Chaucer S General Prologue PDF

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue
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The General Prologue

Introduction
Spring scene (1-18):
WHAN that Aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
When April with its sweet showers

has pierced the drought of March to the root
and bathed every sap-vessel in moisture
by virtue of which the flower is produced.
When Zephirus, too, with his sweet breath
has, in every wood and heath, quickened

the tender shoots, and the young sun
has run its half-course in the sign of Aries,
and small birds make melody
which sleep all the night with open eye,
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so nature incites them in their hearts;

Then people long to go on pilgrimages,
and palmers to visit foreign shores
to distant shrines, well-known in different lands;
and especially from the end of every shire
of England they go to Canterbury,
to seek the holy blessed martyr
who has helped them when they were ill.
Not entirely without parallels in Middle Ages. In fact, this description of nature largely
cribbed from Guido de Colonna's Historia Destructionis Troiae, a work elsewhere used as a
source / authority by Chaucer and others.
Note procreational metaphors: perced, licour ... of which engendred is; Ram (Aries) has
strong sexual connotations.
Indeed, most spring poems would now continue with something like then people's thought
turn to love or then [hero's name] went out to seek adventures, as Guido does: then the kings
Jason and Hercules left port on their ship.
Not here though: then people desire to go on pilgrimages: allows several interpretations:
< like the awakening of nature and the body, the soul also awakens in the springtime
and desires spiritual strengthening
< going on pilgrimages is a natural instinct
< pilgrimages afford opportunities for people to live out their romantic / sexual /
adventurous desires
Pilgrimages in Middle Ages (and now: politicians still walk to Mariazell) highly important
activities: three main centers of Christian pilgrimages: Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de
Compostella. Various others destinations mentioned (Boulogne: Miraculous Madonna,
Cologne: Three Magi, Saint Ursula and 11000 Virgins).
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Pilgrimages tend to come in for lots of criticism: often not primarily religiously motivated,
but various other reasons: get away from home, meet other people, travel and see things
(basically the idea of package holidays). Pilgrims often criticized for rowdy behaviour:
drunkenness, licentiousness, gambling, etc. Priests, monks and nuns often prohibited by episcopal decrees or by rules of their orders to go on pilgrimages.
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Chaucer now introduces a first-person narrator as member of pilgrimage.
Bifil that in that seson, on a day,
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay,
Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
At nyght was come into that hostelrye
Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye
Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
And wel we weren esed atte beste.
And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
So hadde I spoken with hem everychon
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
And made forward erly for to ryse,
To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.
It happened in that season on a day,

as I was staying in Southwerk at the Tabard,
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ready to go on my pilgrimage
to Canterbury with a very devout heart,
at night had come into that hostelry
at least 29 in a group
of various people, by chance met together
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in fellowship, and pilgrims were they all,

who wanted to ride towards Canterbury.
The chambers and the stables were spacious,
and we were excellently entertained.
And in a short time, when the sun had gone to rest,
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I had spoken thus with every one of them

That I was soon of their fellowship,
and made agreement to rise early,
to take our way there as I shall tell you.
Clever move:
< allows him to speak from personal experience in frame narrative, give graphic
descriptions as from a person who has seen and heard, has him as factual reporter;
< also allows poet to speak with voice different from first-person narrator
< makes him less of omniscient, god-like narrator: in fact, it allows him to poke fun at
himself. (Sir Thopas)
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Then he appears to make a serious mistake: describe all pilgrims.
But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,
Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
Me thynketh 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,
And eek in what array that they were inne;
And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.
But nevertheless, while I have time and space,
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before I proceed further in this tale,

it seems to me to be in order
to tell you all the condition
of each of them, as it appeared to me,
and what sort of people they were, and of what rank,
and also how they were got up,
and with a knight I want to begin then.
A list of 29 pilgrims described according to medieval conventions must be about as

interesting as a linguistics lecture: conventions require head-to-toe description of physical
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build and of clothing.

What Chaucer does is rather different. He takes striking physical characteristics; he takes behavioural patterns; he uses deadpan descriptions of people's lives to express severe criticism
of behaviour. Whole of descriptions may be seen as a form of Estates Satire, popular genre
in Middle Ages, precursor of sociological studies. Classical estates satire has types (the
knight, the merchant, the monk) say their pieces, or describes them in unflattering terms; in
CT, the pilgrims may be typical examples of a class, but are very much individuals rather than
types: a knight, a merchant, a monk. (Contradicted by some critics who feel that the pilgrims
are highly complex but still symbolical figures rather than individuals).
Device of first-person narrator allows him to present portraits of people not according to rules
of medieval poetics but as eye witness, "personal" impressions.
The Knight and his Retinue (43-117)
Knight (43-78):
A KNYGHT ther was, and that a worthy man,
There was a knight, and he was a worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
who from the time he first began
To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
to go on campaigns, he loved chivalry,
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
loyalty and honour, liberality and courteous manners.
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
Very worthy he was in his lords war,
And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
and, moreover, he had campaigned, further than any man,
As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
both in Christendom and in Heathendom,
And evere honoured for his worthynesse.
and always honoured for his worthiness.
At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne.
He was at Alexandria when it was conquered (1365).
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
He very often had sat at the top seat of the table
Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;
above all the nations in Prussia;
In Lettow hadde he reysed, and in Ruce
in Lithuania had he campaigned, and in Russia
No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
more often than any Christian of his rank.
In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
He had also been in Granada at the siege
Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye;
of Algezir (1344), and campaigned in Benmarin (Morocco);
At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
he was at Ayas (Armenia) and Attalia (Asia Minor)
Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See
when they were conquered; and in the Mediterranean
At many a noble armee hadde he be.
he had been in many a noble campaign.
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
He had been in fifteen mortal battles
And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
and fought for our faith at Tlemcen (Algeria)
In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
three times in individual duels, and always killed his enemy.
This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
This same worthy knight had also been
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
at one time with the lord of Balat (Turkey)
Agayn another hethen in Turkye.
against another heathen in Turkey.
And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys;
And always he had an outstanding reputation;
And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
and he was not only eminent, but also wise,
And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
and in his behaviour as meek as a maid.
He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
He had never said anything rude
In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
in all his life to any kind of person.
He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
He was a true, perfect, noble knight.
But for to tellen yow of his array,
But to tell you of his outfit,
His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
his horses were good, but he was not richly dressed.
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60
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70

Of fustian he wered a gypon
Al bismotered with his habergeon,
For he was late ycome from his viage,
And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
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He wore a jupon made of coarse cloth,
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all stained from his coat of mail,

for he had recently come from his expedition,
and went to do his pilgrimage.
Character - biography - character - appearance:

47: his lordes werre: not entirely clear whether this is his feudal overlord or Jesus Christ: all
fights mentioned are against muslims or pagans.
Critical problem here: is this portrait
< portrait of a true knight, good person, model character; or is it
< tongue-in-cheek, ironic, a condemnation of mercenaries and warfare (Terry Jones);
Very few characters in GP model characters (knight, clerk, plowman, parson), most of them
obviously satirized; so maybe satirical reading also appropriate for "positive characters".
Alternatively, they may be counterfoils to other, more negative figures.
What should one make of 64-66: This worthy knight hadde been also / Somtyme with the lord
of Palatye / Agayn another hethen in Turkye (?): fighting in employ of muslim lord. Could
have been left out: Inclusion may indicate satirical intent.
Equally, one glaring absence of campaigns: knight does not seem to have fought in Hundred
Years War.
Stress on reputation rather than proper virtues of Christian knight: protector of the weak,
women, children; stress on outer show: port, linguistic behaviour: But killing enemies in
knightly duels.
Squire (79-100):
With hym ther was his sone, a yong SQUIER,
With him there was his son, a young squire,
A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,
a lover and a lusty bachelor (young knight),
With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. with locks as curly as if they had been curled with an iron.
Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
Twenty years of age he was, I believe.
Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
In stature, he was of medium height,
And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe.
and wonderfully agile, and of great strength,
And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie
and he had sometimes been on cavalry expeditions
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie,
in Flanders, in Artois, and in Picardie,
And born hym weel, as of so litel space,
and conducted himself well, in such short time,
In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
in the hope of finding favour with his lady.
Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
He was embroidered, just like a meadow
Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and reede.
completely full of fresh flowers, white and red.
Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day,
He was singing, or piping, all day long,
He was as fressh as is the month of May.
He was as fresh as the month of May.
Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
His gown was short, with long and wide sleeves.
Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
He knew well how to sit on horses and ride excellently.
He koude songes make and wel endite, He knew well how to compose the music and the words of songs,
Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write. to joust and also to dance, and well how to draw and write.
So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale
So hotly he loved that by night-time
He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
he slept no more than a nightingale.
Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable,
He was courteous, humble, and willing to serve,
And carf biforn his fader at the table.
and carved before his father at the table.
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90
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100
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Fought in wars against France (in support of pope against antipope): Chaucer himself had
been in that campaign as a young squire, been captured and ransomed. Note: father fights in
"lordes werre", son fights (88) "in hope to stonden in his lady grace".
Short top garment (93) comes in for criticism in Parson's Tale: (1048ff) "On the other hand,
to speak of the horrible disproportionate scantness of clothing, as in these curtailed garments
or short jackets, which because of their shortness do not cover the shameful members of men,
to a wicked purpose! Alas, some of them show the protuberance of their shape and the
horrible swollen members that look like hernias, in the wrapping of their hose, and their
buttocks look like the behind of a she-ape at full moon."
Again, the line of praise (99) is somewhat undermined by the example given: his
serviceability finds expression in serving his fathers meat rather than in fighting against
oppression etc.
Yeoman (101-117: DO NOT READ!): Somewhat non-descript, does not reappear in CT,
does not tell a tale (taciturn sort: forester!). More interesting as sociological description:
clothing, outfit, etc. Long bow: typical English weapon, used for devastating effect in many
campaigns: could pierce armour at 200 metres, faster than crossbow. Football forbidden by
various royal decrees because it kept men from bow-and-arrow practice. Peacock feathers
possibly more showy but less efficient than goose feathers.
Nuns, Monk and Friar
Prioress 118-162
Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE,
There was also a nun, a prioress,
That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy.
who in her smiling was very unaffected and modest.
Hir gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy,
Her worst swearing was By St Eligius!,
And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
and her name was Madame Eglentine.
Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
Very well she sung the divine service,
Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
intoned in her nose in a very proper manner;
And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
and French she spoke very fairly and elegantly,
After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe,
in the manner of Stratford-at-Bow,
For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
for Parisian French was unknown to her.
At mete wel ytaught was she with alle; She was well taught at table (had good table manners), moreover;
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
she did not let a morsel fall from her lips,
Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;
nor did she wet her fingers deeply in her sauce;
Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
she knew well how to carry a morsel and take good care
That no drope ne fille upon hir brest.
that no drop should fall on her breast.
In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest;
Her pleasure was very much set on good manners;
Hire over-lippe wyped she so clene,
she wiped her upper lip so cleanly
That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene
that on her/their cup there was not the smallest spot seen
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
of grease when she had drunk her draught.
Ful semely after hir mete she raughte;
Very properly she reached for her food,
And sikerly she was of greet desport,
and certainly, she was a very cheerful person,
And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,
and very pleasant and of amiable behaviour,
And peyned hire to countrefete cheere
and took pains to imitate courtly behaviour
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Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,

and to be dignified in bearing,
And to ben holden digne of reverence.
and to be held worthy of reverence.
But, for to speken of hir conscience,
But to speak of her tender feelings / conscience,
She was so charitable and so pitous,
she was so charitable and so full of pity
She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
that she would weep if she saw a mouse
Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
caught in a trap, if it was dead or bleeding.
Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
She had small dogs whom she fed
With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.
with roasted meat, or milk and wastel-bread.
But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
But she wept sorely if one of them was dead
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;
or if men hit it sharply with a stick;
And al was conscience, and tendre herte.
and all was tender feelings and tender heart.
Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,
Her wimple was pleated very properly,
Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
her nose was well formed, her eyes grey as glass,
Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed;
her mouth very small, and also soft and red;
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
but certainly she had a fair forehead;
It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;
it was almost nine inches wide, I believe;
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
for certainly, she was not undergrown.
Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
Her cloak was very elegant, as I was aware.
Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
Of small coral she wore about her arm
A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,
a set of beads, interspersed with green beads (for Paternosters),
And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
and on it hung a brooch of very bright gold,
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
on which there was first written a crowned A,
And after, Amor vincit omnia.
and after, Amor vincit omnia.
Name Eglentyne (briar rose) more suggestive of heroine of courtly romance than of name she
was supposed to take on entering her order. (Possibly based on real person: there was a nun
by that name in St Leonard's near Stratford-at-Bow in Chaucer's time.)
Should not have been on pilgrimage in the first place: forbidden by bishops. Description not
only relevant in what it says but what it does not say: Apart from singing divine service ful
semely, there is no mention of spiritual function of prioress. Other statements mainly about
external appearance or behaviour.
One of key-terms in description: semely. Behaviour in accordance with courtly etiquette.
Possibly not entirely genuine or successful: (139-140) and peyned hire to countrefete cheere /
Of court.
French not quite up to courtly standards of elegance either.
Physical description tallies with medieval beauty ideals: possibly not entirely appropriate for
nun. Her forehead should have been covered anyway.
Her affection for animals contrasts somewhat oddly with the tale she tells later (More then);
feeding dogs wastel bread (second best bread) and roasted meat, which the Benedictine rule
allowed only exceptionally, to the ill or infirm, would be considered shameful waste; moreover, she was not allowed to keep animals in her nunnery by the rules of her order. Elegant
cloak and brooch also broach monastic rules. What exactly is meant by amor vincit omnia
(from Virgil's Eclogues) is open to interpretation: St Augustine reinterpreted amor as meaning
God's love; worldly inclinations of prioress might lead us to assume that the original meaning
might be not be totally excluded: Lowes (1930) comments: "Which of the two loves does
'amor' mean to the prioress? I do not know; but I think she thought she meant love celestial".
Her companions (163-164) are not described
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Another NONNE with hir hadde she,
That was hire chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
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She had another nun with her,
who was her secretary, and three priests.
One nun who is her secretary, and the probably corrupt line and preestes three:
< unlikely that two nuns were to be accompanied by three priests;
< would also bring Chaucer's pilgrims up to 32 instead of 29;
< only one priest tells a tale.
Either
< Chaucer nodding, or
< line left unfinished by Chaucer and later supplied by scribe, or
< line corrupted by early copyist: and a preest is three.
Monk (165-207)
A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie,
There was a monk, an extremely fine one,
An outridere, that lovede venerie,
an outrider, who loved hunting,
A manly man, to been an abbot able.
a manly (masculine) man, able to be an abbot.
Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable;
He had many a fine horse in the stable;
And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere
and when he rode, men could hear his bridle
Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere,
jingle in a whistling wind as clearly
And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle.
and also as loudly as the chaple bell.
Ther as this lord was keper of the celle,
Where this lord was the keeper of the subordinate monastery,
The reule of seint Maure, or of seint Beneit,
the rule of St Maurus or of St Benedict,
By cause that it was old and somdel streit
because it was old and somewhat strict
This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace,
this same monk let old things pass away
And heeld after the newe world the space.
and followed the customs of the modern times.
He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
He did not give a plucked hen for the text
That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
that says that hunters are not holy men,
Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,
nor that a monk, when he is heedless of rules,
Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees,
is likened to a fish that is waterless,
This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
that is to say, a monk out of his monastery.
But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre;
But he did not consider that text worth an oyster;
And I seyde his opinion was good,
and I say his opinion was good,
What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,
why should he study and drive himself crazy,
Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,
to always pore over a book in the monastery,
Or swynken with his handes, and laboure
or work with his hands, and labour
As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?
as St Augustine bid? How shall the world be served?
Lat Austyn have his swynk to him reserved!
Let Augustine have his work reserved for himself!
Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
Therefore he was certainly a huntsman:
Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;
he had greyhounds as swift as birds in flight;
Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
tracking and hunting the hare
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
was all his pleasure, for he would not spare any cost.
I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
I saw his sleeves lined at the hand
With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
with squirrel fir, the finest in the land;
And, for to festne his hood under his chyn,
and to fasten his hood under his chin,
He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn;
he had a skillfully fashioned pin made of gold;
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A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
And eek his face, as it hadde been enoynt.
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;
Hise eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,
That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;
He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.
A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
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A love-knot there was at the larger end.
He head was bald, it shone like any glass,
and also his face, as if it had been anointed.
He was a lord very fat and in good condition;
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His eyes were prominent (bright?), and rolling in his head,

they gleamed like a furnace under a cauldron;
his boots were supple, his hors was in excellent condition.
Now certainly he was a handsome prelate;
he was not pale like a tormented spirit.
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He loved a fat swan best of any roasts.

His palfrey was a brown as a berry.
Monk even more explicitly worldly: keeps horses (with bells on) and hounds, goes hunting
(venerie may be ambiguous as to derivation from OFr venerie "hunting" or Medieval Latin
veneria "sexual activity: the practices of Venus". The first unequivocal attestation of that
meaning is dated a hundred years later). He is called "a manly man"; whether this really is
proper qualification for abbot is somewhat doubtful. He wears expensive fur (explicitly forbidden) and pins, is "in good point" (en bon point: stout: lover of good and expensive food),
has roving eyes.
Monk explicitly rejects monastic rule as being too old and strict. The narrator agrees emphatically with the monks worldly aspirations: "How shall the world be served?" Heavily
satirical: The precise point of entering a monastery should be to serve God rather than the
world (vrouwe welt, to the Germanists).
Friar 208-269
A FRERE ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
A lymytour, a ful solempne man,
In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan
So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
He hadde maad ful many a mariage
Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
Unto his ordre he was a noble post.
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
With frankeleyns overal in his contree
And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
For he hadde power of confessioun,
As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,
For of his ordre he was licenciat.
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 yshryve;
For, if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
There was a friar, who was wanton and merry,

licensed to beg in a limited area; a very dignified man,
in all the four orders there is none that knows
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so much about dalliance and sweet talk.

He had brought about many marriages
of young women at his own cost.
He was a noble pillar of his order.
He was well-beloved and familiar
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with wealthy land-owners everywhere in his country

and also with worthy women of the town;
for he had the power of confession,
as he said himself, more than a curate,
for he had a licence from his order.
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Very sweetly he heard confession,

and pleasant was his absolution:
He was an easy man to give penance
where he knew there was a good pittance to be had.
For to give to a poor order
is a sign that a man is well shriven.
For, if he gave, he dared to swear an oath,
he knew a man was repentant.
225

For many a man so harde is of his herte,
He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte;
Therfore, in stede of wepynge and preyeres,
Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
And certeinly he hadde a murye note:
Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;
Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.
His nekke whit 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 beggestere;
For unto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce,
For to deelen with no swich poraille,
But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
Curteis he was, and lowely of servyse.
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
He was the beste beggere in his hous;
For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
So plesaunt was his 'In principio,'
Yet wolde he have a ferthyng er he wente;
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp.
In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
For there he was nat lyk a cloysterer
With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
Of double worstede was his semycope,
That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
Somwhat he lipsed for his wantownesse,
To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge,
And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
29
for many a man is so hard of heart
he cannot weep, although it hurt him badly;
230
therefore, instead of weeping and prayers

men should give money to the poor friars.
The tip of his hood was always stuffed full with knives
and pins to give to fair women.
And certainly he had a pleasant voice:
235
He could sing well and play on a stringed instrument;

in singing popular songs he excelled above all others.
His neck was lily-white;
In addition he was as strong as a professional fighter.
He knew the taverns in every town well,
240
and every innkeeper and waitress,

more so than a leper or a beggar-woman;
because for such a worthy man as him
it is not suitable, considering his profession,
to have acquaintance with such lepers.
245
It is not respectable, it may not be profitable,

to have dealings with such poor people,
but only with rich people and sellers of food.
And morever, wherever profit could arise,
he was courteous and humble of service.
250
There was no other man so virtuous anywhere else.

He was the best beggar in his house;
For even though a widow might not have a shoe,
his In principio was so pleasant
that he would still get a farthing before he left;
255
His takings were a lot better than his rent.

And frolic he could, just like a puppy.
He could give much help on days of arbitration,
for there he was not like a monk in a monastery
with a threadbare cloak, like a poor scholar,
260
but he was like a master of arts or a pope.

of double worsted was his short cloak,
which was rounded out like a bell from the mould.
He lisped a little, out of affection,
to make his English sweet on his tongue,
and in his harp-playing, when he had sung,
his eyes twinkled in his head just
as do the stars in the frosty night.
This worthy licence-holder was called H ubert.
Friars (mendicant monks) first arose as reform movements: Franciscan friars founded by St
Francis of Assisi in first half of c13; return to poverty (both personal and institutional) in the
succession of Christ. Some of the more radical branches of this movement quickly (and
bloodily) suppressed; others quickly became corrupt. Complaints against friars become
frequent, both in politics and in the arts. Targets of satire on several counts:
265
30
< not subject to local ecclesiastic authority, but directly to order and to pope; often
used by pope as legates to collect money (taxes etc.) for Rome
< in competition with parish priests
< shameless acquisition of wealth both for themselves and their institutions
< doubtful sexual morality (not specific to friars, however, but shared by all the
clergy)
Particular friar is guilty of last three of these points: has affairs (tempts women with small
gifts, later marries them off); he is entitled to hear confession (he was licentiat), which he
uses to obtain money: properly, remission of sins requires repentance and penance: he really
only asks for penance in terms of donations, whether people repent or not. This would bring
him into conflict with parish priest, whose proper duties were to look after his flock's souls.
(Naturally, also a realist basis: Donations to order rather than to local church also not really
appreciated by local church)
Friars prefers to associate with local magnates and the rich, rather than with the sick and the
poor: unseemly. Direct contrast with St Francis who ministered to lepers.
Nevertheless, description satirical rather than totally condemnatory. Narrator describes him as
jolly fellow, singing etc. (235ff) St Francis called his followers joculatores Domini (minstrels
of the lord); Friar somewhat more wordly.
Merchant 270-284
A MARCHANT was ther, with a forked berd,
In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;
Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat,
His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
Hise resons he spak ful solempnely,
Sownynge alway th'encrees of his wynnyng.
He wolde the see were kept for any thyng
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
So estatly was he of his governaunce
With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
Forsothe, he was a worthy man with alle,
But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
A merchant was there, with a forked beard,
270
dressed in motley, and sat on a high saddle on his horse;

on his head a Flemish beaver hat,
his boots with fair and elegant clasps.
His opinions he pronounced very solemnly,
always proclaiming the increase of his profits.
275
He wanted the sea to be guarded at all costs

between Middelburg (Holland) and Orwell (Suffolk).
He could sell French cus well in exchange.
This worthy man used his wits very well:
No man knew he was in debt,
so stately he was in his conduct
with his bargains and his money deals.
Indeed, he was a worthy man altogether,
but, to tell the truth, I do not know what he is called.
Merchants in ME wholesale importers and exporters; two large merchant companies:

Merchants of the Staple: exporters of wool and skin; Merchant Adventurers: dealers in cloth
and other commodities. As class rising in importance throughout Middle Ages; Chaucer's
father came from a merchant family.
Interest in protecting sea passages between England and France / Flanders / Netherlands to be
kept open very understandable: piratical raids and foreign privateers genuine threat to English
shipping and trade.
Merchant target of satirical attacks:
< appearance: riding high on horse; expensive hat
< Behaviour: Always taking about his business / profits.
280
31
< Business Practices:

< < Selling Shields (cus: money of account) actually forbidden to private individuals
(state monopoly).
< < Chevyssaunce (money deals) usually refers to loans; lending money for interest
actually forbidden to Christians (mortal sin of usury): with growth of money economy
at end of Middle Ages ways had to be found to get around it (or leave it to Jews).
< Heavily in debt but good at concealing this fact: topic of people going on
pilgrimages to escape creditors not totally unknown in literature (cf. Shipman's Tale
230-234)
Closing touch: Narrator professes not to know his name. Authenticating trick; if invented by
poet, he could have given him a name.
Clerk 285-308
A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also,
There was also a student from Oxford,
That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
who had long since proceeded to the study of logic.
As leene was his hors as is a rake,
His horse was as lean as a rake,
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
and he was not very fat either, I assure you,
But looked holwe and therto sobrely.
but looked hollow and also serious
Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy;
his short outer coat was very threadbare;
For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
for he had not got himself any benefice (church office) yet,
Ne was so worldly for to have office.
nor was he so worldly as to hold a secular office.
For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
For he would rather have at the head of his bed,
Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
twenty books, bound in black or red,
Of Aristotle and his philosophie,
of Aristotle and his philosophy,
Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
than rich robes, or a fiddle, or a gay psaltery.
But al be that he was a philosophre,
But although he was a philosopher,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
he had little gold in his coffers;
But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
but everthing he might get from his friends,
On bookes and his lernynge he it spente,
he spent on books and his learning,
And bisily gan for the soules preye
and busily he prayed for the souls
Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
of those who gave him the wherewithal to study with.
Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede,
He payed most care and most heed to studying,
Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
He did not speak one word more than was necessary,
And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
and that was said with due form and respect,
And short and quyk, and ful of hy sentence;
and briefly, and lively, and full of deep meaning;
Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
his speech was resounding in moral virtue,
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
and he was gladly willing to learn and to teach.
Student (probably, but not necessarily in Holy Orders). Had long ago taken logic (part of
four-year undergraduate course: Trivium: Logic, grammar, rhetoric): possibly perpetual
student? Poor, has no ecclesiastic or worldly employment (wait for description of Parson to
better understand ecclesiastic office). Prefers books to more worldly luxuries: One book in
Chaucer's time might cost a student three times what he might expect to receive in a year;
Chaucer himself in Legend of Good Women claims he has sixty books: a large library in his
day. (NOTE: clerk does not have them: he'd rather have them than other things). In this he is
different from the Oxford student we are going to meet in Miller's Tale.
285
290
295
300
305
32
Pun on philosopher: meaning also "alchemist", people able to make gold: not our student.
Largely positive character (potentially one of four in General Prologue), but not accepted by
every critic: may be too dependent on others in his studies (209-303), a burden on society
with useless knowledge.
Sergeant-at-law 309-330
A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys,
An eminent lawyer, cautious and prudent,
That often hadde been at the Parvys,
who had often been in the porch of St Pauls
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
was there as well, very rich in excellence.
Discreet he was, and of greet reverence
He was discreet/courteous and of great dignity
He semed swich, hise wordes weren so wise.
He seemed so, his words were so wise.
Justice he was ful often in assise,
He was very often an assizes judge,
By patente, and by pleyn commissioun.
by letters patent and by plenipotentiary commission.
For his science, and for his heigh renoun,
Because of his knowledge and his high renown
Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
he had received many fees and robes.
So greet a purchasour was nowher noon;
There was nowhere another such great buyer of land;
Al was fee symple to hym in effect;
he always aimed for absolute possession;
His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
his land-buying could not be invalidated.
Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
There wasnt anywhere a man as busy he,
And yet he semed bisier than he was.
but yet he seemed busier than he was.
In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle,
He had at his command all the cases and judgements
That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle. which had come about since the time of King William.
Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng,
In addition, he could write and draw up a legal document,
Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng.
so that nobody could find fault with his writing.
And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
He knew every statute fully by heart.
He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote
He only rode in a homely fashion in a motley coat,
Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
girt with a silk belt with narrow ornamental bars;
Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
of his outfit I shall tell no further tale.
310
315
320
325
330
Top class of lawyers, corresponds to today's barristers / Q.C.'s.

Fees and robes is a translation of a technical term (retainer and livery), meaning he is retained
by noblemen to represent them in court; but it also bears its literal meaning.
Not entirely clear whether he is purchasing for his own account or for others; but does not
really matter.
Bit of a showoff: busy, but liked to be thought busier than he really was.
In 1388, sergeant-at-law Thomas Pynchbeck signed a warrant for the arrest of Chaucer for
debt: l. 326 might refer to this.
Franklin 331-360
A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye.
Whit was his berd as is a dayesye;
Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
Wel loved he by the morwe a sope in wyn;
To lyven in delit was evere his wone,
For he was Epicurus owene sone,
There was a franklin in his company.

His beard was as white as a daisy;
he was sanguine in his temperament.
In the morning he loved a piece of bread dipped in wine;
to live in delight was always his habit,
for he was Epicures own son,
335

That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit
Was verray felicitee parfit,
An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
Seint Julian he was in his contree.
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous
Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous,
It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke,
Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke.
After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe,
And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
Wo was his cook, but if his sauce were
Poynaunt, and sharp, and redy al his geere.
His table dormant in his halle alway
Stood redy covered al the longe day.
At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
An anlaas and a gipser al of silk
Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
A shirreve hadde he been, and a countour,
Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.
33
who held the opinion that pure delight
was true perfect happiness,
a householder, and a great one, he was;
St Julian he was in his district.
340
his bread and his ale were always of one standard;

There was not anywhere a man better provided with wine.
his house was never without baked food (i.e. pies)
of fish or meat, and that so plentiful
it snowed in his house with food and drink.
345
with all the delicacies men could think of.

According to the various seasons of the year
he changed his food and his dinner.
Many a fat partridge he had in a coop,
and many a bream and many a pike in a fishpond.
350
Woe to his cook unless his sauce was

spicy and hot, and all his utensils ready.
His permanent table in his hall always
stood readily covered all day long.
At court sessions he was lord and king (he presided);
355
very often he was knight of the shire.

A dagger and a pouch all of silk
hung from his belt, white as morning milk.
He had been a sheriff and an auditor;
nowhere else was there such a worthy feudal landholder.
360
Franklins were substantial landowners: gentry.

This particular franklin possibly guilty of the sin of gluttony. (Cf. clerk)
Seems to be very hospitable, though: redeeming feature: St Julian one of patron saints of
travellers, of hospitality.
Table dormant "fixed table" highly relevant: normally tables were boards on trestles, brought
out only for meals.
Guildsmen 361-378
An HABERDASSHERE and a CARPENTER,
A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER,
And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;
Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras
But al with silver; wroght ful clene and weel
Hir girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
Everich for the wisdom that he kan,
Was shaply for to been an alderman.
For catel hadde they ynogh and rente,
A haberdasher and a carpenter,

a weaver, a dyer, and a tapestry-maker,
and they were all dressed in the livery
of a solemn and a great fraternity.
Their outfit was very fresh and newly adorned,
365
their knives were not mounted with brass

but all with silver; very neatly and well worked
were their belts and their pouches in every detail.
Each of them seemed a fit burgess
to sit on a dais in a guild-hall.
Each one for the wisdom that he knows
was fit to be an alderman.
For they had enough property and revenue,
370

And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
And elles certeyn were they to blame.
It is ful fair to been ycleped 'madame,'
And goon to vigilies al bifore,
And have a mantel roialliche ybore.
34
and also their wives would well agree to it;
or else they would certainly be to blame.
375
It is very fair to be called madame

and to go in to vigils before all others,
and to have a mantle royally carried.
Wealthy artisans belonging to a parish guild, religious fraternity: NOT to a trade guild. Silver
mounting on knives forbidden by law to people with less than 500 pounds a year. (Either very
rich, or very pretentious)
Wives' struggle for precedence must have appeared comical to court audiences, looking on
from above, as it were. Doubly comical: on one hand, Chaucer satirizing bourgeois
pretensions, on other hand also showing mirror to nobility.
They do not get to tell stories, so we don't know what else Chaucer had in mind for them.
Cook 379-387
A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones,
A cook they had with them for the occasion,
To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
to boil the chickens with the marrow-bones,
And poudre-marchant tart, and galyngale.
and tart-flavouring, and galingale (sweet spice)
Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale;He well knew how to recognize a draught of London ale;
He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
he could roast, and boil, and broil, and fry,
Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
make thick soups, and well bake a pie.
But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
But great harm it was, as it seemed to me,
That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
that on his shin he had a running sore.
For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. As for blancmanger, that he made with the best of them.
380
385
Pity about his running sore, indeed. Would he scratch it? With his bare hands?
For blankmanger: "as for, as far as ... is concerned". Direct juxtaposition, however, allows us
to link this with preceding lines.
Later we learn that his name is Roger of Ware; possibly identifiable.
Possibly originally intended as Franklin's cook, interruption by guildsmen (and introduction
of guildsmen) at that place possibly to avoid repetition effect of too much food.
Shipman 388-410
A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
There was a shipman, living far in the west,
For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
for all I know, he was from Dartmouth.
He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe,
He rode on a carthorse, as well as he could,
In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
in a knee-length gown of coarse woollen cloth.
A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
He had a dagger hanging on a cord
Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
around his neck, down under his arm.
The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
The hot summer had made his hue all brown;
And certeinly he was a good felawe.
and certainly he was a good fellow.
Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
Many a draught of wine had he drawn
Fro Burdeuxward, whil that the chapman sleep.on voyages from Bordeaux, while the merchant was asleep.
Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
He paid no heed to tender feelings.
If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
If he fought, and had the upper hand,
390
395
35
By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.

he would send them homewards by water to every land.
But of his craft, to rekene wel his tydes, But as far as his skill was concerned, to calculate his tides well,
His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
his currents, and the dangers round about him,
His herberwe and his moone, his lodemenage,
his harbours, and his moon, his navigation,
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
there was none such from Hull to Cartagena.
Hardy he was, and wys to undertake,
He was hardy, and prudent in his undertakings,
With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
with many tempests had his beard been shaken.
He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
He knew all the harbours, as they were,
From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere,
from Gotland to the Cape of Finisterre,
And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
and every inlet in Brittany and in Spain.
His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne.
His ship was called Magdalene.
400
405
410
Not a good rider: sailors did not know how to ride (proverbial)
A good fellow: steals wine, drowns prisoners (usual practice). Dagger not conspicuous but
ready for use.
But excellent sailor who knows his trade like nobody else.
A ship called Madelayne actually documented in Dartmouth; so Chaucer may again have had
an actual person in his mind.
Doctor 411-444
With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK;
There was also a doctor of medicine;
In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
in all this world there was none like him
To speke of phisik and of surgerye,
to speak of medicine and of surgery,
For he was grounded in astronomye.
for he was instructed in astrology.
He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
He kept his patient a great deal
In houres by his magyk natureel.
by working out by natural magic the (correct) astronomical hours.
Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
He could work out the ascendent well
Of his ymages for his pacient.
for making images for his patient.
He knew the cause of everich maladye,
He knew the cause of every disease,
Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
whether its nature was hot, or cold, or wet, or dry,
And where they engendred, and of what humour.
and where they originated, and from what humour.
He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
He was a true, perfect practicioner:
The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote,
When the cause was known, and the root of the harm,
Anon he yaf the sike man his boote.
he quickly gave the sick man his remedy.
Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
He had his apothecaries ready
To sende him drogges and his letuaries,
to send him drugs and medical mixtures,
For ech of hem made oother for to wynne
for each of them caused profit for the other
Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
their friendship was not newly begun.
Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,
He well knew the old Aesculapius,
And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus,
Dioscorides, and also Rufus,
Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen,
old Hippocrates, Ali, and Galenus,
Serapion, Razis, and Avycen,
Serapion, Rhazes, and Avicenna,
Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn,
Averroes, John of Damascus, and Constantine the African,
Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn. Bernard of Gordon, John of Gaddesden, and G ilbertus Anglicanus.
Of his diete mesurable was he,
In his diet he was moderate,
For it was of no superfluitee,
for it was not in great abundance,
415
420
425
430
435

But of greet norissyng, and digestible.
His studie was but litel on the Bible.
In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
Lyned with taffata and with sendal;
And yet he was but esy of dispence;
He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial,
Therfore he lovede gold in special.
36
but very nourishing, and digestible.
His study was not much on the bible.
He was dressed in red and blue,
lined with taffeta and sendal (fine silks);
440
and yet he was rather moderate in spending;

he kept what he won during the pestilence.
For in medicine gold is a drug for the heart,
therefore he loved gold especially.
Doctor well versed in medicine: long list of authorities known to him; we also get glimpse at
practice: based on astrology and humours. The verray, parfit practisour sounds reminiscent
of the knight; but there are some points of criticism:
< He kept his patients a ful greet deel in houres implies that speedier treatment might
have been possible;
< His agreement with his chemists is not necessarily in the patients' best interest;
< He made money out of pestilence (great plague within living memory), does not
share it out, e.g. as alms; is generally interested in money rather than spiritual goods:
his studie was but litel on the bible. Explanation for love of gold obviously facetious.
Wife of Bath 445-476
A good WIF was ther, OF biside BATHE,
a good woman was there from near Bath,
But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe.
but she was somewhat deaf, and that was a pity.
Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt,
In cloth-making she had such skill
She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
she passed the ones of Ypres and of Ghent.
In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
In all the parish there was no woman
That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
who should go in to the offering before her;
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she,
and if one did, then certainly she was so wrathful
That she was out of alle charitee.
that she lost all her charity.
Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground;
The linen coverings for her head were very fine in texture
I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
I dare swear they weighed ten pounds,
That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed.
those which on a Sunday were on her head.
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
Her stockings were of fine red scarlet,
Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe.
closely laced, and her shoes supple and new.
Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
Her face was bold, and fair, and red in hue.
She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
She was a worthy woman all her life:
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, Husbands at the church door (officially married) she had five,
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe,
not considering other company in youth,
But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
but we need not speak of that now.
And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
and three times had she been to Jerusalem;
She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
she had passed many a foreign river;
At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
she had been in Rome and in Boulogne,
In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.
in Santiago de Compostella in Galicia, and in Cologne.
She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
She knew much about wandering by the way.
Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
She was gap-toothed, to speak the truth.
Upon an amblere esily she sat,
She sat easily on an ambler,
Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat
wearing a large wimple, and a hat on her head,
445
450
455
460
465
470
37
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;

as broad as a buckler or shield;
A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
an apron-like overskirt about her large hips,
And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
and on her feet a pair of sharp spurs.
In felaweship wel koude she laughe and carpe.
In company she could well laugh and chatter.
Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
of love-remedies she knew, as it happened,
For she koude of that art the olde daunce. for she knew the old dance of that art (all the tricks of the trade).
475
Possibly most fully developed character in GP; if her own prologue is added, definitely best
depicted person in CT.
Early mention of deafness; explained in WiP.
Ostentatious woman in her own community: dress items; matter of bourgeois precedence
again, like Guildsmen's wives.
Great traveller: been on many pilgrimages.
Great expert in love and marriage: five husbands (like Samaritan woman: John 4:18);
ambiguity of withouten: probably many lovers (but not relevant, says narrator). Wandering by
the way may be understood as reference to travelling, but also to marital infidelity.
Gap teeth signs of strong sexual desires in medieval physiognomy.
Riding male style, rather than side-saddle (cf. picture of prioresse), with sharp spurs (God
help the unliberated male).
Remedies of love: possibly reference to Ovid's Remedia amoris (with implied knowledge of
Ars amandi, possibly to love potions or abortion.
Parson 477-528
A good man was ther of religioun,
And was a povre PERSOUN OF A TOUN,
But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
Benygne he was, and wonder diligent,
And in adversitee ful pacient,
And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes.
Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes,
But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
Unto his povre parisshens aboute
Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce.
He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.
Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
In siknesse nor in meschief to visite
The ferreste in parisshe, muche and lite,
Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
And this figure he added eek therto,
There was a good man of religion,

he was the poor parson of a village,
but rich he was in holy thought and works.
He was also a learned man, a scholar,
480
who wanted to preach Christs gospel truly;

he devoutly wanted to teach his parishioners.
He was benign and wonderfully diligent,
and very patient in adversity,
and such he was proven many times.
485
He was very reluctant to excommunicate for his tithes,

but he would rather give, doubtlessly,
to his poor parishioners roundabout
of his offering, and also of his fixed income.
He could find sufficiency in little things.
490
His parish was wide, and houses far apart,

but he did not neglect, neither for rain nor thunder,
to visit, in sickness or in trouble
those most remote in his parish, great and small,
on foot, and with a staff in his hand.
He gave this noble example to his sheep
that he first worked, and then he taught.
He took those words out of the gospel,
and he also added this figure of speech:
495

That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
No wonder is a lewed man to rust;
And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
He sette nat his benefice to hyre
And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules
To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
Or with a bretherhed to been witholde;
But dwelt at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
And though he hooly were and vertuous,
He was to synful man nat despitous,
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
But it were any persone obstinat,
What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
A bettre preest, I trowe, that nowher noon ys.
He waited after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore, and Hise apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.
38
That if gold should rust, what should iron do?
500
For if a priest is foul, whom we trust,

it is little wonder that uneducated man should rust;
and it is a shame, if a priest is concerned,
a shit-covered shepherd and a clean sheep.
A priest ought well to give an example
505
by his purity, how his sheep should live.

He did not farm out his benefice
and let his sheep stuck in the mire
and ran off to London to St Pauls
to seek himself a chantry for souls,
510
or to be retained by a guild;
but dwelt at home, and kept his fold well,
so that the wolf did not make it go wrong;
he was a shepherd and not a mercenary.
And although he was holy and virtuous,
515
he was not scornful to a sinful man,

nor domineering or haughty in his speech,
but courteous and benign in his teaching.
To draw people to heaven by kindness,
by good example, this was his business.
520
But if anybody should be obstinate,

whatever he was, of high or low rank,
him would he rebuke sharply at the time.
A better priest, I believe, there is nowhere.
He did not expect pomp and ceremony,
nor made himself an overly fastidious conscience,
but Christs teaching, and that of his twelve apostles
he taught, but first he followed it himself.
One of positively (?) depicted characters on pilgrimage.

Also learned man, like clerk; possible positive comparison: Clerk uses knowledge for
himself, parson for others. Giver rather than taker (cf. friar and two others: summoner and
pardoner); visits parishioners on foot (cf. monk): staff in hand symbol of shepherd. Looks
after heigh and lough estat (again unlike friar)
Does not instal curate (at starvation wages) to run away to London and become a priest in a
chantry: Common practice in Middle Ages to hold more than one ecclesiastic office (get
money from all offices): leads to neglect of pastoral duties.
Criticism of unworthy priests (foul, shiten shepherde) more relevant than meets eye. Beginning of English reformation: John Wycliffe ca. 1310 - 1384; criticized rich church, monks,
friars, unworthy priests: virtue of sacraments depends on state of grace of dispenser. Parson
called a Lollard (follower of Wycliffe) later on by one of pilgrims (because parson objects to
swearing, unlike prioress (?)). Chaucer himself possibly crypto-Lollard: L's supported (for
political reasons) by Richard II's uncle, John of Gaunt, who was Chaucer's brother-in-law
(and possibly more). Not without risk: Lollards banned 1382; some of them burned for heresy
(and treason) after 1401 (law de heretico comburendo)
525
39
Plowman 529-541
With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother,With him there was a plowman, who was his brother,
That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
who had hauled many a cartload of dung;
A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
a true worker and a good one he was,
Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
living in peace with perfect charity.
God loved he best with al his hoole herte
God he loved best, with his whole heart,
At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
at all times, whether it pleased or pained him,
And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
and then his neighbour, just like himself.
He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
He would thresh, make ditches and dig,
For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
for Christs sake, for every poor person,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
without pay, if it lay in his power.
Hise tithes payed he ful faire and wel,
His tithes he paid fairly and well,
Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.
both from his own labour and his possessions.
In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
In a labourers smock he rode on a mare.
530
535
540
1381 great peasants' revolts (killing archbishop of Canterbury, etc.)

Chaucer's description of proper peasant: peaceful, fulfills obligation to authorities (dyke?,
tithes). Idealized description / wishful thinking. Does not tell story.
Rogues' Gallery: Reeve, Miller, Summoner, Pardoner, Manciple
542-44
Ther was also a REVE, and a MILLERE,
There was also a reeve, and a miller,
A SOMNOUR, and a PARDONER also,
a summoner, and also a pardoner,
A MAUNCIPLE, and myself ther were namo.
a manciple, and myself: there were no more.
Miller 545-566
The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;
The miller was indeed a stout fellow;
Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
he was big in muscle and also of bones.
That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
That proved well, for wherever he came,
At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
he would always win the ram at wrestling (1st price).
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
He was a thick-set, broad, stout fellow,
Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
there was no door he could not lift off its hinges,
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
or break it by running against it with his head.
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
His beard was red like any sow or fox,
And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
and also broad, as if it were a spade.
Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
Right on the top of his nose he had
A werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys,
a wart, and on it stood a tuft of hairs,
Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
red like the bristles of a sows ears;
Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde.
his nostrils were black and wide.
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.
He carried a sword and buckler by his side.
His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys,
His mouth was as big as a big cauldron,
He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
he was a teller of dirty stories and a buffoon,
And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
and (his talk) was mostly of sin and obscenities.
Wel koude he stelen corn, and tollen thries; He could steal corn well, and charge three times the proper amount
545
550
555
560

And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
40
and yet he had a golden thumb, indeed.
He wore a white coat and a blue hood.
He could well blow and sound a bagpipe,
565
and with that he brought us out of town.
Great physical strength.

Knight honoured whereever he got; miller gets wrestling-prize: unknightly activity. (Will
later see that Chaucer's parodical Sir Thopaz is also a great wrestler)
Comparison of colour with fox or sow. Wart on nose supposed to be sign of great sexual
prowess. Obviously a symbol (?) of animal instincts, animal vitality.
Also dishonest: steals corn and overcharges; but is not more dishonest than other millers.
Black and wide nostrils and furnace-mouth makes him look somewhat like medieval
gargoyle; bagpipes disapproved of by church (often found in mouth of devils in medieval
imagery). If he leads pilgrims, these are not very good auspices for pilgrimage.
Manciple 567-586
A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
A noble manciple was there of an inn of court,
Of which achatours myghte take exemple
from whom all buyers might take an example
For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
how to be shrewd in the buying of victuals;
For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
because whether he paid or took on credit,
Algate he wayted so in his achaat
he always waited so in his purchase
That he was ay biforn, and in good staat.
that he was always ahead of the others and in a good position.
Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace,
Now is that not very graceful of God
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
that such an unlearned mans understanding shall surpass
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
the wisdom of a heap of learned men?
Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
Of masters he had more than thrice ten,
That weren of lawe expert and curious,
who were expert and skilful in the law ,
Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous
of whom there were a dozen in that house
Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
worthy to be stewards of revenue and land
Of any lord that is in Engelond,
of any lord that is in England,
To maken hym lyve by his propre good,
to make him live on his own income,
In honour dettelees, but if he were wood;
honourably without debt, unless he were mad;
Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire,
or to live as economically as he would want,
And able for to helpen al a shire
and be able to help the whole shire
In any caas that myghte falle or happe in any emergency that might befall or happen
And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe!
and yet this manciple made fools of them all.
Servant responsible for catering in Inns of Court.
Not described in much detail; main impact (continued) criticism of legal profession: in spite
of all the learning of lawyers, they can still be duped by untutored people like the manciple.
Reeve 587-622
The REVE was a sclendre colerik man;
His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan,
His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn,
The reeve was a slender, choleric man,

his beard was shaved as clean as he possibly could,
his hair was shorn round next to his ears,
570
575
580
585

His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene,
Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne,
Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
Wel wiste he, by the droghte, and by the reyn,
The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,
Was hooly in this reves governyng
And by his covenant yaf the rekenyng,
Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age;
Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne,
They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth,
With grene trees shadwed was his place.
He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
Ful riche he was astored pryvely;
His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly
To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster,
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This reve sat upon a ful good stot,
That was al pomely grey, and highte Scot.
A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
Of Northfolk was this reve, of which I telle,
Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute,
And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
41
at the top it was cut short like a priest in the first.
His legs were very long and very lean,
like a staff, there was no calf seen.
He could keep a granary and a bin well,
there was no auditor who could get the better of him.
He knew well, by the drought and by the rain,
595
the yields of his seed and of his grain.

His lords sheep, his cattle, his dairy cows,
his pigs, his horses, his live-stock, and his poultry,
was completely in this reeves charge,
and by his agreement he gave account,
600
since his lord was twenty years old;

no man could show him to be in arrears.
There was no bailiff, herdsman or other labourer,
whose cunning and his trickery he did not know,
they were afraid of him as of death.
605
His dwelling-place was handsomely on a heath,

his place was shaded with green trees.
He could purchase better than his lord.
Secretly he was very richly provided;
he could well please his lord cunningly
610
to give and lend him of his own possessions,

and yet be thanked and have a coat and hood.
In youth he had learned a good craft,
he was a very good workman, a carpenter.
This reeve sat on a very good stallion,
615
which was all dapple-grey, and was called Scot.

He had on a long outer coat of blue,
and at his side he carried a rusty blade.
This reeve, of whom I am talking, was from Norfolk,
from near a town that people call Bawdeswell.
He was tucked in (coat into belt) all around, like a friar,
and he always rode as the last one of our company.
Hair cut short (showing servant status among laity: Gscherter; easier to catch lice). Knows all
the tricks of other servants (from own practice), but is cleverer than them.
Lives on heath (in isolation) rather than in village or near manor: shows his lack of contact
and sympathy with rest of humanity.
Has got enough funds to lend to his lord (of his owene good deliciously ambiguous) and be
thanked and rewarded for it.
Fairly precise description of origin, and later named as Oswald: possibly again Chaucer had a
real-life model in mind.
Rides a stallion (somewhat above his station), wears a rusty sword (only time something is
described as less than shiny). Riding last again isolates him from rest of pilgrims, and
especially from miller, with whom he has what appears to be a long-standing quarrel.
Summoner 623-668
590
620
42
A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,

A summoner there was with us in that place,
That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
who had a fire-red cherubs /0ercb/ face
For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
for he was pimply, with narrow eyes (swollen eyelids).
As hoot he was, and lecherous, as a sparwe,
He was as hot and lecherous as a sparrow,
With scalled browes blake, and piled berd,
with scabby black eyebrows, and a scraggy beard,
Of his visage children were aferd.
children were afraid of his face.
Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
There was neither mercury, litharge, nor sulfur,
Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
borax, white lead, nor cream of tartar,
Ne oynement, that wolde clense and byte,
no ointment that would cleanse and burn,
That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
that could help him get rid of his white plukes,
Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
nor of the knobs sitting on his cheeks.
Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
He really loved garlic, onions, and also leeks,
And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
and to drink strong wine, red as blood;
Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
Then he would speak and cry as if he were mad.
And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
And when he had drunk a lot of the wine,
Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
then he would speak no word except Latin.
A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
He knew a few phrases, two or three,
That he had lerned out of som decree which he had learned out of some decree
No wonder is, he herde it al the day,
it is small wonder, he heard it all day,
And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
and also you (all) know how a jay
Kan clepen `watte' as wel as kan the Pope.
can say Walter as well as can the Pope.
But who so koude in oother thyng hym grope,
But if anyone could test him in other things,
Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
then he had spent all his philosophy;
Ay questio quid juris wolde he crie.
He would alway cry The question is what is the law on this point.
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde,
he was a noble rascal and a kind one,
A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde;
men could not find a better fellow;
He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn,
for a quart of wine, he would permit
A good felawe to have his concubyn
a good fellow to keep his concubine
A twelf-monthe, and excuse hym atte fulle for twelve months, and excuse him fully
Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.secretly he also knew how to pluck a finch (have illicit sex/cheat sb.)
And if he foond owher a good felawe,
And if he found a good fellow anywhere,
He wolde techen him to have noon awe,
he would teach him to have no fear,
In swich caas, of the erchedekeness curs,
in such a case, of the archdeacons excommunication,
But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
unless a mans soul was in his purse;
For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be,
for he should be punished in his purse,
`Purs is the erchedekenes helle,' seyde he.
The purse is the archdeacons hell, he said.
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
But I know well he was indeed lying right there.
Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede Every guilty man should be afraid of excommunication -For curs wol slee, right as assoillyng savith - For excommunication will slay, just as absolution saves -And also war him of a Significavit.
and he should also beware of a significavit (order for imprisonment of exc.)
In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
Under his control he had, just as he pleased,
The yonge girles of the diocise,
the young people of the diocese,
And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. And knew their secrets and was their counsellor in everything.
A gerland hadde he set upon his heed
He had set a garland on his head
As greet as it were for an ale-stake;
as large as if it were for an ale-stake;
A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake.
he had made himself a buckler of a cake.
625
630
635
640
645
650
655
660
665
43
Officer of ecclesiastic court: serves summons (Vorladungen, orders to appear in court).

Typical offences tried in ecclesiastic courts (presided over by archdeacon (Generalvikar) as
representative of bishop): non-payment of tithes, sexual peccadilloes. Typical punishments:
fines, church penance, and excommunication. In practice most often fines.
Summoners as visible representatives of ecclesiastic courts in low repute; often object of
criticism.
This summoner suffers from bad case of acne (or leprosy: not entirely clear): showing signs
of inner corruption in outward physiognomy: children are afraid of his face. Not medicine
will help him; medical handbooks recommend giving up spiced food and wine in this case:
but he is obviously not to be helped.
Has learned to parrot a few words of Latin, but no more learning.
As summoner, he can be easily bribed, and indulges in same vices he serves summons for.
Underrates the power of excommunication (forbids all Christians to have contact with
excommunicated person, and exhorts temporal authorities to remove him from circulation,
temporarily or permanently; spiritually, cuts him loose from Church with its monopoly on
salvation): only time in GP where narrator disagrees with one of his figures.
Pardoner 670-714
With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
With him there rode a noble pardoner
Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, of the hospital of St. Mary of Roncevalle, his friend and companion,
That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
who had come straight from the court of Rome.
Ful loude he soong `com hider, love, to me.'
Very loudly he sung Come hither,love, to me.
This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun,
The summoner accompanied him in a powerful bass,
Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
there was never a trumpet of half so loud a sound.
This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,
But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
but smoothly it hung down like a hank of flax;
By ounces henge hise lokkes that he hadde,
the locks he had hung down in thin clusters,
And therwith he hise shuldres overspradde;
and with those he covered his shoulders;
But thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon.
but thin it lay, in single shreds.
But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
But for fun he did not wear a hood,
For it was trussed up in his walet.
for it was packed up in his wallet.
Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet,
He thought he rode in the latest fashion,
Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare. with his hair loose, he rode all bare-headed, except for his cap.
Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
He had glaring eyes just like a hare.
A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
A vernicle (veronica) he had sown on his cap.
His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe
His wallet lay before him in his lap,
Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.
brimful of indulgences, freshly come from Rome.
A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot,
He had a voice as high as a goat,
No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have,
he had no beard, nor would ever have one,
As smothe it was as it were late shave,
it was as smooth as if it were recently shaved,
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
I believe he was a gelding or a mare.
But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware,
But of his craft, from Berwick to Ware,
Ne was ther swich another Pardoner;
there was not another Pardoner like him;
For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
for in his bag he had a pillow-case,
Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
which, he said, was our Ladys veil;
He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl
he said, he had a piece of the sail
670
675
680
685
690
695

That Seinte Peter hadde, whan that he wente
Upon the see, til Jesu Crist hym hente.
He hadde a croys of latoun, ful of stones,
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones;
But with thise relikes whan that he fond
A povre persoun dwellyng up-on-lond,
Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye,
And thus with feyned flaterye and japes
He made the persoun and the peple his apes.
But trewely to tellen atte laste,
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste;
Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
But alderbest he song an offertorie,
For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe
He moste preche, and wel affile his tonge;
To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude,
Therfore he song the murierly and loude.
44
which St Peter had, when he went
on the sea, until Jesus Christ caught hold of him.
He had a cross of brass, studded with false gems,
700
and in a glass he had pigs bones,

But with these relics, when he found
a poor parson dwelling in the country,
he got more money for himself in a day
than the parson got in two months,
705
and thus, with feigned flattery and tricks

he made fools of the parson and the people.
But finally, to tell the truth,
he was a noble churchman in church.
He could read a lesson or the gospel well,
710
but best of all he sung an offertory,

for well he knew: When that song was sung
he had to preach, and well smoothe his tongue;
to win money, as he was very much able to,
therefore he sang the more merrily and loudly.
715
Summoner's pal is pardoner: selling pardons. Pardons: Christ and saints have stored up
treasure of grace in heaven; church as representative on Earth can make use of this; sells
pardons which originally free 'a poena', equivalent to doing church penance, not 'a culpa': only
proper confession (repentance, absolution, penance) can do that; popular belief however
substitutes pardons for confession. Sometimes church (in need of money) collaborated in this
belief and even sold pro-active pardons. One of immediate causes of German reformation:
activities of German pardoners.
Thin hair, high voice, no beard: a geldyng or a mare: eunuch or homosexual. (Not necessarily
so understood by contemporaries: a slightly later continuator of CT has him chase waitresses
in Canterbury). Sings love song to accompaniment of summoner (bar to hym a stif burdoun:
accompanied him with a powerful bass: according to James Winny: remark has unpleasant
overtones: certainly. Burdoun may also mean (pilgrim's) staff: Summoner takes stiff staff to
pardoner?)
Pretends to be fashionably carefree; does not wear hood in violation of rules.
In addition to pardons also shows false relics.
Great preacher because he knows this will get him money.
End of characterization; announces he is going to talk about events of night and of subsequent
pilgrimage (715-724)
Now have I toold you soothly in a clause
Thestaat, 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 tyme to yow for to telle
How that we baren us that ilke nyght
Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght,
Now I have told you truly, in few words (672 lines),
715
the rank, the outfit, the number, and also the reason
why this company was assembled
in Southwerk, at this noble hostelry,
that is called the Tabard, hard by the Bell.
But now is the time to tell you
how we conducted ourselves that same night
when we had alighted at that hostelry,
720

And after wol I telle of our viage,
And all the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
45
And afterwards I shall tell you of our voyage,
and all the rest of our pilgrimage.
Followed by apology for occasional rude and unpolished language or untrue stories: not his
fault: he is only the reporter and, as such, has the duty to repeat exactly what was said. Blame
story-tellers, not the reporter (ignoring fact that extra-textual poet Chaucer created both storytellers and stories); also Christ himself used broad (vernacular) language. 725-742.
But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
That ye narette it nat my vileynye,
Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere
To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
For this ye knowen also wel as I,
Who-so shal telle a tale after a man,
He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan
Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
Al speke he never so rudeliche or large;
Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
He may nat spare, al thogh he were his brother,
He moot as wel seye o word as another.
Crist spak hym-self ful brode in Hooly Writ,
And, wel ye woot, no vileynye is it.
Eek Plato seith, who so kan hym rede,
The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
But first I pray you to be so kind
725
as not to attribute it to my bad manners,

although I speak plainly in this matter
to tell you their words and their behaviour,
even if I speak their words properly.
For this you know just as well as I,
730
Whosoever tells a tale after somebody else,

must repeat as closely as he ever can
every word, if he has undertaken it,
however rudely or broadly he speaks;
or else he must tell his tale unfaithfully,
735
or fake things, or find new words.

He must not spare him, even if he were his brother,
he must say one word as well as any other.
Christ himself spoke very broadly in the bible,
and, you know it well, this is not bad manners.
740
Plato, too, says, whosoever can read him,

that the words must be cousin to the deed.
Come back to that in discussing the Millers Tale.

Apology for maybe not observing proper order of precedence in presentation of pilgrims: first
instance of repeated (self?)-diminution of narrator: frequent in Chaucer's work: likes to
portray himself (?) as stupid, lacking in proper understanding, skills etc. 743-746.
Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
Also I pray you to forgive me,

although I have not set people down according to rank
here in this tale, as they should be arranged
745
My wit is short, you may well understand.
Introduces Host: Later called Harry Bailey; known as innkeeper in Southwerk from contemporary documents; probably personally known to Chaucer. Here genial man, shares several
features with monk: large, prominent eyes, manly. 747-759
Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon,
And to the soper sette he us anon.
He served us with vitaille at the beste;
Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
A semely man OURE HOOSTE was withalle
Good cheer made our host to all of us,

and to supper he sat us down soon.
He served us with food at the best;
the wine was strong, and it pleased us well to drink.
Our host was an impressive man indeed
750

For to been a marchal in an halle.
A large man he was, with eyen stepe,
A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe;
Boold of his speche, and wys, and well ytaught,
And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
Eek therto he was right a myrie man;
46
to be a master of ceremonies in a hall.
He was a big man, with prominent eyes,
there was no better burgess in Cheapside;
bold of speech, and wise, and well-educated,
755
and in manliness he lacked nothing at all.

Also, in addition, he was a very merry man
He later proclaims himself to be somewhat henpecked, so maybe not surprising that he wants
to join pilgrimage: makes suggestion of entertainment on pilgrimage (what happened to
praying, telling one's beads, etc.?), accepted by rest of company. 758-787
And after soper pleyen he bigan,
and after supper he began to jest,
And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
and spoke of mirth amongst other things,
Whan that we hadde maad our rekenynges,
when we had settled our bills,
And seyde thus: "Now lordynges, trewely,
and spoke thus: Now, gentlemen, truly,
Ye been to me right welcome hertely,
you are very heartily welcome to me,
For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
for by my faith, if I am not to lie,
I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
I have not seen such a merry company for a year
Atones in this herberwe, as is now.
together in this inn as there is now.
Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how I would indeed amuse you, if I knew how
And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght
and right now I am thinking of an amusement
To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
to give you pleasure, and it shall cost you nothing.
Ye goon to Caunterbury, God yow speede You are going to Canterbury, may God give you success
The blisful martir quite yow youre meede the blissful martyr may give you your reward
And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
and I know well, as you go on your way,
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye,
you intend to tell tales and to jest,
For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon
for truly, there is neither comfort nor mirth
To ride by the weye doumb as stoon,
to ride on ones way as silent as a stone,
And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
and therefore I would make you some entertainment,
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort;
as I was just saying, and create some comfort for you;
And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
And if it pleases you all unanimously
For to stonden at my juggement,
to stand at my judgement
And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
and to do as I shall tell you,
To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
tomorrow, when you ride on your way,
Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
Now, but my fathers soul, who is dead,
But ye be myrie I wol yeve yow myn heed!
unless you are merry, I shall give you my head!
Hoold up youre hond, withouten moore speche."
Hold up your hands, without more discussion.
Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche Our opinion did not long have to be sought for
Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys we did not think it worth deliberating,
And graunted hym, withouten moore avys,
and granted him (his wish), without further ado,
And bad him seye his voirdit, as hym leste.
and told him to give his verdict, as he pleased.
Suggestion: Each pilgrim tells two tales on way to Canterbury, and two on way back: not
fulfilled in actual execution. Teller of tales of best sentence and moost solace (tales of best
instruction and most entertainment: prodesse et delectare) to win free meal, paid by rest
(NOT by host alone). 788-801
760
765
770
775
780
785

"Lordynges," quod he, "now herkneth for the beste,
But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
In this viage shal telle tales tweye,
To Caunterburyward I mene it so,
And homward he shal tellen othere two,
Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
Tales of best sentence and moost solaas Shal have a soper at oure aller cost,
Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
47
Gentlemen, he said, now listen as best you can,
but do not take it, I pray you, in disdain.
This is the point, to speak briefly and plainly,
790
that each of you, to shorten our way with,

should tell two tales on this voyage,
towards Canterbury is what I mean,
and on the way home he shall tell another two,
of adventures, that happened once upon a time.
795
And the one of you that does best of all

that is to say, that tells, in the event of you doing it,
tales of best instruction and most entertainment
shall have a dinner at the expense of us all,
here in this place, sitting by this post,
800
when we come back from Canterbury.
Host will ride with them as their master of ceremonies (Animateur) and arbiter (will
grotesquely misunderstand some of the stories); penalty set for disobeying him: paying all the
company's expenses. Accepted by company. 802-821.
And for to make yow the moore mury
I wol my-selven goodly with yow ryde
Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde.
And who so wole my juggement withseye
Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
And if ye vouchesauf that it be so,
Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
And I wol erly shape me therfore."
This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
That he wolde vouchesauf for to do so,
And that he wolde been oure governour,
And of our tales juge and reportour,
And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
And we wol reuled been at his devys
In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
We been acorded to his juggement;
And therupon the wyn was fet anon,
We dronken, and to reste wente echon
Withouten any lenger taryynge.
and to make you more merry

I shall ride gladly with you
right at my own expense, and be your guide.
And he who wants to contradict my judgement
shall pay for everything we spend en route.
and if you guarantee that this be so,
tell me quickly, without more words,
and I shall prepare myself for it quickly.
This thing was granted, and our oaths sworn
810
with a very glad heart, and we also prayed him

that he would guarantee to do so,
and that he would be our governor,
and the judge and umpire of our tales,
and set a dinner at a certain price,
815
and we would be ruled at his will,

in high and low, and thus unanimously
we were agreed to his judgement;
and thereupon the wine was brought quickly,
we drank, and each one went to rest
without any further tarrying.
Setting out the next day; at first watering station host makes company draw lots as to who
should tell first story. As luck will have it, knight draws the shortest straw and is to begin (as
most highly-ranking member of company it would have been his right anyway). Knight
begins to tell story. (822-855)
Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok,
805
Next morning, when the day begain to spring,

our host rose up, and was rooster for us all,
820

And gadrede us to gidre, alle in a flok,
And forth we riden, a litel moore than paas,
Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas.
And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste,
And seyde, "Lordynges, herkneth if yow leste,
Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde;
If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
Whoso be rebel to my juggement
Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne,
He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
Sire knyght," quod he, "my mayster and my lord,
Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord,
Cometh neer," quod he, "my lady Prioresse,
And ye, Sir Clerk, lat be your shamefastnesse,
Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man."
Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
And shortly for to tellen as it was,
Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght,
Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght.
And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
By foreward and by composicioun, As ye han herd, what nedeth wordes mo?
And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
He seyde, "Syn I shal bigynne the game,
What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye."
And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
His tale anon, and seyde in this manere.
48
and gathered us together, all in a flock,
and we rode forth, little faster than at walking pace,
825
to the watering-place of St Thomas (2 miles out).

And there our host began to stop his horse,
and said, Gentlemen, listen if you please,
you know your contract, and I remind you of it;
if evensong and matins agree,
830
let us see now who shall tell the first tale.

As I ever shall drink wine or ale again,
whosoever be a rebel to my judgement
shall pay for everything that is spent on the way.
Now draw lots, before we go any further,
835
He who has the shortest shall begin.

Sir knight, he said, my master and my lord,
draw lots, for that is my agreement,
come near, he said, my lady Prioress,
and you, Sir Student, let be your bashfulness,
840
stop your musings; lay hand to, everybody.

Quickly everbody began to draw,
and, to tell it briefly, as it was,
whether it was by luck, by fate, or by chance,
the truth is this, the lot fell to the knight,
845
about which everybody was very happy and glad.

And he had to tell his tale, as was right
by agreement and by compact,
as you have heard, what further words does it need?
And when this good man saw that it was so,
850
since he was so wise and so obedient

to keep his agreement by his own free assent,
he said, Since I shall begin the game,
why, may the draw be welcome, in Gods name!
Now let us ride, and listen what I say.
And with that word, we rode forth on our way,
and he began, with right merry cheer,
his tale quickly, and spoke in this way.
855

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Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

The General Prologue

When April with its sweet showers

has, in every wood and heath, quickened

so nature incites them in their hearts;

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

It happened in that season on a day,

in fellowship, and pilgrims were they all,

I had spoken thus with every one of them

But nevertheless, while I have time and space,

before I proceed further in this tale,

A list of 29 pilgrims described according to medieval conventions must be about as

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

build and of clothing.

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

all stained from his coat of mail,

Character - biography - character - appearance:

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

His eyes were prominent (bright?), and rolling in his head,

He loved a fat swan best of any roasts.

There was a friar, who was wanton and merry,

so much about dalliance and sweet talk.

with wealthy land-owners everywhere in his country

Very sweetly he heard confession,

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

therefore, instead of weeping and prayers

He could sing well and play on a stringed instrument;

and every innkeeper and waitress,

It is not respectable, it may not be profitable,

There was no other man so virtuous anywhere else.

His takings were a lot better than his rent.

but he was like a master of arts or a pope.

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

A merchant was there, with a forked beard,

dressed in motley, and sat on a high saddle on his horse;

He wanted the sea to be guarded at all costs

Merchants in ME wholesale importers and exporters; two large merchant companies:

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

< Business Practices:

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

Top class of lawyers, corresponds to today's barristers / Q.C.'s.

There was a franklin in his company.

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

his bread and his ale were always of one standard;

with all the delicacies men could think of.

Woe to his cook unless his sauce was

very often he was knight of the shire.

Franklins were substantial landowners: gentry.

A haberdasher and a carpenter,

their knives were not mounted with brass

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

It is very fair to be called madame

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

and yet he was rather moderate in spending;

Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;

There was a good man of religion,