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principal of mniversits College 1901*1928
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CHAUCER'S
PROLOGUE, KNIGHT'S TALE, AND NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
L Series of English Texts, edited for use in Elementary and Secondary Schools, with Critical Introductions, Notes, etc.
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GEOFFREY CHAUCER
GEOFFREY CHAUCER'S
THE PROLOGUE TO THE BOOK OF THE TALES OF CANTERBURY
THE KNIGHT'S TALE THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
EDITED, WITH NOTES AND GLOSSARY, BY
ANDREW INGRAHAM
LATE HEAD-MASTER OF THE SWAIN FREE SCHOOL, NEW BEDFORD, MASS.
Nefo garfc THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
1
All riffh
SEEN BY .^RESERVATION
SERVICES
PK
~L 5
COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
nted April,
Set up and I9o3; February, x9o4
CONTENTS
TEXT : PAGE
The Prologue 1
The Knight's Tale 36
The Nun's Priest's Tale 127
READING ALOUD 157
THE TEXT 171
THE LANGUAGE 179
THE MAN 199
THE POET 212
LIST OF CHAUCER'S WORKS 232
ORDER OF THE CANTERBURY TALES .... 234
LIST OF BOOKS FOR REFERENCE 236
NOTES 239
LIST OF PROPER NAMES 287
GLOSSARY . , 301
•"*-**• <^ v< -.
A' tj fC,
* '• THE PROLOGUE
WHAN that0 Aprille with his shoures sote
The droughte of. March hath perced to the rote,
And bathed every veyne in swich0 licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour ;
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram0 his halfe cours y-ronne.
And smale fowles maken melodye,
That^lepen al the night 'with open ye,
So priketh hem nature in hir corages :
Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, ^""
And palmeres for to.seken strauhge stpndes.
To feme halwes couthe in iondfy londes,0
And specially from every shires ende
Of Eugelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The holy blisful martir0 for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seke.
Bifel0 that in that sesoun on a day In South werk at the Tabard0 as I lay
THE PROLOGUE
Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage
To Caunterbury with f ul devout cor
At night was come into that ho
Wei nine and twenty0 in a compaignye
Of sondry folk by aventure y-falle 25
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ride,,
The chambres and the stables weren wide,
And wel we weren esed atte beste.
And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30
So hadde 1° spoken with hem everichon,
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon ;
And made forward eriy for to rise,
To take our wey, ther as I yow devise.
But natheles, whyl I have time and space, 0 35 Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Me thinketh0 it acordaunt 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 at0 a knight than wol I first biginne.
A KNIGHT ther was and that a worthy0 man, That, fro the time that he first bigan To riden0 out, he loved chivalrye, 45
THE PROLOGUE
Troathe aticl fiohour, fredom and curteisye. Ful worthy was he in his lordes w^rre, *^ <** ' And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, i
As wf 1 in cristendom, as in hethejiagse, M <*^Ktv -Apd evere honotlred for his worthinesse. 50
At Aiis&indr^* he was whan it was wonne ;
ofte time he hadde the bord bigojme '•.£ fa ^ **^ * Aboven alle iiaciouns in Pruce. In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce, No Cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55
In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye. At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye, Whan they were wonne ; and in theX^rrete See At many a noble armee hadde he be.^ 60
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, And foughten for our feith at Tramissene In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo. This ilke worthy knight hadde been also Somtime with the lord of Palatye, 65
Agayn another0 hethen in Turkye : And everemore he hadde a sovereyn prys. And though that0 he were0 worthy, he was wys, And of his port as meke as is a mayde. He nevere yet no vileinye ne sayde 70
4 THE PROLOGUE
In al his lyf , unto ^no maner wight.j ^ • ***• * *j He wais a verray parfit, gentil knight. '
But for to tellen yow of his array, " His hors° were gode, but he ne was nat gay, Of fustian he \vered ajgipoun) 4* Al bismotered with his (habergeoun ; For 'lid was late y-come from his viage, And wente for to doon his pilgrimage.
With him ther was his sone, a yong SQUYER, A lovyere,0 and a lusty bacheler,0 80
With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, And wonderly delivere and of greet strengthe. And he hadde been somtime in chivachye 85
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye, And born him .wel, as of so litel space,0 In hope to stonden in his lady0 grace. Embrouded was he, as it were a mede Al ful of freshe floures white and rede. 90
Singinge he was, or floy tinge,0 al the day ; He was as fresh as is the month of May. Short was his goune, with sieves longe and wide ; Wel coude he sitte on hors and faire ride. He coude songes make and wel endite, 95
THE PROLOGUE 5
Juste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye and write.
So hote he lovede that by nightertale
He sleep namore than doth a nightingale.
Curteys he was, lowly and servisable,
And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100
A YEMAN hadde he, and servaunts namo At that time, for him liste ride so0 ; And he was clad in cote and hood of grene, A sheef of pecok arwes brighte and kene Under his belt he bar ful thriftily 105
(Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly, His arwes drouped nought with fetheres lowe), And in his hand he bar a mighty bo we. A not-heed hadde he, with a broun visage. Of wode-craft wel coude he al the usage. no
Upon his arm he bar a gayl bracer, ) And by his side a swerd and a bokeler, And on that other side a gay daggere, Harneised wel, and sharp as poynt of spere A£ri§to£ce on his brest of silver shene. An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene ; A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.
Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, That of hir smiling was ful simple and coy ; Hir gretteste ooth was but ' By $eynte Loy °
6 THE PROLOGUE
And she was cleped Madame Eglentine.0
Ful wel she song the service divine,
Entuned0 in Mr nose ful seraely ;
And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe,° 121
For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe.
At mete wel y-tanght° was she withalle ;
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe ;
Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe i3<
That no drope ne fille0 upon hir brest ;
In curteisye was set ful moche hir lest.
Hir over lippe wiped she so clene,
That in hir coppe ther was no ferthing sene
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte iy ** Fnl .semely after hir mete she raughte.
And sikerly she was of greet disport,
And ful plesaunt, and amiable of port,
^.nd^peyned hir to countrefete chere ^ 0Â¥ Court^ ^nd to been estatlich of manere, .., . 140
And to ben holden digne of reverence.
But, for to speken of hir conscience, •
She was so charitable and so pitous,
She wolde wepe, if that she sawe° a mous
Caught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145
TH& PROLOGUE 1
Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde
Wjth rosted flesh, or milk and wastel breed. /
But sore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
Or if men0 smoot it with a yerde smerte ;
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150
Ful semely hir wimpel pinched was ;
Hir nose tretis ; hir eyen greye as glas ;
Hir mouth ful smal, and thereto softe and reed ;
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed,
It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe 5 155
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war.
Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar
A peire0 of bedes, gauded al with grene ;
And theron heng a broche of gold ful shene, 160
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor vincit omnia.
Another NONNE with hir hadde she, That was hir chapeleyne, and PREESTES thre.
A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrye, 165
An outridere, that lovede venerye ; A manly man, to been an abbot able. Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable ; And whan he rood men mighte his bridel here Ginglen in a whistling wind as clere 170
(£.
* '" ;•)
8 THE PROLOGUE
And eek as loude as doth tha chapel belle,
Ther as this lord was kepor of the celle.
The reule0 of seynt Maure or of seynt Beneit0
By cause that it was old and som-del streit,
This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace, 175
And held after the newe world the space.
He yaf nat of that text a pulled0 hen
That seith that hunters been nat holy men j
Ne that a monk whan he is rechelees
Is likned til a fish that is waterlees ; 180
This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloistre.
But thilke text held he nat worth an oistre.
And I seyde his opinioun was good.0
What sholde he studie, and make himselven wood,
Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure, 185
Or swinken with his handes and laboure,
As Austin bit0 ? How shal the world be served ?
Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved.
Therfor he was a pricasour aright ;
Grehoundes he hadde, as swifte as foul in flight ; 190
Of priking and of hunting for the hare
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.0
I seigh his sieves purfiled at the hond
With grys, and that the fineste of a lond° ;
And, for to festne his hood under his chin, 195
THE PROLOGUE 9
I .e hatfde of gold y wroght a f ul curious pin , love-knot in the gretter ende ther was. iis heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, nd eek his face as he hadde been enoynt. I !e was a lord ful fat and in good poynt ; 200
! "is eyen stepe and rollinge in his heed, " hat stemed as a forneys of a leed ; : [is botes souple, his hors in greet estat. • ow certeynly he was a fair prelat; ;• fe was nat pale as a for-pined goost. 205
. fat swan loved he best of any roost. [is palfrey was as broun as is a berie. A FKEKE ther was, a wantoun and a merie, . limitour, a ful solempne man.
a alle the/ordres foure^is noon that can '2^'
o moche of daliaunce and fair langage. i.
[e hadde maad ful many a mariage0 »f yonge wommen at his owene cost. Fnto his ordre he was a noble post, 'ul wel biloved and famulier was he 315
V^th frankeleyns overal in his contree, aid with worthy wommen of the toun ; 'or he hadde power of confessioun, LS seyde himself, more than a curat, ^or of his ordre he was licentiat. 220
10 THE PROLOGUE
Ful swetely herde he confessioun, And plesaunt was his absolucioun ; He was an esy man to yeve penaunce Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce ; For unto a povre ordre for to yive Is signe that a man is wel y-shrive ; For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, He wiste that a man was repentaunt: For many a man so hard is of his herte, He may nat wepe although him sore smerte ; Therfore in stede of weping and preyeres Men0 moote yeve silver to the povre freres. His tipet was ay farsed f ul of knives0 And pinnes, for to yeven faire wives. And certeinly he hadde a mery note ; Wel coude he singe and pleyen on a rote. Of yeddinges he bar outrely the prys. His nekke whyt was as the flour-de-lys. Therto he strong was as a champioun. He knew the tavernes wel in every toun? And everich hostiler and tappestere Bet than a lazar or a beggestere0 ; For unto swich a worthy man as he Acorded nat, as by his facultee,0 To have with seke lazars aqueyntaunce.
THE PROLOGUE 11
It is nat honeste, it may nat avaunce0
For to delen0 with no swich poraille,
But al with riche and selleres of yitaille.
And overal ther as0 profit sholde arise,
Curteys he was, and lowely of servise. 250
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous ;
He was the beste beggere in his hous,'
For though a widwe hadde nought a sho,
So plesaunt was his 'In principiof '
Yet wolde he have a ferthing0 er he wente. 255
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he coude as it were right a whelpe.
In love-dayes ther coude he mochel helpe.
For ther he was nat lyk a cloisterer,
With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, 260
But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
Of double worstede was his semi-cope,
That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
Soniwhat he lipsed for his wantounesse,
To make his English swete upon his tonge ; 265
And in his harping,0 whan that he hadde songe,
His eyen twinkled in his heed aright,
As doon the sterres in the frosty night.
This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd.
A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd, 270
12 THE PROLOGUE
In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat ;
Upon his heed a Flaundrish bevere hat,
His botes clasped faire and fetisly.
His resouns he spak fill solempnely,
Souninge alway thencrees of his winninge. 275
He wolde the see were kept for any thinge0
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Wei coude he in eschaunge0 sheeldes selle.
This worthy man f ul 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 chevisaunce.
For sothe he was a worthy man withalle,
But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men him calle.
A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also, 285
That unto logik hadde long y-go. As lene was nis hors as is a rake, And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,- ** v But loked holwe, and therto soberly. Ful thredb^re was his overeste courtepy ; 290
For he hadde geten him yet no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office. For him was0 levere have at his beddes heed Twenty bokes clad in blak or reed Of Aristotle and his philosophye, 295
THE PROLOGUE 13
Than robes riche or fithele or gay sautrye. But al be that he was a philosophre,0 Yet rhadde he but litel gold in cof re ; But al tnat he taighte of his freendes hente, On bokes and on lerninge he it spente, 300
And bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye. Of studie took he most cure and most hede. Nought o word spak he more than was nede, And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305
And short and quik and ful of hy sentence ; Sowninge 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, G?b+* Cr 3i0 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. Discreet he was/and of greet reverence — He seined swich, his wordes 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 purchasour0 was nowher noon. Al was fee simple to him in effect, His purchasing mighte nat been infect. 320
14 THE PROLOGUE
N owner so bisy a man as he ther nas,
And yet he semed bisier than he was.
In termes hadde he cas° and domes alle,
That from the time of king William were falle.
Therto he coude endite and make a thing, 325
Ther coude no wight pinche at his writing ;
And every statut coude he pleyn by rote.
He rood but hoonily in a medlee cote,
Girt with a ceynt of silk with barres smale ;
Of his array telle I no lenger tale. 330
A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye ; Whyt was his berd as is the dayesye. Of his complexioun0 he was sangwyn. Wei loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn. To liven in delyt was ever his wone, 335
For he was Epicurus owene sone, That heeld opinioun that pleyn delyt0 Was verraily felicitee parfyt. An housholdere, and that a greet, was he ; Seynt Julian0 he was in his contree. 340
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon ; A bettre envined man was nowher noon. Withouten bake-mete was nevere his hous Of fish and flesh, and that so plentevous, It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke. 345
THE PROLOGUE 15
Of alle deyntees that meii'cbude thinke,
After the sondry sesouns of the yeer,
So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe,
And many a breem and many a luce in stewe. 350
Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his gere.
His table dormant0 in his halle alway
Stood redy covered al the longe day.
At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire0 ; 355
Ful ofte time he was knight of the shire.0
An anlas and a gipser al of silk
Heng at his girdel, whyt as morne milk.
A shirreve hadde he been and a countour ;
Was nowher such a worthy vavasour. 360
'An HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER, A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPICER, — And they were clothed alle in o liveree,0 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee. Ful fresh and newe hir gere apiked was ; 365
Hir knives were chaped nought with bras, But al with silver wrought ful clene and weel, Hir girdles and hir pouches everydeel. Wei semed ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. 370
16 THE PROLOGUE
Everich for the wisdom that he can0
Was shaply for to been an alderman ;
For catel hadde they ynouglrand rente,
And eek hir wives wolde it wel assente,
And elles certeyn were they to blame ; 375
It is ful fair to been y-clept ' Madame/
And goon to vigilyes al bifore,0
And have a mantel royalliche y-bore.
A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones, To boille the chiknes with the mary-bones, 380
And poudre-marchant tart and galingale. Wel coude he knowe a draughte of London ale. He coude roste and sethe and broille and frye, Maken mortreux and wel bake a pye. But greet harm0 was it, as it thoughte me, 385
That on his shine a mormal hadde he ; For blankm anger, that made he with the beste.
A SHIPMAN was ther, woning fer by weste, For aught I woot he was of Dertemouthe. He rood upon a rouncy as he couthe,0 390
In a gowne of falding to the knee. A daggere hanging on a laas hadde he Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun. The hote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun ; And certeynly he was a good felawe.0 395
THE PROLOGUE) 17
Ful many a draughte of wyn had he y-drawe
From Burdeux-ward,° whyl that the chapman sleep.
Of nice conscience took he no keep.
If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond,
By water he sente hem hoorn0 to every lond. • 400
But of his craft to rekene wel his tides,
His stremes and his daungers him besides,0
His herberwe and his mone, his lodemenage,
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.0
Hardy he was, and wys to undertake ; 405
With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
From Gootlond to the cape of Finistere,
And every crike in Britayne and in Spayne ;
His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne.0 410
With us ther was a DOCTOUB OF PHISYK, In al this world ne was ther noon him lyk, To speke of ° phisik and of surgerye ; For he was grounded in astronomye.0 He kepte his pacient a ful greet del 415
In houres by his magik naturel. Wel coude he f ortunen the ascendent Of his images for his pacient. He knew the cause of everich malady e, Were it of hoot or cold, or moiste or drye,° 420
18 THE PROLOGUE
And where engendred and of what humour.
He was a verray parfit practisour ;
The cause y-knowe and of his harm the rote,
Anon he yaf the seke man his bote.
Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries,
To sende him drogges and his letuaries,
For ech of hem made other for to winne ;
Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to biginne.
Wei knew he the olde Esculapius,0
And Dei'scorides, and eek Rufus,
Old Ypoeras, Haly and Galien,
Serapion, Razis and Avicen,
Averrois, Damascien and Constantyn,
Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertyn.
Of his diete mesurable was he,
For it was of no superfluitee,
But of greet norissing and digestible.
His studie was but litel on the Bible.
In sangwin and in pers he clad was al,
Lined with taffata and with sendal ;
And yet he was but esy of dispence.0
He kepte that he wan in pestilence0 ;
For gold in phisik is a cordial,0
Therfor he lovede gold in special.
A good WTF was ther of biside BATHE,
THE PROLOGUE 19
fM&f
But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. Of cloth-making she hadde swiche an haunt0, ^'fe She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. In al the parishe wyf ne was ther noon0 That to the offring bifore hir sholde goon ; 450
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, That she was out of alle charitee. Hir coverchiefs ful fine were of ground, I dorste swere they weyeden ten0 pound, That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 455
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reedj* Ful streite y-fceyd, and shoes ful moiste and newe ; Bold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. She was a worthy womman al hir live, Housbondes at chirche-dore° she hadde five, 460
Withouten other compaignye in youthe0 (But therof nedeth nat to speke as nouthe). And thryes hadde she been at Jerusalem ; She hadde passecl many a straunge streem ; At Eome she hadde been and at Boloigne,0 465
In Galice0 at Seynt Jame and at Coloigne.0 She coude moche of wandring by the weye. Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. Upon an amblere esily she sat, Y-wimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat 470
20 THE PROLOGUE
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe ;
A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
In felaweship wel coude she laughe and carpe
Of remedies of love she knew perchaunce,0 475
For she coude of that art the olde daunce.
A good man was ther of religioun, And was a povre PERSOUN of a toun, But riche he was of holy thought and werk. He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 480
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche ; His parishens devoutly wolde he teche. Benigne he was and wonder diligent And in adversitee f ul pacient ; ^ And swich he was y-preved ofte sithes. 485
Ful looth were him to cursen for his tithes,0 But rather wolde he yQven, out of doute, Unto his povre parishens aboute Of his offring, and eek of his substaunce.0 He coude in litel thing han suffisaunce. 490
Wyd -was his parishe, and houses fer asonder, But he ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder, In siknes nor in meschief to visite The ferreste in his parishe, moche and lite, Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.° 495
THE PROLOGUE 21
This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
That first he wroughte and afterward he taughte ;
Out of the gospel0 he tho wordes caughte,
And this figure he added eek therto
That "Jf gold ruste, what shal iren do ? " 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 preest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
Wei oughte a preest ensample for to yive 505
By his clennesse how that his sheep shold live.
He sette nat his benefice to hire,
And leet his sheep encombred in the mire,
And ran to London, unto Seynt Poules,
To seken him a chaunterye0 for soules, 510
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde0 ;
But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde
So that the wolf ne made it nat miscarie ;
He was a shepherde and no mercenarie.
And though he holy were and vertuous, 515
He was to sinful man nat despitous,0
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
But in his teching discreet and benigne.
To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
By good ensample, this was his bisinesse ; 520
22 THE PROLOGUE
But it were any per s one obstinat,
What so he were, of heigh or lowe estat,
Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nonis.
A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher noon is.
He wayted after no pompe and reverence, 525
Ne maked him a spiced0 conscience,
But Cristes lore, and his Apostles twelve,
He taughte ; but first he f olwed it himselve.
With him ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother,0 That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a f other. 530
A trewe swinkere and a good was he, Livinge in pees and parfit charitee. God loved he best with al his hole herte At alle times, though him gamed or smerte,0 And thanne his neighebour right as himsely^e., He wolde tnresne,and therto dikg and d For Cristes sake, for every pov^e wight, Withouten hire, if it lay in ms might. His tithes payed he ful faire and wel, Bothe of his propre swink and his catel.0 540
11 a tabard he rood upon a mere.0
Ther was also a Reve and a Millere, A Somnour and a Pardoner also, A Maunciple and myself ; ther were namo.
The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones, 545
THE PROLOGUE 23
Ful big he was of braun and eek of bones ; That proved wel, for overal ther he cam, At wrastling he wolde have alwey the ram.0 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre, . 550 Or breke it, at a renning, with his heed. His berd as any sowe or fox was reed And therto brood, as though it were a spade. Upon the cop right of his nose he hade A werte, and theron stood a tuft of heres, 555
Reed as the bristles of a sowes eres ; His nose-thirles blake were and wide0 ; A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his side ; His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys ; He was a jsniglere and a goliardeys, 560
And that0 was^most of sinne and harlotryes. Wel coude he stelen corn0 and tollen thryes ; And yet he hadde a thombe of gold,0 pardee ! A whyt cote and a blew hood wered he. A baggepipe wel coude he blowe and sowne, 565
And therwithal he broughte us out of towne. A gentil-^lAUNCiPLE was ther of a temple, Of which achatours mighte take exemple For to be wise in bying of vitaille. v For whether that he payde orTopk bj taille,0 570
24 THE PROLOGUE
o I/'/"'" >-,,<•< *.-
Algate he wayted so in his achat,
That he was ay biforri and in good stat.
Now is.nat that of God a ful fair grace,
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men ! 575
Of maistres hadde he mo than thryes ten,
That were of lawe expert and curious ;
Of whiche ther were a doseyn in that hous
Worthy to been stiwardes of rente and lond
Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580
To make him live by his propre good0
In honour dettelees, but he were wood,
Or live as scarsly as him list desire ;
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any cas that mighte falle or happe ; 58$
And yit this maunciple sette hir aller0 cappe.
The EEVE was a sclendre colerik man. His berd was shave as ny as ever he can; His heer was by his eres round y-shorn, His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn; 590
Ful longe were his legges and ful lene Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene. Wei coude he kepe a gerner and a binne ; Ther was noon auditour coude on him winne.0 Wei wiste he by the droughte and by the reyn 59$
THE PROLOGUE 25
The yelding of his seed and of his greyn.
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,
Was hoolly in this reves governing,
And by his covenaunt yaf the rekening 600
Sin that his lord was twenty yeer of age ;
Ther coude no man bringe him in arrerage.
Ther nas baillif, ne herde, ne other hine,
That he ne knew his sleighte0 and fcis covine ;
They were adrad of him, as of the deeth.0 605
His woning was ful fair upon an heeth,
With grene trees shadwed was his place.
He coude bettre than his lord purchace.
Ful riche he was astored prively ;
His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly 610
To yeve and lene him of his owene good,0
And have a thank and yet a cote and hood.
In youthe he lerned hadde a good mister ;
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 side he bar a rusty blade.
Of Northfolk was this reve of which I telle,
Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620
26 THE PROLOGUE
Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,0 And evere lie rood the hindreste of our route. A SOMNOUR was ther with us in that place, That hadde a fyr-reed cherubinnes0 face, For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe ; 625
As hot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, With scalled browes blake and piled berd ; Of his visage children were aferd. Ther nas quik-silver, litarge, ne brimstoon, Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, 630
Ne oynement that wolde dense and bite, That him mighte helpen of his whelkes white, Ne of the knobbes sittinge on his chekes. Wei loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, And for to drinken strong wyn reed as blood. 635
Thanne wolde he speke and crye 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 herde it al the day ; And eek ye knowen wel, how that a jay Can clepen ( Watte/ as well as can the pope. But whoso coude in other thing him grope,0 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophye ; 645
THE PROLOGUE 27
Ay ' Questio quid iuris0 ' wolde he crye.
He was a gentil harlot and a kinde ;
A bettre felawe sholde men nought finde.
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe to have his concubyn 650
A twelf-month, an excuse him atte f ulle.
And prively a finch0 eek coude he pulle.
And if he fond owher a good felawe,
He wolde techen him to have non awe,
In swich cas, of the Erchedeknes0 curs, 655
But if a mannes soule were in his purs ;
For in his purs he sholde y-punished be.
1 Purs is the Erchedeknes helle,' seyde he.
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede ;
Of cursing oughte ech gilty man him drede 660
(For curs wol slee right as assoilling savith)
And also war him of a Signijlcavit. . In daunger0 hadde he at his owene gise \The yonge girles0 of the diocise,
And knew hir counseil, and was al hir reed.
A gerland hadde he set upon his heed
As greet as it were for an ale-stake ;
A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake. With him ther rood a gentil PARDOKER°
Of Eouncivale, his frend and his compeer, 670
28 THE PROLOGUE
That streight was comen fro the court of Rome. Ful loude he song, ' Com hider, love, to me ! ' This somnour bar to him a stif burdoun, t Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, But smothe it heng, as doth a strike of flex ; By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde, „ And therwith he his shuldres overspradde ; But thinne it lay by colpons oon and oon ; But hood for jolitee wered he noon, For it was trussed up in his walet. Him thoughte he rood al of the newe jet ; Dishevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare. Swiche glaringe eyen hadde he as an hare. A vernicle0 hadde he sowed upon his cappe. His walet lay biforn him in his lappe Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al 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 yshave ;
* * * * # # # But of his craft, fro Berwik into Ware, Ne was ther swich another pardoner. For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, Which that, he seyde, was our lady0 veyl ;
THE PROLOGUE 29
He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl *That Seynt Peter hadde whan that he wente Upon the see til Jhesu Crist him hente. 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 dwelling upon lond,° Upon a day0 he gat him more 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.0 But trewely to tellen atte laste, He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste ; Wei coude he rede a lessoun or a storie, But alderbest0 he song an offertorie ; 710
For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe, He moste preche and wel affile his tonge To winne silver, as he ful wel coude ; Therefore he song so meriely and loude.
Now have I told you shortly in a clause0 715
Thestat,0 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 time to yow for to telle0 720
30 THE PROLOGUE
How that we baren us that like night, Whan we were in that hostelrye alight. And after wol I telle of our viage And al the remenaunt of our pilgrimage,
But first I pray yow of your curteisye, 725
That ye narette it nat my vileinye, Though that I pleynly speke in this matere, To telle yow hir wordes and hir chere, Ne though I speke hir wordes proprely ; For this ye knowen al so wel as I, 730
Who-so shal telle a tale after a man, He moot reherce as ny as ever he can Everich a° word, if it be in his charge,0 Al speke he never so rudeliche and large ; Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe, 735
Or feyne thing,0 or finde wordes newe. He may nat spare, although he were his brother ; He moot as wel seye o word as another.0 Crist spak himself ful brode in holy writ, And wel ye woot no vileinye is it. 740
Eek Plato0 seith, whoso can him rede, ' The wordes mote be cosin to the dede.'
Also I prey yow to foryeve it me Al have I nat° set folk in hir degree Here in this tale as that they sholde stonde ; 745
THE PROLOGUE 31
My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
Greet chere made our host 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 drinke us leste. 750
A semely man our hoste0 was withalle For to been a marshal in an halle ; A large man he was with eyen stepe, A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe ; Bold of his speche and wys and wel y-taught, 755
And of manhod him lakkede right naught. Eek therto he was right a mery man, And after soper pleyen he bigan, And spak of mirthe amonges othere thinges, Whan that we hadde maad our rekeninges0 ; 760
And seyde thus, ' Now, lordinges, trewely Ye been to me right welcome hertely ; For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, I ne saugh this yeer so mery a compaignye At ones in this herberwe as is now. 765
Fayn wolde I doon yow mirthe, wiste I how. And of a mirthe I am right now bi thought, To doon yow ese, and it shal coste nought.
' Ye goon to Caunterbury (God yow spede ! ° The blisful martir quite yow your mede !), 770
32 THE PROLOGUE
And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye0 ;
For trewely contort ne mirthe is noon
To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon ;
And therfor wol I maken yow disport, 775
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
And if yow liketh0 alle by oon assent
For to stonden at my jugement,
And for to werken as I shal yow seye ;
Tomorwe whan ye riden by the weye, 780
Now by my fader0 soule, that is deed,
But ye be merye, I wol yeve yow myn heed !
Hold up your hond° withouten more speche.'
Our counseil was nat longe for to seche ;
Us thoughte0 it was nought worth to make it wys, 785
And graunted him withouten more avys,
And bad him seye his verdit as him lest.
' Lordinges,' quod he, ' now herkneth for the beste ;° But tak it not, I prey yow, in desdeyn. This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790
That ech of yow to shorte with0 our weye In this viage shal telle tales tweye, To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so, And horn-ward he shal tellen othere two, Of aventures that whilom han bifalle. 795
THE PROLOGUE 33
And which of yow that bereth him beste of alle,
That is to seyn, that telleth in this cas
Tales of best sentence and most solas,
Shal han a soper at our aller0 cost
Here in this place sitting by this post 800
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
And for to make yow the more mery
I wol myselven goodly with yow ride
Eight at min owene cost, and be your gide.
And who-so wol my jugement withseye 805
Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
And if ye vouchesauf that it be so,
Tel me anon witjiouten wordes mo,
And I wol erly shape me therfore.'
This thing was graunted, and our othes swore0 810 With ful glad herte, and preyden him also That he wold vouchesauf for to do so, And that he wolde been our governour And of our tales juge and reportour, And sette a soper at a certeyn prys ; 815
And we wol reuled been at his devys, In heigh and lowe.° And thus by oon assent We been accorded to his jugement. And therupon the wyn was fet an oon ; We dronken, and to reste wente echoon, 820
D
34 THE PROLOGUE
Withouten any lenger taryinge.
A-morwe, whan that day bigan to springe, Up roos our host and was our aller cok, And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok, And forth we riden a litel more than pas, 825
Unto the Watering0 of seynt Thomas. And there our host bigan his hors areste, And seyde, ' Lordinges, herkneth if yow leste ; Ye woot° your forward, and I it yow recorde. If even-song and morwe-song acorde,0 830
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. As ever mote I drinke wyn or ale, Who-so be rebel to my jugement0 Shal paye for al that by the weye is spent. Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twinne ; 835
He which that hath the shortest shal biginne. Sir Knight,' quod he, <rny maister and my lord, Now draweth cut, for that is myn acord. Cometh0 neer,' quod he, ' my lady Prioresse ; And ye, sir Clerk, lat be your shamfastnesse, 840
Ne studieth nought ; 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 knight, 845
THE PROLOGUE 35
Of which ful blithe and glad was every wight ;
And telle he moste his tale as was resoun
By forward and by composicioun,
As ye han herd ; what nedeth wordes mo ?
And whan this gode man saugh that it was so, 850
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his forward by his free assent,
He seyde, ' Sin I shal biginne the game,
What, welcome be the cut a Goddes name !
Now lat us ride, and herkneth what I seye.' 855
And with that word we riden forth our weye ; And he bigan with right a mery chere His tale anon, and seyde in this manere.
THE KNIGHT'S TALE
WHILOM, as olde stories0 tellen us,
Ther wasja duk° that highte Theseus ; 860
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his time swich a conquerour
That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree0 hadde he wonne ;
What with his wisdom and his chivalrye 865
He conquered al the regne of Femenye,0
That whilom was y-cleped Scithia ;
And weddede the queen Ipolita,
And broughte Mr hoom with him in his contree
With muchel glorie and greet solempnitee, 870
And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
And thus with victorie and with melodye
Lete I this noble duk to Atthenes ride,
And al his hoost in armes him biside.
And certes, if it nere to long to here, 875
I wolde han told- yow fully the manere, How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 37
By Theseus and by his chivalrye ; And of the grete bataille for the nones Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones ; 88c
And how asseged was Ipolita, The f aire, hardy queen of Scithia ; And of the feste that was at hir weddinge, And of the tempest at hir hoom-cominge ; But al that thing I moot as now0 forbere. 885
I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere, And wayke been the oxen in my plough ; The remenant of the tale is long ynough, I wol nat letten eek noon of this route. Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute, 890
And lat see now who shal the soper wirme ; And ther I lefte, I wol ageyn biginne. This duk of whom I make mencioun When he was come almost unto the toun, In al his wele and in his moste pride, 895
He was war, as he caste his eye aside, Wher that ther kneled in the heighe weye A compaignye of ladies, tweye and tweye, Ech after other, clad in clothes blake ; But swich a cry and swich a wo they make 900
That in this world nis creature livinge That herde swich another weymentinge ;
38 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten, Til they the reynes of his bridel henten.
' What folk been ye, that at myn hoom-cominge 905 Perturben. so my feste with cryinge ? ' Quod Theseus, 'have ye so greet envye Of myn honour that thus compleyne and crye ? Or who hath yow misboden or offended ? And telleth me if it may been amended ; 910
And why that ye been clothed thus in blak. '
The eldeste lady of hem alle spak, Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly chere, That it was routhe for to seen and here, And seyde, l Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven 915 Victorie and as a conquerour to liven, Nought greveth us your glorie and your honour ; But we biseken mercy and socour. Have mercy on our wo and our distresse, Som droppe of pitee thurgh thy gentillesse 920
Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle. For certes, lord, ther is noon of us alle, That she ne hath been a duchesse or a quene ; Now be we caitives, as it is wel sene, Thanked0 be Fortune and hir false wheel 925
That noon estat assureth to be weel.° And certes, lord, to abiden your presence,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 39
Here in the temple of the goddesse Clemence
We han ben waitinge al this f ourtenight ;
Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy might. 930
I wrecche, which that wepe and waille thus, Was whilom wyf to king Capaneus, That starf0 at Thebes ; cursed be that day ! And alle we, that been in this array, And maken al this lamentacioun, 935
We losten alle0 our housbondes at that toun, Whyl that the sege theraboute lay. And yet now the olde Creon, weylaway ! That lord is now of Thebes the citee, Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee, 940
He, for despyt and for his tirannye, To do the dede bodies vileinye, Of alle our lordes0 whiche that ben slawe Hath alle the bodies on an heep y-drawe, And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent, 945
Neither to been y-buried nor y-brent, But maketh houndes ete hem in despyt.' And with that word withouten more respyt They fillen gruf and criden pitously, /Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy, 950
And lat our sorwe sinken in thyn herte.'
This gentil duk doun from his courser sterte
40 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.
Him thoughts that his herte wolde breke,
Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so mat, 955
That whilom weren of so greet estat ;
And in his arraes he hem alle up hente,0
And hem conforteth0 in f ul good entente,
And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knight,
He wolde doon so ferforthly his might 960
Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke,
That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
How Creon was of Theseus y-served
As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
And right anoon withouten more abood 965
His baner he desplayeth and forth rood
To Thebes-ward, and al his host biside.
No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride,
Ne take his ese fully half a day,
But onward on his wey that night he lay ; 970
And sente anoon Ipolita the quene,
And Emelye hir yonge suster shene,
Unto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle,
And forth he rit ; ther is namore to telle.
The rede statue of Mars with spere and targe 975 So shineth in his white baner large, That alle the f eeldes0 gliteren up and doun ;
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 41
And by his baner born is his penoun
Of gold ful riche, in which ther was y-bete
The Minotaur which that he slough in Crete. 98o
Thus rit this duk, thus rit this conquerour,
And in his host of chivalrye the flour,
Til that he cam to Thebes, and alighte
Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoughte fighte.0
But shortly for to speken of this thing, 985
With Creon, which that was of Thebes king,
He faught, and slough him manly as a knight
In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flight ;
And by assaut he wan the citee after,
And rente adoun bothe wal and sparre and rafter ; 990
And to the ladies he restored agayn
The bones of hir housbondes that were slayn,
To doon obsequies, as was tho the gise.
But it were al to longe for to devise
The grete clamour and the waymentinge 995
That the ladies made at the brenninge
Of the bodies, and the grete honour
That Theseus, the noble conquerour,
Doth to the ladies, whan they from him wente ;
But shortly for to telle is myn entente. 1000
Whan that this worthy duk, this Theseus,
Hath Creon slayn, and wonne Thebes thus,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Stille in that feeld lie took al night his reste, And dide with al the contree as him leste.
To ransake in the tas of bodies dede, 1005
Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede, The pilours diden bisinesse0 and cure, After the bataille and disconfiture. And so bifel that in the tas they founde, Thurgh-girt with many a grevous, blody wounde, 1010 Two yonge knightes ligging by and by, Bothe in oon armes wrought f ul richely ; Of whiche two, Arcita highte that oon, And that other knight highte Pal am on. Nat fully quike ne fully deed they were, 1015
But by hir cote-armures and by hir gere The heraudes knewe hem best in special0 As they that weren of the blood royal Of Thebes, and of sustren two y-born. Out of the tas the pilours han hem torn, 1020
And han hem caried softe unto the teiite Of Theseus ; and he f ul sone hem sente To Atthenes, to dwellen in prisoun Perpetually, he nolde no raunsoun. And whan this worthy duk hath thus y-don, 1025
He took his host and hoom he rit anon With laurer crowned as a conquerour ;
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 43
And there he livith in joye and in honour
Terme of his lyf ; what nedeth wordes mo ?
And in a tour in angwish and in wo 1030
This Palamon and his felawe Arcite0
For evermore ; ther may 110 gold hem quite.
This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day, Til it fil ones in a morwe of May
That Emelye, that fairer was to sene 1035
Than is the lilie upon his stalke grene, And fresher than the May with floures newe (For with the rose0 colour strof hir hewe, I noot which was the fairer of hem two), Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040
She was arisen and al redy dight ; For May wol have no slogardye anight. The sesoun priketh every gentil herte, And inaketh him out of his sleep to sterte, And seith, ( Arys, and do thyii observaunce.0 J 1045
This maketh Emelye have remembraunce To doon honour to May, and for to rise.0 Y-clothed was she fresh, for to devise0 ; Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse, Bihinde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse. 1050
And in the gardin, at the sonne0 upriste, She walketh up and doun, and as her liste0
44 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
To make a subtil gerlarid for hir hede,
And as an aungel hevenishly she song. 1055
The grete tour, that was so thikke and strong,
Which of the castel was the chief dongeoim,
Ther as the knightes weren in prisoun
(Of which I tolde you and tellen shal°),
Was evene joynant to the gardin-wal, 1060
Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyinge.0
Bright was the sonne and cleer in that morninge,
And Palamon, this woful prisoner,
As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
Was risen, and ronied in a chambre on heigh, 1065
In which he al the noble citee seigh,
And eek the gardin, ful of braunches grene,
Ther as this freshe Emelye the shene
Was in hir walk, and romed up and doun.
This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun, 1070
Goth in the chambre, roming to and fro,
And to himself compleyning of his wo ;
That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, alas !
And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
That thurgh a window, thikke of many a barre 1075
Of iren greet, and square as any sparre,
He caste his eye upon Emelya,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 45
And therwithal he bleynte and cride ' A ! '
As though he stongen were unto the herte.
And with that cry Arcite anon up-sterte, 1080
And seyde, ' Cosin myn, what eyleth thee,
That art so pale and deedly on to see ?
Why cridestow ? who hath thee doon offence ?
For Goddes love, tak al in pacience
Our prisoun, for it may non other be ; 1085
Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
Som wikke aspect or disposicioun0
Of Saturne by sum constellacioun,
Hath yeven us this, although we hadde it sworn ;
So stood the hevene whan that we were born, 1090
We moste endure it, this is the short and pleyn.'
This Palamon answerde and seyde ageyn, ' Cosin, for sothe, of this opinioun Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun.0
This prison caused me nat for to crye, 1095
But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn ye Into myn herte, that0 wol my bane be. The fairnesse of that lady that I see Yond in the gardin romen to and fro Is cause of al my crying and my wo. noo
I noot wher she be womman or goddesse, But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.'
_t6 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And therwithal on knees doun he fil
And seyde, ' Venus, if it be thy wil
Yow° in this gardin thus to transfigure 1105
Bifore me, sorweful, wrecche creature,
Out of this priscun help that we may scapen.
And if so be my destinee be shapen
By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
Of our linage have som compassioun mo
That is so lowe y-brought by tirannye.7
And with that word Arcite gan espye
Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so,
That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, 1115
Arcite is hurt as moche as he, or more.
And with a sigh he seyde pitously,
1 The freshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
Of hir that rometh in the yonder place ;
And but I have hir mercy and hir grace, 1120
That I may seen hir atte leste weye,°
I nam but deed ; ther nis no more to seye.'
This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde, Dispitously he loked and answerde, 'Whether0 seistow this in ernest or in pley ?' 1125 'Nay,' quod Arcite, 'in ernest, by my fey! God help me so, me list ful evele pleye.0 '
THE KNIGHT'S TALE . 47
This Palamon gan knitte his browes tweye : ' It nere,' quod he, ' to thee no greet honour For to be fals ne for to be traitour 1130
To me, that am thy cosin and thy brother Y-sworn° ful depe and ech of us til other, That never, for to dyen in the peyne,0 Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne, Neither of us in love to hindren other, 1135
Ne in non other cas, my leve brother ; But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me In every cas, and I shal forthren thee. This was thyn ooth and myn also certeyn, I wot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn. 1140
Thus artow of my counseil out of doute. And now thou woldest falsly been aboute0 To love my lady whom I love and serve, And evere shal til that myn herte sterve. Now certes, false Arcite, thou shalt nat so ; 1145
I loved hir first, and tolde thee my wo As to my counseil and my brother sworn To forthre me, as I have told biforn. For which thou art y-bounden as a knight To helpen me, if it lay in thy might, 1150
Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn.' This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE
< Thou shalt,0 ' quod he, ' be rather f als than I ;
But thou art0 f als, I telle thee, utterly ;
For par amour0 I loved hir first er thow. 1155
What wiltow seyn ? thou wistest nat yet now
Whether she be a womman or goddesse !
Thyn is affeccioun of holinesse,
And myn is love as to a creature ;
For which I tolde thee myn aventure 1160
As to my cosin and my brother sworn.
I pose that thou lovedest hir biforn,
Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
That0 " who shal yeve a lover any lawe ? "
Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan, 1165
Than may be yeve to any erthely man.
And therfor positif lawe and swich decree0
Is broke alday for love in ech degree.0
A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed ;
He may nat fleen it, though he sholde be deed, 1170
Al be she0 mayde or widwe or elles wyf.
And eek it is nat lykly, al thy lyf,
To stonden in hir grace, namore shal I ;
For wel thou wost thyselven, verraily,
That thou and I be dampned to prisoun 1175
Perpetuelly ; us gayneth no raunsoun.
We strive, as dide the houndes for the boon,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 49
They f oughte al day, and yet hir part was noon ;
Ther cam a kite, whyl that they were so wrothe,
And bar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. 1180
And therfore at the kinges court, my brother,
Ech man for himself, ther is non other.
Love if thee list, for I love and ay shal ;
And soothly, leve brother, this is al.
Here in this prisoun mote we endure, 1185
And everich of us take his aventure.'
Greet was the stryf and long bitwixe hem tweye, If that I hadde leyser for to seye ; But to theffect. It happed on a day (To telle it yow as shortly as I may), 1190
A worthy duk that highte Perotheus, That felawe was unto duk Theseus Sin thilke day that they were children lite, Was come to Atthenes, his felawe to visite, And for to pleye, as he was wont to do ; 1195
For in this world he loved no man so, And he loved him as tendrely ageyn. So wel they loved, as olde bokes seyn,° That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle, His felawe wente and sought e him doun in helle — 1200 But of that story list me nat to write.0 Duk Perotheus loved wel Arcite,
50 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And hadde him knowe at Thebes yeer by yere. And finally, at requeste and preyere Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun, 1205
Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun Frely to goon wher that him liste over-al, In swich a gise as I you tellen shal. This was the forward, pleynly for tendite, Bitwixen Theseus and him Arcite: 1210
That if so were, that Arcite were y-founde Evere in his lyf, by day or night or stounde In any contree of this Theseus, And he were caught, it was acorded thus, That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed. 1215
Ther nas noon other reinedye ne reed, But taketh his leve, and hoinward he him spedde : Let him be war, his nekke lith to wedde ! How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite ! The deeth he feleth thurgh his herte smite ; 1220
He wepeth, weyleth, cryeth pitously ; To sleen himself he wayteth prively.0 He seyde, ' Alias that day that I was born ! Now is my prisoun worse than bif orn ; Now is me shape0 eternally to dwelle 1225
Nought in purgatorie, but in helle. Alias that ever knew I Perotheus !
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 51
For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus
Y-fetered in his prisoun everemo.
Than hadde I been in blisse, and nat in wo. 1230
Only the sighte of hir whom that I serve,
Though that I never hir grace may deserve,
Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
0 dere cosin Palamon,' quod he,
' Thyn is the victorie of this aventure, 1235
Ful blisf ully in prisoun maistow dure ;
In prisoun ? certes nay, but in paradys !
Wei hath Fortune y-turned thee the dys,
That hast the sight of hir, and I thabsence.
For possible is, sin thou hast hir presence, 1240
And art a knight, a worthy arid an able,
That by som cas, sin Fortune is chaungeable,
Thou maist to thy desyr somtime atteyne.
But I, that am exiled and bareyne
Of alle grace and in so greet despeir, 1245
That ther nis erthe, water, fyr, ne eir,
Ne creature,0 that of hem maked is,
That may me helpe or doon conf ort in this —
Wei oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse ;
Farwel my lyf, my lust and my gladnesse. 1250
' Alias, why pleynen folk so in commune Of purveyaunce of God or of fortune,
52 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gise
Wei bettre than they can hemself devise ?
Som man desireth for to han richesse, 1255
That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse.
And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
Infinite harmes been in this matere0;
We witen nat what thing we pray en here. 1260
We faren as he that dronke is as a rnous0 ;
A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous,
But he noot which the righte wey is thider ;
And to a dronke man the wey is slider;
And certes in this world so faren we ; 1265
We seken faste after felicitee,
But we goon wrong ful often trewely.
Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
That weende and hadde a greet opinioun
That if I mighte escapen from prisoun, 1270
Than hadde I been in joye and perfit hele,
Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
Sin that I may nat 'seen yow, Emelye,
I nam but deed ; ther nis no remedy e.'
Upon that other side Palamon, 1275
Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon, Swich sorwe he rnaketh that the grete tour
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 53
Resouneth of his youling and clamour.
The pure fettres on his shines grete0
Weren of his bittre, salte teres wete. 1280
1 Alias ! ' quod he, ' Arcita, cosin myn,
Of al our stryf, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large,0
And of my wo thou yevest litel charge.0
Thou mayst, sin thou hast wisdom and manhede, 1285
Assemblen alle the folk of our kinrede,
And make a werre so sharpe0 on this citee,
That by som aventure or som tretee
Thou mayst have hir to lady and to wyf
For whom that I most nedes lese my lyf. 1290
For, as by wey of possibilitee,
Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free,
And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage,
More than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
For I mot wepe and wayle, whyl I live, 1295
With al the wo that prisoun may me yive,
And eek with peyne that love me yiveth also,
That doubleth al my torment and my wo.'
Therwith the fyr of jalousye up-sterte
Withinne his brest and hente him by the herte 1300
So woodly that he lyk was to bibolde0
The box-tree, or the ashen dede and colde.
54 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Than seyde he, ' 0 cruel goddes, that governe
This world with binding of your word eterne,
And writen in the table of athamaunt 1305
Your parlement and your eterne graunt,
What is mankinde more unto yow holde0
Than is the sheep that rouketh in the f olde ?
For slayn is man right as another beest,
And dwelleth eek in prisoun and arreest, 1310
And hath siknesse and greet adversitee,
And ofte times giltelees, pardee.
1 What governaunce is in this prescience, That giltelees tormenteth innocence ? And yet encreseth this al my penaunce, 1315
That man is bounden to his observaunce For Goddes sake to letten of his wille0 Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille. And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne ; But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyiie, 1320 Though in this world he have care and wo — Withouten doute it may stonden so. The answere of this I lete to divinis, But wel I woot that in this world gret pine is. Alias, I se a serpent or a theef, 1325
That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef, Goon at his large, and wher him list may turne ;
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 55
But I moot been in prison tlmrgh Saturne,
And eek thurgh Juno, jalous and eek wood,
That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood 1330
Of Thebes, with his waste walles wide.
And Venus sleeth me on that other side
For jalousye and fere of him Arcite.'
Now wol I stinte of Palamon a lite And lete him in his prison stille dwelle, 1335
And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
The somer passeth, and the nightes longe Encresen double wise the peynes stronge Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner. I noot which hath the wofuller mester. 1340
For shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun In cheynes and in fettres to been deed0 ; And Arcite is exiled upon his heed0 For everemo as out of that contree, 1345
Ne neveremo he shal his lady see.
Yow loveres axe I now this questioun, Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun ? That oon may seen his lady day by day, But in prisoun moot he dwelle alway ; 1350
That other wher him list may ride or go, But seen his lady shal he neveremo.
56 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Now demeth as yow liste, ye that can, For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.
Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was, 1355
Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde < Alias/ For seen his lady shal he neveremo. And shortly to concluden al his wo, So muche sorwe hadde never creature That is, or shal, whyl that the world may dure. 1360 His sleep, his niete, his drinke is him biraft, That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft. His eyen holwe and grisly to biholde, His hewe falwe and pale as ashen colde, And solitarie he was, and evere allone, 1365
And wailling al the night, making his mone. And if he herde song or instrument, Than wolde he wepe, he mighte nat be stent. So feble eek were his spirits and so lowe, And chaunged so, that no man coude knowe 1370
His speche nor his voys, though men it herde. And in his gere, for al the world he ferde Nat only lyk the loveres maladye Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye0 Engendred of humour malencolik, 1375
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 57
Biforen in his celle fantastik.
And, shortly, turned was al up-so-doun
Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
Of him, this woful lovere, daun Arcite.
What sholde I alday of his wo endite ? 1380
Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two This cruel torment and this peyne and wo, At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde, Upon a night, in sleep as he him leyde, Him thoughte0 how that the winged god Mercuric 1385 Bif orn him stood and bad ,him to be murie. His sleepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte ; An hat he werede upon his heres brighte. Arrayed was this god (as he took keep0), As he was whan that Argus took his sleep0 ; 1390
And seyde him thus, ' To Atthenes shaltow wende, Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.' And with that word Arcite wook and sterte. ' Now trewely, how sore that me smerte/ Quod he, ' to Atthenes right now wol I fare ; 1395
Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare To see my lady that I love and serve ; In hir presence I recche nat to sterve.' And with that word he caughte a greet mirour, And saugh that chaunged was al his colour, 1400
58 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And saugh his visage al in another kinde.
And right anon it ran him in his minde,0
That, sith his face was so disfigured
Of maladye the which he hadde endured,
He mighte wel, if that he bar him lowe, 1405
Live in Atthenes everemore unknowe,
And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
And right anon he chaungede his array,
And cladde him as a povre laborer,
And al allone, save oonly a squyer, 1410
That knew his privetee and al his cas,
Which was disgised povrely, as he was,
To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way.
And to the court he wente upon a day,
And at the gate he profreth his servise 1415
To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devise.0
And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
He fil in office with a chamberleyn,
The which that0 dwellinge was with Emelye ;
For he was wys end coude sone aspye0 1420
Of every servaunt which that serveth here.
Wel coude he hewen wode, and water bere,
For he was yong and mighty for the nones,
And therto he was strong and big of bones
To doon that any wight can him devise. 1425
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 59
A yeer or two he was in this servise,
Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte ;
And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.
But half so wel biloved a man as he
Ne was ther nevere in court, of his degree ; 1430
He was so gentil of condicioun,0
That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
They seyden that it were a charitee
That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
And putten him in worshipful servise, 1435
Ther as he mighte his vertu excercise.
And thus withinne a while his name is spronge
Bothe of his dedes and his gode tonge
That Theseus hath taken him so neer
That of his chambre he made him a squyer, . 1440
And yaf him gold to mayntene his degree.
And eek men broughte him out of his contree
From yeer to yeer ful prively his rente ;
But honestly and slily he it spente,
That no man wondred how that he it hadde. 1445
And thre yeer in this wise his lyf he ladde,
And bar him so in pees and eek in werre,
Ther nas no man that Theseus hath derre.0
And in this blisse lete I now Arcite
And speke I wol of Palamon a lite. 1450
60 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun This seven yeer hath seten Palamoun Forpined what0 for wo and for distresse. Who feeleth double soor and hevinesse But Palamon, that love destreyneth so 1455
That wood out of his wit he goth for wo ! And eek therto he is a prisoner Perpetuelly, nought only for a yeer. Who coude rime in English proprely His martirdom? for sothe it am nat 1°; 1460
Therefore I passe as lightly as I may. It fel that in the seventhe yeer, in May, The thridde night (as olde bokes seyn, That al this storie tellen more pleyn) Were it by aventure or destinee, — 1465
As, whan a thing is shapen, it shal be,0 — That sone after the midnight Palamoun By helping of a freend brak his prisoun, And fleeth the citee f aste as he may go ; For he had yeve his gayler drinke so 1470
Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn, With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn, That al that night, though that men wolde him shake, The gayler sleep, he mighte nat awake ; And thus he fleeth as f aste as ever he may. 1475
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 61
The night was short and faste by the day,
That nedes-cost he moste himselven hide,
And til a grove faste ther biside
With dredful foot than stalketh Palamoun.
For shortly, this was his opinioun, 1480
That in that grove he wolde him hide al day,
And in the night than wolde he take his way
To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
On Theseus to helpe him to werreye ;
And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lyf, 1485
Or winnen Emelye unto his wyf ;
This is theffect and his entente pleyn.
Now wol I turne unto Arcite ageyn, That litel wiste how ny that0 was his care, Til that fortune had brought him in the snare.0 1490
The bisy larke, messager of day,0 Salueth in hir song the morwe gray ; And firy Phebus riseth up so brighte That al the orient laugheth of the lighte,0 And with his stremes0 dryeth in the greves 1495
The silver dropes hanging on the leves. And Arcita, that is in the court royal With Theseus, his squyer principal, Is risen and loketh on the merie day. And, for to doon his observaunce to May, i?0o
£2 THE KXIGHT'S TALE
Reniembringe on the poynt of his desyr.0
He on a courser, startlinge as the fyr.
Is riden into the feeldes him to pleye.
Out of the court, were0 it a mile or tweye :
And to the grove of which that I yow tolde 1505
By aventure his wey he gan to holde.
To niaken him a gerland of the greves.
Were it of wodebinde or hawethorn leves :
And loude he song ageyn the sonne shene0 :
'May. with alle thy fioures and thy grene 1510
Welcome be thou. faire freshe May.
I hope that I sorn grene gete may.'
And from his courser with a lusty herte
Into the grove ful hastily he sterte.
And in a path he rometh up and doun. 1515
Ther as by aventure this Palamoun
Was in a bush, that no man mighte him see,
For sore afered of his deeth was he.
Nothing ne knew he that it was Arcite ;
God wot he wolde have trowed it ful lite. 1520
But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many yeres.0
That feeld hath even and the wode hath eres.0
It is ful fair a man to bere Mm evene.
For alday rneteth men at unset stevene.0
Ful litel wot Arcite of Ms felawe, 1525
THE KZTGHT'S TALE 63
That was so ny to herknen al his saweT For in the bnsh he sitteth now ful stille.
Whan that Arcite hadde romed al ins fille, And songen al the ronndel Lustily, Into a stndie he fil aodeynly. r=ja
As doon thise loveres in hir qneynte geres,
in the eroppe. now doan in the breres.
up. now doan. as boket in a welle. Eight as the Friday/ soothly for to teller Now it shineth. now it reyneth faste. — i : • :
Eight so can gery Venus OTercaste The hertes of hir folk : ri^it as hir day Is gerfuL right so ehanngeth she array. 'Selde is the Friday al the wike ylike.r Whan that Arcite had songer he gan to sike? 1540
And sette Him doan withoaten any more : ' Alias/ qnod her 'that day that I was bore ! How longe? Juno, thnrgh thy eruelteer Woltow werreyen Thebes the eitee? Alias, y-br ought is to eonfosioon ::_:
The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioon. — Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man That Thebes bnlte, or first the toon bigan. And of the eitee first was crooned king. Of his linage am I
64 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
By verray ligne as of the stok royal ;
And now I am so caitif and so thral,
That he that is my mortal enemy,
I serve him as his squyer povrely.
And yet doth Juno me wel more shame, 1555
For I dar nought biknowe myn owene name,
But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite,
Now highte I Philostrate, nought worth a mite.
Alias, thou f elle Mars ! alias, Juno !
Thus hath your ire our kinrede al fordo 1560
Save only me and wrecched Palamoun,
That Theseus martireth in prisoun.
And over al this, to sleen me outrely,
Love hath his firy dart so brenningly
Y-stiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte, 1565
That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.0
Ye sleen me with your eyen, Emelye !
Ye been the cause wherfor that I dye !
Of al the remenant of myn other care
Ne sette I nat the mountaunce of a tare, 1570
So th#t I coude doon aught to your plesaunce.'
And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
A longe time ; and afterward he upsterte.
This Palamouu, that thoughte that thurgh his herte He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche glide, 1575
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 65
For ire he quook, no lenger wolde he bide.
And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
As he were wood, with face deed and pale,
He sterte him up out of the buskes thikke,
And seyde, < Arcite, false traitour wikke, 1580
Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so
For whom that I have al this peyne and wo ;
And art my blood, and to my counseil sworn,
As I ful of te have told thee heer-biforn ;
And hast bi-japed heer duk Theseus, 1585
And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus ; —
I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye,
But I wol love hir only and narno0 ;
For I am Palamoun, thy mortal fo. 1590
And though that I no wepne have in this place,
But out of prisoun am astert by grace,
I drede nought that outher thou shalt dye,
Or thou ne shalt nat loven Emelye.
Ghees which thou wolt, or thou shalt nat asterte.7 1595
This Arcite, with ful despitous herte, Whan he him knew and hadde his tale herd, As fiers as leoun, pulled out a swerd, And seyde thus, ' By God that sit above, Nere it that thou art syk and wood for love, 1600
66 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And eek that thou no wepne hast in this place,
Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace,
That thou ne sholdest dyeii of myn hond.°
For I defye the seuretee and the bond
Which that thou seyst that I have maad to thee. 1605
What, verray fool, think wel that love is free !
And I wol love hir maugre al thy might.
But, for as muche as thou art a worthy knight
And wilnest to darreyne hir by bataille,
Have heer my trouthe, tomorwe I wol nat faille, 1610
Withouten witing of any other wight,
That heer I wol be founden as a knight,
And bringen harneys right ynough for thee ;
And chees0 the beste and leve the worste for me.
And mete and drinke this night wol I bringe 1615
Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddinge.
And, if so be that thou my lady winne
And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,
Thou mayst wel have thy lady as for me.'
This Palamon answerde, ' I graunte it thee.' 1620 And thus they been departed til amorwe, When ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.0
0 Cupide, out of alle charitee0 ! 0 regne that wolt no f elawe have with thee ! Ful sooth is seyd° that love ne lordshipe 1625
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 67
Wol nought, his thankes,0 have no felaweshipe ;
Wei finden that Arcite and Palamoun !
Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
Ful prively two harneys hath he dight, 1630
Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne.
And on his hors, allone as he was born,
He carieth al this harneys him biforn ;
And in the grove at time and place y-set 1635
This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face ;
Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace,
That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere, 1640
And hereth him come rushing in the greves,
And breketh0 bothe bowes and the leves,
And thinketh,0 t heer cometh my mortel enemy,
Withoute faile he moot be deed or I ;
For outher I moot sleen him at the gappe, 1645
Or he moot sleen me, if that me mishappe.'
So ferden they in chaunging of hir hewe,
As fer as everich of hem other knewe.0
Ther nas no ' Good day,' ne 110 saluing ;
But streight withouten word or rehersing,0 1650
68 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Everich of hem heelp for to armen other,
As frendly as he were his owene brother ;
And after that with sharpe speres stronge
They foynen ech at other wonder longe.
Thou mightest wene that this Palamoun 1655
In his fighting were a wood leoun,
And as a cruel tigre was Areite.
As wilde bores gonne they to smite,
That frothen white as foom for ire wood.
Up to the ancle foughte they in hir blood.0 1660
And in this wise I lete hem fighting dwelle ; And forth I wol of Theseus yow telle.
The Destinee, Ministre General, That executeth in the world over-al The purveyaunce that God hath seyn biforn,0 1665
So strong it is that, though the world had sworn The contrarie of a thing by ye or nay, Yet somtime it shal fallen on a day That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yere. For certeynly oure appetites here, 1670
Be it of werre or pees or hate or love, — Al is this reuled by the sighte above. This mene I now by mighty Theseus,0 That for to honten is so desirous, And namely at the grete hert in May, 1675
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 69
That in his bed ther daweth him no day,
That he nis clad, and redy for to ride
With hunte and- horn, and houndes him biside.
For in his hunting hath he swich delyt,
That it is al his joye and appetyt 1680
To been himself the grete hertes bane ;
For after Mars he serveth now Diane.
Cleer was the day, as I have told er this, And Theseus, with alle joye and blis, With his Ipolita, the faire quene, 1685
And Emelye, clothed al in grene, On hunting be they riden royally. And to the grove, that stood ful faste by, In which ther was an hert, as men him tolde, Duk Theseus the streighte wey hath holde. 1690
And to the launde he rideth him ful right, For thider was the hert wont have his flight, And over a brook, and so forth on his weye. This duk wol han a cours at him or tweye With houndes swiche as that him list comaunde. 1695
And whan this duk was come unto the launde, Under the sonne0 he loketh, and anon He was war of Arcite and Palamon, That foughten breme, as it were bores two. The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro 1700
70 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
So hidously, that with the leeste strook
It semed as it wolde f elle an ook ;
But what they were, nothing he ne woot.
This duk his courser with his spores smoot,
And at a stert he was bitwix hem two, 1705
And pulled out a swerd and cride, ' Ho !
Namore, up peyne0 of lesing of your heed !
By mighty Mars, he shal anon be deed
That smiteth any strook that I may seen !
But telleth me what mister men ye been, 1710
That been so hardy for to tighten here
Withouten juge or other officere,
As it were in a listes0 royally ? '
This Palamon answerde hastily,
And seyde, ' Sire, what nedeth wordes mo° ? 1715
We have the deeth deserved bothe two. Two woful wrecches been we, two caytives, That been encombred of our owene lives ; And as thou art a rightful lord and juge, Ne yeve us neither mercy ne refuge, 1720
But sle me first for seynte charitee, But sle my felawe eek as wel as me ; Or sle him first ; for, though thou knowest it lite, This is thy mortal fo, this is Arcite, That fro thy lond is banished on his heed, 1725
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 71
For which he hath deserved to be deed.
For this is he that cam unto thy gate
And seyde that he highte Philostrate.
Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yeer,
And thou has maked him thy chief squyer j 1730
And this is he that loveth Emelye.
For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
I make pleynly my confessioun,
That I am thilke woful Palamoun,
That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly. 1735
I am thy mortal foo, and it am 1°
That loveth so hote Emelya the brighte,
That I wol dye present in hir sighte.
Therfore I axe deeth and my juwise ;
But sle my felawe in the same wise, 1740
For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.;
This worthy duk answerde anon agayn, And seide, ' This is a short conclusioun : Youre owene mouth by your confessioun Hath dampned you, and I wol it recorde, 1745
It nedeth nought to pine yow with the corde ; Ye shul be deed, by mighty Mars the rede ! '
The quene anon, for verray wommanhede Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye, And alle the ladies in the compaignye. 1750
72 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Gret pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
That evere swich a chaunce sholde f alle ;
For gentil men they were of greet estat,
And nothing but for love was this debat.
And sawe° hir blody woundes wide and sore ; 1755
And alle criden bothe lasse and more,
' Have mercy, Lord, upon us wommen alle ! '
And on hir bare knees adoun they falle,
And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood,
Til at the laste aslaked was his mood ; 1760
For pitee renneth sone in gentil herte.0
And though he firste for ire quook and sterte,
He hath considered shortly in a clause
The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause.
And although that his ire hir gilt accused, 1765
Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused ;
And thus he thoughte wel that every man
Wol helpe himself in love, if that he can,
And eek delivere himself out of prisoun ;
And eek his herte hadde compassioun 1770
Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon ;
And in his gentil herte he thoughte anoon,
And softe unto himself he seyde, ' Fy
Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
But been a leoun, bothe in word and dede, 1775
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 73
To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
As wel as to a proud despitous man
That wol maynteyne that he first bigan !
That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
That in swich cas can0 no divisioun, 1780
But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon.0'
And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
He gan to loken up with eyen lighte,
And spak thise same wordes al on highte :
'The god of love, A ! benedicite0 1 1785
How mighty and how greet a lord is he !
Ayeyns his might ther gayneth none obstacles,
He may be cleped a god for his miracles ;
For he can maken at his owene gise
Of everich herte, as that him list devise. 1790
Lo heer this Arcite and this Palamoun,
That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
And mighte han lived in Thebes royally,
And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
And that hir deeth lith in my might also ; 1795
And yet hath love, maiigree hir eyen two,
Y-brought hem hider bothe for to dye !
Now loketh, is nat that an heigh f olye ?
" Who may been a fool, but if he love ? ° "
Bihold, for Goddes sake that sit above, 1800
74 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Se how they blede ! be they nought wel arrayed ?
Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, y-payed
Hir wages and hir fees for hir servise !
And yet they wenen for to been ful wise
That serven love, for aught that may bifalle ! 1805
But this is yet the beste game of alle,
That she, for whom they han this jolitee,
Can hem therfor as muche thank as me0 ;
She woot namore of al this hote fare,
By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare ! 1810
" But al moot been assayed, hoot and cold;
A man moot been a fool, or yong or old ; "
I woot it by myself ful yore agoon ;
For in my time a servant was I oon.°
And therfor, sin I knowe of loves peyne, 1815
And woot how sore it can a man distreyne,
As he that hath ben caught ofte in his las,
I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespas,
At requeste of the quene, that kneleth here,
And eek of Emelye, my suster dere. 1820
And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere,
That neveremo ye shul my contree dere,
Ne make werre upon me night ne day,
But been my freendes in al that ye may j
I yow foryeve this trespas every deel.' 1825
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 75
And they him swore his axing fayre and weel, And him of lordshipe and of mercy preyde ; ° And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde :
1 To speke of ° royal linage and richesse, Though that she were a quene or a princesse, 1830
Ech of yow bothe is worthy, doutelees, To wedden whan time is, but nathelees (I speke 'as for my suster Emelye, For whom ye have this stryf and jalousye), Ye woot yourself she may not wedden two 1835
At ones, though ye fighten evermo, — That oon of yow, al be him looth or lief,0 He moot go pipen in an ivy leef ; This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe, Al be ye never so jalous ne so wrothe. 1840
And for-thy I yow putte in this degree That ech of yow shal have his destinee As him is shape ; and herkneth in what wise, Lo heer your ende of that I shal devise.
My wil is this, for plat conclusioun 1845
Withouten any replicacioun, — If that yow liketh, tak it for the beste : That everich of yow shal goon wher him leste Frely, withouten raunsoun or daunger ; And this day fifty wikes, fer ne ner,° 1850
76 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Everich of yow shal bringe an hundred knightes,
Armed for listes up at alle rightes,0
Al redy to darreyne hir by bataille.
And this bihote I yow withouten faille
Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knight, 1855
That whether of yow bothe that hath might,
This is to seyn, that whether he or thou
May with his hundred, as I spak of now,
Sleen his contrarie, or out of listes drive, —
Than shal I yeve Emelya to wive 1860
To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
The listes shal I maken in this place,
And God so wisly on my soule rewe,
As I shal even juge been and trewe.
Ye shul non other ende with me maken, 1865
That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
And if yow thinketh this is wel y-sayd,
Seyth your avys and holdeth yow apayd.
This is your ende and your conclusioun.'
Who loketh lightly now but Palamoun ? 1870
Who springeth up for joye but Arcite ? Who couthe telle, or who couthe it endite, The joye that is maked in the place Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace ? But doun on knees wente every maner wight, 1875
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 77
And thanked him with al hir herte and might, And namely the Thebans ofte sithe. And thus with good nope and with herte blithe They take hir leve, and homward gonne they ride To Thebes with his olde walles wide. 1880
Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.
I trowe men wolde deme it necligence, If I foryete to tellen the dispence Of Theseus, that goth so bisily To maken up the listes royally ;
That swich a noble theatre as it was, 1885
I dar wel seyn that in this world ther nas. The circuit a mile was aboute, Walled of stoon and diched al withoute. Round was the shap in manere of compas, Ful of degrees the heighte of sixty pas, 1890
That, whan a man was set on o degree, He letted nat his felawe for to see.
Estward ther stood a gate of marbel whyt, Westward right swich another in the opposyt. And shortly to concluden, swich a place 1895
Was noon in erthe as in so litel space ; For in the lond ther nas no crafty man That geometrie or ars-metrike can,
78 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Ne purtreyour ne kerver of images,
That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages 1900
The theatre for to maken and devise.
And for to doon his rite and sacrifise,
He estward hath upon the gate above,
In worship of Venus, goddesse of love,
Doon make0 an auter and an oratorie ; 1905
And westward, in the minde and in memorie
Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another,
That coste largely of gold a fother.
And northward, in a touret on the wal,
Of alabastre whyt and reed coral 1910
An oratorie riche for to see,
In worship of Diane of chastitee,
Hath Theseus don wrought0 in noble wise.
But yet hadde I foryeten to devise
The noble kerving, and the portreytures, 1915
The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures,
That weren in thise oratories thre.
First in the temple of Venus may stow se Wrought on the wal, ful pitous to biholde, The 'broken slepes and the sikes eolde0, i9ao
The sacred teres and the waymentinge, The firy strokes of the desiringe, That loves servaunts in this lyf enduren ;
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 79
The othes that Mr covenants assuren ;
Plesannce and Hope, Desyr, Foolhardinesse,0 1925
Beautee and Youthe, Bauderye, Richesse,
Charmes and Force, Lesinges, Flaterye,
Dispense, Bisinesse, and Jalousye,
That wered of yelwe goldes a gerland,
And a cokkow sittinge on hir hand ; 1930
Festes, instruments, caroles, daunces,
Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
Of love whiche that I rekne and rekne shal,
By ordre0 weren peynted on the wal,
And mo than I can make of mencioun. 1935
For soothly, al the mount of Citheroun,
Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellinge,
Was shewed on the wal in portreyinge,
With al the gardin and the lustinesse.
Nat was foryeten the porter Ydelnesse, 1940
Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,0
Ne yet the folie of king Salamon,
Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules,
Thenchauntements of Medea arid Circes,
Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage, 1945
The riche Cresus, caytif in servage.
Thus may ye seen that Wisdom ne Bichesse,
Beautee ne Sleighte, Strengthe ne Hardinesse,
80 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Ne may with Venus holde champartye ;
For as hir list the world than may she gye. 1950
Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
Til they for wo ful ofte seyde f Alias ! '
Suffiseth heer ensamples oon or two,
And though0 I coude rekne a thousand mo.
The statue of Venus glorious for to se, 1955
Was naked fleting in the large see, And fro the navele doun al covered was With wawes grene and brighte as any glas. A citole in hir right hand hadde she, And on hir heed, ful semely for to se, 1960
A rose gerland, fresh and wel smellinge0 ; Above hir heed hir dowves flikeringe ; Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido, Upon his shuldres winges hadde he two ; And blind he was, as it is ofte sene ; 1965
A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
Why sholde I nought as wel eek telle yow al The portreiture that was upon the wal Within the temple of mighty Mars the rede ? Al peynted was the wal in lengthe and brede 1970
Lyk to the estres of the grisly place That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace, In thilke colde frosty regioun
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 81
Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
First on the wal was peynted a forest, 1975
In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best, With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde° Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde ; In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough, As though a storm sholde bresten every bough. 1980 And downward from an hille, under a bente, Ther stood the temple of Mars armipotente, Wrought al of burned steel, of which the entree Was long and streit, and gastly for to see. And ther-out cam a rage and such a veze, 1985
That it made al the gate for to rese. The northren light0 in at the dores shoon, For windowe on the wal ne was ther noon Thurgh which men mighten any light discerne. The dores were alle of adamant eterne, 1990
Y-clenched overthwart and endelong With iren tough ; and, for to make it strong, Every piler, the temple to sustene, Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
Ther saugh I first the derke imagining 1995
Of Felonye, and al the compassing ; The cruel Ire,0 reed as any glede ; The pikepurs,0 and eek the pale,Drede° ; o
82 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
The smiler with the knyf under the cloke ;
The shepne brenninge with the blake smoke; 2000
The tresoun of the mordringe in the bedde ;
The Open Werre with woundes al bi-bledde ;
Contek with blody knyf and sharp inanace ;
Al ful of chirking was that sory place.
The sleere of himself yet saugh I ther,° 2005
His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer ; The nayl y-driven in the shode a-night, The colde deeth with mouth gaping upright. Amiddes of the temple sat Meschaunce, With disconfort and sory contenaunce. 2010
Yet saugh I Woodnesse laughinge in his rage ; Armed Compleynt, Outhees, and tiers Outrage; The careyne in the busk with throte y-corve : A thousand slayn and nat of qualm y-storve ; The tiraunt with the prey by force y-raft ; 2015
The toun destroyed, ther was nothing laft.
Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres0 ; The hunte strangled with the wilde beres ; The sowe freten the child right in the cradel ; The cook y-scalded for al his longe ladel. 2020
Nought was f oryeten by the inf ortune of Marte0 ; The carter over-riden with his carte, Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 83
Ther were also of Martes divisioun
The harbour and the bocher and the smith 2025
That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his stith.
And al above, depeynted in a tour,
Saw I Conquest sittinge in greet honour,
With the sharpe swerde over his heed0
Hanging by a sotil twines threed. 2030
Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius, Of grete Nero, and of Antonius ; Al be that thilke time they were unborn Yet was hir deeth depeynted ther-biforn, By manasinge of Mars,0 right by figure ; 2035
So was it shewed in that portreiture As is depeynted in the sterres above Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love. Suffiseth oon ensample0 in stories olde, I may riot rekene hem alle though I wolde. 2040
The statue of Mars upon a carte stood, Armed, and loked grim as he were wood ; And overe his heed ther shinen two figures Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures, That oon Puella,0 that other Rubeus.0 2045
This god of armes was arrayed thus : A wolf ther stood biforn him at his feet With eyen rede, and of a man he eet ;
84 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
With sotil pencel depeynted was this storie,
In redoutinge of Mars and of his glorie. 2050
Now to the temple of Diane the chaste As shortly as I can I wol me haste, To telle yow al the descripcioun. Depeynted been the walles up and doun Of hunting and of shamfast chastitee. 2055
Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee, Whan that Diane agreved was with here, Was turned from a womman to a here, And after was she maad the lode-sterre° ; Thus v:as it peynted, I can say yow no ferre. 2060
Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may se. Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree, — I mene nat the goddesse Diane, But Penneus doughter which that highte Dane. Ther saugh I Attheoii an hert y-maked, 2065
For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked ; I saugh how that his houndes have him caught And freten him, for that they knewe him naught.
Yet peynted was a litel forther-moor, How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, 2070
And Meleagre, and many another mo, For which Diane wroughte him care and wo. Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 85
The whiche me list nat drawen to memorie.
This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet, 2075
With smale houndes al aboute hir feet ; And undernethe hir feet she hadde a mone, Wexing it was, and sholde wanie sone. In gaude grene hir statue clothed was, With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas. 2080
Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adouh, Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. A womman travailinge was hir biforn ; But, for hir child so loiige was unborn, Ful pitously Lucina gan she calle, 2085
And seyde, ' Help, for thou mayst best of alle.' Wei couthe he peynten lyfly that it wroughte, With many a florin he the hewes boughte.
Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus, That at his grete cost arrayed thus 2090
The temples and the theatre every del, Whan it was doon, him liked wonder wel. But stinte I wol of Theseus a lite, And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
The day approcheth of hir retourninge, 2095
That everich sholde an hundred knightes bringe, The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde ; And til Atthenes, hir covenant for to holde,
86 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Hath everich of hem brought an hundred knightes
Wei armed for the werre at alle rightes. 2100
And sikerly ther trowed many a man
That never, sithen that the world bigan,
As for to speke of knighthod, of hir hond,°
As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
Nas, of so fewe, so noble a compaignye. 2105
For every wight that loved chivalrye,
And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
Hath preyed that he mighte ben of that game ;
And wel was him, that therto chosen was.
For it ther fille tomorwe swich a cas, 2110
Ye knowen wel that every lusty knight
That loveth paramours and hath his might,
Were it in Engelond or elleswhere,
They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there.
To fighte for a lady, — ben' 'die' 'te ! 2115
It were a lusty sighte for to see !
And right so f erden they with Palamon ;
With him ther wenten knightes many oon.
Som wol ben armed in an habergeoun,
And in a brest-plate and in a light gipoun ; 2120
And somme woln have a peyre plates large ;
And somme woln have a Pruce sheld or a targe;
Somme woln been armed on hir legges weel,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 87
And have an ax and somme a mace of steel.
Ther nis no newe gise that it nas old.0 2125
Armed were they, as I have you told,
Everich after his opinioun.
Ther maistow seen cominge with Palamoun Lygurge himself, the grete king of Trace. Blak was his berd, and manly was his face ; 2130
The cercles of his eyen in his heed, They glowe^len bitwixe yelow and reed; And lyk a griffon looked he aboute, With kempe heres on his browes stoute ; His limes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge, 2135 His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe. And as the gise was in his contree, Ful hye upon a char of gold stood he, With foure white boles in the trays. Instede of cote-armure over his harnays, 2140
With nayles0 yelwe, and brighte as any gold He hadde a beres skin, col-blak, for-old. His longe heer was kembd bihinde his bak, As any ravenes father it shoon for-blak ; A wrethe of gold arm-greet, of huge wighte, 2145
Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte, Of fine rubies and of diamaunts. ^' Aboute his char ther wenten white alaunts,
88 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
To hunten at the leoun or the deer, 2150
And folwed him with mosel faste y-bounde,
Colered of golde, and torets filed rounde.
An hundred lordes hadde he in his route
Armed ful wel, with hertes sterne and stoute.
With Arcita, in stories as men finde, 2155
The grete Emetreus, the king of Inde, Upon a stede bay trapped in steel, Covered in cloth of gold diapred wel, Cam riding lyk the god of armes, Mars. His cote-armure was of cloth of Tars,0 2160
Couched with perles white and rounde and grete ; His sadel was of brend gold ne,we y-bete ; A mantelet upon his shuldre hanginge E>ret-ful of rubies rede, as fyr sparklinge. His crispe heer lyk ringes was y-ronne, 2165
And that was yelow and glitered as the sonne, / His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn, His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn ; ' A fewe fraknes in his face y-spreynd, Betwixen yelow and somdel blak y-meynd ; 2170
And as a looun he his lookyng caste. Of five and twenty yeer his age I caste. His berd was wel bigonne for to springe ;
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 89
His voys was as a trompe thunderinge.
Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene 2175
A gerlond fresh and lusty for to sene.
Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt \) A
An egle tame, as eny lilie whyt.
An hundred lordes hadde he with him there,
Al armed sauf hir heddes in al hir gere, 2180
Ful richely in alle maner thinges.
For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kinges,
Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
For love, and for encrees of chivalrye.
Aboute this king ther ran on every part 2185
Ful many a tame leoun and leopart. 4j ?
And in this wise thise lordes alle and some0
Been on the Sonday to the citee come
Aboute prime and in the toun alight.
This Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight, 2190 Whan he had brought hem into his citee, And inned hem, everich at his degree, He festeth hem, and doth so greet labour To esen hem and doon hem al honour, That yet men weneth that no mannes wit 2195
Of noon estat ne coude amenden it.
The minstralcye, the service at the feeste,/. The grete yiftes to the moste and leeste,
90 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
The riche array of Theseus paleys,
Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys, 2200
What ladies fairest been or best dauD singe,
Or which of hem can dauncen best and singe,
Ne who most felingly speketh of love,
What haukes sitten on the perche above,
What houndes liggen on the floor adoun, — 2205
Of al this make I now no inencioun,
But al theffect, that thinketh me the beste ;
Now cometh the poynt, and herkneth if yow leste.
The Sonday night, er day bigan to springe, When Palamon the larke herde singe 2210
(Although it nere nat day by houres two, Yet song the larke, and Palamon also), With holy herte and with an heigh corage &i*J He roos to wenden on his pilgrimage Unto the blisful Citherea benigne, — 2215
I mene Venus, honurable and digne. And in hir houre0 he walketh forth a pas Unto the listes, ther hir temple was, And doun he kneleth and with humble chere And herte soor, he seyde as ye shul here. 2220
' Faireste of faire, o lady rnyn Venus, Doughter of Jove and spouse to Vulcanus, Thou gladere of the mount of Citheroun,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 91
For thilke love thou haddest to Adoun,
Have pitee of my bittre teres smerte, 2225
And tak myn humble preyere at thyn herte.
Alias ! I ne have no langage to telle
Theffectes ne the torments of myn helle ;
Myn herte may mine harmes nat biwreye ;
I am so confus that I can nought seye. 2230
But mercy, lady bright, that knowest wele
My thought and seest what harmes that I fele ;
Considere al this and re we upon my sore,
As wisly as I shal for evermore
Einforth my might thy trewe servant be, 2235
And holden werre alway with chastitee ;
That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe.
I kepe nought of armes for to yelpe,0
!N"e I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie,
Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie 2240
Of prys of armes blowen0 up and doun ;
But I wolde have fully possession
Of Emelye, and dye in thy servise ;
Find thou the maner how, and in what wise.
I recche nat,° but it may bettre be, 2245
To have victorie of hem or they of me,
So that I have my lady in mine armes.
For though so be that Mars is god of armes,
92 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Your vertu is so greet in hevene above
That if yow list I shal wel "have my love. 2250
Thy temple wol I worshipe evermo,
And on thyn auter, wher I ride or go,
I wol doon sacrifice and fires bete.
And if ye wol nat so, my lady swete,
Than preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere 2255
That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
Than rekke I nought, whan I have lost my lyf,
Though that Arcita winne hir to his wyf.
This is the effect and ende of my preyere :
Yif ire my love, thou blisful lady dere.' 2260
Whan the orisoun was doon of Palamon, His sacrifice he dide, and that anon, Ful pitously with alle circumstaunces, Al telle I nought as now his observaunces. But atte laste the statue of Venus shook 2265
And made a signe, wherby that he took That his preyere accepted was that day. For though the signe shewed a delay, Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his bone ; And with glad herte he wente him hoom ful sone. 2270
The thridde houre inequal0 that Palamon Bigan to Venus temple for to gon, Up roos the sonne and up roos Emelye,0
THE KNIGHT'S
And to the temple of Diane gan hye.
Hir maydens that she thider with hir ladde 2275
Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al
That to the sacrifice longen shal ;
The homes f ulle of meth, as was the gise ;
Ther lakked nought to doon hir sacrifise. 2280
Smokinge0 the temple, ful of clothes faire, This Emelye with herte debonaire /_# Hir body wesh with water of a welle ; But how she dide hir rite I dar nat telle But it be any thing in general ; 2285
And yet it were a game0 to heren al. To him that meneth wel, it were no charge,0 — But it is good a man ben at his large.0
Hir brighte heer was kempt, untressed al ; A coroune of a grene ook cerial </Ax> 2290
Upon hir heed was set ful fair and mete. Two fires on the auter gan she bete, And dide hir thinges, as men may biholde In Stace of Thebes, and thise bokes olde.° Whan kindled was the fyr, with pitous chere 2295
Unto Diane she spak as ye may here.
1 0 chaste goddesse of the wodes grene, To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
94 THE KNIGHT'S TALK
Quene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
Goddesse of may dens, that myn herte hast knowe 2300
Ful many a yeer and woost what I desire,
As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
That Attlieon aboughte cruelly.
Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
Desire to been a mayden al my lyf, 2305
Ne never wol I be no love ne wyf.
I am, thou woost, yet of thy compaignye,
A mayde, and love hunting0 and venerye,0
And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
And rought to been a wyf and be with childe. 2310
Nought wol I knowe compaignye of man.
Now help me, lady, sith ye may and can,
For tho thre formes0 that thou hast in thee.
And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
And eek Arcite, that loveth me so sore, 2315
(This grace I preye thee withoute more)
As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two ;
And fro me torn awey hir hertes so
That al hir hote love and hir desyr
And al hir bisy torment and hir fyr 2320
Be queynt, or turned in another place.
And if so be thou wolt do me no grace,
Or if my destinee be shapen so,
(THE KNIGHT'S TALE) 95
That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
As sende me him that most desireth me. 23*5
Bihold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
The bittre teres that on my chekes falle.
Sin thou art mayde, and kepere of us alle,
My maydenhode thou kepe and wel conserve,
And whyl I live a mayde, I wol thee serve.' 2330
The fires brenne up on the auter clere, ' Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere ; But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte, For right anon oon of the fires queynte, And quiked agayn, and after that anon 2335
That other fyr was queynt and al agon. And as it queynte, it made a whistelinge, As doon thise wete brondes in hir brenninge, And at the brondes ende out-ran anoon As it were blody dropes many oon. 2340
For which so sore agast was Emelye, That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye ; For she ne wiste what it signifyed ; But only for the fere thus hath she cryed And weep that it was pitee for to here. 2345
And ther-with-al Diane gan appere, With bowe in hond, right as an hunteresse,- And seyde, ' Doughter, stint thyn hevinesse.
96 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
And by eterne word writen and confermed, 2350
Thou shalt ben wedded unto 0011 of tho
That han for thee so muchel care and wo ;
But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle,
The fires which that on myn auter brenne 2355
Shul thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
Thyn aventure of love as in this cas.'
And with that word the arwes in the cas
Of the goddes se clateren faste and ringe,
And forth she wente and made a vanishinge ; 2360
For which this Emelye astoned was,
And seyde, ' What amounteth this, alias !
I putte me in thy proteccioun,
Diane, and in thy disposicioun.'
And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye. 2365
This is theffect, ther nis namore to seye.
The nexte houre0 of Mars folwinge this, Arcite unto the temple walked is Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifise With alle the rites of his payen wise. 2370
With pitous herte and heigh devocioun Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun : 1 0 stronge god, that in the regnes colde Of Trace honoured art arid lord y-holde,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And hast in every regne and every lond
Of armes al the bridel in thyn hond,
And hem fortunest as thee list devise,
Accept of me my pitous sacrifise.
If so be that my youthe may deserve,
And that my might be worthy for to serve 2380
Thy godhede, that I may ben oon of thine,
Than preye I thee to rewe upon my pine
For thilke peyne, and thilke hote fyr
In which thou whilom brendest for desyr,
# * # * ' * * * For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte, Have routhe as wel upon my peynes smerte. I am yong and unkonning, as thou wost, And, as I trowe, with love offended most, That evere was any lives creature ; 2395
For she that doth0 me al this wo endure Ne reccheth never wher I sinke or flete. And wel I woot, er she me mercy hete, I moot with strengthe winne hir in the place0 ; And wel I woot, withouten help or grace 2400
Of thee, ne may my strengthe nought availle. Than help me, lord, torn or we in my bataille, For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me ;
98 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And do0 that I tomorwe have victorie. 2405
Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie !
Thy sovereyn temple wol I most honouren
Of any place, and alwey most labouren
In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge ;
And in thy temple I wol my baner honge 2410
And alle the armes of my compaignye ;
And everemo, unto that day I dye,
Eterne fyr I wol biforn thee finde.
And eek to this avow I wol me binde :
My berd, myn heer that hongeth long adoun, 2415
That ncvere yet ne felte offensioun
Of rasour nor of shere, I wol the yive,°
And been thy trewe servant whyl I live.
Now lord, have ronthe upon my sorwes sore,
Yif me the victorie, I aske thee namore.' 2420
The preyer stint of Arcita the stronge ; The ringes on the temple dore that honge, And eek the dores, clatereden ful'faste, Of which Arcita somwhat him agaste. The fires brende upon the auter brighte, 2425
That it gan al the temple for to lighte ; And swete smel the ground anon up-yaf, And Arcita anon his hand up-haf, And more encens into the fyr he caste,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 99
With othere rites mo ; and atte laste 2430
The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk ringe.
And with that soun he herde a murmuringe
Ful lowe and dim, that sayde thus, ' Victorie ! '
For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
And thus with joye and hope wel to fare 2435
Arcite anon unto his iune is fare,
As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
And right anon swich stryf ther is bigonne For thilke graunting, in the hevene above, Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love, 2440
And Mars, the sterne god armipotente, That Jupiter was bisy it to stente ; Til that the pale Saturnus the colde, That knew so manye of aventures olde, Fond in his olde experience an art 2445
That he ful sone hath plesed every part. As sooth is sayd, elde hath greet avantage; In elde is bothe wisdom and usage ; 1 Men may the olde at-renne and nought at-rede.' Saturne anon, to stinten stryf and drede, 2450
Al be it that it is agayn his kinde,0 Of al this stryf he gan remedie finde.
' My dere doughter Venus,' quod Saturne, * My pours, that hath so wide for to turne,0
100 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Hath more power than wot any man. 2455
Myn is the drenching in the see so wan, Myn is the prison in the derke cote, Myn is the strangling and hanging by the throte, The murmure and the cherles rebelling, The groyning and the prive empoysoning ; 2460
I do vengeance and pleyn eorreccioun, Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun. Myn is the mine of the hye halles, The falling of the toures and of the walles Upon the minour or the carpenter. 2465
I slow Sampson shakinge the piler ; And mine be the maladyes colde, The derke tresons and the castes olde ; My looking is the fader of pestilence. Now weep namore, I shal doon diligence 2470
That Palamon, that is thyn owene knight, Shal have his lady, as thon hast him hight. Though Mars shal helpe his knight, yet natheless Bitwixe yow ther moot be som time pees, Al be ye nought of o complexioun, 2475
That causeth al day swich divisioun. I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille ; Weep thou namore, I wol thy lust fulfille.' Now wol I stinten of the goddes above,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 101
Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love, 2480
And telle yow as pleynly as I can The grete effect for which that I bigan.
Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.
Greet was the feste in Atthenes that day, And eek the lusty sesoun of that May Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce, 2485 That al that Monday justen they and'daunce, And spenden it in Venus heigh servise. But by the cause that they sholde rise Erly, for to seen the grete fight,
Unto hir reste wenten they at night. 2490
And on the morwe, whan that day gan springe, Of hors and harneys noyse and clateringe Ther was in hostelryes al aboute ; And to the paleys rood ther many a route Of lordes, upon stedes and palfreys. 2495
Ther maystow seen devising of herneys So uncouth and so riche, and wrought so weel Of goldsmithrye, of browding, and of steel ; The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures ; Gold-he wen helmes, hauberkes, cote-ar mures ; 2500
Lordes in paraments on hir courseres, Knightes of retenue, and eek squyeres
102 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Nailing the speres, and helines bokelinge,
Gigginge of sheeldes, with layneres lacinge ;
Ther as need is, they weren nothing idel ; 2505
The fomy stedes on the golden bridel
Gnawinge, and faste the arinurers also
With file and hamer priking to and fro ;
Yemen on fote, and communes many 0011
With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon; 2510
Pipes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
That in the bataille blowen blody sounes ;
The paleys ful of peples up and doun,
Heer thre, ther ten, holding hir questioun,
Divininge of thise Theban knightes two. 2515
Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so;
Somme helden with him with the blake berd,
Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke-herd ;
Somme sayde, he0 looked grim, and he0 wolde fighte,
He0 hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. 2520
Thus was the halle ful of divininge,
Longe after that the sonne gan to springe.
The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked With minstralcye and noyse that was maked, Held yet the chambre of his paleys riche, 2525
Til that the Theban knightes, both y-liche Honoured, were into the paleys fet
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 103
Duk Theseus was at a window set,
Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
The peple presseth thider-ward ful sone 2530
Him for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
And eek to herkne his hest and his sentence.
An heraud on a scaffold made an ' Ho ! '
Til al the noyse of the peple was y-do ;
And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille, 2535
Tho shewed he the mighty dukes wille.
1 The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun Considered that it were destruccioun To gentil blood to fighten in the gise -U**V Of mortal bataille now in this emprise ; * 2540
Wherfor, to shapen that they shul not dye, He wol his firste purpos modifye.
' No man therf or, up peyne of los of lyf, No maner shot, ne pollax, ne short knyf Into the listes sende, or thider bringe ; 2545
Ne short swerd for to stoke with poynt bitinge, No man ne drawe, ne bere by his side. Ne no man shal unto his felawe ride But o cours with a sharp y-grounde spere ; Foyne, if him list, on fote, himself to were. 2550
And he that is at meschief shal be take, And nought slayn, but be brought unto the stake
104 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
That ,shal ben ordeyned on either side ; But thider he shal by force, and ther abide.
1 And if so falle, the chevetayn be take 2555
On either side, or elles sleen his make, No lenger shal the turneyinge laste. God spede yow ; goth forth, and ley on faste. With long swerd and with maces fighteth your fille. Goth now your wey ; this is the lordes wille.' 2560
The voys of peple touchede the hevene, So loude criden they with mery stevene : 1 God save swich a lord, that is so good, He wilneth no destruccioun of blood ! '
Up goon the trompes and the melodye, 2565
And to the listes rit the compaignye By ordinaunce thurghout the citee large, Hanged with cloth of gold, and nat with sarge.
Ful lyk a lord this noble duk gan ride, Thise two Thebanes upon either side ; 2570
And after rood the queue and Emelye, And after that another compaignye Of oon and other, after hir degree ; And thus they passen thurghout the citee, And to the listes come they by time. 2575
It nas not of the jiay yet fully prime, Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 105
Ipolita the quene and Emelye,
And othere ladies in degrees aboute.
Unto the setes presseth al the route ; 2580
And westward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
Arcite, and eek the hundred of his parte,
With baner reed is entred right anon ;
And in that selve moment Palamon
Is under Venus, estward in the place, 2585
With baner whyt, and hardy chere and face.
In al the world, to seken up and doun,
So evene withouten variacioun,
Ther nere swiche coinpaignyes tweye.
For ther nas noon so wys that coude seye, 2590
That any hadde of other avauntage
Of worthinesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
So even were they chosen, for to gesse ;
And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
Whan that hir names rad were everichoon, 2595
That in hir nombre gile were ther noon, Tho were the gates shet, and cryed was loude : ' Do now your devoir, yonge knightes proude ! '
The heraudes lef te hir priking up and doun ; Now ringen trompes loude and clarioun ; 2600
Ther is namore to seyn, but west and est In goon the speres ful sadly in arest ;
106 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Iii goth the sharpe spore into the side.
Ther seen men who can juste and who' can ride ;
Ther shiveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke ; 2605
He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
Up springen speres twenty foot on highte;
Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte j
The helmes they to-hewen and to-shrede,
Out brest the blood with sterne stremes rede ; 2610
With mighty maces the bones they to-breste.
He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste ;
Ther stomblen stedes stronge and doun goth al ;
He0 rolleth under foot as doth a bal ;
He0 foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun ; 2615
And he0 him hurtleth with his hors adoun.
He thurgh the body is hurt, and sithen y-take,
Maugree his heed, and brought unto the stake ;
As forward was, right ther he moste abide ;
Another lad is on that other side. 2620
And som time doth hem0 Theseus to reste,
Hem0 to refreshe, and drinken if hem leste.
Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two
Togidre y-niet, and wrought his f elawe wo° ;
Unhorsed hath ech other of hem tweye. 2625
Ther nas no tigre in the vale of G-algopheye,
Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
THE KNIGHT'S TALK 107
So cruel on the hunte0 as is Arcite
For jalous herte upon this Palamoun;
Ne in Belmarie there nis so fel leoun,0 2630
That hunted is or for his hunger wood,
Ne of his prey desireth so the blood,
As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.
The jalous strokes on hir helmes bite ;
Out renneth blood on both hir sides rede. 2635
Som time an ende ther is of every dede ; For er the sonne unto the reste wente, The stronge king Emetreus gan hente This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite, And made his swerd depe in his flesh to bite ; 2640 And by the force of twenty is he take0 Uny olden, and y-drawe unto the stake. And in the rescous of this Palamoun The stronge king Ligurge is born adoun ; And king Emetreus, for al his strengthe, 2645
Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, So hitte him Palamon er he were take0 ; But al for nought, he was brought to the stake. His hardy herte rnighte him helpe naught ; He moste abide, whan that he was caught, 2650
By force and eek by compos icioun.0
Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
108 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
That moot namore goon agayn to fighte ?
And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte,
Unto the folk that foughten thus echon 2655
He cride, ' Ho ! namore, for it is don !
I wol be trewe juge and no party e :
Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelye,
That by his fortune hath hir faire y-wonne.7
Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne 2660
For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle, , It semed that the listes sholde falle.
What can now faire Venus doon above ? What seith she now ? what doth this quene of love But wepeth so, for wanting of hir wille, 2665
Til that hir teres in the listes fille ? She seyde, ' I am ashamed doutelees.' Saturnus seyde, ' Doughter, hold thy pees. Mars hath his wille, his knight hath al his bone, And, by myn heed, thou shalt ben esed sone.' 2670
The trompes with the loude minstralcye, The heraudes that ful loude yolle and crye, Been in hir wele° for joye of daun Arcite. But herkneth me, and stinteth now a lite, Which a miracle ther bif el anon. 2675
This fierse Arcite hath of his helm y-don,° And on a courser for to shewe his face
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 109
He priketh endelong the large place,0
Loking upward upon this Emelye ;
And she agayn him caste a frendlich ye 2680
(For wommen, as to speken in comune,
They folwen al the favour of fortune),
And was al his chere, as in his herte.0
Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte, Prom Pluto sent at requeste of Satiirne, 2685
For which his hors for fere gan to turne, And leep aside and foundred as he leep ; And er that Arcite may taken keep, He pighte him on the pom el of his heed, That in the place he lay as he were deed, 2690
His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe. As blak he lay as any cole or crowe, So was the blood y-ronnen in his face. Anon he was y-born out of the place With herte soor to Theseus paleys. 2695
Tho was he corven0 out of his harneys, And in a bed y-brought ful faire and blive ; For he was yet in memorie0 and alive, And alway crying after Emelye.
Duk Theseus with al his compaignye 2700
Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee, With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
110 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Al be it that this aventure was falle,
He nolde nought disconforten hem alle.
Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye, 2705
He shal ben heled of his maladye.
And of another thing they were as fayn, That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn, Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely oon, That with a spere was thirled his brest-boon.° 2710 To othere0 woundes and to broken armes, Some hadden salves and some hadden charmes ; Fermacies of herbes, and eek save0 They dronken, for they wolde hir limes have. For which this noble duk, as he wel can, 2715
Conforteth and honoureth every man, And made revel al the longe night, Unto the straunge lordes, as was right. Ne ther was holden no disconfitinge,0 But as a justes or a tourney inge ; 2720
For soothly ther was no disconfiture ; For falling nis nat but an aventure ; Ne to be lad by force unto the stake Uny olden, and with twenty knightes take, 0 persone allone withouten mo, 2725
And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too, And eek his stede driven forth with staves,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 111
With foot-men, bothe yeinen and eek knaves, —
It nas aretted him no vileinye,
Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. 2730
For which anon duk Theseus leet crye,° To stinten alle rancour and envye, The gree as wel of o side as of other, And either side y-lyk as otheres brother ; And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, 2735
And fully heeld a feste dayes three ; And conveyed the kinges worthily Out of his toun a journee largely. And hoom wente every man the righte way ; Ther was namore but ' Farewel ! ' ' Have good day ! ' 2740 Of this bataille I wol namore endite, But speke of Palamoun and of Arcite.
Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the sore Encreseth at his herte more and more. The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, 2745
Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-laft, That neither veyne-blood ne ventusinge Ne drinke of herbes may ben his helpinge. The vertu expulsyf,0 or animal,
Fro thilke vertu cleped natural, 2750
Ne may the venim voyden ne expelle. The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
112 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And every lacerte in his brest adoun
Is shent with venim and corrupcioun.
Him gayneth neither, for to gete his lyf, 2755
Vomyt upward ne dounward laxatyf ;
Al is to-brosten thilke regioun,
Nature hath now no dominacioun.
And certeynly, ther nature wol nat wirche,
Farewel, phisyk ! go ber the man to chirche ! ° 2760
This al and som,° that Arcita moot dye ;
For which0 he sendeth after Emelye,
And Palamon, that was his cosin dere ;
Than seyde he thus as ye shul after here.0
' Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte 2765 Declare o poynt of alle my sorwes smerte To yow, my lady, that I love most ; But I biquethe the service of my gost To yow aboven every creature,
Sin that my lyf may no lenger dure. 2770
Alias, the wo ! alias, the peynes stronge That I for yow have suffred, and so longe ! Alias, the deeth ! alias, myn Emelye ! Alias, departing0 of our compaignye ! Alias myn hertes quene ! alias, my wyf ! 2775
Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf ! What is this world ? what asketh men to have ?
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 113
Now with his love, now in his colde grave
Allone, withouten any compaignye.0
Farewel, my swete fo ! myn Emelye ! 2780
And softe tak me in your armes tweye,
For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.
' I have heer with my cosin Palamon . Had stryf and rancour many a day a-gon, For love of yow and for my jalousye ; 2785
And Jupiter so wis iny soule gye (To speken of a servant proprely, With alle circumstaunces trewely ; That is to seyne, trouthe, honour, knighthede, Wisdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kinrede, 2790 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art0), So Jupiter have of my soule part,0 As in this world, right now ne knowe I non So worthy to be loved as Palamon, That serveth yow and wol doon al his lyf. 2795
And if that evere ye shul been a wyf,° Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man.' And with that word his speche faille gan ; For fro his feet up to his brest was come The cold of deeth that hadde him overcome, 2800
And yet moreover, for in his armes two The vital strengthe is lost and al ago.
114 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Only the intellect withouten more,
That dwelled in his herte sik and sore,
Gan faillen when the herte felte deeth. 2805
Dusked his eyen two and failled breeth,
But on his lady yet caste he his ye ;
His laste word was, ' Mercy, Emelye ! '
His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther° As I cam never ; I can nat tellen wher. 2810
Therfor I stinte, I nam no divinistre ; Of soules finde I nat in this registre, Ne me ne list thilke opiniouns to telle Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle. Arcite is cold; ther Mars his soule gye. 2815
Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon, And Theseus his suster took anon Swowninge, and bar hir fro the corps away. What helpeth it to tarien forth the day, 2820
To tellen how she weep, both eve and morwe ? For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe, Whan that hir housbondes been from hem ago, That for the more part they sorwen so, Or elles fallen in swich maladye 2825
That at the laste certeynly they dye.
Infinite been the sorwes and the teres
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 115
Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeres,
In al the toun for deeth of this Theban.
For him ther wepeth bothe child and man ; 2830
So greet a weping was ther noon certayn,
Whan Ector was y-brought, al fresh y-slayn, .
To Troye. Alias ! the pitee that was ther,
Cracching of chekes, rending eek of heer.
' Why woldestow be deed,' thise worn men crye, 2835 f And haddest gold ynough and Emelye ! '
No man mighte gladen Theseus, Savinge his olde fader Egeus, That knew this worldes transmutacioun, As he hadde seyn it up and doun, 2840
Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse ; And shewed hem en samples and lyknesse.
' Bight as ther deyed nevere man,' quod he, t That he ne lived in erthe in som degree, Right so ther lived nevere man,' he seyde, 2845
' In al this world, that som time he ne deyde. This world nis but a thurghfare ful of wo, And we ben pilgrimes passing to and fro ; Deeth is an ende of every worldly sore.' And over al this yet seyde he muchel more 2850
To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
116 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Duk Theseus with al his bisy cure Cast now wher that the sepulture Of good Arcite may best y-maked be, 2855
And eek most honurable in his degree. And at the laste he took conclusioun That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene, That in that selve grove, swote and grene, 2860
Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires, His compleynte, and for love his hote fires, He wolde make a fyr in which the office Funeral he mighte all accomplice ; And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe 2865
The okes olde, and leye hem on a re we In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne. His officers with swifte feet they renne, And ride anon at his comaundement. And after this, Theseus hath y-sent 2870
After a bere, and it al overspradde With cloth of gold, the richest that he hadde ; And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite. Upon his hondes hise gloves0 white, Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene, 2875
And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene, He leyde him, bare the visage, on the bere.
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 117
Therwith he weep that pitee was to here ;
And for the peple sholde seen him alle,
Whan it was day, he broughte him to the halle, 2880
That roreth of the crying and the soun.
Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun, With flotery berd and ruggy ashy heres, In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teres ; And, passing0 othere of weping, Emelye, 2885
The rewfulleste of al the compaignye. In as muche as the service sholde be The more noble and riche in his degree,0 Duk Theseus leet forth three stedes bringe, That trapped were in steel al gliteringe, 2890
And covered with the arines of daun Arcite. Up on thise stedes grete and white, Ther seten folk, of which oon bar his sheeld, Another his spere up in his hondes heeld, The thridde bar with him his bowe Turkeys, 2895
Of brend gold was the cas, and eek the harneis ; And riden forth a pas with sorweful chere Toward the grove, as ye shul after here. The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were Upon hir shuldres carieden the bere, 2900
With slake pas, and eyen rede and wete, Thurghout the citee, by the maister-strete,
118 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye Right of the same is the strete y-wrye.
Upon the right hond wente old Egeus, 2905
And on that other side duk Theseus, With vessels in hir hand of gold wel fyn, Al ful of hony, inilk, and blood, and wyn; Eek Palamon, with fnl greet compaignye ; And after that cam woful Emelye, 2910
With fyr in honde, as was that time the gise, To do the office of funeral servise.
Heigh labour and ful greet appa'raillinge Was at the service and the fyr-makinge, That with his grene top the heven raughte, 2915
And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte ; This is to seyn, the bowes were so brode. Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode ; But how the fyr was maked up on highte ; And eek the names how the trees highte, 2920
As ook, firre, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler, AVilow, elm, plane, ash, box, chasteyn, lind, laurer, Mapul, thorn, beech, hasel, ew, whippeltre; How they weren feld, — shal nat be told for me ; Ne how the goddes ronnen up and doun, 2925
Disherited of hir habitacioun, In which they woneden in reste and pees,
THE KNIGHT1 8 TALE 119
Nymphes, Faunes, and Amadrides ;
N"e how the bestes and the briddes alle
Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle ; 2930
]STe how the ground agast was of the light,
That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright ;
Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
And than with drye stokkes cloven a three,
And than with grene wode and spicerye, 2935
And than with cloth of gold and with perrye,
And gerlandes hanging with ful many a flour,
The mirre, thencens, with al so greet odour j
Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
!N~e what richesse aboute his body is ; 3940
Ne how that Emelye, as was the gise,
Putte in the fyr of funeral servise ;
Ne how she swowned whan maad was the fyr,
Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desyr ;
Ne what jeweles men in the fyr caste, 2945
Whan that the fyr was greet and brente f aste ;
Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
And of hir vestiinents whiche that they were,
And cuppes ful of wyn, and milk, and blood,
Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood ; 2950
Ne how the Grekes with an huge route
Thryes riden al the fyr aboute
120 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Upon the left hand with a loud shoutinge,
And thryes with hir speres clateringe ;
And thryes how the ladies gonne crye ; 2955
Ne how that lad was homward Emelye ;
Ne how Arcite is brent to ashen colde ;
Ne how that liche-wake was y-holde
Al thilke night ; ne how the G-rekes pleye
The wake-pleyes ; ne kepe I nat to seye 2960
Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt,
Ne who that bar him best, in no disjoynt.0
I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
Hoom til Atthenes whan the pley is doon.
But shortly to the poynt than wol I wende, 2965
And maken of my longe tale an ende.
By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres Al stinted is the mourning and the teres. Of Grekes by oon general assent, Than seemed me ther was a parlement 2970
At Atthenes, upon certeyn poynts and cas ; Among the whiche poynts y-spoken was To have with certeyn contrees alliaunce, And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce. For which this noble Theseus anon 2975
' Leet senden after gentil Palamon, Unwist0 of him what was the cause and why j
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 121
But in his blake clothes sorwefully
He cam at his comaundemeiit in hye.
Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 2980
Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
And Theseus abiden hadde a space
Er any word cam from his wise brest,
His eyen sette0 he ther as was his lest,
And with a sad visage he siked stille, 2985
And after that right thus he seyde his wille.
' The Firste Moevere of the cause above,0 Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love, Greet was theffect, and heigh was his entente. Wei wiste he why and what therof he mente ; 2990 For with that faire cheyne of love he bond The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond In certeyn boundes that they may nat flee. That same Prince and that Moevere/ quod he, ' Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun 2995 Certeyne dayes and duracioun To all that is engendred in this place, Over the whiche day they may nat pace, Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge ; Ther needeth non auctoritee to allegge, 3000
For it is preved by experience, But that me list declaren my sentence.0
122 THE KNIGHT' S TALE
Than may men by this ordre wel discerne
That thilke Moevere stable is an eterne.
Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, 3005
That every part deriveth from his hool ; °
For nature hath nat take his biginning
Of no partye ne cantel of a thing,
But of a thing that parfit is and stable,
Descending so til it be corrumpable. 3010
And therfore of his wise purveyaunce,
He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce,
That speces of thinges and progressiouns
Shullen endure by successiouns,
And nat eterne, with-outen any lye;° 3015
This maistow understonde and seen- at ye.
1 Lo the ook, that hath so long a norishinge Fro time that it first biginneth springe, And had so long a lyf, as we may see, Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020
' Considereth eek, how that the harde stoon Under our feet, on which we trede and goon, Yit wasteth it, as it lith by the weye. The brode river sometime wexeth dreye. The grete tonnes see we wane and wende. 3025
Than may ye see that al this thing hath ende.
' Of man and womman seen we wel also
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 123
That nedeth,0 in oon of thise termes two,
This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age,
He moot ben deed, the king as shal a page ; 3030
Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
Som in the large feeld, as men may se.
Ther helpeth nought, al goth that ilke weye.
Than may I seyn that al this thing moot deye.
t What maketh this but Jupiter the king, 3035
The which is prince0 and cause of alle thing, Converting al unto his propre welle From which it is derived, sooth to telle ? And here-agayns no creature on live Of no degree availleth for to strive. 3040
< Thanne is it wisdom, as it thinketh me, To maken vertu of necessitee, And take it wel that we may nat eschue, And namely that to us alle is due. And whoso gruccheth ought, he doth folye, 3045
And rebel is to him that al may gye. And certeynly a man hath most honour To dyen in his excellence and flour, Whan he is siker of his gode name ; Than hath he doon his freend, ne him, no shame. 3050 And gladder oughte his freend ben of his deeth, Whan with honour up-yolden is his breeth,
124 THE KNIGHT -S TALE
Than whan his name appalled is for age;
For al forgeteii is his vasselage.
Than is it best, as for a worthy fame, 3055
To dyen whan that he is best of name.
' The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse. Why grucchen we, why have we hevinesse, That good Arcite, of chivalry e flour, Departed is, with deutee and honour 3060
Out of this foule prison of this lyf ? Why grucchen heer his cosin and his wyf Of his welfare that loved hem so wel ? Can he hem thank0 (nay, God woot, never a del) That bothe his soule and eek hemself offende, 3065 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende ?
' What may I conclude of this longe serie, But after wo I rede us to be merie, And thanken Jupiter of al his grace ? And er that we departen from this place, 3070
I rede that we make, of sorwes two, 0 parfit joye, la,stinge everemo. And loketh now, wher most sorwe is her-inne, Ther wol we first amenden and biginne.
< Suster,' quod he, 'this is my fulle assent, 3075
With al thavys here of my parlement, That gentil Palamon, your owene knight,
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 125
That serveth yow with wille, herte, and might,
And evere hath doon, sin that ye first him knewe,
That ye shul, of youre grace, upon him re we, 3080
And taken him for housbonde and for lord ;
Leen me youre hond, for this is our accord.
Lat see now of your worn manly pitee.
He is a kinges brother0 sone, pardee ;
And, though he were a povre bacheler, 3085
Sin he hath served yow so many a yeer,
And had for yow so greet adversitee,
It moste been considered, leveth me ;
For gentil mercy oughte to passen right/ °
Than seyde he thus to Palamon ful right : 3090
' I trowe ther nedeth litel sermoning To make yow assente to this thing. Com neer, and tak your lady by the hond.' Betwixen hem was maad anon the bond, That highte matrimoigne, or mariage, 3095
By al the counseil and the baronage. And thus with alle blisse and melodye Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye. And God, that al this wide world hath wrought, Sende him his love that hath it dere a-bought. 3100 For now is Palamon in alle wele, Living in blisse, in richesse, and in hele ;
120 THE KNIGHT'S TALE
And Eim'lye him loveth so tendrely,
And ho hir serveth al-so gentilly,
That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene 3105
Of jalonsye, or any other tene.
Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye ; And God save al this faire comj)aignye !
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Tins is the Proloye of the Nonnes Preestes Tale
' Ho ! ' quod the Knight, ' Good Sire, namore of this ! ° That ye han seyd is right ynough y-wis, And muchel more ; for litel hevinesse Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse. 3960
I seye for me it is a greet disese, Where as men han been in greet welthe and ese, To heren of hire sodeyn f al, alias ! And the contrarie is joye and greet solas, As whan a man hath ben in povre estaat, 3965
And cliinbeth up, and wexeth fortunat, And there abideth in prosperitee. Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me, And of swich thing were goodly for to telle.' 1 Ye,' quod our Hoost, l by Seiut Ponies belle, 3970
Ye seye right sooth ! This Monk he clappeth lowde ; He spak how0 " Fortune covered with a clowde " I noot nevere what, and also of a " Tragedie " Eight now ye herde. And, pardee, no remedie 127
128 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
It is for to bewaille, ne compleyne 3975
That that is doon ; and als it is a peyne,
As ye han seyd, to here of heviriesse.
Sire Monk ! Namore of this, so God yow blesse !
Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye.
Swich talking is not worth a boterflye, 3980
For ther inne is ther no desport ne game.
Wherfore, Sir Monk, Daun Piers by your name,
I pray you hertely telle us somewhat elles.
For sikorly, iiere clinking of youre belles
That on youre bridel hange on every side, 3985
By hevene0 king, that for us alle dide,
I sholde er this han fallen doun for slepe,
Although the slough had never been so depe,
Thanne hadde your tale a,l be told in veyn ;
For certeinly as that thise clerkes seyn, 3990
Where as a man may have noon audience,
Nought helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
And wel I woot the substance is in me,
If any thing shal wel reported be.
Sir, sey somwhat of hunting,0 I yow preye.' 3995
' Nay,' quod this Monk, ' I have no lust to pleye. Now let another telle, as I have told/'
Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and bold. And seyde unto the Nonnes Freest anon :
THE NUN'S PEIEST'S TALE 129
1 Com neer, thou preest, com hider, thou " Sir John ! " 4000
Telle us swich thing as may oure hertes glade.
Be blithe, though thou ride upon a jade.
What though thyn horse be bothe foul and lene ?
If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene ;
Loke that thyn herte be murie everemo.' 4005
' Yis, sir/ quod he, l yis, Hoost, so moot I go,0- But I be*murie, y-wis I wol be blamed.' And right anon his tale he hath attained, And thus he seyde unto us everichon, This swete preest, this goodly man, Sir John. 4010
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Here biginneth the Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok and Hen, Chauntedeer and Pertelote
• A roviiE widwe somdel stape in age,
Was whilom dwelling in a narwe cotage Biside a grove stondinge in a dale. This widwe, of which I telle yow my tale, Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf, 4015
In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf ; For litel was hir catel and hir rente. By housbondrye of swich as God hire sente, She fond hirself, and eek hire doughtreii two. Three large sowes hadde she, and namo, 4020
Three kyn and eek a sheep that highte Malle. Ful soty was hir hour and eek hir halle,0 In which she eet ful many a sclendre meel ; Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel. No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte ; 4025
Hir diete was accordant to hir cote. Eepleccioun ne made hir nevere syk j 130
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 131
^-'"
Attempre diete was al hir phisyk,
And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
The goute lette hir nothing for to daunce,0 4030
Napoplexye shente nat hir heed ;
No wyn ne drank she, neither whyt ne'reed.
Hir bord was served moost with whyt and bluk,
Milk and broun breed, in which she fond no lak,
Seynd bacoun and somtime an ey or tweye ; 4035
For she was as it were a maner deye.
A yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute With stikkes and a drye dich withoute, In which she hadde a cok, hight Chauntecleer. In al the land of crowing nas his peer. 4040
His voys was murier than the murie orgon On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon ; Wei sikerer was his crowing in his logge, Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge. By nature he knew ech ascencioun0 4045
Of equinoxial in thilke toun ; For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended, Thanne crew he that it mighte nat ben amended. His comb was redder than the fyn coral And batailled as it were a castel wal ; 4050
His bile was blak, and as the jeet it shoon; Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon ;
132 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
His nayles whiter than the lilie flour,
And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce 4055
Sevene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours,
And wonder lyk to him, as of colours ;
Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. 4060
Curteys she was, discreet and debonaire,
And compaignable, and bar hirself so faire,
Sin thilke day that she was seven night old,
That trewely she hath the herte in hold
Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith ; 4065
He loved hir so, that wel was him therwith.
But swich a joye was it to here hem singe,
Whan that the brighte soniie bigan to springe,
In swete accord, l My lief is faren in londe ; ' °
For thilke time, as I have understonde, 4070
Bestes and briddes coude speke and singe.
And so bifel that in a daweninge, As Chauntecleer among hise wives alle Sat on his perche that was in the halle, And next him sat this faire Pertelote, 4075
This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte, As man that in his dreem is drecched sore.
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 133
And whan that Pertelote thus herde him rore,
She was agast, and seyde, t 0 herte dere,
What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere ? 4080
Ye been a verray sleper ; fy, for shame0 ! '
And he answerde and seyde thus, 'Madame, I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief ; By God, me mette I was in swich meschief Eight now, that yet myn herte is sore af right. 4085 Now God,' quod he, ' my swevene recche aright, And kepe my body out of foul prisoun ! Me mette how that I romed up and doun Withinne our yerd, wher as I saugh a beest Was0 lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest 4090 Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed. His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed ; And tipped was his tayl and bothe his eres With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heres ; His snowte smal, with glowing eyen tweye. 4095
Yet of his look for fere almost I deye ; This caused me my groning doutelees.'
' Avoy ! ' quod she, f fy on yow, hertelees ! Alias ! ' quod she, ' for, by that God above, Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love ; 4100
I can nat love a coward, by my feith ! For certes, what so any womman seith,
134 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
We alle desiren, if it niighte be,
To lian housboiides hardy, wise, and free,
And secree, and no nigard, ne no fool, 4105
Ne him that is agast of every tool,
Ne noon avauntour. By that God above !
How dorste ye seyn for shame unto your love
That any thing niighte make yow aferd ?
Have ye no niannes herte, and han a berd ? 4110
Alias ! and conne ye been agast of swevunis ?
Nothing, God wot, but vanitee, in sweven is.
Swevenes engendren of repleciouns,
And ofte of fume and of complecciouns,
Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. 4115
Certes this dreem, which ye han met tonight,
Cometh of the grete superfluitee
Of youre rede colera° pardee,
Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
Of arwes, and of fire with rede lemes, 4120
Of grete bestes that they wol hem bite,
Of contek and of whelpes, grete and lite ;
Eight as the humour of malencolye
Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crye,
For fere of blake beres, or boles blake,0 4125
Or elles blake develes wole him take.
Of othere humours0 coude I telle also
THE NUN'S PRIESTS TALE 135
That werken many a man in sleep f ul wo ;
But I wol passe as lightly as I can.
Lo Catoun,0 which that was so wys a man, 4130
Seyde he nat thus, "Ne do no fors of dremes " ?°
' Now, sire,' quod she, l whan we flee fro the bemes, For Goddes love, as tak° som laxatyf ; Up peril of my soule and of my lyf, I counseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, 4135
That bothe of colere and of malencolye Ye purge yow ; and for ye shal nat tarie, Though in this toun is noon apothecarie, I shal myself to herbes techen yow That shul ben for your hele and for your prow ; 4140 And in oure yerd tho herbes shal I finde The whiche han of hir propretee by kinde To purgen yow binethe, and eek above. Forget not this, for Goddes owene love ! Ye been ful colerik of compleccioun ;° 4145
Ware the sonne in his ascencioun Ne finde yow nat repleet of humours hote. And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote, That ye shul have a fevere terciane, Or an agu, that may be youre bane. 4150
A day or two ye shul have digestives Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatives
136 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Of lauriol, centaure, and f umetere,
Or elles of ellebor that groweth there,
Of catapuce or of gaytres beryls, 4155
Of erbe ive growing in our yerd ther rnery0 is ;
Pekke hem up right as they growe and ete hem in.
Be mirie, housbonde, for youre fader kin !
Dredeth no dreem ; I can say yow namore.'
' Madame,' quod he, f graunt mercy0 of youre lore. 4160 But natheles, as touching .daun Catoun, That hdth of wisdom swich a greet renoun, Though that he bad no dremes for to drede, By God, men may in olde bokes rede Of many a man, more of auctoritee 4165
Than ever Catoun was, so moot I thee, That al the revers seyn of this sentence, And han well founden by experience That dremes ben significaciouns
As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns 4170
That folk enduren in this lyf present. Ther nedeth make of this noon argument ;° The verray preve sheweth it in dede.
' Oon of the gretteste auctour0 that men rede Seith thus, that whilom two felawes wente 4175
On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente ; And happed0 so they comen in a toun,
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 137
Wher as ther was swich congregacioun
Of peple, and eek so streit0 of herbergage,
That they ne founde as muche as o cotage 4180
In which they bothe mighte y-logged be.
Wherfore they mosten of necessitee,
As for that night, departen compaignye ;
And ech of hem goth to his hostelrye,
And took his logging as i£ wolde falle.0 4185
That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough ;
That other man was logged well ynough,
As was his aventure or his fortune,
That us governeth alle as in commune.0 4190
'And so bifel that long er it were0 day, This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay, How that his felawe gan upon him calle, And seyde, " Alias ! for in an oxes stalle This night I shal be mordred ther I lye. 4195
Now help me, dere brother, or I dye ; In alle haste com to me ! " he sayde. This man out of his sleep for fere abrayde ; But whan that he was wakened of his sleep, He turned him and took of this no keep ; 4200
Him thoughts his dreem nas but a vanitee. Thus twyes in his sleping dremed he.
138 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
And atte thridde time yet his felawe
Cam, as him thoughte, and seyde, " I am now slawe !
Bihold my blody woundes, depe and wide ! 420
Arys up erly in the morwe-tide,
And at the west gate of the toun," quod he,
" A carte f ul of donge ther shaltow see,
In which my body is hid ful prively ;
Do0 thilke carte arresten boldely. 421
My gold caused my inordre, sooth to sayn ; "
And tolde him every poynt how he was slayn,
With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.
And truste wel, his dreem he fond ful trewe ;
For on the morwe, as sone as it was day, 421
To his felawes in he took the way;
And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
After his felawe he bigan to calle.
f The hostiler answerede him anon And seyde, " Sire, your felawe is agon ; 422
As sone as day he wente out of the toun."
1 This man gan fallen in suspecioun,0 Eemembring on his dremes that he mette, And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette, Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond 422
A dong-carte, as it were to donge lond, That was arrayed in that same wise
THE NUN'S PftlEST'S TALE 139
As ye ban herd the dede man devise.
And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
Vengeaunce and justice of this felonye : — 4230
" My felawe mordred is this same night,
And in this carte he lith gaping upright.
I crye out on the minis ties," quod he,
" That sholden kepe and reulen this citee ;
Harrow ! alias ! here lith my felawe slayn ! " 4235
What sholde I more unto this tale sayn ?
The peple out-sterte and caste the cart to grounde,
And in the middel of the dong they founde
The dede man that mordred was al newe.
' 0 blisf ul God, that art so just and trewe ! 4240
Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway ! Mordre wol out, that se we day by day. Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominabje To God, that is so just and resonable, That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be ; 4245
Though it abide a yeer, or two, or three. Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun. And right anoon, ministres of that toun Han hent the carter, and so sore him pined, And eek the hostiler so sore engined, 4250
That thay biknewe hir wikkednesse anoon, And were anhanged by the nekke-boon.
140 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
( Here may men seen that dremes been to drede. And certes in the same book I rede, Right in the nexte chapitre after this, 4255
(I gabbe nat, so have I joy or blis) Two men that wolde han passed over see For certeyn cause into a fer contree, If that the wind ne hadde been contrarie, That made hem in a citee for to tarie 4260
That stood ful mery upon an haven-side. But on a day agayn the eventide The wind gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste. Jolif and glad they went unto hir reste, And casten hem ful erly for to saille. 4265
t But herkneth ! to that oo man f el a greet mervaille ! That oon of hem, in sleping as he lay, Him mette0 a wonder dreem agayn the day0 ; Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes side, And him comaunded that he sholde abide, 4270
And seyde him thus, " If thou tomorwe wende, Thou shalt be dreynt ; my tale is at an ende." He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette, And preyde him his viage for to lette ; As for that day, he preyde him to bide. 4275
His felawe, that lay by his beddes side, Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste.
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 141
" No dreeni," quod he, " may so myn herte agaste,
That I wol lette for to do my thinges.
I sette not a straw by thy dreminges, 4280
For swevenes been but vanitees and japes.
Men dreme al day of owles or of apes
And of many a maze therwithal;
Men dreme of thing that nevere was ne shal.
But sith I see that thou wolt here abide, 4285
And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tide,
God wot it reweth me ; and have good day ! "
And thus he took his leve and wente his way.
But er that he hadde halfe his cours y-seyled,
Noot I nat why ne what mischaunce it eyled, 4290
But casuelly the shippes botme rente,
And ship and man under the water wente
In sighte of othere shippes it beside,
That with hem seyled at the same tide.0
' And therfor, faire Pertelote so dere, 4295
By swiche ensamples olde maistow lere, That no man sholde been to recchelees Of dreme s ; for I seye thee doutelees, That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede.
<Lo, in the lyf of seynt Kenelm, I rede, 4300
That was Kenulphus sone, the noble king Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing.
142 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
A lite er he was mordred, on a day
His mordre in his avisioun he say.
His norice him expouned every deel 4305
His swevene, and bad him for to kepe him weel
For traisoun0 ; but he nas but seven yeer old,
And therfore litel tale hath he told
Of any dreem, so holy was his herte.
By God, I hadde levere than my sherte 4310
That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I.
Dame Pertelote, I say yow trewely,
Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
Afferineth dremes, and seith that they been 4315
Warninge of thinges that men after seen.
And forthermore, I pray yow loketh wel
In the Olde Testament, of Daniel,
If he held dremes any vanitee.
Reed eek of Joseph, and ther shul ye see 4320
Wher dremes ben somtime, I sey nat alle,
Warninge of thinges that shul after falle.
Loke of Egipte the king, daun Pharao,
His bakere and his boteler also,
Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes. 4325
Who so wol seken actes of sondry remes,
May rede of dremes many a wonder thing.
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 143
' Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde king, Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree, Which signifyed he sholde anhanged be ? 4330
Lo here Andromacha, Ectores wyf, That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf, She dremed on the same night biforn, How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn, If thilke clay he wente into bataille. 4335
She warned him, but it mighte nat availle ; He wente for to fighte natheles, But he was slayn anoon of Achilles. But thilke .tale is al to long to telle, And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle. 4340
Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, That I shal han of this avisioun Adversitee ; and I seye forthermore, That I ne telle of laxatives no store,0 For they ben venimes, I woot it wel ; 4345
I hem defye, I love hem never a del.
' Now let us speke of mirthe, and stinte al this. Madame Pertelote, so have I blis, Of o thing God hath sent me large grace ; For whan I see the beautee of youre face, 4350
Ye been so scarlet-reed about youre yen, It maketh al my drede for to dyen ;
144 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
For, also siker as In principio,
Mulier est hominis confusio0 ;
Madame, the sentence of this Latin is — 4355
" Womman is mannes joye and al his blis."
* * * # # * *
I am so fill of joye and of solas 4560
That I defye bothe swevene and dreem/
And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,
For it was day, and eek hise hennes alle.
And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
For he hadde founde a corn0 lay in the yerd. 4365
Eoyal he was, he was namore af erd ;
* * * * # * * He loketh as it were a grim leoun ;
And on his toos he rometh up and doun, 4370
Him deyned not to sette his foot to grounde.
He chukketh whan he hath a corn y-founde,
And to him rennen thanne hise wives alle.
Thus royal as a prince is in his halle,
Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture ; 4375
And after wol I telle his aventure.
Whan that the month in which the world bigan, That highte March, whan God first maked man,0 Was compleet, and passed were also (Sin March bigan)0 thritty dayes and two, 4380
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 145
Bifel that Chauntecleer, in al his pride,
His seven wives walkinge by his side,
Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,
That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne
Twenty degrees and oon, and somewhat more, 4385
And knew by kinde, and by noon other lore,
That it was prime, and crew with blisful stevene.
1 The sonne,' he sayde, ( is clomben up on hevene
Fourty degrees and oon, and more y-wis.
Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, 4390
Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they singe,
And se the f reshe floures how they springe ;
Ful is myn hert of revel and solas ! '
But sodeynly him fil a sorweful cas ;
For ' ever the latter ende of joye is wo.' 4395
Gotwoot that worldly joye is sone ago;
And if a rethor0 coude faire endite,
He in a cronicle saufly mighte it write,
As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
Now every wys man, lat him herkne me; 4400
This storie is al-so trewe,0 I undertake,
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
That wommen holde in ful greet reverence.
Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
A colfox ful of sly iniquitee 4405
146 TEE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
By heigh imaginacioun forn-east,0
The same night thurghout the hegges brast
Into the yerd ther Ohauntecleer the faire
Was wont, and eek his wives, to repaire. 4410
And in a bed of wortes stille he lay,
Til it was passed undern of the day,
Waitinge his time on Chaunteeleer to falle ;
As gladly doon thise homicides alle
That in await liggen to mordre men. 4415
0 false mordrour lurkinge in thy den ! 0 newe Scariot, newe Genilon ! False dissimilour, 0 Greek Sinon, That broughtest Troye al outrely to sorwe ! O Chaunteeleer, accursed be that morwe, 4420
That thou into that yerd neigh fro the bemes ! Thou were f ul wel y-warned by thy dremes, That thilke day was perilous to thee. But what that God forwoot moot nedes be,0 After the opinioun of certeyn clerkis. 4425
Witnesse on him, that any parfit clerk is, That in scole is greet altercacioun In this matere, and greet disputisoun, And hath ben of an hundred thousand men. But I ne can not bulte it to the bren,° 4430
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 147
As can the holy doctour Augustyn,
Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardyn,
Whether that Goddes worthy forwiting0
Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thing,
(Nedely clepe I simple neeessitee), 4435
Or elles if free choys be graunted me
To do that same thing, or do it nought,
Though God f orwoot it er that it was wrought ;
Or if his witiug streyneth never a deel
But by neeessitee condicionel. 4440
I wil not han to do of swich matere ;
My tale is of a cok, as ye may here,
That took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
That he hadde met the dreem that I you tolde. 4445
; Wommennes counseils been ful ofte colde ' ;
Wommannes counseil broughte us first to wo,
And made Adam fro Paradys to go,
Ther as he was ful mirie and wel at ese.
But for I noot, to whom it might displese, 4450
If I counseil of wommen wolde blame,
Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.
Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich matere,
And what thay seyn of worn men ye may here.
Thise been the cokkes wordes and nat mine ; 4455
148 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
I can noon harme of no womraan divine.
Faire in the sond, to bathe hire mirily, Lith Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by, Agayn the sonne ; and Chauntecleer so free Song murier than the mermayde in the see 4460
(For Phisiologus seith sikerly, How that they singen wel and merily).
And so bifel that as he caste his ye Among the wortes, on a boterflye, He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 4465
Nothing ne liste him thanne for to crowe, But cride anon, l Cok ! Cok ! ' and up he sterte, As man that was aff rayed in his herte. For naturelly a beest desireth flee Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, 4470
Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye.
This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him espye, He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon Seyde, l Gentil Sire, alias ! wher wol ye gon ? Be ye aifrayed of me that am youre freend ? 4475
Now, certes, I were worse than a feend, If I to yow wolde harm or vileinye. I am nat come your counseil for tespye ; But trewely the cause of my cominge Was only for to herkne how that ye singe. 4480
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 149
For trewely ye have as mirie a stevene
As eny aungel hath, that is in hevene.
Therwith ye han in musik more felinge
Than hadde Boece, or any that can singe.
My lord youre fader (God his soule blesse !) 4485
And eek your moder, of hire gentilesse,
Han in myn hous y-been to my gret ese ;°
And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
But for men speke of singing, I wol saye,
So mote I brouke wel myn eyen tweye, 4490
Save yow, I herde nevere man so singe,
As dide your fader in the morweninge.
Certes, it was of herte,0 al that he song ;
And for to make his voys the more strong,
He wolde so peyne him, that with both his yen 4495
He moste winke, so loude he wolde cryen,
And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal,
And strecehe forth his nekke, long and smal.
And eek he was of swich discrecioun
That ther nas no man in no regioun 4500
That him in song or wisdom mighte passe.
I have weel rad in " Daun Burnel the Asse,''
Among his vers, how that ther was a cok.
For that a preestes sone yaf him a knok
Upon his leg whyl he was yong and nice, 4505
150 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
He made him for to lese his benefice.0
But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun0
Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun
Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee.
Now singeth, sire, for seynte charitee ; 4510
Lat se conne ye youre fader countrefete.'
This Chauntecleer his winges gan to bete, As man0 that coude his traysoun nat espye, So was he ravished with his flaterye.
Alias ! ye lordes, many a fals flatour 4515
Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour, That plesen yow wel more, by my feith, Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith (Eedeth Ecclesiaste < Of Flatterye '),° Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520
This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos, Strecching his nekke, and held his eyen cloos, And gan to crowe loude for the nones. And daun Russel the fox sterte up at ones, And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 4525
And on his bak toward the wode him beer, For yet ne was ther no man that him sewed.
0 destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed ! Alias, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes ! Alias, his wyf ne roughte nat of dremes ! 4530
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 151
And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce !
0 Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce, Sin that thy servant was this Chauntecleer, And in thy service dide al his poweer, More for delyt, than world to multiplye, 4535
Why woltestow suffre him on thy day to dye ?
0 Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn, That, whan thy worthy king Eichard was slayn With shot, compleynedest his deeth so sore ! Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy lore, 4540 The Friday f er to chide, as diden ye ? (For on a Friday soothly slayn was he) Than wolde I shewe yow how that I coude pleyne For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne.
Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun0 4545
Was nevere of ladies maad, whan Ilioun Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd, Whan he hadde hent king Priam by the berd And slayn him (as saith us Eneydos),0 As maden alle the hennes in the clos, 4550
Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf ; Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf, And that the Komayns hadde brent Cartage, 4555
152 THE NUN'S PHIEST'S TALE
She was so ful of torment and of rage,
That wilfully into the fyr she sterte,
And brende hirselven with a stedfast herte.
0 woful hennes, right so criden ye, As, whan that Nero brende the citee 4560
Of Rome, criden the senatoures wives, For that hir housbondes losten alle hir lives ; Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn. Now wol I tome to my tale agayn.
This sely widwe and eek hir doughtres two 4565 Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo, And out at dores sterten they anoon, And seyen the fox toward the grove goon, And bar upon his bak the cok away ; And criden, l Out ! ' l Harrow ! ' and ' Weylaway ! ' 4570 ' Ha/ ' ha/ ' The fox ! ' and after him they ran, And eek with staves many another0 man ; Eanne Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland, And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand ; Ean cow and calf ; and eek the verray hogges, 4575 So fered for berkinge of the dogges And shouting of the men and wommen eke, They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breke ; They yelleden as feendes doon in helle. The dokes criden as men wolde hem quelle ; 458*
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 153
The gees for fere flowen over the trees ;
Out of the hive cam the swarm of bees.
So hidous was the noys, A ! benedidte !
Certes, he Jakke Straw,0 and his meynee,
Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille, 4585
Whan that they wolden any Fleming0 kille,
As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
Of bras they broughten. bemes, and of box,
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped,
And ther withal thay shriked and they houped, 4590
It seined as that hevene sholde falle.
Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth alle ! Lo, how fortune turneth sodeynly The hope and pride eek of hir enemy ! This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 4595
In al his drede, unto the fox he spak, And seyde, ' Sire, if that I were as ye, Yet sholde I seyn, as wys God helpe me, " Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle ! A verray pestilence upon yow falle! 4600
Now am I come unto this wodes side, Maugree your heed the cok shal heer abide ; I wol him ete in feith, and that anon ! "
The fox answerde, ' In feith, it shal be don/ And as he spak that word, al sodeynly 4605
154 THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
This cok brak from his mouth deliverly, And heighe upon a tree he neigh anon. And whan the fox saugh that he was gon,
( Alias ! ' quod he, ' 0 Chauntecleer, alias ! I have to yow/ quod he, ' y-doon trespas, 4610
In-as-muche as I maked yow aferd, Whan I yow hente and broughte out of the yerd. But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente ; Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente ; I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so.' 4615
' Nay, thanne/ quod he, ' I shrewe us bothe two, And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones, If thou bigile me ofter than ones. Thou shalt namore thurgh thy flaterye Do me to singe and winken with myn ye. 4620
For he that winketh whan he sholde see, Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee ! '
'Nay/ quod the fox, 'but Godyive him meschaunce, That is so undiscreet of governaunce, That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees/ 4625
Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees, And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
But ye that holden this tale a folye, As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, Taketh the moralitee, gode men ; 4630
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 155
For Seynt Paul seith, that al that writen is, To our doctrine it is y-write y-wis. Taketh the fruyt and lat the chaf be stille.
Now, gode God, if that it be thy wille, As seith my lord,0 so make us alle gode men, 4635
And bringe us alle to his heighe blisse ! Amen.
READING ALOUD
THE mies given below may enable one to read the verses with some approach to the usage of certain Chaucerians, if not to that of Chaucer himself. The reader's idea of the sounds and the verse will affect the reception which attempts to read Chaucer aloud will encounter; but the acceptability of reading de pends in a greater degree on quality of voice and appreciation of meaning. Nor will all these avail unless one practises reading to others and for others.
To begin with the first line of the Prologue : —
Line 1. wli should be pronounced like wh in wheel, not
like w in weal. a, when not ending a syllable, more like a in what
than a in cat; but it is sometimes written for
aa (a in father), n as now ; but see nn and ng. th as in Modern English. t always like t in tall, bat, fact ; never like t in
nation, a, when ending a syllable, like a in father; but
sometimes shorter.
167
158 READING ALOUD
p as now.
r should always be trilled, and should never sug gest the sound, or rather absence of sound, of either r in river.
i has the sound of i in still, pin, flint, when it stands before two consonants.
I as now; but II denotes either a lengthening or doubling of the sound.
e final is like a in Cuba, or blends with a follow ing vowel, or is silent, just as the verse requires. We might accordingly print it when sounded, and omit it when silent, if tastes and authorities agreed.
w initial as now.
h initial just as at present. It may be sounded in all cases ; but after much reading one comes to drop it in some common unaccented words : I've seen 'im.
s final like ss in hiss.
sh as at present.
ou (ow) like oo in pool.
e, not ending a syllable, like e in set; but it is sometimes written for ee (ai in pair).
o, ending a syllable (so-te), like the first part pro longed of the diphthong o in so, tone, lone. Line 2. d as our d.
gh as the Scotch pronounce ch in loch.
o, when not ending a syllable, like o in cot; but it is sometimes written for oo.
HEADING ALOUD 159
/ like ff in off, never like v.
m as now.
ch (cell) like ch in church.
c always like c in codicil, never our sh. Line 3. b as now.
v as now.
ey like i in thine.
Line 4. if, ending a syllable, like the French u, which resembles % in use rather than in brute.
g like its representatives in the corresponding
modern English words. Line 5. z as now.
ph like/ in fill
u not ending a syllable, like u in pull
ee like the first part of the diphthong a in fate pro longed.
e, ending a stressed syllable, like the preceding. Line 6. i (y), ending a stressed syllable, like i in mar chine.
y consonant as now.
ng as in the corresponding modern words.
nn indicates a lengthening, or doubling, of the
sound.
Line 9. k as now. Line 12. oo as o in Chaucer's so-te. Line 13. au like ou in count. Line 19. ay like i in mine. Line 24. gw. nearly like w.
160 READING ALOUD
Consonants are pronounced with the following vowel, if possible.
Every letter is pronounced ; thus I is sounded in folk, pcdmeres, walk, and k in knight, knowe. There are, however, certain groups, like sh, ng, which are treated as single signs. Some readers often omit a vowel, par ticularly e. Benedicite is pronounced ben'dic'te.
Even if one did not know the meaning of a single word, the preceding directions would be sufficient for reading the text aloud, so far as the sounds of the letters are concerned ; but there is much more in reading than the mere sequence of the sounds of the letters. A let ter on the page is a direction to make some vowel or consonant sound. Let me call the sequence of these sounds that corresponds to the succession of the letters the vowel-consonant series. But one cannot utter this series without giving to each sound in it certain qual ities that are rarely indicated by anything on the printed page. We can give to the sound a longer or shorter duration, can say it in a higher or a lower note, can speak it in a louder or softer tone. There exist in constant association with the vowel-consonant series, and with one another, three other series : the long-short series, the high-low series, the loud-soft series. There are, too, pauses which we regard as parts of the speech series and discriminate from those stops and breaks which we ascribe to imperfections in voice or mind. Each of
READING ALOUD 161
these series falls into successive groups, determined in part by thought and emotion, in part by other influ ences, — breathing in and out, for instance. We may speak of a sense-group, a breath-group, a strong-weak group, and so forth. Unlike groups sometimes do and sometimes do not begin or end together. There are, moreover, in the speech series resemblances of part to part. Verse emerges when these resemblances recur with such constancy that they attract notice, and are remembered, recognized, anticipated, and at last planned, calculated, contrived. This constancy is rarely so great that absolute verse results, and rarely so little that it is absolute prose. The expectation of this recurrence, or the desire to secure it, often changes the utterance of a group from what it would otherwise have been. There are great differences in the degrees of change which speech has been made to undergo in order to secure these resemblances and contrasts in sense or in sound. The aim has been to produce a certain form, or to pro duce an effect on the mind by means of this form. The degree of change which some tolerate or praise, others condemn or reject. Some, indeed, find uniformity of repetition so painful that they instinctively, or „ pur posely, in the composition or construction of verse, abandon, for a moment, one or more of the expected resemblances, with or without replacing them by another set of resemblances.
162 READING ALOUD
This text of Chaucer represents little more than the vowel-consonant series. And yet while so much is left unexpressed, of some things there is a superfluity of indications. Thus a verse is indicated to the eye by the separate line and the initial capital ; and one of the many functions of the marks of punctuation is to distinguish a verse from what precedes and follows it. Chaucer indeed knew nothing of punctuation and had to write so as to be intelligible without it. This will help to see what I mean : Write on a strip of paper a dozen verses of Chaucer in one continuous line, without capitals, without punctuation, yes, without separating the words, so that the dozen verses will appear as one great word ; and you will be surprised at the ease with which one can make out where the verses begin and end, and what the sense is of each. A like experiment with any similar verses of the nineteenth century would often show how little correspondence there is between the thought-series and the language-series. Chaucer's verses rime to the eye as well as to the ear in couplets. Triplets do not occur.
The rimes are single, either ending in a consonant : — -
That alle the feeldes gliteren up and doun;
And by his baner born is his penoun 978
or ending in a vowel ; — •
READING ALOUD 163
Goth in the chambre, roming to and fro,
And to himself compleyninge of his wo ; 1072
or the rimes are double, either ending in a consonant : —
And by assaut he wan the citee after,
And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter; 990
or ending in a vowel, — the obscure e, with scarcely an
exception : —
Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes side,
And him comaunded that he sholde abide, 4270
Of the long-short series there are no other marks than such as are found in the signs of the vowel- consonant series. Thus, o at the end of a syllable is prolonged, as in so-te; when not at the end of a syllable it is usually shortened, as in croppes; oo stands for the long sound sometimes, as in hoost.
There are no indications whatever of the high-low series, except such as may be afforded by the modern punctuation. And yet every story-teller knows that his intention, especially his humour, is rarely ap preciated unless some subtle inflection intimates to the hearer that an utterance means more than others would be likely to discern in it. It is like a glance, a gesture, a movement, that reveals a situation or a character in an instant, with no commentary to thank.
Strangest thing of all, there does not appear to be any indication whatever of the loud-soft series; and
164 READING ALOUD
this, when we are told that Chaucer was, and that all good poets, in England at least, are, more concerned about the proper alternation and succession of loud aud soft syllables than about any other qualities of the sound whatever. Singular oversight that has made necessary numerous volumes to communicate the results of laborious investigations when a few simple marks might have shown us how Chaucer read his verses in this respect at least, — what syllables he made strong and what weak. So there remains this question, What syllables were stressed and how much ? and its counterpart, What syllables were unstressed, were slurred, or even omitted altogether?
In Modern English we have the ear to guide us when we read, — or rather the memories of the sounds of words. Look at the following from Miss Preston's Translation of the Georgics of Vergil : —
" Yea, I have seen, when harvest days are early, And the first reapers, the golden fields among, Shredding from slender stems the ripened barley, Shock as of all the winds together flung In battle. Then the very stalks, uptorn By the furious hurricane, aloft are borne, And whirled into the blackness of the storm The culms and the winged stubble. Or yet again Far over the deep the clouds their squadrons form, And the mighty mass rolls inland, foul with rain ; And, like a foe, the flood bursts out of the sky, And the very aether topples from on high."
READING ALOUD 165
Five hundred years from now can any one, having only this text before him, say what sounds the charac ters stand for, see that the a's have not the same value in have, harvest, days, early, among, and all, or tell whether foe is of one or two syllables, or whether the first or the last syllable of blackness is stressed ? Fortunately the translator's preface, should it be pre served, will furnish an account of her versification, though expressed in terms that are ambiguous enough even now.
But let me try to describe the verse of Chaucer with as much freedom from any admixture of irrelevant con ceptions as language will allow. There are in each verse five strong syllables. Before the first of the strong syllables, after the last, and between any two, stands one weak syllable ; sometimes two ; rarely, except at the end of a verse, none. The five stresses are of very unequal strength. One is usually very weak relatively to any one of the others. The remaining four then stand out with greater, though unequal, prominence. The weak syllables are not equally weak. The strong syllables are commonly longer than the weak. The strong syllables convey more of the meaning than the weak.
The division between lines usually coincides with a division between sense-groups. Not only is couplet separated from couplet in this way, but the first line
166 READING ALOUD
of a couplet from the second. A line usually con tains two sense-groups. These share the line as equally as may be ; two of the stronger accents going with the one, and two with the other. Sometimes a sense- group fills out the whole line, and it sometimes termi nates unexpectedly even after the first or the fourth stronger accent. But the unexpected as a literary force is sparingly used. Chaucer does not make mani fest that he had the conception of a verse-form that could survive such shocks persistently repeated.
"Time fleets:
That's worst ! Because the pre-appointed age Approaches. Fate is tardy with the stage And crowd she promised. Lean he grows and pale, Though restlessly at rest. Hardly avail Fancies to soothe him. Time steals, yet alone He tarries here ! The earnest smile is gone. How long this might continue, matters not ; — Forever, possibly ; since to the spot None come :"
It is questioned whether the verses are of equal duration, whether a verse is always made up of a defi nite number of parts that equal one another in dura tion, whether each such part begins or terminates at a stressed syllable or otherwise. I imagine that some ears require this uniformity, and that others are in capable of discerning it,
HEADING ALOUD 167
If two light syllables come between two heavy syllables, they are by some readers always reduced to one. By others they are never reduced to one. By other readers they are sometimes reduced to one and sometimes not, according to their nature and position.
I have stated a variety of usages, because it is well to try the effect of reading the lines in different ways, and to find, by discussion with associates, grounds for preferring one to the other, if there is any preference. I suppose there were differences among Chaucer's con temporaries not less than among readers of Chaucer to-day. It would not be strange if Chaucer himself read a verse at one time in one way, at another time in another. A verse is not like a line in r, picture ; and even that changes with changing light, and in the presence of other lines. A verse is as flexible as the lips that utter it. From uniformity in the former and from repose in the latter there is a broad range this side of distortion and caricature.
As a preparation for dealing with Chaucer's verso, observe the rendering of the following lines : —
' Year following year, steals something every day." '•To books and study give seven years complete.'1'' '•Soft in her lap her laureate son reclines." — POPE.
'•And grow incorporate into thee." '•But for the unquiet heart and brain." lAt earliest morning to the door."
168 READING ALOUD
" Through prosperous floods his holy urn."
" Some dolorous message knit below."
" Tears of the widower, when he sees."
" The violet of his native land."
"•And hears the ritual of the dead"
" To many a flute of Arcady."
'•'•Last year, impetuously we sang." — TENNYSON.
Wlian that Aprille with his shoures sote \
i n i f i
And bathed every veyne in swich licour 3
t it ni
Trouthe and honour, fredom and courteisye 46
ft n it
Al bismotered with his habergeoun 76
/ i it it
Under his belt he bar ful thriftily 105
t i iii
Wei coude he dresse his takel yemanly 106
/ / i n i
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe 125
ii i n i
That no drope ne fille upon Mr brest 131
i i n i i
In curteisye was set ful moche hir lest 132
i t nil
That in hir coppe there was no ferthing sene 134
i n i it
Is likned til a fish that is waterlees 180
n t t t
He hadde of gold wrought a ful curious pin 196
READING ALOUD 169
/ n i ii
80 moche of daliaunce and fair langage 211
II H I
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215
t t n it
For to delen with no swich poraille 247
/ i n i r
With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler 260
i n n ii
So estatly was he of his governaunce 281
/ ii ii
Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy 290
r i iii
For he hadde geten him yet no benefice 291
t t r i i
Twenty bokes clad in blak or reed 294
/ i i i n
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre 298
ii i n t
Of studie took he most cure and most hede 303
iii iii
His purchasing mighte nat been infect 320
i i i n i
And yet he semed bisier than he was 322
/ n i i i
After the sondry sesouns of the yeer 347
i n t ii
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe 349
/ / / i i
And many a breem and many a luce in stewe 350
/ r i n t
That on his shine a mormal hadde he 386
170 READING ALOUD
A daggers hangings on a laas hadde he 392
t i it i i
The hote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun 394 f t i ii
If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond 399
/ t i n i
By water he sente hem hoom to every loud 400
i i n i i
With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake 406
ii n ii
And where engendred and of what humour 421
/ t n i i
Of his diete mesurable was he 435
i i i n t
In al the parishe wyf ne was ther noon 449
it i n t
And thryes hadde she been at Jerusalem 463
/ i t n i
Wyd was his parishe and houses fer asonder 491
i n t t t
The ferreste in his parishe moche and lite 494
/ i i n i
And shame it is if a preest take kepe 503
ft. i n i
He was a shepherde and nought a mercenarie 514
n t irr
In a tabard he rood upon a mere 541
r i t t i
A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple 567
t i n it
To make him live by his propre good 581
THE TEXT 171
/ t t n t
His berd was shave as ny as ever he can 588
/ a i i i
His heer was by his eres ful round y-shorn 589
/ i i n /
In youthe he lerned hadde a good mister 613
/ n i i i
But hood for jolitee wered he noon 680
i i i i n
No berd hadde he ne never sholde have 689
THE TEXT
THE first book printed in English, The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, was put to press at Bruges in 1474 by William Caxton. About two years later he set up his wooden printing-press at the sign of the Eed Pole in the Almonry of Westminster. Within a few years he had issued the first printed edition of The Canterbury Tales in that curious type which looks like Monkish script and has been since 1600 called Black Letter. Until 1478 the Tales had circu lated in manuscripts alone. There are still extant some fifty of these, but none that can be safely as signed to a date earlier than a quarter of a century after Chaucer's death, or proved to be a copy of what Chaucer himself wrote or dictated. Faithful pictures of single pages have been published, and the frontis-
172 THE TEXT
piece of this book is a sample of a part of one of these reduced in size. The Chaucer Society has published facsimiles of different manuscripts. In six of these eleven of the lines of the Prologue appear as follows : —
Bifil that /in that seson on a day In Southicerk / at the Tabard as Hay Itedy/to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury /with ful deuout corage At nyght/were come /in to that hostelry c Wei nyne and twenty in a compaignye Of sondry folk / by aventure y-falle 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
Bifel that in that sesoun on a day
In Southwerk at the Tabard /as . I . lay
Eedy to weenden/on my pilgrymage '
To Caunterbury / with ful deuout corage
At nyght was come/in to that hostelrye
Wel . XXIX . in a compaignye
Of sondry folk /by auenture yfalle
In felaweshipe / and pilgrymes weere they alle
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde
The chambres and the stables /weeren wyde
And wel we weeren esed at the beste
that . in that sesoun on a In suthwerk . at the Thabard as Ilaye. Redy to weenden . on my pilgrymage.
THE TEXT 173
To Caunterbury . with full deuoute corage. At nyght was come . in to that hostelrye. Well nyne and twenty . in a company e. Of sondry folk . by auenture falle. Infelschip . and pilgrymes were thei alle. That toward Cauntirbury . wolde ryde. The chambres . and the stables weren wyde. And well were esid . at the beste.
bifill that on that seson on a day
in Suthwork atte Tabard as I lay
redy to wende/on my pilgrimage
to Caunterbury / with ful deuout corage
at night was come/in-to that hosterie
wel . XXIX. in a companye
of sondry folk/ bi auenture I-falle
in feloshipe / and pilgremes were thei atte
that toward Caunterbury wolde ryde
the chambres and stablis weren wyde
and wel weren eased at the beste
Byfille that in that seson on aday
In southwerk atte Tabbard as I lay
Redy to wende on my pilgrymage
To Canterbury with ful devout corage
At nyht was come in to that hostellerye
Wel nyne and twenty on a companye
Of sondry folk by auenture yfalle
In felaschipe and pilgrymes were they alle
That toward Cantirbery wolde ryde
The Chambres and stables weren wyde
And wel weren esed atte beste
174 THE TEXT
It be-fel than in that sesone vpon a date *
In Suthewerke att the tabard as . I . laie
Bedi to wende on my pilgremaye.
To Canterburie with ful deuoute Coraye.
At nyhte was come in-to that hostellerie
Wei Nyne and twente on a companye
Of sondre folke be auenture yfalle
In felauschipe and Pilgrimes were they alle
To-warde Gamterburi that wolde ride
The Chambres and stables weren wyde
And wele weren esede at the beste
Each of these versions differs from another, and from any printed text, — Skeat's, Pollard's, or Lid- dell's, for instance. There are no marks of punctua tion; but, as now, each verse has a line to itself and begins with a capital, and in some instances subdivi sions of the lines are indicated by slanting strokes. These devices leave the grouping of the lines in uncer tainty, and this is one source of the difference of punctuation in the modern editions.
The versions differ also in spelling ; as witness Bi- fil, Bifel, Byfell, bifill, Byfitte, be-fel. Note also wenden and wende, wolden and wolde, weren and were. In the manuscript which is the most satisfactory of all to modern readers, semeely, semely, semyly occur within a few lines. One may well ask if it is worth while to retain this diversity in a book intended for school youth or indeed if it is well to retain the ancient
THE TEXT 175
orthography at all. The spelling of printed English is now nearly uniform in all parts of the world. One unfortunate consequence of this is that the spelling has ceased to indicate the sounds spoken, different as these may be in Australia and in America. But the advantages are great; so great indeed that this fixed orthography with all its inconsistencies has been extended over the past. We know that Milton's pronunciation was not that of an educated Londoner of to-day, and what his spelling was one can see in the following specimen from the original edition of Paradise Lost : —
Nor did they not perceave the evil plight
In which they were, nor the fierce pains not feel :
Yet to their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd
Innumerable. As when the potent Rod
Of Amrams son in Egypts evill day
Wav'd round the Coast, up calVd a pitchy cloud
Of Locusts, icarping on the Eastern Wind,
That ore the Sealm of impious Pharaoh hung
Like night and darkened all the Land of Nile :
Shakespeare is a step farther removed. In our read ing we make no attempt to speak as he did, and in our editions for the use of the people's schools we do not once think of retaining the contemporary spell ing: In fact it has little to recommend it except to the minute student, as one may see by the following
176 THE TEXT
extract from Love's Labour's Lost as it appears in a Quarto of 1598 : -
" Let Fame, that all hunt after in their lyues, Line registred vpon our brazen Tombes, And then grace vs, in the disgrace of death : When spight of cormorant deuouring Time, Thendeuour of this present breath may buy : That honour which shall bare his sythes keene edge, And make vs heires of all eternitie. Therefore braue Conquerours, for so you are, That warre agaynst your owne affections, And the hudge armie of the worldes desires. Our late edict shall strongly stand in force, Nauar shall be the wonder of the worlde, Our Court shalbe a lytlle Achademe, Still and contemplatyue in lyuing art."
This same system of uniform orthography of ours has been extended by some editors to the works of Chaucer. Any text or pronunciation, it is asserted by them, will be but an approximation to Chaucer's own, which was hardly faultless, we may assume ; certainly not ideal. Neither spelling nor sounds, even if we knew them, are facts in the life of the fourteenth cen tury, or in the career of Chaucer, .at any rate as poet, that concern any one but a professional philologist. What is wanted is the meaning, the feeling that went with the words ; and that they claim we can get more readily and pleasurably from a text in modern spell-
THE TEXT 177
ing, pronounced in some modern wise, with thanks for as much of the song-craft as may survive.
I might ask what have we then of the fourteenth century — what knowledge, what relic — that is more than a mere approximation to the reality of the four teenth century itself? It is hardly a reason for re jecting the texts and pronunciations which are offered that they are but rough approximations to what Chau cer wrote and spoke. The fact is that the current of Chaucer's influence has swept in many different direc tions. There are modernizations, translations, imita tions, adaptations of The Canterbury Tales, and there will be; among which choice is free. But school youth should be required to withdraw their attention from the word as it is to-day, with its present spelling and pronunciation, and all the associations that these imply, and try to see and hear and speak the words and think their meanings as they were in the fourteenth century. To give but one instance of what will find ample illus tration in every . page, Chaucer's schoures, showres, shoures, differs not only in spelling and pronunciation from our showers, but in meaning also ; that is to say, in what it suggests, not in what a glossary can define it to mean. Or is it a mere whim of my own mind, not deserving to be adopted by other minds, that leads me to see and hear in shoures drops of water falling from a darkened sky on field and river, while showers
178 THE TEXT
are predicted in newspapers by those who know of the wind whence it cometh and whither it goeth ?
But this is difficult, one objects. The principle im plied in the retention of early forms of the language in order to preserve the freshness of the early thought, would require one to be seated in a Chaucerian chambre, clothed in a Chaucerian cote-hardie, arid set to reading from a Chaucerian manuscript by the light of a Chaucerian candle. That is just what I would do, and much more besides, even to setting the Shire of Kent back five hundred years, and taking four days in going with a band of pilgrims from Southwerk to Caunterbury. That is what we try to do in homes and theatres, in tableaux and masquerades, in statues and pictures, and certainly in fancies and imagina tions. We may see nothing but the time-worn text, waking only broken echoes from the song of "the morning star of poesy who made his music heard be low ; " but this we can see, and behold in it, " like the sights in a magic crystal ball," Chaucer's England.
And yet the text which you here see put, though not modernized, has been made more uniform than most others. Shoures has not been changed to showers, breeth to breath, palmeres to palmers, felaweshipe to fel lowship; silent and mispronounced letters have not been introduced, however useful they may now be to us in distinguishing for the eye words that cannot be
THE LANGUAGE 179
distinguished by the ear; and, of course, letters that have since become silent have been retained when they were pronounced in the fourteenth century. But I have not thought it desirable to trouble the reader with the fact that seson was sometimes written, but was the same in meaning and pronunciation as the sesoun that was found in other passages ; and as long as drought was written in some places, it did not seem necessary to write droght in others with the accom panying explanation that it was pronounced like the former. Still no one consideration has been allowed to prevail to the exclusion of every other; and this much may be said that in some cases where there are only probabilities, and such probabilities as admit of no numerical evaluation, two minds, or even one mind at different times, have not come to the same conclu sion. If you go beyond this book in the study of Chaucer or of Middle English, you will have much to learn, but I trust not a great deal to unlearn.
THE LANGUAGE
THE following remarks concern the language in script and in print ; the language in speech has already been considered. These two modes of utterance differ greatly from each other. Speech may be intelligible.
180 THE LANGUAGE
correct, even elegant, but script has too few signs to be in any considerable degree the counterpart of speech. It has, however, some resources of its own to use in compensation. Such are different spellings of words which sound alike ; changes in the order of words; punctuation-marks and other distinguishing signs which have direct correspondences iiithe thought- series and not in the sound-series; the arrangement of the characters on the page ; and especially the fact that all the parts of the visible expression exist at the same time, and admit of easy comparison, while the parts of the audible utterance are successive.
Aside from the general aspect of the written or printed page, and from some minor matters of punctu ation, we find in Chaucer's language : —
1. Words that have gone out of use together with their meanings : anlaas, court epy, /aiding, gipoun, haber- geoun, and a few others.
2. Words that have gone out of use, and been re placed by other words of like meaning : abyen, apalle, deduyt, lechecraft, swinken, taas.
3. Words that are still in use but with changed meanings : minister, wit, bacheler, blanJcmanger, and many others, if meaning is used to denote all that a word suggests, and slight changes are considered.
4. Words that are still in use with unchanged meaning : Aprille, bathed, slepen, melodye, and very
THE LANGUAGE 181
many more ; and yet it would often be very difficult to decide whether a word belongs to this class or the preceding, unless meaning is confined to the significa tion which can be exhibited in a dictionary.
Of the words that have been retained, there are few that have not been altered in spelling: slepen and sleep, sesoun and season, chambres and chambers, felawe- shipe and fellowship. The complicated relations among changes of spelling, changes of pronunciation, and changes of meaning are not easy to ascertain or exhibit, and few generalizations or brief summaries are possible.
Forms that differed slightly, as slepen, slepe, slep', have mingled into one, and the original differences of meaning, if such existed, are expressed otherwise or disregarded.
Different parts of a sentence often expressed the same thing. This I call Multiple Indication. Modern English has passed to Single Indication, though it still retains some instances of Double and even Triple Indication. In Tho foure yonge men riden yesterday, we find expressed seven times that there were more youths than one ; once by tho, twice by foure, once by yonge, once by men, twice by riden. Tlw is a plural form ; four is plural by its definition ; the termination e in foure and yonge implies plurality ; men is plural as contrasted with man, the need of a special form (like min, say, that would mean either) being rarely
182 THE LANGUAGE
felt ; both parts of rid-en denote that there was more than one rider. In Those four young men rode yesterday, the indications of more than one are reduced to three ; for rode is neither singular nor plural. Chaucer would have said lie rood, but they riden; we say he rode and they rode, and one cannot tell by rode anything about the number of the riders. We still retain Double In dication in rode and yesterday, both of which refer us to a past ; the former vaguely, the latter more definitely.
I have said that the e in yonge was a sign of plural ity ; but it had come to be the sign of many other things, and often of nothing at all. The e then had no longer any function so far as the mere signification was concerned, and gradually disappeared, now here, now there, in this phrase and in that phrase, with one class of the people and with another class, in one style of composition and in another style, as sentiment or structure determined. It was written where it was not heard, and heard where it was not written ; but as is evident from what has been said, its presence or ab sence rarely affected the determination of the meaning.
Such expressions as where as that, there as, whanne that, originated at a time when the component words, whan, ivher, ther, etc., had not the restricted meaning and use which they have now. Where and when have now taken the place of these phrases.
The merging of several like words into one, the ar>
THE LANGUAGE 183
proacli to Single Indication, the omission of parts of phrases, mark differences that five hundred years have made in the language. The changes in detail are numerous enough, as you cannot fail to note when you compare with the original your written translation into Modern English.
Meanings are expressed in Modern English by marks of punctuation, by differences in letters, as capitals and italics, by the apostrophe, and a few similar signs, to an extent altogether unknown to Chaucer's English.
NOUNS
The plural is like the singular : caas, hors, neet, paas, pound, sheep, swyn, vers, yeer.
The plural differs from the singular by vowel- change: foot, feet; goos, gees; man, men.
The plural adds n to the singular, often with other changes: asshe, asshen; brothor, bretheren; child, chil dren; daughter, doughtren; eye, eyen; ox, oxen; suster, sustren ; too, toon ; ye, yen.
The plural adds es to the singular, with doubling of its final consonant when necessary: lord, lordes; god, goddes; crop, croppes; palmer, palmeres ; teer, teres.
The plural adds s to the singular : bargayn, bar- gayns; nacioun, naciouns.
The singular has sometimes two plurals : ton, toos and toon.
184 THE LANGUAGE
The genitive ends in es: his lordes sheep, his lord's or his lords' sheep; a swerdes lengthe, a sword's length.
Except the following: his lady grace, our lady veil; at the sonne upriste, the rose colour, herte blood, my fader soule, a kinges brother sone, to Venus temple.
The relation of the meaning of a noun to the mean ing of any other part of a sentence was expressed in the absence of noun-inflections by the inflections of other words, especially pronouns, by special words, by position, or left unexpressed or contradicted in ex pression, when the relation itself was obvious or irre versible.
The noun itself is not infrequently omitted when its meaning is pointed to by these and other indications : —
Eight as the hunters in the regne of Trace,
That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere,
And hereth him come rushing in the greves,
And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
And thinketh, ' heer cometh my mortel enemy,
Withoute faile he moot be deed or /.' 1644
PRONOUNS
In the Glossary will be found a translation of each peculiar form, and in the Notes a fuller explanation in at least one instance of its occurrence. Here certain differences of idiom are noted.
THE LANGUAGE 185
Shaltow, wiltow are for shalt thou, wilt thou. Ye is subject-form, and you object-form : Ye finden me, I finde you. Hit and his are it and its. Hem is them. My, myn, mine are my; the two last also mine. Simi larly with thy, thyn, thine. His and hise mean his; her and here, as well as hir and hire mean her or 7ie?-s',, and ^eir or theirs. Our and o^re mean our or cmrs, and similarly with your and youre.
TJiarray, th'array, the array, illustrates the treatment of the before a vowel. That oon, that other equal the one, the other. Atte means at the. Tho is .sometimes to be translated those.
Which, the whiche is translated by who or whom as well as by which. Sivich . . . which is such . . . as. That . . . he is frequent as a relative pronoun : —
Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely oon,
That with a spere was thirled his brest boon. 2710
Whose breast-bone was pierced by a spear. The clause introduced by who or which is often preceded by that : —
Than shal I yeve Emelya to wive
To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a grace. 1861
Men, not the plural but a weakened form of man, is used with a singular verb in the sense of one or some one or any one : —
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte. 149
For alday meteth men at unset stevene. 1524
186 THE LANGUAGE
Som is singular, and som . . . som means one . . . another : —
Som in his bed, som in the depe see. 3031
/ see me, tliou seest thee can hardly mean anything else than I see myself, thou seest thyself. He seeth him may mean he sees himself; and they seyn hem, they see themselves.
He . . . he is translated this one . . . that one in: —
Somme sayde he loked grim, and he icolde fighte. 2519 In: —
And he him hurtletli with his hors adoun. 2616
translate : One dashes down another.
The view, whence the name, that a pronoun is a word which takes the place of a noun is less useful than the view that it is a word of wide applicability which accordingly names what may be more definitely indi cated otherwise. The former view points to a relation to preceding or following .words ; the latter to things and thoughts however they may have been or are to be designated. The former view prevails with those who have to talk about language ; the latter would prevail with those who have to talk about other things only, if they could give any account of their own usage. The presence and absence of the pronoun then should be determined by its utility. If nouns and verbs had suitable inflections, it would be introduced solely for
THE LANGUAGE 187
the sake of the meaning of its stem. If it should retain its inflection while verbs and nouns lost theirs, it might be used for the meaning of its inflections alone. Chaucer treats even nouns and verbs with respect to their insertion, repetition, or omission as freely as he does pronouns. My purpose in saying this is to encourage the practice of studying the mean ing of each instance, as of him in the subjoined quota tion, rather than that of referring it, as here, to some such rule as : A noun is often repeated in the form of a pronoun : —
Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus,
That at his grete cost arrayed thus
The temples and the theatre every del,
Whan it was done, him liked wonder well. 2092
Here him shows the relation of Theseus to liked: it pleased Theseus.
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150
That is, she was all conscience and tenderness of heart.
For unto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, etc. 244
It did not accord, was not suitable.
That I was of their felaweshipe anon ;
And made forward erly for to rise, 33
we made an agreement.
188 THE LANGUAGE
Ther was noon auditour coude on him winne. 594
Who coude, etc. Though it could be proved that the clause once began with who, yet in fact coude on him winne is an adjective equivalent to able to winne on him. Another way of describing the construction is to say that one auditour is enough, and that the repetition of the word or of any substitute for the word is reason ably avoided.
Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde, 146
Her " having " of little dogs she fed. There is really nothing to be supplied. The sentence says all it was meant to, and the writer or hearer of it never thought of " some " or " a number."
A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrye. 165
After a fair, there is no omission of man or person or one ; these were sometimes used, and not, as now, nearly always. Chaucer did say : —
A knight ther was, and that a worthy man, 43
and
/ have the moste stedefast wyf,
And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf. — E. 1652.
ADJECTIVES
The few comparatives or superlatives that might fail to be recognized as such are explained in Notes or
THE LANGUAGE 189
Glossary. Adjectives of more than one syllable are rarely inflected: swete, daungerous. Monosyllables often take e as plurals, in address, before proper names, after the, this, and that, and in some other conditions : a yong man, the yonge man. This distinction is not observed in Modern English : a young man, the young man.
Of all is expressed sometimes by aller, alder; our aller, of us all; hir aller, of them all; alderbest, best of all
VERBS
The following presents are alike in all verbs, and one model will suffice : —
PRESENT INDICATIVE. PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.
I binde I binde
thou bindest thou binde
he bindeth he binde
we binden we binden
ye binden ye binden
they binden they binden
PRESENT INFINITIVE. PRESENT PARTICIPLE.
binden bindinge
Forms are sometimes shortened and, in consequence, otherwise changed: seyest, seyst; lyeth, lyth; biddeth,
190 THE LANGUAGE
bit; brestetk, brest; rideth, lit; sitteth, sit; binden, binde; bindinge, binding ; seyen, seyn; gooen, goon.
Binden is one of a class of verbs that form the past singular by vowel change alone, and are hence called Strong Verbs : —
PAST INDICATIVE. PAST SUBJUNCTIVE.
I band I bounde
thou band thou bounde
he band he bounde
we bounden we bounden
ye bounden ye bounden
they bounden they bounden
All other verbs are called Weak Verbs. Such are Joven, Ilovede; clothen, I dadde ; heren, Iherde; greten, Tgrette; tellen, I tolde ; seken, I soughte. The termi nations are alike in all.
PAST INDICATIVE. PAST SUBJUNCTIVE.
I soughte I soughte
thou soughtest thou soughte
he soughte he soughte
we soughten we soughten
ye soughten ye soughten
they soughten they soughten
Forms are sometimes shortened : lovede, loved, lovde. The Imperative. The plural is always eth; the
THE LANGUAGE 191
I
singular in Strong Verbs has no termination, in Weak Verbs ends in e : —
bind, bindeth grete, greteth
The plural is sometimes interchanged with the singular.
The past participle of Strong Verbs ends in n, of Weak Verbs in d or t : bounden, drawen, loved, caught. n is often dropped: bounde. e is sometimes added when the participle is plural : boundene, caughte. y is sometimes prefixed : y-bounde, y-caught.
Obscure, anomalous, and compound forms will be found in the Glossary.
Chaucer's rood indicates one rider, his riden more than one rider ; our rode is neutral, indicates the pres ence at some past time of a rider, or of some riders, or of all the riders, or of all riders. Rode might better be called non-numeral. Chaucer had no non-numeral form, and was forced to say either one or more riders, even when the fact was sufficiently indicated otherwise, or needed no prominence, or was inconsistent with other indications. Non-numeral forms often develop from numeral forms ; and those familiar with the for mer, imagine them in the latter. There is a difference then between our And after rode the queen and Emily and Chaucer's And after rood the queue and Emelye.
It is usually said that some word is omitted or understood or to be supplied iri the following:^
192 THE LANGUAGE
A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte,
Upon his heed, setful of stones brighte,
Of fine rubies and of diamaunts. 2147
The oral utterance of the preceding with proper stresses and inflection would not suggest any such lack ; ivas indeed can be introduced at several points, but it adds nothing to what is already indicated by the punctuation and connection: The tendency to supply words that add nothing to the sense should be resisted, unless you can prove that such words were once present in an expression.
Finde, finden, to finde, to finden, for to finde, for to finden, are six forms which Chaucer might have used in most cases where we use either find, to find, or find ing, of finding, in finding, by finding, or that one finds, may find, should find, and so on : —
TJian longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, Andpalmeres for to seken straunge strondes. 13
The holy blisful martir for to seke. 17
In hope to stonden in his lady grace. 88
. . . for him liste ride so. 102
What sholde he studie, and make himselven wood
Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure. 185
Wei coude he singe andpleyen on a rote. 236
It is not honeste, it may nat avaunce
For to delen with no swich poraille. 247
THE LANGUAGE 193
Ne was so worldly for to have office ;
For him was levere have at his beddes heed
Twenty bokes ... 294
And bisily yan for the soules preye. 301
But of his craft to rekene wel his tides, 401
In al this world ne was ther noon him lik,
To speke ofphisik and of surgerye 413
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste. 502
Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
And for to drinken strong wyn reed as blood. 635
Y-sworn ful depe and ech of us til other.
That nevere, for to dyen in the peyne,
Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
Neither of us in love to hindren other. 1135
And eek it is nat lykly, al thy lyf
To stonden in hir grace, namore shal I. 1173
And thereto he was strong and big of bones
To doon that any wight can him devise. 1425
Chaucer's tenses are the same as ours, but he uses the present for the past or for the future more freely, sometimes passing from one to the other in the same sentence : —
And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
And hem conforteth in ful good entente. 958
His baner he desplayeth and forth rood. 966
And sente anoon Ipolita the quene
And forth he rit. 974
o
194 THE LANGUAGE
Few subjunctives exist in Modern English. I, thou, lie, we, you, they, be; I, thou, he, were; but no other form of the verb to be; thou find, he Jind, but no other than these two forms of the verb to Jind, and no more than these two of any other verb whatever. / tvere and he were are the only ones even of these few that most of us ever hear; nor does any one discern much difference between if I were, wealthy and if I had wealth, when each is followed by / would help the deserving only. In Chaucer the subjunctives are nu merous. The translation into Modern English retains some of the terminations, drops others where there was Double Indication, and replaces others with may, might, etc.
As it were a castel wal- 4050
Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
Nefinde yow nat repleet of humours hote;
And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote, 4148
If thou tomorwe wende, 4271
And though that he were worthy, he was wys, 68
Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040
Now demeth as yow liste, ye that can, 1353
ADVERBS
In order to understand Chaucer it is not necessary to know either the qualities common to all adverbs, or
THE LANGUAGE 195
the mark of any class of adverbs, or even to have ever heard of adverbs ; and it is not desirable to be think ing about adverbs when one is reading Chaucer. A reason for wishing to know whether an expression is an adverb or not is to ascertain thereby the meaning of the sentence. There is no test by which adverbs may be discriminated 011 mere inspection, but often only on subtle combination of slight indications, and the meaning is generally reached long before the process by which it is reached can be discerned or described.
Some words are always adverbs : often, specially.
Some words are never adverbs: lovest, findest, palmeres.
Some words are adverbs in one sentence, and not adverbs in another : —
They foynen ech at other wonder longe. 1654
Ther saugh I many another wonder storie. 2073
Where no tests are discoverable, the sentence has more than one meaning, and what was intended must be learned from some other source.
Adverbs are formed from adjectives by adding e, liche, lich) ly, ely : righte, royalliche, pitously, softely. The test of derivation or termination guides less often than the test of position; and in this respect Chaucer's English agrees with our own, Moreover, in the Notes
196 THE LANGUAGE
and the Glossary, adverbs are translated by adverbs, and individual peculiarities are treated as they arise. All negation is effected by particles either alone or in composition : —
In all this world ne was there noon him lyk. 412 There nas baillif, ne herde, ne other hine,
That he ne knew his sleighte and his covine. 604
He was nat pale as aforpined goost. 205
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake. 288
I nam but dead. 1122
Hir brighte heer was kempt, untressed al. 2289
A negative applied to a negative would in general destroy the negation, and two negatives applied to the same word would in general emphasize it. Negatives applied to different words in a sentence direct us to remove from the meaning of the sentence the meaning of each of those words : No wine ne drank she rubs out in the picture both the wine and the drinking of it. There is neither inconsistency nor emphasis, but a sort of Multiple Indication, since the removal of either would have sufficed. Chaucer could say, No wine drank she, or Wine ne drank she, but instances of the repeated negations are found on every page.
GENEALOGY OF ENGLISH
Among the hundreds of known languages, living and dead, the following and a few more are like one
THE LANGUAGE 197
another and unlike all others in certain aspects, and are hence called a family of languages, and, from their geographical distribution, named the Indo-Euro pean : —
I. Indian (Sanskrit, Pali, Bengali, etc.).
II. Iranian (Avestan, Old Persian, etc.).
III. Armenian.
IV. Greek.
V. Italic (Latin, Oscan, Umbrian, etc. From Latin come Italian, Provencal, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Eoumanian). VI. Celtic (Irish, Manx, Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish,
Breton). VII. Slavonic (Russian, Bulgarian, Polish, Bohemian,
Servian).
VIII. Baltic (Lithuanian, Lettish, Old Prussian). IX. Teutonic,
(A) East Teutonic (Gothic).
(B) Scandinavian (Icelandic, Dano-Norwegian,
Swedish). (<7) West Teutonic,
(a) High Teutonic (German). (6) Low Germanic (Old Frisian, Anglo- Saxon or Old English, Old Frank- ish, Frisian, English, Platt-deutsch, Dutch, Flemish).
198 THE LANGUAGE
Many an Englishman has added to his mother- tongue borrowings from other languages, living and dead, related or unrelated.
PARTITIONS OF ENGLISH
The fifth-century conquerors of Romanized Britain, the Jutes and the Saxons as well as the Angles, spoke what was called English. The term Anglo-Saxon has been applied to one stage of this language, called Old English below in the table from Sweet's A New English Grammar; while Old English has been ap plied to a different stage, which is called Middle English in the table: —
Early Old English (E. of Alfred) 700-900
Late Old English (E. of JElfric) 900-1100
Transition Old English (E. of Layamon) .... 1100-1200
Early Middle English (E. of the Ancren Riwle) . 1200-1300
Late Middle English (E. of Chaucer) 1300-1400
Transition Middle English (Caxton E.) . . . . 1400-1500
Early Modern English (Tudor E. ; E. of Shakspere) 1500-1650
Late Modern English 1650-
English, during the Middle English period, appears in five dialects : Northern, East Midland, West Mid land, South-western, and Kentish. Chaucer's lan guage is mainly East Midland. There were influences, independent of his, that could have made this dialect the standard. It has become the standard; and
THE MAN 199
Chaucer's poems are more intelligible to-day than poems written in the other dialects.
THE MAN
THE poet sings to strangers of Chanticleer and Part- let, of Palamon and Arcite, of an imaginary band of pilgrims. If Chaucer appears in the poem, he may be transformed, as everything else is transformed, by the imagination, A single stately line, —
" The chambres and the stables weren wide," 28
gives the Tabard whatever dimensions we may wish. The art that omits from the Prologue a description of Chaucer, to introduce later the host's bantering char acterization of him, tells in what realm we are : —
" What man artowf"1 quod he; " Thou lokest as thou woldestfinde an hare For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.
" Approche neer, and lake up merily. Now war you, sirs, and let this man have place / He in the waast is shape as well as /; This were a popet in an arm tenbrace For any womman, smal and fair of face. He semeth elvish by his contenaunce. For unto no wight doth he daliaunce." — B. 1894.
200 THE MAN
The man appears again as the poet chooses to rep resent him in : —
" Wherfor, as I seyde, y-wis, Jupiter considereth this, And also, beau sir, other thinges : That is, that thou hast no tidinges Of Loves folk, if they be glade, Ne of nought elles that God made ; And nought only fro fer contree That ther no tiding comth to thee, But of thy verray neighebores, That dwellen almost at thy dores, Thou herest neither that nor this • For whan thy labour doon al is And hast y-maad thy rekeni?iges, In stede of reste and newe thinges Thou gost hoom to thy house anoon; And, also domb as any stoon, Thou sittest at another boke, Til fully daswed is thy loke, And livest thus as an heremite, Although thyn abstinence is lite.'1'1
— The House of Fame. 660
Even the poor verse in which he laments his poverty ought not to be taken literally, unless confirmed from other sources : —
" Now, purs, that be to me my lives light, And saveour, as doun in this worlde here, Out of this toune help me through your might, Sin that ye wole nat been my tresorere ;
THE MAN 201
For I am shave as nye as any frere. But yit I pray unto your curtesye : Beth hevy ageyn, or elles mot I dye"
The verses of brother poets say nothing about his life and only put in words the admiration they feel. Here is the stanza of Hoccleve's poem, The Gov- ernail of Princes, that explains the origin of the portrait : —
" Although his lyf be queynt, the resemblaunce Of him hath in me so fresh lyflinesse That, to put othere men in remembraunce Of his persone, I have heer his lyknesse Do make, to this ende, in sothfastnesse, That they that have of him lest thought and minde, By this peynture may ageyn himfinde^
The little that we know of the man's doings as dis tinguished from the poet's imaginings is derived from contemporary records. These were carefully written and have been dutifully preserved. Some had been used, however, in binding books, and were discovered as recently as 1857 by Dr. Edward A, Bond. The language of these records is a much abbreviated Latin or French : —
Jur divsor Hundr Com pdci, alias, scilt tmio sci Hil- lar . . . coram Dno Eege apud Westm psent, quod Kic Brerelay felonice depdavit Galfrm Chauser, etc.
Cuid Paltomakare Lond pro j. paltok ... lib
202 THE MAN
Galfr. Chaucer de cons dono dne ib, eiisd die et ao IIILs.
From such sources conclusions have been drawn which are here set down in part without any attempt to assign even vaguely the degree of their probability.
The father of Geoffrey was John Chaucer, citizen and vintner of London. Full fifteen years after Geof frey's birth, an accountant in the household of Eliza beth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster and wife of Lionel, third son of Edward III, records that at London in 1358 there was furnished to Galfridus Chaucer a pal- tock, or short cloak, a pair of red and black breeches, and a pair of shoes, the whole costing seven shillings (one hundred, ; present value) ; and at Hatfield, York shire, in December, 1357, there was paid to Galfridus Chaucer two shillings and sixpence for necessaries at Christmas.
In 1359, according to testimony which Chaucer him self gave in 1386, he was taken prisoner near Retters in France. In 1360 he was ransomed, the king him self contributing the large sum of two hundred and forty pounds present value.
In 1367 Edward III granted him an annual pension for life of twenty marks (two hundred pounds present value), in consideration of his past and future ser vices. In the document he was styled dilectus valettus noster. Noster dilectus (Our esteemed) implies appreci-
THE MAN. 203
ation. Valettus is valet, or yeoman of the king's bed chamber. After 1372 he is called in the records armiger or scutifer (squire). The duties of these attendants are thus enumerated in Edward IV's Household Book : —
DE VALECTIS CAMERE REGIS
"Yeomen of Chambre iiij, to make beddis, to beare or hold torches, to sett boardis, to apparell all cham bers, and such othir services as the Chamberlaine, or Vshers of Chambre, comaunde or assigne; to attend the chambre ; to watche the King by course ; to goe in messages, &c.
" Squires of Houshold xl : or moe if it please the Kinge, by the aduise of his highe Counsell ; to be chosen men of their possession, worship, and wisdome ; Also to be of sundrie shires, by whome it may.be knowne the disposition of the Countries : And of these, to be continually in this court, twenty squires atten- dantes on the Kinges person, in ryding and goeing at all times ; And to helpe serve his table from the Sur- ueying board, and from other places, as the Assewer will assigne: . . . These Esquires of housold of old be accustomed, winter and summer, in afternoones and in eueuinges, to drawe to Lordes Chambres within Court, there to keep honest company after there Cunninge, in talking of Cronicles of Kinges, and of others Pollicies,
204 THE MAN
or in pipeing or in harpeing, songinges, or other actes marcealls, to helpe to occupie the Court, and accom- panie estraingers, till the time require of departing."
It is recorded that in 1374 Philippa Chaucer re ceived part of her pension by the hands of Geoffrey her husband. A pension of ten marks yearly had been granted to a Philippa Chaucer in 1366, then in the service of the queen. John of Gaunt gave a pension of ten pounds to Philippa Chaucer in 1372; and in 1374 he gave a pension of ten pounds to Chaucer and his wife for good services rendered by them to the said Duke, his Consort, and his mother the Queen. Were there two Philippas, and what was the date of Chaucer's marriage, and what was the maiden name of his wife, are problems suggested by these and other records ; but the fact established is that Chaucer was already married in 1374.
Entries now and then of money borrowed, of letters of protection against creditors while abroad, of pen sions paid to Chaucer directly, or through the hands of another, serve to show that Chaucer was going to and fro between France and England, sometimes for the war, sometimes on the King's service.
For about eleven months from December, 1372, Chaucer was journeying as far as Genoa and Flor ence. He was joined in a commission with two citi-
THE MAN 205
zens of Genoa, to treat with that republic for the choice of some port in England where its merchants might settle and trade.
By a writ dated at Windsor on the 23d of April, St. George's Day, 1374, a pitcher of wine daily was granted to him for life, to be received in the port of London from the hands of the King's butler. Writs were usually issued in the King's name, and payment in kind long survived the introduction of money. A century later Edward TV's Household Book says of the Squires of the Household : " Every each of them taketh for his Liueery at night dimidium gallon ale ; And for winter season, each of them taketh two can dles parris, one faggott or elles dimidium tallwood ; and when any of them is present in Court, him is al lowed for daily wagis in the Checkerroolle, seauen pence halfe penny, and cloathing winter and sommer, or elles fortie shillinges." In lieu of his pitcher of wine Chaucer himself, in 1377, received money ; which he exchanged the year following for a pension of twenty marks.
It was in this same year, 1374, that he leased from the Corporation of London the dwelling-house over the gate of Aldgate; was appointed Comptroller of the Cus toms and Subsidy of Wools, Skins, and Tanned Hides in the Port of London, being required, like his predeces sors, to write the rolls of his office with his own hand, and to be continually present.
206 TffX MAN
In 1375 he was twice appointed guardian. From one of these wardships, which, however, was of short duration, he subsequently received one hundred and four pounds.
In 1376 the King granted to Chaucer, as Comptroller of the Customs, the price of some wool that had been forfeited for failure to pay the duty. Toward the end of the same year Sir John Burley was paid some thir teen pounds for performing some secret service, and Chaucer, who is described as being in Burley's comi- tiva, or retinue, was paid about half as much.
In February, 1377, Chaucer was associated with Sir Thomas Percy (afterward Earl of Worcester) in a se cret mission to Flanders. Ten pounds were advanced to Chaucer for expenses, less than one-third of the amount advanced to Sir Thomas Percy. On the llth of April he received with his own hands twenty pounds at the exchequer, which the King had given him as a reward for divers journeys he had made in his service abroad. On the twentieth of the same month letters of protection, as was usual, were issued to him, to ter minate on the 1st of August ensuing. These entries alone may not prove that Chaucer was concerned in the embassies that went abroad in this year to treat of peace or of the marriage of the Prince of Wales ; but they prove that he was still one of the King's esquires, and that he enjoyed the confidence and favour of King
THE MAN 207
Edward III to the last. The King died in June of this year.
But Chaucer continued in favour with the advisers of the boy-king. In 1378 he had some share in an embassy to negotiate the King's marriage with a daughter of Charles V of France. It is true his name does not appear with those of the ambassadors, but he was afterward paid his expenses for going to France about this time with the same object. In the spring of this year Chaucer went in the retinue of Sir Edward Berkeley on a mission to Lombardy to treat with Bernabo Visconti, Lord of Milan, and the cele brated Sir John Hawk wood, on some military matter, the nature of which is not indicated. Here these records of payment of wages and pensions and ex penses, of appointments to serve in some undefined capacity for some unexplained purpose, — records that differ from thousands of others only in containing the name of Chaucer, and serve rather to check exuberant speculation than to distinguish Chaucer from the crowd, — seem about to disclose something more; but the name of John Gower brings with it no further in formation than that he is appointed to be an agent of Chaucer during his intended absence of one year.
So nothing is added to
" 0 moral Gower, this book I directe To thee."1"1 — Chaucer's Troilus and Creseyde
208 THE MAN
and
" Gfrete wel Chaucer when ye mete As my disciple and my poete" — Gower's Confessio Amantis
that may explain the relation between the two men. Now Gower was not only a poet of three literatures, but a man of substance, a Kentish man who dwelt in Southwark, who told the same stories as Chaucer, while they both borrowed from the same sources, if not from each other ; and yet the three instances just pointed out are the only direct evidence of any connec tion between them.
To Chaucer's previous appointment was added in 1382 that of Comptroller of the Petty Customs of the Port of London, with leave to exercise his office by deputy. At the end of 1384 he was granted a month's leave of absence, and in the February follow ing the privilege of employing a deputy in his old comptrollership.
Through October and November, 1386, he sat in the Parliament at Westminster as one of the Knights of the Shire for Kent. It was not the least among the commendations of the f Frankeleyn ' that he had been Knight of the Shire. It was at this time that Chaucer gave evidence in behalf of Sir Richard Scrope against Sir Robert Grosvenor's claim to the arms "Azure, a bend Or." Here he speaks for himself, does not limit
THE MAN 209
himself to answering questions, but tells a story which would be effective with a modern jury : —
" He said that he was once in Friday Street in Lon don, and as he was walking in the street, he saw hang ing a new sign made of the said arms, and he asked what inn that was that had hung out these arms of Scrope ? and one answered him and said, No, Sir, they are not hung out for the arms of Scrope, nor painted there for those arms, but they are painted and put there by a knight of the county of Chester, whom men call Sir Robert Grosvenor; and that was the first time he had ever heard speak of Sir Eobert Grosvenor, or of his ancestors, or of any other bearing the name of Grosvenor."
But great changes were preparing in England ; Chau cer's circumstances were changing too. The connection between the two might be divined by a man of great learning and broad experience, but could never be ver ified by any one. In October, 1386, his house in Aid- gate was let to another tenant, and in December of that year his two offices were held by Adam Yerdeley and Henry Gisors. John of Gaunt had been super seded by the Duke of Gloucester in the administration of the government, and a commission had been issued for inquiring into the state of the subsidies and cus toms. Now John of Gaunt had been Chaucer's patron, and had granted a pension to Chaucer's wife.
210 THE MAN
About this time Chaucer lost his wife. Her pension of course ceased with death ; and in May, 1388, he made an assignment of his own pensions. In 1389 Richard II restored the Lancastrian party to favour. Soon afterward Chaucer was appointed Clerk of the King's Works at the Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London, several royal manors and lodges, and at the Mews for the King's Falcons at Charing Cross. For this he received thirty shillings a day, present value. In the following year other duties were assigned him : the repair of the roadways along the Thames ; the repair of St. George's Chapel, Wind sor; putting up scaffolds in Smithfield for the King and Queen to see the jousts in May ; the care, as forester, of North Petherton Park in Somersetshire, — multifarious duties enough, not unattended with risks of a certain sort ; for Chaucer was robbed of the King's money twice in one day at different places by mem bers of the same gang of highwaymen. Chaucer was indemnified, and the member of the gang who appears to have told the truth as informer against his com rades was hanged because he was defeated when chal lenged to make his words good by battle. Others were hanged later.
By the summer of 1391 he had lost both clerkships and must have been in straitened circumstances, to judge by the fact that even after he had been granted
THE MAN 211
by King Richard in 1394 a pension of twenty pounds, he received petty advances from the government and other sources on account of his pension. In. 1398 King Eichard granted him letters of protection against enemies suing him, and a few months later a tun of wine yearly for life.
On the 30th of September, 1399, Richard was de posed. Henry IV, the son of Chaucer's old patron, within four days after he came to the throne, doubled Chaucer's pension. On Christmas Eve, 1399, he ob tained a lease of a tenement in the garden of St. Mary's Chapel, Westminster, for fifty-three years, or life. It is probably here that he died, on the 25th of October, 1400. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, in St. Benet's Chapel. The present tombstone of gray marble was erected by Nicholas Brighain in 1556.
Why do we want to know more about the Man ? Have we not the words of the Poet ? But words do not interpret themselves, do not carry about with themselves their own significations. Some read with delight, while they attach to the sentences just such meanings as they please; may charm us, too, with their divinations. We may even admire the Chaucer they have made. But for others the question remains, what did Chaucer himself mean, how did Chaucer himself feel, what experiences and memories were his when he wrote : — •
212 THE POET
" In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay Eedy to wenden on my pilgrimage" 21
" In Rome she hadde been and at Boloigne, In Gfalice at Seint Jame and at Coloigne." 466
" Of Norihfolk was this Reve of which Itelle, Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle."1"1 620
What knowledge had Chaucer of these places that made them to him more than mere names ? Was there no one that told of meeting him, hearing him, seeing him with friends sharing in some festivity ? no one that knew and told of the death of the prose Chaucer that had walked beside the verse Chaucer ?
" Infinite been the sorwes and the teres Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeres, In al the toun for deeth of this Theban. For him ther wepeth bothe child and man." 2830
THE POET
POETRY is a compound into which many elements enter: ^motions^pf all kinds and degrees ;(tcfteaJp gath ered aim grouped and displayed by emotions; and vocal ^oun^i endowed with attributes that express these emotions and ideas, especially with the supreme attribute of verse. These elements vary from poem to poem, severally rising and sinking in prominence,
THE POET 213
from " poems without words " to " the perfect poetry of meaningless words." Many would add, as a fourth element, some visible notation of the voices or ideas or emotions. Of the poems of the past it is only this last element that remains ; what was once of minor importance has become very important as our sole means of recovering all the rest. Philologists have enabled those who are no philologists to listen to a poem of Chaucer's if they will, and to revive the thoughts and feelings that were Chaucer's if they can.
Many of Chaucer's experiences resemble ours, their revival requires no effort ; there are indeed such among them as we would rather expel from our own minds than seek in his. But effort is required to com prehend the grand, even though false, ideas which Chaucer held in common with his cojitejn^ioj^ries ; and for all our endeavour we may never recall his fairest moments, those which were peculiarly his own.
The first step is to rid ourselves of the conceit of the twentieth century, which springs from having ex periences Chaucer and his fellows could not have. Every one now has opportunities of knowing, feeling, acting in ways impossible for men of a past long sub sequent to that of Chaucer. Deprived of all these, one would feel poor indeed ; and yet how rich he re mains. This wealth of his consists not merely in his own experiences of his own times, which we see re-
214 THE POET
fleeted in his writings ; not merely in his share of those vast structures of fancy, of faith, and of knowl edge which an after-time had cast as rubbish to the void ; but in sentiments and perceptions which we have lost, but may recover, may be prompted to recover by Chaucer himself.
Chaucer died a century before America was dis covered. The Eastern Hemisphere, as we term it, stood on what was regarded as the top of the motion less globe of the Earth. On maps, which Chaucer could have seen, the land was represented in a nearly circular form, with Jerusalem at the centre. No materials existed for anything like a science of geog raphy. It is now condensed in a compend for chil dren to read about in school. No foundation for such a home of the mind had been laid by geologists, ex plorers of America and Australia. No poet could then hear
" The meanings of the homeless sea,
The sound of streams that, swift or slow, Draw down JEonian hills, and sow The dust of continents to be."
To the geographer there appear in that part of the earth's surface known to Chaucer numberless counties, duchies, principalities, kingdoms, or whatever else they might be named. These have since coalesced to great states, but then they were struggling with one another,
Â¥HE POET 215
entering now into this combination, now into that, swearing allegiance to one overlord to-day and to another on the morrow. English power was limited to a portion of the British Isles and a few contested provinces in France. A Londoner could not go in any direction far from home without encountering enemies, or those who had just been or might soon be enemies. While still on English soil he would pass amid those to whom his speech and ways would be strange.
Chaucer's knowledge of the earth and of what was on it was gained from his own journeyings, from fre quent meetings with other wayfarers, and from the writings of travellers. He had been in different parts of England, in the Low Countries, in France, and in Italy. He had met many, and "so had he spoken with hem everichon, that he was of hir felaweshipe anon." It was a time of goings to and fro, and it was not only the "good Wyf of biside Bathe" that "thryes hadde been at Jerusalem," and " coude muche of wan dering by the weye." He had read such books as that encyclopaedic work, the " Speculum Majus " of Vincent of Beauvais, of which Professor Lounsbury gives an entertaining account.
But what has geography to do with poetry ? No poet would shock the geographic sense, for there is a geographic sense, scorned though it may be by those who have none. There are, too, in the range of its
216 THE POET
knowledge places about which it loves to linger. Their very names, besides, are fragments of poems, and crave restitution to verse. You may not care to look beyond the name. You may doubt whether Milton had a very distinct vision of : —
" Mombaza and Quiloa and Melind And Hofala (thought Ophir), to the realm Of Congo and Angola farthest south, And thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount, The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, Morocco and Algiers and Tremisen.'1'1
• You may know that Pope cared little for sites that were dear to some Greek singer : —
" Onchestus, Neptune's celebrated groves , Copce and Thisbe, famed for silver doves • For flocks Erythraz, Glissa for the vine; Plalea green, and Nysa the divine. And they ichom Thebe's well-built walls enclose, Where Myde, Eutresis, Corone rose ; And Arne rich, with purple harvests crowned; And Anthedon Boeotians utmost bound.'1'1
We do not find in Chaucer sound without sense, and of all the places outside the regions of fancy and his tory that he mentions, he could have had a clear con ception, — of Southwerk, Caunterbury, Baldeswelle, Dertemouthe, and even of the places that some knight returning from the wars might describe j for
THE POET 217
In (remade at the sege eke hadde he be Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye. At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye;
Whan they were wonne. 59
i
And so we gain somehow the conviction that these names were not meaningless to him, however faint may be the impression which they make on our mind. His geography was not a science, for science is not made of ignorances or misconceptions, or even of knowledges that stand apart. It was not a book of places and names for which he cared nothing. It was the poet's selection of what interested him, and he supposed would interest others. But what is poetry to one need not be poetry to another, and what was poetry once may have ceased to be poetry, though it still bears the name, — ceased, that is, for us, — or not yet begun to be. Students who fancied them selves indifferent to poetry have shown eagerness about our poet's geography. This is one mystery of the poet's craft.
It was a century and a half after the death of Chaucer that the thoughts of Copernicus about the revolution of the heavenly bodies were made known to the world. The colours and lights of the skies, their blue expanses and manifold centres of brightness and warmth, are nearer to some of us than ever they were before ; we may think of them as wrapped about us,
218 THE POET
or of ourselves as immersed in them, or not of our selves at all, but of them only ; and this we can do, because we are able to refrain, some of us, from im agining machineries or agencies, spheres or spirits, associated somehow with the sights we feel. This Chaucer could not do, and Copernicus could not do, but we can understand that Chaucer put one interpre tation on what his eyes beheld, and Copernicus put another on what his eyes beheld ; and yet what the eyes of both could see was probably as restricted as our own vision. Chaucer's deepest, firmest thought of the stars, the fixed or the wandering (and for him the sun and moon are among the wandering stars, or planets), it may be reserved for others to discover. The (( good man of religioun," the " clerk that unto logik hadde longe y-go," the " verray parfit, gentil knight " might hear Chaucer discourse of these matters as they strolled by themselves over Kentish downs, while Keve and Millere, Pardoner and Somnour, were otherwise occu pied. Perhaps no conclusions seemed to him so good that better might not lurk behind. He was a poet with an imagination, not a scientist with a theory or a philosopher with a system. What was the Sun to Chaucer ? and could Saturn disturb his mind by being in this or that part of the zodiac ? Of certain rules of astrology he says : " Natheles, tliise ben observaunces of judicial matiere and rites of payens, in which my
THE POET 219
spirit ne hath no feith." But the age was pervaded by the belief that the astrologer knew just what was portended by each of the numerous configurations of the heavens ; and it may well be that in rejecting this belief he still retained a sense of the reality of the unknown influence. At all events, he knows the doc trines of the astrologers, and often speaks their speech if he does not think their thought.
It is certain that Chaucer knew his universe, if not for astrological reasons, if not for the mere delight of knowing, yet for the purely practical purpose of being able to tell the time of day and the progress of the year. It is not the poet's perception of new aspects of things, it is not the versifier's need of an available stock of phrases that prompts him to say that " the yonge sonne had in the Earn his halfe cours y-ronne," or that " the sonne is clomben up on hevene Fourty degrees and oon." This framework of the world was ever present to his consciousness. He could point at any instant to the place in which a planet was, as well when it was below the horizon as when it was above it, and tell what stars were around it as well in the daytime as in the night-time. If we should be deprived of what we know of the additions to astronomy since Chaucer died, would as much remain in our minds as Chaucer had? Chaucer not only saw the heavens with his eyes, but drew " conclusions " by the astro-
220 THE POET
labe, and wrote a book to teach " litel Lewis," his son, by means of " so noble an instrument," " to knowe every time of the day by light of the sonne, and every time of the night by the starres fixe, and eke to knowe by night or by day the degree of any signe that assendeth on the Est Orisonte, which that is cleped communly the Assendent, or elles Oruscupum," and many more things besides.
The visible universe, that is to say, the cloudless sky that he might see by night or by day, would have sufficed for all his purposes. He could not be aware himself how little of what he had derived from the past of speculation about the stars was necessary for him. Destroy all telescopes and microscopes, all field- glasses and opera-glasses, and banish from our minds all that they have helped us to learn ; do away with spectacles, which indeed were slowly coming into use in Chaucer's century ; make glass itself a rarity and a luxury ; and we have left a Chaucer who knew his heavens, who could shut his eyes and still behold the starry sphere as it whirled above and be low him while he stood on the top of the steady earth there in London of England.
Adequate though this would have been to all the uses of life — this vision or conception or imagination, or whatever else it has been called, Chaucer was no more capable than others of restricting himself to it.
THE POET 221
The realm of space must not be left void. It had not been left void ; but the imaginings of science so called had taught Chaucer that the planets he saw were but symbols of beings whose shape and nature were vari ously described, but which moved round the earth at different distances, the moon being the nearest and Saturn the remotest of the seven planets. But imagi nation did not stop here : it contrived mechanisms and powers for moving these and controlling them ; concentric crystalline shells, in each of which a planet was set, enveloped in yet another shell in which the stars were embedded, while around them all was the primum mobile, the first to be moved by the power on which all things depended; or great wheels, each of which bore round a planet fixed to a point on its rim, or else carried a smaller wheel with the planet at tached to the rim of the latter. Now what puzzles us in Chaucer's mind, as well as in the minds of those who taught him, is to know precisely how he regards all this machinery, whether it is as real to him as rock and trees and stream, or a mere image with no reality besides, a help, perhaps, to the thinking out of where a planet had been or was to be.
Is it strange that, when their planets were so differ ent from ours, they supposed them to have the attri bute which can hardly be ascribed to our planets, of foreshowing by their natures and positions the des-
222 THE POET
tinies of men ? Is it not strange that without knowing or having means of knowing a universe different from that of his contemporaries, he should, so early, have re jected beliefs that are still held by thousands in civil ized lands ? They know little of Chaucer as a poet even who have not tried to understand this part of his mind, and come to feel something of the love and wonder with which " litel Lewis ^ must have gazed up at him.
We may ask as we seek to explore the mind of Chaucer, what were his notions of stone and earth, of shrub and tree, of fish and fowl and beast. Not so unlike our own notions, perhaps, as our great systems, our mineralogy, botany, zoology, persuade us to be lieve. He had no occasion to be better instructed in these matters than the persons among whom he lived, to whom his poems were addressed, whose applause and favour he desired. Hardly more than a hundred names of plants and animals are found in all his works, mostly of common herbs and beasts. The body of a lion with the tail of a fish, the feathers of a bird, and a human head, that had its abode in a desert of Asia, and happened at the same time to be the em blem of magnanimity, if it were not of turpitude, — with these productions of feeble imagination Chaucer could not help being familiar; they abounded in the literature of his time. Any puddle can furnish stranger
THE POET 223
forms of life, which only need enlarging to become terrible. Every meadow is full of shapes of beauty and loveliness that no description contains. These things he had seen and remembered; but he seems sceptical and indifferent in many matters that he could not test personally. Memories and emotions, however, are not truths ; and, in spite of the interval of time, the scientific student of natural objects finds less difference between the mind of Chaucer and the mind of Wordsworth than the latter' s declared delight in nature makes us assume.
With what were deemed sciences at the time, the sciences of God, of heaven arid hell, of the origin and destiny of the world, of the soul's choices in their limitations and consequences, he had a layman's acquaintance ; at one time manifesting the incredulity of ignorance : —
His spirit chaunyed hous, and wente ther
As I cam nevere ; I can nat tellen wher. 2810
at another time gratifying himself and the audience of his day with disquisitions on Providence and Free Will, that bid the story wait meantime. There was not even among the readers of the Waverley Novels that dread of loitering by the way, of roaming far afield, that haunts our specialists in style and art; that repugnance to the irrelevant, the inconsequent,
224 THE POET
which pervades a generation that models its play on its work, and makes " ernest of game/' regulating its very sports by elaborate codes.
It is hard to fathom the mind of our poet, although it was no Chaucer who wrote : —
Vex not thou the poet's inind
With thy shallow wit ; Vex not thou the poet's mind,
For thou canst not fathom it.
The depths and shallows of Chaucer's mind have been sounded, and much has been found therein which does not concern us at present. The ^To^s of his sto ries, the i(J^Men]fcs, the c^ra^fers, the s(ructj)re and ar^gngfonent, have been traced to their sourceg. He has been proved to be indebted to others even for his errors. Quaint misrepresentations of history and chro nology — a Trojan dame that reads a Latin poem, a Grecian hero presiding at a mediaeval tournament — were all he could get from the books and minds around him. After all, the age pleased itself and knew what it was about better, perhaps, than we suppose, and listened to poem and sermon without thinking " How easily I could prove that mistaken if I only had my 'Dictionary of Dates.'" Yes, there were depths in Chaucer's mind, the abodes of mythologies, romances, religions, fairy tales, histories, tap-room stories ; not a fading trifle of them all but suffered a soul change into
THE POET 225
something English and Chaucerian. Glorious, enviable depths there were, too, of ignorance, — of unfeigned, modest ignorance. He could say of the Astrolabe, "Truste wel that alle the conclusions that han been founde, or elles possibly might han been founde in it, ben unknowe perfitly to any mortal man in this region as I suppose." And he represents himself as saying : —
' Hoste,"1 quod I, ' ne beth nat ivel apayl,
For other tale certes can I noon
But of a rime Ilerned longe agoon."1 — B. 1899.
Of course, any profession may be called merely artistic or false ; and where novelty and originality are no merit, whether in poems or furniture, there is no modesty in disclaiming them. Chaucer might like to be regarded as intimating to posterity the hopeless ness of his love or the shrewishness of his wife, but the poet of the men of the fourteenth century would hardly relish the loud praises of his knowledge that contradicted his conviction of his own deep ignorance.
'Freud, what is thy name? Artow come hider to han fame ? ' ' Nay, for-sothe, frend ! ' quod I; ' I cam nought hider, graunt mercy ! For no swich cause, by my heed ! Suffiseth me, as I were deed, That no wight have my name in honde. I woot myself beat how I stonde / q
226 THE POET
For what I drye or what 1 thinke, I wol myselven al hit drinke, Certeyn, for the more part, Asferforth as lean myn art.1
— The House of Fame. 1882
Chaucer's Englishmen required "som mirthe or som doctrine." They had to reform the Church from within the Church, to protect the realm from invasion by car rying the war into the enemy's country, to check pes tilence after pestilence, to quarrel toward a settlement of the conflicting claims of native and foreigner, of employer and employed, and, while only half aware, to make over their minds, their taste, and their language. Chaucer had some part in all these things, but particu larly in the last. His way triumphed for the time, perhaps for all time. An earnest man could say : — lean nat geste — rum, ram, ruf — by lettre, Ne, God wot, rym holde I but litel bettre. I. 44
How many felt a difference or had a preference between : —
Of his stature he was of evens lengthe,
And wonderly delivere and of greet strengthe. 84
*•* * * * * * * *
Embrouded was he, as it were a mede,
Al ful of freshe floures, white and rede. 90
*********
Short was his goune, with sieves long and wide,
Wei coude he sitte on hors, and faire ride. 94
THE POET 227
and
Sir Thopas wex a doughty swayn, Whyt was his face as payndemayn,
His lippes rede as rose ; His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn, And I yow telle in good certayn, •
He hadde a semely nose. B. 1919
Of Chaucer's contemporaries on English ground there were those who spoke in this wise : —
Perle plesaunte to princes paye, To clanly clos in yolde so clere, Oute of orient I hardily saye Ne proved I never her precios pere, — So rounde, so reken in uche araye, So smal, so smothe hir sides were, — Queresoever I jugged gemmes gaye, I sette hir sengely in singlure ;
Alias! I leste hir in on erbere;
Thurgh gresse to grounde hit fro me yot;
I dewine for-dolkked of luf-daungere,
Of that privy perle withouten spot. — The Pearl.
Pearl I fair enow for princes'' pleasance, So deftly set in gold so pure, — From orient lands, I durst avouch, Ne'er saw I a gem its peer, — So round, so comely-shaped withal, So small, with sides so smooth, — Wherever I judged of radiant gems, I placed my pearl supreme.
228 THE POET
I lost it — in an arbour — alas ! It passed from me through grass to earth. I pine, despoiled of love's dominion, — Of mine own, my spotless pearl.
— Gollancz's Translation.
Really thyfange of the languag]^ in which our poet spoke or sang wag-very iimiteft indeed. Even within that range, among lawyers^ churchmen, courtiers, scholars, you would hear Latin or Anglo-French, or French of some kind from over-sea. Chaucer himself saw hk English displace French in the teaching of children and the guidance of clients in courts of jus tice, but teachers and lawyers by themselves went on using Latin or French as before.
But the language, the life of the nation, the books of science and history and romance, the sights of earth and sky, were common to many; what did Chaucer make of all these ? The result is all that concerns us here, as we read the few verses that this book contains with some consciousness of the poet behind the poem. With the names of the earlier works one can familiar ize himself elsewhere. He must seek elsewhere, too, the accounts of their contents and origin, of the times and occasions of their production, — interesting and even necessary reading for those who cannot read the works themselves. He will learn there how Chaucer taught himself by practice the craft of the
THE POET 229
poet. He will hear of his French period, his Italian period, of the long apprenticeship, the years of jour ney-work that made the master. He will find that a French poet hailed him as
Grant translateur, noble Geffroy Chancier. He will read what Lydgate wrote of him : —
^^ This saydpoete, my maister, in his
\ Made and composed ful many afresh ditee,
Complaintes, balades, roundels, virelayes, Ful delectable to heren find to see : For which men shulde, of rTght~an<J[ equitee, Sith he of English in making was the^b'est^ Praye unto God to yeve his soule feste. (& /<
And as he goes on in his inquiries, he will nardly fail to read what Tyrwhitt wrote a century and a quarter ago : " The general plan of the Canterbury Tales may be learned in a great measure from the Prologue. . . . The characters of the Pilgrims are as various as, at that time, could be found in the several departments of 4ffixldle"TTig ; that is in fact, as various as could, with any probability, be brought together so as to form one company, — the highest and the lowest ranks of society being necessarily excluded. It ap pears further that the design of Chaucer was not barely to recite the tales told by the pilgrims, but also to describe their journey, and all the remnant of their
230 THE POET
pilgrimage, including probably their adventures at Canterbury as well as on the road. If we add that the Tales, besides being nicely adapted to the charac ters of their respective relaters, were intended to be connected together by suitable introductions and in terspersed with diverting episodes, and that the greatest part of them was to have been executed in verse, we shall have a tolerable idea of the extent and difficulty of the whole undertaking ; and, admiring as we must the vigour of that genius, which in an advanced age could begin so vast a work, we shall rather lament than be surprised that it has been left imperfect."
And yet, to take the tales as Chaucer meant they
should be taken, even the modern reader needs no
more information about their origin than Chaucer
himself has given; but he is rarely satisfied merely
with that. The Prologue, though it has been shown
that Chaucer might have caught some of the traits
from literature, appears to be the result of personal
( QbsergaJa.Qn.jQf ^English f oik . The Knight's TaleUTa
j free adaptation of the Teseide of Boccaccio, with some
(hints from the Tkebais of Statins, and takes us to
great cities, to courts and camps, such as Cbaucer had
\.seen, whatever their date and name. The Nun's Priest's
Tale is an " animal story " which Chaucer had found
in some fable, perhaps, of Marie de France, or more
amply sketched in the French Romance of Eeynard
THE POET 231
the Eox. He has added to it stroke after stroke of fine detail, of coloured light and shade, that will rest after the reading on every farm-yard you shall see.
The poetry of Chaucer was said, recited, sung; i1 always implied the reader and the listener, both enter j taining and both entertained. The scenes and ides were already their common possession before a woi was uttered, and a word was no sooner uttered th? understood. Or the reciter would explain a strange word, making his explanation sometimes a part of the verse itself. He who wrote what a reciter should read to men of wealth or leisure knew that restful ex pletives must be introduced and dull expositions im-j provised by the reciter if they were not already in the poem. The poems were not written for us. We and our twentieth century are utterly unlike any experience or vision of Chaucer's ; and it is precisely this fact, that he was of his own time, and not of a time before or after, that will endear him to Englishmen more and more as their world becomes more and more un like his. The churches where he worshipped, the palaces he lived in, the tapestries he gazed on, and such armour as his fellows wore still remain we know not for how long. Chaucer's England still remains, imperishable in his verse. He knew no other, imagined no other, foresaw no other ; and what a precious mem ory his verse preserves can be judged when an aged
232 CHAUCER'S WORKS
philosopher of our day thus deplores the passing of the vestiges of Chaucer's England : —
" This overrunning of the old by the new strikes me afresh with every summer's sojourn in the country, and deepens my regret. . . . Though intensely mod ern and having but small respect for ancient ideas and institutions, I have great pleasure in contemplating the remains bequeathed by the times that are gone. Not that the interest is in any degree an historical one. A guide who begins his daily repeated series of facts or fictions about the ancient place he is showing me over, quickly has his story cut short. I do not care to be distracted by it from the impression of an tiquity and from enjoyment of the half -hidden beauties of the old walls and arches made more picturesque by decay. And so it is with the old rural life that is rapidly passing away as towns and town-habits and town-ideas invade the country." — Sptj&y&s Facts and Comments.
LIST OF CHAUCER'S WORKS
EXCERPTED FROM SKEAT?S LIST
Origenes upon the Maudeleyne (lost). Book of the Leoun (lost).
CHAUCE&S WORKS
233
Ceys and Alcion (first issue).
Eomaunt of the Rose, lines 1-1705 (rest lost).
A. B. C. 1369. Book of the Duchesse.
Lyf of Seynt Cecyle (first issue).
Monkes Tale (parts of ; first issue). 1372-3. Clerkes Tale (parts of; first issue).
Palamon and Arcite (first issue).
Compleint to his Lady.
An Amorous Compleint, made at Windsor.
Compleint unto Pite.
Anelida and Arcite.
The Tale of Melibeus (first issue).
The Persones Tale (first issue).
Of the Wretched Engendring of Mankinde (first issue).
Man of Lawes Tale (first issue). 1377-81. Translation of Boethius. 1379 ? Compleint of Mars. 1379-83. Troilus and Creseyde.
Wordes to Adam.
The Former Age.
Fortune.
1382. Parlement of Foules. 1383-4. House of Fame. 1385-6. Legend of Good Women. 1386. Canterbury Tales begun.
234 ORDER OF TALES
1387-8. Central period of the Canterbury Tales.
1389, etc. The Tales continued.
1391. Treatise on the Astrolabe.
1393. Compleint of Venus.
1393. Lenvoy to Scogan.
1396. Lenvoy to Bukton.
1399. Envoy to Compleint to his Purse.
ORDER OF THE CANTERBURY TALES
The Prologue. The Knightes Tale. The Miller's Prologue. The Milleres Tale. The Reeve's Prologue. The Reves Tale, The Cook's Prologue. The Cokes Tale.
Introduction to the Man of Law's Prologue. Man of Law's Prologue. The Tale of the Man of Lawe. The Shipman's Prologue. The Shipmannes Tale. • The Prioress's Prologue.
ORDER OF TALES 235
V
The Prioresses Tale.
Prologue to Sir Thopas.
Sir Thopas.
Prologue to Melibeus.
The Tale of Melibeus.
The Monk's Prologue.
The Monkes Tale.
The Prologue of the Nonne Prestes Tale.
The jSTonne Prestes Tale.
Epilogue to the Nonne Prestes Tale.
The Phisiciens Tale.
Words of the Host.
Prologue of the Pardoner's Tale.
The Pardoners Tale.
The Wife of Bath's Prologue.
The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe.
The Friar's Prologue.
The Freres Tale.
The Somnour's Prologue.
The Somnours Tale.
The Clerk's Prologue.
The Clerkes Tale.
The Merchant's Prologue.
The Marchantes Tale.
Epilogue to the Marchantes Tale.
The Squieres Tale.
Words of the Franklin.
236 BOOKS FOR REFERENCE
The Franklin's Prologue. The Frankeleyns Tale. The Seconde Nonnes Tale. The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue. The Chanouns Yemannes Tale. The Manciple's Prologue. The Maunciples Tale. The Parson's Prologue. The Persones Tale.
LIST OF BOOKS FOR REFERENCE
The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Ed. Walter
W. Skeat. 7 vols. Oxford : 1894-97. Chaucer : The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, The
Knightes Tale, The Nonnes Prestes Tale. Ed.
Mark H. Liddell. New York : 1901. Studies in Chaucer, His Life and Writings. By
Thomas R. Lounsbury. 3 vols. New York : 1892. A New English Grammar. By Henry Sweet. Pts. 2.
Oxford: 1892-98. Principles of English Etymology. By Walter W.
Skeat. Series 2. Oxford : 1887-91. *
BOOKS FOR REFERENCE 237
Words and their Ways in English Speech. By James
B. Greenough and George L. Kittredge. New
York: 1901. Dryden's Palamon and Arcite. Ed. Percival Chubb.
New York : 1899. A History of Epidemics in Britain. By Charles
Creighton. Cambridge : 1891. The Growth of English Industry and Commerce
during the Early and Middle Ages. By W.
Cunningham. Cambridge : 1890. Chaucer, in "Literature Primers." By Alfred W.
Pollard. London and New York : Macmillan. Geoffrey Chaucer's Werke. Uebersetzt von Adolf von
During. Strassburg : 1883-86. Canterbury Tales. Ed. Alfred W. Pollard. London :
1894. The Language and Metre of Chaucer. By Bernhard
ten Brink. Tr. by M. Bentinck Smith. London
and New York : 1901. Chaucer's England. By Matthew Browne. London :
1869. English History in the Fourteenth Century. By
Charles H. Pearson. London: 1876.
NOTES
1. Whan that: omit "that" in translating and slur it in reading. You may wonder how it came to be introduced, and fancy that it was merely to fill out the verse, since Chaucer himself dispenses with it in line 5. Here is one attempt at an explanation : " That " goes with the following clause, " Aprille hath perced," and was prefixed from mere force of habit, be cause it was so frequently used before clauses in other relations. Another account : " When " meant originally " At what time ? " Its combination with "that" meant "At that time" or "At which time" ; next, "At what time" ; whereupon it was felt to be possible to omit "that," since the tone of "when" had changed, and there was no longer any likelihood of confounding it with "when?" There were, however, many influences at work, and each case requires particular examination, if one is really interested in getting a true solution. Compare "while that," "if that," "though that," and "which that," "who that," and particularly the more intelligible "after that," "ere that."
3. swich . . . which : this correspondence in sound and meaning has been lost, and we do not now say, " Swich they are which they have ever been," as a translation of " Tales sunt quotes semper fuerunt." In formal language "such" . . . " which" is still used ; but generally substitutes have come ip, 239
240 NOTES [PAGE 1
uf.,en clumsy enough: — "in a liquor of such virtue as the flower is engendred by."
8. the Ram : in his yearly course from west to east in the sky, the sun crosses the line (equator) in March, and becomes " the yonge sonne." During the first half of April the sun trav erses the last half of Aries ("his halfe cours in the Ram"). The ploughboy of Old England had the sun and stars for clock and calendar. There was then in every one such a conscious ness and such a remembrance of the visible heavens over and under the motionless earth as he never has who merely reads statements of what astronomers infer from things which plough- boys can see. The study of Chaucer should prompt and help to recover this lost vision — to see the sky -as he saw it.
14. The punctuation is approved by Liddell ; it separates this line from what precedes. For like separations, see lines 118, 208, 388. " To feme halwes " is contrasted with x" to Caunter- bury" by "specially." Emphasize the contrasted phrases in reading.
17. martir : Thomas & Becket. This Archbishop of Canter bury was murdered at the altar in 1170. Henry II did penance at his tomb in 1174, though previously absolved from guilty knowledge of the murder. The bones of Becket were en shrined in gold and jewels in 1220, but burned in the reign of Henry VIII, 1539. In 1875 a Roman Catholic chapel to his memory was opened at Canterbury by Cardinal Manning.
19. Bifel : What befell ? That nine and twenty came into that hostelry. " It befell" we use now ; the " it " often makes the meaning plainer.
20. Tabard: when few could read, some picture, i.e. sign, was needed to show what business was done within. "At the Sign of the Glove, the Hat, etc., in the Street of Trinity Church" served for our uAt 217 Broadway." So taverns
PAGE 2] PROLOGUE 241
were identified by some object suspended without ; later by some representation of such an object on a board ; and again by a mere name, as " The Jug," " The Pair of Spurs."
22. with ful devout corage : there is no rule for telling where imagination leaves off and fact begins ; until such a rule is found, we may believe as much or as little as we please of what Chaucer says of himself.
24. nine and twenty : this number is inconsistent with other parts of the poem ; but the poem was never finished, and never intended for those who find more pleasure in detecting discrep ancies than in reading the tales. Besides, it is a sonorous, verse-filling number ; it coincides with the narrator's counting, in which he would not naturally include himself. It is true there were "fully" (wel) twenty-nine.
31. So hadde I spoken: the "I" in this line need not stand for the author, but the actor ; that is, the reader or reciter of the poem amid a group of listeners, — a frequent scene when not many could read.
37. Me thinketh: "(to) me (it) seemefch," "it seems to me." The "to" was implied in the "me" and the "it" in the ending "-eth," and did not require the separate expression which they came to need later.
41. in ... imie : the instances of Multiple Indication are much more frequent in verse than in prose, in earlier than in later compositions. The relation is expressed twice, and either " in " might be dispensed with.
41. that : any group of words might be treated as a single word, and might be replaced by a single word. Such a word- group is sometimes changed (one might say inflected) , or marked by certain signs, on becoming part of a larger group. The vari ety of usage may be illustrated by some distortions of English phrases rather than by phrases from languages you may not
242 NOTES [PAGE 2
know. Let "he had come" form part of a larger group, and see how we might have spoken, in order to understand better how we do speak : " I was astonished that he had come," uat the fact that he had come," " at that he had come," " at he had come," " at his having come," " at him having come," "at he have come." "at him have come," "I was astonished he had come," " him to have come," and many more. " That" was the most frequent group-prefix, and came to be used to indicate incorporation or subordination, even when there were other indications that might have sufficed.
42. " at a knight " is as plain to our comprehension as " with a knight." So above " to reste " is as intelligible as " at rest." Such differences as these are but slight obstacles to the under standing of Chaucer. They may accordingly be of little impor tance to us now, but they are imporfant to others in determining the date, the author, the birthplace of a manuscript ; they are facts of language from which conclusions may be drawn, too far-reaching for us to discuss now.
43. worthy : Chaucer impresses on us the " worthiness " of his knight by the repetition of the word. " Worthiness " means complete conformity to the ideal of chivalry.
45. to riden out, i.e. abroad to seek adventures, to gain skill in field and court, to acquire knowledge that would help others. Distinguish " out " in this line from " out " in line 166.
51-65. The map shows that all these places lie on the boundary of " cristendom and hethenesse " as it was in the middle of the fourteenth century. The scene of " his lordes werre" was in France or Scotland. The duration of his distant campaign ing was from 1344 to 1365. His son is twenty years of age. The date of the pilgrimage is probably 1387. The knight is then some fifty years old, and his son was born to him after his return from foreign wars. The last of the crusades had
PAGE 4] PROLOGUE 243
ended dismally with the loss of Acre in 1291. The Teutonic knights had sought new foes in Lithuania and Poland. The knights hospitallers .were sheltered in the island of Ehodes. The templars had been humbled and crushed and impoverished by Christian kings. When the real services of the knights as knights were no longer needed under changed conditions, the pomp and pageantry of armorial suits, of parades and tourna ments, gathered new force, became established in the hearts and imaginations of the peoples, and reflected in all forms of art, notably in The Knight's Tale.
66. another hetheii than the one he fought against " in Trarnissene," not another than the "lord of Palatye," who was a Christian.
68. The meaning is plain enough, but note that the words " that " and " were " would not be used now.
74. There is a double indication of plurality here, — " were " and " e " in " gode " ; " hors " alone may be singular or plural.
80. lovyere: " luvyer" in comic ballads in dialect might be supposed to be a mispronunciation of "lover." In origin and dignity Chaucer's word ranks with " lover," which he also uses.
80. bacheler : many words are liable to be misapprehended by the modern reader from the very familiarity of their aspect.
87. litel space may mean (1) narrow area, (2) brief time, (3) limited opportunity. Perhaps (2) was alone present to Chaucer's mind ; but a poet need not change his phrase because it expresses more than he had at first intended, provided the associated meanings are not mutually contradictory, but each and all suitable. The manifold implications of which the scien tist or the philosopher seeks to divest his terms are welcome to the word-artist.
" All the charm of all the muses often flowering in one lonely word." — TENNYSON.
244 NOTES [PAGE 4
88. lady, for " of a lady," came to be written "lady's," ex cept in a few phrases, like " Lady-day," " lady-bird." Chaucer is not dropping an "s" or taking any liberties with the lan guage ; he is simply adhering to the usage of his time.
91. floytinge : the usual meaning given to this word has been "playing on a flute," but Fliigel, Jour, of Germ. Phil., I, 2, 125, thinks it here means "whistling," but his reasons are less persuasive than the mere suggestion.
102. him (it) pleased (to) ride so: "it" and "to" have not dropped out ; Chaucer was not conscious of any omission. When one studies the English of any century preceding that of Chaucer, many features of Chaucer's language wear a dif ferent aspect. If you have already studied Latin or French or German, you will easily find parallels to Chaucer's constructions which you do not find in modern English.
120. Seynt Loy : St. Eligius. This saint once refused to take an oath. Some think that this story was well enough known for Chaucer t6 believe that his phrase, besides its simple and obvious meaning, could also be surmised to mean that the prioresse did not swear at all.
121. Madame Eglentine : script falls so far short of speech that we can only guess the meanings that Chaucer's voice would have given to this description of the prioresse. Would he have read this line as a mere statement, or have imitated the tone of those who called her Madame ?
" It is ful fair to been y-clept ' Madame.' " —Line 376.
122-123. entuned : singing the divine service and entuning (humming) it to guide the singing of another are two different things. The prioresse could do both.
125. The Anglo-French of the Benedictine nunnery at Strat- ford-at-Bow (then three hundred years old) was a good Ian-
pAGB 9] PROLOGUE " 245
guage. The prioresse spoke it with a somewhat old-fashioned precision, and deplored all divergences from her standard of correctness. This amuses the travelled Chaucer.
127-136. wel y-taught : The nun's manners conform to the directions laid down in Le Roman de la Hose. She was probably not acquainted with the book as Chaucer was.
131. fille : should fall.
144. if that she sawe : if she should see.
149. men : not the modern English men. See Glossary.
159. peire : not modern English pair. See Glossary.
173. seynt Beneit : St. Benedict (480-543) brought monasti- cism into Western Europe. St. Maur was his disciple. Their rule was already six hundred years old. ' ' The reule,' ' coming before "by cause," goes with the nearest verb "was," like the Latin ; but unlike the Latin, "it" has to be introduced after "by cause." Eegula Sancti Benedicti quia vetus erat. See lines 2987-2988.
177. He thought nothing of this text, not the worth of a plucked hen. "Text" and "Scriptures" were used of other authorities than the Bible. The second of these texts has been found in writings of the fifth century.
183. Chaucer had talked with the inonk, and assured him with unsuspected irony that in his case the study and hand work would hardly serve the world. x 187. As St. Augustine (354-430) biddeth.
192. For no expense would he hold back.
194. The finest a land can produce.
210. The four orders are the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites, the Augustinians. There are many popular names of each order, as Black, Gray Friars, etc.
212-213. This friar had violated his vow of chastity, and made strange atonement to those whom he had wronged by
246 NOTES [PAGE 9
providing each with a husband and a marriage portion. And yet he sought the company of wealthy and respectable men and women, and, displacing the curates, heard confession and gave absolution in virtue of the license which he had from the Pope. He enriched himself and his order from fees and presents, and thus violated his vow of poverty. He professes to believe that the best way to gain favour of heaven is to give money to " the povre freres."
232. Men. See line 149.
233. "It anciently formed part of the dress for women to wear a knife or knives sheathed and suspended from their girdles." — BRAND'S Popular Antiquities, art. " Bride-knives."
242. Better than he knew a leper or a beggar.
244. as by his facultee : in view of his abilities.
246-255. There was no punctuation in the manuscripts. Editors differ in punctuating. Punctuate these lines in as many different ways as seem to you allowable.
247. "delen" was once sufficient where "to delen" was required later, the relational meaning of the "to" having be come very general and vague. Indeed, so obscured was its meaning that "to delen" was treated just as "delen" had been, and "for to delen" took its place. " For" is now dis used. Can we suppose that " to " will disappear also, and that we shall say as of old, "it is no use wish know such things " ?
249. ther as : I cannot explain briefly how " ther as" meant " where." It is not likely that Chaucer himself knew. It con cerns us first to learn what Chaucer's phrases meant to him.
254. In principle: the "limitour" introduces himself at every house with " In principio erat verbum," " In the begin ning was the word." The Latin, of course, inspired simple souls with confidence in him ; but I do not see why he quoted the first verse of the Gospel of St. John.
PAGE 12] PROLOGUE 247
255. ferthing is not here a piece of money, a farthing, but some trifle. Not that Chaucer was not equal to representing the friar as getting a coin from one who had not even a shoe.
266. harping: "in his harping" goes with "he hadde songe," when he had sung to his harp. Cf. line 173.
276. kept for any thinge : he would have the sea guarded at any cost that his goods might not be captured. It has taken much hard work to secure the present safety of the seas. Draw a line on your map from Harwich at the mouth of the Orwell in Essex, England, to Middelburg in the island of Walcheren, and reflect on the perils of such a passage. Professor Hales discov ered that for four years from 1384 the wool-staple was not at Calais, but at Middelburg, and inferred that our merchant was making his pilgrimage in one of those years.
278. eschaunge : what any one in commercial countries can do now as a matter of course, namely, exchange moneys (coins) at rates agreed on was then kept in the hands of officials. ' ' Free dom was granted to merchants to exchange with one another as long as they did not do it for gain, but only for mutual conven ience." — CUNNINGHAM. Chaucer does not say that his mer chant reaped any profit from his money changings, nor does he say (1. 280) that he was in debt, that is, had borrowed any money to put in his business, and repay with interest. Imagine modern merchants forbidden to do this. Yet that is just what our mer chant was forbidden to do. No wonder he was circumspect in his management (estatly of his governaunce). See this extract from an ordinance of 1363, quoted by Cunningham, " Whereas heretofore the City of London has sustained great mischiefs, scan dals, and damages by reason of certain persons who, neither for fear of God nor for shame of the world, cease, but rather do daily exert themselves to maintain the false and abominable contract of usury (interest), under cover and colour of good and lawful
248 NOTES [PAGE 12
trading ; which kind of contract, the more subtily to deceive the people, they call exchange or chevisance, whereas it might more truly be called mescheaunce, seeing that it ruins the honour and soul of the agent, and sweeps away the goods and property of him who appears to be accommodated, and destroys all manner of right and lawful traffic."
293^ for (to) him (it) was levere (to) have, etc. : he had rather have, or he liked better to have.
297. philosophre : alchemists were also called philosophers, but this philosopher was no alchemist.
318-320. purchasour : " Gower's verses explain the word 'purchasour' in a different sense from that which has been assumed* hitherto (conveyancer) ; they show that the expres sion implies a buying up of landed estates which the lawyers were able to effect by deceiving their clients, bringing them selves thus, to the detriment of the country, into the class of the great landowners." — FLUGEL, in Anglia, Vol. -XXIV.
323. hadde he cas : he could cite accurately the cases and decisions that had been reported since William the Conqueror.
333. complexioun does not have here its modern meaning.
337. pleyn delyt: he held the opinion that pleasure is the highest good.
340. Seynt Julian : St. Julian was invoked by travellers and pilgrims.
353. table dormant : irremovable tables had been recently introduced. Previously a board on wooden trestles had sufficed.
355. sire : at the meeting of the justices of the peace he held the highest position ; was addressed as ," lord " and "sire."
356. knight of the shire : representative in Parliament of an English county, as Chaucer himself was of Kent in 138^.
363. liveree : livery, from meaning anything that \v.,.s <!-!!>•- ered at stated times to servants or retainers, came to be lim,u:U
PAGE 17] PROLOGUE 249
to whatever might be worn as a distinctive badge of an associa tion, fraternity, or gild.
371. wisdom that he can : for the wisdom that he knows, was competent to be the head of a gild.
377. al bifore : before all others.
385. greet harm : it is a pity that he is so afflicted, but that does not interfere with his making prime blancmanger ; or it is a pity that one should be so afflicted who can make such excel lent blancmanger as he.
390. Sailors are not noted for skill in choosing or riding horses.
395. good felawe : " a jolly good fellow," not " a good fel low enough."
397. Burdeux- ward : f ram ward and toward were some times written thus : to Burdeux ward, from Burdeux ward.
400. sente hem hoom : he kindly urged them to leap over board, and swim in whatever direction their home might be.
402. daungers him besides : the dangers that encompassed him.
404. Hulle to Cartage : apparently the northern and the southern limits of his voyagings.
410. Maudelayne : the returns of the custom-house of Dart- muth are still preserved in the Record Office, and under date of 1386 is found, "Navis. Magdaleyne. Peter Risshenden sailed 21 Sept. Pro fabis value 13s. 4d."
413. To speke of, etc. : in medicine and surgery.
414. astronomye : the kind of astronomy he knew was the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and horizons to one another at the date of an illness. From these facts he thought he could tell what to do as well as from the appearance of his patient. These aspects of the heavens change from hour to hour, and the treatment that would succeed under one aspect would fail under another. This knowledge of nature enabled him to rival
250 NOTES [PAGE 1?
magic by keeping his patient in adjustment to the proper hours. His images were made of wax, clay, etc., and could be treated instead of the patient. If this treatment did not succeed, it was because the right moment had not been chosen. In the twenty- four hours of the day each point of the sun-path comes up in the east in succession. The ascendent of the image was the point that rose just as it was being made or treated. The doc- tour "fortuned this ascendent," i.e. made it lucky by waiting for the right one before he busied himself with his image.
420. hoot . . . drye : the theory of disease in the Middle Ages was itself a disease. Fire, water, earth, and air were elements which had in varying degrees the qualities of heat, cold, moisture, and dryness corresponding to the four " com plexions " or "humours" or "temperaments," melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguine, choleric, and engendering diseases by their excess or defect in heart, lungs, etc.
429. Esculapius : myth, fable, and history were distinguished differently by the Middle and by the Modern Age. It was possible in the Middle Ages not only to believe that ^Esculapius had lived, but to exhibit the work which he had written. The doctour knew the principal text-books of the period, — some Classical, some from the early Middle Ages, some (the last three) of contemporary authorship. They are Greek, Arab, Moorish, and English.
441. esy of dispence : slow to spend, though you might not have thought so from his rich attire.
442. The pestilences of the fourteenth century had increased the cost of living for the upper classes, 'but the doctour of phi- sik did not mean to let that deprive him of his pnperior gains. These pestilences had occurred in 1348-49-62-69-76.
443. cordial : for the reason that gold in medicine is a sover eign remedy — for just that reason, and no other, he loved gold !
PAGE 20] PROLOGUE 251
Gold had so many good qualities that it was held it would prove a good medicine if it could only be rendered drinkable, aurum potabile.
447. swiche an haunt : spinning and weaving were once the work of households, of matron and daughter, of maid and man, either for home consumption or to exchange for other things.
449-452. Contributions were not taken up in the churches, but laid by the giver 011 the altar. The humbler sort waited till their betters had gone up. " The good Wyf " was angry if any one presumed to start before she did.
454. ten pound : they were large enough to weigh ten pounds, but Chaucer may exaggerate sometimes.
460. chirche-dore : the first part of the marriage ceremony was performed in the church porch, the couple thereupon ad vancing to the altar.
461. compaignye in youthe : not to mention previous suitors.
465-466. At Boulogne, to worship the image of the Virgin ; in Galicia, at the shrine of Compostella, where the body of St. James reposed ; at Cologne, where lay the bones of the Three Wise Men of the East.
475. knew perchaunce : she might counsel others from her experience.
486. cursen for his tithes : very painful would it be to him to excommunicate any one for not paying the tithes.
489. substaunce: from the contributions to him a^d from his own income.
495. Upon . . . staf : (going) upon his feet, and (holding) in his hand a staff. The wor"ds in parentheses are not needed for the sense, were not thought of by Chaucer or any one who heard him. Schools sometimes exact a fulness of statement that the living language knows nothing of. An expression may
252 NOTES [PACK 20
be expanded to render the meaning precise or unmistakable, or to restore its original form, or through inadvertence, but not merely to enable it to be parsed, unless, indeed, parsing is a process by which an expression is made more intelligible to one's self or another. 498. gospel : see Matt. v. 19 ; also v. 13 for what follows.
510. chaunterye : chantries had come to be looked on as easy berths where there was nothing to do but chant mass for a dead man's soul at stated times.
511. been withholde : the "Persoun" is indirectly com mended for not seeking the seclusion of a monastery as a release from his parish duties.
516. despitous : he did not manifest toward the sinful man anger or disdain or cold reserve.
526. spiced conscience : he was no Pharisee. A spiced conscience was too nice for common folk. In France the gifts or fees of suitors to judges, either before (Skeat) or after (Littre) the decision, were called spices (espices) ; but this may not have been in Chaucer's mind in using the proverbial expression.
529. brother: "was his brother" maybe so spoken as to be equivalent to "who was his brother." There is really no need in speech of the double indication, but in print " who " is clearer. Ploughmen in England now are farm laborers. This ploughman was a poor farmer (lessee of land), who probably paid his rent, like his tithes, in work or kind.
534. Both in joy and woe.
540. He worked out his tithes, or paid them in kind ; nothing is said of money.
541. The ploughman was not a person of quality, and might not be disgraced by riding a mare.
548. A ram was the prize.
PAGE 25] PROLOGUE 253
557-559. Chaucer appears to mention the characteristics of the "Miller" just as they occur to his mind. It was useless for the enumeration to follow a principle which few would dis cover who read, and none who merely heard.
561. "That" refers, of course, not to the j angler, but to his jangling.
562. The American reader needs to be reminded that corn is not maize.
563. thombe of gold: and yet he was an "uncommon" good miller, had a thumb that could detect, after the wont of millers, the slightest variation in the fineness of the meal. But besides this meaning there is the suggestion of the proverb, "every honest miller has a thumb of gold," which means "there is no honest miller." Compare "the wise man's heart is on his right side" and the following from Venn's Symbolic Logic: "There was an old saying at Croyland in the fens, — then inaccessible to wheeled traffic, — that all the carts that came there had the tires of their wheels of silver."
570. took by taille : gave his promise to pay, which was a notched stick (tally), scored with the price, and payable at the proper time when presented and proved to match a similarly notched stick.
581. by his propre good : to make him keep within his income.
586. Mr aller: of them all. ."To set one's cap" is "to cheat him."
594. on him winne : could get the better of him.
604. ne knew his sleighte : whose trickery and deceit he did not know. "That . . . his" for "whose" is not uncom mon now in conversation.
605. deeth : the pestilence.
611. He grew rich at his lord's expense, and yet got the
254 NOTES [FAGE 25
thanks of the latter and gifts besides for lending him what was really his own money.
621. Tukked . . . aboute : his loose surcoat was gathered about the waist by the girdle.
624. chembinnes face : cherubs were painted red in early art. Cherubin is used as singular, though it is modified from cherubim, which is the Hebrew plural, though used in English as singular.
644. thing him grope: "thing" is either singular or plural in Chaucer. Translate "in any other point."
646. Questio quid juris : the question is, what is the law in this matter.
652. finch : "to pull a finch," like "to pluck a pigeon," " to shear a lamb," etc., means to gain something from a weak or simple person which he would not yield if he had strength or sense.
655-656. Erchedeknes curs : the archdeacon may curse your soul, but he is thinking of your purse ; he may threaten you with the pains of hell, but he will punish you only in your purse ; he may denounce such things as you are doing, but have no awe of him, go on; you can buy him off. So would the "summoner" describe the archdeacon to the "good felawe." But Chaucer professes to know that the " somnour " lied, and that the curse of the archdeacon could keep the soul from bliss^ so that a guilty man ought to dread it, and particu larly to beware of 'exposing himself to a writ of excommunica tion. This was called a " significavit " from the word it began with. Some modern readers may suspect Chaucer of indiffer ence to the curse of a prelate, and imagine that he sees the irony of this repudiation of the somnour's slanders. Who knows what Chaucer really thought ? It was one thing to see the corruption, the inconsistencies, and absurdities of the church,
PAGE 29] PROLOGUE 255
and to set these forth in an English that commanded attention ; it was quite another thing to doubt at that time the doctrines of the church as men afterward doubted and rejected them.
663-064. daunger : "daunger" does not mean "danger," nor does " giiies " mean "girls. " It was a terrible thing, if it was true, that such a man had brought under his control the young people in the diocese by his authority to summon for alleged violation of ecclesiastical laws — laws that sought to regulate all the most intimate, private, and personal relations of life.
669. Pardoner : that there is no exaggeration in this sketch of a pardoner Jusserand has shown by utterances of contempo rary popes and bishops. It appears that there were genuine pardoners duly licensed to remit penances on certain specified conditions, and to account for any money thus acquired to the church. But false pardoners sprang up everywhere who forged bulls and licenses and relics, claimed power to remit sins, ex cluded sometimes priests and vicars from their own churches, or brought charges against them, and had them suspended from their functions, and spent the money they won in the gratifica tion of their own desires. They were suppressed by a decree of the Council of Trent in 1562.
685. vernicle : this vernicle was a copy of the napkin of St. Veronica preserved at Rome, on which the image of Christ had been miraculously impressed. See Mrs. Jameson's Sacred and Legendary Art.
695. our lady veyl : the veil of the Virgin Mary. Lady was used where lady's is now. It still is used in lady-bird, lady-bug, lady-day. Not so very long before Chaucer's time they wrote " hlaefdigan " ; in Chaucer's time, "lady"; s.oon afterward, «' ladys," and now " lady's." See line 88,
702. upon lond : in the country.
703. Upon a day : in one day,
256 NOTES [PAGE 29
706. apes : he made the parson and people what they did not want to be, and did not know that they were, and also made them contribute to his amusement or profit. Why not say at once, "he made them his dupes"? Because I would suggest the scene from which this phrase might have originated, the sho winan's dancing apes in a village green. I do not say ' ' did originate," since the origin of an expression like this is from its nature obscure.
710. alderbest, from " ealra betst," " best of all."
715. in a clause: elsewhere, "shortly in a clause," and " in a litel clause," all meaning " briefly."
716. Thestat: "the estate," " th' estate," and "thestate" would differ little in pronunciation, and hardly affect the verse. In line 708 we might write " noble ecclesiaste," " nobl' ecclesiaste," " nobl ecclesiaste," or " noblecclesiaste," without meaning to suggest differences of pronunciation, or that verse in this respect was read differently from prose.
720. yow for to telle : but now it is time to tell you. In translating into modern idiomatic English, note (1) insertions or omissions of words or letters, (2) changes of word or phrase, (3) change of order. Do not do this at the time of translation, think then of the meaning only ; but later, when you have finished writing the translation. You need to read some middle English prose to feel the differences between the word-orders of prose and verse.
733. Bverich a: "the words every one," "every single word." The older form " an " became in some word-sequences " a " ; in others, ' ' one. ' ' Where there was no spelling, or where the spelling changed with the sound, and even now with our stationary spelling, a change of sense tends to be accompanied by change of sound.
733. in bis charge : in his assumed task.
PAGE 32] PROLOGUE 257
736. "thing" is plural, and means "things."
738. He must say one word as much as another.
741. Plato : Chaucer knew no Greek, and quotes Plato at second hand. He found the sentence in the Latin of Boethius, and translated it, " Thou hast lerned by the sentence of Plato that nedes the wordes moten be cosines to the thinges of which they speken."
744. Al have I nat : although I have not.
751. our hoste was : Chaucer varies his phrases, but not so that a listener would notice it. You who are reading can turn back to " A Knight there was," " With him ther was his sone," etc. , and compare these formulas of introduction with the intro duction of the hoste.
760. rekeninges : made up our accounts, paid our scores.
769. "God yow spede" still survives in "God speed you," for which the modern English often uses the latter form, "may God speed you." There are similar survivals in "God grant," "God bless," etc., but we should hardly say, "the blissful martyr give you your reward " without prefixing "may."
772. pleye : Chaucer had often his choice among six forms where we are restricted to one, — "pleye," "pleyen," "to pleye," "to pleyen," "for to pleye," "for to pleyen." Note also that " pleye " is a dissyllable before a consonant, or at the end of a breath-group, and that "to talen " cannot be replaced by "to tale " in this line. Such a light final syllable is said to be missed by the makers of English verse to-day;
777. yow liketh alle : if it pleases you all. Chaucer said, "if me liketh," or " if it me liketh," but not " if I like."
781. fader soule : for "father's" Chaucer has not only "fader" as here, but also "fadres" and "faders."
783. hond : sing., because one hand of each is meant.
258 NOTES [PAGE 32
" Hold up your bonds" might have suggested to Chaucer that each was to hold up both hands.
785. Us thoughte : of the forms, Me thought, Thee thought, Him thought, etc., only the first is now used at all. u We thought it was not worth while to deliberate upon it." We do not express the thought as briefly and yet as simply and plainly as Chaucer did.
788. for the beste : as well as you can, as best you can.
791. shorte with : to shorten your way with.
709. our aller : of us all.
810. othes swore : "we" is implied, and need not be ex pressed in this and the next line ; later, as with us, the insertion of " we " at least once (with the first verb) became the rule.
817. heigh and lowe : in great matters and in small.
826. Watering : a watering-place for horses at the second milestone on the road to the shrine of St. Thomas.
829. woot : Chaucer has "ye witen," "ye wite," and "ye woot." The last had once been confined to the singular. Here he obliterates a distinction ; he retains the distinction between singular and plural forms in many cases where we have dropped it altogether. Thus, " he rad," "they riden," are respectively he rode, they rode. This double indication, or rather triple in dication of plurality, had ceased to be necessary for the sense.
830. This line stands out for sound and sentiment among the host's utterances, and seems to be an appropriate quotation which should be rendered with due solemnity, as it recalls to each what he had sworn to amid the festivities of the evening. If I tell the best stories, I shall have a supper without cost to myself ; if I do not, I shall pay for my own supper and a trifle more ; but if I refuse to abide by the judgment of the host, I shall pay all the expenses of the journey !
833-834. Compare for variation in expression lines 805-806. 839. Cometh is plural in form, but singular in meaning.
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THE KNIGHT'S TALE
859. olde stories : this tale is derived mainly from the Tese- ide of Boccaccio (1315-75 A.D.) with some hints from the The- bais of Statins (61-96 A.D.).
860. duk . . . Theseus: Chaucer pictured to himself theJtoA past in the likeness of his own experience.
864. contree : the French accent to-day " contre'e " on the last syllable ; the English, " country " on the first. The accent of this and of many other Anglo-French words, like " prestige " even now, was not fixed in Chaucer's time, and he could justifi ably use the accentuation which the verse required. In reading the verse your ear must be your guide.
866. Femenye: the kingdom of the Amazons.
885. as now differs somewhat from "now," not "at the present time," but " in view of the present circumstances."
925. Thanked be : this is all owing to fortune, etc.
926. That does not insure that any estate shall be happy. 933. start: sterven (1) to die, (2) to die of hunger or cold,
(3) to die of hunger. (1) is the old use, (2) is common in Eng land, (3) is the only use known to many Americans.
936. losten alle : we all lost, etc. Make a slight pause after " alle."
943-944. Connect "of alle oure lordes" with "the bodies" of the line following, not the line preceding. If these questions interest you, you might find instances to justify the joining of " alle oure lordes" with " bodies" of the preceding line. Such would be instances : (1) where other words immediately pre cede " of" ; (2) where a verse ending comes between.
957-958. hente, conforteth : the change of tense (hente, conforteth) may have no meaning, though it is not difficult to
260 NOTES [PAGE 40
assign several. "While lifting them, one after the other, he keeps consoling them." See a similar change in line 966.
977. feeldes : this needs no explanation to any one who knows how a bit of color will brighten up a room. The whole landscape would fade if that banner should be furled.
984. thoughte fighte : where he thought to fight.
1007. diden bisinesse : were busily engaged. We use "to do business" in a very different sense, and we do not use "to do cure" at all.
1017. best in special : especially well, with no manner of doubt.
1031. " Liveth " from line 1228 is felt in this line with " Pala- mon and Arcite." "In joye and in honour " is contrasted with " in angwish and in wo."
1038. rose colour : this is not rose-color, but rose's color. Hose is genitive, see line 88. This simple and beautiful line is transformed by a modern translator to "her complexion con tested the superiority with the rose's color." If we could only learn from Chaucer how to talk plain English !
1045. observaunce : it is usual to quote in explanation of this phrase the accounts of the way in which this " observaunce " was done by throngs of peasants, and anciently of nobles, spending the night before in pastimes in the woods, and return ing at dawn with flowers and branches to adorn their homes ; but all that is widely different from the tender observance of May tlie "parfit, gentil Knight" tells of.
1047. rise : I have already called your attention to the variety of forms Chaucer had at his disposal ; note here how freely he combines them, as in " to doon and for to rise."
1048 : for to devise : to give you a description.
1051 : at the sonne upriste : at the sun's uprising, at sun rise. " Sonne " is genitive.
PAGE 47]
THE KNIGHT'S TALE 261
1052 : her liste : as (it to) her pleased.
1059 : Such lines as this give an air of truth to the situation ; the knight is talking while he rides amid the listening pilgrims. If you do not bear this in mind, they may appear as blemishes.
1061. hir pleyinge : her "pleyinge " was in walking up and down, gathering flowers, weaving a garland, and singing. It is better to think of these things than to substitute some modern phrase for "hadde hir pleyinge," but perhaps you may find a suitable translation.
1087. disposicioun : Saturn, we are told, means harm, and the constellation here unnamed might mean worse harm ; but the really "wicked" thing is the aspect or disposition of the two, that is, the angle between the two lines that join the observer to each.
1094. veyn imaginacioun : in this opinion you are utterly mistaken.
1097. that: we would say, "I received a hurt that will be my bane." Our "that" recalls certain words; Chaucer's "that" recalls the thought, no matter how expressed.
1105. Yow ... to transfigure: to transfigure yourself. Note the change from " thy " in the line before.
1121. atte leste weye : at least.
1125. "Whether: "Does he laugh or cry?" was formerly " Whether laughs he or cries he ?" We have lost this use of " whether," but retain a similar use in " they ask me whether he laughs or cries."
1127. me list ful evele pleye : I am little inclined to jest. (To) me (it) pleases not at all (to) play. Jesting would be a sad pleasure enough. Note how brief and simple Chaucer's phrase is, and how " bad," "sad," "evil," etc., come to mean "not."
1132. Y-sworn: sworn brothers, fratres jurati, freres
262 NOTES [PAGE 47
d'armes, became sucli by a pledge, usually accompanied by some ceremony, not without superstition.
1133. peyne : each had sworn rather to die as by torture than to hinder the other in love.
1133-1135. We say, "they swore not to hinder" and "they swore that they would not hinder." Chaucer says here, " they swore that . . . not to hinder." Some call this a blending of two constructions ; others, a change of construction caused by the long interval between "that" and "hinder"; but some feel the last to be as rational and natural as either of the others. Consider, "Ipromise this : I will not hinder him," and " I prom ise this : not to hinder him," and then change in each "this" to "that."
1142. been aboute : " What is he about? " To this ques tion, " He is about to love," would be a jesting answer now, but not then. It meant, " He is taken up with loving."
1153. Thou shalt, etc. : " You are likely to be proved false rather than I"; and then Arcite rushes to the conclusion, " Nay, you are false, I tell you, utterly false."
1155. par amour : with the love of man for woman.
1164. That : do you not know the saying of the old, writer (Boethius), that none shall give a lover any law? Now change the last clause into, "Who shall give a lover any law ? " which, as implying the answer no, has the same meaning as the assertion, and you see how Chaucer can use "that" before questions as well as before statements.
1167. decree : laws and decrees made by men.
1168. in ech degree : in every class. 1171. she : the loved woman.
1198-1200. olde bokes seyn : this incident seems to have been suggested to Chaucer by a passage in The Romance of the Rose, The friendship of the mythical heroes Theseus and Piri-
PAGE 53] TtfE KNIGHT'S TALE 263
thous was famous in antiquity, and the legends about them were distorted and amplified in the Middle Ages.
1201. nat to write : this " write " is an oversight of Chau cer's ; he forgot that the knight was telling the story.
1222. To sleen himself . . . prively : to slay himself un observed.
1225. me shape : now (it) is (to) me appointed.
1247. creature: ''creature" is any created thing living or without life. All things were supposed to be made of four ele ments, and these, curiously enough, were fire, water, earth, air, not one of which is included among the eighty or more elements of the modern chemist.
1259. matere : in this matter of thinking that we know better than God's providence.
1261. mous : "drunk as a mouse," "drunk as a rat," "blind as a mole," " silly as a goose," " dead as a door nail," are phrases of a type that the taste of some moderns rejects. They are often used with no thought of the thing named in them — mere phrases that have come down to us from a remote past.
1279. shines grete : the very fetters on his great shins were wet with his bitter, salt tears. We might regard the mention of his shins and the incidental suggestion of their size as irrelevant ; but then many a person has read all that precedes this passage without having any representation in his mind of Palamon and his surroundings. He will try after this to see things as Chaucer meant they should be seen.
1283. at thy large : at large, unrestrained.
1284. yevest litel charge of : care little for.
1287. sharpe : to make a sharp war. We have lost this way of speaking. Who will try to turn a few sentences of his own into Chaucer's English ?
264 NOTES [PAGE 54
1301-1302. lyk was to biholde : he was like the box tree or dead and cold ashes to look on.
1307. holde : what more is mankind considered by you ? 1317. to letten of his wille : to control his desires.
1343. to ben deed : to die.
1344. upon his heed : to lose his head if he returned. 1374-1376. lyk manye : one point of difference between the
fourteenth and the twentieth century which this passage illus trates seems worth mentioning. Mania was less withdrawn from the public gaze, and many might know how it looked ; but the learned even could give no better explanation in the lack of anatomy, and physiology, and chemistry. In the knowledge of what can be perceived and easily verified they were perhaps better off than we ; but in matters that can be known only by inferences tested by other inferences we have made great gains. None could prove the fanciful explanation that mania was caused by the melancholic humor in one of the three cells of the brain, — the seat of imagination.
1385. Him thoughte : the dream was an artistic device, a literary form indeed ; but this was only because it had previ ously been, and for that matter was still, considered of impor tance in the actual affairs of life.
1389. took keep : as he (Arcite) noticed.
1390. took his sleep : slept. Chaucer seems to think in phrases not words, and as little to avoid the repetition of the same word in different phrases as of the same syllable in dif ferent words.
1402. It came suddenly (to) him (that is) in (to) his mind. 1416. what so men wol devise: whatever one thinks of for him to do.
1419. The which that : who.
1420. aspye: he had been able to discover in respect of
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every servant which one served her. Compare " To knowe with which degree of the zodiac that the mone ariseth." — ASTROLABE, and "That litel wiste how ny that was his care." — Line 1489.
1431. gentil of condicioun : refined in manner.
1448. hath derre : "holds dearer," but our idiom requires "held dearer."
1453. Worn out what with woe and (what) with distress.
1460. am not I : "It is not I," or " I am not the one."
1466. shal be : this line serves to explain the meaning of "destinee."
1489. ny that: omit "that" in translating.
1490. in the snare : you must have noticed before this that "in" frequently equals "into."
1491. messager of day: "the herald of the morn." — SHAKESPEARE.
1494. This line resembles one of Dante's, but the setting is very different.
" The beauteous planet, that to love incites, Was making all the orient to laugh, Veiling the Fishes that were in her escort."
— Purg. I, 20, LONGFELLOW'S Translation.
1495. "Stremes" maybe translated "beams" or "rays," but it does not mean "beams" or "rays." Each suggests a different aspect of one thing ; but, after all, no phrases can match the light itself, and the poet himself may have felt joy of the morn that we can know nothing of.
1501. his desyr : his mind on the object of his desire.
1504. were it : it might be.
1509. ageyn the sonne shene : turned toward the bright sun.
1521. many yeres : many years ago (many years being gone since).
266 NOTES [PAGE 62
1522, 1524. These lines have been shown by their occurrence elsewhere to have been common proverbs.
1534-1539. Friday means by derivation the day of love, as the equivalent French vendredi (veneris dies) also does. It is sel dom like all the rest of the week, being either fairer or fouler.
1566. The expression seems homely, and the thought is com mon in fact and in fiction that death is certain, and that death has been appointed by a power able to enforce its decrees. But homely expressions and obvious truths are closely linked with grand aspects of life and imagination. In the past, spinning and weaving were nearer to all households, both rich and poor, than to-day.
" Some winter night, shut snugly in
Beside the fagot in the hall, Me thinks I see you sit and spin, Surrounded by your maidens all." — RONSARD.
The minds of men were once fuller of images of belief or fancy, majestic beings in some remote unknown shaping at the loom of time the destinies of men.
" O fatal sustren, which, er any clooth Me shapen was, my destine me sponne."
— CHAUCER'S Troilus.
1589. She shall be loved by me alone, and by no one else.
1603. Without encountering death at my hand.
1614. chees : is this " I wol chees " or " chees thou " ?
1622. to borwe : in pledge.
1623. out of alle : without any, utterly devoid of.
1625. sooth is seyd : this introduces a quotation which Professor Skeat has traced to Jean de Meung and to Ovid.
' Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne."
— POPE'S Prologue to the Satires.
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1626. his thankes : of his own free will.
1642, 1643. And (the leoun) breketh . . . and (the hunter) thiuketh.
1048. knewe : when near enough to recognize each other.
1650. rehersing : without any new word or repetition of their former words.
1660. Who could help supposing that so fierce a struggle would soon end in the death of both ?
1665. (Destiny executes) the things which God has foreseen. The foreseeing is expressed twice in the line.
1673. This I think of in connection with Theseus. Theseus reminds me of this.
1697. Under the sonne : I had surmised that this might mean " he had the sun in his favor," " could see without being seen," "had the sun at his back " ; but others interpret, " into the east," so that the combatants appeared between him and the sun. Other meanings have been suggested, and yet "to look under the sun " seems to have been written without suspi cion that any could fail to understand it. Liddell links " under the sonne " with the line before.
1707. up peyne of : on pain of.
1713. a listes : listes is plural in form, but here singular in construction.
1715. The meaning is plain ; the construction may be sug gested by, How needs (it) more words ?
1736. We say, " It is I that love." Notice that the construc tion was once, " It am I that loves."
1755. And (they) sawe.
1761. Apparently a proverbial saying, and, like noblesse oblige, used to exhort or command. " If you are noble-born (gentil), you should show pity," or " You have shown pity, you must be noble-born." The line is found in Chaucer four times.
268 NOTES [PAGE 73
1780. can : knows.
1781. after oon : alike, by the same rule.
1785. benedicite : pronounced bSndiste even here, if the A 1 is emphasized and prolonged. 1799. What fool like a lover ?
" To be wise and eek in love Is granted scarce to gods above."
It might mean, "Who is permitted to be a fool if a lover is not ? " that is, " In a lover all follies must be overlooked."
1808. Knows as much her obligation to them as to me. "Thank" is used here as in "What thank have ye?"
1814. -was I oon: I was "number one," was first in the service of love.
1827. of lordshipe and of mercy preyde : prayed him " to be their lord, and to be merciful."
1829. To speke of : in respect of.
1837-1838. That one of you, whether he likes it or not, must find something better to do than seek her hand ; whistling in an ivy leaf would be even more useful.
1850. fer ne ner : (neither) farther nor nearer, neither more nor less.
1852. at alle rightes : in all respects.
1905. Doon make : caused (people) to make.
1913. don wrought : caused (to be) wrought.
1920. " Broken sleep " and " cold sighs " may be represented in painting, indirectly, by the aspects of the persons who wake and sigh.
1925 ff. These are usually spoken of as abstract qualities per sonified. They are such for us ; they were perhaps for Chaucer. They were not so to begin with. Before hope was an abstract quality it was a person, a being, that possessed each person
PAGE 80] THE KNIGHT'S TALE 269
that hoped, and had those looks and ways that characterize hopeful persons. Hope was the composite picture, as it were, generated in the mind by the sight of many hopeful persons, or rather the reality which it was believed that picture in the mind necessarily implied. This reality could be described and painted, and continued to be described and painted, long after it had faded from the minds of men, and had ceased to be believed in, — so entirely forgotten, indeed, has it become that many are unable to recall it. Realism, mysticism, superstitions, arts, the gender- forms of language, had their origins in such mental growths as these. This is a hard saying, and is out of place here, if it does not make you see these beings which earlier men saw and dreamed of, and believed they might some day meet face to face.
1934. By ordre : in order.
1941. of yore agon : (of) years ago.
1954. And though : "and yet" gives the meaning, as does "even though" ; but the earlier meaning of "and though" is better seen in "if (and, an) I could reckon a thousand, yet (though) one or two would suffice."
1961. wel smellinge : remember that this is a picture. See line 1938.
"Why, mark!
Even when I told the play and got the praise, There spoke up a brisk little somebody, Critic and whippersnapper, in a rage To set things right : ' The girl departs from truth ! Pretends she saw what was not to be seen, Making the mask of the actor move, forsooth! " Then a fear flitted o'er the wife's white face," " Then frowned the father," " then the husband shook," "Then from the festal forehead slipped each spray, " And the heroic mouth's gay grace was gone ; " As she had seen each naked fleshly face,
270 NOTES [PAGE 81
And not the merely painted mask it wore ! '
Well, is the explanation difficult ?
What's poetry except a power that makes?
And, speaking to one sense, inspires the rest,
Pressing them all into its service ; so
That who sees painting, seems to hear as well
The speech that's proper for the painted mouth ;
And who hears music, feels his solitude
Peopled at once — for how count heart beats plain
Unless a company with hearts which beat,
Come close to the musician seen or no ?
And who receives true verse at eye or ear,
Takes in (with verse) time, place, and person, too,
So, links each sense on to its sister-sense,
Grace-like : and what if but one sense of three
Front you at once ? The sidelong pair conceive
Through faintest touch of finest finger-tips, —
Hear, see, and feel in faith's simplicity,
Alike, what one was sole recipient of :
Who hears the poem, therefore, sees the play."
— BROWNING'S Balaustion's Adventure.
1977. If the sound of a line ever echoes the sense, this line was felt by Chaucer to be in keeping with the scene. In the modern pronunciation it has no longer any special appropriateness.
1987. Chaucer is not describing what he had seen, nor what he had invented or discovered in the revelations of his own imagination ; he is reproducing what he had read in Statins, if not translating with the book before him. As some think, he is even mistranslating, and "northern light" results from the misapprehension of adversum Phcebi jubar, "the beam of ad verse Phoebus." Still it may mean here to Chaucer the Aurora Borealis. Meteoric and celestial phenomena were not much dis tinguished from each other, and sunsets, auroras, moonshine,
PAGE 83] THE KNIGHT'S TALE 271
and starlight were all attributed to the sun and confounded together, so that the infrequent mention or description of the aurora by mediaeval writers need not make us suppose that Chaucer was not thinking of it, although it was not then dis entangled from other facts and given a name as now.
1997-1998. "The cruel Ire" and "the pale Dread" would be now " cruel Ire " and " pale Dread." Anger and dread are as real as pikepurs. They might not be found together in modern works. Persons and qualities seem to us such differ ent things.
2005-2008. The first two lines describe the suicide, with throat cut, perhaps ; the last two, the victim of a murder, like that of Sisera by Jael. (Judges iv. 17-22.) Pause somewhat after "heer" in reading.
2017. hoppesteres : dancing on the wave, implying that the ships were burned at sea, so that none could escape. The ques tion is what Chaucer intended the word to mean, though there is little doubt that he read or thought he read ballatrici (danc ing) in Boccaccio, where we find le navi bellatrici (fighting).
2021. Marte : Mars was the name of the war-god and of a planet. To the influence of this planet or of its position our ancestors ascribed many lesser woes than are recounted here. Cooks, carters, barbers, butchers, smiths — none so lowly as to be forgotten by the " infortune of Marte."
2029. over his heed: "a tyraunt that was king of Sisile that had assayed the peril of his estat, shewede by similitude the dredes of reaumes by gastnesse of a swerd that heng over the heved of his familier." — BOETHIUS, Chaucer"1 s Translation. The story of the sword of Damocles.
2035. hir deeth . . . by manasinge of Mars : this was " de- peynted ther-biforn by figure," that is, by some symbol or picture.
272 NOTES [PAGE 83
2039. Perhaps the "oon ensample" is this very story itself of Palamon and Arcite.
2045. In geomancy (earth-divination) sixteen figures could be made by rule with dots on the ground. One of these was called Puella ; another, Rubeus. The former implied the planet Venus ; the latter, Mars. Professor Skeat explained the matter in The Academy, March 2, 1889.
2059. lode-sterre : Callisto was not made the lodestar, at least according to the accounts we have in Ovid of these trans formations.
2103. of Mr bond : in respect of skill and strength.
2125. There is nothing that we have now that they did not have as well.
2141-2142. nayles : a bearskin with yellow claws.
2160. cloth of Tars : a kind of silk.
2187. alle and some : collectively and individually, one and all.
2217. hir houre : the one hundred and sixty-eight hours in the week from sunrise on Sunday are divided into twenty-four groups of seven hours each. Sol takes the first hour of each group ; Venus, the second ; Mercury, the third ; Luna (Diana), the fourth ; Saturn, the fifth ; Jupiter, the sixth ; Mars, the seventh. This gives the second hour before sunrise on Monday to Venus ; the first hour after sunrise to Diana ; the fourth hour to Mars. Whoever wanted the good-will of a planet must choose the right hour for every act that concerned that planet.
2238. I kepe nought of armes for to yelpe : i.e. care rather for your favor than for glory.
2241. blowen goes with " prys. " Cf. Tennyson's —
" As if the wind Blew his own praises in his eyes."
PAGE 93] THE KNIGHT'S TALE 273
The three specifications that follow ."axe not" are distinct from one another, which is not always the case in Chaucer.
2245-2246. recche nat : I do not care whether I have victory over them or they over me, except in so far as either may be bet ter for my purpose, namely, that of having my lady.
2271. The thridde houre inequal (from the time) that Fala- mon, etc. : the hours we use are of equal length ; the hours assigned to the planets were each the twelfth part of the day time or the night-time, and varied as these varied.
2273. I doubt whether Chaucer was thinking of any other likeness here than that of time ; but if he was making a com parison, it was with the beautiful sun he was wont to see, and not with the one we read about in astronomy books. Chaucer lived before the sun went ninety million miles away, and be came eight hundred thousand miles in diameter. Such changes of conception make many passages in Chaucer humorous to the modern reader, which is unfortunate.
2281. It looks as if Boccaccio's fu mundo (was clean) had suggested to Chaucer fumando (smoking), and led him to en velop his Emily in clouds of incense, and to surround her with tapestries and hangings of drapery.
2286. game : pleasure.
2287. He that means well would find nothing to blame. " To the pure all things are pure." It would really have been more consistent with the character of a " verray parfit gentil knight " to have omitted these reflections.
2288. it is good (for) a man (to) ben at his large seems not to have here its usual meaning of being quite unconstrained, but of not being constrained to occupy one's self with details.
2294. thise bokes olde : one of these books has been shown to be the Teseide of Boccaccio ; but Boccaccio's name is not found in the works of Chaucer.
274 NOTES [PAGE 93
2308. "Hunting" and "venerye" are words that came to Chaucer from different sources, the Saxon and the Latin. It is easy to fancy a difference of meaning, but hard to establish any.
2313. tho thre formes : see lines 2298-2299.
2367. The nexte houre of Mars folwinge this : the fourth hour of the day. See lines 2217 and 2271.
2396. doth me : makes me endure all this woe.
2399. the place : see line 1862.
2405. do that : cause that I have victory.
2417. Such offerings of part were the earnest of the devo tion of the entire self to the God. By similar acts man had bound himself to his fellow-man. The general use of writing has tended to displace these methods of public acknowledgment of our intentions, and to make us incapable of understanding their former solemnity.
2451. agayn his kinde : against his nature, referring to the Saturn of the astrologers, who was as different from either the Saturn of the early Romans or the Saturn of the Roman poets as the latter were from each other. Add to these the planet Saturn, and you have a confusion from which poetry seeks no release, however much science may protest.
" The intelligible forms of ancient poets, The fair humanities of old religion, ******* They live no longer in the faith of reason, But still the heart doth need a language, still Doth the old instinct bring back the old names ; And to yon starry world they now are gone, Spirits or gods that used to share the earth With man as with their friend."
— SCHILLER'S Wallenstein, Coleridge's Translation.
2454. wide for to turne : Uranus and Neptune were not
PAGE 109] THE KNIGHT'S TALE 275
known to the astrologers, and consequently Saturn was to them the most distant and the slowest of the planets.
2519-2520. Translate the "he's" by this one, that one, that other.
2614. He ... he : one . . . another.
2616. he him hurtleth : one overthrows another.
2621. Theseus causes them to rest (in order) to refresh them selves. " Hem " is used for " them" and for " themselves."
2623-2624. The meaning of these two lines is so plain that we see it might be more precisely expressed by supplying " each has" after "and."
2628. hunte : see lines 1678, 2018.
2630-2632. There is (not) in Belmarie no lion that is hunted or famished so fell nor so desirous of the blood, etc.
2641. he take : Palamon is taken.
2647. er he -were take : before he (Palamon) was taken.
2651. by composiciqun : in accordance with the terms of the contest. See line 2554.
2673. Been in hir wele : are exultant. Arcite had lived three years at the court of Theseus, and won the love of all. See line 1432 ff.
2676. of his helm y-don : do off, or doff, take off.
2678. large place : you can easily, make a sketch of the en closure from the description (1. 1885 ff.). It was built on the spot where Palamon and Arcite had fought (1. 1862). Emily is seate'd with the rest of the court on the south side where she may see the combatants "under the sonne " (to misapply, per haps, Chaucer's phrase). Arcite spurs his horse from one end to the other of the broad space (large place) between her seat and the lists.
2683. And was al his chere, as in his herte : in reading dwell on the first " his," and pause before and after " as in his
276 NOTES [PAGE 109
herte." " She was all his (his delight, his joy), as he imagined in his heart." But his imaginings are suddenly made vain. Mars had given victory to his worshipper ; Mars could give nothing more.
2696. corven: the " layneres " (1. 2504) were cut, not unlaced.
2698. memorie : not simply conscious, but remembering the great joy of the instant before.
2710. That . . . his brest-boon : whose breast-bone was pierced. See line 2606.
2711. othere woundes : we would say, " for broken armes and other woundes/'
2713. save : men believed that diseased and maimed bodies could be cured by certain phrases, written, spoken, or chanted, either where the sufferer was or elsewhere. They also believed that a remedy for many bodily ills was found in sage, not to mention a multitude of other herbs.
2719. disconfitinge : what took place there was not consid ered a defeat and disgrace, but merely a joust or tournament.
2731-2734. leet crye : Theseus bade proclaim that the vic tory belonged to one side as much as to the other.
2749-2751. vertu expulsyf : the animal virtue is placed in the brain, and is here expulsive, or tends to expel the poison (the corrupt blood) ; the natural virtue is placed in the liver, and moves the blood through the veins. It appears that the virtue animal could not get the poisonous blood away from the virtue natural ; in other words, the corruption spread through all the veins.
2760. to chirche : for burial.
2761 . This al and som : this is al and som, the conclusion of the whole matter is.
2762. For which (reason).
PAGE 113] THE KNIGHT'S TALE 277
2764. Seated at a desk we read with glossary and notes amid scenes unlike those in which Chaucer wrote, more un like those in which the knight told his story. He has relieved his fellow-riders of the tedium of his medical disquisition by a playful remark, and now recalls their attention by the other wise superfluous "as ye shul after here." They thought for a time they were listening to Arcite himself ; but just as the tenderness of the vision became too sad to endure, the knight is himself again, and in humorous wise disclaims theology as he had previously renounced medicine.
2774. departing : severing of our companionship.
2779. The natural or artistic utterance of an emotion readily affects the hearer, less often the reader, rarely the student who has to scan and parse. This last has then to be told that this grief expresses itself with repetitions of the same thought, often of the same words.
" Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on the wide, wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony."
— COLERIDGE'S Ancient Mariner.
2791. that art : the art of love, the proper qualities and con duct of a perfect lover.
" Love hath me taught no more of his art, But serve alway and stinte for no wo."
— CHAUCER'S Compleynt, line 42.
2792. So may 'Jupiter have some thought of my soul. 2796. ye shul been a wyi : you are -destined to be a wife. 2809-2815. His spirit has changed its abode, and the knight
follows ii no farther for three potent reasons, but prays that Mars may guide the spirit to the place " wher divinistres writen that they (the spirits) dwelle."
278 NOTES [PAGE 114
2874-2877. The white gloves, the green crown, the bright sword, the bare face — all go with Arcite. Theseus laid Arcite on the bier, and wept.
The Mss. have no punctuation ; the editions differ among themselves. The variant (1. 2874), "Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white," may have arisen from not noting that this line might be read with what follows.
2885. passing: surpassing others in respect of weeping — weeping more than the rest.
2888. degree : according to his rank, more rich than that of humbler men.
2962. in no disjoynt : with no failure.
2977. Unwist of him : it being unknown to him or without his knowledge.
2984. I do not know whether this means that his gaze was fixed or ranged from one object to another.
2987. This line is contrasted with line 2995, "the cause above" (the heavens) with the "world adoun." The curious argumentation that follows has many a parallel, and grows naturally out of certain mediaeval conceptions. Chaucer actu ally took it from certain passages in Boethius. Each planet was embedded at one spot in a spherical, crystalline shell of its own, the centre of which was the earth. The stars had a shell all to themselves. Outside of the shell in which the stars were set was another shell, the primiim mobile, Milton's "First Moved." This mobile or thing movable requires a mover, who is God ; but the thing itself keeps all the celestial machinery in motion after that. This mechanical contrivance would fall all to pieces if it were not held together by love. Contrast with the stable heavens the unstable things of earth, where even oaks and stones waste away, where all things change ; argal, we ought to change with them, and turn our grief and mourning to joy.
PAGE 127] THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 279
3002. Only it pleases me to express my opinion.
3006. Think of anything you please ; you can always regard it as a part of something else. But this whole is in its turn a part of something else, and so on till you would attain the ulti mate real whole, " parfit and stable," from which you would say the u corrumpable " thing you started with was derived. Some do not refuse the name of philosophy to such ideas.
3015. with-outeii any lye : without doubt.
3028. That nedeth ... He moot ben deed : that (it) is necessary that he should die.
3036. prince: princeps, principium, beginning. Primus, first, in time and in excellence of every kind.
3064. Can he hem thank ? See line 1808.
3084. kinges brother sone : king's brother's son. Brother is the Old English genitive which was already beginning to be replaced by the form brotheres or brothers, which we write brother's.
3089. Mercy ought to do more than what mere justice re quires.
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
3957. The knight, with the sympathy of the company, begs the monk to desist, and not to add another to the dozen or more sad stories which he had told already. It seemed as if he might go on forever. The subject was inexhaustible ; so, too, was the monk. He had said : —
" I wol biwayle in maner of tragedie The harm of hem that stode in heigh degree, And fillen so that there nas no remedie To bringe hem out of hir adversitee ;
280 NOTES [PAGE 127
For certein, whan that fortune list to flee, Ther may no man the course of hir withholde ; Lat no man truste on blind prosperitee ; Be \var by thise ensamples trewe and olde."
Lucifer, Adam, Samson, Hercules, Nero, and many more had been passed in review with delightful disregard of the bounda ries between myth and history that we have been taught to observe.
3972-3975. how "Fortune etc.": The host echoes the words of the last stanza of the monk's tale : —
" Anhanged was Cresus, the proude king, His royal trone mighte him not availle, — Tragedie is noon other mauer thing, Ne can in singing crye ne biwaille But for that fortune alway wol assaille With unwar strook the regnes that been proude ; For when men trusteth hir, than wol she faille And covere hir brighte face with a cloude."
3986. hevene: heaven's.
3995. See Prologue, line 165, for the monk's character.
4006. so moot I go : as sure as I am alive, so may I have the use of my limbs, so may I thrive.
4022. hir halle : the " narwe cotage " had two rooms, called here, with humorous sxaggeration, bower and hall. There was no chimney ; the smoke escaped through crevices. The live stock probably shared the hovel with the widow and her two daughters.
4030. She had no gout to keep her from dancing.
4045-4046. His clock was the celestial equator which he could see "in his mind's eye," as degree after degree of this circle rose above the horizon. At all events, he crowed as each fifteenth degree arose.
PAGE 135] THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 281
4009. Skeat has found the song this comes from, and cites verse 4064 as an indication that Chaucer had the whole stanza in mind.
" My lefe is faren in lond
Alias why is she so ? And I am so sore bound
I may not com her to. She hath my hert in hold
Wherever she ride or go, With trew love a thousand-fold."
4081. Shame : you really were asleep. There's nothing here. Shame on you for being so frightened.
4090. (That) was lyk an hound.
4118-4127. For " colera," i.e. "choleric humor" and " humour of malencolye " in line 4123, and " othere humours " in line 4127, see line 420. "Madamoysele Pertelote " is talk ing not after the manner of hens, but of contemporary physi cians. Quotations and references are given in the notes of Tyrwhitt and Skeat.
4125. "For fere of beres, or (that) develes wole him take" is a change of construction not common or approved in modern English.
4130. Catoun : Dionysius Cato is a name found in the title of a popular book of the fourth century, containing maxims of morality and rules of conduct.
4131. Make no account of dreams.
4133. as tak: so "as keep" in line 2302, "as sende" in line 2317.
4145. " Compleccioun " is not the color of the face, but the bodily constitution ; here "colerik," or abounding in the chol eric humor.
282 NOTES [PAGE 136
4156. mery : pleasant. Probably here in the sense of abun dant, flourishing.
4160. graunt mercy : grand merci, great thanks.
4172-4173. There is no need of any argument about it; the facts speak for themselves.
4174. gretteste auctour: Cicero in his work on Divi nation. An author unique among the greatest. See Stoffel, Anglia, XXVII, 253.
4177. happed: it happened.
4179. streit of herbergage: such lack of lodgings. We require in general that both clauses should be constructed alike ; exact parallelism is frequently absent from the language of Chaucer. His consciousness of the parts of speech did not outweigh his sense that the words as they stood expressed what he wanted to say.
4185. as it wolde falle : just as it happened.
4190. as in commune : the general direction that fortune gives to the course of our lives is modified by choice or chance or other powers. Fortune was originally a very solid being of flesh and blood, capable of struggling against those who would thwart her purpose.
4191. We have lost for the most part whatever distinction existed between " it was " and " it were " ; we still say " if it were," but no longer "before it were." See line 2647. Many now always say "if it was," while others always say "if it were," even when the sense requires "if it was." Such changes as were going on in the past are going on now, and men cannot cease changing their language.
4210. Do . . . arresten : this does not mean " do stop this cart," but " cause the stopping of this cart," " have it stopped." 4222. falle in suspecioun : to have suspicions. 4268. Chaucer could say "he mette," "he dreamed," or
PAGE 145] THE NUtfS PRIESTS TALE 283
"him mette," (it) dreamed to him, it seemed to him in his dream. With either of these it was possible to join " a wonder dream." agayn the day: toward morning, which was the time for truest dreams.
"I had a vision when the night was late." — TENNYSON.
4294. at the same tide : at the same time.
4307. For traisoun : for fear of treason.
4344. I make no account of laxatives, do not value them.
4354. " Woman is man's confusion." Chanticleer's version does not agree with this, but has the merit of being more pleas ing to Dame Partlet, who, poor woman, knew no Latin, and should not have attempted to lecture her lord.
4365. a corn (that) lay.
4378. " Bede then shows by what questions and answers they proved out of Scripture that this world began at the vernal equinox, or on the 21st of March, the moon then being full — one of two 'great lights.' It was in spring, because it is said the earth brought forth grass ; it was equinox, because light was said to have been divided equally from darkness." — MORLEY, English Writers, II, 146. March was also considered the first month of the year, which began not on the 1st but the 25th of March.
4380-4385. Sin March bigan: "the month when God first made man " was complete, and thirty-two days more had passed, and this brings us to the 3d of May. The sun had traversed in his journey from west to east twenty-one degrees of Taurus, and this again indicates the 3d of May. So grand an event as the fulfilment of Chanticleer's dream, with his justification of his forebodings, cannot be fitly dated in the phrase of tradesmen and bookkeepers.
4397-4399. These verses should be read with grave face and
284 NOTES [PACK 145
in solemn tone, and if you do not feel the full force of Chaucer's suggestion that "some rethor" might take for a text the muta bility of human affairs, you need more experience either of life or of Chaucer.
4401. al so trewe : quite as true.
4407. forn-cast : foreordained by the contrivance of the powers on high.
4424-4440. These questions of " fate, free will, foreknowl edge absolute " bulked large in Chaucer's mind. His transla tion of Boethius and the reflections that interrupt the course even of his lighter poems show his preoccupation with those great interests of the Middle Ages, for he does not exaggerate when he says : —
" That in scole is greet altercacioun In this matere, and greet disputisoun, And hath been of an hundred thousand men."
Sometimes, however, he seems to be laughing at this over strain on human wits, and he is unable to explain on the prin ciples of this high philosophy how the purpose of a dream could be thwarted by the " cold counsel " of a woman. But here he checks himself again. " Is their counsel really cold ? Authors say so, the cock says so, but I can conjecture no harm of any woman."
4430. bulte it to the bren: sift till bran and grain are entirely separated.
4433 ff. There are three questions Chaucer "wol not ban to do of," nor can I. Does absolute foreknowledge constrain (1) by simple necessity, or (2) not at all, or (3) by conditional necessity ?
4487. He must have entertained himself very agreeably with them.
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4493. of herte : he sang with all his heart.
4506. The cock refrained from crowing, and did not wake up the young man in time for his ordination.
4507 ff . No comparison between the wisdom and discretion of your father and the subtlety of him, i.e. the hero in Daun Burnel the Asse. The " of " is somewhat displaced ; the mean ing would have been expressed by "of him the subtiltee."
4513. " Man hath " and " men hath " were both used in the sense of one has. " Men" is in such use not a plural, but a worn form of " man," which has ceased to call to mind a human being or an adult male, and is read here " as one that could," etc.
4519. Read Ecclesiasticus on flattery.
4549. The beginning of title or first line often denoted the book. JEneidos Libri XII, gave the name Eneydos to what we call the ^Eneid. The passage in which Pyrrhus with his drawn sword appears is familiar to any one who has read Vergil, ^Eneidos Liber II.
4545 f. This comparison of great things with small, the alarm of the hens with the terror of women at the burning of Troy, Rome, and Carthage, is a form of humor that manifests itself here and there even in our time.
4572. many another man : many a man besides.
4584 f . The Flemings were foreigners, if not ' ' foreign devils ' ' to Jack Straw's followers in 1381.
4635. "My Lord the Bishop," or some such addition; per haps the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1381 to 1396, William Courtenay.
PROPER NAMES
Adoun, Adonis, 2224. Venus loved him in vain, and mourned his untimely death.
Alisaundie, Alexandria in Egypt, 51. It was won by Pierre de Lusignan in 1365.
Amadrides, Hamadryades, 2928. To the ancient Greeks they were nymphs whose life depended on that of their trees.
Amazones, Amazons, 880. The Greeks of the Heroic Age frequently battled with this race of women that dwelled about the Black Sea.
Amphioun, Amphion, 1546. In the Heroic Age he made him self king of Thebes in Bceotia.
Antonius, Mark Antony, 2032. He killed himself at Alexan dria, 30 B.C.
Arcita, 1013 ; Arcita, 2761 ; Arcfte, 1031 ; Arcite, 1344, Arcite. This Theban knight first appears in the Teseide of Boccaccio.
Argus, Argus, 1390. He had a hundred eyes, was set to guard lo, was charmed to sleep, and slain by Mercury.
Aristotle, Aristotle, 295. This Grecian philosopher (384- 322 B.C.) ruled the spirits of men in the centuries that preceded the Renaissance.
Artoys, Artois, 86. Nearly the modern Pas-de-Calais in North ern France, a province of ancient France ; in Chaucer's time, a countship.
Atthalante, Atalanta, 2070. She shared with Meleager in the 287
288 PROPER NAMES
hunt for the Caledonian boar, and became unwittingly the
cause of Meleager's death.
Atthenes, Athens in Greece, 861 ; Athenians, 880. Attheon, Actseon, 2065. He saw Diana bathing, and was
changed by her into a stag and torn in pieces by his own
dogs. Austin, St. Augustine, 187. From the works of this greatest
of the Latin Fathers (354-430) rules were deduced that
were adopted by as many as thirty monastic fraternities. Averrois, Averroes, 433. This Spanish-Arabian philosopher
(1126-1198) was famed not only for medical works, but for
works on law, mathematics, etc., and particularly for a
commentary on Aristotle. Avicen, Avicenna, 432. The medical works of this Arabian
philosopher (980-1037) were, in a Latin translation, used
in European schools till 1700.
Baldeswello, Baldeswell in Norfolk, 620.
Bathe, Bath in Somersetshire, 445.
Belle, Bell, inn in Southwark, 719.
Belmarye, Benmarin, 57. The latter is Froissart's name for
this Moorish kingdom in Northern Africa ; others called it
Balmeryne and Belmore. Beneit, Benedict, 173. This Italian monk (480-543) prescribed
to his followers the observance of certain times for manual
and mental labor as well as for their religious duties. Berwik, Ber wick- on-T weed in Northumberland, 692. Boece, Boethius, 4432. This Roman philosopher (475-524)
held high position in the state and was charged with treason
and put to death. He wrote De Consolatione Philoso-
phice, which Chaucer translated. Boloigne, Boulogne in France, 465.
PROPER NAMES 289
Bradwardyn, Bradwardine, 4432. This English theologian
and mathematician (1290-1349) was rightly called Doctor
Profundus. Britayne, Brittany, 409. The great northwestern peninsula of
France was one of those independent duchies whose union
formed France.
Burdeux, Bordeaux in Southwestern France, 397. Burnel, Brunellus, 4502. Like Reynard the Fox or Bruin the
Bear, is Brunell (Browny) the Ass.
Cadme, Cadmus, 1546. Thebes in Boeotia was reputed to have been founded by this Tyrian.
Calistopee, Callisto, 2056. She incurred the wrath of the cha-ste Diana and was changed into a bear ; on the point of being slain, she was transformed by Jupiter into the constellation Ursa Major, or, according to Chaucer, into the lodestar, which is in Ursa Minor.
Cappaneus, Capaneus, 932. This one of the seven heroes who marched from Argos against Thebes was struck by Jupiter with lightning. A different legend from that followed by Chaucer makes his wife to have flung herself into the flames and to have perished.
Cartage, Carthage, in Northern Africa, 404.
Catoun, Dionysius Cato, 4161. Disticha de Moribus ad Filium, of which he was reputed author, was popular in the Middle Ages, and was translated into French and English.
Caunterbury, Canterbury in Kent, 16.
Chauntecleer, Chanticleer, 4039. Compare like names for other animals than the cock : Reynard, Bruin, etc.
Chepe, Cheapside in London, 754.
Cipioun, Scipio Africanus the Younger, 4314. This Roman general (185-129 B.C.) appears in Cicero's De fiepublica, u
290 PROPER NAMES
relating a dream of moral import, on which Macrobius wrote a commentary.
Citherea, Venus, 2215. She has the name Cytherea from the island Cythera or from a Cretan town of that name.
Colle, name of a dog, 4573.
Coloigne, Cologne, 466. Many pilgrims resorted thither to the relics, among which are the bones of the Three Wise Men of the East.
Constantyn, Constantino the African, 433. He was born in Carthage, studied in Babylon, taught medicine at Salerno, translated from Greek and Arabic, died in 1087.
Creon, Creon, 938. He ruled Thebes after the exile of OEdipus, desiroyed the Argive kings that assailed him, and was in turn attacked and slain by Theseus, in Chaucer's version.
Cresus, Croesus, 1946. King of Lydia (560 B.C.); he was cap tured by Cyrus, 546 B.C.
Crete, Crete, 980. This Grecian island in the Mediterranean is famous in legend and histoiy, while the buried cities, recently unearthed, antedate both. In Chaucer's time it belonged to Venice.
Damascien, Johannes Damascenus, 433. John of Damascus,
theologian and father of the Eastern church, died about 760. Dane, Daphne, 2062. She was beloved by Apollo and changed
into a laurel. Deiscorides, Dioscorides, 430. A Greek physician of the
second century A.D. Dertemouthe, Dartmouth, 389. This town of Devonshire at
the mouth of the Dart was an important seaport in the
Middle Ages. Diane, Diana, 1682. This Italian divinity was associated in
some way with the moon, chastity, hunting, and later with
the Greek Artemis,
PROPER NAMES 291
Ecclesiaste, Ecclesiasticus, 4519. This is not Ecclesiastes, but a non-canonical book of the Old Testament.
Ector, Hector, 2832. This son of Priam and husband of An dromache was slain by Achilles, who gave up the dead body to the Trojans at the prayer of the father.
Egeus, JEgeus, 2838. In a Greek legend ^Egeus, the father of Theseus, supposing his son to have been devoured by the Minotaur, threw himself into sea.
Emelye and Emelya, Emily, 871, 1077.
Eneydos, TEneid, 4549. " As seith us ^Eneidos liber secuudus " would be the full form.
Engelond, England, 10.
Epicurus, Epicurus, 336. This Greek philosopher (342-270 B.C.) got a bad name by teaching that no one ought to make pain the aim of action.
Esculapius, ^sculapius, 429. The fabled son of Apollo and god of physicians appears in Chaucer among the medical authorities of the Middle Ages.
Femenye, country of the Amazons, 866.
Finistere, Cape Finisterre, in Northwest Spain, 408.
Flaundres, Flanders, 86. To Chaucer this name meant a country which included the modern Flanders and consider ably more.
Flaundrish, Flemish, 272.
Fleming, Flemish resident of England, 4586.
Galgopheye, Gargaphia, 2626. The former may be the same as the latter, and the latter is only known as the place in which, according to Ovid, Actseon was torn by his hounds.
G-alice, Galicia, 466. To this province in Northwestern Spain
292 PROPER NAMES
pilgrims once flocked to visit the shrine of St. James of Compostella.
Galien, Galen, 431. This Greek physician and philosopher (130-200 A.D.) left numerous works and was a high authority in medicine.
Gatesden, John Gatisden, 434. He was a distinguished physi cian of Oxford not long before the birth of Chaucer.
Gaufred, Geoffrey de Vinsauf, 4537. He was an Englishman, flourished in the twelfth century, and wrote in Latin Nova Poetria. He thought he was a poet and could teach others by his example to be poets too.
Gaunt, Ghent, in East Flanders, 448.
Genilou, Ganelon, 4417. One of the twelve peers of Charle magne ; he caused by his treachery the death of Roland and the defeat at Roncesvalles.
Gerland, Garland, 4573. The name of a dog.
Gilbertyn, Gilbertine, 434. He has been identified with Gil- bertus Anglicus.
Gootlond, Gottland, 408. Few voyagers went farther north than this island in the Baltic.
Grece, Greece, 962.
Grek, Greek, 2899.
Grete See, Mediterranean, 59.
Haly, Haly, 431. An Arabian physician and astronomer of
the twelfth century. Hasdrubal, Hasdrubal, 4553. He was king of Carthage when
it was burnt by the Romans, 146 B.C. Hereos, Eros, 1374. This Greek word for love and for the
love-god is here used of the despondency of love. Huberd, Hubert, 269. Hulle, Hull in Yorkshire, 404. This had become an important
port in the thirteenth century.
PROPER NAMES 293
Ilioun, Ilion, 4546. This citadel of Troy was the one Chaucer had read about in Vergil.
Inde, India, 2156. Chaucer's Inde is of course not the definite India of our atlas or globe ; but one should know that traders, travellers, and missionaries had revealed to Europe the wonderful civilizations of Asia, that in 1306 Asia had a Christian bishop, and in 1328 Jourdain de Severac was made bishop of Collam in India.
Ipolita, Hippolyte, 868. Nothing need be added to what is contained in the text, except that there are many varia tions in her story which may be found at least in part in any classical dictionary.
Jakke Straw, Jack Straw, 4584. A leader in the peasant in surrection of 1381.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 463.
Jove, Jupiter, 2222.
Julian, St. Julian, 340. His legend may be found in Mrs. Jameson's Sacred and Legendary Art.
Kenelm, St. Kenelm, 4300. At the age of seven, becoming king of the Mercians (821), Cenhehn was murdered at the command of his sister under whose tutelage he was. He had dreamed that he was changed into a bird and flew to heaven from the top of a tree bright with candles, when it was felled by a friend.
Kenulphus, Kenulphus, 4301. This is the Latinized form of the name of Cenwulf, king of Mercia from 796 to 819.
Lettow, Lithuania, 54. This grand-duchy afforded a fine field for arms. It fought with Poles, Russians, and Teutonic knights. It was finally Christianized under its duke Jagello,
294 PROPER NAMES
who ascended the throne of Poland in 1386. There are
still Lithuanians, but no Lithuania. London, London, 382. Loy, St. Eligius, 120. St. Eloi (588-659) was a humble saint, a
layman who helped the poor, a goldsmith whose work pleased
kings ; but for all that he was made bishop of Noyon. Lucina, Lucina, 2085. She was invoked by women in labor ;
the light-bringer, she was later identified with Diana. Lyde, Lydia, 4328. The Lydian empire in Asia Minor came
to an end with the conquest of Croesus by Cyrus, 546 B.C. Lyeys (Layas in Froissart), Ayas, 58. This place was won
from the Turks by Pierre of Lusignan about 1367. It is
near Adana in Asia Minor. Lygurge, Lycurgus, 2129. Lycurgus, a king of Thrace in myth,
need not be identified with this king of Thrace in romance.
Macrobeus, Macrobius, 4313. This Roman grammarian (fifth century) has left a commentary on Cicero's Dream of Scipio and a collection of dialogues on multifarious topics.
Malkin, name of a servant girl, 4574.
Malle. Moll, 4021. Here the name of a sheep.
Mars, Mars, 975. Mars had been among the Romans a great warrior, the ideal warrior, the god of warriors. What an on-gazer might mistake for the worship of Mars still goes on in the delight of men in representations of him in art. Could Chaucer believe that any such being ever had existed? The Mars that he could see in the sky, the wandering star, the red planet — you would search Chaucer's works in vain to find any hint of his guesses about its nature. As for his influence on human affairs, with many things that astrologers said about }t Chaucer expressly states that he. did not agree,
PROPER NAMES 295
Marte, Mars, 2021.
Maudelayne, Magdalen, 410. Here the name of a ship.
Maure, St. Maure, 173. He was a disciple of St. Benedict, founded, it was said, a Benedictine abbey in France in 543.
Meleagre, Meleager, 2071. He gave to Atalanta the prize of the hunt. His mother's brothers objected and he slew them. His mother thereupon burned the brand which she had once carefully preserved, for he was fated to live only so long as it lasted.
Mercenrike, Mercia, 4302. An Anglian kingdom in Central England, which lasted from the sixth to the ninth century.
Mercuric. Mercury, 1385. A Roman god about whom the stories came to be told that had been told about the Greek Hermes. He appears to the souls of the sleeping and the dead, with a communication from some god. Chaucer has in mind Ovid's description of the way in which he was arrayed.
Middelburgh. Middelburg, 277. It was once a great commer cial town, a member of the Hanseatic League. It is in Holland on the island of Walcheren.
Minotaur, Minotaur, 980. This monster, a human body and bull's head, was fed in the Cretan labyrinth on youths and maidens, sent as tribute from Athens, till he was slain by Theseus.
Narcisus, Narcissus, 1941. This " faire of yore agon " in pun ishment for his scorn of others was made to perish with love of his own reflection in the water.
Nero, Nero, 2032. The "grete Nero" is of course the em peror ; there were other Neros. He died by his own hand to escape his pursuers, 68 A.D.
296 PROPER NAMES
Northfolk, Norfolk, 619. In this county, which was once a part of East Anglia, the name Chaucer occurs as early as 1275.
Orewelle, Orwell, 277. The port of Orwell was at Harwich in Essex, opposite the confluence of the Stour and the Orwell. Oxenford, Oxford, 285.
Palamoun, Palamon, 1070.
Palatye, Palathia, 65.
Perotheus, Pirithous, 1191. He was helped by Theseus in the conflict with the Centaurs, and also in his attempt to take Proserpine from Hades, according to the ancient myth. That he was sought there after his death by Theseus, Chaucer learns from Le Roman de la Hose.
Pertelote, Partlet, 4060.
Phebus, Phoebus, 1493. This which meant originally an attri bute of the sun-god, or the sun as god, had been used so much that it had come to mean no more than the sun.
Phisiologus, Physiologus, 4461. Sometimes used as the name of an author, but really the name of a sort of book, other wise called Bestiary, which tells a few facts, or fictions, about a few animals, with their signification. Thus, we may learn from the pigeon not to rob, for she does not live on prey.
Pirnis, Pyrrhus, 4547. Priam's death at the hand of Achilles's son, Pyrrhus, was esteemed the most affecting incident at the fall of Troy.
Pluto, Pluto, 2082. He was the husband of Ceres' daughter, Proserpine. He had grieved Ceres by carrying off her daughter, Proserpine.
Poules, St. Paul's (Cathedral), 509.
PROPER NAMES 297
Priam, Priam, 4548. The last king of Troy. His story was once known to all schoolboys. If you cannot read Latin, you may read it in some translation of the ^Eneid rather than in a classical dictionary.
Pruce, Prussia, 53 ; Prussian, 2122. Pruce was a Baltic land which the Order of the Teutonic Knights had wrested from the heathen Slavs, and were holding against the Poles and Lithuanians.
Razis, Rhasis, 432. A cyclopaedia of medicine was left by this
Arabian- Persian who died about 932. Romayn, Roman, 4555. Rouncivale, Hospital of the Blessed Mary of Rouncyvalle at
Charing (London), 670. Ruce, Russia, 54. We would like to know what Ruce meant
to Chaucer ; something quite different certainly from what
Russia means to us. Rufus, Rufus, 430. A Greek physician at Ephesus about
100 A.D.
Russel, Russell, 4524. It means the reddish one.
Salamon, Solomon, 1942. Sampson, Samson, 2466. Satalye, Attalia, 58. This place, of which one modern name is
Adalia, is on the south coast of Asia Minor. Scariot, (Judas) Iscariot, 4417. Scithia, Scythia, 867. A vague name at the best for Central
Asia. Serapion, Serapion, 432. An Arabian physician of the eleventh
century. Sinon, Sinon, 4418. He pretended to be a deserter from the
Greeks and betrayed Troy into their hands.
298 PROP EH NAMES
Southwerk, Southwark, 20. Now a portion of London south
of the Thames. Spayne, Spain, 409. Stace, Statius, 2294. He is here called Stace of Thebes as the
author of the Thebais. He was a Roman poet who died
about 86 A.D.
Tabard, an inn, 20. Its sign was a sleeveless coat, such as
heralds wear.
Talbot, name of a dog, 4573. Tars, Tartary (Skeat), Tarsus (Liddell), 2160. Thebes, Thebes, 933. The chief city of Boeotia, ruled over by
Creon. Thomas, St. Thomas a Becket, 826. He was slain in 1172, and
canonized in 1220. His shrine was destroyed in the time
of Henry VIIT.
Trace, Thrace, 1638. A region north of Greece. Tramissene, Tremessen, 62. A Moorish kingdom in Africa,
near the present Gulf of Tremessen. Troye, Troy, 2833. Chaucer's statements about Troy are
derived from Latin writers, mostly post-classical. Turkye, Turkey, 66. Turnus, 1945. This king of the Rutulians in Italy was slain
by JEneas.
Venus, Venus, 1904. Vulcanus, Vulcan, 2222.
Ware, Ware, 692. This town is in Hertfordshire about twenty
miles north of London. Watte, Walter, 643. William, William the Conqueror, 324.
PROPER NAMES 299
Ypres, Ypres, 448. A town in West Flanders, once famous for its linen and woollen.
Zephirus, Zephyrus, Zephyr, 5. The west wind.
GLOSSARY
a, on ; a Goddes name, in
God's name, 854. a, ah, 1785. able, fit, 167. abood, delay, 965. aboute, around, 488 ; in turn,
890.
abrayde, awoke, 4198. abregge, abridge, 2999. abye, aboughte, abought,
suffered from, 2303 ; suffered
for, 3100.
accomplice, accomplish, 2864. accord, acord, agreement,
838 ; harmony, 4069. accordant, acordaunt, suit able, 37, 4026. achat, purchase, 571. achatour, purchaser, 568. acorde, agree, 830 ; it suited,
244.
actes, records, 4326. a-day, in the day, 2623. adoun, down, downwards, 393. adrad, afraid, 605.
afered (aferd), afraid, 628. affeccioun, affection, 1158. affile, render smooth, 712. affrayed, scared, 4468. after, according to, 125. after oon, alike, 341. agaste , agaste, agast,
frighten, 2931 ; Arcita him
(himself) agaste, A. was
affrighted, 2424. agayn, again, against, toward,
2680. agoon, agon, ago, gone, past,
2802.
agrief, amiss, 4083. aiel, grandfather, 2477. al, all, entire ; quite, wholly,
76 ; although, 297, 734. alaunt, wolf-hound, 2148. alderbest, best of all, 710. alderman, chief officer of a
guild, 372. ale-stake, support of a tavern
sign, 667. algate, always, 571.
301
302
GLOSSARY
allegge, allege, 3000.
aller, alder, of all ; our aller,
of us all, 823 ; hir aller, of
them all, 586. als, also, 3976. amblere, ambling nag, 469. amiddes, in the midst, 2009. amonges, amongst, 759. amorwe, on the morrow, 822. amounte, signify, 2362. anhange, hang, 4252. anight, by night, 1042. anlas, a short two-edged dag ger, 357.
apaye, satisfy, 1868. apike, adorn, 365. appalle, weaken, 3053. apparaillinge, preparation,
2913.
appetyt, desire, 1680. arest, rest (of spears), 2602. arette, consider, 726, 2729. arm-greet, thick as one's arm,
2145. armipotente, powerful in
arms, 1982. arraye, equip, 2046 ; arrange,
2867.
ars-metrike, arithmetic, 1898. artow, art thou, 1141. arwes, arrows, 107. as, as if, 81 ; as keep, pray
keep, 2302; as nouthe, at present, 462 ; as out of that contree, out of that country at least, 1345 ; as by wey of possibilitee, as far as possi bilities are concerned, 1291.
ascencioun, ascending degree, 4045.
ascendent, ascendant, the point of the ecliptic on the eastern horizon at any mo ment, 417.
ashanie, put to shame, 2667.
ashen, ashes, 1302.
aslake, assuage, 1760.
asp, aspen, 2921.
aspect, angle made at the eye by two heavenly bodies, 1087.
aspye, see, 1420.
assaut, assault, 989.
assaye, try, 1811.
assege, besiege, 881.
assise, assize, session, 314.
assoilling, absolution, 661.
asterte, asterte, astert, es cape, 1595.
astone, astonie, astonish, 2361.
astore, store, 609.
astronomye, astrology, 414.
asure, azure, 4052.
athamaunt, adamant, 1305.
a three, in three, 2934.
GLOSSARY
303
at-rede, outwit, 2449. at-renne, outrun, 2449. atte, at the, 29. attempre, temperate, 4028. auctour, author, 4174. auter, altar, 1905. avaunce, be profitable, 246. avaunt, boast, 227. avauntour, boaster, 4107. aventure, adventure, chance,
25.
avisioun, vision, dream, 4304. avow, vow, 2237. avys, advice, consideration,
opinion, 786. axe, ask, 1347.
axing, demand, bidding, 1826. ayeyns, against, W87.
bacheler, aspirant to knight hood, 80.
bake-mete, meat pie, 343.
balled, bald, 198.
bane, destruction, 1097.
baner, banner, 966.
bar, baren, bore, 105, 721.
barbour, barber, 2025.
bareyne, barren, 1244.
barres, ornamental bands or bosses, 329.
batailled, embattled, indented like a battlement, 4050.
bauderye, gayety, 1926.
baudrik, bawdrik, baldric, suspended from one shoul der, and passing under the opposite arm, 116.
bedes (peire of), rosary, 159.
beest, beast, 4089.
beggestere, beggar (originally of females only), 242.
beme, trumpet, 4588.
benedicite, give praise to (him) ; often a mere excla mation, ben'dic'te, 1785.
benigne, kind, 518.
bente, grassy slope, 1981.
bere, bar, bore, born, bear, carry, 796, 2646.
bere, bear, 1640.
bere, bier, 2871.
berie, berry, 207.
beste, atte, in the best man ner, 29.
bestes, beasts, 2929.
bet, better, 242.
bete, beat, 4512 ; ybete, em- bossed, 979.
bete, kindle, 2253.
beth war, beware, 4520.
bi-bledde, covered with blood, 2002.
bifalle, bifel, bifallen, bi- falle, befall, 19.
304
GLOSSARY
biforen, biforn, bifore, be fore, in front, beforehand, 377, 450, 1376.
bihote, promise, 1854.
bi-japed, befooled, 1585.
biknowe, acknowledge, 1556, 4251.
bile, bill (of a bird), 4051.
biquethe, bequeath, 2768.
biraft, taken away from, 1361.
biseken, beseech, 918.
bisette, bisette, biset, em ploy, 279 ; establish, 3012.
biside, beside, 874 ; of biside, from the neighborhood of, 445.
bisides, him bisides. about him, 402.
bismotered, stained, 76.
bisy, busy, 321.
bit, bids, 187.
bithought, I am, I have thought (of), 767.
bitwixen, bitwixe, betwixt, 277, 880.
biwreye, disclose, reveal, 2229, 4241.
blankminger, a compound of minced fowl with cream, rice, almond, sugar, eggs, etc., 387.
blede, bleed, 1801.
bleynte, blenched, started
back, 1078, blive, quickly, 2697. bocher, butcher, 2025. bokeler, buckler, 112. bokelinge, buckling, 2503. boket, bucket, 1533. boles, bulls, 2139. bond, bound, 2991. bone, prayer, 22.69. boon, bone, 1177. boras, borax, 630. bord, table, 52. borwe (to), in pledge, 1622. bote, remedy, 424. boteler, butler, 4324. botme, bottom, 4291. bouk, body, 2746. bour, inner room, 4022. bowes, boughs, 2917. box, boxwood, 4588. bracer, armguard (against the
bowstring), 111. brak, broke, 1468. brast, burst, 4408. brede, breadth, 1970. breed, bread, 341. breem, bream (fresh- water
fish), 350. breke, break, 551. breme. fiercely, 1699. bren, bran, 4430.
GLOSSARY
305
brend, burnished, 2162. brenne, burn, 2331. brenninge, burning, 996. bresten, burst, 1980. bretful, brimful, 687, 2164. bretherhed, brotherhood (of
a religious order), 611. briddes, birds, 2929. brond, firebrand, 2339. brood, broad, 155, 3024. brouke, use, 4490. brouding, embroidery, 2498. broun, brown, 109. browe, eyebrow, 627, 2134. broyded, braided, 1049. bulte, built, 1548. bulte, bolt, sift (of grain),
4430. burdoun, bass accompaniment,
673.
burgeys, burgess, citizen, 369. burned, burnished, 1983. busk, bush, £013. but, unless, 582, 782, 2245. but if, unless, 351, 656. but that, except that, 3002. by and by, side by side, 1011. bying, buying, 569.
caitif, caitives, captive, wretch, wretched, 924, 1552, 1717.
can, can, know, know how,
210, 1780, 2312. cantel, portion, 3008. careful, sorrowful, 1565. careyne, carrion, carcass,
2013.
carf, carved, 100. carl, churl, fellow, 545. carole, dance in a ring with
accompaniment of singing,
1931.
carpe, talk, 474. carte, cart, 4208; chariot,
2041. cas, chance, 844 ; case, 797 ;
cases of law, 323. cas, quiver (of arrows), 2358. cast, plot, 2468. caste, conjecture, 2172 ; (cast
for casteth), consider, 2854. casuelly, accidentally, 4291. catapuce, spurge (Euphorbia
lathyris), 4155. catel, property, goods, 373,
4017. celle, branch convent, ruled
by a prior, 172 ; cell (of the
brain), 1376. centaure, centaury (Centau-
rea nigra), 4153. cerial, cerrial oak, bitter oak
(Quersus cerris), 2290.
306
GLOSSARY
ceruce, white lead, 630.
ceynt, cincture, girdle, 329.
champartye, participation in power, 1949.
chaped, having scabbards with metal tips, 366.
chapeleyne, chaplain, 164.
chapman, trader, merchant, 397.
char, chariot, 2138.
charge, task, 733; ground of reproach, 2287.
charitable, kind, 143.
charitee, love (Christian char ity), 452.
chasteyn, chestnut tree, 2922.
chaunterye, chantry, place with endowment for singing masses, 610. .
chees, choose (thou), 1595.
chere, countenance, appear ance, entertainment, 747, 913.
cherl, countryman, churl, 2459.
chevetayn, captain, 2555.
chevisaunce, loans, 282.
chirche, church (as place for burial or funeral), 2760.
chirking, shrill sounds, 2004.
chivachye, expedition on horseback, 85.
chuk, cluck, 4364.
citee, city, 939.
citole, small oblong box with
strings across the top to be
struck with fingers, 1959. citryn, citron (in color), 2167. clarree, wine, honey, and
spices mixed and strained,
1471. clene, clean, 133 ; clennesse,
purity, 506. clepen, call, name, 121; cry
out, 643. clerk, cleric, scholar, man of
learning, 285.
cloisterer, resident in a clois ter, 259.
clomben. ascended, 4388. cloos, closed, 4522. clos, enclosure, 4550. clothered, clotted, 2745. clothes, tapestries, draperies,
2281.
cofre, coffer, chest, 298. cok, cock, 823. colera (Latin), choler, 4118. colered, provided with collars,
2152. colerik, of bilious humor or
temperament, 587. colfox, brant-fox, 4405. colpons, shreds, 679; billets
(of wood), 2867,
GLOSSARY
307
cometh, come, 839.
communes, commons, com moners, 2509.
compassing, contrivance, 1996.
compeer, comrade, 670.
complexioun, complecci- oun, temperament, consti tution, bodily habit, 333, 4114.
compleynt, complaint, 2012.
composicioun, agreement, 848, 2651.
condicioun, condition, qual ity, 38.
confus, confused, 2230.
conscience, pity, sympathy, 142.
conseil, counsel, 1141 ; coun sellor, 1147.
conserve, preserve, 2329.
constellacioun, the position of the sun, the moon, and the planets with regard to one another, 1088.
contek, strife, 2003.
contenaunce, appearance, 1916.
contrarie, adversary, 1859.
contree, country, 216.
conveye, escort, 2737.
cop, top, 564.
cope, a long cape or cloak worn by monks and friars, 260.
coppe, cup, 134.
cor age, heart, 11.
coroune, crown, 2875.
correccioun, correction, 2461.
corrumpable, subject to de cay, 3010.
corven, cut, 2696.
cosin, cousin, kinsman, 1131.
cote, hovel, 2457.
cote-armure, coat, embroid ered with armorial insignia, worn over armor, 1016.
couched, embroidered, 2161, laid, 2933.
coude, could, knew, knew how to, 95, 476, 130.
countour, auditor (of ac counts), 359.
countrefete, imitate, 139.
courtepy, short overcoat of
~~ course stuff, 290.
couthe, renowned, 14.
coverchief, kerchief, 453.
covine, trickery, 604.
cowardye, cowardice, 2730.
coy, quiet, 119.
cracching, scratching, 2834.
crafty, skilful, 1897.
crike, creek, 409.
308
GLOSSARY
Cristofre, St. Christopher's likeness, 115.
crop, shoot, 7 ; treetop, 1532.
croys, cross, 699.
crulle, curly, 81.
cure, care, thought, 303, 1007, 2853.
curious, skilful, 577.
curs, curse (excommunica tion), 655.
curteys, courteous, 250.
cut, lot, 835.
daliaunce, gossip, 211.
damoysele, miss, 4060.
dampned, condemned, 1175.
dar, dare, 1151.
darreyne, to decide, to decide one's right to, 1631, 1609.
daun, lord, sir, 1379, 3982.
daunger, danger, liability, con trol, 402, 663, 1849.
daungerous, haughty, 517.
daweninge, dawning, 4072.
daweth, dawns, 1676.
dayerye, dairy, 597.
dayesye, daisy, 332.
debat, debate, strife, 1754.
debonaire, gracious, 2282.
dede, deed, 742.
deduyt, pleasure, 2177.
deed, dead, 145.
deedly, deathlike, 913.
deef, deaf, 446.
deel, part, share, bit, 1825,
4024. defye, renounce, spurn, 1604 ;
defy, 4361. degree, step, used for seats,
1890 ; situation, 1841 ; rank,
40.
del, see deel.
delivere, quick, active, 84. delve, dig, 536. delyt, delight, pleasure, 335,
1679.
denie, deem, 1881. departe, separate, 1134. depeynted, depicted, 2027. dere, injure, 1822. derke, dark, 1995. derre, dearer, 1448. desdeyn, disdain, 789. despitous, merciless, cruel,
516, 1596. destreyne, oppress, distress,
1455.
dette, debt, 280. devise, relate, 994 ; plan,
1254.
devoir,. duty, 2598. devys, direction, 816. deye, dairywoman, 4036. deyne, deign, 4371.
GLOSSARY
309
deyntee, valuable, 168 ; dainty, 346.
deya, dais, 370.
diapred, having the surface figured in the weaving, 2158.
dich, ditch, 4038.
diched, provided with a moat, 1888.
dight, dressed, 1041 ; made ready, 1630.
digne, worthy, 141 ; too re served, 517.
dike, make ditches, 536.
disconfitinge, disconfiture, defeat, 2719, 1008.
disconfort, -discouragement, 2010.
disfigured, changed in aspect, 1403.
disherited, disinherited, 2926.
dishevele, dishevelled, 683.
disjoynt, failure, 2962.
dispence, expenditure, ex pense, 441, 1882.
disport, readiness to be amused, 137.
disposicioun, position, 1087 ; disposal, 2364.
disputisoun, disputation, 4428.
divininge, conjecturing, 2521.
divinistre, diviner (in no bad sense), 2811.
divisioun, distinction, 1780. doke, duck, 4580. dokke, cut short, dock, 590. domes, decisions, 323. doon, don, do, do, make, cause,
78. dormant, kept standing (of a
table), 353. dorste, durst, 227. doughtren, daughters, 4019. doute, doubt, 487. dowves, doves, 1962. drecche, trouble, 4077. drede, fear, 1776. dredeful, timid, 1479. drenching, drowning, 2456. dresse, put in order, 106, 2594. dreye, dry, 3024. dreynt, drowned, 4272. droughte, drought, 2. droupe, droop, 107. drugge, drudge, 1416. duk, duke, 860. dure, endure, 2770. duske, grow dim, 2806. dwelle, remain, 1661 ; delay,
4340.
dye, die, 1109. dys, dice, 1238.
ecclesiaste, minister, 708. ech, each, 39.
310
GLOSSARY
echoon, echon, each one, 820.
eek, also, 5.
eet, ate, 2048.
effect, fact, • purpose, event,
2207, 2259, 2482. eft, again, 1669. elde, old age, 2447. ellebor, hellebore (Helleborus
niger), 4154. elles, else, 375. embrouded, covered with em broidery, 89.
emforth, to the extent of, 2235. empoysoning, poisoning, 2460. emprise, enterprise, 2540. encens. incense, 2429. encombred. stuck fast, 508 ;
wearied, 1718. encrees, increase, 2184. endelong, lengthwise, 1991 ;
from one end to the other of,
2678. endite, relate, 1380 ; compose,
95.
engendred, produced, 4, 421. engendren, are produced, 4113. engined, tortured, racked,
4250.
enhorte, encourage, 2861. enoynt, anointed, 2961. ensample, example, 496. entente, purpose, 1000.
entune, intone, 123. envined, having store of wine,
342.
equinoxial, equator, 4046. er, before, 36. erbe, herb, see ive. erchedeken, archdeacon, 658. ere, plough, 886. eres, ears, 556. erst, first, sooner, 776, 1566. eschaunge, exchange, 278. eschue. eschew, avoid, 3043. ese, entertainment, 768. esed, entertained, 29. esily, easily, 469. espye, discover, '1112. estat, state, condition, 203, 522. estres, interior parts, 1971. esy, moderate, 441. eterne, eternal, 1109 ; eter nally, 3015.
even, just, 1864 ; proper, 83. evene, evenly, 1623. everich, every, each, every
one, 241, 3T1, 1186. everich a, every single, 733. everichon, every one, 81. ew, yew tree, 2923. expouned. expounded, 4306. ey, egg, 4035. eyen, eyes, 152. eyle, ail, 1081,
GLOSSARY
fader, father, 100.
fadme, fathoms, 2916.
faire, safely, without opposi tion, 984 j carefully, 2697.
falding, sort of coarse cloth, 391.
falle, befall, 585.
falwe, fallow, yellowish, 1364.
famulier, familiar, on good terms, 215.
fare, behaviour, 1809.
fare, go, proceed, fare, 1265, 1372, 2435.
farsed, stuffed, 233.
faste, near, close, 719, 1478.
faught, fought, 399.
fayn, glad, gladly, 766.
fedde, fed, 146.
feeld, field, plain, 886, 977.
feend, fiend, 4476.
fel, felle, cruel, 2630, 1559.
felawe, fellow, partner, 648, 1624.
felaweshipe, fellowship, 32.
feld, felled, cut down, 2924.
fer, far, 388, 1850.
ferde, acted, 1647 ; behaved, 1372.
ferforthly (so), to such a de gree, 960.
fermacies, remedies, 2713.
ferae, distant, 14.
ferre, farther, 48. ferreste, farthest, 494. ferther, further, 36. ferthing, small portion, 134,
255.
feste, entertain, 2193. festne, fasten, 195. fet, fetched, brought, 819,
2527.
fetis, shapely, 157. fetisly, elegantly, 124. fettres, fetters, 1279. fey, faith, 1126. feyne, invent, feign, 705. fil, fillen, fell, 845, 949. file, file, polish, 2162. firre, fir tree, 2921. fithele, fiddle, 296. flatour, flatterer, 4515. flee, fly, 4132. fleen, flee, escape, 1170. fleigh, flew, 4529. flete, swim, float, 2397. flex, flax, 676. fley, flew, 4362. flikeringe, fluttering, 1962. flotery, fluttering, wavy, 2883. flour, flower, 4. flour-de-lys, fleur-de-lis, 238. floytinge, playing on the flute,
whistling, 91. folwe, follow, 2367.
312
GLOSSARY
fo, foo, foe, 63. fond, found, 701. foom, foam, 1659. foot-mantel, mantle for a
horse, often reaching to his
feet (it might be folded over
the rider's hips), 472. for, against, 4307 ; because,
443 ; in spite of, 2745 ; in
order that, 2879 ; for to, in
order to, to, 13, 78. for-blak. very black, 2144. fordo, destroyed, 1560. forn-cast, foreordained, 4407. forneys, furnace, 202, 559. for-old, very old, 2142. for-pined, wasted away (by
torment), 205; worn out,
1453. fors, force ; do no fors of,
make no account of, 4131. for-slewthen, waste in sloth,
4288.
forster, forester, 117. forther-moor, farther on, 2069. forthre, further, aid, 1148. forthy, therefor, 1841. fortunen, predict favorably,
417 ; make lucky or unlucky,
2377. forward, agreement, promise,
33, 829.
forwite, know beforehand, 4424.
forwiting, foreknowledge, 4433.
forwoot, foreknows, 4424.
foryete, forget, 1882.
foryeve, forgive, 743.
fother, load (cart-load), 530 ; great quantity, 1908.
foundre, stumble (of a horse), 2687.
fowel, fowl, foul, fowl, bird, 9, 190.
foyne, thrust, 1654, 2550.
frakenes, freckles, 2169.
frankeleyn, substantial house holder, franklin, 216.
fraternitee, guild (of crafts men), 364.
fredorn, liberality, 46.
freendlich, friendly, 2680.
frere, friar, 208.
frete, eat, 2019.
fro, from, 44.
fulfille, fill full, 940.
fume, vapors (in the body), 4114.
fumetere, fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), 4153.
gabbe, lie, speak idly, 4256. gadere, gatherer, 824.
GLOSSARY
313
galingale, sweet cyperus, 381.
game, sport, 853 ; pleasure, 2286.
gained, it pleased, 534.
gan, began, did, would ; gan preye, would pray, 301 ; gan espye, did see, 1112.
gappe, gap, 1639.
gargat, throat, 4525.
garleek, garlic, 634.
gastly, terrible, 1984.
gat, got, 703.
gat-tothed, having the teeth far apart, 468.
gaudegrene, weld-green (dyed green with weld, Reseda lu- teola), 2079.
gauded, furnished with beads called gauds, 159.
gay, finely dressed, 74.
gayler, jailer, 1064.
gayne, avail, 1176.
gaytre (goat-tree), buckthorn (Rhainnus catharticus) , 41 55.
gentil, noble (by birth or breed ing), 72; excellent, 718; good-natured, 647.
gere, gear, armor, 2180; uten sils, 352 ; apparel, 365 ; man ners, 1531.
gerful, changeable, 1538.
gerland, garland, 606.
gerner, garner, 593.
gery, changeable, 1536.
gesse, suppose, think, 82, 117.
gete, get, obtain, 291.
gigginge (g hard), fitting with straps, 2504.
gile, deceit, guile, 2596.
gilteless, guiltless, 1312.
ginglen (g soft), jingle, 170.
gipoun (g soft), a short coat worn under armor, but some times without, 75, 2120.
gipser (g soft), pouch, purse, 357.
girles, young people of either sex, 664.
gise, guise, way, 663.
gladere, one that makes glad, 2223.
glede, live coal, 1997.
gobet, fragment, 696.
godhede, godhead, divinity, 2381.
goldes, marigolds, 1929.
goliardeya, buffoon, 560.
good, property, 581, 611.
goon, gon, go, walk, go, 12, 771.
goost, gost, spirit, ghost, 205,
goot, goat, 688.
goune, gown, 93.
314
GLOSSARY
governaunce, management, 281 ; self-control, 4624 ; con trol, 4055.
grace, favor, 1245.
graunt, concession, 1306.
graunt-mercy, thanks, 4160.
grece, grease, 135.
gree, highest grade, victory, 2733.
grene, green color, 103, 159; green sprigs, 1512.
greve, grove, 1495 ; branches, 1507.
grisly, horrible, 1363.
grone, groan, 4076.
grope, test, 644.
grote, groat, 4148.
ground, texture, 453.
groyning, murmuring, 2460.
grucche, murmur, grumble, 3045.
gruf , flat on the face, 949.
grys, gray fur, 194.
gye, guide, 1950.
haberdasher, seller of hats,
361.
habergeoun, coat of mail, 76. hadde, hade, had, 554. hakke, hack, 2865. halwes, saints, 14. hamer, hammer, 2508.
ban, have, 849.
hardily, certainly, 156.
hardy, bold, 405.
harlot, young person, fellow,
rascal, 647.
harlotryes, ribald jests, 561. harneised, equipped, 114. barneys, harnays, armor,
1006 ; fittings, 2896. harre, hinge, 550. harrow, help, 4235. harye, harie, drag, 2726. hauberk, coat of mail, 2431. haunt, practice, skill, 447. heed, head, 198. heelp, helped, 1651. heep, crowd, host, 575. heer, hair, 589. heer, here, 1791. heeth, heath, 6, 606. hegge, hedge, 4408. heigh, high, 316 ; great, 1798 ;
in heigh and lowe, in all
things, 817. hele, health, 1271. hele, heal, 2706. hele, hide, conceal, 4245. hem, them, 39. hemself, themselves, 1254. heng, hung, 160. henne, hence, 2356. hennes, hens, 4056.
GLOSSARY
315
hente, catch, seize, get, 299, 957. heraud, herald, 2533. herbergage, lodging, 4179. herberwe, harbor, 403 ; inn,
765.
herde, herdsman, 603. here, her, to her, 1421, 2057. here-agayns, against this, 3039. herkne, hearken, listen, 1526. hert, hart, 1689. herte, heart, 150. herte-blood, heart's blood,
2006. herte-spoon, breast-bone (?),
2606.
heste, command, 2532. hete, promise, 2398. hethen, heathen, 66. hethenesse, heathen lands, 49. heve, heave, 550. hewe, complexion, hue, 394. hewe, hew, cut, 1422. hider, hither, 672. hidous, hideous, 1978. highte, be called, 1557; am
called, 1558 ; was called, 616 ;
were called, 2920. highte, height; on highte,
aloud, 1784.
hine, servant, hind, 603. hipe, hip, 472. hir, her, 119.
hir, their, 11 ; of them, 586. ho, call for silence, 2533. hold, possession, 4064. holde, hold, 4625; held,
esteemed, 1307. hole, whole, 533. holpen, helped, 18. holt, grove, 6, holwe, hollow, 289. bond, hand, 399. honest, creditable, 246. honge, hang, 2410. hool, whole, 3006. hoom, home, 400. hoppesteres, tossing, dancing,
2017.
hors, horse, 94 ; horses, 74. hostiler, innkeeper, 241. hote, hot, 394 ; hotly, 97. hound, dog, 947. houpe, whoop, 4590. housbondrye, economy, 4018. humblesse, humility, 1781. hunte, huntsman, 1678, 2628. hurtle, hurl, 2616. bust, hushed, 2981. hy, high, 306. hye, high, 271. hye, hasten, hie, 2274. hye, haste, 2979.
like, same, 175.
316
GLOSSARY
in, inne, inn, 2436, 4216. inequal, hour in equal, hour of
varying length, 2271. infect, invalidated, 320. infortune, misfortune, 2021. inne, lodge, 2192. inne, in, within, 1618. inspire, quicken, breathe life
into, 6. ive, ivy ; erbe ive, herb ivy
(Ajuga Chamsepitys), 4156. ivele, ill, 1127.
jalous, jealous, 1329.
jangle, chatter, prate, 4625.
janglere, jester, babbler, 560.
jape, trick, 705.
jape, befool, mock, 1729.
jeet, jet, 4051.
jet, fashion, mode, 682.
jolitee, sport, 1807 ; show,
style, 680.
jolyf, jolif, joyful, 4264. journee, day's march, 2738. joynant, adjoining, 1060. jugement, decision, 778. juste, joust, tilt, 96, 2604. justes, jousting-match, 2720. juwise, sentence, 1739.
keep, care, heed, 398, 503. kembd, combed, 2143.
kempe, shaggy, 2134.
kene, sharp, 104.
kepe, keep, 442; keep safe,
276; take care, 130; care,
2960.
keper, keeper, prior, 172. kerver, carver, 1899. kerving, carving, 1915. kind, nature, 2451. kinrede, kindred, 1286. knarre, thick-set fellow, 549. knarry, gnarled, 1977. knave, boy, servant lad, 2728. knobbe, knob, large pimple,
633. knowe, know, 382 ; known,
1203. kyn, cows, kine, 4021.
laas,las, cord, 392 ; snare, 1817. lacerte, fleshy muscle, 2753. lacinge, lacing, fastening, 2504. lad, brought, 2620. ladde, brought, 2275. lafte, left, omitted, 492. lak, lack, 4034. lakked, lakkede, was lacking,
756, 2280.
land, lond, country, 194, 702. langage, language, 211. large, large, 472 ; at thy large,
at large, 1283 ; ben at his
GLOSSARY
317
large, to speak in general terms, 2288.
large, freely, 734.
las, snare, 1951.
lasse (and more) , smaller and greater, 1756.
lat, let, 188.
late, lately, 77, 690.
latoun, latten, alloy of copper and zinc, 699.
launde, glade, clearing, 1691.
laurer, laurel, 1027.
lauriol, spurge laurel (Daphne laureola), 4153.
laxatyf, laxative, 4133.
layneres, straps, thongs (of armor), 2504.
lazar, leper, 245.
lechecraft, medical skill, 2745.
leed, 'caldron, boiler (for wash ing, etc.), 202.
leef, dear, pleasing, 1837 ; be loved, 4069.
lemes. flames, 4120.
lene, lean, 287.
lene, lend, 611.
lenger, longer, 330.
lengthe, length, height, 83.
leoun, lion, 1598.
lere, learn, 4296.
lerne, learn, 613.
lese, lose, 1215.
lesing, losing, 1707.
lesinge, lie, deceit, 1927.
lest, pleasure, joy, 132.
leste, (it) may please, 1848 ; (it) pleased, 750.
lete, let, leave, 1323.
lette, hinder, 889 ; refrain, 1317.
letuarie, electuary (syrup with other ingredients), 426.
leve, leave, 1614.
leve, believe, 3088.
levere, dearer, rather, more desirable, 293.
lewed, ignorant, lay (not of the clergy), 502, 574.
leye, lay, 841.
leyser, leisure, 1188.
licentiat, one licensed by the pope to hear confession and administer penance indepen dently of the local ordinaries, 220.
liche-wake, watch over a corpse, 2958.
licour, moisture, 3.
lief, dear, lief. See leef.
liggen, lie, 2205.
ligne, line, lineage, 1551.
limes, limbs, 2135.
limitour, friar licensed to beg for alms within a certain dis trict, 209.
318
GLOSSARY
linage, lineage, 1110. lind, lime tree, 2922. list, (it) pleases, 583; liste,
(it) pleased, 102. listes. lists, place enclosed for
tournaments, 63, 1713. litarge, litharge, white lead,
629.
litel, little, 87. •lith, limb, 4065. litb, see lyth. lives, Hving, 2395. lode, load, 2918. lodemenage, pilotage, 403. lode-sterre, pole star, lode star, 2059. logge, lodge, resting-place,
4043.
logging, lodging, 4185. loke, look, 1783. loken, enlocked, 4065. lokkes, locks (of hair), 81. lond, see land, longe, belong, 2791. looth, distasteful, odious, 486,
1837.
lordinges, sirs, gentlemen, 761. lore, teaching, 527. los, loss, 2543. losengeour, flatterer, 4516. love-day es, appointed days for
settling disputes, 258.
lovyere, lover, 80.
luce, luce, pike, 350.
lust, pleasure, desire, 192, 1318.
lustily, merrily, 1529.
lustinesse, pleasure, 1939.
lusty, joyful, 80.
lye, lie, contradiction, 3015.
lyf, life, 71.
lyk, like, 590.
lyth, lies, 1218.
maad, made, 394. maister, master, 261. maister-strete, main street,
2902.
maistow, mayst thou, 1236. maistrye, mastery ; maistrye
(for the), eminently, 165. make, match, adversary, 2556. male, wallet, 694. man, man, 167 ; one, 4513. manace, threat, menace, 2003. manasinge, threatening, 2035. maner, sort of, kind of, 71. mantelet, short mantle, 2163. manye, mania, 1374. many oon, many a one, 2118. marchant, merchant, 270. mary-bones, marrow bones,
380.
mase, maze, perplexity, 4283. mat, dejected, 955.
GLOSSARY
319
matere, matter, 727.
matrimoigne, matrimony, 3095.
maugre, in spite of, 1607.
maunciple, steward (who pur chases the provisions), 544.
maydenhode, maidenhood, 2329.
mede, mead, meadow, 89.
mede, reward, meed, 770.
medlee, of a mixed color, 328.
men. one, some one, 149, 1524.
mencioun, mention, 893.
inene, mean, intend, 793.
mere, mare, 541.
mery, merry, 235.
meschauiice, misfortune, 2009.
meschief, misfortune, trouble, 493, 2551.
mester, occupation, 1340.
mesurable, moderate, 435.
mete, befitting, meet, 2291.
mete, meat, food, 136.
mete, meet, encounter, 1524.
mete, dream, 4445.
meth, mead (drink), 2279.
mewe, coop (for fowls), 349.
meynee, household, 1258 ; fol lowers, 4584.
minister, officer, 4233.
minour, miner, 2465.
misboden, insulted, 909. miscarie, come to harm, 513. mishappe, (it) happens ill for,
1646. mister, handicraft, 613 ; sort
of, 1710. mo, more, 576. moche, muche, mochel, mu-
chel, much, great ; moche
and lite, great and small,
494.
moder, mother, 4486. moevere, mover, 2987. mone, moon, 2077. mone, moan, complaint, 1366. mood, anger, 1760. moot, mote, may, shall, must,
should, ought to, 232, 742. moralitee, moral (of a tale),
4630.
mordre, murder, 1256. mormal, sore, gangrene, 386. morne, morning, 358. mortreux, thick, rich soups,
384.
morweninge, morning, 4492. morwe-tide, morning hour,
4206.
mosel, muzzle, 2151. mottelee, motley, 271. mountaunce, amount, value,
1570.
320
GLOSSARY
muchel, mochel, much, great, 2352 ; greatly, 258. See moche.
murie, merry, 1386.
naciouns, people from dif ferent nations, 53.
nakers, kettle drums, 2511.
nam (ne am), am not, 1122.
namely, especially, 1268.
namo (na mo), no more, 101.
napoplexie, nor apoplexy, 4031.
narette (ne arette), impute not, 726.
narwe, narrow, 625.
nas (ne was), was not, 251.
nat, not, 74 ; nat but, only, 2722.
nath (ne hath), has not, 923.
nathelees, nevertheless, 35.
nayl, nail, 2007 ; claw, 2141.
ne, not, 70 ; nor, 179.
nede, needful, 304.
nedely, necessarily, 4435.
nedes, necessarily, 1290.
nedes-cost, of necessity, 1477.
nedeth, it needs, 462.
neer, near, 1439.
neer, nearer, 968.
neet, neat, cattle, 597.
nekke, neck, 238.
ner, nearer, 1850. nercotikes, narcotics, 1472. nere (ne were), were not, 875. newe, recently, 4239. nexte, nearest, 1413. nice, scrupulous, 398 ; foolish,
4505.
nightertale, night-time, 97. nis (ne is), is not, 901. nolde (ne wolde) , would not,
1024. nones, nonce ; for the nones,
for the nonce, for the occa sion, 379. nonne, nun, 118. noot (ne wot), know not,
284.
norice, nurse, 4305. norissing, nutriment, 437. nose-thirles, nostrils, 557. notabilitee, noteworthy fact,
4399.
not-heed, crop-head, 109. nothing, in no respect, 2505. nought, not, 107. nouthe, now, at present, 462. ny, close, 588; nearly, 732;
wel ny, almost, 1330.
o, one, 304, 738. obeisaunce, obedience, 2974. observaunce, respect, 1045.
GLOSSARY
321
of, by, 963 ; from, 420 ; in re- I orient, east, 1494.
spect to, 69.
of, off, 2676.
offended, injured, 909 ; stricken, 2394.
offensioun, offence, stroke, 2416.
offertorie, sung while the offer ings were collected, 710.
office, secular employment, 292.
offring, gift of alms at the altar, 450.
ofte, many ; ofte sithes, often times, 485 ; ofte time, often, 52.
on live, alive, 3039.
ones, once, 765.
ook, oak, 1702.
o, oon, one ; oon and oon, one by one, 679 ; many oon, many a one, 317 ; after oon, equally good, 341 ; like, 1012.
ooth, oath, 120.
opie, opium, 1472.
oratorie, chapel for private de votions, 1905.
ordinaunce, arrangement, 2567.
orgon, organs (as the organ was once called from Latin organa), 4041.
T
orisoun, prayer, 2372.
orlogge, clock, 4044.
ought, aught, at all, 3045.
oughte, ought, 660.
ounces, small portions, strands, 677.
out, abroad, 45.
out-bees, hue and cry, 2012.
outher, either, 1485.
outrely, utterly, 4419.
out-ridere, out-rider (to in spect granges, etc.), 166.
over, beyond, 2998.
over, upper, 133 ; overeste, uppermost, 290.
overal, everywhere, 216.
overthwart, crosswise, 1991.
owner, anywhere, 653.
oynement, ointment, 631.
oynons, onions, 634.
paas, pas, pace ; foot-pace, 825 ; paces, yards, 1890.
pace, pass, go, 1602 ; go on, 36 ; surpass, 574.
paleys, palace, 2199.
palfrey, horse, 207.
pan, brain pan, skull, 1165.
paraments, rich apparel, 2501.
par amour, with real human love, 1165.
322
GLOSSARY
paramours, with devotion, 2112.
pardee, a common oath, 563.
pardoner, seller of indulgences (by which penance was re mitted), 543.
parfit, perfect, 72.
parishens, parishioners, 482.
parlement, decree, 1306.
parte, part, party, side, 2582, 3006.
partrich, partridge, 349.
party, partly, 1053.
partye, portion, 3008 ; parti- j san, 2657.
parvys, church porch, 310.
pas, foot pace, walk, 825 ; I paces, 1890.
passant, surpassing, 2107.
passe, surpass, 448, 2885.
patente, letter patent, 315.
payen, pagan, 2370.
pecok-arwes, arrows with peacocks' feathers, 104.
pees, peace, 532.
peire, see peyre.
pekke, peck, pick, 4157.
penaunce, penance, 223 ; suf fering, 1315.
penoun, pennant, 978.
perce, pierce, 2.
perrye, jewellery, 2936.
pers, stuff of a sky-blue color,
439. persone, persoun, person,
521 ; parson, 478. perturben, disturb, 906. peyne, torture, 1133. peyne (one's self), take pains,
139, 4495.
peynte, paint, 1934. peyre, pair, pair of, 2121 ; set,
159.
pighte, pitched, 2689. pikepurs, pick-purse, 1998. piled, deprived of hair, thin,
627.
piler, pillar, 1993. pilours, robbers, pillagers,
1007.
pilwe-beer, pillow-case, 694. pinche at, find fault with, 326. pinched, pleated, 151. pine, suffering, 1324 ; torture,
1746, 4249.
pipen, pipe, whistle, 1838. pitaunce, gift of food, " good
dinner," 224. pitous, compassionate, 143 ;
sorrowful, 955. plat, flat, plain, 1845. plates, iron plates (for ar mor), 2121. plentevous, plentiful, 344.
GLOSSARY
323
plesaunce, pleasure, 2409. plesen, please, 610. pley, play, sport, 1125. pleye, play, jest, amuse one's
self, 772.
pleyinge, amusement, 1061. pleyn, plain, 1091 ; open,
988.
pleyn, fully, 327. pleyne, complain, 1251. pollax, pole-axe, 2544. pomel, round part, top, 2689. pomely, dappled, 616. poraille, poor people, 247. port, behavior, 69. portreiture, drawing, 1915. portreyinge, picture, 1938. pose, suppose, assume (for
argument's sake), 1162. post, support, 800. poudre-marchant, kind of
spice, 381.
pouped, puffed, 4589. poure, pore, look, closely,
185.
povre, poor, 225. poynaunt, pungent, 352. poynt, aim and end, 1501 ;
case, condition, 200. practisour, practitioner, 422. press, curl papers, 81 ; mould,
263.
prest, preest, priest, 164. preve, proof, 4173. preved, proved, 3001. preye, beseech, 1483. prey ere, prayer, 231. pricasour, hard rider, 189. prike, spur, 2508 ; incite, 1043. prikke, stab, 2606. prime, first fourth of the time
from sunrise to sunset, 2189 ;
nine in the morning, 4387. prively, secretly, 652. privetee, private affairs, 141 1. profre, proffer, 1415. propre, own, 581. prow, advantage, profit, 4140. prys, price, 815 ; renown, 67 ;
praise, 2241. pulle, pluck, 177, 652. pultrye, poultry, 598. purchas, perquisites, private
gain, 256. purchasing, conveyancing,
320.
purchasour, conveyancer, 318. pure, very, 1279. purtiled, bordered, 193. purtreye, draw, 96. purtreyour, draughtsman,
1899. purveyaunce, providence,
1252.
324
GLOSSARY
qualm, disease, 2014. quelle, kill, 4580. queynt, quenched, 2321. queynt, strange, quaint, 1531. queynte, went out, 2334. quike, alive, 1015. quiked, became alive, 2335. quite, repay, 770 ; ransom,
1032.
quitly, wholly, 1792. quod, quoth, said, 1234. quook, trembled, 1576.
rad; hadde rad, had read, 4311 ; were rad, were read, 2595.
rage, fierce blast, 1985.
rage, romp, act wantonly, 257.
ransake, ransack, 1005.
rasour, razor, 2417.
raughte, reached, 136.
raunsoun, ransom, 1024.
rebel, rebellious, 833.
recche, care, heed, 1398.
rechelees, recchelees, care less, heedless, 179, 4297.
reconforte, comfort again, 2852.
recorde, bear in mind, 1745 ; remind, 829.
rede, read, 709 ; counsel, 3068.
redily, quickly, promptly, 2276.
redy, ready, 21.
reed, counsel, advice, 1216 ;
counsel, adviser, 665. reed, red, 153. registre, record, narrative,
2812. regne, kingdom, realm, rule,
866, 1624.
rekene, reckon, 401. rekening, reckoning, 600. reme, realm, 4326. remenant, remainder, 888. renges, ranks, 2594. renne, run, 2868. renning, running, 551. rente, rent (received), 1443;
rent (given for exclusive
right to beg), 256. repentaunce, penitence, 1776. replecioun, repletion, 4113. replicacioun, reply, 1846. reportour, reporter, 814. rescous, rescue, 2643. rese, to shake, 1986. resoun, reason, right, 37, 274. resoune, resound, 1278. respyt, delay, 948. rethor, orator, 4397. reule, rule, 173. reuled, ruled, 816. reve, steward, bailiff, agent,
542.
GLOSSARY
325
revel, revelry, 2717.
revers, reverse, contrary, 4167.
rewe, have pity, 2382 ; make
sorry, 4287. rewe, row, line, 2866. rewful, sorrowful, 2886. reysed, gone on a military ex pedition,, 54.
richesse, riches, wealth, 1255. right, direct, 2739. right, just, decidedly, very, 257,
757. rightes, at alle rightes, in all
respects, 1852. rise, rise, 33. rit, rides, 974. rite, rite, 2284. rome, roam, wander, 1099. ronne, ran, 4578. rood, rode, 169. roos, rose, 823. roost, roast meat, 206. roste, roast, 383. rote, fiddle with three strings
(?), 236.
roughte, recked, cared, 4530. rouketh, cowers, crouches,
1308. rouncy, dray horse, farm horse,
390. roundel, roundel, roundelay,
1529.
route, company, troop, rout,
889.
routhe, ruth, pity, 914. rudeliche, rudely, 734. ruggy, rough, 2883. rumbel, rumbling noise, 1979.
sad, serious, 2985.
sadly, firmly, 2602.
salue, salute, 1492.
sangwyn, sangwin, stuff of a blood-red color, 439 ; san guine (of temperament), 333; very ruddy, 2168.
sarge, serge, 2568.
saufly, safely, 4398.
saugh, saw, 764.
sautrye, psaltery (musical in strument), 296.
save, sage, 2713.
savinge, except, 2838.
sawcefleem, pimpled, 6r,5.
sawe, saw, did see, should see, 144.
sawe, saying, saw, Ild3 ; say ing, talk, 1526.
say, saw, did see, 4304.
scalled, scurfy, 627.
scapen, escape, 1107.
scarlet, scarlet stuff, 456.
scarsly, economically, 583.
scathe, a pity, 446.
326
GLOSSARY
science, knowledge (of law),
316. sclendre, slender, scanty,
4023.
scole, school, 125. scoler, scholar, 260. scoleye, attend school, study,
302. scriptures, writings, treatises,
2044.
seche, seek, 784. secree, secret, trusty, 4105. see, sea, 59. seen, see, 914. sect, sat, 2075. sege, siege, 56. seigh,*saw, 193. seistow, sayest thou, 1125. seke, seek, 17. se>e, sick, 18, 245. seldB, seldom, }539. selle, sell, barter, 278. selve, self-same, 2584. sely, poor, 4565. seme, seem, 39. semely, seemly, 751 ; becom ingly, 123. semicope, half-cope, short
cope, 262.
sendal, thin silk, 440. sene, visible, manifest, 134,
924.
sentence, significance, 306 ;
meaning, 4355 ; subject, 4404. sergeant , of the lawe, ser-
geant-at-law, 309. serie, series of reflections, 3067. servage, servitude, 1946. servant, lover, 1814, 2787. servisable, willing to be of
service, 99. sesoun, season, 19. seten, hath seten, has sat,
1452.
setes, seats, 2580. sethe, seethe, boil, 383. sette, set ; sette to hire, sold
or leased, 507. seuretee, surety, 1604. sewe, follow, 4527. seye, seyn, say, 738. seyen, saw, 4568. seyl, sail, 696. seynd, singed, fried, 4035. seynte, holy, 1721 ; saint, 120. shadwed, shaded, 607. shake, shaken, 406. shal, shall, must, am to, 187, 853. shamfast, modest, 2055. shap, shape, 1889. shape, intend, 772 ; prepare,
809; ordain, 1108. shaply, fit, 372. shave, shaven, 588.
GLOSSARY
327
sheef, sheaf, 104.
sheld, sheeld, shield, 2122 ;
name of a coin, 278. shende, harm, injure, 2754,
4031.
shene, bright, 115. sheiit. shente, see shende. shepne, stable, shed, 2000. shere, pair of shears, 2417. sherte, shirt, 1566. shet, shut, closed, 2597. shine, shin, 386. shipman, sailor, skipper, 388. shirreve, sheriff, 359. shiten, defiled, dirty, 504. sho, shoe, 253. shode, temple (of the head),
2007.
sho 011. shone, 198. shorte, shorten, 791. shortly, briefly, to be brief, 30. short-sholdred (?),549. shot, missile, arrow, 2544. shoures, showers, 1. shrewe, beshrew, curse, 4616. shrighte, shrieked, 2817. shriked, shrieked, 4590. shul, shall, 1747. shuldres, shoulders, 678. shullen, shall, 3014. sighte, foresight, providence,
1672.
sik, syk, sick, 1600.
sike, sigh, 2985.
siker, sure, 3049.
sikerly, surely, 137.
sikes, sighs, 1920.
siknes, siknesse, sickness, 493, 1256.
sin, since, 601.
singe, sing, 236.
sit, sits, 1599.
sithen, since, 2102.
sithes, times, 485.
sitte, sit, 94.
slake, slow, 2901.
slaughtre, murder, 2031.
slee, slay, 661.
sleep, slept, 1474.
sleighte, cunning, 604 ; dex terity, 1948.
slepe, sleep, 10.
sleepy, sleep-bestowing, 1387.
slider, slippery, 1264.
slily, cautiously, 1444.
slogardye, sluggishness, 1042.
slough, slew, 980.
smerte, smartly, sharply, 149.
smerte, (it) pains, hurts, 230.
smiler, smiler, flatterer, 1999.
smite, strike, 1220.
smokinge, full of smoke, of incense, 2281.
smoot, smote, 149.
328
GLOSSARY
snewed, snowed, 345.
snibben, reprove, 523.
socour, succor, help, 918.
sodeynliche, suddenly, 1575.
sodeynly, suddenly, 1118.
softe, softly, 2781.
solas, amusement, entertain ment, 798.
solempne, imposing, impres sive, 209 ; important, 364.
solempiiely, pompously, 274.
solempnitee, pomp, 870.
som, some ; som . . . som, one . . . another, 1255-1257 ; somme . . . somme, some . . . others, 2516.
somdel, somewhat, 174.
somer, summer, 394.
somnour. summoner (of delin quents before the ecclesias tical courts), 543.
somtime, at some time, 65.
sondry, various, 14.
sone, soon, 1022.
song, songe, songen, sang, 1055.
sonne, sun, 7;'of the sun, 1051.
soor, sore, pain, 1454.
soor, wounded, grieved, 2695.
sooth, truth, 284.
soothly, truly, 117.
sop, bread or cake in some
liquid, 334. soper, supper, 348. sore, sorrow, pang, 2849. sore, sorely, 148. sort, destiny, 844. sorwe, sorrow, 951. sory, mournful, 2004. sote, sweet, 1. sothe, truth, 845. so til, fine, 2030 ; skilful, 2049. soule, soul, 510. soun, sound, 674. soune, sowne, sound, 565 ;
proclaim, 275. souple, pliant, 203. sovereyn, supreme, 67. sovereynly, chiefly, 4552. sowed, sewn, 685. space, space of time, 87 ; room
enough, 35 ; course, 176. spak, spoke, 124. sparre, wooden beam, 990. sparth, battle-^xe, 2520. sparwe, sparrow, 626. speces, species, 3013. special, special ; in special,
especially, 444. specially, in particular, 15. spede, speed, prosper, 769?
hasten, 1217. speke, speak, 142.
GLOSSARY
32$
spere, spear, 114.
spiced, foolishly scrupulous,
526. spicerye, spices and gums,
2935.
spore, spur, 2603. sprad, spread, 2903. spronge, spread abroad, 1437. squyer, squire, 79. stablissed, established, 2995. stape, advanced, 4011. starf, died, 933. startlinge, in constant motion,
1502.
stat, state, condition, 572. statue, statue, picture, 975. stede, place ; in stede of,
231.
stede, steed, 2157. stele, steal, 562. stemed, shone, glowed, 202. stente, leave off, 903 ; stop,
2442.
stepe, bright, 201. sterre, star, 268. stert, start ; at a stert, in a
moment (with one bound),
1705.
sterte, start, leap, 952. sterve, die, 1249. stevene, voice, 2562 ; time,
1624.
stewe, fish-pond, 350. stikkes, palings, 4038. stille, quietly, 1003. stinte, leave off, 1334 ; cease,
2421.
stith, anvil, 2026. stiwardes, stewards, 579. stok, stock, race, 1551 ;
stokkes, stumps, 2934. stoke, stab, 2546. stomblem, stumble, 2613. stonde, stand, 745. stongen, stung, 1079. stoor, stock (of a farm), 598 ;
telle no store of, ' ' take no
stock in," 4344. storie, legend of a saint (or the
like), 709.
stot, undersized horse, cob, 615. stounde, hour, any time, 1212. stout, strong, 545 ; brave, 2154. straughte, extended, 2916. straunge, strange, foreign,' 13. strecche, stretch, 4498. stree. straw, 2918. streem, stream, 464 ; current,
402 ; beams, rays, 1495. streight, straight, 1690 ;
straightway, 671. streit, narrow, 1984 ; scanty,
4179 ; strict, 174 ; drawn (of
a sword), 4547.
330
GLOSSARY
strepe, strip, 1006. streyne, constrain, 4434. strike, hank, 676. strive, strive, struggle, 1177. strond, strand, 13. stroof, strove, vied, 1038. strook, stroke, 1701. stryf, quarrel, strife, 1187. stubbes, stubs, stumps, 1978. subtil, fine-wrought, 1054. subtilly, craftily, 610. suffisaunce, sufficiency, 490 ;
contentment, 4029. suffisaunt, sufficient, 1631. surcote, surcoat, overcoat, 617. sustene, sustain, 1993. suster, sister, 871. sustren, sisters, 1019. suyte, suit, array, 2873. swelte, grew faint, 1356. swerd, sword, 112. swere, swear, 454. swete, sweet, 5. swevene, dream, 4086. swevenis, dreams, 4111. swich, such, 3. swink, labor, toil, 188. swinke, work, toil, 186. swinkere, laborer, toiler, 531. swough, whistling (of the
wind), 1979. swowne, swoon, 913.
tabard, loose outer garment,
somewhat like a blouse,
541.
taftata, taffeta, 440. taille, tally ; by taille, on ac count, 570.
tak, take (thou), 1084. take, taken, 3007. tak el, set of arrows, archers'
gear, 106. tale, tale, 831 ; telle litel tale
of, to give little heed to, 4308. talen, tell tales, 772. tapicer, upholsterer, 362. tappestere, hostess, barmaid,
241.
targe, target, shield, 471. tarien, delay, waste, 2820. tartre, tartar, 630. tas, heap, 1005. teche, teach, 308 ; direct, 4139. teching, teaching, 518. telle, tell, 38; count, 4308,
4344. temple, inn of court (abode of
lawyers), 567. tene, vexation, 3106. terciane, tertian (fever) , 4149. tere, tear, 1280. terme, allotted period, 1029;
exact words, 323; periods,
3028.
GLOSSARY
331
testeres, headpieces, 2499.
text, quotation from any au thority, 177.
than, thanne, then, 12.
thank, expression of thanks, 612 ; can thank, owes thanks, 1808 ; his thankes, of his free will, 1626, for his part, 2107 ; hir thankes, for their part, 2114.
that, that which, what, 1425.
thee, thrive, prosper, 4622.
ther, there, 43 ; where, 547 ; theras, where, 172.
therto, besides, moreover, 48, 153.
therwithal, with it, 566; thereupon, 1078.
thider, thither, 1263.
thiderward, thither, 2530.
thikke, thick-set, 549.
thikke-herd, thick-haired, 2518.
thilke, that same, that, 182, 1193.
thing, thing or things, brief, writ, deed, etc., 325; thinges, holy rites, 2293; business matters, 4279.
thinketh, it seems, 37.
thirle, pierce, 2710.
thise, these, 701.
tho, those, 498. tho, then, 993. thoughte (he), he thought,
984. thoughte (us), it seemed to
us, 785.
thral, enthralled, 1552. threed, thread, 2030. threshe, thrash, 536. threste, thrust, 2612. thridde, third, 1463. thriftily, carefully, 105. throte, throat, 2013. thryes, thrice, 63. thurgh, through, 920. thurghfare, thoroughfare,
2847. thurgh-girt, pierced through,
1010.
thyselven, thyself, 1174. tide, time; tides, tides, 401. tigre, tiger, 2626. tiraunt, tyrant, 961. til, to, 180. til, till, until, 1760. tipet, tippet, cape, 233. tiptoon, tiptoes, 4497. to, too, toe, 2726 ; toon, toes,
4052 ; toos, toes, 4370. tobreste. break in pieces, 2611. tobrosten, broken in pieces,
2691.
332
GLOSSARY
togidre, together, 824.
tohewen, hew in twain, 2609.
tollen, take toll (as a miller pays himself with meal), 562.
tonge, tongue, 265.
tonne-greet, great as a tun, 1994.
tool, weapon, 4106.
top, top of the head, 590.
toshrede, cut into shreds, 2609.
toun, town, 217.
tour, tower, 1030.
touret, toret, turret, 1909 ; on the collar of a dog, a projec tion that revolves and is pierced for a ring, swivel- ring, 2152.
traitour, traitor, 1130.
trapped, furnished with trap pings, 2890.
trappures, trappings (for horses), 2499.
traunce, trance, 1572.
trays, traces (of harness), 2139.
trecherye, treachery, 4520.
trede, tread, 3022.
tresoun, treason, 2001.
tretee, treaty, 1288.
tretis, well-proportioned, 152.
trewe, true, 531.
trewely, truly, 481.
trompe, trumpet, 674 ; trum peter, 2671.
tronchoun, shaft of a spear, 2615.
trone, throne, 2529.
trouthe, truth, 46 ; promise, 1610.
trowe, believe, 155.
trussed, packed, 681.
tukked, tucked, 621.
turne, turn, 1488.
turneyinge, tournament, 2557.
tweye, two, 704.
tweyne, twain, 1134.
twines, of twine, 2030.
uncouth, strange, rare, 2497.
undergrowe, of short stature, 156.
undern, latter part of the fore noon, more precisely about eleven, 4412.
undernethe, beneath, 2077.
undertake, affirm, 288 ; con duct affairs, 405.
unknowe, unknown, 126.
uukomiing, inexperienced, 2393.
unset, unappointed, 1524.
unwist, unknown, 2977.
unyolden, without having yielded, 2642.
GLOSSARY
333
up, on, 1707. uphaf, uplifted, 2428. upright, face upward, 2008. upriste, uprising, 1051. up-so-doun, upside down,
1377.
upyaf, gave up, 2427. up-yolden, yielded up, 3052. us, us, 748 ; for us, 747. usage, experience, 2448.
vanishinge, vanishing, disap pearance, 2360. vasselage, good service, prow-
.ess, 3054. vavasour, sub-vassal (inferior
to baron), 360. venerye, hunting, 166. venim, venom, poison, 2751. ventusinge, cupping (surgical
operation), 2747. verdit, verdict, 787. vernicle, vernicle, 685. verraily, truly, 338. verray, true, very, 72. vers, verses, 4503. vertu, virtue, 307 ; power, 4,
2249. vertuous, able to raise money,
251. vese, veze, gust (of wind),
1985.
vestiments, garments, 2948.
veyl, vail, 695.
veyn, vain, false, 1094.
veyne- blood, blood-letting, 2747.
viage, voyage, journey, 77, 723.
vigilyes, festival eves, 377.
vileinye, unseemly language or conduct or thought, any sign of low breeding or vile nature, disgrace, 2729.
visite, visit, 493.
vitaille, victuals, provisions, 248.
vouche sauf, agree, consent, 807, 812.
voyden, to get rid of, 2751.
voys, voice, 688.
waille, wail, 931. wake-pleyes, funeral games,
2960.
wal, wall, 1909. walet, wallet, 686. walke, walk, 2309. wan, won, 442. wanhope, despair, 1249. wanie, wane, 2078. wantoun, free, unconstrained,
208.
wantounesse, gayety, 264. war, wary, 309 ; aware, 167.
334
GLOSSARY
war him, let him beware, 662.
waste, ruined, 1331.
wastel breed, choice bread,
147. waterlees, out of the water,
180.
wawe, wave, 1958. wayke, weak, 887. wayle, wail, 1221. waymentiiige, lamentation,
995. wayte. watch, 571 ; wayte
after, look for, expect, 525 ;
seek occasion, 1222. webbe, weaver, 362. wed, security ; to wedde, in
pledge, 1218. wedde, wed, 868. wede, clothing, 1006. weel, well, 2123. wel, well, 384 ; fully, 24. wele, well, 2231. wele, happiness, 895. welle, source, spring, 3037. wende, weende, fancied, 1269. wende, go, 16 ; pass away,
3025 ; he wente him, he
went, 2270. wene, ween, think, fancy,
1804.
wepe, weep, 144. wepne, weapon, 1591.
were, wear, 75.
were, defend, 2550.
werk, work, 479.
werke, work, 779.
werre, war, 47.
werreye, make war, 1484 ;
make war against, 1544. werte, wart, 555. wesh, washed, 2283. wete, wet, 1280. wex, wax, 675. wexe, grow, become, 3024. wey, weye, way, 791. weye, weigh, 1781. weylaway, alas, 938. weyle, see wayle. whan, whanne, when, 18. what, why, 184. whelkes, pimples, blotches,
632. whelp, cub, 2627 ; whelpe,
puppy, 257. wher, where, 897 ; wherever,
2252.
wher, whether, 2397. whether, which (of two),
1856. which, which, 161 ; who, 1412 ;
whom, 568 ; what kind of
(men), 40 ; which a, what a,
2675 ; which that, who, 986. whilom, once, formerly, 795.
GLOSSARY
335
whippeltre, cornel tree, 2923.
whyl, while, 35.
whyt, white, 238.
widwe, widow, 253.
wight, person, living being, 71, 280.
wighte, weight, 2145.
wike, week, 1539.
wikke, wicked, evil, 1087.
wilfully, voluntarily, 4557, 4622.
wille, pleasure, desire, 1317.
wilne, desire, 2114.
wilow, willow tree, 2922.
wiltow, wilt thou, 1156.
wimpel, wimple, 161.
wirche, work, 2759.
wise, way, manner, 1740.
wisly, surely, truly, 1863.
wiste, knew, 224.
wit, judgment, understanding, 279.
wite, know, 1260.
with, by, 2018, 2724.
withholde, kept in retirement, 511.
withouten, withoute, with out, 538 ; besides, 461.
withseyn, withseye, gainsay, 805 ; deny, 1140.
witing, knowledge, 1611.
wive, wives, see wyt
wlatsom, hateful, 4243.
wo, lamentation, 900; wo was his cook, woe to his cook, 351.
wode, wood, 2297.
wodebinde, woodbine, 1508.
wofuller, sadder, 1340.
wol, wolt, woltow, woln, wold, wolde, wolden, will wilt, wilt thou, would, etc., 42, 144, 1544.
wommanhede, womanly feel ing, 1748.
wonder, wonderful, 2073 ; wondrously, 1654.
wonderly, wondrously, 84.
wone, habit, wont, 335.
wone, dwell, 388, 2927. .
woning, dwelling, house, 606.
wonne, conquered, 51.
wood, mad, 582.
woodly, madly, 1301.
woodnesse, madness, 2011.
wook, awoke, 1393.
woot, know, 389 ; wost, knowest, 1174; wostow, knowest thou, 1163.
worship, honor, 1912.
worshipe, reverence, 2251.
worshipful, honorable, 1436.
wortea, herbs, 4411.
worthinesse, bravery, 60.
336
GLOSSARY
worthy, distinguished, 47 ; wealthy, respectable, 217.
wostow, knowe'st thou, 2304.
wrastle, wrestle, 2961.
wrecche, wretched, 1106 ; sor rowful creature, 931.
wreke, wreak, avenge, 961.
wrethe, wreath, crown, 2145.
wrighte, workman, 614.
writ, writes, 4313.
wrooth, wroth, angry, 451.
wroughte, wrought, 497.
wyd, wide. 491.
wyf, wife, 445 ; to wive, to wife, 1860 ; wives, women, wives, 234.
wyn, wine, 334.
wys, wis, surely, 2786.
wys, wise, 68 ; make it wys, be too particular about it, 785.
yaf, gave, 1441 ; cared, 177. ybeen, been, 4487. ybete, beaten, 979. ybore, yborn, carried, borne,
378, 2694. yborn, born, 1019. ybounden, bound, 1149. ybrent, burnt, 946. ybrought, brought, 1111. yclenched, clenched, riveted,
1991.
ycleped, yclept, called, 410,
376.
yclothed, clothed, clad, 1048. ycome, come, 77. ycorve, cut, 2013. ydo, done, 2534. ydon, done, 2676. ydoon, done, 4610. ydrawe, drawn, 396. ydriven, driven, 2007. ydropped, bedropped, 2884. ye, ye, you, 769. ye, eye, 10. yeddinges, songs, 237. yeer, year, 347. yeldehalle, guild hall, 370. yelding, produce, 596. yelleden, yelled, 4579. yelpe, boast, 2238. yelwe, yellow, 1929. yeman, yeoman, 101. yemanly, like a yeoman, 106. yerd, yard, garden, 4037. yerde, rod, wand, 1387 ;
switch, 149; yard (length),
1050. yet, moreover, 612 ; as yet,
291 ; yet now, just now,
1156.
yeve, give, 232. yfalle, fallen, 25. yfetered, fettered, 1229.
GLOSSARY
337
yfounde, found, 1211.
ygo, gone, 286.
ygrounde, ground, whetted,
2549. yholde, held, regarded, 2374 ;
held, celebrated, 2958. yhurt, hurt, 2709. yif, give (thou), 2260. yiftes, gifts, 2198. yive, give, 225. yiven, given, 915. yknowe, known, 423. ylad, drawn, 530. ylaft, left, 2746. yliche, alike, 2526. ylogged, lodged, 4181. ylyk, like, 592; alike, 2734;
ylyke, like, 1539. ymakecL made, 2065. ymet, met, 2624. ymeynd, mixed, mingled, 2170. ynough, enough, 373. yolle, shout, 2672. yond, yonder, 1099. yong, young, 79. yore ago on, for a long time,
1813. youling, loud lamentation,
1278.
yow, you, 34. ypayed, paid, 1802. ypreved, proved, 485. ypunished, punished, 657. yraft, snatched away, 2015. yronne, run, 8 ; clustered,
2165 ; was yronnen in, had
rushed to, 2693. yscalded, scalded, 2020. ysene, visible, 592. yserved, served, 963. yset, appointed, 1635. yseyled, sailed, 4289. y shorn, shorn, 589. yshrive, shriven, 226. yslayn, slain, 2708. yspreynd, sprinkled, 2169. ystiked, stuck, 1565. ystorve, dead, 2014. ysworn, sworn, 1132. ytaught, taught, 127. yteyd, tied, 457. ywedded, wedded, 3098. ywimpled, provided with a
wimple, 470.
ywis, certainly, truly, 4389. y write, written, 4632. ywrye, covered, 2904.
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