The Canterbury tales

Part I

At sarray, in the land of tartarye, Line 9 Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed russye, Line 10 Thurgh which ther dyde many a doughty man. Line 11 This noble kyng was cleped cambyuskan, Line 12 Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun Line 13 That ther was nowher in no regioun Line 14 So excellent a lord in alle thyng. Line 15 Hym lakked noght that longeth to a king. Line 16 As of the secte of which that he was born Line 17 He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn; Line 18 And therto he was hardy, wys, and riche, Line 19 And pitous and just, alwey yliche; Line 20 Sooth of this word, benigne, and honurable; Line 21 Of his corage as any centre stable; Line 22 Yong, fressh, and strong, in armes desirous Line 23 As any bacheler of al his hous. Line 24 A fair persone he was and fortunat, Line 25 And kepte alwey so wel roial estat Line 26 That ther was nowher swich another man. Line 27 This noble kyng, this tartre cambyuskan, Line 28 Hadde two sones on elpheta his wyf, Line 29 Of whiche the eldeste highte algarsyf, Line 30 That oother sone was cleped cambalo. Line 31 A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also, Line 32 That yongest was, and highte canacee. Line 33 But for to telle yow al hir beautee, Line 34 It lyth nat in my tonge, n' yn my konnyng; Line 35 I dar nat undertake so heigh a thyng. Line 36 Myn englissh eek is insufficient. Line 37 It moste been a rethor excellent, Line 38 That koude his colours longynge for that art, Line 39 If he sholde hire discryven every part. Line 40 I am noon swich, I moot speke as I kan. Line 41 And so bifel that whan this cambyuskan Line 42 Hath twenty wynter born his diademe, Line 43 As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme, Line 44 He leet the feeste of his nativitee Line 45 Doon cryen thurghout sarray his citee, Line 46 The laste idus of march, after the yeer. Line 47 Phebus the sonne ful joly was and cleer; Line 48 For he was neigh his exaltacioun Line 49 In martes face, and in his mansioun Line 50 In aries, the colerik hoote signe. Line 51 Ful lusty was the weder benigne, Line 52 For which the foweles, agayn the sonne sheene, Line 53 What for the sesoun and the yonge grene, Line 54 Ful loude songen hire affecciouns. Line 55 Hem semed han geten hem protecciouns Line 56 Agayn the swerd of wynter, keene and coold. Line 57 This cambyuskan, of which I have yow toold, Line 58 In roial vestiment sit on his deys, Line 59 With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys, Line 60 And halt his feeste so solempne and so ryche Line 61 That in this world ne was ther noon it lyche; Line 62 Of which if I shal tellen al th' array, Line 63 Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day; Line 64 And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse Line 65 At every cours the ordre of hire servyse. Line 66 I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes, Line 67 Ne of hir swannes, ne of hire heronsewes. Line 68 Eek in that lond, as tellen knyghtes olde, Line 69 Ther is som mete that is ful deynte holde, Line 70 That in this lond men recche of it but smal; Line 71 Ther nys no man that may reporten al. Line 72 I wol nat taryen yow, for it is pryme, Line 73

Line 73 And for it is no fruyt, but los of tyme; Line 74 Unto my firste I wole have my recours. Line 75 And so bifel that after the thridde cours, Line 76 Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye, Line 77 Herknynge his mynstralles hir thynges pleye Line 78 Biforn hym at the bord deliciously, Line 79 In at the halle dore al sodeynly Line 80 Ther cam a knyght upon a steede of bras, Line 81 And in his hand a brood mirour of glas. Line 82 Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng, Line 83 And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng; Line 84 And up he rideth to the heighe bord. Line 85 In al the halle ne was ther spoken a word Line 86 For merveille of this knyght; hym to biholde Line 87 Ful bisily they wayten, yonge and olde. Line 88 This strange knyght, that cam thus sodeynly, Line 89 Al armed, save his heed, ful richely, Line 90 Saleweth kyng and queene and lordes alle, Line 91 By ordre, as they seten in the halle, Line 92 With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce, Line 93 As wel in speche as in his contenaunce, Line 94 That gawayn, with his olde curteisye, Line 95 Though he were comen ayeyn out of fairye, Line 96 Ne koude hym nat amende with a word. Line 97 And after this, biforn the heighe bord, Line 98 He with a manly voys seide his message, Line 99 After the forme used in his langage, Line 100 Withouten vice of silable or of lettre; Line 101 And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre, Line 102 Accordant to his wordes was his cheere, Line 103 As techeth art of speche hem that it leere. Line 104 Al be it that I kan nat sowne his stile, Line 105 Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style, Line 106 Yet seye I this, as to commune entente, Line 107 Thus muche smounteth al that evere he mente, Line 108 If it so be that I have it in mynde. Line 109 He seyde, the kyng of arabe and of inde, Line 110 My lige lord, on this solempne day Line 111 Saleweth yow, as he best kan and may, Line 112 And sendeth yow, in honour of youre feeste, Line 113 By me, that am al redy at youre heeste, Line 114 This steede of bras, that esily and weel Line 115 Kan in the space of o day natureel -- Line 116 This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres -- Line 117 Wher-so yow lyst, in droghte or elles shoures, Line 118 Beren youre body into every place Line 119 To which youre herte wilneth for to pace; Line 120 Withouten wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair; Line 121 Or, if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air Line 122 As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore, Line 123 This same steede shal bere yow evere moore, Line 124 Withouten harm, til ye be ther yow leste, Line 125 Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste, Line 126 And turne ayeyn with writhyng of a pyn. Line 127 He that it wroghte koude ful many a gyn. Line 128 He wayted many a constellacion Line 129 Er he had doon this operacion, Line 130 And knew ful many a seel and many a bond. Line 131 This mirour eek, that I have in myn hond, Line 132 Hath swich a myght that men may in it see Line 133 Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee Line 134 Unto youre regne or to youreself also, Line 135 And openly who is your freend or foo. Line 136 And over al this, if any lady bright Line 137 Hath set hire herte on any maner wight, Line 138 If he be fals, she shal his tresoun see, Line 139 His newe love, and al his subtiltee, Line 140 So openly that ther shal no thyng hyde. Line 141 Wherfore, ageyn this lusty someres tyde, Line 142 This morour and this ryng, that ye may see, Line 143 He hath sent to my lady canacee, Line 144 Youre excellente doghter that is heere. Line 145 The vertu of the ryng, if ye wol heere, Line 146 Is this, that if hire lust it for to were Line 147 Upon his thombe, or in hir purs it bere, Line 148 Ther is no fowel that fleeth under the hevene Line 149 That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene, Line 150 And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn, Line 151 And answere hym in his langage ageyn; Line 152 And every gras that groweth upon roote Line 153 She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do boote, Line 154 Al be his wondes never so depe and wyde. Line 155 This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde, Line 156 Swich verty hath that, what man so ye smyte, Line 157 Thurgh out his armure it wole kerve an byte, Line 158 Were it as thikke as is a branched ook; Line 159 And what man that is wounded with the strook Line 160 Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace, Line 161 To stroke hym with the plat in thilke place Line 162 Ther he is hurt; this is as muche to seyn, Line 163 Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn Line 164 Stroke hym in the wounde, and it wol close. Line 165 This is a verray sooth, withouten glose; Line 166 It failleth nat whils it is in youre hoold. Line 167 And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold, Line 168 He rideth out of halle, and doun he lighte. Line 169 His steede, which that shoon as sonne brighte, Line 170 Stant in the court as stille as any stoon. Line 171 This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon, Line 172 And is unarmed, and to mete yset. Line 173 The presentes been ful roially yfet, -- Line 174 This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour, Line 175 And born anon into the heighe tour Line 176 With certeine officers ordeyned therfore; Line 177 And unto canacee this ryng is bore Line 178 Solempnely, ther she sit at the table. Line 179

Line 179 But sikerly, withouten any fable, Line 180 The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed, Line 181 It stant as it were to the ground yglewed. Line 182 Ther may no man out of the place it dryve Line 183 For noon engyn of wyndas or polyve; Line 184 And cause why? for they kan nat the craft. Line 185 And therfore in the place they han it laft, Line 186 Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere Line 187 To voyden hym, as ye shal after heere. Line 188 Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro Line 189 To gauren on this hors that stondeth so; Line 190 For it so heigh was, and so brood and long, Line 191 So wel proporcioned for to been strong, Line 192 Right as it were a steede of lumbardye; Line 193 Therwith so horsly, and so quyk of ye, Line 194 As it a gentil poilleys courser were. Line 195 For certes, fro his tayl unto his ere, Line 196 Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende Line 197 In no degree, as al the peple wende. Line 198 But everemoore hir mooste wonder was Line 199 How that it koude gon, and was of bras; Line 200 It was of fairye, as the peple semed. Line 201 Diverse folk diversely they demed; Line 202 As many heddes, as manye wittes ther been. Line 203 They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been, Line 204 And maden skiles after hir fantasies, Line 205 Rehersynge of thise olde poetries, Line 206 And seyden it was lyk the pegasee, Line 207 The hors that hadde wynges for to flee; Line 208 Or elles it was the grekes hors synon, Line 209 That broghte troie to destruccion, Line 210 As man moun in thise olde geestes rede. Line 211 Myn herte, quod oon, is everemoore in drede; Line 212 I trowe som men of armes been therinne, Line 213 That shapen hem this citee for to wynne. Line 214 It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe. Line 215 Another rowned to his felawe lowe, Line 216 And seyde, he lyeth, for it is rather lyk Line 217 An apparence ymaad by som magyk, Line 218 As jogelours pleyen at thise feestes grete. Line 219 Of sondry doutes thus they jangle and trete, Line 220 As lewed peple demeth comunly Line 221 Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly Line 222 Than they kan in hire lewednesse comprehende; Line 223 They demen gladly to the badder ende. Line 224 And somme of hem wondred on the mirour, Line 225 That born was up into the maister-tour, Line 226 Hou men myghte in it swiche thynges se. Line 227 Another answerde, and seyde it myghte wel be Line 228 Naturelly, by composiciouns Line 229 Of anglis and of slye reflexiouns, Line 230 And seyde that in rome was swich oon Line 231 They speken of alocen and vitulon, Line 232 And aristotle, that writen in hir lyves Line 233 Of queynte mirours and of perspectives, Line 234 As knowen they that han hire bookes herd. Line 235 And oother folk han wondred on the swerd Line 236 That wolde percen thurghout every thyng, Line 237 And fille in speche of thelophus the kyng, Line 238 And of achilles with his queynte swerd Line 239 For he koude with it bothe heele and dere. Line 240 Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd Line 241 Of which right now ye han youreselven herd. Line 242 They speken of sondry hardyng of metal, Line 243 And speke of medicynes therwithal, Line 244 And how and whanne it sholde yharded be, Line 245 Which is unknowe, algates unto me. Line 246 Tho speeke they of canacees ryng, Line 247 And seyden alle that swich an wonder thyng Line 248 Of craft of rynges herde they nevere noon, Line 249 Save that he moyses and kyng salomon Line 250 Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art. Line 251 Thus seyn the peple, and drawen hem apart. Line 252 But nathelees somme seiden that it was Line 253 Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas, Line 254 And yet nys glas nat lyk asshen of fern; Line 255 But, for they han yknowen it so fern, Line 256 Therfore cesseth hir janglyng and hir wonder. Line 257 As soore wondren somme on cause of thonder, Line 258 On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on myst, Line 259 And alle thyng, til that the cause is wyst. Line 260 Thus jangle they, and demen, and devyse, Line 261 Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse. Line 262 Phebus hath laft the angle meridional, Line 263 And yet ascendynge was the beest roial, Line 264 The gentil leon, with his aldiran, Line 265 Whan that this tartre knyg, this cambyuskan, Line 266 Roos fro his bord, ther as he sat ful hye. Line 267 Toforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye, Line 268 Til he cam to his chambre of parementz, Line 269 Ther as they sownen diverse instrumentz, Line 270 That it is lyk an hevene for the heere. Line 271 Now dauncen lusty venus children deere, Line 272 For in the fyssh hir lady sat ful hye, Line 273 And looketh on hem with a freendly ye. Line 274 This noble kyng is set upon his trone. Line 275 This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone, Line 276 And on the daunce he gooth with canacee. Line 277 Heere is the revel and the jolitee Line 278 That is nat able a dul man to devyse. Line 279 He moste han knowen love and his servyse, Line 280 And been a feestlych man as fressh as may, Line 281 That sholde yow devysen swich array. Line 282

Line 282 Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces Line 283 So unkouthe, and swiche fresshe contenaunces, Line 284 Swich subtil lookyng and disymulynges Line 285 For drede of jalouse meenes aperceyvynges? Line 286 No man but launcelot, and he is deed. Line 287 Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed; Line 288 I sey namoore, but in this jolynesse Line 289 I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse. Line 290 The styward bit the spices for the hye, Line 291 And eek the wyn, in al this melodye. Line 292 The usshers and the squiers been ygoon, Line 293 The spices and the wyn is come anoon. Line 294 They ete and drynke; and whan this hadde and ende, Line 295 Unto the temple, as reson was, they wende. Line 296 The service doon, they soupen al by day. Line 297 What nedeth yow rehercen hire array? Line 298 Ech man woot wel that at a kynges feeste Line 299 Hath plentee to the meeste and to the leeste, Line 300 And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng. Line 301 At after-soper gooth this noble kyng Line 302 To seen this hors of bras, with al a route Line 303 Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute. Line 304 Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras Line 305 That syn the grete sege of troie was, Line 306 Theras men wondreden on an hors also, Line 307 Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho. Line 308 But fynally the kyng axeth this knyght Line 309 The vertu of this courser and the myght, Line 310 And preyde hym to telle his governaunce. Line 311 This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce, Line 312 Whan that this knyght leyde hand upon his reyne, Line 313 And seyde, sire, ther is namoore to seyne, Line 314 But, whan yow list to ryden anywhere, Line 315 Ye mooten trille a pyn, stant in his ere, Line 316 Which I shal telle yow bitwix us two. Line 317 Ye moote nempne hym to what place also, Line 318 Or to what contree, that yow list to ryde. Line 319 And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde, Line 320 Bidde hym descende, and trille another pyn, Line 321 For therin lith th' effect of al the gyn, Line 322 And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille, Line 323 And in that place he wol abyde stille. Line 324 Though al the world the contrarie hadde yswore, Line 325 He shal nat thennes been ydrawe ne ybore. Line 326 Or, if yow liste bidde hym thennes goon, Line 327 Trille this pyn, and he wol vanysshe anoon Line 328 Out of the sighte of every maner wight, Line 329 And come agayn, be it by day or nyght, Line 330 Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn Line 331 In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn Line 332 Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful soone. Line 333 Ride whan yow list, ther is namoore to doone. Line 334 Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght, Line 335 And hath conceyved in his wit aright Line 336 The manere and the forme of al this thyng, Line 337 Ful glad and blithe, this noble doughty kyng Line 338 Repeireth to his revel as biforn. Line 339 The brydel is unto the tour yborn Line 340 And kept among his jueles leeve and deere, Line 341 The hors vanysshed, I noot in what manere, Line 342 Out of hir sighte; ye gete namoore of me. Line 343 But thus I lete in lust and jolitee Line 344 This cambyuskan his lordes festeiynge, Line 345 Til wel ny the day bigan to sprynge. Line 346 Explicit prima pars.