The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. CORPUS MS. (Oxford). [[N.B. The first 72 lines, and other gaps, are supplied from MS. Arch. Seld. B. 14, Bodleian Library.]]

Here bigynneth the prolog of this book the which is namede the talis of Caunturbury in the whiche prolog thautour openly declarith the names of alle the pilgremes there condiciouns and there array.

WHan that Apprille / with his shouris soote the drought of Marche / hath pershid to the roote and bathed euery veyne in swich licoure of which vertue / engendrid is the floure Line 4 whan zepherus eke / with his swete brethe inspirid hath / in euery holt and hethe the tendre croppis / and the yonge sonne hath in the Ram / his halff cours I-ronne Line 8 and smale fowlis make melodie that slepen al nyght / with open eyghe so priketh hem nature / in here coragis that longen folk to gon / on pilgrimagis Line 12 and Palmeris for to seke strange strondes to serue halowes couthe / in sondre londes and specially / from euery shiris ende of Ingelond to Caunturbery thei wende Line 16 the holy blisfull marter / for to seke that hem hath holpen / whan thei were seke bifill that on that seson on a day in Suthwork atte Tabard as I lay Line 20 redy to wende / on my pilgrimage to Caunterbury / with ful deuout corage at night was come / in-to that hosterie wel .xxix.^ti in a companye Line 24 of sondry folk / bi auenture I-falle in feloshipe / and pilgremes were thei alle that toward Caunterbury wolde ryde

the chambres and stablis weren wyde Line 28 and wel weren eased at the beste and shortly whan the sonne was to reste so hadde I spokyn / with hem euerychon that I was of here feloshipe anon Line 32 and made forward erly for to ryse [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 1b] to take oure wey / there as I yow devise but nertheles while I haue tyme and space or that I ferther in this tale pace Line 36 me thynketh it accordant to reson to telle yow al the condicion of ech of hem so as it semed me and which they were and of what degre Line 40 and eke in what array that thei were inne and at a knyght than woll I first bigynne

A knyght ther was and that a worthi man [¶ A knyght.] that fro the tyme / that he first bigan Line 44 to riden owt / he loued chyualrie trouth and honour / fredom and curtesie ful worthi was he / in his lordis werre and ther-to had he riden / no man ferre Line 48 as wel in cristendom / as in hethenesse and euere honoured / for his worthynesse At Alisandre he was whan it was wonne ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Line 52 aboven alle nacions in Pruce in Lectow hadde he reysed and in Ruce no cristenman / so ofte of his degre in Garnade at the sege eke hadde he be Line 56 of Algezire and riden in Belmarye at Lyeis was he and at Satalye whan thei were wonne and in the grete see at many a noble arme hadde he be Line 60 at mortal batailles had he ben ffiftene and foughten for our feith at Tramessene in listes thries and ay slayn his foo

this ilke worthi knyght hadde ben also Line 64 somtyme with the lord of Palatye ayeyne another hethen in Turkye and euere-more he had a souerayne prys and though that he was worthy he was wys Line 68 and of his port as meke as is a mayde [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 2a] he neuere yit no vilonye ne saide in al his liff / vn no manere wight he was a verry perfit gentill knight Line 72 ffor to telle ȝow of his array [[The Corpus MS. begins here]] His hors were goode but he was not gay Of fustion he wered a gepon Al bismotered with his haburgon Line 76 ffor he was late y-come from his viage And wente for to don his pilgrimage Wiþ him þer was his sone a ȝong squier A louyere and a lusty bacheler Line 80 Wiþ lockes crulle as þei were leyd in presse Of .xx. ȝeer of age he was I gesse Of his statuture (sic) he was of euene lengþe And wonderly deliuere and gret of strengþe Line 84 And he hadde be somtyme in Chiuachie In fflaundres in artoys and Pykardie and born him wel as of so litel space In hope to stonden in his lady grace Line 88 Embroyded was he as it were a mede All ful of freissche floures white and reede Synging he was or floytynge al þe day He was als freissch as is þe monþ of may Line 92 Schort was his gowne wiþ sleeues longe and wyde Wel couþe he sitte on an hors and faire ride He couþe songes make and wel endite Iuste and eek daunce and wel purteray and write Line 96 So hote he loued þat by nighter tale He sleep nomore þan doþ a nightyngale Courteys he was lowly and seruisable

and karf biforn his fader atte table Line 100 A ȝeman hadde he and seruantes namo At þat time for him liste ride so And he was clad in coote and hood of greene A scheef of pocok arwes bright and keene Line 104 Vnder his belt he bar ful þriftily Wel couþe he dresse his takel ȝimanly His arwes drouped nought wiþ fetheres lowe And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe Line 108 A not-hed hadde he wiþ a broun visage [folio 2b] Of woode-craft wel couþe he al þe vsage Vpon his arm he bar a gay bracer And by his syde a swerd and a bocler Line 112 And on þat oþer side a gay daggere Harnaysed wel and scharp as point of spere A Christophre on his brest of seluer schene An horn he bar þe bawdrik was of grene Line 116 A foster was he soþly as I gesse Ther was also a Nonne a Prioresse That of hir smyling was ful symple a[nd] coy Hir grettest oþ was but by seint loy Line 120 And sche was cleped ma dame Englentyne ffol wel sche song þe seruise diuine Entuned in hir nose ful semely And frenssch sche spak ful faire and fetisly Line 124 After þe scole of stratford atte Bowe ffor ffrenssh of Parys was to hire vnknowe At mete wel I-taught was sche wiþ-all Sche leet no morsell from hire lippes falle Line 128 Ne wete hire fyngres in hir sauce deepe Wel couþe sche carie a morsel and wel keepe / That no drope ne fell vpon hir breste In Curtesye was sette ful moche hire leste Line 132 Hir ouer lippe wyped sche so cleene That in hir cuppe þer was no ferthing seene Of grete whan sche dronken hadde hir draughte

fful semely after hir mete sche raughte Line 136 And sikerly sche was of gret disporte And ful plesant and amyable of porte And peyned hire to counterfete cheere Of court and to ben estatlich of maneere Line 140 And to ben holden digne of reuerence But for to speken of hir conscience Sche was so charitable and so pytous Sche wolde weepe if þat sche sawe a mous Line 144 Kaught in a trappe if it were deed or bledde [folio 3a] Of smale houndes hadde sche þat sche fedde With rosted fleissh or mylk or wastel brede But sore wepte sche if oon of hem were dede Line 148 Or if men smot it with a ȝerde smerte/ And al was conscience and tendre herte/ fful semelich hir wympil pynched was Hir nose was streight hire yghen grey as glas Line 152 Hir mouth ful smal and þerto softe and rede But sikerly sche hadde a fair forhede It was almost a spanne brood I trowe ffor hardely sche was nought vndergrowe Line 156 fful fetys was hir cloke as I was war Of smal coral aboute hir arm sche bar A payre of bedes gauded al with greene And þer-on heng a broche of gold ful scheene Line 160 On which þer was first writen with a crowned A. And after. Amor vincit omnia. Anoþer Nonne with hir hadde sche / That was hir Chapelleyne and prestes þre Line 164 A Monk þer was a fair for þe maistrie And out Ridere þat loued venerie A manly man to ben an abbot able / fful many a deinte hors hadde he in stable / Line 168 And whan he rood men might his brydel heere Gynglyng in a whistlyng wynd as cleere And eek as lowde as doþ þe chapel belle

Ther as þis lord was keper of þe selle Line 172 The Reule of sent Maure or of seint Beneit By-cause þat it was old and somdel streit This ilke monk leet olde þinges pace And held after þe newe world þe space Line 176 He ȝaf nought of þe text a pulled hen That seith þat hunters be nought holy men Ne þat a monk whan he is recheles Is likned til a fyssh þat is waterles Line 180 This is to seie a monk out of his cloystre [folio 3b] But þilke text / held he not worth an oystre / And I seide his opinion was good What schulde he studie and make himseluen wood Line 184 Vpon a book alwey in cloyste to poure Or swynke with his hondes and laboure As austyn bit how schal þe world be serued Lat austyn haue his swynk to him reserued Line 188 Ther-fore he was a prikasour aright Grehoundes he hadde swift as foule in flight Of prikynge and of huntyng for þe hare Was alle his luste for no cost wolde he spare Line 192 I seigh his sleues I-purfiled at þe hond Wiþ grys and þat þe fynest of a lond And for to festne his hood vnder þe chynne He hadde of gold wrought a ful curious pynne/ Line 196 A loue knotte in þe gretter ende þer was/ His hed was balled þat schon as eny glas And eek his face as he hadde ben anoynt He was a lord ful fatt and in good poynt Line 200 His eyghen stepe and rollyng in his hede That stemed as a forneys of a lede His bootes souple his hors in gret estate Now certeinly he was a fair prelate Line 204 He nas nat pale as a forpyned goost A fat swan loued he best of any rost His palfray was as broun as is a berie

A ffrere þer was a wanton and a merye Line 208 A lymitour a ful solempne man In all þe ordres foure is non þat can So mochil of daliance and fair langage He hadde made ful many a mariage Line 212 Of ȝonge wommen at his owne cost Vnto his ordre he was a noble post fful wel biloued and famulier was he Wiþ frankeleyns ouer al in his contre Line 216 And wiþ worþi wommen of þe toun [folio 4a] ffor he hadde power of confessioun As seyde himself more þan a curat ffor of his ordre he was licenciat Line 220 fful swetly herde he confession And plesant was his absolucion He was an esy man to ȝiue penaunce Ther as he wiste to haue a good pitaunce Line 224 ffor vnto a pouer ordre for to ȝiue Is signe þat a man is wel I-schriue ffor if he ȝaf he dorste make auant He wiste þat / a man was repentant Line 228 ffor many a man so hard is of his herte He may nought wepe al-þough him sore smerte Ther-fore in stede of weepyng and preyeres Men mote ȝeue siluer to þe pouere freeres Line 232 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyfes And pynnes for to ȝiue faire wyues And certeynly he hadde a mery note / Wel couþe he synge and playen on a rote Line 236 Of ȝeddynges he bar witterly þe pris His nekke whit / was as þe flour-delys Ther-to he was strong as a Champioun He knew þe tauernes wel in euery toun Line 240 And euerich hostiller and tapstere Bet þan a lazar or a Beggere ffor vnto such a worþi man as he

Acorded nought as by his faculte Line 244 To haue with such sek lazer aqueintance It is nought honest it may nought auaunce ffor to delen with such poraile But all with Riche and sellere of vitaille Line 248 And ouer al þer as profyt scholde arise Curtays he was and lowly of seruise Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous He was þe beste begger in his hous Line 252 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ffor þough a widewe hadde nought a scho [folio 4b] So plesant was his In principio Ȝet wolde he haue a ferþing or he wente His purchas was wel bettre þan his rente Line 256 And rage he couþe right as it were a whelpe / In louedayes þer couþe he moche helpe / ffor þer he was not lich a cloysterer With a thred-bare cope as a pore scoler Line 260 But he was lik a maister or a pope Of double worstede was his semy-cope / That rounded as a belle on the presse Somwhat he lipsed for his wantounesse Line 264 To make his englissh sweete vpon his tonge And in his harpyng whan þat he hadde songe / His yghen twyncled in his heed aright As don þe sterres in þe frosty night Line 268 This worþi lymitour was cleped huberd A marchant was þer with a forked berd In mottle and heigh on horse he satte Vp-on his heued a fflaundrissh beuer hatte Line 272 His bootes clapsed faire and fetysly His resons he spak ful solempnely Schewyng alwey þe encres of his wynnynge He wolde þe see were kept for eny þinge Line 276 By-twixe Middelburgh and Orewelle

Wel couþe he in eschaunge scheldes selle / This worþy man ful wel his witte bisette Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette Line 280 So statly was he of his gouernance With his bargaynes and his cheuissance ffor soþe he was a worþi man with-all But soþly to sein I not how men him call Line 284 A Clerk þer was of Oxenford also That vnto logyk hadde long I-go As lene was his hors as is a rake And he nas not right fat I vndertake Line 288 But loked holwe and þer-to soburly [folio 5a] fful þredbare was his ouereste courtepy ffor he had geten him no benifice Ne was so worldly for to haue office Line 292 ffor him was leuer to haue at his bed hede Twenty bookes clad in blak and rede Of Aristotle and his philosophie Than robes riche or fithel or gay Sautrie / Line 296 But al by þat he was a philosophre Ȝit had he but a litel gold in cofre But al þat he might of his frendes hente / On bokes and on lernyng he it / spente Line 300 And besily gan for þe soules preye Of hem þat ȝaf him wher-with to scoleye Of studie took he most cure and most heede Nought o word spak he more þan was neede Line 304 And þat was seyd in forme and reuerence And schort and quyk and ful of heigh sentence Sownyng in moral vertu was his speche And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche Line 308 A Sergeant of þe lawe war and wys That often hadde ben at þe Parvys That was also / ful riche of excellence Discret he was and of gret reuerence Line 312 He semed swich his wordes were so wise

Iustice he was ful often in assise By patent and by plein commission ffor his science and for his heigh renoun Line 316 Of fees and robes had he many oon So gret a purchaceour was nowher non Al was fee simple to him in effecte His purchasynge might not ben infecte Line 320 No wher so besy a man as he þer nas And ȝit he semed bisiere þan he was In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That from þe tyme of king William were falle Line 324 Ther-to he couþe endite and make a þink [folio 5b] Ther couþe no wight pynche at his writynk And euery statut couþe he plein by Rote He rood but homly in a medly coote Line 328 Gert with a seint of silk . wiþ barres smale / Of his array telle I no lenger tale A ffrankeleyn was in his compaignie Whit was his berd as is the dayessye Line 332 Of his complexion he was sanguyne Wel loued he by þe morwe a sop in wyne To lyuen in delit euer was his wone / ffor he was Opiournes owne sone Line 336 That held opinion þat plein delite Was verrey felicite parfite An houshalder and þat a gret was he Seint Iulian he was in his contre Line 340 His breed his ale was alweys after oon A better envyned man was neuer noon Wiþoute bake mete was neuer his hous Of fissh and fleissh and þat so plenteuous Line 344 It snewed in his hous of mete and drink Of alle deyntes þat men coude þink After þe sondry sesons of þe ȝere So changed he his mete and his sopeere Line 348 fful many a fat partrich hadde he in Mewe

And many a brem and many a luce in stuwe Wo was his cooke but his sauce were Poynant and scharp and redy all his gere Line 352 His table dormant . in his halle alway Stod redy couered all the longe day At Sessions þer was he lord and sire fful ofte tyme he was knight of þe schire Line 356 An anelas and a gisper al of silke Heng at his girdel whit as morne mylke A scherref had he ben and a comptour Was nowher such a worþi vauasour Line 360 An haburdaissher and a Carpenter [folio 6a] A Webbe a Dyer and a Tapecer And þei were cloþed alle in oo liuere Of a solempne and a gret ffraternite Line 364 fful freissch and newe here gere a-piked was Here knyfes nere chaped nought wiþ bras But all wiþ siluer wrought ful clene and wel Here gerdles and here pouches eueridel Line 368 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys Euerich for þe wisdom þat he can Was schaply for to ben an Alderman Line 372 ffor Catell hadde þei ynough and rente And eek here wyues wolde it wel assente And elles certein þei were to blame It is ful fair to be cleped ma dame Line 376 And gon to vigilies al bifore And haue a mantel rialliche / bore A Cook þei hadde wiþ hem for þe nones To boyle þe chikenes with þe maryebones Line 380 And poudre marchānt tart and gallyngale Wel kowde he know a draught of london ale / He couþe rost and seþe and broile and frie Maken mortreux and wel bake a pye Line 384 But gret harm was it as it þoughte me

That on his schyne a mormal hadde he ffor blank-manger þat made he wiþ þe beste / A schipman was þer wonyng fer by weste Line 388 ffor ought I wot he was of Dertemouthe He rood vpon a rouncy as he couþe In a gowne of faldyng to þe knee / A dagger hangyng in a lace hadde he / Line 392 Aboute his nekke vnder his arm a-doun The hoote somer had mad his hiew al broun And certeinly he was a good felawe fful many a draught of wyn he hadde drawe Line 396 ffrom Burdeaux warde whil þe chapmen sleepe [folio 6b] Of nyce conscience took he no keepe If þat he faught and had þe heigher honde By water he sent hem hom to euery londe Line 400 But of his craft to riken wel his tydes His stremes and his daunger him besydes His herberwe and his moone and his ledmannage Ther was non such from hulle to kartage Line 404 Hardy he was and wys to vndurtake With many a tempest had his berd be schake He knew alle þe hauenes as they were ffro Gotlond to þe Cape de fynystere Line 408 And euery Cryke in Bretaigne and in Spaigne His barge y-cleped was þe Mawdeleyne With vs þer was a Doctour of Phisike In al þis world ne was þer non him like Line 412 To speke of Phisik and of Surgerie ffor he was grounded in astronomie He kept his pacient a ful gret del In houres by his magique naturel Line 416 Wel couþe he fortune the ascendent Of his ymages for his pacient He knewe þe cause of euery maladie / Were it of hoot of cold or moist or drie / Line 420 And wher engendred and of what humour

He was a verray parfit practisour The cause I-knowe and of his harm þe rote / Anon he ȝaf þe sike man his bote Line 424 fful redy had he his appotecaries To sende hem drugges and his letuaries ffor ech of hem made oþer for to wynne Here frendschip nas nat / newe for to gynne / Line 428 Wel knew he þe olde Escalapius And discorides and eke Rusus Olde ypocras haly and Galien Serapion Razie and auyzen Line 432 Auerois damascien and Constantine [folio 7a] Bernard and Gatisdene and Gilbertine Of his diete mesurable was he ffor it was of no superfluite Line 436 But of gret norisshing and digestible His studie was but litel on the bible In sangweyn and in pers he clad was al Lyned wiþ Taffata and with Sendal Line 440 And yet he was but esy of dispense He kepte þat he wan in Pestilence ffor gold in phisique is accordial Ther-fore he loued gold in special Line 444 A good wif þer was of by-syde bathe But sche was somdel def and þat was skaþe Of cloþ-makyng sche hadde such an haunte Sche passed hem of ypres and of Gaunte Line 448 In al þe parissche wif ne was þer noon Þat to þe offryng toforn hire schulde gon And if þer dede certein wroþ was sche That sche was oute of alle charite / Line 452 Hire couerchiefs ful fyne were of grounde I dorste swere þei weyeden ten pounde / That on a soneday weren vpon hir hede Hire hosen weren of fyn scarlet reede Line 456 fful streyt yteyed and schoos ful moyste and newe

Bolde was hir face and fair and reed of hewe Sche was a worþi womman al hir lyue Housbondes atte chirche dore sche hadde fyue Line 460 Wiþouten oþer companye in ȝouþe But þer-of needeþ nought to speke as nouþe And þries hadde sche ben at Ierusalem Sche hadde passed many a strange strem Line 464 At Rome sche hadde ben and at Boloigne In Galice at saint Iame and at Coloigne Sche couþe moche of wandring by þe weye Gat toþed was sche soþly for to seye Line 468 Vpon an ambler esely sche satte [folio 7b] I-wympled wel and on hir heed an hatte As brood as is a bokeler or a targe A fote-mantell abouten hir hipes large / Line 472 And on hire feet a paire of spores scharpe In felaschipe wel couþe sche laughe and carpe Of remedies of loue sche knew par chaunce / ffor sche couþe of þat art þe colde daunce Line 476 A good man was þer of religioun And was a poure person of a toun But riche he was of holy þought and werk He was also a lerned man and a clerk Line 480 That cristes gospell trewly wolde preche His parisshiens deuoutly wolde he teche Benigne he was and wonder diligent And in aduersite ful pacient Line 484 and swich he was preued ofte siþes fful loþ were him to cursen for his tyþes / But raþer wolde he yeuen out of doute Vnto his poure parisshens aboute Line 488 Of his offryng and of his substance He couþe in litel þing haue suffisance Wyd was his parisshe and houses fer a-sondre But he ne lefte nought for rayn ne þondre Line 492 In seknesse nor in meschief to visite

The ferreste in his parisshe moche and lite Vpon his feet and in his hond a staf This noble ensample to his scheep he yaf Line 496 That ferst he wrought and aftirward he taughte Out of þe gospel he þo wordes caughte And þis fugure he addede eek / þer-to That if gold ruste what schal Iren do Line 500 ffor if a prest be foul on whom we truste No wonder is a lewed man to Ruste And schame it is if a prest take kepe A schiten schepperde and a clene schepe Line 504 Wel ought a prest ensample for to ȝyue [folio 8a] By his clennes how þat his scheep schulde lyue He sette nought his benefice to hire And leet his scheep acombred in þe myre Line 508 And ran to london vnto Seinte Poules To seeke him a Chaunterie for soules Or with a breþerede for to be with-holde / But duelte at hom and kepte wel his folde Line 512 So þat þe wolf ne made it not miscarie He was a schepperde and not a mercenarie And þough he holy were and vertuous He was nought to synful men dispitous Line 516 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne But in his teching discret and benigne To drawe folk to heuen by fairnesse By good ensample þis was his bisynesse / Line 520 But it were ony persone obstinat What so he were of heigh or low estat Him wolde he snebbe scharply for þe nones A bettre prest I trowe þat nowher non es Line 524 He waited after no pompe and reuerence Ne maked him a spiced conscience But cristes lore and his apostles twelue He taught but ferst he folwed in himselue / Line 528 With him þer was a plowman was his broþer

That hadde I-ladde of dong ful many a foþer A trewe swynker and a good was he Lyuyng in pees and parfit charite Line 532 God loued he best wiþ alle his herte At alle tymes þough him gamed or smerte And þan his Neighebore right as him selue He wolde þressche and þerto dike and delue Line 536 ffor cristes sake for euery pouere wight Wiþouten hire if it lay in his might His tiþes payed he ful fair and well Boþe of his propre swynk and his catell Line 540 In a Tabbard he rood vpon a mere [folio 8b] Ther was also a Reeue and a Mellere / A Sompnour and a Pardoner also A Maunciple and my self þer nare no mo / Line 544 The meller was a stout carl for þe nones fful big he was of brawn and eek of bones That proued wel for ouer al þar he cam Atte wrastlyng he wold haue awey þe ram Line 548 He was schort schuldred a þikke knarre The was no dore þat he nolde heue of harre Or breke it at a rennyng with his heede His berd as eny sowe or eny fox was reede Line 552 And þerto brod as þough it were a spade / Vpon þe cop right of his nose he hade A wert and þer-on stood a tuft of heeres Reed as the berstles of a sowes Eres / Line 556 Hise nose-þrilles blake weren and wide A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde His mouþ as gret was as a gret fourneys He was a Iangler and a goliardeys Line 560 And þat was most of synne and harlotries Wel couþe he stele corn and tolle þries And ȝit he hadde a þombe of gold parde A whit cote and a blew hood wered he Line 564 A Baggepipe wel couþe he blowe and soun

And þer-with-al he brought vs out of toun A gentil maunciple was þer of a temple / Of which achatours mighte take exsemple / Line 568 ffor to ben wyse in byeng of vitaile ffor wheþer þat he paied or took by taile Algate he wayted so in his achate That he was ay biforn and in good estate / Line 572 Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace That such a lewed mannes witt schal pace The wisdom of an heep of lernede men Of maistres hadde mo þan þries ten Line 576 That were of lawe expert and curious [folio 9a] Of which þer was a dosein in that hous Worþi to ben Stywardes of Rente and londe Of any lord þat is in Ingelonde Line 580 To make him lyue by his propre good In honour detteles but if þat he were wood Or lyue as skarsly as him list desire And able for to helpen al a schire Line 584 In any cas þat mighte falle or happe And ȝit þis manciple sette here alþer cappe The Reeue was a sclender colerik man His berd was schaue as nygh as euer he can Line 588 His her was by his eeres ful round y-schorn His toppe was dokked lik a prest biforn fful longe were his legges and ful lene I-lik a staf þer was no calf y-sene Line 592 Wel couþe he kepe a garner or a bynne Ther was non auditour couþe on him wynne Wel wist he by þe drought and by þe reyne The yeldyng of his seed and of his greyne Line 596 His lordes scheep his neet his dayerie His swyn his hors his stoor and his pulletrie Was holly in þis Reeues gouernynge / And by his couenant ȝaf þe rikenynge Line 600 Syn þat his lord was twenty ȝeer of age

Ther couþe no man brynge him in arrerage Ther nas baillif ne herde nor oþer hyne That he ne knew his sleight and his covyne Line 604 They were adrad of him as of þe deþ His wonyng was ful fair vpon an heþ Wiþ greene trees schadewed was his place He couþe bettre þan his lord purchace Line 608 fful Riche he was astored priuely His lord he couþe plese wel subtily To yiue and lene him of his oughne good And haue a þank and yet a cote and hood Line 612 In ȝouþe he hadde lerned a good mester [folio 9b] He was a wel good wrighte a Carpenter This reeue satte vpon a ful good stot That was al pomely grey and highte scot Line 616 A long Surcote of pers vpon he hadde And by his syde he bar a rusty bladde Of Northfolk was þis Reue of which I telle Bysyden a toun men clepen it Baldeswelle Line 620 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute And euer he rood þe hyndrest of oure route A Somynour was þer with vs in þat place That hadde a fyri cherubynnes face Line 624 ffor Sauseflem he was with eyghen narwe / Als hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe Wiþ scalled browes blak and piled berde / Of his visage children weren afferde Line 628 Ther nas quyk siluer litarge or bremston Boras orsure ne oyle of Tarte noon Ne oynement þat wolde clense and byte To him might helpe of his whelkes white Line 632 Nor of þe knobbes sittyng in his cheekes Wel loued he garlik oynons and eek leekes And for to drinke strong wyn reed as blood Than wolde he speke and crye as he were wood Line 636 And whan þat he wel dronken hadde þe wyn

Than wold he speke no word but latyne A fewe termes hadde he tuo or þre That he had lerned out of som decre Line 640 No wonder is he herd it al þe day And eek ȝe knowen it wel how þat a Iay Can clepe watte as wel as can þe pope But who so couþe in oþer þing him grope Line 644 Than hadde he spent al his philosophie Ay questio quid Iuris wolde he crye He was a gentil harlot and a kynde A bettre felaw schulde men not fynde Line 648 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn [folio 10a] A good felawe to haue his concubyn A twelf moneth and excuse him atte fulle / fful priuely eek a fynch couþe he pulle / Line 652 And if he fond owher a good felawe He wolde techen him to han non awe In such caas of þe Erchedeknes curs But if mannes soule were in his purs Line 656 ffor in his purs he scholde punyssched be Purs is þe Erchedeknes helle seide he But wel I wot he lyhede right in dede Of cursyng ought eche gilty man him drede Line 660 ffor curs wil sle right as assoylyng sauith And also war him of a Significauith In daunger hadde he at his owne gyse The yonge gerles of þe diocise Line 664 And knew here counseil and what was al here rede A garland hadde he sette vpon his heede As gret as it were for an ale stake A bokeler hadde he made him of a cake / Line 668 With him þer rood a gentill pardoner Of Rouncyuall his frend and his comper That streight was comen fro þe court of Rome fful lowe he song come hider loue tome Line 672 This Somnour bar to him a stif burdoun

Was neuer trompe of half so gret a soun This pardoner hadde her as yelow as wax But smothe it heng as doth a strik of flax. Line 676 By ounces heng his lokkes þat he hadde / And þer with he his schuldres ouer spradde But þinne it lay by culpons on and oon But hood for Iolite werede he noon Line 680 ffor it was trussed vp in his walet Him þoughte he rood al of the newe get Discheuele saf his cappe he rood al bare Swich glaryng yghen hadde he as an hare Line 684 A vernicle hadde he sewid on his cappe [folio 10b] His walet [lay] biforn him in his lappe / Bret ful of pardon comen fro Rome al hoot A voys he hadde as smal as a goot Line 688 No berd ne hadde he ne neuer schulde haue As smothe it was as it ware late schaue I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare But of his craft fro Berwik in to ware Line 692 Ne was þer such anoþer pardoner ffor in his male he hadde a pilewber Which þat he sayde was oure lady veyle He seide he hadde a gobet of þe seyle Line 696 That seint petir hadde whan þat he wente Vpon the see til ihesu crist him hente He hadde a Croys of laton ful of stones And in a glas he hadde pigges boones Line 700 But with þese reliqes whan þat he fonde A poure person dwellyng vpon londe / Vpon a day he gat him more moneye Than þat þe person gat in monþes tweye Line 704 And þus with feyned flatering and Iapes He made þe person and þe poeple his apes But trewely to tellen atte þe laste He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste Line 708 Wel couþe he rede a lessonn or a story

But alþer best he song an offertory ffor wel he wiste whan þat song was songe He moste preche and wel affile his tonge Line 712 To wynne seluer as he [right] wel cowde Ther fore he song so meriely and lowde / Now haue I told ȝow soþly in a clause The estat . the array þe nombre and eeke þe cause Line 716 Whi þat assembled was þis companie In Suthwerk at þis gentil hostelrie / That highte þe Tabbard faste by þe belle But now is tyme to yow for to telle / Line 720 How þat we beeren vs þat ilke night [folio 11a] Whan we were in þat Osterie alight And after wol I telle of oure viage And all the remenant of our pilgrimage Line 724 But ferst I pray ȝow of your curtesie The ȝe ne rette it nought my vilenye Though þat I pleinly speke in þis matere To telle ȝow here wordes and here cheere Line 728 Ne þough I speke here wordes propurly ffor þis ȝe knowen as wel as I Who so schal telle a tale after a man He mot reherse as neyh as euer he can Line 732 Euerich a word if it be in his charge Al speke he neuer so rudely and large Or elles he moot telle his tale vntrewe Or feyne þinges or fynde wordes newe Line 736 He may nought spare al þough he were his broþer He moot als wel seie o word as anoþer Crist spak himself ful brode in holy writte And wel ȝe wot no vilenye is itte Line 740 Ek Plato seith who so can him rede The wordes mot be cosyn to þe dede Also I preyȝe ȝow forȝiue it me Al haue I not set folk in here degre Line 744 Heer in þis tale as þat þei scholden stonde

My witt is schort ȝe may wel vnderstonde Gret cheere maad oure ost vs euerychon And to þe souper sette he vs anon Line 748 He serued vs with vitailles atte beste Strong was þe wyn and wel drynken vs leste A semly man our hoste he was with alle ffor to ben a marchall in an halle Line 752 A large man he was with eyȝen stepe A fairer burgeys is þer non in Chepe Bold of his speche and wys and wel y-taught And of manhode him lakkede right naught Line 756 Ek þer to he was right a merie man [folio 11b] And after soper pleyen he bigan And spak of merþe amonges oþer þinges Whan þat he hadde maad our rikenynges Line 760 And seide þus Now lordynges trewely Ȝe ben to me welcome right hertely ffor by my trouthe if þat I schal not lye I seyh not þis yer so mery a companye Line 764 At oones in þis herberw as is now ffayn wold I don ȝou merthe wist I how And of a merþe I am right now biþought To don you eese and it schal coste nought Line 768 ye gon to Caunturbury god yow speede The blisful martir quyte ȝou ȝour meede And wel I woot as ȝe gon by þe weye ye schapen ȝou to talen and to pleye Line 772 ffor trewely confort ne merþe is non To riden by þe wey domb as a ston And þer for wol I make you disport As I seide erst and do you som confort Line 776 And if ȝou likeþ all by on assent ffor to stonden at my Iuggement And for to werken as I schal ȝou seie To morwe whan ȝe riden by þe weie / Line 780 Now by my fader soule þat is deed

But ȝe be merye I wil ȝeue ȝow myn heed Hold vp ȝour hond wiþoute more speche / Our counseil was not longe for to seche / Line 784 vs þought it was not worþ to make it wys And graunted him wiþoute more avys And bad him seye his verdit as him leste Lordynges quod he / now herkneþ for þe beste Line 788 But take it nought I prey ȝow in disdeigne This is þe poynt to speke schort and pleigne That ech of ȝou to schorte with ȝour weye In þis viage schal telle tales tweie Line 792 To Caunturbury-ward I mene it so [folio 12a] And homward he schal tellen oþer tuo Of auentures þat whilom haue bifall And which of yow þat beriþ him best of all Line 796 That is to sein that telleþ in þis cas Tales of best sentence and most solas ./ Schal haue a souper at our alþer cost Her in þis place sittynge by þis post Line 800 Whan þat we comen aȝein fro Canturbury And for to make ȝou þe more mury I wil my seluen goodly with ȝou ryde Right at myn owne cost and be ȝour gyde Line 804 And who so wol my Iuggement wiþ seye Schal paye al þat we spende by þe weye And if ȝe vouche saf þat it be so Tel me anon wiþouten wordes moo Line 808 And I wol erly schape me þer fore This þing was graunted and our oþes swore With ful glad herte and preyȝen him also That he wolde vouche saf for to do so Line 812 And þat he wolde ben our gouernour And of oure tales Iugge and reportour And sette a souper at a certein pris And we wiln rewled ben at his deuys / Line 816 In heighe and lowe and þus by oon assent

We ben accorded to þe Iuggement And þer vpon þe wyn was fet anon We dronken and to reste went echon Line 820 Wiþouten eny lenger taryyng A morwe whan þe day bigan to spryng vp ros oure oost and was our alþer cok And gadered vs to gider all in a flok Line 824 And forþ we riden a litel more þan paas vnto þe wateryng of seint Thomas And þer our oost gan his hors areste And seide lordes herkneþ if you leste / Line 828 Ȝe wot ȝour forward and I it ȝou recorde [folio 12b] If euynsong and morwesong acorde lat see now who schal telle þe firste tale As euer mote I drynke wyn of ale Line 832 Who so be rebel to my Iuggement / Schal paie for all that by þe weie is spent Now draweþ Cut or þat we ferþer twynne he which þat haþ þe schortest schal bigynne Line 836 ¶ Sir knight quod he my maister and my lord Now draweþ Cut for þat is myn acord Comeþ nerre quod he my lady prioresse And ȝe sir clerk let be ȝour schamfastnesse Line 840 Ne studieþ nought lay hond to euery man Anon to drawe euery wight bygan And schortly for to tellen as it was / Were it by auenture or sort or cas Line 844 The soþ is þis the Cut fel to þe knight Of which ful bliþe and glad was euery wight And telle he moste his tale as it was resoun By forward and by composicioun Line 848 As ȝe han herd what nedeþ wordes mo And whan þis good man saugh þat it was so As he þat wys was and obedient To keepe his forward by his free assent Line 852 He seide siþþe I schal begynne þe game

What welcome be þe Cutte a goddes name Now lat vs ride and herkneþ what I seye And with þat word we riden forþ oure weye Line 856 And he bigan with right a merye cheere His tale anon and seyde as ȝe may heere