The college Chaucer

Preface

The College Chaucer aims to provide^ with due regard to the moderate size^ attractive page^ and readable print required in a modern textbook^ as much of Chaucer as can be given in a single volume. The teacher will find^ no doubt^ more than he will choose to read with his class in any one year; but he may welcome the opportunity offered here of varying his course from year to year without change of text, and the possibilities presented of full crossreference and helpful ''outside'' readings.

In this endeavor to give Chaucer in extenso, the editorial apparatus has been compressed within the smallest possible compass^ while a glossary of greater than average fullness supplies the place of the usual notes. The Appendix contains only such additional matter as the beginner absolutely needs before attempting to read Middle English.

There is very general agreement among teachers that the student learns most by approaching Chaucer^ not through a text normalized and corrected on an editorial theory as to standard mediaeval spellings but directly through the actual forms of the early and authoritative manuscripts. The one danger in this plan^ of confusion in morphology and pronunciation^ is greatly lessened in this edition by etymologies given in the glossary^ which supply sourcematerials for correction of manuscript peculiarities. On the other hand^ the student has not been relieved of his proper labor^ by any device of friendly dots or italics. Footnotes are reserved for the indication of necessary variation from manuscript readings.

The editor gratefully thanks Professor W. W. Lawrence of Columbia University for his proposal of the plan fol-

VI

PREFACE lowed in this volume^ and for his kindness in reading a part of the proof. Mr. T. G. Wright's collaboration has been of great assistance^ not only in the glossarial labor^ but in numerous suggestions elsewhere.

New Haven^ May, 1913

Contents

The Canterbury Tales. [From the EUesmere MS.]

PAGES

Group A 1-98

Prologue

The Knyghtes Tale Prologue to the Milleres Tale Prologue to the Reves Tale Prologue to the Cokes Tale

Group B 99-206

Prologue of the Man of Lawe The Tale of the Man of Lawe Prologue to the Shipmannes Tale

End-Link The Prioresses Tale

Prologue to Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas The Tale of Sir Thopas

End-Link Prologue to the Monkes Tale The Monkes Tale

Prologue to the Nonnes Preestes Tale The Nonnes Preestes Tale

Epilogue The Pardoners Prologue The Pardoners Tale

The Prologue of the Wyves Tale of Bath The Tale of the Wyf of Bath Prologue to the Freres Tale viii CONTENTS

PAGES

Prologue to the Clerkes Tale The Clerkes Tale

Lenvoy Prologue to the Merehantes Tale Epilogue

Prologue to the Squieres Tale The Squieres Tale Prologue to the Frankeleyns Tale The Frankeleyns Tale

The Second Nonnes Tale

Prologue to the Chanouns Yemannes Tale

Prologue to the Maunciples Tale The Maunciples Tale

Prologue to the Persouns Tale Chaucer's * 'Retractation"

The Compleynt to Pite. [From MS. Bodley Fairfax

16.] The Booke of the Duchesse. [From the same.] The Complaynt of Mars. [From the same.] The Parlement of Foules. [From MS. Gg. 4. 27, in the

University Library^ Cambridge.] The Legend of Good Women. [A-version^ from MS.

Gg. 4. 27; B-version^ from MS. Fairfax 16.] A Compleint to his Lady. [From MS. Phillips 9053.]

CONTENTS ix

Anelyda and Arcite. [From MS. Harley 7333.]

The Former Age. [From MS. li. 3. 21^ in the Univ.

Library^ Cambridge.] Adam Scrivener. [From MS. Trinity College R. 3. 20,

Cambridge.] Fortune. [From MS. li. 3. 21, Cambridge.] Mereiles Beaute. [From MS. Pepys 2006, Magdalene College, Cambridge.] To Rosemounde. [From Bodley Rawlinson poetical 163.] Truth. [From MS. British Museum Addits. 10340.] Gentilesse. [From MS. Brit. Mus. Cotton Cleopatra D.

VII.] Envoy to Scogan. [From MS. Univ. Camb. Gg. 4. 27.] Lak of Stedfastnesse. [From Bodley Hatton 73.] Envoy de Chaucer a Bukton. [From Bodley Fairfax 16.] The Compleynt of Venus. [From MS. Trin. Coll. Camb.

R. 3. 20.] The Complaynt of Chaucer to his Purse. [From MS. Fairfax 16.] Proverbs. [From B. M. Addits. I6l65.] Wcmmanly Noblesse. [From MS. B. M. Addits. 34360.] Against Women Inconstant. [From MS. Brit. Mus. Cotton Cleopatra D. VII.]

PAGES i

THE CANTERBURY TALES

GROUP A

PROLOGUE Here hygynneth the Booh of the tales of Caunterbury.

Whan that Aprille^ with hise 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 swete breeth 5

Inspired hath in every holt and heeth

The tendre croppes_, and the yonge sonne

Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne_,

And smale foweles maken melodye^.

That slepen al the nyght with open eye — ' 10

So priketh hem Nature in hir corages —

Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages

And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes

To feme halwes^ kowthe in sondry londes ;

And specially^ from every shires ende 15

Of Engelond^ to Caunturbury they wende^

The hooly blisful martir for to seke

That hem hath holpen^ whan that they were seeke.

Bifil that in that seson^ on a day^ In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay^ 20

Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury^ with ful devout corage^ At nyght were come into that hostelrye Wei nyne and twenty in a compaignye Of sondry folk, by a venture yfalle 25

8 half.

In felaweshipe^ and pilgrimes were they alle^

That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.

The chambres and the stables weren wyde^

And wel we weren esed atte beste ;

And shortly^ whan the sonne was to reste^ 30

So hadde I spoken with hem everychon

That I was of hir felaweshipe anon^

And made forward erly for to ryse

To take our wey^ ther as I yow devyse.

But nathelees^ whil I have tyme and space^ 35

Er that I ferther in this tale pace^ Me thynketh it aeordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun Of ech of hem^ so as it semed me^

And whiche they weren^ and of what degree^ 40

And eek in what array that they were inne ; And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.

A knyght ther was^ and that a worthy man, Knyght

That fro the tyme that he first bigan

To'riden out, he loved chivalrie, 45

Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, As wel in Cristendom as in Hethenesse, And evere honoured for his worthynesse. 50

At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne; Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Aboven alle nacions in Pruce; In Lettow hadde he reysed, and in Ruce, No cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55

In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye; At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye, Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See At manv a noble arive hadde he be. 60 f

Prologue To Canterbury Tales 3

At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene^

And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene

In lystes thries^ and ay slayn his foo.

This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also

Somtyme with the lord of Palatye 65

Agayn another hethen in Turkye^

And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys.

And though that he were worthy^ he was wys^

And of his port as meeke as is a mayde ;

He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde 70

In al his lyf unto no maner wight;

He was a verray parfit gentil knyght.

But for to tellen yow of his array^ His hors weren goode^ but he was nat gay. Of fustian he wered a gypoun^ 75

Al bismotered with his habergeoun; For he was late ycome from his viage^ And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.

With hym ther was his sone^ a yong Squier_, Squier

A lovyere and a lusty bacheler^ 80

With lokkes cruUe^ as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was^ I gesse. Of his stature he was of evene lengthe^ And wonderly delyvere^ and of greet strengthe. And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie 85

In Flaundres^ in Artoys^ and Pycardie^ And born hym weel^ as of so litel space^ In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Embrouded was he^ as it were a meede,

Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and reede; 90

Syngynge he was^ or floytynge^ al the day^ He was as fressh as is the monthe of May. Short was his gowne^ with sieves longe and wyde. Wei koude he sitte on hors^ and f aire ryde^ He koude songes make^ and wel endite^ 95

Juste^ and eek daunce^ and weel purtreye and write.

So hoote he lovede^ that by nyghtertale He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. Curteis he was^ lowely^ and servysable^ And carf biforn his fader at the table.

A Yeman hadde he^ and servantz namo At that tyme^ for hym liste ride soo ; And he was clad in cote and hood of grene^ A sheef of pecok arwes bright and kene Under his belt he bar ful thriftily — Wei koude he dresse his takel yemanly^ Hise arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe— And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. A not-heed hadde he^ with a broun visage^ Of woodecraft wel koude he al the usage. Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer^ And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler^ And on that oother syde a gay daggere^ Harneised wel_, and sharpe as point of spere. A Cristophere on his brest of silver sheene^ An horn he bar^ the bawdryk was of grene. A Forster was he^ soothly^ as I gesse.

Ther was also a Nonne_, a Prioresse^ That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy. Hir gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy^ And she was cleped Madame Eglentyne. Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne^ Entuned in hir nose ful semely; And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly ^^ After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe^ For Frenssh of Parys was to hir unknowe. At mete wel ytaught was she withalle ; She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle^ Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe. Wel koude she carie a morsel^ and wel kepe That no drope ne fille upon hir brist.

120 seint. 123 semeely.

Yeman

Prioresse

Prologue To Canterbury Tales 5

In curteisie was set f ul muclie hir list ;

Hire over-lippe wyped she so clene^

That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene

Of grece^ whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135

Ful semely after hir mete she raughte;

And sikerly^ she was of greet desport^

And ful plesaunt^ and amyable of port,

And peyned hir to countrefete cheere

Of court, and been estatlich of manere, 140

And to ben holden digne of reverence.

But for to speken of hir conscience.

She was so charitable and so pitous.

She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous

Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145

Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde

With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.

But soore weep she if oon of hem were deed.

Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte ;

And al was conscience, and tendre herte. 150

Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was.

Hire nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,

Hir mouth ful smal, and therto sof te and reed ;

But sikerly, she hadde a fair forheed.

It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe, 155

For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.

Ful f etys was hir cloke, as I was war ;

Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar

A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene.

And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, l60

On which ther was first write a crowned 'A,'

Another Xonne with hir hadde she, Nonne & .iij. preestes

That was hire Chapeleyne, and preestes thre.

A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie. Monk l65 An outridere, that lovede venerie,

132 miichel. 140 and to. 148 wepte: oon any.

A manly man^ to been an abbot able.

Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable;

And whan he rood^ men myghte his brydel heere

Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere^ 170

And eek as loude^ as dooth the chapel belle,

Ther as this lord was keper of the celle.

The reule of Seint Maure, or of Seint Beneit,

Bycause that it was old and somdel streit —

This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace, 175

And heeld after the newe world the space.

He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,

That seith that hunters beth nat hooly men,

Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees.

Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees — 180

This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre —

But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre !

And I seyde his opinioun was good.

What sholde he studie, and make hymselven wood.

Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, 185

Or swynken with his handes and laboure

As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?

Lat Austyn have his swynk to him reserved;

Therfore he was a prikasour aright,

Grehoundes he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight; 190

Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare

Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.

I seigh his sieves ypuriiled at the hond

With grys, and that the f yneste of a lond ;

And for to festne his hood under his chyn 195

He hadde of gold ywroght a curious pyn ;

A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.

His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas.

And eek his face, as it hadde been enoynt.

He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt, 200

Hise eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,

188 his owene. 196 a ful.

Prologue To Canterbury Tales 7

That stemed as a f orneys of a leed ;

His bootes souple^ his hors in greet estaat;

Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat !

He was nat pale as a forpyned goost^ 205

A fat sw^an loved he best of any roost.

His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.

A Frere ther was^ a wantowne and' a merye^ Frere

A lymytour^ a ful solempne man^

In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 210

So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. He hadde maad ful many a mariage Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. Unto his ordre he was a noble post^

And wel biloved and famulier was he 215

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 liceneiat. 220

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 225

Is signe that a man is wel yshryve ; For^ if he yaf^ he dorste make avaunt^ He wiste that a man was repentaunt. For many a man so harde is of his herte^

He may nat wepe^ al thogh hym soore smerte; 230

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 yonge wyves.

And certeinly he hadde a murye note^ 235

Wel koude he synge^ and pleyen on a rote^ Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.

His nekke whit was as the flour delys ;

Therto he strong was as a champioun^

He knew the tavernes wel in every toun 240

And everich hostiler and tappestere

Bet than a lazar or a beggestere.

For unto swieh a worthy man as he

Aeorded nat_, as by his f acultee^

To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce ; 245

It is nat honeste_, it may nat avaunce^

For to deelen with no swich poraille^

But al with riche and selleres of vitaille;

And overall ther as profit sholde arise^

Curteis he was^ and lowely of servyse. 250

Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous;

He was the beste beggere in his hous^

(And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt 252 b

Noon of his brethren cam ther in his haunt;) 252 c

For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho^

So plesaunt was his 'In principio'

Yet wolde he have a ferthyng er he wente; 255

His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.

And rage he koude^ as it were right a whelpe ;

In love-dayes ther koude he muehel helpe;

For there he was nat lyk a cloysterer^

With a thredbare cope^ as is a povre scoler^ 260

But he was lyk a maister or a pope;

Of double worstede was his semycope^

That rounded as a belle out of the presse.

Somwhat he lipsed for his wantownesse

To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge^ 265

And in his harpyng^ whan that he hadde songe^

Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght

As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.

This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.

A Marchant was ther^ with a forked berd^ Marchaunt 270

240 every al the. Lines 252 b, c om, 259 cloystrer.

I

Prologue To Canterbury Tales 9

In mottelee^ and hye on horse he sat^

Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bevere hat,

His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.

Hise resons he spak ful solempnely,

Sownynge alway thencrees of his wynnyng. 275

He wolde the see were kept for any thyng

Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.

Wei koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.

This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette ;

Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 280

So estatly was he of his governaunce,

With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.

Forsothe, he was a worthy man with-alle.

But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.

A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also, Clerk of Oxenford 285 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo. As leene was his hors as is a rake. And he nas nat right fat, I undertake. But looked holwe and therto sobrely.

Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy, 290

For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Xe was so worldly for to have office. For hym was levere have at his beddes heed Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed.

Of Aristotle and his philosophic, 295

Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. But al be that he was a philosophre. Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; But al that he myghte of his freendes hente. On bookes and his lernynge he it spente, 300

And bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, Xoght o word spak he moore than was neede. And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305

272 motlee. 287 As And.

And short and quyk^ and ful of hy sentence. Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche^ And gladly wolde he lerne^ and gladly teche.

A Sergeant of the Lawe^ war and wys^ Sergeant of lawe

That often hadde been at the parvys^ 310

Ther was also^ ful riche of excellence. Discreet he was^ and of greet reverence, — He semed swich, hise wordes weren so wise. Justice he was ful often in assise,

By patente, and by pleyn commissioun. 315

For his science, and for his heigh renoun, Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. So greet a purchasour was nowher noon, Al was fee symple to hym in effect.

His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. 320

Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, And yet he semed bisier than he was; In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle. That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle. Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng, 32 5

Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng. And every statut koude he pleyn by rote. He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale ; — Of his array telle I no lenger tale.

A Frankeleyn was in his compaignye ; Whit was his berd as is a dayesye. Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. Wei loved he by the morwe a sope in wyn. To lyven in delit was evere his wone ; For he was Epicurus owene sone, »

That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Was verraily felicitee parfit. An housholdere, and that a greet, was he ; Seint Julian was he in his contree. . 340

Frankeleyn

SS5

324 yfalle. 326 pynchen. 332 berd heed. 338 verray.

Prologue To Canterbury Tales

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. 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. Wei semed ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. Everich for the wisdf)m that he kan Was shaply for to been an alderman; For catel hadde they ynogh, and rente, And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente — And elles. certevn. were thev to blame!

Haberdasshere

Carpenter

Webbe

Dyere

Tapicer

342 nowher nevere.

It is ful fair to been ycleped 'ma Dame^' And goon to vigilies al bifore^ And have a mantel roialliche ybore.

A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones^ Cook

To boille the chiknes with the marybones^ 380

And poudre-marchant tart^ and galyngale. Wei koude he knowe a draughte of London ale; He koude rooste^ and sethe^ and.broille^ and frye^ Maken mortreux^ and wel bake a pye.

But greet harm was it^ as it thoughte me^ 385

That on his shyne a mormal hadde he ! For blankmanger_, that made he with the beste.

A Shipman was ther^ wonynge f er by weste ; Shipman

For aught I woot^ he was of Dertemouthe. He rood upon a rouncy^ as he kouthe^ 390

In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he Aboute his nekke^ under his arm adoun. The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun. And eerteinly he was a good felawe. 395

Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe Fro Burdeuxward^ whil that the chapman sleep. Of nyce conscience took he no keep; If that he faught^ and hadde the hyer hond^ By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 400

But of his crafty to rekene wel his tydes^ His stremes^ and his daungers hym bisides^ His herberwe and his moone^ his lodemenage^ Ther nas noon swich from HuUe to Cartage. Hardy he was_, and wys to undertake^ 405

With many a tempest hadde his herd been shake ; He knew alle the havenes as they were From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere^ And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne. His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne. 410

383 boille. 396 drawe.

Prologue To Canterbury Tales 13

With us ther was a Doctour of Phisik ; Doctour of Phisik

In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik^ To speke of phisik and of surgerye; For he was grounded in astronomye.

He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel 415

In houres^ by his magyk natureel. Wei koude he fortunen the ascendent Of hise ymages for his pacient. He knew the cause of everich maladye^

Were it of hoot or coold^ or moyste^ or drye^ 420

And where they engendred^ and of what humour. He was a verray pariit praktisour; The cause yknowe^ and of his harm the roote^ Anon he yaf the sike man his boote.

Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaries 425

To sende him drogges and his letuaries^ For ech of hem made oother for to wynne^ Hir f rendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.^ Wei knew he the olde Esculapius^ ,

And Deyscorides and eek Rufus^ 430

Olde Ypocras^ Haly^ and Galyen^ Serapioun_, Razis^ and Avycen^ Averrois^ Damascien^ and Constantyn^ Bernard^ and Gates den_, and Gilbertyn.

Of his diete mesurable was he_, 435

For it v/as of no superfluitee^ But of greet norissyng^ and digestible. His studie was but lit el on the Bible. In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al^

Lyned with taffata and with sendal — 440

And yet he was but esy of dispence; He kepte that he wan in pestilence. For gold in phisik is a cordial^ Therfore he lovede gold in special.

A good wif was ther, of biside Bathe, Bafhl''^'^^ ^^'^^ ""^ 445

430 Risus.

But she was som-del deef^ and that was scathe.

Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt^

She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.

In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon

That to the offrynge bifore hir sholde goon; 450

And if ther dide^ certeyn^ so wrooth was she^

That she was out of alle charitee.

Hir coverchief s ful fyne weren of ground^

I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound

That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 455

Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed^

Ful streite yteyd^ and shoes ful moyste and newe.

Boold was hir face_, and fair_, and reed of hewe.

She was a worthy womman al hir lyve_,

Houshondes at chirche-dore she hadde fyve 460

Withouten oother compaignye in youthe —

But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.

And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem^

She hadde passed many a straunge strem^

At Rome she hadde been^ and at Boloigne^ 465

In Galice at Seint Jame^ and at Coloigne,

She koude muche of wandrynge by the weye.

Gat-tothed was she^ soothly for to seye.

Upon an ambler e esily she sat^

Ywympled wel^ and on hir heed an hat 470

As brood as is a bokeler or a targe^

A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large^

And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe.

In f elaweship wel koude she laughe and carpe ;

Of remedies of love she knew per-chaunce^ 475

For she koude of that art the olde daunce.

A good man was ther of religioun^ And was a povre Persoun of a toun^ Persoun of a toun

But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk. He was also a lerned man^ a clerk 480

That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche.

Prologue To Canterbury Tales 15

Hise parisshens devoutly wolde he teche,

Benygne he was^ and wonder diligent^

And in adversitee ful pacient_,

And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes. 485

Ful looth were hym to cursen for hise tithes_,

But rather wolde he yeven^ out of doute^

Unto his povre parisshens aboute

Of his oiFryng and eek of his substaunce ;

He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. 490

Wyd was his parisshe^ and houses fer asonder^

But he ne lafte nat^ for reyn ne thonder^

In siknesse nor in meschief^ to visite

The f erreste in his parisshe^ muche and lite^

Upon his feet^ and in his hand a staf. 495

This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf

That firste he wroghte^ and afterward he taughte —

Out of the Gospel he tho wordes caughte;

And this figure he added eek therto^

That if gold ruste^ what shal iren do? 500

For if a preest be foul^ on whom we truste^

Xo wonder is a lewed man to ruste^

And shame it is^ if a prest take keep^

A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep !

Wei oghte a preest ensample for to yeve 505

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 London_, unto Seinte Poules^

To seken hym a chauntery for soules^ 510

Or with a bretherhed to been withholde^

But dwelte at hoom^ and kepte wel his folde^

So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie.

He was a shepherde^ and noght a mercenarie ;

x\nd though he hooly were and vertuous^ 515

485 preved. 497 that he. 509 seint. 510 chauntrie. 512 dwelleth; kepeth.

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. 520

But it were any persone obstinate

What so he were^ of heigh or lough estat,

Hym wolde he snybben sharply -for the nonys.

A bettre preest^ I trowe^ that nowher noon ys.

He waited after no pompe and reverence^ 525

Ne maked him a spiced conscience^

But Cristes loore^ and Hise apostles twelve

He taughte^ but first he folwed it hym-selve.

With hym ther was a Plowman^ was his brother, Plowman That hadde ylad of dong ful many a f other. 530

A trewe swynker and a good was he, Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee. God loved he best with al his hoole herte At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte. And thanne his neigh ebore right as hym-selve, 535