UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DO MARANHO CENTRO DE ESTUDOS SUPERIORES DE CAXIAS

The Canterbury Tales The Franklins Tale

Francisca de Cssia Jaqueline Maykson Rosrio
CAXIAS 2010

He begins his story by describing the marriage of the knight Arviragus and Dorigen
Once upon a time a young knight, whose name was Arviragus, dwelt in Brittany. In the same country lived a beautiful lady called Dorigen. And the knight loved the lady. Then Arviragus took his bride home with him to his castle by the sea. He honored Dorigen as much as he had done before his marriage, and tried to fulfil her wishes in everything. Dorigen was just as eager to please Arviragus as he was to please her, and they were happy together in all their work and play.

When Arviragus traveling on a military expedition, Dorigen regrets his absence and afraid that when he returned, his ship will fall apart in that there are many rocks on the coast.
Arviragus stayed quietly at home for a year, but after that he grew restless. He felt that no true knight had a right to live on quietly at home, with nothing to do except to order his castle and to hunt. So he sailed away to England that he might win honor and renown in the wars there.

Dorigen stood by the castle and watched his sails disappear in the north. Poor Dorigen! her husband was gone, and she did not know if he would ever come back to her. For weeks she wept and mourned. At night she could not rest, and by day she would not eat. All the things that she had cared most to do were now dull and worthless to her because Arviragus was away

A young man, Aurelius, falls in love for her, but she refuses to return his favors.
Among the dancers there was a young squire named Aurelius. He was much beloved because he was young, and strong, and handsome. Men thought him wise and good, but he was not always wise and good. When the dancing was over, Aurelius came up to Dorigen and asked her to give him a beautiful jewel that she wore on her breast. He said to her, "Madam, of what use is thy jewel to thee when thou wearest it on thy bosom? Give it to me, and I will share with thee the price of it."

She agrees to sleep with Aurelius only if it finds a way to remove the rocks from the sea, a task she believes to be impossible.

Aurelius looking for a magician, who agrees to resolve the problem since Aurelius pays a large sum to him. The wizard creates the illusion of the disappearance of the rocks

Arviragus returns safely to home. Dorigen admits to her husband the promise he had made, and Arviragus says she must fulfill that promise

He orders her to lie with Aurelius, but he understands the pain it would cause in Dorigen and decides not to force her to do this

In turn, the magician forgive the debt of Aurelius

What these men behaved more honorably?

THE END