CHAUCER THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES THE KNIGHTES TALE THE NONNES PREESTES TALE ■?&&&■ CHAUCER THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES THE KNIGHTES TALE THE NONNES PRESTES TALE EDITED IN CRITICAL TEXT WITH GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION BEING AN ELEMENTARY GRAMMAR OF MIDDLE ENGLISH • NOTES AND GLOSSARY BY MARK H. LIDDELL i RECENTLY PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF THE "GLOBE" CHAUCER THE MACMILLAN COMPANY LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd. I9OI All rights reserved Library of Congress Iwo Copies Received FEB 16 1901 . Copyright entry SECOND COPY is- Copyright, 1901, By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Nortoooo Press J. S. Cushing & Co. — Berwick & Smith Norwood Mass. U.S.A. PREFACE Thts book has been prepared primarily for class-room use. It has grown out of a need felt by the author for a brief and practical statement of the fundamental principles of Middle English Grammar as they affect Chaucer's Eng- lish, combined with a trustworthy text of some of the best of Chaucer's writing, through which students might obtain an introduction to Middle English literature. No book of this sort, containing the most recent results of scholar- ship in this field and written in English for English-speaking students, is now accessible to either teacher or student. And because of this want students are allowed to put into Chaucer's mouth a sort of broken English that is no more like his own easy-running deftly shaded speech than is the broken German of a schoolboy who has had a six months' course in Ollendorf like the language of Goethe and Schiller. We should laugh at the reader of Wordsworth who should produce what would be represented in New English spell- ing by, " Ee wondred lawnely ass a cloody " as his version of " I wandered lonely as a cloud." Yet worse travesties of Chaucer's speech than this of vi PREFACE Wordsworth's are allowed to pass muster in our reading and so-called appreciation of the Canterbury Tales. The work naturally divides itself in two parts, a general survey of Middle English Grammar as represented 'by Chaucer, and a critical text of the Prologue, Knightes Tale, and Nonnes Frees tes Tale, with Notes and Glossary. A full index has been added to the grammar, so that it may be readily used for purposes of reference. Much pains has been spent upon the text, which has been carefully collated with the copies of the Mss. printed by the Chaucer Society, studied in the light of their now known relations. The Ellesmere Ms. has been taken for the basis, because it and the Hengwrt are the only Mss. which consistently represent Chaucer's inflections, and the Hengwrt is in some respects inferior to the Ellesmere text. It would have been well to have printed the cesural pauses as they are found in these Mss. But the principle followed is to give as few aids as possible in the text itself, and thus force the student to a continual application of his knowl- edge of Middle English in general. For that reason no marks save those of ordinary punctuation have been used. The essential variants (and by ' essential ' is meant those that are not mere permissible variations of spelling or obvious corruptions of inferior Mss. whose originals are known) are given in each instance at the foot of the page. The stu- dent should not try to make use of them, however, until he has mastered the relations of the Mss. (see pp. cxix ff.). It is a matter of regret that the notes had to be made so PREFACE VII brief. Chaucer requires more annotation than Middle Eng- lish poets generally do \ for much of his naivete is quite unintelligible without an explanation of the allusions and associations involved. It is to be regretted also that an account of Chaucer's works, the dates of their composition, their sources and characteristics, the relations of the Mss. in which they have come down to us, etc., could not be included. But the book has had to be kept within text- book limits, and these subjects will be found treated with reasonable clearness and accuracy in the Globe Chaucer, In preparing the Glossary and the Index I have been greatly helped by one of my pupils in the University of Texas, Miss Mary Heard. As to indirect obligations, my chief one is to the teaching of Professor Napier, of Oxford, and of the late Professor Zupitza, of Berlin, who first made me see the real meaning of scientific method in English study. My indebtedness to Dr. Furnivall's life of untiring and unselfish zeal in making Chaucer material accessible to Chaucer students is one which is so obvious as scarcely to need explicit recognition in a book like this. In conclusion, I might say almost with discouragement that the best part of a good school book is in the teacher who uses it, and that after all mere print can do little to vitalize the knowledge of our language and literature as they should be vitalized for us. Much, therefore, will depend on the teacher, to whom the book is offered as a help toward the accomplishment of this great end. CONTENTS Elements of Middle English Grammar: page Introduction ix-x Sounds ......... xi-xxxvi Inflection ......... xxxvii-lxxi Syntax lxxii-lxxxiii Versification ....... lxxxiv-xcvii Grammatical Index ........ xcix Chaucer's Life cix The Mss. of the Canterbury Tales cxix • The Text: The Prologue ......... I The Knightes Tale 32 The Nonnes Preestes Tale . . . . . . .111 Explanatory Notes 139 Glossary J83 viii THE ELEMENTS OF MIDDLE ENGLISH GRAM- MAR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CHAUCER'S IDIOM Introductory Note. — In the following treatment of Chaucer's lan- guage the effort has been made to present the subject in such a way that the book may be used as an elementary grammar of Middle English. The dialects have, therefore, been kept in the background, and Chaucer's speech has been assumed to be normal Middle English. While the grammar is reasonably complete, it is by no means ex- haustive. The subject-matter has been condensed into the briefest possible space, and much has been left to the teacher to expand and illustrate. The treatment is historical, and the student who would use the book to the best advantage should start with a knowledge of the rudiments of Old English, especially of Old English Inflections. The chapter on Sounds is treated in a rigidly historical way, starting from Old English. But there is inserted into it (§§ 9-45) a very brief and summary dis- cussion of the relation of New English sounds to those of Middle English, so that the student who knows no Old English can work back to Chaucer's English from his knowledge of his own speech. If he does this circumspectly and systematically, he will soon learn to appre- ciate the difference between the writing of New English (which is to a large extent the representation of New English words by their Middle English equivalents) and the actual living forms of New English. The chapters on Inflection, Syntax, and Versification can easily be mastered without any knowledge of the corresponding sub- jects of Old English Grammar, and have been written with that intent. The illustrative material is drawn almost entirely from the Prologue and Knightes Tale, as that is the part of Chaucer best adapted to elementary teaching. The Arabic numerals, when no further reference is given, refer therefore to Group A of the Canterbury Tales ; the other references are to the Globe Chaucer, a copy of which the student should have easy access to. ix INTRODUCTORY NOTE The following signs and abbreviations have been used : — > < + develops into, developed from, followed by. the same as. rhvmes with. ABC The ABC. A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I The respec- tive groups of the Canterbury Tales. adj. adjective. adv. adverb. Angl. Anglian dialects. Astro. The Astrolabe. Bo. The Boece. cf., or cp. compare. Co. Ms. Corpus Christi (Oxford), 198. Compl. The Compleynt vnto Pite. C.T. or Cant. T. The Canterbury Tales. e. early. E.E.T.S. The Early English Text Society. El. The Ellesmere Ms. E. Midi. East Midland. fem. feminine. Gg. Ms. Gg. 4. 27 (Camb. Univ. Libr.). Gl. Ch. Globe Chaucer. H 4 . Ms. Harleian (Brit. Mus.), 7334- Hn. Ms. 154. Ho. of F. Hengwrt (Peniarth), The Ho us of Fame. inf. infinitive. Kn. or Kt. Kentish. under a letter denotes that it is not sounded in the verse. * denotes an assumed word- form. a, e, see pp. cxix ff. 1. late. Leg., or Leg. of G. W. The The Legend of Goode Women. Ln. Ms. Lansdowne (Brit. Mus.), 851. masc. masculine. M.E. Middle English. Merc. Mercian. M.L.G. Middle Low German. Mss. Manuscripts. N.E. New English. O.E. Old English. O.Fr. Old French. O.H.G. Old High German. O.N. Old Norse. Pe. Ms. Petworth (Lord Lecon- field). pp. past participle, pres. present, pret. preterite. R. of R. The Romaunt of the Rose. sb. substantive (noun), st. strong. S.W. South Western. Tro., or T. &. C. Troilus and Criseyde. vb. verb, wk. weak. W. Midi. West Midland. PART I. — SOUNDS THE DIALECTS OF MIDDLE-ENGLISH § i. The history of English may be roughly divided into three periods, — Old-English (O.E.), up to 1125 a.d. Middle-English (M.E.), 1125-1550 a.d. New-English (N.E.), 1550 to the present day. Chaucer's English stands near the middle of the middle period. The chief characteristic which distinguishes M.E. from O.E. is the weakening of the full vowels a, ) when medial between vowels and next voiced consonants were voiced {i.e. had the sound of s and th in N.E. those) ; when final and next voiceless 1 See § 6 for writing of u and of u. 2 Theoretically there are three different ou diphthongs in M.E. according as the first element is 0, 0, or ; the first two of these Chaucer rhymed together, but ou had a sound different from either, and has always remained different; cf. N.E. thought (Orm. pohhte) and N.E. grozv (O.E. growan). 3 Such consonants in N.E. are due to preserving M.E. forms of spelling. 4 These sounds are still heard in the dialects of Scotland. xiv THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 5 consonants they were voiceless {i.e. had the sound of s in N.E. this, and th in N.E. thing)} For peculiarities of writing see § 8. § 6. The Writing of Chaucer's English. — The vowels were represented as in the examples cited in § 3, which are taken from the Ellesmere Ms. of the Prologue. The long vowels a, e, and 6 are frequently written double ; 2 but the scribes make no attempt to distinguish between £ and e, q and q, until the end of the M.E. period. Long u is written on. H always before n or m or u, and sometimes after c (as in coppe 134) or w (as in worthy 43), is written o. u before a consonant is usually written v. u before gh is often (especially in the Ellesmere Ms.) written o; some- times also in French words before n f e.g. nations 53, sesons 347. i and y are practically interchangeable in Chaucer Mss. : y is especially frequent before n, m, or u? a before n or ;// and a consonant in words of French origin is sometimes written an. § 7. The representation of the diphthongs is that given in the examples cited in § 4. The last element of the diphthong is generally written y or w when final or before a following vowel ; but sometimes w appears before a con- sonant, e.g. bawdryk 116, wan tow ne 208. ou (like 011 = u) is sometimes written before gh ; e.g. 7ioght^66 y wroght^G^ foghten (Hn.) 62. 1 But there are in M.E. some words of French origin where the s is intervocalic with the voiceless sound, though in these cases good scribes generally wrote c ; cf. auarice, office 292, with seruyse (: arise) 250, coueitise ( : deuyse) A 3883 ; so chastise, despise. But Iustise, seruise, suffise sometimes appear in El. with c. 2 Instead of ee> ie frequently appears in late M.E., and is retained in many N.E. spellings ; e.g.jie/d, believe. In some words of French origin, e is written eo in M.E., a spelling still retained in N.E. people. 3 It is not used to denote long f, as is frequently stated; cf. thries El. 63, riden El. Co. Pet. 45, etc. §8 SOUNDS XV § 8. As to the consonants. / (= N.E. j) occasionally represented i before a consonant, e.g. Line (El.) 41; and regularly the palatal sound of g {dzh) before a, 0, and u in words of French origin, e.g. / (printed th in the text) represented both the voiced and voiceless dental spirant, as in N.E. thing and they ; in the Ellesmere Ms. /> is only used occasionally in small words like fiat, A?, etc. J of the Mss. represents the sound of y in N.E. young, and also gh, and is printed y or g/i in the text in accordance with the history of the words in which it occurs ; it sometimes, also, represents -es after / in words of French origin, e.g. pbyntj 2971, seruantj 101; and in a few words French voiced s, in which case it is printed z. c in words of French origin represented the s-sound before palatal vowels ; l before guttural vowels and consonants it retained its O.E. value of k. k represented the £-sound before n, before palatal vowels, and generally when doubled or final, ch always had the sound of N.E. ch in church, cch is the doubling of ch (cf. N.E. tch). sch, sh, ssh denoted the sound of N.E. sh. g represented the voiced guttural stop (i.e. the sound of g in N.E. good) before consonants and guttural vowels in native English words : O.E. g before palatal vowels had become M.E. y (see § 80); £• therefore has the palatal sound (viz. that of dge in N.E. bridge) only before palatal vowels in words of French origin, 2 e.g. gai, geste ; before a, o, and u in such words the palatal g-sound is represented 1 In this position O.E. c had generally > M.E. ch ; so there was no danger of confusion (cf. § 79 (a)). 2 Except in a few words of Scandinavian origin, like giue, gete, where it is guttural. XVI THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 8 by /- 1 gg in English words had usually the palatal sound ; in the few cases where a guttural vowel follows the gg in O.E., or where it is of O.N. origin, it is guttural, z.g.frogge, O.E.frogga. gn in Chaucer practically represents n. y as a consonant represented the sound of y in N.E. young (i.e. /; cf. § 80 (a)), ci, ^'represented s + i; e.g. na-ci-oun, con-di-ci-on (not nei-sh?n, etc.). /// likewise was simply t+u' y e.g. na-tu-re, cre-a-tu-re, etc. (not riei-ch?r, etc.). A COMPARISON OF THESE SOUNDS WITH THOSE OF NEW ENGLISH The fact that we still use so many of the written forms of Chaucer's time to represent New-English words which are entirely different, makes it difficult for the student to avoid putting his New-English into the mouth of Chaucer. A clear statement, therefore, of the differences between Middle-English sounds and those of New-English may not be out of place here. With a knowledge of these differences it will be easy in most cases to come near the sound of Chaucer's words, even though the student be unfamiliar with Old-English. § 9. The vowels of stressed syllables. — a became <£ in the seventeenth century ; cf. M.E. man, that with N.E. 'maen,' < thaet.' But (a) a+l final and /+cons. in the sixteenth century developed an u before the / and united with it in the diphthong au, which has become q along with other 1 g in the combination ng had the palatal sound in M.E., when ay followed in Germanic. The sound is still preserved in N.E. in these cases, and written -nge ; e.g. M.E. sengen (Gmc. *sang?an), N.E. singe as compared with M.E. singen, N.E. sing. § ii SOUNDS xvii au's (cf. § 24), e.g. N.E. 'q1,' ' £q1,* as against Chaucer's alle,falle. (b) before r final and r followed by a consonant N.E. a has the sound of M.E. a followed by p 1 ; if before a vowel (rr may be mere indication of short- ness of a preceding vowel), it follows the regular development of a \ cf. bark (' baark ') with barret ('bseral') < M.E. £0/?/. (c) e.M.E. a before a nasal + cons. >£(cf. § 61). (d) # was lengthened to a in the last part of the six- teenth century before st, sk, sp, th, ss. 2 (e) w rounds a following a into q (when unstressed, p), except before a following guttural consonant ; cf. squadron ('skwodran') and wag ('waeg'). § 10. a has become a diphthong in N.E., viz. ei 9 with the stress on the first element; 3 cf. M.E. ;/*£&?> N.E. 'meik/ M.E. Marie > N.E. 'Meiry,' M.E. dame > N.E. 'deim.' Shakspere still uses a number of the a-forms. § 11. e has remained unchanged; except that (a) before r and a consonant, M.E. e in many instances has developed into an^, e.g. M.E. sfer re >N.E. star* ; and that (b) the late M.E. development through which e > 1 + ng, nk in many words went further in N.E., so 1 In the English of southern England and that of parts of America the r is dropped and the a lengthened to a. 2 In America an intermediate seventeenth century development, viz. a. is kept up ; e.g. last, grass, path. 3 But we still write the M.E. word in almost all these cases and those that follow. 4 In some cases the English of America has a development from the £-form, while that of England has the N.E. ' Inglish ' with M.E. spelling. § 12. e developed into a- diphthongal N.E. V (see § 33) ; e.g. M.E. grene>N.E. 'grPn,' M.E. swete >N.E. 'swift.' § 13. ~e became ~~e in the sixteenth century, but did not develop into V until the eighteenth century ; e.g. e.N.E. sea, does not rhyme with e.N.E. be in Spenser or Shak- spere. The distinction between g and e which was introduced into late M.E. writing is still kept up in our spelling, though the sounds themselves are now in most cases identical ; e.g. N.E. steal (M.E. sfele) and N.E. sted (M.E. st'el). This fact is of great assistance in determining whether ~e is ~e or \ in Chaucer. 1 § 14. i corresponds as a rule to N.E. i. § 15. 1 has uniformly become ai, though still written i. There are traces of the old J-sound in Spenser ; cf. M.E. finde with N.E. < faind,' M.E. pin with N.E. < pain,' M.E. night with N.E. < nait.' § 16. o before / final and / followed by a consonant, like a in similar position, developed an // after it in N.E., making a diphthong, which followed the development of the regular ou diphthong, becoming p u ; 2 cf. N.E. folk and folly (M.E. folie) . Before r final or followed by a consonant, o > ; cp. N.E. for with N.E. moral, sorrow. 1 The only important exceptions are that in many cases r has kept an e.N.E. ?, open (cf. N.E. bear, breath, with neat, beat), and that final t or d in many cases shortened it to e in N.E. 2 Still retained in the N.E. writing of bowl, M.E. bolle; jowl, M.E. jolle. § 23 SOUNDS xix § 17. q has become N.E. u u ;* cf. M.E. //z^/^ and N.E. 1 mu u n ' {moon) ; M.E. r^ and N.E. ' ru ll t ' (root). 1 § 18. j? has become N.E. g u \ cf. M.E. ^/ and NE. boat. The distinction between M.E. q and {? is still preserved in the N.E. spelling, the latter being represented by oa, the former by 00. § 19. u has remained in a few words like N.E./^//, but in most cases, especially in unstressed syllables and in words without sentence-stress, it has become ? ; cf. M.E. bute, Shakspere but, N.E. 'bat' ; M.E. cuppe, N.E. 'cap.' § 20. u has in almost all cases, no matter what its origin, become au, though the M.E. form is still written ; e.g. M.E. now ( = nu), N.E. 'nau' (written now), M.E. hous, N.E. 'haus' (house), M.E. droghte, N.E. ' draut ' (drought)? § 21. S in late M.E. became the diphthong ^//, thence N.E. iu, e.g. M.E. usen, N.E. 'iuz' (still written use), falling together with the diphthong iu, which arose when the first element of eu > i. In the eighteenth century, after / or r or j, this iu > u. This development is now extending in America to iu after d, n, s, and /; cf. new 'nu' duke ' duk,' etc. § 22. U fell together with u and >^ in both English words (out of S.W. dialect) and French words ; e.g. burden ( O .E . byrden ) , judge (M.E. jiiggen ) . § 23. 0/, ei > N.E. ?i, with stress on the first element ; e.g. day, weigh. 1 But is still written 00. It is often shortened to u in N.E. before final / or d or k. For diphthongal element, see § ^. 2 The student will therefore be able to distinguish the M.E. u, which is written ou (or before gh), from the ou diphthong by the sound which the former has in N.E. XX THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 24 § 24. au became N.E. q ; e.g. law, saw. § 25. The au referred to in § 62 also developed into N.E. g ; e.g. grant, dance} § 26. ?#, £# became N.E. zz/ ; e.g. knew, few (cf. § 21). 2 § 27. #//, (?# became late N.E. ou\ e.g. know, soul. § 28. N.E. shadow, M.E. felawe, felwe >N.E. fellow. Inorganic initial w is pre- fixed to several common words ; e.g. M.E. on > N.E. one (' wan ') ; M.E. hool> N.E. whole (here only in the writing). § 37. / after a or o (see §§ 9 a, 16) is generally lost before/, v, m, or k, though still written; e.g. N.E. folk, golf, talk, cahn. b final after m is lost in N.E. ; e.g. climb, comb, § 38. r final or before a consonant varies in N.E. from a slightly trilled sound to a mere vowel glide which is subject to absorption in a preceding vowel. § 39. /in words where it was followed by a j- sound (including that ofju ch in the eighteenth century ; e.g. question, § 40. d in similar positions united with the /-sound to become dg ; e.g. verdure, § 41. s followed by a /-sound united with it in sh ; e.g. nacioun ('nasiun') >'neish9n.' xxii THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM §42 § 42. In words like nation, the /represents an s, written c in M.E., and is due to an attempt to imitate the Latin form of such words. § 43. d> th in a number of words in late M.E., so we have Chaucer's fader against N.TL./ather; likewise mother, weather, hither, thither, etc. § 44. h (gh), though still written, is lost in N.E. In some cases dialect forms in which gh >/and shortened the preceding vowel, are found in spoken M.E., though the gh~ forms are written : e.g. N.E. rough, tough. § 45. Some unhistoric consonants were developed for phonetic reasons in N.E. Chief of these are (a) an unhistoric / which often appears after the ad- verbial suffix -es ; e.g. M.E. againes > N.E. against; (b) an unhistoric t which appears after nouns ending in n\ e.g. M.E. pa re he men > N.E. parchment ; (c) an unhistoric d which appears after final n in a few words ; e.g. M.E. sonn > N.E. sound, M.E. kynrede 1286 > N.E. kindred ; (d) an unhistoric b which appears after a final m ; e.g. litn > N.E. limb. This was due to confusion arising from still writing b after it had been lost; cf. § 37. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUNDS FROM THOSE OF OLD-ENGLISH CHANGES IN THE QUANTITY OF VOWELS § 46. Group-Lengthenings. — Certain O.E. short vowels were lengthened in M.E. by certain consonant groups, viz. : — § 47. Any short vowel save u before Id ; e.g. O.E. eald (Merc, did) > M.E. qld, 1 O.E. /eld > M.E. /eld (N.E. 1 These group-lengthenings of O.E. a are earlier than the change by which d^>g (cf. § 60), and therefore O.E. a (ed) before hi, mb^>g. § 53 sounds xxiii field), O.E. ctld> M.E. child; cf. O.E. bylda {builder), and M.E. (S.W. dialect) bidden, builden} § 48. 1 and £ before nd ; cf. O.E. bindan > M.E. binden (N.E. 'baind'), O.E. funden (pp.) > M.E. founden (N.E. 'faund'). § 49. z and # before ///£ ; e.g. O.E. cttmban > M.E. cl'imben (N.E. * claim'), O.E. ^;;/^ > M.E. M.E. tinder. §52. Stress-Lengthenings. — The O.E. short vowels a, e, b were lengthened in M.E. if they stood in open accented syllables; 3 e.g. O.E. macian > M.E. maken (N.E. make), O.E. werede > M.E. w\red (N.E. wear), O.E. gebbren > M.E. ybqre (N.E. bore) ; cf. O.E. pp. riden = M.E. ride 7t (N.E. ridden). § 53. The exceptions are the same as for group-length- ening, but this lengthening frequently takes place in spite of a liquid or nasal in the following syllable \ e.g. lade I ( M.E. poppy (N.E. poppy) • § 55. Shortenings. — O.E. long vowels were shortened in M.E. when they came before two or more consonants, except the lengthening groups mentioned in §§ 46-50 ; : cf. O.E. wisdojn and M.E. wisdom ; greet, compar. gretter 863. § 56. O.E. long vowels were sometimes shortened in M.E. by the conditions which prevented stress-lengthening; viz. ig or a liquid or nasal in the following syllable ; e.g. any 580, eny < O.E. ctnig, § 57. O.E. long vowels are sometimes shortened in words that have light sentence-stress ; cf. M.E. indefinite article an, a, and numeral adjective gn with O.E. an. § 58. The Quality of the Vowels thus produced. — The e that arose by lengthening before Id was the long close vowel e. The e that arose by stress-lengthening was the long open vowel ~e. In all cases of lengthening that resulted in 0, it was the long open vowel q that was produced. § 59. Changes in the Character of Vowels. — The chief of these are as follows : — § 60. O.E. a becomes M.E. q (except in Northern dia- lects) ; e.g. O.E. brad > M.E. brqd (N.E. broad). § 61. O.E. a (0) + nasal remains in Chaucer, except when the nasal is followed by a voiced consonant d, g, b ; 2 in this position it becomes ; cf. thanken and lond (O.E. fiancian, land). 1 The shortening of O.E. C. 883, my fie E. 2218. § 64. ze/ sometimes changes a following palatal vowel to u ; e.g. M.E. womman, from O.E. wifman, which became e.M.E. wimman; M.E. wurthy ox worthy, from O.E. wyfdlg. § 65. The Old-English Diphthongs were smoothed to simple vowels in M.E., O.E. ea 2 giving M.E. a, O.E. eo giving M.E. e, O.E. ea giving M.E. e, and O.E. eo giving M.E. e. s § 66. O.E. ^ > M.E. e when it represented an original Germanic *§, and M.E. f when it represented a Germanic a/ (usually appearing in O.E. as umlaut of a). 4 These sounds of e are still distinguished in modern spelling ; cf. § 13- 1 Chaucer's is the language of London, where a number of dialect forms had already gained currency. 2 O.E. ea + r and consonant gave e in Southern dialects : such forms occur in Chaucer ; e.g. yeerd B 4037, O.E. geard ; O.E. ea -f- h was in Mercian a, e ; see § 72 (a). 3 The diphthongs ie and Te are peculiar to W.S. The corresponding Mercian forms have e, e. 4 To the student who does not know Germanic, it may be of assist- ance to note that Gmc. a is generally represented by Mod. Ger. a ; cf. e.g. Mod. Ger. that with O.E. dad, M.E. ded, N.E. deed: and that Gmc. at appears usually in Mod. Ger. as ei, except before r and h (and w in O.H.G.), where it is e; cf. Mod. Ger. heilen and O.E. halan, M.E. h\len, N.E. heal. xxvi THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 67 § 67. A New Set of Diphthongs in M.E. grew out of the consonants g, h, and w in the following way : — A. The diphthongs produced by an O.E. g § 68. O.E. g was vocalized to i after a palatal vowel, to u after a guttural vowel, and joined with the preceding vowel to make a diphthong or long vowel as follows : — I. After a palatal vowel. § 69. (a) O.E. &g > M.E. at; e.g. day 19 (O.E. d&g). (b) O.E. eg, czg > M.E. ei; 1 e.g. wey 34 (O.E. weg), either (O.E. izgfier). (c) O.E. £dg-, 2 ^, 2 z M.E. «; e.g. O.E. eage > eye (Ellesmere Ms.) 10. (d) O.E. log, ig, ig, yg, or yg (when not W.S. ie, te) > M.E. 1; e.g. O.E. leogan > M.E. //^ (N.E. lie, to tell a falsehood) ; O.E. ligaf> > M.E. Tieth, tith (N.E. lies, reclines) ; O.E. riigon > M.E. nine ; O.E. dryge > M.E. drie. II. After a guttural vowel. § 70. (a) O.E. dg > M.E. au {aw) ; e.g. O.E. Idgu > M.E. lawe (N.E. /<&«/). (b) O.E. ag > M.E. ^ (ow) ; e.g. O.E. 5^« > M.E. qwen (N.E. own). (c) O.E. ^- 3 > M.E. qu {ow)', e.g. O.E. ^a > M.E. bqwe (N.E. bow, ^bou'). 1 By Chaucer's time the sounds ai and ei have fallen together as ai, but the earlier distinction is still kept up in the writing of good scribes. 2 In some dialects |^ r >f?>n>F; e.g. M.E. teyen, Hen (O.E. tegan, 'tie'). In Anglian dialects eag~> eg: so here too we have double forms ; e.g. ye {O.E. rage) : melody e 10. 3 Since the g was not followed by a consonant, and therefore the 4 was in an open accented syllable and became {? (§ 52). § 73 SOUNDS xxvii (d) O.E. og, ug, ug 1 > M.E. u (ou, ow); e.g. O.E. bugan > M.E. bowen (N.E bow, to ' bau '). B. Diphthongs produced by an O.E. h § 71. In the case of k, a corresponding parasitic vowel is developed. Here the h is retained and written ^A 2 in I.M.E. and N.E. : — I. After a palatal vowel. § 72. (a) O.E. eh (Angl. ah, eh = W.S. eah) > M.E. eigh? (b) O.E. ceh with a consonant following w r as shortened, giving eh, or ah (see § 55, note 1); so e.g. O.E. rcehte > M.E. reighte, ranghte (both forms found in Chaucer). (c) O.E. eah > eigh, which in some dialects developed into M.E. igh ; 4 cf. § 69 (c), note. (d) O.E. eoh, Vi, ih, yh, and yh (when not W.S. ~ie, te) > M.E. Igh. II. After a guttural vowel. § 73. (a) O.E. eah> M.E. augh ; e.g. W.S. j^A > M.E. saugh, saw. 1 After a long guttural vowel O.E. final g>/i, and the development was according to § 73 (d). 2 In some Mss. it is written /i; when final or followed by a vowel it is frequently dropped; e.g. highe is often written hye, and high is usually written Ay. 3 Therefore saugh, seigh, in Chaucer, from W.S. .^7// and Angl. ^// respectively. 4 So £if^£ (O.E. heah): seigh 1066, and Emelye : Aye 2577; cf. the two preterits oiflen, s\z.fleigh zxi&fly, corresponding tJ O.E. Jleah. xxviii THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 73 (b) O.E. ah 1 >M.E. ough; e.g. O.E. dah > M.E| afcagA (N.E. 'dou')- (c) O.E. oh, or 0A shortened by a following consonant (§ 55) > M.E. ough ; e.g. O.E. sohte, sohte > M.E. . soughte (N.E. 'sqt'). (d) O.E. oh, uh, uh > M.E. *ugh {ough) ; e.g. O.E. ginoh > M.E. ynough, O.E. /r»A > M.E. through, . O.E. r/7/* > M.E. rc?agA. C. Diphthongs produced by an O.E. w § 74. An O.E. w becomes M.E. u after a vowel (writ- ten w), and joins with it to make a diphthong whose last element is u. § 75- (a) O.E. M.E. au (aw) ; e.g. O.E. cldwu > M.E. c/^^ (N.E. claw). (b) O.E. #w and ow > M.E. ^ and ou respectively. {ow) 1 e.g. O.E. cnawan > M.E. kngwe, O.E. grdwan, >M.E. growe ; cf. § 4, note 2. (c) O.E. eow, eaw, aw > M.E. \u {ew), O.E. ^ze/« > M.E. 'ewe; e.g. O.E. sceawain > M.E. skewen, O.E. /#«/ M.E. /fa/*// (N.E. / M.E. £0 ( M.E. knew (N.E. knew), O.E. Aio/a (ser- vant) > M.E. hewe. D. Diphthongs produced by an O.E. c § 76. Sometimes a diphthong M.E. queynte 2334 ; so bleynte. So fleisshe^ 1 J/fc followed by a consonant was of course shortened (§ 55) to ah, and became M.E. augh. § 78 SOUNDS xxix freisshe, threisshe often occur in Chaucer Mss. ; e.g. fleissh 344 is the form in Co, Pe, H 4 . § 77. General Remarks on these Diphthongs. — While a full knowledge of the corresponding O.E. word-forms is necessary to distinguish Chaucer's diphthongs, it is possible to learn much from their N.E. sound and spelling. (1) If in N.E. spelling the diphthong is followed by gh, it was one of the series produced by h ; if not, it was due to the vocalization of g or w. (2) Whenever we have the N.E. #//-sound, as in house, Chaucer's vowel was u, though written ou, or before gh. (3) Where the sound of the N.E. diphthong is q {bought, etc.), the source of it was oh + cons. (4) Where ough = ?f, we have the dialectic variant of »gh, viz. f, which shortened the u ; so the source was + gh, or //, ii + gh. (5) Where our N.E. sound of ou (ow) is ou (grow, etc.), we have the descendant of the M.E. diph- thong qu or ou, but it is not possible to tell which without a knowledge of O.E. § 78. Vowels in unstressed syllables. % (a) In inflectional syllables, all O.E. vowels became M.E. e. This development changed the entire inflectional system, so that O.E. -ath > M.E. -eth, O.E. -as > M.E. -es, O.E. -u > M.E. -e, O.E. -a > M.E. -e, etc. For instances, see Inflection. Unstressed e is frequently written i or u in the Mss. ; e.g. habergeon of El. in 76 appears as habirioun in Gg. and as haburgon in Co. In Chaucer's speech it must have had a close sound, somewhat like that of N.E. i, as he rhymes it frequently with the XXX THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 78 verb is; 1 e.g. clerkes : clerk is B 4426 \ deedis : tfW ' is D 1 155. (b) A M.E. unstressed vowel, followed by a single liquid or nasal, and situated between a primarily and a secondarily stressed syllable, is often lost, though usually written; e.g. heuenes or heunes, euerich or euerich, delyuere 84, and considere 3088. (c) In M.E. of Chaucer's period the vowel in inflec- tional syllables of words of more than two syllables is usually lost whether it is final or protected by a consonant. Instances are degrees 1890, langdge 2227, worstede 262, palfreys (: hartleys) 2495, bar- gdynes 282, yeddynges 257, fefawe 1192, 11 94 (but feldwe 395); in compound words: bdkemete 343, felaweship 474, frendshipe 428; in inflection: to ouereste 290, biloned 215, /^;v/ ' haired' (:berd) 2518. The * is usually written in the Mss. But when the dropping of the vowel would bring together two consonants not easily pronounced the full form is used ; e.g. corages n. The loss of the vowel of the inflectional syllable, or of final e, in some few instances takes place in dissyllabic forms, 2 especially in words of frequent occurrence, such as auxiliary, verbs ; e.g. were, hadde, koude, etc. For instances: see Inflection. § 79. Consonants. — The chief consonant changes con- cern c and g. 1 Final s had not yet acquired its s-sound in Chaucer's time; c§ //its: is 1247, 2368; was: bras 366. 2 Except in the case of the weak declension of adjectives preceded by a pronominal word. § 80 SOUNDS xxxi c, sc (a) O.E. c > eh before the palatal vowels <£, a, e, e, ea, ea, eo, eo, i, i, or their umlauts, 1 while it remains c (k) before the guttural vowels a, a, o, o, u, u, and their umlauts ; e.g. O.E. ceap > M.E. eh'ep, O.E. cild > M.E. child, O.E. cirice > M.E. chirche ; but O.E. corn = M.E. corn, O.E. cynn (y = umlaut of u) > M.E. kinn. (b) This ch is also developed if a j or i followed the c in the prehistoric period of English ; e.g. O.E. s tree can > M.E. streechen, O.E. / M.E. (c) There is a tendency for O.E. final c to become M.E. ch after vowels, especially, after i, and some- times after /or zz; e.g. O.E. pic>M.E. pich (N.E. pitch 2 ). In some unstressed syllables it is lost ; e.g. O.E. iV > M.E. ich, I, O.E. adj. suffix -lie > M.E. -/> (d) O.E. intervocalic c is lost in mad < O.E. macod, N.E. ;;/^/M.E. shal (N.E. ^//), O.E. yf^ > M.E. fish (N.E. fish). 9 § 80. (a) O.E. initial g followed by a vowel that was originally palatal developed into a M.E. y (i.e. the sound represented in English by y in such a word as young), which was written y or 3 ; e.g. O.E. giefan (Merc, gefan) > M.E. yeuen. It remained £■ before 1 This development did not take place in Northern dialects, and in many instances where c is followed by a the M.E. words start from Anglian forms, which had a, not ea, in such cases; e.g. O.E. cealf (Merc, calf) > MvE. calf. 2 This ch shortens the t. xxxii THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 80 a guttural vowel or the umlaut of a guttural vowel ; l e.g. M.E. gilden (O.E. gy/den, cf. O.E. gold), (b) The O.E. prefix ge- y gi-. develops into y- in M.E., which in late M.E. is usually lost. 2 In Chaucer it is used or not, according to the demands of the metre ; e.g. yronne (O.E. gerunnen) 8. (c) For the development of g after a vowel see §§ 68- 70. (d) After a liquid g becomes w ; 3 e.g. borwe (O.E. dat. beorge) 1622, morwe (O.E. dat. morgenne) 334, folwed (O.E. folgode) 528; so galwes (cf. O.E. gealga) B 3941. (e) Similarly h after a liquid > w ; e.g. arz«/ nas, ne were>nere. 1 The giue which Chaucer also uses is from O.N. gifa; M.E. geue, yiue 505, are probably due to confusion between yeue and giue. 2 It survives as e- in N.E. enough. 3 Forms in -^, like mary 380 (marrow), bely I 351 (bellows), are due to O.E. forms which had developed a parasitic vowel, ?', before the g, *mearig, *belig. (The suffix -bury 16 is from the O.E. dative by rig.) The parasitic vowel in the case of k was u, so that O.E. -uh became M.E. -ugh (-ough); e.g. O.E. /?uruh> M.E. thorough (for thorw cf. § 80 (e)). §84 SOUNDS xxxiii m 9 n § 82. (a) O.E. final m in unstressed syllables > M.E. n ; e.g. for the nones (O.E. for pcem anes) 379, atte nale (O.E. cet f>lzm ealope^) D 1349. (b) O.E. and M.E. final n can be dropped ; e.g. q, on (O.E. an), mayde (O.E. mcegden). In inflectional forms of verbs it is preserved or not, according to the needs of the metre; e.g. to seken hym 510, to drawen enery wight 842, in order to prevent elision. In the weak forms of adjectives it is always dropped. I § 8^. (a) Medial / is lost before c in ^che (O.E. ale, cf. § 79 (c)), which (O.E. hwyle), swiche (later swuch, such, cf. §§ 64, 81 (b), from O.E. swyle), (b) Final / is lost in muche (O.E. mycel), lite (O.E. Ivtel). f, v (to § 84. (a) The labial spirant is voiced when it stands between vowels, and in M.E. is written u. This gives rise to varying stem-forms in inflection ; e.g. nom. lyf, gen. lyues ; cf. yaf and yenen. (b) It is sometimes lost when it stands between two vowels, and the preceding vowel if short is length- ened ; e.g. O.E. Keafod> e.M.E. h~eued> M.E. heed (N.E. head), O.E. hlaford > e.M.E. Iguerd > M.E. Igrd, O.E. hlctfdige > e.M.E. leuedi, lauedi > M.E. /<^/y (N.E. lady). So //^dfe {'.spade 554, '.blade 617) is to be explained from e.M.E. hauede, and not as a forced rhyme. (c) / is subject to assimilation, cf. § 87. 1 These phrases are incorrectly divided in M.E. XXXIV THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM § 85 th (p), d § 85. (a) Intervocalic th (/>) is dropped in a few words ; the most common instances are qr beside qther (O.E. ador), wher 2397, beside whether. (b) Chaucer uses both forms of O.E. cuf>e ; e.g. kouthe ( : Dertemouthe) 390, and konde ( : loude) 713. (c) th is also subject to assimilation \ cf. § 87. (d) In gospel (O.E. go dspel) 481, and answere (O.E. andswerian) d is lost. h (written gh when medial or final) § 86. Initial h in the O.E. combinations hn, hr, hl y is lost in M.E. For other developments of h see §§ 71, 72, 73. § 87. The O.E. Consonant Assimilations are carried still further in M.E. The instances (save cet pe > atte) are chiefly in the contracted forms of the third pers. sing., and in the preterite tenses of weak verbs; see Inflection, §§ 175, 177. O.E. / is assimilated to the following consonant in O.E. wifman > M.E. wimman > womman (cf. § 64), and in O.E. hafde > M.E. hadde. § 88. Unhistoric Consonants. — (a) p is often inserted in M.E. between m and n ; e.g. Sompnour 623 (in H 4 ) from O.Fr. Somenour ; so empte?i (cf. O.E. cemtig), dampnen (O.Fr. da??iner), nempnen (O.E. nemnan), solempne (O.Fr. solemne) 209. (b) b likewise is developed between m and r, cf. M.E. slombren and O.E. sluma ; and after ;;/, e.g. thombe 563 (O.E. fiuma). (c) d is developed between n and r in M.E. thunder (O.E. punor) ; and between / and r in alder {-best) 710 (O.E. ealra-). § 90 SOUNDS XXXV OLD-NORSE ELEMENT IN MIDDLE-ENGLISH § 89. Most of the Scandinavian loan-words came into English during the late O.E. and early M.E. periods ; so that they fall under the sound laws discussed in the previous chapter, each sound following the development of the Eng- lish sound which most nearly corresponded to it; e.g. O.N. tagr > M.E. lowe, O.N. felagi > M.E. felawe, O.N. reisa > M.E. re is en, raisen. THE OLD-FRENCH ELEMENT IN MIDDLE-ENGLISH § 90. The same thing happened in the case of Old- French words ; but here the student must be careful to note the time of the borrowing and the dialect of Old- French from which the word was taken. Most of the words that came into early M.E. from French sources have Anglo- Norman forms. The same words often came in later with Continental forms, giving rise to doublets ; e.g. conveien, convoien; Norm. Fr., conveyer ; Cont. Fr., convoyer. While such words generally fell together with the M.E. forms which most nearly corresponded (e.g. O.Fr. rose > M.E. rose), several special points are worthy of notice : — (1) O.Fr. ou from Mediaeval Latin > M.E. u (= oii\ ; e.g. O.Fr. flour (flqrem) > M.E. flour ( = flur) ; O.Fr. honour > M.E. honour (= honur). (2) In many O.Fr. verbs the stem varied according to differing conditions of accent in Latin. To English ears this seemed to be a difference of verb-stem ; so we have in M.E. double forms; e.g. proven and preven, re move n and remeven, etc. (3) The diphthongs at, ei, fell together in Anglo-Nor- man just as in M.E. ; so that we have written forms faith, feith, to represent M.E. faith. XXXVi THE MIDDLE-ENGLISH SOUND-SYSTEM §90 (4) Before s and a consonant, a palatal consonant and liquid, or s, /, d, v, not followed by a consonant, these diphthongs underwent a further development into £, so that we get double forms in M.E. ; e.g. eise, gse ; saisoun, sgsoun. (5) The French u retained its French sound in early M.E. In late M.E. it is written ew when final or before a vowel, giving such forms as virtew, crewel. These appear in Chaucer Mss. (6) At first, O.Fr. borrowings had the Fr. syllable stress, e.g. honour ; later, they took English stress, e.g. honour. This gave rise to double forms in Chaucer, differing in respect to accent. See Part IV. PART II. — INFLECTION § 91. According to the principle stated in § 78 (a), a M.E. inflectional syllable can only contain the vowel e} with the corresponding consonant, if there was one, except in the case of ;//, which is weakened to n (§ 82), and of n, which is lost or retained at the will of the poet. This influ- ence in M.E. Inflection was supplemented by another, viz. that of analogy, through which inflectional forms of com- moner occurrence either became standard for all forms or modified those adopted as standard ; as, for instance, in the case of nouns, the nominative case singular and plural ; in verbs, the stem of the third person singular. THE INFLECTION OF NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES § 92. Most nouns which in O.E. ended in a consonant went over into the a-declension in M.E. The nominative form was generalized for all cases in the singular and plural except the genitive, which retained the O.E. -es of the singular for both numbers. 1 This inflectional -e, especially when final, was fast disappearing in the standard speech of the 14th and early 15th century; Lydgate rhymes such forms as to look and he took (Pilgr. of Man, 2277). But with Chaucer the -e is nearly always found in the middle of the verse, and appears without exception at the end. His conservative treatment had undoubtedly much to do with the preserving the -e as a literary tradition through the 15th century. XXXviii MIDDLE-ENGLISH INFLECTION § 93 § 93. The Nominative Singular ends in -e where the O.E. nominative ended in a vowel ; l e.g. From the /^-declension ; e.g. ende (ende) 1865. ^-declension ; e.g. care (cearu, Merc, earn) 132 1. /-declension; e.g.spere (spere) 114. ^-declension ; e.g. tale (ta/u) 36 ; sone {sunn) 79. ^-declension ; e.g. nonne (nunne) 163 ; nekke (Juiecca) 238 ; steede (steda) 2727 ; />»/// M.E. -e, and as most of the other femi- nine nouns were in the weak declension ending in -e which remained in M.E., it was natural that final -e should be con- sidered the typical ending for a feminine noun. Most M.E. feminines, therefore, take -e in the nominative singu- lar, even when there was no final vowel in O.E., O.N., or O.Fr. ; e.g. roote (O.N. rot) 423 ; boone : soone (O.N. 1 The Ellesmere and Hengwrt («) Mss. are almost always accurate in writing the final vowel in all forms of inflection. Other Mss., written when the -e was becoming silent, or by scribes in whose dialect it was already silent, are not at all trustworthy. § 97 INFLECTION XXxix bori) 2269; youthe (O.E. geogu/>, later iugufi) 461 ; queene (O.E. alien) 1685, 923; ;rj/^ (O.E. m7) 1003; wounde (O.E. wund) 1010; jw//ou {f>u) frequently takes an enclitic form, — ow after an auxiliary verb; e.g. woltow {woltu) for wolt thou 1544. The dative and accusative singular is thee. The plural nominative is ye (O.E. ge), dative and accusative yow (O.E. eow) ; cf. / pray yow (dat.) . . . that ye (nom.) narette, etc., 726-7. 1 viq (originally a substantively used neuter form ;;/^f, and the adverb ma) is usually the adverb form or the adjective used substantively. bet (originally adverbial), too, is generally an adverb in M.E. , but not always. § i 3 4 INFLECTION xlvii § 130. In the Third Person the forms are as follows : — SINGULAR PLURAL Masc. Neut. Fern. he hit she they his hir(e), hgr(e) hir(e) 365, 368, hgr(e) him hir(e), hgr(e) he? ft him hit hir(e), hgr(e) hem § 131. For the feminine singular, hgr(e) (and not hir(e), as stated by Ten Brink) was probably Chaucer's form ; e.g. K$re ( : b$re) 1421, 2057, ( : w$re) E 887 ; the -czt ; this survives in the expressions that oon 7 that other {the toon, the tothir, 1 in Boece 673), i the one,' 'the other.' The phrase that other 1 Cf. N.E. colloquial the ton, the tother. xlviii MIDDLE-ENGLISH LNFLECTLON § 134 is even used with the plural, that othere cerklis, ' the other circles/ Boece 1476 (Gl. Ch., p. 416) ; that othere is plural, too, in Boece 1796. f>cet survives, also, as a definite article in That wheither, 'The one of you two who' 1856, 1857. § 135. A trace of oblique case-inflection is preserved in the phrase for the nonys (O.E. for d and p.p. o {u + nas.) ; V having pret. plur. 7z and p.p. e. M.E. usually preserves the regular development of these forms. CLASS III § 157. Characteristic. — e + liquid and consonant ; I + nasal and consonant. Vowel Series : Pres. Pret. Sing. Pret. Pl. P. Part. e 4- liq. and a ( < O.E. ea) o 1 o(=O.E.«9 cons. < O.E. eo 6 + nas. + I + nas. and cons. • v'cd cons. 2 a + nas. + v'cless. cons. 2 . u(=O.E.i7) u (6) = O.E. u 1 By analogy from the stem of the past participle ; the O.E. preterit tense-stem had u in the plural. 2 See § 61. § >58 INFLECTION lv Note that all these vowels are subject to the group-lengthenings of §§ 46-51; so that we have present stems like yelde, fhide, climbe ; preterit singular stems like clgmb, ygld ; preterit plural and past parti- ciple stems like founden, wounden (ou = u). It will be well, therefore, to divide Class III into two sub- classes : (a) Verbs with stem-vowel followed by / or r and a cons. (b) Verbs with stem-vowel followed by m or n and a cons. § 158. Ill a. helpe * help ' holpen swelle yelde delue sterue kerne ' swell ' ' yield ' (§47) i delve ' 'die' ' carve ' (halp \heelp x 1 65 1 j swdl ygld yglden holpen 18 swollen yglden ddlf Bo. 1637 by-doluenBo. 1637 dulue 2 pret. subj. Bo. 1639 starf ^933 sto? uen C 8SS sforuen cdrf 100 coruen coruen 2696 brdst brosten brosten breste 3 ' burst ' thresshe t thrash '536 worthe s become ' (0 = u (§ 6) < w + eo (§ 64) ) wdrth So dXsoflghten (1.0. E. fih tan), pt. sg. fa light 399 (< O.E. feaht, cf. § 73 a), pt. pi. fo lighten, p.p. fo ugh ten (< O.E. fohten, cf. § 73 c). 1 Not yet clearly explained. 2 See § 180. 3 In O.E. berstan and \>erscan ; r and the preceding vowel changed places in M.E. § i59- III b. winne wan s pi 7in e span beginne began swimme swam lvi MIDDLE-ENGLISH INFLECTION § 159 wonnen (o = u) wonnen (o = u) sponnen sponnen begonnen begon nen swommen swommen renne 1 1761 ran 509 ronnen (o = u) ronnen (o = u) 8 2925 smge soong 122 son gen (0 = u) songen (o = u) (§50) springe sprong sprongen {o = u) sprongen {0 = 11) So stinge, swinge, ringe. finde (§ 48) foond founden (ou = u) founden(ou = u) binde bond bounden (ou = u) bounden{ou = u) So grinde, wmde, cllnibe. dronken (o = u) dronken (0 = u) 820 1261 sonken (0 = 11) sonken (0 = u) So swinke ' toil/ shrinke, stinke. Moorne (§ 50) i mourn/ sporne ' spurn,' and brenne 'burn/ originally of this class, became weak in M.E. CLASS IV § 160. Most of the verbs in this class having in O.E. short e before a single consonant, the corresponding M.E. vowel will have been lengthened to ~e ; see § 52. 1 The M.E. form of this present stem is due to O.N. retina. drinke drank (§60 sinke sank § 160 INFLECTION lvii Characteristic : e before a single liquid. Vowel Segue ?t ce : Pres. Pret. Sing. Pret. Pl. P. Part. e «(<0.E. ce) f(w/^, j'zz^ 3 ' give ' _)'#/" 177 y alien sen (O.E. seoh 4 ) saugh (§ 72 a, .raz^ « B. 2 1 8 _}'j^tz 'see' note 3) 1400 ivzay (§ 71, note 3) in rhyme : seigh (< Angl. jS/j) 193 say, sey (§ 71, note 3) jj? ( : mercy) G 1381 syen Tr. v. 816 ( : yen) (cwgthe) quoth, quod, ' said he ' 5 1 The consonant is due to the influence of the corresponding O.N. verb get a. 2 An exceptional form; so also the preterit fret from O.E. frcet. 3 Due to influence of O.N. gifa ; yaf and not gaf is due to analogy from the present stem, cf. § 80 (a) and note 1. 4 O.E. seon was originally *sehan; M.E. preterit plural syen is prob- ably from Anglian segon (§69 c, note 2), and from the plural syen arose a singular sy by analogy. The O.E. adjective gesiene (Mercian gesene) meaning visible, took the place of yseyn in l.M.E. In Chaucer sene, ysene is still used in its adjective sense, occurring with * to be ' : otherwise yseyn, seyn. 5 The for a is explained as being due to the w\ the d as taken over from e.M.E. pi. qu^den, which preserved a consonant change of th to d. § 1 62 INFLECTION lix With I and double consonant in the present : l — bidde (§ 155, note 1) bad b\den Hen, 2 liggen 2205 lay, 20, 937 leyn sitte sat 271 seten 2893 jr&« see/ 3 {'.feet) 2075 CLASS VI § 162. This class in O.E. had a in the present and past participle before a single consonant, with o in both numbers of the preterit. The M.E. vowel sequence is therefore — a (§ 52) o a Characteristic : a followed by a single consonant. take tpk taken So wake, cwake s quake ' ; bake, forsake, shake, shape 4 ; fare ' fare/ ( go/ has wk. pret. ferde A 1372/ and beside the strong faren a weak fared in the past participle. stonde (/* (O.E. liegaii) is from the stem of the O.E. 2d and 3d sing, indicative, as if the O.E. infinitive had been */?gan (§ 69 d). 3 seet is by analogy from the plural sgten ; sate shows the vowel of the singular carried into the plural and lengthened. 4 As if from *sca/>an ; the O.E. form is sceppan ; cf. § 161, note on Hen, 5 Due to confusion with the preterit of O.E. feren 'to go.' 6 This present stem was extended by the insertion of n in O.E. lx MIDDLE-ENGLISH INFLECTION § 162 Several verbs of this class having in O.E. a, o + g, h, develop diphthongs in M.E. ; see §§ 70 a, 73 d (pt. sg.), and 70 d (pt. pi.). drawe ( lxi CLASS VII § 163. These verbs had originally reduplicated preterit tense-stems. These reduplications were lost in early O.E., but left a class of strong verbs which had preterit stems con- taining in each case a vowel different from that of the other stems of the verb. Some of them had already assumed weak forms in O.E., others became weak in M.E. ; so that in Chaucer's time many verbs of this class had both strong and weak forms. In the case of verbs with O.E. a in the present stem, the shortening before two consonants when the -de of the preterit and -d of the past participle was added, gave double forms; see § 55, note 1. Characteristic : the same vowel in the present and past participle ; e or ew in the preterit. Fete Y Met' let reten late A. 3326, (wk. lette) imper. Idt 840, 83 1 slept l sleep ' step 397 slepen, wk. slept wepe 'weep' wep wppen (O.E. wopen) wk. wepte we pen, wk. wept So type ' leap ' with strong pret. lep ; b^te i beat ' with strong pret. bet, wk. bette, strong pp. b~$ten, and wk. bett; waxe, wexe, with pi. wex. Dr$de ' dread ' (< O.E. drczdan) has a wk. pret. dredde, drddde, with wk. pp. (y)drad, dred ; likewise r$den ' read ' (< O.E. raidan), wk. pret. redde, rddde, and wk. pp. redd, 1 The fact that both forms, lat and let, occur frequently in the imper. 2d pers. sing, in connection with other verbs (e.g. lat be> etc.) points to a shortening of O.E. lat (cf. § 55, note) due to lack of stress. The infinitive late and past participle laten may be due to the influence of the O.N. verb lata. lxii MIDDLE-ENGLISH INFLECTION § 163 rddd ; and sli$de ' shed ' (O.E. s el a dan ; Orm. sh&denn), wk. pret. shadde, shedde, and wk. p.p. shed, shad. kngwe ' know ' £# (e ' crow/ >&^r/ rah te) reigh te ( O . E . rceh te > reh te ) f$che 'teach' taughte 497 (O.E. ta>hte> tdhte) seke (North, form) 'seek' soughte (O.E. sohte> sohte) wire he l i wo rk ' (O.E. w rough te ( O . E . work te > wroh te) wyrceati) fringe broughte (O.E. brohte>brohte) thenke ' think' thoughte (O.E. fodhte>/>ohte) thynke i seem ' (impers.) thoughte (ou = &r) (O.E. f>uhte> puhte) § 1 74. (4) Verbs of Class II in O.E. : — haue* han (cf. § 84, b) hadde (usually hddde) had hade (cf. § 84 b) seyen {siggen Tr. IV, 1 94) ' say* seyde seyd § 175. Consonant Changes in Preterits of Class II : — As in Class II the -de, ~d, of the preterit and past participle ending is brought directly in contact with the stem, changes occur as follows : — (1) A long vowel is shortened by the consonant group thus made (cf. 55). (2) d >/ as follows : — (a) after voiceless consonants; e.g. mete, mette ; fette, p.p.fet 819. (b) after a nasal or liquid or a nasal or liquid fol- lowed by d or t; e.g. fete, felte; mine, mente ; hente, hente 1300; girden, girte 329; biilden, bulte 1548. 1 Has other forms werken, werchen. 2 But confusion with preceding verb appears already in M.E. ; e.g. in C 771 hem thoughte : they soughte. 8 Hdue, han has 2d sing, hast, 3d sing. hath. § 177 INFLECTION lxvii (3) Verbs in -ue have prets. in -fte. This change took place in O.E. (4) Verbs in th have by assimilation dd in preterit ; e.g. kythe 'to show/ pret. kidde; * clothe pret. cladde, cledde. (5) Verbs in -ste have a preterit apparently the same as the present ; e.g. caste 2854. (6) Verbs in -enche have the pret. and p.p. -einte ; e.g. blenchen, bleynte 1078, drenchen, dreynt. (7) Verbs in - forget * forgets/ R. of R. 61. flight (e)th > flight ' is called/ Compl. 70 (Gl. Ch., p. 326). *fygst > lixt ' liest ' D 1 761 sett(e) tfi > set ' sets ' brest{e)th > brest 'bursts' 2610 fid{e)th > rit ' rides ' 974, 2566. So bit 'bids' 187, «/ 'sits' 1800, histe (subj. : vpriste) 1052, ^//^ 'finds/ .$■ / 2 79 T > etc -> etc - (b) After the pause ; e.g. — x n x ' x ' • ' x x ' And for to festne his hood under his chyn X ' X ' • ' XX'" ' He hadde of gold wroght a ful curious pyn 195, 196. x 'x 1 • ' X x 1 X f Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt 2961. So 320, 393, 503, 680, etc., etc. (c) Often in both places ; e.g. — 1 X 11 1 t t! x " " 'X Trouthe and honour • fredom and curteisie 46. § 259. (2) Additions to the normal verse : — (a) An extra unstressed syllable is frequently added at the end of the verse, and often before the pause. In the latter case two stressed syllables occur together without any reversal of the rhythm ; e.g. — 9 n x ' x* x 'x in t x That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene 134. t It x ' 11 • X ' x "x'x He 7i>as a shepherde and noght a mercenarie 514. § 2 6o VERSIFICA TION xci t ft x ' " • X ' " ' X ' X Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte 2458. X ' X*" ' x ' x ' X ' x Thanne seyde he O crewel goddes that gouerne 1303. So 131, 494, 613, 1097, 2002, 2464, 2503, 2523, etc. (b) Very rarely an extra unstressed syllable is added at the beginning of a verse ; clear instances are : — xx f n '»'xx' " ' With a thredbare cope as is a poure scoter 260. xx 'x'x * x ' x'x Seuene he lines for to doon al his pies aunce B 4056. (c) But after the caesura at the beginning of the second part of the line the extra syllable is frequently added ; x e.g.— tt I tt t . X X 'X "x'x Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye 2626. X ' X '* X X " x ' x'x Ne me tie list thilke opinions to telle 2813. X ' x " • X X " X " X ' Disherited of hir habitacionn 2926. x' x"x' • xx 'x" Is likned til a fissh that is walerlees 180. x 'x"*xx'x ' x' And Arcita that is in the court roial 1497. X ' X '*x 'x '*xx' And some wol haue a Pruce sheeld or a targe 2122. 2 § 260. 3. Subtractions from the normal verse: — (a) The unstressed syllable which begins the verse is frequently omitted : — ' x ' x • ' X 'X ' Twenty bookes clad in blak or reed 294. " X ' X ' " "X ' /// a gowne of faldyng to the knee 391. 1 The scribe of II4 evidently did not understand this characteristic of Chaucer's verse, for he is especially fond of exercising his ingenuity in 'doctoring' lines in which it occurs, and his doctorings have unfor- tunately been adopted into many modern Chaucer texts. 2 The caesuras are as marked in a. xcii MIDDLE-ENGLISH VERSIFICATION §260 t x ) II • II x ' " » Armed were they as I haue yow told 2126. Funeral he 7?iighte al accojnplice 2864. / x 'X " X ' X " Nymphes, Fawnes, and Amadrides 2928. So 247, 1656, 2511, 1535, 2489, etc. (b) Possibly, too, the unstressed syllable at the begin- ning of the second half of the verse was occasionally omitted. 1 But this is rare in the Prologue and Knightes Tale. It does not seem possible to scan 2770 in any other way : — I II II I . / x ' X 'X Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure. 2367 also yields the best rhythm when scanned — X ' X ' X I • I It I The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this, 'ft I x since such a stress group as folwynge is unusual in Chaucer; see § 183. THE DIVISION OF THE VERSE INTO SYLLABLES While the syllable division of M.E. verse is in the main that of M.E. prose, there are some losses and slurrings of unstressed syllables that are peculiar to poetry. ELISION § 261. A final unstressed e is lost before a word begin- ning with a vowel, before h in the lightly stressed words he, his, him y her, hit, and sometimes before how and heer; e.g. — ' x ' x'x"x'x The droghte of March hath perced to the roote 2. 1 it X ' X ' X ' X " Wei koude he dresse his takel yemanly 106. 1 A theory stated by Zupitza in Archiv fur das Studium der neuren Sprachen, 89, 354, but the clear instances are so rare as to make the matter exceedingly doubtful. §264 VERSIFICATION xciii x ' x ' " ' x ' x ' On which ther was first write a crowned A 161. It I It I It t It I x " y herd tu as s ha tie as nygh as euer he kan 588. X ' " ' X 'X ' X ' 7/z curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest 132 (cf. 211). ' X ' X ' X ' X ' X For he hadde geten hym yet 110 benefice 291. So possibly 394, 400, though in these instances the verse- pause coming after the syllable in question allows us to scan the lines in accordance with § 259 (a). § 269. In a few words of romance origin ending in -/ (cf. § 66, note). To cover such cases Ten Brink assumed a class of words which sometimes had I and sometimes e. As a large per cent of these words are such as show a change from e to | in early N.E. being written with ea, where we should expect ee or i>, perhaps the simplest assumption is that they were already becoming open in Chaucer's time. § 278 VERSIFICA TION XCV11 (2) gu regularly rhymes with gu in Chaucer (cf. §§70 (b), (c), 75 (b)) ; but ~eu and ~eu do not rhyme with one another (cf. § 75 (c), (d)). § 275. The rhyme is always on the last stressed syllable of the verse. This may be followed by an unstressed syl- X ' X x t x lable, thus making double rhyme ; e.g. Egeus : Theseus * X X ' X 2905, 6 ; rente : assente 1 373, 4. § 276. The rhyming syllables may begin with the same X ' X X consonant and thus be identical in sound ; e.g. deuyse : ser- t X tiyse 1425, 6 ; was come : ouer come 2799, 2800. § 277. In the case of double rhymes the unstressed part of the rhyme is often a separate word with light sentence- stress ; e.g. nonys (nonce) : noon ys (none is) 523, 4. § 278. Words which are the same in sound may rhyme with one another provided their meanings or inflectional forms are different ; e.g. — X ' X * I may, in May 1461, 2; to se : the large see 1955, 6; he . . . caste \ I caste 2171, 2. So in 1837, 8; 2233, 4. 1 The final -e in Chaucer is always sounded at the end of a verse, so t x that we never have such rhymes as would be rente \y sent (pp. of sende) or -ye rhyming with -y. INDEX The Arabic numerals refer to the sections of the grammar. The Roman numerals after a verb indicate the class to which it belongs. Single vowels left unmarked are short. A long mark over ou (ow) denotes that it is u. a, < O.E. ea, 65 ; before », m, in French words, 6; development of, in N.E., 9 ; (0) + nasal, + nasal and voiced consonant, 61. a, >N.E. ei, 10; written double, 6. abegge, wk. vb., II, 173. aboughte, see abegge. Accusative endings used to form adverbs, 122. Accusative of measure, 194. Additions to normal verse, 259. Adjective compounds, stress of, 240. Adjectives, comparison of, 123- 126; numeral, 117, 118; com- pound numeral, 197; possessive, 132; used substantively, 196; weak, use of, 115. Adverb compounds, stress of, 241. Adverbs, comparison of, 127 ; double forms of, 121 ; formed by case endings, 122; formed from prepositional phrases, 122; historic ending of, 119; inor- ganic ending of, 120, 121; uses of, 228-233. ai, < O.Fr., 90 (3, 4) ; < O.E. && 69 (a) ; development of, in N.E., al, adjectival, 143; distributive, 144; in pronominal use, 143. aller y 113. am, 186. Analogy, influence of, on inflection, 91. Anomalous verbs, 187. answerde, 169. answere, n., stress of, 239 (2). Appositive construction, 190. arise, st. vb. I, 154. arisen, see arise. dm, see am. args, see arise. Article, definite, 133; omitted, 199; survival of neuter of, 134; sur- vival of oblique cases, 135; indefi- nite as numeral, 198. as, added to adverbs, 231; to intro- duce a wish, 232. Assimilation, 84 (c), 85 (c), 87; of d to /, 175 (2); of \> to d, 1 75 (4). atte, 87; atten, 135. au {aw), < O.E. ag, 70 (a); < O.E. aw, 75 (a) ; a -f nasal and consonant written au, 6, 62; au > N.E. q, 9 (a), 24. angh, < O.E. guttural vowel -f- h, 72 (b), 73 (a). Auxiliary verbs, 185. aw, see au, b, loss of, in N.E., 37; unhistoric, 88 (b). INDEX baar, see bgre. bad, see bidde. bake, st. vb. VI, 162. bar, see bgre. baren, see bgre. be, see am ; inflection of, 186, 1. b^d, see bede. bede, st. vb. II, 155. bgden, see bidde. beer, see £|r^. begin ne, st. vb. Ill, 159. beigh, see &?«;*. A?/z, see am. b'ere, st. vb. IV, 1 60. bet, see ^?. b'ete, st. vb. VII, 163. bidde, st. vb. V, 161. bide, st. vb. I, 154. binde, st. vb. Ill, 159. bite, st. vb. I, 154. blenchen, wk. vb. II, 175 (6). bleynte, see ble?ichen. blowe, st. vb. VII, 163. bgden, see &?<&. £p/v, see £|r*. bgthe, inflection of, 145. bowe, st. vb. II, 155. boiven, see bowe. brak, see brgke. brast, see breste. br'eke, st. vb. IV, 160. brenne, st. vb. Ill, 159. ^7\tf£, st. vb. Ill, 158. brgw, see brewe. brewe, st. vb. II, 155. bringe, wk. vb. II, 173. broken, see brgke. brosten, see breste. broughte, see bringe. broiike, st. vb. II, 155. bulden, wk. vb. II, 175, 2 (b). by-doluen, see <&/»;. th in N. E., 43; unhistoric, %% (c). dalf, see delue. dar, inflection of, 185, 5. Dative, singular, form of, 98; with impersonal verb, 195. deden, see do. delue, st. vb. Ill, 158. Demonstrative pronoun, 136, 137, 202, 203. d$re, wk. vb. I, 166. derre, 125. dide, pret. of dien, 169. dide, see do. Diphthongs, development of in N.E., 23-30, 77; due to c, 76; due to h, 71-73; due to 70, 74-75; < O.Fr., 90 (3); pro- duced by O.E. g, 68-70; repre- sentation of, 7. Direct object, proleptic, 193. dp, inflection of, 187. dorre, see dar. dorste, see dar. Double forms from O.Fr., 90 (2), (4), (5)- drank, see drinke. drawe, st. vb. VI, 162. drgde, VII, 163; wk. forms of, 163. dr$me, wk. vb. II, 172. drenchen, wk. vb. II, 175 (6). drezv, see drawe. dreynt, participle, 175 (6); see drenchen. drinke, st. vb. Ill, 1 59 driuen, see driue. driue, st. vb. I, 154. drgf 9 see driue. dronk, see drinke. dronken, see drinke, di'ougk, see drawe. draw, see drawe. dulue, see delue. e, < O.E. eo, 65; (Kent.) < O.E. y, 63; loss of in unstressed syl- lable, 78 (b), (c), 94, 108, no, 119; loss of in inflected syl- lable, 78 (a), 91; M.E. develop- ments of in N.E., 11; sound of in inflected syllable, 78 (a) ; representation of in inflected syllable, 78 (a). e, < O.E. eo, 65; < O.E. a, 66; due to Id, 58. i < O.E. ea, 65; < O.E. a, 66; << O.Fr. ai or ei, 90 (4) ; due to stress lengthening, 58. e, I, distinction between, 6. e, development of in N.E., 12, 13; written double, 6 ; unhistoric final -e, 95. eet, see $te. ei, < O.Fr. 90 (4) ; development of in N.E., 23; produced by c, 76. ei, < O.E. eg, ceg, 69, (b) ; < O.E. palatal vowel -f g, 69 (b), (c). eigh> < O.E. palatal vowel -f h, 72 (a), (b), (c). Elision, 261-266. eo (Fr. tie), development of in N.E., 29. Ire, wk. vb. I, 166. Cll INDEX lie, st. vb. V, 161. £ten, see Ite. eu, ezv, < O.E. palatal vowel -f w, 75 (c), (d). luerich, 147. 'euerichon, 147. 'euery, 147. *2^ < O.Fr. £, 90 (6). *?w , see 8. girden, wk. vb. II, 175, 2 (b). glide, inf. 154. gnawe, st. vb. VI, 162. gnow, see gnawe. gg, inflection of, 187. grannie, wk. vb. I, 168. grinde, st. vb. 159. growe, VII, 163. h (gh), development of in N.E., 44. h, diphthong due to, 71-73; loss of initial, 86; written gh, 71, 77(0- hade, 84 (b). haf see hgue. halp, see helpe. hdn, see hdue. hdue, wk. vb. II, 174. heelp, see helpe. hefi see hgue. held, see hglde. helde, see hglde. h'ele, 160. heng, see honge. helpe, st. vb. Ill, 158. k$re, wk. vb. II, 172. h^rie, wk. vb. I, 166. hit, see hgte. h'eue, st. vb. VI, 162. highi, see hgte. highte, see hote, note. INDEX cm kglde,\ll, 163. holpen, see helpe. hojige, st. vb. VII, 1 63. honour -e, wk. vb. I, 168. hgte, st. vb. VII, 163. Hypothetical notion expressed by subjunctive, 221. i, corresponding to N.E. 1, 14; interchangeable with y, 6; < O. E. y, 63; sounds of, 8. i, < O.E. palatal vowel + g, 69 (d) ; M.E. development of in N.E., 15. ic 9 ich, 1st person, pronoun, 128. igh, < O.E. palatal vowel -f h, 72 (c), (d). Imperative of Strong and Weak Verbs, 181. Impersonal verbs, construction, 214; dative with, 195; infinitive with, 218; predicate omitted with, 214. Indefinite pronoun, 142. Infinitive, ending of, 182; syntax of, 215-218. Inflection of adjectives, 107-116; of nouns, 92-106; of verbs, 176-184; of verbs in infinitive, 182; in imperative, 181; in present, 176, 177, 178; in present participle, 183; in past participle, 184; in preterite, 179, 180. Interrogative pronoun, 140, 141, 211. is/awe, see styn. is /aye, see sign. k, < O.E. c, 79 (a); sound of, 8. kepe, wk. vb. II, 172. kerue, st. vb. Ill, 158. kidde, see kythe. knezv, see knowe, knitte, wk. vb. II, 171. knowe, st. vb. Ill, 163. koude, see kowthe. koHthe, use of in Chaucer, 85 (b). kythe, wk. vb. II, 175, 4. /, loss of in N.E., 37; O.E., loss of medial, 8^ (a), of final 8^ (b). /at, im. vb., see late. lat, see lete. late, st. vb. VII, 163. laughe, st. vb. VI, 162. lay, see tie. Id, lengthenings due to, 47. l^de, wk. vb. II, 172. leigh, see lyen. lengei', 124. Lengthenings due to consonant groups, 46, ft., to nib, 49; to nd, 48; to rfi, 50; to rd, 50; to rn, 50; to stjxss, 52-54; prevented by liquid or nasal in following syllable, 51, 53 ; by ig in follow- ing syllable, 54. lep, see type. type, st. vb. VII, 163. let, see lete. lete, st. vb. III. 163. tyue, wk. vb. II, 172. leyn, see fie. -lie, adjective suffix, 121. lie, st. vb. V, 161. liggen, see lie. Loss of c in unstressed syllable, 79 (c) ; intervocalic, 79 (d) ; final, 121; of d, 85 (d); of inter- vocalic/, .84 (a); of initial h, 86; of /inN.E., 37; of O.E. /, medial and final, 83; of final n, 82 (b), 91 ; of unstressed vowel, CiV INDEX 78 (b), (c), 94, 108, no, 267; ofw, 81; of y<0&,ge, 80(b). loue, wk. vb. I, 167. lough, see laughe. -fy t 127. /jW, see lyen. lyen, st. vb. II, 155. may, inflection of, 185, I. make, wk. vb. I, 167. mb, lengthening due to, 49. me, see men. men, indefinite pronoun, 149. mpien, wk. vb. II, 175, 2 (b). metan, wk. vb. II, 175, 2 (a). ?mghte, see may. moorne, 159. niQste, see ;;; N.E. cz, 9 (c) ; M.E. developments of in N.E. g and 5 not distinguished by scribes, 6. g, < O.E. a, 60; M.E. develop- ments of in N.E., 17, 18 ; due to group or stress lengthening, 58; written double, 6. written for u and ou {u), 6; for on, 7. oughte, see &ive. oi, > N.E. ot, 28. Old French words, development of in M.E., 90. Old Norse words in English, 89. Omission of unstressed syllable in verse, 260. other, a form of eyther, 146. ou, development of in N.E., 26, 77 (5)- ou (ow), < O.E. guttural vowel + g, 70 (b), (c) ; < O.E, aw, ow, 75 (b). ou > N.E. ow, 27, 77 (5). ou (w), < O.Fr. ou, 90 (1) ; repre- sentation of, 6; diphthong, repre- sentation of, 7. ough, < O.E. ah, 73, b; < O.E. oh, oh -f consonant, 73 (c). -ow, unstressed form of 2d person pronoun, 129. ow, see ou, u. oive, inflection of, 185, 7. p, unhistoric, 88 (a). participle, ending of present, 183; ending of past, 184. passe, wk. vb. I, 168. Perfect tense, formation of, 227. INDEX CV Personal pronoun, 200-201. Possessive adjective, 132. Predicate, syntax of, 212-214. Prepositions, 234; stress of, 241. Prepositional phrases used to form adverbs, 122. Present indicative and subjunctive, 176, 177, 178. Present tense to express general truth, 244; historical, 226. Preterite, indicative, 179; subjunc- tive, 180; used for pluperfect, 225 ; historical, 226. preyde, 169. Primary stress, of foreign words, 246; of noun compounds, 239; of simple words, 238; of verbal compounds, 241. Pronoun compounds, stress of, 240. Pronouns, demonstrative, 133, 202, 203; indefinite, 142 ff., 200; interrogative, 140,211; personal, 1st pers., 128, 2d pers., 129, 3d pers., 130, used reflexively, 201; relative, 138, 204-210; used as proleptic object, 193. Proper names, form of, 96. punysshe, wk. vb. I, 168. quook, preterite of quake, 167. r, in N.E., 38. ran, see renne. raughte, see rgche. r/?, lengthening due to, 50. rd, lengthening due to, 50. rgche, wk. vb. II, 173. rgden, VII, 163; weak forms of, 163. Reflexive use of personal pronoun, 201. reighte, see r^che. Relative pronoun, 138, 139, 204- 210. renne, st. vb. Ill, 159. Reversal of rhythm, 258. Rhyme, 274-278. ride, st. vb. I, 154. riden, see ride, ringe, st. vb. Ill, 159. rlue, st. vb. I, 154. rn, lengthening due to, 50. rgd, see ride, rgme, wk. vb. I, 168. ronnen, see renne. sat, see sitte. saugh, see sen. saw, see sen. sch, sound of, 8. Secondary stress, 243-245. seet, pret. of sitte, see sitte, n. 4. seke, wk. vb. II, 173. self, inflection of, 150. selle, wk. vb. II, 173. selue, see self. seme, wk. vb. II, 1 72. sen, st. vb. V, 161. senden, wk. vb. II, 175, 2 (b). sengen, wk. vb. II, 175, 7. Sentence stress, 249-251. sgten, see sitte. s^th, see sethe. sethe, st. vb. II, 155. sette, wk. vb. II, 171. seyen, wk. vb. II, 174. seynde, pret. 175, 5, see sengen. s/z, < O.E. sc, 79 (e) ; see sch. shake, st. vb. VI, 162. shal, inflection of, 185, 2. shape, 162, n. 5. sh$de, VII, 163; wk. forms of, 163. shef see shouuen. sh^re, st. vb. IV, 160. CV1 INDEX shete, st. vb. II, 1 55. shine, st. vb. I, 154. shgf, see shouuen. sholde, see shal. Shortenings due to two or more consonants, 55, 175 (1); to nas. or liq. or ig in following syllable, 56 ; to light stress, 57. shouen, see shottuen. shouuen, st. vb. II, 155. shrine, inf. 154. shulde, see shal. sh alien, see shal. singe, st. vb. Ill, 159. sinke, st. vb. Ill, 159. si tie, st. vb. V, 161. sign, st. vb. VI, 162. slip, see slepe. slepe, wk. vb. II, 172. slepe, st. vb. VII, 163. slough, see sign, sloiu, see sign, smite, inf. 154. sgden, see sethe. sglde, see selle. som, inflection of, 15 1. somme, see som. songen, see singe, soong, see singe, sought, see seke. spak, see spgke. sp^ke, st. vb. IV, 160. spinne, st. vb. Ill, 159. spgken, see spgke. sporne, wk. vb. I, 159. sprgde, wk. vb. II, 172. sprengen, wk. vb. II, 175 (7). spreynde, pret. 175 (7); see sprengen. springe, st. vb. 159. ssh, see sch. stal, see stgle. stape, see steppe. star/, see sterue. st'ele, st. vb. IV, 160. steppe, st. vb. VI, 162. j/fr^, wk. vb. 166. sterue, st. vb. Ill, 158. stinge, st. vb. Ill, 159. stod, see stoude. stgleu, see .tf|/£. stonde, st. vb. VI, 162. storuen, see sterue. straugkte, see strecche. strecche, wk. vb. II, 173. streighte, see strecche. Stress, grades 0^235-251; stress- lengthening, 52; stress of O.Fr. words, 90 (5) ; word-stress, 238- 248; sentence-stress, 249-251. striue, st. vb. I, 154. Subject, repeated, 189; unex- pressed, 188. Subjunctive, hypothetical notion expressed by, 221 ; uses of, 219- 223. Substantive verb, inflection of, 186, 1. Substantive use of adjective, 196. Subtractions from the normal verse, 260. such, see swich. suffice, wk. vb. I, 168. swal, see swelle. swelle, st. vb. Ill, 158. szugre, st. vb. VI, 162. swich, inflection of, 152. s?uimme, st. vb. Ill, 159. swinke, st. vb. Ill, 159. swollen, see swelle. swgren, see swgre. syen, see sen. Syncope of unstressed syllables, 267-273. INDEX CV11 t, 4- j sound, development of in N.E., 39. take, st. vb. VI, 162. taught, see tiche. tiche, wk. vb. II, 173. telle, wk. vb. II, 173. Temporal particles, subjunctive with, 223. Tenses, uses of, 224-227. tire, st. vb. IV, 160. th (}?), voiced and voiceless, 8; assimilation of, 85 (c), 87; loss of intervocalic, 85 (a). thar, inflection of, 185, 3. that, added to adverbs, 232. thenke, wk. vb. II, 173. ther, relative, 229; repetitive, 230. thilke, 148. thg, plural of demonstrative pro- noun, 136. thoughte, see thenke, thynke. thresshe, st. inf. Ill, 158. thriue, inf. 154. throwe, VII, 163. thurfte, see thar. thynke, wk. vb. II, 173. tpk, see take. tglde, see telle. u, developments of in N.E., 19, 22; < O.E. w, 74; representation of, 6. u, < O.E. guttural vowel + g, 70 (d) ; development of in N.E., 20, 77 (2), 77 (4) ; written ou, 6. ii, (S.W.) < O.V.y, 63. u (Fr.), development of in N. E, 20, 21; written ew in M.E., 90 (6). ugh (ough) 1811, 1817, 1967. THE PROLOGUE Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed euery veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour ; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 5 Inspired hath in euery holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halue cours yronne, And smale fowles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye, 10 So priketh hem nature in hir corages ; Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes. To feme halwes kowthe in sondry londes, And specially from euery shires ende 15 Of Engelond to Caunturbury they wende, The hooly blisful martir for to seke, That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. Bifil that in that seson on a day In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay 20 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage I. Gg does not begin until v. 37. The variants marked H2 (MS., Harl. 1758) supply its place up to that point. Co begins at v. 73; up to that point the variants are from Se' (Bodleian, Arch Selden, B. 14). 8. a half. 9. a foweles. 10. El H 2 (Co Pe eyghe) eye, H4 Ln yhe (El has same mistake in 1096, cp. § 69, c). 14. Se seme for feme. 18. Se Ln omit 2d that. 19. Hn H4 H2 Ln bifel, see § 163; other MSS. sesoun, see § 6. 2 THE PROLOGUE [A 22-51 To Caunterbury with ful deuout corage, At nyght was come in to that hostelrye Wei nyne and twenty in a compaignye Of sondry folk, by auenture y-falle 25 In felaweshipe ; and pilgrimes were they alle, That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde. The chambres and the stables weren wyde, And wel we weren esed atte beste. And, shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30 So hadde I spoken with hem euerychon, That I was of hir felaweshipe anon ; And made forward erly for to ryse To take oure wey ther, as I yow deuyse; But nathelees, whil I haue tyme and space, 35 Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun Of ech of hem so as it semed me, And whiche they were and of what degree, 40 And eek in what array that they were inne ; And at a Knyght than wol I first bigynne. A Knyght ther was and that a worthy man, That, fro the tyme that he first bigan To riden out, he loued chiualrie, 45 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, And euere honoured for his worthynesse. 50 At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne ; 23. FA were for was. 24. Pe Ln on for in. 28. e omits 2d the. 29. e omits we. 40. H4 weren. 49. Hn H4 omit 2d in. ^52-So] THE PROLOGUE - 3 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Abouen alle nacions in Pruce. In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce — No cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55 In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be Of Algezir and riden in Belmarye. At Lyeys was he and at Satalye, Whan they were wonne ; and in the Grete See At many a noble armee hadde he be. 60 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo. This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also Somtyme with the lord of Palatye 65 Agayn another hethen in Turkye ; And eueremoore he hadde a souereyn prys. And though that he were worthy, he was wys, And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. He neuere yet no vileynye ne sayde 70 In al his lyf vnto no maner wight. He was a verray par fit, gentil knyght. But for to tellen yow of his array, His hors were goode, but he was nat gay ; Of fustian he wered a gypon 75 Al bismotered with his habergeon, For he was late y-come from his viage, And wente for to doon his pilgrymage. • % With hym ther was his sone, a yong Squier, A louyere and a lusty bacheler, &o 56. H4 omits eek. 57. H4 at for of. 58. Gg Ln leyeys. 59 fol- lows 60 in H 4 . 60. H4ariue; Gg aryue. 62. Hn foghten. 68. H4 e was for were; H4 omits that. 70. Hn ne for he and he for ne. 73. e omits But. 74. El weren, H4 Ln was for were; Hn H4 ne was. 76. Gg besloteryd. 77. H 4 Hn comen, Gg Ln come. 80. Hn Gg louere. 4 THE PROLOGUE \A 81-108 With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Of his stature he was of euene lengthe, And wonderly delyuere and of greet strengthe ; And he hadde been somtyme in chyuachie 85 In Flaundres, in Artoys and Pycardie, And born hym weel, as of so litel space, In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Embrouded was he, as it were a meede Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and reede ; 90 Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day ; He was as fressh as is the monthe of May. Short was his gowne with sleues longe and wyde ; Wei koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde \ He koude songes make and wel endite, 95 Iuste and eek daunce and weel purtreye and write. So hoote he louede that by nyghtertale He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. Curteis he was, lowely and seruysable, And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100 A Yeman hadde he and seruantz namo At that tyme, for hym liste ride soo, And he was clad in cote and hood of grene. A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene, Vnder his belt he bar ful thriftily — 105 Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly, His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe — And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. 82. Hn H4 he was of age. 84. H4 e and greet of s. 86. Gg H4 Pe Ln in Pycardie. 87. Hn H4 as in/or as of. 89. Co Pe em- broydid. 91. Gg Ln floutynge. 92. El in for is. 94. H4 wel cowde he for faire. 95. Hn H4 wel m. and en. 98. a Gg Pe Ln slepte (see § 163). 101. Hn he hadde. 10S. II4 e hond (see § 61). A 109-137] THE PROLOGUE 5 A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage. Of woodecraft wel koude he al the vsage. no Vpon his arm he baar a gay bracer, And by his syde a svverd and a bokeler, And on that oother syde a gay daggere Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere ; A Cristophre on his brest of siluer sheene. 115 An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene : A forster was he soothly, as I gesse. Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse, That of hir smylyng was fill symple and coy ; Hire gretteste ooth was but ' By seinte Loy.' 120 And she was cleped Madame Eglentyne. Ful weel she soong the seruice dyuyne, Entuned in hir nose ful semely, And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe, 125 For Frenssh of Parys was to hire vnknowe. At mete wel y- taught was she with alle : She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe ; Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe 130 That no drope ne fille vpon hire brest ; In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. Hire ouer lippe wyped she so clene, That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene Of grece, when she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. And sikerly she was of greet desport, 115. El Gg Christophere. 117. Co Pe foster. 120. MSS. seint (see § 115 (d) ). 121. H 4 e Englentyne. 123. Gg so. 131. Hn H 4 omit ne; a brist. 132. a Gg list; Hn omits ful, H4 d\for ful m. 134. H^ omits ther. 6 THE PROLOGUE [A 138-166 And ful plesaunt and amyable of port, And peyned hire to countrefete cheere Of Court, and to been estatlich of manere, 140 And to ben holden digne of reuerence. But, for to speken of hire conscience, She was so charitable and so pitous She wolde wepe, if that she sawe a mous Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145 Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel breed ; But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte ; And al was conscience and tendre herte^ 150 Ful semyly hir wyrnpul pynched was ; Hire nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, Hir mouth ful smal and ther-to softe and reed ; But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed, It was almoost a spanne brood I trowe, 155 For, hardily, she was nat vndergrowe. Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war ; Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene, And ther-on heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, 160 On which ther was first write a crowned A, And after Amor vincit omnia. Another Nonne with hir hadde she, That was hire Chapeleyne, and Preestes thre. A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, 165 An outridere, that louede venerie ; 140. Hn H 4 y to hauen an office. 296. H4 omits gay. 297. H4 al hough he were. 298. Gg )?at for yet and omits he; Co inserts a after but. 299. H 4 might gete and his fr. sende. 300. El H4 his/o s. 303. Gg kep for cure; H4 omits 2d moost, 12 THE PROLOGUE . 0*304-330 Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, And that was seyd in forme and reuerence, 305 And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence ; Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche. A Sergeant of the Lawe war and wys, That often hadde been at the Parvys, 310 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. Discreet he was and of greet reuerence — He semed swich, hise wordes weren so wise. Iustice he was ful often in Assise By patente and by pleyn commissioun. - 315 For his science and for his heigh renoun, Of fees and robes hadde he many oon : So greet a purchasour was nowher noon ; Al was fee symple to hym in effect, His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. 320 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, And yet he semed bisier than he was. In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That from the tyme of kyng William were falle ; Ther-to he koude endite and make a thyng, 325 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng ; And euery statut koude he pleyn by rote. He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote, Girt with a ceint of silk with barres smale ; Of his array telle I no lenger tale., 330 305. H4 Al ]?at he spak it was of heye prudence; Hn spoke for seyd. 306. H4 gret for hy. 307. H4 manere for vertu. 309. Hn H4 omit the. 311. e hat for ther. 318. Co neuer for nowher. 324. Hn omits the; H4 that kyng for of k. W.; El yfalle. 326. a pynchen. ^33i-35 8 ] THE PROLOGUE 1 3 A Frankeleyn was in his compaignye. Whit was his berd as is the dayesye, Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. Wei loued he by the morvve a sop in wyn ; To lyuen in delit was euere his wone, 335 For he was Epicurus owene sone, That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Was verraily felicitee parfit. An housholder, and that a greet, was he : Seint lulian he was in his contree ; 340 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon ; A better enuyned man was nowher noon. Withoute bake-mete was neuer his hous Of fissh and flessh, and that so plenteuous It snevved in his hous of mete and drynke. 345 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke After the sondry sesons of the yeer, So chaunged he his mete and his soper. Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe And many a breem and many a luce in stewe. 350 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Poynaunt and sharpe and redy al his geere. His table dormant in his halle alway, Stood redy couered al the longe day. At sessiouns ther was he l Lord and Sire ' ; 355 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. An anlaas, and a gipser al of silk, Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk. 332. El heed/^r berd and a for the. 334. H 4 in for by; H4 sop °f w - 335- e euere was; H 4 was al. 338. Mss. except H 4 verray; H4 verraily. 339. H 4 e houshalder. 340. El was he. 341. Gg Ln alwey. 342. a Co Ln neuere for nowher (cf. 318). 344. Co Pe Il 4 fleissh. 349, 350. a muwe, stuwe. 351. e omits if. 357. e anelas. 14 THE PROLOGUE 0*359-385 A shirreue hadde he been, and a countour. Was nowher such a worthy vauasour. 360 An Haberdassher, and a Carpenter, A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapycer, — And they were clothed alle in o lyueree Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee. Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was ; 365 Hir knyues were chaped noght with bras, But al with siluer ; wroght ful clene and weel Hir girdles and hir pouches euerydeel. Wei semed ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. , 370 Euerich for the wisdom that he kan Was shaply for to been an alderman. For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, And eek hir wyues wolde it wel assente, And elles certeyn were they to blame ; 375 It is ful fair to been y-cleped ' Madame/ And goon to vigilies al bifore, And haue a mantel roialliche y-bore. A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones To boille the chicknes with the marybones, 38a And poudre-marchant tart, and galyngale ; Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale ; He koude rooste and sethe and broille and frye, Maken mortreux and wel bake a pye. But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, 385 359. a Gg omit 2 d a. 363. H4 weren with vss eeke clothed, etc. 364. All but H4 a gret. 371. H4 euery man for euerich. 376. All but a cleped. 380. H4 omits 1st the. 383. El Gg H4 boille^ H 4 omits 1st two and' j. 384. Gg mortereus. 385. Gg H4 semede for thoughte. .4386-412] THE PROLOGUE 1 5 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he ; For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. A Shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste, For aught I vvoot he was of Dertemouthe. He rood vpon a rouncy as he kouthe, 390 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee ; A dagger hangynge on a laas hadde he Aboute his nekke vnder his arm adoun. The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun ; And certeinly he was a good felawe. 395 Ful many a draught e of wyn hadde he y-drawe Fro Burdeuxward whil that the chapman sleep. Of nyce conscience took he no keep : If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond, By water he sente hem hoom to euery lond. 400 But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes, His stremes and his daungers hym bisides, His herberwe and his moone, his lodemenage, Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage. Hardy he was, and wys to vndertake ; 405 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake ; He knew alle the hauenes, as they were, From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere, And euery cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne. His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne. 410 With vs ther was a Doctour of Phisik, In all this world ne was ther noon hym lik, 387. Gg at the beste; H 4 he ma.de/or that made he. 396. Co he hadde; H4 a e drawe. 397. e omits that. 400. Gg Ln by /or to. 402. e daunger. 404. Hn H4 e (^r. Pe) was/^r nas. 407. H4 knew wel. 408. H4 Scotlandyfrr Gootl.; e Cape de fynystere. 1 6 THE PROLOGUE [ A 413-442 To speke of phisik and of surgerye. For he was grounded in astronomye, He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel 415 In houres by his magyk natureel ; Wei koude he fortunen the ascendent Of his ymages for his pacient. He knew the cause of euery maladye, Were it of hoot, or cold, or moyste, or drye, 420 And where they engendred and of what humour. He was a verray parfit praktisour \ The cause y-knowe and of his harm the roote, Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries 425 To sende him drogges and his letuaries, For ech of hem made oother for to wynne — Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne. Wei knew he the olde Esculapius And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus, 430 Olde Ypocras, Haly and Galyen, Serapion, Razis and Auycen, Auerrois, Damascien and Constantyn, Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertyn. Of his diete mesurable was he, 435 For it was of no superfluitee, But of greet norissyng and digestible. His studie was but litel on the Bible. In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al Lyned with taffata and with sendal ; 440 And yet he was but esy of dispence. He kepte that he wan in pestilence ; 419. El eueriche. 420. Gg omits 1st of, Co of h. of c, Ln of c- of h., H4 of c. or hete. 421. Ifn it for they, e omits they, Gg engendere. 426. Hn Gg his dr.; II4 dragges. .4 443-470 THE PROLOGUE lj For gold in phisik is a cordial, Therfore he louede gold in special. A Good wif was ther of biside Bathe, 445 But she was som del deef, and that was scathe. Of clooth makyng she hadde swich an haunt She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon : 450 And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, That she was out of alle charitee. Hir couerchiefs ful fyne were of ground, I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound, That on a Sonday weren vpon hir heed. 455 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, Ful streite y-teyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe ; Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. She was a worthy wo mm an al hir lyue ; Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyue - 460 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe (But ther of nedeth nat to speke as nowthe). And thries hadde she been at Ierusalem ; She hadde passed many a straunge strem : At Rome she hadde been and at Boloigne, 465 In Galice at Seint lame and at Coloigne. She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye. Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. Vpon an ambler e esily she sat, Y-wympled wel, and on hir heed an hat 470 As brood as is a bokeler or a targe ; 450. Gg e tofore. 45 1 e omits so. 452. H4 Jeanne out. 453. El H 4 weren. 460. H 4 e atte (Ln att J>e). 467. Gg H4 € meche. 469. Gg H 4 ful esily; H4 omits she. 1 8 THE PROLOGUE [,4 472-498 A foot mantel aboute hir hipes large, And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe. In felaweship wel koude she laughe and carpe Of remedies of loue she knew per chaunce, 475 For she koude of that art the olde daunce. A good man was ther of religioun, And was a Poure Persoun of a Toun, But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk ; He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 480 That Cristes Gospel trewely wolde preche : Hise parisshens deuoutly wolde he teche. Benygne he was, and wonder diligent, And in aduersitee ful pacient, And swich he was y-preued ofte sithes. 485 Ful looth were hym to cursen for hise tithes, But rather wolde he yeuen, out of doute, Vnto his poure parisshens aboute Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce ; He koude in litel thyng haue suffisaunce. 490 Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder, But he ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder, In siknesse nor in meschief to visite The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, Vpon his feet and in his hond a staf. 495 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, That firste he wroghte and afterward he taughte : Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte, 476. e colde (Pe o?nits) for olde. 480. e and a cl. 481. H4 gladly for trewely. 485. MSS exc. H 4 preued. 489. Gg e omit eek. 495. El hand. 497. El Pe afterward that, H4 after |?at. A499S 2 Sl THE PROLOGUE 19 And this figure he added eek therto That " If gold ruste what shal iren doo? " 500 For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, No wonder is a lewed man to ruste ; And shame it is, if a prest take keep, A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. Wei oghte a preest ensample for to yiue 505 By his clennesse how that his sheep sholde lyue. He sette nat his benefice to hyre And leet his sheep encombred in the myre, And ran to Londoun, vnto Seinte Poules, To seken hym a chauntrie for soules, 510 Or with a bretherhed to been withholde, But dvvelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie ; He was a shepherde, and noght a mercenarie. And though he hooly were and vertuous, 515 He was to synful man nat despitous, Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, But in his techyng discreet and benygne ; To drawen folk to heuene by fairnesse, By good ensample, this was his bisynesse : 520 But it were any persone obstinat What so he were, of heigh or lough estat, Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys ; He waited after no pompe and reuerence, 525 499- Gg Ln omit eek, H4 3k. 500. Hn H 4 Ln sholde for shal. 505. El Gg Pe yeue. 506. Gg Ln omit that. 508. Gg e acombred. 509. Co H4 seynte {perhaps by accidenf), others seint. 510. H4 e chaunterie. 512. El dwelleth, kepeth. 514. H4 no mercenarie. 519. Hn with f., Gg H4 clennesse for fairnesse. 520. H4 omits this. 521. Gg But if jit; Pe H4 eny, Gg Co ony. 523. H4 € nones. 524. e non es; Hn H4 ther for that, Gg trowe neuere non is. 525. Gg H4 ne reu. 20 THE PROLOGUE [^526-551 Ne maked him a spiced conscience, But Cristes loore and hise Apostles twelue He taughte ; but first he folwed it hym selue. With hym ther was a Plowman, was his brother, That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother ; 530 A trewe swynkere and a good was he, Lyuynge in pees and parfit charitee. God loued he best with al his hoole herte, At alle tymes thogh him gamed or smerte, And thanne his neighebour right as hymselue. 535 He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delue, For Cristes sake, for every poure wight, , Withouten hire, if it laye in his myght. Hise tithes payede he ful faire and wel, Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. 540 In a tabard he rood vpon a mere. Ther was also a Reue and a Millere, A Somnour and a Pardoner also, A Maunciple and myself, — ther were namo. The Millere was a stout carl for the nones, 545 Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones ; That proued wel, for ouer al ther he cam, At wrastlynge he wolde haue alwey the ram. He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, Ther was no dore that he noolde heue of harre, 55c Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. 528. H4 and for but; e in for it. 529. Gg that was, H4 omits was - 533- C° L R omit hoole; H4 trewe for hoole and omits with. 534. El Pe Ln he for him. 537. Hn H 4 with for for. 538. El Co Pe lay. 539. a Ln paide. ■ 544. e nare, H4 was for were. 548. H 4 e awey; H4 here for haue. 549. e omits brood. 550. El Gg nas; El Pe Ln ne wolde, Gg wolde. 551. H4 Ln with for at. ^ 55 2 -579] THE PROLOGUE 21 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed And therto brood, as though it were a spade. Vpon the cop right of his nose he hade A werte, and theron stood a tuft of herys, 555 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys ; His nosethirles blake were and wyde ; A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde ; His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys ; He was a Iangler and a goliardeys, 560 And that was moost of synne and harlotries. Wei koude he stelen corn and tollen thries — And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee ! A whit cote and a blew hood wered he. A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne, 565 And therwithal he broghte vs out of towne. A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple, Of v/hich achatours myghte take exemple For to be wise in byynge of vitaille ; For, whether that he payde or took by taille, 570 Algate he wayted so in his achaat That he was ay biforn and in good staat. Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace The wisdom of an heep of lerned men ! 575 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten, That were of lawe expert and curious, Of whiche ther were a doseyn in that hous Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond 555. El Ln toft. 558. Co omits 2d a {the repetition of the a may be a mistake of the original scribe). 559. H4 wyde for greet. 565. Gg e couthe. 570. a wheither, Gg where. 577. a weren. 578. El weren, e was; El duszeyne. 22 THE PROLOGUE [^580-607 Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580 To make hym lyue by his propre good In honour dettelees (but he were wood) Or lyue as scarsly as hym list desire ; And able for to helpen al a shire In any caas that myghte falle or happe — 585 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe. The Reue was a sclendre colerik man. His berd was shaue as nygh as euer he kan ; His heer was by his erys ful round y-shorn, His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn ; 590 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene. Wei koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne, Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne. Wei wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn 595 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn. His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye, His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye Was hoolly in this reues gouernyng, And by his couenant yaf the rekenyng 600 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age. Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage, There nas baillif, ne hierde, noroother hyne, That he ne knew his sleighte and his couyne ; They were adrad of hym as of the deeth. 605 His wonyng was ful faire vpon an heeth, With grene trees shad wed was his place. 581. Elmaken. 588. El ny; Iln II 4 neigh. 589. H 4 Ln omit ful. 590. El doked. 593. Gg e couthe; e ox for and. 594. El otfor on. ' 602. H4 e couthe. 603. Hn Gg omit 1st ne; Gg Pe H4 i\q for nor. 604. H4 they for he. 607. Gg H4 I-schadewid. /? 608-634] THE PROLOGUE 23 He koude bettre than his lord purchace. Ful riche he was a-stored pryuely : His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly 610 To yeue and lene hym of his owene good And haue a thank and yet a coote and hood. In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster, He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. This reue sat vpon a ful good stot, 615 That was a pomely grey and highte Scot ; A long surcote of pers vpon he hade, And by his syde he baar a rusty blade. Of Northfolk was this Reue of which I telle, Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute, And euere he rood the hyndreste of oure route. A Somonour was ther with vs in that place, That had a fyr reed cherubynnes face, For sawcerleem he was, with eyen narwe ; 625 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, With scaled browes blake and piled berd : Of his visage children were aferd. Ther nas quyk-siluer, lytarge, ne brymstoon, Boras, ceruce, ne oille of Tartre noon, 630 Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte, That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white, Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. Wel loued he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, 612. El H4 omit jst and; El gowne for coote; H4 a cote and eek %.nfor yet a c. and. 613. Hn H4 lerned hadde. 616. El Co Pe al for a. 617. H4 blew for pers; Gg H4 e hadde; Hn haade. 618. H4 bladde. 620. e insert it before Bald. 623. H4 sompnour. 624. € fyri for fyr reed. 627. H4 e scalled. 630. e orsure for ceruce. 632. Elthey^rhis. 633. € in for on. 24 THE PROLOGUE [A 635-663 And for to drynken strong wyn reed as blood : 635 Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn. A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, That he had lerned out of som decree, — 640 No wonder is, he herde it al the day, And eek ye knowen well how that a lay Kan clepen " Watte " as wel as kan the pope. But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophic ; 645 Ay "Question quid juris?" wolde he crie. He was a gentil harlot and a kynde ; A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde. He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn A good felawe to haue his concubyn 650 A twelf monthe, and excuse hym atte fulle. Ful priuely a fynch eek couthe he pulle ; And if he foond owher a good felawe, He wolde techen him to haue noon awe In swich caas of the Ercedekenes curs, 655 But if a mannes soule were in his purs ; For in his purs he sholde punysshed be : 1 Purs is the Ercedekenes helle,' seyde he. But wel I woot he lyed right in dede : Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, 660 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng sauith, And also war him of a Significavit. In daunger hadde he at his owene gise 637, 638. Hn omits. 642. e knowen it. 648. H 4 nowhery^r noght. 650. H4 omits to. 652. El H4 Ln And for Ful; e eek a f. ; a koude. 655. H4 such a. 657. a ypunysshed. 659. Gg H4 lyeth. 660. a Gg Pe omit him; H4 to drede. A 664-690] THE PROLOGUE 2$ The yonge girles of the diocise, And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. 665 A gerland hadde he set vpon his heed As greet as it were for an ale-stake ; A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake. With hym ther rood a gentil Pardoner Of Rounciuale, his freend and his compeer, 670 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome. Ful loude he soong "Com hider, lone, to me/" This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun, Was never trompe of half so greet a soun. This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, 675 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex ; By ounces henge hise lokkes that he hadde, And therwith he his shuldres ouerspradde ; But thynne it lay by colpons 0011 and oon ; But hood for Iolitee wered he noon, 680 For it was trussed vp in his walet. Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe let ; Discheuelee, saue his cappe, he rood al bare. Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare, A vernycle hadde he sowed vpon his cappe ; 685 His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe Bretful of pardoun, comen from Rome al hoot. A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. No berd hadde he, ne neuer sholde haue, As smothe it was as it were late shaue ; 690 665. € what was. 669. Gg I o\y for gentil. 672. Gg loue come hedir come, Pe come /or to me, Co H4 tome. 680. H4 ne wered. 686. All but H4 omit lay (apparently a correction in H4. The omitted word was probably was; cp. H4 variant to v. 711.) 688. Gg Co Pe omit hath, Pe it were for hath, H4 eny for hath a. 689. H4 Co Pe ne hadde. 690. Hn H4 yshaue. 26 THE PROLOGUE [^691-720 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare. But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware Ne was ther swich another pardoner ; For in his male he hadde a pilvvebeer Which that he seyde was oure lady veyl ; 695 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl That Seinte Peter hadde whan that he wente Vpon the see til Ihesu Crist hym hente. He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones, And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond A poure person dwellynge vpon lond, Vpon a day he gat hym moore m on eye Than that the person gat in monthes tweye ; And thus with feyned flaterye and Iapes 705 He made the person and the peple his apes. But trewely to tellen atte laste, He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste ; Wei koude he rede a lessoun or a storie, But alderbest he song an offertorie ; 710 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe He moste preche and wel affile his tonge To wynne siluer, as he ful wel koude ; Therefore he song the murierly and loude. >^ Now have I toold you soothly in a clause 715 Thestaat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause Why that assembled was this compaignye In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720 697. Mss. seynt. 705. e flatering. 711. H 4 omits wiste. 713. Gg e omit ful; H4 right w. 714. e so meriely, H4 ful meriely. 715. El H 4 shortly for soothly. 718. El as for at. ,4 721-749] THE PROLOGUE 27 How that we baren vs that ilke nyght, Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght ; And after wol I telle of our viage And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage. But first, I pray yow of youre curteisye, 725 That ye narette it nat my vileynye, Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere, Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely ; For this ye knowen al so well as I, 730 Who so shal telle a tale after a man He moote reherce as neigh as euere he kan Euerich a word, if it be in his charge, Al speke he neuer so rudeliche and large ; Or ellis he moot telle his tale vntrewe, 735 Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe. He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother; He moot as wel seye o word as another. Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ, And wel ye woot no vileynye is it ; 740 Eek Plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede, ' The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.' Also I prey yow to foryeue it me Al haue I nat set folk in hir degree Heere in this tale as that they sholde stonde ; 745 My wit is short, ye may wel vnderstonde. Greet chiere made oure hoost vs euerichon, And to the soper sette he vs anon ; He serued vs with vitaille at the beste : 721. Ggeberen. 726. H4 e ne rette. 732. El ny. 734. El or, H4 nefor and. 736. e thinges. 743. e omits to. 746. H4 thynney^r short. 749. El H4 And serued; e vitailles. 28 THE PROLOGUE [^750-778 Strong was the wyn and wel to drynke vs leste. 750 A semely man Oure Hooste was with-alle For to been a marchal in an halle. A large man he was with eyen stepe, A fairer burgeys is ther noon in Chepe, Boold of his speche and wys and well y-taught, 755 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught. Eek therto he was right a myrie man, And after soper pleyen he bigan, And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges, Whan that we hadde maad our rekenynges ; 760 And seyde thus : ' Now, lordynges, trevvely Ye been to me right welcome, hertely ; For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye At ones in this herberwe as is now ; 765 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how. And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. ' Ye goon to Canterbury — God yow speede, The blisful martir quite yow youre meede ! 770 And, wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye, Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye ; For trewely confort ne myrthe is noon To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon ; And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 775 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort. And if yow liketh alle by oon assent For to stonden at my Iuggement 750. e omits to. 752. H4 to han ben. 754. a was for is. 756. Hn e manhode, II4 manhede; a Pe Ln lakked, H4 lakkede he. 757-964. missing from (lg; Ms. Sloane 168 j [67] supplies its place in Six-Text. 764. H4 ne saugh for saugh nat. 772. II4 talken for talen. 774. El the, Ln any for a, I In omits. 778. H4 Now for to. -4 779-8c>7] THE PROLOGUE 29 And for to vverken as I shal yow seye, To-morwe whan ye riden by the vveye, 780 Now by my fader soule that is deed But ye be myrie, I wol yeue yow myn heed ! Hoold vp youre hondes wi thou ten moore speche.' Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche ; Vs thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 785 And graunted hym withouten moore auys, And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste. ' Lordynges/ quod he, ' now herkneth for the beste, But taak it nought, I pray yow, in desdeyn. This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790 That ech of yow to shorte with oure weye In this viage shal telle tales tweye, To Caunterburyward, I mene it so, And homward he shal tellen othere two, Of auentures that whilom han bifalle. 795 And which of yow that bereth hym beste of alle, That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas Tales of best sentence and moost solaas, Shal haue a soper at oure aller cost Heere in this place sittynge by this post 800 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury. And for to make yow the moore mury I wol myseluen goodly with yow ryde Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde; And who so wole my Iuggement withseye 805 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye. And if ye vouche-sauf that it be so 781. SI Now so god saue me at my most nede. 782. H4 smytefc of for I — yow. 783. El H 4 Co hond. 785. SI Pe to wys. 791. Co H4 your w. 801, 802. H4 Caunterbery, mery. 803. a my self; H4 gladly for goodly. 30 THE PROLOGUE [^808-836 Tel me anon withouten wordes mo, And I wol erly shape me therfore.' This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore 810 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also That he would vouche-sauf for to do so, And that he wolde been oure gouernour And of our tales luge and reportour, And sette a soper at a certeyn pris, 815 And we wol reuled been at his deuys In heigh and lough. And thus by oon assent We been acorded to his Iuggement. And thervpon the wyn was fet anon ; We dronken, and to reste wente echon, - 820 Withouten any lenger taryynge. Amorwe, whan that day began to sprynge, Vp roos oure Hoost and was oure aller cok, And gadrede vs togidre alle in a flok. And forth we riden a litel moore than paas, 825 Vnto the wateryng of Seint Thomas ; And there oure Hooste gan his hors areste And seyde, ' Lordynges herkneth if yow leste ; Ye woot youre foreward, and it yow recorde : If ' euen-song and morwe-song accorde/ 830 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. As euere mote I drynke wyn or ale, Whoso be rebel to my Iuggement Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent ! Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne. 835 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne. 811. SI e (Ln praieyng) preien. 816. H4 Pe wolde. 818. SI e thtfor his. 822. SI e the /or that; El gan for to, SI Pe Ln gan to. 824. Hn togydres; Hn SI Pe Ln omit alle. 827. all but Pe hoost; a H4 began. 829. H4 e insert I before it making an Alexan- drine. 831. H4 ferst a tale. 836. H 4 SI Pe Ln omit He. ^ 837-858] THE PROLOGUE 31 Sire Knygbt/ quod he, * my mayster and my lord, Now draweth cut for that is myn accord. Cometh neer,' quod he, ' my lady Prioresse, And ye sire Clerk lat be your shamefastnesse 840 Ne studieth noght ; ley hond to, euery man.' Anon to drawen euery wight bigan, And shortly for to tellen as it was, Were it by auenture or sort or cas, The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght, 845 Of which ful blithe and glad was euery wyght, And telle he moste his tale as was resoun By foreward and by composicioun As ye han herd ; what nedeth wordes mo ? And whan this goode-man saugh that it was so, 850 As he that wys was and obedient To kepe his foreward by his free assent, He seyde, ' Syn I shal bigynne the game, What welcome be the cut a Goddes name ! Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.' 855 And with that word we ryden forth oure weye ; And he bigan with right a myrie cheere His tale anon, and seyde as ye may here. 839. SI Pe Ln nere, Co nerre, H4 ner. 846. H4 Pe glad and blij>e. 847. e as it was r. 850. Hn omits so. 854. Hn in, Ln one for a. 858. El in this manere, H4 right in Hs manereyfrr as ye. KNIGHTES TALE HEERE BIGYNNETH THE KNYGHTES TALE Whilom, as olde stories tellen vs, Ther was a due that highte Theseus ; 860 Of Atthenes he was lord and gouernour, And in his tyme swich a conquerour That gretter was ther noon vnder the sonne ; Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne. What with his wysdom and his chiualrie 865 He conquered al the regne of Femenye^ That whilom was y-cleped Scithia ; And weddede the queene Ypolita, And broghte hir hoom with hym in his contree With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee, 870 And eek hir yonge suster Emelye. And thus with victorie and with melodye Lete I this noble due to Atthenes ryde, And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde. And certes, if it nere to long to heere, 875 I wolde haue told fully the manere How wonnen was the regne of Femenye By Theseus and by his chiualrye ; And of the grete bataille for the nones 859. e whilom was. 860. Pe A worjn for Ther was a. 863. 6 omits ther. 865. El H 4 That for What. 868. a Pe Ln wedded. 869. Pe Ln to for in. 870. All but a muche. 871. El faire. 876. El wolde vow haue, etc. (cp. 1> 4489 where El inserts yow), H4 told vow fully, etc. 32 ^880-910] KNIGHTES TALE 33 Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones ; 880 And how asseged was Ypolita, The faire, hardy queene of Scithia, And of the feste that was at hir weddynge, And of the tempest at hir hoom-comynge. But al that thyng I moot as now forbere ; 885 I haue, God woot, a large feeld to ere, And wayke been the oxen in my plough ; The remenant of the tale is long ynough, I wol nat letten eek noon of this route. Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute, 890 And lat se now who shal the soper wynne ; And ther I lefte I wol ayeyn bigynne. This due of whom I make mencioun Whan he was comen almost to the toun, In al his wele and in his mooste pride, 895 He was war, as he caste his eye aside, Where that ther kneled in the heighe weye A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye Ech after oother, clad in clothes blake ; But swich a cry and swich a wo they make 900 That in this world nys creature lyuynge That herde swich another waymentynge. And of this cry they nolde neuere stenten, Til they the reynes of his brydel henten. ' What folk been ye, that at myn hom-comynge 905 Perturben so my feste with criynge ? ' Quod Theseus, * Haue ye so greet enuye Of myn honour that thus compleyne and crye? Or who hath yow mysboden or offended ? And telleth me if it may been amended, 910 889. H4 lette and al |>is r. 894. a come; El H4 vnto. 895. e omits 2d in. 897. El omits heighe. 903. H4 that c. ne wolde }>ey s. D 34 KNIGHTES TALE [^911-938 And why that ye been clothed thus in blak ? ' The eldeste lady of hem alle spak Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere, That it was routhe for to seen and heere. She seyde, ' Lord, to whom fortune hath yiuen 915 Victorie and as a conqueror to lyuen, Nat greueth vs youre glorie and youre honour, But we biseken mercy and socour. Haue mercy on oure wo and oure distresse, Som drope of pitee thurgh thy gentillesse 920 Vpon vs wrecched wommen lat thou falle. For certes, lord, ther is noon of vs alle That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene ; Now be we caytyues as it is wel seene, Thanked be Fortune and hir false wheel 925 That noon estat assureth to be weel. And certes, lord, to abyden youre presence, Heere in this temple of the goddesse Clemence We haue ben waitynge al this fourtenyght ; Now help vs, lord, sith it is in thy myght. 930 I wrecche, which that wepe and waille thus, Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus, That starf at Thebes ; cursed be that day ! And alle we that been in this array And maken al this lamentacioun, 935 We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun, Whil that the seege ther aboute lay. And yet now the olde Creon, weylaway ! • 911. H 4 clad bus al in bl. 915. El H 4 And seyde; El Pe H 4 yeuen. 917. H4 omits 2d youre. 920. H4 youre g. 921. SI yow, Pe novve, Co Ln yzfor thou. 926. e ensureth. 928. El H4 the tern. 929. El H 4 Pe han. 930. e omits Now. 931. El criey^r waille. 932. SI Co Ln of for to. 933. Hn the day. 936. H 4 we leften, the toun. 937. e assege. A 939-968] KNIGHTES TALE 35 That lord is now of Thebes the citee, Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee, 94 o He, for despit and for his tirannye, To do the dede bodyes vileynye Of alle oure lordes whiche that been slawe, Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydravve, And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent, 945 Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent, But maketh houndes ete hem in despit/ And with that word withouten moore respit They fillen gruf and criden pitously, 'Haue on vs wrecched womraen som mercy, 950 And lat oure sorvve synken in thyn herte.' This gentil due doun from his courser sterte With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke. Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke Whan he saugh hem, so pitous and so maat, 955 That whilom weren of so greet estaat ; And in his armes he hem alle vp hente, And hem conforteth in ful good entente, And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght 960 Vpon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke, That al the peple of Grece sholde speke How Creon was of Theseus yserued As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserued. And right anoon withouten moore abood 965 His baner he desplayeth and forth rood To Thebesward, and al his hoost biside. No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride, 943. H 4 I-slawe. 944. El He hath. 955. SI Co Ln pite. 965. Gg begins again. SI extract ends with 964. 966. e displaied. 968. Gg e H 4 ner (Co Ln nerre). 36 KNIGHTES TALE [^969-997 Ne take his ese fully half a day, But onward on his wey that nyght he lay. 970 And sente anon Ypolita the queene, And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene, Vnto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle, And forth he rit ; ther is namoore to telle. The rede statue of Mars with spere and targe 975 So shyneth in his white baner large, That alle the feeldes glyteren vp and doun ; And by his baner born is his penoun Of gold ful riche, in which ther was y-bete The Mynotaur which that he slough in Crete. 980 Thus rit this due, thus rit this conquerour, And in his hoost of chiualrie the flour, Til that he cam to Thebes, and alighte Faire in a feeld ther as he thoughte to fighte. But shortly for to speken of this thyng, 985 With Creon, which that was of Thebes kyng, He faught, and slough hym manly as a knyght In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght ; And by assaut he wan the citee after, And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter; 990 And to the ladyes he restored agayn The bones of hir freendes that were slayn To doon obsequies as was tho the gyse. But it were al to longe for to deuyse The grete clamour and the waymentynge 995 That the ladyes made at the brennynge Of the bodies, and the grete honour 974. Hn Co nys. 977. Co Ln feelde. 978. Gg is born, Hn born was, H4 was b. 980. Hn e wan for slough. 983. Gg Co Pe come. 984. a omits to. 989. Gg e assent (? asseut) for assaut. 992. El H4 housbondesyftr freendes ; El weren. 993. H4 exequies. // 998-1026] KNIGHTES TALE 37 That Theseus, the noble conquerour, Dooth to the ladyes whan they from hym wente ; But shortly for to telle is myn entente. 1000 Whan that this worthy due, this Theseus, Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus, Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste, And dide with al the contree as hym leste. To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede, 1005 Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede, The pilours diden bisynesse and cure After the bataille and disconfiture. And so bifel that in the taas they founde, Thurgh-girt with many a greuous blody wounde, 1010 Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by, Bothe in oon armes wroght ful richely, Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon, And that oother knyght highte Palamon. Nat fully quyke, ne fully dede they were, 1015 But by here cote-armures and by hir gere The heraudes knewe hem best in special As they that weren of the blood roial Of Thebes, and of sustren two yborn. Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn, 1020 And han hem caried softe vnto the tente Of Theseus ; and he ful soone hem sente To Atthenes to dwellen in prisoun Perpetuelly, he nolde no raunsoun. And whan this worthy due hath thus ydon, 1025 He took his hoost and hoom he ryt anon, 999. e bodyes for ladyes. 1005,1009. H4 e cas for taas ; El e the b. 1008. Pe Ln the d. 1012. e armes same/^r oon a. 1016. Gg II4 armure. 1017. e self, H4 welfor best. 1020. e caas, H 4 chaas. 1022. El H4 ful s. he hem. 1024. e hem nolde he (Ln omits he) not r. 1025. H 4 And j?is d. whan he hadde thus. 1026. El rood. 38 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1027-1055 With laurer crowned as a conquerour ; And ther he lyueth in Ioye and in honour Terme of his lyf ; what nedeth wordes mo ? And in a tour in angwissh and in wo 1030 This Palamon and his felawe Arcite For euermoore; ther may no gold hem quite. This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day, Til it fil ones in a morvve of May, That Emelye, that fairer was to sene 1035 Than is the lylie vpon his stalke grene, And fressher than the May with floures newe, — For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe, I noot which was the fairer of hem two, -=r- Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040 She was arisen and al redy dight ; For May wole haue no slogardie a nyght. The sesoun priketh euery gentil herte And maketh it out of his slep to sterte, And seith, ' Arys and do thyn obseruaunce.' 1045 This maketh Emelye haue remembraunce To doon honour to May, and for to ryse. Yclothed was she fressh, for to deuyse : Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse. 1050 And in the gardyn at the sonne vp-riste She walketh vp and doun, and as hir liste She gadereth floures, party white and rede, To make a subtil gerland for hir hede, And as an aungel heuenysshly she soong. 1055 1029. El (!g omit his; Ellyue; H4 wolle 3c for nedeth. 1031. Hn € Dwellen this Palamon and eek Arcite. 1039. El Gg H4 fyner. 1040. H4 as sche was wont. 1042. El slogardrie. 1044. El H4 hym for it. 1045. e don May. 1046. El H4 maked. 1052. H4 wher for 2d and. io 55» H4 Pe heuenly. ,41056-1085] KNIGHTES TALE 39 The grete tour, that was so thikke and stroong, Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun (Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun, Of whiche I tolde yow and tellen shal), Was euene Ioynant to the gardyn wal 1060 Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge. Bright was the sonne and cleer in that mornynge, And Palarnon, this woful prisoner, As was his wone bi leue of his gayler, Was risen and romed in a chambre on heigh, 1065 In which he al the noble citee seigh, And eek the gardyn, ful of braunches grene, Ther as this fresshe Emelye the sheene Was in hire walk and romed vp and doun. This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun, 1070 Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro, And to hymself compleynynge of his wo That he was born ; ful ofte he seyde, ' Alias ! ' And so bifel, by auenture or cas, That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre 1075 Of iren greet and square as any sparre, He cast his eye vpon Emelya, And therwithal he bleynte and cride, ' A ! ' As though he stongen were vnto the herte. And with that cry Arcite anon vp sterte 1080 And seyde, ' Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee, That art so pale and deedly on to see? Why cridestow? who hath thee doon offence? For Goddes loue, taak al in pacience Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be ; 1085 1062. El H4 omit in; El Gg H4 morwenynge. 1063. El this Pal. 1066. Gg omits noble. 1070. Gg louere/^r prisoner. 1073. Gg Iforisthe; e omits 2d 'he. I077- H4 e even. 1083. Gg cryestow. 40 KNIGHTES TALE [^1086-1114 Fortune hath yeuen vs this aduersitee. Som wikke aspect or disposicioun Of Saturne, by sum constellacioun, Hath yeuen vs this, although we hadde it sworn ; So stood the heuene whan that we were born, 1090 We moste endure it, this is the short and playn.' This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn, * Cosyn, for sothe of this opinioun Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun ; This prison caused me nat for to crye, 1095 But I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye Into myn herte, that wol my bane be. The fairnesse of that lady that I see Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro, Is cause of al my criyng and my wo. uoo I noot wher she be womman or goddesse, But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.' And therwithal on knees doun he fil And seyde : ' Venus, if it be thy wil Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure U05 Bifore me, sorweful, wrecche creature, Out of this prisoun help that we may scape. And if so be my destynee be shape By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, Of oure lynage haue som compassioun mo That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye.' And with that word Arcite gan espye Wher as this lady romed to and fro ; And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so, 1087. Hn Gg Ln wikked. 1091. El omits it. 1095. Hn e omit for. 1096. El Ln eye. 1099. Pe Ln romyng. 1 106. H4 e wrecched. 1107. Co Pe mowe. 1107, 1108. El scapen, shapen. 1 108. H4 Co oure d. ^ 1115-1142] KNIGHTES TALE 41 That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, 1115 Arcite is hurt as moche as he, or moore. And with a syk he seyde pitously : 'The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh in the yonder place, And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace 1120 That I may seen hir atte leeste w r eye, I nam but deed \ ther nys namoore to seye.' This Palamon whan he tho wordes herde, Dispitously he looked and answerde, ' Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley ? * 1125 1 Nay,' quod Arcite, ' in ernest, by my fey ! God help me so, me list ful yuele pleye.' This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye. 1 It were to thee,' quod he, ' no greet honour, For to be fals ne for to be traitour 1130 To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother Y-sworn ful depe and ech of vs til oother, That neuere, for to dyen in the peyne, Til that the deeth departe shal vs tweyne, Neither of vs in loue to hyndre oother, 1135 Ne in noon oother cas, my leeue brother ; But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me In euery cas, and I shal forthren thee — This was thyn ooth and myn also certeyn, I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn. 1140 Thus artow of my conseil out of doute ; And now thow woldest falsly been aboute 1 1 17. ElH 4 Pesigh. 11 19. H 4 yonder in the. 1123. ejus wordes. 1125. Wheither is better written in v. 1101. 11 26. H 4 in good fey. 11 29. El H 4 It nere quod he to thee. 1134. El H 4 omit the, Ln til de)?e ha^e d. H37* € former more (? forther me misread as forthermo). ll 3&- El as for and; e forl?re J>e J^ore (for the sake of rhyme}. H39« Hn as for and. 42 KNIGHTES TALE [^1143-1171 To loue my lady whom I loue and serue, And euere shal til that myn herte sterue. Now certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so ; 1145 I loued hir first, and tolde thee my wo As to my conseil and my brother sworn To forthre me, as I haue toold biforn. For which thou art ybounden as a knyght To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght ; 1150 Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn.' This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn ; 1 Thow shalt,' quod he, ' be rather fals than I ; But thou art fals, I telle thee vttirly, Y ox par amour I loued hir first er thow. - 1155 What wiltow seyn? thou wistest nat yet now Wheither she be a womman or goddesse ! Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse, And myn is loue as to a creature ; For which I tolde thee myn auenture 1160 As to my cosyn and my brother sworn. I pose that thow louedest hir biforn, Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe, That 'Who shal yeue a louere any lawe? Loue is a gretter lawe, by my pan, 1165 Than may be yeue to any erthely man /' And therfore positif lawe and swich decree Is broke al day for loue in ech degree. A man moot nedes loue, maugree his heed ; He may nat fieen it, thogh he sholde be deed, 1170 Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf. 1 147. ElGgtomyb., H4 tob.yftrmy b. {But conseil may be a mistake for cosyn, cp. 1/3/, 1161.) 1 154. a And thou; e witterly, a outrely. 1 156. Hn H 4 wost; H 4 e it not. 1161. e to my b. 11 66. El of for to. 1 171. H4 or be sche widwe or wyf. ^u 7 2-i2oi] KNIGHTES TALE 43 And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf, To stonden in hir grace, namoore shal I ; For wel thou woost thyseluen verraily That thou and I ben dampned to prisoun 1175 Perpetuelly ; vs gayneth no raunsoun. We stryue as dide the houndes for the boon, They foughte al day and yet hir part was noon ; Ther cam a kyte, vvhil that they were so wrothe, And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. 1180 And therfore at the kynges court, my brother, Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother. Loue if thee list, for I loue and ay shal, And soothly, ieeue brother, this is al. Heere in this prisoun moote we endure 1185 And euerich of vs take his auenture.' Greet was the strif, and long, bitwix hem tweye, If that I hadde leyser for to seye ; But to theflect. It happed on a day, To telle it yow as shortly as I may, 1190 A worthy due, that highte Perotheus, That felawe was vnto due Theseus Syn thilke day that they were children lite, Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite, And for to pleye as he was wont to do ; 1195 For in this world he loued no man so, And he loued hym as tendrely agayn. So wel they louede, as olde bookes sayn, That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle, His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle — 1200 'But of that storie list me nat to write. 1 1 77. Co now as; e omit dide the, H4 doth the. Ix 79- e H4 com; El omits that, Gg omits so. 1189. e this eff. 1 192. El to, H4 to he for vnto. 1 195. El Gg won. 44 KNIGHTES TALE [A i 202-1 230 Due Perotheus loued wel Arcite And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere. And finally, at requeste and preyere Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun 1205 Due Theseus hym leet out of prisoun Frely to goon wher that hym liste oueral, In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal. This was the forward, pleynly for tendite, Bitvvixen Theseus and hym Arcite : 1210 That if so were that Arcite were founde Euere in his lif, by day or nyght or stounde, In any contree of this Theseus, And he were caught, it was acorded thus, - That with a svverd he sholde lese his heed. 1215 Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed ; But taketh his leue and homvvard he him spedde — Lat hym be war, his nekke lith to wedde. How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite ! The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte ; 1220 He wepeth, wayleth, crieth pitously ; To sleen hymself he waiteth priuely. He seyde, ' Alias that day that I was born ! Now is my prisoun worse than biforn ; Now is me shape eternally to dwelle 1225 Nat in purgatorie but in helle. Alias that euere knew I Perotheus ! For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus Y-fetered in his prisoun euermo. Thanne hadde I been in blisse, and nat in wo ; 1230 1209. H4 Ln to for forto. I2II. a y founde. 1217. H4 took. 1221. Pe he w. and w. and c., Ln he w. he w. and c. 1223. El he for I; H 2 the d. ; Ln omits that day. 1226. El my purg. 1227. e euer I knew. A 1 231-1259] KNIGHT ES TALE 45 Oonly the sighte of hir whom that I serue, Though that I neuer hir grace may deserue, Wolde han suffised right ynough for me. O deere cosyn Palamon,' quod he, ' Thyn is the victorie of this auenture ! 1235 Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure, — In prisoun? certes nay, but in Paradys ! Wei hath Fortune y-turned thee the dys, That hast the sighte of hir and I thabsence. For possible is, syn thou hast hir presence 1240 And art a knyght a worthy and an able, That by som cas, syn Fortune is chaungeable, Thow maist to thy desir som tyme atteyne. But I that am exiled and bareyne Of alle grace and in so greet dispeir 1245 That ther nys erthe, water, fir, ne eir, Ne creature that of hem maked is, That may me helpe or doon confort in this — Wei oughte I sterue in wanhope and distresse ; Farwel ray lif, my lust and my gladnesse ! 1250 ' Alias, why pleynen men so in commune Of purueiaunce of God, or of Fortune, That yeueth hem ful ofte in many a gyse Wei bettre than they kan hem self deuyse ? Som man desireth for to han richesse, 1255 That cause is of his mordre, or greet siknesse ; And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn, That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. Infinite harmes been in this mateere, 1236. e might hou d. ; H 4 to endure. 1237. Hn nay c., Gg nay parde; e omits 2d 'in. 1238. e torned. 1242. El om its by. 1248. El heeleyfcr helpe. I2 5°- omitted in Ln.; H4 my 1. and al my Iolynesse. 1251. a H 4 folk for men. 1254. e bet. 1256. Hn ofte of; a moerdre. 46 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1260-1288 We woot nat what thing that we preyen heere. 1260 We faren as he that dronke is as a mous. A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous, But he noot which the righte wey is thider, And to a dronke man the wey is slider ; And certes in this world so faren we : 1265 We seken faste after felicitee, But we goon wrong ful often trewely. Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, That wende and hadde a greet opinioun That if I myghte scapen from prisoun, 1270 Thanne hadde I been in Ioye and perfit heele, Ther now I am exiled fro my wele. Syn that I may nat seen you, Emelye, I nam but deed, there nys no remedye.' Vpon that oother syde Palamon, 1275 Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon, Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour ; The pure fettres of his shynes grete Weren of his bittre, salte teeres wete. 1280 ' Alias ! ' quod he, ' Arcita, cosyn myn, Of al oure strif God woot the fruyt is thyn ; Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large, And of my wo thow yeuest litel charge. Thou mayst, syn thou hast wysdom and manhede, 1285 Assemblen al the folk of oure kynrede, And make a werre so sharp on this citee, That by som auenture or som tretee 1260. El witen nat what we, etc., H4 wote neuere wh. Jnng we, etc. 1262. wel that. 1268. a Gg e seyn. 1270. El escapen. 1272. El that for ther. 1274. earn; Gg non other weye/br no rem. 1276. H4 e )>at A. 1278. El resouned. 1279. El Ln on for of. ^1289-1318] KNIGHTES TALE 47 Thow mayst haue hir to lady and to wyf For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf. 1290 For as by wey of possibilitee, Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free, And art a lord, greet is thyn auauntage, Moore than is myn that sterue here in a cage. For I moot wepe and wayle while I lyue 1295 With al the wo that prison may me yiue, And eek with peyne that loue me yeueth also, That doubleth al my torment and my wo.' Therwith the fyr of Ialousie vpsterte Withinne his brest and hente him by the herte 1300 So woodly that he lyk was to biholde The boxtree, or the asshen, dede and colde. Thanne seyde he, ' O crewel goddes that gouerne This world with byndyng of youre word eterne, And writen in the table of atthamaunt 1305 Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt, What is mankynde moore vnto you holde Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde ? For slayn is man right as another beest, And dwelleth eek in prison and arreest, 1310 And hath siknesse and greet aduersitee, And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee. 1 What gouernance is in this prescience, That giltelees tormenteth innocence? And yet encreseth this al my penaunce, 1315 That man is bounden to his obseruaunce For Goddes sake to letten of his wille Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille ; 1289. hire wynne for haue h. 1295. e whil bat; Co Ln leue. 1296. H4 Co ^yue, others yeue. 1306. Gg Thorw par. 131 2, 1 314. a Pe Ln giltless. 48 KNTGHTES TALE \_A 1319-1346 And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne, But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne, 1320 Though in this world he haue care and wo — Withouten doute it may stonden so. The answere of this I lete to dyuynys, But well I woot that in this world greet pyne ys. Alias ! I se a serpent or a theef, 1325 That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef, Goon at his large, and where hym list may turne ; But I moot been in prisoun thurgh Saturne, And eek thurgh Iuno, Ialous and eek wood, That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood 1330 Of Thebes, with his waste walles wyde ; - And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde For Ialousie and fere of hym Arcite.' Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle, 1335 And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle. The sommer passeth, and the nyghtes longe Encresen double wise the peynes stronge Bothe of the louere and the prisoner. I noot which hath the wofuller myster ; 1340 For shortly for to seyn this Palamoun Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun In cheynes and in fettres to been deed, And Arcite is exiled vpon his heed For eueremo, as out of that contree, 1345 Ne neueremo ne shal his lady see. 1 319. Hn it/or he. 1320. El e man follows deeth. 1322. II n moot. 1335. H4 stille in his pr. 1337- El sonneyfor somer; Hn omits passeth. 1 33^> € encreseth. 1340. Hn sorwefuller yfrr wof.; H4 w. cheer. 1341. Hn soothly; Co of Pal., Pe of }?is Pal. 1343. e to J>e ded. 1346. El he shai, Gg shal, Co he ne schal, H4 schal he for ne shal. ^ 1347-1371] KNIGHTES TALE 49 Yovv loueres axe I now this questioun, Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun? That oon may seen his lady day by day, But in prison he moot dwelle alway ; 1350 That oother wher hym list may ride or go, But seen his lady shal he neuer mo. Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan, For I wol telle forth as I bigan. Explicit prima pars. PART II. Sequitur pars secunda. Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was, 1355 Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde, ' Alias ! p For seen his lady shal he neueremo. And shortly to concluden al his wo, So muche sorwe hadde neuere creature That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure. 1360 His siep, his mete, his drynke, is hym biraft, That lene he weex and drye as is a shaft : His eyen holwe and grisly to biholde, His hewe falwe, and pale asshen colde, And solitarie he was and euere allone, 1365 And waillynge al the nyght makynge his mone : And if he herde song or instrument Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent. So feble eek were his spiritz and so lowe, And chaunged so that no man koude knowe 1370 His speche nor his voys, though men it herde : 1350. Hn e moot he. 1353. a Co Pe list. 1362. El Pe wexeth. 1364. a falow. 1369. e he /or 2d so. 50 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1372-1400 And in his geere for al the world he ferde, Nat oonly lik the loueris maladye Of Hereos, but rather lyk Manye Engendred of humour malencolik 1375 Biforen in his celle fantastik ; And shortly turned was al vpsodoun Bothe habit and eek disposicioun Of hyra, this woful louere daun Arcite. What sholde I al day of his wo endite? 1380 Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two This crueel torment and this peyne and woo, At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde, Vpon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde r Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie 1385 Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murie. His slepy yerde in hond he bar vprighte, An hat he werede vpon his heris brighte. Arrayed was this god, as he took keep, As he was whan that Argus took his sleep. 1390 And seyde hym thus, ' To Atthenes shaltou wende, Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.' And with that word Arcite wook and sterte. i Now trewely, hou soore that me smerte,' Quod he, ' to Atthenes right now wol I fare, 1395 Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare To se my lady that I loue and serue ; In hir presence I recche nat to sterue.' And with that word he caughte a greet mirour, And saugh that chaunged was al his colour, 1400 1373. e comly for oonly and to for the. 1374- e heres; H4 hereos. 1 37^>- All but H4 omit in {due to n in biforen?); a Gg his owene selle. 1377. e vp and d. 1378. e omit eek. 1388. El vp hise for vpon his. ^1401-1430] KNIGHTES TALE 5 1 And saugh his visage al in another kynde. And right anon it ran hym in his mynde, That sith his face was so disfigured Of maladye the which he hadde endured, He myghte wei, if that he bar hym lowe, 1405 Lyue in Atthenes eueremore vnknowe, And seen his lady wel ny day by day. And right anon he chaunged his array And cladde hym as a poure laborer, And al allone, saue oonly a squier 1410 That knew his priuetee and al his cas, Which was disgised pourely as he was, To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way. And to the court he wente vpon a day, And at the gate he profreth his seruyse 141 5 To drugge and drawe what so men wol deuyse. And shortly of this matere for to seyn, He fii in office with a chamberleyn The which that dwellynge was with Emelye ; For he was wys and koude soone espye 1420 Of euery seruaunt which that serueth here. Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere, For he was yong and myghty for the nones, And therto he was long and big of bones To doon that any wight kan hym deuyse. 1425 A yeer or two he was in this seruyse, Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte, And Philostrate he seyde that he highte. But half so wel biloued a man as he Ne was ther neuere in court of his degree ; 1430 1416. Ggdrogge; Gg wolde d. 1417. H 4 on this m. 1419. e was dwellyng. 1420. esone cou^e. 1421. H 4 serued. 1424. Hne strong for long. 1425. Hn what any; e him can. 5 2 KNIGHTES TALE [^1431-1461 He was so gentil of condicioun That thurghout al the court was his renoun. They seyden that it were a charitee That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree, And putten hym in worshipful seruyse, i 435 Ther as he myghte his vertu exercise. And thus withinne a while his name is spronge, Bothe of hise dedes and his goode tonge, That Theseus hath taken hym so neer, That of his chambre he made hym a squier, i 440 And yaf him gold to mayntene his degree. And eek men broghte hym out of his contree From yeer to yeer, ful pryuely, his rente ; But honestly and slyly he it spente, That no man wondred how that he it hadde. 1445 And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde, And bar hym so in pees, and eek in werre, Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre. And in this blisse lete I now Arcite And speke I wole of Palamon a lite. i 45 o In derknesse and horrible and strong prison This seuen yeer hath seten Palamon Forpyned what for wo and for distresse. Who feeleth double soor and heuynesse But Palamon, that loue destreyneth so i 455 That wood out of his wit he goth for wo? And eek ther-to he is a prisoner Perpetuelly, noght only for a yer. Who koude ryme in Englyssh proprely His martirdom ? for sothe it am nat I ; 1460 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may. 1431. El H 4 of his c. 1436. Gg Co Ther that. 1454. El omits and; Gg H 4 sorwe/7r soor. 1455. Co drenched so. ^1462-1491] KNIGHTES TALE 53 It fel that in the seuenthe yer, in May, The thridde nyght (as olde bookes seyn, That al this storie tellen moore pleyn) Were it by auenture or destynee — 1465 As whan a thyng is shapen it shal be, — That soone after the mydnyght Palamoun By helpyng of a freend brak his prisoun, And fleeth the citee faste as he may go ; For he hade yeue his gayler drynke so 1470 Of a claree maad of a certeyn wyn, With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn, That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde him shake, The gayler sleep, he myghte nat awake ; And thus he fleeth as faste as euere he may. 1475 The nyght was short and faste by the day, That nedes cost he moot hymseluen hyde ; And til a groue faste ther bisyde With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamoun. For, shortly, this was his opinioun, 1480 That in that groue he wolde hym hyde al day, And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye On Theseus to helpe him to werreye ; And, shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif, 1485 Or wynnen Emelye vnto his wyf. This is theffect and his entente pleyn. Now wol I turne vnto Arcite ageyn, That litel wiste how ny that was his care, Til that Fortune had broght him in the snare. 1490 The bisy'larke, messager of day, 1462. Hnthatseu.; HneofMay. 1464. e telleK 1468. e omits his. 1471. Hn Gg H4 ^wi/ a. 1481. Gg muste hym. i486, e to his louely wif. 1488. a to for vnto; Ln Now whiles turne we to A., etc. 1490. e kaught him in his snare. 54 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1492-1520 Salueth in hir song the morwe gray, And firy Phebus riseth vp so brighte That al the orient laugheth of the lighte, And with hise stremes dryeth in the greues 1495 The siluer dropes hangynge on the leues. And Arcita, that is in the court roial With Theseus his squier principal, Is risen and looketh on the merye day. And for to doon his obseruaunce to May, 1500 Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir, He on a courser, startlynge as the fir, Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye, Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye. And to the groue of which that I yow tolde 1505 By auenture his wey he gan to holde, To maken hym a garland of the greues, Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leues ; And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene : 1 May, with alle thy floures and thy grene 1510 Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe May, In hope that I som grene gete may.' And from his courser with a lusty herte Into the groue ful hastily he sterte, And in a path he rometh vp and doun 1515 Ther as by auenture this Palamoun Was in a bussh, that no man myghte hym se, For soore afered of his deeth was he. No-thyng ne knew he that it was Arcite. God woot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite, 1520 1494. Pe of his si3t; Ln of be sight. ^497- Hn e omit is, Co also omits that. 1498. II n omits his; Gg is for his. 1502. H4 e stertyng. 1512. e I hope. 1514. El a gr. 1515. Gg H 4 romed. 1516. e of >is P. 1518. El e aferd. A 1 521-1549] KNIGHTES TALE 55 But sooth is seyd, go sithen many yeres, ' That feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres ; ' It is ful fair a man to bere hym euene, ' For al day meeteth men at vnset steuene.' Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe 1525 That was so ny to herken of his sawe, For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille. Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille, And songen al the roundel lustily, Into a studie he fil sodeynly, 1530 As doon thise loueres in hir queynte geres, Now in the crop, now doun in the breres, Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle. Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle — Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste — 1535 Right so kan geery Venus ouercaste The hertes of hir folk ; right as hir day Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array, — 1 Selde is the Friday al the wike ylike.' Whan that Arcite had songe he gan to sike, 1540 And sette hym doun withouten any moore : 1 Alias/ quod he, i that day that I was bore ! How longe, Iuno, thurgh thy crueltee, Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee ? Alias, ybroght is to confusioun 1545 The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun, — Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan, And of the citee first was crouned kyng. 1524. El Pe meten, H4 men metek 1526. a herknen al his s; Gg heryn of his tale. 1530. Elalsod. 1532. H4 e croppe (perhaps croppes is the right reading). J 536. H4 e gan for kan. 1539. El Gg wowke; Pe Ln weke. 1548. Hn bulte and first bigan. 56 KNIGHTES TALE [A 15 50- 15 79 Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng, 1550 By verray ligne as of the stok roial ; And now I am so caytyf and so thral, That he that is my mortal enemy, I serue hym as his squier pourely. And yet dooth Iuno me wel moore shame, 1555 For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name ; But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte. Alias, thou felle Mars ! alias, Iuno ! Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo 1560 Saue oonly me, and wrecched Palamoun, That Theseus martireth in prisoun. And ouer al this, to sleen me outrely Loue hath his firy dart so brennyngly Y-stiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte, 1565 That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte. Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye ! Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye ! Of al the remenant of myn oother care Ne sette I nat the mountance of a tare, 1570 So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce.' And with that word he fil doun in a traunce A longe tyme, and afterward he vp-sterte. This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte He felte a coold swerd sodeynliche glyde, 1575 For ire he quook, no lenger wolde he byde. And whan that he had herd Arcites tale, As he were wood, with face deed and pale He stirte hym vp out of the buskes thikke, 1550. Pe Ln of his for his. I 555- € me Iuno ; H4 wel moore. 1 559. e H>u Iuno. 1560. El kynrede for lynage. 1564. Co his faire dart; Pe Ln faire his d. 1573- El after he, etc.; H4 omits he; Ln he afterwarde. 1 575. Hn Pe Ln sodeynly. A 1 580-1 608] KNIGHTES TALE $J And seide, ' Arcite, false traytour wikke, 1580 Now artovv hent, that louest my lady so, For whom that I haue al this peyne and wo. And art my blood, and to my conseil sworn, As I ful ofte haue seyd the heer-biforn, And hast byiaped heere due Theseus, 1585 And falsely chaunged hast thy name thus ! I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye ; Thou shalt nat loue my lady Emelye, But I wol loue hire oonly and namo. For I am Palamon, thy mortal foo, 1590 And though that I no wepne haue in this place, But out of prison am astert by grace, I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye, Or thow ne shalt nat louen Emelye. Chees which thou wolt, for thou shalt nat asterte ! ' 1595 This Arcite, with ful despitous herte, Whan he hym knew and had his tale herd, As fiers as leoun pulled out a swerd, And seyde thus, ' By God that sit aboue, Nere it that thou art sik and wood for loue, 1600 And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place, Thou sholdest neuere out of this groue pace, That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond ; For I defye the seurete and the bond Which that thou seist that I haue maad to thee. 1605 What, verray fool, thynk wel that loue is fre ! And I wol loue hir mawgree al thy myght. But for as muche as thou art a worthy knyght 1585. H 4 he due T. 1586. Ln haste hou eh. 1598. a his for a. l S99' Hn H4 e sitteth. 1600. e nere (Pe ne) it were that. 1608. El Gg Co oinit 2d as, H4 But for bou art a gentil parrot knight. 58 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1609- 1637 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille, Haue heer my trouthe, tomorwe I nyl nat faile, 1610 Withoute wityng of any oother wight That heere I wol be founden as a knyght, And bryngen harneys right ynough for thee ; And chees the beste and leef the worste for me : And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge 161 5 Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddynge. And if so be that thou my lady wynne And sle me in this wode ther I am inne, Thou may est wel haue thy lady as for me.' This Palamon answerde, ' I graunte it thee.' 1620 And thus they been departed til amorwe, . Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe. O Cupide, out of alle charitee ! O regne that wolt no felawe haue with thee ! Ful sooth is seyd that loue ne lordshipe 1625 Wol noght his thankes haue no felaweshipe. W T el fynden that Arcite and Palamoun ! Arcite is riden anon into the toun, And on the morwe, er it were dayes light, Ful priuely two harneys hath he dight, 1630 Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne The bataille in the feeld betwix hem tweyne ; And on his hors allone as he was born, He carieth al the harneys hym biforn. And in the groue at tyme and place y-set 1635 This Arcite and this Palamon ben met. To chaungen gan the colour in hir face, 1609. H4 wenesty^r wilnest. 1610. El Gg wol for nyl ; Ln wil I. 1614. El e chese (in/in.); El Pe Ln leue (in/in.), 1616. H4 cloth. 1621. Gg to parted. 1623. Co Ln occupied for O Cupide. 1626. El hir for his. 1627. e we fynde that of A. and of P«; Gg fyndy. 1629. Gg Pe day 1. A 1 638- 1 665] KNIGHTES TALE 59 Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace, That stondeth at the gappe with a spere, Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere. 1640 And hereth hym come russhyng in the greues And breketh bothe bovves and the leues, And thynketh, ' Heere cometh my mortal enemy, With-oute faile he moot be deed or I ; For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe, 1645 Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe.' So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe, As fer as euerich of hem oother knewe. Ther nas no ' Good day ' ne no saluyng, But streight withouten word or rehersyng 1650 Euerich of hem heelp for to armen oother As frendly as he were his owene brother. And after that with sharpe speres stronge They foynen ech at oother wonder longe. Thou myghtest wene that this Palamoun 1655 In his flghtyng were a wood leoun, And as a crueel tigre was Arcite : As wilde bores gonne they to smyte, That frothen whit as foom for ire wood, — Vp to the ancle foghte they in hir blood. 1660 And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle, And forth I wole of Theseus yow telle. The Destinee, ministre general, That executeth in the world ouer al The purueiaunce that God hath seyn biforn, 1665 1639. Hn stonden. 1640. El and the b. 1647. P e L n omit they. 1648. Hn oother of hem kn. 165 1. Gghalp; Cohilp; Pe H4 helped (in A 4246 same set of variants save that Pe has helpe; see § 158). 1652. El freenly. 1654. Gg H4 foynedyn; H4 om its wonder. 1655. H4 Tho it semed ]>at. 1656. Gg fy3t. 1660. Hn Anclees; Gg anches. 60 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1666-1695 So strong it is that, though the world had sworn The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay, Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer. For certeinly oure appetites heer, 1670 Be it of werre or pees or hate or loue, — Al is this reuled by the sighte aboue. This mene I now by myghty Theseus, That for to hunten is so desirus, And namely at the grete hert in May, 1675 That in his bed ther daweth hym no day That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde With hunte and home, and houndes hym bisyde. For in his huntyng hath he swich delit, That it is al his ioye and appetit 1680 To been hymself the grete hertes bane, For after Mars he serueth now Dyane. Cleer was the day, as I haue toold er this, And Theseus, with alle ioye and blis, With his Ypolita, the faire queene, 1685 And Emelye, clothed al in grene, On huntyng be they riden roially. And to the groue, that stood ful faste by, In which ther was an hert, as men hym tolde, Due Theseus the streighte way hath holde. 1690 And to the launde he rideth hym ful right, For thider was the hert wont to haue his flight, And ouer a brook, and so forth on his weye. This due wol han a cours at hym or tweye With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde. 1695 1666. H4 e \>ei for though. 1 680. Ln is hope ioye for his i. 1690. Gg ry^te way. 1692. a omits to. 1693. El H4 in for on. 1695. El Gg Ln H 4 omit that; Gg H4 which as. ^1696-1724] KNIGHTES TALE 6 1 And whan this due was come vnto the launde Vnder the sonne he looketh, and anon He was war of Arcite and Palamon, That foughten breme, as it were bores two. The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro 1700 So hidously, that with the leeste strook It semed as it wolde felle an 00k ; But what they were no thyng he ne woot. This due his courser with .his spores smoot And at a stert he was bitwix hem two, 1705 And pulled out a swerd and cride, ' Hoo ! Namoore, vp peyne of lesynge of youre heed ! By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed That smyteth any strook that I may seen. But telleth me what myster men ye been, 1710 That been so hardy for to lighten heere Withouten luge, or oother officere, As it were in a lystes roially ! ' This Palamon answerde hastily And seyde, ' Sire, what nedeth wordes mo? 1715 We haue the deeth disserued, bothe two. Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyues That been encombred of oure owene lyues, And as thou art a rightful lord and luge, Ne yif vs neither mercy ne refuge, 1720 But sle me first, for seinte Charitee, But sle my felawe eek as wel as me ; Or sle hym first, for though thow knowest it lite, This is thy mortal foo, this is Arcite, 1699. Hn e boles (Lnboly). 1702. El fille. I 7°7- a Ln vponforvp. 1713. e litell liste r. 1720. ElPelTtyeue; Co ^iue. 1723. e omits first; Hn H4 knowe; H4 him for it. 1724. Gg He is )?yn dedly enemy arcyte. 62 KNIGHTES TALE [^1725-1755 That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed, 1725 For which he hath deserued to be deed. For this is he that cam vnto thy gate And seyde that he highte Philostrate. Thus hath he iaped thee ful many a yer, And thou hast maked hym thy chief squier ; 1730 And this is he that loueth Emelye ; For sith the day is come that I shal dye, I make pleynly my confessioun That I am thilke woful Palamoun, That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly. 1735 I am thy mortal foo, and it am I That loueth so hoote Emelye the brighte - That I wol dye present in hir sighte. Therfore I axe deeth and my Iuwise ; But sle my felawe in the same wise, 1740 For bothe han we deserued to be slayn.' This worthy due answerde anon agayn, And seyde, ' This is a short conclusioun : Youre owene mouth by your confessioun Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde, 1745 It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde ; Ye shal be deed, by myghty Mars the rede ! ' The queene anon for verray wommanhede Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye, And alle the ladyes in the compaignye. 1750 Greet pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle, That euere swich a chaunce sholde falle ; For gentil men they were of greet estaat, And no thyng but for loue was this debaat. And saugh hir blody woundes, wyde and soore, 1755 1726. Ggseruyd; H4 I-serued. 1 73 2 - e }>at day. 1741. Pe Ln H4 we haue. ^ 1756-1785] KNIGHTES TALE 63 And alle crieden bothe lasse and moore, ' Haue mercy, Lord, vpon vs wommen alle ! ' And on hir bare knees adoun they falle, And wolde haue kist his feet ther as he stood. Til at the laste aslaked was his mood, 1760 For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte, And though he first for ire quook and sterte, He hath considered shortly in a clause The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause. And although that his ire hir gilt accused, 1765 Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused ; As thus : he thoghte wel that euery man Wol helpe hymself in loue, if that he kan, And eek deliuere hymself out of prisoun. And eek his herte hadde compassioun 1770 Of wommen, for they wepen euere in oon ; And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon, And softe vnto hym-self he seyde, ' Fy Vpon a lord that wol haue no mercy, But been a leoun, bothe in word and dede, 1775 To hem that been in repentaunce and drede, As wel as to a proud despitous man That wol maynteyne that he first bigan. That lord hath litel of discrecioun, That in swich cas kan no diuisioun, 1780 But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon/ And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon, He gan to looken vp with even lighte, And spak thise same wordes al on highte : 'The God of loue, a benedicite! 1785 1758. e doun. 1763. Ln H 4 omit hath. 1767. El H 4 Pe Ln and thus {pause-mark after thus in a). 1 771 . Hn wepten. 1773. Gg to for vnto. 64 KNIGHTES TALE [^1786-1814 How myghty and how greet a lord is he ! Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles, He may be cleped a god for his myracles ; For he kan maken at his owene gyse Of euerich herte as that hym list diuyse. 1790 Lo heere this Arcite and this Palamoun, That quitly weren out of my prisoun And myghte naue lyued in Thebes roially ! And witen I am hir mortal enemy And that hir deth lith in my myght also; 1795 And yet hath loue, maugree hir eyen two, Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye. Now looketh, is nat that an heigh folye?, " Who may been a fole, but if he loue? " Bihoold, for Goddes sake that sit aboue, i8jo Se how they blede ! Be they noght wel arrayed ? Thus hath hir lord, the god of loue, ypayed Hir wages and hir fees for hir seruyse ; And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse That semen loue, for aught that may bifalle. 18c, But this is yet the beste game of alle, That she for whom they han this Iolitee, Kan hem ther-fore as muche thank as me. She woot namoore of al this hoote fare, By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare. 1819 " But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold, A man moot ben a fool, or young or oold," — I woot it by myself ful yore agon ; For in my tyme a seruant was I oon. 1787, 8. Gg H 4 obstakell, mirakell. 1788. Co H 4 of his m. 1792. Hn H 4 e were. 1797- H 4 I-brought. 1798. Gg Pe this for that. 1799. H 4 if \\\zX for but if. 1800. e sitteb. 1802. Gg Pe H 4 hem payed. 1804. Hn to for for to; H 4 wenen they to ben wise. 181 1. Gg H 4 hot or c. ^ 1815-1843] KNIGHTES TALE 65 And therfore, syn I knowe of loues peyne, 1815 And woot how soore it kan a man distreyne, As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas I yow foryeue al hooly this trespaas, At requeste of the queene, that kneleth heere, And eek of Emelye, my suster deere. 1820 And ye shul bothe anon vnto me swere, That neuere mo ye shal my contree dere, Ne make vverre vpon me nyght ne day, But been my freendes in al that ye may. I yow foryeue this trespas euery deel.' 1825 And they him sworen his axyng, faire and weel, And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde ; And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde : 1 To speke of roial lynage and richesse, Though that she were a queene or a princesse, 1830 Ech of you bothe is worthy, doutelees, To wedden whan tyme is. But nathelees I speke as for my suster Emelye, For whom ye haue this strif and Ialousye, Ye woot your self she may nat wedden two 1835 At ones, though ye fighten eueremo. That oon of you, al be hym looth or lief, He moot go pipen in an yuy leef. This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe, Al be ye neuer so Ialous ne so wrothe. 1840 And for-thy, I yow putte in this degree, That ech of yow shal haue his destynee As hym is shape ; and herkneth in what wyse, 1817. Gg Pe H 4 hath ofte be c. 1819. H 4 e at \>e r. 1822. H 4 Co Ln corouneyfrr contree. 1823. Hn nor for ne. 1828. Gg H4 grauntede; H 4 mercy for grace; Hn thanne for thus. 1832. El doutelees for but n. 1838. El omits go. 1839. H4 Co Ln omit now. 66 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1844-1873 Lo heere your ende of that I shal deuyse. ' My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun 1845 Withouten any repplicacioun — If that you liketh, take it for the beste : That euerich of you shal goon where hym leste Frely, withouten raunson or daunger ; And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner, 1850 Euerich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes Armed for lystes vp at alle rightes, Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille. And this bihote I yow with-outen faille Vpon my trouthe ; and as I am a knyght, 1855 That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght, This is to seyn, that wheither, he or thow, May with his hundred as I spak of now Sleen his contrarie, or out of lystes dryue, Thanne shal I yeue Emelya to wyue i860 To whom that Fortune yeueth so fair a grace. The lystes shal I maken in this place, And God so wisly on my soule rewe As I shal euene luge been and trewe. Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken 1865 That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken. And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd, Seyeth youre auys and holdeth you apayd. This is youre ende and youre conclusioun.' Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun ? 1870 Who spryngeth vp for Ioye but Arcite? Who kouthe telle, or who kouthe it endite, The Ioye that is maked in the place 1852. e omits at. 1854. Co Ln biheete. i860. Co Ln That, H 4 H\mfor Thanne. 1866. Gg Co Pe H 4 omit ne. 1872. El Gg H4 omit it. l %73- Gg that is now schewid in the place. A 1874-1897] KNIGHTES TALE 67 Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace ? But doun on knees wente euery maner wight 187$ And thonked hym with al hir herte and myght ; And namely the Thebans often sithe. And thus with good hope and with herte blithe They take hir leue, and homward gonne they ride To Thebes with hise olde walles wyde. 1880 Explicit secunda pars. PART III Sequitur pars tertia. I trowe men wolde deme it necligence If I foryete to tellen the dispence Of Theseus, that gooth so bisily To maken vp the lystes roially, That swich a noble theatre as it was 1885 I dar wel seyen in this world ther nas. The circuit a myle was aboute, Walled of stoon and dyched al withoute. Round was the shap in manereof compaas Ful of degrees the heighte of sixty pas, 1890 That whan a man was set on o degree He letted nat his felawe for to see. Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit, Westward right swich another in the opposit. And shortly to concluden, swich a place 1895 Was noon in erthe as in so litel space ; For in the lond ther nas no crafty man 1876. a thonken. 1880. All but El omit hise. (Perhaps Thebes- ward in original.} 1882. Ln foryate. 1886. Mss. seyn (Ln H4 saye, say); H 4 }>atin. 1892. El lette Gglettyth; Ln let it. 1894. Co H4 omit the. 1896. Gg of, H4 in for as in; Hn Co Ln so lite a sp. 1897. a was/0?- nas. 68 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1898-1924 That geometrie or ars-metrike kan, Ne portreiour, ne keruere of ymages, That Theseus ne yaf hym mete and wages 1900 The theatre for to maken and deuyse. And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise, He estward hath, vpon the gate aboue, In worship of Venus, goddesse of loue, Doon make an auter and an oratorie ; 1905 And on the westward, in mynde and in memorie Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another, That coste largely of gold a fother. And northward, in a touret on the wal, Of alabastre whit and reed coral , 1910 An oratorie riche for to see In worship of Dyane of chastitee Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse. But yit hadde I foryeten to deuyse The noble keruyng and the portreitures, 1915 The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures That weren in thise oratories thre. First, in the temple of Venus maystow se Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde, The broken slepes and the sikes colde, 1920 The sacred teeris and the waymentynge, The firy strokes, of the desirynge That loues seruauntz in this lyf enduren ; The othes that her couenantz assuren ; 1898. a Gg Ln ars metrik (cp. D 2222). 1899. El Gg portreitour. 1900. a Ln omit hym; Gg hym ^i for ne y. hym; Co ne gain him; Pe ne gaue him; H4 ne *af hem. 1901. Pe Ln omit for. 1905. Hn maad. 1906. All but H4 And on (Co of, Ln in) the westward (Pe w. side) in memorie, H4 And w. in the mynde and in m. 1908. Gg of gold largely. 1909. Gg of for on. 1915. Co Ln peyntyng for keru.; Pe kervingges. 1919. H4 Co Ln in for on. 1 921. Gg secret terys. 1922. El H4 and the d. A 1925-1953] KNIGHTES TALE 69 Plesaunce and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse, 1925 Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse, Charmes and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye, Despense, Bisynesse, and Ialousye That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerlond And a cokkow sittynge on hir hond ; 1930 Festes instrumentz, caroles, daunces, Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces Of loue whiche that I rekened and rekne shal, By ordre weren peynted on the vval, And mo than I kan make of mencioun. 1935 For soothly al the mount of Citheroun, Ther Venus hath hir principal dvvellynge, Was shewed on the vval in portreyynge, With al the gardyn and the lustynesse. Nat was foryeten the porter Ydelnesse, 1940 Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon, Ne yet the folye of kyng Salamon, Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules, Thenchauntementz of Medea and Circes, Ne of Turnus, with the hardy flers corage, 1945 The nche Cresus, kaytyf in seruage. Thus may ye seen that Wysdom ne Richesse, Beautee ne Sleighte, Strengthe ne Hardynesse, Ne may with Venus holde champartie, For as hir list the world than may she gye. 1950 Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las 'Til they for wo ful ofte seyde, ' Alias ! ' Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two, 1927. H4 sorcery for force; Gg lesynge; Gg Pe H4 les. and fl. x 933- H4 Pe omit that; Co Ln omit I; El rekned haue, Gg reken for rekened. 1942. El Gg And for Ne. 1943- El Gg And eek for Ne yet. 1948. a Pe omit 2d ne ; Ln B. ne strengebe ne sleiht ne h. 1949. Hn maken ch. 70 KNIGHTES TALE [A 1954- 1982 And though I koude rekene a thousand mo. The statue of Venus glorious for to se 1955 Was naked, fletynge in the large see, And fro the nauele doun al couered was With wavves grene and brighte as any glas. A citole in hir right hand hadde she, And on hir heed, ful semely for to se, i960 A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge. Aboue hir heed hir dowues flikerynge ; Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido, Vpon his shuldres wynges hadde he two, And blind he was, as it is often seene ; 1965 A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene. Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al The portreiture that was vpon the wal Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede? Al peynted was the wal in lengthe and brede 1970 Lyk to the estres of the grisly place That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace, In thilke colde frosty regioun Ther as Mars hath his souereyn mansioun. First on the wal was peynted a forest, 1975 In which ther dwelleth neither man nor best, With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde ; In which ther ran a rumble in a swough As though a storm sholde bresten euery bough. 1980 And doun ward from an hille, vnder a bente, Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente 1956. Gg maked, Ln made, Co inakedy^r naked. 1958- Gg which was for with w. 1964. e wenges. 1966. H4 arwes faire and greene. 1967. Gg H4 omit eek. 1969. Gg wal for temple. 1976. Co Ln dwelled; Pe wonneK J 979- El And a sw.; Pe ber was a rombled and a sw. ; H4 as wymb\i\ for a r. 1981. Hn H4 on for from. -4 1 983-201 1] KNIGHTES TALE ?l Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree Was long and streit, and gastly for to see. And ther out came a rage, and such a veze 1985 That it made al the gate for to rese. The northren lyght in at the dores shoon, For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne ; The dore was al of adamant eterne, 1990 Y-clenched ouerthwart and endelong With iren tough ; and for to make it strong, Euery pyler, the temple to sustene, Was tonne greet of iren bright and shene. Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng 1995 Of Felonye, and al the compassyng ; The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede, The pykepurs, and eke the pale Drede, The smyler with the knyfe vnder the cloke, The shepne brennynge with the'blake smoke, 2000 The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde, The Open W^erre with woundes al bibledde, Contek with blody knyf and sharp manace. Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place. The sleer of hymself yet saugh I ther, 2005 His herte blood hath bathed al his heer ; The nayl ydryuen in the shode anyght, The colde Deeth with mouth gapyng vpright. Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce, With disconfort and sory countenaunce. 2010 Yet saugh I Woodnesse laughynge in his rage, 1985. Gg in swich a wese; Pe. in such a wise; H4 of suche aprise. 1986. H 4 e gates; H 4 rise for rese, 1990. Gg Co Ln H 4 dores were; H 4 all ademauntz. 1996. El Gg omit al. 1997. Ln H 4 as rede as. 1998. El Gg omit eke. 2003. H 4 kuttud/^r contek. 2004. Co Ln shrikyng. 72 KNIGHTES TALE [^2012-2038 Armed Compleint, Out-Hees, and fiers Outrage ; The careyne in the busk with throte ycorue \ A thousand slayn and nat of qualm ystorue ; The tiraunt with the pray by force yraft, 2015 The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft. Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres, The hunte strangled with the wilde beres, The sowe freten the child right in the cradel, The cook yscalded for al his longe ladel, — 2020 Noght was foryeten : by the infortune of Marte The cartere ouerryden with his carte, Vnder the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun. Ther were also of Martes diuisioun, The barbour and the bocher, and the smyth 2025 That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth. And al aboue, depeynted in a tour, Saugh I Conquest sittynge in greet honour With the sharpe swerd ouer his heed Hangynge by a sou til twynes threed. 2030 Depeynted was the slaughtre of Iulius, Of grete Nero, and of Antonius ; Al be that thilke tyme they were vnborn, Yet was hir deth depeynted ther-biforn By manasynge of Mars, right by figure ; 2035 So it was shewed in that portreiture, As is depeynted in the sterres aboue Who shal be slayn or elles deed for loue ; 2012-2017. H4 omits these verses. 2015. Co w. his pr. his f. thraste; Ln w. pr. be for J^rafte. 2017. Gg hospesterys. 2018. Co breeres, H4 bores corage {Jo rhyme with rage in 201 1) for beres. 2019. Pe Ln fretinge. 2026. Gg Pe on the s. (Gg steyth). 2027. Gg al aboute. 2028. Co omits sittynge; Ln sit. 2030. Gg Co Pe twyned; Ln H4 twine. 2033. Gg H4 e (exc. Pe) that ilke. 2037. El Certres; Hn Sertres; Gg Co Ln sertres; Pe certres (cf B 190-203). ,42039-2067] KNIGHTES TALE 73 Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde, I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde. 2040 The statue of Mars upon a carte stood Armed, and looked grym as he were wood ; And ouer his heed ther shynen two figures Of sterres that been cleped in scriptures That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus. 2045 This god of armes was arrayed thus : A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet With eyen rede, and of a man he eet. With soutil pencel was depeynted this storie In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie. 2050 Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste, As shortly as I kan I wol me haste, To telle yow al the descripsioun. Depeynted been the walles vp and doun Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee. 2055 Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee, Whan that Diane agreued was with here, Was turned from a womman til a bere, And after was she maad the loode sterre ; Thus was it peynted, I kan sey yow no ferre. 2060 Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see. Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree, — I mene nat the goddesse Diane, But Penneus doughter which that highte Dane. Ther saugh I Attheon an hert y-maked 2065 For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked ; I saugh how that his houndes haue hym caught 2040. H4 omits, leaving space for it; Gg omits alle. 2044. Co Ln closed for cleped. 2054. Pe was for ben; Gg Pe walle. TO w 6. Ln Caliste. 2058. El H 4 Pe Ln to for til. 2060. e she for it; Gg That shynyth in the hevyn from yow so ferre in later hand. 2062. H4 e turned; Hn Pe to a tr. 74 KNIGHTES TALE [A 2068-2096 And freeten hym, for that they knevve hym naught. Yet peynted was a litel forther moor How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, 2070 And Meleagree, and many another mo, For which Dyane wroghte hym care and wo. Ther saugh I many another wonder storie, The whiche me list nat drawen to memorie. This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet, 2075 With smale houndes al aboute hir feet, And vndernethe hir feet she hadde a moone, Wexynge it was, and sholde wanye soone. In gaude grene hir statue clothed was, With bo we in honde and arwes in a cas ; - 2080 Hir eyen caste she ful low adoun Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. A womman trauaillynge was hir biforn ; But for hir child so longe was vnborn, Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle, 2085 And seyde, ' Help, for thou mayst best of alle.' Wei koude he peynten lifly that it wroghte, With many a floryn he the hewes boghte. Now been thise lystes maad, and Theseus, That at his grete cost arrayed thus 2090 The temples and the theatre euery deel, Whan it was doon hym lyked wonder weel ; But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite, And speke of Palamon and of Arcite. The day approcheth of hir retournynge, 2095 That euerich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge, 2069. a yit; H4 e ypeynted; El omits was. 2073. H4 saugh I eek; Co H4 omit wonder, Pe wor)>i. 2084. ? e Ln was so longe. 2089. El the 1. 2091. Gg Pe temple. 2092. H4 Gg Ln it liked him; H4 right w. 2094. Gg Pe omit 2d of. /4 2097-2125] KNIGHTES TALE 75 The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde. And til Atthenes, hir couenantz for to holde, Hath euerich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes Wei armed for the werre at alle rightes. 2100 And sikerly ther trowed many a man That neuer sithen that the world bigan, As for to speke of knyghthod, of hir hond, As fer as God hath maked see or lond Nas, of so fewe, so noble a compaignye. 2105 For euery wight that loued chiualrye And wolde his thankes han a passant name, Hath preyd that he myghte been of that game. And wel was hym that ther-to chosen was ; For if ther fille tomorwe swich a caas, 21 10 Ye knowen wel that euery lusty knyght That loueth paramours and hath his myght, Were it in Engelond or elles-where, They wolde hir thankes wilnen to be there, To fighte for a lady — bene did tee, 21 15 It were a lusty sighte for to see ! And right so ferden they with Palamon, With hym ther wenten knyghtes many oon. Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun, And in a brestplate and in a light gypoun ; 2120 And som wol haue a paire plates large ; And som wol haue a Pruce sheeld or a targe ; Som wol ben armed on his legges weel, And haue an ax, and som a mace of steel — Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old. 2125 2099. H 4 Pe euery. 2106. GgEllouede; H 4 loueJ>. 2108. Gg H4 Co preyed. 2120. El H4 omits And; Pe omits both in'j; H4 a bright br. and omits 2d in. 2121, 2122,2123. El somme woln. 2123. El H4 hir legges, 2124. El somme. ?6 KNIGHTES TALE 0*2126-2154 Armed were they, as I haue yow told, Euerych after his opinion. Ther maistow seen comynge with Palamon Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace. Blak was his berd, and manly was his face ; 2130 The cercles of hise eyen in his heed, They gloweden bitwyxen yelpw and reed, And lik a grifphon looked he aboute With kempe heeris on his browes stoute ; His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge, 2135 His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe ; And, as the gyse was in his contree, Ful hye vpon a chaar of gold stood he, With foure white boles in the trays. In stede of cote-armure ouer his harnays, 2140 With nayles yelwe and brighte as any gold He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak, for-old. His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak ; As any rauenes fethere it shoon for-blak ; A wrethe of golde, arm-greet, of huge wighte, 2145 Vpon his heed, set ful of stones brighte, Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz. Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer, To hunten at the leoun or the deer, . 2150 And folwed hym with mosel faste y-bounde, Colered of gold and tourettes fyled rounde. An hundred lordes hadde he in his route, Armed ful vvel, with hertes stierne and stoute. 2I 35- Gg grete and s; Pe omits harde and. 2138. he in later hand in El. 2041. El yelewe; e yelowe. 2145. Hn omits arm. 2146. Hn and/or set. 2150. E\ repeats or. 2152. e colers.. ^2155-2183] KN1GHTES TALE J J With Arcita, in stories as men fynde, 2155 The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Inde, Vpon a steede bay trapped in steel, Couered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel, Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes, Mars. His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars 2160 Couched with perles, white and rounde and grete ; His sadel was of brend gold newe y-bete ; A mantelet vpon his shulder hangynge, Bret-ful of rubyes rede as fyr sparklynge ; His crispe heer, lyk rynges was y-ronne, 2165 And that was yelow and glytered as the sonne. His nose was heigh, his even bright citrvn, His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn ; A fewe frakenes in his face y-spreynd, Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak y-meynd ; 2170 And as a leoun he his lookyng caste. Of fyue and twenty yeer his age I caste, His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge ; His voys was as a trompe thonderynge ; Vpon his heed he wered of laurer grene, 2175 A gerland, fressh and lusty for to sene. Vpon his hand he bar for his deduyt An egle tame, as any lilye whyt. An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there, Al armed saue hir heddes in al hir gere, 21S0 Ful richely in alle maner thynges. For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges, Were gadered in this noble compaignye 2155. El Arcite. 2159. Gg Co Pe come. 2162. Gg H4 bete. 2163. El Gg Pe Mantel. " 2164. El Brat ful. 2166. H 4 e gliteryng. 2174. El thondrynge. 2175. Gg Co Pe H4 a laurer. 2176. Gg Pe garlond Co Ln garland. 2177. Pe H4 deYite for deduyt. 78 KNIGHTES TALE [^2184-2213 For loue, and for encrees of chiualrye. Aboute this kyng ther ran on euery part 2185 Ful many a tame leoun and leopart. And in this wise these lordes alle and some Been on the Sonday to the citee come Aboute pryme and in the toun alight. This Theseus, this due, this worthy knyght, 2190 Whan he had broght hem into his citee And inned hem, euerich at his degree, He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour To esen hem and doon hem al honour, That yet men wenen that no mannes wit 2195 Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it. The mynstralcye, the seruice at the feeste, The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste, The riche array of Theseus paleys, Ne who sat first ne last vpon the deys, 2200 What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge, Or which of hem kan dauncen best or synge, Ne who moost felyngly speketh of loue ; What haukes sitten on the perche aboue, What houndes liggen in the floor adoun, — 2205 Of al this make I now no mencioun, But al theffect, that thynketh me the beste. Now cometh the point, and herkneth if yow leste. The Sonday nyght er day bigan to sprynge, Whan Palamon the larke herde synge, 2210 (Al though it nere nat day by houres two, Yet song the larke, and Palamon also) With hooly herte and with an heigh corage 2186. El Gg leopard. 2192. El in his deg. 2195. El Co Ln weneth; El no maner w. 2201. Hn and best d. 2002. a best and s. 2205. Hn e on the floor. 2212. Hn e right \>o for also. .42214-2242] KNIGHTES TALE 79 He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage Vnto the blisful Citherea benigne, — 2215 I mene Venus honurable and digne. And in hir houre he vvalketh forth a paas Vnto the lystes, ther hire temple was ; And doun he kneleth and with humble cheere And herte soor, and seyde as ye shal heere. 2220 i Fairest of faire, o lady myn, Venus, Doughter to Ioue, and spouse of Vulcanus, Thow glader of the mount of Citheron, For thilke loue thow haddest to Adoon, Haue pitee of my bittre teeris smerte, 2225 And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte. Alias ! I ne haue no langage to telle Theffectes ne the tormentz of myn helle ; Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye ; I am so confus that I kan noght seye. 2230 But mercy, lady bright, that knowest weele My thought and seest what harmes that I feele, Considere al this and rewe vpon my soore As wisly as I shal for euermoore Emforth my myght thy trewe seruant be, 2235 And holden werre alwey with chastitee ; That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe. I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe, Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to haue victorie, Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie 2240 Of pris of armes blowen vp and doun ; But I wolde haue fully possessioun 2215. Gg Pe H 4 Cythera. 2219. El with ful for and with. 2222. Hn H4 of Ioue ; Hn e H4 to Vul. 222S. e torment. 2239. II4 Ne nat I aske to morn, etc. 2241. H4 blowyng. 80 KNIGHTES TALE [^2243-2272 Of Emelye, and dye in thy seruyse. Fynd thow the manere how, and in what wyse ; I recche nat but it may bettre be 2245 To haue victorie of hem or they of me, So that I haue my lady in myne amies. For though so be that Mars is god of amies, Youre vertu is so greet in heuene aboue That if yow list I shal wel haue my loue. 2250 Thy temple wol I worshipe eueremo, And on thyn auter, wher I ride or go, I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete. And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete, Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere 2255 That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere ; Thanne rekke I noght, whan I haue lost my lyf, Though that Arcita wynne hir to his wyf. This is theffect and ende of my preyere : Yif me my loue, thow blisful lady deere.' 2260 Whan the orison was doon of Palamon, His sacrifice he dide, and that anon, Ful pitously with alle circumstaunces, Al telle I noght as now his obseruaunces \ But atte laste the statue of Venus shook 2265 And made a signe, wher-by that he took That his preyere accepted was that day. For thogh the signe shewed a delay, Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone ; And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone. 2270 The thridde houre in-equal that Palamon Bigan to Venus temple for to go 11, 2243. Pe her, Ln his for thy. H4 omits 2250 and inserts And }e be Venus J?e goddes of loue before 2249. 2250. Gg fc>u, Pe \>efor yow. 2263. El Gg circumstaunce. 2264. El Gg obseruaunce. /* 2273-2300] KNIGHTES TALE 8 1 Vp roos the sonne and vp roos Emelye, And to the temple of Dyane gan hye. Hir maydens that she thider with hir ladde 2275 Fill redily with hem the fyr they hadde, Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al That to the sacrifice longen shal ; The homes mile of meeth, as was the gyse, Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise. 2280 Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire, This Emelye, with herte debonaire, Hir body wessh with water of a welle. But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle, But it be any thing in general ; 2285 And yet it were a game to heeren al. To hym that meneth wel it were no charge, But it is good a man been at his large. Hir brighte heer was kempd vntressed al, A coroune of a grene 00k cerial 2290 Vpon hir heed was set, ful faire and meete. Two fyres on the auter gan she beete, And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde In Stace of Thebes, and thise bookes olde. Whan kynclled was the fyr, with pitous cheere 2295 Vnto Dyane she spak as ye may heere : — ' O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene, To whom bothe heuene and erthe and see is sene, Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe, Goddesse of maydens that myn herte hast knowe 2300 • 2274. Pe H4 gan she hye. 2275. Co Ln omit she. 2276. Gg the f. w. h. they; El ladde for hadde. 2279. Hn mede; Co mete. 2283. Co Ln omit wessh. 2285. Gg But ^if. 2286. H4 here it al. 2289. Hn kembed; Ln vnkembed. 2294. Hn othere, H4 \>/ 2301-2329 Ful many a yeer and woost what I desire, As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire, That Attheon aboughte cruelly. Chaste goddesse, wel wostovv that I Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf, 2305 Ne neuere wol I be no loue, ne wyf. I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye, A mayde, aid loue huntynge and venerye, And for to walken in the wodes wilde, And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe ; 2310 Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man. Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee. And Palamon, that hath swich loue to me, And eek Arcite, that loueth me so soore, 2315 (This grace I preye thee withoute moore) As sende loue and pees bitwixe hem two ; And fro me turne awey hir hertes so That al hir hoote loue and hir desir, And al hir bisy torment and hir fir, 2320 Be queynt, or turned in another place. And if so be thou wolt noght do me grace, Or if my destynee be shapen so That I shal nedes haue oon of hem two, As sende me hym that moost desireth me. 2325 Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee, The bittre teeris that on my chekes falle. Syn thou art mayde, and kepere of vs alle, My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserue 2301. H4 ^e woot for and w. 2302. H4 >e v. of \>\\k yre. 2303. H 4 trewely for cruelly. 231 1. El H 4 the c. 2316. Co Ln :ow for thee. 2317. All but Hn Andfor As; Hn seend. 2322. El Pe H 4 wolt do me no gr. 2323. El Andfor Or. 2325. H4 So for As; Hn seend. ,42330-2358] KNIGHTES TALE 83 And whil I lyue a mayde I wol thee seme.' 2330 The fires brenne vp on the auter cleere Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere. But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte, For right anon oon of the fyres queynte And quyked agayn, and after that anon 2335 That oother fyr was queynt and al agon. And as it queynte it made a whistelynge, As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge ; And at the brondes ende outran anon As it were blody dropes many oon. 2340 For which so soore agast was Emelye That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye ; For she ne wiste what it signyfied, But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried, And weep that it was pitee for to heer.e. 23^5 And ther-with-al Dyane gan appeere, With bowe in honde, right as an hunteresse, And seyde, ' Doghter, stynt thyn heuynesse. Among the goddes hye it is affermed, And by eterne word writen and confermed, 2350 Thou shalt ben wedded vnto oon of tho That han for thee so muchel care and wo ; But vnto which of hem I may nat telle. Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle. The fires which that on myn auter brenne 2355 Shul thee declaren, er that thou go henne, Thyn auenture of loue as in this cas.' And with that word the arwes in the caas 2330. Co Ln ^om for thee. 2332. Hn is thus; H4 omits thus. 2337. a Co whistlynge. 2342. Co ful ny; Ln was ny; H4 sche wel neih mad was. 2344. Pe fire bus she; H4 feere bus she. 2355. El whiche. 2356. El shulle. 84 KKIGHTES TALE [A 2359-2389 Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge, And forth she vvente and made a vanysshynge. 2360 For which this Emelye astoned was, And seyde, i What amounteth this, alias? I putte me in thy proteccioun, Dyane, and in thy disposicioun. , And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye. 2365 This is theffect, ther nys namoore to seye. The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this, Arcite vnto the temple walked is Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifise With alle the rytes of his payen wyse. 2370 With pitous herte and heigh deuocioun Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun : ' O stronge god, that in the regnes colde Of Trace honoured art and lord y-holde, And hast in euery regne and euery lond 2375 Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond, And hem fortunest as thee lyst deuyse, Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise. If so be that my youthe may deserue, And that my myght be worthy for to serue 2380 Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne, Thanne preye I thee to rewe vpon my pyne. For thilke peyne, and thilke hoote fir In which thou whilom brendest for desir, Whan that thou vsedest the beautee 2385 Of faire, yonge, fresshe Venus free And haddest hir in armes at thy wille (Al-though thee ones on a tyme mysfille, Whan Vulcanus hadde caught thee in his las, 2366. El Cm Pe Ln is for nys. 2380. Co Ln I for my. 2383. Pe H 4 that hote f. 2384. Pe J>ou br. wh. ^2390-2418] KNIGHTES TALE 85 And foond thee liggynge by his wyf, alias !) — 2390 For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte, Haue routhe as wel vpon my peynes smerte. I am yong and vnkonnynge, as thovv woost, And as I trowe with loue offended moost That euere was any lyues creature ; 2395 For she that dooth me al this wo endure Ne reccheth neuer wher I synke or fleete. And wel I woot, er she me mercy heete, I moot with strengthe wynne hir in the place ; And wel I woot withouten helpe or grace 2400 Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght auaille. Thanne help, me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille, For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee, As well as thilke fyr now brenneth me, And do that I tomorwe haue victorie. 2405 Myn be the trauaille, and thyn be the glorie ! Thy souereyn temple wol I moost honouren Of any place, and alwey moost labouren In thy plesaunce, and in thy craftes stronge ; And in thy temple I wol my baner honge 2410 And alle the armes of my compaignye, And euer mo, vnto that day I dye, Eterne fir I wol bifore thee fynde. And eek to this auow I wol me bynde : My beerd, myn heer, that hongeth long adoun, 2415 That neuere yet ne felte offensioun Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yiue, And ben thy trewe seruant whil I lyue. 2400. Hn h. and gr. 2402. Ln H4 to morn (so, too, i7i v. 2403). 2405. Hn may haue. 2412. Hn Ln vntil, Co vnto til for vnto. 2413. El biforn. 2415. Pe lorde for berd, Ln omits ; Hn Gg H. t hangeth; Co longeth. 2417. El Gg Pe Ln yeue. 2418. Gg Ln leue. 86 KNIGHTES TALE [^2419-2446 Now, lord, haue routhe vpon my sorwes soore, Yif me the victorie, I aske thee namoore ! ' 2420 The preyere stynt of Arcita the stronge, The rynges on the temple dore that honge, And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste, Of which Arcita som-what hym agaste. The fyres brende vp on the auter brighte, 2425 That it gan al the temple for to lighte ; A sweete smel anon the ground vp yaf, And Arcita anon his hond vp haf, And moore encens into the fyr he caste, With othere rytes mo. And atte laste 2430 The statue of Mars bigan his hauberkjynge ; And with that soun he herde a murmurynge Ful lowe and dym, and seyde thus : ' Victorie ! ' For which he yaf to Mars honour and glone. And thus with ioye and hope wel to fare 2435 Arcite anon vnto his inne is fare, As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne. And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne For thilke grauntyng in the heuene aboue, Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of loue, 2440 And Mars, the stierne god armypotente, That Iuppiter was bisy it to stente ; Til that the pale Saturnus the colde, That knew so manye of auentures olde, Foond in his olde experience an art 2445 That he ful soone hath plesed euery part. 2420. H 4 by v.; H4 omits thee. 2423. Co Pe clateren. 2425. Co vp be; H4 br. on the. 2427. El e And for A. 2427. El Co Ln anon after ground. 2428. a hand. 2432. Co Ln be soun. 2433. Gg e bat seyde. 2438. Gg bere is sw. s. b. ; H4 e omit ther; Ln Frissche for sw. 2445. Pe bolde for olde, H4 omits ; El and art; Pe and & art. ,4 2447- 2 475] KN1GHTES TALE 87 As sooth is seyd, elde hath greet auantage ; In elde is bothe wysdom and vsage \ ' Men may the olde at-renne and noght at-rede.' Saturne anon to stynten strif and drede, 2450 Al be it that it is agayn his kynde, Of al this strif he gan remedie fynde. ' My deere doghter Venus/ quod Saturne, ' My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne, Hath moore power than woot any man. 2455 Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan, Myn is the prison in the derke cote, Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte, The murmure and the cherles rebellyng, The groynynge and the pryuee empoysonyng ; 2460 I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun ; Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun, Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles, The fallynge of the toures and of the walles Vpon the mynour or the carpenter ; 2465 I slow Sampsoun, shakynge the piler ; And myne be the maladyes colde, The derke tresons and the castes olde ; My lookyng is the fader of pestilence. Now weep namoore, I shal doon diligence 2470 That Palamon, that is thyn owene knyght, Shal haue his lady, as thou hast him night. Though Mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees, Al be ye noght of o compleccioun, 2475 2447. Co Ln A, Pe H 4 Andyfrr As. 2449. P e ^U but for and. 2452. Hn Pe H4 ka.n for gan. 2458. Co Ln strangle. 2459. Gg cherle. 2460. Co Ln emprisonynge for empoy. 2462. El in signe. 2465. Co Ln and the c. 2466. H4 in shakyng. 2472. Co Ln H4 omit hast; Co H4 bihight. 2475. Co Ln bol?e of. 88 KNIGHTES TALE [A 2476-2499 That causeth al day swich diuisioun. I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille ; Weep now namoore, I wol thy lust fulfilled Now wol I stynten of the goddes aboue, Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of loue, 2480 And telle yow as pleynly as I kan The grete effect for which that I bygan. Explicit tertia pars. PART IV Sequitur pars quarta. Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day ; And eek the lusty seson of that May Made euery wight to been in such plesaunce, 2485 That al that Monday Iusten they and daunce, And spenden it in Venus heigh seruyse. But by the cause that they sholde ryse Eerly for to seen the grete fight, Vnto hir reste wenten they at nyght. 2490 And on the morwe whan that day gan sprynge, Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge Ther was in hostelryes al aboute ; And to the paleys rood ther many a route Of lordes, vpon steedes and palfreys. 2495 Ther maystow seen deuisynge of harneys So vnkouth and so riche, and wrought so weel Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel, The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures ; 2478. H 4 hou for now. 2484. H 4 e bat lusty. 2487. El spenten ; Co Ln heigh verms ser. 2489. Hn grete sight; H4 erly a morwe for to see bat hght. 2491. Hn Ln H4 \>e for \>2X. 2493. El in the h. 2496. El e diuisynge. A 2500-2528] KNIGHTES TALE 89 Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures ; 2500 Lordes in paramentz on hir courseres ; Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge, Giggynge of sheeldes with layneres lacynge ; There as nede is they were no thyng ydel. 2505 The fomy steedes on the golden brydel Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro ; Yemen on foote, and communes many oon With shorte staues, thikke as they may goon ; 2510 Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes, That in the bataille blowen blody sounes ; The paleys ful of peples vp and doun, Heer thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun, Dyuynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two. 2515 Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so, Somme helden with hym with the blake berd, Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd, Some seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte, He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte ; 2520 Thus was the halle ful of diuynynge Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge. The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked, Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche, 2525 Til that the Thebane knyghtes, bothe y-liche Honoured, weren into the paleys fet. Due Theseus was at a wyndow set, 2509. Co Ln yomen, Gg Thanneyftr Y.; Gg omi/s and. 2510. Gg H4 as th. as. 251 1. H 4 Pe na. and cl. 2512. Pe Ln H4 blewe. 2513. Pe Ln H 4 peple. 2515. Hn Pe H 4 Thebans. 2517. Co Ln holden. 2525. Hn Co Ln chambres. 2527. El Honured. 90 KNIGHTES TALE [A 2529-2555 Arrayed right as he were a god in trone. The peple preeseth thidervvard ful soone 2530 Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reuerence, And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence. An heraud on a scaffold made an ' Oo ! ' Til al the noyse of the peple was y-do ; And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille, 2535 Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille : — 1 The lord hath of his heih discrecioun Considered that it were destruccioun To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse Of mortal bataille now in this emprise ; 2540 Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye, He wole his firste purpos modifye. 1 No man ther-fore, vp peyne of los of lyf, No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf, Into the lystes sende, or thider brynge ; 2545 Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge, No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde. Ne no man shal vnto his felawe ryde But o cours with a sharp y-grounde spere ; Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hym self to were. 2550 And he that is at meschief shal be take, And noght slayn, but be broght vnto the stake That shal ben ordeyned on either syde ; But thider he shal by force, and there abyde. ' And if so falle the cheuyntein be take 2555 2530. Gg e presed. 2531. Pe done him h. r. ; H4 doon him r. 2534. El of peple. 2535. El Gg noyse of peple. 2537. Hn Pe Ln heighe. 2539. II 4 e \>'\s for the; H4 wise/0;' gise. 2542. El wolde. 2543. Hn Co Ln vpon p.; Co En p. of (Ln on) his lyf. 2544. El Gg omit isl ne; Gg schort p. and no for 2d ne. 2545. El Gg Ln ne for or. 2547. El H4 omit it. 2555. a Ln chieftayn, Pe Chevetayn, H4 cheuenten; II4 a. for the. .42556-2584] KNIGHTES TALE 91 On outher syde, or dies sleen his make, No lenger shal the turneiynge laste. God spede you ! gooth forth, and ley on faste ! With long-swerd and with maces fighteth youre fille. Gooth now youre wey, this is the lordes wille.' 2560 The voys of peple touchede the heuene, So loude cride they with murie steuene, ' God saue swich a lord, that is so good He wilneth no destruction of blood ! ' Vp goth the trompes and the melodye, 2565 And to the lystes rit the compaignye By ordinance, thurgh-out the citee large, Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge. Ful lik a lord this noble due gan ryde, Thise two Thebans vpon either side ; 2570 And after rood the queene and Emelye, And after that another compaignye Of oon and oother, after hir degre ; And thus they passen thurgh out the citee, And to the lystes come they by tyme. 2575 It nas not of the day yet fully pryme Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye, Ypolita the queene, and Emelye, And othere ladyes in degrees aboute. Vnto the seettes preesseth al the route ; 2580 And westward, thurgh the gates vnder Marte, Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte, With baner reed is entred right anon. And in that selue moment Palamon 2556. PeLnsclayn. 2558,2560. Hn e go for gooth. 2559. Co Ln with longe swerdes, Pe wi|? swerdes; Co 30ur. Pe longe, for with; Hn H 4 mace. 2561. Co Ln H4 be p.; a touched; e H4 omit 2d the. 2562. Gg longe for loude. 2565. a goon. 2570. Gg e thebenys. 2575. Hn coome. 2581. vnder Marte is glossed sub Marte in a. 92 KNIGHTES TALE [^2585-2613 Is vnder Venus, Estward in the place, 2585 With baner whyt, and hardy chiere and face. In al the world to seken vp and doun, So euene withouten variacioun Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye ; For ther was noon so wys that koude seye 2590 That any hadde of oother auauntage Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age, So euene were they chosen, for to gesse. And in two renges faire they hem dresse. Whan that hir names rad were euerichon, 2595 That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon, Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude, i Do now youre deuoir, yonge knyghtes proude ! ' The heraudes lefte hir prikyng vp and doun ; Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun ; 2600 Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest ; In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde. Ther seen men who kan Iuste and who kan ryde ; Ther shyueren shaftes vpon sheeldes thikke ; 2605 He feeleth thurgh the hertespoon the prikke. Vp spryngen speres twenty foot on highte ; Out goon the swerdes as the siluer brighte ; The helmes they tohewen and toshrede, Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede ; 2610 With myghty maces the bones they tobreste. He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste ; Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al ; 2594. Gg omits in; e in to for in two; Gg € rynges. 2602. H4 Co Ln goth. 2603. Gg Pe Ln II 4 spere for spore. 2607. Hn Co Ln spryngeth. 2608. El goth. 2612. Co Ln on for of. 2613. El Gg semblen for stomblen. ,42614-2643] KNIGHTES TALE 93 He rolleth vnder foot as dooth a bal ; He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, * 2615 And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun ; He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen y-take, Maugree his heed, and broght vnto the stake ; As forward was, right ther he moste abyde. Another lad is on that oother syde. 2620 And som tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste, Hem to refresshe and drynken if hem leste. Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two Togydre y-met, and wroght his felawe wo ; Vnhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye. 2625 Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye, Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite, So crueel on the hunte as is Arcite For Ielous herte vpon this Palamoun. Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leoun 2630 That hunted is, or for his hunger wood, Ne of his praye desireth so the blood, As Palamoun to sleen his foo Arcite. The Ielous strokes on hir helmes byte ; Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede. 2635 Som tyme an ende ther is of euery dede; For er the sonne vnto the reste wente, The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente This Palamon, as he faugh t with Arcite, And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte ; 2640 And by the force of twenty is he take Vnyolden, and y-drawen to the stake. And in the rescus of this Palamoun 2615. e foot. 2616. Hn e hurteth. 2622. El fresshen, Gg frossche,yfrr refresshe. 2624. Gg felawys. 2626. Go Pe omit the. 2636. Pe Hi on for of. 2642. El ydrawe vnto; e drawenyftr ydrawen. 94 KNIGHTES TALE [^2644-2673 The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun, And kyng Emetreus, for al his strengthe, 2645 Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, So hitte him Palamoun, er he were take ; But al for noght, he was broght to the stake. His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught ; He moste abyde, whan that he was caught, 2650 By force and eek by composicioun. Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun, That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte ? And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte Vnto the folk that foghten thus echon 2655 He cryde, ' Hoo ! Namoore, for it is doon ! I wol be trewe luge, and nat parti e : Arcite of Thebes shall haue Emelie That by his fortune hath hir faire ywonne.' Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne 2660 For Ioye of this, so loude and heighe with-alle, It semed that the lystes sholde falle. What kan now faire Venus doon aboue ? What seith she now ? What dooth this Queene of Loue, But wepeth so for wantynge of hir wille, 2665 Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille ? She seyde, ' I am ashamed doutelees.' Saturnus seyde, ' Doghter, hoold thy pees, Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone, And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone.' 2670 The trompes, with the loude mynstralcie, The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie, Been in hir wele for Ioye of daun Arcite. 2654. Hn e H4 seen; Gg Pe H4 that s. 2655. H4 e omit and insert Ne noon schal lenger vnto his felaw goon after 2656. 2657. El Gg no for nat. 2671. Hn e trumpours. 2672. El H4 yolle. /4 2674-2702] KNIGHTES TALE 95 But herkneth me, and stynteth now a lite, Which a myracle ther bifel anon. 2675 This fierse Arcite hath of his helm y-don, And on a courser for to shewe his face He priketh endelong the large place, Lokynge vpvvard vp-on this Emelye, And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye 2680 And was al his in chiere, as in his herte. 2683 Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte, From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne, 2685 For which his hors for fere gan to turne, And leep aside and foundred as he leep. And er that Arcite may taken keep, He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed, That in the place he lay as he were deed, 2690 His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe. As blak he lay as any cole or crowe, So was the blood y-ronnen in his face. Anon he was y-born out of the place With herte soor to Theseus paleys. 2695 Tho was he koruen out of his harneys, And in a bed y- brought ful faire and blyue ; For he was yet in memorie and alyue, And alwey criynge after Emelye. Due Theseus with al his compaignye 2700 Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee, With alle blisse and greet solempnitee ; 2674. Hn e noyse, H4 but for now. 2680. a Ln eye; after this line H4 e add For wommen as (H 4 as for) to speken in comune, Thei folwen all the fauour of fortune. ( The next verse is here marked 2683 so as not to disturb the usual line- numbering?) 2683. Hn she was; 1st in not found in AIss. 2684. H 4 e fir for furie. 2685. H4 e at J>e (Co atte) r. 96 KNIGHTES TALE [A 2703-2732 Al be it that this auenture was falle, He nolde noght disconforten hem alle. Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye, 2705 He shal been heeled of his maladye. And of another thyng they weren as fayn, That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn, Al were they soore y-hurt, and namely oon, That with a spere was thirled his brest boon. 2710 To othere woundes and to broken armes, Somme hadden salues and somme hadden charmes ; Fermacies of Herbes, and eek saue They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes haue. For which this noble due, as he wel kan,^ 2715 Conforteth and honoureth euery man, And made reuel al the longe nyght Vnto the straunge lordes, as was right. Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge But as a Iustes, or a tourneiynge ; 2720 For soothly ther was no disconfiture. For fallyng nys nat but an auenture, Ne to be lad by force vnto the stake Vnyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take, A persone allone withouten mo, 2725 And haryed forth by arme, foot and too, And eke his steede dryuen forth with staues, With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaues, — It nas aretted hym no vileynye ; Ther may no man clepen it cowardve. 2730 For which anon due Theseus leet crye, To stynten alle rancour and enuye, 2710. Iln Pe the /or his. 2718. H* c as it was r. 2719. Hn to for no. 2722. H4 e omit nat ; Pe is by an; Ln omits an. 2725. El O, Gg on for A. 2726. a Gg arm; Gg omits forth. 2730. Hn Gg clepe. ,42733-2762] KNIGHTES TALE 97 The gree as wel of o syde as of oother, And eyther syde y-lik as ootheres brother, And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, 2735 And fully heeld a feeste dayes three ; And conueyed the kynges worthily Out of his toun a Iournee largely. And hoom wente euery man the righte way, Ther was namoore, but ' Fare wel ! Haue good day ! ' 2740 Of this bataille I wol namoore endite, But speke of Palamoun and of Arcyte. Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore Encreeseth at his herte moore and moore. The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, 2745 Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-laft, That neither veyne-blood ne ventusynge, Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge ; The vertu expulsif, or animal, Fro thilke vertu cleped natural 2750 Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle. The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle, And euery lacerte in his brest adoun Is shent with venym and corrupcioun. Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif, 2755 Vomyt vpward ne dounward laxatif ; Al is to-brosten thilke regioun, Nature hath now no dominacioun ; And certeinly ther Nature wol nat wirche Farevvel, Phisik ! go ber the man to chirche ! 2760 This al and som, that Arcita moot dye. For which he sendeth after Emelye, 2733. Gg on for 1st of. 2737. El conuoyed. 2740. Gg e and haue. 2744. Hn encreese that. 2 75 2 - Hn H4 e gan to. 2758. Gg Hn e omit now. H 98 KNIGHTES TALE [.4 2763-2791 And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere. Thanne seyde he thus as ye shal after heere : ' Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte 2765 Declare a point of alle my sorwes smerte To yow, my lady, that I loue moost ; But I biquethe the seruyce of my goost To yow abouen euery creature, Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure. 2770 Alias the wo ! alias, the peynes stronge, That I for yow haue suffred, and so longe ! Alias, the deeth ! Alias, myn Emelye ! Alias, departynge of our compaignye ! Alias, myn hertes queene ! alias, my wyf ! 2775 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf! What is this world ? what asketh men to haue ? Now with his loue, now in his colde graue Allone, withouten any compaignye. Farewel, my swete foo, myn Emelye ! 2780 And softe taak me in youre armes tweye For loue of God, and herkneth what I seye. ' I haue heer with my cosyn Palamon Had strif and rancour many a day agon For loue of yow, and for my Ialousye \ 2785 And Iuppiter so wys my soule gye To speken of a seruaunt proprely, With alle circumstances trewely, That is to seyn, trouthe, honour, knyghthede, Wysdom, humblesse, estaat and heigh kynrede, 2790 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art ! 2766. El O, Gg on for a. 2766. Fe II4 omit alle. 2770. Cf. Introd., § 260 b; but perhaps we should read now no 1. as in v. 2758. 2777. Gg askyn; II4 Pe asken; Co Ln axed. 2779-2782. Hn omits. 2782. Gg Ln herkene. 2788. Hn e cir. alle. 2789. Co Pe H 4 tr. h. and kn. ^2792-2820] KNIGHTES TALE 99 So Iuppiter haue of my soule part, As in this world right now ne knovve I non So worthy to ben loued as Palamon, That serueth yow and wol doon al his lyf. 2795 And if that euere ye shul ben a wyf, Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man/ — And with that word his speche faille gan. For from his feet vp to his brest was come The coold of deeth that hadde him ouercome, 2800 And yet mooreouer, for in his armes two The vital strengthe is lost and al ago. Oonly the intellect withouten moore, That dwelled in his herte syk and soore, Gan faillen when the herte felte deeth. 2805 Dusked hise eyen two, and failled breeth, But on his lady yet caste he his ye ; His laste word was, ' Mercy, Emelye !' His spirit chaunged hous, and wente ther As I cam neuer, I kan nat tellen wher. 2810 Therfore I stynte, I nam no diuinistre ; ' Of soules ' fynde I nat in this registre, Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle ; Arcite is coold, ther Mars his soule gye. 2815 Now wol I speken forth of Emelye. Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon, And Theseus his suster took anon Swpwnynge, and baar hir fro the corps away. What helpeth it to tarien forth the day 2820 2796. H4 Pe shul euer be. 2799. El Gg H4 herte for feet; e vnto for vp to; Pe >e herte for his br. 2801. H± omits for. 2806. Co Ln Busked; Pe dusken; Hi duskyng. 2807. a Gg Ln eye. 2811. earn. 2S13. H4 list nat thopynyouns. 2815. Co Pe ]at, Ln \dXfor ther. LofC. 100 KNIGHTES TALE [,4 2821-2849 To tellen how she weep, bothe eue and morwe ? For in swich cas wommen haue swich sorwe Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago, That for the moore part they sorwen so, Or ellis fallen in swich maladye 2825 That at the laste certeinly they dye. Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeeres, In al the toun for deeth of this Theban. For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man ; 2830 So greet a wepyng was ther noon, certayn, Whan Ector was y-broght al fressh y-slayn To Troye. Alias ! the pitee that was ther, Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer. ' Why woldestow be deed ? ' thise wommen crye, 2835 1 And haddest gold ynough, and Emelye. , No man myghte gladen Theseus, Sauynge his olde fader Egeus, That knew this worldes transmutacioun As he hadde seyn it vp and doun, 2840 Ioye after wo and wo after gladnesse, And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse. ' Right as ther dyed neuere man,' quod he, 1 That he ne lyuede in erthe in som degree, Right so ther lyuede neuere man,' he seyde, 2845 1 In all this world that som tyme he ne deyde. This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo, And we been pilgrymes passynge to and fro ; Deeth is an ende of euery worldly soore.' 2823. El housbond is. 2828. El and eke, H 4 hat ben /or and folk. 2832. Hn e Gg broght. 2840. I In seyn it chaungen bothe vp, etc.; H 4 seen it torne {see note'). 2842. e scheweth; Hn II4 e ensaumple. ,42850-2878] KNIGHT ES TALE 10 1 And ouer al this yet seyde he muchel moore - 2850 To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte The peple that they sholde hem reconforte. Due Theseus with all his bisy cure Casteth now wher that the sepulture Of goode Arcite may best y-maked be, 2855 And eek moost honurable in his degree. And at the laste he took conclusioun That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun Hadden for loue the bataille hem bitwene, That in the selue groue swoote and grene 2860 Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires, His compleynte, and for loue his hoote fires, He wolde make a fyr in which the orifice Funeral he myghte al accomplice. And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe 2865 The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe, In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne. Hise officers with swifte feet they renne, And ryde anon at his comandement. And after this Theseus hath y-sent 2870 After a beere, and it al ouer spradde With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde. And of the same suyte he clad Arcite ; Vpon his hondes hise gloues white, Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene, 2875 And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene. He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere. Ther-with he weep that pitee was to heere. 2854. El Gg H 4 Co Ln cast, Hn Caste, Pe Tasteb (see § 177) ; H 4 busily for now. 2864. e hem all complice. 2865. Hn H4 e anon comande. 2868. H4 e foot for feet. 2874. Hn e his, Gg hese, for hise; H4 were his gl.; El hadde he gl. 2876. Co Ln omit ful. 102 KNIGHTES TALE [,4 2879-2907 And for the peple sholde seen hym alle, Whan it was day he broghte hym to the halle, 2880 That roreth of the criyng and the soun. Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun, With flotery herd and ruggy asshy heeres, In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teeres ; And, passynge othere of wepynge, Emelye, 2885 The rewefulleste of al the compaignye. In as muche as the seruyce sholde be The moore noble and riche in his degree, Due Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge, That trapped were in Steele al gliterynge, 2890 And couered with the armes of daun Arcite. Vpon thise steedes grete and white, Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld, Another his spere vp on his hondes heeld, The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys 2895 (Of brend gold was the caas, and eek the harneys). And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere, Toward the groue, as ye shul after heere. The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were Vpon hir shuldres caryeden the beere, 2900 With slake paas, and eyen rede and wete, Thurgh-out the citee by the maister strete, That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye Right of the same is the strete y-wrye. Vpon the right hond wente olde Egeus, 2905 And on that oother syde due Theseus, With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn 2880. Co Ln in to the h. 2881. H 4 e cry. 2883. El rugged/?;- ruggy; Gg flatery herys. 2892. H4 J?e st. that weren g., etc. 2893. El Ln sitten; Pe stoclen. 2894. El H4 vp in. 2901. a Gg H4 Co Pe slak (paas ?nistake)i for singula}', cf. § 101). 2904. H4 is al the s. ,42908-2935] KNIGHTES TALE IO3 Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn : Eek Palamon, with ful greet compaignye. And after that cam woful Emelye, 2910 With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse To do the office of funeral seruyse. Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge Was at the seruice and the fyr makynge, That with his grene top the heuen raughte ; 2915 And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte, This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode. Of stree first ther was leyed many a lode ; But how the fyr was maked vp on highte, And eek the names how the trees highte, — 2920 As 00k, firre, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler, Wylwe, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer, Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltre, — How they weren feld shal nat be toold for me ; Ne how the goddes ronnen vp and doun 2925 Disherited of hir habitacioun, In which they woneden in reste and pees, Nymphes, Fawnes, and Amadrides ; Ne how the beestes and the briddes alle Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle ; 2930 Ne how the ground agast was of the light, That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright ; Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree, And thanne with drye stikkes clouen a thre, And thanne with grene wode and spicerye, 2935 2914. H4 Pe Ln and at the f. 2918. Mss. leyd (Pe Ln leyde); El H 4 ful many. 2920. El that, Gg what for how. 2922. El Wylugh; Hn e wylow; Gg H4 wylw; Pe Ln byndy^r lynde. 2924. El fild. 2926. H 4 Disheryt. 2927. El whiche. 2928. Gg H 4 e amadries. 2934. El Co stokkes. 104 KNIGHT ES TALE [.42936-2963 And thanne with clooth of gold, and with perrye, And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour ; The mirre, thencens, with al so greet odour; Ne how Arcite lay among al this, Ne what richesse aboute his body is, 2940 Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse, Putte in the fyr of funeral seruyse, Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr, Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desyr, Ne what Ieweles men in the fyr caste 2945 Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste ; Ne how 7 somme caste hir sheeld and somme hir spere, And of hir vestimentz whiche that they were, And coppes full of wyn, and milk, and blood, Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood ; 2950 Ne how the Grekes with an huge route Thries riden al the fyr aboute Vpon the left hand with a loud shoutynge, And thries with hir speres claterynge ; And thries how the ladyes gonne crye, 2955 And how that lad was homward Emelye ; Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde, Ne how that lychewake was y-holde Al thilke nyght ; ne how the Grekes pleye The wake-pleyes ; ne kepe I nat to seye 2960 Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt, Ne who that baar hym best in no disioynt. I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon 2936. Pe omits 2d with; Lnofp. 2937. Hn ful of m. ; Gg Pe omit ful. 2940. Hn the b. 2943. El omit the; H 4 wh. she made; e wh. made was the f. 2945. H4 tho c. 2949. I In e of m. and (Ln. omits) w. and b. 2952. El place for fyr. 2953. Co Ln bowe shotynge. 2958. H4 omits; a lych wake. 2963. Hn e t. al how they; H4 they ben g. ^2964-2993] KNIGHTES TALE 105 Hoom til Atthenes, whan the pleye is doon ; But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende, 2965 And maken of my longe tale an ende. By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres Al styntyd is the moornynge and the teres. Of Grekes by oon general assent, Thanne semed me, ther was a parlement 2970 At Atthenes, vpon certein poyntz and caas ; Among the whiche poyntz y-spoken was, To haue with certein contrees alliaunce, And haue fully of Thebans obeissaunce. For which this noble Theseus anon 2975 Leet senden after gentil Palamon, Vnwist of hym what was the cause and why ; But in his blake clothes sorwefully He cam at his comandement in hye. Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 2980 Whan they were set, and hust was al the place, And Theseus abiden hadde a space Er any word cam from his wise brest, His eyen sette he ther as was his lest, And with a sad visage he siked stille ; 2985 And after that right thus he seyde his wille : ' The Firste Moeuere of the cause aboue, Whan he first made the faire cheyne of loue, Greet was theffect and heigh was his entente. Wei wiste he why and what therof he mente, 2990 For with that faire cheyne of loue he bond The fyr, the eyr, the water and the lond, In certeyn bound es that they may nat flee. 2964. Co Ln was d. 2968. Hn e stynt. 2971. Gg poyntys; Hn H4 e vpon a c. poynt. 2972. Gg spokyn omitting whiche, Pe omits the whiche. 2981. e.huyst; Hi hussht. 106 KNIGHTES TALE [.4 2994-3018 That same Prince, and that same Moeuere/ quod he, ' Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun 2995 Certeyne dayes and duracioun To al that is engendrid in this place, Ouer the whiche day they may nat pace, Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge ; Ther nedeth noon auctoritee to allegge, 3000 For it is preeued by experience, But that me list declaren my sentence. Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne That thilke Moeuere stable is and eterne. Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, 3005 That euery part dirryueth from his hool ; For nature hath taken his bigynnyng Of no partie or cantel of a thyng, But of a thyng that parfit is and stable, Descendynge so til it be corrumpable. 3010 And therfore for his wise purueiaunce He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce, That speces of thynges and progressiouns Shullen enduren by successiouns, And nat eterne — withouten any lye 3015 This maystow understonde and seen at ye. 1 Loo the 00k, that hath so long a norisshynge From tyme that it first bigynneth sprynge, 2994. Hn Ln omit 2d same; H4 and m. eek. 2998. a which. 2999. Hn e omit wel; H4 3k wel hered. 3000. El Co needeth nought; El to omits to; Gg e to legge (Ln lugge). 3003. Hn H4 e wel after men (Pe omits it). 3004. Gg stylle and sterne^r stable etc. 3006. Hn is diryued, Co Ln darreyned, for dirryueth. 3007. Hn H4 e hath nat. 3008. aeofc; Ggofa c; H4 ne c. 301 1. El Gg Pe H4 of for for. 3013- Gg Pe specyfie, Co Ln specie for speces. 3015. ^4 eterne be wij'oute lye. 3016. El Gg Ln eye. 3018. Hn H4 gynneth; Pe H4 first before to sp.; H4 e to spr. ^3 OI 9-3°47] KNIGHTES TALE 107 And hath so long a lif, as we may see, Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020 1 Considered! eek how that the harde stoon Vnder oure feet, on which we trede and goon, Yit wasteth it as it lyth by the weye ; The brode ryuer somtyme wexeth dreye ; The grete townes se we wane and wende ; 3025 Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende. * Of man and womman seen we wel also, That nedeth in oon of thise termes two, This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age, He moot be deed — the kyng as shal a page ; 3030 Som in his bed, som in the depe see, Som in the large feeld, as men may se ; Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye : Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye. 1 What maketh this but Iuppiter, the kyng, 3035 The which is prince and cause of alle thyng, Conuertynge al vnto his propre welle From which it is dirryued, sooth to telle ? And here-agayns no creature on lyue Of no degree auailleth for to stryue. 3040 * Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me, To maken vertu of necessitee, And take it weel that we may not eschue, And namely that to vs alle is due. And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth fdlye, 3045 And rebel is to hym that al may gye. And certeinly a man hath moost honour 3019. Hn e ye for we. 3022. Hn H4 e foot for feet. 3024. Hn It wasteth as, etc. 3025. El touresyftr townes. 3026. Gg may I say, H4 may I see, Hn se ye, e ye se for may ye see. 3028. e the termes. 3032. Hn e ye for men. 3°3^- Hn he for it. 108 KNIGHTES TALE [^3048-3075 To dyen in his excellence and flour, Whan he is siker of his goode name. Thanne hath he doon his freend ne hym no shame. 3050 And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth, Whan with honour is yolden vp his breeth, Than whan his name apalled is for age, For al forgeten is his vassellage. Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame, 3055 To dyen whan that he is best of name. ' The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse. Why grucchen we, why haue we heuynesse, That goode Arcite, of chiualrie flour, Departed is with deutee and honour 3060 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf ? Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf Of his welfare that loued hem so weel ? Kan he hem thank — Nay, God woot, neuer a dee! — That bothe his soule and eek hem-self offende? 3065 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende. 1 What may I conclude of this longe serye, But after wo I rede vs to be merye, And thanken Iuppiter of al his grace? And er that we departen from this place 3070 I rede we make of sorwes two, O parfit Ioye lastynge euermo. And looketh now wher moost sorwe is her-inne, Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne. 1 Suster,' quod he, ' this is my mile assent, 3075 3051. Co Ln freendes. 3052. El vpyolden is; Hn e yolden is vp (exc. Ln) ; H 4 e )>e br. 3054. Gg wasseylage; Co Ln vesselage. 3C9. H4 e \>e flour. 3060. lln e with d. and with h.; Gg deynte; H4 worsohip. 3062. Hn H4 e (exc. Pe) gruccheth. 3071. H4 inserts that before we. 3073. Imperfect in Gg. 3074. Gg imperfect to 3088. A 3076-3103] KNIGHTES TALE IOQ With al thauys heere of my parlement, That gentil Palamon, youre owene knyght, That serueth yow with wille, herte, and myght, And euere hath doon syn ye first hym knewe, That ye shul of your grace vpon hym rewe, 3080 And taken hym for housbonde and for lord ; Lene me youre hond for this is oure accord. Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee ; He is a kynges brother sone, par dee, And though he were a poure bacheler, 3085 Syn he hath serued yow so many a yeer And had for yow so greet aduersitee, It moste been considered, leeueth me, For gentil mercy oghte to passen right.' Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon ful right : 3090 1 1 trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng To make yow assente to this thyng • Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond.' Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond That highte matrimoigne, or mariage, 3095 By al the conseil and the baronage. And thus with alle blisse and melodye Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye. And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght, Sende hym his loue that hath it deere aboght, 3100 For now is Palamon in alle wele, Lyuynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele ; And Emelye hym loueth so tendrely, 3077. El thynyfrr youre. 3078. Hn w. and harte might; Co Ln w. and h. and m; H 4 herte w. and m ; H 4 Hn e omit that. 3079. El syn bat ye; H 4 fyrst tyme ye. 3089. Gg begins a^ain. 3090. Hn e the knyght for ful ryght. 3096. Gg cxmttzfor conseil. 3099. Hn e omit wide. 3100. El omits hath. 110 KNIGHTES TALE [^3104-3108 And he hir serueth al-so gentilly, That neuere was ther no word hem bitwene 3105 Of Ialousie, or any oother tene. Thus endeth Palamon and Emefye ; And God saue al this faire compaignye. Amen. Heere is ended the Knyghtes Tale. 3104. Mss. exc. H4 omit al (probably correction in H 4 ). 3105. Hn Co Ln omit neuere; Pe omits was ther; Ln that ther no w. was, etc. 3108. Amen found only in a. THE NONNES PREESTES TALE THIS IS THE PROLOGE OF THE NONNES PRESTES TALE. (B 3957-4636) ' Hoo ! ' quod the Knyght, ' Good Sire, namoore of this ! That ye han seyd is right ynough, y-wis, And muchel moore ; for litel heuynesse Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse. 3960 I seye for me, it is a greet disese, Where as men han been in greet welthe and ese, To heeren of hir sodeyn fal alias ! And the contrarie is ioye and greet solas, As whan a man hath ben in poure estaat, 3965 And clymbeth vp, and wexeth fortunat, And there abideth in prosperitee. Swich thyng is gladsom, as it thynketh me, And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle.' ' Ye,' quod oure Hoost, ' by Seinte Poules belle, 3970 Ye seye right sooth ! This Monk he clappeth lowde ; He spak how " Fortune couered with a clowde " — I noot neuer what, and also of a " Tragedie " Right now ye herde. And, pardee, no remedie It is for to biwaille, ne compleyne 3975 That that is doon ; and als it is a peyne, This prologue is not found hi Gg, which begins with v. 4049 on folio 365; folios 363, 364 are missing from this Ms. Sloane 1685 (SI) sup- plies its place in Six- Text. 3960 SI Co Ln as I gesse (Ln gest). 3961-3980. Omitted in Hn Co Pe : El Ln and some Mss. of Tci group given in Six- Text contain the passage. 11 1 112 NONNES PREESTES TALE [B 397^-4005 As ye han seyd, to heere of heuynesse. Sire Monk ! Namoore of this, so God yovv blesse ! Youre tale anoyeth all this compaignye. Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye, 3980 For ther inne is ther no desport ne game. Wherfore, Sir Monk, Daun Piers by youre name, I pray yovv hertely telle vs somwhat elles. For sikerly, nere clynkyng of youre belles That on youre bridel hange on euery syde, 3985 By heuene kyng, that for vs alle dyde, I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleep, Althogh the slough had neuer been so deep : Thanne hadde youre tale al be toold in veyn.~ For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn, 3990 Where as a man may haue noon audience, Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence. And wel I woot the substance is in me, If any thyng shal wel reported be. Sir, sey somwhat of huntyng, I yow preye.' 3995 ' Nay ! ' quod this Monk, 1 1 haue no lust to pleye. Now lat another telle, as I haue toold.' Thanne spak oure Hoost with rude speche and boold, And seyde vnto the Nonnes Preest anon : ' Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou " Sir Iohn ! " 4000 Telle vs swich thyng as may oure hertes glade. Be blithe, though thou ryde vpon a iade — What thogh thyn hors be bothe foule and lene ? If he vvol serue thee rekke nat a bene, Looke that thyn herte be murie eueremo.' 4005 3981. Hn Co Pe Youre tales don vs for For ther inne is ther; Ln omits second ther. 3982. Hn O daun, Pe or daun. 39^7- Co Ln SI schal/tfr sholde. 4000. e omits second ihou. 4004. Co Ln SI rekke \>e. £4006-4027] NONNES PREESTES TALE II3 6 Yis, sir,' quod he, ( yis Hoost, so moot I go, But I be myrie, y-wis I wol be blamed.' And right anon his tale he hath attamed, And thus he seyde vn to vs euerichon, This sweete preest, this goodly man, Sir Iohn : — 4010 Heere Bigynneth the Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok and Hen, — Chauntecleer and Pertelote. A poure wydwe, somdel stape in age, Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage Beside a groue stondynge in a dale. This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale, Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf, 4015 In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf, For litel was hir catel and hir rente. By housbondrie of swich as God hir sente She foond hirself, and eek hire doghtren two. Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo, 4020 Three kyn and eek a sheep that highte Malle. Ful sooty was hir hour and eek hir halle, In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel ; Of poynaunt sauce hir neded neuer a deel, No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte. 4025 Hir diete was accordant to hir cote ; Repleccion ne made hir neuere sik, 4006. Co Ln SI )is, hoste quod he so mote I ryde or go. 4010. Co Ln SI goode for goodly. Pe My tale I wil bygynne anon for 4010. 401 1. Hn poore ; Co pouere ; Ln pouer; H4 e wydow (Co wydewe); H4 e stope (cp. E 1514 where a stapen, Gg schapyn). 4013. e Be- sydes. 4015- e Sybens (Ln Sebben). 4021. El keen. 4023. Pe Ln omit Ful. 4025. e omits thurgh. 114 NONNES PREESTES TALE [£4028-4054 Attempree diete was al hir phisik, • And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce. The goute lette hir no-thyng for to daunce, * 4030 Napoplexie shente nat hir heed ; No vvyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed. Hir bord was serued moost with whit and blak, Milk and broun breed, in which she foond no lak ; Seynd bacoun and somtyme an ey or tweye, 4033 For she was as it were a maner deye. A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute With stikkes and a drye dych withoute, In which she hadde a cok heet Chauntecleer. In al the land of crowyng nas his peer/ 4040 His voys was murier than the murie orgon On messedayes that in the chirche gon. Wei sikerer was his crowyng in his logge Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge ; By nature he knew eche ascencioun 4045 Of equynoxial in thilke toun, For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended, Thanne crew he that it myghte nat been amended. His coomb was redder than the fyn coral And batailled as it were a castel wal ; 4050 His byle was blak, and as the Ieet it shoon ; Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon \ His nayles whitter than the lylye flour, And lyk the burned gold was his colour. 4030. e to for for to. 4031. H4 e Ne Poplexie. 4037. e gardyn for yeerd. 4039. H4 e hat highte for heet. 4040. Pe Ln was, H4 was noon for nas. 4043. Co Pe be for 1st his. 4044. Hn Co Ln any for an. 4045. El Pe crew for knew ; H4 knew he. 4046. El Ln of the equ. ; e of for in. 4047. e discendid. 4048. e knew for crew. 4049. Gg begins. 405 3. El whiter. 4054. e y\Wz for lyk the; Hn e burnisht. B 4055-4083] NONNES PREESTES TALE I 1 5 This gentil cok hadde in his gouernaunce 4055 Seuene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce, Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours, And wonder lyk to hym, as of colours ; Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte Was cleped faire damoys'ele Pertelote. 4060 Curteys she was, discreet and debonaire, And compaignable, and bar hyr-self so faire, Syn thilke day that she was seuen nyght oold, That trewely she hath the herte in hoold Of Chauntecleer, loken in euery lith ; 4065 He loued hir so that wel was hym therwith. But swiche a ioye was it to here hem synge, Whan that the brighte sonne bigan to sprynge, In sweete accord, ' My lief is faren in londe ' — (For thilke tyme, as I haue understonde, 4070 Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge !) And so bifel that in a dawenynge, As Chauntecleer among hise wyues alle Sat on his perche that was in the halle, And next hym sat this faire Pertelote, 4075 This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte, As man that in his dreem is drecched soore. And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym roore, She was agast, and seyde, ' Herte deere ! What eyleth yow, to grone in this man ere ? 4080 Ye been a verray sleper \ fy, for shame ! ' And he answerde and seyde thus : ' Madame, I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief j 4063. Gg H4 }eer /or nyght. 4066. Gg hym /or hir. 4067. Gg Ln it was, Co Pe as it was /or -was it. 4068. Hn H4 Co Pe gan /or bigan. 4072. El the /or a ; Pe in \>e dawynge. 4074. Gg an, H4 his/or the. 4°75- ^gJDame P. /or this f. P. 4077. Co Pe man j?at is in his dr. dr. 4079. El o herte d. Il6 NONNES PKEESTES TALE [£4084-4112 By God, me mette I was in swich meschief Right now, that yet myn herte is soore afright. 4085 Now God,' quod he, ' my sweuene recche aright, And kepe my body out of foul prisoun ! Me mette how that I romed vp and doun Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest 4090 Vpon my body, and han had me deed. His colour was bitwixe yelpw and reed, And tipped was his tayl, and bothe his eeris-, With blak, vnlyk the remenant of his heeris. His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye ; 4095 Yet of his look for feere almoost I deye ; This caused me my gronyng doutelees.' ' Avoy ! ' quod she, * fy on yow, hertelees ! Alias ! ' quod she, ' for by that God aboue ! Now han ye lost myn herte and al my loue. 4100 I kan nat loue a coward, by my feith ! For certes, what so any womman seith, We alle desiren, if it myghte bee, To han housbondes hardy, wise, and free, And secree, and no nygard, ne no fool, 4105 Ne hym that is agast of euery tool, Ne noon auauntour. By that God aboue ! How dorste ye seyn, for shame, vnto youre loue That any thyng myghte make yow aferd ? Haue ye no mannes herte, and han a berd? 41 jo Alias ! and konne ye been agast of sweuenys? No thyng, God woot, but vanitee in sweuene is. 4084. El me thoughte for me mette ; e bat I was. 4086. H4 e rede for recche. 4091. H4 e wold han had, Gg anhad/^r han had. 4092. e whit for yelow. 4105- e ne for 2d and. 4112-4414. omitted in Co Ln. £4"3-4i4<>] NONNES PREESTES TALE II7 Sweuenes engendren of replecciouns, And ofte of fume and of complecciouns, Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. 41 15 Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-nyght, Cometh of the greete superfluytee Of youre rede Colera, pardee, Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes, 4120 Of rede beestes, that they wol hem byte, Of contek and of whelpes, grete and lyte ; Right as the humour of malencolie Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie For feere of blake beres, or boles blake, 4125 Of elles blake deueles wole hem take. Of othere humours koude I telle also That werken many a man in sleep ful wo ; But I wol passe as lightly as I kan. Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man, 4130 Seyde he nat thus ; " Ne do no fors of dremes " ? ' Now, sire,' quod she, 'whan we flee fro the bemes, For Goddes loue, as taak som laxatyf. Vp peril of my souie and of my lyf, I conseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, 4135 That bothe of colere and of malencolye Ye purge yow. And for ye shal nat tarie, Though in this toun is noon apothecarie, I shal myself to herbes techen yow That shul been for your hele, and for your prow ; 4140 41 16. Co Ln herd, Pe had for met. 41 17. El of greet. 4119. H 4 e drtmen for dreden. 4120. El fyr e. 4121. e omits they. 4123. Co Ln omit of. 4124. e omits ful. 4125. Gg H4 or of, Co and of, Pe Ln and for or. 4132. El ye for we; Hn H4 thise bemes. 4133. Gg omits as. 4136,4137 are omitted in H4. 4138. e jxrngh hat in. 4140. e omits 1st for. Il8 NONNES PREESTES TALE [£4141-4168 And in oure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde The whiche han of hir propretee by kynde To purge yow, bynethe and eek aboue. Forget nat this for Goddes ovvene loue ! Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun ; 4145 Ware the sonne in his ascencioun Ne fynde yovv nat repleet of humours hoote. And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote That ye shul haue a feuere terciane, Or an agu, that may be youre bane. 4150 A day or two ye shul haue digestyues Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyues Of lawriol, centaure and fumetere, Or elles of ellebor that grovveth there. Of katapuce or of gaitrys beryis, 4155 Of herbe-yue growyng in oure yeerd ther mery is ; Pekke hem vp right as they growe and ete hem yn. Be myrie, housbonde ! For youre fader kyn, Dredeth no dreem — I kan sey yow namoore ! ' ' Madame/ quod he, ' graunt mercy of youre loore. 4160 But natheless, as touchyng daun Catoun, That hath of wysdom svvich a greet renoun, Though that he bad no dremes for to drede, By God, men may in olde bookes rede Of many a man moore of auctorite 4165 Than euer Caton was, so moot I thee, That al the reuers seyn of his sentence, And han wel founden by experience 4141. e he gardyn for oure yeerd; Gg Pe two for tho. 4*47- e omits nat; e of (Co and) 30ure h.; H4 in h. 4!53- € and of fum. 4155. Gg gattris; Pe gatvs; H4 gaytre. 4156. Gg Pe or for Of (see note)-, Hn Gg that growith; H4 groweb; Hn they for ther and ther for they in next verse. 4160. e gramercy (Ln gremercy). e omits 4163 and inserts Oon of \>e grettest auctor out of drede after 4164. £4169-4196] NONNES PREESTES TALE 119 That dremes been significaciouns As wel of Ioye as of tribulaciouns, 4170 That folk enduren in this lif present. Ther nedeth make of this noon argument, The verray preeue sheweth it in dede. Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede Seith thus : ' That whilom two felawes wente 4175 On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente. And happed so they coomen in a toun, Wher as ther was swich congregacioun Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage, That they ne founde as muche as o cotage 4180 In which they bothe myghte y-logged bee. Wherfore they mosten of necessitee As for that nyght departen compaignye ; And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye, And took his loggyng as it wolde falle. 4185 That oon of hem was logged in a stalle, Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough ; That oother man was logged wel ynough, As was his auenture or his fortune, That vs gouerneth alle as in commune. 4190 And so bifel that longe er it were day, This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay, How that his felavve gan vpon hym calle, And seyde, " Alias ! for in an oxes stalle This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye. 4195 Now helpe me, deere brother, or I dye ; 4170. Hn Pe omit 2d of. 4172. e needej? nou^t to m. 4174. Gg autorys, H4 auctorite for auctour. 4 I 77- H4 com into; Ln cam into; Co camen into: Pe commen into. 4179. e of streight for so str. of. 4180. Gg e a, H4 oon for o. 41 81. Gg H4 myght (Gg myghe) bothe. ^^S- H4 depart her; e depart of. 4 l 93> e on for vpon. 120 NONNES PPEESTES TALE [B 4197-4225 In alle haste com to me ! " he seyde. This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde ; But whan that he was wakened of his sleep, He turned hym and took of this no keep; 4200 Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee. Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee, And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, " I am now slawe ! Bihoold my bloody woundes depe and wyde ; 4205 Arys vp erly in the morwe tyde, And at the westgate of the toun," quod he, " A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se, In which my body is hid ful priuely ; Do thilke carte arresten boldely. 4210 My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn." And tolde hym euery point how he was slayn, With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe. And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trevve ; For on the morwe as soone as it was day 4215 To his felawes In he took the way, And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle, After his felawe he bigan to calle. The hostiler answerede hym anon And seyde, " Sire, your felawe is agon ; 4220 As soone as day he wente out of the toun." This man gan fallen in suspecioun, Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette, And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette, Vnto the westgate of the toun, and fond 4225 4201. e was nought but (Pe Ln a v.) v. 4202. H4 Ln sleepe for slepyng. 4204. € omits and seide ; e yslawe. 4207. Iln atte westgate. 4219. a answerde. 4222. e in grete s., H4 Hn in a s. 4223. Gg Pe rem. hym on; Gg the/or hise. ^4226-4248] NONNES PREESTES TALE 121 A dong carte went as it were to donge lond, That was arrayed in that same wise As ye han herd the dede man deuyse. And with an hardy herte he gan to crye Vengeance and Iustice of this felonye. 4230 " My felavve mordred is this same nyght, And in this carte heere. he lith gapyng vpright. I crye out on the ministres," quod he, " That sholden kepe and reulen this citee ! Harrow ! alias ! heere lith my felavve slayn ! " ' 4235 What sholde I moore vnto this tale sayn? The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde, And in the myddel of the dong they founde The dede man that mordred was al newe. O blisful God, that art so lust and trewe ! 4240 Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway ! Mordre wol out, that se we day by day ; Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable To God, that is so lust and resonable, That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be, 4245 Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or thre. Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun. And right anon, ministres of that toun 4226. El omits went; e a d. c. as he wente to d. \>e londe. 4227. H4 € J>e for 2d\S\2X. 4232. e omits heere; H4 And in }>is carte he lith heer vpright. 4233. Hn omits out. 4233-4238. e omits. {According to Six-Text Sh SI2 R02 Har2, other Mss. of Co and Pe groups, also omit them ; but not Har3, known to have a second source outside Co group, nor R01 known to have a second source in Dd group. It would be interesting to know whether the verses are found in the Se and Tci groups, but as far as our knowledge goes, it supports the theory that the relatio7iship of Mss. worked out by Zupitza for the " Pardoner s Tale" holds for the " Nonnes Preesles Tale.") 4237. Hn H 4 Rox vp for out. 4247. H4 e >isis for this. 4248. e )>e (Ln J>e same) for that. 122 NONNES PREESTES TALE [.9 4249-4276 Han hent the carter, and so soore hym pyned, And eek the hostiler so soore engyned, 4250 That they biknewe hir wikkednesse anon, And were an-hanged by the nekke bon.' Heere may men seen that dremes been to drede. And certes in the same book I rede, Right in the nexte chapitre after this, — 4255 I gabbe nat, so haue I joye or blis, — Two men that wolde han passed ouer see For certeyn cause into a fer contree, If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie, That made hem in a citee for to tarie 4260 That stood ful myrie vpon an hauen syde ;- — Bat on a day agayn the euen-tyde The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste. Iolif and glad they wenten vnto reste, " And casten hem ful erly for to saille. 4265 But herkneth ! to that o man fil a greet meruaille : That oon of hem in slepyng as he lay, Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day. Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde And hym comanded that he sholde abyde, 4270 And seyde hym thus : " If thou tomorwe wende, Thou shalt be dreynt, my tale is at an ende." He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette, And preyde hym his viage to lette As for that day, he preyede hym to byde. 4275 His felawe that lay by his beddes syde 4249. e omits so. 4250. e ferre for soore. 4252. e weren h. for were an-h. 4255. € I rede of for after. 4256. Co Ln ikfor or. 4257. e \>efor ouer. 4263. H4 omits blew ; e bio wen (Ln blow) as. 4264. El wente vnto hir r. ; Gg wente to here. 4266. Co Ln herkne ) at 00 man fell in gret pereyle; Pe herken how 00 m. f. in gr. perile. 4274. Gg e for to for to. 4275. a preyde; Gg forto for to. ^4277"43°5] NONNES PREESTES TALE 12$ Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste. " No dreem,'' quod he, " may so myn herte agaste, That I wol lette for to do my thynges. I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges, 4280 For sweuenes been but vanytees and Iapes. Men dreme al day of owles and of apes, And of many a maze therwithal ; Men dreme of thyng that neuer was ne shal. But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde, 4285 And thus forslewth^n wilfully thy tyde, God woot it revveth me ; and haue good day ! " And thus he took his leue, and wente his way. But er that he hadde half his cours y-seyled, Noot I nat why ne what myschaunce it eyled, 4290 But casuelly the shippes botme rente, And ship and man vnder the water wente In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde, That with hem seyled at the same tyde ! And therefore, faire Pertelote so deere, 4295 By swiche ensamples olde yet maistow leere That no man sholde been to recchelees Of dremes ; for I seye thee doutelees, That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede. Lo, in the lyf of Seint Kenelm I rede, 4300 That was Kenulphus sone, the noble kyng Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thyng. A lite er he was mordred, on a day His inordre in his auysioun he say. His norice hym expowned euery deel 4305 4278. e omits so. 4282. a or for and. 4293. Gg omits it; H4 ber, Co Pe him, Ln hem for it. 4294. H 4 e him for hem. 4295. e he seyde for faire. 4302. a, e (Ln Mercenrike) Mertenrike; H4 mertinrike; Gg Merturyke. 43°3- H4 lutel he; Co Pe omit he. 124 NONNES PREESTES TALE [£4306-4334 His sweuene, and bad hym for to kepe hym weel For traisoun. But he nas but seuen yeer oold, And therfore litel tale hath he toold Of any dreem, so hooly was his herte. By God, I hadde leuere than my sherte 4310 That ye hadde rad his legende as haue I. Dame Pertelote, I sey yovv trewely, Macrobeus, that writ the auisioun In ArTrike of the worthy Cipioun, AfTermeth dremes, and seith that they been 4315 Warnynge of thynges that men after seen ; And forther-moore, I pray yow looketh wel In the Olde Testament of Daniel, If he heeld dremes any vanitee. Reed eek of Ioseph, and ther shul ye see 4320 Wher dremes be somtyme, — I sey nat alle, — Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle. Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao, His baker and his butiller also, Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes. 4325 Whoso wol seken actes of son dry remes May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng. Lo, Cresus, which that was of Lyde kyng, Mette he nat that he sat vpon a tree, Which signified he sholde anhanged bee? 4330 Lo heere Andromacha, Ectores wyf, That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf, She dremed on the same nyght biforn, How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorne, 4307. Gg from tr. ; Gg € was for nas; e om its 2d but ; H4 for for 1st but. 4309. El is/or was. 431 1. e herde (Ln omits) for rad. 4314. Gg e Ciprioun. 4318. e omits In. 4319. e of any v. 4321. H4 e whe\>\r for wher. ^4335~43 62 ] NONNES PREESTES TALE \2$ If thilke day he wente into bataille. 4335 She warned hym, but it myghte nat auaille ; He wente for to fighte natheles, But he was slayn anon of Achilles. But thilke tale is al to longe to telle, And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle. 4340 Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, That I shal han of this auisioun Adversitee ; and I seye forthermoor, That I ne telle of laxatyues no stoor, For they been venymes, I woot it weel ; 4345 I hem diffye, I loue hem neuer a deel ! Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this. Madame Pertelote, so haue I blis, Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace ; For whan I se the beautee of youre face, 4350 Ye been so scarlet reed aboute your yen, It maketh al my drede for to dyen, For also siker as In principio, Mulier est hominis confusio, — Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is, 4355 " Worn man is mannes joye, and al his blis " ; For whan I feele a-nyght your softe syde, I am so ful of joye and of solas, 4360 That I diffye bothe svveuene and dreem.' And with that word he fly doun fro the beem, 4338. Hn And for But; e o??iits anon (Co of oon A.). 4339- El forto telle. 4343- e Of aduersitees. 4344- Co nel, Pe ne wil, Ln will for ne. 4345. e right for it. 4349- H4 Ln hath me sent; Co me ha> sent. 435 1. Mss. eyen. 4352. Hn Gg H4 Co Ln deyen. 4360. H4 e omits 2d of. 4362. Hn Gg fley; H4 Co fleigh; Pe fleegh; Ln flie>. 126 NOsVNES PREESTES TALE [^4363-4390 For it was day, and eke hise hennes alle. And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle, For he hadde founde a corn lay in the yerd. 4365 Real he was, he was namoore aferd, He looketh as it were a grym leoun, And on hise toos he rometh vp and doun ; 4370 Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde. He chukketh whan he hath a corn y-founde, And to hym rennen thanne hise wyues alle. Thus roial as a prince is in an halle, Leue I this Chauntecleer in his pasture, - 4375 And after wol I telle his auenture. Whan that the monthe in which the world bigan, That highte March, whan God first maked man, Was compleet, and passed were also, Syn March bigan, thritty dayes and two, 4380 Bifel that Chauntecleer in al his pryde, Hise seuene wyues walkynge him bisyde, Caste vp hise eyen to the brighte sonne That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne Twenty degrees and oon, and som-what moore, 4385 And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore, That it was pryme, and crew with blisful steuene. ' The sonne,' he seyde, ' is clomben vp on heuene Fourty degrees and oon, and moore y-wis. Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, 4390 4366. c omits 2d he was. 437°- 6 romed. 437 1. H4 Gg deyneth. 4372. Hn H4 And, e Ay for He. 4373- € ratine. 4374. Hn H4 e his for an. 4376. e of his au. 4380. H4 tway monies and dayes tuo. 4382. El by his syde for him bisyde. 4384. e was for hadde. 4386. e He knew. 4389. Gg 90, H4 Twenty for Fourty. ^4391-4417] NONNES PREESTES TALE \2J Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge, And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge ; Ful is myn herte of reuel and solas ! ' But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas ; For ' euer the latter ende of ioye is wo.' 4395 God woot that worldly ioye is soone ago, And if a rethor koude faire endite, He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write, As for a souereyn notabilitee. Now euery wys man, lat him herkne me ; 4400 This storie is al so trewe, I vndertake, x\s is the book of Launcelot de Lake, That wommen holde in ful greet reuerence. Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence. A colfox ful of sly iniquitee 4405 That in the groue hadde wormed yeres three, By heigh ymaginacioun forn-cast, The same nyght thurgh-out the hegges brast Into the yerd ther Chauntecleer the faire Was wont, and eek his wyues, to repaire. 4410 And in a bed of wortes stille he lay, Til it was passed undren of the day, Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle ; As gladly doon thise homycides alle That in await liggen to mordre men. 4415 O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den ! O newe Scariot, newe Genyloun ! 4391. e Herkne how h>ese blisful briddes synge. 4395* e sone ago for wo. 4396. e And comunly often tyme it failed so. 4398. e in a (Pe omits a) cr. (Co. Cronique) mighte saufly write; H4 hem a cronique s. m. he wr. 4400. Gg now for lat h.; e omits lat h. 4403. H 4 huld; Gg Co Ln heelde. 4404. El come for torne. 4405. e ful (Pe omits) of sleighte and i.; Hn sley; H4 ful sleigh of. 4416. e roukyng for lurkynge. 128 NONNES PREESTES TALE [.£4418-4445 False dissymulour, Greek Synoun, That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe ! Ohauntecleer, acursed be that morvve, 4420 That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the bemes ! Thou were ful wel y-warned by thy dremes That thilke day was perilous to thee. But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee After the opinioun of certein clerkis. 4425 Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is, That in scole is greet altercacioun In this mateere, and greet disputisoun, And hath been of an hundred thousand men. But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren, - 4430 As kan the hooly doctour Augustyn, Or Boece, or the bisshop Bradwardyn, Wheither that Goddes worthy forwityng Streyneth me nedely to doon a thyng, — ' Nedely ' clepe I symple necessitee, — 4435 Or elles if free choys be graunted me To do that same thyng, or do it noght, Though God forwoot it er that it was wroght ; Or if his wityng streyneth neuer a deel, But by necessitee condicioneel. 4440 1 wil nat han to do of svvich mateere, My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere, That took his conseil of his wyf with sorwe, To walken in the yerd vpon that morwe That he hadde met that dreem that I yow tolde. 4445 4421. Hn H 4 e (Pe omits) \>efor that. 4422. El dreme. 4424. e bat l?at (Co Ln bat at) god afore wot. 4426. H4 e omit parfit. 4428. Gg Pe Ln disputacioun. 4430. Pe Ln omit nat. 4433- H4 Gg Co Whethir; Pe Whedere; Ln Webere ; e wille afore w. for worthy forw. 4434. El nedefully to d. 4436. e if be free. 4437- H4 Co L nor to do. 4439, H4 e oi for if. 4444. H4 e ]>efor that. 4445. El of for yow. B 4446-4474] NONNES PREESTES TALE N 1 29 ' Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde ' ; Wotnmannes conseil broghte us first to wo And made Adam fro Paradys to go, Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese. But for I noot to whom it myght displese 4450 If I conseil of worn men wolde blame, Passe ouer, for I seyde it in my game. Rede auctours where they trete of swich mateere, And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere ; Thise been the cokkes wordes and nat myne, 4455 I kan noon harm of no worn man diuyne ! Faire in the soond to bathe hir myrily Lith Pertelote, and alle hire sustres by, Agayn the sonne, and Chauntecleer so free Soong murier than the mermayde in the see — 4460 (For Phisiologus seith sikerly, How that they syngen wel and myrily). And so bifel that as he cast his ye Among the wortes, on a boterflye, He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 4465 Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe, But cride anon, ' Cok, cok ! ' and vp he sterte As man that was affrayed in his herte. For naturelly a beest desireth flee Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, 4470 Though he neuer erst hadde seyn it with his ye. This Chauntecleer whan he gan hym espye, He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon Seyde, ( Gentil sire, alias ! wher wol ye gon? 4448. El out of for fro. 4450. Gg Pe Ln I for it. 4452. El seye. 4454. Hn Pe Ln omit ye may. 4461. e witterly for sikerly. 4463. a eye; Gg yen. 4469. e to fie. 447 1. a eye; e hadde seye it erst. 4474- Gg whidyr, H4 why for wher; Co Ln what wol )e doon; Pe what hast ]?ou don. 130 NONNES PREESTES TALE [£4475-4502 Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend ? 4475 Now, certes, I were worse than a feend, If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye. I am nat come your conseil for tespye, But trewely the cause of my comynge Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge. 4480 For trewely, ye haue as myrie a steuene As any aungel hath that is in heuene. Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge Than hadde Boece, or any that kan synge. My lord youre fader, — God his soule blesse ! 4485 And eek youre mooder, of hire gentillesse, Han in myn hous y-been to my greet ese, And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese. But for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye, — So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye, — 4490 Saue yow, I herde neuer man so synge As dide youre fader in the morwenynge. Certes, it was of herte al that he song ; And for to make his voys the moore strong, He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe his yen 4495 He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen, And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal, And strecche forth his nekke, long and smal. And eek he was of swich discrecioun That ther nas no man in no regioun 4500 That hym in song or wisdom myghte passe. I haue wel rad in " Daun Burnel the Asse " 4476. H4 omits Now; H4 any for a; e certes sire ben (Ln hat) be }2 vnheende. 4482. El omits hath. 4483. Co Ln Fhysik for musyk. 44S9. El wol yow seye. 4490. e omits wel. 4491. El herde I; e ne herde; El yet for so. 4495- <* Gg Co eyen. 4496. Gg muste; e dide for wolde. 4501. El wisedom. 4502. e omits in. ^45°3-4530 NONNES PREESTES TALE 131 Among his vers, how that ther was a cok, For that a preestes sone yaf hym a knok Vpon his leg whil he was yong and nyce, 4505 He made hym for to lese his benefice. But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun Of youre fader and of his subtiltee. Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee; 4510 Lat se konne ye youre fader countrefete.' This Chauntecleer his wynges gan to bete, As man that koude his traysoun nat espie, So was he rauysshed with his flaterie. Alias, ye lordes, many a fals flatour 4515 Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour, That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith, Than he that soothfastnesse vnto yow seith — Redeth Ecclesiaste " Of Flaterye," — Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520 This Chauntecleer stood hye vp on his toos Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos, And gan to crowe loude for the nones. And daun Russell, the fox, stirte vp atones, And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 4525 And on his bak toward the wode hym beer ; For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed. O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed ! Alas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes ! Alias his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes ! — 4530 And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce ! 4503. e omits how that. 4510. Pe Ln seint 4515. Gg Ln flaterour. 4524. Gg at at anys; e al at oones. 4525. e gargage (Ln gorge). 45 2 7- Gg theere ne was, e was \>er for ne w. th. 4529. Hn fly, e Mfor fleigh. 4531. e fell. 132 NONNES PREESTES TALE [£4532-4559 O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce, Syn that thy seruant was this Chauntecleer, And in thy seruyce dide al his poweer Moore for delit than world to multiplye, 4535 Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye? O Gaufred, deere maister souerayn, That, whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn With shot, compleynedest his deeth so soore ! Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore 4540 The Friday for to chide, as diden ye ? — For on a Friday, soothly, slayn was he. Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I koude pleyne For Chauntecleres drede, and for his peyne. Certes, swich cry, ne lamentacioun, 4545 Was neuer of ladyes maad whan Yliotin Was wonne and Pirrus with his streite swerd, Whan he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd, And slayn hym, as seith vs Eneydos, As maden alle the hennes in the clos, 4550 When they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. But souereynly dame Pertelote shrighte, Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf, Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf, And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage. 4555 She was so ful of torment and of rage That wilfully in to the fyr she sterte, And brende hirseluen with a stedefast herte. O woful hennes, right so criden ye, 4534. Gg Co dede. 4535- € b e world. 4536. El woltest. 4541. H4 Gg Co Ln dedyn. 4542. e schortly for soothly. 4544. e omits drede. 4548. H4 c omit hadde. 4549. e seyde for s. vs. 4552. El sodeynly. 4553- e Hasdrubaldes (Ln Esdr.). 4554* Hn Ggylost. 4557* Hn vnto. ^45 6 °-45^4] NONNES FREES TES TALE 1 33 As whan that Nero brende the citee 4560 Of Rome, cryden the senatoures wyues For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyues ; Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn. Now wol I torne to my tale agayn. The sely wydwe and eek hir doghtres two 4565 Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo, And out at dores stirten they anon, And seyen the fox toward the groue gon, And bar vpon his bak the cok away, And cryden, ' Out ! ' ' Harrow ! ' and ' Weylaway ! ' 4570 1 Ha ! ' ' Ha ! ' ' The fox ! ' and after hym they ran, And eek with staues many another man. Ran Colle, oure dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland And Malkyn with a dystaf in hir hand \ Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges, 4575 For-fered for berkynge of the dogges And shoutyng of the men and wommen eek ; They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breek. They yelleden as feendes doon in helle ; The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle ; 4580 The gees for feere flowen ouer the trees ; Out of the hyue cam the swarm of bees. So hydous was the noys, a benedicitee I Certes, he Jakke Straw, and his meynee, 4561. El Gg omit the. 45^2. e schulde leese for losten alle. 4563. € omits this. 4565. El e This for The; e omits eek. 4566. e };e h. 4567. Gg e out at the; e dore. 4568. El sven; H4 sayden; Co Ln sawe; Pe segh. 4571. e A Ha. 45 72. Gg stonys for staues. 4573- € omits 1st and. 4574- e hire d. 4575- El omits eek. 45 76. a So fered; H4 So were \>ey fered for b. of d. ; e sore aferde. 4577. e omits the. 457$. H4 Gg so (H4 fat for so) lay \>. her h.-breke; e her h. \>ey \>. to breke for hem thoughte etc.; H4 e breke ( : eke 4577). 4580 to end. Leaf out in Gg. 4581, 4582. e reverses order of these two verses. 134 NONNES PREESTES TALE [£4585-4612 Ne made neuer shoutes half so shrille, 4585 Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille, As thilke day was maad vp on the fox. Of bras they broghten bemes, and of box, Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped, And thervvithal they skriked and they howped. 4590 It semed as that heuene sholde falle. Now, goode men, I pray yow herkneth alle ; Lo, how Fortune turneth sodeynly The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy ! This cok that lay vpon the foxes bak 4595 In al his drede vnto the fox he spak, And seyde, l Sire, if that I were as ye, Yet sholde I seyn, as wys God helpe me, " Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle ! A verray pestilence vpon yow falle ; 4600 Now am I come vnto the wodes syde ; Maugree youre heed the cok shal heere abyde, I wol hym ete in feith, and that anon ! " ' The fox answerde, ' In feith, it shal be don.' And as he spak that word, al sodeynly 4605 This cok brak from his mouth delyuerly, And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon. And whan the fox saugh that he was gon, 1 Alias ! ' quod he, i O Chauntecleer, alias ! I haue to yow,' quod he, ' y-doon trespas, 4610 In as muche as I maked yow aferd, Whan I yow hente and broght out of the yerd. 4589. e and boon ; e omits blewe and. 459°- € an d (Co and \>ey) schoutid. 4594- El omits eek; H4 enuy for enemy; e and eek \>e (Pe omits) pruyde of here enuye. 4598. El wolde I. 4605. Hn e omit as; H4 And whil he sp. 4608. H4 I-gon. 4610. e I haue, quod he, don to yow tr. (Co Ln a tr.). 4612. a into this y. j5 4613-4636] NONNES PREESTES TALE 1 35 But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente. Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente ; I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so !' 4615 ' Nay thanne,' quod he, ' I shrewe vs bothe two, And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones, If thou bigyle me ofter than ones. Thou shalt na moore thurgh thy flaterye Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye, - 4620 For he that wynketh whan he sholde see Al wilfully, God lat him neuer thee ! ' 6 Nay,' quod the fox, ' but God yeue hym meschaunce, That is so vndiscreet of gouernaunce That iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.' 4625 Lo, swich it is for to be recchlees And necligent, and truste on flaterye. But ye that holden this tale a folye, — As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, — Taketh the moralitee, goode men. 4630 For Seint[e] Paul seith al that writen is, To oure doctrine it is y-write y-wis ; Taketh the fruyt and lat the chaf be stille. Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille, As seith my lord, so make vs alle goode men, 4635 And brynge vs alle to his heigh e blisse ! Amen. Heere is ended the bonnes Preestes Tale. 4613. El of for in. 4615. Co I schal }ou seye sob; Pe Ln omit to yow. 4618. a H4 any ofter. 4619. e wij? for thurgh. 4620. a Ln eye. 4622. e As wisly. 4625. e haue p. for holde his pees. 4627. e trusteth. 4629. e and of (Co o?nits) an hen. 4631. H4 a seith j?at. 4633. e leteh 4636. a omits alle; H4 Pe omit heighe. NOTES NOTES X I. Whan that is the usual stress arrangement in M.E; see § 258 (a). For soote, see §§ 64, 81 (b). shoures : the aw-sound in the corresponding N.E. word shows that the apparent diphthong here is u, see §§ 20, 77 (2) ; so in the case of droghte 2 (for spelling, see § 6), flour ^fowles 9, Southwerk 20, deuout 22, oure 34, etc. 3. swich licour of which vertu, see § 210. licour : the ^w in the corresponding N.E. word is due to an imitation of the spelling of Lat. liquor ; the ou is u as in seson 19 (for spelling, see § 6), resoun 37, condicioun 38, honour 36. Similarly, wherever the corresponding N.E. word has the sound ? in place of the M.E. ou, the M.E. ou represents u. 4. vertu. Here u = u, see §§ 21, 39; so in nature II, auenture 25. 5. The west wind is frequently thus associated with the spring in English poetry, breeth, which should historically have e (O.E. breed, O.H.G. prddam), see § 66, Note 4, here rhymes with heeth, which has I (O.E. hied, cp. Ger. heide) ; cp. § 274 (1). 7. yonge : because just beginning to run through the Zodiac, whose first course was Aries, covering the last half of March and the first half of April, yonge sonne : the corresponding N.E. words have the sound d in their accented syllables (see § 19, and compare longen 12), and therefore these are cases where N.E. u is written before m or n, or after w or c. So in the case oi yronne 8, sondry 14, come 23, worthy 43, lotted ^. 8. cours : here ou = u- t N.E. course is from another M.E. form of the word, viz. cors. 13. palmer es were a sort of professional pilgrim in Chaucer's day. 14. To feme halwes, etc., is usually taken with goon. But a prepo- sitional clause frequently precedes its verb in Chaucer : cf. 82, 8^, no, 158; cf., too, F. 738, j But atte laste she for his worthynesse, And naifiely for his meke obeysaunce, Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce, etc* 139 140 NOTES 14. kowthe : ow=i7; N.E. uncouth anomalously preserves the u sound. So with trouthe 46, and yow 38. 17. The ' blessed martyr ' was Thomas a Becket, whose shrine was at Canterbury. For rhyme seke : seeke, see § 278. Seke in M.E. is frequently associated with worship; cf. Romaunt of the Rose, 6241. Hooly wymmen That men i?i cherchis herie and seke. I— 18. These introductory verses have in them the very breath of the springtime. Note the associations: the pleasant showers, the soft west wind, the budding shoots, the singing birds, with a hint of spring love longing, the desire to travel through the green fields (German wajider-lusf), the grateful feeling of recovery from winter sicknesses. Note, too, the dancing, sinuous rhythm. In reading the passage special care should be taken to catch the secondary stresses: — ' " x ' x " x 'x 'x I. Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote x ' x " x " x 'x ' 5. Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth "xx ' x 'x n x ' x 8. Hath in the Ram his halue cours yronne x in n x * x 1 x ' x 13. And Palmeres for to seken straunge strondes x 1 x a x i x a x 1 x 16. Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende x a x 1 x a x a x i x 18. That hem hath holpen whan that they were seke 19. Bifil, see §§ 163, 188. on a day, l one day,' see § 117. 21. Redy to wen den, etc., see § 258 (a). 22. with ful deuout cor age, * with a very devout heart,' gives a personal interest to Chaucer's narrative. It may be that he himself had suffered from an illness, and was making, his pilgrimage in conse- quence of a vow. 24. Wei nyne, etc., see § 228. 27. wolden, * intended,' a frequent meaning of the M.E. auxiliary. 29. atte beste, see §§ 87, 115 (e) ; * in the best manner possible.' 30. was to reste, ' had set.' The ellipsis of gon in such expressions is common; cf. 2637, where the full form of the phrase occurs. NOTES 141 31. spoken. Evidences of Chaucer's winning powers of conversation appear all through the Prologue. Note how, in his descriptions of the various members of the company, he represents the peculiar point of view and phraseology of each; cf., e.g., 183. ^. made, see § 188. 34. ther — thither, deayse has a shade of future meaning; hence "Chaucer considers 35 ff. as a digression. 37. Me thynketh, etc., cf. similar expression in 2207. 40. whiche, 'what sort of persons,' see § 211. 43. and that, see § 203. 44. That . . , he, see § 206. 45. To riden out, * to travel.' Out in the sense of l abroad,' 'in foreign lands,' is still used in Shakspere's time ; cf. Lear, I. 1. 25, ' He hath been out nine years.' Such words as chiualrie : curteisie, which had -ie in O.Fr. (Lat. -id), preserved the dissyllabic ending in e.M.E., and in Chaucer rhyme only with such English words as have -ie historically. They therefore do not rhyme with words in -y, like worthy in 43. There are a few intentional exceptions in the Rime of Sir Topas : e.g. Gy : chivalry, B 2092, where the poet is seeking to give the " Romance " flavor to his verse. This rhyme habit is a convenient criterion for distinguishing Chaucer's poetry from con- temporary Northern verse, where it is not observed, and from the poetry of the immediate imitators of Chaucer, e.g. Hoccleve and Lydgate, who are careless about it, though some of his later fifteenth century imitators follow his practice. 46. Note the double reversal of rhythm; see § 258 (a), (b). 48. thertG, i.e. in addition to his service for his sovereign, riden is a general expression for travelling. It is often associated with go, ' to walk,' in the phrase ride or go as a sort of generic expression; literally " travelling a-horseback or travelling a-foot." For ferre, see § 125. 49. as in hethenesse, see § 259 (c). 50. And euere honoured, etc., ' and had always been held in high esteem for his bravery.' For omitted verb, see § 214; for rhythm, see §268. 52. i.e. this English knight had sat at the head of the table (cf. N.E.D. begin, 5) at the state banquets of the Knights of the Teutonic Order ('inPruce '), taking precedence of all the other foreign knights. In the fourteenth century Natio was used to denote the various divi- sions of foreign students at Paris and Vienna, according to the coun- 142 NOTES tries from which they came. The O.Fr. word was similarly used to refer to foreign residents (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, Complement., na- cion). Possibly nacioun (for the Ellesmere spelling, see § 6) had some such use among the Knights of the Teutonic Order. 54. Lettow (Lithuania), Pruce (Prussia), and Ruce (Russia) were the countries of ' hethenessej which were the usual scene of the cam- paigns of the Teutonic Knights. 60. armee, an expedition by sea; cf. N.E.D. army, 1. The arriue, * disembarkation,' which Skeat and many editors take from H4, is not found in English in this sense. 62. Such combats with Saracen knights were not uncommon in Chaucer's time. 66. i.e. here, as at Tramyssene, the adversary of the Sire de la Palice and our knight was a Saracen. 67. * And ever after had enjoyed a high renown.' In M.E. souereyn prys has a peculiar use in reference to chivalry, expressing the high- est honor and glory of knighthood; e.g. " and tell of me no prys" Fierumbras, 173. 69. as is a mayde. Chaucer uses this expression to describe the shyness of the Oxford student in E 2. 72. gentil, * noble'; not N.E. * gentle'; cf. N.E.D., s.v. I. 73. for to tellen, see § 216. 74. His hors, etc. hors is plural; see § 100. gay means 'gayly dressed'; see N.E.D., gay, A. 4. The knight is not contrasted with his horses, though that is the meaning often given to the passage, and the reading of Hn, H4, is therefore sometimes selected so as to bring stress upon he; * but'' is almost equivalent to ' though.' ft x f 76. For scansion see § 260 {Jiabergeoun is so stressed). The knight's dress still showed the marks of the coat of mail he had lately worn. In the stress of battle he had made a vow to go on a pilgrimage to Canterbury if he got safely out of it, and he was now fulfilling the vow at his first opportunity without waiting to go home and change his raiment. 81. as they were leyd in presse, 'as if they had been put in a press' seems to be the meaning. In Troilus, I. 559 (Gl. Ch., p. 446) we have " God saue hem that biseged han our toun, That so can leye our Iolite on presse And bring our lusty folk to holinesse" NOTES I43 82. Of twenty yeer, etc. In N.E. the of is omitted with numerals; in M.E. it is the common idiom ; cf. * He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weight? 2520. Yeer is plural; see § 100. &$. of euene lengthe, ' of proper height,' not ' of medium height.' Translate : ' his figure was well proportioned.' 84. of greet strengthe. Most editors patch the text here with the reading from H4, greet of strength. But of greet strengthe makes good sense, and is paralleled just below in 137. 86. i.e. in the Low Countries between the Schelde and the Somme. But space refers to time rather than to place, the squire being only twenty. 88. lady grace, cf. § 97 (a). 89. as it were, i as if he had been,' ' like.' 100. Carving was one of the regular duties of a well-bred young gentleman in Chaucer's time. 10 1. There were four grades of knightly service, as we learn from Sir Amadas : — " Knyght, Sqwyar, Yomon, or Knaue, Non with hym he broght." — Weber, Metr. Rom., III., p. 270. " Knyjte, squiere, 3oman, and knaue, Iche mon in thayre degre." — Robson, Three Metr. Rom., p. 47. So the first he must refer to the knight, not the squire. 104. Pecok arwes were arrows feathered with peacock feathers. That they were of fine workmanship we learn from v. 107. Ascham's Toxophilus (Arber's Reprint, p. 129) explains what Chaucer means by the adjective /owe ; — " Now to looke on the fedders of all maner of birdes, you shal se some so lowe " (i.e. lying close to the rib) " weke, and shorte, some so course, stoore, and hard, and the rib so crickle thin and narrow that it can nether be drawen, pared, nor yet well set on." And on p. 132 we get the meaning of droupe : — " But in a weake fether you must leave a thicker ribbe or els yf the ryb ... be taken to nere the fether, it must nedes folowe that the fether shall faule and ' droupe ' downe." 144 NOTES 115. For omission of predicate, see § 214. 120. By seinte Loy. The reference is to St. Eligius, the patron saint of goldsmiths and farriers. Professor Hale's explanation that Chaucer here refers to the story of St. Eligius' refusal to take an oath, and means to say that the Prioress did not swear at all, is probably the correct one. 121. Madame Eglentyne, i.e. 'My Lady Sweet-Briar.' 123. Entuned, i.e. chanted, ' hummed.' It was one of the duties of the chauntress " by kallyng ouer from 00 syde to another as # nede is, to entune to the abbes softly alle the antems that she is to begyn in double festes or oth^r. Euery oth^r wyke the quyer shal vary, so that it be on the abbesse syde 00 wyke, and on the prioress another wyke." Afirrour of Our Lady, E.E.T.S., p. xxxvii. 125. In this verse Chaucer merely intends to say that the Prioress spoke the Anglo-French of the Benedictine nunnery at Stratford le Bow, and not the Parisian French, which he as a diplomat was familiar with. 134. sine is the O.E. adj. gesene (here without the y-), which eventually took the place of the regular participle of seon, viz. gesegen, M.E. yseyn. Chaucer still distinguishes the two, using the adjective only after the verb substantive; in other cases he uses yseyn (there i; no M.E. perfect participle seen). The rhyme dene (O.E. clce?te) : sine (O.E. gesene) is that of open e with close i. 137. of greet desport, i.e. full of fun. 139. peyned hire, 'she took pains (subject omitted) to imitate court manners.' The merchant also affects a stately demeanor, v. 281. 140. estatlich probably represents statlich ; cf. 281, B 3902, T. and C. V. 823, Leg. 1372, where it is written staately. 146. Of sma/e houndes, see § 192. 147. i.e. fine white bread from the table, not the coarse bread usually given to dogs. 148. The Mss. reading wepie (wk. pret. subj.) is here retained because the weak form of the verb was undoubtedly in use by Chaucer, and weep does not remove the difficulty; for we must have the sub- junctive here (cf. § 221), and its strong form is wepe. If the line is to be amended, it would be better to omit the subject she. Read wepte, and scan according to § 259 (a). 150. And al was, etc., 'and she was all,' etc. For the omission of the subject see § 188. NOTES 145 152. tretys, 'well shaped.' Cf. Rom. of Rose, English version, v. 1216 (Gl. Ch., p. 672), which Chaucer probably had in mind. 164. and Preestes thre. If the Prioress had three priests with her, the Canterbury pilgrims numbered thirty, not twenty-nine, as stated in v. 14. Moreover, the title of the tale assigned to the Nonnes Preest, and the prefixed prologue, point to but one priest in this capacity. Dr. Furnivall has shown that a Prioress might have several attendant priests, so this latter difficulty is removed. Of the various expedients resorted to in order to escape these difficulties none is quite satisfactory. The easiest supposition is that Chaucer was here guilty of slight inadver- tency, and wrote the words as we have them in all the Mss. 167. manly, 'handsome,' not 'manly.' 170. For rhythm see § 260 (a). The reference is to the bells worn on the bridle-rein. 175. The usual pointing supposes a violent anacoluthon after 174, taking leet pace together as meaning ' let go.' lat is here taken abso- lutely, 'fail to take,' 'neglect,' a usual M.E. meaning of the word, and olde thinges pace a parenthetical justification of Chaucer's by a sly allusion to 2 Cor. v. 17. The caesuras in both El and Hn follow Monk, but these scribes may have misunderstood the verse as the scribe of H4 did. The secondary stress on leet is not unusual, cf. e.g. v. 274. 178 ff. The first of Chaucer's ' texts ' has not yet been found, though allusions to the impiety and wickedness of hunting abbots are common in mediaeval literature. The second is very old, and is found in patristic literature as early as the fifth century, recchelees seems to have a- peculiar meaning here, ' careless of regulations,' so that Chaucer has to explain what he means in vv. 181, 182. Various emendations have been suggested, ' rewlelees] ' cloysterless ' of H4, ' recetless? i.e. refuge- less, but no emendation is necessary in view of w. 181, 182. 183. " And I told him his view of the matter was entitled to serious consideration. Why should he study or drive himself mad by con- tinually poring over a book in his cloister [a sly hint at the monk's stupidity], or work and toil at manual tasks [a thrust at his laziness] ? The world has need of all kinds of men; St. Austin can work all he has a mind to [manual labor being an important item in the Benedictine and Augustinian rules]. And so he was a keen sportsman [serving the world in that capacity] etc." This passage is an excellent illustration of Chaucer's humor, which usually contains an element of veiled irony slyly interjected by the turn of a phrase or the use of a suggestive word — L I46 NOTES x here in the stress : And I [you might not have been so liberal, gentle x ' x " x ' reader] seyde his opinioun [as well as the i sentence'' or ' 'iuggemenV of the fathers — notice the subtle difference between opinioun, ' view of a case' and such a word as 'sentence'] was good [i.e. worthy of serious consideration]. 193. I seighy *\ noticed.' 194. the fyneste of a lond, ' the best that could be had.' 210. the ordres foure were (1) the Dominicans, named from Dominic de Guzman, their founder, called also the Black Friars from their dress, and Jacobites from the church of St. James in Paris, where they were first established, and Preaching Friars (Fratres Predicatores) from their occupation; (2) the Franciscans, or Gray Friars, or Minorite Friars, followers of St. Francis of Assisi; (3) The Carmelite or White Friars, an order founded on Mount Carmel in 1156; (4) the Augustinian order, which Chaucer alludes to above. The fact that the initials of the ordres foure (Carmelite, Austin, Iacobite, Minorite) made out the word CAIM (the mediaeval form of Cain) was a common mediaeval jest. " Nou se the so the whedre it be svva That frer Cannes come of a K, That frer Austynes come of A, Frer Iacobynes of I; Of M comen the frer Menours : Thus grounded Caym thes four ordours." Wright, Political Poems, I. 266. This may help the student to remember their names. 212. i.e. had made good matches for women who had been his concubines. 225-232. Humorously reflects the friar's own reasoning, as 183 ff, reflects the monk's. 227. For if he yaf ' for if a man gave something, ... he knew that he,' etc.; cf. § 200. 247. See §§ 233, 260 (a). 254. In principio (erat verbum, John i. 1) was a text constantly on the lips of the begging friars, cf. " For ye win more by yeare with In principio than with all the rules that ever your patrons made." Jack Upland, Wright's Political Songs, II., p. 23. NOTES 147 256. That is, what he acquired by begging (purchas) amounted to more than his income (rente). This expression is found also in D 145 1, and in Rom. of Rose, 6837. It was probably proverbial. 276. Professor Hales in the Athenceum for April 8, 1893, nas called attention to the fact that the wool staple was changed from time to time during the fourteenth century, and was at Middleburg only during the period 1 384-1 388, so that Chaucer must have been writing this passage at that time. Middleburg is in the Netherlands, nearly oppo- site Harwich, whose port was known in Chaucer's time as Orewelle. kept means ' protected,' ' guarded,' * kept open.' 281. The efficacy of dignity as a means of concealing one's financial condition was evidently not unfamiliar to Chaucer. 286. Four years of logic was requisite for the B.A. degree, so that Chaucer's student was well advanced in his studies. 288. he, < he himself.' 292. Ne was, etc., * and he was not worldly-minded enough to secure secular employment.' 297. philosophre, besides having its modern sense in M.E., also meant * alchemist,' which meaning Chaucer alludes to here. 301, 302. The reference is to the practice of mediaeval students, who undertook to say masses for the souls of their patrons or their patrons' relatives in return for money given. t it t ft t x 303. The awkward sentence stress, moost cure and moost hede, can t x t be avoided by assuming a hiatus, cure and, with extra syllable before x ' x ' x . " f x n tt t x the caesura, § 259 (a) : thus Of studie took he moost cure and moost hede. (The caesural pause is not marked for this line in El, and comes after studye in Hn.) 305. in forme, etc., * with precision and dignity.' 306. ful of hy sentence, i pregnant,' ' full of deep meaning.' 307. moral in M.E. refers rather to the civil and social, than to the religious duties, of man, so that moral vertu is nearly equivalent to N.E. practical wisdom. The application which the Merchant and Harry Baily make of the student's tale about the * patient Griselda ' illustrates this aspect of his character. 314. was, 'had been,' cf. § 225. Justice in Assise, a circuit judge sent down with royal commission to hold court in the country. 148 NOTES 319. English estates are held in fee si?7iple — that is, in absolute possession ; or, in fee tail — that is, subject to various limitations and charges of entail. The law governing the latter is, of course, extremely complex and difficult. x ' x " . ' xx " x ' 320. Read His purchasyng myghte nat been infect with reversal after pause. 323. caas is plural, cf. § 101. 324. were falle, ' had been handed down.' 325. thyng has its primitive sense of ' agreement ' here. 329. with barres smale. The " barres " were metal ornaments through which the tongue of the buckle ran. 330. Chaucer's humorous way of saying that he could not remem- ber the other details of his dress. 331. A Frankeleyn was a man of property and importance, ranking below the knight — a sort of country squire. 336. Epicurus owene sone, a more or less proverbial expression for a high liver. Chaucer's philosophy comes from his Boece, 641 (Gl. Ch., p. 381), ' The whiche delit oonly considered Epicurus, a?id iugged and establissyde that delyt is the soverayn good'' ('verray felicitee parfit '). 340. St. Julian was the saint who protected travellers, and therefore the patron of hospitality. The writer of his legend in the Scottish Legendary (Barbour's Schottische Legendsa?nmlu7ig, ed. Hortsmann, p. 218) refers to a custom familiar to his boyhood. He tells us that the weary traveller, when he came in sight of his lodging, would take off his hat, remove the right foot from the stirrup, and say a paternoster to St. Julian. 351. Wo was his cook, * there was trouble in store for his cook.' This, and such phrases as * wo is me,' show the original dative construc- tion. But all feeling for it was lost in M.E., and in Chaucer we have wo used as an adjective, as in Tro. V. 529 (Gl. Ch., p. 539) : — " But, Lord, this sely Troilus was wo." 353. table dormant, a table fixed in the floor in contradistinction to the usual form of table which was placed on trestles so as to be readily removable. The Squire kept open house. 355. At sessiouns, at the meeting of the Justices of the Peace. Lord and Sire, the presiding officer. The ther, like the ther in v. 258, NOTES 149 repeats the adverbial notion. It is redundant in the corresponding N.E. construction. 356. knyght of the shire, his county's representative in Parliament. 359. shirr eue, the king's administrative representative in his county; countour, the king's legal representative {advocatus regius) (Herz- berg). But the word in its M.E. usage also seems to denote the func- tions of comptroller and auditor. 360. vauasour, in the sixteenth century a sub-vassal holding a small fief of a duke, marquis, or earl, and in degree inferior to a baron (see the dictionaries of Cotgrave and Cowel). The word had probably this meaning in Chaucer's time, as shown by the quotations in Du Fresne's Glossarium (s. v. vassor), and in Godefroy's Dictionnaire de V Ancienne langne Francaise (s. v. vavassor). 361 ff. The text does not stand in need of mending, though Chaucer editors often adopt the H4 var. in 363. Chaucer continues the enumera- tion of the party, and omits the verb, as is usual also in N.E.; cf. § 214. 363. in lyueree. The guilds were distinguished by livery; e.g. 1 King Harry the V.' granted that the Guild of St. George, Norwich (established 1385), 'be cladde in o sute of clothyngge.' English Guilds, Smith, E.E.T.S., p. 445. 367, 368. See § 214. 371. kan, see § 224. 377. al bifore, * right in front ' (gon means 'walk '). The i vigilies' > were ceremonies held on the eve of the guild festival. In the ordi- nances of the Guild of Worcester such a vigil is described. The wardens of the craft and all its members were to wait upon the Bailie of the city ' in ther best arraye harneysed,' having provided a cresset for the procession. English Guilds, p. 408. 379. for the nones, see § 135. 386. The mormal, called in medical books malum mortuutn, was some sort of a running sore, as appears from remedies for it in the M.E. pharmacopoeia; cf. e.g. Heinrich, M.E. Medicinbuch, p. 141. There seems to be a delicate connection between the depth of Chaucer's sym- pathy for the cook's affliction and the quality of his blankmanger. 388. by iveste, ' to the westward.' Chaucer thinks it was Dartmouth, one of the most important ports of his time. An interesting paper on Chaucer's Sailor will be found in the Chaucer Society's Essays, V, p. 455 ff. 390. as he kouthe, ' as well as he could,' being a sailor. 150 NOTES 396. i.e. on the way home from Bordeaux he had been in the habit of surreptitiously helping himself to the wine while the supercargo was asleep. (The rascal had been telling Chaucer about it.) 398. Of nyce conscience goes with what follows, and does not mean * conscientious scruples,' but * fine feelings.' The methods of trading in Chaucer's time were not over nice, as the records which have come down to us show. Legitimate trade and piracy were not sharply dis- tinguished, and our sailor, when his ship got the better of another, was not too squeamish to send his victims {hem is the general indefinite pronoun) ' home by water ' by making them walk the plank. Chaucer seems to be quoting the fellow's grim jest. 401. Note the contrast in the particle : ' But in his trade (not these piratical avocations), in carefully calculating tides, currents, risks (and they must have been always about him in those days of uncharted seas), his port, phases of the moon, pilotage, there was none like him between Hull and Carthage.' 405. wys to vndertake, 'prudent in running risks.' 410. Mr. W. D. Selby has found in the records of the Port of Dartmouth entries of a ship called the Maudelyne, once in 1379 and twice in 1386 (cf. Chaucer Society's Essays, V., p. 384), evidence of the reality of Chaucer's representative interests in the Prologue. 414. Astrology was closely associated with mediaeval medicine, the successful operations of medicines being thought to depend upon for- tunate astrological conditions. Natural magic, as we learn from the Hous of Fame, III. 175-180 (Gl. Ch., p. 573), was practised by * clerkes ' : they made images in certain ascendents through which they were able to ' make a man ben hool or syk.' Chaucer says that the doctor was able to ward off evil influences by this means, but does not indicate very clearly just how it was done. He intended to write a treatise on the subject as a part of the Astrolabe, but did not carry out his plan. 420. Diseases in mediaeval medicine were supposed to be caused by an excess of one of the four * humours ' (heat, cold, moisture, dryness) over some other. 427. We see that the league between the druggist and the doctor is an ancient joke. 428. newe to bigynne, Mate in beginning,' ' of recent date.' 429-434. These were the chief medical authorities of the Middle Ages. NOTES 151 439,440. Dressed rather elaborately; it was part of the trade. 441. A thrifty fellow whose philanthropy did not prevent his taking fees during pestilence. Chaucer's sly irony sounds like the doctor's own justification of the rich harvest he had made during the plague- time, * Gold is a good medicine ' being an allusion to auru??i potabile, a remedy which figured in the materia medica of the time. 445. Good wif has nothing to do with housewifely excellences, but is a compound noun, as the stress shows, like Good-man, and, like the term mistress, designates a * worthy ' woman, with an independent income. 449. The form parshepreestes in Piers P/owman, B, X. 264 gives good ' x " grounds for supposing that the unstressed middle syllable of parisshe sometimes suffered syncope, but I doubt if Chaucer intended it here and in 491. The verses scan very well as they stand; cf. § 259. 450. Referring to the precedence observed when the parishioners went up with their offerings. Chaucer's parson particularly mentions it as a form of pride, I. 408 (Gl. Ch., p. 279). 452. out of alle char it ee. For alle see § 143. It passed the bounds of her Christian forbearance. Chaucer ironically draws her bad temper somewhat mildly. 454. Heavy and elaborate head-dresses were common in Chaucer's time. The '/ dorste swere ' shows the joking exaggeration ; cf. the similar spirit in 471. 456. Hir hosen. The illustration in the Ellesmere Ms. shows her riding man-fashion, her skirts covered with riding leggings reaching to the hips. Perhaps these were the hosen. 459. she was, etc., 'she had been a woman of property all her life.' Chaucer seems to hint at a connection between vv. 459 and 460. 460. At chirche dore. The mediaeval marriage service was often conducted in the church porch. 463. The M.E. syncopated form of Jerusalem is Iersalem (not Prusalem (Skeat) nor Ierwsalem (ten Brink), as is shown by Orm's spelling of the word ; cf. also the M.E. version of Palladius de Re Rustica, I. 1 1 80, ed. Liddell, Berlin, 1896 (the passage is not in the E.E.T.S. edition) : — " Laude, ymne, honour, empire & songe vnto The flour of Iesse spronge in Bethleem, Whom Symeon seid of, and Anne, and moo In oon bisought Osanne at Iersalem." 152 NOTES 465. The shrines she had visited were popular in the Middle Ages. 467. wandrynge by the weye, ' travelling.' 468. soothly for to seye ; a humorous touch of human sympathy like that in 446. Professor Skeat cites Notes and Queries, 1st Ser., vi., p. 601, where a young lady records a popular superstition that one whose teeth are set far apart will be lucky and travel. But this very slight evidence seems to be the only trace of such a belief. 472. foot mantel. It is doubtful what this word means. This is the only passage quoted in the N.E.D. in which it does not mean a sort of saddle-cloth. In the picture of the Wyf of Bath it seems to be a blue outer skirt of some sort. 476. the olde daunce, ' the rules of the game ' ; see N.E.D., s. v. dance. 478. Persoun of a Toun, *a country parson.' 486. to cursen for hise tithes. Excommunication was an extreme penalty for non-payment of tithes. 489. offryng, 'voluntary contributions'; substaunce, * private prop- erty ' or ' income.' 497. wroghte, ' worked.' The picture of the parson trudging through the storm to comfort a distant parishioner regardless of the wretch's social position is one of those happy human interests so common in Chaucer. 498. gospel, Matt. v. 19 : " Forsothe this that doth and techith shall be clepid grete in the kyngdame of heuenes." The ' figure ' (parable) he added was a common one in the patristic literature of the time; see Kittredge, Modem Language Notes, xii. 113 ff. That in M.E. is frequently used, as here, to introduce a direct quotation. 502. For syntax, see § 218. 507-514. Chaucer's reference is to a contemporary abuse among country priests, viz., that of farming out their benefices and going up to London to earn money by singing masses, or to be supported by a religious brotherhood. St. Paul's was a favorite resort for these chantry-seekers; Tyrwhitt cites Dugdale, who gives the number there as thirty-five. 518. discreet, the stress is on the prefix. 521. But, 'unless'; see § 220. 523. for the nonys, ' on account of that very thing' ; i.e. his pride and haughtiness. 526. A spiced cofiscience was one that depended on formal distinc- tions, spiced being identical in meaning with N.E. specious. NOTES 153 529. For omitted relative, see § 188. 531. * An honest toiler and a brave was he.' 534. gamed is impersonal. The expression was a stereotyped one in M.E., * in joy or woe.' 545. For the nones, which usually means * for that very thing,' seems here to be used as a mere expletive to carry on the narrative. But possibly stout is used in the M.E. sense of 'bold,' as in v. 2154, in which case there should be no comma after v. 545 : " The miller was a bold fellow only because he was big of brawn and bone ; and his bold- ness was justifiable, for," etc. He surely lives up to this character in A 3 i2orT. (Gl. Ch., p. 43). 548. Rams were the usual prizes of country wrestling bouts. 554. hade ; see § 84 (b). 561. And that ; see § 203. 563. To have a thombe of 'gold ' v> 'as a common expression to describe the value of a miller's skill in testing flour between the thumb and finger. Chaucer gives the proverbial expression a humorous twist, taking gold as representing moral purity. 565. In Chaucer's day the bagpipe was a musical instrument in great favor among the common people, see N.E.D., s.v. 567. Maunciple . . . of a temple, the steward of one of the Inns of Court. For the rhythm, see § 269. 573. Note Chaucer's sly humor: " Here was a fellow without a university education whose native wit surpassed the wisdom of a heap of learned men (the very benchers of the Inns of Court), thirty of them skilled in the devious ways of the law, and a dozen of them fit to be trustees of any estate in England and make its owner live honorably on his income (unless he was a fool), or as economically as he wished to — men able to help a whole county out of a panic — and yet this Maunciple swindled them all. Truly a divine gift ! " 587 ff. The Reue was the bailiff of an English estate. He kept account of grain (v. 593), seed (vv. 595, 596), and stock (vv. 597, 598), subject to the occasional supervision of an auditor (594); saw that the respective stores of implements, etc., belonging to his lord and the laborers were not confused (vv. 602-605), and superintended the laborers' work (v. 605). Chaucer's reeve seems to have managed his lord's business affairs too, and like the ' unjust steward ' to have turned his trust to his own advantage. 589. For the rhythm of this verse see § 259. 154 NOTES 595- h' th e droghte, etc., ' in a dry season or in a wet one.' 603. baillif, either the steward or reeve of another estate, or the propositus or foreman of the laborers appointed annually from one of their number, though this officer is usually designated 'reeve* in M.E. 606. Had he been telling Chaucer about his home? 611. To yeue and lene, etc., see § 217. 614. iv el good, cf. § 228. 616. In v. 622 we see why it was Chaucer noted the horse's name; the Reeve being a ' coleric ' man must have ill endured the slow gait of his horse. Bell, in his edition of Chaucer, says that the horse-name ' Scot ' is still common in Norfolk. 621. * His surcoat tucked under his legs like a friar's gown.' 623. The Summoner was an officer who cited persons before ecclesi- astical courts. These courts tried matrimonial causes and such offences as fornication and adultery, as is evident from what follows. 624. c/ierubynneswere a common feature of mediaeval church adorn- ment, and were painted fyr reed, so that * cherubin-faced ' became a proverbial expression. 625. sawcefleem (Lat. salsitm p/i/egma); i.e. his face was covered with pimples, boils, and eruptions. The disease was thought to be caused by too much salt humor in the blood. A remedy for it, com- pounded of lily-root, 'swynes-grece,' powdered ginger, powdered gilly- flower, and quicksilver, is given in a M.E. pharmacopoeia (Heinrich, Mittelenglisches Medicinbuch, p. 211). Another is found in Boorde's Introduction and Dietary (E.E.T.S.), p. 102, where its causes are said to be 'bad food,' 'late drinking,' and ' overeating.' 628 contains a delicate touch of human interest. Had Chaucer noticed the village youngsters pointing out the awful visage as the pilgrims rode along their route? 644. ' But if one should try him on another subject.' 646. Questio, quid juris ? 'Question, what is the law?' i.e. 'I appeal to the authorities,' a phrase frequently on the lips of ecclesias- tical lawyers. 651. atte fulle, cf. § 87. 652. 'To pull a finch' was a M.E. figurative expression correspond- ing to ' pluck a pigeon,' still current in England, according to the N.E.D., and equivalent to ' catch a sucker.' 655. The Archdeacon presided over the lowest ecclesiastical court, and his extreme weapon was excommunication. Chaucer humorously NOTES 155 makes his Somonour explain " when the archdeacon talks about ' open- ing the horrible gates of hell' ( — ' horribiles inferi portas pandimus'' was part of the formula of excommunication), his ' hell ' that he is going to open is your purse." A characteristically sly allusion to the cor- ruptibility of archdeacons, with the ironical parenthesis, " I'm sure the fellow lied, for we all know that as absolution saves the soul, so excom- munication slays it." In the Apocalypsis Golice (Poe??is ascribed to Walter Mapes, publications of the Camden Society, p. 9) we get a picture of the sort of corruptible archdeacon Chaucer had in mind. The Elizabethan translation of it (p. 275) runs: — " I read the chapter next, and there did understand Th' Archdeacon's trade and life, whose course was next of all, If anie thing by chaunce did scape the Bisshopes hand, With toothe and naile to scratch, and tear in pieces small. And when he heares the pleas of persons at debate In forme of canon lawe he workethe subtilie; For he the canon lawe can turne, even in like sorte To Symon's court, which [' so that the canon law '] is th' Arch- deacon's Mercuric" 662. Signijicavit ; Tyrwhitt notes that "The writ de excommunicato capiendo (for imprisoning an excommunicated person) was commonly called signijicavit from the beginning of the writ, which was as follows : ' Rex vicecomiti L. salutem. Signijicavit nobis vejierabilis pater H.L. episcopus? etc. " (Compare a similar N.E. practice of naming writs from the opening words, e.g. a writ of scire Jacias.) Coles (1713) defines signijicavit as "a writ for the imprisoning him that stands obstinately excommunicate forty days." The word was probably clipped in pro- nunciation to sirf-ft-ca-vit, and a Latin final -t often rhymes with an English -th in M.E. 663. * He kept the young people (girtes means young people of both sexes in M.E.) of his diocese in his power according to methods of his own.' 666-668. He seems to have made his pilgrimage a festival occasion. The cake-buckler is a conspicuous feature of his dress in the Ellesmere portrait of him. 670. Tyrwhitt's suggestion that the " Pardoner was not from Ronces- valles, but was the member of some fraternity like that of the ( Blessed Mary of Royncevalle ' at Charing, London," is probably correct. 156 .VOTES 672 refers to the burden of a popular song, Come hider, loue y to me. Mr. Gollancz thinks that two verses in the Pearly " Cum hyder to me, my lemman swete, For mote ne spot is non in the," are a reference to the same song; see his note, Pearl, p. 124. But the rhythm is too dissimilar to make this likely. 689. ne neuer sholde hane. Chaucer evidently did not like the fellow, though he shows the same humorous respect for his skill in his trade that he showed for the Shopman's. 692. fro Bertvyk (in the north of England) into Ware (in the south) was a proverbial expression for all England, like ' from John a Groats' to Land's End.' 693. Jusserand's Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages contains an interesting chapter on Pardoners. The student will find- the Pardoner's own account of his methods in C 329 ff. (Gl. Ch., p. 145). 702. vpon lond, ' back in the country.' 708. noble ecclesiaste is ironically spoken like * noble post"* in 214. 710. alder be St, cf. § 1 13. 714. The 'therefore' has a tinge of Chaucer's merry irony in it. For the form, murierly, cf. § 127. 718. gentil hostelry e gives a touch of human interest to the narra- tive, ' this excellent inn.' 720. is tyme ; see § 188. 725-742. These lines contain Chaucer's justification for some of his stories which follow. The fact that he felt such an apology necessary, as well as the so-called retraction at the end of the Canterbury Tales (which there is good reason for supposing was written by another apologist than Chaucer), shows clearly that even the rather loose morality of mediaeval England was somewhat shocked by the freedom and vulgarity of some of his tales. Chaucer himself admits that they are rudelick, large, and brod ; but he gives only an explanation, not a justification. His argument from Plato (though he probably did not feel it to be so) is a piece of bare sophistry, and the 'broadness' of the Bible is the frank recognition of the fundamental facts of human life, which is the finest purity. Even Chaucer's humor and humanity are but a partial excuse, and cannot make some of his tales fit reading for virginibus puerisque or for any one else. Some of his writing is not really offensive any more than Henry IV. is offensive, the objectionable NOTES 157 features being but part of the every-day life they describe — the words are * cousin kin,' at least, to the subject matter. But unfortunately we cannot justify all of Chaucer's writing, or all of Shakspere's either, on the same grounds. 728. To telle, ' in telling,' cf. § 217. 729. proprely, * in their own way.' 731. shal, * is going to,' almost 'undertakes to.' 733. euerich, see § 117, note 1. 734. rudeliche, see § 121. 736. Or feyne thyng, ■ or invent subject matter.' 737. althogh he were his brother ; the he is the indefinite personal pronoun, 'the man he is talking about.' 741. Chaucer probably quotes Plato from Boethius, cf. Boece, 1 1 18 (Gl. Ch., p. 402), " thow hast leryned by the sentence of Plato that nedts the wordis moot be cosy ties to the thynges of whiche thei speken." 743. For the sake of dramatic interest, the poet does nut make his pilgrims tell their stories in the order of their precedence, and humorously excuses his offence against propriety on the ground that his mind was not equal to the task — * ye may wel vnderstonde' 751 ff. From here on to the end of the Prologue, and in the brief prologues and epilogues of the several tales, Chaucer shows a dramatic power in representing the words and actions of men and women that is not surpassed even by Shakspere. Not that dramatic representa- tive interest is wanting in the rest of his work, but that here and in the 1 links ' there is that abundance of life and humanity which characterizes Shakspere. The flux, so to speak, is his delicate humor searching out the hearts of men and women beneath all the many envelopes of time and custom, and in it human life yields up its true values, the very essence of dramatic representation. The versification of this passage should receive the student's careful attention ; he should notice es- pecially the reversals of the rhythm, giving vividness and variety to the narrative; the lines which have no introductory unstressed syllable, e.g. 752, 764, 778, introducing abruptness here and there; the strong stresses, e.g. n t x 1 x tt " Now lordynges trezuely 9 99 X ' " 'X 9 X " Ye been to me right welcome hertely" etc., giving a personal flavor to the verse. 158 NOTES 751. Chaucer, in his description of Harry Baily, and in all the words which he puts into the big man's mouth, betrays that love of soundness and health which is the very keynote of English character. 752. For to been a marchal, etc., not only because he was so fine- looking, but because he showed such tact in setting us down to supper. 754. Chepe, Cheapside in London, where prosperous merchants were to be found in abundance. 756. manhod, cf. * manly matt ' in Chaucer's description of the monk. 760. The sly Chaucer again ! The landlord's good humor is inti- mately associated with the prompt payment of the pilgrims' scot. Cf. it shal coste noght, 768, "it shan't cost you a penny" ; the shrewdness of 799; the humor in 804, right at myn owene cost, " I'll not put it in your reckonings"; the practical forfeit he imposes in 805, 806; and the fixing of the price of the supper they were to have on their return, 815 — undoubtedly a suggestion of mine host's, though Chaucer leaves that to inference. 763. if that I shal nat lye ; this and such expressions as by my fader soule, 781, to speken short and pleyn, 790, / mene it so, 793, as enere mote I drynke wyn or ale, 832, were stereotyped phrases which made up the small change of M.E. conversation. 766. doon yow myrthe, ' make you enjoy yourselves'; cf. myrthe, 767, 'means of amusement.' 767. A happy inspiration solves his difficulty. 769, 770. A touch of reverence and seriousness, and sympathy withal. 777. yow, dative, ' if it please you.' by oon assent goes with stonden. 779. werken, 'do.' 782. yeue has been marked as a monosyllable in order to prevent an Alexandrine. But to scan it as such makes better stress (at least in N.E.). 783. Hoold vp, etc., i.e. in sign of assent. 784. longe for to seche, see § 218. 785. Vs thonghte, etc., 'it seemed to us that it was not worth while to be on our guard,' with wys in the common M.E. sense of ' prudent/ rather than of ' wise,' as it is generally taken. The host has asked their assent to a proposition as to the real nature of which they are still in the dark. NOTES 159 791. to shorte with oure weye, 'to shorten our journey with'; the significance of the pronoun ' oure ' lies in its giving his auditors the first inkling of his purpose to go with them, and the I mene it so following, 'I am serious in the matter,' gives the reader a hint of the surprise that the intending pilgrims betrayed when Harry Baily told them of his purpose. Not appreciating this, modern editors have substituted youre for oure, one of the botchings of the scribe of H4. 792 ff. This passage shows that the Canterbury Tales, like Chau- cer's own tract on the Astrolabe and Spenser's Faery Queene, was conceived on a far larger plan than could be carried out by the author. 800. sittynge by this post, another instance of Chaucer's dramatic power. One can almost hear Harry Baily slapping the post affection- ately to give point to what he is saying. 803. goodly (and not gladly, the lifeless emendation of H4 adopted by modern editors) means ' courteously,' ' as a favor to you.' 811. preyden, omitted subject, 'we begged him.' 817. In heigh and lough, 'in matters important and unimportant.' 823. The host was up before any of the rest of them, ' shaping him for the journey.' Note Chaucer's humorous touch in ' and was oure alter cok 1 and in ' gadrede vs togidre alle in a flok? 825. a litel moore than paas, ' a little faster than a foot pace/ 826. The wateryng of Seint Thomas was, according to Nares (Glossary, s.v. wateryng), a brook at the second milestone on the Kent road. A small volume dealing with the route of the Canterbury pilgrims in Chaucer's time is one of the books promised by the Chaucer Society. A tracing of the route from the ordnance maps with some ex- planatory matter has already been printed in 100 copies for private dis- tribution ( — my copy bears no date, but I think it was given me in 1 893) . Dr. Furnivall's Temporary Preface to the Six Text Chaucer contains much interesting material on the relation between the route and the group- ing of the Tales. There is also a copy of Saxton's map from London to Maidstone and Rochester, 1573-79, in the Tale of Beryn, Chaucer Society, Supple?nentary Tales, 2. 829. audit yow recorde, * I will recall it to your minds ' ; see § 188. 830. A proverbial expression, ' if you will stand by last night's agreement.' 833. Whoso be, etc., ' if any one is,' see § 220. 837. Note the skill with which Harry Baily makes the knight, who 160 NOTES might not like the vulgarity of the drawing, the Prioress, who might think it unlady-like, and the clerk, who hesitated from natural timidity, take the first drawings; then the bluff 'lay hond to, enery man* for the rest of the company. 844. auenture, ' fortune '; sort, ' fate '; cas, * accident.' 850. goode-man here seems to be, from the stress and the sup- pression of the definite ending of the adjective, a compound noun. 851. obedient is almost equivalent to ' punctilious.' 853. shal, 'am to,' see note on v. 731. The Knightes Tale 859. The olde stories were the mediaeval romances, based upon Statius' Thebaiad. Chaucer found his material in Boccaccio's Teseide, though he quotes Statius directly in the Compleynte of Faire Anelida and False Arcite (Gl. Ch., p. 336). He does not follow the Italian version very closely, only about one-sixth of his Tale bearing anything like a close resemblance to Boccaccio's, and he quite changes its spirit, infusing Germanic elements of romance into the classic story. The material early attracted him, and before it received its final form in the Knightes Tale it had been used by him, partially at least, in the Com- pleynt already referred to, in three stanzas of Troilus and Criseyde, V. 1807-1827 (Gl. Ch., p. 557), and in the Parliament of Foules, 183-294 (Gl. Ch., p. 344). From the Legend of Good Wo?nen, v. 420, we get the name of an independent work of Chaucer's called Palamon and Arcite, — ' a story little known,' Chaucer adds. This is supposed to have been originally written in seven-line stanzas, and afterwards remodelled for the Knightes Tale. The student who is interested in comparing Chaucer's version with Boccaccio's will find material for doing so in Mr. Henry Ward's margin notes, brief but clear, to the Six Text Chaucer, in the Chaucer Society's Essays, Pt. IV., p. 357 II, and in Kissner's Chaucer in seinen Beziehungen zur italienischen Litter atur, Bonn, 1867, pp. 60 ff. The Teseide will be found in the edition of Moutier, Boccaccio, Opere volgari (17 vols.), Florence, 1827- 34. The most accessible edition of Statius is in the Teubner series, edited by Bahrens and Kohlmann; the best translation of it is that which was made by W. L. Lewis, Oxford, in 1767, but.it is not very accessible. The part that relates to Chaucer's story is found in the XII Book of Statius. NOTES l6l 876. The readings of El and H4 seem to be attempts at emendation; but see § 260 (b). 884. Neither Statius nor Boccaccio speak of a storm at Hyppolyte's homecoming. 895. his mooste pride : moost is used as an attributive adjective in M.E. tr x , x x , x , x , x 896. Read He was war. as he caste his eye aside ; cf. §§ 260, 259 (c). 908. i.e. ' that ye thus,' not 'ye that thus,' cf. § 188. 925. 'Fortune and hir false wheel' was a favorite picture of medi- aeval philosophy. The immediate source of it in Chaucer's case was Boethius, II., pr. ii; see Chaucer's translation of the passage, Boece, 307 ff. (Gl. Ch., p. 366). 957, 958. hente (pret), and . . . conforteth (pres.) ; see §226. 960. ' He would put forth his might with such vigor as to wreak vengeance,' etc. 968. go ne ride, cf. note on v. 48. 969. fully, i.e. ' even for.' 970. ojiward, ' having gone some distance/ 975. See § 271. 977. feeldes glyteren, i.e. 'all the country round about shines with the reflection,' a poetic exaggeration. To take 'field' as referring to the various ' charges ' of his banner makes the sense awkward. 978. The penoun was triangular, the banner square, and borne only by a knight-banneret. There is a picture of the two in Planche, British Costume, p. 118. 979. Of gold ful riche, etc., 'rich with gold, having the Minotaur embossed on it.' 988. in pleyn bataille, ' in open battle.' 994. deuyse, 'give the details of.' 996, 997. See § 260. 1016-1019. i.e. their bearings showed that they were of royal blood and cousins-german. 1026. Note the variant in El. The scribe did not like or under- stand the coupling of the two tenses (see § 226), nor do modern editors who follow the ' improvement ' he made. 1029. Terme of his lyf ' during the period of his life.' It is a common M.E. phrase, and contains an old accusative expressing dura- tion, cf. § 194. M 1 62 NOTES 1031. This verse makes good M.E. sense (the predicate ' are ' being omitted, cf. § 214), and has more authority than the reading commoniy adopted; see var. The fact that H4 has not the dwellen . . . eek reading is especially significant. 1057. In dongeoun, as in habergeoun, the e is merely the sign that£ has its " soft " sound. 1 061. hadde hir pleyynge, 'took her pleasure.' 1078. bleynte is pret. of blenche, cf. § 175 (6). 1082. lliat art so pale, etc., see note on v. 908. 1087. Som wikke aspect, etc. In the Astrolabe, 160 (Gl. Ch., p. 646), Chaucer tells us what this unlucky aspect of Saturn was : "A 'fortunate ascendent' clepen they whan that no wicked planete, as Sat- urne or Mars or elles the Tayle of the Dragoun, is in the house of the ascendent, ne that no wicked planete have noon aspect of enemy te upon the ascendent." See note to v. 2456. 1089. although we hadde it sworn, * even though we should swear it was not so.' 109 1. For rhythm, see § 273; for syntax, § 196. 1105. Yow, 'yourself,' see § 201. 1 1 17. The Mss. show that Chaucer wrote here syk and not sigh. The form also occurs in T. and C. IV. 1527 (Gl. Ch., p. 529). 1 1 27. For the infinitive, see § 215. 1 132. In a few rare instances in M.E., and does not introduce the connected phrase or clause, but follows with the meaning of N.E. 1 also'; e.g. Palladius, I. 6 : — " So sende he me sense and science Of my balade away to rade errour, Pallade and do to glade his excellence." We may have such an idiom in this verse. If not, some word like 1 pledged ' is to be understood after ' ech' til is the northern M.E. form of the prep. to. 1 133. for to dyen in the peyne, ' though we should die in agony for it,' is originally an O.Fr. phrase, * mourrir en la peine.' It occurs in Troil. I. 674, and Rom. of the Rose, 3326. Compacts like this are common in mediaeval literature. ' Sworn brothers,' ' wedded brethren,' ' fratres jurati,' were bound to aid and comfort one another, as Palamon says. See fratres conjurati in Du Cange and sworn brothers in Nares' Glossary. NOTES 163 1 137, 1 138. These verses evidently go with what follows, not with what precedes, as the usual punctuation assumes. 1 147. conseil seems to have the meaning of 'confidant.' But no other use of the word in this sense is recorded in the N.E.D. {counsel, 7 b) before 1647, nor has the corresponding O.Fr. word this meaning. It may be a mistake for cosyn, cp. vv. 1131, 1 161. 1 156-1 1 59. An ironical allusion to v. 1 102 and Palamon's exclama- tion in v. 1 104. 1 1 64. The philosophers' saying was : — " Quis legem dat amantibus ? Maior lex amor est sibiP — Boethius, de Cons. Phil. III., metrum xii. Chaucer's translation of it is in the Boece, 1 135, 1136 (Gl. Ch., p. 402). In vv. 1 167, 1 168 he adds a gloss found in the Aquinas Com- mentary on Boethius, " nam ex incenso amove homo septus transgreditur legem.'''' 1 167. positif lawe and swich decree, i.e. arbitrary and promulgated law as opposed to natural law, a distinction of mediaeval jurisprudence. 1 171. she (the indefinite pronoun), 'the woman he loves,' cf. note on v. 400. 1 1 72. Here begins Arcite's third argument. For syntax, see § 218. 1 1 77 ff. /Esop's fable of The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox slightly altered. 1 201. Chaucer in using the word write forgets dramatic propriety. The story of Pirithous (Chaucer's spelling is an illustration of the con- fusion which attended the transfer of classic proper names into M.E.) and Theseus is found in Plutarch's Lives. But Chaucer took it from Le Roman de la Rose (8186 ff.), as Professor Skeat points out. 1209. pleynly for tendite, 'to record it in full.' 1 25 1. Chaucer again takes his philosophy from Boethius and quotes directly from the de Cons. Phil. III., prosa ii., see Boece, 643 (Gl. Ch., p. 331). 1262, 1263. The edition of Boethius which Chaucer used contained the commentary traditionally assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas. These verses are a translation of one of the Aquinas glosses, ' ebrius scit se habere domum, sed . . . nescit quomodo ad earn redeat? ' Drunk as a mouse,' ' drunk as rats,' were common comparisons up to Queen Elizabeth's time. 164 NOTES 1293. See § 196. 1 303-1312 is a reminiscence of a similar apostrophe in Boethius, I. metr. 5, where Boethius says (see Boece, 193, Gl. Ch., p. 360) : "0 thou what so euere thou be, that knyttest all boondes of thynges, loke on thise wrecchide erthes. We ??ie?i that ben noght a foul partie but a fair par tie of so greet a work we ben turmentedin this see of fortune, ." And above, 189, "0 govemour gover?iynge a lie thynges why refusestow oonly to governe the werkes of men, why suffrestow . . . that anoyous peyne that sholde duweliche punysche felons punysscheth innocentes ? " 1333. hym Arcite, cf. § 190. 1336. forth I wol yow telle, 'I will go on with my story.' 1344. vpon in the sense of ' on penalty of is common in M.E. 1347. The knight jestingly says that this question is one for the Courts of Love to decide. A discussion of these courts will be found in Harvard Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature, Vol. VI., by W. A. Neilson. 1355. The division of the Knightes Tale into two parts at this point seems to be the work of the Ellesmere scribe, as it is not found in any of the other Mss. The Hengwrt scribe divided the story at 18S0, where the Ellesmere copyist introduces his second division. The Ellesmere division is only followed here for purposes of convenience. 1373. The 'disease of Eros' is, of course, a humorous expression fjr ' Love.' Mediaeval psychology divided the brain into three ' ceils,' the foremost being the residence of the imagination or fantasy, the middle that of reason, the hindermost that of memory. Chaucer de- scribes Ma?iia as being induced by a melancholy humor in the front cell. Shakspere makes use of the same psychology in Macbeth, I. vii. 65, where he speaks of memory as being the 'warder of the brain.' 1376. As to the text of this verse, we have assumed an error in the original Ms. caused by passing from the n in Biforen to the h in his. According to N.E.D., ' before ' has never had the meaning ' in the front part of.' 1387. Mercury's slepy yerde was his caduceus. Somnifera virga is a frequent designation of it in Ovid. 1389. The reference is to the story told in Ovid's Metamorphoses, i. 714. 1394. hou soore, etc., 'however bitterly I may suffer for it.' 1 401. Lor rhythm, see § 259 (c). NOTES 165 1421. here, 'her'; see § 131, 1423. myghty for the nones, 'strong for that sort of work.' Notice the addition Chaucer has to make on account of the rhyme. 1428. ' In the Teseide (IV. 3) Arcite takes the name of Pentheo. The name of Philostrate might be suggested to Chaucer ... by Boc- caccio's poem entitled Philostrato (the original of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde). In the Midsummer Nighfs Dream ... a Philostrate (see Dramatis Personcs) is introduced as a . . . servant of Theseus.' — Tyrwhitt. This is one of the evidences that Shakspere was famil- iar with Chaucer's story. 1448. derre is in the comparative degree, cf. § 125. 1453. what for wo, etc.; the syntax in which 'what' has the sense of ' partly ' is still in N.E. use, though the ' what ' in N.E. is usually repeated before the second phrase. 1460. it am nat I ; in M.E. in such clauses the verb agrees in per- son with the predicate-pronoun. Chaucer is continually apologizing (he does it again in 1464) for the length of his story; here the apology turns on a humorous exaggeration of Palamon's love-pains. 1466. Merely a distinction between accident and fate. Chaucer was thinking of the relation between Destiny and Providence as described in Boethius, de Cons. Phil. IV., prosa vi. 1 49 1. The student should make a careful study of these beautiful lines, paying especial attention to the rhythm. 1498, 1499. It is possible that the reading of Hn and e for 1498 is the correct one, and that in 1499 is or is his has been corrupted into his. 1500. Descriptions of May-day customs will be found in such books as Brand's Popular Antiquities, Dyer's British Popular Customs, Strutt's Sports and Pastimes of the British People, Chambers's Book of Days, Century Dictionary, s.v. May-day. 1502. Chaucer uses the same verse in the Legend of Good Wo?nen, 1204, " Vpon a courser e startlyng as the fire," which shows that startlyng (skittish) and not stertyng, the supposed correction of II4, is the word. 1504. were it a ??iyle or tzveye, see § 221. 1521. go sithen many yeres, 'these many years ago'; go is here the p. part. Cf. " But sooth is seyd, goon sithen many a day, 11 F 535; "gonys a grete while," Leg. of G. W., 427. 1 66 NOTES 1522, 1524 are two common M.E. proverbs. The first is found in Ray's Proverbs in the form, " Fields have eyes and woods have ears," 3d ed. p. 112, where a French form is also cited, " Bois ont oreilles et champs oeiilets" (the German form is "Das Feld hat Augen der Wald hat Ohren"). In the latter proverb, at vnset steuene, means 'at an unappointed hour.' 1532. If crop is not an error for croppes, we have here an instance of a half verse without introductory unstressed syllable, cf. § 260 (b). 1 537. hir day, i.e. dies Veneris. The changeableness of Friday weather seems to have been a matter of popular belief in Chaucer's time. 1558. noght worth a myte ; Chaucer is possibly alluding to Boc- caccio's ' etymology ' of Philostrate, ' prostrated by love.' 1566. shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte : i.e. 'before my birth I was destined to die of love.' It seems to have been a common expression. Chaucer uses it in the Legend of Good Women, 2629. It occurs, also, in Lydgate's Complaint of the Black Knight, 489 (Anglia, XIX., p. 269) : — " Er I was borne my destanye was sponne By Parcas sustren to sle me if they conne, For they my dethe shopen or (= ' ere') my shert " (the words of a woebegone lover). Similar phraseology occurs in Troilus and Criseyde, III. 733. , „ 1575. The stress is unusual here: coold swerd ; for in M.E., as in N.E., in such a combination more stress falls on the noun than on its adjective. But there are several instances of the reverse in Chaucer, and occasional instances in Shakspere. 1 61 6. For rhythm, see § 103. 1622. leyd his feilh to borwe, 'pledged his honor for surety.' 1625. sooth is seyd, etc. Professor Skeat has cited Chaucer's quota- tion in the Roman de la Rose, 8487, and this in turn from Ovid, Meta- morphoses, II. 846: — "Non bene conveniunt, nee in una sede morantur Maiestas et Amor." In the Ms. edition of Chaucer prepared by Franciscus Junius, Ovid, Ars Am. 564, is cited : — " Non bene cu?n sociis regna Venusque manent" which is still more apposite. NOTES 167 1638. The simile is from the Tcseide, VII. 106. hunters is gen. " sing., not nom. plu. For syntax in 1 641 ff., see § 188. 1649. They waive formalities in this grim duel. Compare Shak- spere's expression in Macbeth, I. ii. 21 ff . : — * Which (= and he) neer shook hands nor bade farewell to him Till he unseam'd him from the nave to th' chops.' 166 1. In leaving them fighting ankle-deep in gore, Chaucer does not show much consideration for the gentle reader. 1663-1672. This notion of the subordination of Fate to Providence Chaucer gets from Boethius. He uses it again in Troilus, III. 617-619, where Fortune is the servant of God because she is the * executrice of wierdes' (destiny). The passages he draws on are found in de Cons. Phil, IV. prosa vi. (Boece, 1467, Gl. Ch., p. 416) : — "God disponith in his purueaunce . . . the thinges that been to doone ; but he amynistreth . . . by destyne thilke same thinges that he hath disponyd. Cp. also Boece, i486: And this ilke ordre (i.e. * of destyne') constreyneth the fortunes and the dedes of men by a bond of causes not able to ben unbounded 1697. Vnder the sonne is usually taken with looketh to mean he 'looked out into the sunlight,' but it can easily go with launde, 'the glade lying in the sunlight.' The pause marks in a support the former construction. Compare the M.E. phrases agayn the sonne, ' in the sunshine,' agayn the mone (Tro. II. 920), 'in the moonlight.' 1 7 10. what myster men, 'what sort of men.' 1743. This is ; see § 273. 1 75 5. And saugh, etc., 'And they looked at their bloody w r ounds,' etc. 1 761. This seems to have been a proverbial expression. Chaucer makes frequent use of it; cf. Leg. 503, E 1986, F 579. gentil, of course, here means ' well-born,' ' noble.' 1763. in a clause; a has here its meaning of 'one,' 'the same.' 1785. benedicite is here clipped to ben'diste. In Troilus I. 780 (Gl. Ch., p. 449) it is spelled bendiste. 1794. And witen, ' and they know.' 1799. i.e. 'Your lover is your only complete fool,' one of Publius Syrus' Sentejitia (15) : " Amare et sapere vix Deo conceditur" Junius (Ms. edition of Chaucer) cites another, " A?nans quid cupiat scit, quid sapiat non videt," adding a quotation from Plautus, Pseud., Act I., sc 3, " Non jucundum est nisi amans facit stulta." 1 68 NOTES 1806. Almost 'But this is the best joke of all.' Theseus' humor is really Chaucer's; see v. 1813. 1811,1812. Seems to be proverbial philosophy. Cf. the N. E. proverb, "There's no fool like an old fool." 1814. seruant in M.E. is a common term for Mover.' Cf. the colloquial expression in N.E. ' to wait upon ' for ' to pay court to.' oon in this M.E. phrase denotes conspicuousness. 1832. tyme is is an instance of hiatus; cf. § 262. 1838. go pipen in an yuy leef was a M.E. popular expression for making the best of a bad bargain ; cf. N.E. ' go whistle.' 1840. Note the humor in this verse. 1841. degree here seems to have the unusual meaning 'relation to me,' and to refer to vv. 1848, 1849. 1850. fer ne ner. Both adjectives are in the comparative degree, and the phrase seems to mean 'exactly,' though it is not found with this meaning in the N.E.D. 1856. That wheither ; cf. § 134. X 'x . X X 1901. Read: The theatre for to maken etc.; see § 259 (c). 1906. Is an interesting line for text criticism. The original scribe passed over the bracketed letters in ' i?i [mynde and in~\ inemoriej his eye catching the second in instead of the first, a common source of error in Mss. The scribe of H4, knowing the frequency of such mis- takes, saw what the missing words were. But the verse thus written did not seem smooth to his ear ( — he is forever tinkering lines that have the extra syllable before the caesura), and so he put in a the before mynde, and took out the on the before westward. ' 1914. hadde I foryeten, is subjunctive, ' I came near forgetting.' 1925 ff. A catalogue of abstract qualities personified, as in the Romaunt of the Rose. Such allegorical descriptions were common in Chaucer's time. In v. 1940 Chaucer follows the Romaunt in making Idleness the portress of his garden. 1970-2022. Similar to Teseide, VII. 31-37. 1987. The northern light streaming in at the doors is an addition of Chaucer's. Boccaccio's temple is lighted by the altar fires kindled from the flames of plundered cities. 2004. chirkyng, ' creaking '. It is interesting to note how Chaucer, in order to exaggerate the horror of his description, appeals to the ear as well as to the eye. NOTES 169 2007. The picture of Sisera slain by Jael (Judges iv. 17-22) is used by Chaucer to bring up the idea of horrible murder. He uses it also in D 765. Added to the picture of the blood-stained suicide, with his cut throat and his hair bathed in blood, it is certainly horrible enough. 2017. shippes hoppesteres ; hoppystere occurs once in O.E., with the meaning * dancing-girl' (cf. N.E.D. s.v.). Boccaccio speaks of the Le navi bellatrici being taken as trophies : it has been suggested that Chaucer misread this bellatrici as ballatrici (but it might easily have been written ballatrici in his Ms., as e and a are very liable to confusion in certain fourteenth century hands), and hence his translation. To ballare in Florio's Dictionary is given the meaning to dance, hop. 2021. infortune of M arte ; Mars, like Saturn, was one of the * wikked ' planets in astrology, cf. note to 2456. But Chaucer may be referring to an accident in a chariot race in the Campus Martius, and cartere may here mean * charioteer ' and cart i chariot.' 2024. ofMartes diuisioun, because the crafts were under his protection. 2028. Is a reference to the story of Damocles. Chaucer took it from Boethius. de Cons. Phil. Ill, prosa v., which explains why it is used- in connection with conqueste : for Philosophy is there speaking of kings who extend the boundaries of their empires. The lives of such are full of danger. A ruler (tyrannies) who had experienced this danger pic- tured it i pendentis supra vertice gladii terrore? The note to the pas- sage in the Aquinas-commentary which Chaucer was familiar with describes the hanging of the sword in the words " et sibi supra verticem iussit suspendere gladium acutum tcniti Jili." 2037. The mistake sertres in all the Mss. probably arose from the / having been accidentally dropped in the original copy, and then added above with the caret between the two r's instead of between the s and the e\ ser res. To following scribes this looked like a proper name : El and Hn both write it with a capital letter ; see the variants. 2040. Chaucer may have intended to insert a story (that of Antony and Cleopatra ?) at this point ; for the ' oon ensample ' is not given. 2041 ff. Chaucer copies the mediaeval representation of Mars. Rubeus and Puella in geomantic * scriptures ' were the names of two * * * 1 figures ' : %* ' Puella', associated with Venus in astrology, and * * ' Ru- * * * beus,' associated with Mars (Prof. Skeat in the Academy, March 2, i£ 170 XOTES 2049. As the caesura naturally falls after pencel (as in a), it is likely that Chaucer used the other form of the p. part., viz., depeynt and not the depeynted of the Mss. 2056. Calistopee : Callisto was changed into the constellation of Ursa Major; her son was changed into the constellation {sterre) Bootes. It is Ursa Minor, not Ursa Major, that contains the lode- sterre. In Boethius, de Cons. Phil. IV. metr. vi., Ursa is mentioned as moving close to the pole of the universe : the gloss describes the constellation as made up of seven stars near the pole (i.e. Ursa Minor). Chaucer probably thought of this constellation as ' the Bear,' and hence his mistake. The story of Callisto is told in Ovid, Fasti ', II. 153-192. (Chaucer's spelling is not yet explained — ? confused with ' Calliope.') 2062 ff. The story of Daphne and Apollo's love for her, and her metamorphosis into a laurel, is found in Ovicl, Metamorphoses, I. 450; that of Acteon in Met. III. 138; that of Atalanta in Met. X. 698 ; that of Meleager in Met. VIII. 299. 2103. of hir hond, ' in respect to their skill ' or ' prowess.' 21 1 2. that loueth paramours, 'that loves madly' ; para??iours is an adverb. 21 19 ff. som is singular, 'one.' 2122. A caesura is marked after sheeld in El, Hn. This accounts for the extra syllable. 2125. 'There's no new fashion that has not been an old one,' i.e. these ancient knights had the same sort of equipment that we have — Chaucer's apology for the anachronism. 2141. This goes with the following, not with the preceding, verse. 2160. clooth of Tars was a sort of silk. 2192. euerich at his degree, ' each according to his rank.' 2202. Perhaps the reading of a is correct, and Chaucer refers to skill in dancing to song. 221 7. in hir houre ; the twelfth conclusion of the second part of the Astrolabe (Gl. Ch., 648) explains Chaucer's meaning here. Each day begins with the hour of the planet which it is named for. Subsequent hours follow according to this series repeated through the twenty-four : I. Saturnus ; 2. Iupiter ; 3. Mars; 4. Sol ; 5. Venus; 6. Mercurius ; 7. Luna. (A gloss on fol. 33 a of Ms. Rawl. D. 913 of the Astrolabe gives this list with the mnemonic SIM S VAT, Luna Septima [Ms. Sb, mistake for S a ~\ est.) Thus the first hour of Sunday morning would be NOTES 171 Sun's hour, the second hour, Venus's, and so on. Venus's hour at the time when Palamon arose would be the twenty-second hour of Sunday, or the second hour before sunrise on Monday (dies lunce) morning. Emily arose and sought Diana's temple (v. 1274) in her propitious hour, that is, Luna's hour, the first of Monday (dies lunce). Cf. note to v. 2367. 2271-2360. Palamon's prayer is a close imitation of Teseide, VII. 43-49- r x " 2274. Stress Dyane. 2288. ' On the contrary, it is a good thing for a man to be un- hampered in telling a story.' 2294. In Stace of Thebes, ' in Statius's Thebaiad.' Chaucer seems anxious that the reader shall consider Statius as his authority rather than Boccaccio. It is a common trick of his thus to mislead the serious- minded student. He is really following the Teseide, VII. 76-90. 2299. Diana was the Proserpina of the under-world. The other " form " referred to in v. 2313 was Luna. 2 333> 2 334- F° r rhyme, see § 278. 2367. The nexte houre ofMarsfolwynge this. ' The nearest hour * of Mars would be the fourth after sunset. See note to v. 221 7. This was the propitious time for Arcite's prayer to Mars. For rhythm, see § 260 (b). 2373. Arcite's prayer is found in the Teseide, VII. 23-28. 2396. dooth me . . . endure, ' makes me endure.' 2397. synke or fleete, like ride or go, is a stereotyped expression for to be saved or perish. 2433. and seyde, ' and the voice said.' 2443. Saturn's aspect in astrology was cold. Chaucer translates Boethius, IV. metr. i., iter gelidi senis, " the weie of the olde colde Satumus" (Boece, 1169, Gl. Ch., p. 404). The gloss to this passage tells us that Saturn is affectiuus gelu et frigoris. Saturn's influence in astrology provoked strife, and hence the reference in 2451, 2456, etc. 2454. His course, according to mediaeval astronomy " complet pluri tempore quam sol vel luna." 2456. Chaucer, as we learn from the Astrolabe, was interested in astrology, and intended to write a treatise on the subject. We have here the result of some of his astrological study. The evil influences of Saturn as he gives them are found in the fourth book of the " Para- phrase " of Ptolemaeus' Tetrabiblos made by Proclus Diadochus (fifth century A.D.), Chapter IX. (I quote from a mediaeval Latin translation) : 172 NOTES " Saturnus . . . in Argo navi insistens naufragio exitiam minatur" v. 2456; " si in horoscope* alter i luminum opponatur, in career ibus vitam Anient" v. 2457; " in quadrate aspectu ant opposito solem intuens . . . mortem adfert suffocatione antpopuli tumultibus, aut suspendio, ant stran- gulatione" w. 2458-2460 ; " cum Mercurio configuratus ex venena- torwu ictibus . . . mortem designate v. 2460 ; " in tropicis signis vel quadrupedibns " (e.g. ' in the leoun ') ..." necem ex ruina signiji- cat" vv. 2462-2465 (the period after leoun in the usual punctuation of the text is therefore wrong) ; "Satumi itaque Stella dominium mortis ha- bens, neces ac exitus adfert, morbis diutumis tabe, . . . febribus frigidis, . . . et quotquot f rigor is excessu nocumentum afferwitf w. 2567-2569. 2457. derfce cote means Mark cottage' or 'outbuilding,' not 'dun- geon.' Perhaps Chaucer is referring to some well-known instance of imprisonment in such a place. 2466. For rhythm, see § 260 (a) ; compare also § 183. 2491 ff. Chaucer here shows his peculiar power of vivid description. The life and movement in this scene are far superior to Boccaccio's version. Light, color, sound — even the gossip of the crowd — each has its place in the narrative. The bustle and confusion are carried out in the movement of the verse — notice the frequent reversals of the rhythm, the great number of primary and unstressed syllables, and the absence of secondarily stressed ones, the frequency of run-on lines. 2495. T ne sleedeswGVQ the war-horses, the palfrey 's, ordinary saddle- horses or hacks. 2503. Nailynge the speres seems to mean studding them with nails. Shields and other parts of the armor were thus treated, but I cannot find an instance of spears having been so strengthened. 2504. Giggynge (O.Fr. guige), the fittings by w T hich the shield was fastened on the arm. 2516 ff. The keen partisanship of the crowd, as they pick out their favorites, is admirably represented: " Blackbeard is my favorite; 7 ' " Baldhead is mine ; " " The fellow that looks so grim will be a good fighter ; " " Look at that man's battle-axe, it must weigh all of twenty pounds." 2519, 2520. The third person pronoun is here used indefinitely. 2545. The subjunctive is here used as imperative. 2552. The stress upon noght is significant. ' He shall be made prisoner, and not slain, as the custom is.' NOTES 173 f X " 2553. Stress ordeyned. 2554. sheila 'must go.' 2581. See vv. 1906 ff. 2602 ff. Notice how the reversals of the rhythm vividly carry out the rapidity of the movement : — " In goon the speres" etc. " In gooth the sharpe spore" etc. " Vp spryngen speres" " Out goon the swerdes." " Out brest the bloody 2680-2683. Two lines are inserted here in editions of Chaucer that are evidently a scribe's addition. They are only found in 8 and e. 2683. i.e. he saw no one else just as he loved no one else. In E 241 we have a similar expression : — 1 Virtue . , . as wel in chere as dede? 2712. Charms or incantations were a part of the medical science of Chaucer's time ; they are to be found side by side with drug prescrip- tions in M.E. pharmacopoeia. 2725. 'One person captured by twenty knights,' cf. v. 2641. 2726. If the line is right as it stands in the Mss., the unstressed syllable beginning the second half of the line is omitted; but it is more likely that the scribes have neglected the -e of the dative ending pre- served in by arme ; see § 98. 2731. leet crye . . . the gree, 'issued a proclamation announcing that the contest was a tie.' 2749. Mediaeval medicine again : ' vertue expulsative,' or ' animal,' corresponding roughly to power of recuperation. 2761. This al and som, 'this is the whole story.' 2762. For which, ' and for this reason.' 2765 ff. There are few passages in literature more tender and pathetic than these dying words of Arcite. If the student will com- pare them with the Teseide, X. 54-63, he will see how many human touches Chaucer has given to the scene. The pathos of that ' dwelled in his herte syk and soore,' and the simple beauty of ' his spirit chaunged hous ' / Indeed, the passage is so affecting that Chaucer has need, like Shakspere, to resort to humor, in order to break the strain of it, 174 NOTES and so he gives the scene a sudden turn, 2810 ff. : 'I've never been there, and so I can't go any further; I'm neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. Moreover, I cannot find any chapter " On souls " in this Table of Contents.' 2796. shut ben a wyf ' have it in mind to marry.' 2801. And yet mooreouer, 'and it had advanced still further.' Com- pare the description of Socrates' death in the Phcedo. 2805. Andrew Boorde in his Breuyary (Furnivall, Boordfs Intro- duction and Dyetary, p. 89) tells us ' the herte is the laste thynge that dothe dye in manne.' 2815. i.e. Arcite is dead; let Mars conduct his soul to the abode of spirits. 2827. From here to the end Chaucer follows Boccaccio pretty closely. 2840. The readings of Pin and H4 seem to be attempts to supply the unstressed syllable missing at the beginning of the verse. 2854. The scribes probably wrote the syncopated form of the 3d sing. pres. instead of the fuller form casteth. 2889. It is still a military custom to lead the dead officer's horse in his funeral procession. 2895. A bowe Turkeys was of the shape that Cupid is always repre- sented as carrying. Read bozve and the. 2902. the maister strete, i the high street.' 2923. Note the two reversals in the verse. 2987-3013. This little sermon of Theseus' is taken from Boethius, de Cons. Phil. II., metr. viii., and IV. y prosa vi., and III., prosa x. 2987. Firste Moeuere of the cause aboue seems to be a reminiscence of Boece, n 15 (Gl. Ch., p. 401), ' thilke deuyne substaunce tornith the world and the moevable circle of thitiges.'' The apostrophe itself is imitated from the ninth metre of the third book (Gl. Ch., p. 392), ( qui perpetua mundum ratione gubernas? The theology of this Metrut?i is elaborately explained in the commentary on it. The notions which Chaucer uses are (1) that God is the mover of the primum mobile; (2) that, while the first cause controls everything, God directs everything to its destined end — the supreme good. Hence the rather curious expres- sion of v. 2987. The Metrum goes on to say (in Chaucer's translation) 1 thow byndest the elements by nombres proporcionables, that the coolde thinges mowen accord with the hole thinges and the drye thinges with the moyste^ (i.e. the four elements). Chaucer substitutes the cheyne of love for ' nombres proporcionables? making use of Boethius' notion of the NOTES 175 immanence of love in the universe, as expressed in Book II., metre viii. (Gl. Ch., p. 379), ' al this accordaunce of thinges is bounde with love? He then passes on to the notion of the relation between Providence and Destiny, Book YV., prosa vi., * For purveaunce is thilke deuyne resoun that is establissed in the soueryn prince of thinges? 2995. &* s wrccched world adoun, 'this wretched world below.' 2996-3002. A general summary of the doctrine of the relation of Providence to Destiny, as unfolded in Boethius, YV., prosa vi. 3002. A statement from Boethius, V., prosa vi. : ' The commune iugement of alle creatures reasonables thanne is this : that god is eterne'' (Boece, 1859). 3007-3010. Boethius' argument for the existence of God in Book III., prosa x.: * For the nature of thinges ne took itat hir begynnynge of thinges amenused (' deficient') and inparfit, but it procedith of thinges that been alle hole and absolut, and descendith so doun into vttereste thinges and into e??ipty and withouten fruyt^ (Boece, 889). 301 iff. Cf. Boece, 1863: 'For alle thing that lyueth in tyme . . . procedith fro7n preterites into futures] perhaps with Aquinas' gloss : ' infinitam durationem temporis mobilis, i.e. successiui? 3016. seen at ye, ' see clearly.' But it must be confessed that Theseus' argument is somewhat confused. 301 7-3026. These illustrations are not found in Boethius in this form, but the statement in 3029 is; cf. Boece, 1908: * it byhouith by necessite that alle men ben mortal or dedly? 3036. God is called the 'prince of alle thinges'* in Boece, 891. All things return to him as to their source. He is frequently called the we lie of things, the we lie of good, in the Boece. 3084. kynges brother sone, see § 97 (b). The Prologue of the Nonnes Prestes Tale 3957. The Monk has been telling a series of stories about the mis- fortunes of great men, a sort of De Casibus Virorum Illustrium, of Lucifer, of Adam, of Holofernes, of Samson, of Alexander, of Caesar, and the rest, f enough and more besides ' in this mournful strain. At length, when forbearance has ceased to be a virtue, the Knight inter- rupts the Monk's moralizing on the fickleness of fortune as illustrated by the ' tragedie ' of Croesus, with the opening words of our prologue. 3959. *A little gloom is enough for most people. For my part I 176 NOTES like to hear of men who have risen from poverty, men who have climbed to good estate and stayed there.' 3972. The Monk had referred to a definition of Tragedie found in the commentary on Boethius in connection with the story of Croesus : — " Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie As olde bookes make?i vs memorie, Of Jiym that stood in greet prosperitee And is y fallen out of heigh degree Into miser ie t and endeth wrecchedly" -B 3163 ft. (The commentator's nota was, "Tragedia est carmen reprehensiuum viciorum, incipiens a prosperitate desinens in adversitate.") His last words were about Fortune, covering ' hire brighte face with a cloude.' Harry Baily makes fun of this scholastic definition of ' tragedie ' and such stuff about fortune, with the very practical wisdom, ' There is no use in crying over spilt milk.' 3989 ff. Note the humor in this remark about the Monk's preach- ment. 3995. i.e. * tell us about something you are familiar with ' — a refer- ence to the Monk's fondness for hunting mentioned in the Prologue, with a sly hint at his not being a very good illustration of poverty and misfortune. 4000. " Sir John " was a popular M.E. designation of a priest. 4002. l Look pleasant though you are riding such a poor horse. Never mind that, if he serves your purpose, what need you care?' 4005. * A merry heart goes all the day.' 4010. Is there not a slightly ironical tone in This szaeele preesl t 'This nice little priest,' with a conciliatory addition, 'This courteous man, who I'm sure will tell us a good story ' ? The Nonnes Preestes Tale The story put into the mouth of the Nonnes Freest is an ancient tale which appears in Latin, in English, in German, and in French. The earliest of the French versions is one by Marie de France (thirteenth century) ; it professes to be a translation from English, and in some Mss. of the tale Li reis Alured '(King Alfred) is cited as the author of the story. Later it was expanded in a version which forms part of Le NOTES 177 Roman du Renart. Chaucer's story is more like this latter. (See Chaucer Society Originals and Analogues, p. ill ff. ) 4041. orgon, a plural noun in M.E. (Lat. organa). 4045-4048. Chaucer says that he not only was as sure as a clock in his crowing, but he also knew what he was about, and was as good as an astrolabe, knowing the hours for the latitude he lived in. Astrolabes had to be adapted to a given latitude, an 1 were useless outside of it. 4049. fyn coral, from the dropping of the inflectional syllable, seems to be a compound noun. 4056. For rhythm, see § 259 (b). 4060. For the definite form of fair, see § 115 (d). 4069. Jn the Athenceum for October 24, 1896, p. 566, Professor Skeat communicates a stanza of this song from Ms. Trinity (Camb.?) R. 3. 19, folio 154: " My lefe is faren in lond Alias why ys she so, And I am so sore bound I may not come her to. She hath my hert in hold Where euer she ryde or go, With trew[e] loue a thousand fold." vv. 4064, 4065 contain an allusion to the fifth line. 41 14. fumes were noxious vapors which rose from the stomach into the brain, cf. N.E.D. fume, 4. complecciouns, 'collections of humors.' Chaucer treats this subject more at length in the opening lines of the Hous of Fame (Gl. Ch., p. 558)- 41 18. The rede Colera was one of the four humors, the excess of any one of which caused disease. They were sanguis, cholera, melan- cholia, and phlegma, cf. A 587, A 335, A 625. 41 21. rede beestes, like the fox. 41 31. a quotation from Cato's Distiches. In the M.E. translation of Liber Catonis, edited by Goldberg (Anglia, Vol. VII.), vv. 401, 402 (p. 174), occurs : "Jnng bat \>e mette in sweuene Telle hit not wakand," corresponding to the Cato, de Moribus, II. 31 : somnia ne cures. N 178 NOTES 415 1. Dame Pertelot's prescription is quite correct according to mediaeval practice. Catapuce is the chief ingredient of a laxative in Mittelejig. Medicinbuch, p. 134. We have also the statement that "Fumiter ageyn feuerys tercian is a souereyn medicin" in Anglia, XVIII. p. 330. , „ „ , „ 4156. The rhythm, if we may read herbyue, is normal; if herbyne, see § 259 (b). ther mery is: this phrase is usually rendered ' where pleasure is.' But mery as a substantive is unusual, to say the least, and makes but lame sense. The word mery (X.E. 'marrow') frequently in M.E. refers to the interior part of berry-like fruits. In Palladius, IV. 177, the word describes the pulp of a lime. It also refers to the tender shoots at the end of branches. With either of these meanings the passage makes good sense. The or for of in Gg and Pe may be a trace of the original reading. 4157. The rhythm of the verse is: ' x " ' • x x ' x 1 x ' Pekke hem vp right as they gr owe and ete hem yn (§ 259 (c)) ; or possibly, ft x t . n t x 1 Pekke hem vp right as they gr owe ^ etc. (§ 259 (b)). 4172. ' We need not argue the matter, it is self-evident.' 4174. Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede is common M.E. syntax. The N.E. idiom demands the plural. Chaucer evidently refers to Valerius Maximus (de Somniis), who tells the stories that follow, and points the reference by an allusion to ' Maximus ' in his 'gretteste.' Cicero (de Divinatione, I. 27) also relates them. It is likely, however, that Valerius Maximus is either quoted at second hand, or is given as the source with the intention of misleading the reader. (See the mono- graph of Miss K. O. Petersen, On the Sources of the Nonne Prestes Tale, Boston, 1898.) 4226. Note how e alters the verse to get rid of the two unstressed syllables at the beginning of the second half-verse. 4232. The line is an Alexandrine. Again e tries to get rid of the irregularity. If there is any error in the original it is more likely that he has intruded than that heere has. 4254. rede, ' read about.' 4268. agayn the day, 'toward daybreak/ 4300. The Legend of St. Kenelm is told by Florence of Worcester. NOTES 179 See Freeman, Old English History, p. 8j. Chaucer probably refers to one of the later versions like those found in the fifteenth century legendaries, which add the incident of the dream. 4306. to kepe hym weel, etc., ' guard himself carefully against treason.' 4310. I hadde leuere than my sherte, ' I would give my boots.' 4314. Chaucer here, as in the Parlement of Foules, 96 rT., refers to Macrobius' Commentary on Cicero's Somnium Scipionis (Africani), a mediaeval classic on the subject of dreams ; this and the scriptural references which follow he probably quotes at second-hand. Miss Petersen (in the work cited above) has shown good reason to think that for these references, as well as for the Valerius story, Chaucer was indebted to a fourteenth-century commentary by Richard Holkot. 4318. See Daniel vii. 1— 15. 4320. See Genesis xxxvii. 5-10. 4323. See Genesis xli. 1-7. 4324. See Genesis xl. 4328. The dream of Croesus is told in the Commentary on Boe- thius, de Cons. Phil. II., prosa ii. "One night Croesus dreamed that he was on a high tree, where he was made wet by Jupiter and dried by Phoebus. When he related this dream to his daughter, Fania, she said, ' You will be captured by Cyrus and hanged on a cross, where the rain will moisten you and the sun will dry you. ' " Chaucer tells the story at length in B 3930-3948 (Gl. Ch., p. 131), having taken it from the Boethius Commentary. 4331. Andromache's dream forms a part of the mediaeval version of the Troy legend. 4344. Chaunticleer evidently did not like bad-tasting medicines. 4366. * Royally ' brave with the coming of the daylight. 4377. It- was a mediaeval tradition that the world was created in March. 4380. A mock importance is given to the tragedy which follows by this circumstantial detail. 4384. Taking the ' degree of the sun/ as given in v. 4385, and the sun's altitude, given in 4389, and applying the 3d Conclusio of Pt. II. of Chaucer's Astrolabe (Gl. Ch., p. 644), we find the ' label silti?tg in the bordure vpon a capital letter that is clepid an AY i.e. it was about nine o'clock, and the day of the month must have been May 3. This makes it difficult to explain i syn Marche began,' a difficulty which the l8o NOTES scribe of H4 noticed and attempted to remedy ; see variant reading. We should expect ended. Could Chaucer have written Syn Marche ys (or ? be) gonl ' March having passed by.' Cf. note on v. 1521. This is one of the many instances in the Canterbury Tales which shows Chaucer's care in unimportant details. Cf. the similar notation of time in B 1— 15. 4398. A sly hint at the chronicles the Monk has been telling illus- trating this very point, souereyn notabilitee, i.e. an important nota bene written on the margin of a chronicle. 4401 ff. is, of course, ironical, and a sly allusion to the popularity of romances among women. 4417. Genyloun. For the story of Genyloun's betrayal of Roland, see Caxton's Lyf of Charles the Grete, ed. Herrtage, for the E.E.T.S., Pt. II., p. 230 ff. 4431 ff. Chaucer refers to the question of foreordination and free will discussed in Boethius, de Cons. Phil. V., prosa 6. Augustine is St. Augustine (fourth century), who treats this subject in the fifth book of his de Civitate Dei. Thomas Bradwardyn was a Merton Pro- fessor of Divinity and Archbishop of Canterbury of the fourteenth cen- tury, who discussed the question of providence and free will in his de Causa Dei. He also, according to Pitseus, wrote a separate tract, de Prrzsentia et Predestinatione. 4440. This doctrine of necessitie condicioneel is found in Boethius; cf. the Boece, 1908, 1909 (Gl. Ch., p. 436) : " For certes ther ben two maneris of necessites : that odn necessite is sy tuple, as thus; that it byhouith by necessite that alle men ben mortal or dedly ; another neces- site is condicionel as thus : y if thou wost that a man ivalketh it byhouith by necessite that he walke." In Troilus and Creiseyde, IV. 960 ff. (Gl. Ch., p. 522), Chaucer ' has to doon of swich matere ' in extenso. 4441-4445. A gallant apology, surely, but has it not a* touch of irony withal ? 4461. The ' Phisiologus' was a Latin collection of allegorical fables, widely current in medueval literature. It was translated into Old French, German, and Old English. Tyrwhitt quotes the few verses from the chapter de Sirenis which Chaucer refers to : — " Sirentz sunt monstra maris resonantia magnis Vocibus et modalis cant us formantia multis." 4484. Boethius was the author of a tract, de JMusica. NOTES l8l 4502. The story is told in the Speculum Stultorum, a satirical poem written by Nigellus Wireker (thirteenth century) under the pseudonym Burnellus ; burnellus is mediaeval Latin for 'donkey' (e.g. Ms. B. M. Royal, 17 C. xvii., has l hie burnellus, a lytyl asse 7 ), hence Chaucer's allusion. The loss of the benefice was due to the cock's being late in his crowing on the morning that the priest was to be ordained, so that the candidate missed the ceremony. 4537. As Tyrwhitt pointed out, Geoffrey de Vinsauf published a poem not long after the death of Richard I., in which he apostrophized Friday {dies Veneris) as being the instrument of the king's death. 4585. Chaucer refers to ' Jack Straw's rebellion,' 1381, in which many of the Flemish merchants of London were dragged into the streets and slain. 4608. Seems to be another instance of omission of unstressed syllable in the caesura. 4631. 2 Timothy hi. 16, is the text which Chaucer refers to. 4635. In the margin of a appears the note, Do minus archiepis- copus Cantuariensis, probably a reference to this form of benediction as being peculiar to the Archbishop of Canterbury. GLOSSARY To put the whole vocabulary of Chaucer, with all its varying forms and varying meanings, into a glossary like this would require the allot- ment to it of a disproportionate space in the book. Only such words, therefore, as are quite different in form and meaning from the corre- sponding N.E. words will be found here. But the student must not infer that in cases where the text word does not appear in the glossary its meaning is therefore exactly the same as that of the N.E. word which corresponds to it. Various inflectional forms, especially those of the strong verbs, will be found in the index to the Grammar. O.E., O.N., and O.Fr. forms have been added for practise in phonology. Un- marked vowels in stressed syllables are short, ou represents u : to dis- tinguish between 6 and ii written as 6, the student must trust to his knowledge of the grammar. a, an unstressed form of on; 2766, 2725; see § 117. a, a-, an unstressed form of on, 1621, 2934. ablen (Kent, abeggen, A 3938), to atone for, 2303; Q.'E.abycgan, § 173, note I. able, fit, 167; O.Fr. liable. ab^d, delay, 965; O.E. *abdd. aboughte, see ablen. aboute, in turn, 890. abouen, above; O.E. abufan. abrayde, to awake, B 4198; O.E. a-bregdan. abregge, shorten (by making the time pass quickly), 2999; O.Fr. abregier. aehaat, buying, 571. achatour, purveyor, 568; O.Fr. achateur. affile his tonge, polish his lan- guage, 712. after, according to, 125; after oon, see oon. agQn,to pass by, 1276; pass away, 1782; O.E. agdn. agrief = on gref ; take it not a-, do not be displeased, B 4083. aiel, a grandfather, 2477 ; O.Fr. aiel. al, adj., all, entire; adv., quite, alto- gether, 76, 150, B 4167; conj., al- though, 71, 297, 734; see § 143. al and some, one and all. alaunt, a wolf hound, 2148; pi. alauntz; see § 8. 83 1 84 GLOSSARY al be, although, 297. alderbest, best of all, see § 113. alderman, the chief officer of a guild, 372; O.E. ealdorjnon, cf. ale- stake, the pole on which an ale-house sign was hung, 667; O.E. ealu, staca. algate. always, in every case, 571 ; cf. O.N. alia gotu. align te, to alight, 722, 983; O.E. a Uhlan. allegge, adduce, 3000; O.Fr. alle- gier. aller, see § 113. als =: also, B 3976. alsQ, as, 730; O.E. eal(l)-swd. amblere, 469, an ambling horse, a pacer; cf. O.Fr. ambleur. amonges, amongst, 759; O.E. on, ge-monge with -es suffix, § 122. amorwe, on the morrow, 822; O.E. on, morgen; see § 80 (d). amounte, signify, mean, 2362; O.Fr. amounter. aniyddes, amidst, in the middle, 2009; O.E. on, middy -es. and, if, 1214. an-honge, to hang up, B 4252. anlaas, a short, two-edged sword or dagger, usually worn at the girdle, 357; cf. Lat. anelatius. anyn (an oon), forthwith, 32; O.E. on, an. a paas, at a walk, slowly, 221 7, 2897. apalle, to become feeble, 3053; O.Fr. apallir. apayd, contented, satisfied, 1868; cf. O.Fr. apaier. ape, fool, 706; O.E. apa. apparaillynge, preparation, 2913; cf. O.Fr. appareiller. appetit, desire, 1680; O.Fr. ap- petit apiked, 365, (?) 'sharpened' with geere in the sense of 'weapons.' areste, to stop, to check, 827; to take into custody, B 42 10; O.Fr. ar ester. arette, ascribe, impute, 2729; O.Fr. aretter. armee, an expedition by sea, 60; O.Fr. armee. arm-greet, the size of one's arm, 2145; O.E. earm, great; see § 194. armypotente, mighty in arms, 1982; It. armipotente. array, dress, equipage, 41, 934; O.Fr. arret. arraye, to set in order, dress, adorn, 2090; O.Fr. arreier. arreest, custody, 1310; the stop for the spear when couched for the attack, 2602; O.Fr. arest. ars-metrike, arithmetic, mensu- ration, 1898; O.Fr. arismetique, confused with Lat. ars metrica. arwe, arrow, 104; O.E. earh ; see § 80 (e). as, as if, 81, 636; O.E. eal-swa, with stress on first syllable; as nowthe (O.E. nufia), now, at present, 462, 2264 ; as wel as, in like manner, 2404. ascendent, the part of the zodiac that is ascending above the hori- zon, 417. GLOSSARY I8 5 aslake, to moderate, to appease, 1760; O.E. aslacian. a-sonder, asunder, 491 ; O.E. o?i, sun dor. assaut, assault, 989; O.Fr. assaut. assaye, to try, 181 1; O.Fr. as- sat er. assege, besiege, 881 ; O.Yx.asegier. assente, agree to, 374. asshen, ashes, 1302; O.E. asce, § 105- assoillyng, absolution, acquittal, 661 ; O.Fr. assoiler. assiiren, confirm, 1924; O.Fr. as- seurer. asterte, to escape, 1595. ast^ne (p.p., astyned), astonish, 2361 ; O.Fr. estoner. ast^red, stored, 609; O.Fr. es- torer. astronomye, astrology, 414. asure, azure, B4052. at, according to, 2192; for, 1675. at eye, see ye. atr^de, outwit, 2449 ; O.E. at- (pre- fix denoting separation), rcedan. atrenne, outrun, 2449; O.E. at- ; O.N. renna. attame, to cut into, enter upon, B 4009. atte, at the ; O.E. at pe ; see § 87. attempree, temperate, moderate, B 4028. atthainaunt, adamant, 1305; O.Fr. adamant. auter, alter, 1905; O.Fr. auter. avaunce, to be profitable, 246; O.Fr. avancer. avauut, boast, 227 ; O.Fr. avanter. auauntage, advantage, 1293; O.Fr. avantage. auenture, luck, accident, 25, 795. avow, vow, promise, 2237; cf. O.Fr. avouer. auys, consideration, opinion, 786, 1868 ; O.Fr. avis. awe, fear, dread, 654; O.N. agi. axe, to ask, 1347; O.E. acsian. axyng, asking, demanding, 1826. ay, ever, aye, 63; O.N. ei. ayeyns, against, 1787; O.E. on- gegn, ongagn, -es. bacheler, a candidate for knight- hood, 80; O.Fr. bacheler. baillif, bailiff, 603; see note; O.Fr. baillif. bake-m^te, pastry, 343. balled, bald, 198. bane, destruction, death, 1097, 1681; O.E. bana. baner, the knight-banneret's standard ; it was four-square as distinct from the pointed pen- non, 978, 2410; O.Fr. banere. barbour, a barber, 2025; O.Fr. barbeor. bare, uncovered, 683, 2877; O.E. bar. bareyne, devoid of, 1244, 1977; O.Fr. baraigne. baronage, an assembly of barons, 3096; O.Fr. baronage. barre, bar of a door, 1075; O.Fr. bar re. barres, originally bars strengthen- ing the buckle-holes, but later 1 86 GLOSSARY any sort of ornament of a girdle, 329. batailled, having battlements, B 4050. bawdryk, a baldric or belt over the shoulder, 1 16. be, ben, been, 60; O.E. beon ; cf. § 186. begynne, to begin; O.E. begin- nan. beer, case for a pillow, 694. beere, a bier, 2871; O.E. bcei- (fern.). beggestere, originally a female beggar, 242. beme, a trumpet, B 4588; O.E. be ma. benedicite, clipped to ben' diste, a common exclamation like 'God bless us ! ' 1 785 ; Lat. benedicite. bente, declivity of a hill, a plain, open field, 1981. benygne, kind, 518; O.Fr. bejiin. b^re, to conduct one's self, behave, 796 ; O.E. beran. b^re, a bear, 1640; O.E. bera. beste, atte, in the best way pos- sible; similarly, for the beste, 788. besy, Kent form of bisy, busy, 321 ; O.E. bisig, *bysig. bet, better, 242; O.E. bet. b^te, to beat, 2162; yb^te, em- bossed, 979; O.E. be at an. bete, to mend a fire, to kindle, 2253; O.E. be tan. bi-bledde, covered over with blood, 2002; O.E. be-, bledan. bidde, to bid; see § 161. bifalle, to happen, 19, 1009 ; be- fall, 795, 1S05 ; O.E. befeallan; see § 163. bif<^re, bif^ren, before, 377, 450, 1376 ; O.E. bejoran. biliQlde, to behold; O.E. be- heal dan ; cf. § 47. bihQte, to promise, 1854; O.E. bihatan. biknowe, to acknowledge, 1556, B4251; O.E. becnawan. bile, beak, B 405 1; O.E. bile. biqu^the, to bequeath, 2768; O.E. be ewe pan. biraft, p.p. of bir^ue, 1361. bir^ue (with dat.), to take away from; O.E. bereafian. biseke, to beseech, 918; O.E. be-, secan. bisette, to set to work, 279; to set in order, 3012; O.E. besettan. bismotered (an apax legomenon in 76), soiled, spotted. bisy, see besy. biside, beside, near, 445; O.E. be si dan. bisides, beside, hym besides, about him, 402, § 122. bisynesse, labor, care, anxiety, 520, 1007. bit, see bidde, § 177. bithinke, to reflect, consider ; I am bethought, it occurs to me, 767; O.E. bipencan. bitwixe, betwixt, 277; O.E. be- tweox, betwyx. biwreye, to bewray, betray, 2229, B 4241 ; O.E. be-, wregan. blankmanger, a compound of GLOSSARY l8 7 minced fowl with cream, sugar, and flour, 387; O.Fr. blancman- ger. blede, to bleed, 1801 ; to be bloody, be hurt, 145; O.E. bledan. blenche, flinch, start back, 1078; (?) O.E. blencan; cf. § 175(6). blisful, blessed, 17, 770. blood, kin, 1583; O.E. blod. blyue, quickly, 2697; e.M.E. bilife, O.E. bi-, life. bokeler, buckler, 112, 471; O.Fr. bocler. boket, bucket, 1533. bole, bull, 2139 ; O.N. bole. bone, prayer, petition, 2269; O.N. bon (fern,). b$ras, borax, 630; O.Fr. boras. bgrd, table, 52; O.E. bore/. borwe (dat.), pledge, security, 1622; O.E. borg. bote, remedy, 424; O.E. A?/ (fern.). bote, boot, 203, 273; O.Fr. bote. boteler, butler, B 4324. bQthe, both, 1831; O.N. bd/rir. botme, bottom, B 4291; O.E. bo/ me. bolik, body, 2746; O.E. bile. boTir, inner room, B 4022; O.E. bur. bowes, boughs, 2917; O.E. boh, pi. bo gas. bracer, guard for the arm, in; cf. O. Fr. brassettre. brak, see br^ke. brast. see bresten. brawn, brawn, muscle, 546, 2135; O.Fr. braon. brede, breadth, 1970; O.E brado. breem, a fresh-water fish, bream, 350; O.Fr. bresme. breeth, breath, 5; O.E. brie/?. br^ke, to break, 551; O.E. bre- ean. brenie, fiercely, furiously, 1699; O.E. breme. bren, bran, B4430; O.Fr. bren. brend, burnished, bright, 2162; from brenne. brende, see brenne. brenne, to burn, 2331 ; O.E. ber- nan, O.N. breiina. brennynge, burning, 996. brennyngly, fiercely, ardently, 1564. brent, burnt, 2017. See brenne. brere, brier, 1532; O.E. brer (masc). bresten, to burst, 1980; to- breste, break in two, 261 1; O.E. berstan. bretful, full to the brim, 687, 2164. bretherhed, brotherhood, broth- ers of a religious order, 511 ; O.E. breper + lied. brid, bird, B 4071; O.E. brid. brooch, a jewel or pendant. The word broche was early confused with brooch, a spit, bodkin, and hence the spelling; O.Fr. broche. brQde, plainly, 739. br^ke, see br^ke. brond, firebrand, burning log, 2 3 39> O.E. brand. brood, broad, 155, 471, 3024; O.E. brad. broun, brown, 109; O.E. briln. i88 GLOSSARY browdynge, embroidery, 2498. broyded, braided, 1049. brymstoon, brimstone, 629. biilte, built, 1548; from bulde; O.E. *byldan. bulte, bolt, sift, B 4430; O.Fr. buleter. burdoun, bar a stif, sang a loud bass, 673. burgeys, citizen, burgess, 369; O.Fr. burgeis. burned, burnished, 1983; O.Fr. burnir. busk (North.), bussh, bush, 15 17, 2013. but, but if, if, unless, 351, 582; O.E. biite ; see § 57. by, in, 595; in the case of, 1673; by myself, in my own case, 181 3. by and by, side by side, ion; O.E. bi and In. by-iape, befool, make sport of, 1585. byynge, buying, 569; O.E. bycgan. caas, chance, misfortune, 844; pi. cases (at law), 323; O.Fr. cas. caas, quiver, 2358 ; cf. O.Fr. casse. eaeche, to catch, take, 498; O.Fr. cachier, can, see kan. eantel, corner, part, 3008; O.Fr. cant el. cappe, hood; sette hir aller cappe, overreached, swindled them all, 586; O.E. cccppe. careyne, carrion, carcass, 2013; O.Fr. caroig.ne. carl, churl, fellow, 545 ; O.N. karl. carole, a round dance, 1931; O.Fr. cai'ole. carpe, talk, chatter, perhaps with sub-meaning of criticise, 474; O.N. ka?'pa. carte, chariot, cart, 2022; O.N. kartr. eartere, charioteer, 2022. cast, plot, 2468; O.N. kast. caste, devise, suppose, 2172, 2854, B 4265 ; O.N. kasta. catapuce, spurge, B 4155. catel, goods, valuable property of any kind, 373, 540; O.Fr. catel. caytyf, wretched, a wretch, 924, 1552, 1 71 7; O.Fr. caitif. ceint, girdle, 329; O.Fr. ceint. celle, a small religious house de- pendent on a larger one, 172; cell, 1376. centaure, centaury, 4153. cerial, oke, a kind of oak, holm oak, 2290. certes, certainly, 1145. ceruce, lead ointment, 630; F. ceruse, champartie, a partnership in dominion, 1949. ehampioun, a champion, almost equivalent to ' prize-fighter,' 239; O.Fr. champion. chape, to furnish with a chape, i.e. the metal point of a scabbard, N.E.D. chapman, a merchant, super- cargo, 397; O.E. ceapniann. GLOSSARY 189 char, car, chariot, 21 38 ; O.Fr. char. charge, harm, 1284, 2287; O.Fr. charge. chasteyu, a chestnut tree, 2922; O.Fr. chastaigne. chaunce, chance, hap, 1752; O.Fr. cheance. chaunge, to change, 348; O.Fr. ckangier. chauntrie, an endowment to pay for masses for the souls of the founder's family, 510; O.Fr. chanter ie. cheere, face, cheer, 139,728,913; O.Fr. chere. cherl, fellow, churl, 2459; O.K. ceorl. chese, to choose, 1595, 1614; O.E. ceosan. cheuentein, captain, 2555. cheuisaunce, arrangement; O.Fr. chevissance. chiden, to chide, scold, 531 ; O.E. citia n. chiken, a chicken, 380; O.E. cicen, ciccen. chirkyng, creaking, 2004; cf. cea rcia n (?) * cierca n . chiualrie, knighthood, prowess in battle, 45, 865; a body of men-at-arms, 878. chyuachfe, an expedition, 85; O.Fr. chevanchie. cronycle, a chronicle, B4398. citole, a kind of musical instru- ment with chords, 1959; O.Fr. citole. elappe, babble, chatter, B 3971 ; O.E. cl&ppan. elapse, clasp, 273. clariounes, clarion, 251 1; O.Fr. clarion. claree, a mixed liquor made of wine, honey, and spices, 1471 ; O.Fr. dare. elenche, to clamp. cle^ne, adj., clean, pure ; adv., cleanly, 133; O.E. clcene. clennesse, purity (of life), 506; O.E. clcen?iess. cl^pe, to call, cry, 121, 643; O.E. cleopian. cler, adj., clear; eleere, adv., clearly, 170, 1062; O.Fr. cler. el^ue, cleave, 2934 ; O.E. cleofian. clys, enclosure, yard, B4550. clothered, clotted, 2745. cofre, chest, 298; O.Fr. cofre. colere, choler, B 4136; O.Fr. coler. colered, wearing a collar, 2152. colerik, bilious, 587. c^l-fox, the Brant fox, a variety distinguished for having a greater admixture of black in its fur, N.E.D., B 4405. eolpons, shreds, locks, 679; piles, heaps, 2867. communes, common people,2509; cf. O.Fr. adj. comun. compaas, circle, 1889; O.Fr. compas. eompassyng, artifice, 1996. compeer, comrade, 670; O.Fr. com pair. compleyne, to complain, 908. compleynte, grievance, 2862; O.Fr. complainle. 190 GLOSSARY complexioun, temperament, character, 333. eomposicioun, arrangement, 848; O.Fr. eomposicioun. condiciouu, social position, ^\ manners, 1431; O.Fr. condi- tio 11 n. confort, pleasure, 773; O.Fr. con- fort. conforte, strengthen, aid, 2716. confus, confused, 2230; O.Fr. confus. conne, see kan. conscience, tender-heartedness, pity, 150; O.Fr. conscience. conseil, counsel, 1141, almost equivalent to 'consent' in 784; (?) confidant, 1 147, see note; O.Fr. conseil. conserue, to preserve, 2329; O.Fr. conserver. constellacioun, the grouping of the heavenly bodies in their as- trological relations, 1088. coutek, strife, 2003. conteuaunce, countenance, 1916; O.Fr. contenance. contrarie, foe, 1859; O.Fr. adj. contraire. contree, part of the country, 216, 121 3; O.Fr. contree. conueye, to convoy, escort, 2737. cop, top, tip, 554; O.E. copp. CQpe, a priest's cloak, 260; O.Fr. cope. coppe, cup, 134; O.E. citppa. corage, heart; O.Fr. corage. eoroune, a crown, 2875; O.Fr. cor one. corrumpable, corruptible, 3010. cosyn, cousin, kinsman, 1131; O.Fr. cosin. CQte, a small house, cottage, 2457- cc*te-armure, a coat worn over armor, and charged with the bearings of the wearer, 1016, 2140; O.Fr. cote, armnre. couched, trimmed, as with em- broidery, 2161, 2933 ; O.Fr. couchier. eountour, 359, see note. O.Fr. conteor. countrefete. imitate, 139. courtepy, a short upper coat of coarse material, 290; Du. kort, pije. couerchief, kerchief; O.Fr. couvrechief. con yne, trickery, 604; O.Fr. co- vine. cowardye, cowardice, 2730. coy, quiet, 119; O.Fr. coi. cracchynge, scratching, 2S34. crafty, skilful, 1897; O.E. crccf- crisp, crisp, curled, 2165; O.E. crisp. Cristophre, an image of St. Christopher worn as a brooch, 115. crop, shoot, top (of a tree), 7, 1532; O.E. cropp. croys, cross, 699; O.Fr. crois. crulle, curly, curled, 81. cryke, creek, harbor, 409; O.Fr. crique. cure, anxiety, 303, 2853. GLOSSARY 191 curious, ingenious, clever, 577; O.Fr. curious. curs, curse, excommunication, 655; O.E. curs. curteis, courteous, 250; O.Fr. curtois. D damoysele, ' Madam,' the title of a young woman, whether mar- ried or unmarried, B 4060. dampned, condemned, doomed, 1 1 75; O.Fr. damner. § 88 (a). dar, dare; O.E. dearr ; see § 185, 5- darreyne, to vindicate one's claim to a person or thing by battle, 1609. daun, dan, a title nearly equiva- lent to Elizabethan ' Master,' 1379, B 3982; O.Fr. dan (Lat. dominus). daunce, the olde, 'the ancient game,' i.e. the game of Love, 476. daunger, risk, 402, 1849; O.Fr. danger. daungerous, haughty, 517. (lawe, to dawn, 1676; O.E. dagian. dawenynge, dawn; B 4072. dayerye, dairy, 597. dayesye, a daisy, 332; O.E. dodges, cage. debaat, strife, 1754. debonaire, gracious, 2282; O.Fr. debonaire. d<*d, dead, 145, 942, 1005; O.E. aead. dede, deed, 742; O.E. dad (fern.). deduyt, pleasure, delight, 2177; O.Fr. deduit. deedly, deathlike, mortal, 1082. deef, deaf, 446; O.E. deaf. deel, deal, B 4024; euery deel, in ail respects, entirely, 2091, 1825; neuer a deel, not a whit, not at all, B 4346. degree, a step, 1890; rank, station. 40, 1434; (?) status, 1841; O.Fr. degre. deliuerly, quickly, B 4606. delue, to dig, 536 ; O.E. delfan. delit, delight, pleasure, 335, 1679; O.Fr. delit. delyuere, quick, active, 84; O.Fr. delivre. deme, deem, 1881; O.E. deman. departe, to separate, 11 34; O.Fr. departir. departynge, separation, 2774. depeynted (p.p. of depeynte), depicted, 2031 ; the other form of the p.p. depeynt (cf. O.Fr. depeynf) may have been used in 2049; O.Fr. depeindre. d^re, to injure, 1822; O.E. derian. derk, dark, 1995; O.E. deorc. derr (comp. of d^re, cf. § 125), dearer, 1448; O.E. deorra. desdeyn, to take in, despise, frown upon, 789; O.Fr. dis- deigne. despitous, haughty, merciless, 516, 1596. despit, spite, malicious contempt, 941 ; O.Fr. despit. destreyne, to constrain, distress, 1455; O.Fr, destraindre. 192 GLOSSARY dette, debt, 280; O.Fr. dette. (The " b " in the N.E. word is due to Latin spelling.) deuoir, duty, 2598; O.Fr. devier, Par.Fr. devoir. deuys, plan, decision, 816; O.Fr. devis. deuyse, to describe or relate in detail, 34, 994, 1048, 1914; O.Fr. deviser. deuisynge, preparation, 2496. deyntee, adj., valuable, 168 ; sb. delicacy, B 4025; O.Fr. deinte. deys, the raised platform at the end of a hall, a table, 370, 2200; O.Fr. deis. diffye, defy, B 4361. digestynes, aids to digestion, B4151. dighte, dress, 1041; O.E. dihtan. digne, worthy, 141 ; haughty, 517; O.Fr. digne. discheuelee, dishevelled, 683; O.Fr. deschevele. disconfitynge, disconfiture, de- feat, 1008, 2719; O.Fr. discon- fiture. disherited, disinherited, 2926; O.Fr. desheriter. disioynt, a difficulty, 2962; O.Fr. disjointe. dispence, expense, expenditure, 441, 1882; O.Fr. despense. dispitously, angrily, cruelly, 1 1 24. disposicioun, position of planet- ary bodies in the heavens (as- trology), 1087; O.Fr. disposicion. disputisoun, disputation, B 4428. diuynynge, the forecast of an issue, 2521; O.Fr. v. deviner. diuinistre, diviner, prophet, 281 1. diuisioun, distinction ; kan no d., recognizes no distinction, 1780; O.Fr. division. doghtren, B 4019, cf. § 106. doke, duck, 4580; O.E. duce. dokke, to cut short, dock (cf. O.N. dokr, a stumpy tail), 590. dom, decision, opinion, 323; O.E. dom. dominacioun, power, control, 275S; F. domination. don, doon, doo,, to do, cause, make; don with inf. make, areste, etc., cause to be, have made, arrested, etc., 1905, B 4210; also with p.p. don wroght, have made, 19 1 3; O.E. don. See § 187. dong, dung, 530; O.E. dung. dgre, a door, 550; O.E. n. pi. doru. dorste, see dar, § 186, 5. doiimb, dumb, 774; O.E. dumb. doTite, doubt, fear, 487, 1 141 ; O.Fr. doute. (The " b " in N.E. is due to influence of Latin spelling.) ddwue, dove, 1962; O.N. dftfa. drawe, to draw, or to carry, 2547; O.E. dragan. drecche, to trouble (by dreams), B 4077; O.E. dreccan. dr^de, fear, 1776. dr^de, to fear, dread, 660 ; O.E. (on) dree dan. dr^deful, full of fear, timid, 1479. GLOSSARY 193 dr^m, a dream, B 41 19; O.E. dream. drenche, to drown, p.p. dreyiit, B 4272; cf. § 175(6); O.E. drencan. drenchyng, drowning, 2456. dresse, to set in order, 106, 2594; O.Fr. dresser. dreye, drye, dry, 3024 ; O.E. *drege ; cf. § 69(e). drogges, drugs, 426 ; O.Fr. drogue. droghte (o = oil), drought, 2 ; O.E. drugap (fern.); Orm., druhhpe. dronken, p.p. of drinke, 135 ; cf. O.E. drincan. dronke, pret. pi. of drinke. drQpe, a drop, 131; O.E. dropa. droupe, to droop, 107 ; O.N. drilpa ; see note. drugge, to drudge, 1416. drye, dry; O.E. dryge. dyapred, ornamented with small patterns, 2158; O.Fr. diaprer. dyched, moated, 1888; cf. O.E. «*fci § 79(c). dyen, to die, 1109; 1.0. E. degan (Napier, Holy Rood, p. 38) ; cf. § 69(c). dyke, to make ditches, 536 ; cf. O.E. dician. dys, dice, 1238. E ecclesiaste, one who performs public functions in church, 708. <*ch, each, 39; O.E.te/c; cf. § 79(c). <£chQn, echoon, each one, 820 ; O.E. celc, tin. O eek, eke, also, too, 5,41; O.E. eac. eet, see § 161. effect, fact, substance ; in effect, practically, 319. eft, again, 1669 ; O.E. eft. elde, old age, 2447, 2448 ; O.E. eldo. elles, else, 375; O.E. elles. embrolided, covered with em- broidery, 89 ; cf. O.Fr. enbroder. emforth, to the extent of, 2235 ; O.E. eft' 71, fort). empoysonyng, poisoning, 2460 ; O.Fr. empoisotier. emprise, an undertaking, 2540 ; O.Fr. ei?iprise. encens, incense, 2429; O.Fr. en- cens. encombred, embarrassed, ham- pered, 1 718 ; entangled, in- volved, 508 ; O.Fr. encombre. enerees, sb., increase, 2184; O. Fr. v. encreistre. endelong, lengthways, 1991; cf. O.E. and la 7 ig. endite, relate, 1380 ; compose, 95, B 4397; O.Fr. e7iditer. engendren, cause, 4 ; O.Fr. en- gendrer. eugyne, torture, put on the rack to extort testimony, B 4250. enhauncen, to enhance, to raise, 1434; O.Fr. e7iha7iser. enhorte, to encourage, 285 1; O. Fr. e7iorter. enoynt, anointed, 2961 ; O.Fr. e;wi7il. ensample, example, 496; O.Fr. e7isai7iple. 194 GLOSSARY entente, intent, purpose, iooo; O. Fr. entente. entnne, intone, 123; see note. enuyned, having store of wine, 342; cf. O.Fr. enviner. erced^kene, archdeacon, 658; O. E. earcediacon. ^re, to plough, 886; O.E. erian. esehaunge, exchange, 278; O.Fr. es change. eschue, eschew, shun, 3043; O. Fr. es chive r. <*se, don, to provide entertain- ment for, 768; O.Fr. aaisie. <*se, entertain; cf. N.E. ease- ment = entertainment. O.Fr. feindre. fil, pt. of falle, 131 ; O.E. feallan ; see § 163. firre. fir tree, 2921 ; O.E. * fyre. fithele, fiddle, 296; O^.jtila. flatour, flatterer, B 4515; O.Fr. Jiateor. flaugh, B4421, pret. of flen; see § 155- Flaundryssh, Flemish, 272. flen, to flee from, 11 70; to fly, B 4132; O.E.fieon; cf. § 155, note 3. fleete, to flow, swim, 2397; O.E. fieotan. flesh, meat, 147; O.E. flasc. flex, flax, 676; O.E. fieax. fley, fleigh, pret. of flen, flye, B 4362 var.; see § 155. flotery, wavy, flowing, 2883 ; cf. Q.E.flotorian. flour de lys, a lily, 238. floytynge, playing on a flute, 91 ; other forms in M.E. are flowte, finite; cf. N.E.D. 'flute.' fly, pret. of flen, flye; see § 155. flye, to fly, flee; O.E. fleogan; see § 155. folwe, to follow, 2367; O.E. fol- gian. foond, pret. of finde, B 4019. foo, fQ, foe, enemy, 63; O.E. fa (pi. of adj._/rtA). foom, foam, 1659; O.E. fdm. foot mantel, 472 ; see note. for, because, 443, against, B 4307, as, 413 ; for any thing, in spite 196 GLOSSARY of everything, at all hazards, 276; O.K. /or. for-, as a prefix to an adj. intensi- fies the notion expressed by it; e.g. for-blaek, 2144; for-old, 2142. fordo, to destroy, 1560; O.E. for- do n. forf^red, badly frightened, B 45 76, (see var. readings). forn-cast, foreordained, B 4407. forneys, furnace, 202; O.E. for- naise. for-pynecl, wasted away by tor- ment, 205 ; O.E. for-, phiian. fors, dp n gone, passed, see gQ. yhe, see ye. yif, imper. of y^ue. yifte, a gift; O.E. gift (fern.). yiue, to give, 225; see § 161. y-lad, p.p. of l^de (to lead), one of whose meanings is ' carry,' 'haul,' 530. y-laft, p.p. of l^uen, to leave. y-liche, alike, 2526; O.E. gelica. Ylioun, Ilium, B 4546. ylyk, alike; O.E. gelic. y-meynd, p. p. of menge, see §175(7). ynogh (o = ou), enough, 373; O.E. genoh. y^lden, p.p. of yelde; O.E. gi eld a 71. yond, yonder; O.E. geond. yong, young, 7, 79, 213; O.E. giu?ig, geong. ygre, a long time ago, 181 3; O.E. gear a. GLOSSARY 221 youlyng, yelling, 1278; cf. O.N. gaula. Ypocras, Hippocrates, 431. Ypolita, Hippolyte, 868. Ypres, a city in West Flanders, famous for its weaving, 448. y-raft, p. p. of r^uen; O.E. reafian. y-ronne, run, clustered, 2165; coagulated, 2693; p.p. of ren- nen. ysene, visible; O.E. gesene. y-shorn, p p. of sh^ren. y-shriue, shriven, p.p. of shriue; O.E. scrifan. y-slayn, slain, 2708; p.p. of sl^n. y-spreynd, p.p. of sprenge, see §175(7). y-storue, pp. of steruen. y-teyd, p.p. of teye, tye, to tie; O.E. tiegan, § 69 (c). yuele, illy, n 27; O.E. yfele. y- wis, surely; O.E. gewiss. y-wroght, p.p. of werken. THE GLOBE EDITION. THE WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. EDITED BY ALFRED W. POLLARD, H. FRANK HEATH, MARK H. LIDDELL. W. S. MCCORMICK. Globe 8vo. Cloth. $1.25, net. Originally entrusted to the late Mr. Henry Bradshaw, and then to Mr. Brad- shaw and Dr. Furnivall in conjunction, after Mr. Bradshavv's death the work was taken up, at Dr. Furnivall's request, by Mr. Alfred W. Pollard, the Editor of English Miracle Plays and the " Eversley Edition " of the Canterbury Tales, and author of the Chaucer Primer. Reserving for himself the general editor- ship and the preparation of the text of the Canterbury Tales and Legend of Good Women, Mr. Pollard has been fortunate enough to secure the help of three scholars, each of whom had made a special study of a different section of Chaucer's work, and who were in hearty agreement with him on all general principles. The Hous of Fame, Parlement of Foules, and Minor Poems have thus been entrusted to Dr. Frank Heath; the Boece, Astrolabe, and Komaunt of the Rose to Professor Liddell; and the Troilus and Creseyde to Professor McCormick. In the case of most of these pieces, numerous unprinted manu- scripts, in addition to those published by the Chaucer Society, have been examined, and the result is a series of new texts, differing in many important passages from any yet published, and recording a large number of readings of literary interest hitherto overlooked. Despite the necessity for severe compres- sion, room has been found for a critical collation, varying in fulness with the needs of each poem, and also for a sufficiency of illustrative and explanatory notes. The Globe Chaucer will be the first single volume edition of the poet's works in which such an apparatus has been provided. The spelling used in this edition follows that of the different manuscripts from which the text has been constructed, with only a minimum of modifica- tion, and without any attempt to conceal the fact that we owe the preservation of Chaucer's works to a number of different scribes, and that our present knowledge only takes us a very little way toward the spelling (itself certainly not uniform) which the poet himself may have used. As a help to scansion, the