CHAUCER, GEOFFREY THE CANTERBURY TALES THE GENERAL PROLOGUE unspecified: Original Text Reference. Composition Date: 1387?. Publication Date: early 15th c.. Ed. (text): N. J. Endicott; (e-text): I. Lancashire. Rep. Poetry: 2RP.1.18. Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury 1 Whan that Aprille with his shour{.e}s soot{e.} 2 The droghte of March hath perc{.e}d to the root{e.}, 3 And bath{.e}d every veyne in swich licóur 4 Of which vertú engendr{.e}d is the flour; 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his swet{.e} breeth 6 Inspir{.e}d hath in every holt and heeth 7 The tendr{.e} cropp{.e}s, and the yong{.e} sonn{.e} 8 Hath in the Ram his half{.e} cours y-ronn{.e}, 9 And smal{.e} fowel{.e}s maken melody{.e}, 10 That slepen al the nyght with open y{.e}, 11 So priketh hem Natúre in hir corag{.e}s, 12 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimag{.e}s, 13 And palmeres for to seken straung{.e} strond{.e}s, 14 To fern{.e} halw{.e}s, kowthe in sondry lond{.e}s; 15 And specially, from every shir{.e}s end{.e} 16 Of Eng{.e}lond, to Caunterbury they wend{.e}, 17 The hooly blisful martir for to sek{.e}, 18 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seek{.e}. 19 Bifil that in that seson on a day, 20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay, 21 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymag{.e} 22 To Caunterbury with ful devout corag{.e}, 23 At nyght were come into that hostelry{.e} 24 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaigny{.e} 25 Of sondry folk, by áventure y-fall{.e} 26 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they all{.e}, 27 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryd{.e}. 28 The chambr{.e}s and the stabl{.e}s weren wyd{.e}, 29 And wel we weren es{.e}d att{.e} best{.e}. 30 And shortly, whan the sonn{.e} was to rest{.e}, 31 So hadde I spoken with hem everychon, 32 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, 33 And mad{.e} forward erly for to rys{.e}, 34 To take oure wey, ther as I yow devys{.e}. 35 But nath{.e}lees, whil I have tyme and spac{.e}, 36 Er that I ferther in this tal{.e} pac{.e}, 37 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun 38 To tell{.e} yow al the condicioun 39 Of ech of hem, so as it sem{.e}d me, 40 And whiche they weren and of what degree, 41 And eek in what array that they were inn{.e}; 42 And at a Knyght than wol I first bigynn{.e}. 43 A Knyght ther was, and that a worthy man, 44 That fro the tym{.e} that he first bigan 45 To riden out, he lov{.e}d chivalri{.e}, 46 Trouthe and honóur, fredom and curteisi{.e}. 47 Ful worthy was he in his lord{.e}s werr{.e}, 48 And thereto hadde he riden, no man ferr{.e}, 49 As wel in cristendom as in heth{.e}ness{.e}, 50 And evere honóur{.e}d for his worthyness{.e}. 51 At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonn{.e}; 52 Ful oft{.e} tyme he hadde the bord bigonn{.e} 53 Aboven all{.e} nac{.i}ons in Pruc{.e}. 54 In Lettow hadde he reys{.e}d and in Ruc{.e},-- 55 No cristen man so ofte of his degree. 56 In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be 57 Of Algezir, and riden in Belmary{.e}. 58 At Lyeys was he, and at Sataly{.e}, 59 Whan they were wonne; and in the Gret{.e} See 60 At many a noble armee hadde he be. 61 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiften{.e}, 62 And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssen{.e} 63 In lyst{.e} thri{.e}s, and ay slayn his foo. 64 This ilk{.e} worthy knyght hadde been also 65 Somtym{.e} with the lord of Palaty{.e} 66 Agayn another hethen in Turky{.e}; 67 And evermoore he hadde a sovereyn prys. 68 And though that he were worthy, he was wys, 69 And of his port as meeke as is a mayd{.e}. 70 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayd{.e}, 71 In al his lyf, unto no maner wight. 72 He was a verray, parfit, gentil knyght. 73 But for to tellen yow of his array, 74 His hors weren good{.e}, but he was nat gay; 75 Of fustian he wer{.e}d a gypon 76 Al bismóter{.e}d with his habergeon; 77 For he was late y-come from his viag{.e}, 78 And went{.e} for to doon his pilgrymag{.e}. 79 With hym ther was his sone, a yong Squiér, 80 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, 81 With lokk{.e}s crulle as they were leyd in press{.e}. 82 Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gess{.e}. 83 Of his statúre he was of evene length{.e}, 84 And wonderly delyvere and of greet strength{.e}. 85 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachi{.e} 86 In Flaundr{.e}s, in Artoys, and Pycardi{.e}, 87 And born hym weel, as of so litel spac{.e}, 88 In hope to stonden in his lady grac{.e}. 89 Embrouded was he, as it were a meed{.e} 90 Al ful of fressh{.e} flour{.e}s whyte and reed{.e}. 91 Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day; 92 He was as fressh as is the month of May. 93 Short was his gowne, with slev{.e}s longe and wyd{.e}; 94 Wel koude he sitte on hors and fair{.e} ryd{.e}; 95 He koud{.e} song{.e}s make and wel endit{.e}, 96 Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and writ{.e}. 97 So hoote he lov{.e}de that by nyghtertal{.e} 98 He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngal{.e}. 99 Curteis he was, lowely and servysábl{.e}, 100 And carf biforn his fader at the tabl{.e}. 101 A Yeman hadde he and servántz namo 102 At that tyme, for hym list{.e} rid{.e} soo; 103 And he was clad in cote and hood of gren{.e}. 104 A sheef of pecock arw{.e}s bright and ken{.e}, 105 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily-- 106 Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly; 107 His arw{.e}s droup{.e}d noght with fether{.e}s low{.e}-- 108 And in his hand he baar a myghty bow{.e}. 109 A not-heed hadde he, with a broun viság{.e}. 110 Of wood{.e}craft wel koude he al the uság{.e}. 111 Upon his arm he baar a gay bracér, 112 And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, 113 And on that oother syde a gay dagger{.e}, 114 Harneis{.e}d wel and sharp as point of sper{.e}; 115 A Cristophere on his brest of silver sheen{.e}. 116 An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of gren{.e}. 117 A forster was he, soothly as I gess{.e}. 118 Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioress{.e}, 119 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy; 120 Hire gretteste ooth was but by seint{.e} Loy, 121 And she was clep{.e}d madame Eglentyn{.e}. 122 Ful weel she soong the servic{.e} dyvyn{.e}, 123 Entun{.e}d in hir nose ful sem{.e}ly; 124 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, 125 After the scole of Stratford att{.e} Bow{.e}, 126 For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknow{.e}. 127 At met{.e} wel y-taught was she with-all{.e}: 128 She leet no morsel from hir lipp{.e}s fall{.e}, 129 Ne wette hir fyngr{.e}s in hir sauc{.e} dep{.e}. 130 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kep{.e} 131 Thát no drope ne fille upon hire brist; 132 In curteisie was set ful muchel hir list. 133 Hire over-lipp{.e} wyp{.e}d she so clen{.e} 134 That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sen{.e} 135 Of grec{.e}, whan she dronken hadde hir draught{.e}. 136 Ful sem{.e}ly after hir mete she raught{.e}. 137 And sikerly she was of greet desport, 138 And ful plesáunt and amyable of port, 139 And peyn{.e}d hire to countrefet{.e} cheer{.e} 140 Of court, and been estatlich of maner{.e}, 141 And to ben holden digne of reverenc{.e}. 142 But for to speken of hire consc{.i}enc{.e}, 143 She was so charitable and so pitous 144 She wold{.e} wepe if that she saugh a mous 145 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledd{.e}. 146 Of smal{.e} hound{.e}s hadde she, that she fedd{.e} 147 With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel breed; 148 But soor{.e} wepte she if oon of hem were deed, 149 Or if men smoot it with a yerd{.e} smert{.e}; 150 And al was consc{.i}ence and tendr{.e} hert{.e}. 151 Ful semyly hir wympul pynch{.e}d was; 152 Hire nose tretys, her eyen greye as glas, 153 Hir mouth ful smal and ther-to softe and reed; 154 But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; 155 It was almoost a spann{.e} brood, I trow{.e}; 156 For, hardily, she was nat undergrow{.e}. 157 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war; 158 Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar 159 A peire of bed{.e}s, gauded al with gren{.e}, 160 And ther-on heng a brooch of gold ful sheen{.e}, 161 On which ther was first write a crown{.e}d A, 162 And after, Amor vincit omnia. 163 Another Nonn{.e} with hire hadd{.e} she, 164 That was hire chap{.e}leyne, and Preest{.e}s thre. 165 A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistri{.e}, 166 An outridere, that lov{.e}de veneri{.e}; 167 A manly man, to been an abbot abl{.e}. 168 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stabl{.e}; 169 And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heer{.e} 170 Gŭnglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleer{.e}, 171 And eek as loude, as dooth the chapel bell{.e}, 172 Ther as this lord was kepere of the cell{.e}. 173 The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit, 174 By-cause that it was old and som-del streit,-- 175 This ilk{.e} Monk leet old{.e} thyng{.e}s pac{.e}, 176 And heeld after the new{.e} world the spac{.e}. 177 He yaf nat of that text a pull{.e}d hen 178 That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men, 179 Ne that a monk, whan he is recch{.e}lees, 180 Is likn{.e}d til a fissh that is waterlees,-- 181 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystr{.e}. 182 But thilk{.e} text heeld he nat worth an oystr{.e}; 183 And I seyde his opinioun was good. 184 What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood, 185 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to pour{.e}, 186 Or swynken with his hand{.e}s and labóur{.e}, 187 As Austyn bit? How shal the world be serv{.e}d? 188 Lat Austyn have his swynk to him reserv{.e}d. 189 Therfore he was a prikasour aright: 190 Grehoundes he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight; 191 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the har{.e} 192 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spar{.e}. 193 I seigh his sleves y-púrfiled at the hond 194 With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond; 195 And for to festne his hood under his chyn 196 He hadde of gold y-wroght a curious pyn; 197 A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was. 198 His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, 199 And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt. 200 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt; 201 His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed, 202 That stem{.e}d as a forneys of a leed; 203 His boot{.e}s souple, his hors in greet estaat. 204 Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat. 205 He was nat pale, as a forpyn{.e}d goost: 206 A fat swan loved he best of any roost. 207 His palfrey was as broun as is a bery{.e}. 208 A Frere ther was, a wantowne and a mery{.e}, 209 A lymytour, a ful solémpn{.e} man. 210 In all{.e} the ordr{.e}s foure is noon that kan 211 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langag{.e}. 212 He hadd{.e} maad ful many a mar{.i}ag{.e} 213 Of yong{.e} wommen at his owen{.e} cost. 214 Unto his ordre he was a nobl{.e} post. 215 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 216 With frankeleyns over al in his contree, 217 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun; 218 For he hadde power of confess{.i}oun, 219 As seyde hym-self, moor{.e} than a curát, 220 For of his ordre he was licenciat. 221 Ful swet{.e}ly herde he confess{.i}oun, 222 And plesaunt was his absoluc{.i}oun. 223 He was an esy man to yeve penaunc{.e} 224 There as he wiste to have a good pitaunc{.e}; 225 For unto a povre ordr{.e} for to yiv{.e} 226 Is sign{.e} that a man is wel y-shryv{.e}; 227 For, if he yaf, he dorst{.e} make avaunt 228 He wiste that a man was répentaunt; 229 For many a man so hard is of his hert{.e} 230 He may nat wepe al-thogh hym soor{.e} smert{.e}. 231 Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyér{.e}s 232 Men moote yeve silver to the povr{.e} frer{.e}s. 233 His typet was ay fars{.e}d full of knyv{.e}s 234 And pynn{.e}s, for to yeven fair{.e} wyv{.e}s. 235 And certeinly he hadde a murye not{.e}: 236 Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rot{.e}; 237 Of yeddynges he baar outr{.e}ly the pris. 238 His nekk{.e} whit was as the flour-de-lys; 239 Ther-to he strong was as a champioun. 240 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun, 241 And everich hostiler and tappester{.e} 242 Bet than a lazar or a beggester{.e}; 243 For unto swich a worthy man as he 244 Acorded nat, as by his facultee, 245 To have with sik{.e} lazars aqueyntaunc{.e}; 246 It is nat honest, it may nat avaunc{.e} 247 Fór to deelen with no swich poraill{.e}, 248 But al with riche and selleres of vitaill{.e}. 249 And over-al, ther as profit sholde aris{.e}, 250 Curteis he was and lowely of servys{.e}. 251 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. 252 He was the best{.e} beggere in his hous; 253 [And yaf a certeyn ferm{.e} for the graunt, 254 Noon of his brethren cam ther in his haunt;] 255 For thogh a wydw{.e} hadd{.e} noght a sho, 256 So plesaunt was his In principio, 257 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng er he went{.e}: 258 His purchas was wel bettr{.e} than his rent{.e}. 259 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp{.e}. 260 In lov{.e}-dayes ther koude he muchel help{.e}, 261 For there he was nat lyk a cloysterer 262 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scolér, 263 But he was lyk a maister, or a pop{.e}; 264 Of doubl{.e} worstede was his semycop{.e}, 265 That rounded as a belle, out of the press{.e}. 266 Somwhat he lips{.e}d for his wantowness{.e}, 267 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tong{.e}; 268 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe, 269 His eyen twynkl{.e}d in his heed aryght 270 As doon the sterr{.e}s in the frosty nyght. 271 This worthy lymytour was cleped Hubérd. 272 A Marchant was ther with a fork{.e}d berd, 273 In mott{.e}leye, and hye on horse he sat; 274 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bevere hat; 275 His boot{.e}s clasp{.e}d faire and fetisly. 276 His resons he spak ful solémpn{.e}ly, 277 Sownynge alway thencrees of his wynnyng. 278 He wolde the see were kept for any thing 279 Bitwix{.e} Middelburgh and Or{.e}well{.e}. 280 Wel koude he in eschaung{.e} sheeld{.e}s sell{.e}. 281 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisett{.e}; 282 Ther wist{.e} no wight that he was in dett{.e}, 283 So estatly was he of his gouvernaunc{.e}, 284 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunc{.e}. 285 For sothe he was a worthy man with-all{.e}, 286 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym call{.e}. 287 A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also, 288 That unto logyk hadd{.e} longe y-go. 289 As leen{.e} was his hors as is a rak{.e}, 290 And he nas nat right fat, I undertak{.e}, 291 But look{.e}d holwe, and ther-to sobr{.e}ly. 292 Ful thredbare was his overeste court{.e}py; 293 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefic{.e}, 294 Ne was so worldly for to have offic{.e}; 295 For hym was lévere háve at his bedd{.e}s heed 296 Twénty book{.e}s, clad in blak or reed, 297 Of Aristotle and his philosophi{.e}, 298 Than rob{.e}s riche, or fíthele, or gay sautri{.e}. 299 But al be that he was a philosophr{.e}, 300 Yet hadd{.e} he but litel gold in cofr{.e}; 301 But al that he myghte of his freend{.e}s hent{.e} 302 On book{.e}s and on lernynge he it spent{.e}, 303 And bisily gan for the soul{.e}s prey{.e} 304 Of hem that yaf hym wher-with to scoley{.e}. 305 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heed{.e}. 306 Noght o word spak he moor{.e} than was need{.e}; 307 And that was seyd in forme and reverenc{.e}, 308 And short and quyk and ful of hy senténc{.e}. 309 Sownynge in moral vertu was his spech{.e}; 310 And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly tech{.e}. 311 A Sergeant of the Law{.e}, war and wys, 312 That often hadd{.e} been at the Parvys, 313 Ther was also, ful riche of excellenc{.e}. 314 Discreet he was, and of greet reverenc{.e}-- 315 He sem{.e}d swich, his word{.e}s weren so wis{.e}. 316 Justice he was ful often in assis{.e}, 317 By patente, and by pleyn commiss{.i}oun. 318 For his science and for his heigh renoun, 319 Of fees and rob{.e}s hadde he many oon. 320 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon: 321 Al was fee symple to hym in effect; 322 His purchasyng myght{.e} nat been infect. 323 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, 324 And yet he sem{.e}d bisier than he was. 325 In term{.e}s hadde he caas and doom{.e}s all{.e} 326 That from the tyme of kyng William were fall{.e}. 327 Ther-to he koude endite and make a thyng, 328 Ther koud{.e} no wight pynche at his writyng; 329 And every statut koude he pleyn by rot{.e}. 330 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cot{.e}, 331 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barr{.e}s smal{.e}; 332 Of his array telle I no lenger tal{.e}. 333 A Frank{.e}leyn was in his compaigny{.e}. 334 Whit was his berd as is the day{.e}sy{.e}; 335 Of his complex{.i}oun he was sangwyn. 336 Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn; 337 To lyven in delit was evere his won{.e}, 338 For he was Epicurus owen{.e} son{.e}, 339 That heeld opin{.i}oun that pleyn delit 340 Was verraily felicitee parfit. 341 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; 342 Seint Julian he was in his contree. 343 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; 344 A bettre envyn{.e}d man was nowher noon. 345 Without{.e} bak{.e} mete was nevere his hous, 346 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plent{.e}vous, 347 It snew{.e}d in his hous of mete and drynk{.e}, 348 Of all{.e} deyntees that men koud{.e} thynk{.e}, 349 After the sondry sesons of the yeer; 350 So chaung{.e}d he his mete and his soper. 351 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muw{.e}, 352 And many a breem and many a luce in stuw{.e}. 353 Wo was his cook but if his sauc{.e} wer{.e} 354 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geer{.e}. 355 His table dormant in his halle alway 356 Stood redy cover{.e}d al the long{.e} day. 357 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sir{.e}; 358 Ful oft{.e} tyme he was knyght of the shir{.e}. 359 An anlaas, and a gipser al of silk, 360 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morn{.e} milk. 361 A shirreve hadde he been, and a countour; 362 Was nowher such a worthy vavasour. 363 An Haberdasshere, and a Carpenter, 364 A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapycer,-- 365 And they were cloth{.e}d alle in o lyveree 366 Of a solémpne and a greet fraternitee. 367 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apik{.e}d was; 368 Hir knyv{.e}s wer{.e} chap{.e}d noght with bras, 369 But al with silver; wroght ful clene and weel 370 Hire girdl{.e}s and hir pouch{.e}s everydeel. 371 Wel sem{.e}d ech of hem a fair burgeys 372 To sitten in a yeldehalle, on a deys. 373 Éverich, for the wisdom that he kan, 374 Was shaply for to been an alderman; 375 For catel hadd{.e} they ynogh and rent{.e}, 376 And eek hir wyv{.e}s wolde it wel assent{.e}, 377 And ell{.e}s certeyn wer{.e} they to blam{.e}. 378 It is ful fair to been y-cleped Madam{.e}, 379 And goon to vigili{.e}s al bifor{.e}, 380 And have a mantel roialliche y-bor{.e}. 381 A Cook they hadd{.e} with hem for the non{.e}s, 382 To boille the chikn{.e}s with the marybon{.e}s, 383 And poudr{.e}-marchant tart, and galyngal{.e}. 384 Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun al{.e}. 385 He koud{.e} rooste, and sethe, and broille, and fry{.e}, 386 Máken mortreux, and wel bake a py{.e}. 387 But greet harm was it, as it thought{.e} me, 388 That on his shyne a mormal hadd{.e} he; 389 For blankmanger, that made he with the best{.e}. 390 A Shipman was ther, wonynge fer by west{.e}; 391 For aught I woot he was of Dert{.e}mouthe. 392 He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouth{.e}, 393 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. 394 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he 395 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun. 396 The hoot{.e} somer hadde maad his hewe al broun; 397 And certeinly he was a good felaw{.e}. 398 Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he y-draw{.e} 399 Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep. 400 Of nyc{.e} consc{.i}ence took he no keep. 401 If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond, 402 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 403 But of his craft to rekene wel his tyd{.e}s, 404 His strem{.e}s, and his daungers hym bisid{.e}s, 405 His herberwe and his moone, his lode-menag{.e}, 406 Ther nas noon swich from Hull{.e} to Cartag{.e}. 407 Hardy he was and wys to undertak{.e}; 408 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shak{.e}. 409 He knew all{.e} the haven{.e}s, as they wer{.e}, 410 From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynyster{.e}, 411 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayn{.e}. 412 His barge y-clep{.e}d was the Maud{.e}layn{.e}. 413 With us ther was a Doctour of Phisik; 414 In all this world ne was ther noon hym lik, 415 To speke of phisik and of surgery{.e}; 416 For he was grounded in astronomy{.e}. 417 He kepte his pac{.i}ent a ful greet deel 418 In hour{.e}s, by his magyk natureel. 419 Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent 420 Of his ymáges for his pac{.i}ent. 421 He knew the cause of everich malady{.e}, 422 Were it of hoot, or cold, or moyste, or dry{.e}, 423 And where they engendred and of what humour. 424 He was a verray, parfit praktisour; 425 The cause y-knowe, and of his harm the root{.e}, 426 Anon he yaf the sik{.e} man his boot{.e}. 427 Ful redy hadde he his apothecari{.e}s 428 To sende him drogg{.e}s and his letuari{.e}s; 429 For ech of hem made oother for to wynn{.e}, 430 Hir frendshipe nas nat new{.e} to bigynn{.e}. 431 Wel knew he the old{.e} Esculapius, 432 And De{"y}scorides, and eek Rufus, 433 Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen, 434 Serapion, Razis, and Avycen, 435 Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn, 436 Bernard, and Gat{.e}sden, and Gilbertyn. 437 Of his diet{.e} mesurable was he, 438 For it was of no superfluitee, 439 But of greet norissyng and digestíbl{.e}. 440 His studie was but litel on the Bibl{.e}. 441 In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, 442 Lyn{.e}d with taffata and with sendal. 443 And yet he was but esy of dispenc{.e}; 444 He kept{.e} that he wan in pestilenc{.e}. 445 For gold in phisik is a cord{.i}al; 446 Therfore he lov{.e}de gold in spec{.i}al. 447 A Good Wif was ther of bisid{.e} Bath{.e}, 448 But she was som-del deef, and that was scath{.e}. 449 Of clooth-makyng she hadd{.e} swich an haunt 450 She pass{.e}d hem of Ypr{.e}s and of Gaunt. 451 In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon 452 That to the offrynge bifore hire shold{.e} goon; 453 And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she 454 That she was out of all{.e} charitee. 455 Hir coverchiefs ful fyn{.e} weren of ground; 456 I dorst{.e} swere they wey{.e}den ten pound 457 That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 458 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, 459 Ful streite y-teyd, and shoes ful moyste and new{.e}. 460 Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hew{.e}. 461 She was a worthy womman al hir lyv{.e}; 462 Housbondes at chirch{.e} dore she hadd{.e} fyv{.e}, 463 Withouten oother compaignye in youth{.e}; 464 But ther-of nedeth nat to speke as nowth{.e}. 465 And thri{.e}s hadde she been at Jérusalem; 466 She hadd{.e} pass{.e}d many a straung{.e} strem; 467 At Rome she hadd{.e} been, and at Boloign{.e}, 468 In Galice at Seint Jame, and at Coloign{.e}. 469 She koud{.e} muchel of wandrynge by the wey{.e}. 470 Gat-toth{.e}d was she, soothly for to sey{.e}. 471 Upon an amblere esily she sat, 472 Y-wympl{.e}d wel, and on hir heed an hat 473 As brood as is a bokeler or a targ{.e}; 474 A foot-mantel aboute hir hip{.e}s larg{.e}, 475 And on hire feet a paire of spor{.e}s sharp{.e}. 476 In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carp{.e}; 477 Of remedies of love she knew per chauncé, 478 For she koude of that art the old{.e} daunc{.e}. 479 A good man was ther of relig{.i}oun, 480 And was a povr{.e} Person of a Toun; 481 But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk. 482 He was also a lern{.e}d man, a clerk, 483 That Crist{.e}s Gospel trew{.e}ly wolde prech{.e}; 484 His parisshens devoutly wolde he tech{.e}. 485 Benygne he was, and wonder diligent, 486 And in adversitee ful pac{.i}ent; 487 And swich he was y-prev{.e}d oft{.e} sith{.e}s. 488 Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tith{.e}s, 489 But rather wolde he yeven, out of dout{.e}, 490 Unto his povr{.e} parisshens about{.e}, 491 Of his offrŭng and eek of his substaunc{.e}; 492 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunc{.e}. 493 Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder, 494 But he ne laft{.e} nat, for reyn ne thonder, 495 In siknesse nor in meschief to visít{.e} 496 The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lit{.e}, 497 Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. 498 This noble ensampl{.e} to his sheep he yaf, 499 That first he wroghte and afterward he taught{.e}. 500 Out of the gospel he tho word{.e}s caught{.e}; 501 And this figure he added eek therto, 502 That if gold rust{.e}, what shal iren doo? 503 For if a preest be foul, on whom we trust{.e}, 504 No wonder is a lew{.e}d man to rust{.e}; 505 And shame it is, if a prest tak{.e} keep, 506 A shiten shepherde and a clen{.e} sheep. 507 Wel oghte a preest ensampl{.e} for to yiv{.e} 508 By his clennesse how that his sheep sholde lyv{.e}. 509 He sett{.e} nat his benefice to hyr{.e} 510 And leet his sheep encombr{.e}d in the myr{.e}, 511 And ran to Londoun, unto Seint{.e} Poul{.e}s, 512 To seken hym a chaunterie for soul{.e}s, 513 Or with a bretherhed to been withhold{.e}; 514 But dwelte at hoom and kept{.e} wel his fold{.e}, 515 So that the wolf ne made it nat myscari{.e}; 516 He was a shepherde, and noght a mercenari{.e}. 517 And though he hooly were and vertuous, 518 He was to synful man nat despitous, 519 Ne of his spech{.e} daungerous ne dign{.e}, 520 But in his techyng díscreet and benygn{.e}. 521 To drawen folk to hevene by fairness{.e}, 522 By good ensample, this was his bisyness{.e}. 523 But it were any persone obstinat, 524 What so he were, of heigh or lough estat, 525 Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. 526 A bettr{.e} preest I trowe that nowher noon ys. 527 He waited after no pompe and reverenc{.e}, 528 Ne maked him a spic{.e}d conscienc{.e}; 529 But Crist{.e}s loore and his apostl{.e}s twelv{.e} 530 He taughte, but first he folw{.e}d it hymselv{.e}. 531 With hym ther was a Plowman, was his brother, 532 That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother; 533 A trew{.e} swynkere and a good was he, 534 Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee. 535 God loved he best, with al his hool{.e} hert{.e}, 536 At all{.e} tym{.e}s, thogh him gamed or smert{.e}. 537 And thanne his neigh{.e}bor right as hymselv{.e}. 538 He wold{.e} thresshe, and therto dyke and delv{.e}, 539 For Cristes sake, for every povr{.e} wight, 540 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght. 541 His tith{.e}s pay{.e}de he ful faire and wel, 542 Bothe of his propr{.e} swynk and his catel. 543 In a tabard he rood upon a mer{.e}. 544 Ther was also a Reve and a Miller{.e}, 545 A Somnour and a Pardoner also, 546 A Maunciple, and myself,--ther were namo. 547 The Millere was a stout carl for the non{.e}s; 548 Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bon{.e}s. 549 That prov{.e}d wel, for over-al, ther he cam, 550 At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram. 551 He was short-sholdr{.e}d, brood, a thikk{.e} knarr{.e}; 552 Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harr{.e}, 553 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. 554 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, 555 And therto brood, as though it were a spad{.e}. 556 Upon the cop right of his nose he had{.e} 557 A werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys, 558 Reed as the brustl{.e}s of a sow{.e}s erys; 559 His nos{.e}thirl{.e}s blak{.e} were and wyd{.e}. 560 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syd{.e}. 561 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys; 562 He was a janglere and a goliardeys, 563 And that was moost of synne and harlotri{.e}s. 564 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thri{.e}s; 565 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. 566 A whit cote and a blew hood wer{.e}d he. 567 A bagg{.e}pipe wel koude he blowe and sowne, 568 And therwithal he broghte us out of town{.e}. 569 A gentil Maunciple was ther of a templ{.e}, 570 Of which achátours myght{.e} take exempl{.e} 571 For to be wise in byynge of vitaill{.e}; 572 For, wheither that he payde or took by taill{.e}, 573 Algate he wayted so in his achaat 574 That he was ay biforn and in good staat. 575 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grac{.e}, 576 That swich a lew{.e}d mann{.e}s wit shal pac{.e} 577 The wisdom of an heep of lern{.e}d men? 578 Of maistr{.e}s hadde he mo than thri{.e}s ten, 579 That weren of lawe expert and curious, 580 Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous 581 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond 582 Of any lord that is in Eng{.e}lond, 583 To maken hym lyv{.e} by his propr{.e} good, 584 In honour dettelees, but if he were wood, 585 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desir{.e}; 586 And abl{.e} for to helpen al a shir{.e} 587 In any caas that myght{.e} falle or happ{.e}; 588 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller capp{.e} 589 The Rev{.e} was a sclendre colerik man. 590 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan; 591 His heer was by his erys round y-shorn; 592 His top was dokk{.e}d lyk a preest biforn. 593 Ful long{.e} were his legg{.e}s and ful len{.e}, 594 Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sen{.e}. 595 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynn{.e}; 596 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynn{.e}. 597 Wel wiste he, by the droghte and by the reyn, 598 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn. 599 His lord{.e}s sheep, his neet, his day{.e}ry{.e}, 600 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultry{.e}, 601 Was hoolly in this rev{.e}s governyng; 602 And by his covenant yaf the rekenyng 603 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of ag{.e}; 604 There koude no man brynge hym in arrerag{.e}. 605 There nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyn{.e}, 606 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyn{.e}; 607 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth. 608 His wonyng was ful fair upon an heeth; 609 With gren{.e} tre{.e}s shadw{.e}d was his plac{.e}. 610 He koud{.e} bettr{.e} than his lord purchac{.e}; 611 Ful riche he was a-stor{.e}d pryv{.e}ly. 612 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly, 613 To yeve and lene hym of his owen{.e} good, 614 And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood. 615 In youthe he hadd{.e} lerned a good myster; 616 He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. 617 This Rev{.e} sat upon a ful good stot, 618 That was al pomely grey, and hight{.e} Scot. 619 A long surcote of pers upon he had{.e}, 620 And by his syde he baar a rusty blad{.e}. 621 Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I tell{.e}, 622 Biside a toun men clepen Bald{.e}swell{.e}. 623 Tukk{.e}d he was as is a frere, about{.e}. 624 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure rout{.e}. 625 A Somonour was ther with us in that place, 626 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynn{.e}s fac{.e}, 627 For sawc{.e}fleem he was, with eyen narw{.e}. 628 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparw{.e}, 629 With scal{.e}d brow{.e}s blake and pil{.e}d berd,-- 630 Of his visag{.e} children were aferd. 631 Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon, 632 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartr{.e} noon, 633 Ne oyn{.e}ment that wold{.e} clense and byt{.e}, 634 That hym myghte helpen of his whelk{.e}s whit{.e}, 635 Nor of the knobb{.e}s sittynge on his chek{.e}s. 636 Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lek{.e}s, 637 And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood. 638 Thanne wolde he speke, and crie as he were wood. 639 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, 640 Than wolde he spek{.e} no word but Latyn. 641 A few{.e} term{.e}s hadde he, two or thre, 642 That he had lern{.e}d out of som decree,-- 643 No wonder is, he herde it al the day; 644 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay 645 Kan clepen "Watte" as wel as kan the pope. 646 But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, 647 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophi{.e}; 648 Ay "Questio quid juris" wolde he cri{.e}. 649 He was a gentil harlot and a kynd{.e}; 650 A bettr{.e} felawe sholde men noght fynde. 651 He wold{.e} suffr{.e} for a quart of wyn 652 A good felawe to have his concubyn 653 A twelf month, and excuse hym att{.e} full{.e}; 654 And priv{.e}ly a fynch eek koude he pulle. 655 And if he foond owher a good felaw{.e}, 656 He wold{.e} techen him to have noon awe, 657 In swich caas, of the erch{.e}deken{.e}s curs, 658 But if a mann{.e}s soule were in his purs; 659 For in his purs he sholde y-punysshed be: 660 "Purs is the erch{.e}deken{.e}s helle," seyde he. 661 But wel I woot he ly{.e}d right in ded{.e}. 662 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him dred{.e}, 663 For curs wol slee, right as assoillyng savith; 664 And also war him of a Significavit. 665 In daunger hadde he at his owen{.e} gise 666 The yong{.e} girl{.e}s of the diocis{.e}, 667 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. 668 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed, 669 As greet as it were for an al{.e}-stak{.e}; 670 A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cak{.e}. 671 With hym ther rood a gentil Pardoner 672 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer, 673 That streight was comen fro the court of Rom{.e}. 674 Ful loude he soong, "Com hider, lov{.e}, to me!" 675 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun; 676 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. 677 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, 678 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex; 679 By ounces henge his lokk{.e}s that he hadd{.e}, 680 And therwith he his shuldr{.e}s overspradd{.e}. 681 But thynne it lay, by colpons, oon and oon; 682 But hood, for jolitee, wer{.e}d he noon, 683 For it was truss{.e}d up in his walét. 684 Hym thoughte he rood al of the new{.e} jet; 685 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bar{.e}. 686 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an har{.e}. 687 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his capp{.e}. 688 His walet lay biforn hym in his lapp{.e}, 689 Bret-ful of pardoun, comen from Rome al hoot. 690 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. 691 No berd hadde he, ne nevere shold{.e} hav{.e}, 692 As smothe it was as it were late y-shav{.e}; 693 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mar{.e}. 694 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into War{.e}, 695 Ne was ther swich another pardoner; 696 For in his male he hadde a pilw{.e}-beer, 697 Which that, he seyd{.e}, was Oure Lady veyl; 698 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl 699 That Seint{.e} Peter hadde, whan that he went{.e} 700 Upon the see, til Jesu Crist hym hent{.e}. 701 He hadde a croys of latoun, ful of ston{.e}s, 702 And in a glas he hadd{.e} pigg{.e}s bon{.e}s. 703 But with thise relik{.e}s, whan that he fond 704 A povr{.e} person dwellynge upon lond, 705 Upon a day he gat hym moore money{.e} 706 Than that the person gat in month{.e}s twey{.e}; 707 And thus with feyn{.e}d flaterye and jap{.e}s 708 He made the person and the peple his ap{.e}s. 709 But trew{.e}ly to tellen att{.e} last{.e}, 710 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiast{.e}; 711 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a stori{.e}, 712 But alderbest he song an offertori{.e}; 713 For wel he wist{.e}, whan that song was song{.e}, 714 He moste preche, and wel affile his tong{.e} 715 To wynn{.e} silver, as he ful wel koud{.e}; 716 Therefore he song the murierly and loud{.e}. 717 Now have I toold you shortly, in a claus{.e}, 718 Thestaat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the caus{.e} 719 Why that assembl{.e}d was this compaigny{.e} 720 In Southwerk, at this gentil hostelry{.e} 721 That highte the Tabard, fast{.e} by the Bell{.e}. 722 But now is tym{.e} to yow for to tell{.e} 723 How that we baren us that ilk{.e} nyght, 724 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght; 725 And after wol I telle of our viag{.e} 726 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimag{.e}. 727 But first, I pray yow, of youre curteisy{.e}, 728 That ye narette it nat my vileyny{.e}, 729 Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateer{.e}, 730 To tell{.e} yow hir word{.e}s and hir cheer{.e}, 731 Ne thogh I speke hir word{.e}s propr{.e}ly. 732 For this ye knowen al-so wel as I, 733 Whoso shal telle a tale after a man, 734 He moot reherce, as ny as evere he kan, 735 Everich a word, if it be in his charg{.e}, 736 Al speke he never so rud{.e}liche and larg{.e}; 737 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrew{.e}, 738 Or feyn{.e} thyng, or fynd{.e} word{.e}s new{.e}. 739 He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother; 740 He moot as wel seye o word as another. 741 Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ, 742 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it. 743 Eek Plato seith, whoso kan hym red{.e}, 744 "The word{.e}s moote be cosyn to the ded{.e}." 745 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me, 746 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree 747 Heere in this tale, as that they shold{.e} stond{.e}; 748 My wit is short, ye may wel understond{.e}. 749 Greet chier{.e} made oure Hoost us everichon, 750 And to the soper sette he us anon, 751 And serv{.e}d us with vitaille at the best{.e}: 752 Strong was the wyn and wel to drynke us lest{.e}. 753 A semely man Oure Hoost{.e} was with-all{.e} 754 For to been a marchal in an hall{.e}. 755 A large man he was with eyen step{.e}, 756 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chep{.e}; 757 Boold of his speche, and wys, and well y-taught, 758 And of manhod hym lakk{.e}d{.e} right naught. 759 Eek thereto he was right a myrie man, 760 And after soper pleyen he bigan, 761 And spak of myrthe among{.e}s other{.e} thyng{.e}s, 762 Whan that we hadd{.e} maad our rekenyng{.e}s; 763 And seyd{.e} thus: "Now, lordynges, trew{.e}ly, 764 Ye been to me right welcome, hert{.e}ly; 765 For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat ly{.e}, 766 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaigny{.e} 767 At on{.e}s in this herberwe as is now. 768 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrth{.e}, wiste I how; 769 And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght, 770 To doon yow ese, and it shal cost{.e} noght. 771 "Ye goon to Canterbury--God yow speed{.e}, 772 The blisful martir quit{.e} yow youre meed{.e}! 773 And wel I woot, as ye goon by the wey{.e}, 774 Ye shapen yow to talen and to pley{.e}; 775 For trew{.e}ly confort ne myrthe is noon 776 To rid{.e} by the weye doumb as a stoon; 777 And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 778 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort. 779 And if you liketh alle, by oon assent, 780 For to stonden at my jugg{.e}ment, 781 And for to werken as I shal yow sey{.e}, 782 To-morw{.e}, whan ye riden by the wey{.e}, 783 Now, by my fader soul{.e}, that is deed, 784 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed! 785 Hoold up youre hond, withouten moor{.e} spech{.e}." 786 Oure conseil was nat long{.e} for to sech{.e}; 787 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 788 And graunted hym withouten moore avys, 789 And bad him seye his verdit, as hym lest{.e}. 790 "Lordynges," quod he, "now herkneth for the best{.e}; 791 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn; 792 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 793 That ech of yow, to short{.e} with oure wey{.e} 794 In this viage, shal tell{.e} tal{.e}s twey{.e}, 795 To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so, 796 And homward he shal tellen other{.e} two, 797 Of aventúres that whilom han bifall{.e}. 798 And which of yow that bereth hym beste of all{.e}, 799 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas 800 Tal{.e}s of best sentence and moost solaas, 801 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost, 802 Heere in this plac{.e}, sittynge by this post, 803 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury. 804 And, for to mak{.e} yow the moor{.e} mury, 805 I wol myselven gladly with yow ryd{.e}, 806 Right at myn owen{.e} cost, and be youre gyd{.e}; 807 And whoso wole my jugg{.e}ment withsey{.e} 808 Shal paye al that we spenden by the wey{.e}. 809 And if ye vouch{.e}-sauf that it be so, 810 Tel me anon, withouten word{.e}s mo, 811 And I wol erly shap{.e} me therfor{.e}." 812 This thyng was graunted, and oure oth{.e}s swor{.e} 813 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also 814 That he wolde vouch{.e}-sauf for to do so, 815 And that he wolde been oure governour, 816 And of our tal{.e}s juge and réportour, 817 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris; 818 And we wol reul{.e}d been at his devys 819 In heigh and lough; and thus, by oon assent, 820 We been acorded to his jugg{.e}ment. 821 And therupon the wyn was fet anon; 822 We dronken, and to rest{.e} wente echon, 823 Withouten any lenger taryyng{.e}. 824 Amorw{.e}, whan that day gan for to spryng{.e}, 825 Up roos oure Hoost and was oure aller cok, 826 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok; 827 And forth we riden, a litel moore than paas, 828 Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas; 829 And there oure Hoost bigan his hors arest{.e}, 830 And seyd{.e}, "Lordynges, herkneth, if yow lest{.e}: 831 Ye woot youre foreward and I it yow record{.e}. 832 If even-song and morw{.e}-song accord{.e}, 833 Lat se now who shal telle the first{.e} tal{.e}. 834 As ever mote I drynk{.e} wyn or al{.e}, 835 Whoso be rebel to my jugg{.e}ment 836 Shal paye for all that by the wey is spent. 837 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynn{.e}; 838 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynn{.e}. 839 Sire Knyght," quod he, "my mayster and my lord 840 Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord. 841 Cometh neer," quod he, "my lady Prioress{.e}. 842 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be your shamefastness{.e}, 843 Ne studieth noght. Ley hond to, every man." 844 Anon to drawen every wight bigan, 845 And, shortly for to tellen as it was, 846 Were it by áventúre, or sort, or cas, 847 The sothe is this, the cut fil to the Knyght, 848 Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght; 849 And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun, 850 By foreward and by composic{.i}oun, 851 As ye han herd; what nedeth word{.e}s mo? 852 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so, 853 As he that wys was and obedient 854 To kepe his foreward by his free assent, 855 He seyd{.e}, "Syn I shal bigynne the gam{.e}, 856 What, welcome be the cut, a Godd{.e}s name! 857 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I sey{.e}." 858 And with that word we ryden forth oure wey{.e}; 859 And he bigan with right a myrie cheer{.e} 860 His tale anon, and seyde in this manér{.e}. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE FROM THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer Copytext: Ruggiers 1979. Source: Nat. Lib. Wales Peniarth 392 Ed. (text): Ian Lancashire, Rep. Criticism On-line (1996). Assistants: Nancy Misener and Alex Bisset. Screen Design: Sian Meikle Editorial conventions. Indexes: [ by Poet | by First Line | by Date | by Keyword | Criticism on Poetry ] Related Materials: [ Encoding Guidelines | Preface | UT English Library ] Poetry and prose edited by members of the Department of English at the University of Toronto from 1912 to 1996 {{Folio 204r}} Here bigynneth the Shipmannes tale 1 A Marchant whilom / dwelled at Seint Denys 2 That riche was / for which men helde hym wys 3 A wyf he hadde / of excellent beautee 4 And compaignable / and reuelous was she 5 Which is a thyng/ that cau{s}eth moore di{s}pence 6 Than worth / is al the cheere and reuerence 7 That men hem doon / at fe{s}tes and at daunces 8 Swiche salutacions / and contenances 9 Pa{ss}en / as dooth a shadwe vp on the wal 10 But wo is hym / that payen moot for al 11 The sely hou{s}bonde / algate he moot paye 12 He moot vs clothe / and he moot vs arraye 13 Al for his owene wor{s}hip / richely 14 In which array / we dauncen iolily 15 And if |ŝt| he noght may / |per|auenture 16 Or ellis / li{s}t no swich di{s}pen{s}e endure 17 But thynketh / it is wa{s}ted and ylo{s}t/ 18 Thanne moot another / payen for oure co{s}t/ 19 Or lene vs gold / and that is |per|ilous 20 This noble Marchant/ heeld a worthy hous 21 ffor which / he hadde alday / {s}o greet repair 22 ffor his large{ss}e / and for his wyf was fair 23 That wonder is / but herkneth to my tale 24 Amonges alle hi{s}e ge{s}tes / grete and smale 25 Ther was a Monk/ a fair man and a bold 26 I trowe / a thritty wynter / he was old 27 That euere in oon / was drawyng/ to that place 28 This yonge Monk/ that was {s}o fair of face 29 Aqueynted was so / with the goode man 30 Sith that/ hir fir{s}te knewliche bigan 31 That in his hous / as famulier was he 32 As it is po{ss}ible / any freend to be 33 And for as muchel / as this goode man 34 And eek this Monk / of which |ŝt| I bigan 35 Were bothe two yborn / in o village 36 The Monk/ hym claymeth / as for co{s}ynage {{Folio 204v}} 37 And he agayn / he seith nat ones nay 38 But was as {`,}glad ther of / as fowel of day 39 ffor to his herte / it was a gret ple{s}ance 40 Thus been they knyt/ with eterne alliance 41 And ech of hem / gan oother/ for ta{ss}ure 42 Of bretherhede / whil |ŝt| hir lyf may dure 43 ffree was daun |Iohan| / and manly of di{s}pence 44 As in that hous / and ful of diligence 45 To doon ple{s}ance / and al{s}o greet co{s}tage 46 He nat forgat/ to yeue the lee{s}te page 47 In al that hous / but after hir degree 48 He yaf the lord / and sith al his meynee 49 Whan |ŝt| he cam / {s}om manere hone{s}te thyng/ 50 ffor which / they were as glad of his comyng/ 51 As fowel is fayn / whan |ŝt| the sonne vp ri{s}eth 52 Namoore of this as now / for it suffi{s}eth 53 But {s}o bifel / this Marchant/ on a day 54 Shoop hym / to make redy his array 55 Toward the town of Brugges / for to fare 56 To byen there / a porcion of ware 57 ffor which he hath / to Parys sent anon 58 A me{ss}ager / and preyed hath daun |Iohan| 59 That he sholde come / to Seint Denys and pleye 60 With hym / and with his wyf/ a day or tweye 61 Er he to Brugges wente / in alle wi{s}e 62 This noble Monk/ of which I yow deuy{s}e 63 Hath of his Abbot/ as hym li{s}t licence 64 By cau{s}e he was a man / of heigh prudence 65 And eek an Officer / out for to ryde 66 To {s}een hir granges / and hir bernes wyde 67 And vn to Seint Denys / he comth anon 68 Who was {s}o welcome / as my lord Daun |Iohan| 69 Oure deere co{s}yn / ful of curtei{s}ye 70 With hym broghte he / a Iubbe of Malue{s}ye 71 And eek another/ ful of fyn vernage 72 And volatil / as ay was his v{s}age 73 And thus I lete hem / ete and drynke and pleye 74 This Marchant/ and this Monk / a day or tweye 75 The thridde day / this Marchant vp ari{s}eth 76 And on his nedes / sadly hym auy{s}eth {{Folio 205r}} 77 And vp / in to his Countour hous goth he 78 To rekene with hym self / wel may be 79 Of thilke yeer / how |ŝt| it with hym {s}tood 80 And how |ŝt| he / de{s}pended hadde his good 81 And if that he / encre{ss}ed were or noon 82 Hi{s}e bokes / and his bagges / many oon 83 He leyth biforn hym / on his Countyng bord 84 fful riche was his tre{s}or / and his hord 85 ffor which ful fa{s}te / his Countour dore he shette 86 And eek he nolde / |ŝt| no man sholde hym lette 87 Of his acountes / for the mene tyme 88 And thus he sit / til it was pa{ss}ed |pri|me 89 Daun |Iohan| was ri{s}en / in the morwe al{s}o 90 And in the gardyns / walketh to and fro 91 And hath his thynges seyd / ful curtei{s}ly 92 This goode wyf / cam walkyng |pri|uely 93 In to the gardyn / ther he walketh softe 94 And hym salueth / as she hath doon ofte 95 A mayde child / cam in hir compaignye 96 Which as hir li{s}t/ she may gouerne and gye 97 ffor yet/ vnder the yerde was the mayde 98 O deere co{s}yn myn / Daun |Iohan| she sayde 99 What eyleth yow / so rathe for to ry{s}e 100 Nece quod he / it oghte ynow suffi{s}e 101 ffyue houres / for to slepe / vp on a nyght/ 102 But it were / for an old apalled wight/ 103 As been thi{s}e wedded men / |ŝt| lye and dare 104 As in a forme / sit a wery hare 105 Were al for{s}traught/ |with| houndes grete |&| smale 106 But deere Nece / why be ye so pale 107 I trowe |cer|tes / that oure goode man 108 Hath yow laboured / sith the nyght bigan 109 That yow were nede / to re{s}ten ha{s}tily 110 And with that word / he lough ful myrily 111 And of his owene thoght/ he weex al reed 112 This faire wyf / gan for to shake hir heed 113 And seyde thus / ye god woot al quod she 114 Nay co{s}yn myn / it stant nat {s}o with me 115 ffor by that god / that yaf me soule and lyf 116 In al the Reawme of ffrance / is ther no wyf {{Folio 205v}} 117 That la{ss}e lu{s}t hath / to that sory pley 118 ffor I may synge / allas and weilawey 119 That I was born / but to no wight/ quod she 120 Dar I nat telle / how |ŝt| it stant with me 121 Wher fore I thynke / out of this land to wende 122 Or ellis / of my self / to make an ende 123 So ful am I / of drede/ and eek of care 124 This Monk bigan / vp on this wyf to stare 125 And seyde / allas / my Nece god forbede 126 That ye / for any sorwe / or any drede 127 ffordo your self / but telleth me you|re| grief 128 |per|auenture / I may in youre me{s}chief/ 129 Con{s}eille / or helpe / and therfore telleth me 130 Al youre anoy / for it shal been secree 131 ffor on my Porthors / I make an oth 132 That ne|uer|e in my lif / for lief / or loth 133 Ne shal I / of no con{s}eil / yow biwreye 134 The same agayn to yow / quod she I seye 135 By god / and by this Porthors / I swere 136 Thogh men me wolde / al in to peces tere 137 Ne shal I ne|uer|e / for to gon to helle 138 Biwreye a word / of thyng |ŝt| ye me telle 139 Nat for no co{s}ynage / ne alliance 140 But verraily / for loue and affiance 141 Thus been they sworn / and her vp on they ke{s}te 142 And ech of hem / tolde oother what hem le{s}te 143 Co{s}yn quod she / if |ŝt| I hadde a space 144 As I haue noon / and namely in this place 145 Thanne wolde I telle / a legende of my lyf 146 What I haue suffred / sith I was a wyf 147 With myn hou{s}bonde / al be he youre co{s}yn 148 Nay quod this Monk/ by god and Seint Martin 149 He is namore / co{s}yn vn to me 150 Than is this leef/ |ŝt| hangeth on the tree 151 I clepe hym so / by Seint Denys of ffrance 152 To han / the moore cau{s}e of aqueyntance 153 Of yow / which I haue loued specially 154 Abouen alle wommen / sikerly 155 This swere I yow / on my |pro|fe{ss}io|un| 156 Telleth youre grief / le{s}t |ŝt| he come adoun {{Folio 206r}} 157 And ha{s}teth yow / and goth awey anon 158 My deere loue quod she / o my daun |Iohan| 159 fful lief were me / this con{s}eil for to hyde 160 But out it moot/ I may namoore abyde 161 Myn hou{s}bonde is to me / the wor{s}te man 162 That euere was / sith |ŝt| the world bigan 163 But sith I am a wyf / it sit nat me 164 To tellen no wight/ of oure |pri|uetee 165 Neither abedde / ne in noon oother place 166 God shilde / I sholde it tellen for his |gra|ce 167 A wyf ne shal nat seyn / of hir hou{s}bonde 168 But al honour / as I kan vnder{s}tonde 169 Saue vn to yow / thus muche I tellen shal 170 As help me god / he is noght worth at al 171 In on degree / the value of a flye 172 But yet/ me greueth moo{s}t his nygardye 173 And wel ye woot/ |ŝt| wommen naturelly A womman wolld haue 174 De{s}iren thynges .vj. as wel as I her hu{s}band, to be 175 They wolde / |ŝt| hir hou{s}bondes sholde be hardye, wy{s}e Ryche, No|ta| 176 Hardy and wi{s}e / and riche / and ther to free free, buxom / that 177 And buxom vn to his wyf / and fre{ss}h abedde is to {s}aye gentell 178 But by that ilke lord / that for vs bledde and to be fre{s}he 179 ffor his honour / my self for to arraye in bed / the{s}e / 180 A sonday next/ I moot nedes paye {s}yxe things a 181 An hundred frankes / or ellis am I lorn woman dothe 182 Yet were me le|uer|e / |ŝt| I were Vnborn de{s}yre as Mr. 183 Than me were doon / a sclaundre / or vileynye Chaucer dothe wryte 184 And if myn hou{s}bonde eek / myghte it e{s}pye 185 I nere but lo{s}t/ and ther fore I yow preye 186 Lene me this s|om|me / or ellis moot I deye 187 Daun |Iohan| I seye / lene me thi{s}e hundred frankes 188 Pardee / I wol noght/ faile yow my thankes 189 If |ŝt| yow li{s}t/ to doon / that I yow praye 190 ffor at a |cer|teyn day / I wol yow paye 191 And doon to yow / what ple{s}ance and seruy{s}e 192 That I may doon / right as yow li{s}t deuy{s}e 193 And but {.}I{.} do / god take on me vengeance 194 As foul / as e|uer|e hadde Genelo|un| of ffrance 195 This gentil Monk/ an{s}werde in this manere 196 Now trewely / myn owene lady deere 197 I haue quod he / on yow so gret a routhe 198 That I yow swere / and plighte yow my trouthe {{Folio 206v}} 199 That whan youre hou{s}bonde / is to fflandres fare 200 I wol deliuere yow / out of this care 201 ffor I wol brynge yow / an hundred frankes 202 And with that word / he caughte hi|re| by the flankes 203 And hi|re| embraceth harde / and ki{s}te hi|re| ofte 204 Goth now youre wey quod he / al {s}tille and softe 205 And lat vs dyne / as {s}oone / as |ŝt| ye may 206 ffor by my chilyndre / it is Pryme of day 207 Goth now / and beth as trewe as I shal be 208 Now ellis / god forbede sire quod she 209 And forth she goth / as iolif as a pye 210 And bad the Cokes / |ŝt| they sholde hem hye 211 So |ŝt| men myghte dyne / and that anon 212 Vp to hir hou{s}bonde / is his wyf ygon 213 And knokketh at his Countour/ boldely qi la. 214 Who {^}{{ys}} ther quod he / Peter it am I 215 Quod she / what sire / how longe wol ye fa{s}te 216 How longe tyme / wol ye rekene and ca{s}te 217 Youre sommes / and youre bokes / and youre thynges 218 The deuel haue part/ on alle swiche rekenynges 219 Ye haue ynogh pardee / of goddes sonde 220 Com doun to day / and lat youre bagges {s}tonde 221 Ne be ye nat a{s}hamed / that daun |Iohan| 222 Shal fa{s}tynge / al this day elenge gon 223 What lat vs heere a ma{ss}e / and go we dyne 224 Wyf quod this man / litel kan{s}tow deuyne 225 The curious bi{s}yne{ss}e / that we haue 226 ffor of vs chapmen / al{s}o god me {s}aue 227 And by that lord / that clepid is Seint Yue 228 Scar{s}ly amonges .xij. x. shul thryue 229 Continuelly / la{s}tyng vn to oure age 230 We may wel make cheere / and good vi{s}age 231 And dryue forth the world / as it may be 232 And kepen oure e{s}tat/ in pryuetee 233 Til we be dede / or ellis that we pleye 234 A pilgrymage / or goon out of the weye 235 And ther fore / haue I gret nece{ss}itee 236 Vp on this queynte world / tauy{s}e me 237 ffor euere mo / we mote {s}tonde in drede 238 Of hap and ffortune / in oure chapmanhede {{Folio 207r}} 239 To fflandres wol I go / tomorwe at day 240 And come agayn / as {s}oone as e|uer|e I may 241 ffor which my deere wyf / I thee bi{s}eke 242 As be to euery wight/ buxom and meke 243 And for to kepe oure good / be curious 244 And hone{s}tly / gouerne wel oure hous 245 Thow ha{s}t ynow / in euery mane|re| wi{s}e 246 That to a thrifty hou{s}hold / may suffi{s}e 247 Thee lakketh noon array / ne no vitaille 248 Of siluer in thy purs / shaltow nat faille 249 And with that word / his Countour dore he shette 250 And doun he goth / no lenger wolde he lette 251 But ha{s}tily / a ma{ss}e was ther seyd 252 And spedily / the tables were yleyd 253 And to the dyner / fa{s}te they hem spedde 254 And richely this Monk/ the chapman fedde 255 At after dyner / daun |Iohan| sobrely 256 This chapman took a part/ and |pri|uely 257 He seyde hym thus / co{s}yn it standeth so 258 That wel I se / to Brugges wol ye go 259 God and Seint Au{s}tyn / spede yow and gyde 260 I pray yow co{s}yn / wy{s}ly |ŝt| ye ryde 261 Gouerneth yow al{s}o / of youre diete 262 Atemprely / and namely / in this hete 263 Bitwix vs two / nedeth no strange fare 264 ffarewel co{s}yn / god shilde yow fro care 265 And if |ŝt| any thyng/ by day or nyght 266 If it lye in my power/ and my myght/ 267 That ye me wol comande / in any wi{s}e 268 It shal be doon / right as ye wol deuy{s}e 269 O thyng er |ŝt| ye goon / if it may be 270 I wold {`,}preye yow / for to lene me 271 An hundred frankes / for a wyke or tweye 272 ffor |cer|teyn be{s}tes / |ŝt| I mo{s}te beye 273 To store with a place / that is oures 274 God help me so / I wolde it were youres 275 I shal nat faille / {s}eurely of my day 276 Nat for a thou{s}and frankes / a myle way 277 But lat this thyng be secree / I yow preye 278 ffor yet to nyght/ thi{s}e be{s}tes moot I beye {{Folio 207v}} 279 And fare now wel / myn owene co{s}yn deere 280 Grant |mer|cy / of youre co{s}t/ and of youre cheere 281 This noble Marchant/ gentilly anon 282 An{s}werde and seyde / o co{s}yn myn daun |Iohan| 283 Now sikerly / this is a smal reque{s}te 284 My gold is youres / whan |ŝt| it yow le{s}te 285 And nat oonly my gold / but my chaffare 286 Tak what yow li{s}t/ god shilde |ŝt| ye spare 287 But o thyng is / ye knowe it wel ynow 288 Of Chapmen / that hir moneye is hir plow 289 We may creance / whil we han a name 290 But goldlees for to been / it is no game 291 Pay it agayn / whan it lyth in youre e{s}e 292 After my myght/ ful fayn wol I yow ple{s}e 293 Thi{s}e hundred frankes / he fette forth anon 294 And |pri|uely / he took hem to daun |Iohan| 295 No wight in al this world / wi{s}te of this lone 296 Sauyng/ this Marchant/ and daun |Iohan| allone 297 They drynke / and speke / and rome a while |&| pleye 298 Til that daun |Iohan| / rideth to his Abbeye 299 The morwe cam / and forth this Marchant rydeth 300 To fflandres ward / his Prentys wel hym gydeth 301 Til he cam / in to Brugges murily 302 Now goth this Marchant/ fa{s}te and bi{s}ily 303 Aboute his nede / and byeth and crea|un|ceth 304 He neither / pleyeth at the dees / ne daunceth 305 But as a Marchant/ shortly for to telle 306 He let his lyf / and ther I lete hym dwelle 307 The sonday next / the Marchant was agon 308 To Seint denys / ycomen is daun |Iohan| 309 With crowne and berd / al fre{ss}h |&| newe shaue 310 In al the hous / ther nas {s}o litel a knaue 311 Ne no wight ellis / |ŝt| he nas ful fayn 312 That my lord daun |Iohan| / was come agayn 313 And shortly / to the poynt/ right for to gon 314 This faire wyf/ acorded with daun |Iohan| 315 That for thi{s}e hundred frankes / he sholde al nyght/ 316 Haue hire in his armes / bolt vpright/ 317 And this acord / |per|fourned was in dede 318 In myrthe al nyght/ a bi{s}y lyf they lede {{Folio 208r}} 319 Til it was day / that daun |Iohan| wente his way 320 And bad the meynee / fare wel haue good day 321 ffor noon of hem / ne no wight in the town 322 Hath of daun |Iohan| / right no su{s}pecioun 323 And forth he rydeth hom / til his Abbeye 324 Or where hym li{s}t/ namoore of hym I seye 325 This Marchant/ whan |ŝt| ended was the faire 326 To Seint Denys / he gan for to repaire 327 And with his wyf / he maketh fe{s}te and cheere 328 And telleth hi|re| / that chaffare is so deere 329 That nedes / mo{s}te he make a cheuy{ss}ance 330 ffor he was bounden / in a recony{ss}ance 331 To paye/ twenty thou{s}and sheeld anon 332 ffor which / this Marchant/ is to Parys gon 333 To borwe / of |cer|teyne freendes / that he hadde 334 A |cer|teyn frankes / and s|om|me |with| hym he ladde 335 And whan |ŝt| he was come / in to the town 336 ffor greet chiertee / and greet affeccioun 337 Vn to daun |Iohan| / he fir{s}t goth / hym to pleye 338 Nat for to axe / or borwe of hym moneye 339 But for to wite / and {s}een of his welfare 340 And for to tellen hym / of his chaffare 341 As freendes doon / whan they been met yfeere 342 Daun |Iohan| / hym maketh fe{s}te / and murye cheere 343 And he hym tolde agayn / ful specially 344 How he hadde / wel yboght/ and |gra|ciou{s}ly 345 Thanked be god / al hool his marchandi{s}e 346 Saue |ŝt| he mo{s}te / in alle maner wy{s}e 347 Maken a cheuy{ss}ance / as for his be{s}te 348 And thanne / he sholde been / in ioye and re{s}te 349 Daun |Iohan| an{s}werde / certes I am fayn 350 That ye in heele / ar comen hom agayn 351 And if |ŝt| I were riche / as haue I bli{ss}e 352 Of twenty thou{s}and sheeld / sholde ye nat my{ss}e 353 ffor ye {s}o kyndely / this oother day 354 Lente me gold / and as I kan and may 355 I thanke yow / by god / and by Seint Iame 356 But nathelees / I took vn to oure dame 357 Yowre wyf at hom / the same gold agayn 358 Vp on youre bench / she woot it wel certayn {{Folio 208v}} 359 By |cer|teyn toknes / that I kan yow telle 360 Now by youre leue / I may no lenger dwelle 361 Oure Abbot/ wol out of this town anon 362 And in his compaignye / moot I gon 363 Greet wel oure dame / myn owene Nece swete 364 And fare wel deere co{s}yn / til we meete 365 This Marchant/ which |ŝt| was ful war and wys 366 Creanced hath / and payed eek in Parys 367 To |cer|teyn lombardes / redy in hir hond 368 The somme of gold / and gat of hem his bond {.}i{.} obligacionem 369 And hoom he gooth / murye as a Papyniay 370 ffor wel he knew / he {s}tood in swich array 371 That nedes mo{s}te he wynne / in that viage 372 A thou{s}and frankes / abouen al his co{s}tage 373 His wyf ful redy / mette hym at the gate 374 As she was wont/ of old v{s}age algate 375 And al that nyght/ in myrthe they bi{s}ette 376 ffor he was riche / and cleerly out of dette 377 Whan it was day / this Marchant gan embrace 378 His wyf al newe / and ki{s}te hi|re| on hir face 379 And vp he goth / and maketh it ful tough 380 Namoore quod she / by god ye haue ynough 381 And wantownely agayn / with hym she pleyde 382 Til at the la{s}te / this Marchant seyde 383 By god quod he / I am alitel wroth 384 With yow my wyf / al thogh it be me looth 385 And woot ye why / by god as |ŝt| I ge{ss}e 386 That ye han maad / a manere strangene{ss}e 387 Bitwixen me / and my co{s}yn Daun |Iohan| 388 Ye sholde han warned me / er I had gon 389 That he yow hadde / a hundred frankes payed 390 Be redy tokne / and heeld hym yuele apayed 391 ffor that I to hym / spak of cheuy{ss}ance 392 Me semed so / as by his contenance 393 But nathelees / by god oure heuene kyng/ 394 I thoghte nat/ to axe of hym no thyng/ 395 I pray thee wyf/ ne do namoore so 396 Tel me alwey / er that I fro thee go 397 If any dettour / hath in myn ab{s}ence 398 Ypayed thee / le{s}t thurgh thy necligence {{Folio 209r}} 399 I myghte hym axe / a thyng/ |ŝt| he hath payed 400 This wyf / was nat afered ne afrayed 401 But boldely she seyde / and that anon 402 Marie I diffye / the fal{s}e Monk/ daun |Iohan| 403 I kepe nat of his toknes / ne|uer| a del 404 He took me |cer|teyn gold / this woot I wel 405 What yuel thedam / on his Monkes snowte 406 ffor god it woot/ I wende with outen dowte 407 That he hadde yeue it me / by cau{s}e of yow 408 To doon ther with / myn honour / and my prow 409 ffor co{s}ynage / and eek for bele cheere 410 That he hath had / ful ofte tymes heere 411 But sith I se / it stant in this di{s}ioynt/ 412 I wole an{s}were yow / shortly to the poynt/ 413 Ye han mo slakker dettours / than am I 414 ffor I wol paye yow / wel and redily 415 ffro day to day / and if {s}o be I fayle 416 I am youre wyf / score it vp on my tayle 417 And I shal paye / as {s}oone as euere I may 418 ffor by my trouthe / I haue on myn array 419 And nat in wa{s}t/ bi{s}towed e|uer|y del 420 And for I haue / bi{s}towed it {s}o wel 421 ffor youre honour / for goddes sake I seye 422 As be nat wrooth / but lat vs laughe |&| pleye 423 Ye shal / my ioly body han to wedde 424 By god / I wol noght paye yow but abedde 425 fforgyue it me / myn owene spou{s}e deere 426 Turn hiderward / and maketh bettre cheere 427 This Marchant/ saugh / ther was no remedye 428 And for to chide / it nere but folye 429 Syn that the thyng/ may nat amended be 430 Now wyf he seyde / and I foryeue it thee 431 But by thy lyf/ ne be namoore {s}o large 432 Keep bet thy good / this yeue {^}{{I}} thee in charge 433 Thus endeth my tale / and god vs sende 434 Taillynge ynough / vn to oure lyues ende Here endeth / the Shipmannes tale Editorial Conventions Old spelling is retained except for ligatured letters, which are normalized. Contractions and abbreviations are placed within vertical bars. The original ineation are retained, but not small capitals and the text of signatures, catchwords, and running titles. Irregularities in spacing are ignored. Reference citations are by folio numbers and editorial through-ms and through-tale line numbers. Unusual characters are identified as follows: {s} : long-s {ss} : ligatured long-s long-s {\-} : soft hyphen :: - {C|} : capitulum {`,} : comma under opening single quotation mark {?.} : punctus elevatus {^} : caret Strings within vertical bars are expanded abbreviations. Credits and Copyright Together with the editors, the Department of English (University of Toronto), and the University of Toronto Press, the following individuals share copyright for the work that went into this edition: Screen Design (Electronic Edition): Sian Meikle (University of Toronto Library) Scanning: Sharine Leung (New College Computing Facility)