THE LIBRARY
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BENJAMIN H. LEHMAN
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SELECTIONS FROM
CHAUCER'S CANTERBURY TALES
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SELECTIONS
CHAUCER'S CANTERBURY TALES
(^EUesmere Text)
EDITED
WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY
BY
HIRAM CORSON, LL.D.
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY
' A profoundly human soul liffth a marvellous
power of speech '
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd.
1898
All rights reserved
Copyright, 1897,
By the MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Set up and electrotyped September, 1896. Reprinted May,
1897 ; September, 1898.
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NorfajootJ ^ress
J. S. Gushing & Co. - Berwick & Smith
Norwood Mass. U.S.A.
Add to lAh.
PREFACE
This edition of Selections from The Cante7'bury Tales has
been prepared as an introduction to the study of Chaucer
as a poet rather than as a writer of fourteenth century Eng-
lish ; and, accordingly, all philological information not abso-
lutely needed for such study has been omitted; but all
requisite aids to a knowledge of the language as it is, irre-
spective of its sources, are afforded by the synopsis of
grammatical forms given in the General Introduction, and
by a designation of the grammatical categories of all words
recorded in the Glossary, except where the definitions indi-
cate the same.
It was not thought necessary to obtrude upon the stu-
dent's attention the unimportant variations which the differ-
ent texts of The Canterbury Tales exhibit. Attention is
called in the Notes to any variation which gives a different
meaning from the reading of the Ellesmere text. In a very
few cases, other readings than those of the Ellesmere have
been adopted, but their adoption has always been noted. It
is remarkable how slight the variations in the several texts
really are. The reproduction of the seven best manuscripts
of The Canterbury Tales revealed the fact, not before so
certainly known, that, with very few exceptions, we must
299
viii PREFACE
And every student and editor of Chaucer must feel under
obligations, direct or indirect, to the founder and indefati-
gable conductor of the London Chaucer Society, the Early
English Text, the New Shakespeare, the Browning, and
other societies. Dr. F. J. Furnivall, to whom the whole
learned world is more indebted than to any other living
man, for being put in possession of manuscript literature of
the earlier periods of the English language, and for being
furnished with extensive material subservient to the study of
later authors.
HIRAM CORSON.
Cascadilla Cottage, Ithaca, N.Y.,
August 29, 1896.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Preface v-vii
General Introduction, biographical, grammatical, etc. . . xi-liv
Prologue to the Canterbury Tales ...... 1-29
Selections from the Knight's Tale :
Palamon and Arcite fall in love with Emily . . . 30-33
Arcite is set at liberty 33> 34
Description of a May morning, and of Arcite's visit to a
grove 34,35
Description of the combat between Palamon and Arcite . 35, 36
Description of the symbolic images in the temple of Venus 37, 38
The paintings on the wall within the temple of Mars . 38-41
The paintings on the walls of the temple of Diana . . 41, 42
Description of Lycurgus, the great king of Thrace, who
comes to the tournament in the service of Palamon . 42, 43
Description of Emetrius, the great king of India, who
comes to the tournament in the service of Arcite . 43, 44
Emily's prayer and sacrifice to Diana, and the response
of the goddess 44-46
The tournament ........ 47-54
The funeral rites of Arcite ...... 55-58
Theseus returns to Athens and is married to Emily . . 58-62
Selections from the Miller's Tale :
Description of the carpenter's young wife . . , . 63, 64
Description of a parish clerk ...... 64, 65
ix
X TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Prologue of the Reeve's Tale ....... 66, 67
Selection from the Reeve's Tale :
Description of a miller and his wife .... 68, 69
Cook's Tale (unfinished) :
Description of a London apprentice 70> 71
Reply of the Man of Law to the Host when called on for a
tale; he makes allusion to Chaucer's writings . . 72, 73
Selections from Man of Law's Tale of the sad experiences of
Constance, and her final happiness .... 74-87
Host and Monk :
The merry words of the Host to the Monk (the Host's
description of his termagant wife) .... 88, 89
The Monk's definition of tragedy 89
Selection from the Monk's Tale, De casibus virorum illustrium :
The fall of Julius Ccesar ...... 90,91
Nun's Priest's Tale of the cock and the fox .... 92-106
Selections from Doctor's Tale :
Description of Virginius's daughter, Virginia . . . 107-110
The Doctor's concluding remarks on the story of Vir-
ginia no. Ill
Pardoner's Tale of the three rioters ..... 112-119
Selections from the Wife of Bath's Tale :
Fairies in King Arthur's days 120
The story of Midas's ears . . . . . . 121, 122
The true gentleman ....... 122, 123
Squire's Tale of Cambynskan and the horse of brass, etc. . 124-144
Canon's Yeoman's Prologue ....... 145-150
Canon's Yeoman's Tale of the trickeries of alchemy . . 151-174
Abbreviations used in Notes and Glossary . . . . 176
Notes 177-221
Glossary 223-277
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
I. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Afi^er all the most careful and untiring researches of late
years into contemporary records of every kind, the facts
which have been gleaned having a direct or an indirect
connection with the personal history of Chaucer are very
few and far between. All the scattered fragments of his
outer life which have been laboriously gathered up contrib-
ute nothing to our knowledge of the real personality of the
poet. But for such knowledge his works afford abundant
material. Every devoted and sympathetic student of them
can know much of what manner of man Geoffrey Chaucer
was in his essential being ; and such knowledge is of vastly
more importance than that of any quantity of mere bio-
graphical circumstance.
The year of his birth was long held to be 1328. The
antiquary, John Leland (1500-155 2), who wrote the first
life of Chaucer, contained in his Co7n?nentarii de Scriptofibiis
Britaiinicis, not published till 1709, makes no mention of
the year of his birth. In the brief biographical sketch
prefixed to Thomas Speght's edition of his works, published
in 1598, it is stated that ' Geoffrey Chaucer departed out of
this world the twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of
our Lord 1400, after he had lived about seventy-two years.'
xii GENERAL INTRODUCTION
In this statement there is only an implication of the birth
year. In the life prefixed to Urry's edition of Chaucer,
published in 1721, the year 1328 is for the first time actually
stated as the date of his birth ; and this date was accepted
until the investigations promoted by the London Chaucer
Society, founded in 1868, showed it to be untenable, and
pointed to the year 1340 as the most probable. It may
have been a little earher, but certainly not later.
His father, John Chaucer, who died in 1366, was ^citizen
and vintner of London,' and his mother, whose Christian
name was Agnes, was his father's second wife. It is prob-
able, but not wholly certain, that the poet was a Londoner
by birth. That he must have enjoyed good early advan-
tages of education, in the conventional sense of the word, is
evident enough ; but it is not necessary to suppose that his
varied learning, as exhibited in his writings, impHes a resi-
dence at a university. There is no reUable authority that
he was either at Oxford or Cambridge, John Leland's ac-
count of his residence at Oxford notwithstanding.
In 1357, previous to which year nothing whatever is
known of his life, Chaucer was a page in the household
of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, second son of Edward HI.
His first military service appears to have been in 1359,
when Edward HI. made his last invasion into France ; but
in what capacity he served is not known. He was taken
prisoner at Retters, ' a place,' says Lounsbury, ' no longer
known, at least to biographers of the poet. By most it is
thought to be the village of Retiers, not very far from
Rennes in Brittany. This view may be true, but it is
certainly not plausible. When Chaucer was taken prisoner,
Edward's forces had not been in that province, and there
seems no ground to suppose that he was absent from the
main army.' On the following first of March, 1360, the
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xiii
King paid ;^i6 towards his ransom; from which fact it may
be inferred that he was no longer in the service of Prince
Lionel, but in the immediate service of the King.
From the last mentioned date up to the 20th of June,
1367, a period of seven years and more, no record of him
or of his doings has been discovered. At the latter date he
was pensioned by the King, ' de gratia nostra speciali et pro
bono servitio quod dilectus valettus noster Galfridus Chaucer
nobis impendit et impendet in futurum ' (of our special
grace and for the good service which our beloved valet,
Geoffrey Chaucer, has rendered and will render in the
future). From this expression of the royal favour, it is
quite evident that during the blank in the poet's life, be-
tween 1360 and 1367, he was a favourite valet at the Court.
In 1368, he is spoken of as ^unus valettorum Camerae
Regis' (one of the valets of the King's Chamber), or
Household, a position which he appears to have held till
1372, after which he is styled 'Armiger,' or 'Scutifer'
(esquire). In 1369, he was again in military service of
some kind, in P'rance, or elsewhere on the continent ; and
on the 2oth of June, in the following year. Letters of Pro-
tection, to continue in force until Michaelmas, were given
him on the occasion of another visit to the continent, but in
what capacity it is not known. That he was back in Eng-
land on the 8th of October is evident from the fact that on
that date he drew his pension in person.
Chaucer's marriage, when it took place, and whether it
was well or ill assorted, shares the fate of obscurity which is
shared by nearly all the other events of his Hfe. But he
must have been married before 1374, for, by a warrant
dated the 13th of June of that year, 'the Duke of Lancaster
(John of Gaunt, fourth son of Edward III.) granted him
an annuity of ^10 for life, to be paid to him at the manor
XIV GENERAL INTRODUCTION
of the Savoy, in consideration of the good service which he
and his wife PhiHppa had rendered to the said Duke, to his
Consort, and to his mother the Queen/ This grant is sup-
posed to have been a commutation of a pension granted in
1372 to his wife, PhiHppa. In September, 1366, a Philippa
Chaucer is mentioned as one of the ladies of the Chamber
to the Queen ; and there can be Httle or no doubt that she
was the same PhiHppa Chaucer mentioned in the Duke of
Lancaster's grant to Chaucer of an annuity of ^10.
Some of Chaucer's biographers and critics have seen evi-
dences of his matrimonial unhappiness, in various passages
in poems which are known to have been written after his
marriage. But such passages are, perhaps, no more trust-
worthy as bearing testimony to the poet's own married life,
than are passages in Shakespeare's Plays which critics have
taken as evidence that Shakespeare's marriage was ill-assorted
and unhappy.
Whatever any of the Canterbury characters may be made
to say derogatory to wives and the marriage state, Chaucer
himself certainly had the highest estimate of womanhood,
and he was not the man to give expression to bitter feelings
of his own, if he had them, and he must have been exception-
ally free from such feelings in all his relations in life.
In December, 1372, Chaucer again left England, this time
for Italy, and on international commercial business, he being
joined in a commission with two citizens of Genoa, ' to treat
with the Duke, citizens, and merchants of Genoa, for the
purpose of choosing some port in England where the Genoese
might form a commercial establishment.' Before his depart-
ure, the sum of £^66 \y. 4^. was advanced to him for his
expenses. That he was back in England by the 2 2d of
November, the following year, appears from his receiving, at
that date, his pension in person. There are no records of
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XV
his doings and experiences during this visit to Italy, nor
of the places he visited, except Genoa and Florence. On
the 4th of February, 1374, he received the additional sum of
;^25 ds. Zd. at the Exchequer, ' for his expenses while in the
King's service at Genoa and Florence in the preceding
year' (profisciendo in negociis Regis versus partes Jannue et
Florence in anno xlvii) .
No reUable evidence exists that he visited Petrarch, at
Padua, during this visit, and learned from him the story of
patient Griselda. It would be a pleasant fact, if it could be
established as a fact, that these two poets met ; but conclu-
sive testimony thereto is wanting.
What the Clerk of Oxford, in The Cantej'hury Tales, is
made to say in the Prologue to the Tale of Griselda,
' I wol yow telle a tale which that I
Lerned at Padwe of a worthy clerk,
As preved by his wordes and his werk ; . . .
Fraunceys Petrak, the lauriat poete,
Highte this clerk whos rethorike sweete
Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetry,' —
is all that can be produced in evidence, and this cannot be
interpreted as an experience of the poet's own, except on
the principle expressed by Caesar {^B. G. iii. 18), that ^ fere
libenter homines id, quod volunt, credunt ' (men, for the
most part, readily beheve what they wish to be true) . This
was especially the case with William Godwin, who, in his big
Life of Geoffrey Chaucer, 2 vols. 4to, tells us all about the
visit of the English, to the Italian poet ! Some of the details
of the visit, related by Godwin, with cool audacity, as simple
matters of fact, are decidedly amusing. (See Vol. IL pp.
150-158.)
He concludes his special and specious pleading with the
remark that ' a man must have Mr. Tyrwhitt's appetite for
XVi GENERAL INTRODUCTION
the fascinating charms of a barren page and a meagre collec«
tion of dates, not to perceive that the various coincidences
enumerated ; — Chaucer representing the speaker as having
learned his tale from Petrarca at Padua, though it was
previously the property of Boccaccio ; Padua being then
Petrarca's actual residence ; the embassy of Chaucer to
Genoa in 1373 ; and Petrarca having in that very year trans-
lated the tale into Latin prose ; — not to perceive, I say,
that these coincidences furnish a basis of historical proba-
bility, seldom to be met with in points of this nature.'
These coincidences are, indeed, worthy of some consid-
eration ; but, as Sir Harris Nicolas observes, ' until acci-
dent brings some hitherto undiscovered document to light,
Chaucer's visit to Petrarch and its attendant circumstances
must remain among the many doubtful circumstances in the
lives of eminent men, which their admirers wish to believe
true, but for which their biographers ought to require surer
evidence than what Godwin calls "coincidences which furnish
a basis of historical probability." '
During the remainder of the reign of Edward III., who
died in June, 1377, Chaucer received many additional ex-
pressions of the royal favour, in the form of grants, appoint-
ments, etc., and was sent, with divers noblemen, on secret
missions to the continent.
Of appointments in the civil service, one of the most
important was that of ' controller of the customs and subsidy
of wools, skins, and tanned hides in the port of London
during the King's pleasure.' This position was held for a
period of more than twelve years, namely, from June 8,
1374, until toward the end of 1386. His successor was
appointed on the 4th of December of that year. To this
appointment was added in 1382 that of 'the controllership
of the petty customs, consisting of wines, candles, and other
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XVll
articles.' This position appears to have terminated at the
same time with the other. Its duties he could perform
either in person or by deputy ; those of the other con-
trollership he was required to perform in person, and they
must have been arduous. But on the 17th of February,
1385, he was granted the privilege of nominating a per-
manent deputy.
The royal favour shown to Chaucer by Edward III. was
continued, without abatement, by his successor, Richard II.
He enjoyed, if anything, an increase of royal favour under
Richard. The annuity granted him by the late King was
continued by letters patent. He was associated in some
capacity with the ambassadors sent to France, the year
following the succession of Richard, to negotiate the King's
marriage with the daughter of the King of France.
In May, 1378, furnished with letters of protection till the
following Christmas, he was sent with Sir Edward Berkeley
to Lombardy on some mihtary mission, the nature of which
is not known.
There is no record of any subsequent mission abroad
with which Chaucer was in any way connected.
The grants an4 appointments and missions which Chaucer
owed to royal favour, whatever else they may signify, cer-
tainly bear testimony to the confidence reposed in his great
general ability, and confirmed by the capacity which he had
shown for diplomatic and civil affairs ; and they are now of
interest to us entirely on that account.
It was largely due to his wide relationship with, and his
active participation in, civil and state affairs, as stimulating
and determining agencies, that Chaucer's poetical genius
gave us, in The Canterbury Tales, and in the Prologue
thereto, a better idea of what manner of people lived in
England in the fourteenth century than do all the histories
XVlll GENERAL INTRODUCTION
of that period which have been written. And he did this
without in the least transgressing the legitimate limits of his
art, and because he did not transgress them. With a poet's
impressibility, and a poet's eye for the characteristic, the
picturesque, and the essential, he delineated for all time the
features of the society around him; and to his poetry and
to the Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman^ by
William Langland, we are chiefly indebted for whatever
sympathy (fellow-feeling) we may have with the life that
was led by English men and English women in the great
historic age of Edward the Third. ' It is life in its large-
ness, its variety, its complexity,' says John Richard Green,
in his Short History of the English People^ ' which surrounds
us in The Canterbury Tales. . . . Taken as a whole the
poem is the work not of a man of letters, but of a man
of action. He has received his training from war, courts,
business, travel — a training not of books, but of hfe.'
That the three greatest princes of English literature,
Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton, should have been such
business men as they were, Chaucer and Milton in civil and
state affairs, and Shakespeare in theatrical and private affairs,
is an argument against a prevalent idea that great poetical
genius necessarily disqualifies a man for worldly business
and worldly interests.
Shakespeare did not say
* In the face of my soul's works
Your world is worthless and I touch it not
Lest I should wrong them; . . .
look upon his life !
Himself, who only can, gives judgment there.
He leaves his towers and gorgeous palaces
To build the trimmest house in Stratford town;
Saves money, spends it, owns the worth of things,
Giulio Romano's pictures, Dowland's lute;
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xix
Enjoys a show, respects the puppets, too,
And none more, had he seen its entry once,
Than "Pandulph of fair Milan Cardinal." ' ^
Milton was the great central figure of his age, sustaining
to it the most intimate and sympathetic and active rela-
tionships ; and of all that constituted its highest life, his
works, both prose and poetical, are the best existing expo-
nent. Of the principles involved in the great contest for
civil and religious liberty, carried on in his day, his prose
works are the fullest embodiment. Professor Goldwin
Smith, in his article on Pattison's Milton, remarks : * Look-
ing upon the life of Milton the pohtician merely as a sad and
ignominious interlude in the Hfe of Milton the poet, Mr.
Pattison cannot be expected to entertain the idea that the
poem is in any sense the work of the politician. Yet we
cannot help thinking that the tension and elevation which
Milton's nature had undergone in the mighty struggle,
together with the heroic dedication of his faculties to the
most serious objects, must have had not a little to do both
with the final choice of his subject and with the tone of his
poem. " The great Puritan epic " could hardly have been
written by any one but a militant Puritan.'
And so it may be said, to get back to our poet, that The
Canterbury Tales could hardly have been written by any
one, the requisite poetical genius being given, who had not
had the wide relationships and dealings with all sorts and
conditions of men which Chaucer certainly had in the
numerous positions in the civil service which he filled, and
in the diplomatic missions in which he bore a part, along
with men far his superior in rank. * The subordinate,' says
Lounsbury, ^ doubtless furnished the brains and did the
1 Browning's Bishop Blou^ram.
XX GENERAL INTRODUCTION
business. The superior supplied the dignity, took the
credit, and drew the larger portion of the pay.' Chaucer,
however, appears to have been quite, amply paid for his
various services. Where amounts are given, and they gen-
erally are, in the state records to which we are almost
entirely indebted for our scraps of knowledge regarding
him, it must be remembered that these amounts represent,
in value, at least, twelve times the same amounts in modern
money. But it is evident that, from some cause or other,
perhaps an excessive generosity, Chaucer was frequently in
pecuniary straits. No evidence exists of extravagance in
living.
Chaucer was a member of the Parliament which was in
session from the first of October to the first of November,
1386, he having been elected Knight of the Shire for Kent.
'All its proceedings were directed against the Ministers,
who represented the party of which Chaucer's patron, the
Duke of Lancaster, was the head.'
Chaucer's loss of his two controllerships soon after the
close of this ParHament may have had some connection
with the stand he took in its proceedings. ' It is extremely
likely,' says Sir Harris Nicolas, ' that he became obnoxious
to Thomas Duke of Gloucester, and the other Ministers.'
Whether likely or not, the fact that Chaucer was out of
office during the ascendency of the Duke of Gloucester fac-
tion, appears to have some such significance.
In May, 1389, the regency came to an end, and Richard
appointed a 'new Ministry, members of which were the
Duke of York and John of Gaunt's eldest son, the Earl of
Derby (Henry of Lancaster). The latter, previously hos-
tile to the King, became one of his chief favourites and
counsellors.
With the new state of things Chaucer's fortunes were at
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xxi
once improved in the form of important and profitable ap-
pointments. As early as the 12th of July, 1389, within two
months after Richard assumed the reins of government, he
was appointed to the profitable office of Clerk of the King's
Works at the Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London,
the Castle of Berkhemstead, the King's manors of Ken-
nington, Eltham, Clarendon, Sheen, Byfleet, Childern Lang-
ley, and Feckenham ; at the Royal Lodge of Hatherbergh,
in the Forest, at the Lodges in the Parks of Clarendon,
Childern Langley, and Feckenham, and at the Mews for
the King's falcons at Charing Cross ; the duties attaching
to which he was privileged to perform by deputy. In July,
1390, he was engaged to conduct the repairs done on St.
George's Chapel, at Windsor. It was on the 6th of Sep-
tember of this year that Chaucer was twice robbed of the
King's money, which he had in his possession, to the
amount of about ;^2o; also of his horse and other prop-
erty. From the reimbursement of the money stolen he was
exempted by a special writ dated January 6, 1391. (See
' The Robberies of Chaucer by Richard Brerelay and others
at Westminster, and at Hatcham, Surrey, on Tuesday, Sept.
6, 1390. Edited from the contemporary enrolments by
Walford D. Selby, esq., of the Public Record Office.' —
Chaucer Society. Life-Records of Chancer, I.)
The above positions Chaucer held until some time in
1 39 1. Whether he was then deposed or voluntarily re-
signed, is not known. John Gedney succeeded him, on the
1 7th of June, as Clerk of the Works at Westminster, etc.,
and on the 8th of July as Clerk of the Works at St. George's
Chapel, Windsor. Chaucer may have desired a season of
Hterary leisure. The wonder is how he found time, in the
midst of his engagements and of^cial duties, for the large
amount of literary work which he accomplished. The un-
XXli GENERAL INTRODUCTION
finished state in which The Canterbury Tales and other of
his works were left, may be, perhaps, attributed to the fact
that when they were planned he calculated upon having
more time for their completion than he afterwards, by
reason of his official duties, was able to command.
That he had proved himself, with his great and varied
abilities and experiences, unqualified for the duties of the
clerkships of the King's Works, is hardly to be supposed,
and there is sufficient evidence that he had not declined in
the royal favour.
From the summer of 1391 up to the 28th of February,
1394, a period of nearly three years, nothing is known of
Chaucer's way of life, except that, in 1886, Mr. Walford D.
Selby communicated to the London Athenmim of November
20, 1886, a discovery in ColHnson's Histoij of Somersetshire
(1791), that Richard Brittle and Geoffrey Chaucer some-
time between June, 1390, and June, 1391, were appointed
by the Earl of March, grandson of Lionel, Duke of Clar-
ence, foresters to the North Petherton Park in Somerset-
shire, and in 1398, Chaucer was appointed sole forester by
Eleanor, Countess of March.
On the 28th of February, 1394, Richard IL granted
Chaucer ;^20 a year, for life. For some time previous to
this date, it is evident that he was in straitened circum-
stances, which continued, with occasional alleviations, for
the remainder of his life. Several loans from the Ex-
chequer are recorded, and anticipations of his pension.
On May 4, 1398, he gets Letters of Protection from
Richard IL, to the effect that ' Whereas the King had ap-
pointed his beloved Esquire Geoffrey Chaucer, to perform
various arduous and urgent duties in divers parts of the
realm of England, and whereas the said Geoffrey, fearing
that he might be impeded in the execution thereof by his
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XXIU
enemies [the Latin is cBmulos'], by means of various suits,
had prayed the King to assist him therein, and that there-
fore the King took the said Geoffrey, his tenants and prop-
erty, into his special protection, forbidding any one to sue
or arrest him on any plea £xcept it were connected with
land, for the term of two years.'
These Letters of Protection do not necessarily signify that
Chaucer was in pecuniary distress (such letters having been
frequent without such cause) ; but it is very likely that that
was the fact of the case. In October of the same year
Chaucer is granted, by letters patent, a tun of wine yearly,
for life, — the immediate result of a petition he made to the
King for the same. This grant and the Letters of Protection
issued to him the previous May certainly bear testimony to
the good- will of Richard toward him ; but it is not Hkely
that his good-will was specially due to Chaucer's poetical
genius, but rather to the ' various arduous and urgent duties
in divers parts of the realm of England,' mentioned in the
Letters of Protection.
Within the year following, Richard was deposed and
Henry of Lancaster was declared King, September 30,
1399. To him Chaucer immediately addressed the Envoy
to his Compleint to his empty Purse :
O conquerour of Brutes Albioun !
Which that by lyne and free eleccioun
Ben verray king, this song to you I sende;
And ye, that mowen al our harm amende,
Have minde up-on my supplicacioun ! '
Chaucer received an immediate response to his appeal ;
for, on the 3d of October, four days after he was declared
King, Henry granted him an annuity of forty marks
(^26 1 35". 4^.) in addition to the ;^20 granted him by
XXIV GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Richard. This grant may have been an expression of strong
personal interest on the part of the son of his old patron.
There is a record that on the 13th of October following,
new copies of his two grants of pensions were given to
Chaucer, the old ones of the 28th of February, 1394, and
the 3d of October, 1399, having been lost.
The Compleint was, no doubt, written sometime before
Henry's accession to the throne, ^ on some occasion,' Skeat
supposes, * of special temporary difficulty, irrespectively of
general poverty ; and that the Envoy was hastily added
afterwards, without revision of the poem itself.'
Unless the Parson's Tale was finished later, the Envoy
was, perhaps, Chaucer's very last composition which has
come down to us.
Professor Lounsbury thinks it ' a possibility, perhaps a
plausible supposition,' that tHejQxy^of .Lancaster, was, partly
at least, the original of the description of the Knight, in the
Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, (See Studies in Chaucer,
Vol. I. pp. 91-93.) He concludes his remarks thereupon
with stating that ' no one will indeed pretend that the por-
trait drawn in the Prologue of the Knight — who is specially
celebrated as fighting for the Christian faith — can have been
designed even remotely as a representation of the deeds of
Henry IV. The events in which the former is described as
sharing happened before the latter was born. Still it is con-
ceivable that in the portrayal of the character Chaucer may
have had in mind the son of his patron, upon whom had been
fixed, long before he came to the throne, the hopes of the
party discontented with the profligacy and misgovernment
of Richard H. The view can only be taken for what it is
worth. In the matter of positive evidence there is nothing
in favour of it that is entitled to the name.'
In 1399, Chaucer was not yet sixty years of age, if 1340
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XXV
be the correct year of his birth, or not yet sixty-five, if he
was born as early as 1335, and it may be inferred that he
looked forward to several more years of life quite comforta-
bly provided for, and under a sovereign to whom he could
always look for assistance, \i it should be needed ; for on
the 24th of December, 1399, he leased a house in the gar-
den of St. Mary's Chapel, Westminster, for as many of fifty-
three years as he might live, the rent being J[^2 13^'. and 4//.
So it appears that the long lease was not taken for any other
considerations than his own occupancy of the house ; for he
had but a life interest in the lease, the premises to revert to
the Gustos of the Chapel if the tenant died within the term.
This lease is preserved in the Muniment Room of West-
minster Abbey. Godwin gives it entire in his Life of
Chaucer, London, 1803, Vol. II. pp. 640-642, Appendix,
No. xxvi, the caption being ' Indentura inter custodem
capelle [beate Marie Westmonasterii] et Galfridum Chaucer
pro domo certo juxta capellam [predictam.] firma liii^ iv.'
The last records of Chaucer are, that on the 21st of Feb-
ruary, 1400, he received ;^io of the pension granted him
by Richard 11. , which his successor had confirmed ; and on
the 5 th of June, of that year, Henry Somere, Clerk of the
Receipt of the Exchequer, received for him ^5, being part
of ;^8 iTfS. ^d. due on the ist of March, of the pension
granted him by Henry IV.
Chaucer occupied his house but ten months after he took
the long lease of fifty-three years ; for he died on the 25th
of October, following, according to the inscription on the
altar tomb of gray marble, erected by Nicholas Brigham, a
date which is supposed to have been copied from the earlier
tomb, and is probably correct. His body was buried in St.
Benet's Chapel, in Westminster Abbey (south transept, or
Poet's Corner). The inscription, now much defaced, runs :
XXVI GENERAL INTRODUCTION
M.S.
QUI FUiT Anglorum vates ter maximus olim,
Galfridus Chaucer conditur hoc tumulo :
Annum si qu^ras domini, si tempora vit^,
ECCE NOT^ SUBSUNT, QU^ TIBI CUNCTA NOTANT.
25 OCTOBRIS 1400.
^rumnarum requies mors.
N. Brigham hos fecit musarum nomine sumptus
1556.
In 1868, a memorial window was erected to the poet im-
mediately above the tomb, a full description of which, by-
Dean Stanley, is given in Appendix III. to Part i, of * A
temporary preface to the six-text edition of Chaucer's Can-
terbury Tales,'' by F. J. FurnivalL
Chaucer's wife Philippa appears to have died in 1387, as
subsequent to that year there is no record of any payment
of her annuities. The last payment was made on the i8th
of June, 1387. She was one of the ladies of the Chamber
to the Queen until the latter' s death, in 1369. After that
she appears to have been in the service of Constance of
Castile, Duchess of Lancaster, second wife of John of Gaunt,
who granted her in 1372 a pension of ;£io a year. If, as
has been supposed by some, and accepted as a fact by
others, that Philippa Chaucer was the daughter of Sir Payne
Roet, Guienne King of Arms, who came over from Hainault
with the Queen of Edward III., she was then the sister of
Katharine, widow of Sir Hugh Swynford, who became, in
1396, the third wife of John of Gaunt. This relationship,
Speght states as a fact ; and he is followed by Urry and,
of course, by Godwin, who always ' most powerfully and
potently believes,' to use Hamlet's words, what he wishes to
be true.
^Although,' says Sir Harris Nicolas, whose judicial mind
is ever apparent, in his Life of Chaucer, ' it has not been
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xxvii
ascertained positively whom Chaucer married, the statement
that his wife was Phihppa, daughter and coheiress of Sir
Payne Roet, . . . scarcely admits of a doubt.'
The only child of Chaucer known of with certainty was
a son Lewis, for whom, when ten years of age, his father
wrote the Treatise on the Astrolabe, ascribed, but not with
entire certainty, to the year 139 1. This Treatise, if for no
other reason, is interesting as an expression of paternal
affection and tenderness.
It has been carefully edited from the earliest manu-
scripts, by Dr. Skeat, for the Chaucer Society.
Nothing whatever is known of what became of this son.
There was a Thomas Chaucer, supposed by some of
Chaucer's biographers to have been the son of the poet.
But after a great deal of controversy on the subject of his
relationship to the poet, no positive conclusion has been
arrived at. He held high positions, and by marriage
acquired large estates. He died in 1434.
For a presentation of the arguments which have been
advanced on both sides in this never-to-be-settled question,
the student who cares enough for the matter should consult
Professor Lounsbury's Studies in Chaucer, Vol. I. pp. 102-
112.
II. SOME FEATURES OF CHAUCER'S POETRY
The only way, of course, truly to know Chaucer as a poet
is through sympathetic reading of his poetry. It is only
through such reading that any poet can be known, and not
through presentations by critics, however sagacious, of the
characteristics of his genius. But criticism which is the
result of sympathetic relationship and consequent insight
may serve to induce in a reader the right attitude toward a
XXVlll GENERAL INTRODUCTION
poet — the attitude demanded for the best response to him.
Of such criticism James Russell Lowell's essay on Chaucer,
contained in his My Study Windows, affords a signal ex-
ample. Every student of Chaucer should give a careful
reading, should give several careful readings, to this essay.
I shall here call attention only to a few features of
Chaucer's poetry, as exhibited in The Canterbury Tales ;
namely, his similes, comparisons, and metaphors ; his max-
ims, proverbs, and sententious expressions, generally; his
use of alliteration ; and his Scriptural allusions.
Chaucer's similes are in keeping with the light touch so
generally characteristic of his poetry. They are very brief,
and cause no stoppage in the current of thought and feeling,
which never eddies about them. In this respect they bear
a striking resemblance to the similes in the Hebrew poetry.
See, for examples, Job v. 26 ; xiv. 2 ; Psalm i. 3, 4 ; xvii.
17 ; xxxi. 12 ; xxxvi. 6 ; xxxvii. 2, 35 ; xxxix. 11 ; Hi. 2, 8 ;
Iviii. 4, 8; Ixxii. 6; Ixxxiii. 13, 14; xcii. 12; cii. 6, 7, 26;
civ. 2; Proverbs xviii. 19; xxiii. 32; xxiv. 4; xxv. 11, 12,
19, 20, 25, 28; xxvi. I, 8; Isaiah xxxviii. 12; Ivii. 20;
Iviii. II ; Jeremiah xxxi. 12 ; 2 Kings xxi. 13.
The following afford good characteristic examples of
Chaucer's similes :
And of his port as meeke as is a mayde, A 69.
Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
Al fill of fresshe floures whyte and reede, A 89, 90.
his eyen greye as glas, A 152.
That stemed as a forneys of a leed, A 201, 202.
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye, A 207.
His nekke whit was as the fleur-de-lys, A 238.
His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght, A 268.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xxix
As leene was his hors as is a rake, A 287.
Whit was his herd as is the dayesye, A 332.
whit as morne milk, A 358.
His herd, as any sowe or fox, was reed,
And therto brood as though it were a spade, A 552, 553.
a toft of herys
Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys, A 555, 556.
His mouth as wyde was as a greet forneys, A 559.
Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare, A 684.
doumb as a stoon, A 774.
Emelye that fairer was to sene
Than is the lyUe upon his stalke grene
And fressher than the May with floures newe, A 1035-1037.
We stryven as dide the houndes for the boon.
They foughte al day and yet hir part was noon;
Ther cam a kyte, whil that they weren so wrothe.
And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe, A 11 77-1 180.
dronke as is a mous, A 1261.
pale as asshen colde, A 1364.
a courser stertyng as the fir, A 1502.
Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle, A 1533.
As fiers as leoun, A 1598.
As wilde bores gonne they to smyte.
That frothen whit as foom, for ire wood, A 1658, 1659.
And lik a grifphon looked he aboute, A 2133.
Cam ridynge lyk the god of amies. Mars, A 2159.
And as a leoun he his lookyng caste, A 21 71.
His voys was as a trompe thondrynge, A 2174.
An egle tame as any lilye whyt, A 2178.
As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne, A 2437.
XXX GENERAL INTRODUCTION
She was ful moore blisful on to see,
Than is the newe pereionette tree,
And softer than the vvolle is of a wether, A 3247-3249.
Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
Than in the Tour the noble y-forged newe.
But of hir song it was as loude and yerne
As any swalwe chitteryng on a berne.
Therto she koude skippe and make game,
; As any kyde, or calf, folwynge his dame.
Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt;
Long as a mast and uprighte as a bolt, A 3255-3264.
As whit as is the blosme upon the rys, A 3324.
Thanne schalt thou swymme as myrie, I undertake.
As dooth the white doke after hire drake, A 2375, 2376.
And she was proud and peert as is a pye, A 3950.
She was as digne as water in a dich, A 3964.
They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke, A 4278.
Gaillard he was as goldfynch in the shawe, A 4367.
they were as glad of his comyng,
As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne upriseth, B 1240, 1241.
And sweete as is the brembul flour.
That bereth the rede hepe,^ B 1936, 1937.
And forth upon his wey he rood,
As sparcle out of the broude, B 2094, 2095.
As thikke as motes in the sonne beem, D 868.
as a bitore bombleth in the myre, D 972.
lyk an aspen leef he quook for ire, D 1667.
He is as angry as a pissemyre, D 1824.
Fat as a whale, and walkynge as a swan, D 1930.
1 hepe, hip, the fruit of the dog-rose.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XXxi
Be ay of chiere as light as leef on lynde, E 121 1.
That passen as a shad we upon a wal, E 131 5.
My herte and alle my lymes been as grene
As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene, E 1465, 1466.
Lyk to the naddre ^ in bosom, sly, untrewe, E 1 786.
And ful of jargon as a flekked pye,^ E 1848.
For every mortal mannes power nys
But lyke a bladdre, ful of wynd, ywys, G 438, 439.
His forheed dropped as a stillatorie, G 580.
The following afford good characteristic examples of
Chaucer's metaphors :
Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok, A 823.
I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
And wayke been the oxen in my plough, A 886, 887.
My lookyng is the fader of pestilence [said by Saturn], A 2469,
Unbokeled is the male, A 31 15.
He hadde moore tow on his distaf
Than Gerveys knew, A 3774, 3775.
Gras tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage, A 3868.
Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr y-reke, A 3882.
Foure gleedes han we, whiche I shal devyse,
Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise :
Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde, A 3883-3885.
As many a yeer as it is passed henne
Syn that my tappe of lif bigan to renne;
For sikerly whan I was bore anon
Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon,
And ever sithe hath so the tappe y-ronne,
Till that almoost al empty is the tonne.
The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe, A 3889-3895.
1 naddre, adder. '^ fiekked pye, spotted magpie.
XXXll GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Your bagges been nat fild with ambes as}
But with sys cynk^ that renneth for' your chaunce, B 124, 125.
Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye;
She is mirour of alle curteisye,
Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
Hir hand ministre of fredam for almesse, B 165-168.
Me list nat of the chaf, or of the stree
Maken so long a tale, as of the corn, B 701, 702.
In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere, —
That is to me my seyl, and eek my steere, B %2>Z*
This gemme of chastite, this emeraude.
And eek of martirdom the ruby bright, B 1799, 1800.
Thy sys^ fortune hath turned into aas} B 3851.
But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren, B 4430.
Taketh the fruyt and let the chaf be stille, B 4633.
For dronkenesse is verray sepulture
Of mannes wit, and his discrecioun, C 558, 559.
And on the ground, which is my moodres gate,
I knokke with my staf erly and late.
And seye, "leeve mooder, leet me in," C 729-731.
Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne
Er that I go, shall savoure wors than ale, D 170, 171.
The flour is goon, ther is namoore to telle,
The bren, as I best kan, now moste I selle, D 477, 478.
I made hym of the same wode (i.e. jealousy) a croce, D 484.
For if that they were put to swiche assayes.
The gold of hem that hath now so badde alayes
With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at eye
It wolde rather breste atwo than plye, E 11 66-1 169.
1 ambes as, double aces.
2 sys cynk, six-five, ' a throw with two dice, being the highest throw with
the exception of double sixes.'
8 sys, six (at dice). 4 aas, an ace.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XXxiii
Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn ! E 1516.
Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce, F 942.
Unbokele, and shewe us what is in thy male, I 26.
The following afford characteristic examples of Chaucer's
maxims, proverbs, and sententious expressions :
Wei koude he [the miller] stelen corn and tollen thries,
And yet he hadde a thomb of gold, pardee, A 563.
And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe, A 586.
The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede, A 742.
If even-song and morwe-song accorde, A 830.
But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many yeres,
That feeld hath eyen, and the wode hath eres, A 1521, 1522.
Now in the crope, now doun in the breres,
Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle, A 1532, 1533.
For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte, A 1 761.
He moot go pipen in an yvy leef, A 1838.
Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old, A 2125.
As sooth is seyd, elde has greet avantage;
In elde is bothe wysdom and usage;
Men may the olde at-renne and noght at-rede, A 2447-2449,
And certeinly, ther Nature wol nat wirche,
Farewel phisik, go ber the man to chirche, A 2759, 2760.
This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
And we been pilgrymes passynge to and fro;
Deeth is an ende of every worldes soore, A 2847-2849.
Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessitee, A 3041, 3042.
Men sholde wedden after hire estaat.
For youthe and elde is often at debaat, A 3229, 3230.
Ne brynge nat every man into thyn hous, A 4331.
XXXIV GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Wei bet is roten appul out of hoord,
Than that it rotie al the remenaunt, A 4406, 4407.
. . . whil that iren is hoot, men sholden smyte, B 2226.
... he hasteth wel that wisely kan abyde, and in wikked haste is
no profit, B 2244.
Of fieble trees ther comen wrecched ympes,^ B 3146.
A theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft
His likerousnesse and al his olde craft,
Kan kepe a forest best of any man, C 83-85.
He is to greet a nygard that wolde werne 2
A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne, D 333, 334.
"Who so first comth to the mille first grynt,^ D 389.
With empty hand men may none haukes lure, D 415.
Greet prees at market maketh deere ware,
And to greet cheepe is holde at litel prys, D 522, 523.
Who so that buyldeth his hous al of salwes,*
And priketh his blynde hors ouer the falwes,^
And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes,
Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes, D 655-658.
He is gentil that doth gentil dedis, D 11 70.
So ech thyng that is oned in it selve,
Is moore strong than whan it is to-scatered, D 1968, 1969.
Love is noght oold as whan that it is newe, E 857.
" Bet is," quod he, " a pyk than a pykerel,
And bet than olde boef is the tendre veel," E 1419, 1420.
Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, E 1538.
Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte, E 1986.
As many heddes as manye wittes ther been, F 203.
That I made vertu of necessitee, F 593.
'^ympes, grafts, scions. * salwes, willow-twigs, osiers.
2 werne, refuse. ^ falwes^ fallow-ground.
^ grynt, grindeth.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION XXXV
Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon
That shal ete with a feend, F 602, 603.
That that is overdoon, it wol nat preeve
Aright ; as clerkes seyn, it is a vice, G 645, 646.
For whan a man hath over greet a wit,
Ful oft hym happeth to mysusen it, G 648, 649.
he that gilty is
Demeth alle thyng be spoke of hym, y-wis, G 688, 689.
But al thyng which that shyneth as the gold,
Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told;
Ne every appul that is fair at eye,
Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye, G 962-965.
bet than nevere is late, G 1410.
The word moot nede accorde with the dede, H 208.
Thyng that is seyd is seyd, and forth it gooth, H 355,
Chaucer's alliterations exhibit the light touch, as do his
similes. They may generally pass unnoticed, but they,
nevertheless, make flitting contributions to the melodious
fusion of his verse.
The Parson, in the Prologue to his Tale, or, rather. Treatise
on Penitence, says, * I kan nat geeste " r//;;/, rain^ ruf,'" by
lettre ' ; and it has been inferred that Chaucer had a con-
tempt for alliteration ; but in the next line the Parson adds,
* Ne, God woot, rym holde I but Htel bettre.' So it might
as fairly be inferred that Chaucer held rhyme in small
esteem. But nearly all his writings are in rhyme. It is
never safe to identify the poet with his characters. He did
not make any character the mere mouthpiece of his own
opinions.
The following, taken from a complete collection which I
made, several years ago, when preparing an Index of Proper
XXXVl GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Names and Subjects to The Canterbury Tales, afford good
characteristic examples of Chaucer's alHterations. The
greater part of them, as I state in my Primer of English
Verse, may have been written unconsciously by the poet ;
his sense of melody often attracting words with the same
initial or internal consonants, as well as assonantal words, —
all contributing, more or less, to the general melody and har-
mony. Feehng, according to its character, weaves its own
vowel and consonantal texture :
And smale foweles maken melodye, A 9 ; to seken straunge strondes,
A 13; And though that he were worthy, he was wys, And of his port
as meeke as is a mayde, A 68, 69; Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and
reede, A 90; And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, A 124; Or if
men smoot it with a yerde smerte, A 149; A manly man, to been an
abbot able, A 167; whan he rood men myghte his brydel heere Gyn-
glen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere And eek as loude, as dooth the
Chapel belle, A 169-171; His bootes clasped faire and fetisly, A 273;
A Sergeant of the Lawe, war and wys, A 309; She hadde passed many
a straunge strem, A 464; Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones,
A 546; Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, A 591; They were
adrad of hym as of the deeth, A 605 ; Tales of best sentence and moost
solaas, A 798; FulfiUd of ire and of iniquitee, A 940; Of Thebes with
hise waste walles wyde, A 1331; ther daweth hym no day, A 1676;
With hunte and horn, and houndes hym bisyde, A 1678; And thus
with good hope and with herte blithe, A 1878; Thebes with hise olde
walles wyde, A i88o; With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde, A 1977;
The open werre with woundes al bi-bledde, A 2002; Armed ful w^el
with hertes stierne and stoute, A 2154; Hir body wessh with water of
a welle, A 2283; And for to walken in the wodes wilde, A 2309; oon
of the fyres queynte And quyked agayn, A 2334, 2335 ; Of faire yonge
fresshe Venus free, A 2386; As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne,
A 2437; to the paleys rood ther many a route Of lordes, A 2494; In
gooth the sharpe spore into the syde, A 2603; Ther shyveren shaftes
upon sheeldes thikke, A 2605 ; Up spryngen speres twenty foot on
highte, A 2607; His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught, A 2649;
His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe, A 2691; That dwelled in his
herte syk and soore, A 2804; That in that selve grove swoote and
GENERAL INTRODUCTIOM XXXVll
grene, A 2860 ; The grete toures se we wane and wende, A 3025 ;
His rode was reed, hise eyen greye as goos, A 3317; sat ay as stille as
stoon, A 3472; by hym that harwed helle, A 3512; so wilde and wood,
A 3517; I am thy trewe verray wedded wyf, A 3609; He wepeth,
weyleth, maketh sory chere; He siketh, with ful many a sory swogh,
A 3618, 3619; Wery and wet, as- beest is in the reyn, A 4107; And
forth she sailleth in the salte see, B 445; Er that the wilde wawes wol
hire dryve, B 468; tellen plat and pleyn, B 886; She lighte doun and
falleth hym to feete, B 1104; His fader was a man ful free, B 191 1;
Ful many a mayde brighte in bour, B 1932; He priketh thurgh a fair
forest, B 1944; By dale and eek by downe, B 1986; And priketh over
stile and stoon, B 1988; Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye,
B 3216; Fortune was first freend and sitthe foo, B 3913; In pacience
ladde a ful symple lyf, B 4016; Which causeth folk to dreden in hir
dremes, B 41 19; His herte bathed in a bath of blisse, D 1253; the
foule feend me fecche, D 1610; With scrippe and tipped staf ytukked
hye, In every hous he gan to poure and prye, D 1737, 1738; To fecchen
water at a welle is went, E 276; as light as leef on lynde, E 121 1; To
lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf, E 1628; He wepeth and he wayleth
pitously, E 2072; Seken in every halke and every heme, F 1121;
That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be, F 1344.
And see, in the text, pp. 50, 51, the description of the
tournament, vv. 2599-2635, wherein alliteration is organ-
ically employed with a vigour of effect not surpassed in
English poetry.
Another feature of Chaucer's poetry is the frequent allu-
sion to the Scriptures, and the many expressions which show
the influence of Scripture language. Dr. Charles Words-
worth, Bishop of St. Andrews, in his volume 07i Shakespeare* s
Knowledge and Use of the Bible, London, 1864, remarks :
* Take the entire range of English literature ; put together
our best authors, who have written upon subjects not pro-
fessedly rehgious or theological, and we shall not find, I
believe, in them all united, so much evidence of the Bible
having been read and used, as we have found in Shakespeare
XXXVlll GENERAL INTRODUCTION
alone.' He should certainly have made an exception in the
case of Chaucer. Given any thousand consecutive lines,
taken at random, from Shakespeare and from Chaucer, and
it will be found, I think, that the proportion of allusions in
those of the latter will be greater than in those of the former.
Many of the supposed allusions noted by Bishop Words-
worth are rather attributable to the current language of the
time \ there is, however, in Shakespeare's Plays evidence of
a large Bible influence.
Exclusive of expressions showing Bible influence, without
having direct reference to particular passages in the Bible, I
noted, several years ago, when preparing for the Chaucer
Society an Index of Proper Names and Subjects to The
Canterbury Tales, allusions to the following books, chapters,
and verses, in the Old and New Testaments, including the
apocryphal books :
Genesis i, 28: D 28; ii. 18: B 2294; iv. 19: D 54; xix. 33: C 485-
487; xxvii. : E 1 363-1 365; xxvii. : B 2288.
Exodus xiv. : B 489, 490; xx. 7 : C 642 ; xxxiv. 28 : D 1 885.
Leviticus x. 9 : D 1895; ^i^- 3^: C 744.
Judges xi. 29-40: C 240-244; xiii. 4: C 555; xvi. 19-21 : D 721-723.
I Samuel xxv. 2-34: E 1369-1371; xxv. 2-35: B 2290; xxviii. 7-25:
D 1510.
I Kings xi. 12: E 2301 ; xix. 8: D 1890.
Job i. 21 : B 2190; i. 21: E 871, 872; ii. 6: D 1490; xii. 12: B 2354.
Jeremiah iv. 2: C 635.
Psalm i. I : B 2388; viii. i, 2: B 1643, 1644; x. 9: D 1657, 1658;
xxxiv. 14: B 2882, 2883; xxxviii. 17: B 2820, 2821; cxxvii. l:
B 2494; cxxxiii. 1-3 : B 2925.
Proverbs xi. 14: B 2361; xii. 11 : B 2780; xii. 5: B 2387; xiv. 13:
B 421-424; xiv. 20, XV. 15, xix. 7: B 115-121; xv. 16: B 2818,
2819; xvi. 32: B 2706; xvi. 24: B 2303; xvi. 7: B 2909, 2910;
xvii. 22: B 2185; xviii. 24: B 2349; xix. 15: B 2779; xx. 3: B
2675; xi. 22, xxi. 9, 19: D 775-785; xxi. 19: B 2277; ^xi. 23:
H 315; xxii. 24: D 2086, 2087; xxii. i: B 2828; xxiii. 9: B
2237; xxv. 16: B 2606; xxvi. 17: B 2732; xxvii. 9: B 2348;
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xxxix
xxviii. 23: B 2367; xxviii. 14: B 2507, 2508; xxviii. 23: B 2894,
2895; xxviii. 14: B 2886; xxiii. 5, xxviii. 22: B 2768, 2769;
xxix. 5 : B 2368; xxxi. 4, 5 : C 584.
Ecclesiastes iii. i: E 6; vii. 28: E 2247, 2248; vii. 28: B 2247;
x. 19: B 2740; xi. 8: B 421-424.
Song of Solomon ii. 10, 11 : E 2138-2140.
Daniel vi. 16 et seq. : B 473-476.
Jonah i. 12-17, ii. i-io: B 486, 487.
Tobit iv. 19 : B 2308.
Judith viii.-xiii. : B 2289; xiii. : B 939; xiii. 8: E 1368.
Ecclesiasticus ii. 14: B 2729; iv. 30: D 1989; vi. 5 : B 2930; vi. 6:
B 2357; vi. 14: B 2351; viii. 17: B 2363; xi. 29: A 4331 ;
xii. 10: B 2376; xix. 8: B 2331; xxii. 6: B 2235; xxv. 25:
D 653; xxx. 23: B 2186; xxxiii. 18: B 2944-2946; xxxiii. 19:
B 2250; xl. 28: B 114; xli. 12: B 2380.
I Maccabees iii. 18, 19: B 2851-2853.
Matthew v. 3 : D 1923; v. 9: B 2870; v. 34: C 634; vii. 3: A 3919,
3920; xiv. l-ii : C 490, 491; xiv. 15-21 : B 502-504; xix. 3:
D 74; xix. 5: D 31; xix. 17: B 2269; xix. 21: D 108-110;
xxiii. 27; F 518, 519.
Mark i. 7 : F 555; vi. 37-44: D 145, 146; xvi. 9: B 2265.
Luke V. 10: D 1820; x. 7: D 1973; x. 18: B 366.
John ii. i-ii: D ii; iv. 18: D 17-19; viii. 3: B 2223; xi. 35;
B 2177; xii. 6: D 1351.
Romans vii. 3: D 49^ xi. 33: B 2596; xii. 15: B 2179; xii. 17:
B 2482; xii. 19: B 2650; xiii. 4: B 2630, 2631 ; xiii. 12: G 385.
1 Corinthians vi. 13: C 522, 523; vii. 6: D 65; vii. 9: D 52; x. 13:
D 1661.
2 Corinthians i. 12: B 2824; xi. 14: D 1465; iii. 6: D 1794; iv. 17:
B 2700.
Ephesians v. 18: C 484; v. 22, 23: D 160; v. 25, 28, 29: E 1384.
Phihppians iii. 18, 19: C 530-533.
1 Timothy ii. 9 : D 341-345 5 iv. 7 : I 33^ 34; v. 6 : C 547, 548; vi. 8:
D 1881; vi. 10: B 2320; vi. 10 : B 3030.
2 Timothy iii. 16: B 4631, 4632; iv. 7 : G 387, 388.
James i. 4: B 2707; i. 5 : B 2309; i. 13: E I153; i. 22: D 1937;
ii. 13: B 3059; ii. 17: G64.
I Peter ii. 21-23: B 2692-2694.
I John i. 9 : B 3075-3077-
Revelation vii. 1-3 : B 491-494; xii.: B 366.
Xl GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The allusions contained in the Parson's Tale (a treatise
on Penitence, which necessarily abounds in Scripture texts)
are not included in this Hst. It should also be stated that
the prose Tale of Melibeus, which is that told by Chaucer
himself, as one of the Canterbury pilgrims, has a much
larger proportion of references than have any of the other
tales. And this tale is no more than a translation of a
French treatise entitled Le Livre de Melibee et de dame
Prudence, which is not in itself an original work, but an
adaptation supposed to have been made by Jean de Meun,
of a Latin treatise, the Liber Consolatio7iis et Consilii of
Albertano of Brescia. (See Professor Lounsbury's Studies
in Chaucer,No\, I. p. 321, II. pp. 211, 271, 384.) The work
was edited for the Chaucer Society, by Thor Sundby, with
the following title : ' Albertani Brixiensis Liber Consolationis
et Consihi, ex quo hausta est fabula Gallica De Melibeo et
Prudentia, quam Anglice redditam et The Tale of Melibe
inscriptam, Galfridus Chaucer inter Canterbury Tales recepit.'
But exclusive of the allusions in the two prose tales, those
in the other tales are, perhaps, more numerous than in any
other great poem in the Hterature. Chaucer must have had
a most intimate knowledge of the Bible (St. Jerome's Latin
Vulgate, no doubt), and his quotations therefrom are made
with that easy lightsomeness so peculiar to him, which indi-
cates that they readily occurred to his mind in the course of
composition.
III. PRONUNCIATION
' Great efforts have been put forth during the past few
years,* writes Professor Lounsbury, in his Studies in Chaucer,
Vol. III. p. 271, 'to recover the pronunciation of Chaucer's
time. The subject is an interesting one ; the pursuit of it
has already been attended with marked success ; and the
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xli
importance of the information secured cannot well be over-
rated. But there is always a tendency to extend the results
of investigations of this character beyond their legitimate
province, and to intrude them into matters with which they
have no concern. That tendency is plainly manifesting
itself at the present time in the views entertained about the
proper pronunciation of Chaucer's words. Into a discussion
involving honest diiference of opinion it is undesirable to
import any terrns that are liable to beget ill-feeling. Yet it
seems to me impossible to overlook the fact that the revival
of interest in the poet has been accompanied to no small
degree with a revival of what is perilously near pedantry, if
not of pedantry itself. In more than one way is there
danger of genuine literary appreciation of his writings being
swamped in the attention paid to purely linguistic detail.
There could be no more formidable obstacle raised to the
popularization of his poetry than to require it to be pro-
nounced according to the manner in which scholars, work-
ing, it is true, with imperfect appliances, have concluded
that it must have been pronounced, and to insist that it is
in this way only that it can be pronounced properly. That
special students should be expected to master such a system
arises from the necessity they lie under of keeping up with
the results of the latest investigations. For any attempt to
impose it upon the general body of cultivated men there is
not the slightest justification.
' The literary study of Chaucer is one thing ; the linguistic
study is quite another. Let us assume, what we can never
know certainly, that we are able to pronounce his words
exactly as he pronounced them himself. This would be an
invaluable acquisition for the student of language, especially
for the student of phonetics. It would not help him or any
one else a jot or tittle towards the appreciation of the beauty
Xlii GENERAL INTRODUCTION
and power of Chaucer's poetry. For most men it would
produce consequences quite the reverse. It would detract
from the effect of his lines instead of adding to them. The
latter result could be reached only in the case of the ex-
ceedingly few to which this particular pronunciation had
become so familiar that all impression of strangeness had
been worn away by frequency of use. If in reading a sen-
tence of any writer we are led to think not of what it means,
but of how it sounds, we may be looking at it as a contribu-
tion to knowledge, but we are not really looking at it as
literature, whatever may be the view we entertain of our own
view. If a special student of Chaucer enjoys his verse only
when he pronounces it as he supposes the poet himself pro-
nounced it, there is not the slightest need of his depriving
himself of the gratification he derives from that source. But
he has no right to insist that others shall be forced to follow
in his footsteps, and to feel that they are not making a
genuine literary study of the author because they do not
have the time to learn or the desire to adopt a pronuncia-
tion the acquisition of which has been attended with no
small labour to himself, and his practice of which is usually
fraught with no small misery to others.'
Just as these remarks are, with one decided exception,
namely, that if we were able to pronounce Chaucer's words
exactly as he pronounced them himself, it would not help a
jot or tittle toward the appreciation of the beauty and power
of his poetry, it must certainly be conceded that any one
who, by much practice, has attained to a fluent, spontaneous,
quite unconscious reading of Chaucer's verse, according to
an approximate pronunciation of the time, so far as that has
been determined, certainly gets a flavour therefrom which
is not afforded by modern Enghsh pronunciation, — the
flavour being partly due to a richer vocality than that of
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xliii
modern English. The guttural gh and the trilled r, also
impart a peculiar vigour to the language, which modern
English has lost, whatever compensations it has gained in
its stead.
Apart from certain niceties claimed, often with too much
assurance, perhaps, by phonologists, an observance of the
following rules will result in as good a pronunciation of
Chaucer, not modern, as can be hoped for from the gen-
eral run of students in the schools. Those who wish to
acquaint themselves with the niceties claimed by phonolo-
gists should consult Ellis's large work, On Early English
Pronunciation^ with especial reference to Shakespeare and
Chaucer, Sweet's History of English Sounds, and his First
and Second Middle English Primers, the section on Chaucer's
pronunciation in the General Introduction to Vol. VI. of
Skeat's edition of The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer,
pp. xxv-xlvii, Chaucer's Pronunciatiofi and the Spelling of
the Ellesmere Manuscript, by Professor George Hempl, and
Chaucer's Sprache und Verskunst, by Professor Bernhard
Ten Brink.
Pronounce —
a long, as in arm ; a short, the same, stopped, as in artistic^ arbitra-
menty arboreal ; aa^ as a long; ai and ay^ as Italian and German,
aiy French ai^ i.e. as «, in artistic^ with a stress, gliding into i
short, as in pin; the same as the interjection ay, when properly
pronounced, * ay^ there's the rub'; ati and aw, as the German au^
in Haus, the French aoUy i.e. as a in artistic, gliding into {oo)ze.
b, as in modern English.
C, as k or J, as in modern English, but not sh^ as in ocean, special ;
where it is sh in modern English, it is s in Chaucer; spenally,
A 15, condidoun, A 38, li<:ennat, A 220, absolunoun, A 222; ch^
as in much^ church; double ch is written cchy and pronounced the
same as ch^ the articulation being held a little longer, perhaps.
xliv GENERAL INTRODUCTION
d, as in modern English.
e long, as e in there , or a in dare, air (really the combined sounds of
modern ^ and u^ intimately coalescing), and as a m pale ; in many
words, e before r must have been pronounced as e still is in
clerk, sergeant, Derby; t.g. fer^ Southwerk ; e short, as in men,
end ; ei and ey^ e long (as in there, or a in dare, air), stressed and
gliding into i (Ellis makes the pronunciation the same as that of ai
and ay, which is questionable); eo, rarely used, as e long; eu and
ew, in words of French origin, as the long sound of the French u,
German ii ; in words not of French origin, as e long (as in there,
or a in dare, air), stressed, and gliding into modern oo, as in the
Italian Enropa ; e final, as a very light {u)p, as light as the final
unaccented e in French verse-, ea, as e long; ee, as e long.
f , as in modern English.
g, as \vigin, before e, i, ox y, in words of French origin; elsewhere, as
g in go ; gh, after a, o, u, as German ch, in auch ; after e, i, or y,
as German ch, in nicht ; the French suffix -age may be pronounced,
according to Ellis, as aadg, or without the d, as az in azure. I
prefer the latter; gn, 2& n -\- y (consonantal).
h, as in modern English; to what extent it was omitted as an initial, we
cannot know with any certainty; hem may have been ^em, as in
modern English; and it may have been often omitted in hath,
hadde, have, and in some French words such as honour, honest, etc.
i long, as in machine ; i short, as in pi7t ; ie or ye, final, makes two
syllables, i -\- e final, Belmarye, Satalye, A 57, 58.
j {i or / in Mss.), k, 1, m, n, as in modern EngHsh.
ng had, probably, the varied pronunciation of the present ng, as in ring,
finger, grange ; but- the simple ng, as in ring, may have been com-
moner than at present.
long, often represented by 00, as in old; short, the same, stopped,
as the proclitic 0, in obey, ofnit; ou or ow, as long 0, stressed, and
gliding into modern 00 ; ough, as ou + gh as described; oi and oy,
as in boy, noise, quoit.
p, ph, qu, as in modern English.
r, trilled with the tip of the tongue, in all situations, initial, medial, or
final.
S, generally, perhaps, as sharp s, when final ; when between two vowels,
or a vowel and a sub-vowel (that is, a voiced consonant), ass;;
never sh or zh, as in modern English.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xlv
th, as th in thin^ and th in theii^ in modern English; it is likely that
the aspirate th was used in many words where, in modern English,
the sub-vowel, ///, is used; e.g. with.
U long, or ui, as Scotch ui^ in puir, French u., German u\ u short, as
in put^ not as in but ; for v vowel, in Ellesmere text, u has been
substituted in the text of this book.
V, W, wh, as in modern English; zvh is the cognate aspirate of the sub-
vowel w\ IV has a suppressed vocality; in forming wh, the position
of the mouth is the same, but the aperture is slightly enlarged.
X, y (consonant), as in modern English.
y vowel, long and short, as i long and short.
z, as z in zenith^ not as in azure.
In pronouncing double consonants, the articulation is not
actually repeated, of course, but it should be held longer
than that of a single consonant ; e.g. in yronne, the double
n should be pronounced as the double n in the Italian word
Giovanni ; in Aprilky the double / should be pronounced
as //-/ in all-living,
IV. SYNOPSIS OF GRAMMATICAL FORMS,
Most of which differ from those of Modern English
NOUNS
The genitive singular ends in -es : every shires ende, A 15; his
lordes werre., A 47; Cristes gospel^ A 481; Seint Poules^ A 509.
A few nouns, uninflected in the genitive singular in Anglo-Saxon,
are also sometimes uninflected in Chaucer : yJz^^r, father's, A 781,
G 829; but also fadres^ B 86l; brother.^ brother's, A 3084, G 1432. A
few feminine nouns have the genitive singular in -<?, a relic of -an of
the first declension of Anglo-Saxon nouns, or are without any inflec-
tion: lady., lady's, A 88, 695; herte, heart's, A 2006; sonne., sun's,
A 105 1, D 868.
The dative, when inflected, ends in -e : to the roote^ A 2.
The accusative case is the same as the nominative.
The plural ends in -es (sometimes in -j) :
xlvi GENERAL INTRODUCTION
And with hise stremes dryeth in the greves
The silver dropes hangynge on the leves^ A 1495, 1496.
And ye maistr esses ^ in youre olde lyf,
That lordes doghtres han in governaunce, C 72, 73.
mennes wittes ben so duUe, B 202.
Some few plurals end in -en (Anglo-Saxon -an) ; some few are the
same as the singular; and some few, still retained in modern English,
are formed by vowel change :
asshen, ashes, A 2957, F 255; been^ bees, F 204; eyen^ eyes, A 201,
625; foon^ foes, B 3896; toon^ toes, B 4052; hors^ horses, A 74, 598;
swyn, A 598; also deer ^ folk, neet (neat, cattle), sheep.
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives (chiefly those which are monosyllabic) have definite and
indefinite forms, the former being preceded by the definite article, a
demonstrative, or a genitive pronoun : the yonge sonne^ A 7 ; his halfe
cours., A 8; the righte way, A 2730, B 1 130; This fierse Arcite,
A 2676. Adjectives of more than one syllable rarely take the definite
final -e.
Adjectives qualifying nouns in the vocative take the definite form in
-e : O chaste goddesse, A 21 87 ;
O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den !
O newe Scariot, newe Genyloun ! B 4416, 4417.
Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille, etc., B 4634.
Nay, olde cherl, . . . thou shalt nat so ! C 750.
Adjectives (chiefly those which are monosyllabic) take -e in the
plural: smale foweles, A 9; straunge strondes, A 13 ; feme halwes,
koivthe in sondry londes, A 14.
The comparative degree ends in -er {re) ; the superlative in -est.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xlvii
PRONOUNS PERSONAL
First person: /, dat. and ace. me ; pi. ive^ dat. and aee. us. The
jform ik occurs twice in the text of this book, A 3867, 3888 ; also, in-
corporated with the subj. pr. s. thee.^ thrive, in the form, theek., A 3864;
ich occurs as incorporated with the same verb, in the form theech^
G 929. The gen. pi. oure occurs in the phrase, oure aller, of us all,
A 823.
Second person : thou^ thow^ dat. and ace. thee ; pi. ye., dat. and ace.
you^ yow. Thou is often incorporated with its verb, in the form tow :
shaltow., shalt thou, B 4208; artow., art thou, C 718, G 664, 1079;
cridestow^ criedst thou, A 1083; hastozv^ hast thou, B 676; kanstow.,
canst thou, B 632; lyvestow, livest thou, C 719; maistozu., mayst thou,
A 2128; wostow^ knowest thou, A 2304.
Third person masculine: he., dat. and ace. him\ pi. they^ gen. hir
(Jiir alter, of them all, A 586), dat. and ace. hem^ A 31, 379; femi-
nine : she^ dat. and ace. hir or hire; neuter: hit or ?V, dat. him., ace.
hit or it.
PRONOUNS POSSESSIVE
Sing.: mifty myn, my; thin, thyn^ thy; his., hire, his; pi. oure.^
our, your e., your ; hire, here, hir, her ; absolute forms are: oure, oures.,
ours ; youre., youres., yours; hires., hers; hirs., theirs.
PRONOUNS DEMONSTRATIVE
that., pi. tho., those; this., pi. thise (always monosyllabic).
PRONOUNS RELATIVE
That is the usual relative pronoun; sometimes which., pi. whiche,
which; also, the ivhich., which that., the which that; that is sometimes
used with the personal pronoun : that he., who, A 44, 45 ; that his,
whose, A 2709, 2710; that him, whom : I saugh to day a cors y-born to
chirche, That now on Monday last I saugh hym wirche, A 3429, 3430.
Men, a weakened form of the Anglo-Saxon indefinite man, one,
some one, is used as the Ger. Man, Fr. on., and has, of course, its verb
in the singular, A 149, 346, 3032, F 481.
xlviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION
VERBS
The infinitive ends in -en or -<f, the latter being the more common.
The dative infinitive, preceded by to-^ sometimes occurs, its chief
function, as is that of the Anglo-Saxon, being to express the direction
of a feeling or quality, or the purpose of an act. While the distinc-
tive ending -en of the Early English infinitive, a weakened form of the
Anglo-Saxon -an^ or its relic -<?, was dying out, this dative form of the
infinitive was gradually taking the place of the pure infinitive, and in
modern Enghsh it has almost entirely supplanted it, the pure infinitive
being used only after the auxiliaries do^ did^ ivill^ shall, would, should,
may, can, must, might, could^ etc., and after a few verbs like see, bid,
dare, let, etc. But the dative infinitive still lives in the so-called infini-
tive of purpose, etc. ; good to eat; hard to learn ; they went to scoff, and
remained to pray. In these cases, the to is an element of the thought,
and not merely a symbol.
The indicative present, i, 2, 3 s., of both weak and strong verbs,
ends in -^, -est {-st), -eth (^-th), respectively; plural, -en or -e, the
latter being the more common. Verbs whose stem ends in d, t, or s,
take t in the 3 s.: bit or byt, biddeth; blent^ blindeth, G1391; cast^
casteth, A 2854; halt, holdeth, F 61, G 921; h'tt^ hideth, F 512; rist^
riseth, B 864; rtt^ rideth, A 2566, G 608; sit^ sitteth, F 59, 179; sftt^
slideth, G 682; stant^ standeth, A 3923, B 618, 651, 655, 1055, F 171,
182, 316.
The subjunctive present, I, 2, 3 s., ends in -e ; the plural, in -en^ or
-^, the latter being the more common.
The indicative past, i, 2, 3 s., of weak verbs ends in -ede (^-de, -//?),
-edest {-dest, -test)^ -ede {-de, -te)', the plural, in -eden {-ede'), the latter
being the more common; the subjunctive past, i, 2, 3 s., in -ede (-de,
-/^), the plural, in -eden or -ede {-den or -de, -ten or -/<?).
Strong verbs form their past tense by a change of the root vowel,
and not with the aid of a suffix, and their past participle ends in -en
or -e. The indicative past, I and 3 s., has no inflection, the 2 s. occa-
sionally -^, usually dropped, and occasionally -est^ as in modern Eng-
lish; plural, -en or -e-, the pt. pi. ends in -en or -e.
In Anglo-Saxon, most of the strong verbs undergo, in their past
tense, a vowel change in the 2 s. and in the whole plural. The change
in the plural sometimes appears in Chaucer: ryde{n), to ride; pr. pi.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION xlix
ryden^ A 2869; ryde^ B 1102; pt. s. rood, A 328, 390, 622, 682,
B 999; pt. pi. riden^ ryden^ A 825, 856, 2897; PP- ^^^den^ G 555;
sterve, to die, C 865; pt. s. starf, B 633; pt. pi. storven^ C 888.
The subjunctive present, i, 2, 3 s., ends in -^, the pi. in -en or -e-,
the subj. pt. I, 2, 3 s. in -^, pi. -en or -<?, with the change of the root
vowel, if there is one in the indicative.
The imperative singular is generally the stem of the verb; some
imperatives, which in Anglo-Saxon end in -a or -<?, take -<?; love^ telle;
the pi. ends in -eth (jth), but the -tk is frequently dropped.
The present participle ends in -inge, -ynge (^-ing, -yiig) : laugkynge^
A 201 1; travaillyngey A 2083; corny nge, A 2128; hangynge, A 2162;
sparklynge^ A 2164; throndrynge^ A 2174; claterynge^ A 2492; bokel-
ynge, A 2503 ; giggynge^ lacynge^ A 2504; bitynge^ A 2546. The end-
ing 'inge, -ynge, is the .more common form in the EUesmere text.
Verbal nouns (which in Anglo-Saxon end in -ung) end in -ing, -yng,
'inge, -ynge. As already stated, the past participle of weak verbs ends
in -ed, -d^ sometimes in -<?/*, -t ; of strong verbs in -en or -e.
The prefix;^- or /-, a relic of the Anglo-Saxon ^f-, is used frequently,
if not generally, before past participles, weak and strong. See exam-
ples under y- in the Glossary.
Some strong verbs, which are passing over to the ranks of weak
verbs, have both strong and weak forms : crepe, to creep ; pt. s. creep
and crepie ; pp. cropen ; slepe^ to sleep ; pt. s. sleep and slepie ; wepe^
to weep; pt. s. weep and wepte ; pp. wopen. While both forms existed
together, the long vowel of the strong form was, no doubt, preserved
in the weak.
The following verbs have various abnormal forms :
doon., don^ to do: indicative pr. I, 2, 3s. do, doost^ dooth or doth; pi.
doon., don; subjunctive pr. s. do; pi. doon., don ; imperative, do;
pi. dooih^ doth; pp. doon, don ; pt. s. dide {dyde)-, pi. dide{n)\
dat. inf. to dotie.
goon, gon, go, to go: indie, pr. i, 2, 3s. go, goost or gost^ gooth or goth ;
pi. goon, gon^ go; imperative, ^(9 / pi. gooth; pp. goon^ gon^ go;
pt. tense is supplied by yede or wente.
been^ ben^ be, to be : indie, pr. i, 2, 3 s. am, art, is ; pi. been, ben^ be,
beth; subj. pr. s. be ; pi. been., be ; imperative, be ; pi beeth^ beth;
pp. beeft, be; dat. inf. to bene; pt. i, 2, 3 s. was., were, was; pi.
weren, were., wer ; subj. pt. were ; pi. weren., were.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
SOME PRETERIT-PRESENT VERBS
Some verbs, as in Anglo-Saxon, have strong past-tense forms for
their present tenses :
conne, to know, be able: indie, pr. i, 2, 3s. caUy canst, can; pi,
co7tnen, conne^ sometimes can; subj. pr. s. conne ; pi. connen^
conne ; pt. coude^ couthe ; p.p. coud^ couth. The forms of this verb
in the Ellesmere text are spelt with k\ the forms in this book are
kauy knows, A 210, 371, etc.; pi. F 185; konne^ subj. pr. s., A
4396; koude, pt. s., A no, 382, 383, 467, F 39, 128; kouthe, pt.
s., A 390; kowihe (pi.), pp., A 14.
dar : indie, pr. i, 2, 3 s. dar, darst^ dar ; pi. dar ; pt. dorste, durste ;
dat. inf. to durre ; in the text of this book only the following forms
occur: da7', pr. i s., G 596; darst^ B 3102; dorste, pt. s., A 227,
454, D 969; pt. pL, B 4108.
moot: indie, pr. i, 2, 3 s., 7noot (jnot), most., moot {mot^; pi. fuoten,
mote ; subj. pr. mote {inoot or 77tbt~) ; pt. moste. See Glossary under
77ioot and 77ioste.
owe, to possess, have, own : indie, pr. i, 2, 3 s. owe, oivest, oweth ; pi.
oiven ; pt. oghte, oughte.
shal : indie, pr. i, 2, 3 s., shal, shalt, shal ; pi. shullen, shuln, shut, shal ;
pt. sholde, shulde.
witenyWitCyio know: indie, pr. I, 2, 3s., woot Qwot')., woost (wost),
woot {ivot^; pi. wite7i, wite ; in A 740 and 829, the s. woot is used
withj^/<f/ subj. pr. wite ; pt. wiste ; pp. wist. For examples, see
Glossary under wist, wist^., wite, witen, woost, woot.
ADVERBS
Adverbs are usually formed by the addition of -e to the adjective
form: brighte^ brightly, A 1493; brode, broadly, A 739; deere, dearly,
A 3100, C 100, G 694; evene, evenly, A 2593; faire^ fairly, A 124;
late, lately, A 690; nede, necessarily, F 1280; 7tewe.i newly, A 428;
roialliche, royally, A 378; rudeliche^ rudely, A 734; smerte, smartly,
A 149; soore, sorely, A 148, 230, B 3903; streite, straitly, closely, A 457;
unnethe, uneasily, B 1050, G 563, 1390; yvele, evilly, G 921, 1049;
— or, by the addition of -ly, as in modern English.
Some have both -e and -ly, the -e having a syllabic value : hert'ely.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION ll
heartily, A 762; ned'ely, necessarily, D 968; seinely, seemly, A 123,
136.
In noting this form, Dr. Skeat says : * Some adverbs have an internal
-^, which is not found in Anglo-Saxon.' It is better to say that this
form of adverb is a cumulative form, having two adverbial endings, -e
and -ly. When the significance oT the final -e ceased, more or less, to
be felt, the later sufhx, -ly, was hitched on to the earlier form;
— or, by the genitival -es : nec/es, needs, of necessity, B 4424, G 1 199;
bisides, G 141 6; biiymes, G 1008; elles, A 375, G 1377; ones, once,
A 765, B 861, G 748; tiuies, twice, B 4202; thries, thrice, A 463, 562;
thennes^ thence, B 1043; hir thankes^ of their own will, willingly,
A 1626.
The form luhilom, A 795, 4365, B 4175, C 463, is from the Anglo-
Saxon dat. pi. form of adverb.
The negative ne is often incorporated with the verb : nadde = ne
hadde; nam = ne am; narette = ne arette; nas = ne was; nis = ne
is; noide = ne wolde ; noo^ = ne woot ; ny/ = ne wyl ; ny//e = ne
wylle; nys = ne ys; nyste = ne wyste; also nyn, for ne yn, i.e. nor in :
It lyth nat in my tonge nyn my konnyng, F 35. See in Glossary under
these several forms.
Other features of Chaucer's grammar are sufficiently designated in
the Glossary, and the student can note them in the course of his
reading of the text. What is presented in this synopsis he should know
in advance of his reading.
V. VERSIFICATION
With the exception of the Tale of Sir Thopas, all the (metrical)
Canterbury Tales are in the so-called iambic pentameter verse (5 xa, as
I designate such verse, in my P^Hmer of English Verse^ the x repre-
senting an unaccented, and the a, an accented, syllable) ; and all, with
the exception of the Man of Law's Tale, the Prioress's Tale, the
Monk's Tale, the Clerk's Tale, and the Second Nun's Tale, are in the
rhyming couplet. The verse is generally hendecasyllabic, having an
extra end-syllable (5 xa -{■ x). The initial foot is often a so-called
trochee (^ax) ; and occasionally it consists of a single strong syllable,
the verse being therefore called acephalous; in such case, if there is
no extra end-syllable, the verse consists of but nine syllables.
The final -e is a matter of prime consideration in the reading of
lii GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Chaucer's verse, as it is in the study of his grammar, it being the com-
mon rehc of the greater number of the earlier inflections.
The general rule is, that final -e has a syllabic value in the verse,
v^^hen followed by a consonant ; when followed by a vowel, it is ab-
sorbed in the vocality of the latter ; also, when followed by a few words
beginning with h^ which may have been generally dropped in their
pronunciation : his^ him, hem^ hire, hath, hadde, have, how, her, heer.
As the final -e is everywhere marked in the text, where it has a sylla-
bic value (except at the end of the verse, where it is always sounded),
the student will be able at once to read along without any hesitation
as to whether it has a syllabic or non-syllabic value. When sounded,
it should be as slight as the final unaccented -e in French verse, a very
slight u in up,
Chaucer continues to be one of the great masters of verse in the
literature, Dryden's monstrous chatter about the progress of English
verse to the contrary notwithstanding. * We must be children,' he
says, * before we grow men. There was an Ennius, and in process
of time a Lucihus, and a Lucretius, before Virgil and Horace; even
after Chaucer there was a Spenser, a Harrington, a Fairfax, before
Waller and Denham were in being; and our numbers were in their
nonage till these last appeared.^
To one in these days acquainted with the secrets of Chaucer's
rhythm, and susceptible to the subtleties of his melody, this is the
merest rhetorical nonsense. Even in the use of the rhyming couplet,
Chaucer surpasses immeasurably both Dryden and Pope. His thought
is not so paddocked therein. In his hands, it is not the ' rocking
horse,' as Keats characterizes it, which it is in the hands of Dryden
and Pope. Of Waller, Dryden says that ' he first made writing easily
an art, first showed us to conclude the sense most commonly in dis-
tichs,' etc. One great merit of Chaucer's use of the couplet is, that
he does not conclude the sense most commonly in distichs. His sen-
sitiveness as to melody did not allow him to run into a mechanical
uniformity.
The rhyme-schemes of the two tales in stanza, from which selections
are given in this book, are the following, both of which, the apprecia-
tive reader will feel, are admirably adapted to the character of the Tales
in which they are used :
The Man of Law's Tale, ababbcc,
The Monk's Tale, ababbcbc.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION liii
It has been said again and again, by critics, that the Spenserian
stanza is the Italian ottava rima^ with the Alexandrine added. But
the eight verses to which Spenser added the Alexandrine are not the
ottava rima at all, for the reason that they are differently bound
together by the rhyme-scheme, and that makes all the difference in
the world. In the ottava rima there are but two rhymes in the first
six lines, the rhyme-scheme of the stanza being: ab ab ab cc. If
Spenser was indebted to any one for the eight lines of his stanza, he
was indebted to his master Chaucer, who, in the Monk's Tale, uses
an eight-line stanza with a rhyme-scheme identical M^ith that of the
eight heroic lines of the Spenserian stanza. See my Primer of Eng-
lish Verse^ chiefly in its cesthetic and organic character^ Chap. VII.
The Spenserian Stanza.
POSTSCRIPT
This book being designed as an introduction to the study
of Chaucer, it is not within its scope to treat of the origi-
nals or analogues of the tales represented, and of Chaucer's
artistic use of them. The student should first know The
Canterbury Tales in their absolute character, as the Plays
of Shakespeare should first be known in their absolute char-
acter, before the sources of their plots, etc., are traced.
The study of literary history of every kind should come
after the masterpieces of literature are known, in the true
sense of the word, known, that is, through a sympathetic
assimilation, so far as any one's capacity in that direction
extends.
The Chaucer Society has pubHshed Originals and Ana-
logues of some of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and to these
and other publications of the society, especially A Temporary
Preface to the Six-text Edition of Chaucer's Canterbury
Tales, by Dr. F. J. Furnivall, students are referred who are
prematurely interested in outside matters pertaining to the
poet's works. In A Temporary Preface, pp. 104, 105, are
liv GENERAL INTRODUCTION
summed up the results of Mr. Henry Ward's careful and
thorough noting of Chaucer's obligations, in the Knight's
Tale, to the Teseide of Boccaccio, — of the lines directly
translated by him therefrom, of those which bear a general
likeness, and of those which bear a slight likeness.
Altogether, the most important work for the student to
read is Professor Lounsbury's admirable Studies in Chaucer,
his Life and Writings. Chap. v. of Vol. II. pp. 167-426,
on The Learning of Chaucer, presents as fully as may be
Chaucer's obligations to other writers.
THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTER-
BURY TALES
The season of the pilgjimage, and the assembling of the
pilgrims at the Tabard Inn, described
Whan that Aprille with hise shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich Hc6ur
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 y-ronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye
That slepen al the nyght with open eye, — 10
So priketh hem Nature in hir corages, —
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes.
To feme halwes, kowthe in sondry londes ;
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
A. THE PROLOGUE
To Caunterbury with fill devout corage,
At nyght were come into that hostelrye
Wei nyne-and-twenty in a compaignye,
Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle 25
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alia,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
And wel we weren esed atte beste.
And, shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30
So hadde I spoken with hem everychon,
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
And made forward erly for to ryse.
To take oure wey, ther as I yow devyse.
But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, 35
Er that I ferther in this tale pace.
Me thynketh it accordaunt to resoun
To telle yow al the condicioun
Of ech of hem, so as it semed me.
And whiche they weren and of what degree, 40
And eek in what array that they were inne ;
And at a Knyght than wol I first bigynne.
The Knight
A Knyght ther was and that a worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To riden out, he loved chivalrie, 45
Trouthe and hon6ur, 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 AUsaundre he was whan it was wonne ;
A. THE PROLOGUE 3
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
Aboven alle naci'ons 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 many a noble aryve hadde he be. 60
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 ne was nat gay ;
Of fustian he wered a gypon 75
Al bism6tered with his habergeon,
For he was late y-come from his viage,
And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
The Squire
With hym ther was his sone, a yong Squi^r,
A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, 80
With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse.
A. THE PROLOGUE
Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
And wonderly delyvere and greet of strengthe ;
And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie, 85
In Flaundres, in Artoys and Pycardie,
And born hym weel, as of so Htel 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 faire ryde ;
He koude songes make and wel endite, 95
Juste and eek daunce and weel purtreye and write.
So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale
He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
Curteis he was, lowely and servysable,
And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100
The Yeoman
A Yeman hadde he and servantz namo
At that tyme, for hym hste ride soo ;
And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
A sheef of pocok arwes bright and kene
Under his belt he bar ful thriftily — 105
Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly ;
His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe —
And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
A not-heed hadde he with a broun visage.
Of woodecraft wel koude he al the usage. no
Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,
A. THE PROLOGUE 5
And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
And on that oother syde a gay daggere
Harneised wel and sharpe as point of spere ;
A Cristophere on his brest of silver sheene ; 115
An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene.
A forster was he, soothly as I gesse.
The Nun
Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse,
That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy ;
Hire gretteste 00th was but by seint Loy, 120
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, 125
For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
At mete wel y-taught was she with-alle,
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe.
Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe 130
That no drope ne fille upon hire breste ;
In curteisie was set ful muchel hir leste.
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 hire to countrefete cheere
Of Court, and been estathch of manere, 140
And to ben holden digne of reverence.
A. THE PROLOGUE
But for to speken of hire conscience,
She was so charitable and so pitous
She wolde wepe if that she saugh a mous
Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145
Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel breed ;
But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte.
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150
Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was ;
Hire nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
Hir mouth ful smal and ther-to softe and reed.
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed ;
It was almoost a spanne brood I trowe, 155
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
Ful fetys was hir cloke as I was war ;
Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
A peire of bedes gauded al with grene,
And ther-on heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, 160
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor vincit omnia.
Another Nonne with hire hadde she
That was hire Chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
The Monk
A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, 165
An outridere that lovede venerie,
A manly man, to been an abbot able.
Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable.
And whan he rood men myghte his brydel heere
Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere, 170
And eek as loude, as dooth the chapel belle.
A. THE PROLOGUE f
Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle,
The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit,
By-cause that it was old and som-del streit, —
This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace 175
And heeld after the newe world the space.
He gaf nat of that text a pulled hen
That seith that hunters beth nat hooly men,
Ne that a Monk whan he is recchelees
Is Hkned til a fissh that is waterlees; 180
This is to seyn, a Monk out of his cloystre.
But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre ;
And I seyde his opinioun was good.
What sholde he studie and make hym-selven wood,
Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, 185
Or swynken with his handes and lab6ure
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 y-purfiled at the hond
With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond ;
And for to festne his hood under his chyn 195
He hadde of gold y-wroght a ful curious pyn,
A love knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
His heed was balled that shoon as any glas,
And eek his face as it hadde been enoynt.
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt ; 200
Hise eyen stepe and 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.
A. THE PROLOGUE
He was nat pale, as a forpyned goost : 205
A fat swan loved he best of any roost ;
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
The Friar
A Frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
A lymytour, a ful solempne man,
In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 210
So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage ;
He hadde maad ful many a mariage
Of yonge wommen at his owene cost :
Unto his ordre he was a noble post,
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215
With frankeleyns over al in his contree ;
And eek with worthy wommen of the toun,
For he hadde power of confessi'oun.
As seyde hym-self, moore than a curat,
For of his ordre he was licenciat. 220
Ful swetely herde he confessioun.
And plesaunt was his absolucioun.
He was an esy man to geve penaunce
Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce ;
For unto a poure ordre for to give 225
Is signe that a man is wel y-shryve ;
For, if he gaf, he dorste make avaunt
He wiste that a man was 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 geve silver to the poure freres.
His typet was ay farsed full of knyves
And pynnes, for to geven yonge wyves ;
A, THE PROLOGUE 9
And certeinly he hadde a murye note ; 235
Wei koude he synge and pleyen on a rote:
Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris ;
His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys,
Ther-to he strong was as a champioun.
He knew the tavernes well in al the toun 240
And everich hostiler and tappestere
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere ;
For unto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce ; 245
It is nat honeste, it may nat avaunce
F6r to deelen with no swiche poraille ;
But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
Curteis he was and lowely of servyse, 250
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous —
He was the beste beggere in his hous ;
For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
So pleasaunt was his Lt principio,
Yet wolde he have a ferthyng er he wente : 255
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he koude, as it were right a whelpe.
In love dayes ther koude he muchel helpe.
For there he was nat lyk a cloysterer
With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scol^r, 260
But he was lyk a maister, or a pope ;
Of double worstede was his semycope.
That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
Somwhat he lipsed for his wantownesse.
To make his Englissh sweet upon his tonge, 265
And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
lO A. THE PROLOGUE
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
The Merchant
A Marchant was ther with a forked herd, 270
In motteleye, 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 thing
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.
For sothe he was a worthy man with-alle
But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
The Clerk {or Scholar^ of Oxford
A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also - 285
That unto logyk hadde longe y-go ;
As leene was his hors as is a rake,
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
But looked holwe and ther-to sobrely ;
Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy ; 290
For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
Ne was so worldly for to have office ;
For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
Twenty bookes clad in blak or reed
A. THE PROLOGUE II
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 af his freendes hente
On bookes and his lernynge he it spente, 300
And bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that gaf hym wher-with to scoleye.
Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede,
Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
And that was seyd in forme and reverence 305
And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence.
Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
The Sergeant at Law
A Sergeant of the Lawe, war and wys,
That often hadde been at the Parvys, 310
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
Discreet he was and of greet reverence ;
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 ;
12 A, THE PROLOGUE
Ther-to he koude endite and make a thyng, 325
Ther koude no wight pynchen at his writyng ;
And every statut coude 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. 330
The Franklin
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, 335
For he was Epicurus owene sone,
That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit
Was verraily felicitee parfit.
An housholdere, and that a greet, was he ;
Seint Julian was he in his contree ; 340
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon ;
A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous,
Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous,
It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke, 345
Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke.
After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe
And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe. 350
Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
Poynaunt and sharpe and redy al his geere.
His table dormant in his halle alway,
Stood redy covered al the longe day.
A. THE PROLOGUE 13
At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire ; 355
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
An anlaas, and a gipser al of silk,
Heeng at his girdel whit as morne milk.
A shirreve hadde he been and a countour.
Was novvher such a worthy vavasour. 360
The Haberdasher, etc.
An Haberdasshere, and a Carpenter,
A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapycer, —
And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
Of a sol^mpne and greet fraternitee.
Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was ; 365
Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras,
But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
Wei semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
To sitten in a geldehalle, on a deys. 370
feverich for the wisdom 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 certeyn were they to blame. 375
It is ful fair to been y-cleped Madame,
And goon to vigilies al bifore,
And have a mantel roialliche y-bore.
The Cook
A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones,
To boille the chiknes with the marybones 380
And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale ;
14 A. THE PROLOGUE
Wei koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale ;
He koude rooste and sethe and boille 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.
The Shipman
A Shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste ;
For aught I woot he was of Dertemouthe.
He rood upon a rouncy as he kouthe, ^ 390
tn 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 certeinly he was a good felawe. ;^95
Ful many a draughte of wyn he hadde drawe
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 him hoom to every lond. 400
But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes.
His stremes and his daungers hym bisides.
His herberwe and his moone, his lodemenage,
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
Hardy he was, and wys to undertake : 405
With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
He knew wel alle the havenes, as they were.
From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere,
And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne. 410
A. THE PROLOGUE 1 5
The Physician
With us ther was a Doctour of Phisik ;
In all this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
To speke of phisik and of surgerye ;
For he was grounded in astronomye.
He kepte his paci'ent a ful greet deel 415
In houres by his magyk natureel.
Wei koude he fortunen the ascendent
Of hise ymages for his paci'ent.
He knew the cause of everich maladye,
Were it of hoot, or cold, or moyste, or drye, 420
And where they engendred and of what humour ;
He was a verray parfit praktisour.
The cause y-knowe and of his harm the roote,
Anon he gaf the sike man his boote.
Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaries 425
To sende him drogges and his letuaries,
For ech of hem made oother for to wynne,
Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
Wei knew he the olde Esculapius
And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus, 430
Olde Ypocras, Haly and Galyen,
Serapion, Razis and Avycen,
Averrois, Damascien and Constantyn^
Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertyn,
Of his diete mesurable was he, 435
For it was of no superfluitee,
But of greet norissyng and digestible.
His studie was but htel 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 ;
l6 A. THE PROLOGUE
He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial,
Therfore he lovede gold in special.
The Wife of Bath
A Good wif was ther of biside Bathe, 445
But she was som-del deef and that was scathe.
Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt
She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon ; 450
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she,
That she was out of alle charitee.
Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground, —
I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound, —
That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 455
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed
Ful streite y-teyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe.
Boold was hir face and fair and reed of hewe.
She was a worthy womman al hir lyve,
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, 460
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, —
But ther-of nedeth nat to speke as nowthe, —
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 muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
Upon an amblere esily she sat,
Y-wympled wel, and on hir heed an hat 470
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe ;
A, THE PROLOGUE 1/
A foot mantel aboute hir hipes large,
And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe.
In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, 475
For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
The Parish Priest
A good man was ther of religioun
And was a Poure 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 :
Hise parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
Benygne he was and wonder diligent,
And in adversitee ful pacient ;
And swich he was y-preved ofte sithes. 485
Ful looth were hym to cursen for hise tithes,
But rather wolde he geven, out of doute,
Unto his poure parisshens aboute,
Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce :
He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. 490
Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
But he ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder.
In siknesse nor in meschief to visite
The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite,
Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. 495
This noble ensample to his sheep he gaf
That firste he wroghte and afterward he taughte.
Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
And this figure he added eek therto.
That if gold ruste what shal iren doo ? 500
For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
c
l8 A. THE PROLOGUE
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste ;
And shame it is, if a prest take keepe,
A [dirty] shepherde and a clene sheepe.
Wei oghte a preest ensample for to geve 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 Londoun unto Seint Poules
To seken hym a chaunterie for soules, 510
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde ;
But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde,
So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie, —
He was a shepherde, and noght a mercenarie ;
And though he hooly were and vertuous, 51S
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 obstinat.
What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
He waited after no pompe and reverence, 525
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore, and his Apostles twelve,
He taughte, but first he folwed it hym selve.
The Plowman
With hym ther was a Plowman, was his brother,
That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother, — 530
A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
A. THE PROLOGUE I9
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 neighebore right as hym-selve. 535
He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve
For Cristes sake for every poure wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
Hise tithes payde he ful faire and wel
Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. 540
In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
Ther was also a Reve and a Millere,
A SoMNOUR and a Pardoner also,
A Maunciple and myself, — ther were namo.
The Miller
The Millere was a stout carl for the nones, 545
Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones ;
That proved wel, for over al ther he cam.
At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre, 550
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
His berd, as any sowe or fox, was reed.
And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
Upon the cope right of his nose he hade
A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys, 555
Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys ;
His nosethirles blake were and wyde ;
A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde ;
His mouth as wyde was as a greet forneys,
He was a janglere and a goliardeys, 560
And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
20 ^. THE PROLOGUE
Wei koude he stelen corn and tollen thries,
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, 565
And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
The Manciple of an Inn of Court
A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple,
Of which achatours myghte take exemple
For to be wise in byynge of vitaille ;
For, whether that he payde or took by taille, 570
Algate he wayted so in his achaat
That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wisdom of an heepe of lerned men? 575
Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
That weren of lawe expert and curious,
Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous
Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580
To maken hym lyve by his propre good
In honour dettelees, but if he were wood,
Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire,
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any caas that myghte falle or happe ; 585
And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
The Reeve
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 y-shorn,
A. THE PROLOGUE 21
His tope was doked lyk a preest biforn, 590
Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene.
IVel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne,
Ther was noon auditour koude of him wynne.
Wei wiste he, by the droghte and by the reyn, 595
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 hoolly in this reves governyng,
And by his covenant gaf the rekenyng 600
Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age ;
Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
There 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. 605
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 a- stored pryvely.
His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly 610
To geve and lene hym of his owene good
And have a thank, and yet a gowne and hood.
In youthe he lerned hadde a good myster,
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This Reve sat upon a ful good stot 615
That was al pomely grey and highte Scot ;
A long surcote of pers upon he hade.
And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle,
Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620
Tukked he was as is a frere, aboute.
And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
22 A. THE PROLOGUE
The Summoner
A SoMONOUR was ther with us in that place,
That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe. 625
As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
With scaled browes blake and piled berd, —
Of his visage children were aferd.
Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
Boras, ceruce, ne oille of Tartre noon, 630
Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte.
That hym myghte helpen of the whelkes white.
Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
Wei loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes.
And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood ; 635
Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre.
That he had lerned out of som decree, — 640
No wonder is, he herde it al the day ;
And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
Kan clepen Watte as wel as kan the pope.
But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophic ; 645
Ay Questio quid Juris wolde he crie.
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde ;
A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe to have his concubyn 650
A twelf monthe, and excuse hym atte fuUe ;
And prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
And if he foond owher a good felawe,
A. THE PROLOGUE 2$
He wolde techen him to have noon awe,
In swich caas, of the Ercedekenes curs, 655
But-if a mannes soule were in his purs ;
For in his purs he sholde y-punysshed be :
" Purs is the Ercedekenes helle," seyde he.
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede.
Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, 660
For curs wol slee, — right as assoillyng savith ;
And also war him of a Significavit.
In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
The yonge girles of the diocise,
And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. 665
A gerland hadde he set upon his heed,
As greet as it were for an ale-stake ;
A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake.
The Pardoner
With hym ther was a gen til Pardoner
Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, 670
That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Ful loude he soong Com hider, love, to met
This* Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun,
Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex 675
But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex ;
By ounces henge hise lokkes that he hadde,
And therwith he hise shuldres overspradde.
But thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon ;
But hood, for jolitee, ne wered he noon, 680
For it was trussed up in his walet.
Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet ;
Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
24 A. THE PROLOGUE
Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe. 685
His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe
Bret-ful of pardon, comen from Rome al hoot.
A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
No herd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have,
As smothe it was as it were late shave ; 690
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
But of his craft, fro Berwyk unto Ware
Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer.
Which that, he seyde, was oure lady veyl ; 695
He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
That Seint Peter hadde whan that he wente
Upon the see til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700
But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
A poure person dwellynge upon lond.
Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye ;
And thus with feyned flaterye and japes 705
He made the person and the peple his apes.
But, trewely to tellen atte laste,
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste ;
Wei koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
But alderbest he song an Offertorie ; 710
For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
To Wynne silver, as he ful wel koude ;
Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
A. THE PROLOGUE 2$
The Poefs Apology for his Plain Speaking, etc.
Now have I toold you shortly in a clause 715
The staat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause
Why that assembled was this compaignye
In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye,
That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720
How that we baren us that ilke nyght,
Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght ;
And after wol I telle of our viage
And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
But first, I pray yow of youre curteisye, 725
That ye narette it nat my vileynye,
Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere
To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely,
For this ye knowen al-so wel as I, 730
Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
He moote reherce, as ny as evere he kan,
Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
Al speke he never so rudehche or large,
Or elHs he moot telle his tale untrewe, 735
Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother,
He moot as wel seye o word as another.
Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
And wel ye woot no vileynye is it. 740
Eek Plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede,
" The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede."
Also I prey yow to forgeve it me
Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde ; 745
26 A. THE PROLOGUE
My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
Greet chiere made oure boost us everichon,
And to the soper sette he us anon,
And served us with vitaille at the beste :
Strong was the wyn and wel to drynke us leste. 750
The Host of the Tabard Inn, and his Story-telling Scheme
for the Entertainment of the Pilgrims on their Way to
Canterbury and back
A semely man Oure Hooste was with-alle
For to han been a marchal in an halle.
A large man he was, with eyen stepe,
A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe ;
Boold of his speche, and wys and well y-taught 755
And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
Eek therto he was right a myrie man,
And after soper pleyen he bigan,
And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
Whan that we hadde maad our rekenynges ; 760
And seyde thus : " Now, lordynges, trewely.
Ye been to me right welcome, hertely ;
For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
I ne saugh this yeer so myrie a compaignye
At ones in this herberwe as is now ; 765
Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how.
And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,
To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
"Ye goon to Canterbury — God yow speede,
The blisful martir quite yow youce meede ! 770
And, wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye ;
A. THE PROLOGUE 27
For trewely confort ne myrthe is noon
To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon ;
And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 775
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
And if you liketh alle, by oon assent,
Now for to stonden at my juggement,
And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye, 780
Now by my fader soule that is deed.
But ye be myrie, smyteth of myn heed !
Hoold up youre hond withouten moore speche."
Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche ;
Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 785
And graunted hym withouten moore avys,
And bad him seye his verdit, as hym leste.
" Lordynges," quod he, '* now herkneth for the beste,
But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn ;
This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790
That ech of yow to shorte with your weye,
In this viage shal telle tales tweye, —
To Caunterburyward, I mean it so.
And homward he shal tellen othere two, —
Of aventiires that whilom han bifalle. 795
And which of yow that bereth hym beste of alle,
That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
Tales of best sentence and moost solaas,
Shal have a soper at oure aller cost,
Heere in this place, sittynge by this post, 800
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
And, for to make yow the moore mury,
I wol myselven gladly with yow ryde
Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde,
And whoso wole my juggement withseye 805
28 A. THE PROLOGUE
Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
And if ye vouche-sauf that it be so
Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
And I wol erly shape me therfore."
This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore 8io
With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
That he would vouche-sauf for to do so,
And that he wolde been oure governour,
And of our tales juge and r^portour,
And sette a soper at a certeyn pris, 815
And we wol reuled been at his devys
In heigh and lough ; and thus by oon assent
We been acorded to his juggement.
And therupon the wyn was fet anon ;
We dronken and to reste wente echon 820
Withouten any lenger taryynge.
Amorwe, whan that day gan for to sprynge,
Up roos oure Hoost and was oure aller cok.
And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok.
And forth we riden, a litel moore than paas, 825
Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas ;
And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste
And seyde, " Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste :
Ye woot youre foreward and I it yow recorde.
If even-song and morwe-song accorde, 830
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale.
Whoso be rebel to my juggement
Shal paye for all that by the wey is spent !
Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne. 835
He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
Sire Knyght," quod he, *^ my mayster and my lord,
Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
A. THE PROLOGUE 29
Cometh neer," quod he, " my lady Prioresse,
And ye sire Clerk, lat be your shamefastnesse, 840
Ne studieth noght ; ley hond to, every man."
Anon to drawen every wight bigan
And, shortly for to tellen as it was,
Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght, 845
Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght :
And telle he moste his tale as was resoun
By foreward and by composicioun,
As ye han herd ; what nedeth wordes mo ?
And whan this goode man saugh that it was so, ^o
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
He seyde, '^ Syn I shal bigynne the game.
What, welcome be the cut a Goddes name !
Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye." 855
And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
His tale anon, and seyde in this manere.
SELECTIONS FROM THE KNIGHT'S
TALE
Pala?non and Arcite fall in Love with Emily
Palamon and Arcite, two noble kinsmen, havipg been taken captive
by Theseus, Duke of Athens, after he has won by assault the city of
Thebes, are brought back with him to Athens, and imprisoned in a
tower overlooking the palace gardens. From their prison window
they get sight in the gardens of Emily, the sister of Hippolyta, the
Amazonian queen, whom Theseus wedded after having conquered her
kingdom. They both fall in love with her at first sight, and their
former devoted friendship is severed by mutual jealousy.
This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day,
Till it fil ones, in a morvve of May,
That Emelye, that fairer was to sene 1035
Than is the lyhe upon his stalke grene,
And fressher than the May with floures newe, —
For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe,
I noot which was the fyner of hem two, —
Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040
She was arisen and al redy dight :
For May wole have no slogardrie a nyght.
The sesoun priketh every gentil herte
And maketh hym out of his slepe to sterte.
And seith, '' Arys, and do thyn 6bservaunce.'* 1045
This maked Emelye have r^membraunce
To doon hon6ur to May, and for to ryse.
30
A. SELECTIONS FROM THE KNIGHT'S TALE 3 1
Y-clothed was she fresshe, for to devyse ;
Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
Bihynde hir bak a yerde long, I gesse ; 1050
And in the gardyn at the sonne up-riste,
She walketh up and doun, and as hire liste
She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
To make a subtil gerland for hire hede,
And as an aungel hevenysshly she soong. 1055
The grete tour that was so thikke and stroong,
Which of the castel was the chief donge6un
(Ther as the knyghtes weren in pris6un.
Of whiche I tolde yow and tellen shal) ,
Was evene joynant to the gardyn wal, 1060
Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge.
Bright was the sonne, and cleer that morwenynge,
And Palamon, this woful prisoner.
As was his wone, bi leve of his gayler.
Was risen, and romed in a chambre an heigh, 1065
In which he al the noble citee seigh.
And eek the gardyn ful of braunches grene,
Ther as this fresshe Emelye the sheene
Was in hire walk and romed up and doun.
This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun, 1070
Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro,
And to hymself compleynynge of his wo ;
That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, " alias ! "
And so bifel, by aventure or cas.
That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre 1075
Of iren, greet and square as any sparre,
He cast his eyen upon Emelya,
And therwithal he bleynte and cride, " A ! '*
As though he stongen were unto the herte.
And with that cry Arcite anon up sterte, 1080
32 A. SELECTIONS FROM
And seyde, '* Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee
That art so pale and deedly on to see ?
Why cridestow? who hath thee doon offence?
For Goddes love, taak al in pacience
Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be ; 1085
Fortune hath geven us this adversitee.
Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
Of Saturne, by sum constellacioun,
Hath geven us this ; although we hadde it sworn —
So stood the hevene whan that we w^ere born — 1090
We moste endure : this is the short and playn."
This Palamon answerde, and seyde agayn,
" Cosyn, for sothe of this opinioun
Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun ;
This prison caused me nat for to crye, 1095
But I was hurt right now thurghout myn eye
Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
The fairnesse of that lady that I see
Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
Is cause of al my criyng and my wo. iioo
I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
But Venus is it, soothly as I gesse."
And therwithal on knees doun he fil.
And seyde : " Venus, if it be thy wil
Yow in this. gardyn thus to transfigure 1105
Bifore me, sorweful, wTecche creature.
Out of this prisoun helpe that we may scapen.
And if so be my destynee be shapen.
By eterne word, to dyen in pris6un,
Of our lynage have som compassioun, mo
That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye."
And with that word Arcite gan espye
Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
A, THE KNIGHT'S TALE 33
And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so,
That if that Palamon was wounded sore, 1115
Arcite is hurt as moche as he, or moore ;
And with a sigh he seyde pitously :
" The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
Of hire that rometh in the yonder place.
And but I have hir mercy and hir grace, 1120
That I may seen hire atte leeste weye,
I nam but deed ; ther is namoore to seye."
Arcite is set at Liberty
A worthy duke, Perotheus, comes to Athens to visit his lifelong
friend, Theseus. He intercedes with Theseus for the release of Arcite,
whom he long knew and loved at Thebes, and Arcite is accordingly
set at liberty, but, if found anywhere within his victor's territories,
* it was accorded thus,
That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.'
By reason of his love for Emily, Arcite laments what would otherwise
have been the greatest good fortune.
" Alias, why pleynen folk so in commiine
Of purvieaunce of God, or of Fortune,
That geveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
Wei bettre than they kan hem self devyse ?
Som man desireth for to han richesse, 1255
That cause is of his moerdre, or greet siknesse ;
And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn.
That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
Infinite harmes been in this mateere.
We witen nat what thing we preyen heere. 1260
We faren as he that dronke is as a mous.
A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
But he noot which the righte wey is thider,
34 A, SELECTIONS FROM
And to a dronke man the wey is slider ;
And certes in this world so faren we, — 1265
We seken faste after felicitee,
But we goon wrong ful often trewely.
Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
That wende and hadde a greet opinioun
That if I myghte escapen from prisoun, 1270
Thanne hadde I been in joye and perfit heele,
Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
Syn that I may nat seen you, Emelye,
I nam but deed, there nys no remedye."
Arcite goes back to Thebes ; but when he has endured, for a year
or two, the pains of absence from his love, he returns in disguise to
Athens, and engages himself at the court as a labourer, under the
assumed name of Philostrate. * Wei koude he hewen wode and water
here.' By his faithful services he gets into the good graces of Theseus,
who makes him ' a squire of his chamber,' and furnishes him the means
* to maintain his degree.' He is thus enabled often to look upon
Emily. In the following passage he goes forth * to doon his obser-
vaunce to May.'
Description of a May Morning, and of Arcite' s Visit to
a Grove
The bisy larke, messager of day,
Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
And firy Phebus riseth up so brighte
That al the orient laugheth of the Hghte,
And with hise stremes dryeth in the greves 1495
The silver dropes, hangynge on the leves.
And Arcita, that is in the court roial
With Theseus, his squier principal.
Is risen, and looketh on the myrie day ;
And for to doon his 6bservaunce to May, 1500
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 35
Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir,
He on a courser, stertyng as the fir,
Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye,
Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye ;
And to the grove of which that I yow tolde, 1505
By aventure, his wey he gan to holde,
To maken hym a gerland of the greves,
Were it of wodebynde, or hawethorn leves,
And loude he song ageyn the sonne shene :
" May, with alle thy floures and thy grene, 1510
Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe May,
I hope that I som grene gete may."
After a seven years' imprisonment, Palamon, by the help of a friend,
escapes, and seeks concealment in the grove to which Arcite has
repaired, till the night will enable him to take his way toward Thebes.
The two lovers encounter each other, and Arcite engages to make all
preparations to decide,. on the morrow, the right of one or the other to
Emily.
Description of the Combat between Falamon and Arcite
O Cupide, out of alle charitee !
O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee !
Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe 1625
Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe.
Wei fynden that Arcite and Palamoun !
Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
Ful prively two barneys hath he dight, 1630
Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
The bataille in the feeld betwix hem tweyne ;
And on his hors, allone as he was born,
He carieth al the barneys hym biforn :
36 A. SELECTIONS FRO AT
And in the grove, at tyme and place y-set, 1635
This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
To chaungen gan the colour in hir face,
Right as the hunter in the regne of Trace,
That stondeth at the gappe with a spere.
Whan hunted is the leoun or the here, 1640
And hereth hym come russhyng in the greves.
And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
And thynketh, " Heere cometh my mortal enemy,
With-oute faile he moot be deed or I ;
For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe, 1645
Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe : "
So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe,
As fer as everich of hem oother knewe.
Ther nas no ^'Good day," ne no saluyng,
But streight, withouten word or rehersyng, 1650
Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother,
As frendly as he were his owene brother ;
And after that, with sharpe speres stronge,
They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
Thou myghtest wene that this Palamoun, 1655
In his fightyng were a wood leoun.
And as a crueel tigre was Arcite :
As wilde bores gonne they to smyte.
That frothen whit as foom for ire wood, —
Up to the anclee foghte they in hir blood. 1660
Duke Theseus, who has gone a-hunting, the same morning, with his
queen and Emily and attendants, comes upon the lovers while they are
engaged in mortal combat, and swears by mighty Mars that he shall be
dead who strikes another blow. Palamon tells the whole story, — who
he is, who Philostrate really is, who has been the Duke's squire in
disguise, and the occasion of their combat. Theseus, in his anger,
condemns them both to death; but by the entreaties of the queen and
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 37
Emily, and of all the ladies in the company, he is softened, and forgives
their offence, and thereupon appoints a tournament, * this day fifty
weeks,' each of the lovers to bring a hundred knights, of which Emily
shall be the prize.
Grand preparations for the coming tournament are devised by the
Duke, among which is a noble theatre, a mile in circuit, * walled of
stone and ditched all without.' Arcite makes his devotions to Mars,
Palamon to Venus, and Emily to Diana.
Description of the Symbolic Images in the Temple of Venus
First, in the temple of Venus maystow se,
Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
The broken slepes, and the sikes colde, 1920
The sacred teeris, and the waymentynge,
The firy strokes, and the desirynge,
That loves servauntz in this lyf enduren ;
The othes that her covenantz assuren.
Plesaunce and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse, 1925
Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse,
Charm es and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye,
Despense, Bisynesse and Jalousye,
That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland
And a cokkovv sitynge on hir hand ; 1930
F^stes, instrumentz, car61es, daunces,
Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
Of love, whiche that I reken, and rekne shal,
By ordre weren peynted on the wal.
And mo than I kan make of mencioun ; 1935
For soothly al the mount of Citheroun,
Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge,
Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge,
With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
Nat was forgeten the porter Ydelnesse, 1940
38 A, SELECTIONS FROM
Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,
Ne yet the folye of kyng Salamon,
Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules,
Thenchauntementz of Medea and Circes,
Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage, 1945
• The riche Cresus, kaytyf in servage.
Thus may ye seen that Wysdom ne Richesse
Beautee ne Sleighte, Strengthe, Hardynesse,
Ne may with Venus holde champartie,
For as hir list the world than may she gjQ, 1950
Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las
Til they for wo ful ofte seyde, " Alias ! "
Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two,
And though I koude rekene a thousand mo.
The statue of Venus, glorious for to se, 1955
Was naked, fletynge in the large see,
And fro the navele doun al covered was
With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.
A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
And on hir heed, ful semely for to se, i960
A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge,
Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge.
Biforn hire stood hir sone Cupido,
Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two,
And blind he was, as it is often seene ; 1965
A bowe he bar and arvves brighte and kene.
The Paintings on the Wall within the Tefnple of Mars
Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
The portreiture that w^as upon the wal
Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede ?
Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede, 1970
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 39
Lyk to the estres of the grisly place
That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
In thilke colde, frosty regioun
Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
First, on the wal was peynted a forest, 1975
In which ther dvvelleth neither man nor best,
With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde
Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde.
In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough.
As though a storm sholde bresten every bough ; 1980
And dounward from an hille, under a bente,
Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente,
Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree
Was long and streit, and gastly for to see ;
And ther out came a rage, and such a veze 1985
That it made all the gates for to rese.
The northren lyght in at the dores shoon, —
For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon
Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne, —
The dores were al of adamant eterne, 1990
Y-clenched overthwart and endelong
With iren tough, and for to make it strong.
Every pyl^r the temple to sustene
Was tonne greet, of iren bright and shene.
Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng 1995
Of felonye, and al the compassyng ;
The crueel ire, reed as any gleede ;
The pykepurs, and eke the pale drede ;
The smylere, with the knyfe under the cloke ;
The shepne, brennynge with the blake smoke ; 2000
The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde ;
The open werre, with woundes al bi-bledde ;
Contek with blody knyf, and sharpe manace
40 A. SELECTIONS FROM
Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
The sleere of hym self yet saugh I ther, 2005
His herte blood hath bathed al his heer ;
The nayl y-dryven in the shode a-nyght ;
The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng up right.
Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce,
With disconfort and sory contenaunce. 2010
Yet saugh I Woodnesse, laughynge in his rage,
Armed compleint, out-hees, and fiers outrage,
The careyne, in the busk, with throte y-corve,
A thousand slayn and nat of qualm y-storve ;
The tiraunt with the pray by force y-raft ; 2015
The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft.
Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres ;
The hunte strangled with the wilde beres ;
The sowe freten the child right in the cradel ;
The cook y-scalded for al his longe ladel. 2020
Noght was forgeten by the infortune of Marte ;
The cartere over-ryden with his carte.
Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
Ther were also of Martes divisioun.
The harbour and the bocher, and the smyth 2025
That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth ;
And al above, depeynted in a tour,
Saugh I Conquest sittynge in greet honour
With the sharpe swerd over his heed
Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed. 2030
Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius,
Of grete Nero, and of Antonius, —
Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn.
Yet was hir deth depeynted ther biforn
By manasynge of Mars, right by figure, 2035
■ So was it shewed in that portreiture
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 4 1
As is depeynted in the sterres above
Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love ;
Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde,
I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde. 2040
The statue of Mars upon a carte stood,
Armed, and looked grym as he were wood.
And over his heed ther shynen two figures
Of sterres that been cleped in scriptures.
That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus. 2045
This god of armes was arrayed thus :
A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet
With eyen rede, and of a man he eet.
With soutil pencel depeynted was this storie
In r^doutynge of Mars and of his glorie. 2050
The Fainti7igs on the Walls of the Teinple of Diana
Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste,
As shortly as I kan, I wol me haste
To telle yow al the descripsioun.
Depeynted been the walles up and doun
Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee. 2055
Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee,
Whan that Diane agreved was with here.
Was turned from a womman to a bere.
And after was she maad the loode-sterre ;
Thus was it peynted, I kan sey yow no ferre. 2060
Hir sone is eek a sterre as men may see.
Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree, —
I mene nat the goddesse Diane,
But Penneus doughter which that highte Dane.
Ther saugh I Attheon an hert y-maked, 2065
For vengeance that he saugh Diane al naked ;
42 A. SELECTIONS FROM
I saugh how that hise houndes have hym caught
And freeten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.
Yet peynted was a Htel forther moor
How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, 2070
And Meleagre, and many another mo,
For which Dyane wroghte hym care and wo.
Ther saugh I many another wonder storie
The whiche me Hst nat drawen to mem6rie.
This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet, 2075
With smale houndes al aboute hir feet,
And undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone,
Wexynge it was, and sholde wanye soone.
In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas ; 2080
Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun
Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun.
A womman travaillynge was hire biforn,
But, for hir child so longe was unborn,
Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle 2085
And seyde, " Helpe, for thou mayst best of alle."
Wei koude he peynten lifly, that it wroghte ;
With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
Description of Lycurgiis, the Great King of Thrace, who
comes to the Tourna?nent in the Service of Palamon
Ther maistow seen comynge with Palamon
Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace ;
Blak was his herd, and manly was his face ; 2130
The cercles of hise eyen in his heed
They gloweden bitwyxen yelow and reed,
And lik a grifphon looked he aboute.
With kempe heeris on hise browes stoute ; 2134
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 43
Hise lymes grete, hise brawnes harde and stronge,
Hise shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe,
And, as the gyse was in his contree,
Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he
With foure white boles in the trays.
In stede of cote-armure, over his harnays 2140
With nayles yelewe, and brighte as any gold,
He hadde a beres skyn, colblak, for old.
His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak ;
As any ravenes fethere it shoon for blak ;
A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte, 2145
Upon his heed set ful of stones brighte.
Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz ;
Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz.
Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
To hunten at the leoun or the deer ; 2150
And folwed hym with mosel faste y-bounde,
Colered of gold and tourettes fyled rounde.
An hundred lordes hadde he in his route.
Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne an,d stoute.
Description of Emetrius^ the Great King of Lidia^ who comes
to the Tournament ifi the Service of Arcite
With Arcita, in stories as men fynde, 2155
The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Inde,
Upon a steede bay, trapped in steel,
Covered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel,
Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes. Mars.
His cote armure was of clooth of Tars 2160
Couched with perles, white and rounde and grete ;
His sadel was of brend gold, newe y-bete ;
A mantelet up-on his shulder hangynge.
44 '^' SELECTIONS FROM
Brat ful of rubyes rede, as fyr sparklynge ;
His crispe heer, lyk rynges was y-ronne, 2165
And that was yelow, and glytered as the sonne.
His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn ;
Hise Hppes rounde, his colour was sangwyn ;
A fewe frakenes in his face y-spreynd,
Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak y-meynd, 2170
And as a leoun he his lookyng caste.
Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste ;
His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge ;
His voys was as a trompe thondrynge ;
Upon his heed he wered, of laurer grene, 2175
A gefland, fressh and lusty for to sene.
Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt
An egle tame, as any lilye whyt.
An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there,
Al armed, save hir heddes, in al hir gere, 2180
Ful richely in alle maner thynges ;
For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges,
Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
For love and for encrees of chivalry e.
Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part 2185
Ful many a tame leoun and leopard.
Emily* s Prayer and Sacrifice to Diana, and the Response
of the Goddess
" O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene.
To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
Queene of the regne of Pluto, derk and lowe,
Goddesse of maydens that myn herte hast knowe 2300
Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
As keepe me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 45
That Attheon aboughte cruelly ;
Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf, 2305
Ne nevere wol I be no love, ne wyf.
I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye
A mayde, and love huntynge and venerye,
And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe ; 2310
Noght wol I knowe the compaignye of man.
Now helpe me, lady, sith ye may and kan,
For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
And eek Arcite that loveth me so soore, 2315
This grace I preye thee withoute moore ;
As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two,
And fro me turne awey hir hertes so •
That al hire hoote love and hir desir,
And al hir bisy torment and hir fir, 2320
Be queynt or turned in another place.
And if so be thou wolt do me no grace,
Or if my destynee be shapen so
That I shal nedes have oon of hem two.
As sende me hym that moost desireth me. 2325
Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee.
The bittre teeres that on my chekes falle.
Syn thou art mayde, and kepere of us alle,
My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve
And whil I lyve a mayde I wol thee serve.'* 2330
The fires brenne upon the auter cleere
Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere ;
But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte,
For right anon oon of the fyres queynte
And quyked agayn, and after that, anon 2335
46 A. SELECTIONS FROM
That oother fyr was queynt and al agon,
And as it queynte it made a whistelynge,
As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge ;
And at the brondes ende out ran anon
As it were blody dropes many oon ; 2340
For which so soore agast was Emelye
That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye.
For she ne wiste what it signyfied,
But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried.
And weep that it was pitee for to heere ; 2345
And ther-with-al Dyane gan appeere.
With bowe in honde right as an hunteresse,
And seyde, " Doghter, stynt thyn hevynesse.
Among the goddes hye it is affermed.
And by eterne word writen and confermed, 2350
I Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho
That han for thee so muchel care and wo.
But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
The fires whiche that on myn auter brenne 2355
Shulle thee declaren, er that thou go henna,
Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas."
And with that word the arwes in the caas
Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge.
And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge, 2360
For which this Emelye astoned was.
And seyde, " What amounteth this, alias !
I putte me in thy proteccioun,
Dyane, and in thy disposicioun."
And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye. 2365
This is theffect, ther is namoore to seye.
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 47
The Tournament
Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day,
And eek the lusty seson of that May
Made every wight to been in such plesaunce, 2485
That al that Monday justen they and daunce,
And spenten it in Venus heigh servyse ;
But, by the cause that they sholde ryse
feerly, for to seen the grete fight,
Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght. 2490
And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge,
Of hors and harneys, noyse and claterynge
Ther was in hostelryes al aboute.
And to the paleys rood ther many a route
Of lordes, upon steedes and palfreys. 2495
Ther maystow seen divisynge of harneys
So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel.
The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappiires ;
Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote armures ; 2500
Lordes in paramentz on hir courseres ;
Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres,
Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge,
Giggynge of sheeldes with layneres lacynge ;
There as nede is, they weren no thyng ydel. 2505
The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also,
With fyle and hamer, prikynge to and fro ;
Yemen on foote, and communes many oon
With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon ; 2510
Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
That in the bataille blowen blody sounes ;
The paleys ful of peples up and doun, —
48 A. SELECTIONS FROM
Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
Dyvynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two. 2515
Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so,
Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd,
Some seyde he looked grymme and he wolde fighte.
He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte, — 2520
Thus was the halle ful of divynynge
Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
The grete Theseus, that of his sleepe awaked
With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked,
Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche, 2525
Til that the Thebane knyghtes, bothe y-liche
Honured, were into the paleys fet.
Due Theseus was at a wyndow set.
Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone 2530
Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence.
And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
An heraud on a scaffold made an ^' Oo ! "
Til al the noyse of peple was y-do ;
And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille 2535
Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille.
" The lord hath of his heih discrecioun
Considered that it were destruccioun
To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
Of mortal bataille now in this emprise, 254c
Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye.
He wolde his firste purpos modifye.
" No man ther-fore, up peyne of los of lyf,
No maner shot, ne polax, ne shorte knyf.
Into the lystes sende, ne thider brynge ; 2545
Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge.
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE
49
No man ne drawe ne here by his syde.
Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde
But o cours with a sharpe y-grounde spere ;
Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hym self to were. 2550
And he that is at meschief shal be take,
And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake
That shal ben ordeyned on either syde ;
But thider he shal by force, and there abyde.
" And if so be the chieftayn be take 2555
On outher syde, or elles sleen his make,
No lenger shal the turneiynge laste.
God spede you ! gooth forth, and ley on faste !
With long swerd and with maces fighteth youre fille..
Gooth now youre wey, this is the lordes wille." 2560
The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
So loude cride they, with murie stevene,
" God save swich a lord, that is so good,
He wilneth no destruccion of blood ! "
Up goon the trompes and the melodye 2565
And to the lystes rit the compaignye
By ordinance, thurgh out the citee large.
Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge.
Ful lik a lord this noble due gan ryde,
Thise two Thebans upon either side ; 2570
And after rood the queene and Emelye,
And after that another compaignye
Of oon and oother after hir degre ;
And thus they passen thurgh out the citee,
And to the lystes come they by tyme. 2575
It nas not of the day yet fully pryme
Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
Ypolita the queene and Emelye,
And othere ladys in degrees aboute.
50 A. SELECTIONS FROM
Unto the seettes preesseth al the route, 2580
And westward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte,
With baner reed is entred right anon.
And in that selve moment Palamon
Is under Venus, estward in the place, 2585
With baner whyt, and hardy chiere and face.
In al the world to seken up and doun
So evene, withouten variacioun,
Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye ;
For ther was noon so wys that koude seye 2590
That any hadde of oother avauntage
Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
So evene were they chosen, for to gesse ;
And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
Whan that hir names rad were everichon, 2595
That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
Tho were the gates shet and cried was loude,
"Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proud e ! "
The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun ;
Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun ; 2600
Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est
In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest ;
In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.
Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde :
Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke ; 2605
He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte ;
Out gooth the swerdes as the silver brighte ;
The helmes they to-hewen and to-shrede,
Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede ; 2610
With myghty maces the bones they to-breste.
He, thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste,
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 51
Ther, stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al ;
He, rolleth under foot as dooth a bal ;
He, foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, 2615
And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun ;
He, thurgh the body is hurt and sithen y-take,
Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake.
As forward was, right ther he moste abyde.
Another lad is on that oother syde. 2620
And som tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste.
Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste.
Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two,
Togydre y-met and wrought his felawe wo ;
Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye. 2625
Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
Whan that hir whelpe is stole whan it is lite,
So crueel on the hunte, as is Arcite
For jelous herte upon this Palamoun ;
Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leoun 2630
That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
Ne of his^praye desireth so the blood.
As Palamoun, to sleen his foo Arcite.
The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte ;
Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede. 2635
Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede,
For, er the sonne unto the reste wente.
The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente
This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte, 2640
And by the force of twenty is he take
Unyolden, and y-drawe unto the stake.
And in the rescus of this Palamoun
The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun,
And kyng Emetreus, for al his strengthe, 2645
52 A, SELECTIONS FROM
Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe ;
So hitte him Palamoun, er he were take ;
But al for noght, he was broght to the stake.
His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught,
He moste abyde, whan that he was caught, 2650
By force, and eek by composicioun.
Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte ?
And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte
Unto the folk that foghten thus echon 2655
He cryde, ^' Hoo ! namoore, for it is doon !
I wol be trewe juge, and no partie ;
Arcite of Thebes shall have Emelie
That by his fortune hath hire faire y-wonne."
Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne, 2660
For joye of this, so loude and heighe with-alle.
It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
What kan now faire Venus doon above ?
What seith she now, what dooth this queene of love,
But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille, 2665
Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille ?
She seyde, " I am ashamed doutelees."
Saturnus seyde, " Doghter, hoold thy pees,
Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath all his boone,
And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone." 2670
The trompes, with the loude mynstralcie.
The heraudes, that ful loude yolle and crie.
Been in hire wele, for joye of daun Arcite.
But herkneth me, and stynteth now a lite.
Which a myracle ther bifel anon. 2675
This fierse Arcite hath of his helm y-don,
And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
He priketh endelong the large place.
A. THE KNWHT'S TALE 53
Lokynge upward up-on this Emelye,
And she agayn hym caste a freendlich eye 2680
(For wommen, as to speken in comune,
Thei folwen all the favour of Fortune),
And was al his, [in] chiere, as in his herte.
Out of the ground a fyr infernal sterte,
From Pluto sent, at requeste of Saturne, 2685
For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
And leep aside, and foundred as he leep,
And er that Arcite may taken keep,
He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed,
That in the place he lay as he were deed, 2690
His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe.
As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
So was the blood y-ronnen in his face.
Anon he was y-born out of the place,
With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. 2695
Tho was he korven out of his barneys.
And in a bed y-brought ful faire and blyve,
For he was yet in memorie and alyve,
And alwey criynge after Emelye.
Due Theseus with al his compaignye 2700
Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee
With alle blisse and greet solempnitee ;
Al be it that this aventure was falle
He nolde noght disconforten hem alle, —
Men seyden eek that Arcite shal nat dye, 2705
He shal been heeled of his maladye.
And of another thyng they weren as fayn,
That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn ;
Al were they soore y-hurt, and namely oon,
That with a spere was thirled his brest boon. 2710
To othere woundes and to broken armes
54 A' SELECTIONS FROM
Somme hadden salves and somme hadden charmes,
Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have.
For which this noble due, as he wel kan, 2715
Conforteth and hon6ureth every man,
And made revel al the longe nyght
Unto the straunge lordes as was right ;
Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge
But as a justes, or a tourneiynge ; 2720
For soothly ther was no disconfiture,
For fallyng nys nat but an aventure,
Ne to be lad by force unto the stake
Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take,
6 persone allone, withouten mo, 2725
And haryed forth by arme, foot and too,
And eke his steede dryven forth with staves.
With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves, —
Itnas aretted hym no vileynye;
Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. 2730
For which anon due Theseus leet crye,
To stynten alle rancour and envye.
The gree as wel of o syde as of oother.
And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother ;
And gaf hem giftes after hir degree, 2735
And fully heeld a feeste dayes three,
And convoyed the kynges worthily
Out of his toun, a journee largely.
And hoom wente every man the righte way ;
Ther was namoore, but ** Fare wel ! " " Have good
day ! " 2740
No remedies availing, the wounded Arcite must die. He sends for
Emily and Palamon, pours forth his grief that he must leave her, entreats
her not to forget Palamon, commends his cousin to her love, and dies.
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 55
The Funeral Rites of Arcite
Due Theseus, with all his bisy cure,
Cast busily wher that the sepulture
Of goode Arcite may best y-maked be, 2855
And eek moost honurable in his degree ;
And at the laste he took conclusioun
That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun
Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
That in that selve grove, swoote and grene, 2860
Ther as he hadde hise amorouse desires,
His compleynte, and for love hise hoote fires,
He wolde make a fyr in which the office
Funeral he myghte al accomplice ;
And leet coraande anon to hakke and hewe 2865
The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe.
In colpons, wel arrayed for to brenne.
Hise officers with swifte feet they renne,
And ryden anon at his comandement.
And after this Theseus hath y-sent 2870
After a beere, and it al over spradde
With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde ;
And of the same suyte he clad Arcite.
Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white,
Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene, 2875
And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere.
Ther-with he weep that pitee was to heere ;
And, for the peple sholde seen hym alle,
Whan it was day he broghte hym to the halle, 2880
That roreth of the criyng and the soun.
Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
With flotery berd and ruggy asshy heeres,
56 A. SELECTIONS FROM
In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teeres ;
And passynge othere of wepynge, Emelye, 2885
The rewefuUeste of al the compaignye.
In as muche as the servyce sholde be
The moore noble and riche in his degree,
Due Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge,
That trapped were in Steele al gliterynge 2890
And covered with the amies of daun Arcite.
Upon thise steedes that weren grete and white,
Ther sitten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld,
Another his spere up in his hondes heeld.
The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys 2895
(Of brend gold was the caas, and eek the barneys) ;
And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere,
Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere.
The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were
Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere, 2900
With slake paas, and eyen rede and wete,
Thurgh-out the citee by the maister strete.
That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye
Right of the same is al the strete y-wrye.
Upon the right bond wente olde Egeus, 2905
And on that oother syde due Theseus,
With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn
Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn :
Eek Palamon with ful greet compaignye.
And after that cam woful Emelye, 2910
With fyr in honde as was that tyme the gyse
To do the office of funeral servyse.
Heigh labour, and ful greet apparaillynge,
Was at the service and the fyr makynge.
That with his grene tope the heven raughte, 2915
And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte,
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE ^7
This is to seyn the bowes weren so brode.
Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode,
But how the fyr was maked up on highte,
And eek the names that the trees highte, — 2920
As 00k, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popeler,
Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer,
Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltre, —
How they weren feld shal nat be toold for me ;
Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun, 2925
Disherited of hire habitacioun.
In whiche they woneden in reste and pees,
Nymphes, fawnes, and amadriades ;
Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle
Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle ; 2930
Ne how the ground agast was of the Hght,
That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright ;
Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
And thanne with drye stokkes, cloven a thre,
And thanne with grene wode and spicerye, 2935
And thanne with clooth of gold, and with perrye,
And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour,
The mirre, thencens, with al so greet odour ;
Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
Ne what richesse aboute his body is, 2940
Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse,
Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desire,
Ne what jeweles men in the fyre tho caste 2945
Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste ;
Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were.
And coppes full of wyn, and milk, and blood,
S8 A. SELECTIONS FROM
Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood ; 2950
Ne how the Grekes, with an huge route,
Thries riden al the place aboute
Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge,
And thries with hir speres claterynge,
And thries how the ladyes gonne crye, 2955
And how that lad was homward Emelye ;
Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde,
Ne how that lychewake was y-holde
Al thilke nyght ; ne how the Grekes pleye
The wake-pleyes ; ne kepe I nat to seye 2960
Who wrastleth best naked, with oille enoynt,
Ne who that baar hym best in no disjoynt.
In course of time, there is a parliament at Athens, in regard to cer-
tain matters, among which is the question as to a full submission of the
Thebans. Theseus sends to Thebes for Palamon, who comes in haste
at his command.
Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 2980
Whan they were set, and bust was al the place,
And Theseus abiden hadde a space
Er any word cam fram his wise brest,
Hise eyen sette he ther as was his lest.
And with a sad visage he siked stille, 2985
And after that right thus he seyde his wille :
" The Firste Moevere of the cause above,
Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
Greet was theffect and heigh was his entente ;
Wei wiste he why and what therof he niente, 2990
For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
The fyr, the eyr, the water and the lond.
In certeyn boundes that they may nat flee.
That same Prince, and that same Moevere," quod he,
A, THE KNIGHT'S TALE 59
" Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun 2995
Certeyne dayes and duracioun
To al that is engendrid in this place,
Over the whiche day they may nat pace, —
Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge,
Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee allegge 3000
For it is preeved by experience,
But that me list declaren my sentence.
Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne
That thilke Moevere stable is and eterne.
Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, 3005
That every part dirryveth from his hool ;
For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
Of no partie ne cantel of a thyng,
But of a thyng that parfit is and stable,
Descendynge so, til it be corrumpable. 3010
And therfore of his wise purveiaunce
He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce.
That speces of thynges and progressiouns
ShuUen enduren by successiouns.
And nat eterne, withouten any lye ; 3015
This maystow understonde, and seen a,t eye.
" Loo the 00k, that hath so long a norisshynge
From tyme that it first bigynneth sprynge.
And hath so long a lif as we may see.
Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020
" Considereth eek how that the harde stoon
Under oure feet, on w^hich we trede and goon,
Yit wasteth it, as it lyth by the weye ;
The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye ;
The grete toures se we wane and wende ; 3025
Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende.
*^ Of man and womman seen we wel also,
6o A. SELECTIONS FROM
That nedeth in oon of thise termes two,
This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age,
He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page ; 3030
Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
Som in the large feeld, as men may se ;
• Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye :
Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.
*' What maketh this but Juppiter, the kyng, 3035
The which is prince, and cause of alle thyng,
Convertynge al unto his propre welle,
From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle ?
And here agayns no creature on lyve,
Of no degree, availleth for to stryve. 3040
" Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessitee.
And take it weel that we may not eschue
And namely that to us alle is due.
And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye, 3045
And rebel is to hym that al may gye ; .
And certeinly a man hath moost honour,
To dyen in his excellence and flour.
Whan he is siker of his goode name. 3049
Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame.
And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth,
Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth,
Than whan his name apalled is for age.
For al forgeten is his vassellage.
Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame, 3055
To dyen whan that he is best of name.
" The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse
That goode Arcite, of chivalrie flour,
Departed is with duetee and honour 3060
A. THE KNIGHT'S TALE 6 1
Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf?
Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf
Of his welfare that loved hem so weel?
Kan he hem thank ? — Nay, God woot, never a deel —
That bothe his soule aud eek hem self offende, 3065
And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
" What may I conclude of this longe serye,
But after wo, I rede us to be merye,
And thanken Juppiter of al his grace ?
And er that we departen from this place 3070
I rede that we make of sorwes two
O parfit joye, lastynge everemo.
And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is her-inne,
Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne."
"Suster," quod he, '^this is my fulle assent, 3075
With all thavys heere of my parlement.
That gentil Palamon, thyn owene knyght.
That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght,
And evere hath doon, syn that ye first hym knewe,
That ye shul of your grace upon hym rewe, 3080
And taken hym for housbonde and for lord ;
Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee ;
He is a kynges brother sone, pardee,
And though he were a poure bacheler, 3085
Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer
And had for yow so greet adversitee.
It moste been considered, leeveth me,
For gentil mercy oghte to passen right."
Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon ful right : 3090
" I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
To make yow assente to this thyng ;
Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond.'*
62 A. SELECTIONS FROM THE KNIGHT'S TALE
Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
That highte matrimoigne, or manage, 3095
By al the conseil and the baronage ;
And thus with alle bHsse and melodye
Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye,
And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
Sende hym his love that it hath deere aboght, 3100
For now is Palamon in alle wele,
Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele ;
And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
And he hire serveth al-so gentilly.
That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene 3105
Of jalousie or any oother tene.
Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye,
And God save al this faire compaignye. Amen.
SELECTIONS FROM THE MILLER'S
TALE
Description of the Carpenter's Young Wife
Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal,
As any wezele, hir body gent and smal.
A ceynt she werede, y-barred al of silk ; 3235
A barmclooth eek, as whit as morne milk,
Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore ;
Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore,
And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,
Of colblak silk withinne and eek withoute. 3240
The tapes of hir white voluper
Were of the same suyte of hir coler ;
Hir filet brood, of silk, and set ful hye ;
And sikerly she hadde a likerous eye.
Ful smale y-pulled were hire browes two, 3245
And tho were bent, and blake as any sloo.
She was ful moore blisful on to see
Than is the newe pereionette tree.
And softer than the woUe is of a wether ;
And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether, 3250
Tasseled with grene and perled with latoun.
In al this world, to seken up and doun.
There nas no man so wys that koude thenche
So gay a popelote, or swich a wenche.
63
64 A. SELECTIONS FROM
Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir he we 3255
Than in the Tour the noble y-forged newe.
But of hir song it was as loude and yerne
As any swahve sittynge on a berne.
Therto she koude skippe and make game,
As any kyde, or calf, folwynge his dame. 3260
Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt ;
Long as a mast and uprighte as a bolt.
A brooch sche baar upon hir love coler, 3265
As brood as is the boos of a bokeler ;
Hir shoes were laced on hir leggeshye ;
She was a prymerole, a piggesnye.
Description of a Parish Clerk
Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,
The which that was y-cleped Absolon ;
Crul was his heer and as the gold it shoon,
And strouted as a fanne, large and brode, 3315
Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.
His rode was reed, hise eyen greye as goos ;
With Powles wyndow corven on his shoos,
In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
Y-clad he was ful smal and proprely, 3320
Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget,
Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set ;
And therupon he hadde a gay surplys,
As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.
A myrie child he was, so God me save, 3325
Wei koude he laten blood and cHppe and sfiave
And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
A, THE MILLER'S TALE 65
In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
(After the scole of Oxenforde tho),
And with his legges casten to and fro, 3330
And pleyen songes on a small rubible ;
Ther-to he song som tyme a loud quynyble,
And as wel koude he pleye on his giterne.
In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
That he ne visited with his solas, 3335
Ther any gaylard tappestere was.
PROLOGUE OF THE REEVE'S
TALE
Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas 3855
Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
Diverse folk diversely they seyde,
But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde ;
Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve,
But it were oonly Osewold the Reve. 3860
By-cause he was of carpenteris craft
A litel ire is in his herte y-laft.
He gan to grucche and blamed it a lite.
" So theek," quod he, " ful wel koude I the quite.
With bleryng of a proud mill^res eye, — 3865
If that me liste speke of ribaudye, —
But ik am oold, me list not pley for age,
Gras tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage ;
This white tope writeth myne olde yeris ;
Myn herte is also mowled as myne heris, 3870
But if I fare as dooth an openers.
That ilke fruyt is ever lenger the wers
Til it be roten in mullok, or in stree.
" We olde men, I drede, so fare we.
Til we be roten kan we nat be rype. 3875
We hoppen ay whil that the world wol pype, . . .
Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr y-reke.
Foure gleedes han we, whiche I shal devyse,
66
A. PROLOGUE OF THE REEVE'S TALE 6/
Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise.
Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde. 3885
Oure olde lemes mowe wel been unweelde,
But wyl ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth ;
And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
As many a yeer as it is passed henne
Syn that my tappe of Hf bigan to renne ; 3890
For sikerly whan I was bore anon
Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon,
And ever sithe hath so the tappe y-ronne,
Til that almoost al empty is the tonne.
The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe, 3895
The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe
Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore ;
With olde folk, save dotage, is namoore.'*
SELECTION FROM THE REEVE'S
TALE
Description of a Miller and his Wife
At Trumpyngtoun, nat fer fro Cantebrigge,
Ther gooth a brook, and over that a brigge,
Upon the whiche brook ther stant a melle ;
And this is verray sooth that I yow telle.
A millere was ther dwellynge many a day, 3925
As eny pecok he was proud and gay.
Pipen he koude, and fisshe, and nettes beete,
And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and sheete ;
And by his belt he baar a long panade.
And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade. 3930
A joly poppere baar he in his pouche,
Ther was no man, for peril, dorste hym touche ;
A Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose.
Round was his face, and camuse was his nose ;
As piled as an ape was his skulle ; 3935
He was a market-betere atte fulle ;
Ther dorste no wight hand upon hym legge,
That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge.
A theef he was of corn and eek of mele,
And that a sly and usaunt for to stele. 3940
His name was hoote, deynous Symkyn.
A wfy he hadde, y-comen of noble kyn, —
The person of the toun hir fader was, —
68
A. SELECTION FROM THE REEVE'S TALE 69
With hire he gaf ful many a panne of bras,
For that Symkyn sholde in his blood allye. 3945
She was y-fostred in a nonnerye,
For Symkyn wolde no wyf, as he sayde,
But she were wel y-norissed and a madye,
To saven his estaat of yomanrye.
And she was proud and peert as is a pye. 3950
A ful fair sighte was it upon hem two
On haly dayes ; biforn hire wolde he go
With his typet y-bounde about his heed ;
And she cam after in a gyte of reed ;
And Symkyn hadde hosen of the same. 3955
Ther dorste no wight clepen hire but " Dame."
COOK'S TALE (unfinished)
Description of a London Apprentice
A prentys whilom dwelled in cure citee, 4365
And of a craft of vitailliers was hee.
Gaillard he was as goldfynch in the shawe ;
Broun as a berye, a propre short felawe,
With lookes blake, y-kempd ful fetisly. \
Dauncen he koude so wel and jolily, 4370
That he was cleped Perkyn Revelour.
He was as ful of love and paramour
As is the hyve ful of hony sweete.
Wel was the wenche with hym myghte meete.
At every bridale wolde he synge and hoppe, 4375
He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe.
For whan ther any ridyng was in Chepe,
Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe ;
Til that he hadde al the sighte y-seyn,
And daunced wel, he wolde nat come ageyn ; 4380
And gadered hym a meynee of his sort,
To hoppe and synge and maken swich disport ;
And ther they setten stevene for to meete,
To pleyen at the dys in swich a streete ;
For in the toun ne was ther no prentys 4385
That fairer koude caste a paire of dys
Than Perkyn koude, and therto he was free
70
A. COOK'S TALE yi
Of his dispense, in place of pryvetee.
That fond his maister wel in his chaffare,
For often tyme he foond his box ful bare ; 4390
For sikerly a prentys revelour,
That haunteth dys, ript, or paramour,
His maister shal it in his shoppe abye,
Al have he no part of the mynstralcye ;
For thefte and riot they been convertible, 4395
Al konne he pleye on gyterne or ribible.
Revel and trouthe, as in a lovve degree,
They been ful wrothe al day, as men may see.
This joly prentys with his maister bood,
Til he were ny out of his prentishood ; 4400
Al were he snybbed bothe erly and late,
And somtyme lad with revel to Newegate ;
But atte laste his maister hym bithoghte,
Upon a day whan he his papir soghte.
Of a proverbe that seith this same word, 4405
*^ Wel bet is roten appul out of hoord,
Than that it rotie al the remenaunt."
So fareth it by a riotous servaunt.
It is wel lasse harm to lete hym pace
Than he shende alle the servauntz in the place. 4410
Therfore his maister gaf hym acquitance.
And bad hym go with sorwe and with meschance ;
And thus this joly prentys hadde his leve.
Now lat him riote al the nyght or leve ;
And for th6r is no theef withoute a lowke, 4415
That helpeth hym to wasten and to sowke,
Of that he brybe kane or borwe may.
Anon he sente his bed and his array
Unto a compier of his owene sort,
That lovede dys, and revel and disport. 4420
REPLY OF THE MAN OF LAW
When called on by the Host to tell a tale. He makes allusion to
Chaucer's writings.
'* HosTE," quod he, ^^depardieux ich assente ;
To breke forward is nat myn entente. 40
Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn
Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn ;
For swich lawe as man geveth another wight
He sholde hym-selven usen it by right ;
Thus wol oure text, but nathelees certeyn, 45
I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn,
But Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly,
On metres and on rymyng craftily.
Hath seyd hem, in swich Englissh as he kan,
Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man. 50
And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother,
In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
For he hath toold of loveris up and doun
Mo than Ovide made of mencioun
In hise Epistelles, that been ful olde. 55
What sholde I tellen hem, syn they ben tolde ?
" In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione,
And sithen hath he spoken of everichone
Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke.
Who so that wole his large volume seke, 60
Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide,
72
B. REPL V OF THE MAN OF LA W 73
Ther may be seen the large woundes wyde
Of Lucresse and of Babilan Tesbee ;
The swerd of Dido for the false Enee ;
The tree of PhilHs for hire Demophon ; 65
The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon ;
Of Adriane and of Isiphilee ;
The bareyne yle stondynge in the see ;
The dreynte Leandre for his Erro ;
The teeris of Eleyne ; and eek the wo 70
Of Brixseyde, and of the, Lad6mya !
The crueltee of the, queene M^dea !
Thy litel children hangynge by the hals,
For thy Jas6n, that was in love so fals !
Ypermystra, Penolopee, Alceste, 75
Youre wifhede he comendeth with the beste !
" But certeinly no word ne writeth he
Of thilke wikke en sample of Canacee, . . .
And therfore he, of ful avysement, 86
Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons
Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions,
Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.
" But of my tale how shall I doon this day ? 90
Me were looth be likned, douteless,
To Muses that men clepe Pierides, —
Methamorphosios woot what I mene, —
But nathelees, I recche noght a bene,
Though I come after hym with hawebake ; 95
1 speke in prose, and lat him rymes make."
SELECTIONS FROM MAN OF LAW'S
TALE
Constance, daughter of an Emperor of Rome, is wedded to a Sultan
of Syria, with the condition that he become a Christian. The Sultan's
wicked mother, because of the marriage and of her son's forsaking
* the holy laws of the Alcoran,' plots and carries out the assassination of
the Sultan and all his Christian guests at a banquet which she gives for
the purpose ; but Constance is sent to sea in a rudderless boat, which,
after long drifting, comes ashore under a castle upon the banks of the
Humber, in Northumberland. The governor of the castle (who kept
it under Alia, King of Northumberland), and his wife, Hermengild,
have pity on her sore distress, and receive her into the castle, where
she gains the love of all who look upon her, and Hermengild, through
her influence, becomes a Christian, and restores sight to a blind man,
and thus converts her husband. While he is absent from the castle on
a visit to his king, a young knight woos Constance with evil intent ;
and when he finds all his efforts of no avail, in revenge he cuts the
throat of Hermengild while she is asleep in her chamber, and lays the
bloody knife by Constance, and goes his way.
Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn
And eek Alia, that kyng was of that lond.
And saugh his wyf despitously y-slayn, 605
For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond,
And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
By dame Custance ; alias ! what myghte she seye ?
For verray wo, hir wit was al aweye.
To kyng Alia was to old al this meschance 610
And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise ;
74
B. SELECTIONS FROM MAN OF LAW'S TALE 75
That in a ship was founden this Custance,
As heer biforn that ye han herd devyse.
The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse,
Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 615
Falle in disese, and in mysdventure :
For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
• So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.
This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght,
Berth hire on bond that she hath doon thys thyng ; 620
But nathelees, th^r was greet moornyng
Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse
That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse :
For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,
And lovynge Hermengyld right as hir lyf. 625
Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous,
Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf.
This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf
Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 630
Alias ! Custance, thou hast no champioun,
Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway !
But he that starf for our redempcioun,
And boond Sathan, — and yet lith ther he lay, —
So be thy stronge champion this day ; 635
For, but if Crist open myracle kithe,
Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.
She sit hire doun on knees and thus she sayde
" Immortal God that savedest Susanne
Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde, 640
^6 B. SELECTIONS FROM
Mary I meene, doghter to Sei'nt Anne,
Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne,
If I be giltlees of this felonye
My socour be, for ellis shal I dye ! "
Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face 645
Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad
Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace ?
And swich a colour in his face hath had.
Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad,
Amonges alle the faces in that route ; 650
So stant Custance, and looketh hire aboute.
O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee !
Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone !
Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee.
An emperoures doghter stant allone ; 65s
She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone !
O blood roial, that stondest in this drede,
• Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede !
This Alia, kyng, hath swich compassioun,
As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, 660
That from hise eyen ran the water doun.
" Now hastily do fecche a book," quod he,
'' And if this knyght wol sweren how that she
This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse
Whom that we wole that shal been our justise.'* 665
A Briton book written with Evaungiles
Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
She gilty was, and in the meene whiles
An hand hym smoot upon the nekke boon,
B. MAN OF LAW'S TALE y/
That doun he fil atones as a stoon ; 670
And bothe hise eyen broste out of his face
In sighte of every body m that place !
A voys was herd in general audience
And seyde, " Thou hast desclaundred, giltelees,
The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence ; 675
Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I. my pees ! "
Of this mervaille agast was al the prees ;
As mazed folk they stoden everichone,
For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
Greet was the drede, and eek the repentance, 680
Of hem that hadden wronge suspecioun
Upon this sely, innocent Custance ;
And for this miracle, in conclusioun,
And by Custances mediacioun,
The kyng, and many another in that place, 685
Converted was, — thanked be Cristes grace !
This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe
By juggement of Alia, hastifly ;
And yet Custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe ;
And after this Jhesus, of his mercy, 690
Made Alia wedden, ful solempnely.
This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene ;
And thus hath Crist y-maad Custance a queene.
But who was woful — if I shal nat lye —
Of this weddyng but Donegild and na mo, 695
The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye ?
Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo, —
She wolde noght hir sone had do so.
78 B. SELECTIONS FROM
Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take
So strange a creature unto his make. 700
Committing his wife to the care of a bishop, and his constable, the
governor of the castle. King Alia goes to Scotland, 'his foemen for
to seek.'
The tyme is come a knave child she beer, —
Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle.
This constable dooth forth come a messageer,
And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was Alle, 725
How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,
And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.
He taketh the lettre and forth he gooth his weye.
The messenger visits on the way the king's mother, Donegild, who
was deadly opposed to her son's marriage, and informs her of the birth
of the child. With a wicked intent, she invites him to spend the night
at her castle; and, while he is in a drunken sleep, the sealed letter
which he bears is stolen, and another letter substituted which informs
the king that his wife is a fairy, and the child a * horrible fiendly creat-
ure.' The king writes, in reply, to keep the child, be it foul or fair,
and also his wife, until his home-coming.
The messenger, on his way back, again visits the king's mother, who
again substitutes for the letter he bears another which gives orders to
the constable, on pain of hanging, that he in no wise suffer Constance
to abide within his realm three days and a quarter of an hour; that he
put her and her son into the same boat in which she came, and set
them adrift, and charge her never to return. The constable, though
deeply grieved, obeys what he believes to be his king's orders on pain
of his own death.
Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place, 820
Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente,
And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
The ferthe day toward the ship she wente ;
B, MAN OF LAW'S TALE 79
But nathelees she taketh in good entente
The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde, 825
She seyde, " Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde ;
He that me kepte fro the false blame,
While I was on the lond amonges yow,
He kan me kepe from harm, and eek fro shame,
In salte see, al thogh I see noght how. 830
As strong as evere he was he is yet now.
In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere, —
That is to me my seyl, and eek my steere."
Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,
And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde, 835
" Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm ! "
With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde.
And over hise litel eyen she it leyde,
And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
And into hevene hire eyen up she caste. 840
" Mooder,' ' quod she, " and mayd^, bright Marie,
Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement
Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye.
For which thy child was on a croys y-rent, —
Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment, — 845
Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene
Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
Thow sawe thy child y-slayn bifore thyne eyen,
And yet now lyveth my litel child, par/ay !
Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen, — 850
Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire May,
Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day, —
8o B. SELECTIONS FROM
Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
Ruest on every reweful in distresse.
" O litel child, alias ! what is thy gilt, 855
That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee ?
Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt ?
O mercy, deere constable," quod she,
" As lat my Htel child dwelle heer with thee ;
And if thou darst nat saven hym for blame, 860
Yet kys hym ones in his fadres name ! "
Ther with she looked bakward to the londe.
And seyde, " Farewel, housbonde routhelees ! '*
And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
Toward the ship, — hir folweth al the prees, — 865
And evere she preyeth hire child to hold his pees ;
And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente,
She blissed hire and into ship she wente.
Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
Habundantly for hire ful longe space ; 870
And othere necessaries that sholde nede
She hadde ynogh, heryed be Goddes grace !
For wynd and weder, almyghty God purchace !
And brynge hire hoom, I kan no bettre seye ;
But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. 875
The king returns soon after this, and is informed by his constable of
the orders he received, with the penalty of their non-fulfilment attached.
The messenger is put to the torture and confesses ' from night to night
in what place he had lain '; * the hand is known that the letter wrote,'
and the king dooms his mother to death.
The Roman emperor having learned of the slaughter of the Christian
B. MAN OF LAW'S TALE 8 1
folk, in Syria, and of the dishonour done to his daughter by the wicked
Sultaness, sends his senator, with royal outfit, and other lords, against
the Syrians, to take high vengeance; which done, the senator repairs,
with victory, to Rome-ward, sailing full royally. On the voyage he
meets the drifting ship in which are Constance and her son, who have
had for years all sorts of incredible experiences which the poet relates
with a lovely faith in his story. They are brought to Rome, where
they long dwell with the senator and his wife, Constance being ever
engaged in holy works.
And, now, to return to King Alia :
Kyng Alia, which that hadde his mooder slayn,
Upon a day fil in swich repentance,
That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn, 990
To Rome he comth to receyven his penance,
And putte hym in the popes ordinance.
In heigh and logh ; and Jhesu Crist bisoghte
Forgeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
The fame anon thurghout the toun is born, 995
How Alia, kyng, shal comen on pilgrymage.
By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn ;
For which the senatour, as was usage.
Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage.
As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence, looo
As to doon any kyng a reverence.
Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour
To kyng Alia, and he to hym also ;
Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour ;
And so bifel that in a day or two 1005
This senatour is to kyng Alia go
To feste, and, shortly, if I shal nat lye,
Custances sone wente in his compaignye.
G
82 B. SELECTIONS FROM
Som men wolde seyn at r^queste of Custance
This senatour hath lad this child to feeste, — loio
I may nat tellen every circumstance ;
Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste ;
But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste
Biforn Alia, durynge the metes space.
The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face. 1015
This Alia kyng hath of this child greet wonder,
And to the senatour he seyde anon,
"Whos is that faire child, that stondeth yonder?"
" I noot," quod he, " by God and by Seint John !
A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon, 1020
That I of woot ; " but shortly, in a stounde
He tolde Alia how that this child was founde ;
"But God woot," quod this senatour also,
" So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo, 1025
Of worldly wommen, mayde ne of wyf;
I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf
Thurgh out hir brest, than ben a womman wikke ;
There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke."
Now was this child as lyke unto Custance 1030
As possible is a creature to be.
This Alia hath the face in remembrance
Of dame Custance, and theron mused he.
If that the childes mooder were aught she
That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte, 1035
And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.
^^ Parfayl " thoghte he, " fantome is in myn heed !
I oghte deme of skilful juggement,
B. MAN OF LAW'S TALE 83
That in the sake see my wyf is deed ; "
And afterward he made his argument, . 1040
" What woot I, if that Crist have hyder y-sent
My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente
To my contree fro thennes that she wente? "
And after noon, hoom with the senatour
Goth Alia, for to seen this wonder chaunce. 1045
This senatour dooth Alia greet hon6ur.
And hastifly he sente after Custaunce \
But trusteth weel hire liste nat to daunce.
Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde ;
Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde. 1050
Whan Alia saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette,
And weep, that it was routhe for to see ;
For at the firste look he on hire sette,
He knew wel verraily that it was she.
And she for sorwe as doumb stant as a tree ; 1055
So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
When she remembred his unkyndenesse.
Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte.
He weep, and hym excuseth pitously : 1059
" Now God," quod he, " and alle hise halwes brighte,
So wisly on my soul as have mercy.
That of youre harm as giltelees am I,
As is Maurice my sone, so lyk your face ;
Elles the feend me fecche out of this place ! "
Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne, 1065
Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse ;
Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne.
84 B. SELECTIONS FROM
Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.
I pray yow all my labour to relesse,
I may nat tell hir wo until to-morwe, 1070
I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
But finally, whan that the sothe is wist,
That Alia giltelees was of hir wo,
I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist ;
And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two, 1075
That, save the joye that lasteth evermo,
Ther is noon lyk that any creature
Hath seyn, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
Tho preyde she hir housbonde, mekely.
In r^Uef of hir longe pitous pyne, 1080
That he wolde preye hir fader specially.
That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
To vouche-sauf som day with hym to dyne.
She preyde hym eek he wolde, by no weye.
Unto hir fader no word of hire seye. 1085
Som men wold seyn how that the child Maurice
Dooth this message unto the emperour.
But, as I gesse, Alia was nat so nyce
To hym, that was of so sovereyn honour
As he that is of cristen folk the flour, 1090
Sente any child ; but it is bet to deeme
He wente hymself, and so it may well seeme.
This emperour hath graunted gentilly
To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte,
And wel rede I, he looked bisily 1095
Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
B. MAN OF LA WS TALE 85
Alia goth to his in, and as him oghte,
Arrayed for this feste in every wise,
As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.
The morwe cam, and Alia gan hym dresse, noo
And eek his wyf, this emperour to meete ;
And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse ;
And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
She lighte doun and falleth hym to feete ;
"Fader," quod she, "youre yonge child, Custance, 1105
Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.
I am youre doghter Custance/' quod she,
'^ That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.
It am I, fader, that in the salte see
Was put allone, and dampned for to dye. mo
Now, goode fader, mercy, I yow crye !
Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,
But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse."
Who kan the pitous joye tellen al
Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus y-mette? 1115
But of my tale make an ende I shal, —
The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
This glade folk to dyner they hem sette.
In joye and bhsse at mete I lete hem dwelle,
A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle. 1120
This child Maurice was sithen emperour
Maad by the pope and lyved cristenly.
To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour j
But I lete all his storie passen by ;
Of Custance is my tale specially. 1125
86 B, SELECTIONS FROM
In the olde Romane Geestes may men fynde
Maurices lyf, I bere it noght in mynde.
This kyng Alia, whan he his tyme say,
With his Custance, his hooly wyf so sweete.
To Engelond been they come the righte way, 1130
Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete;
But Htel while it lasteth, I yow heete.
Joye of this world for tyme wol nat abyde,
Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.
Who lyved evere in swich delit o day 1135
That hym ne moeved outher conscience,
Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,
Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence?
I ne seye but for this ende this sentence.
That litel while in joye, or in plesance, 1140
Lasteth the blisse of Alia with Custance ;
For Deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse.
Out of this world this kyng Alia he hente.
For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse. 1145
Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse !
And dame Custance, finally to seye.
Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye.
To Rome is come this hooly creature.
And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde. 1150
Now is she scaped al hire aventure.
And whan that she hir fader hath y-founde,
Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde ;
Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte bUthe,
She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe. 1155
B. MAN OF LAW'S TALE ->' 8/
In vertu and in hooly almus dede
They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende.
Til deeth departed hem this lyf they lede.
And fareth now weel, my tale is at an ende.
Now Jhesu Crist, that pf his myght may sende 1160
Joye after wo, governe us in his grace,
And kepe us alle that been in this place. Amen,
HOST AND MONK
The Merry Words of the Host to the Monk
Whan ended was my tale of Melibee,
And of Prudence and hire benignytee, 3080
Oure Hoste seyde, "As I am feithful man,
And by that precious corpus Madrian,
I hadde levere than a barel ale
That goode lief my wyf, hadde herd this tale !
For she nys no thyng of swich pacience 3085
As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence.
By Goddes bones ! whan I bete my knaves,
She bryngeth me forth the grete clobbed staves
And crieth, ' Slee the dogges everichoon,
And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon ! ' 3090
" And if that any neighebore of myne
Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne,
Or be so hardy to hire to trespace.
Whan she comth home she rampeth in my face,
And crieth, ' False coward ! wrek thy wyf ! 3095
By corpus bones ! I wol have thy knyf,
And thou shalt have my distaf and go spynne ! '
Fro day to nyght, right thus she wol bigynne, —
* Alias ! ' she seith, ^ that evere I was shape
To wedden a milksope or a coward ape, 3100
That wol been overlad with every wight !
Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right ! *
B. SELECTION FROM THE MONK'S TALE 89
" This is my lif, but if that I wol fighte ;
And out at dore anon I moot me dighte,
Or elles I am but lost, but if that I 3105
Be Hk a wilde leoun, fool-hardy.
I woot wel she wol do me slee som day
Som neighebore, and thanne go my way ;
For I am perilous with knyf in honde ;
Al be it that I dar hire nat withstonde, 3110
For she is byg in amies, by my feith,
That shal he fynde that hire mysdooth or seith.
But lat us passe awey fro this mateere."
The Monk's Definition of Tragedy
" Tragddie is to seyn a certeyn storie,
As olde bookes maken us mem6rie,
Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee, 3165
And is y-fallen out of heigh degree
Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly ;
And they ben versified communely
Of six feet, which men clepen exametron.
In prose eek been endited many oon, 3170
And eek in meetre in many a sondry wyse ;
Lo, this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise.'*
SELECTION FROM THE MONK'S TALE,
DE CASIBUS VIRORUM ILLUSTRIUM
The Fall of Julius Ccesar
By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour
From humble bed to roial magestee
Up roos he, Julius the conquerour.
That wan al thoccident, by land and see.
By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee, 3865
And unto Rome made hem tributarie ;
And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he
Til that Fortune weex his adversarie.
myghty Cesar ! that in Thessalie
Agayn Pompeus, fader thyn in lawe, 3870
That of the orient hadde all the chivalrie
As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe.
Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe.
Save fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde,
Thurgh which thou puttest al thorient in awe, — 3875
Thanke Fortune, that so wel thee spedde !
But now a litel while I wol biwaille
This Pompeus, this noble governour
Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.
1 seye, oon of hise men, a fals traitour, 3880
His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour
Of Julius, and hym the heed he broghte.
Alias, Pompeye, of thorient conquerour.
That Fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte !
90
B, SELECTION FROM THE MONK'S TALE 9 1
To Rome agayn repaireth Julius 3885
With his triumphe, lauriat ful hye ;
But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,
That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye,
Ful prively hath maad conspiracye
Agayns this Julius in subtil wise, 3890
And caste the place in which he sholde dye
With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse.
This JuUus to the CapitoHe wente
Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,
And in the Capitolie anon hym hente 3895
This false Brutus, and hise othere foon.
And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon
With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye ;
But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon,
Or elles at two, but if his storie lye. 3900
So manly was this Julius of herte,
And so wel lovede estaatly honestee.
That though hise deedly woundes soore smerte,
His mantel over his hypes caste he
For no man sholde seen his privetee ; 3905
And as he lay on diyng in a traunce,
And wiste verraily that deed was hee.
Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.
Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,
And to Swetoun, and to Valerius also, 3910
That of this storie writen word and ende,
How that to thise grete conquer6ures two
Fortune was first freend and sitthe foo.
No man ne truste upon hire favour longe,
But have hire in awayt for evere moo ; 3915
Witnesse on alle thise conquer6ures stronge.
NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Heere bigynneth The Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok and
Hen, — Chauntecleer and Pe^'telote
A poure wydwe, somdel stape in age,
Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage
Beside a greve, stondynge in a dale.
This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf, 4015
In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf.
For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
By housbondrie of swich as God hire sente
She foond hirself, and eek hire doghtren two.
Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo ; 4020
Three keen and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
Ful sooty was hir hour, and eek hire halle,
In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel ;
Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte, 4025
Hir diete was accordant to hir cote ;
Repleccioun ne made hire nevere sik,
Attempree diete was al hir phisik,
And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
The goute lette hire no-thyng for to daunce, 4030
Napoplexie shente nat hir heed ;
No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed ;
Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak, —
92
B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 93
Milk and broun breed, — in which she foond no lak ;
Seynd bacoun and somtyme an ey or tweye, 4035
For she was, as it were, a maner deye.
A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
With stikkes, and a drye dych withoute.
In which she hadde a cok, heet Chauntecleer.
In al the land of crowyng nas his peer. 4040
His voys was murier than the murie orgon
On messe dayes that in the chirche gon ;
Wei sikerer was his crowyng in his logge
Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge.
By nature knew he eche ascencioun 4045
Of the equynoxial in thilke toun ;
For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended,
Thanne crew he that it myghte nat been amended.
His coomb was redder than the fyn coral,
And batailled as it were a castel wal ; 4050
His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon ;
Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon ;
Hise nayles whiter than the lylye flour.
And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce 4055
Sevene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours,
And wonder lyk to hym, as of colours ;
Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. 4060
Curteys she was, discreet and debonaire.
And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire
Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold,
That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
Of Chauntecleer, loken in every lith ; 4065
He loved hire so that wel was hym therwith ;
94 B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
But swiche a joye was it to here hem synge, —
Whan that the brighte sonne bigan to sprynge, —
In sweete accord, ^^ My lief is faren in londe ; "
For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, 4070
Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge.
And so bifel, that in the dawenynge,
As Chauntecleer among hise wyves alle
Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
And next hym sat this faire Pertelote, 4075
This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,
As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym roore,
She was agast, and seyde, " O herte deere !
What eyleth yow, to grone in this manure? 4080
Ye been a verray sleper; fy, for shame ! "
And he answerde and seyde thus : " Madame,
I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief ;
By God, me mette I was in swich meschief
Right now, that yet myn herte is soore afright. 4085
Now God," quod he, " my swevene recche aright,
And kepe my body out of foul prisoun ;
Me mette how that I romed up and doun
Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest
Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest 4090
Upon my body, and han had me deed.
His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed,
And tipped was his tayl, and bothe hise eeris.
With blak, unlyk the remenant of hise heeris ;
His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye. 4095
Yet of his look for feere almoost I deye ;
This caused me my gronyng doutelees."
" Avoy ! " quod she, " fy on yow, hertelees !
Alias ! " quod she, " for by that God above !
B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 95
Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love. 4100
I kan nat love a coward, by my feith !
For certes, what so any womman seith,
We alle desiren, if it myghte bee,
To han housb6ndes hardy, wise, and free,
And secree, and no nygard, ne no fool, 4105
Ne hym that is agast of every tool,
Ne noon avauntour, by that God above !
How dorste ye seyn, for shame, unto youre love
That any thyng myghte make yow aferd ?
Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd? 41 10
" Alias ! and konne ye been agast of swevenys ?
No thyng, God woot, but vanitee in swevene is.
Swevenes engendren of replecciouns.
And ofte of fume, and of complecciouns,
Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. 41 15
" Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-nyght,
Cometh of the grete superfluytee
Of youre rede colera, pardee,
Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
Of arwes, and of fyre with rede lemes, 4120
Of rede beestes that they wol hem byte.
Of contekes and of whelpes, grete and lyte ;
Right as the humour of malencolie
Causeth ful many a man in sleepe to crie.
For feere of blake beres, or boles blake, 4125
Or elles blake develes wole hem take.
Of othere humours koude I telle also
That werken many a man in sleepe ful wo ;
But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
Lo, Catoun, which that was so wys a man, 4130
Seyde he nat thus, ' Ne do no fors of dremes ? '
" Now, sire," quod she, " whan we flee fro the hemes,
g6 B. NUN'S FJ^IEST'S TALE
For Goddes love, as taak som laxatyf.
Up peril of my soule, and of my lyf,
I conseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, . . . 4135
*' Madame," quod he, ^^ graunt mercy of youre loore.
But nathelees, as touchyng daun Catoun, 4161
That hath of wysdom svvich a greet renoun,
Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
By God, men may in olde bookes rede
Of many a man, moore of auctorite 4165
Than evere Caton was, so moot I thee !
That al the revers seyn of his sentence,
And han wel founden by experience
That dremes been significaciouns
As wel of joye as tribulaciouns, 4170
That folk enduren in this lif present.
Ther nedeth make of this noon argument,
The verray preeve sheweth it in dede.
" Oon of the gretteste auctours that men rede
Seith thus, that whilom two felawes wente 4175
On pilgrimage in a ful good entente.
And happed so they coomen in a toun,
Wher as ther was swich congregacioun
Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage.
That they ne founde as muche as o cotage 4180
In which they bothe myghte logged bee ;
Wherfore they mosten of necessitee,
As for that nyght, departen compaignye ;
And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye.
And took his loggyng as it wolde falle. 4185
That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough ;
That oother man was logged wel ynough.
As was his aventure, or his fortune.
B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 97
That us governeth, alle as in commune. 4190
" And so bifel that longe er it were day,
This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay,
How that his felawe gan upon hym calle.
And seyde, * Alias ! for in an oxes stalle
This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye ; 4195
Now help me, deere brother, or I dye ;
In alle haste com to me ! ' he sayde.
" This man out of his sleepe for feere abrayde ;
But whan that he was wakened of his sleepe.
He turned hym and took of this no keepe ; 4200
Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee.
Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee,
And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, ' I am now slawe !
Bihoold my bloody woundes, depe and wyde ; 4205
Arys up erly in the morwe tyde.
And at the west gate of the toun,' quod he,
' A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se.
In which my body is hid ful prively ;
Do thilke carte arresten boldely ; 4210
My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn.'
And tolde hym every point how he was slayn.
With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe ;
And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trewe ;
For on the morwe, as soone as it was day, 4215
To his felawes in he took the way.
And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
After his felawe he bigan to calle.
" The hostiler answerde hym anon
And seyde, ' Sire, your felawe is agon ; 4220
As soone as day he wente out of the toun.'
" This man gan fallen in suspecioun, —
H
98 B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Remembrynge on hise dremes, that he mette, —
And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette,
Unto the westgate of the toun, and fond 4225
A dong carte, as it were to donge lond,
That was arrayed in that same wise
As ye han herd the dede man devyse ;
And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
Vengeance and justice of this felonye. 4230
' My felawe mordred is this same nyght.
And in this carte he lith gapyng upright.
I crye out on the ministres/ quod he,
' That sholden kepe and reulen this citee ;
Harrow ! alias ! heere lith my felawe slayn ! ' 4235
What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn?
The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde,
And in the myddel of the dong they founde
The dede man, that mordred was al newe. . • .
And right anon, ministres of that toun
Han hent the carter, and so soore hym pyned,
And eek the hostiler so soore engyned, 4250
That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon.
And were an-hanged by the nekke bon. . . .
" Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this ;
Madame Pertelote, so have I blis.
Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace ;
For whan I se the beautee of youre face, 4350
Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre eyen,
It maketh al my drede for to dyen ;
For, al-so siker as In pidncipio^
Mulier est hoininis confusio, —
Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is, 4355
*Womman is mannes joye, and al his blis ; ' . . .
And with that word he fly doun fro the beem.
B, NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 99
For it was day, and eke hise hennes alle ;
And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
For he hadde founde a corn lay in the yerd. . . . 4365
He looketh as it were a grym leoun,
And on hise toos he rometh up and doun ; 4370
Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde.
He chukketh whan he hath a corn y-founde,
And to hym rennen thanne hise wyves alle.
Thus roial as a prince is in an halle,
Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture, 4375
And after wol I telle his aventure.
Whan that the monthe in which the world bigan,
That highte March, whan God first maked man,
Was compleet, and y-passed were also,
Syn March bigan, thritty dayes and two, 4380
Bifel that Chauntecleer in al his pryde,
Hise sevene wyves walkynge by his syde.
Caste up hise eyen to the brighte sonne
That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne
Twenty degrees and oon, and som-what moore, 4385
And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore,
That it was pryme, and crew with bhsful stevene.
"The Sonne," he seyde, "is clomben up on hevene
Fourty degrees and oon, and moore y-wis.
Madame Pertelote, my worldes bHs, 4390
Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge,
And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge ;
Ful is myn herte of revel and solas ! "
But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas ;
For evere the latter ende of joy is wo. 4395
God woot that worldly joye is soone ago ;
And if a rethor koude faire endite,
He in a crony cle saufly myghte it write,
lOO B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
Now every wys man, lat him herkne me ; 4400
This storie is al so trewe, I undertake,
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
That wommen holde in ful greet reverence.
Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
A colfox, ful of sly iniquitee, 4405
That in the grove hadde wonned yeres three,
By heigh ymaginacioun forn-cast.
The same nyght thurgh-out the hegges brast
Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire
Was wont, and eek hise wyves, to repaire ; 4410
And in a bed of wortes stille he lay.
Til it was passed undren of the day,
Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle ;
As gladly doon thise homycides alle
That in await liggen to mordre men. 4415
O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den !
O newe Scariot, newe Genyloun !
False dissymulour, O Greek Synoun,
That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe !
Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe, 4420
That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the hemes !
Thou were ful wel y-warned by thy dremes
That thilke day was perilous to thee ;
But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee.
After the opinioun of certein clerkis. . . . 4425
1 wil nat han to do of swich mateere.
My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere,
That took his conseil of his wyf with sorwe.
To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
That he hadde met that dreem that I yow tolde. 4445
Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde ;
B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE lOI
Wommannes conseil broghte us first to wo
And made i\dam fro Paradys to go,
Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese.
But for I noot to whom it myght displese, 4450
If I conseil of wommen wolde blame,
Passe over, for I seye it in my game.
Rede auctours where they trete of swich mateere,
And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere ;
Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne, 4455
I kan noon harm of no womman divyne !
Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily,
Lith Pertelote, and alle hire sustres by,
Agayn the sonne, and Chauntecleer so free
Soong murier than the mermayde in the see ; 4460
For Phisiologics seith sikerly,
How that they syngen wel and myrily.
And so bifel that as he cast his eye
Among the wortes, on a boterflye,
He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 4465
No-thyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
But cride anon, " Cok, cok ! " and up he sterte,
As man that was affrayed in his herte, —
For natureelly a beest desireth flee
Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, 4470
Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his eye.
This Chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye,
He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
Seyde, "Gentil sire, alias ! wher wol ye gon?
Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend ? 4475
Now, certes, I were worse than a feend,
If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye.
I am nat come your conseil for tespye,
But trewely the cause of my comynge
I02 B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge ; 4480
For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene
As any aungel hath that is in hevene.
Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge
Than hadde Boece, or any that kan synge.
My lord youre fader, — God his soule blesse ! 4485
And eek youre mooder, of hire gentillesse,
Han in myn hous y-been to my greet ese,
And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
But for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye, —
So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tvveye, — 4490
Save yow, I herde nevere man so synge
As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
Certes, it was of herte, al that he song ;
And for to make his voys the moore strong, 4494
He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe hise eyen
He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen ;
And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal.
And strecche forth his nekke, long and smal ;
And eek he was of swich discrecioun
That ther nas no man in no regioun 4500
That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe.
I have wel rad, in ' Daun Burnel the Asse,^
Among hise vers, how that ther was a cok.
For that a preestes sone gaf hym a knok
Upon his leg, whil he was yong and nyce, 4505
He made hym for to lese his benefice ;
But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun
Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun
Of youre fader and of his subtiltee.
Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee ; 4510
Lat se, konne ye youre fader countrefete."
This Chauntecleer hise wynges gan to bete,
B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 103
As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.
Alias, ye lordes, many a fals flatour 4515
Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour,
That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith,
Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith, —
Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye, —
Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520
This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos
Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld hise eyen cloos,
And gan to crowe loude for the nones.
And daun Russell, the fox, stirte up atones,
And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 4525
And on his bak toward the wode hym beer ;
For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.
O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed !
Alias, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the hemes !
Alias, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes ! 4530
And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce. . . .
Certes, swich cry, ne lamentacioun, 4545
Was nevere of ladyes maad whan Ylioun
Was wonne, and Pirrus, with his streite swerd,
Whan he hadde hent kyng Priam by the herd,
And slayn hym, — as seith us Eneydos, —
As maden alle the hennes in the clos, 4550
Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte.
But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte,
Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf.
Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf,
And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage, — 4555
She was so ful of torment and of rage,
That wilfully into the fyr she sterte.
And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte. . . .
104 B' NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
This sely wydwe, and eek hir doghtres two, 4565
Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo,
And out at dores stirten they anon,
And syen the fox toward the grove gon,
And bar upon his bak the cok away.
And cryden, " Out ! harrow ! and weylaway ! 4570
Ha ! ha ! the fox ! " and after hym they ran.
And eek with staves many another man ;
Ran Colle, oure dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland
And Malkyn, with a dystaf in hir hand ;
Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges, 4575
So were they fered for berkynge of the dogges.
And shoutyng of the men and wommen eke ;
They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breke.
They yolleden, as feendes doon in helle ;
The dokes cryden, as men wolde hem quelle ; 4580
The gees, for feere, flowen over the trees ;
Out of the hy ve cam the swarm of bees ;
So hydous was the noys, a benedicitee !
Certes, he Jakke Straw, and his meynee,
Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille, 4585
Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille.
As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
Of bras they broghten hemes, and of box.
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped,
And therwithal they shriked and they howped ; 4590
It semed as that hevene sholde falle.
Now, goode men, I pray yow herkneth alle ;
Lo, how Fortune turneth sodeynly
The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy !
This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 4595
In al his drede unto the fox he spak,
And seyde, " Sire, if that I were as ye,
B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE 10$
Yet wolde I seyn, as wys God helpe me,
' Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle !
A verray pestilence upon yow falle ; 4600
Now am I come unto the wodes syde,
Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde ;
I wol hym ete in feith, and that anon ! ' "
The fox answerde, " In feith it shal be don ; "
And as he spak that word, al sodeynly 4605
This cok brak from his mouth delyverly,
And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon ;
And whan the fox saugh that he was y-gon, —
" Alias ! " quod he, " O Chauntecleer, alias !
I have to yow," quod he, ^' y-doon trespas, 4610
In as muche as I maked yow aferd,
Whan I yow hente and broght out of the yerd ;
But, sire, I dide it of no wikke entente.
Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente ;
I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so ! " 4615
" Nay thanne," quod he, " I shrewe us bothe two.
And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones.
If thou bigyle me any ofter than ones.
Thou shalt na moore, thurgh thy flaterye,
Do me to synge, and wynke with myn eye, 4620
For he that wynketh, whan he sholde see,
Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee ! "
*' Nay," quod the fox, " but God geve hym mes-
chaunce.
That is so undiscreet of governaunce
That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees." 4625
Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees.
And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
But ye that holden this tale a folye, —
As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, —
I06 B. NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
Taketh the moralite, goode men ; 4630
For Seint Paul seith that al that writen is,
To oure doctrine it is y-write y-wis ;
Taketh the fruyt and lat the chaf be stille.
Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille,
As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men, 4635
And brynge us to his heighe blisse ! Amen,
SELECTIONS FROM DOCTOR'S
TALE
Description of Virginius^s Daughter, Virginia
Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius,
A knyght that called was Virginius,
Fulfild of honour and of worthynesse,
And strong of freendes and of greet richesse.
This knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf, —
No children hadde he mo in al his lyf.
Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
Aboven every wight that man may see ;
For Nature hath with sovereyn diligence
Y-formed hire in so greet excellence,
As though she wolde seyn, *^ Lo, I, Nature,
Thus kan I forme, and peynte a creature,
Whan that me list, — who kan me countrefete ?
Pigmalion? Noght, though he ay forge and bete,
Or grave, or peynte ; for I dar wel seyn
Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn,
Outher to grave, or peynte, or forge, or bete,
If they presumed me to countrefete.
For He that is the Formere principal
Hath maked me his vicaire-general
To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
Right as me list, and ech thyng in my cure is
Under the moone that may wane and waxe ;
107
I08 C SELECTIONS FROM
And for my werk right no thyng wol I axe ;
My lof-d and I been ful of oon accord. 25
I made hire to the worshipe of my lord ;
So do I alle myne othere creatures,
What colour that they han, or what figures."
Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye.
This mayde of age twelve yeer was and tweye 30
In which that Nature hadde swich delit ;
For, right as she kan peynte a hlie whit,
And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
She peynted hath this noble creature,
Er she were born, upon hir lymes fre, 35
Where as by right swiche colours sholde be ;
And Phebus dyed hath hire treses grete
Lyk to the stremes of his burned heete ;
And if that excellent was hire beautee,
A thousand foold moore vertuous was she. 40
In hire ne lakked no condicioun
That is to preyse, as by discrecioun.
As wel in goost, as body, chast was she,
For which she floured in virginitee
With alle humylitee and abstinence, 45
With alle attemperaunce and pacience,
With mesure eek of beryng and array. '
Discreet she was in answeryng alway.
Though she were wise as Pallas, dar I seyn ;
Hir facound eek, ful wommanly and pleyn ; 50
No countrefeted termes hadde she
To seme wys ; but after hir degree
She spak, and alle hire wordes, moore and lesse,
Sownynge in vertu and in gentillesse ;
Shamefast she was, in maydens shamefastnesse, 55
Constant in herte, and evere in bisynesse
C. DOCTOR'S TALE IO9
To dryve hire out of ydel slogardye.
Bacus hadde of hire mouth right no maistrie,
For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encresse ;
As man in fyr vvol casten oille or greesse. 60
And of hir owene vertu unconstreyned
She hath ful ofte tyme syk hire feyned,
For that she wolde fleen the compaignye
Where Hkly was to treten of folye, —
As is at feestes, revels, and at daunces, 65
That been occasions of dahaunces.
Swich thynges maken children for to be
To soone rype and boold, as men may se,
Which is ful perilous, and hath been yoore,
For al to soone may she lerne loore 70
Of booldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.
And ye maistresses, in youre olde lyf.
That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,
Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce ;
Thenketh that ye been set in governynges 75
Of lordes doghtres, oonly for two thynges :
Outher for ye han kept youre honestee,
Or elles ye han falle in freletee,
And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce,
And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce 80
For everemo : therfore for Cristes sake
To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.
A theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft .
His likerousnesse and al his olde craft,
Kan kepe a forest best of any man ; 85
Now kepeth wel, for if ye wolde ye kan ;
Looke wel that ye unto no vice assente,
Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente j
For who so dooth, a traitour is certeyn ;
I lO C. SELECTIONS FROM
And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn ; 90
Of alle tresons, sovereyn pestilence
Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
Ye fadres and ye moodres eek, also,
Though ye han children, be it oon or mo,
Youre is the charge of al hir surveiaunce, 95
Whil that they been under youre governaunce ;
Beth war, if by ensample of youre lyvynge.
Or by youre nechgence in chastisynge,
That they perisse ; for I dar wel seye.
If that they doon, ye shul it deere abeye. 100
Under a shepherde softe and necligent
The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent.
Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere.
For I moot turne agayne to my matere.
This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse, 105
So kepte hir self hir neded no maistresse ;
For in hir lyvyng maydens myghten rede.
As in a book, every good word or dede
That longeth to a mayden vertuous.
She was so prudent and so bountevous ; no
For which the fame out sprong on every syde,
Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde.
That thurgh that land they preised hire, echone
That loved vertu, save Envye allone.
That sory is of oother mennes wele, 115
And glad is of his sorwe and his unheele
(The doctour maketh this descripcioun) .
The Doctor's Concluding Remarks on the Story of Virginia
Heere men may seen how synne hath his merite !
Beth war, for no man woot whom God wol smyte,
C. DOCTOR'S TALE III
In no degree ; ne in which man ere wyse
The worm of conscience may agryse 280
Of wikked lyf, though it so pryvee be
That no man woot ther-of but God and he ;
For be he lewed man, or elHs lered,
He noot how soone that he shal been afered.
Therfore, I rede yow, this conseil take, , 285
Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake.
PARDONER'S TALE
In Flaundres whilom was a compaignye
Of yonge folk, that haunteden folye,
As riot, hasard, stywes and tav^rnes, 465
Where as with harpes, lutes and gyternes,
They daunce and pleyen at dees, bothe day and nyght,
And eten also, and drynken over hir myght,
Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifise
Withinne that develes temple, in cursed wise, 470
By superfluytee abhomynable. . . .
Thise riotoures thre, of whiche I telle,
Longe erst er prime rong of any belle.
Were set hem in a taverne to drynke ;
And as they sat they herde a belle clynke
Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave. 665
That oon of hem gan callen to his knave :
" Go bet," quod he, " and axe redily
What cors is this that passeth heer forby,
And looke that thou reporte his name week"
" Sire," quod this boy, " it nedeth neveradeel, 670
It was me toold er ye cam heere two houres ;
He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres.
And sodeynly he was y-slayn to-nyght,
For-dronke, as he sat on his bench upright ;
Ther cam a privee theef, men clepeth Deeth, 675
That in this contree al the peple sleeth.
And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo,
112
C PARDONER'S TALE 113
And wente his wey withouten wordes mo.
He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence,
And, maister, er ye come in his presence, 680
Me thynketh that it were necessarie
For to be war of swich an adversarie ;
Beth redy for to meete hym everemoore ;
Thus taughte me my dame ; I sey namoore."
'^ By Seinte Marie ! " seyde this taverner, 685
" The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer
Henne over a mile, withinne a greet village,
Bothe man and womman, child, and hyne, and page ;
I trowe his habitaciioun be there ;
To been avysed greet wysdom it were, 690
Er that he dide a man a dishonour."
"Ye, Goddes armes ! " quod this riotour,
" Is it swich peril with hym for to meete ?
I shal hym seke by wey, and eek by strete ;
I make avow to Goddes digne bones ! 695
Herkneth, felawes, we thre been al ones,
Lat ech of us holde up his hand til oother.
And ech of us bicomen otheres brother.
And we wol sleen this false traytour, Deeth;
He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth, 700
By Goddes dignitee, er it be nyght ! "
Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight
To lyve and dyen ech of hem with oother.
As though he were his owene y-bore brother ;
And up they stirte, al dronken in this rage ; 705
And forth they goon towardes that village
Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn ;
And many a grisly 00th thanne han they sworn ;
And Cristes blessed body they to-rente, —
Deeth shal be deed, if that they may hym hente. 710
ri4 C PARDONER'S TALE
Whan they han goon nat fully half a mile,
Right as they wolde han troden over a stile,
An oold man and a poure with hem mette ;
This olde man ful mekely hem grette,
And seyde thus : '' Now, lordes, God yow see ! " 715
The proudeste of thise riotoures three
Answerde agayn, ** What, carl with sory grace,
Why artow al for- wrapped, save thy face ?
Why lyvestow so longe, in so greet age ? "
This olde man gan looke in his visage, 720
And seyde thus : '' For I ne kan nat fynde
A man, though that I walked into Ynde,
Neither in citee, ne in no village,
That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age ;
And therfore moot I han myn age stille, 725
As longe tyme as it is Goddes wille.
Ne Deeth, alias ! ne wol nat han my lyf ;
Thus walke I, lyk a restelees kaityf.
And on the ground, which is my moodres gate,
I knokke with my staf erly and late, 730
And seye, ' Leeve mooder, leet me in !
Lo, how I vanysshe, flessh and blood and skyn ;
Alias ! whan shul my bones been at reste ?
Mooder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste
That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, 735
Ye, for an heyre-clowt to wrappe me ! '
But yet to me she wol nat do that grace.
For which ful pale and welked is my face ;
But, sires, to yow it is no curteisye
To speken to an old man vileynye, 740
But he trespasse in word, or elles in dede.
In Hooly Writ ye may your self wel rede,
Agayns an oold man, hoor upon his heed,
C. PARDONER'S TALE II5
Ye sholde arise ; wherfore I geve yow reed,
Ne dooth unto an oold man noon harm now, 745
Namoore than ye wolde men did to yow
In age, if that ye so longe abyde.
And God be with yow, where ye go or ryde ;
I moote go thider as I have to go."
" Nay, olde cherl, by God, thou shalt nat so ! " 750
Seyde this oother hasardour anon ;
" Thou partest nat so hghtly, by Seint John !
Thou spak right now of thilke traytour, Deeth,
That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth ;
Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his espye, 755
Telle where he is, or thou shalt it abye.
By God and by the hooly sacrement !
For soothly, thou art oon of his assent
To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef ! "
" Now, sires," quod he, " if that ye be so leef 760
To fynde Deeth, turne up this croked wey.
For in that grove I lafte hym, by my fey.
Under a tree, and there he wole abyde ;
Noght for youre boost he wole him no thyng hyde.
Se ye that 00k? Right there ye shal hym fynde. 765
God save yow that boghte agayn mankynde.
And yow amende ! " thus seyde this olde man.
And everich of thise riotoures ran
Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde,
Of floryns fyne, of gold y-coyned rounde, 770
Wei ny a seven busshels, as hem thoughte.
No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte.
But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte.
For that the floryns been so faire and brighte,
That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord. 775
The worste of hem he spak the firste word.
Il6 C PARDONER'S TALE
*' Bretheren," quod he, " taak kepe what I seye ;
My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye.
This tresor hath Fortune unto us geven
In myrthe and joHftee oure lyf to lyven, 780
And hghtly as it comth so wol we spende.
Ey, Goddes precious dignitee ! who wende
To-day, that we sholde han so fair a grace ?
But myghte this gold be caried fro this place
Hoom to myn hous, or elles unto youres, — 785
For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures, —
Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.
But trewely, by daye it may nat bee ;
Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge,
And for oure owene tresor doon us honge. 790
This tresor moste y-caried be by nyghte
As wisely and as slyly as it myghte.
Wherfore, I rede that cut among us alle
Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle ;
And he that hath the cut with herte bUthe 795
Shal renne to the towne, and that ful swithe,
And brynge us breed and wyn ful prively,
And two of us shul kepen subtilly
This tresor wel ; and if he wol nat tarie,
Whan it is nyght we wol this tresor carie, 80c;
By oon assent, where as us thynketh best."
That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest.
And bad hem drawe and looke where it wol falle ;
And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle,
And forth toward the toun he wente anon ; 805
And al so soone as that he was gon.
That oon of hem spak thus unto that oother:
" Thow knowest wel thou art my sworne brother ;
Thy profit woTi telle thee anon ;
C. PARDONER'S TALE II7
Thou woost wel that oure felawe is agon, 810
And heere is gold, and that ful greet plentee.
That shal departed been among us thre ;
But nathelees, if I kan shape it so
That it departed were among us two,
Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?" 815
That oother answerde, " I noot hou that may be ;
He woot how that the gold is with us tweye ;
What shal we doon, what shal we to hym seye? "
" Shal it be conseil ? " seyde the firste shrewe,
'^ And I shal tellen in a wordes fewe 820
What we shal doon, and bryngen it wel aboute."
" I graunte," quod that oother, " out of doute.
That by my trouthe I shal thee nat biwreye."
''Now," quod the firste, "thou woost wel we be
tweye,
And two of us shul strenger be than oon. 825
Looke, whan that he is set, and right anoon
Arys, as though thou woldest with hym pleye,
And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye,
Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game,
And with thy daggere looke thou do the same ; 830
And thanne shal al this gold departed be.
My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee.
Thanne may we bothe oure lustes all fulfille.
And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille."
And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye, 835
To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.
This yongeste, which that wente unto the toun,
Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun
The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte ;
" O Lord," quod he, " if so were that I myghte 840
Have al this tresor to my self allone,
Il8 C. PARDONER'S TALE
Ther is no man that lyveth under the trone
Of God, that sholde lyve so murye as I ! "
And atte laste the feend, oure enemy,
Putte in his thought that he sholde poyson beye, 845
With which he myghte sleen hise felawes tweye ;
For why? The feend foond hym in swich lyvynge,
That he hadde leve hym to sorwe brynge.
For this was outrely his fulle entente
To sleen hem bothe and nevere to repente. 850
And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie,
Into the toun, unto a pothecarie.
And preyde hym that he hym wolde selle
Som poysoun, that he myghte his rattes quelle ;
And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe, 855
That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde y-slawe.
And fayn he wolde wreke hym, if he myghte,
On vermyn, that destroyed hym by nyghte.
The pothecarie answerde, " And thou shalt have
A thyng that, al so God my soule save ! 860
In al this world ther nis no creature,
That eten or dronken hath of this confiture,
Noght but the montance of a corn of whete,
That he ne shal his lif anon forlete ;
Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse while 865
Than thou wolt goon a-paas nat but a mile,
This poysoun is so strong and violent."
This cursed man hath in his hond y-hent
This poysoun in a box, and sith he ran
Into the nexte strete unto a man, 870
And borwed [of] hym large botelles thre,
And in the two his poyson poured he ;
The thridde he kepte clene for his owene drynke,
For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke
C, PARDONER'S TALE 119
In cariynge of the gold out of that place ; 875
And whan this riotour with sory grace
Hadde filled with wyn his grete hotels thre,
To hise felawes agayn repaireth he.
What nedeth it to ^ermone of it moore ?
For right as they hadde caste his deeth bifoore, 880
Right so they han hym slayn, and that anon,
And whan that this was doon thus spak that oon :
" Now lat us sitte and drynke, and make us merie,
And afterward we wol his body berie ; "
And with that word it happed hym, par cas, 885
To take the hotel ther the poysoun was,
And drank and gaf his felawe drynke also,
For which anon they storven bothe two.
But certes, I suppose that Avycen
Wroot nevere in no Canon, ne in no fen, 890
Mo wonder signes of empoisonyng
Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir endyng.
Thus ended been thise homycides two,
And eek the false empoysonere also.
SELECTIONS FROM THE WIFE OF
BATH'S TALE
Fairies i^i King Arthur's Days
In tholde dayes of the Kyng Arthor,
Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
All was this land fulfild of fairy e.
The elf queene with hir joly compaignye 860
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.
This was the olde opinion as I rede, —
I speke of manye hundred yeres ago, —
But now kan no man se none elves mo.
For now the grete charitee and prayeres 865
Of lymytours, and othere hooly freres.
That serchen every lond and every streem,
As thikke as motes in the sonne beem, —
Bl^ssynge halles, charabres, kichenes, boures,
Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, 870
Thr6pes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes, —
This maketh that ther been no fairyes ;
For ther as wont to walken was an elf,
Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself,
In undermeles and in morwenynges, 875
And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges
As he gooth in his lymytacioun.
W6mmen may go saufly up and doun ;
In every bussh or under every tree,
Ther is noon oother incubus but he, 880
And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
D. SELECTIONS FROM WIFE OF BATH'S TALE 121
The Story of Midas^s Ears
In a musical contest between Pan and Apollo, on the flute and lyre,
Midas, king of Phrygia, was made judge, and gave his decision in
favour of Pan, for which decision Apollo metamorphosed his ears into
those of an ass.
Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale,
Seyde Myda hadde under his longe heres,
Growynge upon his heed, two asses eres,
The whiche vice he hydde as he best myghte, 955
Ful subtilly, from every mannes sighte,
That save his wyf ther wiste of it namo.
He loved hire moost, and triste hire also ;
He preyde hire that to no creature
She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960
She swoor him nay, for al this world to wynne,
She nolde do that vileynye or synne,
To make hir housbonde han so foul a name.
She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame ;
But nathelees hir thoughte that she dyde, 965
That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde ;
Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte,
That nedely som word hire moste asterte ;
And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
Doun to a mareys faste by she ran. 970
Til she came there her herte was a-fyre,
And as a bitore bombleth in the myre
She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun :
" Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,"
Quod she, "to thee I telle it and namo, — 975
Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two.
Now is myn herte all hool, now is it oute.
122 D. SELECTIONS FROM
I myghte no lenger kepe it, out of doute."
Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
Yet, out it moot, we kan no conseil hyde. 980
The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere,
Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it leere.
The True Gentleman
The wife of the knight in the Tale addresses her husband, who
thinks her of low origin.
" But for ye speken of swich gentillesse
As is descended out of old richesse, mo
That therfore sholden ye be gentil men,
Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay
To do the gentil dedes that he kan, 1115
And taak hym for the grettest gentil man.
Crist wole, we clayme of hym oure gentillesse,
Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse ;
For, thogh they geve us al hir heritage, —
For which we clayme to been of heigh parage, — 1120
Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng,
To noon of us, hir vertuous lyvyng.
That made hem gentil men y-called be,
And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.
" Wei kan the wise poete of Florence, 1125
That highte Dant, speken in this sentence, —
Lo, in swich maner rym is Dantes tale, —
' Ful selde up riseth by his branches smale
Prowesse of man, for God of his goodnesse
Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse ; 1130
For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme.
D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S TALE 1 23
But temporel thyng that man may hurte and mayme/
" Eek every wight woot this as wel as I,
If gentillesse were planted natureelly,
Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne, 1135
Pryvee nor apert, thanne wolde they nevere fyne
To doon of gentillesse the faire office ;
They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
" Taak fyr and ber it in the derkeste hous,
Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous, 1140
And lat men shette the dores and go thenne,
Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne
As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde ;
His office natureel ay wol it holde,
Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye. 1145
"Heere may ye se wel how that genterye
Is nat annexed to possessioun,
Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun
Alvvey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde ;
For, God it woot, men may wel often fynde 1150
A lordes sone do shame and vileynye ;
And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,
For he was boren of a gentil hous.
And hadde hise eldres noble and vertuous,
And nyl hymselven do no gentil dedis, 1155
Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is,
He nys nat gentil, be he due or erl ;
For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl ;
For gentillesse nys but renomee
Of thyne aunc^stres, for hire heigh bountee, 1160
Which is a strange thyng to thy persone.
Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone ;
Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace,
It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place."
SQUIRE'S TALE
At Sarray, in the land of Tartarye,
Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed Russye, lo
Thurgh which ther dyde many a doughty man.
This noble kyng was cleped Cambynskan,
Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun
That ther was nowher in no regioun
So excellent a lord in alle thyng. 15
Hym lakked noght that longeth to a kyng ;
As of the secte of which that he was born,
He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn ;
And therto he was hardy, wys, and riche,
Pitous and just, and evermore yliche ; 20
Sooth of his word, benigne and honurable.
Of his corage as any centre stable ;
Yong, fressh, and strong, in armes desirous
As any bacheler of al his hous.
A fair persone he was, and fortunat, 25
And kepte alwey so wel roial estat
That ther was nowher swich another man.
This noble kyng, this Tartre Cambynskan,
Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf.
Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf; 30
That oother sone was cleped Cambalo.
A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also
That yongest was, and highte Canacee.
But for to telle yow al hir beautee
124
F. SQUIRE'S TALE I2S
It lyth nat in my tonge nyn my konnyng, * 35
I dar nat undertake so heigh a thyng ;
Myn EngHssh eek is insufficient ;
It moste been a rethor excellent,
That koude hise colours longynge for that art,
If he sholde hire discryven every part ; 40
I am noon swich, I moot speke as I kan.
And so bifel that whan this Cambynskan
Hath twenty wynter born his diadem e,
As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme.
He leet the feeste of his nativitee 45
Doon cryen thurghout Sarray his citee.
The last Idus of March after the yeer.
Phebus, the sonne, ful joly was and deer,
For he was neigh his exaltacioun
In Martes face, and in his mansioun 50
In Aries, the colerik hoote signe.
Ful lusty was the weder and benigne,
For which the foweles agayn the sonne sheene,
What for the sesoun and the yonge grene,
Ful loude songen hire affecciouns, 55
Hem semed han geten hem protecciouns
Agayn the swerd of wynter, keene and coold.
This Cambynskan — of which I have yow toold —
In roial vestiment sit on his deys.
With diademe ful heighe in his paleys, 60
And halt his feeste so solempne and so ryche,
That in this world ne was ther noon it lyche ;
Of which, if I shal tellen al tharray,
Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day ;
And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse 65
At every cours the ordre of hire servyse.
I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes,
126 F, SQUIRE'S TALE
Ne of hir swannes, ne of hire heronsewes.
Eek in that lond, as tellen knyghtes olde,
Ther is som mete that is ful deynte holde 70
That in this lond men recche of it but smal ;
Ther nys no man that may reporten al.
I wol nat taryen yow, for it is pryme,
And for it is no fruyt, but los of tyme ;
Unto my purpos I wole have my recours. 75
x\nd so bifel that after the thridde cours,
Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye,
Herknynge his mynstrales hir thynges pleye
Biforn hym at the bord dehciously,
In at the halle dore, al sodeynly, - 80
Ther cam a knyght upon a steede of bras,
And in his hand a brood mirour of glas ;
Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ring,
And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng ;
And up he rideth to the heighe bord. 85
In al the halle ne was ther spoken a word,
For merveille of this knyght ; hym to biholde
Ful bisily ther wayten yonge and olde.
This strange knyght that cam thus sodeynly,
Al armed, save his heed, ful richely, 90
Saleweth kyng and queene, and lordes alle,
By ordre, as they seten in the halle,
With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce.
As wel in speche as in contenaunce,
That Gawayn with his olde curteisye, 95
Though he were comen ageyn out of fairye,
Ne koude hym nat amende with a word ;
And after this, biforn the heighe bord.
He with a manly voys seith his message
After the forme used in his langage, 100
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 12/
Withouten vice of silable, or of lettre ;
And for his tale sholde seme the bettre,
Accordant to hise wordes was his cheere,
As techeth art of speche hem that it leere.
Al be it that I kan nat; sowne his stile, 105
Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style,
Yet seye I this, as to commmie entente,
Thus muche amounteth al that evere he mente,
If it so be that I have it in mynde.
He seyde, " The kyng of Arabe and of Inde, no
My lige lord, on this solempne day
Saleweth yow, as he best kan and may.
And sendeth yow, in honour of youre feeste,
By me that am al redy at youre heeste.
This steede of bras, that esily and weel 115
Kan in the space of o day natureel, —
This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres, —
Wher so yow lyst, in droghte or elles shoures,
Beren youre body into every place
To which youre herte wilneth for to pace, 120
Withouten wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair ;
Or, if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air
As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore.
This same steede shal bere yow evere moore,
Withouten harm, til ye be ther yow lestc, 125
Though that ye slepen on his bak, or reste ;
And turne ageyn with writhyng of a pyn.
He that it wroghte koude ful many a gyn.
He wayted many a constellacioun
Er he had doon this operacioun, 130
And knew ful many a seel, and many a bond.
" This mirrour eek, that I have in myn hond,
Hath swich a myght that men may in it see
128 F. SQUIRE'S TALE
Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee
Unto youre regne, or to youre self also, 135
And openly who is youre freend or foo ;
And over al this, if any lady bright
Hath set hire herte on any maner wight,
If he be fals she shal his tresoun see.
His newe love, and al his subtiltee, 140
So openly that ther shal no thyng hyde.
Wherfore, ageyn this lusty someres tyde,
This mirour and this ryng that ye may see
He hath sent to my lady Canacee,
Youre excellente doghter that is heere. 145
" The vertu of the ryng, if ye wol heere,
Is this, that if hire lust it for to were
Upon hir thombe, or in hir purs it bere,
Ther is no fowel that fleeth under the hevene
That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene, 150
And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn,
And answere hym in his langage ageyn ;
And every gras that groweth upon roote
She shal eek knowe and whom it wol do boote,
Al be hise woundes never so depe and wyde. 155
" This naked swerd that hangeth by my syde
Swich vertu hath that what man so ye smyte,
Thurgh out his armure it wole kerve and byte.
Were it as thikke as is a branched 00k ;
And what man that is wounded with the strook 160
Shal never be hool, til that yow list of grace
To stroke hym with the plat in thilke place
Ther he is hurt ; this is as muche to seyn.
Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn
Strike hym in the wounde and it wol close. 165
This is a verray sooth withouten glose,
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 1 29
It failleth nat whils it is in youre hoold."
And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold,
He rideth out of halle, and doun he h'ghte.
His steede, which that shoon as sonne brighte, 170
Stant in the court as stille as any stoon.
This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon
And is unarmed and unto mete y-set.
The presentes been ful roially y-fet, —
This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour, — 175
And born anon into the heighe tour,
With certeine officers ordeyned therfore ;
And unto Canacee this ryng was bore
Solempnely, ther she sit at the table ;
But sikerly, withouten any fable, 180
The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed,
It stant as it were to the ground y-glewed ;
Ther may no man out of the place it dryve
For noon engyn of wyndas ne polyve ;
And cause why? for they kan nat the craft; 185
And therfore in the place they han it laft,
Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere
To voyden hym, as ye shal after heere.
Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro
To gauren on this hors that stondeth so ; 190
For it so heigh was, and so brood and long,
So wel proporcioned for to been strong,
Right as it were a steede of Lumbardye;
Ther-with so horsly, and so quyk of eye,
As it a gentil Poilleys courser were ; 195
For certes, fro his tayl unto his ere,
Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende
In no degree, as al the peple wende.
But everemoore hir mooste wonder was
K
130 F, SQUIRE'S TALE
How that it koude go, and was of bras ! 200
It was of fairye, as al the peple semed.
Diverse folk diversely they denied;
As many heddes as manye wittes ther been.
They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been,
And maden skiles after hir fantasies, 205
Rehersynge of thise olde poetries ;
And seyde that it was lyk the Pegasee,
The hors that hadde wynges for to flee ;
Or elles it was the Grekes hors, Synoun,
That broghte Troie to destruccioun, 210
As men may in thise olde geestes rede.
" Myn herte," quod oon, ^' is everemopre in drede ;
I trowe som men of armes been ther-inne.
That shapen hem this citee for to wynne ;
It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe."
Another rowned to his felawe lowe, 216
And seyde, " He lyeth ! it is rather lyk
An apparence, y-maad by som magyk ;
As jogelours pleyen at thise feestes grete."
Of sondry doutes thus they jangle and trete, 220
As lewed peple demeth comunly
Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly
Than they kan in hir lewednesse comprehende,
They demen gladly to the badder ende.
And somme of hem wondred on the mirour 225
That born was up into the hye tour,
Hou men myghte in it swiche thynges se.
Another answerde and seyde it myghte wel be
Naturelly by composiciouns
Of anglis, and of slye reflexiouns ; 230
And seyden that in Rome was swich oon.
They speken of Alocen and Vitulon,
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 131
And Aristotle, that writen in hir lyves
Of queynte mirours, and of prospectives,
As knowen they that han hir bookes herd. 235
And oother folk han wondred on the swerd
That wolde percen thurghout every thyng ;
And fiUe in speche of Thelophus the kyng,
And of Achilles with his queynte spere,
For he koude with it bothe heele and dere, 240
Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd
Of which right now ye han youre-selven herd.
They speken of sondry hardyng of metal,
And speke of medicynes therwithal.
And how and whanne it sholde y-harded be, 245
Which is unknowe, algates unto me.
Tho speeke they of Canacees ryng.
And seyden alle that swich a wonder thyng
Of craft of rynges herde they nevere noon;
Save that he Moyses and kyng Salomon 250
Hadden a name of konnyng in swich art ;
Thus seyn the peple and drawen hem apart.
But nathelees somme seiden that it was
Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas.
And yet nys glas nat lyk asshen of fern ; 255
But for they han i-knowen it so fern,
Therfore cesseth hir janglyng and hir wonder.
As soore wondren somme on cause of thonder.
On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on myst.
And on alle thyng til that the cause is wyst. 260
Thus jangle they, and demen and devyse,
Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse.
Phebus hath laft the angle meridional,
And yet ascendynge was the beest roial,
The gentil Leon, with his Aldrian, 265
132 F. SQUIRE'S TALE
Whan that this Tartre kyng, this Cambynskan
Roos fro his bord, ther as he sat ful hye.
Toforii hym gooth the loude mynstralcye
Til he cam to his chambre of parementz ;
Ther as they sownen diverse instrumentz 270
That it is lyk an hevene for to heere.
Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere,
For in the Fyssh hir lady sat ful hye,
And looketh on hem with a freendly eye.
This noble kyng is set up in his trone ; 275
This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone,
And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee.
Heere is the revel and the jolitee
That is nat able a dul man to devyse ;
He moste han knowen love and his servyse, 280
And been a feestlych man, as fressh as May,
That sholde yow devysen swich array.
Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces
So unkouthe, and so fresshe contenaunces,
Swich subtil lookyng and dissymulynges 285
For drede of jalouse mennes apercey vynges ?
No man but Launcelet, and he is deed.
Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed ;
I sey namoore, but in this jolynesse
I lete hem til men to the soper dresse. 290
The styward byt the spices for to hye.
And eek the wyn, in al this melodye.
The usshers and the squiers been y-goon,
The spices and the wyn is come anoon.
They ete and drynke, and whan this hadde an ende.
Unto the temple, as reson was, they wende. 296
The service doon they soupen al by day ;
What nedeth yow rehercen hire array?
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 1 33
Ech man woot wel that a kynges feeste
Hath plentee to the mooste and to the leeste, 300
And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng.
At after soper gooth this noble kyng
To seen this hors of bras, with al the route
Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute.
Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras 305
That syn the grete sege of Troie was, —
Ther as men wondreden on an hors also, —
Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho.
But fynally, the kyng axeth this knyght
The vertu of this courser and the myght, 310
And preyde hym to telle his governaunce.
This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce
Whan that this knyght leyde hand upon his reyne,
And seyde, " Sire, ther is namoore to seyne,
But whan yow list to ryden anywhere 315
Ye mooten trille a pyn, stant in his ere,
Which I shal telle yow bitwix us two.
Ye moote nempne hym to what place also,
Or to what contree, that yow list to ryde ;
And whan ye come ther as yow hst abyde, 320
Bidde hym descende, and trille another pyn, —
For therin Uth theffect of al the gyn, —
And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille,
And in that place he wol stonde stille.
Though al the world the contrarie hadde y- swore, 325
He shal nat thennes been y-drawe ne y-bore ;
Or, if yow hste bidde hym thennes goon,
Trille this pyn, and he wol vanysshe anoon
Out of the sighte of every maiier wight,
And come agayn, be it by day or nyght, 330
Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn
134 ^- SQUIRE'S TALE
In swich a gyse as I shal to yovv seyn,
Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful soone.
Ride whan yow list, ther is namoore to doone."
Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght, 335 -
And hath conceyved in his wit aright
The manere and the forme of al this thyng,
Ful glad and blithe this noble doughty kyng
Repeireth to his revel as biforn.
The brydel is unto the tour y-born 340
And kept among hise jueles leeve and deere,
The hors vanysshed, I noot in what manere.
Out of hir sighte, — ye gete namoore of me ;
But thus I lete in lust and jolitee
This Cambynskan hise lordes festeiynge, 345
Til wel ny the day bigan to sprynge.
Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.
The norice of digestioun, the sleepe,
Gan on hem wynke, and bad hem taken keepe
That muchel drynke and labour wolde han reste ;
And with a galpyng mouth hem alia he keste, 350
And seyde, it was tyme to lye adoun,
For blood was in his domynacioun.
*^ Cherisseth blood, natures freend," quod he.
They thanken hym galpynge, by two, by thre,
And every wight gan drawe hym to his reste, 355
As sleepe hem bad ; they tooke it for the beste.
Hire dremes shul nat been y-toold for me ;
Ful were hire heddes of fumositee.
That causeth dreem, of which ther nys no charge.
They slepen til that it was pryme large, 360
The mooste part, but it were Canacee.
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 1 35
She was ful mesurable as wommen be,
For of hir fader hadde she take leve
To goon to reste, soone after it was eve.
Hir liste nat appalled for to be, 365
Ne on the morwe unfeestlich for to se.
And slepte hire firste sleepe and thanne awook ;
For swich a joye she in hir herte took,
Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hire mirour.
That twenty tyme she changed hir colour, 370
And in hire sleepe, right for impressioun
Of hire mirour, she hadde a visioun.
Wherfore er that the sonne gan up glyde
She cleped on hir maistresse hire bisyde.
And seyde that hire liste for to ryse. 375
Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse.
As is hire maistresse, answerde hire anon.
And seyde, "Madame, whider wil ye goon
Thus erly, for the folk been alle on reste?"
" I wol," quod she, " arise, — for me leste 380
No lenger for to slepe, — and walke aboute."
Hire maistresse clepeth wommen a greet route,
And up they rysen wel a ten or twelve ;
Up riseth fresshe Canacee hir-selve.
As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne 385
That in the Ram is foure degrees up ronne.
Noon hyer was he whan she redy was,
And forth she walketh esily a pas,
Arrayed after the lusty sesoun soote,
Lightly for to pleye, and walke on foote, 390
Nat but with fyve or sixe of hir meynee.
And in a trench forth in the park gooth she.
The vapour which that fro the erthe glood
Made the sonne to seme rody and brood,
136 F. SQUIRE'S TALE
But nathelees it was so fair a sighte 395
That it made alle hire hertes for to lighte, —
What for the sesoun, and the morwenynge,
And for the foweles that she herde synge ;
For right anon she wiste what they mente
Right by hir song, and knew al hire entente. 400
The knotte why that every tale is toold,
If it be taried til that lust be coold
Of hem that han it after herkned yoore,
The savour passeth ever lenger the moore,
For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee ; 405
And by the same resoun thynketh me,
I sholde to the knotte condescende
And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende.
Amydde a tree fordryed, as whit as chalk,
As Canacee was pleyyng in hir walk, 410
Ther sat a faucon over hire heed ful hye,
That with a pitous voys so gan to crye
That all the wode resouned of hire cry.
Y-beten hath she hir-self so pitously
With bothe hir wynges til the rede blood 415
Ran endelong the tree ther as she stood,
And evere in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte,
And with hir beek hir-selven so she prighte.
That ther nys tygre, ne noon so crueel beest.
That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest, 420
That nolde han wept, if that he wepe koude.
For sorwe of hire, she shrighte alwey so loude ;
For ther nas nevere yet no man on lyve, —
If that I koude a faucon wel discryve, —
That herde of swich another of fairnesse, 425
As wel of plumage as of gentillesse
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 1 37
Of shape, and al that myghte y-rekened be.
A faucon peregryn thanne semed she
Of fremde land, and everemoore as she stood.
She swowneth now and now for lakke of blood, 430
Til werneigh is she fallen fro the tree.
This faire kynges doghter, Canacee,
That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng,
Thurgh which she understood wel every thyng
That any fowel may in his ledene seyn, 435
And koude answeren hym in his ledene ageyn.
Hath understonde what this faucon seyde.
And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde ;
And to the tree she gooth ful hastily.
And on this faukon looketh pitously, 440
And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste
The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste,
Whan that swowned next, for lakke of blood.
A longe while to way ten hire she stood,
Til atte laste she spak in this manere 445
Unto the hauk, as ye shal after heere :
" What is the cause, if it be for to telle,
That ye be in this furial pyne of helle? "
Quod Canacee unto the hauk above.
" Is this for sorwe of deeth, or los of love ? 450
For, as I trowe, thise been causes two
That causen moost a gentil herte wo.
Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke.
For ye youre-self upon your-self yow wreke.
Which proveth wel that outher love or drede 455
Moot been enchesoun of youre cruel dede,
Syn that I see noon oother wight yow chace.
For love of God, as dooth youre-selven grace.
Or what may been youre helpe ; for West nor Est
138 R SQUIRE'S TALE
Ne saugh I nevere, er now, no bryd ne beest 460
That ferde with hymself so pitously.
Ye sle me with youre sorwe verrailly;
I have of yow so greet compassioun.
For Goddes love com fro the tree adoun, ^
And as I am a kynges doghter trewe, 465
If that I verraily the cause knewe
Of youre disese, if it lay in my myght,
I wolde amenden it er it were nyght,
As wisly helpe me grete God of kynde !
And herbes shal I right ynowe y-fynde 470
To heele with youre hurtes hastily."
Tho shrighte this faucon yet moore pitously
Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anon,
And lith aswowne, deed, and lyk a stoon,
Til Canacee hath in hire lappe hire take 475
Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake ;
And after that she of hir swough gan breyde
Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde :
" That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte,
Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte, 480
Is preved al day, as men may it see,
As wel by werk as by auctoritee ;
For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse.
I se wel that ye han of my distresse
Compassioun, my faire Canacee, 485
Of verray wommanly benignytee
That nature in youre principles hath set ;
But for noon hope for to fare the bet,
But for to obeye unto youre herte free.
And for to maken othere be war by me, 490
As by the whelpe chasted is the leoun ;
Right for that cause and that conclusioun.
F. SQUIRE'S TALE 1 39
Whil that I have a leyser and a space,
Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace."
And evere whil that oon hir sorwe tolde 495
That oother weep as she to water wolde,
Til that the faucon bad -hire to be stille,
And with a syk right thus she seyde hir wille.
" Ther I was bred, alias ! that harde day, —
And fostred in a roche of marbul gray 500
So tendrely that no thyng eyled me ; —
I nyste nat what was adversitee
Til I koude flee ful hye under the sky —
Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by.
That semed welle of alle gentillesse ; 505
Al were he ful of tresoun and falsnesse.
It was so wrapped under humble cheere.
And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere,
Under plesance, and under bisy peyne.
That I ne koude han wend he koude feyne, 510
So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures.
Right as a serpent hit hym under floures
Til he may seen his tyme for to byte,
Right so this god of love, this ypocryte,
Dooth so hise cerymonyes and obeisaunces, 515
And kepeth in semblant alle hise observaunces
That sowneth into gentillesse of love.
As in a toumbe is al the faire above,
And under is the corps, swich as ye woot,
Swich was the ypocrite, bothe coold and hoot, 520
And in this wise he served his entente.
That save the feend, noon wiste what he mente
Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned.
And many a yeer his service to me feyned.
Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce, 525
I40 F, SQUIRE'S TALE
Al innocent of his corouned malice,
For-fered of his deeth, as thoughte me,
Upon his othes and his seuretee,
Graunted hym love upon this condicioun.
That everemoore myn honour and renoun 530
Were saved, bothe privee and apert ;
This is to seyn, that after his desert,
I gaf hym al myn herte and my thoght, —
God woot, and he, that otherwise noght, —
And took his herte in chaunge for myn for ay ; 535
But sooth is seyd, goon sithen many a day,
'A trewe wight and a theef thenken nat oon ; '
And whan he saugh the thyng so fer y-goon
That I hadde graunted hym fully my love.
In swich a gyse as I have seyd above, 540
And geven hym my trewe herte as fre
As he swoor that he gaf his herte to me ;
Anon this tigre ful of doublenesse
Fil on hise knees with so devout humblesse.
With so heigh reverence, and, as by his cheere, 545
So lyk a gentil lovere of manere.
So ravysshed, as it semed, for the joye.
That nevere Jason, ne Parys of Troye, —
Jason? Cartes, ne noon oother man
Syn Lameth was, that alderfirst bigan 550
To loven two, as writen folk biforn ;
Ne nevere, syn the firste man was born,
Ne koude man, by twenty thousand part,
C6untrefete the sophymes of his art,
Ne were worthy unbokelen his galoche 555
Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche,
Ne so koude thanke a wight as he dide me !
His manere was an hevene for to see
F. SQUIRE'S TALE I4I
Til any womman, were she never so wys,
So peynted he, and kembde at point-devys, 560
As wel hise wordes as his contenaunce;
And I so loved hym for his obeisaunce,
And for the trouthe I demed in his herte,
That if so were that any thyng hym smerte,
Al were it never so lite, and I it wiste, 565 '
Me thoughte I felte deeth myn herte twiste ;
And shortly, so ferforth this thyng is went,
That my wyl was his willes instrument, —
This is to seyn, my wyl obeyed his wyl
In alle thyng, as fer as resoun fil, 570
Kepynge the boundes of my worshipe evere ;
Ne nevere hadde I thyng so Hef ne levere
As hym, God woot ! ne nevere shal namo.
This lasteth lenger than a yeer or two
That I supposed of hym noght but good ; 575
But finally thus atte laste it stood
That Fortune wolde that he moste twynne
Out of that place which that I was inne.
Wher me was wo, that is no questioun ;
I kan nat make of it discripsioun, 580
For o thyng dare I tellen boldely,
I knowe what is the peyne of deeth ther-by ;
Swich harme I felte for he ne myghte bileve !
So on a day of me he took his leve,
So sorwefully eek that I wende verraily 585
That he had felt as muche harm as I,
Whan that I herde hym speke and saugh his hewe;
But nathelees I thoughte he was so trewe.
And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn
Withinne a litel while, sooth to seyn, 590
And resoun wolde eek that he moste go
142 F. SQUIRE'S TALE
For his hon6ur, as ofte it happeth so,
That I made vertu of necessitee,
And took it wel, syn that it moste be.
As I best myghte I hidde fro hym my sorwe 595
And took hym by the hond, Seint John to borwe,
And seyde hym thus : * Lo, I am youres al ;
Beth swich as I to yow have been and shal.'
What he answerde it nedeth noght reherce ;
Who kan sey bet than he, who kan do werse? 600
Whan he hath al i-seyd, thanne hath he doon.
' Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon
That shal ete with a feend,' thus herde I seye ;
. So atte laste he moste forth his weye,
And forth he fleeth til he cam ther hym leste. 605
Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste,
I trowe he hadde thilke text in mynde,
That ^ Alle thyng repeirynge to his kynde
Gladeth hymself,' — thus seyn men, as I gesse.
Men loven of propre kynde newefangelnesse, 610
As briddes doon that men in cages fede ;
For though thou nyght and day take of hem hede,
And strawe hir cage faire, and softe as silk,
And geve hem sugre, hony, breed and milk,
Yet right anon as that his dore is uppe, 615
He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe.
And to the wode he wole, and wormes ete ;
So newefangel been they of hire mete
And loven novelrie of propre kynde ;
No gentillesse of blood ne may hem bynde. 620
" So ferde this tercelet, alias, the day !
Though he were gentil born, and fressh and gay,
And goodlich for to seen, humble and free.
He saugh upon a tyme a kyte flee,
F. SQUIRE'S TALE I43
And sodeynly he loved this kyte so 625
That al his love is dene fro me ago,
And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse.
Thus hath the kyte my love in hire servyse,
And I am lorn withouten remedie."
And with that word this faucon gan to crie, 630
And swovvned eft in Canacees barm.
Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm
That Canacee and alle hir wommen made ;
They nyste hou they myghte the faucon glade.
But Canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe, 635
And softely in piastres gan hire wrappe,
Ther as she with hire beek hadde hurt hirselve.
Now kan nat Canacee but herbes delve
Out of the ground and make salves newe
Of herbes preciouse, and fyne of hewe, 640
To heelen with this hauk ; fro day to nyght
She dooth hire bisynesse and hire fulle myght,
And by hire beddes heed she made a mewe,
And covered it with veluettes blewe,
In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene, 645
And al withoute the mewe is peynted grene,
In which were peynted alle thise false fowles,
As beth thise tidyves, tercelettes and owles ;
And pyes, on hem for to crie and chyde,
Right for despit, were peynted hem bisyde. 650
Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk kepyng ;
I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng
Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn *
How that this faucon gat hire love ageyn,
Repentant, as the storie telleth us, 655
By mediacioun of Cambalus,
The kynges sone, of whiche I yow tolde ;
144 ^' SQUIRE'S TALE
But hennes-forth I wol my proces holde
To speken of aventures and of batailles,
That nevere yet was herd so greet mervailles-. 660
First wol I telle yow of Cambynskan,
That in his tyme many a citee wan ;
And after wol I speke of Algarsif,
How that he wan Theodera to his wif,
For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was, 665
Ne hadde he ben holpe by the steede of bras ;
And after wol I speke of Cambalo,
That faught in lystes with the bretheren two
For Canacee, er that he myghte hire wynne ;
And ther I lefte I wol ageyn bigynne. 670
Explicit secunda pars. Incipit pars tercia.
Appollo whirleth up his chaar so hye
Til that the god Mercurius hous, the slye —
CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE
Whan toold was al the lyf of Seinte Cecile,
Er we hadde riden fully fyve mile, 555
At Boghton-under-Blee, us gan atake
A man that clothed was in clothes blake,
And undernethe he had a white surplys ;
His hackeney, which that was al pomely grys,
So swatte that it wonder was to see ; 560
It semed as he had priked miles three.
The hors eek that his Yeman rood upon
So swatte that unnethe myghte it gon ;
Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye,
He was of foom al flekked as a pye. 565
A male tweyfoold upon his croper lay,
It semed that he caried lite array.
Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
And in myn herte wondren I bigan
What that he was, til that I understood 570
How that his cloke was sowed to his hood ;
For which, whan I hadde long avysed me,
I demed hym som Chanoun for to be.
His hat heeng at his bak doun by a laas.
For he hadde riden moore than trot or paas ; 575
He hadde ay priked hk as he were wood.
A clote-leef he hadde under his hood
For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from heete ;
But it was joye for to seen hym swete !
L 145
146 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE
His forheed dropped as a stillatorie 580
Were ful of plantayne and of paritorie ;
And whan that he was come he gan to crye,
" God save," quod he, " this joly compaignye !
Faste have I priked," quod he, *^ for youre sake,
By-cause that I wolde yow atake 585
To riden in this myrie compaignye."
His Yeman eek was ful of curteisye.
And seyde, " Sires, now in the morwe tyde,
Out of youre hostelrie I saugh you ryde.
And warned heer my lord, and my soverayn, 590
Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn ;
For his desport he loveth daliaunce."
"Freend, for thy warnyng God geve thee good
chaunce ! "
Thanne seyde oure Hoost, '^ for certes it wolde seme
Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme ; 595
He is ful jocunde also, dar I leye !
Can he oght telle a myrie tale or tweye.
With which he glade may this compaignye?"
" Who, sire ? my lord ? ye, ye, withouten lye !
He kan of murthe, and eek of jolitee 600
Nat but ynough, also, sire, trusteth me ;
And ye hym knewe as wel as do I,
Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily
He koude werke, and that in sondry wise.
He hath take on hym many a greet emprise, 605
Which were ful hard for any that is heere
To brynge about, but they of hym it leere.
As hoomely as he rit amonges yow.
If ye hym knewe it wolde be for youre prow ;
Ye wolde nat forgoon his dqueyntaunce 610
For muchel good ; I dar leye in balaunce
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE I47
Al that I have in my possessioun.
He is a man of heigh discrecioun ;
I warne yow wel, he is a passyng man."
^'Wel," quod oure Hoost, "I pray thee tel me than
Is he a clerk or noon? Telle what he is." 616
" Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, y-wis,"
Seyde this Yeman, '' and in wordes fewe,
Hoost, of his craft somwhat I wol yow shewe.
" I seye, my lord kan swich subtihtee, — 620
But al his craft ye may nat wite at me,
And somwhat helpe I yet to his wirkyng, —
That al this ground on which we been ridyng.
Til that we come to Caunterbury toun.
He koude al clene turne it up-so-doun, 625
And pave it al of silver and of gold."
And whan this Yeman hadde this tale y-told
Unto oure Hoost, he seyde, " Benedicitee I
This thyng is wonder merveillous to me,
Syn that thy lord is of so heigh prudence, 630
By cause of which men sholde hym reverence,
That of his worshipe rekketh he so lite.
His overslope nys nat worth a myte.
As in effect to hym, so moot I go !
It is al baudy and to-tore also. 635
Why is thy lord so sluttissh, I the preye.
And is of power bettre clooth to beye, —
If that his dede accorde with thy speche?
Telle me that, and that I thee biseche."
"Why?" quod this Yeman, " wherto axe ye me? 640
God help me so, for he shal nevere thee ! —
But I wol nat avowe that I seye.
And therfore keepe it secree, I yow preye, —
He is to wys, in feith, as I bileeve ;
148 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE
That that is overdoon it wol nat preeve 645
Aright ; as clerkes seyn, it is a vice ;
Wherfore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce ;
For whan a man hath over greet a wit,
Ful oft hym happeth to mysusen it.
So dooth my lord, and that me greveth soore. 650
God it amende ! I kan sey yow namoore."
"Ther-of no fors, good Yeman," quod oure Hoost,
" Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost,
Telle how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,
Syn that he is so crafty and so sly ; 655
Where dwelle ye, if it to telle be ? "
" In the suburbes of a toun," quod he,
^' Lurkynge in hemes, and in lanes blynde.
Where as thise robbours and thise theves by kynde,
Holden hir pryvee fereful residence, 660
As they that dar nat shewen hir presence ;
So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe."
" Now," quod oure Hoost, " yet lat me talke to the ;
Why artow so discoloured of thy face? "
" Peter ! " quod he, ''■ God geve it harde grace, 665
I am so used in the fyr to blovve,
That it hath chaunged my col6ur, I trowe.
I am nat wont in no mirour to prie.
But swynke soore, and lerne multiplie ;
We blondren evere, and pouren in the fir, 670
And for al that we faille of our desir.
For evere we lakken oure conclusioun.
To muchel folk we doon illusioun.
And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,
Or ten, or twelve, or manye sommes mo, 675
And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,
That of a pound we koude make tweye ;
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE 149
Yet is it fals \ but ay we han good hope
It for to doon and after it we grope ;
But that science is so fer us biforn 680
We mowen nat, al though we hadde it sworn,
It over-take, it sht awey so faste.
It wole us maken beggers atte laste."
Whil this Yeman was thus in his talkyng
This Chanoun drough hym neer, and herde al thyng 685
Which this Yeman spak, for suspecioun
Of mennes speche evere hadde this Chanoun ;
For Catoun seith that he that gilty is
Demeth alle thyng be spoke of hym, y-wis.
That was the cause he gan so ny hym drawe 690
To his Yeman, to herknen al his sawe,
And thus he seyde unto his Yeman tho :
" Hoold thou thy pees, and spek.no wordes mo !
For if thou do, thou shalt it deere abye !
Thou sclaundrest me, heere in this compaignye, 695
And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde."
" Ye? " quod our Hoost, " telle on what so bityde ;
Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte ! "
" In feith," quod he, " namoore I do but lyte."
And whan this Chanoun saugh it wolde nat be, 700
But his Yeman wolde telle his pryvetee.
He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.
" A ! " quod the Yeman, " heere shal arise a game,
Al that I kan anon now wol I telle,
Syn he is goon, — the foule feend hym quelle ! 705
For nevere heer-after wol I with hym meete.
For peny ne for pound, I yow biheete !
He that me broghte first unto that game,
Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame ;
150 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE
For it is ernest to me, by my feith ! 710
That feele I wel, what so any man seith.
And yet for al my smert, and al my grief,
For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief,
I koude nevere leve it in no wise.
Now wolde God, my witte myghte suffise 715
To tellen al that longeth to that art ;
And nathelees yow wol I tellen part ;
Syn that my lord is goon I wol nat spare ;
Swich thyng as that I knowe I wol declare."
CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
[part i]
With this Chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer, 720
And of his science am I never the neer ;
Al that I hadde I have lost ther-by,
And, God woot, so hath many mo than I.
Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay
Of clothyng and of oother good array, 725
Now may I were an hose upon myn heed ;
And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed,
Now is it wan and of a leden hewe, —
Who so it useth, soore shal he rewe, —
And of my swynk yet blered is myn eye ; 730
Lo, which avantage is to multiplie !
That slidynge science hath me maad so bare.
That I have no good wher that evere I fare ;
And yet I am endetted so ther-by,
Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, 735
That whil I lyve I shal it quite nevere, —
Lat every man be war by me for evere.
What maner man that casteth hym ther-to.
If he continue, I holde his thrift y-do ;
For, so helpe me God, ther-by shal he nat wynne, 740
But empte his purs, and make hise wittes thynne ;
And whan he thurgh his madnesse and folye
Hath lost his owene good thurgh jupartye,
151
152 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
Thanne he exciteth oother folk ther-to,
To lesen hir good, as he hymself hath do ; 745
For unto shrewes joye it is and ese,
To have hir felawes in peyne and disese, —
Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.
Of that no charge, I wol speke of oure werk.
Whan we been there as we shul excercise 750
Oure elvysshe craft, we semen wonder wise,
Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte ;
I blowe the fir til that myn herte feynte.
What sholde I tellen eche proporcioun
Of thynges whiche that we werche upon ; 755
As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be
Of silver, or som oother quantitee ;
And bisye me to telle yow the names
Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames,
That into poudre grounden been ful smal? 760
And in an erthen pot how put is al,
And salt y-put in and also papeer
Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer,
And wel y-covered with a larape of glas ;
And muchel oother thyng which that ther was, 765
And of the pot and glasses enlutyng.
That of the eyr myghte passe out no thyng.
And of the esy fir, and smart also.
Which that was maad, and of the care and wo
That we hadden in oure matires sublymyng, 770
And in amalgamyng and calcenyng
Of quyk-silver, y-clept mercuric crude ;
For alle our sleightes we kan nat conclude.
Oure orpyment and sublymed mercuric,
Oure grounden li targe eek on the porfurie, 775
Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn.
G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 53
Noght helpeth us, oure labour is in veyn;
Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun,
Ne oure matires that lyen al fix adoun,
Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng us availle ; 780
For lost is al oure labour and travaille,
And al the cost, a twenty devel way,
Is lost also, which we upon it lay.
Ther is also ful many another thyng
That is unto oure craft apertenyng, 785
Though I by ordre hem nat reherce kan,
By-cause that I am a lewed man ;
Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde,
Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde, —
As boole armonyak, vertgrees, boras, 790
And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas ;
Oure urynals, and our descensories,
Violes, crosletz, and sublymatories,
Curcurbites, and alambikes eek.
And othere swiche, deere ynough a leek ; 795
Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle, —
Watres rubifiyng, and boles galle,
Arsenyk, sal armonyak, and brymstoon ;
And herbes koude I telle eek many oon,
As egremoyne, valerian, and lunarie, 800
And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie ;
Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day,
To brynge aboute oure purpos if we may ;
Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun.
And of watres albificacioun, 805
Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey,
Poudres diverse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley,
Cered pokettes, sal-peter and vitriole.
And diverse fires maad of wode and cole \
154 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
Sal-tartre, alkaly and sal-preparat ; 8io
And combust matires, and coagulat ;
Cley maad with hors and mannes heer, and oille
Of tartre, alum, glas, berme, wort and argoille,
Resalgar, and oure matires enbibyng,
And eek of oure matires encorporyng, 815
And of oure silver citrinacioun,
Oure c^mentyng and fermentacioun,
Oure yngottes, testes, and many mo.
I wol yow telle as was me taught also
The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, 820
By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.
The firste spirit quyk-silver called is,
The seconde orpyment, the thridde, y-wis,
Sal-armonyak, and the ferthe brymstoon.
The bodyes sevene eek, lo, hem heere anoon ! 825
Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe.
Mars iren, Mercurie quyk-silver we clepe,
Saturnus leed, and Juppiter is tyn.
And Venus coper, by my fader kyn.
This cursed craft who so wol excercise 830
He shal no good han that hym may sufifise ;
For al the good he spendeth ther-aboute
He lese shal, ther-of have I no doute.
Whoso that Hsteth outen his folic,
Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie ; 835
And every man that oght hath in his cofre,
Lat hym appiere and wexe a philosophre.
Ascaunce that crafte is so light to leere?
Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere.
Freest or chanoun, or any oother wyght, 840
Though he sitte at his book bothe day and night
In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore,
G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 55
Al is in veyn, and, parde, muchel moore !
To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee, —
Fy ! spek nat ther-of, for it wol nat bee ; 845
And konne he letterure, or konne he noon,
As in effect he shal fynde it al oon ;
For bothe two, by my salvacioun,
Concluden in multiphcacioun
YHke wel, whan they han al y-do, — 850
This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two.
Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille
Of watres corosif, and of lymaille,
And of bodies moUificacioun,
And also of hire induracioun, 855
Oilles, ablucions, and metal fusible, —
To tellen al wolde passen any bible
That owher is ; wherfore, as for the beste,
Of alle thise names now wol I me reste,
For as I trovve I have yow toold ynowe 860
To reyse a feend, al looke he never so rowe.
A ! nay ! lat be ; the philosophres stoon,
Ehxer clept, we sechen faste echoon,
For hadde we hym, thanne were we siker ynow ;
But, unto God of hevene I make avow, 865
For al oure craft, whan we han al y-do.
With al oure sleighte, he wol nat come us to.
He hath y-made us spenden muchel good,
For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood,
But that good hope crepeth in oure herte, 870
Supposynge ever, though we sore smerte.
To be releeved by hym afterward.
Swich supposyng and hope is sharpe and hard ;
I warne yow wel it is to seken evere ;
ThdXfutur temps hath maad men dissevere, 875
156 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
In trust ther-of, from al that evere they hadde.
Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde,
For unto hem it is a bitter-sweete, —
So semeth it, — for nadde they but a sheete,
Which that they myghte wrappe hem inne at nyght,
And a brat to walken inne by day-lyght, 881
They wolde hem selle, and spenden on the craft ;
They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft ;
And everemoore, where that evere they goon,
Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon. 885
For al the world they stynken as a goot ;
Hir savour is so rammyssh and so hoot
That though a man a mile from hem be
The savour wole infecte hym, truste me.
Lo thus by smellyng, and threedbare array, 890
If that men liste, this folk they knowe may ;
And if a man wole aske hem pryvely^
Why they been clothed so unthriftily.
They right anon wol rownen in his ere
And seyn, that if that they espied were, 895
Men wolde hem slee by-cause of hir science.
Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence !
Passe over this, I go my tale unto.
Er that the pot be on the fire y-do,
Of metals with a certeyn quantitee 900
My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he, —
Now he is goon I dare seyn boldely, —
For as men seyn he kan doon craftily,
Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name,
And yet ful oft he renneth in a blame ; 905
And wite ye how ? Ful oft it happeth so
The pot to-breketh, and farewel, al is go.
Thise metals been of so greet violence
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 57
Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence,
But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon, 910
They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon,
And somme of hem synken into the ground, —
Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound, —
And somme are scatered al the floor aboute,
Somme lepe into the roof, withouten doute. 915
Thogh that the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe,
I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe !
In helle, where that he is lord and sire,
Nis ther moore wo, ne moore rancour, ne ire ;
Whan that oure pot is broke, as I have sayd, 920
Every man chit and halt hym yvele apayd.
Somme seyde it was along on the fir makyng,
Somme seyde nay, it was on the blowyng, —
Thanne was I fered, for that was myn office.
"Straw!" quod the thridde, "ye been lewed and
nyce, 925
It was nat tempred as it oghte be."
" Nay," quod the fourthe, " stynt and herkne me ;
By-cause our fir ne was nat maad of beech.
That is the cause, and oother noon, so theech."
I kan nat telle wheron it was along, 930
But wel I woot greet strif us is among.
" What ! " quod my lord, " ther is namoore to doone ;
Of thise perils I wol be war eft-soone.
I am right siker that the pot was erased; -
Be as be may, be ye no thyng amased. 935
As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swithe,
Plukke up your hertes and beeth glad and blithe ! "
The mullok on an heepe sweped was,
And on the floor y-cast a canevas,
And al this mullok in a syve y-throwe, 940
158 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
And sifted and y-piked many a throwe.
^^ Pardee I ^^ quod oon, "somwhat of oure metal
Yet is ther heere, though that we han nat al.
Al though this thyng myshapped have as now,
Another tyme it may be wel ynow. 945
Us moste putte oure good in ^venture ;
A marchant, pardee ! may nat ay endure,
Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee.
Somtyme his good is drenched in the see,
And somtyme comth it sauf unto the londe." 950
"Pees!" quod my lord, "the nexte tyme I shal
fonde
To bryngen oure craft al in another plite ;
And but I do, sires, lat me han the wite ;
Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I woot."
Another seyde the fir was over hoot ; 955
But, be it hoot or coold, I dar seye this,
That we concluden everemoore amys.
We faille of that which that we wolden have,
And in oure madnesse everemoore we rave ;
And whan we been togidres everichoon 960
Every man semeth a Salomon ;
But al thyng which that shyneth as the gold,
Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told ;
Ne every appul that is fair at eye
Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye. 965
Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us :
H^ that semeth the wiseste, by Jhesus,
Is moost fool, whan it cometh to the preef ;
And he that semeth trewest is a theef.
That shul ye knowe er that I fro yow wende, 970
By that I of my tale have maad an ende.
G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 59
[part ii]
Ther is a Chanoun of Religioun
Amonges us wolde infecte al a toun.
Thogh it as greet were as was Nynyvee,
Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. 975
His sleightes and his infinit falsnesse
Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse,
Though that he lyve myghte a thousand yeer.
In al this world of falshede nis his peer,
For in hise termes so he wolde hym wynde, 980
And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde,
Whanne he commune shal with any wight,
That he wol make hym doten anon right,
But it a feend be, as hymselven is.
Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this, 985
And wole, if that he lyve may a while ;
And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile
Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,
Nogt knowynge of his false governaunce ;
And if yow list to geve me audience, 990
I wol it telle heere in youre presence.
But, worshipful chanouns religious,
Ne demeth nat that I desclaundre youre hous,
Although my tale of a chanoun bee ;
Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee, 995
And God forbede that al a compaignye
Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye.
To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente,
But to correcten that is mys, I mente.
This tale was nat oonly toold for yow, 1000
But eek for othere mo ; ye woot wel how
That among Cristes apostles twelve
l60 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
Ther nas no tray tour but Judas hymselve.
Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame,
That giltlees were? By yow I seye the same, 1005
Save oonly this, if ye wol herkne me, —
If any Judas in youre covent be,
Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede.
If shame, or los, may causen any drede ;
And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye, loio
But in this cas herketh what I shal seye.
In Londoun was a preest, an annueleer,
That ther-inne dwelled hadde many a yeer.
Which was so plesaunt and so servy sable
Unto the wyf, where as he was at table, 1015
That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye
For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye ;
And spendyng-silver hadde he right ynow.
Ther-of no fors, I wol procede as now.
And telle forth my tale of the chanoun 1020
That broghte this preest to confusioun.
This false chanoun cam upon a day
Unto this preestes chambre wher he lay,
Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn
Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn. 1025
"Leene me a marc," quod he, "but dayes three.
And at my day I wol it quiten thee ;
And if so be that thow me fynde fals
Another day, do hange me by the hals."
This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe,
And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe, 1031
And took his leve, and wente forthe his weye.
And at the thridde day broghte his moneye.
And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE i6l
Wher-of this preest was wonder glad and fayn. 1035
"Certes," quod he, "no thyng anoyeth me
To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre,
Or what thyng were in my possessioun.
Whan he so trewe is of condicioun
That in no wise he breke wole his day ; 1040
To swich a man I kan never seye nay."
"What ! " quod this chanoun, " sholde I be untrewe?
Nay, that were thyng y-fallen al of newe.
Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe,
Unto that day in which that I shal crepe 1045
Into my grave, or eUis, God forbede !
Bileveth this, as siker as the Crede.
God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,
That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd
For gold ne silver that he to me lente ; 1050
Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente ;
And, sire," quod he, " now of my pryvetee, —
Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me.
And kithed to me so greet gentillesse, —
Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse 1055
I wol yow shewe^ and, if yow list to leere,
I wol yow teche pleynly the manere
How I kan werken in philosophic ;
Taketh good heede ye shul wel seen at eye
That I wol doon a maistrie er I go." 1060
" Ye," quod the preest, " ye, sire, and wol ye so?
Marie ! ther-of I pray yow hertely."
"At youre comandement, sire, trewely,"
Quod the chanoun, " and ellis God forbeede."
Loo, how this theef koude his service beede ! 1065
Ful sooth it is that swiche profred servyse
Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse ;
M
1 62 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
And that ful soone I wol it verifie
In this chanoun, roote of alle trecherie,
That evere moore deHt hath and gladnesse, — 1070
Swiche feendly thoughtes in his herte impresse, —
How Cristes peple he may to meschief brynge.
God kepe us from his false dissymulynge !
Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delt,
Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte. 1075
O sely preest, O sely innocent !
With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent.
O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite,
No thyng ne artow war of the deceite
Which that this fox y-shapen hath for thee ; 1080
Hise wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee ;
Wherfore, to go to the conclusioun
That refereth to thy confusioun,
Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye
To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, 1085
And eek the falsnesse of that 00th er wrecche.
As ferforth as my konnynge may strecche.
This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden weene —
Sire Hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene,
It was another chanoun and nat hee, 1090
That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee.
He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme ;
Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme.
fevere whan I speke of his falshede,
For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede, — 1095
Algates they bigynnen for to glowe, —
For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,
In my visage, for fumes diverse
Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce.
Consumed and wasted han my reedenesse. noo
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 63
Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse.
" Sire," quod he to the preest, " lat youre man gon
For quyk-silver, that we hadde it anon,
And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three,
And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see 1105
A wonder thyng which ye saugh nevere er this."
" Sire," quod the preest, " it shal be doon y-wis."
He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng,
And he al redy was at his biddyng.
And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn mo
With this quyk-silver, soothly for to sayn ;
And toke thise ounces thre to the chanoun.
And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun.
And bad the servant coles for to brynge.
That he anon myghte go to his werkynge. 1115
The coles right anon weren y-fet,
And this chanoun took out a crosselet
Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest.
" This instrument," quod he, " which that thou seest,
Taake in thy^j hand and put thy self therinne 1120
Of this quyk-silver an ounce, and heer bigynne.
In the name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre.
Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre
To shewen hem thus muche of my science :
For ye shul seen heer by experience, 1125
That this quyk-silver wol I mortifye.
Right in youre sighte anon, I wol nat lye,
And make it as good silver and as fyn.
As ther is any in youre purse or myn,
Or elleswhere, and make it malliable ; 1130
And elles holdeth me fals and unable
Amonges folk for evere to appeere.
I have a poudre heer, that coste me deere,
l64 G' CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal. 1135
Voydith youre man and lat hym be ther-oute,
And shette the dore whils we been aboute
Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie,
Whiles we werke in this philosophic."
Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede ; 1140
This ilke servant anonright out yede,
And his maister shette the dore anon,
And to hire labour spedily they gon.
This preest at this cursed chanouns biddyng
Upon the fir anon sette this thyng, 1145
And blew the fir and bisyed hym ful faste ;
And this chanoun into the crosselet caste
A poudre, — noot I wher-of that it was
Y-maad, outher of chalk, outher of glas,
Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye, — 1150
To blynde with the preest, and bad hym hye
The coles for to couchen al above
The crosselet ; *' For in tokenyng I thee love,"
Quod this chanoun, " thyne owene handes two
Shul werche al thyng which shal heer be do." 1155
^'Graunt mercy! " quod the preest, and was ful glad,
And couched coles as that chanoun bad ;
And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche.
This false chanoun, — the foule feend hym fecche ! —
Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, 1160
In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,
And therinne put was of silver lemaille
An ounce, and stopped was withouten faille
The hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in ;
And understondeth, that this false gyn 1165
Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore ;
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 165
And othere thynges I shal tellen moore
Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte,
Er he cam there hym to bigile he thoghte ;
And so he dide, er that they wente atwynne ; 1170
Til he had terved hym, he koude nat blynne.
It dulleth me, whan that I of hym speke ;
On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke,
If I wiste how, but he is heere and there.
He is so variaunt, he abit nowhere. 1175
But taketh heede now, sires, for Goddes love !
He took this cole of which I spak above.
And in his hand he baar it pryvely.
And whyles the preest couched bisily
The coles, as I tolde yow er this, 1180
This chanoun seyde, " Freend, ye doon amys.
This is nat couched as it oghte be ;
But soone Ishal amenden it," quod he.
*^ Now lat me medle ther-with but a while,
For of yow have I pitee, by Seint Gile ! 1185
Ye been right hoot, I se wel how ye swete ;
Have heer a clooth, and wipe awey the wete."
And whyles that the preest wiped his face.
This chanoun took his cole with harde grace.
And leyde it above upon the myddeward 1190
Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward,
Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
" Now geve us drynke," quod the chanoun thenne,
" As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake.
Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make ; " 1195
And whan that this chanones bechen cole
Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole
Into the crosselet fil anon adoun.
And so it moste nedes, by resoun.
1 66 G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
Syn it so evene aboven couched was ; 1200
But ther-of wiste the preest no thyng, alas !
He denied alle the coles yliche good,
For of that sleighte he no thyng understood ;
And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme, —
" Ris up," quod he, " sire preest, and stonde by me,
And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon, 1206
Gooth, walketh forth, and brynge us a chalk stoon.
For I wol make it of the same shape
That is an ingot, if I may han hape ;
And bryngeth eek with yow a boUe or a panne 1210
Ful of water, and ye shul se wel thanne
How that oure bisynesse shal thryve and preeve ;
And yet, for ye shul han no mysbileeve,
Ne wrong conceite of me in youre absence,
I ne wol nat been out of youre presence, 1215
But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn."
The chambre dore, shortly for to seyn.
They opened and shette, and went hir weye,
And forth with hem they carieden the keye,
And coome agayn withouten any delay. 1220
What sholde I tarien al the longe day?
He took the chalk and shoope it in the wise
Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse.
I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve
A teyne of silver — yvele moot he cheeve ! — 1225
Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte ;
And taketh heede now of his cursed sleighte.
He shoope his ingot in lengthe and eek in breede
6f this teyne, withouten any drede.
So slyly that the preest it nat espide ; 1230
And in his sieve agayn he gan it hide,
And fro the fir he took up his mateere
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 167
And in thyngot putte it with myrie cheere,
And in the water vessel he it caste,
Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste, 1235
'^ Look what ther is, put in thin hand and grope,
Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope."
What, devel of helle ! sholde it ellis be ?
Shavyng of silver silver is, parde !
He putte his hand in, and took up a teyne 1240
Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne
Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so.
" Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also.
And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun ! "
Seyde this preest, " and I hir malisoun ! 1245
But, and ye vouchesauf to techen me
This noble craft and this subtilitee,
I wol be youre in al that evere I may."
Quod the chanoun, " Yet wol I make assay
The seconde tyme, that ye may taken heede 1250
And been expert of this, and in youre neede
Another daye assaye in myn absence
This disciplyne, and this crafty science.
Tat take another ounce," quod he tho,
'^ Of quyk-silver, withouten wordes mo, 1255
And do therwith as ye han doon er this
With that oother, which that now silver is."
This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan
To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,
Comanded hym, and faste he blew the fir, 1260
For to come to theffect of his desir ;
And this chanoun, right in the meene while,
Al redy was the preest eft to bigile.
And for a contenaunce in his hand he bar
An holwe stikke, — taak kepe and be war, — 1265
l68 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
In the ende of which an ounce, and namoore
Of silver lemaille put was (as bifore
Was in his cole) and stopped with wex weel,
For to kepe in his lemaille every deel.
And whil this preest was in his bisynesse, 1270
This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse
To hym anon, and his poudre caste in
As he did er, — the devel out of his skyn
Hym terve, I pray to God, for his falshede !
For he was evere fals in thoght and dede, — 1275
And with this stikke above the crosselet,
That was ordeyned with that false get,
He stired the coles, til relente gan
The wex agayn the fir, as every man,
But it a fool be, woot wel it moot nede ; 1280
And al that in the stikke was out yede.
And in the crosselet hastily it fel.
N6w, good sires, what wol ye bet than wel?
Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn,
Supposynge noght but treuthe, sooth to seyn, 1285
He was so glad that I kan nat expresse
In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse,
And to the chanoun he profred eftsoone
Body and good. '^ Ye," quod the chanoun soone,
" Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me fynde ; 1290
I warne thee yet is ther moore bihynde.
Is ther any coper her-inne?" seyde he.
''Ye," quod the preest, " sire, I trowe wel ther be."
*' Elles go bye us som, and that as swithe.
Now, goode sire, go forth thy wey and hy the." 1295
He v/ente his wey, and with the coper cam.
And this chanoun it in hise handes nam,
And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 69
Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce,
As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse 1300
Of this chanoun, roote of alle cursednesse.
He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght,
But he was feendly bothe in werk and thoght.
It weerieth me to telle of his falsnesse.
And nathelees yet wol I it expresse 1305
To that entent men may be war therby.
And for noon oother cause, trewely.
He putte the ounce of coper in the crosselet.
And on the fir as swithe he hath it set.
And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe.
And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe, 131 1
As he dide er, and al nas but a jape.
Right as hym liste the preest he made his ape ;
And afterward in the ingot he it caste.
And in the panne putte it at the laste, 1315
Of water. In he putte his owene hand ;
And in his sieve, as ye biforen-hand
Herde me telle, he hadde a silver teyne ;
He slyly tooke it out, — this cursed heyne, —
Unwityng this preest of his false craft, 1320
And in the pannes botme he hath it laft.
And in the water rombled to and fro.
And wonder pryvely took up also
The coper teyne, noght knowynge this preest.
And hidde it, and hym hente by the breest, 1325
And to hym spak and thus seyde in his game,
" Stoupeth adoun, by God, ye be to blame,
Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whil-eer,
Putte in youre hand, and looketh what is theer."
This preest took up this silver teyne anon, 1330
And thanne seyde the chanoun, " Lat us gon
I/O G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
With thise thre teynes whiche that we han wroght
To som goldsmyth, and wite if they been ought ;
For, by my feith, I nolde for myn hood,
But if they were silver fyn and good, 1335
And that as swithe preeved it shal bee."
Unto the goldsmyth with thise teynes three
They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay
To fir and hamer ; myghte no man seye nay.
But that they weren as hem oghte be. 1340
This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
Was nevere brid gladder agayn the day,
Ne nyghtyngale in the sesoun of May.
Nas nevere man that luste bet to synge,
Ne ladye lustier in carolynge, 1345
Or, for to speke of love and wommanhede,
Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede
To stonden in grace of his lady deere,
Than hadde this preest this sorry craft to leere ;
And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde : 1350
*' For love of God, that for us alle deyde,
And as I may deserve it unto yow.
What shal this receite coste, telleth now?"
" By oure lady," quod this chanoun, " it is deere,
I warne yow wel, for save I and a frere 1355
In Engelond ther kan no man it make."
" No fors," quod he, " now, sire, for Goddes sake.
What shal I paye? Telleth me, I preye."
" Y-wis," quod he, "it is ful deere, I seye.
Sire, at o word, if that thee list it have, 1360
Ye shul paye fourty pound, so God me save ;
And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this
To me ye sholde paye moore y-wis."
This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE I/I
Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon 1365
To this chanoun, for this ilke receit.
Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceit.
" Sire preest," he seyde, '* I kepe han no loos
Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos,
And, as ye love me, kepeth it secree ; 1370
For, and men knewen al my soutiltee,
By God, they wolden han so greet envye
To me, by cause of my philosophye,
I sholde be deed ; ther were noon oother weye."
"God it forbeede," quod the preest; ''what sey
ye ? 1375
Yet hadde I levere spenden al the good
Which that I have, — and elles wexe I wood ! —
Than that ye sholden falle in swiche mescheef."
" For youre good wyl, sire, have ye right good preef,"
Quod the chanoun, '' and farwel, grant mercy ! " 1380
He wente his wey and never the preest hym sy
After that day ; and whan that this preest sholde
Maken assay at swich tyme as he wolde
Of this receit, farwel, it wolde nat be !
Lo, thus byjaped and bigiled was he. 1385
Thus maketh he his introduccioun,
To brynge folk to hir destruccioun.
Considereth sires, how that in ech estaat,
Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat
So ferforth, that unnethe is ther noon. 1390
This multiplying blent so many oon,
That, in good feith, I trowe that it bee
The cause grettest of swich scarsetee.
Philosophres speken so mystily
In this craft, that men kan nat come therby, 1395
172 G. CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
For any wit that men han now-a-dayes.
They movve wel chiteren as doon these jayes,
And in hir termes sette hir lust and peyne,
But to hir purpos shul they nevere atteyne.
A man may hghtly lerne, if he have aught, 1400
To multiphe, and brynge his good to naught.
Lo, swich a lucre is in this lusty game
A mannes myrthe it wol turne unto grame,
And empten also grete and hevye purses,
And maken folk for to purchacen curses 1405
Of hem that han hir good therto y-lent.
O fy, for shame ! they that han been brent,
Alias 1 kan they nat flee the fires heete ?
Ye that it use I rede ye it leete,
Lest ye lese al, for " bet than nevere is late " ; 1410
Nevere to thryve were to long a date.
Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it nevere fynde.
Ye been as boold as is Bayard the blynde,
That blondreth forth and peril casteth noon.
He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon, 1415
As for to goon bisides in the weye.
So faren ye that multiplie, I seye ;
If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright,
Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight.
For though ye looken never so brode, and stare, 1420
Ye shul nat wynne a myte on that chaffare.
But wasten al that ye may rape and renne.
Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne, —
Medleth namoore with that art, I mene.
For if ye doon youre thrift is goon ful clene, 1425
And right as swithe. I wol yow tellen heere.
What philosophres seyn in this mateere.
Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun,
G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE 1 73
As his Rosarie maketh mencioun ;
He seith right thus, withouten any lye, 1430
' Ther may no man mercurie mortifie,
But it be with his brother knowlechyng.
Lo, how that he which that first seyde this thyng
Of philosophres fader was, Hermes.
He seith how that the dragon, doutelees, 1435
Ne dyeth nat, but if that he be slayn
With his brother ; and that is for to sayn,
By the dragon, Mercurie, and noon oother,
He understood, and brymstoon by his brother,
That out of Sol and Luna were y-drawe ; 1440
And therfore,' seyde he, ' taak heede^to my sawe ;
Lat no man bisye hym this arte for to seche,
But if that he thentencioun and speche
Of philosophres understonde kan ;
And, if he do, he is a lewed man, 1445
For this science and this konnyng,' quod he,
' Is of the secree of secrees, pardeeJ
Also ther was a disciple of Plato
That on a tyme seyde his maister to.
As his book Senior wol bere witnesse, 1450
And this was his demande, in soothfastnesse,
"Telle me the name of the privee stoon."
And Plato answerde unto hym anoon,
"Take the stoon that Titanos men name " —
"Which is that?" quod he. ^^ Magnasia is the
same," 1455
Seyde Plato. " Ye, sire, and is it thus ?
This is ignotum per tgnocius.
What is Magnasia, good sire, I yow preye?"
" It is a water that is maad, I seye,
Of elementes foure," quod Plato. 1460
174 G, CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE
" Telle me the roote, good sire," quod he tho,
" Of that water, if it be youre wille."
" Nay, nay," quod Plato, " certein that I nylle ;
The philosophres sworn were everychoon
That they sholden discovere it unto noon, 1465
Ne in no book it write in no manere.
For unto Crist it is so lief and deere.
That he wol nat that it discovered bee,
But where it liketh to his deitee
Man for tenspire, and eek for to deffende 1470
Whom that hym hketh ; lo, this is the ende."
Thanne conclude I thus, sith that God of hevene
Ne wil nat that the philosophres nevene
How that a man shal come unto this stoon,
I rede as for the beste lete it goon ; 1475
For who so maketh God his adversarie.
As for to werken anythyng in contrarie
Of his wil, certes never shal he thryve,
Thogh that he multiphe terme of his lyve ;
And there a poynt ; for ended is my tale. 1480
God sende every trewe man boote of his bale.
Amen,
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN NOTES AND
GLOSSARY
adj.^ adjective; adv.^ adverb; ;/., noun; gen.^ genitive; dat.^ dative;
5., singular; //., plural; pr. s., present tense, singular; pr. pl.^ present
tense, plural; pt. j., past tense, singular; pt. pL, past tense, plural.
When the person of a verb is indicated, the nunrrber i, 2, or 3 is placed
before J. or//./ subj.pr. j., subjunctive present singular; subj. pr. pl.^
subjunctive present plural; subj.pt. s., subjunctive past singular; subj.
pt. pl.y subjunctive past plural; subj. opt., optative subjunctive; imp. s.,
imperative singular; imp. pi., imperative plural; pp., past participle.
The meaning of other contractions will be readily seen. Where the
form of the defining word, or words, indicates the grammatical
category, the latter is not otherwise indicated. In the Chaucer
Society's Six-text Print, the Canterbury Tales are divided into nine
groups, named A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, each group having a separate
verse-numbering. Of these groups, six are represented in this book,
namely. A, B, C, D, F, G, and the verse-numbering is given, in all
cases, of the Six-text Print. The letters prefixed to the numbers, in
the Glossary, indicate the groups to which the numbers belong. The
Chaucer Society's six texts, known as the EUesmere, the Hengwrt,
the Cambridge, the Corpus, the Petworth, the Lansdowne, are referred
to as Mss. E., Hn., Cm., Cp., Pt., Ln., respectively. The Harleian
Ms. 7334 is referred to as Ms. HI.
176
NOTES
NOTES TO GROUP A
I. et seq.: 'There is a pervading wholesomeness in the writings of
this man, — a vernal property that soothes and refreshes in a way of
which no other has ever found the secret. I repeat to myself a thou-
sand times, —
Whan that Aprille with hise shoures soote, etc.,
and still at the thousandth time a breath of uncontaminate spring-tide
seems to lift the hair upon my forehead. If here be not the largior
ather^ the serene and motionless atmosphere of classical antiquity, we
find at least the seclusiim nemus, the domos placidas^ and the oubliajice,
as Froissart so sweetly calls it, that persuade us we are in an Elysium
none the less sweet that it appeals to our more purely human, one
might almost say domestic, sympathies. We may say of Chaucer's
muse, as Overbury of his milkmaid, " her breath is her own, which
scents all the year long of yune like a new-made haycock.". . . It is
good to retreat now and then beyond earshot of the introspective con-
fidences of modern literature, and to lose ourselves in the gracious
worldliness of Chaucer.' — James Russell Lozvell.
'The genius of the poet shares the character of his position; he was
made for an early poet, and the metaphors of dawn and spring doubly
become him. A morning star, a lark's exultation, cannot usher in a
glory better. The "cheerful morning face," "the breezy call of
incense-breathing morn," you recognise in his countenance and voice
— it is a voice full of promise and prophecy. He is the good omen of
our poetry, the " good bird,'" according to the Romans, " the best good
angel of the spring," the nightingale, according to his own creed, of
good luck heard before the cuckoo.
" Up rose the sunne, and uprose Emilie,"
N 177
1/8 A. NOTES
and uprose her poet, the first of a line of kings, conscious of futurity
in his smile. He is a king, and inherits the earth, and expands his
great soul smilingly to embrace his great heritage. Nothing is too
high for him to touch with a thought, nothing too low to dower with
an affection. As a complete creature cognate of life and death, he
cries upon God, — as a sympathetic creature he singles out a daisy from
the universe (" si douce est la marguerite "), to lie down by half a sum-
mer's day and bless it for fellowship. His senses are open and delicate,
like a young child's — his sensibilities capacious of supersensual rela-
tions, like an experienced thinker's. Child-like, too, his tears and
smiles lie at the edge of his eyes, and he is one proof more among the
many, that the deepest pathos and the quickest gaieties hide together
in the same nature. He is too wakeful and curious to lose the stirring
of a leaf, yet not too wide awake to see visions of green and white
ladies between the branches; and a fair House of P^ame and a noble
Court of Love are built and holden in the winking of his eyelash. And
because his imagination is neither too " high fantastical " to refuse
proudly the gravitation of the earth, nor too " light of love " to lose it
carelessly, he can create as well as dream, and work with clay as well
as cloud; and when his men and women stand by the actual ones,
your stop-watch shall reckon no difference in the beating of their
hearts. He knew the secret of nature and art, — that truth is beauty,
— and saying "I will make a Wife of Bath as well as Emilie, and you
shall remember her as long," we do remember her as long. And he sent
us a train of pilgrims, each with a distinct individuality apart from the
pilgrimage, all the way from Southwark, and the Tabard Inn, to Canter-
bury and Becket's shrine : and their laughter comes never to an end,
and their talk goes on with the stars, and all the railroads which may
intersect the. spoilt earth forever, cannot hush the "tramp, tramp" of
their horses' feet.' — Afrs. Browning's The Book of the Poets.
* Of all the kings and queens, nobles and statesmen, warriors and
churchmen of that stirring age, how few are to us anything but the
merest shadow of a name; while those thirty pilgrims who met by
chance at the Tabard, and journeyed together from Southwark to Can-
terbury, have become, to use the phrase of a great modern poet, " pil-
grims of eternity!"' — John OWIagan^ Esq.^ Dublin Afternoon Lect-
ures on Literature and Art. Second Series.
* What is the first broad general impression produced upon your mind
by Chaucer? To this question, put suddenly to a reader of culture and
sensibility recently introduced to the poet of the Canterbury Tales, the
answer was — "An impression of lightsomeness." To the question
which was immediately added, "and what is your second impression?"
A. NOTES
179
the answer, — not less promptly given, and with the colloquial freedom
which takes little effective liberties with language, — was, " his English-
ness." It is not often that so much good criticism may be packed in
so small a compass. Whether the Enghshness (to retain the collo-
quialism) or the lightsomeness ought to rank first in a just analysis of
the elements of Chaucer's writings might be disputed; but inevitably
the lightsomeness is first to strike the mind, because it is of the very
essence of his manner. His verse is full of buoyancy; its very art is
easy, the wind is not freer, it is a south-west air with a rhythm in it, and
a masterly skill in the pauses. Flippancy, or even happy smartness, is
easy to manage, and implies none of the highest qualities in a writer of
verse; but lightsomeness or buoyancy chiefly impresses the mind when
the flights taken are long enough to give the idea of strength as well
as that of elasticity.' — Matthew Browne's Chaucer'' s England, Vol. I.
p. 41.
*To Chaucer belongs in a high measure what marks Shakespeare
supremely — a certain indefinable grace and brightness of style, an in-
comparable archness and vivacity, an incessant elasticity and freshness,
an indescribable ease, a never-faltering variety, an incapability of dul-
ness. These men " toil not, neither do they spin," at least so far as
one can see. . . . They wear their art "lightly like a flower." They
never pant or stoop with efforts and strainings. . . . They never cease
to scatter their jewels for fear of poverty; the treasury is always over-
flowing because all things bring them tribute.' — John IV. Hates' s Es-
says and Notes on Shakespeare,
8. * The sun in April runs a half-course in the Ram and a half-course
in the Bull. " The former of these was completed," says the poet; which
is as much as to say, that it was past the eleventh of April ; for, in
Chaucer's time, the sun entered Aries on March 12, and left that sign
on April 11. . . . The sun had, in fact, only just completed his course
through the first of the (Velve signs, as the said course was supposed
to begin at the vernal equinox. This is why it is called " the yonge
Sonne," an expression which Chaucer repeats under similar circum-
stances in the Squyeres Tale, F 385.' — Skeat.
14. feme hahves : distant saints, halwes being used, by metonymy, for
shrines.
17. martir : Thomas k Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was
assassinated at the altar,, in the cathedral, Dec. 29, 1 170, by four
knights, servants of Henry II, for his defiance of the royal authority;
canonized in 1173.
20. the Tabard: the inn in Southwark, with the sign of the
tabard. See Glossary, s.v. * At the Dissolution of the Monasteries " a
l80 A NOTES
hostelry called the Tabard" was mentioned in the surrender of the
Southwark property of the Abbot of Hyde; in the time of Speght
(1602) the inn was managed by a Master J. Preston, who had then
newly refitted it for the convenience of travellers, and Stow mentions
it in his Survey of London (1598) as the most ancient of the many fair
inns in Southwark. I do not think that the Chaucer Society will have
quite fulfilled its mission if it dissolves without pronouncing definitely if
we may take these, or any other references that can be found, as prov-
ing that the Tabard was really a noted inn in the poet's time. For
whether or no there was a Tabard Inn before the Canterbury Tales
were written, it is impossible to believe that the spirit of advertisement
is so entirely a thing of to-day, that one would not have sprung up as
soon as the Tales became famous. And the question is of more than
antiquarian interest, for a real Tabard Inn must of necessity carry with
it a real Harry Bailey, and in that case what would Mrs. Harry Bailey
have said to Chaucer's insinuation that she incited her husband to beat
his rascals and generally to break the King's peace? [See the passage
referred to, in this book, The murye zuordes of the Hoost to the Monk^
Group B, vv. 3079-31 13.] But even if Tabard Inn and its portly Host
should be proved imaginary, it is impossible, to me, to doubt that
Chaucer himself went a-pilgriming either in 1385 or 1386. The notes
of places and times in the talk of his pilgrims are good evidence that
he himself had travelled along the road. In February, 1385, he had
been set free from the drudgery of his official work at the Customs by
permission to appoint a deputy, and nothing seems more natural than
that he should have used his new-found freedom to take a holiday
jaunt, and that the talk and stories of his fellow-pilgrims gave him the
idea of using a Canterbury Pilgrimage as a frame-work in which to set
the various independent stories he had already written and the new
ones which were seething in his brain.' — Alfred W. Pollard^ Introd.
to his ed, of the C. T.
A Knyght ther was : ther^ in the introduction of the several char-
acters in the Prologue, is not the inceptive expletive, there^ but always
refers to the Tabard Inn. Webster's Dictionary gives this line as an
example of the expletive there.
43-78. 'The romantic figure, whose large white plume we descry in
the dim distance, as it crosses the field of mediaeval story, is much more
than a soldier — he is a warrior; not only a man who fights, but a man
who makes war. And he is still more than a warrior, for he is a war-
rior with a purpose; a man who makes war for an idea. Nor is this
all, he is more even than a warrior with a conscience; for he has knelt
at the altar and sworn to a faith, so that he carries a consecrated sword.
A. NOTES l8l
Once again, as our eye falls upon the scarf which he wears upon his
arm, we note that this warrior, besides his will, his purpose, and his
faith, has a sentiment, if not a passion too, and pricks over the plain
before us, a soldier, a warrior, a believer, and a lover. The energy
which comes with a purpose has given him dignity; the Church has
taught him gentleness, and added her chrism; but woman has taken
his troth and given him her badge, and immediately he is beautiful.
. . . The Knight painted by Chaucer is a thoroughly characteristic
figure. He had ridden far, a chivalric adventurer, defending truth and
the ladies, and fighting in his lord's wars — no man farther — both in
Christendom and in the Holy Land. He had often been served first
at the board [rather, been placed at the head of the state table, on the
dais], because of his nobleness, and his ransom, when he fell into cap-
tivity, was high. He was wise (or humble and discreet), and, though
brave as a lion, as gentle as a woman. Nor did he make any display
in his person or dress. He rode a good horse, but was himself not
" gay " to look at. His cassock of fustian was marked by his hauberk,
but he had not changed his clothes on returning late from his travels :
such was his devotion that he had gone straight on pilgrimage.' —
Matthew Browne's Chaucer's England, Vol. I. pp. 110-112.
51. Alisdundre : Alexandria, in Egypt, won in 1365, by Pierre de
Lusignan, King of Cyprus.
53. Pruce : Prussia.
54. Lettow: Lithuania. Ruce, Russia.
56. Gernade : Granada.
57. Algezir : Algeciras, in Spain, taken from the Moors in 1344.
Belmarye, Benamarin, or Benmarin, a Moorish kingdom in Africa.
58. Lyeys : Layas, now Ayas, in Armenia, taken from the Turks by
Pierre de Lusignan, ab. 1367. Satalye : Attalia, now Adalia, on the
south coast of Asia Minor, taken from the Turks by Pierre de Lusignan,
ab. 1352.
59. the Crete See: the Mediterranean.
60. aryve : Mss. E., Hn., armee; Cm. aryue; Cp., Ln. arme; Pt.
armeye; HI. ariue. Pollard follows the E. reading, arniee^ which he
explains, ' an expedition, especially one by sea,' on what ground does
not appear. Of armee, Skeat remarks that it * gives no good sense,
and probably arose from misreading the spelling aritie as arnie.'^
62. Tramyssene : Tremezen, a Moorish kingdom in Africa.
65. Palatye : Palathia, 'one of the lordships held by Christian
knights after the Turkish conquest.' — Tyrwhitt.
70, 71. He never e yet : ' In days when double negatives added force
to the expression, Chaucer found it necessary to crowd four of them
l82 A, NOTES
into two lines to indicate in the strongest possible way the charm of
manner which was the chief characteristic of the knightly character,
the chivalric courtesy which, while guarding the man's own dignity,
respected fully the rigjits and feelings of the lowest with whom he was
brought into personal contact.' — Prof. Lounsbury s Studies itt Chaucer,
Vol. II. p. 480.
79-100. ' Accompanying the Knight, and standing next to him in
order of courtesy, stood the Squire, his son. (By the laws of heraldry
the eldest sons of knights, and their eldest sons in perpetual succession,
are esquires.) He has been a good while "in chivachie; " that is,
out of his apprenticeship as a knightly man, expecting sometime to
be himself invested. Being strong and brave, he will soon win his
spurs; but at present his prize is *' his lady's grace." He is courteous,
and, according to the chivalric code, full of ready serviceableness.
That he carves the meat for his father is a matter of course; it was
the duty of an esquire. He curls his hair egregiously. He is exqui-
sitely got up, — "as fresh as the month of May" to look at; and has
so many flowers about him, that he is positively embroidered with
white and red roses, — the flowers of love and knighthood. He is
strictly in the fashion of the day, with the short tunic that the clergy
so hotly denounced as indelicate. He can joust, of course, and dance
well, — which latter the Clerk cannot do, — and he has the Clerk's
accomplishment besides; for he can write and draw an illuminated
letter. He is so eager a votarist of the faith of chivalry, too, that he
scarcely sleeps at all; he was up all night (as the nightingale was
supposed to be) composing or singing love-songs. This young Squire
appears to have a lady of his own, whose favour he hopes to win; but
"so hot he loved" need not, by itself, imply that; for a young man
might, by the laws of chivalry, love vaguely : not only a lady whom he
had never seen, which was a common thing; but he might simply
love . . . the universal essence of female beauty and goodness, if he
could, as the metaphysicians say, posit it, so as to bring it within the
range of an emotion.' — Matthezv Browne'' s Chaucer'' s England, Vol.
I. pp. 113, 114.
83. Of his stature he was of evene leftgthe : as to his stature he was
of medium height.
86. Flaundres : Flanders. Artoys, Artois. Picardye, Picardy.
loi. I understand, with Tyrwhitt, that * the pronoun he relates to
the Knight^ Skeat makes it relate to the Squire.
103. in cote and hood of grene : Idleness, in The Romaunt of the
Rose, * hadde on a cote of grene of cloth of Gauret,' v. 573.
107. The sense is — * His arrows did not present a draggled appear-
A. NOTES 183
ance owing to the feathers being crushed ' ; i.e. the feathers stood out erect
and regularly, as necessary to secure for them a good flight. — Skeat.
115. Cristophere : St. Christopher; the figure of St. Christopher
was looked upon with particular reverence among the middle and
lower classes, and was supposed to possess the power of shielding the .
person who looked on it, from hidden dangers. — Thoinas Wright's
ed. of HI, text of C. T.
1 20. Seint Loy : St. Eligius, commonly known as the patron of * gold-
smiths, blacksmiths, and all workers in metals, also of farriers and horses '
(Mrs. Jameson's Sacred and Legejidary Art). 'It is natural enough
then, that the carter in "The P>iar's Tale" should invoke God and
St. Loy when his horse is struggling to pull his cart out of the slough.
But what is his saintship to the Prioress, or she to his saintship ? . . .
* I believe the reference is to the fact that on a certain famous occa-
sion, St. Eloy refused to take an oath — firmly declined to swear.
And thus we arrive at what . . . appears to be the real sense of the
words, viz., the Prioress never swore at all.' — Froin Prof. Hales' s
letter to the Athe7tceum^ for Jan. 10, 1891, p. 54.
123. Entuned in hir nose : intoned in her nose. Nasality has long
been associated with sanctity.
* The old black-letter editions read voice (wrongly) .' — Skeat. * Some
of the commentators object to the singing through the nose, and want
to make voice of it; but it is a touch we can by no means part with.' —
Matthew Browne's Chaucer's England.
124. Ajid Frenssh she spak : There is certainly no reflection meant to
be cast upon the French of the school of Stratford-at-Bow. It is even
possible that that French was considered superior to the French of Paris.
*The poet represents her as having been educated at the school of
Stratford-at-Bow near London; which Mr. Warton supposes to have
been a fashionable seminary for nuns. This is very probable. Strat-
ford-at-Bow, a Benedictine nunnery, was famous even then for its
antiquity.' — Todd's Illustrations of Chaucer, p. 233.
130. And wel kepe : and well take care that no drop fell upon her
breast. There should not be a comma after kepe; but all editions have it.
142. But for to speken of: But in respect to.
149. Or if men smoot it: Or if anyone struck it smartly with a stick;
me7t is a weakened form of the indefinite A.S. man, one (Ger. man,
Fr. 071).
152. tretys : shapely; of Dame Fraunchyse, in The Romaunt of the
Rose, it is said, vv. 121 5, 1216,
* Hir nose was wrought at poynt devys,
For it was gentil and tretys.'
l84 A. NOTES
156. For^ hardily, she was nat undergroive : For, to speak boldly,
she was not undergrown; hardily is used absolutely here, that is, it is
interposed without qualifying any word in the sentence.
157. as I was war : Chaucer intimates that he had an eye for the
/make of a lady's dress.
165. A monk ther was: *a more luxurious fellow could scarcely
have been drawn; ... a pampered ecclesiastic, in whom the tyrant is
only laid to sleep under heavy folds of sensual content.' — Matthew
Browne, for the maistrie : ' is equivalent to the French phrase pour
la maistrie, which in old medical books is " applied to such medicines
as we usually call sovereign, excellent above all others"; Tyrwhitt.
We may explain it by " as regards superiority," or " to show his excel-
lence." ' — Skeat. a fair for the maistrie may mean one well qualified
for ecclesiastical preferment.
166. outrider e : 'formerly the name of an officer of a monastery or
abbey, whose duty was to look after the manors belonging to it; or, as
Chaucer himself explains it, in B 1255 —
" an officere out for to ryde
To seen hir graunges and hir hemes wyde." ' — Skeat.
173. seint Maure : the rule of St. Maur and that of St. Benet or
Benedict were the oldest forms of monastic discipline in the Catholic
church. St. Maur, who M^as a disciple of Benedict, established the
Benedictine order in France; died ab. 542.
179. recchelees : this is the reading of all the Mss. of the * Six-text
print,' other spellings being rekeles and recheles. The Ms. HI. has
cloysterles. Skeat's note is: ^recchelees (in Ms. E.) means care-
less, regardless of rule; but "a careless monk" is not necessarily "a
monk out of his cloister." But the reading cloisterless (in Ms. HI.)
solves the difficulty; being a coined word, Chaucer goes on to explain
it in 1. 181.' But though a coined word, it certainly never could
have needed explanation. The last word is yet to be said of this
passage.
180, 181. Sicut piscis sine aqua caret vita, ita sine monasterio,
monachus^ attributed, says Tyrwhitt, to a pope Eugenius.
183. And I seyde : Skeat remarks: 'This is a very realistic touch;
as if Chaucer had been talking to the monk, obtaining his opinions,
and professing to agree with them.' But is not seyde a pt. subj. (A.S.
scede), meaning * should say ' ? / is emphatic.
184. ' What sholde he studie : Why should he study, etc.; humorous
irony.
186. stvynken : construe with what sholde.
A. NOTES 185
187. As Austyn bit : Skeat quotes from Wyclif's Works, ed. Mat-
thew, p. 51 : ' Seynt Austyn techith munkis to labore with here hondis,
and so doth seint Benet and seynt Bernard.'
188. Let Augustine have his drudgery reserved to himself.
189. A very humorous ' therefore.' There was no good reason why
he should make himself mad by ever poring upon a book in cloister,
or drudging with his hands; therefore he rode with whip and spur,
after the hares.
197. A love knotte : * an intricate knot, typical of an indissoluble
union.'
199. And eek his face : and his face also shone as if it had been
anointed.
200. in good poynt : Fr. embonpoint^ O. Fr. en bon point, in good
condition, corpulent.
202. That steffied : that shone as a fire of a cauldron.
203. 'This is part of the description of a smart abbot, by an
anonymous writer of the XIII century : Ocreas habebat in cruribus,
quasi innatse essent, sine plica porrectas.' — Tyrwhitt.
210. the ordres foitre : Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and
Augustinians.
212. He hadde maad : not out of generosity, it must be supposed,
but to rid himself of them.
219. moore : he had power of hearing confessions greater than a
curate.
224. tviste to have : knew he should have.
230. He may nat tuepe : He cannot weep although it pain him
sorely.
251. vertuous : '(probably) energetic, efficient; cf. vertu in 1. 4.'
— Skeat. Professor Lounsbury, in his comments on the punctuation
of Chaucer's text, cites vv. 249 to 255, with the usual period after vert-
uouSy and remarks : ' It is in the third line that the misleading charac-
ter of the punctuation manifests itself. Virtue, in its ordinary modern
sense, is not the quality for which Chaucer represents the friar as pre-
eminently distinguished. In fact, it is the one for which he is not
distinguished. "Virtuous," in this passage, is the tribute paid to his
efficiency in collecting contributions. It describes the skill he dis-
played in begging, and the success that attended his efforts. The poet
goes on to celebrate the ability exhibited by the friar in this direction.
. . . But the closing of the third line of the extract with a period con-
veys the impression to one not carefully heeding the context, that the
person characterized was virtuous as the word is now generally under-
stood. The punctuation is, therefore, calculated to lead to misappre-
1 86 A. NOTES
hension. The early editors, following their usual custom, had no point
whatever at the end of this line. A comma appeared in that of 1602.
This continued to be employed in all subsequent editions until that of
Morell, in 1737. For it he substituted a semicolon. It was Tyrwhitt
who first introduced the full stop, and this practice has been followed
in all editions since his time. No one can read the passage carefully
without coming to the conclusion that Morell's pointing is the most
proper one, if not the only proper one.' — Studies in Chaucer ^ Vol. I.
P- 344.
254. I7t principio : the opening words of John's Gospel : In prin-
cipio erat Verbum, etc. Skeat gives a quotation from Tyndal, ' Such
is the limiter's saying of In principio erat verbum^ from house to
house.' The first chapter of John to the fourteenth verse, inclusive, is
given at the end of the mass.
256. His purchas : Fals-Semblant, in The Romaunt of the Rose,
V. 6838, says,
* To winne is alwey myn entent;
My purchas is better than my rent.'
257. And rage he koude : The sense is — ' and he could romp about,
exactly as if he were a puppy-dog.' — Skeat.
259. For there : for at that time, or occasion.
268. doon : Carpenter, in his English of the Fourteenth Century^
says, 'This use of do is common, but improper.' But doon is not an
auxiliary here, as he takes it to be, but a pro-verb, and stands for
twinkle. There is no ellipsis.
271. and hye on horse : he sat erect upon his horse.
272. Flau7idryssh : Flemish.
276. were kept for any' thing : should be taken care of, guarded
(against pirates), for (against, in opposition to) any and every thing,
at any cost. The phrase is still common, in the negative expression, I
wouldn't do it for any thing, i.e. against, or in return for, any thing.
277. Middelburgh : ' still a well-known port of the island of Wal-
cheren, in the Netherlands, almost immediately opposite Harwich,
beside which are the estuaries of the rivers Stoure and Orwell. This
spot was formerly known as the port of Orwell or Ore well; in effect it
was the port of the wealthy and thriving town of Ipswich, situated but
a short distance up the last-named river. . . . Near its mouth, a most
important naval engagement took place between King Alfred and the
Danes in 880.' — Saunders.
285-308. ' I cannot easily bring myself to believe that he [Chaucer]
is not giving some touches of his own character in that of the Clerk of
A. NOTES 187
Oxford. . . . That, himself as plump as Horace, he should have
described the Clerk as being lean, will be no objection to those who
remember how carefully Chaucer effaces his own personality in his
great poem.' — James Russell LozvelL
288. / undertake : I venture to say.
292. Nor was he so worldly as to hold office of any kind.
297. at be that : albeit that, although; but although he was a phi-
losopher (the word being used with a subaudition of alchemist), yet
had he but little gold in coffer. A fling at the pretensions of alchemy.
Leigh Hunt quotes Plutarch : povera e nuda vai, Filosqfia, poor and
naked goest thou, Philosophy.
301. gaii preye : prayed; and earnestly prayed for the souls of those
who gave him the wherewith to go to school.
320. I/is purchasyng: his conveyancing; 'the learned Sergeant
was clever enough to untie any entail, and pass the property as estate
in fee simple.' W. H. H. Kelke, in N. and Q. 5 S. vi. 487, quoted by
Skeat.
321. Nowher so bisy : ' One is never tired of repeating this exquisite
couplet. So Lawyer Dowling, in Tom Jones^ wishes he could cut
himself into I forget how many pieces, in order that he might see to
all the affairs which he had to settle.' — Leigh Hunt. * Among the
exquisite touches of satirical description with which the C. T. abound,
there is none happier than that which paints one of the little affecta-
tions of the eminent lawyer.' — Saunders.
323. I7t termes hadde he : Skeat explains : * he had in terms, knew
how to express in proper terms, was well acquainted with.' May not
the meaning rather be, In court terms (at the sessions of the court)
he had at his command all cases and decisions that had occurred from
the time of William the Conqueror.
324. Kyng Williajn : William the Conqueror.
325. make a thing : compose, draw up, a document.
340. ^Seint yulian was eminent for providing his votaries with good
lodgings and accommodations of all sorts. In the title of his Legende, he
is called "St. Julian, the gode herberjour" (harbourer).' — Tyrwhitt.
341. after on : according to one and the same high standard of
excellence.
347. After the sondry sesons : according to the several seasons of
the year.
361. Haberdasshere : * Haberdashers were of two kinds: haberdash-
ers of small wares — sellers of needles, tapes, buttons, etc.; and
haberdashers of hats.' — Skeat.
388. A Shipman : * Chaucer had ample opportunity for studying the
1 88 A. NOTES
manners and customs of the sailors of his day: he made several voy-
ages to France and elsewhere, and doubtless took mental notes of all
he saw; and in fulfilling the duties of his office as Comptroller of the
Customs of the Port of London, he had the best possible chances of
seeing Jack ashore. Beside the finished portrait given us in the Pro-
logue, there are other passages in his various tales which seem to indi-
cate that the poet somewhat affected nautical matters : in fact, it would
appear as though he had seen a good deal of ships and sailors, and as
if mariners were a class of men for whom he had a great liking.' —
P. Q. Km'keek's Chaucer^ s Shipman (^Essays on Chaucer ^ Y^ .^ published
by the C. Soc?).
389. Dertetnouthe : Dartmouth, one of the chief maritime places
of England, in Chaucer's time. ' It was, no doubt, looked on through
the country as peculiarly the seaman's home.' — Saunders.
390. as he kouthe : that is to say, as well as he knew how, being a
sailor. * Chaucer w^as not the first, nor has he been the last, to make
fun of a sailor's horsemanship; that has long been a well-worn joke.
The Italians of the middle ages were wont to tell comical stories about
Venetians on horseback, and this probably as much on account of the
nautical lives of the inhabitants, as because of the uselessness of
horses in their city. . . . The word "rouncy," from the Mediaeval
Latin Runcinus^ implies a heavy, powerful animal, either a pack-
horse, or such as is used for rough agricultural purposes; in neither
case was it suited for the saddle nor intended for such work. ... It
is easy then to picture, first, the trouble he would have to keep up with
the steeds of the Knight and the Squire, or the palfreys of the Ladies
and the Monks; and next the utterly uncomfortable pace and seat of
the animal; in addition to the rider's unskilfulness: — in fact, but for
the name of the thing, walking would have been far preferable.' —
P. Q. Karkeek's Chaucer''s Shipma7t.
397. Burdeuxward : Bordeaux-ward.
399. the hyer hond : the upper hand.
400. By water : * He sent them home to wherever they came from
by tuaterj i.e. he made them " walk the plank," as it used to be called;
or, in plain English, threw them overboard, to sink or swim.' — Skeat.
404. Hulle : Hull; Cartage: Carthage.
406. With 7?iany a tempest: a fine touch, ennobling the rough
shipman.
408. Gootlond: Gottland, an island in the Baltic Sea; Fynystere :
Cape Finisterre, the most western headland of Spain.
409. Britaigne : Brittany.
410. Maudelayne : ' We find actual mention of a vessel called the
A. NOTES 189
Maudelaytie belonging to the port of Dartmouth, in the years 1379
and 1386; see Essays on Chaucer (C. Soc), p. 484. See also N. and
Q. 6 S. xii. 47.' — Skeat.
413. To speke of: in respect to.
429. Esculapius : ^sculapius, god of medicine.
430. Deyscorides : Dioscorides Pedanius, a Greek botanist, born at
Anazarba, in Cilicia, lived between 50 and 200 a.d. Rufus : a Greek
physician of Ephesus, of the age of Trajan ; he wrote on anatomy.
431. Ypocras : Hippocrates, the celebrated Greek physician, born in
Cos, 460 B.C. Haly (or Hali) : an Arabian astronomer, a~ commentator
on Galen, nth century. Galyen : Galen (Claudius Galienus), the cele-
brated Greek physician, born at Pergamus, 130 a.d.
432. Serapioji : John Serapion, an Arabian physician, I ith century.;
Razis : a Spanish Arab physician of the loth century. Avycen : Avi-
cenna (Latin form of Ibn-Sina), the most eminent of Arab physicians,
980-1037 A.D.
433. Averrois (or Averrhoes) : an Arabian philosopher and physi-
cian, 1126-1198 A.D. ; translated, and wrote a commentary on, Aris-
totle. Damascien : Johannes Damascenus, an Arabian physician and
theologian of the 9th century. Constantyn : Constantinus Afer, a
native of Carthage, a monk of Monte Cassino, and one of the founders
of the school of Salerno (nth century).
434. Bernard: Bernardus Gordonius, professor of medicine at
Montpellier, 14th century. Gatesden : John Gatesden, a distinguished
physician of Oxford, in the first half of the 14th century ; author jof a
medical treatise called Rosa Anglica, Gilbertyn : Gilbertus Anglicus,
an English physician of the 13th century, author of Practica et Com-
pendium AledicincB.
441. esy of dispence : moderate in his expenditures.
444. Therfore : another humorous //z^r^r<?. See v. 189.
445. A good wif: good is here a nown, good %vif meaning a woman
of property, a compound in imitation of goodman.
446. and that was scathe : and that was a pity; there is implied in
scathe that she lost by her deafness a great deal of gossip and scandal.
448. Ypres, in West Flanders, and Gaunt (Ghent), in East Flanders,
were noted for their cloth-making.
461. Withouten : outside of, besides, unless the word have its usual
sense, and be used ironically.
462. as nowthe : just now. See Glossary for other examples of this
use of as.
465. Boloinge : Boulogne, where was an image of the Virgin, much
visited by pilgrims.
IQO A. NOTES
466. In Galice at Seint yame : i.e. at the shrine of St. James of
Compostella in Galicia in Spain. Coloigne : at the shrine of the Three
Kings of the East at Cologne.
468. Gat-tothed was she : 'gate-toothed, i.e. with teeth wide apart;
according to a piece of folklore quoted by Prof. Skeat, " a sign she
should be lucky and travel." But in the Wife's Prologue she says
(D 603) :
"Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel;
I hadde the prente of seynt Venus seel,"
which points rather to the derivation "Goat-toothed," i.e. lascivious.'
— A. W. Pollard.
There seems to be no question as to the meaning of gat-tothed in the
Wife's Prologue; and it is not likely the poet would have used it in
an entirely different sense in the General Prologue.
472. A foot mantel: * according to the illustration in the EUesmere
Ms. this took the form of leggings stretching from the hips down over
the boots. The spurs were fastened over it.' — A. W. Pollard.
473. a paire of spores sharpe : In the illustration in the EUesmere
Ms. she rides astride.
476. the olde daunce : the old game or custom. ' For she knew al
the olde daunce,' The Rojnan7it of the Rose^ v. 4300.
477-528. A good man: * It is this [intellectual clearness], and not
religious sympathy, that led him to draw his famous portrait of the
Parson of the town in the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. That
the picture stood for the great Reformer [Wycliffe] there was never the
slightest ground for asserting, though perhaps nothing in connection
with it has been more frequently asserted. That the poet, no matter
what his belief, should have the fullest intellectual perception of the
moral beauty and grandeur of such a character can easily be assumed.
It is one of a kind to which even the rankest infidelity has always paid
either willing or grudging homage. That Chaucer also may have had
with it a spiritual sympathy is, of course, not impossible. It was doubt-
less intentional on his part that the man whose character he drew
should belong to the secular clergy as opposed to the regular, and that
his life of self-denial should be put in marked contrast with theirs of
self-indulgence. But this is something quite distinct from selecting as
the one who sat for the portrait his great contemporary. Men of holy
life, of fervent faith, of lofty ideals have not been so rare, it is to be
hoped, in any period since the founding of the Christian church, that
the picture of a typical representative of the class must be assumed to
be that of one particular man. . . . There is, indeed, nothing which
A. NOTES
191
would lead us to believe that the portrait of the village Parson repre-
sents any one but him whom it purports to represent. The man whom
Chaucer had in mind was one of the class of humbler curates who are
content to lead lives of obscurity and find their chief happiness in
doing good.' — Profi Loiiftsbury's Studies in Chance?', Vol. II. p. 482.
485. Sivich : such, referring to the characterization of him in the
two preceding lines.
511. withholde : kept away from his parochial duties, taking his
ease with some brotherhood.
519. To draiven folk to heveiie : so Goldsmith's village preacher
'Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.'
In Dryden's expanded and rhetorical transcript, vv. 519, 520 undergo
the following metamorphosis :
... * letting down the golden chain on high,
He drew his audience upward to the sky;'
the following being gratuitously thrown in for good measure :
* And oft with holy hymns he charmed their ears,
(A music more melodious than the spheres).
For David left him, when he went to rest,
His lyre; and after him, he sung the best.'
*Who can help smiling,' says John Saunders, *at the picture of the
poor Parson letting down the golden chain ; or at the very mysterious
character of that lyre, which David, it seems, bequeathed to him, when
he went to rest, and on which the Parson performed such musical
wonders?'
Wide, indeed, is the gulf between mere rhetoric and the unaffected
expression of true genius !
526. him : for himself; a spiced conscience : a conscience scrupulous
and exact about non-essentials, while easy 'about the weightier matters
of the law'; such a conscience as the Scribes and Pharisees are repre-
sented to have had (Matt, xxiii. 23).
527. Apostles : gen. pi., but Christ's doctrine and that of his Apostles,
he taught, first following it himself.
529. zaas his brother : the subject relative omitted.
541. he rood tipojt a mere : it was not considered dignified to ride
upon a mare.
545-566. 'The Miller is a figure M^hich would scarcely turn up at all
in the picture, if a modern Chaucer were to paint English life in the
nineteenth century. . . . But, in the old-fashioned song and ballad
verse of England and Germany — still more in Germany than in Eng-
192 A, NOTES
land — the miller is perpetually coming upon the scene, his prominence
evidently belonging to a time when the relations of the man who grew
the corn, the man who ground it, and the people who ate the bread,
were much more direct than they are now; and, in fact, in Chaucer's
time, the miller was the immediate servant of the lord of the manor,
to whom belonged the exclusive right of grinding the corn grown upon
his estate. One almost always likes to read of him, too, because he
can scarcely be mentioned himself without recalling the picture of the
mill itself: ever, to my thinking, one of the prettiest and most fascinat-
ing objects in a landscape.' — Matthezv Browne's Chaticer^s England^
Vol. I. pp. 92, 93.
See the description of the Miller and his wife, in this volume,
A 3921-3956, and the pretty picture of *a mill upon the river's brim,'
in ' The man born to be King, in * The Earthly Paradise,^ by William
Morris.
547. That was well found to be the case, for everywhere where
(wherever) he came, etc.
548. the ram : the usual prize at wrestling-matches. Of Sir Thopas
it is said, B 1930, 1931 :
* Of wrastling was ther noon his peer,
Ther any ram shal stonde.'
563. And yet he hadde a thombe of gold : If the allusion be, as is most
probable, to the old proverb. Every honest Miller has a thumb of gold,
this passage may mean, that our Miller, notwithstanding his thefts, was
an honest miller, i.e. as honest as his brethren. — Tyrwhitt.
^'J2. he was ay biforn and in good staat : he was always ahead (of
others in the market) and in good state (of pocket).
586. sette hir alter cappe : metaphorically set the cap of them all
awry, made fools of them all.
594. * There was no auditor could gain the victory in case of disputed
accounts; no auditor could find an error in his accounts.'
602. brynge hyi7i in arrerage : ' show him to be a defaulter.'
612. of his owene good : 'his,' no doubt, stands for the reeve's lord,
not the reeve; the meaning being that the reeve could well please his
lord in a crafty way, by giving him of his (the lord's) own property
which he (the reeve) had appropriated.
616. Scot : * to this day there is scarcely a farm in Norfolk or Suffolk
in which one of the horses is not called Scot.' — BelPs Chaucer.
617. upon he hade : he had on, wore.
620. Baldeszvelle : Bawdeswell, in Norfolk.
623. Somonour : apparitor, or summoner to ecclesiastical courts.
A. NOTES 193
647. a geniil harlot and a kynde : an easy-going scapegrace.
652. a fynch eek koude he pulle : a finch eke could he pluck; equiva-
lent to the phrase, pluck a pigeon, i.e. swindle a greenhorn.
663. In daunger : within his authority, jurisdiction, or control.
Portia says to Antonio, in the Merchant of Venice, IV. i. 180, * You
stand within his danger, do you not?' i.e. his legal power; at his
owene gise : ' after his own fashion.'
664. The yonge girles : young people of either sex.
665. attd zvas at hir reed : and was altogether their counsel, or
adviser.
670. Of Rouncivale : The reference is clearly to the hospital of the
Blessed Mary of Rouncyvalle, in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields,
at Charing (London), mentioned in Dugdale's Alonasticon, ii. 443. . . .
It was a ' cell ' to the Priory of Roncevaux in Navarre. — Skeafs note,
based on Todd^s.
672. Com hider : ' This, I suppose, was the beginning or the burthen
of some known song.' — Tyrwhitt.
692. fro Berwyk unto Ware : equivalent to saying, from the north-
ern to the southern extremity of England; Berwyk is Berwick-on-
Tweed.
702. upon lond : in a remote country district.
703, Upon a day : in one day. ' The Pardoner-nuisance is well
dealt with in Jusserand's English Wayfaring Life, pp. 312-325 and
Appendix.' — Pollard.
* This is merely the sketch of the Pardoner given in the Prologue. . . .
When we come to the Prologue he himself delivers to the story he
tells, we have a much more drawn-out likeness. ... If it be as true
as [that of] the Wife of Bath — as it assuredly is — who can wonder
that Wickliffe arose in England, and that the echo of his footsteps did
not die out till Luther arose in Germany?' — Matthew Brozvne^s Chau-
cer'' s England, Vol. II. p. 195.
721. How that: * How we conducted ourselves that same night.'
726. That ye narette : ^That ye ascribe it not to my ill breeding.'
729. proprely : in keeping with each speaker. Lat. proprie.
731. shal telle : has to tell; after a man : according to the character
of any particular man.
741. Eek Plato seith : the quotation is from Boethius, De Consola-
tione PhilosophicB, bk. iii, prose 12, which Chaucer translates : * Thou
has lerned by the sentence of Plato, that nedes the wordes moten be
cosines to the thinges of which they speken.'
750. and wet to drynke us teste : and it pleased us well to drink.
753. with eyen stepe : with bright eyes.
o
194
A. NOTES
754. C^epe : Cheapside, in London.
760. niaad our rekenynges : settled our accounts.
772. Ye shapen yow to talen : ye prepare yourselves to tell stories
and to be amused.
777. And if you liketh alle : and if it pleaseth you all.
785. Us thought e : it seemed to us not worth while to make it a
matter of deliberation.
791. to sho7'te with your tveye : whereby to shorten your way.
798. l^ales of best sentence : tales of best matter and greatest amuse-
ment.
799. at owe alter cost : at cost of us all. A.S. ure ealra.
815. at a certeyn pris : at a fixed price; there seems to be implied in
this that their rekenynges (v. 760) were bigger than they had expected.
817. In heigh and lough : in every respect.
823. was oure alter cok : was cock of us all, aroused us all;
*The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn.' — Hamlet^ I. i.^ 150.
The metaphor is continued in the next line : * And gathered us together
all in a flock.'
826. the wateryng of Seint Thomas : * a place for watering horses,
at a brook beside the second mile-stone on the road to St. Thomas's
shrine, i.e. to Canterbury.'
827. digan his hors areste : stopped his horse; bigan (more fre-
quently ga7t) is used as a past tense auxiliary.
829, woot is a preteritive pr. s., but it is here used with Ye ; the pi.
is witen or wite ; and I it yoiv recorde : and I remind you of it.
830. If even-song : i.e. if you adhere this morning to your agreement
of last evening. It may have been a proverbial expression.
847. And telle he moste : and tell he had to.
854. What: used as an exclamation; why is similarly used, but is
less strong; a Goddes name : in God's name; ^ is a relic of A.S. on.
1034. Till itfil ones : till it happened on a time.
1048. for to devyse : to describe her.
105 1, at the Sonne up-riste : at the sun's uprising.
1090. So stood the hevene : such was our horoscope.
iioi. wher : whether she be woman or goddess.
1 1 13. Wher as : Where that.
1 1 22. I nam but deed ; I am not but, am only, no better than, dead.
I nam but = Fr. Je ne suis que.
1257. wolde out : would fain out of his prison (go), the verb being
implied in the adv. out.
1274. / nam but deed : I am only, no better than, dead. See A 1 122.
A. NOTES 195
1491. The hisy larke : * We hardly like to say it — but'our readers
can judge for themselves as to the truth of the statement — that if
there be onf; passage more than ordinarily beautiful among the count-
less beautiful passages of Chaucer, then is Dryden sure to be more
than ordinarily careful to show his want of appreciation of it by his
destructive alterations. Thus is it with the exquisite lines by Chaucer —
The bisy larke, messager of day, etc.
. . . Here at least the translator needed not to alter a letter even for
his own purpose. Yet we have from Dryden —
The morning lark, the messenger of day,
Saluted in her song the morning gray;
And soon the sun arose with beams so bright,
That all the horizon laugh'd to see the joyous sight;
He, with his tepid rays, the rose renews.
And licks the dropping leaves, and dries the dews.
Here is addition, it must be owned. We have not only gained the
"morning lark," but the "morning gray," etc., and what have we lost?
Oh, merely the expression so delightful to old-fashioned poetical ears,
the " morrow gray " and the image of the " busy lark," now darting
hither and thither, now with its wings beating upon the air, ascending
into the blue depth above till she seems but a dark speck, and at last
disappears, and you think she is quite gone; but no, the sunshine
flashes upon her breast, and you are again following with renewed
interest the movements of the "busy lark."' — Saunders.
The line Dryden substitutes for
* And firy Phebus riseth up so brighte,*
is dull and prosy :
* And soon the sun arose with beams so bright ' ;
and for the grand line,
'That al the Orient laugheth of the lighte,'
he substitutes the tripping alexandrine, so flippant and so remote from
the tone of the original :
*That all the horizon laughed to see the joyous sight.*
For the last two lines of Chaucer, the substitution is still more lament-
able:
* He with his tepid rays the rose renews,
And licks the dropping leaves, and dries the dews.*
196 A. NOTES
The tone of the original is all gone; and the sun's licking the dropping
leaves is, to say the least, a vulgar image. * Glorious John ' was a vain-
glorious vulgarizer of great poetry; exetnplorum gratia, Shakespeare's
Tempest and Antony and Cleopatra, and Milton's Paradise Lost.
1494. of the lighte : because of, in consequence of, the light.
1503. hym to pleye : to amuse himself.
1504. were it a 7nyle or tweye: it might be a mile or two.
15 12. I hope that I so?fi grene gete may : I hope that / some green
may get, i.e. may have some success in love.
1626. his tha7ikes : of his free will, willingly.
Carpenter quotes a curious example from Gower's Conf. Am. ii. 211 :
* For haveles
His thankes is no man alive,'
i.e. no man alive is willingly poor.
1638. Trace: Thrace.
1658. gonne they to S7nyte : they smote.
1921. sacred teeris : devoted tears; i.e. tears devoted to some one
loved and lost. The Cambridge Ms. reads secret, which Pollard calls
*an attractive reading.'
1935. make of mencioun : make mention of.
1936. the mount of Citheroun : Ciihcevon; * Chaucer seems to con-
fuse the island of Cythera, the home of Venus, with Mt. Cithceron, on
the borders of Attica, sacred to Bacchus and the Muses.' — Pollard.
1941. Narcisus : Narcissus.
1942. Salamon : Solomon.
1943. Ercules : Hercules.
1944. Medea: the sorceress, wife of Jason; Circes: Circe, the
sorceress.
1945. Turnus : king of the Rutuli, the rival of ^neas, by whom
he was slain. (Virgil's yEneid, vii.-xii.)
1946. Cresus : Croesus, king of Lydia, proverbial for his riches.
1972. Trace: Thrace.
1979. rumbel : the HI. Ms. reads sivymbul. 'The' szuy??ibul, or
sighing, heard through the general swough^ or commotion, is finely
imagined.' — BelVs Chaucer.
1985. veze : rush of wind. *The " impetus amens " of Statins refers
rather to headlong hardihood than to physical forces.' — Pollard.
1999. The smylere : 'The treacherous smile, a mask for secret hate.'
— Cowper.
* When Chaucer condenses, it is because his conception is vivid. He
does not need to personify Revenge, for personification is but the sub-
A. NOTES
197
terfuge of unimaginative and professional poets; but he embodies the
very passion itself in a verse that makes us glance over our shoulders
as if we heard a stealthy tread behind us : —
" The smylere, with the knyfe under the cloke."
And yet how unlike is the operation of the imaginative faculty in him
and Shakespeare ! When the latter describes, his epithets imply always
an impression on the moral sense (so to speak) of the person who
hears or sees. The sun " flatters the mountain-tops with sovereign
eye"; the bending "weeds lacquey the dull stream"; the shadow of
the falcon " coucheth the fowl below " ; the smoke is " helpless " ; when
Tarquin enters the chamber of Lucrece *'the threshhold grates the
door to have him heard." His outward sense is merely a window
through which the metaphysical eye looks forth, and his mind passes
over at once from the simple sensation to the complex meaning of it
— feels zvith the object instead of merely feeling it. His imagination
is forever dramatizing. Chaucer gives only the direct impression made
on the eye or ear.' — Jafues Russell Lozvell.
2008. stretched out at full length, with gaping mouth.
2017. shippes hoppesteres : dancing ships. 'Chaucer is translating
Teseide^ vii. 37, "Vedevi ancor le navi bellatrici," and probably read
the last word " ballatrici " in error. " Neither Boccaccio, nor yet his
prototype Statins, speaks of any ships as burnt but merely as trophies "
(Six-text note).' — Pollard.
2018. 2uilh: hy. See Glossary for other examples.
2021. Naught was forgotten (omitted to be represented) respecting
the malign influence of Mars (the planet). 'Tyrwhitt thinks that
Chaucer might intend to be satirical in these lines; but the introduction
of such apparently undignified incidents arose from the confusion
already mentioned of the god of war with the planet to which his name
was given, and the influence of which was supposed to produce all the
disasters here mentioned.' — Thomas Wi^ighl.
2030. Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed: hanging by a finely spun
thread of twine. The allusion is to the story of Damocles.
2031. Depicted was the slaughter of Julius Caesar, of great Nero,
and of Marc Antony.
2034. ther biforn : therebefore, before that (time).
2035. By manasynge : by threatening, i.e. by the aspect of Mars in
their horologe; by figure : by astrological prefigurement.
2045. That oon — that oother : the one, the other; Puella and
Rub'eus : * the names of two figures in geomancy.' — Speght.
2051. Dyane : Diana, goddess of chastity, hunting, etc.
198 A. NOTES
2056. Calistopee : Callisto, a daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia,
and companion of Diana in the chase. *The nymph Callisto was
changed into Ardos or the Great Bear; hence " Vrsa Maior " is writ-
ten in the margin of E. Hn. Cp. Ln. This was sometimes confused
with the other Arctos or Lesser Bear, in which was situate the lodestar
or Polestar. Chaucer has followed this error.' — Skeat.
2060. I kan sey yow no ferre: I can tell you no further.
2062. Dane : Daphne.
2064. Peiineus, gen. of Peneus.
2065. Attheon : Actaeon.
2070. Atlhalarite : Atalanta.
2071. JMeleagre : Meleager, the Calydonian hunter.
2085. Lucyna • Lucina, the name of Diana as helper of women in
labour.
2086. mayst : canst, art able.
2129. Lygnrge : Ligurgus, or Licurgus.
2152. Colered : having collars. Cp. Ms. coleres, Pt. and Ln. colers.
Skeat adopts colers, but says in his note, ' I now believe colerd to be
right. Collared was an heraldic term, used of greyhounds, etc'
2160. Tars: Tartary.
2169. A few freckles sprinkled in his face.
2302. As keepe me: 'pray keep me; as before an imperative im-
parts the idea of entreaty to the verb. See Glossary.
2303. Attheon : Actseon.
2313. For tho thre formes : Diana is called Diva TriforiJiis ; in
heaven, Luna; on earth, Diana and Lucina; and in hell, Proserpina.
See Horace, Odes, bk. iii. 22, In Dianam.
2348. stynt : cease thy sorrow.
2365. the nexte weye : the nearest way.
2483. Atthenes : Athens.
2596. were ther noon : there might be none.
2606. He : used indefinitely, and so in the verses following; one —
another.
2626. Galgopheye : the word is Galgopleye, in Ms. Pt., and golgo-
pheie in Ln. The vale referred to is uncertain, but, as Skeat supposes,
it may be the Vale of Gargaphie, where Actseon was turned into a stag.
He quotes Ovid, Met. iii. 155, 156:
* Vallis erat, piceis et acuta densa cupressu.
Nomine Gargaphie, succinctse sacra Dianx,'
i.e. a vale there was, with pine trees and the sharp-pointed cypress,
thick set, by name Gargaphie, sacred to tucked-up Diana.
A. NOTES 199
2630. i?f/w^ry<? .• Benamarin. See A 57.
2657. no par tie : no party to one side or the other.
2675. Which a : what a.
2676. of his helm y-don : done off, doffed, his helm.
2683. And was al his \in'\ chiere, as in his herte : what is evidently
the true meaning of the line, is brought out by transposing in his (so
Tyrwhitt gives the line) : She was all his in cheer (countenance) as she
was all his in heart. Her countenance was a true index of her love.
2713. ^S^z/^ .* the herb, sage. I.2X. salvia.
*Cur moriatur homo cui salvia crescit in horto?
Contra vim mortis, non est medicamen in hortis.
Salvia confortat nervos, manuumque tremorem
Tollit, et ejus ope febris acuta fugit.'
Regifiien Sanitatis Salernitanum^ LX.
* Why should he die, whose garden groweth sage?
No other plant with death such strife can wage.
Sage soothes the nerves, and stills a trembling hand.
And sharpest fevers fly at its command.'
Translation by Dr. John Ordronaux.
Dr. Ordronaux changes est, in the second verse, to talis^ but unneces-
sarily.
2722. nys 7tat but an aventure : is only an accident; ne — but =
only.
2895. Turkeys: Turkish.
2916. tzuenty fadme: ' fadme ' is here a gen. pi. {A.'^. fcB^fna^^
after the numeral twenty; fiftig faetSma on brsede, Gen. vi. 15.
2924. for me : so far as I am concerned.
2934. a thre : in three
2948. were: wore.
2962. in no disjoynt: with no disadvantage.
3016. seen at eye : see at a glance.
3028. That nedeth : that it is necessary, in one of these two periods,
in youth or else age.
303 1 . som — som : one — another.
3032. large fe eld : open field.
3033. In that nought avails.
3037. Convertynge : turning back everything unto its own source
from which it is derived.
3039. here agayns : against this; ojt lyve : alive.
3042. To maken vertit of 7iecessity : this phrase originated with
200 A, NOTES
St. Jerome, in his treatise against Jovinian, with which work Professor
Lounsbury has shown Chaucer to have been very familiar. Jovinian
was a monk who died early in the fifth century.
3043. And take it weel : and take that well which we cannot avoid.
3044. namely that : especially what.
3046. may gye : can guide.
3059. of chivalrie Jlour : flower of chivalry.
3067. What conclusion can I come to, in this long argument, but
that after woe, I advise us to be merry.
3071. / rede: I advise that we make of two sorrows one perfect
joy, lasting evermore.
3241. voluper : lit. * enveloper ' or * wrapper'; hence, kerchief, or
cap. — Skeat.
3245. smale y-pulled : i.e. partly plucked out, to make them narrow,
even, and well-marked. — Skeat.
3247. on to see : to look upon.
3248. pereionette : Skeat explains * early-ripe pear '; he has a long
note on the word, and admits, at the end, that ' this explanation is
somewhat of a guess.'
3254. popelote : darling, poppet. Not connected with papillon, but
with F. poupee and E. puppet. Halliwell gives : * Poplet, a term of
endearment, generally applied to a young gu\: poppet is still in com-
mon use.' Cotgrave has: ^ Popelin, masc. a little finicall darling.'
Godefroy gives : ^ potipelet^ m. petit poupon.' — Skeat'' s note.
3256. the Tour: the Tower of London, where the mint was; the
noble : a gold coin (6j. 8^.), first minted by Edward III, ab. 1339.
3258. sittynge : Cp. Ms. chitering, Ln. chiterynge.
3318. Powles wyndow : only Ms. Pt. has the pi. wyndowes; so *the
allusion may be specific to shoes with the pattern of the great Rose
vy:indow at Old St. Paul's cut in them.' — Pollard.
3321. waget : See Spenser's Paerie Qiieene^ Bk. III. c. iv. st. 40;
IV. xi. 27; An Elegie, etc., v. 3, *The skie, like glasse of watchet
hue,' . . .
3322. The HI. Ms. reads, Schapen with goores in the newe get.
3324. As whit : ^as whyt as lilie or rose in rys,' The Romaunt of the
Posey V. 1015.
3336. gaylard tappestere : merry barmaid.
3864. So theek : i.e. so thee ik, so thrive I.
3867. for age : by reason of age.
3872. ever lenger the wers : ever the worse the longer it exists.
3882. Yet in oure assheit olde is fyr y-reke : yet in our ashes old is
fire gathered up. This verse suggests Gray's : ' Even in our ashes live
A. NOTES 201
their wonted fires.' But Gray quotes Petrarch, Sonnet 169 (170), as
his original :
* Ch' i veggio nel pensier, dolce mio fuoco,
Fredda una lingua e due begli occhi chiusi,
Rimaner doppo noi pien di faville,'
which Dr. Nott translates :
* These, my sweet fair, so warns prophetic thought,
(Closed thy bright eye, and mute thy poet's tongue)
• E'en after death shall still with sparks be fraught.'
* These ' means his love songs; * my sweet fair,' lit. my sweet flame.
The last two lines of Gray's Latin translation of this sonnet read :
* Infelix musa aeternos spirabit amores,
Ardebitque urnd multa favilla me^.'
3895. the chymbe : *the prominency of the staves beyond the head
of the barrel. The imagery is very exact and beautiful.' — Tyrwhitt.
3921. Trumpyngtoun : Trumpington, near Cambridge.
3927. Pipen he koude : he could play the bag-pipe, and fish, and
mend nets, and turn cups (with a lathe), and wrestle well, and shoot.
3933. A Sheffeld thivitel : he wore a Sheffield whittle (knife) in his
hose. This is interesting testimony to the early reputation of Sheffield
for cutlery.
3936. 7narket-betere : * a frequenter of markets, who swaggered about,
and was apt to be quarrelsome and in the way of others.' — Skeat.
3941. deynous: Ms. Pt. has deynezouse.
3943. person : parson.
3953. typet : *not here a cape, but the long pendant from the hood
at one time fashionable, which Simkin wound round his head, in order
to get it out of the way.' — Skeat.
4369. y-kempd ful fetisly : very neatly combed.
4377. Chepe : Cheapside, in London.
4381. a meynee of his sort : a set of fellows of his own kind.
4383. setten stevene for to meete : made appointment to meet.
4384. in swich a streete : in such a street, i.e. in a certain, not
specified, street.
4394. Al have he : although he (the master) have no part of the
minstrelsy, he has to pay for the music, metaphorically speaking.
4402. lad with revel to Neiuegate : ' When disorderly persons were
carried to prison, they were preceded by minstrelsy, in order to call
public attention to their disgrace.' — Skeat.
4404. whan he his papir soghte : when he (the master) looked into
202 B. NOTES
his accounts ? but Pollard understands, and perhaps correctly, when he
(the apprentice) sought (asked for) his acquittance.
4413, '14. This jolly apprentice had his leave (to pack and be off).
Now let him riot all the night or stop doing so, just as he like. These
lines express the feeling of the master about him.
4415. for: the intoned causal y^r, because. See' Glossary.
4416. soivke : to suck; in the sense of the colloquial use of to bleed,
to get money out of any one by unfair means.
4417. brybe : A New English Dictionary (ed. Dr. Murray) defines
this obsolete use of bribe, * to take dishonestly, to purloin; to steal, rob;
to obtain by abuse of trust, or by extortion; to extort.'
NOTES TO GROUP B
47. kan : knows.
54. made of mencioun : made mention of.
57. Ceys and Alcione : Ceyx and Alcyone, from Ovid, Metain. bk. xi. ;
contained in vv. 62-220 of The Boke of the Duchesse, written in 1368,
when Chaucer was about thirty.
61. the Seintes Legende of Cupide : the Legends of Good Women.
The women, whose virtues and wifely devotion are commemorated, are,
Cleopatra, Thisbe, Dido, Hypsipyle, Medea, Lucretia, Ariadne, Philo-
mela, Phyllis, and Hypermnestra — ten in all, though the number of
Legends is nine, Hypsipyle and Medea being included in one. The
Man of Law omits two of these names, Cleopatra and Philomela, and
adds those of Deianira, Hermione, Hero, Helen, Briseis, Laodamia,
Penelope, and Alcestis, of whom there are no legends. *The only
plausible explanation,' says Prof. Lounsbury, * that presents itself of a
discrepancy that is never likely to be satisfactorily explained, is that
Chaucer, when he wrote the prologue to the Man of Law's Tale, was
still engaged upon the composition of the " Legend of Good Women";
and that he included in his list those of whom he had it in mind to
write, as well as those of whom he had actually written.' — Studies in
Chaucer, Vol. I. pp. 417, 418.
63. Lucresse : Lucretia; Babilan l^esbee : Thisbe of Babylon.
64. The siverd of Dido : by metonymy for death caused by the
sword. In the Legend of Dido, Legends of Good Women, it is said,
vv. 1349-1351:
*And, whan she mighte her tyme espye,
Up-on the fyr of sacrifys she sterte.
And with his [^neas's] swerd she rof her to the herte.*
B. NOTES 203
Ms. HI. reads sorwe ; for the fah Enee : by reason of the false
^neas.
65. The tree of Phillis : as the sword of Dido, in the preceding
verse, is used, by metonymy, for her death by the sword, so here, the
metamorphosis of PhylHs into a tree is used, by the same figure, for all
of which it was the result. Demophon : Demophoon.
66. The pleinte of Dianire : * the complaint of Deianira, referring to
Ovid's letter, "Deianira Herculi"; so also that of Hermion refers to
the letter entitled " Hermione Orestse"; that oi Adriane^ to the
"Ariadne Theseo"; and that of Isiphilee^ to the "Hypsipyle lasoni."*
— Skeat.
68. The bareyne yle : supposed to be the Isle of Naxos.
69. Leandre : Leander drowned for his Hero.
70. Eleyne : Helen.
71. Brixseyde : Briseis, who fell into the hands of Achilles, but was
seized by Agamemnon. Hence arose the feud between the two heroes;
Ladomya : Laodamia, wife of Protesilaus. See Wordsworth's poem,
Laodamia.
72. Medea : the sorceress, wife of Jason.
74. For thy Jason : by reason of thy Jason's having deserted thee.
75. Ypermystra : Hypermnestra, one of the fifty daughters of
Danaus, the only one who preserved her husband's life. Penolopee :
Penelope, wife of Ulysses; Alceste : Alcestis, wife of Admetus.
78. Canacee : Ovid's Epistolce Heroidum, xi.
88. unkynde abhoniynacions : unnatural abominations.
89. if that I may : if I can help it.
91. Me were looth : I should hate to pass for a poet.
92. Pierides : the daughters of Pierus that contended with the
Muses and were changed into magpies. Ovid's Metam. v.
93. Methamorphosios : see Glossary.
94. / recche noght a bene : I don't care a bean. A similar expres-
sion is, I don't care a fig.
639. Susanne : Susanna, of the apocryphal book, History of
Susanna.
641. Seint Anne : St. Anna, the mother of the Virgin.
647. wher as hym gat no grace : where that he got for himself no
favour.
649. his face that was bistad : the face of him that was bestead.
660. As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee : a sentiment frequently ex-
pressed by Chaucer.
666. A British (or Welsh) book written with Gospels.
851. May : maiden.
204 B. NOTES
1036. thai ' as, as well as; and hastened from the table as fast as
he could.
1038. I ought to suppose out of reasonable judgment.
1072. When the truth is known.
1091. Sente any child: that he would send any child; but it is
better to suppose, etc.
1 109. // am I : it is I; A.S. ic hyt eom^ I it am.
3082. precious co7'pus Madrian : the body of St. Mathurin is sup-
posed to be meant; * in his story in the Golden Legende, edit. 1527,
the expressions " the precious body " and the " holy body " occur, and
the story explains that his body would not stay in the earth till it was
carried back to France, where he had given directions that it should
be buried.' — Froin Skeafs note.
3096. By corpus bones : * a confusion of the two oaths, " by corpus
Domini" and "by Christes bones," and corpus is evidently regarded as
a genitive case.' — Skeat.
3107. she wol do : she will cause me to slay some day.
31 12. fnysdooth or seith : the prefix mys- must be understood with
seith, Skeat's note is, 'Observe the curious use oi seith for misseith.''
31 13. But lat us passe atvey fro this mateere : It is not a pleasant
subject to the poor man. There is implied in this verse the ' animus
meminisse horret, luctuque refugit' of Virgil's ^neas. The account
he gives of his domestic troubles explains his readiness to accompany
the pilgrims to Canterbury.
3862. humble bed : Ms. Cp. has humbleheed, Pt. and Ln. humble-hede.
3870. fader thyn in laive : the reverse was the fact : Pompey was
Caesar's son-in-law, he having married Caesar's daughter Julia.
3881. of smoot : smote off.
3884. szuich a fyn : such an end.
3887. Brutus and Cassius are made one person.
3899. no strook but oon : that given by Brutus.
3906. on diyng : a-dying; Ms. E. of diyng; Hn. dyyng; Cm. on
deyinge ; Cp. as deyinge ; Pt. on dyinge; Ln. in deynge.
3907. deed : used proleptically.
3909. Lucan, author of the Pharsalia^ an epic poem, treating of the
civil war between Caesar and Pompey.
3910. Swetoun: C. Suetonius Tranquillus, author of Vita duodecim
Ccesarum, of whom the first is C. Julius Caesar, and the last, Domitian.
Valerius : Valerius Maximus, author of De Factis^ Dictisque Metnora-
bilibus Libri IX.
391 1. word : a corruption of ord^ in the phrase ord and ende^ be*
ginning and end, whence the modern odds and ends.
B. NOTES
205
4042. gon : a pr. pi. implying that orgon is pi. Lat. organa.
4050. Tennyson uses battled for embattled^ in his Dream of Fair
Women, v. 220 :
* The valleys of grape-loaded vines that glow
Beneath the battled tower.'
4058. as of colours : with respect to colours.
4065. loken in every lith : locked in every limb.
4086. my sivevene recche aright : * interpret my dream favourably.'
4090. was lyk an hound : the subject relative omitted.
4098. Avoy ! Ms. HI. Away.
4128. werken . . . ful wo : In the J^ime of the Ancient Mariner,
Coleridge uses the expressions *And it would work 'em woe' and
* Hither to work us weal.'
4130. Lo^ Catoun: * In the famous discussion on the value of
dreams which in the tale of the Nun's Priest is carried on between
Chanticleer the cock and Partlet the hen, the latter sets out to strengthen
the contemptuous estimate of them she expresses by citing the testi-
mony of " Daun Catoun," " which that," she adds, " was so wise a man."
The cock does not have the lofty opinion of this writer entertained by
his wife. He is not in the least staggered by his authority, though he
concedes that he has great renown for wisdom. Still, there were
others of far greater weight and of far wider reputation than Cato who
took ground upon the subject of dreams entirely opposite. In this
discussion is the fullest mention made by Chaucer of an author who
goes under the name of Cato, or, as he is called in one manuscript,
Dionysius Cato. But he is scarcely more than a name. The work
was written by nobody knows who, and the writer of it flourished no-
body knows when. It bears the title of De Moribus, and consists of
a series of one hundred and forty-five distichs divided into four books.
In it is embodied no small share of the proverbial philosophy of the
ancient world. It was first quoted in the latter part of the fourth cen-
tury. The attention paid to it steadily increased with the progress of
time. It came to be held in a respect that fairly bordered upon
reverence. In the twelfth century, Walter Mapes, speaking of its
reputed author, called Cato the wisest of men since Solomon. [" Viro-
rum post Salomonen sapientissimus . . . Cato."] Its fame, indeed,
extended down to the end of the fifteenth century, and perhaps still
later. Caxton published in 1483 a version of it, taken from the French
translation. He did it for the avowed reason that, "in my judgment,"
to use his own words, " it is the best book to be taught to young
children in school, and also to the people of every age it is full con-
206 B. NOTES
venient if it be well understanden." As a manual of education it had,
in the Middle Ages, a thoroughly established reputation. John of
Salisbury . . . tells us that it was a work in which little children
were regularly instructed in the precepts of virtue. To its use as a
school-book Chaucer himself bears witness in his Manciple's Tale. In
inculcating the wisdom of silence he remarks :
" The firste virtue, son, if thou wilt lere.
Is to restrain and keepe well thy tongue;
Thus learne children when that they be young."
A statement to the same effect, and partly in the same words, is made
in " Troilus and Cressida." In neither case is the name of any author
or book given; but in both cases the sentiment is taken directly from
the first line of the third distich of the first book of the De Moribus.
This reads as follows :
" Virtutem primam esse puta compescere linguam."
With a work so common as this, and extending to less than three hun-
dred lines, Chaucer was likely to have been thoroughly familiar from
his earliest youth.' — Prof. Lounsburys Studies in Chaucer^ Vol. II.
PP- 358, 359.
4174. Oon of the gretteste auctours : Cicero, De Divinatione^ i. 27.
4232. he lith : he lieth stretched out, with open mouth.
4353. For^ also sike7' : For all so sure as gospel, woman is man's
confusion ; which the cock most galldiTiWy translates, * woman is man's
joy, and all his bliss.'
Dame Prudence, in The Tale of Melibeus, after citing instances of
good counselling on the part of women, adds : * And moreover, whan
our lord hadde creat Adam our forme-fader, he seyde in this wyse : " it
is nat good to been a man allone; make me to him an help semblable to
himself." Here may ye se that, if that wommen were nat goode, and
hir conseils goode and profitable, our lord god of hevene wolde never
han wroght hem, ne called him help of man, but rather confusioun of
man^
4365. /^^ /« /'/^<f^<?r^.* the subject relative omitted.
4398. Opposite this line in Mss. E. and Hn. is written * Petrus
Comestor.' * He was a native of Troyes, in Champagne, and occupied
a high position among the learned men of the twelfth century. The
name of Comestor, or " the eater," was given him, not because he con-
sumed more food than other people, but because he devoured more
books. His great work, the Historia Scholastica, was held for a long
B. NOTES 207
time in the highest repute in the department of religious literature.' —
Prof. Loufisburfs Studies in Chaucer, Vol. II. p. 373.
4402. Launcelot de Lake : Lancelot of the Lake, the most famous
knight of King Arthur's Round Table, the lover of Queen Guinevere.
4417. O newe Scariot : Gano or Genilon, 'who imposed upon the
credulity of his sovereign [Charlemagne], and betrayed the Christian
army to the heathen in the pass of Roncesvalles where all the paladins
fell fighting. He had accordingly been elevated to a place beside
Judas Iscariot in the legendary story of the Middle Ages. He natu-
rally served Chaucer, as he did every one else, as a specially striking
example of treachery.' — Prof. Lounsbury^s Studies in Chaucer, Vol. II.
p. 304.
41 18. O Greek Synoun : Sinon, the treacherous Greek who induced
the Trojans to receive the wooden horse into their city.
4461. Phisiologus : * He alludes, I suppose, to a book in Latin metre,
entitled Physiologus de natu7'is xii. animalium, by one Theobaldus,
whose age is not known. There is a copy of this work in Ms. Harl.,
3903, in which the IXth section, De Sirenis, begins thus :
" Sirenoe sunt monstra maris resonantia magnis
Vocibus et modulis cantus formantia multis,
Ad quas incaute veniunt saepissime nautse,
Quae faciunt sompnum nimia dulcedine vocum." ' — Tyrwhitt.
4484. Boece : Boethius, author of De Consolatione Philosophic.
The allusion here is to his treatise De Musica.
4490. So moote I : so may I brook (enjoy, have the use of) my two
eyes.
4493. it was ofherte : it was out of the heart, all that he sang.
4502. Daun Burnel the Asse : 'This is a reference to what has justly
been styled " the great mediaeval satire," Speculum Stultorum^ or the
" Mirror of Fools." It was the work of Nigel, usually called Nigellus
Wereker, who was precentor in the Church of Canterbury during the
latter part of the twelfth century. It is an attack upon the follies and
faults then prevalent in all classes, but is directed more especially
against the regular clergy. The hero of the poem — if it be right to
speak of him as a hero — is an ass called Burnellus. He is dissatisfied
with the length of his tail, and is anxious by some means to secure a
new one of ampler dimensions. In pursuit of this object he visits the
medical school at Salerno. Afterwards he studies for a time at the
University of Paris. Both going and coming he has a series of advent-
ures it is not necessary to speak of here; but on the way from Salerno
to Paris he falls in with a companion named Arnold, who tells him the
208 X B. NOTES
story to which Chaucer refers. It is given as an illustration of the fact
that there is no one in so abject a position in life that he will not be
able, if he wishes it, to return injury for injury. The tale in an abridged
form runs somewhat as follows :
*The holder of a certain benefice had a son named Gundulf, who in
his earlier years exercised a general oversight over the property. He
was in the habit of carrying in his hand a rod. One day, in driving
away a hen and her brood from the granary, he struck one of the
chickens with this weapon. The leg was broken in consequence of
the blow. The young cock suffered a long while in body from the
injury, but far more in mind from the insult. The former healed in
time, but there was no peace to the latter till full atonement had been
made for the wrong which had been inflicted. The cock never forgot
or forgave the act. He quietly waited, however, his hour for revenge.
It came at last. He had reached his sixth year and was occupying his
parent's place as chief of the feathered household. As herald of the
dawn he regularly announced to the family the coming of day. Gun-
dulf, too, had grown up. To him, after much negotiation, had been
promised his father's benefice and the day of consecration, on which
he was to receive it, had been fixed. A great feast was held by the
happy family the night before the morning on which he was to set out
to the city to be installed. As the way was long, it was arranged that
he should be waked at early dawn. The cock heard the arrangement
that was made, and exulted. The long-wished-for day of vengeance
had come at last. When the hour for crowing arrived he accordingly
uttered no sound. His wife, who was perched by his side, remon-
strated. He rebuked her in genuine marital style as a fool, and she
with genuine feminine spite tried to make up for his neglect by crow-
ing herself. It was in vain. Day broke, and the youth had been
allowed to sleep over by the attendants, who had full confidence in the
accuracy of the cock's knowledge of the hours, and had been deceived
by his silence. Gundulf hurried to the city, but it was too late. He
had lost his benefice; his parents died of grief, and he himself was
turned away from his old home a beggar.
*This work furnishes us a vivid conception of ideas and beliefs and
practices prevalent in the Middle Ages. Its exact purport might, in
some instances, have escaped observation, or, at least, have been hard
to ascertain with certainty. But its author was considerate enough to
prefix to the poem a prose preface in which he explained the meaning
of his allegory, and made known the object of his attack — a proceed-
ing which might often have been followed with advantage by many
writers of satire since his day, and by most writers of allegory. The
C. NOTES 209
ass, for illustration, is, according to his account, that member of the
regular clergy who is dissatisfied with his duty in carrying the burden
which the Lord has imposed upon him, and, therefore, instead of being
contented in the cloister, seeks for ampler and more agreeable fields of
activity.' — Prof. Lounsbury s Studies in Chaucer., Vol. II. pp. 338-341.
4516. 7nany a losengeour : of Richesse it is said, in The Roniaunt of
the Rose^ 1050? * Hir court hath many a losengere '; and Venus, address-
ing the god of love, in the Legends of Good Women, in behalf of
Chaucer, says, v. 352,
* This man to you may falsely been accused,
Ther as by right him ogte been excused,
For in your court is many a losengeour,' etc.
4519. Ecclesiaste^ Ecclesiasticus xii. 10, 11, 16.
4546. Ylioun : Ilium, the citadel of Troy, where was the temple of
Apollo and the palace of Priam.
4547. Pirrus : Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, called also Neoptolemus,
was one of the heroes concealed in the wooden horse.
4549. Eneydos : Virgil's yEneid^ lib. ii. 550-553.
4553. Hasdrubales wyf: Hasdrubal was king of Carthage, when
it was burnt by the Romans. The story of his wife is taken from the
43d chapter of St. Jerome's treatise against Jovinian.
4584. Jakke Straw: an insurgent in Wat Tyler's insurrection.
* The noise made by the followers of this rebel, to which our author
alludes, he had probably heard himself. It is called by Walsingham,
p. 25 T, clamor horrendissirmis. . . . Many Flemings (^Flandrenses)
were beheaded by the rebels cmn clamore consueto? — Tyrwhitt.
4586. Flemyng: * to whose competition the English craftsmen ob-
jected.' — Pollard.
4635. my lord : explained in a marginal note in Mss. E. and Hn.,
dominus Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis; 'doubtless,' says Skcat, * Will-
iam Courtenay, archbishop from 1381 to 1396.'
NOTES TO GROUP C
Titus Livius : * the tale of Virginia, as told by the physician, is evi-
dence, so far as it is evidence at all, that the poet knew nothing of
Livy. . . . The story of Virginia ... is simply an expansion of the
same story as found in the Roma^i de la Rose. From it is taken even
its first line, which contains the mention of Titus Livius.' — Prof. Louns-
bury s Studies in Chaucer .^ Vol. II. p. 281.
P
2IO C, NOTES
14. Pigmalion y Pygmalion; the allusion is to the beautiful ivory
image of a maiden which he wrought with wonderful art, and to which,
at his petition, Venus gave life. See Ovid's Met. x. 243 et seq.
16. Apelles, Zanzis : Apelles and Zeuxis, celebrated Greek painters.
Mss. E. and Hn. Apelles Zanzis; Mss. Cm., Cp., Ln., Apollus 3ephe-
rus; Pt. Apollus Zephirus; HI. appoUus 3epherus. Mss. E., Hn., have
the marginal note, 'Apelles fecit mirabile opus in tumulo Darii; vide
in Alexandri libro .1.*^ [Hn. has .6.°]; de Zanzi in libro Tullii.'
20. vicaire-geiie7'al : in The Parlement of FouleSy v. 379, Nature is
similarly characterized as * the vicaire of the almyghty lorde.*
28. What colour that : whatever colour.
37. Phebus : Phoebus, the sun.
41. no condicioun that is to prey se : no laudable quality.
49. Pallas : a surname of Athena (Minerva).
57. To dryve hire out of: to drive out of her.
70. she : Mss. E. and Hn. have they.
85. ' An old poacher makes a good gamekeeper.' — Skeat.
103. as heere : just here.
106. hir neded no maistresse : no mistress was needed for her.
117. The doctour : glossed ' Augustinus,' in Mss. E. and Hn. Skeat
refers to the Persones Tale, de Invidia : * After Pryde wol I speken of
the foule sinne of Envye, which is, as by the word of the philosophre,
sorwe of other mannes prosperitee; and after the word of seint Augus-
tin, it is sorwe of other mannes wele, and loye of othere mennes harm.'
*Quid is invidia nisi odium felicitatis alienae?' are St. Augustine's
words in Sermon cccliii.
468. over hir myght : to excess.
665. was caried : subject relative omitted.
666. That: the article. See Glossary.
667. Go bet : hurry.
734. cheste : clothes chest; he would exchange his whole wardrobe
for a hair-cloth to wrap his corpse in.
743. Agayns an oold man : Mss. E., Hn., Pt., have the margmal
note, * coram canuto capite consurge^ which is from the Latin Vulgate,
Leviticus xix. 32; i.e. rise up before the hoary head; the sentence
following in the Vulgate is, et honora personafn senis, and honour the
person of the aged man.
748. where ' whether ye walk or ride.
766. that boghte agayn : that bought back, redeemed.
786. For wel ye wool : Ms. Cp. thanne mighte we seye J?at it were
al oures; Pt. ffor wel I woote; Ln. ]?an myht we seie ]?at it were al
oures; HI. For wel I wot l?at }?is gold is nou3t oures.
D. NOTES 211
819. Shal it be conseil? equivalent to, Is it a bargain ?
866. goon a-paas nat but a mile : go in a walk only a mile.
889. Avyceft : Avicenna, * flourished in the early part of the eleventh
century, and received the surname of Prince of Physicians. His fame
in Western Europe was based almost entirely upon his great work, the
" Canon of Medicine." Chaucer shows his lack of intimate acquaint-
ance with this production by the manner in which he refers to it. The
" Canon " was divided into books and sections, and the sections were
in the Latin version denoted by feuj from the Arabic fanu^ " a part of
any science." The poet seems to regard the fen as a work independent
of the " Canon " to the subdivisions of which it gave the name.' —
Prof. Lounsburfs Studies in Chaucer^ Vol. 11. p. 394.
891. enipoisonyng : * Lib. IV. Fen I of Avicenna's Canon treats De
Venenis.^ — Skeat.
NOTES TO GROUP D
857-881. James Russell Lowell, in his Essay on Chaucer, remarks:
* Let us put a bit of Langland's satire beside one of Chaucer's. Some
people in search of Truth meet a pilgrim and ask him whence he
comes. He gives a long list of holy places, appealing for proof to the
relics on his hat :
" I have walked full wide in wet and in dry
And sought saints for my soul's health."
"Know'st thou ever a relic that is called Truth?
Couldst thou show us the way where that wight dwelleth? '*
"Nay, so God help me," said the man then,
" I saw never palmer with staff nor with scrip
Ask after him ever till now in this place."
This is a good hit, and the poet is satisfied; but, in what I am going to
quote from Chaucer, everything becomes picture, over which lies broad
and warm the sunshine of humorous fancy.'
He then quotes vv. 857 to 881, and continues:
* How cunningly the contrast is suggested here between the Elf-
queen's jolly company and the unsocial limiters, thick as motes in the
sunbeam, yet each walking by himself! And with what an air of
innocent unconsciousness is the deadly thrust of the last verse given,
with its contemptuous emphasis on the he that seems so well-meaning !
Even Shakespeare, who seems to come in after everybody has done his
best, with a " Let me take hold a minute and show you how to do it,"
could not have bettered this.'
212 D. NOTES
88i. but dishonour : the Cambridge^ only, of the six texts, reads
7ion. Skeat says, * to say that the Friar was an incubus, and yet did
women no dishonour, is contradictory,' and Prof. Lounsbury says
that ' the conclusion is made tame and utterly pointless ' (by the use of
non). But this reading is neither contradictory nor pointless, if it is
understood as humorous irony. The authorities, however, are against
it. Prof. Lounsbury says, 'The sting of this covert attack upon
the friars lies in the last line. It is eminently characteristic of the
poet's manner, and is in thorough keeping with the feelings and
opinions of the speaker to whom it is attributed. The ne . . . but has
the force of " only." The dishonour of a woman is, in the eyes of the
Wife of Bath, to be reckoned, not as a crime, but as a peccadillo;
and she was merely giving utterance to an almost universal sentiment
of the time when she represented the friars as specially addicted to
licentiousness.' — Studies in Chaucer^ Vol. I. p. 257.
This interpretation is supported by the authority of the Mss.; and
yet the reading of Cambridge Ms., if understood as humorous irony,
is equally, if not more, effective. And the ictus falling upon * he '
enforces the irony.
952. Ovyde : See Ovid's Metajuorphoses^ lib. xi. vv. 1-193.
965. dyde : subj. pt. s. would die.
968. That nedely : that of necessity some word had to escape
her.
982. Redeth Ovyde : In Ovid it is the servant (famulus) of Midas,
who cannot keep the secret, having discovered his master's deformity
while cutting his hair :
* Ille [Midas] quidem celat, turpique onerata pudore
Tempora purpureis temptat velare tiaris.
Sed solitus longos ferro resecare capillos
Viderat hoc famulus. Qui, cum nee prodere visum
Dedecus auderet, cupiens efferre sub auras,
Nee posset reticere tamen, secedit, humumque
Effodit, et, domini quales aspexerit aures.
Voce refert parva, terrseque inmurmurat haustae :
Indiciumque suae vocis tellure regesta
Obruit, et scrobibus tacitus discedit opertis.
Creber arundinibus tremulis ibi surgere lucus
Coepit, et, ut primum pleno maturint anno,
Prodidit agricolam. Leni nam motus ab austro
Obruta verba refert, dominique coarguit aures.'
xi. 180-193.
F. NOTES 213
Tennyson makes the revealer of the secret, a woman ( The Princess^
ii. 98) :
* Then Florian, but no Hvelier than the dame
That whispered "Asses' ears" among the sedge,' etc.
1 1 12. worth an hen: Fals-Semblant, in The Romaunt of the Rose,
V. 6856, says :
* I rekke nat of pore men,
Hir astate is not worth an hen.'
1 1 14. pryvee and apert : secretly and openly.
1 1 28. Ful selde : Longfellow translates the passage referred to
{Purgatorioy vii. 121-123) : * Not oftentimes upriseth through the
branches the probity of man; and this He wills who gives it, so that
we may ask of him.'
1 140. Kaukasous : Caucasus.
1 1 53. for he was bar en : because he was born.
1 159. nys but : is only.
1 161. a strange thing : a foreign, external thing.
NOTES TO GROUP F
9. Sarray : Sarai. 'This place has been identified, past all doubt,
by Colonel Yule, in his edition of Marco Polo's Travels, Vol. I. p. 5,
and Vol. II. p. 424. The modern name is Tzared, near Sarepta.' — Skeat.
10. Russye : Russia.
12. Cambynskaji : so printed in Ms. E. six-text print, but with the
marginal note, ^Ms. more like Cambyuskan all through.*
47. The last Idus : March 15.
50. Maries : Mars's ; his, i.e. of Mars.
95. Gawayn : Sir Gawain, the knight of courtesy of Arthur's Round
Table.
no. Arabe : Arabia; Inde : India.
193. Lumbar dye : Lombardy, noted for its horses.
195. a gentil Poilleys courser : a high-bred Apulian courser. Apulia,
in old French, is Poille.
207. Pegasee, Pegasus.
209. the Grekes hors, Synoun : the hors of the Greek Sinon; a not
uncommon construction in Early English. Ms. HI. reads the grek-
issch hors Synon ; i.e. the Grecian horse, Sinon, making Sinon the
name of the horse.
210. Troie : Troy.
214 ' ^' ^OTES
227. swiche thynges : here swiche is used emphatically, without the
correlative, as its modern representative such still is; so swiche thynges
has the force of such wondrous things.
232. Alocen and Vitulon : Alhazen, an Arabian astronomer and
optician of the nth century; Vitellio, a Polish mathematician of the
13th. * Alhazeni et Vitellonis Opticcz are extant, printed at Basil, 1572.'
— Tyrwhitt.
233. writen (^pt. pi.) : that wrote, in their lives, of strange mirrors.
238. Thelophus : Telephus, king of Mysia, wounded by the spear of
Achilles, and healed by the rust of the same.
263. the angle jueridional : an astrological term not fully understood.
The Chaucer reader who cares to turn aside to look into the explana-
tions given, should consult Brae's ed. of Chaucer's Astrolabe, pp. 77,
86, Skeat's ed. (Early English Text Soc), p. Ivi, and The Complete
Works of Chaucer, ed. by Skeat, Vol. 5, pp. 379, 380. Skeat con-
cludes his note, in the latter place, with the remark : ' On the whole,
we fairly suppose Chaucer's meaning to be, that before the feast con-
cluded, it was not only past noon, but nearly two hours past noon.''
265. Aldrian : Aldiran (i.e. 'the two fore-paws'), *the star mark-
ing the Lion's fore-paws.'
272. lusty Venus children deere : ' the knights and ladies at the
feast, whose thoughts then turned upon love, because the season was
astrologically favourable for it; ... " hir lady," i.e. their lady or god-
dess, as represented by the planet Venus, was then situate in the sign
Pisces. This sign, in astrology, is called the " exaltation " of Venus,
or the sign in which she exerts most power.' — Skeat.
287. Launcelet : Lancelot; see note, B 4402.
316. stant : (that) standeth; the subject relative omitted.
376, 377. Thise olde wommen : a mixed construction, according to
which wommen is the subject of answerde, but according to the mean-
ing, maistresse should be : her mistress gladly wise, as these old women
are, answered her anon.
383. wel a te7i : full ten or twelve.
387. Noon hyer : 'the sun had risen but four degrees above the
horizon ' ; i.e. it was not yet a quarter past six. — Skeat.
391. Nat but with : With only.
396. to lighte : to lighten, to become light, cheerful, happy. So in
the Franklin's Tale, F 913 :
*The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte
Wolde han maad any herte for to lighte
That ever was born, but if to gret siknesse,
Or to gret sorwe helde it in distresse.'
F. NOTES 215
397. What for : somewhat (partly) for the season, and (partly for)
the morning.
401. The knotte : there is no verb for knotte ; but the meaning is
plain: If the knot {denouejiiaif), for which every tale is told, be
delayed till that the interest cool of those that have long listened to it,
the savour, etc.
409. fordryed : Mss. Hn., Cp., Pt. for drye; Ms. Cm. fordreyed.
428. A faucon peregryn : Tyrwhitt quotes from the Tresor de Bru-
nei Latin [i.e. Brunetto Latini, 13th cent.] a description of this kind
of falcon, called pelerius, the pilgrim, par ce que nus ne trove son ni,
because no one finds its nest.
430. now and now : now and again.
458. as dooth: pray do; see as in Glossary, before imperatives.
471. To heele : to heal your hurts with; a common construction; in
reading, the pause should come after with.
491. As by the whelpe : Skeat found the proverb which explains this
passage, in George Herbert's Jacula Prudentum (Herbert's Works,
ed. Willmott, 1859, p. 328) in the form * Beat the dog before the
lion,' i.e. in sight of the lion. He quotes also Cotgrave, who, in his
French Dictionary, s.v. Batre, has the proverb — * Batre le chien
devant le Lion, to punish a mean person in the presence, and to the
terror, of a great one'; and Shakespeare, Othello^ ii. 3. 272: 'What,
man ! there are ways to recover the general again : you are but now
cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even
so as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious
lion.'
Dr. Furness, in his Var. Ed. of Othello, gives the following note on
affright^ in this passage : ' As Purnell says, this does not suit the com-
parison. Staunton suggests appease^ which certainly accords better
with the sense.'
The word appeased explains chasted well.
512. hit hym : hideth himself. Skeat quotes Virgil, Bucol. iii. 92:
'Qui legitis flores . . . fugite hinc, latet anguis in herba.'
548. Jason : the leader of the Argonauts, who deserted Medea, by
whose assistance he had obtained the golden fleece, in order to marry
Glauce or Creusa, daughter of Creon, the King of Corinth. Parys of
Troye : Paris of Troy. Ms. E. has Troilus, Cm. Troylis.
550. Lameth : Lamech; see Genesis iv.
559. Til: to, unto.
567. went: pp. of wenden; is went, is gone, has proceeded,
579. Wher : whether to me was woe.
583. Ms. E. has /, the rest he.
2l6 G. NOTES
593. A very old expression, and still in use. See Bartlett's Famil-
iar Quotaiions, 8th ed. App. p. 649.
594. 7Tioste be : had to be.
596. Seint John to borwe : St. John for pledge, or security.
601. i-seyd : should be emphasized with an upward wave of voice,
implying that it was all say with him, and nothing more.
602. a ful lo7tg spoon : an old proverb; '=i^^V>zx\\^i\.^% Familiar Quo-
tations ^ 8th ed. p. 642.
604. moste forth : had to go forth; the verb implied in the adv.
608. Alle thyng repeirynge : Boethius, De Consol. Phil. lib. iii.
met. 2, which Chaucer translates : * Alle Hnges seken a3ein in to hir
propre cours. and alle l?inges reioisen hem of hir retournynge a3ein
to hir nature,' etc. Chaucer's Translation, ed. Morris (E. E. T. S.),
p. 69.
610. Men loven of propre kynde : out of, or from, their own nature,
naturally.
626. dene fro me ago : wholly from me gone.
638. Now kan fiat Canacee but: now can C. only.
641. To heelen with this hauk : to heal this hawk with.
649, 650. These lines are reversed in the six Mss.; the Cm., Cp.,
Pt., and Ln. omit the initial And.
652. as now : just now.
656. Cavibalus : the Cambalo of v. 31, the brother of Canace; in
v. 667, Cambalo is the lover of Canace, who is to fight in the lists
against her two brothers, Cambalo and Algarsif.
666. Ne hadde he ben holpe : had he not been helped.
672. Here endeth the * half-told story of Cambuscan bold.' The
student should read Canto HI. of Book IV. of Spenser's Faerie
Queene^ in which is described
* The Battell twixt three Brethren with
Cambell for Canacee;
Cambina with true friendships bond
Doth their long strife agree.'
NOTES TO GROUP G
556. Boghton-under-Blee : Boughton-under-Blean.
558. Ms. E. And under-nethe he wered a surplys; the rest, with
some variation of spelling, And under that he hadde a whit surplys.
578. For swoot : against sweat.
581. Were : might be; subject relative omitted.
G. NOTES 217
593. God geve thee good chaunce : God give thee good luck.
596. dar I leye : I dare lay a wager.
601. Nat but ynongh : only enough, i.e. a great deal.
602. If ye knew him as well as I do.
607. but they : unless they learn it of him.
611. I dare lay in the scales against it.
621. at me : of me.
632. That of his worshipe : to be construed with wonder merveil-
lous, third verse back; that of his dignity careth he so little (in the
way of dress).
645. That that is overdoon : glossed in Ms. E. Omne quod est
nimium & cetera ; what is overdone will not prove itself aright, will
not bear testing; too much of a good thing, etc.; an idea variously
expressed in many languages.
652. Ther-of no fors : no matter about that.
659. thise theves by kynde : these born thieves.
665. Peter ! by wSt. Peter; God geve it harde grace : curse on it!
688. Catoun : Dionysius Cato, author of Disticha de jfioribus ad
filium (4th cent.). Tyrwhitt quotes Chaucer's original, lib. i. dist. 17:
*Ne cures si quis tacito sermone loquatur;
Conscius ipse sibi de se putat omnia dici.'
710. For it is a serious matter to me.
721. never the neer : never the nearer.
726. hose : the close-fitting drawers or breeches are meant.
731. which: what, what sort of; \^2X. qualis.
739. holde : regard, consider; y-do : done for.
746. Misery likes company.
* Men seyn, " to wrecche is consolacioun
To have an-other felawe in his peyne." '
— Troilus and Criseydcy bk. i. 708, 709.
749. no charge : no matter.
752. oure termes : our technical terms are so learned and so strange.
762. papeer : pepper; Skeat, in the Glossarial Index to the C. T,
Complete Works, Vol. VI., defines the word paper ; in his ed. of
the Man of Lawes Tale, etc., pepper. The other Mss. have papire,
papeer, paupere, papere. The word certainly medins pepper.
768. esy fir : quiet fire and brisk also.
838. Ascaunce : 'possibly, perhaps; lit. "just as if." ' — Skeat.
839. «/, whether.
846. And know he book-learning or know he none, he shall, in fact,
2l8 G. NOTES
find it all one. Mss. E. and Cm. And; rest, Al, which Skeat adopts,
and explains * whether.'
857. 1^0 tellen al : to tell all would be beyond the capacity of any
book.
861. al looke he : although he look never so fiercely (lit. roughly).
874. it is to seken evere : it is ever to seek (it being never found).
913. by tytnes : at times.
921. chit, chideth; halt, holdeth.
922. along on the fir niakyng : owing to the way the fire was made.
929. so theech : so thrive I.
944. as now : just now.
953. lat me han the wite : let me have the blame.
971. By that : by the time that.
973. wolde infecte : subject relative omitted.
975. Alisaundre : Alexandria.
1018. spendyng-silver : pocket-money, for chance expenses.
1024. a certeyn : a certain amount.
1056. a7id if: Ms. E. if that; the rest, and if.
1059. ye shut wel seen at eye : ye shall well see at eye, have ocular
proof.
1096. Algates : at all events, at least.
1 103. hadde : subj. pt. pi. might have; tense sequence requires have;
let your man go for quicksilver, that we have it at once.
mo. cam anon agayn : came back immediately.
1 1 1 2. And toke : and delivered.
1134. Shal make : the subject relative omitted.
1 1 50. was not : the subject relative omitted.
1 151. To blynde : to blind the priest with.
1 171. terved : Mss. Hn., Cp. torned, Ms. Cm. ternede, Pt. turned,
Ln. tornyd. In the text of Skeat's ed. of The Complete Works, Vol.
IV. p. 545, torned^ but in the Notes, Vol. 5, p. 430, he says, * for tornid^
read terved^ i.e. flayed, skinned; Ms. E. has terued (so it may be read).'
In the Six-text, it is ternedy the «, as Skeat supposes, being taken for
an n. See his letter in the Athen<£um, March 24, 1894.
1 1 74. heere and there : in one place and another; there's no telling
where he is.
1 1 75. he abit nowhere : has no fixed abode.
1 185. by Seint Gile : by St. Giles, i.e. yEgidius.
1 199. moste nedes : had necessarily to do.
1 22 1. What: why.
1225. yvele moot he cheeve ! bad luck to him !
1 23 1, gan it hide : hid it.
G, NOTES 219
1236. grope: feel about.
1244. halwes : gen. pi. to be construed with Goddes and moodres ;
have : optative subj. pr. pi.
1245. and I their curse, unless, if ye vouchsafe to teach me, I will
be yours in all that ever I can.
1 26 1, to theffect : to the realization of his desire.
1264. for a contenaunce : for appearance sake.
1 27 1, gan hym dresse : addressed himself.
1274. terve : subj. pr. s., flay him for his falsehood. Mss. Hn., Cp.,
Ln., HI. torne; Mss. Cm., Pt. turne. See note 11 71.
1277. That was ordeyned : that was prepared with that false con-
trivance.
1278. relente gan : melted.
1 281. out yede : out went, ran out.
1295. hy the : hie thee, hasten.
1 319. heyne : see Glossary.
1320. Unwityng : an absolute construction; this priest not knowing
of his false craft.
1324. noght knowynge : an absolute construction; this priest know-
ing naught of the thing.
1329. ivhil-eer : erewhile, a little while ago.
1340. as hem oghte be : as it behooved them to be.
1357. No fors : no matter.
1362. nere : subj. pt. s. were not.
1365. and took: and delivered them every one to this canon, for
this same recipe.
1368. I kepe han no loos : I care to have no praise.
1 37 1, and men knew en : if men should know.
1374. ther were : there would be no two ways about it.
1377. elles wexe I wood: may I otherwise lose my wits !
1390. So fer forth : to such an extent.
1391. This multiplying : meant for a satirical paradox.
1395. that men: that one cannot come thereby (acquire it) for any
wit that men have nowadays.
1398. in hir termes : in their trumpery of learned words.
1402. lusty game : pleasant game; used ironically.
1408. kan they ttat : an interrogative meant to be strongly assertive;
certainly they can.
141 1. Never to thrive were too long a date.
141 3. Bayard the blyjtde : the phrase means any old blind horse;
bayard meant, originally, a bay horse.
1414. That goes blindly about and takes no account of danger.
220 G. NOTES
141 5. He is as bold to run against a stone as to go around it in
the way.
1422. rape and remie : Skeat defines, * seize and clutch^ and adds :
*the phrase as it stands is meaningless; rape7t is to hurry, and rennen
is to run, both verbs being intransitive. But it took the place of the
older phrase repen and rinen, from A.S. hrepian and hrinan, to handle
and touch. . . . Briefly, rape^ properly to hurry (Icel. hrapa), is a false
substitute for A.S. hrepian, allied to G. raffen ; whilst renne, to run, is
a false substitute for A.S. hrinatt, to touch, lay hold of.'
1426. The usual punctuation of this passage is a semicolon or period
after dene, and a comma after swithe. It seems better to connect And
right as swithe with what precedes than with what follows : For if you
do, your thrift is gone full clean, and right quickly.
1428. Arjtold of the Newe Toun : Arnaldus Villanovanus, author of
the Rosarium Philosophorum, a treatise on alchemy; born ab. 1235,
died 1313, or '14, * described by the bibliographer Fabricius (Johann
Albrecht) as a poet, physician, and philosopher, skilled in chemistry,
suspected of magic, hostile to the friars, and on that account more than
suspected of hexesy. ''-— Lounsbury. He was also in the diplomatic
service of the kings of Sicily and Naples. His death took place when
he was on his way to Avignon to visit, as a physician, Clement V. This
pope died in 1314.
1431. * The word mortification seems to have been loosely used to
denote any change due to chemical action.' — Skeat.
1434. Hermes: Hermes Trismegistus, i.e. 'thrice great Hermes.'
* To this fabled prophet, priest, and king of early Egypt, who was in-
vented by the first opponents of Christianity as the father of all human
knowledge, were attributed numerous works composed at various
times. Some ■ of these, which, though produced during the Middle
Ages, bore his name, treated of the philosopher's stone and of the
making of gold. They fully justified their claim to inspiration and
antiquity so far as it rests upon incomprehensibility.' — Prof. Louns-
bury^s Studies in Chaucer, Vol. II. p. 392.
Bacon, in his Advancement of Learning, addressed to King James I,
says : * there is met in your Majesty a rare conjunction, as well of
divine and sacred literature, as of profane and human; so as your
Majesty standeth invested of that triplicity, which in great veneration
was ascribed to the ancient Hermes ; the power and fortune of a king,
the knowledge and illumination of a priest, and the learning and uni-
versality of a philosopher.'
Students of Chaucer should not trouble themselves about the mean-
ing of the quotation from Hermes, as it is entirely unintelligible, and
\his fact is a part of Chaucer's satire.
G. NOTES 221
1447. secree of secrees : Secreta Secretorum, ascribed to Aristotle, a
very popular work during the Middle Ages. ' He who wishes to have
a general idea of its character and contents will gain it most easily
from reading the seventh book of Gower's " Confessio Amantis." An
attentive perusal of that will obviate the necessity of reading the orig-
inal, and will usually deprive one of the desire.' — Lounsburfs Studies
in Chaucer^ Vol. II. p. 392.
1450. Senior : ' The story told of Plato and his disciple in this same
tale of the Canon's Yeoman is taken, as Chaucer himself says, from a
book called " Senior," though he has substituted the Greek philosopher
for the Solomon of the original. The treatise is extant.' — Lounsbury s
Studies in Chaucer, Vol. II. p. 392. On this Prof. Lounsbury has
the following note : ' Fabricius gives the title Senioris Zadith filii
Hamuelis Tabula Chymica. It was perhaps a translation from the
Arabic, and was first printed at Frankfort in 1608.'
1461. the roote : * represents the Latin radix. In the Theat. Chem.,
ii. 463, we read that the philosopher's stone " est radix, de quo omnes
sapientes tractauerunt." ' — Skeat.
1469. But where : except where it is pleasing.
1470. and eek : and also to forbid whomsoever it pleaseth him.
1475. I ^^de ' I advise as the best thing to do, to let it go.
1479. terme of his lyve : all his life.
1481. God sende : God send every true man remedy of whatever
evil beset him.
GLOSSARY
a, one; upon a day, in one day,
A 703.
a, ah, B 4583.
a, in, A 854, G 782. A.S. on.
abegge, to aby, suffer for, pay for,
A 3938.
abeye, to aby, pay for, C 100.
abhomynacions, abominations, B
88.
abit, abideth, G 11 75.
aboght, pp. paid for, A 3100.
aboughte, pt. s. atoned for, A 2303.
aboute, about, here and there,
A 488.
abrayde, pt. s. started up, B 4198.
abregge, to abridge, shorten,
A 2999.
abyde, to submit, A 2650.
abyde, subj. pr. pi. wait; thogh we
a time abyde, though we wait
awhile, D 979.
abye, to buy off, atone for, pay for,
A 4393. C 756, G 694.
achaat, buying, A 571.
achatours, buyers, A 568. .
acorded not, was not fitting,
A 244; pp. accorded, agreed,
A 818.
adoun, down, downwards, A 393;
below, A 2995.
adrad, pp. adread, in dread,
afraid, A 605.
aferd, pp. afeared, afraid, A 628,
B 4109.
afered, pp. afeared, afraid, C 284.
afOlle, give an edge to, sharpen,
make smooth, A 712. Fr. affiler.
affray, n. fray, quarrel, B 1137.
affrayed, pp. afraid, much scared,
terrified, B 4468.
af right, pp. affrighted, B 4085.
after, prep, according to, A 125,
341, 347» 73i» 3329, F 389.
again, in return, in reply, A
1092.
agayn, again, back, adv. and prep.
A 801, B 4599, C 716; against,
towards, A 2680, B 3870, 4459,
F 53, 57, G 1279, 1342, 1415.
agayns, against, towards; 'rood
hym agayns,' rode to meet him,
B 999; before, in presence of,
C743.
agast, aghast, A 2341.
ageyn, against, towards, A 1509,
F 142; back; come ageyn, re-
turn, A 4380.
ago, pp. gone, B 4396, F 626.
agreved, pp. aggrieved, angry,
A 2057.
agrief , in grief, in ill part, B 4083.
agrise, to shudder, feel terror, be
terrified, C 280.
agryse, to shudder, B 614.
223
224
GLOSSARY
al, although, though, whether,
A 734, 744> 2709, 4394, 4396,
F 506, G839, 861.
al, all; al a shire, a whole county,
A 584.
al, adv. altogether, wholly, F 597.
alambikes, alembics, G 794.
alauntz, mastiffs, or wolf hounds,
A 2148.
albe, albeit, A 297, 2033.
albificacioun, albefaction, G 805.
al day, constantly, F 481.
alderbest, best of all, A 710. A.S.
eal, gen. pi. ealra; later forms,
alra, aire, aller, alder, the d
being excrescent.
alderfirst, first of all, F 550.
ale-stake, an alehouse sign, A
667.
algate, always, A 571; anyhow, at
any rate, G 904.
algates, in everyway, at any rate,
at all events, F 246, G 1096.
alight, pp. ahghted, A 722, 2189.
alkamystre, alchemist, G 1204.
alle and some, all and some, one
and all, A 2187.
allegge, to allege, cite, produce,
A 3000.
aller, gen. pi. of all, A 586, 799,
823.
almus dede, almsdeed, B 1156.
al ones, all at one, C 695.
along on, along of, owing to,
because of, G 922, 930. A.S.
gelang.
al redy, already, A 1041.
als, as, A 170.
amadriades, hamadryads, A 2928.
amalgamyng, amalgamating, form-
ing an amalgam (in a chemical
sense), G 771.
amblere, ambler, a horse that
ambles, A 469.
amonges, amongst, A 759.
amor vincit omnia, love con-
quers all things, A 162.
amorwe, amorrow, in the morn-
ing, A 822.
amounteth, signifieth, A 2362.
amyddes, amidst, A 2009.
anclee, ancle, A 1660.
and, if, G 601, 1246, 1371.
anglis, angles, F 230.
an-hanged, pp. hanged, B 4252.
anlaas, a short two-edged knife
or dagger, A 357.
annueleer, ' a priest employed to
say annuals, or anniversary
masses, for the dead,' G 1012.
anon, at once, straightway, A 2865,
2869.
a-nyght, at night, A 2007.
apalled, pp. become pale, weak-
ened, enfeebled, A 3053.
apayd, pp. pleased; yvele apayd,
displeased, dissatisfied, G 921,
1049.
ape, dupe, gull, fool, G 1313; pi.
apes, A 706.
aperceyvynges, perceivings, per-
ceptions, observations, F 286.
apert, open, in public, D 11 14.
apertenyng, appertaining, G
785.
apiked, pp. trimmed, adorned,
A 365.
appalled, pp. made pale, F 365.
apparaillynge, preparation, A
2913.
areest, arrest, seizure, B 4090.
areste, to stop; 'bigan his hors
areste,' stopped his horse : A
827; * bigan ' is used here as
GLOSSARY
22$
*gan,' more frequently, is used,
as a tense auxiliary.
aretted, pp. accounted, A 2729.
argoille, 'crude cream of tartar,
deposited as a hard crust on
wine casks.' — Skeat. G 813.
aright, exactly, A 267; favourably,
B 4086.
arm-greet, arm-great, as great as
one's arm, A 2145.
armurers, armourers, A 2507.
armypotente, powerful in arms,
A 1982.
array, dress, C 47; equipage, dis-
play, A 1932
arrayed, pp. arranged, A 2867.
arrerage, arrearage, arrears, A 602.
arrest, arest, 'a support for the
spear when couched for the
attack,' A 2602.
arresten, to arrest, stop, B 4210.
arrogance, haughtiness, preten-
sion, D 1 1 12.
artow, art thou, C 718, G 664,
1079.
arwes, arrows, A 104, 2080, 2358,
B 4120.
arys, imp. s. arise, C 827.
aryve, arrival; landing, disem-
barkation of troops, A 60.
as, used before an imperative, it
imparts an entreaty to the idea
of the verb, A 2302, 2317, 2325,
B 859, 1061, 4133, F 458,
652.
as, used before adverbs, and ad-
verbial phrases, of time; as for
that night, B 4183.
as of, in respect to; as of colours,
B 4058
as, where; thider as, thither where,
C749.
ascaunce, * possibly, perhaps,' G
ascendent, ascendant, horoscope,
A 417.
as heere, just here, C 103.
ashamed, pp. put to shame, A
2667.
as now, just now, F 652, G 944,
1019.
as nowthe, as now, just now, A
462.
aspect, aspect (of a planet) , A 1087.
asshen, ashes, A 2957, F 255.
assise, assize, session, A 314.
assoillyng, absolution, A 661.
as swithe, quickly, G 1030.
asterte, to escape ; that nedely som
word hire moste asterte, that of
necessity some word would have
to escape her, D 968.
astoned, pp. astonied, astonished,
A 2361.
a-stored, stored, supplied with
stores, A 609.
astronomye, astronomy (astrol-
ogy), A 414.
aswowne, in a swoon, F 474.
at, from, of, G 621.
atake, to overtake; gan atake,
overtook, G 556, 585.
a thre, in three, A 2934.
atones, at once, immediately, B
670, 4524.
atte, at the, B 4203.
atte fuUe, at the full, entirely,
A 651, 3936.
atte laste, at the last, finally,
A 707, 4403, C 844, F 576.
atte leeste weye, at the least way,
at least, A 1121.
attemperaunce, temperance, at-
temperament, C 46.
226
GLOSSARY
attempree, temperate, moderate,
B 4028.
atwo, in two, B 697.
atwynne, apart, G 11 70.
auditour, auditor of accounts,
A 594.
aught, adv. by any chance, in any
way, B 1034.
aught, n. anything, G 1400.
auncestres, ancestors, D 11 60.
aungel, angel, A 1055.
auter, aUar, A 2331, 2355.
avaunce, to advance, be to one's
advantage, A 246.
avaunt, n. boast, A 227.
avauntour, boaster, B 4107.
avauntyng, boasting, A 3884.
aventure, adventure, accident,
chance, hap, fortune, A 25, 844,
1074, 1506, 2357, 2703, 2722,
B 4189; risk, G 946; pi. avent-
ures, A 795.
avowe, to avow, declare openly,
G 642.
avoy ! fie ! B 4098. O. Fr. avoi !
avys, advice, consideration, A
786.
avyse, to advise, consider; yet
wol we us avyse, yet will we
consider with ourselves, B 664.
avysed, pp. advised, put on one's
guard, C 690; avysed me, con-
sidered with myself, G 572.
avysement, advisement, delibera-
tion, B 86.
awayt, n. watch; have her in
awayt, have her in watch, watch
her, B 3915.
axe, pr. I s. ask, C 24; pr. pi. G
640; imp. s. C 667.
axeth, asketh, F 309.
ay, ever, always, A 63, 233, 572,
646, 3876, B ^2>2>y 826, C 14, D
1 1 14, 1 144, G 947, 141 2.
baar, pt. s. bore, A 108, iii, 237,
B626.
Bacus, Bacchus, i.e. wine, C 58.
badder, worse, F 224.
bake, pp. baken, baked, A 343.
balaunce, balance, scale; *I dar
leye in balaunce,' i.e. I dare
pledge, G 611.
bale, harm of any kind, misfort-
une, sorrow, G 1481.
balled, bald, A 198, 2518.
harbour, barber, barber-surgeon,
A 2025.
baren, pt. pi. bore, carried; 'how
that we baren us,' how we con-
ducted ourselves, A 721.
bareyne, barren, A 1977.
bar hyrself so faire, bore, or con-
ducted, herself so fairly, B 4062.
barm, bosom or lap, F 631.
barmclooth, lap cloth, apron, A
3236.
baronage, assembly of barons, A
3096.
barres, ornaments, A 329.
batailled, battled, embattled, B
4050.
bauderie, bawdry, A 1926; Skeat
defines the word in this place,
gaiety, mirth.
baudy, dirty, soiled, G 635.
bayard, originally a bay horse,
then, any horse, G 1413.
beautee, beauty, A 11 14.
be, pp. been, A 60.
bechen cole, beechen coal, G 460.
bedes, beads, A 159.
beggestere, beggar woman, A 242.
be war, to be ware, wary, F 490.
GLOSSARY
227
beech, beech-wood, G 928.
beede, to offer, proffer, G 1065.
A.S. beodan.
beek, beak (of a bird), F 418.
beem, beam (of light), D 868.
been, bees, F 204.
been, to be, A 140; pr. pi. are,
G623.
beer, pt s. bore, B 722, 4526.
beere, bier, A 2871, 2877, 2900.
beestes, beasts, animals, A 2929.
beete, to mend, repair, A 3927.
beeth, imp. pi. be, G 937.
Belle, the, an inn with the sign of
the bell, near the Tabard, in
Southwark, A 719.
bemes, trumpets, horns, B 4588.
bene, bean, B 94.
benedicite ! bless you ! or, bless
us ! B 4583, G 628.
benigne, genial, F 52.
bent, arched, A 3246.
bente, declivity, slope, A 1981.
ber, imp. s. bear, carry, D 1139.
berd, beard, A 270, 332, 406, 552,
588, 627, 689, B 41 10, 4548.
bere, to bear, carry, F 148.
bere, a bear, A 1640; gen. s.
beres, A 2142.
bereth hym beste, acquitteth him
best, A 796.
berkynge, barking, B 4576.
berme, barm, yeast, G 813.
berne, barn, A 3258; pi. bernes,
D 871.
berth, beareth; berth hire on
hond, bears her in hand, wit-
nesses falsely against her, B
620.
berye, berry, A 207.
beryng, bearing, behaviour, car-
riage, C 47.
bet, adv. better, A 241, 4376,
B 1091, G 1344.
bete, to beat, flap, B 4512; pr. i s.
B 3087.
beth, pr. pi. are, A 178, F 648;
imp. pi. be, B 4520, C 97, 278,
F598.
betwixe, bewixt, A 277.
beye, to buy, C 845, G 637.
bible, book, in a general sense,
G857.
bi-bledde, pp. be-bled, stained with
blood, A 2002.
bifalle, pp. befallen, happened, A
795-
bifil, pt. s. befell, happened, A 19.
biforen-hand, beforehand, G 131 7.
biforn, before, in front, A 590;
beforehand, ahead, first in the
market, A 572.
bigile, to beguile, G 1263.
bigiled, pp. beguiled, G 1385.
biginne, to begin, A 853.
bigyle, to beguile, deceive, B 4618.
biheete, pr. i s. promise, G 707.
biheste, n. promise, B 41.
biknewe, pt. pi. acknowledged,
confessed, B 4251.
bileve, to remain, stay, for he ne
mighte b. , because he could not
stay, F 583.
biquethe, to bequeath, D 1121;
pp. D 1 1 64.
bisette, pt. s. beset, occupied,
used, employed, A 279.
biside, near to, in the neighbour-
hood of, A 445, 620.
bisides, adv. aside, G 141 6.
bisily, attentively, in an absorbed
way, B 1095.
bismotered, pp. besmutted, A 76.
bisoghte, pp. besought.
228
GLOSSARY
bisoughte, pt. s. besought, en-
treated, B 1094.
bistad, pp. bestead, beset, B 649.
bisy, busy, attentive, A 1491, F 509.
bisye hym, lat no man, let no
man busy (trouble) himself, G
1442.
bisyed hym, pt. s. busied himself,
G 1 146.
bisynesse, the state of being busy
or occupied; care, diligence,
C 56; anxiety, care, A 1928.
bitone, bittern, the bird so-called;
called also bumble, from the
sound it makes, D 972.
bitrayseth, betrayeth, C 92.
bityde, to betide, happen, G 697.
bitymes, betimes, soon, G 1008.
bit, biddeth, A 187.
biwaille, to bewail, B 3877.
biwreye, to betray, C 823; imp. s.
D 974.
blankmanger, a fricasse of capon,
etc., A 387.
blent, pr. s. blinds, deceives, G
1391; pp. G 1077.
blered, bleared, dimmed, deceived,
G730.
bleryng, blearing, dimming, blur-
ring (the sight); bleryng of a
proud milleres eye, deceiving,
imposing upon, a proud miller,
A 3865.
blew, blue, A 564.
blewe, blue, F 644.
bleynte, pt. s. blenched, started
back, A 1078.
blissed hire, crossed herself, B
868.
blondren, pr. pi. blunder, G 670.
blondreth, goes blindly about, G
1414.
blynde, to blind, deceive, G 1151.
blynne, to cease, G 1171.
blyve, quickly, A 2697.
bocher, butcher, A 2025.
boghte, pt. s. bought, A 2088;
boghte agayn, bought back, re-
deemed, C 766.
boille, to boil, A 380.
bokeleer, buckler, A 668.
bokeler, buckler, A 471, 558, 3266.
bokelynge, buckling, A 2503.
bolle, bowl, G 1 210.
boles, bulls, A 2139, B 4125.
boles galle, bull's gall, G 797.
bombleth, hums, as the bumble-
bee and the bittern, which is
called also bumble, D 972.
bond, band, F 131.
bood, pt. s. bided, stayed, A
• 4399-
boold, bold, A 458-
boole armonyak, Armenian clay,
G 790.
boone, boon, prayer, petition, 2669.
boond, pt. s. bound, B 634.
boos, boss (of a shield), A 3266.
boost, boast, boasting, bravado,
C 764.
boote, remedy, A 424, F 154, G
1481.
boras, borax, A 630.
bord, table, A 52.
bore, pp. born, A 3891.
boren, pp. bom, D 11 53.
borwe, n. pledge, F 596.
borwe, to borrow, A 4417.
borwed, pt. s. borrowed, C 871.
botelles, bottles, C 871.
hotels, bottles, C 877.
botme, bottom, G 1321.
bountee, goodness, kindness, gen-
eral worth, C 112, D 1 1 60.
GLOSSARY
229
bountevous, bounteous, bountiful,
C no.
bour, inner room, B 4022.
bourde, pr. i s. jest, C 778.
bowes, boughs, A 642, 2917.
box, boxwood, B 4588.
boydekyns, bodkins, daggers, B
3892, 3897.
bracer, a bowman's arm-guard, A
III.
bragot, * a liquor made of ale and
honey fermented, with spices,'
A 3261.
bras, brass, B 4588.
brast, pt. s. burst, B 697, 4408.
brat (Ms. E. only; the others,
bak), a coarse garment, cloak,
G 881; the other word, bak,
means a covering for the back.
brat ful, brim full, chock full,
choke full, A 2164.
brawnes, muscles, A 2135.
brede, breadth, A 1970, 2916.
breed, bread, A 341.
breem, bream, a kind of fish, A
350-
brek, imp. s. break, B 3090.
breke, to break, A 551 ; subj. pt. s.
B 4578.
brend, pp. burnished, A 2162,
2896; burned, B 4555.
brende, pt. s. burned, B 4558.
brenne, to burn, A 2867, D 1142,
G 1 192; pr. pi. A 2331, 2355;
subj. pr. s. G 1423.
brennyng, burning, G 802; brenn-
ynge, A 2000, 2338.
brent, pp. burnt, A 2957, G 759.
brente, pt. s. burned, A 2946, 2950.
brest, pr. s. bursts, A 2610.
brest, breast, B 1028.
bresten, to burst, A 1980.
bret-ful, brim-full, A 687.
bretherhed, a religious brother-
hood, A 510.
breyde, to start up, awake, F 477.
breyde, pt. s. drew, B ^2>T'
briddes, birds, A 2929.
brighte, brightly, A 1493.
bringeth, imp. pi. bring, G 12 10.
brode, adj. broad, A 2917.
brode, adv. broadly, openly, plainly,
A 739, G 1420.
brondes, brands, A 2338.
brood, broad, A 471, 549, 553,
3243.
broste, pt. pi. burst, B 671.
brother, gen. s. brother's, A 3084,
G 1432.
brouke, to brook, enjoy the use of,
B 4490.
browdynge, embroidery, A 2498.
browes, eyebrows, A 3245.
broyded, pp. braided, A 1049.
broyden, pp. broidered, embroid-
ered, A 3238.
brustles, bristles, A 556.
brybe, to rob or steal, A 4417.
brymstoon, brimstone, A 629.
brynge, imp. pi. bring, G 1207.
burdoun, bass; stif b., strong bass,
A 673.
burgeys, burgess, citizen, A 369,
754.
burned, pp. burnished, A 1983, B
4054.
busk, bush, A 2013.
but, unless, A 782, 11 20, 3005,
3948, C 741, F 361, G 607, 953,
984, 1432; and yet, A 701.
but that, except that, A 3002.
but if, unless, A 351, 582, 656,
3871, B 636, 3103, 3105, 3900,
G 910, 1443.
230
GLOSSARY
by, according to ; * by foreward and
by composicioun,' according to
compact and agreement, A 848;
'by his free assent,' A 852; re-
specting, concerning, A 2021,
G 1005.
by that, by the time that, G
971.
byjaped, pp. tricked, G 1385.
byle, bill (of a fowl or bird), B
4051.
bynne, bin, chest, A 593.
by time, betimes, in due season,
A 2575.
by tymes, at times, G 913.
by weste, to the west, westward,
A 388.
byt, biddeth, F 291.
by thoght, pp. minded, A 767.
byynge, buying, A 569.
caas, law cases, A 323.
caas, case (for arrows), quiver,
A 2358, 2896.
calcenyng, calcining, G 771.
cam, pt. s. came, A 2882.
camuse, flat, low and concave, A
3934.
cantel, portion, A 3008.
capouns, capons, C 856.
care, sorrow, A 2072.
careyne, carrion, carcase, corpse,
A 2013.
carf, pt. s. carved, A 100.
carieden, pt. pi. carried, G 1219.
carl, churl, A 545.
caroles, carols, songs accompanied
with dancing, A 1931.
carpe, to talk, chatter, A 474.
carte, chariot, car, A 2041.
caryeden, pt. pi. carried, A 2900.
cas, accident, chance, A 844.
cas, case, arrow-case, quiver, A
2080.
cast, considereth, A 2854; pp. de-
termined upon, planned, C 880.
caste, pr. i s. judge, suppose, A
2172; pp. determined upon, B
3891; pt. s. cast (about), A
2171.
casteth, takes account of; and
peril casteth noon, G 1414.
casteth him, devotes himself, G
738.
catel, property, means, A 373,
540, B 4017.
ceint, cincture, girdle, A 329.
celle, religious house, A 172.
cered, pp. waxed, G 808.
certes, certainly, surely, A 1265,
G 594.
certeyn, certain, sure, fixed, A
815, 2993; pi. certeyne, A
2996.
certeyn, adv. certainly, A 375,
451.
ceruce, ceruse, white lead, A 630.
cesse, to cease, B 1066.
ceynt, cincture, girdle, A 3235.
chaar, car, chariot, A 2138, 2148,
F 671.
chaffare, business, traffic, A 4389;
line of business, G 142 1.
champartie, partnership in power,
A 1949.
champioun, champion, combatant,
wrestler, A 239.
chanones, canon's, G 1196.
chanoun, canon, G 573.
chaped, capped, A 366; chape,
the metal plate or tip which pro-
tects the end of a sheath or
scabbard, belt, etc.
chapeleyne, chaplain, A 164.
GLOSSARY
231
chapman, merchant or supercargo,
A397-
charge, care, undertaking, A 733;
weight, import, F 359; no
charge, no matter, G 749.
charitable, loving, kind, A 143.
chasted, pp. chastened, subdued,
491.
chasteyn, chestnut, A 2922.
chaunce, happening, B 1045; luck;
God geve thee good chaunce, G
593-
chaunge, to exchange, C 734.
chaunging, changing, A 1647.
chaunterie for soules, *an en-
dowment or foundation for the
chanting of masses and offering
of prayers, commonly for the
founder,' A 510.
cheere, face, countenance, expres-
sion of countenance, A 857,
2897, G 1233, F 103, 545; be-
haviour, manner, A 139; ap-
pearance, A 728; expression of
friendHness, B 1002.
cheeve, to succeed; yvele moot
he cheeve, bad luck to him, G
1225.
chekes, cheeks, A 633.
cherisseth, imp. pi. cherish, F
353-
cherl, churl, a base, low fellow, D
1 158; pi. cherles, B 4599.
cherubynnes, cherub's, A 624.
cheste, clothes-chest, C 734.
chevyssaunce, borrowing transac-
tions, A 282.
cheyne, chain, A 2988.
chiere, cheer, countenance, A
2586; welcome, entertainment,
A 747.
chiknes, chickens, A 380.
chirche, church, A 3312.
chirkyng, a jumble of harsh, shrill
cries, A 2004.
chit, chideth, G 921.
chiteren, to chatter, G 1397.
chitteryng, chirping, A 3258.
chivalrie, cavalry, troops of horse,
B 3871.
chymbe, chimb (also chime, and
chine), the edge or rim of a
cask, formed by the projecting
ends of the staves, A 3895.
chymbe, to chime (as a bell), A
3896.
chyvachie, a cavalry expedition,
A 85.
citee, city, A 1066.
citole, a stringed musical instru-
ment, A 1959.
citrinacioun, citronising, G 816.
citryn, citrine, pale greenish-
yellow, A 2167.
clad, pp. clothed, bound, A
294.
clappe, to talk noisily, babble, G
965.
clateren, pr. pi. clatter, A 2359.
claterynge, clattering, A 2954.
clayme, subj. pr. pi. claim.
clear, clear, A 1062.
cleere, clearly, A 170, 2331.
clene, adv. clean, wholly, entirely,
¥ 626, G 625, 1425.
clennesse, cleanness (of Hfe), A
506.
dense, to cleanse, A 631.
cleped, pt. s. called, F 374; pp.
A 121, 269, 2044, B 61, 725, F
11,31.
clepen, pr. pi. call, A 620.
clepeth, pr. s. calls, F 382.
clergial, clerkly, learned, G 752.
232
GLOSSARY
clerk, scholar, A 285, 480; pi.
clerkes, scholars, writers, G 646.
clerkis, pi. scholars, learned men,
B 4425.
clippe, to cut hair, A 3326,
clobbed, adj. clubbed, B 3088.
cloke, cloak, A 157.
cloos, close, secret, G 1369.
clos, n. close, enclosure, yard, B
4550.
clote-leef, burdock leaf, G 577.
cloysterer, an inmate of a clois-
ter, a monk, A 259.
coagulat, pp. coagulated, clotted,
G811.
cofre, coffer, money box, A 298.
cokkow, cuckoo, A 1930.
colblak, coal black, A 2142, 3240.
COlde, cold, sad, A 1919; 'baneful,
fatal,' B 4446.
cole, coal, A 2692, G 809.
coler, collar, A 3239, 3242.
colered, pp. collared, with collars,
A 2152.
COlerik, choleric, bilious, irascible,
A 587; causing choler or anger,
col fox, coal- fox, black fox, B 4405.
'The old explatiation of col-fox as
meaning "deceitful fox" is diffi-
cult to establish, and is now un-
necessary.' — Skeat.
COlpons, shreds, A 679.
COlpons, logs, billets, A 2867.
combust, pp. burnt, G 811.
Cometh, imp. pi. come, A 839.
commune, to converse, G 982.
commune, common; in commune,
in common, generally, A 1251.
communes, commoners, A 2509.
compaignable, companionable,
sociable, B 4062.
compassyng, circumventing,
scheming, contriving, plotting,
A 1996.
compeer, crony, A 670.
compter, compeer, fellow rascal,
A 4419.
complecciouns, physical tempera-
ments, B 41 14.
COmpleint, complaint, A 2012.
composicioun, agreement, A 848,
2651.
comth, cometh, C 781.
conclude, to succeed, G 773.
concluden, to succeed, G 849.
condescende, to come down to, F
407.^
condicioun, condition, disposition,
character, quality, A 38, C 41,
G 1039.
confiture, a make-up, mixture, C 862
contort, comfort, A 773, 776.
conforteth, comforteth, A 2716.
conscience, sensitiveness, sympa-
thy, pity, A 142, 150.
conseil, a secret, C 819.
conserve, subj. pr. s. preserve, A
2329.
constellacioun, constellation, ' a
conjunction of stars as affecting
the destinies of men,' A 1088;
so the word here ha^ the force
of fortune, fate, destiny.
contek, contest, contention, strife,
A 2003; pi. contekes, B 4122.
contenaunce, countenance, A
2010; appearance sake, G 1264;
pi. contenaunces, countenances,
looks, F 284.
contree, country, part of the coun-
try, A 340, 2137.
convoyed, pt. s. accompanied on
the way, A 2737.
GLOSSARY
233
coome, pt. pi. came, G 1220.
cope, cop, top, A 554.
cope, a semicircular, ecclesiastical
cloak, A 260.
coppe, cup, A 134; pi. coppes, A
2948, 3928.
corage, heart, A 22; courage,
heart, spirit, A 1945; pi. cor-
ages, hearts, A 11.
coroune, crown, A 2875.
corouned, pp. crowned, supreme,
F526.
corpus bones, B 3096. See note.
corrumpable, corruptible, A 3010.
cors, corpse, C 665, 668.
cosyn, adj. cousin, allied to, in
keeping with, A 742.
cote, coat, A 328, 564.
cote-armure, coat-armour, A 2140,
2160; pi. cote armures, A 2500,
couched, pt. s. laid, G 1157, 11 79;
pp. laid, A 2933, G 1182, 1200;
inlaid, A 2161.
couchen, to lay, G 1152.
coude, pt. s. knew, A 327.
countour, auditor of accounts, A
359.
countrefete, to counterfeit, in a
good sense, imitate, A 139.
courseres, coursers, steeds, A 2501.
courtepy, short cloak (or cape,
perhaps) of coarse cloth, A 290.
coveitise, covetousness, G 1077.
covent, convent, G 1007.
coverchief, kerchief, B 837; pi.
coverchiefs, A 453.
covered, pp. spread with food and
drink of various kinds, A 354.
covyne, deceit, trickery, artifice;
lit. *a deceitful agreement be-
tween two parties to prejudice a
third.' — Skeat. A 604.
cowardye, cowardice, A 2730.
craft, skill, way of doing a thing,
F 185; trickery, fraud, impost-
ure, A 692.
craft of rynges, ring-craft, F 249.
crafty, skilful, clever, G 1290.
craftily, skilfully, B 48.
erased, pp. cracked, G 934.
cridestow, criedst thou, A 1083.
crispe, crisp, curly, A 2165.
cristen. Christian, A 55.
croper, crupper, G 566.
croppes, crops, tops, shoots, buds,
A 8.
croslets, crucibles, G 793.
crosselet, crucible, G 11 17, 1147,
1153-
croys, n. cross, A 699, B 844.
crul, curly, A 3314.
crulle, pi. curly, A 81.
cryke, creek, inlet, harbour, A 409.
cucurbites, flasks for distilling, G
794-
cure, care, A 303, 2853, C 22.
curious, skilful, A 577.
cursen, to curse, A 486.
cut, lot, A 835, C 793, 794, 795.
daliaunce, gossip, A 211; enter-
taining discourse, G 592; pi.
daliaunces, dallyings, fondlings,
C66.
dampned, pp. condemned, B iiio,
C88.
dar, pr. I s. dare, G 596.
darreyne, to fight out, contest,
decide by combat, A 1631.
darst, darest, B 3102.
daun, dan, a common M.E. title
of respect, derived remotely
from Lat. dominus, A 2673, 2891.
B4161, 4502, 4524.
234
GLOSSARY
daunce, the olde, the old game,
the old way of love, C 79.
daunger, jurisdiction, control, A
663.
daungerous, imperious, domineer-
ing, forbidding, A 517.
dawe, to dawn, B 3872.
dawenynge, dawning, daybreak,
B 4072.
dayerye, dairy, A 597; pi. dayer-
yes, D 871.
dayesye, daisy, A 332.
debaat, strife, G 1389.
debonaire, Fr. of good air, kind,
gracious, courteous, affable, B
4061.
dede, deed, A 742.
deduyt, pleasure, A 2177.
deed, dead, A 145, 148, 1122,
1644, D 1 1 56.
deedly, deadly, A 1082.
deef , deaf, A 446.
deel, deal, part, bit, B 4024.
deelen with, to have to do with,
A 247.
deeme, to judge, suppose, B
109 1.
deere, dearly, A 3100, C 100, G
694.
dees, dice, C 467, 834.
deeth, death, A 3892; the deeth,
pestilence, plague, A 605; but
perhaps it means simply death;
*they were afraid as death of
him.'
defaute, default, omission of some-
thing which ought to have been
done, G 954.
deffende, to forbid, G 1470.
degree, rank, A 2735.
degrees, steps or rising seats, A
2579.
deigned, pt. s. used impersonally;
hym deigned nat, B 4371.
delt, pt. s. dealt, G 1074.
delve, to dig, A 536.
delyvere, active, nimble, A 84.
delyverly, adroitly, quickly, B
4606.
deme, to judge, suppose, B 1038,
G 595-
demed, pt. s. judged, supposed, F
563, G 573, 1202; pt. pi. F 202.
demen, pr. pi. judge, F 224.
demeth, pr. s. supposeth, G 689;
imp. pi. suppose, think, G 993.
depardieux (de part Dieu), on the
part of God, in God's name;
certainly, B 39.
departed, pp. divided, C 812, 814,
831.
departen, to part, separate, B
4183.
depeynted, pp. depicted, painted,
A 2027, 2031, 2034, 2037, 2049,
2054.
depper, adv. deeper, more deeply,
B630.
dere, to injure, wound, F 240.
derke, dark, A 1995.
derkeste, darkest, D 1139.
descensories, 'vessels used in
chemistry for extracting oils, per
descensum.' — Tyrzvhitt. G 792.
desclaundre, pr. i s. slander, G
993-
desclaundred, pp. slandered, B
674.
desdeyn, disdain, A 789.
desirous, eager, ardent, zealous,
F 23.
despit, despite, dishonour, B 699.
despitous, arbitrarily severe, piti-
less, uncompassionate, A 516.
GLOSSARY
235
desport, disport, playfulness,
gaiety, A 137; sport, amuse-
ment, G 592.
dette, debt, B 41, 42.
dettelees, debtless, free from debt,
A 582.
devys, decision, direction, A 816.
devyse, speak of, tell, A 34; de-
scribe, A 1048; to devise, con-
ceive, A 1254; describe, relate,
A 3883, B 613, 3892, 4228, F
65, 279, G 1223.
deyde, pt. s. died, F 438.
deye, dairywoman, B 4036.
deye, to die, A 3034; pr. i s. B
4096.
deynous, haughty, disdainful, A
3941-
deynt§, adj. dainty, F 70.
deyntee, adj. dainty, B 4025; val-
uable, of a fine breed, A 168.
deyntees, dainties, delicacies, A
346.
deys, dais, A 370, F 59.
dight, pp. dressed, A 1041; pre-
pared, A 1630.
dighte, to dight, prepare; I moot
me dighte, I must prepare my-
self to go, B 3104.
digne, worthy, A 141 ; honoured,
C695; haughty, repellent, A 517.
dirryved, pp. derived, A 3038.
dirryveth, deriveth, is derived,
A 3006.
dischevelee, dishevelled, A 683.
disconfiture, defeat, A 2721.
disconfort, discomfort, misery, A
2010.
disconforten, to discomfort, dis-
tress, A 2704.
disconfitynge, discomfiture, A
2719.
discovere, to reveal, G 1465.
discovered, pp. revealed, G 1468.
discoverest, uncoverest, revealest,
G 696.
discryve, to describe, F 424.
discryven, to describe, F 40.
disese = dis-ease, malease, discom-
fort, trouble, distress, F 467, B
616, G 747.
disfigure, disfigurement, deformity,
D 960.
disherited, pp. disinherited, dis-
possessed, A 2926.
disjoynt, disadvantage, A 2962.
dispence, expense, expenditure,
A 441.
dispense, expense, expenditure,
A 1928, 4388.
disport, sport, amusement, diver-
sion, A 775.
disposicioun, position, in an astro-
logical sense, A 1087.
disposicioun, disposal, ordering,
management, A 2364.
dissevere, to separate, part, G
875.
dissymulynges, dissimulations, F
divisioun, discord, variance, A
2024.
divisynge, arranging, fixing, ad-
justing, A 2496.
divynynge, divining, predicting,
surmising, A 2521.
do, to cause; wol do me slee, will
cause me to slay, B 3107; thou
shalt na moore do me to synge,
B 4610.
do, imp. s.; do hange me by the
hals, cause to hang, have me
hanged by the neck, G 1029;
do fecche, cause to fetch, B 662;
236
GLOSSARY
do thilke carte arresten, cause
to stop that same cart, B 4210;
pp. done; B 698.
doctrine, teaching, instruction, B
4632.
dogges, dogs, B 3089.
doghtren, daughters, B 4019.
doked, pp. docked, cut short, A
590.
dokes, ducks, B 4580.
dong, dung, A 530.
dongeoun, donjon, the chief tower
of a castle, the keep, A 1057.
doomes, judgments, decisions, A
323-
doon, pr. pi. do, A 268.
doon, to cause; men wolde . . .
doon us honge, men would cause
us to hang, C 790; doon cry en,
to have, or to be, cried, or an-
nounced, F 46.
doone, to, dat. inf. to do, be done,
G932.
dooth, causeth; dooth hem to
reste, A 2621 ; dooth forth come,
causeth forth to come, B 724;
wyn and youthe dooth Venus
encresse, C 59.
dorste, pt. s. durst, A 227, 454,
D 969; pt. pi. B 4108.
doten, to dote, be foolish, act fool-
ishly, G 983.
doublenesse, duplicity, F 543, 556,
G 1300.
doughty, vahant, F 11, 338.
doumb, dumb, silent, A 774, B
1055-
doute, out of, without doubt, cer-
tainly, indeed, A 487, D 978.
doutelees, • without doubt, cer-
tainly, A 2667, B 91, G 1435.
dowves, doves, A 1962.
drawe, pp. drawn, A 396.
draweth, imp. pi. draw, A 835,
838.
drecched, pp. vexed, troubled,
B 4077.
drede, n. dread, A 1998; doubt,
B869, G 1229.
dreden, to be afraid, B 41 19.
dresse, gan hym, prepared him-
self, B 1 100; addressed himself,
G 1271; pr. pi. address them-
selves, turn to go, F 290.
drenched, pp. drowned, lost, G 949.
dreye, dry, A 3024.
dreynte, pp. drenched, drowned,
B69.
drogte, drought, A 595.
droghte, drought, F 118.
dronke, pp. drunken, A 1261,
1262, 1264.
dronken, pt. pi. drank, A 820.
drough, pt. s. drew, G 685.
drouped, pt. pi. drooped, A 107.
duetee, duty, A 3060.
dulleth, makes dull, (perhaps)
saddens, G 11 72.
dure, to last, B 1078.
duszeyne, dozen, A 578.
dwelle, to remain, stay, A 2354.
dyamauntz, diamonds, A 2147.
dyapred, pp. ornamented with fig-
ures of various devices, A 2158.
dyde, pt. s. died, F 1 1 ; subj. pt. s.
would die, D 965.
dye, subj. pr. s. die, D 1145.
dyere, dyer, A 362.
dyke, to ditch, A 536.
dyner, dinner, B 1094, 11 18.
dys, dice, A 4384.
dyvyne, adj. divine, A 122.
dyvynynge, predicting, surmising,
A 2515.
GLOSSARY
23;
ecclesiaste, ecclesiastic, A 708.
echon, each one, A 820.
eek, eke, also, moreover, besides,
A 5, 41, I7i» 199,217,489.
eelde, eld, old age, A 3885.
eet, pt. s. ate, A 2048, B 4023.
eft, again, F 631, G 1263.
eft-soone, soon after; hereafter,
G993-
eggement, incitement, B 832.
egremoyne, agrimony, G 800.
elles, else, A 375, 735, B 1064,
G 1377.
elvysshe, elfish, strange, mysteri-
ous, in an ironic sense, G 751,
842.
embrouded, pp. embroidered, A
89.
empoisonyng, n. poisoning, C 891.
empoysonere, poisoner, C 894.
emprise, enterprise, undertaking,
A 2540, G 605.
empte, to empty, G 741.
empten, to empty, G 1404.
enbibyng, imbibing, absorption,
G814.
enchesoun, occasion, F 456.
enclyne, to incline, be disposed,
B 1082; to bow, B 3092.
encombred, pp. encumbered, A
508.
encorporyng, incorporation, G 815.
encrees, n. increase, A 2184.
encresse, to increase, B 1068,
C59.
endelong, from end to end, A
2678; all along, F 416.
endetted, pp. indebted, in debt,
0734-
endite, to write, dictate, A 325;
indite, compose, B 4397.
endure, to continue, remain, G 947.
enformed, pp. informed, F 335.
engendrid, pp. engendered, be-
gotten, produced, A 2997.
engendren, pr. pi. engender, B
4"3-
engyned, pp. racked, tortured,
B 4250.
enluting, coating with clay, G 766.
enoynt, pp. anointed, A 199,
2961.
enquere, to inquire, search into,
B629.
ensample, example, A 496, 505,
520, 2039; pi. ensamples, A
1953-
entendeth, intends, purposes, D
1 1 14.
entente, intent, purpose, B 40,
824, 867, 4613, C 88, 849, F
400, G 998, 1306.
entree, entrance, 1983.
entuned, pp. intoned, A 123.
envyned, pp. supplied with wine,
A 342.
er, ere, A 36, 835.
ercedekenes, archdeacon's, A 655.
ere, ear, F 316; pi. eres, D 954.
erles, earls, A 2182.
erly, early, A 809.
erys, ears, A 556, 589.
eschaunge, exchange, A 278.
eschue, to eschew, avoid, A 3043.
ese, ease, entertainment, amuse-
ment, A 768; delight, B 4487,
G746.
esed, pp. entertained, accommo-
dated, A 29; set at ease, re-
lieved, A 2670.
esily, easily, comfortably, A 469.
espye, to espy; gan espye, espied,
A 1112.
espye, n. spy, C 755.
238
GLOSSARY
estaat, state, condition; in greet
estaat, in fine condition (well
fed and well groomed), A 203.
estaatly, stately, dignified, B
3902. Skeat defines the word
here, 'suitable to one's estate.'
estat, estate, state, condition, A
522.
estatlich, stately, dignified, A
140.
estatly, stately, dignified^ A 281.
estres, ' the inner parts of a
building,' A 1971.
esy, easy; esy fir, and smart also,
quiet fire, and a brisk also, G
768; esy of dispence, moderate
in expenditure, A 441.
eterne, eternal, A 1109.
evaungiles, gospels, B 666.
evene, moderate, average; evene
lengthe, medium height, A 83;
even, without variation, A 2588.
evene, evenly, A 2593; closely, A
1060.
evere in oon, constantly in the
same way, F 417.
everich, every, A 241, 371; each,
B 1004.
everich a, every one, A 733.
everichon, every one, A 747, G
1365-
everichoon, every one, B 3089, G
960.
every deel, every deal or part, A
368.
everychon, every one, A 31.
everychoon, every one, G 1464.
ew, yew, A 2923.
exametron, hexameter, B 3169.
ey, egg, B 4035, G 806.
eyen, pi. eyes, A 201, 625, 753, B
661, 4095.
eyleth, aileth, A 1081.
eyr, air, A 2992.
facound, speech, C. 50.
facultee, faculty; 'as by his fac-
ultee,' according to his own
estimate of his importance in
the world, A 244.
fader, gen. father's, A 781, G 829.
fadme, gen. pi. of fathoms, A
2916.
fadres, father's, B 861.
failleth, fails, F 167.
fair langage, elegant small talk,
A 211.
faire, adv. fairly, A 124, 273, 539,
606, 2659, 2697, B 4397j ^ 1 142.
fairer, more respectable, A 754.
fairye, inhabitants of fairyland, D
859; fairyland, F 96; used as a
collective noun, bands of fairies,
D 859; a product of magic, F
201.
fairness, fairness (of fife), A 519.
faldyng, coarse serge cloth, A 391.
falle, to happen, B 4185; pp.
fallen, A 2930; happened, A
324, 2703, B 4185.
falsed, pp. falsified, F 627.
famulier, familiar, as one of the
family, A 215.
fanne, fan, A 3315.
fantome, phantom, fantasy, illu-
sion, B 1037.
fareth weel, imp. pi. farewell, B
1159.
farsed, pp. crammed, stuffed, A
233.
faste by, close by, A 719, D 970.
faucon, falcon, F 411.
faught, pt. s. fought, A 399.
fayn, adj. fain, glad, A 2707.
GLOSSARY
239
fayn, adv. fain, gladly, A 1257, B
41, C 857, B 4488.
fecche, to fetch, B 662; subj. s.
opt. B 1064, G 1 159.
fee symple, 'the most absolute
form of possession of an estate,'
A 319. 'The meaning here may
be either (literally) that the
Sergeant could overcome all
restrictions on ownership, or
(metaphorically) that he could
carry all before him.' — Pollard.
feend, fiend, B 1064, 4476.
feendly, fiendlike, devilish, G 1303.
feere, fear, A 2344.
feeste, n. feast, A 2483, B loio.
feestlych, festive, F 281.
felawe, fellow, associate, A 395,
653, 1624.
felaweshipe, fellowship, com-
pany, A 474.
feld, pp. felled, cut down, A 2924.
fen, ' the Arabic name of a part
or section of Avicenna's Bpok
of the Canon of medicine,' C
890.
fer, far, A 388, 3921, B 658, 3872,
4187.
ferde, pt. s. fared, F 461.
ferden, pt. pi. fared, behaved, A
1647.
fered, pp. feared, frightened, B
4576, G 924.
fereful, used subjectively, full of
fear, G 660.
ferforth, farforth; as ferforth as,
as far as, B 1099; to such an
extent, to that degree, G 1390.
fermacies, pharmacies, A 2713.
fern, long ago; so fern, F 256.
fern-asshen, fern-ashes, F 254.
ferne = ferrene, distant; feme
halwes, distant saints, i.e.
shrines, A 14.
ferre, farrer, farther, A 2060.
ferrer, farrer, farther, A 835.
ferreste, the farthest off, A 494.
ferthe, fourth, B 823.
ferthing, farthing, fourth part;
any small quantity, morsel, A
134; some trifle or other, A 255.
fest, fist, C 802.
feste, n. feast, B 1007; pi. festes,
A 1931.
festeiynge, feasting, F 345.
festne, to fasten, A 195.
fet, pp. fetched, brought, A 819,
2527, B 667, F 276.
fetisly, elegantly, A 124, 273;
neatly, trimly, A 3319.
fette, pt. s. fetched, G 1365.
fetys, neatly made, A 157.
feyne, to feign, A 736, F 510;
pt. s. feyned, C 62, F 524; pp.
A 705.
feynte, subj. pr. s. faint, sink, G
753.
fiers, fierce, A 1945, 2012.
fighteth, imp. pi. fight, A 2559.
figure, astrological prefigurement,
A 2035.
fil, pt. s. fell, A 845, B 670, 989,
F473» 570; happened, A 1033,
B 4394, 4531; pt- pl- fille, A
2666, F 238; subj. pt. s. A 131.
filet, fillet, head-band, A 3243.
fir, fire, A 1502, G 1339.
firy, fiery, A 1493, 1922.
fithele, fiddle, A 296.
fix, pp. fixed, set, solidified, G
779.
flatour, flatterer, B 4515.
flaugh, pt. s. flew, B 4421.
fledden, pt. pl. fled, A 2930.
240
GLOSSARY
fleen, to flee, C 63.
fleigh, pt. s. fled, B 3879; flew, B
4529, 4607.
flekked, pp. flecked, spotted, G
565.
fletynge, floating, A 1956.
flex, flax, A 676.
flikerynge, fluttering, A 1962.
flok, flock, A 824.
floryn, florin, a silver coin, A
2088.
flotery, wavy, flowing, A 2883.
flour, flower, B 1090.
flour-de-lys, Fr. fleur-de-lis, lily-
flower, A 238.
flowen, pt. pi. flew, B 4581
floytynge, fluting, A 91.
fly, pt. s. flew, B 4362.
folwed, pt. s. followed, A 528.
folwen, to follow, imitate, D 1156.
fond, pt. s. found, A 701, 4389.
fonde, to try, G 951.
fontstoon, baptismal font, B 723.
foo, foe, B 3913.
foom, foam, A 1659, G 564, 565.
foon, foes, B 3896.
foond, pt. s. found, A 653, 4390,
C 847; supported, B 4019.
foot mantel, A 472. See note.
for, the intoned causal, in the
sense of because (the modern
causal, for^ is always proclitic),
A 443,4415,0 77, 721, D 1 109,
ii53»F73. 74, 256, 583,0641.
for, in order that, A 2879, B 3905,
F 102.
for, against, in spite of; ' for al
his strengthe,' A 2645; against
(in the sense of protecting or
shielding), G 578; 'for any
thing,' against, in opposition to,
anything, A 276.
forbeede, subj. pr. s. opt. forbid;
God it forbeede, G 1375.
for black, by reason of blackness,
A 2144; for age, A 3053, 3867;
colblak, for old, i.e. coal black
by reason of age, A 2142; y^r
is generally understood here as
an intensive, for-old meaning
very old.
for me, so far as I am concerned,
A 2924, F 357.
for that, because, A 2068, B
4504.
force, by, perforce, A 2554.
for-dronke, pp. very drunk, C 674.
fordryed, very dry, dried up, F
409.
foreward, compact, agreement,
A 829, 848, 852.
for-fered, pp. much alarmed, F 527.
forlete, to give up, forego, lose, C
864.
forn-cast, pp. premeditated, B
4407.
forneys, furnace, A 202, 559.
forpyned, tormented; the prefix
for is intensive ; * a forpyned
goost,' is one that has had an
excessive dose of purgatory,
A 205.
fors, force; no fors, no matter,
B 4131, G 652, 1019, 1357.
f orster, forester, A 1 1 7.
forsaketh, imp. pi. forsake, C 286.
for sothe, forsooth, A 283.
fortunen, to presage, A 417.
forward, agreement, A 33, 2619,
B40.
forwoot, foreknows, B 4424.
for-wrapped, pp. wrapped up,
C 718.
f other, cart-load, A 530.
GLOSSARY
241
foundred, pt. s. stumbled, A 2687.
fowel, fowl, bird, A 190; pi.
foweles, A 9, F 398.
foyne, to thrust, A 2550.
foynen, pr. pi. thrust, A 1654.
foyneth, thrusteth, A 2615.
frakenes, freckles, A 2169.
frankeleyn, franklin, freeholder,
country gentleman, A 331; pi.
frankeleyns, A 216.
fredom, freedom, liberality, A 46.
freend, friend, A 670.
freendlich, friendly, A 2680.
freeten, pp. devoured, A 2068.
freletee, frailty, C 78.
fremde, foreign, F 429.
frere, friar, A 621.
freten, to devour, A 2019.
fro, from, A 397, 692, 801.
fruit, consequence, result, F 74.
fulfild, pp. filled full, B 660, C 3,
D 859.
fulfiUe, to fill full; lustes all ful-
fille, gratify desires to the full,
c 833.
fulsomnesse, overfulness, excess,
F405.
fume, vapour from an overloaded
stomach, B 41 14.
fumositee, fumosity, the fumes of
wine drinking, F 358.
funeral, funereal, A 2864.
furial pyne, raging pain, F 445.
fy, interj. fie ! B 4098.
fyled, pp. filed, made smooth,
A 2152.
fyn, end, B. 3884.
fynch, finch, a kind of bird, A 652.
fynde, to find, invent, A 736;
pr. pi. fynden, find, discover,
A 1627.
fyne, to cease, D 11 36.
fyne of ground, fine in texture,
A 453.
fyr-reed, fire-red, A 624.
Fyssh, Fish, the constellation, F
273-
gadered, pp. gathered, A 2183.
gadereth, gathereth, A 1053.
gadrede, pt. s. gathered, A 824.
gaf , pt. s. gave, A 424, 496, 600.
gaillard, gay, sprightly, A 4367.
galle, gall, G 797.
galoche, shoe, patten, F 555.
galpyng, gaping, F 350; pi. gal-
pynge, F 354.
galyngale, sweet cyperus root,
A 381.
game, n. sport, A 3259, B 4452,
G703.
gamed, it pleased, A 534.
gan appeere, appeared, A 2346.
gan callen, called, C 666.
gan looke, looked, C 720.
gan to holde, held, A 1506.
gappe, gap, opening, A 1639,
1645.
gapyng, gaping; gapyng upright,
lying flat on the back, with the
mouth open, B 4232.
gargat, throat, B 4525.
garleek, garlic, A 634.
gastly, ghastly, A 1984.
gat, got, A 703, 704.
gat-tothed, Skeat explains, ' hav-
ing the teeth far apart'; but
this explanation admits of ques-
tion, A 468. See note.
gaude grene, light green, A 2079.
gauded, having green gaudies, the
large beads in the rosary repre-
senting pater nosters, A 159.
gauren, to gaze, F 190.
242
GLOSSARY
gaylard, gay, merry; gaylard
tappestere, merry barmaid, A
gayler, jailer, A 1064.
geere, clothing, general outfit,
A 365.
geestes, stories, F 211.
geldehalle, guildhall, A 370.
geldyng, gelding, eunuch, A 691.
gent, slim and graceful, A
3234.
gentil, well-born and well-bred,
A 72; genteel, A 718; of a
good stock, well-sired, F 195.
gentillesse, gentility, D 1109,
1 1 17, 1 130, 1 1 59; gentleness,
kindness, condescension, B 853.
genterye, gentility, true gentle-
ness, D 1 146.
gentilly, courteously, graciously,
B 1093.
gentrye, rank by birth, D 1152.
gere, gear, trapping apparatus of
every kind, A 352, 2180.
gerland, garland, A 666, 1054,
1507; pi. gerlandes, A 2937.
gerner, garner, granary, A 593.
gesse, to guess, suppose, imagine,
B 622; pn I s. B 1088.
get, contrivance, G 1277.
geve, to give, A 232, 505, 611;
sub. pr. s. B 4623, G 593.
geven, to give, A 487.
geveth, giveth, A 1253.
giggynge of sheeldes, strapping
of shields, A 2504.
giltelees, guiltless, B 674, 1062.
gipser, pouch, A 357.
girdel, girdle, A 358.
girles, young people of either sex,
A 664.
gise, fashion, way, A 663.
giterne, gittern, a sort of guitar,
glade, to make glad, cheer, enter-
tain, F 634, G 598.
gladeth, gladdens, cheers, F 609.
glarynge, staring, A 684.
gleede, live coal, A 1997; P^-
gleedes, A 3883.
gleyre of an ey, white of an tgg,
G806.
glood, pt. s. gUded, F 393.
glose, gloze, flattery, excessive
praise, F 165.
glowynge, bright, shining, B 4095.
go, pr. pi. go, walk, C. 748; pp.
gone, B 1006, G 907.
gobet, a small piece, bit, fragment,
A 696.
Goddes, God's, A 1084; pi. goddes,
A 2925.
gold-hewen, hewn or made out of
gold, A 2500.
goldsmythrye, goldsmithing, A
2498.
goliardeys, a, glutton of words, a
tonguester and teller of low
stories, a buffoon, A 560.
gon, pr. pi. go, G 1 143.
gonne, pt. pi. gan, A 1658, 2955,
G 1 192.
good, n. property, possession, A
581, 611, G 745, 946, 949, 1289,
1376, 1401, 1406.
goodlich, goodly, F 623; kind, G
1053.
gooldes, marigolds, A 1929.
goon, to go, A 377, 450; pr. pi.
A 1267, 3022.
goore, gore, gusset, A 3237.
goost, spirit, C 43.
goot, goat, A 688.
gooth, imp. pi. go, A 2560, G 1207,
GLOSSARY
243
governaunce, management of his
business, A 281 ; his g., the man-
agement, or control, of him, F
governyng, control, A 599.
grace, favour, A 88, 2316, 2322,
G 1348.
grame, grief, G 1403.
grant mercy! great thanks, G
1380.
graunt mercy, great thanks, B
4160, G 1 156.
gree, step, rank, superiority, A
2733-
greesse, grease, C 60.
greet, great, A 364, 667, 2483,
'1256.
grene, n. green; used metaphori-
cally for success in love, A
1512.
Grete See, Great Sea, the Medi-
terranean, especially that part
which washes the coast of Pales-
tine, A 59.
grette, pt. s. greeted, B 105 1, C
714.
greve, grove, B 4013; pi. greves,
A 1495; branches, A 1507.
greyn, dyed in, of a fast colour,
F511.
greyn, grain, corn, A 596.
grifphon, griffin, A 2133.
grisly, horrible, dreadful, A 1971,
C708.
gronen, to groan; gan gronen,
groaned, B 4076.
gronte, pt. s. groaned, B 3899.
grope, to test, probe, A 644; pr.
pi. try, test, G 679; imp. s. feel
about, G 1236.
grucche, same as grudge, to grum-
ble, murmur, A 3863.
grucchen, pr. pi. murmur, com-
plain, A 3058, 3062.
gruccheth, murmurs, complains,
A 3045-
grymme, grim, fierce, A 2519.
grys, grey fur, A 194.
grys, grey, G 559.
gyde, n. guide, A 804.
gye, to guide, A 1950; govern, A
3046.
gyle, guile, deceit, A 2596.
gyn, contrivance, F 128, 322, G
1165.
gynglen, to jingle, A 170.
gypon, gipoun, a short cassock,
A 75.
gyse, guise, way, manner, custom,
fashion, A 1253, 2137, 2539,
291 1, 2941, F 332, 540.
gyte, a woman's gown, or outer
dress of some kind, A 3954.
gyterne, gittern, a kind of guitar,
A 4396; pi. gyternes, C 466.
haberdasshere, a seller of hats, A
361.
habergeon, a small hauberk, coat
of mail, A 76.
habundant, abundant, B 4115.
habundantly, abundantly, B 870.
hadde, subj. pt. pi. might have, G
1 103.
hakke, to hack, A 2865.
hals, neck, B 73, G 1029.
halt, holdeth, F 61; regards, con-
siders, G 921.
halwes, saints, B 1060, G 1244;
by meton. for shrines, A 14.
haly dayes, holy days, A 3952.
hamer, hammer, G 1339.
han, to have, A 795, 1255, B 857,
4091; pr. pi. B 4487, F 186.
244
GLOSSARY
hape, luck, G 1209.
harde grace, hard grace, displeas-
ure, G 665.
hardily, boldly; used absolutely,
to speak boldly, A 156.
hardy, bold, daring, A 405, 1945,
2586, 2649, B 3093, 4104, 4229,
F 19, G 1347-
hardynesse, boldness, daring, A
1948.
hardyng, hardening, tempering, F
243.
harlot, ' fellow, usually one of low
conduct; but originally merely
a young person, without impli-
cation of reproach.' — Skeat.
harnays, harness, armour, A 2140.
harneised, pp. harnessed, equipt,
A 114.
harneys, harness, armour, A 1630,
2496, 2696.
harre, hinge, A 550.
harrow ! interj. help ! B 4235,
4570.
haryed, pp. roughly dragged, A
2726.
hasardour, gamester, C 751.
haste, to hasten, A 2052.
hastifly, hastily, B 688, 1047.
hastou, hast thou, B 676.
hauberkes, hauberks, coats of
mail, A 2500.
haunt, practice, experience, skill,
A 447.
haunteden, pt. pi. followed after,
practised, C 464.
haunteth, practises, devotes one's
self to, A 4392.
havenes, havens, A 407.
haveth, imp. pi. have, B 654.
hawe, hedge, C 855.
hawebake, baked haw, used for
plain, rough food, any poor dish,
B95-
heddes, heads, F 203, 358.
hede, head, A 1054.
heed, head, A 293, 470, 551, 666,
B837.
heeld, pt. s. held, A 2736, 2894.
heele, to heal, F 240, 471.
heele, n. health, A 1271, 3102.
heeled, pp. healed, A 2706.
heelpe, pt. s. helped, A 1651.
heeng, pt. s. hung, A 358, 676,
3250, G 574.
heepe, heap, A 575.
heere, here, A 1260.
heer, hair, A 589, 675, 1049, 3314;
pi. heeres, A 2883.
heer biforn, herebefore, hereto-
fore, B 613.
heeste, best, behest, command,
B 1013, F 113.
heet, hight, pt. s. was named,
B 4039.
heete,pr. i s. promise, vow, B 1132.
heeth, heath, A 6, 606, 3262.
hegges, hedges, B 4408.
heigh, high, A 316, 522, 1065;
applied to the nose, aquiline,
perhaps, A 2167; in heigh and
logh, in high and low, wholly,
entirely, B 993; the heighe bord,
the high board, or table, F 85, 98.
heighe, adv. high, B 4607.
heih, high, A 2537.
helmes, helms, helmets, A 2500,
2609.
helpe, subj. pr. opt. help, F 469.
hem, them, A 31, 379.
hem semed, it seemed to them,
F56.
hem thoughte, it seemed to them,
64578,0771.
GLOSSARY
245
hende, literally, handy, dexterous;
gentle, civil, A 3856.
heng, pt. s. hung, A 160; pt. pi.
henge, A 677.
henne, hence, A 2356, 3889, C
687.
hent, pp. seized, B 4249, 4548.
hente, to seize, lay hold of, A 229,
2638, C 710; pt. s. A 698, B
3895. 4525' 4612, G 1325; took
away, B 1144.
heraud, herald, A 2533 ; pi.
heraudes, A 2599.
herbergage, harbourage, lodging,
B4179.
herbergeours, harbingers, B 997.
herberwe, harbour, A 403; lodg-
ing, inn, A 765.
herd, haired; thikke h., A 2518.
herd, pp. heard, F 242.
here agayns, against this, A 3039.
heres, hairs, D 953.
heris, hairs, A 3870.
herketh, imp. pi. hark, G loii.
herkne, to hearken, hear, A 2532,
4400.
herkne, imp. s. hearken, listen to,
G927.
herkned, pp. listened, F 403.
herkneth, imp. pi. hearken, listen,
give ear to, A 788, 828, 855,
2674, B4391.
hemes, corners, G 658.
heronsewes, hernshaws, young
herons, F 68.
hert, hart, A 2065.
herte, heart, A 533, B 4493; gen.
s. herte blood, heart's blood, A
2006; pi. hertes, B 1066.
hertelees, heartless, without cour-
age, B 4098.
hertely, heartily, A 762.
herte-spoon, A 2606. 'The pro-
vincial heart-spoon signifies the
navel.' Tyrwhitt explains it as
* the concave part of the breast,
where the lower ribs unite with
the cariilago etisiformis.''
heryed, pp. praised, B 872.
heryeth, praiseth, B 1155.
herys, hairs, A 555.
heste, command, A 2532.
hethenesse, heathendom, heathen
land, A 49, B 11 12.
heve, to heave, A 550.
hevene, heaven, A 2561.
hevenysshly, heavenishly, heav-
enly, A 1055.
hevynesse, sorrow, A 2348, 3058,
B 1 145.
hewe, to hew, A 2865.
hewe, hue, colour, complexion,
A 394, 458, 1038, 1647; pi.
hewes, hues, colours (of a paint-
ing), A 2088.
hey, hay, A 3262.
heyne, wretch, villain; distinct,
according to Skeat, from hyne^ a
peasant, or hind, G 1319.
heyre-clowt, hair-cloth, C 736.
hider, hither, A 672.
hierde, herd, herdsman, A 603.
highte, was called, named, A 616,
719, 1972, B 4021, D 1126, F
30, 33; is called, B 4378; were
called, A 2920.
him, dat. for himself, A 526, 703.
hipes, hips, A 472.
hir thoughte, it seemed to her,
B 697, 699, D 965, 967.
hir liste, it pleased her, F 365.
hit, pr. 3 s. hideth, F 512.
holde, to hold, maintain, preserve,
D 1 144; pr. I s. regard, G 739;
246
GLOSSARY
' pp. held, regarded, esteemed,
F 70.
holden, pp. held, regarded, A 141,
2719.
holdeth, imp. pi. hold, regard,
G1131.
holm, evergreen oak, A 2921.
holpe, pp. helped, F 666.
holpen, pp. helped, "A 18.
holt, wood, grove, A 6.
horn, home, F 635.
honeste, becoming, right, fit, A
246.
honestee, honourablenc^s, honour,
dignity, B 3902, 3908; womanly
virtue, C 77.
hoo! interj. hold! stop! A 1706,
2656.
hool, n. whole, A 3006.
hoold, n. hold, possession, B 4064.
hoole, whole, A 533.
hooUy, wholly, A 599.
hoom, home, A 400, 2365, B 1044.
hoomly, adv. homely, A 328.
hoomely, adv. plainly, simply, un-
pretendingly, G 608.
hoord, n. hoard, A 3262, C 775.
hoot, hot, A 626, 687, G 1 186;
def. hoote, A 394.
hoote, hotly, A 97.
hoote, pp. called, A 3941.
hoppe, to hop, dance, A 4375.
hoppen, pr. pi. hop, dance, A 3876.
hoppesteres, female dancers, A
2017; 'shippes hoppesteres' is
generally understood to mean,
ships dancing on the waves.
hors, pi. horses, A 74, 598.
horsly, horselike, 194.
hosen, hose, stockings, A 3955.
hoses, stockings, A 3319.
hostelrie, hostelry, inn, A 722.
hostelrye, hostelry, inn, A 718,
B4184.
hostiler, innkeeper, A 241, B 4219,
4250.
hou, how, A 2925, 2929.
houndes (used generically), dogs,
A 146.
houres, (astrological) hours, A 416.
housbondrie, husbandry, economy,
thrift, B 4018.
howped, pt. pi. whooped, B 4590.
humblesse, humility, F 544.
hunte, hunter, A 2018, 2628.
hurtleth, dasheth, A 2616.
hust, pp. hushed, A 2981.
hy, imp. s. hasten; hy the, G 1295.
hyder, hither, B 1041.
hye, adv. high, A 271, 2075, 2138,
3267.
hye, to hasten, F 291, G 1084, 1151.
hyer, higher, F 387; hyer bond,
upper hand, advantage, A 399.
hym-selven, himself, A 184.
hym thoughte, it seemed to him,
A 682, B 4201, 4204.
hyndreste, accumulative form, in-
volving a comparative and a
superlative ending, hindmost, A
622.
hyne, hind, farm-servant, A 603,
C688.
ignotum per ignocius (ignotius),
the unknown through, or by, the
more unknown, G 1457.
ik, I, A 3867, 3888.
like, same, A 64, 175, 721, G 1366.
impresse, pr. pi. impress (them-
selves), G 1071.
in, n. inn, lodging, B 1097, 4216.
induracioun, induration, harden-
ing, G 855.
GLOSSARY
247
infect, pp. infected, rendered in-
valid, A 320.
infortune, misfortune, ill fortune,
malign influence, A 2021.
inne, adv. in, A 41, F 578, G 880,
881.
In principio, the initial words of
the fourth gospel, In the begin-
ning, A 254.
iren, iron; used as adj., iren
squames, iron scales, G 759.
janglere, prater, babbler, tongue-
ster, gabbler, A 560.
jape, a trick, G 131 2; pi. japes,
A 705.
jayes, jays (birds), G 1397.
jeet, n. jet, B 4051.
jet, fashion, A 682.
jogelours, jugglers, F 219.
joliftee, jollity, C 780.
joly, fine, handsome, A 3931 ;
delightful, F 48.
jolynesse, festivity, F 289.
journee, a day's march, A 2738.
joynant, joining, adjoining, A 1060.
juggement, judgment, A 778, 805,
B 1038.
jupartye, jeopardy, hazard, chance,
G743.
juste, to joust, tilt, A 96, 2604.
justen, pr. pi. joust, tilt, A 2486.
justes, the jousts, tilting match,
A 2720.
justise, justice, judge, B 665.
kan, knows, A 210, 371, B 47, 49,
F 112, G 600, 620; pr. pi.
F 185.
kanstow, canst thou, B 632.
kaytyf, caitiff, wretch, A 1946.
keen, kine, cows, B 4021.
keepe, n. care, A 398, 503, 2688,
B 4200, C 90, F 348.
kembd, pp. combed, A 2143.
kembde, pt. s. combed, arranged,
smoothed, F 560.
kempe, shaggy, A 2134.
kene, keen, A 2876.
kepe, to care, take care of, keep
account of, A 130, 593, 2960,
G 1368 ; pr. subj. A 2329.
kepen, to take care of, C 798.
kepeth, imp. pi. keep, G 1370,
C86.
kept, pp. taken care of, guarded,
A 276.
kepte, pt. s. took care of, watched,
A 415, C 106.
keste, pt. s. kissed, F 350.
kist, pp. kissed, B 1074.
kithe, pr. subj. s. make known,
show, B 636.
kithed, pp. shown, G 1054.
kitheth, maketh known, manifest-
eth, F 483.
knarre, tough, thick-set man, A 549.
knarry, gnarled, A 1977.
knave, boy, servant, C 666 ; pi.
knaves, servants, A 2728, B 3087.
knave child, boy child, B 722.
knobbes, large pimples, A 633.
knotte, knot, denouement, F 401,
407.
knowlechyng, knowing, know-
ledge, G 1432.
knyghthod, generalship, military
skill, B 3873.
konne, subj. pr. s. know, A 4396 ;
konne he letterure, or konne he
noon, know he book-learning,
or know he none, G 846.
konning, cunning, knowledge,
power, skill, F 35,
248
GLOSSARY
konnyng, knowing, ability, B 1099,
F35, 251, G653, 1 135, 1446.
korven, pp. carved, cut, A 2695.
koude, pt. s. could, knew, A no,
382, 383,467, F39, 128.
kouthe, pt. s. knew ; as he kouthe,
as he knew, i.e. as well as he
knew how, A 390.
kowthe, pp. known, famous, A 14.
kyde, kid, A 3260.
kynde, kind, nature, B 4386,
D 1 149, F 469, G 659.
kynnes, gen. s., som k., of some
kind, B 1137.
laas, lace, cord, A 392 ; band,
G574.
lacynge, lacing, fastening, A 2504.
lad, pp. led, A 2620, 4402.
ladde, pt. s. led, B 4016.
lady, gen. lady's, A 88, 695.
laft, pp. left, G 1321.
lafte, pt. s. left, failed, A 492.
lakkede, pt. s. lacked, was want-
ing, A 756.
lampe, thin plate, G 764.
large, adv. largely, broadly,
coarsely, A 734 ; fully, A 2738.
las, a lace, snare, trap, A 1951.
lasse, less, A 4409, C 865.
lat, imp. s. let, cause, A 840, B 859,
G 936, 1254.
late, lately, A 690.
laten blood, to let blood, bleed,
A 3326.
latoun, latten, ' a compound
metal, like pinchbeck, contain-
ing chiefly copper and zinc'
Skeat. A 699.
laurer, laurel, A 2175, 2875, 2922.
lauriat, laureate, crowned with
laurel, B 3886.
lay, law (of his religion), F 18.
lay, pt. s. put up, lodged, G 1023.
layneres, thongs, straps, A 2504.
lazar, leper, A 242.
leden, language, speech, voice,
cry, dat. s. ledene, F435, 43^j 47^-
leed, a caldron, copper, A 202.
leef, desirous, C 760.
leene, lean, A 287.
leene, imp. s. lend, G 1026.
leep, pt. s. leaped, A 2687.
leere, to learn, D 982, G 1349 ;
subj. pr. pi. F 104, G 607.
leeste, at the, at least, B 1012.
leet,pt. s. let, A 175,507 ; caused,
A 2731, 2865, 2890, F 45.
leete, to forsake, abandon, give up,
G 1409.
leeve, dear, C 731, F 341.
leeveth, imp. pi. believe, A 3088.
legge, to lay, A 3937.
lekes, leeks, A 634.
lemaille, filings, G 11 64, 1267,
1269.
lemes, limbs, A 3886.
lemes, gleams, B 4120.
lendes, loins, A 3237.
lene, to lend, give, A 611, G 1024,
1037 5 i"^P- s. give, A 3082.
lenger, longer, A 330, 821, 2557,
D 978, F 404.
lengthe, height, A 83.
lente, pt. s. loaned, G 1050.
leoun, lion, A 1640, 1656, 2630.
lepe, to leap, A 4378.
lere, to learn, B 630.
lered, pp. learned, C 283.
lerne, to learn, A 308, C 70, G 1400 ;
to teach, G 844.
lerned, pp. taught, G 748.
lese, to lose, B 4506, G 833 ; subj.
pr. pi. lose, G 1410.
GLOSSARY
249
lesen, to lose, G 745. •
leste, pleasure, A 132.
leste, it pleased, A 750, 787 ; subj.
pr. s. A828, F 125.
lesynges, leasings, lies, falsehoods,
A 1927.
lette, to delay, stay, tarry, B 11 17,
4224 ; pp. hindered, B 4030.
letterure, literature, book-learn-
ing, G 846.
letuaries, electuaries, A 426.
leve, leave, permission, A 1064,
C 848; leave (of departure),
A 4413.
leve, to leave off, forsake, A 4414.
leve, n. leave, departure, B 867.
leve, dear, B 51.
levere, liefer, rather, A 293, B
1027, 3083, G 1376.
leves, leaves, A 1496.
lewed, lewd, ignorant, unlearned,
A 502, 574, C 283, F 221, G
647^ 844, 925.
lewedly, ignorantly, unskilfully, B
47.
lewednesse, ignorance, F 223.
ley, imp. s. lay, A 841.
leyd, pp. laid, A 3262.
leyde, pt. s. laid, A 2877, B 838,
D973-
leye, to lay, A 2866, G 596, 611.
leyser, leisure, F 493.
licenciat, one licensed to hear
confessions and give absolution
independently of the parish
priests, A 220.
licour, liquor, sap, A 3.
lief, dear, B 3084, 4069, G 1467.
lifly, adv. to the life, A 2087.
liggen, pr. pi. lie, B 4415.
light, easy; light to leere, easy to
learn, G 838.
lighte, to lighten, to be light,
cheerful, F 396.
lighte, pt. s. lighted, alighted, dis-
mounted, B 1 104, F 169.
lightly, easily, C 752, 781, G
1400.
likerous, lecherous, wanton, A
3244.
likerousnesse, appetite, passion
for game, C 84.
liketh, pr. s. pleaseth, is pleasing,
A 777, G 1469.
limaille, fiUngs, G 1197.
linage, lineage, kindred, B 999.
lipsed, pt. s. lisped, A 264.
list, it pleaseth, A 583, 1950, 2074,
3002, G 1056, 1360.
liste, pt. s. it pleased, A 102, 1052,
B 1048, 4466, G 1 3 13.
litarge, litharge, G 775.
lite, Httle, A 494, 2627, 2674, 3863,
F 565, G 567.
lith, pr. s. lieth, B 634, 4232, 4235,
4458, F 474.
lith, limb, B 4065.
lode, load, A 2918.
lodemenage, pilotage, A 403.
logge, n. lodge, B 4043.
logged, pp. lodged, B 4181, 4186,
4188.
loggyng, n. lodging, B 4185.
logh, low, B993, 1 142.
logyk, logic, A 286.
loken, pp. locked, enclosed, B
4065.
lokkes, locks (of hair), A 677.
lomb, lamb, B 617.
lond, land, A 194; upon lond, in
the country, A 702.
longen, pr. pi. belong, A 3885.
longeth, belongeth, pertaineth, C
109, F 16.
250
GLOSSARY
longynge, longing, belonging,
suitable, F 39.
loode-sterre, loadstar, A 2059.
looke, subj. pr. s. G 861.
looketh, imp. pi. look, A 3073.
loore, lore, learning, instruction,
teaching, A 527, B 4160, 4386,
C 70, G 842.
loos, praise, G 1368.
looth, loath, undisposed, A 486;
me were looth, it would be far
from me, B 91.
lordynges, dear sirs, my masters,
A 761, 788, 828.
lore, teaching, A 527.
lorn, pp. lost, B 843; undone, for-
saken, F 629.
los, loss, A 2543, G 1009.
losengeour, flatterer, deceiver,
cozener, B 4516.
loude, adv. loudly, A 171, 1509,
2562, 2597, 2600.
lough estat, low, humble estate,
or condition, A 522; in heigh
and lough, in all things, in all
respects, A 817.
loughe, pt. pi. laughed, A 3858.
love dayes, ' days for settling dis-
putes, when the friar would act
as judge, and favour whom he
pleased,' A 258.
lowke, ' an accomplice who en-
tices the dupe into the thiefs
company, a decoyer of victims.'
— Skeat. A 4415.
luce, a full-grown pike, A 350.
luUeth, soothes, B 839.
lunarie, moon-wort, G 800.
lust, pleasure, A 192, 1932; de-
sire, interest, F 402.
lust, pr. s. it pleases, F 147.
luste, pt. s. it pleased, G 1235.
luste, pt. s. enjoyed, G 1344.
lustes, desires, A 3066, 6833.
lustier, gladder, G 1345.
lustiheed, pleasure, enjoyment,
F288.
lusty, pleasant, A 2176, 2484, F
52, 389, G 1402 (ironic).
lustynesse, pleasantness, A 1939.
lyche, adj. like, F 62.
lychewake, lichwake, the wake
or watch held over a corpse, A
2958.
lye, n. lie; withouten any lye,
truly, A 3015, G 599, 1430.
lyk, like, A 261.
lylie, lily, A 1036.
lym, lime, G 910.
lymaille, filings of metals, G 853.
lymes, limbs, A 2714.
lymytacioun, limitation, the lim-
ited district of a friar, D 877.
lymytour, limiter; one licensed
to beg within, or whose duties
were confined to, prescribed
limits, A 209, D 874; pi. lymy-
tours, D 866.
lynage, lineage, A mo, D 1135.
lynde, lime-tree, A 2922.
lyned, pp. lined, A 440.
lytarge, litharge, A 629.
lyth, lieth, A 3023, F 35.
lyvere, liver; so vertuous a lyvere,
one of so virtuous a life, B
1024.
lyveree, livery, A 363.
lyvestow, livest thou, C 719.
maad, pp. made, A 212.
maces, clubs, A 2559, 261 1.
made, pt. s. caused, A 427; wrote,
B57.
magnasia, magnesia, G 1455.
GLOSSARY
251
maister, master, C 680; pi. mais-
tres, A 576.
maister strete, main street, A
2902.
maistow, mayst thou, A 2128.
maistresse, mistress, C 106.
maistrie, mastery, A 165; con-
trol, C 58; a masterly piece of
work, G 1060.
make, mate, companion, A 2556,
B 700.
make a thing, draw up a docu-
ment, A 325.
maketh, doeth, A 3035.
male, mail, leather bag, wallet, A
694; m. tweyfoold, a twofold,
or double, budget or leather bag,
G566.
malisoun, curse, G 1245.
malliable, malleable, G 1130.
manace, menace, threat, A 2003.
manasynge, menacing, threaten-
ing, A 2035.
maner, manner, kind, sort; a
maner deye, a sort of dairy-
woman, B 4036; what maner
man, whatever manner of man, G
738; maner rym, sort of verse, D
1 1 27; maner wight, sort of per-
son, A 71, F 138.
manhede, manhead, manhood,
courage, bravery, B 3861.
mansioun, mansion (an astrologi-
cal term), F 50.
mantelet, small mantle, A 2163.
many oon, many a one, A 317.
marc, a coin equal to 13J. 4^., G
1026.
mareys, morass, marsh, D 970.
Marie ! marry ! originally an
oath by the Virgin Mary, G
1062.
market-betere, 'swaggerer in a
market.' — Skeat. A 3936.
martir, martyr, A 770.
marybones, marrow-bones, A 380.
matere, subject-matter, C 104.
matires, gen. pi. oure matires
sublymyng, sublimation of our
materials, G 770.
matrimoigne, matrimony, A 3095.
maugree, in spite of, A 2618,
4602.
maunciple, a purveyor or pur-
chaser of provisions for an inn
of court, A 544, 569.
may, maiden, B 851.
may, can, A 2510, 3003, 3005, B
ion, 1070, F 181, 183, G 621.
mayde, maid, B 831.
mayme, to maim, injure, cripple,
D 1132.
maystow, mayst thou, i.e. canst
thou, A 1918, 2496, 3016.
mazed, pp. bewildered, B 678.
mede, mead, meadow, D 860.
medle, to meddle, G 11 84.
medlee cote, a coat of mixed stuff,
A 328.
medleth, imper. pi. meddle, G
1424.
meede, mead, meadow, A 89.
meede, reward, A 770.
meel, a meal, B 4023.
meeth, mead, a fermented drink
made of honey, etc., A 3261.
meetre, metre, B 31 71.
mele, meal (flour), A 3939.
me list, it pleaseth me, A 3867.
melle, mill, A 3923.
men, a weakened form of the A.S.
indefinite man (Ger. man, F.
on), one, A 149, 346, 3032,
F481.
252
GLOSSARY
mente, pt. s. meant, A 2990, B
4614, G 999.
mere, mare, A 541.
merite, deserving (good or bad),
C 276; here desert in a bad
sense.
mervaille, marvel, B 677.
merye, pleasant, A 208.
meschance, mischance, mishap,
misfortune, A 4412, B 610.
meschaunce, mischance, misfort-
une, A 2008, B 4531, 4623.
mescheef , misfortune, G 713, 1378.
meschief , mischief, trouble, A 493,
2551-
messageer, messenger, B 724.
messager, messenger, A 1491.
messe dayes, mass days, B 4042.
mesurable, moderate, A 435, F
362.
mesure, measure, moderation, C
47-
met, pp. dreamed, B 41 16, 4445.
mete, meet, fit, A 163 1.
mete, meat, food, in a general
sense, A 127, 136, 345, F 618;
unto mete y-set, assigned a
place at table, F 173.
Methamorphosios, Metamorpho-
seos, gen. s.. Liber being under-
stood, B 93. In the title of
Ovid's poem the word is in
the gen. pi., Metamorphoseon
Libri XV.
mette, pt. s. impers. it dreamed;
me mette, it dreamed to me, I
dreamed, B 4084, 4088; (per-
sonal), B 4192, 4223. A.S.
mg^tan.
mewe, a mew, coop, cage, F 643,
646.
meynee, household, attendants,
retinue, train, A 1258, 4381, B
4584, F391.
mirre, myrrh, A 2938.
mo, more, A 576, 849, 1935, ^ 54»
C891.
moche, adv. much, A 11 16.
moerdre, murder, A 1256.
moeved, pt. s. moved, B 1136.
moevere, mover, A 2987.
moUificacioun, moUification, soft-
ening; bodies m., softening of
bodies, G 854.
mone, n. moan, B 656.
moneye, money, A 703.
montance, amount, C 863.
mooder, mother, B 832, 841, 988,
C 731; gen. s. moodres, B 1013,
C729.
moone, moon, A 403.
moore, adv. more, A 3247, F
472.
moore, adj. greater, A 219; for
the moore part, A 3858.
mooste, greatest; hir mooste won-
der, F 199; the mooste part, F
361.
moot, must, A 735, 738, 1644,
1645, 1646, 3030, B 3104, 4424,
C 104, D 980, F 41; pi. moote,
A 232, 732, 742; mooten, F
316; subj. pr. I p. B 4490.
moralite, moral significance, B
4630.
mordred, pp. murdered, B 4195.
mordrour, murderer, B 4416.
mordrynge, murdering, A 2001.
mormal, gangrene, A 386.
morne, morning, A 358, 3236.
mortifie, to make (quicksilver, i.e.
live silver) dead; in a general
sense, to transmute, G 1431;
mortifye, G 11 26.
GLOSSAJiY
253
mortreux, kind of stew or pot-
tage, A 384.
morwe, morrow, morning, A 334,
1034, 1492, G 588.
morwenynge, morning, A 1062,
F 397; pi. morwenynges, D
875.
mosel, muzzle, A 215 1.
moste, pt. s. had to, A 712, 847,
2619, 2650, B 4496, F 577, 591,
594, G 1 199; subj. pt. moste,
would have to, D 968, F 2,?>j
280; pt. pi. mosten, B 4182; us
moste, it ought to be for us, we
ought, G 946.
motteleye, motley, A 271.
motyf, motive, incitement, B 628.
mowe, pr. pi. may, can, are able,
A 2999, 3S86, G 780, 909, 1397.
mowen, pr. pi. may, can, G 681.
mowled, pp. grown mouldy, de-
cayed, A 3870.
moyste, soft, A 457.
muche and lite, great and small,
high and low, A 494.
muchel, adv. much, A 132, 258.
muchel, a great deal, A 467.
muUok, rubbish, refuse, debris, A
3873, G 938.
multiplicacioun, multiplication
(of gold or silver), G 849.
multiplie, technical term of al-
chemy, to transmute base metals
into gold or silver, G 669, 731,
835, 1401; pr. pi. G 1417.
multiplying, transmuting metals
into gold or silver, G 1391.
murie, merry, A 2562, B 4041.
murier, adj. merrier, B 4041 ; adv.
more merrily, B 4460.
murierly, more merrily, A 714.
murthe, mirth, G 600.
mury, merry, A 802.
murye, merry, pleasant, A 235.
murye, adv. merrily, C 843.
muwe, mew, coop, A 349.
myght, n. power, A 538.
myrie, merry, pleasant, A 757,
764, 782, 857, 1499, 3325, G
597-
myrily, merrily, pleasantly, B
4457» 4462.
mys, amiss, G 999.
mysaventure, ill fortune, misfort-
une, B 616.
mysdooth, misdoes, illtreats, B
3112.
myshappe, to mishap, A 1646.
myshapped, pp. happened ill,
turned out badly, G 944.
mysseith, missays, speaks evil of,
B3112.
myster, trade, handicraft, A
613.
nadde = ne hadde, subj. pt. pi.
* nadde they but a sheete,' had
they only a sheet, G 879.
nakers, a kind of drums, A 251 1.
nam, pt. s. took, G 1297.
nam = ne am, am not, A 11 22.
namely, especially, A 1268, 2709,
3044-
na mo, no more, no other, B 695,
4020, D 975.
namoore, no more, A 11 22, 2366,
G 1424.
napoplexie = ne apoplexie, nor
apoplexy, B 4031.
narette = ne arette, subj. pr. pi.
account, impute, ascribe not, A
726.
narwe, narrow, small, A 625, B
4012.
254
GLOSSARY
nas = ne was, was not, A 251,
404, 603.
nas but, was only, G 1367.
nat, not, A 246, 726.
nat but, only, A 2722, C 866, F
391, 638, G601.
nathelees, nathless, nevertheless,
A35, 64161,0813,0965.
nayles, claws, A 2 141.
ne, adv. and adverbial conj. not,
nor; ne — but, only, B 1139, D
881.
nede, n. need, B 658.
nede, adv. necessarily, F 1280.
nede, to be necessary, B 871.
neded, pt. s. was necessary, B
4024, C 106.
nedely, necessarily, D 968.
nedes, adv. needs, of necessity,
necessarily, B 4424, G 1199.
nedeth, is necessary, A 3028, C
670.
neer, comp. nearer, A 839, G 721.
neet, neat, cattle, A 597.
nempne, to name, F 318.
nere = ne were, subj. pt. s. were
it not, G 1362; subj. pt. pi. A
2589.
nevene, to name, G 821; subj. pr.
pi. G 1473.
neveradeel, not a bit, not at all,
C670.
newe, newly, A 428, 2162, 3256,
B 4239; al of newe, all of late,
G 1043.
newefangel, fond of novelty, F
618.
newefangelnesse, fondness for
novelty, F 610.
nexte weye, nearest way, A 2365.
nis = ne is, is not, G 919.
noble, a gold coin (6j. 8<3'.), A 3256.
nobleye, nobleness, dignity, state,
F77.
noght, not, A 253.
nolde — ne wolde, would not, A
550, 2704, B 87, D 962, F 421,
G 1334.
nones, for the, for the nonce, for
the occasion, A 379, 545, B
4523-
nonnerye, nunnery, A 3946.
nonys, for the, for the nonce, A
523.
noot = ne woot, i s. know not,
A 284, 1039, iioi, B 1019,
4450, C 816; 3 s. knows not,
A 1263, C 284.
norice, n. nurse, F 347.
norissyng, nourishing, nutritious-
ness, A 437.
nosethirles, nostrils, A 557.
not-heed, closely shaved head, A
109. A.S. hnot.
no thyng, used adverbially, not at
all, in no wise, A 2505, B 4030,
4466, G 935, 1036, 1079.
novelrie, novelty, F 619.
now, very lately, a little while ago,
G588.
now and now, now and again,
F 430.
nowthe, now; as n., just now, at
present, A 462. A.S. nu J^a.
ny, nigh, near, close, A 588, 732,
2342, F 346.
nyce, foolish, A 3855, B 1088,
4505, G 647, 842, 925; fas-
tidious, scrupulous, A 398.
nyghtertale, night-time, A 97.
nyl = ne wyl, pr. 3 s. will not,
D1155.
nylle = ne wylle, pr. i s. will not,
G 1463.
GLOSSARY
255
nyn = ne yn, nor in, F 35.
nys = ne ys, is not, D 1157.
nys nat but, is only, A 2722.
nyste, pt. s. knew not, F 502.
0, one, A 304, 363, 2549, 2725,
3072, B 52, 4180, F 581, G 997,
1360.
observaunce, observance, respect,
A 1045, 1500.
of, out of, from, A 2523, B 614,
853, 4i99> 4486, 4613* F 162,
476, 477-
of, used as the French de, du, and
des, in the sense of some; 'of
smale houndes hadde she,' etc.,
some small dogs had she, des
petits chiens, A 146.
of, as exponent of the source of
an act = by, enformed whan the
- kyng was of that knyght, F
335-
of, as to, with regard to, B 90.
of, used enclitically with a pro-
noun; I pray you of, I pray
of you, A 725.
of, off, A 550, B 837, 3881 ; hath
of his helm y-don, hath done
off (doffed) his helm, A 2676.
offertorie, offertory, an anthem
chanted during the collection
of offerings, A 710.
office, secular position, A 292.
offryng, voluntary contribution
made to a priest personally, A
489.
offrynge, offering (at the altar),
A 450.
ofte sithes, ofttimes, A 485.
offer, oftener, B 4618.
Oght, adv. ought, in any way, at
all, G 597.
oghte, pt. s. ought, A 660, B
1038, 1097, G 1340.
oille, oil, A 630, 2961.
olde daunce, old dance, old game,
A 476.
ones, once, A 765, B 861, 4618,
G 748; at one (in purpose), C
696.
on lyve, alive, A 3039, F 423.
00 ! interj. ho ! a call to command
attention, A 2533.
OOn, one (and the same), F 537;
evere in oon, constantly, in the
same way, F 417; al oon, all
one (and the same), G 847; oon
and oon, one by one, A 679;
many oon, many a one, B 3170.
Openers, fruit of the medlar tree,
A 3871.
ordeyned, pp. appointed, F 177;
prepared, G 1277.
ordinance, disposal, B 992; ar-
rangement, A 2567; orderly
constitution of things, A 3012.
ordres foure, four orders, i.e. Do-
minicans, Carmelites, Francis-
cans, and Augustinians, A 210.
Orient, the East, B 3871.
orlogge, horologe, a timepiece of
any kind, clock, or sundial, B
4044.
orpyment, orpiment, ' trisulphide
of arsenic,' G 759, 774, 823.
Osanne, Hosannah, B 642.
ought, in any way, A 3045.
ought, anything, G 1333.
ounces, small portions, A 677.
outen, to out, show forth, exhibit,
G834.
out of, without, A 1623.
out-hees, outcry, hue and cry, A
2012.
256
GLOSSARY
outher, either, A 1645, 2556, B
1 136, C 17, 77, F420, 455.
outher — outher, either — or, G
1 149.
outrage, excess, A 2012.
outrely, utterly, A 237, B 4419,
C849.
outridere, outrider, A i ')6. See
note.
over al, everywhere (Fr. surtout,
Ger. iiberall), A 216, 249,
547-
over al this, over and above all
this, F 137.
overeste, uppermost, A 290.
overlad, pp. overborne, bullied
over, B 3101.
overslope, overslop, upper gar-
ment, G 633.
owher, anywhere, A 653, G 858.
oynement, ointment, A 631.
oynons, onions, A 634.
paas, pace, walking-pace, A 825,
2897. G 575.
pace, subj. I s. go on, A 36.
pace, to pass, A 175, 574, 2998,
4409; subj. pr. s. F 494.
pacient, n. patient, A 415.
pacient, adj., patient, enduring, A
484.
paleys, palace, A 2513.
panade, *a two-edged cutlass.' —
Skeai. A 3929.
panne, pan, A 3944, G 1210;
gen. s. pannes, G 1321.
papeer, pepper, G 762. Skeat
defines the word, paper.
papir, paper, A 4404. See note.
parage, kindred, family, birth, D
1 1 20.
paramentz, rich robes, A 2501.
paramour, gallantry; ' love-mak-
ing.' — Skeat. A 4372, 4392.
par cas, by chance, C 885.
pardee (Fr. pardi, an obscuration
of par Dieu, and used as an in-
terjection, without a sense, per-
haps, of its original meaning),
indeed, verily, to be sure; the
English interjection, egad, is, in
like manner, an obscuration of
^by God,' A 563, B 856, 41 18,
C 672, G 942, 995, 1447.
pardoner, a licensed seller of
pardons and indulgences, A
543. 669.
parementz, adornments; chambre
of parementz, presence-cham-
ber, F 269.
parfay, interj. by my faith, verily,
B 849, 1037.
parfit, perfect, A 72, 338, 532,
3009, 3072.
parisshens, parishioners, A 488.
paritorie, pellitory, a medicinal
plant, G 581.
partie, partisan, a party to one
side or the other, A 2657.
partrich, partridge, A 349.
party, partly, A 1053.
parvys, church-porch, supposed
to be that of St. Paul's, A 310.
pas, a pace, a foot pace, F 388.
passed, pt. s. surpassed, A 448.
passen, to surpass, be beyond the
capacity of, C 857.
passyng, surpassing, extraordi-
nary, G 614.
passynge, surpassing, A 2885.
patente, letter patent, A 315.
pecok, peacock, A 3926.
peert, pert, A 3950.
pees, peace, B 676.
GLOSSARY
257
peire, pair, A 159.
peples, peoples, groups of people,
A 2513.
peregryn (faucon), the pilgrim
falcon, F 428. See note.
pereionette tree, the newe ; Skeat
explains, but not with certainty,
' the new (i.e. fresh-leaved)
early-ripe pear-tree.' A 3248.
perfit, perfect, A 1 27 1,
perisse, subj. pr. pi. perish, C 99.
perled, pp. pearled, adorned;
perled with latoun, A 3251.
perrye, precious stones, A 2936.
pers, ' stuff of a sky-blue colour.'
— Skeat. A 439, 617.
person, parson, A 702, 706, 3943.
persoun, parson; persoun of a
town, parish priest, A 478.
Peter ! by St. Peter ! G 665.
peyne, pain, B 1065, F 509, pi.
peynes, pains, troubles, F 480.
peyne, to try hard; he wolde so
peyne hym, he would try so
hard, B 4495.
peyned hire, pained herself, took
pains, A 139.
peynte, to paint, C 17, 32; subj.
pr. s. C 15.
peynted, pp. painted, A 1970,
2060, 2069, C 34.
peynten, to paint, A 2087.
peynture, painture, the art of
painting, C 33.
peytrel, poitrel, breast-piece, G
564.
philosophre, philosopher (with a
subaudition of alchemic prac-
tices, as the following line
shows: 'yethadde he but litel
gold in cofre '), A 297.
pigges bones, pigs' bones (which
were shown as those of some
saint), A 700.
piggesnye, pig's eye, a term of
endearment, A 3268. ^An ye
became a nye ; hence the pi.
nyes^ and even nynon (= eyne),
as in Halliwell.' — Skeat.
pighte, pt. s. pitched, A 2689.
piled, pilled (i.e. peeled), bald, or
scant of hair, A 627, 3935.
pilwe-beer, pillow-case, A 694.
pipen, to play the bag-pipe, A
3927-
pitaunce, portion of food, A 224.
pitous, piteous, compassionate,
tender-hearted, A 143, F 20.
plantayne, plantain, G 581.
plat, the flat (or broadside of a
sword), F 162; dat. platte, F
164.
pla3m, plainly, B 990.
pleintes, n. plaints, expressions of
sorrow, B 1068.
plentevous, plenteous, A 344.
plesance, pleasing address, F 509.
plesaunce, pleasure, A 2485.
plesen, to please, A 610.
pleye, to play, make sport, A 772;
hym to pleye, to take his pleas-
ure, A 1503; pt. pi. pleyde, A
3858.
pleyen, to make sport, A 758.
pleyn, full, A 315, 337.
pleyn, adv. fully, A 327.
pleyne, to plain, lament, B 1067.
pleynen, pr. pi. plain, complain,
A 1251.
pleynly, plainly, fully, openly,
without reserve, A 727.
pleyynge, playing, diversion,
amusement, A 1061.
plight, pp. plighted, C 702.
258
GLOSSARY
plite, plight, condition, G 952.
plukke up, imp. pi. pluck up, G
937-
pocok, peacock, A 104.
point-devys, at, to a nicety, ex-
actly, F 560.
pokettes, pockets, little bags, G
808.
polax, poleaxe, a sort of battle
axe, A 2544.
polcat, polecat, C 855.
polyve, pulley, F 184.
pomel, crown (of the head), A
2689.
pomely, dappled, A 616; pomely
grys, dapple-grey, G 559.
popeler, poplar, A 2921.
popelote, poppet, or puppet, A
3254. See note.
poppere, dagger, A 3931.
poraille, poor folk, A 247.
porfurie, porphyry-slab on which
substances are ground, G 775.
portreiture, portraiture, A 2036.
portreyynge, portraiture, paint-
ing, A 1938.
post, pillar, A 214.
pothecarie, apothecary, C 852, 859.
poudre-marchant, sharp flavour-
ing powder, A 381.
poure, poor, A 225, 477, 488, 537,
702.
poure, to pore, A 185.
povre, poor, A 260.
powped, pt. pi. pooped, B 4589.
poynaunt, piquant, high-seasoned,
pungent, A 352, B 4024.
poynt, in good, Fr. embonpoint,
in good condition, corpulent, A
200.
poynt of his desir, object, or aim,
of his desire, A 1501.
poyntes, tagged laces, A 3322.
praktisour, practitioner, A 422.
pray, n. prey, A 2015.
praye, n. prey, A 2632.
preche, to preach, A 712.
preef, proof, G 968, 1379.
prees, press, crowd, throng, B 646,
677, 865, F 189.
preeve, proof, B4173.
preeve, to prove, prove itself, G
645, 1212.
preeved, pp. proved, tested, A
3001, G 1336.
prentys, apprentice, A 4365.
preved, pp. proved, F 481.
preyden, pt. pi. prayed, entreated,
A 811.
preyen, pr. pi. pray, pray for, A
1260.
preyere, prayer, A 2332
preyse, to praise, C 42.
prie, to pry, peer, look, G 668.
prighte, pt. s. pricked, F 418.
prikasour, hard rider, A 189.
priked, pp. spurred, ridden hard,
G 561, 576, 584.
priking, hard riding, A 191, 2599.
prikke, prick, point; to that
prikke, to that point, B 1029.
prikynge, spurring, fast riding, A
2508.
pris, prize, A 237; credit, reputa-
tion, D 1 152.
privee, privy, private, secret, G
1452; p. and apert, private and
public, F 531.
prof re, to proffer, G 11 23.
profred, pp. proffered, G 1066.
prolle, pr. pi. prowl, go about in
search of, G 14 12.
propre, proper, own, peculiar, A
540, Z^2>Ty his propre good,
GLOSSARY
259
his own property, A 581; propre
kynde, peculiar nature, F 610,
619.
proprely, according to the pecul-
iar character of each, A 729;
y-clad proprely, in a way befit-
ting a parish clerk, A 3320.
prospectives, perspective glasses,
lenses, F 234.
proteccioun, protection, A 2363.
prow, profit, gain, advantage, G
609.
pryme, prime (of the day), 9 a.m.,
F 73; p. large, full prime, F
360.
prymerole, primrose, A 3268.
prys, price, estimation, worth, A
67.
pryvee and apert, secretly and
openly, in private and public,
D 1114, 1 136.
pryvely, privily, secretly, A 609.
pryvetee, privity, privacy, A 4388.
puUe, to pluck ; p. a fynch, equiva-
lent to * pluck a pigeon,' swin-
dle a greenhorn, A 652.
pulled, pp. plucked, A 177.
pultrye, poultry, A 598.
purchace, subj. pr. s. provide, B
873.
purchacen, to purchase, procure,
get, G 1405.
purchas, acquisition (by begging
or other means), A 256.
purchasour, conveyancer, A 318.
purchasyng, conveyancing, A 320.
purtreye, to portray, draw, A
96.
purveiaunce, foresight, provi-
dence, A 1252, 301 1.
putte, pt. I s. put, A 2363.
pye, pie, A 384.
pye, magpie, A 3950, G 565; pi.
pyes, F 649.
pykepurs, pickpurse, A 1998.
pyler, pillar, A 11 93.
pyn, pin, F 316.
pynched, pp. 'closely pleated.' —
Skeai. A 151.
pynchen at, cavil at, find fault
with, A 326.
pyne, suffering, pain, B 1080, F
445-
pyned, pt. pi. tortured, B 4249.
pynnes, pins, A 234.
pypes, musical pipes, A 25 11.
qualm, sickness, disease, A 2014.
quelle, to kill, B 4580, C 854;
subj. pr. s. opt. G 705.
Questio quid juris, the question
is, what of the law, A 646.
questioun, discussion, A 2514.
queynt, pp. quenched, A 2336.
queynte, pt. s. quenched, went out,
A 2334, 2337.
queynte, quaint, strange, curious,
A 2333, F 369, G 752 ; curiously
made, F 234 ; applied to the
spear of Achilles, which could
both wound and heal, F 239.
quite, to requite, pay, pay back,
A 3864, G 736, 1025; subj. pr. s.
A 770.
quiten, to pay, repay, G 1027.
quod, quoth, A 788, 839, B 858,
G 1456.
quyked, pt. s. revived, A 2335.
quynyble, a very high voice,
A 3332; 'the quinible was an
octave higher than the treble;
the quatreble was an octave
higher than the mean. The
mean was intermediate between
26o
GLOSSARY
the plain-song or tenor and the
treble.' — Skeat.
quyte, to requite, G 1055.
rad, pp. read, A 2595, B 4502.
rage, great rush of wind, A 1985.
rage, * to romp, toy wantonly,'
A 257.
rammysh, rammish, ramlike, rank,
G 887.
rampeth, springs, flies; she ramp-
eth in my face, B 3094.
rape, G 1422. See note.
raughte, pt. s. reached, A 1 36, 29 1 5 .
recche, pr. i s. reck, care, B 94; pr.
pi. F 71.
recche, subj. pr. s. explain, inter-
pret, B 4086.
recchelees, reckless, A 1 79, B 4626.
receit, recipe, G 1353, 1366, 1384.
recorde, pr. i s. remind, A 829.
rede, red, A 1969, G 1095.
rede colera, ' red cholera caused
by too much bile and blood
(sometimes called red humour) .''
— Skeat. B4118.
rede, pr. i s. counsel, advise, A
3068, 3071, C 285, 793, G 1008,
1409, 1475.
redeth, imp. pi. read, D 982.
redoutynge, reverence, honour, A
2050.
redy, ready, A 354.
reed, red, A 458, 552, 556, 1997,
3317-
reed, counsel, advice, A 665, C 744.
refereth, hath reference to, G 1083.
refut, refuge, B 852.
regne, reign, realm, kingdom, A
1624, 1638, 2299, F 135.
reherce, to rehearse, A 732, B 89.
rehersaille, rehearsal, G 852.
rehersyng, rehearsing, A 1650.
rekene, to reckon, A 401, 1954.
rekenyng, reckoning, A 600; pi.
rekenynges, reckonings, ac-
counts, bills, A 760.
rekke, imp. s. reck, care, G 698.
relente, to melt, G 1278.
relesse, to release, B 1069.
relikes, reliques, A 701.
remembrynge on, thinking, medi-
tating on, A 1501.
remenaunt, remnant, remainder,
A 724.
remewed, pp. removed, F 181.
renges, ranks, A 2594.
renne, to clutch, G 1422. See note.
renne, to run, A 3890, G 1415; pr.
pi. A 2868.
renneth, runneth, F 479.
rennyng, running, A 551.
renomee, renown, D 1159.
renoun, renown, reputation, A 316.
rente, income, revenue, A 256, 373,
B 4017.
repaire, to repair, return, F 589.
repeireth, repaireth, F 339.
repeirynge, repairing, returning,
F608.
repleccioun, repletion, over- eating,
B4027; pi. replecciouns, B4113.
resalgar, realgar, a chemical com-
pound, G 814.
rescus, rescue, A 2643.
rese, to shake, A 1986.
resons, reasons, opinions, A 274.
retenue, knyghtes of, retainers, A
2502.
rethor, rhetorician, B 4397, F 38.
reule, n. rule, A 173.
reuled, pp. ruled, A 816.
reve, reeve, steward, bailiff, A 542,
587 ; gen. s. reves, A 579.
GLOSSARY
261
revel, minstrelsy, A 4402.
revelour, reveller, A 4371, 4391-
rewe, on a, in a row, A 2866.
rewe, to rue, regret, G 729; to
suffer for, G 997; have pity, A
3080; imp. s. have pity, B 853.
reweful, sorrowful, sad, B 854.
rewefulleste, ruefulest, A 2886.
reyn, rain, A 492, 595.
reyne, rein, F 313.
reyse, to raise, G 861.
reysed, pp. done military service,
A 54.
ribaudye, ribaldry, A 3866.
ribible, rebeck, a kind of lute, A
4396.
riche, richly, A 609.
richesse, riches, A 1255.
riden, pt. pi. rode, A 825, 2897.
ridyng, tourney, joust, or proces-
sion, A 4377.
right, adv. just, A 661, 1096; en-
tirely, A 804.
righte, adj. right, direct; the r.
way, A 2739, B 1130.
ris, imp. s. rise, G 1205.
rist, riseth, B 864.
rit, rideth, A 2566, G 608.
roche, rock, F 500.
rode, complexion, A 3317.
rody, ruddy, F 385, 394.
roghte, pt. s. recked, cared for, B
4530-
roialliche, royally, in grand style,
A 378.
rombled, pt. s. felt about, G 1322.
romed, pt. s. roamed, walked about,
A 1065; strolled, A 1069.
romen, to roam, stroll, A 1099.
romynge, roaming, walking, A
1071.
ronne, pt. pi. ran, B 4578.
ronnen, pt. pi. ran, A 2925.
rood, pt. s. rode, A 328, 390, 622,
682, 3 999.
roore, to roar, moan, groan, B 4078.
roos, pt. s. rose, A 823, F 267.
rooste, to roast, A 383.
roreth of, resoundeth with, A 2881.
rose, gen. s. rose's, A 1038.
rote, a stringed instrument of some
kind, A 236.
rotie, subj. pr. s. rot, A 4407.
rouncy, a common hackney horse,
a nag, A 390.
route, company, A 622, 2153, 2494,
2580, 2951, B650.
routhe, ruth, pity, B 654, 1052, F
438.
routhelees, pitiless, B 863.
rowe, adv. roughly, sternly, fiercely,
G861.
rowned, pt. s. whispered, F 216.
rownen, to round, whisper, G
894.
rubible, ribible (dimin. of ribibe),
rebec, a kind of violin, A 3331.
Skeat says, ' A two- stringed musi-
cal instrument, played with a
bow, of Moorish origin; Arab,
rabab.'
rubifiyng, reddening, G 797.
rudeliche, rudely, A 734.
ruest, hast pity, B 854.
ruggy, rough, uncombed, A 2883.
rumbel, n. rumble, A 1979.
ryde, pr. pi. ride, B 1102.
ryden, pr. pi. ride, A 2869.
ryden, pt. pi. rode, A 856.
rym, verse, D 11 27.
rys, branch, twig, A 3324. A.S.
hris.
rysen, pr. pi. rise, F 383.
ryve, to rive, pierce, stab, C 828.
262
GLOSSARY
sacred, devoted, A 1921.
sadde, adj. pi. sad, sated, weary,
tired, G 877.
sadel-bowe, saddle-bow, A 2691.
sadly, firmly, A 2602.
sal armonyak, sal ammoniac, G
824.
saleweth, saluteth, F 91.
sal preparat, prepared salt, G 810.
salueth, saluteth, A 1492.
saluyng, saluting, A 1649
sangwyn, red, A 439.
sarge, serge, a coarse stuff, A 2568.
saufly, safely, B 4398, D 878.
saugh, pt. s. saw, A 144, 850, 1995,
2017, B 1 103, 4608.
sautrie, psaltery, a kind of harp,
A 296.
save, the herb sage, A 2713.
sawce fleem, having a red pimpled
face, A 625.
sawe, a saying, G 691, 144 1.
say, pt. s. saw, B 11 28.
scaled, scabby, scurvy, A 627. See
Leviticus xiii. 30-37.
scapen, to escape, A 1107.
scaped, pp. escaped, B 1151.
scarsetee, scarcity, G 1393.
scarsly, sparingly, frugally, A 583.
scathe, misfortune, a pity, A 446.
science, legal knowledge, A 316.
sclaundre, slander, G 998.
sclaundrest, slanderest, G 695.
sclendre, slender, A 587.
scole, school, style, manner, pro-
nunciation, A 125.
scoler, scholar, A 260.
scoleye, to go to school, A 302.
scriptures, writings, A 2044.
se, to see, A 1918, 3025, F 366;
imp. s. B 4392.
seche, to seek, A 784, G 1442.
sechen, pr. pi. seek, G 863.
secree, adj. secret, B 4105, G 1370.
secree of secrees, secret of se-
crets, G 1447.
see, on to, to look on (A.S. on-
seon), A 1082; subj. pr. s., see
to, have in sight, guard, protect;
God yow see, C 715.
see, sea, A 698, B 68, 1042.
seege, siege, A 56.
seeke, pi. sick, A 18.
seel, seal, F 131.
seen, to see, A 112 1, 2128; pr. pi.
A 3027.
seet, pt. s. sat, A 2075.
seettes, seats, A 2580.
seigh, pt. s. saw, A 193, 1066.
seken, to seek, A 510; dat. inf.
* it is to seken evere,' it is ever
an object of search, and never
found, G 874; pr. pi. A 1266. ^
selve, same, A 2860.
sely, silly, simple, inoffensive, A
3896, B 682.
semed, it seemed, F 56.
semely, adv. seemly, properly, be-
comingly, A 123, 136.
semely, adj. seemly, comely, agree-
able, A 751.
semycope, short, ecclesiastical,
semicircular cloak, A 262.
semyly, seemly, becomingly, A
151.
sendal, a kind ' of light, fine silk
stuff, A 440.
sene, dat. inf. to see, A 1035; pp.
A 134.
sentence, thought, meaning, sub-
ject-matter, A 306, 798, B 4404;
opinion, A 3002.
serchen, pr. pi. search, explore, D
867.
GLOSSARY
263
sermone, to preach, speak, C 879.
sermons, pi. writings, B 87. Lat.
sermones.
servage, bondage, A 1946
serye, series, succession, argu-
ment, A 3067.
sesons, seasons, A 347.
sessiouns, sessions of the peace,
A 355.
seten, pt. pi. sat, F 92.
sethe, to seethe, A it^T,-
sette, to set; ' sette a soper,' pre-
pare a supper, A 815.
seuretee, surety, assurance, F 528.
sewed, pt. s. pursued, followed, B
4527.
sewes, rich and delicate and rare
dishes of various kinds, F 67.
A.S. seaw, juice,
sey, pr. pi. say, G 1375.
seyde, subj. pt. i s. would say, A
183.
seye, pr. i s. say, B 3880.
seyen, to say, A 1268.
seyl, sail (of a boat), A 696, B
seyn, pp. seen, B 624, 1078.
seynd, pp. singed, broiled, B 4035.
shadwed, pp. shaded, A 607.
shake, pp. shaken, A 406.
shal, pr. s. has to, A 731, 831;
I s. must, have to, A 853.
shallow, shalt thou, B 4208.
shamefast, fast, fixed, established
in shame, modest, A 2055, C 55.
shamefastnesse (corrupted in
mod. Eng. into shamefacedness),
modesty, A 840, C 55.
shape, pr. I s. prepare, A 809;
pp. made, born, B 3099.
Shapen, to plan, arrange, A 2541 ;
pr. pi. shape, prepare; 'ye s.
yow to talen,' you are preparing
yourselves to tell stories, A 772;
pp. shapen, shaped, determined,
A 1 108.
shaply, fit, suitable, A 372.
sharply, severely, A 523.
shave, pp. shaven, A 588, 690.
shawe, grove, A 4367.
sheeldes, French crowns, ecus,
bearing the figure of a shield, A
278.
sheene, bright, beautiful, A 116,
160, 1068, B 692, F 53.
sheep, sheep, a pastor's flock, A
496.
sheete, to shoot, A 3928.
shende, to harm, injure, spoil, A
4410.
shene, bright, A 1509, 1994.
shente, pt. s. injured, hurt, B
4031.
shepne, shippen, stable, cowhouse,
A 2000.
shet, pp. shut, A 2597, B 1056.
shette, to shut, D 1141; pt. s. G
1 142; pt. pi. G 1218; imp. pi.
G1137.
shipnes, shippens, stables, cow-
houses, D 871.
shirreve, shire-reeve, sheriff, A
359-
sho, shoe, A 253.
shode, parting of the hair; here,
rather, the parted hair itself, A
3316; the temple (space back
of the eye and forehead, the
dividing place between the
upper and lower head; A.S.
sceadan, to divide), A 2007.
sholde, pt. s. should, ought to,
had a right to, A 450.
shoon, pt. s. shone, A 198.
264
GLOSSARY
shoope, pt. s. shaped, planned, C
874; pt. pi. G 1222, 1228.
short-sholdred, 'short in the
upper arm.' — Skeat. A 549.
shorte with, whereby to shorten,
A 791.
shortly, briefly, B 990; used ab-
solutely, in brief, A 30; in A
843, the ellipsis is supplied :
'shortly for to tellen'; B 1007,
1021, F 567.
shot, arrow or crossbow bolt, A
2544-
shrewe, pr. i s. curse, beshrew, B
4616, 4617.
shrewe, adj. evil, wicked, G 995.
shrewe, bad fellow, scroundrel, C
819; wicked, accursed one, G
917; pi. shrewes, rascals, scoun-
drels, C 835, G 746.
shrighte, pt. s. shrieked, B 4552,
F417, 422, 472.
shul, pr. pi. shall, A 3080, G 1155,
1412.
shulder, shoulder, A 2163; pi.
shuldres, A 678.
shuUe, pr. pi. shall, A 2356.
shullen, pr. pL shall, must, have
to, A 3014.
shyne, dat. s. shin, A 386.
shynen, pt. pi. shone, A 2043.
shyveren, pr. pi. shiver, break in
pieces, A 2605.
sighte, pt. s. sighed, B 1035.
Significavit, a writ of excommu-
nication, so called from its initial
word, A 662.
sike, adj. def. sick, A 424.
siker, sure, certain, A 3049, B
4353, G 864, 934.
sikerer, surer, more certain, more
reliable, B 4043.
sikerly, surely, certainly, A 137,
154, 3244, 3891, B 4461, F 180.
sikes, sighs, A 1920.
silable, syllable, F loi.
singuleer, single; o singuleer
mannes folye, one particular
man's folly, G 997.
sit, pr. s. sitteth, F 59, 179,
sith, since, seeing that, D 969,
1 148, G 1472; afterward, C 869.
sithe, times, B 1155, G 1031.
sithen, afterwards, A 2617, B
1 1 21; since, B 58.
sithes, times, A 485.
sitte, subj. pr. s. sit, G 841; subj.
pr.pl. G 1 195.
sitthe, after that, afterwards, B
z^^i-, 3913-
skiles, reasons, reasonings, argu-
ments, comments, F 205.
skilful, discerning, reasonable, B
1038.
sklendre, slender, slight, spare, B
4023.
skriked, pt. pi. shrieked, B 4590.
slake, slack, slow, A 2901.
slaughtre, slaughter, assassination,
A 2031.
slawe, pp. slain, B 3873, 4204.
sle, pr. pi. slay, F 462.
slee, to slay, A 661; imp. s. B
3089.
sleen, to slay, A 1645, 1646, C
836, 846.
sleep, pt. s. slept, A 98, 397.
sleere, slayer; the sleere of hym
self, the suicide, A 2005.
sleighte, cunning, craft, slyness,
A 604; pi. sleightes, devices, G
773.
slider, slippery, A 1264.
slit, pr. s. slideth, G 682.
GLOSSARY
265
slogardie, sluggardy, A 1042.
sloo, sloe, the fruit of the black
thorn, A 3246.
slow, pt. s. slew, B 627, 664.
sluttish, slovenly, G 636.
slye, sly, crafty, artfully contrived,
F230.
smal, adv. little, men recche of it
but smal, men care but little for
it, F 71.
smart, quick, brisk; esy fir, and
smart also, quiet fire, and a brisk
also, G 768.
smerte, smartly, A 149.
smerte, subj. pr. smart, pain;
'thogh him soore smerte,'
though it pain him sorely, A
230; subj. pt. thogh him gamed
or smerte, A 534, F 564; pt. pi.
B 3903-
smerte, n. smart, F 480.
smoot, pt. s. smote, A 149; of
smoot, smote off, B 3881.
smothe, smooth, A 676.-
smylere, smiler, one who smiles
to deceive, A 1999.
smyte, to smite, strike, A 1658.
smyteth of, imp. pi. smite off, A
782.
snewed, pt. s. abounded, A 345.
snybbed, pp. snubbed, reproved,
A 4401.
snybben, to snub, reprove, repri-
mand, A 523.
so, adv. to such an extent, B 1056;
accordingly, B 4348.
sodeynly, suddenly, A 2333.
solaas, solace, entertainment,
amusement, A 798.
solempne, festive, sportive, A 209;
grand, A 364; stately, F 61,
179.
solempnely, pompously, A 274;
in great state, royally, B 691.
som — som, one — another, A
I255» 1257, 3031.
som-del, somewhat, A 174, 446,
B 401 1.
somer, summer, A 394.
somnour, summoner to ecclesiasti-
cal courts, apparitor, A 543;
somonour, A 623.
somtyme, at one time, A 65, 85.
sonde, a sending, message, visita-
tion, B 826, 1049.
song, pt. s. sang, A 710.
songe, pp. sung, A 711.
Sonne, gen. s. sun's, A 105 1, D
868.
soond, sand, B 4457.
soong, pt. s. sang, A 122, 1055, B
4460.
soore, sorely, A 148, 230, B 3903,
4077, 4085, 4249, 4250, D 967,
F 258, G 669.
soory, worthless, despicable, G
1349.
soote, adj. pi. sweet, A i; def. s. F
389.
sooth, truth, A 284, B 832, 1013.
sooth, true, A 1625, F 21.
soothfastnesse, truth, B4518.
SOOthly, truly, verily, indeed, A
117, 1936.
sope in wyn, sop in wine, bread
dipped in wine, A 334.
soper, supper, A 348, 748, 799.
sophymes, sophisms, trickeries, F
554.
sore, sorely, A 1115, 2709.
sort, lot, destiny, A 844.
sorwes, sorrows, A 3071.
sory, sorry; sory place, sad, dole-
ful place, A 2004; sorrowful.
266
GLOSSARY
mournful, A 2010; ill, bad, C
876.
sothe, truth, A 845.
sotted, pp. fooled, befooled, G
1341.
soun, sound, A 674.
soupen, pr. pi. sup, F 297.
SOUple, supple, pliant, soft, A 203.
SOUtil, subtle, fine spun, A 2030;
s. pencel, skilful pencil, A 2049.
SOutiltee, subtlety (skill in al-
chemy), G 1 37 1.
sovereyn, supreme, C 9, 91.
sovereynly, in the highest degree,
B4552.
sowe, n. sow, A 552.
sowed, pp. sewn, A 685.
sowes, gen. s. sow's, A 556.
sowke, to suck, A 4416.
sowne, to sound, A 565, F 105.
sowneth into, partaketh of the
nature of, signifieth (Lat. sonat),
F5I7-
sownynge, importing, A 275 ; sow-
nynge in, informed with, A 307,
C54.
space (of time) ; ' durynge the
metes space,' at dinner time, B
1014; room, opportunity, F 493.
spare, to refrain, abstain from, A
192, 737-
sparre, spar, beam, A 1076.
sparth, halberd, battle axe, A
2520.
sparwe, sparrow, A 626.
speces, species, A 3013.
spedde, pt. s. speeded, caused to
be successful, favoured, B 3876.
spedeful, successful, profitable,
advantageous, B 726.
speeke, pt. pi. spoke, F 247.
speke of, to, in respect to, A 413.
speke, subj. pr. s. speak, A 734.
speken, for to, in respect to, A
142.
spiced conscience, A 526. See
note.
spilt, pp. destroyed, killed, B 857.
spores, spurs, A 473.
spradde, pp. spread, A 2871.
sprynge, to spring, A 822.
squames, scales; iren squames, G
759.
stablissed, pp. established, A 2995.
stant, pr. s. standeth, A 3923, B
618, 651, 655, 1055, F 171, 182,
316.
stape, pp. stepped, advanced, B
4011.
starf, pt. s. starved, died, B 633.
staves, staffs, bludgeons, A 2510.
stede, stead; in stede of, instead
of, A 2140.
steere, rudder, B 833.
stemed, pt. s. shone, glowed, A 202.
stepe, bright, sparkling, A 201, 753.
sterres, stars, A 268.
sterte, to start, A 1044; pt. s. A
1080, 2684, B 4467,4557.
stertyng, starting, springing, A
1502.
sterve, to die, C 865.
stevene, voice, A 2562, B 4387,
4481; speech, language, F 150;
they setten s., set a time, made
appointment. A 4383.
stierne, stern, strong, A 2154, 2610.
stile, style, mode of speech, F 106.
stillatorie, a distilling vessel, G 580.
stille, adv. quietly, A 2985.
stired, pt. s, stirred, G 1278.
stirte, pt. s. started, B 4524, C 705.
stirten, pt. pi. started, rushed, B
4567.
GLOSSARY
267
stoke, to stick, stab, A 2546.
stokkes, sticks, A 2934.
stomblen, pr. pi. stumble, A 2613.
stonde, to stand, B 1050 ; imp. s.
stand, G 1205.
stonden at, stand to, abide by, A
778.
stongen, pp. stung, A 1079.
stoor, store, stock (of a farm), A
598.
storven, pt. pi. died, C 888.
stot, a horse, a cob, A 615.
stounde, brief space of time, B
1021.
stoupeth, imp. pi. stoop, G 1327.
stoute, bold, A 2154.
strange, foreign, external ; a
strange thyng to thy persone,
D 1161.
straughte, pt. pi. stretched, A
2916.
straw! an exclamation, G 925.
strawe, subj. pr. 2 s. strew, F 613.
stree, straw, A 2918, 2933, 3873.
streight, adv. straight, straightway,
A 1650.
streit, strait, strict, A 174; nar-
row, A 1984; limited, B 4179.
streite, straitly, closely, A 457.
streite, pp. drawn, B 4547.
strem, stream, A 464 ; pi. stremes,
streams, currents, A 402 ; streams
or rays of light, A 1495, ^ 38.
strenger, stronger, C 825.
strete, street, B 1103.
strike of flex, hank of flax, A 676.
strogelest, strugglest, C 829.
stronde, strand, shore, B 825, 864;
pi. strondes, A 13.
stroof, pt. s. strove, A 1038.
strouted, strutted, bulged, stuck
out, A 3315.
stubbes, applied especially to the
stumps of small trees or shrubs ;
(the diminutive is stubble), stubs,
stumps, A 1978.
studieth, imp. pi. study, K 841.
stuwe, stew, fish-pond, A 350.
style, steps for passing over a
fence or wall, F 106.
stynt, imp. s. cease, stop, A 2348,
G927.
stynte, to stop, cease, end, B 4347,
G883.
stynten, to stop, A 2732.
stynteth, imp. pi. stop, A 2674.
styth, anvil, A 2026.
styward, steward, F 291; pi. sty-
wardes, A 579.
stywes, stews, brothels, C 465.
sublymatories, vessels for chemi-
cal sublimation, G 793.
sublymyng, sublimation, G 770.
substaunce, substance, means; 'of
his substaunce,' out of his own
means, A 489.
subtil, * cunningly devised,' A 1054;
subtle, treacherous, B 3890.
subtilitee, subtlety (of knowledge
and graft), G 620.
subtilly, craftily, A 610; slily, C
798; with great caution, D 956;
ingeniously, skilfully, F 222.
suffisaunce, sufficiency, A 490;
satisfaction; hertes s., content-
ment of heart, B 4029.
suffisaunt, sufficient, A 1631.
surcote, overcoat, A 617.
surplys, surplice, A 3323.
surveiaunce, surveillance, over-
sight, C 95.
sustene, to sustain, bear, endure,
B847.
sustres, sisters, B 4458.
268
GLOSSARY
swal, pt. s. swelled, D 967*
swalwe, n. swallow, A 3258.
swannes, swans, F 68.
swatte, pt. s. sweat, or sweated,
G 560, 563.
sweped, pp. swept, G 939.
swerd, sword, A 558, B 64, F 57 ;
pi. swerdes, A 2026.
swete, to sweat, G 579; pr. pi. G
1 186.
swevene, dream, a vision in sleep,
B 4086, 41 12; pi. swevenes, B
41 13; swevenys, B 4111.
swich, such, A 3, 243, 485; pi.
swiche, B 88, G 795, 801, 1071.
swinke, to toil, labour, C 874.
swithe, quickly; as swithe, as
quickly (as may be), B 637, G
936, 1294; ful s., C 796; right
as s., right quickly, G 1426.
swoot, n. sweat, G 578.
swoote, sweet, A 2860.
swore, pp. sworn, A 810.
swough, soughing of wind, A 1979.
swough, n. swoon, F 476, 477.
swowned, pt. s. swooned, A 2943,
B 1058, F443, 631.
swowneth, swooneth, F 430.
swyn, swine, A 598.
swynk, toil, labour, drudgery, A
188, 540, G 730.
swynke, to toil, labour, drudge,
G669.
swynken, to toil, labour, drudge,
A 186.
swynkere, labourer, A 531.
sy, pt. s. saw, G 1381.
syk, sick, C 62.
syk, n. sigh, F 498.
syn, contracted form of sythen,
since, A 601, 853, 1273, B 11 15,
4015, G630, 653, 656.
syngeth, imp. pi. sing, B 4510.
syve, sieve, G 940.
taak, imp. s. take, A 789, 1084, D
1139-
taake, imp. s. take, G 11 20.
tabard, a herald's coat-of-arms;
the Tabard, an inn in Southwark
with the sign of the t., A 20; a
loose frock or blouse, worn by
ploughmen and other working
men, A 541.
table dormant, fixed side table, or
sideboard, A 353.
taffata, taffeta or taffety, a kind of
silk stuff, A 440.
taille, a tally, an account scored
on a stick; took by taille,
bought on credit, A 570.
take, pp. taken, A 2724, G 605.
takel, tackle, arrows, A 106.
taketh, imp. pi. take, B 4630, 4633,
C 90, G 1059, 1 1 76, 1227.
talen, to tell stories, A 772.
talent, desire, B 1137.
tapes, ribbons, A 3241.
tapicer, maker of tapestry, uphol-
sterer, A 362.
tappe, tap, a hole through which
liquor is drawn from a cask, A
3890, 3892.
tappestere, tapster, barmaid, A
241, Z?^Z^-
targe, target, small shield, A 471.
tarie, to tarry, G 801.
taried, pp. delayed, F 402.
taryen, to delay, F 73.
taryynge, tarrying, delay, A 821.
teche, to teach, A 308.
teeris, tears, A 1921, B 70.
telle, imp. s. tell, G 639,654, 1452.
temple, an inn of court, A 567.
GLOSSARY
269
temps, tense; that future temps,
that future tense, refers, as Skeat
points out, to the dat. inf., to
seken, which precedes, used as
a future tense, G 875.
tene, sorrow, grief; vexation, A
3106.
tenspire, to inspire, G 1470.
tercelet, male hawk, F 504.
tercelettes, small hawks, F 648.
termes, court terms? A 323; pe-
riods of life, A 3028; technical
alchemic jargon, G 752, 1398.
terve, subj. pr. s. flay, G 1274.
terved, pp. flayed, skinned, G 471.
See note.
tespye, to espy, B 4478.
testeres, head-pieces, helmets, A
2499.
testes, vessels for assaying metals,
G818.
text, topic, theme, B 45.
teyne, thin plate of metal, G 1225,
1229, 1240, 1318; pi. teynes, G
1332.
thankes, gen. hir thankes, will-
ingly, A 1626.
thanne, then, A 535, 3003, D 1163.
tharray, the array, A 716, F 63.
that, art. the, A 1 13, B 4186, 4188,
C 666, 802, 807, 816.
that, as, as well as, B 1036.
thavys, the advice, A 3076.
the, pronominal adv. by that, on
that account, used before com-
paratives; * the murierly,* the
more merrily, A 714. A.S. be,
\>% instr. case of se, seo, b^et;
the, in its pronominal character,
stands for something which pre-
cedes.
the, thee, B 71, 72, G 663.
thee, to thrive, B 4166, 4622, G
641.
theech (=r:thee ich), so, so thrive
I, G 929.
theek {— thee ik), so, so thrive I,
A 3864.
theffect, the conclusion (of the
whole matter), A 2366; the
thing to be effected, A 2989;
the realization, G 1261.
thencens, the incense, A 2938.
thenchauntementz, the enchant-
ments, A 1944.
thenche, to think of, imagine, A
3253.
thencrees, the increase, A 275.
thenken, pr. pi. think, F 537.
thenketh, imp. pi. think, C 75.
thenne, thence, D 1141.
thennes, thence, B 1043.
thentencioun, the intention, G
1443.
ther, where, A 2082, F 179;
wherein, C 886.
ther as, where that, A 172, 224,
249, 1058, 1061, 1068, 1974,
2505, 2858, 2861, B 4192, 4449,
F 267, 637, G 750.
ther-by, by that means, G 722.
therfore, for that, A 809, F 177.
ther-to, in addition to that, more-
over, besides, A 153, 239, 325^
553, 757-
thider, thither, A 1263; thider as,
thither where, C 749.
thikke, thick, A 549; close to-
gether, A 25 10; thickly set, A
1075.
thilke, that same, A 182, 1973,
2033» 2959, 3004, B 4015, 4210.
thirled, pp. drilled, pierced, A
2710.
2/0
GLOSSARY
tho, those, A 498, 2313, 2999.
tho, then, A 2536, 2597, 2882,
2945» 3329* B 1079, F 305, 472,
G 1461.
thoccident, the Occident, the west,
B 3864.
tholde, the old, D 857.
thombe, thumb, A 563.
thonketh, imp. pi. thank, B 11 13.
thorient, the orient, B 3875, 3883.
thoughte, it seemed; it thoughte
me, it seemed to me, A 385,
682, 785, B 697, 699, 4201, 4204,
F527.
thow, thou, B 848, 851, 852.
thre, three, A 2934.
threed, thread, A 2030.
threpe, pr. pi. call, G 826.
threste, to thrust, push, A 2612.
thretyng, threatening, G 698.
thridde, third, B 4203.
thries, thrice, A 463, 562, 2952,
2954-
thrift, success, prosperity, G 739,
1425.
thriftily, becomingly, A 105.
thrifty, successful, profitable, B
46.
thropes, villages, D 871.
throte, throat, A 2013.
throwe, many a, many a time,
many times, G 941.
thurgh, through, A 1075.
thurgh out, throughout, A 2567,
2574, B 1028.
thwitel, a whittle, a knife, A 3933.
thynges, things; herknynge his
mynstrales hir thynges pleye,
play their musical pieces, F 78.
thyngot, the ingot, G 1233.
thynketh, it seems, A 37, 3041,
C681, F406.
thynne, thin, A 679.
I tidyves, small birds of some kind,
j F 648.
tigre, tiger, A 1657.
til, to, into, unto, A 180, 2062, C
697» F 559.
tirannye, tyranny, A 1 1 1 1 .
tiraunt, tyrant, A 2015.
titanos (Greek), Mime, gypsum
white earth, chalk, etc.,' G 1454
to-, an intensive prefix to verbs
and verbal nouns, imparting an
idea of division, separation, de
struction.
to, too, B 41 15, F 525, G 644,
1423.
to-breketh, breaks, goes to pieces,
G907.
to-breste, pr. pi. break in pieces,
A 2611.
to-brosten, pp. burst asunder, A
2691.
toforn, prep, before, F 268.
toft, tuft, A 555.
togidre, together, A 824.
to-hewen, pr. pi. hew in pieces,
A 2609.
toke, pt. s. took, delivered, G 1 1 1 2.
tollen, to take a portion of a grist
as payment for grinding it, A
562.
tonge, tongue, A 712.
tonne, tun, a large cask, A 3894;
tonne greet, tun great, having
the circumference of a tun, A
1994.
too, toe, A 2726.
took, pt. s. gave, G 1030, 1365;
took agayn, gave back, re-
turned, G 1034.
tool, weapon, B 4106.
toon, toes, B 4052.
GLOSSARY
271
toos, toes, B 4370.
tope, top, head, A 590.
to-rent, pp. torn to pieces, C 102.
to-rente, pt. pi. rent asunder, tore
in pieces, C 709.
torn, n. turn; a freendes torn, C
815.
to-shrede, pr. pi. cut in shreds, A
2609.
to-tore, pp. torn in bits, ragged,
G635.
touchede, pt. s. touched, A 2561.
Tour, the, the Tower of London,
where the mint was, A 3256.
tourettes, rings attached to dog
collars, A 2152.
tourneiynge, tourneying, tourna-
ment, A 2720.
trappures, trappings, A 2499.
travaillynge, in travail, in labour,
A 2083.
trays, traces, the draught-straps of
a horse's harness, A 2139.
traysoun, treason, betrayal, B
4513-
trede, pr. pi. tread, A 3022.
tretfch, a walk cut through woods,
shrubbery, etc. F 392.
trenchant, cutting, sharp, A 3930.
treses, tresses, C -^^j.
tresoun, treason, treachery, A 2001.
tretee, treaty, B 3865.
tretys, shapely, A 152.
trewe, true, faithful, A 531.
trille, to turn, F 316.
triste, pr. I s. trust, B 832; pt. s.
D958.
trompe, trump, trumpet, A 674,
2174; pi. trompes, A 251 1,
trone, throne, A 2529, C 842.
trouthe, truth, fidelity, A 46; troth,
faith, A 763, F 627.
trusteth, imp. pi. trust, A 2182,
B 1048.
tukked, tucked up, A 621.
turne, to turn, form in a lathe, A
3928.
turneiynge, tourneying, A 2557.
turneth agayn, imp. pi. turn back,
B 4599.
tweye, twain, two, A 704, 792,
B 4035, 4095, 4490, C 30, 817,
824, 828.
tweyfoold, twofold, double, G 566.
twies, twice, B 4202.
twiste, dat. s. branch, F 442.
twiste, to twist, wring, anguish,
F566.
twyes, twice, B 1058.
twynes, twine's; twynes threed,
thread of twine, A 2030.
twynne, lit. to go into two, to
separate; then, to depart, move
on, in a general sense, A 835,
F577-
tydes, tides, A 401.
tygre, tiger, A 2626, F 419.
typet, friar's hood or cowl, used as
a pocket, A 233; * the long pen-
dant from the hood,' A 3953.
See note.
unarmed, pp. divested of armour,
F 173-
unbokelen, to unbuckle, F 555.
uncouthe, unknown, strange, F
284.
undermeles, afternoons, D 875.
understondeth, imp. pi. under-
stand, G 1 165.
undertake, pr. i s. venture to say,
A 288.
undertake, 'to conduct an enter-
prise.' — Skeat. A 405.
2/2
GLOSSARY
undren, the third hour of the day,
9 A.M.; the period thence on
till noon, B 4412.
unfeestlich, unfestive, unfit for a
feast, jaded, F 366.
unheele, misfortune, calamity, C
116.
Tinkouth, unknown, strange, rare,
A 2497.
unknowe, pp. unknown, A 126,
F 246.
unkynde, unnatural, B 88.
unnethe, uneasily, with difficulty,
hardly, scarcely, B 1050, G 563,
1390.
unslekked, pp. unslacked, G 806.
untrewe, untruly, A 735.
unweelde, unwieldy, unmanage-
able, A 3886.
unwit, want of wit or understand-
ing, G 1085.
unwityng, unknowing, G 1320.
unyolden, pp. unyielded, uncon-
quered, A 2642, 2724.
Up, upon, on; up peril of my lyf,
D 1 145.
upon, on, A 617.
Upon lond, perhaps the same as
up country, far inland, A 702.
up peyne, upon pain, or penalty,
A 2543.
upright, stretched out at full
length, A 2008, B 4232.
upriste, uprising, A 105 1.
up-so-down, i.e. up as down, cor-
rupted into upside down, G
625. But * upside down' may
be a distinct form.
usaunt, using, accustomed, A 3940.
use, pr. pi. practise, G 1409.
vanitee, emptiness, B 41 12, 4201.
vanysshynge, vanishing; made a
v., vanished, A 2360.
variaunt, variant, changeable, G
"75-
vassellage, vassalage, good ser-
vice, A 3054.
vavasour, vavasor, landholder, in
dignity next to a baron, A
360.
veluettes, velvets, F 644.
venerie, venery, hunting, the
chase, A 166, 2308.
Venus, carnal desire, lust, C 59.
verdit, verdict, A 787.
vernycle, ' copy of the supposed
imprint of Christ's face on the
handkerchief of Saint Veronica,'
A 685.
verrailly, verily, truly, F 462.
verray, very, true, A 72, B 4081,
4173-
vertu, virtue, power, energy, A 4.
vertuous, A 251. See the note.
veyl, veil, A 695.
veyn, vain, A 1094.
veze, a blast of wind, A 1985;
glossed in EUesmere Ms., im-
petus, 'The "impetus amens"
of Statins refers rather to head-
long hardihood than to physical
forces.' — Pollard.
viage, voyage, journey, A 77, 723,
792.
vice, deformity, disfigurement, D
955-
vigilies, vigils, A 377.
vileyns, villainous, D 1158.
vileynye, villainy, foul or abusive
language which breaks the rules
' of good breeding, A 70, 740, C
740; ill-breeding, A 726; dis-
grace, A 2729; base deed, D
GLOSSARY
273
962; any ungentlemanly act, D
1138, 1151.
violes, vials, phials, G 793.
vitaille, victual, provisions, A 248,
569-
vitailled, supplied with provisions,
B869.
voluper, a woman's cap, A 3241.
vouche-sauf, to vouchsafe, A 812;
pr. pi. A 807.
voyden, to remove, put away, F
188.
voydith, imp. pi. send away, dis-
miss, G 1 1 36.
waget, watchet, pale or light blue
cloth, A 3321.
waited after, watched for, looked
out for, A 525.
wake-pleyes, wake-plays, plays or
games connected wdth a lich-
wake, or corpse-watch, A 2960.
walketh, imp. pi. walk, G 1207.
wan, pt. s. won, A 442, B 3864, F
662, 664.
wantowne, wanton, free, unre-
strained, sportive, A 208.
wantownesse, wantonness, A 264.
wanye, to wane, decrease, A
2078.
war, aware, A 157; wary, pru-
dent, A 309.
war, subj. pr. ; war him of, let him
beware of, A 662.
warne, pr. i s. notify, G 614.
warned, pt. s. notified, informed,
G590.
warnyng, information in advance,
G593.
waste! breed, cake bread, A 147.
wateryng, watering-place, A 826.
wawes, waves, A 1958.
T
waymentynge, wailing, lamenta-
tion, A 1921.
wayted, pt. s. watched, A 571, F
129.
wayten, to watch, F 444; pr. pi.
F88.
webbe, weaver, A 362.
weder, w^eather, B 873, F 52.
weel, adv. well, A 96.
weene, to suppose, G 1088.
weep, pt. s. wept, A 2345, 2878,
B 1052, 1059, F 496.
weex, pt. s. waxed, became, B
3868.
wele, weal, happiness, A 1272,
2673, 3101; good fortune, wel-
fare, C 115.
welked, pp. withered, C 738.
welle, spring, fountain, source, A
3037, F 505.
wem, spot, blemish; harm, hurt,
F 121.
wend, pp. weened, supposed, F
510.
wende, to go, pass away, A 3025 ;
pr. pi. F 296.
wende, pt. s. weened, supposed,
A 1269, C 782; pt. pi. F 198.
wene, to ween, suppose, A 1655.
wenen, to ween, suppose, G 676.
went, pp. gone, F 567.
wepen, pr. pi. weep, B 820.
were, to guard, defend, A 2550.
were, to wear, F 147; pt. pi. A
2948.
were, subj. pt. s. would be, G 606,
1043, 1374; might be, G 1038.
wered, pt. s. wore, A 564, 680,
1929, 2175; werede, A 3235.
werre, war, A 47, 2002.
werreyed, pt. s. warred upon, or
against, F 10.
274
GLOSSARY
wers, worse, A 3872.
werte, wart, A 555.
wery, weary, B 107 1.
wex, n. wax, A 675.
wexe, to wax, grow, become, G
837, 1 1 22; subj. pr. I s. G
mi-
wexen, to wax, grow, become, G
877; pr. pi. G 869, 1095.
wexeth, pr. s. waxeth, groweth,
A 3024.
wexing, waxing, increasing, A
2078.
wey, way, A 1263.
weyed, pt. s. weighed, G 1298.
weylaway, interj. welaway, well-
a-day, corruptions of A.S. wa-
lawa, woe ! lo ! woe ! alas ! B
632, 4570.
wezele, weasel, A 3234.
what, somewhat, partly, F 54,
397-
what, why, A 184, B 56, 4236, G
754.
what, used as an exclamation, A
854.
what so, whatsoever, F 157.
what that, whatever, C 28.
whelkes, pimples, blotches, A 632.
whelp, dog, F 491; pi. whelpes,
B 4122.
wher, whether, A iioi, F 579.
wher as, where that, A 11 13 B,
1131,4089,4178.
where, whether, C 748.
where as, where that, C 36, 466,
G 659.
which, what like, what kind of, A
2675, G 731; pi. whiche, A 40,
F30.
whil-eer, a while ago, G 1328.
whilom, formerly, once on a time,
in times past, A 795, 4365, B
4175,0463.
whippeltre, cornel tree, A 2923.
whit, white, A 564.
wif, wife, woman; good wif, good
wife, mistress of a household, A
445; good, in this combination,
is a noun, in the sense of prop-
erty; so, too, in goodman.
wifhede, wifehood, B 76.
wight, person, A 326, 537, 2485,
3937, B656, 41 15.
wighte, weight, A 2145, 2520.
wikke, wicked, malign, A 1087,
B 1028, 4613, C 88.
wilneth, willeth, A 2564.
wise, manner, B 3890.
wisly, surely, truly, B 1061, F 469.
wist, pp. known, B 1072.
wiste, pt. s. knew, A 224, 228,
280, 595, 711, B 1049, F565, G
1074.
wit, reason, understanding, G
1300.
wite, to know, G 621, 1333; pr.
pi. G 906.
wite, n. blame, G 953.
witen, pr. pi. know, A 1260.
with, by or through, by means of,
A 705, 2018, 2022, 2724, 440*,
B3101; along with, D 1 164.
withdraweth, imp. pi. withdraw,
G 1423.
withholde, pp. withheld, A 511.
See note.
withseye, to withsay, oppose, A
805.
wittes, wits, minds, F 203.
wo, woful, sorrowful, A 351.
wode, wood, G 809.
wodebynde, woodbine, A 1507.
wol, will, A 42.
GLOSSARY
275
wolde, would, wished, A 276, B698.
wolle, wool, A 3249.
wolt, wilt, A 1624.
wonder, adv. wondrously, A 483,
1654, 2903, B 4058, G 629, 751,
1035, 1 106, 1323.
wonder, adj. wondrous, wonder-
ful, B 1045, C 891, F 248.
wonderly, wonderfully, A 84.
wondre, to wonder, G 603.
wone, n. wont, custom, usage, A
335, 1040, 1064.
wonedon, pt. pi. dwelt, lived, A
2927.
wonned, pp. dwelt, B 4406.
wont, pp. accustomed, A 2932.
wonyng, dwelling, A 606.
wonynge, dwelling, A 388.
wood, mad, A 184, 582,636, 1656,
1659, 2042, 2631, 2950, G 576,
869, 1377-
woodnesse, madness, A 201 1.
woost, knowest, A 2301, 2307, C
810, 824, G 653.
WOOt, pr. I and 3 s. know, knows,
A 389, 659, 1262, B 93, 1021,
4396,0278, 817.
wopen, pp. wept, F 523.
word, a corruption of ord, in the
phrase ord and ende, begin-
ning and end, B 391 1.
worshipe, worthship, honour, dig-
• nity, F 571, G 632.
wortes, worts, herbs, B 441 1,
4464.
worthy, * of high rank ' ? — Lonns-
bury ; A 68 ; having means and
a good social standing, A 243,
459.
wostow, knowest thou, A 2304.
woxen, pp. waxed, grown, become,
C71.
wrastleth, wrestleth, A 2961.
wrastlynge, wresthng, A 548.
wrecche, wretched, A 1106.
wreche,n. wreak, vengeance,B679.
wrek, imp. s. wreak, avenge, B
3095-
wreke, to wreak, avenge, C 857,
1173-
wrenches, crooked ways, deceits,
impositions, G 1081.
wrethe, wreath, A 2145.
wrighte, wright, workman, A 614.
write, pp. written, A 161.
writen, pt. pi. wrote, F 233, 551.
writeth, witnesseth, A 3869.
writhyng, turning, F 127.
wroghte, pt. s. wrought, A 497.
wroot, pt. s. wrote, B 725.
wrooth, wroth, angry, A 451.
wydwe, widow, A 253, B 401 1.
wylugh, willow, A 2922.
wympul, wimple, a nun's head
and neck cloth, A 151. See
illustration in Webster and in
The Century Dictionary.
wyndas, windlass, F 184.
wynke, to wink, nod, Y 348.
Wynne, to win, conquer, A 594,
713, F 214.
wynsynge, winsome, cheerful,
merry, lively, A 3263.
wyst, pp. known, F 260.
wyves, wives, A 374.
y-, a relic of the A.S. prefix, ge-,
used chiefly with past participles,
sometimes with the infinitive.
y-bete, beaten; newe y-bete,
newly forged, A 2162.
y-beten, pp. beaten, F 414.
y-bore, pp. borne, carried, A 378,
2694.
276
GLOSSARY
y-bore, pp. born ; his owene y-bore
brother, C 704.
y-broght, pp. brought, A iiii.
y-clenched, clinched; y-clenched
overthwart and endelong,
' clamped across and length-
ways,' A 1 99 1.
y-cleped, pp. called, named, A
376, 410.
y-corve, pp. cut, A 2013.
y-coyned, pp. coined, C 770.
y-do, pp. done, A 2534; ended,
at an end, G 739.
y-drawe, pp. drawn, G 1440.
y-dropped, pp. bedropped, be-
dewed, A 2884.
ye, yea, G 599.
yeddynges, songs, A 237.
yede, pt. s. yode, went, G 1141,
1 281.
yeerd, yard, B 4187.
yeldynge, yielding, produce, A
596.
yelewe, yellow, A 1929, 2 141.
yeman, yeoman, commoner, feu-
dal retainer, A loi.
yemanly, in true yeomanlike fash-
ion, A 106.
yemen, yeomen, A 2509, 2728.
yerde, yard, stick, rod, A 149.
yeris, years, A 3869.
yerne, eager, brisk, A 3257.
yet, in addition, besides, moreover,
A 201 1, 2017, G 622, 734.
y-falle, pp. fallen, A 25.
y-fallen, pp. happened, G 1043.
y-fet, pp. fetched, F 174, G
1 1 16.
y-finde, to find, F 470.
y-forged newe, newly coined, A
3256.
y-fostred, pp. brought up, A 3946.
y-glewed, pp. glued, F 182.
y-go, pp. gone, A 286.
y-harded, pp. hardened, F 245.
y-hent, pp. taken, seized, C 868.
y-holde, pp. held, A 2958.
y-kempd, pp. combed, A 4369.
y-knowe, pp. known, A 423.
y-lad, pp. drawn, A 530.
y-laft, pp. left, A 3862.
yle, isle, B 68.
y-liche, adv. alike, A 2526, F 20,
G 1202.
ylike, adv. alike, G 850.
y-lyk, adj. like, A 592.
y-maad, pp. made, B 693.
ymages, images, astrological fig-
ures, A 418.
y-meynd, pp. mingled, mixed, A
2170.
ynogh, enough, A 373, B 872,
3172-
y-norissed, pp. nourished, nurt-
ured, A 3948.
ynow, enough, G 945; pi. ynowe,
F 470.
yolden, pp. yielded, A 3052.
yolle, pr. pi. yell, A 2672.
yolleden, pt. pi. yelled, B 4579.
yoore, long ago, for a long time,
A 3897, C 69, F 403.
yore agon, a long time ago, A
1941.
youre, yours, G 1248.
yow, refl. yourself, A 1105.
y-piked, pp. picked, picked over,
culled, G 941.
y-preved, pp. proved, A 485.
y-puUed, pp. plucked, A 3245.
y-purfiled, embroidered, trimmed,
A 192.
y-raft, pp. seized, plundered, A
201 :;.
GLOSSARY
277
y-reke, pp. raked 01 heaped to-
gether, collected, A 3882.
y-rent, pp. rent, torn, crucified,
B 844.
y-ronne, pp. run, A 8; arranged,
A 2165.
y-ronnen, pp. run, A 2693.
y-sene, pp. seen, A 592.
y-shryve, pp. shriven, A 226.
y-slawe, pp. slain, slaughtered, C
856.
y-spreynd, pp. sprinkled, A 2169.
y-storve, pp. dead, A 2014.
y-take, pp. taken, A 2617.
y-teyd, pp. tied, A 457.
yvele, evilly, G 921, 1049, 1225.
y-wis, truly, indeed, B 4389, 4632,
G689, 1 107, 1359, 1363.
y-wonne, pp. won, A 2659.
y-wroght, pp. wrought, A 196.
y-wrye, pp. covered, A 2904.
y-wympled, pp. wimpled, wearing
a wimple, A 470.
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