The Petworth ms. of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE.

PETWORTH MS.

WHan that Aprille with his shoures soote [folio 1a] The drought of marche hath perced to þe roote And bathes euery veyne in swich licoure Of which vertue engendrid is þe floure Line 4 Whan zephirus ek with his swete breth Inspired hath in euery holt and heth The tendre croppis and þe yonge sonne Hath in the ram his halfe cours yronne Line 8 And smale foules make melodye That slepen al nyght with open eyghe So prikeþ hem nature in here corages Than longen folk to gon on pilgrymages Line 12 And palmers for to seke straunge strondes To ferne halowes couthe in sondry londes And specially fram euery shires ende Of engelond to Caunterbury they wende Line 16 The holy blisseful martir for to seke That hem hath holpen when that þey were seke Byfille þat in that seson on aday In southwerk atte Tabbard as I lay Line 20 Redy to wende on my pilgrymage To Cantirbury with ful devout corage At nyht was come in to þat hostellerye Wel nyne and twenty on a companye Line 24 Of sondry folk by auenture yfalle In felaschipe and pilgrymes were þey alle That toward Cantirbery wolde ryde

The Chambres and stables weren wyde Line 28 And wel weren esed atte beste And schortly whan the sonne was to reste So hadde I spoken with hem euerychon That I was of here felaschipe anon Line 32 And made forward erly for to ryse To take oure wey there as I you deuyse But natheles whil I haue tyme and space Or þat I ferther in this tale pace Line 36 Me thynkeþ it accordant to reson To telle yow al the Condicion Of ech of hem so as it semed me [folio 1b] And whiche they were. and of what degre Line 40 And eke in what array þat they were Inne And at a knyght þan I wol first bigynne

Aknyght þer was and þat a worthy man That fro þe tyme þat he ferst bigan Line 44 To riden out. he louede Chyualrye Trouthe and honour fredom and curtesye fful worthy was he in his lordis werre And therto hadde he ryden no man ferre Line 48 As wel in Cristendom as in hethenesse And euere honoured for his worthynesse ¶ At Alisaundre he was whan it [was] wonne fful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Line 52 Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce In lettowe had he reysed and in Ruce No cristene man so ofte of his degre In Gernade at the sege ek hadde he be Line 56 Of Algezire and riden in belmarye At Lyeis was he and at Satalye When they were wonne and in the grete see At many a noble armeye had he be Line 60 At mortel batailles had he ben fyftene And fouhten for oure faith at tramessene In lystes thryes. and ay slayne his foo

This ilke worthy knyght had ben also Line 64 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye Ayeyn an othir hethen in Turkye And euere more he hadde a souereyne pry And though þat he was worthy he was wys Line 68 And of his port as meke as is a mayde He neuer yet no velonye ne sayde In al his lyf vnto no manere wight He was a verrey parfit gentil knyght Line 72 ffor to tellen yow of his array His hors weren gode. but he was not gay Of fustyon he werede a gepon Al bismotered with his habirgeon Line 76 ffor he was late ycome from his viage [folio 2a] And wente for to don his pilgrymage

With hym þer was his sone a yong squyere A louyere and a lusty bachelere Line 80 With lockes crulle as they were leyd in presse Of twenty yere of age he was I gesse Of his stature he was of euene lengtne And wondirly delyuere and gret of strengthe Line 84 And he hadde be somtyme in chyuachye In fflaundres in Artoys and in Pikardye And born him wel as of so litil space In hope to stonde in his lady grace Line 88 Embroyded was he as it were a mede All ful of fresshe floures white and rede Syngynge he was. or floytynge al the day He was also fressh as ys þe moneth of may Line 92 Short was his gowne with sleves longe and wyde Wel koude he sitte on an hors and faire ryde He koude songes make. and wel endite Iuste and eke daunce and wel portrey and write. Line 96 So hote he louede. that by nygter tale He slepte namore than doth a nyghtyngale Corteys he was lowely and servisable

And karf biforn his fadir at the table Line 100 ANothir yeman hadde he and seruantes na mo At that tyme. for hym lyst ryde so And he was clad in coote and hood of grene A sheef of pocok arewes bryght and kene Line 104 Vndir his belt he bar full thriftily Wel couthe he dresse his takel yemanly Hise arewes drouped noght with feþeres lowe And in his hond he bar a myghty bowe Line 108 A not hed hadde he with a broun visage Of wode craft wel couthe he al the vsage Vppon his arme he bar a gay bracer And by his side a swerd and a bokeler Line 112 And on that oþir syde a gay daggere Harneysed wel and sharp as poynt of spere A Cristoffre on his brest of seluer shene [folio 2b] An horn he bar the bawdrik was of grene Line 116 A foster was he sotly as I gesse

Ther was a nonne also a prioresse That of hir smylynge was ful symple and coy Hire grettest ooth was but by sey[n]te loy Line 120 And she was clepid ma dame Englentyne fful wel she song the seruyse divyne Entuned in hire nose ful semyly And frenshe she spak ful faire and fetysly Line 124 Aftir the skole of Stratford atte bowe ffor frensch of Parys was to hire vnknowe At mete wel I-taught was sche with alle She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle Line 128 Ne wete hire fyngres in hire sause depe Wel couthe she carye a morsel and wel kepe That no drope ne fille vppon hire breste In curtesye was set ful mochel hire leste Line 132 Hire ouer lippe wiped she so clene That in hir cuppe ther was no ferthing sene Of grece whan she dronken hadde hire draughte

fful semyly aftir hir mete she raughte Line 136 And sikerly sche was of gret disporte And ful plesaunt and amable of porte And peynede hire to counterfete chere Of court. and to ben estatliche of manere Line 140 And to be holden digne of reuerence But for to speken of hir Conciense She was so charitable and so pitous She wolde wepe yif that she sauh a mous Line 144 Kaugh[t] in a trappe yif it were ded or bledde Of smale houndes had she that she fedde With rostid flessh or mylk or wastelbrede But sore wepte she yf oon of hem were dede Line 148 Or yf men smoot yt with a yerde smerte And al was conscience and tendre herte fful semeliche hire wympil pynchid was Hir nose was streight. hire eighen grey as glas Line 152 Hire mouth ful smal and therto softe and rede [folio 3a] But sekerly she hadde a fair forhede It was almost a spanne brood I trowe ffor hardely she was nouht vndirgrowe Line 156 fful fetys was hir cloke as I was waar Of smal coral aboute hir arme she baar A paire of bedys gaudid al with grene And ther on hyng a broche of gold ful shene Line 160 On which þer was first writen a crowned A And aftir amor vincit omnia An othir Nonne with hire hadde she That was hire chapeleyn. and prestes thre Line 164

Amonk þer was a fair for the maistrye An out ridere that loued venerye A manly man to ben an Abbot able fful many a deynte hors hadde he in stable Line 168 And whanne he rood . men myhte his brydill here Gynglynge in a whistelynge wynd as clere And eke as loude as dooth þe chapel belle

Ther as this lord was keper of the selle Line 172 The reule of seynt Maure or of seint Benet Bi cause þat yt was olde and somdel streit This ylke monke leet olde þynges pace And heeld aftir the newe world the space Line 176 He yaf nouht of the text a pulled hen That seith that hunters be nouht holy men Ne that a monke whan he is recheles Is likened tille a fisshe þat is watirles Line 180 This is to seye a monke out of his cloistre But thilke text held he nouht worth an oystre And I seyde his opynion was good What shulde he studie. and make hymself wood Line 184 Vpon a book alwey in cloistre to poure Or swynke with his hondis and laboure As Austyn bit. hou shal the world be serued Lat Austyn haue his swynk to him reserued Line 188 Therfore he was a pricasour aright Grehoundes he hadde / as swift as foule in flight Of prikynge and of huntynge for the hare [folio 3b] Was al his lust for no cost wole he spare Line 192 I seigh hise sleves I-purfiled at the hond With grys and that the fynest of a lond And for to festne his hood vndir the Chynne He hadde of gold wrought a ful curious pynne Line 196 A loue knotte in the gretter ende þer was His hed was ballyd that shon as ony glas And eke his face. as he hadde ben anoynt He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt Line 200 Hise eighen stepe and rollynge in his hede That stemede as a fourneys of a lede Hise botes souple his hors in grete estate Now certeynly he was a fair prelate Line 204 He nas nat pale as a forpyned goost A fat swan louede he best of any roost His palfray was [as] broun as ys a berye

A ffrere ther was a wa[n]toune and [a] merye Line 208 A lymytour a ful solempne man In alle the ordres foure is noon that can So mochel of daliance and fair langage He hadde made ful many a Mariage Line 212 Of yonge wommen at his owne cost Vn to his ordre he was a noble post fful wel biloued and famulier was he With frankeleynes oueral in his contre Line 216 And with worthy wommen of the toun ffor he hadde power of confessioun As seide hym self more than a Curat ffor [of] his ordre he was lycenciat Line 220 fful swetely herede he confession And plesaunt was his absolucion He was an esy man to yeue penance Ther as he wiste to han a good pitance Line 224 ffor wnto a pore ordre for to yeue Is signe that a man ys wel yshreve ffor yf he yaf he dorste make avaunt He wiste þat a man was repentaunt Line 228 ffor many a man is so hard of his herte [folio 4a] He may noght wepe al þouh him sore smerte Ther fore in stede of wepynge and preieres Men mote yeue seluer / to the pore freres Line 232 His tipet was ay fassed ful of knyfes And pynnes for to yeue faire wyfes And certeynly he hadde a mery note Wel coude he syngen and playen on a roote Line 236 Of yeddynges he bar vttirly the pryce His necke white was as the flour delyce Therto he was strong as a champioun He knew the tauernes wel in every toun Line 240 And eueriche Osteller and tapestere Bet than a lazer or a beggere ffor vnto swich a worthy man as he

Acordith nouht as by his faculte Line 244 To haue with swich seke lazers aqueyntance It is nouht honest / it may nouht avance ffor to delen with swich poraille But al with riche and sillers of vitaille Line 248 And oueral ther as profite sholde aryse Curtays he was and lowely of seruyse Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous He was the beste beggere in his hous Line 252 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ffor þouh a widewe hadde nouht a sho So plesaunt was his Inprincipio Yet wolde he haue a ferthyng or he wente His purchace was wel bettere þan his rente Line 256 And rage he couthe as it were riht a whelpe In louedaies ther coude he mochil helpe ffor ther he was not liche a cloistrere With a thredbare cope as a pore scolere Line 260 But he was lyke a maistir or a pope Of double worstede was his semy cope That rounded as a belle out of the presse Somwhat he lipsede for his wantonesse Line 264 To make his englyssh swete vppon his tonge And in his harpynge whan þat he had songe Hise eyghen twynclede in his hede aright [folio 4b] As doon the sterres in a frosty nyht Line 268 This worthy lymytour was clepid hubert

A Marchant was ther with a longe berd In motle and heyh on horse he satte Vppon his heued a flaundrisshe beuer hatte Line 272 Hise botis clapsid faire and fetisly His resouns he spak ful solempnely Shewynge alwey the encres of his wynnynge He wolde the see were kept for any thynge Line 276 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle

Wel coude he in eschange sheldes selle This worthy man ful wel his witte bisette Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette Line 280 So estatly was he of his gouernance With his bargaynes and with his cheuyssance fforsothe he was a worthy man with alle But sothely to seyne I not how men hym calle Line 284

A Clerk þer was of Oxenforde also That vnto logyk hadde longe I-go As lene was his hors as ys a rake And he was not right fat I wndirtake Line 288 But lokede holewh and þerto soburly fful thredbare was his ouerest Courtepy ffor he hadde yit geten him no benefice Ne was so wordly [for] to haue office Line 292 ffor hym was leuere haue at his bed hede Twenty bokes clad in blak or rede Of Aristotle and his philosophie Then robes riche or fithel or gay sautrye Line 296 But al be that he was a philosofre Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre But al that he myhte of his frendes hente On bokes and on lernynge he it spente Line 300 And besily gan for tho soules preye Of hem that yaf hym wharwith to skole-aye Of studie took he moost cure and most hede Naught a word spak he / more than was nede / Line 304 And that was seid in forme and reuerence [folio 5a] And short and quyk and ful [of] hey sentence Sownynge in moral vertue was his speche And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche Line 308

A sergant of the lawe / war and wys That often hadde ben atte parvys That was also ful riche of excellence Discret he was and of gret reuerence Line 312 He semed swich hise wordis wern so wise

Iustice he was ful often in assise By patent and by pleyn commyssioun ffor his science. and for his high renoun Line 316 Of fees and robes hadde he many on So gret a purchassour was nowher non Al was fee symple to him in effecte His purchassynge myht nouht ben infecte Line 320 Nowher so besy a man as he ther nas And yet he semed bisiere than he was In termes hadde he caas and domes alle That from the tyme of kyng william were falle Line 324 Therto he cowde endite and make a thyng Ther couthe no wight pynche at his writyng And euery statute couthe he pleyne by roote He rood but homely in a medle coote Line 328 Gert with a sent of selk wiþ barres smale Of his array telle I no lenger tale

Affrankeleyn was in his compaignye Whit was his berd as is the daieseye Line 332 Of his complexioun he was sangwyne Wel louede he by the morewe a soppe in wyne To lyuen in delite euere was his wone ffor he was Epiournes owne sone Line 336 That helde opynyon þat pleyn delite Was verrey felicite parfite An houshaldere and that a greet was he Seint Iulyan he was in his contre Line 340 His bred his ale was alleweys aftir oon A bettir envyned man / was nowher noon / With oute bakemete was neuere his hous [folio 5b] Of fissche and fleisshe and þat so plentevous Line 344 It snewede in his hous of mete and drynke Of alle deyntethes that men couthe thinke Aftir the sondry sesons of the yere So changed he his mete and his sopere Line 348 fful many a fat partrich hadde he in Mewe

And many a breme and many a luce in stewe Wo was his cook but [if] his sauce were Poynant and sharpe and redy al his gere Line 352 His table dormant in his halle al way Stood redy couered al the longe day At sessions ther was he lord and sire fful often tyme he was knyght of the shire Line 356 An anelas and a gypsere al of silke Heng at his girdel white as morne mylke A sherreff had he ben / and a comptour Was nowher swich a worthy vauasour Line 360

AN habirdasshere and a Carpenter A Webbe. a Diere and a Tapecere And they were clothid alle in oo lyuere Of a solempne and a greet fraternyte Line 364 fful fressh and newe here gere apiked was Here knyfes nere chap[ed] nouht with bras But al with syluer wrought ful clene and wel Here gerdelles and her pouches euery del Line 368 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldhalle on a deys Eueriche for the wisdom that he can Was shaply for to bene an Aldirman Line 372 For catell hadde they I-nouh and Rente And eke her wifes wolde it wel assente And elles certeyn[ly] they were to blame It is ful fair to be clepid Madame Line 376 And gon to vigilies al be fore And haue a mantel rialliche I-bore

A Cook they hadde / with hem for the nones To boille the chikenes with þe maribones Line 380 And poudre Marchant tart of Gallyngale [folio 6a] Wel kowde he knowe a drauht of london ale He Couthe roste and sethe and broyle and ffrye Maken Mortrews and wel bake a pye Line 384 But gret ha[r]m was it / as it thouhte me

That on his shene a mormal hadde he For blank manger that made he with the beste

A Shipman was ther / wonyng fer bi weste Line 388 For ouht I woot he was of Dertemouthe He rood vppon a Rouncy as he couthe In a gowne of ffaldyng to the kne A daggar hangynge in a lace hadde he Line 392 Aboute his necke vndir his arme doun The hote somer hadde made his hiew al broun And Certeynly he was a good felawe fful many a drauht of wyn hadde he drawe Line 396 ffrom burdeux ward while the chapmen slepe Of nyce conscience took he no kepe Yif that he fauht / and hadde the heihere hond By watir he sente hem home to euery lond Line 400 But of his craft / to rikene wel his tydes His stremes and his daunger him bisydes His herberuh. his moone and his lodmanage Ther nos noon such from hulle to Cartage Line 404 Hardy he was / and wys to vndirtake With many a tempest had his berd be shake He knew alle the hauenes as they were ffro gutlond to the cape de fynystere Line 408 And euery cryke in bretaygne and in Spayne His barge y-clepid was the maudeleyne

With us ther was a doctour of ffisik In al this world ne was ther none hym lik Line 412 To speke of fisike and of surgerye ffor he was grounded in astronomye He kepte his pacient a ful greet del In houres by his magik naturel Line 416 Wel couthe he fortune the assendent Of his ymages for his pacient He knew the cause of euery maladye [folio 6b] Were it of hoot or cold or moyst or drye Line 420 And wher engendred and [of] what humour

He was a verrey parfit practisour The cause I-knowe and of his harm the roote Anoon he yaf the sike man his boote Line 424 fful redy hadde he hise apotecaries To sende hem drugges / and his letuaries ffor ech of hem made othir for to wynne Her frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne Line 428 Wel knew he the olde Escalapius And diascoride and ek Rufus Old ypocras Hayly and Galien Serapion Rasis and Auysen Line 432 Aueroys Damascien and constantyne Bernard and Gatisden and Gilbertyne Of his diete mesurable was he ffor it was of no superfluyte Line 436 Bot of gret norshinge and digestable His studie was but litel on the bible In sangweyn and in perce he clad was al Lyned with Taffata and with sendal Line 440 And yet he was but esy of dispense He kepte that he wan in pestilence ffor gold in Phisik is a cordeal Therfore he louede gold in special Line 444

A Good wiff ther was of besides bathe But she was somdel def and þat was scathe Of cloth makynge sche hadde such an haunt She passid hem of ypres and of Gaunt Line 448 In alle the parisch wif ne was ther noon That to the offrynge toforn hir shulde goon And yf ther dide / certeyn wroth was she That she was out of al[le] charite Line 452 Hir couerchefes ful fyne were of ground I durste swere they weyeden ten pound That on a Sonday weren vpon hire hede Hir hosen weren of fyne scarlet rede Line 456 fful streight I-teied / and shoes ful moist and newe [folio 7a]

Bold was hir face and faire / and red of hiewe She was a worthi womman al hir lyue Housbondes atte chirche dore she hadde fyue Line 460 With outen othir companie in youthe But ther of nedith nouht to speke as nouthe And thries hadde she bene at Ierusalem She had[de] passed many a strange strem Line 464 At Rome sche had ben / and at boloyne In Galice at saint Iame and at Coloigne She koude moche on wandrynge bi the weye Gat tothid was she sothely for to seie Line 468 Vp on an Amblere esily she satte I-wympled wel and on hir heed an hatte As brood as is a bokellere or a targe A fot mantel abouten hire hipes large Line 472 And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe In felaschipe wel couthe sche lawhe and carpe Of remedies of loue she kneuh parchaunce ffor she couthe of that art the daunce Line 476

A Good man was there of religioun And was a pore persoun of a toun But riche he was of holy thouht and werk He was also a lerned man and a clerk Line 480 That Cristes gospel treuly wolde preche His parisschens deuoutly wolde he teche Benyngne he was and wondir diligent And in aduersite / ful pacient Line 484 And swich he was [i]preued ofte sithes fful looth were him to cursen for his tythes But rather wolde he yeuen out of doute Vnto his poure parisshens aboute Line 488 Of his offrynge and of his substance He couthe in litil thing han suffisance Wide was hise parisshe and houses fer asondir But he ne lafte nouthir for rayne ne for thundir Line 492 In sikenesse nor in meschief to visite

The ferrest in his parisch myche and lite Vp on his fete / and in his hond a staff [folio 7b] This noble ensample to his shepe he yaf Line 496 That ferst he wroughte. and aftirward þat he tauhte Out of the gospel he þo wordes cauhte And this figure he addede ek therto That yf gold ruste / what shal Iren do Line 500 For if a prest be foul on whom we triste No wondir is a lewed man to ruste And shame it is yf a prest take kepe A shiten sheperde and a clene shepe Line 504 Wel ouhte a preest ensample for to yeue By his clennesse hou that his sheepe shulde lyue He set nauht his benefice to hire And leet his sheep acombred in the myre Line 508 And ran to london vn to seint Poules To seke hym a chanterye for soules Or with a bretherhede to bene with holde But duelte at home / and kepte wel his folde Line 512 So that the wolf ne made it not myscarye He was a shepperde and not a mercenarie And thouh he holy were and vertuous He was nouht to synful men dispitous Line 516 Ne on his speche daungerous ne digne But in his techynge discret and benygne To drawen folk to heuene by fairnesse By good ensample / this was his bisynesse Line 520 But it were eny person obstynate What so he were of heigh or lowh estate Hym wolde he snebbe sharply for the nones A bettre prest I trowe þat nowher noon es Line 524 He waitede aftir no pompe and reuerence Ne maked hym a spiced conscience But cristes lore / and hise apostles tuelue He tauhte / but ferst he folewed in hymselue Line 528 With hym ther was a plouhman / was his broþir

That hadde I-lad of dong ful many a fothir And a trewe swynkere and a good was he Lyvynge in pees / and parfit charite Line 532 God loued he best with al his hole herte [folio 8a] At alle tymes thouh he gamed or smerte And than his neighbure riht as hymselue He wolde thresshe and therto dike and delue Line 536 For cristes sake / for euery pouere wight With oute hire / yif hit lay in his myght Hise tythis payed he ful faire and wel Bothen of his propre swynke and his catel Line 540 In a tabbard he rood vp on a mere Ther was also a Reve and a Mellere A somenour and a Pardoner also A Maunciple and my self ther nar na mo Line 544

The mellere was a strong carle for the nones fful bigge he was / of brawne and ek of bones That proued wel / for oueral thare he cam Atte wrastelynge / he wolde haue a-wey the ram Line 548 He was short shuldred a thicke knarre Ther was no dore that he ne wolde heue of barre Or breke it at a rennynge with his heed His berd as any sowe or fox was reed Line 552 And therto brood as þouh it were a spade Vp on the cop right of his nose he hade A werte and þeron stood a tuft of heres Rede as the brysteles of a sowes eres Line 556 His nose þrilles blake were and wyde A swerd and a bokelere bar he be his side His mouthe as greet was as a greet fourneys He was a iangelere and a goliardeys Line 560 And that was moost of synne and of harlotryes Wel couthe he stele corn / and tolle thryes And yit he hadde a thombe of gold parde A white cote and a blewe hood wered he Line 564 A bagge-pipe wel couthe he blowe and sowne

And þerwith al he brouht us out of towne

A Gentil manciple was þer o[f] a temple Of which a catour myghte take ensample Line 568 ffor to ben wise in biynge of vitaille ffor wheþir þat he payed / or toke by taille Algate he waitede so in his achate [folio 8b] That he was ay beforn and in good estate Line 572 Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace That such a lewed mannes wit shal pace The wysdom of an hepe of lerned men Of maystres hadde he mo þan thries ten Line 576 That were of lawe expert an Curious Of wich ther was a doseyn in that hous Worthy to bene stywardes of Rente and lond Of any lord that is in Ingelond Line 580 To make hym lyue by his propre good In honour detteles but if that he were wood Or lyue als skarsly as hym lyst desire And able for to helpen al a shire Line 584 In any cas that myhte falle or happe And yit this Maunciple sette ther althir cappe

The Reue was a sclendre colerik man His berd was shaue / as nyhe as euer he can Line 588 His heer was by hise eres ful rounde yshorne His toppe was docked like a prest byforne fful longe were his legges and ful lene I-like a staf / ther was no calf ysene Line 592 Wel couthe he kepe a Garner or a bynne Ther was none auditour couthe on hym wynne Wel wiste he / by the drought and by the reyne The yeldynge of his seed / and of his greyne Line 596 Hise lordes sheepe / hise neete / hise dayerie His swyne / his hors / his stoor / and his pultrye Was hoolly in this reues gouernynge And by his covenant / yaf the rekenynge Line 600 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age

Ther couthe no man brynge hym in a-rerage Ther nas baylyf ne herde nor othir hyne That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne Line 604 They were a-drad of hym / as of the deth His wonynge was ful faire vpon an heth With grene trees / shadewed was his place He couthe bettre than his lord purchace Line 608 fful riche he was astored pryuely [folio 9a] His lorde he couþe wel plese and sub[t]ily To ȝeue and lene him of his owne goode To haue a þonke and yit a cote and hode Line 612 In ȝouþe he had lered a good mistere He was a wel good wriȝt a Carpentere This Reue satte vpon a wel good stot That was al pomel grey and highte scot Line 616 A longe Surcote of Peers vppon he hadde And by his side he bare a rusty blade Of Northfolk was þis Reue of which I telle Besides a toune men clepen it Baldewelle Line 620 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute And euere he rode þe hynderest of our route

A Somnour was ther wiþ vs in that place That had a fury cherubynes face Line 624 ffor Sauseflewme he was wiþ eyen narowe Als hote he was and leccherous as a sparowe With scalled browes. blak and pilled beerde Of his visage children weren a-ferde Line 628 Ther nas quyk siluer litarge or bremston Boras orsure no oyle of tartre nōōn Ne oynement þat wold[e] clense and byte That him myght helpe of his whelkes white Line 632 Ne of [the] knobbes sitting in his chekes Wel loued he garlike. oynyons and eke lekes And for to drink strong wyne rede as blode Than wolde he speke and cry as he were wode Line 636 And whan [that] he wel dronken had þe wyne

Than wolde he speke no worde but latyne A fewe teermes had he two or thre That he had lerned out of som decree Line 640 No wonder is he herd to al þe day And eke ȝe knowen it wel how þat a Iay Can clepe watt as wel as can þe pope But who so couþe in oþer þing hym grope Line 644 Than had he spent al his Philosophie [folio 9b] Ay questio quid iuris wold he crye He was a gentile harlot and a kinde A better felawe shul[de] men not fynde Line 648 He wolde suffre for a quarte of wyne A good felawe to haue his concubyne A twelue month and excuse him ate fulle fful priuely eke a ffynche couþe he pulle Line 652 And if he fonde owhere a good felawe He wolde techen hym to han noon awe In such caas of þe archedekens curs But if [a] mannys soule were in his purs Line 656 ffor in his purs he shuld[e] punshed be Purs is þe erchedekenes Helle seide he But wel I wote he lyed riȝt in dede Of cursing ouȝt eche gilty man to drede Line 660 ffor curs wil slee riȝt as assoyling saueth And also war hym of a significauith In daunger had he at his owne gyse The yonge Geerles of þe diocise Line 664 And knewe her counsaile and what was al her rede A Gallonde had he sette vpon his hede As grete as it were for an ale stake A Bokelere had he made hym of a Cake Line 668

With hym þer rode a gentile Pardoner Of rouncyuale his frende and his comper That streght was commen from þe courte of Rome fful lowde songe he come hider loue come Line 672 This somnour bare to hym a stif burdon

Was neuere trumpe of half so gret a soun This Pardoner had heer as ȝelowe as wexe But smoth it henge. as doþ a strike of flexe Line 676 By ounces henge his lockes þat he had And þerwiþ he his shulders ouersprad But thyn it lay by culpons oon and on But hode for Iolite wered he noon Line 680 ffor it was trussed vp in his walette [folio 10a] Hym þouȝt he rode al of þe newe gette Discheuele sauf his cap he rode al bare Suche glaryng eyen had he as an hare Line 684 A vernycle had he sewed vpon his cappe His walet [lay] biforn him in his lappe Bret ful of pardon commen from Rome al hote A voyce he had as smal as a[ny] goote Line 688 No beerde ne had he. ne neuere shuld haue As smoth it was as it were late shaue I trowe he were a gelding or a mare But of his craft from Barwik into ware Line 692 Ne was þer suche a noþer pardonere ffor in his male he had a pilowbere Which þat he seide was oure lady vaile He seide he had a gobet of þe saile Line 696 That seynt Peter had whan þat he went Vpon þe see to Ihesu crist hym hent He had a croys of laton ful of stones And in a glas he had[de] pigges bones Line 700 But wiþ þise relikes whan þat he fonde A poor[e] person dwellyng vpon londe Vpon a day he gate hym more moneye Þan þe the persone gate in Monþes tweye Line 704 And þus wiþ feyned flateryng and Iapes He made þe Person and þe puple his apes But trew[e]ly to tellen at þe laste He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste Line 708 Wel couþe he rede a lesson or a storye

But alþerbest he song an offertorie ffor wel he wist whan þat songe was songe He moste preche and wel afile his tonge Line 712 To wynne siluer as he [right] wel cowde Therfore he songe so merily and lowde

Now have I tolld ȝou soþly in a clause The astaat. þe aray. þe nombre and eke þe cause Line 716 Why þat assembled was þis companye [folio 10b] In Suthwerk at þis gentil hostrye That hight þe Tabard faste by þe belle But nowe is tyme to ȝou forto telle Line 720 Howe þat we beren vs þat ilke nyght Whan [we] were in þat Hostrie a-light And after wil I tellen of our viage And al þe remenaunt of our Pilgrymage Line 724 But furst I prey ȝou of ȝoure curtesie That ȝe ne rette it not my vilanye þoo þat I pleynly speke in þis matere To telle ȝou her wordes and her chere Line 728 Ne þouȝe he speke her wordes proprely ffor þis ȝe knowen as wel as I Who so shal telle a tale after a man He mote reherce as nyghe as euer he can Line 732 Eueriche word if it be in his charge Al speke he neuere so rudely and large Or ellis he mote telle his tale vntrewe Or feyne þinggis or fynde wordes newe Line 736 He may not spare al þough he were his broþer He mot also wel say. oo word as another Crist spak him self ful brode in holy writte And wel ȝe wote no vilanye is itte Line 740 Eke Plato seiþ who so can hym rede The wordes mote be cosyn to þe dede Also I prey ȝou [to] forȝeue it me Al haue I not sette folk in her degre Line 744 Here in þis tale as þat thei shulde stonde

My witte is short ȝe may wel vnderstonde

Grete chere made oure hooste vs euerechon And to þe soper sette he vs anon Line 748 He serued vs with vitailles at þe best Stronge was þe wyne and wel [to] drink vs lest A semely man our hooste was wiþ all ffor to [han] bene a marshal in an hall Line 752 A large man he was with yen stepe [folio 11a] A fairer Burges is [ther] none in chepe Bold of his speche. and wise and wel ytauȝt And of manhode hym lacked[e] right naught Line 756 Eke þerto he was right a mery man And after sopere pleyen he bygan And spak of myrth amonge oþer þinges Whan that we had[de] made our rekenyngges Line 760 And seide þus. now lordingges trewly Ȝe bene to me welcome riȝt hertely ffor be my trouþe if þat I shal not lye I seegh not þis ȝere so mery a companye Line 764 At ones in þis harborowe as is nowe ffayne wold I do ȝou merthe wist I howe And of a merþe I am right now by-þought To don ȝou ease and it shal coste nouȝt Line 768

Ȝe gone to canterbery god ȝou spede þe blisful martir. quite ȝou ȝour mede And wel I wote. as ȝe goon by þe way Ȝe shapen ȝou to talen and to pley Line 772 ffor trewly conforte ne myrthe is nōn To riden by þe wey dombe as a stone And þerfor wil I. make ȝou disporte As I seide erste and don ȝou som conforte Line 776 And if ȝou likeþ alle by oon assente [Now] fforto stonden at my Iuggemente And forto worchen as I shal ȝou seie To morowe whan ȝe riden by þe weie Line 780 Now be my faders soule þat is dede

But ȝe be mery. I wil ȝeue ȝou my hede Holde vp ȝoure hondes wiþ out more speche Our counsaile was not longe for to seche Line 784 Vs þouȝt it was not / worþe to make to wis And graunted hym wiþ oute more avis And bad him seie his veredit as him lest Lordingges quod he nowe herkeneþ for þe best Line 788 But take it not I prei ȝou in disdeyne [folio 11b] This is þe point to speke short and pleyne That eche of ȝou to shorte wiþ our waye In þis viage shal telle tailles twaye Line 792 To Caunterbery ward I mene it so And homwardes he shal telle oþere twoo Of auentures þat han whilom bifalle And which of ȝou þat bereþ hym best of alle Line 796 þat is to sey þat telleþ in þis cas Tales of best sentence and most solas shal haue a sopere at our alder cost Her in þis place sitting by þis post Line 800 Whan þat we commen ageyn from Canterburye And forto make ȝou þe more merye I wil my seluen goodly wiþ ȝou ride Right at myne owne cost and be ȝour gide Line 804 And who so wil my Iugement wiþseye Shal pay al þat we spenden by þe weye And if ȝe vouche sauf þat it be so Telle me anoon wiþ outen wordes moo Line 808 And I will erly shape me þerfore þis þinge was graunted and our oþes swore Wiþ ful glad hert and preien hym also þat he wolde vouchesauf so to do Line 812 And þat he wolde be our gouernour And of our tales Iugge and roportour And sette a sopere at a certeyn price And we wold rewled bene at his deuice Line 816 In heghe and lough and þus by on assent

We bene accorded to þe Iuggement And þer vpon þe wyne was fette anon We dronken and to reste wente echon Line 820 Wiþ oute eny lenger tariynge On morowe whan þe day [bi]gan to sprynge Vp roos oure hooste and was oure alder Cok And gadered vs to gidere in a flok. Line 824 And forþ we riden a litel more þan paas [folio 12a] Vnto þe watering of Seynt Thomas And þer our hooste gan his hors areste And seide lordes harkeneþ if yow leste Line 828 Ȝe wote ȝoure forward and I it ȝou record If euensonge and morowsonge accord Lat see nowe who. shal telle þe first tale As euer mote I drinke wyne or ale Line 832 Who so be rebell to my Iuggement Shal paye for al þat by þe way is spent Now draweþ Cut er þat we ferþer twynne Which þat haþ þe shortest shal bygynne Line 836 ¶ Sir knyght quod he my maister and my lorde Now droweþ Cutte for þat is myn accorde Commeth nere quod he my lady prioresse And ȝe sir Clerk lat be ȝoure shamfastnesse Line 840 Ne stodieth nouȝt lay honde to euery man Anon to drawe every wight bygan And shortely forto tellen as it was Were it be auenture or sort or cas Line 844 The soþe is þis þe Cut fille to þe knyȝt Of which full glad and bliþe was euery wiȝt And tellen he most his tale as it was reson By forward and by compo[si]cion Line 848 As ȝe han herde what needet wordes moo And whan þis good man seegh þat it was soo As he þat wise was and obedient To kepen his forward by his fre assent Line 852 He seide siþen I shal bygynne þe game

What welcome be þe Cutte a goddis name Now lat vs ride and harkeneþ what I saye And wiþ þat word we riden forþ our waye Line 856 And [he] byganne wiþ riȝt a mery chere His tale anon and seide as ȝe may here

¶ Iam que domos patrias scithice post aspera gentis: Prelia laurigero &c. Thus endeþ þe Prologe of þis Boke.