THE PROLOGUE.

Critical ApparatusHere biginneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury.

• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus1Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote
• Editor’s Note2The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
• 3And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
• Editor’s Note4Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
• Editor’s Note5Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
• Editor’s Note6Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
• Editor’s Note7The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus8Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus9And smale fowles maken melodye,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus10That slepen al the night with open yë,
• Editor’s Note11(So priketh hem nature in hir corages):
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus12Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus13(And palmers for to seken straunge strondes)
• Editor’s Note14To ferne halwes, couthe in sondry londes;
• 15And specially, from every shires ende
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus16Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,
• Editor’s Note17The holy blisful martir for to seke,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus18That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seke.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus19     Bifel that, in that seson on a day,
• Editor’s Note20In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
• 21Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage
• 22To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
• pg 2Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus23At night was come in-to that hostelrye
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus24Wel nyne and twenty in a companye,
• Editor’s Note25Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus26In felawshipe, and pilgrims were they alle,
• Editor’s Note27That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde;
• 28The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
• Editor’s Note29And wel we weren esed atte beste.
• Editor’s Note30And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
• Editor’s Note31So hadde I spoken with hem everichon,
• Editor’s Note32That I was of hir felawshipe anon,
• Editor’s Note33And made forward erly for to ryse,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus34To take our wey, ther as I yow devyse.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus35     But natheles, whyl I have tyme and space,
• 36Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
• Editor’s Note37Me thinketh it acordaunt to resoun,
• 38To telle yow al the condicioun
• 39Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus40And whiche they weren, and of what degree;
• Editor’s Note41And eek in what array that they were inne:
• 42And at a knight than wol I first biginne.
• Editor’s Note43     A Knight ther was, and that a worthy man,Knight
• 44That fro the tyme that he first bigan
• Editor’s Note45To ryden out, he loved chivalrye,
• 46Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
• Editor’s Note47Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
• Editor’s Note48And therto hadde he riden (no man ferre)
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus49As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse,
• Editor’s Note50And ever honoured for his worthinesse.
• Editor’s Note51     At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne;
• Editor’s Note52Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus53Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce.
• 54In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
• 55No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus56In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be
• 57Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
• 58At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye,
• pg 3Editor’s Note59Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus60At many a noble aryve hadde he be.
• 61At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus62And foughten for our feith at Tramissene
• Editor’s Note63In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus64This ilke worthy knight had been also
• Editor’s Note65Somtyme with the lord of Palatye,
• Editor’s Note66Ageyn another hethen in Turkye:
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus67And evermore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
• Critical Apparatus68And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
• Editor’s Note69And of his port as meke as is a mayde.
• Editor’s Note70He never yet no vileinye ne sayde
• Editor’s Note71In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight.
• Editor’s Note72He was a verray parfit gentil knight.
• 73But for to tellen yow of his array,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus74His hors were gode, but he was nat gay.
• Editor’s Note75Of fustian he wered a gipoun
• Editor’s Note76Al bismotered with his habergeoun;
• Editor’s Note77For he was late y-come from his viage,
• 78And wente for to doon his pilgrimage.
• Editor’s Note79     With him ther was his sone, a yong Squyer,Squyer.
• Editor’s Note80A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler,
• Editor’s Note81With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in presse.
• Editor’s Note82Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus83Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus84And wonderly deliver, and greet of strengthe.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus85And he had been somtyme in chivachye,
• 86In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus87And born him wel, as of so litel space,
• Editor’s Note88In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus89Embrouded was he, as it were a mede
• 90Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and rede.
• Editor’s Note91Singinge he was, or floytinge, al the day;
• Critical Apparatus92He was as fresh as is the month of May.
• pg 493Short was his goune, with sleves longe and wyde.
• 94Wel coude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde.
• 95He coude songes make and wel endyte,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus96Iuste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye and wryte.
• Editor’s Note97So hote he lovede, that by nightertale
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus98He sleep namore than dooth a nightingale.
• Critical Apparatus99Curteys he was, lowly, and servisable,
• Editor’s Note100And carf biforn his fader at the table.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus101     A Yeman hadde he, and servaunts namoYeman.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus102At that tyme, for him liste ryde so;
• Editor’s Note103And he was clad in cote and hood of grene;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus104A sheef of pecok-arwes brighte and kene
• 105Under his belt he bar ful thriftily;
• Editor’s Note106(Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly:
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus107His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
• Critical Apparatus108And in his hand he bar a mighty bowe.
• Editor’s Note109A not-heed hadde he, with a broun visage.
• Editor’s Note110Of wode-craft wel coude he al the usage.
• Editor’s Note111Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer,
• Editor’s Note112And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
• Critical Apparatus113And on that other syde a gay daggere,
• Editor’s Note114Harneised wel, and sharp as point of spere;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus115A Cristofre on his brest of silver shene.
• Editor’s Note116An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene;
• Editor’s Note117A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.
• Editor’s Note118     Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse,Prioresse.
• 119That of hir smyling was ful simple and coy;
• Editor’s Note120Hir gretteste ooth was but by sëynt Loy;
• Editor’s Note121And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus122Ful wel she song the service divyne,
• Critical Apparatus123Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
• Editor’s Note124And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
• Editor’s Note125After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
• Editor’s Note126For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe.
• Editor’s Note127At mete wel y-taught was she with-alle;
• pg 5Editor’s Note128She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
• Editor’s Note129Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe.
• 130Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus131That no drope ne fille up-on hir brest.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus132In curteisye was set ful muche hir lest.
• Editor’s Note133Hir over lippe wyped she so clene,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus134That in hir coppe was no ferthing sene
• 135Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughts.
• Editor’s Note136Ful semely after hir mete she raughte,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus137And sikerly she was of greet disport,
• 138And ful plesaunt, and amiable of port,
• Editor’s Note139And peyned hir to countrefete chere
• Critical Apparatus140Of court, and been estatlich of manere,
• 141And to ben holden digne of reverence.
• 142But, for to speken of hir conscience,
• 143She was so charitable and so pitous,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus144She wolde wepe, if that she sawe a mous
• 145Caught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus146Of smale houndes had she, that she fedde
• Editor’s Note147With rosted flesh, or milk and wastel-breed.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus148But sore weep she if oon of hem were deed,
• Editor’s Note149Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte:
• 150And al was conscience and tendre herte.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus151Ful semely hir wimpel pinched was;
• Editor’s Note152Hir nose tretys; hir eyen greye as glas;
• 153Hir mouth ful smal, and ther-to softe and reed;
• 154But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
• 155It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe;
• Editor’s Note156For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
• Editor’s Note157Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war.
• 158Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar
• Editor’s Note159A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus160And ther-on heng a broche of gold ful shene,
• Editor’s Note161On which ther was first write a crowned A,
• pg 6162And after, Amor vincit omnia.
• Editor’s Note163     Another Nonne with hir hadde she,Nonne.
• Editor’s Note164That was hir chapeleyne, and Preestes three.3 Preestes.
• Editor’s Note165     A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrye,Monk.
• Editor’s Note166An out-rydere, that lovede venerye;
• 167A manly man, to been an abbot able.
• Editor’s Note168Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable:
• 169And, whan he rood, men mighte his brydel here
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus170Ginglen in a whistling wind as clere,
• 171And eek as loude as dooth the chapel-belle,
• Editor’s Note172Ther as this lord was keper of the celle.
• Editor’s Note173The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit,
• Editor’s Note174By-cause that it was old and som-del streit,
• Editor’s Note175This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus176And held after the newe world the space.
• Editor’s Note177He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
• Critical Apparatus178That seith, that hunters been nat holy men;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus179Ne that a monk, whan he is cloisterlees,
• 180Is lykned til a fish that is waterlees;
• 181This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloistre.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus182But thilke text held he nat worth an oistre;
• Editor’s Note183And I seyde, his opinioun was good.
• Editor’s Note184What sholde he studie, and make him-selven wood,
• 185Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure,
• Editor’s Note186Or swinken with his handes, and laboure,
• Editor’s Note187As Austin bit? How shal the world be served?
• Critical Apparatus188Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved.
• Editor’s Note189Therfore he was a pricasour aright;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus190Grehoundes he hadde, as swifte as fowel in flight;
• 191Of priking and of hunting for the hare
• Editor’s Note192Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus193I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
• Editor’s Note194With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
• 195And, for to festne his hood under his chin,
• pg 7Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus196He hadde of gold y-wroght a curious pin:
• 197A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
• Editor’s Note198His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus199And eek his face, as he had been anoint.
• Editor’s Note200He was a lord ful fat and in good point;
• Editor’s Note201His eyen stepe, and rollinge in his heed,
• Editor’s Note202That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus203His botes souple, his hors in greet estat.
• 204Now certeinly he was a fair prelat;
• Editor’s Note205He was nat pale as a for-pyned goost.
• 206A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
• 207His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus208     A Frere ther was, a wantown and a merye,Frere.
• Editor’s Note209A limitour, a ful solempne man.
• Editor’s Note210In alle the ordres foure is noon that can
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus211So muche of daliaunce and fair langage.
• Editor’s Note212He hadde maad ful many a mariage
• Critical Apparatus213Of yonge wommen, at his owne cost.
• Editor’s Note214Un-to his ordre he was a noble post.
• Critical Apparatus215Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
• Editor’s Note216With frankeleyns over-al in his contree,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus217And eek with worthy wommen of the toun:
• 218For he had power of confessioun,
• Editor’s Note219As seyde him-self, more than a curat,
• Editor’s Note220For of his ordre he was licentiat.
• 221Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
• 222And plesaunt was his absolucioun;
• 223He was an esy man to yeve penaunce
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus224Ther as he wiste to han a good pitaunce;
• Editor’s Note225For unto a povre ordre for to yive
• Editor’s Note226Is signe that a man is wel y-shrive.
• Editor’s Note227For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
• 228He wiste that a man was repentaunt.
• Critical Apparatus229For many a man so hard is of his herte,
• 230He may nat wepe al-thogh him sore smerte.
• Critical Apparatus231Therfore, in stede of weping and preyeres,
• pg 8Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus232Men moot yeve silver to the povre freres.
• Editor’s Note233His tipet was ay farsed ful of knyves
• Critical Apparatus234And pinnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
• Critical Apparatus235And certeinly he hadde a mery note;
• Editor’s Note236Wel coude he singe and pleyen on a rote.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus237Of yeddinges he bar utterly the prys.
• 238His nekke whyt was as the flour-de-lys;
• Editor’s Note239Ther-to he strong was as a champioun.
• Critical Apparatus240He knew the tavernes wel in every toun,
• Editor’s Note241And everich hostiler and tappestere
• Editor’s Note242Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;
• 243For un-to swich a worthy man as he
• Editor’s Note244Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
• Critical Apparatus245To have with seke lazars aqueyntaunce.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus246It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce
• Editor’s Note247For to delen with no swich poraille,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus248But al with riche and sellers of vitaille.
• Editor’s Note249And over-al, ther as profit sholde aryse,
• Critical Apparatus250Curteys he was, and lowly of servyse.
• Editor’s Note251Ther nas no man no-wher so vertuous.
• Editor’s Note252He was the beste beggere in his hous;
• 252b[And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt;
• 252cNoon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;]
• Editor’s Note253For thogh a widwe hadde noght a sho,
• Editor’s Note254So plesaunt was his "In principio,"
• 255Yet wolde he have a ferthing, er he wente.
• Editor’s Note256His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
• Editor’s Note257And rage he coude, as it were right a whelpe.
• Editor’s Note258(260)In love-dayes ther coude he muchel helpe.
• Critical Apparatus259For there he was nat lyk a cloisterer,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus260With a thredbar cope, as is a povre scoler,
• Editor’s Note261But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
• Critical Apparatus262Of double worsted was his semi-cope,
• Editor’s Note263That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
• pg 9Editor’s Note264Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
• 265To make his English swete up-on his tonge;
• Critical Apparatus266And in his harping, whan that he had songe,
• 267His eyen twinkled in his heed aright,
• 268(270)As doon the sterres in the frosty night.
• 269This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd.
• Editor’s Note270     A Marchant was ther with a forked herd,Marchant.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus271In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat,
• Critical Apparatus272Up-on his heed a Flaundrish bever hat;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus273His botes clasped faire and fetisly.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus274His resons he spak ful solempnely,
• Editor’s Note275Souninge alway thencrees of his winning.
• Editor’s Note276He wolde the see were kept for any thing
• Editor’s Note277Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
• Editor’s Note278(280)Wel coude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
• Editor’s Note279This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette;
• Editor’s Note280Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus281So estatly was he of his governaunce,
• 282With his bargaynes, and with his chevisaunce.
• 283For sothe he was a worthy man with-alle,
• Editor’s Note284But sooth to seyn, I noot how men him calle.
• Editor’s Note285     A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also,Clerk.
• 286That un-to logik hadde longe y-go.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus287As lene was his hors as is a rake,
• 288(290)And he nas nat right fat, I undertake;
• Critical Apparatus289But loked holwe, and ther-to soberly.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus290Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy;
• Critical Apparatus291For he had geten him yet no benefyce,
• Editor’s Note292Ne was so worldly for to have offyce.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus293For him was lever have at his beddes heed
• Editor’s Note294Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed,
• 295Of Aristotle and his philosophye,
• Editor’s Note296Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrye.
• Editor’s Note297But al be that he was a philosophre,
• Editor’s Note298(300)Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
• pg 10299But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,
• Critical Apparatus300On bokes and on lerninge he it spente,
• Editor’s Note301And bisily gan for the soules preye
• Editor’s Note302Of hem that yaf him wher-with to scoleye.
• 303Of studie took he most cure and most hede,
• 304Noght o word spak he more than was nede,
• Editor’s Note305And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
• 306And short and quik, and ful of hy sentence.
• Editor’s Note307Souninge in moral vertu was his speche,
• 308(310)And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche.
• Editor’s Note309     A Sergeant of the Lawe, war and wys,Man of Lawe.
• Editor’s Note310That often hadde been at the parvys,
• 311Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
• 312Discreet he was, and of greet reverence:
• 313He semed swich, his wordes weren so wyse.
• 314Iustyce he was ful often in assyse,
• Editor’s Note315By patente, and by pleyn commissioun;
• 316For his science, and for his heigh renoun
• 317Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
• 318(320)So greet a purchasour was no-wher noon.
• 319Al was fee simple to him in effect,
• Editor’s Note320His purchasing mighte nat been infect.
• 321No-wher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
• 322And yet he semed bisier than he was.
• Editor’s Note323In termes hadde he caas and domes alle,
• Critical Apparatus324That from the tyme of king William were falle.
• Editor’s Note325Therto he coude endyte, and make a thing,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus326Ther coude no wight pinche at his wryting;
• Editor’s Note327And every statut coude he pleyn by rote.
• Editor’s Note328(330)He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote
• Editor’s Note329Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
• 330Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
• Editor’s Note331     A Frankeleyn was in his companye;Frankeleyn.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus332Whyt was his berd, as is the dayesye.
• Editor’s Note333Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
• Editor’s Note334Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn.
• pg 11Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus335To liven in delyt was ever his wone,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus336For he was Epicurus owne sone,
• 337That heeld opinioun, that pleyn delyt
• Critical Apparatus338(340)Was verraily felicitee parfyt.
• 339An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus340Seint Iulian he was in his contree.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus341His breed, his ale, was alwey after oon;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus342A bettre envyned man was no-wher noon.
• Editor’s Note343With-oute bake mete was never his hous,
• Editor’s Note344Of fish and flesh, and that so plentevous,
• Editor’s Note345It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke,
• 346Of alle deyntees that men coude thinke.
• Editor’s Note347After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
• Editor’s Note348(350)So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus349Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe,
• Editor’s Note350And many a breem and many a luce in stewe.
• Editor’s Note351Wo was his cook, but-if his sauce were
• 352Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his gere.
• Editor’s Note353His table dormant in his halle alway
• 354Stood redy covered al the longe day.
• Editor’s Note355At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
• Editor’s Note356Ful ofte tyme he was knight of the shire.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus357An anlas and a gipser al of silk
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus358(360)Heng at his girdel, whyt as morne milk.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus359A shirreve hadde he been, and a countour;
• Editor’s Note360Was no-wher such a worthy vavasour.
• Editor’s Note361     An Haberdassher and a Carpenter,Haberdassher. Carpenter.
• Editor’s Note362A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapicer,Webbe. Dyere. Tapicer.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus363Were with us eek, clothed in o liveree,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus364Of a solempne and greet fraternitee.
• Editor’s Note365Ful fresh and newe hir gere apyked was;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus366Hir knyves were y-chaped noght with bras,
• 367But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
• 368(370)Hir girdles and hir pouches every-deel.
• pg 12369Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus370To sitten in a yeldhalle on a deys.
• Editor’s Note371Everich, for the wisdom that he can,
• Editor’s Note372Was shaply for to been an alderman.
• Editor’s Note373For catel hadde they y-nogh and rente,
• 374And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
• 375And elles certein were they to blame.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus376It is ful fair to been y-clept "ma dame,"
• Editor’s Note377And goon to vigilyës al bifore,
• 378(380)And have a mantel royalliche y-bore.
• Editor’s Note379     A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones,Cook.
• Critical Apparatus380To boille the chiknes with the mary-bones,
• Editor’s Note381And poudre-marchant tart, and galingale.
• Editor’s Note382Wel coude he knowe a draughte of London ale.
• Critical Apparatus383He coude roste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
• Editor’s Note384Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
• 385But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
• Editor’s Note386That on his shine a mormal hadde he;
• Editor’s Note387(389)For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus388     A Shipman was ther, woning fer by weste:Shipman.
• Editor’s Note389For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
• Editor’s Note390He rood up-on a rouncy, as he couthe,
• Editor’s Note391In a gowne of falding to the knee.
• Editor’s Note392A daggere hanging on a laas hadde he
• 393Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun.
• Editor’s Note394The hote somer had maad his hewe al broun;
• Editor’s Note395And, certeinly, he was a good felawe.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus396Ful many a draughte of wyn had he y-drawe
• 397From Burdeux-ward, whyl that the chapman sleep.
• 398(400)Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
• Editor’s Note399If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
• Editor’s Note400By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
• 401But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
• Editor’s Note402His stremes and his daungers him bisydes,
• Editor’s Note403His herberwe and his mone, his lodemenage,
• Editor’s Note404Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
• pg 13405Hardy he was, and wys to undertake;
• 406With many a tempest hadde his herd been shake.
• Critical Apparatus407He knew wel alle the havenes, as they were,
• Editor’s Note408(410)From Gootlond to the cape of Finistere,
• Editor’s Note409And every cryke in Britayne and in Spayne;
• Editor’s Note410His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne.
• 411     With us ther was a Doctour of Phisyk,Doctour.
• 412In al this world ne was ther noon him lyk
• 413To speke of phisik and of surgerye;
• 414For he was grounded in astronomye.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus415He kepte his pacient a ful greet del
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus416In houres, by his magik naturel.
• Editor’s Note417Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent
• Critical Apparatus418(420)Of his images for his pacient.
• 419He knew the cause of everich maladye,
• Editor’s Note420Were it of hoot or cold, or moiste, or drye,
• Critical Apparatus421And where engendred, and of what humour;
• Editor’s Note422He was a verrey parfit practisour.
• 423The cause y-knowe, and of his harm the rote,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus424Anon he yaf the seke man his bote.
• Critical Apparatus425Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus426To sende him drogges and his letuaries,
• 427For ech of hem made other for to winne;
• 428(430)Hir frendschipe nas nat newe to biginne.
• Editor’s Note429Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,
• Critical Apparatus430And Deiscorides, and eek Rufus,
• Critical Apparatus431Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galien;
• 432Serapion, Razis, and Avicen;
• 433Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn;
• 434Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
• 435Of his diete mesurable was he,
• 436For it was of no superfluitee,
• 437But of greet norissing and digestible.
• 438(440)His studie was but litel on the Bible.
• Editor’s Note439In sangwin and in pers he clad was al,
• pg 14Editor’s Note440Lyned with taffata and with sendal;
• Editor’s Note441And yet he was but esy of dispence;
• Editor’s Note442He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
• Editor’s Note443For gold in phisik is a cordial,
• 444Therfore he lovede gold in special.
• Editor’s Note445     A good Wyf was ther of bisyde Bathe,Wyf of Bathe.
• Editor’s Note446But she was som-del deef, and that was scathe.
• Editor’s Note447Of clooth-making she hadde swiche an haunt,
• Editor’s Note448(450)She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
• 449In al the parisshe wyf ne was ther noon
• Editor’s Note450That to the offring bifore hir sholde goon;
• 451And if ther dide, certeyn, so wrooth was she,
• Critical Apparatus452That she was out of alle charitee.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus453Hir coverchiefs ful fyne were of ground;
• Editor’s Note454I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
• 455That on a Sonday were upon hir heed.
• 456Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus457Ful streite y-teyd, and shoos ful moiste and newe.
• Critical Apparatus458(460)Bold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
• 459She was a worthy womman al hir lyve,
• Editor’s Note460Housbondes at chirche-dore she hadde fyve,
• Editor’s Note461Withouten other companye in youthe;
• Editor’s Note462But therof nedeth nat to speke as nouthe.
• Critical Apparatus463And thryes hadde she been at Ierusalem;
• 464She hadde passed many a straunge streem;
• Editor’s Note465At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
• Editor’s Note466In Galice at seint Iame, and at Coloigne.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus467She coude muche of wandring by the weye.
• Editor’s Note468(470)Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
• Editor’s Note469Up-on an amblere esily she sat,
• Editor’s Note470Y-wimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat
• Editor’s Note471As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;
• Editor’s Note472A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
• 473And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus474In felawschip wel coude she laughe and carpe.
• Editor’s Note475Of remedyes of love she knew per-chaunce,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus476For she coude of that art the olde daunce.
• pg 15477     A good man was ther of religioun,Persoun.
• Editor’s Note478(480)And was a povre Persoun of a toun;
• 479But riche he was of holy thoght and werk.
• 480He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
• 481That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
• Editor’s Note482His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
• 483Benigne he was, and wonder diligent,
• 484And in adversitee ful pacient;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus485And swich he was y-preved ofte sythes.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus486Ful looth were him to cursen for his tythes,
• Editor’s Note487But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
• 488(490)Un-to his povre parisshens aboute
• Editor’s Note489Of his offring, and eek of his substaunce.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus490He coude in litel thing han suffisaunce.
• 491Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer a-sonder,
• Editor’s Note492But he ne lafte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus493In siknes nor in meschief, to visyte
• Editor’s Note494The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lyte,
• 495Up-on his feet, and in his hand a staf.
• 496This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus497That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte;
• Editor’s Note498(500)Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte;
• 499And this figure he added eek ther-to,
• 500That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
• 501For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
• Editor’s Note502No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus503And shame it is, if a preest take keep,
• 504A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
• Critical Apparatus505Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
• 506By his clennesse, how that his sheep shold live.
• Editor’s Note507He sette nat his benefice to hyre,
• Editor’s Note508(510)And leet his sheep encombred in the myre,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus509And ran to London, un-to sëynt Poules,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus510To seken him a chaunterie for soules,
• Editor’s Note511Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
• pg 16Critical Apparatus512But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
• 513So that the wolf ne made it nat miscarie;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus514He was a shepherde and no mercenarie.
• 515And though he holy were, and vertuous,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus516He was to sinful man nat despitous,
• Editor’s Note517Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
• 518(520)But in his teching discreet and benigne.
• Editor’s Note519To drawen folk to heven by fairnesse
• Critical Apparatus520By good ensample, was his bisinesse:
• 521But it were any persone obstinat,
• Critical Apparatus522What-so he were, of heigh or lowe estat,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus523Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nones.
• 524A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher noon is.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus525He wayted after no pompe and reverence,
• Editor’s Note526Ne maked him a spyced conscience,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus527But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus528(530)He taughte, and first he folwed it him-selve.
• Editor’s Note529     With him ther was a Plowman, was his brother,Plowman.
• Editor’s Note530That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother,
• Editor’s Note531A trewe swinker and a good was he,
• 532Livinge in pees and parfit charitee.
• 533God loved he best with al his hole herte
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus534At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
• 535And thanne his neighebour right as him-selve.
• Editor’s Note536He wolde thresshe, and ther-to dyke and delve,
• Critical Apparatus537For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
• 538(540)Withouten hyre, if it lay in his might.
• Critical Apparatus539His tythes payed he ful faire and wel,
• Critical Apparatus540Bothe of his propre swink and his catel.
• Editor’s Note541In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
• 542     Ther was also a Reve and a Millere,
• 543A Somnour and a Pardoner also,
• 544A Maunciple, and my-self; ther were namo.
• Editor’s Note545     The Miller was a stout carl, for the nones,Miller.
• pg 17546Ful big he was of braun, and eek of bones;
• Editor’s Note547That proved wel, for over-al ther he cam,
• Editor’s Note548(550)At wrastling he wolde have alwey the ram.
• Editor’s Note549He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus550Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
• 551Or breke it, at a renning, with his heed.
• 552His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
• Editor’s Note553And ther-to brood, as though it were a spade.
• Editor’s Note554Up-on the cop right of his nose he hade
• Critical Apparatus555A werte, and ther-on stood a tuft of heres,
• Critical Apparatus556Reed as the bristles of a sowes eres;
• Editor’s Note557His nose-thirles blake were and wyde.
• Critical Apparatus558(560)A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus559His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
• Editor’s Note560He was a Ianglere and a goliardeys,
• Editor’s Note561And that was most of sinne and harlotryes.
• Editor’s Note562Wel coude he stelen corn, and tollen thryes;
• Editor’s Note563And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
• 564A whyt cote and a blew hood wered he.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus565A baggepype wel coude he blowe and sowne,
• Editor’s Note566And ther-with-al he broghte us out of towne.
• Editor’s Note567     A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple,Maunciple.
• Editor’s Note568(570)Of which achatours mighte take exemple
• 569For to be wyse in bying of vitaille.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus570For whether that he payde, or took by taille,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus571Algate he wayted so in his achat,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus572That he was ay biforn and in good stat.
• 573Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace,
• Editor’s Note574That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
• Editor’s Note575The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
• 576Of maistres hadde he mo than thryes ten,
• Critical Apparatus577That were of lawe expert and curious;
• Critical Apparatus578(580)Of which ther were a doseyn in that hous,
• 579Worthy to been stiwardes of rente and lond
• 580Of any lord that is in Engelond,
• pg 18Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus581To make him live by his propre good,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus582In honour dettelees, but he were wood,
• Editor’s Note583Or live as scarsly as him list desire;
• Editor’s Note584And able for to helpen al a shire
• Critical Apparatus585In any cas that mighte falle or happe;
• Editor’s Note586And yit this maunciple sette hir aller cappe.
• Editor’s Note587     The Reve was a sclendre colerik man,Reve.
• 588(590)His berd was shave as ny as ever he can.
• Critical Apparatus589His heer was by his eres round y-shorn.
• Critical Apparatus590His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
• 591Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene,
• Editor’s Note592Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene.
• Editor’s Note593Wel coude he kepe a gerner and a binne;
• Critical Apparatus594Ther was noon auditour coude on him winne.
• 595Wel wiste he, by the droghte, and by the reyn,
• 596The yelding of his seed, and of his greyn.
• Editor’s Note597His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
• Editor’s Note598(600)His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,
• Editor’s Note599Was hoolly in this reves governing,
• 600And by his covenaunt yaf the rekening,
• Editor’s Note601Sin that his lord was twenty yeer of age;
• Editor’s Note602Ther coude no man bringe him in arrerage.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus603Ther nas baillif, ne herde, ne other hyne,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus604That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
• Editor’s Note605They were adrad of him, as of the deeth.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus606His woning was ful fair up-on an heeth,
• Critical Apparatus607With grene treës shadwed was his place.
• 608(610)He coude bettre than his lord purchace.
• Editor’s Note609Ful riche he was astored prively,
• 610His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus611To yeve and lene him of his owne good,
• Critical Apparatus612And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus613In youthe he lerned hadde a good mister;
• pg 19Editor’s Note614He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
• Editor’s Note615This reve sat up-on a ful good stot,
• Editor’s Note616That was al pomely grey, and highte Scot.
• Editor’s Note617A long surcote of pers up-on he hade,
• Critical Apparatus618(620)And by his syde he bar a rusty blade.
• 619Of Northfolk was this reve, of which I telle,
• 620Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
• Editor’s Note621Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute,
• Editor’s Note622And ever he rood the hindreste of our route.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus623     A Somnour was ther with us in that place,Somnour.
• Editor’s Note624That hadde a fyr-reed cherubinnes face,
• Editor’s Note625For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
• 626As hoot he was, and lecherous, as a sparwe;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus627With scalled browes blake, and piled berd;
• 628(630)Of his visage children were aferd.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus629Ther nas quik-silver, litarge, ne brimstoon,
• Editor’s Note630Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
• 631Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus632That him mighte helpen of his whelkes whyte,
• 633Nor of the knobbes sittinge on his chekes.
• 634Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
• Editor’s Note635And for to drinken strong wyn, reed as blood.
• Editor’s Note636Thanne wolde he speke, and crye as he were wood.
• 637And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
• 638(640)Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
• 639A fewe termes hadde he, two or three,
• 640That he had lerned out of som decree;
• 641No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
• 642And eek ye knowen wel, how that a Iay
• Editor’s Note643Can clepen 'Watte' as well as can the pope.
• Editor’s Note644But who-so coude in other thing him grope,
• 645Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophye;
• Editor’s Note646Ay 'Questio quid iuris' wolde he crye.
• Editor’s Note647He was a gentil harlot and a kinde;
• 648(650)A bettre felawe sholde men noght finde.
• Editor’s Note649He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn,
• 650A good felawe to have his concubyn
• pg 20651A twelf-month, and excuse him atte fulle:
• Critical Apparatus652Ful prively a finch eek coude he pulle.
• 653And if he fond o-wher a good felawe,
• Editor’s Note654He wolde techen him to have non awe,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus655In swich cas, of the erchedeknes curs,
• 656But-if a mannes soule were in his purs;
• 657For in his purs he sholde y-punisshed be.
• 658(660)'Purs is the erchedeknes helle,' seyde he.
• 659But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
• Critical Apparatus660Of cursing oghte ech gilty man him drede—
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus661For curs wol slee, right as assoilling saveth—
• Editor’s Note662And also war him of a significavit.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus663In daunger hadde he at his owne gyse
• Editor’s Note664The yonge girles of the diocyse,
• Editor’s Note665And knew hir counseil, and was al hir reed.
• Editor’s Note666A gerland hadde he set up-on his heed,
• Editor’s Note667As greet as it were for an ale-stake;
• Critical Apparatus668(670)A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus669     With him ther rood a gentil PardonerPardoner.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus670Of Rouncival, his freend and his compeer,
• 671That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus672Ful loude he song, 'Com hider, love, to me.'
• Editor’s Note673This somnour bar to him a stif burdoun,
• 674Was never trompe of half so greet a soun.
• Editor’s Note675This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
• Critical Apparatus676But smothe it heng, as dooth a strike of flex;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus677By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
• 678(680)And ther-with he his shuldres overspradde;
• Editor’s Note679But thinne it lay, by colpons oon and oon;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus680But hood, for Iolitee, ne wered he noon,
• 681For it was trussed up in his walet.
• Editor’s Note682Him thoughte, he rood al of the newe Iet;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus683Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
• 684Swiche glaringe eyen hadde he as an hare.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus685A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe.
• pg 21Critical Apparatus686His walet lay biforn him in his lappe,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus687Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.
• Critical Apparatus688(690)A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
• 689No berd hadde he, ne never sholde have,
• Critical Apparatus690As smothe it was as it were late y-shave;
• 691I trowe he were a gelding or a mare.
• Editor’s Note692But of his craft, fro Berwik into Ware,
• 693Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
• Editor’s Note694For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
• Critical Apparatus695Which that, he seyde, was our lady veyl:
• Editor’s Note696He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl
• 697That sëynt Peter hadde, whan that he wente
• Editor’s Note698(700)Up-on the see, til Iesu Crist him hente.
• Editor’s Note699He hadde a croys of latoun, ful of stones,
• 700And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
• Editor’s Note701But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
• Editor’s Note702A povre person dwelling up-on lond,
• 703Up-on a day he gat him more moneye
• 704Than that the person gat in monthes tweye.
• Editor’s Note705And thus, with feyned flaterye and Iapes,
• 706He made the person and the peple his apes.
• 707But trewely to tellen, atte laste,
• 708(710)He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
• 709Wel coude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
• Editor’s Note710But alderbest he song an offertorie;
• 711For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
• Editor’s Note712He moste preche, and wel affyle his tonge,
• Critical Apparatus713To winne silver, as he ful wel coude;
• Critical Apparatus714Therefore he song so meriely and loude.
• Critical Apparatus715     Now have I told you shortly, in a clause,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus716Thestat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause
• 717Why that assembled was this companye
• Critical Apparatus718(720)In Southwerk, at this gentil hostelrye,
• Editor’s Note719That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
• 720But now is tyme to yow for to telle
• pg 22Editor’s Note721How that we baren us that ilke night,
• 722Whan we were in that hostelrye alight.
• 723And after wol I telle of our viage,
• Critical Apparatus724And al the remenaunt of our pilgrimage.
• Critical Apparatus725But first I pray yow, of your curteisye,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus726That ye narette it nat my vileinye,
• Editor’s Note727Thogh that I pleynly speke in this matere,
• 728(730)To telle yow hir wordes and hir chere;
• 729Ne thogh I speke hir wordes properly.
• 730For this ye knowen al-so wel as I,
• Editor’s Note731Who-so shal telle a tale after a man,
• 732He moot reherce, as ny as ever he can,
• 733Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus734Al speke he never so rudeliche and large;
• 735Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe,
• 736Or feyne thing, or finde wordes newe.
• 737He may nat spare, al-thogh he were his brother;
• Editor’s Note738(740)He moot as wel seye o word as another.
• 739Crist spak him-self ful brode in holy writ,
• 740And wel ye woot, no vileinye is it.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus741Eek Plato seith, who-so that can him rede,
• 742The wordes mote be cosin to the dede.
• 743Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
• Editor’s Note744Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
• 745Here in this tale, as that they sholde stonde;
• 746My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus747     Greet chere made our hoste us everichon,
• 748(750)And to the soper sette he us anon;
• 749And served us with vitaille at the beste.
• 750Strong was the wyn, and wel to drinke us leste.
• 751A semely man our hoste was with-alle
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus752For to han been a marshal in an halle;
• Editor’s Note753A large man he was with eyen stepe,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus754A fairer burgeys is ther noon in Chepe:
• Critical Apparatus755Bold of his speche, and wys, and wel y-taught,
• Critical Apparatus756And of manhod him lakkede right naught.
• pg 23757Eek therto he was right a mery man,
• 758(760)And after soper pleyen he bigan,
• 759And spak of mirthe amonges othere thinges,
• Editor’s Note760Whan that we hadde maad our rekeninges;
• Critical Apparatus761And seyde thus: 'Now, lordinges, trewely,
• 762Ye been to me right welcome hertely:
• 763For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus764I ne saugh this yeer so mery a companye
• Editor’s Note765At ones in this herberwe as is now.
• 766Fayn wolde I doon yow mirthe, wiste I how.
• 767And of a mirthe I am right now bithoght,
• 768(770)To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
• 769     Ye goon to Caunterbury; God yow spede,
• Editor’s Note770The blisful martir quyte yow your mede.
• 771And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
• Editor’s Note772Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
• 773For trewely, confort ne mirthe is noon
• Critical Apparatus774To ryde by the weye doumb as a stoon;
• 775And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
• 776As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
• Editor’s Note777And if yow lyketh alle, by oon assent,
• Critical Apparatus778(780)Now for to stonden at my Iugement,
• 779And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
• 780To-morwe, whan ye ryden by the weye,
• 781Now, by my fader soule, that is deed,
• Critical Apparatus782But ye be merye, I wol yeve yow myn heed.
• Editor’s Note783Hold up your hond, withouten more speche.'
• 784     Our counseil was nat longe for to seche;
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus785Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys,
• 786And graunted him withouten more avys,
• Critical Apparatus787And bad him seye his verdit, as him leste.
• 788(790)     'Lordinges,' quod he, 'now herkneth for the beste;
• Critical Apparatus789But tak it not, I prey yow, in desdeyn;
• 790This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus791That ech of yow, to shorte with your weye,
• pg 24Editor’s Note792In this viage, shal telle tales tweye,
• 793To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
• 794And hom-ward he shal tellen othere two,
• Critical Apparatus795Of aventures that whylom han bifalle.
• 796And which of yow that bereth him best of alle,
• Critical Apparatus797That is to seyn, that telleth in this cas
• Editor’s Note798(800)Tales of best sentence and most solas,
• Editor’s Note799Shal have a soper at our aller cost
• 800Here in this place, sitting by this post,
• 801Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
• Critical Apparatus802And for to make yow the more mery,
• Critical Apparatus803I wol my-selven gladly with yow ryde,
• 804Right at myn owne cost, and be your gyde.
• Critical Apparatus805And who-so wol my Iugement withseye
• 806Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
• 807And if ye vouche-sauf that it be so,
• Editor’s Note808(810)Tel me anon, with-outen wordes mo,
• 809And I wol erly shape me therfore.'
• Editor’s Note810     This thing was graunted, and our othes swore
• 811With ful glad herte, and preyden him also
• Critical Apparatus812That he wold vouche-sauf for to do so,
• 813And that he wolde been our governour,
• 814And of our tales Iuge and reportour,
• 815And sette a soper at a certeyn prys;
• Critical Apparatus816And we wold reuled been at his devys,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus817In heigh and lowe; and thus, by oon assent,
• 818(820)We been acorded to his Iugement.
• Editor’s Note819And ther-up-on the wyn was fet anon;
• 820We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
• 821With-outen any lenger taryinge.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus822     A-morwe, whan that day bigan to springe,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus823Up roos our host, and was our aller cok,
• 824And gadrede us togidre, alle in a flok,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus825And forth we riden, a litel more than pas,
• pg 25Editor’s Note826Un-to the watering of seint Thomas.
• 827And there our host bigan his hors areste,
• Editor’s Note828(830)And seyde; 'Lordinges, herkneth, if yow leste.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus829Ye woot your forward, and I it yow recorde.
• Editor’s Note830If even-song and morwe-song acorde,
• Critical Apparatus831Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
• Editor’s Note832As ever mote I drinke wyn or ale,
• Editor’s Note833Who-so be rebel to my Iugement
• 834Shal paye for al that by the weye is spent.
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus835Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twinne;
• Critical Apparatus836He which that hath the shortest shal biginne.
• 837Sire knight,' quod he, 'my maister and my lord,
• 838(840)Now draweth cut, for that is myn acord.
• 839Cometh neer,' quod he, 'my lady prioresse;
• Critical Apparatus840And ye, sir clerk, lat be your shamfastnesse,
• 841Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man.'
• 842     Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
• 843And shortly for to tellen, as it was,
• Editor’s Note844Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
• 845The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knight,
• 846Of which ful blythe and glad was every wight;
• Editor’s Note847And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus848(850)By forward and by composicioun,
• 849As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
• Critical Apparatus850And whan this gode man saugh it was so,
• 851As he that wys was and obedient
• 852To kepe his forward by his free assent,
• Editor’s Note853He seyde: 'Sin I shal biginne the game,
• Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus854What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
• 855Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.'
• Editor’s Note856     And with that word we riden forth our weye;
• Critical Apparatus857And he bigan with right a mery chere
• Critical Apparatus858(860)His tale anon, and seyde in this manere.

Critical ApparatusHere endeth the prolog of this book; and here biginneth the first tale, which is the Knightes Tale.