The Canterbury tales

The General Prologue

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote Line 1 The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, Line 2 And bathed every veyne in swich licour Line 3 Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Line 4 Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth Line 5 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth Line 6 Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Line 7 Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne, Line 8 And smale foweles maken melodye, Line 9 That slepen al the nyght with open ye Line 10 (so priketh hem nature in hir corages); Line 11 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, Line 12 And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, Line 13 To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; Line 14 And specially from every shires ende Line 15 Of engelond to caunterbury they wende, Line 16 The hooly blisful martir for to seke, Line 17 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. Line 18

Bifil that in that seson on a day, Line 19 In southwerk at the tabard as I lay Line 20 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage Line 21 To caunterbury with ful devout corage, Line 22 At nyght was come into that hostelrye Line 23 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye, Line 24 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle Line 25 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, Line 26 That toward caunterbury wolden ryde. Line 27 The chambres and the stables weren wyde, Line 28 And wel we weren esed atte beste. Line 29 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, Line 30 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon Line 31 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, Line 32 And made forward erly for to ryse, Line 33 To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse. Line 34

But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, Line 35 Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Line 36 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun Line 37 To telle yow al the condicioun Line 38 Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, Line 39 And whiche they weren, and of what degree, Line 40 And eek in what array that they were inne; Line 41 And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne. Line 42

A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man, Line 43 That fro the tyme that he first bigan Line 44 To riden out, he loved chivalrie, Line 45 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. Line 46 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, Line 47 And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, Line 48 As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, Line 49 And evere honoured for his worthynesse. Line 50 At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne. Line 51 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Line 52 Aboven alle nacions in pruce; Line 53 In lettow hadde he reysed and in ruce, Line 54 No cristen man so ofte of his degree. Line 55 In gernade at the seege eek hadde he be Line 56 Of algezir, and riden in belmarye. Line 57 At lyeys was he and at satalye, Line 58 Whan they were wonne; and in the grete see Line 59 At many a noble armee hadde he be. Line 60 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, Line 61 And foughten for oure feith at tramyssene Line 62 In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo. Line 63 This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also Line 64 Somtyme with the lord of palatye Line 65 Agayn another hethen in turkye. Line 66

Line 66 And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys; Line 67 And though that he were worthy, he was wys, Line 68 And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. Line 69 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde Line 70 In al his lyf unto no maner wight. Line 71 He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght. Line 72 But, for to tellen yow of his array, Line 73 His hors were goode, but he was nat gay. Line 74 Of fustian he wered a gypon Line 75 Al bismotered with his habergeon, Line 76 For he was late ycome from his viage, Line 77 And wente for to doon his pilgrymage. Line 78

With hym ther was his sone, a yong squier, Line 79 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, Line 80 With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. Line 81 Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Line 82 Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, Line 83 And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe. Line 84 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie Line 85 In flaundres, in artoys, and pycardie, Line 86 And born hym weel, as of so litel space, Line 87 In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Line 88 Embrouded was he, as it were a meede Line 89 Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede. Line 90 Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day; Line 91 He was as fressh as is the month of may. Line 92 Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde. Line 93 Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde. Line 94 He koude songes make and wel endite, Line 95 Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write. Line 96 So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale. Line 97 He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. Line 98 Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable, Line 99 And carf biforn his fader at the table. Line 100

A yeman hadde he and servantz namo Line 101 At that tyme, for hym liste ride so, Line 102 And he was clad in cote and hood of grene. Line 103 A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene, Line 104 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily, Line 105 (wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly: Line 106 His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe) Line 107 And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. Line 108 A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage. Line 109 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage. Line 110 Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer, Line 111 And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, Line 112 And on that oother syde a gay daggere Line 113 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere; Line 114 A cristopher on his brest of silver sheene. Line 115 An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene; Line 116 A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse. Line 117

Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse, Line 118 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy; Line 119 Hire gretteste ooth was but by seinte loy; Line 120 And she was cleped madame eglentyne. Line 121 Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne, Line 122 Entuned in hir nose ful semely, Line 123 And frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, Line 124 After the scole of stratford atte bowe, Line 125 For frenssh of parys was to hire unknowe. Line 126 At mete wel ytaught was she with alle: Line 127 She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, Line 128 Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe; Line 129 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe Line 130 That no drope ne fille upon hire brest. Line 131 In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. Line 132 Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene Line 133 That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene Line 134 Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. Line 135 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. Line 136 And sikerly she was of greet desport, Line 137 And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port, Line 138 And peyned hire to countrefete cheere Line 139 Of court, and to been estatlich of manere, Line 140 And to ben holden digne of reverence. Line 141 But, for to speken of hire conscience, Line 142 She was so charitable and so pitous Line 143 She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous Line 144 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. Line 145 Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde Line 146 With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed. Line 147 But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, Line 148 Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte; Line 149 And al was conscience and tendre herte. Line 150 Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was, Line 151 Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, Line 152 Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed; Line 153 But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; Line 154 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe; Line 155 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. Line 156 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war. Line 157 Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar Line 158 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene, Line 159 And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, Line 160 On which ther was first write a crowned a, Line 161 And after amor vincit omnia. Line 162

Another nonne with hire hadde she, Line 163 That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre. Line 164

A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, Line 165 An outridere, that lovede venerie, Line 166 A manly man, to been an abbot able. Line 167 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable, Line 168 And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere Line 169 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere Line 170 And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle. Line 171

Line 171 Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle, Line 172 The reule of seint maure or of seint beneit, Line 173 By cause that it was old and somdel streit Line 174 This ilke monk leet olde thynges pace, Line 175 And heeld after the newe world the space. Line 176 He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, Line 177 That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men, Line 178 Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees, Line 179 Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees, -- Line 180 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre. Line 181 But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre; Line 182 And I seyde his opinion was good. Line 183 What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood, Line 184 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, Line 185 Or swynken with his handes, and laboure, Line 186 As austyn bit? how shal the world be served? Line 187 Lat austyn have his swynk to hym reserved! Line 188 Therfore he was a prikasour aright: Line 189 Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight; Line 190 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare Line 191 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. Line 192 I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond Line 193 With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond; Line 194 And, for to festne his hood under his chyn, Line 195 He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn; Line 196 A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was. Line 197 His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, Line 198 And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt. Line 199 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt; Line 200 His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed, Line 201 That stemed as a forneys of a leed; Line 202 His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat. Line 203 Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat; Line 204 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost. Line 205 A fat swan loved he best of any roost. Line 206 His palfrey was as broun as is a berye. Line 207

A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye, Line 208 A lymytour, a ful solempne man. Line 209 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan Line 210 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. Line 211 He hadde maad ful many a mariage Line 212 Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. Line 213 Unto his ordre he was a noble post. Line 214 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he Line 215 With frankeleyns over al in his contree, Line 216 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun; Line 217 For he hadde power of confessioun, Line 218 As seyde hymself, moore than a curat, Line 219 For of his ordre he was licenciat. Line 220 Ful swetely herde he confessioun, Line 221 And plesaunt was his absolucioun: Line 222 He was an esy man to yeve penaunce, Line 223 Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce. Line 224 For unto a povre ordre for to yive Line 225 Is signe that a man is wel yshryve; Line 226 For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, Line 227 He wiste that a man was repentaunt; Line 228 For many a man so hard is of his herte, Line 229 He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte. Line 230 Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres Line 231 Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres. Line 232 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves Line 233 And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves. Line 234 And certeinly he hadde a murye note: Line 235 Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; Line 236 Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris. Line 237 His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys; Line 238 Therto he strong was as a champioun. Line 239 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun Line 240 And everich hostiler and tappestere Line 241 Bet than a lazar or a beggestere; Line 242 For unto swich a worthy man as he Line 243 Acorded nat, as by his facultee, Line 244 To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce. Line 245 It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce, Line 246 For to deelen with no swich poraille, Line 247 But al with riche and selleres of vitaille. Line 248 And over al, ther as profit sholde arise, Line 249 Curteis he was and lowely of servyse. Line 250 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. Line 251 He was the beste beggere in his hous; Line 252 (and yaf a certeyne ferme for the graunt; Line 252.1 Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;) Line 252.2 For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho, Line 253 So plesaunt was his in principio, Line 254 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente. Line 255 His purchas was wel bettre than his rente. Line 256 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp. Line 257 In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help, Line 258 For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer Line 259 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, Line 260 But he was lyk a maister or a pope. Line 261 Of double worstede was his semycope, Line 262 That rounded as a belle out of the presse. Line 263 Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, Line 264 To make his englissh sweete upon his tonge; Line 265 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe, Line 266 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght, Line 267 As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght. Line 268 This worthy lymytour was cleped huberd. Line 269

A marchant was ther with a forked berd, Line 270 In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat; Line 271 Upon his heed a flaundryssh bever hat, Line 272 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly. Line 273 His resons he spak ful solempnely, Line 274 Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng. Line 275

Line 275 He wolde the see were kept for any thyng Line 276 Bitwixe middelburgh and orewelle. Line 277 Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. Line 278 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: Line 279 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, Line 280 So estatly was he of his governaunce Line 281 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. Line 282 For sothe he was a worthy man with alle, Line 283 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle. Line 284

A clerk ther was of oxenford also, Line 285 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo. Line 286 As leene was his hors as is a rake, Line 287 And he nas nat right fat, I undertake, Line 288 But looked holwe, and therto sobrely. Line 289 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy; Line 290 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Line 291 Ne was so worldly for to have office. Line 292 For hym was levere have at his beddes heed Line 293 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed, Line 294 Of aristotle and his philosophie, Line 295 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. Line 296 But al be that he was a philosophre, Line 297 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; Line 298 But al that he myghte of his freendes hente, Line 299 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente, Line 300 And bisily gan for the soules preye Line 301 Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. Line 302 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, Line 303 Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, Line 304 And that was seyd in forme and reverence, Line 305 And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence; Line 306 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, Line 307 And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche. Line 308

A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys, Line 309 That often hadde been at the parvys, Line 310 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. Line 311 Discreet he was and of greet reverence -- Line 312 He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise. Line 313 Justice he was ful often in assise, Line 314 By patente and by pleyn commissioun. Line 315 For his science and for his heigh renoun, Line 316 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. Line 317 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon: Line 318 Al was fee symple to hym in effect; Line 319 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. Line 320 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, Line 321 And yet he semed bisier than he was. Line 322 In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle Line 323 That from the tyme of kyng william were falle. Line 324 Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng, Line 325 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng; Line 326 And every statut koude he pleyn by rote. Line 327 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote. Line 328 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale; Line 329 Of his array telle I no lenger tale. Line 330

A frankeleyn was in his compaignye. Line 331 Whit was his berd as is the dayesye; Line 332 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. Line 333 Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn; Line 334 To lyven in delit was evere his wone, Line 335 For he was epicurus owene sone, Line 336 That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Line 337 Was verray felicitee parfit. Line 338 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; Line 339 Seint julian he was in his contree. Line 340 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; Line 341 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon. Line 342 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous Line 343 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous, Line 344 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke, Line 345 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke. Line 346 After the sondry sesons of the yeer, Line 347 So chaunged he his mete and his soper. Line 348 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe, Line 349 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe. Line 350 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Line 351 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere. Line 352 His table dormant in his halle alway Line 353 Stood redy covered al the longe day. Line 354 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; Line 355 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. Line 356 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk Line 357 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk. Line 358 A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour. Line 359 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour. Line 360

An haberdasshere and a carpenter, Line 361 A webbe, a dyere, and a tapycer, -- Line 362 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree Line 363 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee. Line 364 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was; Line 365 Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras Line 366 But al with silver; wroght ful clene and weel Line 367 Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel. Line 368 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys Line 369 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. Line 370 Everich, for the wisdom that he kan, Line 371 Was shaply for to been an alderman. Line 372 For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, Line 373 And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente; Line 374 And elles certeyn were they to blame. Line 375 It is ful fair to been ycleped madame, Line 376 And goon to vigilies al bifore, Line 377 And have a mantel roialliche ybore. Line 378

A cook they hadde with hem for the nones Line 379 To boille the chiknes with the marybones, Line 380 And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale. Line 381 Wel koude he knowe a draughte of londoun ale. Line 382

Line 382 He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye, Line 383 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye. Line 384 But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, Line 385 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he. Line 386 For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. Line 387

A shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste; Line 388 For aught I woot, he was of dertemouthe. Line 389 He rood upon a rounce, as he kouthe, Line 390 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. Line 391 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he Line 392 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun. Line 393 The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun; Line 394 And certeinly he was a good felawe. Line 395 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe Line 396 Fro burdeux-ward, whil that the chapmen sleep. Line 397 Of nyce conscience took he no keep. Line 398 If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond, Line 399 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. Line 400 But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes, Line 401 His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides, Line 402 His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage, Line 403 Ther nas noon swich from hulle to cartage. Line 404 Hardy he was and wys to undertake; Line 405 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake. Line 406 He knew alle the havenes, as they were, Line 407 Fro gootlond to the cape of fynystere, Line 408 And every cryke in britaigne and in spayne. Line 409 His barge ycleped was the maudelayne. Line 410

With us ther was a doctour of phisik; Line 411 In al this world ne was the noon hym lik, Line 412 To speke of phisik and of surgerye Line 413 For he was grounded in astronomye. Line 414 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel Line 415 In houres by his magyk natureel. Line 416 Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent Line 417 Of his ymages for his pacient. Line 418 He knew the cause of everich maladye, Line 419 Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye, Line 420 And where they engendred, and of what humour. Line 421 He was a verray, parfit praktisour: Line 422 The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, Line 423 Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. Line 424 Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries Line 425 To sende hym drogges and his letuaries, Line 426 For ech of hem made oother for to wynne -- Line 427 Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne. Line 428 Wel knew he the olde esculapius, Line 429 And deyscorides, and eek rufus, Line 430 Olde ypocras, haly, and galyen, Line 431 Serapion, razis, and avycen, Line 432 Averrois, damascien, and constantyn, Line 433 Bernard, and gatesden, and gilbertyn. Line 434 Of his diete mesurable was he, Line 435 For it was of no superfluitee, Line 436 But of greet norissyng and digestible. Line 437 His studie was but litel on the bible. Line 438 In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, Line 439 Lyned with taffata and with sendal; Line 440 And yet he was but esy of dispence; Line 441 He kepte that he wan in pestilence. Line 442 For gold in phisik is a cordial, Line 443 Therefore he lovede gold in special. Line 444

A good wif was ther of biside bathe, Line 445 But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. Line 446 Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt, Line 447 She passed hem of ypres and of gaunt. Line 448 In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon Line 449 That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon; Line 450 And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, Line 451 That she was out of alle charitee. Line 452 Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; Line 453 I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound Line 454 That on a sonday weren upon hir heed. Line 455 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, Line 456 Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe. Line 457 Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. Line 458 She was a worthy womman al hir lyve: Line 459 Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, Line 460 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, -- Line 461 But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. Line 462 And thries hadde she been at jerusalem; Line 463 She hadde passed many a straunge strem; Line 464 At rome she hadde been, and at boloigne, Line 465 In galice at seint-jame, and at coloigne. Line 466 She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye. Line 467 Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. Line 468 Upon an amblere esily she sat, Line 469 Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat Line 470 As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; Line 471 A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, Line 472 And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. Line 473 In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe. Line 474 Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, Line 475 For she koude of that art the olde daunce. Line 476

A good man was ther of religioun, Line 477 And was a povre persoun of a toun, Line 478 But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk. Line 479 He was also a lerned man, a clerk, Line 480 That cristes gospel trewely wolde preche; Line 481 His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. Line 482 Benygne he was, and wonder diligent, Line 483 And in adversitee ful pacient, Line 484

Line 484 And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes. Line 485 Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes, Line 486 But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute, Line 487 Unto his povre parisshens aboute Line 488 Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce. Line 489 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. Line 490 Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder, Line 491 But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder, Line 492 In siknesse nor in meschief to visite Line 493 The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, Line 494 Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. Line 495 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, Line 496 That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte. Line 497 Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte, Line 498 And this figure he added eek therto, Line 499 That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? Line 500 For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, Line 501 No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; Line 502 And shame it is, if a prest take keep, Line 503 A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. Line 504 Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, Line 505 By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve. Line 506 He sette nat his benefice to hyre Line 507 And leet his sheep encombred in the myre Line 508 And ran to londoun unto seinte poules Line 509 To seken hym a chaunterie for soules, Line 510 Or with a bretherhed to been withholde; Line 511 But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde, Line 512 So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie; Line 513 He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie. Line 514 And though he hooly were and vertuous, Line 515 He was to synful men nat despitous, Line 516 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, Line 517 But in his techyng discreet and benygne. Line 518 To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse, Line 519 By good ensample, this was his bisynesse. Line 520 But it were any persone obstinat, Line 521 What so he were, of heigh or lough estat, Line 522 Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. Line 523 A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys. Line 524 He waited after no pompe and reverence, Line 525 Ne maked him a spiced conscience, Line 526 But cristes loore and his apostles twelve Line 527 He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve. Line 528

With hym ther was a plowman, was his brother, Line 529 That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother; Line 530 A trewe swynkere and a good was he, Line 531 Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee. Line 532 God loved he best with al his hoole herte Line 533 At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte, Line 534 And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve. Line 535 He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve, Line 536 For cristes sake, for every povre wight, Line 537 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght. Line 538 His tithes payde he ful faire and wel, Line 539 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. Line 540 In a tabard he rood upon a mere. Line 541

Ther was also a reve, and a millere, Line 542 A somnour, and a pardoner also, Line 543 A maunciple, and myself -- ther were namo. Line 544

The millere was a stout carl for the nones; Line 545 Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones. Line 546 That proved wel, for over al ther he cam, Line 547 At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram. Line 548 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre; Line 549 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre, Line 550 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. Line 551 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, Line 552 And therto brood, as though it were a spade. Line 553 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade Line 554 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys, Line 555 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys; Line 556 His nosethirles blake were and wyde. Line 557 A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde. Line 558 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys. Line 559 He was a janglere and a goliardeys, Line 560 And that was moost of synne and harlotries. Line 561 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries; Line 562 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. Line 563 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he. Line 564 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne, Line 565 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne. Line 566

A gentil maunciple was ther of a temple, Line 567 Of which achatours myghte take exemple Line 568 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille; Line 569 For wheither that he payde or took by taille, Line 570 Algate he wayted so in his achaat Line 571 That he was ay biforn and in good staat. Line 572 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace Line 573 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace Line 574 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men? Line 575 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten, Line 576 That weren of lawe expert and curious, Line 577 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous Line 578 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond Line 579 Of any lord that is in engelond, Line 580 To make hym lyve by his propre good Line 581 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood), Line 582 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire; Line 583 And able for to helpen al a shire Line 584 In any caas that myghte falle or happe; Line 585 And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe. Line 586

The reve was a sclendre colerik man. Line 587 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan; Line 588 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn; Line 589

Line 589 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn Line 590 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, Line 591 Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene. Line 592 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne; Line 593 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne. Line 594 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn Line 595 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn. Line 596 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye, Line 597 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye Line 598 Was hoolly in this reves governynge, Line 599 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge, Line 600 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age. Line 601 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage. Line 602 Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne, Line 603 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne; Line 604 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth. Line 605 His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth; Line 606 With grene trees yshadwed was his place. Line 607 He koude bettre than his lord purchace. Line 608 Ful riche he was astored pryvely: Line 609 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly, Line 610 To yeve and lene hym of his owene good, Line 611 And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood. Line 612 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster; Line 613 He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. Line 614 This reve sat upon a ful good stot, Line 615 That was al pomely grey and highte scot. Line 616 A long surcote of pers upon he hade, Line 617 And by his syde he baar a rusty blade. Line 618 Of northfolk was this reve of which I telle, Line 619 Biside a toun men clepen baldeswelle. Line 620 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute, Line 621 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route. Line 622

A somonour was ther with us in that place, Line 623 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face, Line 624 For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe. Line 625 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, Line 626 With scalled browes blake and piled berd. Line 627 Of his visage children were aferd. Line 628 Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon, Line 629 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon; Line 630 Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte, Line 631 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white, Line 632 Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. Line 633 Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, Line 634 And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood; Line 635 Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. Line 636 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, Line 637 Thanne wolde he speke no word but latyn. Line 638 A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, Line 639 That he had lerned out of som decree -- Line 640 No wonder is, he herde it al the day; Line 641 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay Line 642 Kan clepen watte as wel as kan the pope. Line 643 But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, Line 644 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie; Line 645 Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crie. Line 646 He was a gentil harlot and a kynde; Line 647 A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde. Line 648 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn Line 649 A good felawe to have his concubyn Line 650 A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle; Line 651 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle. Line 652 And if he foond owher a good felawe, Line 653 He wolde techen him to have noon awe Line 654 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs, Line 655 But if a mannes soule were in his purs; Line 656 For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be. Line 657 Purs is the ercedekenes helle, seyde he. Line 658 But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; Line 659 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, Line 660 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith, Line 661 And also war hym of a significavit. Line 662 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise Line 663 The yonge girles of the diocise, Line 664 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. Line 665 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed Line 666 As greet as it were for an ale-stake. Line 667 A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake. Line 668

With hym ther rood a gentil pardoner Line 669 Of rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, Line 670 That streight was comen fro the court of rome. Line 671 Ful loude he soong com hider, love, to me! Line 672 This somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun; Line 673 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. Line 674 This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, Line 675 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex; Line 676 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde, Line 677 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde; Line 678 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon. Line 679 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon, Line 680 For it was trussed up in his walet. Line 681 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet; Line 682 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare. Line 683 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. Line 684 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe. Line 685 His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe, Line 686 Bretful of pardoun, comen from rome al hoot. Line 687 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. Line 688 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have; Line 689 As smothe it was as it were late shave. Line 690 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare. Line 691 But of his craft, fro berwyk into ware, Line 692 Ne was ther swich another pardoner Line 693 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, Line 694 Which that he seyde was oure lady veyl: Line 695

Line 695 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl Line 696 That seint peter hadde, whan that he wente Line 697 Upon the see, til jhesu crist hym hente. Line 698 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones, Line 699 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. Line 700 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond Line 701 A povre person dwellynge upon lond, Line 702 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye Line 703 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye; Line 704 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes, Line 705 He made the person and the peple his apes. Line 706 But trewely to tellen atte laste, Line 707 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste. Line 708 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie, Line 709 But alderbest he song an offertorie; Line 710 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe, Line 711 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge Line 712 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude; Line 713 Therefore he song the murierly and loude. Line 714

Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause, Line 715 Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause Line 716 Why that assembled was this compaignye Line 717 In southwerk at this gentil hostelrye Line 718 That highte the tabard, faste by the belle. Line 719 But now is tyme to yow for to telle Line 720 How that we baren us that ilke nyght, Line 721 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght; Line 722 And after wol I telle of our viage Line 723 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage. Line 724 But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye, Line 725 That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye, Line 726 Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere, Line 727 To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere, Line 728 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely. Line 729 For this ye knowen al so wel as I, Line 730 Whoso shal telle a tale after a man, Line 731 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan Line 732 Everich a word, if it be in his charge, Line 733 Al speke he never so rudeliche and large, Line 734 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe, Line 735 Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe. Line 736 He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother; Line 737 He moot as wel seye o word as another. Line 738 Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ, Line 739 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it. Line 740 Eek plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede, Line 741 The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede. Line 742 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me, Line 743 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree Line 744 Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde. Line 745 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde. Line 746

Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon, Line 747 And to the soper sette he us anon. Line 748 He served us with vitaille at the beste; Line 749 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste. Line 750 A semely man oure hooste was withalle Line 751 For to han been a marchal in an halle. Line 752 A large man he was with eyen stepe -- Line 753 A fairer burgeys is ther noon in chepe -- Line 754 Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught, Line 755 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught. Line 756 Eek therto he was right a myrie man, Line 757 And after soper pleyen he bigan, Line 758 And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges, Line 759 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges, Line 760 And seyde thus: now, lordynges, trewely, Line 761 Ye been to me right welcome, hertely; Line 762 For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, Line 763 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye Line 764 Atones in this herberwe as is now. Line 765 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how. Line 766 And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght, Line 767 To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. Line 768

Ye goon to caunterbury -- God yow speede, Line 769 The blisful martir quite yow youre meede! Line 770 And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye, Line 771 Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye; Line 772 For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon Line 773 To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon; Line 774 And therfore wol I maken yow disport, Line 775 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort. Line 776 And if yow liketh alle by oon assent Line 777 For to stonden at my juggement, Line 778 And for to werken as I shal yow seye, Line 779 To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye, Line 780 Now, by my fader soule that is deed, Line 781 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed! Line 782 Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche. Line 783

Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche. Line 784 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, Line 785 And graunted hym withouten moore avys, Line 786 And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste. Line 787 Lordynges, quod he, now herkneth for the beste; Line 788 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn. Line 789 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, Line 790 That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye, Line 791 In this viage shal telle tales tweye Line 792 To caunterbury-ward, I mene it so, Line 793 And homward he shal tellen othere two, Line 794 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle. Line 795 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle, Line 796 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas Line 797 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas, Line 798 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost Line 799 Heere in this place, sittynge by this post, Line 800

Line 800 Whan that we come agayn fro caunterbury. Line 801 And for to make yow the moore mury, Line 802 I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde, Line 803 Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde, Line 804 And whoso wole my juggement withseye Line 805 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye. Line 806 And if ye vouche sauf that it be so, Line 807 Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo, Line 808 And I wol erly shape me therfore. Line 809

This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore Line 810 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also Line 811 That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so, Line 812 And that he wolde been oure governour, Line 813 And oure tales juge and reportour, Line 814 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris, Line 815 And we wol reuled been at his devys Line 816 In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent Line 817 We been acorded to his juggement. Line 818 And therupon the wyn was fet anon; Line 819 We dronken, and to reste wente echon, Line 820 Withouten any lenger taryynge. Line 821

Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge, Line 822 Up roos oure hoost, and was oure aller cok, Line 823 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok, Line 824 And forth we riden a litel moore than paas Line 825 Unto the wateryng of seint thomas; Line 826 And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste Line 827 And seyde, lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste. Line 828 Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde. Line 829 If even-song and morwe-song accorde, Line 830 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. Line 831 As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale, Line 832 Whoso be rebel to my juggement Line 833 Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent. Line 834 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne; Line 835 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne. Line 836 Sire knyght, quod he, my mayster and my lord, Line 837 Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord. Line 838 Cometh neer, quod he, my lady prioresse. Line 839 And ye, sire clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse, Line 840 Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man! Line 841 Anon to drawen every wight bigan, Line 842 And shortly for to tellen as it was, Line 843 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, Line 844 The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght, Line 845 Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght, Line 846 And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun, Line 847 By foreward and by composicioun, Line 848 As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo? Line 849 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so, Line 850 As he that wys was and obedient Line 851 To kepe his foreward by his free assent, Line 852 He seyde, syn I shal bigynne the game, Line 853 What, welcome be the cut, a goddes name! Line 854 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye. Line 855 And with that word we ryden forth oure weye, Line 856 And he bigan with right a myrie cheere Line 857 His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere. Line 858