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CHAUCER :
CANTERBURY TALES.
THE PROLOGUE & THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.
EDITED BY
A. J. WYATT, M.A. LOND. AND CAMB.,
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PR
INTBODUCTION.
1. Chaucer's Life and Works,
THE surname Chaucer is found in the earlier forms Le Chancier, Le Chaucer, "the hosier," from the A.D. same root as modern French chausse.
1337. Hundred Years' War began.
1338. John Chaucer, citizen and vintner of London, attended
the king and queen to Flanders and Cologne. 1339 Geoffrey Chaucer, son of John and Agnes Chaucer, (about), born. The old date for Chaucer's birth, 1328, has
been proved to be impossible, but the exact year
cannot be fixed : 1339 suits all the circumstances as
well as any. See 1386.
1346. Battle of Crecy.
1347. Siege of Calais. 1349. The Black Death.
1356. Battle of Poitiers.
1357. Chaucer in the service of Lionel, Duke of Clarence,
and of his wife the Countess of Ulster, both in London and Yorkshire. Geoffrey was certainly well educated, but the statement that he was at Cambridge rested on the lines from The Court of Love, now known not to be his: — "Philogenet I cald am fer and nere, Of Cambridge clerke."
1359. Chaucer went to France as a soldier with Edward III*
and his four sons, and was taken prisoner.
1360. Ransomed two months before the Treaty of Bretigny,*
the king contributing £16 towards his ransom.
* By this treaty England retained : (a) Poitou, Saintonge, Limousin, Gnienne Gascony, i.e. the dominions of Eleanor of Guienne, who had married Henry II. (I)) the dowry of Isabella, wife of Ldward II. ; (c) the districts of Calais and Guides.
Chauc. II. I
2 INTRODUCTION.
1362. Pleadings in the law courts ordered to be made in English, although still recorded in French until 1730.
1366. Philippa Chaucer received an annual pension of ten
marks from the queen, perhaps on the occasion of her marriage : at least we assume that this was Chaucer's wife. Two things are probable : (1) that the Thomas Chaucer who, after an interval of some sixteen years, succeeded Geoffrey as forester of North Petherton Park, was their son; (2) that Philippa Chaucer's maiden name was Roet, and that she was the sister of Catherine de Roet of Hainault, better known as Catherine Swynford, the third: wife of John of Gaunt. Both these probabilities are confirmed by the fact that Thomas Chaucer's arms bore three wheels (roet = " little wheel "). Further, John of Gaunt's patronage of Chaucer is partly accounted for.
1367. The king granted a pension of twenty marks to " valet-
tus noster " Geoffrey Chaucer.
1368. In an undated list (but probably of this year) of
names of those employed in the royal household, Chaucer's name occurs seventeenth of the thirty- seven esquires.
1369. Chaucer, " a squire of less estate," took part in the
French campaign. Charles V. of France began to regain the territory of Aquitaine. Book of the Duchess (Blanche, first wife of John of Gaunt).
For the next ten years Chaucer was frequently abroad on diplomatic and commercial missions.
1370. Abroad on the king's service, it is not known where.
1372. John of Gaunt granted Philippa Chaucer a yearly
pension of <£10.
1373. Chaucer and two others went to Genoa to settle a
commercial treaty; he was back by November, having also visited Florence. Probably, too, he met Petrarch at Padua, and learnt from him The Story of Grisilde, which he afterwards made The Clerk's Tale.
1374. The king granted " dilecto Armigero nostro, Galfrido
CHAUCER S LIFE AND WORKS. 3
Chaucer," a pitcher of wine daily— a gift which the poet exchanged four years afterwards for twenty marks yearly. The corporation of London granted Chaucer a lease for life of the dwelling-house over the city-gate of Aldgate, and he resided there until 1385 or 1386. He was appointed Comptroller of the Customs of wool, etc., in the Port of London, " to write the rolls with his own hand, to be con tinually present," etc. John of Gaunt granted him .£10 a year for life, " for the good service he and his wife Philippa " had rendered to the duke, to his consort, and to the duke's mother, the queen. Loss of all France except Calais, Bayonne, and Bor deaux. Cf. Prologue, 397 : —
" Ful many a draughts of wyn hadde he i-drawe Fro Burdeuxvvard."
1376. Chaucer employed on some secret service with Sir J.
Burley. John of Gaunt at the head of the adminis tration, till the Good Parliament impeached Latimer and Neville, Alice Perrers, etc. But the Black Prince died, and John of Gaunt returned to power.
1377. Chaucer went on a secret mission to Flanders with
Sir T. Percy (afterwards Earl of Worcester). Later, he was engaged in a mission to France for negotiating a peace : although Chaucer's name is not in the commission, he must have belonged to it, for he is mertioned by both Froissart and Stow, and received letters of protection and payment for his services. On May 31st Chaucer received pay ment of an annuity of twenty marks granted to him that day, and of an annuity for life of ten marks for Philippa Chaucer. Wyclif cited to appear at St. Paul's.
1378. Chaucer went with others to France to negotiate a
marriage between Richard II. and a daughter of the French king. Later in the year, he paid his second visit to Italy, going to Lombardy with Sir E. Berkeley, to treat with Barnabo Visconti, Duke of Milan (see The MonVs Tale, B. 3589-96),
4 INTRODUCTION.
Chaucer named John Gower one of his two attorneys, or representatives, during his absence.
1379. About this time terminated the first period of Chaucer's
authorship, commonly called his French period, in which he was chiefly a " graunt translateur." In it only two works can be dated with any certainty ; see 1369 and 1373. To it belong also a number of lost works, as ivell as the following : " The Romaunt of the Rose" (II. 1 — 1705 of extant version almost certainly Chaucer's, but no more) ; " A B C " ; " Life of Saint Cecyle " (" Second Nun's Tale ") ; " Complaint to Pity " ; " Story of Constance " (" Man of Law's Tale"); "Twelve Tragedies" (in "The Monk's Tale ") ; " Complaint of Mars"
1380. Cecilia Chaumpaigne released Chaucer from all claims
" de raptu meo " — an unexplained matter.
1381. Rising of the people under Wat Tyler and Jack
Straw. Of. Nun's Priest's Tale, B. 4584 :—
" Certes he, lakke Straw, and his meynee Ne made never shoutes half so shrill e, Whan that they wolden any Fleming killc."
John of Gaunt's influence still felt.
1382. Chaucer appointed Comptroller of Petty Customs in
the Port of London, with leave to discharge his duties by deputy. Parliament of Fowls.
1384. House of Fame (certainly written about this time).
1385. English taught in schools (Trevisa). Chaucer allowed,
very likely through the queen's intercession, to appoint a permanent deputy as Comptroller of the Customs of wool. It fits in well with the cir cumstances to suppose that Chaucer took advantage of his liberty to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury this year, and that he was thinking of this pil grimage when, shortly afterwards, he planned The Canterbury Tales. Legend of Good Women.
With this year Chaucer's second, or Italian, period of authorship may be said to close. Besides the poems named in 1382, 1384, and 1385, it contained the following works, which it is not possible to date exactly ;
CHAUCER'S LIFE AND WORKS. 5
" Complaint to his Lady "/ " Anelida and Arcyte "; " Translation of Boetius " ; " Troilus and Cressida " ; " To Adam the Scrivener " ; " To Rosamond"
1386. Chaucer elected a knight of the shire for Kent.
Possibly he had already gone to live at Greenwich (see Envoy to Scogan, 45), a most favourable spot for watching the pilgrims to Canterbury. At the end of this year he was deprived of his comptroller- ships. John of Gaunt had gone abroad in May, and the Duke of Gloucester had seized the supreme power. In November, Richard, aged twenty, was forced to appoint a commission to inquire into abuses ; there was great dissatisfaction with the Customs department, and Chaucer, amongst others, was deprived, and left with his pensions alone.
In the same year, in the trial of Scrope v. Grosvenor, in which Chaucer was a witness, he is described as "del age de xl ans et plus, armeez par xxvii ans " (of the age of forty and upwards, armed for twenty-seven years). This statement, though vague, seems to imply that Chaucer was not yet fifty. The supposition that he was forty-seven (adopted throughout this table) would make him eighteen in 1357, when he was in the Countess of Ulster's service, and twenty in 1359, when he first bore arms— conclusions that cannot well miss the mark by more than a year or so.
1387. Chaucer's wife died, as her pension was regularly paid
up to June and there is no further trace of her.
1388. Chaucer seems to have been in distress at this time,
for he sold his two pensions of twenty marks each. There can be little doubt that he used his enforced leisure of the last two years in writing the greater part of The Canterbury Tales.
1389. While John of Gaunt was away in Spain (cf. Monk's
Tale, B. 3560-80), Richard took the government into his own hands, and ruled fairly well for eight years. Chaucer, in consequence, received the ap pointment of Clerk of the King's Works, and was allowed to perform his duties by deputy.
6 INTRODUCTION.
1390. In the above capacity Chaucer was ordered to have
St. George's Chapel, Windsor, repaired. He was robbed of the king's money twice in the same day by the same gang of robbers. About this time he was made forester of North Petherton Park, in Somerset, by Duke Lionel's grandson, the Earl of March (see 1366).
1391. Chaucer lost his appointment as Clerk of the Works,
but the reason is unknown. Henceforward until the accession of Henry IV. he seems to have been in pecuniary difficulties. Treatise on the Astrolabe.
1393. Envoy to Scogan.
1394. Richard II. granted Chaucer <£20 a year for life.
1395. Among other loans, Chaucer on one occasion borrowed
as small a sum as £1 Qs. Sd., whence it is inferred that he was in dire pecuniary embarrassment.
1396. Richard II. married Isabella of France ; truce made
with France for twenty-five years. Envoi/ to Bukton.
1397. Richard attacked the Lords Appellant in Parliament ;
put one, Arundel, to death; banished and im prisoned others.
1398. Chaucer applied to the Exchequer in person, on two
separate occasions, for an advance of 6s. Sd. In response to a petition to the king he was granted a tun of wine annually for life. The Parliament of Shrewsbury deferred abjectly to the king, who became virtually absolute and ruled arbitrarily. Hereford banished.
1399. John of Gaunt died, and Richard seized his estates.
Richard went to Ireland, and Hereford, now Duke of Lancaster, landed at Ravenspur, and was joined by the Percies and by the regent, the Duke of York. Richard returned, surrendered, was im prisoned, and resigned the crown. Parliament met, accepted the resignation, and, after hearing the articles of accusation, deposed Richard on September 30th. Complaint to his Purse, with an Envoy addressed to the new king. On October 3rd, four days after Henry's accession, he granted
CHAUCER'S LIFE AND WORKS. 7
Chaucer forty marks a year, in addition to his pension of £20. Chaucer took the lease of a house near the present site of Henry YII.'s Chapel, West minster, for a term of fifty-three years or for life.
1400. In February Chaucer received one of his pensions ;
in June some one received a payment for him, and this is the last notice we have. The stone in Westminster Abbey, which dates from 1556 but was possibly copied from an earlier stone, states that he died October 25th, 1400.
1401. Act " de heretico comburendo," and first execution
for Lollard heresy.
From 1386 to his death is Chaucer 's great period of original work (for there is no need to make a fourth period — of decline), which contains, besides " The Canterbury Tales " and other works already named, the following minor poems : " The Former Age"; "Fortune"; "Truth"; "Gentleness"; "Lack of Steadfastness" ; "Complaint of Venus."
Among spurious Chaucer poems (which are to be judged chiefiy by the tests of metre and language) may be named: " The Complaint of the Blick Knight" now attributed to Lydgate on Shirley s authority ; " The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" the first two lines of which are quoted from "The Knight's Tale" (A. 1785-6); " The Court of Love," hardly earlier than 1500; "Chaucer's Dream" (not " The Book of the Duchess"}, or "The Isle of Ladies? of the six teenth century ; and " The Flower and the Leaf," professing to be the ivork of a woman, and belonging to the fifteenth century.
The chief autobiographical passages in Chaucer's works are : (a) The description of his person in the Prologue to " Sir Thopas" B. 1883-94 ; (b) the description of his habits, etc., in " The House of Fame " 574 — 660, (c) and in the Prologue to " The Legend of Good Women," 29—39 ; and lists of 'his works in (d) the Prologue to " The Legend," 417-41 (405-31 A. text) ; (e) " The Man of Law's Head-link," B. 47 — 89 ; and (f) in the " Preces de Chaucer "at the close of" The Parson's Tale" I. 1085-7. His Christian name Geoffrey occurs in
8 INTRODUCTION.
"The House of Fame" 729, and Ms surname in "The Canterbury Tales" B. 47.
From the foregoing table may be compiled lists of Chaucer's pensions, of the appointments he held, and of the various missions in which he took part. And from the other " bones," which are somewhat less " dry," it will be well to extract a connected life of the poet, which will not be without important bearing on the study of his poetry.
2. "The Canterbury Tales."
It may be conceded that the idea of a collection of tales may have been suggested to Chaucer by Boccaccio's Deca- merone (although it has been argued, on the other hand, that he was not familiar with that work, since he borrows no tales directly from it, and even that he did not know Boccaccio's name, which he never mentions — but this seems too absurd), and that he may have been urged on to the work by Gower's success with what has been called " the first great collection of tales in the English language," the Confessio A mantis. The bare idea of a collection was not new, and therefore was probably not original. But it must be pointed out that Chaucer's plan for a collection of tales had advantages possessed by no possible model. All Gower's stories are told by one person ; Boccaccio's refugees from the plague are all of the same age, and belong to the same social caste. Chaucer alone had the happy and brilliant thought of bringing his story-tellers together for a common purpose of such a nature that it united " all sorts and conditions of men" and women in unstrained and unrestrained intercourse. And what suggested the idea of a pilgrimage to Chaucer? It has been supposed that the suggestion came to him from Lan gland's Piers Plowman and his pilgrimage to Truth. But is it not conceivable that to a man of Chaucer's genius, living in an age of pilgrimages, possibly (as we have seen) seeing pilgrims to Canterbury pass his own house almost every week in the year, probably (as we have also seen) taking part in one himself, the idea might occur without any suggestion from a literary pre decessor ?
If Chaucer himself made a pilgrimage to Canterbury, it was most likely in 1385. He had just been permitted to appoint a deputy to his Cbmptrollership of the Customs of wool, and would be in the very mood for what he no doubt regarded chiefly as a holiday jaunt. Skeat prefers the date 1387, on the ground that 1385 is too early a date for the composition of The Canterbury Tales. This is undoubted, and is also beside the mark. For the question is, not in what year Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, but in what year he conceived of the pilgrimage as taking place, and it can hardly be doubted that that was the year in which he went on pilgrimage himself — that is to say, that he had the details of bis own pilgrimage in mind when he planned his series of tales. * It will presently be seen, from internal evidence, that Chaucer's pilgrims assemble at the Tabard Inn in South wark on April 16th, start on the morning of the 17th, and reach Canterbury on the 20th. In 1385, April 16th was a Sunday, and April 20th a Thursday. In 1387, April 16th was a Tuesday, and April 20th a Saturday. Both these years therefore are free from objection as regards the days of the week — a consideration which is fatal to the years 1386 (when, e.g., April 20th was Good Friday), 1388, 1389, and 1390. Nothing could be more likely than that the pilgrims should assemble 011 Sunday evening, ready to make an early start on Monday, as would have happened in 1385. The only objection to this year, and that perhaps a fatal one, is that Chaucer received his pensions as usual on April 24th, which barely leaves him time to get back from Canterbury.
In whatever year, Chaucer assembled his pilgrims at the Tabard Inn on April 16th. It is needless to tell in detail here what the student will read for himself in The Prologue, — how Harry Bailiy or Bailey, the host of the Tabard, proposed that each pilgrim should tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way home ; that he himself should accompany them at his own expense, and act as guide and judge ; and that the teller of the best tale should in the end be feasted (of course at the Tabard) at the expense of the rest, — all of which was unanimously adopted by (he company. The number of pilgrims was
10 INTRODUCTION.
" wel nyne-and-twenty " (fully 29), or more exactly thirty (but see note on Prol., 164), exclusive of Chaucer and the Host. If we add them as well as the Canon's Yeoman, who joined the company on the road and told a tale, we get a total of thirty-three, as follows: — 1. The Knight; 2. The Squire ; 3. The Yeoman ; 4. The Prioress ; 5. The Second Nun; 6, 7, 8. Three Priests; 9. The Monk; 10. The Friar; 11. The Merchant; 12. The Clerk; 13. The Sergeant- at-Law; 14. The Franklin; 15. The Haberdasher ; 16. The Carpenter; 17. The Weaver; 18. The Dyer; 19. The "Tapycer"; 20. The Cook; 21. The Shipman; 22. The Doctor of Medicine; 23. The Wife of Bath; 24, The Parson; 25. The Ploughman; 26. The Miller; 27. The Manciple; 28. The Reeve; 29. The Summoner; 30. The Pardoner; 31. Chaucer; 32. Harry Bailly ; 33. The Canon's Yeoman : " ther were namo." The full original scheme therefore, as given in The Prolog ue, included about a hundred and twenty tales. But in The Franklin's Head- link (P. 673— 708)— and the fact has hardly received the attention it deserves — Chaucer seems to be already aware that some modification of his original plan may be necessary, for he makes the Host say (F. 696-8) : —
" What, frankeleyn ? pardee, sir, wel thou wost That eche of yow mot tellen atte leste A tale or two, or breken his biheste."
And lines 16 — 19 and 25 of The Parson's Prologue (the Host is speaking) —
" Now lakkcth us no tales mo than oon. Fulfild is my sentence and my decree ; I trowe that we hau herd of ech degree. Almost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce, . . . For every man save thou hath toold his tale "—
show clearly that Chaucer had by this time modified his plan at least to the telling of one tale only by each pilgrim on each journey, and even this " tale " of tales is incomplete for the outward journey, and he does not even make his pilgrims reach Canterbury.
^ We have in all twenty-four tales or fragments of tales to divide among thirty-three pilgrims, of whom, however, the Host was not planned as a tale-teller. Of the remaining
"THE CANTERBURY TALES." 11
thirty-two, nine are altogether silent, and Chaucer himself makes two attempts, so that the numbers tally. Chaucer is unpardonably interrupted (although the interruption is in excellent taste from the poet's own point of view) by the Host in his first attempt, The Rime of Sir Thopas, and sub stitutes the wearisome prose tale of Melibeus. Though we cannot but regard Sir Thopas as a burlesque of the romances of his day, neither can we help wishing that none of Chaucer's poetical work were inferior to it. One other tale, the Parson's, is in prose. Besides the truncated Sir Thopas, The Squires Tale is " left half told," and the Cook's is a mere fragment. The nine silent members of the company were the Knight's Yeoman, the Ploughman, two of the " priests three " (the one who tells a tale is called the Nun's Priest), and the five burgesses —the haberdasher, the car penter, the weaver, the dyer, and the tapestry-maker.
GROUPS OF TALES : NOTES OF TIME AND PLACE. — The Can terbury Tales have come down to us as a series of fragments, or groups of tales, with some connecting links. The order of the tales varies considerably in different manuscripts, and it took much patience and careful investigation, on the part of Dr. Furnivall and the late Mr. Bradshaw, to ascertain by means of the links what tales composed the various groups, and the right order of the groups themselves. In the end the following result has been arrived at, the indications of time and locality being added in their place : —
April 17. GROUP A.*
General Prologue. Knight's Tale. Miller's Prologue and Tale. Reeve's Prologue and Tale.
" Lo, EeprfnrA [Deptford], and it is half wey prime [= 7.30 a.m.], Lo, Grcneuoych [Greenwich], ther many a shrewe is inne."
A. 8006-7.
Cook's Prologue and Tale.
* These groups are now all Tout rniversnlly ado] ted, and thus reference to nny l>;is*n<;e is facilitated, because iLe groves and Li.es do not vary in different editions.
12 INTRODUCTION.
April 18. GROUP B.
Man of Law's Head-link, Prologue, and Tale.
" Oure Hoste saugh wel that the brighte sonne The ark of his artificial day hath ronne The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore [s= 10 a.m.], And though he were nat depe experte in loore, He wiste it was the eightetethe day [= 18th April] Of Aprill that is messager to May."— B. 1—6.
Shipman's Prologue and Tale. Prioress's Prologue and Tale. Prologue to, and Tale of, Sir Thopas. Prologue to, and Tale of, Melibeus. Monk's Prologue and Tale.
• Loo, Rouchestre [Kochester] stant heer faste by ! "— B. 3116. Nun's Priest's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue.
April 19. GROUP 0.*
Doctor's Tale, and Words of the Host. Pardoner's Prologue and Tale.
GROUP D.
Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale. "Er I come to Sidyngborne [Sittingbourne]." — D. 847. Friar's Prologue and Tale. Summoner's Prologue and Tale. " My talo is doon ; we been almoost at towne [Sittingboume]."
GROUP E.
Clerk's Prologue and Tale. Merchant's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue. [There are no notes of time or place in this group, but there are two or three allusions to The Wife of Bath's Prologue, showing that this group follows Group D. See E 1170, 1685, 2438.]
April 20. GROUP F.
Squire's Prologue and Tale.
" I wol nat tai-yen jow,for it i? pryme [= 9 a.m.]." — F. 73. Franklin's Head link, Prologue, and Tale.
* As this group contains no notes of time or place, its position cannot be assigned •with certainty. Nothing was gained by removing it from its place in the Eile.sii.ere manuscript between F. and 0.
"THE CANTERBURY TALES." 13
GROUP G.
Second Nun's Prologue and Tale. Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale. " Whan toold was al the lyf of Seinte Cecile, JEr ive hadde riden fiilly fyve mile, At J3oghton-under-Blee"—G. 554-6.
" Sires, now in the inorwe tyde, Out of your e hostelrw I saugh you ryde." — G. 593-9.
[The Canon's Yeoman, overtaking the pilgrims at Boughton-under-Blean, five miles from the place where they had passed the night, says he had seen them ride out of their hostelry that morning.]
GROUP H. Manciple's Prologue and Tale.
" Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel toun, Which that y-cleped is Bolbe-vp-and-doun, Under the Blee [Blean Forest] in Caunterlury weye ? Ther gan oure Hooste for to jape and pleye."— H. 1 — 4.
"What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe [morning] ? " — H. 16.
GROUP I.
Parson's Prologue and Tale. " Foure of the cloMe it was tho, as I gesse." [4 p.m.]
Allowing for minor inconsistencies, such as are to be expected in a work that has come down to us in this frag mentary condition, the above internal allusions to time and localities are best explained on the very supposition that is supported by the available external evidence, — viz., that the journey from Southwark to Canterbury extended over four days ; that the pilgrims halted for the night at Dartford, Rochester, and Ospringe ; and that they had a midday meal at Sittingbourne on the third day. This is exactly what Queen Isabella did in 1358, and King John of France in 1360.
It would be possible to divide The Canterbury Tales into three classes : (a) old poems of Chaucer's inserted in the colhction without alteration; (6) old poems rewritten, in part or in whole ; (c) new tales written expressly for the collection, this last being the most numerous class. The early Life of Saint Cecile became The Second Nun's Tale ;
14 INTRODUCTION.
The Story of Grisilde, with the addition of two stanzas (E 995—1008) and the Envoy, became the famous Clerks Tale • The Story of Constance became The Man of Law's Tale ; and The Twelve Tragedies- formed the bulk of The Monk's Tale, of which the Knight « stinted " him. These four tales are in stanzas, and no other tales are in stanzas except Sir Thopas and the Prioress's. Professor Skeat therefore proposed a metrical canon for deciding which tales are early and which late. There is good reason for believing that decasyllabic riming couplets were first used in Eng land in Chaucer's Legend of Good Women, which dates from about 1385. Skeat's canon, therefore, is this : "All of The Canterbury Tales written in this metre were written after 1385, whilst those not in this metre may have been earlier, though one of them and a part of some others appear to be later." This is in all probability true. Part of The ; Monk's Tale, although in stanzas, must be later than 1385, because it celebrates the death of Barnabo Visconti, who died in that year. There is also no reason to doubt that Sir Thopas and The Prioress's Tak, both in stanzas, were written for their places in The Canterbury Tales, and there fore after 1385. Two tales are in prose. The remaining sixteen are in rimed couplets. One of these, The Knight's Tale, will demand separate consideration.
3. "The Prologue."
The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is Chaucer's master piece in graphic, vivid characterisation. Its interest and merit are equally great whether it be regarded from the point of view of literary workmanship or from that of historical portraiture. Whether we rank it as its author's greatest achievement or not, will probably depend on the wider decision of Chaucer's greater greatness in this kind or in that of story-telling, and on that question it is not for us to dogmatise. Let it suffice here to quote the opinions of two critics as widely different from each other as two men can well be. Comparing Ovid and Chaucer, Dryden says : " I see Baucis and Philemon as perfectly before me, as if some ancient painter had drawn them ; and all the pilgrims in
': THE PROLOGUE." 15
The Canterbury Tales, their humours, their features, and the very dress, as distinctly as if I had supped with them at the Tabard in South wark ; yet even there too the figures in Chaucer are much more lively, and set in a better light." And again : " He must have been a man of a most wonder ful comprehensive nature ; because, as it has been truly observed of him, he has taken into the compass of his Canterbury Tales the very manners and humours (as we now call them) of the whole English nation, in his age. Not a single character has escaped him. All his pilgrims are severally distinguished from each other ; and not only in their inclinations, but in their very physiognomies and persons. Baptista Porta [a celebrated physiognomist] could not have described their natures better than by the marks which the poet gives them. The matter and manner of their tales and of their telling are so suited to their different educations, humours, and callings, that each of them would be improper in any other mouth. Even the grave and serious characters are distinguished by their several sorts of gravity : their discourses are such as belong to their age, their calling, and their breeding ; such as are becoming of them, and of them only. Some of his persons are vicious, and some virtuous ; some are unlearned, or (as Chaucer calls them), lewd, and some are learned. Even the ribaldry of the low characters is different : the Reeve, the Miller, and the Cook are several men, and distinguished from each other, as much as the mincing lady Prioress and the broad-speaking, gap-toothed Wife of Bath. But enough of this : there is such a variety of game springing up before me that I am distracted in my choice, and know not which to follow. 'Tis sufficient to say, according to the proverb, that here is God's plenty."
The late Professor ten Brink, at once the most keenly perceptive, the most sensitive, and the most appreciative critic of Chaucer that the Continent has furnished, said of Chaucer's Prologue : " He relates, rather than describes ; he lingers longer on the actions and characters of his heroes than on their outward appearance ; and even where he wishes to draw special attention to the external ap pearance, the individual traits have essentially a symbolical
16 INTRODUCTION.
meaning, and are intended as an interpretation of the whole character and manner of the man. . . . We thus receive in the end such an exact idea of the men he is describing, that we can almost see them bodily before us, although it is only by their actions we should recognise them again in real life. The poet's intuition and powers of observation are quite as wonderful as the art by which he lets his characters grow gradually before our eyes : while appearing to go at haphazard from one part to another, from some thing external to something essential, from some general statement to a particular example, or vice versd, he never theless proceeds with the very greatest sureness. This freedom of treatment, with its frequent alterations, allows the poet easily to avoid shoals which might have been most dangerous to his venture — viz., the wearying and blunting of his readers. The order in which the different figures are introduced also helps to keep the mind awake. Regard for the connection of things that belong together is here crossed by the effort to keep things of the same sort apart, and to work by contrasts. Hence the Physician is separated from the Lawyer, the Sompnour from the Friar; while the Student is placed immediately after the Merchant, and the Parson after the Wife of Bath. . . .
" By what varied means does Chaucer round off his in dividual figures ! Sometimes by seriousness, sometimes by waggishness, now by gentle irony, then by reckless satire, and yet he himself still remains the same. Nowhere does the poet renounce his wide human sympathies, his cheerful benevolence, his amiable good-humour. And yet he has at his disposition ideas and means of expression which work vyith lightning speed." (See Appendix.)
4. " The Man of Law's Tale."
Gower has the same " Story of Constance " in the second book of his Confessio Amantis (ed. Pauli i. 179), and this was long regarded as Chaucer's source. But Thomas Wright, in his edition of the Canterbury Tales (no date), said : " The Man of Lawes Tale was probably taken direct from a French Romance. . , . Gower's version appears to be taken
"THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.'* 17
from the French chronicle of Nicolas Trivet." This valuable indication was followed up with the result that it has been established beyond cavil, that the common source for Chaucer and Gower was the Anglo-Norman Chronicle of the English Dominican friar, Nicholas Trivet, written about 1334 A.D. Trivet was a voluminous commentator and annalist, who wrote chiefly in Latin. His story of Constance has been translated and carefully compared with the versions of Chaucer and Gower by Mr. Edmund Brock, who says: "Chaucer tells the same story as Trivet, but tells it in his own language and in a much shorter compass. He omits little or nothing of importance, and alters only the details."* But, it may be added, the changes that he does make are all improvements, especially in the way of showing better taste. " Chaucer's additions are many ; of the 1029 lines of which the tale consists, about 350 are Chaucer's additions. The passages are these: 11. 190-203, 270-87, 295-315, 330-43, 351-7, 358-71, 400-10, 421-7, 449-62, 470-504, 631-58, 701-14, 771-84, 811-9, 825-68, 925-45, 1037-43, 1052-78, 1132-41." These passages, to which we shall return, demand careful perusal and com parison with the other parts of the tale.
Of the essential feature of the tale, the story of an innocent persecuted wife, there are said to be versions in Arabic, Persian, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, and Old English. The Lay of Emare, in Ritson's Metrical Romances, seems to be merely an altered version of the Constance story, and may have been based on Trivet. Of particular features of the tale there are also numerous analogues, several of which are named by Mr. Wright. " The treachery of King Alla's mother enters into the Anglo-Saxon romance of King Off a, preserved in a Latin form by Matthew Paris. It is also found in the Italian collection, said to have been composed in 1378, under the title of II Pecorone di ser Giovanni Fiorentino (an imitation of the Decameron), x. 1. The treason of the knight who murders Hermengilde is an incident in the French Roman de la Violette, and is found in the English Gesta Romanorum, ch. 69 (ed. Madden),
* See the notes on B. 894, 904, 913, 961, 981-2, 1010, 1121-2, 1143. C/tonc. If. 2
18 INTRODUCTION
joined in the latter place with Constance's adventure with the steward." To this mention it is sufficient to add, that Matthew Paris's Vita 0/ce has the incident of the inter cepted and forged letters ; and that the tale of " Merelaus the Emperor " from the Gesta Romanorum was versified by Hoccleve (who, however, calls Merelaus " Gerelaus "), as was pointed out by Tyrwhitt.
The source of the Man of Law's Prologue, or more exactly of 11. 99-103, 106-8, 112-15, 118, 120-1, fifteen lines in all, is equally certain. Professor Lounsbury discovered in 1889 that these lines, together with 11. 421-7, 771-7, 925-31, and 113441, are a close metrical rendering of passages from Pope Innocent III.'s (1198-1216) lugubrious work, De Contemptu Mundi sive De Miseria Conditionis Humance. The lines in the Prologue are taken from the 16th chapter of the first book, " De Miseria Divitis et Pauperis." The sources of the other lines mentioned above are given in the notes, and the four passages themselves are quoted because they are all found in the margin of four of the best MSS. : in this way the clue to the source was given. The original of the lines in the Prologue is not given in the MSS., but a part of it is quoted in our note on 11. 114-21. The most singular fact about the matter is this: in the list of his works that Chaucer gives in the Legend of Good Women, A-Prologue, these lines occur :
" He hath in prose translated Boece ; And of the Wrecked Engendering of Mankinde, As man may in pope Innocent yfinde ; And mad the Lyf also of seynt Cecyle " (413-16).
Of these lines the middle couplet has disappeared in the B- Prologue to the Legend, and Professor Lounsbury suggests this explanation " of the appearance and disappearance of the reference to this translation, that when Chaucer first made it he had in mind only certain passages in the treatise of Pope Innocent which he had turned into verse ; and that afterwards he struck out the lines containing the reference, because he came to see that they conveyed an impression that something had been done which he had not really attempted." This is ingenious and plausible ; but it must be pointed out that the words "in prose translated" seem
"THE MAN OP LAW'S TALE." 19
to continue in force until they are supplanted by " mad " = wrote in verse.
The critical questions that have arisen in connection with the first 1162 lines of Group B. are almost endless. Some of them are briefly discussed in our Notes. For the rest, all we can do here is to raise the more important in some reasonable order of thought and statement, and leave the " gentle reader " to ponder them.
The question of date is not altogether simple. The date of the events of the story is fixed clearly enough by the potentates named by Trivet (one only by Chaucer) : the Emperor Tiberius II, 578-82 A.D. ; Pope Pelagius IT., 578-90 A.D. ; and JElla, king of Northunibria, 560-88 A.D. But as to date of composition we must distinguish what we may call the "Forelink" (11. 1-98) from the Tale. The Forelink is certainly late — any year after 1385. The tale is as certainly much earlier. It is not so much that it is written in stanzas (see p. 14), as that it evidently belongs to an early stage in Chaucer's artistic development. This is an argument that appeals fully to those alone who have attempted to trace the poet's growth in poetic power. Suffice it to say then that the handling of subject and metre point on the whole to a date between the " Story of Grisildis " and Troilus and Cressida, i.e. before, rather than after, 1380.
An early date being proved or granted, it is only natural to assume that the story was written without a thought of the great series in which it was afterwards embodied. Is the tale specially suited to the character of its ostensible narrator, the Man of Law ? On that point opinion is not unanimous, but the general verdict is " No." A not unnatural supposition, then, would be that Chaucer first translated Trivet pretty closely, and afterwards, when he was at work on the Canterbury Tales and using up other old material, that he tried to adapt the story of Constance, both to the series, and to the Man of Law as teller, by means of the Forelink, the Prologue, and added stanzas and touches here and there. Here at least we have a workable hypothesis. The next thing is to obtain inductive evidence. For this purpose the passages mentioned by
20 INTRODUCTION.
Brock as Chaucer's chief additions to his original (p. 17) must be carefully examined, and especially 11. 190-203, 358-71, 031-58, 827-68, to see, in the first place, if they are likely to have been later additions. It is obvious that these passages could be removed without interfering with the continuity of the story, because they are not in the original. Moreover, some of them at least seem to have an interpolated air about them. Further, the additions " constitute the very salt of the poem," and it is difficult to believe that Chaucer could have been content to be still a fairly successful translator at a time when he was capable of producing such magnificent work as e.g. 11. 645-58 — that is to say, some at least of Chaucer's additions are of such perfect workmanship that it is difficult to regard them as contemporary with the rest of the tale. That the tale was revised for the Canterbury series seems certain from 11. 1116-17. If we suppose it granted * that the tale was revised' and improved and some at least of the additions made at a later date, the next question is : Were any of these changes made with a view to fitting the story to the character of the " Sergeant of the La we " ? A fresh exami nation of_ the added passages should be made with this question in mind. Recall his character as given in the immortal Prologue (309-30): "discreet," "of great re verence," " his words were so wise," " he seemed busier than he was"; and then consider whether any of Chaucer's original exclamations and moralisings were inserted in order to give the lacking personal colour to the tale. No one is entitled to give a dogmatic answer; but it is an interesting question, and the answering it will be a useful exercise in criticism.
The Eorelink, which we have left till last, touches on
three points of special interest : the date, the " Seintes
Legende of Cupide," and the relations of Chaucer and
Gower. The first two of these are dealt with in the Notes :
^Vnird a d°sing word hera Tyrwhitt regarded
tu 7 V I''- ^ a reflection uPon Gower, and supposed
the friendship which had subsisted between the two
CHAUCER'S LANGUAGE 21
poets was interrupted in their old age. In support of this he cites the omission of the complimentary reference to Chaucer from the second edition of the Prologue to the Confessio Amantis (c. 1393). This view is strongly sup ported by Ten Brink and Skeat. The stories of Canace and Apollonius of Tyre are contained in the Confessio Amantis iii. and viii. ; but, as Lounsbury points out, " the circumstance in the latter story which Chaucer specified as particularly horrible is not found in the version as it appears in Gower." On the other hand Skeat enforces Tyrwhitt's argument by a consideration of the mutual rela tions of the two poets over the present story, and there can be little doubt that he is right. Briefly, the case is this : Liicke * gives twenty-seven verbal resemblances (in which they both alike depart from Trivet) between Gower's " Constance " and Chaucer's " Constance," and draws the inference that Chaucer borrowed from Gower (that they both knew Trivet is proved in the notes on 11. 669 arid 786). The borrowing is proved, but it was the other way. No certain instance of Chaucer borrowing from Gower has ever been established. Besides, Chaucer's version was probably the earlier. With approximate dates the order of events may well have been as follows : — 1380, Chaucer's " Story of Constance " lent to Gower; 1385, Gower's Con fessio Amantis, with complimentary reference to Chaucer in Prologue ("And grete wel Chaucer, etc."), and plagiarism in " Story of Constance " ; 1387, Chaucer's " Man of Law's Tale" with strictures on Gower; 1393, Confessio Amanlis (revised) with reference to Chaucer omitted. If these are " the lines," it is no very difficult matter to " read between " them.
5. Chaucer's Language.
In the latter half of the fourteenth century we have, among others, " Mandeville," Wyclif. and Gower writing in what is practically the same dialect as Chaucer's — the East Midland ; Trevisa's translation of the Polychronicon, and the Yernon manuscript of the A-Text of Piers the Plowman,
* Anylia XIV. 183,
22 INTRODUCTION.
in the Southern dialect ; Minot and Barbour writing in the Northern dialect ; and all the alliterative poetry, with the partial exception of Langland's, in the West Midland dialect. It is therefore clear that up to Chaucer's time the struggle among the dialects for supremacy was not decided. But ever since Robert Manning of Bourn's Handlyng Synne in 1303 the East Midland dialect had been making bolder and bolder bids for the supremacy. Some things were strongly in its favour. The area in which it was spoken included London and the two uni versities, and a larger population than that of any other dialect. It was of all the dialects the most easily " under- standed" in districts where it was not spoken. But it is not too much to say that Chaucer finally settled the question of supremacy, and made East Midland henceforward the royal dialect, the King's English. Probably the ultimate' result would have been the same if Chaucer had been a Lancashire man, although the decision might have been longer delayed. We might then have had in modern English a few more words of the old stock of the language, and Chaucer's works would be more nearly on the same level of popularity as those of the poet of Gawayn and the Green Knight. But perhaps this is idle speculation ; for if Chaucer had been a Lancashire man, more than possibly he would not have been Chaucer.
If Chaucer is our first truly national poet after the Conquest, it must be conceded that he was fortunate in the time of his birth. Besides the struggle between the English dialects, there was the more momentous struggle between the rival languages, English and Anglo-French ("after the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe "), and English was winning all along the line. Even the courtiers were bilingual in Richard the Second's reign, a sure sign that English was storming its enemy's last stronghold. In 1362 pleadings in the courts of law were ordered to be made in English. In the very same year the parliamentary session was first opened with an English speech. In 1385 Latin was being construed into English instead of into Anglo-French in the schools. Before the half- century in which he lived and wrote, it would have been
METRE. 23
impossible for Chaucer to have the whole nation for his audience. And side by side with the unification of language proceeded the unification of the nation itself. If the Hundred Years' War was a royal, and in no sense a national, war, yet it was impossible but that Crecy and Poitiers should have tended to break down the barriers of race and class, and kindle some glow of patriotic feeling throughout the nation. Perhaps, too, the very pestilences and "deaths" of the century may have helped towards the same result.
One other question in connection with Chaucer's language demands a word of mention. To Spenser Chaucer was the "well of English undefiled." To Stow he was "the first illuminer of our English language." But Verstegari, in his Restitution of Decayed Intelligence (1605), says: " Some few ages after [the Norman Conquest] came Geoffrey Chaucer, who, writing his poesies in English, is of some called the first illuminator of the English tongue : of their opinion I am nob (though I reverence Chaucer as an excellent poet of his time). He was indeed a great mingler of English with French, unto which language, belike for that he was descended of French, or rather Walloon, race, he carried a great affection." In the light of modern knowledge this is an ignorant remark ; but it was an ignorance that was of the time rather than of the man, and that it was left for Tyrvvhitt to dispel some hundred and seventy years after. The plain truth is that Chaucer's vocabulary is simply the poetical vocabulary of the society in which he mingled. That he introduced French words that were not commonly current in his day, to any great extent, is disproved once and for ever by the fact, first established by Marsh, that Langland, the poet of the people, uses a slightly larger proportion of words of French and Latin origin than Chaucer does.
6. Metre.
Chaucer's metres, with one or two unimportant excep tions, fall into octosyllabic (couplets) and decasyllabic lines. The subdivisions of the latter are numerous, but the two.
24 INTRODUCTION.
chief are : Chaucer's stanza (ababbcc), called at a later time " rime royal," and still later " Troilus verse " (it is the measure of his Troilus and Cressida) ; and the decasyllabic couplet. Chaucer's octosyllabic verse regularly contains four accented syllables, and his decasyllabic verse five, and both these measures are constantly varied by the use of feminine or dissyllabic rimes — rimes whose second syllable contains an unstressed e, rarely % (y), ie— which add an extra unaccented syllable to the lines in which they occur, making decasyllabics into hendecasyllables.
The final syllabic e, whether found in the middle or at the end of a line, forms such an important and essential item in Chaucer's versification, that we give here a classification of its various etymological or in flectional functions, with examples of each selected from the Man of Law's Tale. Syllabic final e may represent t or mark :
(i.) The final non-flexional vowel of an O.E. word : — tyme, B. 412, O.E. lima; herte, 697, O.E. heorte; sone, 698, O.E. sunu\ sonne, 791, O.E. sunne.
(ii.) The final vowel of a word of French origin : — vitaille, 443, O.Fr. vitaitte ; reawme, 797, O.Fr. reialme.
(iii.) An adverbial termination: — brighte, 11, O.E. leorhte; aboute, 15, O.E. abutan ; wyde, 136, O.E. wide ; yoore, 174, O.E. geara.
Nouns, (iv.) An oblique case, almost always the dative of a monosyllabic noun stem :— helle, 339, O.E. kette (ace. dat.); tale, 374; wreche, 679, O.E. wrwce ; childe, 720; synrie^ (ace.), 590, O.E. synne (ace.).
Adjectives, (v.) Plural, or an oblique case, of a mono syllabic adjective :—ynowe (pi.), 255; whiche (pi.), 1068; olde (pi., or dat, pi.), 545 ; grete (dat.), 334 ; salte (dat.), 830 ; aUe (ace. fern.), 773.
(vi.) The definite or weak form of monosyllabic ad jective, used (a) after a demonstrative possessive, (b) in the vocative : —
(a) thilke (= the ilke), 365, O.E. ilca (always weak) ; the olde, 367 ; this olde, 414 ; hir yonge, 800.
(b) " O emperoures yonge doghter," 447 ; " thow faire may,' 851; " brighte sterre," 852 ; " goode fader," 11 11,
METRE. 25
Verbs, (vii.) Infinitive :—holde, 41 ; lerne, 440 \figkte, 632 ; sende, 766.
(viii.) Gerund (preceded by to] : — to breke, 40; to knowe, 327.
(ix.) Past participle of a strong verb : — " was take," 769 ; " was knowe," 890.
(x.) Past tense of a weak verb : — nyste, 384 (past tense of a " past-present " verb) ; seyde 450 ; kepte, 486 ; cride (a French verb), 561.
(xi.) Other parts of verbs : —
(a) Pres. indie. 1st sing. : — / recche, 94 ; / speke, 576.
(6) Pres. indie, plural : — They trowe, 222.
(c) Subjunctive pres. : — spede, 259.
(d) Imperative sing. : — Herke, 425.
(e) Past indie. 2nd sing. : — were, 457. (/") Past indie, plural : — sawe they, 218.
In all these cases, final e is to be sounded at the end of a line, and as a rule in, any other position unless it pre cedes a word beginning with a vowel or with an unaspirated or lightly aspirated h, and even then it is at least slightly sounded if it occurs at the medial caesura! pause in a line,
" With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in presse." — A. 81. Chaucer's wonderful ear for music, for rhythm, and for cadence is almost a discovery of the nineteenth century. It is true that the fifteenth century " makers " well-nigh worshipped Chaucer, but it must have been chiefly on account of other characteristics of his genius, especially his vocabulary ; for it is hardly possible that Lydgate, for example, should have felt any great reverence for Chaucer's mastery of the technique of versification. The short and the long of the matter is, that Chaucer is one of our last poets, perhaps the very last, who made full metrical use of the syllabic e at the end of words,* — he may even have prolonged its existence as a separate syllable for a decade or two for the purposes of his metre, — arid that his prosody remained more or less of a puzzle and a mystery,
* The riming of words with an etymological final e with words with an unetymo- logical final e is one of the readiest testa of the genuine or spurious character o.f poems ascribed to Chaucer,
26 INTRODUCTION.
as it certainly was to Dryden, until the great work of Tyrwhitt, in the last quarter of the last century, put the matter on the right basis, and made the way clear for the full and perfect elucidation it has received in the present half-century.
Chaucer's claims as a metrist having once been vindi cated, it was not unnatural that an element of exaggeration should have supervened. It is impossible to exaggerate Chaucer's merits in this regard when he is compared with his French and English predecessors. The verdict of Matthew Arnold is unassailable : " Of his style and manner, if we think first of the romance poetry and then of Chaucer's divine liquidness of diction, his divine fluidity of movement, it is difficult to speak temperately." But when it is maintained that Chaucer " leapt at one bound from the doggerel metre of romance poetry " to absolutely flawless music, it is evident that the difficulty of which Mr. Arnold speaks has infected criticism. Let it be said at once : there are halting and unmusical lines in Chaucer's best work (e.g. A. 391) ; but in that best work they form an insignificant minority. For Chaucer rapidly became a careful and finished metrical artist. One detailed illus tration of this must suffice. Chaucer's vowels are «, e, iy o, and u, long and short (with Continental pronunciation), plus a long open e (like the first e in French perle), and a long open o (like the oa in broad}. Generally Chaucer's long (close) e stands for an O.E. e or eo, and his long open e for an O.E. ae or ea, or for an O.E. short e lengthened at the end of a syllable. Similarly, his long (close) o stands for an O.E. or old Norse o, and his long open o for an O.E. or O.N. d, or for a lengthened short o. Now Chaucer is careful, as far as possible, to avoid riming long close e with long open e, or long close o with long open o, as his suc cessors and imitators habitually did : he does not rime fo (open), foe, with sho, shoe, or do, do, nor teche (open), teach, with seche, seek, if he can help it.
The metre of The Prologue is the heroic couplet, called also Chaucer's "riding rime," because it is the metre in which he described his Canterbury pilgrims. He had doubtless met with it in French poetry ; indeed. Professor
CRITICISM. 27
Skeat has discovered an example in the poems of Guillaume de Machault, dated from 1356-8. But Chaucer did as much for this particular metre as Marlowe subsequently did for blank verse : he perfected it and gave it vogue. Two peculiarities in his use of it are noteworthy. First, his couplets of sense are often not his couplets of metre ; note, for example, the following lines: —
" His bootes clasped faire and fetisly ;
Hise resons he spak ful solempnely,
Sownynge alway thencrees of his wyrmyng.
He wolde the see were kept for any thing
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Wei koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle." — A. 273-8.
Second, at the beginning of a line he was not infrequently content to make the first foot consist of a single accented syllable, reducing the line to one of nine syllables if the rime were masculine. The following are the lines in The * Prologue constructed on this pattern : —
A. 76 (masc.), 131 (masc.), 170, 247, 294 (masc.), 371 (masc.), 384, 391 (masc.)
" Chaucer's stanza " he borrowed from the same source as the decasyllabic couplet ; it is used by Machault, whom he admired and imitated, in several poems, including one from which Chaucer borrowed the refrain of his " Ballad of Newfangelness." It was probably his favourite measure for longer works until he adopted the heroic couplet in 1385, for he wrote in it his Complaint to Pity, Complaint of Mars (half), Troilus and Oressida, Parliament of fowls, Second Nun's Tale, Clerk's Tale, Man of Law's Tale, and Prioress's Tale, besides smaller poems. It^was a favourite likewise with the poets of the fifteenth and sixteenth cen turies, from his immediate successors Hoccleve and the author of the King's Quair down to Sackville and the other writers of the Mirror for Magistrates.
7. Criticism.
" Chaucer is the first who broke away from the dreary traditional style, and gave not merely stories, but lively pictures of real life as the ever-renewed substance of poetry.
28 INTRODUCTION.
One of the world's three or four great story-tellers, he was also one of the best versifiers that ever made English trip and sing with a gaiety that seems careless, but where every foot beats time to the tune of the thought. , . . His best tales run on like one of our inland rivers, sometimes hastening a little and turning upon themselves in eddies that dimple without retarding the current; sometimes loitering smoothly, while here and there a quiet thought, a tender feeling, a pleasant image, a golden-hearted verse, opens quiet as a water-lily, to float on the surface without breaking it into ripple. ... In thus turning frankly and gaily to the actual world, and drinking inspiration from sources open to all ; in turning away from a colourless abstraction [allegory] to the solid earth and to emotions common to every pulse ; in discovering that to make the best of nature, and not to grope vaguely after something ' better than nature, was the true office of Art ; in insisting * on a definite purpose, on veracity, cheerfulness, and sim plicity, Chaucer shows himself the true father and founder of what is characteristically English literature. . . . And the humour also in its suavity, its perpetual presence, and its shy unobstrusiveness is something wholly new in litera ture. For anything that deserves to be called like it in English we must wait for Henry Fielding." — LOWELL, My Study Windows.
In attempting to summarise the chief characteristics of Chaucer's poetry, we are met at the outset by the question : Was Chaucer an essentially dramatic writer? Dr. Ward goes so far as to say : " Among the wants which fell to the lot of Chaucer as a poet, perhaps the greatest was the want of poetic form most in harmony with his most characteristic gifts," i.e. the dramatic form ; and in another place : " Chaucer was a born dramatist." Ten Brink, too, speaks of " Chaucer's dramatic tendency. With him the dialogue becomes a kind of dramatic scene. . . . Chaucer, like the true dramatist, sees the speakers vividly before him." On the other hand, Stopford Brooke avers that Chaucer " is not in any sense a dramatic writer." And Lowell says : " I think it a great mistake to attribute to him any properly
CRITICISM. 29
dramatic power, as some have done." It has become almost a commonplace to apply the adjective " dramatic " to Chaucer's pcems, either in a loose and thoughtless way in the sense of " vivid, graphic," or through lack of literary insight. Before any critic claims him as a dramatic writer, let him define what he means by the expression. The truth is that Chaucer is essentially a narrative poet, a story teller in verse. His descriptive powers, whether as a lover of nature, which he studied at first hand, or as a lover of human beings, are equally marvellous. His humour is as subtle and all-pervading as his satire is good-humoured. His verse has all the easy flow and wondrous melody of the highest word-music. His characters are drawn to the life, and yet, like Pope's, they are almost greater as types than as individual portraits.
It remains to say a word of Chaucer's models and of his place in literature. The question of his models has been already glanced at in the division of his work into periods. French must have been a second mother- tongue to him, and there is abundant evidence that he was well versed in French literature. The Roman de la Rose had an especial fascination for him ; he translated it in his early days of authorship, although at most a fragment of his version is extant ; and its lines were still echoing in his memory when he wrote The Knight's Tale. But his debt to Italian literature is far greater, and the fact is significant, for Chaucer lived in the century of the early Italian Renais sance, and in coming under its influence he came into living contact with the one great literary movement of his time. It is impossible here to attempt to trace the several influ ences of Dante (d. 1321), Petrarch (1304-74), and Boccaccio (1313-75) upon Chaucer. Petrarch, although Chaucer met and admired him, influenced him least, because they lived in worlds apart. Whether the influence of Dante or of Boccaccio was the greater is still matter of dispute. What ever emphasis may be laid upon the fact that Chaucer borrowed the suggestion and about a third of the material of his Troilus and Cressida and his Knight's Tale from Boccaccio's Filostrato and Teseide respectively, it is equally true and at least equally to the point that Chaucer cannot
30 INTRODUCTION.
be proved to have felt the influence of the work by which Boccaccio lives in literary history — the immortal Decamerone. His direct borrowings from Dante were much less in the gross, but on the whole we incline to the opinion that, as Dante's was certainly the highest literary influence under which Chaucer came, so was it the predominant and supreme influence in those of his later works which are not wholly original. Among classical writers, Virgil, Ovid, and Statius were Chaucer's favourites. He was well read in mediaeval Latin literature.
In a short essay prefixed to his edition of The Canterbury Tales, Mr. Pollard has traced Chaucer's artistic progression from close translation to masterly independence. He shows " that by the time Chaucer wrote The, Knight's Tale he had advanced far indeed, not only from the slavish adherence to the text of his original which we find in the Lyf of Seint Cecyle, but also from that slavish adherence to his plot which mars the story of Constance, and, to some extent, that of Grisilde. Henceforth we have no more ' originals ' with which to compare his work ; we have only ' analogues,' stories, that is to say, with the same general theme, but with so many differences of setting, of local colour and incident, that we cannot say which, if any, of the extant versions Chaucer followed."
Chaucer's rank as a poet — not a very profitable matter to discuss — must depend, not only on individual taste, but to a considerable extent on the relative importance attached respectively to the formal and to the material elements in poetry. Form being essential to poetry, the importance of the formal elements is necessarily very great, and from this point of view — that is to say, in all that we mean by dic tion, rhythm, cadence — Chaucer is unsurpassed in English verse. On the side of matter as distinguished from form, he has limitations which make him much less great. On this ground Matthew Arnold rules him out of the great classics of universal literature. "To our praise," he says,
of Chaucer as a poet there must be this limitation : he lacks the^ high seriousness of the great classics, and there with an important part of their virtue. Still, the main tact for us to bear in mind about Chaucer is his sterling
CRITICISM. 31
value according to that real estimate which we firmly adopt for all poets. He has poetic truth of substance, though he has not high poetic seriousness, and corresponding to his poetic truth of substance he has an exquisite virtue of style and manner. With him is born our real poetry."
The following works will be found useful for the further study of Chaucer : —
Pollard's Chaucer Primer (Macmillan, Is."). Lowell's My Study Windows (Scott, Is. 6&). Ten Brink's English Literature, Vol. II. (Bell, 3.?. 6<£). Ten Brink's Chaucer s Sprache und Verskunst, (6s.). Skeat's Student's Chaucer (Clarendon Press, 7s. 6d.). Skeat's Chaucer, 6 vols., (Clarendon Press, 16s. each). Lounsbury's Studies in Chaucer, 3 vols. (Osgood & Mcllvaine, 42s.).
Fairholt's Customs in England, 2 vols. (Bell, 10s.)-
J. Saunders' Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (Dent, 1889).
CHAUCEE:
THE CANTERBURY TALES.
THE PEOLOGUE. (GROUP A. 1—858.)
WHAN that Aprille with hise shoures soote ^ The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, 1 And bathed every veyne in swich licour, ) Of which vertu engendred is the flour ; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 5
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Earn his halfe cours y-ronne, And smale foweles maken melodye That slepen al the nyght with open eye, — 10
So priketh hem Nature in hir corages, — Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, To feme halwes, kowthe in sondry londes j And specially, from every shires ende 15
Of Engelond, to Caunturbury they wende, The hooly blisf ul martir for to seke, That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
Bifil that in that seson on a day,
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay, 20
Eedy to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
34 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
At nyght were come into that hosteliye
Wei nyne-and-twenty in a compaignye,
Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle 25
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
And wel we weren esed atte beste.
And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30
So hadde I spoken with hem everychon,
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
And made forward erly for to ryse,
To take oure wey, ther as I yow devyse.
But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, 35 (
Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Me thynketh it accordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
And whiche they weren and of what degree, 40
And eek in what array that they were inne ; And at a Knyght than wol I first bigynne.
A KNYGHT ther was and that a worthy man, That fro the tyme that he first bigan To riden out, he loved chivalrie, 45
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. Ful worthy was he in his lorde's werre, And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, And evere honoured for his worthynesse. 50
At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne ; Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Aboven alle nacions in Pruce. In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Euce, No cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55
In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
PROLOGUE. 35
Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye,
Whan they were wonne ; and in the Grete See
At many a noble armee hadde he be. 60
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene In lystes time's, and ay slayn his foo. This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also Somtyme with the lord of Palatye 65
Agayn another hethen in Turkye ; And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys. And though that he were worthy, he was wys, And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde 70
In al his lyf unto no maner wight. He was a verray parfit gentil knyght.
But for to tellen yow of his array, His hors were goode, but he ne was nat gay ; Of fustian he wered a gypon 75
Al bismotered with his habergeon ; For he was late y-come from his viage, And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
With hym ther was his sone, a yong SQUIER, A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, 80
With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesso. Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, And wonderly delyvere and greet of strengthe ; And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie, 85
In Flaundres, in Artoys and Pycardie, And born hym weel, as of so litel space, In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Embrouded was he, as it were a meede Al f ul of fresshe floures whyte and reede • 90
36 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Syngynge lie was or floytynge al the day ;
He was as f ressh as is the monthe of May.
Short was his gowne, with sieves longe and wyde ;
Wei koude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde ;
He koude songes make and wel endite, 95
Juste and eek daunce and weel purtreye and write.
So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale
He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
Curteis he was, lowely and servysable,
And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100
A YEMAN hadde he and servantz namo At that tyme, for hym liste ride soo ; And he was clad in cote and hood of grene ; A sheef of pocok arwes bright and kene Under his belt he bar ful thriftily — 105
Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly ; His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe — And in his hand he bar a myghty bowe. A not-heecl hadde he with a broun visage. Of woodecraft wel koude he al the usage. no
Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer, And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, And on that oother syde a gay daggere Harneised wel and sharpe as point of spere ; A Cristophere on his brest of silver sheene ; 115
An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene. A forster was he soothly, as I gesse.
Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy ; Hire gretteste ooth was but by sei'nt Loy, 120
And she was cleped madame Eglentyne. Ful weel she songe the service dyvyne,
PROLOGUE. 37
Entuned in hir nose ful semely ;
And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly
After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe, 125
For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
At mete wel y- taught was she with-alle,
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe ;
Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe, 130
That no drope ne fille upon hire brestfc.
In curteisie was set ful inuchel hir leste.
Hire over-lippe wype'd she so clene,
That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135
Fnl semely after hir mete she raughte,
And sikerly she was of greet desport,
And ful plesaunt and amyable of port,
And peyned hire to countrefete cheere
Of Court, and been estatlich of manere, 140
And to ben holden digne of reverence.
But for to speken of hire conscience,
She was so charitable and so pitous
She wolde wepe if that she saugh a mous
Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145
Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde
With rested flessh, or milk and wastel breed ;
But score wepte she, if oon of hem were deed,
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte,
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150
Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was ; Hire nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, Hir mouth ful smal and ther-to softe and reed, But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed ; It was almoost a spanne brood I trowe, 155
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war;
38 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
A peire of bedes gauded al with grene,
And ther-on heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, 160
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor vincit omma.
Another NONNE with hire hadde she, That was hire Chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie, 165
An outridere that lovede venerie, A manly man, to been an abbot able. Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable, And whan he rood men myghte his brydel heere Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere, 170
And eek as lotide, as dooth the chapel-belle, Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle. The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit, By-cause that it was old and som-del streit, — This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace 175
And heeld after the newe world the space. He gaf nat of that text a pulled hen That seith that hunters beth nat hooly men, Ke that a Monk whan he is cloysterles Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees ; 180
This is to seyn, a Monk out of his cloystre. But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre ; And I seyde his opinioun was good. What sholde he studie and make hym-selven wood, Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, 185
Or swynken with his handes and laboure As Austyn bit ? how shal the world be served ? Lat Austyn have his swynk to him reserved. Therfore he was a prikasotir aright ; Grehoundes he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight : 190
PROLOGUE. 39
Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
I seigh his sieves y-purfiled at the hond
With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond ;
And for to festne his hood under his chyn 195
He hadde of gold y-wroght a ful curious pyn ;
A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
And eek his face as it hadde been enoynt.
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt • 200
Hise eyen stepe and roily nge in his heed,
That stemed as a forneys of a leed ;
His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat.
He was nat pale, as a forpyned goost : 205
A fat swan loved he best of any roost ;
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
A FRERE ther was, a wantowne and a merye, A lymytour, a ful solempne man,
In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 210
So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage ; He hadde maad ful many a mariage Of yonge vvommen at his owene cost. Unto his ordre he was a noble post ; Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215
With frankeleyns over-al in his con tree ; And eek with worthy wommen of the toun, For he hadde power of confessioun, As seyde hym-self, moore than a curat, For of his ordre he was licenciat. 220
Ful swetely herde he confessioun, And plesaunt was his absolucioun. He was an esy man to geve penaunce Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce ;
40 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
For unto a povre orclre for to give 225
Is signe that a man is wel y-shryve ;
For, if he gaf, he dorste make avaunt
He wiste that a man was repentaimt :
For many a man so harde is of his herte
He may nat wepe al thogh hym score smerto ; 230
Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
Men moote geve silver to the povre freres.
His typet was ay f arsed full of kny ves
And pynnes, for to geven yonge wyves ;
And certeinly he hadde a murye note ; 235
Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote :
Of yeddynges he bar outre' ly the pris ;
His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys ;
Ther-to he strong was as a charnpioun.
He knew the tavernes well in al the toun 240
And everich hostiler and tappestere
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere ;
For unto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce ; 245
It is nat honeste, it may nat avaunce
For to deelen with no swiche poraille,
But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
And over-al, ther as profit sholde arise,
Curteis he was and lowely of servyse ; 250
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
He was the beste beggere in his hous,
For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
So plesaunt was his In principio,
Yet wolde he have a ferthyng er he wente : 255
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he koude, as it were right a whelpe.
In love-dayes ther koude he muchel helpe,
For there he was nat lyk a cloysterer
PROLOGUE. 41
With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, 260
But he was lyk a maister, or a pope ;
Of double worstede was his semycope,
That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
Somwhat he lipsed for his wantownesse,
To make his Englissh sweet upon his tonge, 265
And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd, 270
In motteleye, and hye on horse he sat ; Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bevere hat ; His bootes clasped faire and f etisly ; Hise resons he spak f ul solempnely, Sownynge alway thencrees of his wynnyng. 275
He wolde the see were kept for any thing Bitwixe Middelbnrgh and Orewelle. \Vel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette ; Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 280
So estatly was he of his governaunce With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. For sothe he was a worthy man with-alle ; But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also 285
That unto logyk hadde longe y-go. As leene was his hors as is a rake, And he nas nat right fat, I undertake, But looked holwe and ther-to sobrely ; Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy ; 290
For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office ;
42 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
Twenty bcoke's clad in blak or reed
Of Aristotle and his philosophie, 295
Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
But al be that he was a philosophre,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre ;
But al that he myghte of his freendes hente
On booke's and his lernynge he it spente, 300
And bisily gan for the soule's preye
Of hem that gaf hym wher-with to scoleye.
Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede j
Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305
And short and quyk and f ul of hy sentence.
Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
A SERGEANT OF THE LA WE, war and wys, That often hadde been at the Parvys, 310
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. .,
Discreet he was and of greet reverence ; H6 seme'd swich, hise worde's weren so wise. Justice he was ful often in assise,
By patente and by pleyn commissioun, 315
For his science and for his heigh renoun. Of fees and robes hadde he many oon ; So greet a purchasour was nowher noon. Al was fee symple to hym in effect, His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. 320
Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, And yet he seme'd bisier than he was. In terme's hadde he caas and doomes alle That from the tyme of kyng William were falle ; Ther- to he koude endite and make a thyng, 325
Ther koude no wight pynchen at his writyng ;
PROLOGUE. 43
And every statut coude he pleyn by rote, j**
He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote,
Girt with a ceint of silk with barre's smale ;
Of his array telle I no lenger tale. 330
A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye ; Whit was his berd as is the dayesye ; Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. Wei loved he by the morwe a sope in wyn ; To lyven in delit was evere his wone, 335
For he was Epicurus owene sone, That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Was verraily felicitee parfit. An housholdere, and that a greet, was he ; Seint Julian was he in his contree; 340
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon ; A bettre envyned man was nowher noon. Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous, Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous It snewe'd in his hous of mete and drynke, 345
Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke After the sondry sesons of the yeer ; So chaunged he his mete and his soper. Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in rnuwe, And many a breern and many a luce in stuwe. 350 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Poynaunt and sharpe, and redy al his geere. His table dormant in his halle alway Stood redy covered al the longe day. At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; 355
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. An anlaas, and a gipser al of silk, Heeng at his girdel whit as morne milk. A shirreve hadde he been and a countour ; Was nowher such a worthy vavasour. 360
44 CHAUCER ! CANTERBURY TALES.
An HABERDASSHERE, and a CARPENTER, A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER, — And they were clothed alle in o lyveree Of a solempne and greet fraternitee ; Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was ; 365
Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras, But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel, Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel. Wei seme'd ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a geldehalle on a deys. 370
Everich for the wisdom that he kan Was shaply for to been an alderman. For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, And eek hir wyve's wolde it wel assente ; And elle's certeyn were they to blame. 375
It is ful fair to been y-cleped Madame, And goon to vigilies al bifore, And have a mantel roialliche y-bore.
A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones, To boille the chiknes with the marybones, 380
And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale ; Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale; He koude rooste and sethe and boille and f rye, Maken mortreux and wel bake a pye. But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, 385
That on his shyne a mormal hadde he ; For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste ; For aught I woot he was of Dertemouthe. He rood upon a rouncy as he kouthe, 390
In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun. The hoote soiner hadde maad his hewe al broun •
PEOLOGTTE. 45
And certeinly he was a good f el a we. 395
Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he i-dra\ve
Fro Burdeuxward, whil that the chapman sleep :
Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 400
But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
His stremes and his daungers hym bisides,
His herberwe and his moone, his lodemenage,
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
Hardy he was, and wys to undertake ; 405
With many a tempest hadde his herd been shake ;
He knew wel alle the havenes, as they were,
From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere,
And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne. 410
With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK ; In all this world ne was ther noon hym lik, To speke of phisik and of surgerye ; For he was grounded in astronomye. He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel 415
In houres by his magyk natureel. Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent Of hise ymages for his pacient. He knew the cause of everich maladye, Were it of hoot, or cold, or moyste, or drye, 420
And where they engendred and of what humour ; He was a verray parfit praktisour. The cause y-knowe and of his harm the roote, Anon he gaf the sike man his boote. Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaries 425
To sende him drogges and his letuaries, For ech of hem made oother for to wynne ; Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Wei knew he the olde Esculapius
And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus, 430
Olde Ypocras, Haly and Galyen,
Serapion, Razis and Avycen,
Averrois, Damascien and Constantyn,
Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertyn.
Of his diete mesurable was he, 435
For it was of no superfluitee,
But of greet norissyng and digestible.
His studie was but litel on the Bible.
In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
Lyne'd with taffata and with sendal. 440
And yet he was but esy of dispence ;
He kepte that he wan in pestilence :
For gold in phisik is a cordial,
Therfore he lovede gold in special.
A GOOD WIF was ther of biside BATHE, 445
But she was som-del deef and that was scathe. Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon, 450
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, That she was out of alle charitee. Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground ; I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound, That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 455
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed Ful streite y-teyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe ; Boold was hir face and fair and reed of hewe. She was a worthy womman al hir lyve ; Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, 460
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, . But ther-of nedeth nat to speke as nowthe ;
PROLOGUE.
47
And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem ;
She hadde passed many a straunge strem ;
At Home she hadde been and at Boloigne, 465
In Galice at Seint Jame, and at Coloigne ;
She koude rnuchel of wandrynge by the weye :
Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
Upon an amblere esily she sat,
Y-wympled wel, and on hir heed an hat 470
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe ;
A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe.
Ei f elaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe ; f remedies of love she knew per chaunce, 475
iFor she koude of that art the olde daunce.
A good man was ther of religioun, And was a POVRE PERSOUN OF A To UN ; But riche he was of hooly thoght and work ; He was also a lerne'd man, a clerk, 480
That Cristes Gospel trewely wolde preche : Hise parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. Benygne he was and wonder diligent, And in adversitee f ul pacient ;
And swich he was y-preved ofte sithes. 485
Ful looth were hym to cursen for hise tithes, But rather wolde he geven, out of doute, Unto his poure parisshens aboute, Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce : He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. 490
Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder, But he ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder, In siknesse nor in meschief to visite The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. 495
This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,
48 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
That firste he wroghte and afterward he taughte.
Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
And this figure he added eek therto,
That if gold ruste what shal iren doo ? 500
For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste ;
And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
Wei oghte a preest ensample for to geve 505
By his clennesse, how that his sheepe sholde lyve.
He sette nat his benefice to hyre
And leet his sheepe encombred in the myre,
And ran to Londoun unto Sei'nt Poules
To seken hym a chaunterie for soules, 510
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde ;
But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde,
So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie ;
He was a shepherde, and noght a mercenarie.
And though he hooly were and vertuous, 515
He was to synful man nat despitous,
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
But in his techy ng descreet and b3nygne,
To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
By good ensample, this was his bisynesse : 520
But it were any persone obstinat,
What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys ;
He waited after no pompe and reverence, 525
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore, and his apostles twelve,
He taughte, but first he folwed it hym-selve.
With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother ; 530
PROLOGUE. 49
A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loved he best, with al his hoole herte
At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
And thanne his neighcbore right as hym-selve. 535
He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
For Cristes sake for every povre wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
Hise tithes payde he ful faire and wel
Bothe of his propre swynk and his cateL 540
In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
Ther was also a REVE and a MILLERE, A SOMNOUR and a PARDONER als9, A MAUNCIPLE and myself ; ther were namo.
The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones, 545 Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones ; That proved wel, for over al ther he cam, At wrastlynge he wolde have awey the ram. He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, Ther nas no dore that he nolcle heve of harre, 550
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. His berd, as any sowe or fox, was reed, And therto brood, as though it were a spade. Upon the cope right of his nose he hade A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys, 555
Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys ; His nosethirles blake were and wyde ; A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde j His mouth as wyde was as a greet forneys. He was a janglere and a goliardeys, 560
And that was moost of synne and harlotries. Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries, And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. A whit cote and a blew hood wercd he ;
5() CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne, 565
And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple, Of which achatours myghte take exemple For to be wise in byynge of vitaille ; For, wheither that he payde or took by taille, 570
Algate he wayted so in his achaat That he was ay biforn and in good staat. Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace That swich a lewed manne's wit shal pace The wisdom of an heepe of lerned men 1 575
Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten, That weren of lawe expert and curious, Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond Of any lord that is in Engelond, 5^°
To maken hym lyve by his propre good In honour dettelees, but if he were wood, Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire, And able for to helpen al a shire
In any caas that myghte falle or happe ; 585
And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
The EEYE was a sclendre colerik man, His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan ; His heer was by his erys ful round y-shorn, His tope was doke'd lyk a preest biforn ; 590
Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene. Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne, Ther was noon auditour koude of him wynne, Wel wiste he, by the droghte and by the reyn, 595 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
PROLOGUE. 51
His lordes sheepe, his neet, his dayerye,
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,
Was hoolly in this reves governyng,
And by his covenant gaf the rekenyng 600
Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age ;
Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
Ther nas baillif, ne herde, nor oother hyne,
That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne ;
They were adrad of hym as of the deeth. 605
His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth,
With grene trees y-shadwed was his place.
He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
Ful riche he was a-stored pryvely,
His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly 610
To geve and lene hym of his owene good
And have a thank, and yet a gowne and hood.
In youthe he lerne'd hadde a good myster,
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This Reve sat upon a ful good stot 615
That was al pomely grey and highte Scot ;
A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
And by his syde he bar a rusty blade.
Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle,
Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620
Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute,
And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place, That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face, For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe. 625
As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, With scaled browe's blake and piled berd ; Of his visage children were aferd. Ther nas quyk-silver, ly targe, ne brymstoon, Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, 630
52 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte, That hym myghte helpen of the whelkes white, Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. Wei loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood ; 635 Than wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn. A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, That he had lerned out of som decree — 640
No wonder is, he hei de it al the day \ And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay Kan clepen Watte as wel as kan the pope. But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophiej 645
Ay Questio quid juris wolde he crie. He was a gentil harlot and a kynde ; A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde. He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn A good felawe to have his concubyn 650
A twelf monthe, and excuse hym atte f ulle ; And prively a fynch eek koude he pulle. And if he foond owher a good felawe, He wolde techen him to have noon awe, In swich caas, of the ercedekenes curs, 655
But if a mannes soule were in his purs ; For in his purs he sholde y-punysshed be : " Purs is the ercedekenes helle," seyde he. . But wel I woot he lyed right in dede ; Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede— 660
For curs wol slee, right as assoillyng savith — And also war him of a Significavit. In daunger hadde he at his owene gise The yonge girles of the diocise, And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
PROLOGUE. 53
A gerland liadcle he set upon his heed, As greet as it were for an ale-stake ; A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake.
With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, 670
That streight was coinen fro the court of Rome. Ful loude he song, " Com hider, love, to me," This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun, Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, 675
But smothe it heeng, as dooth a strike of flex ; By ounces henge hise lokke's that he hadde, Arid therwith he hise shuldres overspradcle ; But thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon ; But hood, for jolitee, ne wered he noon, 680
For it was trussed up in his wale't. Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet ; Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare. Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe ; 685
His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe Bret -ful of pardon, come from Rome all hoot. A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot ; No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have, As smothe it was as it were late shave ; 690
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare. But of his craft, fro Berwyk unto Ware Ne was ther swich another pardoner, For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, Which that, he seyde, was oure lady veyl ; 695
He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl That Sei'nt Peter hadde whan that he wente Upon the see til Jhesu Crist hym hente,
54 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700
But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye \
And thus with feyned flaterye and japes 705
He made the person and the peple his apes.
But, trewely to tellen atte laste,
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste ;
Wei koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
But alderbest he song an offertorie, 710
For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude ;
Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
Now have I toold you shortly in a clause 715
The staat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause Why that assembled was this compaignye In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye, That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. But now is tyrne to you for to telle 720
How that we baren us that ilke nyght, Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght ; And after wol I telle of our viage And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
But first, I pray yow of youre curteisye, 725
That ye narette it nat my vileynye, Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere To telle yow hir worde's and hir cheere, Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely, For this ye knowen al-so wel as I, 730
Whoso shal telle a tale after a man, He moote reherce, as ny as evere he kan,
PROLOGUE. 55
Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
Al speke he never so rudeliche or large,
Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe, 735
Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother,
He moot as wel seye o word as another.
Crist spak hymself f ul brode in hooly writ,
And wel ye woot no vileynye is it. 740
Eek Plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede,
" The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede."
Also I prey yow to forgeve it me Al have I nat set folk in hir degree Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde ; 745 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon, And to the soper sette he us anon, And served us with vitaille at the beste : Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste. 750
A semely man OURE HOOSTE was with-alle For to han been a marchal in an halle. A large man he was, with eyen stepe, A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe ; Boold of his speche, and wys and wel y-taught, 755 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught. Eek therto he was right a myrie man, And after soper pi eyen he bigan, And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges, Whan that we hadde maad our rekenynges ; 760
And seyde thus : " Now, lordynges, trewely, Ye been to me right welcome, hertely ; For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, I ne saugh this yeer so myrie a compaignye At ones in this herberwe as is now ; 765
56 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how. And of a myrthe I am right now bj^thoght, To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. " Ye goon to Canterbury ; God yow speede,
The blisful martir quite yow youre meede ! 770
And, wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye ;
For trewely confort ne myrthe is noon
To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon ;
And th erf ore wol I maken yow disport, 77 c
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
And if you liketh alle, by oon assent,
Now for to stonden at my juggement,
And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye, 780
Now by my fader soule that is deed,
But ye be myrie, smyteth of myn heed !
Hoold up youre hond withouten moore speche." Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche ;
Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 785
And graunted hym withouten moore avys, And bad him seye his verdit, as hym leste.
" Lordynges," quod he, " now herkneth for the beste, But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn ; This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790
That ech of yow to shorte with your weye, In this viage shal telle tales tweye, To Caunterburyward, I mean it so, And homward he shal tellen othere two, Of aventures that whilom han bifalle. 795
And which of yow that bereth hym beste of alle, That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas Tales of best sentence and moost solaas, Shal have a soper at oure aller cost, Heere in this place, sittynge by this post, 800
PROLOGUE. 57
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
And, for to make yow the moore mury,
I wol myselven gladly with yow ryde
Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde ;
And whoso wole my juggement withseye 805
Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye ;
And if ye vouche-sauf that it be so
Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
And I wol erly shape me therfore."
This thyng was graunted, and oure othe's swore 810 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also That he would vouche-sauf for to do so, And that he wolde been oure governour, And of our tales juge and reportour, And sette a soper at a certeyn pris, 815
And we wol reuled been at his devys In heigh^ and lough ; and thus by oon assent We been acorded to his juggement. And therupon the wyn was fet anon ; We dronken and to reste wente echon 820
Withouten any lenger taryynge.
Amorwe, whan that day gan for to sprynge, Up roos oure Hoost and was oure aller cok, And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok, And forth we riden, a litel moore than paas, 825
Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas ; And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste And seyde, " Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste : Ye woot youre foreward and I it yow recorde. If even-song and morwe-song accorde, 830
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale, Whoso be rebel to my juggement Shal paye for all that by the wey is spent t
58 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne. 835
He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
Sire Knyght," quod he, " my mayster and my lord,
Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
Cometh neer," quod he, " my lady Prioresse,
And ye, sire Clerk, lat be your shamefastnesse, 840
Ne studieth noght ; ley hond to, every man."
Anon to drawen every wight bigan, And, shortly for to tellen as it was, Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght, 845
Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght : And telle he moste his tale as was resoun By foreward and by composicioun, As ye han herd ; what nedeth worde's mo ? And whan this goode man saugh that it was so, 850 As he that wys was and obedient To kepe his foreward by his free assent, He seyde, " Syn I shal bigynne the game, What, welcome be the cut a Goddes name ! Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye." 855
And with that word we ryden forth oure weye, And he bigan with right a myrie cheere His tale anon, and seyde in this mane're
THE
MAN OF LAW'S TALE
(GROUP B. 1—1162.)
THE FORELINK The ivordes of the Ifoost to the compaignye
OURE Hoste saugh wel that the brighte sonne The ark of his artificial day hath ronne The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore, And though he were nat depe experte in loore, He wiste it was the eightetethe day 5
•J Of Aprill that is messager to May,
And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree Was, as in lengthe, the same quantitee That was the body erect that caused it ; And therfore by the shadwe he took his wit 10
That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte, Degrees was fy ve and fourty clombe on highte ; And for that day, as in that latitude, It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude ; And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. 15
" Lordynges," quod he, "I warne yow, al this route, The fourths party of this day is gon. Now for the love of God and of Seint John Leseth no tyme, as ferf orth as ye may.
59
CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day 20
And steleth from us, — what pryvely slepynge, And what thurgh necligence in cure wakynge,— As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn, Descendynge fro the montaigne into playn.
Wei kan Senec and many a philosophre 25
Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre ; For ' losse of catel may recovered be, But losse of tyme shendeth us/ quod he ; It wol nat come agayn, withouten drccle, Namoore than wole Malkynes maydenhede, 30
Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse ; Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.
Sire Man of Lawe," quod he, " so have ye blis, Telle us a tale anon, as forward is ; Ye been submytted thurgh youre free assent 35
To stonden in this cas at my juggement, Acquiteth yow and holdeth youre biheeste, Thanne have ye doon youre devoir atte leeste." " Hoste," quod he, " depardieux ich assente ; To breke forward is nat myn entente. 40
Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn ; For swich lawe as man geveth another wight, He sholde hym-selven usen it by right. Thus wole oure text ; but nathelees certeyn 45
I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn But Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly On metres and on rymyng craftily, Hath seyd hem, in swich Englissh as he kan, Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man. 5c
And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother, In o book, he hath seyd hem in another. For he hath toold of loveris up and doun Mo than Ovide made of mencioun
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 61
In hise Epistelles, that been ful olde. 55
What sholde I tellen hem, syn they ben tolde ?
In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione, And sithen hath he spoken of everichone Thise noble wyve's and thise loveris eke : Who so that wole his large volume seke, 60
Cleped the Seintes Legende of Oupide, Ther may he seen the large woundes wycle Of Lucresse and of Babilan Tesbee ; The swerd of Dido for the false Enee ; The tree of Phillis for hire Demophon ; 65
The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon, Of Adriane and of Isiphilee ; The bareyne yle stondynge in the see ; The dreynte Leandre for his Erro : The teeris of Eleyne ; and eek the wo 70
Of Brixseyde, and of the, Ladomya ; The crueltee of the, queene Medea, Thy litel children hangynge by the hals For thy Jason, that was in love so fals. O Ypermystra, Penolopee, Alceste, 75
Youre wifhede he comendeth with the beste.
But certeinly no word ne writeth he Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee, That loved hir owene brother synfully (Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy !) ; 80
Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius, How that the cursed kyng Antiochus Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede, That is so horrible a tale for to rede, Whan he hir threw upon the pavement ; 85
And therfore he, of ful avysement, Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions ; Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.
62 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
But of my tale how shall I doon this day ? 90
Me were looth be likned, doutelees, To Muses that men clepe Pierides, — Methamorphosios woot what I mene ; But, natbelees, I recche noght a bene Though I come after hym with ha we bake ; 95
I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make." And with that word he with a sobre cheere Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 63
THE PROLOGUE
The Prologe of the Manne of Lawes Tale
O hateful harm ! condicion of poverte ! With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid ! To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte ; * 101 If thou noon aske so soore artow y-woundid, That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid. Maugree thyn heed thou most for indigence Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence. 105
Thow blamest Crist, and seist ful bitterly,
He mysdeparteth richesse temporal ;
Thy neighebore thou wytest synfully,
And seist thou hast to lite and he hath al.
" Parfay" seistow, " somtyme he rekene shal, no
Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede,
For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede."
Herkne what is the sentence of the wise : " Bet is to dyen than have indigence ; " Thy selve neigh ebor wol thee despise ; 115
If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence ! Yet of the wise man take this sentence : " Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke ; " Be war therfore, er thou come to that prikke !
If thou be povre thy brother hateth thee, 120
And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, alias ! O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee, * O noble, O prudent folk, as in_this cas !
64 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
Youre bagges been nat fild with amb'es as,
But with sys cynk, that renneth for your chaunce ;
At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce. 126
Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges ;
As wise folk ye knowen all thestaat
Of regnes ; ye been fadres of tidynges
And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat. 130
I were right now of tales desolaat,
Nere that a marchant — goon is many a yeere —
Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere.
THE TALE
Heere legynneth The Man of Lawe his Tale PART I.
,1^'x
Tn Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe, 135 That wyde-where senten hir spicerye, Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of he we. Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe That every wight hath de'yntee to chaffare With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware. 140
Now fil it that the maistres of that sort Han shapen hem to Borne for to wende ; Were it for chapmanhode, or for disport, Noon oother message wolde they thider ser^de, - But comen hem-self to Borne, this is the ende ; 145 And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage For hire entente, they take hir herbergage.
t
Sojourned ban thise marchantz in that toun A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance ;
MAN OP LAW'S TALE. 65
And so bifel that thexcellent renoun 150
Of themperoures doghter, dame distance, Reported was, with every circumstance, Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse. £ ,
This was the commune voys of every man : 155
" Oure Emperour of Rome, God hym see ! A doghter hath that syn the world bigan, To rekene as wel hir goodness as beautee, Nas nevere swich another as is shee. I prey to God in honour hire susteene, 160
wolde she were of all Europe the queene !
•\> In hire is heigh beautee withoute pride, Yowthe without grenehede or folye ; To a lie hire werke's vertu is hir gyde ; Hnmblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye ; 165
She is mirour of alle curteisye, Hir herte is verray chambre of hcolynesse, Hir hand ministre of fredom for almesse,"
And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe ;
But now to purpos lat us turne agayn. 170
Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
And whan they han this blfcful mayden seyii,
Hoom to Surrye been they went ful favn,
And doon hir node's as they han dcon yoore,
And lyven in wele', I kan sey yow namoore. 175
Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace Of hym that was'the sowdan of Surrye ; For whan they cam from any strange place, He wolde of his benigne curteisye Mak hem good chiere, and bisily espye ' 180
phauc. II. §
66 CHAUCER I CANTERBURY TALES.
Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere
The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.
Amonges others thynges specially
Thise marchantz ban hym toold of dame distance,
So greet noblesse in erneste, cerioiisly, ^ , # , 185
That this sowdan hath caught so greet plesance
To han hir figure in his remembrance,
That all his lust, and al his bisy cure,
Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure.
Para venture in thilke large book, roo
Which that men clepe the hevene, y-writen was
With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
That he for love sholde han his deeth, alias !
For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
Is written, God woot, whoso koude it rede, 195
The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
In sterres many a wynter ther-biforn
Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,
Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born,
The strif of Thebes ; and of Ercules, 200
Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
The deeth ; but mennes wittes ben so dulle
That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.
This sowdan for his privee conseil sente, And, shortly of this matiere for 'to pace, 205
He hath to hem declared his entente, And seyde hem certein, but he myghte have grace To han Custance withinne a litel space, He nas but deed, and charged hem in bye To shapen for his lyf som remedye. 2 IQ
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 67
Diverse men diverse thynges seyden, They argument-en, casten up and doun ; Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden ; They speken of magyk and abusioun ; But finally, as in conclusioun, 215
They kan nat seen in that noon avantage, Ne in noon oother wey save ma? iage,
Thanne sawe they ther-inne swich difficultee
By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,
By-cause that ther was swich diversitee 220
Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn,
They trowe that ' no cristene prince wolde fayn
Wedden his child under oure lawes sweete,
That us were taught by Mahoun, oure prophete.'
And he answerde, " Rather than I lese 225
distance, I wol be cristned doutelees ; I moot been hires, I may noon oother chese. I prey yow holde youre argumentz in pees ; Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure ; 230
For in this wo I may nat longe endure."
What nedeth gretter dilatacioun ? I seye, by tretys and embassadrie, And by the popes mediacioun,
And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie, 235
That, in destruccioun of maumettrie And in encrees of Christes lawe deere, They been acorded, so as ye shal heere :
How that the sowdan and his baronage,
And alle hise liges, sholde y-cristned be, 240
And he shal han distance in mariage,
r
68 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
And certein gold, I noot what quantitee ;
And heer-to founden sufficient suretee.
This same accord was sworn on eyther syde.
Now, fair distance, almyghty God thee gyde ! 245
Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse, -^r That I sholde tellen al the purveiance r . That themperoure, of his grete noblesse, Hath shapen for his doghter, dame distance. Wei may men knowen that so greet ordinance F 250 May no man tellen in a litel clause, As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende, Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun, And oother folk ynowe, this is the ende ; 255
And notified is thurgh-out the toun That every wight, with greet devocioun, Sholde preyen Crist that he this manage !-' Receyve in gree and spede this viage.
The day is comen of hir departynge — 260
I seye, the woful day fatal is come, That ther may be no lenger tariynge, But forthward they hem dressen alle and some, distance, that was with sorwe al overcome, Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende, 265 I
For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.
Alias ! what wonder is it thogh she wepte,
That shal be sent to strange nacioun
Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte,
And to be bounden under subjeccioun 270
Of oon she knoweth nat his condicioun ?
;Housbondes been alle goode and han ben yoore ;
.That knowen wyves, I dar say yow na moore.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 69
' " Fader," she seyde, " thy wrecched child, Custance,
Thy yonge doghter, fostred up so softe, 275
And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesanpe
Over alle thyng, out-taken Crist on lofte,
distance, youre child, hire recomandeth ofte
Unto your grace ; for I shal to Surrye,
Ne shal I nevere seen vow moore with eye. 280
Alias ! unto the barbre nacioun
I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille ;
But Crist, that starf for our savacioun,
So geve me grace hise heestes to fulfille ;
I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille ! 285
Wommen are born to thraldom and penance
And to been under mannes governance."
I trowe at Troye, when Pirrus brak the wal Or Ilion breride, at Thebes the citee, „ Nat Rome fo'r the harm thurgh Hanybal, 290
That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre, Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee, As in the chambre was for hire departynge ; But forth she moot, wher so she wepe or synge.
<*» 0 firste moevyng, crueel firmament, 295
With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
And hurlest al from Est til Occident,
That naturelly wolde holde another way,
Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array
At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage, 300
That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
Of which the lord is helplees, falle, alias !
Out of his angle into the derkeste hous.
70 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
O Mars, 0 atazir, as in this cas ! 305
0 fieble" Moone, unhappy been thy pas ! Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved ; Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow wey ved,
Imprudent emperour of Rome, alias !
Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun ? 310
Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas ?
Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
Namely to folk of heigh condicioun ?
Noght whan a roote is of a burthe y-knowe 1
Alias ! we been to lewe'd or to slowe ! 315
To ship is brought this woful, faire mayde Solempnely, with every circumstance. " Now Jh'esu Crist be with yow alle," she sayde. Ther nys namoore but " Farewel, faire Custance ! " She peyneth hire to make good contenance ; 320
And forth I lete hire^saille in this manere, And turne I wole agayn to my matere.
The mooder of the sowdan, welle of vices, Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente, x How he wol lete hise olde sacrifices ; 325
And right anon she for hir conseil sente, And they been come to knowe what she mente ; And whan assembled was this folk in feere, She sette hire ifouh and seyde as ye shal heere.
" Lorde's," she seyde, " ye knowen everichon 330 How that my sone in point is for to lete The hooly lawes of oure Alkaron, Geven by Goddes message Makomete ; But oon avow to grete God I heete :" The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte 335
Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte !
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 71
What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe But thraldom to our bodies and penance, And afterward in helle to be drawe
F .For we reneyed Mahoun, oure creance? ,£. 340
But, lordes, "wql ye maken assurance As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loQret And I shal make us sauf for everemoore."
They sworen and assenten every man To lyve with hire, and dye, and by hire stonde, 345 And everich, in the beste wise he kan, r
To strengthen hire shal alle hise frendes fonde. And she hath this emprise y-take on honde Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse ; And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse : 350
p " We shul first feyne us cristendom to take — * Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite — And I shal swiche a feeste and revel make, That as I trowe I shal the sowdan quite ; For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white, 355
She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede, Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede."
0 sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee 1 Virago thou, Semyrame the secounde ! O serpent under femynynytee, 360
Lik to the serpent depe in helle y-bounde ! O feyned womman, al that may confounde UfVj (
Vertu and innocence thurgh thy malice Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice I
0 Sathan, envious syn thilke day 365
That thou were chace'd from oure heritage, Wei knowestow to wommen the olde way.
?2 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Thou madest Eva brynge us in servage ;
Thou wolt fordoon this cristen manage.
Thyn instrument so, weylawey the while ! 370
Makestow of wommen whan thou wolt bigile.
This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye, Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way. What sholde I in this tale lenger taryej She rydeth to the sowdan on a day, 375
And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay, And cristendom of preestes handes fonge, Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe ;
Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,
That she moste han the cristen folk to feeste : 380
" To plesen hem I wol do my labour."
The sowdan seith, " I wol doon at youre heeste ; "
And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste ;
So glad he was he nyste what to seye.
She kiste hir sone, and lioome she gooth hir weye.
PART II.
Arryved been this cristen folk to londe 386
In Surrye with a greet solempne route ; And hastifliche this sowdan sente his son_de First to his mooder,and all the regne aboute, And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute, 390
And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene, The honour of his regne to susteene.
Greet was the prees, and riche was tharray
Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere.
The mooder of the sowdan, riche and gay, 395
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 73
Recyveth hire with al so glad a cheere As any mooder myghte hir doghter deer.e, And to the nexte citee ther bisyde A softe paas solempnely they ryde.
Noght trowe I the triumphe of Julius, — 400
Of which that Lncan maketh swich a boost, —
Was roialler ne moore curius
Than was thassemblee of this blisf ul hoost ;
But this scorpioun, this wikked_goost,
The sowdanesse, ior all hire flaterynge, 405
Caste under this ful mortally to stynge.
The sowdan comth hymself soone after this
So roially that wonder is to telle,
And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis ;
And thus in murthe and joye I let hem dwelle •• 410
The fruyt of this matiere is that I telle.
Whan 'tyme cam men thoughte it for the beste
The revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste.
The tyme cam this olde sowdanesse Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde, 415
And to the feeste cristen folk hem dresse In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde. Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde, • And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse, But all to deere they boghte it, er the^ ryse. 420
0 sodeyn wo ! that evere art successour To worldly blisse. Spreynd is with bitternesse The ende of the joye of cure worldly labour ; Wo occupieth the fyn of cure- gladnesse. Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse : 421;
CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.
For schortly for to tellen at o word,
The sowdan and the cristen everichone
Been al to-hewe and stike'd at the bord, 430
But it were oonly dame distance allone.
This olde sowdanesse, cursed krone !
Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede,
For she hir-self wolde all the contree lede.
Ne was Surryen noon, that was converted, 435
That of the conseil of the sowdan woot,
That he nas al to-hewe er he asterted ;
And Custance han they take anon foot-hoot,
And in a ship all steerelees, God woot,
They han hir set and beden hire lerne saille 440
Out of Surrye agayhward to Ytaille.
A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee,
They han hire geven, and clothes eek she hadde,
And forth she sailleth in the salte see. 445
0 my Custance, ful of benignytee,
0 emperoures yonge doghter deere,
He that is lord of fortune be thy steere !
She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys Unto the croys of Crist thus seyde she : 450
" 0 cleere, 0 weleful auter, hooly croys, Keed of the "Lambes blood, ful of pitee, That wesshe the world* fro the olde'iniquitee, Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe That day that I shal drenchen in the depe ! 455
MAN OP LAW'S TALE. 75
Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
That oonly worthy were for to bere *
The Kyng of Hevene with his woundes newe,
The white Lamb that hurt was with the spere ;
Flemere of feendes out of hym and here, 460
On which thy iymes f eithf ully extenden,
Me helpe, and gif me myght my lyf tamenden."
Yeres and daye's fleteth this creature Thurghout the See of Grece unto the Strayte Of Marrok, as it was hire averiture. 465
On many a sory meel now may she bayte ; After hir deeth ful often may she wayte, Er that the wilde wawe's wol hire dryve Unto the place ther she shal arryve.
Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn 470 Eek at the f eeste ; — who myghte hir body save ? And I answere to that demande agayn : Who saved Danyel in the horrible cave, Ther every wight save he, maister and knave, Was with the leoun frete er he asterte? 475
No wight but God, that he bar in his herte.
God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle
In hirQ, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis.
Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,,
By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis, 480
Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is
To mannes wit, thattfor oure ignorance
Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance.
Now sith she was nat at the feeste y-slawe,
Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see 1 485
Who kepte Jonas in the fisshes. mawe,
76 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Til he was spouted up at Nynyvee ?
Wei may men knowe it was no wight but He
That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge,
With drye feet thurgh'-out the see passynge. 490
Who bad the foure spirites of tempest,
That power han tanoyen lond and see,
" Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree " ?
Soothly the comandotir of that was He 495
That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
As wel whan she awok as whan she slepte.
Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have Thre yeer and moore ? how lasteth hire vitaille ? Who fedde the Egypcien Marie in the cave 500
Or in desert 3 No wight but Crist, sanz faille. Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille • With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede. God sente his foyson at hir grete neede. .
She dryveth forth into oure occian 505
Thurgh-out oure wilde see, til atte laste
Under an hoold, that nempnen I ne kan,
Fer in Northumberlond the wawe hire caste,
And in the sond hir ship stike'd so faste
That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde. 510
The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde.
The constable of the castel doun is fare
To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
And foond this wery womman, f ul of care ;
He foond also the tresor that she broghte. 515
In hir langage mercy she bisoghte
The lyfe out of hire body for to twynne,
Hire to delivere of wo that she was nine.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 77
A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche,
But algates ther-by was she understonde. 520
The constable, whan hym lyst no lenger seche,
This woful womman broghte he to tlie londe ;
She kneleth doun and thanketh Goddes sonde ;
But what she was she wolde no man seye
For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye. 525
She seyde she was so mazed in the see
That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe.
The constable hath of hire so greet pitee,
And eke his wyf, that they wepen for routhe.
She was so diligent, withouten slouthe, 530
To serve arid plese everich in that place,
That alle hir loven that looken in hir face.
This constable and dame Hermengyld his wyf
Were payens, and that contree every-where ;
But Hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf, 535
And Custance hath so longe sojourned there,
In orisons with many a bitter teere,
Til Jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace
Dame Hermengyld, constablesse of that place.
In al that lond no cristen dorste route, 540
Alle cristen folk been fled fro that contree
Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
The plages of the North by land and see.
To Walys fledde the cristyanytee
Of olde Britons dwellynge in this ile ; 545
Ther was hir refut for the meene while.
But yet nere cristene Britons so exiled That ther nere somme that in hir privetee Honoured Crist and hethen folk bigiled ;
78 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three. 550
That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see But it were with thilke eye'n of his mynde, With whiche men seen after that they ben blynde.
Bright was the sonne as in that someres day, For which the constable and his wyf also 555
And distance han y-take the righte way Toward the see, a furlong wey or two, To playen and to romen to and fro ; And in hir walk this blynde man they mette, Croke'd and oold, with eye'n faste y-shette. 560
" In name of Crist," cride this olde Britoun,
" Dame Hermengyld, gif me my sighte agayn ! "
This lady weex affrayed of the soun,
Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,
Wolde hire for Jhesu Cristes love han slayn ; 565
Til Custance made hire boold and bad hire wirche
The wyl of Crist as doghter of his chirche.
The constable weex abasshed of that sight, And seyde, " What amounteth all this fare 1 " Custance answerde, " Sire, it is Cristes myght, 570 That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare ; " And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare, That she the 'constable, er that it were eve, Converteth and on Crist maketh hym bileve.
This constable was no-thyng lord of this place 575
Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
But kepte it strongly many wyntres space
Under Alia, kyng of al Northhumbrelond,
That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel heere; 580
But turne I wole agayn to my mateere,
MAN OP LAW'S TALE. 79
Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile, Saugh of distance al hire perfeccioun, And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while, And made a yong kriyght, that dwelte in that toun, Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun, 586
That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille But he of hire myghte ones have his wille.
He woweth hire, but it availleth noght,
She wolde do no synne by no weye ; 590
And for despit he compassed in his thoght
To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye.
He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte
In Hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte. 595
Wery, for-waked in hire orisouns,
Slepeth Custance, and Hermengyld also.
This knyght, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,
All softely is to the bed y-go,
And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo, 600
And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
And wente his wey, ther God geve hym meschance !
Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn
And eek Alia, that kyng was of that lond,
And saugh his wyf despitously y-slayn, 605
For which ful ofte he weep and wrong his hond,
And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
By dame Custance ; alas ! what myghte she seye ?
For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
To kyng Alia was toold al this meschance, 610
And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise ; That in a ship was founden this Custance,
80 CHAUCER ' CANTERBURY TALES.
As heer-biforn that ye ban herd devyse.
The kynges hert of pitee gan agryse,
When he saugh so benigne a creature 615
Falle in disese and in mysa venture.
For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght, So stant this innocent bifore the kyng. ^ This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght, Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng ; But, nathelees, ther was greet moornyng 621
Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse That she hath doon so greet a wikkednesse ;
For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,
And lovynge Hermengyld right as hir lyf. 625
Of this bar witnesse everich in that hous,
Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf.
This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf
Of this witnesse, and thoghte he would enquere
Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 630
Alias ! Custance, thou hast no champioun, Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway ! But he that starf for our redempcioun, And bond Sathan, — and yet lith ther he lay, — So be thy stronge champion this day ! 635
For, but if Crist open myracle kithe, Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.
She sit hire doun on knees and thus she sayde :
" Immortal God that savedest Susanne
Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde, 640
Mary I meene, doghter to Sei'nt Anne,
Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne,
If I be giltlees of this felonye
Mv socour be, for ellis shal I dye ! "
MAN OP LAW'S TALE. 81
Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face 645
Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace, And swich a colour in his face hath had, Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad Amonges alle the faces in that route ? 650
So stant Custance, arid looketh hire aboute.
0 queenes lyvynge in prosperitee, Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone, Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee ! An emperoures dbghter stant allone ; 655
She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone. O blood roial, that stondest in this drede, Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede.
This Alia kyng hath swich compassioun, As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, 660
That from hise eye'n ran the water doun. " Now hastily do fecche a book," quod he, " And if this knyght wol sweren how that she This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse Whom that we wole that shal been our justise." 665
A Briton book written with Evaungiles
Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
She gilty was, and in the meene whiles
An hand hym smoot upon »the nekke boon,
That doun he fil atones as a stoon ; 670
And bothe hise eye'n broste out of his face
In sighte of every body in that place.
A voys was herd in general audience, And seyde, " Thou hast desclaundred, giltelees, The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence ; 675
Chauc. II. 6
CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees." Of this mervaille agast was al the prees ; As mazed folk they stoden everichone For drede of wreche, save distance allone.
Greet was the drede, and eek the repentance, 680 Of hem that hadden Vronge suspecioun Upon this sely, innocent distance ; And for this miracle, in conclusioun, And by Custances mediacioun,
The kyng, and many another in that place, 685
Converted was — thanked be Cristes grace !
This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe By juggement of Alia, hastifly ; And yet distance hadde of his deeth greet routhe ; And after this Jhesus, of his mercy, 690
Made Alia wedden ful solempnely This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene ; And thus hath Crist y-inaad distance a queene.
But who was woful — if I shal nat lye — Of this weddyng but Donegild and na mo, 695
The kynges mooder ful of tirannye ? Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo ; She wolde noght hir sone had do so. Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take So strange a creature unto his make. 700
Me list nat of the chaf ne of the stree Maken so long a tale as of the corn. What sholde I tellen of the roialtee At mariage, or which cours goth biforn, Who bloweth in the trunipe, or in an horn ? 705
The fruyt of every tale is for to seye ; They ete and drynke and daunce and synge and pleye.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 83
Ojy&<^
On hire he gat a knave childe anon ; 715
And to a bisshop and his constable eke He took his wyf to kepe whan he is gon To Scotlondward, his foomen for to seke. Now faire distance, that'is so humble and meke, So longe is goon with childe, til that stille 720
She halt hire chambre, abidyng Cristes wille.
The tyme is come, a knave child she beer ;
Mauritius at the fontstoon they hym calle.
This constable dooth forth come a messageer,
And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was Alle, *' ^7*25
How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,
And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.
He taketh the lettre and forth he gooth his weye.
This messager, to doon his a vantage, Unto the kynges mooder rideth s withe, 730
And salueth hire ful faire in his langage : " Madame," quod he, " ye may be glad and blithe And thanke God an hundred thousand sithe, My lady queene hath child withouten doute, To joye and blisse of al this regne aboute. 735
Lo, heere the lettres sele'd of this thyng,
That I moot bere with al the haste I may.
If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng,
I am youre servant bothe nyght and day."
Donegild answerde, "As now, at this tyme, nay; 740
But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste.
To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste."
This messager drank sadly ale and wyn, And stolen were hise lettres pryvely Out of his box whil he sleep as a swyn, 74^
84 CHAUCER I CANTERBURY TALES.
And countrefeted was ful subtilly Another lettre, wroght ful synfully, Unto the kyng direct of this mateere Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.
The lettre spak, the queene delivered was 750
Of so horrible a feendly creature,
That in the castel noon so hardy nas
That any while dorste ther endure.
The mooder was an elf, by aventure
¥~-comen, by charmes or by sorcerie, 755
And every wyght hateth hir compaignye.
Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had seyn, But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore ; But of his owene hand he wroot agayn : " Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore 760
To me that am now lerne'd in his loore ! Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce j My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.
Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir,
And eek my wyf unto myn hoom-comynge ; 765
Crist whan hym list may sende me an heir
Moore agreable than this to my likynge."
This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,
Which to the messager was take soone,
And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone. 770
0 messager, f ulfild of dronkenesse, Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay, And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse. Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay ; Thy face is turned in a newe array. 775
^Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route, Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 85
0 Donegild ! I ne have noon Englissh digne Unto thy malice and thy tirannye, And therfore to the feend I thee resigne, 780
Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie ! Fy, mannysh, fy,-0 nay, by* God, I lye,— Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle, Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle.
This messager comth fro the kyng agayn, 785
And at the kynges moodres court he lighte ; And she was of this messager ful fayn, And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte. He drank and wel his girdel underpighte ; He slepeth and he snoreth in his gyse 790
All nyght, unto the sonne gan aryse.
Eft were hise lettres stolen everychon
And countrefeted lettres in this wyse :
" The king comandeth his constable anon,
Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse, 795
That he ne shold'e suffren, in no wyse, '
distance in- with his reawme for tabyde
Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde ;
But in the same ship as he hire fond,
Hire and hir yonge sone and al hir geere 800
He sholcle putte, and croude hire fro the lond,
And chargen hire she never eft coome theere."
0 my distance, wel may thy goost have feere
And slepynge in thy dreem been in penance,
Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance. 805
This messager on morwe, whan he wook, Unto the castel halt the nexte way, And to the constable he the lettre took ;
CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
And whan that he this pitous lettre say, Ful ofte he seyde, " Alias ! and weylaway ! 810
Lord Crist," quod he, " how may this world endure ? So ful of synne is many a creature !
0 myghty God, if that it be thy wille, Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille, 815
And wikked folk regne in prosperitee ? 0 goode Custance ! Alias, so wo is me That I moot be thy tormentour or deye On shames deeth, ther is noon oother weye."
Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place, 820 Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente ; And Custance, with a deedly pale face, The f erthe day toward the ship she wente ; But nathelees she taketh in good entente The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde 825 She seyde, " Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde !
He that me kepte fro the false blame,
While I was on the lond amonges yow,
He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame
In salte see, al thogh I se noght how. 830
As stronge as evere he was he is yet now.
In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere,
That is to me my seyl and eek my steere."
Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,
And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde, 835
" Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm."
With that hir kerchef of hir heed she breyde,
And over hise litel eyen she it leyde ;
And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
And into hevene hire eyen up she caste. 840
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 87
" Mooder," quod she, " and mayde, bright Marie, Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement Mankynd* was lorn, and damned ay to dye, For which thy child was on a croys y-rent ; Thy blisfui eyen sawe al his torment ; 845
Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene Thy wo and any wo man may sustene,
Thow sawe thy child y-slayn bifore thyne eyen,
And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay !
Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen, 850
Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may,
Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
Eewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
Buest on every reweful in distresse.
0 litel child, alias ! what is thy gilt, 855
That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee ? Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt ? O mercy, deere constable," quod she, " As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee ; And if thou darst nat saven hym for blame, 860
Yet kys hym ones in his fadres name ! "
Ther with she looked bakward to the londe, And seyde, " Farewel, housbonde routhelees ! " And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde Toward the ship — hir folweth al the prees — 865
And evere she preyeth hire child to hold his pees ; And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente She blesseth hire, and into ship she wente.
Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede, Habundantly for hire ful longe space; 870
And othere necessaries that sholde nede
88 CHAUCER' CANTERBURY TALES.
She hadde ynogh, heryed be Goddes grace !
For wynd and weder almighty God purchace,
And brynge hire hoom ! I kan no bettre seye ;
But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. 875
PART III.
Alia the kyng comth hoom soone after this Unto his castel of the which I tolde, And asketh where his wyf and his child is. The constable gan aboute his herte colde, And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde, 880
As ye han herd— I kan telle it no bettre — And sheweth the kyng his seel and [eek] his lettre j
And seyde, w Lord, as ye comanded me
Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon certein."
This messager tormented was til he 885
Moste biknowe, and tellen plat and pleyn,
Fro nyght to nyght in what place he had leyn ;;
And thus by wit and sobtil enquerynge
Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.
The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, 890
And all the venym of this cursed dede ; But in what wise certeinly I noot. Theffect is this, that Alia, out of drede, His mooder slow — that may men pleynly rede — For that she traitoure was to hire ligeance. 895
Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschance.
The sorwe that this Alia nyght and day Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also, Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 89
But now wol I unto Custance go, goo
That fleteth in the see in peyne and wo Fyve yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde, Er that hir ship approched unto the londe.
Under an hethen castel atte laste, Of which the name in my text noght I fynde, 905
Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste. Almyghty God, that saved al mankynde, Have on Custance and on hir child * som mynde, That fallen is in hethen hand eft-soone, In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone. 910
Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight To gauren on this ship, and on Custance ; But, shortly, from the castel on a nyght The lorde's sty ward, — God geve him meschance ! — A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance, 915
Came into the ship allone, and seyde he sholde Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon ; Hir child cride, and she cride pitously ; But blisful Marie heelp hire right anon, 920
For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily The theef fil over bord al sodeynly, And in the see he dreynte for vengeance ; And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
0 foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende ! 925
Nat only that thou feyntest manne's mynde, But verraily thou wolt his body shende. Thende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde, Is compleyny^ig, Hou many oon may men fynde That noght for werk somtyme, but for thentente 930 To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente !
90 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
How may this wayke womman ban this strengthe
Hire to defende agayn this renegat ?
O Golias, immeasurable of lengthe,
Hou myghte David make thee so maat ? 935
So yong and of armure so desolaat,
Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face ?
Wei may men seen it nas but Goddes grace.
Who gaf Judith corage or hardynesse To sleen hym, Oloferne, in his tente, H^>^ 940
And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse The peple of God ? I seye for this entente, That right as God spirit of vigour sente To hem, and saved hem out of meschance, So sente he myght and vigour to Custance. 945
Forth gooth hir ship thurgh out the narwe mouth Of Jubaltare and Septe, dryvynge alway, Som tyme West, som tyme North and South, And som tyme Est, ful many a wery day, Til Crist es mooder — blessed be she ay !-— 950
Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse, To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.
Now lat us stynte of Custance but a throwe, And speke we of the Eomayn emperour, That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe 9*5
The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour, I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse, That at the feeste leet sleen both moore and lesse.
For which this emperour hath sent anon 960
His senatour with roial ordinance, And othere lordes, God woot many oon,
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 91
On Surryens to taken heigh vengeance. They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance Ful many a day, but, shortly, this is thende, 965
Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
This senatour repaireth with victorie To Rome-ward, saillynge ful roially, And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the sty)rie, In which Custance sit ful pitously. 970
No thyng he knew ne what she was, ne why She was in swich array ; ne she nyl seye Of hire estaate, thogh she sholde deye.
He bryngeth hire to Rome, and to his wyf
He gaf hire, and hir yonge sone also; 975
And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.
Thus kan oure lady bryngen out of wo
Wof ul Custance and many another mo ;
And longe tyme dwelled she in that place
In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace. 980
The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
But for all that she knew hire never the moore.
I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
But to kyng Alia, which I spake of yoore,
That wepeth for his wyf and siketh soore, 985
I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
Under the senatoures governance.
Kyng Alia, which that hadde his mooder slayn, Upon a day fil in swich repentance, That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn, 990
To Rome he comth to receyven his penance, And putte hym in the popes ordinance
92 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
In heigh and logh ; and Jhesu Crist bisoghte Forgeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
The fame anon thurghout the toun is born, 995
How Alia kyng shal comen on pilgrymage, By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn ; For which the senatour, as was usage, Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage, As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence, icoo
As to doon any kyng a reverence.
Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour To kyng Alia, and he to hym also ; Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour ; And so bifel that in a day or two 1005
This senatour is to kyng Alia go To feste, and, shortly, if I shal nat lye, distances sone wente in his compaignye.
Som men wolde seyn at requeste of Custance This senatour hath lad this child to feeste ; 1010
I may nat tellen every circumstance ; Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste ; But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste Biforn Alia, durynge the metes space, The child stood, lookynge in the kynge's face, 1015
This Alia kyng hath of this child greet wonder, And to the senatour he seyde anon, " Whos is that faire child, that stondeth yonder ? " " I noot," quod he, " by .God and by Seint John ! A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon, 1020
That I of woot ; " but shortly, in a stounde, He tolde Alia how that this child was f ounde.
MAN OF LAW'S TALE. 93
" But God woot," quod this senatour also,
" So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
Ne saugla I nevere as she, ne herde of mo, 1025
Of worldly wommen, mayde ne of wyf ;
I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a kriyf
Thurgh out hir brest, than ben a womman wikke ;
There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke."
Now was this child as lyke unto distance 1030
As possible is a creature to be. This Alia hath the face in remembrance Of dame Custance, and theron mused he, If that the childes mooder were aught she That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte, IO35
And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.
" Parfay ! " thoghte he, " fantome is in myn heed !
I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,
That in the salte see my wyf is deed."
And afterward he made his argument : 1040
" What woot I, if that Crist have hyder y-sent
My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente
To my contree fro thennes that she wente ? "
And after noon hoom with the senatour
Goth Alia for to seen this wonder chaunce. 1045
This senatour dooth Alia greet honour,
And hastifly he sente after Custaunce ;
But trusteth weel hire liste nat to daunce,
Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde ;
Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde. 1050
WThan Alia saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette, And weep, that it was routhe for to see ; For at the firste look he on hire sette>
94 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
He knew wel verraily that it was she ;
And she for sorwe as doumb stant as a tree; 1055
So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
When she remembred his unkyndenesse.
Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte.
He weep, and hym excuseth pitously :
" Now God," quod he, " and alle hise halwes brighte,
So wisly on my soul as have mercy, 1061
That of youre harm as giltelees am I
As is Maurice my sone, so lyk your face ;
Elles the feend me fecche out of this place ! "
Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne, 1065 Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse ; Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne, Thnrgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse. I pray yow all my labour to relesse ; I may nat tell hir wb until to-morwe, 1070
I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
But finally, whan that the sothe is wist,
That Alia giltelees was of hir wo,
I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist ;
And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two, 1075
That, save the joye that lasteth everemo,
Ther is noon lyk that any creature
Hath seyn, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,
In relief of hir longe pitous pyne, 1080
That he wolde preye hir fader specially,
That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
To voucHe-sauf som day with hym to dyne.
She preyde hym eek he wolde, by no weye,
Unto hir fader no word of hire seye. 1085
MAN OP LAW'S TALE. 95
Som men wold seyn how that the child Maurice Dooth this message unto the emperour ; But, as I gesse, Alia was nat so nyce, To hym, that was of so sovereyn honour As he that is of cristen folk the flour, 1090
Sente any child ; but it is bet to deeme He wente himself, and so it may well seeme.
This emperour hath graunted gentilly To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte ; And wel rede I, he looked bisily 1O95
Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte. Alia goth to his in, and, as him oghte, Arrayed for thig feste in every wise As ferforth as his kohnyng may suffise.
The morwe cam, and Alia gan hym dresse, noo And eek his wyf, this emperour to meete ; And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse ; And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete, She lighte doun and falleth hym to feete. " Fader," quod she, " youre yofige child, Custance, 1105 Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.
I am youre doghter Custance," quod she,
" That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.
It am I, fader, that in the salte see
Was put allone, and dampned for to dye. mo
Now, goode fader, mercy, I yow crye !
Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,
But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse."
Who kan the pitous joye tellen al Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus y-mette ? 1115 But of my tale make an ende I shal ;
96 CHAUCEE : CANTERBURY TALES.
The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette
This glade folk to dyner they hem sette.
In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
A thousand foold wel nioore than I kan telle. 1120
This child Maurice was sithen emperour Maad by the pope, and ly ve'd cristenly ; To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour ; But I lete all his storie passen by ; Of Oustance is my tale specially. 1 125
In olde Romane geestes may men fynde Maurices lyf, I bere it noght in mynde.
This kyng Alia, whan he his tyme say, With his distance, his hooly wyf so sweete, To Engelond been they come the righte way, 1130
Wher as they lyye in joye and in quiete ; But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete. foye of this world for tyme wol nat abyde, From day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.
Who lyved evere in swich delit o day 1 135
That hym ne moeved outher conscience,
Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,
Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence ?
I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
That litel while in joye or in plesance 1 140
Lasteth the blisse of Alia with Custance ;
For Deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse,
Out of this world this kyng Alia he hente,
For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse, 1 145
Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse !
And dame Custance, finally to seye,
Toward the toun of Home goth hir weye.
MAN OP LAW'S TALE. 97
To Rome is come this hooly creature, And fynt hir freendes ther bothe hoole and sounde. 1150 Now is she scaped al hire aventure, And whan that she hir fader hath y-founde, Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde ; Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte ^blithe, She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe* 1155
In vertu and in hooly almus dede They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende* Til deeth departed hem this lyf they lede : And fareth now weel, my tale is at an ende. Now Jhesu Crist, that of his myght may sende 1160 Joye after wo, governs us in his grace, And kepe us alle that been in this place ! Amen>
Chauc. 1L
NOTES ON "THE PKOLOGUE."
1. soote: sweet, = swetc in 1. 5, from O.E. (Old English) swotc. adv., and swete, adj., respectively ; the e in the latter is an i- mutation of the original vowel o of the former. Both are adjectives here ; hence it is evident that there had been confusion of forms. A double vowel is always long.
In writing the opening lines Chaucer probably had in mind the beginning of Book iv. of Guido delle Colonne's Historia Trojana.
6. heeth. : not used elsewhere by Chaucer than here and in 1. 606. The number of <; uniques " in The Prologue is unusually large : in the ' whole Prologue it is about six times the average of the whole of his works, in the first seven hundred lines the proportion is considerably greater.
7. croppes : tops, not crops.
yonge: the final sounded c denotes the weak form of the adjective after the definite article.
8. " The difficulty here really resides in the expression ' his halfe cours,' which means what it says — viz., his ' half -course ' — and not, as Tyrwhitt unfortunately supposed, 'half his course.' The results of the two explanations are quite different. Taking Chaucer's own expression as it stands, he tells us that, a little past the middle of April, ' the young sun has run his half-course in the Ram,' Turning to fig. 1 [in The Astrolabe, ed. SKEAT] we see that, against the month ' Aprilis,' there appears in the circle of zodiacal signs the latter half (roughly speaking) of Aries, and the former half of Taurus. Thus the sun in April runs a half-course in the Earn and a half-course in the Bull. ' The former of these was completed,' says the poet ; which is as much as to say, that it was past the \\th of April. The sun had, in fact, only just completed his course through the first of the twelve signs, as the said course was supposed to begin at the vernal equinox. This is why it may well be called 'the yonge sonne.'"— -Chaucer's Astrolabe, p. xlvii., ed. SKEAT (who has the credit of having solved this difficulty).
y-ronne : O.E. gerunnen. Two things are to be noted : (1) y- or i- in Chaucer represents the O.E. prefix ye- ; (2) o in Chaucer often stands for the sound of short u (as in pull), as it still does in modern English (e.g. son, one, won, wont, nothing, comfort), although the sound has shifted in the meantime. This o for u is due to the Anglo- Norman scribes, who respelt English in the thirteenth century, and
98
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 99
adopted this device to distinguish u from w, which were very much alike in the MSS.
12. thanne: correlative to zt'/ta/i in 1. 1.
13. palmeres : the difference between palmers and pilgrims was, that the pilgrim had " some dwelling-place, a palmer had none ; the pilgrim travelled to some certain place, the palmer to all, and not to any one in particular ; the pilgrim might go at his own charge, the palmer must profess wilful poverty ; the pilgrim might give over his profession, the palmer must be constant " (BLOUNT).
17. martir: Thomas a Becket.
18. seeke: Boccaccio's invention of a company fleeing from the plague is not very far from Chaucer's thought of a company returning tbeir thanks, by means of a pilgrimage, for their happy recovery from an epidemic. — TEN BKINK.
20. Tabard : " It is the sign of an inn in Southwark by London, within which was the lodging of the Abbot of Hyde by Winchester. This is the hostelry where Chaucer and the other pilgrims met together, and, with Henry Baily their host, accorded about the manner of their journey to Canterbury. And whereas through time it hath been much decayed, it is now by Master J. Preston, with the Abbot's house thereto adjoined, newly repaired, and with convenient rooms much increased, for the receipt of many guests." — SPEGHT'S Glossary to Chaucer, 1598.
27. toward : scan with the accent on the first syllable.
31. ther as : to the place that — Canterbury.
37. resoun : accented on the second syllable here, but on the first in 1. 271. Words of French origin often retain their original accent in Chaucer, especially those in -oun, -our, -age, -ure ; but, as in the case of this word, Chaucer's verse also reflects the struggle that was taking place between the original and the Anglicised accent.
40. wMche : of what sort.
43. Knyght : it was a common thing in this age for knights to seek employment in foreign countries which were at Avar. " The course of adventures of our knight maj Chaucer's age, who, for anytl
have been upon this very \ w . _r__F_,
quoted from Leland's Itinerary, stating that Matheu de Gourney had been at the battles of Benamaryn, Crccy, Poitiers, etc., at the siege of Algezir, and several other battles and sieges, in which he nobly gained great praise and honour. " Why Chaucer should have chosen to bring his knight from Alexandria and Lettowe rather than from Crecy and Poitiers, is a problem difficult to resolve, except by supposing that the slightest services against infidels were in those days more honourable than the most splendid victories over Christians." — TYRWHITT. A some what similar epitaph is given in Todd's Illustrations of Chaucer, p. 227.
Lounsbury thinks Chaucer may have had the Duke of Hereford, afterwards Henry IV., in his mind when describing the Knight. " In his youth he had taken an active part in the operations that went on during the Middle Ages of turning inoffensive heathen into rather
100 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
savage Christians. . ; . In 1390, at the age' of twenty -four, he had fought against the Mohammedans of Barbaiy. . . . We are told by Thomas of Walsingham that with the help of the Marshal of Prussia he conquered the army of the King of Lettow. ... No one will pretend indeed that the portrait drawn in The Prologue of the Knight — who is specially celebrated as fighting for the Christian faith— can have been designed even remotely as a representation of the deeds of Henry IV. The events in which the former is described as sharing happened before the latter was born. Still it is conceivable that in the portrayal of the character Chaucer may have had in mind the son of his patron." — Studies in Chaucer, i. 91-3.
worthy : distinguished, either for rank, wealth, achievements, or character ; hence sometimes well-to-do, respectable. Cf. 11. 47, 50, 68, 217, 459.
51. Alisaundre : Alexandria in Egypt was won, and immediately after abandoned, in 1365, by Pierre de Lusignan, King of Cyprus, who, according to his epitaph in Froissart. " conquered in battle the cities of Alexandria in Egypt, Tripoli in Syria, Layas in Armenia, Satalia in Turkey, with several other cities and towns, from the enemies of the faith of Jesus Christ."
52. hadde the bord bigonne : had been placed at the head of the table — the usual compliment to extraordinary merit. That this is the true explanation is proved by numerous occurrences of the same or a similar phrase, one or two of which are here given, because this passage has been the subject of much discussion.
" And he, which had his prise deserved, After the kinges owne word, Was rnaad beginne a middel bord,"
i.e. was made to sit at the head of the middle table.— Confessio Amantis, ed PATJLI, viii. 3, 299.
" Thow schelt this dai be priour,
And be-ginne our deis" (i.e. dais) [11. 2122-3] ; and in another text : —
" Palmer, thou semest best to me, Therfore men shal worshyp the : Begyn the borde, I the pray " [11. 1955-7].— Sir Beues offfamtoun, p. 104, E.E.T.S., ed. KOLBING.
53. Pruce : when our military men wanted employment, it was usual for them to go and serve in Pruce, or Prussia, with the knights of the Teutonic order, who were in a state of constant warfare with their heathen neighbours in Lettow (Lithuania), Kuce (Russia), and else where. — TYRWH ITT.
56. Gernade: Granada.
57. Algezir: the city of Algezir, modern Algeciras, on the south coast of Spain, 36° 8' N., 5° 29' W., was taken from the Moorish king of Granada in 1344, and among those who came to assist at the siege in 1343 the Earls of Derby and Salisbury are particularly named.
Belmarye : Froissart reckons among the Moorish kingdoms in Africa : " Tunis, Bugia, Morocco, Benmarin, Treme?en (1. 62)."
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 101
58. Lyeys, Satalye : Pierre de Lusignan, King of Cyprus, soon after his accession to the throne in 1352, had taken Batalye, the ancient Attalia, modern Adalia, on the south coast of Asia Minor, 36° 55' N., 30° 47' E. ; and in another expedition about 1367 he had made himself master of the town of Layas in Armenia, modern Ayas. The Knight had therefore seen at least twenty -four years' service : Algezir 1343, Lyeys 1367.
59. the Crete See : the Mediterranean ; so, frequently, in the Bible ; see Ezekiel xlvii. 15, 19,20.
60. armee : armed expedition. Two MSS. have ari/vet arrival or disembarkation of troops, for which Professor Skeat thinks armee is a scribal misreading.
62. Tramyssene : modem TlemQen in Algeria, 34° 52' N., lc 18' W. ; see note on 1. 57.
65. Palatye : Palathia in Anatolia, Asia Minor. Froissart gives an account of several Christian barons in those parts, who kept possession of their lands after the Turkish conquest, but paid tribute.
70. In days when double negatives added force to the expression, Chaucer found it necessary to crowd four of them into two lines to indicate in the strongest possible way the charm of manner which was the chief characteristic of the knightly character, the chivalric courtesy which, while guarding the man's own dignity, respected fully the rights and feelings of the lowest with whom he was brought into personal contact.— LOUNSBURY.
Chaucer had been a soldier himself, and seems to have idealised the profession of arms; at least, it is a noteworthy fact that, while lie has one good man among his very miscellaneous assortment of clerics, his soldiers are, almost without exception, fine characters.
71. no maner wight: nobody whatever. Note the M.E. (Middle English) use of maner with a kind of appositive genitive.
74. hors : plural, as in 1. 598. Long-stemmed neuters in O.E. remained unchanged in the plural ; see yecr, 1. 82.
75. wered : a weak preterite. Modern English has incorrectly made wear a strong verb through analogy with such verbs as bear.
gypon : short vest, doublet. The student should if possible consult Fairholt's Costume in England, which has illustrations of many words used in The Prologue.
76. habergeon : it was a defense of an inferior description to the hauberk [of which habergeon is a diminutive] ; but when the intro duction of plate-armour in the reign of Edward III. had supplied more convenient and effectual defenses for the legs and thighs, the long skirt of the hauberk became superfluous ; from that period the habergeon alone appears to have been worn. — WAY.
78. his pilgrymage : the pilgrimage he had vowed if he returned home safe and sound.
81. crulle, etc.: as curly as if they had been treated by some curling process. Modern English has transposed the r, hence curl.
85. chyvachie : properly means an expedition on horseback, but is often used generally for any military expedition.
102 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
86. Flaundres, Artoys, Pycardie : provinces in the north of France. See Gardiner's Historical Atlas.
87. as of so litel space : considering his short term of service.
88. lady : lady's, as in 1. 695. Feminine nouns never formed their genitive in s in O.E. ; hence <: Lady Day, Friday," as compared with " Lord's Day, Thursday."
100. For the customs of chivalry see Sir Walter Scott's Essay on Chivalry.
101. Yeman: as a title of service or office, yeoman is used in a statute of Edward III. to denote a servant of the next degree above a g arson or groom. The title of yeoman was given, in a secondary sense, to people of middling rank not in service. The appropriation of the word to signify a small landholder is more modern. — TYEWHITT.
he : Tyrwhitt says this pronoun relates to the Knight, as " Chaucer would never have given the son an attendant when the father had none." This is certainly an error, due to his overlooking the fact that both the Squire and his servant were the Knight's servants, just as the three horses belonged to him (1. 74).
103. grene : Lincoln green.
104. pocok arwes. Ascham, in his Toxophilus, is not complimentary to peacock-feathered arrows : ;< There is no feather but only of a goose that hath all commodities in it."
109. not-heed : not " nut-head," as it has often been explained, but a " closely cropped head," as is proved by numerous occurrences of the verb nott = to crop, poll. Shakespeare uses notyated in the same sense in 1 Henry IV., II. iv. 78. Roundhead is a later equivalent of them both.
111. bracer: an archer's gauntlet. "Takel," "bracer," "bokeler," " bawdryk," " forster," occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
115. Cristophere : a figure of St. Christopher, used as a brooch, and worn for good luck. The figure of St. Christopher was looked upon with particular reverence among the middle and lower classes, and was supposed to possess the power of shielding the person who looked on it from hidden dangers. — T. WRIGHT.
116. bawdryk : "a belt passing mostly round one side of the neck, and under the opposite arm."
120. seint Loy: Saint Eligius. The Carter in The Friar's Tale swears by " Seint Loy " (D. 1564), as the patron saint of farriers and horses. " But what," asks Professor Hales in folia Litvraria, p. 102 foil., "is his saintship to the Prioress, or she to his saint- ship? ... I believe the reference is to the fact that on a certain famous occasion St. Eloy refused to take an oath— firmly declined to swear, . . . and so an oath by Eloy weuld mean an oath according to his usage — i.c. an oath such as he might have uttered or approved — i.e. no oath at all. . . . Thus we arrive at what appears to be the real sense of the words — viz., the Prioress never swore at all."
There is a district in Bedford called St. Loye's, and a half-ruined chapel near Exeter commonly known as St. Loy's, showing that this abbreviated form of the name was not uncommon.
NOTES ON " THE PROLOGUE." 103
121. madame: cf. Lyndesay's Monarchy, iii. 4663: —
" The seilye Nun wyll thynk gret schame, Without scho callit be Madame."
124. fetisly : excellently ; in 1. 273 it means " neatly." The words " fetisly," "overlippe" (133), " wastel-breed " (147), " uiidergrowe " (156), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
124-6. Frenssh. It is very difficult to decide whether or no these lines contain a touch of Chaucer's sly humour. On the one side we have Skeat and Pollard. The former says : " There is nothing to show that Chaucer here speaks slightingly of the French spoken by the Prioress, though this view is commonly adopted by newspaper- writers who know only this one line of Chaucer, and cannot forbear to use it in jest. . . . Chaucer merely states a fact — viz., that the Prioress spoke the usual Anglo-French of the English court, of the English law-courts, and of the English ecclesiastics of the higher rank. The poet, however, had been himself in France, and knew precisely the difference between the two dialects ; but he had no special reason for thinking more highly of the Parisian than of the Anglo- French. He merely states that the French which she spoke so ' fetisly ' was, naturally, such as was spoken in England. She had never travelled, and was therefore quite satisfied with the French which she had learnt at home. The language of the King of England was quite as good, in the esteem of Chaucer's hearers, as that of the King of France." On the other side Lounsbury calls this "a most extraordinary interpretation of these lines for the sake of wresting them from their received and, it may be added, natural meaning." Chaucer may have had some very good reasons for preferring Parisian to Anglo-French : Parisian French had in the fourteenth century become the language of French literature ; Chaucer must have been well aware that, in comparison with that spoken in the He de France, English French was an impure, moribund dialect ; lastly, he may not have been indifferent to the distinction of having himself travelled in France and elsewhere (see 1. 126). The testimony of The Testament of Love, even although Chaucer did not write it (as Skeat points out), is at least worth citing : " Certes there ben some that speke their poesy mater in Frenche, of which speche the French men have as good a fantasy e, as we have in hearing of French mennes Englyshe." On the whole we incline to side with the much-abused "newspaper-writers."
125. Stratford-atte-Bowe : in Middlesex. The Prioress had probably been educated at the Benedictine nunnery there.
127 foil. "The emphasis laid on her manners and deportment is probably due to the fact that her Priory, like that of St. Mary's, Winchester, may have been a finishing school for girls and a residence for gentle ladies." Tyrwhitt pointed out that these lines are a reminiscence of a passage in the Roman de la Rose, 13612 foil., which may be thus translated : " And takes good care not to wet her fingers up to the joints in broth, nor to have her lips
104 CHAUCER I CANTERBURY TALES.
anointed with soups or garlic or fat flesh, nor to heap up too many or too large morsels and put them in her mouth. She touches with the tips of her fingers the morsel which she has to moisten with the sauce, and lifts her mouthful warily, so that no drop of the soup or relish or pepper may fall on her breast. And so daintily she contrives to drink as not to sprinkle a drop upon herself. . . . She ought to wipe her lip so well, as not to permit any grease to stay there, at least upon her upper lip." That these were the manners of the time we know, because these directions agree almost literally with those contained in the different mediaeval works, such as The Babees Book, written for the purpose of teaching manners at table. -«* 131. fille : should fall. The preterite indicative isjil ; see 1. 845.
133-5. She wiped her upper lip so clean after eating, that no spot of grease was left upon her cup when she drank.
134. sene : to be seen, visible, O.E. geslene, an adjective; ysene (1. 592) is the same word with the original prefix. The final e is essential. It must be distinguished from the past participle seen, seen, which Chaucer would not rhyme with dene.
136. raughte : reached. At first sight this appears to be a strong verb which has become weak ; in reality it belongs to the same class as " buy, bought, seek, sought, teach, taught," where the original vowel is seen in the preterite, and the vowel of the present" has suffered ^-mutation. Modern English has substituted an incorrect form "reached " for the correct form that we find here ; but they are both alike weak, as may be known from the ending.
146. of smale houndes : some small dogs ; exactly the construction of modern French, " de petits chiens"
147. wastel-breed : " wastel " is modern French gateau, cake. It was, of course, unusual to feed dogs on bread made of cake-flour.
148. To scan this line she if may be read as one syllable ; but it is better after she to make the caesural pause, at which there was frequently a supernumerary syllable.
149. men smoot : the singular verb shows that men is the indefinite pronoun, corresponding to O.E. mon, Ger. man, Fr. on, modern English one.
152. greye: this seems to have been the favourite colour of ladies' eyes in Chaucer's time. The miller's daughter in The Reeve's Tale has '< eyes grey as glass " (A. 3974). Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona (IV. iv. 197) says :—
" Her eyes are grey as glass, and so are mine."
157. fetys : feat, from Latin factitius, as tretys from tractitius, Compare Tempest, II. i. 273 :—
" And look how well my garments sit upon me ; Much feater than before."
159. a peire of bedes gauded al with grene : a set of beads, of
which the greater beads, the gawdies, were of green. Every eleventh
iad, or gawdy, stood for a Paternoster, the smaller beads for Ave
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 105
Marias. The common number was fifty-five, for fifty Aves and five Paternosters.
161-2. Probably the brooch was in the shape of a capital A, stand ing for Amor, Love or Charity, and was inscribed with the motto taken from Virgil's Eclogues, x. 69 : " Omnia vincit amor " (love overcomes all things).
163. Another Nonne : the Prioress herself was the first nun (see 1. 118) ; tales in the series are assigned to the Prioress and to the. Second Nun. ' 164. Chapel eyne : the chaplain in the smaller nunneries was often
woman.
preestes thre : there is no difficulty in the mere fact of the ladies having three priests in their train ; the nunnery of St. Mary, Winchester, had twenty-six priests at the dissolution. But from this point onwards we read of one priest only, the " Nun's Priest," who tells the tale of the cock and the fox.
" Thanne spak oure Hoost with rude speche and boold, And seyde unto the Nonnes Freest anon, ' Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou Sir John.' "
(B. 3998— 4000.)
Here <; there is a notable omission of the character of the Nun, and the two things together point to the possibility that Chaucer may have drawn her character in too strong strokes, and have then suddenly determined to withdraw it, and to substitute a new character at some future time." This is urged by Tyrwhitt, Hales (Folia Literarea, 106), and Skeat. Then, it is suggested, " preestes thre " was inserted for the sake of the rime. One priest would reduce the number of pilgrims, excluding the Host, to twenty-nine (see 1. 24).
165. a fair for the maistrie : a fair one above all others, of sovereign price, " excellent good." The Latin pro inagisterio, and the French pour la maistrie, are found in old medical treatises to denote such medicines as we usually call sovereign, excellent above all others. The phrase is used by Robert of Gloucester, 1. 11554 : —
" An stede he gan aprikie wel vor the maistrie." — TYRWHITT. 166 outridere : cf. Shopman's Tale, B. 1252-6 :—
" This noble monk, of which I yow devyse, Hath of his abbot, as hym list, licence — By cause he was a man of heigh prudence, And eek an officer — out for to ryde, To seen hir graunges and hire bernes wyde " ;
which gives the true explanation of the word — an officer of a monastery or abbey, whose duty was to look after the manors belonging thereto. venerie : hunting ; cf. A. 2308. The monks of the middle ages were extremely attached to hunting and field sports ; and this was a frequent subject of complaint with the more severe ecclesiastics, and of satire with the laity.— WRIGHT
106 CHAUCER I CANTERBURY TALES.
167. to been an abbot able : able to be an abbot— a very sly hit in view of the following description.
170. gynglen : jingle. It was a universal practice among riders who wished to be thought fashionable to have their horses' bridles hung with bells. Vincent of Beauvais mentions it in connection with the °Templars in the thirteenth century. Wyclif, in his Triloge, : inveighs against the priests of his time for their " fat horses, and jolly and gay saddles, and bridles ringing by the way."
172. ther as : where.
kepere of the celle : prior of a religious house subordinate to a larger one.
173. The rules of St. Maur and St. Benet or Benedict, who founded the Benedictine order, were the oldest forms of monastic discipline in the Eomish Church.
176. space : course. The monk kept up with the times.
177. text : quotation, not necessarily from Scripture. The reference is to the legend of Nimrod, who was reported to have built the Tower of Babel, among other crimes.
a pulled hen: a hen without its feathers — one of the many ex pressions for a thing of no value. Cf. 11. 182, 652.
179. cloysterles : the reading of the Harleian MS. only ; all the others have recchelees, reckless. Neither reading is altogether \ satisfactory. Line 181 is used by the supporters of each reading in proof of its correctness. " Cloisterless being a coined word Chaucer goes on to explain it in 1. 181." " The only objection to cloisterles* .: is that, if it had been the true reading, there would have been noj occasion to explain or paraphrase it in 1. 181."
182. thilke text : this simile of a fish out of water, in illustration of a monk out of his cloister, is found in many early writings, the earliest being a Greek Life of St. Anthony, attributed to Athanasius, , not later than A.D. 373. Chaucer may have taken it from the Life! of St. Anthony in the Legenda Aurea, from which he took The Second Nun's Tale. Wyclif has: "For, as they seyn that ground- iden these cloystris, thes men myghten no more dwelle out ther-of than fizs myghte dwelle out of water."
The suggestion for the two lines 181-2 may very well have been given by the following from Le Testament de Jean de Mcun, though 1 Chaucer has reversed the sense of the passage : —
" Qui les voldra trouver, si les quiere en leur cloistre . . . Car ne prisent le munde la montance d'une oistre."
I.e. whoever wishes to find them, let him seek them in their cloister, for they do not prize the world the value of an oyster.
186. swynken : toil — a strong verb. The noun swynk occurs two lines below. Cf. " swinked hedger," Co-mug, 293.
187. Austyn : St. Augustine of Hippo. Cf. Wyclif : " Saint Austin teacheth monks to labour with their hands."
bit : biddeth. Similarly we find rit = rideth, 11. 974, 981.
189. prikasour : a hard rider. The following words occurring in
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 107
this passnge arc found nowhere else in Chaucer : " outridcre" (166), " gynglen " (170), "reule," n. (173), " cloysterles " (179), <; waterlees " (180). "prikasour" (189), "y-purfiled" (193), " grys," n. (19*), "stepe" (201), " stemed," " Iced " (202), " bootes " (203, 273), "for- pyned " (205), " roost," n. (206).
194. grys : costly grey fur.
200. in good poynt : cf. Fr. embonpoint, stoutness.
202. stemed as a forneys of a leed : (his eyes) shone like a furnace under a cauldron. Skeat says that a kitchen-copper is still sometimes called a lead. For stemed cf. Sir T. Wyatt's Satires, i. 53 :—
" Under a stole she spied two stemyng eyes."
205. forpyned : wasted away by torture, the/or being intensive.
208. The derivation of wantowne is noteworthy : the first syllable is an O.E. prefix meaning " not," un~ ; the second syllable is from O.E. tof/en, trained ; hence wanton means literally "untrained," then " wild," " lively."
209. lymytour : a begging friar, licensed to beg within a certain limited district.
210. ordres foure : Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Augus- tines. The Carmelites, or White Friars, also called " Mary's men," dressed in white over a dark brown tunic, were founded in 1160. The Augustine or Austin Friars, named after St. Augustine of Hippo, dressed in black with a leathern girdle, were founded in 1150. The Jacobins, Dominicans, Black Friars, or Friars Preachers, wore upper most a black cloak with a hood, and were founded in 1206 by St. Dominick of Castile. The Minorites, Franciscans, or Grey Friars, from the colour of their habit, called Cordeliers in France, were founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. Wyclif made of their initials the word Cairn, the mediaeval spelling of Cain, to whose kin he said they belonged. This makes a useful mnemonic.
212-3. This is less generous than might appear ; for it almost certainly refers to young women who had been his concubines.— SKEAT.
215. Scan : " Ful wel | bi!6ved | and fam- | ulier | was he."
219. moore : greater, O.E. niara, comparative adjective ; mo, more, O.E. ma, comparative adverb. In M.E. moore usually refers to size, ino to number ; see 11. 101, 544, 808, 849. Here moore is a trochaic foot, like myglite in 1. 320.
220. licenciat : a friar licensed by the Pope " to hear confessions, etc., in all places, independently of the local ordinaries." The curate, = parish priest (cf. Fr. cure), could not give absolution in all cases.
"Licenciat," " pitaunce " (224), " farsed " (233), "rote" (236), "yeddynges" (237), "lazar" (242, 245), "beggestere" (245). "poraille" (247), "rage," v. (257), "cope" (260), " worstede," "semycope" (262), " lipsed," " wantownesse " (2G4), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
224. wiste to : knew he was sure to.
pitaunce : portion of victuals.
108 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
230. may : can, like O.E. mtsg. Cf. Ps. cxxv. 1 in the Prayer-1 version : " Mount Sion which may not be removed," where the A.1 has " cannot."
smerte : impersonal. Notice how many such verbs there are in Chaucer some of which have been lost in modern English ; we have already had«bifil" (19), "thynketh" (37), "semed" (39), " liste " (102) ; to which may be added "liketh " (777), and others.
232. men moote : see note on 1. 149.
233. typet : hood. The friar made his hood a receptacle for his peddling wares. Cf. Wyclif (modernised): "They become pedlars, bearing knives, purses, pins, and girdles, and spices, and silk, and precious furs for women, and thereto small gentle hounds, to get love of them, and to have many great gifts for little good or naught."
237. No one could equal him in the singing of traditional songs. Cf. the Scotch expression "to bear the gree."
241. tappestere : female tapster, barmaid ; tapsters were usually women in the middle ages. Here and in the next line -sterc is a feminine suffix, as it was in O.E., and still is in " spinster." But its restriction to the feminine gender was early lost : so that " songster " and " seamster " have even formed feminines " songstress, seam stress." In a few words -ster has come to denote something of contempt : e.g. youngster, trickster.
242. lazar: leper, from Lazarus (Luke xvi. 19-31).
244. as by his facultee : considering his ability or dignity, or (possibly) in his own estimation.
246. avaunce : profit. Elsewhere in Chaucer always transitive.
262. After this line one MS., the Hengwrt, has the two following lines, which are in no other MS. : —
" And gaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt, Noon of his brethren cam ther in his haunt."
I.e. he paid a certain sum for his licence as a limiter, so that none of his brethren infringed his limits. There is nothing to show that these lines are not Chaucer's own, nor that their omission is not his own doing. The sentence runs better without them.
254. In principio. " Such is the limiter's saying of In principio erat verbum from house to house" (Tyndale), proves that the reference is to the first verse of St. John's Gospel, and not to the first verse of Genesis. See Scott's Fair Maid of Perth, chap. iii.
256. purchas : proceeds of his begging.
rente : income from fixed property, of which friars had none. The line is imitated from The Rom-aunt of the Rose, G838 : —
" My purchas is better than my rent."
258. Sc. by acting as umpire ; see 1. 261.
love-dayes. Love-days (dies amoris) were days fixed for settling differences by umpire, without having recourse to law or violence. The ecclesiastics seem generally to have had the principal share in
NOTES ON " THE PROLOGUE." 109
the management of these transactions, which, throughout The Vision of Piers Ploughman, appear to be censured as the means of hindering justice and of enriching the clergy. — WEIGHT. See for example Pass, iii., 11. 157-8 :—
"She ledeth \>e lawe as hire list and love-dayes maketh, And doth (causeth) men lese (lose) J>orw (through) hire love J>at lawe mygte wynne."
260. Scan : " With a thred- | bare cope, | as is | a povre | scoler."
264. for his wantownesse : as a taking freak.
270. a forked berd. In Shottesbrooke church, Berkshire, there is a brass of a franklin of the time of Edward III., in which he is represented with a forked beard, which seems to have been the fashionable mode of dressing the beard among the bourgeoisie. The Anglo-Saxons wore forked beards. — WRIGHT.
273. faire and fetisly : repeated from 1. 124.
276. " He would have the sea kept clear of privateers at all costs." The old subsidy of tonnage and poundage was given to the king pur la saitfgarde et custodie del mer (for the safeguard and custody of the sea).
277. Middelburgh is still a well-known canal port on the island of Walcheren in Holland, but as a sea-port it has been surpassed by Flushing, on the coast of the same island, the terminus of the Queensborough route to the Continent. The spot where Harwich now stands at the mouth of the Orwell was formerly known as the port of Orwell.
Professor Hales has shown (Folia Literaria, p. 100) that the mention of Middelburgh " proves that The Prologue must have been written not before 1384 and not later than 1388. In the year 1384 the woolstaple was removed from Calais and established at Middel burgh ; in 1388 it was fixed once more at Calais (see Craik's History of British Commerce, i. 123)."
278. sheeldes : French crowns, which had a shield on one side ; they were worth 3*. kd. each. The merchant understood how to profit by the turns of the money market.
281. " He ordered his affairs in such a ceremonious or lofty manner."
282. chevyssaunce : agreement for borrowing money. "Motteleye" (271), "clasped" (273), "chevyssaunce," occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
285. Oxenford : Oxford, indicating the probable derivation, " the ford of oxen."
286. longe y-go : devoted himself for a long time.
290. his overeste courtepy : his uppermost short cloak (of coarse cloth). Besides "overeste," " sobrely " (289), "fithele" (296), 14 scoleye " (302), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
292. office : secular employment.
293. hym was levere : we still say, He would as lief.
297. philosophre : note the play upon this word, which is used in the double sense of philosopher and alchemist.
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301. Imitated from his own Troilus and C'ressida, iv. 1174 : —
" Arid pitously gan for the soule preye."
302. gaf him, etc. : gave him the money wherewith to attend high school, university. Note the singular verb with a plural antecedent. We have here an allusion to the common practice of poor scholars in the universities at this period, who wandered about the country begging, to raise money to support them in their studies.
305. in forme and reverence : with propriety and modesty.
307. sownynge in : tending to, = " sownynge," 1. 275.
310. at the Parvys : the church porch or portico of St. Paul's, Adhere the lawyers were wont to meet for consultation, as we xearn from Fortescue's De Laudibiis Legutn Anffliae, chap. 51. — WEIGHT.
" Parvys," "assise" (314), " purchasour " (318), "hoomly," "medlee," adj. (328), "girt" (329), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
315. pleyn : full ; in 1. 327 it = fully.
319-20. The learned Sergeant was clever enough to untie any entail, and pass the property in estate as fee simple. — KELKE.
323. He could express in proper terms all the cases and decisions.*
325. make a thyng : draft a document.
koude: could; so kouthc, 1. 390, O.E. cff&e. The I in "could" is intrusive, imitated from " would," "should." Note that in 11. 110, 327, 371, 467, etc., this verb is not an auxiliary, but has the full notional force of " know." This has survived in modern German : Icli hann Deutsch, I know German.
329. barres : bars, ornaments. Of. Eomaunt of the Hose, 1103 :— " The barres were of gold ful fyne" ;
translating " Li cloufurent d'or esmere."
331. Frankeleyn : "a country gentleman, whose estate consisted in free land, and was not subject to feudal services or payments." Fortescue (De Laudibus Legum Angliae, chap. 29) describes a franklin as " Pater familias— magnls ditatus possesswnibus" (enriched with great possessions). He is classed with but after the Miles (knight) and Armiger (esquire); and is distinguished from the Libere tenentea (freeholders) and Valecti (yeomen) ; though, as it should seem, the only real distinction between him and other freeholders consisted in the largeness of his estate.— TYBWHITT.
333. Mediaeval medicine, which followed Galen, recognised four " complexions " or temperaments of men : the sanguine, the choleric, the phlegmatic, the melancholy.
The following words in this description are " uniques " in Chaucer : 'sangwyn," adj. ("sangwyn," n., 439), « housholdere" (339),
envyned " (342), "snewed " (345), "breem," « luce " (350), « sessiouns" (355), anlaas," "gipser" (357), " shirreve" (359), "vavasour" (360).
Jd4. sope in wyn : bread or cake dipped in wine.
336-8. Cf. Chaucer's own translation of Boetius, De Consolatione P/nlosophiac, hi., Prose 2, 54 : » The whiche delyt only considerede
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." Ill
Epicurus, and juged and establisshed that delyt is the sovereyn good." For Epicurus (341 — 270 B.C.) see a Classical Dictionary.
340. St. Julian was the patron of hospitality. He was eminent for providing his votaries with good lodgings and accommodation of all sorts. In the title of his legend, in a MS. in the Bodleian, he is called " St. Julian the gode herberjour " (harbourer). Two of the closing lines are : —
" Therfore yet to this day thei (they} that over lond \vende, Thei biddeth (pray} Seint Julian anon that gode herborw (shelter) he hem sende."
341. after oon: according to one standard, and that the best.
343. bake : baked. Bake = baken, O.E. bcecan being a strong verb.
349. muwe : derived from Lat. tnutare, Fr. imier ; it meant a place where hawks were kept when moulting, and later simply a mew or coop, as here.
350. stuwe : stew, fish-pond. "To ensure a supply of fish, stew- ponds were attached to the manors, and few monasteries were without them ; the moat around the castle was often converted into a fish-pond, and well stored with .luce, carp, or tench." — Our English Homes.
351. wo : this adjectival use of woe continued as late as Shake speare's day ; cf. 2 Henry VI., III. ii. 73 : " Be woe for me."
but if : unless.
352. poynaunt : pungent. Our forefathers were great lovers of " piquant sauce."
353. table dormant : as opposed to a lord mounted on trestles. " Tables, with a board attached to a frame, were introduced about the time of Chaucer, and, from remaining in the hall, were regarded as indications of a ready hospitality."
356. tyme : times. O.E. tlma, being a weak noun, had plural tlman.
knyght of the shire : " the designation given to the representative in Parliament of an English county." It will be remembered that Chaucer represented Kent in 1386.
357. anlaas : a short two-edged knife or dagger usually worn at the girdle, broad at the hilt and tapering to a point. It is probably derived from " hangynge on a laas" (1. 392).
gipser: properly a pouch used in hawking, etc., but commonly worn by merchants or with any secular attire.
359. shirreve : reeve of a shire. Modern sheriff.
360. vavasour: literally " vassal of vassals" (late Lat. vasms fassorum'); "a tenant by knight's service, who did not hold immediately of the king in capite, but of some mesne lord, which excluded him from the dignity of baron by tenure" (STRUTT). Tyrwhitt says : " In this place it should perhaps be understood to mean the whole class of middling landholders."
361. " Haberdasshere," " webbe," " dyere," "tapycer" (362),
H2 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
"lyveree" (363), "cbaped" (366), "geldehalle" (370), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
363-4. Under the term "livery" was included whatever was dispensed (delivered) by the lord to his officials or domestics annually or at certain seasons. . . . The statute 7 Henry IV. expressly permits the adoption of such distinctive dress by fraternities and les gents de mestere, the trades of the cities of the realm : and to this prevalent usage Chaucer alludes when he describes five artificers of various callings, who joined the pilgrimage clothed all " in o lyveree of a solempne and greet fraternitee " (guild). — WAY.
365. apiked : trimmed. Cf. Love's Labours Lost, V. i. 14 : " He is too picked, too spruce, too affected."
366. chaped : a chape was a cap of metal at the end of a sheath or scabbard. Cf. All's Well That Ends Well, IV. iii. 164 : " Monsieur Parolles . . . that had the whole theorie of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger." In Edward III.'s reign an act was passed prohibiting all tradesman, mechanics, and yeomen, not worth five hundred pounds in goods and chattels, from wearing " any gold or silver upon their girdles, knives, rings, garters, pouches, ribands, chains, bracelets, or seals." Our fiv» burgesses were therefore substantial citizens.
370. deys : dais ; originally the high table ; then, as here, the raised platform at the end of a hall on which the high table was placed. See any college hall at Cambridge or Oxford.
372. shaply for to been an alderman : fit to be chosen head of his guild.
373. catel . . . and rente : " goods and chattels," property and income.
377. vigilies : wakes on the dedication day of the parish church. "It was the manner in times past, upon festival evens, called viffiliae, for parishioners to meet in their church-houses or church yards, and there to have a drinking-fit for the time. Here they used to end many quarrels between neighbour and neighbour. Hither came the wives in comely manner, and they which were of the better sort had their mantles carried with them, as well for show as to keep them from cold at table."— SPEGHT.
379. for the nones : for the nonce ; see 1. 523. The initial n of " nonce " is prosthetic, having been taken over from the preceding definite article. Exactly the opposite has occurred in the case the word " adder," which has lost its initial n.
381. poudre-marchant tart and galyngale : a tart kind of flavouring powder (twice mentioned in a book of old Household Ordinances ana -Receipts'), and the root of sweet cyperus, the botanical name for two varieties of which is galanga.
382. Londoun ale : London ale was famous as early as the time Henry III. In 1504 it was higher priced than Kentish ale by five shillings a barrel. In the course of the journey it appears that the Cook loved ale not wisely, but too well: see The Manciple's Prologue, JI. 1—104.
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 113
384. mortreux : a stew or broth, in which flesh or fish formed the chief ingredient, and in the preparation of which the ingredients were stamped in a mortar — whence it is probable that the name was derived. Interesting information on this and several other matters in The Prologue will be found in The Babecs Book, E.E.T.S., ed.
FURNIVALL.
386. mormal : cancer or gangrene ; Lat. maluni mart num. Ben Jonson, in imitation of this passage, has described a cook with an "old mortmal on his skin " : Sad Shepherd, ii. 2. We shall perhaps agree with Chaucer that we should have preferred the Cook without his mormal.
387. blankmanger : minced capon with other ingredients, such as sugar, cream or milk, rice or flour, almonds. This word and " chiknes," "poudre-marchant,""tart,""galyngale,""rooste," v. (p.p. 147), "mor treux," " mormal," occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
389. Dertemouthe : Dartmouth, in South Devon, formerly of much greater importance than now. From this port the English crusaders sailed in 1189.
390. rouncy : hack, chiefly used for agricultural work. " Rouncy," " lodemenage " (403), " cryke " (409), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
391. faldyng : a coarse serge cloth, very rough and durable. The Shipman's gown is coloured black in the drawing in the Ellesmere MS. In The Miller's Talc (A. 3212) the Clerk of <l Oxenford " has
" His presse y-covered with a faldyng reed " (red).
Lowell says of Chaucer : " His ear would never have tolerated the verses of nine syllables, with a strong accent on the first, attributed to him by Mr. Skeat and Mr. Morris. Such verses seem to me simply impossible in the pentameter iambic as Chaucer wrote it." Un fortunately the evidence is simply overwhelming that Chaucer did write a good many such lines. See " Metre" in the Introduction. Nine-syllabled lines will be found in Tennyson's Lotos-Eaters and his Vision of Sin, but they are introduced regularly or for special effects. Our best poets since Chaucer have rejected the nine-syllabled line occurring amongst ten-syllabled lines.
397. fro Burdeuxward: on the voyage home from Bordeaux, the centre of the French wine-trade with London.
398. He paid no heed to fastidious, or foolish, conscientious scruples. In 1. 150 " conscience " meant pity.
400. by water : he made them walk the plank, as the English did the French in the naval battle off Sluys, 1310.
403. herberwe : harbour ; in 1. 765 it = inn (Fr. auberge is from the same root).
lodemenage : pilotage. " Loode-stevre" 1. 2059, is from the same root, O.E. lad, way.
408. Gootlond : Gotland, an island in the Baltic belonging to Sweden. Pollard says Jutland is meant.
Cape of Fynystere : Cape Finisterre, N.W. of Spain.
409. Britaigne: Brittany.
Chaw. II, 8
114 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
410. Maudelayne : Magdalene ; cf . " maudlin," and Magdalene (pron. maudlin) College. Mention has been found in the years 1379 and 1386 of a vessel of this name belonging to Dartmouth.
414. astronomye : astrology. A great portion of the medical science of the middle ages depended on astrological and other super stitious observances.
415. kepte : tended, observed. We had the noun keep in the sense of " heed " in 1. 398.
416. According to the astrological hours, by his knowledge of the secret properties of nature. He carefully watched for a favourable star or sign in the ascendant. This passage should be compared with House of Fame, 1265-70 :—
" And clerkes eek, which conne wel Al this magyke naturel, That craftely don hir ententes To make, in certeyn ascendentes, Images, lo ! through which magyk To make a man ben hool or syk."
417-8. fortunen. the ascendent of hise ymages : choose a fortunate ascendant for making images. The " ascendent " is, strictly, that point of the zodiacal circle which was seen to be ascending above the horizon at a given moment — in this instance, the moment for making images ; but it was usually extended to include thirty degrees, the length of a zodiacal sign. It was believed that images of men and animals, and even of the zodiacal signs, could be made of certain substances and at certain times, and could be so treated as to cause good or evil to a patient, by means of magical and planetary influences. The image of Aries was believed to heal diseases of the head, that of Leo diseases of the kidneys.
420. hoot, etc.: the four "humours" or elementary qualities, according to Galen. The mixture of prevalent qualities was supposed to determine the " complexion " or temperament : for example, the sanguine complexion was thought to be hot and moist ; see 1. 333.
429-34. The authors mentioned here wrote the chief medical text books of the middle ages. Chaucer's list is an expansion of one in the Roman de la Rose, which contains the names of Hippocrates, Galen, Razis, Avicen, and Constantin.
429. Esculapius : Aesculapius. The productic-ns of that particular practitioner it would have been difficult to find in any age of the world. But just as there were alchemical treatises that went under the name of Hermes, so during the middle ages there were medical ones that went under the name of Aesculapius. One of these Chaucer may have had in view. — LOUNSBURY.
430. Deyscorides : Dioscorides, a Greek physician of the second century, born in Cilicia. His Materia Medica in five books survives.
Eufus : a Greek physician of Ephesus, of the time of Trajan ; wrote on anatomy.
431. Ypocras : Hippocrates (circ. 480—360 B.C.), a celebrated Greek
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 115
physician, considered the father of medicine ; some sixty works bearing his name survive. The names of Hippocrates and Galen were nearly always spelt Ypocras and Galienus in the middle ages.
Haly : Hali, Serapion, and Avicen (Ibn Sina) were Arabian physicians and astronomers of the eleventh century. Hali wrote a commentary on Galen. There were three Serapions who wrote on medicine ; probably the latest, John, is meant. Avicen, or Avicenna, received the surname of Prince of Physicians. His great work was The Canon of Medicine.
Galyen: Galen (A.D. 120 — 210), the celebrated Greek physician of Marcus Aurelius.
432. Bazis : Rhazes, a Spanish Arab of the tenth century.
433. Averrois: Averroes (Ibn Roschd, 1126-98), the most famous of Arabian philosophers, lived in Spain and Morocco, translated and wrote a commentary on Aristotle, f ounded a Muhatnmedan philosophy of religion, and wrote " a sort of medical system " translated intc Latin under the name Colliget.
Damascien : Johannes Damascenus, an Arabian physician and theologian of the ninth century.
Constantyn : Constantinus Afer (eleventh century), a native of Carthage, was a Benedictine monk of Monte Cassino ; by his writings he helped to found the famous medical school of Salerno. Cf. Merchant's Tale (E. 1810-11):—
" Swiche as the cursed monk, Daun Constantyn, Hath writen in his book, De Coitu."
434. Bernard Gordonius, contemporary with Chaucer, professor of medicine at Montpellier, wrote several works on the subject.
Gatesden, John, Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and court physician under Edward II., wrote a treatise on medicine called Rosa Ane/lica.
Gilbertyn : Gilbertus Anglicus (thirteenth century)f one of the earliest English writers on medicine.
439. in sangwyn and in pers : in blood-red and in bluish-grey. "Praktisour" (422), "drogges" (426), "digestible" (437), <; pers " (439, 617), " taffata," " sendal " (440), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
441. esy of dispence : a moderate spender.
442. pestilence : an allusion to the Black Death of 1349, or to the pestilences of 1362, 1369, 1376.
443. for: because.
cordial : Chaucer's sly hit at the doctor is based upon the fact that gold (aurum potabile) was regarded as a sovereign remedy in some
447-8. The west of England, and especially the neighbourhood of Bath, was celebrated, till a comparatively recent period, as the district of cloth-making. Ypres and Ghent were the great clothing- marts on the Continent. — WEIGHT.
450. offrynge : the men first and then the women used on certain occasions, especially on Relic Sunday, to go up to the altar with their
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offerings of bread and wine. Naturally questions of precedence arose. " Offrynge," " streite," adv. (457), "amblere" (469), "y- wimpled " (470), " hipes " (472), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
454. ten pound : that this satire, if exaggerated, was not undeserved will be obvious to any one who examines the fashionable ladies' head dresses of Ihe period.
460. chirche dore : the priest formerly joined the hands of the couple at the church door, and afterwards celebrated mass, of which the newly married couple partook, at the altar.
461. •withouten oother compaignye : besides other lovers; cf . the common vulgarism " to keep company." This expression, together with some traits of the Wife's character, is borrowed from the Roman de la Rose : " autre companie" 1. 12985.
465. Boloigne : Boulogne, whither pilgrims resorted for an image of the Virgin.
466. in Galice at Seint Jame: at the shrine of St. James of Compostella, at Santiago, in Galicia. This was a great resort of pilgrims in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. A huge stone used to be pointed out as the rudderless boat in which the body of St. James the Apostle was carried to Galicia.
Coloigne : Cologne, where the bones of the Three Kings, or Wise Men, of the East were believed to be preserved.
468. gat-tothed : the question is still unsettled between two explanations of this much-disputed word. Skeat says : " = gat- toothed, meaning gap-toothed, having teeth wide apart or separated from one another. A gat is an opening, and is allied to gate" He supports this interpretation by a bit of folk-lore : " My teeth were set so far apart ; it was a sure sign I should be lucky and travel." On the other hand, there is a good deal to be said for the meaning " goat-toothed," i.e. lascivious. See The Wife's Prologue (D. 603-4) :—
" Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel, I haddc the prente of sei'nt Venus seel."
It is objected that O.E. gat, goat, became goot in Chaucer ; but words often develop differently in compounds, and we find the same vowel-change from a to a in Chaucerian clad and axe (ask).
472. foot-mantel : this appears in the Ellesmere drawing as a blue outer skirt, or riding petticoat, to keep the gown clean.
473. paire of spores : in the Ellesmere drawing the Wife is riding astride.
475. remedies of love : an allusion to the title and subject of Ovid s Remedia Amoris.
476. daunce : custom. Taken from The Romaunt of the Rose, 4300 : " For she knew al the olde daunce."
478. Persoun : in this character Chaucer eulogises the industrious secular clergy, with an implied contrast to the lazy, evil lives of the monks.
482. parisshens : parishioners. Chaucer's is the original form of the word. Besides this word, which occurs again in 1. 488, there are
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 117
few " uniques " in this passage ; only " ferreste " (494), " chaunterie " (510), " bretherhed " (511).
486. cursen. Refusal to pay tithes was punishable with the lesser excommunication.
489. offryng and . . . substaunce : voluntary contributions and regular income.
498. The reference is to Matt. v. 19.
603. if a prest take keep : if a priest will but pay heed thereto.
507-11. He did not hire out his benefice to a stranger in exchange for the easier life of singing masses for dead men's souls at St. Paul's or of being detained with some fraternity. Note that the force of the negative of 1. 507 remains throughout these lines. There were thirty-five such chantries established at St. Paul's, served by fifty- four priests.
514. morcenarie : hireling. The Vulgate has mercenarius in John x. 12.
517. Not disdainful or repellent in speech. Cf. Reeve's Tale (A. 3964) :—
" She was as digne as water in a dich."
518. Scan " descreet."
526. spiced: seasoned, over-scrupulous, corrupt. Skeat has pointed out that the fees prepaid to judges were called " espices " (spices) ; hence " a ' spiced ' judge, who would have a ' spiced ' conscience, was scrupulous and exact because he had been prepaid, and was 'inaccess ible to any but large bribes."
536. Cf. Piers Plowman, B-text, v. 552-3 :—
" I dyke and I delve, I do )>at treuthe hoteth (commands}; Some tyme I so we, and some tyme I thresche."
541. mere : only poor people rode upon a mare in the middle ages. " Swynkere " (531), " tabard " (541), occur nowhere else in Chaucer.
547. that proved wel : sc. to be true.
548. ram : the usual prize at wrestling matches. Matthew Paris mentions a wrestling match at Westminster in 1222, at which a ram was the prize. Cf. Tale of Sir Thopas (B. 1930-1) :—
" Of wrastlyng was ther noon his peer, Ther any ram shal stonde.
549. a thikkeknarre: a thick knot — i.e. a thickly knotted, muscular fellow. Skeat points out that in the nine lines 549-57 toft is the only word of French origin. " Knarre," " harre" (550), " werte" (555), " goliardeys " (560). " tollen " (562), are peculiar to this passage.
550. heve of harre : heave off its hinges.
560. goliardeys : ribald buffoon. The suggested connection of this word with Walter Map's Golias — the mediaeval spelling of Goliath, as we see in The Man of Law's Tale (B. 934) — is misleading. In several authors of the thirteenth century, the " goliardi " are classed with the jesters and buffoons; they "composed or recited satirical parodies
118 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
and coarse verses and epigrams for the amusement of the rich." Early Italian writing in burlesque is known as la goliardica.
561. that : his prating and jesting.
562. tollen thries : take three times the toll due, which amounted to one-twentieth or one-twenty-fourth of the corn ground, according to the power of the stream. Millers enjoyed a peculiar reputation for dishonesty during the middle ages.
563. a thombe of gold : alluding to the proverb, " An honest miller has a golden thumb." It is explained, on the authority of Mr. Constable, the Koyal Academician, " that a miller's thumb acquires a peculiar shape by continually feeling samples of corn while it is being ground ; and that such a thumb is called golden, with reference to the profit that is the reward of the experienced miller's skill." It is now open to any one to explain this explanation.
Of course the obvious meaning is, that there are no honest millers, and who can resist the belief that this is how Chaucer read it?
Syllogism : An honest miller has a thumb of gold.
This miller had a thumb of gold.
" Argal " (in spite of the undistributed middle) : He was an honest miller — as millers go.
565. A baggepipe was a very popular instrument of music in the middle ages, and figures in the illuminated MSS. of various countries. Among other complaints of the Canterbury pilgrims made before the archbishop in 1407, it was said : " and some other pilgrims will have with them bagpipes." — William of Thorpe in AibeT's English Garner, vi. 84.
567. Maunciple ... of a temple : manciple (purchaser of pro visions) of an inn of court. Cf. the Inner and Middle Temple in London. " Manciple " is still in use.
568. Scan "achatours." This word and " taille " (570) are not found elsewhere in Chaucer.
570. by taille : on credit ; lit. by tally, a stick on which the debt was scored, and of which the purchaser had a duplicate. Cf. Wyclif (modernised) : " Lords take poor men's goods and pay not therefor but white sticks."
581. To make his own property sufficient income.
586. sette liir aller cappe : befooled, outwitted them all ; Mr oiler, genitive plural, " of them all."
601. syn that : since. Just as " sithen " gave " syn " (still the Scotch form), so "sithence" (from O.E. sifttian, with genitive suffix) gave modern " since."
602. brynge hym in arrerage : prove him a defaulter. In this character, "doked" (590), « gerner," "bynne" (593), "yeldynge" (596), " neet," n., " dayerye " (597), « pultrye " (598), " arrerage " (602), "riche," adv., " a-stored " (609), " wrighte " (614), " surcote" (617), "hyndreste " (622), are unique occurrences. It is interesting
NOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 119
to remark how the proportion of these " uniques " to the number of lines varies with the character of Chaucer's descriptions.
604. that ... Ms : whose ; and again in 1. 2710 : a common con struction in O.E.
605. the deeth : the plague, or the Black Death; see note on 1. 442.
611. to geve and lene : by giving and lending.
616. Scot : the name given to the horse of the Reeve (who lived at Bawdeswell in Norfolk) is a curious instance of Chaucer's accuracy ; for to this day there is scarcely a farm in Norfolk or Suffolk in which one of the horses is not called Scot. — BELL'S Chaucer.
621. tukked . . . aboute : with his long coat tucked up under his girdle.
623. Somonour : apparitor, or summoner of offenders before the ecclesiastical courts, which tried all matrimonial and testamentary causes, and had disciplinary powers for the punishment of im morality.
624. cherubynnes : of course cherubin is strictly a plural form, but as the plural was popularly much better known than the singular (e.g. in the Te Deum\ the Romanic forms were all fashioned on clierubin. Cherubs were generally painted red and seraphs blue.
625. sawcefleem : having a pimpled face, supposed to be due to excess of salt phlegm (salsuni phlegma). Tyrwhitt makes two apposite quotations from the Tlwusand Notable Things : " A saws- fleame or red pimpled face is helped with this medicine following" — two of the ingredients are quicksilver and brimstone (see 1. 621)). In another place, oil of tartar (see 1. 630) is said " to take away cleane all spots, freckles, and filthy wheales." The following, from Uclall, is amusing : " Little pimples or pushes, soche as, of cholere and salse flegme, budden out in the noses and faces of many persones, and are called the Saphires and Rubies of the Taverne."
630. oille of tartre : cream of tartar, potassium bitartrate.
632. whelkes. Cf. Henry V., III. vi. 107-9 : " One Bardolph, if your majesty know the man : his face is all bubukles, and whelks, and knobs, and flames o' fire." The list of words peculiar to this character is : " fyr-reed " (624), " sawcefleem " (625), " scaled " (627), " ceruce " (630), " oynement " (631), " whelkes "' (632), " knobbes " (633), "garleek," "oynons" (634), "harlot" (647), "girles" (664).
635. See Prov. xxiii. 31.
643. Watte : Wat, Walter.
646. Questio quid juris : question, what of law ? The question is, what is the law on this point ?
647. harlot : fellow, rascal ; originally merely a young man or woman.
650. good felawe : boon companion. Lines 649-52 illustrate the abuses to which the system lent itself : the Summoner was a petty tyrant ; wlii .e he would wink at the immorality of a friend, he would also privately plunder a fool.
655. in swich caas : if he were leading an evil life.
120 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
656-8. He could escape other punishment, including the curse, by payment of a sufficient sum of money.
662. Significant: usually the first word of the writ de excom municate capiendo, for imprisoning an excommunicated person.
663. daunger : jurisdiction ; within the reach or control of his office (in accordance with its derivation from late Lat. dominiarium). Cf. Merchant of Venice, IV. i. 180 :—
" You stand within his danger, do you not ? "
664. yonge girles : young people of both sexes. " Knave gerlys," male children, occurs in The Coventry Mysteries, p. 181, and in Piers Plowman the sons of Lot are "gerles."
667. ale-stake : the ale-stake, which was not a maypole, projected horizontally from a tavern not more than seven feet over the road way, and bore either a "bush" of ivy-leaves, or a "garland" (1. 666) of hoops with ribbons or flowers intertwined.
670. Eouncivale : as the Pardoner is an Englishman, the reference must be, not to the parent Eoncevaux in Navarre, but to its " cell " (see note on 1. 172), the hospital of the Blessed Mary of Rouncyvalle in Charing, London.
672. com hider, etc. : probably the beginning or refrain of some popular song.
673. bar to hym a stif burdoun : put in a strong bass. Cf. the harmonium and organ stop, "bourdon."
685. vernycle : veronicula (a diminutive of Veronica), a copy in miniature of the picture of Christ which is supposed to have been miraculously imprinted upon a handkerchief of the supposed saint Veronica, preserved in the church of St. Peter at Rome. The legend was invented to explain the name, but on the basis of a false etymology. In Chaucer's time it was customary to make pilgrimages to Rome for the express purpose of seeing this portrait.
699. of latoun ful of stones : of latten, set with (imitation) precious stones. " Latten, a fine kind of brass or bronze, used in the middle ages for crosses, candlesticks, etc." — WEBSTER.
702. upon lond: in the country. Trevisa calls country people " uplondish men." " This line gave John Heywood the cue for his Merry Play between the Pardoner, the Friar, the Curate, and Neighbour Pratt, where the Pardoner's list of relics is borrowed from Chaucer's."
offertorie"(710).
734. al : although ; again 744.
738. He must say one word as well as another.
741-2. It is not an unfair inference from this passage that Chaucer could not read Greek himself, as was almost certainly the case.
That was probably in the power of extremely few men in Western Europe in the fourteenth century." Chaucer took it either
KOTES ON "THE PROLOGUE." 121
from the Roman de la Rose, from which this whole apology is borrowed, or from his own translation of Boetius, wherein it runs : " Thou hast lerned by the sentence of Plato, that nedes the wordes moten be cosines to the thinges of which they speken." In The Manciple's Tale we find (D. 207-8) :—
" The wise Plato seith, as ye may rede, ' The word moot nede accorde with the dede.' "
761. Oure Hooste "represents most perfectly the magnanimous toleration, the serene benevolence, the easy and humane disposition, which lend such a refreshing effect to Chaucer's magnificent poem." The "Host of the Garter Inn" in The Merry Wives of Windsor is thought to have come of the same stock.
752. marchal in an halle : whose duty it was to observe precedence of rank and preserve order.
754. Chepe : Cheapside, then occupied by the wealthiest citizens.
772. shapen yow : are preparing ; see 1. 809.
781. fader : uninflected genitive, as in O.E.
785. make it wys : make it a matter of wisdom or deliberation, deliberate about it.
810. swore : supply " we " ; cf. 1. 1755.
817. in heigh and lough : in all respects ; imitated from late Lat. in alto et basso.
823. oure aller cok : chanticleer for us all, lit. cock of us all.
825. paas : at a foot-pace ; see also A. 2217, 2897.
826. the wateryng of Seint Thomas was a brook at the second milestone on the Canterbury road.
828. leste : a Kentish form, S. luste, N. liste (1. 102). Living in London, on the boundary-line of at least three dialects, Chaucer allowed himself a certain licence for the sake of rime.
832. As I hope never to drink anything but wine or ale. Impre cations of this kind are common in M.E.
844. aventure, or sort, or cas : may be distinguished as " hap" (3), "mishap " (1), or "destiny" (2).
NOTES ON
"THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE."
(GROUP B. 1—1162.)
The meaning of single words is not, as a rule, given in the Notes, but must be sought in the Glossary.
The reader would be well advised to study the character of the Man of Law in the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, 11. 309-30, and perhaps to commit it to memory. He will then be in a position to decide to what extent the Story of Constance is suited to the character of the narrator, and to observe characteristic lawyer-like traits in the manner of telling it.
" Discreet he was, and of greet reverence ; He senied swich, hise wordes weren so wise. Justice he was ful often in assise " (A. 312-14) —
these lines convey no slight suggestion, both of the exalted station of the " Sergeant," and of the portentously solemn, almost judicial air with which he told his story, as might indeed be inferred from the " wise saws" and moral reflections with which it is interlarded. In the same passage Chaucer cannot refrain from one of his inimit ably sly hits at the legal fussiness and finicalness that we know so well :—
" Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, And yet he semed bisier than he was " (A. 321-2).
But the " Sergeant of the Lawe " was a great man in those days. They were the Judges of England ; and were chosen only from among the most opulent, as well as most learned members of the profession. All the more significant of the customs of those times are the terms on which he associated during the pilgrimage with men of very different caste.
As is shown in the Introduction, § 2, " The Canterbury Tales," we suppose the pilgrims to have slept at Dartford on the first night of the pilgrimage, and to be now starting on the second stage of the journey in the hope of reaching Rochester at night. All this is, of course, not certain. The last allusion to time was in the Reeve's Prologue (A. 3906-7), when it was still only 7.30 a.m. on the first day, and it is therefore by no means impossible that we are still in the morning of the first day of the pilgrimage : in fact, it is certainly
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 123
far more difficult to get all that precedes the Reeve's Prologue (in cluding two long complete tales) in before half-past seven, than to get the remainder of Group A in between half-past seven and ten o'clock in the morning. But, on the other hand, the Cook's Tale, which immediately precedes ours, is a mere fragment. Moreover, the numerous gaps in the series of tales, the incomplete state of the whole, and the uncertainty as to the exact order in which the tales were meant to be told, show the unwisdom of being ultra-logical in this, as in all other questions, and may make us well content with the convenient and probable arrangement set forth in the Intro duction.
1. saugh, saw; O.E. seali. In this one passage we find the spellings sauyh. sauh, sauhe, sawh, segli, in the different MSS. Elsewhere we find also seigh, sey, say, sy, saw. It is impossible to suppose that all these forms represent one invariable pronunciation. But one pronunciation that is determined for us by some of the passages where the word occurs in the rime, — riming, for example, with lay, may, array, — is sey (say), and this we may adopt here, and wherever the word occurs out of the rime.
2. ark . . . day. " Day artificial, from the sonne arysing til hit go to reste " — Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe, ii. 7 (ed. Skeat) — as distinguished from the natural day of twenty-four hours. The arc would thus be the part of the horizon-circle between the points of sunrise and sunset.
ronne : run. See note on A. 8. In the Introduction, p. 24, will be found a collection of final es from this tale, arranged according to their etymological value.
3-14. The true explanation of this passage is due to Mr. A. E. Brae, who first published it in May 1851, and reprinted it at p. 68 of his edition of Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe. . . . The day meant is not the 28th of April, as in the Ellesmere MS., nor the 13th of April, as in the Harleian MS., but the 18th, as in the Hengwrt MS. and most others. It is easily seen that xmii may be corrupted into xxviii by prefixing x, or into xiii by the omission of v ; this may account for the variations.
The key to the whole matter is given by a passage in Chaucer's Astrolabe, ii. 29, where it is clear that Chaucer (who, however, merely translates from Messahala) actually confuses the hour-angle with the azimuthal arc ; that is, he considered it correct to find the hour of the day by noting the point of the horizon over which the sun appears to stand, and supposing this point to advance, with a uniform, not a variable motion. The Host's method of proceeding was this : Wanting to know the hour, he observed how far the sun had moved southward along the horizon since it rose, and saw that it had gone more than half-way from the point of sunrise to the exact southern point. The 18th of April in Chaucer's time answers to the 26th of April at present. — SKEAT.
The fourth part of the " artificial day " at that time of year would
124 CHAUCER I CANTERBURY TALES.
have elapsed at about half -past eight. But the Host's " fourth part " was the time taken by the sun in traversing a quarter of the distance between the point of sunrise and the point of sunset on the horizon, and it must be obvious that the sun takes much longer to traverse the first and last fourths of this distance than is occupied in traversing the two middle fourths. (If the student has any difficulty in realising this, let him place a door in a narrow passage half-way open, and see how much farther the edge of the door is from one wall than the other ; that is to say, if the door is opened wide at an even speed, in half the time it will not have covered nearly half the distance be tween the two walls.) A " fourth part " of the horizontal distance between the points of sunrise and sunset would have been traversed at this time of year, according to Mr. Brae's calculation, at twenty minutes past nine. With this explanation we continue Professor Skeat's note.
This makes Chaucer's " half an hour and more " to stand for half an Iwur and ten minutes : an extremely neat result. But this we can check again by help of the host's other observation. He also took note that the lengths of a shadow and its object were equal, whence the sun's altitude must have been 45 degrees. Even a globe will show that the sun's altitude, when in the 6th degree of Taurus [as it was at that date], and at ten o'clock in the morning, is somewhere about 45 or 46 degrees. But Mr. Brae has calculated it exactly, and his result is that the sun attained its altitude of 45 degrees at two minutes to ten exactly. This is even a closer approxi mation than we might expect, and leaves no doubt about the right date being the eighteenth of April.— SKEAT.
5. eigktetethe : the MSS. (but see the beginning of the last note) have "xviijthe," "xviije," "xviij." The full form in the text is found in " Robert of Gloucester," circ. 1300, and is the lineal descend ant of O.E. cahtateofta.
8. as : this (in modern style) redundant " as " is frequent in Chaucer. Cp. " as in that latitude," 1. 13 ; " wher as " = where, 11. 647, 1131 ; 1. 740, and many other passages.
10. wit : knowledge ; hence " took his wit " = concluded.
11. clere and brighte : clearly and brightly. Both the final es have adverbial force, but the first is elided before a vowel.
12. clombe : climbed. Originally, as here, a strong verb. A com parison of the principal parts of strong verbs in O.E. and in Chaucer is valuable for tracing and remembering the sound-changes that had taken place in the interval, and for that reason they are occa sionally given in our notes : —
O.E. climban clpmb clumbon clumben
Chaucer, clymbe(n) clemb clomben clombe(n).
ft must be remembered that in the last two parts o has the sound of moderns in put. See note on A. 8.
13. latitude : cp. Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe, Prologue " litell Lowis, my sone ") : " ther-for have I geven
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 125
thee a suffisaunt Astrolabie as for oure orizonte, compowned after the latitude of Oxenford."
16. Lordynges : the usual M.E. equivalent of "sirs," as here, though in at least one passage in Langland it has a contemptuous meaning. " Lordinges and levedis " = our " ladies and gentlemen." warne : a good instance of the license of eliding an etymological final e ; cp. "I recche," 1. 94. Chaucer, however, sins in excellent company. Mr. A. J. Ellis compares the similar license taken by Goethe and other German poets in using henf for heute, etc. But Chaucer, if he had only known it, had the highest English classical authority for the license in the O.E. poem Beowulf, where the MS. twice has Wen ic for Wene ic (11. 338, 442).
19. leseth : the regular form of the plural imperative in Chaucer ; cp. 1. 37.
as ferforth as ye may : " as far as you can help it." 20-4. Imitated from the Roman de la Rose, 11. 369-71 and 383-4, which in the translation attributed to Chaucer run : — " The tyme, that passe th night and day, And restelees travayleth ay, And steleth from us so prively . . . As water that down renneth ay, But never drope retourne may."
21. what = the " what thurgh " of the next line, modern " what with." Scan : —
"And ste | leth fr6m us, — | what pry | vely [ slepyng | e." 25-8. Although 11. 27-8 purport to be a direct quotation from Seneca, no passage exactly corresponding to this is known in his writings. The opening of his first epistle bears a certain general resemblance to it ; and Seneca wrote a treatise De Hrevitate Tern- poris. This is quite of a piece with Chaucer's other references to Seneca, whom he mentions nine times in the Canterbury Tales. (not once in his other writings) and cites as an authority, whereas it is (more than probable that he possessed a much slighter acquaintance with his works than with those of some men whom he rarely or never names. It was very " bad form " in the Middle Ages not to be an admirer of Seneca ; Chaucer therefore made his acquaintance, and |would seem, very literally, to have made the most of it.
30. Malkynes maydenhede was evidently a proverbial expression, for we find in Piers Plowman : —
" Ye ne have na more meryte • in masse ne in houres Than Malkyn of hire maydenhode • that no man desire th "
(B. i. 181-2).
"Malkyn" occurs as the name of a servant girl in the Nun's Priest's Tale (B. 4574), and in the well-known passage in Corivlanus it is used as a common noun : —
" The kitchen malkin pins Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck, Clambering the walls to eye him " (ii. 1. 224-6). It is a diminutive of Maud.
126 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
32 mowlen : grow mouldy. From the past participle of this verb, mowled (A. 3870), says Skeat, we have made the modern English " mouldy," adding y by confusion with the adjective formed from would, the ground.
33. so have ye blis : so may you have bliss, as you hope to obtain bliss : a very common form of expression.
34. forward : agreement, bargain ; the original agreement was that every pilgrim should tell two tales on each journey when the Host called upon him ; see A. 790—806, 817-18, 829-34 ; also Introduction, pp. 9, 10.
35. been submytted : have agreed. This illustrates the common usage of expressing the perfect of an intransitive verb by the verb be and the past participle. — MORRIS. Cp. Fr. nous sommes convenus. We have already had was clomle in 1. 12.
38. atte : at the. A similar agglutination is seen in O.E. Katie < ¥>cet $e, with the same assimilation of consonants as here. Agglutination, with simplification of consonants, is seen in artow, ]. 102, seistow, 1. 110, and with simplification of vowels in thestaat, 1. 128, tJiemperoures, 1. 151.
39. Tyrwhitt reads de par dieux jeo assents. The lawyer is thus made characteristically to use the law terms in French, which was then the language of the courts, though a statute, passed 36 Edward III., enacted that all pleas should be pleaded in English. This was not, however, generally enforced, even in the time of Sir John Fortescue, a hundred years later. — JEPHSON. Against this reading it is urged that Chaucer uses depardieux in three other passages, in one of them (Troilus ii. 1058) followed by " I assente." Depardieux is from O.Fr. de part Dieux, and means " in God's name."
41. Biheste is dette : a proverb found also in Hoccleve, and, in the form " Promise is debt," in the morality Everyman, of about 1475.
43. man : one. Chaucer also uses men in the same sense ; see A. 149 and note.
45. Thus wole oure text : " this is what our text says." The word text suggests that 11. 43-4 are a quotation, probably a versified proverb. The lawyer must have an authority.
47. But : the reading of three inferior MSS. ; all the best MSS. have that, which is very likely what Chaucer wrote, although strict grammar would then require a following negative. The meaning is : " I can tell no tale which Chaucer has not already told." See note on 1.96.
47-8. though . . . craftily : " though he has but little cleverness in metre and in skilful riming." Kali is a full notional verb here (see note on Ttoude, A. 325), whereas it is an auxiliary in 11. 46, 49.
54. made of mencioun : made mention of.
55. hise Epistelles : the Heroides sive Eiristolac ; see note on 1. 61. 57. made of Ceys and Alcione : wrote a poem on Ceyx and
Alcyone (see Classical Dictionary, or Ovid's Metamorphoses xi.). The story of Ceyx and Alcyone takes up 11. 62—220 of Chaucer's
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 127
Hook of the Duchess, written in 1369 on the death of Blanche, the first wife of John of Gaunt, and when therefore Chaucer (if bom about 1340) was in his thirtieth year. But of course there is no certainty that the Book of the Duchess is referred to here ; on the whole, it seems more likely that " Ceyx and Alcyone " was once a separate poem, which Chaucer, more suo, abandoned, and afterwards used up " in the proem of a later work. .
59. Thise, plural, is always monosyllabic in Chaucer.
eke : the final syllabic e is certain, being essential for the rime, but it is unetymological ; O.E. eac. Chaucer uses both eek and eke.
60. volume : here, and in richesse (1. 107), the final e is elided because they are foreign words accented on the first syllable. Else where we find richesse, volume.
61. The Seintes Legende of Cupide : the Legend of Cupid's Saints— i.e., the poet's Legend of Good Women.
This name is one_£xajnple of the way in which Chaucer entered ittto the spirit of the heathen pantheism, as a real form of religion. He considers these persons, who suffered for love, to have been saints and martyrs for Cupid, just as Peter and Paul and Cyprian were martyrs for Christ.— BELL. We quote this, since Professor Skeat quotes it without controverting it and therefore with approval. Everything depends on one's estimate of Chaucer. To us it is non sense. Chaucer was simply adopting for the nonce the language of the courts of love, just as he had formerly given the lie to his own development in writing the Legend at the behest of Queen Anne of Bohemia.
According to Lydgate {Prologue to Boccace), the number was to have been nineteen ; and perhaps the Legend itself affords some ground for this number (see 1. 283). But this number was probably never completed, and the last story of Hypermnestra is seemingly unfinished. ... In this passage the Man of Law omits two ladies — viz., Cleopatra and Philomela — whose histories are in the Legend ; and he enumerates eight others of whom there are no histories in the Legend as we have it at present. Are we to suppose that they have been lost ?— TYRWHITT.
The answer to Tyrwhitt's question is : " No ; they were never written." But then comes the further question : " How explain the discrepancy between the poet's actual performance and this subsequent account of it by himself?" The probable explanation is twofold : (1) Relying on his memory, he includes in his list the names of eight of the ten ladies whose legends he had written — Lucretia, Thisbe, Dido, Phyllis, Ariadne, Hypsipyle, Medea, and Hypermnestra — for getting Cleopatra and Philomela ; and mentions eight others whom he had intended to include if he had ever completed the work — Deianira, Hermione, Hero, Helen, Briseis, Laodamia, Penelope, and Alcestis. (2) Chaucer may have been thinking of the stories in Ovid's ffcroidcs, which he had mentioned in 1. 35, and which include thirteen of the sixteen names given here.
One other question has been mooted in connection with this
128 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
important passage— was Chaucer still engaged upon the Legend of
Good Women 1 It had been imposed upon him as a yearly penance :—
" Thou shalt, whyl that thou livest, yeer by yt-re,
The moste party of thy tyme spende
In making of a glorious Legende
Of Gode Wommen" (B-Prol. 481-4).
And Professor Lounsbury finds support for this supposition in the reference to Medea in 11. 72-3 : " It is her cruelty in the treatment of her children that is in the poet's thoughts ; but not even an allusion to this tragedy appears in the story as told in the Legend of Good Women. It would, accordingly, be in full consonance with all the known facts to assume that when Chaucer wrote the prologue to the Man of Law's Tale he had not written the account of Medea which has come down to us ; and that when it was written it came to be something different from what he had purposed to make it originally." There is one fatal objection, to this supposition, which was glanced at at the beginning of this note. The writing of the Legend had been a task, and an uncongenial one. Lounsbury admits that " it had lost its interest for the poet long before it had* reached even so much of a conclusion as it now possesses." It would have been impossible for Chaucer, who is above everything the poet of nature, human nature and real life, to have returned from the writing of even such a passage as these first hundred lines of Group B to the composition of any more " legends."
63. Babilan, Babylonian ; Enee (64), Aeneas ; Demophon (65), Demophoon ; Leandre (69), Leander. The equivalents of the other proper names were given in the last note.
64. swerd : by metonymy for " death by the sword." Cp. Chaucer's ' Legend of Dido ' (Legend 1351) :
"And with his [Aeneas's] swerd she roof her to the herte." One MS. has sorwe. for : because of. Cp. 11. 65, 69, 74.
65. tree : if Chaucer is thinking of his own ' Legend of Phyllis,' the reference must be to the death of the heroine by hanging herself :
" She was her owne deeth right with a corde " (1. 2485). _, Otherwise, the reference is to the metamorphosis of Phyllis into a tree after death.
66. Dianire : three of the best MSS. have the reading Diane, Diana ; but Chaucer is certainly ref erring 'here to the " Epistelles"(in Ovid's Heroides) from Deranira to Hercules (No. 9) ; from Hermione to Orestes (No. 8) ; from Ariadne to Theseus (No. 10) ; and from Hypsipyle to Jason (No. 6).
68. Professor Skeat points out that the reference is to the story of Ariadne, and that the island is probably Naxos. In Chaucer's ' Legend of Ariadne ' we read : —
" And in an yle, amid the wilde see, Ther as ther dwelte creature noon Save wilde bestes " (11. 2163-5).
NOTES ON " THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 129
71. Brixseyde, Briseis : Chaucer's form is taken from the accusa tive Briseida. For all the stories here referred to see a Classical Dictionary.
72. Medea : scan Me/dea. See note on 1. 61.
73. hangynge : a transitive participle, = who didst hang.
75. Observe the extra syllable at the caesura after " Ypermystra."
77-89. See Introduction, § 4, for discussion of question as to whether this passage is a reflection on Gower. '
78. Canacee : her story is in Ovid's Heroides, Epistle II., from Canace to Macareus, and in Gower's Confessio Amantis III.
81. Tyro Appollonius, i.e. Apollonius de Tyro, Apollonius of Tyre.
The romance of Apollonius of Tyre existed in Latin before 900 A.D. An O.E. translation is preserved in the library of~Corpus CEristi, Cambridge. The story is found in the (resta "Romaiwrum, and in Gower's Confess to Amantis VIII. ; was translated into bar barous Greek by the fugitives from Constantinople in the fifteenth century ; was one of the earliest printed books ; and forms the basis of the play of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, ascribed to Shakespeare. — BELL.
84. horrible : accented on the second syllable.
86-9. A great poet on his own art is always interesting. Lounsbury points out that if Chaucer had a principle of rejection, he must also have had principles of selection. His coarser tales show us that he drew the line far from where we should draw it now ; this passage shows that he drew the line somewhere — that he had an artistic conscience.
87. Notice the accumulation of negatives.
89. if that I may : if I can help it. So, "if I may," F. 1418 ; and cp. 1. UEJ.
92. Fierides, false Muses : " the daughters of Pierus, that con tended with the Muses, and were changed into pies, Ovid, Metam. V." (Tyrwhitt) The meaning obviously seems to be : "I am unwilling to compete with a poet like Chaucer and fail as badly as the Fierides in their contest with the Muses."
93. Methamorphosios : Metamorphoseos, genitive singular, liber being understood. But the correct title is " Metamorphoseon (gen. pi.) Libri Quindecim."
95. with hawe bake : with a baked haw, with poor fare. Bake was a strong verb in O.E. and M.E.
96. This line has given rise to considerable discussion. » The lawyer says, " I have no scruple in borrowing one of Chaucer's
tales entire, because my business, as a lawyer, is to talk in prose ; his, as a poet, to make rhymes." — Note in BELL'S Chaucer.
I take it to mean that speke is here used in a technical sense — i.e., I am accustomed in the law courts to" speak in prose, whereas riming is Chaucer's business ; if, then, I tell a tale in my ordinary manner, it will, as compared with his manner, seem lil^e " baked haws " as compared with excellent fare. We may even suppose it to be feigned that the Man of Lawe did really, at the time, relate
Chaw:. II. 9
130 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
the story in prose, on the understanding that Chaucer might versify it afterwards.— SKEAT (who apparently adopts the technical meaning of speke in order to discard it the next moment).
Dr. Furnivall suggests that perhaps the prose tale of Melibeus was originally meant to be assigned to the Man of Law.
In order to get a satisfactory sense out of this line, in connection with the tale that follows, it has to be assumed that the Man of Law meant to say that it was his business to speak in prose in the practice of his profession. But that was the business of everybody in every profession. Chaucer himself, in the course of his duties as controller of the customs, could not have been in the habit of going about and reciting verses. . . . But if we assume that it was a prose tale which the poet in his original scheme had it in mind for him to repeat, difficulties of all kinds disappear.— LOUNSBURY.
There are the doctors, differing as usual ! I reject the " technical " sense of spekv as needless and forced. My own line of interpreta tion does not exactly coincide, as far as I know, with any previous interpretation. The Man of Law has said (see 11. 46-9) that he can tell no tale which Chaucer has not already told. The story of Constance was almost certainly not written for its place in the Canterbury Tales (see Introduction § 4), but was an earlier tale of Chaucer's, which the Man of Law tells us in this line he is going to repeat in prose.* Why, then, is not the tale in prose ? Because, though Chaucer chooses to make the Sergeant tell it in prose, he knew well enough that his own powers lay in poetry, and, when it came to the point, he was far too wise to spoil his beautiful story by turning it into prose for the sake of a foolish consistency, " the hobgoblin of little minds." So far, then, from Chaucer " afterwards" turning it into verse, I regard 11. 46-9 and 96 as confirmation of the earlier date of composition.
99. For the source of this Prologue, see Introduction, § 4.
pov6rte : accented on the second syllable, as proved by the rime. In the ' Wife of Bath's Tale ' Chaucer gives us the other side of the picture (D. 1177—1206).
101. thee : dat., not accus., as we know from O.B.
104. heed : head ; i.e., in spite of all thou canst do. The expres sion is pretty common, and has such variants as " maugree his eyen two," A. 1796 ; "maugree thyne eyen," D. 315.
114 21. How closely Chaucer here follows his original will be seen by a comparison with the corresponding passage from Innocent III.'s De Contemptu Mundi, i. 16 : " Adverte super hoc sententiam Sapien- tis ' : 'Melius est,' inquit, 'mori quam indigere.' ' Etiam proximo suo pauper odiosus erit.' ' Omnes dies pauperis mali.' ' Fratres homing pauperis oderunt eum ; insuper et amici procul recesserunt ab eo.' " The four quotations are from the Vulgate version of Eccle-
* Ten Brink (ii. 157) thinks this story one of the earliest designed with a view to the Canterbury Tales, and that the poet first wrote it with the intention of relating it himself upon the journey. There is no antagonism between the latter supposition and the above interpretation.
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 131
siasticus xl. 28, Proverbs xiv. 20, xv. 15, and xix. 7 (for all of which see the A.V.), respectively. It will be seen that Chaucer gives only the first and third as quotations ; 11. 115 and 120-1 purport to be the lawyer's own.
114. The same passage is quoted again in the tale of Melibeus (B. 2761), where it is attributed to Solomon ; but the words are really those of Jesus, son of Sirach (see above). They are quoted also in the Roman de la Rose, 8573 : " Mteux vault mourir que pauvres estre."
123. as in this cas : in this respect.
124-5. You are the fortunate ones of the earth ; the dice are in your favour. Ambes an (Lat. ambo, through O.Fr.), double aces, a throw of two ; sys cink, six five, a throw of eleven. The reference is to the game of "hazard," in which chance had a technical meaning, and in which ambes as was always a losing throw.
126. At Cristemasse ; even in the severest weather.
131-3. These lines are obviously inconsistent with 11. 46-9. Prof. Skeat opines that Chaucer is here speaking in his own person: "Lines 131-3 may be taken to mean, in plain English, that ' I, the poet, should be in want of a Tale to insert here, and should have to write one for the occasion, only I happen, by good fortune, to have one by me which will do very well.' Thus the obliging ' Merchant ' who 'taught' Chaucer the Man of Lawe's Tale was his industrious younger self. The word ' Merchant ' clearly refers to the chapmen or merchants mentioned in B. 135, 148, 153, who are supposed to have picked up the story." Of this succession of extraordinary and unwarranted assumptions it will be sufficient to refute the last. There is not the slightest ground, as far as 1 am aware, for supposing any reference in the "marchant " of 1. 132, who told the tale, to the merchants in the tale, nor for saying that the latter " are supposed to have picked up the story " of Constance. They carry the fame of Constance to the Sultan in the story, and as a part of the story, and before there was any " story of Constance " to tell. And this, judging by his references, is all the support that Prof. Skeat's statement has !
The simple fact appears to be, as Professor Skeat himself states, that Chaucer almost certainly wrote the " Forelink " (11. 1-98), the Prologue, and the Tale at three different periods of his life (see Introduction, § 4) ; it is quite certain that the Canterbury Tales were written a batons rompus, and left unfinished and disconnected. It is surely better, then, to suppose that the Headlink, the Prologue, and the Tale were hastily and somewhat clumsily pieced together, to await a final revision which never came, than to let our concern for Chaucer's reputation lead us into a Quixotic championship. Chaucer's reputation is quite secure. Let us be as thankful as we may for all the delight that we find in him.
134. Surrye : Syria. Trivet has Sarazine, the land of the Saracens.
136. spicerye : grocery. Cp. Fr. epicerie.
145. The clue to the correct scansion of this line, and that of 1. 255, is probably given by 1. 965.
]32 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
151 tbemperoures : Tiberius II., who was really Emperor of Constantinople and the East (not of Kome and the West) 578-82 A.D. In the latter year he was succeeded by Maurice ; see 1. 1121.
Custance : this word is a good illustration of the way in which Chaucer varies the pronunciation of proper names to suit his metre, as we have already seen that he does in the case of foreign common nouns (notes on 1. 60, and on A. 37). In 1. 438 and elsewhere we find Custance, and once, in 1. 1107, Custance. So in The Knight's Tale we find Arcite. Arcite, and Arcite.
156. God hym see': God regard him, keep him in His sight, protect him. Lolte, from O.E. Idcian, look, was used similarly.
168. " Her hand for almsgiving was the minister of liberality."
169. Possibly Chaucer had in mind " Vox populi, vox Dei."
171. ban doon (p.p.) fraught (p.p.) : have caused to be laden. Cp. Knights Tale, A. 1913 :
" Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse,"
i.e., hath Theseus caused to be made. Fraught is both infinitive and past participle but for the latter fraughted is also used, as in Sack vi lie's Induction, 1. 71 : —
" And furth we launch, ful fraughted to the brinke." Shakespeare has fraught, infinitive, in Cymbeline, I. i. 126, and fraughting in Tempest, II. ii. 13 ; everywhere else he uses the word as a past participle.
174. doon : the first doon is third plural present indicative, the second is the past participle.
185. ceriously : either with minute detail, or (enumerating her virtues) in order. The word has both meanings. In some MSS. is added the gloss c-eriose = L.L. seriose, which meant both serie, seriously, and seriatim.
188. bisy cure : anxious care. Chaucer is fond of this expression, which occurs in the Parliament of Fowls (369), Troilus and Cressida (ii. 1042), and Knights Tale (A. 2853).
1 97. This passage is imitated from the Megacosmus of Bernardus Sylvestris, an eminent philosopher and poet about the middle of the twelfth century. — TYRWHITT. Four of the imitated lines from this work are quoted in the margin of several MSS., but they are nothing without the context, and the whole passage is too long to quote. " No adaptation of any other portion of this production has been pointed out elsewhere."
207. have : \Here have, forming part of the phrase myghte have
208. ban : J grace, is unemphatic, whilst han (from haven) is emphatic, and signifies possession. See han again in 1. 241. — SKEAT.
212. argumenten, casten : Professor Skeat gives argumentcn as present plural.. I incline strongly to believe that, coming in a succession of preterites (spelten is one), both these words, as well as assenten in 1. 344, are themselves preterite forms. Such forms are not uncommon when the root ends in t. Skeat glosses casten as a preterite in several other passages.
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 133
221. hir bothe lawes : " the laws of them both "—the Christian law and the Mohammedan law.
224. Mahoun: Mohammed. Trivet does not mention him, and it is an anachronism on the part of Chaucer, for Tiberius II. died 582 A.D., when Mohammed was but twelve years old. The Moham medans were thought to be idolaters by our ancestors, and the word wawnet (see 1. 236), from Mahomet, meant "idol." Hence perhaps Chaucer's mistake here may partly have arisen.
229-30. And beth . . . cure : " and do not be indifferent as to getting for me her who has my life in her power."
243. heer-to founden : for this purpose they provided.
253. So when Ethelbert married Bertha, daughter of the Christian King Charibert, she brought with her to the court of her husband a Galilean bishop named Leudhard, who was permitted to celebrate mass in the ancient British church of St. Martin, near Canterbury. — • Note in BELL'S Chaucer.
254. This and 1. 404 are the only nine-syllabled lines in the 1162 lines of this tale. In the Knight's Talc, of 2250 lines, there are twenty -four. Possibly we have here a mark of early date of com position.
263. alle and some : one and all.
272-3. Unless these lines were, added when this early tale was inserted in the Canterbury series — a supposition for which there is no sufficient warrant — they are among the first humorous touches in all Chaucer's work. His characteristic humour certainly does not appear in his earliest poems. The humorous passages are more noticeable in the Parliament of Fowls (1382), " the first of the Minor Poems in which touches of true humour occur." This gives some support to the conjectural date (1380) of this tale. See also 11. Ill and 352. Added piquancy is given to this couplet by the poet's relations with his wife, which, there is good reason to believe, were not of the happiest.
277. thyng : plural. See note on A. 74.
out-talzen Crist on lofte : except Christ on high. Except is the exact classical equivalent of out-taken.
289. at : in only one MS., but the reading is conclusive because of the admirable sense it gives: "I believe that neither at Troy, when Pyrrhus broke the wall or when (or or may = before) Ilium burnt, nor at the city of Thebes, nor at Rome," etc. Hion, in the Middle Ages, meant the palace of Priam and the citadel of Troy.
295. firste moevyng: primum mobile. In the margin of several MSS. is the following quotation from the seventh chapter of the first book of the Latin translation of Ptolemy's Aim ay est or Syntaxis : " Primi motus celi duo sunt, quorum unus est qui movet totum semper ab Oriente in Occidentem uno modo super orbes, etc. Ita alter vero motus est qui movet orbem stellarum currencium contra motum primum, videlicet ab Occidente in Orientem super alios duos polos," etc. According to the Ptolemaic astronomy, the earth is the fixed centre of nine revolving spheres, of which the outermost, the primum
134 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
mobile, revolves daily from east to west, and carries all the inner spheres with it ; the second (from the outside) is the sphere of the fixed stars, and has a slow motion from west to east " round the axis of the zodiac " (super alias duos polos} ; and the seven inner spheres carry with them respectively the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Mercury. Venus, and the Moon. LI. 295-8 therefore mean :
e") primum mobile, cruel firmament, that ever, with thy diurnal ay, pushest and hurlest everything from east to west, which would turally follow the sun's motion along the signs of the zodiac." Cp. Drayton's The Man in the Moon : —
" Wheras the spheres by a diurnal sway Of the first Mover carried are about."
It is still common in East Anglia to speak of crowding a wheelbarrow. " With us, one individual can crowd another " (Forby). See the New English Dictionary, s. v.
302-4. A planet is said to ascend directly when in a direct sign, but tortuously when in a tortuous sign. The tortuous signs are those which ascend most obliquely to the horizon — viz., the signs from Capricornus to Gemini inclusive. The most "tortuous" of these are the two middle ones, Pisces and Aries. Of these two, Aries is called the mansion of Mars, and we may therefore suppose the ascending sign to be Aries, the lord of which (Mars) is said to have fallen "from his angle into the darkest house." The words "angle" and " house " are used technically. The whole zodiacal circle was divided into twelve equal parts, or "houses." Of these, four (beginning from the cardinal points) were termed "angles." It appears that Mars was not then situate in an " angle," but in his " darkest (i.e. darker) house." Mars had two houses, Aries and Scorpio. The latter is here meant ; Aries being the ascendant sign, Scorpio was below the horizon, and beyond the western angle. — SKEAT.
If we understand all this, the " infortunat ascendent tortuous" is the sign Aries, one of the mansions of Mars (see note on A. 417-18), the lord of which. i.e. Mars, has passed from the western " angle," Libra, into the next " house," Scorpio, his other mansion. If any student desires further information we refer him to one of Professor Skeat's editions of Chaucer's Astrolabe.
305. atazir : the meaning of atazir has long remained undis covered ; but, by the kind help of Mr. Bensly, one of the sub librarians of the Cambridge University Library, I am enabled to explain it. Atazir or atacir is the Spanish spelling of the Arabic al-tasir, influence. It signifies the influence of a star or planet upon other stars, or upon the fortunes of men. In the present case it is clearly used in a bad sense ; we may, therefore, translate it by " evil influence, ' the influence of Mars in the house of Scorpio.— SKEAT.
306-7. This I take to mean that the Moon (as well as Mars) was in Scorpio; hence their conjunction. But Scorpio was called the Moon's depression, being the sign in which her influence was least favourable ; she was therefore " not well received," i.e., not sup ported by a lucky planet, or by a planet in a lucky position.— SKEAT.
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 135
308. were, wast ; O.E. waire, 2nd singular, past indicative.
312-14. " Is there no such thing as selecting a favourable time for a voyage, especially for people of high rank ? not when the exact moment of nativity is known 1 " In the margin of two MSS. there is here the following quotation "from the Liber Electionum by one Zael " : " Omnes concordat! sunt quod electiones sint debiles nisi in di- vitibus ; habent enim isti, licet debilitentur eorum electiones, radicem, i.e., nativitates eorum, quse confortat omnem planetam debilem in itinere, etc." (All are agreed that " elections " are weak, except in the case of the rich ; for, although their " elections " are weak, they have their " root " — i.e., their nativities or horoscopes — which strengthens every planet unfavourable to a journey.) The " root," then, was the exact moment of birth, by reference to which the horoscope was cast. The implication, both in Chaucer and in Zael, evidently is : What is the use of being rich if you can't purchase a favourable horoscope ? Then everything else is simple. For ex ample, if the time proposed for commencing a journey is astrologically unfavourable, overcome the adverse influences by means of the person's horoscope, or calculate a propitious hour by the same means.
Without its astrology Chaucer's poetry would be untrue to nature (in the widest sense). But a passage in his Astrolabe (Part II., § 4) seems to show that he himself was centuries ahead of his age in this matter : " Natheles, thise ben observauncez of iudicial matiere and rytes of payens (pagans), in which my spirit ne hath no feith."
325. The Mohammedan religion does not admit of the idea of a sacrifice or atonement ; but all false religions were confounded in the popular mind. — BELL. See note on 1. 224.
332. Alkaron : the Koran ; al is the article in Arabic. " The Koran was translated into Latin in the twelfth century ; and it and its author Mohammed were subjects of interest in the West " (Wright).
337. newe lawe : another curious illustration of medieval ignorance, in the apparent confounding of Mohammedanism with Judaism. That they were actually confounded in the popular mind is made abundantly clear by Froissart's description of a parley between English and Saracens. To the latter's question, why we were making war on them, the reply was given, that it was because they slew Christ ; and their repudiation of the charge was of no avail.
339-40. "And afterwards to be dragged into hell because we denied Mohammed, [the object of] our belief/ "
359. Semyrame : Ninus was so charmed by her bravery and beauty, that he resolved to make her his wife, whereupon her unfortunate husband put an end to his life. By Ninus Semiramis had a son, Ninyas, and on the death of Ninus she succeeded him on the throne. According to another account, Semiramis had obtained from Ninus permission to rule over Asia for five days, and availed herself of this opportunity to cast the king into a dungeon, or, as is also related, to put him to death, and thus obtained the sovereign power. See Lernpriere or Smith.
360. under femynynytee, in the form of a woman. Professor
136 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
Skeat recognises here an allusion to the old belief that the serpent who tempted Eve appeared to her with a woman's head, as it is represented in the chapter-house of Salisbury Cathedral. He quotes, among other illustrations, Peter Comestor's Historia Libri Genesis : " Elegit etiam quoddam genus serpentis (ut ait Beda) virgineum vultum habens " ; and Piers Plowman (B. xviii. 355), where Satan is compared to a " lusarde with a lady visage."
366. The allusion is to the mediaeval legend that grew out of Luke x. 18 (" I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven "), arid Eevelations xii., and which Milton amplified in the sixth book of Paradise Lost.
391. ryde .agayn: ride to meet. Cp. 1. 999: "Rood hym agayns."
394. yfeere : together ; to be referred, like feere (1. 328), to O.E. gefere, company.
399. a soft paas : at a gentle pace ; so paas, at a foot-pace, A. 825 ; apaas, A. 2217, 2897, with the same meaning.
401. Lounsbury observes that this reference to the Pharsalia would lead to the conclusion that Chaucer knew about it rather than knew it. " As a matter of fact, while the military operations and successes of Caesar are described in this epic, there is no actual triumph — for the word is clearly used here in its specific Roman sense — which Lucan represents him as having received. If the reference, therefore, means anything, it must be to the passage in the third book of the ' Pharsalia ' in which the republican poet described how glorious the triumph of Caesar would have been had his conquests been limited to the enemies of Rome."
404. wikked goost : evil spirit.
404-6. This was the medieval notion of a scorpion. Chaucer repeats it in the Merchant's Tale (E. 2058-60) :—
" Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable (deceitful), That flaterest with thyn heed when thou wolt stynge ; Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge."
" In the Ancren Eiwle (p. 207) we are gravely informed that a scorpion is a kind of serpent that has a face somewhat like that of a woman, and puts on a pleasant countenance " (Skeat).
420. ryse : present subjunctive (in spite of the preceding past, loghte~), as is proved by the rime, devpse. The past subjunctive would be rise(ri). Cp.
O.E. risan ras rison risen.
Chaucer, rysen ros risen risen.
421. Scan : " 0 s6d | eyn wo ! | that evere | art sue | cessdur." Four of the seven best MSS. (the Ellesmere, the Cambridge, the
Hengwrt, the Corpus, the Petworth, the Lansdowne, and the Har- leian) have this quotation from the De Contemptu Mundi, i. 23 (see Introduction, § 4) in the margin, in medieval Latin : " Nota, De Inopinato Dolore. Semper mundanae letitiae tristitia repentina
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 137
succedit. Mundana igitur felicitas multis amaritudinibus est res- persa. Extrema gaudii luctus occupat. Audi ergo salubre consilium : in die bonowim ne immemor sis malorum." Of the three clauses in italics, the first is quoted from Boethius DC Consolatione Philosophise, ii., Prose 4, and runs in Chaucer's translation : " The swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse is sprayned with many biternesses " (cp. 1. 422) ; the second from Proverbs xiv. 13, and the third from Ecclesiasticus xi. 27 (of course both Vulgate version).
422. Skeat, following three MSS., omits is, and puts a comma after llisse (in that case dissyllabic) and a semicolon after bitternesse.
423. One MS. reads Thende, which gives the clue to the scansion. 430. al to-hewe : completely hewn asunder. Cp. Judges ix. 63 :
"And all to brake his skull."
436. woot : knows ; O.E. wdt, a " past-present " verb, like ol8a, novi. Observe how frequently Chaucer breaks the sequence of tenses.
438. foot-hoot : in hot haste. The expression is common in M.E. romances, and, in the form hot-foot, is preserved in modern dialect (see Quiller Couch's tales). Cp. O.Fr. chalt pas, " imme diately." It is supposed " to be derived from following an animal of the chase so quickly that the scent of its footsteps is hot upon the ground."
445. Chaucer " kan nat geeste rum, raf, riif, by lettre," and it is not easy to select examples of intentional alliteration. In this tale this line and 11. 468, 886, are the most likely examples."
449. To bless oneself is to make the sign of the cross on the fore head and breast as an act of faith in the atonement of Christ. It is mentioned by Tertullian, by Cyprian, and most of the early Christian writers, as a usual custom in their times before taking anything in hand. — Note in BELL'S Chaucer. It is maintained by Roman Catholics at the present day.
452. Eeed of: red with. The original of Constance's prayer, which is not in Trivet, is a Latin prayer or hymn of the Roman Church. Such a prayer is quoted in the Ancren Riwle (p. 34), and a similar hymn in the Roman breviary is translated in " Hymns Ancient and Modern," No. 97. Part II.
456. proteccioun is a quadrisyllable.
460. hym and here : him and her, men and women. Cp. Piers Plowman, A. i. 100 :—
" But holden with hem & with heore • J>at asken J>e treuf>e."
461. The best solution is obtained by taking which in the sense of whom. A familiar example of this use of which for tvho occurs in the Lord's Prayer. " O expeller of fiends out of both man and woman, on whom (i.e. the men and women on whom) thine arms faithfully spread out," etc. Lymes means the arms of the cross, spread before a person to protect him. — SKEAT. But one is strongly tempted to believe that in this line Chaucer forgets that he is apostrophising the Cross, and addresses the " Lamb " of 1. 459.
464. See of Grece : the Mediterranean.
138 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
465. Marrok : Morocco ; the Straits of Gibraltar. So in Barbour's Bruce, iii. 688 :—
" Or strait off marrok in-to spanje (Spam). Cp. 1. 947.
473. The passages of Scripture to which reference is made in these stanzas are : 11. 473-6, Daniel vi. ; 11. 486-7, Jonah i., ii. ; 11. 489-90, Exodus xiv. ; 11. 491-4, Revelation vii. 1-3 ; 11. 502-4, Matthew xiv. It has been remarked that the Biblical allusions in the Canterbury Tales are, perhaps, more numerous than in any other great poem in our literature. Chaucer must have had an intimate acquaintance with the Vulgate.
475. asterte : escaped. This is the usual form of the past ; in 1. 437 asterted was used for the sake of the rime (Skeat glosses it as " p.p. " !). It is not a difference between indicative and subjunc tive ; both are subjunctive.
480. The word clerkis refers to Boethius. This passage is due to Boeth., Bk. IV., Prose 6, 114-17 and 152-4 (Skeat).
498-9. The first question is answered by Trivet : " Dount ele fist estorier une neef de vitaile . . . pur sustenaunce de la vie de la pucele pur treis aunx " (then the Sultaness had a ship stored with victuals enough to sustain the maiden's life for three years).
500. St. Mary of Egypt lived in the fifth century ; her early years were spent in prostitution. The Aurea Legenda represents her as having lived for forty-seven years in the desert beyond Jordan, with out sight of human kind, on three loaves which she had bought in Jerusalem at the time of her conversion ; but makes no mention of a " cave."
505. oure occian : the North Sea.
508. Northumberlond : Northumbria.
510. of al a tyde : " for the whole of an hour " (Skeat). But this seems rather feeble. The meaning is uncertain again in 1. 798, but the two passages do not necessarily go together. For the meaning "tide" cp. A. 401. 1 512. constable : his name is Elda in Trivet.
519. Latyn corrupt: Italian. Boccaccio said that he had trans lated the story of the Thesaida "in Latino volgare." In Trivet Constance speaks in Saxon (ensessoneys), being learned in languages. See note on A. 71.
551. That oon : the one, one; that is properly neuter.
569. What . . . fare ? " What is the meaning of all this ? "
578. Alia: ^Ella, king of Northumbria A.D. 560-88. It was his name that Gregory punningly turned into "Alleluia" in the well- known story of the English slaves in Rome (Bede ii. 1).
579. worthy of his hond : distinguished by his prowess. See note on A. 43.
584. quite her while : repay her for the way in which she had spent her time ; repay her for her pains, her constancy, fortitude, innocence, purity. Cp. Legend of Good Women, 2227 : " The devil quite him his while ! "
NOTES ON " THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 139
604. In Trivet the king does not arrive until after the miracle (see
I. 683).
609. Repeated in Trollus iv. 357 :— t
" For verray wo his wit was neigh aweye."
620. Berth hire on hond : accuses her falsely. The expression is a common one in Middle and Tudor English, but its meaning varies : " make believe," " pretend," " deceive," " persuade falsely," " persuade," " affirm," " accuse falsely." Probably " make believe " is the original sense. In Chaucer it means either " persuade falsely " or " accuse falsely " ; in Shakespeare, " pretend " or " deceive." See Hamlet II. ii. 67 ; Macbeth III. i. 81 ; Cymleline V. v. 43.
621. One of the most ill-scanning lines in Chaucer; a single accented syllable in place of an iambic foot is not uncommon at the beginning of a line (see note on 1. 254), but fortunately rare after the caesura : " But, na | thelees, | ther | was gr^et | moornyng."
622. seyn : they say. In 1. 624 it is the p.p. of see.
633. starf : died. The parts of this verb are :
O.E. steorfan stearf sturfon storfen
Chaucer, sterve starf sto-rven storven
634. An allusion to the harrowing of hell, popularised in the Middle Ages by the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. Cp. 1 Peter iii. 19.
639. Susanne : see the " History of Susanna " in the Apocrypha.
641. Seint Anne : St. Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, according to the apocryphal Gospel of James.
647. wher as : where, not " whereas." The antecedent is among a prees : " passing through a crowd wherein he found no pity for himself."
649. his face that was : the face of him that was.
660. Cp. " Chaucer's favourite line," which occurs four times in his poetry : —
" For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte " (A. 1761).
663. how is redundant.
666. A copy of the Gospels in a Celtic language. This line and
II. 547-50 lend some support to the theory that the conquered Britons were not altogether expatriated by the Saxons.
669. nekke boon : haterel, nape of the neck, in Trivet ; omitted by Gower. Hence Chaucer could not have borrowed the story from Gower. See note on 1. 786, and Introduction, § 4.
676. holde : this is the reading of all the MSS., but it is not satis factory. Trivet has "ettacui" (the " voys " speaks in Latin). In the original, too, a closed hand appears and strikes the felon such a blow that his eyes and his teeth jump out of his head.
684. mediacioun is a pentasyllable.
696. The kynges mooder : cp. 1. 323. This repetition of the same motive is a fault which Chaucer copied from his original. See note on 1. 969.
140 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALES.
697. brast : burst. The parts of this verb are :—
O.E. berstan bserst burston borsten
Chaucer, breste brast broste(n) 671 broste(n) 706. The fruyt: "the corn" of 1. 702. Here again we have Chaucer laying down a rule of his art. and therein showing how much greater an artist he was than his predecessors and contem poraries. 716. a bisshop : Trivet specifies Lucius, Bishop of Bangor.
724. messageer : messenger, = " message " of 11. 144, 333.
725. Alle : Chaucer could alter even the form of a proper noun to suit his rime. See note on 1. 151.
729. to doon his advantage : " to gain some private ends " — a tip ! How modern this " touch of nature " seems to make the story !
736. lettres: letter. By a comparison with 11. 744, 747, 750, 792, 793, 808, 809, 821, it is made evident that Chaucer uses " lettre " and "lettres" synonymously. Cp. Lat. liter ae ; and Barbour's Bruce ii. 80, 83, 93, where the same thing is found.
742. leste: may please ; a Kentish form ; O.E. lystan. Cp. 11. 521, 701, 766, 1048.
745. sleep : past singular, O.E. slep. The student should note all strong forms that have since been replaced by weak.
752. nas : all the best MSS. have was ; but see 1. 750.
754. elf : in Trivet " malveise espirit," an evil spirit.
757. Wo : see note on A. 351.
767. Scan : " Moore a | greable | than this | to my | likyng | e.':
771. This stanza is the third of the five passages in this tale translated from Innocent III.'s De Contemptu Mundi. The original passage is quoted (not quite correctly) in the margin of four MSS., from the chapter (ii. 19) De Ebrietate : " Quid turpius ebrioso, cui fetor in ore, tremor in corpore, qui promit stulta, prodit occulta, cuius mens alienatur, facies transformatur ? Nullum enim latet secretum ubi regnat ebrietas." The last sentence is from the Vulgate of Proverbs xxxi. 4 (omitted in the English Bible) : " quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas."
783. mannysh : masculine, sc. spirit. This epithet is not oppro brious enough, so Chaucer substitutes " fiendish " in the next line.
786. Cp. 1. 729. Trivet says that the king's mother was at Knares borough, "between England and Scotland, as in an intermediat place." Gower mentions Knaresborough, which proves that he knew Trivet. ^ See note on 1. 669, and Introduction, § 4.
790. in bis gyse : according to his custom.
791. unto: until. So in Parliament of Fowls 647. Most of the MSS. read til here.
793. countrefeted : sc. were.
795. and on heigh juyse : and on [pain of] high judgment. This is apparently the meaning, though the constable might have been thought indifferent to " high judgment " after " hanging." Two good MSS. agree in this reading ; the other five have as many different readings.
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 141
798. " Three days and a quarter of an hour " ; i.e. she was to be allowed only three days, and after that to start off as soon as possible (Skeat). "As soon as the tide began to rise on the fourth day" (Pollard). The sequel (see 1. 823) seems to favour the latter inter pretation. Trivet has " deynz (within) quatre jours." See 1. 510. In 1. 1134 tyde translates Lat. tempus.
805. Here, and probably in 1. 778, it is " D6n | egild." In 11. 695, . 740, and 896 the word is either dissyllabic, or the two last syllables are pronounced in rapid succession.
811. may. See note on A. 230.
815-16. These lines are probably a reminiscence of Boethius i., Metre 5, 24-8.
826. Cp. 1. 760.
845. Cp. the hymn " Septem Dolorum B. V. Mariae," attributed to Innocent III. :
" Pro peccatis suae gentis Vidit Jesum in tormentis."
848. sawe : sawest ; the identical form of the O.E. 2nd singular past, sawe.
858. Here constable is a trisyllable. Usually the accentuation is the same, but the last syllable is slurred with the next syllable following ; see 512, 528, etc. Trisyllabic French words often retain the French accent : thus we find constable in 11. 749, 794 ; miracle, 1. 683 ; horrible, 1. 751, etc. The accentuation of course varies with the position of the word in the line.
859. As lat : pray let. This apparently redundant as is not un common before imperatives. It may be connected here with mercy : " Mercy ! so that thou let," etc.
868. See note on 1. 449.
882. eek : not in the MSS. ; added by Skeat for the sake of the metre.
893. out of drede : there is no fear that he did not, you may be sure that he did : = " withouten drede," 196 ; "oute of doute," 390 ; " withouten doute," 777 ; " it is no drede," 869.
894. pleynly : in full ; referring to the details of the murder in Trivet, which Chaucer felt would strike a jarring note in his tale. Again in 1. 965, his " shortly " marks the omission of the burning of the Sultaness and the slaughter of more than 11,000 Saracens without any loss to the Romans. See note on 1. 913.
904-5. A castle of an admiral of pagans in Spain, according to Trivet, who places this whole incident in the second year of the five (1. 902). See 11. 946-7.
910. In point to spille : about to die.
1 913. shortly : briefly. Trivet tells more fully how the admiral sent a knight named Thelous to take care of Constance, and how she contrived to push him overboard.
918. " Then was this wretched woman woe-begone, distressed."
925-31. In the margin of four MSS. is the word "Auctor," and the following quotation from the De Contemptu Mundi ii. 21 (De
142 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Luxuria), on which these lines are based : " 0 extrema libidinis turpitude, quae non solum mentem effeminat, sed etiam corpus enervat. Semper sequuntur dolor et poenitentia post, etc."
932-45. Cp. 11. 470-504. The allusions are to 1 Samuel xvii., and Judith xiii. (in the Apocrypha).
946-7. the narwe mouth of Jubaltare and Septe: the Straits of Gibraltar ; called " the Strayte of Marrok " in 465-6. Septe, Septa, now Ceuta, on the opposite coast of Africa.
961. senatour : named, in Trivet, Arsemius of Cappadocia ; Ms wife (1. 974) was Helen.
969. storie : history, i.e. Trivet's Chronicle, which enlarges on this meeting.
In this stanza we have two of the blemishes of the story. The chronology — " the unreasoning prodigality of time " — which Chaucer took from Trivet, is hopelessly at fault. After the murder of the Sultan, Constance is three years at sea (1. 499), marries and has a child, is five years and more at sea (1. 902), and finally, after the lapse of at least ten years, meets the Senator returning from the punish ment of the Syrians. Again, the motiveless "motive" of her silence as to her own history is repeated here, almost in the same words? from 11. 524-5. See note on 1. 696.
980. hir grace : the Virgin's favour.
981. aunte : nece ( = cousin) is used of both Constance and Helen in Trivet, and this probably misled Chaucer. Helen is daughter of Sallustius, the emperor's brother.
982. she : Helen. Constance, in Trivet, recognises both Arsemius and Helen.
1009. Prof. Skeat has this note : " The expression occurs again in 1. 1086. On the strength of it, Tyrwhitt concluded that Chaucer here refers to Gower. He observes that Gower's version of the story includes both the circumstances which are introduced by this ex pression. But this is not conclusive, since we find that Nicholas Trivet also makes mention of the same circumstances." We quote this extraordinarily misleading note because of the great authority of its author. But neither Trivet nor Gower mentions any such request of Constance ; they mention only the " heeste " of 1. 1013. All that Trivet says is : " He was secretly instructed by his mother, Constance, that when he should go to the feast with his lord the senator," etc. (Brock's translation). Gower follows Trivet : —
" But to Morice her sone tolde, That he upon the morwe sholde In all that ever he couth and might Be present in the kinges sight."
If, therefore, Chaucer has not made a mistake, the reference in this line must be to other authors. But see note on 1. 1086.
1010. this child: Trivet makes him seventeen years old at this time, Constance having resided twelve years with Helen before made his pilgrimage.
NOTES ON "THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE." 143
1027. hir hadde levere : she would prefer ; apparently a blending of two constructions, she liadde levere and hir were levere ; cp. O.E. me wcere Uofre, and A. 293.
1029. prikke : point, pass, condition ; cp. 1. 119.
1033. theron : referring to the following clause ; a construction common with German daran, etc.
1034. were aught : were by any chance, could possibly be. 1036. that he mighte : as fast as he could.
1055. Perhaps after all Chaucer was right in making Constance so silent and reserved. It is the silent hearts that suffer most. She might indeed have confided her earlier troubles to the constable's wife ; but the wrong that she attributes to her husband is too sad and awful for words. " We might believe she was an angel for her patience, benignity, heroism, and faith, but that we see and feel too deeply how thoroughly she was the woman, in her retiring sensitive ness to the wrongs that come, or appear to come, by the hands of those she loves best, and in the tenacity and silence with which they are brooded over " (Saunders).
1060-3. The double comparison confuses the construction. " May God and all His saints have mercy on my soul as certainly as [it is certain] that I am as guiltless of the wrong done you as Maurice my son is, who is so like you ! " Professor Skeat interprets : " as Maurice my son is like you in the face," of course without comma after sane.
1086. Some men : Trivet and Gower (see Introduction, § 4) ; at least they both say so. Trivet has : " E puis que la priere plust au Roi, Constaunce charga son fitz Morice del message " (and since the request pleased Alia, Constance charged her son Maurice with the message). And Gower : —
" The kinge Allee for with thassent Of Custe his wife hath thider sent Morice his sone, as he was taught, To themperour."
1088. nyce : foolish, its usual meaning in Chaucer ; O.Fr. nice.
1091. sente : past subjunctive; used elliptically for "as that he should send." It has not been commonly observed that the words " to hym," in 1. 1089, go with sente, and not with nyce.
1095-6. It is evident, therefore, that Maurice accompanied his father.
1109. It am I : the regular construction in O.E. and M.E., and still preserved in German, ich bin es, " it is I."
1121-2. Trivet says that Maurice of Cappadocia was made emperor by his grandfather, with the assent of Pope Pelagius and the Roman Senate, and that he was surnamed "Christianissimus" (see 11. 1122-3). Pelagius II. was Pope 578-90. We read in Gibbon, chap. xlv. : " The Emperor Maurice derived his origin from ancient Rome ; but his immediate parents were settled at Arabissus in Cappadocia.
1126. Bomane geestes : lives of the Roman emperors, not the Gesta Romanorum. Chaucer makes a similar reference in two
144 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
other passages (D. 642, E. 2284), and it is pretty certain that in none of them was he thinking of the famous collection of stories.
1132-5. Here, in the margin of four MSS., is the original of this fifth quotation from the De Contempt* Muntli, from i. 22 (De Brevi Laetitia Hominis). Opposite 1. 1132 is found: "A mane usque ad vesperam mutabitur tempus. Tenent tympanum et gaudent ad sonum organi, etc." These two sentences are merely quotations from the Vulgate of Ecclesiasticus xviii. 26, and Job xxi. 12. Opposite 1. 1135 is found : " Quis unquam vel unicum diem totum duxit in sua delectatione jucundum, quern in aliqua parte diei reatus con- scientiae, vel impetus irae, vel motus concupiscentiae non turbaverit ? quern livor invidiae, vel ardor avaritiae, vel tumor superbiae non vexaverit ? quern aliqua jactura. vel offensa, vel passio non corn- mover it? etc."
1143. evene as I gesse : Chaucer's conclusion differs from Trivet's in being designedly less sad. In Trivet, JElla, dies at the end of nine months ; six months later Constance hastens to Rome because of her father's illness, and he dies in her arms thirteen days after her arrival ; she herself dies a year later, November 23rd, 584 (but see note on 1. 224).
1150. This is the reading of the Harleian MS. only, but none of the others are satisfactory.
GLOSSAKIES.
|
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE |
GLOSSARIES. |
||
|
ace. |
= accusative |
n. |
= neuter |
|
A.F. |
= Anglo-French |
num . |
= numeral |
|
adj. |
= adjective |
O.F. |
= Old English (i.e. |
|
Jidv. Arab. |
= adverb = Arabic |
O.F. |
Anglo-Saxon) = Old French |
|
C. |
= Celtic |
O.H.G. |
= Old High German |
|
cf. |
= compare |
O.It. |
= Old Irish |
|
cog. |
= cognate |
0. Merc. |
= Old Mercian |
|
eomp. Dan. |
= comparative onom. = Danish | O. North. |
= onomatopoeic = Old Northumbrian |
|
|
dat. dem. |
= dative orig. = demonstrative O.S. |
= original, originally = Old Saxon |
|
|
dim., dimin. |
= diminutive |
pass. |
= passive |
|
Du. |
= Dutch |
pers. |
= person |
|
F. |
= French |
pp. |
= preterite participle |
|
f. |
= feminine |
prep. |
= preposition |
|
fr. |
= from |
pres., pr. |
= present |
|
Fris. |
= Frisian |
pret. |
= preterite |
|
G, Gr. |
= modern German = Greek |
pron. Prov. |
= pronoun = Provengal (old) |
|
Ic., Icel. |
= Icelandic (old) |
ptc. |
= participle |
|
imper., imperat ind., indie. |
= imperative = indicative |
ptc. pr., pr reflex. |
ptc. = present participle = reflexive |
|
inf. |
= infinitive |
rel. |
= relative |
|
influ. |
= influence of |
sb. • |
= substantive |
|
interr. |
= interrogative |
Scand. |
= Scandinavian |
|
It. |
= Italian |
sg., s. |
= singular |
|
L. |
= Latin |
Skt. |
= Sanskrit |
|
lit. |
= literally |
str. |
= strong |
|
L.L. |
= Late Latin |
supl. |
= superlative |
|
L.W.S. |
= Late West Saxon |
Swed., Sw. |
= Swedish |
|
m. |
= masculine |
Tent. |
= Teutonic |
|
M.E. |
= Middle English |
v. |
= vide, see |
|
Merc. |
= Mercian |
v. i. |
= verb intransitive |
|
M.H.G. |
= MiddleHigh German |
v. t. |
= verb transitive |
|
Mn. E. |
= Modern English |
w. |
= weak |
SIGNS.
[ ] — derivation, or reference to cognates, is given within [ ]. * denotes hypothetical form assumed according to phonetic principles. + means compounded with. ? ,, probably, possibly. < ,, derived from. ,, therefore.
GLOSSARY TO THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES.
A.
a: prep. [O.E. on], in, on, 854.
accordaunt : adj. [O.F. acordant < L.L.accordantem, pr. ptc. of accordare = to agree], accord- Chauc. II. 145
ant, suitable, agreeable to, 37.
accorde: v. i., pr. plu., agree, 830 ; accorded, pret. and pp., suited, fitted, agreed, 244, 830. 10
146
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
achaat : sb. [O.F. achater < L.L.
accaptare], buying purchasing ,
571. achatour : sb. [O.F. achatour,
<L.L. accaptatorem], buyer,
purchaser, 568. adrad: pp. as adj. [O.E.adrrcdan,
ondrjedan — to fear greatly],
afraid, 605. aferd, afered : pp. as adj. [O.E.
afseran], afraid, 628. affile : v. t. [O.F. afiler], to file
down, soften, 712. after : prep. [O.E. 8efter=sef-ter,
com p. form fr. of], after, ac cording to, 347, 731. agayn, ageyn : prep. [O.E.
ongean, ongeagn], against,
towards, 66. al : adj., sb., adv. [O.E. eall, all,
al], all, every, although, 734 ;
al be that = although, 297 ;
over al = everywhere, 547. alder-best : adj. [O.E. ealra. gen.
plu. of eall = all + betst ; v.
aller], best of all, 710. alder-man : sb. [O.E. ealdor-
mann], the head or principal
of a guild, 372. algate : adv. [cf. Icel. alia gbtu
= every way], in every way,
always, 571. aller : gen. plu. of al, all [O.E.
ealra, gen. plu. of eall], all. als, also : adv. and conj. [O.E.
eal-swa], as, 170, 730. alyght: pp. [O.E. alihtan, = to
descend, alight], alighted, 722. amblere : sb. [O.F. ambler < L.
ambulare = to walk], an amb ling horse, 469.
amorwe : ad\-. [O.E. on + mor-
gen], on the morrow. 822. anlaas : sb. [see note on 357],
dagger, two-edged knife. 357. anon, anoon : adv. [O.E. on an ==
into one; on ane = in one
(moment*)], at once, soon, in a
short time, 32. ape: sb. [O.E. apa], a dupe, fool. apiked: pp. [O.F. piquer],
cleaned, trimmed, 365. areste : v. t. [O.F. arester < L.
ad + res tare], to stop, 827. arette : v. t. [O.F. aretter < L.
ad + reputare], with negative
prefixed : na,rette=not to im-
putet 726.
armee : sb., an expedition, 60. array : sb. [O.F. arei], state,
situation, dress, equipage, 41. arrerage : sb. [O.F. arrerage],
arrears, debt, 602. aryght : adv. [O.E. on + riht],
exactly, 267. as : adv. and conj. [O.E.ealswa],
that, 172; ther as = where
that, where, 172, 224, 249.
ascendent : sb. [pte. pres. L. ascendo], the part of zodiacal circle seen over the horizon at any moment, 417.
assoillyng : sb. [O.F. assoiller < L. ab + solvo], absolution, 661.
astored : pp. [O.F. estorer < L. instaurare], stored, stocked, 609.
astronomye: sb. [O.F. astrono mic < L. astronomia < Gr. d<Trpovofj,ia], astronomy, astro logy, 414.
GLOSSARY.
147
at : prep. [O.E. set], after, ac cording to, in, 663.
atte [M.E. atten < O.E. setj>fem], at the, 29 ; atte fulle = en tirely, 651.
avaunce: v. i. [O.F. avancer], to be of advantage, be profit able, 246.
avaunt: sb. [O.F. avantcr, to boast], a boast, 227.
aventure : sb. [O.F. aventure < L. adventura], adventure, chance, hazard, accident, 25, 844.
avys : sb. [O.F. avis < L.L. ad- visum, sb. = view], advice, consideration, opinion, 786.
ay : adv. [Icel. ei, ey], ever, always, 63, 233.
B.
baar : v. bar.
bachelor : sb. [O.F. bacheler < L.L. baccalarius = cowboy'], a bachelor, an aspirant to knight hood, 80.
bake : pp. st, v. [O.E. bacan], baked, 343.
balled : adj. [cf. W. bal = white], bald, 199.
bar, baar : pret. s. ; baren, pret. plu. [O.E. beran = to bear], bore, conducted, 105, 721.
barres : sb. [O.F. barre], orna ments of a girdle, 329.
bataille : sb. [O.F. bataille < L.L. battalia = soldiers' fighting exercises'], fight, battle, 61.
bawdryk: sb. [through O.F. < O.H.G. balderich < O.H.G. balz = a belt], baldrick, belt, 116.
bedde: sb. [O.E. bedd], bed',
gen. s. beddes, 293. bede : sb. [O.E. (ge-)bed], a
prayer, a bead, 159. been, ben: inf., 140, 141, 510;
pp. be, been, 56, 60 [O.E. beon
= to be] ; to be. beggestere : sb. [? O.E. bedegian,
bedecian = to beg + estre,
female agent suffix], beggar- woman, 242. benygne: adj. [L. benignus],
kind, 483. . berd: sb. [O.E. beard], beard,
270. berye : sb. [O.E. berige], a berry,
207. bet : adv. comp. [O.E. bet],
better, 242. beth : pr. plu., are, 178, v.
been. bevere : sb. [O.E. befer, beofer],
a bearer, 272. bidden: v. t., 3 pr. s. bit [O.E.
biddan, confused with O.E.
beodan], to command, 187. bifil : pret. s. [O.E. befeallan,
pret. s. befeoll] ; befell, 19. biforn : adv. [O.E. biforan], be forehand, first in the market,
572 ; in front, 590. bigynne : v. t. and i., 42 : pret.
s. bigan, 44 ; pp. bigonne, 52
[O.E. beginnan] ; to begin. bisette: pret, s. [O.E. bisettan],
used, employed, 279. biside : prep., beside, near, 620. bismotered : pp., soiled, dirtied,
76. bisy : adj, [O.E. bysig], busy,
321 ; cf. bisier, 322.
148
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
bisynesse : sb., labour, care,
anxiety, 520.
bit = biddeth, 187 ; v. bidden. blank-manger: sb. [O.F. blanc-
manger], an article of food of
a white colour ; see note, 387. blede : v. i., pret. bledde [O.E.
bledan < blod = blood} ; to
bleed, 145.
blew : adj. [O.F. bleu], blue, 564. blisful: adj. [O.E. blrSs, bliss,
< bli*e + ful], blissful, blessed,
17. bokeleer, bokeler: sb. [O.F.
bocler], a buckler, shield, 112,
668. boold: adj. [O.E. beald], bold,
458. boote: sb [O.E bot], remedy,
424. boras : sb. [O.F. boras < Arab.
boraq], borax, 630. bord : sb. [O.E. bord = a plank],
a table, 52 ; the bord bigonne
= taken the head of the table,
52.
born : pp., borne, acquitted, con ducted, 87. bote : sb., remedy, succour, 424 ;
v. boote. bracer : sb. [O.F. brace < L.
brachia = the arms, cog. W.
braich, arm], a guard for the
arm, in archery, 111. brawn : sb., plu. brawnes [O.F.
braon < L.L. bradonem],
muscle, muscles, 546. breem : sb. [O.F. bresme < O.H.G.
brahsema], bream, 350. bret-ful : adj. [cf. Swed. bradd],
brim-full, 687.
brode: adj. and adv. [O.E. adj.
brad, adv. brade], broad, 155,
471, 549 ; broadly, plainly,
739. brooch : sb. [O.F broche, a pin,
spit], a pin, brooch, 160. brastles: sb. [a dimin. of O.E.
byrst], bristles, 556. brydel : sb. [O.E. bridel], bridle,
169. burdoun : sb. [O.F. bourdon = a
drone, the humming of bees],
bass, a bass voice, 673. burgeys : sb. [O.F. burgeis < L.L.
burgensis], a citizen, burgess,
369.
but if = unless, 351, 656. by : prep., on, by means of, 581 ;
by the morwe = of a morning,
334. byjaped : pp. [O.E. be + O.F.
japper, to yapp (of dogs}], be fooled. bynne : sb. [O.E. binn = a
manger], a bin, 593. byynge : sb., buying, 569.
C. caas: sb. [O.F. cas<L. casus =
a fall], case, condition, liap,
585 ; plu., cases (of laiv), 323. cappe : sb. plu., caps, 586. carf : v. kerven. carl: sb. [Icel. karl, cf. O.E.
ceorl, becomes Mn.E churl],
a fellow, 545. carpe: v. i. [Scand. = Icel.
karpa, to boast], to chatter,
474. cas : sb. chance, hap, condition,
844.
GLOSSARY.
149
catel: sb, [O.F. catel < L.L. captale, capitale (caput), goods, pro-perty], chattels, good*, pro perty, 373.
ceint : sb. [O.F. ceint < L. cinc- tus (pp. of cingere)], a girdle, 329.
ceruce : sb. [O.F. ceruse < L. cerussa, cf. Gr. KijpuTov, Krjpo's, beesiuax], a kind of white lead, ceruse, 650.
chaped : pp., having plates or caps of metal on, adorned, capped, 366.
chapeleyne : sb. [A.F. chapeleine,
< Church L. capellan], a female chaplain, the nun who said the minor offices in a priory, 164.
chapman : sb. [O.E. ceapman], merchant, 397.
charge : sb. [A.F. charge], pos session, power, 733.
chaunterie : sb. [A.F. chaunterie
< L.L. cantaria<L. cantare, to sing], chantry, fees for singing mass, 510 (note).
cheere : sb. [A.F. chere < L.L.
cara, the face, head < Gk.
Kdpa], manner, countenance,
appearance, 139, 728. chekes : sb. [O.E. ceace], cheeks,
633. cherubynnes : sb., gen. s. [for
cherubymes; cherubyrn, plu.,
regarded in 624 as sing., + -es,
gen. s. termination ; Church L.
cherubim < Heb. cherubim,
plu. of cherub], of a cherub, 624. chevy saunce : sb. [O.F. chevi-
sance], agreement, especially
for borrowing, 282.
chiere : sb., entertainment, cheer, delight, 747.
chiknes : sb. [O.E. cycen], chick ens, 383.
chyvachie : sb. [O.F. chivauche,
< cheval = a horse < L. cabal- lus, a nag], a raid, expedition on horseback, 85.
chivalrie, chivalrye : sb. [A.F. chevalerie < L.L. caballerius, rider, < L. caballus], knight hood, knightly exploits, hnights, 45.
clasped : pp. , fastened with a clasp, 273.
cleere: adv. [O.F. clere < L. clarum], clearly, 170.
clene : adj. and adv. [O.E. clasne], pure, clean, cleanly, 133.
clennesse : sb.. cleanness, purity of life, 506.
clepeu : v. t., pp. cleped [O.E. cleopian = to call], to call, call on, 121, 620, 643.
clerk : sb. [Church L. clericus,
< Gr. K\T)piic6s, K\ijpos, a lot], scholar, writer, 285.
cloke : sb. [O.F. cloque < L.L. cloca, clocca = a bell, a bell- shaped cape, cog. Ir. cloca, cleoca], a cloak, 157*
clooth : sb. [O.E. cla«], cloth, 447.
cloysterer : sb. [ < O.F. cloister], a monk. 259.
cofre : sb. [O.F. cofre < L. cophi- num (ace.)], a coffer, chest, 298.
cok: sb. [O.E. coc], a cock, 823.
colerik: adj. [L. cholericus < Gr. x°^ePlKOS) choleric, 587.
150
CIIAUCEK : PROLOGUE.
colpon : sb. [O.F..colpoun < L.L.
colponem], a shred, bundle,
679. comen : inf. and pp. [O.E. inf.
cuman, pp. cumen], to come,
come, 23. compaignye: sb. [O.F. companie;
compain = an associate at
meals < L. cum, roith + panis,
bread], company, companions,
lovers, 24, 461. compeer : sb. [O.F. < L. cora-
parem (ace.)] , a gossip, a near
friend, 670. composicioun : sb. [O.F. com-
posicion < L. compositionem] ,
agreement, 848. connen : v. t., pr. s. can, kan ;
pret. s. couthe, coude ; pp.
couthe [O.E. cunnan, pret.
cufte, pp. cu$J ; to know, be
able, U, 210, 327, 390. contree : sb. [O.F. contree <
Prov. contrada < L.L. con-
trata = against ; /. contree,
lit. = the land over against
us], country, 216, 340. cope : sb. [O.E. copp = top], top,
554. cope : sb. [O.E. cuppe < L.L.
cuppa < L. cupa = a cask],
cup, 134. corage : sb. [O.F. corage < L.L.
*coraticum < L. cor, heart +
-aticum], heart, feeling, 11, 22. cosyn : sb. [0,F. cosin < L.L.
con sinus < L. consobrinus], a
cous'm, kinsman, 742. cote: sb. [O.F. cote < O.F. cotte
< M.H.G. kotte, kutte], gar-
ment, coat, 103, 328.
coude : v. connen.
countour : sb. [O.F. comptour],
auditor, 359. countrefete : v. t. [O.F.contrefeit,
pp. of contrefeire, contrefaire
< L. contra + faccre], to
counterfeit, imitate, 139. courtepy: sb. [of. Du. kort, short
+ pije — rough coat], a short
cloak, cope ; overeste courtepy
= top cope, 290. couthe : v. connen. coverchiefs : sb. [O.F. couvre-chef
= coveriny for the head], ker chiefs, head-dresses worn under
the hat, 453, covyne: sb. [O.F. covine < L.
convenire], intriguing, deceit,
604.
cristen : Christian, 55. cristophere : a small figure of St.
Christopher, worn, as a cliarm
against evil, 115. crope: sb., plu. croppes [O.E.
crop, a top], top, a shoot, a top
of a tree, 7. croys : sb. [O.F. crois, croiz < L.
crucem], a cross, 699. crulle : adj. [Friesic krull, curly],
curly, curled, 81. cryke : sb. [O.F. crique, a
creek], a creek, inlet, harbour,
409. curat : sb. [L.L. curatus], a
parish priest, 219. cure : sb. [L. cura], care, anxiety,
303.
curious : adj., careful, 577. cursen : v. t. [O.E. cursian], to
curse, 486. curteis : adj. [O.F. curteis < L.L.
GLOSSARY.
151
eortensem, curtensem], cour teous, 99.
curteisie : sb., courtesy, 46.
cut : sb., lot, lots, 635, 854.
D. daliaunce : sb. [A.F. daliaunce
= interference], tittle-tattle,
gossip, 211. daunce : sb. [Fr.danser < O.H.G.
danson — to draw], a game,
custom, 476. daunger : sb. [O.F. dangler =
power, lordship, danger, prob.
< L.L. dominiarium < L.
dominium, dominus], control,
dominion, power, jurisdiction ;
in daunger = under his official
control, 663. daungerous : adj., not affable,
difficult, hard to please, 517. dayerye : sb. [M.E. deye, a female
servant, a dairymaid, Icel.
deigja], dairy, 597. dayseye : sb. [O.E. dseges cage =
eye of day], daisy, 332. dede : v. deed, deed : adj. [O.E. dead], dead,
145.
deef : adj. [O.E. deaf], deaf, 446- deel : sb. [O.E. dsel], a deal, a
part, 415. deelen : v. t. [O.E. daslan], to
deal, share, divide, 247. deepe : adv. [O.E. deope], deeply,
129. deeth: sb. [O.E. dea«], death,
pestilence. degree : sb. [O.F. degrat < L. de,
down + gradus, a step], rank
or station of life, 40.
delit : sb. [O.F. delit, deliter < L. delectare], delight, 335.
delve : v. t. [O.E. delfan], to dig, 536.
delyvere : adj. [O.F. delivre, lit. freed], active, 84.
despitous: adj., scornful, con temptuous, 516.
desport, disport : sb. [O.F. de- sport, mirth], sport, diversion, 137, 775.
dette : sb. [O.F. dette < L.debita], debt, 280.
dettelees : adj., debtless, free from, debt, 582.
devys : sb., opinion, decision, direction, 816 ; v. devyse.
devyse, divyse : v. t. [O.F. de viser <L.L.divisare,L.divisus, pp. of dividere], to relate, describe, 34.
deyntee : sb. [O.F. daintie < L. dignitatem], a dainty, rarity, 346 ; as adj., dainty, good, 168.
deys: sb. [O.F. deis < L. discum]. a dais, 370.
diete: sb. [O.F. diete < L.L. dieta < L. diaeta < Gr. flaira], a way of living, diet, daily food, 435.
digne : adj. [O.F. digne < L. dig- num], worthy, 141 ; dignified, repellent, 517.
dischevelee : pp. as adj. [O.F. deschevele, pp. of descheveler, to dishevel], dishevelled, ivith his hair loose, 683.
dispence : sb. [O.F. despense], spending, expense, 441.
doked : pp. [O. Norse dockr, a
152
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
short tail ; cf. W. tocio,
dock], cut short, 590. dong: sb. [O.E. dung], dung,
530. doom : sb. [O.E. dom, cog. Gr.
0e/us], doom, decision, judg ment, 323. doon : v. t. 78, pr. pi. 268 [O.E.
don, pret. dyde, pp. ge-don],
do, cause, make. dormant: adj. [O.F. dormir <L.
dormire], fixed, irremovable,
353. dorste : pret. 3 s. [O.E. dorste,
pret. of dearr, (7) dare], durst,
227. doute : sb. [O.F. dute, doute,
doubte < L. dubitare], doubt,
487. drawe, drawen : v. t., imper. plu.
draweth, pp. drawe, 396 [O.E.
dragan, pp. dragen], to draw,
lead. drede: v. t. [O.E. (on)drsedan],
dread, fear, 660. drogges : sb. [O.F. dragee < Gr.
Tpdyi]/ji.a, sweetmeats], drugs,
426. droghte : sb. [O.E. drugoft],
drought, 595. drouped : pret. [cf. Icel. drupa],
drooped, 107. duszeyne : adj. [O.F. dozeine <
L. duodecim + anus], a dozen,
578. dyke: v. t. [O.E. die = a dike,
ditch], to make ditches,
536. dyvynys : sb. plu. [O.F. devin <
L. divinum], theologians, di vines.
E.
ecclesiaste : sb. [O.F. ecclesiaste < Church L. ecclesiastes < Gr.
assembly], an ecclesiastic, a preacher, 708. ech : adj. [O.E. selc <a-ge-lic],
each, 369 ; echon = each one,
820. eek : adv. [O.E. eac, Goth, auk],
also, 5, 41, 56. elles, ellis : adv. [O.E. elles, cog.
Gr. #XXos, L. alius], else, 375,
735. embrouded : pp. [O.F. embroder],
embroidered, 89. encombred : pp. and adj. [O.F.
encombrer] , ivearied, tired,
troubled, in dajiger, 508. encressen : v. t. [O.F. encrese,
stem of encrescerai, fut. of
encrestre < L. in-crescere, to
grow upon"], to cause to in
crease. endite : v. t. [O.F. enditer < L.L.
indictare], to compose, write,
95. engendred : pret. 421, pp. as adj.
4 [O.F. engendrer < L. in +
genero, to beget], sprung up,
produced. enoynt : pp. [O.F. enoint < L.
inunctum, pp. of inungere],
anointed, 199. entuned : pp. [L. in + tonus, a
tone], intoned, 123. envyned : pp. as adj. [O.F.
envine], "cellared" supplied
with wine, 342. er : adv. [O.E. jer], ere, before,
36, 255.
GLOSSARY.
153
ercedecenes : sb. gen. [Gr. &px<-- + 5ia.Kovos~\, archdeacon's, 655.
erly : adv. [O.E. serlice], early, 33.
eschaunge : sb. [O.F. eschaunge], exchange, 278.
ese : sb. [O.F. else = pleasure], pleasure, entertainment.
esen : v. t., pp. esed [O.F. aiser, aisier], entertain, accommo date, 29.
estaat, estat : sb. [O.F. estat < L. statum], estate, state, condi tion, 203.
estatlich, estatly : adj., stately, dignified, 140, 281.
esy : adj. [O.F. aisie], easy, 223 ; esy of dispence = moderate in spending, 441.
ete: v. t. [O.E. etan], eat, de vour, 947.
evene: adj. [O.E.efen], ordinary, moderate, average, 83.
everich : adj. [O.E. asfre + aelc], each, every, 241, 371 ; ever- ychon = each one, every one, 31.
everydeel : adv., every whit, 368.
eyen : sb. plu. [O.E. eage, plu, eagan], eyes, 152.
F. facultee : sb. [O.F. faculte < L.
facultatem], thought, opinion,
244. fader : sb. [O.E. feeder], father,
100 ; gen. fader, 781. fair : adj. [O.E. fasger], fair ; a
fair = a likely one, 165. faire : adv. [O.E. fsegere], fairly,
icell, gracefully, neatly, 94, 273. faldyng : sb., a coarse cloth, 391.
falle : v. i.. pret. s. fil, 845 ; plu.
fillen ; pret. s. subj. fille, 131 ;
pp. fallen, falle, 324 [O.E. feal-
lan, pret. s. feoll, plu. feollon,
pp. feallen] ; to fall, befall,
occur, 585. famulier : adj. [O.F. familier
< L. familiarem], familiar,
215. farsed: pp. [O.F. farcir < L.
farcire], stuffed, 233. felawe: sb. [Icel. fe-lag-i = part ner in common property , fe(=
O.E. feoh), property + lag, a
laying together, society'], fellow,
companion, 650.
felaweshipe : sb., company, 26, 32. fer : adj. and adv., pos. and
comp. ; ferrer, 835, comp. ;
ferreste, "494, superl. [O.E.
feorr ; comp. fierra (comp.
adv. fierr) ; superl. fierrest, wk.
fierresta] ; far, late, 388, 491. feme : adj. [O.E. fyrn], ancient,
distant, foreign, 14. ferther: adv. [O.E. furSor],/w-
ther, 36. ferthyng : sb. [O.E. feorSung =
a fourth part], a morsel, a
small article of a farthing's
value, 134, 255. festne : v. t. [O.E. festnian], to
fasten, 195. fet : pp. [O.E. fetian, pp. fetod],
fetched, 819. fether : sb. [O.E. fetier], feather,
107. fetisly: adv., skilfully, neatly,
124, 273. fetys : adj. [O.F. faitis < L. fac-
titiumj, neat, well-made, 157.
154
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
feyne : v. t. [O.F. feindre < L.
fingere, to shape], to feign,
705. fithele : sb. [= Icel. frSla < med.
L. fidula < L. fidis], fiddle,
296. flex: sb. [O.E. fleax], flax,
676. flour: sb. [A.P. flur, L. floretn],
flower, 4. flour-de-lys: sb. [O.F. flor-de-
lis], fleur-de-lis, 238. floytynge : pr. ptc. [O.F. flauter
< L.L. *flatuare < L. flatus],
fluting, 91.
fond : pret. found, 701. foo: sb. [O.E. fah]. foe, 63. for : conj., because, seeing that,
443. forneys : sb. [O.F. fornaise < L.
fornacem], a furnace, fire,
202, 559. forpyned : pp. as adj. [O.E.
for, intensive prefix + pinian],
wasted by torment, 205. forster : sb. [O.F. forest + O.E.
-ere, personal term.], a forester,
117. fortunen : v. t. [O.F. fortune <
L. fortuna], to presage, to give
good or bad fortune to, 417. for-thy : conj., therefore, 1841. forward, foreward : sb. [O.E.
fore - weard, a precaution,
agreement], agreement, 33, 829. fother : sb. [O.E. fofter], a cart load, 530. foughten: pp. of fighten, v. t,
[O.E. feohtan, pret, feaht (plu.
fuhton), pp. fohten], to fight,
62.
fourtenyght : sb. [O.E. feower-
tiene + niht], fortnight, 829. fowel : sb. [O.E. fugol], a fowl,
bird, 9, 190. frankeleyn : sb. [O.F. fraunke-
leyn < L.L. franchilanus ; the
suffix -lanus is Teutonic, cf.
O.E. -ling], a freeholder, a
wealthy farmer, 331. fraternitee: sb. [O.F. fraternite
< L. fraternitatem], a guild,
364. freend : sb. [O.E. freond], a
friend, 299. frere : sb. [O.F. frere, frolic < L.
fratrem], a friar, 208. fro : prep. [Scand. = Icel. fra,
cf. O.E. from, becomes M.E.
and Mn.E. from], from, 44. fyr-ieed : adj., fire- red, red as
fire, 624.
G. gadrede : pret. of gaderen [O.E.
gaderian, gaedrian], to gather,
824. galyngale : sb. [O.F. galingal =
the root of the eyperus rush],
sweet eyperus root, 381. gamed: pret., pleased, 534. gan : pret. s. of ginnen, pret.
plu. gonne [O.E. -ginnen, pret.
-gan, plu. -gunnon, pp. -gun-
nen], begun; pret. gan is freq.
an auxiliary — did, 301. garleek : sb. [O.E, garleac, gar,
spear + leac, a herb, plant,
leek], garlic, 634. gat-toothed: adj., gate-toothed,
gap -toothed, i.e. with teeth
wide apart, 468 (v. note).
GLOSSARY.
155
I
gauded: pp., having gawdies or
large leads ; I dyed, dyed green,
159. geere, gere : sb. [O.E. gearwa,
s. f. plu. = preparation, dress,
gearo = ready], apparel,
365. geldehalle : sb. [O.E. gield, gild,
=. -payment + heall], guildhall,
370. geldyng : sb. [M.E. gelden, to
geld, Icel. gelda], a gelding,
691. gentil: adj. [O.F. gen til < L.
gcntilem], nolle, 72. gerner : sb. [O.F. gerner < L.L.
granarium], garner, 593. gesse : v. t. [cf. Du. gissen], to
deem, suppose, think, 82. geten : pp., got, secured, 291. geve, geven : v. t., pret. gaf, 227,
[O.E. giefan], to give, value,
223. gilty : adj. [O.E. gylt = debt,
fault, guilt, gieldan, to pay,
requite}, guilty, 660. gipser : sb. [O.F. gibbeciere,
gibier = game], pouch, 357. girles: sb. plu., youths of loth
teases, 664. gise, gyse : sb. [O.F. guise, Teut.,
= O.E. \riae], fashion, manner,
663. gobet : sb. [Norm. F. gobet], a
small piece, shred, 696. goliardeys : sb. [O.F. goliardeis
< L.L. goliardensis], a ribald
buffoon, 560. gonne : v. gan good : sb. [O.E. god], property,
581.
goon : v. i. [O.E. gan, to go}, to
go, 12.. goost : sb. [O.E. gast], ghost,
S2)irit, 205.
goot : sb. [O.E. gat], goat, 688. goune : sb. [O.F. goune], a gown,
role, 391. governance, governaunce : sb.
[O.F. governor < L. gubernare],
management, control, business
matters, 281. grece : sb. [O.F. greese < L.
crassus./a£, gross], grease, 135. greet : adj., comp. gretter, 197
[O.E. great], great, 84. greyn : sb. [O.F. grein, grain
< L. granum], grain, 596. grope : v. t. [O.E. grapian = to
grasp], to probe, 644. ground : sb. [O.E. grund], texture,
453. grys : sb. [O.F. gris = gray],
gray fur, 194. gyde : sb. [O.F. *guider (guier),
to guide, Teut., cog. O.E.
witan, to know], guide, 804. gynglen : v. i. [? onom.], to
jingle, 170. gypon, gypoun : sb. [a dimin. of
gipe (Arab origin) = a cassock],
a short vest, doublet, 75. gyse : v. gise.
H. haberdassher : sb. [O.F. hapertas
= a kind of cloth], a seller of
small wares, 361. habergeon, habergeoun: sb. [O.F.
hauberjon, hauberc < O.H.G.
halsberc = O.E. healsbeorh,
neck • defence, heals, neck +
156
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
beorgan. to protect], a coat of 'mail ', a habergeon, 76. hadde : pret. s. had, 48. halwes: sb. plu. [O.E. halig = holy], saints, shrines of saints, 14. ban : v. t. [O.K. habban], to have,
pr. plu., 849.
hangen : v. t., pret. heeng, heng
[O.E. hon < *hanhan, pret. s.
heng, pp. hangen], to hang ,
160, 358, 676.
happe : v. i. [Icel. happ = hap,
chance], to happen, 585. hardily : adv. [O.F. hardi < O.H.G., cog. with O.E. heard, becomes Mn.E. hard], boldly, surely, certainly, 156. harlot : sb. [O.F. harlot], a vaga bond, rascal, 647. harlotrie : sb., scurrility, 561. harneised : pp., equipped, 114. harre : sb. [O.E. heorr, a hinge],
a hinge, hinges, 550. haten : v. t, pr. subj. heete ; pret. highte, 719 ; pp. hight, highte, 616, 860 [form and active meaning, O,E. hatan, pret. heht = to command, promise, name] passive mean ing, O.E. hatte, pres. and pret. pass, of hatan, = is named, was named] ; to bid, promise, call, be called, named, haunt : sb. [O.F. hanter, to fre quent < Bret, hent, a path, W. hynt], use, practice ', 447. heed : sb. [O.E. heafod], head,
198.
heeld : pret. s. [O.E. heold, pret. of healdan], held, esteemed, 182.
heeng : v. hangen.
heep : sb. [O.E. heap], heap,
crowd, 575. heer, here: sb., plu. heris, herys,
555 [O.E. hser], hair, 675. heere: v. t. [O.E. hieran], to
hear, 169 ; pret. herde, 221. heete : v. haten. heigh: adj. [O.E. heah], high,
316.
hem: proii. plu., dat. and ace. [O.E. heom, him, dat. plu.], them, 11. hente : v. t., 299 [O.E. hentan],
to get, take, seize. herberwe : sb. [Icel. herbergi, lit. army - shelter ; cp. O.E. herebeorgian], harbour, lodg ing, inn, 403, 765. herde, hierde : sb. [O.E. hierde = a herdsman], a herd, herds man, 603. herde : pret., heard, 221 ; v.
heere.
here : pron., tlieir ; v. hir. heris, herys : v. heer, sb. herkneth: imper. plu. [O.E. hearcnian = to hearten], hear- ken, 828. herte : sb. [O.E. heorte~\, a heart,
150, 229.
hethen : sb. and adj. [O.E. hae'Sen; hse'S = heath], heathen, a heathen power or army, 66. hethenesse : sb., in concrete
sense = heathen lands, 49. heve : v. t., pret. haf [O.E. heb- ban, pret. hof, to raise, lift], to heave, raise, lift, 550. hevene : sb. [O.E. heofon], heaven, 519.
GLOSSARY.
157
hewe : sb. [O.E. hiw], colour,
complexion, hue, 394. hider : adv. [O.E. hider, hrSer],
hither, 672. hierde : sb. v. herde. hight, highte : v. haten. hipe : sb. [O.E. hype], Up, 472. hir, hire: gen.anddat. s., 3 pers.
pron., f. [O.E. hire, gen. and
dat. s. of heo = she], her,
119. hir : gen. plu., 3 pers. pron. [O.E.
hiera, hira], their, of them, 11,
586. hise : gen. s., 3rd pers. pron.,
m. [O.E. his, gen. s. of he],
his, 1. holde, holden : pp. [O.E. inf.
healdan], esteemed, held, 141. holt: sb. [O.E. holt, cf. Ger.
holz], wood, grove, 6. holwe : adj. [O.E. holh, holg,
hollow], holloiv. 289. hond: sb. [O.E. hond, hand],
hand, 193. hool : adj. (sb.) [O.E. hal =
whole}, whole ; dat. hoole, 533. hoolly : adv. wholly, 599. hooly : adj. [O.E. halig], holy, 17,
178, 479. hoomly : adv. [O.E. ham + -lice],
in a homely manner, 328. hoot, hoote : adj. and adv. [O.E.
hat, hate], hot, hotly, 97, 394. hors : sb. s. and plu. [O.E. hors,
s. and plu.], horse, horses, 74,
598. hosen : sb. plu. [O.E. hosan, plu.],
stockings, 456. hostelrie, hostelrye : sb. [O.F.
hostel < L.L. hospitale < L.
hospitem, a guest], a hotel, inn,
23, 718.
hostiler : sb., an innkeeper, 241. houre : sb. [A.F. houre, L. hora],
(an astrological) hour, 416. housbond : sb. [O.E. hus-bunda,
hus = a house + contr. of pr.
ptc. buende, buan = to dwell,
.'. = house-dweller], a husband,
460. humour : sb. [O.F. humour, L.
humor = moisture], humour. hy, hye: adj. and adv., comp.
hyer, 399 ; high, highly, 271,
399. hym : pers. and reflex, pron.,
him, himself, 87, 510. hymselven : reflex, pron., him self, 184. hyne : sb. [O.E. hina, a domestic],
hind, farm-servant, 603. hyre : sb. [O.E. hyr], hire, 507.
I.
ilke : adj. [O.E. ilca], same, 64, 721.
in : prep. [O.E. in], in ; on, ac cording to, 416.
infect: adj. [O.F. inf ecter < L.L. infectare < L. inficio, infec- tum], invalid, made invalid, 320.
inne : adv. [O.E. inne], in, 41.
iren : sb. [O.Merc, iren = W.Sax. isern], iron, 700.
J.
janglere : sb. [M.E. jangle < O.F. j angler = to jest, mock], a prater, loud talker, 560.
japes : sb., jests, tricks, 705.
158
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
jet : sb. [M.B. jetten < O.F.
jetter < L. jactare, to throw
about], fashion, 682. jolitee : sb. [O.F. jolivete ; joli,
jo\if=gay; Scand., cog. with E.
yule], comfort, joyfulness, 680. juge : sb. [A.F. juge < L. judi-
cem], a judge, 814. juste : v. t. [O.F. juster < L.L.
juxtare, to approach < L.
juxta], to joust, tilt, 96.
K.
kan : v. connen.
keepe : sb., care, attention, heed,
397, 503. kene : adj. [O.E. cene], sharp.
104.
kepe : r. t., pret. kepte [O.E. cepan = to keep, guard'], take care of, observe, 416. kepere : sb. principal, head, i.e.
2>rior, 172.
kerven: v. t., pret, carf, pp.
korven [O.E. ceorfan, pret.
cearf (plu. curfon), pp. corfen],
to carve, cut.
knarre, knarry : adj., gnarled,
knotted, muscular, 549. knobbe : sb., a pimple, 633. knowen : v. t., pp. kiiowe, knowen [O.E. cnawan, pret. cneow, pp. cnawen], to know, 730. koude : pret. of connen (q.v.),
knew, could, 94, 110. kowthe : pp. renowned, 14 ; v. connen.
L.
laas, las : sb. [O.F. las < L. la- queus — a noose, snare], a cord, snare, net, 392.
lad, ladde : pp. and pret. of leden,
[O.E. Isedan, pret. Itedde, pp.
Iseded ; lad = a way], to lead.
lady : gen. s., 88, 695 [O.E. hl«f-
dige, gen. hlsefdigan = *hla-
ford-ig-e, f . ; hlaford, v. lordes],
lady's.
lafte : pret. of leven [O.E. Isefan],
to cease, 492. large : adj. and adv. [O.F. large],
free, 374 ; freely, 734. lat : imperat. [O.E. inf. luetan],
let, 188, v. leet. late: adv. [O.E. late], lately,
690. latoun : sb. [O.F. laton], a kind
of metal, brass, 699. lay: pret. of liggen (q.v.), stop,
lodge, 20. lazar : sb. [Ch. L. lazari = lepers,
< Lazarus], a leper, 242. leed : sb. [O.E. lead], a leaden
vessel, 202. leene, lene: adj. [O.E. hlaene],
lean, 287.
leet : pret. of leten [O.E. Iretan, pret. let], to let, leave, 128, 508. lekes: sb. [O.E. leac, a herb,
leek}, leelcs, 634. lene : adj., v. leene. lene : v. t. [O.E. Irenan = to lend},
to lend, give, 611. leste : sb., pleasure, 132 ; v. lust, lesten, listen : v. t., pret. leste, liste [O.E. lystan], to please, 750.
letuaries : sb. [O.F. letuaire, electuaire < L. electuarium = a medicine dissolving in the mouth], electuaries, 426.
GLOSSARY.
159
levere : adj. comp. [O.E. leofra,
comp. of leof = dear], dearer,
rather, 293. lewed : adj. [O.E. las wed, adj., =
lay], ignorant, 502, 574. leyn : v. t., pret. leyde, pp. leyd
[O.E. lecgan], to lay, 81, 841. licour : sb. [O.F. licur < L.
liquorem],%?/0>-, liquid. juice, 3. lik, lyk : adj. [O.E. (ge)lic], like,
259, 412. lipsed : pret. of lipsen [O.E.
wlispiari], lisped, 264. liste: v. impers. [O.E. lystan],
pret., pleated, 102. lite : adj. [O.E. lyt], also litel
[O.E. lytel], small, little, 87,
494. lodemenage : sb. [O.E. (ge)lad,
a way, path + menage < L.
manus + L.L. -aticum, through
O.F.], pilotage, 403. lokkes : sb. pi. [O.E. loce], locks
(of haii-), curls, 677. lond : sb. [O.E. lond], land,
country, 14. longen: v. t. [O.E. longian], to
long for, 12.
loore : sb. [O.E. lar], lore, learn ing, 527. looth: adj. [O.E. laiS], hateful,
48G. lordes : sb. plu. and gen. s. [O.E.
hlaford, *hlaf-weard = loaf-
warden], lords, lord's, 47. lordynges: sb., lordlings, sirs,
761. lough: adj. [Scand., Icel. lagr,
cog. O.E. licgan, to lie], low,
522. love-dayes : sb. plu. [O.E. lufu +
dseg], love-days, days for the amicable settlement of differ ences, 258
love-knotte : sb. [O.E. lufu j- cnotta], a love-knot, a compli cated knot, 196.
lovyere: sb. [O.E. lufu = love], a later, 80.
luce: sb. [O.F. luz], a pike, 350.
lusty : adj., pleasant, joyful, 80.
lyf, lyve: sb. [O.E. lif], life, 71, 459.
lymytour : sb. [O.F. limiteur < Church L. limitatorem], one licensed to leg within certain limits, 209.
lytarge : sb. [O.F. litharge < L. lithargyrus < G-r. \i6dpyvpos] white-lead, 629.
lyven : v. i. [O.E. Man, libban = to live, remain], to live, 335.
M.
magykj sb. [L. magicus, per taining to sorcery ; Gr. payeta, the theology of the Magians], magic, 416.
maistre : sb. [O.F. maistre < L. magistrum], a master, chief, skilful artist, 576.
maistrie: sb. [O.F. maistrie], skill, siqjeriority, excellence, 165.
maken: v. t. [O.E. macian], to make, compose, draw up, 325, 384.
male : sb. [O.F. male = a bag], a bag, 694.
maner: sb. [O.F. manere < L.L. maneria (= habit) < L. manus, a hand], manner, kind, 71.
160
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
mannes : sb., gen. s. [O.E. marines, gen. of mann], man's, 574.
mantel : sb. [O.F. mantel], a mantle ; foot-mantel = a mantle reaching from the hips doivn- ivards, 472.
marchal : sb. [O.F. mareschal < L.L. mariscalcus < O.H.G. marahscalc < O.H.G. marah = a horse, cog. O.E. mearh, W. march + scale = a servant}, a marshal, steward, 755.
marybones : sb. plu. [O.E. mearg + ban], marrow-hones, 380.
maunciple: sb. [O.F. mancipe <L. mancipium = a formal purcliase\, a purveyor or pur chaser of provisions, a manciple, 567.
may: pr. s. [O.E. masg, 1 and 3 pers. ; meaht, miht, 2 pers.], may, can, 230.
medlee: adj. [O.F. medle], of mixed stuff, motley, 328.
meede : sb. [O.E. maed], a mead, meadow, 89.
meede : sb. [O.E. med], meed, reward, 770.
men : indef. pron. [O.E. menn, plu. of mann], man, one, used like Fr. on, 149.
mere : sb. [O.E. mere, f. of mearh = horse], a mare, 541.
merye, mury, murye, myrie : adj. [O.E. myrge], pleasant, merry, 208, 757, 802.
meschief: sb. [O.F. meschief < L. minus, less + L. caput, a head], danger, mishap, mis fortune, 493.
mesurable : adj. [O.F. mesure
< L. mensura], moderate.
435. mete : sb. [O.E. mete], meat, food,
127, 136. mo : adv. comp. [O.E. ma], more,
576. moot, moote, mote, moste : pr. s. ;
pret. moste, muste [O.E. 1 and
3 pr. s. mot, 2 pr. s. most, plu.
moton, pret. moste], may, must,
ought, 232, 735. mormal : sb. [cf. L.L. malum
mortuum = a disease of the
feet and skin], gangrene,
cancer, sore, 386. morne : sb. [O.E. moi-gen], morn ing, 358. mortreux : sb. [O.F. mortreux],
a sort of steio, soups, 384. morwe, morwenynge : sb. [0. E.
morgen], morning, morrow, 334. motteleye : sb. [O.F. mattele —
clotted, curdled}, a motley
garl), 271. moyste: adj. [O.E. moiste<L-L.
mustius< L. mustum = new
wine, must], soft. muche : adj. [O.E. micel, mycel,
minus the suffix, due to Scand.
inn., cf. Icel. adv. mjok ; cog.
Gr. jit^yas], great, 494. muchel : adj. [O.E. micel, mycel,
cog. Gr. f. fjtey&\rj], much, 132. murierly : adv. comp., more mer rily, 714 ; v. merye. muwe : sb. [O.F. mue, a coop for
foivls, the moulting of feathers,
O.F. muer < L. mutare = to
change}, a mew, coop, 349. myselven : refl. pron. [O.E. min
+ self, selfa], myself, 803.
GLOSSARY.
161
myster, mystier : sb. [O.F. m ester < L. ministerium], trade, craft, 61 3.
N. nacion : sb. [O.F. nacioun, na-
ciun, L. iiationem], nation, 53. namo = na mo = no more, 544. narette : v. arette. narwe : adj. [O.E. adj. nearu,
gen. nearwes], close, narrow,
625. nas = ne was [O.E. ne waes],
was not, 251, 321. nat : adv. [O.E. nawiht (= ne +
a + wiht)], not, 74, 244. nathelees : adv. [O.E. na + >e +
Ires], nevertheless, 35. ne : adv. and conj. [O.E. ne =
not, nor] , not, nor ; ne . . . ne
= neither- . . . nor; ne . . .
but = only, 120. natureel : adj. [L. naturalis],
natural, of nature, 416. nayles: sb. plu. [O.E. naegel],
nails, claws. neet: sb. [O.E. neat = cattle],
cattle, 597. nekke : sb. [O.E. hnecca], neck,
238. noght: adv. [O.E. nawiht =^ne
+ a + wiht], not, 107. nolde : pret. [O.E. nolde, pret. of
nyllan = ne willan], ivould not,
550. nones, nonys : sb. [ = -n + ones,
-n of L.W.S. J>an, O.E. J>£em,
J>am, dat. s. m. and n. of the
def. art., + O.E. anes, gen. s.
of an = one], time, nonce, occa sion, 379, 523.
Chaw. II.
nonne : sb. [O.E. nnnne < L.L. nonna], a nun, 163.
noon: adj. [O.E. nan], none, no one, 210.
noot : 1 pr. s., 284 [O.E. ne + witan, inf. ; wat (plu. witon), pr. indie. ; wiste, pret.], Mow not, knows not.
norissyng : sb. [O.F. noriss., stem of ptc. of norir < L. nutrire = to nurse, nurture], nourish ment, 437.
nosethirles : sb. plu. [O.E. nos- Syrel, nose-hole], nostrils, 557.
not-heed : sb. [O.E. hnutu = a nut + heafod], a clean-shaved head, a crop head, 109.
nowthe : adv. [O.E. nu >a — now then], now, 462.
ny : adj. [O.E. neah], nigh, near, close, 588, 732.
nyghtertale : sb. [O.E. niht = night + (ge)tal, number], ni/jht-time, 97.
O.
o : num. [O.E. an], one, 304,
363. of: prep, and adv. [O.E. of], of,
off, 782. offertorie : sb. [L. offertorium],
offertory, sentences of Scripture
said or sung after the Nicene
Creed, whilst the offer ing sioere
collected, 710. office: sb. [O.F. office <L. offi-
cium], a secular employment,
292. oon : num. [O.E. an], one, the
same, same hind of, 341.
u
162
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
other, plu. othere : adj. and pron.
[O.E. o'Ser], other, others, 113. othes : sb. plu. [O.E. a'<5], oaths,
810. ounce : sb. [L. uncia = the
twelfth part of anything}, a
small piece, 677. oure: poss. pron. [O.E. ure], of
us, our, 799, 823. out-ridere : sb., one fond of
riding about, 16(5. outrely : adv. [O.E. utor, comp.
of ut + lice], utterly, 237. over-al : adv., everywhere, 216. overeste : adj. superl. [O.E. ofer,
prep.], topmost, top, 290. overspradde : pret. [O.E. ofer +
sprasdan], spread over, 678. owene : adj. [O.E. agen, orig.
pp. of agan = to possess], own,
213. owner : adv. [O.E. a-hwser], any-
ivhere, 653. oynement : sb. [O.F. oignement,
ongier, to anoint, < L. unguere],
ointment, 631. oynon: sb. [O.F. oynoun <L.
unionem], onion, 634.
P. paas : sb. [O.F. pas < L. passum],
at afoot-pace. 825. pace : v. i. and t. [O.F. passer],
to go, pass, outstrip, 36, 175. pardee : interj. [O.F. par dieu],
a common oath = by God ! parfit: adj. [O.F. parfit, parfeit
< L. perfectum], perfect, 338. parisshen : sb. [O.F. parochien <
paroche < Ch. L. paroecia <
Gr. ira.poi.Kla], parishioner, 488.
partrich: sb. [O.F. perdrice <
L. perdicem], a partridge,
349. parvys : sb. [O.F. parvis, parais
= the porch of a church < L.L.
paradisum = the portico of St.
Peter's, Rome, paradise < Gr.
TrapaSeto-os], church porch, i.e.
of St. PaiiVs, 310. passen : v. t., to go beyond, ex ceed, surpass, 448 ; v. pace, pees : sb. [O.F. pees < L. pacem],
peace, 532. peire : sb. [O.F. paire<L. paria
= equal], a pair, 159. perce : v. t. [O.F. percer], to
pierce, 2. pers : adj. [O.F. pers.], blue,
bluish grey, 439, 617. person, personn : sb. [O.F. per-
sone < L.L. persona (ecclesiae),
the person, (of the churcli) ;
L. persona = person], a parson,
parish priest, 478, 702. peyne, peynen : v. refl. [M.E.
sb. peyne < L.L. pena < L.
poena], to take pains, en deavour, 139. philosophre : sb. [O.F. philo-
sophe < L. philosophum < Gr.
0i\oVo0os = a lover of wisdom],
a philosopher, alchemist, 297. pigges : sb., gen. s. [O.E. pecg],
pig's, 700. piled : adj. [O.F. peler, piller <
L. pilare, to deprive of hair],
plucked, thin, 627. pilwe-beer : sb. [O.E. pyle ( =
*pulwi) < L. pulvinus + O.E.
basr], pilloiv-case, 694. pitaunce ; sb. [O.F. pitance],
GLOSSARY.
163
portion of food, food allow ance, 224.
pitous : adj. [O.F. pitous < L.L. pietosus < L. pietas], compas sionate, piteous, 1 43.
pleyen : v. t. [O.E. plegian], to play, 236.
pleyn : adj. and adv. [O.F. plein
< L. plenum], full, 315 ; fully, 327.
plowman : sb. [Icel. plogr, a plough + O.E. mann], a plough man, a poor farmer, 529.
pocok arwes : sb. plu. [O.E. pea
< L. pavo + O.E. coc, cocc + O.E. arwe, cog. L. arcus], pea cock arrows, i.e. arrows made with peacock feathers, 104.
point, poynt : sb. [O.F. (en bon)
point], condition, case, 200. pomely : adj. [O.F. pommele],
dappled, dapple, 616. poraille : sb. plu. [O.F. poverail],
poor folk, rabble, 247. port : sb. [O.F. port < L. porto],
carriage, behaviour, 67, 138. post : sb. [O.E. post < L. postern],
pillar, support, 214, 800. poudre : sb. [O.F. poudre < L.
pulverem, dust], powder ;
poudre - marchant, flavouring
powder, 381. poure : v. i., to pore, look close
and long, 185.
povre : adj. [O.F. povre < L. pau per, becomes Mn.E. pauper],
poor, 225, 260. poynaunt : adj. [pr. ptc. of O.F.
poindre < L. pungere, to prick],
pungent, piquant, 352. poynt : v. point.
praktisour : sb., practitioner,
422.
preest, prest : sb., plu. preestes [O.E. preost < Ch. L. presbyter < Gr. 7rpe(Tj8i;re/3os, alder], a
priest, 164, 501. presse: sb. [O.F. presse], a press,
mould, 81, 263. preyere : sb. [O.F. preiere < Ch.
L. precaria], prayer, 231. prikasour : sb., a hard rider,
189. priken : v. t. [? O.E. prician, to
prick, spur = M.Du. pricken],
prick, spur, incite, 11. prikyng : sb., spurring, 191. pris, prys : sb. [O.F. pris < L.
pretium], price, esteem, prize,
renown, 67. prively, pryvely: adv., secretly,
609, 652. propre : adj. [O.F. propre < L.
proprium], own, 540, 581. pulle : v. t. [O.E. pullian = to
pull], to pluck, 652. pulled : pp. as adj., plucked,
moulting, 177. pultrye: [O.F. pultrie, poletrie],
poultry, 598. purchas : sb. [O.F. purchas <
purchacer, to pursue, acquire],
earning, proceeds from beg ging, 256. purchasour : sb. conveyancer,
318. purchasyng : sb.. conveyancing,
320. purtreye : v. t. [O.F. portray-,
stem of portrayant, pr. ptc. of
portraire < L.L. protrahere],
to pourtray, 96.
164
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
pynchen : v. t. [O.F. pincer < It.
picciare ; piccio. a leak, Mil],
to cavil, 326; pp., closely
pleated, 151. pynnes : sb. [O.E. pinn = pin,
peg}, pins, pegs, 234.
Q. quite : v. t. [O.F. quiter < L.L.
quietare], pay, redeem, 770. quyk, quyke : adj. [O.E. cwic],
quick, alive, 306.
R. rage : v. i. [O.F. ragier < rage
< L. rabiem], romp, play the
wanton, 257. raughte: pret. of rechen [O.E.
rsecan, pret. nehte], to reach,
136.
recchelees : adj. reckless, 179. rede : v. t. [O.E. (ge)rfedanj, to
read, 741. redy : adj. [O.E.(ge)r3ede], ready,
prepared, 21. reed : sb. [O.E. raed], counsel,
plan, adviser, 665. reed, reede : adj. [O.E. read], red,
90, 153. reherce : v. t. [O.F. rehercer <
O.F. herce, a harrow < L. hir-
picem], to rehearse, 732. rekene, rekne : v. t. [O.E. (ge>
recenian], to reckon, 401. relikes : sb. [O.F. relikes, L.
reliquias], relics, 701. remenaunt : sb. [O.F. pr. ptc.
remenant < L. remancre], rem nant, remainder, 724. rennyng : sb. running, 551. resons : sb. [O.F. resoun, raisoun
< L. rationem], opinions, talk, 274.
reule : sb. [O.F. reule < L.
regula], rule, discipline, 175. reve : sb. [O.E. (ge)refa], reeve,
steward, 542.
reyn : sb. [O.E. regn], rain, 492. reysed : pp. [O.E. raesan, to rush},
seen service, 54. riche : adj. as sb. [O.F. riche],
rich people, 248. riden : v. i.. pret. s. rood, 169,
328; pret. plu. riden, ryden,
825, 856 [O.E. ridan, pret. s.
rad, plu. ridon] ; to ride. roost : sb. [O.F. rost], roast meat,
206. rooste, roste : v. t. [O.F. rostir],
to roast, 147, 383. rote : for roote, dat. of root [Icel.
rot = a root], a root, 2. rote: sb. [*O.F. rote, cf. L.L.
chrotta, O.Iv. crot, W. crwth],
a small harp, a hind cf fiddle
or crowd, 236. rouncy : sb. [O.F. runcin], a
hack, nag, 390. rounded : pret. [M.E. (adj.)
rounde = round < O.F. rounde
< L. rotundum (ace.)], assumed a round form, 263.
route : sb. [O.F. route, a land of men < L. rupta = a company in broken ranks], a company, assembly, 612.
ryden : v. riden.
S. sangwyn : adj. [O.F. sanguine
< L. sanguineum], red, 333, 439.
GLOSSARY.
165
saugh, seigh : pret. s. of se (q.v.). sautrie : sb. [O.F. sautier < Ch.L.
psalterium < Gr. \j/a\Tr}pioi>],
psaltery, a kind of harp, 296. sawcefleem : adj. [L.L. salsum
phlegma], pimpled,, 625. scaled: adj. [O.E. scealu = a
shell, husk], scabby, 627. scarsly : adv. [O.F. escars, L.L.
excarpsum], frugally, 583. scathe : sb. [O.E. scaftu, cf. Iccl.
ska^i], harm, misfortune, 446. science : sb. [L. scientia], know ledge, 316. sclendre : adj. [O.F. esclendre,
of Teutonic origin], slender,
587. scole : sb. [O.E. scolu < L. schola,
Gr. 0-xoA??], school, 125. scoler : sb., scholar, student, 260. scoleye : v, t., to attend school or
college, to study, 302. se, seen, sene : v. t. ; pret. saugh,
scigb, 144, 193 [O.E. seon, pret.
p. scab ], to sve. seche, seken : v. t. [O.E. secan],
to seek, 784.
see : sb. [O.E. sse], sea, 59. seeke : adj. [O.E. seoc]. rick, ill,
18.
seigh : v. se. seken : v. seche. selle : v. t. [O.E.sellan— to f,ive],
to give, sell, 278. semen : v. i. [O.E. seman], to
seem, 313. semely, semyly : adv., in a
seemly manner, 123, 151. semycope : sb. [L. semi + L.L.
capa, cappa], a short cloak,
262.
sendal : sb. [O.F. cendal < ? Gr.
<nvdui>, orig. == Indian muslin < Skt. Sindhu = India}, a
kind of fine silk, 440. sene : adj. [O.E. gesiene], visible,
134. sentence : sb. [O.F. sentence <
L. sententia], meaning, ivisdom,
judgment, 306, 798. seson : sb. [A.F. seson, O.F.
saison, L. sationem = a sow ing], season, 19. sethe : v. i. [O.E. seoftan = to
boil, cook}, to boil, seethe, 383. seye, seyn : v. t. ; pret. seyde,
183, 219 [O.E. secgan, pret,
ssede, pp. gessed] ; to say, 181,
468. seyl : sb. [O.E. segl], a sail,
696. shake : inf. and pp. [O.E. sceacan,
pp. sceacen], to shake, shaken,
406. shal : 1 and 3 pr. s. ; shalt,
2 pr. s. ; shulle, pres. plu. ;
sholde, pret. [O.E., 1 and 3 pr.
s. sceal, 2 pr. s. scealt, plu.
sculon, pret. scolde] ; to have
to, to be sure to, 731, 853
(v. note). shamefastnesse : sb., modesty,
840. shapen : v. t., pres. plu., 772
[O.E. sceapan, pret. scop,sceop,
pp. sceapen] ; to prepare, in tend, destine. shaply : adj. [O.E. (ge)sceap +
lie], adapted, Jit, 372. shaven : v. t. ; shave, pp., 588
[O.E. sceafan, pp. sceafen] ; to
shave.
166
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
sheef : sb. [O.E. sceaf], a sheaf,
104. sheeldes : sb. [O.E. scield,scyld],
French crowns or ecus, so called
from their having a figure of a
shield on one side, 278. sheene, shene : adj. [O.E. sciene],
bright, beautiful, 116. shirreve : sb. [O.E. sclr-gerefa],
a shire-reeve, a sheriff, 359. shiten : adj., befouled, 504. sho : sb. [O.E. sceoh], a shoe,
253.
sholde, 184 ; v. shal. shoon : pret. of shynen (q.v.). shorte : v. t. [O.E. sceoit=short],
to shorten, 791. shour : sb. [O.E. sour], shower,
1. shyne : sb. [O.E. scinu], shin, leg,
386. shynen : v. i., pret. shoon, 198
[O.E. scinan, pret. scan], to
shine.
sike : adj., sick, 245 ; v. seeke. sikerly : adj., surely, certainly,
137. sithes: sb. [O.E. si«], times,
485. sitten: v. i. [O.E. sittan, pp.
seten], to sit, 370. slee, sleen : v. t. ; pp. slayn, 63
[O.E. slean, pret. sloh (plu.
slogon), pp. slaegen, slegen] ; to strike, slay. sleep : pret. of slepe [O.E. slaspan,
pret. slep], to sleep, 98, 397. sleighte : sb. [Icel. slseg-S], con trivance, craft, 604. sieve : sb. [O.E. slife], sleeve, 93.
smale : plu. adj. [O.E. smasl],
small, little, 9. smerte: adv. [O.E. smearte],
smartly, 149. smerte: v. t. ; pret. smerte [O.E.
smeortan], to pain, hurt, dis please, 230, 534. smyteth : imperat. plu. [O.E.
smitan], smite, strike, 782. snewed : . pret. [O.E. sniwan =
to snow], abounded, 345. snyhhen : v. t. [cf . Dan. snibbe
= to rebuke, scold], to reprove,
reprimand, 523. sohrely : adv. [O.F. sobre < L.
sobrium + O.E. lie], sadly,
sedately, solemnly, 289. solaas : sb. [O.F. solas < L. sola tium], pleasantry, 798. solempne : adj. [O.F. solempne
< L. solemnem], festive, im portant, 209, 364. solempnely : adv., with dignity,
with importance, 274. som, some : adj. and pron., s. and
plu. [O.E. sum], a certain, one,
some, 640. somdel : adv. [O.E. sum + dael],
something, 174 ; somewhat,
446. somer : sb. [O.E. samor], summer,
394. somonour : sb. [O.F. sumenour],
apparitor, 543, 623. somtyme : adv. [O.E. sum +
tima], once, at one time, 65,
85. sondry : adj. [O.E. syndrig],
sundry, various, divers, 14,
25. sone : sb. [O.E. sunu]. son, 79.
GLOSSARY.
167
sonne : sb. [O.E. sunne], sun, 7. song, songe : pret. of singen ;
pp. songe, songen, 711 [O.E.
singan, pret. s. song, pret. plu.
sungon, pp. sungen] ; to sing,
122, 714.
soo: adv. [O.E. swa], so, 102. soore : adv. [O.E. sare], sorely,
148, 230. soote : adj. [O.E. swot-, sweet,
in compds.J, sweet, 1. Cp.
swete. sooth, sothe : sb. and adj. [O.E.
so'S, sb. and adj.], truth, 284 ;
true. soothly: adv. [O.E. soSlice],
truly, 117. sope : sb. [O.E. sopa], a sop,
soaked bread. 334. soper : sb. [O.F. soper], supper,
348. sort : sb. [O.F. sort], lot, destiny,
844. sothe : adv. [O.E. softer truly],
truly, 483. soun : sb. [O.F. soun < L. sonum],
sound, 674. souple : adj. [O.F. souple <
L. supplicem — submissive],
pliable, soft, close -fitting,
203. sovereyn : adj. [O.F. soverein,
< L.L. *superanum], exceeding great, 67.
sowne : v. t. [O.F. suner, soner
< L. sonare], to sound, 565. sownynge : pr. ptc. [M.E. sowne
(q.v.)], sounding like, conduc ing to, tending to, 275. space : sb. [L. spatium], course, 176.
sparwe : sb. [O.E. spear w .1], a
sparrow, 626. speede : v. i. ; spedde, pret. [O.E.
spedan], to go, succeed, prosper,
769. spiced: adj. [M.E. spice < O.F.
espice < L.L. specia < L. spe-
ciem], seasoned, nice, scrupu lous, 526. spore : sb. [O.E. spura, spora],
spur, 473. squier: sb. [O.F. escuyer<L.L.
< scutarius < L. scutum = a
shield], a knight's shield-bearer,
esquire, 79. stelen : v. t. [O.E. stelan], to steal,
562. stemed : pret. [O.E. stcman],
shone, 202.
stepe : adj., bright, 201, 753. sterre: sb. [O.E. steorra], star,
268. stif: adj. [O.E. stif], strong,
673. stonden : v. i. [O.E. stondan], to
stand, 88 ; stonden at = hold
to, stand by, 778. stoor : sb. [O.F. estore], stock,
provision, 598. stot : sb. [O.E. stotte], a cob,
615. streit: adj. [O.F. estreit < L.
strictus], narrow, 174. streite : adv., tightly, 457. strem : sb. [0,E. stream], stream,
river, current, 402, 464. strike: sb., hank (of flax),
676. stronde : sb. [O.E. strond], strand,
shore, 13. stuwe : sb., stew, fishpond, 350.
168
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
styward: sb. [O.E. stiweard,
< stig + weard], a steward, 579.
substaunce : sb. [O.F. substance
< L. substantia], income, 489. subtilly: adv., craftily, 610. suffisaunce : sb. [O.F. suffisance],
a sufficiency, competency, 490. superfluitee : sb. [O.F. superfluite
< L. super fluitas], luxury, 436.
surcote : sb. [O.F. sur < L. super, + cote < M.H.G. kotte, kutte],
an overcoat, 617. swerd : sb. [O.E.sweord], a sword,
112. swete : adj. [O.E. swete], sweet,
5. swich, swiche : adj. [O.E. swylc],
such, 3, 247. swore : pp. of sweren [O.E.
swerian, pret. swor, pp. sworen],
to sicear, 810. swynk : sb. [O.E. (ge)swinc],
labour, toil, 188, 540. swynken: v. i. [O.E. swincan],
to toil, 186.
swynkere: sb., labourer, 531. syn: adv. and conj. [short for
sithen], since, 601. syngynge : pr. ptc., singing ; v.
song.
T. tabard: sb. [O.F. tabard, tabart],
a short coat, a tabard, 541. taffata : sb. [L.L. taffata], a kind
of jine silk, taffeta, 440. taille : sb. [O.F. taille = a cut,
a notch, a tally}, tally, credit,
trust, 570.
takel : sb. [cf. Du. takel], tackle,
especially an arrow, 106. talen : v. t. [O.E. talian == to reckon], to tell talcs, 772. tappestere : sb. [O.E. taeppestre],
barmaid, 241.
tapycer : sb. [O.F. tapissier;
tapis = a carpet < L. dr.
Taiririov, TainrjTiov], tapestry-
maker, upholsterer, 362.
targe: sb. [O.F. targe], shield,
471.
tart : adj. [O.E. teart, from stem of teran = to tear], bitter, sharp, 381. tellen : v. t. [O.E. tellan], to tell,
73.
temple : sb. [O.F. temple < L. templum], a temple, an inn of court, 567.
terme : sb. [O.F. terme < L. ter- minum] ; termes — terms, ivell- dejincd words, 323. text : sb. [O.F. texte < L. textum], a written remark, a saying, 177, 182. than, thanne : adv. [O.E. >a?nne],
then, 12, 42. tharray: def. art. + sb. [O.F.
arrei], the array, 716. that : clem. pron. and def. art. [O.E. Jnet neut, of the def. art.], that, the, 113. thencrees: art. + sb. [O.F. verb encreistre < L. increscere], the increase, 275.
ther: adv. [O.E. Jjger], where, 547 ; ther as, v. as ; therto = moreover, besides that, 48, 325.
GLOSSARY.
169
therfore : adv. [O.E. J>serfore],
for that object, for that pur pose, 809. thilke : adj. [O.E. \> = se, the
+ ilca, same], that same,
182. thing, thyng: sb. [O.E. }>ing],
document, 325 ; for any thing
= at any cost, 276. thinken, thynken : v. i. ; pret.
thoughte, 785 [O.E. ]?yncan,
pret. Jjuhte, pp. gej>uht], to
appear, seem, 37. tho : dem. pron. [O.E. \>a], those,
498. thombe : sb. [O.E. J>uma], thumb,
5G3.
thoughte : v. thinken. thresshe : v. t. [O.E. J>erscan], to
thrash, 536. thries : adv. [O.E. >riwa = thrice ;
the termination is due to
analogy with O.E. anes =
once], thrice, 63, 463. thynken : v. thinken. thynne : adj. [O.E. J>ynne, cog.
Ir. tana, W. tenau, teneu, L.
tenuis], thin, 679. til : prep. [Icel. til], to, 180. toft : sb. [O.E. toft], tuft, 555. tollen : v. t. [Icel. tolla], to
take toll ; tollen thries = ta Us
threefold one's due, 560. tonge: sb. [O.E. tunge], tongue,
265. tope : sb. [O.E. top], brad,
51)0. tretys : adj. [O.F. traitis, tretis
< L.L. tractitius < L. trahere], well made, long and well shaped, 152.
trewe : adj. [O.E. treowe], true,
531. trewely: adv. [O.E. (ge)treow-
lice), truly, 481. trompe : sb. [O.F. trompe],
trumpet, 674. trowe : v. t. [O.E. treowan], to
believe, 155, 524. trussed : pp. of trussen [O.F.
trusser, torser < L.L. *tortiare],
to pack, 681. tukked : pp. of tukken, tuken
[O.E. tucian], to tuck, 621. twelf: num. adj. [O.E. twelf],
twelve, 651. tweye, tweyne : num. adj. [O.E.
twegen], two, twain, 702. twynne: v. i. [cog. O.E. ge-
twinne, double], to depart,
835. tyde : sb. [O.E. tid], time,
401. tyme : sb. [O.E. tima, plu. timan],
time, times, 356. typet : sb. [O.E. tappet < L.
tapete], hood, coivl, 233.
U.
undergrowe : pp. [O.E. under + growen, pp. of growan], under- grown, 156.
vavasour : sb. [L.L. vassus vas-
sorum], landholder, lit. a vassal
of vassals, 360. venerie, venerye : sb. [O.F.
venerie ; vener, to hunt < L.
venaii], hunting, the chase,
166.
170
CHAUCER : PROLOGUE.
verdit : sb. [O.F. veirdit < L. vere dictum], verdict, 787.
vernycle: sb. [Ch. L. veronicula, also veronica, fr. Veronica, the traditional name of the woman who wiped the Saviour's face], a copy of the supposed imprint of Christ's face on the hand kerchief of St. Veronica, 685.
verraily : adv. [O.F. verrai < L.L. *veracum < L. verus], truly, 338.
vertu : sb. [O.F. vertu, virtud
< L. virtutura], efficiency, pro ductive energy, 4.
veyne : sb. [O.F. veine, L. vena],
a vein, 3. viage : sb. [O.F. viage <L. viati
cum = provisions for a journey,
via = a way], voyage, journey,
travels, 77. 723. vigilies : sb. [O.F. vigile <
L. vigilia], wakes, festivals,
377. vileynye : sb. [O.F. vilanie ;
vilain — a peasant, villainous,
< L.L. villanus = a farm- servant ; L. villa = a farm stead, country - house], vul garity, 726.
vitaille : sb. [O.F. vitaille < L.
248, 749.
vouche-sauf : v. t. [O.F. voucher L. vocare + O.F. sauf <L.
salvum], lit. to vouch or attest
as safe, to vouchsafe, grant,
807, 812. voys : sb. [O.F. vois < L. vocem],
voice, 688.
W.
wan : v. winnen.
wantowne : adj. [M.E. wan- =
not + M.E. towen, town = well
behaved, well taught < O.E.
togen, pp. of teo~n.=to educate],
brisk, lively, 208. wantownesse : sb., ivantonncss,
264. war : adj. [O.E. waer], aware
prudent, 157, 309. war: pres. subj. of warien [O.E.
warian] ; war him, let him
beware, 662. wastel-breed : sb. [O.F. wastel,
+ O.E. bread = bread], cal
of fine flour, 147. waterlees: adj. [O.E. waeter
leas = -less], without water,
out of water, 180. wayted: pret. of wayten [O.F.
wayter], to look for, troul
about, 525, 571. webbe : sb. [O.E. webba], weave
362. wel : adv. [O.E. wel], well, ful
quite, very, 24, 614. wende, wenden : v. i. ; went
pret. [O.E. wendan,
wende], to go, 16, 78. were: pret. indie, and subj.
[O.E. waere, wseren, wseronl
were, would be, 28, 486. wered : pret. [O.E. werede, pret
of werian = to wear], wore, 564 werre: sb. [O.F. werre], war,
military service, 47. werte: sb. [O.E. wearte],a wart,
555. wetten: v. t, pret. wette [O.E.
wsetan], to wet, 129.
GLOSSARY.
171
wex : sb. [O.E. weax], wax, 675. weye : sb. [O.E. weg], a way,
467. weyen : v. t. ; pret. pi a. weyeden
[O.E. str. v. wegan; pret.
wseg, plu. waegon] ; to weigh,
454. whan: adv. [O.E. hwanne],
when, 1. what : interr. pron., interj., and
adv. [O.E. hwset], what, ivhy,
184, 854 ; partly. whelke : sb. [dim. of M.E. whele,
a weal], pimple, 632. which, whiche: pron. [O.E.
hwilc], which, whom, what
sort, what kind, 40, 568 ;
which a = what a, how great
a. whil: conj. [O.E. hwi\r=a time,
a space], while, whilst, 397. whilom : adv. [0. E. hwilum =
at times], formerly, once, 795. whit: adj. [O.E. hwit], white,
238. wif : sb. [O.E. wif], wife, woman,
445. wight: sb. [O.E. wiht], person,
71. wille, wol, wole : 1 and 3 pers.
s. ; pret. wolde, 192 [O.E.
wille, 1 and 3 pers. s. ; wilt,
2 pers. s. ; wolde, pret.] ; will. winnen, wynne : v. t. ; pret.
wan, 442 ; pp. wonne, wonnen,
51 [O.E. (ge)winnan, pret.
won (plu. wunnon), pp. wun-
nen] ; to win, gain, acquire,
427.
wite, wyte : v. t, ; 1 and 3 pers. s. wot, woot ; 2 peis. s. wost ;
plu. witen ; pret. wiste, 280 [O.E. witan ; 1 and 3 pers. sing, wat, 2 pers. s. wast, plu. witon, pret. wiste, pp. witen] ; to know.
withholde: pp. [O.E. wrS-heal- den, pp. of wrS-healdan], de tained, 511.
withouten : prep. [O.E. wiSutan], besides, 461.
withseye, withseyn : v. t., to gainsay, 805.
wityng: sb., hnowledge, 611 ; v. wite.
wo : adj. [O.E. wea], sad, woeful, 351.
wol, wolde, wole : v. wille.
wonder : adj. and adv. [O.E. wundor], wonderful, wonder- fully, 483.
wonderly: adv., wondrously, won derfully, 84.
wone : sb. [O.E. gewuna], cus tom, 335.
wonne : v. winnen.
wonyng : sb. [O.E. wunung], dwelling house, 606.
wonynge : pr. ptc., living, 388.
wood: adj. [O.E. wod], mad, 184.
woot : v. wite.
worthy : adj. [O.E. wem-ft + M.E. -y], well-to-do, respectable, dis tinguished, 43, 212.
wrastlynge : sb. [O.E. wraest- lung], wrestling, 548.
wrighte : sb. [O.E. wryhta], wright, workman, 614.
write : pp. [O.E. writen, pp. of writan], ivritten, 161.
wroghte : pret. of wirche (q.v.), 497.
172
CHAUCER : PKOLOGUE.
wyde : adj. [O.E. wid], wide,
spacious, 28. wydwe : sb. [O.E. wid we], a
widow, 253. wympul : sb. [cf. Icel. vimpill,
M.Du. wimpel], a covering for
the neclt, a wimple, 151. wyn : sb. [O.E. win < L. vinum],
wine, 334. wynne : v. winnen . wynnyng : sb., gain, profit, 275 ;
v. winnen. wys : adj. [O.E. wis], wise, 68.
Y.
yeddynges : sb. [O.E. giddung,
saying~\, proverbial sayings,
popular songs, 237. year, yere : sb. s. and plu. [O.E.
ger, gear], year, years, 82. yeldynge : sb. [M.E. yelden = to
pay < O.E. geldan, gieldan],
yielding, return, produce, 596. yeman : sb., plu. yemen [? <
O.E. iung mon, young man], a
yeoman, retainer, 101. yerde: sb. [O.E. gierd], stick,
wand, 149. y-go — gone, 286. pp. of goon,
q.v. y-lad : pp. of leden, to lead,
carry, 530 ; v. lad. y-lyk : adj. [0. E. gelic], like, 592.
ymages : sb. [O.F. image < L. imago], astrological figures, 418. ynogh : adv. [O.E. genoh], enough,
373. yong, yonge: adj. [O.E. geong ;
cf. L. juvencus], young, 7, 79. yow : pers. and reflex, pron. [O.E. eow], you, yourself, yourseli 772.
y-preved : pp. of preven [O.F. prover < L. probare], to prc 485.
y-purfiled : pp. [O.F. pourfiler ;
filer = to twist threads, fil
thread < L. filum], trimmed,
edged ivithfur, 193.
y-ronne : pp. of rennen [O.E.
rinnan, pp. gerunnen],
run, 8.
y-sene : adj., visible, 592 ;
senc.
y-shadwed: pp. [M.E. sb. shad\ < O.E. sceadu (stem sceadw-)] shaded, 607.
y-shryve : pp. of shriven, shry ve
[O.E. scrifan]. to confess, shrive,
226.
y-teyd : pp. of teyen [O.E.
tiegan], to fasten, 457. y-wroght: pp. of wirche [O.E.
wyrcan], to make, 196. y-wympled : pp., decked with a wimple, 470 ; v. wympiil.
GLOSSARY TO THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.
A.
abasshed : pp. [O.F. esbahir < L.
ex + L.L. badire], disconcerted,
5GS. abusioun : sb. [F. abusion < L.
abusionem], deceit, imposture,
214. affray : sb. [O.F. esfrei < esfraer
< med. L. exfridare < L. ex 4- Teut. f rrSus, peaces/car, terror, 1137.
agast : adj. [cog. Goth, usgaisjan = to terrify^, amazed, terri fied, 677.
agayn, agayns : prep. [O.E. on- gean = towards, against], oppo site to, i.e. to meet, 391, 999 ; against, 580.
agaynward: adv. [O.E. ongean + \veard], back again, 441.
agryse : v. i. [O.E. agrisan = to fear], to shudder, 614.
algates : adv. [cf. Icel. alia got a = every way~\, nevertheless, at any rate, 520.
almesse: sb. [O.E. aelmesse < L. eleemosyna < Gr. t\€r}fj.o- atvri], alms, 168.
almus dede: sb.. almsdeed, 1156 ; v. almesse.
ambes as : adj. +&b. [O.F. ambes
< L. ambos + as < L. as = a unit], loth aces, 124.
amonges : prep. [O.E. onmang +
adv. suffix -es], amongst, 828. aaiounteth: pres. s. [O.F.amonter < L. ad + montem + are],
amounts to, signifies, 569. angle : sb. [L. angulus], angle,
304 (v. note). anon, anoon : adv. [O.E. on +
an = in one (minute)^, fortli-
ivith, 282, 326. argumenten : v. i. [O.F. sb.
argument < L. argumentum],
argue, 212. arist : v. i., pres. sg. = ariseth
[O.E. arisan], arises, 265. ark : sb. [O.F. arc< L. arcum],
the arc of the horizon from
sunrise to sunset, 2 (v. note). armure : sb. [O.F. armeure < L.
armatura], armour, 936. arrayed: pp. [O.F. arraier< L.
ad + roi of Scarid. origin,
cf. Swed. reda = to prepare^},
arranged, 252. artificial : adj., artificial, 2 (v.
note).
artow : art thou, 4. as : expletive ; as lat = pray let,
859 ; as have = may (Ife~)
have, 1061 (v. note), ascendent: sb. [L. ascendentem,
pr. ptc. of ascendo], the part
of the zodiacal circle seen over
the horizon at any moment, 302,
173
174
CHAUCER : THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.
as now : adv., just now, 740. asterted: pret. [cf. E. start, cog. Du. storten = to spring], escaped, 437. atazir : planetary influence, 305
(v. note).
atones : adv., at once, 670. atte [M.E. atten< O.E. aet>aem],
at the, 38. atwo : adv. [O.E. on + twa], in
two, 600, 697.
aught: adv. [O.E. awiht<a = ever + wiht = creature], by any chance, 1034. auter : sb. [O.F. auter < L.
altare], altar, 451. aventure : sb. [O.F. aventure< L.L. adventuram], chance, ad venture, 465. avow : sb. [cf. F. avouer < L. ad-
vocare], vow, 334. avyse : v. reflex. [O.F. aviser< L.L. advisare < L. ad -f visum + are], consider (with our selves}, 664.
avysement : sb. [O.F. aviser + ment < L.L. advisare from visum = a thing seen + suffix mentum], deliberation, 86. awake : v. i., pret. awok, 497 [O.E. awacan, awacian], to awahe. aweye : adv. [O.E. onweg], away,
593 ; astray, 609. ay : adv. [of Scand. origin, cf. Icel. ei = ever], aye, for ever. 296, 496.
B.
bake: pp. [O.E. bacen, pp. of bacan], baked, 95.
baronage: sb. [O.F. barnage < L.L. baronagium], assembly of barons, 239.
bayte : v. i. [Icel. beita = to feed, causal of blta = to bite], to
feed, 466. beden: v. t. [O.E. beodan = to
command, bid], to bid, 440. ben, been: pres. plu., 173, 238;
imperat. plu., beth, 229 ; pp.
be, been; [O.E. beon] to be, 227. bene : sb. [O.E. bean], a bean,
94. bere: v. t. [O.E. beran], to bear,
457 ; pret. bar = carried about,
476, 626 ; beer = bore, 722. berth : pres. s. of bere (q.v.) ;
berth hire on hond = accuses
her falsely, 620.
bet: adj. [O.E. bet], better, 114. bigiled: pret. [O.E. be + O.F.
guile, of Teut. origin], beguiled,
549. bigon: pp. [O.E. beginnan, pp.
begunnen], begun, 918. biheeste : sb. [O.E. behrcs +
excrescent -t], promise, 37. biknowe: v. t. [O.E. be + cna-
wan], confess, 886. bileve: v. t. [O.E. be + (ge>
liefan], to believe, 574. birafte : pret. s. of bireve [O.E.
bereafian < be + reafian = to
strip, seize, from reaf = a gar ment], bereft, 83. bisily : adv. [O.E. bysig + lice],
intently, 1095. bistad : pp. [O.E. be + stede =
a place, stead], bestead greatly
imperilled, 649. bisyde : adv., near, 398.
GLOSSARY.
175
bitwix : prep. [O.E. betwix],
between, 1075. biwaillen : v. t. [cf. Icel. vjela-
to wail, from va = woe, and
O.E. wa la ! wa = woe ! lo !
woe !], to bewail, lament, 26. biwreyest : v. t., pres. 2 s. of
biwreye [O.E. be + wregan,
to blame, accuse'], disclosest,
bewraycfit, 773. blesseth : v. reflex. [O.E. bletsian
= to bless], crosses (herself),
449, 868. blynde : adj. [O.E. blind], Uind,
dark, foul, 928. bohte : pret. of bye [O.E. byc-
gan], to buy, 420. bond: pret. of binden [O.E.
bindan, pret. band], bound,
634.
boon : sb. [O.E. ban], bone, 669. boost: sb. [cf. C. bost = 0 boast],
boast, 401.
bord : sb. [O.E. bord], table, 430. borwe : v.t. [O.E. borgian ; borh
= a pledge], to borrow, 7. brak : pret. [O.E. brecan, pret.
braec], broke, 288. brast : pret. s. of bresten, burst,
697 (v. broste).
brende : pret. (v. brennen), 289. brennen : v. t. [Icel. brenna], to
burn, 111 ; pret. brende, 289. breyde : pret. [O.E. bregdan«=tfo
draw a sword, to weave], drew,
837. broste : pret. plu. of bresten
[O.E. berstan (influenced by
Scand. bresta)], burst, 671. burthe : sb. [O.E. gebyrd <
•geburSi], birth, 314.
but : conj. [O.E. butan, bute < be + utan — out] , except, unless, 207,431,587; adv. only, 209; but it = unless, 636.
C.
cas: sb. [O.F. cas<L. casum], case, 305, 311 ; subject, 983.
caste : vb. [cf. Icel. kasta], cast about, debate, 212 ; pret., con trived, devised, 406, 584, 805.
catel: sb. [O.F. catel, chateK L. capitale from caput], chat tels, property ', 27.
ceriously : adv. [L.L. seriose, from L. series = order], with full details or in order, 185.
chaffare: sb. [O.E. ceap = pur chase + faru = proceedings'], merchandise, 138 ; v. i., to trade, barter, 139.
chapman : sb. [O.E. ceap = pur chase + mann], trader, mer chant, 135.
chapmanhode : sb. [O.E. ceap + mann + had], trade, 143.
cheere, chiere : sb. [O.F. chere, chiere < L.L. cara = a face], mien, 97 ; cheer, entertainment, 180.
chese : v. t. [O.E. ceosan], to choose, 227.
chivalrie : sb. [O.F. chevalerie < L.L. caballariam < L. caballus = a horse], company of knights, 235.
clene : adv. [O.E. claene], clean, entirely, 1106.
cleped : pp. of clepen, q.v.
CHAUCER : THE MAN OF LAW S TALE.
clepen : v. t. [O.E. clipian], to
call, name, 191. clerkis : sb. plu. [O.F. clerc <
L. clericum], learned men, 480. colde : v. i., to f/roiu cold, 889. comandour : commander, 495. confoundid : pp. [O.F. confondre
< L. confundere], mingled, confused, 100.
connen, konnen : v. t. ; pr. s. can, kan ; pret. s. couthe, coude ; pp. couthe [O.E. cunnan, pret. cufle, pp. cuft], to hnow, 47, 49 ; to be able, 42, 46.
conseil: sb. [O.F. conseil < L. consilium], council, 204 ; ad- rice, 425 ; secrecy. 111.
constable : sb. [O.F. conestab'e
< L.L. conestabulus < L. comes + stabuli], governor, 512.
constablesse : s\>., governor's wife,
539. contree : sb. [O.F. contree <
L.L. contratam < L. contra],
country, 534. countrefeted : pp. [O.F. contre-
fait < L. contra + factum],
imitated, 746. creance : sb. [O.F. creance <
L.L. credantiam], belief, 340 ;
creed, 915. cristendom : sb., the Christian
faith, 351.
cristene: adj., Christian, 222. cristned : pp., baptised, 355. cristyanytee : sb. [L.L. christi-
anitatem], company of Chris tians, 544. croude: v. i. [O.E. crudan], 2
pers. s. pres. crowdest, 290 ; to
push, 801.
crowdyng : sb., motive power, 299. cure : sb. [O.F. cure < L. curam],
care, endeavour, 188 ; in cure =
in her power, 230. curteisye ; sb. [O.F. curteisie<
cortois < L.L. cortensern <
L. cohortem + iam], courtesy,
166.
D.
dampned : pp. [O.F. dampner <
L. damnare], condemned, 1110. dar : 1 and 3 per?, s., 273 ; 2 pers
darst, 860; pret. dorste, 753
[O.E. dearr, pret. dorste]
dare.
darst : 2 pers. sg. pres. of dar. debaat ; sb. [O.F. debat < de-
batre < L. dis + battuere =
to beat], strife, war, 130. delit : sb. [O.F. delit, deleit <
L. delectare], delight, 1135. deme : v. t. [O.E. deman = to
judge], to conclude, judge, 1038,
1091. depardieux : inter]., lit. on the
part of God, 39. departed : pret, [O.F. desparter
< L. dispartire],^#r£tf<7, sepa rated, 1158.
depe : adv. [O.E. deope], deeply ,1.
desclaundred : pp. [O.F. des
esclandre < L. dis + scandalum
< Gk. (rxdi'c'aXoi'], slandered, 674.
desolaat : adj. [L. desolatus, from desolare = to la// tvaste], lack ing in, 131.
despence: sb. [O.F. despense < L. dispensam, from pp. of djs-
GLOSSARY.
177
pendere = to spend], money for
expenses, 7. despit : sb. [O.F. despit< L. de-
spectus], spite, 591 ; dishonour,
699. despitously : adv., maliciously,
605. devoir : sb. [O.P. devoir < L.
debere], duty, 38. devyse : v. t. [O.F. deviser < L.L.
*divisare < L. divisus, pp. of
dividere], to relate, describe,
154. deye, dye : v. i. [Icel. deyja = to
die], to die, 525, 644. deyntee : sb. [O.F. daintie < L.
dignitatem, worthiness] , special
pleasure, 139. digne : adj. [O.F. digne < L. dig-
nus], suitable, 779. dilatacioun : sb. [L. dilatationem
< dilatare = to make broad],
diffuseness, 232. direct : pp. of directe ; directed,
addressed, 748. disese : sb. [O.F. des < L. dis
+ O.F. eise], misery, distress,
616. disport : . sb. [O.F. desport < L.
dis + portare], amusement, 143. doghter : sb. [O.E. dohtor],
daughter, 151. doon : v. t. [O.E. don, pret. dyde,
pp. gedon], 2 s. pres. dooth =
causes, 724 ; pres. pi., 174 ; pp.
doon, 171, 174 ; ger. inf. to
doone, 770: to do, to cause;
do fecche = cause to be fetched,
662. doumb: adj. [O.E. dumb], dumb,
1055.
Chauc, 11.
drede : sb. [O.E. vb. (on)drae-
dan], doubt, 29, 196, 869 ; out
of drede = without doubt, 893. drenchen : v. i. [O.E. drencan =
to make to drink, drench], to
be drowned, 455 ; pp. dreynt
= drowned, 69. drenchyng : sb. drowning, 485,
489. dresse : v. t [O.F. drecier < L.L.
directiare], prepare, 263, 265. dreynte : pret. s. of drenchen
(q.v.), 923. dreynte = drowned, 69, weak pp.
of drenchen (q.v.). dure: v. i. [O.F. durer < L.
durare], to last, 189.
eft : adv. [O.E. eft], again, 792. eftsoone : adv. [O.E. eft = again
+ sona = soon], again, 909. eggement: sb. [O.E. eggian =
to incite + F. -ment], incite ment, 842. eightetethe : num. adj. [O.E.
eahtateofta], eighteenth, 5. eleccioun : sb. [L. electionem],
choice, "election" 312 (v.
note), elf: sb. [O.E. self = an elf, genius],
fairy, 754. ellis: adv. [O.E. elles, cog. Gr.
&\\os, L. alius], else. embassadrie : sb., negotiation,
233. emprise : sb. [O.F. emprise <L.L.
inprensam < L. in + pp. of
prehendere], enterprise, 348.
12
178
CHAUCER : THE MAN OF LAW S TALE.
enclyne : v. i. [O.F. encliner < L. inclinare], to condescend, 1082.
encrees : sb. [O.F. vb. encroistre
< L. increscere], increase, spread, 257.
enditen: v. i. [O.F. enditer<L.
in + dictare] , write, 78 1 . endure : v. i. [O.F. endurer< L.
in + durare], stay, remain, 752. enquere: v. t. [O.F. enquerrer
< in+ querre < L. quaerere], to inquire, search into, 629.
entente: sb. [O.F. entente, from v. entendre < L. intendere], plan, 147, 206 ; will, 824 ; in tention, 867.
espye : v. t. ; pp. espyed, observed, 324 [O.F. espier < O.H.G. spehen, to spy^ ; to inquire about, 180.
estaate: sb. [O.F. estat < L. statum], rank, 973.
eve: sb. [O.E. aefen], 'evening, 573.
everich : pron. [O.E. sefre + aelc], every one, all, 531, 626 ; each, 1004.
everichone: pron. [O.E. sefre + aslc + an], each one, every one, 58.
F.
fader : sb. [O.E. faeder], father,
274 ; plu. fadtes = originators,
129. faille : sb. [O.F. faille < faillir
<L.L. fallire], fail, doubt,
501.
faltren : pres. pi., falter, fail,
772. fantome: sb. [O.F. fantosme <L.
phantasma < Gr. <j>di>Taffjj,a =
an appearance], fantasy, de lusion, 1037. fare : sb. [O.E. faru = a journey,
hence proceedings], goings on,
569. fare : pp. [O.E.faran, pp.faren],
gone, 512. fayn : adv. [O.'E.fs&gen'], gladly,
willingly, fain, 41, 173. fecchen : v. t. [O.E. feccean, pret.
fette, pp.gefett],£o/6tfc&, 662;
pret. fette ; pp. fet, 667. feend : sb. [O.E. feond = enemy,
f-end], enemy, fiend, devil, 454,
571, 1064. feendly: &&}.,fiendlihe, devilish,
750.
feere : sb. [O.E. gefere, com pany'} ; in fere = in a company,
and hence = together, 328. feeste: sb. [O.F. feste < L.
festum], feast, 380, 418, 1007,
1010. felonye : sb. [O.F. felonie < L.L.
felonem = traitor, rebel +
-lam], crime, 643. femynynytee : sb., woman's form,
360. fer: adj. [O.E. feorr], far, 508,
658. ferforth: adv. [O.E. f eorr + f orS],
far forward ; as ferforth as =
as far as, 19, 1099 ; so ferforth
= so far, so fully, 572. fertile : adj. [O.E.feorSa],/(mr£7i,
823. fet: pp. of fecchen (q.v.).
GLOSSARY.
179
feyne : v. t. [O.F. feindre < L.
fingcre], feign, pretend, 351. feyntest: pres. 2 pers. s. [O.F.
feint, pp. of feindre (= to
feign) < L. fingere], makest
faint, dost weaken, 926. fiers: adj. [O.F. fiers <L.ferus],
fierce, 300. fil : pret, of falle [O.E. feallan,
pret. feoll, pp. feallen], to
happen, befall, 141. flemere: sb. [O.E. flieman = to
drive away], banisher, 460. fleteth : pres. s. [O.E. fleotan],
fioateth, 463, 901. folweth : pres. 3 pers. s. [O.E.
folgian], follows, 865. fonde : v. t. [O.E. fandian = to
try], to try (to persuade),
347. fonge : v. t. [O.E.fon <*fanhan,
pret. s. feng, pp. fan gen], 'to
receive, 377. font-ful : sb. [L. fontem + M.E.
-ial],fontful, 357. fontstoon: sb.font, 723. foomen : sb. plu. [O.E. fah =»/0<?
•f mann], foes, 718. foot-hoot : adv., in haste, 438. for: prep, and conj. [O.E. for,
prep.], because of, 683, 860;
because, 112, 434 ; go that,
478. fordoon : v. t. [O.E. fordon], to
destroy, " do for," 369. fors : sb. [O.F. force < L.L.
fortia = strength^, heed ; no
fors = no matter, 285. forwaked : pp. [0,E. for +
wacian], over*watched, tired
out with watching, 596.
forward : sb. [O.E. fore-weard = a precaution, agreement}, agreement, 34, 40.
founden : pp., provided, 243.
foyson : sb. [O.F. foison < L. fusionem], abundance, 504.
fraught : pp. [M.Du. vrachten = to freight, load], freighted, 171.
fredom: sb. [O.E. freo + dom], liberality, bounty, 168.
frete : pp. [O.E. fretan < for + etan = to eat up], eaten, 475.
furlong : sb. [O.E. furlang = the length of a furrow], fur long, 557.
fy : inter j. [Welsh &],fie!
fyn : sb. [O.F. fin < L. finem], end, 424.
fynt : pres. s. of finde [O.E. fin- dan, pres. s. fint],Jinds, 1150.
G.
gan : pret. s, of ginnen, pret. plu. gonne [O.E. -ginnen, pret. -gon, plu. -gunnon, pp. -gun- nen], to begin ; pret. gan is freq. an auxiliary = did, 14, 614.
gat: pret. [O.E. gietan, pret. geat], got, obtained, 647.
gauren: v. i. [cf. O.F. garer, guarer -= to watch < O.H.Gr. wa,TiOiL=* to guard], to gaze, 912.
geere : sb. [O.E. gearwa = equip ment, dress], gear, property, 800.
geestes : sb. plu. [O.F. gestes < L. gesta], gests, tales, 1126.
180
CHAUCER: THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.
gentilly: adv. [O.F. gentil < L. gentilem + O.E. lice], cour teously, 1093.
gesse: v. t. [cf. M.L.G. gissen, M.Du. ghissen = to guess, con jecture}, to imagine, 622; sup pose, 246, 1143.
gleede : sb. [O.E. gled, cf. glowan ^= to glow}, glowing coal or ashes, hence fire, 111.
go = gone, 1006, pp. of goon, q.v.
goon: v. i. [O.E. gan], to go, pp. 17, 132.
goost : sb. [O.E. gast = spirit], spirit, 404.
grace: sb. [O.F. grace < L. gra- tiam], pardon, 647 ; favour, 980.
gree : sb. [O.F. gret < L. gratum], favour, 259.
greete : pret. s. [O.E. gre"tan, pret. grette], greeted, 1051.
grenehede: sb. [O.E. grene + had], greenness, immaturity, 163.
gyde : sb. [F. guide], guide, 164.
gyse: sb. [O.F. gvise, of Teut. origin], guise, wise, way, 790.
H.
habundantly : adv. [O.F. hab-
onder < L.L. habundare < L.
abundare < ab + unda + are],
abundantly, 870. hals : sb. [ O.E. heals], neck, 73, halt : pres. s. of holde, holds,
lieeps, 721. halwes : sb. plu. [O.E. halig =
holy], saints, 1060*
han : v. t. [O.E. habban], to have ;
pres plu. 148. hastifliche, hastifly : adv. [O.F.
hastif < O.H.G. hast = haste
+ L. -ivum + O.E. lice],
hastily, 388. haveth : imperat. plu. of ban
= to have (q.v.). hawe : sb. [O.E. haga = haw,
hedge}, hawe bake = a baked
haw, coarse fare, 95. heed: sb. [O.E. heafod], head,
6, 104. heere : v. t., pp. herd, 613 [O.E.
hieran, heran], to hear, 182. heeste : sb. [O.E. haes + t], com mand, 284, 382. heete : v. t. [O.E. hatan = to
command, promise}, promise,
334, 1132. hem : pron. plu., dat. and ace.
[O.E. heom, him, dat. plu.],
them, 51, 52, 140. hente : pret. s. [O.E. hentan =
to seize}, seized, caught away,
1144. herbergage: sb. [O.F. herber-
gage < O.H.G. heriberga =
a camp, an army-shelter <
O.H.G. heri = an army + ber-
gan = to shelter], lodging, 147. herbergeours : sb., harbingers,
997 ; v. herbergage. herke : imper. sg. [cf. M.Du.
herken = to hearken}, listen to,
425. herkne : v. t. [O.E. hercnian =
to listen}, hear, 113. heryeth : pres. 3 pers. s. [O.E.
herian], praises, 1155; pp.
heryed, 872.
GLOSSARY.
181
hethen : adj. [O.E. haeften <
hseS, heath], heatheh, 378, 904. hevynesse : sb. [O.E. hefignes],
grief, sorrow, 952. hewe : sb. [O.E. hiw], hue,
colour, 137. hir : gen. pin., 3 pers. pron.
[O.E. hiera, hira], their, 136.
147, 1066. Mr, hire : gen. anddat. s., 3 pers.
pron., f. [O.E. hire, gen. and
dat. s. of heo — the], her, 65,
1085.
hoold : sb. [O.E. heald = pro tection], a stronghold, castle,
507. hoole : adj. [O.E. hal], hale,
1150. hottsbond : sb. [O.E. husbonda =
house dweller], husband, 272,
863. hurlest : pres. 2 pers. s. [cf. M.
Du. horrelen], dost whirl, 297. hye : sb. [O.E. higian = to
hasten], haste, 209.
in : sb. [O.E. inn = dwelling,
house], lodging, 1097. infortunat: adj. [L. in + f ortuna-
tus], inauspicious, 302.
J.
janglest: 2 pers. s. pres. [O.F.
jangler = £o chatter, of Teut.
origin], chatter est, 774. jay : sb. [O.F. gai, so named
from its gay colours], a jay,
774.
justise: sb. [O.F. justice < L.
]ustitia,m], judge, 665. juyse: sb. [O.F. juise < L.
indicium], judgment, 795.
K.
kan : v. connen.
kepte : v. t., pret. plu. [O.E. cepan, pret. cepte], tended, guarded, 269. kerchief: sb. [O.F. covrer + chef
< L. cooperire + L.L. *capum],
kerchief, covering for the head,
837. kiste: pret. [O.E. cyssan, pret.
cyste], hissed, 385 ; pp. been
they kist = they have kissed
each other, 1074. kithe: pres. subj. [O.E.cySan =
to make known], show, 636. kitte : pret. [M.E. cutten of Celt.
origin, cf. Welsh cwtan = to
shorten], cut, 600. knave; sb. [O.E. cnafa»# boy],
servant-lad, 474 ; as adj., wale,
722.
knowestow : hnowest thou, 367. knyght: sb. [O.E. cniht=# ser vant], knight, 254. knyttest : pres. 2 pers. s. [O.E.
cnyttan, cf. cnotta = a ktiot],
knittest, joinest (thyself), art
in conjunction, 307. konnyng: sb. [O.E. cunning],
ability, 1099. krone: sb. [? O.F. caroigne, F.
charogne (= carrion) < L.
carnem], hag, crone, 432. kynnes: sb. gen. s. [O.E. cynn-
kin, family, hind], kind,\lS7.
182
CHAUCER: THE MAN OF LAWS TALE.
L.
lad, ladde : pp. and pret. of lede
[O.E. Igedan, pret. Isedde],
brovffht,442 ; led, 976 ; pp., 646. lat : imperat. [O.E. laetan, letan],
let, 32 (v. lete). lay : sb. [O.F. lei < L. legem],
faith, creed, 376, 572. lede: v. t. [O.E. laedan] ;. pres.
subj., may bring, 357 ; to
govern, 434 ; pret. ladde =
brought, 442 ; led, 976 ; pp.
lad, 646. leere : v. t. [O.E. Iseran = to
teach], to learn, 181, 630. leet: pret. of lete [O.E. lastan
= to allow], caused (to be'), 959. lemman : sb. [O.E. leof = dear,
+ maim], lover, 917. lenger : adj. comp. [O.E. lengra,
comp. of lang], longer, 262. leoun: sb. [O.F. leon < L.
leonem], lion, 475. lese: v. t. [O.E. leosan, pret.
leas, pp. loren], to lose ; subj.
pres., 225 ; imperat. plu. leseth,
19 ; pp. lorn, 774. leste: v. impers., pres. subj.
[Kentish form, v. list], may
please, 742.
lete : v. t. [O.E. Isetan], to per mit, let, 321, 410, 1119 ; to forsake, 325, 331 ; to leave, 986. lette : v. i. [O.E. lettan = to
hinder], to cause delay, 1117. leve: sb. [O.E. leaf], leave, 867. leve : adj. [O.E. leof], dear, 51. levere : adj. comp. [O.E. leofra,
comp. of leof = dear], rather,
1027.
lewed : adj. [O.E. laewed = lay,
a layman], ignorant, 315. lewedly : adv. [O.E. laewed, adj., = lay + lice], ignorantly,
47. leyden : pret. plu. [O.E. lecgan,
pret. legde, pp. geled], brought
(fortJi), 213. ligeance : sb. allegiance, 895 (v.
liges). liges: sb.plu.[O.F.lige<O.H.G.
ledic =free], subjects, 240. lighte: pret. [O.E. lihtan],
alighted, dismounted, 786. liked: v. impers. pret. [O.E.
lician == to please], it pleased,
902. list: v. impers. pres. s. [O.E.
lystan = to please], it pleases,
521, 701, 766; pret. liste, 477,
1048.
lite: adj. [O.E. lyt], little, 109. lith : pres. s. of liggen [O.E.
licgan, pret. laeg], lies, 634 ;
pret. lay, 634. loft : sb. [O.E. on lofte], the air ;
on lofte = above, 277. loore : sb. [O.E. lar], learning,
knowledge, 4. lordinges : sb. plu. [O.E. hlaford,
*hlaf-weard = loaf warden +
-ing, dim. suffix], lordlings,
sirs, 16. lorn: pp. [O.E. loren, pp. of
leosan], lost, 774 (v. lese). loves : sb. plu. [O.E. hlaf], loaves,
503. lulleth : pres. s. [cf. M. Du.
lullen], lulls, soothes, 839. lust: sb. [O.E. lust, pleasure,
will], desire, icish, 188, 762.
GLOSSARY.
183
luxurie : sb. [L. luxuriarn], lust,
925. lymes : sb. plu. [O.E. Km], limbs,
461. lynage : sb. [O.F. linage < L.
linea + aticum], kindred, 999.
M.
maat : adj. [O.F. mat < Arab.
mat = dead (used in chess)],
feeble, 935. make: sb. [O.E. maca = mate],
mate, wife, 700. makestow = makest thou [O.E.
macian], 371. mannish : adj. [O.E. mann + isc],
manlike, unwomanly, 782. marchant : sb. [O.F. marchant < L.L. mercatantem from
mercatare = to traffic], mer chant, 122, 132. maugree : prep. [O.F. maugre =
ill will < L. malum gratum],
in spite of, 104. maumettrie : sb. [Mahomet],
Mahometanism, 236. mawe : sb. [O.E. maga = tlie
stomach], maw, 486. may : pres. s. [O.E. maeg, 1 and
3 pers. ; meant, miht, 2 pers. ;
pret. mitite], may, can, 250,
251, 811. mazed : pp. as adj. [cf. Icel.
masa = £o chatter^, bewildered,
526. 678. meel : sb. [O.E. masl = time,
portion; meal], meal, 466. meene : adj. [O.F. meien < L.
medianus], mean, intermediate,
546 ; sb. plu. means, 480.
meene : v. t. [O.E. msenan], to
mean, speak of, 641 ; pret.
mente = intended, 327. mervaille : sb. [O.F. merveille <
L. mirabilia], marvel, wonder,
502. meschance : sb. [O.F. mes-
cheance < L. minus + caden-
tiam], misfortune, 602. message : sb. [F. message < L.L.
missaticum, from L. mittere],
messenger, 144, 333 ; errand,
1087. messager : sb. [O.F. messager],
messenger, 6. metes : sb. gen. s. [O.E. mete =
food], meal, 1014. misaventure : sb. [O. F. mes-
aventure < L. minus + adven-
turam], misfortune, 616. moevyng : sb. (v. note). mooder : sb. [O.E. modor], mother,
276. moornyng : sb. [O.E. murnung],
mourning, 621. moot, moote, mote : pret. moste,
muste[O.E. 1 and 3 pers. s. mot,
2 pers. s. most, plu. moton, pret.
moste] ; may, must, ought, 227,
282, 737; subj. might, 380;
pret. = was obliged to, had to,
886.
morwe : sb. [O.E. morgen], mor row, 806. motyf : [F. motif < L.L. moti-
vum], motive, incitement, 628. mowlen : v. i. [cp. O.N. mygla],
to moulder, 32. mynde: sb. [O.E.mynd,gemynd],
memory, 527 ; remembrance,
908, 1127.
184
CHAUCER: THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.
mysdeparteth : pres. s. [O.E. pre fix mis + O.F. departir < L. de + partire], divides amiss, 107.
N.
narwe : adj. [O.E. nearu], nar row, 946.
nat = ne at, nor at, 290. natheless: adv. [O.E. naOy +
Ises], nevertheless, 45. nede : v. i. [O.E. niedan = to
compel], to ~be necessary, 871. nekke : sb. [O.E. hnecca], neck,
669. nempnen : v. t. [O.E. nemnan],
to name, 507. nere = ne were [O.E. ne waere],
icere not ; were it not, 132. nexte : adj. [O.E. niehst, niext,
supl. of neah], nearest, 807. noblesse : sb. [O.F. noblesse < L.L.nobilitiam,fromL. nobilis], nobility, ivorthy behaviour, 185, 248. noon: adj. [O.E. nan=iie + an =
not one], none, 4. noot : 1 pr. s., 242, 892 [O.E. ne + wat (plu. witon), pres. in die. ; wiste, pret. ; witan, inf.], know not. no-thyng : adv., in no respect,
576, 971. ny : prep. [O.E. neah], nigh,
550. nyce : adj. [O.F. nice < L. nes-
cium], foolish, weak, 1088. nys = ne is, is not, 319. nyste : pret. [O.E. nyste =- ne wiste], Jtnew not, 384 (v. noot).
0.
o : num. adj. [O.E. an], one, 52.
Occident: sb. [L. occidentem], ivest, 297.
occupieth: pr. s. [L. occupare = to seize], takes up, 424.
of: prep. [O.E. of], for, in re turn for, 1113.
oghte: pret. s. [O.E. agan, pret. ante] ; as him oghte = as it became him, 1097.
on: adj. [O.E. an], a, 819.
ones : adv. [O.E. anes, gen. of an = one], once. 588.
oon : adj. [O.E. an], one, 271, 334.
ordinance : sb. [O.F. ordinance < L.L. ordinantiam], pro vision, 250.
orisons : sb. plu. [O.F. orison < L. orationem], 537, 596.
out-taken : pp. as prep, except, 277.
owene: adj. [O.E. agen, orig. pp. of agan = to possess], oivn, lt)58.
P.
paas : sb. [L. passus = a stej>], pace, 399 ; plu. pas, move ments, 306.
pace : v. i. [F. passer < L.L. passare = to 2)ass wer], to pass, 205.
paraventure : &dv.,peraflventure, perhaps, 190.
pardee: interj. [O.F. par Dieu], 855.
parfay : interj. [O.F. par fei], by my fait h, truly, 849.
pas : v. paas.
GLOSSARY.
185
payens: sb. plu. [O.F. paien
< L. paganus = villager],
pagans, 534. pees: sb. [O.F. pes <L.pacem],
peace, 130. peyne : sb. [O.F. peine < L.
poena], penalty, 795. peyne: v. refl. [O.F. pener, v.
peyne sb.], to take pains, en deavour, 320.
pitous : adj., pitiful, sad, 449. plages: sb. plu. [L. plaga],
coasts, regions, 543. plat : adv. [O.F. plat < O.H.G.
^if], flatly, openly, 896. playn : adv. [O.F. plain < L.
planns], 2)lainly, 990. pleinte: sb. [O.F. plainte < L.
planctus], plaint, lamentation,
66, 1068. plesance : sb. [O.F. plaisance <
L.L. *placantiam, from L.
placere], pleasure, will, de light, 149, 276, 762, 1140. pleyn: adj. [O.F. plain < L.
planus], clear, 324 ; adv.
plainly, clearly, 990. pleyne: v. i. [O.F. plaindre < L.
plangere], to lament, 1067. pleynly: adv. [O.F. pleins +
M.E.ly], in full, 894. plighte : pret. s. [cf. O.E. pluc-
cian, pret. pluccode], pulled,
pluclied, 15. point : sb. [O.F. point < L. punc-
tum] : in point = on the point,
about to, 331, 910. prees: sb. [O.F. vb. presser <
L.L. pressare < pp. of L.
premo], crowd, throng, 393,
646, 677.
prikke: sb. [O.E prica = a pricJf, point], critical point, 119.
privetee : sb., secrecy, 548.
purchace : 3 pers. sg. subj. [O.F. pourchacier (= to hunt after)
< L.L. *procaptiare],?««2/(Zfr) provide, 873.
purveiance : sb. [O.F. purveance
< L. pro \ddentiam ],^W9jrar#- tions, 247.
pyne : sb. [O.E. pin <L. poena]^ pain, suffering, 1080.
Q.
quite : v. t. [O.F. quiter < L. quietare = to satisfy],to satisfy, 354 ; quite hir while = repay her time, recompense, 584.
quod : pret. of quethen [O.E. cweSan, pret. cwaeS (plu. cwsedon), pp. gecweden], to say, speak, 662.
R.
reawme : sb. [O.F. roiaume < L.L. regalmen < L. regimen, under influence of regalis], kingdom, realm, 797.
recche : v. t. [O.E. reccean], to care, reck, 94.
recchelees: adj. [O.E.recceleas], careless, indifferent, 229.
recomandeth : pres. s. reflex [L. re + con + mandare], com mends (Jterself}, 278.
rede : v. t. [O.E. raedan], to read, 1095.
186
CHAUCER ! THE MAN OF LAW S TALE.
reed : adj. [O.E. read], red, 452 ;
as sb. = blood, 356. refut : sb. [O.F. refute, cf. O.F.
fuite < L. fugitam], refuge,
place of refuge, 546, 852. regne : sb. [O.F. regne < L. reg-
num], a kingdom, 129, 389. rekene : v. i. [O.E. recenian],
reckon, 110. relesse : v. t. [O.F. relesser < L.
relaxare], to relieve, 1069. renegat : sb. [L.L. renegatus],
renegade, apostate, 933. reneye : v. t. [O.F. reneier < L.
renegare], to abjure, renounce,
340, 376, 915. rennen, rinnen : v. i. [O.E. rin-
nan, pret. s. ron, pp. gerunnen],
to run, 125 ; pp. ronne, 2. rente: sb. [O.F. rente < L.L.
rendita, nasalised form of L.
reddita], toll, 1142. repaireth : pres. 3 pers. s. [O.F.
repairier < L.L. repatriare,
from patria <= country], re turns, 967. rewe : v. i., pres. 2 pers. s. ruest,
854 [O.E.hreowan = £o rue], to
have pity on, 853. reweful : adj., sorrowful, 854. righte : adj. [O.E. riht], direct,
556.
rist : pres. 3 pers. s., rises, 864. roialler : adj. comp., more royal,
402. romen : [M.L.G., M.Du., O.H.G.,
ramen], v. i. to roam, 558. ronne : pp. of rennen [O.E. rin-
nan, pp. gerunnen], run, 2. rood : pret. of ride [O.E. ridan,
pret. rad], rode, 999.
roote : sb. [Icel. rot], an astro logical term for the epoch of a nativity, 314 (v. note) ; root, source, 358.
route : sb. [O.F. route < L. rupta ~ a company in broken ranks'], a company, 16, 387.
route : v. i., to assemble, 540 (v. route, sb.).
routhe: sb. [cf. Icel. hrygft], pity, ruth, 529.
routheless : adj., pitiless, 863.
sadde : adj. plu. [O.E. sasd = sated, satiated ; hence settled, fir m~], grave, discreet, 135.
sadly : adv. deeply, 743 (v. sadde).
salueth: pr. s. [F. saiuer < L. salutare], saluteth, 731.
sanz : prep. [O.F. sens< L. sine + s], without, 501.
sauf : adj. [O.F. sauf < L. salvus], safe, 343.
savacioun: sb. [L.L. salvationem], salvation, 283.
say : pret. of se, q.v.
scaped : pp. [O.F. escaper < L.L. excappare < ex + cappa, capa =a cloak /. lit. to slip out of one's cloak], escaped, 1151.
se, seen : v. t. ; pret. s. saugh, sawe, say, seigh, 583, 809, 848, 1051 ; pret. plu. sawe, 845 ; imperat. pres. s. see ; pp. seyn, 172, 624, 757 [O.E. seon, pret. s. seah, pp. gesewen and ; to see, 62, 182.
GLOSSARY.
187
secrenesse : sb. [O.F. secreit< Lat. secretum + E. -ness], secrecy, 773. seele : sb. [O.F. seel < L. sigil-
lum], seal, 882. seist : 109 (v. seye). seistow = sayest thou, 110 (v.
seye). seken: v. t. [O.E. secan], to
search, 127.
seled : pp. sealed, 736 (v. seele). selve : adj. [O.E. selfa], very, 115. sely : adj. [O.E. sselig = happy],
Messed, holy, 682. sente : pret. s. subj. [O.E. sendan, pret. subj. sende], should send, 1091. sentence: sb. [OF. sentence < L.
sententiam], opinion, 117. sermons : sb. plu. [O.F. sermon < L. sermonem], writings, 87. servage: sb. [F. servage< L.L. servaticum], servitude, 'bond age, 368.
sette : v. refl. [O.E. settan = to place], pret. s., set (herself), i.e. sat, 329 ; pp. set = placed, 440.
seye, seyn : v. t. ; pres. 1 pers. s.
seye, 1139; pres. 2 pers. s. seist,
109 ; pres. plu. seyn, 622 ;
pret. s. seyde ; pret. plu. sey-
den, 211 ; pp. seyd, 49, 61, 52
[O.E. secgan, pret. saegde, pp.
gesaegd] ; to say, 342, 972, 1085 ;
seistow = sayest thou, 110.
seyl: sb. [O.E. segel], sail, 833.
seyn : pres. plu. of seye = to say,
622 ; inf., 342.
seyn: pp. of se. seen = to see, 172, 624.
shapen : v. str. [O.E. scieppan, to create], to devise, 210; pp. disposed (themselves), 142 ; prepared, 249 ; appointed, 253 ; planned, 951. sheene : adj. [O.E. sciene, scene],
beautiful, fair, 692. shende : v. t. [O. E. scendan],
to harm, ruin. 28, 927. shente : pp. pi. of shende (q.v.),
931. shoon : pret. s. of shynen [O.E.
scinan, pret. scan], shone, 11. shul : pr. pi. of shal, must,
351.
sighte : pret. of sike (v. siketh). sikernesse : sb. [ < L. securus +
E. -ness], security, 425. siketh : v. i., pres. s. [O.E. sican], sighs, 985 ; pret. sighte, 1035. sit: pres. 3 s. of sitten [O.E.
sittan], sits, 638, 970. sith -. conj. [O.E. SI'S], since, 484,
814. sithe : sb. plu. [O.E. si«], times,
733.
sithen: adv. [O.E. siSftan < si$ = after + }>on, instr. of pron. se], since, afterwards, 58, 1121. skile : sb. .[Icel. skil = discern ment], reason, 708. skilful : adj. [v. skile], discern ing, 1038.
slee : v. t., pp. slayn [O.E.
slean, pret. sloh (plu. slogon),
pp. slsegen, slegen], to slay,
165.
slouthe : sb. [O.E. slaewfc], sloth,
530.
slow : pret. s. of slee (q.v.), slew, 627, 664, 894.
188
CHAUCER : THE MAN OF LAW S TALE.
sinoot: pret. [O.E. smitan, pret.
smat], smote, struck, 669. socour : sb. [O.F. socors < L.
succursum], succour, help, 644. sodeyn : adj. [O.F. sodain < L.
subitaneus], sudden, 421. softe : adv. [O.E. softe], softly,
tenderly, 275 ; adj. gentle,
slow, 399. soghte : pret. of seken [O.E.
secan, pret. sohte], searched,
513. solempne : adj. [L. solennis],
magnificent, 387. sond : sb. [O.E. sond], sand, 509. sonde : sb. [O.E. sond], messenger,
388; providence, dispensation,
523, 902 ; sending, 1049. sonne : sb. [O.E.sunne],sww, 554. sooth : adj. [O.E. so«], true, 169 ;
sb. truth; 1072. sort: sb. [O.F. sort], hind (of
business), 141. sorwe: sb. [O.E. sorg], sorrow,
264. soverayn : adj. [O.F. soverain<
L.L. superanus], chief, 276. sowdan: sb. [O.F. soldan< L.L.
soldanus < Turkish sultan],
Sultan, 177. spedeful: adj. [O.E. sped = sMc-
cess + ful], advantageous, 727. spicerye : sb. [O.F. espice, espece
< L. species = a hind'], mix ture of spices, 136. spille : v. i. t. [O.E. spillan = to
destroy-to perish, die, 285,
587 ; pp. spilt, hilled, 857. spouted : pp. [cf. M. Du. spuiten
= to spout, squirt~\, spouted,
vomited, 487.
spreynd : pp. [O.E. sprengan =
to make to spring, scatter, pp.
sprenged], sprinhled, 422. stant : pr. s. of stonde (q.v.),
stands, 618, 651, 655, 1055. starf : pret. sg. of sterve [O.E.
steorfan, ,pret. stearf], died,
283. steere : sb. [O.E. steora=sfrm-
man ; steor, steering], pilot,
steersman, 448 ; rudder, 833. steerelees : adj. [O.E. steor +
leas], rudderless, 439. sterres : sb. plu. (O.E. steorra),
stars, 192. sterte : v. i. [Icel. sterta], to
depart, 335. stiked : pp. [O.E. stician = to
stab], stabbed, 430; pret.
stuck, 509. stille: adv. [O.E.stille], quietly,
720. stonde : v. i. ; 2 sg. pres. stond-
est, 657 ; pret. plu. stode,
stoden, 176, 678 [O.E. stondan,
pret. stod, pp. gestonden] ; to
stand, 1050. stounde : sb. [O.E. stund = a
2>eriod of time], a ivhile, short
time, 1021. stree : sb. [O.E. streaw], straw,
701. stronde : sb. [O.E. strond],
strand, shore, 825. stynte: v. i. [O.E. styntan], to
leave off, cease, 413, 953. styward : sb. [O.E. stiweard <
stigu = sty + weard = keeper],
steward, 914. sweigh : sb. [Icel. sveigr], sway,
motion, 296.
GLOSSARYt
189
sweren: v. t. [O.E. swerian], to swear, 663 ; pret. swoor, 667.
swich : adj. [O.E. swylc < s\va + lic = so-like}, such, 153.
swithe: adv. [O.E. swrSe = strongly, very}, quickly, 730 ; as swithe = as quickly as pos sible, 637.
sworen : pret. plu. [O.E. swerian, pret. swor], swore, 344.
swowned : pret. s., swooned, 1058.
syn : conj. [O.E. srSSan], since, after, 56.
syscynk: adj. [O.F. six cinq], six and Jive, 125 (v. note).
T.
tabyde = to abide, 797.
talent : sb. [O.F. talent < L.
talentum], desire, appetite,
1137.
tamenden : v. t., to amend, 462. tanoyen : v. t. = to anoyen [O.F.
anuier < L.L. *in-odio-are], to
annoy, injure, 492. tariynge : sb. [cf. O.F. targier <
L.L. tardiare < L. tardare],
delay, 262.
tayl : sb. [O.E. taegel], tail, 111. teeris : sb. plu. [O.E. tear, cf.
Gr. SdKpv}, tears, 70. the: pron. pers. [O.E. \>Q, dat.
and ace.], tliee, 71, 72. theffect = the effect, the result,
893.
thende = the end, 928. thennes : adv. [O.E. j?anon + s],
thence, 308.
thentente =. the entent, the in tention, 930. ther : adv. [O.E. J>ser], wJtere,
307, 308 ; whither, at which,
469; when, 474.
therto : adv. [O.E. |>gerto], more over, also, 135. thilke : dem. adj. [O.E. $e = se,
the, that + ilca, weak adj.,
same : cp. Sc. of that ilk'}, that
same, that, 78. thinken : v. impers. ; pres. s.
thinketh; pret. thoughte, 146,
587 [O.E. j>yncan, pret. buhte,
pp. gejmht] ; to appear, seem. tho: adv. [O.E. J>a], then, 1079. thonketh : imperat. 2 pers. plu.
[O.E. >ancian], thank, 1113. thoughte : v. thinken. thraldom: sb. [O.E. >rael +
dom], bondage, slavery, 286,
338. thrifty: adj. [Icel. \>fitt = pro/it
+ M. E. -y], profitable t 46,
138. throwe : sb. [O.E. >rah, J?rag = a
short period of time}, a ivhile,
953. thurgh: prep. [O.E. >urh],
through, by, 363. tirannye : sb. [O.F. tirannie <
L. tyrannus < Gr. rvpavvos,
tyrant}, tyranny, cruelty, 165,
696. to-hewe: pp. [O.E. to-heawan =
to hew in pieces}, hewn to
pieces, 430, 437. tonge : sb. [O.E. tunge], tongue •,
899. tormented : pp. [L. tormentum +
are], tortured, 885,
190
CHAUCER : THE MAN OF LAW S TALE.
tortuous : adj. [L. tortuosus],
oblique, v. note, 302. tresor : sb. [O.F. tresor < L.
thesaurus < Gr. Or)<ravp6s],
treasure, 442. tretys : sb. pi. [F. traite < Lat.
tractatus], treaty, 233. trewe : adj. [O.E. treowe], true,
135: as sb. = the faithful,
456. triacle : sb. pi. [F. triacle < L.L.
theriacum < Gr. dypiaKdv = a
remedy against the wounds
made by wild beasts], balm,
sovereign remedy, 479. triste : v. i. [Icel. treysta = to
trust], to trust, 832. trouthe : sb. [O.E.treowSJ^r^A,
527. trowe : v. t. [O.E. treowian], to
trust, believe, 222. trumpe : sb. [O.F. trompe, cf.
Scand. trumba = a pipe~\,
trumpet, 705. twyes : adv. [cf. M.L.G. twies],
twice, 1058. twynne : v. t. [cog. O.E. ge-
twinne, double], to sunder,
separate, 517.
tyde : sb. [O.E. tid], time, a cer tain portion of time, an hour,
tide, 510, 798, 1134. tyden : v. t. [O.E. tidan], to
befal, betide, 337.
U.
underpighte : pret. [M.E. under- picche = to place, set, pitch under'], stuffed, 789.
understonde : pp. [O.E. pp. un-
derstonden], understood, 520. unkynde: adj. [O.E. uncynde],
unnatural, 88. unnethe: adv. [O.E. un + eaSe
= easily], hardly, scarcely,
1050. unwar : adj. [O.E. un + waer =
wary, cautious], unexpected,
427. unwemmed : pp. [O.E. un +
wemmed, pp. of wemman, to
defile], undefiled, 924.
V.
viage: sb. [O.F. veiage < L.
viaticum = iirovisions for a
journey, via = a way], voyage,
journey, 259, 300, 312. virago : sb. [L. virago], cruel
woman, 359. vitaille: sb. [O.F. vitaille < L.
victualia = provition$],
victuals, 443, 499. vouche-sauf : v. t. [O.F. vocher,
voucher + adj. sauf < L.
vocare + salvum], to vouchsafe;
deign, 1083.
W.
waiten, wayte : v. i. t. [O.F.
waiter, guaiter < O.H.G. wah-
tan = £o watoJi], to expect, 246 ;
to watch, 593 ; wayte after, to
wait for, expect, 467. wantownesse : sb. [O.E. wan- =
not + togen, pp. of teon = to
GLOSSARY.
191
draw, educate + -ness], wan tonness, 31. warye : v. t. [O.E. wergian], to
curse, 372. wawe : sb. [O.E. waeg], wave,
468, 508. wayke : adj. [Icel. veikr], weak,
932. weep : pret. s. of wepen [O.E.
wepan, pret. weop], wept,
606, 1052 ; w. pret. wepte,
267. weex: pret. of wexe [O.E.
weaxan], waxed, became, 563. wele : sb. [O.E. wela], wealth,
prosperity, 122. weleful : adj., full of weal,
healthglving, 451. welle : sb. [O.E. wielle], source,
well, 323. wende : v. i. [O.E. wendan =
to turn], to go, to wend, 142,
265, 967 ; pp. went, 173. were : pret. indie, and subj.
[O.E. waere] ; pret. subj., were,
should be, 131 ; pret. ind. 2 sg.,
308, 457. werkis: sb. plu. [O.E. weorc],
works, 478. wesshe : pret. [O.E. wascan, pret.
wosc], loashed, 453. weye : sb. [O.E. weg], way, 385 ;
manner, tvise, 590, 1086. weylawey: interj. [O.E. wa la
•wa, = iuoe! lo ! woe!], alas!
well-away ! 370, 632. weyved : pp. [? A.F. weiver <
Icel. veifa], removed, swung
aside, 308. what: adv. [O.E. hwget], why,
232, 374, 703.
wher-as : adv., where, 647, 1131. wher-so : adv. whether, 294. wight : sb. [O.E. wiht = crea ture], person, 43. wikke : adj. [from M.E. wikan
<O.E. vrica,n = tobend, yield],
wicked, 117. wille, wol, wole : 1 and 3 pers. s.,
41, 60, 89, 115 ; pret. s. wolde,
698 ; pret. plu. 144 [O.E. wille
1 and 3 pers. s. ; wilt, 2 pers.
s. ; wolde, pret.] ; to will, to
ivish. wirche : [O.E. wyrcean], to do,
work, perform, 567. wisly : adv. [O.E. (ge)wisslice],
surely, 1061. wit : sb. [O.E. wit], judgment,
10. wite, wyte : v. t., 1 and 3 pers. s.
wot, woot, 195, 962 ; 2 pers. s.
wost ; pret. wiste ; pp. wist, 1072
[O.E. witan ; 1 and 3 pers. s.
wat ; 2 pers. s. wast ; plu.
witon ; pret. wiste ; pp. witen];
to know. with : prep. [O.E. wrS = against],
by, 475. wo : [0,E. wa] adj. = sad, 757 ;
sb. — woe, 817. wonder: adj. [O.E. wundor =
a wonder], ivondrous, 1045. woot : v. wite. woweth: v. t, pres. s. [O.E.
wogan], wooes, 589. wrak : sb. [O.E. wracu = misery,
distress, revenge], wreck, 513. wrecche: adj. [O.E. wraecca],
wretched, 285.
wreche: sb. [O.E. wrsec], ven geance, 679.
192
CHAUCER: THE MAN or LAW'S TALE.
wroght : pp. [O.E. wyrcean, pret. worhte], lorought, com- posed, 747 (v. wirche).
wroot: pret. [O.B. writan, pret. wrat], wrote, 726, 890.
wyde-where : adv. widely, every where, 136.
wynnynges : sb. [O.E. gewinnan — to win], gains, 127.
wyte : v. t. [O.E. witan], to blame, 108.
Y.
ybounde: pp. of binde [O.E.
bindan, pret. band, pp. gebun-
den], bound, 361. ye: adv. [O.E. gea, ge], yea,
verily, 417. yeer : sb. plu. [O.E. gear, s. and
plu.], years, 499. yet : conj. [O.E. giet], yet, still,
117.
yfeere : adv. [O.E. gefere = a company}, together, 394 (v. feere).
ygo = gone, 599, pp. of goon, q.v.
yknowe : pp. [O.E. gecnawen], known, 314.
yle: sb. [O.F. isle, ile < L. insulam], isle, 68.
ymaad: pp. [O.E. gemacod, pp. of macian], made, 693.
ynowe: pi. adj. [O.E. genoh], enough, 255.
yoore : adv. [O.E. geara, for merly < gear = a year], for merly, 174.
yowthe : sb. [O.E. geoguS], youth, 163.
y-rent : pp. [O.E. inf. rendan], rent, torn, 844.
yshette : pp. pi. [O.E. scyttan = to bolt], shut, 560.
yslawe : pp. of slee [O.E. slean, pp. geslagen, geslaegen], slain, 484 ; yslayn, 605, 848 (v. slee).
APPENDIX.
IT is a most interesting and instructive occupation, and one well calculated to bring out the full force of the criticisms contained in the Introduction, to make an analysis of the descriptions of the pilgrims given in The Prologue under, such heads as, for example, " mounts,'1 weapons, jewelry and charms, clothing, physique, hair, beard, eyes, personal defects, voice and manner of speaking, singing, musical instruments, facts implying previous knowledge, similes and striking metaphors. Thus : —
1. "MOUNTS."
JCniffJit.—" His-hors were goode " (1. 74). Monk. — " His hors in greet estaat" (1. 203).
" His palfrey was as broun as is a berye " (1. 207). Merchant. — " And hye on horse he sat " (1. 271). Clerk. — "As leene was his hors as is a rake" (1. 287). Shipman. — " He rood upon a rouncy as he kouthe " (1. 390). Wife of Bath.— " Upon an amblere esily she sat ... (1. 469).
And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe " (1. 473). Ploughman. — " In a tabard he rood upon a mere " (1. 541). Reeve. — " This Reve sat upon a ful good stot
That was al pomely grey and highte Scot " (11. 615-6).
2. WEAPONS.
Yeoman.— See 11. 104-8 and 111-4.
Franklin. — " An anlaas, and a gipser al of silk,
Heeng at his girdel " (11. 357-8). Tlie Burgesses. — " Hir knyves were chaped noght with bra",
But al with silver, wroght ful clene andweel"
(11. 366-7).
Shipman. — " A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he " (1. 392). Miller. — " A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde " (1. 558). Reeve. — " And by his syde he bar a rusty blade " (1. 618). Summoner.— "A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake" (1. 668). Chuuc. If. 193 jo
] 94 CHAUCER : CANTERBURY TALE8.
8. CLOTHING.
("And eek in what array that they were inne.' ) Knight.— " But he ne was nat gay ;
Of fustian he wered a gypon Al bismotered with his habergeon '' (11. 74-6). Squire.—" Embrouded was he, as it were a meede ... (1. 89).
Short was his gowne, with sieves longe and wyde " (1. 93). Yeoman. — "And he was clad in cote and hood of grene " (1. 103). Prioress. — " Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was ... (1. 151).
Ful fetys was hir cloke as I was war" (1. 157). Monk. — " I seigh his sieves y-purfiled at the hond
With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond . . . (11. 193-4). His bootes souple " (1. 203).
Friar.—11 His typet" (1. 233), and see 11. 259-63. Merchant. — " In motteleye . . .
Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bevere hat ; His bootes clasped faire and fetisly " (11. 271-3). ClerTi. — " Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy " (1. 290). Man of Law. — " He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote,
Girt with a ceint of silk with barres smale ; Of his array telle I no lenger tale " (11. 328-30). Franltlin.—" His girdel whit as morne milk " (1. 358). The Burgesses. — "And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
Of a solempne and greet fraternitee " (11. 363-4). Sliipman.—" In a gowne of faldyng to the knee" (1. 391). Doctor. — " In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
Lyned with taffeta and with sendal " (11. 439-40). Wife fifEath.—See 11. 453-7 and 470-3. Ploughman.— "In a tabard" (1. 541).
Miller. — "A whit cote and a blew hode wered he " (1. 564). Reeve. — " A long surcote of pers upon he hade ... (1. 617).
Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute " (1. 621). Pardoner.—" But hood, for jolitee, ne wered he noon, For it was trussed up in his walet. Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet ; Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare " (11. 680-3).
4. BEARDS.
Merchant.—" With a forked berd" (1. 270). Franklin.—" Whit was his berd as is the dayesye " (1. 332). SMpman.— "With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake
(1. 406). Miller. — "His berd, as any sowe or fox, was reed,
And therto brood, as though it were a spade " (11. 552-3). Reeve. — " His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan " (1. 588). Summoner.— " With scaled browes blake and piled berd " (1. 627). Pardoner. — " No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have,
As smothe it was as it were late shave " (11. 689-90).
APPENDIX. 195
5. FACTS NOT DEPENDING ON OBSEEVATION ALONE.
Knight. — His wars and honours.
Squire. — His expeditions and accomplishments.
Prioress. — Details of education and character.
Monk. — His stables, hounds, and hunting; his letting "olde thynges
pace," and his love for a " fat swan." Friar. — " Ful swetely herde he confessioun, And plesaunt was his absolucioun. He was an esy man to geve penaunce Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce " (11. 221-4). His knowledge of taverns, hostlers, and barmaids, with his lack of knowledge of the poor ; his proficient begging ; his supremacy on love-days ; his special affectations in singing ; his name " Huberd."
Merchant. — That he was in debt in spite of his flourishing exterior. Cleric. — His unworldliness ; his praying for the souls of those who
gave him wherewithal to purchase books.
Man of Law. — His many fees and robes ; his smartness in his pro fession. Franklin. — The description of his table and of things fattening
for it.
Cook. — His art in making " blankmanger." Shipman. — His lack of conscience ; his seamanship. Doctor. — His league with his apothecary ; his ignorance of the Bible ;
hisjove pf^gold.
Wife of Bath. — Her love of precedence ; what she wore on her head on Sunday ; the company she kept in her youth.
Parson. — His character in detail. Ploughman.— His (Tolstoi'an) character. Miller. — His supremacy at " wrastlynge." Manciple. — His wisdom in buying. Reeve.— His house upon a heath ; that he had been brought up a
carpenter.
Summoner. — How easily bribed. Pardoner. — His tricks for bringing in the money.
6. SIMILES AND STRIKING METAPHORS.
Knight. — "And of his port as meeke as is a mayde" (1. 69). Squire. — "With lokkes crulle as they were layd in presse" (1. 81). " Embrouded was he, as it were a meede Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and reede ; . . . He was as fressh as is the monthe of May " (11. 89 — 92). " He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale " (1. 98). J?rioress. — "Hir eyen greye as glas" (1. 152).
196 CHAUCER: CANTERBURY TALES.
Monk. — " And whan he rood men myghte his brydel heere Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere, And eek as loude, as dooth the chapel belle r' (11. 169-71). M His heed was balled, that shcon as any glas, And eek his face as it hadde been enoynt " (11. 198-9)
" His heed,
" That stemed as a forneys of a leed " (11. 201-2). " He was nat pale, as a forpyned goost: . . .
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye" (11. 205-7). Friar. — " His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys " . 238).
" And rage he koude, as it were right a whelpe " (1. 257),
" His semycope,
That rounded as a belle out of the presse " (11. 262-3). " His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
As doon the sterres in the frosty nygbt " (11. 267-8). Clerk. — " As leene was his hors as is a rake" (1. 287). Franklin. — " Whit was his berd as is the dayesye" (1. 332).
" It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke " (1. 345). Wife of Batli.— " And on hir heed an hat
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe" (11. 470-1). Miller. — " His berd, as any so we or fox, was reed,
And therto brood, as though it were a spade " (11. 552-3).
" A toft of herys,
Eeed as the brustles of a sowes erys " (11. 555-6). " His mouth as wyde was as a greet forneys " (1. 559). Peeve. — " His tope was doked lyk a preest biforn ; Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, Y-lyk a staf , ther was no calf y-sene " (11. 590-2). Summoner. — " That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face" (I. 624).
" As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe " (1. 626). Pardoner.—" This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
But smothe it heeng, as dooth a strike of flex " (11
675-6).
" Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare" (1. 684). " A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot " (1. 688). Host . — " A semely man oure hooste was with-alle
For to ban been a marchal in an halle " (11. 751-2). " Up roos oure hoost and was oure aller cok " (1. 823). And so on. These make no pretension to being complete, but will serve as a suggestion of what may be done in a similar way.
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The Tutorial Latin Grammar. By B. J. HAYES, M.A. Lond. and Camb., and W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. Second Edition. 3s. 6d.
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"It is accurate and full without being overloaded with detail, and varieties of type are used with such effect as to minimise the work of the learner. Tested in respect of any of the crucial points, it comes well out of the ordeal." — Schoolmaster.
The Tutorial Latin Grammar, Exercises to. Is. 6d. [In the press. The Preceptors' Latin Course. [In preparation.
Latin Composition and Syntax. With copious EXERCISES. By A. H. ALLCEOFT, M.A. Oxon., and J. H. HATDON, M.A. Lond. and Camb. Fourth Edition. 2s. 6d.
The more advanced portions of the book- work are denoted by an asterisk, and the relative importance of rules and exceptions is shown by variety of type. Each Exercise is divided into three sections of progressive difficulty .
"This useful little book." — Journal of .Education.
"This is one of the best manuals on the above subject that we have met witli for tome time. Simplicity of statement and arrangement: apt examples illustrating each rule; exceptions to these adroitly stated just at the proper place and time, are among some of the striking characteristics of this excellent book. Every advantage too has been taken of printing and type to bring the leading statements prominently before the eye and mind of the reader. It will not only serve as an admirable class- book, but from its table of contents and its copious index will prove to the private student an excellent reference book as well." — Schoolmaster.
"The clearness and concise accuracy of this book throughout are truly remark able." — Education.
"The arrangement and order are exceedingly good."— School Board Chronicle.
Higher Latin Composition. By A. H. ALLCEOFT, M.A. Oxon.
[In preparation. The Tutorial Latin Reader. With VoCABULAEY. 2s. 6d.
"A soundly practical work." — Guardian, Higher Latin Reader. 3s. 6d. [Li ihe pr*ss.
THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL 8.ER1ES.
IRoman an& (Sredan
The Tutorial History of Rome. (To 14 A.D.) By A. EL ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon., and W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. With Maps. 3s. 6d.
" It is -well and clearly written."— Saturday Review.
History of Home, 31 B.C. to 96 A.D. : The Early Principate. By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon., and J. H. HAYDON, M.A.
Camb. and Lond. 2s. 6d.
" Accurate, and in accordance with the authorities." — Journal of Education. " It i« deserving of the highest praise. All that the student can require." — Literary World.
A Longer History of Rome. In Five Volumes, each containing a Chapter on the Literature of the Period :—
I. History of Borne, 287-202 B.C. : The Struggle for Empire. By AV. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. 4s. 6d.
1J. History of Borne, 202-133 B.C.: Rome under the Oligarchs. By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon., and W. F. MASOM.
M.A. Lond. 4s. 6d.
HE. History of Rome, 133-78 B.C.: The Decline of the Oligarchy. By W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. 4s. 6d.
IV. History of Borne, 78-31 B.C. : The Making of the Monarchy.
By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon. 4s. 6d.
"Well and accurately written." — Yorkshire Post.
V. History of Borne, 31 B.C. to 96 A.D.
A History of Greece. In Six Volumes, each containing a Chapter on the Literature of the Period : —
I . Early Grecian History. A Sketch of the Historic Period to
495 B.C. By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon., and W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. 3s. 6d.
" For those who require a knowledge of the period no better book could be recommended.1' — Educational Time*.
II. History of Greece, 495 to 431 B.C.: The Making of Athens.
By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon. 4s. 6d.
III . History of Greece, 431-404 B.C. : The Peloponnesian War.
By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A. Oxon. 4s. 6d.
IV. History of Greece, 404-362 B.C. : Sparta and Thebes. By
A. H. ALLCROFT. M.A. Oxon. 4s. 6d.
V. History of Greece, 371-323 B.C. : The Decline of Hellas.
By A. H. ALLCROFT. M.A. Oxon. 4s. 6d.
VI. History of Sicily, 490-289 B.C. By A. H. ALLCROFT, M.A.
Oxon., and W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. 3s. 6d. " "We can bear high testimony to its moriis."— Schoolmaster.
THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL SERIES.
Ifrcncb.
The Tutorial French Accidence. ByERNKsj WEEKLEY. M.A. Lond. With EXERCISES. 3s. 6d.
" The essentials of the accidence of the Frenc'. u< are skilfully exhibited
in carefully condensed synoptic sections."— Edm .n : ional JNews.
"A most practical and able compilation."— Public Opinion.
"The manual is an excellent one — clear, well-arranged, and if not quite ex haustive, at least very fairly complete." — Glasgow Herald.
The Tutorial French Syntax. By ERNEST WEEKLEY, M.A. Lond., and A. J. WYATT, M.A. Lond. & Camb. With Exercises. 3s. 6d.
"It is a decidedly good book and should have a ready sale." — Guardian.
"Mr. "Weekjey has produced a clear, full, and careful Grammar in the ' Tutorial French Accidence,' and the companion volume of ' Syntax,' by himself and Mr. Wyatt, is worthy of it." — Saturday Review.
The Tutorial French Grammar. Containing the Accidence and the
Syntax in One Volume. 4s. 6d. The Preceptors' French Reader. By ERNEST WEKKLEY, M.A. Lond.
With Notes and Vocabulary. Is. 6d.
French Prose Reader. Edited by S. BA_KLET, B. es He., Examiner in French to the College of Preceptors, and W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. With VOCABULARY. Second Edition. 2s. 6d. "The book is very well adapted to the purpose for which it is intended.''— Schoolmaster.
"Admirably chosen extracts. They are so selected as to be thoroughly interesting and at the same time thoroughly illustrative of all that is best in French literature.'' — School Board Chronicle.
Advanced French Reader: Containing passages in prose and verse
representative of all the modern Authors. Edited by S. BARLET,
B. es Sc., Examiner in French to the College of Preceptors, and
W. F. MASOM, M.A. Lond. Second Edition. 3s. 6d.
"Chosen from a large range of good modern authors, the book provide.- excellent
practice in 'Unseens.' "—Schoolmaster.
Higher French Reader. Edited by ERNEST WEEKLEY, M.A. Lond.
[/« the presx.
1bt$ton>.
The Intermediate Text-Book of English History: a Longer History of England. By C. S. FEARENSIDE, M.A. Oxon., and A. JOHNSON EVANS, M.A. Camb., B.A. Lond. With Maps & Plans. VOLUME I., to 1485. [In preparation.
VOLUME FL, 1485 to 1603. 4s. 6d. VOLUME III., 1603 to 1714. 4s. 6d. VOLUME IV., 1685 to 1801. 4s. 6d.
" The results of extensive reading seem to have been photographed upon a small plate, so that nothing of the effect of the larger scene is lost." — Teachers' Monthly.
" His genealogical tables and his plans of the great battles are very well done, as also are the brief biographical sketches at the end." — Literary Opinion.
" It is lively ; it is exact ; the style is vigorous and has plenty of swing ; the facts are numerous, but well balanced and admirably arranged." — Education.
THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL SERIES. 11
fIDental ahfc flDoral Science*
Ethics, Manual of. By J. S. MACKENZIE, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Examiner in the Universities of Cambridge and Aberdeen. Second Edition. 6s. 6d.
'• In writing this book Mr. Mackenzie has produced an earnest and striking con tribution to the ethical literature of the time."— Mind.
"This excellent manual." — International Journal of Ethics.
"Mr. Mackenzie maybe congratulated on having presented a thoroughly good and helpful guide to this attractive, yet elusive and difficult, subject." — Schoolmaster.
" It is a most admirable student's manual." — Teacher's Monthly.
" Mr. Mackenzie's book is as nearly perfect as it could be. It covers the whole field, and for perspicuity and thoroughness leaves nothing to be desired. The pupil who masters it will find himself equipped with a sound grasp of the subject such as no one book with which we are acquainted has hitherto been equal to supplying. Not the least recommendation is the really interesting style of the work." — Literary World.
""Written with lucidity and an obvious mastery of the whole bearing of the subject. ' — Standard.
" No one can doubt either the author's talent or his information. The ground of ethical science is covered by his treatment completely, sensibly, and in many respects brilliantly." — Manchester Guardian.
" For a practical aid to the student it is very admirably adapted. It is able, clear, and acute. The arrangement of the book is excellent. — Newcastle Daily Chronicle.
Logic, A Manual of. By J. WELTON, M.A. Lond. and Camb. 2 vols. Vol. I., Second Edition, 8s. 6d. ; Vol. II., 6s. 6d.
This book embraces the entire London B.A. and B.Sc. Syllabus, and renders unnecessary the purchase of the numerous books hitherto used. The relative importance of the sections is denoted by variety of type, and a minimum course of reading is thus indicated.
Vol. I. contains the whole of Deductive Logic, except Fallacies, which are treated, with Inductive Fallacies, in Vol. II.
" A clear and compendious summary of the views of various thinkers on important and doubtful points." — Joiirnal of Education.
" A very good book . . . not likely to be superseded for a long time to come." — Educational Revieiv.
' ' Unusually complete and reliable. The arrangement of divisions and subdivisions is excellent."— Schoolmaster.
" The manual may be safely recommended." — Educational Times.
"Undoubtedly excellent." — Board Teacher.
Psychology, A Mannal of. By G. F. STOUT, M.A., Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, Lecturer on Comparative Psychology in the University of Aberdeen. [/« preparation.
12 THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL SERIES.
flDatbematics an& flDecbanics.
Algebra, The Intermediate. By WILLIAM BEIGGS, M.A., LL.B., F.R.A.S., and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S. Based on the Algebra of Radhakrishnan. 3s. 6d.
Algebra, The Tutorial.
Part I. ELEMENTARY COURSE. [In preparation .
Part II. ADVANCED COURSE. [In preparation.
Astronomy, Elementary Mathematical. By C. W. C. BARLOW. M.A., Lond. and Camb., B.Sc. Lond., and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S., Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. Second Edition, with ANSWERS. 6s. Gd.
" Probably within the limits of the volume 110 better description of the methods by which the marvellous structure of scientific astronomy has been built up could hare been given."— Athenmum.
" Sure to find favour with students of astronomy." — Nature.
" This book supplies a distinct want. The diagrams are clear, the style of writing • lucid, and the mathematical knowledge required but small."— Teachers' Monthly.
"Completely successful." — Literary World.
One noticeable feature of the book is that the more important theorems are care fully illustrated by worked out numerical examples, and are so well arranged and clearly written that the volume ought to serve as a good text-book." — Bombay Advertiser.
"A careful examination has led to the verdict that the book is the best of itskind. It is accurate and well arranged, and in every respect meets the requirements for which it has been designed." — Practical Teacher.
"It is an admirable text-book." — School Guardian.
"It will carry a student a long way in the sound study of astronomy." — National Observer.
Coordinate Geometry: The Right Line and Circle. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., LL.B., F.R.A.S., and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S. Second Edition. 3s. 6d.
" It is thoroughly sound throughout, and indeed deals with some difficult points with a clearness and accuracy that has not, \ve believe, been surpassed." — Education .
" An admirable attempt on the part of its authors to realize the position of the average learner, and to provide for the wants of the private student. . . . Frequent exercises and examination papers have been interspersed, and different si/es of type and intelligently drawn figures will afford great assistance in revision."— Educational Times.
"Thoroughly practical and helpful." — Schoolmaster.
"Thoroughly sound, and deals clearly and accurately with difficult points." — Indian Engineer.
"Another of the excellent books published by the University Correspondence College Press. The arrangement of matter and the copious explanations it would be hard to surpass. It is the best book we have seen on the subject." — Board Teacher.
"The author shave had exceptional opportunities of appreciating the difficulties of beginners, and they have succeeded in producing a work which will be found especially useful." — English Mechanic.
Coordinate Geometry, Worked Examples in : A Graduated Course on the Right Line and Circle. '2? . Gd.
THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL SERIES. 13
jflfoatbematics an& /IDecbanics— continued.
Dynamics, Text-Book of. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S. 2s. 6d.
" The treatment is conspicuous for its clearness and conciseness."— Nature.
Euclid.— Books I. -IV. By RUPERT DEAKIN, M.A. Lond: and Oxon.. Headmaster of Stourbridge Grammar School. [In preparation .
Geometry of Similar Figures and the Plane. (Euclid VI. and XI.) With numerous Deductions worked and unworked. By C. W. C. BARLOW, M.A., B.Sc.. and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., F.R.S. 2s. 6d.
Hydrostatics, An Elementary Text-Book of. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., F.C.S., F.R.A.S.. ami G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., F.R.S. 2s.
Mechanics, An Elementary Text-Book of. By the same authors.
3s. 6d. " A most useful and helpful manual."— Educational Rcriew.
Mechanics, First Stage. By F. ROSENBERG, M.A. 2s.
" The work of a practical teacher.'' — Educational Jtcvieic. Mechanics, The Preceptors'. By F. ROSENBERG, M.A. 2s. 6d. Mechanics of Fluids, First Stage. 2s. {In preparation.
Mechanics and Hydrostatics, Worked Examples in: A Graduated Course on the London Matriculation Syllabus. Third Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Is. 6d.
Mensuration of the Simpler Figures. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A.,
F.C.S., F.R.A.S., and T. W. EDMONDSON, M.A. Camb., B.A.
Lond. 2s. 6d. Mensuration and Spherical Geometry: Being Mensuration of the
Simpler Figures and the Geometrical Properties of the Sphere.
Specially intended for London Inter. Arts and Science. By
the same authors. 3s. 6d.
'•It is far more than a mere collection of rules and examples." -Educational Times.
"The book comes from the hands of experts; we can think of nothing better qualified to enable the student to master this branch of the syllabus, and what is more important still, to promote a correct style in his mathematical manipulations." — Schoolmaster.
Statics, Text-Book of. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., LL.B., F.R.A.S., and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S. 2s. 6d.
Trigonometry, The Tutorial. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., LL.B.» F.R.A.S., and G. H. BRYAN, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S. 3s. 6d.
[In the press. Trigonometry, Synopsis of Elementary. Bv WILLIAM BRLGGS. M.A.,,
LL.B., F.R.A.S. Interleaved. Is. 6d". "An admirable little handbook." — Lyceum.
''For its purpose no better book could be recommended." — Educational Nt-ws. "Pithy definitions, numerous formulae, and terse explanatory notes." — School master.
14 THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL
Chemistry
Elementary Qualitative Analysis. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., F.C.S., and K. W. STEWART, D.Sc. Second Edition. Is. 6d.
"Likely to prove a useful and trustworthy assistance to those for whom it is t1 specially intended." — Na t ure.
"Every help that can be given, short of oral instruction and demonstration, is here given ; and not only will the private student find this a welcome aid, but the class-master will be glad of the help furnished by Messrs. Brings and Stewart, whose names are a guarantee of accurate information." — Education.
"Its treatment of the subject in hand is very thorough, and the method is on sound lines." — Schoolmaster.
Analysis of a Simple Salt. With a Selection of Model Analyses, and TABLES OF ANALYSIS (on linen). By the same Authors. Fourth Edition. 2s. 6d. TABLES OF ANALYSIS (separately) 6d. "The selection of model analyses is an excellent feature." — Educational Times.
Chemistry, The Tutorial. By G. H. BAJLEY, D.Sc. Lond., Ph.D. Heidelberg, Lecturer in Chemistry at Victoria University. Edited by WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., F.C.S.
PAET I., NON-METALS. 3s. 6d.
PART II., METALS. 3s. 6d. [I* preparation.
Chemistry, Synopsis of Non-Metallic. With an Appendix on Calcu lations. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, M.A., LL.B., F.C.S. Interleaved.
is. 6d.
"The notes are very clear, and just the thing to assist in the revision of the subject." — Literary Opinion.
" Arranged in a very clear and handy form." — Journal of Education.
Biology, Text Book of. By H. G. WELLS, B.Sc. Lond., F.Z.S., F.C.P. With an iNTEODrCTiON by Prof. G. B. HOWES, F.L.S., F.Z.IS.
PART I., VERTEBRATES. Second Edition. 6s. 6d. PART II., INVERTEBRATES AND PLANTS. 6s. 6d.
"The Text-Book of Bioloyy is a most useful addition to the series already issued, it is well-arranged, and contains the matter necessary for an elementary course »f vertebrate zoology in a concise and logical order." — Journal of Education.
"Mr. Wells' practical experience shows itself on every page ; his descriptions are short, lucid, and to the point. "We can confidently recommend it." — Educational Times.
"The numerous drawings, the well-arranged tables, and the careful descriptions will be of the utmost value to the student." — Schoolmaster.
"Mr. Wells deals with everything he ought to deal with, and touches nothing that he ought not to touch. For the higher forms of Modern Side we commend this text book without reserve; for the special student of biology we urge its use with enthu siasm." — Educational Review.
THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL SERIES. 15
By K. W. STEWART. D.Sc. Lond. Heat and Light, Elementary Text-Book of. Third Edition. 3s. 6d.
'(A student of ordinary ability who works carefully through this book need not fear the examination."— Schoolmaster.
" It will be found an admirable text-book." — Educational News.
"A welcome addition to a useful series." — School Guardian.
Heat, Elementary Text-Book of. 2s. Light, Elementary Text-Book of. 2s.
Magnetism and Electricity, Elementary Text-Book of: An Abridg ment of the Text-Book of Magnetism and Electricity, with 143 Diagrams and numerous Questions. 3s. 6d.
"It is a capital example of what a good Text-Book should be."— Educationa. ^'ews.
"We can heartily recommend it to all who need a Text-Book." — Lyceum. "Another of his excellent Text-Books." — Nature.
Magnetism and Electricity, First Stage. 2s. [/» preparation.
THE TUTORIAL PHYSICS.
With 424 Diagrams and numerous Calculations. By E. CATCHPOOL, B.Sc. Lond., First Class Honourman. Vol. I. Sound, Text-Book of. Second Edition. 3s. 6d.
By K. W. STEWAET, D.Sc. Lond. Vol. II. Heat, Text-Book of. Second Edition. 3s. 6d. Vol. III. Light, Text-Book of. Second Edition. 3s. 6d. Vol. IV. Magnetism and Electricity, Text-Book of. Second Edition. 5s. 6d.
" Cannot fail to be appreciated by all engaged in science teaching." — Publishers' Circular.
"Clear, concise, well-arranged and well-illustrated, and, as far as we have tested, accurate." — Journal of Education.
"Distinguished by accurate scientific knowledge and lucid explanations." — Educational Times.
"The principles of the subject are clearly set forth, and are exemplified by care fully chosen examples." — Oxford Magazine.
"The diagrams are neat and accurate, the printing excellent, and the arrangement of the matter clear and precise." — Practical Teacher.
" It is thoroughly well done.1' — Schoolmaster.
"The author has been very successful in making portions of the work not ordinarily regarded as elementary appear to be so by his simple exposition of them."— Teachers' Monthly.
' ' A full, philosophical, and decidedly original treatment of this branch of Physics.' ' —Educational Times.
" The author writes as a well-informed teacher, and that is equivalent to saying that he writes clearly and accurately. There are numerous books on acoustics, but few cover exactly the same ground as this, or are more suitable introductions to a serious study of the subject." — Nature.
" Will be found suitable for general use as an introduction to the study of elec trical science." — Iron.
Properties of Matter: an Introduction to the Tutorial Physics. By E. CATCHPOOL, B.Sc. [In preparation.
16 THE UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL SERIES.
Directories.
Matriculation Directory, with Full Answers to the Examination Papers. (No. XXI. ^vill be published during the fortnight following the Examinaton of Jan. 1897.) Nos. VI., VII.; IX.. XI., XII., XIII., XIV., XV., XVI., XVII., XVIII., XIX. 2s. each, net. No. XX. Is. net.
'•These solutions are uniformly accurate." — Journal of Education.
"Wo candidate could desire a more reliable guide." — Schoolmaster.
Intermediate Arts Directory, with Full Answers to the Examination Papers (except in Special Subjects for the Year). Nos. II. (1889) to VI. (1893), 2s. 6d. each, net.
Inter. Science and Prelim. Sci. Directory, with Full Answers to tho Examination Papers. Nos. I. (1890) to IV. (1893), 2s. 6d. each,
net.
B.A. Directory, with Full Answers to the Examination Papers
(except in Special Subjects for the Year.) No. I., 1889; II., 1890; III., 1891. 2s. 6d. each, net. No. IV., 1893 (with Full Answers to the Papers in Latin, Greek, and Pure Mathematics). 2s. 6d. net.
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AND
UNIVERSITY CORRESPONDENCE COLLEGE MAGAZINE, [ssued every Saturday. Price Id., by Post l|d. ; Half-yearly
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14. Reviews oj Current Educational Literature.
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