narwe
As hote he was and lecherous as any sparwe
With skalid browis blak and pilid berd .
Of his viseage childryn were a ferd
Ther nas quyksiluyr litarge othir brymston
Boras . ceruse ne oyle of tartre non
Ne oyntement that wold clense and bite
That hym myght helpyn of the whelkꝭes white .
Nothir of the knobbis sittyng on his chekis
Wel louyd he garlike oyneons and eke lekis
And for to drink strong wyne rede as blode
Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wode
And whanne that he weldronkyn had the wynne
Thanne wold he speke . no worde but latyn
A fewe t̉ermys had he . to or thre
That he had lernyd oute of som deg decre
No wondir . is he herde hit al the day
And eke ye knowyn wel how that a yaie
canne clepyn wat as wel as can the pope
But who so couth in othir thing hym grope
Thanne had he spente al his philosophie
Ay questio quid Iuris wold he crie
He was a gentill . har lot and a kynd
A bettir felawe schuld men naught fynde
He wolde suffre for a quarte of wyne
A goode felaw to haue his concubyne .
A twelfe monthe . and excuse hym att fulle .
and yif he fond anwhere a gode felaw
Ful priuily a fynch well . couth he pull .
And yif he fond anwher . a good felawe
He wold teche hym to haue . non awe .
In swiche cas . of the Archedeknes curs
But yf a mannes sovle were in his purs
For in his purs he schulde I punysshid be
Pur is the Archideknes . helle saide hee .
But welle I wote . he lide right in dede .
Of cursinge ought eche gilty man drede
For Curs will . sle . right as soilyng sauyth
And also ware hym of a significauit
¶ In daunger had he at his . owne . gise .
The yonge gurles . of the diocise
And knew hur counsaill . and was al hir rede
A gerlaund hadde he sett upon his hede .
As grete as it were for an ale stake .
A bokeler . had he . mad hym of a kake .
¶ With hym ther rod a gentil pardoner .
Of Rouncivale . his frend and his compere
That stright was comen fro the Courte of Rome .
Ful loude he song cūm hedir loue to me
This somenoure bar to hym a stiff burdoun
Was neủere trumpe . of half so grete . soun
This pardoner . had here as . yelwe . as wex .
Bute smoth hit heng as doth a strike of flex .
Be . ounces . henge his . lokkis that he had .
And ther with his scholdris . al oeủer spred
But thynne hit lay by culpons on and on
But hode for Iolite . ne werid he non
For hit was trusshid upon his walet
Hym thought he rode . al of the newe iette .
Descheuele . saue his cap he rode al bare .
Swiche glaring . eien had he as an hare .
A vernycle had he sewid on his cape
His walett lay be forne . hym in his lappe .
Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hote .
A voise had . as smal as hath a gote .
No berde had he ne neủere . scholde . haue
As smothe hit was as it were late I schaue .
I trowe he were . a geldyng othir els a mare .
But of his Crafte fro Berwik in to ware
Ne was ther swiche a nothir pardoner .
For in his male . he had a pilwe ber
Whiche he saide . he had . was oure lady veil .
He saide . he had . a gobet of the sail .
That seint petur had whenne that he wente
vpon the see . til Iesu Crist hym hente
He had a Crosse of latyn ful of stones .
And in a glas . he had piggis bones .
But with thise . relikes . whenne that he fonde
A poeủere ꝑpersoun dwellyng upon londe .
vpon a day he h gate hym more m[…] moneye
Than that the ꝑpersoun gat in monthis twey .
And thus with faynyd flateryng and iapes .
He made the ꝑpersoun and the people his apis .
But truly to tellyn at the laste
He was in Chirche . a grete ecclesiaste
Wel couthe he rede a . lessoun othir a storie
But al ther beste he song an offretorie
For wel he wiste whenne . that sounge was sounge
He moste pche and wel . affile ther to his tounge
To wynne siluer as he ful wel koude
Ther for he songe the murierly and loude
Nowe haue I tolde you sothly in clause
The estate . the array . the nounbre . and eke the cause
Whi that assemblid was . this . companye
In Southwerke . at this gentil hostlerie
That hight the Tabard faste by the belle .
But now is tyme to you for to telle
How that we baryn vs that ilke nyght
Whenne that we were . in that hostelrie a light
And aftir wille I telle of oure viage
And al the remenaunte of oure pilgrimage
But first I pray you of youre curtesie .
though that I playnly in this matere
That ye ne arrecte it nought my vilanye
Though that I playnly in this matere
To telle you hur wordis . and hur chere
Ne though I speke hir wordes . proꝑperly
For this ye knowen also wel as I .
Ho so schal . telle . a tale aft̉er aman
He mote reherse . as neigh as he canne
eủerich worde . yif hit be in his charge
Al speke he neuer . so rudeliche ne large .
Othir els . he moote telle . his tale vntruew
Othir fainyd thing and fynde wordes newe
He may nott spare . al though . he were his brothir
He mote as welle . seye of o worde as an nothir
Crist spak hym self ful brode in holy writte
And wel ye wot no vilenye is it
Eke plato . saith ho so canne hym rede .
The wordis . mote be Cosyn to the dede .
Also I praye you to for yeuyn yeue hit me
Al haue I nought sett folke in hir degre
Here in this tale as that they scholde stonde
My witt is schorte ye may wel vndirstonde
¶ grete chere made . oure hoste us eủerichon
And to the soper . sette he ous a noon
He seruyd . vs . with with vitaile . at the beste .
Strong was the wyn and wel to drinke us leste
A semly man he was . with eyen stepe
A fairer burgeis is ther non in chepe .
Bolde of his speche . and wise and wel I taughte .
and of manhede . hym lakkyd right nought
A semly man oure hoste was with all
For to ben a marchall . in a lordes halle .
A large man he was . with eyen stepe
A fairer Burgeis . is ther non in chepe .
Bolde in his speche . and wise and wel I taught
And of manhede hym lackid right nought
eke ther to he was . a murie man
And aftir soper . pleyen he be gan
And spak of murthe . amonge othir thyngis
Whanne that he had mad oure rekenynges
And saide thus . now lordynges trewly .
ye be to me wel right welcome hertly .
For be my trouthe . yif that I schal not lie
I ne sawe this yere so murie a companye .
At ones in this herberwe as is nowe
Fayn wold I do you murthe wiste I howe
And of a murth I am right nowe by thought
To don you eese . and hit schal coste nought
¶ ye gon to Caunterburie . god you spede .
The blissid martir quite you your mede
And welle I wote . as ye gon by the way .
ye schapyn you to talyn and eke to play .
For truly confort ne myrth is noon
For to ridyn by the wey . dombe as the ston
And ther for . will I make you disporte
As I saide erst and don you som comforte
And yif ye likyn al by on assente
For to stondyn to my iugement
And for to werkyn as I schal you say .
To morwyn whenne ye ridyn be the way
Now be my fadir soule that is dede .
But ye be murie y wil yif you myn hede
Holde vp your hand with oute more speche
Oure consail was . nat . longe for to seche
vs thought it was . nought worthi to make it uys .
And grauntid hym withoute more auys .
And bad hym say . his . verdit as hym lyste
Lordynges quoth he nowe herkyneuth for the beste
But take hit nought I pray you in disdeyne
This is the poynt to speke schorte and playn
That eche of you to schorte with your weye
In this viage . schal tellen tales twey .
To Caunturbury ward y mene hit so
And homward schal tellyn othir too .
Of Auenturus that whilom haue I falle .
this is to seyn And whiche of you that berith hym best of all .
This to seyn that tellith in this cas
Tales of best sentence . and most solas .
Schal haue a soꝑpar at oure aldre coste .
Here in this place . sittyng by this post
Whanne that that we comme ageyn from Caunturbury .
And for to make you the more mury
I wille my selfe gladly with you ride
And who so will . my iugement with say
schal pay al . that we spend by the way .
And yif ye vouche sauf that this be so .
Tellith me anon withoute wordis moo .
And I will . erly schape me therfor .
This thing was grauntid and oure othis swore
With ful glad hert and praidyn hym al so
That he wolde vouche sauf for to do soo .
And that he wolde . be oure goeủernoure
And of of oure talis . Iuge and reportour
And sette the soꝑpar at a certeyn pris .
And we will . rulid ben at his deuys .
In highe and lowe and thus by on assente
We ben acordid to the Iugement
¶ and ther upon the wyn was fett anon
We dronkyn and to reste . wente we echon
Withoutyn any lenger tariyng
A morwe whanne the day gan spring
vp ros oure hoste and was oure aldre cokke
And gaderid ous to gederis in a floke
And forthe we ridyn a litil more than pas .
vnto the wateryng . of seint Thomas .
And ther oure oste by gan his hors a reste
And saide lordes herkneth yif you leste
I wot your forwarde . and ye it recorde
yif euen song and morw song acorde
Lat se nowe ho schal telle oure first tale
A xpofor on his brest of Siluyr shene
And horne he bare the bauderic was of grene
A foster was he sothly as I gesse
¶ Ther was also a woman a prioresse
That of smylyng there was ful simple and koy
Hir grettest oth was but by seynte loy
She was clepid madame Eglentyne
Ful wel she songe the seruice diuyne
Entwned in hir note ful semely .
And fresshe she spak ful faire and fetisly .
Aftir the scole of Strdforde . at the wowe
For frensh of Paris . was . to hir vnknowe .
At mete wes I taughte was she with alle .
she lete no morsel . fro hir lippis falle .
Ne wete hir fyngres . in hir sauce depe
Wel coude she karie . a morsel . and wel kepe
That non drope fille on hir breste .
In curtesie was sette mochel hir liste
Hir oeủerlipe wipid she so klene
That in hir coppe no ferthing was sene .
Of grece whanne s dronnkyn had she hir draughte
Ful semely . aftir mete she raught
And sikirly she was . of grete disporte
And ful plesaunte . and amyable of porte
And paynyd hir to countirfete chere .
Of Courte and to ben estately of manere
And to ben holdyn digne of reủerence
But for to speke of hir concience .
She was so charitable and so pitouse
She wolde wepe if she sawe a mowse
Kaught in a trappe if hit were dede or bledde
Of smale houndis . hath she fedde
With rosted flessh or mylke or wastil brede .
But sore wepte she yf any were dede
Or if men smote hem with a yerde smerte
And al was concience and tendirnesse of herte
For semly hir wympill . pinchid was .
Herre nose was streite hir eien grey as glas
Her mouthe full ful smalle and ther to softe and rede
But sikirly . she had a faire for hede
Hitt was al moste a spanne brede I trowe
For hardily she was natt vndirgrowe
Ful fetisly fetise was . hir cloke as I was ware
And smale bedes aboute hir arme she ware bare
A paire of bedis gaudid al with grene
And ther on henge . a broche of golde ful shene
On whiche ther was a krownyd a
Aftyr amor vincit omnia
A nother nonne with hir had she .
That was . hir Chapeleyn and pristis thre
A Monke ther was . a faire for the maistrie
An outerider . that louyd venerie
A manly man to ben an abbott able
Ful many a daynte hors had he in his stable
And whanne he rode myght his bridil here
Glynkyng in a whistelyng wynde as clere
And eke as loude as . doth the chapell belle
Ther as the lorde was keꝑper of the selle
The rule of seinte Maure or of seinte benett
Be cause hit was olde and somdel streite
This ilke monke lete olde thingis pace
And helde aftir the newe worlde the trace .
And hilde aftir the newe worlde the trace .
He yaf nought after the texte of pullid henne
That saith that hounters . be nought holy menne .