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GENERAL PROLOGUE 1 1 When April with its sweet showers has pierced the drought of March to the root

and bathed every rootlet in the liquid by which the flower is engendered; when the west wind also, with its sweet breath, has brought forth young shoots in every grove and field; when the early sun of spring has run half his course in the sign of Aries, and when small birds make melody, birds that sleep all night with eyes open, (as Nature inspires them to) --THEN people have a strong desire to go on pilgrimages, and pilgrims long to go to foreign shores to distant shrines known in various countries. And especially they go from every county in England to seek out the shrine of the holy blessed martyr who has helped them when they were sick. 2 4: "By virtue (strength) of which the flower is engendered." 3 8: The early sun of Spring has moved part way through the sign of Aries (the Ram) in the Zodiac. 4 13-14: "Pilgrims seek foreign shores (to go) to distant shrines known in different lands." Palmers: pilgrims, from the palm-leaves they got in Jerusalem. GENERAL PROLOGUE The opening is a long, elaborate sentence about the effects of Spring on the vegetable and animal world, and on people. The style of the rest of the Prologue and Tales is much simpler than this opening. A close paraphrase of the opening sentence is offered at the bottom of this page.1 When that April with his showers soote its showers sweet The drought of March hath piercd to the root And bathd every vein in such liquor rootlet / liquid Of which virte engendered is the flower;2 5 When Zephyrus eke with his sweet breath West Wind also Inspird hath in every holt and heath grove & field The tender cropps, and the young sun young shoots / Spring sun Hath in the Ram his half course y-run,3 in Aries / has run And small fowls maken melody little birds 10 That sleepen all the night with open eye Who sleep (So pricketh them Natre in their courges), spurs / spirits Then longen folk to go on pilgrimges, people long And palmers for to seeken strang strands pilgrims / shores To fern hallows couth in sundry lands,4 distant shrines known 15 And specially from every shir's end county's Of England to Canterbury they wend go The holy blissful martyr for to seek, St. Thomas Becket That them hath holpen when that they were sick. Who has helped them 2 CANTERBURY TALES 1 45-6: "He loved everything that pertained to knighthood: truth (to one's word), honor, magnanimity At the Tabard Inn, just south of London, the poet-pilgrim falls in with a group of twenty nine other pilgrims who have met each other along the way. Befell that in that season on a day It happened 20 In Southwark at The Tabard as I lay inn name / lodged Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage to go To Canterbury with full devout courge, spirit, heart

At night was come into that hostelry inn Well nine and twenty in a company fully 29 25 Of sundry folk by venture y-fall by chance fallen ... In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all ...Into company That toward Canterbury woulden ride. wished to The chambers and the stables weren wide were roomy And well we weren easd at the best. entertained 30 And shortly, when the sunn was to rest, sun had set So had I spoken with them every one That I was of their fellowship anon, And mad forward early for to rise agreement To take our way there as I you devise. I shall tell you 35 But natheless, while I have time and space, nevertheless Ere that I further in this tal pace, Before I go Methinketh it accordant to reason It seems to me To tell you all the conditon circumstances Of each of them so as it seemd me, to me 40 And which they weren, and of what degree And who / social rank And eke in what array that they were in; also / dress And at a knight then will I first begin. The Knight is the person of highest social standing on the pilgrimage though you would never know it from his modest manner or his clothes. He keeps his ferocity for crusaders' battlefields where he has distinguished himself over many years and over a wide geographical area. As the text says, he is not "gay", that is, he is not showily dressed, but is still wearing the military padded coat stained by the armor he has only recently taken off. A KNIGHT there was and that a worthy man That from the tim that he first began 45 To riden out, he lovd chivalry, Truth and honur, freedom and courtesy.1 CANTERBURY TALES 3 (freedom), courtesy." 1 52-3: He had often occupied the seat of honor at the table of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, where badges awarded to distinguished crusaders read "Honneur vainc tout: Honor conquers all." Though the campaigns listed below were real, and though it was perhaps just possible for one man to have been in them all, the list is probably idealized. The exact geographical locations are of little interest today. This portrait is generally thought to show a man of unsullied ideals; Jones (see Bibliography) insists that the knight was a mere mercenary. 2 63: "In single combat (listes) three times, and always (ay) killed his opponent." 3 64-67: The knight had fought for one Saracen or pagan leader against another, a common, if dubious, practice. And ever more ... may mean he always kept the highest reputation or that he always came away with a splendid reward or booty (prize).. Full worthy was he in his lord's war, lorde's = king's or God's And thereto had he ridden--no man farre farther As well in Christendom as Heatheness heathendom 50 And ever honoured for his worthiness. His campaigns At Alexandria he was when it was won. captured Full often time he had the board begun table Aboven all natons in Prussia.1

In Lithow had he reisd and in Russia Lithuania / fought 55 No Christian man so oft of his degree. rank In Grnad' at the siege eke had he be Granada / also Of Algesir and ridden in Belmarie. At Leys was he and at Satalie When they were won, and in the Great Sea Mediterranean 60 At many a noble army had he be. At mortal battles had he been fifteen And foughten for our faith at Tramissene In lists thric, and ay slain his foe.2 combat 3 times & always This ilk worthy knight had been also same 65 Sometim with the lord of Palatie Against another heathen in Turkey, And ever more he had a sovereign prize,3 always His modest demeanor And though that he was worthy he was wise, valiant / sensible And of his port as meek as is a maid. deportment 70 Ne never yet no villainy he said rudeness 4 CANTERBURY TALES 1 70-71: Notice quadruple negative: "ne, never, no ... no" used for emphasis, perhaps deliberately excessive emphasis. It is not bad grammar. The four negatives remain in Ellesmer's slightlly different version: "He never yet no villainy ne said ... unto no manner wight" 2 74: "He (the Knight) was not fashionably dressed." horse was: most MSS read hors weere(n) = "horses were." I have preferred the reading of MS Lansdowne. 3 75-78: The poor state of the knight's clothes is generally interpreted to indicate his pious anxiety to fulfill a religious duty even before he has had a chance to change his clothes. Jones thinks it simply confirms that the knight was a mercenary who had pawned his armor. voyage: MSS have viage. Blessed viage was the term often used for the holy war of the crusades. 479-80: A squire learned his future duties as a knight by attending on one. Bachelor is another word meaning a young man in training to be a knight. 5 87: "And distinguished himself, considering the short time he had been at it." In all his life unto no manner wight.1 no kind of person He was a very perfect gentle knight. But for to tellen you of his array: His horse was good; but he was not gay.2 well dressed 75 Of fustian he weard a gipoun coarse cloth / tunic All besmotered with his habergeon, stained / mail For he was late y-come from his voyge, just come / journey And went for to do his pilgrimge.3 The Knight's 20-year-old son is a striking contrast to his father. True, he has seen some military action, but it was to impress his lady not his Lord God. Unlike his parent, he is fashionably dressed. He is very much in love, he has cultivated all the social graces, and is also aware of his duty to serve as his father's squire With him there was his son, a young SQUIRE, 80 A lover and a lusty bachelor 4 With locks curled as they were laid in press. as if in curlers Of twenty years he was of age, I guess.

Of his statre he was of even length, moderate height And wonderly deliver and of great strength, very athletic 85 And he had been sometime in chivachy on campaign In Flanders, in Artois and Picardy, And borne him well as in so little space5 conducted / time In hope to standen in his lady's grace. good graces Embroidered was he as it were a mead meadow 90 All full of fresh flowers white and red. CANTERBURY TALES 5 1 100: The table would be occupied at only one side, so when the Squire carved for his father, the Knight, he stood before him across the table. 2 101: A servant of middle rank. This one looks after his master's forest land. 3 104-114: Why a forester should be so heavily armed on a pilgrimage is not clear. Singing he was or fluting all the day. whistling? He was as fresh as is the month of May. Short was his gown with sleevs long and wide. Well could he sit on horse and fair ride. ride well 95 He could songs make and well endite, write words & music Joust and eke dance, and well portray and write. also / draw So hot he lovd that by nightertale night(time) He slept no more than does a nightingale. Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable, 100 And carved before his father at the table.1 Knight and Squire are accompanied by their Yeoman. He is noticeably over-armed for a pilgrimage, which indicates probably suspicion of the big city by a man more at home in the forest. A YEOMAN he had and servants no more2 At that tim, for him list rid so, it pleased him to And he was clad in coat and hood of green. A sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen 105 Under his belt he bore full thriftily. neatly Well could he dress his tackle yeomanly care for His arrows droopd not with feathers low, And in his hand he bore a mighty bow. A not-head had he with a brown visge. cropped head 110 Of woodcraft could he well all the usge. knew all the skills Upon his arm he bore a gay bracr elaborate armguard And by his side a sword and a bucklr shield And on that other side a gay daggr fine, splendid Harnessed well and sharp as point of spear.3 Finely wrought 115 A Christopher on his breast of silver sheen. St C. medal / bright A horn he bore, the baldrick was of green. cord A forester was he soothly as I guess. truly The Prioress is the head of a fashionable convent. She is a charming lady, none the less charming for her slight worldliness: she has a romantic name, Eglantine, wild rose; she has delicate table 6 CANTERBURY TALES 1 120: The joke that presumably lurks in this line is not explained by the usual annotation that St. Eloy (or Loy or Eligius) was a patron saint of goldsmiths and of carters.

2 123: Another joke presumably, but again not adequately explained. 3 126: This is a snigger at the provincial quality of the lady's French, acquired in a London suburb, not in Paris. Everything about the prioress is meant to suggest affected elegance of a kind not especially appropriate in a nun: her facial features, her manners, her jewelry, her French, her clothes, her name. Eglantine = "wild rose" or "sweet briar." Madame = "my lady." 4 139-40: She took pains to imitate the manners of the (king's) court. manners and is exquisitely sensitive to animal rights; she speaks French -- after a fashion; she has a pretty face and knows it; her nun's habit is elegantly tailored, and she displays discreetly a little tasteful jewelry: a gold brooch on her rosary embossed with the nicely ambiguous Latin motto: Amor Vincit Omnia, Love conquers all. There was also a nun, a PRIORESS, head of a convent That of her smiling was full simple and coy. modest 120 Her greatest oath was but by Saint Eloy,1 And she was clepd Madame Eglantine. called Full well she sang the servic divine Entund in her nose full seemly.2 And French she spoke full fair and fetisly nicely 125 After the school of Stratford at the Bow, For French of Paris was to her unknow.3 At meat well y-taught was she withall: meals / indeed She let no morsel from her lipps fall, Nor wet her fingers in her sauc deep. 130 Well could she carry a morsel and well keep handle That no drop ne fell upon her breast. So that In courtesy was set full much her lest: v. much her interest Her over lipp wipd she so clean upper lip That in her cup there was no farthing seen small stain 135 Of greas, when she drunkn had her draught. Full seemly after her meat she raught, reached for her food And sikerly she was of great desport certainly / charm And full pleasnt and amiable of port, behavior And paind her to counterfeit cheer imitate the manners 140 Of court,4 and be estately of mannr, And to be holden digne of reverence. thought worthy CANTERBURY TALES 7 1 161-2: The gold brooch on her rosary had a capital "A" with a crown above it, and a Latin motto meaning "Love conquers all," a phrase appropriate to both sacred and secular love. It occurs in a French poem that Chaucer knew well, The Romance of the Rose (21327-32), where Courteoisie quotes it from Virgil's Eclogue X, 69, to justify the plucking of the Rose by the Lover, a decidedly secular, indeed sexual, act of "Amor". 2 164: The Prioress's traveling companion is called, confusingly, her chaplain. The priests are employees of the Prioress's well-to-do convent. Even in a market flooded with priests, bringing three along on the pilgrimage would be a display of celibate feminism and of conspicuous consumption as marked as the Prioress's jewelry and her choice of dog food. However, many scholars think that the words "and priests three" were inserted by a scribe. She is very sensitive But for to speaken of her conscence: sensitivity

She was so charitable and so pitus moved to pity She would weep if that she saw a mouse 145 Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled. Of small hounds had she that she fed With roasted flesh or milk and wastel bread, fine bread But sore wept she if one of them were dead Or if men smote it with a yard, smart; a stick smartly 150 And all was conscence and tender heart. Her personal appearance Full seemly her wimple pinchd was, headdress pleated Her nose tretis, her eyen grey as glass, handsome / eyes Her mouth full small and thereto soft and red, and also But sikerly she had a fair forehead. certainly 155 It was almost a spann broad, I trow, handsbreadth / I guess For hardily she was not undergrow. certainly / short? thin? Full fetis was her cloak as I was 'ware. elegant / aware Of small coral about her arm she bare bore, carried A pair of beads gauded all with green, A rosary decorated 160 And thereon hung a brooch of gold full sheen shining On which was written first a crownd A And after: Amor Vincit Omnia.1 Love Conquers All Her traveling companions Another Nunn with her hadd she nun That was her chaplain, and priests three.2 companion 8 CANTERBURY TALES Three priests would make the number of pilgrims 31 not 29, and only one is heard from again, in the Nun's Priests Tale. 1 166: venery: both "hunting" and the work of Venus, goddess of love. This description of the Monk is larded with sexual innuendo. 2 172: The lordly monk is in charge of an annex (cell) of the monastery. Another member of the church is the Monk who, like the Prioress, is supposed to stay in his monastery but who, like her, finds an excuse to get away from it, something he does a lot. He has long since lost any of the monastic ideals he may have set out with, and he now prefers travel, good clothes, good food, good hunting with well-equipped horses, in place of the poverty, study and manual labor prescribed by his monastic rule. He may not be a bad man, but he is not a good monk. 165 A MONK there was, a fair for the mastery, a very fine fellow An outrider that lovd venery.1 horseman / hunting A manly man to be an abbot able, Full many a dainty horse had he in stable, And when he rode, men might his bridle hear 170 Jingle in a whistling wind as clear And eke as loud as does the chapel bell And also There as this lord is keeper of the cell.2 Where / annex The rule of Saint Maur or of Saint Bennett [monastic] rule Because that it was old and somedeal strait somewhat strict 175 This ilk monk let old things pass This same / go And held after the new world the space. modern ways now He gave not of that text a pulld hen plucked That says that hunters be not holy men Nor that a monk, when he is reckless, careless of rules 180 Is likened to a fish that's waterless,

That is to say, a monk out of his cloister. monastery But thilk text held he not worth an oyster. this saying he thought The poet pretends to agree with his lax views And I said his opinon was good; I = narrator What! Should he study and make himselfen wood himself mad 185 Upon a book in cloister always to pore? Or swinken with his hands and labur or work As Austin bids? How shall the world be served? St Augustine CANTERBURY TALES 9 1 188: "Let Augustine keep his work." An unbecoming way for a monk to speak of the great saint whose rule, like that of St. Maurus and St. Benedict (Maur and Bennett, 173) prescribed study and physical labor for monks. Let Austin have his swink to him reserved.1 His taste in sport and clothes Therefore he was a prickasour aright. hunter, for sure 190 Greyhounds he had as swift as fowl in flight. Of pricking and of hunting for the hare tracking Was all his lust, for no cost would he spare. his passion I saw his sleevs purfled at the hand edged at the wrist With gris, and that the finest of the land, fur 195 And for to fasten his hood under his chin He had of gold y-wrought a full curious pin very elaborate A love knot on the greater end there was. His physical appearance His head was bald, that shone as any glass And eke his face, as he had been anoint. also / as if oiled 200 He was a lord full fat and in good point, in good health His eyen steep and rolling in his head eyes prominent That steamd as a furnace of a lead, lead furnace His boots supple, his horse in great estate. in great shape Now certainly he was a fair prelate. a fine cleric 205 He was not pale as is a forpined ghost. tortured A fat swan loved he best of any roast. His palfrey was as brown as any berry. horse The Friar, another cleric, is even less a man of God than the Monk. A member of a mendicant order of men who lived on what they could get by begging, he has become a professional fundraiser, the best in his friary because of some special skills: personal charm, a good singing voice, an attractive little lisp, a talent for mending quarrels and having the right little gift for the ladies, and a forgiving way in the confessional especially when he expects a generous donation. He can find good economic reasons to cultivate the company of the rich rather than the poor. A FRIAR there was, a wanton and a merry, lively 10 CANTERBURY TALES 1 208-9: A Friar (Fr. frre) was a member of one of four religious orders of men. Some were "mendicants," who depended on what they could get by begging. Our friar, a limiter, has a begging district within which he must stay. "Solempne" cannot mean solemn except as heavy irony. See l. 274 2 212-13: He had provided dowries for many young women, or he had performed the marriage ceremonies without a fee.

3 218-220: Sometimes the pope or bishop would reserve to himself or to a special delegate (licenciate) the right to hear the confessions of prominent public sinners, guilty of particularly heinous offences. This would have no relevance to the ordinary confession-goer, for whom the Friar had no more "power of confession" than the curate or parson. 4 227-8: "For if he (the penitent) gave (an offering), he (the Friar) would dare to say that he knew the man was truly repentant." A limiter, a full solmpn man.1 licensed beggar / v. impressive 210 In all the orders four is none that can knows So much of dalliance and fair language. smooth manners He had made full many a marrage Of young women at his own cost.2 Unto his order he was a noble post. pillar 215 Full well beloved and familiar was he With franklins over all in his country, landowners And eke with worthy women of the town, And also For he had power of confesson, As said himself, more than a curate, parish priest 220 For of his order he was licentiate.3 licensed His manner in the confessional Full sweetly heard he confesson And pleasant was his absoluton. He was an easy man to give pennce There as he wist to have a good pittnce, expected / offering 225 For unto a poor order for to give Is sign that a man is well y-shrive, confessed For if he gave, he durst make avaunt dared / boast He wist that a man was rpentaunt,4 knew For many a man so hard is of his heart, 230 He may not weep though that he sor smart. it hurt him sharply Therefore, instead of weeping and [of] prayers Men may give silver to the poor freres. friars CANTERBURY TALES 11 1 241-2: "Tapster, beggester": the "-ster" ending signified, strictly, a female. It survives (barely) in "spinster." 2 251: The meaning of virtuous ("obliging? effective"?) would seem to depend on whether one takes 251 with the preceding or the following line. 3 252a: He had paid a certain fee (farm') for the monopoly (grant) of begging in his district (`haunt'). The couplet 252 a-b occurs only in MS Hengwrt of the Six Text. 4 256: His income from the begging was much larger than his outlay for the monopoly. His largess, his talents, and the company he cultivated His tipet was ay farsd full of knives hood was always packed And pinns for to given fair wives. pretty 235 And certainly he had a merry note Well could he sing and playen on a rote. stringed instrument Of yeddings he bore utterly the prize. ballad songs His neck was white as is the fleur de lys; lily Thereto he strong was as a champion. But also / fighter 240 He knew the taverns well in every town And every hosteler and tappester innkeeper & barmaid Bet than a lazar or a beggester,1 Better / leper or beggar For unto such a worthy man as he

Accorded not as by his faculty Didn't suit his rank 245 To have with sick lazars cquaintance. lepers It is not honest, it may not advance proper / profit For to dealen with no such poraille, poor people But all with rich and sellers of vitaille. food And overall there as profit should arise, everywhere that 250 Courteous he was and lowly of service; humbly useful His begging manner was so smooth he could, if necessary, extract money from the poorest There was no man nowhere so virtuous.2 He was the best beggar in his house 252a And gave a certain farm for the grant.3 252b None of his brethren came there in his haunt. district For though a widow hadde not a shoe, So pleasant was his "In Principio" his blessing 255 Yet he would have a farthing ere he went. 1/4 of a penny His purchase was well better than his rent.4 12 CANTERBURY TALES 1 259: cloisterer: probably a "real" friar who stayed largely within his cloister, satisfied with poor clothes according to his vow of poverty. 2 261: master: possibly Master of Arts, a rather more eminent degree than it is now, though hardly making its holder as exalted as the pope. 3 271: (dressed in) motley: probably not the loud mixed colors of the jester, but possibly tweed. 4 276-7: "He wished above all that the stretch of sea between Middleburgh (in Flanders) and Orwell (in England) were guarded (kept) against pirates." 5 278: He knew the intricacies of foreign exchange. Scholars have charged the Merchant with gold smuggling or even coin clipping; but although shields were units of money, they were neither gold nor coins. And he had other talents and attractions And rage he could as it were right a whelp. frolic like a puppy In lovdays there could he muchel help, mediation days For there he was not like a cloisterer 1 260 With a threadbare cope as is a poor scholar, cloak But he was like a master or a pope.2 Of double worsted was his semi-cope, short cloak And rounded as a bell out of the press. the mold Somewhat he lispd for his wantonness affectation 265 To make his English sweet upon his tongue, And in his harping when that he had sung, His eyen twinkled in his head aright eyes As do the starrs in the frosty night. stars This worthy limiter was clept Huberd. was called The Merchant is apparently a prosperous exporter who likes to TALK of his prosperity; he is concerned about pirates and profits, skillful in managing exchange rates, but tightlipped about business details. 270 A MERCHANT was there with a forkd beard, In motley,3 and high on horse he sat, Upon his head a Flandrish beaver hat, from Flanders His boots claspd fair and fetisly. neatly His reasons he spoke full solmpnly, solemnly 275 Sounding always the increase of his winning. profits He would the sea were kept for anything he wished Betwixt Middleburgh and Orwell.4

Well could he in Exchang shields sell.5 currency CANTERBURY TALES 13 1 285-6: He had long since set out to study logic, part of the trivium or lower section of the university syllabus (the other two parts were rhetoric and grammar); hence his early college years had long since passed. y-go (gone) is the past participle of "go." 2 298: A joke. Although he was a student of philosophy, he had not discovered the "philosopher's stone," which was supposed to turn base metals into gold. The two senses of "philosopher" played on here are: a) student of the work of Aristotle b) student of science ("natural philosophy"), a meaning which shaded off into "alchemist, magician." This worthy man full well his wit beset used his brains 280 There wist no wight that he was in debt, no person knew So stately was he of his governance management With his bargains and with his chevissance. money dealings Forsooth he was a worthy man withal, Truly / indeed But sooth to say, I n'ot how men him call. truth I don't know The Clerk is the first admirable church member we meet on the pilgrimage. "Clerk" meant a number of related things: a cleric, a student, a scholar. This clerk is all three, devoted to the love of learning and of God, the quintessential scholar, who would rather buy a book than a coat or a good meal, totally unworldly. 285 A CLERK there was of Oxenford also Oxford That unto logic hadd long y-go.1 gone As lean was his horse as is a rake, And he was not right fat, I undertake, he=the Clerk But lookd hollow, and thereto soberly. gaunt & also 290 Full threadbare was his overest courtepy, outer cloak For he had gotten him yet no benefice parish Nor was so worldly for to have office, secular job For him was lever have at his bed's head For he would rather Twenty books clad in black or red bound 295 Of Aristotle and his philosophy Than robs rich or fiddle or gay psalt'ry. stringed instrument But albeit that he was a philosopher, although Yet hadd he but little gold in coffer,2 chest But all that he might of his friends hent get 300 On books and on learning he it spent, And busily gan for the souls pray regulary prayed for Of them that gave him wherewith to scholay. study Of study took he most care and most heed. Not one word spoke he mor than was need, 14 CANTERBURY TALES 1 315: patent / plain commission: technical terms meaning by royal appointment. 2 326: "Nobody could fault any document he had drawn up" (endited). Clearly line 327 is a deliberate exaggeration. 305 And that was spoke in form and reverence, And short and quick and full of high sentnce. lofty thought Sounding in moral virtue was his speech, And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.

The Sergeant of the Law is a successful but unostentatious, high-ranking lawyer who sometimes functions as a judge. We are told with just a touch of irony, that he is, like many of the pilgrims, the very best at what he does, a busy man, but "yet he seemd busier than he was." A SERGEANT of the law, waryand wise A ranking lawyer 310 That often hadd been at the Parvise lawyer's meeting place There was also, full rich of excellence. Discreet he was and of great reverence; He seemd such, his words were so wise. Justice he was full often in assize judge / circuit court 315 By patent and by plain commisson.1 For his scince and for his high renown knowledge Of fees and robs had he many a one. So great a purchaser was nowhere none; All was fee simple to him in effect. easy money (pun) 320 His purchasing might not be infect. faulted Nowhere so busy a man as he there n'as, =ne was=was not And yet he seemd busier than he was. In terms had he case and dooms all In books / judgements That from the time of King William were fall. W. the Conqueror / handed down 325 Thereto he could endite and make a thing; Also / draw up There could no wight pinch at his writing.2 no person c. complain And every statute could he plein by rote. knew completely by heart He rode but homely in a medley coat simply / tweed? Girt with a ceint of silk with barrs small. bound w. a belt / stripes 330 Of his array tell I no longer tale. The Lawyer is accompanied by his friend, the Franklin, a prosperous country gentleman, prominent in his county. He is a generous extroverted man ("sanguine" the text says) who likes good food and drink and sharing them with others, somewhat like St Julian, the patron saint of hospitality CANTERBURY TALES 15 1 333: Complexion ... sanguine probably means (1) he had a ruddy face and (2) he was of "sanguine humor" i.e. outgoing and optimistic because of the predominance of blood in his system. See ENDPAPERS: Humor 2 336-8: Epicurus was supposed, rightly or wrongly, to have taught that utmost pleasure was the greatest good (hence "epicure"). 3 340: St Julian was the patron saint of hospitality 4 351-2: His cook would regret it if his sauce was not pungent and sharp .... 5 359-60: sherriff: "shire reeve," King's representative in a county. counter: overseer of taxes for the treasury. vavasour: wealthy gentleman, possibly also a family name. A FRANK.LIN was in his company. rich landowner White was his beard as is the daisy. Of his complexon he was sanguine.1 ruddy & cheerful Well loved he by the morrow a sop in wine. in the a.m. 335 To livn in delight was ever his wont, custom For he was Epicurus's own son That held opinon that plain delight total pleasure

Was very felicity perfite.2 truly perfect happiness A householder and that a great was he; 340 Saint Julian he was in his country.3 His bread, his ale, was always after one. of one kind i.e. good A better envind man was never none. with better wine cellar Withouten bakd meat was never his house meat = food Of fish and flesh, and that so plenteous 345 It snowd in his house of meat and drink food Of all dainties that men could bethink. After the sundry seasons of the year According to So changd he his meat and his supper. Full many a fat partridge had he in mew in a cage 350 And many a bream and many a luce in stew. fish in pond Woe was his cook but if his sauc were Poignant and sharp, and ready all his gear.4 tangy His table dormant in his hall alway set / always Stood ready covered all the long day. 355 At sessons there was he lord and sire. law sessions Full often time he was knight of the shire. member of Parliament An anlace and a gipser all of silk dagger & purse Hung at his girdle white as morning milk. A sherriff had he been, and a counter. tax overseer 360 Was nowhere such a worthy vavasor.5 gentleman 16 CANTERBURY TALES 1 361-64: Haberdasher: a dealer in items of clothing and notions; Webber: weaver; Dyer: a dyer of cloth; Tapiser: tapestry maker--all connected with the cloth business. Since the Carpenter is a member of their "fraternity," but not of their trade group, commentators say that theirs was not a trade guild but a parish guild, with its own livery or uniform. Perhaps "Carpeter" was meant, although all MSS of Six-Text read "Carpenter" and there is no entry for "Carpeter" in MED. Somewhat lower in the social scale is a bevy of Skilled Tradesmen most of them connected with the fabric trades and belonging to a guild, a "fraternity". Their prosperity shows in their clothes, and their accouterments and the fact that they have brought their own cook, perhaps to replace the skills of the ambitious wives they have left at home. A HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER,1 A WEBBER, a DYER and a TAPISER And they were clothed all in one livery uniform Of a solemn and a great fraternity. guild 365 Full fresh and new their gear apikd was: burnished Their knivs wer chapd not with brass finished But all with silver; wrought full clean and well made Their girdles and their pouches everydeal. belts / every bit Well seemd each of them a fair burgess citizen 370 To sitten in a Guildhall on a dais. [in City Council] / platform Ever each for the wisdom that he can Every one / had Was shapely for to be an alderman, fit to be councilman For chattels hadd they enough and rent, property / income And eke their wivs would it well assent also / agree 375 And els certainly they were to blame: would be It is full fair to be y-cleped "Madame," called "My Lady"

And go to vigils all before evening services And have a mantle royally y-bore. carried They have a great chef with a gorge-raising affliction A COOK they hadd with them for the nones the occasion 380 To boil the chickens and the marrow bones And powder merchant tart, and galingale. [names of spices] Well could he know a draught of London ale. He could roast and seeth and broil and fry simmer CANTERBURY TALES 17 1 384: Recipes for mortrews and chickens with marrow bones can be found in Pleyn Delit by C. Hieatt and S. Butler (Toronto, 1979), 9, 11, 83. 2 387: blancmanger : a dish of white food, such as chicken or fish, with other items of white food--rice, crushed almonds, almond "milk," etc. See Pleyn Delit, 58, 89. 3 390: "He rode upon a nag as best he knew how." 4 400: He made them walk the plank. 5 401-4: These lines deal with the mariner's skill as a navigator: he is the best from England to Spain. lodemenage= navigation, cf. lodestone, lodestar. harborow = position of the sun in the zodiac, or simply "harbors." Make mortrews and well bake a pie.1 thick soups 385 But great harm was it, as it thought me, seemed to me That on his shin a mormal hadd he, open sore For blncmanger that made he with the best.2 The Shipman is a ship's captain, the most skilled from here to Spain, more at home on the deck of ship than on the back of a horse. He is not above a little larceny or piracy and in a sea fight he does not take prisoners. A SHIPMAN was there, woning far by west; living For aught I wot, he was of Dartmouth. aught I know 390 He rode upon a rouncy as he couth,3 nag In a gown of falding to the knee. wool cloth A dagger hanging on a lace had he About his neck under his arm adown. The hot summer had made his hue all brown. his color 395 And certainly he was a good fellow. Full many a draught of wine had he y-draw drawn From Bordeaux-ward while that the chapman sleep. merchant slept Of nic conscence took he no keep: sensitive c. / care If that he fought and had the higher hand upper hand 400 By water he sent them home to every land.4 But of his craft to reckon well his tides, for his skill His streams and his dangers him besides, currents His harborow, his moon, his lodemenage sun's position / navigation There was none such from Hull unto Carthge.5 405 Hardy he was and wise to undertake. With many a tempest had his beard been shake. He knew all the havens as they were harbors 18 CANTERBURY TALES 1 414: Astronomy = astrology. Medieval medicine was less the practice of an applied science than of magic natural (white magic) including astrology. 2 415-18: These four lines are hard to render except by paraphrase: he treated his patient by "white magic" and he knew how to cast horoscopes and calculate astronomically the best hours to treat his patient.

3 423: "When the cause and root of his illness were diagnosed". 4 428: They were old colleagues. 5 429-434: This list of classical, Arabic and other medieval authorities on medicine functions somewhat like From Gothland to the Cape of Finisterre And every creek in Brittany and Spain. 410 His barge y-clepd was the Maudlain. ship was called The medical Doctor is also the best in his profession, and though his practice, typical of the period, sounds to us more like astrology and magic than medicine, he makes a good living at it. With us there was a DOCTOR of PHYSIC. medicine In all this world ne was there none him like To speak of physic and of surgery, For he was grounded in astronomy:1 astrology 415 He kept his patent a full great deal In hours, by his magic natural.2 Well could he frtunen the scendent Of his imges for his patent. He knew the cause of every malady 420 Were it of hot or cold or moist or dry And where engendered and of what humor. See Endpapers He was a very perfect practiser. The cause y-know, and of his harm the root,3 known / source Anon he gave the sick man his boote. medicine, cure His connections with the druggists 425 Full ready had he his apothecaries druggists To send him drugs and his letuaries, medicines For each of them made other for to win; to profit Their friendship was not new to begin.4 Well knew he the old Esculapius 430 And Dioscorides and eke Rusus,5 also CANTERBURY TALES 19 the list of the knight's battles, a deliberate exaggeration; here the result is mildly comic, intentionally. 1 438: Physicians were sometimes thought to tend towards atheism. Perhaps the rhyme here was just very French. Or was meant to be comic; it could work in modern English if so regarded, with "digestible" pronounced exaggeratedly to rime fully with modern "Bible." 2 443-4: A pun. Gold was used in some medications (physic); but physic is also the practice of medicine at which much gold can be made, especially in time of plague (pestilence), and that is good for the heart (cordial). Old Hippocras, Hali and Galen Serapion, Rasis and Avicen, Averrois, Damascene and Constantine, Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertine. His personal habits; his appearance 435 Of his diet measurable was he moderate For it was of no superfluity excess But of great nourishing and digestible. His study was but little on the Bible.1 In sanguine and in perse he clad was all In red & blue 440 Lind with taffeta and with sendall, silk And yet he was but easy of dispense. thrifty spender He kept what he won in pestilence. during plague For gold in physic is a cordial, Because

Therefore he lovd gold in specal.2 (Wife of Baths portrait begins on next page) 20 CANTERBURY TALES 1 448: Ypres, Ghent (Gaunt): Famous cloth-making towns across the English Channel. 2 449-452: There was no woman in the whole parish who dared to get ahead of her in the line to make their offering (in church). If anyone did, she was so angry that she had no charity (or patience) left. 3 460: Weddings took place in the church porch, followed by Mass inside. In the Wife of Bath we have one of only three women on the pilgrimage. Unlike the other two she is not a nun, but a much-married woman, a widow yet again. Everything about her is large to the point of exaggeration: she has been married five times, has been to Jerusalem three times and her hat and hips are as large as her sexual appetite and her love of talk. 445 A good WIFE was there of besid Bath near But she was somedeal deaf, and that was scath. somewhat d. / a pity Of clothmaking she hadd such a haunt skill She passd them of Ypres and of Gaunt.1 surpassed In all the parish, wife ne was there none 450 That to the offering before her should gon.2 go And if there did, certain so wroth was she That she was out of all charity. patience Her coverchiefs full fin were of ground; finely woven I durst swear they weighdn ten pound I dare 455 That on a Sunday were upon her head. Her hosn wern of fine scarlet red her stockings were Full straight y-tied, and shoes full moist and new. supple Bold was her face and fair and red of hue. color She was a worthy woman all her life. 460 Husbands at church door she had had five,3 Withoutn other company in youth, not counting But thereof needeth not to speak as nouth. now And thrice had she been at Jerusalem. 3 times She had passd many a strang stream. many a foreign 465 At Rom she had been and at Boulogne, In Galicia at St James and at Cologne. [famous shrines] (contd) CANTERBURY TALES 21 1 467: "She knew plenty about travelling". Chaucer does not explain, and the reader is probably not expected to ask, how the Wife managed to marry five husbands and be a renowned maker of cloth while taking in pilgrimage as a kind of third occupation. Going to Jerusalem from England three times was an extraordinary feat in the Middle Ages. This list is, like some of those already encountered, a deliberate exaggeration, as is everything else about the Wife. 2 470: A wimple was a woman's cloth headgear covering the ears, the neck and the chin. 3 476: She was an old hand at this game. 4 486: "He was very reluctant to excommunicate a parishioner for not paying tithes," i.e. the tenth part of one's income due to the Church. She could much of wandering by the way.1 knew much

Gat-toothd was she, soothly for to say. Gap-toothed / truly Upon an ambler easily she sat slow horse 470 Y-wimpled well,2 and on her head a hat As broad as is a buckler or a targe, kinds of shield A foot mantle about her hippes large, outer skirt And on her feet a pair of spurs sharp. In fellowship well could she laugh and carp. joke 475 Of remedies of love she knew perchance by experience For she could of that art the old dance.3 she knew The second good cleric we meet is more than good; he is near perfection. The priest of a small, obscure and poor parish in the country. He has not forgotten the lowly class from which he came. Unlike most of the other pilgrims, he is not physically described, perhaps because he is such an ideal figure. A good man was there of Religon And was a poor PARSON of a town, parish priest But rich he was of holy thought and work. 480 He was also a learnd man, a clerk, a scholar That Christ's gospel truly would preach. His parishens devoutly would he teach. parishioners Benign he was and wonder diligent wonderfully And in adversity full patent, 485 And such he was y-provd often sithes. times Full loath was he to cursn for his tithes 4 But rather would he givn out of doubt Unto his poor parishioners about Of his offering and eke of his substance. also / possessions 490 He could in little thing have suffisance. enough 22 CANTERBURY TALES 1 507-12: The "not" that goes with "set" also goes with "let" and "ran" (508-9). It was not uncommon for a priest in a parish in the country to rent the parish to a poorer priest, and take off to London to look for a better job, like saying mass every day for people who had died leaving money in their wills for that purpose (chantries for souls), or doing the light spiritual work for a brotherhood or fraternity of the kind to which the guildsmen belonged (see above 361-4). Our parson did not do this, but stayed in his parish and looked after his parishioners (sheep, fold) like a good shepherd. He ministers to his flock without any worldly ambition Wide was his parish and houses far asunder But he ne left not, for rain nor thunder did not fail In sickness nor in mischief, to visit The furthest in his parish, much and little, rich and poor 495 Upon his feet, and in his hand a stave. stick This noble example unto his sheep he gave That first he wrought and afterwards he taught: practiced Out of the gospel he those words caught And this figre he added eke thereto: saying 500 "That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" For if a priest be foul (in whom we trust) No wonder is a lewd man to rust layman And shame it is, if that a priest take keep, thinks about it A shitn shepherd and a clean sheep. a dirty He sets a good example and practises what he preaches 505 Well ought a priest example for to give By his cleanness, how that his sheep should live.

He sette not his benefice to hire his parish And let his sheep encumbred in the mire left (not) And ran to London unto Saint Paul's ran (not) 510 To seekn him a chantry for souls Or with a brotherhood to be withhold,1 hired But dwelt at home, and kept well his fold, So that the wolf ne made it not miscarry; He was a shepherd and not a mercenary. 515 And though he holy were and virtuous, He was to sinful men not despitous contemptuous Nor of his speech daungerous nor digne, cold nor haughty But in his teaching dscreet and benign. To drawn folk to heaven with fairness 520 By good example, this was his busness. CANTERBURY TALES 23 1 527-8: "He taught Christ's doctrine and that of His twelve apostles, but first he practised it himself." 2 540: The phrase seems to mean "from the wages for his work (swink), and the value of his property (chattel)" or possibly that he paid his tithes to the church partly in work, partly in kind. But it were any person obstinate, But if What so he were of high or low estate, Whether Him would he snibbn sharply for the nons. rebuke / occasion A better priest I trow there nowhere none is. I guess 525 He waited after no pomp and reverence did not expect Nor makd him a spicd conscence, oversubtle But Christ's lore, and his apostles' twelve teaching He taught, but first he followed it himself.1 His brother, the Plowman, probably the lowest in social rank on the pilgrimage is one of the highest in spirituality, the perfect lay Christian, the secular counterpart of his cleric brother. With him there was a PLOUGHMAN was his brother who was 530 That had y-laid of dung full many a fodder. spread / a load A true swinker and a good was he, worker Living in peace and perfect charity. God loved he best with all his whol heart At all tims, though him gamed or smart, pleased or hurt him 535 And then his neighbour right as himself. He would thresh, and thereto dike and delve ditch & dig For Christ's sake, with every poor wight person Withoutn hire, if it lay in his might. Without pay His tiths payd he full fair and well 10% of income 540 Both of his proper swink and his chattel.2 In a tabard he rode upon a mare. smock We now come to a group of rogues and churls with whom the poet amusingly lumps himself. You may well ask what some of these people are doing on a pilgrimage. There was also a REEVE and a MILLR A SUMMONER and a PARDONER also, A MANCIPLE and myself, there were no more. The Miller is a miller of other people's grain, who does not always give honest weight. He is a big, brawny, crude man whose idea of fun is smashing doors down with his head or telling

vulgar stories. 24 CANTERBURY TALES 1 550: "There was no door that he could not heave off its hinges (harre)." 2 563: A phrase hard to explain. It is sometimes said to allude to a saying that an honest miller had a thumb of gold, i.e. there is no such thing as an honest miller. But the phrase "And yet" after the information that the miller is a thief, would seem to preclude that meaning, or another that has been suggested: his thumb, held on the weighing scale, produced gold. 3 567: A manciple was a buying agent for a college or, as here, for one of the Inns of Court, the Temple, an association of lawyers, once the home of the Knights Templar. Clearly the meaning of the word "gentle" here as with the Pardoner later, has nothing to do with good breeding or "gentle" birth. Presumably it does not mean "gentle" in our sense either. Its connotations are hard to be sure of. See "ENDPAPERS." 545 The MILLER was a stout carl for the nones. strong fellow Full big he was of brawn and eke of bones & also That provd well, for over all there he came wherever At wrestling he would have always the ram. prize He was short-shouldered, broad, a thick knarre. rugged fellow 550 There was no door that he n'ould heave off harre1 Or break it at a running with his head. His beard as any sow or fox was red, And thereto broad as though it were a spade. And also Upon the copright of his nose he had tip 555 A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs Red as the bristles of a sow's ears. His nostrils black were and wide. A sword and buckler bore he by his side. shield His mouth as great was as a great furnace. 560 He was a jangler and a goliardese talker & joker And that was most of sin and harlotries. dirty talk Well could he stealen corn and tolln thrice, take triple toll And yet he had a thumb of gold pardee.2 by God A white coat and a blue hood weard he. 565 A bagpipe well could he blow and sound And therewithal he brought us out of town. with that The Manciple is in charge of buying provisions for a group of Lawyers in London, but is shrewder in his management than all of them put together. A gentle MANCIPLE was there of a temple3 Of which achatours might take example buyers For to be wise in buying of vitaille; victuals, food 570 For whether that he paid or took by taille by tally, on credit Algate he waited so in his achate Always / buying CANTERBURY TALES 25 1 576-583: He worked for more than thirty learned lawyers, at least a dozen of whom could manage the legal and financial affairs of any lord in England, and who could show him how to live up to his rank (in honor) within his income (debtless), unless he was mad; or how to live as frugally as he wished. 2 587: A reeve was a manager of a country estate. That he was aye before and in good state. always ahead Now is not that of God a full great grace

That such a lewd manne's wit shall pass uneducated / brains 575 The wisdom of a heap of learned men? Of masters had he more than thric ten more than thirty That were of law exprt and curious skilled Of which there were a dozen in that house Worthy to be stewards of rent and land 580 Of any lord that is in England To make him liv by his proper good on his own income In honor debtless, but if he were wood, unless he was mad Or live as scarcely as him list desire;1 frugally as he wished And able for to helpn all a shire capable / county 585 In any case that might fall or hap. befall or happen And yet this manciple set their aller cap. fooled all of them The Reeve is the shrewd manager of a country estate. Old and suspicious, he is also a choleric man, that is he has a short temper that matches his skinny frame. The REEV. was a slender, choleric man.2 irritable His beard was shaved as nigh as ever he can. as close His hair was by his ears full round y-shorn, shorn, cut 590 His top was dockd like a priest beforn. shaved / in front Full long were his leggs and full lean Y-like a staff; there was no calf y-seen. Well could he keep a garner and a bin; granary There was no auditor could on him win. fault him 595 Well wist he by the drought and by the rain knew he The yielding of his seed and of his grain. His lord's sheep, his neat, his dairy, cattle His swine, his horse, his store and his poultry "horse" is plur. Was wholly in this Reev's governing, 600 And by his covenant gave the reckoning contract / account Since that his lord was twenty years of age. There could no man bring him in rrearge. find / in arrears There was no bailiff, herd nor other hine herdsman or worker 26 CANTERBURY TALES 1 610-11: It is not clear whether the Reeve sometimes lends money to his master from his (i.e. the Reeve's) resources or from his lord's own resources but giving the impression that the Reeve is the lender. 2 623: A Summoner was a man who delivered summonses for alleged public sinners to appear at the Archdeacon's ecclesiastical court when accused of public immorality. The job offered opportunities for serious abuse such as bribery, extortion, and especially blackmail of those who went with prostitutes, many of whom the summoner used himself, and all of them in his pay. His disgusting physical appearance is meant to suggest his wretched spiritual condition. 3 624: Medieval artists painted the faces of cherubs red. The summoner is of course less cherubic than satanic, his appearance being evidence of his vices. 4 626: Sparrows were Venus's birds, considered lecherous presumably because they were so many. That he ne knew his sleight and his covine. tricks & deceit 605 They were adread of him as of the death. the plague

Though he has made sure that no one takes advantage of him, he seems to have taken advantage of his young lord. His woning was full fair upon a heath: His dwelling With green trees y-shadowed was his place. He could better than his lord purchase. Full rich he was astord privily. secretly 610 His lord well could he pleasn subtly To give and lend him of his own good,1 And have a thank and yet a coat and hood. And get thanks In youth he learnd had a good mystr: trade He was a well good wright, a carpentr. very good craftsman 615 This Reev sat upon a well good stot very good horse That was a pomely grey, and hight Scot. dappled / called A long surcoat of perse upon he had overcoat of blue And by his side he bore a rusty blade. Of Norfolk was this Reeve of which I tell 620 Beside a town men clepn Baldswell. call Tuckd he was, as is a friar, about, Rope-belted And ever he rode the hindrest of our rout. hindmost / group The unlovely Summoner, and his unsavory habits A SUMMONER was there with us in that place 2 That had a fire-red cherubinn's face,3 cherub's 625 For saucfleme he was with eyen narrow. leprous / eyes And hot he was and lecherous as a sparrow.4 CANTERBURY TALES 27 1 646: "The question is: What is the law?" This is a lawyer's phrase which the Summoner heard regularly in the archdeacon's court. 2 652: "Secretly he would enjoy a girl himself" or "He could do a clever trick." 3 662: The writ of excommunication began with the word "Significavit." With scald brows black, and pild beard, scaly / scraggly Of his visg children were afeared. There n'as quicksilver, litharge nor brimstone, was no 630 Boras, ceruse, nor oil of tartar none, [medications] Nor ointment that would cleanse and bite That him might helpn of his whelks white, boils Nor of the knobbs sitting on his cheeks. lumps Well loved he garlic, onion and eke leeks, & also 635 And for to drinkn strong wine red as blood; Then would he speak and cry as he were wood. mad And when that he well drunkn had the wine, Then would he speak no word but Latin. A few terms had he, two or three, knew 640 That he had learnd out of some decree. No wonder is; he heard it all the day. And eke you known well how that a jay also / jaybird Can clepn "Wat" as well as can the Pope. call out But whoso could in other things him grope, whoever / test 645 Then had he spent all his philosophy. learning Aye, "Questio quid juris" would he cry.1 "What is the law?" He was a gentle harlot, and a kind. rascal A better fellow should men not find: He would suffer for a quart of wine allow 650 A good fellow to have his concubine keep his mistress A twelvemonth, and excuse him at the full. let him off

Full privily a finch eke could he pull.2 secretly And if he found owhere a good fellow, anywhere He would teachn him to have no awe 655 In such a case, of the archdeacon's curse, But if a manne's soul were in his purse, Unless For in his purse he should y-punished be. "Purse is the archdeacon's hell," said he. But well I wot, he lid right indeed. I know 660 Of cursing ought each guilty man to dread, For curse will slay right as assoiling saveth absolution And also 'ware him of "Significavit." 3 let him beware 28 CANTERBURY TALES 1 664: girls probably meant "prostitutes," as it still can. See "Friars Tale," 1355 ff for further information on the activities of summoners. 2 667: A tavern "sign" was a large wreath or broom on a pole. Acting the buffoon, the Summoner has also turned a thin cake into a shield. 3 669: The Pardoner professes to give gullible people pardon for their sins in exchange for money, as well as a view of his pretended holy relics which will bring them blessings. He too is physically repellent. His high voice and beardlessness suggest that he is not a full man but something eunuch-like, again a metaphor for his sterile spiritual state. His headquarters were at Rouncival near Charing Cross in London. See ENDPAPERS; and also for "gentle". 4 672: The Pardoner's relationship to the Summoner is not obvious but appears to be sexual in some way. The rhyme Rome / to me may have been forced or comic even in Chaucer's day; it is impossible or ludicrous today. 5 685: vernicle: a badge with an image of Christ's face as it was believed to have been imprinted on the veil of Veronica when she wiped His face on the way to Calvary. Such badges were frequently sold to pilgrims. In daunger had he, at his own guise In his power / disposal The young girls of the diocese 1 665 And knew their counsel and was all their redde. secrets / adviser A garland had he set upon his head As great as it were for an alstake. tavern sign A buckler had he made him of a cake.2 shield With the disgusting Summoner is his friend, his singing partner and possibly his lover, the even more corrupt Pardoner With him there rode a gentle PARDONER 3 670 Of Rouncival, his friend and his compeer colleague That straight was comn from the court of Rome. had come directly Full loud he sang "Come hither love to me." 4 This Summoner bore to him a stiff burdoun. bass melody Was never trump of half so great a sound. trumpet 675 This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax But smooth it hung as does a strike of flax. hank By ounces hung his locks that he had, By strands And therewith he his shoulders overspread. But thin it lay, by colpons, one by one, clumps 680 But hood, for jollity, weard he none, For it was trussd up in his wallet: bag Him thought he rode all of the new jet, fashion Dishevelled; save his cap he rode all bare. W. hair loose

Such glaring eyen had he as a hare. eyes 685 A vernicle had he sewed upon his cap.5 CANTERBURY TALES 29 1 710: The offertory was that part of the Mass where the bread and wine were first offered by the priest. It was also the point at which the people made their offerings to the parish priest, and to the Pardoner when he was there. The prospect of money put him in good voice. His wallet lay before him in his lap bag Bretfull of pardons, come from Rome all hot. crammed A voice he had as small as hath a goat. thin No beard had he nor never should he have; 690 As smooth it was as it were late y-shave. recently shaved I trow he were a gelding or a mare. guess His "relics" But of his craft, from Berwick unto Ware trade Ne was there such another pardoner, For in his mail he had a pillowber bag / pillowcase 695 Which that he said was Our Lady's veil. O.L's = Virgin Mary's He said he had a gobbet of the sail piece That Saint Peter had when that he went Upon the sea, till Jesus Christ him hent. pulled him out He had a cross of latten full of stones brass 700 And in a glass he hadd piggs' bones. His skill in reading, preaching and extracting money from people But with these "relics" when that he [had] found A poor parson dwelling upon land, in the country Upon one day he got him more money Than that the parson got in months tway; two 705 And thus, with feignd flattery and japes tricks He made the parson and the people his apes. fools, dupes But truly, to telln at the last, the facts He was in church a noble ecclesiast. churchman Well could he read a lesson and a story. 710 But alderbest he sang an offertory 1 best of all For well he wist when that song was sung knew He must preach and well afile his tongue sharpen To winne silver as he full well could. knew how Therefore he sang the merrierly and loud. This is the end of the portraits of the pilgrims. 30 CANTERBURY TALES 1 726: "That you do not blame it on my bad manners." Villainy means conduct associated with villeins, the lowest social class. This apologia by Chaucer (725-742) is both comic and serious: comic because it apologizes for the way fictional characters behave as if they were real people and not Chaucer's creations; serious in that it shows Chaucer sensitive to the possibility that part of his audience might take offence at some of his characters, their words and tales, especially perhaps the parts highly critical of Church and churchmen, as well as the tales of sexual misbehavior. Even the poet Dryden (in the Restoration!) and some twentieth-century critics have thought the apology was needed. 715 Now have I told you soothly in a clause truly / briefly Th'estate, th'array, the number, and eke the cause rank / condition Why that assembled was this company

In Southwark at this gentle hostelry inn That hight The Tabard, fast by The Bell. was called / close 720 But now is tim to you for to tell How that we born us that ilk night conducted ourselves / same When we were in that hostelry alight; dismounted And after will I tell of our viage journey And all the remnant of our pilgrimage. The poet offers a comic apologia for the matter and language of some of the pilgrims. 725 But first I pray you of your courtesy That you n'arrette it not my villainy 1 blame / bad manners Though that I plainly speak in this matter To tell you their words and their cheer, behavior Not though I speak their words properly, exactly 730 For this you knowen all as well as I: as well Whoso shall tell a tale after a man He must rehearse as nigh as ever he can repeat as nearly Ever each a word, if it be in his charge, Every / if he is able All speak he ne'er so rudly and large, Even if / coarsely & freely 735 Or els must he tell his tale untrue Or feign things or findn words new. invent things He may not spare, although he were his brother. hold back He may as well say one word as another. Christ spoke himself full broad in Holy Writ very bluntly / Scripture 740 And well you wot no villainy is it. you know Eke Plato sayeth, whoso can him read: Also / whoever "The words must be cousin to the deed." Also I pray you to forgive it me All have I not set folk in their degree Although / social ranks 745 Here in this tale as that they should stand. My wit is short, you may well understand. My intelligence CANTERBURY TALES 31 1 747: "The Host had a warm welcome for every one of us." The Host is the innkeeper of The Tabard, Harry Bailly. After serving dinner, Harry Bailly, the fictional Host or owner of the Tabard Inn originates the idea for the Tales: Great cheer made our HOST us every one,1 welcome / for us And to the supper set he us anon. quickly He servd us with victuals at the best. the best food 750 Strong was the wine and well to drink us lest. it pleased us A seemly man our Host was withall fit For to be a marshall in a hall. master of ceremonies A larg man he was with eyen steep prominent eyes A fairer burgess was there none in Cheap. citizen / Cheapside 755 Bold of his speech and wise and well y-taught And of manhood him lackd right naught. Eke thereto he was right a merry man, And besides And after supper playn he began joking And spoke of mirth amongst other things, 760 (When that we had made our reckonings), paid our bills And said thus: "Now, lordings, truly ladies and g'men

You be to me right welcome heartily, For by my truth, if that I shall not lie, I saw not this year so merry a company 765 At onc in this harbor as is now. this inn Fain would I do you mirth, wist I how, Gladly / if I knew And of a mirth I am right now bethought amusement To do you ease, and it shall cost naught. You go to Canterbury, God you speed. 770 The blissful martyr 'quit you your meed. give you reward And well I wot, as you go by the way, I know / along the road You shapn you to taln and to play; intend to tell tales & jokes For truly, comfort nor mirth is none To ridn by the way dumb as a stone; 775 And therefore would I makn you desport amusement for you As I said erst, and do you some comfort. before And if you liketh all by one assent if you please For to standen at my judgment abide by And for to workn as I shall you say, 780 Tomorrow when you ridn by the way, 32 CANTERBURY TALES 1 781: "Now, by the soul of my dead father ..." 2 The host will be the Master of Ceremonies and judge. Anyone who revolts against the Host's rulings will have to pay what the others spend along the way. Now by my father's soul that is dead,1 But you be merry, I'll give you my head. If you're not Hold up your hands withoutn mor speech." Our counsel was not long for to seek. Our decision The pilgrims agree to hear his idea 785 Us thought it was not worth to make it wise, not worthwhile / difficult And granted him withoutn more advice, discussion And bade him say his verdict as him lest. as pleased him To pass the time pleasantly, every one will tell a couple of tales on the way out and a couple on the way back. "Lordings," quod he, "now hearkn for the best, Ladies & g'men But take it not, I pray you, in disdain. 790 This is the point -- to speakn short and plain: That each of you to shorten with our way In this viage, shall telln tals tway journey / two To Canterbury-ward, I mean it so, on the way to C. And homeward he shall telln other two 795 Of ventures that whilom have befall. events / in past The teller of the best tale will get a dinner paid for by all the others at Harry's inn, The Tabard, on the way back from Canterbury. He offers to go with them as a guide And which of you that bears him best of all, That is to say, that telleth in this case Tals of best sentnce and most solce, instruction / amusement Shall have a supper at our aller cost at expense of all of us 800 Here in this place, sitting by this post When that we come again from Canterbury. And for to makn you the mor merry I will myselfn goodly with you ride gladly

Right at mine own cost, and be your guide. 805 And whoso will my judgment withsay whoever / contradict Shall pay all that we spendn by the way, 2 on the trip CANTERBURY TALES 33 1 823: "He was the cock (rooster) for all of us." That is, he got us all up at cockcrow. 2 825-30: They set out at a gentle pace, and at the first watering place for the horses, (the watering of St. Thomas) the Host says: "Ladies and gentlemen, listen please. You know (wot) your agreement (forward), and I remind (record) you of it, if evening hymn and morning hymn agree," i.e. if what you said last night still holds this morning. And if you vouchesafe that it be so, agree Tell me anon withouten words mo' now / more And I will early shapn me therefore." prepare They all accept, agreeing that the Host be MC, and then they go to bed. 810 This thing was granted and our oaths swore With full glad heart, and prayd him also That he would vouchsafe for to do so agree And that he would be our governor And of our tals judge and reporter, 815 And set a supper at a certain price, And we will ruld be at his device direction In high and low; and thus by one assent We been accorded to his judgment. agreed And thereupon the wine was fetched anon. 820 We dranken, and to rest went each one Withoutn any longer tarrying. The next morning they set out and draw lots to see who shall tell the first tale. A-morrow, when the day began to spring Up rose our Host, and was our aller cock,1 And gathered us together in a flock, 825 And forth we rode a little more than pace no great speed Unto the watering of St Thomas. And there our Host began his horse arrest, halt And said: "Lordings, hearkn if you lest. if you please You wot your forward (and I it you record) promise / remind 830 If evensong and morrowsong accord.2 Let see now who shall tell the first tale. As ever may I drinkn wine or ale, Whoso be rebel to my judgment Whoever is Shall pay for all that by the way is spent. 835 Now drawth cut, ere that we further twinn; draw lots before we go 34 CANTERBURY TALES He which that has the shortest shall begin. Sir Knight," quod he, "my master and my lord, said he Now drawth cut, for that is mine accord. draw lots / wish Come near," quod he, "my lady Prioress. 840 And you, Sir Clerk, let be your shamefastness, shyness Nor study not. Lay hand to, every man." They all draw lots. It falls to the Knight to tell the first tale Anon to drawn every wight began person And shortly for to telln as it was, Were it by venture or sort or cas, Whether by fate, luck or fortune

845 The sooth is this, the cut fell to the knight, The truth / the lot Of which full blithe and glad was every wight. very happy / person And tell he must his tale as was reason By forward and by compositon By promise & contract As you have heard. What needeth words mo'? more 850 And when this good man saw that it was so, As he that wise was and obedient To keep his forward by his free assent, his agreement He said: "Since I shall begin the game, What! welcome be the cut, in God's name. 855 Now let us ride, and hearkn what I say." And with that word we ridn forth our way And he began with right a merry cheer with great good humor His tale anon, and said as you may hear. at once CANTERBURY TALES 35 ENDPAPERS / SPECIAL GLOSSARY AUTHORITY, Auctoritee, Authors: The literate in the Middle Ages were remarkably bookish in spite of or because of the scarcity of books. They had a great, perhaps inordinate, regard for "authority," that is, established "authors": philosophers of the ancient world, classical poets, the Bible, the Church Fathers, historians, theologians, etc. Citing an "authority" was then, as now, often a substitute for producing a good argument, and then, as now, always useful to bolster an argument. The opening line of the Wife of Bath's Prologue uses "authority" to mean something like "theory"--what you find in books-- as opposed to "experience"--what you find in life. CLERK: Strictly speaking a member of the clergy, either a priest or in the preliminary stages leading up to the priesthood, called "minor orders." Learning and even literacy were largely confined to such people, but anyone who who could read and write as well as someone who was genuinely learned could be called a clerk. A student, something in between, was also a clerk. The Wife of Bath marries for her fifth husband, a man who had been a clerk at Oxford, a student who had perhaps had ideas at one time of becoming a cleric. "CHURL, churlish": At the opposite end of the social scale and the scale of manners from "gentil" (See below). A "churl" (OE "ceorl") was a common man of low rank. Hence the manners to be expected from a person of such "low birth" were equally low and vulgar, "churlish." "Villain" and "villainy" are rough equivalents also used by Chaucer. COMPLEXION: See Humor below COURTESY, Courteous, Courtoisie, etc.: Courtesy was literally conduct appropriate to the court of the king or other worthy. This, no doubt, included our sense of "courtesy" but was wider in its application, referring to the manners of all well bred people. The Prioress's concern to "counterfeit cheer of court" presumably involves imitating all the mannerisms thought appropriate to courtiers. Sometimes it is used to mean something like right, i.e. moral, conduct.

DAUN, Don: Sir. A term of respect for nobles or for clerics like the monk. The Wife of Bath refers to the wise "king Daun Solomon," a place where it would be wise to leave the word untranslated. But Chaucer uses it also of Gervase, the blacksmith in the "Miller's Tale." And Spenser used it of Chaucer himself. DAUNGER, Daungerous: These do not mean modern "danger" and "dangerous." "Daunger" (from OF "daungier") meant power. The Summoner is said to have the prostitutes in his "daunger". In romantic tales it is the power that a woman had over a man who was sexually attracted by her. She 36 CANTERBURY TALES was his "Mistress" in the sense that she had power over him, often to refuse him the least sexual favor. Hence "daungerous" was a word often used of a woman who was "hard-to-get" or over-demanding or disdainful, haughty, aloof. "GENTLE, Gentil, Gentilesse, Gentleness: "Gentilesse" (Gentleness) is the quality of being "gentil" or "gentle" i.e. born into the upper class, and having "noble" qualities that were supposed to go with noble birth. It survives in the word "gentleman" especially in a phrase like "an officer & a gentleman" since officers traditionally were members of the ruling class. Chaucer seems to have had a healthy sceptical bourgeois view of the notion that "gentilesse" went always with "gentle" birth. See the lecture on the subject given by the "hag" in the Wife of Bath's Tale (1109-1176). But since "gentle" is used also to describe the Tabard Inn and the two greatest scoundrels on the pilgrimage, the Summoner and the Pardoner, one must suppose that it had a wide range of meanings, some of them perhaps ironic. HUMOR ( Lat. humor--fluid, moisture)./ COMPLEXION: Classical, medieval and Renaissance physiologists saw the human body as composed of four fluids or humors: yellow bile, black bile, blood and phlegm. Perfect physical health and intellectual excellence were seen as resulting from the presence of these four humors in proper balance and combination. Medieval philosophers and physiologists, seeing man as a microcosm, corresponded each bodily humor to one of the four elements--fire, water , earth, air. As Antony says of Brutus in Julius Caesar His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world "This was a man" (V,v,73-75). Pain or illness was attributed to an imbalance in these bodily fluids, and an overabundance of any single humor was thought to give a person a particular personality referred to as "humor" or "complexion." The correspondences went something like this: Fire--Yellow or Red Bile (Choler)--Choleric, i.e. prone to anger Earth-- Black Bile-- melancholic i.e. prone to sadness

Water-- Blood-- sanguine--inclined to cheerfulness, optimism Air -- Phlegm -- phlegmatic--prone to apathy, slow CANTERBURY TALES 37 Too much red bile or choler could make you have nightmares in which red things figured; with too much black bile you would dream about black monsters. (See Nun's Priest's Tale, ll. 4120-26). "Of his complexion he was sanguine" is said of the Franklin in the General Prologue. Similarly, "The Reeve was a slender choleric man" (G.P. 589). The Franklin's "complexion" (i.e. humor) makes him cheerful, and the Reeve's makes him cranky. A person's temperament was often visible in his face, hence our modern usage of "complexion." Even when the physiological theory of humors had long been abandoned, the word "humor" retained the meaning of "mood" or "personality." And we still speak of being in a good or bad humor. LORDINGS: Something like "Ladies and Gentlemen." The first citation in OED contrasts "lordings" with "underlings." "Lordings" is used by both the Host and the Pardoner to address the rest of the pilgrims, not one of whom is a lord, though the Host also calls them "lords." NONES: For the Nones; For the Nonce: literally "for the once," "for the occasion" , but this meaning often does not fit the context in Chaucer, where the expression is frequently untranslateable, and is used simply as a largely meaningless tag, sometimes just for the sake of the rime. PARDONER: The Church taught that one could get forgiveness for one's sins by confessing them to a priest, expressing genuine regret and a firm intention to mend one's ways. In God's name the priest granted absolution, and imposed some kind of penance for the sin. Instead of a physical penance like fasting, one might obtain an "indulgence" by, say, going on pilgrimage, or giving money to the poor or to another good cause like the building of a church. There were legitimate Church pardoners licenced to collect moneys of this kind and to assure the people in the name of the Church that their almsgiving entitled them to an "indulgence." Even with the best of intentions, this practice was liable to abuse. For "where there is money there is muck," and illegitimate pardoners abounded in spite of regular Church prohibitions. They were sometimes, presumably, helped by gullible or corrupt clerics for a fee or a share of the takings. Our Pardoner tells ignorant people that if they give money to a good cause--which he somehow represents-- they will be doing penance for their sins and can even omit the painful business of confession; that, in fact, he can absolve them from their sins for money. This was, of course, against all Church law and teaching. SHREW: "Shrew, shrewed, beshrew" occur constantly in the Tales and are particularly difficult to gloss. The reader is best off providing his own equivalent in phrases like "old dotard shrew' (291)

or "I beshrew thy face." SILLY, Sely: Originally in Old English "saelig" = "blessed." By ME it still sometimes seems to retain some of this sense. It also means something like "simple" , including perhaps "simpleminded" as in 38 CANTERBURY TALES the case of the Carpenter John in the "Millers Tale." The Host's reference to the "silly maid" after the Physician's Tale means something like "poor girl." and the "sely widow" of "Nuns Priests Tale" is a "poor widow" in the same sense. The Wife of Bath refers to the genital organ of the male as "his silly instrument." SUMMONER: A man who delivered summonses for accused people to appear before an ecclesiastical court for infringements of morals or of ecclesiastical laws. He operated in a society where sin and crime were not as sharply differentiated as they are in our society. This inevitably led to abuse. Our summoner abuses his position by committing the very sins he is supposed to be chastising. The Friars Tale, about a summoner, gives more details of the abuses: using information from prostitutes to blackmail clients; extracting money from others on the pretence that he had a summons when he had none, etc. SOLACE: Comfort, pleasure, often of a quite physical, indeed sexual, nature, though not exclusively so. WIT: Rarely if ever means a clever verbal and intellectual sally, as with us. It comes from the OE verb "witan," to know, and hence as a noun it means "knowledge" or "wisdom" "understanding" "comprehension," "mind," "intelligence" etc. The Knight: his Portrait and his Tale 1 1 45-6: "He loved everything that pertained to knighthood: truth (to one's word), honor, magnanimity (freedom), courtesy." 2 52-3: He had often occupied the seat of honor at the table of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, where badges awarded to distinguished crusaders read "Honneur vainc tout: Honor conquers all." Though the campaigns listed below were real, and though it was perhaps just possible for one man to have been in them all, the list is probably idealized. The exact geographical locations are of little interest today. This portrait is generally thought to show a man of unsullied ideals; Terry Jones insists that the knight was a mere mercenary. 3 63: "In single combat (listes) three times, and always (ay) killed his opponent." Here is the portrait of the Knight from the General Prologue The Knight is the person of highest social standing on the pilgrimage though you would never know it from his modest manner or his clothes. He keeps his ferocity for crusaders' battlefields where he has distinguished himself over many years and over a wide geographical area. As the text says, he is not "gay", that is, he is not showily dressed, but is still wearing the military

padded coat stained by the armor he has only recently taken off. A KNIGHT there was and that a worthy man That from the tim that he first began 45 To riden out, he lovd chivalry, Truth and honur, freedom and courtesy.1 Full worthy was he in his lord's war, lorde's = king's or God's And thereto had he ridden--no man farre farther As well in Christendom as Heatheness heathendom 50 And ever honoured for his worthiness. His campaigns At Alexandria he was when it was won. captured Full often times he had the board begun table Aboven all natons in Prussia.2 In Lithow had he reisd and in Russia Lithuania / fought 55 No Christian man so oft of his degree. rank In Grnad' at the siege eke had he be Granada / also Of Algesir and ridden in Belmarie. At Leys was he and at Satalie When they were won, and in the Great Sea Mediterranean 60 At many a noble army had he be. At mortal battles had he been fifteen And foughten for our faith at Tramissene In lists thric, and ay slain his foe.3 combat 3 times & always This ilk worthy knight had been also same 2 1 64-67: The knight had fought for one Saracen or pagan leader against another, a common, if dubious, practice. And ever more ... may mean he always kept the highest reputation or that he always came away with a splendid reward or booty (prize).. 2 70-71: Notice quadruple negative: "ne, never, no ... no" used for emphasis, perhaps deliberately excessive emphasis. It is not bad grammar. The four negatives remain in Ellesmer's slightly different version: "He never yet no villainy ne said ... unto no manner wight" 3 74: "He (the Knight) was not fashionably dressed." horse was: most MSS read hors weere(n) = "horses were." I have preferred the reading of MS Lansdowne. 4 75-78: The poor state of the knight's clothes is generally interpreted to indicate his pious anxiety to fulfill a religious duty even before he has had a chance to change his clothes. Jones thinks it simply confirms that the knight was a mercenary who had pawned his armor. voyage: MSS have viage. Blessed viage was the term often used for the holy war of the crusades. 65 Sometim with the lord of Palatie Against another heathen in Turkey, And ever more he had a sovereign prize,1 always His modest demeanor And though that he was worthy he was wise, valiant / sensible And of his port as meek as is a maid. deportment 70 Ne never yet no villainy he said rudeness In all his life unto no manner wight.2 no kind of person He was a very perfect gentle knight. But for to tellen you of his array: His horse was good; but he was not gay.3 well dressed 75 Of fustian he weard a gipoun coarse cloth / tunic

All besmotered with his habergeon, stained / mail For he was late y-come from his voyge, just come / journey And went for to do his pilgrimge.4 _____________________________________ To recapitulate what was said at the end of the General Prologue: After serving dinner, Harry Bailly, the fictional Host, owner of the Tabard Inn, originates the idea for the Tales: to pass the time pleasantly, every one will tell a couple of tales on the way out and a couple on the way back. The teller of the best tale will get a dinner paid for by all the others at Harry's inn, The Tabard, on the way back from Canterbury. He offers to go with them as a guide. They all accept, agreeing that the Host be MC. The next morning they set out and draw lots to see who shall tell the first tale. 3 The Host: ?Let see now who shall tell the first tale. As ever may I drinkn wine or ale, Whoso be rebel to my judgment Whoever is Shall pay for all that by the way is spent. 835 Now drawth cut, ere that we further twinn; draw lots before we go He which that has the shortest shall begin. Sir Knight," quod he, "my master and my lord, said he Now drawth cut, for that is mine accord. draw lots / wish Come near," quod he, "my lady Prioress. 840 And you, Sir Clerk, let be your shamefastness, shyness Nor study not. Lay hand to, every man." They all draw lots. Anon to drawn every wight began person And shortly for to telln as it was, Were it by venture or sort or cas, Whether by fate, luck or fortune 845 The sooth is this, the cut fell to the knight, The truth / the lot Of which full blithe and glad was every wight. very happy / person And tell he must his tale as was reason By forward and by compositon By agreement & contract As you have heard. What needeth words mo' ? more 850 And when this good man saw that it was so, As he that wise was and obedient To keep his forward by his free assent, his agreement He said: "Since I shall begin the game, What! welcome be the cut, in God's name. 855 Now let us ride, and hearkn what I say." and listen And with that word we ridn forth our way And he began with right a merry cheer with great good humor His tale anon, and said as you may hear. at once 1 THE KNIGHT'S TALE Introduction Having drawn the lot to decide who is going to tell the first tale on the road to Canterbury, the Knight proceeds to tell the longest of all the tales in verse. It is, at least on the surface, a

Romance; that is, in medieval terms, a tale of love and war, or as we might put it, sex and violence. But the sex here is a matter of convention rather than act, and in no way erotic or earthy as it is in other tales. The violence that we see is ordered and ritualistic, conducted according to rule; the violence that we do not see but hear about, is perhaps less ordered and rule-bound. There is not much "romance" in any modern sense of the word, and the tale appeals to something other than to the softer emotions. At the beginning we see quite clearly the connected topics of sex and force: Theseus has won himself a bride by violence, and without a trace of erotic passion--just a war prize, as far as we can see. He has conquered the Amazons, a race of single women warriors, and has taken their leader as his wife; the violence is passed over as a sort of given, and we begin with the "lived happily ever after" part; which is the wrong way to begin a romance, and one good reason for wanting to label the tale in some other way. This may seem overstated, because it is hard to detect any overt note of questioning within the text itself. At first perhaps the critical question only lurks at the back of the mind, but the accumulation of the rest of the tale brings it to the forefront: Is this tale really a romance designed to entertain by celebrating love and valor? Or is it something more? To begin at the beginning: on the way home from his victorious war against the Amazons, to live happily ever after, Theseus, Duke of Athens, is shocked to hear of another conqueror's behavior: the widows from another war (presumably there were no widows of Theseus's war) complain piteously that Creon of Thebes will not allow them to bury their dead men, a nasty habit of Creon's. So the conquering hero turns around, starts and finishes another widow-making war, so CANTERBURY TALES 2 that even more widows can now live happily ever after, manless like Amazons. The act is at once his homecoming gift to his bride, the manned and tamed Amazon, Hippolyta, who proceeds obediently and placidly to Athens; and at the same time his sacrifice to the minotaur, War. For inside that much-admired construction, The Knight's Tale, lurks a Minotaur, not Picasso's versionlustful and savage but vital; this one is legal but lethal. It demands human sacrifice, a fearful and equivocal attraction to men who make offerings by war and related cruelties. Theseus feasts the monster once more, "sparing" only the lives of two young wifeless nobles whom he throws into prison for life. Where, unlikely enough, "romance" begins, in spite of stone walls and iron bars which do not a prison make in that they do not subdue in the young knights the same drives that impel Theseus: lust and war. Or perhaps more accurately the Lust for War, since the sexual lust in the tale is

largely conventional. This is no tale of Lancelot or Tristan who consummate their love as frequently as adverse circumstance permits. The two young prisoners fall for Emily at the same time, quite literally love at first sight, and promptly fall to battling over who shall possess this female that one of them thinks is a goddess. And the tale has shown that a virgin or a goddess is as good an excuse for a fight as a widow. Emily is not there to make love to, but to make war over. When they both get free, they know only one way to settle their dilemma: a bloody fight. And when Theseus finds them fighting illegally in his territory, he knows one way to deal with the problem: a sentence of death. But under pressure from the women, who think that being fought over is touching, he decrees a LEGAL fight, a tournament, even more violent and bloody than the one he has just stopped. The first move of this great expositor of The First Mover is always violent. There is a lot of Fortitudo (physical Courage) but little Sapientia (Wisdom) in this ruler who is taken as the ideal by so many critics. Surely we are to take ironically the concession to Sapientia, his "moderation" at the opening of the tournament (1679-1706), when he forbids pole-axe and shortsword, and allows only longsword and mace! And (real restraint) only one ride with a sharp-ground spear, which, however, the fighter may continue to use if he is unhorsed. No wonder the people cry out: God save such a lord that is so good KNIGHT'S TALE 3 He willeth no destruction of blood. (1705-06) Indeed! One critic interprets rather differently: "Acknowledging with true wisdom the limitations of human control, Theseus eschews making the choice himself, [of Emily's husband]; not denying or combatting the role of chance, he merely provides a civilized context within which it can operate." [Jill Mann, "Chance and Destiny" in Cambridge Chaucer Companion, (Cambridge: C.U.P., 1986), p. 88]. He is hardly a wise ruler who cannot even choose a husband for his ward, unlike any Squire Paston; instead he leaves it to the "chance" outcome of a bloody tournament, which is his very deliberate choice; this arrangement can hardly be called without irony a "civilized context." It makes "civilization" consist in ordered violence which everyone can watch on the holiday declared for the occasion. Is not part of Chaucer's comment on this "civilization" the use of alliteration to describe the battle, a stylistic device he elsewhere dismisses as uncivilized "rum, ram, ruf," fit only for describing a barnyard row or a murderous melee? Professor J.A. Burrow makes the same curious claim about civilized conduct in the same book (p. 121-2): "the tournament, the obsequies for Arcite, the parliament . . . represent man's attempts

to accommodate and civilize the anarchic and inescapable facts of aggression, death and love, as social life requires." If there is, as Burrow claims, a political dimension to this "romance," conducting a war to seize a bride or to avenge a small group of widows for a sin that must have struck a 14th-century English audience as venialthis sort of behavior hardly "manifests a concern for matters of foreign relations" in any sense that most of us would accept, or which, perhaps, one 14th-century soldier-poet-diplomat could accept. Were the wars in which Geoffrey Chaucer himself had taken part--or his Knight narrator--any better motivated than those of Theseus? Is this poem partly Chaucer's thoughtful response to organized royal violence in his medieval world, particularly the wars of his own ruler, Edward III? If so, it might account in part for why he, a master of characterization, makes so little attempt in this tale to make the characters anything other than representative. They do not, for example, CANTERBURY TALES 4 have conversations; they make speeches, generally quite lengthy. The closest the young knights get to normal conversation is when they quarrel over Emily: they hurl abuse, accusations and challenges at each other, not so much a conversation as a flyting, the verbal equivalent of the single combat or tournament. For Palamon and Arcite are semi-allegorical rather than realistic characters. They are two Young Men smitten with Love for a Young Woman, as Young Men should be in Romances. Although they are natural cousins and Sworn Brothers in a warrior class, they quarrel over who shall have the Young Woman, and come to blows over the matter. An attempt to arbitrate the dispute in a Trial by Combat is arranged by an Older and Wiser Knight, Theseus. Arcite prays to his patron Mars to grant him Victory in the fight; Palamon prays to Venus to win the Young Woman, and the Young Woman prays to be left alone. The prayers are ritualistic and studied, the product or container of ideas rather than the passionate pleas of fully realized characters. The incompatibility of their prayers inevitably raises the question for Christian readers about the outcome of competing requests by people who ask God for opposing things. Presumably even God cannot grant every petition. And does He want to? Does He care? Does a just and wise God rule this world at all? What is mankind more unto you hold Than is the sheep that rowketh in the fold (huddles) For slain is man right as another beast . . . What governance is in this prescience That guiltless tormenteth innocence? (1307-14) The plot is mildly absurd, a fact that occurs even to one of the characters for a moment; he sees

that he and his opponent are fighting like dogs over a bone which neither can win. And Theseus has a moment of mockery of two men fighting over a woman who knows no more about their dispute than "does a cuckoo or a hare." But for the most part this realization does not interfere with the mechanical progress of the narrative. This is not lack of ingenuity on the part of a poet who is capable of devilishly ingenious plots. Here the plot seems to function mostly to carry something else ideas or questions about Destiny, Fortune, free will, war, prayer, the existence of God, the power of lust, the frailty of vows, and so on. KNIGHT'S TALE 5 At one point Arcite glimpses something for a moment when he gets his desire to be let out of prison and then laments it: We knowen not what that we prayen here. This realization does not dissuade him later from praying for Victory the night before the tournament, although his previous wish has been granted without divine intervention, and he was unhappy with it anyway. Earlier Palamon also had knelt to Venus and prayed in vain for release from prison (1103 ff). Now, some years later, he too has escaped without any supernatural help, but once more he prays to the same Venus to win the lady. And they all pray in temples whose paintings show the influence of the gods to be almost universally malevolent. So, it would appear that prayer is at best pointless, at worst harmful. The gods Mars and Venus quarrel over what is to be the result of these prayers, and the case is determined by an Older Wiser God, Saturn, who assures everybody that all will get what they have asked for. The mirroring of the human situation in the "divine" is evident and not reassuring. The gods seem to be nothing more than reflections of the minds of the humans involvedmade in the human image in fact, bickering and quarreling, and eventually solving the dilemma not with Godlike wisdom but by a rather shabby trick or "an elegant sophism" depending on your point of view. Some readers take comfort from the speeches near the end of the tale by Theseus and his father about the general benevolence of The First Mover, who sees to it that everything works out for the best, even though we do not always see it. Others consider the speeches to be of the post-prandial variety, full of sound and platitude, signifying nothing: "Every living thing must die," and "Make virtue of necessity." This is not deep philosophy. But it allows the tale to end, however shakily, as all romances should end with the marriage of the knight and his princess, who live happily ever after. CANTERBURY TALES 6 Some notes on versification of this first tale (and others) Some lines simply will not read smoothy in either modspell or old spelling, some only if the

modspell is so modified as to be grotesque: putting stress on the second syllable of lookng or upwrd, for example, as in line 2679 (see below). In some cases one cannot be sure how the rhythm was meant to go, and so I have left words unmarked; readers will have to exercise to their own judgement. In some place I have taken a chance and marked syllables even if the stress seems a little awkward. Rigid consistency has not seemed appropriate. And the reader is the final judge. Stress & Pronunciation of Proper and common nouns: Clearly the names of the protagonists could be spelled, stressed and pronounced in different ways depending on metrical and other needs: Arcite: 2 syllables in 1145 & 1032 (rhymes with quite) ; 3 syllables: Arcta 1013,1112; 1152 rcit. 2256 & 2258 have Arcita in MSS. The first has stress on syllable #1 rcita; the second on syllable #2 Arcta. Emily (1068), Emelia (1078) Palamon 1031, Palamoun 1070 both reflecting the MSS Sturnus (2443); Satrn 2450, and 2453 rhyming with to turn Fortne (915), Frtune (925 1977: trees possibly has two syllables but I have not marked the word because that seems a trifle grotesque; however, I have marked stubbs in the next line for two syllables because that seems more acceptable. KNIGHT'S TALE 7 1235-6: aventre / dure; 1239-40: absnce / presnce 1241-2: able / changeable. Clearly the last syllable of changeable is stressed but I have not marked it. In 2239 I marked the second syllable of victry but did not do so six lines later when vctory is equally possible in reading. 1609: I keep battail for rhyme with fail 1787-8: With some trepidation I have marked obstcles / mircles to show how the stress should go rather than as a guide for correct pronunciation. 1975 should have forst to have at least a half-rhyme with beast, but I have not marked it. 2039/40: old / would do not rhyme ; in Shakespeare's Venus & Adonis should rhymes with cool'd 2321 & 2333-6: the word Queint recurs meaning both quenched and quaint (strange)2333. I have kept queint / quaint at 2333-4, partly for the rhyme, and partly because of clear word play. Even in mid line queint rather than quenched is kept because of the possiblility of further wordplay causes me to keep. 2259: I have prayer rhyming with dear; the accent should come on the second syllable of prayer, French fashion, as one might naturally do with the original spelling preyere. But I have not marked it. Similarly with 2267. But in 2332 I have marked it. 2290: The necessary change from coroune to crown leaves an irremediable gap of one syllable.

2487/8: service/ rise I have made no attempt to mark the second syllable of service which needs to be stressed. Similarly 2685 has unmarked request where the meter demands a stress on the first syllable 2679: Lokynge upward upon this Emelye might be scanned rigidly with stresses on -ynge and CANTERBURY TALES 8 -ward in strict iambic meter, and indeed if one does not do so, the line limps a bit. But who would dare to do so even with Middle English spelling and pronunciation? Most will take the limp or pronounce upon as 'pon or on (as I have done) , rather than stress two succeeding words in a way that does such violence to our ideas of word stress. lookng and upwrd are quite impossible, in modern dress at any rate. obstcles / mircles, above, are not much better. 2811-12: the ME divinistre / registre was probably pronounced French fashion with the stress -stre 2789-90: knighthood / kindred do not rhyme. There is no reasonable way to change this. KNIGHT'S TALE 9 THE KNIGHT'S TALE Part One Theseus, duke of Athens, returns victorious from a war against the Amazons, with one of them as his wife Whilom, as old stories tellen us, W = Once upon a time 860 There was a duke that hight Theseus: was called Of Athens he was lord and governor, And in his tim such a conqueror That greater was there none under the sun. Full many a rich country had he won: 865 What with his wisdom and his chivalry, He conquered all the reign of feminy, realm of Amazons That whilom was y-clepd Scythia, once was called And wedded the queen Hyppolita, And brought her home with him in his country, 870 With much glory and great solemnity, And eke her young sister Emily. also And thus with victory and melody Let I this noble duke to Athens ride, And all his host in arms him beside. 875 And certs, if it n'ere too long to hear, certainly / weren't I would have told you fully the mannr How wonnen was the reign of feminy conquered / realm By Theseus and by his chivalry, And of the great battle, for the nones, on the occasion 880 Betwixen Athens and the Amazons, And how besiegd was Hippolyta, The fair, hardy Queen of Scythia, And of the feast that was at their wedding, And of the tempest at their home-coming. 885 But all that thing I must as now forbear. I have, God wot, a larg field to ere, God knows / to plough And weak be the oxen in my plough; CANTERBURY TALES 10 The remnant of the tale is long enough.

I will not letten eke none of this rout; delay / this group 890 Let every fellow tell his tale about, And let's see now who shall the supper win, And where I left I will again begin. The weeping widows of Thebes ask his intervention against Creon This duke of whom I mak menton, When he was comen almost to the town 895 In all his weal and in his most pride, success / great pride He was 'ware as he cast his eye aside looked aside Where that there kneeld in the high way A company of ladies, tway and tway, two by two Each after other, clad in cloths black. 900 But such a cry and such a woe they make That in this world n'is creature living = ne is = is not That heard such another waymenting; lamenting And of this cry they would not ever stent stop Till they the reins of his bridle hent. caught 905 "What folk be ye that at mine home-coming Perturben so my feast with crying?" disturb Quod Theseus. "Have you so great envy Of mine honor, that thus complain and cry? Or who has you misboden or offended? threatened 910 And telleth me if it may be amended And why that you be clothd thus in black." The eldest lady of them all spake, When she had swoond with a deadly cheer, deathly look That it was ruth for to see and hear. pitiful 915 She said: "Lord to whom Fortne has given Victory, and as a conqueror to liven, Nought grieveth us your glory and your honour, But we beseechen mercy and succour. help Have mercy on our woe and our distress! 920 Some drop of pity, through thy gentleness, Upon us wretched women let thou fall! For certs, lord, there is none of us all certainly That she n'ath been a duchess or a queen. hasn't been KNIGHT'S TALE 11 1 926: Fortune was often portrayed as spinning a wheel on which people clung, some on the way up, some on the way down, some totally "downcast," but only onr at the top, however briefly. The wheel spins at Fortune's whim, so no one is assured of continual success. 2 933: "To starve" meant to die, not necessarily of hunger. Now be we caitives, as it is well seen, outcasts 925 Thankd be Fortune and her fals wheel, That no estate assureth to be well.1 Now certs, lord, to abiden your presnce, await Here in this temple of the goddess Clemnce Mercy We have been waiting all this fortnight. 2 weeks 930 Now help us, lord, since it is in thy might. I, wretch, which that weep and wail thus, Was whilom wife to King Cappaneus was once That starved at Thebs--cursd be that day!2 Who died at And all we that be in this array condition 935 And maken all this lamentaton, We losten all our husbands at that town, While that the sieg thereabout lay. And yet now old Creon, welaway! alas! That lord is now of Thebs the city,

940 Fulfilled of ire and of iniquity-- of anger & evil He, for despite and for his tyranny, spite To do the dead bodies villainy dishonor Of all our lords which that been y-slaw, husbands / slain Has all the bodies on a heap y-draw, 945 And will not suffer them by no assent not allow Neither to be y-buried nor y-brent, nor burned But maketh hounds eat them in despite!" in spite And with that word, withouten more respite, delay They fellen gruf and crid piteously: prostrate 950 "Have on us wretched women some mercy, And let our sorrow sink into thy heart!" This gentle duke down from his courser start his horse / jumped With heart piteous when he heard them speak. Him thought that his heart would all to-break break apart Theseus complies with their wish CANTERBURY TALES 12 955 When he saw them so piteous and so mate, defeated (as in chess) That whilom weren of so great estate. once were And in his arms he them all up hent, lifted up And them comfrteth in full good intent, And swore his oath, as he was tru knight, 960 He would do so ferforthly his might do his best Upon the tyrant Creon them to wreak, avenge That all the people of Greec should speak How Creon was of Theseus y-served by Theseus treated As he that had his death full well deserved. 965 And right anon withouten more abode right away / delay His banner he displayeth and forth rode To Thebs-ward, and all his host beside. his army No nearer Athens would he go nor ride walk nor ride Nor take his eas fully half a day, 970 But onward on his way that night he lay, camped And sent anon Hippolyta the queen, And Emily her young sister sheen, shining, lovely Unto the town of Athens there to dwell, And forth he rides. There is no more to tell. 975 The red statue of Mars with spear and targe shield So shineth in his whit banner large That all the fields glittered up and down. And by his banner borne is his penoun standard Of gold full rich, in which there was y-beat hammered 980 The Minotaur, which that he won in Crete. he overcame Thus rides this duke, thus rides this conqueror, And in his host of chivalry the flower, Till that he came to Thebs and alight dismounted Fair in a field there as he thought to fight. intended to After his victory over Creon, Theseus imprisons two wounded young Theban nobles 985 But shortly for to speaken of this thing, With Creon which that was of Thebs king who was He fought, and slew him manly as a knight In plain bataille, and put the folk to flight. open battle And by assault he won the city after, KNIGHT'S TALE 13 1 1005-08: "Ransacking the heap of dead bodies, stripping them of their armor and clothes, the pillagers were busy after the battle and defeat."

2 1013: Arcita: The names of some of the characters occur in more than one form, generally to accommodate rime or rhythm: Arcite / Arcita, Emily / Emelia, Palamon / Palamoun 990 And rent adown both wall and spar and rafter, beam And to the ladies he restored again The bons of their husbands that were slain, To do obsquies as was then the guise, the custom But it were all too long for to devise describe 995 The great clamour and the waymenting lamentation That the ladies made at the burning Of the bodies, and the great honour That Theseus, the noble conqueror, Doth to the ladies when they from him went. 1000 But shortly for to tell is my intent. When that this worthy duke, this Theseus, Has Creon slain and wonn Thebs thus, Still in that field he took all night his rest, And did with all the country as him lest. as he pleased 1005 To ransack in the tass of bodies dead, heap Them for to strip of harness and of weed, armor & clothes The pillers diden busness and cure pillagers After the battle and discomfiture. 1 defeat And so befell that in the tass they found, in the heap 1010 Through-girt with many a grievous bloody wound, shot through Two young knights, lying by and by, side by side Both in one arms wrought full richly; same coat of arms Of which two, Arcta hight that one, 2 one was called And that other knight hight Palamon. 1015 Not fully quick nor fully dead they were; fully alive But by their coat-armor and by their gear The heralds knew them best in specal noticed specially As they that weren of the blood royl Of Thebs, and of sisters two y-born. 1020 Out of the tass the pillers have them torn heap / pillagers And have them carried soft unto the tent Of Theseus, and he full soon them sent CANTERBURY TALES 14 To Athens to dwellen in prison Perpetually--them would he not ransom. 1025 And when this worthy duke has thus y-done, He took his host and home he rides anon, army / promptly With laurel crownd as a conqueror. And there he lives in joy and in honor Term of his life. What needeth words more? Emily, Hippolyta's sister, walks in the spring garden 1030 And in a tower, in anguish and in woe, Dwellen this Palamon and eke Arcite also For evermore; there may no gold them quite. ransom This passeth year by year and day by day, Till it fell once in a morrow of May morning 1035 That Emily, that fairer was to seen Than is the lily upon its stalk green, And fresher than the May with flowers new (For with the ros colour strove her hue; I n'ot which was the fairer of them two) I don't know 1040 Ere it were day, as was her wont to do, her custom She was arisen and already dight, dressed For May will have no sluggardy a-night. lie-abeds The season pricketh every gentle heart,

And maketh it out of its sleep to start, 1045 And saith, "Arise and do thine observnce." This maketh Emily have rmembrnce To do honor to May and for to rise. Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise: to perfection Her yellow hair was braided in a tress 1050 Behind her back a yard long, I guess, And in the garden at the sun uprist sunrise She walketh up and down, and as her list as she pleased She gathers flowers parti-white and red half and half To make a subtle garland for her head, 1055 And as an angel heavenishly she sung. Palamon falls in love with Emily on seeing her from his prison KNIGHT'S TALE 15 The great tower that was so thick and strong Which of the castle was the chief dungeon, There as the knights weren in prison (Of which I told you and tellen shall) 1060 Was even joinant to the garden wall adjoining There as this Emily had her playing. diversion Bright was the sun and clear in that morning, And Palamon, this woeful prisoner, As was his wont by leave of his jailor, 1065 Was risen and roamd in a chamber on high, In which he all the noble city saw, And eke the garden full of branches green, also There as the fresh Emily the sheen the bright Was in her walk and roamd up and down. 1070 This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamoun, Goes in the chamber roaming to and fro, And to himself complaining of his woe. That he was born, full oft he said: "Alas!" And so befell, by venture or cas, chance or destiny 1075 That through a window thick of many a bar Of iron great and square as any spar, He cast his eye upon Emelia And therewithal he blanched and crid "Ah!" As though he stungen were unto the heart. 1080 And with that cry Arcite anon up start immediately And said: "Cousin mine, what aileth thee That art so pale and deadly on to see? Why criedst thou? Who has thee done offence? For God's love, take all in patence 1085 Our prison, for it may none other be. imprisonment Fortune has given us this adversity. Some wicked aspect or disposition Of Saturn, by some constellation, Has given us this, although we had it sworn. like it or not 1090 So stood the heavens when that we were born. CANTERBURY TALES 16 1 1086-91: "The conjunction of planets and stars at our birth, particularly the malignant influence of Saturn, has destined our misfortune, whether we like it or not. So we must put up with it." 2 1094: "You have a totally wrong idea about this." 3 1097: A common metaphor for love at first sight was the image of the god of Love shooting the lover through the eye with his arrow. We must endure it; this is the short and plain." 1 This Palamon answered and said again:

"Cousin, forsooth, of this opinon Thou hast a vain imaginaton.2 wrong idea 1095 This prison causd me not for to cry, But I was hurt right now throughout mine eye through Into mine heart,3 that will my ban be. my death The fairness of that lady that I see Yond in the garden roaming to and fro 1100 Is cause of all my crying and my woe. I n'ot whether she be woman or goddess, I don't know But Venus is it soothly, as I guess." And therewithal down on his knees he fell And said: "Venus, if it be thy will 1105 You in this garden thus to transfigre t. (yourself) Before me, sorrowful, wretched cratre, Out of this prison help that we may 'scape And if so be my destiny be shape By tern word to dien in prison, 1110 Of our lineage have some compasson, That is so low y-brought by tyranny." His kinsman Arcite is also stricken by sight of Emily And with that word Arcit gan espy Whereas this lady roamd to and fro, And with that sight her beauty hurt him so 1115 That if that Palamon was wounded sore, Arcite is hurt as much as he or more. And with a sigh he said piteously: "The fresh beauty slays me suddenly KNIGHT'S TALE 17 1 1125-7: "Are you saying this seriously or in jest?" "Seriously, I assure you, " said A. " I am in no mood for joking." Of her that roameth in the yonder place, 1120 And but I have her mercy and her grace, unless / favor That I may see her at the least way, I n'am but dead: there is no more to say." as good as dead They quarrel This Palamon, when he those words heard, Despitously he lookd and answered: angrily 1125 "Whether sayst thou this in earnest or in play?" or in jest "Nay," quod Arcite, "in earnest, by my fay. on my word God help me so, me list full evil play." 1 This Palamon gan knit his brows tway: two "It were to thee," quod he, "no great honour 1130 For to be false, nor for to be traitor To me, that am thy cousin and thy brother Y-sworn full deep, and each of us to other, That never, for to dien in the pain, in torture Till that the death departen shall us twain, part us two 1135 Neither of us in love to hinder other, Nor in no other case, my lev brother, my dear But that thou shouldst truly further me In every case, as I shall further thee. This was thine oath, and mine also, certin. 1140 I wot right well thou darest it not withsayn. I know / deny Thus art thou of my counsel out of doubt, you know my secret And now thou wouldest falsely be about To love my lady whom I love and serve, And ever shall till that mine heart starve. die

1145 Now certs, false Arcite, thou shalt not so. certainly I loved her first, and told to thee my woe As to my counsel and my brother sworn my confidant To further me, as I have told beforn. For which thou art y-bounden as a knight 1150 To help me, if it lie in thy might, CANTERBURY TALES 18 1 1155-59: Arcite is making a "theological" distinction: he says that he fell in love with a woman; Palamon, however, did not know just now whether Emily was a woman or goddess, so his is a kind of divine love! 2 1169: "A man has to love whether he wants to or not", literally "A man must love in spite of his head." Or els thou art false, I dare well sayn." This rcit full proudly spoke again: "Thou shalt," quod he, "be rather false than I; And thou art false, I tell thee, utterly. 1155 For par amour I loved her first ere thou. For, as a lover What wilt thou say? Thou wistest not yet now just now didn't know Whether she be a woman or goddess: Thine is affecton of holiness, And mine is love as to cretre, 1 1160 For which I told to thee mine ventre, As to my cousin and my brother sworn. I pos that thou lovedest her beforn: Let's suppose Wost thou not well the old clerk's saw, scholar's saying That `Who shall give a lover any law?' Boeth. III, m 12 1165 Love is a greater law, by my pan, my head Than may be give to any earthly man; And therefore positive law and such decree man-made laws Is broke alday for love in each degree. every day / all levels A man must needs love, maugre his head:2 1170 He may not flee it though he should be dead, Al be she maiden, widow, or else wife. Whether she is One of them sees the absurdity of their quarrel And eke it is not likely all thy life To standen in her grace. No more shall I, her favor For well thou wost thyselfen, verily you know well 1175 That thou and I be damnd to prison condemned Perpetually; us gaineth no ransom. we won't get We strive as did the hounds for the bone; They fought all day, and yet their part was none; There came a kite, while that they were so wroth bird of prey / angry KNIGHT'S TALE 19 1 1201: Is the speaker here the Knight or Chaucer? 1180 That bore away the bone bitwixt them both. And therefore, at the king's court, my brother, Each man for himself. There is no other. Love if thee list, for I love and aye shall. if you like / always And soothly, lev brother, this is all. truly, dear brother 1185 Here in this prison must we endure And ever each of us take his ventre." chance One of them is released Great was the strife and long bitwixt them tway, two If that I hadd leisure for to say; But to th'effect. It happened on a day, To get on w. story 1190 To tell it you as shortly as I may,

A worthy duke that hight Perotheus, who was called That fellow was unto duke Theseus friend Since thilk day that they were children lit, that d. / little Was come to Athens his fellow to visit, 1195 And for to play, as he was wont to do; amuse himself For in this world he lovd no man so, And he loved him as tenderly again. So well they loved, as old books sayn, That when that one was dead, soothly to tell, truth to tell 1200 His fellow went and sought him down in hell. But of that story list me not to write.1 I don't want to Duke Perotheus lovd well Arcite, And had him known at Thebs year by year And finally at request and prayer 1205 Of Perotheus, withouten any ransom Duke Theseus him let out of prison Freely to go where that him list overall, anywhere he liked In such a guise as I you tellen shall. w. such condition This was the forward, plainly for t'endite agreement / write 1210 Bitwixen Theseus and him Arcite: That if so were that Arcite were y-found Ever in his life, by day or night, one stound, for one hour CANTERBURY TALES 20 In any country of this Theseus, And he were caught, it was accorded thus: agreed 1215 That with a sword he should lose his head. There was no other remedy nor redd, help But took his leave, and homeward he him sped. Let him beware; his neck lieth to wed. at risk Arcite laments his release How great a sorrow suffers now Arcite! 1220 The death he feeleth through his heart smite. He weepeth, waileth, crieth piteously; To slay himself he waiteth privily. He said, "Alas, the day that I was born! Now is my prison wors than beforn; 1225 Now is me shape eternally to dwell I am fated Not in purgatry, but in hell! Alas, that ever I knew Perotheus, For els had I dwelled with Theseus, Y-fettered in his prison evermo'. 1230 Then had I been in bliss and not in woe. Only the sight of her whom that I serve, Though that I never her grac may deserve, Would have sufficd right enough for me. O dear cousin Palamon," quod he, 1235 "Thine is the victory of this ventre: Full blissfully in prison may'st thou dure. continue In prison? Certs, nay, but Paradise! Well has Fortne y-turnd thee the dice, That hast the sight of her, and I th'absnce. 1240 For possible is, since thou hast her presnce, It's possible And art a knight, a worthy and an able, That by some case, since Fortune is changeable, Thou mayst to thy desire some time attain. But I that am exild, and barrn 1245 Of all grace, and in so great despair all favor That there n'is earth, nor water, fire, nor air, Nor creture that of them makd is, KNIGHT'S TALE 21

1 1246: All material things were thought to be made up of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air. That may me help or do comfrt in this. 1 Well ought I starve in wanhope and distress. die in despair 1250 Farewell my life, my lust and my gladness! my desire Alas, why 'plainen folk so in commne complain / often On purveyance of God, or of Fortne, providence That giveth them full oft in many a guise many forms Well better than they can themselves devise? much better 1255 Some man desireth for to have riches, That cause is of his murder or great sickness; And some man would out of his prison fain, gladly That in his house is of his meinee slain. by his servants Infinite harms be in this mattr. 1260 We witen not what thing we prayen here. We know not We fare as he that drunk is as a mouse. A drunken man wot well he has a house, knows well But he n'ot which the right way is thither, doesn't know And to a drunken man the way is slither. slippery 1265 And certs in this world so faren we. We seeken fast after felicity, But we go wrong full often, truly. Thus may we sayen all, and namely I, especially I That wend and had a great opinion thought & felt sure 1270 That if I might escapen from prison, Then had I been in joy and perfect heal, happiness Where now I am exled from my weal. my good Since that I may not see you, Emily, I n'am but dead! There is no remedy!" I'm as good as dead Palamon laments his imprisonment 1275 Upon that other sid Palamon, When that he wist Arcit was a-gone, realized Such sorrow maketh he that the great tower Resoundeth of his yowling and [his] clamor. CANTERBURY TALES 22 1 1279: "Even the great fetters on his shins." This rendering presumes that great goes with fetters. It is also possible that the reference is to swollen shins. 2 1301-2: "He looked (as pale as) boxwood or cold ashes." 3 1308: "Does mankind mean anything more to you than sheep huddling in the fold?" The pur fetters of his shins great 1 even the fetters 1280 Were of his bitter salt tears wet "Alas!" quod he, "Arcita, cousin mine, Of all our strife, God wot, the fruit is thine! God knows Thou walkest now in Thebs at thy large, freely And of my woe thou givest little charge. care 1285 Thou mayst, since thou hast wisdom and manhood, Assemble all the folk of our kindred, And make a war so sharp on this city That by some venture or some treaty chance or agreement Thou mayst have her to lady and to wife 1290 For whom that I must needs lose my life. For as by way of possibility, Since thou art at thy large, of prison free, from prison And art a lord, great is thine dvantge, More than is mine, that starve here in a cage. die 1295 For I must weep and wail while that I live With all the woe that prison may me give,

And eke with pain that love me gives also That doubles all my torment and my woe!" Therewith the fire of jealousy up start 1300 Within his breast, and hent him by the heart seized So woodly that he like was to behold fiercely The boxtree or the ashes dead and cold.2 boxwood Then said he: "O cruel gods that govern This world with binding of your word etern, 1305 And writen in the table of adamant hard rock Your parliament and your eternal grant, decision / decree What is mankind more unto your hold important Than is the sheep that rowketh in the fold?3 huddles For slain is man right as another beast, just like 1310 And dwelleth eke in prison and arrest KNIGHT'S TALE 23 1 1314: "What kind of governing is this which knows even before they are created (prescience) that innocent people are going to be tormented?" 2 1323-4: Who is speaking: Palamon, the Knight, or Chaucer? 3 1331: The goddess Juno was hostile to Thebes because her husband, Jupiter, had affairs with women of Thebes. And has sickness and great adversity, And often times guiltlessly, pardee. by God What governance is in this prescience That guiltless tormenteth innocence? 1 1315 And yet increaseth this all my pennce, my pain That man is bounden to his bservnce, For God's sake to letten of his will, control Whereas a beast may all his lust fulfill, his desires And when a beast is dead he has no pain, 1320 But man after his death must weep and 'plain, complain Though in this world he hav care and woe. Withouten doubt, it may standen so. The answer of this let I to divins, 2 I leave to clerics But well I wot that in this world great pine is. I know / suffering 1325 Alas, I see a serpent or a thief That many a tru man has done mischef, Go at his large and where him list may turn. free & go where he likes But I must be in prison through Saturn, And eke through Juno, jealous and eke wood, angry 1330 That has destroyd well nigh all the blood Of Thebes, with its waste walls wide! 3 And Venus slays me on that other side V = goddess of love For jealousy and fear of himArcite!" Now will I stint of Palamon a lite, stop / a while 1335 And let him in his prison still dwell, And of Arcit forth I will you tell. The summer passeth, and the nights long Increasen double wise the pains strong Both of the lover and the prisoner. CANTERBURY TALES 24 1 1347-53: The question is a "demande d'amour," a puzzling query about love, and a favorite medieval game. Supposedly conducted in a sort of ladies' lawcourt by Marie, Countess of Champagne and

others, it certainly became a literary game. Boccaccio's Filocolo has many. See also in Chaucer The Franklin's Tale, 1621-22, and The Wife of Bath's Tale, 904905. 1340 I n'ot which has the woefuller mistr: know not / situation For shortly for to say, this Palamon Perpetually is damnd to prison, In chains and in fetters to be dead, And Arcite is exled upon his head on pain of death 1345 For evermore as out of that country, Nor nevermore he shall his lady see. Demande d'amour You lovers ask I now this queston:1 Who has the worse, Arcite or Palamon? That one may seen his lady day by day, 1350 But in [a] prison must he dwell alway; That other where him list may ride or go, he pleases / walk But see his lady shall he nevermo'. Now deemeth as you list, you that can, judge as you wish For I will tell forth as I began. End of Part One Part Two Arcite's love pains 1355 Whan that Arcite to Thebs comen was, Full oft a day he swelt and said: "Alas!" was overcome For see his lady shall he nevermo'. And shortly to concluden all his woe, So muchel sorrow had never cretre KNIGHT'S TALE 25 1 1376: "Hereos": a conflation and confusion between "eros," love and "heros," a hero, hence the kind of extravagant lover's passion suffered by heroes in medieval romances. Its symptoms include those just given above. (See also Damian in The Merchant's Tale, and Aurelius in The Franklin's Tale). If it became bad enough, as with really big heroes like Tristan and Lancelot, it could turn into a "manie," a madness which afflicted the "cell" of fantasy, i.e. the foremost of the three divisions of the brain. 1360 That is or shall while that the world may dure. last His sleep, his meat, his drink is him bereft, food / deprived of That lean he waxed and dry as is a shaft. (So) that / stick His eyen hollow and grisly to behold, grim His hue fallow, and pale as ashes cold. color pallid 1365 And solitary he was and ever alone, And wailing all the night, making his moan. And if he heard song or instrument, Then would he weep, he might not be stent. stopped So feeble were his spirits and so low, also 1370 And changd so that no man could know His speech nor his voice, though men it heard. And in his gear for all the world he fared his behavior Not only like the lover's malady Of Hereos, but rather like manie, mania 1375 Engendred of humor melncholic Before, in his own cell fntastic.1 And shortly, turnd was all up-so-down Both habit and eke disposicon also Of him, this woeful lover Daun Arcite. Lord A.

Inspired by a vision, Arcite goes to Athens in disguise 1380 What should I all day of his woe endite? continually / tell When he endurd had a year or two This cruel torment and this pain and woe At Thebs in his country, as I said, Upon a night in sleep as he him laid, 1385 Him thought how that the wingd god Mercury Before him stood, and bade him to be merry. His sleepy yard in hand he bore upright. sleep-inducing wand A hat he wore upon his hairs bright. CANTERBURY TALES 26 1 1394: "However much it hurts me." 2 1398: "I do not care if I die in her presence." starve = die Arrayd was this god, as he took keep, as he noted 1390 As he was when that Argus took his sleep, overcome by sleep And said him thus: "To Athens shalt thou wend. go There is thee shapen of thy woe an end." destined And with that word Arcit woke and start. "Now truly, how sor that me smart," 1 however it may hurt 1395 Quod he, "to Athens right now will I fare. Nor for the dread of death shall I not spare hold back To see my lady that I love and serve. In her presnce I reck not to starve."2 I don't care if And with that word he caught a great mirrur, 1400 And saw that changd was all his color, And saw his visage all in another kind. And right anon it ran him in his mind That since his fac was so disfigrd Of malady the which he had endurd, From illness 1405 He might well, if that he bore him low, kept low profile Live in Athens evermore unknow, unrecognized And see his lady well nigh day by day. And right anon he changd his array, clothes And clad him as a poor laborer, 1410 And all alon, save only a squire That knew his privity and all his case, secret Which was disguisd poorly as he was, Who was To Athens is he gone the next way. direct route He takes a job And to the court he went upon a day, 1415 And at the gate he proffered his servce, To drudge and draw what so men will devise. order And shortly of this matter for to sayn, He fell in office with a chamberlain got a job The which that dwelling was with Emily. Who 1420 For he was wise, and could soon espy KNIGHT'S TALE 27 Of every servant which that serveth her. Well could he hewen wood and water bear, For he was young and mighty for the nones, to be sure And thereto he was strong and big of bones, 1425 To do what any wight can him devise. anybody wants A year or two he was in this service, Page of the chamber of Emily the bright, And "Philostrat" said he that he hight. said his name was But half so well-beloved a man as he 1430 Ne was there never in court of his degree. his rank

He was so gentle of conditon That throughout all the court was his renown. They saiden that it were a charity it would be right That Theseus would enhancen his degree, promote him 1435 And putten him in worshipful service, dignified There as he might his virtue exercise. abilities A promotion And thus within a while his name is sprung, Both of his deeds and his good tongue, good reputation That Theseus has taken him so near, 1440 That of his chamber he made him a squire, And gave him gold to maintain his degree. his rank And eke men brought him out of his country, From year to year, full privily his rent, secretly But honestly and slyly he it spent 1445 That no man wondered how that he it had. And three years in this wise his life he led, And bore him so in peace and eke in war, There was no man that Theseus hath more dear And in this bliss let I now Arcite, 1450 And speak I will of Palamon a lite. a little In darkness and horrible and strong prison This seven year has sitten Palamon, CANTERBURY TALES 28 Forpind, what for woe and for distress. tormented Who feeleth double sore and heaviness 1455 But Palamon? that love distraineth so pains That wood out of his wit he goes for woe. mad And eke thereto he is a prisoner Perpetually, not only for a year. Who could rime in English properly 1460 His martyrdom? Forsooth, it am not I. Therefore I pass as lightly as I may. An escape It fell that in the seventh year, of May The third night, (as old books sayn That all this story tellen mor plain)-1465 Were it by venture or destiny, by chance or As when a thing is shapen it shall be, is fated That soon after the midnight, Palamon, By helping of a friend, broke his prison, with help of And flees the city fast as he may go, 1470 For he had given his jailer drink so Of a claret, made of a certain wine With nrcotics and opium of Thebes fine, That all that night, though that men would him shake, The jailer slept; he might not awake. 1475 And thus he flees as fast as ever he may. The night was short and fast by the day, near dawn That needs cost he most himselfen hide. of necessity And to a grove fast there beside With dreadful foot then stalketh Palamon. full of dread 1480 For shortly, this was his opinon, That in that grove he would him hide all day, And in the night then would he take his way To Thebs-ward, his friends for to pray On Theseus to help him to warrey. make war 1485 And shortly, either he would lose his life Or winnen Emily unto his wife. This is th'effect and his intent plain. KNIGHT'S TALE 29

Arcite goes to the woods to celebrate May and sing a love lament Now will I turn to Arcite again, That little wist how nigh that was his care, knew / near / troubles 1490 Till that Fortne had brought him in the snare. The busy lark, messenger of day, Salueth in her song the morrow grey, Greets And fiery Phoebus riseth up so bright sun (god) That all the orient laugheth of the light, 1495 And with his streams drieth in the greves branches The silver dropps hanging on the leaves. And Arcita, that in the court royl With Theseus is squire principal, Is risen and looketh on the merry day; 1500 And for to do his observnce to May, Remembering on the point of his desire, He on a courser startling as the fire horse lively as Is riden into the fields him to play, amuse himself Out of the court were it a mile or tway. about a mile or two 1505 And to the grove of which that I you told By venture his way he gan to hold to make his way To maken him a garland of the greves branches Were it of woodbine or of hawthorn leaves; And loud he sang against the sunn sheen: bright sun 1510 "May, with all thy flowers and thy green, Welcome be thou, fair fresh May, In hope that I some green getten may." Palamon, the escapee, is hiding in that wood And from his courser with a lusty heart his horse Into the grove full hastily he start, 1515 And in a path he roameth up and down Thereas by venture this Palamoun by chance Was in a bush, that no man might him see, For sore afeard of his death was he. No thing ne knew he that it was Arcite. CANTERBURY TALES 30 1 "God knows he would not have believed it", literally: "he would have believed it very little." 2 1523-4: "A man should always be ready, for it happens every day that people meet unexpectedly." 3 1534-5: Friday is Venus's day (Lat. veneris dies; Ital. venerdi), and its weather apparently was reputed to be especially unreliable. 1520 God wot he would have trowd it full lite.1 believed / little But sooth is said, gone sithen many years, truth / many years ago That "field hath eyen and the wood hath ears." It is full fair a man to beat him even, For alday meeten men at unset steven.2 1525 Full little wot Arcite of his fellow little knows That was so nigh to hearken all his saw, near / hear his words For in the bush he sitteth now full still. When that Arcite had roamd all his fill, And sungen all the roundel lustily, round song 1530 Into a study he fell suddenly, As do these lovers in their quaint gears, odd ways Now in the crop, now down in the briars, top Now up, now down, as bucket in a well.

Right as the Friday, soothly for to tell, 1535 Now it shineth, now it raineth fast,3 Right so can gery Venus overcast changeable The hearts of her folk right as her day Is gereful; right so changeth she array. her state Seld is the Friday all the week y-like. seldom 1540 When that Arcite had sung, he gan to sigh, And set him down withouten any more: more ado "Alas," quod he, "that day that I was bore. born How long, Juno, through thy cruelty Wilt thou warreyen Thebs the city? make war on 1545 Alas, y-brought is to confuson The blood royl of Cadme and AmphionOf Cadmus, which that was the first man That Thebs built or first the town began, founded And of the city first was crownd king. 1550 Of his lineage am I and his offspring, KNIGHT'S TALE 31 1 1566: "My death was arranged before my (first?) shirt." The comparison seems inept. 2 1569-71: "I would not care a straw about all my other troubles if only I could do anything to please you." By very line, as of the stock royl. And now I am so caitiff and so thrall, captive / enslaved That he that is my mortal enemy, I serve him as his squire poorly. 1555 And yet does Juno me well mor shame, still more For I dare not beknow mine own name, use But there as I was wont to hight Arcite, was called Now hight I Philostrate, not worth a mite. I am called Alas, thou fell Mars! Alas, Juno! cruel 1560 Thus has your ire our lineage all fordo, your anger / ruined Save only me and wretched Palamon That Theseus martyreth in prison. And over all this, to slay me utterly, Love has his fiery dart so burningly 1565 Y-stickd through my tru careful heart, full of care That shapen was my death erst than my shirt.1 You slay me with your eyen, Emily. You be the caus wherefore that I die. Of all the remnant of mine other care 1570 Ne set I not the montance of a tare, amount of a weed So that I could do ought to your pleasnce." 2 if I could And with that word he fell down in a trance A long time. And after he up start. Palamon has heard everything. Another quarrel. This Palamon, that thought that through his heart 1575 He felt a cold sword suddenly glide, For ire he quoke. No longer would he bide. shook with anger And when that he had heard Arcita's tale, As he were wood, with face dead and pale, mad He start him up out of the bushes thick 1580 And said: "Arcit, fals traitor wick, wicked Now art thou hent, that lov'st my lady so, caught CANTERBURY TALES 32 1 1609: "Art willing to fight a battle to vindicate your right to her." For whom that I have all this pain and woe, And art my blood, and to my counsel sworn,

As I full oft have told thee herebeforn, 1585 And hast bejapd here duke Theseus, fooled And falsely changd hast thy nam thus. I will be dead or els thou shalt die. Thou shalt not love my lady Emily, But I will love her only and no mo'; more, i.e. no one else 1590 For I am Palamon, thy mortal foe, And though that I no weapon have in this place, But out of prison am astart by grace, I dread not that either thou shalt die, doubt not Or thou ne shalt not loven Emily. 1595 Choose which thou wilt, or thou shalt not astart." escape This Arcit with full despitous heart, furious When he him knew and had his tal heard, As fierce as lion pulld out his sword, And said thus: "By God that sits above, 1600 N'ere it that thou art sick and wood for love, Were it not / mad And eke that thou no weapon hast in this place, And also Thou shouldest never out of this grov pace, walk That thou ne shouldest dien of my hand. but die by For I defy the surety and the bond 1605 Which that thou sayst that I have made to thee. What, very fool, think well that love is free, And I will love her, maugre all thy might. despite They agree to a duel But for as much as thou art a worthy knight, And wilnest to darrein her by battail,1 to fight 1610 Have here my truth, tomorrow I will not fail, Withouten witting of any other wight, knowledge / person That here I will be founden as a knight, And bringen harness right enough for thee, armor And choose the best, and leave the worst to me. KNIGHT'S TALE 33 1 1623-27: "O Cupid, [god of love], totally without love! O ruler [regne] who will tolerate no partner. True is the saying that neither lover nor lord will share willingly [his thanks], as Arcite and Palamon certainly find out." 1615 And meat and drink this night will I bring food Enough for thee, and clothes for thy bedding. And if so be that thou my lady win And slay me in this wood where I am in, Thou mayst well have thy lady as for me." far as I'm concerned 1620 This Palamon answered: "I grant it thee." And thus they be departed till amorrow, When each of them had laid his faith to borrow. pledged his word O Cupid, out of all charity! O regne, that would no fellow have with thee! ruler / partner 1625 Full sooth is said that lov nor lordship Will not, his thanks, have no fellowship; willingly Well finden that Arcite and Palamon.1 Arcite is riden anon unto the town, immediately And on the morrow ere it were day's light, 1630 Full privily two harness has he dight, secured Both suffisant and meet to darreine adequate to conduct The battle in the field bitwixt them twain; two And on his horse, alone as he was born,

He carrieth all this harness him beforn; 1635 And in the grove at time and place y-set This Arcite and this Palamon be met. To changen gan the color in their face, Right as the hunter's in the regne of Thrace, realm, kingdom That standeth at the gapp with a spear, 1640 When hunted is the lion or the bear, And heareth him come rushing in the greves, bushes And breaketh both the boughs and the leaves, And thinks: "Here comes my mortal enemy. Withouten fail he must be dead or I, 1645 For either I must slay him at the gap, Or he must slay me if that me mishap." I'm unfortunate So fard they in changing of their hue color CANTERBURY TALES 34 1 1637 and 1647-8: These appear to mean that each knew the other to be a bear or lion in strength and so each pales, like the hunter awaiting the onrush. 2 1663 ff: "Destiny, God's deputy, that carries out everywhere God's Providence, is so strong that even if the whole world is determined against it, things will sometimes happen in one day that will not occur again within a thousand years." As far as ever each other of them knew. 1 There was no "Good day" nor no saluing, greeting 1650 But straight, withouten word or rehearsing, Ever each of them helped to arm the other, As friendly as he were his own brother. And after that with sharp spears strong They foinen each at other wonder long. thrust / v. long 1655 Thou mightest ween that this Palamon think In his fighting were a wood lion, angry And as a cruel tiger was Arcite. As wild boars gonnen they to smite, began That frothen white as foam, for ire wood. mad with anger 1660 Up to the ankle fought they in their blood. And in this wise I let them fighting dwell, And forth I will of Theseus you tell. Fate intervenes in the form of Theseus who comes upon them while hunting The destiny, minister general, That executeth in the world overall Who carries out 1665 The purveyance that God has seen beforn,2 The Providence So strong it is that, though the world had sworn The contrary of a thing by yea or nay, Yet sometimes it shall fallen on a day That falls not eft within a thousand year. not again 1670 For certainly, our appetits here, passions Be it of war, or peace, or hate, or love, All is this ruld by the sight above. This mean I now by mighty Theseus, That for to hunten is so desirous, 1675 And namely at the great hart in May, especially / deer KNIGHT'S TALE 35 That in his bed there dawneth him no day That he n'is clad and ready for to ride With hunt and horn and hounds him beside; For in his hunting has he such delight

1680 That it is all his joy and appetite desire To be himself the great hart's bane; killer For after Mars he serveth now Diane. (goddess of hunting) Clear was the day, as I have told ere this, And Theseus, with all joy and bliss, 1685 With his Hippolyta the fair queen, And Emela clothed all in green, On hunting be they ridden royally, And to the grove that stood full fast by, In which there was a hart, as men him told, 1690 Duke Theseus the straight way has hold, And to this land he rideth him full right, clearing For thither was the hart wont have his flight, accustomed And over a brook, and so forth on his way. This Duke will have a course at him or tway, 1695 With hounds such as that him list command. he chose And when this Duke was come unto the land, Under the sun he looketh, and anon He was 'ware of Arcite and Palamon, That foughten breme as it were bulls two. fiercely 1700 The bright swords wenten to and fro So hideously that with the least stroke It seemd as it would fell an oak. But what they wer, nothing he ne wot. But who / he knew This Duke his courser with the spurrs smote, horse 1705 And at a start he was bitwixt them two, suddenly And pulld out a sword, and cried: "Whoa! No more, on pain of losing of your head. By mighty Mars, he shall anon be dead That smiteth any stroke that I may see. 1710 But telleth me what mister men you be, kind of That be so hardy for to fighten here, bold Withouten judge or other officer, As it were in a lists royally?" tournament arena CANTERBURY TALES 36 1 1721: For saint charity, literally "for holy charity (or love)." The exclamation is presumably an anachronism in the mouth of a pagan. But neither is it very Christian or chivalrous, since his betrayal of his kinsman and fellow knight is about as vindictive as it well could be. Palamon reveals their identities This Palamon answred hastily 1715 And said: "Sir, what needeth words mo'? We have the death deservd both two. Two woeful wretches be we, two caitives, captives That be encumbered of our own lives; of = by And as thou art a rightful lord and judge, 1720 Ne give us neither mercy nor refuge; But slay me first, for saint charity,1 But slay my fellow eke as well as me; also Or slay him first, for though thou know'st it lite, little do you know it This is thy mortal foe, this is Arcite, 1725 That from thy land is banished on his head, on pain of death For which he has deservd to be dead; For this is he that came unto thy gate, And said that he hight Philostrate. was named Thus has he japed thee full many a year, tricked

1730 And thou hast maked him thy chief squire; And this is he that loveth Emily. For since the day is come that I shall die, I mak plainly my confesson That I am thilk woeful Palamon, I'm the same 1735 That has thy prison broken wickedly. I am thy mortal foe, and it am I That loveth so hot Emily the bright, so hotly That I will dien present in her sight. Wherefore I ask death and my juwise. sentence 1740 But slay my fellow in the sam wise, For both have we deservd to be slain." The Duke instantly sentences them, but the ladies intervene This worthy Duke answered anon again KNIGHT'S TALE 37 1 1761: "The heart of the truly noble (gentle) is easily moved to generosity (pity)." A famous and favorite phrase of Chaucer's, used also in MerT 4, 1986; SquireT, V, 479; Leg. of Good Women, Prol F, 503; Man Of Law's T. II, 660. For "gentle" see ENDPAPERS. And said: "This is a short concluson. Your own mouth by your confesson 1745 Hath damnd you, and I will it record; condemned It needeth not to pine you with the cord. torture with rope You shall be dead, by mighty Mars the red." The queen anon for very womanhood Gan for to weep, and so did Emily, 1750 And all the ladies in the company. Great pity was it, as it thought them all, That ever such a chanc should befall; For gentlemen they were of great estate, high rank And nothing but for love was this debate; 1755 And saw their bloody wounds wide and sore, And all crid, both less and more, "Have mercy, lord upon us women all." And on their bar knees adown they fall, And would have kissed his feet there as he stood; 1760 Till at the last aslakd was his mood, For pity runneth soon in gentle heart,1 And though he first for ir quoke and start, shook w. anger He has considered shortly, in a clause, briefly The trepass of them both, and eke the cause; offence / also 1765 And although that his ire their guilt accused, Yet in his reason he them both excused, As thus: He thought well that every man Will help himself in love if that he can, And eke deliver himself out of prison. 1770 And eke his heart had compassion Of women, for they wepten ever in one. in unison And in his gentle heart he thought anon, And soft unto himself he said: "Fie Upon a lord that will have no mercy 1775 But be a lion both in word and deed To them that be in repentnce and dread, CANTERBURY TALES 38 1 1796: maugre ...: "In spite of both their eyes", i.e. in spite of common sense. 2 1799: This line seems to mean: "There is no fool like a lover fool." As well as to a proud despitous man That will maintain what he first began. persist in

That lord has little of discreton 1780 That in such case can no divison, knows no difference But weigheth pride and humbless after one." humility as the same And shortly, when his ire is thus agone, his anger He gan to looken up with eyen light, And spoke these sam words all on height: aloud 1785 "The God of Love, ah, benedicitee. How mighty and how great a lord is he. Against his might there gaineth no obstcles. He may be cleped a god for his mircles, called For he can maken at his own guise his own whim 1790 Of every heart as that him list devise. as he chooses Lo, here this Arcite and this Palamon, That quitly weren out of my prison, had escaped And might have lived in Thebs royally, And wit I am their mortal enemy, (they) know 1795 And that their death lies in my might also, And yet has Love, maugre their eyen two,1 despite Brought them hither both for to die. Now looketh, is not that a high folly? Who may be a fool, but if he love?2 1800 Behold, for God's sake that sits above, See how they bleed! Be they not well arrayed? Don't they / look good? Thus has their lord, the God of Love, y-paid Their wages and their fees for their service. And yet they weenen for to be full wise they think 1805 That serven Love, for aught that may befall. anything But this is yet the best game of all, That she for whom they have this jollity fun (ironic) Can them therefore as much thank as me. for that She wot no more of all this hott fare, knows / fiery business KNIGHT'S TALE 39 1810 By God, than wot a cuckoo or a hare. But all must be assayd, hot and cold. A man must be a fool, or young or old. either...or I wot it by myself full yore agone, long ago For in my time a servant was I one, a lover 1815 And therefore, since I know of lov's pain, And wot how sore it can a man distrain, know / distress As he that has been caught oft in his lass, snare I you forgive all wholly this trespss, At rquest of the queen that kneeleth here, 1820 And eke of Emily my sister dear, And you shall both anon unto me swear That never more you shall my country dere, harm Nor mak war upon me, night nor day, But be my friends in all that you may. 1825 I you forgive this trespass everydeal." And they him swore his asking fair and well, And him of lordship and of mercy prayed. Theseus orders a tournament to decide who shall have Emily And he them granted grace, and thus he said: "To speak of royal lineage and richessse, riches 1830 Though that she were a queen or a princess, Each of you both is worthy, doubtless, To wedden when time is. But, natheless-I speak as for my sister Emily

For whom you have this strife and jealousy-1835 You wot yourself she may not wedden two You know At onc, though you fighten evermore. even if you That one of you, al be him loath or lief, like it or not He must go pipen in an ivy leef. whistle in the wind This is to say, she may not now have both, 1840 Al be you never so jealous nor so wroth. Even if / angry And forthy I you put in this degree, therefore / position That each of you shall have his destiny As him is shape, and hearken in what wise; decreed for him Lo, here your end of that I shall devise: part / announce CANTERBURY TALES 40 1 1853: "Completely armed and ready for the lists," i.e. for the place where the tournament would take place. 21863-66: "And as sure as I hope for God's mercy, I will be a fair and just judge. I will make no other arrangement with you (than this): one of you has to be killed or captured." 1845 My will is this, for plat concluson, plain Withouten any replicaton; contradiction If that you liketh, take if for the best: That each of you shall go where that him lest, he pleases Freely, withouten ransom or danger, 1850 And this day fifty weeks, far or near, Ever each of you shall bring a hundred knights Armd for lists up at all rights,1 for tournament All ready to darrein her by battail. claim by fight And this behote I you withouten fail, promise 1855 Upon my truth and as I am a knight, That whether of you both that has might, whichever This is to say, that whether he or thou May with his hundred as I spoke of now Slay his contrry, or out of lists drive, 1860 Then shall I giv Emilia to wive To whom that Fortune gives so fair a grace. The lists shall I maken in this place, And God so wisly on my soul rue, surely have mercy As I shall even judg be and true. just judge 1865 You shall no other end with me maken,2 That one of you ne shall be dead or taken. And if you thinketh this is well y-said, Say your avis, and holdeth you apaid. agreement / satisfied This is your end and your concluson." 1870 Who looketh lightly now but Palamon? Who springeth up for joy but Arcite? Who could tell or who could it endite The joy that is maked in the place, When Theseus has done so fair a grace? 1875 But down on knee went every manner wight, And thanken him with all their heart and might, And namly the Thebans often sithe. oftentimes KNIGHT'S TALE 41 And thus with good hope and with heart blithe happy They take their leave and homeward gan they ride 1880 To Thebs, with its old walls wide. End of Part II Part Three The new stadium for the tournament I trow men would deem it negligence I suspect / think If I forget to tellen the dispence expenditure

Of Theseus, that goes so busily To maken up the lists royally, 1885 That such a noble theatre as it was I dare well sayen in this world there n'as. was not The circt a mil was about, Walld of stone and ditchd all without. outside Round was the shape in manner of compass, 1890 Full of degrees, the height of sixty pas, steps / paces That when a man was set on one degree level He letted not his fellow for to see. hindered not from Eastward there stood a gate of marble white, Westward right such another in th'opposite; 1895 And shortly to conclud, such a place In short Was none in earth as in so little space. For in the land there was no crafty man craftsman That geometry or ars-metric can, knew g. or arithmetic Nor portrayer, nor carver of imges, 1900 That Theseus ne gave him meat and wages, The theatre for to maken and devise. And for to do his rite and sacrifice, He eastward has, upon the gate above, CANTERBURY TALES 42 1 1905: He had an altar and a chapel built In worship of Venus, goddess of love, 1905 Done make an altar and an oratory.1 And on the gat westward, in memry above the gate Of Mars, he makd has right such another, That cost largly of gold a fother. a pile And northward in a turret on the wall, 1910 Of alabaster white and red coral, An oratory rich for to see, In worship of Diane of chastity, (goddess) of c. Hath Theseus do wrought in noble wise. caused to be made But yet had I forgotten to devise describe 1915 The noble carving and the portraitures, The shape, the countenance, and the figres, That weren in these oratories three. chapels The temple of Venus First, in the temple of Venus mayst thou see, Wrought on the wall, full piteous to behold, 1920 The broken sleeps and the sighs cold, The sacred tears and the waymenting, lamentation The fiery stroks of the desiring That Lov's servants in this life endure, The oaths that their covenants assure, 1925 Pleasance and Hope, Desire, Foolhardiness, Beauty and Youth, Bawdery, Richesse, gaiety, wealth Charms and Force, Leasings, Flattery, Magic / lies Dispense, Business, and Jealousy, money That wore of yellow golds a garland, marigolds 1930 And a cuckoo sitting on her hand; Feasts, instruments, carols, dances, songs Lust and array, and all the circumstances adornment Of love, which that I reckoned and reckon shall, By order weren painted on the wall, 1935 And more than I can make of menton. For soothly all the Mount of Citheron, KNIGHT'S TALE 43 1 1940 ff: All the instances cited in the following lines are meant to exemplify the claim that nothing can compete with the power of Love. Idleness was the porter of the love garden in The

Romance of the Rose, a poem that Chaucer knew and probably translated. Echo died of unrequited love for Narcissus. Solomon, famed for wisdom, was nevertheless, led into idolatry through his lust for women; Hercules the strong was poisoned by a shirt sent to him by his jealous wife. Medea , beautiful and good at "sleight," tricked her family for her lover Jason who afterwards abandoned her; Circe enchanted the followers of Odysseus; "hardy" Turnus fought Aeneas for Lavinia. Croesus was certainly rich and proud, but his love follies are not recorded. Where Venus has her principal dwelling, Was showd on the wall in portraying, With all the garden and the lustiness. 1940 Not was forgotten the porter Idleness, 1 Nor Narcissus the fair of yore agon of long ago Nor yet the folly of king Salomon, Nor yet the great strength of Hercules, Th'enchantments of Medea and Circes, Circe 1945 Nor of Turnus with the hardy fierce courge, The rich Croesus, caitiff in servge. captive in slavery Thus may you see that wisdom nor richesse, wealth Beauty nor sleight, strength, hardiness, nor cleverness Ne may with Venus hold champarty, partnership 1950 For as her list, the world then may she gie. as she wishes / rule Lo, all these folk so caught were in her lass snare Till they for woe full often said "Alas!" Sufficeth here examples one or two, [of the paintings] Although I could reckon a thousand more. And though 1955 The statue of Venus, glorious for to see, Was naked, floating in the larg sea, And from the navel down all covered was With wavs green and bright as any glass. A citole in her right hand hadd she, harp 1960 And on her head, full seemly for to see, A rose garland, fresh and well smelling, Above her head her dovs flickering. fluttering Before her stood her sonn, Cupido. Upon his shoulders wings had he two, 1965 And blind he was, as it is often seen; A bow he bore, and arrows bright and keen. CANTERBURY TALES 44 The temple of Mars Why should I not as well eke tell you all also The portraiture that was upon the wall Within the temple of mighty Mars the red? [God of War] 1970 All painted was the wall in length and breadth Like to the estres of the grisly place interior That hight the great temple of Mars in Thrace, was called In thilk cold frosty regon In that There as Mars has his sovereign manson. chief shrine 1975 First on the wall was painted a forest, In which there dwelleth neither man nor beast, With knotty, knarry, barren trees old, rough Of stubbs sharp and hideous to behold, In which there ran a rumble in a swough, sound / wind 1980 As though a storm should bursten every bough. And downward on a hill under a bent grassy slope There stood the temple of Mars armipotent, mighty in arms Wrought all of burnd steel, of which th'entry burnished

Was long and strait and ghastly for to see, narrow 1985 And thereout came a rage and such a veze blast That it made all the gat for to rese. shake The northern light in at the doors shone, For window on the wall ne was there none Through which men mighten any light discern. 1990 The door was all of adamant etern, hard rock Y-clenchd overthwart and endalong length and breadth With iron tough; and for to make it strong Every pillar the temple to sustain Was tonne-great, of iron bright and sheen. barrel-thick / shining 1995 There saw I first the dark imagining plotting Of Felony, and all the compassing, accomplishment The cruel Ire, red as any gleed, Anger / hot coal The pick-purse, and eke the pal Dread, The smiler with the knife under the cloak, 2000 The shippen burning with the black smoke, barn The treason of the murdering in the bed, The open War with wounds all be-bled, bleeding KNIGHT'S TALE 45 1 2017: Literally hoppesters are female dancers. "Dancing ships" or "ship's dancers" does not make much sense here. The phrase is probably a result of Chaucer's mistranslation of an Italian phrase that meant "ships of war." Contest with bloody knife and sharp mence. All full of chirking was that sorry place. noises 2005 The slayer of himself yet saw I there; His heart's blood has bathed all his hair; The nail y-driven in the shode at night, into the head The cold Death with mouth gaping upright. on his back Amiddest of the temple sat Mischance, In the midst / Disaster 2010 With discomfrt and sorry countenance. Yet saw I Woodness, laughing in his rage; Madness Armd Complaint, Outhees, and fierce Outrage; outcries at crime The carrion in the bush with throat y-carve, corpse / cut A thousand slain and not of qualm y-starve, killed by plague 2015 The tyrant with the prey by force y-reft, seized The town destroyd--there was nothing left. Yet saw I burnt the shipps hoppesteres,1 ships of war The hunter strangled with the wild bears, by the The sow freten the child right in the cradle, mauling 2020 The cook y-scalded for all his long ladle. Nought was forgotten by the infortne of Marte: bad influence of Mars The carter overridden with his cart; Under the wheel full low he lay adown. There were also of Mars's divison followers 2025 The barber and the butcher, and the smith That forges sharp swords on his stith. anvil And all above depainted in a tower Saw I Conquest, sitting in great honor, With the sharp sword over his head 2030 Hanging by a subtle twin's thread. slender Depainted was the slaughter of Julius, Caesar Of great Nero, and of Antonius. Mark Antony Al be that thilk time they were unborn, Although at that Yet was their death depainted therebeforn,

2035 By menacing of Mars, right by figre. prefiguring So was it showd in that portraiture, CANTERBURY TALES 46 1 2051-55: Diana (Roman name for Greek goddess Artemis) has a number of different (and conflicting) attributes all portrayed in this picture. She is the virgin huntress and goddess of chastity, but also as Lucina, she is goddess of childbirth. As Luna she is goddess of the moon but as Hecate or Prosperine (Persephone) she is a goddess of the underworld ruled by Pluto. 2 2062-64: Daphne (here called Dane) was transformed into a laurel tree by her father to (continued...) As is depainted in the stars above Who shall be slain, or els dead for love. Sufficeth one example in stories old; 2040 I may not reckon them all, though I would. The statue of Mars upon a cart stood chariot Armd, and lookd grim as he were wood. angry And over his head there shinen two figres Of starrs that be clepd in scriptres called in books 2045 That one Puella, that other Rubeus. divination figures This god of arms was arrayd thus: A wolf there stood before him at his feet, With eyen red, and of a man he eat. ate With subtle pencil painted was this story 2050 In rdouting of Mars and of his glory. reverence The temple of Diana Now to the temple of Diane the chaste goddess of chastity As shortly as I can I will me haste, To tell you all the descripton. Depainted be the walls up and down 2055 Of hunting and of shamefast chastity.1 of modest There saw I how woeful Calistopee, Callisto When that Diane agrievd was with her, Was turnd from a woman to a bear, And after was she made the Lod-Star. pole star 2060 Thus was it painted, I can say you no farre. tell you no farther Her son is eke a star, as men may see. [Botes] is also There saw I Dane y-turnd to a tree. Daphne (I mean not the goddess Diane, But Penneus' daughter which that hight Dane.2 who was called KNIGHT'S TALE 47 (...continued) escape the embraces of the god Apollo who was pursuing her. 1 2065-8: Actaeon was a hunter who looked at Diana while she was bathing in a pool and was punished by her for this "crime" by being turned into a deer (hart), which was torn apart by his own hounds. 2 2074: "Which I do not want to recall now." 2065 There saw I Actaeon a hart y-makd, turned into a deer For vengeance that he saw Diane all naked: I saw how that his hounds have him caught And freten him, for that they knew him not.1 torn to pieces Yet painted was little further more 2070 How Atalanta hunted the wild boar,

And Meleager, and many another more, For which Diana wrought him care and woe. caused him There saw I many another wonder story, The which me list not draw into memry.2 2075 This goddess on a hart full high sat, deer With small hounds all about her feet, And underneath her feet she had a moon; Waxing it was, and should wan soon. Growing / fade In gaudy green her statue clothd was, yellowish green(?) 2080 With bow in hand and arrows in a case; Her eyen cast she full low adown Where Pluto has his dark regon. underworld A woman trvailing was her beforn, in labor But for her child so long was unborn, But because 2085 Full piteously Lucina gan she call, [L = goddess of childbirth] And said: "Help, for thou mayst best of all." Well could he paint lifelike that it wrought; With many a florin he the hus bought. gold coin / colors Now be these lists made, and Theseus, 2090 That all his great cost arrayd thus The temples and the theatre everydeal, When it was done him likd wonder well. it pleased him But stint I will of Theseus a lite, stop / a little And speak of Palamon and of Arcite. CANTERBURY TALES 48 1 2100 ff: "Many believed that since the Creation there had never been in the world so select a group of knights in the annals of chivalry." 2 2107 "And who would gladly have a surpassing name" (for chivalry). his thankes or their thankes = gladly, with thanks. 3 (continued...) The combatants arrive 2095 The day approacheth of their rturning, That ever each should a hundred knights bring The battle to darrein, as I you told. fight And to Athens, their covenant for to hold, agreement Has ever each of them brought a hundred knights, 2100 Well armd for the war at all rights; in every way And sikerly there trowd many a man certainly / believed That never sithen that the world began, since As for to speak of knighthood of their hand, As far as God has makd sea and land, 2105 N'as of so few so noble a company.1 For every wight that lovd chilvalry, every person And would, his thanks, have a passant name,2 Has prayd that he might be of that game, sport And well was him that thereto chosen was. pleased was he 2110 For if there fell tomorrow such a case, You knowen well that every lusty knight That loveth paramours and has his might, women Were it in Engeland or elswhere, They would, their thanks, wilnen to be there. w. gladly be there 2115 To fighten for a lady, ben'citee, bless us It were a lusty sight for to see. Palamon with his 100 And right so fard they with Palamon. With him there wenten knights many a one Some will be armed in a habergeon, 3 One / chainmail

KNIGHT'S TALE 49 3(...continued) 2119 ff: "Some" retains its old meaning of "one," "a certain one." The switch from past tense to what looks like future is odd, but has no significance; the "future" should be read as past. Presumably "will be armed" has the sense of "wishes (or chooses) to be armed," which still needs to be read as a past tense: "One was armed in ..." 1 2125: "There is no new fashion (in arms) that has not been old." Since Chaucer has put his characters in what seems to be medieval armor, perhaps this sentence is saying that he is aware of the anachronism, as in 2033 above. 2 2134: "With bushy hairs in his prominent eyebrows." 3 2140: coat-armour: a garment worn over armor (harness), and embroidered with a coat-of-arms." 2120 And in a breastplate and a light gipon; padded tunic And some will have a pair of plats large Another And some will have a Prussian shield or targe; light shield Some will be armd on his leggs well, And have an ax, and some a mace of steel2125 There is no new guise that it n'as old.1 fashion Armd were they as I have you told, Ever each after his opinon. to his own taste There mayst thou see coming with Palamon Lygurge himself, the great king of Thrace. 2130 Black was his beard and manly was his face. The circles of his eyen in his head, his eyeballs They glowed betwixen yellow and red, And like a griffon lookd he about, [part lion, part eagle] With kempe hairs on his brows stout.2 2135 His limbs great, his brawns hard and strong, muscles His shoulders broad, his arms round and long, And as the guis was in his country, fashion Full high upon a char of gold stood he, chariot With four whit bulls in the traces. 2140 Instead of coat-armor over his harness,3 armor With nails yellow and bright as any gold, studs He had a bear's skin, coal-black for old. bearskin / with age His long hair was combed behind his back; As any raven's feather it shone for-black. deep black 2145 A wreath of gold, arm-great, of hug weight, thick as an arm CANTERBURY TALES 50 Upon his head, set full of stons bright, gemstones Of fin rubies and of diamonds. About his char there went white alaunts, chariot / wolfhounds Twenty and more, as great as any steer, 2150 To hunten at the lion or the deer, And followed him with muzzle fast y-bound, Collared of gold, and tourettes fild round. rings A hundred lords had he in his rout, group Armed full well, with hearts stern and stout. Arcite's troop led by Emetrius 2155 With rcita, in stories as men find, The great Emetrius, the king of Ind, Upon a steed bay trappd in steel, armed in

Covered in cloth of gold diapered well, elaborately patterned Came riding like the god of arms, Mars. 2160 His coat-armour was of cloth of Tars, purple colored silk Couched with pearls white and round and great; Set w. His saddle was of burned gold new y-beat. burnished A mantlet upon his shoulder hanging, cape Bretful of rubies red as fire sparkling; covered with 2165 His crisp hair like rings was y-run, curly / falling And that was yellow and glittered as the sun; His nose was high, his eyen bright citron, lemon-colored His lips round, his colour was sanguine ruddy A few frakens in his face y-sprend, freckles / sprinkled 2170 Betwixen yellow and somdeal black y-mend; mingled And as a lion he his looking cast. he glared Of five and twenty year his age I cast. calculate His beard was well begunn for to spring. to grow His voice was as a trumpet thundering. 2175 Upon his head he weared of laurel green A garland fresh and lusty for to seen. Upon his hand he bore for his delight An eagle tame, as any lily white. A hundred lords had he with him there, 2180 All armd, save their heads, in all their gear, Full richly in all manner things; KNIGHT'S TALE 51 1 2195-6: "Men are still of the opinion that no one's intelligence, of whatever rank, could improve upon it." Occupatio is the figure of speech used in the following lines, in which the author says he will not tell about what he then proceeds to tell about. For trusteth well that duks, earls, kings, Were gathered in this noble company For love and for increase of chivalry. 2185 About this king there ran on every part side Full many a tam lion and leopard. Theseus throws a feast for the occasion And in this wise these lords all and some one and all Be on the Sunday to the city come About prime, and in the town alight. 9 am; dismounted 2190 This Theseus, this Duke, this worthy knight, When he had brought them into his city, And inned them, ever each at his degree, lodged / rank He feasteth them and does so great labor To easen them and do them all honor, 2195 That yet men weenen that no mann's wit men judge / wisdom Of no estate ne could amenden it.1 any rank / improve The minstrelcy, the service at the feast, music The great gifts to the most and least, The rich array of Theseus' palce, 2200 Nor who sat first or last upon the dais, What ladies fairest be and best dancing, Or which of them can dancen best and sing, Nor who most feelingly speaks of love, What hawks sitten on the perch above, 2205 What hounds lien on the floor adown-Of all this make I now no menton. But all th'effect; that thinketh me the best. outcome

Now comes the point, and hearken if you lest. listen if y please Palamon goes to the temple of Venus The Sunday night, ere day began to spring, CANTERBURY TALES 52 2210 When Palamon the lark heard sing, Although it n'ere not day by hours two was not Yet sang the lark; and Palamon right tho, then With holy heart and with a high courge, great devotion He rose to wenden on his pilgrimge 2215 Unto the blissful Cytherea benign, I mean Venus honorable and digne, revered And in her hour he walketh forth a pace [just before dawn] Unto the lists where her temple was, And down he kneeleth, and with humble cheer manner 2220 And heart sore, he said as you shall hear: "Fairest of fair, O lady mine Venus, Daughter of Jove and spouse to Vulcanus, Thou gladder of the Mount of Citheron, joy For thilk love thou haddest to Adon, that love / Adonis 2225 Have pity of my bitter tears smart, painful And take mine humble prayer at thine heart. Alas! I ne have no language to tell Th'effect nor the torments of my hell. My heart may my harms not bewray. show 2230 I am so cnfused that I cannot say But "Mercy!" lady bright, that knowest well My thoughts, and seest what harms that I feel. Consider all this, and rue upon my sore, have pity As wisly as I shall for evermore As surely 2235 Emforth my might, thy tru servant be, As much as I can And holden war always with chastity. That make I mine avow, so you me help. I keep nought of arms for to yelp, don't care to boast Nor I ask not tomorrow to have victry, 2240 Nor renown in this cas, nor vain glory Of prize of arms blown up and down, fame in arms trumpeted But I would have fully possesson Of Emily, and die in thy service. Find thou the manner how and in what wise. 2245 I reck not but it may better be I care not To have victory of them, or they of me, So that I have my lady in mine arms. Provided KNIGHT'S TALE 53 1 2271: "unequal": Darkness and daylight were divided into twelve parts each. 1/12th of the hours of darkness would be unequal to 1/12 of the hours of daylight except around the solstice. This is a difficult line to scan metrically even with ME spelling. For though so be that Mars is god of arms, Your virtue is so great in heaven above Your power 2250 That, if you list, I shall well have my love. if you wish Thy temple will I worship evermo', And on thine altar, where I ride or go, wherever I r. or walk I will do sacrifice and fires beet. kindle And if you will not so, my lady sweet, 2255 Then pray I thee tomorrow with a spear That rcita me through the heart bere; thrust Then reck I not, when I have lost my life,

Though that Arcta win her to his wife. This is th'effect and end of my prayer: 2260 Give me my love, thou blissful lady dear." When th'orison was done of Palamon, the prayer His sacrifice he did, and that anon, promptly Full piteously, with all circumstnces, piously / rites Al' tell I not as now his observnces. Although 2265 But at the last the statue of Venus shook, And made a sign whereby that he took That his prayer accepted was that day; For though the sign showd a delay, Yet wist he well that granted was his boon, knew he / prayer 2270 And with glad heart he went him home full soon. Emily prays in the temple of Diana The third hour unequal that Palamon1 Began to Venus' temple for to gon, to go Up rose the sun, and up rose Emily, And to the temple of Diane gan she hie. hasten 2275 Her maidens that she thither with her led Full readily with them the fire they had, Th'incense, the cloths, and the remnant all all the rest That to the sacrific longen shall, belongs to CANTERBURY TALES 54 1 2284-88: The meaning of this passage is obscure. Perhaps the narrator is saying that he will not be like Actaeon (2303 below) watching a girl take her bath? What a man should be free to do is not clear. The horns full of mead, as was the guise. custom 2280 There lackd naught to do her sacrifice. Smoking the temple, full of cloths fair, Incensing / hangings This Emily with heart debonair devout Her body washed with water of a well. (But how she did her rite I dare not tell, 2285 But it be any thing in general, Except in general? And yet it were a game to hearen all. would be pleasant To him that meaneth well it were no charge; problem But it is good a man be at his large).1 to be free Her bright hair was combed untressd all; 2290 A coroun of a green oak cerial crown of evergreen oak Upon her head was set, full fair and meet. proper Two firs on the altar gan she beet, kindle And did her things as men may behold rites / read In Stace of Thebes and other books old. "Thebaid" by Statius. 2295 When kindled was the fire, with piteous cheer pious(?) manner Unto Diane she spoke as you may hear: "O chast goddess of the woods green, To whom both heaven and earth and sea is seen; visible Queen of the regne of Pluto, dark and low, realm (of underworld) 2300 Goddess of maidens, that mine heart hast know Full many a year, and wost what I desire, knowest As keep me from thy vengeance and thine ire That Actaeon abought cruelly. paid dearly for Chaste goddess, well wost thou that I you know that 2305 Desire to be a maiden all my life, Nor never will I be nor love nor wife. lover I am, thou wost, yet of thy company

A maid, and love hunting and venery, the chase And for to walken in the woods wild, 2310 And not to be a wife and be with child. Not will I know company of man. I don't wish Now help me, lady, since you may and can, KNIGHT'S TALE 55 1 2313: She asks help from Diana who is also known as Luna, the moon goddess; as Hecate, goddess of the underworld; and as Lucina, goddess of childbirth. See above 2051, note. For those three forms that thou hast in thee.1 And Palamon, that has such love to me, 2315 And eke Arcite, that loveth me so sore, And also This grace I pray thee withouten more, and no more As send love and peace bitwixt them two, And from me turn away their hearts so That all their hott love and their desire, 2320 And all their busy torment and their fire Be queint or turnd in another place. quenched And if so be thou wilt not do me grace, Or if my destiny be shapen so That I shall needs have one of them two, must have 2325 As send me him that most desireth me. Behold, goddess of clean chastity, The bitter tears that on my cheeks fall. Since thou art maid and keeper of us all, My maidenhood thou keep and well conserve. 2330 And while I live, a maid I will thee serve." The firs burn upon the altar clear, While Emily was thus in her prayr, But suddenly she saw a sight quaint, strange For right anon one of the fires queint, quenched 2335 And quicked again, and after that anon And lit up The other fire was queint and all agone, And as it queint it made a whistling, As do these wett brands in their burning, wet branches And at the brands' end out ran anon 2340 As it were bloody dropps many a one. For which so sore aghast was Emily That she was well nigh mad, and gan to cry, For she ne wist what it signified; But only for the fear thus has she cried, 2345 And wept that it was pity for to hear. (in a way) that And therewithal Diana gan appear, With bow in hand, right as an hunteress, CANTERBURY TALES 56 And said: "Daughter, stint thy heaviness. cease thy grief Among the godds high it is affirmed, 2350 And by eternal word written and confirmed, Thou shalt be wedded unto one of tho those That have for thee so much care and woe, But unto which of them I may not tell. Farewell, for I ne may no longer dwell. 2355 The fires which that on mine altar burn Shall thee declaren ere that thou go hence tell you before Thine venture of love as in this case." destiny And with that word the arrows in the case Of the goddess clatter fast and ring, 2360 And forth she went, and made a vanishing. For which this Emily astond was, astonished And said: "What amounteth this, alas? I put me in thy protecton,

Diana, and in thy dispositon." 2365 And home she goes anon the next way. shortest way This is th'effect, there is no more to say. the outcome Arcite prays in the temple of Mars The next hour of Mars following this, Arcite unto the temple walkd is Of fierc Mars, to do his sacrifice, 2370 With all the rits of his pagan wise. fashion With piteous heart and high devoton, pious Right thus to Mars he said his orison: prayer "O strong god, that in the regnes cold realms Of Thrace honored art and lord y-hold, regarded as 2375 And hast in every regne and every land Of arms all the bridle in thine hand, the control And them fortnest as thee list devise: reward / as you like Accept of me my piteous sacrifice. pious If so be that my youth may deserve, 2380 And that my might be worthy for to serve Thy godhead, that I may be one of thine, Then pray I thee to rue upon my pine, take pity / misery KNIGHT'S TALE 57 1 2398: "And I know well that before she will show me any favor ..." The Chaucer Glossary implies tht the form hote rather than Heete was used in Skeat. I could use it and float for the preceding line. 2 "I will always work very hard to please you and (be) strong in your service" For thilk pain and thilk hott fire that same In which thou whilom burnedst for desire once 2385 When that thou usedest the beauty Of fair, young, fresh Venus free, And haddest her in arms at thy will, Although thee once upon a time misfell, were unfortunate When Vulcanus had caught thee in his lass, trap 2390 And found thee lying by his wife, alas. For thilk sorrow that was in thine heart, Have ruth as well upon my pains smart. pity / sharp I am young and uncunning, as thou wost, inexperienced / know And as I trow, with love offended most I think / afflicted 2395 That ever was any liv cretre. For she that does me all this woe endure causes me to Ne recketh never whether I sink or fleet; float And well I wot ere she me mercy heet,1 favor show I must with strength win her in the place, in the lists 2400 And well I wot withouten help and grace I know Of thee ne may my strength not avail. Then help me, lord, tomorrow in my bataille, For thilk fire that whilom burnd thee, For the same / once As well as thilk fire now burneth me, 2405 And do that I tomorrow have victry. grant that Mine be the travail, and thine be the glory. work Thy sovereign temple will I most honor Of any place, and always most labor In thy pleasnce and in thy crafts strong.2 To please you 2410 And in thy temple I will my banner hang, And all the arms of my company, And evermore until that day I die Eternal fire I will before thee find. provide And eke to this avow I will me bind: also / vow

2415 My beard, my hair, that hangeth long adown, CANTERBURY TALES 58 That never yet ne felt offenson Of razor nor of shears, I will thee give; And be thy tru servant while I live. Now lord, have ruth upon my sorrows sore. pity 2420 Give me the victory. I ask no more." The prayer stint of rcita the strong. stopped The rings on the temple door that hung And eke the doors clatterd full fast, Of which Arcta somewhat him aghast. was afraid 2425 The fires burned upon the altar bright That it gan all the temple for to light. so that A sweet smell anon the ground up gave And rcita anon his hand up have, lifted up And more incnse into the fire he cast, 2430 With other rits more, and at the last The statue of Mars began his hauberk ring, to rattle its armor And with that sound he heard a murmuring, Full low and dim, that said thus: "Victry!" For which he gave to Mars honor and glory. 2435 And thus with joy and hop well to fare Arcite anon unto his inn is fare, lodging has gone As fain as fowl is of the bright sun. glad as bird An argument among the gods And right anon such strife there is begun For thilk granting, in the heaven above Because of that 2440 Betwixt Venus, the goddss of love, And Mars, the stern god armipotent, powerful in arms That Jupiter was busy it to stent, stop Till that the pal Sturnus the cold, That knew so many of adventures old, events 2445 Found in his old experience an art trick That he full soon has pleasd every part. (So) that / party As sooth is said, eld has great advantge; truth / old age In eld is both wisdom and usge; experience Men may the old outrun but not outred. outwit 2450 Saturn anon, to stinten strife and dread, to stop KNIGHT'S TALE 59 Albeit that it is against his kind, Although / his nature Of all this strife he can remedy find. Saturn settles the argument "My dear daughter Venus," quod Satrn, granddaughter "My cours, that has so wid for to turn, orbit 2455 Has mor power than wot any man. than knows Mine is the drenching in the sea so wan; drowning / pale Mine is the prison in the dark cote; cell Mine is the strangling and hanging by the throat, The murmur and the churls' rbelling, peasants' 2460 The groining and the privy empoisoning. grumbling / secret I do vengence and plain correcton open While I dwell in the sign of the lion. sign of Leo Mine is the ruin of the high halls, The falling of the towers and of the walls 2465 Upon the miner or the carpenter. I slew Sampson, shaking the pillar; And min be the maladis cold, The dark treasons, and the casts old. plots My looking is the father of pestilence. My glance 2470 Now weep no more, I shall do diligence take pains

That Palamon, that is thine own knight, Shall have his lady as thou hast him hight. promised Though Mars shall help his knight, yet natheless, Betwixt you there must be some time peace, 2475 Al be you not of one complexon, temperament That causeth alday such divison. every day I am thine ail, ready at thy will. grandfather Weep now no more; I will thy lust fulfill." your wish Now will I stinten of the gods above, stop (talking) about 2480 Of Mars and Venus, the goddss of love, And tell you as plainly as I can The great effect for which that I began. result, ending End of Part III CANTERBURY TALES 60 Part Four Preparations for the tournament Great was the feast in Athens that day, And eke the lusty season of that May also 2485 Made every wight to be in such pleasnce person That all that Monday jousten they and dance, And spenden it in Venus' high service. But by the caus that they should rise Because Early for to see the great fight, 2490 Unto their rest wenten they at night. And on the morrow when the day gan spring, Of horse and harness noise and clattering There was in hostelris all about; And to the palace rode there many a rout group 2495 Of lords upon steeds and palfreys. war horses / riding horses There mayst thou see devising of harness, preparing So uncouth and so rich, and wrought so well so unusual Of goldsmithry, of broiding, and of steel, embroidery The shields bright, testers, and trappres, head armor / trappings 2500 Gold-hewn helms, hauberks, coat-armors, goldworked / mail coats Lords in parments on their coursers, robes / horses Knights of retinue and eke squires also Nailing the spears and helmets buckling; Gigging of shields, with lainers lacing: strapping / lanyards 2505 There as need was they wer no thing idle. The foamy steeds on the golden bridle Gnawing; and fast the armourers also With file and hammer, pricking to and fro; spurring Yeomen on foot and commons many a one Servants 2510 With short staves, thick as they may gon; Pips, trumpets, nakers, clarions, drums / bugles That in the battle blowen bloody sounds; The palace full of people up and down, Here three, there ten, holding their queston, arguing 2515 Divining of these Theban knights two. speculating about KNIGHT'S TALE 61 Some said thus, some said it shall be so; Some held with him with the black beard, Some with the bald, some with the thickly-haired; Some said he lookd grim, and he would fight: "he"= this / that one 2520 "He has a sparth of twenty pound of weight." "battle axe

Thus was the hall full of divining conjectures Long after that the sun began to spring. Theseus announces the rules The great Theseus, that of his sleep awakd With minstrelsy and nois that was makd, 2525 Held yet the chambers of his palace rich, Still stayed in Till that the Theban knights, both alike Honored, were into the palace fet. fetched Duke Theseus is at a window set, Arrayed right as he were a god in throne; 2530 The people presseth thitherward full soon, Him for to see and do high reverence, And eke to hearken his hest and his sentnce. order & judgement A herald on a scaffold made a "Ho!" Till all the noise of people was y-do. ceased 2535 And when he saw the people of noise all still, Thus showd he the mighty duk's will: "The lord has of his high discreton Considered that it were destructon To gentle blood to fighten in the guise the manner 2540 Of mortal battle now in this emprise; enterprise Wherefore, to shapen that they shall not die, ensure He will his first purpose modify: No man, therefre, on pain of loss of life, No manner shot, nor pole-ax, nor short knife missile 2545 Into the lists send or thither bring, Nor short-sword for to stoke with point biting, to stab No man ne draw nor bear it by his side. Nor no man shall unto his fellow ride But one course with a sharp y-grounden spear. 2550 Foin, if him list, on foot, himself to were. Thrust if he likes / defend CANTERBURY TALES 62 1 At the edge of the lists, the tournament place, stakes have been set up to serve as a kind of sideline; any warrior captured and forced to the sideline is out of the fight. And he that is at mischief shall be take, overcome / captured And not slain, but be brought unto the stake surrender post That shall ordaind be on either side;1 set up But thither he shall by force, and there abide. 2555 And if so fall the chieftain be take befall / leader On either side, or els slay his make, opponent No longer shall the tourneying last. God speed you: go forth and lay on fast. With long sword and with maces fight your fill. 2560 Go now your way. This is the lord's will." The voice of people touched the heaven, So loud crid they with merry steven: voice "God sav such a lord that is so good; He willeth no destructon of blood." 2565 Up go the trumpets and the melody, And to the lists rideth the company, By ordinance, throughout the city large, In order / through Hangd with cloth of gold and not with serge. Full like a lord this noble Duke gan ride, 2570 These two Thebans upon either side, And after rode the Queen and Emily, And after that another company

Of one and other after their degree. by rank And thus they passen throughout the city, pass through 2575 And to the lists cam they betime, in good time It was not of the day yet fully prime. All spectators take their places and the tournament begins mid-morning When set was Theseus full rich and high, Hippolyta the queen and Emily, And other ladies in degrees about, ranks 2580 Unto the seats presseth all the rout, the crowd And westward through the gats under Mart Mars Arcite and eke the hundred of his part, party KNIGHT'S TALE 63 With banner red is entered right anon. And in that self moment Palamon same 2585 Is under Venus eastward in the place, With banner white and hardy cheer and face. brave In all the world, to seeken up and down, So even without variaton evenly matched There n'er such companis tway; weren't two such 2590 For there was none so wis that could say That any had of other advantge Of worthiness nor of estate nor age, Of bravery or rank So even were they chosen for to guess; And in two rings fair they them dress. they get ready 2595 When that their nams read were every one, That in their number guil was there none, (So)that / cheating Then were the gates shut and cried was loud: "Do now your devoir, young knights proud." duty The heralds left their pricking up and down. spurring 2600 Now ringen trumpets loud and clarion. bugle There is no more to say, but east and west In go the spears full sadly in the rest, tightly In goes the sharp spur into the side, There see men who can joust and who can ride. 2605 There shiveren shafts upon shields thick, spear shafts split He feeleth through the heart-spoon the prick. He = One / breast bone Up springen spears twenty foot on height, Out go the swords as the silver bright, The helmets they to-hewen and to-shred, "to" is intensive 2610 Out burst the blood with stern streams red, gushing With mighty maces the bones they to-burst; He through the thickest of the throng gan thrust. "He" = one There stumble steeds strong and down goes all. He rolleth under foot as does a ball, "He" = another 2615 He foineth on his feet with his truncheon, thrusts / shaft And he him hurtleth with his horse adown, He through the body is hurt and sithen take, & then captured Maugre his head, and brought unto the stake, Against his will As forward was; right there he must abide. agreement was 2620 Another led is on that other side. CANTERBURY TALES 64 And some time does them Theseus to rest, makes them Them to refresh and drinken if them lest. if they wish

Full oft a-day have thes Thebans two Together met and wrought his fellow woe. caused 2625 Unhorsd has each other of them tway. two There was no tiger in Vale of Galgophay, When that her whelp is stole when it is lite, little So cruel in the hunt as is Arcite, For jealous heart, upon this Palamon. 2630 Ne in Belmary there n'is so fell lion, fierce That hunted is or for his hunger wood, mad with hunger Ne of his prey desireth so the blood, As Palamon to slay his foe Arcite. The jealous stroks on their helmets bite, angry blows 2635 Out runneth blood on both their sids red. Palamon is captured Some time an end there is of every deed, For ere the sun unto the rest went, before sunset The strong king Emetrius gan hent seized This Palamon as he fought with Arcite, 2640 And made his sword deep in his flesh to bite, And by the force of twenty is he take, Unyolden, and y-drawen to the stake. Unyielding And in the rescue of this Palamon, The strong king Lygurge is born adown, 2645 And King Emetrius, for all his strength, Is borne out of his saddle a sword's length, So hit him Palamon ere he were take. But all for naught: he brought was to the stake. His hardy heart might him help naught; 2650 He must abid when that he was caught, By force and eke by compositon. and as agreed Who sorroweth now but woeful Palamon, That must no mor go again to fight? Theseus announces the victor; Venus sulks; Saturn strikes KNIGHT'S TALE 65 And when that Theseus hadd seen this sight, 2655 Unto the folk that foughten thus each one He crid, "Whoa! No more, for it is done. I will be tru judge and not party. partial Arcite of Thebs shall have Emily, That by his fortune has her fair y-won." fairly 2660 Anon there is a noise of people begun For joy of this, so loud and high withall, It seemd that the lists should fall. What can now fair Venus do above? What says she now? What does this queen of love, 2665 But weepeth so for wanting of her will, not getting her way Till that her tears in the lists fell. She said: "I am ashamd, doubtless." Saturnus said: "Daughter, hold thy peace. Mars has his will, his knight has all his boon. prayer 2670 And, by my head, thou shalt be easd soon." The trumpers with the loud minstrelcy, trumpeters / music The heralds that full loud yell and cry, Be in their weal for joy of daun Arcite. Are glad But hearken me, and stinteth noise a lite a little 2675 Which a miracle there befell anon! What a / shortly This fierce Arcite has off his helm y-done, had doffed And on a courser for to show his face, war-horse He pricketh endalong the larg place, rides along / arena Looking upward on this Emily,

2680 And she again him cast a friendly eye. towards him For women, as to speaken in commune, generally They follow all the favour of Fortne, And she was all his cheer as in his heart. joy Out of the ground a Fury infernal start, shot 2685 From Pluto sent at request of Satrn, For which his horse for fear 'gan to turn And leap aside, and foundered as he leaped. stumbled And ere that rcit may taken keep, before / act He pight him on the pommel of his head, pitched / crown 2690 That in the place he lay as he were dead, (So) that CANTERBURY TALES 66 1 2691: "His breast torn open by the bow at the front of the saddle" which he has somehow struck in his fall. 2 2703: "Although this accident had occurred" His breast to-bursten with his saddle-bow.1 As black he lay as any coal or crow, So was the blood y-runnen in his face. Anon he was y-borne out of the place, 2695 With heart sore to Theseus' palace. Then was he carven out of his harness, cut / armor And in a bed y-brought full fair and blive, quickly For he was yet in memory and alive, still conscious And always crying after Emily. Activities after the tournament 2700 Duke Theseus with all his company Is comen home to Athens his city With all bliss and great solemnity. Albeit that this venture was fall,2 Although / accident He would not discomforten them all. upset everyone 2705 Men said eke that Arcte shall not die: moreover "He shall be heald of his malady." And of another thing they were as fain: glad That of them all was there none y-slain, Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely one, Although / especially 2710 That with a spear was thirld his breast bone. pierced To other wounds and to broken arms Some hadd salvs and some hadd charms; ointments / spells Fermacies of herbs and eke save Concoctions / sage They drank, for they would their limbs have. wante to keep 2715 For which this noble Duke, as he well can, Comfrteth and honoreth every man, And mad revel all the long night Unto the strang lords, as was right. foreign lords Ne there was holden no discomfiting, disgrace 2720 But as a joust or as a tourneying, For soothly there was no discomfiture, disgrace KNIGHT'S TALE 67 1 2749-51: "thilke virtue": that power, ability ; in medieval medicine the "animal" power was in the brain, the "natural" power in the liver. In this case the appropriate "virtue" was unable to overcome the infection. For falling n'is not but an venture, only accidental Nor to be led by force unto the stake, Unyolden, and with twenty knights y-take, Unsurrendering 2725 One persn alone, withouten mo' unaided And harried forth by arm, foot, and toe

And eke his steed driven forth with staves, With footmen, both yeomen and eke knaves-It n'as aretted him no villainy; held no disgrace 2730 There may no man clepen it cowardy. call it cowardice For which anon Duke Theseus let cry-- caused to be announced To stinten all rancour and envy-- stop The gree as well of one side as of other, reward And either side alike as other's brother, 2735 And gave them gifts after their degree, according to rank And fully held a feast days three, And cnveyd the kings worthily accompanied Out of his town a journey largly. a full day's ride And home went every man the right way, 2740 There was no more but "Farewell, have good day." Of this battle I will no more endite, But speak of Palamon and of Arcite. Arcite's injury does not heal Swelleth the breast of rcite, and the sore Encreaseth at his heart more and more; 2745 The clothered blood, for any leechcraft, despite doctoring Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-left, body That neither vein-blood nor ventusing, blood letting / cupping Nor drink of herbs may be his helping. The virtue expulsve or animal immune system 2750 From thilk virtue clepd natural Ne may the venom voiden nor expell;1 poison overcome The pips of his lungs began to swell, CANTERBURY TALES 68 1 2775: wife: In Boccaccio's "Teseida," Chaucer's source for this tale, Arcite and Emily marry after his victory. And every lacert in his breast adown muscle Is shent with venom and corrupton. destroyed 2755 Him gaineth neither, for to get his life, It helps not Vomit upward, nor downward laxative. All is to-bursten thilk region; that part of body Nature has now no dominaton; no control And certainly, where Nature will not work, 2760 Farewell, physic, go bear the man to church. This all and sum: that rcita must die, In short For which he sendeth after Emily, sends for And Palamon that was his cousin dear. His last will and testament Then said he thus, as you shall after hear: 2765 "Not may the woeful spirit in mine heart Declare a point of all my sorrows smart Tell even a bit To you, my lady, that I lov most; But I bequeath the service of my ghost spirit To you aboven every cretre 2770 Since that my lif may no longer dure. last Alas the woe! Alas the pains strong That I for you have suffered, and so long! Alas the death! Alas, mine Emily! Alas, departing of our company! parting 2775 Alas, mine heart's queen! Alas, my wife!1 Mine heart's lady, ender of my life. What is this world? What asketh man to have?

Now with his love, now in his cold grave Alone, withouten any company. 2780 Farewell, my sweet foe, mine Emily, And soft take me in your arms tway, two arms For love of God, and hearken what I say: I have here with my cousin Palamon Had strife and rancour many a day agone KNIGHT'S TALE 69 1 2813-14: "And I don't want to give the opinions of those who write about the afterworld" seems to be the general meaning. 2785 For love of you, and for my jealousy. And Jupiter so wise my soul gie guide To speaken of a servant properly a lover With all circumstances truly, That is to sayen, truth, honor, knighthood, 2790 Wisdom, humbless, estate, and high kindred, rank Freedom, and all that 'longeth to that art, generosity / belongs So Jupiter have of my soul part, As in this world right now ne know I none So worthy to be loved as Palamon, 2795 That serveth you and will do all his life. And if that ever you shall be a wife, Forget not Palamon, the gentle man." And with that word his speech to faile gan; For from his feet up to his breast was come 2800 The cold of death that had him overcome. And yet moreover, for in his arms two The vital strength is lost and all ago; Only the intellect withouten more, That dwelld in his heart sick and sore, 2805 Gan failen when the heart felt death. Duskd his eyen two and faild breath, But on his lady yet he cast his eye. His last word was: "Mercy, Emily." His spirit changed house and went there 2810 As I came never, I can not tellen where; As I was never there Therefore I stint, I am no divinister: I stop / no theologian Of souls find I not in this register, this source? Ne me ne list thilke opinions to tell I don't wish Of them, though that they writen where they dwell.1 2815 Arcite is cold, there Mars his soul gie. guide The mourning for Arcite. The funeral Now will I speaken forth of Emily. CANTERBURY TALES 70 1 2835-6: It is difficult to decide what to make of the sentiment expressed in these two lines which seem singularly unapt at this point. Shright Emily and howleth Palamon, Shrieked And Theseus his sister took anon sister -in-law Swooning, and bore her from the corpse away. 2820 What helpeth it to tarry forth the day take all day To tellen how she wept both eve and morrow? For in such cases women have such sorrow, When that their husbands be from them a-go, gone That for the mor part they sorrow so, 2825 Or els fall in such a malady, That at the last certainly they die. Infinite be the sorrows and the tears Of old folk and folk of tender years

In all the town for death of this Theban; 2830 For him there weepeth both child and man. So great weeping was there none, certin, When Hector was y-brought all fresh y-slain To Troy. Alas, the pity that was there, Cratching of cheeks, rending eke of hair: Scratching / also 2835 "Why wouldest thou be dead," these women cry, "And haddest gold enough and Emily?" 1 No man might gladden Theseus Saving his old father Egeus, That knew this world's transmutaton, 2840 As he had seen it change both up and down, Joy after woe, and woe after gladness; And showd them example and likeness: "Right as there did never man," quod he, "That he ne lived in earth in some degree, 2845 Right so there livd never man," he said, "In all this world that some time he ne died. This world n'is but a thoroughfare full of woe, And we be pilgrims passing to and fro. Death is an end of every worldy sore." 2850 And overall this yet said he muchel more To this effect, full wisely to exhort KNIGHT'S TALE 71 The people that they should them recomfort. take comfort Duke Theseus with all his busy cure care Casteth now wher that the sepultre Considers / burial 2855 Of good Arcite may best y-makd be, And eke most honourable in his degree. And at the last he took concluson made decision That there as first Arcite and Palamon there where Hadd for love the battle them between, 2860 That in the self grov, sweet and green, self same There as he had his amorous desires, His cmplaint, and for love his hott fires, song of lament He would make a fire in which the office rites Funeral he might all accomplish, "funeral" is an adj. 2865 And let anon command to hack and hew promptly gave The oaks old, and lay them in a row, In colpons well arrayd for to burn. portions His officers with swift feet they run And ride anon at his commandment, 2870 And after this Theseus has y-sent After a bier, and it all overspread Sent for With cloth of gold, the richest that he had, And of the sam suit he clad Arcite, material Upon his hands two his glovs white, 2875 Eke on his head a crown of laurel green, And in his hand a sword full bright and keen. He laid him, bare the visage, on the bier. face uncovered Therewith he wept that pity was to hear, And for the people should see him all, so that all the people 2880 When it was day he brought him to the hall That roareth of the crying and the sound. echoes with Then came this woeful Theban Palamon, With fluttery beard and ruggy ashy hairs, scraggly / rough In cloths black, y-droppd all with tears, 2885 And passing other of weeping, Emily, surpassing The ruefullest of all the company. saddest

In as much as the servic should be The mor noble and rich in his degree, acc. to his rank Duke Theseus let forth three steeds bring CANTERBURY TALES 72 1 2919: Here begins what has been called the longest sentence in Chaucer's poetry and perhaps the longest occupatio in English, a rhetorical feature as dear to Chaucer and to the Middle Ages generally as the catalogue which it is also. Occupatio is the pretence that the author does not have the time, space or talent to describe what he then sets out to describe. The catalogue is self explaining, if not self justifying to modern taste. 2890 That trappd were in steel all glittering, And covered with the arms of Daun Arcite. Sir A. Upon these steeds that weren great and white, There satten folk of which one bore his shield; There sat Another his spear up in his hands held; 2895 The third bore with him his bow Turkish. Of burned gold was the case and eke th' harness, burnished / armor And ridden forth a pace with sorrowful cheer Toward the grove, as you shall after hear. The noblest of the Greeks that there were 2900 Upon their shoulders carrid the bier, With slack pace, and eyen red and wet, slow march Throughout the city by the master street, main street That spread was all with black. And wonder high Right of the sam is the street y-wry. covered 2905 Upon the right hand went old Egeus, And on that other side Duke Theseus, With vessels in their hands of gold full fine, refined All full of honey, milk, and blood, and wine. Eke Palamon with full great company And 2910 And after that came woeful Emily, With fire in hand, as was that time the guise fashion To do the office of funeral service. High labour and full great apparreling Was at the service and the fire-making, 2915 That with his green top the heaven raught, its / reached And twenty fathom of breadth the arms straught, stretched This is to say, the boughs were so broad. Of straw first there was laid many a load.1 But how the fire was makd upon height, 2920 Nor eke the nams how the trees hight-- were called As oak, fir, birch, asp, alder, holm, poplar, Willow, elm, plane, ash, box, chestain, lind, laurer, KNIGHT'S TALE 73 Maple, thorn, beech, hazel, yew, whippletree-How they were felled shall not be told for me, by me 2925 Nor how the godds runnen up and down, [g. of the woods] Disherited of their habitaton In which they wonden in rest and peace: used to live Nymphs, fauns, and hamadryads; wood deities Nor how the beasts and the birds all 2930 Fledden for fear when the wood was fall; felled Nor how the ground aghast was of the light That was not wont to see the sunn bright; accustomed

Nor how the fire was couchd first with stree laid w. straw And then with dry sticks cloven a-three, cut in three 2935 And then with green wood and spicery, aromatic wood And then with cloth of gold and with perry, jewelry And garlands hanging full of many a flower, The myrrh, th'incense with all so great savor, Nor how Arcit lay among all this, 2940 Nor what richness about the body is, Nor how that Emily, as was the guise, custom Put in the fire of funeral service, Nor how she swoond when men made the fire, Nor what she spoke, nor what was her desire, 2945 Nor what jewels men in the fir cast When that the fire was great and burnd fast, Nor how some cast their shield and some their spear, And of the vestments which that ther were, And cupps full of milk and wine and blood 2950 Into the fire that burnt as it were wood; mad Nor how the Greeks with a hug rout crowd Thric riden all the fire about, Upon the left hand, with a loud shouting, And thric with their spears clattering, 2955 And thric how the ladies gan to cry, And how that led was homeward Emily; Nor how Arcite is burnt to ashes cold; Nor how that lich-wak was y-hold wake for dead All thilk night; nor how the Greeks play that night 2960 The wak-plays; ne keep I nought to say funeral games CANTERBURY TALES 74 1 2962: "Nor who came off best, with least difficulty" (?) Who wrestleth best naked with oil anoint, Nor who that bore him best in no disjoint.1 I will not tellen all how that they gon go Hom to Athens when the play is done, 2965 But shortly to the point then will I wend, And maken of my long tale an end. Theseus sends for Palamon and Emily By process and by length of certain years, course of time All stinted is the mourning and the tears ceased Of Greeks by one general assent. 2970 Then seemd me there was a parliament I gather At Athens, upon a certain point and case; Among the which points y-spoken was To have with certain countries lliance, And have fully of Thebans obesance; submission 2975 For which noble Theseus anon Let senden after gentle Palamon, Had P. sent for Unwist of him what was the cause and why. Without telling But in his black cloths sorrowfully He came at his commandment in hie. in haste 2980 Then sent Theseus for Emily. When they were set, and hushed was all the place, And Theseus abiden has a space a while Ere any word came from his wis breast, Before His eyen set he there as was his lest, where he wished 2985 And with a sad visge he sighd still, And after that right thus he said his will: His speech about Destiny "The First Mover of the cause above, When he first made the fair Chain of Love,

Great was th'effect, and high was his intent; result 2990 Well wist he why and what thereof he meant. knew he KNIGHT'S TALE 75 1 3005-16: Every part is part of a whole, and is therefore imperfect. Only the perfect, i.e. God, is whole and eternal. Nature itself derives directly from God, but each part of it is less perfect because further removed from the great One. Everything imperfect is destined to die. But, though each individual is perishable, the species itself has some kind of eternity. For with that fair Chain of Love he bound The fire, the air, the water, and the land In certain bounds that they may not flee. That sam Prince and that Mover," quod he, 2995 "Hath 'stablished in this wretched world adown below Certain days and duraton To all that is engendred in this place, Over the which day they may not pace, Past which All may they yet those days well abridge, Although / shorten 3000 There needeth no authority to allege, cite authorities For it is provd by experience, But that me list declaren my sentnce. I wish / opinion Then may men by this order well discern That thilk Mover stable is and etern. 3005 Then may men know, but it be a fool, except for That every part deriveth from its whole, For Nature has not taken its beginning Of no party or cantle of a thing, part or bit But of a thing that perfect is and stable, 3010 Descending so till it be crrumpable. corruptible And therefore for his wis purveyance providence He has so well beset his ordinance so ordered things That species of things and progressons Shall enduren by successons, 3015 And not etern, withouten any lie. This mayst thou understand and see at eye.1 Lo, the oak that has so long a nourishing From tim that it first beginneth spring, And has so long a life, as you may see, 3020 Yet at the last wasted is the tree. Consider eke how that the hard stone Under our foot on which we ride and gon, and walk Yet wasteth it as it lies by the way; wears away CANTERBURY TALES 76 1 3027-3030: The passage states the obvious: that every man and woman must die, young or old, king or servant. The awkward syntax is about as follows: "man and woman ... needs ...be dead" ; must be repeats needs be, and he refers back to man and woman. The broad river some time waxeth dry; becomes 3025 The great towns see we wane and wend; fade and disappear Then may you see that all this thing has end. Of man and woman see we well also That needs, in one of thes terms two, periods This is to say, in youth or else in age, 3030 He must be dead, the king as shall a page:1 He = everyone

Some in his bed, some in the deep sea, One ... another Some in the larg field, as you may see. open field There helpeth naught, all goes that ilk way. the same way Then may I say that all this thing must die. Destiny is the will of Jove 3035 What maketh this but Jupiter the king, Who causes this? That is the Prince and cause of all thing, Converting all unto his proper well its own source? From which it is derivd, sooth to tell! And here-against no cretre alive against this 3040 Of no degree, availeth for to strive. any rank Then is it wisdom, as it thinketh me, it seems to me To maken virtue of necessity, And take it well that we may not eschew, what we can't avoid And namly what to us all is due. 3045 And whoso groucheth aught, he does folly, whoever complains And rebel is to Him that all may gie. directs everything And certainly a man has most honor To dien in his excellence and flower, When he is siker of his good name. sure 3050 Then has he done his friend nor him no shame; And gladder ought his friend be of his death When with honor up yielded is his breath, Than when his name appalld is for age, dimmed For all forgotten is his vassalage. service KNIGHT'S TALE 77 3055 Then is it best, as for a worthy fame, To dien when that he is best of name. at height of h. fame He reminds them that Arcite died at the height of his fame The contrary of all this is wilfulness. Why grouchen we, why have we heaviness, complain That good Arcite, of chivalry the flower, 3060 Departed is with duity and honour homage Out of this foul prison of this life? Why grouchen here his cousin and his wife Of his welfare that loveth them so well? Can he them thank? Nay, God wot, never a deal 3065 That both his soul and eke himself offend. who offend both ... And yet they may their lusts not amend. their feelings What may I conclude of this long serie, argument But after woe I rede us to be merry, I advise And thanken Jupiter of all his grace; 3070 And, er we departen from this place, I red that we make of sorrows two suggest One perfect joy, lasting evermo'. And look now where most sorrow is herein, There I will first amenden and begin. Theseus wishes Palamon and Emily to marry 3075 "Sister," quod he, "this is my full assent, With all th'advice here of my parliament: That gentle Palamon, your own knight, That serveth you with will and heart and might, And ever has done since you first him knew, 3080 That you shall of your grace upon him rue take pity And taken him for husband and for lord. Lene me your hand, for this is our accord: Give Let see now of your womanly pity. He is a king's brother's son, pardee, by God

3085 And though he were a poor bachelor, knight Since he has servd you so many year And had for you so great adversity, CANTERBURY TALES 78 1 3089: "Mercy is preferable to insisting on one's rights." The implication is that, by rights, she should be married to a man of higher rank than Palamon. It must be considered, 'lieveth me believe me For gentle mercy aught to passen right.1 3090 Than said he thus to Palalmon the knight: "I trow there needeth little sermoning I imagine / urging To mak you assent unto this thing. Come near and take your lady by the hand." They marry and live happily ever after Bitwixen them was made anon the bond 3095 That hight matrimony or marrage, That is called By all the council and the baronage. And thus with all bliss and melody Hath Palamon y-wedded Emily. And God, that all this wid world has wrought, made 3100 Send him his love that has it dear abought; "him" = everyone For now is Palamon in all weal, happiness Living in bliss, in riches, and in heal, health And Emily him loves so tenderly, And he her serveth also gentilly, 3105 That never was there no word them between Of jealousy or any other teen. vexation Thus endeth Palamon and Emily, And God save all this fair company. Amen The Miller's Portrait The Millers Prologue THE MILLERS TALE MILLER'S TALE 1 1 550: "There was no door that he could not heave off its hinges." 2 563: A phrase hard to explain. It is sometimes said to allude to a saying that an honest miller had a thumb of gold, i.e. there is no such thing as an honest miller. But the phrase "And yet" after the information that the miller is a thief, would seem to preclude that meaning, or another that has been suggested: his thumb, held on the weighing scale, produced gold. The Portrait of the pilgrim Miller from the General Prologue The MILLER was a stout carl for the nones. strong fellow Full big he was of brawn and eke of bones and also That provd well, for over all there he came for, wherever At wrestling he would have always the ram. prize He was short-shouldered, broad, a thick knarre. rugged fellow 550 There was no door that he n'ould heave off harre 1 couldn't heave / the hinge Or break it at a running with his head. His beard as any sow or fox was red, And thereto broad as though it were a spade. And also Upon the copright of his nose he had tip 555 A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs Red as the bristles of a sow's ears.

His nosthirls black were and wide. nostrils A sword and buckler bore he by his side. shield His mouth as great was as a great furnace. 560 He was a jangler and a goliardese loud talker & joker And that was most of sin and harlotries. & dirty talk Well could he stealen corn and tolln thrice, take triple toll And yet he had a thumb of gold pardee.2 by God A white coat and a blue hood weard he. 565 A bagpipe well could he blow and sound And therewithal he brought us out of town. And with that CANTERBURY TALES 2 1 3118: "Telleth" (plural) is the polite form of the imperative singular here. It means "tell." 2 3124: In medieval mystery or miracle plays the biblical characters of Pontius Pilate and of Herod were always represented as ranting loudly. Though all such plays that survive come from after Chaucer's time, the tradition seems to have been already established. PROLOGUE to the MILLER'S TALE The Host is delighted with the success of his tale-telling suggestion: everyone agrees that the Knights tale was a good one. When that the knight had thus his tale y-told, 3110 In all the company ne was there young nor old there was nobody That he ne said it was a noble story that didn't say And worthy for to drawen to memory, keep in memory And namely the gentles every one. especially the gentry Our Host laughed and swore: "So may I gone! On my word! 3115 This goes aright. Unbuckled is the mail. bag Let's see now who shall tell another tale, For truly the game is well begun. Now telleth you, sir Monk, if that you can,1 Somewhat to quit with the Knight's tale." something to match 3120 The Miller that fordrunken was all pale very drunk So that unnethe upon his horse he sat. scarcely He n'ould avalen neither hood nor hat wouldn't take off N'abiden no man for his courtesy, Nor wait politely But in Pilat's voice he gan to cry 2 a bullying voice 3125 And swore by arms, and by blood and bones: "I can a noble tal for the nones I know / occasion With which I will now quit the Knight's tale." requite, match Our Host saw that he was drunk of ale And said: "Abid, Robin, lev brother, Wait / dear 3130 Some better man shall tell us first another. Abide, and let us worken thriftily." "By God's soul," quod he, "that will not I, For I will speak, or els go my way." Our Host answered: "Tell on, a devil way. devil take you MILLER'S TALE 3 1 The Reeve is angry because, as a onetime carpenter, he feels the tale is going to be directed at him. He is probably right, and gets his revenge when his turn comes, by telling a tale where a miller is the butt of the joke. 3135 Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome." "Now hearkeneth," quod the Miller, "all and some. listen / everyone

But first I make a protestaton That I am drunk; I know it by my sound And therefore, if that I misspeak or say, 3140 Wit it the ale of Southwark, I you pray Blame For I will tell a legend and a life Both of a carpenter and of his wife, How that a clerk hath set the wright's cap. fooled the worker The Reeve, who has been a carpenter in his youth, suspects that this tale is going to be directed at him The Reeve answered and said: "Stint thy clap. Stop your chatter 3145 Let be thy lewd, drunken harlotry. 1 It is a sin and eke a great folly and also T'apeiren any man or him defame To slander And eke to bringen wivs in such fame. (bad) reputation Thou may'st enough of other things sayn." 3150 This drunken Miller spoke full soon again And said: "Lev brother Oswald, Dear Who has no wife, he is no cuckold, betrayed husband But I say not therefore that thou art one. There be full good wivs many a one, 3155 And ever a thousand good against one bad. That know'st thou well thyself but if thou mad. unless thou art mad Why art thou angry with my tal now? I have a wife, pardee, as well as thou, by God Yet, n'ould I for the oxen in my plough I would not 3160 Take upon me mor than enough As deemen of myself that I were one. think / "one"= cuckold I will believ well that I am none. A husband shall not be inquisitive CANTERBURY TALES 4 1 3162-6: A husband should not enquire about his wife's secrets or God's. Provided his wife gives him all the sexual satisfaction he wants (God's foison, i.e. God's plenty), he should not enquire into what else she may be doing. 2 3186: "Besides, you should not take seriously (make earnest) what was intended as a joke (game)." Of God's privity, nor of his wife. secrets, privacy 3165 So he may find God's foison there, Provided / G's plenty Of the remnant needeth not enquire." 1 What should I mor say, but this Millr He n'ould his words for no man forbear wouldn't restrain But told his churl's tale. In his mannr, vulgar 3170 Methinketh that I shall rehearse it here. I think I'll retell Once again the poet makes a mock apoplogy for the tale he is going to tell: he has to tell the story as he has heard it from this rather vulgar fellow, a churl. Those who do not like bawdy tales are given fair warning. And therefore, every gentle wight I pray well bred person Deem not, for God's lov, that I say Judge not Of evil intent, but for I must rehearse because I must retell Their tals all, be they better or worse, 3175 Or els falsen some of my mattr. falsify

And, therefore, whoso list it not to hear whoever wishes Turn over the leaf and choose another tale, For he shall find enough, great and small, Of storial thing that toucheth gentleness of narratives / nobility 3180 And eke morality and holiness. also Blameth not me if that you choose amiss. "Blameth"= Blame The Miller is a churl; you know well this. low born man So was the Reev eke and others mo' also / more And harlotry they tolden both two. ribald tales 3185 Aviseth you and put me out of blame. Take care And eke men shall not make earnest of game.2 seriousness of a joke MILLER'S TALE 5 The Millers Tale Introduction The Miller's Tale is one of the great short stories in the English language and one of the earliest. It is a fabliau, that is, a short merry tale, generally about people in absurd and amusing circumstances, often naughty sexual predicaments. The stories frequently involve a betrayed husband (the cuckold), his unfaithful wife, and a cleric who is the wife's lover. Such tales were very popular in France (hence the French term fabliau, pl. fabliaux). The Miller calls his story a "legend and a life / Both of a carpenter and of his wife" (3141-2). Legend and life both normally imply pious narratives, as in The Golden Legend, a famous collection of lives of the saints. The Miller's story is not going to be a pious tale about the most famous carpenter in Christian history, Joseph, or his even more famous wife, Mary the mother of Christ. So there is a touch of blasphemy about the Miller's phrase, especially as the mention of the triangle of man, wife and clerk indicates that the story is going to be a fabliau. None of the pilgims is bothered by this except the Reeve, who had been a carpenter in his youth, according to the General Prologue. His remonstrations seems to be personally rather than theologically motivated. If you have read many French tales in a collection like that by R. Hellman and R. O'Gorman, Fabliaux (N.Y., 1965), you will concede that Chaucer has raised this kind of yarn-telling to an art that most of the French stories do not attain or even aspire to. In most simple fabliaux names rarely matter, and the the plot always goes thus: "There was this man who lived with his wife in a town, and there was this priest . . ." Characters are indistinguishable from each other shortly after you have read a few fabliaux. By contrast the characters in The Miller's TaleAbsalom, Alison, John and

Nicholasare very memorable, and the plot is deliciously intricate and drawn out to an absurd and unnecessary complexity which is part of the joke. Even after many readings the end still manages to surprise. These and other characters who figure in Chaucer's elaborate plots have local habitations; they have names (often CANTERBURY TALES 6 pretty distinctive names like Damian or Absalom); they have personalities, and sometimes talk in quite distinctive ways, like the students with northern accents in The Reeve's Tale. There is no regional accent here, but Absalom's language when he is wooing Alison (3698-3707) is a quaint mixture of the exotically Biblical, which goes with his name, and the quaintly countrified, which goes with his home. He mixes scraps of the biblical Song of Songs with mundane details of life in a small town. Alison's response reverses the expected sexual roles; where he is dainty, she is blunt, not so much daungerous as dangerous, even threatening to throw stones. The Miller's Tale is the second of The Canterbury Tales coming immediately after The Knight's Tale which it seems to parody, and before The Reeve's Tale which it provokes. This kind of interaction between tales and tellers is one of the distinguishing characteristics of Chaucer's collection that has often been commented on. At the opening of The Canterbury Tales the Knight draws the lot to tell the first tale, a medieval romance which, like many others, tells of love and war. Set in a distant time and place, his story involves two aristocratic young warriors in pursuit of the same rather reluctant lady over whom they argue and fight with all the elaborate motions of medieval courtly love and chivalry. One of them dies in the fight, and the other gets the rather passive maiden as his prize. The Miller's Tale, which immediately follows, is also about two young fellows who are rivals for one girl. But there is no exotic locale here and no aristocratic milieu. Instead we have a small English university town, where students lodge in the houses of townspeople. The girl in question is no reluctant damsel, but the young, pretty and discontented wife of an old carpenter in whose house Nicholas the student (or "clerk") lodges. There is plenty of competition here too, but the love talking is more country than courtly; the only battle is an uproarious exchange

of hot air and hot plowshare, and the principal cheeks kissed are not on the face. Chaucer deliberately makes this wonderfully farcical tale follow immediately upon the Knight's long, elegant story of aristocratic battle and romance, which he has just shown he can write so well, even if he writes it aslant. He is, perhaps, implying slyly that the titled people, the exotic locale, and the chivalric jousting of the The Knight's Tale are really about much the same thing as the more homely antics of MILLER'S TALE 7 the boyos and housewives of Oxford. The deliberate juxtaposition of the tales is suggestive, but the reader must decide. In a much-used translation of the Canterbury Tales from the early years of this century, by Tatlock and Mackaye, The Miller's Tale is censored so heavily that the reader is hard put to it to tell what is going on. Custom at that time and for long afterward did not permit the bawdiness of the tale to be accepted "frankly," as we would now put it. This squeamishness was not peculiar to the late Victorian sensibility, however. Chaucer himself realized that some people of his own day (like some in ours) might well take exception to the "frank" treatment of adulterous sex. So, just before the tale proper begins, he does warn any readers of delicate sensibility who do not wish to hear ribald tales, and invites them to "turn over the leaf and choose another tale" of a different kind, for he does have some pious and moral stories. Along with the warning to the reader comes a kind of apologetic excuse: Chaucer pretends that he was a real pilgrim on that memorable journey to Canterbury, and that he is now simply and faithfully reproducing a tale told by another real pilgrim, a miller by trade. Such fellows are often coarse, naturally, but Chaucer cannot help that, he says. If he is to do his job properly, he must reproduce the tale exactly, complete with accounts of naughty acts and churlish words. Of course, nobody has given Chaucer any such job. There is no real miller; he is totally Chaucer's creationwords, warts and all. Drunken medieval millers did not speak in polished couplets, and a medieval reeve who brought up the rear of a mounted procession of thirty people could not indulge in verbal sparring with someone who headed up that same procession. We are clearly dealing with fiction in spite of Chaucer's jocose attempt to excuse himself for telling entertaining indecorous tales.

Another excuse and warning: it is only a joke, he says; one "should not make earnest of game," a warning often neglected by solemn critics. Some Linguistic Notes Spelling: Sometimes the same word occurs with and without pronounced - : CANTERBURY TALES 8 tubbes at line3626, but tubs at 3627; legges 3330; deare spouse 3610 but hoste lief and dear 3501; carpenter occurs often, but its possessive consistently has and -e- at the end: carpenter's; goode 3154 & good 3155; sweet 3206; sweete 3219; young 3225, younge 3233. Y-: y-told, has y-take, y-covered, y-clad. The words mean the same with or without the y-en: withouten, I will not tellen; I shall saven. Again, the words mean the same with or without the - (e)n. Rhymes: sail, counsel; Nicholas, rhymes with alas, was, solace, case; likerous / mouse. wood, blood, flood 3507-8, 3518 (See also Stress below) Stress: Mostly mller, but millr (3167); certin to rhyme with sayn and again(3495) but crtain 3 times MILLER'S TALE 9 1 3191-2: He had studied the Seven Liberal Arts: Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic (the Trivium); the Quadrivium covered Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astrology. Then, as now, there was little money in most of these; then, as now, the most profitable was probably astrology, which then included genuine astronomy. 2 3199: M.E. hende (which I have rendered "handy") meant a variety of things, all relevant to Nicholas: close at hand; pleasant; goodlooking; clever; and, as we shall see, handy, i.e. good with his hands. 3 3200: "He knew about secret (derne) love and (sexual) pleasure (solace)". THE MILLER'S TALE Whilom there was dwelling at Oxenford Once upon a time A rich gnof that guests held to board fellow who kept lodgers And of his craft he was a carpenter. And by trade 3190 With him there was dwelling a poor scholar Had learnd art, but all his fantasy all his attention Was turnd for to learn astrology;1 And could a certain of conclusons knew some To deemen by interrogatons judge by observation 3195 If that men askd him in certain hours When that men should have drought or els showers, Or if men askd him what shall befall. Of everything, I may not reckon them all. A pen portrait of Handy Nicholas, the lodger This clerk was clepd Handy Nicholas.2 was called

3200 Of dern love he could and of solace 3 And thereto he was sly and full privy And also / secretive And like a maiden meek for to see. A chamber had he in that hostelry Alone, withouten any company, 3205 Full fetisly y-dight with herbs soot nicely strewn / sweet And he himself as sweet as is the root Of liquorice or any setwale. (a spice) His Almagest and books great and small, His astrology text His astrolab longing for his art, belonging to CANTERBURY TALES 10 1 3208-10: The Almagest was a standard text in astrology; an astrolabe was an instrument for calculating the position of heavenly bodies, an early sextant. Augrim (algorithm) stones were counters for use in mathematical calculations. 2 3216-7: "Angelus ad Virginem," the Angel to the Virgin (Mary), a religious song about the Annunciation. "King's note" (3217) has not been satisfactorily explained. 3 3220: Supported by his friends and with his own earnings (from astrology?). 4 3226: "And he thought it likely he would become a cuckold (i.e. a betrayed husband)." 5 3227: Cato was the name given to the author of a Latin book commonly used in medieval schools, which contained wise sayings like: People should marry partners of similar rank and age. 3210 His augrim stons lying fair apart 1 algorithm stones On shelvs couchd at his bedd's head, placed His press y-covered with a falding red cupboard / red cloth And all above there lay a gay sautry fine guitar On which he made a-nights melody at night 3215 So sweetly that all the chamber rang And "Angelus ad Virginem" he sang.2 And after that he sang the king's note. Full often blessd was his merry throat. And thus this sweet clerk his tim spent 3220 After his friends' finding and his rent.3 This carpenter had wedded new a wife Which that he lovd mor than his life. Of 18 years she was of age. Jealous he was and held her narrow in cage, cooped up 3225 For she was wild and young and he was old And deemed himself be like a cuckwold.4 He knew not Cato, for his wit was rude,5 uneducated That bade a man should wed his similitude. one like himself Men should wedden after their estate, according to status 3230 For youth and eld is often at debate, age / at odds But since that he was fallen in the snare, He must endure, as other folk, his care. A pen portrait of Alison, the attractive young wife of the old carpenter . MILLER'S TALE 11 Fair was this young wife, and therewithal Pretty / & also As any weasel her body gent and small. slim 3235 A ceint she weard, barrd all of silk belt / striped A barmcloth eke as white as morning milk apron

Upon her lends, full of many a gore. hips / pleat White was her smock and broiden all before embroidered And eke behind and on her collar about And also 3240 Of coal black silk within and eke without. The taps of her whit voluper cap Were of the sam suit of her collar; same kind Her fillet broad of silk and set full high. headband And sikerly she had a likerous eye. seductive 3245 Full small y-pulld were her brows two well plucked And those were bent and black as any sloe arched / berry She was full mor blissful on to see Than is the new pear-jennetting tree, early-ripening pear And softer than the wool is of a wether. sheep 3250 And by her girdle hung a purse of leather her belt Tasselled with silk and pearld with lattoun. beaded with brass In all this world to seeken up and down There is no man so wis that could thench imagine So gay a popelot or such a wench. So pretty a doll / girl 3255 Full brighter was the shining of her hue complexion Than in the Tower the noble forgd new. in the Mint the coin But of her song, it was as loud and yern eager As any swallow sitting on a barn. Thereto she could skip and make a game Also / & play 3260 As any kid or calf following his dame. his mother Her mouth was sweet as bragot or the meeth (sweet drinks) Or hoard of apples laid in hay or heath. or heather Wincing she was as is a jolly colt, Lively Long as a mast and upright as a bolt. 3265 A brooch she bore upon her lower collar As broad as is the boss of a buckeler. knob of a shield Her shoes were lacd on her leggs high. She was a primerole, a piggy's-eye (names of flowers) For any lord to layen in his bed CANTERBURY TALES 12 1 3278: "I will die (I spill) of suppressed (derne) desire for you, sweetheart (lemman)." 2 3281: "I will die, I declare to God." 3 3295-6: "Unless you are patient and discreet (privy), I know (I wot) well that I am as good as dead." 3270 Or yet for any good yeoman to wed. Handy Nicks very direct approach to Alison . Now sir, and eft sir, so befell the case and again That on a day this Handy Nicholas Fell with this young wife to rage and play Began ... to flirt While that her husband was at Osnay, 3275 As clerks be full subtle and full quaint; v. clever & ingenious And privily he caught her by the quaint crotch And said: "Y-wis, but if I have my will, Certainly, unless For dern love of thee, lemman, I spill."1 secret / darling And held her hard by the haunch bones 3280 And said: "Lemman, love me all at once sweetheart Or I will die, all so God me save." 2 And she sprang as a colt does in the trave in the shafts And with her head she wrid fast away twisted And said: "I will not kiss thee, by my fay. faith

3285 Why, let be," quod she, "let be, Nicholas Or I will cry out `Harrow!' and `Alas!' (Cries of alarm) Do way your hands, for your courtesy." for your c. = please! This Nicholas gan mercy for to cry forgiveness And spoke so fair, and proffered him so fast, pressed her 3290 That she her love him granted at the last. And swore her oath by Saint Thomas of Kent That she would be at his commandment When that she may her leisure well espy. see a good chance "My husband is so full of jealousy 3295 That but you wait well and be privy, That unless / & be discreet I wot right well I n'am but dead," quod she.3 "You must be full derne as in this case." v. secretive "Nay, thereof care thee not," quod Nicholas. MILLER'S TALE 13 1 3299-3300: "A student would have used his time badly if he could not fool a carpenter." 2 3312-13: This clerk -- the town dandy, surgeon barber and lay lawyer -- is not a student nor a priest but a lay assistant to the pastor of the parish. Absalom or Absolon was an unusual name for an Englishman in the 14th century. The biblical Absalom was a byword for male, somewhat effeminate beauty, especially of his hair: "In all Israel there was none so much praised as Absalom for his beauty. And when he polled his head ... he weighed the hair at two hundred shekels." (II Sam. 14:25-6). 3 3317: "He had a pink complexion and goose-grey eyes." Goose-grey or glass-grey eyes were generally reserved for heroines of romances. 4 A design cut into the shoe leather which resembled the windows of St Paul's cathedral, the height of fashion, presumably. "A clerk had litherly beset his while 3300 But if he could a carpenter beguile." 1 And thus they be accorded and y-swore agreed & sworn To wait a time, as I have said before. When Nicholas had done thus every deal And thwackd her upon the lends well, patted her bottom 3305 He kissed her sweet and taketh his sautry guitar And playeth fast and maketh melody. Enter another admirer, the foppish parish assistant, Absalom or Absalon Then fell it thus, that to the parish church Of Christ's own works for to work This good wife went upon a holy day. 3310 Her forehead shone as bright as any day, So was it washd when she let her work. left Now was there of that church a parish clerk The which that was y-clepd Absalon.2 who was called A pen portrait of Absalom, a man of many talents Curled was his hair, and as the gold it shone, 3315 And strouted as a fan, large and broad. spread Full straight and even lay his jolly shode. his neat hair parting His rode was red, his eyen grey as goose.3 complexion / eyes

With Paul's windows carven on his shoes.4 St. Paul's CANTERBURY TALES 14 1 3341: It was the custom at one or more points in the service for the clerk or altarboy to turn to the congregation swinging the incense (censing) several times in their direction as a gesture of respect and blessing. In hosen red he went full fetisly. red stockings / stylishly 3320 Y-clad he was full small and properly neatly All in a kirtle of a light waget. tunic of light blue Full fair and thick be the points set. laces And thereupon he had a gay surplice church vestment As white as is the blossom upon the rise. bough 3325 A merry child he was, so God me save. lad / I declare Well could he letten blood, and clip and shave, draw blood & cut hair And make a charter of land or aquittance. or quitclaim In twenty manner could he skip and dance 20 varieties After the school of Oxenford tho In Oxford style there 3330 And with his leggs casten to and fro kick And playen songs upon a small ribible. fiddle Thereto he sang sometimes a loud quinible Also / treble And as well could he play on a gitern. guitar In all the town n'as brewhouse nor tavern there wasn't 3335 That he ne visited with his solace entertainment Where any gaillard tapster was. pretty barmaid But sooth to say, he was somedeal squeamish Of farting, and of speech daungerous. fastidious Absalom notices Alison in church This Absalom that jolly was and gay & well dressed 3340 Goes with a censer on the holy day incense burner Censing the wivs of the parish fast,1 And many a lovely look on them he cast And namely on this carpenter's wife. especially To look on her him thought a merry life. seemed to him 3345 She was so proper and sweet and likerous, pretty / seductive I dare well say, if she had been a mouse And he a cat, he would her hent anon. seize her at once This parish clerk, this jolly Absalon, MILLER'S TALE 15 1 3354: Either "For love's sake he intended to stay awake" or "For lovers he intended to serenade." 2 3358: "Took up his position near a shuttered window." 3 3361: Addressing a carpenter's wife as "lady" was far more flattering in the 14th century than it would be now. 4 3370: "This went on. What can I say?" Hath in his heart such a love longing 3350 That of no wife ne took he no offering. For courtesy, he said, he would none. would (take) Absalom serenades Alison The moon when it was night, full bright shone And Absalom his gitern has y-take guitar For paramours he thought for to wake;1 3355 And forth he goes, jolly and amorous, Till he came to the carpenter's house A little after the cocks had y-crow, had crowed And dressed him up by a shot window 2 That was upon the carpenter's wall. 3360 He singeth in his voice gentle and small:

"Now, dear lady, if thy will be,3 I pray you that you will rue on me," have pity Full well accordant to his giterning. w. guitar accompaniment This carpenter awoke and heard him sing 3365 And spoke unto his wife and said anon: "What, Alison, hear'st thou not Absalon That chanteth thus under our bower's wall?" bedroom Yes, God wot, John. I hear it every deal. Absalom courts her by every means he can 3370 This passeth forth. What will you bet than well? 4 From day to day this jolly Absalon So wooeth her that he is woe-begone. CANTERBURY TALES 16 1 3384: Absalom seems rather miscast as Herod in a mystery play. Herod, like Pilate, is always portrayed as a tyrant in such plays, and he rants, roars and threatens. His voice is never "gentle and small." Hence Hamlet's later complaint about ham actors who "out-herod Herod." See 3124 above. 2 3392-3: "The sly one who is nearby (nigh) causes the more distant beloved (the farr lev) to become unloved." i.e. Absence makes the heart grow farther. He waketh all the night and all the day, He stays awake He combed his locks broad and made him gay. & dressed up 3375 He wooeth her by means and by brocage by proxies & agents And swore he would be her own page. servant boy He singeth, brocking as a nightingale. trilling He sent her piment, mead and spicd ale flavored wine And wafers piping hot out of the gleed out of the fire 3380 And for she was of town, he proffered meed; And because / money For some folk will be wonn for richesse won by riches And some for strokes, and some for gentleness. by beating Sometimes to show his lightness and mastery agility & skill He playeth Herods upon a scaffold high.1 stage Absaloms wooing is in vain: she loves Handy Nick 3385 But what availeth him as in this case? So loveth she this Handy Nicholas That Absalom may blow the buck's horn. whistle in wind He ne had for his labor but a scorn. had not And thus she maketh Absalom her ape 3390 And all his earnest turneth to a jape. joke Full sooth is this provrb, it is no lie, v. true Men say right thus: "Always the nigh sly near sly one Maketh the farr leev to be loth." 2 farther beloved / hated For though that Absalom be wood or wroth, mad or angry 3395 Because that he was farr from her sight farther This nigh Nicholas stood in his light. closer N. Now bear thee well, thou Handy Nicholas, be happy For Absalom may wail and sing "Alas!" Nicholas concocts an elaborate plan so that he can make love to Alison MILLER'S TALE 17 And so befell it on a Saturday 3400 This carpenter was gone to Osnay And Handy Nicholas and Alison

Accorded been to this concluson: Have agreed That Nicholas shall shapen them a wile devise a trick This silly jealous husband to beguile, to deceive 3405 And if so be this gam went aright, She should sleepen in his arms all night, For this was her desire and his also. And right anon withouten words mo' more This Nicholas no longer would he tarry 3410 But doth full soft unto his chamber carry Both meat and drink for a day or tway, Both food & / two And to her husband bade her for to say If that he askd after Nicholas, She should say she n'ist where he was; did not know 3415 Of all that day she saw him not with eye. She trowd that he was in malady, She guessed / sick For, for no cry her maiden could him call. maid He n'ould answer, for nothing that might fall. would not / happen This passeth forth all thilk Saturday all that 3420 That Nicholas still in his chamber lay And ate and slept or did what him lest did w. pleased him Till Sunday that the sunn goes to rest. sun The carpenter, worried about Nicks absence, sends a servant up to enquire This silly carpenter has great marvel Of Nicholas or what thing might him ail, 3425 And said: "I am adread, by St. Thoms, It standeth not aright with Nicholas. God shield that he died suddenly. God forbid This world is now full tickle sikerly. unsure certainly I saw today a corps borne to church 3430 That now on Monday last I saw him work." Go up," quod he unto his knave anon. servant lad, then CANTERBURY TALES 18 1 3455-6: "Blessed is the illiterate man who knows (can) nothing but his belief [in God]." "Clepe at his door, or knock with a stone. Call Look how it is and tell me boldly." This knav goes him up full sturdily. 3435 And at the chamber door while that he stood, He cried and knockd as that he were wood: mad "What! How? What do you, Master Nicholay? How may you sleepen all the long day?" But all for nought; he heard not a word. 3440 A hole he found full low upon a board he = boy There as the cat was wont in for to creep, was accustomed And at that hole he lookd in full deep And at the last he had of him a sight. This Nicholas sat ever gaping upright 3445 As he had kikd on the new moon. gaped Adown he goes and told his master soon In what array he saw this ilk man. condition / this same The carpenter shakes his head at the excessive curiosity of intellectuals. He is glad that he is just a simple working man This carpenter to blessen him began bless himself And said: "Help us, St. Fridswide. (an Oxford saint) 3450 A man wot little what shall him betide. knows / happen This man is fall, with his astronomy, In some woodness or in some agony. madness / fit I thought aye well how that it should be. I always knew

Men should not know of God's privity. secrets 3455 Yea, blessd be always a lewd man an illiterate man That nought but only his belief can. 1 So fared another clerk with astromy. astronomy He walkd in the fields for to pry Upon the stars, what there should befall 3460 Till he was in a marlpit y-fall. claypit He saw not that. But yet, by St. Thoms, Me reweth sore of Handy Nicholas. It grieves me MILLER'S TALE 19 1 3474: The carpenter's fine theological judgement diagnoses the symptoms as those of someone who has succumbed to one of the two sins against the virtue of Hope, namely Despair. He is wrong; Nicholas's defect is the other sin against Hope--Presumption. 2 3479-80: "`I make the sign of the cross [to protect] you from elves and [evil] creatures.' Then he said the night prayer at once." 3 3483-6: The third and fourth lines of this "prayer" are pious gobbledygook of the carpenter's creation, a version of some prayer he has heard or rather misheard. Pater Noster is Latin for Our Father, the Lords Prayer, but white P.N. is obscure, as is verie. Soster for the more usual suster may be an attempt at dialect usage. He shall be rated of his studying, rebuked If that I may, by Jesus, heaven's king. With Robins help he breaks down the door to Nicks room 3465 Get me a staff, that I may underspore, lever up Whilst that thou, Robin, heavest up the door. He shall out of his studying, as I guess." And to the chamber door he gan him dress. he applied himself His knav was a strong carl for the nonce strong fellow indeed 3470 And by the hasp he heaved it up at once. On to the floor the door fell anon. This Nicholas sat aye as still as stone stayed sitting And ever gapd up into the air. This carpenter wend he were in despair 1 thought he was 3475 And hent him by the shoulder mightily seized And shook him hard and crid spitously: vehemently "What Nicholay! What how! What! Look adown. Awake and think on Christ's passon. I crouch thee from elvs and from wights." I bless / (evil) creatures 3480 Therewith the night-spell said he anonrights 2 On four halvs of the house about sides And on the threshold of the door without. "Jesus Christ, and Saint Benedict Bless this house from every wicked wight, 3485 For the night's verie, the whit Pater Noster. Where wentest thou, Saint Peter's soster?" 3 sister CANTERBURY TALES 20 1 3512: A favorite medieval legend told how Christ, in the interval between His death on the cross and His resurrection, went to Hell (or Limbo) to rescue from Satan's power the Old Testament heroes and heroines from Adam and Eve onwards. This was the Harrowing of Hell.

Nicholas finally pretends to come to, and promises to tell the carpenter a secret in strictest confidence And at the last, this Handy Nicholas Gan for to sigh sore and said: "Alas! Shall all the world be lost eftsoons now?" right now 3490 This carpenter answered: "What sayest thou? What, think on God, as we do, men that swink." work This Nicholas answered: "Fetch me drink. And after will I speak in privity privacy Of certain things that toucheth me and thee. concern me 3495 I will tell it to no other man, certin." This carpenter goes down and comes again And brought of mighty ale a larg quart And when that each of them had drunk his part This Nicholas his door fast shut 3500 And down the carpenter by him he sat And said: "John, my host lief and dear, lief = beloved Thou shalt upon thy truth swear to me here That to no wight thou shall this counsel wray, no person / divulge For it is Christ's counsel that I say, 3505 And if thou tell it man, thou art forlore, man=anyone / lost For this vengeanc shalt thou have therefore That if thou wray me, thou shalt be wood." betray me / go mad "Nay, Christ forbid it for his holy blood," Quod then this silly man. "I am no labb. blabber 3510 And though I say, I am not lief to gab. not fond of gabbing Say what thou wilt. I shall it never tell To child nor wife, by Him that harrowed Hell." 1 i.e. by Christ There is going to be a new Deluge like the biblical one, but Nicholas can save only the carpenter and his wife -- IF John does as he is told MILLER'S TALE 21 1 3527: "If you will follow advice and counsel." 2 3538 ff: A favorite character in medieval miracle plays was "Mrs Noah" who stubbornly "Now, John," quod Nicholas, "I will not lie. I have found in my astrology 3515 As I have lookd on the moon bright That now on Monday next, at quarter night about 9 p.m. Shall fall a rain, and that so wild and wood furious That half so great was never Noah's flood. This world," he said, "in less than an hour 3520 Shall all be drenched, so hideous is the shower. drowned Thus shall mankind drench and lose their life." This carpenter answered: "Alas, my wife! And shall she drench? Alas, my Alison!" For sorrow of this he fell almost adown 3525 And said: "Is there no remedy in this case?" "Why, yes, 'fore God," quod Handy Nicholas, before God "If thou wilt worken after lore and redde.1 by advice & counsel Thou mayst not worken after thine own head. For thus says Solomon that was full true: 3530 `Work all by counsel and thou shalt not rue.' by advice / regret

And if thou worken wilt by good counsel, I undertake, withouten mast or sail, Yet shall I saven her and thee and me. Hast thou not heard how savd was No Noah 3535 When that Our Lord had warnd him before That all the world with water should be lore?" lost "Yes," quod this carpenter, "full yore ago." long ago Nicholas gives John instructions on how to prepare for the Flood "Hast thou not heard," quod Nicholas, "also The sorrow of Noah with his fellowship and his family 3540 Ere that he might get his wife to ship? Before he could Him had lever, I dare well undertake, He'd rather / I bet At thilk time, than all his wethers black, At that time / sheep That she had had a ship herself alone.2 to herself CANTERBURY TALES 22 refuses to leave her cronies and her bottle of wine to go aboard the ark. She has to be dragged to the ark, and she boxes Noah's ears for his pains. She is the quintessential shrew. Hence the idea that Noah would have given all his prize sheep if she could have had a ship to herself. And therefore, wost thou what is best to done? know you?/ to do 3545 This asketh haste, and of a hasty thing Men may not preach or maken tarrying. or delay Anon, go get us fast into this inn Quickly / house A kneading trough or else a kimelin tub For each of us; but look that they be large 3550 In which we mayen swim as in a barge. And have therein victuals sufficient food enough But for a day. Fie on the remnant! Never mind the rest! The water shall aslake and go away slacken off About prime upon the next day. About 9 a.m. 3555 But Robin may not wit of this, thy knave, not know / servant Nor eke thy maiden Gill I may not save. Ask not why, for though thou ask me I will not tellen God's privity. secrets Sufficeth thee, but if thy witts mad, unless you're mad 3560 To have as great a grace as Noah had. Thy wife shall I well saven, out of doubt. Go now thy way, and speed thee hereabout. busy yourself But when thou hast for her and thee and me Y-gotten us these kneading tubbes three, tubs 3565 Then shalt thou hang them in the roof full high, That no man of our purveyance espy. preparations And when thou thus hast done as I have said And hast our victuals fair in them y-laid our supplies And eke an axe to smite the cord a-two, And also / cut in two 3570 When that the water comes, that we may go And break a hole on high upon the gable Unto the garden-ward, over the stable That we may freely passen forth our way When that the great shower is gone away 3575 Then shalt thou swim as merry, I undertake, As does the whit duck after her drake. Then will I clepe: "How, Alison! How, John! I will call MILLER'S TALE 23

Be merry, for the flood will pass anon." soon And thou wilt say: "Hail, Master Nicholay. 3580 Good morrow. I see thee well, for it is day." And then shall we be lords all our life Of all the world, as Noah and his wife. Further instructions on how to behave on the night of the Flood But of one thing I warn thee full right: Be well advisd on that ilk night that same 3585 That we be entered into shipp's board That none of us ne speak not a word Nor clepe nor cry, but be in his prayer call out For it is God's own hest dear. solemn order Thy wife and thou must hang far a-twin asunder 3590 For that betwixt you shall be no sin, No more in looking than there shall in deed. This ordinance is said. Go, God thee speed. This order is given Tomorrow at night, when men be all asleep, Into our kneading tubbs will we creep 3595 And sitten there, abiding God's grace. awaiting Go now thy way, I have no longer space To make of this no longer sermoning. Men say thus: `Send the wise and say nothing.' Thou art so wise, it needeth thee not teach. 3600 Go, save our lives, and that I thee beseech." John tells the plans to his wife (who already knows). He installs the big tubs on the house roof, and supplies them with food and drink This silly carpenter goes forth his way. Full oft he said: "Alas!" and "Welaway!" (cries of dismay) And to his wife he told his privity And she was 'ware and knew it bet than he aware / better 3605 What all this quaint cast was for to say. elaborate plot But natheless, she fared as she would die, she acted And said "Alas! Go forth thy way anon. CANTERBURY TALES 24 1 3637: A "furlong way" is the time it takes to walk a furlong (1/8 of a mile)--about 2 or 3 minutes. Help us to 'scape, or we be dead each one. I am thy tru, very, wedded wife. thy loyal, faithful 3610 Go, dear spouse, and help to save our life." Lo, which a great thing is affecton. See what / feeling Men may die of imaginaton, So deep may impresson be take. be made This silly carpenter beginneth quake. shake 3615 Him thinketh verily that he may see Noah's flood come wallowing as the sea To drenchen Alison, his honey dear. To drown He weepeth, waileth, maketh sorry cheer. He sigheth, with full many a sorry swough. sigh 3620 He goes and getteth him a kneading trough, And after that a tub and kimelin, vat And privily he sent them to his inn secretly / house And hung them in the roof in privity. in secrecy His own hand, he mad ladders three (With) his own 3625 To climben by the rungs and the stalks rungs & uprights Unto the tubbs hanging in the balks, rafters And them he victualled, both trough and tub, he supplied

With bread and cheese and good ale in a jub jug Sufficing right enough as for a day. 3630 But ere that he had made all this array, before / ready He sent his knave and eke his wench also servant boy & girl Upon his need to London for to go. On his business On the fateful night all three get into their separate tubs, and say their prayers And on the Monday, when it drew to night, He shut his door withouten candle light, 3635 And dressd all thing as it should be. prepared everything And shortly up they clomben all three. climbed They sitten still, well a furlong way.1 few minutes "Now, Pater Noster, clum," said Nicholay. Our Father, MILLER'S TALE 25 1 3638-9: "Pater Noster": the first words of the Latin version of the Lord's Prayer: Our Father. The "Clum" is meaningless, possibly a corrupt version of the end of "in saecula saeculorum," a common ending for prayers. Thus the whole prayer is ignorantly (and irreverently) reduced to beginning and ending formulas. And "Clum," quod John, and "Clum," said Alison.1 3640 This carpenter said his devotion And still he sits and biddeth his prayer offers Awaiting on the rain if he it hear. The dead sleep, for weary busy-ness, Fell on this carpenter, right (as I guess) 3645 About curfew time or little more. About nightfall For travailing of his ghost he groaneth sore In agony of spirit And eft he routeth, for his head mislay. also he snored This is the moment that Nicholas and Alison have been waiting and planning for Down off the ladder stalketh Nicholay slips And Alison full soft adown she sped. 3650 Withouten words more, they go to bed There as the carpenter is wont to lie. is accustomed There was the revel and the melody. And thus lie Alison and Nicholas In busyness of mirth and of solce enjoyment 3655 Till that the bell of lauds gan to ring bell for morning service And friars in the chancel gan to sing. in the church Absalom, thinking that the carpenter is absent, comes serenading again This parish clerk, this amorous Absalon, That is for love always so woe-begone, Upon the Monday was at Oseney 3660 With company, him to disport and play, And askd upon case a cloisterer by chance a monk Full privily after John the carpenter, V. quietly about And he drew him apart out of the church. And said: "I n'ot; I saw him here not work I don't know 3665 Since Saturday; I trow that he be went I guess he's gone CANTERBURY TALES 26 1 3689: "Dresses himself to the nines in all his finery." For timber, there our abbot has him sent. For he is wont for timber for to go And dwellen at the grange a day or two; at outlying farm

Or els he is at his house certin. 3670 Where that he be I cannot soothly sayn." This Absalom full jolly was and light And thought: "Now is time to wake all night, For sikerly I saw him not stirring certainly About his door, since day began to spring. 3675 So may I thrive, I shall at cock's crow On my word! Full privily knocken at his window That stands full low upon his bower's wall. bedroom wall To Alison now will I tellen all My love longing, for yet I shall not miss 3680 That at the least way I shall her kiss. Some manner comfort shall I have parfay. in faith My mouth has itchd all this long day. That is a sign of kissing at the least. All night me mette eke I was at a feast. I dreamed also 3685 Therefore I will go sleep an hour or tway, two And all the night then will I wake and play." & have fun When that the first cock has crowed anon Up rist this jolly lover, Absalon riseth And him arrayeth gay at point devise.1 3690 But first he cheweth grain and liquorice cardamom To smellen sweet. Ere he had combed his hair, Under his tongue a trulove he bare, spice he put For thereby wend he to be gracious. hoped to be attractive He roameth to the carpenter's house 3695 And he stands still under the shot window. shuttered Unto his breast it rought, it was so low, reached And soft he cougheth with a semi-sound. gentle sound "What do you, honeycomb, sweet Alison? MILLER'S TALE 27 1 3713: "The devil take you twenty times" 2 3715: The line might be read: "That tru love was e'er so ill beset." My fair bird, my sweet cinnamon. Awaketh, lemman mine, and speak to me. Well little thinketh you upon my woe That for your love I sweat where I go. No wonder is though that I swelt and sweat. I mourn as does the lamb after the teat. 3705 Ywis, lemman, I have such love longing Indeed, dear That like a turtle true is my mourning. turtle-dove I may not eat no mor than a maid." Alisons ungracious verbal response "Go from the window, Jack Fool," she said. "As help me God, it will not be `Compame'. `Come kiss me'(?) 3710 I love another (or else I were to blame) Well bet than thee, by Jesus, Absalon. better Go forth thy way, or I will cast a stone, And let me sleep, a twenty devil way." 1 "Alas!" quod Absalom, "and Welaway! 3715 That tru love was e'er so evil beset. 2 so badly treated Then, kiss me, since that it may be no bet, better For Jesus' love, and for the love of me." "Wilt thou then go thy way therewith?" quod she. "Yea, certs, lemman," quod this Absalon. certainly, darling 3720 "Then make thee ready," quod she. "I come anon." Her even more ungracious practical joke And unto Nicholas she said still: quietly

"Now hush, and thou shalt laughen all thy fill." This Absalom down set him on his knees And said: "I am a lord at all degrees. in every way 3725 For after this I hope there cometh more. CANTERBURY TALES 28 1 3726: "Darling, [grant me] your favor, and sweet bird, [grant me] your mercy." A line parodying the love language of romances. 2 3753: "Alas, that I did not duck aside" (?) Lemman, thy grace and, sweet bird, thine ore"1 The window she undoes, and that in haste. "Have done," quod she. "Come off and speed thee fast, Lest that our neighbours thee espy." 3730 This Absalom gan wipe his mouth full dry. Dark was the night as pitch or as the coal And at the window out she put her hole. And Absalom, him fell nor bet nor worse, befell / better But with his mouth he kissed her naked arse 3735 Full savorly, ere he was 'ware of this. aware Aback he starts, and thought it was amiss, For well he wist a woman has no beard. well he knew He felt a thing all rough and long y-haired And said: "Fie! Alas! What have I do?" 3740 "Tee hee," quod she, and clapt the window to. And Absalom goes forth a sorry pace. with sad step "A beard! a beard!" quod Handy Nicholas. "beard" also=joke "By God's corpus, this goes fair and well." By God's body! Absalom plots revenge for his humiliation This silly Absalom heard every deal 3745 And on his lip he gan for anger bite And to himself he said "I shall thee 'quite." repay you Who rubbeth now? Who frotteth now his lips scrapes With dust, with sand, with straw, with cloth, with chips But Absalom that says full oft: "Alas! 3750 My soul betake I unto Satanas, I'll be damned But me were lever than all this town," quod he, I had rather Of this despite a-wreaken for to be. avenged for this shame "Alas!" quod he "Alas! I n'ad y-blent." 2 His hot love is cold and all y-quenched. hot 3755 For from that time that he had kissed her arse MILLER'S TALE 29 1 3756: "Curse": The intended word may be "cress," a weed. 2 3774: "He had more wool or flax on his distaff." A distaff was a stick, traditionally used by women, to make thread from raw wool or flax. The phrase appears to mean either "He had other things on his mind" or "He had other work to do." 3 3779-80: "Certainly, [even] if it were gold or an uncounted (untold) number of coins (nobles) in a bag (poke) ..." Of paramours he sett not a curse,1 lovers For he was heald of his malady. Full often paramours he gan defy denounce And wept as does a child that is y-beat. beaten 3760 A soft pace he went over the street Quietly he went Unto a smith men clepen Daun Gervase call That in his forge smithd plough harness. He sharpens share and coulter busily. (plough parts) This Absalom knocks all easily 3765 And said: "Undo, Gervase, and that anon." open up

"What? Who art thou?" "It am I, Absalon." "What, Absalon! What, Christ's sweet tree! cross Why ris you so rathe. Hey, ben'citee! so early / bless you! What aileth you? Some gay girl, God it wot, pretty girl 3770 Has brought you thus upon the viritot. on the prowl(?) By Saint Net, you wot well what I mean." you know This Absalom ne raught not a bean did not care Of all his play. No word again he gave. jesting He hadd mor tow on his distaff 2 3775 Than Gervase knew, and said: "Friend so dear, That hot coulter in the chimney here hot plough part As lend it me. I have therewith to do. need of it And I will bring it thee again full soon. Gervas answered: "Certs, were it gold Certainly 3780 Or in a pok nobles all untold,3 bag coins uncounted Thou shouldst it have, as I am tru smith. Eh! Christ's foe! What will you do therewith?" What the devil will ... "Thereof," quod Absalom, "be as be may. I shall well tell it thee another day." 3785 And caught the coulter by the cold steel. cold handle CANTERBURY TALES 30 Full soft out at the door he 'gan to steal And went unto the carpenter's wall. Absaloms revenge He cougheth first and knocketh therewithall also Upon the window, right as he did ere. before 3790 This Alison answered: "Who is there That knocketh so? I warrant it a thief." I'm sure it is "Why, nay," quod he, "God wot, my sweet lief. God knows / love I am thine Absalom, my darling. Of gold," quod he, "I have thee brought a ring. 3795 My mother gave it me, so God me save. Full fine it is, and thereto well y-grave. engraved This will I given thee, if thou me kiss." This Nicholas was risen for to piss And thought he would amenden all the jape. improve the joke 3800 He should kiss his arse ere that he 'scape. He = Absalom And up the window did he hastily And out his arse he putteth privily Over the buttock, to the haunch bone. And therewith spoke this clerk, this Absalon: 3805 "Speak, sweet heart. I wot not where thou art." I know not This Nicholas anon let fly a fart As great as it had been a thunder dint clap That with that stroke he was almost y-blint. blinded But he was ready with his iron hot 3810 And Nicholas amid the arse he smote. he struck Off goes the skin a handbreadth about. The hot coulter burnd so his tout backside That for the smart he weend for to die. from pain he expected As he were wood, for woe he 'gan to cry As if mad 3815 "Help! Water! Water! Help! for God's heart." The carpenter re-enters the story with a crash This carpenter out of his slumber start MILLER'S TALE 31

1 3821-3: "He found....floor": there was nothing between him and the ground below. 2 3830: A difficult line meaning, perhaps, "He had to take the responsibility for his injury (or misfortune)" or "He had to take the blame." 3 3834-6: "He was so afraid of Noah's flood in his mind that in his foolishness he had bought ...." And heard one cry "Water!" as he were wood. mad And thought "Alas! Now cometh Noah's flood." He set him up withouten words mo more 3820 And with his ax he smote the cord a-two cut And down goes allhe found neither to sell Nor bread nor ale, till he came to the cell bottom Upon the floor,1 and there aswoon he lay. Alison and Nicholas lie their way out of the predicament Up starts her Alison, and Nicholay, 3825 And crid "Out!" and "Harrow!" in the street. (Cries of alarm) The neighbours, both small and great In runnen for to gauren on this man to gape That aswoon lay, both pale and wan. For with the fall he bursten had his arm, 3830 But stand he must unto his own harm,2 For when he spoke, he was anon bore down talked down With Handy Nicholas and Alison. "With" = "By" They tolden every man that he was wood; mad He was aghast so of Noah's flood 3835 Through fantasy, that of his vanity He had y-bought him kneading tubbs three 3 And had them hangd in the roof above And that he prayd them for God's love To sitten in the roof "par compagnie." for company 3840 The folk gan laughen at his fantasy. Into the roof they kiken and they gape stare And turnd all his harm into a jape joke For whatso that this carpenter answered CANTERBURY TALES 32 1 3847: Presumably a reference to the "town" versus "gown" loyalties in university towns. Nicholas, a "clerk," is a member of the "gown," John the carpenter a member of the "town." It was for naught. No man his reason heard. 3845 With oaths great he was so sworn adown That he was holden wood in all the town. held to be mad For every clerk anon right held with other.1 They said: "The man was wood, my lev brother." mad, my dear b. And every wight gan laughen at this strife. person The moral of the story 3850 Thus swivd was the carpenter's wife laid For all his keeping and his jealousy. And Absalom has kissed her nether eye lower And Nicholas is scalded in the tout. on the bottom This tale is done, and God save all the rout. this group

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