Geoffrey Chaucer : The Canterbury Tales

The General Prologue
annotated by Brother Anthony
 
 
1 Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote 1-18  gentle
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour; 4  by which power
5 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth  the west wind; also
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth  grove and field
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne  shoots
Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne,   8  
And smale foweles maken melodye,
10  That slepen al the nyght with open ye,  eye
So priketh hem Nature in hir corages;  spurs; spirits
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, 13 - 14  foreign shores
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;  distant shrines, known
15 And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir for to seke, 17  
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.  helped; sick
   Bifil that in that seson on a day,  it happened
20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay 20  
Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage  go
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
At nyght was come into that hostelrye
Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye,
25 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle  various people; chance
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
The chambres and the stables weren wyde,  rooms
And wel we weren esed atte beste.  made comfortable
30 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
So hadde I spoken with hem everichon  each one
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon  at once
And made forward erly for to ryse,  agreed
To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.  tell
35    But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,  nonetheless
Er that I ferther in this tale pace,  Before; advance
Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun  in accord with
To telle yow al the condicioun 38 - 41  
Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
40 And whiche they weren, and of what degree,  social rank
And eek in what array that they were inne;  also; dress
And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.
   A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
45 To riden out, he loved chivalrie, 45 - 6  
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,  farther
As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,  pagan lands
50 And evere honoured for his worthynesse.
At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne. 51  
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne presided at feasts
Aboven alle nacions in Pruce; 53  
In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,  54 - 67  raided
55 No cristen man so ofte of his degree
In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye
At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See 
60 At many a noble armee hadde he be.  expedition
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.  enemy
This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
65 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
Agayn another hethen in Turkye
And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys; high reputation
And though that he were worthy, he was wys, 68 - 78  
And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.  in his bearing
70 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
In al his lyf unto no maner wight.  kind of person
He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
But, for to tellen yow of his array, 		 equipment
His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
75 Of fustian he wered a gypon rough cloth; tunic
Al bismotered with his habergeon, stained; chain-mail
For he was late ycome from his viage,
And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
    With hym ther was his sone, a yong squier,
80 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,  lively junior knight
With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. 
Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, 
And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe. 
85 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie cavalry expedition
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie,
 And born hym weel, as of so litel space, 
 In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
 Embrouded was he, as it were a meede 		 86  
90 Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.
Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day; 
He was as fressh as is the month of May.
Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
95 He koude songes make and wel endite,  95   compose poems
Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write. 
So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale.
He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. 
Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable, 		 96  
by nights
98  
100 And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100  
A yeman hadde he and servantz namo
At that tyme, for hym liste ride so, 
And he was clad in cote and hood of grene. 
A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene, 		 104 - 107  
105  Under his belt he bar ful thriftily; very correctly
Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly:  care for his equipment
His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe.
And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. 
A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage. 
110 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage.
Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,  arm-guard
And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,  small shield
And on that oother syde a gay daggere
Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere; decorated
115 A Cristopher on his brest of silver sheene. 115  
An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene;  shoulder-strap
A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse. truthfully
   Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse,
That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;  quiet

120 Hire gretteste ooth was but: 'By Seinte Loy!' 120  
And she was cleped Madame Eglentyne.  121   called
Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
Entuned in hir nose ful semely,		 122  
And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,  124 - 125  elegantly
125 After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,  after the style
For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
At mete wel ytaught was she withalle: 
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;
127 - 141  
130 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
That no drope ne fille upon hire brest.
In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. 
Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene 		 pleasure
That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene  spot
135 Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. 
And sikerly she was of greet desport,  elegance
And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,  genteel
And peyned hire to countrefete cheere  strove to imitate manners
140 Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,  dignified in manners
And to ben holden digne of reverence.  considered worthy
But, for to speken of hire conscience,
She was so charitable and so pitous
She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
143 - 150  
145 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde 
With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.  meat; fine bread
But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte; hit; rod; sharply
150 And al was conscience and tendre herte.
Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,  neatly; headdress
Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,  shapely
Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed;
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
155 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe; 155   reckon
 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
well-made
 Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar 158 - 162  
 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene, 
set
160 And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, 
bright
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor vincit omnia. 
Another nonne with hire hadde she,
That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
'Love conquers everything'

164  
165  A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, 
outstanding
An outridere, that lovede venerie, 
166  hunting
A manly man, to been an abbot able.
Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable,
And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere		 167  
170 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere jingling
And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle
Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle.
The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit		 173  

175		 By cause that it was old and somdel streit 
This ilke monk leet olde thynges pace, 
And heeld after the newe world the space.
He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees, 
rather strict
pass away
176  
177  

negligent
180  Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees, -- 
This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre;
And I seyde his opinion was good.
What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,		 compared to
 
 

mad
185 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,
Or swynken with his handes, and laboure, 
As Austyn bit? how shal the world be served? 
Lat Austyn have his swynk to hym reserved!
Therfore he was a prikasour aright: 
work
187   ordered
labor
horseman
190 Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight; 
Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare 
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. 
I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond 
With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond; 		 greyhounds
tracking
delight
fur-lined
194 - 7   squirrel-fur
195 And, for to festne his hood under his chyn,
He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn; 
A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, 
And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt. 
worked; elaborate

bald
oiled
200 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt; 
His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed, 
That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat. 
Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;		 well-built
prominent
202  
good condition
205 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost. 
A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
    A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
A lymytour, a ful solempne man.		 tormented spirit
 roasted meat
 horse
208 - 11  
210 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan
So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
He hadde maad ful many a mariage
Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
Unto his ordre he was a noble post. 		 support

212 - 213  
215 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
With frankeleyns over al in his contree, 
And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
For he hadde power of confessioun,
As seyde hymself, moore than a curat, 
landowners everywhere
 

219 - 220   parish priest
220 For of his ordre he was licenciat.
Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce. 		 knew; offering
225 For unto a povre ordre for to yive
Is signe that a man is wel yshryve; 
For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, 
He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
For many a man so hard is of his herte,
truly penitent
gave; assert
230 He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte. 
Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves 
And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.		 cannot; he suffers

232  
233   hood; stuffed
235 And certeinly he hadde a murye note:
Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; 
Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris. 
His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys; 
Therto he strong was as a champioun.
stringed instrument
romances; was supreme
 238   lily
240 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
And everich hostiler and tappestere 
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere; 
For unto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, as by his facultee, 		 240 - 255  
innkeeper; bar-girl
better; leper; begging woman

official rank
245 To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce, 
For to deelen with no swich poraille, 
But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
And over al, ther as profit sholde arise, 
cannot bring profit
poor people
food
250 Curteis he was and lowely of servyse. 
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
He was the beste beggere in his hous;
For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho 
So plesaunt was his In principio, 		 humble in attitude
 

widow; shoe
initial greeting
255 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente. 
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp. 
In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer monk		 small coin
256  
257 - 8   frolic; puppy
260 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, 
But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
Of double worstede was his semycope, 
That rounded as a belle out of the presse. 
Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, 		 cloak

short cloak
was round; mould
affectation
265 To make his englissh sweete upon his tonge;
And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght,
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd. 		 269   called
270     A marchant was ther with a forked berd,
In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat; 
Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat, 
His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
His resons he spak ful solempnely, 		 270 - 1  
parti-colored cloth
from Flanders

opinions
275  Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng. 
He wolde the see were kept for any thyng 
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. 
This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: 		 concerned with; profits
276 - 7   well guarded

278   foreign currency
used his wits
280 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
So estatly was he of his governaunce
With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
For sothe he was a worthy man with alle, 
But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.		 280 - 3  
 

truly
truth
285     A clerk ther was of Oxenford also,
That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
As leene was his hors as is a rake,
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
But looked holwe, and therto sobrely. 
286  
287 - 292  

serious
290 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy; 
For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
Ne was so worldly for to have office.
For hym was levere have at his beddes heed 
Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed, 		 topmost overcoat
 

he would rather
294   bound
295 Of Aristotle and his philosophie,
Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. 
But al be that he was a philosophre, 
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; 
But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
296   fine harp
297 - 298  although
box
 299   receive
300
 
 
 

305

 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
And bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. 
Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, 
Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, 
And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 
And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence; 
Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
    A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys,		 study
 

care 
one; necessary
formally and respectfully
serious contents
 in harmony with
310
 
 
 

315

 That often hadde been at the Parvys,
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
Discreet he was and of greet reverence --
He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise.
Justice he was ful often in assise,
By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
For his science and for his heigh renoun, 
Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
Al was fee symple to hym in effect;		 310  
 

313  
314 -5   

knowledge; reputation
317  
318 - 320  
320
 
 
 

325

 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
And yet he semed bisier than he was.
In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle 
That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle.
Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng,
Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
And every statut koude he pleyn by rote. 
He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote. 
Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale; 

322  
323 - 324  judgements

325  

327  he knew fully by heart
328 - 9   modestly
belt
330
 
 
 

335

 Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
   A frankeleyn was in his compaignye.
Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;
Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn; 
To lyven in delit was evere his wone, 
For he was Epicurus owene sone,
That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit full
Was verray felicitee parfit.
An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
 

 red
morning; pieces of bread
custom
336  
340
 
 
 

345

 Seint Julian he was in his contree.
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; 
A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous pie
Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous,
It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke,
Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke.
After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
ul many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe, 		 340  
of the same quality
 provided with wine
 
 
 

347  

349 - 350  cage
350
 
 
 

355

 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere. 
His table dormant in his halle alway 
Stood redy covered al the longe day.
At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. 
An anlaas and a gipser al of silk 
Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour. 		  bream; pike; pond

352  spicy; instruments
353   permanent table

355  
member of Parliament
357   dagger; purse

359   sherriff; tax-collector
360
 
 
 

365

 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour. 
    An haberdasshere and a carpenter, 
A webbe, a dyere, and a tapycer, -- 
And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was; 
Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras 
But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys 		 landowner
hat-seller
weaver; carpet-maker
 

outfits; ornamented
decorated
 

citizen
370
 
 
 

375 

 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. 
Everich, for the wisdom that he kan, 
Was shaply for to been an alderman. 
For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, 
And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente; 
And elles certeyn were they to blame. 
It is ful fair to been ycleped 'Madame', 
And goon to vigilies al bifore,
And have a mantel roialliche ybore.
    A cook they hadde with hem for the nones		 370   platform
371 - 374    Each one; knew
suitable
property; income
agree
otherwise
called
377  
380
 
 
 

385

 To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale. 
Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale.
He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye. 
But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
That on his shyne a mormal hadde he. 
For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. 
    A shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste; 
For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.		  marrow-bones
sharp spice; sweet spice
382  

meat-loaf
 pity
ulcer
stew
living
 for all I know
390
 
 
 

395

 He rood upon a rounce, as he kouthe, 
In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. 
A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he 
Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
And certeinly he was a good felawe. 
Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapmen sleep. 
Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond, 		 big horse
coarse wool
cord
 

395 -397  fine rascal

merchants

upper hand
400
 
 
 

405 

 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides, 
His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage, 
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
Hardy he was and wys to undertake; 
With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
Fro Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere,
And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.		 400  

currents; nearby
anchorage; navigation
404  
prudent

 harbors
408  
410
 
 
 

415

 His barge ycleped was the 'Maudelayne'.
    With us ther was a doctour of phisik;
In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
To speke of phisik and of surgerye 
For he was grounded in astronomye.
He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel 
In houres by his magyk natureel.
Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent 
Of his ymages for his pacient.
He knew the cause of everich maladye, 		 410  
 

remedies
 414 - 416  expert; astrology
watched over

417 - 418  calculate

disease
420
 
 
 

425

 Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
And where they engendred, and of what humour.
He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, 
Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. 
Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries 
To sende hym drogges and his letuaries, 
For ech of hem made oother for to wynne -- 
Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,		 420 - 422  
 

once he knew
at once; remedy
425 - 428  druggists
syrups
profit

429 - 434  
430 
 
 
 

435

 And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus,
Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen,
Serapion, Razis, and Avycen,
Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn,
Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
Of his diete mesurable was he, 
For it was of no superfluitee,
But of greet norissyng and digestible.
His studie was but litel on the Bible.
In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, 
 
 
 

moderate
 

438  
red and blue cloth
440
 
 
 

445

 Lyned with taffata and with sendal;
And yet he was but esy of dispence; 
He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial,
Therefore he lovede gold in special.
    A good wif was ther of biside Bathe,
But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. 
Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt, 
She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. 
In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon		  two kinds of silk
careful in spending

443 - 444  

445  
446   rather; a pity
skill
448   surpassed
449 - 452  
450
 
 
 

455

 That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, 
That she was out of alle charitee.
Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; 
I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound 
That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed.
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, stockings; 
Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe. 
Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
angry

453 - 8 head-coverings;  in quality
dare

red cloth
tightly; soft
460
 
 
 

465

 Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, --
But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.
She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. 
Upon an amblere esily she sat, 		 460  
461  

463 - 6  
 foreign sea
 
 

468   gap-toothed
469   pacing horse
470
 
 
 

475

 Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; 
A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, 
And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
    A good man was ther of religioun,
And was a povre persoun of a toun,
But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
two kinds of small shield
overskirt

  chatter
475 - 6 
480
 
 
 

485

 He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
Benygne he was, and wonder diligent, 
And in adversitee ful pacient,
And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes.
Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes,
But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute, 
Unto his povre parisshens aboute
Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce.
 

kind
 

 486   He was unwilling
undoubtedly

489  
490
 
 
 

495

 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.
Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
In siknesse nor in meschief to visite trouble
The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, 
Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
Out of the Gospel he tho wordes caughte,
And this figure he added eek therto,
 apart
 

farthest; all kinds
 
 

498  
500
 
 
 

505

 That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; 
And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. 
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
He sette nat his benefice to hyre
And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules		 500  

uneducated
 be careful
dirty
 

507 - 511  
510
 
 
 

515

 To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde; 
But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie. 
And though he hooly were and vertuous,
He was to synful men nat despitous, arogant
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, 
But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
guild; employed

513 - 4  
hired hand
 

domineering or proud
520
 
 
 

525

 By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
But it were any persone obstinat,
What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. 
A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
He waited after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience, 
But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve 
He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.
   With hym ther was a plowman, was his brother,
 

scold
 

fussy
teaching
530
 
 
 

535

 That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother; 
A trewe swynkere and a good was he, 
Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loved he best with al his hoole herte
At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte, 
And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve, 
For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght. 
His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,		 hauled; cartload
worker
 

534   in good days and bad 

536   make ditches; dig

payment; power
540
 
 
 

545

 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. 
In a tabard he rood upon a mere. 
   Ther was also a reve, and a millere,
A somnour, and a pardoner also,
A maunciple, and myself -- ther were namo.
   The millere was a stout carl for the nones; 
Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones. 
That proved wel, for over al ther he cam, 
At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre; 		 own work; possessions
sleeveless gown; mare
 
 

fellow; indeed
flesh
was useful
548  
fellow
550
 
 
 

555

 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. 
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
His nosethirles blake were and wyde. 
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.
His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.		  would not lift off its hinges
551   by running at it
552  

 top
 

nostrils

559  
560
 
 
 

565

 He was a janglere and a goliardeys, 
And that was moost of synne and harlotries. 
Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
   A gentil maunciple was ther of a temple, 
Of which achatours myghte take exemple 
For to be wise in byynge of vitaille; 		 teller of stories; buffoon
dirty stories
562  
563  

565  

law college
buyers; could learn
how; provisions
570
 
 
 

575

 For wheither that he payde or took by taille, 
Algate he wayted so in his achaat always; 
That he was ay biforn and in good staat. 
Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace 
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
That weren of lawe expert and curious, 
Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond		 on credit
purchase
always ahead

uneducated
 

skilled

579  
580
 
 
 

585

 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
To make hym lyve by his propre good
In honour dettelees (but if he were wood), 
Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire; 
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any caas that myghte falle or happe;
And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe.
   The reve was a sclendre colerik man. 
His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan; 
His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn; 

unless; foolish
as simply as he liked
 

586  
skinny
close
closely cut
590
 
 
 

595

 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn 
Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene. 
Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne; 
Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne. 
Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn 
The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye, 
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye 
Was hoolly in this reves governynge,		 590   cut short; in front

like
granary; corn-bin
594   catch him out
knew

cattle; dairy
livestock; poultry
600
 
 
 

605

 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage. 
Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
They were adrad of hym as of the deeth. 
His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth; 
With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
He koude bettre than his lord purchace. 
Ful riche he was astored pryvely: 		  contract

arrears

 604   tricks; treachery
afraid
606-612   home

buy land
provided for in secret
610
 
 
 

615

 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
To yeve and lene hym of his owene good, 
And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster; 
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This reve sat upon a ful good stot, 
That was al pomely grey and highte Scot. 
A long surcote of pers upon he hade, 
And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
Of Northfolk was this reve of which I telle,
lend

craft

horse
dappled; was called
overcoat; dark blue
620
 
 
 

625

 Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
Tukked he was as is a frere aboute, 
And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route. 
  A somonour was ther with us in that place,
That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
With scalled browes blake and piled berd. 
Of his visage children were aferd. 
Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
girdled
622   last; group
 

625 - 633  

infected; moulting
face
630
 
 
 

635

 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon;
Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white, 
Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. 
And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,

swellings

634-5  

crazy
640
 
 
 

645

 That he had lerned out of som decree --
No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
Kan clepen 'Watte' as wel as kan the pope.
But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, 
Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie; 
Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crie. 
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde; 
A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn		 640  
 
 

test
exhausted; knowledge
646   all the time
fellow
648  
650
 
 
 

655

 A good felawe to have his concubyn
A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;
Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
And if he foond owher a good felawe, 
He wolde techen him to have noon awe
In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs,
But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
Purs is the ercedekenes helle, seyde he.
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; 

652  
anywhere
 

656 -657  
 

know
660
 
 
 

665

 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, 
For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith, 
And also war hym of a significavit. 
In daunger hadde he at his owene gise 
The yonge girles of the diocise,
And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. 
A gerland hadde he set upon his heed
As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake. 
    With hym ther rood a gentil pardoner		 be afraid
kill; absolution
let him beware
663 - 5   charge; as he liked

secrets; advisor

667  
shield
670
 
 
 

675

 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, 
That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Ful loude he soong 'Com hider, love, to me!'
This somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun; 
Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex; 
By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde, 
And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon. 		 670   companion
671  

loud bass
 

hank of flax
short strands

strands
680 
 
 
 

685

 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon, 
For it was trussed up in his walet. 
Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare. 
Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe,
Bretful of pardoun, comen from Rome al hoot. 
A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;		 to look good
packed; bag
 in the newest fashion
with hair loose
684  
685  

brimful; fresh
688 - 691  
690
 
 
 

695

 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware,
Ne was ther swich another pardoner
For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, 
Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl:
He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl 
That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente 
Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente. 
He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones, 
 reckon
692  

694 - 704   bag; pillow-case

piece
walked
seized
brass
700
 
 
 

705

 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye 
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye; 
And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes, 
He made the person and the peple his apes. 
But trewely to tellen atte laste,
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,

parson
in one day

pretended
fools
707 - 8  

709 - 710  
710
 
 
 

715

 But alderbest he song an offertorie; 
For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe, 
He moste preche and wel affile his tonge 
To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
   Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause, 
Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause 
Why that assembled was this compaignye
In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye
That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. 		 best of all
knew
sharpen

 more merrily
briefly
status; equipment
 

close to
720
 
 
 

725

 But now is tyme to yow for to telle
How that we baren us that ilke nyght, 
Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght; 
And after wol I telle of our viage
And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage. 
    But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye, 
Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere, 
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
behaved
arrived

rest
725 - 746  
attribute; wickedness

behavior
730
 
 
 

735

 For this ye knowen al so wel as I, 
Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan 
Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
Al speke he never so rudeliche and large, 
Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe. 
He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
He moot as wel seye o word as another.
Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ, 

repeat; closely

coarsely

falsify
 

739   plainly
740
 
 
 

745

 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it. 
Eek Plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede,
The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede. 
Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
Al have I nat set folk in hir degree 
Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
   Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon,
And to the soper sette he us anon.
He served us with vitaille at the beste; 		 know

should

social hierarchy
 
 
 

food
750
 
 
 

755

 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste. 
A semely man oure hooste was withalle
For to han been a marchal in an halle.
A large man he was with eyen stepe -- 
A fairer burgeys is ther noon in Chepe -- 
Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
Eek therto he was right a myrie man,
And after soper pleyen he bigan,
And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,		 we enjoyed

752  
large
754   citizen
 
 

 joke
759  
760
 
 
 

765

 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges, 
And seyde thus: 'Now, lordynges, trewely,
Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
Atones in this herberwe as is now. 
Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how. 
And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght, 
To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. 
Ye goon to Caunterbury -- God yow speede,		 paid our bills
 
 
 

at one time; inn
I want
I have just thought
make you happy
 keep you safe
770
 
 
 

775

 The blisful martir quite yow youre meede! 
And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye, 
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye; 
For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon
To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;
And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
And if yow liketh alle by oon assent 
For to stonden at my juggement,
And for to werken as I shal yow seye,		 reward you
along the road
intend; tell tales
 
 
 

if you all agree
780
 
 
 

785

 To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed! 
Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche.'
    Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche. 
Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 
And graunted hym withouten moore avys, 
And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste.
  ' Lordynges,' quod he, 'now herkneth for the beste;
But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.

unless

opinion
raise objections
debate
 told; idea; he liked
790
 
 
 

795

 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye, 
In this viage shal telle tales tweye
To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
And homward he shal tellen othere two,
Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle,
That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
Tales of best sentence and moost solaas,
Shal have a soper at oure aller cost all of us
791 - 801    shorten
 
 
 
 
 

798  
800
 
 
 

805

 Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
And for to make yow the moore mury,
I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde,
And whoso wole my juggement withseye 
Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
And if ye vouche sauf that it be so, 
Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
And I wol erly shape me therfore.' 
 
 
 

contradict

agree

prepare 
810
 
 
 

815

     This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so,
And that he wolde been oure governour,
And of oure tales juge and reportour,
And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
And we wol reuled been at his devys 
In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
We been acorded to his juggement.
And therupon the wyn was fet anon;
 
 
 
 

governed; as he said
820
 
 
 

825

 We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
Withouten any lenger taryynge. 
    Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
Up roos oure hoost, and was oure aller cok,
And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok,
And forth we riden a litel moore than paas 
Unto the Wateryng of Seint Thomas;
And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste 
And seyde, 'Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste. 
Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde. 
delay
 822   Next morning
 

a walking pace
826  
stopped
please
agreement; remind
830
 
 
 

835

 If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
Whoso be rebel to my juggement
Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne; 
He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
Sire knyght,' quod he, 'my mayster and my lord,
Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
Cometh neer,' quod he, 'my lady prioresse.
 
 
 

835   move farther
840
 
 
 

845

 And ye, sire clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse, 
Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man!'
   Anon to drawen every wight bigan, 
And shortly for to tellen as it was,
Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght,
Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght,
And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
By foreward and by composicioun, 
As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?		 shyness

at once

844  
 
 

agreement past and present
850
 
 
 

855 

 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
He seyde, 'Syn I shal bigynne the game,
What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.'
And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere.
 
 
 

855