\ 
 
 
n 
 
THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 HENRY NOBLE MacCRACKEN, Ph.D. 
 
 Assistant Professor of English in the Sheffield 
 Scientific School of Yale University 
 
 [The Glossary in collaboration with Thomas Goddard Wright, M.A. 
 Instructor in English in Sheffield Scientific School] 
 
 New Haven : Yale University Press 
 
 London : Humphrey Milford 
 
 Oxford University Press 
 
 MCMXIII 
 
M3 
 
 Copyright, 1913 
 
 BY 
 
 Yale University Press 
 
 First printed, September, 1913. 2000 copies 
 
 /. 
 
 ^C!,A357228 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The College Chaucer aims to provide^ with due regard 
 to the moderate size^ attractive page^ and readable print 
 required in a modern textbook^ as much of Chaucer as can 
 be given in a single volume. The teacher will find^ no 
 doubt^ more than he will choose to read with his class in 
 any one year; but he may welcome the opportunity offered 
 here of varying his course from year to year without change 
 of text, and the possibilities presented of full cross- 
 reference and helpful ''outside'' readings. 
 
 In this endeavor to give Chaucer in extenso, the editorial 
 apparatus has been compressed within the smallest possible 
 compass^ while a glossary of greater than average fullness 
 supplies the place of the usual notes. The Appendix con- 
 tains only such additional matter as the beginner absolutely 
 needs before attempting to read Middle English. 
 
 There is very general agreement among teachers that the 
 student learns most by approaching Chaucer^ not through 
 a text normalized and corrected on an editorial theory as 
 to standard mediaeval spellings but directly through the 
 actual forms of the early and authoritative manuscripts. 
 The one danger in this plan^ of confusion in morphology 
 and pronunciation^ is greatly lessened in this edition by 
 etymologies given in the glossary^ which supply source- 
 materials for correction of manuscript peculiarities. On the 
 other hand^ the student has not been relieved of his proper 
 labor^ by any device of friendly dots or italics. Footnotes 
 are reserved for the indication of necessary variation from 
 manuscript readings. 
 
 The editor gratefully thanks Professor W. W. Lawrence 
 of Columbia University for his proposal of the plan fol- 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 lowed in this volume^ and for his kindness in reading a part 
 of the proof. Mr. T. G. Wright's collaboration has been 
 of great assistance^ not only in the glossarial labor^ but in 
 numerous suggestions elsewhere. 
 
 New Haven^ 
 May, 1913 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 / 
 
 The Canterbury Tales. [From the EUesmere MS.] 
 
 PAGES 
 
 Group A 1-98 
 
 Prologue 
 
 The Knyghtes Tale 
 Prologue to the Milleres Tale 
 Prologue to the Reves Tale 
 Prologue to the Cokes Tale 
 
 Group B 99-206 
 
 Prologue of the Man of Lawe 
 The Tale of the Man of Lawe 
 Prologue to the Shipmannes Tale 
 
 End-Link 
 The Prioresses Tale 
 
 Prologue to Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas 
 The Tale of Sir Thopas 
 
 End-Link 
 Prologue to the Monkes Tale 
 The Monkes Tale 
 
 Prologue to the Nonnes Preestes Tale 
 The Nonnes Preestes Tale 
 
 Group C 207-236 
 
 The Phisiciens Tale 
 
 Epilogue 
 The Pardoners Prologue 
 The Pardoners Tale 
 
 Group D 237-274 
 
 The Prologue of the Wyves Tale of Bath 
 The Tale of the Wyf of Bath 
 Prologue to the Freres Tale 
 
viii CONTENTS 
 
 PAGES 
 
 Group E 275-317 
 
 Prologue to the Clerkes Tale 
 The Clerkes Tale 
 
 Lenvoy 
 Prologue to the Merehantes Tale 
 Epilogue 
 
 Group F . . . ... . 318-367 
 
 Prologue to the Squieres Tale 
 The Squieres Tale 
 Prologue to the Frankeleyns Tale 
 The Frankeleyns Tale 
 
 Group G 368-391 
 
 The Second Nonnes Tale 
 
 Prologue to the Chanouns Yemannes Tale 
 
 Group H 392-403 
 
 Prologue to the Maunciples Tale 
 The Maunciples Tale 
 
 Group I 404-408 
 
 Prologue to the Persouns Tale 
 Chaucer's * 'Retractation" 
 
 Minor Poems ...... 409-567 
 
 The Compleynt to Pite. [From MS. Bodley Fairfax 
 
 16.] 
 The Booke of the Duchesse. [From the same.] 
 The Complaynt of Mars. [From the same.] 
 The Parlement of Foules. [From MS. Gg. 4. 27, in the 
 
 University Library^ Cambridge.] 
 The Legend of Good Women. [A-version^ from MS. 
 
 Gg. 4. 27; B-version^ from MS. Fairfax 16.] 
 A Compleint to his Lady. [From MS. Phillips 9053.] 
 
CONTENTS ix 
 
 Anelyda and Arcite. [From MS. Harley 7333.] 
 
 The Former Age. [From MS. li. 3. 21^ in the Univ. 
 
 Library^ Cambridge.] 
 Adam Scrivener. [From MS. Trinity College R. 3. 20, 
 
 Cambridge.] 
 Fortune. [From MS. li. 3. 21, Cambridge.] 
 Mereiles Beaute. [From MS. Pepys 2006, Magdalene Col- 
 lege, Cambridge.] 
 To Rosemounde. [From Bodley Rawlinson poetical 163.] 
 Truth. [From MS. British Museum Addits. 10340.] 
 Gentilesse. [From MS. Brit. Mus. Cotton Cleopatra D. 
 
 VII.] 
 Envoy to Scogan. [From MS. Univ. Camb. Gg. 4. 27.] 
 Lak of Stedfastnesse. [From Bodley Hatton 73.] 
 Envoy de Chaucer a Bukton. [From Bodley Fairfax 16.] 
 The Compleynt of Venus. [From MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. 
 
 R. 3. 20.] 
 The Complaynt of Chaucer to his Purse. [From MS. Fair- 
 fax 16.] 
 Proverbs. [From B. M. Addits. I6l65.] 
 Wcmmanly Noblesse. [From MS. B. M. Addits. 34360.] 
 Against Women Inconstant. [From MS. Brit. Mus. Cotton 
 Cleopatra D. VII.] 
 
 PAGES 
 
 Appendix ....... 573-602 
 
 Glossary ....... 605-713 
 
«: 
 
 i 
 
THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
THE CANTERBURY TALES 
 
 GROUP A 
 
 PROLOGUE 
 Here hygynneth the Booh of the tales of Caunterbury. 
 
 Whan that Aprille^ with hise shoures soote^ 
 
 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote 
 
 And bathed every veyne in swich licour^ 
 
 Of which vertu engendred is the flour ; 
 
 Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 5 
 
 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 
 
 The tendre croppes_, and the yonge sonne 
 
 Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne_, 
 
 And smale foweles maken melodye^. 
 
 That slepen al the nyght with open eye — ' 10 
 
 So priketh hem Nature in hir corages — 
 
 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages 
 
 And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes 
 
 To feme halwes^ kowthe in sondry londes ; 
 
 And specially^ from every shires ende 15 
 
 Of Engelond^ to Caunturbury they wende^ 
 
 The hooly blisful martir for to seke 
 
 That hem hath holpen^ whan that they were seeke. 
 
 Bifil that in that seson^ on a day^ 
 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay^ 20 
 
 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage 
 To Caunterbury^ with ful devout corage^ 
 At nyght were come into that hostelrye 
 Wei nyne and twenty in a compaignye 
 Of sondry folk, by a venture yfalle 25 
 
 8 half. 
 
2 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 In felaweshipe^ and pilgrimes were they alle^ 
 
 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde. 
 
 The chambres and the stables weren wyde^ 
 
 And wel we weren esed atte beste ; 
 
 And shortly^ whan the sonne was to reste^ 30 
 
 So hadde I spoken with hem everychon 
 
 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon^ 
 
 And made forward erly for to ryse 
 
 To take our wey^ ther as I yow devyse. 
 
 But nathelees^ whil I have tyme and space^ 35 
 
 Er that I ferther in this tale pace^ 
 Me thynketh it aeordaunt to resoun 
 To telle yow al the condicioun 
 Of ech of hem^ so as it semed me^ 
 
 And whiche they weren^ and of what degree^ 40 
 
 And eek in what array that they were inne ; 
 And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne. 
 
 A knyght ther was^ and that a worthy man, Knyght 
 
 That fro the tyme that he first bigan 
 
 To'riden out, he loved chivalrie, 45 
 
 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. 
 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, 
 And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, 
 As wel in Cristendom as in Hethenesse, 
 And evere honoured for his worthynesse. 50 
 
 At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne; 
 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne 
 Aboven alle nacions in Pruce; 
 In Lettow hadde he reysed, and in Ruce, 
 No cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55 
 
 In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be 
 Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye; 
 At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye, 
 Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See 
 At manv a noble arive hadde he be. 60 
 
 f 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 3 
 
 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene^ 
 
 And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene 
 
 In lystes thries^ and ay slayn his foo. 
 
 This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also 
 
 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye 65 
 
 Agayn another hethen in Turkye^ 
 
 And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys. 
 
 And though that he were worthy^ he was wys^ 
 
 And of his port as meeke as is a mayde ; 
 
 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde 70 
 
 In al his lyf unto no maner wight; 
 
 He was a verray parfit gentil knyght. 
 
 But for to tellen yow of his array^ 
 His hors weren goode^ but he was nat gay. 
 Of fustian he wered a gypoun^ 75 
 
 Al bismotered with his habergeoun; 
 For he was late ycome from his viage^ 
 And wente for to doon his pilgrymage. 
 
 With hym ther was his sone^ a yong Squier_, Squier 
 
 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler^ 80 
 
 With lokkes cruUe^ as they were leyd in presse. 
 Of twenty yeer of age he was^ I gesse. 
 Of his stature he was of evene lengthe^ 
 And wonderly delyvere^ and of greet strengthe. 
 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie 85 
 
 In Flaundres^ in Artoys^ and Pycardie^ 
 And born hym weel^ as of so litel space^ 
 In hope to stonden in his lady grace. 
 Embrouded was he^ as it were a meede, 
 
 Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and reede; 90 
 
 Syngynge he was^ or floytynge^ al the day^ 
 He was as fressh as is the monthe of May. 
 Short was his gowne^ with sieves longe and wyde. 
 Wei koude he sitte on hors^ and f aire ryde^ 
 He koude songes make^ and wel endite^ 95 
 
 Juste^ and eek daunce^ and weel purtreye and write. 
 
THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 So hoote he lovede^ that by nyghtertale 
 He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. 
 Curteis he was^ lowely^ and servysable^ 
 And carf biforn his fader at the table. 
 
 A Yeman hadde he^ and servantz namo 
 At that tyme^ for hym liste ride soo ; 
 And he was clad in cote and hood of grene^ 
 A sheef of pecok arwes bright and kene 
 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily — 
 Wei koude he dresse his takel yemanly^ 
 Hise arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe— 
 And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. 
 A not-heed hadde he^ with a broun visage^ 
 Of woodecraft wel koude he al the usage. 
 Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer^ 
 And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler^ 
 And on that oother syde a gay daggere^ 
 Harneised wel_, and sharpe as point of spere. 
 A Cristophere on his brest of silver sheene^ 
 An horn he bar^ the bawdryk was of grene. 
 A Forster was he^ soothly^ as I gesse. 
 
 Ther was also a Nonne_, a Prioresse^ 
 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy. 
 Hir gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy^ 
 And she was cleped Madame Eglentyne. 
 Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne^ 
 Entuned in hir nose ful semely; 
 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly ^^ 
 After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe^ 
 For Frenssh of Parys was to hir unknowe. 
 At mete wel ytaught was she withalle ; 
 She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle^ 
 Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe. 
 Wel koude she carie a morsel^ and wel kepe 
 That no drope ne fille upon hir brist. 
 
 120 seint. 123 semeely. 
 
 100 
 
 Yeman 
 
 105 
 
 110 
 
 115 
 
 Prioresse 
 
 120 
 
 125 
 
 130 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 5 
 
 In curteisie was set f ul muclie hir list ; 
 
 Hire over-lippe wyped she so clene^ 
 
 That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene 
 
 Of grece^ whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135 
 
 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte; 
 
 And sikerly^ she was of greet desport^ 
 
 And ful plesaunt^ and amyable of port, 
 
 And peyned hir to countrefete cheere 
 
 Of court, and been estatlich of manere, 140 
 
 And to ben holden digne of reverence. 
 
 But for to speken of hir conscience. 
 
 She was so charitable and so pitous. 
 
 She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous 
 
 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145 
 
 Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde 
 
 With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed. 
 
 But soore weep she if oon of hem were deed. 
 
 Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte ; 
 
 And al was conscience, and tendre herte. 150 
 
 Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was. 
 
 Hire nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, 
 
 Hir mouth ful smal, and therto sof te and reed ; 
 
 But sikerly, she hadde a fair forheed. 
 
 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe, 155 
 
 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. 
 
 Ful f etys was hir cloke, as I was war ; 
 
 Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar 
 
 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene. 
 
 And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, l60 
 
 On which ther was first write a crowned 'A,' 
 
 And after, 'Amor vincit omnia/ 
 
 Another Xonne with hir hadde she, Nonne & .iij. preestes 
 
 That was hire Chapeleyne, and preestes thre. 
 
 A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie. Monk l65 
 An outridere, that lovede venerie, 
 
 132 miichel. 140 and to. 148 wepte: oon any. 
 
6 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 A manly man^ to been an abbot able. 
 
 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable; 
 
 And whan he rood^ men myghte his brydel heere 
 
 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere^ 170 
 
 And eek as loude^ as dooth the chapel belle, 
 
 Ther as this lord was keper of the celle. 
 
 The reule of Seint Maure, or of Seint Beneit, 
 
 Bycause that it was old and somdel streit — 
 
 This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace, 175 
 
 And heeld after the newe world the space. 
 
 He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, 
 
 That seith that hunters beth nat hooly men, 
 
 Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees. 
 
 Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees — 180 
 
 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre — 
 
 But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre ! 
 
 And I seyde his opinioun was good. 
 
 What sholde he studie, and make hymselven wood. 
 
 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, 185 
 
 Or swynken with his handes and laboure 
 
 As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served? 
 
 Lat Austyn have his swynk to him reserved; 
 
 Therfore he was a prikasour aright, 
 
 Grehoundes he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight; 190 
 
 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare 
 
 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. 
 
 I seigh his sieves ypuriiled at the hond 
 
 With grys, and that the f yneste of a lond ; 
 
 And for to festne his hood under his chyn 195 
 
 He hadde of gold ywroght a curious pyn ; 
 
 A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was. 
 
 His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas. 
 
 And eek his face, as it hadde been enoynt. 
 
 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt, 200 
 
 Hise eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed, 
 
 188 his owene. 196 a ful. 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 7 
 
 That stemed as a f orneys of a leed ; 
 
 His bootes souple^ his hors in greet estaat; 
 
 Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat ! 
 
 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost^ 205 
 
 A fat sw^an loved he best of any roost. 
 
 His palfrey was as broun as is a berye. 
 
 A Frere ther was^ a wantowne and' a merye^ Frere 
 
 A lymytour^ a ful solempne man^ 
 
 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 210 
 
 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. 
 He hadde maad ful many a mariage 
 Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. 
 Unto his ordre he was a noble post^ 
 
 And wel biloved and famulier was he 215 
 
 With frankeleyns overal in his contree 
 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun^ 
 For he hadde power of confessioun^ 
 As seyde hymself^ moore than a curat^ 
 
 For of his ordre he was liceneiat. 220 
 
 Ful swetely herde he confessioun^ 
 And plesaunt was his absolucioun^ 
 He was an esy man to yeve penaunce 
 Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce ; 
 For unto a povre ordre for to yive 225 
 
 Is signe that a man is wel yshryve ; 
 For^ if he yaf^ he dorste make avaunt^ 
 He wiste that a man was repentaunt. 
 For many a man so harde is of his herte^ 
 
 He may nat wepe^ al thogh hym soore smerte; 230 
 
 Therfore^ in stede of wepynge and preyeres^ 
 Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres. 
 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves 
 And pynnes^ for to yeven yonge wyves. 
 
 And certeinly he hadde a murye note^ 235 
 
 Wel koude he synge^ and pleyen on a rote^ 
 Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris. 
 
8 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 His nekke whit was as the flour delys ; 
 
 Therto he strong was as a champioun^ 
 
 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun 240 
 
 And everich hostiler and tappestere 
 
 Bet than a lazar or a beggestere. 
 
 For unto swieh a worthy man as he 
 
 Aeorded nat_, as by his f acultee^ 
 
 To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce ; 245 
 
 It is nat honeste_, it may nat avaunce^ 
 
 For to deelen with no swich poraille^ 
 
 But al with riche and selleres of vitaille; 
 
 And overall ther as profit sholde arise^ 
 
 Curteis he was^ and lowely of servyse. 250 
 
 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous; 
 
 He was the beste beggere in his hous^ 
 
 (And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt 252 b 
 
 Noon of his brethren cam ther in his haunt;) 252 c 
 
 For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho^ 
 
 So plesaunt was his 'In principio' 
 
 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng er he wente; 255 
 
 His purchas was wel bettre than his rente. 
 
 And rage he koude^ as it were right a whelpe ; 
 
 In love-dayes ther koude he muehel helpe; 
 
 For there he was nat lyk a cloysterer^ 
 
 With a thredbare cope^ as is a povre scoler^ 260 
 
 But he was lyk a maister or a pope; 
 
 Of double worstede was his semycope^ 
 
 That rounded as a belle out of the presse. 
 
 Somwhat he lipsed for his wantownesse 
 
 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge^ 265 
 
 And in his harpyng^ whan that he hadde songe^ 
 
 Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght 
 
 As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght. 
 
 This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd. 
 
 A Marchant was ther^ with a forked berd^ Marchaunt 270 
 
 240 every al the. Lines 252 b, c om, 259 cloystrer. 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 9 
 
 In mottelee^ and hye on horse he sat^ 
 
 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bevere hat, 
 
 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly. 
 
 Hise resons he spak ful solempnely, 
 
 Sownynge alway thencrees of his wynnyng. 275 
 
 He wolde the see were kept for any thyng 
 
 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle. 
 
 Wei koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. 
 
 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette ; 
 
 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 280 
 
 So estatly was he of his governaunce, 
 
 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. 
 
 Forsothe, he was a worthy man with-alle. 
 
 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle. 
 
 A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also, Clerk of Oxenford 285 
 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo. 
 As leene was his hors as is a rake. 
 And he nas nat right fat, I undertake. 
 But looked holwe and therto sobrely. 
 
 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy, 290 
 
 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, 
 Xe was so worldly for to have office. 
 For hym was levere have at his beddes heed 
 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed. 
 
 Of Aristotle and his philosophic, 295 
 
 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. 
 But al be that he was a philosophre. 
 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; 
 But al that he myghte of his freendes hente. 
 On bookes and his lernynge he it spente, 300 
 
 And bisily gan for the soules preye 
 Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. 
 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, 
 Xoght o word spak he moore than was neede. 
 And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305 
 
 272 motlee. 287 As And. 
 
10 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And short and quyk^ and ful of hy sentence. 
 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche^ 
 And gladly wolde he lerne^ and gladly teche. 
 
 A Sergeant of the Lawe^ war and wys^ Sergeant of lawe 
 
 That often hadde been at the parvys^ 310 
 
 Ther was also^ ful riche of excellence. 
 Discreet he was^ and of greet reverence, — 
 He semed swich, hise wordes weren so wise. 
 Justice he was ful often in assise, 
 
 By patente, and by pleyn commissioun. 315 
 
 For his science, and for his heigh renoun, 
 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. 
 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon, 
 Al was fee symple to hym in effect. 
 
 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. 320 
 
 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, 
 And yet he semed bisier than he was; 
 In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle. 
 That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle. 
 Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng, 32 5 
 
 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng. 
 And every statut koude he pleyn by rote. 
 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote 
 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale ; — 
 Of his array telle I no lenger tale. 
 
 A Frankeleyn was in his compaignye ; 
 Whit was his berd as is a dayesye. 
 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. 
 Wei loved he by the morwe a sope in wyn. 
 To lyven in delit was evere his wone ; 
 For he was Epicurus owene sone, » 
 
 That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit 
 Was verraily felicitee parfit. 
 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he ; 
 Seint Julian was he in his contree. . 340 
 
 330 
 
 Frankeleyn 
 
 SS5 
 
 324 yfalle. 326 pynchen. 332 berd heed. 338 verray. 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 
 
 11 
 
 His breed_, his ale^ was alweys after oon, 
 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon. 
 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous^ 
 Of fissh and flessh^ and that so plentevous^ 
 • It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke^ 
 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke. 
 After the sondry sesons of the yeer 
 So chaunged he his mete and his soper. 
 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe^ 
 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe. 
 Wo was his cook^ but if his sauce were 
 Poynaunt^ and sharp_, and redy al his geere. 
 His table dormant in his halle alway 
 Stood redy covered al the longe day. 
 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; 
 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. 
 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk 
 Heeng at his girdel^ whit as morne milk. 
 A shirreve hadde he been^ and a countour^ 
 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour. 
 An Haberdasshere and a Carpenter, 
 A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapycer — 
 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree 
 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee. 
 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was, 
 Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras, 
 But al with silver wroght ful clene and weel, 
 Hir girdles and hir pouches everydeel. 
 Wei semed ech of hem a fair burgeys 
 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. 
 Everich for the wisdf)m that he kan 
 Was shaply for to been an alderman; 
 For catel hadde they ynogh, and rente, 
 And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente — 
 And elles. certevn. were thev to blame! 
 
 345 
 
 350 
 
 355 
 
 Haberdasshere 
 
 Carpenter 
 
 Webbe 
 
 Dyere 
 
 Tapicer 
 
 365 
 
 370 
 
 375 
 
 342 nowher nevere. 
 
12 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 It is ful fair to been ycleped 'ma Dame^' 
 And goon to vigilies al bifore^ 
 And have a mantel roialliche ybore. 
 
 A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones^ Cook 
 
 To boille the chiknes with the marybones^ 380 
 
 And poudre-marchant tart^ and galyngale. 
 Wei koude he knowe a draughte of London ale; 
 He koude rooste^ and sethe^ and.broille^ and frye^ 
 Maken mortreux^ and wel bake a pye. 
 
 But greet harm was it^ as it thoughte me^ 385 
 
 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he ! 
 For blankmanger_, that made he with the beste. 
 
 A Shipman was ther^ wonynge f er by weste ; Shipman 
 
 For aught I woot^ he was of Dertemouthe. 
 He rood upon a rouncy^ as he kouthe^ 390 
 
 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. 
 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he 
 Aboute his nekke^ under his arm adoun. 
 The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun. 
 And eerteinly he was a good felawe. 395 
 
 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe 
 Fro Burdeuxward^ whil that the chapman sleep. 
 Of nyce conscience took he no keep; 
 If that he faught^ and hadde the hyer hond^ 
 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 400 
 
 But of his crafty to rekene wel his tydes^ 
 His stremes^ and his daungers hym bisides^ 
 His herberwe and his moone^ his lodemenage^ 
 Ther nas noon swich from HuUe to Cartage. 
 Hardy he was_, and wys to undertake^ 405 
 
 With many a tempest hadde his herd been shake ; 
 He knew alle the havenes as they were 
 From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere^ 
 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne. 
 His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne. 410 
 
 383 boille. 396 drawe. 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 13 
 
 With us ther was a Doctour of Phisik ; Doctour of Phisik 
 
 In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik^ 
 To speke of phisik and of surgerye; 
 For he was grounded in astronomye. 
 
 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel 415 
 
 In houres^ by his magyk natureel. 
 Wei koude he fortunen the ascendent 
 Of hise ymages for his pacient. 
 He knew the cause of everich maladye^ 
 
 Were it of hoot or coold^ or moyste^ or drye^ 420 
 
 And where they engendred^ and of what humour. 
 He was a verray pariit praktisour; 
 The cause yknowe^ and of his harm the roote^ 
 Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. 
 
 Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaries 425 
 
 To sende him drogges and his letuaries^ 
 For ech of hem made oother for to wynne^ 
 Hir f rendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.^ 
 Wei knew he the olde Esculapius^ , 
 
 And Deyscorides and eek Rufus^ 430 
 
 Olde Ypocras^ Haly^ and Galyen^ 
 Serapioun_, Razis^ and Avycen^ 
 Averrois^ Damascien^ and Constantyn^ 
 Bernard^ and Gates den_, and Gilbertyn. 
 
 Of his diete mesurable was he_, 435 
 
 For it v/as of no superfluitee^ 
 But of greet norissyng^ and digestible. 
 His studie was but lit el on the Bible. 
 In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al^ 
 
 Lyned with taffata and with sendal — 440 
 
 And yet he was but esy of dispence; 
 He kepte that he wan in pestilence. 
 For gold in phisik is a cordial^ 
 Therfore he lovede gold in special. 
 
 A good wif was ther, of biside Bathe, Bafhl''^'^^ ^^'^^ ""^ 445 
 
 430 Risus. 
 
14 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But she was som-del deef^ and that was scathe. 
 
 Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt^ 
 
 She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. 
 
 In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon 
 
 That to the offrynge bifore hir sholde goon; 450 
 
 And if ther dide^ certeyn^ so wrooth was she^ 
 
 That she was out of alle charitee. 
 
 Hir coverchief s ful fyne weren of ground^ 
 
 I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound 
 
 That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. 455 
 
 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed^ 
 
 Ful streite yteyd^ and shoes ful moyste and newe. 
 
 Boold was hir face_, and fair_, and reed of hewe. 
 
 She was a worthy womman al hir lyve_, 
 
 Houshondes at chirche-dore she hadde fyve 460 
 
 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe — 
 
 But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. 
 
 And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem^ 
 
 She hadde passed many a straunge strem^ 
 
 At Rome she hadde been^ and at Boloigne^ 465 
 
 In Galice at Seint Jame^ and at Coloigne, 
 
 She koude muche of wandrynge by the weye. 
 
 Gat-tothed was she^ soothly for to seye. 
 
 Upon an ambler e esily she sat^ 
 
 Ywympled wel^ and on hir heed an hat 470 
 
 As brood as is a bokeler or a targe^ 
 
 A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large^ 
 
 And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe. 
 
 In f elaweship wel koude she laughe and carpe ; 
 
 Of remedies of love she knew per-chaunce^ 475 
 
 For she koude of that art the olde daunce. 
 
 A good man was ther of religioun^ 
 And was a povre Persoun of a toun^ Persoun of a toun 
 
 But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk. 
 He was also a lerned man^ a clerk 480 
 
 That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche. 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 15 
 
 Hise parisshens devoutly wolde he teche, 
 
 Benygne he was^ and wonder diligent^ 
 
 And in adversitee ful pacient_, 
 
 And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes. 485 
 
 Ful looth were hym to cursen for hise tithes_, 
 
 But rather wolde he yeven^ out of doute^ 
 
 Unto his povre parisshens aboute 
 
 Of his oiFryng and eek of his substaunce ; 
 
 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. 490 
 
 Wyd was his parisshe^ and houses fer asonder^ 
 
 But he ne lafte nat^ for reyn ne thonder^ 
 
 In siknesse nor in meschief^ to visite 
 
 The f erreste in his parisshe^ muche and lite^ 
 
 Upon his feet^ and in his hand a staf. 495 
 
 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf 
 
 That firste he wroghte^ and afterward he taughte — 
 
 Out of the Gospel he tho wordes caughte; 
 
 And this figure he added eek therto^ 
 
 That if gold ruste^ what shal iren do? 500 
 
 For if a preest be foul^ on whom we truste^ 
 
 Xo wonder is a lewed man to ruste^ 
 
 And shame it is^ if a prest take keep^ 
 
 A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep ! 
 
 Wei oghte a preest ensample for to yeve 505 
 
 By his clennesse how that his sheep sholde lyve. 
 
 He sette nat his benefice to hyre^ 
 
 And leet his sheep encombred in the myre^ 
 
 And ran to London_, unto Seinte Poules^ 
 
 To seken hym a chauntery for soules^ 510 
 
 Or with a bretherhed to been withholde^ 
 
 But dwelte at hoom^ and kepte wel his folde^ 
 
 So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie. 
 
 He was a shepherde^ and noght a mercenarie ; 
 
 x\nd though he hooly were and vertuous^ 515 
 
 485 preved. 497 that he. 509 seint. 510 chauntrie. 512 dwelleth; 
 kepeth. 
 
16 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 He was to synful man nat despitous^ 
 
 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne^ 
 
 But in his techyng discreet and benygne ; 
 
 To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse^ 
 
 By good ensample^ this was his bisynesse. 520 
 
 But it were any persone obstinate 
 
 What so he were^ of heigh or lough estat, 
 
 Hym wolde he snybben sharply -for the nonys. 
 
 A bettre preest^ I trowe^ that nowher noon ys. 
 
 He waited after no pompe and reverence^ 525 
 
 Ne maked him a spiced conscience^ 
 
 But Cristes loore^ and Hise apostles twelve 
 
 He taughte^ but first he folwed it hym-selve. 
 
 With hym ther was a Plowman^ was his brother, Plowman 
 That hadde ylad of dong ful many a f other. 530 
 
 A trewe swynker and a good was he, 
 Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee. 
 God loved he best with al his hoole herte 
 At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte. 
 And thanne his neigh ebore right as hym-selve, 535 
 
 He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve. 
 For Cristes sake, for every povre wight 
 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght. 
 Hise tithes payed he ful faire and wel, 
 
 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. 540 
 
 In a tabard he rood, upon a mere. 
 
 Ther was also a Reve and a Millere, Miiiere 
 
 A Somnour and a Pardoner also, 
 A Maunciple, and myself, ther were namo. 
 The Millere was a stout carl for the nones, 54f5 
 
 Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones — 
 That proved wel, for overal ther he cam 
 At wrastlyng he wolde have alwey the ram. 
 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, 
 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre, 550 
 
 516 nat to synful. 525 waiteth. 534 he. 539 payde. 550 ne wolde. 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 17 
 
 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. 
 
 His herd as any sowe or fox was reed^ 
 
 And therto broody as though it were a spade. 
 
 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade 
 
 A werte^ and thereon stood a toft of heres 555 
 
 Reed as the brustles of a sowes eres ; 
 
 Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde. 
 
 A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde. 
 
 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys^ 
 
 He was a janglere 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 us out of towne. 
 
 A gentil ]\Iaunciple was ther of a temple^ Maunciple 
 
 Of which achatours myghte take exemj)le 
 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille ; 
 
 For wheither 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 weren of lawe expert and curious^ 
 Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous 
 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond 
 Of any lord that is in Engelond^ 580 
 
 To maken hym lyve by his propre good^ 
 In honour dettelees^ but if he were wood; 
 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire^ 
 And able for to helpen al a shire 
 In any caas that myghte falle or happe — 585 
 
 558 and a. 
 
18 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe ! 
 
 The Reve was a selendre colerik man; Reve 
 
 His herd was shave as ny as ever he kan_, 
 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn, 
 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 hooly in this reves governyng 
 
 And by his covenant yaf the rekenyng^ 600 
 
 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age ; 
 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage. 
 Ther nas baillif^ ne hierde_, nor oother hyne^ 
 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne^ 
 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth. 605 
 
 His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth^ 
 With grene trees shadwed was his place. 
 He koude bettre than his lord purchace. 
 Ful riche he was astored pryvely; 
 
 His lord wel koude he pies en subtilly 6lO 
 
 To yeve and lene hym of his owene good^ 
 And have a thank^ and yet a cote and hood. 
 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster^ 
 He was a wel good wrighte^ a carpenter. 
 This reve sat upon a ful good stot^ 6l5 
 
 That was al pomely grey^ and highte Scot. 
 A long surcote of pers upon he hade^ 
 And by his syde he baar a rusty blade. 
 Of Northfolk was this reve^ of which I telle, 
 Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620 
 
 590 doked. 594 on of. 604 ne om. 612 cote gowne. 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 19 
 
 Tukked he was^ as is a frere^ aboute, 
 
 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route. 
 
 A Somonour was ther with us in that place^ Somonour 
 
 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face^ 
 For saweefleem he was^ with eyen narwe. 625 
 
 As hoot he was^ and lecherous^ as a sparwe^ 
 With scalled browes blake^ and piled berd_, 
 Of his visage children were aferd. 
 Ther nas quyk-silver^ lytarge_, ne brymstoon^ 
 Boras^ ceruce^ ne oille of tartre noon^ 630 
 
 Ne oynement^ that wolde dense and byte^ 
 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white^ 
 Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. 
 Wei loved he garleek^ oynons^ and eek lekes^ 
 And for to drynken strong wyn^ reed as blood; 6S5 
 
 Thanne wolde he speke and erie 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 thr^^ 
 
 That he had lerned out of som decree — 640 
 
 No wonder is^ he herde it al the day^ 
 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay 
 Kan clepen Vatte' as wel as kan the Pope. 
 But who so koude in oother thyng hym grope_, 
 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophic; 64^5 
 
 Ay 'questio quid juris' wolde he crie. 
 He was a gentil harlot and a kynde_, 
 A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde; 
 He wolde suffre_, for a quart of wyn^ 
 
 A good felawe to have his concubyn 650 
 
 A twelf-monthe^ and excuse hym atte fuUe — 
 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he puUe. 
 And if he f oond owher a good f elawe_, 
 He wolde techen him to have noon awe_, 
 In swich caas^ of the erchedekenes curs^ 655 
 
 627 scaled. 632 his the. 
 
20 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 665 
 
 Pardoner 
 
 670 
 
 But if a mannes soule were in his purs ; 
 For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be^ 
 *Purs is the erehedekenes helle^' seyde he. 
 But wel I woot he lyed right in dede ; 
 
 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede — 660 
 
 For curs wol slee_, right as assoillyng savith — 
 And also war him of a Significavit. 
 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise 
 The yonge girles of the diocise^ 
 And knew hir conseil_, and was al hir reed. 
 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed 
 As greet as it were for an ale-stake; 
 A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake. 
 With hym ther rood a gentil Pardoner 
 Of Rouncivale^ his freend and his compeer^ 
 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome. 
 Ful loude he soong 'com hider^ love^ to me.' 
 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun^ 
 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. 
 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex^ 675 
 
 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex; 
 By ounces henge hise lokkes that he hadde^ 
 And therwith he hise shuldres overspradde ; 
 But thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon. 
 But hood^ for jolitee^ wered he noon^ 680 
 
 For it was trussed up in his walet. 
 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet^ 
 Dischevele^ save his cappe^ he rood al bare. 
 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. 
 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe. 685 
 
 His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe 
 Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot. 
 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. 
 No herd hadde he^ ne nevere sholde have^ 
 As smothe it was as it were late shave^ ' 690 
 
 660 him om. 669 rood was. 683 dischevelee. 686 lay om. 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 21 
 
 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 pilwe-beer^ 
 
 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 
 
 Upon the see^ til Jesu 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 povre persoun dwellyng up-on-lond^ 
 
 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye 
 
 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye^ 
 
 And thus with feyned flaterye and japes 705 
 
 He made the persoun and the peple his apes. 
 
 But trewely to tellen atte laste^ 
 
 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste; 
 
 Wei koude he rede a lessoun or a storie^ 
 
 But alderbest he song an offertorie^ 710 
 
 For wel he wiste^ whan that song was songe 
 
 He moste preche^ and wel affile his tonge; 
 
 To Wynne silver^ as he ful wel koude^ 
 
 Therfore he song the murierly and loude. 
 
 Now have I toold you shortly 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 
 
 How that we baren us that ilke nyght 
 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght. 
 And after wol I telle of our viage, 
 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage. 
 But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye, 725 
 
 697 seint. 718 at as. 
 
22 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 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 also wel as I, 730 
 
 Who-so shal telle a tale after a man^ 
 
 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan 
 
 Everich a word_, if it be in his charge_, 
 
 Al speke he never so rudeliche or large ; 
 
 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe^ 735 
 
 Or feyne thyng^ or fynde wordes newe. 
 
 He may nat spare^ al thogh he were his brother^ 
 
 He moot as wel seye o word as another. 
 
 Crist spak hym-self ful brode in Hooly Writ^ 
 
 And^ wel ye woot^ no vileynye is it. 740 
 
 Eek Plato seith^ who so kan hym rede^ 
 
 The wordes moote be cosyn to, the dede. 
 
 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me^ 
 
 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree 
 
 Heere in this tale^ as that they sholde stonde — 745 
 
 My wit is shorty ye may wel understonde. 
 
 Greet chiere made oure boost us everichon^ 
 
 And to the soper sette he us anon. 
 
 He served us with vitaille at the beste ; 
 
 Strong was the wyn^ and wel to drynke us leste. 750 
 
 A semely man oure Hooste was withalle 
 
 For to been a marchal in an halle. 
 
 A large man he was^ with eyen stepe^ 
 
 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe; 
 
 Boold of his speche^ and wys^ and well ytaught^ 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 
 
 749 He And. 751 boost. 756 lakked. 
 
 i 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 23 
 
 And seyde thus: "Now lordynges^ trewely, 
 
 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 
 
 Atones 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 Caunterbury^ 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 tsilen and to pleye^ 
 
 For trewely^ confort ne myrthe is noon 
 
 To ride by the weye doumb as 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 juggement_, 
 
 And for to werken as I shal yow seye^ 
 
 To-morwe^ whan ye riden by the weye, * 780 
 
 Now_, by my fader soule that is deed, 
 
 But ye be myrie I wol yeve yow myn heed ! 
 
 Hoold up youre hond, withouten moore speche." 
 
 Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche — 
 
 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys — 785 
 
 And graunted hym, withouten moore avys, 
 
 And bad him seye his voirdit, as hym leste. 
 
 "Lordynges/' quod he, "now herkneth for the beste, 
 
 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn. 
 
 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790 
 
 That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye. 
 
 In this viage shal telle tales tweye. 
 
 To Caunterburyward I mene it so. 
 
 And homward he shal tellen othere two. 
 
 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle. 795 
 
 774 as the. 782 But if. 
 
24 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle — 
 
 That is to seyn^ that telleth in this caas 
 
 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas — 
 
 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost^ 
 
 Heere in this place^ sittynge by this post^ 800 
 
 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury. 
 
 And for to make yow the moore mury 
 
 I wol my-selven goodly with yow ryde 
 
 Right at myn owene cost^ and be youre gyde. 
 
 And who so wole my juggement withseye 805 
 
 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye. 
 
 And if ye vouchesauf that it be so^ 
 
 Tel me anon^ withouten wordes mo^ 
 
 And I wol erly shape me therfore/' 
 
 This thyng was graunted^ and oure othes swore 810 
 
 With ful glad herte^ and preyden hym also 
 
 That he wolde vouchesauf for to do so^ 
 
 And that he wolde been oure governour^ 
 
 And of our tales juge and reportour^ 
 
 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris^ 815 
 
 And we wol reuled been at his devys 
 
 In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent 
 
 We been acorded to his juggement; 
 
 And therupon the wyn was fet anon^ 
 
 We dronken^ and to reste wente echon 820 
 
 Withouten any lenger taryynge. 
 
 Amorwe^ whan that day bigan to sprynge^ 
 Up roos oure Hoost^ and was oure aller cok^ 
 And gadrede us togidre^ alle in a flok^ 
 
 And forth we riden^ a litel moore than paas^ 825 
 
 Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas. 
 And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste^ 
 And seyde^ **Lordynges^ herkneth if yow leste^ 
 Ye woot youre foreward^ and I it yow recorde; 
 If even-song and morwe-song accorde^ 830 
 
 822 g-an. 829 I om. 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES 25 
 
 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. 
 
 As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale^ 
 
 Whoso be rebel to my juggement 
 
 Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent. 
 
 Now draweth cut^ er that we ferrer twynne^ 835 
 
 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne. 
 
 Sire knyght/' quod he^ "niy mayster and my lord^ 
 
 Now draweth cut^ for that is myn accord^ 
 
 Cometh neer_,'' quod he^ ''niy lady Prioresse^ 
 
 And jCy Sir Clerk^ lat be your shamefastnesse^ 840 
 
 Ne studieth noght; ley bond to^ every man.'' 
 
 Anon to drawen every wight bigan^ 
 
 And shortly for to tellen as it was^ 
 
 Were it by aventure^ or sort_, or cas^ 
 
 The sothe is this^ the cut fil to the knyght^ 845 
 
 Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght. 
 
 And telle he moste his tale^ as was resoun^ 
 
 By foreward and by composicioun_,^ — 
 
 As ye han herd^ what nedeth wordes mo? 
 
 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so^ 850 
 
 As he that wys was and obedient 
 
 To kepe his foreward by his free assent^ 
 
 He seyde^ "Syn I shal bigynne the game^ 
 
 W^hat^ welcome be the cut^ a Goddes name ! 
 
 Now lat us ryde^ and herkneth what I seye.'' 855 
 
 And with that word we ryden forth oure weye^ 
 And he bigan with right a myrie cheere 
 His tale anon^ and seyde in this manere. 
 
 850 An. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE. 
 
 lamque domos patrlas Scithice post aspera gentis prelia 
 laurigero ^c, Thebaid, xii, 519. 
 
 Heere higynneth the knyghtes tale. 
 
 Whilom^ as olde stories tellen us^ 
 Ther was a due that highte Theseus ; 860 
 
 Of Atthenes he was lord and governour^ 
 And in his tyme swich a conquerour^ 
 That gretter was ther noon under the sonne. 
 Ful many a riehe contree hadde he wonne^ 
 What with his wysdom and his chivalrie; S6b 
 
 He conquered al the regne of Femenye^ 
 That whilom was yeleped 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 duk to Atthenes ryde^ 
 And al his hoost^ in armes hym bisyde. 
 
 And certes^ if it nere to long to heere^ 875 
 
 I wolde have toold yow fully the manere 
 How wonnen was the regne of Femenye 
 By Theseus^ and by his chivalrye^ 
 And of the grete bataille for the nones 
 
 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 
 
 868 wedded. 871 yonge faire. 876 yow have told. 
 
 II 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 27 
 
 I have^ God woot^ a large f eeld to ere^ 
 And wayke been the ooxen 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 come almoost unto 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 hye 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 lyvynge 
 That herde swich another waymentynge ! 
 And of this cry they nolde nevere 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, "have ye so greet envye 
 Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye? 
 Or who hath yow mysboden or offended ? 
 And telleth me if it may been amended, 910 
 
 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- — 
 And seyde, "Lord to whom Fortune hath yeven 915 
 
 Victorie, and as a conqueror to lyven, 
 Nat greveth us youre glorie and youre honour. 
 But we biseken mercy and socour. 
 Have mercy on oure wo and oure distresse, 
 Som drope of pitee thurgh thy gentillesse 920 
 
 897 hye om. 
 
28 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle; 
 
 For certes_, lord^ ther is noon of us alle 
 
 That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene. 
 
 Now be we caytyves^ as it is wel seene — 
 
 Thanked be Fortune^ and hir false wheels 925 
 
 That noon estat assureth to be weel. 
 
 And certes^ lord_, to abyden youre presence^ 
 
 Heere in the temple of the goddesse Clemence 
 
 We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght; 
 
 Now help us^ 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 theraboute lay. 
 
 And yet now the olde Creon^ weylaway! 
 
 That lord is now of Thebes the Citee^ 
 
 Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee^ 9^0 
 
 He^ for despit and for his tirannye^ 
 
 To do the dede bodyes vileynye^ 
 
 Of alle oure lordes^ whiche that been slawe^ 
 
 He hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe^ 
 
 And wol nat sufFren hem^ by noon assent^ 94<5 
 
 Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent^ 
 
 But maketh houndes ete hem in despit." 
 
 And with that word^ withouten moore respite 
 
 They iillen gruf^ and criden pitously^ 
 
 **Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy 950 
 
 And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte." 
 
 This gentil duk 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 
 
 931 li'aille crie. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 29 
 
 That whilom weren of so greet estaat. 
 
 And in his armes he hem alle up 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 
 
 Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke^ 
 
 That all the peple of Grece sholde speke 
 
 How Creon was of Theseus yserved^ 
 
 As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved. 
 
 And right anoon^ withouten moore abood^ 965 
 
 His baner he desplayeth^ and forth rood 
 
 To Thebesward^ and al his boost biside^ 
 
 No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride^ 
 
 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^ 
 
 tTnto 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 f eeldes gliteren up and doun^ 
 
 And by his baner born is his penoun 
 
 Of gold ful riche^ in which ther was ybete 
 
 The Mynotaur which that he slough in Crete. 980 
 
 Thus rit this duc^ thus rit this conquerour^ 
 
 And in his boost of chivalrie the flour^ 
 
 Til that he cam to Thebes^ and alighte ^ 
 
 Faire in a feeld^ ther as he thoughte 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 
 
30 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The bones of hir housbondes that weren slayn^ 
 
 To doon obsequies as was tho the gyse. 
 
 But it were al to longe for to devyse 
 
 The grete clamour and the waymentynge 995 
 
 That the ladyes made at the brennynge 
 
 Of the bodies^ and the grete honour 
 
 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 barneys 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 grevous 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 sof te unto 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 boost, and hoom he rood anon, 
 
 1005 of the. 1022 he hem. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 31 
 
 With laurer crowned^ as a conquerour^ 
 
 And ther he lyveth in joye and in honour 
 
 Terme of his Ijve, what nedeth wordes mo ? 
 
 And in a tour^ in angwissh and in wo^ 1030 
 
 Dwellen this Palamon and eek Arcite 
 
 For evermoore^ ther may no gold hem quite. 
 
 This passeth yeer by yeer^ and day by day^ 
 Till it fil ones^ in a morwe of May^ 
 
 That Emelye^ that fairer was to sene 1035 
 
 Than is the lylie upon 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 — 
 Er it were day^ as was hir wone to do^ 1040 
 
 She was arisen_, and al redy dight — 
 For May wole have no slogardrie a-nyght; 
 The sesoun priketh every gentil herte^ 
 And maketh hym out of his slepe to sterte^ 
 And seith^ 'arys and do thyn observaunce/ 1045 
 
 This maked Emelye have remembraunce 
 To doon honour to May^ and for to ryse. 
 Yclothed was she fressh_, for to devyse^ 
 Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse^ 
 
 Bihynde hir bak^ a yerde long^ I gesse^ 1050 
 
 And in the gardyn^ at the sonne upriste^ 
 She walketh up 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 hevenysshly she soong. 1055 
 
 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 evene joynant to the gardyn wal 1060 
 
 Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge. 
 
 1029 his om. 1031 Dwellen om.; eek his felawe. 1039 fyner. 
 
32 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Bright was the sonne^ and cleer that morwenynge^ 
 
 And Palamoun^ this woful prisoner_, 
 
 As was his wone^ by leve 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 shene 
 
 Was in hire walk^ and romed up and doun. 
 
 This sorweful prisoner^ this Palamoun^ 1070 
 
 Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro^ 
 
 And to hym-self compleynynge of his wo. 
 
 That he was born^ ful ofte he seyde^ 'alias !' 
 
 And so bifel^ by aventure or cas^ ^ 
 
 That thurgh a wyndow^ thikke of many a barre 1075 
 
 Of iren greets and square as any sparre_, 
 
 He cast his eye upon Emelya^ 
 
 And therwithal he bleynte^ and cryede "A !'' 
 
 As though he stongen were unto the herte. 
 
 And with that cry Arcite anon upsterte 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 Goddess love_, taak al in pacience 
 
 Oure prisoun^ for it may noon oother be; 1085 
 
 Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee. 
 
 Som wikke aspect or disposicioun 
 
 Of Saturne by sum constellacioun 
 
 Hath yeven us this^ al though we hadde it sworn. 
 
 So stood the hevene^ whan that we were born. lOQO 
 
 We moste endure it^ this 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 thurgh-out myn eye 
 
 1063 And this. 1065 on an. 1078 cride. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE S3 
 
 Into myn lierte^ 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. 1100 
 
 I noot wher she be womman or goddesse_, 
 
 But Venus is it^ soothly as I gesse." 
 
 And therwithal^ on knees doun he fil^ 
 
 And seyde_, ''Venus^ if it be thy wil^ 
 
 Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure 1105 
 
 Bifore me^ sorweful wrecche creature^ 
 
 Out of this prisoun helpe that we may scapen ! 
 
 And if so be my destynee be shapen 
 
 By eterne word to dyen in prisoun^ 
 
 Of oure lynage have som eompassioun^ , 1110 
 
 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. 
 That if that Palamon was wounded sore, 1115 
 
 Arcite is hurt as moche as he, or moore. 
 And with a sigh he seyde pitously, 
 ''The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly 
 Of hir, that rometh in the yonder place ! 
 And but I have hir mercy and hir grace 1120 
 
 That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, 
 I nam but deed, ther is namoore to seye.'' 
 This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde, 
 Dispitously he looked and answerde, 
 
 "Wheither seistow this in ernest or in ple}^?" 1125 
 
 *'Nay,'' quod Arcite, ''in ernest by my fey, 
 God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye/' 
 This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye; 
 "It nere,'' quod he, "to thee no greet honour 
 For to be fals, ne for to be traitour 1130 
 
 To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother, 
 1115 icas oin. 
 
34 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ysworn ful depe^ and ech of us til oother^ 
 
 That nevere for to dyen in the peyne^ 
 
 Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne_, 
 
 Neither of us in love to hyndre other^ 1135 
 
 Ne in noon oother cas^ my leeve brother^ 
 
 But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me 
 
 In every cas^ as 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 thou woldest f alsly been aboute 
 
 To love my lady^ whom I love and serve 
 
 And evere shal^ til that myn herte sterve. 
 
 Nay^ certes^ -false Areite^ thow shalt nat so! 1145 
 
 I loved hir firsts and tolde thee my wo 
 
 As to my conseil^ and to my brother sworn_, 
 
 To forthre me as I have 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^ 
 "Thow shalt/' quod he^ "be rather fals than I. 
 But thou art f als^ I telle thee outrely^ 
 
 For paramour I loved hir first er thow. * 1155 
 
 What^ wiltow seyn thou wistest nat yet now 
 Wheither she be a womman or goddesse.^^ 
 Thyn is aiFeceioun of hoolynesse^ 
 And myn is love as to a creature; 
 
 For which I tolde thee myn aventure ll60 
 
 As to my cosyn and my brother sworn. 
 I pose^ that thow lovedest hir biforn; 
 Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe 
 That Vho shal yeve a lovere any lawe ?' 
 
 Love is a gretter lawe^ by my pan, 1165 
 
 Than may be yeve of any erthely man. 
 
 1154 But And 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 35 
 
 And therfore positif lawe and swich decree 
 
 Is broken al day for love in ech degree. 
 
 A man moot nedes love_, maugree his heed^ 
 
 He may nat fleen it^ thogh he sholde be deed^ 1170 
 
 Al be she mayde^ or wydwe^ or elles wyf. 
 
 And eek it is nat likly^ al thy lyf^ 
 
 To stonden in hir grace_, namoore shal I^ 
 
 For wel thou woost thyselven^ verraily^ 
 
 That thou and I be dampned to prisoun 1175 
 
 Perpetuelly_, us gayneth no raunsoun. 
 
 We stryven as dide the houndes for the boon^ 
 
 They f oughte al day^ and yet hir part was noon. 
 
 Ther cam a kyte^ whil they weren so wrothe^ 
 
 And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. 1180 
 
 And therfore at the kynges courts my brother, 
 
 Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother. 
 
 Love if thee list, for I love, and ay shal; 
 
 And soothly, leeve brother, this is al. 
 
 Heere in this prisoun moote we endure, 1185 
 
 And everich of us take his aventure.'' 
 
 Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye. 
 If that I hadde leyser for to seye — 
 But to theiFect ; it happed on a day. 
 
 To telle it yow as shortly as I may, 1190 
 
 A worthy due, that highte Perotheus, 
 That felawe was unto 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 loved no man so. 
 And he loved hym als tendrely agayn. 
 So wel they lovede, 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 ; 
 
 1192 unto to. 1195 won. 
 
36 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Due Perotheus loved 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 overall 
 
 In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal. 
 
 This was the forward^ pleynly for tendite^ 
 
 Bitwixen Theseus and hym Arcite, 1210 
 
 That if so were that Arcite were yfounde 
 
 Evere 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 swerd he sholde lese his heed; 1215 
 
 Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed^ 
 
 But taketh his leve and homward he him spedde ; 
 
 Lat hym be war_, his nekke lith to wedde ! 
 
 How greet a sorwe suiFreth now Arcite ! 
 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte^ 1220' 
 
 He wepeth^ wayleth^ crieth pitously^ 
 To sleen hymself he waiteth prively. 
 He seyde^ *'Allas^ that day that he was born ! 
 Now is my prisoun worse than bif orn ; 
 
 Now is me shape eternally to dwelle 1225 
 
 Nat in purgatorie but in helle. 
 AUas^ that evere knew I Perotheus ! 
 For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus^ 
 Yfetered in his prisoun evermo; 
 
 Thanne hadde I been in blisse_, and nat in wo. 1230' 
 
 Oonly the sighte of hire whom that I serve^ 
 Though that I nevere hir grace may deserve^ 
 Wolde han suffised right ynough for me. 
 O deere cosyn Palamon/' quod he^ 
 
 "Thyn is the victorie of this aventure. 1235- 
 
 Ful blis fully in prison maistow dure. — 
 
 1226 in my. 
 
 i 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 37 
 
 In prisoun? certes^ nay^ but in Paradys ! 
 
 Wei hath Fortune yturned 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 heelp^ or doon confort in this^ 
 
 Wei oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse_, 
 
 Farwel^ my lif_, my lust^ and my gladnesse ! 1250 
 
 Allas_, why pleynen folk so in commune 
 
 On purveyaunce of God or of Fortune_, 
 
 That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse 
 
 Wei bettre than they kan hem-self devyse? 
 
 Som man desireth for to han richesse^, 1255 
 
 That cause is of his moerdre or greet siknesse. 
 
 And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn^ 
 
 That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. 
 
 Infinite harmes been in this mateere_, 
 
 We witen nat what thing we prey en here, 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 escapen from prisoun^ 1£70 
 
 Thanne hadde I been in joye and perfit heele^ 
 
 1252 puruieaunce. 1260 thing om. 1262 that he. 1268 seyn. 
 
38 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ther now I am exiled fro my wele. 
 Syn that I may nat seen you^ Emelye^ 
 I nam but deed^ ther nys no remedye/' 
 
 Upon that oother syde^ Palamon^ 1275 
 
 Whan that he wiste Areite was agon^ 
 Swich sorwe he maketh^ that the grete tour 
 Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour. 
 The pure fettres on his shynesf grete 
 
 Weren of his bittre salte teeres wete. 1280 
 
 "Alias/' quod he^ "Areite^ 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 yevest litel charge. 
 
 Thou mayst, syn thou hast wysdom and manhede, 1285 
 
 Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede. 
 And make a werre so sharp on this citee, 
 That by som aventure_, or som tretee, 
 Thow mayst have 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 avauntage 
 Moore than is myn^ that sterve here in a cage. 
 For I moot wepe and wayle, whil I lyve, 1295 
 
 With al the wo that prison may me yeve, 
 And eek with peyne that love me yeveth also, 
 That doubleth al my torment and my wo.'' 
 Therwith the fyr of jalousie up-sterte 
 
 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 cruel goddes, that governe 
 This world with byndyng of youre word eterne. 
 And writen in the table of atthamaunt 1305 
 
 Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt, 
 
 1272 Thei^ That. 1278 Resouned. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 39 
 
 What is mankynde moore unto you holde 
 
 Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde? 
 
 For slayn is man right as another beeste^ 
 
 And dwelleth eek in prison and arreeste^ 1310 
 
 And hath siknesse^ and greet adversitee^ 
 
 And ofte tymes giltelees^ pardee ! 
 
 What governance is in this prescience 
 
 That giltelees tormenteth innocence? 
 
 And yet encresseth this al my penaunce^ 1315 
 
 That man is bounden to his observaunce_, 
 
 For Goddes sake^ to letten of his wille^ 
 
 Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille. 
 
 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 have care and wo. 
 
 Withouten doute it may stonden so. 
 
 The answere of this lete I to dyvynys_, 
 
 But well I woot^ that in this world greet pyne ys. 
 
 Allas^ 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 Juno^ j alous and eek wood^ 
 
 That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood 1330 
 
 Of Thebes_, with hise waste walles wyde. 
 
 And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde 
 
 For jalousie 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 somer passeth^ and the nyghtes longe 
 Encressen double wise the peynes stronge 
 Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner ; 
 I noot which hath the wofuller mester. 1340 
 
 1309 beest. 1310 arreest. 1312, 1314, giltlees. 1320 man moot. 
 1337 somer sonne. 
 
40 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For shortly for to seyn^ this Palamoun 
 
 Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun 
 
 In cheynes and in fettres to been deed^ 
 
 And Arcite is exiled upon his heed 
 
 For evere mo as out of that contree^ 1345 
 
 Ne nevere mo he shal his lady see. 
 
 Yow loveres 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 oothier wher hym list may ride or go_, 
 But seen his lady shal he nevere mo. 
 Now demeth as yow liste ye that kan^ 
 For I wol telle forth^ as I bigan. 
 
 Explicit prima pars. 
 
 Sequitur pars secunda. 
 
 Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was^ 1355 
 
 Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde 'alias/ 
 For seen his lady shal he nevere mo ; 
 And shortly to concluden al his wo^ 
 So muche sorwe hadde nevere creature^ 
 
 That is^ or shal^ whil that the world may dure. 1360 
 
 His sleep_, his mete^ his drynke is hym biraft. 
 That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft. 
 Hise eyen holwe and grisly to biholde^ 
 His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde; 
 And solitarie he was and evere 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 hise spiritz^ and so lowe^ 
 And chaunged so^ that no man koude knowe 1370 
 
 1353 list. 1362 wexeth. 
 
 i 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 41 
 
 His speche nor his voys^ though men it herde. 
 
 And in his geere for al the world he ferde 
 
 Nat oonly lik the loveris maladye 
 
 Of Hereos^ but rather lyk manye 
 
 Engendred of humour malencolik 1875 
 
 Biforen in his celle fantastik^ 
 
 And shortly turned was al up-so-doun 
 
 Bothe habit and eek disposicioun 
 
 Of hym^ this woful lovere 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^ 
 
 Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde^ 
 
 Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie 1385 
 
 Biforn hym stood^ and bad hym to be murie. 
 
 His slepy yerde in bond he bar uprighte^ 
 
 An hat he werede upon hise 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. 
 
 "Now trewely_, how 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 love and serve^ 
 
 In hir presence I recche nat to sterve/' 
 
 And with that word he caughte a greet mirour^ 
 
 And saugh that chaunged was al his colour^ 1400 
 
 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 wel^ if that he bar hym lowe, 1405 
 
 1376 Biforn his owene. 1388 up. 1389 he I. 
 
42 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Lyve in Atthenes^ everemoore unknowe^ 
 
 And seen his lady wel ny day by day. 
 
 And right anon he chaunged his array^ 
 
 And cladde hym as a povre laborer_, 
 
 And al allone_, save oonly a squier 1410 
 
 That knew his privetee and al his cas_, 
 
 Which was disgised povrely^ as he was^ 
 
 To Atthenes is he goon^ the nexte way. 
 
 And to the court he wente^ upon a day^ 
 
 And at the gate he profreth his servyse^ 1415 
 
 To drugge and drawe^ what so men wol devyse. • 
 
 And shortly of this matere for to seyn^ 
 
 He fil in office with a chamberleyn^ 
 
 The which that dwellynge was with Emelye^ 
 
 For he was wys and koude soone espye 1420 
 
 Of every servant which that serveth here. 
 
 Wel koude he hewen wode^ and water bere^ 
 
 For he was yong and myghty for the nones^ 
 
 And therto he was strong and big of bones 
 
 To doon that any wight kan hym devyse. 1425 
 
 A yeer or two he was in this servyse 
 
 Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte; 
 
 And Philostrate he seyde that he highte. 
 
 But half so wel biloved a man as he 
 
 Ne was ther nevere in court^ of his degree; 1430 
 
 He was so gentil of condicioun 
 
 That thurghout al the court was his renoun. 
 
 They seyden^ that it were a charitee^ 
 
 That Theseus wolde enhaunsen his degree^ 
 
 Arid putten hym in worshipful servyse 1435 
 
 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^ 1440 
 
 1424 strong long. 
 
 J 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 43 
 
 And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree. 
 
 And eek men broghte hym out of his contree 
 
 From yeer to yeer^ ful pryvely^ 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. 1450 
 
 In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun 
 Thise seven yeer hath seten Palamoun_, 
 Forpyned^ what for wo and for distresse. 
 Who feeleth double soor and hevynesse 
 
 But Palamon^ that love destreyneth so^ 1455 
 
 That wood out of his wit he goth for wo ? 
 And eek therto he is a prisoner_, 
 Perpetuelly^ noght oonly for a yer. 
 Who koude ryme in Englyssh proprely 
 
 His martirdom? Forsothe it am nat I^ 1460 
 
 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may. 
 It fel that in the seventhe yer^ in May^ 
 The thridde nyght^ as olde bookes seyn^ 
 That al this storie tellen moore pleyn^ 
 
 Were it by aventure 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 fieeth the citee f aste as he may go ; 
 
 For he hade yeve his gayler drynke so 1470 
 
 Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn^ 
 With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn^ 
 That al that nyght^ thogh that men w^olde him shake^ 
 The gayler sleep^ he myghte nat awake. 
 And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may; 1475 
 
 1472 With Of. 
 
44 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The nyght was short and faste by the day^ 
 
 That nedes-cost he moot hymselven hyde; 
 
 And til a grove^ faste ther bisyde^ 
 
 With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamoun. 
 
 For shortly this was his opinioun^ 1480 
 
 That in that grove he wolde hym hyde al day. 
 
 And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way 
 
 To Thebesward, his freendes for to preye 
 
 On Theseus to helpe hym to werreye ; 
 
 And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif, 1485 
 
 Or wynnen Emelye unto his wyf ; 
 
 This is theftect and his entente pleyn. 
 
 Now wol I turne to 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, 
 Salueth in hir song the morwe gray. 
 And firy Phebus riseth up so brighte 
 That al the orient laugheth of the lighte. 
 And with hise stremes dryeth in the greves 1495 
 
 The silver dropes hangynge on the leves ; 
 And Arcita, that is in the court roial 
 With Theseus, his squier principal. 
 Is risen, and looketh on the myrie day. 
 
 And for to doon his observaunce 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 grove of which that I yow tolde 1505 
 
 By aventure his wey he gan to holde. 
 To maken hym a gerland of the greves. 
 Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn-leves. 
 And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene, 
 "May, with alle thy floures and thy grene, 1510 
 
 Welcome be thou, faire fresshe May, 
 
 ill 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 45 
 
 In hope that I som grene gete may/' 
 
 And from his courser^ with a lusty herte^ 
 
 Into a grove ful hastily he sterte^ 
 
 And in a path he rometh up and doun 1515 
 
 Ther as by aventure 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 have trowed it ful lite ! 1520 
 
 But sooth is seyd^ gon sithen many yeres^ 
 
 That feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres. 
 
 It is ful fair a man to here hym evene_, 
 
 For al day meeteth men at unset stevene. 
 
 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe^ 1525 
 
 That was so ny to herknen al 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 al sodeynly^ , 1530 
 
 As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres^ 
 Now in the croppe^ 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 overcaste 
 The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day 
 Is gereful^ right so chaungeth she array. 
 Selde is the Friday al the wowke ylike. 
 
 Whan that Arcite had songe^ he gan to sike^ 1540 
 
 And sette hym doun withouten any moore ; 
 *'Allas/' quod he^ "that day that I was bore ! 
 How longe^ Juno^ thurgh thy crueltee 
 Woltow werreyen Thebes the Citee? 
 
 AUas^ ybroght is to confusioun 1545 
 
 The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun ! 
 
 1518 aferd : thanne was. 1521 go. 1532 crope. 
 
46 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Of Cadmus^ which that was the firste man 
 
 That Thebes bulte_, or first the toun bigan^ 
 
 And of the citee first was crouned kyng. 
 
 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 serve hym as his squier povrely. 
 
 And yet dooth Juno me wel moore shame_, 1555 
 
 For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name. 
 
 But theras I was wont to highte Arcite^ 
 
 Nojv highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte. 
 
 AUas^ thou felle Mars ! allas^ Juno ! 
 
 Thus hath youre ire oure kynrede al fordo, 1560 
 
 Save oonly me, and wrecched Palamoun 
 
 That Theseus martireth in prisoun. 
 
 And over al this, to sleen me outrely, 
 
 Love hath his firy dart so brennyngly 
 
 Ystiked 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 montance 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 after he upsterte. 
 
 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 up out of the buskes thikke. 
 And seide, "Arcite, false traytour wikke ! 1580 
 
 Now artow hent that lovest my lady so, 
 For whom that I have al this peyne and wo. 
 
 i 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 47 
 
 And art my bloody and to my conseil sworn^ 
 
 As I ful ofte have seyd thee heer-biforn^ 
 
 And hast byjaped heere due Theseus^ 1585 
 
 And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus. ' 
 
 I wol be deed^ or elles thou shalt dye; 
 
 Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye^ 
 
 But I wol love hire oonly^ and namo^ 
 
 For I am Palamon^ thy mortal f oo ! 1590 
 
 And though that I no wepene have in this place^ 
 
 But out of prison am astert by grace^ 
 
 I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye^ 
 
 Or thow ne shalt nat loven Emelye. 
 
 Chees which thou wolt^ for thou shalt nat asterte !'' 1595 
 
 This Arcite^ with ful despitous herte^ 
 
 Whan he hym knew^ and hadde his tale herd^ 
 
 As fiers as leoun pulled out his swerd^ 
 
 And seyde thus: "By God that sit above^ 
 
 Nere it that thou art sik and wood for love^ 1600 
 
 And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place^ 
 
 Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace^ 
 
 That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond. 
 
 For I defye the seurete and the bond 
 
 Which that thou seist that I have maad to thee. l605 
 
 What^ verray f ool_, thynk wel that love is free ! 
 
 x\nd I wol love hir_, maugree al thy myght ! 
 
 But for as muche thou art a worthy knyght^ 
 
 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille_, 
 
 Have heer my trouthe; tomorwe I wol nat faille l6lO 
 
 Withoute wityng of any oother wight 
 
 That heere I wol be founden as a knyght^ 
 
 And bryngen barneys right ynough for thee^ 
 
 And chese the beste^ and leve the worste for me. 
 
 And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge l6l5 
 
 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^ 
 
48 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thow mayst wel have 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 f elawe have with thee ! 
 Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe l625 
 
 Wol noght^ hir thankes^ have no felaweshipe. 
 Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun: 
 Arcite is riden anon unto the toun_, 
 And on the morwe^ er it were dayes light^ 
 Ful prively two barneys hath he dight^ l6S0 
 
 Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne 
 The bataille in the f eeld bitwix hem tweyne. 
 And on his hors^ allone as he was born_, 
 He carieth al this barneys hym biforn^ 
 
 And in the grove^ at tyme and place yset^ 1635 
 
 This Arcite and this Palamon ben met. 
 Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face 
 Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace^ 
 That stondeth at the gappe with a spere. 
 Whan hunted is the leoun and the bere^ l640 
 
 And hereth hym come russhyng in the greves^ 
 And breketh bothe bowes and the leves^ 
 And thynketh^ "Heere cometh my mortal enemy_, 
 Withoute faille he moot be deed or !_, 
 
 For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe^ 1645 
 
 Or he moot sleen me^ if that me myshappe" — 
 So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe^ 
 As fer as everich of hem oother knewe. 
 Ther nas no good day ne no saluyng^ 
 
 But streight wdthouten word or rehersyng^ 1650 
 
 Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother^ 
 As freendly as he were his owene brother. 
 And after that with sharpe speres stronge 
 
 1634 this the. 1637 Tho To. 1652 freenly. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 49 
 
 They foynen ech at oother wonder longe. 
 
 Thou myghtest wene that this Palamoun 1655 
 
 In his fightyng were a wood leoun^ 
 
 And as a crueel tigre was Areite. 
 
 As wilde bores gonne they to smyte^ ^ 
 
 That frothen white as foom for ire wood. 
 
 Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood; I66O 
 
 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 overal 
 
 The purveiaunce that God hath seyn biforn^ 1665 
 
 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 yeere. 
 For certeinly^ oure appetites heere^ 1670 
 
 Be it of werre^ or pees^ or hate^ or love^ 
 Al is this reuled by the sighte above. . 
 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 horn^ and houndes hym bisyde. 
 For in his huntjmg hath he swich delit 
 
 That it is al his joye and appetit I68O 
 
 To been hymself the grete hertes bane — 
 For after Mars he serveth now Dyane. 
 
 Cleer was the day^ as I have toold er this^ 
 And Theseus^ with alle joye and blis^ 
 
 With his Ypolita^ the faire quene^ 1685 
 
 And Emelye^ clothed al in grene^ 
 On huntyng be they riden roially^ 
 And to the grove^ that stood ful faste by^ 
 In which ther was an hert^ as men hym tolde^ 
 
50 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Due Theseus the streighte wey hath holde^ l690 
 
 And to the launde he rideth hym ful rights 
 
 For thider was the hert wont have his flighty 
 
 And over a brook^ and so forth in his weye. 
 
 This due W'ol han a cours at hym^ or tweye^ 
 
 With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde. 1695 
 
 And whan this due was come unto the launde^ 
 
 Under 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 ook; 
 
 But what they were^ nothyng 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^ up 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 fighten heere. 
 
 Withouten juge or oother officere^ 
 
 As it were in a lystes roially?" 
 
 This Palamon answer de hastily^ 
 
 And seyde^ "Sire^ what nedeth wordes mo? 1715 
 
 We have the deeth disserved^ bothe two. 
 
 Two woful wrecches been we^ two caytyves^ 
 
 That been encombred of oure owene lyves^ 
 
 And as thou art a rightful lord and juge^ 
 
 Ne yeve us neither mercy ne refuge^ 1720 
 
 But sle me first for seinte charitee; 
 
 But sle my felawe eek as wel as me — 
 
 Or sle hym firsts f or^ though thow knowest it lite^ 
 
 This is thy mortal foo^ this is Arcite^ 
 
 1702 fille. 1707 upon. 1710 mystiers. 
 
 II 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 51 
 
 That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed, 1725 
 
 For which he hath deserved to be deed. 
 
 For this is he_, that cam unto thy gate_, 
 
 And seyde that he highte Philostrate. 
 
 Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yer^ 
 
 And thou hast maked hym thy chief Squier, 1730 
 
 And this is he that loveth 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 loveth so hoote Emelye the brighte. 
 
 That I wol dye present in hir sighte; 
 
 Wherfore I axe deeth and my juvrise — 
 
 But sle my felawe in the same wise 1740 
 
 For bothe han we deserved 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 evere swich a chaunce sholde falle. 
 
 For gentilmen they were of greet estaat. 
 
 And no thyng but for love was this debaat. 
 
 And saugh hir blody woundes wyde and soore, 1755 
 
 And alle crieden, bothe lasse and moore, 
 
 **Have mercy, lord, upon us wommen alle I" 
 
 And on hir bare knees adoun they falle. 
 
 And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood; 
 
 Til at the laste aslaked was his mood, 1760 
 
52 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 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 every man 
 
 Wol helpe hym-self in love^ if that he kan^ 
 
 And eek delivere hym-self out of prisoun ; 
 
 And eek his herte hadde compassioun 1770 
 
 Of wommen^, for they wepen evere in oon. 
 
 And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon_, 
 
 And softe unto hym-self he seyde^ *'Fy 
 
 Upon a lord that wol have 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 divisioun^ 1780 
 
 But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon." 
 
 And shortly^ whan his ire is thus agoon^ 
 
 He gan to looken up with eyen lighte^ 
 
 And spak thise same wordes al on highte: 
 
 "The God of love, A! benedicite! 1785 
 
 How myghty and how greet a lord is he ! 
 Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles,, 
 He may be cleped a god for hise myracles, 
 For he kan maken at his owene gyse 
 
 Of everich herte as that hym list divyse. 1790 
 
 Lo heere, this Arcite and this Palamoun 
 That quitly weren out of my prisoun, 
 And myghte han lyved in Thebes roially, 
 
 And witen I am hir mortal enemy, . 
 
 And that hir deth lith in my myght also ; 1795 I ^ 
 
 1767 As And. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 53 
 
 And yet hath love^ maugree hir even two^ 
 
 Ybroght hem hyder bothe for to dye ! 
 
 Now looketh^ is nat that an heigh folye? 
 
 Who may been a fole^ but if he love? 
 
 Bihoold^ for Goddes sake that sit above^ 1800 
 
 Se how they blede ! Be they noght wel arrayed? 
 
 Thus hath hir lord^ the God of Love^ ypayed 
 
 Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse ! 
 
 And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse^ 
 
 That serven love^ for aught that may bifalle ! 1805 
 
 But this is yet the beste game of alle^ 
 
 That she^ for whom they han this jolitee_, 
 
 Kan hem therf ore as muche thank^ as me ! 
 
 She woot namoore of al this hoote fare^ 
 
 By God^ than woot a cokkow or an hare! 1810 
 
 But all moot ben assayed^ hoot and coold ; 
 
 A man moot ben a fool^ or yong or oold; 
 
 I woot it by myself ful yore agon^ 
 
 For in my tyme a servant was I oon. 
 
 And therf or e_, syn I knowe of loves peyne^ 1815 
 
 And woot how soore it kan a man distreyne^ 
 
 As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas^ 
 
 I yow foryeve al hooUy this trespaas^ 
 
 At requeste of the queene that kneleth heere^ 
 
 And eek of Emelye^ my suster deere. 1820 
 
 And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere^ 
 
 That nevere mo ye shal my contree dere^ 
 
 Ne make werre upon me^ nyght ne day^ 
 
 But been my freendes in al that ye may^ 
 
 I yow foryeve this trespas^ every deel/' 1825 
 
 And they hym sworen his axyng^ faire and weel_, 
 
 And hym of lordship and of mercy preyde^ 
 
 And he hem graunteth grace^ and thus he seyde : 
 
 "To speke of roial lynage and richesse^ 
 Though that she were a queene or a princesse^ 1830 
 
 1810 or of. 
 
54 ^ THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ech of you bothe is worthy doutelees 
 
 To wedden whan tyme is^ but nathelees 
 
 I speke as for my suster Emelye^ 
 
 For whom ye have this strif and jalousye: 
 
 Ye woot yourself^ she may nat wedden two 1835 
 
 Atones_, though ye fighten everemo ! 
 
 That oon of you^ al be hym looth or lief, 
 
 He moot go pipen in an yvy-leef — 
 
 This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe, 
 
 Al be ye never so jalouse, ne so wrothe. 1840 
 
 And forthy, I yow putte in this degree; 
 
 That ech of yow shal have his destynee 
 
 As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse; 
 
 Lo, heere your ende of that I shal devyse. 
 
 My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun, 1845 
 
 Withouten any repplicacioun. 
 If that you liketh, take it for the beste. 
 That everich of you shal goon where hym leste, 
 Frely, withouten raunson, or daunger. 
 
 And this day fifty wykes fer ne ner, 1850 
 
 Everich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes 
 Armed for lystes up at alle rightes, 
 Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille. 
 And this bihote I yow withouten faille. 
 
 Upon 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 dryve, 
 Thanne shal I yeve Emelya to wyve, I860 
 
 To whom that Fortune yeveth so fair a grace. 
 Tho lystes shal I maken in this place. 
 And God so wisly on my soule rewe. 
 As I shal evene juge been, and trewe. 
 Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken, 1865 
 
 1832 but nathelees doutelees. 1838 go om. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 55 
 
 That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken. 
 
 And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd^ 
 
 Sey eth youre avys and holdeth you apayd ; 
 
 This is youre ende and youre conclusioun/' 
 
 Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun? 1870 
 
 Who spryngeth up for joye but Arcite? 
 
 Who kouthe tellen_, or who kouthe endite 
 
 The joye that is maked in the place^ 
 
 Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace? 
 
 But doun on knees wente every maner wight^ 1875 
 
 And thonken hym with al hir herte and myght. 
 
 And namely the Thebans^ often sithe. 
 
 And thus with good hope and with herte blithe 
 
 They taken hir leve_, and homward gonne they ride 
 
 To Thebes with hise olde walles wyde. 1880 
 
 Explicit secunda pars 
 
 SequHur pars tercia 
 
 I trowe men wolde deme it necligence_, 
 If I foryete to tellen the dispence 
 Of Theseus^ that gooth so bisily 
 To maken up 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 manere of compas^ 
 Ful of degrees the heighte of sixty pas^ 1890 
 
 That whan a man was set on o degree^ 
 He lette 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. 
 
 1886 seyn. 
 
56 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For in the lond ther was no crafty man 
 
 That geometric or ars-mctrik kan^ 
 
 Ne portreitour_, nc kcrvcre of ymages_, 
 
 That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages 1900 
 
 The theatre for to maken and devyse. 
 
 And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise 
 
 He estward hath upon the gate above_, 
 
 In worship of Venus^ goddesse of love^ 
 
 Doon make an auter and an oratorie. 1905 
 
 And on the gate westward^ 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 yet hadde I foryeten to devyse 
 
 The noble kervyng 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 iiry strokes_, and the desirynge 
 
 That loves servauntz in this lyf enduren; 
 
 The othes that her covenantz assuren; 
 
 Plesaunce and Hope^ Desir^ Foolhardynesse^ 1925 
 
 Beautee and Youthe^ Bauderie_, Richesse^ 
 
 Charmes and Force^ Lesynges^ Flaterye^ 
 
 Despense^ Bisynesse^ and Jalousye^ 
 
 That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland^ 
 
 And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand; 19^0 
 
 Festes_, instrumentz^ caroles^ daunces^ 
 
 1900 him om. 1906 gate om. 
 
 
 i 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 57 
 
 Lust and array^ and alle the circumstaunces 
 
 Of love^ whiche that I rekned^ and rekne shal, 
 
 By ordre weren peynted on the wal^ 
 
 And mo than I kan make of mencioun; 19^5 
 
 For soothly^ al the mount of Citheroun^ 
 
 Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge^ 
 
 Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge, 
 
 With al the gardyn and the lustynesse. 
 
 Nat was foryeten the Porter Ydelnesse^ 194<0 
 
 Ne Narcisus the faire^ of yore agon^ 
 
 Ne yet the folye of kyng Salamon^ 
 
 And eek the grete strengthe of Ercules^ 
 
 Thenchauntementz of Medea and Circes^ 
 
 Ne of Turnus^ with the hardy fiers corage^ 1945 
 
 The riche Cresus^ kaytyf in servage; 
 
 Thus may ye seen^ that wysdom ne richesse^ 
 
 Beautee ne sleighte^ strengthe^ hardynesse_, 
 
 Ne may with Venus holde ehampartie^ 
 
 For as hir list^ the world than may she^ gje, 1950 
 
 Lo^ alle thise folk so caught were in hir las^ 
 
 Til they for wo ful ofte seyde 'alias !' 
 
 SufBseth heere ensamples oon or two — 
 
 And^ though^ I koude rekene a thousand mo. 
 
 The statue of Venus^ glorious for to se^ 1955 
 
 Was naked^ fletynge in the large see^ 
 And fro the navele doun al covered was 
 With wawes grene_, and brighte as any glas. 
 A citole in hir right hand hadde she^ 
 
 -And on hir heed^ ful semely for to se^ I960 
 
 A rose gerland^ fressh and wel smellynge; 
 Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge. 
 Biforn hir stood hir sone^ Cupido^ 
 Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two^ 
 And blynd he was^ as it was often scene. 1965 
 
 A bowe he bar^ and arwes brighte and kene. 
 
 1933 have and. 1942 Ne And. 
 
58 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al 
 The portreiture^ that was upon 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 sovereyn mansioun. 
 First on the wal was peynted a forest 1975 
 
 In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best, 
 With knotty knarry bareyne trees olde. 
 Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde. 
 In which ther ran a rumbel and a swough 
 As though a storm sholde bresten every bough. 1980 
 
 And dounward from an hille, under a bente, 
 Ther stood the temple of Mars Armypotente, 
 Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree 
 Was long and streit, and gastly for to see, 
 And therout came a rage and suche 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 
 
 Yclenched overthwart and endelong 
 With iren tough, and for to make it strong 
 Every pyler, the temple to sustene. 
 Was tonne-greet of iren bright and shene. 
 Ther saugh I first the dirke ymaginyng 1995 
 
 Of felony e, and al the compassyng. 
 The crueel ire, reed as any gleede. 
 The pykepurs, and eek the pale drede. 
 The smyler with the knyfe under the cloke. 
 The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke, 2000 
 
 The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde, 
 
 1996 al om. 1998 eek om. 
 
 W 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 59 
 
 L^ 
 
 The open werre^ 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 ydryven in the shode a nyght^ 
 
 The colde deeth^ with mouth gapyng upright. 
 
 Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce^ 
 
 With Disconfort and Sory Contenaunce. 2010 
 
 Yet saugh I Woodnesse laughynge in his rage^ 
 
 Armed Compleint^ Outhees^ and fiers Outrage; 
 
 The careyne in the busk with throte ycorve^ 
 
 A thousand slayn^ and nat of qualm ystorve^ 
 
 The tiraunt with the pray by force yraft^ 2015 
 
 The toun destroyed^ ther was nothyng 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 over-ryden with his carte^ 
 
 Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun. 
 
 Ther were also^ of Martes divisioun^ 
 
 The harbour^ and the bocher^ and the smyth 2025 
 
 That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth. 
 
 And al above_, depeynted in a tour^ 
 
 Saugh I Conquest sittynge in greet honour^ 
 
 With the sharpe swerd over his heed 
 
 Hangynge by a soutil twyned threed. 2030 
 
 Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius^ 
 
 Of grete Nero^ and of Antonius ; 
 
 Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn^ 
 
 Yet was hir deth depeynted therbiforn 
 
 By manasynge of Mars^ right by figure; 2035 
 
 So was it shewed in that portreiture^ 
 
 2014 nat oon. 2025 barbour laborer 2030 twynes. 
 
60 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 As is depeynted in the sterres above 
 
 Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love. 
 
 Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde^ 
 
 I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde. 2040 
 
 The statue of Mars upon a carte stood 
 Armed^ and looked grym as he were wood^ 
 And over his heed ther shynen two figures 
 Of sterres^ that been cleped in scriptures 
 That oon Puella^ that oother Rubeus. 2045 
 
 This god of armes was arrayed thus: 
 A wolf ther stood bif orn hym at his f eet^ 
 With eyen rede^ and of a man he eet. 
 With soutil pencel was depeynt 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 up and doun 
 
 Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee. 2055 
 
 Ther saugh I^ how woful Calistopee 
 Whan that Diane agreved was with here^ 
 Was turned from a womman 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^, ytmned til a tree^ 
 I mene nat the goddesse Diane^ 
 But Penneus doughter which that highte Dane. 
 Ther saugh I Attheon an hert ymaked^, 2065 
 
 For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked. 
 I saugh how that hise houndes have hym caught 
 And freeten hym^ for that they knewe hym naught. 
 Yet peynted was a litel forthermoor 
 
 How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor^ 2070 
 
 And Meleagree^ and many another mo^ 
 
 2037 sterres certres. 2049 depeynted. 2069 teas om. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 61 
 
 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 undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone^ 
 
 Wexynge it was^ and sholde wanye soone. 
 
 In gaude grene hir statue clothed was^ 
 
 With bowe in honde_, and arwes in a cas. 2080 
 
 Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun^ 
 
 Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. 
 
 A womman travaillynge was hir bif orn ; 
 
 But for hir child so longe was unborn 
 
 Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle^ 2085 
 
 And seyde^ ''Help^ for thou mayst best of alle !'' 
 
 Wei koude he peynten lyfly^ that it wroghte^ 
 
 With many a floryn he the hewes boghte. 
 
 Now been thise listes maad^ and Theseus^ 
 That at his grete cost arrayed thus - 2090 
 
 The temples^ and the theatre every 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 everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge 
 The bataille to darreyne^ as I yow tolde. 
 And til Atthenes^ hir covenantz for to holde^ 
 Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes^ 
 Wei armed for the werre at alle rightes. 2100 
 
 And sikerly^ ther trowed many a man_, 
 That nevere 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 every wight that lovede chivalrye^ 
 
 2075 ful wel. 2089 thise the. 
 
62 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And wolde^ his thankes^ han a passant name^ 
 
 Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game ; 
 
 And wel was hym that therto chosen was. 
 
 For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas 2110 
 
 Ye knowen wel_, that every lusty knyght 
 
 That loveth 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^ benedicitee ! 2115 
 
 It were a lusty sighte for to see. 
 
 And right so ferden they with Palamon^ 
 
 With hym ther wenten knyghtes many on. 
 
 Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun^ 
 
 In a bristplate^ and in a light gypoun^ 2120 
 
 And somme woln have a paire plates large^ 
 
 And somme woln have a Pruce sheeld^ or a targe, 
 
 Somme woln ben armed on hir legges weel, 
 
 And have an ax, and somme a mace of steel. 
 
 Ther is no newe gyse, that it nas old; 2125 
 
 Armed were they^ as I have yow told, 
 
 Everych after his opinioun. 
 
 Ther maistow seen comyng with Palamoun 
 
 Lygurge hym-self, the grete kyng of Trace. 
 
 Blak was his herd, and manly was his face, 2130 
 
 The cercles of hise eyen in his heed. 
 
 They gloweden bitwyxen yelow and reed. 
 
 And lik a griiFon looked he aboute. 
 
 With kempe heeris on hise browes stoute, 
 
 Hise lymes grete, hise brawnes harde and stronge, 2135 
 
 Hise shuldres brode, hise armes rounde and longe; 
 
 And as the gyse was in his contree, 
 
 Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he. 
 
 With foure white boles in the trays. 
 
 In stede of cote-armure, over his harnays 2140 
 
 With nayles yelewe and brighte as any gold 
 
 2108 preyd. 2120 a om. 2133 grifphon. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 63 
 
 He hadde a beres skyn^ colblak^ for-old; 
 
 His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak^ 
 
 As any ravenes fethere it shoon for-blak. 
 
 A wrethe of gold arm-greety of huge wighte^ 2145 
 
 Upon his heed^ set ful of stones brighte^ 
 
 Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz. 
 
 Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz_, 
 
 Twenty and mo^ as grete as any steer^ 
 
 To hunten at the leoun or the deer^ 2150 
 
 And folwed hym_, with mosel faste ybounde^ 
 
 Colored of gold^ and tourettes fyled rounde. 
 
 An hundred lordes hadde he in his route^ 
 
 Armed ful wel^ with hertes stierne and stoute. 
 
 With Arcita^ in stories as men fynde^ 2155 
 
 The grete Emetreus^ the kyng of Inde^ 
 Upon a steede bay^ trapped in steel_, 
 Covered in clooth of gold dyapred weel^ 
 Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes^ Mars. 
 His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars_,. 21 60 
 
 Couched with perles white and rounde and grete. 
 His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete ; 
 A mantelet upon his shuldre hangynge 
 Bret-ful of rubyes rede^ as fyr sparklynge. 
 His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne^ 21 65 
 
 And that was yelow_, and glytered as the sonne. 
 His nose was heigh^ hise eyen bright citryn_, 
 Hise lippes rounde^ his colour was sangwyn ; 
 A fewe frakenes in his face yspreynd^ 
 
 Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd^ 2170 
 
 And as a leoun he his looking caste. 
 Of f yve and twenty yeer his age I caste ; 
 His herd was wel bigonne for to sprynge^ 
 His voys was as a trompe thonderynge_, 
 
 Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene 2175 
 
 A gerland^ fressh and lusty for to sene. 
 
 2163 mantel: shulder. 2164 Brat. 2174 thondringe. 
 
64 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt 
 
 iVn egle tame^ as any lilye whyt. 
 
 An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there^ 
 
 Al armed^ save hir heddes^ in al hir gere^ 2180 
 
 Ful riehely in alle maner thynges. 
 
 For trusteth wel^ that dukes^ erles^ kynges^ 
 
 Were gadered in this noble compaignye^ 
 
 For love^ and for encrees of chivalrye. 
 
 Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part 2185 
 
 Ful many a tame leoun and leopard_, 
 
 And in this wise thise lordes alle and some 
 
 Been on the Sonday to the eitee come_, 
 
 Aboute pryme_, and in the toun alight. 
 
 This Theseus^ this duc^ this worthy knyght^ 2190 
 
 Whan he had broght hem into his citee^ 
 
 And inned hem^ everich in his degree^ 
 
 He festeth hem^ and dooth so greet labour 
 
 To esen hem and doon hem al honour^ 
 
 That yet men weneth that no maner wit 2195 
 
 Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it. 
 
 The mynstraleye^ the service at the feeste^ 
 
 The grete yiftes to the mooste and leeste^ 
 
 The riche array of Theseus paleys^ 
 
 Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys^ 2200 
 
 What ladyes fairest been^ or best daunsynge^ 
 
 Or which of hem kan dauncen best and synge_, 
 
 Ne who moost felyngly speketh of love^ 
 
 What haukes sitten on the perche above^ 
 
 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 pointy 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. 
 
 I 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 65 
 
 With hooly herte and with an heigh corage 
 
 He roos^ to wenden on his pilgrymage^ 
 
 Unto the blisful Cither ea benigne^ 2215 
 
 I mene Venus^ honurable and digne. 
 
 And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas 
 
 Unto the lystes^ ther hire temple was^ 
 
 And doun he kneleth^ with f ul humble cheer^ 
 
 And herte soor^ and seyde in this manere. 2220 
 
 "Faireste of faire^ O lady myn^ Venus^ 
 Doughter to Jove^ and spouse of Vulcanus^ 
 Thow glader of the Mount of Citheron^ 
 For thilke love thow haddest to Adoon^ 
 
 Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte^ 2225 
 
 And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte. 
 AUas^ I ne have 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 merey^ lady bright ! that knowest weele 
 My thought^ and seest what harmes that I feele. 
 Considere al this^ and rewe upon my soore^ 
 As wisly^ as I shal for everemoore_, 
 
 Emforth my myght^ thy trewe servant 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 have victorie^ 
 Ne renoun in this cas^ ne veyne glorie 2240 
 
 Of pris of armes blowen up and doun^ 
 But I wolde have fully possessioun 
 Of Emelye^ and dye in thy servyse. 
 Fynd thow the manere how^ and in what wyse — 
 I recche nat^ but it may bettre be 2245 
 
 To have victorie of hem^ or they of me — 
 So that I have my lady in myne armes. 
 For though so be^ that Mars is god of armes, 
 
66 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above 
 
 That if yow list^ I slial wel have my love. 2250 
 
 Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo^ 
 
 And on thyn auter^ where 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 have lost my lyf^ 
 
 Though that Arcita wynne hir to his wyf . 
 
 This is thefFect and ende of my preyere^ 
 
 Yif me my love^ thow blisful lady deere I" 2260 
 
 Whan the orison was doon of Palamon^ 
 
 His sacrifice he dide^ and that anon^ 
 
 Ful pitously with alle circumstaunce ; 
 
 Al telle I noght as now his observaunce. 
 
 But atte laste^ the statue of Venus shook^ 2265 
 
 And made a signe wherby 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 inequal_, that Palamon 
 Bigan to Venus temple for to gon^ 
 Up roos the sonne^ and up roos Emelye^ 
 And to the temple of Dyane gan hye. 
 
 Hir maydens that she thider with hir ladde^ 2275 
 
 Ful redily with hem the fyr they ladde^ 
 Thencens^ the clothes_, and the remenant al 
 That to the sacrifice longen shal. 
 The homes fuUe 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 how she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle^ 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 67 
 
 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 kempt untressed al^ 
 A coroune of a grene ook cerial 2290 
 
 Upon hir heed was set^ ful fair 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 kyndled was the fyr^ with pitous cheere 229 o 
 
 Unto Dyane she spak as ye may heere. 
 
 "O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene^ 
 To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene^ 
 Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe^ 
 Goddesse of maydens^ that myn herte hast knowe 2300 
 
 Ful many a yeer^ and woost what I desire^ 
 As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire^ 
 That Attheon aboughte cruelly. 
 Chaste goddesse_, wel wostow that I 
 
 Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf , 2305 
 
 Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf . 
 I am^ thow woost^ yet of thy compaignye^ 
 A mayde^ and love huntynge and venerye^ 
 And for to walken in the wodes wilde^ 
 
 And'noght to ben a wyf^ and be with childe. 2310 
 
 Noght wol I knowe the compaignye of man ; 
 Now helpe me^ lady^ sith ye may and kan^ 
 For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee. 
 And Palamon^ that hath swich love to me^ 
 And eek Arcite^ that loveth me so sore^ 2315 
 
 This grace I preye thee^ withoute moore^ 
 As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two^ 
 And fro me turne awey hir hertes so^ 
 That al hir hoote love and hir desir^ 
 
 2289 kempd. 2317 As And. 
 
68 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And al hir bisy torment and hir fir^ 
 
 Be queynt^ or turned in another place. 
 
 And if so be thou wolt do me no grace^ 
 
 And if my destynee be shapen so 
 
 That I shal nedes have oon of hem two^ 
 
 As sende me hym that moost desireth me. 
 
 Bihoold^ goddesse^ of clene chastitee^ 
 
 The bittre teeris that on my chekes f alle. 
 
 Syn thou art mayde and kepere of us alle^ 
 
 My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve^ 
 
 And whil I lyve a mayde^ I wol thee serve.'* 
 
 The fires brenne upon the auter cleere^ 
 
 Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere ; 
 
 But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte^ 
 
 For right anon oon of the fyres queynte^ 
 
 And quyked agayn^ and after that anon 
 
 That oother fyr was queynt and al agon. 
 
 And as it queynte_, it made a whistelynge 
 
 As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge ; 
 
 And at the brondes ende out ran anon 
 
 As it were blody dropes many oon ; 
 
 For which so soore agast was Emelye • 
 
 That she was wel ny mad^ and gan to crye; 
 
 For she ne wiste what it signyfied. 
 
 But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried^ 
 
 And weep that it was pitee for to heere ; 
 
 And therwithal Dyane gan appeere^ 
 
 With bowe in honde^ right as an hunteresse^ 
 
 And seyde^ **Doghter^ stynt thyn hevynesse. 
 
 Among the goddes hye it is afFermed^ 
 
 And by eterne word writen and confermed^ 
 
 Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho 
 
 That han for thee so muchel care and wo. 
 
 But unto which of hem I may nat telle^ 
 
 Farwel^ for I ne may no lenger dwelle. 
 
 2337 whistlynge. 
 
 2320 
 
 2S25 
 
 2330 
 
 2335 
 
 2340 
 
 •2345 
 
 2350 
 
 I 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 69 
 
 The iires whiche that on myn auter brenne 23 5 5 
 
 Shule thee declaren^ er that thou go henne^ 
 
 Thyn aventure of love^ as in this cas/' 
 
 And with that word^ the arwes in the caas 
 
 Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge^ 
 
 And forth she wente^ and made a vanysshynge^ 2360 
 
 For which this Emelye astoned was^ 
 
 And seyde^ "What amounteth this^ alias ! 
 
 I putte me in thy proteccioun^ 
 
 Dyane^ and in thy disposicioun !'' 
 
 And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye. 2365 
 
 This is thefFect^ ther is namoore to seye. 
 
 The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this 
 Arcite unto the temple walked is 
 Of iierse Mars^ to doon his sacrifise 
 
 With alle the rytes of his payen wyse. 2370 
 
 With pitous herte and heigh devocioun 
 Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun. 
 
 '*0 stronge god^ that in the regnes colde 
 Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde^ 
 
 And hast in every regne and every lond 2375 
 
 Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond^ 
 And hem fortunest as thee lyst devyse^ 
 Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise. 
 If so be that my youthe may deserve^ 
 
 And that my myght be worthy for to serve 2380 
 
 Thy godhede^ that I may been oon of thyne^ 
 Thanne preye I thee to rewe upon my pyne. 
 For thilke peyne^ and thilke hoote fir^ 
 In which thou whilom brendest for desir 
 
 Whan that thow usedest the greet 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^ 
 
 2356 declare. 2385 greet om. 
 
70 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And foond thee liggynge by his wyf^ alias !— 2390 
 
 For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte 
 
 Have routhe as wel^ upon my peynes smerte ! 
 
 I am yong and unkonnynge as thow woost^ 
 
 And^ as I trowe^ with love offended moost 
 
 That evere was any lyves creature; 2395 
 
 For she that dooth me al this wo endure^ 
 
 Ne receheth nevere 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 help or grace 2400 
 
 Of thee^ ne may my strengthe noght availle. 
 
 Thanne help me_, lord^ tomorwe in my bataille ! 
 
 For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee^ 
 
 As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me^ 
 
 And do that I tomorwe have victorie^ 2405 
 
 Myn be the travaille and thyn be the glorie. 
 
 Thy sovereyn 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 evere-mo^ unto that day I dye^ 
 
 Eterne fir I wol biforn thee fynde. 
 
 And eek to this avow I wol me bynde 
 
 My beerd^ myn heer^ chat hongeth long adoun^ 2415 
 
 That nevere yet ne felte ofFensioun 
 
 Of rasour^ nor of shere^ I wol thee yeve^ 
 
 And ben thy trewe servant whil I lyve. 
 
 Now lord^ have routhe upon 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 f aste^ 
 Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste. 
 The fyres brenden upon the auter brighte^ 2425 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 71 
 
 That it gan al the temple for to lighte^ 
 
 And sweete smel the ground anon upyaf^ 
 
 And Arcita anon his hand uphaf^ 
 
 And moore encens into the fyr he caste^ 
 
 With othere rytes mo^ and atte laste 2430 
 
 The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge^ 
 
 And with that soun he herde a murmurynge^ 
 
 Ful lowe and dym^ and seyde thus^ *Victorie !' 
 
 For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie ; 
 
 And thus with joye and hope wel to fare^ 2435 
 
 Arcite anon unto his in is f are^ 
 
 As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne. 
 
 And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne 
 For thilke grauntyng in the hevene above 
 Bitwixe Venus^ the Goddesse of Love^ 2440 
 
 And Mars the stierne God armypotente^ 
 That Jupiter was bisy it to stente ; 
 Til that the pale Saturnus the colde^ 
 That knew so manye of aventures olde^,^ 
 
 Foond in his olde experience an art 2445 
 
 That he ful soone hath plesed every part. 
 As sooth is seyd^ elde hath greet avantage; 
 In elde is bothe wysdom and usage; 
 Men may the olde atrenne_, and noght atrede. 
 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 pryvee empoysonyng. 2460 
 
 2445 an and. 
 
72 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 I do vengeance and pleyn eorreecioun^ 
 
 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 
 
 Upon the mynour^ or the carpenter. 24<65 
 
 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 have his lady^ as thou has him hight. 
 
 Though Mars shal helpe his knyght^ yet nathelees 
 
 Bitwixe yow ther moot be somtyme pees^ 
 
 Al be ye noght of o compleccioun — 2475 
 
 That causeth al day swich divsioun. 
 
 I am thyn aiel^ redy at thy wille^ 
 
 Weep now namoore^ I wol thy lust fulfille." 
 
 Now wol I stynten of the goddes above^ 
 
 Of Mars and of Venus^ goddesse of Love^ 2480 
 
 And telle yow^ as pleynly as I kan^ 
 
 The grete eiFect for which that I bygan. 
 
 Explicit tercia pars. 
 Sequitur pars quarta. 
 
 Greet was the f eeste in Atthenes that day, 
 And eek the lusty seson of that May 
 
 Made every wight to been in such plesaunce 2485 
 
 That al that Monday j usten they and daunce, 
 And spenten it in Venus heigh servyse. 
 And by the cause that they sholde ryse 
 Eerly for to seen the grete fight, 
 
 Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght. 2490 
 
 And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge, 
 
 2462 the (l) om. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 73 
 
 Of hors and harnevs^ noyse and claterynge 
 
 Ther was in hostelryes al aboute. 
 
 x\nd to the paleys rood ther many a route 
 
 Of lordes^ upon steedes and palfreys. 2495 
 
 Ther maystow seen divisynge of harneys 
 
 So unkouth and so riche^ and wroght so weel^ 
 
 Of goldsmythrye^ of browdynge^ and of steel; 
 
 The sheeldes brighte^ testeres^ and trappures ; 
 
 Gold-hewen helmes^ hauberkes^ cote-armures ; 2500 
 
 Lordes in parementz on hir courseres^ 
 
 Knyghtes of retenue and eek squieres^ 
 
 Nailynge the speres^ and helmes bokelynge_, 
 
 Giggynge of sheeldes^ with layneres lacynge. 
 
 There as nede is^ they weren nothyng ydel. 2505 
 
 The fomy steedes on the golden brydel 
 
 Gnawynge^ and faste the armurers also 
 
 With f yle and hamer prikynge to and fro ; 
 
 Yemen on foote and communes many oon^ 
 
 With shorte staves thikke as they may goon_, 2510 
 
 Pypes^ trompes^ nakerers_, clariounes^ 
 
 That in the bataille blowen blody sounes ; 
 
 The paleys ful of peples up and doun^ 
 
 Heere thre_, ther ten^ holdynge hir questioun^ 
 
 Dyvynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two. 2515 
 
 Somme seyden thus^ somme seyde it shal be so_, 
 
 Somme helden with hym with the blake berd^ 
 
 Somme with the balled^ somme with the thikke-herd^ 
 
 Somme seyde he looked grymme^ and he wolde fighte^ 
 
 He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte^ 2520 
 
 Thus was the halle ful of divynynge 
 
 Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge. 
 
 The grete Theseus^ that of his sleep awaked 
 With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked 
 Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche^ 2525 
 
 Til that the Thebane knyghtes^ bothe yliche 
 Honured^ were into the paleys f et. 
 
74 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Due Theseus was at a wyndow set^ 
 
 Arrayed^ right as he were a god in trone. 
 
 The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone^ 2530 
 
 Hym for to seen and doon heigh reverence. 
 
 And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence. 
 
 An heraud on a scaffold made an ''Oo V 
 
 Til al the noyse of peple was ydo^ 
 
 And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille^ 25S5 
 
 Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille. 
 
 *'The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun 
 
 Considered^ that it were destruccioun 
 
 To gentil bloody to fighten in the gyse 
 
 Of mortal bataille^ now in this emprise; 2540 
 
 Wherfore^ to shapen that they shal nat dye^ 
 
 He wolde his firste purpos modifye. 
 
 No man therfore_, up peyne of los of lyf^ 
 
 No maner shot^ ne polax^ ne short knyf 
 
 Into the lystes sende^ ne thider brynge. 2545 
 
 Ne short swerd for to stoke^ with poynt bitynge^ 
 
 No man ne drawe^ ne bere by his syde ; 
 
 Ne no man shal unto his f elawe ryde 
 
 But o cours, with a sharpe ygrounde spere. 
 
 Foyne if hym list on foote^ hym-self to were; 2550 
 
 And he that is at meschief shal be take^ 
 
 And noght slayn^ but be broght unto the stake 
 
 That shal ben ordeyned on either syde^ 
 
 But thider he shal by force^ and there abyde. 
 
 And if so be the chevetayn be take 2555 
 
 On outher syde^ or elles sleen his make^ 
 
 No lenger shal the turneiynge laste. 
 
 God spede you^ gooth f orth^ and ley on f aste ! 
 
 With long swerd and with maces fight youre fille ; 
 
 Gooth now youre wey^ this is the lordes wille.'' 2560 
 
 The voys of peple touchede the hevene 
 So loude cride they with murie stevene^ 
 
 2544 ne (1) om. 2555 chieftayn. 2559 fighteth. 2561 touched. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 75 
 
 ''God save swich a lord^ that is so good 
 
 He wilneth no destruccion of blood." 
 
 Up goon the trompes and the melodye^ 2565 
 
 And to the lystes rit the compaignye^ 
 
 By ordinance^ thurgh-out the citee large 
 
 Hanged with clooth of gold^ and nat with sarge. 
 
 Ful lik a lord this noble due gan ryde^ 
 
 Thise two Thebanes upon either syde^ 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 nat of the day yet fully pryme 
 
 Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye^ 
 
 Ypolita the queene^ and Emelye^ 
 
 And othere ladys in degrees aboute. 
 
 Unto the seettes preesseth al the route^ 2580 
 
 And westward thurgh the gates under ^larte^ 
 
 Arcite_, and eek the hondred of his parte^ 
 
 With baner reed is entred right anon. 
 
 And in that selve moment Palamon 
 
 Is under Venus estward in the place^ 2585 
 
 With baner whyt^ and hardy chiere and face. 
 
 In al the world to seken up and doun 
 
 So evene withouten variacioun 
 
 Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye ! 
 
 For ther was noon so wys^ that koude seye 2590 
 
 That any hadde of oother avauntage^ 
 
 Of worthynesse ne of estaat ne age^ 
 
 So evene were they chosen_, for to gesse. 
 
 And in two renges faire they hem dresse^ 
 
 Whan that hir names rad were everichon^ 2595 
 
 That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon. 
 
 Tho were the gates shet and cried was loude^ 
 
 2570 Thebans. 2593 they om. 
 
76 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 *'Do now youre devoir^ yonge knyghtes proude V 
 
 The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun ; 
 
 Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun. 260.0 
 
 Ther is namoore to seyn^ but west and est 
 
 In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest^ 
 
 In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde. 
 
 Ther seen men who kan juste^ and who kan ryde^ 
 
 Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke; 2605 
 
 He f eeleth thufgh the herte-spoon the prikke. 
 
 Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte; 
 
 Out gooth the swerdes as the silver brighte. 
 
 The helmes they tohewen and toshrede^ 
 
 Out brest the bloody 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 ; 
 
 He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal_, 
 
 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun^ 2615 
 
 And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun. 
 
 He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake^ 
 
 Maugree his heed^ and broght unto the stake^ 
 
 As forward was_, right there 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 ymet^ and wroght his felawe wo. 
 
 Unhorsed 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 jelous herte upon this Palamoun; 
 
 Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leoun 2630 
 
 That hunted is^ or for his hunger wood^ 
 
 Ne of his praye desireth so the bloody 
 
 2613 semblen. 2622 fresshen. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 77 
 
 As Palamoun to sleen his foo Arcite. 
 
 The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte^ 
 
 Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede. 2635 
 
 Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede; 
 For er the sonne unto the reste wente^ 
 The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente 
 This Palamon_, as he f aught with Arcite^ 
 And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte. 2640 
 
 And by the force of twenty is he take 
 Unyolden^ and ydrawe unto the stake. 
 And in the rescous of this Palamoun 
 The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun^ 
 And kyng Emetreus^ for al his strengthen 264}5 
 
 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 naughty 
 He moste abyde^ whan that he was caught^ 2650 
 
 By f orce^ and eek by composicioun. , 
 Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun^ 
 That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte ? 
 And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte 
 Unto the folk that foghten thus echon 2655 
 
 He cryde^ "Hoo ! namoore^ for it is doon. 
 I wol be trewe juge^ and no partie; 
 Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelie^ 
 That by his fortune hath hir faire ywonne V 
 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne 2660 
 
 For joye of this so loude and heighe withalle 
 It semed that the lystes sholde falle. 
 
 What kan now faire Venus doon above .^ 
 What seith she now^ what dooth this queene of Love^ 
 But wepeth so^ for wantynge of hir wille^ 2665 
 
 Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille. 
 She seyde^ "I am ashamed^ doutelees.'' 
 
 2643 rescus. 
 
78 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 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 yoUe and erie. 
 Been in hir wele for joye of Daun Arcite. 
 But herkneth me^ and stynteth now a lite. 
 Which a myraele ther bifel anon. 2675 
 
 This fierse Arcite hath of his helm ydon, 
 And on a courser for to shewe his face 
 He priketh endelong the large place, 
 Lokynge upward upon this Emelye, 
 
 And she agayn hym caste a freendlich eye, 2680 
 
 (For wommen, as to speken in commune. 
 They folwen al the favour of Fortune) 
 And she was al his chiere, as in his herte. 
 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 tobrosten with his sadel-bowe. 
 As blak he lay as any cole or crowe. 
 So was the blood yronnen in his face. 
 Anon he was yborn out of the place. 
 
 With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. 2695 
 
 Tho was he korven out of his barneys. 
 And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve, 
 For he was yet in memorie and alyve. 
 And alwey criynge after Emelye. 
 
 Due Theseus, with al his compaignye, 2700 
 
 Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee. 
 With alle blisse and greet solempnitee; 
 
 2679 this om. 2681-2 om. 2683 she om. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 79 
 
 Al be it that this aventure 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 yslajUy 
 
 Al were they soore yhurt^ and namely oon^ 
 
 That with a spere was thirled his brest-boon. 2710 
 
 To othere woundes^ and to broken armes_, 
 
 Somme hadden salves^ and somme hadden charmes^ 
 
 Fermacies of herbes and eek save 
 
 They dronken^ for they wolde hir lymes have. 
 
 For which this noble due as he wel kan^ 2715 
 
 Conforteth and honoureth every man^ 
 
 And made revel al the longe nyght 
 
 Unto the straunge lordes_, as was right. 
 
 Ne ther was holden no diseonfitynge 
 
 But as a justes or a tourneiynge^ 2720 
 
 For soothly ther was no disconiiture — 
 
 For fallyng nys nat but an aventure — ' 
 
 Ne to be lad by force unto the stake 
 
 Unyolden^ and with twenty knyghtes take^ 
 
 O persone allone^ withouten mo^ 2725 
 
 And haryed forth by arme^ foot^ and too^ 
 
 And eke his steede dryven forth with staves^ 
 
 With footmen^ bothe yemen and eek knaves^ 
 
 It nas aretted hym no vileynye^ 
 
 Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. 2730 
 
 For which anon due Theseus leet crye^ 
 
 To stynten alle rancour and envye^ 
 
 The gree^ as wel of o syde as of oother^ 
 
 And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother^ 
 
 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree^ 2735 
 
 And fully heeld a feeste dayes three_, 
 
 i.\nd convoyed the kynges worthily 
 
 2726 arm. 
 
80 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Out of his toun a journee^ largely; 
 
 And hoom wente every man^ the righte way^ 
 
 Ther was namoore but 'fare-wel^ have good day/ 2740 
 
 Of this bataille I wol namoore endite^ 
 
 But speke of Palamoun and of Arcyte. 
 
 Swelleth the brest of Areite^ and the soore 
 Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore. 
 The clothered blood for any lechecraft 2745 
 
 Corrupteth^ and is in his bouk ylaft^ 
 That neither veyne-blood^ ne ventusynge^ 
 Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge. 
 The vertu expulsif^ or animal^ 
 
 Fro thilke vertu eleped natural 2750 
 
 Ne may the venym voyden^ ne expelle. 
 The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle^ 
 And every lacerte in his brest adoun 
 Is shent with venym and corrupcioun. 
 
 Hym gayneth neither for to gete his lif 2755 
 
 Vomyt upward^ ne dounward laxatif ; 
 Al is tobrosten thilke regioun^ 
 Nature hath now no dominaeioun. 
 And certeinly^ ther Nature wol nat wirche^ 
 Fare-wel phisik^ go ber the man to chirche ! 2760 
 
 This al and som^ that Arcita moot dye ; 
 For which he sendeth after Emelye 
 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 o point of alle my sorwes smerte 
 To yow^ my lady^ that I love moost. 
 But I biquethe the servyce of my goost 
 To yow aboven every creature, 
 
 Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure^ 2770 
 
 AUas^ the wo ! allas^ the peynes stronge 
 That I for yow have suffred^ and so longe ! 
 AUas^ the deeth ! allas^ myn Emelye ! 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 81 
 
 AUas^ departynge of our compaignye ! 
 
 AUas^ myn liertes queene ! allas^ my wyf ! 2775 
 
 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf ! 
 
 What is this world ? what asketh men to have ? 
 
 Now with his love, now in his colde grave, 
 
 Allone, withouten any compaignye. 
 
 Fare-wel, my swete foo, myn Emelye, 2780 
 
 And softe taak me in youre armes tweye, 
 
 For love of God, and herkneth what I seye. 
 
 '*I have heer with my eosyn Palamon 
 Had strif and rancour many a day agon. 
 For love of yow, and for my jalousye. 2785 
 
 And Juppiter so wys my soule gye 
 To speken of a servaunt proprely. 
 With alle circumstances trewely. 
 That is to seyn, trouthe, honour, and knyghthede, 
 Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede, 2790 
 
 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art. 
 So Juppiter have of my soule part 
 As in this world right now ne knowe I non 
 So worthy to ben loved, as Palamon 
 
 That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf; 2795 
 
 And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf, 
 Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man/' 
 And with that word his speche faille gan. 
 And from his herte up to his brest was come 
 The coold of deeth^ that hadde hym overcome. 2800 
 
 And yet moreover in hise 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 f ailled breeth. 
 But on his lady yet caste he his eye. 
 His laste word was "mercy, Emelye I" 
 
 2789 and om. 2801 for in. 
 
82 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 His spirit chaunged hous^ and wente ther 
 
 As I cam never e^ I kan nat tellen wher^ 2810 
 
 Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre^ 
 
 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 gje: 2815 
 
 Now wol I speken forth of Emelye. 
 
 Shrighte Emelye^ and howleth Palamon^ 
 And Theseus his suster took anon 
 Swownynge^ and baar hir fro the corps away. 
 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day 2820 
 
 To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe ? 
 For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe 
 Whan that hir housbond is from hem ago_, 
 That for the moore part they sorwen so_, 
 Or ellis fallen in swich malady e^ 2825 
 
 That at the laste certeinly they dye. 
 Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres 
 Of olde folk^ and eek 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 ybroght al fressh yslayn 
 To Troye_j allas_, the pitee that was ther ! 
 Cracchynge of chekes^ rentynge eek of heer ; — 
 "Why woldestow be deed^'' thise wommen crye^ 2835 
 
 "And haddest gold ynough^ and Emelye.^'' 
 No man myghte gladen Theseus_, 
 Savynge his olde fader^ Egeus^ 
 That knew this worldes transmutacioun, 
 
 As he hadde seyn it chaungen up and doun^ 2840 
 
 Joye after wo_, and wo after gladnesse^ 
 And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse. 
 
 "Right as ther dyed nevere man/' quod he^ 
 
 2840 chaungen om. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 83 
 
 ''That he ne lyvede in erthe in som degree^ 
 
 Right so ther lyvede never man/' he seyde, 2845 
 
 "In al this world that somtyme 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 every worldes soore/' 
 
 And over 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 al his bisy cure^ 
 Caste now^ wher that the sepulture 
 
 Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be_, 2855 
 
 And eek moost honurable in his degree. 
 And at the laste he took conclusioun 
 That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun 
 Hadden for love the bataille hem bitw^ene^ 
 That in that selve grove swoote and grene 2860 
 
 Ther as he hadde hise amorouse desires^ 
 His compleynte^ and for love hise hoote fires 
 He wolde make a fyr^ in which the office 
 Funeral he myghte al accomplice ; 
 
 And leet 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 ryden anon at his comandement; 
 
 And after this Theseus hath ysent 2870 
 
 After a beere^ and it al over-spradde 
 With clooth of gold^ the richeste that he hadde. 
 And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite^ 
 Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white^ 
 
 Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene^ 2875 
 
 And in his bond 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 cast. 
 
84 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 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 rugged asshy heeres^ 
 
 In clothes blake_, ydropped al with teeres^ 
 
 And passynge othere of wepynge Emelye^ 2885 
 
 The rewefuUeste of al the compaignye. 
 
 In as muche as the servyce sholde be 
 
 The moore noble and riche in his degree^ 
 
 Due Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge 
 
 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge^ 2890 
 
 And covered with the armes of daun Arcite. 
 
 Upon thise steedes that weren grete and white 
 
 Ther sitten folk^ of whiche oon baar his sheeld^ 
 
 Another his spere up in his hondes heeld^ 
 
 The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys^ 2895 
 
 Of brend gold was the caas^ and eek the barneys ; 
 
 And riden forth a paas^ with sorweful cheere, 
 
 Toward the grove^ as ye shul after heere. 
 
 The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were 
 
 Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere. 2900 
 
 With slakke paas^ and eyen rede and wete^ 
 
 Thurghout the citee by the maister-strete^ 
 
 That sprad was al with blak^ and wonder hye 
 
 Right of the same is the strete ywrye. 
 
 Upon the right bond wente olde Egeus^ 2905 
 
 And on that oother syde due Theseus^ 
 
 With vessel in hir hand of gold ful fyn^ 
 
 Al ful of hony^ milk^ and bloody and wyn. 
 
 Eek Palamon^ with ful greet compaignye^ 
 
 And after that cam woful Emelye^ 2910 
 
 With fyr in honde^ as was that tyme the gyse^ 
 
 To do the office of funeral servyse. 
 
 Heigh labour^ and ful greet apparaillynge^ 
 
 2892 that weren om. 2894 up om. 2901 slak. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 85 
 
 Was at the service and the fyr makynge^ 
 
 That with his grene top the heven raughte^ 2915 
 
 And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte; 
 
 This is to seyn^ the bowes weren so brode. 
 
 Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode^ 
 
 But how the fyr was maked upon highte^ 
 
 Ne eek the names that the trees highte^ 2920 
 
 As^ ook^ firre^ birch^ aspe^ alder^ holm^ popeler^ 
 
 Wylugh^ elm^ plane^ assh^ box^ chasteyn^ lynde^ laurer^ 
 
 Mapul^ thorn^ bech^ hasel^ ew_, whippeltre^ 
 
 How they weren fild shal nat be toold for me^ 
 
 Ne how the goddes ronnen up and doun 2925 
 
 Disherited of hir habitacioun^ 
 
 In whiche 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 lights 
 
 That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright ; 
 
 Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree^ 
 
 And thanne with drye stokkes cloven a thre^ 
 
 And thanne with grene wode and spicerye_, 2935 
 
 And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye^ 
 
 And gerlandes hangynge with ful many a flour^ 
 
 The mirre^ thencens_, with al so greet odour; 
 
 Ne how Arcite lay among al this^ 
 
 Ne what richesse aboute his body isy 2940 
 
 Ne how that Emelye^ as was the gyse^ 
 
 Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse ; 
 
 Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr^ 
 
 Ne what she spak^ ne what was hir desir^ 
 
 Ne what jeweles men in the fyr caste^ 29^5 
 
 Whan that the fyr was greet and brente f aste ; 
 
 Ne how somme caste hir sheeld^ and somme hir spere^ 
 
 And of hire vestimentz whiche that they were_, 
 
 2915 raughte om. 2943 the om. 
 
86 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And coppes full of wjn, and milk^ and bloody 
 
 Into the iyr, that brente as it were wood^ 2950 
 
 Ne how the Grekes^ with an huge route^ 
 
 Thryes riden al the place aboute^ 
 
 Upon the left hand with a loud shoutynge^ 
 
 And thries with hir speres claterynge^ 
 
 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye^ 2955 
 
 And how that lad was homward Emelye ; 
 
 Ne how Areite is brent to asshen colde^ 
 
 Ne how that lychewake was yholde 
 
 Al thilke nyght^ ne how the Grekes pleye 
 
 The wakepleyes ne kepe I nat to seye^ 2960 
 
 Who wrasleth best naked^ with oille enoynt^ 
 
 Ne who that baar hym best in no dis j oynt ; 
 
 I wol nat tellen eek^ how that they goon 
 
 Hoom til Atthenes^ whan the pley 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 stynted is the moornynge and the teres 
 Of Grekes^ by oon general assent. 
 
 Thanne semed me ther was a parlement 2970 
 
 At Atthenes^ upon certein pointz and caas^ 
 Among the whiche pointz yspoken was 
 To have with certein contrees alliaunce^ 
 And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce^ 
 
 For which this noble Theseus anon 2975 
 
 Leet senden after gentil Palamon^ 
 Unwist of hym what was the cause and why. 
 But in hise 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 fram his wise brest^ 
 
 2952 Tries. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 
 
 87 
 
 Hise eyen sette he ther as was his lest^ 
 
 And with a sad visage he siked stille^ 2985 
 
 And after that right thus he seyde his wille. 
 
 ''The firste moevere of the cause above 
 Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love^, 
 Greet was theffect^ and heigh was his entente; 
 Wei wiste he^ why^ and what ther of he mente^ 2990 
 
 For with that faire cheyne of love he bond 
 The fyr_, the eyr_, the water^ and the lond^ 
 In certeyn boundes that they may nat flee. 
 That same prince and that same moevere/' quod he^ 
 **Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun 2995 
 
 Certeyne dayes and duracioun 
 To al that is engendred in this place^ 
 Over the whiche day they may nat pace ; 
 Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge^ 
 Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee allegge^ 3000 
 
 For it is preeved by experience — 
 But that me list declaren my sentence. 
 Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne 
 That thilke moevere stable is and eterne. 
 Wel may men knowe_, but it be a fool^ 3005 
 
 That every part deryveth from his hool; 
 For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng 
 Of no partie nor cantel of a thyng^ 
 But of a thyng that parfit is and stable^ 
 
 Descendynge so til it be corrumpable; 3010 
 
 And therfore^ of his wise purveiaunce^ 
 He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce^ 
 That speces of thynges and progressiouns 
 Shullen enduren by successiouns^ 
 
 And nat eterne_, withouten any lye. 3015 
 
 This maystow understonde and seen at eye. 
 Lo the ook^ that hath so long a norisshynge 
 From tyme that it first bigynneth sprynge^ 
 
 2998 which. 3006 dirryueth. 3007 nat om. 3008 or of. 3016 at it. 
 
88 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And hath so long a lif^ as we may see. 
 
 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020 
 
 Considereth eek^ how that the harde stoon 
 
 Under oure f eet^ on which we trede and goon, 
 
 Yit wasteth it, as it lyth by the weye. 
 
 The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye. 
 
 The grete toures se we wane and wende, 3025 
 
 Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende. 
 
 Of man and womman seen we wel also, 
 
 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 f eeld, as men may se ; 
 
 Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye, 
 
 Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye. 
 
 What maketh this, but Juppiter the kyng, 3035 
 
 That is prince and cause of alle thyng 
 
 Convertyng al unto his propre welle 
 
 From which it is deryved, sooth to telle. 
 
 And heer agayns no creature on lyve 
 
 Of no degree availleth for to stryve. 3040 
 
 Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me. 
 
 To maken vertu of necessitee. 
 
 And take it weel, that we may nat eschue ; 
 
 And namely, that to us alle is due. 
 
 And who so gruccheth ought, he dooth folye, 3045 
 
 And rebel is to hym that al may gje. 
 
 And certeinly, a man hath moost honour 
 
 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 upyolden is his breeth. 
 
 Than whan his name apalled is for age ; 
 
 3034 that om. 3038 dirryued. 
 
THE KNYGHTES TALE 89 
 
 P'or 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 heere his cosyn and his wyf 
 
 That goode Arcite, of chivalrie flour. 
 
 Departed is with duetee and honour 3060 
 
 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf ? 
 
 Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf 
 
 Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel? 
 
 Kan he hem thank ? Nay, God woot never a deel ! 
 
 That bothe his soule and eek hemself offende, 3065 
 
 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende. 
 
 What may I concluden of this longe serye, 
 But after wo I rede us to be merye, 
 And thanken Juppiter of al his grace? 
 
 And er that we departen from this place 3070 
 
 I rede that we make, of sorwes two, 
 O parfit joye lastyng everemo. 
 And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is her inne, 
 Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne. 
 
 "Suster,'' quod he, ''this is my fulle assent, 3075 
 
 With all thavys heere of my parlement. 
 That gentil Palamon thyn owene kynght. 
 That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght. 
 And evere hath doon, syn that ye first hym knewe, 
 That ye shul of your grace upon hym rewe, 3080 
 
 And taken hym for housbonde and for lord. 
 Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord. 
 Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee ; 
 He is a kynges brother sone^ pardee. 
 
 And though he were a povre bacheler, 3085 
 
 Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer. 
 And had for yow so greet adversitee. 
 It moste been considered, leeveth me, 
 
 3071 that om. 
 
90 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For gentil mercy oghte to passen right/' 
 
 Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon ful right: 3090 
 
 **I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng 
 
 To make yow assente to this thyng. 
 
 Com neer^ and taak youre lady by the hond." 
 
 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 ywedded Emelye; 
 And God^ that al this wyde world hath wroght^ 
 Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght! 3100 
 
 For now is Palamon in alle wele^ 
 Lyvynge in blisse^ in richesse^, and in heele^ 
 And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely^ 
 And he hir serveth al so gentilly^ 
 
 That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene, 3105 
 
 Of jalousie^ or any oother teene. 
 Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye^ 
 And God save al this f aire compaignye ! — Amen — 
 
 Heere is ended the hnyghtes tale, 
 
 3100 hath om. 3104 al om. 
 
I PROLOGUE TO THE MILLERES 
 
 TALE 
 
 Heere folwen the wordes hitwene the Hoost and the Millere 
 
 Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold^ 
 In al the route ne was ther yong ne oold 3110 
 
 That he ne seyde it was a noble storie^ 
 And worthy for to drawen to memorie ; 
 And namely the gentils everichon. 
 Oure Hooste lough_, and swoor_, ''So moot I gon^ 
 This gooth aright^ unbokeled is the male^ 3115 
 
 Lat se now who shal telle another tale^ 
 For trewely the game is wel bigonne. 
 Now telleth on^ sir Monk^ if that ye konne 
 Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale." 
 The Miller that for-dronken was al pale^ 3120 
 
 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat^ 
 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat_, 
 Ne abyde no man for his eurteisie^ 
 But in Pilates voys he gan to crie^ 
 
 And swoor by armes and by blood and bones^ 3125 
 
 "I kan a noble tale for the nones^ 
 With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale/* 
 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale^ 
 And seyde^ "Abyd^ Robyn^ my leeve brother^ 
 Som bettre man shal telle us first another^ 3130 
 
 Abyde^ and lat us werken thriftily/' 
 "By Goddes soule_,'' quod he^ ''that wol nat I^ 
 For I wol speke^ or elles go my wey/' 
 Oure Hoost answerde^ "Tel on^ a devele wey ! 
 Thou art a fool^ thy wit is overcome! 3135 
 
 3114, 3128, Hoost. 
 
92 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 ''Now herkneth/' quod the Miller^ ''alle and some^ 
 
 But first I make a protestacioun 
 
 That I am dronke^ I knowe it by my soun ; 
 
 And therfore^ if that I mysspeke or seye^ 
 
 Wyte it the ale of Southwerk I you preye. 3140 
 
 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf 
 
 Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf^ 
 
 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe/' 
 
 The Reve answerde and seyde^ ''Stynt thy clappe^ 
 
 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotry e^ 3145 
 
 It is a synne and eek a greet folye 
 
 To apeyren any man or hym defame^ 
 
 And eok to bryngen wy ves in swich fame ; 
 
 Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn/' 
 
 This dronke Miller spak ful soone ageyn^ 3150 
 
 And seyde^ 'Xeve brother Osewold^ 
 
 Who hath no wyf^ he is no cokewold. 
 
 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon, 
 
 Ther been ful goode wyves many oon^ 
 
 And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde; 3155 
 
 That knowestow wel thyself^ but if thou madde. 
 
 Why artow angry with my tale now? 
 
 I have a wyf^ pardee^ as wel as thow^ 
 
 Yet nolde I for the oxen in my plogh 
 
 Take upon me moore than ynogh^ 3l60 
 
 As demen of myself that I were oon ; 
 
 I wol bileve wel^ that I am noon. 
 
 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf 
 
 Of Goddes pryvetee^ nor of his wyf. 
 
 So he may fynde Goddes foysoun there^ 3165 
 
 Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere/' 
 
 What sholde I moore seyn^ but this Miller 
 
 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere^ 
 
 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere ; 
 
 Me thynketh that I shal reherce it heere. 3170 
 
 3140 you om. 
 
PROLOGUE TO MILLERES TALE 9S 
 
 And therfore every gentil wight I preye^ 
 
 For Goddes love^ demeth nat that I seye 
 
 Of yvel entente^ but that I moot reherce 
 
 Hir tales alle_, be they bettre or werse^ 
 
 Or elles falsen som of my mateere. 3175 
 
 And therfore who-so list it nat yheere^ 
 
 Turne over the leef^ and chese another tale; 
 
 For he shal fynde ynowe^ grete and smale^ 
 
 Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse^ 
 
 And eek moralitee^ and hoolynesse. 3180 
 
 Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys ; 
 
 The Miller is a cherl^ ye knowe wel this^ 
 
 So was the Reve^ and othere manye mo^ 
 
 And harlotrie they tolden bothe two. 
 
 Avyseth yow^ and put me out of blame^ 3185 
 
 And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game. 
 
 3184 putteth. 
 
 THE TALE. 
 
 [One John^ a rich and credulous carpenter of Oxford^ is 
 beguiled by his wife Alison^ through Nicholas^ a poor 
 scholar boarding with them. Absolon^ the parish clerk^ is 
 slighted by Alison; but wreaks vengeance on Nicholas.] 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE REVES TALE 
 
 The prologe of the Reves Tale, 
 
 Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas 3855 
 
 Of Absolon and hende Nicholas^ 
 Diverse folk diversely they seyde^ 
 But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde^ 
 Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve^ 
 But it were oonly Osewold the Reve 3860 
 
 Bycause he was of carpenteres crafty 
 A litel ire is in his herte ylaf t ; 
 He gan to grucche^ and blamed it a lite. 
 *'So theek^'' quod he_, *'ful wel koude I yow quite^ 
 With bleryng of a proud miller es eye^ 3865 
 
 If that me liste speke of ribaudye. 
 But ik am oold^ me list no pley for age^ 
 Gras-tyme is doon^ my fodder is now forage^ 
 This white top writeth myne olde yeris, 
 
 Myn herte is also mowled as myne heris^ 3870 
 
 But if I fare as dooth an openers ; 
 That ilke fruyt is ever leng the wers^ 
 Til it be roten in muUok or in stree. 
 We olde men^ I drede^ so fare we^ 
 
 Til we be roten kan we nat be rype. 3875 
 
 We hoppen ay whil that the world wol pype^ 
 For in oure wyl ther stiketh evere a nayl 
 To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl^ 
 As hath a leek^ for thogh oure myght be goon^ 
 Oure wyl desireth folie evere in oon. 3880 
 
 For whan we may nat doon^ than wol we speke^ 
 Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr yreke. 
 Foure gleedes han we whiche I shal devyse^ 
 Avauntyng^ lijng, anger^ coveitise; 
 
 3870 mowled also. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE REVES TALE 95 
 
 Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde. 3885 
 
 Oure olde lemes mowe wel been unweelde^ 
 
 But wyl ne shal nat faillen^ that is sooth. 
 
 And yet ik have alwey a coltes toothy 
 
 As many a veer as it is passed henne 
 
 Syn that my tappe of lif bigan to renne. 3890 
 
 For sikerly whan I was bore^ anon 
 
 Deeth drough the tappe of lyf^ and leet it gon, 
 
 x\nd ever sithe hath so the tappe yronne^ 
 
 Til that almoost al empty is the tonne. 
 
 The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe; 3895 
 
 The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe 
 
 Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore. 
 
 With olde folk^ save dotage^ is namoore.'' 
 
 Whan that oure Hoost hadde herd this sermonyng^ 
 He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng^ 3900 
 
 He seide^ "What amounteth al this wit.^ 
 What shul we speke alday of hooly writ.^ 
 The devel made a reve for to preche_, 
 And of a soutere^ shipman^ or a leche. 
 
 Sey forth thy tale^ and tarie nat the tyme. 3905 
 
 Lo Depeford^ and it is half-wey pryme ; 
 Lo^ Grenewych^ ther many a shrewe is inne ; 
 It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne.'' 
 
 ''Now sires/' quod this Osewold the Reve^ 
 ''I pray yow alle^ that ye nat yow greve^ 3910 
 
 Thogh I answere^ and somdeel sette his howve^ 
 For leveful is with force force of-showve. 
 
 This dronke Millere hath ytoold us heer^ 
 How that bigyled was a Carpenteer^ 
 
 Peraventure in scorn^ for I am oon; 3915 
 
 And by youre lere I shal hym quite anoon. 
 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke^ 
 I pray to God his nekke mote breke ! 
 He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke^ 
 But in his owene he kan nat seen a balke.'' 3920 
 
96 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 THE TALE. 
 
 [Simkin^ a rich thieving miller of Trumpington Mill, near 
 Cambridge, is well served by two Cambridge clerks of the 
 north country, who beguile his wife and daughter, recover 
 the stolen meal which he had hid, and leave him well 
 beaten.] 
 
THE PROLOGUE TO THE COKES 
 TALE. 
 
 The prologe of the Cokes Tale. 
 
 The Cook of London^ whil the Reve spak^ 4325 
 
 For joye him thoughte^ he clawed him on the bak. 
 ''Ha ! ha l" quod he^ "for Cristes passioun^ 
 This miller hadde a sharp conclusioun 
 Upon his argument of herbergage. 
 
 Wei seyde Salomon in his langage^ 4330 
 
 'Ne brynge nat every man into thyn hous_,' 
 For herberwynge by nyghte is perilous. 
 Wei oghte a man avysed for to be^ 
 Whom that be broghte into his pryvetee. 
 I pray to God so yeve me sorwe and care^ 4335 
 
 If evere sitthe I highte Hogge of Ware_, 
 Herde I a millere bettre yset awerk. 
 He hadde a jape of malice in the derk. 
 But God forbede that we stynte heere^ 
 
 And therfore^ if ye vouche-sauf to heere 4340 
 
 A tale of me that am a povre man^ 
 I wol yow telle^ as wel as evere I kan_, 
 A litel jape that fil in oure citee/' 
 Oure Hoost answerde and seide^ *'I graunte it thee^ 
 Now telle on^ Roger^ looke that it be good^ 4345 
 
 For many a pastee hastow laten bloody 
 And many a Jakke of Dovere hastow soold 
 That hath been twies hoot and twies cold. 
 Of many a pilgrim hastow Cristes curs^ 
 
 For of thy percely yet they fare the wors^ 4350 
 
 That they han eten with thy stubbel-goos^ 
 For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos. 
 
 4325 whil that. 
 
98 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Now telle on^ gentil Roger^ by thy name^ 
 
 But yet I pray thee_, be nat wroth for game^ 
 
 A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley." 4355 
 
 ''Thou seist ful sooth/' quod Roger^ *'by my fey; 
 
 But 'sooth pley quaad pley/ as the Flemyng seith. 
 
 And ther-fore^ Herry Bailly^ by thy feith^ 
 
 Be thou nat wrooth^ er we departen heer^ 
 
 Though that my tale be of an hostileer. 4360 
 
 But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit^ 
 
 But er we parte^ ywis^ thou shalt be quit/' 
 
 And ther-with-al he lough and made cheere^ 
 
 And seyde his tale_, as ye shul after heere. 
 
 4359 na. 
 
 THE TALE (Unfinished). 
 
 [Perkin^ a London apprentice^ being dismissed by his 
 master^ seeks his companions in dice^ revel and disport.] 
 
GROUP B. 
 
 PROLOGUE OF THE MAN OF 
 LAWE. 
 
 The wordes of the Hoost to the compaignye, 
 
 Oure Hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne 
 The ark of his artificial day hath ronne 
 The f erthe part^ and half an houre and moore ; 
 And though he were nat depe expert in loore^ 
 He wiste it was the eightetethe day 5 
 
 Of Aprill^ that is messager to May; 
 And saugh wel^ that the shadwe of every tree 
 Was as in lengthe the same quantitee 
 That was the body erect that caused it^ 
 
 And therfore by the shadwe he took his wit 10 
 
 That Phebus_, which that shoon so clere and brighte. 
 Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte; 
 And for that day^ as in that latitude^ 
 It was ten at the clokke^ he gan conclude_, 
 And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. — 15 
 
 '*Lordynges/' quod he, **I warne yow, al this route. 
 The fourthe party of this day is gon. 
 Now for the love of God and of Seint John, 
 Leseth no tyme, as f erf orth as ye may. 
 
 Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day, 20 
 
 And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge. 
 And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge. 
 As dooth the streem, that turneth nevere agayn, 
 Descendyng fro the montaigne into playn. 
 1 hoost. 4 expert ystert. 5 eighte and twentithe. 
 
100 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Wei kan Senec and many a philosophre 25 
 
 Biwaillen tjme, moore than gold in cofre. 
 
 'For losse of catel may recovered be^ 
 
 But losse of tyme shendeth us/ quod he. 
 
 It wol nat come agayn^ withouten drede^ 
 
 Namoore than wole Malkynes maydenhede^ 30 
 
 Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse. 
 
 Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse ; 
 
 Sir- man of lawe/' quod he^ "so have ye blis^ 
 
 Telle us a tale anon_, as forward is. 
 
 Ye been submytted thurgh youre free assent 35 
 
 To stonden in this cas at my juggement. 
 
 Acquiteth yow as now of youre biheeste^ 
 
 Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste/' 
 
 "Hooste^" quod he_, "depardieux ich assente^ 
 To breke forward is nat myn entente. 40 
 
 Biheste is dette^ and I wole holde fayn 
 Al my biheste^ I kan no bettre sayn. 
 For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight^ 
 He sholde hymselven usen it by right; 
 
 Thus wole oure text^ but nathelees certeyn 45 
 
 I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn; 
 But Chaucer^ thogh he kan but lewedly 
 On metres and on rymyng craftily^ 
 Hath seyd hem in swich Englissh as he kan_, 
 Of olde tyme^ as knoweth many a man. 50- 
 
 And if he have noght seyd hem^ leve brother^ 
 In o book^ he hath seyd hem in another. 
 For he hath toold of loveris up and doun 
 Mo than Ovide made of mencioun^ 
 
 In hise Episteles that been ful olde; 55 
 
 W^hat sholde I tellen hem^ syn they ben tolde.^ 
 In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione^ 
 And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone 
 Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke. 
 
 37 as om. 39 Hoost. 47 But That. 55 epistles. 56 telle. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE MAN OF LAWE 101 
 
 Whoso that wole his large volume seke 60 
 
 Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide^ 
 
 Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde 
 
 Of Lucresse^ and of Babilan Tesbee^ 
 
 The swerd of Dido for the false Enee^ 
 
 The tree of Phillis for hir Demophon^ 65 
 
 The pleinte of Dianire and Hermyon^ 
 
 Of Adriane and of Isiphilee^ 
 
 The bareyne yle stondynge in the see^ 
 
 The dreynte Leandre for his Erro^ 
 
 The teeris of Eleyne^ and eek the wo 70 
 
 Of Brixseyde^ and of the_, Ladomea^ 
 
 The crueltee of the^ queene Medea^ 
 
 Thy litel children hangyng by the hals 
 
 For thy Jason^ that was in love so fals. 
 
 O Ypermystra^ Penolopee^ Alceste^ 75 
 
 Youre wyf hede he comendeth with the beste ! 
 
 But certeinly no word ne writeth he 
 
 Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee^ 
 
 That loved hir owene brother synfully — 
 
 Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy ! — 80 
 
 Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius^ 
 
 How that the cursed kyng Antiochus 
 
 Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede^ 
 
 That is so horrible a tale for to rede^ 
 
 Whan he hir threw upon the pavement. 85 
 
 And therfore he_, of ful avysement_, 
 
 Nolde nevere write^ in none of his sermouns^ 
 
 Of swiche unkynde abhomynaciouns ; 
 
 Ne I wol noon reherce_, if that I may. 
 
 But of my tale how shall I doon this day.^ 90 
 
 Me were looth be likned^ doutelees^ 
 
 To Muses that men clepe Pierides — 
 
 Methamorphosios woot what I mene — 
 
 But nathelees^ I recche noght a bene 
 
 66 Diane and of. 70 eek om. 71 of om. 
 
102 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Though I come after hym with hawebake^ 95 
 
 I speke in prose^ and lat him rymes make/' 
 And with that word he^ with a sobre eheere^ 
 Bigan his tale^ as ye shal after heere. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 
 
 The Prologe of the Mannes Tale of Larve, 
 
 O hateful harm^ condicion of poverte ! 
 With thurst^ with coold^ with hunger so conf oundid ! 100 
 
 To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte^ 
 If thou noon aske^ so soore artow ywoundid 
 That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid; 
 Maugree thyn heed thou most for indigence 
 Or stele^ or begge^ or borwe thy despence ! 105 
 
 Thow blamest Crist_, and seist ful bitterly 
 
 He mysdeparteth richesse temporal. 
 
 Thy neighebore thou wytest synfuUy^ 
 
 And seist thou hast to lite and he hath al. 
 
 'Tarfay!'' seistow^ "somtyme he rekene shal^ 110 
 
 Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede^ 
 
 For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede.'' 
 
 Herkne what is the sentence of the wise^ 
 
 *'Bet is to dyen than have indigence." 
 
 Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise^ 115 
 
 If thou be povre^ f arwel thy reverence ! 
 
 Yet of the wise man take this sentence^ 
 
 *'Alle daj^es of povre men been wikke;'' 
 
 Be war therfore^ er thou come to that prikke. 
 
 If thou be povre^ thy brother hateth thee^ 120 
 
 And alle thy f reendes fleen from thee ; allas^ 
 O riche marchauntz^ ful of wele been yee ! 
 O noble^ o prudent folk^ as in this cas ! 
 Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as^ 
 But with sys cynk^ that renneth for youre chaunce^ 125 
 
 At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce ! 
 113 Herke. 
 
104 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ye seken lond and see for your wynnynges^ 
 
 As wise folk ye knowen all thestaat 
 
 Of regnes ; ye been f adres of tydynges 
 
 And tales^ bothe of pees and of debaat. 130 
 
 I were right now of tales desolaat 
 
 Nere that a marchant_, goon is many a yeere^ 
 
 Me taughte a tale^ which that ye shal heere. 
 
 Heere hegynneth the Man of Lawe his Tale, 
 
 In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye 
 Of chapmen riche^ and therto sadde and trewe, 135 
 
 That wyde-where senten hir spicerye^ 
 Clothes of gold^ and satyns riche of hewe. 
 Hir chafFare was so thrifty and so newe 
 That every wight hath deyntee to chafFare 
 With hem^ and eek to sellen hem hir ware. 140 
 
 Now ill it^ that the maistres of that sort 
 
 Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende ; 
 
 Were it for chapmanhode^ or for disport^ 
 
 Noon oother message wolde they thider sende^ 
 
 But comen hemself to Rome^ this is the ende^ 145 
 
 And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage 
 
 For hir entente^ they take hir herbergage. 
 
 Soj ourned han thise Marchantz in that toun 
 
 A certein tyme_, as fil to hire plesance. 
 
 And so bifel^ that thexcellent renoun 150 
 
 Of the Emperoures doghter^ Dame Custance^ 
 
 Reported was^ with every circumstance 
 
 Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse 
 
 Fro day to day^ as I shal yow devyse. 
 
 151 Emperours. 153 a wyse. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 105 
 
 This was the commune voys of every man: 155 
 
 **Oure Emperour of Rome^ God hym see^ 
 
 A doghter hath^ that syn the world bigan^ 
 
 To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee^ 
 
 Nas nevere swich another as is shee. 
 
 I prey to God in honour hir sustene l60 
 
 And wolde she were of all Europe the queene ! 
 
 In hir is heigh beautee^ withoute pride^ 
 
 Yowthe^ withoute grenehede or folye_, 
 
 To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde^ 
 
 Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye^ l65 
 
 She is mirour of alle curteisye^ 
 
 Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse^ 
 
 Hir hand ministre of fredam for almesse." 
 
 And al this voys was sooth^ as God is trewe ! 
 
 But now to purpos^ lat us turne agayn ; 170 
 
 Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe^ 
 
 And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn_, 
 
 Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn^ 
 
 And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore_, 
 
 And lyven in wele^ I kan sey yow namoore. 175 
 
 Now fil it^ that thise marchantz stode in grace 
 
 Of hym^ that was the Sowdan of Surrye. 
 
 For whan they cam from any strange place. 
 
 He wolde^ of his benigne curteisye, 
 
 Make hem good chiere^ and bisily espye 180 
 
 Tidynges of sondry regnes^ for to leere 
 
 The wondres that they myghte seen or heere. 
 
 Amonges othere thynges^ specially 
 
 Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame Custance 
 
 So greet noblesse^ in ernest ceriously^ 185 
 
 That this Sowdan hath caught so greet plesance 
 
106 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 To han hir figure in his remembrance^ 
 
 That all his lust and al his bisy cure 
 
 Was for to love hir^ while his lyf may dure. 
 
 Par a venture in thilke large book^ 190 
 
 Which that men clipe the hevene^ ywriten was 
 
 With sterres^ whan that he his birthe took^ 
 
 That he for love sholde han his deeth^ alias ! 
 
 For in the sterres clerer than is glas 
 
 Is writen^ God woot^ whoso koude it rede^ 195 
 
 The deeth of every man^ withouten drede. 
 
 In sterres many a wynter therbiforn 
 
 Was writen the deeth of Ector^ Achilles, 
 
 Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born, 
 
 The strif of Thebes, and of Ercules, 200 
 
 Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates 
 
 The deeth, but mennes wittes ben so duUe 
 
 That no wight kan wel rede it atte fuUe. 
 
 This Sowdan for his privee conseil sente. 
 
 And, shortly of this matiere for to pace, 205 
 
 He hath to hem declared his entente 
 
 And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace 
 
 To han Custance withinne a litel space, 
 
 He nas but deed ; and charged hem in hye 
 
 To shapen for his lyf som remedye. 210 
 
 Diverse men diverse thynges seyden; 
 
 They argumenten, casten up and doun, 
 
 Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden. 
 
 They speken of magyk and abusioun 
 
 But finally, as in conclusioun, 215 
 
 They kan nat seen in that noon avantage, 
 
 Ne in noon oother wey^ save mariage. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 107 
 
 Thanne sawe they therin swich difficultee 
 
 By wey of reson_, for to speke al playn 
 
 Bycause that ther was swich diversitee 220 
 
 Bitwene hir bothe lawes^ that they sayn 
 
 They trowe that "no cristene prince wolde fayn 
 
 Wedden his child under oure lawes swete 
 
 That us were taught by Mahoun oure prophete/' 
 
 And he answerde: ''Rather than I lese 225 
 
 Custance^ I wol be cristned^ doutelees. 
 
 I moot been hires^ I may noon oother chese ; 
 
 I prey yow^ hoold youre argumentz in pees. 
 
 Saveth my lyf^ and beth noght recchelees 
 
 To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure^ 230 
 
 For in this wo I may nat longe endure/' 
 
 What nedeth gretter dilatacioun? 
 
 I seye^ by tretys and embassadrye 
 
 And by the popes mediacioun_, 
 
 And al the chirche and al the chivalrie, 235 
 
 That in destruccioun of Mawmettrie 
 
 And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere^ 
 
 They been acorded^ so as ye shal heere_, 
 
 How that the Sowdan and his baronage 
 
 And alle hise liges sholde ycristned be — 240 
 
 And he shal han Custance in mariage_, 
 
 And certein gold^ I noot what quantitee^ 
 
 And heerto founden suffisant suretee. 
 
 This same accord was sworn on eyther syde. 
 
 Now^ faire Custance^ almyghty God thee gyde ! 245 
 
 Now wolde som men waiten^ as I gesse^ 
 That I sholde tellen al the purveiance 
 That themperour^ of his grete noblesse^ 
 
 243 sufficient. 
 
108 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custance; 
 
 Wei may men knowen that so greet ordinance 250 
 
 May no man tellen in a litel clause 
 
 As was arrayed for so heigh a cause. 
 
 Bisshopes been shapen with hir for to wende^ 
 
 Lordes^ ladies^ knyghtes of renoun^ 
 
 And oother folk ynogh^ this is. the ende^ 255 
 
 And notified is^ thurghout the toun. 
 
 That every wight with greet devocioun 
 
 Sholde preyen Crist^ that he this mariage 
 
 Receyve in gree^ and spede this viage. 
 
 The day is comen of hir departynge^ 260 
 
 I seye^ the woful day fatal is come^ 
 
 That ther may be no lenger tariynge^ 
 
 But forthward they hem dressen^ alle and some. 
 
 Custance^ that was with sorwe al overcome^ 
 
 Ful pale arist^ and dresseth hir to wende^ 265 
 
 For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende. 
 
 Allas^ what wonder is it thogh she wepte^ 
 
 That shal be sent to strange nacioun 
 
 Fro freendes that so tendrely hir kepte^ 
 
 And to be bounden under subjeccioun 270 
 
 Of oon^ she knoweth nat his condicioun? 
 
 Housbondes been alle goode^ and han ben yoore^ 
 
 That knowen wyves ! I dar sey yow namoore. 
 
 *'Fader/' she seyde^ ''thy wrecched child Custance^ 
 
 Thy yonge doghter^ fostred up so softe^ 275 
 
 And ye my mooder^ my soverayn plesance^ 
 
 Over alle thyng^ out-taken Crist on-lofte^ 
 
 Custance^ youre child^ hir recomandeth ofte 
 
 Unto your grace^ for I shal to Surrye 
 
 Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with eye. 280 
 
 255 thende. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 109 
 
 Alias ! unto the barbre nacioun 
 
 I moste goon^ syn that it is youre wille^ 
 
 But Crista that starf for our savacioun^ 
 
 So yeve me grace hise heestes to fulfille_, — 
 
 I^ wrecche womman^ no fors though I spille. 285 
 
 Wommen are born to thraldom and penance^ 
 
 And to been under mannes governance/' 
 
 I trowe^ at Troye whan Pirrus brak the wal^ 
 
 Or Ilion brende^ ne at Thebes the Citee^ 
 
 Ne at Rome for the harm thurgh Hanybal 290 
 
 That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre^ 
 
 Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee 
 
 As in the chambre was^ for hir departynge ; 
 
 But forth she moot^ wher-so she wepe or synge. 
 
 O firste moevyng crueel firmanent^ 295 
 
 With thy diurnal sweigh^ that crowdest ay 
 
 And hurlest al from Est til Occident 
 
 That naturelly wolde holde another way^ 
 
 Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array 
 
 At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage^ 300 
 
 That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariage. 
 
 Infortunat ascendent tortuous^ 
 
 Of which the lord is helplees f alle^ alias ! 
 
 Out of his angle into the derkeste hous. 
 
 O Mars ! O Atazir ! as in this cas^ 305 
 
 O fieble Moone^ unhappy been thy paas ! 
 
 Thou knyttest thee^ ther thou art nat receyved; 
 
 Ther thou were weel^ fro thennes artow weyved. — 
 
 Imprudent Emperour of Rome^ alias ! 
 
 Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun? 310 
 
 Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas ? 
 
 289 ne at om. 290 Nat. 
 
no THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Of viage is ther noon eleccioun^ 
 
 Namely to folk of heigh condicioun^ 
 
 Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe ? 
 
 Allas_, we been to lewed or to slowe! 315 
 
 To ship is brought this woful faire mayde 
 
 Solempnely^ with every circumstance^ 
 
 ''Now Jesu Crist be with yow alle/' she seyde. 
 
 Ther nys namoore but^ "Farewel faire Custance I" 
 
 She peyneth hir to make good contenance^ 320 
 
 And forth I lete hir saille in this manere^ 
 
 And turne I wole agayn to my matere. 
 
 The mooder of the Sowdan^ welle of vyices^ 
 Espied hath hir sones pleyne entente^ 
 
 How he wol lete hise olde sacrifices^ 325 
 
 And right anon she for hir conseil sente^ 
 And they been come^ to knowe what she mente^ 
 And whan assembled was this folk in feere^ 
 She sette hir doun^ and seyde as ye shal heere. 
 
 '*Lordes/' quod she^ ''ye knowen everichon^ 330 
 
 How that my sone in point is for to lete 
 
 The hooly lawes of oure Alkaron^ 
 
 Yeven by Goddes message^ Makomete. 
 
 But oon avow to grete God I heete^ 
 
 The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte^ 335 
 
 Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte ! 
 
 What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe 
 
 But thraldom to our bodies^ and penance^ 
 
 And afterward in helle to be drawe 
 
 For we reneyed Mahoun oure creance? 340 
 
 But lordes^ wol ye maken assurance 
 
 As I shal seyn^ assentynge to my loore^ 
 
 And I shal make us sauf for everemoore/' 
 
 316 brought come. 330 she seyde. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 111 
 
 They sworen and assenten every man 
 To lyve with hir^ and dye^ and by hir stonde^ 345 
 
 And everich in the beste wise he kan 
 To strengthen hir shal alle hise frendes fonde^ 
 And she hath this emprise ytake on honde^ 
 Which ye shal heren^ that I shal devyse. 
 And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse: 350 
 
 **We shul first feyne us cristendom to take^ — 
 
 Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite — 
 
 And I shal swich a feeste and revel make_, 
 
 That as I trowe I shal the Sowdan quite ; 
 
 For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white_, 355 
 
 She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede_, 
 
 Thogh she a fontful water with hir lede !'' 
 
 O Sowdanesse^ roote of iniquitee ! 
 Virago^ thou Semyrame the secounde ! 
 
 O serpent under femynynytee^ 360 
 
 Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybolinde ! 
 O feyned womman^ al that may confounde 
 Vertu and innocence thurgh thy malice 
 Is bred in thee^ as nest of every vice ! 
 
 O Sathan^ envious syn thilke day 365 
 
 That thou were chaced from oure heritage^ 
 
 Wei knowestow to wommen the olde way ! 
 
 Thou madest Eva brynge us in servage; 
 
 Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage. 
 
 Thyn instrument^ so weylawey the while ! 370 
 
 Makestow of wommen^ whan thou wolt bigile ! 
 
 This Sowdanesse^ whom I thus blame and warie, 
 
 Leet prively hir conseil goon hir way. 
 
 What sholde I in this tale lenger tarie ? 
 
 She rydeth to the Sowdan on a day 375 
 
112 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And seyde hym^ that she wolde reneye hir lay^ 
 And cristendom of preestes handes fonge^ 
 Repentynge hir she hethen was so longe ; 
 
 Bisechynge hym to doon hir that honour 
 
 That she moste han the cristen folk to feeste. 380 
 
 ''To plesen hem I wol do my labour." 
 
 The Sowdan seith^ ''I wol doon at youre heeste/' 
 
 And knelynge thanketh hir of that requeste. 
 
 So glad he was^ he nyste what to seye ; 
 
 She kiste hir sone^ and hoome she gooth hir weye. 385 
 
 Explicit prima pars. 
 
 SequiUir pars secunda. 
 
 Arryved been this cristen folk to londe^ 
 In Surrye^ with a greet solempne route^ 
 And hastifliche this Sowdan sente his sonde 
 First to his mooder and all the regne aboute^ 
 And seyde his wyf was comen^ oute of doute^ 390 
 
 And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the queene^ 
 The honour of his regne to susteene. 
 
 Greet was the prees^ and riche was tharray 
 
 Of Surry ens and Romayns met yf eere ; 
 
 The mooder of the Sowdan^ riche and gay^ 395 
 
 Receyveth hir with also glad a cheere 
 
 As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere^ 
 
 And to the nexte citee ther bisyde 
 
 A softe paas solempnely they ryde. 
 
 Noght trowe I the triumphe of Julius^ 400 
 
 Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boosts 
 
 Was roialler^ ne moore curius 
 
 Than was thassemblee of this blisful boost. 
 
 402 ne or. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 113 
 
 But this scorpioun^ this wikked goost, 
 
 The Sowdanesse^ for all hir flaterynge 405 
 
 Caste under this ful mortally to stynge. 
 
 The Sowdan comth hymself soone after this 
 
 So roially^ that wonder is to telle^ 
 
 And welcometh hir with alle joje and blis^ 
 
 And thus in murthe and j oy e I lete hem dwelle — 410 
 
 The fruyt of this matiere is that I telle. — 
 
 Whan tyme cam^ men thoughte it for the beste^ 
 
 The revel stynte^ and men goon to hir reste. 
 
 The tyme cam^ this olde Sowdanesse 
 
 Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde^ • 415 
 
 And to the feeste cristen folk hem dresse 
 
 In general^ ye^ bothe yonge and olde. 
 
 Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde^ 
 
 And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse; 
 
 But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse ! 420 
 
 O sodeyn wo^ that evere art successour 
 To w^orldly blisse^ spreynd with bitternesse ! 
 The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour! 
 Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse ! 
 
 Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse_, 425 
 
 Upon thy glade day have in thy minde 
 The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde. 
 
 For shortly for to tellen at o word^ 
 
 The Sowdan and the cristen everichone 
 
 Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord^ 430 
 
 But it were oonly dame Custance allone. 
 
 This olde Sowdanesse^ cursed krone^ 
 
 Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede^ 
 
 For she hirself wolde all the contree lede. 
 
 4-28 For soothly. 
 
114 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ne was ther Surry en noon^ that was converted^ 4}35 
 
 That of the conseil of the Sowdan woot^ 
 
 That he nas al tohewe er he asterted. 
 
 And Custance han they take anon foot-hoot 
 
 And in a ship all steerelees^ God woot^ 
 
 They han hir set^ and biddeth hir lerne saille 440 
 
 Out of Surrye agaynward to Ytaille. 
 
 A certein tresor that she thider ladde^ 
 
 And^ sooth to seyn^ vitaille greet plentee 
 
 They han hir yeven^ and clothes eek she hadde^ 
 
 And forth she sailleth in the salte see. 445 
 
 O my Custance^ ful of benignytee^ 
 
 O emperoures yonge doghter deere^ 
 
 He that is lord of Fortune be thy steere ! 
 
 She blesseth hir^ and with ful pitous voys 
 
 Unto the croys of Crist thus seyde she^ 450 
 
 "O cleere^ o welful auter^ hooly croys^ ^ 
 
 Reed of the lambes bloody ful of pitee_, 
 
 That wesshe the world fro the olde iniquitee^ 
 
 Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe^ 
 
 That day that I shal drenehen in the depe. 455 
 
 Victorious tree^ proteccioun of trewe^ 
 
 That oonly worthy were for to here 
 
 The kyng of hevene with his woundes newe^ 
 
 The white lamb that hurt was with the spere^ 
 
 Flemer of feendes out of hym and here 460 
 
 On which thy lymes f eithfully extenden^ 
 
 Me keep^ and yif me myght my lyf tamenden." 
 
 Yeres and dayes fleteth this creature 
 
 Thurghout the See of Grece unto the Strayte 
 
 Of Marrok^ as it was hir aventure. 465 
 
 435 ther 07n. 442 thider with hir. 447 emperours. 451 ivelful woful. 
 462 keepe helpe. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 115 
 
 On many a sory meel now may she bayte ; 
 After hir deeth ful often may she wayte^ 
 Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve 
 Unto the place ther she shal arryve. 
 
 Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn? 470 
 
 Eek at the feeste who myghte hir body save? 
 And I answere to that demande agayn^ 
 Who saved D any el in the horrible cave^ 
 Ther every wight save he_, maister and knave_, 
 Was with the leoun frete^ er he asterte? 475 
 
 No wight but God_, that he bar in his herte. 
 
 God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle 
 
 In hir^ for we sholde seen his myghty werkis. 
 
 Crista which that is to every harm triacle^ 
 
 By certeine meenes ofte_, as knowen clerkis^ 480 
 
 Dooth thyng for certein ende_, that ful derk is 
 
 To mannes wit^ that for oure ignorance 
 
 Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance. 
 
 Nov/^ sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe^ 
 
 Who kepte hir fro the drenchyng in the see? 485 
 
 Who kepte Jonas in the fisshes mawe 
 
 Til he was spouted up at Nynyvee? 
 
 Wei may men knowe it was no wight but he 
 
 That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge^ 
 
 With drye feet thurghout the see passynge. 490 
 
 Who bad the foure spirites of tempest^ 
 
 That power han tanoyen lond and see_, 
 
 **Bothe north and south^ and also west and est^ 
 
 Anoyeth neither see^ ne land^ ne tree?" 
 
 Soothly, the comandour of that was he^ 495 
 
 That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte^ 
 
 As wel eek when she wook as whan she slepte. 
 
 497 eek om. 
 
116 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have ? 
 
 Thre yeer and moore how lasteth hir vitaille? 
 
 Who fedde the Egypcien Marie in the cave^ 500 
 
 Or in desert? no wight but Crist sanz faille. 
 
 Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille 
 
 With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede; 
 
 God sente his foyson at hir grete neede. 
 
 She dryveth forth into oure occian 505 
 
 Thurghout oure wilde see^ til atte laste 
 
 Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan^ 
 
 Fer in Northhumberlond^ the wawe hir caste^ 
 
 And in the sond hir ship stiked so f aste 
 
 That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde, 510 
 
 The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde. 
 
 The constable of the castel doun is fare 
 
 To seen his wrak^ and al the ship he soghte^ 
 
 And foond this wery womman ful of care^ 
 
 He foond also the tresor that she broghte^ 515 
 
 In hir langage mercy she bisoghte^ 
 
 The lyf out of hire body for to twynne^ 
 
 Hir to delivere of wo that she was inne. 
 
 A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche^ 
 
 But algates ther-by was she understonde. 520 
 
 The constable^ whan hym lyst no lenger seche^ 
 
 This woful womman broghte he to the londe. 
 
 She kneleth doun and thanketh Goddes sonde ; 
 
 But what she was_, she wolde no man seye^ 
 
 For foul ne fair^ thogh that she sholde deye. 525 
 
 She seyde^ she was so mazed in the see 
 That she forgat hir mynde^ by hir trouthe. 
 The constable hath of hir so greet pitee^ 
 And eke his wyf^ that they wepen for routhe. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 117 
 
 She was so diligent withouten slouthe 530 
 
 To serve and plesen everich in that place^ 
 That alle hir loven that looken on hir face. 
 
 This constable and dame Hermengyld his wyf 
 
 Were payens^ and that contree every-where; 
 
 But Hermengyld loved hir right as hir lyf^ 535 
 
 And Custance hath so longe sojourned there 
 
 In orisons with many a bitter teere^ 
 
 Til Jesu hath converted thurgh his grace 
 
 Dame Hermengyld^ constablesse of that place. 
 
 In al that lond no cristen dorste route^ 540 
 
 Alle cristen folk been fled fro that contree 
 
 Thurgh payens that conquereden al aboute 
 
 The plages of the North by land and see. 
 
 To Walys fledde the Cristyanytee 
 
 Of olde Britons^ dwellynge in this He; 54<5 
 
 Ther was hir refut for the meene-while. 
 
 But yet nere cristene Britons so exiled 
 
 That ther nere somme that in hir privetee 
 
 Honoured Crist, and hethen folk bigiled^ 
 
 And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three; 550 
 
 That oon of hem was blynd^ and myghte nat see^ 
 
 But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde_, 
 
 With whiche men seen^ after that they ben blynde. 
 
 Bright was the sonne as in that someres day^ 
 For which the constable and his wyf also 555 
 
 And Custance han ytake the righte way 
 Toward the see^ a furlong wey or two_, 
 To pleyen^ and to romen^ to and f ro^ 
 And in hir walk this blynde man they mette_, 
 Croked and oold^ with eyen faste yshette. 560 
 
 531 plese. 553 after whan. 
 
118 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 ''In name of Crist^'' cride this olde Britoun^ 
 
 "Dame Hermengyld^ yif me my sighte agayn." 
 
 This lady weex afFrayed of the soun^ 
 
 Lest that hir housbonde^ shortly for to sayn, 
 
 Wolde hir for Jesu Cristes love han slayn^ 565 
 
 Til Custance made hir boold^ and bad hir wirche 
 
 The wyl of Crista as doghter of his chirehe. 
 
 The constable weex abasshed of that sights 
 
 And seyde^ ''What amounteth all this fare V 
 
 Custance answerde^ "Sire^ it is Cristes myght_, 570 
 
 That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare." 
 
 And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare^ 
 
 That she the constable^ er that it were eve^ 
 
 Converteth^ and on Crist maketh hym bileve. 
 
 This constable was no-thyng lord of this place" 575 
 
 Of which I speke^ ther he Custance fond ; 
 
 But kepte it strongly many wyntres space 
 
 Under AUa^ kyng of al Northhumbrelond^ 
 
 That was ful wys and worthy of his hond 
 
 Agayn the Scott es^ as men may wel heere; — 580 
 
 But turne I wole agayn to my mateere. 
 
 Sathan^ that ever us waiteth to bigile^ 
 
 Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun 
 
 And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while; 
 
 And made a yong knyght^ that dwelte in that toun^ 585 
 
 Love hir so hoote of foul aiFeccioun 
 
 That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille^ 
 
 But he of hir myghte ones have his wille. 
 
 He woweth hir^ but it availleth noght^ 
 
 She wolde do no synne^ by no weye; 590 
 
 And for despit he compassed in his thoght 
 
 To maken hir on shameful deeth to deye. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 119 
 
 He wayteth whan the constable was aweye 
 
 And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte 
 
 In Hermengyldes ehambre whil she slepte. 595 
 
 Wery_, for-waked in hir orisouns^ 
 
 Slepeth Custance^ and Hermengyld also. 
 
 This knyght^ thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns^ 
 
 All sof tely is to the bed ygo^ 
 
 And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo^, 600 
 
 And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance^ 
 
 And wente his wey^ ther God yeve hym meschance ! 
 
 Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn^ 
 
 And eek Alla^ that kyng was of that lond^ 
 
 And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn^ 605 
 
 For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond^ 
 
 And in the bed the blody knyf he fond 
 
 By Dame Custance; allas^ what myghte she seye? 
 
 For verray wo hir wit was al aweye !, 
 
 To kyng Alia was toold al this meschance^ 6lO 
 
 And eek the tyme^ and where^ and in what wise 
 
 That in a ship was founden dame Custance^ 
 
 As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse. 
 
 The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse^ 
 
 Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 6l5 
 
 Falle in disese and in mysaventure. 
 
 For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght^ 
 
 So stant this innocent bifore the kyng. 
 
 This false knyght^ that hath this tresoun wroght_, 
 
 Berth hir on hond that she hath doon thys thyng, 620 
 
 But nathelees^ ther was greet moornyng 
 
 Among the peple^ and seyn^ they kan nat gesse 
 
 That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse ; 
 
 598 Sathans. 
 
120 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For they han seyn hir evere so vertuous^ 
 
 And lovyng Hermengyld right as hir lyf. 625 
 
 Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous 
 
 Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf. 
 
 This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf 
 
 Of this witnesse^ and thoghte he wolde enquere 
 
 Depper in this^ a trouthe for to lere. 630 
 
 AUas^ Custance^ thou hast no champioun! 
 
 Ne fighte kanstow noght^ so weylaway ! 
 
 But he^ that starf for our redempcioun^ 
 
 And boond Sathan — and yet lith ther he lay — 
 
 So be thy stronge champion this day ! 6S5 
 
 For but if Crist open myracle kithe^ 
 
 Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe. 
 
 She sette hir doun on knees^ and thus she sayde^ 
 
 **Immortal God^ that savedest Susanne 
 
 Fro false blame^ and thou^ merciful Mayde^ 640 
 
 Marie I meene^ doghter to Seynte Anne_, 
 
 Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne_, 
 
 If I be giltlees of this felony e^ 
 
 My socour be^ for ellis shal I dye." 
 
 Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face 64f5 
 
 Among a prees^ of hym that hath be lad 
 Toward his deeth^ wher as hym gat no grace^ 
 And swich a colour in his face hath had^ 
 Men myghte knowe his f ace^ that was bistad^ 
 Amonges alle the faces in that route? 650 
 
 So stant Custance^ and looketh hir aboute. 
 
 O queenes^ lyvynge in prosperitee^ 
 
 Duchesses^ and ladyes everichone^ 
 
 Haveth som routhe on hir adversitee; 
 
 An emperoures doghter stant allone^ 655 
 
 640 fals. 655 emperours. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 121 
 
 She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone. 
 O blood roial^ that stondest in this drede^ 
 Fer been thy f reendes at thy grete nede ! 
 
 This Alia kyng hath swich compassioun^ 
 As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee^ 660 
 
 That from hise eyen ran the water doun. 
 '*Now hastily do fecche a book/' quod he^ 
 *'And if this knyght wol sweren how that she 
 This womman slow^ yet wol we us avyse^ 
 Whom that we wole^ that shal been oure justise/' 665 
 
 A Britoun book_, written with Evaungiles^ 
 
 Was fet_, and on this book he swoor anoon 
 
 She gilty was^ and in the meene- whiles 
 
 An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon^ 
 
 That doun he fil atones^ as a stoon ; 670 
 
 And bothe hise eyen broste out of his face_, 
 
 In sighte of every body in that place. 
 
 A voys was herd in general audience^ 
 
 And seyde^ ''Thou hast desclaundred giltelees 
 
 The doghter of hooly ehirche in heigh presence^ 675 
 
 Thus hastou doon^ and yet holde I my pees." 
 
 Of this mervaille agast was al the prees_, 
 
 As mazed folk they stoden everichone 
 
 For drede of wreche^ save Custance allone. 
 
 Greet was the drede and eek the repentance 680 
 
 Of hem that hadden wronge suspecioun 
 Upon this sely innocent,, Custance ; 
 And for this miracle^ in conclusioun^ 
 And by Custances mediacioun^ 
 
 The kyng, and many another in that place, 6S5 
 
 Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace. 
 674 giltlees. 
 
122 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe_, 
 
 By juggement of Alia hastifly — 
 
 And yet Custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe — 
 
 And after this Jesus^ of His mercy^ 690 
 
 Made Alia wedden ful solempnely 
 
 This hooly mayden^ that is so bright and sheene^ 
 
 And thus hath Crist ymaad Custance a queene. 
 
 But who was woful^ if I shal nat lye^ 
 
 Of this weddyng but Donegild^ and namo^ 695 
 
 The kynges mooder^ ful of tirannye ? 
 
 Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo^ 
 
 She wolde noght hir sone had do so^ 
 
 Hir thoughte a despite that he sholde take 
 
 So strange a creature unto his make. 700 
 
 Me list nat of the chaf nor of the stree 
 
 Maken so long a tale^ as of the corn; 
 
 What sholde I tellen of the roialtee 
 
 At mariages^ or which cours goth biforn^ 
 
 Who bloweth in the trumpe^ or in an horn? 705 
 
 The fruyt of every tale is for to seye; 
 
 They ete_, and drynke_, and daunce^ and synge^ and pleye. 
 
 They goon to bedde^ as it was skile and rights 
 
 For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges^ 
 
 They moste take in pacience at nyght 710 
 
 Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges 
 
 To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges^ 
 
 And leyea lite hir hoolynesse aside 
 
 As for the tyme^ it may no bet bitide. 
 
 On hir he gat a knave childe anon^ 715 
 
 And to a bisshop and his constable eke 
 He took his wyf to kepe^ whan he is gon 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 128 
 
 To Scotlondward^ his foomen for to seke. 
 
 Now faire Ciistance^ that is so humble and meke^ 
 
 So longe is goon with childe^ til that stille 720 
 
 She halt hire chambre^ abidyng Cristes wille. 
 
 The tyme is come^ a knave child she beer^ 
 
 Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle. 
 
 This constable dooth forth come a messageer^ 
 
 And wroot unto his kyng^ that cleped was Alle^ 725 
 
 How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle^ 
 
 And othere tidynges spedef ul for to seye ; 
 
 He taketh the lettre^ and forth he gooth his weye. 
 
 This messager^ to doon his avantage_, 
 
 Unto the kynges mooder rideth s withe, 730 
 
 And salueth hir ful faire in his langage, 
 
 ''Madame,'' quod he, ''ye may be glad and blithe, 
 
 And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe. 
 
 My lady queene hath child, withouten doute. 
 
 To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute. 735 
 
 Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng. 
 
 That I moot here with al the haste I may. 
 
 If ye wol aught unto youre sone, the kyng, 
 
 I am youre servant bothe nyght and day." 
 
 Donegild answerde, "As now at this tyme, nay, 740 
 
 But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste, 
 
 Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste." 
 
 This messager drank sadly ale and wyn. 
 
 And stolen were hise lettres prively 
 
 Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn ; 745 
 
 And countrefeted was ful subtilly 
 
 Another lettre wroght ful synfuUy, 
 
 Unto the kyng direct of this mateere 
 
 Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere. 
 
124 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The lettre spak^ the queene delivered was 750 
 
 Of so horrible a feendly creature 
 
 That in the eastel noon so hardy was 
 
 That any while dorste ther endure; 
 
 The mooder was an elf^ by aventure^ 
 
 Yeomen by charmes or by sorcerie^ 755 
 
 And every wight hateth hir compaignye. 
 
 Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn, 
 
 But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore^ 
 
 But of his owene hand he wroot agayn: 
 
 ''Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore 760 
 
 To me^ that am now lerned in his loore. 
 
 Lord^ welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce^ 
 
 My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce. 
 
 Kepeth this child^ al be it foul or feire^ 
 
 And eek my wyf^ unto myn hoom-comynge ; 765 
 
 Crista whan hym list^ may sende me an heir 
 
 Moore agreable than this to my likynge/' 
 
 This lettre he seleth^ pryvely wepynge^ 
 
 Which to the messager was take soone 
 
 And forth he gooth^ ther is namoore to doone. 770 
 
 O messager^ fulfild of dronkenesse^ 
 Strong is thy breeth^ thy lymes faltren ay^ 
 And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse. 
 Thy mynde is lorn^ thou janglest as a jay^ 
 Thy face is turned in a newe array; 775 
 
 Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route^ 
 Th^r is iio conseil hyd^ withouten doute. 
 
 O Donegild^ I ne have noon Englissh digne 
 Unto thy malice and thy tirannye ; 
 
 And therfore to the feend I thee resigne^ 780 
 
 Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie ! 
 756 euerich hateth. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 125 
 
 Yjy mannysh^ fy ! O nay^ by God^ I lye ! 
 Fy^ f eendlych spirit ! for I dar wel telle^ 
 Thogh thou heere walke^ thy spirit is in helle. 
 
 This messager comth fro the kyng agayn^ 785 
 
 And at the kynges moodres court he lighte 
 
 And she was of this messager ful fayn^ 
 
 And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte. 
 
 He drank^ and wel his girdel underpighte. 
 
 He slepeth^ and he fnorteth in his gyse 790 
 
 Al nyght until the sonne gan aryse. 
 
 Eft were hise lettres stolen every chon 
 
 And countrefeted lettres in this wyse^ 
 
 "The king comandeth his constable anon 
 
 Up peyne of hangyng and on heigh juyse 795 
 
 That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse 
 
 Custance inwith his reawme for tabyde_, 
 
 Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde. 
 
 But in the same ship as he hir fond^ 
 
 Hir and hir yonge sone^ and al hir geere^ 800 
 
 He sholde putte^ and croude hir fro the lond^ 
 
 And chargen hir she never eft coome theere/' 
 
 O my Custance^ wel may thy goost have fere^ 
 
 And slepynge in thy dreem been in penance_, 
 
 Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance. 805 
 
 This messager^ on morwe whan he wook^ 
 Unto the Castel halt the nexte way^ 
 And to the constable he the lettre took. 
 And whan that he this pitous lettre say_, 
 
 Ful ofte he seyde^ *'Allas and weylaway!" 810 
 
 "Lord Crist/' quod he^ "how may this world endure^ 
 So ful of synne is many a creature } 
 
 791 til. 
 
126 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 O myghty God^ if that it be thy wille^ 
 
 Sith thou art rightful juge_, how may it be 
 
 That thou wolt sufFren innocentz to spiile^ 815 
 
 And wikked folk regnen in prosperitee ? 
 
 O goode Custance^ allas^ so wo is me^ 
 
 That I moot be thy tormentour^ or deye 
 
 On shames deeth ! Ther is noon oother weye I" 
 
 Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place, 820 
 
 Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente. 
 And Custance, with a deedly pale face, 
 The f erthe day toward the ship she wente ; 
 But nathelees she taketh in good entente 
 The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde, 825 
 
 She seyde, "Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde ! 
 
 He that me kepte fro the false blame. 
 
 While I was on the lond amonges yow. 
 
 He kah me kepe from harm and eek fro shame 
 
 In salte see, al thogh I se noght how. 830 
 
 As strong as evere he was, he is yet now; 
 
 In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere. 
 
 That is to me my seyl and eek my steere." 
 
 Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm. 
 
 And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde, 835 
 
 ''Tees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm." 
 
 With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde. 
 
 And over hise litel eyen she it leyde. 
 
 And in hir arm she luUeth it ful f aste. 
 
 And into hevene hir eyen up she caste. 840 
 
 "Mooder," quod she, "and mayde bright, Marie, 
 Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement 
 Mankynde was lorn and damned ay to dye. 
 For which thy child was on a croys yrent ; 
 
 837 of over. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 127 
 
 Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment; 845 
 
 Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene 
 Thy wo^ and any wo man may sustene. 
 
 Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne eyen^ 
 
 And yet now lyveth my litel child^ parfay. 
 
 Now^ lady bright^ to whom alle woful cryen^ 850 
 
 Thow glorie of wommanhede_, thow faire may^ 
 
 Thow haven of refut^ brighte sterre of day^ 
 
 Rewe on my child^ that of thy gentillesse 
 
 Ruest on every reweful in distresse. 
 
 O litel child^ allas^ what is thy gilt^ 855 
 
 That nevere wroghtest synne as yet^ pardee ! 
 
 Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt? 
 
 O mercy^ deere Constable/' quod she^ 
 
 *'As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee ; 
 
 And if thou darst nat saven hym for blame_, 860 
 
 Yet kys hym ones in his fadres name." 
 
 Therwith she looketh bakward to the londe^ 
 
 And seyde^ "Farewel^ housbonde routhelees V 
 
 And up she rist^ and walketh doun the stronde^ 
 
 Toward the ship. Hir folweth al the prees^ 865 
 
 And evere she preyeth hir child to holde his pees, 
 
 And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente 
 
 She blisseth hir, and into ship she wente. 
 
 Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede, 
 
 Habundantly for hir ful longe space ; 870 
 
 And othere necessaries that sholde nede 
 
 She hadde ynogh, heried be Goddes grace; 
 
 For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace. 
 
 And brynge hir hoom, I kan no bettre seye ! 
 
 But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. 875 
 
 Explicit secunda pars. 
 
 849 litel om. 
 
128 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Sequitur pars tercia. 
 
 Alia the kyng comth hoom^ soone after this. 
 Unto his castel of the which I tolde^ 
 And asketh where his wyf and his child is. 
 The constable gan aboute his herte colde, 
 And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde, 880 
 
 As ye han herd^ I kan telle it no bettre ; 
 And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre. 
 
 And seyde_, "Lord^ as ye comanded me, 
 
 Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein/' 
 
 This messager tormented was, til he 885 
 
 Moste biknowe, and tellen plat and pleyn 
 
 Fro nyght to nyght in what place he had leyn. 
 
 And thus by wit and sotil enquerynge 
 
 Ymagined was, by whom this harm gan sprynge. 
 
 The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, 890 
 
 And al the venym of this cursed dede. 
 
 But in what wise certeinly I noot. 
 
 ThefFect is this, that Alia, out of drede. 
 
 His mooder slow, that may men pleynly rede. 
 
 For that she traitoure was to hir ligeance, S95 
 
 Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance ! 
 
 The sorwe that this Alia, nyght and day, 
 Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also, 
 Ther is no tonge that it telle may — 
 
 But now wol I unto Custance go, 900 
 
 That fleteth in the see in peyne and wo, 
 Fyve yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde, 
 Er that hir ship approched unto londe. 
 
 Under an hethen castel, atte laste. 
 
 Of which the name in my text noght I fynde, 905 
 
 Custance and eek hir child the see upcaste. 
 
 882 eek om. 908 the londe. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 129 
 
 Almyghty god that saved al mankynde_, 
 
 Have on Custance and on hir child som mynde^ 
 
 That fallen is in hethen hand eft-soone^ 
 
 In point to spille^ as I shal telle yow soone. 910 
 
 Doun fro the castel eomth ther many a wight 
 
 To gauren on this ship and on Custance, 
 
 But shortly from the castel on a nyght 
 
 The lordes styward^ God yeve hym meschance ! — 
 
 A theef that hadde reneyed oure creance^ 915 
 
 Cam into the ship allone, and seyde he sholde 
 
 Hir lemman be, wherso she wolde or nolde. 
 
 Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon ! 
 
 Hir child cride, and she cride pitously. 
 
 But blisful Marie heelp hir right anon, 920 
 
 For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily. 
 
 The theef fil over bord al sodeynly. 
 
 And in the see he dreynte for vengeance, 
 
 And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance. 
 
 O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende ! 925 
 
 Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde. 
 But verraily thou wolt his body shende. 
 Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes blynde 
 Is compleynyng; hou many oon may men fynde. 
 That noght for werk somtyme, but for thentente 930 
 
 To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente ! 
 
 How may this wayke womman han this strengthe 
 
 Hir to defende agayn this renegat? 
 
 O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe, 
 
 Hou myghte David make thee so maat, 935 
 
 So yong, and of armure so desolaat? 
 
 Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredf ul face ? 
 
 Wel may men seen, it nas but Goddes grace ! 
 
130 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Who yaf Judith corage or hardynesse 
 
 To sleen hym^ Olofernus^ in his tente^ 9^0 
 
 And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse 
 
 The peple of God? I seye^ for this entente 
 
 That right as God spirit of vigour sente 
 
 To hem^ and saved hem out of mesehance^ 
 
 So sente he myght and vigour to Custance. 945 
 
 Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth 
 
 Of Jubaltar and Septe^ dryvynge alway^ 
 
 Somtyme west^ and somtyme north and south^ 
 
 And somtyme est^ f ul many a wery day ; 
 
 Til Cristes mooder — blessed be she ay ! — 950 
 
 Hath shapen^ thurgh hir endelees goodnesse^ 
 
 To make an ende of al hir hevynesse. 
 
 Now lat us stynte of Custance but a throwe^ 
 And speke we of the Romayn Emperour^ 
 That out of Surry e hath by lettres knowe 955 
 
 The slaughtre of cristen folk^ and dishonour 
 Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour^ 
 I mene the cursed wikked Sowdanesse^ 
 That at the f eeste leet sleen both moore and lesse ; 
 
 For which this emperour hath sent anon 960 
 
 His senatour^ with roial ordinance 
 
 And othere lordes^ God woot many oon^ 
 
 On Surryens to taken heigh vengeance. 
 
 They brennen^ sleen^ and brynge hem to meschance 
 
 Ful many a day^ but shortly^ this is thende. 965 
 
 Hoomward to Rome they shapen hem to wende. 
 
 This senatour repaireth with victorie 
 
 To Romeward saillynge ful roially^ 
 
 And mette the ship dryvynge^ as seith the storie^ 
 
 In which Custance sit ful pitously. 970 
 
 940 Oloferne. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 131 
 
 No thyng ne knew he what she was^ ne why 
 She was in swich array^ ne she nyl seye 
 Of hir estate thogh that she sholde deye. 
 
 He bryngeth hir to Rome^ and to his wyf 
 
 He yaf hir^ and hir yonge sone also^ 975 
 
 And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf. 
 
 Thus kan oure Lady bryngen out of wo 
 
 Woful Custance_, and many another mo. 
 
 And longe tyme dwelled she in that place^ 
 
 In hooly werkes evere^ as was hir grace. 980 
 
 The senatoures wyf hir aunte was^ 
 
 Eut for all that she knew hir never the moore — 
 
 I wol no lenger tarien in this cas_, 
 
 But to kyng Alla^ which I spake of yoore^ 
 
 That wepeth for his wyf and siketh soore^ 9^5 
 
 I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance 
 
 Under the senatoures governance. 
 
 Kyng AUa^ which that hadde his mooder slayn. 
 Upon a day fil in swich repentance 
 
 That^ if I shortly tellen shal and playn^ 990 
 
 To Rome he comth^ to receyven his penance^ 
 And putte hym in the popes ordinance 
 In heigh and logh^ and Jesu Crist bisoghte 
 Foryeve hise wikked werkes that he wroghte. 
 
 The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born 995 
 
 How Alia kyng shal comen on pilgrymage^ 
 
 By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn^ 
 
 For which the Senatour^ as was usage^ 
 
 ^ood hym agayns^ and many of his lynage^ 
 
 As w^el to shewen his heighe magnificence 1000 
 
 As to doon any kyng a reverence. 
 
 971 ne om. 973 that om. 981, 987 sena tours. 
 
1S2 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Greet cheere dooth this noble Senatour 
 
 To kyng AUa^ and he to hym also^ 
 
 Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour; 
 
 And so bifel^ that inwith a day or two 1005 
 
 This senatour is to kyng Alia go 
 
 To f este ; and shortly^ if I shal nat lye^ 
 
 Custanees sone wente in his compaignye. 
 
 Som men wolde seyn^ at requeste of Custance 
 
 This senatour hath lad this child to feeste; 1010 
 
 I may nat tellen every circumstance^ 
 
 Be as be may^ ther was he at the leeste^ 
 
 But sooth is this^ that at his moodres heeste 
 
 Biforn Alia durynge the metes space^ 
 
 The child stood lookynge in the kynges face. 1015 
 
 This Alia kyng hath of this child greet wonder^ 
 
 And to the senatour he seyde anon_, 
 
 "Whos is that faire child^ that stondeth yonder?*' 
 
 ''I noot/' quod he^ *'by God and by Seint John! 
 
 A mooder he hath^ but fader hath he noon^ 1020 
 
 That I of woot/' But shortly^ in a stounde^ 
 
 He tolde Alia how that this child was founde. 
 
 *'But God woot^'' quod this senatour also_, 
 
 *'So vertuous a lyver in my lyf 
 
 Ne saugh I nevere as she^ ne herde of mo 1025 
 
 Of worldly wommen^ mayde^ ne of wyf ; 
 
 I dar wel seyn^ hir hadde levere a knyf 
 
 Thurghout hir brest^ than ben a womman wikke^ 
 
 There is no man koude brynge hir to that prikke." 
 
 Now was this child as lyke unto Custance^ 1030 
 
 As possible is a creature to be. 
 
 This Alia hath the face in remembrance 
 
 Of dame Custance^ and theron mused he. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 133 
 
 If that the childes mooder were aught she 
 
 That is his wyf ; and prively he sighte 1035 
 
 And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte. 
 
 'Tarfay/' thoghte he^ "fantome is in myn heed. 
 
 I oghte deme^ of skilful juggement^ 
 
 That in the salte see my wyf is deed/' 
 
 And afterward he made his argument: 1040 
 
 *'What woot I^ if that Crist have hyder ysent 
 
 My wyf by see^ as wel as he hir sente 
 
 To my contree fro thennes that she wente?'' 
 
 And^ after noon_, hoom with the senatour 
 
 Goth Alla^ for to seen this wonder chaunce. 1045 
 
 This senatour dooth Alia greet honour_, 
 
 And hastifly he sente after Custance. 
 
 But trusteth weel^ hir liste nat to daunce 
 
 Wl^an that she wiste wherf ore was that sonde ; 
 
 Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde. 1050 
 
 Whan Alia saugh his wyf^ faire he hir grette^ 
 
 And weep_, that it was routhe for to see. 
 
 For at the firste look he on hir sette^ 
 
 He knew wel verraily that it was she. 
 
 And she for sorwe as doumb stant as a tree^ 1055 
 
 So was hir herte shet in hir distresses 
 
 Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse. 
 
 Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte. 
 
 He weeps and hym excuseth pitously. 
 
 "Now God/' quod he^ ''and alle hise halwes brighte 1060 
 
 So wisly on my soule as have mercy. 
 
 That of youre harm as giltelees am I 
 
 As is Maurice my sone, so lyk youre face; 
 
 Elles the feend me f ecche out of this place !" 
 
 1060 alle om. 1062 giltlees. 
 
134 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne 1065 
 
 Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse^ 
 
 Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne^ 
 
 Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse. 
 
 I pray yow alle my labour to relesse; 
 
 I may nat telle hir wo until tomorwe^ 1070 
 
 I am so wery for to speke of sorwe. 
 
 But finally^ whan that the sothe is wist. 
 
 That Alia giltelees was of hir wo, 
 
 I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist, 
 
 And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two, 1075 
 
 That save the joye that lasteth everemo 
 
 Ther is noon lyk that any creature 
 
 Hath seyn, or shal, whil that the world may dure. 
 
 Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely. 
 
 In relief 'of hir longe pitous pyne, 1,080 
 
 That he wolde preye hir fader specially 
 
 That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne 
 
 To vouchesauf som day with hym to dyne. 
 
 She preyde hym eek, he wolde by no weye 
 
 Unto hir fader no word of hir seye. 1085 
 
 Som men wolde seyn, how that the child Maurice 
 
 Dooth this message unto this emperour. 
 
 But, as I gesse. Alia was nat so nyce 
 
 To hym that was of so sovereyn honour. 
 
 As he that is of cristen folk the flour, 1090 
 
 Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme 
 
 He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme. 
 
 This emperour hath graunted gentilly 
 
 To come to dyner_, as he hym bisoughte. 
 
 And wel rede I he looked bisily 1095 
 
 1073 giltlees. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 135 
 
 Upon this child^ and on his doghter thoghte. 
 Alia goth to his in^ and as him oghte 
 Arrayed for this feste in every wise 
 As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise. 
 
 The morwe cam^ and Alia gan hym dresse 1100 
 
 And eek his wyf^ this emperour to meete^ 
 
 And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse_, 
 
 And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete^ 
 
 She lighte doun and falleth hym to feete. 
 
 ''Fader^'' quod she^ ''youre yonge child Custance 1105 
 
 Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance. 
 
 I am youre doghter Custance^'' quod she_, 
 
 *'That whilom ye han sent unto Surry e. 
 
 It am I^ fader^ that in the salte see 
 
 Was put allone^ and dampned for to dye. 1110 
 
 Now goode fader^ mercy I yow crye^ 
 
 Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse^ 
 
 But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse." 
 
 Who kan the pitous joye tellen al 
 
 Bitwixe hem thre^ syn they been thus ymette.^ 1115 
 
 But of my tale make an ende I shal^ 
 
 The day goth faste^ I wol no lenger lette. 
 
 This glade folk to dyner they hem sette^ 
 
 In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle^ 
 
 A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle. 1120 
 
 This child Maurice was sithen emperour 
 
 Maad by the pope^ and lyved cristenly. 
 
 To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour; 
 
 But I lete all his storie passen by — 
 
 Of Custance is my tale specially — 1125 
 
 In the olde Romayn geestes may men fynde 
 
 Maurices lyf^ I here it noght in mynde. 
 
136 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 This kyng AUa^ whan he his tyme say^ 
 
 With his Custance_, his hooly wyf so sweete^ 
 
 To Engelond been they come the righte way^ 1130 
 
 Wher as they ly ve in j oye and in quiete. 
 
 But litel while it lasteth^ I yow heete^ 
 
 Joye of this world^ for tyme wol nat abyde^ 
 
 Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde. 
 
 Who lyved evere in swich delit o day 1135 \ 
 
 That hym ne moeved outher conscience 
 
 Or ire^ or talent^ or som-kyn affray^ 
 
 Envye^ or pride^ or passion^ or offence? 
 
 I ne seye but for this ende this sentence^ 
 
 That litel while in joye or in plesance 1140 
 
 Lasteth the blisse of Alia with Custance. 
 
 For deeth^ that taketh of heigh and logh his rente. 
 
 Whan passed was a yeer^ evene as I gesse. 
 
 Out of this world this kyng Alia he hente. 
 
 For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse. 1145 
 
 Now lat us praye God his soule blesse. 
 
 And dame Custance^ finally to seye, 
 
 Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye. 
 
 To Rome is come this hooly creature, 
 
 And fyndeth ther hir freendes hoole and sounde. 1150 
 
 Now is she scaped al hire aventure. 
 
 And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde, 
 
 Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde, 
 
 Wepynge for tendrenesse, in herte blithe, 
 
 She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe. 1155 
 
 In vertu and in hooly almus-dede 
 
 They lyven alle, and never asonder wende 
 
 Til deeth departed hem; this lyf they lede; — 
 
 1137 kynnes. 1150 ther om. 1156 in om. 
 
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE 137 
 
 And fareth now weel^ my tale is at an ende. 
 
 Now Jesu Crista that of his myght may sende II60 
 
 Joye after wo_, governe us in his grace^ 
 
 And kepe us alle that been in this place. Amen. 
 
 Heere endeth the tale of the Man of Lawe. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE SHIPMANNES 
 
 TALE 
 
 Here endith the man of lawe his tale. And next folwith 
 the Shipman his prolog. 
 
 Oure Ost upon his stiropes stood anoon^ 
 And seide_, *'Good men^ herkeneth everychoon; 
 This was a thrifty tale for the nonys. 1165 
 
 Sir parisshe preste/' quod he_, *'for Godis bonys^ 
 Telle us a tale_, as was thi forward yore; 
 I se wel^ that ye lernede men in lore 
 Can meche good^ bi Godis dignite/' 
 
 The parson him answerde_, '^Benedicite^ 1170 
 
 What eyleth the man so synfuUy to swere?'' 
 Oure Ost answerde^ "O Jankyn^ be ye there? 
 I smelle a LoUere in the wynde^" quod he_, 
 ''Howe^ goodmen/' quod oure Hoste^ '^herkeneth me^ 
 Abyde for Godis digne passioun^ 1175 
 
 For we shul han a predicacioun^ 
 This LoUere here wol preehen us somwhat." 
 ''Nay^ bi Godis soule^ that shal he nat/' 
 Seyde the Shipman^ ''here shal he not preche^ 
 He shal no gospel glosen here^ ne teche^ 1180 
 
 We leven alle in the grete God/' quod he^ 
 ''He wolde sowen som diffieulte 
 Or sprengen cokkel in oure clene corn. 
 And therfore^ Ost^ I warne the biforn^ 
 
 My joly body shal a tale telle 1185 
 
 And I shal clynkyn yow so mery a belle 
 That I shal wakyn al this companye ; 
 But it shal not ben of Philosophies 
 Ne phislyas^ ne termes queynte of lawe; 
 Ther nis but litil Latyn in my mawe/' 11 90 
 
 1174 Ost. 1190 is. 
 
THE SHIPMANNES TALE 139 
 
 Here endith the Shipman his prolog. And next folwyng 
 he bigynneth his tale, 
 
 THE TALE. 
 
 [Daun John^ a monk of Paris^ beguiles the wife of a 
 merchant of St. Denis by money borrowed from her husband. 
 She saves herself^ on the point of discovery, by a ready 
 answer.] 
 
 END-LINK 
 
 Bihoold the murie wordes of the Hoost to the Shipman 
 and to the lady Prioresse, 
 
 "Wei seyd, by corpus dominus/' quod our Hoost, 1625 
 "Now longe moote thou saille by the cost. 
 Sir gentil maister, gentil maryneer. 
 God yeve this monk a thousand last quade yeer ! 
 A ha ! f elawes, beth ware of swich a j ape. 
 The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape, l6S0 
 
 And in his wyves eek, by Seint Austyn; 
 Draweth no monkes moore unto your in. 
 But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute. 
 Who shal now telle first of al this route 
 
 Another tale.^'' and with that word he sayde, 1635 
 
 As curteisly as it had ben a mayde, 
 "My lady Prioresse, by youre leve. 
 So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve, 
 I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde 
 
 A tale next, if so were that ye wolde. 1640 
 
 Now wol ye vouchesauf, my lady deere.^'' 
 "Gladly,'" quod she, and seyde as ye shal heere. 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE 
 
 The prologe of the Prioresses tale, 
 
 Domine dominus noster. 
 
 O lord oure lord^ thy name how merveillous 
 Is in this large world ysprad — quod she — 
 For noght oonly thy laude precious 1645 
 
 Parfourned is by men of dignitee^ 
 But by the mouth of children thy bountee 
 Parfourned is_, for on the brest soukynge 
 Somtyme shewen they thyn heriynge. 
 
 Wherfore in laude^ as I best kan or may^ 1650 
 
 Of thee^ and of the whyte lylye flour 
 
 Which that the bar^ and is a mayde alway^ 
 
 To telle a storie I wol do my labour; 
 
 Nat that I may encreessen hir honour_, 
 
 For she hirself is honour^ and the roote l655 
 
 Of bountee^ next hir sone^ and soules boote. 
 
 O mooder mayde ! O mayde mooder f re ! 
 
 O bussh unbrent^ brennynge in Moyses sighte^ 
 
 That ravysedest doun fro the deitee 
 
 Thurgh thyn humblesse^ the goost that in thalighte^ I66O 
 
 Of whos vertu^ whan he thyn herte lighte^ 
 
 Conceyved was the Fadres sapience^ 
 
 Help me to telle it in thy reverence. 
 
 Lady^ thy bountee^ thy magnificence^ 
 
 Thy vertu^ and thy grete humylitee^ 1665 
 
 Ther may no tonge expresse in no science^ 
 
 For somtyme^ lady^ er men praye to thee^ 
 
 Thou goost biforn of thy benyngnytee 
 
 And getest us the lyght^ thurgh thy preyere^ 
 
 To gyden us unto thy sone so deere. 1670 
 
 1651 whyte. 1669 thurgh lyght of. 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE 141 
 
 My konnyng is so wayk^ O blisful queene^ 
 
 For to declare thy grete worthynesse^ 
 
 That I ne may the weighte nat susteene^ 
 
 But as a child of twelf monthe oold^ or lesse^ 
 
 That kan unnethes any word expresse^ 1675 
 
 Right-so fare I ; and therfore I yow preye_, 
 
 Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye. 
 
 Heere higynneth the Prioresses Tale, 
 
 Ther was in Asye^ in a greet citee_, 
 Amonges cristene folk a Jewerye_, 
 
 Sustened by a lord of that contree 1680 
 
 For foule usure and lucre of vileynye^ 
 Hateful to Crist and to his compaignye^ 
 And thurgh this strete men myghte ride or wende^ 
 For it was free and open at eyther ende. 
 
 A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood 1685 
 
 Doun at the ferther ende^ in which ther were 
 
 Children an heep^ yeomen of cristen bloody 
 
 That lerned in that scole yeer by yere 
 
 Swich manere doctrine as men used there^ 
 
 This is to seyn^ to syngen and to rede^ 1690 
 
 As smale children doon in hir childhede. 
 
 Among thise children was a wydwes sone^ 
 
 A litel clergeoun^ seven yeer of age^ 
 
 That day by day to scole was his wone^ 
 
 And eek also^ wher as he saugh thymage 1695 
 
 Of Cristes mooder^ he hadde in usage 
 
 As hym was taught^ to knele adoun^ and seye 
 
 His Ave Marie^ as he goth by the weye. 
 
 1675 unnethe. 
 
142 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thus hath this wydwe hir litel sone ytaught 
 
 Oure blisful lady^ Cristas mooder deere^ 1700 
 
 To worshipe ay ; and he f orgate it naughty 
 
 For sely child wol alday soone leere. 
 
 But ay^ whan I remembre on this mateere^ 
 
 Seint Nicholas stant evere in my presence^ 
 
 For he so yong to Crist dide reverence. 1705 
 
 This litel child^ his litel book lernynge. 
 
 As he sat in the scole at his prymer^ 
 
 He '*Alma redemptoris'' herde synge 
 
 As children lerned hir anthiphoner ; 
 
 And as he dorste^ he drough hym ner and ner, 1710 
 
 And herkned ay the wordes and the noote^ 
 
 Til he the firste vers koude al by rote. 
 
 Noght wiste he what this Latyn was to seye^ 
 
 For he so yong and tendre was of age^ 
 
 But on a day his felawe gan he preye 1715 
 
 Texpounden hym this song in his langage^ 
 
 Or telle hyra why this song was in usage ; 
 
 This preyde he hym to construe and declare 
 
 Ful often tyme upon hise knowes bare. 
 
 His felawe^ which that elder was than he^ 1720 
 
 Answer de hym thus^ "This song^ I have herd seye. 
 
 Was maked of oure blisful Lady free_, 
 
 Hir to salue^ and eek hir for to preye 
 
 To been our help^ and socour whan we deye. 
 
 I kan namoore expounde in this mateere^ 1725 
 
 I lerne song^ I kan but smal grammere.'' 
 
 *'And is this song maked in reverence 
 
 Of Cristes mooder.^" seyde this innocent. 
 
 **Now^ certes^ I wol do my diligence 
 
 To konne it al^ er Cristemasse is went; v 1730 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE 143 
 
 Though that I for my prymer shal be shent 
 
 And shal be beten thries in an houre^ 
 
 I wol it konne^ oure lady for to honour e." 
 
 His felawe taughte hym homward prively 
 
 Fro day to day^ til he koude it by rote; 1735 
 
 And thanne he song it wel and boldely 
 
 Fro word to word acordynge with the note. 
 
 Twies a day it passed thurgh his throte_, 
 
 To scoleward^ and homward whan he wente; 
 
 On Cristes mooder set was his entente. 1740 
 
 As I have seyd^ thurghout the Jewerie 
 
 This litel child^ as he cam to and f ro_, 
 
 Ful murily than wolde he synge and crie 
 
 "O Alma redemptoris' evere-mo. 
 
 The swetnesse hath his herte perced so 1745 
 
 Of Cristes mooder^ that to hir to preye 
 
 He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye. 
 
 Oure iirste foo^ the serpent Sathanas^ 
 That hath in Jewes herte his waspes nest^ 
 Up swal_, and seyde^ "O Hebrayk peple^ allas_, 1750 
 
 Is this to yow a thyng that is honest_, 
 That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest 
 In youre despite and synge of swich sentence_, 
 Which is agayn oure lawes reverence?'' 
 
 Fro thennes forth the Jewes han conspired 1755 
 
 This innocent out of this world to chace. 
 
 An homycide therto han they hyred 
 
 That in an aleye hadde a privee place ; 
 
 And as the child gan forby for to pace^ 
 
 This cursed Jew hym hente and heeld hym faste^ 1760 
 
 And kitte his throte^ and in a pit hym caste. 
 
 1741 Jueriee. 1743 than om. 1745 hath om. 1749, 1755, Jues. 
 
144 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 I seye that in a wardrobe they hym threwe. 
 
 Where as thise Jewes purgen hire entraille. 
 
 O cursed folk of Herodes al newe^ 
 
 What may youre yvel entente yow availle? 1765 
 
 Mordre wol out^ certeyn^ it wol nat faille^ 
 
 And namely ther thonour of God shal sprede. 
 
 The blood out crieth on youre cursed dede. 
 
 O martir^ sowded to virginitee^ 
 
 Now maystow syngen^ folwynge evere in oon 1770 
 
 The white lamb celestial — quod she — 
 
 Of which the grete Evaungelist Seint John 
 
 In Pathmos wroot^ which seith that they that goon 
 
 Biforn this lamb and synge a song al newe_, 
 
 That never^ fleshly^ wommen they ne knewe. 1775 
 
 This povre wydwe awaiteth al that nyght 
 After hir litel child^ but he cam noght; 
 For which^ as soone as it was dayes lyght^ 
 With face pale of drede and bisy thoght^ 
 
 She hath at scole and elles-where hym soght^ 1780 
 
 Til finally she gan so fer espie^ 
 That he last seyn was in the Jewerie. 
 
 With moodres pitee in hir brest enclosed^ 
 
 She gooth^ as she were half out of hir mynde^ 
 
 To every place where she hath supposed 1785 
 
 By liklihede hir litel child to finde^ 
 
 And evere on Cristes mooder^ meeke and kynde, 
 
 She cride^ and atte laste thus she wroghte^ 
 
 Among the cursed Jewes she hym soghte. 
 
 She frayneth^ and she preyeth pitously 1790 
 
 To every Jew that dwelte in thilke place^ 
 To telle hir if hir child wente oght forby. 
 They seyde nay; but Jesu^ of his grace^ 
 
 1782 Juerie. 1789 Jues. 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE 145 
 
 Yaf in hir thoght^ inwith a litel space^ 
 
 That in that place after hir sone she cryde^ 1795 
 
 Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde. 
 
 O grete God^ that parfournest thy laude 
 By mouth of innocentz_, lo^ heer thy myght ! 
 This gemme of chastite_, this emeraude. 
 
 And eek of martirdom the ruby bright^ 1800 
 
 Ther he with throte ykorven lay upright^ 
 He "Alma redemptoris*' gan to synge 
 So loude^ that al the place gan to rynge. 
 
 The cristene folk that thurgh the strete wente 
 In coomen^ for to wondre upon this thyng^ 1805 
 
 And hastily they for the Provost sente. 
 He cam anon withouten tariyng^ 
 And herieth Crist that is of hevene kyng^ 
 And eek his mooder^ honour of mankynde; 
 And after that_, the Jewes leet he bynde. 1810 
 
 This child^ with pitous lamentacioun^ 
 Uptaken was^ syngynge his song alway^ 
 And with honour of greet processioun 
 They carien hym unto the nexte abbay; 
 
 His mooder swownynge by his beere lay^ 1815 
 
 Unnethe myghte the peple that was theere 
 This newe Rachel brynge fro his beere. 
 
 With torment and with shameful deeth echon 
 
 This Provost dooth the Jewes for to sterve^ 
 
 That of this mordre wiste^ and that anon. 1820 
 
 He nolde no swich cursednesse observe; 
 
 Yvele shal have that yvele wol deserve. 
 
 Therfore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe^ 
 
 And after that he heng hem^ by the lawe. 
 
 1822 he have. 
 
146 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Upon his beere ay lith this innocent 1825 
 
 Biforn the chief auter^ whil masse laste^ 
 
 And after that^ the abbot with his covent 
 
 Han sped hem for to burien hym ful faste^ 
 
 And whan they hooly water on hym caste^ 
 
 Yet spak this child^ whan spreynd was hooly water^ 1830 
 
 And song ''O Alma redemptoris mater/' 
 
 This abbot^ which that was an hooly man^ 
 
 As monkes been — or elles oghte be — 
 
 This yonge child to conjure he bigan^ 
 
 And seyde^ "O deere child^ I halse thee^ 1835 
 
 In vertu of the hooly Trinitee ; 
 
 Tel me^ what is thy cause for to synge 
 
 Sith that thy throte is kut^ to my semynge/' 
 
 "My throte is kut unto my nekke-boon^" 
 
 Seyde this child^ *'and^ as by wey of kynde^ 1840 
 
 I sholde have dyed^ ye, longe tyme agon^ 
 
 But Jesu Crist^ as ye in bookes fynde^ 
 
 Wil that his glorie laste and be in mynde^ 
 
 And for the worship of his mooder deercy 
 
 Yet may I synge "O Alma" loude and cleere. 1845 
 
 This welle of mercy _, Cristes mooder swete^ 
 
 I loved alwey as after my konnynge; 
 
 And whan that I my lyf sholde f orlete^ 
 
 To me she cam^ and bad me for to synge 
 
 This antheme^ verraily^ in my deyynge^ 1850 
 
 As ye han herd^ and whan that I hadde songe_, 
 
 Me thoughte she leyde a greyn upon my tonge. 
 
 Wherfore I synge^ and synge I moot certeyn 
 
 In honour of that blisful mayden free^ 
 
 Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn. 1855 
 
 1825 his this. 1826 the masse. 1835 halsen. 1850 anthephon. 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE 147 
 
 And afterward thus seyde she to me^ 
 'My litel child, now wol I f ecche thee, 
 Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake ; 
 Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake/ '' 
 
 This hooly monk_, this Abbot, hym meene I, I860 
 
 His tonge out-caughte, and took awey the greyn. 
 
 And he yaf up the goost ful softely ; 
 
 And whan this Abbot hadde this wonder seyn, 
 
 Hise salte teeris trikled doun as reyn. 
 
 And gruf he fil al plat upon the grounde, 1865 
 
 And stille he lay, as he had been ybounde. 
 
 The covent eek lay on the pavement, 
 
 Wepynge, and heryen Cristes mooder deere. 
 
 And after that they ryse, and forth been went. 
 
 And tooken awey this martir from his beere, 1870 
 
 And in a temple of marbul stones cleere 
 
 Enclosen they his litel body sweete. 
 
 Ther he is now, God leve us for to ineete ! 
 
 O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln, slayn also 
 
 With cursed Jewes, as it is notable, 1875 
 
 For it nis but a litel while ago, 
 
 Preye eek for us, we synful folk unstable. 
 
 That of his mercy God so merciable 
 
 On us his grete mercy multiplie. 
 
 For reverence of his mooder Marie. Amen. 1880 
 
 1866 been leyn. 1873 alle for. 1876 is. 
 
 Heere is ended the Prioresses Tale, 
 
PROLOGUE TO CHAUCER'S TALE OF 
 SIR THOPAS 
 
 Bihoold the murye wordes of the Hoost to Chaucer. 
 
 Whan seyd was al this miracle^ every man 
 As sobre was^ that wonder was to se^ 
 Til that oure Hooste j apen tho bigan^ 
 And thanne at erst he looked upon me^ 
 
 And seyde thus^ "What man artow/' quod he, 1885 
 
 *'Thou lookest as thou woldest fynde an hare^ 
 For ever upon the ground I se thee stare. 
 
 Approche neer_, and looke up murily; 
 
 Now war yow^ sires_, and lat this man have place. 
 
 He in the waast is shape as wel as I; 1890 
 
 This were a popet in an arm tenbrace 
 
 For any womman smal^ and fair of face. 
 
 He semeth elvyssh by his contenaunce^ 
 
 For unto no wight dooth he daliaunce. 
 
 Sey now somwhat^ syn oother folk han sayd^ 1895 
 
 Telle us a tale of myrthe^ and that anon.'' 
 
 *' Hooste/' quod I^ '*ne beth nat yvele apayed^ 
 
 For oother tale certes kan I noon 
 
 But of a ryme I lerned longe agoon." 
 
 **Ye, that is good/' quod he^ *'now shul we heere 1900 
 
 Som deyntee thyng^ me thynketh by his cheere." 
 
 1883, 1897, Hoost; tho to. 1899 rym. 1900 we ye. 
 
SIR THOPAS 
 
 Heere bigynneth Chancers tale of Thopas, 
 
 Listeth^ lordes^ in good entente 
 And I wol telle verrayment 
 
 Of myrthe and of solas^ 
 Al of a knyght was fair and gent 1905 
 
 In bataille and in tourneyment^ 
 
 His name was Sir Thopas. 
 
 Yborn he was in fer contree^ 
 
 In Flaundres^ al biyonde the see^ 
 
 At Poperyng in the place; 1910 
 
 His fader was a man ful free^ 
 And lord he was of that contree^ 
 
 As it was Goddes grace. 
 
 Sir Thopas wax a doghty swayn^ 
 
 Whit was his face as payndemayn^ 1915 
 
 Hise lippes rede as rose; 
 His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn^ 
 And I yow telle_, in good certayn^ 
 
 He hadde a semely nose. ' 
 
 His heer^ his berd^ was lyk safProun^ 1920 
 
 That to his girdel raughte adoun ; 
 
 Hise shoon of Cordewane. 
 Of Brugges were his hosen broun^ 
 His robe was of syklatoun 
 
 That coste many a jane. 1925 
 
 He koude hunte at wilde deer_, 
 And ride an haukyng for river^ 
 With grey goshauk on honde_, 
 
 1922 shoos. 
 
150 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Therto he was a good archeer^ 
 
 Of wrastlyng was ther noon his peer^ 1930 
 
 Ther any ram shal stonde. 
 
 Ful many a mayde^ bright in bour^ 
 They moorne for hym^ paramour^ 
 
 Whan hem were bet to slepe; 
 But he was chaast and no lechour^ 1935 
 
 And sweete as is the brembulflour 
 
 That bereth the rede hepe. 
 
 And so bifel upon a day^ 
 Forsothe as I yow telle may^ 
 
 Sir Thopas wolde out ride; 1940 
 
 He worth upon his steede gray^ 
 And in his hand a launcegay_, 
 
 A long swerd by his side. 
 
 He priketh thurgh a fair forest^ 
 
 Therinne is many a wilde best^ 194^5 
 
 Ye^ bothe bukke and hare^ 
 And as he priketh north and est^ 
 I telle it yow^ hym hadde almest 
 
 Bitidde a sory care. 
 
 Ther spryngen herbes_, grete and smale, 1950 
 
 The lycorys and cetewale^ 
 
 And many a clowe-gylcfre^ 
 And notemuge to putte in ale^ 
 Wheither it be moyste or stale^ 
 
 Or for to leye in cofre. 1955 
 
 The briddes synge^ it is no nay^ 
 The sparhauk and the papejay 
 
 That joye it was to heere^ 
 The thrustelcok made eek hir lay^ 
 The wodedowve upon a spray i960 
 
 She sang ful loude and cleere. 
 
SIR THOPAS 151 
 
 Sir Thopas fil in love-longynge^ 
 
 Al whan he herde the thrustel synge^ 
 
 And pryked as he were wood; 
 His faire steede in his prikynge 1965 
 
 So swatte that men myghte him wrynge. 
 
 His sydes were al blood. 
 
 Sir Thopas eek so wery was 
 For prikyng on the softe gras^ 
 
 So fiers was his corage^ 1970 
 
 That doun he leyde him in that plas 
 To make his steede som solas^ 
 
 And yaf hym good forage. 
 
 ''O seinte Marie^ benedieite^ 
 
 What eyleth this love at me 1975 
 
 To bynde me so soore.^ 
 Me dremed al this nyght^ pardee_, 
 An elf-queene shal my lemman be^ 
 
 And slepe under my goore. 
 
 An elf-queene wol I love_, ywis^ 1980 
 
 For in this world no womman is 
 
 Worthy to be my make 
 
 In towne; 
 AUe othere wommen I forsake^ 
 And to an elf-queene I me take 1985 
 
 By dale and eek by downe.'* 
 
 Into his sadel he clamb anon_, 
 And priketh over stile and stoon 
 
 An elf-queene for tespye^ 
 Til he so longe hadde riden and goon 1990 
 
 That he foond^ in a pryve woon^ 
 
 The contree of Fairye 
 
 So wilde; 
 
152 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For in that contree was ther noon 
 
 That to him dorste ryde or goon^ 1995 
 
 Neither wyf ne childe^ 
 
 Til that ther cam a greet geaunt^ 
 His name was Sir Olifaunt^ 
 
 A perilous man of dede; 
 He seyde ''Child, by Termagaunt, 2000 
 
 But if thou prike out of myn haunt, 
 
 Anon I sle thy steede 
 
 With mace. 
 Heere is the queene of Fayerye, 
 With harpe and pipe and symphonye, 2005 
 
 Dwellyng in this place." 
 
 The child seyde, "Also moote I thee, 
 Tomorwe wol I meete with thee, 
 
 Whan I have myn armoure. 
 And yet I hope, par ma fay, 2010 
 
 That thou shalt with this launcegay 
 
 Abyen it ful sowre. 
 
 Thy mawe 
 Shal I percen if I may 
 Er it be fully pryme of day, 2015 
 
 For heere thow shalt be slawe.'' 
 
 Sir Thopas drow abak ful faste. 
 This geant at hym stones caste 
 
 Out of a f el staf-slynge ; 
 But faire escapeth Child Thopas, 2020 
 
 And al it was thurgh Goddes gras. 
 
 And thurgh his fair berynge. 
 
 Yet listeth^ lordes, to my tale, 
 Murier than the nightyngale. 
 
 For now I wol yow rowne 2025 
 
 1995 line om. 2004 Fairye. 2020 Child Sir. 2025 For now om. 
 
SIR THOPAS 153 
 
 How Sir Thopas^ with sydes smale, 
 Prikyng over hill and dale 
 Is comen agayn to towne. 
 
 His murie men comanded he 
 
 To make hym bothe game and glee, 2030 
 
 For nedes moste he fighte 
 With a geaunt with hevedes three. 
 For paramour and jolitee 
 
 Of oon that shoon ful brighte. 
 
 "Do come/' he seyde, ''my mynstrales, 2035 
 
 And geestours, for to tellen tales 
 
 Anon in myn armynge ; 
 Of romances that been roiales. 
 Of Popes and of Cardinales, 
 
 And eek of love-likynge/' 2040 
 
 They f ette hym iirst the sweete wyn. 
 And mede eek in a mazelyn, 
 
 And roial spicerye. 
 And gyngebreed that was ful fyn, 
 And lycorys, and eek comyn, 2045 
 
 With sugre that is so trye. 
 
 He dide next his white leere 
 Of clooth of lake, fyn and cleere, 
 
 A breech, and eek a sherte. 
 And next his sherte an aketoun, 2050 
 
 And over that an haubergeoun. 
 
 For percynge of his herte. 
 
 And over that a fyn hawberk. 
 Was al ywroght of Jewes werk, 
 
 Ful strong it was of plate. 2055 
 
 And over that his cote-armour 
 As whit as is a lilye flour. 
 
 In which he wol debate. 
 
154 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 His sheeld was al of gold so reed^ 
 
 And therinne was a bores heed^ 2060 
 
 A charbocle bisyde; 
 And there he swoor on ale and breed^ 
 How that "the geaunt shal be deed 
 
 Bityde what bityde V 
 
 Hise jambeux were of quyrboilly^ 2065 
 
 His swerdes shethe of yvory^ 
 
 His helm of laton bright^ 
 His sadel was of rewel-boon^ 
 His brydel as the sonne shoon_, 
 
 Or as the moone light. 2070 
 
 His spere it was of fyn ciprees^ 
 
 That bodeth werre_, and no thyng pees. 
 
 The heed ful sharpe ygrounde; 
 His steede was al dappuU-gray, 
 It gooth an ambil in the way 2075 
 
 Ful softely and rounde 
 
 In londe. 
 Loo, lordes myne, heere is a fit; 
 If ye wol any moore of it, 
 
 To telle it wol I fonde. 2080 
 
 The Second Fit, 
 
 Now holde youre mouth, par charitee, 
 Bothe knyght and lady free, 
 
 And herkneth to my spelle ; 
 Of batailles and of chivalry 
 And of ladyes love-drury 2085 
 
 Anon I wol yow telle. 
 
 Men speken of romances of prys. 
 Of Hornchild, and of Ypotys, 
 
SIR THOPAS 155 
 
 Of Beves and Sir Gj, 
 
 Of Sir Lybeux and Pleyndamour^ 2090 
 
 But Sir Thopas^ he bereth the flour 
 Of roial chivalry. 
 
 His goode steede al he bistrood^ 
 And forth upon his wey he glood 
 
 As sparcle out of the bronde. 2095 
 
 Upon his creest he bar a tour^ 
 And therinne stiked a lilie-flour; 
 
 God shilde his cors fro shonde! 
 
 And for he was a knyght auntrous^ 
 
 He noide slepen in noon hous^ 2100 
 
 But liggen in his hoode. 
 His brighte helm was his wonger^ 
 And by hym baiteth his dextrer 
 
 Of herbes fyne and goode. 
 
 Hym-self drank water of the well, 2105 
 
 As dide the knyght sir Percyvell 
 
 So worly under wede. 
 Til on a day 
 
 Heere the Hoost stynteth Chaucer of his Tale of Thopas, 
 
 *'Na moore of this, for Goddes dignitee,'' 
 Quod oure hoost e, "for thou makest me 2110 
 
 So wery of thy verray lewednesse, 
 That also wisly God my soule blesse, 
 Min eres aken of thy drasty speche. 
 Now swich a rym the devel I biteche ! 
 This may wel be rym dogerel/' quod he. 2115 
 
 2094 rood. 2110 hoost. 
 
156 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 *'Why so ?'' quod I^ "why wiltow lette me 
 Moore of my tale than another man 
 Syn that it is the beste tale I kan?'* 
 "By God/' quod he^ "for pleynly at a word 
 Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a toord^ 2120 
 
 Thou doost noght elles but despendest tyme. 
 Sir^ at o word thou shalt no lenger ryme. 
 Lat se wher thou kanst tellen aught in geeste, 
 Or telle in prose somwhat^ at the leeste. 
 In which ther be som murthe or som doctryne." 2125 
 
 "Gladly/' quod I^ "by Goddes sweete pyne, 
 I wol yow telle a litel thyng in prose^ 
 That oghte liken yow as I suppose^ 
 Or elles^ certes^ ye been to daungerous. 
 
 It is a moral tale vertuous^ 2130 
 
 Al be it take somtyme in sondry wyse 
 Of sondry folk as I shal yow devyse. 
 As thus ; ye woot that every Evaungelist 
 That telleth us the peyne of Jesu Crist 
 
 Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth, 2135 
 
 But^ nathelees_, hir sentence is al sooth^ 
 And alle acorden as in hir sentence^ 
 Al be ther in hir tellyng difference. 
 For somme of hem seyn moore^ and somme seyn lesse^ * 
 Whan they his pitous passioun expresse; 2140 
 
 I meene of Marke^ Mathsw^ Luc^ and John, 
 But doutelees hir sentence is al oon, 
 Therfore, lordynges alle, I yow biseche 
 If that yow thynke I varie as in my speche. 
 As thus, though that I telle somwhat moore 2145 
 
 Of proverbes, than ye han herd bifoore. 
 Comprehended in this litel tretys heere. 
 To enforce with thefFect of my mateere. 
 And though I nat the same wordes seye 
 
 As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye, 2150 
 
 2141 Mark. 
 
SIR THOPAS 157 
 
 Blameth me nat; for_, as in my sentence 
 
 Ye shul nat fynden moche difference 
 
 Fro the sentence of this tretys lyte 
 
 After the which this murye tale I write. 
 
 And therfore herkneth what that I shal seye^ 2155 
 
 And lat me tellen al my tale^ I preye/' 
 
 THE TALE (in prose). 
 
 [A young man called Melibeus_, whose wife Prudence and 
 daughter Sophie (Wisdom) are maltreated by his foes in 
 his absence^ is counseled with many wise sayings uttered by 
 his wife tending toward peace and forgiveness^ instead of 
 revenge.] 
 
 2152 moche om. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE MONKES TALE 
 
 The murye wordes of the Hoost to the Monk. 
 
 Whan ended was my tale of Melibee^ 
 And of Prudence^ and hir benignytee^ 3080 
 
 Oure hooste seyde^ **As I am feithful man^ 
 And by that precious corpus Madrian^ 
 I hadde levere than a barel ale 
 That goode lief my wyf hadde herd this tale ! 
 She nys nothyng of swich pacience 3085 
 
 As was this Melibeus wyf_, Prudence. 
 By Goddes bones^ whan I bete my knaves 
 She bryngeth me forth the grete clobbed staves^ 
 And crieth_, *Slee the dogges^ everichoon_, 
 
 And brek hem^ bothe bak and every boon/ 3090 
 
 And if that any neighebore of myne 
 Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne^ 
 Or be so hardy to hir to trespace^ 
 Whan she comth hoom she rampeth in my face_, 
 And crieth^ 'false coward^ wrek thy wyf ! 3095 
 
 By corpus bones^ I wol have thy knyf^ 
 And thou shalt have my distaf and go spynne 
 Fro day to nyght !' Right thus she wol bigynne. 
 'Alias/ she seith^ 'that evere I was shape 
 To wedden a milksop or a coward ape^ 3100 
 
 That wol been overlad with every wight ; 
 Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right !' 
 This is my lif^ but if that I wol fighte^ 
 And out at dore anon I moot me dighte^ 
 Or elles I am but lost^ but if that I 3105 
 
 3081 hoost. 3084 good. 3094 hoom om. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE MONKES TALE 159 
 
 Be lik a wilde leoun fool-hardy. 
 I woot wel she wol do me slee som day 
 Som neighebore_, and thanne go my way. 
 For I am perilous with knyf in honde^ 
 
 Al be it that I dar hir nat withstonde. 3110 
 
 For she is byg in armes^ by my feith, 
 That shal he fynde that hir mysdooth or seith — 
 But lat us passe awey fro this mateere. 
 My lord the Monk^'' quod he_, **be myrie of cheere^ 
 For ye shul telle a tale, trewely. 3115 
 
 Loo, Rouchestre stant heer faste by. 
 Ryde forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game. 
 But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat youre name; 
 Wher shal I calle yow my lord daun John, 
 Or daun Thomas, or elles daun Albon.^ 3120 
 
 Of what hous be ye, by youre fader kyn ? 
 I vowe to God, thou hast a ful fair skyn. 
 It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost. 
 Thou art nat lyk a penant or a goost. 
 
 Upon my feith, thou art som officer, 3125 
 
 Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer. 
 For by my fader soule, as to my doom. 
 Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom. 
 No povre cloysterer, ne no novys, 
 
 But a governour, wily and wys; 3130 
 
 And therwith-al of brawnes and of bones 
 A wel-farynge persone, for the nones. 
 I pray to God, yeve hym confusioun 
 That first thee broghte unto religioun. 
 
 Thou woldest han been a tredefowel aright; 3135 
 
 Haddestow as greet a leeve as thou hast myght 
 To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure. 
 Thou haddest bigeten ful many a creature. 
 I Alias, why werestow so wyd a cope ? 
 God yeve me sorwe, but, and I were a pope, 3140 
 
 3129 cloystrer. 
 
160 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Nat oonly thou but every myghty man 
 
 Though he were shorn ful hye upon his pan^ 
 
 Sholde have a wyf^ for al the vrorld is lorn. 
 
 Religioun hath take up al the corn 
 
 Of tredyng^ and we borel men been shrympes. 3145 
 
 Of fieble trees ther comen wrecched ympes. 
 
 This maketh that our heyres ben so sclendre 
 
 And feble^ that they may nat wel engendre; 
 
 This maketh that oure wyves wole assaye 
 
 Religious folk^ for ye mowe bettre paye 3150 
 
 Of Venus paiementz than mowe we; 
 
 God woot no lussheburghes payen ye. 
 
 But be nat wrooth^ my lord^ for that I pleye^ 
 
 Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye." 
 
 This worthy Monk took al in pacience, 3155 
 
 And seyde^ **I wol doon al my diligence^ 
 
 As fer as sowneth into honestee^ 
 
 To telle yow a tale^ or two^ or three. 
 
 And if yow list to herkne hyderward 
 
 I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward; 31 60 
 
 Or ellis first tragedies wol I telle 
 
 Of whiche I have an hundred in my eelle. 
 
 Tragedie is to seyn^ a certeyn storie^ 
 
 As olde bookes maken us memorie_, 
 
 Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee 3165 
 
 And is yfallen out of heigh degree 
 
 Into myserie^ and endeth wrecchedly^ 
 
 And they ben versified communely 
 
 Of six feet^ which men clepen exametron. 
 
 In prose eek been endited many oon^ 3170 
 
 And eek in meetre^ in many a sondry wyse. 
 
 Lo^ this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise ; 
 
 Now herkneth^ if yow liketh for to heere. 
 
 But firsts I yow biseeke in this mateere^ , 
 
 Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges, 3175 
 
 1346-7 om. in MS. 3152 lussheburgh. 3160 yow om. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE MONKES TALE l6l 
 
 Be it of popes^ emperours^ or kynges^ 
 
 After hir ages^ as men writen fynde^ 
 
 But tellen hem^ som bifore and som bihynde^ 
 
 As it now eomth unto my remembraunce ; 
 
 Have me excused of myn ignoraunce. 3180 
 
THE MONKES TALE 
 
 Heere higynneth the Monhes Tale de Casibus Virorum 
 
 Illustrium, 
 
 I wol biwaille in manere of Tragedie 
 The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree. 
 And iillen so, that ther nas no remedie 
 To brynge hem out of hir adversitee. 
 
 For certein, whan that Fortune list to flee, 3185 
 
 Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde; 
 Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee ; 
 Be war of thise ensamples, trewe and olde. 
 
 Lucifer 
 
 At Lucifer, though he an aungel were. 
 And nat a man^ at hym wol I biginne, 3190 
 
 For though Fortune may noon aungel dere. 
 From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne 
 Doun into helle, where he yet is inne. 
 O Lucifer, brightest of aungels alle. 
 
 Now artow Sathanes, that mayst nat twynne 3195 
 
 Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle. 
 
 Adam 
 
 Loo Adam, in the feeld of Damyssene, 
 With Goddes owene fynger wroght was he. 
 And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene. 
 And welte all Paradys, savynge o tree. 3200 
 
 Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree 
 As Adam, til he, for mysgovernaunce. 
 Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee 
 To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 163 
 
 Sampson 
 
 Loo Sampson^ which that was annunciat 3205 
 
 By angel^ longe er his nativitee^ 
 And was to God almyghty consecrate 
 And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see^ 
 Was nevere swich another as was hee^ 
 
 To speke of strengthe and therwith hardynesse; 3210 
 
 But to hise wyves toolde he his secree^ 
 Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse. 
 
 Sampsoun^ this noble almyghty champioun^ 
 
 Withouten wepene^ save his handes tweye^ 
 
 He slow and al torente the leoun 3215 
 
 Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye. 
 
 His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye 
 
 Til she his conseil knew^ and she untrewe 
 
 Unto hise foos his conseil gan biwreye^ 
 
 And hym forsook^ and took another newe. 3220 
 
 Thre hundred foxes took Sampson for ire^ 
 
 And alle hir tayles he togydre bond_, 
 
 And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire; 
 
 For he on every tayl had knyt a brond^ 
 
 And they brende alle the cornes in that lond^ 3225 
 
 And alle hir olyveres and vynes eke. 
 
 A thousand men he slow eek with his hond^ 
 
 And hadde no wepene but an asses cheke. 
 
 Whan they were slayn^ so thursted hym^ that he 
 
 Was wel ny lorn^ for which he gan to preye 3230 
 
 That God wolde on his peyne han som pitee^ 
 
 And sende hym drynke_, or elles moste he deye; 
 
 And of this asses cheke^ that was dreye^ 
 
 Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle 
 
 Of which he drank anon^ shortly to seye^ 3235 
 
 Thus heelp hym God^ as Judicum can telle. 
 
 3214 tweyne. 
 
164 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 By verray force at Gazan_, on a nyght^ 
 Maugree Philistiens of that citee^ 
 The gates of the toun he hath upplyght^ 
 And on his bak ycaryed hem hath he 
 Hye on an hille^ that men myghte hem see. 
 O noble almyghty Sampson^ lief and deere^ 
 Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree^ 
 In all this world ne hadde been thy peere. 
 
 3240 
 
 This Sampson nevere ciser drank^ ne wyn^ 3245 
 
 Ne on his heed cam rasour noon^ ne sheere^ 
 
 By precept of the messager divyn^ 
 
 For alle hise strengthes in hise heeres weere. 
 
 And fully twenty wynter^ yeer by yeere^ 
 
 He hadde of Israel the governaunce. 3250 
 
 But soone shal he wepen many a teere^ 
 
 For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce ! 
 
 Unto his lemman Dalida he tolde 
 
 That in hise heeres al his strengthe lay^ 
 
 And falsly to hise fooman she hym solde; 3255 
 
 And slepynge in hir barme upon a day 
 
 She made to clippe or shere hise heres away^ 
 
 And made hise foomen al this craft espyen. 
 
 And whan that they hym foond in this array^ 
 
 They bounde hym faste_, and putten out hise eyen. 3260 
 
 But er his heer were clipped or yshave^ 
 
 Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde, 
 
 But now is he in prison in a cave^ 
 
 Where as they made hym at the queerne grynde. 
 
 O noble Sampson^ strongest of mankynde^ 3265 
 
 O whilom juge in glorie and in richesse^ 
 
 Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde^ 
 
 Sith thou fro wele art f alle in wrecchednesse ! 
 
 3241 hill. 3251 wepe. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 165 
 
 The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye; 
 
 Hise foomen made a feeste upon a day^, 3270 
 
 And made hym as hir fool biforn hem pleye. 
 
 And this was in a temple of greet array; 
 
 But atte laste he made a foul affray, 
 
 For he two pilers shook, and made hem falle. 
 
 And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, 3275 
 
 And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle. 
 
 This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon, 
 
 And eek thre thousand bodyes were ther slayn 
 
 With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon. 
 
 Of Sampson now wol I namoore sayn: 3280 
 
 Beth war by this ensample oold and playn 
 
 That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyves 
 
 Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree f ayn, 
 
 If that it touche hir lymmes or hir lyves. 
 
 Hercules 
 
 Off Hercules the sovereyn conquerour 3285 
 
 Syngen hise werkes laude and heigh renoun, 
 For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour. 
 He slow and rafte the skyn of the leoun, 
 He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun, 
 
 He arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle, 3290 
 
 He golden apples refte of the dragoun. 
 He drow out Cerberus the hound of helle. 
 
 He slow the crueel tyrant Busirus, 
 
 And made his hors to f rete hym, flessh and boon ; 
 
 He slow the firy serpent venymus, 3295 
 
 Of Acheloys two homes, he brak oon. 
 
 And he slow Cacus in a Cave of stoon; 
 
 He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge, 
 
 He slow the grisly boor, and that anon. 
 
 And bar the hevene on his nekke longe. 3300 
 
 3271 hir a. 3-274 tico the. 3296 homes two. 
 
166 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 N 
 
 Was nevere wight^ sith that this world bigan^ 
 
 That slow so manye monstres as dide he. 
 
 Thurghout this wyde world his name ran^ 
 
 What for his strengthen and for his heigh bountee^ 
 
 And every reawme wente he for to see. 3305 
 
 He was so stroong that no man myghte hym lette ; 
 
 At bothe the worldes endes^ seith Trophee^ 
 
 In stide of boundes^ he a pileer sette. 
 
 A lemman hadde this noble champioun^ 
 
 That highte Dianira^ fressh as May^ 3310 
 
 And as thise elerkes maken mencioun. 
 
 She hath hym sent a sherte fressh and gay. 
 
 AUas^ this sherte^ allas^ and weylaway ! 
 
 Envenymed was so subtilly withalle^ 
 
 That er that he had wered it half a day 3315 
 
 It made his flessh al from hise bones falle. 
 
 But nathelees somme elerkes hir excusen 
 
 By oon that highte Nessus, that it maked. 
 
 Be as be may^ I wol hir noght accusen ; 
 
 But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked^ 3320 
 
 Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked; 
 
 And whan he saugh noon oother remedy e^ 
 
 In hoote coles he hath hym-selven raked^ 
 
 For with no venym deigned hym to dye. 
 
 Thus starf this worthy myghty Hercules. 3325 
 
 Lo^ who may truste on Fortune any throwe ? 
 
 For hyni that f olweth al this world of prees^ 
 
 Er he be war^ is ofte yleyd ful lowe. 
 
 Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe. 
 
 Beth war^ for whan that Fortune list to glose^ 3330 
 
 Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe^ 
 
 By swich a wey, as he wolde leest suppose. 
 
 3314 Evenymed. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 167 
 
 Nabugodonosor 
 
 The myghty trone^ the precious tresor 
 The glorious ceptre and roial magestee 
 
 That hadde the kyng Nabugodonosor^ 3335 
 
 With tonge unnethe may discryved bee. 
 He twyes wan Jerusalem the citee; 
 The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde. 
 At Babiloigne was his sovereyn see^ 
 In which his glorie and his delit he hadde. 3340 
 
 The faireste children of the blood roial 
 
 Of Israel he leet do gelde anoon^ 
 
 And maked ech of hem to been his thral. 
 
 Amonges other e^ Daniel was oon^ 
 
 That was the wiseste child of every chon ; 3345 
 
 For he the dremes of the kyng expouned 
 
 Wheras in Chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon 
 
 That wiste to what fyn hise dremes sowned. 
 
 This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold 
 
 Sixty cubites long^ and sevene in brede^ 3350 
 
 To which ymage bothe yonge and oold 
 
 Comaunded he to loute and have in drede^ 
 
 Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede 
 
 He shal be brent_, that wolde noght obeye. 
 
 But nevere wolde assente to that dede S3 5 5 
 
 Daniel^ ne hise yonge felawes tweye. 
 
 This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat; 
 
 He wende^ that God that sit in magestee 
 
 Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat; 
 
 But sodeynly he loste his dignytee^ 3360 
 
 And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee. 
 
 And eet hey as an oxe and lay theroute; 
 
 In reyn with wilde beestes walked hee 
 
 Til certein tyme was ycome aboute. 
 
 3351 To The; he bothe. 3352 he om. 
 
168 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And lik an egles fetheres wex his heres^ S365 
 
 Hise nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere_, 
 
 Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres^ 
 
 And yaf hym wit^ and thanne^ with many a teere^ 
 
 He thanked God; and evere his lyf in feere 
 
 Was he to doon amys^ or moore trespace^ 3370 
 
 And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere^ 
 
 He knew that God was ful of myght and grace. 
 
 Balthasar 
 
 His sone which that highte Balthasar^ 
 That heeld the regne after his fader day^ 
 He by his fader koude noght be war^ 3375 
 
 For proud he was of herte and of array ; 
 And eek an ydolastre he was ay. 
 His hye estaat assured hym in pryde; 
 But Fortune caste hym doun and ther he lay. 
 And sodeynly his regne gan divide. 3380 
 
 A feeste he made unto hise lordes alle 
 
 Upon a tyme, and bad hem blithe bee, 
 
 And thanne hise officeres gan he calle, 
 
 ''Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles," quod he, 
 
 '*Whiche that my fader, in his prosperitee, 3385 
 
 Out of the temple of Jerusalem birafte, 
 
 And to oure hye goddes thanke we 
 
 Of honour, that oure eldres with us lafte.'' 
 
 Hys wyf, hise lordes, and hise concubynes 
 
 Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste, 3390 
 
 Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes. 
 
 And on a wal this kyng hise eyen caste. 
 
 And saugh an hand armlees that wroot ful faste. 
 
 For feere of which he quook and siked soore. 
 
 This hand, that Balthasar so soore agaste, 3395 
 
 Wroot 'Mane, techel, phares,' and na moore. 
 
 3383 officers. 3384 vessels. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 169 
 
 In al that land magicien was noon 
 
 That koude expounde what this lettre mente. 
 
 But Daniel expowned it anon^ 
 
 And seyde^ *'Kyng^ God to thy fader lente 3400 
 
 Glorie and honour^ regne^ tresour^ rente; 
 
 And he was proud^ and nothyng God ne dradde^ 
 
 x\nd therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente^ 
 
 And hym birafte the regne that he hadde. 
 
 He was out-cast of mannes compaignye^ 3405 
 
 With asses was his habitacioun^ 
 
 And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye^ 
 
 Til that he knew by grace and by resoun 
 
 That God of hevene hath domynacioun 
 
 Over every regne and every creature^ 3410 
 
 And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun 
 
 And hym restored his regne and his figure. 
 
 Eek thou that art his sone art proud, also, 
 
 And knowest alle thise thynges verraily, 
 
 And art rebel to God and art his foo. 3415 
 
 Thou drank eek of hise vessels boldely. 
 
 Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches synfully 
 
 Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys, 
 
 And heryest false goddes cursedly; 
 
 Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys. 3420 
 
 This hand was sent from God, that on the wal 
 
 Wroot *Mane techel phares/ truste me ! 
 
 Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al, 
 
 Dyvyded is thy regne^ and it shal be 
 
 To Medes and to Perses yeve," quod he. 3425 
 
 And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe 
 
 And Darius occupy eth his degree, 
 
 Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe. 
 
 3400 lente sente. 3425 yeve om. 
 
170 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Lordynges^ ensample heer-by may ye take 
 
 How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse ; 3430 
 
 For whan Fortune wole a man forsake^ 
 
 She bereth awey his regne and his richesse^ 
 
 And eek hise f reendes^ bothe moore and lesse^ 
 
 For what man that hath freendes thurgh Fortune 
 
 Mishap wol maken hem enemys^ as I gesse; 3435 
 
 This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune. 
 
 Cenobia 
 
 Cenobia^ of Palymerie queene^ 
 As writen Persiens of hir noblesse^ 
 So worthy was in armes_, and so keene^ 
 
 That no wight passed hir in hardynesse^ 3440 
 
 Ne in lynage^ ne in oother gentillesse. 
 Of kynges blood of Perce is she descended. 
 I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse^ 
 But of hire shap she myghte nat been amended. 
 
 From hir childhede I fynde that she fledde 3445 
 
 Office of wommen^ and to wode she wente^ 
 
 And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde 
 
 With arwes brode^ that she to hem sente. 
 
 She was so swift that she anon hem hente^ 
 
 And whan that she was elder^ she wolde kille 3450 
 
 Leouns^ leopardes^ and beres al to-rente^ 
 
 And in hir armes weelde hem at hir wille. 
 
 She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke_, 
 
 And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght 
 
 And slepen under the bussh^ and she koude eke 3455 
 
 Wrastlen by verray force and verray myght 
 
 With any yong man^ were he never so wight; 
 
 Ther myghte nothyng in hir armes stonde. 
 
 She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight^ 
 
 To no man deigned hir for to be bonde. 3460 
 
 3441 nor in. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 171 
 
 But atte laste hir freendes han hir maried 
 
 To Odenake^ a prynce of that contree^ 
 
 Al were it so that she hem longe taried^ 
 
 And ye shul understonde how that he 
 
 Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she. 3465 
 
 But nathelees^ whan they were knyt infeere^ 
 
 They lyved in joye and in felicitee^ 
 
 For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere ; 
 
 Save o thyng^ that she wolde nevere assente 
 
 By no wey that he sholde by hir lye 3470 
 
 But ones^ for it was hir pleyn entente 
 
 To have a child the world to multiplye; 
 
 And also soone as that she myghte espye 
 
 That she was nat with childe with that dede^ 
 
 Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasy e 3475 
 
 Eft-soone and nat but oones^ out of drede. 
 
 And if she were with childe at thilk^ cast^ 
 
 Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game 
 
 Til fully fourty dayes weren past; 
 
 Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same, 3480 
 
 Al were this Odenake wilde or tame^ 
 
 He gat na moore of hir^ for thus she seyde^ 
 
 It was to wyves lecheie and shame 
 
 In oother caas^ if that men with hem pleyde. 
 
 Two sones by this Odenake hadde she^ 3485 
 
 The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure^ 
 
 But now unto oure tale turne we; 
 
 I seye^ so worshipful a creature^ 
 
 And wys ther-with^ and large with mesure^ 
 
 So penyble in the werre^ and curteis eke^ 3490 
 
 Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure^ 
 
 Was noon^ though al this world men wolde seke. 
 
 3462, 3481, 3485, Onedake. 
 
 \ 
 
172 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told 
 
 As wel in vessel as in hir clothyng ; 
 
 She was al clad in perree and in gold^ 3495 
 
 And eek she lafte noght for noon huntyng 
 
 To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng^ 
 
 Whan that she leyser hadde^ and for to entende 
 
 To lerne bookes was al hire likyng^ 
 
 How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende. 3500 
 
 And shortly of this proces for to trete^ 
 
 So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she^ 
 
 That they conquered manye regnes grete 
 
 In the orient^ with many a f aire citee^ 
 
 Apertenaunt unto the magestee 3505 
 
 Of Rome^ and with strong hond held hem ful f aste^ 
 
 Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee^ 
 
 Ay whil that Odenakes dayes laste. 
 
 Hir batailles^ who-so list hem for to rede^ 
 
 Agayn Sapor the kyng and other e mo^ 3510 
 
 And how that al this proces fil in dede^ 
 
 Why she conquered^ and what title had therto^ 
 
 And after of hir meschief and hire wo^ 
 
 How that she was biseged and ytake^ 
 
 Lat hym unto my maister Petrak go^ 3515 
 
 That writ ynough of this, I undertake. 
 
 Whan Odenake was deed^ she myghtily 
 
 The regnes heeld; and with hir propre hond 
 
 Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly 
 
 That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond 3520 
 
 That he nas glad^ if he that grace fond 
 
 That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye. 
 
 With hir they makede alliance by bond 
 
 To been in pees^ and let hire ride and pleye. 
 
 3511 that om. 3512 had om. Soil Onedake. 3523 made. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 173 
 
 The Emperour of Rome^ Claudius^ S525 
 
 Ne hym bifore^ the Romayn Galien^ 
 
 Ne dorste nevere been so corageus^ 
 
 Ne noon Ermyn^ ne noon Egipcien^ 
 
 Ne Surrien^ ne noon Arabyen^ 
 
 With-inne the feeldes that dorste with hir fighte^ 3530 
 
 Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen^ 
 
 Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte. 
 
 In kynges habit wente hir sones two 
 
 As heires of hir fadres regnes alle^ 
 
 And Hermanno^ and Thymalao 3 58 5 
 
 Hir names were^ as Persiens hem calle. 
 
 But ay Fortune hath in hir hony galle; 
 
 This myghty queene may no while endure. 
 
 Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle 
 
 To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure. 3540 
 
 Aurelian_, whan that the governaunce. 
 
 Of Rome cam into hise handes tweye^ 
 
 He shoope upon this queene to doon vengeaunce^ 
 
 And with hise legions he took his weye 
 
 Toward Cenobie_, and shortly for to seye^ 354^5 
 
 He made hir flee and atte last hir hente^ 
 
 And fettred hir^ and eek hir children tweye^ 
 
 And wan the land_, and hoom to Rome he wente. 
 
 Amonges othere thynges that he wan^ 
 
 Hir chaar^ that was with gold wroght and perree^ 3550 
 
 This grete Romayn^ this Aurelian^ 
 
 Hath with hym lad for that men sholde it see. 
 
 Biforen his triumphe walketh shee^ 
 
 With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hangynge ; 
 
 Coroned was she^ after hir degree^ 3555 
 
 And ful of perree charged hir clothynge. 
 
 3553 Biforn. 
 
174 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 AUas^ Fortune! she that whilom was 
 
 Dredful to kynges and to emperoures^ 
 
 Now gaureth al the peple on hir^ alias! 
 
 And she that helmed was in starke shoures 3560 
 
 And wan by force townes stronge and toures 
 
 Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte^ 
 
 And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures 
 
 Shal bere a distaff hir costes for to quyte. 
 
 [The 'modern instances' which follow here, are at the end of the Tale in 
 this MS.] 
 
 De Petro Rege Ispannie 
 
 O noble^ O worthy Petro^ glorie of Spayne ! 3565 
 
 Whom Fortune heeld so hye in magestee^ 
 Wei oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne; 
 Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee^ 
 And after at a seege by subtiltee 
 
 Thou were bitraysed^ and lad unto his tente 3570 
 
 Where as he with his owene hand slow thee, 
 Suecedynge in thy regne and in thy rente. 
 
 The feeld of snow, with thegle of blak therinne 
 
 Caught with the lymerod, coloured as the gleede. 
 
 He brew this cursednesse and al this synne. 3575 
 
 The wikked nest was werker of this nede, 
 
 Noght Charles Olyvver, that took ay heede 
 
 Of trouthe and honour^ but of Armorike 
 
 Genyloun Olyver, corrupt for meede, 
 
 Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike. 3580 
 
 De Petro Rege de Cipro 
 
 O worthy Petro, kyng of Cipre, also. 
 That Alisandre wan by heigh maistrie, 
 Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo. 
 Of which thyne owene liges hadde envye. 
 And for nothyng but for thy chivalrie, 3585 
 
 They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 175 
 
 Thus kan Fortune hir wheel governe and gye. 
 And out of joye brynge men to sorwe. 
 
 De Barnabo de Lumbardia 
 
 Off Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte^ 
 God of delit and scourge of Lumbardye^ 3590 
 
 Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte_, 
 Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye ? 
 Thy brother sone^ that was thy double allye 
 For he thy nevew was_, and sone-in-lawe_, 
 Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye^ 3595 
 
 But why, ne how^ noot I that thou were slawe. 
 
 De Hugelino Comite de Pize 
 
 Off the Erl Hugelyn of Pyze the langour 
 Ther may no tonge telle for pitee. 
 But litel out of Pize stant a tour^ 
 
 In whiche tour in prisoun put was he^ 3600 
 
 And with hym been his litel children thre^ 
 The eldeste scarsly fyf yeer was of -age. 
 Allas^ Fortune^ it was greet crueltee 
 Swiche briddes for to putte in swiche a cage ! 
 
 Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun^ 3605 
 
 For Roger^ which that Bisshop was of Pize^ 
 
 Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun^ 
 
 Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise^ 
 
 And putten hym to prisoun in swich wise 
 
 As ye han herd^ and mete and drynke he hadde 3610 
 
 So smal that wel unnethe it may suffise^ 
 
 And therwithal it was ful povre and badde. 
 
 And on a day bifil^ that in that hour 
 
 Whan that his mete wont was to be broght^ 
 
 The gayler shette the dores of the tour; 3615 
 
 He herde it wel^ but he spak right noght — 
 
 3600 which. 3611 wel om. 
 
176 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght^ 
 
 That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen. 
 
 *'Allas^'' quod he_, **allas_, that I was wroght!" 
 
 Therwith the teeris iillen from hise eyen. 3620 
 
 His yonge sone^ that thre yeer was of age^ 
 
 Unto hym seyde^ 'Tader^ why do ye wepe? 
 
 Whanne wol the gayler bryngen our potage? 
 
 Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe? 
 
 I am so hungry that I may nat slepe. 3625 
 
 Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere ! 
 
 Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe^ 
 
 Ther is nothyng but breed that me were levere/' 
 
 Thus day by day this child bigan to crye^ 
 
 Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay^ 3630 
 
 And seyde^ *'Farewel^ fader^ I moot dye!'* 
 
 And kiste his fader^ and dyde the same day. 
 
 And whan the woful fader deed it say^ 
 
 For wo hise armes two he gan to byte^ 
 
 And seyde^ ''AUas^ Fortune and weylaway! S6S5 
 
 Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte !" 
 
 Hise children wende that it for hunger was 
 
 That he his armes gnow^ and nat for wo^ 
 
 And seyde^ 'Tader^ do nat so^ alias ! 
 
 But rather ete the flessh upon us two. 3640 
 
 Oure flessh thou yaf us^ take our flessh us fro^ 
 
 And ete ynogh/' right thus they to hym seyde; 
 
 And after that withinne a day or two 
 
 They ley de hem in his lappe adoun^ and deyde. 
 
 Hymself^ despeired^ eek for hunger starf^ 3645 
 
 Thus ended is this myghty Erl of Pize. 
 From heigh estaat Fortune awey hym carf^ 
 Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise. 
 
 3641 us om. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 177 
 
 Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise^ 
 
 Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille 3650 
 
 That highte Dant^ for he kan al devyse 
 
 Fro point to pointy nat o word wol he faille. 
 
 Nero 
 
 Al though that Nero were vicius 
 As any f eend that lith in helle adoun^ 
 
 Yet he^ as telleth us Swetonius^ S655 
 
 This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun^ 
 Bothe Est and West^ South and Septemtrioun ; 
 Of rubies^ saphires^ and of peerles white 
 Were alle hise clothes brouded up and doun^ 
 For he in gemmes greetly gan delite. 3660 
 
 Moore delicaat^ moore pompous of array_, 
 
 Moore proud was nevere emperour than he. 
 
 That ilke clooth that he hadde wered o day^ 
 
 After that tyme he nolde it nevere see. 
 
 Nettes of gold-threed hadde he greet plentee^ S665 
 
 To fisshe in Tybre_, whan hym liste pleye. 
 
 Hise lustes were al lawe in his decree^ 
 
 For Fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye. 
 
 He Rome brende for his delieasie; 
 
 The senatours he slow upon a day^ 3670 
 
 To heere how men wolde wepe and crie ; 
 
 And slow his brother^ and by his suster lay. 
 
 His mooder made he in pitous array^ 
 
 For he hir wombe slitte^ to biholde 
 
 Wher he conceyved was^ so weilaway 3675 
 
 That he so litel of his mooder tolde ! 
 
 No teere out of hise eyen for that sighte 
 
 Ne cam; but seyde^ "A fair womman was she.*' 
 
 Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte 
 
 Be domesman of hir dede beautee. 3680 
 
 3657 South North. 
 
178 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he^ 
 And drank anon; noon oother wo he made^ 
 Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee^ 
 AUas^ to depe wol the venym wade ! 
 
 In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour 3685 
 
 To techen hym lettrure and curteisye^ 
 
 For of moralitee he was the flour^ 
 
 As in his tyme^ but if bookes lye. 
 
 And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye^ 
 
 He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple^ 3690 
 
 That longe tyme it was/er tirannye 
 
 Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple. 
 
 This Seneca^ of which that I devyse^ 
 
 By-cause Nero hadde of hym swich drede^ 
 
 (For he fro vices wolde hym chastise 369^ 
 
 Discreetly as by word^ and nat by dede) 
 
 ''Sire/' wolde he seyn^ "an emperour moot nede 
 
 Be vertuous and hate tirannye/' — 
 
 For which he in a bath made hym to blede 
 
 On bothe hise armes^ til he moste dye. 3700 
 
 This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce 
 
 In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse^ 
 
 Which afterward hym thoughte greet grevaunce; 
 
 Therfore he made hym dyen in this wise^ 
 
 But nathelees^ this Seneca the wise 3705 
 
 Chees in a bath to dye in this manere^ 
 
 Rather than han anoother tormentise^ 
 
 And thus hath Nero slayn his maister deere. 
 
 Now fil it so^ that Fortune liste no lenger 
 The hye pryde of Nero to cherice; 3710 
 
 For though that he was strongs yet was she strenger ; 
 She thoughte thus^ *'By God, I am to nyce 
 
 3686 teche. 3707 any oother. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 179 
 
 To sette a man that is fulfild of vice 
 
 In heigh degree^ and emperour hym calle. 
 
 By God^ out of his sete I wol hym trice^ 3715 
 
 Whan he leest weneth^ sonnest shal he falle/' 
 
 The peple roos upon hym on a nyght 
 
 For his defaute^ and whan he it espied 
 
 Out of hise dores anoon he hath hym dight 
 
 Allone^ and ther he wende han been allied 3720 
 
 He knokked faste_, and ay the moore he cried^ 
 
 The faster shette they the dores alle. 
 
 P'or drede of this hym thoughte that he dyed^ 
 
 And wente his wey_, no lenger dorste he calle. 
 
 The peple cride^ and rombled up and doun^ 3725 
 
 That with his erys herde he how they seyde^ 
 
 "Where is this false tiraunt^ this Neroun?'' 
 
 For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde^ 
 
 And to hise goddes pitously he preyde 
 
 For socour^ but it myghte nat bityde.' 3730 
 
 For drede of this hym thoughte that he deyde^ 
 
 And ran into a gardin hym to hyde. 
 
 And in this gardyn f oond he cherles tweye^ 
 
 That seten by a fyr greet and reed^ 
 
 And to thise cherles two he gan to preye 3735 
 
 To sleen hym and to girden of his heed^ 
 
 That to his body whan that he were deed 
 
 Were no despit ydoon^ for his defame. 
 
 Hymself he slow^ he koude no bettre reed^ 
 
 Of which Fortune lough and hadde a game. 37 iO 
 
 De Oloferno 
 
 Was nevere capitayn under a kyng 
 That regnes mo putte in sub j eccioun_, 
 Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng 
 
180 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 As in his tyme^ ne gretter of renoun^ 
 
 Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun^ 3745 
 
 Than Oloferne^ which Fortune ay kiste 
 
 So likerously^ and ladde hym up and doun 
 
 Til that his heed was of er that he wiste. 
 
 Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe 
 
 For lesynge of richesse or libertee^ 3750 
 
 But he made every man reneyen his lawe. 
 
 ^'Nabugodonosor was god/' seyde hee^ 
 
 *'Noon oother god sholde adoured bee/' 
 
 Agayns his heeste no wight dorste trespaee^ 
 
 Save in Bethulia^ a strong citee^ 3755 
 
 Where Eliachim a preest was of that place. 
 
 But taak kepe of the deeth of Oloferne; 
 
 Amydde his boost he dronke lay a nyght^ 
 
 Withinne his tente^ large as is a berne; 
 
 And yet for al his pompe and al his myght 3760 
 
 Judith_, a womman^ as he lay upright 
 
 Slepynge^ his heed of smooth and from his tente 
 
 Ful prively she stal from every wight^ 
 
 And with his heed unto hir toun she wente. 
 
 De Rege Anthiocho illustri 
 
 What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus 3765 
 
 To telle his hye roial magestee^ 
 His hye pride_, hise werkes venymous ? 
 For swich another was ther noon as he_, 
 Rede which that he was in Machabee^ 
 
 And rede the proude wordes that he seyde^ 3770 
 
 And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee^ 
 And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde. 
 
 3751 he oni. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 181 
 
 Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride 
 
 That verraily he wende he myghte attayne 
 
 Unto the sterres upon every syde^ 3775 
 
 And in balance weyen ech montayne^ 
 
 And alle the floodes of the see restrayne. 
 
 And Goddes peple hadde he moost in hate; 
 
 Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne^ 
 
 Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate. 3780 
 
 And for that Nichanore and Thymothee 
 
 Of Jewes weren venquysshed myghtily_, 
 
 Unto the Jewes swich an hate hadde he 
 
 That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily _, 
 
 And swoor^ and seyde^ ful despitously^ 3785 
 
 Unto Jerusalem he wolde eft-soone_, 
 
 To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly ; 
 
 But of his purpos he was let ful soone. 
 
 God for his manace hym so soore smoot 
 
 With invisible wounde^ ay incurable^ 3790 
 
 That in hise guttes carf it so and boot 
 
 That hise peynes weren importable. 
 
 And certeinly^ the wreche was resonable_, 
 
 For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne^ 
 
 But from his purpos cursed and dampnable 3795 
 
 For al his smert he wolde hym nat restreyne ; 
 
 But bad anon apparaillen his hoost^ 
 
 And sodeynly^ er he was of it war^ 
 
 God daunted al his pride and al his boost^ 
 
 For he so soore fil out of his char, 3800 
 
 That it hise lemes and his skyn totar^ 
 
 So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde^ 
 
 But in a chayer men aboute hym bar 
 
 Al forbrused^ bothe bak and syde. 
 
182 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly 3805 
 
 That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte; 
 
 And therwithal he stank so horribly 
 
 That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte 
 
 Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte^ 
 
 Ne myghte noght for stynk of hym endure. 3810 
 
 In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte^ 
 
 And knew God lord of every creature. 
 
 To all his boost and to hymself also 
 
 Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne^ 
 
 No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro^ 3815 
 
 And in this stynk and this horrible peyne 
 
 He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne. 
 
 Thus hath this robbour and this homycide^ 
 
 That many a man made to wepe and pleyne^ 
 
 Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde. 3820 
 
 De Alexandre 
 
 The storie of Alisaundre is so commune 
 That every wight that hath discrecioun 
 Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune. 
 This wyde world^ as in conclusioun, 
 
 He wan by strength e, or for his hye renoun 3825 
 
 They weren glad for pees unto hym sende. 
 The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun 
 Wher-so he cam^ unto the worldes ende. 
 
 Comparison myghte nevere yet been maked 
 Bitwixen hym and another conquerour^ 3830 
 
 For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked. 
 He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour. 
 Fortune hym made the heir of hir honour. 
 Save wyn and wommen nothyng myghte as wage 
 His hye entente in armes and labour^ 3835 
 
 So was he ful of leonyn corage. 
 3807 so om. ; horriblely. 3832 was om. 3834 no man. 
 
THE MONKES TALE 183 
 
 What pris were it to hym^ though I yow tolde 
 
 Of Darius^ and an hundred thousand mo^ 
 
 Of kynges^ princes^ erles^ dukes bolde^ 
 
 Whiehe he conquered and broghte hem into wo? 3840 
 
 I seye^ as fer as man may ryde or go^ 
 
 The world was his^ what sholde I moore devyse ? 
 
 For though I write or tolde yow everemo^ 
 
 Of his knyghthode it myghte nat suffise. 
 
 Twelf yeer he regned^ as seith Machabee^ 3845 
 
 Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was^ 
 
 That first was kyng in Grece the contree. 
 
 O worthy gentil Alisandre^ allas^ 
 
 That evere sholde fallen swich a cas ! 
 
 Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere; 3850 
 
 Thy sys Fortune hath turned into aas 
 
 And yet for thee ne weep she never a teere. 
 
 Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne 
 
 The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise^ 
 
 That al the world weelded in his demeyne? 3855 
 
 And yet hym thought e it myghte nat suffise^ 
 
 So ful was his corage of heigh emprise. 
 
 AUas^ who shal me helpe to endite 
 
 False Fortune_, and poyson to despise^ 
 
 The whiehe two of al this wo I wyte? . 3860 
 
 De Julio Cesare 
 
 By wisedom^ manhede^ and by gret labour 
 From humble bed to roial magestee 
 Up roos he^ Julius the conquerour^ 
 That wan al thoccident by land and see 
 By strengthe of hand^ or elles by tretee^ 3865 
 
 And unto Rome made hem tributarie; 
 And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he^ 
 Til that Fortune weex his ladversarie. 
 
 3852 yet om. 3861 gret om. 
 
184 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 myghty Cesar^ that in Thessalie 
 
 Agayn Pompeus^ fader thyn in lawe^ 3870 
 
 That of the Orient hadde al the chivalrye 
 
 As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe^ 
 
 Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe^ 
 
 Save fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde^ 
 
 Thurgh which thou puttest al thorient in awe^ 3875 
 
 Thanke Fortune, that so wel thee spedde ! 
 
 But now a litel while I wol biwaille 
 This Pompeus^ this noble governour 
 Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille, 
 
 1 seye, oon of hise men, a fals traitour, 3880 
 His heed of-smoot to wynnen hym favour 
 
 Of Julius, and hym the heed he broghte; 
 Alias, Pompeye, of thorient conquerour. 
 That Fortune unto swich a f yn thee broghte ! 
 
 To 'Rome agayn repaireth Julius, 3885 
 
 With his triumphe lauriat ful hye; 
 
 But on a tyme Brutus Cassius 
 
 That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye, 
 
 Ful prively hath maad conspiracye 
 
 Agayns this Julius in subtil wise, 3890 
 
 And caste the place in which he sholde dye 
 
 With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse. 
 
 This Julius to the Capitolie wente 
 
 Upon a day, as he Was wont to goon; 
 
 And in the Capitolie anon hym hente 3895 
 
 This false Brutus and his othere foon^ 
 
 And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon 
 
 With many a wounde; and thus they lete hym lye. 
 
 But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon. 
 
 Or elles at two, but if his storie lye. 3900 
 
THE MONKES TALE 185 
 
 So manly was this Julius of herte 
 
 And so wel lovede estaatly honestee^ 
 
 That though hise deedly woundes soore smerte^ 
 
 His mantel over hise hypes caste he^ 
 
 For no man sholde seen his privetee. S905 
 
 And as he lay of diyng in a traunce^ 
 
 And wiste verraily that deed was hee^ 
 
 Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce. 
 
 Lucan_, to thee this storie I recomende^ 
 
 And to Sweton^ and to Valerie also^ 3910 
 
 That of this storie writen word and ende. 
 
 How that to thise grete conqueroures two 
 
 Fortune was first freend^ and sitthe foo^ 
 
 No man ne truste upon hire favour longe 
 
 But have hir in awayt for evere moo ! 3915 
 
 Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge. 
 
 Cresus 
 
 This riche Cresus whilom kyng of'Lyde^ 
 Of whiche Cresus Cirus soore hym dradde^ 
 Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde^ 
 And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde. 3920 
 
 But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde 
 That slow the fyr^ and made hym to escape ; 
 But to be war no grace yet he hadde^ 
 Til Fortune on the galwes made hym gape. 
 
 Whanne he escaped was^ he kan nat stente 39^5 
 
 For to bigynne a newe werre agayn; 
 
 He wende wel^ for that Fortune hym sente 
 
 Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn^ 
 
 That of hise foos he myghte nat be slayn; 
 
 And eek a swevene upon a nyght he mette^ 3930 
 
 Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn 
 
 That in vengeance he al his herte sette. 
 
 3910 Valerius. 3912, 3916 conquerours. 
 
186 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Upon a tree he was^ as that hym thoughte^ 
 
 Ther Jupiter hym wessh bothe bak and syde^ 
 
 And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte^ 3935 
 
 To dryen hym with; and therfore wax his pryde. 
 
 And to his doghter that stood hym bisyde^ 
 
 Which that he knew in heigh science habounde^ 
 
 He bad hir telle hym what it signyfyde^ 
 
 And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde. 39^0 
 
 *'The tree^" quod she^ *'the galwes is to meene^ 
 
 And Juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn^ 
 
 And Phebus with his towaille so clene^ 
 
 Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn. 
 
 Thou shalt anhanged be^ fader^ certeyn; 3945 
 
 Reyn shal thee wasshe^ and sonne shal thee drye/* 
 
 Thus warnede hym ful plat and ful pleyn^ 
 
 His doghter^ which that called was Phanye. 
 
 Anhanged was Cresus^ the proude kyng^ 
 
 His roial trone myghte hym nat availle. 3950 
 
 Tragedie is noon oother maner thyng^ 
 
 Ne kan in syngyng crye ne biwaille^ 
 
 But for that Fortune alwey wole assaille 
 
 With unwar strook the regnes that been proude; 
 
 For whan men trusteth hir^ thanne wol she faille^ 3955 
 
 And covere hir brighte face with a clowde. 
 
 3944 stremes bemes. 3947 warned. 3951 Tragedies. 3953 for om. 
 Explicit Tragedia, 
 
 Heere stynteth the Knyght the Monk of his tale. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE NONNES 
 PREESTES TALE 
 
 The Prologue of the Nonnes Preestes Tale. 
 
 **Hoo !" quod the Knyght^ **good sire_, namoore of this^ 
 That ye han seyd is right ynough_, ywis^ 
 And muchel moore^ for litel hevynesse 
 
 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 f al_, alias ! 
 And the contrarie is joye and greet solas^ 
 As whan a man hath been in povre estaat^ 3965 
 
 And clymbeth up_, and wexeth fortunate 
 And there abideth in prosperitee. 
 Swich thyng is glads om^ as it thynketh me^ 
 And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle." 
 **Ye/' quod our Hoost^ "by seinte Poules belle^ 3970 
 
 Ye seye right sooth ! This Monk^ he clappeth lowde, 
 He spak^ how Fortune covered with a clowde — 
 I noot nevere 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^ 
 As ye han seyd^ to heere of hevynesse. 
 Sire Monk^ namoore of this^ so God yow blesse ! 
 Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye; 
 
 Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye^ 3980 
 
 For ther-inne is ther no desport ne game. 
 Wherfore sir Monk^ or daun Piers by youre name^ 
 I pray yow hertely^ telle us somwhat elles^ 
 For sikerly^ nere clynkyng of youre belles 
 
 3957 of om. 3970 seint. 3982 or om. 
 
188 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That on your bridel hange on every syde, 3985 
 
 By hevene kyng^ that for us alle dyde^ 
 
 I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleepe^ 
 
 Althogh the slough had never been so deepe; 
 
 Thanne hadde your tale al be toold in veyn. 
 
 For^ certeinly^ as that thise clerkes seyn^ 3990 
 
 Where as a man may have 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." S995 
 
 "Nay^" quod this Monk^ ''I have no lust to pleye; 
 
 Not lat another telle as I have toold.'' 
 
 Thanne spak oure Hoost^ with rude speche and boold^ 
 
 And seyde unto the Nonnes Freest anon^ 
 
 "Com neer_, thou preest_, com hyder^ thou_, sir John, 4000 
 
 Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade ; 
 
 Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade. 
 
 What thogh thyn hors be bothe foul and lene.^ 
 
 If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene ! 
 
 Looke that thyn herte be murie everemo." 4005 
 
 "Yis sir/' quod he, *'yis, Hoost, so moot I go, 
 
 But I be myrie, ywis, I wol be blamed." 
 
 And right anon his tale he hath attamed. 
 
 And thus he seyde unto us everichon, 
 
 This sweete preest, this goodly man sir John. 4010 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 
 
 Heere higynneth the Nonnes Preestes tale of the Cok and 
 Hen, Chauntecleer and Pertelote, 
 
 A povre wydwe^ somdel stape in age^ 
 Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage 
 Biside a greve^ stondynge in a dale. 
 This wydwe^ of which I telle yow my tale^ 
 Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf, 4015 
 
 In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf^ 
 For litel was hir eatel 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 keen^ and eek a sheep that highte Malle. 
 Fut sooty was hir hour and eek hire halle^ 
 In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel — 
 Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel. 
 No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte^ 4025 
 
 Hir diete was accordant to hir cote. 
 Repleccioun ne made hir nevere sik^ 
 Attempree diete was al hir phisik^ 
 And exercise^ and hertes suffisaunce. 
 
 The goute lette hir nothyng for to daunce^ 4030 
 
 Napoplexie shente nat hir heed. 
 Xo wyn ne drank she^ neither whit ne reed^ 
 Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak^ 
 Milk and broun breed^ in which she foond no lak^ 
 Seynd bacoun^ and somtyme an ey or tweye^ 4035 
 
 For she was as it were a maner deye. 
 A yeerd she hadde^ enclosed al aboute 
 With stikkes_, and a drye dych withoute^ 
 In which she hadde a Cok^ heet Chauntecleer^ 
 In al the land of crowyng nas his peer. 4040 
 
190 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 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 crew eche ascencioun 4045 
 
 Of the equynoxial in thilke toun; 
 
 For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended, 
 
 Thanne crew he, that it myghte nat been amended. 
 
 His coomb was redder than the fyn coral. 
 
 And batailled, as it were a castel wal. 4050 
 
 His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon, 
 
 Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon, 
 
 Hise nayles whiter than the lylye flour. 
 
 And lyk the burned gold was his colour. 
 
 This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce 4055 
 
 Sevene hennes, for to doon al his plesaunce, 
 
 Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours. 
 
 And wonder lyk to hym as of colours ; 
 
 Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte 
 
 Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. 4060 
 
 Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire 
 
 And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire 
 
 Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold. 
 
 That trewely she hath the herte in hoold 
 
 Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith. 4065 
 
 He loved hir so, that wel was hym therwith. 
 
 But swiche a joye was it to here hem synge 
 
 Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge. 
 
 In sweete accord, "My lief is faren in londe,"— 
 
 For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, 4070 
 
 Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge. 
 
 And so bifel, that in the dawenynge. 
 As Chauntecleer, among hise wyves alle. 
 Sat on his perche, that was in the halle. 
 And next hym sat this faire Pertelote, 4075 
 
 4053 whitter. 4068 bigan. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 191 
 
 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_, **0 herte deere^ 
 What eyleth yow^ to grone in this manere? 4080 
 
 Ye been a verray sleper^ fy for shame l" 
 And he answerde and seyde thus^ "Madame^ 
 I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief. 
 By God^ me thoughte I was in swich meschief 
 Right now^ that yet myn herte is soore afright. 4085 
 
 Now God/' quod he^ '*my swevene recche aright. 
 And kepe my body out of foul prisoun. 
 Me mette how that I romed up and doun 
 Withinne our yeerd_, wheer as I saugh a beest 
 Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest 4090 
 
 Upon my body, and han had me deed. 
 His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed, 
 And tipped was his tayl and bothe hise eeris 
 With blak, unlyk the remenant of hise heeris ; 
 His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye. 4095 
 
 Yet of his look, for f eere almoost I deye ! 
 This caused me my gronyng, doutelees/' 
 "Avoy !'' quod she, "Fy on yow hertelees ! 
 Alias,'' quod she, "for by that God above 
 Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love! 4100 
 
 . I kan nat love a coward, by my f eith, 
 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 every tool, 
 Ne noon avauntour; by that God above. 
 How dorste ye seyn for shame unto youre love 
 That any thyng myghte make yow afred? 
 Have ye no mannes herte, and han a herd? 4110 
 
 Alias, and konne ye been agast of swevenys ? 
 
192 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 No thjng, God woot^ but vanitee in swevene is ! 
 
 Swevenes engendren of replecciouns^ 
 
 And ofte of fume and of complecciouns^ 
 
 Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. 4115 
 
 Certes^ this dreem which ye han met tonyght 
 
 Cometh of greet superfluytee 
 
 Of youre rede colera^ pardee^ 
 
 Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes 
 
 Of arwes_, and of fyre with rede lemes^ 4120 
 
 Of grete beestes^ that they wol hem byte^ 
 
 Of contekes^ and of whelpes grete and lyte; 
 
 Right as the humour of malencolie 
 
 Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie 
 
 For feere of blake beres^ or boles blake^ 4125 
 
 Or elles blake develes wole hem take. 
 
 Of othere humours koude I telle also 
 
 That werken many a man in 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 f ors of dremes' ? 
 
 Now^ sire/' quod she^ *'whan ye flee fro the bemes^ 
 For goddes love as taak som laxatyf ! 
 Up peril of my soule^ and of my lyf^ 
 
 I conseille yow the beste^ I wol nat lye^ 4135 
 
 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 youre hele and for youre prow. 4140 
 And in cure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde^ 
 The whiche han of hir propretee by kynde 
 To purge yow bynethe and eek above. 
 Foryet nat this^ for Goddes owene love ! 
 Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun ; 4145 
 
 Ware the sonne in his ascencioun 
 Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 193 
 
 And if it do^ I dar wel leye a grote 
 
 That ye shul have a fevere terciane_, 
 
 Or an agu that may be youre bane. 4150 
 
 A day or two ye shul have digestyves 
 
 Of wormes^ er ye take youre laxatyves 
 
 Of lawriol^ centaure^ and fumetere^ 
 
 Or elles of ellebor that groweth there_, 
 
 Of katapuce^ or of gaitrys beryis^ 4155 
 
 Of herbe yve^ growyng in oure yeerd^ ther mery is ! 
 
 Pekke hem up 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^ 4l60 
 But nathelees^ as touchyng Daun Catoun^ 
 That hath of wysdom swich a greet renoun^ 
 Though that he bad no dremes for to drede. 
 By God^ men may in olde bookes rede 
 
 Of many a man moore of auctorite 4165 
 
 Than evere Caton vras^ so moot I thee^ 
 That al the revers seyn of this sentence^ 
 And han wel founden by experience 
 That dremes been significaciouns 
 
 As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns 4170 
 
 That folk enduren in this lif present. 
 Ther nedeth make of this noon argument^ 
 The verray preeve sheweth it in dede. 
 Oon of the gretteste auctours that men rede 
 Seith thus^ that whilom two felawes wente 4175 
 
 On pilgrimage in a ful good entente; 
 And happed so^ they coomen in a toun 
 Wher as ther was swich congregacioun 
 Of peple^ and eek so streit of herbergage^ 
 That they ne founde as muche as o cotage 4180 
 
 In which they bothe myghte logged bee ; 
 Wherfore they mosten of necessitee 
 
 4174 auctour. 
 
191 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 As for that nyght departen compaignye^ 
 
 And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye^ 
 
 And took his loggyng as it wolde falle. 4185 
 
 That oon of hem was logged in a stalle^ 
 
 Fer in a yeerd^ with oxen of the plough; 
 
 That oother man was logged wel ynough^ 
 
 As was his aventure or his fortune^ 
 
 That us governeth alle as in commune. 4190 
 
 And so bifel^ that longe er it were day 
 This man mette in his bed^ ther as he lay^ 
 How that his felawe gan upon hym calle 
 And seyde_, 'Allas_, for in an oxes stalle 
 
 This nyght I shal be mordred^ ther I lye! 4195 
 
 Now help me_, deere brother_, or I dye; 
 In alle haste com to me !' he sayde. 
 This man out of his sleep for f eere abrayde ; 
 But whan that he was wakened of his sleep^ 
 He turned hym and took of it 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 up erly in the morwe-tyde^ 
 And at the west gate of the toun/ quod he^ 
 'A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se_, 
 In which my body is hid ful prively. 
 
 Do thilke carte arresten boldely; 4210 
 
 My gold caused my mordre^ sooth to sayn.' — 
 And tolde.hym every pointy how he was slayn^ 
 With a ful pitous f ace^ pale of hewe ; 
 And truste wel^ his dreem he f oond ful trewe. 
 For on the morwe^ as soone as it was day^ 4215 
 
 To his felawes in he took the way^ 
 And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle^ 
 After his felawe he bigan to calle. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 195 
 
 The hostiler answerde hym anon_, 
 
 And seyde^ 'Sire^ your felawe is agon^ 4220 
 
 As soone as day he wente out of the toun/ 
 
 This man gan fallen in suspecioun^ 
 
 Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette^ 
 
 And forth he gooth^ no lenger wolde he lette^ 
 
 Unto the westgate of the toun; and fond 4225 
 
 A dong carte_, as it were to donge lond^ 
 
 That was arrayed in that same wise^ 
 
 As ye han herd the dede man devyse. 
 
 And with an hardy herte he gan to crye_, 
 
 * Vengeance and justice of this felonye; 4230 
 
 My felawe mordred is this same nyght_, 
 
 And in this carte he lith gapyng upright. 
 
 I crye out on the ministres/ quod he^ 
 
 'That sholden kepe and reulen this citee ! 
 
 Harrow! allas^ heere lith my felawe slayn!' 4235 
 
 What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn? 
 
 The peple out-sterte^ and caste the cart to grounde^ 
 
 And in the myddel of the dong they founde 
 
 The dede man^ that mordred was al newe. 
 
 O blisful God^ that art so just and trewe! 4240 
 
 Lo^ ho we 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 just 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 
 Han hent the carter^ and so soore hym pyned^ 
 And eek the hostiler so soore engyned 4250 
 
 That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon^ 
 And were anhanged by the nekke bon. 
 Heere may men seen^ that dremes been to drede ! 
 
 And certes^ in the same book I rede 
 
196 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Right in the nexte chapitre after this — 4255 
 
 I gabbe nat^ so have I joye or blis — 
 
 Two men that wolde han passed over 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 upon an haven-syde— 
 
 But on a day_, agayn the even-tyde^ 
 
 The wynd gan chaunge^ and blew right as hem leste. 
 
 Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste^ 
 
 And casten hem ful erly for to saille^ 4265 
 
 But herkneth^ to that o man fil a greet mervaille ; 
 
 That oon of hem_, in slepyng as he lay^ 
 
 Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day. 
 
 Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde^ 
 
 And hym comanded that he sholde abyde^ 4270 
 
 And seyde hym thus^ 'If thou tomorwe wende 
 
 Thow shalt be dreynt ; my tale is at an ende/ 
 
 He wook^ and tolde his felawe what he mette^ 
 
 And preyde hym his viage for to lette^ 
 
 As for that day^ he preyde hym to byde. 4275^ 
 
 His felawe^ that lay by his beddes syde^ 
 
 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 swevenes been but vanytees and japes. 
 
 Men dreme al day of owles or of apes_, 
 
 And of many a maze therwithal. 
 
 Men dreme of thyng that nevere was^ ne shal; 
 
 But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde 4285 
 
 And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde^ 
 
 God woot it reweth me_, and have good day.' 
 
 And thus he took his leve and wente his way ; 
 
 But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled^ 
 
 4274 for oni. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 197 
 
 Noot I nat why^ ne what myschaunce it eyled^ 4290 
 
 But casuelly the ship23es botme rente^ 
 
 And ship and men under the water wente 
 
 In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde^ 
 
 That with hem seyled at the same tyde. 
 
 And therfore^ 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 mordre in his avysioun he say. 
 
 His norice hym expowned every deel 4305 
 
 His swevene^ and bad hym for to kepe hym weel 
 For traisoun^ but he nas but seven yeer oold^ 
 And therfore litel tale hath he toold 
 Of any dreem^ so hooly is his herte. 
 
 By God^ I hadde levere than my sherte 4310 
 
 That ye hadde rad his legende^ as have I. 
 Dame Pertelote^ I sey yow trewely^ 
 Macrobeus^ that writ the avisioun 
 In AiFrike of the worthy Cipioun^ 
 
 Affermeth 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 Joseph^ and ther shul ye see 4320 
 
 Wlier dremes be somtyme^ I sey nat alle^ 
 Warnynge of thjmges that shul after falle. 
 Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao^ 
 His baker and his butiller also^ 
 4302 Mertenrike. 
 
198 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes ! 4325 
 
 Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes 
 
 May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng. 
 
 Lo Cresus^ which that was of Lyde kyng^ 
 
 Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree^ 
 
 Which signified^ he sholde anhanged bee? 4330 
 
 Lo here Adromacha^ 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 lorn^ 
 
 If thilke day he wente into bataille. 4335 
 
 She warned hym^ but it myghte nat availle; 
 
 He wente for to fighte natheles^ 
 
 But he was slayn anon of Achilles. 
 
 But thilke is al to longe for 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 avisioun 
 
 Adversitee^ and I seye forthermoor 
 
 That I ne telle of laxatyves no stoor^ 
 
 For they been venymes^ I woot it weel^ 4345 
 
 I hem diffye^ I love hem never a deel. 
 
 Now let us speke of myrthe^ and stynte al this ; 
 Madame Pertelote^ so have I blis^ 
 Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace^ 
 For whan I se the beautee of youre face^ 4350 
 
 Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre eyen^ 
 It maketh al my drede for to dyen. 
 For^ al so siker as In principio 
 Mulier est hominis confusio_, — 
 
 Madame^ the sentence of this Latyn is^ 4355 
 
 'Womman is mannes joye and al his blis/ 
 For whan I feele a-nyght your softe syde^ 
 Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde^ 
 For that oure perche is maad so narwe^ alias ! 
 I am so ful of joye and of solas, 4360 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 199 
 
 That I diffye bothe swevene and dreem/' 
 
 And with that word he fly doun fro the beem^ 
 
 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. 4}S65 
 
 Real he was^ he was namoore aferd; 
 
 And f ether ed Pertelote twenty tyme^ 
 
 And trad as ofte_, er that it was pryme. 
 
 He looketh as it were a grym leoun^ 
 
 And on hise toos he rometh up and doun^ 4370 
 
 Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde. 
 
 He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde^ 
 
 And to hym rennen thanne hise wyves alle. 
 
 Thus roial as a prince is in an halle_, 
 
 Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture_, 4375 
 
 And after wol I telle his aventure. 
 
 Whan that the monthe in which the world bigan 
 That highte March^ whan God first maked man^ 
 Was complect^ and passed were also , 
 
 Syn March bigan^ thritty dayes and two^ 4380 
 
 Bifel that Chauntecleer in al his pryde^ 
 Hise sevene wyves walkynge by his syde^ 
 Caste up hise eyen to the brighte sonne^ 
 That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne 
 Twenty degrees and oon^ and somwhat moore; 4385 
 
 And knew by kynde^ and by noon oother loore^ 
 That it was pryme^ and crew with blisful stevene. 
 *'The Sonne/' he seyde^ "is clomben upon hevene 
 Fourty degrees and oon^ and moore^ ywis. 
 Madame Pertelote^ my worldes blis^ 4390 
 
 Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge^ 
 And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge. 
 Ful is myn herte of revel and solas/' 
 But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas^ 
 For evere the latter ende of joye is wo. 4395 
 
 4368 that om. 
 
200 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 God woot that worldly joye is soone ago^ 
 
 And if a retlior koude faire endite^ 
 
 He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write^ 
 
 As for a sovereyn notabilitee. 
 
 Now every wys man^ lat him herkne me: 4400 
 
 This storie is al so trewx^ I undertake^ 
 
 As is the book of Launcelot de Lake^ 
 
 That w^ommen holde in ful greet reverence. 
 
 Now wol I come agayn to my sentence. 
 
 A colfox^ ful of sly iniquitee^ 4405 
 
 That in the grove hadde wonned yeres three^ 
 By heigh ymaginacioun forn-cast^ 
 The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast 
 Into the yerd^ ther Chauntecleer the faire 
 Was wont^ and eek hise wyves_, to repaire; 4410 
 
 And in a bed of wortes stille he lay^ 
 Til it was passed undren of the day^ 
 Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle^ 
 As gladly doon thise homycides alle 
 
 That in await liggen to mordre men. 4415 
 
 O false mordrour^ lurkynge in thy den! 
 O newe Scariot ! newe Genyloun ! 
 False dissymulour^ O Greek Synoun 
 That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe ! 
 O Chauntecleer^ acursed be that morwe 4420 
 
 That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the hemes ! 
 Thou were ful wel ywarned 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, 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 201 
 
 Or Boece or the Bisshop Bradwardyn^ — ■ 
 
 Wheither that Goddes worthy forwityng 
 
 Streyneth me nedefully to doon a thyng^ 
 
 (Nedely clepe I symple necessitee) it^tSS 
 
 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 never a deel 
 
 But by necessitee condicioneel^ — 4440 
 
 I wil nat han to do of swich mateere ; 
 
 My tale is of a Cok^ as ye may heere^ 
 
 That took his conseil of his wyf^ with sorwe^ 
 
 To walken in the yerd^ upon that morwe 
 
 That he hadde met that dreem^ that I of tolde. 4445 
 
 Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde; 
 
 Wommannes 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 wommen wolde blame_, 
 
 Passe over^ for I seye it in my game. 
 
 Rede auctours^ wher they trete of swich mateere, 
 
 And w^hat they seyn of wommen ye may heere. 
 
 Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne, 4455 
 
 I kan noon harm of no womman divyne. 
 
 Faire in the soond^ to bathe hire myrily, 
 Lith Pertelote^ and alle hir 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 eye 
 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, 
 
 4448 fro out of. 
 
202 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But cride anon_, '*cok ! cok V and up he sterte_, 
 
 As man that was affrayed in his herte. 
 
 For natureelly a beest desireth flee 
 
 Fro his contrarie_, if he may it see^ 4470 
 
 Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his eye. 
 
 This Chauntecleer_, whan he gan hym espye^ 
 
 He wolde han fled^ but that the fox anon 
 
 Seyde^ ''Gentil sire_, allas^ wher wol ye gon? 
 
 Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend? 4475 
 
 Now certes^ I were worse than a feend 
 
 If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye. 
 
 I am nat come your conseil for tespye^ 
 
 But trewely^ the cause of my comynge 
 
 Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge. 4480 
 
 For trewel3^_, ye have as myrie a stevene 
 
 As any aungel hath that is in hevene. 
 
 Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge 
 
 Than hadde Boece_, or any that kan synge. 
 
 My lord youre fader — God his soule blesse ! — 4485 
 
 And eek youre mooder^ of hir gentillesse 
 
 Han in myn hous ybeen_, 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 
 
 Save yow I herde nevere man yet 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 strongs 
 
 He wolde so peyne hym^ that with bothe hise eyen 4495 
 
 He moste wyi^ke^so loude he wolde cryen^ 
 
 And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal^ 
 
 And strecche forth his nekke long and smal. 
 
 And eek he was of swich discrecioun^ 
 
 That ther nas no man in no regioun_, 4500 
 
 That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe. 
 
 4482 hath om. 4489 yow seye. 4491 lierde I. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 203 
 
 I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse 
 
 Among hise vers^, how that ther was a cok^ 
 
 For that a preestes sone yaf hym a knok^ 
 
 Upon his Itgy 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 I" 
 
 This Chauntecleer hise wynges gan to bete^ 
 
 As man that koude his traysoun nat espie_, 
 
 So was he ravysshed with his flaterie. 
 
 Allas^ ye lordes ! many a fals flatour 4515 
 
 Is in youre courtes^ and many a losengeour^ 
 That plesen yow wel moore^ by my feith^ 
 Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith. 
 Redeth Ecclesiaste of Flaterye; 
 
 Beth war_, ye lordes^ of hir trecherye. 4520 
 
 This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos^ 
 Strecchynge his nekke^ and heeld hise eyen cloos^ 
 And gan to crowe loude for the nones^ 
 And daun Russell the fox stirte up atones^ 
 And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer^ 4525 
 
 And on his bak toward the wode hym beer^ 
 For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed. 
 
 O destinee^ that mayst nat been eschewed! 
 Allas^ that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the hemes ! 
 Allas^ his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes ! 4530 
 
 And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce. 
 O Venus^ that art goddesse of plesaunce ! 
 Syn that thy servant was this Chauntecleer^ 
 And in thy servyce dide al his poweer_, 
 
 Moore for delit^ than world to multiply e^ 4535 
 
 Why woltestow suffre hym on thy day to dye ? 
 O Gaufred^ deere Maister soverayn ! 
 
204 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 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 nevere of ladyes maad^ whan Ylioun 
 
 Was wonne^ and Pirrus with his streite swerd^ 
 
 Whaij he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd^, 
 
 And slayn hym^ as seith us Eneydos^ 
 
 As maden alle the hennes in the clos^ 4550 
 
 Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. 
 
 But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte 
 
 Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf^ 
 
 Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf^ 
 
 And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage; 4555 
 
 She was so ful of torment and of rage 
 
 That wilfully into the fyr she sterte^ 
 
 And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte. 
 
 O woful hennes_, right so criden ye_, 
 
 As whan that Nero brende the Citee 4560 
 
 Of Rome^ cryden senatoures wyves^ 
 
 For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyves^ 
 
 Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn. 
 
 Now I wole turne to my tale agayn. 
 
 This sely wydwe^ and eek hir doghtres two^ 4565 
 
 Herden thise hennes crie^ and maken wo^ 
 And out at dores stirten they anon^ 
 And syen the fox toward the grove gon_, 
 And bar upon his bak the cok away; 
 
 And cryden^ '*Out! harrow! and weylaway ! 4570 
 
 Ha ! ha ! the fox \" and after hym they ran^ 
 And eek with staves many another man^ 
 
 4552 sodeynly. 4561 senatours. 4564 turne I wole. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE 205 
 
 Ran Colle^ oure dogge, and Talbot^ and Gerland^ 
 
 And Malkyn with a dystaf in hir hand^ 
 
 Ran cow and calf^ and eek the verray hogges, 4575 
 
 So were they fered for berkyng of the dogges^ 
 
 And shoutyng of the men and wommen eek, 
 
 They ronne so/ hem thoughte hir herte breek; 
 
 They yolleden as feendes doon in helle^ 
 
 The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle^ 4580 
 
 The gees for f eere flowen over the trees. 
 
 Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees, 
 
 So hydous was the noyse, a ! benedicitee ! 
 
 Certes, he Jakke Straw and his meynee 
 
 Ne made nevere shoutes half so shille, 4585 
 
 Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille, 
 
 As thilke day was maad upon the fox. 
 
 Of bras they broghten hemes and of box, 
 
 Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped. 
 
 And therwithal they skriked and they howped, 4590 
 
 It seemed as that hevene sholde f alle 1 
 
 Now, goode men, I pray yow, herkneth alle. 
 
 Lo, how Fortune turneth sodeynly 
 The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy 
 
 This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 4595 
 
 In al his drede unto the fox he spak. 
 And seyde, *'Sire, if that I were as ye, 
 Yet wolde I seyn, as wys God helpe me, 
 'Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle, 
 
 A verray pestilence upon yow falle, 4600 
 
 Now am I come unto the wodes syde, 
 Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde, 
 I wol hym ete, in feith, and that anon.' " 
 The fox answerde, **In feith, it shal be don.'' 
 And as he spak that word, al sodeynly 4605 
 
 This cok brak from his mouth delyverly. 
 And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon. 
 
 4575 eek om. 4576 were they om. 4594 eek om. 
 
206 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And whan the fox saugh that he was gon, 
 "Alias !" quod he^ "O Chauntecleer^ alias ! 
 I have to yow/' quod he^ 'Vdoon trespas^ 4610 
 
 In as muche as I maked yow aferd^ 
 Whan I yow hente and broght into this yerd. 
 But_, sire^ I dide it of no wikke entente^ 
 Com doun_, and I shal telle yow what I mente ; 
 I shal seye sooth to yow^ God help me so." 4615 
 
 ''Nay^ thanne/' quod he^ '*I shrewe us bothe two^ 
 And first I shrewe myself bothe blood and bones^ 
 If thou bigyle me ofter than ones. 
 Thou shalt namoore^ thurgh thy flaterye^ 
 Do me to synge and wynke with myn eye ; 4620 
 
 For he that wynketh whan he sholde see_, 
 Al wilfully _, God lat him nevere thee.'' 
 ''Nay^'' quod the fox^ ''but God yeve hym meschaunce^ 
 That is so undiscreet of governaunee^ 
 That jangleth^ whan he sholde holde his pees." 4625 
 
 Lo^ swich it is for to be reechelees^ 
 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 moralite^ goode men; 4630 
 
 For seint Paul seith^ that al that writen is^ 
 To oure doctrine it is ywrite^ ywis. 
 Taketh the fruyt^ and lat the chaf be stille. 
 Now goode God^ if that it be thy wille^ 
 
 As seith my lord^ so make us alle goode men^ 4635 
 
 And brynge us to his heighe blisse. Amen. 
 
 4618 any ofter. 
 
 Heere is ended the Nonnes Preestes tale. 
 
 Note.— The sixteen lines of Epilogue to this Tale are here omitted. The 
 tone, and in part, the very words, are a repetition of the Prolog-ue to the 
 Monkes Tale. This cannot have been Chaucer's intention, and the Epilogue 
 may therefore be either spurious, or a trial link, rejected after the Monkes 
 Prologue was written. 
 
 4 
 
GROUP C. 
 
 THE PHISICIENS TALE 
 
 Heere folweth the Phisiciens tale. 
 
 Ther was^ as telleth Titus Livius^ 
 A knyght that called was Virginius^ 
 Fuliild of honour and of worthynesse^ 
 And strong of freendes^ and of greet richesse. 
 This knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf^ 5 
 
 No children hadde he mo in al his lyf . 
 Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee 
 Aboven every wight that man may see. 
 For Nature hath with sovereyn diligence 
 Y formed hir in so greet excellence_, 10 
 
 As though she wolde seyn^ "Lo/I^ Nature^ 
 Thus kan I forme and peynte a creature 
 Whan that me list; who kan me countrefete? 
 Pigmalion noght^ though he ay forge and bete^ 
 Or grave^ or peynte^ for I dar wel seyn 15 
 
 Apelles^ Zanzis sholde werche in veyn 
 Outher to grave or peynte^ or forge^ or bete^ 
 If they presumed me to countrefete. 
 For He that is the former principal 
 
 Hath maked me his vicaire general 20 
 
 To forme and peynten erthely creaturis 
 Right as me list^ and ech thyng in my cure is 
 Under the Moone^ that may wane and waxe^ 
 And for my werk right nothyng wol I axe. 
 My lord and I been ful of oon accord; 25 
 
 I made hir to the worship of my lord^ 
 So do I alle myne othere creatures^ 
 What colour that they han^ or what figures.'* 
 
 2 was called. 
 
208 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seje. 
 
 This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye, 30 
 
 In which that Nature hadde swich delit. 
 For right as she kan peynte a lilie whit. 
 And reed a rose^ right with swich peynture 
 She peynted hath this noble creature^ 
 
 Er she were born^ upon hir lymes fre^ S5 
 
 Where as by right swiche colours sholde be. 
 And Phebus dyed hath hir treses grete^ 
 Lyk to the stremes of his burned heete ; 
 And if that excellent was hir beautee^ 
 
 A thousand f oold moore vertuous was she. 40 
 
 In hire ne lakked no condicioun 
 That is to preyse_, as by discrecioun; 
 As wel in goost ps body chast was she^ 
 For which she floured in virginitee 
 
 With alle humylitee and abstinence^ 45 
 
 With alle attemperaunce and pacience^ 
 With mesure eek of beryng and array. 
 Discreet she was in answeryng alway^ 
 Though she were wise Pallas^ dar I seyn^ 
 Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn^ 50 
 
 No countrefeted termes hadde she 
 To seme wys^ but after hir degree 
 She spak_, and alle hir wordes^ moore and lesse^ 
 Sownynge in vertu and in gentillesse. 
 
 Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse, 55 
 
 Constant in herte^ and evere in bisynesse 
 To dryve hir out of ydel slogardye. 
 Bacus hadde of hire mouth right no maistrie; 
 For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encresse^ 
 As man in fyr wol casten oille or greesse. 60 
 
 And of hir owene vertu unconstreyned^ 
 She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned^ 
 For that she wolde fleen the compaignye 
 
 50 and a. 55 in om. 60 wasten. 
 
THE PHISICIENS TALE 209 
 
 Wher likly was to treten of folye^ 
 
 As is at feestes^ revels_, and at daunces 65 
 
 That been occasions of daliaunces. 
 Swich thynges maken children for to be 
 To soone rype and boold^ as men may se^ 
 Which is f ul perilous^ and hath been yoore ; 
 For al to soone may they lerne loore 70 
 
 Of booldnesse^ whan she woxen is a wyf. 
 And ye maistresses^ in youre olde lyf, 
 That lordes doghtres han in governaunce^ 
 Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce; 
 Thenketh that ye been set in governynges 75 
 
 Of lordes doghtres^ oonly for two thynges ; 
 Outher for ye han kept youre honestee^ 
 Or elles ye han falle in freletee^ 
 And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce_, 
 And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce 80 
 
 For everemo; therfore for Cristes sake^ 
 To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake. 
 A theef of venysoun^ that hath forlaft 
 His likerousnesse^ and al his olde crafty 
 
 Kan kepe a forest best of any man. 85 
 
 Now kepeth wel^ for if ye wole^ ye kan. 
 Looke wel that ye unto no vice assente^ 
 Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente. 
 For who so dooth^ a traitour is^ certeyn; 
 
 And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn^ 90 
 
 Of alle tresons_, sovereyn pestilence 
 Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence. 
 Ye fadres and ye moodres^ eek also^ 
 Though ye han children^ be it oon or two^ 
 Youre is the charge of al hir surveiaunce 95 
 
 Whil that they been under youre governaunce. 
 Beth war^ if by ensample of youre lyvynge^ 
 Or by youre necligence in chastisjnge^ 
 
 69 thyng. 
 
210 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That they perisse^ for I dar wel seye^ 
 
 If that they doon ye shul it deere abeye^ 100 
 
 Under a shepherde softe and necligent 
 
 The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent. 
 
 SufFyseth oon ensample now as here^ 
 
 For I moot turne agayn to my mateere. 
 
 This mayde_, of which I wol this tale expresse^ 105 
 
 So kepte hirself^ hir neded no maistresse. 
 For in hir lyvyng maydens myghten rede^ 
 As in a book^ every good word or dede 
 That longeth to a mayden vertuous_, 
 
 She was so prudent and so bountevous. 110 
 
 For which the fame out-sprong on every syde 
 Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde^ 
 That thurgh that land they preised hire echone 
 That loved vertu; save envye allone^ 
 
 That sory is of oother mennes wele^ 115 
 
 And glad is of his sorwe and his unheele — 
 The doctour maketh this descripcioun. 
 
 This mayde upon a day wente in the toun 
 Toward a temple, with hir mooder deere, 
 As is of yonge maydens the manere. 120 
 
 Now was ther thanne a justice in that toun. 
 That governour w^as of that regioun. 
 And so bifel this juge hise eyen caste 
 Upon this mayde, avysynge hym ful faste 
 As she cam forby, ther as this juge stood. 125 
 
 Anon his herte chaunged and his mood, 
 So was he caught with beautee of this mayde. 
 And to hyfnself ful pryvely he sayde, 
 ''This mayde shal be myn, for any man.'' 
 Anon the feend into his herte ran, ISO 
 
 And taughte hym sodeynly, that he by slyghte 
 The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte. 
 For certes, by no force_, ne#by no meede, 
 Hym thoughte he was nat able for to speede ; 
 
THE PHISICIENS TALE 211 
 
 For she was strong of freendes^ and eek she 135 
 
 Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee^ 
 
 That wel he wiste he myghte hir nevere wynne^ 
 
 As for to maken hir with hir body synne. 
 
 For which^ by greet deliberacioun^ 
 
 He sente after a cherl^ was in the toun^ 140 
 
 Which that he knew for subtil and for boold. 
 
 This Juge unto this cherl his tale hath toold 
 
 In secree wise^ and made hym to ensure 
 
 He sholde telle it to no creature^ 
 
 And if he dide^ he sholde lese his heed. 145 
 
 Whan that assented was this cursed reed. 
 
 Glad was this juge, and maked him greet cheere, 
 
 And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere. 
 
 W^han shapen was al hir conspiracie 
 Fro point to point, how that his lecherie 150 
 
 Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly, 
 (As ye shul heere it after openly) 
 Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius. 
 This false juge, that highte Apius, 
 
 So was his name — for this is no fable, 155 
 
 But knowen for historial thyng notable ; 
 The sentence of it sooth is out of doute — 
 This false juge gooth now faste aboute 
 To hasten his delit al that he may. 
 
 And so bifel soone after on a day, l60 
 
 This false juge, as telleth us the storie, 
 As he was wont, sat in his consistorie. 
 And yaf his doomes upon sondry cas. 
 This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas 
 And seyde, *Xord, if that it be youre wille, l65 
 
 As dooth me right upon this pitous bille 
 In which I pleyne upon Virginius; 
 And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus, 
 I wol it preeve, and fynde good witnesse 
 That sooth is, that my bille wol expresse.'' 170 
 
212 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The juge answerde^ **Of this in his absence^ 
 
 I may nat yeve difFynytyve sentence. 
 
 Lat do hym. ealle_, and I wol gladly heere. 
 
 Thou shalt have al right and no wrong heere." 
 
 Virginius cam to wite the juges wille^ 175 
 
 And right anon was rad this cursed bille. 
 
 The sentence of it was^ as ye shul heere: 
 
 *'To yow_, my lord^ Sire Apius so deere_, 
 
 Sheweth youre povre servant Claudius_, 
 
 How that a knyght called Virginius _ 180 
 
 Agayns the lawe^ agayn al equitee^ 
 
 Holdeth expres agayn the wyl of me 
 
 My servant^ which that is my thral by rights 
 
 Which fro myn hous was stole upon a nyght^ 
 
 Whil that she was ful yong; this wol I preeve 185 
 
 By witnesse^ lord^ so that it nat yow greeve. 
 
 She nys his doghter^ nat what so he seye. 
 
 Wherfore to yow_, my lord the Juge_, I preye 
 
 Yeld me my thral_, if that it be youre wille." 
 
 l^Oy this was al the sentence of his bille. 190 
 
 Virginius gan upon the cherl biholde^ 
 
 But hastily^ er he his tale tolde^ 
 
 And wolde have preeved it as sholde a knyght^ 
 
 And eek by witnessyng of many a wight^ 
 
 That it was fals^ that seyde his adversaries 195 
 
 This cursed juge wolde no thyng tarie^ 
 
 Ne heere a word moore of Virginius^ 
 
 But yaf his juggement and seyde thus: 
 
 *'I deeme anon this cherl his servant have^ 
 
 Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save. 200 
 
 Go^ bryng hir forth^ and put hir in our warde. 
 
 The cherl shal have his thral^ this I awarde.'' 
 
 And whan this worthy knyght Virginius^ 
 
 Thurgh sentence of this justice Apius^ 
 
 Moste by force his deere doghter yeven 205 
 
 172 difFynyue. 
 
 I 
 
THE PHISICIENS TALE 213 
 
 Unto the j uge in lecherie to ly ven^ 
 
 He gooth hym hoom^ and sette him in his halle^ 
 
 And leet anon his deere doghter calle^ 
 
 And with a face deed as asshen colde^ 
 
 Upon hir humble face he gan biholde 210 
 
 With fadres pitee stikynge thurgh his herte^ 
 
 Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte. 
 
 ''Doghter/' quod he^ ''Virginia^ by thy name^ 
 Ther been two weyes^ outher deeth or shame 
 That thou most sufFre^ allas^ that I was bore ! 215 
 
 For nevere thou deservedest wherfore 
 To dyen with a swerd^ or with a knyf. 
 O deere doghter_, ender of my lyf^ 
 Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce^ 
 That thou were nevere out of my remembraunce. 220 
 
 O doghter^ which that art my laste wo^ 
 And in my lyf my laste joye also^ 
 O gemme of chastitee^ in pacience 
 Take thou thy deeth_, for this is my sentence^ 
 For love and nat for hate^ thou most be deed; 225 
 
 My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed. 
 Alias, that evere Apius the say ! 
 Thus hath he falsly jugged the to day/' 
 And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore 
 
 Han herd, nat nedeth for to telle it moore. 230 
 
 ''O mercy, deere fader/' quod this mayde, 
 And with that word she bothe hir armes layde 
 About his nekke, as she was wont to do. 
 The teeris bruste out of hir eyen two, 
 
 And seyde, ''Goode fader, shal I dye.^ 235 
 
 Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye.^" 
 "No, certes, deere doghter myn," quod he. 
 ''Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn/' quod she, 
 ''My deeth for to compleyne a litel space. 
 For, pardee, Jepte yaf his doghter grace 240 
 
 2?3 0/ o. . 
 
214 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For to compleyne^ er he hir slow^ alias ! 
 
 And God it woot^ no thyng was hir trespas 
 
 But for she ran hir fader for to see 
 
 To welcome hym with greet solempnitee/' 
 
 And with that word she fil aswowne anon; 245 
 
 And after whan hir swownyng is agon 
 
 She riseth up and to hir fader sayde^ 
 
 *'Blissed be God that I shal dye a mayde; 
 
 Yif me my deeth^ er that I have a shame. 
 
 Dooth with youre child youre wyl^ a Goddes name." 250 
 
 And with that word she preyed hym ful ofte 
 
 That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe^ 
 
 And with that word aswowne doun she fil. 
 
 Hir fader with ful sorweful herte and wil 
 Hir heed of smoot_, and by the top it hente^ 255 
 
 And to the juge he gan it to presente 
 As he sat yet in doom^ in consistorie. 
 And whan the juge it saugh^ as seith the storie^ 
 He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste. 
 But right anon a thousand peple in thraste 260 
 
 To save the kynght for routhe and for pitee ; 
 For knowen was the false iniquitee. 
 The peple anon hath suspect of this thyng^ 
 By manere of the cherles chalangyng^ 
 
 That it was by the assent of iVpius — 265 
 
 They wisten wel that he was lecherus; 
 For which unto this Apius they gon 
 And caste hym in a prisoun right anon^ 
 Ther as he slow hymself^ and Claudius 
 
 That servant was unto this Apius^ 270 
 
 Was demed for to hange upon a tree^ 
 But that Virginius^ of his pitee^ 
 So preyde for hym^ that he was exiled; 
 And elles^ certes^ he had been bigyled. 
 The remenant were anhanged^ moore and lesse^ 275 
 
 271 iims and. 
 
THE PHISICIENS TALE 215 
 
 That were consentant of this cursednesse. 
 
 Heere men may seen^ how synne hath his merite. 
 Beth war^ for no man woot whom God wol smyte 
 In no degree^ ne in which manere wyse 
 
 The worm of conscience may agryse 280 
 
 Of wikked lyf_j though it so pryvee be 
 That no man woot therof but God and he. 
 For be he lewed man^ or ellis lered^ 
 He noot how soone that he shal been afered. 
 Therfore I rede yow this conseil take^ 285 
 
 Forsaketh synne^ er synne yow forsake. 
 
 Heere endeth the Phisiciens tale. 
 
EPILOGUE 
 
 The wordes of the Hoost to the Phisicien and the Pardoner, 
 
 Oure Hooste gan to swere as he were wood; 
 ''Harrow!'' quod he^ ''by nayles and by blood! 
 This was a fals eherl and a fals justice! 
 
 As shameful deeth as herte may devyse 290 
 
 Come to thise juges and hire advocatz ! 
 Algate this sely mayde is slayn^ alias ! 
 Alias ! to deere boughte she beautee ! 
 Wherfore I seye al day^ as men may see 
 That yiftes of Fortune and of Nature 295 
 
 Been cause of deeth to many a creature. 
 [Hir beautee was hir deeth^ I dar wel sayn; 
 AUas^ so pitously as she was slayn!] 
 Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now 
 
 Men han ful ofte moore harm than prow. 300 
 
 But trewely^ myn owene maister deere^ 
 This is a pitous tale for to heere. 
 But nathelees_, passe over is no f ors ; 
 I pray to God so save thy gentil cors_, 
 
 And eek thyne urynals and thy jurdanes^ 805 
 
 Thyn ypocras and eek thy Galianes 
 And every boyste ful of thy letuarie^ 
 God blesse hem^ and oure lady Seinte Marie ! 
 So moot I theen^ thou art a propre man_, 
 
 And lyk a prelate by Seint Ronyan. 310 
 
 Seyde I nat wel ? I kan nat speke in terme ; 
 But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme, 
 That I almoost have caught a cardyacle. 
 By corpus bones^ but I have triacle^ 
 Or elles a draughte of moyste and corny ale^ 315 
 
 287 Hoost. 291 false juges. 297-8 not in MS, 300 for harm. 308 seint. 
 
EPILOGUE 217 
 
 Or but I heere anon a myrie tale^ 
 
 Myn herte is lost^ for pitee of this mayde ! 
 
 Thou beelam}^^ thou Pardoner/' he sayde^ 
 
 ''Telle us som myrthe or japes right anon/' 
 
 ''It shal be doon/' quod he^ "by Seint Ronyon; 320 
 
 But first/' quod he^ "heere at this ale-stake^ 
 
 I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake." 
 
 And right anon the gentils gonne to crye^ 
 
 "Nay^ lat hym telle us of no ribaudye ! 
 
 Telle us som moral thyng that we may leere 325 
 
 Som wit^ and thanne wol we gladly heere !" 
 
 "I graunte^ ywis/' quod he^ "but I moot thynke 
 
 Upon som honeste thyng^ while that I drynke." 
 
THE PARDONERS PROLOGUE 
 
 Heere folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners tale. 
 Radix malorum est Cupiditas Ad Thimotheum ^°. 
 
 Lordynges — quod he — in chirches whan I preche^ 
 I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche^ 330 
 
 And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle^ 
 For I kan al by rote that I telle. 
 My theme is alwey oon and evere was^ 
 ''Radix malorum est Cupiditas." 
 
 First I pronounce whennes that I come^ S3 5 
 
 And thanne my buUes shewe I^ alle and some; 
 Oure lige lordes seel on my patente^ 
 That shewe I first^ my body to warente_, 
 That no man be so boold_, ne preest ne clerk^ 
 Me to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk. 340 
 
 And after that thanne telle I forth my tales^ 
 Bulles of popes and of cardynales^ 
 Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe^ 
 And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe_, 
 
 To saffron with my predicacioun^ S4i5 
 
 And for to stire hem to devocioun. 
 Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones^ 
 Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones; 
 Relikes been they^ as wenen they echoon. 
 Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon 350 
 
 Which that was of an hooly Jewes sheepe. 
 ''Goode men^'' I seye_, *'taak of my wordes keepe: 
 If that this boon be wasshe in any welle^ 
 If cow^ or calf^ or sheep^ or oxe swelle^ 
 
 That any worm hath ete^ or worm ystonge^ 355 
 
 Taak water of that welle^ and wassh his tonge^ 
 
 350 I om. 
 
THE PARDONERS PROLOGUE 219 
 
 And it is hool anon; and forthermoor^ 
 
 Of pokkes and of scabbe and every soor 
 
 Shal every sheepe be hool that of this welle 
 
 Drynketh a draughte ; taak kepe eek what I telle^ 360 
 
 If that the goode man that the beestes oweth^ 
 
 Wol every wyke^ er that the cok hym croweth^ 
 
 Fastynge^ drinken of this welle a draughte^ 
 
 As thilke hooly Jew oure eldres taughte^ 
 
 Hise beestes and his stoor shal multiplie. S65 
 
 And^ sire^ also it heeleth j alousie ; 
 
 For though a man be f alle in j alous rage^ 
 
 Lat maken with this water his potage_, 
 
 And nevere shal he moore his wyf mystriste^ 
 
 Though he the soothe of hir defaute wiste^ 370 
 
 Al had she taken preestes two or thre. 
 
 Heere is a miteyn_, eek^ that ye may se: 
 
 He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn. 
 
 He shal have multipliyng of his grayn 
 
 What he hath sowen^ be it whete or otes^ 375 
 
 So that he ofFre pens^ or elles grotes. 
 
 Goode men and wommen^ o thyng warne I yow^ 
 
 If any wught be in this chirche now_, 
 
 That hath doon synne horrible^ that he 
 
 Dar nat for shame of it yshryven be^ 380 
 
 Or any womman^ be she yong or old^ 
 
 That hath ymaad hir housbonde cokewold, 
 
 Swich folk shal have no power ne no grace 
 
 To ofFren to my relikes in this place. 
 
 And who so fyndeth hym out of swich fame^ 385 
 
 He wol come up and ofFre^ on Goddes name^ 
 
 And I assoille him^ by the auctoritee 
 
 Which that by buUe ygraunted was to me/' 
 
 By this gaude have I wonne^ yeer by yeer_, 
 An hundred mark^ sith I was pardoner. 390 
 
 I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet^ 
 
 363 drinke. 382 ymaked. 386 He They. 387 him hem. 
 
220 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And whan the lewed peple is doun yset^ 
 I preche so^ as ye han herd bifoore^ 
 And telle an hundred false japes moore. 
 Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke^ 395 
 
 And est and west upon the peple I bekke^ 
 As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne. 
 Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne 
 That it is joye to se my bisynesse. 
 
 Of avarice and of swich cursednesse 400 
 
 Is al my prechyng^ for to make hem free 
 To yeven hir pens ; and namely^ unto me ! 
 For myn entente is nat but for to wynne^ 
 And no thyng for correccioun of synne. 
 
 I rekke nevere^ whan that they been beryed^ 405 
 
 Though that hir soules goon a blakeberyed_, 
 For certes^ many a predicacioun 
 Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun. 
 Som for plesance of folk^ and flaterye_, 
 
 To been avaunced by ypocrisye^ 410 
 
 And som for veyne glorie^ and som for hate. 
 For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate^, 
 Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte 
 In prechyng^ so that he shal nat asterte 
 
 To been defamed falsly^ if that he . 415 
 
 Hath trespased to my bretheren^ or to me. 
 For though I telle noght his propre name^ 
 Men shal wel knowe that it is the same 
 By signes^ and by othere circumstances. 
 
 Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances^ 420 
 
 Thus spitte I out my venym^ under hewe 
 Of hoolynesse^ to semen hooly and trewe. 
 But shortly _, myn entente I wol devyse; 
 I preche of no thyng but for coveityse. 
 
 Therfore my theme is yet^ and evere was^ 425 
 
 **Radix malorum est Cupiditas." 
 
 405 that om. 
 
THE PARDONERS PROLOGUE 221 
 
 Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice 
 
 Which that I use^ and that is avarice. 
 
 But though myself be gilty in that synne_, 
 
 Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne 430 
 
 From avarice^ and soore to repente; 
 
 But that is nat my principal entente. 
 
 I preche no thyng but for coveitise; 
 
 Of this mateere it oghte ynogh suffise. 
 
 Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon 435 
 
 Of olde stories longe tyme agoon_, 
 
 For lewed peple loven tales olde; 
 
 Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde. 
 
 What.^ trowe ye^ the whiles I may preche^ 
 
 And Wynne gold and silver for I teche^ 440 
 
 That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully ? 
 
 Nay^ nay^ I thoghte it nevere^ trewely. 
 
 For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes^ 
 
 I wol nat do no labour with myne handes^ 
 
 Ne make baskettes^ and lyve therby^ ' 445 
 
 By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly. 
 
 I wol noon of the apostles countrefete_, 
 
 I wol have moneie^ woUe^ chese^ and whete^ 
 
 Al were it yeven of the povereste page^ 
 
 Or of the povereste wydwe in a village^ 450 
 
 Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne. 
 
 Nay^ 1 wol drynke licour of the vyne^ 
 
 And have a joly wenche in every toun. 
 
 But herkneth^ lordynges^ in conclusioun: 
 
 Your likyng is^ that I shal telle a tale. 455 
 
 Now have I dronke a draughte of corny ale_, 
 
 By God^ I hope I shal yow telle a thyng 
 
 That shal by resoun been at youre likyng. 
 
 For though myself be a ful vicious man^ 
 
 A moral tale yet I yow telle kan_, 460 
 
 Which I am wont to preche^ for to wynne. 
 
 Now hoold youre pees^ my tale I wol bigynne. 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 
 
 Heere higynneth the Pardoners tale. 
 
 In Flaundres whilom was a compaignye 
 Of yonge folk^ that haunteden folye^ 
 
 As riot^ hasard^ stywes^ and tavernes^ 4i65 
 
 Wher as with harpes^ lutes^ and gyternes 
 They daunce and pleyen at dees^ bothe day and nyght^ 
 And eten also and drynken over hir myght^ 
 Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifise 
 Withinne that develes temple in cursed wise^ 470 
 
 By superfluytee abhomynable. 
 Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable 
 That it is grisly for to heere hem swere. 
 Oure blissed lordes body they to-tere^ 
 
 Hem thoughte that Jewes rente hym noght ynough^ 475 
 And ech of hem at otheres synne lough. 
 And right anon thanne comen tombesteres^ 
 Fetys and smale^ and yonge frutesteres_, 
 Syngeres with harpes^ baudes^ wafereres^ 
 Whiche been the verray develes officeres 480 
 
 To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye_, 
 That is annexed unto glotonye. 
 The hooly writ take I to my witnesse^ 
 That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse. 
 
 Lo^ how that dronken Looth unkyndely 485 
 
 Lay by hise doghtres two unwityngly; 
 So dronke he was^ he nyste what he wroghte. 
 Herodes^ whoso wel the stories soghte^ 
 Whan he of wyn was repleet at his feeste^ 
 Right at his owene table he yaf his heeste 490 
 
 To sleen the Baptist John^ ful giltelees. 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 223 
 
 Senec seith a good word^ doutelees; 
 
 He seith^ he kan no difference fynde 
 
 Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde^ 
 
 And a man which that is dronkelewe^ 4<95 
 
 But that woodnesse fallen in a shrewe 
 
 Persevereth lenger than dooth dronkenesse. 
 
 O glotonye_, ful of cursednesse ! 
 
 O cause first of oure confusioun ! 
 
 O original of oure dampnacioun 500 
 
 Til Crist hadde boght us with his blood agayn ! 
 
 Lo_, how deere^ shortly for to sayn^ 
 
 Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye ! 
 
 Corrupt was al this world for glotonye ! 
 
 Adam oure fader_, and his wyf also^ 505 
 
 Fro Paradys to labour and to wo 
 
 Were dryven for that vice^ it is no drede; 
 
 For whil that Adam fasted_, as I rede_, 
 
 He was in Paradys^ and whan that he 
 
 Eet of the fruyt defended on the tree^ 510 
 
 Anon he was out-cast to wo and peyne. 
 
 O glotonye^ on thee wel oghte us pleyne ! 
 
 O^ wiste a man how manye maladyes 
 
 Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes_, 
 
 He wolde been the moore mesurable 515 
 
 Of his diete^ sittynge at his table. 
 
 AUas^ the shorte throte^ the tendre mouth 
 
 Maketh that est and west and north and south 
 
 In erthe_, in eir^ in water^ man to swynke 
 
 To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke. 520 
 
 Of this matiere_, O Paul ! wel kanstow trete^ 
 
 Mete unto wombe and wombe eek unto mete 
 
 Shal God destroyen bothe^ as Paulus seith. 
 
 Allas^ a foul thyng is it^ by my f eith ! 
 
 To seye this word^ and fouler is the dede 525 
 
 Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede^ 
 
 That of his throte he maketh his pryvee 
 
224 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. 
 
 The Apostel wepyng seith ful pitously, 
 
 ''Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold have I^ 530 
 
 I seye it now wepyng with pitous voys^ 
 
 That they been enemys of Cristes croys^ 
 
 Of whiche the ende is deeth_, wombe is hir god." 
 
 O wombe ! O bely ! O stynkyng cod ! 
 
 Fulfilled of donge and of corrupcioun^ 5B5 
 
 At either ende of thee foul is the soun; 
 
 How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde^ 
 
 Thise cookes^ how they starape_, and streyne_, and grynde. 
 
 And turnen substaunce into accident^ 
 
 To fulfillen al thy likerous talent ! 540 
 
 Out of the harde bones knokke they 
 
 The mary^ for they caste noght awey^ 
 
 That may go thurgh the golet softe and swoote; 
 
 Of spicerie^ of leef^ and bark^ and roote^ 
 
 Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit^ 545 
 
 To make hym yet a newer appetit. i-l 
 
 But certes^ he that haunteth swiche delices '' 
 
 Is deed^ whil that he lyveth in tho vices. 
 
 A lecherous thyng is wyn^ and dronkenesse 
 Is ful of stryvyng and of wrecchednesse. 550 
 
 O dronke man^ disfigured is thy face ! 
 Sour is thy breeth^ foul artow to embrace^ 
 And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun^ 
 As though thou seydest ay^ ''Sampsoun ! Sampsoun V 
 And yet^ God woot^ Sampsoun drank nevere no wyn ! 555 
 Thou fallest^ as it were a styked swyn; 
 Thy tonge is lost^ and al thyn honeste cure 
 For dronkenesse is verray sepulture 
 Of mannes wit and his discrecioun_, 
 
 In whom that drynke hath dominacioun. 560 
 
 He kan no conseil kepe^ it is no drede ; 
 Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede^ 
 
 532 That they Ther. 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 225 
 
 And namely^ fro the white wyn of Lepe^ 
 
 That is to selle in Fysshstrete^ or in Chepe. 
 
 This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly 565 
 
 In othere wynes^ growynge faste by^ 
 
 Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee^ 
 
 That whan a man hath dronken draughtes thre 
 
 And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe^ 
 
 He is in Spaigne^ right at the toune of Lepe^ 570 
 
 Nat at the Rochele^ ne at Burdeux toun ; 
 
 And thanne wol he seye ''Sampsoun^ Sampsoun V 
 
 But herkneth^ lordes^ o word I yow preye^ 
 
 That alle the sovereyn actes^ dar I seye^ 
 
 Of victories in the Olde Testament^ 575 
 
 Thurgh verray God that is omnipotent 
 
 Were doon in abstinence and in preyere. 
 
 Looketh the Bible_, and ther ye may it leere. 
 
 Looke_, Attilla_, the grete conquerour_, 
 
 Deyde in his sleepe^ with shame and dishonour^ 580 
 
 Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenesse. 
 
 A capitayn sholde lyve in sobrenesse; 
 
 And over al this avyseth yow right wel^ 
 
 What was comaunded unto Lamwel 
 
 Nat Samuel^ but Lamwel^ seye I; 585 
 
 Redeth the Bible and fynde it expresly^ 
 
 Of wyn yevyng to hem that han justise. 
 
 Namoore of this^ for it may wel suffise. 
 
 And now that I have spoken of glotonye. 
 Now wol I yow defFenden hasardrye. 590 
 
 Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges^ 
 And of deceite and cursed forswerynges^ 
 Blasphemyng of Crista manslaughtre and wast also. 
 Of catel and of tyme, and forthermo 
 
 It is repreeve and contrarie of honour 595 
 
 For to ben holde a commune hasardour. 
 And ever the hyer he is of estaat, 
 
 589 that oni. 
 
226 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The moore is he holden desolaat; 
 
 If that a prynce useth hasardrye^ 
 
 In alle governaunce and poHcye 600 
 
 He is as by commune opinioun 
 
 Yholde the lasse in reputacioun. 
 
 Stilboun^ that was a wys embassadour^ 
 
 Was sent to Corynthe in ful greet honour_, 
 
 Fro Lacidomye to maken hire alliaunee. 605 
 
 And whan he cam hym happede par chaunce^ 
 
 That alle the gretteste that were of that lond 
 
 Pleyynge atte hasard he hem fond. 
 
 For which^ as soone as it myghte be^ 
 
 He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree^ 6lO 
 
 And seyde^ **Ther wol I nat lese my name^ 
 
 Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame. 
 
 Yow for to allie unto none hasardours. 
 
 Sendeth othere wise embassadours^ 
 
 For by my trouthe me were levere dye 6l5 
 
 Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. 
 
 For ye that been so glorious in honours 
 
 Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours^ 
 
 As by my wyl^ ne as by my tretee/' 
 
 This wise philosophre^ thus seyde hee. 620 
 
 Looke eek^ that to the kyng Demetrius 
 
 The kyng of Parthes^ as the book seith us, 
 
 Sente him a paire of dees of gold, in scorn. 
 
 For he hadde used hasard therbiforn, 
 
 For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun 625 
 
 At no value or reputacioun. 
 
 Lordes may fynden oother maner pley 
 
 Honeste ynough, to dryve the day awey. 
 
 Now wol I speke of othes false and grete l| 
 
 A word or two, as olde bookes trete. 6S0 
 
 Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable, i 
 
 And fals sweryng is yet moore reprevable. ' 
 
 606 happed. 621 to om. 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 227 
 
 The heighe God forbad sweryng at al^ 
 
 Witnesse on Mathew; but in special 
 
 Of sweryng seith the hooly Jeremy e^ 6S5 
 
 ''Thou shalt seye sooth thyne othes^ and nat lye^ 
 
 And swere in doom^ and eek in rightwisnesse/' 
 
 But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse. 
 
 Bihoold and se^ that in the firste table 
 
 Of heighe Goddes heestes honurable 640 
 
 How that the seconde heeste of hym is this: 
 
 Take nat my name in ydel or amys. 
 
 Loj rather he forbedeth swich sweryng 
 
 Than homycide^ or any cursed thyng! 
 
 I seye^ that as by ordre thus it stondeth^ 645 
 
 This knowen that hise heestes understondeth 
 
 How that the seconde heeste of God is that. 
 
 And forther-over I wol thee telle al plat^ 
 
 That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous 
 
 That of hise othes is to outrageous — 650 
 
 ''By Goddes precious herte and by his nayles^ 
 
 And by the blood of Crist that is in Hayles_, 
 
 Sevene is my chaunce and thyn is cynk and treye. 
 
 By Goddes armes^ if thou falsly pleye^ 
 
 This dagger shal thurghout thyn herte go!'' 655 
 
 This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two^ 
 
 Forsweryng^ ire^ f alsnesse^ homycide ! 
 
 Now for the love of Crista that for us dyde^ 
 
 Lete youre othes bothe grete and smale. 
 
 But^ sires^ now wol I telle forth my tale. 660 
 
 Thise riotoures thre^ of whiche I telle^ 
 Longe erst er prime rong of any belle^ 
 Were set hem in a taverne for to drynke. 
 And as they sat^ they herde a belle clynke 
 Biforn a cors^ was caried to his grave, 665 
 
 That oon of hem gan callen to his knave^ 
 "Go bet/' quod he^ "and axe redily 
 
 661 riotours. 663 for om. 
 
228 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 What cors is this^ that passeth heer forby^ 
 
 And looke^ that thou reporte his name weel/' 
 
 *'Sir/' quod this boy^ *'it nedeth neveradeel; 670 
 
 It was me toold^ er ye cam heer two houres. 
 
 He was^ pardee^ an old felawe of youres^ 
 
 And sodeynly he was yslayn to-nyght^ 
 
 Fordronke^ as he sat on his bench upright. 
 
 Ther cam a privee theef men clepeth Deeth, 675 
 
 That in this contree al the peple sleeth^ 
 
 And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo^ 
 
 And wente his wey withouten wordes mo. 
 
 He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence^ 
 
 And maister^ er ye come in his presence, 680 
 
 Me thynketh that it were necessarie 
 
 For to be war of swich an adversarie. 
 
 Beth redy for to meete hym everemoore, 
 
 Thus taughte me my dame, I sey namoore." 
 
 ''By Seinte Marie,'' seyde this taverner, 685 
 
 ''The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer 
 
 Henne over a mile, withinne a greet village 
 
 Bothe man and womman, child, and hyne, and page. 
 
 I trowe his habitacioun be there. 
 
 To been avysed, greet wysdom it were, 690 
 
 Er that he dide a man a dishonour." 
 
 "Ye, Goddes armes," quod this riotour, 
 
 ''Is it swich peril with hym for to meete? 
 
 I shal hym seke, by wey and eek by strete, 
 
 I make avow to Goddes digne bones. 695 
 
 Herkneth, f elawes, we thre been al ones ; 
 
 Lat ech of us holde up his hand til oother. 
 
 And ech of us bicomen otheres brother. 
 
 And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth. 
 
 He shal be slayn, which that so manye sleeth, 700 
 
 By Goddes dignitee, er it be nyght." 
 
 Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight. 
 
 To lyve and dyen, ech of hem for oother. 
 
 III 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 229 
 
 As though he were his owene ybore brother ; 
 
 And up they stirte al dronken in this rage^ 705 
 
 And forth they goon towardes that village^ 
 
 Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn. 
 
 And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn^ 
 
 And Cristes blessed body they to-rente^ 
 
 'Deeth shal be deed^ if that they may hym hente/ 710 
 
 Whan they han goon nat fully half a mile^ 
 Right as they wolde han troden over a stile^ 
 An oold man and a povre with hem mette. 
 This olde man ful mekely hem grette_, 
 
 And seyde thus^ ''Now^ lordes^ God yow see." 715 
 
 The proudeste of thise riotoures three 
 Answerde agayn^ "What^ carl^ with sory grace. 
 Why artow al f orwrapped save thy face ? 
 Why lyvestow so longe in so greet age?'' 
 This olde man gan looke in his visage^ 720 
 
 And seyde thus, 'Tor I ne kan nat fynde 
 A man^ though that I walked in to Ynde, 
 Neither in citee nor in no village, 
 That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age. 
 And therfore moot I han myn age stille 725 
 
 As longe tyme as it is Goddes wille. 
 Ne deeth, alias, ne wol nat han my lyf ! 
 Thus walke I lyk a restelees kaityf. 
 And on the ground, which is my moodres gate, 
 I knokke with my staf bothe erly and late. 730 
 
 And seye, 'leeve mooder, leet me in ! 
 Lo, how I vanysshe, flessh and blood and skyn ! 
 Alias, whan shul my bones been at reste ? 
 Mooder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste. 
 That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, 735 
 
 Ye, for an heyre-clowt to wrappe me.' 
 But yet to me she wol nat do that grace ; 
 For which ful pale and welked is my face. 
 
 704 yborn. 705 al and. 716 riotours. 
 
230 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But^ sires^ to yow it is no curteisye 
 
 To speken to an old man vileynye^ 740 
 
 But he trespasse in word^ or elles in dede. 
 
 In hooly writ ye may yourself wel rede^ 
 
 'Agayns an oold man^ hoor upon his heed^ 
 
 Ye sholde arise ;' wherfore I yeve yow reed^ 
 
 Ne dooth unto an oold man noon harm now^ 745 ' 
 
 Namoore than that ye wolde men did to yow 
 
 In age^ if that ye so longe abyde^ 
 
 And God be with yow where ye go or ryde. 
 
 I moote go thider^ as I have to go/' 
 
 ''Nay^ olde cherl^ by God^ thou shalt nat so^'' 750 
 
 Seyde this oother hasardour anon. 
 
 *'Thou partest nat so lightly _, by Seint John. 
 
 Thou spak right now of thilke traytour Deeth^ 
 
 That in this contree alle oure f reendes sleeth. 
 
 Have heer my trouthe^ as thou art his espye^ 755 
 
 Telle where he is^ or thou shalt it abye^ 
 
 By God and by the hooly sacrament^ 
 
 For soothly thou art oon of his assent 
 
 To sleen us yonge folk^ thou false theef !" jil 
 
 "Now^ sires/' quod he^ *'if that ye be so leef 760 ' 
 
 To fynde Deeth^ turne up this croked wey^ 
 
 For in that grove I lafte hym^ by my f ey^ 
 
 Under a tree^ and there he wole abyde. 
 
 Noght for your boost he wole him nothyng hyde^ 
 
 Se ye that ook? right ther ye shal hym fynde^ 765 
 
 God save yow that boghte agayn mankynde^ 
 
 And yow amende.'' Thus seyde this olde man; 
 
 And everich of thise riotoures ran 
 
 Til he cam to that tree^ and ther they founde 
 
 Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde 770 \ 
 
 Wel ny an eighte busshels^ as hem thoughte. 
 
 No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte_, h 
 
 But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte^ I' 
 
 768 riotours. 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 231 
 
 For that the floryns been so faire and brighte^ 
 
 That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord. 775 
 
 The worste of hem^ he spak the firste word^ 
 
 "Bretheren^" quod he^ ''taak kepe what I seye; 
 
 My wit is greets though that I bourde and pleye. 
 
 This tresor hath Fortune unto us yeven^ 
 
 In myrthe and joliftee oure lyf to lyven. 780 
 
 And lightly as it comth^ so wol we spende. 
 
 Ey^ Goddes precious dignitee^ who wende 
 
 Today that we sholde han so fair a grace ? 
 
 But myghte this gold be caried fro this place 
 
 Hoom to myn hous or elles unto youres^ 785 
 
 (For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures) 
 
 Thanne were we in heigh felicitee. 
 
 But trewely^ by daye it may nat bee ; 
 
 Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge^ 
 
 And for oure owene tresor doon us honge. 790 
 
 This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte_, 
 
 Asjwisely and as slyly as it myghte. 
 
 Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle 
 
 Be drawe^ and lat se wher the cut wol falle^ 
 
 And he that hath the cut^ with herte blithe 795 
 
 Shal renne to the towne^ and that f ul swithe_, 
 
 And brynge us breed and wyn^ ful prively; 
 
 And two of us shul kepen subtilly 
 
 This tresor weL and if he wol nat tarie^ 
 
 Whan it is nyght^ we wol this tresor carie^ 800 
 
 By oon assent_, where as us thynketh best/' 
 
 That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest_, 
 
 And bad hym drawe^ and looke where it wol f alle ; 
 
 And it ill on the yongeste of hem alle^ 
 
 And forth toward the toun he wente anon. 805 
 
 And al so soone^ as that he was agon_, 
 
 That oon of hem spak thus unto that oother^ 
 
 '*Thow knowest wel thou art my sworen brother^ 
 
 796 the om. 806 gon. 807 of hem om. 808 sworn. 
 
232 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thy profit wol I telle thee anon. 
 
 Thou woost wel^ that oure felawe is agon^ 810 
 
 And heere is gold^ and that ful greet plentee^ 
 
 That shal departed been among us thre. 
 
 But nathelees^ if I kan shape it so 
 
 That it departed were among us two^ 
 
 Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?'' 815 
 
 That oother answerde^ "I noot bou that may be? 
 
 He woot how that the gold is with us tweye; 
 
 What shal we doon ? what shal we to hym seye ?'' 
 
 "Shal it be eonseil?'' seyde the firste shrewe^ 
 
 "And I shal tellen^ in a wordes fewe^ 820 
 
 What we shal doon^ and bryngen it wel aboute." 
 
 "I graunte^'' quod that oother^ "out of doute^ 
 
 That by my trouthe I shal thee nat biwreye." 
 
 "Now^'' quod the firste^ "thou woost wel we be tweye^ 
 
 And two of us shul strenger be than oon; 825 
 
 Looke whan that he is set^ that right anoon 
 
 Arys^ as though thou woldest with hym pleye^ 
 
 And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye^ 
 
 Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game. 
 
 And with thy dagger e looke thou do the same^ 830 
 
 And thanne shal al this gold departed be^ 
 
 My deere freend^ bitwixen me and thee. 
 
 Thanne may we bothe oure lustes all fulfille^ 
 
 And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille." 
 
 And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye 835 
 
 To sleen the thridde^ as ye han herd me seye. 
 
 This yongeste^ which that wente unto the toun^ 
 Ful of te in herte he roUeth up and doun 
 The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte. 
 "O lord/' quod he^ "if so were that I myghte 840 
 
 Have al this tresor to my-self allone^ 
 Ther is no man that lyveth under the trone 
 Of God^ that sholde lyve so murye as I." 
 And atte laste the feend^ oure enemy^ 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 233 
 
 Putte in his thought that he sholde poyson beye^ 845 
 
 With which he myghte sleen hise felawes tweye. 
 
 For why_, the feend foond hym in swich lyvynge^ 
 
 That he hadde leve hem to sorwe brynge; 
 
 For this was outrely his fulle entente^ 
 
 To sleen hem bothe_, and nevere to repente. 850 
 
 And forth he gooth^ no lenger wolde he tarie^ 
 
 Into the toun unto a pothecarie 
 
 And preyde hym that he hym wolde selle 
 
 Som poysoun^ that he myghte hise rattes quelle^ 
 
 And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe^ 855 
 
 That^ as he seyde^ hise eapouns hadde yslawe; 
 
 And fayn he wolde wreke hym^ if he myghte^ 
 
 On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte. 
 
 The pothecarie answerde^ *'and thou shalt have 
 
 A thyng^ that al so God my soule save^ 860 
 
 In al this world ther is no creature 
 
 That eten or dronken hath of this confiture 
 
 Noght but the montance of a corn of whete^ 
 
 That he ne shal his lif anon forlete; 
 
 Ye^ sterve he shal^ and that in lasse while 865 
 
 Than thou wolt goon a pass nat but a mile^ 
 
 This poysoun is so strong and violent/' 
 
 This cursed man hath in his hond yhent 
 
 This poysoun in a box^ and sith he ran 
 
 Into the nexte strete unto a man 870 
 
 And borwed hym of large hotels thre ; 
 
 And in the two his poyson poured he^ 
 
 The thridde he kepte elene for his owene drynke^ 
 
 For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke 
 
 In cariynge of the gold out of that place. 875 
 
 And whan this riotour^ with sory grace^ 
 
 Hadde filled with wyn his grete hotels thre^ 
 
 To hise felawes agayn repaireth he. 
 
 What nedeth it to sermone of it moore.^ 
 
 871 of om. 
 
234 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifoore 880 
 
 Right so they han him slayn^ and that anon; 
 
 And whan that this was doon^ thus spak that oon^ 
 
 "Now lat us sitte and drynke_, and make us merie^ 
 
 And afterward we wol his body berie/' 
 
 And with that word it happed hym^ par cas^ 885 
 
 To take the hotel ther the poysoun was^ 
 
 And drank^ and yaf his felawe drynke also^ 
 
 For which anon they storven bothe two. 
 
 But certes^ I suppose that Avycen 
 
 Wroot never e in no canoun^ ne in no fen_, 890 
 
 Mo wonder signes of empoisonyng 
 
 Than hadde thise wrecches two^ er hir endyng. 
 
 Thus ended been thise homycides two^ 
 
 And eek the false empoysoner also. 
 
 O cursed synne ful of cursednesse ! 895 
 
 O traytours homycide ! O wikkednesse ! 
 
 glotonye^ luxurie^ and hasardrye ! 
 Thou blasphemour of Crist^ with vileynye^ 
 And othes grete, of usage and of pride^ 
 
 Allas^ mankynde ! how may it bitide 900 
 
 That to thy Creatour which that the wroghte^ 
 
 And with His precious herte-blood thee boghte^ 
 
 Thou art so f als and so unkynde^ alias ! 
 
 Now_, goode men^ God foryeve yow youre trespas^ 
 
 And ware yow fro the synne of avarice ; 905 
 
 Myn hooly pardoun may yow alle warice^ 
 
 So that ye ofFre nobles or sterlynges^ 
 
 Or elles silver broches^ spoones^ rynges ; 
 
 Boweth youre heed under this hooly bulle^ 
 
 Com up^ ye wyves^ offreth of youre wolle ; 910 
 
 Youre names I entre heer in my roUe anon^ 
 
 Into the blisse of hevene shul ye gon. 
 
 1 yow assoille by myn heigh power, 
 
 Yow that wol ofFre, as clene and eek as cleer 
 
 880 SO as. 895 ful of of alle. 
 
THE PARDONERS TALE 235 
 
 As ye were born — and lo^ sires^ thus I ^Dreche; 915 
 
 And Jesu Crista that is oure soules leehe^ 
 So graunte yow his pardoun to receyve^ 
 For that is best^ I wol yow nat deceyve. 
 
 But sires^ o word forgat I in my tale^ 
 I have relikes and pardoun in my male 920 
 
 As faire as any man in Engelond^ 
 Whiche were me yeven by the popes bond. 
 If any of yow wole of devocioun 
 OiFren and ban myn absolucioun^ 
 
 Com forth anon^ and kneleth heere adoun^ 9^5 
 
 And mekely receyveth my pardoun^ 
 Or elles taketh pardoun as ye wende^ 
 Al newe and fressh at every miles ende^ 
 So that ye ofFren alwey newe and newe 
 
 Nobles or pens^ whiche that be goode and trewe. 9^0 
 
 It is an honour to everich that is heer_, 
 That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer 
 Tassoille yow in contree as ye ryde^ . 
 For aventures whiche that may bityde. 
 
 Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two 9^5 
 
 Doun of his hors^ and breke his nekke atwo. 
 Look^ which a seuretee is it to yow alle 
 That I am in youre felaweship yfalle^ 
 That may assoille yow^ bothe moore and lasse, 
 Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe. 94^0 
 
 I rede that oure Hoost heere shal bigynne^ 
 For he is moost envoluped in synne. 
 Com forth^ sire Hoost^ and ofFre first anon^ 
 And thou shalt kisse my relikes everychon, 
 Ye^ for a grote^ unbokele anon thy purs. — 9"^^ 
 
 *'Nay^ nsij/' quod he_, *'thanne have I Cristes curs !" 
 "Lat be/' quod he^ "it shal nat be^ so theech^ 
 Thou woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech^ 
 And swere it were a relyk of a seint^ 
 Though it were with thy fundement depeint. 950 
 
236 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond^ 
 
 I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond 
 
 In stide of relikes or of seintuarie. 
 
 Lat kutte hem of^ I wol thee helpe hem carie^ 
 
 They shul be shryned in an hogges toord/' 955 
 
 This Pardoner answerde nat a word; 
 
 So wrooth he was^ no word ne wolde he seye. 
 
 ''Now/' quod oure Hoost^ "I wol no lenger pleye 
 
 With thee^ ne with noon oother angry man/' 
 
 But right anon the worthy knyght bigan^ 960 
 
 Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough^ 
 
 ''Namoore of this_, for it is right ynough. 
 
 Sir Pardoner^ be glad and myrie of cheere ; 
 
 And je, sir Hoost^ that been to me so deere^ 
 
 I prey yow^ that ye kisse the pardoner; 965 
 
 And Pardoner^ I prey thee^ drawe thee neer^ 
 
 And^ as we diden_, lat us laughe and pleye." 
 
 Anon they kiste^ and ryden forth hir weye. 
 
 954 thee helpe with thee. 
 
 Heere is ended the Pardoners tale. 
 
GROUP D. 
 
 PROLOGUE OF THE WYVES TALE 
 OF BATH 
 
 The Prologs of the Wyves tale of Bathe. 
 
 Experience^ though noon auctoritee 
 Were in this world_, were right ynogh to me 
 To speke of wo that is in mariage; 
 For^ lordynges^ sith I twelf yeer was of age^ 
 Thonked be God^ that is eterne on lyve, 5 
 
 Housbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve — 
 For I so ofte have ywedded bee — 
 And alle were worthy men in hir degree. 
 But me was toold^ certeyn_, nat longe agoon is^ 
 That sith that Crist ne wente nevere.but onis 10 
 
 To weddyng in the Cane of Galilee^ 
 That by the same ensample^ taughte he me_, 
 That I ne sholde wedded be but ones^ 
 Herkne eek^ lo^ which a sharpe word for the nones^ 
 Biside a welle Jesus^ God and Man^ 15 
 
 Spak in repreeve of the Samaritan. 
 *'Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes/' quod he^ 
 ''And thilke man the which that hath now thee 
 Is noght thyn housbonde ;" thus seyde he^ certeyn. 
 What that he mente ther by^ I kan nat seyn ; 20 
 
 But that I axe^ why that the fifthe man 
 Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan.^ 
 How manye myghte she have in mariage.^ 
 Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age 
 
 Upon this nombre diffinicioun. 25 
 
 Men may devyne^ and glosen up and doun^ 
 
 5 Ythonked. 12 That om.; taughte he thoughte. 14 lo om. 18 that. 
 
238 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But wel I woot expres withoute Ije, 
 
 God bad us for to wexe and multiplye; 
 
 That gentil text kan I wel understonde. 
 
 Eek wel I woot^ he seyde^ myn housbonde SO 
 
 Sholde lete fader and mooder_, and take me; 
 
 But of no nombre mencioun made he^ 
 
 Of bigamye^ or of octogamye; 
 
 Why sholde men speke of it vileynye ? 
 
 Lo^ heere the wise kyng^ daun Salomon; 35 
 
 I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon — 
 As^ wolde God^ it leveful were to me 
 To be refresshed half so ofte as he — 
 Which yifte of God hadde he^ for alle hise wyvys ? 
 No man hath swich that in this world alyve is. 40 
 
 God woot^ this noble kyng^ as to my wit^ 
 The firste nyght had many a myrie fit 
 With ech of hem^ so wel was hym on lyve ! 
 Blessed be God^ that I have wedded f yve ; 
 Welcome the sixte^ whan that evere he shal. 45 
 
 For sothe I wol nat kepe me chaast in al; 
 Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon 
 Som cristen man shal wedde me anon. 
 For thanne thapostle seith that I am free^ 
 To wedde a Goddes half where it liketh me. 50 
 
 He seith^ that to be wedded is no synne^ 
 Bet is to be wedded than tc brynne. 
 What rekketh me_, thogh folk seye vileynye 
 Of shrewed Lameth and of bigamye.^ 
 
 I woot wel Abraham was an hooly man, 55 
 
 And Jacob eek, as ferforth as I kan, 
 And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two. 
 And many another holy man also. 
 Whanne saugh ye evere in any manere age 
 That hye God defended mariage 60 
 
 29 ivel om. 37 were leveful unto. 44 Yblessed. 49 that om. 51 that oni. 
 58 holy 07)1. 59 any om. 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 239 
 
 By expres word? I pray you^ telleth me^ 
 
 Or where comanded he virginitee ? 
 
 I woot as wel as ye it is no drede_, 
 
 Thapostel^ whan he speketh of maydenhede; 
 
 He seyde^ that precept therof hadde he noon. 65 
 
 Men may conseille a womman to been oon^ 
 
 But conseillyng is no comandement; 
 
 He putte it in oure owene juggement. 
 
 For hadde God comanded maydenhede_, 
 
 Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede ; 70 
 
 And certein, if ther were no seed ysowe^ 
 
 Virginitee^ wherof thanne sholde it growe? 
 
 Poul dorste nat comanden^ atte leeste^ 
 
 A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste. 
 
 The dart is set up of virginitee; 75 
 
 Cacche who so may^ who renneth best lat see. 
 
 But this word is nat taken, of every wight^ 
 
 But ther as God lust gyve it of his myght. 
 
 I woot wel^ the apostel was a mayde ; 
 
 But nathelees^ thogh that he wroot and sayde 80 
 
 He wolde that every wight were swich as he^ 
 
 Al nys but conseil to virginitee; 
 
 And for to been a wyf_, he yaf me leve 
 
 Of indulgence^ so it is no repreve 
 
 To wedde me^ if that my make dye^ 85 
 
 Withouten excepcioun of bigamye. 
 
 "Al were it good no womman for to touche/' 
 
 He mente^ as in his bed or in his couche ; 
 
 For peril is bothe f yr and tow tassemble ; 
 
 Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble. 90 
 
 This is al and som^ he heeld virginitee 
 
 Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee. 
 
 Freletee clepe 1, but if that he and she 
 
 Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee. 
 
 64 Whan thapostel. 67 No nat. 73 Poul ne. 85 that om. 91 he heeld that. 
 92 par jit profiteth. 94 lede. 
 
240 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 I graunte it wel^ I have noon envie^ 95 
 
 Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye; 
 Hem liketh to be clene^ body and goost. 
 Of myn estaat I nyl nat make no boosts 
 For wel ye knowe^ a lord in his houshold^ 
 He nath nat every vessel al of gold; 100 
 
 Somme been of tree^ and doon hir lord servyse. 
 God clepeth folk to hym in sondry vryse^ 
 And everich hath of God a propre yifte^ 
 Som this^ som that^ as hym liketh shifte. 
 Virginitee is greet perfeccioun^ 105 
 
 And continence eek with devocioun. 
 But Crista that of perfeccioun is welle^ 
 Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle 
 Al that he hadde^ and gyve it to the poore^ 
 And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore. 110 
 
 He spak to hem that wolde lyve parfitly^ 
 And lordynges^ by youre leve^ that am nat I. 
 I wol bistowe the flour of myn age 
 In the actes and in fruyt of mariage. 
 An housbonde I wol have^ I nyl nat lette^ 
 Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral^ 155 
 
 And have his tribulacioun withal 
 Upon his flessh whil that I am his wyf . 
 I have the power durynge al my lyf 
 Upon his propre body^ and noght he. 
 
 Right thus the Apostel tolde it unto me^ l60 
 
 And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel. 
 Al this sentence me liketh every deel^ — 
 Up stirte the Pardoner^ and that anon^ 
 ''Now^ dame/' quod he^ ''by God and by Seint John^ 
 Ye been a noble prechour in this cas. l65 
 
 I was aboute to wedde a wyf^ alias ! 
 What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere ? 
 Yet hadde I levere wedde no wyf to-yeere !" 
 
 108 he om. 157 that oni. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 241 
 
 "Abyde/* quod she^ "my tale is nat bigonne. 
 
 Nay^ thou shalt drynken of another tonne^ 170 
 
 Er that I go^ shal savoure wors than ale. 
 
 And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale 
 
 Of tribulacioun in mariage^ 
 
 Of which I am expert in al myn age^ 
 
 (This to seyn^ myself have been the whippe)^ 175 
 
 Than maystow chese wheither thou wolt sippe 
 
 Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche. 
 
 Be war of it^ er thou to ny approche^ 
 
 For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten. 
 
 Whoso that nyl be war by other e men^ 180 
 
 By hym shul othere men corrected be. 
 
 The same wordes writeth Ptholomee; 
 
 Rede it in his Almageste^ and take it there." 
 
 "Dame^ I wolde praye yow^ if youre wyl it were/'' 
 
 Seyde this Pardoner^ ''as ye bigan^ 185 
 
 Telle forth youre tale^ spareth for no man^ 
 
 And teche us yonge men of your praktike." 
 
 "Gladly/' quod she^ "sith it may yow like. 
 
 But yet I praye to al this compaignye^, 
 
 If that I sjDcke after my fantasye^ 190 
 
 As taketh not agrief of that I seye^ 
 
 For myn entente nis but for to pleye." 
 
 — Now sire^ now wol I telle forth my tale^ 
 As evere moote I drynken wyn or ale_, 
 
 I shal seye sooth^ tho housbondes that I hadde^ 195 
 
 As thre of hem were goode^ and two were badde. 
 The thre men were goode^ and riche^ and olde ; 
 Unnethe myghte they the statut holde 
 In which that they were bounden unto me — 
 Ye woot wel what I meene of this^ pardee ! 200 
 
 As help me God^ I laughe whan I thynke 
 How pitously anyght I made hem swynke. 
 
 172 thee om. 173 that is in. 177 that. 180 nyl wol nat. 182 Protholomee. 
 184 you' om. 188 quod she sires. 191 of om. 192 nis is. 195 of tho. 
 
242 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And by my fey_, I tolde of it no stoor^ 
 
 They had me yeven hir gold and hir tresoor ; 
 
 Me neded nat do lenger diligence 205 
 
 To Wynne hir love^ or doon hem reverence^ 
 
 They loved me so wel^ by God above^ 
 
 That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love. 
 
 A wys womman wol sette hire evere in oon 
 
 To gete hire love^ ther as she hath noon. 210 
 
 But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond^ 
 
 And sith they hadde me yeven all hir lond, 
 
 What sholde I taken heede hem for to plese_, 
 
 But it were for my profit and myn ese } 
 
 I sette hem so a-werke^ by my fey^ 215 
 
 That many a nyght they songen weilawey. 
 
 The bacoun was nat fet for hem^ I trowe^ 
 
 That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe. 
 
 I governed hem so wel after my lawe, 
 
 That ech of hem ful blisful was^ and fawe 220 
 
 To brynge me gaye thynges fro the fayre. 
 
 They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire^ 
 
 For God it woot^ I chidde hem spitously. 
 
 Now herkneth hou I baar me proprely^ 
 
 Ye wise wyves^ that kan understonde. 225 
 
 Thus shul ye speke and here hem wrong on honde ; 
 
 For half so boldely kan ther no man 
 
 Swere and lyen^ as a womman kan. 
 
 I sey nat this by wyves that been wyse^ 
 
 But if it be whan they hem mysavyse. 230 
 
 A wys wyf^ if that she kan hir good^ 
 
 Shal beren hym on bond the cow is wood^ 
 
 And take witnesse of hir owene mayde. 
 
 Of hir assent; but herkneth how I sayde. 
 
 *'Sir olde kaynard^ is this thyn array? 235 
 
 Why is my neighebores wyf so gay.^ 
 
 215 werk. 220 hem was. 226 beren; wrong om. 228 kan a womman. 
 232 be re. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 243 
 
 She is honoured overal ther she gooth ; 
 
 I sitte at hoom^ I have no thrifty clooth. 
 
 What dostow at my neighebores hous? 
 
 Is she so fair ? artow so amorous ? 240 
 
 What rowne ye with oure mayde? benedicite^ 
 
 Sir olde lecchour^ lat thy japes be! 
 
 And if I have a gossib or a freend 
 
 Withouten gilt^ thou chidest as a f eend 
 
 If that I walke or pleye unto his hous. 245 
 
 Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous 
 
 And prechest on thy bench^ with yvel preef ! 
 
 Thou seist to me^ it is a greet mesehief 
 
 To wedde a povre womman^ for costage_, 
 
 And if she be riche and of heigh parage^ 25Q 
 
 Thanne seistow it is a tormentrie 
 
 To soiFren hir pride and hir malencolie. 
 
 And if she be fair^ thou verray knave^ 
 
 Thou seyst that every holour wol hir have; 
 
 She may no while in chastitee abyde 255 
 
 That is assailled upon ech a syde. 
 
 Thou seyst_, som folk desiren us for richesse^ 
 
 Somme for oure shape^ and somme for oure fairnesse. 
 
 And som for she kan outher synge or daunce^ 
 
 And som for gentillesse and daliaunce_, 260 
 
 Som for hir handes and hir armes smale; 
 
 Thus goth al to the devel by thy tale. 
 
 Thou seyst^ men may nat kepe a castel wal^ 
 
 It may so longe assailled been overal. 
 
 And if that she be foul^ thou seist that she 265 
 
 Coveiteth every man that she may se; 
 
 For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe 
 
 Til that she fynde som man hir to chepe; 
 
 Ne noon so grey goos gooth ther in the lake 
 
 As^ seistow^ wol been withoute make ; 270 
 
 257 that som. 258 and om. 259 kan synge and. 260 som for daliaunce. 
 269 ther om. 
 
244 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And seyst^ it is an hard thyng for to welde 
 A thyng that no man wole^ his thankes^ helde. 
 Thus seistow^ lorel^ whan thow goost to bedde^ 
 And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde^ 
 Ne no man that entendeth unto hevene — 275 
 
 With wilde thonderdynt and firy levene 
 Moote thy welked nekke be to-broke ! 
 Thow seyst that droppyng houses^ and eek smoke^ 
 And chidyng wyves maken men to flee 
 
 Out of hir owene hous^ a benedicitee ! 280 
 
 What eyleth swich an old man for to chide? 
 Thow seyst^ we wyves wol oure vices hide 
 Til we be fast^ and thanne we wol hem shewe. 
 Wei may that be a proverbe of a shrewe ! 
 Thou seist^ that oxen^ asses^ hors^ and houndes^ 285 
 
 They been assayd at diverse stoundes ; 
 Bacyns^ lavoursj, er that men hem bye^ 
 Spoones and stooles^ and al swich housbondrye^ 
 And so been pottes^ clothes^ and array; 
 
 But folk of wyves maken noon assay 290 
 
 Til they be wedded^ olde dotard shrewe ! 
 Thanne^ seistow^ we wol oure vices shewe. 
 Thou seist also^ that it displeseth me 
 But if that thou wolt preyse my beautee^ 
 And but thou poure alwey upon my face^ 295 
 
 And clepe me 'faire dame' in every place^ 
 And but thou make a f eeste on thilke day 
 That I was born^ and make me fressh and gay^ 
 And but thou do to my norice honour^ 
 
 And to my chamberere withinne my bour^ 300 
 
 And to my fadres folk and hise allyes — 
 Thus seistow^ olde barel ful of lyes ! 
 And yet of oure apprentice Janekyn^ 
 For his crisp heer^ shynynge as gold so fyn_, 
 And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun_, 305 
 
 280 houses. 282 that we. 300 chambrere. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 245 
 
 Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun. 
 
 I wol hym noght^ thogli thou were deed tomorwe. 
 
 But tel me this^ why hydestow^ with sorwe^ 
 
 The keyes of my cheste awey fro me? 
 
 It is my good as wel as thyn^ pardee; 310 
 
 What wenestow make an ydiot of oure dame? 
 
 Now^ by that lord that called is seint Jame^ 
 
 Thou shalt nat bothe^ thogh that thou were wood^ 
 
 Be maister of my body and of my good ; 
 
 That oon thou shalt forgo^ maugree thyne eyen. 315 
 
 What nedeth thee of me to enquere or spyen? 
 
 I trowe thou woldest loke me in thy chiste. 
 
 Thou sholdest seye^ 'Wyf^ go wher thee liste^ 
 
 Taak youre disport^ I wol not leve no talys, 
 
 I knowe yow for a trewe wyf^ dame Alys/ 320 
 
 We love no man that taketh kepe or charge 
 
 Wher that we goon^ we wol ben at our large. 
 
 Of alle men yblessed moot he be^ 
 
 The wise astrologien^ Daun Ptholome^ 
 
 That seith this proverbe in his Almageste. S25 
 
 *Of alle men his wysdom is the hyeste^ 
 
 That rekketh nevere who hath the world in honde/ 
 
 By this proverbe thou shalt understonde^ 
 
 Have thou ynogh^ what thar thee recche or care 
 
 How myrily that othere folkes fare? 330 
 
 He is to greet a nygard^ that wolde werne 
 
 A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne ; 
 
 He shal have never the lasse light^ pardee^ 335 
 
 Have thou ynogh^ thee thar nat pleyne thee. 
 
 Thou seyst also^ that if we make us gay 
 
 With clothyng and with precious array^ 
 
 That it is peril of oure chastitee; 
 
 And yet^ with sorwe^ thou most enforce thee^ 340 
 
 And seye thise wordes in the apostles name^ 
 
 *In habit^ maad with chastitee and shame^ 
 
 308 this om. 311 to make. 319 not om. 323 blessed. 
 
246 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ye wommen shul apparaille yow/ quod he^ 
 
 'And noght in tressed heer and gay perree^ 
 
 As perles^ ne with gold^ ne clothes riche.' S4<5 
 
 After thy text^ ne after thy rubriche 
 
 I wol nat wirche^ as muchel as a gnat ! 
 
 Thou seydest this^ that I was lyk a eat; 
 
 For whoso wolde senge a eattes skyn^ 
 
 Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in. 350 
 
 And if the eattes skyn be slyk and gay^ 
 
 She wol nat dwelle in house half a day^ 
 
 But forth she wole^ er any day be dawed^ 
 
 To shewe hir skyn^ and goon a caterwawed. 
 
 This is to seye^ if I be gay^ sire shrewe^ S55 
 
 I wol renne out^ my borel for to shewe. 
 
 Sire olde fool^ what eyleth thee to spyen^ 
 
 Thogh thou preye Argus_, with hise hundred eyen^ 
 
 To be my wardecors^ as he kan best^ 
 
 In feith he shal nat kepe me but me lest; 360 
 
 Yet koude I make his berd^ so moot I thee. 
 
 Thou seydest eek^ that ther been thynges thre^ 
 
 The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe^ 
 
 And that no wight ne may endure the ferthe. 
 
 O leeve sire shrewe^ Jesu shorte thy lyf ! 365 
 
 Yet prechestow^ and seyst^ an hateful wyf 
 
 Yrekened is for oon of thise meschances. 
 
 Been ther none othere maner resemblances 
 
 That ye may likne youre parables to^ 
 
 But if a sely wyf be oon of tho? 370 
 
 Thou likenest wommenes love to helle^ 
 
 To bareyne lond^ ther water may nat dwelle. 
 
 Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr; 
 
 The moore it brenneth^ the moore it hath desir 
 
 To consume every thyng that brent wole be. 375 
 
 Thou seyst^ right as wormes shendeth a tree^ 
 
 360 me (2) om. 364 ne om. 366 an and. 368 maner om. 371 liknest. 
 375 consumen. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 247 
 
 Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housboAd. 
 This knowe they^ that been to wyves bonde/' 
 
 Lordynges^ right thus^ as ye have understonde^ 
 Baar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde^ 380 
 
 That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse^ 
 And al was fals^ but that I took witnesse 
 On Janekyn and on my nece also. 
 
 lord^ the pyne I dide hem^ and the wo 
 
 Ful giltelees^ by Goddes sweete pyne! 385 
 
 For as an hors I koude byte and whyne^ 
 
 1 koude pleyne^ thogh I were in the gilt^ 
 Or elles often tyme hadde I been spilt. 
 Who so that first to mille comth first grynt; 
 
 I pleyned firsts so was oure werre ystynt. 390 
 
 They were ful glad to excuse hem ful blyve 
 
 Of thyng of which they nevere agilte hir lyve. 
 
 Of wenches wolde I beren hym on honde^ 
 
 Whan that for syk unnethes myghte he stonde^ 
 
 Yet tikled it his herte^ for that he , 305 
 
 Wende that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee. 
 
 I swoor that al my walkynge out by nyghte 
 
 Was for tespye wenches that he dighte. 
 
 Under that colour hadde I many a myrthe; 
 
 For al swich thyng was yeven us in oure byrthe_, 400 
 
 Deceite^ wepyng^ spynnyng^ God hath yeve 
 
 To wommen kyndely whil they may lyve. 
 
 And thus of o thyng I avaunte me^ 
 
 Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree^ 
 
 By sleighte^ or force^ or by som maner thyng^ 405 
 
 As by continued murmure or grucchyng. 
 
 Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce; 
 
 Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce^ 
 
 I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde^ 
 
 If that I felte his arm over my syde 410 
 
 Til he had maad his raunsoun unto me; 
 
 385 giltlees. 389 who comth first to Mille. 391 ful om. 402 that they. 
 
248 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee. 
 
 And therfore every man this tale I telle^ 
 
 Wynne who so may^ for al is for to selle. 
 
 With empty hand men may none haukes lure^ — 415 
 
 For wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure 
 
 And make me a feyned appetit; 
 
 And yet in bacoun hadde I nevere delit; 
 
 That made me that evere I wolde hem chide. 
 
 For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside^ 420 
 
 I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord^ 
 
 For by my trouthe I quitte hem word for word. 
 
 As help me verray God omnipotent^ 
 
 Though I right now sholde make my testament, 
 
 I ne owe hem nat a word, that it nys quit. 425 
 
 I broghte it so aboute by my wit, 
 
 That they moste yeve it up as for the beste, 
 
 Or elles hadde we nevere been in reste. 
 
 For thogh he looked as a wood leoun, 
 
 Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun. 430 
 
 Thanne wolde I seye, ''Goode lief, taak keepe. 
 
 How mekely looketh Wilkyn oure sheepe ! 
 
 Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke, 
 
 Ye sholde been al pacient and meke. 
 
 And han a sweete spiced conscience, 435 
 
 Sith ye so preche of Jobes pacience. 
 
 SufFreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche. 
 
 And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche 
 
 That it is fair to have a wyf in pees. 
 
 Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees, 440 
 
 And sith a man is moore resonable, 
 
 Than womman is, ye moste been sufFrable.'' 
 
 Swiche maner wordes hadde we on honde. 
 
 Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde. 
 
 My fourthe housbonde was a revelour. 
 This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour. 
 And I was yong and ful of ragerye, 455 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 249 
 
 Stibourne and strongs and joly as a pye. 
 
 Wei koude I daunce to an harpe smale^ 
 
 And synge^ ywis^ as any nyghtyngale^ 
 
 Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn. 
 
 MetelliuS;, the foule cherl^ the swyn^ 460 
 
 That with a staf birafte his wyf hire Iji, 
 
 For she drank wyn^ thogh I hadde been his wyf, 
 
 He sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke. 
 
 And after wyn on Venus moste I thynke, 
 
 For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, 465 
 
 A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl. 
 
 In wommen vinolent is no defence_, 
 
 This knowen lecchours by experience. 
 
 But, Lord Crist ! whan that it remembreth me 
 Upon my yowthe and on my jolitee, 470 
 
 It tikleth me aboute myn herte-roote. 
 Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote 
 That I have had my world, as in my tyme. 
 But age, alias, that al wole envenynxe. 
 
 Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith ! 475 
 
 Lat go, f are-wel, the devel go therwith ! 
 The flour is goon, ther is namoore to telle. 
 The bren as I best kan, now moste I selle ; 
 But yet to be right myrie wol I fonde. 
 Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde. 480 
 
 I seye, I hadde in herte greet despit 
 That he of any oother had delit; 
 But he was quit, by God and by Seint Joce ! 
 I made hym of the same wode a croce ; 
 
 Nat of my body in no foul manere, 485 
 
 But certeinly, I made folk swich cheere 
 That in his owene grece I made hym f rye 
 For angre and for verray jalousye. 
 By God, in erthe I was his purgatorie. 
 For which I hope his soule be in glorie, 490 
 
 486 certein. 
 
250 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For God it woot^ he sat ful ofte and song 
 Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong! 
 Ther was no wight save God and he^ that wiste 
 In many wise how soore I hym twiste. 
 
 He deyde whan I cam fro Jerusalem^ 495 
 
 And lith ygrave under the roode-beem^ 
 Al is his tombe noght so curyus 
 As was the sepulcre of hym Daryus^ 
 Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly. 
 
 It nys but wast to burye hym preciously^ 500 
 
 Lat hym fare-wel_, God yeve his soule reste^ 
 He is now in his grave^ and in his cheste. 
 ^Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle. 
 God lete his soule nevere come in helle ! 
 
 And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe; 505 
 
 That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe^ 
 And evere shal^ unto myn endyng day. 
 But in oure bed he was ful fressh and gay^ 
 And therwithal so wel koude he me glose 
 Whan that he wolde han my bele chose^ 510 
 
 That thogh he hadde me bet on every bon 
 He koude wynne agayn my love anon. 
 I trowe I loved hym beste_, for that he 
 Was of his love daungerous to me. 
 
 We wommen han^ if that I shal nat lye^ 515 
 
 In this matere a queynte fantasye; 
 Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly have^ 
 Ther-after wol we crie al day and crave. 
 Forbede us thyng^ and that desiren we; 
 
 Preesse on us faste^ and thanne wol we fle; 520 
 
 With daunger oute we al oure chafFare. 
 Greet prees at market maketh deere ware^ 
 And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys ; 
 This knoweth every womman that is wys. 
 My fifthe housbonde^ God his soule blesse^ 525 
 
 513 best. 
 
 II 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 251 
 
 Which that I took for love and no richesse^ 
 
 He somtyme was a clerk of Oxenford^ 
 
 And hadde left scole^ and wente at horn to bord 
 
 With my gossib^ dwellynge in oure toun^ 
 
 God have hir soule ! hir name was Alisoun. 530 
 
 She knew myn herte and eek my privetee 
 
 Bet than oure parisshe preest^ as moot I thee. 
 
 To hir biwreyed I my conseil al^ 
 
 For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal^ 
 
 Or doon a thyng that sholde han cost his lyf^ 53 5 
 
 To hir^ and to another worthy wyf^ 
 
 And to my nece^ which that I loved weel^ 
 
 I wolde han toold his conseil every deel. 
 
 And so I dide ful often^ God it woot ! 
 
 That made his face ful often reed and hoot 540 
 
 For verray shame^ and blamed hym self_, for he 
 
 Had toold to me so greet a pryvetee. 
 
 And so bifel that ones^ in a Lente — 
 So often tymes I to my gossyb wente^ 
 
 For evere yet I loved to be gay^ 54^5 
 
 And for to walke in March^ Averill^ and May^ 
 Fro hous to hous to heere sondry talys — 
 That Jankyn Clerk and my gossyb_, dame Alys, 
 And I myself into the feeldes wente. 
 
 Myn housbonde was at London al that Lente; 550 
 
 I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye^ 
 And for to se^ and eek for to be seye 
 Of lusty folk; what wiste I^ wher my grace 
 Was shapen for to be^ or in what place ? 
 
 Therfore I made my visitaciouns 555 
 
 To vigilies and to processiouns. 
 To prechyng eek^ and to thise pilgrimages^ 
 To pleyes of myracles^ and to mariages ; 
 And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes. 
 Thise wormes ne thise motthes^ ne thise mytes^ 560 
 
 550 that the. 
 
252 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Upon my peril^ frete hem never a deel — 
 And wostow why ? for they were used weel ! 
 
 Now wol I tellen forth what happed me. 
 I seye^ that in the feeldes walked we^ 
 
 Til trewely we hadde swich daliance^ 565 
 
 This clerk and I^ that of my purveiance 
 I spak to hym^ and seyde hym^ how that he^ 
 If I were wydwe^ sholde wedde me. 
 For certeinly^ I sey for no bobance. 
 
 Yet was I nevere withouten purveiance 570 
 
 Of mariage^ nof othere thynges eek. 
 I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek 
 That hath but oon hole for to sterte to^ 
 And if that faille_, thanne is al ydo. 
 
 I bar hym on honde_, he hadde enchanted me — 575 
 
 My dame taughte me that soutiltee. 
 And eek I seyde^ I mette of hym al nyght^ 
 He wolde han slayn me as I lay upright^ 
 And al my bed was f ul of verray blood ; 
 
 But yet I hope that he shal do me good^ 580 
 
 For blood bitokeneth gold_, as me was taught — 
 And al was fals^ I dremed of it right naughty 
 But as I folwed ay my dames loore 
 As wel of this^ as of othere thynges moore. 
 
 But now sir^ lat me se^ what I shal seyn? 585 
 
 A ha^ by God ! I have my tale ageyn. 
 
 Whan that my f ourthe housbonde was on beere_, 
 I weep algate^ and made sory cheere^ 
 As wyves mooten — -for it is usage — ■ 
 
 And with my coverchief covered my visage; 590 
 
 But for that I was purveyed of a make^ 
 I wepte but smal^ and that I undertake. 
 To chirche was myn housbonde born amorwe 
 With neighebores that for hym maden sorwe; 
 And Janekyn oure clerk was oon of tho. 595 
 
 583 as om. 595 Jankyn. 
 
 ,11 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE* 253 
 
 As help me God^ whan that I saugh hym go 
 
 After the beere^ me thoughte he hadde a paire 
 
 Of legges and of feet so clene and faire^ 
 
 That al myn herte I yaf unto his hoold. 
 
 He was_, I trowe_, a twenty wynter oold^ 600 
 
 And I was fourty^ if I shal seye sooth^ 
 
 But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth. 
 
 Gat-tothed I was^ and that bicam me weel^ 
 
 I hadde the prente of Seinte Venus seel. 
 
 As help me God_, I was a lusty oon^ 605 
 
 And faire^ and riche_, and yong^ and wel bigon^ 
 
 And trewely^ as myne housbondes tolde me^ 
 
 I hadde the beste quonyam myghte be. 
 
 For certes^ I am al Venerien 
 
 In feelynge^ and myn herte is Marcien. 6lO 
 
 Venus me yaf my lust^ my likerousnesse^ 
 
 And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse. 
 
 Myn ascendent was Taur_, and Mars therinne^ 
 
 AUas^ allas^ that evere love was synne ! 
 
 I folwed ay myn inclinacioun 615 
 
 By vertu of my constellaeioun ; 
 
 That made me I koude noght withdrawe 
 
 My chambre of Venus from a good felawe. 
 
 Yet have I Martes mark upon my f ace^ 
 
 And also in another privee place. 620 
 
 For God so wys be my savacioun^ 
 
 I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun_, 
 
 But evere folwede myn appetite 
 
 Al were he shorty or long^ or blak^ or whit. 
 
 I took no kepe^ so that he liked me^ 625 
 
 How poore he was^ ne eek of what degree. 
 
 What sholde I seye^ but at the monthes ende 
 
 This joly clerk Jankyn^ that was so hende^ 
 
 Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee^ 
 
 And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee 630 
 
 604 seint. 623 folwed. 
 
254 • THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That evere was me yeven therbif oore ; 
 
 But afterward repented me £ul soore^ 
 
 He nolde sufFre nothyng of my list. 
 
 By God^ he smoot me ones on the lyst 
 
 For that I rente out of his book a leef^ 635 
 
 That of the strook myn ere wax al deef . 
 
 Stibourne I was as is a leonesse_, 
 
 And of my tonge a verray jangleresse_, 
 
 And walke I wolde^ as I had doon biforn^ 
 
 From hous to hous^ although he had it sworn^ 640 
 
 For which he often-tymes wolde preche^ 
 
 And me of olde Romayn geestes teche_, 
 
 How he Symplicius Gallus lefte his wyf^ 
 
 And hir forsook for terme of al his lyf^ 
 
 Noght but for open-heveded he hir say^ 645 
 
 Lookynge out at his dore^ upon a day. 
 
 Another Romayn tolde he me by name^ 
 
 That for his wyf was at a someres game 
 
 Withoute his wityng^ he forsook hir eke. 
 
 And thanne wolde he upon his Bible seke 650 
 
 That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste^ 
 
 Where he comandeth^ and f orbedeth f aste^ 
 
 Man shal nat sufFre his wyf go roule aboute^ 
 
 Thanne wolde he seye right thus^ withouten doute: 
 
 '*Who so that buyldeth his hous al of salwes^ 655 
 
 And priketh his blynde hers over the f alwes^ 
 
 And suiFreth his wyf to go seken halwes^ 
 
 Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes V 
 
 But al for noght^ I sette noght an hawe 
 
 Of his proverbes^ nof his olde lawe, 660 
 
 Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be. 
 
 I hate hym that my vices telleth me; 
 
 And so doo mo^ God woot^ of us than I ! 
 
 This made hym with me wood al outrely^ 
 
 I nolde noght forbere hym in no cas. 665 
 
 649 with outen. 660 awe. 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 255 
 
 Now wol I seye yow sooth_, by seint Thomas^ 
 Why that I rente out of his book a leef^ 
 For which he smoot me so that I was deef. 
 He hadde a book that gladly^ nyght and day^ 
 P'or his desport he wolde rede alway. 670 
 
 ,He cleped it 'Valerie and Theofraste/ 
 At whiche book he lough alwey ful f aste. 
 And eek ther was som tyme a clerk at Rome_, 
 A cardinal that highte Seint Jerome^ 
 
 That made a book agayn Jovinian^ 675 
 
 In whiche book eek ther was Tertulan^ 
 Crisippus^ Trotula^ and Helowys^ 
 That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys^ 
 And eek the Parables of Salomon^ 
 
 Ovides Art^ and bookes many on^ 680 
 
 And alle thise were bounden in o volume. 
 And every nyght and day was his custume 
 Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun 
 From oother worldly occupacioun 
 
 To reden on this book of wikked wyves. 685 
 
 He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves 
 Than been of goode wyves in the Bible. 
 For trusteth wel^ it is an inpossible 
 That any clerk wol speke good of wyves^ 
 But if it be of hooly seintes lyves^ 690 
 
 Ne noon oother womman never the mo. 
 Who peyntede the leoun^ tel me_, who.^ 
 By God^ if wommen hadde writen stories^ 
 As clerkes han withinne hire oratories^ 
 
 They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse QQ5 
 
 Than all the mark of Adam may redresse. 
 The children of Mercuric and Venus 
 Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius^ 
 Mercuric loveth wysdam and science^ 
 And Venus loveth ryot and dispence. 700 
 
 672, 676 which. 692 peynted. 
 
256 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And for hire diverse disposicioun 
 
 Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun^ 
 
 And tlius^ God woot^ Mercuric is desolat 
 
 In Pisces^ wher Venus is exaltat ; 
 
 And Venus falleth ther Mercuric is reysed. 705 
 
 Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed. # 
 
 The clerk^ whan he is oold and may noght do 
 
 Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho^ 
 
 Thanne sit he doun^ and writ in his dotage 
 
 That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage. 710 
 
 But now to purpos^ why I tolde thee 
 That I was beten for a book^ pardee. 
 Upon a nyght Jankyn^ that was oure sire, 
 Redde on his book as he sat by the fire 
 
 Of Eva first, that for hir wikkednesse 715 
 
 Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse, 
 For which that Jesu Crist hymself was slayn. 
 That boghte us with his herte-blood agayn. 
 Lo_, heere expres of womman may ye fynde, 
 That womman was the los of al mankynde. • 720 
 
 Tho redde he me how Sampson loste hise heres, 
 Slepynge, his lemman kitte it with hir sheres, 
 Thurgh whiche tresoun loste he bothe hise eyen. 
 Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen. 
 Of Hercules and of his Dianyre, 725 
 
 That caused hym to sette hymself afyre. 
 No thyng forgat he the penaunce and wo 
 That Socrates hadde with hise wyves two, 
 How Xantippa caste pisse up-on his heed. 
 This sely man sat stille as he were deed; 730 
 
 He wiped his heed, namoore dorste he seyn 
 But, *'er that thonder stynte, comth a reyn.'' 
 Of Phasifpha, that was the queene of Crete, 
 For shrewednesse hym thoughte the tale swete — 
 Fy, speke namoore ! it is a grisly thyng 735 
 
 717 that Jesu om. 723 which. 727 penaunce sorwe. 
 
 II 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 257 
 
 Of hir horrible lust and hir likyng. 
 
 Of Clitermystra for hire lecherye^ 
 
 That falsly made hir housbonde for to dye^ 
 
 He redde it with ful good devocioun. 
 
 He tolde me eek for what occasioun 740 
 
 Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf . 
 
 Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf 
 
 Eriphilem_, that for an ouche of gold 
 
 Hath prively unto the Grekes told 
 
 Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place^ 745 
 
 For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace. 
 
 Of Lyma tolde he me^ and of Lucye^ 
 
 They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye^ 
 
 That oon for love^ that oother was for hate. 
 
 Lyma hir housbonde_, on an even late^ 750 
 
 Empoysoned hath^ for that she was his fo. 
 
 Lucia likerous loved hir housbonde so^ 
 
 That for he sholde alwey upon hire thynke^ 
 
 She yaf hym swich a manere love-drynke 
 
 That he was deed^ er it were by the morwe. 755 
 
 And thus algates housbondes han sorw. 
 
 Thanne tolde he me^ how that Latumyus 
 
 Compleyned unto his felawe Arrius^ 
 
 That in his gardyn growed swich a tree^ 
 
 On which he seyde how that hise wyves thre 760 
 
 Hanged hemself^ for herte despitus. 
 
 ''O leeve brother/' quod this Arrius^ 
 
 "Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree. 
 
 And in my gardyn planted it shal bee." 
 
 Of latter date of wyves hath he red^ 765 
 
 That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed^ 
 
 And lete hir lecchour dighte hir al the nyght^ 
 
 Whan that the corps lay in the floor upright. 
 
 And somme han dryve nayles in hir brayn 
 
 Whil that they slepte^ and thus they han hem slayn. 770 
 
 750 upon. 757 that oon. 
 
258 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hir drynke. 
 
 He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke, 
 iVnd therwithal he knew of mo proverbes 
 Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes. 
 *'Bet is/' quod he^ ''thyn habitacioun 775 
 
 Be with a leoun^ or a foul dragoun^ 
 Than with a womman usynge for to chyde/' 
 ''Bet is_,'' quod he^ ''hye in the roof abyde 
 Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous^ 
 They been so wikked and eontrarious. 780 
 
 They haten that hir housbondes loveth ay/' 
 He seyde^ "a womman cast hir shame away 
 Whan she cast of hir smok/' and forther mo^ 
 ''A fair womman^ but she be chaast also^ 
 Is lyk a goldryng in a sowes nose." 785 
 
 Who wolde leeve^ or who wolde suppose 
 The wo that in myn herte was^ and pyne? 
 And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne 
 To reden on this cursed book al nyght^ 
 
 Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght 790 
 
 Out of his book^ right as he radde^ and eke 
 I with my fest so took hym on the cheke^ 
 That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun. 
 And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun^ 
 
 And with his fest he smoot me on the heed 795 
 
 That in the floor I lay^ as I were deed. 
 And whan he saugh how stille that I lay^ 
 He was agast_, and wolde han fled his way^ 
 Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde. 
 ''O^ hastow slayn me^ false theef/' I seyde^ 800 
 
 ''And for my land thus hastow mordred me.^ 
 Er I be deed^ yet wol I kisse thee." 
 And neer he cam and kneled f aire adoun^ 
 And seyde^ "deere suster Alisoun^ 
 
 As help me God^ I shal thee nevere smyte. 805 
 
 That I have doon^ it is thyself to wyte^ 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE WYVES TALE 259 
 
 Foryeve it me^ and that I thee biseke/' 
 
 And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke^ 
 
 And seyde^ ''theef^ thus muchel am I wreke; 
 
 Now wol I dye^ I may no lenger speke." 810 
 
 But atte laste^ with muchel care and wo^ 
 
 We fille acorded by us selven two. 
 
 He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond^ 
 
 To han the governance of hous and lond^ 
 
 And of his tonge^ and of his hond also^ 815 
 
 And made hym brenne his book anon right the. 
 
 And whan that I hadde geten unto me 
 
 By maistrie^ al the soveraynetee^ 
 
 And that he seyde^ **myn owene trewe wyf^ 
 
 Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf^ 820 
 
 Keepe thyn honour^ and keep eek myn estaat^" 
 
 After that day we hadden never debaat. 
 
 God help me so^ I was to hym as kynde 
 
 As any wyf from Denmark unto Ynde_, 
 
 And also trewe_, and so was he to me. 825 
 
 I prey to God^ that sit in magestee^ 
 
 So blesse his soule for his mercy deere. 
 
 Now wol I seye my tale_, if ye wol heere. 
 
 Biholde the wordes hitwene the Somonour and the Frere. 
 
 The Frere lough whan he hadde herd al this. — 
 
 *'Now dame^'' quod he^ "so have I joye or blis^ 830 
 
 This is a long preamble of a tale.'' 
 
 And whan the Somonour herde the Frere gale^ 
 
 *'Lo^'' quod the Somonour_, ''Goddes armes two^ 
 
 A frere wol entremette hym evere-mo. 
 
 Lo goode men^ a flye and eek a frere 835 
 
 Wol falle in every dyssh and eek mateere. 
 
 What spekestow of preambulacioun .^ 
 
 What^ amble^ or trotte^ or pees^ or go sit doun^ 
 
 815 Of (2) om. 820 the to. 
 
260 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thou lettest oure disport in this manere/' 
 
 **Ye^ woltow so^ sire Somonour?'' quod the frere^ 840 
 
 ''Now by my feith^ I shal er that I go 
 
 Telle of a Somonour swich a tale or two 
 
 That alle the folk shal laughen in this place." 
 
 ''Now elles^ frere^ I bishrewe thy face^'' 
 
 Quod this Somonour^ "and I bishrewe me^ 845 
 
 But if I telle tales two or thre 
 
 Of freres^ er I come to Sidyngborne^ 
 
 That I shal make thyn herte for to morne^ 
 
 For wel I woot thy pacience is gon/' 
 
 Oure Hooste cride^ "Pees^ and that anon \" 850 
 
 And seyde^ "lat the womman telle hire tale_, 
 
 Ye fare as folk that dronken were of ale. 
 
 Do_, dame^ telle forth youre tale^ and that is best.'' 
 
 "Al redy^ sire_,'' quod she^ "right as yow lest_, 
 
 If I have licence of this worthy frere." 855 
 
 "Yis^ dame/' quod he^ "tel forth^ and I wol heere." 
 
 Heere endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe, 
 
 I 
 
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATH 
 
 Here higynneth the Tale of the Wyf of Bathe. 
 
 In tholde dayes of the Kyng Arthour^ 
 Of which that Britons speken greet honour^ 
 All was this land fulfild of Fayerye. 
 
 The elf-queene^ with hir joly compaignye_, 860 
 
 Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede; ' 
 This was the olde opinion^ as I rede. 
 I speke of manye hundred yeres ago; 
 But now kan no man se none elves mo^ 
 
 For now the grete charitee and prayeres 865 
 
 Of lymytours;, and othere hooly freres^ 
 That serchen every lond and every streem 
 As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem^ 
 Blessynge halles_, chambres_, kichene^^ boures_, 
 Citees^ burghes^ castels^ hye toures^ 870 
 
 Thropes^ bernes^ shipnes^ dayeryes^ 
 This maketh that ther been no Fayeryes. 
 For ther as wont to walken was an elf^ 
 Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself 
 
 In undermeles and in morwenynges^ 875 
 
 And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges 
 As he gooth in his lymytaeioun. 
 Wommen may go saufly up and doun; 
 In every bussh or under every tree 
 
 Ther is noon oother incubus but he^ 880 
 
 And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour. 
 
 And so bifel it that this kyng Arthour 
 Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler^ 
 That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver; 
 And happed that^ all one as she was born^ 885 
 
 857 the om. 859 fifairye. 882 if ohi. 872 ffairyes. 883 his om. S85 she he. 
 
262 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn_, 
 
 Of whiche mayde anon^ maugree hir heed^ 
 
 By verray force he rafte hir maydenhed; 
 
 For which oppressioun was swich clamour 
 
 And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour^ 890 
 
 That dampned was this knyght for to be deed 
 
 By cours of lawe^ and sholde han lost his heed^ 
 
 Paraventure_, swich was the statut tho_, 
 
 But that the queene and othere ladyes mo 
 
 So longe preyeden the kyng of grace, 895 
 
 Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place, 
 
 And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille, 
 
 To chese, wheither she wolde hym save or spille. 
 
 The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght. 
 
 And after this thus spak she to the knyght, 900 
 
 Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day, 
 
 '*Thou standest yet,'' quod she, *'in swich array 
 
 That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee. 
 
 I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me 
 
 What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren. 905 
 
 Be war and keep thy nekke-boon from iren. 
 
 And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon. 
 
 Yet shal I yeve thee leve for to gon 
 
 A twelf-month and a day to seche and leere 
 
 An answere sufEsant in this mateere; 910 
 
 And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace. 
 
 Thy body for to yelden in this place." 
 
 Wo was this knyght^ and sorwefully he siketh. 
 But what! he may nat do al as hym liketh; 
 And at the laste he chees hym for to wende, 915 
 
 And come agayn right at the yeres ende. 
 With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye; 
 And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye. 
 He seketh every hous and every place. 
 Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace 920 
 
 887 which. 888 he om.; birafte. 895 preyden. 914 vhat om. 
 
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATH 
 
 To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost; 
 
 But he ne koude arryven in no coost 
 
 Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere 
 
 Two creatures accordynge in feere. 
 
 Somme seyde^ wommen loven best richesse^ 925 
 
 Somme seyde honour^ somme seyde jolynesse^ 
 
 Somme riche array^ somme seyden lust abedde^ 
 
 And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde. 
 
 Somme seyde_, that oure hertes been moost esed 
 
 Whan that we been yflatered and yplesed — 930 
 
 He gooth ful ny the sothe_, I wol nat lye^ 
 
 A man shal wynne us best with flaterye ; 
 
 And with attendance and with bisynesse 
 
 Been we ylymed^ bothe moore and lesse. — 
 
 And somme seyn^ how that we loven best 9S5 
 
 For to be free_, and do right as us lest^ 
 
 And that no man repreve us of oure vice^ 
 
 But seye that we be wise^ and nothyng nyce. 
 
 For trewely_, ther is noon of us alle^ - 
 
 If any wight wol clawe us on the galle_, 9^0 
 
 That we nel kike; for he seith us sooth; 
 
 Assay^ and he shal fynde it that so dooth. 
 
 For be we never so vicious withinne_, 
 
 We wol been holden wise^ and clene of synne. 
 
 And somme seyn^ that greet delit han we 9"^^ 
 
 For to been holden stable and eke secree^ 
 
 And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle^ 
 
 And nat biwreye thyng that men us telle. 
 
 But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele^ 
 
 Pardee^ we wommen konne no thyng hele. 950 
 
 Witnesse on Myda — wol ye heere the tale? 
 
 Ovyde_, amonges othere thynges smale^ 
 
 Seyde^ Myda hadde under his longe heres 
 
 Growynge upon his heed two asses eres^ 
 
 The whiche vice he hydde^ as he best myghte, 955 
 
 935 hoir om. 955 which. 
 
264 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Fill subtilly from every mannes sighte; 
 
 That^ save his wyf^ ther wiste of it namo^ 
 
 He loved hir moost and trusted hir also. 
 
 He preyede hir_, that to no creature 
 
 She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960 
 
 She swoor him nay^ for al this world to wynne^ 
 
 She nolde do that vileynye or synne^ 
 
 To make hir housbonde han so foul a name^ 
 
 She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame ! 
 
 But nathelees^ hir thoughte that she dyde^ 965 
 
 That she so longe sholde a eonseil hyde^ 
 
 Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte 
 
 That nedely som word hir moste asterte. 
 
 And sith she dorste telle it to no man^ 
 
 Doun to a mareys faste by she ran^ 970 
 
 Til she came there_, hir herte was afyre^ 
 
 And as a bitore bombleth in the myre. 
 
 She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun ; — 
 
 "Biwreye me nat^ thou water^ with thy soun^" 
 
 Quod she^ ''to thee I telle it and namo^ 975 
 
 Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two ! 
 
 Now is myn herte al hool^ now is it oute^ 
 
 I myghte no lenger kepe it_, out of doute.'' 
 
 Heere may ye se_, thogh we a tyme abyde^ 
 
 Yet out it moot^ we kan no eonseil hyde. — 980 
 
 The remenant of the tale^ if ye wol heere^ 
 
 Redeth Ovyde^ and ther ye may it leere. — 
 
 This knyght^ of which my tale is specially, 
 Whan that he saugh he myghte nat come therby_, 
 This is to seye, what wommen love moost^ 985 
 
 Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost. 
 But hoom he gooth, he myghte nat sojourne; 
 The day was come that homward moste he tourne. 
 And in his wey it happed hym to ryde 
 In al this care under a forest syde_, 990 
 
 958 truste. 959 preyde. 
 
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATH 265 
 
 Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go 
 
 Of ladyes f oure and twenty^ and yet mo ; 
 
 Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne^ 
 
 In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne. 
 
 But certeinly^ er he came fully there^ 995 
 
 Vanysshed was this daunce^ he nyste where^ 
 
 No creature saugh he that bar lyf_, 
 
 Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf^ 
 
 A fouler wight ther may no man devyse. 
 
 Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse^ 1000 
 
 And seyde^ *'Sire knyght^ heer-forth ne lith no wey; 
 
 Tel me what that ye seken^ by your fey. 
 
 Par a venture it may the bettre be^ 
 
 Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng/' quod she. 
 
 "My leeve mooder/' quod this knyght^ '*certeyn^ 1005 
 
 I nam but deed_, but if that I kan seyn 
 
 What thyng it is_, that wommen moost desire. 
 
 Koude ye me wisse^ I wolde wel quite youre hire.'' 
 
 "Plight me thy trouthe^ heere in myn hand/' quod she^ 
 
 "The nexte thyng that I requere thee^ 1010 
 
 Thou shalt it do^ if it lye in thy myght^ 
 
 And I wol telle it yow^ er it be nyght." 
 
 "Have heer my trouthe^" quod the knyght^ "I grante." 
 
 "Thanne/' quod she_, "I dar me wel avante^ 
 
 Thy lyf is s^uf^ for I wol stonde therby 1015 
 
 Upon my lyf^ the queene wol seye as I. 
 
 Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle^ 
 
 That wereth on a coverchief or a calle^ 
 
 That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche. 
 
 Lat us go forth withouten lenger speche." 1020 
 
 Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere^ 
 
 And bad hym to be glad and have no fere. 
 
 Whan they be comen to the courts this knyght 
 Seyde he had holde his day^ as he hadde hight^ 
 And redy was his answere^ as he sayde. 1025 
 
 993 which. 
 
266 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ful many a noble wyf^ and many a mayde^ 
 
 And many a wydwe^ for that they been wise^ 
 
 The queene hirself sittynge as a justise_, 
 
 Assembled been^ his answere for to heere ; 
 
 And afterward this knyght was bode appeere. 1030 
 
 To every wight comanded was silence^ 
 
 And that the knyght sholde telle in audience 
 
 What thyng that worldly wommen loven best. 
 
 This knyght ne stood nat stille^ as doth a best^ 
 
 But to his questioun anon answerde 1035 
 
 With manly voys^ that al the court it herde: 
 
 "My lige lady^ generally/' quod he^ 
 
 "Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee 
 
 As wel over hir housbond as hir love^ 
 
 And for to been in maistrie hym above. 1040 
 
 This is youre mooste desir^ thogh ye me kille^ 
 
 Dooth as yow list^ I am heer at youre wille.'' 
 
 In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde 
 
 Ne wydwe that contraried that he sayde^ 
 
 But seyden he was worthy han his lyf. 1045 
 
 And with that word up stirte the olde wyf^ 
 
 Which that the knyght saugh sittynge in the grene. 
 
 "Mercy/' quod she^ "my sovereyn lady queene^ 
 
 Er that youre court departe^ do me right. 
 
 I taughte this answere unto the knyght_, . 1050 
 
 For which he plighte me his trouthe there^ 
 
 The firste thyng I wolde of hym requere_, 
 
 He wolde it do^ if it lay in his myght. 
 
 Bifor the court thanne preye I thee^ sir kynght/' 
 
 Quod she^ "that thou me take unto thy wyf^ 1055 
 
 For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf. 
 
 If I seye fals^ sey nay^ upon thy fey!" 
 
 This knyght answerde^ "Alias and weylawey ! 
 
 I woot right wel that swich was my biheste ! 
 
 For Goddes love^ as chees a newe requeste_, 1060 
 
 1028 a om. 1038 to om. 1042 heer om. 1052 of om. 
 
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATH 267 
 
 Taak al my good^ and lat my body go !" 
 
 ''Nay_, thanne/' quod she^ ''I shrewe us bothe two^ 
 
 For thogh that I be foul^ and oold^ and poore^ 
 
 I nolde for al the metal^ ne for oore^ 
 
 That under erthe is grave^ or lith above^ 1065 
 
 But if thy wyf I were^ and eek thy love/' 
 
 ''My love?" quod he^ 'nay^ my dampnacioun ! 
 
 Allas_, that any of my nacioun 
 
 Sholde evere so foule disparaged be l" 
 
 But al for noght^ the ende is this^ that he 1070 
 
 Constreyned was^ he nedes moste hir wedde^ 
 And taketh his olde wyf;, and gooth to bedde. 
 Now wolden som men seye_, paraventure^ 
 That for my necligence I do no cure 
 
 To tellen yow the joye and al tharray^ 1075 
 
 That at the f eeste was that ilke day ; 
 To whiche thyng shortly answere I shal. 
 I seye^ ther nas no joye ne f eeste at al^ 
 Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sOrwe_, 
 For prively he wedde hir on a morwe^ 1080 
 
 And al day after hidde hym as an owle^ 
 So wo was hym^ his wyf looked so foule. 
 Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght^ 
 Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght^ 
 He walweth and he turneth to and fro. 1085 
 
 His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo^ 
 And seyde^ ''O deere housbonde^ benedicitee^ 
 Fareth every knyght thus with his wyf^ as ye? 
 Is this the la we of Kyng Arthures hous ? 
 
 Is every knyght of his so dangerous? 1090 
 
 I am youre owene love^ and eek your wyf; 
 I am she which that saved hath youre lyf . 
 And certes_, yet dide I yow nevere unright; 
 Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght ? 
 
 1065 and (1) om. 1070 thende. 1077 which. 1080 wedded. 1091 eek om. 
 1093 ne dide. 
 
268 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit. 1095 
 
 What is my gilt ? for Goddes love^ tel it^ 
 
 And it shal been amended^ if I may/' 
 
 '^Amended/' quod this knyght^ ''alias ! nay ! nay ! 
 
 It wol nat been amended nevere mo ; 
 
 Thou art so loothly and so oold also 1100 
 
 And therto comen of so lough a kynde^ 
 
 That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde. 
 
 So wolde God^ myn herte wolde breste !" 
 
 *'Is this/' quod she^ ''the cause of youre unreste?'' 
 
 "Ye^ certeinly/' quod he^ "no wonder is!'' 1105 
 
 "Now^ sire/' quod she^ "I koude amende al this_, 
 
 If that me liste^ er it were dayes thre^ 
 
 So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me. 
 
 But for ye speken of swich gentillesse 
 As is descended out of old richesse^ 1110 
 
 That therfore sholden ye be gentil men^ 
 Swich arrogance nis nat worth an hen. 
 Looke who that is moost vertuous alway^ 
 Pryvee and apert^ and moost entendeth ay 
 To do the gentil dedes that he kan^ 1115 
 
 Taak hym for the grettest gentil-man. 
 Crist wole^ we clayme of hym oure gentillesse^ 
 Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse. 
 For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage^ 
 
 For which we clayme to been of heigh parage,, 1120 
 
 Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng 
 To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng^ 
 That made hem gentil men ycalled be^ 
 And bad us folwen hem in swich degree. 
 Wel kan the wise poete of Florence^ 1125 
 
 That highte Dant^ speken in this sentence. 
 Lo in swich maner rym is D antes tale: 
 'Ful selde upriseth by his branches smale 
 Prowesse of man^ for God of his goodnesse 
 
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATH 269 
 
 Wole^ that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse/ 1130 
 
 For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme 
 
 But temporel thyng^ that man may hurte and mayme. 
 
 Eek every wight woot this as wel as I, 
 
 If gentillesse were planted natureelly 
 
 Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne^ 1135 
 
 Pryvee nor apert^ thanne wolde they nevere fyne 
 
 To doon of gentillesse the faire office^ 
 
 They myghte do no vileynye or vice. 
 
 Taak fyr^ and ber it in the derkeste hous 
 
 Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous^ 1140 
 
 And lat men shette the dores and go thenne^ 
 
 Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne 
 
 As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde ; 
 
 His office natureel ay wol it holde^ 
 
 Up peril of my lyf^ til that it dye. 1145 
 
 Heere may ye se wel^ how that genterye 
 Is nat annexed to possessioun^ 
 Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun 
 Alwey^ as dooth the fyr^ lo^ in his kynde. 
 For God it woot^ men may wel often fynde 1150 
 
 A lordes sone do shame and vileynye^ 
 And he that wole han pris of his gentry e^ 
 For he was boren of a gentil hous^ 
 And hadde hise eldres noble and vertuous^ 
 And nel hym-selven do no gentil dedis^ 1155 
 
 Xe folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is^ 
 He nys nat gentil^ be he due or erl; 
 For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl. 
 For gentillesse nys but renomee 
 
 Of thyne auncestres for hire heigh bountee^ 11 60 
 
 Which is a strange thyng to thy persone. 
 Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone^ 
 Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace^ 
 It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place. 
 
 1153 born. 
 
270 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thenketh hou noble^ as seith Valerius^ 1165 
 
 Was thilke Tullius Hostillius^ 
 
 That out of poverte roos to heigh noblesse. 
 
 Reedeth Senek_, and redeth eek Boece^ 
 
 Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is^ 
 
 That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis. 1170 
 
 And therfore^ leeve housbonde^ I thus conclude^ 
 
 Al were it that myne auncestres weren rude^ 
 
 Yet may the hye God — and so hope I^ — 
 
 Grante me grace to lyven vertuously. 
 
 Thanne am I gentil whan that I bigynne 1175 
 
 To lyven vertuously^ and weyve synne. 
 
 And ther as ye of poverte me repreeve^ 
 The hye God^ on whom that we bileeve 
 In wilful poverte chees to lyve his lyf . 
 
 And certes every man^ mayden or wyf ^ 1180 
 
 May understonde that Jesus^ hevene kyng^ 
 Ne wolde nat chesen vicious lyvyng. 
 Glad poverte is an honeste thyng^ certeyn^ 
 This wole Senec and othere clerkes seyn. 
 Who so that halt hym payd of his poverte^ 1185 
 
 I holde hym riche^ al hadde he nat a sherte ; 
 He that coveiteth is a povre wight^ 
 For he wolde han that is nat in his myght^ 
 But he that noght hath^ ne coveiteth have^ 
 Is riche_, although ye holde hym but a knave. 1190 
 
 Verray poverte^ it syngeth proprely. 
 Juvenal seith of poverte myrity^ 
 'The povre man^ whan he goth by the weye^ 
 Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye.' 
 Poverte is hateful good^ and^ as I gesse^ 1195 
 
 A f ul greet bryngere out of bisynesse ; 
 A greet amender eek of sapience 
 To hym that taketh it in pacience. 
 Poverte is this^ although it seme elenge; 
 
 1168 Reed. 1169 it om. 1187 pouere. 1199 alenge. 
 
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATH 271 
 
 Possessioun^ that no wight wol chalenge. 1200 
 
 Poverte ful ofte_, whan a man is lowe^ 
 
 Maketh his God and eek hymself to knowe^ 
 
 Poverte a spectacle is^ as thynketh me^ 
 
 Thurgh which he may hise verray freendes see. 
 
 And therfore^ sire^ syn that I noght yow greve^ 1205 
 
 Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve. 
 
 Now sire^ of elde ye repreve me^ 
 And certes^ sire/ thogh noon auctoritee 
 Were in no book^ ye gentils of honour 
 
 Seyn^ that men sholde an oold wight doon favour^ 1210 
 
 And clepe hym fader for youre gentillesse^ 
 And auctours shal I fynden^ as I gesse. 
 
 Now_, ther ye seye that I am foul and old^ 
 Than drede you noght to been a cokewold; 
 For filthe and eelde^ al so moot I thee^ 1215 
 
 Been grete wardeyns upon chastitee; 
 But nathelees^ syn I knowe youre delit^ 
 I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit'/' 
 **Chese now/' quod she_, ''oon of thise thynges tweye: 
 To han me foul and old til that I deye^ 1220 
 
 And be to yow a trewe humble wyf^ 
 And nevere yow displese in al my lyf ; 
 Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair^ 
 And take youre aventure of the repair 
 
 That shal be to youre hous_, by cause of me^ 1225 
 
 Or in som oother place may wel be. 
 Now chese yourselven wheither that yow liketh/' 
 
 This knyght avyseth hym and sore siketh^ 
 But atte laste^ he seyde in this manere: 
 
 ''My lady and my love^ and wyf so deere^ 1230 
 
 I put me in youre wise governance. 
 Cheseth yourself^ which may be moost plesance 
 And moost honour to yow and me also. 
 I do no fors the wheither of the two^ 
 For^ as yow liketh_, it suffiseth me.'* 1235 
 
 / 
 
272 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 **Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie_,'' quod she^ 
 
 ''Syn I may chese and governe as me lest?'' 
 
 ''Ye^ certes^ wyi/' quod he^ *'I holde it best/' 
 
 ''Kys me/' quod she^ *Ve be no lenger wrothe^ 
 
 For^ by my trouthe^ I wol be to yow bothe ! 1240 
 
 This is to seyn_, ye, bothe fair and good. 
 
 I prey to God that I moote sterven wood 
 
 But I to yow be al so good and trewe 
 
 As evere was wyf^ syn that the world was newe. 
 
 And but I be tomorn as fair to seene 1245 
 
 As any lady^ emperice or queene^ 
 
 That is bitwixe the est and eke the west^ 
 
 Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest. 
 
 Cast up the curtyn^ looke how that it is." 
 
 And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this^ 1250 
 
 That she so fair was^ and so yong therto^ 
 For joye he hente hire in hise armes two. 
 His herte bathed in a bath of blisse^ 
 A thousand tyme arewe he gan hir kisse^ 
 
 And she obeyed hym in every thyng 1255 
 
 That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng. 
 
 And thus they lyve unto hir lyves ende 
 In parfit joye; — and Jesu Crist us sende 
 Housbondes meeke^ yonge^ fressh abedde^ 
 And grace toverbyde hem that we wedde. 1260 
 
 And eek I praye Jesu shorte hir lyves^ 
 That nat wol be governed by hir wyves ; 
 And olde and angry nygardes of dispence^ 
 God sende- hem soone verray pestilence! 
 1261 pray. 
 
 Heere endeth the Wyves tale of Bathe. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE FRERES TALE 
 
 The Prologe of the Freres Tale, 
 
 This worthy lymytour^ this noble frere^ 1265 
 
 He made alwey a maner louryng chiere 
 Upon the Somonour^ but for honestee 
 No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he. 
 But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf^ 
 
 **Dame^'' quod he^ **God yeve yow right good lyf ! 1270 
 
 Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee^ 
 In scole-matere greet difficultee. 
 Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel^ I seye. 
 But dame^ heere as we ryde by the weye 
 Us nedeth nat to speken but of game^ 1275 
 
 And lete auctoritees^ on Goddes name^ 
 To prechyng and to scole eek of clergye. 
 But if it lyke to this compaignye^ » 
 I wol yow of a somonour telle a game. 
 
 Pardee^ ye may wel knowe by the name 1280 
 
 That of a somonour may no good be sayd; 
 I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd. 
 A somonour is a renner up and doun 
 With mandementz for fornicacioun^ 
 
 And is ybet at every townes ende.'' 1285 
 
 Oure Hoost tho spak^ "A sire^ ye sholde be hende 
 And curteys^ as a man of youre estaat. 
 In compaignye we wol have no debaat. 
 Telleth youre tale^ and lat the Somonour be." 
 *'Nay/' quod the Somonour^ "lat hym seye to me 1290 
 
 What so hym list. Whan it comth to my lot^ 
 By God I shal hym quiten every grot. 
 I shal hym tellen which a greet honour 
 It is to be a flaterynge lymytour_, 
 
 1278 But And. 
 
 / 
 
274 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And his office I shal hym telle^ ywis/' 1295 
 
 Oure Hoost answerde^ '*Pees_, namoore of this V 
 And after this he seyde unto the Frere^ 
 '*Tel forth youre tale^ leeve maister deere." 
 
 THE TALE. 
 
 [How a Summoner^ meeting a devil dressed as a yeoman^ 
 agrees to share gifts with him as a friend; and is himself 
 consigned to the devil by a poor old woman. Then follow 
 the Summoner's Prologue and Tale of an insult put by a 
 goodman upon a greedy friar.] 
 
GROUP E. 
 
 THE CLERKES TALE— PROLOGUE 
 
 Heere folweth the Prologe of the clerhes tale of Oxenford, 
 
 *'Sire clerk of Oxenford/' oure Hooste sayde^ 
 
 ''Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde^ 
 
 Were newe spoused^ sittynge at the bord. 
 
 This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word. 
 
 I trowe ye studie about som sophyme; 5 
 
 But Salomon seith^ 'every thyng hath tyme/ 
 
 For Goddes sake_, as beth of bettre cheere; 
 
 It is no tyme for to studien heere^ 
 
 Telle us som myrie tale^ by youre fey. 
 
 For what man that is entred in a pley^ 10 
 
 He nedes moot unto the pley assente ; 
 
 But precheth nat as freres doon in Lente^ 
 
 To make us for oure olde synnes wepe^ 
 
 Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe. 
 
 Telle us som murie thyng of aventures ; 1 5 
 
 Youre termes_, youre colours^ and youre figures^ 
 
 Keep hem in stoor^ til so be that ye endite 
 
 Heigh style_, as whan that men to kynges write. 
 
 Speketh so pleyn at this tyme^ we yow preye^ 
 
 That we may understonde what ye seye." 20 
 
 This worthy clerk benignely answerde^ 
 
 "Hooste/' quod he^ "I am under youre yerde. 
 
 Ye han of us as now^ the governance ; 
 
 And therfore wol I do yow obeisance 
 
 As fer as resoun axeth^ hardily. 25 
 
 I wol yow telle a tale^ which that I 
 
 Lerned at Padwe of a worthy clerk^ 
 
 1, 22 Hoost. 
 
 / 
 
276 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 As preved by his wordes and his werk. 
 
 He is now deed^ and nayled in his cheste ; 
 
 I prey to God so yeve his soule reste. 30 
 
 Fraunceys Petrark^ the lauriat poete^ 
 
 Highte this clerk^ whos rethorike sweete 
 
 Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie^ 
 
 As Lynyan dide of philosophies 
 
 Or lawe. or oother art particuler. 35 
 
 But deeth^ that wol nat sufFre us dwellen heer 
 
 But as it were a twynklyng of an eye^ 
 
 Hem bothe hath slayn^ and alle shul we dye. 
 
 But forth to tellen of this worthy man^ 
 That taughte me this tale as I bigan^ 40 
 
 I seye^ that first with heigh stile he enditeth 
 Er he the body of his tale writeth^ 
 A prohemye in the which discryveth he 
 Pemond^ and of Saluces the contree^ 
 
 And speketh of Apennyn^ the hilles hye^ 45 
 
 That been the boundes of Westlumbardye ; 
 And of Mount Vesulus in special^ 
 Where as the Poo out of a welle smal 
 Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours^ 
 That estward ay encresseth in his cours 50 
 
 To Emeleward^ to Ferrare^ and Venyse; 
 The which a long thyng were to devyse. 
 And trewely^ as to my juggement^ 
 Me thynketh it a thyng impertinent^ 
 
 Save that he wole convoyen his mateere; 55 
 
 But this his tale^ which that ye may heere." 
 
 31 Perak. S2 rethorik. 36 suffre its om. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 
 
 Heere higynneth the tale of the Clerk of Oxenford. 
 
 Ther is^ at the west syde of Ytaille^ 
 
 Doun at the roote of Vesulus the colde, 
 
 A lusty playne_, habundant of vitaille^ 
 
 Where many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde 60 
 
 That founded were in tyme of fadres olde^ 
 
 And many another delitable sighte^ 
 
 And Saluces this noble contree highte. 
 
 A markys whilom lord was of that lond^ 
 
 As Avere hise worthy eldres hym bifore_, 65 
 
 And obeisant and redy to his bond 
 
 Were alle hise liges_, bothe lasse and moore. 
 
 Thus in delit he lyveth_, and hath doon yoore^ 
 
 Biloved and drad thurgh favour of Fortune^ 
 
 Bothe of hise lordes and of his commune. 70 
 
 Therwith he was^ to speke as of lynage^ 
 
 The gentilleste yborn of Lumbardye; 
 
 A fair persone^ and strongs and yong of age_, 
 
 And ful of honour and of curteisye^ 
 
 Discreet ynogh his contree for to gjt, 75 
 
 Save that in somme thynges that he was to blame, 
 
 And Walter was this yonge lordes name. 
 
 I blame hym thus, that he considereth noght 
 
 In tyme comynge what hym myghte bityde^ 
 
 But in his lust present was al his thoght, 80 
 
 As for to hauke and hunte on every syde. 
 
 Wei ny alle othere cures leet he slyde ; 
 
 And eek he nolde, — and that was worst of alle — 
 
 Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle. 
 
 74 of om. 
 
278 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Oonly that point his peple bar so soore^ 85 
 
 That flokmeele on a day they to hym wente^ 
 
 And oon of hem^ that wisest was of loore^ 
 
 Or elles that the lord best wolde assente^ 
 
 That he sholde telle hym what his peple mente. 
 
 Or elles koude he shewe wel swich mateere^ 90 
 
 He to the markj^s seyde as ye shul heere : 
 
 "O noble Markys^ youre humanitee 
 
 Asseureth us^ and yeveth us hardinesse^ 
 
 As ofte as tyme is of necessitee 
 
 That we to yow mowe telle oure hevynesse. 95 
 
 Accepteth^ lord^ now for youre gentillesse 
 
 That we with pitous herte unto yow pleyne^ 
 
 And lat youre eres nat my voys desdeyne^ 
 
 Al have I noght to doone in this mateere 
 
 Moore than another man hath in this place; 100 
 
 Yet for as muche as je, my lord so deere^ 
 
 Han alwey shewed me favour and grace^ 
 
 I dar the bettre aske of yow a space 
 
 Of audience to shewen oure requeste^ 
 
 And ye, my lord^ to doon right as yow leste. 105 
 
 For certes^ lord^ so wel us liketh yow 
 
 And al youre werk^ and evere han doon that we 
 
 Ne koude nat us-self devysen how 
 
 We myghte lyven in moore f elicitee_, 
 
 Save o thyng^ lord^ if it youre wille be^ 110 
 
 That for to been a wedded man yow leste^ 
 
 Thanne were youre peple in sovereyn hertes reste. 
 
 Boweth youre nekke under that blisful yok 
 
 Of soveraynetee^ noght of servyse^ 
 
 Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlok; 115 
 
 93 and yeveth to yeve. 110 it om. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 279 
 
 And thenketh^ lord^ among youre thoghtes wyse 
 How that oiire dayes passe in sondry wyse^ 
 For thogli we slepe^ or wake^ or rome^ or ryde. 
 Ay fleeth the tyme^ it nyl no man abyde. 
 
 And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit^ 120 
 
 In crepeth age alwey^ as stille as stoon^ 
 
 And deeth manaceth every age^ and smyt 
 
 In ech estaat^ for ther escapeth noon; 
 
 And al so certein as we knowe echoon 
 
 That we shul deye^ as uncerteyn we alle 125 
 
 Been of that day^ whan deeth shal on us falle. 
 
 Accepteth thanne of us the trewe entente 
 
 That nevere yet refuseden thyn heeste; 
 
 And we wol^ lord^ if that ye wole assente^ 
 
 Chese yow a wyf in short tyme atte leeste^ 1 30 
 
 Born of the gentilleste and of the meeste 
 
 Of al this land_, so that it oghte seme^ 
 
 Honour to God and yow^ as we kan deeme. 
 
 Delivere us out of al this bisy drede^ 
 
 And taak a wyf for hye Goddes sake^ 135 
 
 For if it so bifelle^ as God forbede^ 
 
 That thurgh your deeth your lyne sholde slake^ 
 
 And that a straunge successour sholde take 
 
 Youre heritage_, o wo were us alyve ! 
 
 Wherfore we pray you hastily to wyve.'' 140 
 
 Hir meeke ^Dreyere and hir pitous cheere 
 
 Made the markys herte han pitee. 
 
 **Ye wol/' quod he_, *'myn owene peple deere^ 
 
 To that I nevere erst thoughte^ streyne me. 
 
 I me rejoysed of my liberte^ 145 
 
 That seelde tyme is founde in mariage. 
 
 Ther I was free_, I moot been in servage. 
 
280 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But nathelees I se youre trewe entente^ 
 
 And truste upon youre wit^ and have doon ay ; 
 
 Wherfore of my free wyl I wole assente 150 
 
 To wedde me^ as soone as evere I may. 
 
 But ther as ye han profred me this day 
 
 To chese me a wyf^ I yow relesse 
 
 That choys^ and prey yow of that profre eesse. 
 
 For God it woot^ that children ofte been 155 
 
 Unlyk hir worthy eldres hem bifore. 
 
 Bountee comth al of God^ nat of the streen_, 
 
 Of which they been engendred and ybore. 
 
 I truste in Goddes bontee; and therfore 
 
 My mariage^ and myn estaat and reste^ 160 
 
 I hym bitake^ he may doon as hym leste. 
 
 Lat me allone in chesynge of my wyf^ 
 
 That charge upon my bak I wole endure ; 
 
 But I yow preye^ and charge up on youre lyf 
 
 That what wyf that I take^ ye me assure l65 
 
 To worshipe hir. whil that hir lyf may dure^ 
 
 In word and werk^ bothe heere and everywheere^ 
 
 As she an emperoures doghter weere. 
 
 And forthermoore^ this shal ye swere^ that ye 
 
 Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve^ 170 
 
 For sith I shal forgoon my libertee 
 
 At youre requeste^ as evere moot I thryve^ 
 
 Ther as myn herte is set^ ther wol I.wyve ! 
 
 And but ye wole assente in this manere^ 
 
 I prey yow_, speketh namoore of this matere/' 175 
 
 With hertely wyl they sworen and assenten 
 To al this thyng^ ther seyde no wight nay^ 
 Bisekynge hym of grace er that they wenten^ 
 
 154 yow om. 165 That om. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 281 
 
 That he wolde graunten hem a certein day 
 
 Of his spousaille, as soone as evere he may^ 180 
 
 For yet alwey the peple somwhat dredde 
 
 Lest that this markys no wyf wolde wedde. 
 
 He graunted hem a day^ swich as hym leste^ 
 
 On which he wolde be wedded sikerly^ 
 
 And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste; 185 
 
 And they with humble entente^ buxomly^ 
 
 Knelynge upon hir knees ful reverently 
 
 Hym thonken alle^ and thus they han an ende 
 
 Of hir entente,, and hoom agayn they wende. 
 
 And heerupon he to hise offieeres 190 
 
 Comaundeth for the feste to purveye^ 
 
 And to hise privee knyghtes and squieres 
 
 Swich charge yaf^ as hym liste on hem leye. 
 
 And they to his comandement obeye^ 
 
 And ech of hem dooth al his diligence 195 
 
 To doon unto the feeste reverence. 
 
 Explicit prima pars, 
 Incipit secunda pars, 
 
 Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable 
 Ther as this markys shoop his mariage^ 
 Ther stood a throop^ of site delitable^ 
 
 In which that povre folk of that village 200 
 
 Hadden hir beestes and hir herbergage^ 
 And of hir labour tooke hir sustenance^ 
 After that the erthe yaf hem habundance. 
 
 Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man 
 
 Which that was holden povrest of hem alle; 205 
 
 (But hye God somtyme senden kan 
 
 His grace into a litel oxes stalle) 
 
282 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Janicula men of that throop hym calle. 
 
 A doghter hadde he^ fair ynogh to sighte^ 
 
 And Grisildis this yonge may den highte. 210 
 
 But for to speke of vertuous beautee^ 
 
 Thanne was she oon the faireste under sonne^ 
 
 For povreliche yfostred up was she^ 
 
 No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte yronne. 
 
 Wei ofter of the welle than of the tonne 215 
 
 She drank^ and for she wolde vertu plese 
 
 She knew wel labour but noon ydel ese. 
 
 But thogh this mayde tendre were of age^ 
 
 Yet in the brest of hire virginitee 
 
 Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; 220 
 
 And in greet reverence and charitee 
 
 Hir olde povre fader fostred shee. 
 
 A fewe sheepe^ spynnynge on feeld she kepte^ 
 
 — She wolde noght been ydel^ til she slepte. 
 
 And whan she homward cam^ she wolde brynge 225 
 
 Wortes^ or othere herbes tymes ofte^ 
 
 The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir lyvynge, 
 
 And made hir bed ful harde and no thyng softe; 
 
 And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on lofte 
 
 With everich obeisaunce and diligence 230 
 
 That child may doon to fadres reverence. 
 
 Upon Grisilde^ this povre creature^ 
 
 Ful ofte sithe this markys caste his eje. 
 
 As he on huntyng rood paraventure. 
 
 And whan it fil that he myghte hire espye^ 235 
 
 He noght with wantowne lookyng of folye 
 
 Hise eyen caste on hir^ but in sad wyse^ 
 
 Upon hir chiere he wolde hym ofte avyse^ 
 
 211 bountee. 235 that it. 238 ivolde gan. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 283 
 
 Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede 
 
 And eek hir vertu^ passynge any wight 240 
 
 Of so yong age_, as wel in chiere as dede. 
 
 For thogh the peple hadde no greet insight 
 
 In vertu^ he considered ful right 
 
 Hir bountee_, and disposed that he wolde 
 
 Wedde hir oonly^ if evere he wedde sholde. 245 
 
 The day of weddyng cam_, but no wight kan 
 Telle what womman that it sholde be_, 
 For which merveille wondred many a man^ 
 And seyden^ whan that they were in privetee, 
 '*Wol nat oure lord yet leve his vanytee? 250 
 
 Wol he nat wedde ? allas^ allas^ the while ! 
 Why wole he thus hymself and us bigile?'' 
 
 But nathelees this markys hath doon make 
 
 Of gemmes set in gold and in asure 
 
 Brooches and rynges_, for Grisildis sake^ 255 
 
 And of hir clothyng took he the mesure^ 
 
 By a mayde lyk to hir stature_, 
 
 And eek of othere ornementes alle 
 
 That unto swich a weddyng sholde falle. 
 
 The time of undren of the same day 260 
 
 Approcheth^ that this weddyng sholde be; 
 
 And al the paleys put was in array^ 
 
 Bothe halle and chambres^ ech in his degree^ 
 
 Houses of office stuffed with plentee 
 
 Ther maystow seen^ of deyntevous vitaille^ 265 
 
 That may be founde as fer as last Ytaille. 
 
 This roial markys^ richely arrayed^ 
 
 Lordes and ladyes in his compaignye^ 
 
 The whiche that to the feeste weren yprayed_, 
 
 258 aornementes. 
 
284 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And of his retenue the bachelrye_, 270 
 
 With many a soun of sondry melodye 
 Unto the village^ of the which I tolde^ 
 In this array the righte wey han holde. 
 
 Grisilde (of this^ God woot_, ful innocent^ 
 
 That for hir shapen was al this array) 275 
 
 To fecchen water at a welle is went^ 
 
 And Cometh hoom as soone as ever she may; 
 
 For wel she hadde herd seyd^ that thilke day 
 
 The markys sholde wedde^ and if she myghte^ 
 
 She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte. 280 
 
 She thoghte^ *'I wole with othere maydens stonde^ 
 
 That been my felawes^ in oure dore^ and se 
 
 The markysesse_, and therfore wol I fonde 
 
 To doon at hoom as soone as it may be 
 
 The labour^ which that longeth unto me^ 285 
 
 And thanne I may at leyser hir biholde^ 
 
 If she this wey unto the castel holde/' 
 
 And as she wolde over hir thresshfold gon 
 
 The markys cam and gan hire for to calle^ 
 
 And she set doun hir water pot anon 290 
 
 Biside the thresshfold in an oxes stalle^ 
 
 And doun up-on hir knes she gan to falle^ 
 
 And with sad contenance kneleth stille^ 
 
 Til she had herd what was the lordes will. 
 
 This thoghtful markys spak unto this mayde 295 
 
 Ful sobrely^ and seyde in this manere_, 
 
 ''Where is youre fader^ O Grisildis?'' he sayde^ 
 
 And she with reverence in humble cheere 
 
 Answerde^ 'Xord^ he is al redy heere." 
 
 And in she gooth^ withouten lenger lette^ 300 
 
 And to the markys she hir fader fette. 
 
 277 comth. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 285 
 
 He by the hand thanne took this olde man^ 
 
 And sej^de thus_, whan he hym hadde asyde^ 
 
 "Janieula^ I neither may ne kan 
 
 Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde ; 305 
 
 If that thou vouchsauf^ what so bityde^ 
 
 Thy doghter wol I take^ er that I wende^ 
 
 As for my wyf unto hir lyves ende. 
 
 Thou lovest me^ I woot it wel eerteyn^ 
 
 And art my feithful lige man ybore_, 310 
 
 And all that liketh me_, I dar wel seyn^ 
 
 It liketh thee; and specially therfore 
 
 Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore^ 
 
 If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe^ 
 
 To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe." 315 
 
 This sodejm eas this man astonyed so^ 
 
 That reed he wax abayst and al quakyng 
 
 He stood^ unnethes seyde he wordes nao^ 
 
 But oonly thus^ ''Lord/' quod he^ *'my willynge 
 
 Is as ye wole^ ne ayeyns youre likynge 320 
 
 I wol no thyng^ ye be my lord so deere ; 
 
 Right as yow lust governeth this mateere/' 
 
 ''Yet wol I," quod this markys softely^ 
 
 "That in thy chambre I and thou and she 
 
 Have a collacioun_, and wostow why? S25 
 
 For I wol axe^ if it hir wille be 
 
 To be my wyf^ and reule hir after me; 
 
 And al this shal be doon in thy presence^ 
 
 I wol noght speke out of thyn audience." 
 
 And in the chambre whil they were aboute 330 
 
 Hir tretys which as ye shal after heere^ 
 The peple cam unto the hous withoute^ 
 And wondred hem in how honeste manere 
 
286 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere. 
 
 But outrely Grisildis wondre myghte 335 
 
 For nevere erst ne saugli she swich a sighte. 
 
 No wonder is thogh that she were astoned 
 
 To seen so greet a gest come in that place ; 
 
 She nevere was to swiche gestes woned^ 
 
 For which she looked with ful pale face — 340 
 
 But shortly forth this tale for to chace_, 
 
 Thise arn the wordes that the markys sayde 
 
 To this benigne verray feithful mayde. 
 
 ^'Grisilde/' he seyde^ ''ye shal wel understonde 
 
 It liketh to youre fader and to me 345 
 
 That I yow wedde^ and eek it may so stonde^ 
 
 As^ I suppose^ ye wol that it so be. 
 
 But thise demandes axe I first/' quod he^ 
 
 ^'That sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse^ 
 
 Wol ye assente_, or elles yow avyse? 350 
 
 I seye this^ be ye redy with good herte 
 
 To al my lust_, and that I frely may_, 
 
 As me best thynketh_, do yow laughe or smerte^ 
 
 And nevere ye to grucche it nyght ne day^ 
 
 And eek whan I sey ye, ne sey nat nay^ 35 5 
 
 Neither by word^ ne frownyng contenance? 
 
 Swere this^ and heere I swere yow alliance/' 
 
 Wondrynge upon this word^ quakynge for drede^ 
 
 She seyde^ *'Lord^ undigne and unworthy 
 
 Am I to thilke honour^ that ye me beede^ 360 
 
 But as ye wole yourself_, right so wol I. 
 
 And heere I swere^ that nevere willyngly 
 
 In werk ne thoght I nyl yow disobeye^ 
 
 For to be deed^ though me were looth to deye." 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 287 
 
 "This is ynogh^ Grisilde myn/' quod he^ 365 
 
 And forth he gooth with a ful sobre cheere 
 
 Out at the dore^ and after that cam she; 
 
 And to the peple he seyde in this manere^, 
 
 ''This is my wyf_," quod he^ "that standeth heere ; 
 
 Honour eth hir_, and loveth hir^ I preye_, 370 
 
 Whoso me loveth ; ther is namoore to seye/' 
 
 And for that nothyng of hir olde geere 
 
 She sholde brynge into his hous, he bad 
 
 That wommen sholde dispoillen hir right theere ; — 
 
 Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad 375 
 
 To handle hir clothes, wherinne she was clad — 
 
 But nathelees^ this mayde bright of hewe 
 
 Fro foot to heed thej^ clothed han al newe. 
 
 Hir heris han they kembd_, that lay untressed 
 
 Ful rudely^ and with hir fyngres smale 380 
 
 A corone on hir heed they han ydressed^ 
 
 And sette hir ful of nowches grete and smale. 
 
 Of hir array what sholde I make a tale ? 
 
 Unnethe the peple hire knew for hir fairnesse 
 
 Whan she translated was in swich richesse. 385 
 
 This markys hath hir spoused with a ryng 
 
 Broght for the same cause, and thanne hir sette 
 
 Upon an hors, snow-whit and wel amblyng, 
 
 And to his paleys, er he lenger lette, 
 
 With joyful peple that hir ladde and mette 390 
 
 Convoyed hir; and thus the day they spende 
 
 In revel, til the sonne gan descende. 
 
 And shortly forth this tale for to chace, 
 
 I seye, that to this newe markysesse 
 
 God hath swich favour sent hir of his grace, 395 
 
 That it ne semed nat by liklynesse 
 
288 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That she was born and fed in rudenesse 
 As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle^ 
 But norissed in an emperoures halle. 
 
 To every wight she woxen is so deere 400 
 
 And worshipful^ that folk ther she was bore 
 
 And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yeere^ 
 
 Unnethe trowed they^ but dorste han swore 
 
 That she to Janicle^ of which I spak bifore_, 
 
 She doghter nere^ for as by conjecture^ 405 
 
 Hem thoughte she was another creature. 
 
 For though that evere vertuous was she^ 
 
 She was encressed in swich excellence^ 
 
 Of thewes goode^ yset in heigh bountee^ 
 
 And so discreet and fair of eloquence^ 410 
 
 So benigne^ and so digne of reverence^ 
 
 And koude so the peples herte embrace^, 
 
 That ech hir lovede^ that looked on hir face. 
 
 Noght oonly of Saluces in the toun 
 
 Publiced was the bountee of hir name^ 415 
 
 But eek biside in many a regioun^ 
 
 If oon seide wel^ another seyde the same; 
 
 So spradde of hir heighe bountee the fame 
 
 That men and wommen^ as wel yonge as olde^ 
 
 Goon to Saluce upon hir to biholde. 420 
 
 Thus Walter lowely^ nay ! but roially 
 
 Wedded with f ortunat honestetee^ 
 
 In Goddes pees lyveth ful esily 
 
 At hoom^ and outward grace ynogh had he^ 
 
 And for he saugh that under low degree 425 
 
 Was ofte vertu hid^ the peple hym heelde 
 
 A prudent man_, and that is seyn ful seelde. 
 
 405 were. 415 beaute. 418 fame name. 425 low heigh. 426 ofte om. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 289 
 
 Nat oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit 
 
 Koude al the feet of wyfly humblenesse^ 
 
 But eek^ whan that the cas required it^ 430 
 
 The commune profit koude she redresse. 
 
 Ther nas discord^ rancour^ ne hevynesse 
 
 In al that land^ that she ne koude apese_, 
 
 And wisely brynge hem alle in reste and ese. 
 
 Though that hir housbonde absent were anon 4!35 
 
 If gentil men^ or othere of hir contree 
 
 Were wrothe^ she wolde bryngen hem aton. 
 
 So wise and rype wordes hadde she_, 
 
 And juggementz of so greet equitee^ 
 
 That she from hevene sent was^ as men wende^ 440 
 
 Peple to save and every wrong tamende. 
 
 Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild 
 
 Was wedded^ she a doghter hath ybore — 
 
 Al had hir levere have born a man child; 
 
 Glad was this markys and the folk therfore^ 445 
 
 For though a mayde child coome al bifore_, 
 
 She may unto a knave child atteyne 
 
 By liklihede^ syn she nys nat bareyne. 
 
 Explicit secunda pars. 
 
 Incipit tercia pars, 
 
 Ther fil^ as it bif alleth tymes mo_, 
 Whan that this child had souked but a throwe^ 450 
 
 This markys in his herte longeth so 
 To tempte his wyf_, hir sadnesse for to knowe. 
 That he ne myghte out of his herte throwe 
 This merveillous desir his wyf tassaye. 
 Nedelees, God woot^ he thoghte hir for taffraye. 455 
 
 He hadde assayed hir ynogh bifore^ 
 And foond hir evere good; what neded it 
 
290 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Hir for to tempte and alwe}^ moore and moore? 
 
 Though som men preise it for a subtil wit^ 
 
 But as for me^ I seye that yvele it sit 460 
 
 To assaye a wyf^ whan that it is no nede^ 
 
 And putten hir in angwjrssh and in drede. 
 
 For which this markys wroghte in this manere; 
 
 He cam allone a nyght^ ther as she lay^ 
 
 With stierne face and with ful trouble cheere^ 4!65 
 
 And seyde thus^ ''Grisilde/' quod he^ ''that day 
 
 That I yow took out of your povere array^ 
 
 And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse^ 
 
 Ye have nat that forgeten^ as I gesse. 
 
 I seye^ Grisilde^ this present dignitee 470 
 
 In which that I have put yow_, as I trowe 
 
 Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be 
 
 That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe 
 
 For any wele ye moot youreselven knowe. 
 
 Taak heede of every word that y yow seye^ 475 
 
 Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. 
 
 Ye woot yourself wel how that ye cam heere 
 
 Into this hous^ it is nat longe ago. 
 
 And though to me that ye be lief and deere. 
 
 Unto my gentils ye be no thyng so. 480 
 
 They seyn^ to hem it is greet shame and wo 
 
 For to be subgetz^ and to been in servage^ 
 
 To thee that born art of a smal village. 
 
 And namely^ sith thy doghter was ybore^ 
 
 Thise wordes han they spoken^ doutelees ; 485 
 
 But I desire^ as I have doon bifore^ 
 
 To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees. 
 
 I may nat in this caas be recchelees_, 
 
 I moot doon with thy doghter for the beste^ 
 
 Nat as I wolde^ but as my peple leste. 490 
 
 « 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 291 
 
 And yet God woot^ this is ful looth to me ! 
 
 But nathelees^ withoute youre wityng 
 
 I wol nat doon^ but this wol I/* quod he^ 
 
 "That ye to me assente as in this thyng. 
 
 Shewe now youre pacience in youre werkyng^ 495 
 
 That ye me highte and swore in youre village^ 
 
 That day that maked was oure mariage." 
 
 Whan she had herd al this^ she noght ameved 
 
 Neither in word^ or chiere^ or countenaunce ; 
 
 For as it semed she was nat agreved. 500 
 
 She seyde^ ''Lord_, al lyth in youre plesaunee^ 
 
 My child^ and 1, with hertely obeisaunce 
 
 Been youres al^ and ye mowe save and spille 
 
 Your owene thyng^ werketh after youre wille. 
 
 Ther may no thyng^ God so my soule save_, 505 
 
 Liken to yow^ that may displese me^ 
 
 Ne I ne desire no thyng for to have^ 
 
 Ne drede for to leese save oonly yee; 
 
 This wyl is in myn herte^ and ay shal be; 
 
 No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface, 510 
 
 Ne chaunge my corage to another place/' 
 
 Glad was this markys of hir answeryng^ 
 
 But yet he feyned as he were nat so. 
 
 Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng_, 
 
 Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go. 515 
 
 Soone after this^ a furlong wey or two, 
 
 He prively hath toold al his entente 
 
 Unto a man, and to his wyf hym sente. 
 
 A maner sergeant was this privee man. 
 
 The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde 520 
 
 In thynges grete, and eek swich folk wel kan 
 
 Doon execucioun on thynges badde. 
 
292 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The lord knew wel that he hym loved and dradde ; — 
 
 And whan this sergeant wiste the lordes wille^ 
 
 Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille. 525 
 
 "Madame^" he seyde^ *'ye moote foryeve it me 
 
 Though I do thyng to which I am constreyned^ 
 
 Ye been so wys^ that ful wel knowe ye 
 
 That lordes heestes mowe nat been yf eyned^ 
 
 They mowe wel been biwailled and compleyned, 530 
 
 But men moote nede unto hir lust obeye; 
 
 And so wol I^ ther is namoore to seye. 
 
 This child I am comanded for to take." 
 
 And spak namoore^ but out the child he hente 
 
 Despitously^ and gan a cheer e make 535 
 
 As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. 
 
 Grisildis moot al suffren and censente^ 
 
 And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille^ 
 
 And leet this crueel sergeant doon his wille. 
 
 Suspecious was the difPame of this man^ 540 
 
 Suspect his face^ suspect his word also^ 
 
 Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan. 
 
 Allas^ hir doghter that she loved so ! 
 
 She wende he wolde han slaw en it right tho ; 
 
 But nathelees she neither weep ne syked^ 545 
 
 Consentynge hir to that the markys lyked. 
 
 But atte laste speken she bigan^ 
 
 And mekely she to the sergeant preyde^ 
 
 So as he was a worthy gentil man^ 
 
 That she moste kisse hire child^ er that it deyde^ 550 
 
 And in hir barm this litel child she leyde^ 
 
 With ful sad face^ and gan the child to kisse^ 
 
 And lulled it^ and after gan it blisse. 
 
 547 to speken. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 293 
 
 And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys^ 
 
 "Fareweel^ my child^ I shal thee nevere see^ 555 
 
 But sith I thee have marked with the croys 
 
 Of thilke fader blessed moote thou be^ 
 
 That for us deyde upon a croys of tree. 
 
 Thy soule^ litel child^ I hym bitake^ 
 
 For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake/' 560 
 
 I trowe_, that to a norice in this cas 
 
 It had been hard this reuthe for to se; 
 
 Wei myghte a mooder thanne han cryd *allas !' 
 
 But nathelees so sad and stidefast was she^ 
 
 That she endured al adversitee^ 565 
 
 And to the sergeant mekely she sayde^ 
 
 "Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde." 
 
 *'Gooth now/' quod she^ "and dooth my lordes heeste; 
 
 But o thyng wol I prey yow of youre grace^ 
 
 That^ but my lord forbad yow atte leeste^ 570 
 
 Burieth this litel body in som place 
 
 That beestes ne no briddes it torace." 
 
 But he no word wol to that purpos seye^ 
 
 But took the child^ and wente upon his weye. 
 
 This sergeant cam unto his lord ageyn^ 575 
 
 And of Grisildis wordes and hir cheere 
 
 He tolde hym point for pointy in short and pleyn^ 
 
 And hym presenteth with his doghter deere. 
 
 Somwhat this lord hath routhe in his manere^ 
 
 But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille^ 580 
 
 As lordes doon whan they wol han hir wille. 
 
 And bad his sergeant^ that he pryvely 
 Sholde this child ful softe wynde and wrappe^ 
 With alle circumstances tendrely^ 
 
 557 thou he. 583 ful om. 
 
294 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe^ 585 
 
 But upon peyne his heed of for to swappe 
 That no man sholde knowe of his entente^ 
 Ne whenne he eam^ ne whider that he wente. 
 
 Bub at Boloigne to his suster deere_, 
 
 That thilke tyme of Panik was Countesse^ 590 
 
 He sholde it take^ and shewe hir this mateere^ 
 
 Bisekynge hir to doon hir bisynesse 
 
 This child to fostre in alle gentillesse^ 
 
 And whos child that it was^ he bad hire hyde 
 
 From every wight^ for oght that may bityde. 595 
 
 The sergeant gooth^ and hath fulfild this thyng^ 
 
 But to this markys now retourne we^ 
 
 For now gooth he ful faste ymaginyng^ 
 
 If by his wyves cheere he myghte se 
 
 Or by hir word aperceyve that she 600 
 
 Were chaunged^ but he nevere hir koude fynde^ 
 
 But evere in oon ylike sad and kynde. 
 
 As glad^ as humble^ as bisy in servyse^ 
 
 And eek in love^ as she was wont to be^ 
 
 Was she to hym in every maner wyse^ 605 
 
 Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. 
 
 Noon accident for noon adversitee 
 
 Was seyn in hir^ ne nevere hir doghter name 
 
 Ne nempned she^ in ernest nor in game. 
 
 . Explicit tercia pars, 
 Sequitur pars quarta. 
 
 In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer 610 
 
 Er she with childe was ; but as God wolde_, 
 A knave child she bar by this Walter^ 
 
 588 he cam om. 590 Pavik. 594 hire hyin. 612 knave man. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 295 
 
 Ful gracious and fair for to biholde. 
 
 And whan that folk it to his fader tolde^ 
 
 Nat oonly he^ but al his contree^ merye 6l5 
 
 Was for this child^ and God they thanke and herye. 
 
 Whan it was two yeer old^ and fro the brest 
 
 Departed of his norice^ on a day 
 
 This markys caughte yet another lest 
 
 To tempte his wyf yet ofter if he may. 620 
 
 O^ nedelees was she tempted in assay ! 
 
 But wedded men ne knowe no mesure^ 
 
 Whan that they fynde a paeient creature. 
 
 "Wyf/' quod this markys_, "ye han herd er this 
 
 My peple sikly berth oure mariage; 625 
 
 And namely sith my sone yboren is^ 
 
 Now is it worse than evere in al oure age. 
 
 The murmure sleeth myn herte and my corage^ 
 
 For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte^ 
 
 That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte. 630 
 
 Now sey they thus^ Vhan Walter is agon^ 
 
 Thanne shal the blood of Janicle succede^ 
 
 And been oure lord^ for oother have we noon.' 
 
 Swiche wordes seith my peple^ out of drede^ 
 
 Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken heede_, 635 
 
 For certeinly I drede swich sentence^ 
 
 Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience. 
 
 I wolde lyve in pees^ if that I myghte; 
 
 Wherfore I am disposed outrely 
 
 As I his suster servede by nyghte^ 640 
 
 Right so thenke I to serve hym pryvely. 
 
 This warne I yow_, that ye nat sodeynly 
 
 Out of youreself for no wo sholde outreye. 
 
 Beth pacient_, and therof I yow preye.'' 
 
 626 yborn. 640 served. 
 
% 
 
 296 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 *'I have/' quod she^ ''seyd thus^ and evere shal^ 64f5 
 
 I wol no thjng, ne nyl no thyng^ certayn^ 
 
 But as yow list^ naught greveth me at al 
 
 Though that my doughter and my sone be slayn — 
 
 At youre comandement^ this is to sayn — 
 
 I have noght had no part of children tweyne 650 
 
 But first siknesse^ and after wo and peyne. 
 
 Ye been oure lord^ dooth with your owene thyng 
 
 Right as yow list^ axeth no reed at me ; 
 
 For as I lefte at hoom al my elothyng^ i 
 
 Whan I first cam to yow^ right so/' quod she^ 655 
 
 "Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee^ 
 
 And took youre clothyng^ wherfore I yow preye, 
 
 Dooth youre plesaunce; I wol youre lust obeye. 
 
 And certes^ if I hadde prescience 
 
 Youre wyl to knowe^ er ye youre lust me tolde^ 660 
 
 I wolde it doon withouten necligence. 
 
 But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde^ 
 
 Al your plesance f erme and stable I holde_, 
 
 For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese^ 
 
 Right gladly wolde I dyen yow to plese. 665 
 
 Deth may noght make no comparisoun 
 
 Unto youre love !'' and whan this markys say 
 
 The Constance of his wyf^ he caste adoun 
 
 Hise eyen two^ and wondreth that she may 
 
 In pacience 3uffre al this array; 670 
 
 And forth he goth with drery contenance^ 
 
 But to his herte it was ful greet plesance. 
 
 This ugly sergeant^ in the same wyse 
 
 That he hir doghter caughte^ right so he 
 
 Or worse_, if men worse kan devyse^ 675 
 
 Hath hent hir sone^ that ful was of beautee^ 
 
 m 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 297 
 
 And evere in oon so pacient was she, 
 That she no chiere maade of hevynesse, 
 But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse. 
 
 Save this, she preyde hym, that if he myghte, 680 
 
 Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave 
 
 His tendre lymes, delicaat to sighte. 
 
 Fro foweles and fro beestes for to save. 
 
 But she noon answere of hym myghte have. 
 
 He wente his wey, as hym nothyng ne roghte, 685 
 
 But to Boloigne he tendrely it broght. 
 
 This markys wondred evere lenger the moore 
 
 Upon hir pacienee, and if that he 
 
 Ne hadde soothly knowen therbifoore 
 
 That parfitly hir children loved she, 690 
 
 He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee. 
 
 And of malice, or for crueel corage. 
 
 That she hadde suffred this with sad visage. 
 
 But wel he knew that next hymself, certayn. 
 
 She loved hir children best in every wyse; 695 
 
 But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn. 
 
 If thise assayes myghte nat sufBse, 
 
 What koude a sturdy housbonde moore devyse 
 
 To preeve hire wyfhod or hir stedefastnesse. 
 
 And he continuynge evere in sturdinesse? 700 
 
 But ther been folk of swich condicioun. 
 
 That whan they have a certein purpos take 
 
 They kan nat stynte of hir entencioun, 
 
 But right as they were bounden to that stake 
 
 They wol nat of that firste purpos slake. 705 
 
 Right so this markys fuUiche hath purposed 
 
 To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed. 
 
298 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 He waiteth^ if by word or contenance 
 
 That she to hym was changed of corage; 
 
 But nevere koude he fynde variance^ 710 
 
 She was ay oon in herte and in visage. 
 
 And ay the f orther that she was in age^ 
 
 The moore trewe — if that it were possible — 
 
 She was to hym in love^ and moore penyble. 
 
 For which it semed thus^ that of hem two 715 
 
 Ther nas but o wyl ; f or^ as Walter leste^ 
 
 The same lust was hir plesance also^ 
 
 And^ God be thanked^ al fil for the beste. 
 
 She shewed wel^ for no worldly unreste 
 
 A wyf as of hirself no thing ne sholde 720 
 
 Wille in effect^ but as hir housbonde wolde. 
 
 The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde, 
 
 That of a crueel herte he wikkedly^ 
 
 For he a povre womman wedded hadde^ 
 
 Hath mordred bothe his children prively. — 725 
 
 Swich murmur e was among hem comunly; 
 
 No wonder is^ for to the peples ere 
 
 Ther cam no word^ but that they mordred were. 
 
 For which^ wher as his peple therbifore 
 
 Hadde loved hym wel^ the sclaundre of his diiFame 730 
 
 Made hem_, that they hym hatede therfore^ 
 
 To been a mordrere is an hateful name; 
 
 But nathelees^ for ernest ne for game 
 
 He of his crueel purpos nolde stente: 
 
 To tempte his wyf was set al his entente. 735 
 
 Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age^ 
 He to the court of Rome in subtil wyse 
 Enformed of his wyl sente his message^ 
 
 731 hated. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 299 
 
 Comaundynge hem swiche bulles to devyse 
 
 As to his crueel purpos may suiFyse^ 740 
 
 How that the pope as for his peples reste 
 
 Bad hym to wedde another_, if hym leste. 
 
 I seye^ he bad they sholde countrefete 
 
 The popes bulles^ makynge mencioun 
 
 That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete 745 
 
 As by the popes dispensacioun^ 
 
 To stynte rancour and dissencioun 
 
 Bitwixe his peple and hym^ thus seyde the buUe. 
 
 The which they han publiced atte fuUe. 
 
 The rude peple^ as it no wonder is^ 750 
 
 Wenden ful wel that it hadde be right so; 
 
 But whan thise tidynges cam to Grisildis_, 
 
 I deeme that hir herte was ful wo. 
 
 But she^ ylike sad for everemo^ 
 
 Disposed was_, this humble creature^ 755 
 
 The adversitee of Fortune al tendure^ 
 
 Abidynge evere his lust and his plesance 
 
 To whom that she was yeven^ herte and al^ 
 
 As to hir verray worldly suffisance. 
 
 But shortly^ if this storie I tellen shal^ 760 
 
 This markys writen hath in special 
 
 A lettre^ in which he sheweth his entente^ 
 
 And secreely he to Boloigne it sente; 
 
 To the Erl of Panyk^ which that hadde tho 
 
 Wedded his suster^ preyde he specially 765 
 
 To bryngen hoom agayn hise children two^ 
 
 In honurable estaat al openly; 
 
 But o thyng he hym preyede outrely^ 
 
 That he to no wight^ though men wolde enquere^ 
 
 Sholde nat telle whos children that they were^ 770 
 
 768 preyde. 
 
300 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But seye,, the mayden sholde ywedded be 
 
 Unto the Markys of Saluce anon. 
 
 And as this Erl was preyed^ so dide he; 
 
 For at day set he on his wey is goon 
 
 Toward Saluce^ and lordes many oon^ 775 
 
 In riche array this mayden for to gyde^ 
 
 Hir yonge brother ridynge hir bisyde. 
 
 Arrayed was toward hir mariage 
 
 This fresshe mayde^ ful of gemmes cleere; 
 
 Hir brother^ which that seven yeer was of age^ 780 
 
 Arrayed eek ful fressh in his manere. 
 
 And thus in greet noblesse^ and with glad cheere^ 
 
 Toward Saluces shapynge hir journey^ 
 
 Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey. 
 
 Explicit quarta pars. 
 Sequitur pars quinta. 
 
 Among al this^ after his wikke usage^ 785 
 
 This markys yet his wyf to tempte moore 
 
 To the outtreste preeve of hir eorage^ 
 
 Fully to han experience and loore^ 
 
 If that she were as stidefast as bifoore_, 
 
 He on a day in open audience 790 
 
 Ful boistously hath seyd hir this sentence. 
 
 *'Certes. Grisilde^ I hadde ynogh plesance^ 
 
 To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse^ 
 
 As for youre trouthe^ and for your obeisance — 
 
 Noght for youre lynage^ ne for youre richesse; 795 
 
 But now knowe I^ in verray soothfastnesse^ 
 
 That in greet lordshipe^ if I wel avyse^ 
 
 Ther is greet servitute in sondry wyse. 
 
 773 preyd. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 301 
 
 I may nat doon as every plowman may; 
 
 My peple me constreyneth for to take 800 
 
 Another wyf^ and crien day by day^ 
 
 And eek the pope^ rancour for to slake^ 
 
 Consenteth it^ that dar I undertake — 
 
 And treweliche thus muche I wol yow seye^ 
 
 My newe wyf is comynge by the weye. 805 
 
 Be strong of herte_, and voyde anon hir place^ 
 
 And thilke dower that ye broghten me 
 
 Taak it agayn^ I graunte it of my grace. 
 
 Retourneth to youre fadres hous_,'' quod he; 
 
 "No man may alwey han prosperitee. 810 
 
 With evene herte I rede yow tendure 
 
 This strook of Fortune or of aventure." 
 
 And she answerde agayn in pacience_, 
 
 *'My lord^" quod she^ "I woot and wiste alway 
 
 How that bitwixen youre magnificence 815 
 
 And my poverte^ no wight kan ne may 
 
 Maken comparisoun^ it is no nay. 
 
 I ne heeld me nevere digne in no manere 
 
 To be your wyf_, no^ ne youre chamberere. 
 
 And in this hous ther ye me lady maade^ 820 
 
 The heighe God take I for my witnesse^ 
 
 And also wysly he my soule glaade^ 
 
 I nevere heeld me lady ne maistresse^ 
 
 But humble servant to youre worthynesse^ 
 
 And evere shal whil that my lyf may dure 825 
 
 Aboven every worldly creature. 
 
 That ye so longe of youre benignitee 
 Han holden me in honour and nobleye^ 
 Wher as I was noght worthy for to bee^ 
 
 819 chambrere. 829 for to om. 
 
302 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That thonke I God and yow^ to whom I preye 830 
 
 Foryelde it yow ; ther is namoore to seye. 
 Unto my fader gladly wol I wende^ 
 And with hym dwelle unto my lyves ende. 
 
 Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal. 
 
 Til I be deed^ my lyf ther wol I lede^ 835 
 
 A wydwe clene in body^ herte^ and al^ 
 
 For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede 
 
 And am youre trewe wyf^ it is no drede^ 
 
 God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take 
 
 Another man_, to housbonde or to make. 840 
 
 And of youre newe wyf^ God of his grace 
 
 So graunte yow wele and prosperitee^ 
 
 For I wol gladly yelden hir my place 
 
 In which that I was blisful wont to bee. 
 
 For sith it liketh yow my lord^'' quod shee^ 845 
 
 ''That whilom weren al myn hertes reste_, 
 
 That I shal goon, I wol goon whan yow leste. 
 
 But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire 
 
 As I first broghte, it is wel in my mynde 
 
 It were my wrecched clothes, no thyng faire, 850 
 
 The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde. 
 
 O goode God ! how gentil and how kynde 
 
 Ye semed by youre speche and youre visage 
 
 The day that maked was oure mariage ! 
 
 But sooth is seyd, algate I fynde it trewe, 855 
 
 (For in effect it preeved is on me) 
 
 Love is noght oold, as whan that it is newe. 
 
 But certes, lord, for noon adversitee. 
 
 To dyen in the cas it shal nat bee 
 
 That evere in word or werk I shal repente 860 
 
 That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE SOS 
 
 My lord^ ye woot that in my fadres place 
 
 Ye dide me streepe out of my povre weede^ 
 
 And richely me eladden of youre grace. 
 
 To yow broghte I noght elles^ out of drede^ 865 
 
 But feith^ and nakednesse^ and maydenhede. 
 
 And heere agayn my clothyng I restoore^ 
 
 And eek my weddyng ryng for everemo. 
 
 The remenant of youre jueles redy be 
 
 In-with youre chambre^ dar I saufly sayn. 870 
 
 Naked out of my fadres hous^'' quod she_, 
 
 **I cam^ and naked moot I turne agayn. 
 
 Al your plesance wol I folwen fayn^ 
 
 But yet I hope it be nat your entente 
 
 That I smoklees out of your paleys wente. 875 
 
 Ye koude nat doon so dishoneste a thyng^ 
 
 That thilke wombe in which your children leye^ 
 
 Sholde biforn the peple in my walkyng 
 
 Be seyn al bare; wherfore I yow preye^ 
 
 Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye ! 880 
 
 Remembre yow^ myn owene lord so deere^ 
 
 I was your wyf^ though I unworthy weere. 
 
 Wherfore^ in gerdoun of my maydenhede 
 
 Which that I broghte^ and noght agayn I bere^ 
 
 As voucheth sauf to yeve me to my meede 885 
 
 But swich a smok as I was wont to were, 
 
 That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here 
 
 That was your wyf^ and heer take I my leeve 
 
 Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve.'' 
 
 "The smok/' quod he, "that thou hast on thy bak, 890 
 
 Lat it be stille, and here it forth with thee." 
 But wel unnethes thilke word he spak. 
 But wente his wey for routhe and for pitee. 
 
S04 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Biforn the folk hirselven strepeth she, 
 
 And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare, 895 
 
 Toward hir fader hous forth is she fare. 
 
 The folk hir folwe, wepynge in hir weye, 
 
 And Fortune ay they eursen, as they goon. 
 
 But she fro wepyng kepte hir eyen dreye, 
 
 Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon. 900 
 
 Hir fader, that this tidynge herde anoon, 
 
 Curseth the day and tyme that nature 
 
 Shoop hym to been a lyves creature. 
 
 For out of doute this olde povre man 
 
 Was evere in suspect of hir mariage, 905 
 
 For evere he demed, sith that it bigan, 
 
 That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage, 
 
 Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage 
 
 To his estaat, so lowe for talighte, 
 
 And voyden hir as soone as ever he myghte. 910 
 
 Agayns his doghter hastiliche goth he. 
 
 For he by noyse of folk knew hir comynge. 
 
 And with hir olde coote, as it myghte be, 
 
 He covered hir, ful sorwefuUy wepynge. 
 
 But on hir body myghte he it nat brynge. 915 
 
 For rude was the clooth, and moore of age 
 
 By dayes fele, than at hir mariage. 
 
 Thus with hir fader for a certeyn space 
 
 Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience. 
 
 That neither by hir wordes ne hir face, 920 
 
 Biforn the folk ne eek in hir absence, 
 
 Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence, 
 
 Ne of hir heighe estaat no remembraunce 
 
 Ne hadde she, as by hir contenaunce. 
 
 916 and she. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 305 
 
 No wonder is^ for in hir grete estaat 925 
 
 Hir goost was evere in pleyn humylitee. 
 
 No tendre mouthy noon lierte delicaat^ 
 
 No pompe_, no semblant of roialtee^ 
 
 But ful of pacient benyngnytee^ 
 
 Discreet and pridelees^ ay honurable^ 930 
 
 And to hir housbonde evere meke and stable. 
 
 Men speke of Job^ and moost for his humblesse^ 
 
 As clerkes whan hem list konne wel endite^ 
 
 Namely of men ; but as in soothf astnesse^ 
 
 Though clerkes preise wommen but a lite^ 9^5 
 
 Ther kan no man in humblesse hym acquite^ 
 
 As womman kan^ ne kan been half so trewe 
 
 As wommen been^ but it be falle of newe. 
 
 [Pars seojta.'j 
 
 Fro Boloigne is this Erl of Panyk come^ 
 
 Of which the fame up sprang to moore and lesse^ 9^0 
 
 And in the peples eres^ alle and some^ 
 
 Was kouth eek that a newe markysesse 
 
 He with hym broghte^ in swich pompe and richesse_, 
 
 That nevere was ther seyn with mannes eye 
 
 So noble array in al Westlumbardye. 9^5 
 
 The markys^ which that shoop and knew al this^ 
 
 Er that thise Erl was come_, sente his message 
 
 For thilke sely povre Grisildis; 
 
 And she with humble herte and glad visage^ 
 
 Nat with no swollen thoght in hire corage 950 
 
 Cam at his heste^ and on hir knees hire sette^ 
 
 And reverently and wisely she hym grette. 
 
 937 kan (2) om. 
 
306 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 "Grisilde^'' quod he^ ''my wyl is outrely 
 
 This mayden_, that shal wedded been to me^ 
 
 Received be to morwe as roially 955 
 
 As it possible is in myn hous to be; 
 
 And eek that every wight in his degree 
 
 Have his estaat in sittyng and servyse 
 
 And heigh plesaunee^ as I kan best devyse. 
 
 I have no wommen^ suffisaunt^ eertayn^ 960 
 
 The chambres for tarraye in ordinaunce 
 
 After my lust^ and therfore wolde I fayn 
 
 That thyn were al swich manere governaunce; 
 
 Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce^ 
 
 Thogh thyn array be badde and yvel biseye^ 965 
 
 Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye/' 
 
 "Nat oonly lord^ that I am glad/' quod she^ 
 
 ''To doon your lust_, but I desire also 
 
 Yow for to serve and plese in my degree 
 
 With outen feyntyng^ and shal everemo. 970 
 
 Ne nevere_, for no wele ne no wo^ 
 
 Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente 
 
 To love yow best with al my trewe entente/' 
 
 And with that word she gan the hous to dighte^ 
 
 And tables for to sette^ and beddes make^ 975 
 
 And pej^ned hir to doon al that she myghte^ 
 
 Preyynge the ehambereres for Goddes sake 
 
 To hasten hem^ and faste swepe and shake^ 
 
 And she^ the mooste servysable of alle^ 
 
 Hath every chambre arrayed^ and his halle. 980 
 
 Abouten undren gan this Erl alighte^ 
 
 That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye^ 
 
 For which the peple ran to seen the sighte 
 
 Of hir array^ so richely biseye; 
 
 I 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 307 
 
 And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye^ 985 
 
 That Walter was no fool^ thogh that hym leste 
 To chaunge his wyf^ for it was for the beste. 
 
 "For she is fairer^'' as they deemen alle^ 
 
 "Than is Grisilde^ and moore tendre of age^ 
 
 And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle^ 990 
 
 And moore plesant for hir heigh lynage/' 
 
 Hir brother eek so faire was of visage_, 
 
 That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce^ 
 
 Commendynge now the markys governaunce. 
 
 O stormy peple^ unsad and evere untrewe ! 995 
 
 Ay undisereet and chaungynge as a vane^ 
 Delitynge evere in rumbul that is newe; 
 For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane^ 
 Ay ful of clappyng^ deere ynogh a jane^ 
 Youre doom is fals_, youre constanee yvele preeveth_, 1000 
 A ful greet fool is he that on yow leeveth ! 
 
 Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee^ 
 
 Whan that the peple gazed up and doun^ 
 
 For they were glad right for the noveltee 
 
 To han a newe lady of hir toun. 1005 
 
 Namoore of this make I now mencioun^ 
 
 But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse^ 
 
 And telle hir constanee and hir bisynesse. 
 
 Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thyng 
 
 That to the feeste was apertinent. 1010 
 
 Right noght was she abayst of hir clothyng^ 
 
 Thogh it were rude and somdeel eek torent_, 
 
 But with glad cheere to the yate is went 
 
 With oother folk to greete the markysesse^ 
 
 And after that dooth forth hir bisynesse. 1015 
 
 1013 is she. 
 
308 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 With so glad chiere hise gestes she receyveth^ 
 
 And konnyngly everich in his degree^ 
 
 That no defaute no man aperceyveth^ 
 
 But ay they wondren what she myghte bee 
 
 That in so povre array was for to see^ 1020 
 
 And koude swich honour and reverence ; 
 
 And worthily they preisen hire prudence. 
 
 In al this meenewhile she ne stente 
 
 This mayde and eek hir brother to commende 
 
 With al hir herte^ in ful benyngne entente^ 1025 
 
 So wel that no man koude hir pris amende^ 
 
 But atte laste^ whan that thise lordes wende 
 
 To sitten doun to mete_, he gan to calle 
 
 Grisilde^ as she was bisy in his halle. 
 
 ''Grisilde/' quod he^ as it were in his pley^ 1030 
 
 "How liketh thee my wyf and hir beautee ?" ' 
 
 "Right wel/' quod she^ "my lord, for in good fey 
 
 A fairer saugh I nevere noon than she. 
 
 I prey to God yeve hir prosperitee. 
 
 And so hope I that he wol to yow sende 1035 
 
 Plesance ynogh unto youre lyves ende. 
 
 O thyng biseke I yow, and warne also 
 
 That ye ne prikke with no tormentynge 
 
 This tendre mayden, as ye han doon mo ; 
 
 For she is fostred in hir norissynge 1040 
 
 Moore tendrely, and to my supposynge 
 
 She koude nat adversitee endure, 
 
 As koude a povre fostred creature.'' 
 
 And whan this Walter saugh hir pacience, 
 
 Hir glade chiere, and no malice at al, 1045 
 
 And he so ofte had doon to hir offence 
 
 1017 and so. 1045 glad. 1046 offence om. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 309 
 
 And she ay sad and constant as a wal, 
 
 Continuynge evere hir innocence overall 
 
 This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse 
 
 To rewen upon hir wyfly stedfastnesse. 1050 
 
 "This is ynogh^ Grisilde myn/' quod he^ 
 
 "Be now namoore agast^ ne yvele apayed. 
 
 I have thy feith and thy benyngnytee 
 
 As wel as evere womman was^ assayed 
 
 In greet estaat^ and povreliche arrayed; 1055 
 
 Now knowe I^ goode wyf^ thy stedfastnesse I" 
 
 And hir in armes took^ and gan hir kesse. 
 
 And she for wonder took of it no keep. 
 
 She herde nat^ what thyng he to hir seyde. 
 
 She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep^ 1060 
 
 Til she out of hire mazednesse abreyde. 
 
 "Grisilde/' quod he_, "by God that for us deyde, 
 
 Thou art my wyf^ ne noon oother I have^ 
 
 Ne nevere hadde^ as God my soule saVe. 
 
 This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed 1065 
 
 To be my wyf ; that oother feithfuUy 
 
 Shal be myn heir^ as I have ay purposed; 
 
 Thou bare hym in thy body trewely. 
 
 At Boloigne have I kept hem prively. 
 
 Taak hem agayn^ for now maystow nat seye 1070 
 
 That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye. 
 
 And folk that ootherweys han seyd of me^ 
 
 I warne hem wel that I have doon this deede 
 
 For no malice^ ne for no crueltee^ 
 
 But for tassaye in thee thy wommanheede^ 1075 
 
 And not to sleen my children^ God f orbeede ! 
 
 But for to kepe hem pryvely and stille^ 
 
 Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille/' 
 
 1063 ne om. 1067 supposed. 
 
310 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Whan she this herde^ aswowne doun she falleth 
 
 For pitous joje, and after hir swownynge 1080 
 
 She bothe hir yonge children unto hir ealleth^ 
 
 And in hir armes pitously wepynge 
 
 Embraceth hem^ and tendrely kissynge 
 
 Ful lyk a mooder^ with hir salte teeres 
 
 She bathed bothe hir visage and hir heeres. 1085 
 
 O^ which a pitous thyng it was to se 
 
 Hir swownynge and hir humble voys to heere ! 
 
 ''Grauntmercy^ lord^ that thanke I jow/' quod she^ 
 
 *'That ye han saved me my children deere. 
 
 Now rekke I nevere to been deed right heere. 1090 
 
 Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace^ 
 
 No f ors of deeth_, ne whan my spirit pace ! 
 
 O tendre^ O deere^ O yonge children myne ! 
 
 Your woful mooder wende stedfastly 
 
 That crueel houndes^ or som foul vermyne 1095 
 
 Hadde eten yow ; but God of his mercy 
 
 And youre benyngne fader tendrely 
 
 Hath doon yow kept/' and in that same stounde 
 
 Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde. 
 
 And in hir swough so sadly holdeth she 1100 
 
 Hir children two^ whan she gan hem tembrace^ 
 
 That with greet sleighte and greet difEcultee 
 
 The children from hir arm they gonne arace. 
 
 O many a teere on many a pitous face 
 
 Doun ran^ of hem that stooden hir bisyde; 1105 
 
 Unnethe abouten hir myghte they abyde. 
 
 Walter hir gladeth^ and hir sorwe slaketh^ 
 
 She riseth up abaysed from hir traunce^ 
 
 And every wight hir joye and feeste maketh^ 
 
 Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce. 1110 
 
 I 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 311 
 
 Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce^ 
 That it was deyntee for to seen the cheere 
 Bitwixe hem two^ now they been met yfeere. 
 
 Thise ladyes^ whan that they hir tyme say^ 
 
 Han taken hir and into chambre gon^ 1115 
 
 And strepen hir out of hir rude array 
 
 And in a clooth of gold that brighte shoon^ 
 
 With a coroune of many a riche stoon 
 
 Upon hir heed^ they into halle hir broghte^ 
 
 And ther she was honured as hir oghte. 1120 
 
 Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende_, 
 
 For every man and womman dooth his myght 
 
 This day in murthe and revel to dispende^ 
 
 Til on the welkne shoon the sterres lyght. 
 
 For moore solempne in every mannes syght 1125 
 
 This feste was^ and gretter of costage^ 
 
 Than was the revel of hire mariage/ 
 
 Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee 
 Lyven thise two in concord and in reste. 
 
 And richely his doghter maryed he 1130 
 
 Unto a lord_, oon of the worthieste 
 Of al Ytaille_, and thanne in pees and reste 
 His wyves fader in his court he kepeth^ 
 Til that the soule out of his body crepeth. 
 
 His sone succedeth in his heritage 1135 
 
 In reste and pees^ after his fader day^ 
 
 And fortunat was eek in mariage — 
 
 Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay; 
 
 This world is nat so strongs it is no nay^ 
 
 As it hath been of olde tymes yoore. 1140 
 
 And herkneth what this auctour seith therfoore. 
 
312 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 This storie is seyd^ nat for that wyves sholde 
 
 Folwen Grisilde as in humylitee^ 
 
 For it were inportable though they wolde^ 
 
 But for that every wight in his degree 1145 
 
 Sholde be constant in adversitee 
 
 As was Grisilde. Therfore Petrark writeth 
 
 This storie^ which with heigh stile he enditeth. 
 
 For sith a womman was so pacient 
 
 Unto a mortal man^ wel moore us oghte 1150 
 
 Receyven al in gree that God us sent. 
 
 For greet skile is^ he preeve that he wroghte. 
 
 But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte^ 
 
 As seith Seint Jame^ if ye his pistel rede ; 
 
 He preeveth folk al day^ it is no drede^ 1155 
 
 And suiFreth us^ as for oure excercise^ 
 
 With sharpe scourges of adversitee 
 
 Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise^ 
 
 Nat for to knowe oure wyl, for certes he 
 
 Er we were born knew al oure freletee, 11 60 
 
 And for oure beste is al his governaunce. 
 
 Lat us thanne lyve in vertuous sufFraunce. 
 
 But o word^ lordynges^ herkneth er I go^ 
 It were ful hard to f ynde nowadayes 
 
 In al a toun Grisildis thre or two^ 1165 
 
 For if that they were put to swiche assayes^ 
 The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes 
 With bras/ that thogh the coyne be fair at eye, 
 It wolde rather breste atwo than plye. 
 
 For which^ heere for the Wyves love of Bathe. 1170 
 
 Whos lyf and al hir secte God mayntene 
 In heigh maistrie^ and elles were it scathe, 
 
 1160 al om. 
 
THE CLERKES TALE 313 
 
 I wol with lusty herte fressh and grene 
 
 Seyn vow a song^ to glade yow^ I wene^ 
 
 And lat us stynte of ernestful matere. 1175 
 
 Herkneth my song^ that seith in this manere. 
 
 Lenvoy de Chaucer. 
 
 Grisilde is deed^ and eek hir pacience^ 
 
 And bothe atones buryed in Ytaille^ 
 
 For which I crie in open audience 
 
 No wedded man so hardy be tassaille 1180 
 
 His wyves pacience^ in hope to fynde 
 
 Grisildis^ for in certein he shal faille. 
 
 O noble wyves^ ful of heigh prudence^ i 
 
 Lat noon humylitee youre tonge naille^ 
 
 Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence 1 185 
 
 To write of yow a storie of swich mervaille 
 
 As of Grisildis_, pacient and kynde^ 
 
 Lest Chichivache yow swelwe in hire entraille. 
 
 Folweth Ekko^ that holdeth no silence^ 
 
 But evere answereth at the countretaille ; 1190 
 
 Beth nat bidafPed for youre innocence^ 
 
 But sharply taak on yow the governaille. 
 
 Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde 
 
 For commune profit_, sith it may availle. 
 
 Ye archiwyves^ stondeth at defense^ 1195 
 
 Syn ye be strong as it a greet camaille. 
 
 Ne sufFreth nat that men yow doon offense^ 
 
 And sklendre wyves^ fieble as in bataille^ 
 
 Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Ynde^ 
 
 Ay clappeth as a mille^ I yow consaille. 1200 
 
314 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ne dreed hem nat^ doth hem no reverence^ 
 
 For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille^ 
 
 The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence 
 
 Shal perce his brest and eek his aventaille. 
 
 In jalousie I rede eek thou hym bynde^ 1205 
 
 And thou shalt make hym couche as doth a quaille. 
 
 If thou be fair^ ther folk been in presence 
 
 Shewe thou thy visage and thyn apparaille ; 
 
 If thou be foul^ be fre of thy dispence^ 
 
 To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille^ 1210 
 
 Be ay of chiere as light as leef on lynde_, 
 
 And lat hym care_, and wepe^ and wryng^ and waille. 
 
 Here endeth the Cleric of Oxenford his Tale, 
 I 
 
 Bihoold the murye wordes of the Hoost. 
 
 This worthy clerk_, whan ended was his tale^ 
 
 Oure hoost seyde_, and swoor by goddes bones^ 
 
 **Me were levere than a barel ale 
 
 My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones ; 
 
 This is a gentil tale for the nones^ 5 
 
 As to my purpos^ wiste ye my wille^ — 
 
 But thyng that wol nat be^ lat it be stille/' 
 
 Heere endeth the tale of the Clerk of Oxenford, 
 
 [This stanza^ perhaps made up by a scribe from other 
 lines in Chaucer^ is inserted in EUesmere MS. and elsewhere 
 as a link between the Clerk's Tale and the Envoy^ ascribed 
 to Chaucer. The Envoy^ however^ belongs to the Clerk^ and 
 the stanza seems both spurious and unnecessary.] 
 
 i 
 
THE PROLOGUE OF THE 
 MARCH ANTES TALE 
 
 The Prologe of the Marchantes tale. 
 
 "Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe^ 
 I knowe ynogh^ on even and a morwe^'' 
 
 Quod the Marchant^ ''and so doon othere mo 1215 
 
 That wedded been^ I trowe that it be so. 
 For wel I woot^ it fareth so with me. 
 I have a wji, the worste that may be^ 
 For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were^ 
 She wolde hym overmacche^ I dar wel swere. 1220 
 
 What sholde I yow reherce in special 
 Hir hye malice ? She is a shrewe at al ! 
 Ther is a long and large difference ' 
 Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience 
 
 And of my wyf the passyng crueltee. 1225 
 
 Were I unbounden^ al so moot I thee^ 
 I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare. 
 We wedded men lyve in sorwe and care ; 
 Assaye who so wole_, and he shal fynde 
 
 I seye sooth^ by seint Thomas of Ynde — 1230 
 
 As for the moore part^ I sey nat alle; 
 God shilde^ that it sholde so bif alle ! 
 A^ goode Sir Hoost^ I have ywedded bee 
 Thise monthes two^ and moore nat^ pardee ; 
 And yet I trowe^ he that al his lyve 1235 
 
 Wyflees hath been^ though that men wolde him ryve 
 Unto the herte^ ne koude in no manere 
 Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere 
 Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse \" 
 Now quod our hoost^ ''Marchant^ so God yow blesse^ 12i0 
 
316 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art^ 
 Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part." 
 "Gladly/' quod he^ "but of myn owene soore^ 
 For soory herte I telle may namoore/' 
 
 THE TALE. 
 
 [January^ a rich old dotard^ who has married May^ in 
 spite of his friends' objections to the inequality of their 
 ages^ is deceived by her and his young squire Damian^ 
 although Pluto in pity restores his lost sight.] 
 
 i 
 
EPILOGUE 
 
 The Prologe of the Squieres tale, 
 
 "Ey^ Goddes mercy!'' seyde oure Hooste tho^ 
 ''Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro ! 2420 
 
 Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees 
 In wommen been_, for ay as bisy as bees 
 Been they us sely men for to deeeyve; 
 And from a sooth evere wol they weyve^ 
 
 By this Marchauntes tale it preveth weel. 2425 
 
 But doutelees^ as trewe as any steely 
 I have a wyf^ though that she povre be^ 
 But of hir tonge a labbyng shrewe is she. 
 And yet she hath an heep of vices mo — 
 
 Ther-of no fors^ lat alle swiche thynges go. 2430 
 
 But wyte ye what^ in conseil be it seyd_, 
 Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd ; 
 For and I sholde rekenen every vice^ 
 Which that she hath^ ywis^ I were to nyee. 
 And cause why.'* it sholde reported be^ 2435 
 
 And toold to hir of somme of this meynee; 
 Of whom^ it nedeth nat for to declare^ 
 Syn wommen konnen outen swich chafPare. 
 And eek my wit suffiseth nat therto^ 
 To tellen al_, wherfore my tale is do.'' ' 2440 
 
GROUP F. 
 
 PROLOGUE TO THE SQUIERES 
 TALE 
 
 Squier^ come neer^ if it your wille be^ 
 And sey somwhat of love^ for certes^ ye 
 Konnen theron as muche as any man." 
 ''Nay sir/' quod he^ ''but I wol seye as I kan^ 
 With hertly wjl, for I wol nat rebelle 
 Agayn your lust. A tale wol I telle^ 
 Have me excused if I speke amys; 
 My wyl is good^ and lo^ my tale is this.'* 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 
 
 Heere higynneth the Squieres Tale. 
 
 At Sarray^ in the land of Tartarye_, 
 Ther dwelte a kyng^ that werreyed Russye, 10 
 
 Thurgh which ther dyde many a doughty man. 
 This noble kyng was cleped Cambynskan^, 
 Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun_, 
 That ther was nowher in no regioun 
 
 So excellent a lord in alle thyng. 15 
 
 Hym lakked noght that longeth to a- kyng ; 
 And of the secte^ of which that he was born_, 
 He kepte his lay^ to which that he was sworn ; 
 And therto he was hardy^ wys^ and riche^ 
 Pitous^ and just^ and everemoore yliche. 20 
 
 Sooth of his word^ benigne^ and honurable^ 
 Of his corage as any centre stable_, 
 Yong_, fressh^ strongs and in armes desirous 
 As any bacheler of al his hous. 
 
 A fair persone he was^ and fortunate 25 
 
 And kepte alwey so wel roial estat 
 That ther was nowher swich another man. 
 This noble kjmg^ this Tartre Cambynskan, 
 Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf^ 
 
 Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf^ 30 
 
 That oother sone was cleped Cambalo. 
 A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also_, 
 That yongest was^ and highte Canacee. 
 But for to telle yow al hir beautee^ 
 
 It lyth nat in my tonge nyn my konnyng. S5 
 
 I dar nat undertake so heigh a thyng; 
 Myn Englissh eek is insufficient. 
 I moste been a rethor excellent^ 
 
 20 and pitous; and everemoore alwey. 
 
320 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That koude hise colours longynge for that art^ 
 
 If he sholde hir discryven every part. 40 
 
 I am noon swich; I moot speke as I kan. 
 
 And so bifel^ that whan this Cambynskan 
 Hath twenty wynter born his diademe^ 
 As he was wont fro yeer to yeer^ I deme^ 
 He leet the feeste of his nativitee 45 
 
 Doon cryen thurghout Sarray his citee^ 
 The last Idus of March after the yeer. 
 Phebus the sonne ful joly was and cleer^ 
 For he was neigh his exaltacioun 
 
 In Martes face_5 and in his mansioun 50 
 
 In Aries^ the colerik hoote signe. 
 Ful lusty was the weder^ and benigne^ 
 For which the f oweles agayn the sonne sheene_, 
 What for the sesoun and the yonge grene_, 
 Ful loude songen hir afFecciouns ; * 55 
 
 Hem semed han geten hem protecciouns 
 Agayn the swerd of wynter^ keene and coold. 
 This Cambynskan^ of which I have yow toold^ 
 In roial vestiment sit on his deys^ 
 
 With diademe_, ful heighe in his paleys^ 60 
 
 And halt his feeste so solempne and so ryche^ 
 That in this world ne was ther noon it lyche. 
 Of which^ if I shal tellen al tharray^ 
 Thanne wolde it occupie e. someres day^ 
 
 And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse^ 65 
 
 At every cours_, the ordre of hire servyse. 
 I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes^ 
 Ne of hir swannes^ nor of hire heronsewes ; 
 Eek in that lond^ as tellen knyghtes olde, 
 Ther is som mete that is ful deynte holde^ 70 
 
 That in this lond men recche of it but smal — 
 Ther nys no man that may reporten al. 
 I wol nat taryen yow^ for it is pryme^ 
 
 46 thurgh. 62 ne om. 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 321 
 
 And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme. 
 
 Unto my firste I wole have my recours. 75 
 
 And so bifel^ that after the thridde cours 
 Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye^ 
 Herknynge hise mynstrals hir thynges pleye 
 Biforn hym at the bord deliciously^ 
 
 In at the halle dore al sodeynly 80 
 
 Ther cam a knyght^ upon a steede of bras^ 
 And in his hand a brood mirour of glas^ 
 Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng^ 
 And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng. 
 And up he rideth to the heighe bord. 85 
 
 In al the hall ne was ther spoken a word 
 For merveille of this knyght ; hym to biholde 
 Ful bisily ther wayten yonge and olde. 
 This strange knyght^ that cam thus sodeynly 
 Al armed^ save his heed^ ful richely^ 90 
 
 Saleweth kyng^ and queene^ and lordes alle^ 
 By ordre^ as they seten in the halle^ ' 
 With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce^ 
 As wel in speche as in contenaunce_, 
 
 That Gawayn_, with his olde curteisye^ 95 
 
 Though he were comen ayeyn out of Fairye^ 
 Ne koude hym nat amende with a word. 
 And after this^ biforn the heighe bord 
 He with a manly voys seith his message^ 
 After the forme used in his langage^ 100 
 
 Withouten vice of silable or of lettre. 
 And for his tale sholde seme the bettre^ 
 Accordant to hise wordes was his cheere^ 
 As techeth art of speche hem that it leere. 
 Al be it that I kan nat sowne his stile^ 105 
 
 Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style^ 
 Yet seye I this^ as to commune entente^ 
 Thus muche amounteth al that evere he mente, 
 
 105 it om. 
 
II 
 
 322 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 If it so be that I have it in mynde. 
 
 He seyde^ **The kyng of Arabe and of Inde^, 110 
 
 My lige lord_, on this solempne day 
 
 Saleweth yow_, as he best kan and may; 
 
 And sendeth yow^ in honour of your feeste^ 
 
 By me_, that am al redy at your heeste_, 
 
 This steede of bras^ that esily and weel 115 
 
 Kan in the space of o day natureel^ 
 
 This is to seyn^ in foure and twenty houres^ 
 
 Wherso yow lyst^ in droghte or elles shoures^ 
 
 Beren youre body into every place 
 
 To which youre herte wilneth for to pace^ 120 
 
 Without en wem of yow^ thurgh foul or fair. 
 
 Or if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air 
 
 As dooth an egle^ whan that hym list to soore. 
 
 This same steede shal bere yow evere moore 
 
 Withouten harm^ til ye be ther yow leste^ 125 
 
 Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste'; 
 
 And turne ayeyn^ with writhyng of a pyn. 
 
 He that it wroghte^ koude ful many a gyn; 
 
 He wayted many a constellacioun 
 
 Er he had doon this operacioun; ISO 
 
 And knew ful many a seel^ and many a bond. 
 
 This mirrour eek^ that I have in myn hond. 
 
 Hath swich a myght^ that men may in it see 
 
 Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee 
 
 Unto your regne^ or to yourself also^ 135 
 
 And openly who is your freend^ or foo. 
 
 And over al this^ if any lady bright 
 
 Hath set hir herte in any maner wight^ 
 
 If he be fals^ she shal his tresoun see^ 
 
 His newe love^ and al his subtiltee 140 
 
 So openly^ that ther shal no thyng hyde. 
 
 Wherfore^ ageyn this lusty someres tyde^ 
 
 This mirour and this ryng that ye may see^ 
 
 He hath sent unto my lady Canacee^ 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 323 
 
 Your excellente doghter that is heere. 145 
 
 The vertu of the ryng^ if ye wol heere^ 
 
 Is this_, that if hir lust it for to were 
 
 Upon hir thombe^ or in hir purs it bere^ 
 
 Ther is no f owel that fleeth under the hevene 
 
 That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene^ 150 
 
 And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn^ 
 
 And answere hym in his langage ageyn. 
 
 And every gras that groweth upon roote^ 
 
 She shal eek knowe^ and whom it wol do boote^ 
 
 Al be hise woundes never so depe and wyde. 155 
 
 This naked swerd^ that hangeth by my syde 
 
 Swich vertu hath^ that what man so ye smyte 
 
 Thurghout his armure it wole hym kerve and byte. 
 
 Were it as thikke as is a branched ook. 
 
 And what man that is wounded with a strook l60 
 
 Shal never be hool, til that yow list of grace 
 
 To stroke hym with the plate in thilke place 
 
 Ther he is hurt; this is as muche to seyn, 
 
 Ye moote with the plate swerd ageyn 
 
 Strike hym in the wounde_, and it wol close. l65 
 
 This is a verray sooth withouten glose. 
 
 It failleth nat, whils it is in youre hoold." 
 
 And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold. 
 He rideth out of halle, and doun he lighte. 
 His steede^ which that shoon as sonne brighte_, 170 
 
 Stant in the courts as stille as any stoon. 
 This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon, 
 And is unarmed and unto mete yset. 
 The presentes been ful roially yfet^ 
 
 This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour^ 175 
 
 And born anon into the heighe tour 
 With certeine officers ordeyned therfore. 
 And unto Canacee this ryng was bore^ 
 Solempnely, ther she sit at the table. 
 
 162 thilke that. 164 plat. 171 as (l) om. 
 
324 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But sikerly^ withouten any fable^ 180 
 
 The hors of bras^ that may nat be remewed, 
 
 It stant as it were to the ground yglewed. 
 
 Ther may no man out of the place it dryve^ 
 
 For noon engyn of wyndas ne polyve ; 
 
 And cause why^ for they kan nat the craft, 185 
 
 And therf ore in the place they han it laft, 
 
 Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere 
 
 To voyden hym^ as ye shal after heere. 
 
 Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro 
 
 To gauren on this hors^ that stondeth so. 190 
 
 For it so heigh was, and so brood, and long, 
 
 So wel proporcioned for to been strong. 
 
 Right as it were a steede of Lumbardye ; 
 
 Therwith so horsly and so quyk of eye. 
 
 As it a gentil Poilleys courser were. 195 
 
 For certes, fro his tayl unto his ere. 
 
 Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende 
 
 In no degree, as al the peple wende. 
 
 But everemoore hir mooste wonder was 
 
 How that it koude go, and was of bras. 200 
 
 It was a f airye, as al the peple semed. 
 
 Diverse folk diversely they demed; 
 
 As many heddes, as manye wittes ther been. 
 
 They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been. 
 
 And maden skiles after hir fantasies, 205 
 
 Rehersynge of thise olde poetries, 
 
 And seyde that it was lyk the Pegasee, 
 
 The hors that hadde wynges for to flee; 
 
 Or elles, it was the Grekes hors Synoun, 
 
 That broghte Troie to destruccioun, 210 
 
 As men in thise olde geestes rede. 
 
 '*Myn herte,'' quod oon, ''is everemoore in drede. 
 I trowe som men of armes been therinne. 
 That shapen hem this citee for to wynne. 
 It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe." 215 
 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE S25 
 
 Another rowned to his felawe lowe^ 
 And seyde^ "He lyeth; it is rather lyk 
 An apparence ymaad by som magyk_, 
 As jogelours pleyen at thise feestes grete/' 
 Of sondry doutes thus they jangle and trete^ 220 
 
 As lewed peple demeth comunly 
 Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly 
 Than they kan in hir lewednesse comprehende ; 
 They demen gladly to the badder ende. 
 
 And somme of hem wondred on the mirour 225 
 
 That born was up into the maister tour — 
 How men myghte in it swiche thynges se. 
 Another answerde^ and seyde^ '*It myghte wel be 
 Naturelly by composiciouns 
 
 Of anglis and of slye reflexiouns ;" 230 
 
 And seyden^ that in Rome was swich oon. 
 They speken of Alocen and Vitulon^ 
 And Aristotle^ that writen in hir lyves 
 Of queynte mirours and of perspectives^ 
 
 As knowen they that han hir bookes herd. 235 
 
 And oother folk han wondred on the swerd^ 
 That wolde percen thurgh out every thyng; 
 And fille in speche of Thelophus the kyng 
 And of Achilles with his queynte spere^ 
 
 For he koude with it bothe heele and dere^ 240 
 
 Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd^ 
 Of which right now ye han yourselven herd. 
 They speken of sondry hardyng of metal^, 
 And speke of medicynes therwithal^ 
 
 And how and whanne it sholde yharded be^ 245 
 
 Which is unknowe^ algates unto me. 
 Tho speeke they of Canacees ryng^ 
 And seyden alle^ that swich a wonder thyng 
 Of craft of rynges herde they nevere noon; ^ 
 Save that he Moyses^ and kyng Salomon 250 
 
 226 maister hye 
 
326 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art. 
 Thus seyn the peple^ and drawen hem apart. 
 But nathelees^ somme seiden that it was 
 Wonder to maken of fern asshen glas^ 
 
 And yet nys glas nat lyk asshen of fern; 255 
 
 But for they han knowen it so fern_, 
 Therfore cesseth hir janglyng and hir wonder. 
 As soore wondren somme. on cause of thonder^ 
 On ebbe^ on floods on gossomer^ and on myst^ 
 And alle thyng^ til that the cause is wyst. 260 
 
 Thus jangle they^ and demen^ and devyse^ 
 Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse. 
 Phebus hath laft the angle meridional^ 
 And yet ascendynge was the beest roial, 
 
 The gentil Leoun^ with his Aldrian^ 265 
 
 Whan that this Tartre kyng^ this Cambynskan 
 Roos fro his bord^ ther that he sat ful hye. 
 Toforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye 
 Til he cam to his chambre of parementz, 
 Ther as they sownen diverse intrumentz 270 
 
 That it is lyk an hevene for to heere. 
 Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere^ 
 For in the Fyssh hir lady sat ful hye^ 
 And looketh on hem with a freendly eye. 
 This noble kyng is set up in his trone; 275 
 
 This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone^ 
 And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee. 
 Heere is the revel and the jolitee 
 That is nat able a dul man to devyse ; 
 
 He moste han knowen love and his servyse^ 280 
 
 And been a f eestlych man as fressh as May^ 
 That sholde yow devysen swich array. 
 W^ho koude telle yow the forme of daunces^ 
 So unkouthe and so fresshe contenaunces^ 
 Swich subtil lookyng and dissymulynges^ 285 
 
 260 And on. 266 this (2) om. 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 327 
 
 For drede of jalouse mennes aperceyvynges ? 
 
 No man but Launcelet^ and he is deed. 
 
 Therf ore I passe of al this lustiheed ; 
 
 I sey namoore_, but in this jolynesse 
 
 I lete hem^ til men to the soper dresse. 290 
 
 The styward bit the spices for to hye_, 
 And eek the wyn^ in al this melodye ; 
 The usshers and the squiers been ygoon^ 
 The spices and the wyn is come anoon_, 
 
 They ete and drynke_, and whan this hadde an ende^ 295 
 
 Unto the temple^ as reson was^ they wende. 
 The service doon^ they soupen al by day; 
 What nedeth me rehercen hir array? 
 Ech man woot wel^ that at a kynges feeste 
 Hath plentee^ to the mooste and to the leeste_, 300 
 
 And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng. 
 At after soper gooth this noble kyng^ 
 To seen this hors of bras^ with al the route 
 Of lordes^ and of ladyes hym aboute. 
 
 Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras^ 305 
 
 That syn the grete sege of Troie was^ 
 Ther as men wondreden on an hors also^ 
 Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho. 
 But fynally^ the kyng axeth this knyght 
 The vertu of this courser^ and the myght; 310 
 
 And preyde hym to telle his governaunce. 
 This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce_, 
 Whan that this knyght leyde hand upon his reyne. 
 And seyde^ ''Sire^ ther is namoore to seyne^ 
 But whan yow list to ryden any where^ 315 
 
 Ye mooten trille a pyn^ stant in his ere^ 
 Which I shal telle yow bitwix us two. 
 Ye moote nempne hym to what place also^ 
 Or to what contree^ that yow list to ryde^ 
 And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde^ 320 
 
 291 the om. 299 at om. 317 yow telle. 
 
328 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Bidde hym descende^ and trille another pyn^ 
 
 (For therin lith theiFect of al the gyn) 
 
 And he wol doun descende^ and doon youre wille. 
 
 And in that place he wol stonde stille^ 
 
 Though al the world the contrarie hadde y swore; 32 5 
 
 He shal nat thennes been ydrawe ne ybore. 
 
 Or^ if yow liste^ bidde hym thennes goon^ 
 
 Trille this pyn^ and he wol vanysshe anoon 
 
 Out of the'sighte of every maner wight_, 
 
 And come agayn^ be it day or nyght^ 330 
 
 Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn^ 
 
 In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn^ 
 
 Bitwixe yow and me^ and that ful soone. 
 
 Ride whan yow list; ther is namoore to doone." 
 
 Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght^ 335 
 
 And hath conceyved in his wit aright 
 
 The manere and the forme of al this thyng^ 
 
 Thus glad and blithe this noble doughty kyng 
 
 Repeireth to his revel as biforn. 
 
 The brydel is unto the tour yborn^ 340 
 
 And kept among hise jueles^ leeve and deere. 
 
 The hors vanysshed^ I noot in what manere^ 
 
 Out of hir sighte ; ye gete namoore of me. 
 
 But thus I lete in lust and jolitee 
 
 This Cambynskan^ hise lordes festeiynge^ 34^5 
 
 Til wel ny the day bigan to sprynge. 
 
 Explicit prima pars, 
 Sequitur pars secunda. 
 
 The norice of digestioun^ the sleepe^ 
 Gan on hem wynke^ and bad hem taken keepe^ 
 That muchel drynke and labour wolde han reste ; 
 And with a galpyng mouth hem alle he keste^ 350 
 
 322 in om. 326 nor. 327 list. 338 doughty om. 
 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 329 
 
 And seyde^ **It was tyme to lye adoun^ 
 
 For blood was in his domynacioun. 
 
 Cherisseth bloody natures freend^'' quod he. 
 
 They thanken hym^ galpynge^ by two^ by thre^ 
 
 And every wight gan drawe hym to his reste^ 355 
 
 As sleep hem bad ; they tooke it for the beste. 
 
 Hir dremes shul nat been ytoold for me ; 
 
 Ful were hir heddes of fumositee^ 
 
 That causeth dreem^ of which ther nys no charge. 
 
 They slepen til that it was pryme large^ 360 
 
 The mooste part^ but it were Canacee; 
 
 She was ful mesurable^ as wommen be. 
 
 For of hir fader hadde she take leve 
 
 To goon to reste^ soone after it was eve. 
 
 Hir liste nat appalled for to be^ 365 
 
 Ne on the morwe unfeestlich for to se: 
 
 And slepte hir firste sleepe_, and thanne awook ; 
 
 For swich a joye she in hir herte took^ 
 
 Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hire- mirour^ 
 
 That twenty tyme she changed hir colour^ 370 
 
 And in hir sleep right for impressioun 
 
 Of hir mirour she hadde a visioun. 
 
 Wherfore_, er that the sonne gan up glyde^ 
 
 She cleped on hir maistresse^ hir bisyde^ 
 
 And seyde^ that hir liste for to ryse. 375 
 
 Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse^ 
 
 As hir maistresse answerde hir anon^ 
 
 And seyde^ ''Madame^ whider wil ye goon 
 
 Thus erly^ for the folk been alle on reste ?'* 
 
 **I wol^'' quod she^ ''arise^ for me leste 380 
 
 No lenger for to slepe ; and walke aboute." 
 
 Hir maistresse clepeth wommen a greet route^ 
 
 And up they rysen wel an ten or twelve. 
 
 Up riseth fresshe Canacee hirselve^ 
 
 As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne, 385 
 
 That in the Ram is foure degrees upronne. 
 
330 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Noon hyer was he^ whan she redy was ; 
 
 And forth she walketh esily a pas^ 
 
 Arrayed after the lusty sesoun soote^ 
 
 Lightly for to pleye and walke on foote^ 390 
 
 Nat but with fyve or sixe of hir meynee; 
 
 And in a trench forth in the park gooth she. 
 
 The vapour^ which that fro the erthe glood^ 
 Made the sonne to seme rody and brood ; 
 But nathelees^ it was so fair a sighte 395 
 
 That it made alle hir hertes for to lighte^ 
 What for the sesoun and the morwenynge^ 
 And for the foweles that she herde synge; 
 For right anon she wiste what they mente 
 Right by hir song^ and knew al hir entente. 400 
 
 The knotte^ why that every tale is toold^ 
 If it be taried til that lust be coold 
 Of hem that han it after herkned yoore^ 
 The savour passeth ever lenger the moore^ 
 For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee; 405 
 
 And by the same resoun thynketh me^ 
 I sholde to the knotte condescende^ 
 And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende. 
 Amydde a tree fordryed^ as whit as chalky 
 As Canacee was pleyyng in hir walk^ 410 
 
 Ther sat a faucon over hir heed ful hye^ 
 That with a pitous voys so gan to crye 
 That all the wode resouned of hir cry. 
 Ybeten hath she hirself so pitously 
 
 With bothe hir wynges^ til the rede blood 415 
 
 Ran endelong the tree ther as she stood^ 
 And evere in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte^ 
 And with hir beek hirselven so she prighte^ 
 That ther nys tygre^ ne noon so crueel beest 
 That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest 420 
 
 That nolde han wept^ if that he wepe koude 
 
 416 as om. 421 he she. 
 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 331 
 
 For sorwe of hir^, she shrighte alwey so loude. 
 
 For ther nas nevere yet no man on lyve 
 
 (If that I koude a faucon wel discryve)^ 
 
 That herde of swich another of fairnesse^ 425 
 
 As wel of plumage as of gentillesse 
 
 Of shape and al that myghte yrekened be. 
 
 A faucon peregryn thanne semed she 
 
 Of fremde land, and everemoore as she stood 
 
 She swowneth now and now for lakke of bloody 430 
 
 Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree. 
 
 This faire kynges doghter Canacee^ 
 
 That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng^ 
 
 Thurgh which she understood wel every thyng 
 
 That any fowel may in his leden seyn^ 435 
 
 And koude answeren hym in his ledene ageyn 
 
 Hath understonde what this faucoun seyde_, 
 
 And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde. 
 
 And to the tree she gooth ful hastily^ 
 
 And on this f aukoun looketh pitously^^ 440 
 
 And heeld hir lappe abrood^ for wel she wiste 
 
 The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste^ 
 
 Whan that it swowned next^ for lakke of blood. 
 
 A longe while to wayten hir she stood^ 
 
 Til atte laste she spak in this manere 445 
 
 Unto the hauk^ as ye shal after heere. 
 
 ''What is the cause^ if it be for to telle^ 
 That ye be in this furial pyne of helle.^'' 
 Quod Canacee unto the hauk above^ 
 
 ''Is this for sorwe of deeth^ or los of love? 450 
 
 For^ as I trowe^ thise been causes two 
 That causeth moost a gentil herte wo. 
 Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke^ 
 For ye yourself upon yourself yow wreke^ 
 Which proveth wel^ that outher love or drede 455 
 
 Moot been enchesoun of your cruel dede^ 
 
 423 man yet. 
 
SS2 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Syn that I see noon oother wight yow chace. 
 
 For love of God as dooth yourselven grace^ 
 
 Or what may been your helpe ? for west nor est 
 
 Ne saugh I nevere er now no bryd ne beest 460 
 
 That ferde with hymself so pitously. 
 
 Ye sle me with your sorwe^ verraily^ 
 
 I have of yow so greet compassioun. 
 
 For Goddes love com fro the tree adoun. 
 
 And as I am a kynges doghter trewe^ 465 
 
 If that I verraily the cause knewe 
 
 Of your disese^ if it lay in my myght 
 
 I wolde amenden it er that it were nyght^ 
 
 As wisly helpe me^ grete god of kynde ! 
 
 And herbes shal I right ynowe yfynde^ 470 
 
 To heele with youre hurtes hastily/' 
 
 Tho shrighte this faucoun moore yet pitously 
 Than ever she dide^ and fil to grounde anon 
 And lith aswowne_, deed_, and lyk a stoon^ 
 Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take 475 
 
 Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake. 
 And after that she of hir swough gan breyde^ 
 Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde: 
 *'That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte_, 
 Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte^ 480 
 
 Is preved al day^ as men may it see_, 
 As wel by werk as by auctoritee. 
 For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse. 
 I se wel^ that ye han of my distresse 
 
 Compassioun_, my faire Canacee^ 485 
 
 Of verray wommanly benignytee 
 That nature in youre principles hath set. 
 But for noon hope for to fare the bet^ 
 But for to obeye unto youre herte free^ 
 
 And for to maken othere be war by me^ 490 
 
 As by the whelp chasted is the leoun^ 
 
 463 passioun. 469 the grete. 481 it om. 487 yset. 489 to om. 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 333 
 
 Right for that cause and for that conclusioun 
 
 Whil that I have a leyser and a space^ 
 
 Myn harm I wol confessen^ er I pace/' 
 
 And evere whil that oon hir sorwe tolde^ 495 
 
 That oother weep^ as she to water wolde^ 
 
 Til that the faucoun bad hire to be stille; 
 
 And with a syk right thus she seyde hir wille. 
 
 *'Ther I was bred, allas^ that harde day ! 
 
 And fostred in a roche of marbul gray 500 
 
 So tendrely^ that no thyng eyled me; 
 
 I nyste nat what was adversitee^ 
 
 Til I koude flee ful hye under the sky. 
 
 Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by 
 
 That semed welle of alle gentillesse^ 505 
 
 Al were he ful of tresoun and falsnesse; 
 
 It was so wrapped under humble cheere^ 
 
 And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere_, 
 
 Under plesance^ and under bisy peyne^ 
 
 That I ne koude han wend he koude feyne_, 510 
 
 So depe in greyn he dyed his colours. 
 
 Right as a serpent hit hym vnder floures 
 
 Til he may seen his tyme for to byte^ 
 
 Right so this god of love^ this ypocryte^ 
 
 Dooth so hise cerymonyes and obeisaunces^ 515 
 
 And kepeth in semblant alle hise observaunces 
 
 That sowneth into gentillesse of love. 
 
 As in a toumbe is al the faire above^ 
 
 And under is the corps swich as ye woot^ 
 
 Swich was this ypocrite^ bothe coold and hoot; 520 
 
 And in this wise he served his entente^ 
 
 That — save the feend — noon wiste what he mente; 
 
 Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned^ 
 
 And many a yeer his service to me feyned^ 
 
 Til that myn herte^ to pitous and to nyce^ 525 
 
 Al innocent of his corouned malice^ 
 
 499 Ther that. 520 the. 
 
384^ THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For-fered of his deeth^ as thoughte me^ 
 
 Upon hise othes and his seuretee^ 
 
 Graunted hym love up this condicioun 
 
 That everemoore myn honour and renoun 530 
 
 Were saved^ bothe privee and apert. 
 
 This is to seyn^ that after his desert 
 
 I yaf hym al myn herte and al my thoght — 
 
 God woot and he^ that ootherwise noght ! — 
 
 And took his herte in chaunge for myn for ay. 535 
 
 But sooth is seyd^ goon sithen many a day^ 
 
 'A trewe wight and a theef thenken nat oon/ 
 
 And whan he saugh the thyng so fer ygoon^ 
 
 That I hadde graunted hym fully my love^ 
 
 In swich a gyse as I have seyd above^ 540 
 
 And yeven hym my trewe herte^ as free 
 
 As he swoor he his herte yaf to me^ 
 
 Anon this tigre ful of doublenesse 
 
 Fil on hise knees^ with so devout humblesse^ 
 
 With so heigh reverence, and as by his cheer e 54i5 
 
 So lyk a gentil lovere of manere^ 
 
 So ravysshed_, as it semed^ for the joye^ 
 
 That nevere Jason^ ne Parys of Troye, 
 
 Jason? certes^ ne noon oother man 
 
 Syn Lameth was^ that alderfirst bigan 550 
 
 To loven two^ as writen folk biforn^ 
 
 Ne nevere syn the firste man was born^ 
 
 Ne koude man^ by twenty thousand part^ 
 
 Countrefete the sophymes of his art; 
 
 Ne were worthy unbokelen his galoche^ 555 
 
 Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche, 
 
 Ne so koude thonke a wight as he dide me. 
 
 His manere was an hevene for to see 
 
 Til any womman^ were she never so wys ; 
 
 So peynted he and kembde at point-devys 560 
 
 As wel hise wordes as his contenaunce 
 
 529 upon. 533 al (2) om. 542 yaf his herte. 548 Jason Troilus. 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE SS5 
 
 And I so loved hym for his obeisaunce 
 And for the trouthe I demed in his herte^ 
 That if so were that any thyng hym smerte_, 
 Al were it never so lite^ and I it wiste^ o65 
 
 Me thoughte I felte deeth myn herte twiste. 
 And shortly so ferforth this thyng is went_, 
 That my wyl was his willes instrument; 
 This is to seyn, my wyl obeyed his wyl 
 
 In alle thyng as fer as resoun fil^ 570 
 
 Kepynge the boundes of my worship evere. 
 Ne nevere hadde I thyng so lief^ ne levere^ 
 As hym^ God woot ! ne nevere shal namo. 
 This lasteth lenger than a y^er or two^ 
 That I supposed of hym noght but good. 575 
 
 But finally_, thus atte laste it stood^ 
 That Fortune wolde that he moste twynne 
 Out of that place_, which that I was inne. 
 Wher me was wo that is no questioun; 
 
 I kan nat make of it discripsioun. ^ 580 
 
 For o thyng dare I tellen boldely^ 
 I knowe what is the peyne of deeth therby. 
 Swich harme I felte^ for he ne myghte bileve; 
 So on a day of me he took his leve 
 
 So sorwefuUy eek^ that I wende verraily^ 5S5 
 
 That he had felt as muche harm as !_, 
 Whan that I herde hym speke^ and saugh his hewe. 
 But nathelees^ I thoughte he was so trewe^ 
 iVnd eek that he repaire sholde ageyn 
 
 Withinne a litel while^ sooth to seyn^ 590 
 
 And resoun wolde eek that he moste go 
 For his honour^ as ofte it happeth so^ 
 That I made vertu of neeessitee^ 
 And took it wel^ syn that it moste be. 
 
 As I best myghte^ I hidde fro hym my sorwe^ 595 
 
 And took hym by the hond^ seint John to borwe^ 
 And seyde hym thus^ 'Lo I am youres al. 
 
336 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Beth swicli as I to yow have been^ and shal/ 
 
 What he answerde^ it nedeth noght reherce^ 
 
 Who kan sey bet than he? who kan do werse? 600 
 
 Whan he hath al wel seyd^ thanne hath he doon; 
 
 'Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon 
 
 That shal ete with a feend/ thus herde I seye. 
 
 So atte laste he moste forth his weye^ 
 
 And forth he fleeth^ til he cam ther hym leste. 605 
 
 Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste^ 
 
 I trowe he hadde thilke text in mynde 
 
 That 'alle thyng repeirynge to his kynde 
 
 Gladeth hymself ;' thus seyn men^ as I gesse. 
 
 Men loven of propre kynde. i!ewefangelnesse^ 610 
 
 As briddes doon/ that men in cages f ede^ 
 
 For though thou nyght and day take of hem hede^ 
 
 And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk^ 
 
 And yeve hem sugre^ hony^ breed_, and milk^ 
 
 Yet right anon as that his dore is uppe^ 6 1 5 
 
 He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe^ 
 
 And to the wode he wole and wormes ete; 
 
 So newefangel been they of hir mete. 
 
 And loven novelrie of propre kynde. 
 
 No gentillesse of blood ne may hem bynde. 620 
 
 So f erde this tercelet^ allas^ the day ! 
 Though he were gentil born_, and f ressh^ and gay. 
 And goodlich for to seen, humble and free. 
 He saugh upon a tyme a kyte flee. 
 
 And sodeynly he loved this kyte so 625 
 
 That al his love is clene fro me ago, 
 And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse. 
 Thus hath the kyte my love in hire servyse. 
 And I am lorn withouten remedie.'' 
 
 And with that word this faucoun gan to crie, 630 
 
 And swowned eft in Canacees barm. 
 
 Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm 
 
 601 wel om. 620 ne om. 622 and (l) om. 
 
 II 
 
THE SQUIERES TALE 337 
 
 That Canacee and alle hir wommen made. 
 
 They nyste hou they myghte the faucoun glade; 
 
 But Canacee hom bereth hir in hir lappe^ 635 
 
 And softely in piastres gan hir wrappe^ 
 
 Ther as she with hir beek hadde hurt hirselve. 
 
 Now kan nat Canacee but herbes delve 
 
 Out of the ground^ and make saves newe 
 
 Of herbes preciouse and fyne of hewe^ 640 
 
 To heelen with this hauk; fro day to nyght 
 
 She dooth hir bisynesse and al hir myght. 
 
 And by hir beddes heed she made a mewe^ 
 
 And covered it with veluettes blewe^ 
 
 In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene. 64^5 
 
 And al withoute^ the mewe is peynted grene^ 
 
 In which were ypeynted alle thise false fowles^ 
 
 As beth thise tidyves^ tercelettes^ and owles^ 
 
 Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde^ 
 
 And pyes on hem for to crie and chyde. 650 
 
 Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk kepyng; 
 
 I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng^ 
 
 Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn 
 
 How that this faucoun gat hire love ageyn 
 
 Repentant^ as the storie telleth us^ 655 
 
 By mediacioun of Cambalus^ 
 
 The kynges sone^ of which that I yow tolde. 
 
 But hennes forth I wol my proces holde 
 To speken of aventures and of batailles^ 
 
 That never e yet was herd so grete mervailles. 660 
 
 First wol I telle yow of Cambynskan^ 
 That in his tyme many a citee wan; 
 And after wol I speke of Algarsif^ 
 How that he wan Theodora to his wif^ 
 
 For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was^ 665 
 
 Ne hadde he be holpen by the steede of bras ; 
 And after wol I speke of Cambalo 
 
 641 hauk om. 642 al hire hire fulle. 647 ther were. 657 that oni. 
 
338 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That faught in lystes with the bretheren two 
 
 For Canacee^ er that he myghte hir wynne. 
 
 And ther I lefte^ I wol ayeyn bigynne. 670 
 
 Explicit secunda pars, 
 Incipit pars tercia, 
 
 AppoUo whirleth up his chaar so hye 
 
 Til that the god Mereurius hous^ the slye — 
 
 670 An. 
 
 [Unfinished.'] 
 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE FRANKELEYNS 
 
 TALE 
 
 Heere folwen the wordes of the Franhelyn to the Squier, 
 and the wordes of the hoost to the Franhelyn, 
 
 ''In feith^ Squier_, thow hast thee wel yquit^ 
 
 And gentilly I preise wel thy wit^'' 
 
 Quod the Frankeleyn_, *'considerynge thy yowthe^ 675 
 
 So feelyngly thou spekest^ sire^ I allow the; 
 
 As to my doom^ ther is noon that is heere 
 
 Of eloquence that shal be thy peere^ 
 
 If that thou lyve — God yeve thee good chaunce^ 
 
 And in vertu sende thee continuance ! 680 
 
 For of thy speche I have greet deyntee; 
 
 I have a sone^ and^ by the Trinitee^ 
 
 I hadde levere than twenty pound worth lond^ 
 
 Though it right now were fallen in myn hond^ 
 
 He were a man of swich discrecioun 685 
 
 As that ye been; fy on possessioun 
 
 But if a man be vertuous withal ! 
 
 I have my sone snybbed^ and yet shal^ 
 
 For he to vertu listneth nat entende^ 
 
 But for to pleye at dees^ and to despende 690 
 
 And lese al that he hath^ is his usage. 
 
 And he hath levere talken with a page 
 
 Than to comune with any gentil wight 
 
 There he myghte lerne gentillesse aright/' 
 
 '*Straw for youre gentillesse/' quod our Hoost^ QQ5 
 
 What^ Frankeleyn^ pardee ! sire_, wel thou woost 
 
 That ech of yow moot tellen atte leste 
 
 A tale or two^ or breken his biheste." 
 
 *'That knowe I wel^ sire^" quod the Frankeleyn^ 
 
 "I prey yow^ haveth me nat in desdeyn 700 
 
340 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Though to this man I speke a word or two/' 
 
 *' Telle on thy tale^ withouten wordes mo." 
 
 "Glady^ sire Hoost/' quod he^ "I wole obeye 
 
 Unto your wyl; now herkneth what I seye. 
 
 I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse 705 
 
 As f er as that my wittes wol sufFyse ; 
 
 I prey to God that it may plesen yow^ 
 
 Thanne woot I wel that it is good ynow/* 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 
 
 The Prologe of the Frankeleyns tale, 
 
 Thise olde gentil Britouns in hir dayes 
 
 Of diverse aventures maden layes^ 710 
 
 Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge; 
 
 Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe, 
 
 Or elles redden hem_, for hir plesaunce. 
 
 And oon of hem have I in remembraunce^ 
 
 Which I shal seyn^ with good-wyl^ as I kan. 715 
 
 But sires^ by cause I am a burel man^ 
 
 At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche^ 
 
 Have me excused of my rude speche. 
 
 I lerned nevere rethorik_, certeyn; 
 
 Thyng that I speke^ it moot be bare and pleyn. 720 
 
 I sleep nevere on the Mount of Pernaso^ 
 
 Ne lerned Marcus TuUius Scithero. 
 
 Colours ne knowe I none^ withouten drede^ 
 
 But swiche colours as growen in the mede^ 
 
 Or elles swiche^ as men dye or peynte. 725 
 
 Colours of rethoryk been me to queynte^ 
 
 My spirit feeleth noght of swich mateere; 
 
 But if yow list^ my tale shul ye heere. 
 
 Heere higynneth the Frankeleyns tale. 
 
 In Armorik^ that called is Britayne^ 
 
 Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne 730 
 
 To serve a lady in his beste wise ; 
 
 And many a labour^ many a greet emprise^ 
 
 He for his lady wroghte_, er she were wonne. 
 
 726 me om. 
 
342 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For she was oon the faireste under sonne, 
 
 ^y 
 
 And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede 735 
 
 That wel unnethes dorste this knyght for drede 
 
 Telle hir his wo^ his peyne^ and his distresse. 
 
 But atte laste^ she for his worthynesse^ 
 
 And namely for his meke obeysaunee^ 
 
 Hath swiche a pitee caught of his penaunce^ 740 
 
 That pryvely she fil of his accord 
 
 To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord — 
 
 Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves — 
 
 And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves. 
 
 Of his free wyl he swoor hir as a knyght^ 745 
 
 That nevere in al his lyf he^ day ne nyght^ 
 
 Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie 
 
 Agayn hir wyl^ ne kithe hir jalousie^ 
 
 But hir obeye and folwe hir wyl in al 
 
 As any lovere to his lady shal; 750 
 
 Save that the name of soveraynetee^ 
 
 That wolde he have^ for shame of his degree. 
 
 She thanked hym^ and with ful greet humblesse 
 
 She seyde^ *'Sire^ sith of youre gentillesse 
 
 Ye prof re me to have so large a reyne^ 755 
 
 Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne^ 
 
 As in my gilt^ were outher werre or stryf . 
 
 Sir^ I wol be your humble trewe wyf^ 
 
 Have heer my trouthe til that myn herte breste/' 
 
 Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. 760 
 
 For o thyng^ sires^ saufly dar I seye^ 
 
 That freendes everych oother moot obeye. 
 
 If they wol longe holden compaignye. 
 
 Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye; 
 
 Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon 765 
 
 Beteth hise wynges^ and farewel, he is gon ! 
 
 Love is a thyng as any spirit free. 
 
 Wommen of kynde desiren libertee, 
 
 And nat to been constreyned as a thral — 
 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 343 
 
 And so doon men^ if I sooth seyen shal. 770 
 
 Looke who that is moost pacient in love^ 
 
 He is at his avantage al above. 
 
 Pacience is an heigh vertu^ certeyn^ 
 
 For it venquysseth_, as thise clerkes seyn^ 
 
 Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne. 775 
 
 For every word men may nat chide or pleyne^ 
 
 Lerneth to sufFre_, or elles^ so moot I goon^ 
 
 Ye shul it lerne^ wherso ye wole or noon. 
 
 For in this world_, eertein^ ther no wight is 
 
 That he ne dooth or seith som tyme amys. 780 
 
 Ire^ siknesse^ or constellacioun 
 
 Wyn^ wo^ or chaungynge of complexioun 
 
 Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken. 
 
 On every wrong a man may nat be wreken; 
 
 After the tyme moste be temperaunce 785 
 
 To every wight that kan on governaunce. 
 
 And therfore hath this wise worthy knyght^ 
 
 To lyve in ese^ suiFranee hir bihight_, » 
 
 And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere 
 
 That nevere sholde ther be defaute in here. 790 
 
 Heere may men seen an humble wys accord ! 
 
 Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord^ 
 
 Servant in love^ and lord in mariage ; 
 
 Thanne was he bothe in lordship and servage — 
 
 Servage.^ nay but in lordshipe above^ 795 
 
 Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love — 
 
 His lady^ certes^ and his wyf also_, 
 
 The which that lawe of love acordeth to. 
 
 And whan he was in this prosperitee^ 
 Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree^ 800 
 
 Nat fer fro Pedmark^ ther his dwellyng was^ 
 Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas. 
 Who koude telle^ but he hadde wedded be^ ' 
 The j oye^ the ese^ and the prosperitee 
 That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf .^ 805 
 
344 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 A jeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf^ 
 
 Til that the knyght of which I speke of thus. 
 
 That of Kayrrud was eleped Arveragus, 
 
 Shoop hym to goon, and dwelle a yeer or tweyne. 
 
 In Engelond, that eleped was eek Briteyne, 810 
 
 To seke in armes worship and honour — 
 
 For al his lust he sette in swich labour — 
 
 And dwelled there two yeer, the book seith thus. 
 
 Now wol I stynten of this Arveragus 
 
 And speken I wole of Dorigene his wyf, 815 
 
 That loveth hir housbonde as hir hertes lyf. 
 
 For his absence wepeth she and siketh. 
 
 As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh. 
 
 She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth^ pleyneth, 
 
 Desir of his presence hir so destreyneth, 820 
 
 That al this wyde world she sette at noght, 
 
 Hir f reendes whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght, 
 
 Conforten hir in al that ever they may. 
 
 They prechen hir, they telle hir nyght and day 
 
 That causelees she sleeth hirself, alias ! 825 
 
 And every confort possible in this cas 
 
 They doon to hir, with all hir bisynesse, 
 
 Al for to make hir leve hir hevynesse. 
 
 By proces, as ye knowen everichoon. 
 
 Men may so longe graven in a stoon, 830 
 
 Til som figure therinne emprented be. 
 
 So longe han they conforted hir, til she 
 
 Receyved hath by hope and by resoun 
 
 The emprentyng of hir consolacioun, 
 
 Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; SS5 
 
 She may nat alwey duren in swich rage. 
 
 And eek Arveragus, in al this care. 
 
 Hath sent hir lettres hoom of his welfare. 
 
 And that he wol come hastily agayn. 
 
 Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. 840 
 
 Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake, 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 345 
 
 And preyden hir on knees^ for Goddes sake. 
 
 To come and romen hir in compaignye, 
 
 Awey to dryve hir derke fantasye. 
 
 And finally she graunted that requeste, 845 
 
 For wel she saugh that it was for the beste. 
 
 Now stood hir castel faste by the see; 
 And often with hir freendes walketh shee 
 Hir to disporte, upon the bank an heigh_, 
 
 Where as she many a ship and barge seigh 850 
 
 Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go. 
 But thanne was that a parcel of hir wo. 
 For to hirself ful ofte "alias,'' seith she, 
 *'Is ther no ship of so many as I se 
 
 Wol bryngen horn my lord? thanne were myn herte 855 
 
 Al warisshed of hise bittre peynes smerte/' 
 Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thynke 
 And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke ; 
 But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake. 
 For verray feere, so wolde hir herte quake 860 
 
 That on hir feet she myghte hir noght sustene. 
 Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene. 
 And pitously into the see biholde, 
 And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde: 
 ^'Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveiaunce 865 
 
 Ledest the world by certein governaunce. 
 In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make. 
 But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, 
 That semen rather a foul confusioun 
 
 Of werk, than any fair creacioun 870 
 
 Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable. 
 Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable? 
 For by this werk, south, north, ne west ne eest 
 Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest. 
 It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth, 875 
 
 Se ye nat, lord, how mankynde it destroyeth.^ 
 
 842 preyde. 
 
34^6 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde 
 
 Han rokkes slayn^ al be they nat in mynde ; 
 
 Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk 
 
 That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. 880 
 
 Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee 
 
 Toward mankynde ; but how thanne may it bee 
 
 That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen^, 
 
 Whiche meenes do no good_, but evere anoyen? 
 
 I woot wel clerkes wol seyn^ as hem leste^ 885 
 
 By argumentz^ that al is for the beste. 
 
 Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe^ 
 
 But thilke God^ that made wynd to blowe, 
 
 As kepe my lord; this my conclusioun. 
 
 To clerkes lete I al this disputisoun — 890 
 
 But wolde God^ that alle thise rokkes blake, 
 
 Were sonken into helle for his sake ! 
 
 Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere !'* 
 
 Thus wolde she seyn^ with many a pitous teere. 
 
 Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport 895 
 
 To romen by the see^ but disconfort^ 
 
 And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles ; 
 
 They leden hir by ryveres and by welles^ 
 
 And eek in othere places delitables^ 
 
 They dauncen^ and they pleyen at ches and tables. 900 
 
 So on a day^ right in the morwe tyde^ 
 Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde^ 
 In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce 
 Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce^ 
 
 They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. . 905 
 
 And this was in the sixte morwe of May^ 
 Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures 
 This gardyn ful of leves and of floures^ 
 And craft of mannes hand so curiously 
 
 Arrayed hadde this gardyn trewely^ 910 
 
 That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys 
 
 887 ne om. 
 
 I 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 347 
 
 But if it were the verray Paradys. 
 
 The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte 
 
 Wolde han maked any herte lighte 
 
 That evere was born^ but if to greet siknesse 915 
 
 Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse; 
 
 So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce. 
 
 At after dyner gonne they to daunce 
 
 And synge also^ save Dorigen allone^ 
 
 Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone 920 
 
 For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go 
 
 That was hir housbonde^ and hir love also. 
 
 But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde^ 
 
 And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde. 
 
 Upon this daunce^ amonges othere men^ 925 
 
 Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen 
 That fressher was^ and jolyer of array^ 
 As to my doom_, than is the monthe of May. 
 He syngeth_, daunceth_, passynge any man 
 That is or was^ sith that the world bigan. 930 
 
 Therwith he was_, if men sholde hym discryve^ 
 Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve; 
 Yong^ strongs right vertuous^ and riche^ and wys^ 
 And wel biloved^ and holden in greet prys. 
 And shortly^ if the sothe I tellen shal^ 935 
 
 Unwityng of this Dorigen at al^ 
 This lusty squier^ servant to Venus^ 
 Which that ycleped was Aurelius_, 
 Hadde loved hir best of any creature 
 
 Two yeer and moore_, as was his aventure ; 940 
 
 But nevere dorste he tellen hir his grevaunce, 
 Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce. 
 He was despeyred^ no thyng dorste he seye 
 Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye 
 His wo^ as in a general compleynyng. 945 
 
 He seyde he lovede^ and was biloved no thyng^ 
 Of swich matere niade he manye layes^ 
 
348 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Songes^ compleintes^ roundels^ virelayes^ 
 
 How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle, 
 
 But langwissheth, as a furye dooth in helle, 950 
 
 And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko 
 
 For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo. 
 
 In oother manere than ye heere me seye_, 
 
 Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye, 
 
 Save that paraventure som tyme at daunces, 955 
 
 Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, 
 
 It may wel be he looked on hir face. 
 
 In swich a wise as man that asketh grace ; 
 
 But no thyng wiste she of his entente. 
 
 Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente, 960 
 
 By cause that he was hir neighebour. 
 
 And was a man of worship and honour, 
 
 And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore, 
 
 They fille in speche, and forthe moore and moore 
 
 Unto this purpos drough Aurelius. 965 
 
 And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus : 
 
 ''Madame,'' quod he, **by God that this world made. 
 
 So that I wiste it myghte your herte glade, 
 
 I wolde that day that youre Arveragus 
 
 Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, 970 
 
 Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn. 
 
 For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn. 
 
 My gerdoun is but brestyng of myn herte. 
 
 Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte. 
 
 For with a word ye may me sleen or save. 975 
 
 Heere at your feet, God wolde that I were grave, 
 
 I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye. 
 
 Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye.'' 
 
 She gan to looke upon Aurelius : 
 
 ''Is this youre wyl !" quod she, "and sey ye thus.^ 980 
 
 "Nevere erst,'' quod she, "ne wiste I what ye mente. 
 
 But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente. 
 
 956 yong. 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 349 
 
 By thilke God^ that yaf me soule and lyf^ 
 
 Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf_, 
 
 In word ne werk^ as fer as I have wit. 985 
 
 I wol been his to whom that I am knyt. 
 
 Taak this for fynal answere as of me/' 
 
 But after that_, in pley thus seyde she^ 
 
 "Aurelie/' quod she^ *'by heighe God above^ 
 
 Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love^ 990 
 
 Syn I yow se so pitously complayne. 
 
 Looke^ what day that endelong Britayne 
 
 Ye remoeve alle the rokkes^ stoon by stoon^ 
 
 That they ne lette shipe ne boot to goon^ 
 
 I seye^ whan ye han maad the coost so clene 995 
 
 Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene^ 
 
 Thanne wol I love yow best of any man ! 
 
 Have heer my trouthe in al that evere I kan/* 
 
 "Is ther noon oother grace in yow ?'' quod he. 
 
 ''No^ by that lord^'' quod she^ **that maked me; 1000 
 
 For wel I woot that it shal never bityde ; 
 
 Lat swiche folies out of your herte slyde. 
 
 What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf 
 
 For to go love another mannes wyf^ 
 
 That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh?'' 1005 
 
 Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh^ 
 
 Wo was Aurelie^ whan that he this herde_, 
 
 And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde. 
 
 "Madame/' quod he^ "this were an inpossible; 
 
 Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible.'' 1010 
 
 And with that word he turned hym anon. 
 
 Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon^ 
 
 And in the aleyes romeden up and doun^ 
 
 And no thjng wiste of this conclusioun^ 
 
 But sodeynly bigonne revel newe_, 1015 
 
 Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe^ 
 
 For thorisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght — 
 
 This is as muche to seye as^ it was nyght — 
 
350 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And hoom they goon in j oye and in solas^ 
 
 Save oonly wrecche Aurelius, alias! 1020 
 
 He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte; 
 
 He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte ; 
 
 Hym semed that he felte his herte colde; 
 
 Up to the hevene hise handes he gan holde^ 
 
 And on hise knowes bare he sette hym doun^ 1025 
 
 And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun. 
 
 For verray wo out of his wit he breyde ; 
 
 He nyste what he spak^ but thus he seyde : 
 
 With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne 
 
 Unto the goddes^ and first unto the sonne 1030 
 
 He seyde^ "Appollo^ God and governour 
 
 Of every plaunte^ herbe^ tree^ and flour 
 
 That yevest after thy declinacioun 
 
 To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun^ 
 
 As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe^ 1035 
 
 Lord Phebus^ cast thy merciable eighe 
 
 On wrecche Aurelie^ which that am but lorn. 
 
 Lo^ lord^ my lady hath my deeth ysworn 
 
 Withoute gilt^ but thy benignytee 
 
 Upon my dedly herte have som pitee. 1040 
 
 For wel I woot^ lord Phebus^ if yow lest^ 
 
 Ye may me helpen^ save my lady^ best. 
 
 Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse 
 
 How that I may been holpen and in what wyse. 
 
 Your blisful suster^ Lucina the sheene^ 1045 
 
 That of the see is chief goddesse and queene^ 
 
 (Though Neptunus have deitee in the see^ 
 
 Yet emperisse aboven hym is she) 
 
 Ye knowen wel^ lord^ that right as hir desir 
 
 Is to be quyked and lightned of youre fir^ 1050 
 
 For which she folweth yow ful bisily^ 
 
 Right so the see desir eth naturelly 
 
 To folwen hir^ as she that is goddesse 
 
 1037 that om. 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 351 
 
 Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse. 
 
 Wherfore^ lord Phebus^ this is my requeste; 1055 
 
 Do this miracle^ or do myn herte breste^ 
 
 That now next at this opposicioun 
 
 Which in the signe shal be of the Leoun^ 
 
 As preieth hir^ so greet a flood to brynge 
 
 That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge IO6O 
 
 The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne^ 
 
 And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne. 
 
 Thanne^ certes^ to my lady may I seye 
 
 'Holdeth youre heste^ the rokkes been aweye.' 
 
 Lord Phebus^ dooth this miracle for me^ 1065 
 
 Preye hir she go no faster cours than ye. 
 
 I seye^ preyeth your suster that she go 
 
 No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. 
 
 Thanne shal she been evene atte fuUe alway_, 
 
 And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day; 1070 
 
 And but she vouche sauf in swich manere 
 
 To graunte me my sovereyn lady de6re^ 
 
 Prey hir to synken every rok adoun 
 
 Into hir owene dirke regioun 
 
 Under the ground ther Pluto dwelleth inne^ 1075 
 
 Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne. 
 
 Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke_, 
 
 Lord Phebus ; se the teeris on my cheke^ 
 
 And of my peyne have som compassioun l" 
 
 And with that word in swowne he fil adoun_, 1080 
 
 And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce. ^ 
 
 His brother^ which that knew of his penaunce^ 
 
 Up caughte hym^ and to bedde he hath hym broght. 
 
 Dispe^^red in this torment and this thoght 
 
 Lete I this woful creature lye; 1085 
 
 Chese he for me wheither he woHyve or dye. 
 
 Arveragus with heele and greet honour^ 
 As he that was of chivalrie the flour^ 
 Is comen hoom_, and othere worthy men. 
 
S52 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 O blisful artow now^ thou Dorigen ! 1090 
 
 That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes^ 
 
 The fresshe knyght^ the worthy man of armes^ 
 
 That loveth thee^ as his owene hertes lyf. 
 
 No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf 
 
 If any wight hadde spoke^ whil he was oute^ 1095 
 
 To hire of love ; he hadde of it no doute^ 
 
 He noght entendeth to no swich mateere^ 
 
 But daunceth^ justeth^ maketh hir good cheere^ 
 
 And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle. 
 
 And of the sike Aurelius I wol telle. 1100 
 
 In langour and in torment furyus 
 
 Two yeer and moore lay wrecehe Aurelyus, 
 
 Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon; 
 
 Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon^ 
 
 Save of his brother^ which that was a clerk. 1105 
 
 He knew of al this wo and al this werk; 
 
 For to noon oother creature^ certeyn^ 
 
 Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. 
 
 Under his brest he baar it moore secree 
 
 Than evere dide Pamphilus for Galathee. 1110 
 
 His brest was hool withoute for to sene^ 
 
 But in his herte ay was the arwe kene. 
 
 And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure 
 
 In surgerye is perilous the cure^ 
 
 But men myghte touche the arwe^ or come therby. 1115 
 
 His brother weep and wayled pryvely, 
 
 Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce 
 
 That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce^ 
 
 As yonge clerkes^ that been lykerous. 
 
 To reden artes that been curious^ 1120 
 
 Seken in every halke and every heme 
 
 Particular sciences for to lerne^ 
 
 He hym remembred^ that upon a day 
 
 At Orliens in studie a book he say 
 
 1100 wol yow. 1120 artz. 
 
 I 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 353 
 
 Of magyk natureel^ which his felawe^ 1125 
 
 That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe. — 
 
 Al were he ther to lerne another craft — 
 
 Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft; 
 
 Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns^ 
 
 Touchy nge the eighte and twenty mansiouns 1130 
 
 That longen to the moone^ and swich folye 
 
 As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye. 
 
 For hooly chirches feith in oure bileve 
 
 Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve. 
 
 And whan this book was in his remembraunce^ 1135 
 
 Anon for j oye his herte gan to daiince^ 
 
 And to hymself he seyde pryvely^ 
 
 "My brother shal be warisshed hastily; 
 
 For I am siker that ther be sciences 
 
 By whiche men make diverse apparences 1140 
 
 Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye; 
 
 For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye 
 
 That tregetours withinne an halle large 
 
 Have maad come in a water and a barge^ 
 
 And in the halle rowen up and doun. 1145 
 
 Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun; 
 
 And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede^ 
 
 Somtyme a vyne^ and grapes white and rede^ 
 
 Somtyme a castel al of lym and stoon; 
 
 And whan hem lyked, voyded it anoon^ 1150 
 
 Thus semed it to every mannes sighte. 
 
 Now thanne conclude I thus^ that if I myghte 
 
 At Orliens som oold felawe yfynde 
 
 That hadde this moones mansions in mynde_, 
 
 Or oother magyk natureel above^, 1155 
 
 He sholde wel make my brother han his love ; 
 
 For with an apparence a clerk may make 
 
 To mannes sighte^ that alle the rokkes blake 
 
 Of Britaigne weren yvoyded everichon_, 
 
 1141 tregetours. 1150 hem hym. 
 
354 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And shippes by the brynke comen and gon, 1 1 60 
 
 And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two ; 
 Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo ; 
 Thanne moste she nedes holden hir biheste^ 
 Or elles he shal shame hir atte leeste/' 
 
 What sholde I make a lenger tale of this? 1165 
 
 Unto his brotheres bed he comen is^ 
 And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon 
 To Orliens^ that he up stirte anon 
 And on his wey forthward thanne is he f are^ 
 In hope for to been lissed of his care. 1170 
 
 Whan they were come almoost to that citee^ 
 But if it were a two furlong or thre^ 
 A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette 
 Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette^ 
 And after that he seyde a wonder thyng. 1175 
 
 *'I knowe/' quod he^ "the cause of youre comyng/' 
 And er they ferther any foote wente^ 
 He tolde hem al that was in hire entente ! 
 This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes^ 
 The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes; 1180 
 
 And he answerde hym that they dede were^ 
 For which he weep ful ofte many a teere. 
 Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon^ 
 And with this magicien forth is he gon 
 
 Hoom to his hous^ and maden hem wel at ese; 1185 
 
 IJem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese^ 
 So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon^ 
 Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon. 
 He shewed hym^ er he wente to sopeer^ 
 
 Forestes^ parkes ful of wilde deer^ 1190 
 
 Ther saugh he hertes with hir homes hye^ 
 The gretteste that evere were seyn with eye, 
 He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes, 
 And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes. 
 He saugh^ whan voyded were thise wilde deer^ 1195 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE S55 
 
 Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver^ 
 That with hir haukes han the heroun slayn. 
 Tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn; 
 And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce_, 
 That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce 1200 
 
 On which hymself he daunced^ as hym thoughte. 
 And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte 
 Saugh it was tyme^ he clapte hise handes two^ 
 And f arewel ! al oure revel was ago ! — 
 
 And yet remoeved they never e out of the hous^ 1205 
 
 Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous^ 
 But in his studie_, ther as hise bookes be^ 
 They seten stille^ and no wight but they thre. 
 To hym this maister called his squier^ 
 
 And seyde hym thus_, "Is redy oure soper? 1210 
 
 Almoost an houre it is^ I undertake_, 
 Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make^ 
 Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me 
 Into my studie^ ther as my bookes bd." 
 
 ''Sire/' quod this Squier^ "whan it liketh yow^ 1215 
 
 It is al redy^ though ye wol right now." 
 "Go we thanne soupe/' quod he^ "as for the beste^ 
 This amorous folk som tyme moote han hir reste." 
 At after soper fille they in tretee^ 
 
 What somme sholde this maistres gerdoun be^ 1220 
 
 To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne^ 
 And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne. 
 He made it straunge^ and swoor^ so God hym save^ 
 Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have^ 
 ^Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon. 1225 
 
 Aurelius with blisful herte anoon 
 Answerde thus^ "Fy on a thousand pound ! 
 This wyde worlds which that men seye is rounds 
 I wolde it yeve^ if I were lord of it. 
 
 This bargayn is ful dryve^ for we been knyt; 1230 
 
 Ye shal be payed trewely^ by my trouthe. 
 
S56 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But looketh now for no necligence or slouthe 
 
 Ye tarie us heere^ no lenger than to-morwe." 
 
 ''IS^aj/' quod this clerk_, *'have heer my feith to borwe." 
 
 To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste^ 1235 
 
 And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste; 
 
 What for his labour and his hope of blisse^ 
 
 His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. 
 
 Upon the morwe^ whan that it was day_, 
 
 To Britaigne tooke they the righte way^ 1240 
 
 Aurelie and this magicien bisyde^ 
 
 And been descended ther they wolde abyde. 
 
 And this was^ as thise bookes me remembre^ 
 
 The eolde frosty sesoun of Decembre. 
 
 Phebus wax old^ and hewed lyk latoun^ 1245 
 
 That in his hoote declynacioun 
 Shoon as the burned gold^ with stremes brighte; 
 But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte. 
 Where as he shoon ful pale^ I dar wel seyn. 
 The bittre frostes^ with the sleet and reyn^ 1250 
 
 Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd; 
 Janus sit by the fyr^ with double berd^ 
 And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn. 
 Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn^ 
 And 'NoweF crieth every lusty man. 1255 
 
 Aurelius^ in al that evere he kan^ 
 Dooth to his master chiere and reverence^ 
 And preyeth hym to doon his diligence 
 To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte^ 
 Or with a.swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. 1260 
 
 This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man^ , 
 
 That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan 
 To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun^ 
 This is to seye^ to maken illusioun 
 
 By swich an apparence or jogelrye — ' 1265 
 
 I ne kan no termes of astrologye — 
 
 1241 Aurelius. 
 
 fi 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 357 
 
 That she and every wight sholde wene and seye 
 
 That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye^ 
 
 Or ellis they were sonken under grounde. 
 
 So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde 1270 
 
 To maken hise japes and his wrecchednesse 
 
 Of swich a supersticious cursednesse. 
 
 Hise tables ToUetanes forth he brought^ 
 
 Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought, 
 
 Neither his collect ne hise expans yeeris, 1275 
 
 Ne hise rootes, ne hise othere geeris, 
 
 As been his centris and hise argumentz, 
 
 And hise proporcioneles convenientz 
 
 For hise equacions in every thyng. 
 
 And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng 1280 
 
 He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove 
 
 Fro the heed of thilke iixe Aries above 
 
 That in the ninthe speere considered is. 
 
 Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this. 
 
 Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun, 1285 
 
 He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun, 
 And knew the arisyng of his moone weel. 
 And in whos face and terme, and everydeel ; 
 And knew ful weel the moones mansioun 
 Acordaunt to his operacioun, 1290 
 
 And knew also hise othere observaunces 
 For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces 
 As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes ; — 
 For which no lenger maked he delayes, 
 
 But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, 1295 
 
 It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye. 
 Aurelius, which that yet despeired is, 
 Wher he shal han his love, or fare amys, 
 Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle. 
 And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, 1300 
 
 That voyded were thise rokkes everychon, 
 
 1284 he hadde. 
 
358 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Doun to hise maistres feet he fil anon^ 
 
 And seyde^ "I woful wrecche^ Aurelius^ 
 
 Thanke jow, lord^ and lady myn^ Venus^ 
 
 That me han holpen fro my cares colde/' 1305 
 
 And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde 
 
 Where as he knew he sholde his lady see^ 
 
 And whan he saugh his tyme, anon right hee 
 
 With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere 
 
 Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere. 1310 
 
 ''My righte lady^" quod this woful man^ 
 
 ''Whom I moost drede and love as I best kan^ 
 
 And lothest were of al this world displese^ 
 
 Nere it that I for yow have swich disese 
 
 That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon^ 1315 
 
 Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon; 
 
 But^ certes^ outher moste I dye or pleyne^ 
 
 Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne. 
 
 But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe^ 
 
 Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe. 1320 
 
 Repenteth yow for thilke God above^ 
 
 Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love. 
 
 For madame^ wel ye woot what ye han hight; 
 
 Nat that I chalange any thyng of right 
 
 Of yow^ my sovereyn lady^ but youre grace; 1325 
 
 But in a gardyn yond at swich a place 
 
 Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me, 
 
 And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye 
 
 To love me best, God woot ye seyde so, 
 
 Al be that I unworthy be therto. 1330 
 
 Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow, 
 
 Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now. 
 
 I have do so as ye comanded me. 
 
 And if ye vouchesauf, ye may go see. 
 
 Dooth as yow list, have youre biheste in mynde, 1335 
 
 For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde. 
 
 1318 giltlees. 
 
 1 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 359 
 
 In yow lith al^ to do me lyve or deye^ 
 But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye !" 
 
 He taketh his leve^ and she astonied stood^ 
 In al hir face nas a drope of blood. 1340 
 
 She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe. 
 "Allas^" quod she^ *'that evere this sholde happe. ^ 
 For wende I nevere^ by possibilitee^ 
 That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be. 
 It is agayns the proces of nature." 1345 
 
 And hoom she goth a sorweful creature^ 
 For verray feere unnethe may she go. 
 She wepeth^ wailleth^ al a day or two_, 
 And swowneth that it routhe was to see ; 
 
 But why it was^ to no wight tolde shee^ 1350 
 
 For out of towne was goon Arveragus. 
 But to hirself she spak_, and seyde thus^ 
 With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere. 
 In hire compleynt^ as ye shal after heere^ 
 *'Allas !" quod she^ "on thee^ Fortune I pleyne^ 1355 
 
 That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne; 
 For which tescape woot I no socour 
 Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour; 
 Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. 
 
 But natheless^ yet have I levere to lese 1360 
 
 My lif^ than of my body have a shame. 
 Or knowe myselven fals or lese my name, 
 And with my deth I may be quy t, ywis ; 
 Hath ther nat many a noble wyf, er this 
 
 And many a mayde yslayn hirself, alias, 1365 
 
 Rather than with hir body doon trespas ? 
 Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse. 
 Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse, 
 Hadde slayn Phidoun in Atthenes, at feste. 
 They comanded hise doghtres for tareste^ 1370 
 
 And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit, 
 
 1357 scour. 1358 elles om. 
 
360 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Al naked^ to f ulfille hir foul delit^ 
 
 And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce 
 
 Upon the pavement^ God yeve hem myschaunce; 
 
 For which thise woful maydens ful of drede^ 1375 
 
 Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede, 
 
 They prively been stirt into a welle 
 
 And dreynte hemselven^ as the bookes telle. 
 
 They of Mecene leete enquere and seke 
 
 Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke^ 1380 
 
 On whiche they wolden doon hir leeherye; 
 
 But was ther noon of al that compaignye 
 
 That she nas slayn^ and with a good entente 
 
 Chees rather for to dye than assente 
 
 To been oppressed of hir maydenhede. 1385 
 
 Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede ? 
 
 Lo^ eek the tiraunt Aristoclides^ 
 
 That loved a mayden heet Stymphalides^ 
 
 Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght^ 
 
 Unto Dianes temple goth she rights 1390 
 
 And hente the ymage in hir handes two; 
 
 Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go^ 
 
 No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace^ 
 
 Til she was slayn right in the selve place. 
 
 Now sith that maydens hadden swich despite 1395 
 
 To been defouled with mannes foul delit^ 
 
 Wei oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee^ 
 
 Than be defouled^ as it thynketh me. 
 
 What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf 
 
 That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf .^ 1400 
 
 For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun, 
 
 She took hir children alle and skipte adoun 
 
 Into the fyr^ and chees rather to dye 
 
 Than any Romayn dide hir vileynye. 
 
 Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself^ alias, 1405 
 
 At Rome whan that she oppressed was 
 
 1406 that om. 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 361 
 
 Of Tarquyn^ for hir thoughte it was a shame 
 
 To lyven whan she hadde lost hir name? 
 
 The sevene maydens of Melesie also 
 
 Han slayn hemself^ for verray drede and wo 1410 
 
 Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse. 
 
 Mo than a thousand stories^ as I gesse^ 
 
 Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere. 
 
 Whan Habradate was slayn^ his wyf so deere 
 
 Hirselven slow^ and leet hir blood to glyde 1415 
 
 In Habradates woundes depe and wyde; 
 
 And seyde^ "My body at the leeste way 
 
 Ther shal no wight defoulen^ if I may/' 
 
 What sholde I mo ensamples heer of sayn ? 
 
 Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn^ 1420 
 
 Wei rather than they wolde de fouled be^ 
 
 I wol conclude that it is bet for me 
 
 To sleen myself^ than been defouled thus. 
 
 I wol be trewe unto Arveragus^ 
 
 Or rather sleen myself in som manere^ 1425 
 
 As dide Demociones doghter deere^ 
 
 By cause that she wolde nat defouled be. 
 
 O Cedasus^ it is ful greet pitee 
 
 To reden how thy doghtren deyde^ allas^ 
 
 That slowe hemself^ for swich manere cas ! 1430 
 
 As greet a pitee was it^ or wel moore_, 
 
 The Theban mayden^ that for Nichanore 
 
 Hirselven slow right for swich manere wo. 
 
 Another Theban mayden dide right so; 
 
 For oon of Macidonye hadde hire oppressed^ 1435 
 
 She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed. 
 
 What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf^ 
 
 That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf .^ 
 
 How trewe eek was to Alcebiades 
 
 His love that rather for to dyen chees 1440 
 
 Than for to suifre his body unburyed be. 
 
 1408 had. 1440 that om. 
 
S62 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Lo^ which a wyf was Alceste/' quod she^ 
 
 "What seith Omer of goode Penalopee? 
 
 Al Grece knoweth of hire chastitee. 
 
 Pardee of Lacedomya is writen thus^ 1445 
 
 That whan at Troie was slayn Protheselaus^ 
 
 No lenger wolde she lyve after his day. 
 
 The same of noble Porcia telle I may^ 
 
 Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyve^ 
 
 To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yeve. 1450 
 
 The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie 
 
 Honured is thurgh al the Barbarie. 
 
 Teuta queene^ thy wyfly chastitee 
 To alle wyves may a mirour bee ! 
 
 The same thyng I seye of Bilyea^ 1455 
 
 Of Rodogone^ and eek Valeria." 
 
 Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye^ 
 
 Purposynge evere that she wolde deye. 
 
 But nathelees^ upon the thridde nyght 
 Hoom cam x\rveragus^ this worthy knyght^ 1460 
 
 And asked hir why that she weep so soore. 
 And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore. 
 * 'Alias \" quod she^ ''that evere I was born. 
 Thus have I seyd/' quod she^ "thus have I sworn;'' 
 And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore^ 1465 
 
 It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore. 
 This housbonde with glad chiere in freendly wyse 
 Answerde and seyde^ as I shal yow devyse^ 
 "Is ther oght elles Dorigen^ but this.^" 
 
 "Nay^ nsij/' quod she^ "God helpe me so^ as wys^ 1470 
 
 This is to muche^ and it were Goddes wille." 
 "Ye^ wyf/' quod he^ "lat slepen that is stille. 
 It may be wel paraventure yet to-day. 
 Ye shul youre trouthe holden^ by my fay. 
 For God so wisly have mercy upon me^ 1475 
 
 1 hadde wel levere ystiked for to be 
 
 1457 pleyne. 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE S6S 
 
 For verray love which that I to yow have^ 
 
 But if ye sholde your trouthe kepe and save. 
 
 Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe/' 
 
 But with that word he brast anon to wepe 1480 
 
 And seyde^ "I yow forbede^ up peyne of deeth, 
 
 That nevere whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth^ 
 
 To no wight telle thou of this aventure ; 
 
 As I may best^ I wol my wo endure. 
 
 Ne make no contenanee of hevynesse, 1485 
 
 That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse." 
 
 And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde; 
 
 *'Gooth forth anon with Dorigen_," he sayde^ 
 
 *'And bryngeth hir to swich a place anon^" 
 
 They take hir leve^ and on hir wey they gon^ 1490 
 
 But they ne wiste why she thider wente^ 
 
 He nolde no wight tellen his entente. 
 
 Par a venture^ an heep of yow^ ywis^ 
 
 Wol holden hym a lewed man in this^ 
 
 That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie. 1495 
 
 Her^kneth the tale er ye upon hire crie; 
 
 She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth. 
 
 And whan that ye han herd the tale^ demeth. 
 
 This squier^ which that highte Aurelius^ 
 On Dorigen that was so amorus^ 1500 
 
 Of aventure happed hir to meete 
 Amydde the toun^ right in the quykkest strete_, 
 As she was bown to goon the wey forth-right 
 Toward the gardyn_, ther as she had hight. 
 And he was to the gardynward also^ 1505 
 
 For wel he spyed whan she wolde go 
 Out of hir hous to any maner place. 
 But thus they mette^ of aventure or grace 
 And he saleweth hir with glad entente. 
 
 And asked of hir whiderward she wente. 1510 
 
 And she answerde^, half as she were mad, 
 
 1481 of om. 
 
S64 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 **Unto the gardyn as myn housbonde bad^ 
 
 My trouthe for to holde^ alias ! alias !" 
 
 Aurelius gan wondren on this cas^ 
 
 And in his herte hadde greet compassioun 1515 
 
 Of hir and of hir lamentacioun_, 
 
 And of Arveragus^ the worthy knyght^ 
 
 That bad hire holden al that she had hight^ 
 
 So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe ; 
 
 And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe^ 1520 
 
 Considerynge the beste on every syde 
 
 That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde 
 
 Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse 
 
 Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse. — 
 
 For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: 1525 
 
 "Madame^ seyeth to your lord Arveragus^ 
 
 That sith I se his grete gentillesse 
 
 To yow^ and eek I se wel youre distresses 
 
 That him were levere han shame — and that were routhe — 
 
 Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe^ 1530 
 
 I have wel levere evere to sufFre wo 
 
 Than I departe the love bitwix yow two. 
 
 I yow relesse^ madame^ into youre hond 
 
 Quyt every surement and every bond^ 
 
 That ye han maad to me as heer biforn^ 1535 
 
 Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born. 
 
 My trouthe I plighte^ I shal yow never repreve 
 
 Of no biheste^ and heere I take my leve. 
 
 As of the treweste and the beste wyf 
 
 That evere yet I knew in al my lyf. 1540 
 
 But every wyf be war of hir biheeste^ 
 
 On Dorigene remembreth atte leeste ! 
 
 Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede 
 
 As wel as kan a knyght_, withouten drede.'' 
 
 She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare^ 1545 
 
 And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare^ 
 
 And tolde hym al^ as ye han herd me sayd; 
 
 II 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE S65 
 
 And be ye siker^ he was so weel apayd 
 That it were inpossible me to wryte. 
 
 What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? 1550 
 
 Arveragus and Dorigene his wyf 
 In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf^ 
 Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene. 
 He cherisseth hir as though she were a queene^ 
 And she was to hym trewe for everemoore. — 1555 
 
 Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore. 
 Aurelius_, that his cost hath al forlorn 
 Curseth the tyme that evere he was born. 
 **Allas_," quod he^ "allas^ that I bihighte 
 
 Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte 1560 
 
 Unto this philosophre ! how shal I do ? 
 I se namoore but that I am fordo; 
 Myn heritage moot I nedes selle 
 And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle. 
 And shamen al my kynrede in this place_, 1565 
 
 But I of hym may gete bettre grace. 
 But nathelees I wole of hym assaye 
 At certeyn dayes yeer by yeer to paye_, 
 And thanke hym of his grete curteisye ; 
 
 My trouthe wol I kepe^ I wol nat lye.'' 1570 
 
 With herte soor he gooth unto his cofre^. 
 And broghte gold unto this philosophre 
 The value of fyve hundred pounds I gesse^ 
 And hym bisecheth of his gentillesse 
 
 To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt^ 1575 
 
 And seyde_, ''Maister^ I dar wel make avaunt^ 
 I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit. 
 For sikerly my dette shal be quyt 
 Towardes yow^ how evere that I fare^ 
 
 To goon a begged in my kirtle bare! 1580 
 
 But wolde ye vouche sauf upon seuretee 
 Two yeer or thre^ for to respiten me_, 
 
 1556 tico om. 
 
366 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Thanne were I wel^ for elles moot I sella 
 
 Myn heritage^ ther is namoore to telle/' 
 
 This philosophre sobrely answerde^ 1585 
 
 And seyde thus^ whan he thise wordes herde^ 
 
 '*Have I nat holden covenant unto thee?'' 
 
 *'Yes^ certes^ wel and trewely/' quod he. 
 
 "Hastow nat had thy lady^ as thee liketh?'' 
 
 *'No^ no/' quod he^ and sorwefuUy he siketh. 1590 
 
 *'What was the eause^ tel me if thou kan?" 
 
 Aurelius his tale anon bigan_, 
 
 And tolde hym al, as ye han herd bifoore^ 
 
 It nedeth nat to yow reheree it moore. 
 
 He seide^ Arveragus of gentillesse 1595 
 
 Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse 
 
 Than his wyf were of hir trouthe f als ; 
 
 The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als^ 
 
 How looth hir was to been a wikked wyf_, 
 
 And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf^ l600 
 
 And that hir trouthe she swoor^ thurgh innocence^ 
 
 She nevere erst hadde herd speke of apparence. 
 
 "That made me han of hir so greet pitee; 
 
 And right as frely as he sente hir me^ 
 
 As frely sente I hir to hym ageyn. 1605 
 
 This al and som_, ther is namoore to seyn." 
 
 This philosophre answerde^ "Leeve brother^ 
 
 Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother. 
 
 Thou art a squier^ and he is a knyght; 
 
 But God forbede^ for his blisful myght^ 1610 
 
 But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede 
 
 As wel as any of yow^ it is no drede. 
 
 Sire^ I releesse thee thy thousand pound^ 
 
 As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,, 
 
 Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me; l6l5 
 
 For^ sire^ I wol nat taken a peny of thee 
 
 For al my crafty ne noght for my travaille. 
 
 Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille^ 
 
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE 367 
 
 It is ynogh^ and farewel^ have good day." 
 
 And took his hors_, and forth he goth his way. 1620 
 
 Lordynges^ this questioun wolde I aske now^ 
 Which was the mooste fre_, as thynketh yow? 
 Now telleth me^ er that ye ferther wende, 
 I kan namoore_, my tale is at an ende. 
 
 1621 thanne wol. 
 
 Heere is ended the Franheleyns tale. 
 
GROUP G. 
 
 THE SECONDE NONNES TALE 
 
 The Prologe of the Seconde Nonnes Tale, 
 
 The ministre and the norice unto vices^ 
 
 Which that men clepe in Englissh ydelnesse^ 
 
 That porter of the gate is of delices^ 
 
 To eschue^ and by hir contrarie hir oppresse, 
 
 (That is to seyn by leveful bisynesse)^ 5 
 
 Wei oghten we to doon al oure entente_, 
 
 Lest that the f eend thurgh ydelnesse us shente. 
 
 For he^ that with hise thousand cordes slye 
 
 Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe^ 
 
 Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye^ 10 
 
 He kan so lightly cacche hym in his trappe^ 
 
 Til that a man be hent right by the lappe_5 
 
 He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde. 
 
 Wei oghte us werche^ and ydelnesse withstonde. 
 
 And though men dradden nevere for to dye^ . 15 
 
 Yet seen men wel by resoun^ doutelees^ 
 
 That ydelnesse is roten slogardye^ 
 
 Of which ther nevere comth no good encrees 
 
 And seen that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees^ 
 
 Oonly to slepe^ and for to ete and drynke^ 20 
 
 And to devouren al that othere swynke. 
 
 And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse^ 
 That cause is of so greet confusioun^ 
 I have heer doon my feithful bisynesse^ 
 
 18 nencrees. 19 hir it. 
 
THE SECONDE NONNES TALE 369 
 
 After the legende^ in translacioun 25 
 
 Right of thy glorious lif and passioun_, 
 
 Thou with thy gerland wroght with rose and lilie^ 
 
 Thee meene I^ mayde and martir^ seint Cecilie. 
 
 Invocacio ad Mariam, 
 
 And thow that flour of virgines art alle^ 
 
 Of whom that Bernard list so wel to write^ 30 
 
 To thee at my bigynnyng first I calle_, 
 
 Thou confort of us wrecches_, do me endite 
 
 Thy maydens deeth^ that wan thurgh hir merite 
 
 The eterneel lyf^ and of the feend victorie^ 
 
 As man may after reden in hir storie, 85 
 
 Thow mayde and mooder^ doghter of thy sone^ 
 
 Thow welle of mercy^ synful soules cure_, 
 
 In whom that God for bountee chees to wone^ 
 
 Thow humble and heigh^ over every creature 
 
 Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature^ 40 
 
 That no desdeyn the makere hadde of kynde^ 
 
 His sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde. 
 
 Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydis 
 
 Took mannes shape the eterneel love and pees^ 
 
 That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is^ 45 
 
 Whom erthe and see and hevene out of relees 
 
 Ay heryen^ and thou^ virgine wemmelees^ 
 
 Baar of thy body^ and dweltest may den pure^ 
 
 The creatour of every creature. 
 
 Assembled is in thee magnificence 50 
 
 With mercy^ goodnesse^ and with swich pitee 
 That thou^ that art the sonne of excellence, 
 Nat oonly helpest hem that preyen thee_, 
 
 28 martir seint mooder. 
 
370 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But oftentyme^ of thy benygnytee^ 
 
 Ful frely^ er that men thyn help biseche^ 55 
 
 Thou goost biforn^ and art hir lyves leche. 
 
 Now help^ thow meeke and blisful faire mayde, 
 
 Me^ flemed wrecche in this desert of galle ; 
 
 Thynk on the womman Cananee^ that sayde 
 
 That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle^ 60 
 
 That from hir lordes table been yfalle^ 
 
 And though that I^ unworthy sone^ of Eve^ 
 
 Be synful^ yet accepte my bileve. 
 
 And for that feith is deed withouten werkis^ 
 
 So for to werken yif me wit and space^ 65 
 
 That I be quit fro thennes that moost derk is. 
 
 O thou^ that art so fair and ful of grace^ 
 
 Be myn advocat in that heighe place 
 
 Theras withouten ende is songe Osanne^ 
 
 Thow Cristes mooder^ doghter deere of Anne ! 70 
 
 And of thy light my soule in prison lighte^ 
 That troubled is by the contagioun 
 Of my body^ and also by the wighte 
 Of erthely lust and fals afFeccioun^ 
 
 havene of refut^ O salvacioune 75 
 Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresses 
 
 Now helps for to my werk I wol me dresse. 
 
 Yet preye I yow that reden that I write^ 
 
 Foryeve me_, that I do no diligence 
 
 This ilke storie subtilly to endite^ 80 
 
 For bothe have I the wordes and sentence 
 
 Of hym that at the seintes reverence 
 
 The storie wroot^ and folwe hir legende. 
 
 1 pray yow^ that ye wole my werk amende. 
 
 ^cf. Glossary. 
 83 folwen. 
 
THE SECONDE NONNES TALE 371 
 
 First wolde I yow the name of seinte Cecile 85 
 
 Expowne_, as men may in hir storie see. interpretacio nom- 
 
 . . T.^. , inis Cecilie quam 
 
 It is to seye m Englissn^ nevenes lilie ponit frater Jaco- 
 
 p . bus Januensis in 
 
 Jbor pure cnaastnesse oi virginitee., legendo 
 
 Or for she whitnesse hadde of honestee 
 
 And grene of conscience^ and of good fame 90 
 
 The soote savour^ lilie was hir name. 
 
 Or Cecilie is to seye^ 'the wey to blynde/ 
 
 For she ensample was by good techynge; 
 
 Or elles^ Cecile^ as I writen fynde 
 
 Is joyned by a manere conjoynynge 95 
 
 Of *hevene' and 'lia/ and heere in figurynge 
 
 The 'hevene' is set for thoght of hoolynesse_, 
 
 And *lia' for hir lastynge bisynesse. 
 
 Cecile may eek be seyd^ in this manere^ 
 
 'Wantynge of blyndnesse^' for hir grete light 100 
 
 Of sapience^ and for hire thewes cleere 
 
 Or elles^ loo^ this maydens name bright 
 
 Of 'hevene' and leos' comth_, for which by right 
 
 Men myghte hir wel *the hevene of peple' calle^ 
 
 Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle. 105 
 
 For leos' 'peple' in Englissh is to seye_, 
 
 And right as men may in the hevene see 
 
 The Sonne and moone and sterres every weye^ 
 
 Right so men goostly^ in this mayden free^ 
 
 Syen of feith the magnanymytee^ 110 
 
 And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience^ 
 
 And sondry werkes^ brighte of excellence. 
 
 iind right so as thise philosophres write 
 
 That hevene is swift and round and eek brennynge^ 
 
 Right so was faire Cecilie the white 115 
 
 Ful swift and bisy evere in good werkynge^ 
 
 85 yoic om. 
 
372 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And round and hool in good perseverynge^ 
 And brennynge evere in charite ful brighte. 
 Now have I yow declared what she highte. 
 
 Here higynneth the Seconde Nonnes tale of the lyf of 
 Seinte Cecile, 
 
 This mayden^ bright Cecilie^ as hir lif seith^ 120 
 
 Was comen of Romayns^ and of noble kynde^ 
 
 And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith 
 
 Of Crista and bar his gospel in hir mynde. 
 
 She nevere cessed^ as I writen fynde^ 
 
 Of hir preyere_, and God to love and drede^ 125 
 
 Bisekynge hym to kepe hir maydenhede. 
 
 And whan this mayden sholde unto a man 
 
 Ywedded be^ that was ful yong of age^ 
 
 Which that ycleped was Valerian^ 
 
 And day was comen of hir marriage^ 130 
 
 She^ ful devout and humble in hir corage^ 
 
 Under hir robe of gold^ that sat ful faire^ 
 
 Hadde next hir flessh yclad hir in an haire. 
 
 And whil the orgnes maden melodic^ 
 
 To God allone in herte thus sang she: 135 
 
 ''O Lord^ my soule and eek my body gye 
 
 Unwemmed^ lest that I confounded be/' 
 
 And for his love that dyde upon a tree^ 
 
 Every seconde and thridde day she f aste^ 
 
 Ay biddynge in hir orisons ful faste. 140 
 
 The nyght cam^ and to bedde moste she gon 
 With hir housbonde^ as ofte is the manere, 
 And pryvely to hym she seyde anon^ 
 ''O sweete and wel biloved spouse deere^ 
 
 134 orgues. 137 it. 
 
THE SECONDS NONNES TALE 373 
 
 Ther is a conseil^ and ye wolde it heere^ 145 
 
 Which that right fayn I wolde unto yow seye^ 
 So that ye swere ye shul me nat biwreye/' 
 
 Valerian gan faste unto hire swere 
 
 That for no cas^ ne thyng that myghte be^ 
 
 He sholde nevere mo biwreyen here^ 150 
 
 And thanne at erst to hym thus seyde she^ 
 
 "I have an Aungel which that loveth me^ 
 
 That with greet love^ wher so I wake or sleepe^ 
 
 Is redy ay my body for to kepe. 
 
 And if that he may feelen out of drede 155 
 
 That ye me touche^ or love in vileynye^ 
 
 He right anon wol sle yow with the dede^ 
 
 And in youre yowthe thus ye sholden dye. 
 
 And if that ye in clene love me gye^ 
 
 He wol yow loven as me for youre clennesse^ l60 
 
 And shewen yow his joye and his brightnesse/' 
 
 Valerian^ corrected as God wolde^ 
 
 Answerde agayn^ ''If I shal trusten thee^ 
 
 Lat me that aungel se^ and hym biholde^ 
 
 And if that it a verray angel bee^ l65 
 
 Thanne wol I doon as thou hast prayed me; 
 
 And if thou love another man_, forsothe 
 
 Right with this swerd thanne wol I sle yow bothe/' 
 
 Cecile answerde anon right in this wise^ 
 
 "If that yow list^ the angel shul ye see^ 170 
 
 So that ye trowe in Crista and yow baptize. 
 
 Gooth forth to Via Apia/' quod shee^ 
 
 ''That fro this toun ne stant but miles three; 
 
 And to the povre folkes that ther dwelle 
 
 Sey hem right thus as that I shal yow telle. 175 
 
 155 tJiat ovi. 
 
374 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Telle hem^ that I Ceeile yow to hem sente^ 
 
 To shewen yow the goode Urban the olde^ 
 
 For secree thynges and for good entente ; 
 
 And whan that ye Seint Urban han biholde^ 
 
 Telle hym the wordes whiche that I to yow tolde, 180 
 
 And whan that he hath purged yow fro synne^ 
 
 Thanne shul ye se that angel er ye twynne." 
 
 Valerian is to the place ygon^ 
 
 And right as hym was taught by his lernynge^ 
 
 He foond this hooly olde Urban anon 185 
 
 Among the seintes buryeles lotynge. 
 
 And he anon^ withouten tariynge^ 
 
 Dide his message^ and whan that he it tolde^ 
 
 Urban for joye his handes gan up holde. 
 
 The teeris from hise eyen leet he falle. 190 
 
 ''Almyghty lord^ O Jesu Crista" quod he^ 
 
 ''Sower of chaast conseil^ hierde of us alle^ 
 
 The f ruyt of thilke seed of chastitee 
 
 That thou hast sowe in Ceeile^ taak to thee. 
 
 Lo^ lyk a bisy bee^ withouten gile^ 195 
 
 Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Ceeile ! 
 
 For thilke spouse that she took but now 
 
 Ful lyk a fiers leoun^ she sendeth heere 
 
 As meke as evere was any lomb^ to yow/' 
 
 And with that word anon ther gan appeere 200 
 
 An oold man clad in white clothes cleere^ 
 
 That hadde a book with lettre of gold in honde^ 
 
 And gan bif ore Valerian to stonde. 
 
 Valerian as deed fil doun for drede 
 
 Whan he hym saugh^ and he up hente hym tho^ 205 
 
 And on his book right thus he gan to rede^ 
 
 197 but right. 
 
THE SECONDS NONNES TALE 375 
 
 ''O lord^ o feith^ o god, withouten mo^ 
 
 Cristendom^ and fader of alle also^ 
 Aboven alle^ and over alle^ everywhere. — " 
 
 Thise wordes al with gold ywriten were. 210 
 
 Whan this was rad_, thanne seyde this olde man^ 
 
 ''Leevestow this thyng or no? sey ye or nay.^'' 
 
 "I leeve al this thyng/' quod Valerian^ 
 
 'Tor oother thyng than this^ I dar wel say. 
 
 Under the hevene no wight thynke may.'' 215 
 
 Tho vanysshed this olde man, he nyste where ; 
 
 And Pope Urban hym eristned right there. 
 
 Valerian gooth hoom, and fynt Cecilie 
 
 Withinne his chambre with an angel stonde. 
 
 This angel hadde of roses and of lilie 220 
 
 Cor ones two, the whiche he bar in honde; 
 
 And first to Cecile, as I understonde. 
 
 He yaf that oon, and after gan he take 
 
 That oother to Valerian hir make. 
 
 "With body clene and with unwemmed thoght 225 
 
 Kepeth ay wel thise corones," quod he, 
 
 ''Fro Paradys to yow have I hem broght, 
 
 Ne nevere mo ne shal they roten bee, 
 
 Ne lese hir soote savour, trusteth me, 
 
 Ne nevere wight shal seen hem with his eye 280 
 
 But he be chaast and hate vileynye. 
 
 And thow Valerian, for thow so soone 
 
 Assentedest to good conseil also, 
 
 Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy boone." 
 
 "I have a brother," quod Valerian tho, 235 
 
 "That in this world I love no man so. 
 
 1 pray yow that my brother may han grace. 
 To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place." 
 
 209 and om. 226 quod he thre. 
 
376 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The angel seyde^ ''God liketh thy requeste^ 
 
 And bothe with the palm of martirdom 240 
 
 Ye shuUen come unto his blisful feste/' 
 
 And with that word Tiburce his brother coom; 
 
 And whan that he the savour undernoom^ 
 
 Which that the roses and the lilies caste^ 
 
 Withinne his herte he gan to wondre faste^ 245 
 
 And seyde^ ''I wondre^ this tyme of the yeer^ 
 
 Whennes that soote savour cometh so 
 
 Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer. 
 
 For though I hadde hem in myne handes two^ 
 
 The savour myghte in me no depper go^ 250 
 
 The sweete smel that in myn herte I fynde 
 
 Hath chaunged me al in another kynde/' 
 
 Valerian seyde^ "Two corones han we^ 
 
 Snow-white and rose-reed that shynen cleere^ 
 
 Whiche that thyne eyen han no myght to see^ 255 
 
 And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere^ 
 
 So shaltow seen hem^ leeve brother deere, 
 
 If it so be thou wolt^ withouten slouthe^ 
 
 Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe/' 
 
 Tiburce answerde^ ''Seistow this to me? 260 
 
 In soothnesse or in dreem I herkne this ?'' 
 ''In dremes^" quod Valerian_, "han we be 
 Unto this tyme_, brother myn_, y wis ; 
 But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is/' 
 ."How woostow this/' quod Tiburce^ "in what wyse?" 265 
 Quod Valerian^ "That shal I thee devyse. 
 
 The aungel of God hath me the 4:routhe ytaught 
 
 Which thou shalt seen^ if that thou wolt reneye 
 
 The y doles and be clene^ and elles naught." 
 
 And of the myracle of thise corones tweye 270 
 
 267 the om. 
 
THE SECONDE NONNES TALE 377 
 
 Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye. 
 Solempnely this noble doctour deere 
 Commendeth it^ and seith in this manere; 
 
 The palm of martirdom for to receyve 
 
 Seinte Cecile^ fulfild of Goddes yifte^ 275 
 
 The world and eek hire chambre gan she weyve^ 
 
 Witnesse Tyburces and Valerians shrifte^ 
 
 To whiche God of his bountee wolde shifte 
 
 Corones two^ of floures wel smellynge_, 
 
 And made his angel hem the corones brynge. 280 
 
 The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above; 
 
 The world hath wist what it is worthy certeyn^ 
 
 Devocion of chastitee to love. . . . 
 
 Tho shewed hym Cecile_, al open and pleyn^ 
 
 That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn^ 285 
 
 For they been dombe and therto they been deve, 
 
 And charged hym hise ydoles for to rleve. 
 
 ''Whoso that troweth nat this^ a beest he is/' 
 
 Quod tho Tiburce^ **If that I shal nat lye/' 
 
 And she gan kisse his brest^ that herde this^ 290 
 
 And was ful glad he koude trouthe espye. 
 
 ''This day I take thee for myn allye^'' 
 
 Seyde this blisful faire mayde deere^ 
 
 And after that she seyde as ye may heere. 
 
 "Lo^ right so as the love of Crist_,'' quod she^ 295 
 
 "Made me thy brotheres wyf^ right in that wise 
 
 Anon for myn allyee heer take I thee^ 
 
 Syn that thou wolt thyne ydoles despise. 
 
 Go with thy brother now^ and thee baptise^ 
 
 And make thee clene^ so that thou mowe biholde 300 
 
 The angeles face of which thy brother tolde.'' 
 
 273 it hym. 277 Valerians Cecilies. 281 thise om. 
 
378 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Tiburce answerde and seyde^ "Brother deere, 
 
 First tel me whider I shal^ and to what man?" 
 
 "To whom?" quod he^ "com forth with right good cheere^ 
 
 I wol thee lede unto the Pope Urban." 305 
 
 "Til L^rban? brother myn Valerian/' 
 
 Quod tho Tiburce^ "woltow me thider lede ? 
 
 Me thynketh that it were a wonder dede." 
 
 "Ne menestow nat Urban^" quod he tho^ 
 
 "That is so ofte dampned to be deed^ 310 
 
 And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro^ 
 
 And dar nat ones putte forth his heed ; 
 
 Men sholde hym brennen in a fyr so reed^ 
 
 If he were founde^ or that men myghte hym spye; 
 
 And we also^ to here hym compaignye^ 315 
 
 And whil we seken thilke divinitee^ 
 
 That is yhid in hevene pryvely^ 
 
 Algate ybrend in this world shul we be !" 
 
 To whom Cecile answerde boldely^ 
 
 "Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully 320 
 
 This lyf to lese^ myn owene deere brother^ 
 
 If this were lyvynge oonly and noon oother. 
 
 But ther is bettre lif in oother place, 
 
 That nevere shal be lost, ue drede thee noght, 
 
 Which Goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace. 325 
 
 That fadres sone hath alle thyng ywroght. 
 
 And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght. 
 
 The goost, that fro the fader gan procede, 
 
 Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede. 
 
 By word and by myracle Goddes Sone, 330 
 
 Whan he was in this world, declared heere 
 That ther was oother lyf ther men may wone." 
 
 303 that I. 
 
THE SECONDE NONNES TALE 379 
 
 To whom answerde Tiburce^ "O suster deere, 
 
 Ne seydestow right now in this manere_, 
 
 Ther nys but o God^ lord in soothfastnesse^ 335 
 
 And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?" 
 
 *'That shal I telle/' quod she^ "er I go. 
 
 Right as a man hath sapiences three^ 
 
 Memorie^ engyn^ and intellect also^ 
 
 So^ in o beynge of divinitee 340 
 
 Thre persones may ther right wel bee." 
 
 Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche 
 
 Of Cristes come^ and of hise peynes teche^ 
 
 And many pointes of his passioun; 
 
 How Goddes sone in this world was withholde 34:5 
 
 To doon mankynde pleyn remissioun^ 
 
 That was ybounde in synne and cares colde ... : 
 
 Al this thyng she unto Tiburce tolde; 
 
 And after this^ Tiburce in good entente 
 
 With Valerian to Pope Urban he wente; 350 
 
 That thanked God^ and with glad herte and light 
 
 He cristned hym^ and made hym in that place 
 
 Parfit in his lernynge^ Goddes knyght. 
 
 And after this Tiburce gat swich grace 
 
 That every day he saugh in tyme and space 355 
 
 The aungel of God_, and every maner boone 
 
 That he God axed^ it was sped ful soone. 
 
 It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn 
 
 How manye wondres Jesus for hem wroghte. 
 
 But atte laste_, to tellen short and pleyn^ 360 
 
 The sergeantz of the toun of Rome hem soghte^ 
 
 And hem biforn Almache the Prefect broghte^ 
 
 Which hem opposed^ and knew al hire entente^ 
 
 And to the ymage of Juppiter hem sente^ 
 
380 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And seyde^ ''Whoso wol nat sacrifise^ 365 
 
 Swap of his heed^ this my sentence heer." 
 
 Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse^ 
 
 Oon Maximus^ that was an officer 
 
 Of the prefectes_, and his corniculer_, 
 
 Hem hente^ and whan he forth the seintes ladde^ 370 
 
 Hymself he weepe^ for pitee that he hadde. 
 
 Whan Maximus had herd the seintes loore^ 
 
 He gat hym of the tormentoures leve^ 
 
 And ladde hem to his hous withoute moore. 
 
 And with hir prechyng^ er that it were eve^ 375 
 
 They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve^ 
 
 And fro Maxime^ and fro his folk echone 
 
 The false feith^ to trowe in God allone. 
 
 Cecile cam whan it was woxen nyght^ 
 
 With preestes that hem cristned alle yfeere_, 380 
 
 And afterward_, whan day was woxen light^ 
 
 Cecile hem seyde^ with a ful stedefast cheere^ 
 
 ''Now Cristes owene knyghtes_, leeve and deere^ 
 
 Cast alle awey the werkes of derknesse 
 
 And armed yow in armure of brightnesse. 385 
 
 Ye han forsothe ydoon a greet bataille^ 
 
 Youre cours is doon^ youre feith han ye conserved^ 
 
 Gooth to the corone of lif that may nat faille. 
 
 The rightful juge which that ye han served 
 
 Shal yeve it yow as ye han it deserved/' 390 
 
 And whan this thyng was seyd as I devyse^ 
 
 Men ledde hem forth to doon the sacrefise. 
 
 But whan they weren to the place broght^ 
 
 To tellen shortly the conclusioun^ 
 
 They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght^ 395 
 
 373 tormentours. 
 
THE SECONDS NONNES TALE 381 
 
 But on hir knees they setten hem adoun 
 With humble herte and sad devoeioun^ 
 And losten bothe hir hevedes in the place. 
 Hir soules wenten to the kyng of grace. 
 
 This Maximus that saugh this thyng bityde^ 400 
 
 With pitous teeris tolde it anon-right^ 
 
 That he hir soules saugh to hevene glyde^ 
 
 With aungels ful of cleernesse and of light ; 
 
 And with this word converted many a wight. 
 
 For which Almachius dide hym so bete 405 
 
 With whippe of leed_, til he the lif gan lete. 
 
 Cecile hym took^ and buryed hym anon 
 
 By Tiburce and Valerian softely^ 
 
 Withinne hir buriyng place under the stoon^ 
 
 And after this Almachius hastily 410 
 
 Bad hise ministres fecchen openly 
 
 Cecile_, so that she myghte in his presence 
 
 Doon sacrifice^ and Juppiter encense. 
 
 But they^ converted at hir wise loore^ 
 
 Wepten ful soore^ and yaven ful credence 415 
 
 Unto hire word^ and cryden moore and moore^ 
 
 ''Crista Goddes sone^ withouten diiFerence^ 
 
 Is verray God^ this is al oure sentence^ 
 
 That hath so good a servant hym to serve 
 
 This with o voys we trowen_, thogh we sterve.'* 420 
 
 Almachius^ that herde of this doynge^ 
 
 Bad fecchen Cecile^ that he myghte hir see^ 
 
 And alderfirst^ lo^ this was his axynge: 
 
 **What maner womman artow?" tho quod he. 
 
 **I am a gentil womman born/' quod she. 425 
 
 **I axe thee/' quod he^ ''though it thee greeve^ 
 
 Of thy religioun and of thy bileeve." 
 
 418 al om. 424 tho om. 
 
382 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 "Ye han bigonne youre question folily/' 
 
 Quod she^ ''that wolden two answeres conclude 
 
 In o demande; ye axed lewedly/' 430 
 
 Almaclie answerde unto that similitude^ 
 
 ''Of whennes comth thyn answeryng so rude?" 
 
 "Of whennes?'' quod she_, whan that she was freyned, 
 
 "Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned." 
 
 Almachius seyde^ "Ne takestow noon heede 435 
 
 Of my power ?" and she answerde hym^ 
 
 "Youre myght/' quod she^ "ful litel is to dreede. 
 
 For every mortal mannes power nys 
 
 But lyke a bladdre ful of wynd^ ywys ; 
 
 For with a nedles poynt^ whan it is blowe^ 440 
 
 May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe." 
 
 "Ful wrongfully bigonne thow," quod he^ 
 
 "And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce ; 
 
 Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free 
 
 Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce 445 
 
 That every cristen wight shal han penaunce^ 
 
 But if that he his cristendom withseye — 
 
 And goon al quit^ if he wole it reneye?'' 
 
 "Yowre princes erren^ as youre nobleye dooth/' 
 
 Quod tho Cecile^ "and with a wood sentence 450 
 
 Ye make us gilty^ and it is nat sooth^ 
 
 For je, that knowen wel oure innocence. 
 
 For as muche as we doon a reverence 
 
 To Crist/ and for we here a cristen name. 
 
 Ye putte on us a cryme, and eek a blame. 455 
 
 But we that knowen thilke name so 
 For vertuous, we may it nat withseye/* 
 Almache answerde, "Chees oon of thise two. 
 Do sacrifice, or cristendom reneye, 
 
 451 it om. 
 
 I 
 
THE SECONDS NONNES TALE 383 
 
 That thou mowe now escapen by that weje." 460 
 
 At wich the hooly blisful faire mayde 
 Gan for to laughe^ and to the juge sayde^ 
 
 *'0 Juge^ confus in thy nycetee^ 
 
 Woltow that I reneye innocence^ 
 
 To make me a wikked wight/' quod shee; 465 
 
 ''L.0, he dissymuleth heere in audience_, 
 
 He stareth^ and woodeth in his advertence.'*' 
 
 To whom AlmaehiuS;, ''Unsely wrecche, 
 
 Ne woostow nat how far my myght may strecche? 
 
 Han noght oure myghty princes to me yeven 470 
 
 Ye^ bothe power and auctoritee 
 
 To maken folk to dyen or to lyven ? 
 
 Why spekestow so proudly thanne to me?'' 
 
 "I speke noght but stedfastly/' quod she^ 
 
 "Nat proudly^ for I speke as for my syde^ 475 
 
 We haten deedly thilke vice of pryde. 
 
 And if thou drede nat a sooth to heere^ 
 
 Thanne wol I shewe al openly by right 
 
 That thou hast maad a f ul gret lesyng heere^ 
 
 Thou seyst^ thy princes han thee yeven myght 480 
 
 Bothe for to sleen^ and for to quyken a wight. 
 
 Thou that ne mayst but oonly lyf bireve_, 
 
 Thou hast noon oother power^ ne no leve ! 
 
 But thou mayst seyn thy princes han thee maked 
 
 Ministre of deeth^ for if thou speke of mo, 485 
 
 Thou lyest^ for thy power is ful naked." 
 
 "Do wey thy booldnesse/' seyde Almachius tho, 
 
 "And sacrifie to oure goddes er thou go. 
 
 I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre_, 
 
 For I can suffre it as a philosophre. 490 
 
 467 and he. 
 
384 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But thilke wronges may I nat endure 
 
 That thou spekest of oure goddes heere/' quod he. 
 
 Cecile answerde^ ''O nyce creature^ 
 
 Thou seydest no word^ syn thou spak to me, 
 
 That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee, 495 
 
 And that thou were in every maner wise 
 
 A lewed officer and a veyn justise. 
 
 Ther lakketh no thyng to thyne outter eyen 
 
 That thou nart blynd, for thyng that we seen alle 
 
 That it is stoon, that men may wel espyen, 500 
 
 That ilke stoon a god thow wolt it calle. 
 
 I rede thee lat thyn hand upon it f alle, 
 
 And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it fynde, 
 
 Syn that thou seest nat with thyne eyen blynde. 
 
 It is a shame that the peple shal 505 
 
 So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye. 
 
 For communly men woot it wel overal 
 
 That myghty God is in hise hevenes hye. 
 
 And thise ymages, wel thou mayst espye. 
 
 To thee ne to hemself mowen noght profite, 510 
 
 For in effect they been nat worth a myte/' 
 
 Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she. 
 
 And he weex wrooth, and bad men sholde hir lede 
 
 Hom til hir hous, and ''in hire hous,'' quod he, 
 
 "Brenne hire right in a bath of flambes rede/' 515 
 
 And as he bad, right so was doon in dede. 
 
 For in a bath they gonne hire faste shetten. 
 
 And nyght and day greet fyre they underbetten. 
 
 The longe nyght and eek a day also 
 
 For al the fyr and eek the bathes heete 520 
 
 She sat al coold, and f eelede no wo ; 
 
 It made hir nat a drope for to sweete. 
 
 510 ne mowen. 521 feeled. 
 
THE SECONDE NONNES TALE 385 
 
 But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete^ 
 
 For he Almachius^ with a ful wikke entente^ 
 
 To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente. 525 
 
 Thre strokes in the nekke he smoot hir tho^ 
 
 The tormentour^ but for no maner chaunce 
 
 He myghte noght smyte al hir nekke atwo. 
 
 And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce 
 
 That no man sholde doon men swich penaunce 530 
 
 The ferthe strook to smyten^ softe or soore^ 
 
 This tormentour ne dorste do namoore. 
 
 But half deed^ with hir nekke ycorven there^ 
 
 He lefte hir lye^ and on his wey is went. 
 
 The cristen folk^ which that aboute hir were. 535 
 
 With sheetes han the blood ful faire yhent. 
 
 Thre dayes lyved she in this torment^ 
 
 And nevere cessed hem the f eith to teche; 
 
 That she hadde fostred_, hem she gan to preche. 
 
 And hem she yaf hir moebles^ and hir thyng^ 540 
 
 And to the Pope Urban bitook hem tho^ 
 
 And seyde_, ''I axed this at hevene kyng 
 
 To han respit thre dayes^ and namo^ 
 
 To recomende to yow er that I go 
 
 Thise soules^ lo^ and that I myghte do werche 54<5 
 
 Heere of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche/' 
 
 Seint Urban with hise deknes prively 
 
 This body fette^ and buryed it by nyghte_, 
 
 Among hise othere seintes^ honestly. 
 
 Hir hous the chirche of seinte Cecilie highte; 550 
 
 Seint Urban halwed it^ as he wel myghte_, 
 
 In which^ into this day^ in noble wyse 
 
 Men doon to Crist and to his seinte servyse. 
 
 534 is he. 
 
 Heere is ended the Seconde Nonnes tale. 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE CHANOUNS 
 YEMANNES TALE 
 
 The prologe of the Chanouns yemannes tale. 
 
 Whan ended was the lyf of seinte Cecile^ 
 
 Er we hadde riden fully fyve mile^ 555 
 
 At Boghtoun under Blee us gan atake 
 
 A man, that clothed was in clothes blake. 
 
 And undernethe he wered a whyt surplys. 
 
 His hakeney, which that was al pomely grys. 
 
 So swatte, that it wonder was to see^ 560 
 
 It semed as he had priked miles three. 
 
 The hors eek that his yeman rood upon 
 
 So swatte, that unnethe myghte it gon. 
 
 Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye, 
 
 He was of fome al flekked as a pye. 5^5 
 
 A male tweyfoold upon his croper lay. 
 
 It semed that he caried lite array. 
 
 Al light for somer rood this worthy man, 
 
 And in myn herte wondren I bigan 
 
 What that he was, til that I understood 570 
 
 How that his cloke was sowed to his hood ; 
 
 For which, whan I hadde longe avysed me, 
 
 I demed hym som Chanoun for to be. 
 
 His hat heeng at his bak doun by a laas, 
 
 For he hadde riden moore than trot or paas; 5*75 
 
 He hadde ay priked lik as he were wood. 
 
 A clote-leef he hadde under his hood 
 
 For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from heete. 
 
 But it was joye for to seen hym swete ! 
 
 His forheed dropped as a stillatorie 580 
 
 554 ended was toold was aL 558 whyt om. 562 hors hakeney. 569 to 
 wondren. 
 
THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES PROLOGUE 387 
 
 Were ful of plantayne and of paritorie. 
 
 And whan that he was come^ he gan to crye^ 
 
 *'God save/' quod he^ **this joly compaignye! 
 
 *'Faste have I priked/' quod he_, '*for youre sake. 
 
 By cause that I wolde yow atake, 585 
 
 To riden in this myrie compaignye/' 
 
 His Yeman eek was ful of curteisye, 
 
 And seyde, * 'Sires, now in the morwe tyde 
 
 Out of youre hostelrie I saugh yow ryde. 
 
 And warned heer my lord and my soverayn 590 
 
 Which that to ryden with yow is ful f ayn 
 
 For his desport; he loveth daliaunce." 
 
 **Freend, for thy warnyng God yeve thee good chaunce/' 
 
 Thanne seyde oure Hoost, ''for certein, it wolde seme 
 
 Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme. 595 
 
 He is ful jocunde also, dar I leye. 
 
 Can he oght telle a myrie tale or tweye 
 
 With which he glade may this compaignye?" 
 
 *'Who, sire, my lord? ye, ye, with-outen lye! 
 
 He kan of murthe and eek of jolitee 600 
 
 Nat but ynough, also, sire, trusteth me. 
 
 And ye hym knewen as wel as do I, 
 
 Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily 
 
 He koude werke, and that in sondry wise. 
 
 He hath take on hym many a greet emprise^ 605 
 
 Which were ful hard for any that is heere 
 
 To brynge aboute, but they of hym it leere. 
 
 As hoomly as he rit amonges yow. 
 
 If ye hym knewe, it wolde be for youre prow. 
 
 Ye wolde nat for goon his aqueyntaunce 6lO 
 
 For muchel good, I dar leye in balaunce 
 
 Al that I have in my possessioun. 
 
 He is a man of heigh discrecioun, 
 
 I warne yow wxl, he is a passyng man." 
 
 ^'Wel," quod oure Hoost, "I pray thee, tel me than, 6l5 
 
 586 this som. 591 that om. 593 good om. 602 knewe. 
 
388 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Is he a clerk^ or noon ? telle what he is ?" 
 
 **Nay^ he is gretter than a clerk^ ywis/' 
 
 Seyde this Yeman^ *'and in wordes fewe^ 
 
 Hoost^ of his craft somwhat I wol yow shewe. 
 
 I seye my lord kan swich subtilitee — 620 
 
 But al his craft ye may nat wite for me_, 
 
 And somwhat helpe I yet to his wirkyng — 
 
 That al this ground on which we been ridyng 
 
 Til that we come to Caunterbury toun_, 
 
 He koude al clene turne it up so doun 625 
 
 And pave it al of silver and of gold/' 
 
 And whan this Yeman hadde this tale ytold 
 
 Unto oure Hoost^ he seyde^ **Benedicitee^ 
 
 This thyng is wonder merveillous to me_, 
 
 Syn that thy lord is of so heigh prudence^ 630 
 
 By cause of which men sholde hym reverence^ 
 
 That of his worship rekketh he so lite. 
 
 His overslope nys nat worth a myte 
 
 As in effect to hym^ so moot I go. 
 
 It is al baudy and to-tore also^ 6S5 
 
 Why is thy lord so sluttissh^ I the preye^ 
 
 And is of power bettre clooth to beye^ 
 
 If that his dede accorde with thy speche.^ 
 
 Telle me that^ and that I thee biseche.'' 
 
 "Why/' quod this Yeman^ 'Vherto axe ye me.^ 640 
 
 God help me so^ for he shal nevere thee ! 
 
 But I wol nat avowe that I seye^ 
 
 And therfore keepe it secree^ I yow preye; 
 
 He is to wys/in feith^ as I bileeve ! 
 
 That that is overdoon^ it wol nat preeve 64<5 
 
 Aright; as clerkes seyn^ it is a vice. 
 
 Wherf ore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce ; 
 
 For whan a man hath over-greet a wit^ 
 
 Ful oft hym happeth to mysusen it. 
 
 So dooth my lord^ and that me greveth soore. 650 
 
 God it amende_, I kan sey yow namoore.'' 
 
THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES PROLOGUE 389 
 
 ''Therof no fors^ good Yeman/' quod oure Hoost^ 
 
 **Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost^ 
 
 Telle how he dooth^ I pray thee hertely^ 
 
 Syn that he is so crafty and so sly. 655 
 
 Where dwelle ye^ if it to telle be ?" 
 
 ''In the suburbes of a toun/' quod he^ 
 
 ''Lurkynge in hemes and in lanes blynde^ 
 
 Where as thise robbours and thise theves by kynde 
 
 Holden hir pryvee f ereful residence^ 660 
 
 As they that dar nat shewen hir presence. 
 
 So faren we if I shal seye the sothe." 
 
 "Now^" quod oure Hoost^ ''yit lat me talke to the^ 
 
 Why artow so discoloured of thy face.^'' 
 
 "Peter/' quod he^ ''God yeve it harde grace^ 665 
 
 I am so used in the fyr to blowe^ 
 
 That it hath chaunged my colour^ I trowe. 
 
 I am nat wont in no mirour to prie^ 
 
 But swynke soore^ and lerne multiplie. 
 
 We blondren evere^ and pouren in the fir^ 670 
 
 And_5 for al that^ we faille of oure desir. 
 
 For evere we lakke of oure conciusioun; 
 
 To muchel folk we doon illusioun^ 
 
 And borwe gold^ be it a pound or two^ 
 
 Or ten^ or twelve^ or manye sommes mo^ 675 
 
 And make hem wenen at the leeste weye 
 
 That of a pound we koude make tweye. 
 
 Yet is it fals^ but ay we han good hope 
 
 It for to doon^ and after it we grope. 
 
 But that science is so fer us biforn_, 680 
 
 We mowen nat^ although we hadden sworn^ 
 
 It over-take^ it slit awey so f aste. 
 
 It wole us maken beggers atte laste.'' 
 
 Whil this yeman was thus in his talkyng. 
 
 This Chanoun drough hym neer^ and herde al thyng 685 
 
 Which this Yeman spak^ for suspecioun 
 
 663 talke telle: pit om. 
 
390 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Of mennes speche evere hadde this Chanoun. 
 
 For Catoun seith_, that he that gilty is 
 
 Demeth alle thyng be spoke of hym^ ywis. 
 
 That was the cause he gan so ny hym drawe . 690 
 
 To his yeman^ to herknen al his sawe. 
 
 And thus he seyde unto his yeman tho^ 
 
 "Hoold thou thy pees^ and spek no wordes mo^ 
 
 For if thou do^ thou shalt it deere abye. 
 
 Thou sclaundrest me heere in this compaignye, 695 
 
 And eek diseoverest that thou sholdest hyde." 
 
 *'Ye^" quod our Hoost^ '^telle on^ what so bityde^ 
 
 Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte." 
 
 "In feith/' quod he^ "namoore I do but lyte/' 
 
 And whan this Chanoun saugh it wolde nat bee^ 700 
 
 But his Yeman wolde telle his pryvetee^ 
 
 He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame. 
 
 "A!" quod the Yeman^ *'heere shal arise game. 
 
 Al that I kan^ anon now wol I telle^ 
 
 Syn he is goon^ the foule feend hym quelle! 705 
 
 For nevere heer after wol I with hym meete^ 
 
 For peny ne for pound^ I yow biheete. 
 
 He that me broghte first unto that game, 
 
 Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame. 
 
 For it is ernest to me, by my feith, 710 
 
 That feele I wel, what so any man seith. 
 
 And yet, for al my smert and al my grief. 
 
 For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief, 
 
 I koude nevere leve it in no wise. 
 
 Now wolde God, my wit myghte suffise 715 
 
 To tellen al that longeth to that art. 
 
 And nathelees yow wol I tellen part, 
 
 Syn that my lord is goon, I wol nat spare, 
 
 Swich thyng as that I knowe^ I wol declare. 
 
 Heere endeth the prologe of the Chanouns yemannes tale, 
 
 706 after om. 711 so that. 
 
THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE 391 
 
 THE TALE. 
 
 [After a lengthy account of the practice of alchemy by 
 his master_, the yeoman tells how a priest is beguiled of his 
 money by a certain canon through trickery of a hollow rod.] 
 
GROUP H. 
 
 PROLOGUE TO THE MAUNCIPLES 
 
 TALE 
 
 Heere folweth the Prologe of the Maunciples tale, 
 
 Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel toun^ 
 Which that yeleped is Bobbe-up-and-doun 
 Under the Blee^ in Caunterbury weye ? 
 Ther gan pure Hooste for to jape and pleye^ 
 And seyde^ ''Sires^ what^ Dun is in the Myre ! 5 
 
 Is ther no man for preyere ne for hyre^ 
 That wole awake oure f elawe al bihynde ? 
 A theef myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde. 
 See how he nappeth^ see how for Cokkes bones^ 
 That he wol falle fro his hors atones. ' 10 
 
 Is that a Cook of London^ with meschaunce ? 
 Do hym come forth_, he knoweth his penaunce^ 
 For he shal telle a tale^ by my f ey^ 
 Although it be nat worth a hotel hey. 
 
 Awake^ thou Cook/' quod he^ ''God yeve thee sorwe^ 15 
 
 What eyleth thee^ to slepe by the morwe ? 
 Hastow had fleen al nyght^ or artow dronke.^ 
 Or hastow with som quene al nyght yswonke 
 So that thow mayst nat holden up thyn heed.^" 
 This Cook that was ful pale^ and no thyng reed^ 20 
 
 Seyde to oure Hoost^ ''So God my soule blesse^ 
 As ther is falle on me swich hevynesse^ 
 Noot I nat why^ that me were levere slepe 
 Than the beste galon wyn in Chepe.'' 
 
 "Wei/' quod the Maunciple^ "if it may doon ese 25 
 
 To thee^ Sire Cook^ and to no wight displese 
 4 boost. 14 boteL 
 
 I 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE MAUNCIPLES TALE 393 
 
 Which that heere rideth in this compaignye^ 
 
 And that oure Hoost wole of his curteisye^ 
 
 I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale^ 
 
 For^ in good feith^ thy visage is ful pale. 30 
 
 Thyne eyen daswen eek^ as that me thynketh^ 
 
 And wel I woot^ thy breeth ful soure stynketh. 
 
 That sheweth wel thou art nat wel disposed_, 
 
 Of me_, certeyn^ thou shalt nat been yglosed. 
 
 See how he ganeth^ lo_, this dronken wight ! 35 
 
 As though he wolde swolwe us anonright. 
 
 Hoold cloos thy mouthy man^ by thy fader kyn^ 
 
 The devel of helle sette his foot therin. 
 
 Thy cursed breeth infecte wole us alle_, 
 
 Fy^ stynkyng swyn ! f y, f oule moote thou f alle ! 40 
 
 A^ taketh heede^ sires^ of this lusty man ! 
 
 Xow_, sweete sire^ wol ye justen atte fan? 
 
 Therto me thynketh ye been wel yshape^ 
 
 I trowe that ye dronken han wyn-ape^ 
 
 And that is^ whan men pleyen with a straw/' 45 
 
 And with this speche the Cook wax wrooth and wraw, 
 
 And on the Manciple he gan nodde faste^ 
 
 For lakke of speche^ and doun the hors hym caste, 
 
 Where as he lay til that men up hym took; 
 
 This was a fair chyvachee of a Cook ! 50 
 
 AUas^ he nadde holde hym by his ladel ! 
 
 And er that he agayn were in his sadel 
 
 Ther was greet showvyng bothe to and f ro_, 
 
 To lifte hym up^ and muchel care and wo^ 
 
 So unweeldy was this sory palled goost. 55 
 
 And to the Manciple thanne spak oure hoost, 
 
 ''By cause drynke hath dominacioun, 
 
 Upon this man, by my savacioun, 
 
 I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale. 
 
 For were it wyn, or oold or moysty ale, 60 
 
 That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose, 
 
 29 as om. 59 lewedly he. 
 
394 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And fneseth faste^ and eek he hath the pose. 
 
 He hath also to do moore than ynough 
 
 To kepen hym and his capul out of sloughy 
 
 And if he falle from his capul eftsoone^ 65 
 
 Thanne shal we alle have ynogh to doone 
 
 In liftyng up his hevy dronken cors. 
 
 Telle on thy tale^ of hym make I no f ors ; 
 
 But yet^ Manciple^ in f eith thou art to nyce^ 
 
 Thus openljT^ repreve hym of his vice. 70 
 
 Another day he wole peraventure 
 
 Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure. 
 
 I meene he speke wole of smale thynges^ 
 
 As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges^ 
 
 That were nat honeste^ if it cam to preef.'' 75 
 
 ''No^'' quod the Manciple^ ''that were a greet mescheef, 
 
 So myghte he lightly brynge me in the snare ; 
 
 Yet hadde I levere payen for the mare^ 
 
 Which that he rit on^ than he sholde with me stryve 
 
 I wol nat wratthen hym^ al so moot I thryve ; 80 
 
 That that I speke_, I seyde it in my bourde. 
 
 And wite ye what^ I have heer in a gourde 
 
 A draghte of wyn^ ye^ of a ripe grape^ 
 
 And right anon ye shul seen a good jape. 
 
 This Cook shal drynke therof if that I may^ 85 
 
 Up peyne of deeth^ he wol nat seye me nay." 
 
 And certeynly^ to tellen as it was^ 
 
 Of this vessel the Cook drank faste; allas^ 
 
 What neded hym ? he drank ynough bif orn ! 
 
 And whan he hadde pouped in this horn^ 90 
 
 To the Manciple he took the gourde agayn^ 
 
 And of that drynke the Cook was wonder fayn^ 
 
 And thanked hym in swich wise as he koude. 
 
 Thanne gan oure Hoost to laughen wonder loude^ 
 
 And seyde^ ''I se wel it is necessarie 95 
 
 Where that we goon^ that drynke we with us carie. 
 
 For that wol turne rancour and disese 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE MAUNCIPLES TALE 395 
 
 Tacord and love and many a wrong apese. 
 
 O thou Bacus^ yblessed be thy name_, 
 
 That so kanst turnen ernest into game! 100 
 
 Worship and thank be to thy deitee ! 
 
 Of that mateere ye gete namoore of me^ 
 
 Telle on thy tale^ Manciple^ I thee preye." 
 
 "Wel^ sire/' quod he^ ''now herkneth what I seye.'* 
 
 99 thou 0711. 
 
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE 
 
 Heere higynneth the Maunciples tale of the Crowe. 
 
 Whan Phebus dwelled heere in this world adoun^ 105 
 
 As olde bookes maken mencioun^ 
 
 He was the mooste lusty bachiler 
 
 In al this world_, and eek the beste archer. 
 
 He slow Phitoun the serpent^ as he lay 
 
 Slepynge agayn the sonne upon a day; 110 
 
 And many another noble worthy dede 
 
 He with his bowe wroghte^ as men may rede. 
 
 Pleyen he koude on every mynstralcie^ 
 
 And syngen^ that it was a melodie 
 
 To heeren of his cleere voys the soun. 115 
 
 Certes^ the kyng of Thebes^ Amphioun^ 
 
 That with his syngyng walled that citee^ 
 
 Koude nevere syngen half so wel as hee. 
 
 Therto he was the semelieste man^ 
 
 That is or was sith that the world bigan. 120 
 
 What nedeth it hise f etures to discryve ? 
 
 For in this world was noon so fair on lyve. 
 
 He was therwith fulfild of gentillesse^ 
 
 Of honour^ and of parfit worthynesse. 
 
 This Phebus that was flour of bachilrie^ 125 
 
 As wel in fredom as in ehivalrie^, 
 For his desport^ in signe eek of victorie 
 Of Phitoun^ so as telleth us the storie^ 
 Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe. 
 
 Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a crowe^ ISO 
 
 Which in a cage he f ostred many a day^ 
 And taughte it speken as men teche a jay. 
 Whit was this crowe^ as is a snow-whit swan. 
 And countrefete the speche of every man 
 
 132 speke. 133 is om. 
 
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE ' 397 
 
 He koude^ whan he sholde telle a tale. 135 
 
 Therwith in al this world no nyghtyngale 
 
 Ne koude^ by an hondred thousand deel^ 
 
 Syngen so wonder myrily and weel. 
 
 Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a wyf 
 
 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf ; 140 
 
 And nyght and day dide evere his diligence 
 
 Hir for to plese and doon hire reverence. 
 
 Save oonly^ if the sothe that I shal sayn^ 
 
 Jalous he was^ and wolde have kept hire fayn_, 
 
 For hym were looth byjaped for to be — 145 
 
 And so is every wight in swich degree ; 
 
 But all in ydel^ for it availleth noght. 
 
 A good wyf that is clene of werk and thoght 
 
 Sholde nat been kept in noon awayt^ certayn. 
 
 And trewely the labour is in vayn 150 
 
 To kepe a shrewe_, for it wol nat bee. 
 
 This holde I for a verray nycetee^ 
 
 To spille labour for to kepe wyves^ ^ 
 
 Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves. 
 
 But now to purpos_, as I first bigan: 155 
 
 This worthy Phebus dooth al that he kan 
 To plesen hir^ wenynge that swich plesaunce_, 
 And for his manhede and his governaunce^ 
 That no man sholde han put hym from hire grace. 
 But God it woot_, ther may no man embrace l60 
 
 As to destreyne a thyng^ which that nature 
 Hath natureelly set in a creature. 
 Taak any bryd_, and put it in a cage_, 
 And do al thyn entente and thy corage 
 
 To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke^ l65 
 
 Of alle deyntees that thou kanst bithynke; 
 And keepe it al so clenly as thou may^ 
 Al though his cage of gold be never so gay^ 
 Yet hath this brid^ by twenty thousand foold^ 
 
 143 if om. 
 
398 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Levere in a forest that is rude and coold 170 
 
 Goon ete wormes^ and swich wrecehednesse ; 
 
 For evere this brid wol doon his bisynesse 
 
 To escape out of his cage^ whan he may. 
 
 His libertee this brid desireth ay. 
 
 Lat take a cat_, and fostre hym wel with milk^ 175 
 
 And tendre flessh_, and make his couche of silk^ 
 
 And lat hym seen a mous go by the wal^ 
 
 Anon he weyveth milk and flessh and al^ 
 
 And every deyntee that is in that hous^ 
 
 Swich appetit he hath to ete a mous. 180 
 
 Lo_, heere hath lust his dominacioun_, 
 
 And appetit fleemeth discrecioun. 
 
 A she wolf hath also a vileyns kynde^ 
 
 The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde. 
 
 Or leest of reputacioun wol she take^ 185 
 
 In tyme whan hir lust to han a make. 
 
 AUe thise ensamples speke I by thise men^ 
 
 That been untrewe^ and no thyng by wommen^ 
 
 For men han evere a likerous appetit 
 
 On lower thyng to parfourne hire delit^ 190 
 
 Than on hire wyves^ be they never so faire^ 
 
 Ne never so trewe^ ne so debonaire. 
 
 Flessh is so newefangel_, with meschaunce^ 
 
 That we ne konne in no thyng han plesaunce 
 
 That sowneth into vertu any while. 195 
 
 This Phebus^ which that thoghte upon no gile^ 
 Deceyved was^ for al his jolitee; 
 For under hym another hadde shee^ 
 A man of litel reputacioun. 
 
 Nat worth to Phebus in comparisoun. 200 
 
 The moore harm is^ it happeth ofte so^ 
 Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo. 
 And so bifel^ whan Phebus was absent^ 
 His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent; 
 
 173 whan if. 185 that wol. 
 
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE 399 
 
 Hir lemman? certes_, this is a knavyssh speche, 205 
 
 Foryeveth it me^ and that I yow biseche. 
 
 The wise Plato seith^ as ye may rede^ 
 
 ''The word moot nede accorde with the dede." 
 
 If men shal telle proprely a thyng^ 
 
 The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng. 210 
 
 I am a boys tons man^ right thus seye I. 
 
 Ther nys no difference trewely 
 
 Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree — 
 
 If of hire body dishoneste she bee — 
 
 And a povre wenche^ oother than this^ 215 
 
 If it so be they werke bothe auiySy 
 
 But that the gentile in hire estaat above^ 
 
 She shal be cleped his lady as in love^ 
 
 And for that oother is a povre womman^ 
 
 She shal be cleped his wenche^ or his lemman ; 220 
 
 And God it woot^ myn owene deere brother^ 
 
 Men leyn that oon as lowe as lith that oother. 
 
 Right so bitwixe a titlelees tiraun^t 
 And an outlawe^ or a theef erraunt_, 
 
 The same I seye^ ther is no diiference. 225 
 
 To Alisaundre was toold this sentence_, 
 That for the tirant is of gretter myght_, 
 By force of meynee for to sleen dounright^ 
 And brennen hous and hoom^ and make al playn^ 
 Lo^ therfore is he cleped a capitayn ! 230 
 
 And for the outlawe hath but smal meynee^ 
 And may nat doon so greet an harm as he^ 
 Ne brynge a contree to so greet mescheef^ 
 Men clepen hym an outlawe or a theef. 
 
 But for I am a man noght textueel_, 235 
 
 I wol noght telle of textes never a deel; 
 I wol go to my tale as I bigan. 
 
 Whan Phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman^ 
 Anon they wroghten al hir lust volage. 
 The white crowe that heeng ay in the cage 240 
 
400 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Biheeld hire werk^ and seyde never a word^ 
 
 And whan that hoom was come Phebus the lord^ 
 
 This crowe sang^ *'Cokkow ! Cokkow ! Cokkow V 
 
 ''What^ bryd!'' quod Phebus^ 'Vhat song syngestow? 
 
 Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge 245 
 
 That to myn herte it was a rejoysynge 
 
 To heere thy voys ? allas^ what song is this ?'' 
 
 "By God^'' quod he^ ''I synge nat amys. 
 
 Phebus/' quod he^ "for al thy worthynesse_, 
 
 For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse^ 250 
 
 For al thy song and al thy mynstralcye^ 
 
 For al thy waityng^ blered is thyn eye 
 
 With oon of litel reputacioun 
 
 Noght worth to thee_, as in coraparisoun 
 
 The montance of a gnat^ so moote I thryve^ 255 
 
 For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh hym swyve." 
 
 What wol 3^e moore ? the crowe anon hym tolde, 
 By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde^ 
 How that his wyf han doon hire lecherye^ 
 Hym to greet shame and to greet vileynye^ 260 
 
 And tolde hym ofte^ he saugh it with hise eyen. 
 This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen_, • 
 
 And thoughte his sorweful herte brast atwo^ 
 His bowe he bente and sette ther inne a flo^ 
 And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn. 265 
 
 This is thefFect^ ther is namoore to sayn^ 
 For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcie^ 
 Bothe harpe^ and lute^ and gy terne^ and sautrie^ 
 And eek he brak hise arwes and his bowe^ 
 And after that thus spak he to the crowe. 270 
 
 "Traitour/' quod he^ "with tonge of scorpioun^ 
 Thou hast me broght to my confusioun^ 
 AUas^ that I was wroght ! why nere I deed ? 
 O deere wyf^ O gemme of lustiheed^ 
 That were to me so sad and eek so trewe^ 275 
 
 251 al oni. 254 as orti. 
 
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE 401 
 
 Now listow deed with face pale of hewe^ 
 
 Ful giltelees^ that dorste I swere^ ywys. 
 
 O rakel hand^ to doon so foule amys ! 
 
 O trouble wit^ O ire recchelees ! 
 
 That unavysed smyteth gilteles. , 280 
 
 O wantrust^ ful of fals suspecioun^ 
 
 Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun? 
 
 O^ every man^ be war of rakelnesse^ 
 
 Ne trowe no thyng withouten strong witnesse. 
 
 Smyt nat to soone^ er that ye witen why^ 285 
 
 And beeth avysed wel and sobrely^ 
 
 Er ye doon any execucioun 
 
 Upon youre ire for suspecioun. 
 
 Allas^ a thousand folk hath rakel ire 
 
 Fully f ordoon^ and broght hem in the mire ! 290 
 
 Allas^ for sorwe I wol myselven slee V 
 
 And to the crowe^ *'0 false theef^'' seyde he^ 
 
 **I wol thee quite anon thy false tale; 
 
 Thou songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale^ 
 
 Now shaltow_, false theef_, thy song forgon^ 295 
 
 And eek thy white f etheres everichon. 
 
 Ne nevere in al thy lif ne shaltou speke^ 
 
 Thus shal men on a traytour been awreke. 
 
 Thou and thyn ofspryng evere shul be blake^ 
 
 Ne nevere sweete noyse shul ye make^ 300 
 
 But evere crie agayn tempest and rayn_, 
 
 In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn/' 
 
 And to the crowe he stirte^ and that anon^ 
 
 And pulled hise white fetheres everychon^ 
 
 And made hym blak^ and refte hym al his song^ 305 
 
 And eek his speche^ and out at dore hym slong^ 
 
 Un-to the devel — which I hym bitake ! — 
 
 And for this caas been alle Crowes blake. 
 
 Lordynges^ by this ensample I yow preye^ 
 Beth war and taketh kepe what I seye: 310 
 
 277 giltlees. 280 giltles. 300 noys. 
 
402 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ne telleth nevere no man in youre lyf 
 
 How that another man hath dight his wyf ; 
 
 He wol yow haten mortally^ certeyn. 
 
 Daun Salomon^ as wise clerkes seyn^ 
 
 Techeth a man to kepen his tonge weel. 315 
 
 But as I seyde^ I am noght textueel ; 
 
 But nathelees_, thus taughte me my dame; 
 
 "My sone^ thenk on the crowe^ on Goddes name. 
 
 My sone_j keepe wel thy tonge and keepe thy f reend^ 
 
 A wikked tonge is worse than a feend. 320 
 
 My sone^ from a feend men may hem blesse. 
 
 My sone^ God of his endelees goodnesse 
 
 Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke^ 
 
 For man sholde hym avyse what he speeke. 
 
 My sone^ ful ofte for to muche speche 325 
 
 Hath many a men been spilt^ as clerkes teche. 
 
 But for litel speche^ avysely^ 
 
 Is no man shent^ to speke generally. 
 
 My sone^ thy tonge sholdestow restreyne 
 
 At alle tymes^ but whan thou doost thy peyne 330 
 
 To speke of God in honour and in preyere_, 
 
 The firste vertu sone^ if thou wolt leere^ 
 
 Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge. 
 
 Thus lerne children_, whan that they been yonge^ 
 
 My sone^ of muchel spekyng yvele avysed^ SS5 
 
 Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynough suffised^ 
 
 Comth muchel harm — thus was me toold and taught. — 
 
 In muchel speche synne wanteth naught. 
 
 Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serveth ? 
 
 Right as a swerd forkutteth and forkerveth 340 
 
 An arm atwo^ my deere sone_, right so 
 
 A tonge kutteth freendshipe al atwo. 
 
 A j angler is to God abhomynable; 
 
 Reed Salomon^ so wys and honurable^ 
 
 Reed David in hise psalmes^ reed Senekke ! 34*5 
 
 331 in om. 
 
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE 403 
 
 My sone^ spek nat^ but with thyn heed thou bekke; 
 
 Dissimule as thou were deef^ if that thou heere 
 
 A j angler speke of perilous mateere. 
 
 The Flemyng seith^ and lerne it if thee leste^ 
 
 That litel janglyng causeth muchel reste. 350 
 
 My sone^ if thou no wikked word hast seyd, 
 
 Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd ; 
 
 But he that hath mysseyd^ I dar wel sayn^ 
 
 He may by no wey clepe his word agayn. 
 
 Thyng that is seyd is seyd^ and forth it gooth; S55 
 
 Though hym repente^ or be hym leef or looth^ 
 
 He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd 
 
 A tale, of which he is now yvele apayd. 
 
 My sone^ be war^ and be noon auctour newe 
 
 Of tidjmges^ wheither they been false or trewe, 360 
 
 Wherso thou come^ amonges hye or lowe^ 
 
 Kepe wel thy tonge^ and thenk upon the Crowe/' 
 
 Heere is ended the Maunciples tale of the Crowe. 
 
GROUP I. 
 
 PROLOGUE TO THE PERSOUNS 
 TALE 
 
 Heere foliveth the Prologe of the Persouns tale. 
 
 By that the Maunciple hadde his tale al ended^ 
 
 The Sonne fro the south lyne was descended 
 
 So lowe^ that he nas nat to my sighte 
 
 Degrees nyne and twenty as in highte. 
 
 Ten of the elokke it was tho_, as I gesse^ 5 
 
 For ellevene foot_, or litel moore or lesse^ 
 
 My shadwe was at thilke tyme as there^ 
 
 Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted were 
 
 In sixe feet equal of proporcioun. 
 
 Therwith the moones exaltacioun^ 10 
 
 I meene Libra^ alwey gan ascende_, 
 
 As we were entryng at a thropes ende. 
 
 For which our Hoost^ as he was wont to gje^ 
 
 As in this caas^ oure joly compaignye, 
 
 Seyde in this wise^ "Lordynges everichoon^ 15 
 
 Now lakketh us no tales mo than oon^ 
 
 Fulfilled is my sentence and my decree ; 
 
 I trowe that we han herd of ech degree. 
 
 Almoost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce^ 
 
 I pray to God^ so yeve hym right good chaunce ^ 20 
 
 That telleth this tale to us lustily ! 
 
 ''Sire preest_,'' quod he^ *'artow a vicary^ 
 
 Or arte a person? sey sooth by thy fey. 
 
 Be what thou be_, ne breke thou nat oure pley; 
 
 For every man save thou hath toold his tale. 25 
 
 Unbokele and shewe us what is in thy male^ 
 
 For trewely^ me thynketh by thy cheer e 
 
PROLOGUE TO THE PERSOUNS TALE 405 
 
 Thou sholdest knytte up wel a greet mateere. 
 
 Telle us a fable anon^ for Cokkes bones/' 
 
 This Persoun him answerede^ al atones^ 30 
 
 **Thou getest fable noon ytoold for me_, 
 
 For Paul^ that writeth unto Thymothee^ 
 
 Repreveth hem that weyveth soothfastnesse_, 
 
 And tellen fables^ and swich wrecchednesse. 
 
 Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest 35 
 
 Whan I may sowen whet e_, if that me lest? 
 
 For which I seye^ if that yow list to heere^ 
 
 Moralitee and vertuous mateere; 
 
 And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience^ 
 
 I wol ful fayn^ at Cristes reverence^ 40 
 
 Do yow plesaunce leefful^ as I kan. 
 
 But trusteth wel I am a southren man^ 
 
 I kan nat geeste Rum^ Ram^ Ruf by lettre_, 
 
 Ne^ God woot^ rym holde I but litel bettre^ 
 
 And therfore if yow list^ I wol nat giose^ 45 
 
 I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose' 
 
 To knytte up al this f eeste^ and make an ende^ 
 
 And Jesu^ for his grace^ wit me sende 
 
 To shewe yow the wey^ in this viage. 
 
 Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrymage 50 
 
 That highte Jerusalem celestial. 
 
 And if ye vouchesauf^ anon I shal 
 
 Bigynne upon my tale^ for which I preye_, 
 
 Telle youre avys^ I kan no bettre seye. 
 
 But nathelees_, this meditacioun 55 
 
 I putte it ay under correccioun 
 
 Of clerkes_, for I am nat textueel ; 
 
 I take but sentence^ trusteth weel. 
 
 Therfore I make a protestacioun 
 
 That I wol stonde to correccioun." 60 
 
 Upon this word we han assented soone; 
 For^ as us semed^ it was for to doone 
 
 30 him om.; answerde. 4^ ful om. 
 
406 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 To enden in som vertuous sentence^ 
 
 And for to yeve hym space and audience ; 
 
 And bede oure Hoost he sliolde to hym seye 65 
 
 That alle we to telle his tale hym preye. 
 
 Oure Hoost hadde the wordes for us alle: 
 
 ''Sire preest/' quod he^ ''now faire yow bifalle^ 
 
 Sey what yow list^ and we wol gladly heere." 
 
 And with that word he seyde in this manere^ 70 
 
 "Telleth/' quod he^ "youre meditacioun ; 
 
 But hasteth yow^ the sonne wole adoun. 
 
 Beth fructuous^ and that in litel space^ 
 
 And to do wel God sende yow his grace/' 
 
 [Then follows the Persones Tale^ concerning penitence^ 
 vices and virtues^ and holy living. At the end appears the 
 retractation^ so-called_, of Chaucer.] 
 
Here tahetJi the makere of this book his leve. 
 
 Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel 
 tretys or rede^ that if ther be any thyng in it that 
 liketh hem_, that therof they thanken oure Lord Jesu 
 Crista of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse. 
 And if ther be any thyng that displese hem^ I preye 1085 
 hem also that they arrette it to the defaute of myn 
 Tinkonnynge^ and nat to my wyl^ that wolde ful fayn 
 have seyd bettre^ if I hadde had konnyn'ge. For oure 
 Boke seith^ *al that is writen^ is writen for oure 
 doctrine/* and that is myn entente. Wherfore^ I 1090 
 biseke yow mekely for the mercy of God_, that ye 
 preye for me that Crist have mercy on me^ and 
 f oryeve me my giltes ; and namely^ of my translacions 
 and enditynges of worldly vanitees^ the whiche I 
 revoke in my retracciouns ; ' 1095 
 
 As is the book of Troilus^ The book also of Fame^ 
 The book of the .xxv. Ladies^ The book of the 
 Duchesse^ The book of seint Valentynes day of the 
 Parlement of Briddes^ The tales of Caunterbury 
 (thilke that sownen into synne)^ The book of the 1100 
 Leoun^ and many another book^ if they were in my 
 remembrance ; and many a song and many a lec- 
 cherous lay^ that Crist for his grete mercy foryeve 
 me the synne. But of the translacion of Boece de 
 Consolacione^ and othere bookes of Legendes of 1105 
 Seintes and omelies^ and moralitee^ and devocioun; 
 that thanke I oure Lord Jesu Crista and his blisful 
 mooder_, and alle the seintes of hevene; bisekynge 
 hem that they from hennes forth unto my lyves ende 
 sende me grace to biwayle my giltes_, and to studie 1110 
 to the salvacioun of my soule; and graunte me grace 
 of verray penitence^ confessioun^ and satisfaccioun to 
 
408 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 doon in this present lyf^ thurgh the benigne grace of 
 Hym^ that is kyng of kynges^ and preest over alle 
 preestes^ that boghte us with the precious blood of 1115 
 his herte^ so that I may been oon of hem at the day 
 of doome that shulle be saved. Qui cum patre. 
 S^cetera, 
 
 Heere is ended the hook of the tales of Caunterhury com- 
 piled hy Geffrey Chaucer of whos soule Jesu Crist have 
 mercy. Amen. 
 
THE COMPLEYNT TO PITE 
 
 Pite_, that I have sought so yore agoo 
 
 With herte soore^ and ful of besy peyne^ 
 
 That in this worlde was never wight so woo 
 
 Withoute dethe ; and yf I shal not f eyne^ 
 
 My purpose was to Pite to compleyne^ 5 
 
 Upon the crueltee and tirannye 
 
 Of Love^ that for my trouthe doth me dye. 
 
 And when that I^ be lengthe of certeyne yeres^ 
 
 Had evere in oon a tyme soughte to speke^ 
 
 To Pitee ran I^ al bespreynte with teres^ 10 
 
 To prayen hir on Cruelte me awreke. 
 
 But er I myght with any worde out breke^ 
 
 Or tellen any of my peynes smerte^ 
 
 I fonde hir dede^ and buried in an herte. 
 
 Adoune I fel^ when that I saugh the herse^ 15 
 
 Dede as a stone^ while that the swogh me laste; 
 
 But up I roose^ with coloure ful dyverse^ 
 
 And petously on hir myn eyen caste^ 
 
 And ner the corps I gan to presen faste^ 
 
 And for the soule I shope me for to prey ; 20 
 
 I nas but lorne^ ther was no more to sey. 
 
 Thus am I slayne^ sith that Pite is dede_, 
 
 Alias that day^ that ever hyt shuld falle ! 
 
 What maner man dar now hold up his hede } 
 
 To whom shal eny sorwful herte calle.^ 25 
 
 Now Cruelte hath caste to slee us alle 
 
 In ydel hope^ folke redelesse of peyne^ 
 
 Syth she is dede^ to whom shul we compleyne } 
 
 2 hert. 15 that om. 16 a om. 18 I caste. 19 to om. 21 nas was 
 25 shal now. 
 
410 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But yet encreseth me this wonder newe^ 
 
 That no wight woot that she is dede^ but I. 30 
 
 So mony men as in her tyme hir knewe ; 
 
 And yet she dyed not so sodeynly_, ^ 
 
 For I have sought hir ever ful besely^ 
 
 Sith firste I hadde witte or mannes mynde^ 
 
 But she was dede^ er that I koude hir fynde. 35 
 
 Aboute hir herse there stoden lustely^ 
 
 Withoute any woo^ as thoughte me^ 
 
 Bounte parfyt^ wel armed and riehely^ 
 
 And fresshe Beaute_, Lust and Jolyte_, 
 
 Assured Maner_, Youthe and Honeste^ 40 
 
 Wisdome^ Estaat_, Drede and Governaunce^ 
 
 Confedred both by bonde and alliaunce. 
 
 A compleynt had I writen in myn honde^ 
 
 For to have put to Pittee as a bille ; 
 
 But when I al this companye ther fonde 45 
 
 That rather wolden al my cause spille 
 
 Then do me helpe^ I helde my pleynte stille^ 
 
 For to that folke^ with-outen any fayle^ 
 
 Withoute Pitee ther may no bille availe. 
 
 Then leve I al thise vertues^ save Pite^ 50 
 
 Kepynge the corps^ as ye have herde me seyn^ 
 
 Cofedered alle by bonde of Cruelte^ 
 
 And ben assented when I shal be sleyn. 
 
 And I have put my complaynt up ageyn^ 
 
 For to my foes my bille I dar not shewe^ 55 
 
 ThefFect of which seith thus^ in wordes f ewe : 
 
 32 she, so om. 34 mannes om.; I hadde firste. 35 that om. 44 For om, 
 46 wolde. 47 pleynt. 48 withoutes. 50 7 we; thise om.; save oonly. 
 52 alle om.; of and by. 
 
THE COMPLEYNT TO PITE 411 
 
 [The Bill of Complaint] (Tern I.) 
 
 Humblest of herte^ highest of reverence^ 
 
 Benygne flour^ coroune of vertues alle^ 
 
 Sheweth unto youre rialle excellence 
 
 Youre servaunt^ yf I durste me so calle^ 60 
 
 Hys mortal harme^ in which he is yfalle_, 
 
 And noght al oonly for his evel fare^ 
 
 But for your renpun^ as he shal declare. 
 
 Hit stondeth thus^ your contraire^ Crueltee 
 
 Allyed is ayenst your regalye 65 
 
 Under colour of womanly beaute_, 
 
 For men shulde not knowe hir tirannye^ 
 
 With Bounte^ Gentilesse^ and Curtesye^ 
 
 And hath depryved yow now of your place 
 
 That hyght Beaute apertenent to Grace." 70 
 
 For kyndely^ by youre herytage ryght_, 
 
 Ye be annexed ever unto Bounte^ 
 
 And verrely ye oughte do youre myght 
 
 To helpe Trouthe in his adversyte. 
 
 Ye be also the corowne of Beaute^ 75 
 
 And certes_, yf ye wanten in these tweyn_, 
 
 The worlde is lore^ ther is no more to seyn. 
 
 (Tern II.) 
 
 Eke what availeth Maner and Gentilesse 
 
 Withoute yow, benygne creature.^ 
 
 Shal Cruelte be your governeresse ? 80 
 
 Alias, what herte may hyt longe endure? 
 
 Wherfore, but ye the rather take cure 
 
 To breke that perilouse alliaunce. 
 
 Ye sleen hem that ben in your obeisaunce. 
 
 60 durst. 64 that your contrary. 69 noiv om. 70 is hygh : your grace. 
 76 want. 
 
412 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And further over^ yf ye suffre this^ 85 
 
 Youre renoun ys f ordoo than in a throwe ; 
 
 Ther shal no man wete well what Pite is. 
 
 AUas^ that your renoun is f alle so lowe ! 
 
 Ye be also fro youre heritage y-throwe 
 
 By Cruelte^ that occupieth youre place^ 90 
 
 And we despeyred that seken to your grace. 
 
 Have mercy on me_, thow Herenus quene_, 
 
 That yow have sought so tendirly and yore^ 
 
 Let somme streme of lyght on me be sene^ 
 
 That love and drede yow^ ever lenger the more^ 95 
 
 For sothely for to seyne, I here the soore; 
 
 And though I be not kunnynge for to pleyne^ 
 
 For Goddis love^ have mercy on my peyne. 
 
 {Tern HI.) 
 
 My peyne is this^ that what so I desire. 
 
 That have I not^ ne no thing lyke therto; 100 
 
 And ever setteth desire myn hert on fire. 
 
 Eke on that other syde where so I goo, 
 
 What maner thinge that may encrese my woo. 
 
 That have I redy unsoghte every where. 
 
 Me lakketh but my deth, and than my here, 105 
 
 What nedeth to shewe parcel of my peyne, 
 
 Syth every woo that herte may bethynke 
 
 I sufFre, and yet I dar not to yow pleyne.^ 
 
 For wel I wote, though I wake or wynke. 
 
 Ye rekke not whether I flete or synke; 110 
 
 But natheles my trouthe I shal sustene 
 
 Unto my deth, and that shal wel be sene. 
 
 86 than om. 88 that ever. 91 speken. 96 the so. 102 sydes. 
 110 whether where. Ill yet my. 
 
 I 
 
THE COMPLEYNT TO PITE 413 
 
 This is to seyne^ I wol be youres ever 
 
 Though ye me slee by Crueltee your foo^ 
 
 Algate my spirite shal never dissever 115 
 
 Fro youre servise^ for eny peyne or woo. 
 
 Sith ye be ded, allas^ that hyt is soo ! 
 
 Thus for your deth I may wel wepe and pleyne, 
 
 With herte sore and ful of besy peyne. 
 
 114 foo soo. 117 yet ded. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 
 
 I have grete wonder^ be this lyghte^ 
 How that I lyve^ for day ne nyghte 
 I may nat slepe wel nygh noght^ 
 I have so many an ydel thoght 
 
 Purely for defaulte of slepe^ 5 
 
 That by my trouthe I take no kepe 
 Of noo thinge^ how hyt cometh or gooth, 
 Ne me nys nothynge leve nor looth. 
 Al is ylyehe goode to me^ 
 
 Joy or sorowe^ wherso hyt be^ 10 
 
 For I have felynge in no thynge^ 
 But as yt were a mased thynge 
 Alway in poynt to f alle a-doun^ 
 For sorwful ymagynacioun 
 
 Ys alway hooly in my mynde. 15 
 
 And wel ye woote^ agaynes kynde 
 Hyt were to lyven in thys wyse^ 
 For Nature wolde nat sufFyse 
 To noon erthely creature 
 
 Nat longe tyme to endure 20 
 
 Withoute slepe_, and be in sorwe. 
 And I ne may^ no nyght ne morwe^ 
 Slepe^ and thys melaneolye 
 And drede I have for to dye^ 
 
 Defaulte .of slepe^ and hevynesse^ 25 
 
 Hath sleyne my spirite of quyknesse^ 
 That I have loste al lustyhede. 
 Suche fantasies ben in myn hede_, 
 So I not what is best too doo. 
 
 But men myght axe me^ why soo SO 
 
 I may not sleepe^ and what me is ? 
 
 26 sleyne om. Lines 31-96 are written in this MS. in a hand of perhaps 1500. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 415 
 
 But natheles^ whoe aske this 
 
 Leseth his asking trewely. 
 
 Myselven can not telle why 
 
 The southe^ but trewly^ as I gesse^ 35 
 
 I holde it be a sicknes 
 
 That I have sufFred this eight yeere; 
 
 And yet my boote is never the nere^ 
 
 For there nis phisicien but one 
 
 That may me heale^ but that is done. 40 
 
 Passe we over untill efte ; 
 
 That will not be^ mote nedes be lefte. 
 
 Our first mater is good to kepe. 
 
 Soe when I sawe I might not slepe 
 
 Til now late^ this other nighty 45 
 
 Upon my bedde I sate upright^ 
 
 And bade one reche me a booke^ 
 
 A romaunce^ and it me tok 
 
 To rede^ and drive the night away; 
 
 For me thought it beter play ' 50 
 
 Then playen either at chesse or tables. 
 
 And in this boke were written fables 
 
 That clerkes had in olde tyme^ 
 
 And other poets^ put in rime 
 
 To rede^ and for to be in minde^ 55 
 
 While men loved the lawe of kinde. 
 
 This boke ne speake_, but of such thinges. 
 
 Of queues lives^ and of kinges^ 
 
 And many other thinges smalle. 
 
 Amonge all this^ I fonde a tale 60 
 
 That me thought a wonder thing. 
 
 This was the tale : There was a king 
 
 That hight Seyes^ and had a wife 
 
 The beste that might beare lyfe^ 
 
 And this queue hight Alcyone. 65 
 
 32 nathles. 33 trewly. 34 tell. 36 hold. 39 is. 51 play. 56 o/ in. 
 58 kings 59 things. 64 best. 
 
416 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Soe it befill^ thereafter soone_, 
 
 This king wol wenden over see. 
 
 To tellen shortly^ whan that he 
 
 Was in the see_, thus in this wise^ 
 
 Soche a tempest gan to rise 70 
 
 That brake her maste and made it fal^ 
 
 And cleft ther ship^ and dreint hem all, 
 
 That never was founden, as it telles, 
 
 Borde, ne man, ne nothing elles. 
 
 Right thus this king Seyes loste his life. 75 
 
 Now for to speaken of his wife, 
 
 This lady, that was left at home. 
 
 Hath wonder, that the king ne come 
 
 Home, for it was a longe terme. 
 
 Anone her herte began to erme, 80 
 
 And for that her thought evermo 
 
 It was not wele he dwelled soe. 
 
 She longed soe after the king 
 
 That certes, it were a pitous thing 
 
 To tell her hartely sorowfull life 85 
 
 That had, alias, this noble wife. 
 
 For him she loved alderbeste. 
 
 Anone she sent bothe eeste and weste 
 
 To seke him, but they founde nought. 
 
 "Alas y (quoth shee) ''that I was wrought ! 90 
 
 And where my lord, my love, be deed? 
 
 Certes I will never eate breede, 
 
 I make a vowe to my god here. 
 
 But I mowe of my lord here.'' 
 
 Soche sorowe this lady to her toke 95 
 
 That trewly I, which made this booke. 
 
 Had suche pittee and suche rowthe 
 
 To rede hir sorwe, that by my trowthe 
 
 I ferde the worse al the morwe 
 
 67 woll. 73 founde. 76 speake of Alcyone. 79 long. 80 erme yerme. 
 82 he divelled her thought. 86 she had ; alias om. 87 alas she. 
 
 \ 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 417 
 
 Aftir_, to thenken on hir sorwe. 100 
 
 So whan this lady koude here noo worde 
 
 That no man myghte fynde hir lorde^ 
 
 Ful ofte she swouned^ and sayed alas ! 
 
 For sorwe ful nygh woode she was^ 
 
 Ne she koude no rede but oon^ 105 
 
 But doune on knees she sate anoon_, 
 
 And weep that pittee was to here. 
 
 "A ! mercy ! swete lady dere I" 
 
 Quod she to Juno^ hir goddesse; 
 
 ''Helpe me out of thys distresses 110 
 
 And yeve me grace my lord to se 
 
 Soone^ or wete wher so he be^ 
 
 Or how he fareth^ or in what wise^ 
 
 And I shal make yowe sacrifise^ 
 
 And hooly youres become I shal 115 
 
 With good wille^ body^ hert^ and al. 
 
 And but thow wilte this^, lady swete^ 
 
 Sende me grace to slepe^ and mete 
 
 In my slepe somme certeyn sweven_, 
 
 Wher-thorgh that I may knowe even 120 
 
 Whethir my lorde be quyke or ded." 
 
 With that worde she henge doun the hed^ 
 
 And felle a-swowne as colde as ston. 
 
 Hyr women kaught hir up anoon^ 
 
 And broghten hir in bed al naked; 125 
 
 And she^ forweped and forwaked^ 
 
 Was wery^ and thus the dede slepe 
 
 Fil on hir^ or she tooke kepe^ 
 
 Throgh Juno that had herde hir bone^ 
 
 That made hir to slepe sone^ 130 
 
 For as she prayede ryght so was done 
 
 In dede^ for Juno ryght anone 
 
 Called thus hir messagere 
 
 To doo hir erande_, and he come nere. 
 
 100 and aftir. 102 myght. 107 wepe. 109 to om. 127 ded. 
 
418 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Whan he was come she bad hym thus^ 135 
 
 **Go bet/' quod Juno^ *'to Morpheus — 
 
 Thou knowest hym wel^ the god of slepe — 
 
 Now understonde wel^ and take kepe^ 
 
 Sey thus on my halfe^ that he 
 
 Go faste into the grete se^ 140 
 
 And byd hym^ that on alle thynge^ 
 
 He take up Seys body the kynge^ 
 
 That lyeth ful pale and no thynge rody. 
 
 Byd hym crepe into the body 
 
 And doo hit goon to Alcione^ 145 
 
 The quene^ ther she lyeth allone^ 
 
 And shewe hir shortly^ hit ys no nay^ 
 
 How hit was dreynt thys other day ; 
 
 And do the body speke soo 
 
 Ryght as hyt was woned to doo^ 150 
 
 The whiles that hit was a-lyve. 
 
 Goo now faste^ and hye the blyve/' 
 
 This messager toke leve^ and went 
 
 Upon hys wey^ and never ne stent 
 
 Til he come to the derke valey 155 
 
 That stant betwexe roches twey^ 
 
 Ther never yet grew corne ne gras^ 
 
 Ne tre^ ne nothyng that oughte was^ 
 
 Beste^ ne man^ ne nothyng elles^ 
 
 Save ther were a fewe welles l60 
 
 Came rennynge fro the clyiFes adoun 
 
 That made a dedely slepynge soun^ 
 
 And ronnen doun ryght by a cave_, 
 
 That was under a rokke ygrave, 
 
 Amydde the valey^ wonder depe^, l65 
 
 There these goddys lay and slepe_, 
 
 Morpheus and Eclympasteyre^ 
 
 That was the god of slepes eyre^ 
 
 141 al. 142 That he. 144 Bud. 145 Alchione. 148 ryght soo. 156 betwex. 
 158, 159, nothyng noght. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 419 
 
 That slepe and did noon other werke. 
 
 This cave was also as derke 170 
 
 As helle pitte^ over al aboute^ 
 
 They had good leyser for to route^ 
 
 To envye who myght slepe beste ; 
 
 Somme henge her chyn upon hir breste^ 
 
 And slept upryght^ hir hed yhedde^ 175 
 
 And somme lay naked in her bedde. 
 
 And slepe^ whiles the dayes laste. 
 
 This messager come fleynge faste^ 
 
 And cried^ *'0 how! a-wake anoon!'' 
 
 Hit was for noght^ there herde hym non. 180 
 
 "Awake^" quod he^ *Vhoo ys^ lythe there?" 
 
 And blew his home ryght in here eere_, 
 
 And cried^ '^awaketh !" wonder hye. 
 
 This god of slepe with hys on ye 
 
 Caste up^ and axed^ "who clepeth there?" 185 
 
 "Hyt am I !" quod this messagere^ 
 
 "Juno bad thow shuldest goon" — 
 
 And tolde hym what he shulde doon_, 
 
 As I have tolde yow here to-fore^ 
 
 Hyt ys no nede reherse hyt more; IQO 
 
 And went hys wey whan he had sayede. 
 
 Anoon this god of slepe abrayede 
 
 Out of hys slepe^ and gan to goon^ 
 
 And dyd as he had bede hym doon_, 
 
 Tooke up the dreynte body sone^ 195 
 
 And bare hyt forth to Alcione_, 
 
 Hys wife the quene^ ther as she lay^ 
 
 Ryght even a quarter before day; 
 
 And stood ryght at hys beddys fete^ 
 
 And called hir ryght as she hete^ 200 
 
 By name^ and sayede^ "My swete wyfe^ 
 
 Awake^ let be your sorwful lyfe^ 
 
 For in your sorwe there lyth no rede^ 
 
 182 heere. 195 dreynt. 196 Alchione. 
 
420 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For certes^ swete^ I nam but dede^ 
 
 Ye shul me never on lyve yse. 205 
 
 But good swete herte^ look that ye 
 
 Bury my body^ for suche a tyde 
 
 Ye mowe hyt fynde^ the see besyde ; 
 
 And farewell swete^ my worldes blysse ! 
 
 I praye God youre sorwe lyss.e; — 210 
 
 To lytel while oure blysse lasteth V' 
 
 With that hir eyen up she casteth^ 
 
 And sawe noght. ''Alias I" quod she for sorwe. 
 
 And deyede within the thridde morwe. 
 
 But what she sayede more in that swowe 215 
 
 I may not telle yow as nowe_, 
 
 Hyt were to longe for to dwelle^ 
 
 My first matere I wil yow telle, 
 
 Wherfore I have tolde this thynge 
 
 Of Alcione and Seys the kynge. 220 
 
 For thus moche dar I saye welle, 
 
 I had be dolven everydelle^ 
 
 And ded ryght thorgh defaulte of slepe, 
 
 Yif I ne had redde and take kepe 
 
 Of this tale next before. 225 
 
 And I wol telle yow wherfore ; 
 
 For I ne myght, for bote ne bale, 
 
 Slepe or I had redde thys tale 
 
 Of this dreynte Seys the kynge. 
 
 And of the goddis of slepynge. 230 
 
 Whan I had redde thys tale wel. 
 
 And over loked hyt everydel. 
 
 Me thoght wonder yf hit were so ; 
 
 For I had never herde speke or tho 
 
 Of noo goddis that koude make 235 
 
 Men to slepe, ne for to wake, 
 
 For I ne knewe never God but oon. 
 
 204 am. 206 hert look om. 210 pray. 215 swowe sorowe. 220 Alchione. 
 221 say. 226 I om. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 421 
 
 And in my game I sayede anoon — 
 And yet me lyst ryght evel to pley — 
 
 "Rather then that y shulde dey 240 
 
 Thorgh defaulte of slepynge thus^ 
 I wolde yive thilke Morpheus 
 Or hys goddesse^ dame Juno^ 
 Or somme wight ellis^ I ne roght who^ 
 
 To make me slepe and have some reste, 245 
 
 I wil yive hym the alderbeste 
 Yifte^ that ever he abode hys lyve^ 
 And here^ on warde^ ryght now^ as blyve ; 
 Yif he wol make me slepe a lyte^ 
 
 Of downe of pure dowves white 250 
 
 I wil yif hym a f eder bedde^ 
 Rayed with golde and ryght wel cledde 
 In fyne blak satyn de owter mere^ 
 And many a pelowe^ and every here 
 
 Of clothe of Reynes to slepe softe^ 255 
 
 Hym thar not nede to turnen ofte ; 
 And I wol yive hym al that f allys 
 To a chambre^ and al hys hallys 
 I wol do peynte with pure golde^ 
 
 And tapite hem ful many folde 260 
 
 Of oo sute^ this shal he have_, 
 Yf I wiste where were hvs cave, 
 Yf he kan make me slepe sone^ 
 As did the goddesse queue Alcione ; 
 
 And thus this ylke god Morpheus 265 
 
 May Wynne of me moo fees thus^ 
 Than ever he wanne^ and to Juno 
 That ys hys goddesse I shal soo do^ 
 I trow^ that she shal holde hir payede." 
 
 I hadde unneth that worde y-sayede^ 270 
 
 Ryght thus I have tolde hyt yow^ 
 That sodeynly^ I nyste how, 
 264 Alchione. 
 
422 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Suclie a luste anoon me tooke 
 
 To slepe^ that ryght upon my booke 
 
 Y fil aslepe^ and therwith evene 275 
 Me mette so ynly swete a swevene^ 
 
 So wonderful^ that never yitte 
 
 Y trowe no man had the wytte 
 To konne wel my sweven rede; 
 
 No^ not Joseph^ withoute drede^ 280 
 
 Of Egipte^ ho that red so 
 
 The kynges metynge^ Pharao; 
 
 No more than koude the lest of us^ 
 
 Ne nat skarsly Macrobeus — 
 
 He that wrote al thavysyoun^ 285 
 
 That he mette^ kynge Scipioun^ 
 
 The noble man^ the AfFrikan^ 
 
 Swiche mervayles fortuned than — 
 
 I trowe^ a-rede my dremes even. 
 
 Loo^ thus hyt was^ thys was my sweven. 290 
 
 Me thoghte thus : that hyt was May^ 
 And in the dawenynge I lay^ 
 Me mette thus^ in my bed al naked, 
 And loked forth, for I was waked 
 
 With smale foules a grete hepe, 295 
 
 That had afFrayed me out of slepe 
 Thorgh noyse and swettenesse of her songe. 
 And as me mette, they sate a-monge 
 Upon my chambre roofe wythoute. 
 
 Upon the tyles over al aboute, 300 
 
 And songen every ch in hys wyse. 
 The moste solempne servise. 
 By noote, that ever man, y trowe. 
 Had herde, for somme of hem songe lowe, 
 Somme high, and al of oon acorde. 305 
 
 To telle shortly, att oo worde. 
 Was never harde so swete a steven, 
 
 278 trow. 291 thoght. 292 dawnynge. 296 of my. 298 as al. 301 songe 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 423 
 
 But hyt had be a tliynge of heven^ 
 
 So mery a soune^ so swete entewnes; 
 
 That certes^ for the toune of Tewnes^ 310 
 
 I nolde but I had herde hem synge^ 
 
 For al my chambre gan to rynge 
 
 Thorgh syngynge of her armonye. 
 
 For instrument nor melodye 
 
 Was nowhere herde yet halfe so swete^ 315 
 
 Nor of acorde halfe so mete; 
 
 For ther was noon of hem that feyned 
 
 To synge^ for eche of hem hym peyned 
 
 To fynde out mery crafty notys^ 
 
 They ne spared not her throtys. 320 
 
 And soothe to seyn^ my chambre was 
 
 Ful wel depeynted^ and with glas 
 
 Were al the wyndowes wel yglasyd 
 
 Ful clere^ and nat an hoole ycrasyd^ 
 
 That to beholde hyt was grete joye. 325 
 
 For holy al the story of Troye 
 
 Was in the glasynge ywroght thus^ 
 
 Of Ector and of kynge Priamus^ 
 
 Of Achilles and Lamedoun 
 
 And eke of Medea and of Jasoun^ 330 
 
 Of Paris_, Eleyne^ and of Lavyne. 
 
 And alle the wallys with colouris fyne 
 
 Were peynted^ bothe text^ and glose^ 
 
 And al the Romaunce of the Rose. 
 
 My wyndowes were shette echon^ 335 
 
 And throgh the glas the sonne shon 
 
 Upon my bed with bryghte bemys^ 
 
 With many glade gilde stremys^ 
 
 And eke the welken was so faire^ 
 
 Blew_, bryght_, clere was the ayre_, 340 
 
 And ful attempre^ for sothe^ hyt was^ 
 
 For nother to colde nor hoote yt nas^ 
 
 319 of mery. 329 and of kynge. 342 was. 
 
424 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ne in al the welkene was a clowde. 
 
 And as I lay thus^ wonder lowde 
 
 Me thoght I herde an hunte blowe. 345 
 
 Tassay hys horne^ and for to knowe 
 
 Whether hyt were clere or horse of soune. 
 
 And I herde goynge bothe up and doune 
 
 Men^ hors^ houndes_, and other thynge^ 
 
 And al men speken of huntynge^ ^ 350 
 
 How they wolde slee the hert^ with strengthe. 
 
 And how the hert had upon lengthe^ 
 
 So moche embosed^ y not now what. 
 
 Anoon^ ryght whan I herde that^ 
 
 How that they wolde on huntynge goon^ 355 
 
 I was ryght glad^ and up anoon 
 
 Tooke my hors and forthe I went 
 
 Out of my chambre^ I never stent 
 
 Til I come to the felde withoute. 
 
 Ther overtoke y a grete route 360 
 
 Of huntes and eke of foresterys^ 
 
 With many relayes and lymerys^ 
 
 And hyed hem to the forest f aste^ 
 
 And I with hem; so at the laste 
 
 I asked oon^ ladde a lymere^ S65 
 
 "Say^ felowe^ whoo shal hunte here?'' 
 
 Quod I^ and he answered ageyn^ 
 
 "Syr^ themperour Octovyen^" 
 
 Quod he^ ''and ys here faste by/' 
 
 *'A Goddys halfe^ in goode tyme/' quod I^ 370 
 
 ''Go we faste!" and gan to ryde^ 
 
 Whan we came to the forest syde^ 
 
 Every man didde ryght anoon 
 
 As to huntynge fille to doon. 
 
 The mayster hunte anoon^ fote hote_j 375 
 
 With a grete home blewe thre mote 
 
 At the uncoupylynge of hys houndys. 
 
 350 speke. 362 may. 364 I om. 369 fast. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 425 
 
 Withynne a while the herte f ounde ys^ 
 
 Ihalowed_, and rechased faste 
 
 Longe tyme^ and so at the laste 380 
 
 This hert rused_, and staale away 
 
 Fro alle the houndes a prevy way. 
 
 The houndes had overshette hem alle^ 
 
 And were on a defaulte yf alle. 
 
 Therwyth the hunte wonder faste 385 
 
 Blewe a forleygne at the laste. 
 
 I was go walked fro my tree^ 
 
 And as I went_, ther came by mee 
 
 A whelpe_, that fanned me as I stoode^ 
 
 That hadde yfolowed^ and koude no goode. 390 
 
 Hyt come and crepte to me as lowe^ 
 
 Ryght as hyt had me yknowe^ 
 
 Hylde doun hys hede^ and j oyned hys erys^ 
 
 And leyde al smothe doun hys herys. 
 
 I wolde have kaught hyt^ and anoon 395 
 
 Hyt fled^ and was fro me goon; 
 
 And I hym folwed^ and hyt f orthe went 
 
 Doune by a floury grene went 
 
 Ful thikke of gras ful softe and swete^ 
 
 With flourys fele^ faire under fete^ 400 
 
 And litel used hyt semed thus^ 
 
 For both Flora and Zephirus^ 
 
 They two that make floures growe^ 
 
 Had made her dwellynge ther^ I trowe^ 
 
 For hit was_, on to beholde^ 405 
 
 As thogh therthe envye wolde 
 
 To be gayer than the heven^ 
 
 To have moo floures^ swche^ seven 
 
 As in the welkene sterris bee. 
 
 Hyt had forgete the povertee 410 
 
 That wynter^ thorgh hys colde morwes^ 
 
 383 hem hym. 384 upon. 409 walkene. 
 ^See Glossary. 
 
426 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Had made liyt suiFre^ and his sorwes; 
 
 All was forgeten_, and that was sene^ 
 
 For al the woode was waxen grene^ 
 
 Swetnesse of dewe had made hyt waxe. 415 
 
 Hyt ys no nede eke for to axe 
 
 Where there were many grene greves^ 
 
 Or thikke of trees so ful of leves^ 
 
 And every tree stoode by hym selve 
 
 Fro other wel tene fete or twelve. 420 
 
 So grete trees^ so huge of strengthen 
 
 Or fourty^ fifty fedme lengthe^ 
 
 Clene withoute bowgh or stikke^ 
 
 With croppes brode^ and eke as thikke^ 
 
 They were nat an ynche asonder^ 425 
 
 That hit was shadewe over al under^ 
 
 And many an herte and many an hynde 
 
 Was both before me and be-hynde. 
 
 Of founes^ sowres^ bukkes^ does^ 
 
 Was ful the woode^ and many roes 430 
 
 And many sqwireles that sete 
 
 Ful high upon the trees and ete^ 
 
 And in hir maner made festys. 
 
 Shortly^ hyt was so ful of bestys^ 
 
 That thogh Argus^ the noble counter^ 435 
 
 Sete to rekene in hys counter^ 
 
 And rekene with his figuris ten — 
 
 For by tho figuris mowe al ken 
 
 Yf they be crafty^ rekene and noumbre^ 
 
 And tel of every thinge the noumbre — 440 
 
 Yet shulde he f ayle to rekene evene 
 
 The wondres^ me mette in my swevene. 
 
 But forth they romed ryght wonder faste 
 
 Doune the woode^ so at the laste 
 
 I was war of a man in blak^ 445 
 
 That sete and had yturned his bak 
 
 420 or fro other. 424 hrode bothe. 431 sqwirels. 446 turned. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 427 
 
 To an ooke^ an huge tree. 
 
 **Lorde/' tlioght I^ *'who may that be? 
 
 What ayleth hym to sitten here?" 
 
 Anoon ryght I wente nere; 450 
 
 Than founde I sitte even upryght^ 
 
 A wonder wel-farynge knyght — 
 
 By the maner me thoghte soo 
 
 Of good mochel^ and ryght yonge therto^ 
 
 Of the age of foure and twenty yere. 455 
 
 Upon hys berde but lytel here^ 
 
 And he was clothed al in blake. 
 
 I stalked even unto hys bake_, 
 
 And ther I stoode as stille as ought^ 
 
 That^ soth to saye^ he sawe me nought. 460 
 
 For why_, he henge hys hede adoune^ 
 
 And with a dedely sorwful soune 
 
 He made of ryme ten vers or twelfe^ 
 
 Of a compleynt to hymselfe^ 
 
 The moste pitee^ the moste rowthe^ 465 
 
 That ever I herde^ for^ by my trowthe^ 
 
 Hit was gret wonder that nature 
 
 Myght suffre any creature 
 
 To have suche sorwe^ and be not ded^ 
 
 Ful petouse^ pale^ and nothynge red. 470 
 
 He sayed a lay^ a maner songe^ 
 
 Withoute noote^ withoute songe^ 
 
 And was thys^ for ful wel I kan 
 
 Reherse hyt; ryght thus hyt began. — 
 
 The Lay, 
 
 "I have of sorwe so grete wone 475 
 
 That joye gete I never none^ 
 
 Now that I see my lady bryght^ 
 
 Which I have loved with al my myght^ 
 Is fro me ded^ and ys a-goon. 
 
 450 went. 453 thoght. 472 One MS. gives and hit. 476 joy. 
 
428 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 AUas^ dethe^ what ayleth the? 480 
 
 That thou noldest have taken me 
 
 Whan thou toke my lady swete^ 
 That was so faire^ so freshe^ so fre^ 
 So goode^ that men may wel se 
 
 Of al goodenesse she had no mete !" 485 
 
 Whan he had made thus his complaynte^ 
 
 Hys sorwful hert gan faste faynte_, 
 
 And his spiritis wexen dede. 
 
 The bloode was fled^ for pure drede^ 
 
 Doune to hys hert^ to make hym warme^ 490 
 
 For wel hyt feled the hert had harme^ 
 
 To wete eke why hyt was adrad 
 
 By kynde_, and for to make hyt glad; 
 
 For hit ys membre principal 
 
 Of the body; and that made al 495 
 
 Hys hewe ehaunge and wexe grene 
 
 And pale^ for ther noo bloode ys sene 
 
 In no maner lym of hys. 
 
 Anoon therwith whan y sawgh this^ 
 
 He ferde thus evel there he sete^ 500 
 
 I went and stoode ryght at his fete^ 
 
 And grette hym; but he spake noght^ 
 
 But argued with his oune thoght^ 
 
 And in hys wytte disputed faste 
 
 Why and how hys lyfe myght laste; 505 
 
 Hym thought hys sorwes were so smerte 
 
 And lay so colde upon hys herte ; 
 
 So throgh hys sorwes and hevy thoght 
 
 Made hym that he herde me noght^ 
 
 For he had wel nygh loste hys mynde_, 510 
 
 Thogh Pan^ that men clepe god of kynde. 
 
 Were for hys sorwes never so wrothe; 
 
 But at the last^ to sayn ryght sothe^ 
 
 486 complaynt. 487 faynt. 498 lym hym. 511 the god. 
 
 I 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 429 
 
 He was war of me^ how y stoode 
 
 Before hym^ and did of myn hoode^ 515 
 
 And had ygret hym as I best koude_, 
 
 Debonayrly^ and no thyng lowde. 
 
 He sayde^ "I prey the^ be not wrothe^ 
 
 I herde the not^ to seyn the sothe^ 
 
 Ne I sawgh the not^ syr^ trewely." 520 
 
 "Ay good sir_, no fors/' quod y, 
 
 **I am ryght sory yif I have oughte 
 
 Destroubled yow out of youre thoughte; 
 
 Foryive me_, yif I have mystake." 
 
 '*Yis^ thamendys is lyght to make^'' 525 
 
 Quod he^ "for ther lyeth noon therto ; 
 
 There ys no thynge myssayde nor do." 
 
 Loo_, how goodely spake thys knyghte^, 
 
 As hit had be another wyghte; 
 
 He made hyt nouther towgh ne queynte. 530 
 
 And I sawe that^ and gan me aqueynt 
 
 With hym_, and fonde hym so tretable^ 
 
 Ryght wonder skylful and resonable^ 
 
 As me thoght^ for al hys bale. 
 
 Anoon-ryght I gan fynde a tale 535 
 
 To hym^ to loke wher I myght oughte 
 
 Have more knowynge of hys thoughte. 
 
 "Sir^" quod I, *'this game is doon; 
 
 I holde that this hert be goon ; 
 
 These huntys konne hym no wher see." 540 
 
 *'Y do no fors therof^" quod he^ 
 
 "My thought ys thereon never a dele." 
 
 "Be oure Lorde/' quod I^ "y trow yow wele; 
 
 Ryght so me thenketh by youre chere. 
 
 But sir^ 00 thyng wol ye here? 54i5 
 
 Me thynketh^ in grete sorowe I yow see ; 
 
 But certys^ good sir^ yif that yee 
 
 Wolde ought discure me youre woo^ 
 
 520 trewly. 547 good om. 
 
430 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 I wolde^ as wys God helpe me soo^ 
 
 Amende hyt, yif I kan or may. 550 
 
 Ye mowe preve hyt be assay. 
 
 For by my trouthe^ to make yow hool 
 
 I wol do alle my power hool. 
 
 And telleth me of your sorwes smerte_, 
 
 Paraventure hyt may ease youre herte^ 555 
 
 That semeth ful seke under your syde.'' 
 
 With that he loked on me asyde 
 
 As who sayth^ 'nay^ that wol not be.'' 
 
 *'Graunt mercy^ goode frende/' quod he^ 
 
 **I thanke the that thow woldest soo^ 560 
 
 But hyt may never the rather be doo. 
 
 No man may my sorwe glade^ 
 
 That maketh my hewe to fal and fade^ 
 
 And hath myn understondynge lorne^ 
 
 That me ys woo that I was borne ! 565 
 
 May noght make my sorwes slyde 
 
 Nought al the remedyes of Ovyde ; 
 
 Ne Orpheus^ god of melodye^ 
 
 Ne. Dedalus^ with his playes slye^ 
 
 Ne hele me may noo phisicien_, 570 
 
 Noght Ypocras^ ne Galyen. 
 
 Me ys woo that I lyve oures twelve^ 
 
 But whoo so wol assay hymselve^ 
 
 Whether his hert kan have pitee 
 
 Of any sorwe^ lat hym see me. 575 
 
 Y wrechch^ that deth hath made al naked 
 Of al blysse that ever was maked. 
 
 Y worthe worste of alle wyghtys^ 
 That hate my dayes and my nyghtys ; 
 
 My lyfe^ my lustes^ be me loothe^ 580 
 
 For al welfare and I be wroothe. 
 The pure deth ys so ful my f oo, 
 
 578 al. 
 
 I 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 431 
 
 That I wolde deye^ hyt wolde not soo. 
 
 For whan I folwe hyt^ hit wol flee^ 
 
 I wolde have hym_, hyt nyl nat me. 585 
 
 This ys my peyne^ wythoute rede^ 
 
 Alway deynge and be not dede^ 
 
 That Thesiphus^ that lyeth in helle. 
 
 May not of more sorwe telle. 
 
 And who so wiste alle^ be my trouthe^ 590 
 
 My sorwe_, but he hadde rowthe 
 
 And pitee of my sorwes smerte^ 
 
 That man hath a fendely herte. 
 
 For who so seethe me firste on morwe 
 
 May seyn^ he hath mette with sorwe^ 595 
 
 For y am Sorwe_, and Sorwe ys y. 
 
 Alias ! and I wol tel the why^ 
 
 My sorowe ys turned to pleynynge_, 
 
 And al my lawghtre to wepynge^ 
 
 My glade thoghtys to hevynesse^ 600 
 
 In travayle ys myn ydelnesse^ 
 
 And eke my reste^ my wele is woo^ 
 
 My goode ys harme^ and ever-moo 
 
 In wrathe ys turned my pleynge_, 
 
 And my delyte into sorwynge. 605 
 
 Myn hele ys turned into sekenesse^ 
 
 In drede ys al my sykernesse^ 
 
 To derke ys turned al my lyghte^ 
 
 My wytte ys f oly^ my day ys nyghte^ 
 
 My love ys hate^ my slepe wakynge, 610 
 
 My merthe and meles ys f astynge^ 
 
 My countenaunce ys nycete^ 
 
 And al abawed^ where so I be. 
 
 My pees in pledynge and in werre — 
 
 AUas^ how myght I fare werre! 6l5 
 
 My boldenesse ys turned to shame^ 
 
 591 had. 
 
432 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For fals Fortune hath pleyde a game 
 
 Atte the chesse with me_, allas^ the while ! 
 
 The trayteresse fals^ and ful of gyle^ 
 
 That al behoteth^ and no thyng halte^ 620 
 
 She gethe upryght and yet she is halte^ 
 
 That baggeth f oule and loketh f aire. 
 
 The dispitouse debonaire^ 
 
 That skorneth many a creature ; 
 
 An ydole of fals portrayture 625 
 
 Ys she, for she wol sone wrien. 
 
 She is the monstres hed ywrien. 
 
 As fylthe over ystrawed with flouris. 
 
 Hir moste worshippe and hir flour ys 
 
 To lyen, for that ys hyr nature^ 630 
 
 Withoute feythe, lawe, or mesure; 
 
 She ys fals ; and ever lawghynge 
 
 With one yghe, and that other wepynge ; 
 
 That ys broght up she sette al doun, 
 
 I lykne hyr to the scorpioun, 6S5 
 
 That ys a fals flateyrynge beste. 
 
 For with his hede he maketh feste. 
 
 But al amydde hys flaterynge, 
 
 With hys tayle hyt wol stynge. 
 
 And envenyme, and so wol she. 640 
 
 She ys thenvyouse charite 
 
 That ys ay fals, and semeth wele. 
 
 So turneth she hyr false whele 
 
 Aboute, for hyt ys nothynge stable, 
 
 Now by the fire, now at table, 645 
 
 For many oon hath she thus yblent. 
 
 She ys pley of enchauntement. 
 
 That semeth oon and ys not soo; 
 
 The false thefe, what hath she doo, 
 
 Trowest thou? by oure Lorde, I wol the sey. 650 
 
 626 wrien varien. 627 mowstres. 643 fals. 646 thus she. 649 fals. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 433 
 
 At the chesse with me she gan to pleye; 
 With hir false draughtes dyvers 
 She staale on me^ and toke my fers. 
 And whan I sawgh my fers away^ 
 
 AUas^ I kouthe no lenger play^ 655 
 
 But seyde^ 'farewel^ swete^ ywys^ 
 And fare-wel al that ever ther ys !' 
 Therwith Fortune seyde^ 'chek here^ 
 And mate in the myd poynt of the chekkere' 
 With a poune errante^ alias ! 660 
 
 Ful craftier to pley she was 
 Than Athalus^ that made the game 
 First of the chesse^ so was hys name; 
 But Go i wolde I had^ oones or twyes^ 
 
 Ykoude and knowe the jeupardyes 665 
 
 That koi^^ the Greke Pictagoras; 
 I shulde have pleyde the bet at ches^ 
 And kept my fers the bet therby_, 
 And thogh^ wherto ? for trewely 
 
 I holde that wysshe nat worthe a stree ; 670 
 
 Hyt had be never the bet for me. 
 For Fortune kan so many a wyle^ 
 Ther be but fewe kan hir begile^ 
 And eke she ys the lasse to blame ; 
 
 My selfe I wolde have do the same^ 675 
 
 Before God^ hadde I be as she; 
 She oght the more excused be. 
 For this I say yet more therto^, 
 Had I be God and myghte have do 
 
 My wille^ whan my fers she kaught^ 680 
 
 I wolde have drawe the same draught. 
 For also wys God yive me reste^ 
 I dar wel swere she tooke the beste ! 
 But throgh that draught I have lorne 
 
 652 fals. 669 thoght; trewly. 676 hadde as. 680 she my fers. 683 he. 
 
434 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 My blysse^ allas^ that I was borne ! 685 
 
 For evermore^ y trowe trewly^ 
 
 For al my wille^ my luste holly 
 
 Ys turned^ but yet^ what to doone ? 
 
 Be oure lorde^ hyt ys to deye soone^ 
 
 For no thynge I leve hyt noght^ 690 
 
 But lyve and deye ryght in this thoght. 
 
 For there nys planete in firmament^ 
 
 Ne in ayre^ ne in erthe noon element^, 
 
 That they ne yive me a yifte echon 
 
 Of wepynge, whan I am allon. 695 
 
 For whan that I avise me wel^ 
 
 And bethenke me every del^ 
 
 How that ther lyeth in rekenynge 
 
 Inne my sorwe for no thynge; 
 
 And how ther levyth noe gladnesse 700 
 
 May gladde me of my distresses 
 
 And how I have loste suffisance^ 
 
 And therto I have no plesance^ 
 
 Than may I say^ I have ryght noght. 
 
 And whan al this falleth in my thoght^ 705 
 
 Allas^ than am I overcome ! 
 
 For that ys doon ys not to come. 
 
 I have more sorowe than Tantale/' 
 
 And whan I herde hym tel thys tale 
 
 This pitously^ as I yow telle^ 710 
 
 Unnethe myght y lenger duelle^ 
 
 Hyt dyd myn hert so moche woo. 
 
 *'A\, goode sir !" quod !_, *'say not soo ! 
 
 Have somme pitee on your nature 
 
 That formed yow to creature^ 715 
 
 Hemembre yow of Socrates^ 
 
 For he ne counted nat thre strees 
 
 Of noght that Fortune koude doo/' 
 
 701 glad. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 4^35 
 
 **No_,'' quod he^ '*I kan not soo/' 
 
 "Why so^ good syr? parde/' quod y, 720 
 
 "Ncj, say noght soo for trewely^ 
 
 Thogh ye had loste the ferses twelve^ 
 
 And ye for sorwe mordred yourselve^ 
 
 Ye sholde be dampned in this cas 
 
 By as goode ryght as Medea was^ 725 
 
 That slowgh hir children for Jasoun^ 
 
 And Phyllis also for Demophoun 
 
 Henge hirselfe^ so weylaway ! 
 
 For he had broke his terme day 
 
 To come to hir ; another rage 730 
 
 Had Dydo^ the queue eke of Cartage^ 
 
 That slough hirselfe_, for Eneas 
 
 Was f als^ which a f oole she was ! 
 
 And Ecquo died for Narcisus 
 
 Nolde nat love hir_, and ryght thus 735 
 
 Hath many another foly doon. 
 
 And for Dalida died Sampson 
 
 That slough hymselfe with a pilere. 
 
 But ther is no man alyve here 
 
 Wolde for a fers make this woo V 740 
 
 ''Why so?" quod he^ "hyt ys nat soo^ 
 
 Thou woste ful lytel what thou menyst^ 
 
 I have loste more than thow wenyst/' 
 
 '*Loo^ sir^ how may that be/' quod y, 
 
 ''Good sir^ telle me al hooly 745 
 
 In what wyse^ how^ why, and wherefore 
 
 That ye have thus youre blysse lore/' 
 
 "Blythely/' quod he^ "come sytte adoun^ 
 
 I telle the up condicioun 
 
 That thou shalt hooly with al thy wytte 750 
 
 Doo thyn entent to herkene hitte/' 
 
 "Yis^ syr/' "Swere thy trouthe therto/' 
 
 720 yis parde. 721 say om.; trewly. 744 sir how she that may. 
 749 hyt the up a. 
 
436 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 ''Gladly/' *'Do thanne holde hereto/' 
 
 ''I shal ryght blythely^ so God me save^ 
 
 Hooly^ with al the witte I have^ 755 
 
 Here yow^ as wel as I kan/' 
 
 "A Goddys halfe/' quod he^ and began; 
 
 *'Syr/' quod he^ ''sith firste I kouthe 
 
 Have any maner wytte fro youthe^ 
 
 Or kyndely understondynge 760 
 
 To comprehende^ in any thynge_, 
 
 What love was in myn oune wytte^ 
 
 Dredeles I have ever yitte 
 
 Be tributary e^ and yive rente 
 
 To Love hooly with goode entente^ 765 
 
 And throgh plesaunce become his thralle^ 
 
 With good wille^ body^ hert^ and alle. 
 
 Al this I putte in his servage 
 
 As to my lorde^ and did homage^ 
 
 And ful devoutely I prayed hym to^ 770 
 
 He shulde besette myn herte so_, 
 
 That hyt plesance to hym were^ 
 
 And worshippe to my lady dere. 
 
 And this was longe and many a yere 
 
 Or that myn herte was set owhere^ 775 
 
 That I did thus^ and nyste why^ 
 
 I trowe hit came me kyndely^ 
 
 Per a venture I was therto moste able 
 
 As a white walle or a table; 
 
 For hit ys redy to eachche and take 780 
 
 Al that men wil theryn make^ 
 
 Whethir so men wil portrey or peynte. 
 
 Be the werkes never so queynte. 
 
 And thilke tyme I ferde ryght so 
 
 I was able to have lerned tho^ 785 
 
 And to have kende as wel or better, 
 
 753 here to. 771 hert. 782 peynt. 783 queynt. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 437 
 
 Paraunter^ other arte or letre; 
 
 But for love came firste in my thoght^ 
 
 Therfore I forgate hyt noght. 
 
 I ches love to my firste crafte^ 790 
 
 Therfore hit ys with me lafte; • 
 
 For why^ I toke hyt of so yonge age^ 
 
 That malyce had my corage 
 
 Nat that tyme turned to nothynge 
 
 Thorgh to mochel knowlachynge. 795 
 
 For that tyme Yowthe^ my maistresse^ 
 
 Governed me in ydelnesse^ 
 
 For hyt was in my firste youthe^ 
 
 And thoo ful lytel goode y couthe; 
 
 For al my werkes were flyttynge 800 
 
 That tyme^ and al my thoght varyinge^ 
 
 Al were to me ylyche goode 
 
 That I knewe thoo^ but thus hit stoode. 
 
 Hit happed^, that I came on a day 
 
 Into a place^ ther that I say 805 
 
 Trewly the fayrest companye 
 
 Off ladyes^ that evere man with ye 
 
 Had seen togedres in oo place. 
 
 Shal I clepe hyt happe other grace 
 
 That broght me there? nay^ but Fortune^ 810 
 
 That ys to lyen ful comune^ 
 
 The fals trayteresse pervers ! 
 
 God wolde I koude clepe hir wers^ 
 
 For now she worcheth me ful woo^ 
 
 And I wo] tel sone why soo; 815 
 
 Amonge these ladyes thus echon^ 
 
 Soth to seyne^ sawgh y oon 
 
 That was lyke noon of the route ; 
 
 For I dar swere^ withoute doute^ 
 
 That as the somerys sonne bryghte 820 
 
 790 first. 798 first. 817 y sawgh. 
 
438 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ys fairer^ clerer^ and hath more lyghte 
 
 Than any other planete in hevene^ 
 
 The moone^ or the sterres sevene^ 
 
 For al the worlde^ so had she 
 
 Surm©untede hem al of beaute^ 825 
 
 Of maner^ and of comelynesse^ 
 
 Of stature^ and of wel sette gladnesse^ 
 
 Of godelyhede so wel besey ; 
 
 Shortly what shal y more sey? 
 
 By God^ and by his halwes twelve 830 
 
 Hyt was my swete^ ryght al hir selve ! 
 
 She had so stedfaste countenaunce^ 
 
 So noble porte^ and meyntenaunee ; 
 
 And Love^ that had wel herd my boone^ 
 
 Had espyed me thus soone^ 835 
 
 That she ful sone^ in my thoght^ 
 
 As helpe me God_, so was y-kaught 
 
 So sodenly^ that I ne toke 
 
 No maner counseyl^ but at hir loke^ 
 
 And at myn hert; for why^ hir eyen 840 
 
 So gladly^ I trow^ myn herte seyen^ 
 
 That purely tho myn oune thoght 
 
 Seyde hit were beter serve hir for noght 
 
 Than with another to be wel. 
 
 And hyt was sothe^ for everedel 845 
 
 I wil anoon-ryght telle the why: 
 
 I sawgh hyr daunce so comelely^ 
 
 Carole and synge so swetly^ 
 
 Lawghe and pley so womanly^ 
 
 And loke so debonairly^ 850 
 
 So goodely speke^ and so frendly^ 
 
 That certes y trowe^ that evermore 
 
 Nas seyne so blysful a tresore. 
 
 827 of so. 828 and so. 829 mo7^e om. 830 His om. 840 And But; hert hest. 
 853 so a. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 439 
 
 For every heer oa hir hede^ 
 
 Soth to seyne^ lif ^ was not rede^ 855 
 
 Ne nouther yeloV^ . ne broune hyt nas^ 
 
 Me thoghte most lyke gold hyt was 
 
 And which eyen my lady hadde ! 
 
 Debonair^ goode^ glade_, and sadde^ 
 
 Symple^ of goode mochel^ noght to wyde; 860 
 
 Therto hir looke nas not asyde 
 
 Ne overthwert^ but besette so wele 
 
 Hyt drewh and tooke up_, everydele^ 
 
 Al that on hir gan beholde. 
 
 Hir eyen semed anoon^ she wolde 865 
 
 Have mercy — foolys wenden soo_, 
 
 But hyt was never the rather doo ! 
 
 Hyt nas no countrefeted thynge_, 
 
 Hyt was hir oune pure lokynge^ 
 
 That the goddesse^ Dame Nature^ 870 
 
 Had made hem opene by mesure 
 
 And cloos ; for were she never so glad, 
 
 Hyr lokynge was not foly sprad, 
 
 Ne wildely^ thogh that she pleyde; 
 
 But ever me thoght hir eyen seyde 875 
 
 'Be God^ my wrathe ys al f oryive !' 
 
 Therwith hir lyste so wel to lyve^ 
 
 That dulnesse was of hir adrad; 
 
 She nas to sobre^ ne to glad. 
 
 In alle thynges more mesure 880 
 
 Had never_, I trow^ creature. 
 
 But many oon with hire loke she herte, 
 
 And that sate hyr ful lytel at herte. 
 
 For she knewe nothynge of her thoght. 
 
 But whither she knew, or knew it nowght, 885 
 
 Algate she ne rought of hem a stree. 
 
 To gete hyr love noo nerre was he 
 
 857 thog-ht; gold om. 882-3 hert. 884 knowe. 
 
440 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That woned at home^ than he in Ynde ; 
 
 The formest was alway behynde. 
 
 But goode folke over al other 890 
 
 She loved^ as man may do hys brother^ 
 
 Of whiche love she was wounder large 
 
 In skilful placis that bere charge. 
 
 But which a visage had she thertoo ! 
 AUas^ myn hert ys wonder woo 895 
 
 That I ne kan discryven hyt! 
 Me lakketh both Englyssh and wit 
 For to undo hyt at the fuUe; 
 And eke my spiritis be so duUe 
 
 So grete a thynge for to devyse. 900 
 
 I have no witte that kan suffise 
 To comprehende hir beaute , 
 But thus moche dar I sayn^ that she 
 Was rody^ fressh^ and lyvely hewed; 
 
 And every day hir beaute newed^ 905 
 
 And negh hir face was alderbest; 
 For certys Nature had swich lest 
 To make that f aire^ that trewly she 
 Was hir chefe patrone of beaute^ 
 
 And chefe ensample of al hir werke^ 910 
 
 And moustre; for^ be hyt never so derke. 
 Me thynkyth I se hir evermoo. 
 And yet moreover^ thogh al thoo 
 That ever levede were now alyve^ 
 
 Ne sholde ha founde to diskryve 915 
 
 Yn al hir face a wikked sygne^ 
 For hit was sad^ symple^ and benygne. 
 
 And which a goodely softe speche 
 Had that swete^ my lyves leche^ 
 
 So frendely^ and so wel y grounded^ 920 
 
 Up al resoun so wel yfounded_, 
 
 888 than that. 890 good. 904 white rody. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 441 
 
 And so tretable to al goode^ 
 
 That I dar swere wel by the roode 
 
 Of eloquence was never founde 
 
 So swete a sownynge facounde^ 925 
 
 Ne trewer tonged^ ne skorned lasse^ 
 
 Ne bet koude hele^ that by the masse 
 
 I diirste swere^ thogh the Pape hit songe^ 
 
 That ther was never yet throgh hir tonge 
 
 Man ne woman gretely harmed. 930 
 
 As for hir_, hit was al harme hyd; 
 
 Ne lasse flaterynge in hir word^ 
 
 That purely hir symple recorde 
 
 Was founde as trewe as any bonde 
 
 Or trouthe of any mannys honde. 9S5 
 
 Ne chyde she koude never a dele^ 
 
 That knoweth al the worlde ful wele. 
 
 But swiche a fairenesse of a nekke 
 
 Had that swete^ that boon nor brekke 
 
 Nas ther non seen that mys-satte. 940 
 
 Hyt was white^ smothe^ streght^ and pure flatte^ 
 
 Wythouten hole; or canel-boon^ 
 
 As be semynge^ had she noon^ 
 
 Hyr throte^ as I have now memoyre^ 
 
 Semed a rounde toure of yvoyre^ 945 
 
 Of goode gretenesse^ and noght to grete. 
 
 And goode faire White she hete^ 
 
 That was my lady name^ ryghte. 
 
 She was bothe faire and bryghte^ 
 
 She had not hir name wronge; 950 
 
 Ryght faire shuldres_, and body longe 
 
 She had^ and armes; every lyth 
 
 Fattyssh^ flesshy^ not grete therwith^ 
 
 Ryght white handes^ and nayles rede; 
 
 Rounde brestes^ and of good brede 955 
 
 931 hir om. 
 
M2 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Hyr hippes were^ a straight flat bakke. 
 
 I knewe on hir noon other lakke^ 
 
 That al hir lymmes nere pure sywynge 
 
 In as ferre as I had knowynge. 
 
 Therto she koude so wel pley^ 960 
 
 Whan that hir lyst^ that I dar sey 
 
 That she was lyke to torche bryght 
 
 That every man may take of lyght 
 
 Ynogh^ and hyt hathe never the lesse. 
 
 Of maner and of comlynesse 965 
 
 Ryght so ferde my lady dere; 
 
 For every wight of hir manere 
 
 Myght eachche ynogh^ yif that he wolde^ 
 
 Yif he had ejen hir to beholde; 
 
 For I dar swere wel^ yif that she 970 
 
 Had amonge ten thousande be. 
 
 She wolde have be, at the lest, 
 
 A ehefe meroure of al the fest, 
 
 Thogh they had stonde in a rowe, 
 
 To mennys eyen koude have knowe. 975 
 
 For wher so men had pleyed or wakyed. 
 
 Me thoght the felysshyppe as naked 
 
 Withouten hir, that sawgh I oones, 
 
 As a corowne withoute stones. 
 
 Trewly she was to myn eye 980 
 
 The soleyne Fenix of Arabye, 
 
 For ther levyth nevir but oon ; 
 
 Ne swich as she ne knowe I noon. 
 
 To speke of godenesse, trewly, she 
 
 Had as moche debonairyete 985 
 
 As ever had Hester in the Bible, 
 
 And more, yif more were possyble. 
 
 And sothe to seyne, therwythalle 
 
 She had a wytte so generalle, 
 
 II 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 443 
 
 So hoole enclyned to alle goode^ 990 
 
 That al hir wytte was set, by the rode, 
 
 Withoute malyce, upon gladnesse. 
 
 And therto I sawgh never yet a lesse 
 
 Harmeful than she was in doynge. 
 
 I sey nat that she ne had knowynge 995 
 
 What harme was, or elles she 
 
 Had koude no good, so thenketh me. 
 
 And trewly, for to speke of trouthe 
 
 But she had hadde, hyt hadde be routhe; 
 
 Therof she had so moche hyr dele, 1000 
 
 And I dar seyn, and swere hyt wele. 
 
 That Trouthe hymselfe over al and alle . 
 
 Had chose hys maner principalle 
 
 In hir, that was his restynge place. 
 
 Therto she hadde the moste grace 1005 
 
 To have stedefaste perseveraunce 
 
 And esy atempry governaunce 
 
 That ever I knewe, or wyste yitte. 
 
 So pure suffraunt was hir wytte. 
 
 And reson gladly she understoode; 1010 
 
 Hyt folowed wel she koude goode. 
 
 She used gladly to do wel. 
 
 These were hir maners everydel; 
 
 Therwith she loved so wel ryght. 
 
 She wronge do wolde to no wyght, 1015 
 
 No wyght myght doo hir noo shame. 
 
 She loved so wel hir oune name 
 
 Hyr lust to holde no wyght in honde, 
 
 Ne, be thou siker, she wolde not fonde 
 
 To holde no wyght in balaunce 1020 
 
 By halfe worde, ne by countenaunce. 
 
 But yif men wolde upon hir lye ; 
 
 Ne sende men into Walakye, 
 
 To Pruj^se, and into Tartarye, 
 
444 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 To Alysaundre^ ne into Turkye^ 1025 
 
 And byd hym f aste anoon^ that he 
 
 Goo hoodeles to the drye se^ 
 
 And come home by the Carrenare^ 
 
 And sey^ 'Sir^ be now ryght ware^ 
 
 That I may of yow here seyn 1030 
 
 Worshyppe^ or that ye come agejn/ 
 
 She ne used no suche knakkes smale. 
 
 But wherfore that y tel my tale? 
 Ryght on thys same^ as I have seyde^ 
 
 Was hooly al my love leyde; 1035 
 
 For certes^ she was^ that swete wife^ 
 My suffisaunce_, my luste_, my lyfe^ 
 Myn happe^ myn hele^ and al my blysse^ 
 My worldys welfare and my lisse^ 
 
 And I hooly hires^ and everydel!" 1040 
 
 *'By oure lord^'' quod !_, "y trowe yow wel^ 
 Hardely_, your love was wel besette. 
 I not how ye myght have doo bette/' 
 ''Bette? ne no wyght so wele/' quod he^ 
 "Y trowe hyt wel^ sir/' quod I^ "parde !'* 1045 
 
 ''Nay^ leve hyt wel!" *'Sire^ so do I; 
 I leve yow wel^ that trewly 
 Yow thoghte^ that she was the best^ 
 And to be-holde the alderfayrest^ 
 
 Who soo had loked hir with your ejen." 1050 
 
 ''With myn? nay^ al that hir seyen 
 Seyde and swore hyt was soo ; 
 And thogh they ne hadde^ I wolde thoo 
 Have loved best my lady free. 
 
 Thogh I had hadde al the beaute 1055 
 
 That ever had Alcipyades^ 
 And al the strengthe of Ercules^ 
 And therto had the worthynesse 
 
 1027 into. 1039 lisse goddesse. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 445 
 
 Of Alysaunder^ and al the rychesse 
 
 That ever was in Babyloyne, IO6O 
 
 In Cartage^ or in Macedoyne^ 
 Or in Rome^ or in Nynyve; 
 And to also as hardy be 
 As was Ector^ so have I joye^ 
 
 That Achilles slough at Troye — 1065 
 
 And therfore was he slayn alsoo_, 
 In a temple^ for bothe twoo 
 Were slayne^ he and Antylegyus — 
 And so seyth Dares Frygius^ 
 
 For love of Polixena; 1070 
 
 Or ben as wis as Mynerva^ 
 I wolde ever^ withoute drede_, 
 Have loved hir_, for I most nede. 
 Nede? nay_, trewly^ I gabbe no we; 
 
 Noght *nede/ and I wol telle howe; 1075 
 
 For of goode wille myn hert hyt wolde^ 
 And eke to love hir I was holde 
 As for the fairest and the beste. 
 She was as good^ so have I reste^ 
 
 As ever was Penolopee of Grece^ 1080 
 
 Or as the noble wife Lucrece^ 
 That was the best^ he telleth thus^ 
 The Romayne^ Tytus Lyvyus. 
 She was as good^ and nothynge lyke^ 
 
 Thogh hir stories be autentyke; 1085 
 
 Algate she was as trewe as she — 
 But wherfore that I telle the? 
 Whan I firste my lady say^ 
 I was ryght yonge^ sothe to say^ 
 
 And ful grete nede I hadde to lerne; IO9O 
 
 W^han my herte wolde yerne 
 To love^ hyt was a grete empryse. 
 ^ut as my wytte koude beste suffise_, 
 
446 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 After my yonge childely wytte^ 
 
 Withoute drede^ I besette hytte^ 1095 
 
 To love hir in my beste wyse 
 
 To do hir worshippe^ and the servise 
 
 That I koude thoo^ be my trouthe^ 
 
 Withoute feynynge outher slouthe; 
 
 For wonder feyne I wolde hir se^ 1100 
 
 So mochel hyt amended me^ 
 
 That whan I sawgh hir first a-morwe 
 
 I was warished of al my sorwe_, 
 
 Of al day after til hyt were eve; 
 
 Me thoghte nothyng myghte me greve 1105 
 
 Were my sorwes never so smerte. 
 
 And yet she sytte so myn herte^ 
 
 That by my trouthe y nolde noght^ 
 
 For ay thys worlde^ oute of my thoght 
 
 Leve my lady^ noo^ trewly !" "* 1110 
 
 *'Now by my trouthe^ sir^'' quod ly 
 "Me thynketh ye have suche a chaunee 
 As shryfte wythoute repentaunee." 
 
 ''Repentaunce? nay^ fy !" quod he^ 
 ''Shulde y now repente me 1115 
 
 To love ? nay^ certis^ than were I wel 
 Wers than was Achetofel^ 
 Or Anthenor^ so have I joye^ 
 The traytore that betraysed Troye ; 
 
 Or the false Genelloun, 1120 
 
 He that purchased the tresoun 
 Of Rowlande and of Olyvere. 
 Nay^ while I am alyve here_, 
 I nyl foryete hir never moo." 
 
 ''Now^ good syr/' quod I^ as thoo^ 1125 
 
 '*Ye han wel tolde me here before^ 
 Hyt ys no nede to reherse more^ 
 
 1096 best. 1103 warshed. 1105 thoght. 1120 fals. 1125 as om. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 447 
 
 How ye sawgh hir firste, and where ; 
 
 But wolde ye tel me the manere 
 
 To hire which was your first speche? 1130 
 
 Therof I wolde yow beseche; 
 
 And how she knewe first your thoght_, 
 
 Whether ye loved hir or noght; 
 
 And telleth me eke what ye have lore 
 
 I herde yow telle herebefore/' 1135 
 
 **Yee_,'' he seyde^ ''thow nost what thou menyst; 
 I have lost more than thou wenyst." 
 
 "What losse ys that?'' quod I thoo. 
 "Nyl she not love yow? ys hyt soo? 
 
 Or have ye oght doon amys^ 1140 
 
 That she hathe lefte yow^ ys hyt this? 
 For Goddys love^ telle me alle/' 
 
 "Before God/' quod he^ "and I shalle. 
 I say ryght as I have seyde^ 
 
 On hir was al my love leyde^ , 1145 
 
 And yet she nyste hyt never a del 
 Noght longe tyme^ leve hyt wel. 
 For be ryght siker^ I durste noght 
 For al this worlde tel hir my thoght^ 
 
 Ne I wolde have wraththed hir^ trewly. 1150 
 
 For wostow why^ she was lady 
 Of the body^ she had the hert^ 
 And who hath that may not astert. 
 But^ for to kepe me fro ydelnesse^ 
 
 Trewly I did my besynesse 1155 
 
 To make songes^ as I best koude^ 
 And ofte tyme I songe hem loude^ 
 And made songes this a grete dele^ 
 Al thogh I koude not make so wele 
 
 Songes^ ne knowe the arte alle 11 60 
 
 As koude Lamekys sone, Tuballe^ 
 
 1146 nat never. 1154 so fro. 1160 ne the. 
 
448 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That founde out firste the art of songe; 
 
 For as hys brothres hamers ronge 
 
 Upon hys anvelet^ up and doun^ 
 
 Therof he tooke the first soun. 1165 
 
 But Grekes seyn Pictagoras^ 
 
 That he the firste fynder was 
 
 Of the arte; Aurora telleth soq_, 
 
 But therof no fors of hem twoo. 
 
 Algatis^ songes thus I made 1170 
 
 Of my felynge^ myn hert to glade_, 
 
 And loo^ this was myn alther-first — 
 
 I not wher hyt were the werst — 
 
 'Lorde_, hyt maketh myn herte lyght 
 
 Whan I thenke on that swete wyght 1175 
 
 That is so semely on to see ; 
 
 And wisshe to God^ hit myght so bee 
 
 That she wolde holde me for hir knyght^ 
 
 My lady^ that is so f aire and bryght !' 
 
 Now have I tolde^ the sothe to say^ 1180 
 
 My firste songe. Upon a day 
 I bethoghte me what woo 
 And sorwe that I sufFred thoo 
 For hir^ and yet she wyst hyt noght^ 
 
 Ne tel hir durst I nat my thoght. 1185 
 
 'Alias/ thoght I, 'j kan no rede ! 
 And_, but I telle hir^ I nam but dede. 
 And yif I telle hyr^ to sey ryght sothe^ 
 I am adred she wol be wrothe. 
 
 AUas^ what shal I thanne doo?' 1190 
 
 In this debate I was so woo 
 Me thoght myn herte brast a-tweyne. 
 So at the laste_, sothe to sayne^ 
 
 1167 first. 1172 myn om.; this thus. 1174 hert. 1181 first. 1182 bethoght. 
 1187 am. 1192 hert. 1193 last. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 419 
 
 I be-thoght me^ that nature 
 
 Xe formed never in creature 1195 
 
 So moche beaute^ trewely 
 
 And bounte^ wythoute mercy. 
 
 In hope of that^ my tale I tolde 
 
 With sorwe^ as that I never sholde; 
 
 For nedys_, and mawgree my hede^ 1200 
 
 I most have tolde hir^ or be dede. 
 
 I not wel how that I beganne — 
 
 Ful evel reherse hyt I kan — 
 
 x\nd eke^ as helpe me God withalle^ 
 
 I trowe hyt was in the dismalle 1205 
 
 That was the ten woundes of Egipte; 
 
 For many a worde I overskipte 
 
 In my tale^ for pure fere 
 
 Lest my wordys mys-sette were. 
 
 With sorweful herte^ and woundes dede^ 1210 
 
 Softe and quakynge for pure drede 
 
 And shame_, and styntynge in my tale 
 
 For ferde^ and myn hewe al pale^ 
 
 Ful ofte I wexe bothe pal and rede. 
 
 Bowynge to hir I heng the hede — 1215 
 
 I durste nat ones loke hir on — 
 
 For witte. maner^ and al was goon. 
 
 I seyde 'mercy V and no more. 
 
 Hyt nas no game^ hyt sate me sore. 
 So at the laste^ sothe to seyne^ 1220 
 
 Whan that myn hert was come ageyne^ 
 To telle shortely al my speche_, 
 With hool herte I gan hir beseche 
 That she wolde be my lady swete; 
 
 And swore^ and gan hir hertely hete 1225 
 
 Ever to be stedfast and trewe^ 
 And love hir alwey fresshly newe_, 
 
 1196 trevviy. 1222 al at. 
 
450 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And never other lady have^ 
 
 And al hir worshippe for to save. 
 
 As I best koude, I swore hir this^ 1230 
 
 Tor youres is alle^ that ever ther ys^ 
 
 For evermore_, myn herte svrete^ 
 
 And never to false yow^ but I mete^ 
 
 I nyl^ as wysse God helpe me soo !' 
 
 And whan I had my tale ydoo^ 1235 
 
 God wote^ she acounted nat a stree 
 
 Of al my tale^ so thoghte me ! 
 
 To telle shortly ryght as hyt ys^ 
 
 Trewly hir answere^ hyt was this — 
 
 I kan not now wel counterfete 1240 
 
 Hyr wordys^ but this was the grete 
 
 Of hir answere^ she sayde 'nay !' 
 
 AUe outerly^ allas^ that day ! 
 
 The sorowe I sufFred^ and the woo 
 
 That trewly Cassandra^ that soo 1245 
 
 Bewayled the destruccioun 
 
 Of Troy and of Ilyoun 
 
 Had never swich sorwe as I thoo. 
 
 I durst no more say ther-too 
 
 For pure fere^ but stale away; 1250 
 
 And thus I lyved ful many a day^ 
 
 That trewely I hadde no nede 
 
 Ferther than my beddes hede 
 
 Never a day to seche sorwe. 
 
 I fonde hyt redy every morwe^ 1255 
 
 For why^ I loved hyr in no gere. 
 
 So hit befel another yere^ 
 
 I thoughte ones I wolde fonde 
 
 To do hir knowe and understonde 
 
 My woo^ and she wel understode 1260 
 
 That I ne wilned no thynge but gode 
 
 1237 thoght. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 451 
 
 And worshippe^ and to kepe hir name 
 
 Over alle thynges^ and dred hir shame^ 
 
 And was so besy hyr to serve. 
 
 And pitee were I shulde sterve, 1265 
 
 Syth that I wilned noon harme, ywys. 
 
 So whan my lady knewe al thys 
 
 My lady yaf me al hooly 
 
 The noble yifte of hir mercy_, 
 
 Savynge hir worshippe by al weyes, 1270 
 
 Dredles, I mene noon other weyes. 
 
 And therwith she yaf me a rynge_, 
 
 I trowe hyt was the first thynge. 
 
 But yif myn hert was iwaxe 
 
 Gladde, that is no nede to axe. 1275 
 
 As helpe me God, I was as blyve 
 
 Reysed as fro dethe to lyve, 
 
 Of al happes the alderbeste. 
 
 The gladdest, and the moste at reste ; 
 
 For trewely that swete wyght, 1280 
 
 Whan I had wrong and she the ryght, 
 
 She wolde alway so goodely 
 
 Foryeve me so debonairely. 
 
 In al my yowthe, in alle chaunce, 
 
 She tooke me in hir governaunce. 1285 
 
 Therwyth she was alway so trewe 
 
 Our j oye was ever-ylyche newe. 
 
 Oure hertys werne so evene a payre 
 
 That never nas that oon contrarye 
 
 To that other, for noo woo. 1290 
 
 For sothe ylyche they sufFred thoo 
 
 Oo blysse and eke oo sorwe bothe; 
 
 Ylyche they were, bothe glad and wrothe ; 
 
 Al was us oon, withoute were; 
 
 And thus we lyved ful many a yere 1295 
 
 1280 trewly. 1281 the om. 1284 al (2). 
 
452 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 So wel^ I kan nat telle how !" 
 
 *'Sir/' quod I^ "where is she now?'' 
 
 "Now I" quod he^ and stynte anoon. . . . 
 
 Therwith he waxe as dede as stoon^ 
 
 And seyde^ "Allas^ that I was bore! 1300 
 
 That was the losse that here before 
 
 I tolde the^ that I hadde lorne. 
 
 Bethenke how I seyde herebeforne 
 
 'Thow wost ful lytel what thow menyst^ 
 
 I have lost more than thow wenyst/ 1305 
 
 God wote^ allas^ ryght that was she !" 
 
 "AUas^ sir^ how? what may that be?" 
 
 "She ys ded I" "nay \" "Yis^ be my trouthe I" 
 
 "Is that youre losse ? be God_, hyt ys routhe V 
 
 And with that worde^ ryght anoon 1310 
 
 They gan to strake forth^ al was doon^ 
 For that tyme the herte huntynge. 
 With that me thoghte that this kynge 
 Anoon gan homewarde for to ryde 
 
 Unto a place was there besyde^ 1315 
 
 Which was from us but a lyte^ 
 A longe castel_, with wallys white^ 
 Be seynt Johan^ on a ryche hille_, 
 As me mette; but thus hyt fille — 
 
 Ryght thus me mette^ as I yow telle — 1320 
 
 That in the castell ther was a belle^ 
 As hyt hadde smyten oures twelve. 
 
 Therewyth I awooke my selve^ 
 And fonde me lyinge in my bedde^ 
 
 And the booke that I hadde redde 1325 
 
 Of Alcione and Seys the kynge 
 And of the goddys of slepynge^ 
 I fond hyt in myn honde ful evene. 
 Thoght I_, "Thys ys so queynt a swevene 
 
 1313 thoght. 1314 Anoon om. 1322 smyte. 
 
THE BOOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 453 
 
 That I wol^ be processe of tyme^ 1330 
 
 Fonde to put this swevene in ryme 
 
 As I kan best^ and that anoon." 
 
 This was my swevene^ now hit ys doon. 
 
 Explicit the Bohe of the Duchesse, 
 
THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS 
 
 (1) 
 
 ''Gladeth^ ye foules^ of the morowe gray^ 
 
 Loo^ Venus ! rysen amonge yon rowes rede ; 
 
 And floures fressh^ honouren ye this day^ 
 
 For when the sunne uprist then wol ye sprede. 
 
 But ye lovers^ that lye in eny drede^ 5 
 
 Fleeth^ lest wikked tonges yow espye_, 
 
 Loo^ yonde the sunne^ the candel of jalosye. 
 
 (2) 
 
 Wyth teres blew^ and with a wounded hert 
 
 Taketh your leve^ and with seynt John to borowe 
 
 Apeseth sumwhat of your sorowes smert; 10 
 
 Tyme cometh efte that cese shal your sorowe, 
 
 The glade nyght ys worthe an hevy morowe/' 
 
 Seynt Valentyne^ a foule thus herd I synge 
 
 Upon your day^ er sunne gan up-sprynge* 
 
 (3) 
 
 Yet sange this foule_, *'I rede yow al a wake^ 15 
 
 And ye that han not chosen in humble wyse_, 
 
 Without repentynge cheseth yow your make; 
 
 And ye that han ful chosen as I devise^ 
 
 Yet at this fest renoveleth your servyse^ 
 
 Confermeth hyt perpetuely to dure^ 20 
 
 And paciently taketh your aventure. 
 
 (4) 
 
 And for the worship of this highe fest 
 Yet wol 1, in my briddes wise^ synge 
 
 1 0/ on; follies lovers. 2 yon yow. 3 ye the. 4 ye they. 9 sent. 12 glad. 
 
THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS A55 
 
 The sentence of the compleynt^ at the lest^ 
 
 That woful Mars made atte departyng 25 
 
 Fro fresshe Venus in a morwnyng^ 
 
 Whan Phebus with his firy torches rede 
 
 Ransaked every lover in hys drede. — " 
 
 (5) 
 
 Whilom the thridde hevenes lord above 
 
 As wel by hevenysh revolucioun 30 
 
 As by desert^ hath wonne Venus his love_, 
 
 And she hath take him in subjeccioun^ 
 
 And as a maistresse taught him his lessoun_, 
 
 Commaundynge him that nevere in her servise 
 
 He ner so bolde no lover to dispise. 25 
 
 (6) 
 
 For she forbad him jelosye at alle_, , 
 
 And cruelte, and bost^ and tyrannye^ 
 
 She made him at her lust so humble and talle 
 
 That when her deyned to cast on hym her ye^ 
 
 He toke in pacience to lyve or dye ; 40 
 
 And thus she brydeleth him in her maner 
 
 With nothing but with scourging of her cher. 
 
 (7) 
 
 Who regneth now in blysse but Venus^ 
 
 That hath thys worthy knyght in governaunce ? 
 
 Who syngeth now but Mars^ that serveth thus 45 
 
 The faire Venus causer of plesaunce? 
 
 He bynt him to perpetuall obeisaunce^ 
 
 And she bynt her to loven him for ever^ 
 
 But so be that his trespace hyt tlesever. 
 
 28 hath every. 38 him om.; calle. A2 scourging stering. 46 fair. 48 love. 
 
456 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 (8) 
 Thus be they knyt^ and regnen as in heven 50 
 
 Be lokyng moost; — til hyt fil on a tyde 
 That by her bothe assent was set a steven 
 That Mars shal entre as fast as he may glyde 
 Into hir nexte paleys to abyde^ 
 
 Walkynge hys cours til she had him atake^ 55 
 
 And he preiede her to haste her for his sake. 
 
 (9) 
 
 Then seyde he thus^ ''Myn hertis lady suete. 
 
 Ye knowe wel my myschefe in that place^ 
 
 For sikirly til that I with yow mete^ 
 
 My lyfe stant ther in aventure and grace; 60 
 
 But when I se the beaute of your faee^ 
 
 Ther ys no dred of deth may do me smert_, 
 
 For alle your lust is ese to myn hert." 
 
 (10) 
 
 She hath so grete compassion on her knyght 
 
 That dwelleth in solitude til she come^ 65 
 
 For hyt stode so that ylke tyme no wight 
 
 Counseyled hym^ ne seyde to hym welcome 
 
 That nyghe her witte for sorowe was overcome^ 
 
 Wherfore she sped her as fast in her wey 
 
 Almost in oon day as he dyd in twey. 70 
 
 (11) 
 
 The grete joye that was betwex hem two 
 
 When they be mette^ ther may no tunge tel^ 
 
 Ther is no more^ but unto bed thei go_, 
 
 And thus in joy and blysse I let hem duel^ 
 
 This worthi Mars^ that is of knyghthode wel^ 75 
 
 The flour of feyrenesse lappeth in his armes^ 
 
 And Venus kysseth Mars the god of armes. 
 
 54 next. 56 haste faste. 
 
THE COAIPLAYNT OF MARS 457 
 
 (12) 
 
 Sojourned hath this Mars^ of which I rede^ 
 
 In chambre amyd the paleys prively 
 
 A certeyn tyme^ til him fel a drede 80 
 
 Throgh Phebus^ that was comen hastely 
 
 Within the paleys yates ful sturdely 
 
 With torche in honde^ of which the stremes bryght 
 
 On Venus chambre knokkeden ful lyght. 
 
 (IS) 
 
 The chambre ther as ley this fresshe quene 85 
 
 Depeynted was with white boles grete, 
 
 And by the lyght she knew^ that shone so shene^ 
 
 That Phebus cam to bren hem with his hete. 
 
 This cely Venus^ nygh dreynt in teres wete^ 
 
 Enbraceth Mars and seyde^ "alas^ I dye^ 90 
 
 The torch is come that al this world wol wrie/' 
 
 (14) • 
 
 Up sterte Mars^ hym luste not to slepe^ 
 
 When he his lady herde so compleyne; 
 
 But for his nature was not for to wepe^ 
 
 In stid of teres^ fro his eyen tweyne 95 
 
 The firi sparkes brosten out for peyne; 
 
 And hent his hauberke that ley hym besyde; 
 
 Fie wold he not^ ne myght himselven hide. 
 
 (15) 
 
 He throweth on his helme of huge wyght^ 
 
 And girt him with his swerde; and in his honde 100 
 
 His myghty spere^ as he was wont to fyght^ 
 
 He shaketh so that almost hit towonde; 
 
 Ful hevy was he to walken over londe^ 
 
 He may not holde with Venus companye^, 
 
 But bad her fleen_, lest Phebus her espye. 105 
 
 84 knokken. 92 stert ; lust. 95 twyne. 99 three. 
 
458 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 (16) 
 O woful Mars ! alas^ what maist thou seyn^ 
 That in the paleys of thy disturbaunce 
 Art left byhynde^ in peril to be sleyn; 
 And yet therto ys double thy penaunce^ 
 
 For she that hath thyn hert in governaunce 110 
 
 Is passed halfe the stremes of thin yen^ 
 That thou ner swift^ wel maist thou wepe and crien ! 
 
 (17) 
 Now fleeth Venus into Cilinios toure^ 
 With voide cours^ for fere of Phebus lyght. 
 Alas^ and ther ne hath she no socoure^ 115 
 
 For she ne founde ne saugh no maner wyght; 
 And eke as ther she had but litil myght^ 
 Wherfor^ herselven for to hyde and save. 
 Within the gate she fledde into a cave. 
 
 (18) 
 Derke was this cave^ and smokyng as the hel^ 120 
 
 Not but two pas within the yate hit stode. 
 A naturel day in derk I let her duel; 
 Now wol I speke of Mars^ furiouse and wode^ 
 For sorow he wold have sene his herte blode^ 
 Sith that he myght done her no company e^ 125 
 
 He ne roghte not a myte for to dye. 
 
 (19) 
 So feble he wex for hete and for his wo^ 
 That nygh he swelt^ he myght unnethe endure. 
 He passeth but a steyre in dayes two ; 
 
 But ner the lesse^ for al his hevy armure^ 1 30 
 
 He foloweth her that is his lyves cure_, 
 For whos departyng he toke gretter ire 
 Then for al his brennyng in the fire. 
 
 108 art thou. 114 icith wich. 115 ne om. 119 fledde fel. 121 pa.s pales. 
 124 hert. 125 have done. 126 thoght. 129 steyre sterre. 
 
 I 
 
THE COMPLAYXT OF MARS 459 
 
 (20) 
 
 After he walketh softely a paas^ 
 
 Complejmyng^ that hyt pite was to here. 135 
 
 He seyde^ **0 lady bryght^ Venus^ alas^ 
 
 That evere so wyde a compas ys my spere ! 
 
 Alas when shal I mete yow^ herte dere? 
 
 This twelve dayes of Apprile I endure 
 
 Throgh jelouse Phebus this mysaventure/' 140 
 
 (21) 
 
 Now God helpe sely Venus allone ! 
 
 But as God wolde^ hyt happed for to be 
 
 That while that Venus weping made her mone 
 
 Cilinius^ rydinge in his chevache^ 
 
 Fro Venus valaunse myght his paleys se^ 145 
 
 And Venus he salueth^ and maketh chere^ 
 
 And her receyveth as his frende ful dere. 
 
 (22) 
 
 Mars dwelleth forth in his adversyte_, 
 
 Compleynyng ever on her departynge; 
 
 And what his compleynt was^ remembreth me; 150 
 
 And therfore_, in this lusty morwnynge^ 
 
 As I best can^ I wol hit seyn and synge^ 
 
 And after that I wol my leve take^ 
 
 And God yif every wyght joy of his make! 
 
 The compleynt of Mars. 
 
 The ordre of compleynt requireth skylfully 155 
 
 That yf a wight shal pleyne petously^ 
 
 Ther mot be cause^ wherfore that men pleyn^ 
 Other men may deme he pleyneth folely 
 And causeles ; alas^ that am not I ! 
 
 138 hert. 145 valaunses. 156 pleyn. 
 
460 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Wherfor the grounde and cause of al my peyn^ l60 
 
 So as my troubled witte may hit ateyn^ 
 I wol reherse_, not for to have redresse^ 
 But to declare my grounde of hevynesse. 
 
 [First Tern.~\ 
 
 The first tyme^ alas_, that I was wroght^ 
 
 And for certeyn eiFectes hider broght l65 
 
 Be him that lordeth ech intelligence^ 
 I yaf my trwe servise and my thoght 
 For ever-more^ how dere I have hit boght^ 
 
 To her that is of so gret excelence^ 
 
 That what wight that first sheweth his presence^ 170 
 When she is wrothe^ and taketh of hym no cure^ 
 He may not longe in joye of love endure. 
 
 This is no feyned mater that I telle; 
 My lady is the verrey sours and welle 
 
 Of beaute^ lust^ fredam^ and gentilnesse^ 175 
 
 Of riche aray^ how dere men hit selle_, 
 Of al disport^ in which men frendly duelle^ 
 
 Of love and pley^ and of benigne humbles'se^ 
 
 Of soune of instrumentes of al suetnesse^ 
 And therto so wel fortuned and thewed^ 180 
 
 That thorow the worlde her goodnesse is yshewed. 
 
 What wonder ys then^ thogh that I beset 
 My servise on such on that may me knet 
 
 To wele or wo^ sith hit lythe in her myght? 
 Therfore my hert for ever I to her het^ 185 
 
 Ne truly^ for my dethe^ I shal not let 
 
 To ben her truest servaunt and her knyght. 
 
 I flater noght^ that may wete every wyght ; 
 For this day in her servise shal I dye^ 
 But grace be I se her ones wyth ye. 190 
 
 169 To that. 182 that om. 185 bet hight. 190 ones oenes alt. fr. neuer. 
 
THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS 46l 
 
 [Second Tern,] 
 
 To whom shal I than pleyn of my distresse? 
 Who may me helpe? who may my harme redresse? 
 
 Shal I compleyn unto my lady fre? 
 Nay_, certes^ for she hath such hevynesse^ 
 For fere and eke for wo^ that^ as I gesse^ 195 
 
 In lytil tyme hit wol her bane be. 
 
 But were she safe^ hit wer no fors of me. 
 Alas^ that ever lovers mote endure^ 
 For love^ so many a perilouse aventure ! 
 
 For tho so be^ that lovers be as trewe 200 
 
 As eny metal that is forged newe^ 
 
 In mony a case hem tydeth ofte sorowe^ 
 
 Somtyme her ladies wil not on hem rewe; 
 
 Somtyme^ yf that jelosie hyt knewe^ 
 
 They myghten lyghtly ley her hede to borowe; 205 
 
 Somtyme envyous f olke_, with tunges horowe^ 
 
 Departen hem^ alas^ whom may they plese? 
 
 But he be fals. no lover hath his ese. 
 
 But what availeth suche a longe sermoun 
 
 Of aventures of love up and doune? 210 
 
 I wol returne^ and speken of my peyne; 
 The poynt is this^ of my distruccioun 
 My righte lady^ my savacyoun^ 
 
 Is in affray^ and not to whom to pleyn. 
 
 O herte suete^ O lady sovereyn^ 215 
 
 For your disese I oght wel swowne and swelt^ 
 Thogh I none other harme ne drede felt. 
 
 [Third Tern.] 
 
 To what fyne made the god that sitte so hye^ 
 Be-nethen him love other company e^ 
 
 And streyneth folke to love malgre her hede.^ 220 
 
 191 than om. 203 somme. 215 hert. 216 sowne. 219 him om. 
 
462 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And then her joy^ for oght I can espye^ 
 Ne lasteth not the twynkelyng of an eye; 
 
 And somme han never joy til they be dede. 
 
 What meneth this ? what is this mystihede ? 
 Wherto constreyneth he his folke so fast 225 
 
 Thing to desyre but hit shulde last? 
 
 And thogh he made a lover love a things 
 And maketh hit seme stidfast and during^ 
 
 Yet putteth he in hyt such mysaventure^ 
 That rest nys ther noon in his yevinge. 230 
 
 And that is wonder^ that so juste a kynge 
 
 Doth such hardnesse to his creature. 
 
 Thus^ whether love breke or elles dure^ 
 Algates he that hath with love to done^ 
 Hath ofter wo then changed ys the mone. 235 
 
 Hit semeth he hath to lovers enemyte^ 
 And lyke a fissher^ as men alday may se^ 
 
 Bateth hys angle-hoke with summe plesaunce^ 
 Til mony a iissch ys wode to that he be 
 Sesed ther-with^ and then at erst hath he 240 
 
 Al his desire^ and ther-with al myschaunce ; 
 
 And thogh the lyne breke_, he hath penaunce^ 
 For with the hoke he wounded is so sore^ 
 That he his wages hathe for evermore. 
 
 [Fourth Tern.] 
 
 The broche of Thebes was of such a kynde, 245 
 
 So ful of rubies and of stones ynde^ 
 
 That every wight that set on hit an ye^ 
 He wend anon to worthe out of his mynde^ 
 So sore the beaute wold his herte bynde. 
 
 Til he hit had^ him thoght he muste dye; 250 
 
 226 shuld. 230 noon om. 233 wether. 246 of ynde. 249 hert. 250 must. 
 
THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS 463 
 
 And whan that hit was his^ then shuld he drye 
 Such woo for drede^ ay while that he hit had^ 
 That w^elnygh for the fere he shulde mad. 
 
 And whan hit was fro his possessioun^ 
 
 Then had he double wo and passioun^ 255 
 
 For he so f eir a tresore had forgo ; 
 
 But yet this broche^ as in conclusioun 
 
 Was not the cause of this confusioun^ 
 
 But he that wroght hit^ enfortuned hit so^ 
 
 That every wight that had hit shuld have wo ; 260 
 
 And therfore in the worcher w^as the vice^ 
 
 And in the covetour that was so nyce. 
 
 So fareth hyt by lovers and by me^ 
 For thogh my lady have so gret beaute 
 
 That I was mad til I had gete her grace^ 265 
 
 She was not cause of myn adversite^ 
 But he that wroght her^ also mot I the^ 
 
 That putte suche a beaute in her face 
 
 That made me coveten and purchace 
 Myn oune dethe^ him wite I that I dye^ 270 
 
 And myn unwitte^ that ever I clombe so hye. 
 
 [Fifth Tern.] 
 
 But to yow^ hardy knyghtis of renoun^ 
 Syn that ye be of my devisioun^ 
 
 Al be I not worthy to so grete a name^ 
 Yet seyn these clerkes^ I am your patroun; 275 
 
 Therfore ye oght have somme compassioun 
 
 Of my disese^ and take hit not agame. 
 
 The pruddest of yow may be made f ul tame ; 
 Wherfore I prey yow of your gentilesse^ 
 That ye compleyne for myn hevynesse. 280 
 
 251 that, his om. 253 shuld. 259 enfortune. 267 also as. 268 put; a om. 
 271 ovne witte. 280 compleyn. 
 
464 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And ye^ my ladyes^ that ben true and stable^ 
 
 Be wey of kynde^ ye oghten to be able 
 To have pite of folke that be in peyn. 
 
 Now have ye cause to clothe yow in sable^ 
 
 Sith that youre emperise^ the honurable^ 285 
 
 Is desolate wel oghte ye to pleyne^ 
 Now shuld your holy teres f alle and reyne. 
 
 Alas^ your honour and your emperise^ 
 
 Negh ded for drede^ ne can her not chevise. 
 
 Compleyneth eke^ ye lovers^ al in fere^ 290 
 
 For her that with unfeyned humble chere^ 
 Was evere redy to do yow soeoure; 
 
 Compleyneth her that evere hath had yow dere; 
 
 Compleyneth beaute^ fredom^ and manere; 
 
 Compleyneth her that endeth your labour; 295 
 
 Compleyneth thilke ensample of al honour 
 
 That never did but alway gentilesse; 
 
 Kytheth therfor on her summe kyndenesse. 
 
 286 og-ht. 293 complen ; der. 
 
THE PARLEMEXT OF FOULES 
 
 Here hegynytli the parlemeiit of if only s. 
 
 The lyf so shorty the craft so longe to lerne^ 
 
 Thassay so sharp^ so hard the conquerynge^ 
 
 The dredful joye alwey that slit so yerne^ 
 
 Al this mene I be Love^ that my felynge 
 
 Astonyd with his wondyrful werkynge 5 
 
 So sore^ Iwis^ that whan I on hym thynke^ 
 
 Nat wot I wel wher that I flete or synke. 
 
 For al be that I knowe nat Love indede^ 
 
 Xe wot how that he quitith folk here hyre_, 
 
 Yit happith me ful ofte in bokis reede 10 
 
 Of hise myraklis and his crewel yre^ 
 
 That rede I wel^ he wole be lord and syre. 
 
 I dar nat seyn^ his strokis been so sore^ 
 
 But God save swich a lord ! I sey namoore. 
 
 Of usage^ what for lust and what for lore^ 15 
 
 On bokis rede I ofte^ as I yow tolde. 
 
 But wherfore that I sjoeke al this ? nat yoore 
 
 Agon_, it happede me for to beholde 
 
 Upon a bok was wrete with letteris olde^ 
 
 And therupon, a certeyn thing to lerne^ 20 
 
 The longe day ful faste I redde and yerne. 
 
 For oute of olde feldys. as men sey^ 
 
 Comytli al this newe corn from yer to yere^ 
 
 And out of olde bokis^ in good fey^ 
 
 Comyth al this newe science that men lere. 25 
 
 But now to purpos as of this matere ; 
 
 To rede forth so gan me to delite 
 
 That al that day me thoughte but a lyte. 
 
 4 myn, and elsewhere in this text. 6 I wis. 12 wele. ?2 ofte. 
 
466 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 This bok of which I make of mencioun 
 
 Entytlt was al thus^ as I schal telle, 30 
 
 ''Tullyus of the drem of Scipioun/' 
 
 Chapiteris sevene it hadde_, of hevene and helle 
 
 And erthe, and soulis that therynne dwelle. 
 
 Of whiche, as shortly as I can it trete. 
 
 Of his centence I wele yow seyn the greete. S5 
 
 Fyrst tellith it, whan Scipion was come 
 
 In AiFrik, how he metyth Massynisse, 
 
 That hym for joie in armys hath inome. 
 
 Thanne tellyth he here speche, and of the blysse 
 
 That was betwixsyn hem til that day gan mysse ; 40 
 
 And how his auncestre, AfFrycan so deere, 
 
 Gan in his slep that nyght to hym apere. 
 
 Thanne tellith it, that from a sterry place 
 
 How AfFrycan hath hym Cartage schewid, 
 
 And warnede hym beforn of al his grace; 45 
 
 And seyde, what man lernyd other lewid 
 
 That lovede comoun profyt wel ithewid, 
 
 He shulde into a blysful place wende. 
 
 There as joye is, that last withoutyn ende. 
 
 Thanne axede he, if folk that now been dede 50 
 
 Han lyf and dwellynge in anothir place. 
 
 And AfFrican seyde, *'ya, withoutyn drede,'' 
 
 And that oure present worldis lyvys space 
 
 Nys but a maner deth, what weye we trace ; 
 
 And rightlul folk schul gon aftyr they deye 55 
 
 To hevene, and schewede hym the galaxy. 
 
 Thanne shewede he hym the litel erthe that here is 
 
 At regard of the hevenys quantite. 
 
 And after shewede he hym the nyne speris, 
 
 31 sothiom. 33 theryn. 39 spche. 40 thil. 53 wordis. 56 galylye. 
 57 litel om. 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 467 
 
 And aftyr that^ the melody e herde he 60 
 
 That comyth of thilke speris thryes thre^ 
 
 That welle is of musik and melodye 
 
 In this world here and cause of armonye. 
 
 Than bad he hym^ syn erthe was so lyte 
 
 And ful of torment and of harde grace^ 65 
 
 That he ne schulde hym in the world delyte^ 
 
 Thanne tolde he hym^ in certeyn yeris space 
 
 That every sterre shulde come into his place 
 
 Ther it was ferst^ and al schulde out of mynde 
 
 That in this world is don of al mankynde. 70 
 
 Thanne preyede hym Cypyon to telle hym al 
 
 The weye to come into that hevene blis. 
 
 And he seyde^ ''Know thyself ferst inmortal^ 
 
 And loke ay besyly thow werche and wysse 
 
 To comoun profit^ and thow shat not mysse 75 
 
 To comyn swiftly to this place deere 
 
 That ful of blysse is and of soulys cleere. 
 
 But brekers of the lawe^ soth to seyn^ 
 
 And lykerous folk^ aftyr that they ben dede^ 
 
 Schul whirle aboute therthe alwey in peyne^ 80 
 
 Tyl manye a world be passid^ out of drede_, 
 
 And that foryevyn is his weked dede. 
 
 Than shal they comyn into this blysful place, 
 
 To whiche to comyn_, God the synde his grace/' 
 
 The day gan f allien, and the derke nyght, 85 
 
 That revith bestis from here besynesse, 
 
 Berafte me my bok^ for lak of lyght ; 
 
 And to my bed I gan me for to dresse, 
 
 Fulfyld of thought and busy hevynesse; 
 
 For bothe I hadde thyng which that I nolde 90 
 
 And ek I ne hadde that thyng that I wolde. 
 
 65 was sumdel disseyvable & ful. 77 of (2) om. 78 brekeis. 80 there, 
 S'i the om.; his us. 85 folwyn. 88 bed self. 90 which om. 91 that (l) om. 
 
468 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But fynally^ my spirit at the laste^ 
 
 Forwery of my labour al the day^ 
 
 Tok reste^ that made me to slepe faste; 
 
 And in my slep I mette^ as that I lay, 95 
 
 How AiFrican, ryght in the same aray 
 
 That Cipion hym say^ byfore that tyde, 
 
 Was come, and stod right at my bedis syde. 
 
 The wery huntere, slepynge in his bed, 
 
 To wode agen his mynde goth anon; 100 
 
 The juge dremyth how hise pleis been sped; 
 
 The cartere dremyth how his carte is gon ; 
 
 The riche of gold, the knyght f yght with his f on ; 
 
 The syke met he drynkyth of the tunne ; 
 
 The lovere met he hath his lady wonne. 105 
 
 Can I nat seyn if that the cause were 
 
 For I hadde red of AfFrican byforen. 
 
 That made me to mete that he stod there; 
 
 But thus seyde he, '*Thow hast the so wel born 
 
 In lokynge of myn olde bok byforn, 110 
 
 Of whiche Macrobye roughte nat a lyte. 
 
 That sumdel of thy labour wolde I quyte." 
 
 Cytherea, thow blysful lady swete. 
 
 That with thy ferbrond dauntist whom thow lest. 
 
 And madist me this swevene for to mete, 115 
 
 Be thow myn helpe in this, for thow mayst best; 
 
 As wisely as I seye the north-nor-west. 
 
 Whan I began my swevene for to write. 
 
 So yif me myght to ryme and ek tendyte. 
 
 This forseyde AiFrican me hente anon, 120 
 
 And forth with hym unto a gate broughte 
 
 Ryght of a park, wallid of grene ston. 
 
 And ovyr the gatis with letteris large iwrowht, 
 
 108 theere. 113 Cythera. 
 
THE PARLEMEXT OF FOULES 469 
 
 There were vers iwreten as me thought^ 
 
 On eythir syde^ of ful gret difference^ 125 
 
 Of which I schal now seyn the pleyn sentence. 
 
 ''Thorw me men gon into that blysful place 
 
 Of hertis hele^ and dedly woundis cure ; 
 
 Thorw me men gon onto the welle of grace^ 
 
 There grene and lusty May shal evere endure; 130 
 
 This is the weye to al good aventure^ 
 
 Be glad^ thow redere^ and th}^ sorwe ofcaste. 
 
 Al opyn am !_, passe in_, and sped the f aste V 
 
 *' Thorw me men gon/' than spak that othir side_, 
 
 **Onto the mortal strokis of the spere^ 135 
 
 Of whiche Disdayn and Daunger is the gyde^ 
 
 That nevere yit shal freut ne levys here. 
 
 This strem yow ledith to the sorweful were 
 
 There as the fisch in prysoun is al drye ; 
 
 Theschewyng is only the remedye/' 140 
 
 These vers of gold and blak iwretyn were_, 
 
 Of whiche I gan astonyd to beholde^ 
 
 For whi^ that on encresede ay my fere_, 
 
 And with that othir gan myn herte bolde; 
 
 That on me hette^ that othir dede me colde^ l45 
 
 No wit hadde I for errour for to chese 
 
 To entre^ or flen^ or me to save^ or lese. 
 
 Right as betwixsyn adamauntis two 
 
 Of evene myght a pece of yryn set 
 
 Ne hath no myght to meve too ne fro^ 150 
 
 For what that on may hale^ that othir let_, 
 
 Ferde I^ that nyste whethir me was bet 
 
 To entre or leve^ til Affrycan^ my gide^ 
 
 Me hente^ and shof in at the gatis wide. 
 
 124 iwrete. 132 overcaste. 134 spat. 138 the om. 140 Ther shewing:. 
 141 wers. 152 best. 
 
470 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And seyde^ ''It stant writyn in thy face 155 
 
 Thyn errour^ though thow telle it not to me; 
 
 But dred the not to come into this place^ 
 
 For this writyng nys nothyng ment bi the^ 
 
 Ne by non^ but he lovys serwaunt be^ 
 
 For thow of love hast lost thy stat^ I gesse^ l60 
 
 As sek man hath of swet and byttyrnesse. 
 
 But natheles^ althow that thow be dul^ 
 
 Yit that thow canst not do^ yit mayst thow se^ 
 
 For manye a man that may nat stonde a pul/ 
 
 It likyth hym at wrastelyng for to be^ l65 
 
 And demyn yit wher he do bet^ or he^ 
 
 And there if thow haddist cunnyng for tendite^ 
 
 I shal the shewe mater for to wryte." 
 
 With that myn hand he tok in his anon^ 
 
 Of whiche I confort kaughte^ and went in faste; 170 
 
 But Lord^ so I was glad and wel-begoon ! 
 
 For overal where that I myne eyen caste 
 
 Were treis^ clad with levys that ay shal laste^ 
 
 Eche in his kynde of colour fresch and greene 
 
 As emeroude^ that joye was to scene. 175 
 
 The byldere ok^ and ek the hardy assh; 
 
 The pilere elm^ the cofere unto carayne; 
 
 The boxtre pipere ; holm^ to whippis lasch ; 
 
 The saylynge fyr; the cipresse^ deth to pleyne; 
 
 The shetere ew; the asp^ for shaftys pleyne; 180 
 
 The olyve of pes; and ek the dronke vyne; 
 
 The victor palm; the laurer to devyne. 
 
 A gardyn saw I^ ful of blosmy bowys^ 
 
 Upon a rever in a grene mede^ 
 
 There as that swetnesse everemore inow is^ 185 
 
 With flouris white^ blewe^ and yelwe^, and rede^ 
 
 161 hat. 170 icent in that as. 183 blospemy. 185 that ther. 
 
THE PARLEMEXT OF FOULES 471 
 
 And colde welle-stremys nothyng dede, 
 That swemyn fiil of smale fischis lighte^ 
 With fynnys rede and skalis sylvyr bryghte. 
 
 On every bow the bryddis herde I synge 190 
 
 With voys of aungel in here armonye. 
 
 Som besyede hem here bryddis forth to brynge ; 
 
 The litele eonyes to here pley gunne hye ; 
 
 And ferthere al aboute I gan aspye 
 
 The dredful ro^ the buk and hert^ and hynde^ 195 
 
 Squyrelis and bestis smale of gentil kynde. 
 
 Of instreumentis of strengis in acord 
 
 Herde I so pleye^ and ravyshyng swetnesse^ 
 
 That God^ that makere is of al^ and lord^ 
 
 Ne herde nevere betyr^ as I gesse; 200 
 
 Therwith a wynd^ onethe it myght be lesse^ 
 
 Made in the levys grene a noyse softe^ 
 
 Acordaunt to the bryddis song alofte. . 
 
 The eire of that place so attempre was 
 
 That nevere was grevaunce of hot ne cold; 205 
 
 There wex ek every holsum spice and gres; 
 
 Xe no man may there waxe sek ne old^ 
 
 Yit was there joye more a thousent fold 
 
 Than man can telle ; ne nevere wolde it nyghte^, 
 
 But ay cler day to ony manys syghte. 210 
 
 Undyr a tre besyde a welle I say 
 
 Cupide oure lord hise arwis forge and file^ 
 
 And at his fet his bowe al redy lay^ 
 
 And wel his doughtyr temperede al this whyle 
 
 The hevedis in the welle^ and with hire wile 215 
 
 She couchede hem aftyr as they shulde serve^ 
 
 Some for to sle^ and some to wounde and kerve. 
 
 188 lite. 19-2 Som So. 204 erthe. 207 ne om.: waxe there. 216 as om. 
 
472 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Tho was I war of Plesaunce anon ryght^ 
 
 And of Aray and Lust and Curteysie^ 
 
 And of the Craft that can and hath the myght 220 
 
 To don be force a wight to don folye; 
 
 Disfigurat was she^ I nyl nat lye^ 
 
 And by hemself undyr an ok^ I gesse^ 
 
 Saw I Delyt that stod with Gentilesse. 
 
 I saw Beute^ withoutyn ony atyr^ 225 
 
 And Youthe^ ful of game^ and Jolyte^ 
 
 Fool-hardynesse^ and Flaterye^ and Desyr/ 
 
 Messagerye^ and Meede^ and other thre/ 
 
 Here namys shul not here be told for me ; 
 
 And upon pileris greete of jasper longe^ 230 
 
 I saw a temple of bras ifounded stronge. 
 
 Aboute that temple daunsedyn alwey 
 
 Wemen inowe_, of whiche some ther were 
 
 Fayre of hemself^ and some of hem were gay^ 
 
 In kertelis al dischevele wente they there^ 235 
 
 That was here ofFys^ alwey yer be yeere; 
 
 And on the temple of dowvis white and fayre 
 
 Saw I syttynge manye an hunderede peyre. 
 
 By fore the temple dore ful sobyrly 
 
 Dame Pes sat^ with a curtyn in hire hond; 2iO 
 
 And by hire syde_, wondyr discretly^ 
 
 Dame Pacience syttynge there I fond^ 
 
 With face pale^ upon an hil of sond^ 
 
 And aldirnext withinne and ek withoute 
 
 Byheste and Art and of here folk a route. 245 
 
 Withinne the temple of sykys hoote as fuyr 
 I herde a swow^ that gan aboute renne^ 
 Whiche sikis were engenderede with desyr^ 
 
 221 before. ^See Glossary. 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 473 
 
 That madyn every auter for to brenne 
 
 Of newe flaume^ and wel espyed I thenne 250 
 
 That alle the cause of sorwe that they drye 
 
 Cam of the bittere goddesse Jelosye. 
 
 The god Priapus saw I^ as I wente_, 
 
 Withinne the temple in sovereyn place stonde 
 
 In swich aray as whan the asse hym shente 255 
 
 With cri be nyghte^ and with septure in his honde. 
 
 Ful besyly men gunne as aye and fonde 
 
 Upon his hed to sette of sundery hewe 
 
 Garlondis ful of flourys fresche and newe. 
 
 And in a prive corner in desport^ 260 
 
 Fond I Venus and hire porter Richesse, 
 
 That was ful noble and hautayn of hyre port; 
 
 Derk was that place^ but aftyrward lightnesse 
 
 I saw a lyte^ unnethe it myghte be lesse^ 
 
 And on a bed of gold sche lay to reste^ 265 
 
 Tyl that the hote sunne gan to weste-. 
 
 Hyre gilte heris with a goldene thred 
 
 Ibounden were^ untrussede as sche lay; 
 
 And nakyd from the brest up to the hed 
 
 Men myghte hyre sen_, and sothly for to say 270 
 
 The remenaunt was wel keverede^ to my pay_, 
 
 Ryght with a subtyl covercheif of valence^ 
 
 Ther nas no thikkere cloth of no defense. 
 
 The place yaf a thousent savouris sote^ 
 
 And Bacus^ god of wyn^ sat hire besyde; 275 
 
 And Sereis next^ that doth of hungir boote; 
 
 And^ as I seyide^ amyddis lay Cypride^ 
 
 To wham on kneis two yonge folk there cryede 
 
 To ben here helpe; but thus I let hem lye^ 
 
 And ferthere in the temple I gan espie 280 
 
 255 wan. 261 Venus Febus. 270 myghthe. 272 rygh. 
 
474 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That in dispit of Dyane the chaste 
 
 Ful manye a bowe ibroke hyng on the wal 
 
 Of maydenys^ swiche as gunne here tymys waste 
 
 In hyre servyse; ipeyntede were overal 
 
 Ful manye a story^ of whiche I touche shal 285 
 
 A fewe^ as of Calyxte^ and Athalante^ 
 
 And manye a mayde^ of whiche the name I wante. 
 
 Semyramus^ Candace^ and Hercules^ 
 
 Biblis^ Dido^ Thisbe^ and Piramus^ 
 
 Tristram^ Isaude^ Paris^ and Achilles^ 290 
 
 Eleyne^ Cliopatre^ and Troylus^ 
 
 Silla^ and ek the modyr of Romulus^ 
 
 AUe these were peyntid on that othir syde^ 
 
 And al here love^ and in what plyt they deyde. 
 
 Whan I was come agen unto the place 295 
 
 That I of spak^ that was so sote and grene_, 
 
 Forth welk I tho^ myselvyn to solace. 
 
 Tho was I war^ wher that ther sat a queene 
 
 That as of lyght the someris sunne shene 
 
 Passith the sterre^ right so overmesure 300 
 
 She f ayrere was than ony creature. 
 
 And in a launde_5 upon an hil of flouris^ 
 
 Was set this noble goddesse Nature. 
 
 Of braunchis were here hallis and here bouris 
 
 Iwrought after here cast and here mesure; 305 
 
 Ne there nas foul that comyth of engendrure 
 
 That they ne were al prest in here presence 
 
 To take hire dom^ and yeve hire audyence. 
 
 For this was on seynt Valentynys day^ 
 
 Whan every bryd comyth there to chese his make^ 310 
 
 Of every kynde that men thynke may^ 
 
 286 Calyote. 291 Troylis. 299 lygh. 305 iwroug-h: mesuris, 309 Volantynys. 
 
THE P.ARLEMENT OF FOULES 475 
 
 And that so huge a noyse gan they make 
 
 That erthe and eyr and tre and every lake 
 
 So ful was^ that onethe was there space 
 
 For me to stonde^ so ful was al the place. 315 
 
 And right as Aleyn in the Pleynt of Kynde 
 
 Devyseth Natur in aray and face^ 
 
 In swich aray men myghte hire there fynde. 
 
 This nobil emperesse^ ful of grace^ 
 
 Bad every foul to take his owene place 320 
 
 As they were wonyd alwey fro yer to yeere^ 
 
 Seynt Valentynys day to stondyn theere. 
 
 That is to seyn^ the foulis of ravyne 
 
 Were heyest set_, and thanne foulis smale 
 
 That etyn as hem Natur wolde enclyne^ S25 
 
 As werm or thyng of which I telle no tale; 
 
 And watyr foul sat loueste in the dale; 
 
 But foul that lyvyth be sed sat on the grene^ 
 
 And that so fele^ that wondyr was to sene. 
 
 There myghte men the ryal egle fynde_, 330 
 
 That with his sharpe lok persith the sunne^ 
 
 And othere eglis of a lowere kynde^ 
 
 Of whiche that clerkis wel devyse cunne; 
 
 Ther was the tiraunt with his f ederys dunne 
 
 And grey_, I mene the goshauk^ that doth pyne 335 
 
 To bryddis for his outrageous ravyne. 
 
 The gentyl facoun^ that with his feet distraynyth 
 
 The kyngis hand ; the hardy sperhauk eke^, 
 
 The quaylis f oo ; the merlioun that paynyth 
 
 Hymself ful ofte the larke for to seke; 340 
 
 There was the douve^ with hire eyen meke; 
 
 The j elous swan^ ayens hire deth that syngith ; 
 
 The oule ek^ that of deth the bode bryngyth. 
 
 222 Volantynys. 316 rigli. 326 of which om.; no my. 335 And A. 
 339 merilioun. 
 
476 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The crane geaunt^ with his trompis soun; 
 
 The thef the choghe^ and ek the jangelynge pye; 345 
 
 The skornynge j ay ; the elis f o^ heroun ; 
 
 The false lapwynge^ f ul of trecherye ; 
 
 The starlyng^ that the conseyl can bewreye; 
 
 The tame rodok_, and the coward kyte; 
 
 The kok^ that orloge is of thorpis lyte. 350 
 
 The sparwe^ Venus sone; the nyghtyngale^ 
 
 That clepith forth the grene levys newe ; 
 
 The swalwe^ mortherere of the flyes smale 
 
 That makyn hony of flouris frosche and newe; 
 
 The wedded turtil^ with hire herte trewe; 35 5 
 
 The pokok^ with his aungelis clothis bryghte; 
 
 The fesaunt^ skornere of the cok be nyghte. 
 
 The wakyr goos^ the cokkow most onkynde; 
 
 The popynjay^ ful of delicasye; 
 
 The drake^ stroyere of his owene kynde; 360 
 
 The stork^ the wrekere of avouterye; 
 
 The hote cormeraunt of glotenye; 
 
 The raven wys ; the crowe^ with vois of care ; 
 
 The thurstil old^ the frosty f eldef are. 
 
 What shulde I seyn? Of foulys every kynde 365 
 
 That in this world hath federis and stature 
 
 Men myghtyn in that place assemblede fynde 
 
 Byfore the noble goddesse_, Nature. 
 
 And everiche of hem dede his besy cure 
 
 Benygnely to chese or for to take^ 370 
 
 By hire a<!ord^ his formel or his make. 
 
 But to the poynt : Nature held on hire hond 
 
 A formele egle^ of shap the gentilleste 
 
 That evere she among hire werkis fond^ 
 
 The moste benygne^ and the goodlieste. 375 
 
 345 choghe crowe. 358 fiyes foulis. 363 wit. 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 477 
 
 In hire was everi vertu at his reste 
 
 So fer-forth^ that Nature hireself hadde blysse 
 
 To loke on hire^ and ofte hire bek to kysse. 
 
 Nature^ vicarye o the almyghty lord 
 
 That hot^ cold^ hevy^ lyght^ moyst^ and dreye 380 
 
 Hath knyt with evene noumberis of acord_, 
 
 In esy voys gan for to speke and seye^ 
 
 "Foulis^ tak hed of my centence^ I preye; 
 
 And for youre ese in fortheryng of youre nede^ 
 
 As faste as I may speke^ I wele yow speede. 385 
 
 Ye knowe wel^ how Seynt Valentynys day 
 
 By my statute and thorw my governaunce^ 
 
 Ye Gome for to cheese^ and fle youre wey_, 
 
 Youre makis_, as I prike yow with plesaunce ; 
 
 But natheles^ my ryghtful ordenaunce 390 
 
 May I nat breke^ for al this world to wynne^ 
 
 That he that most is worthi shal begyrune. 
 
 The terslet egle^ as that ye knowe ful w^el_, 
 
 The foul ryal above every degre^ 
 
 The wyse and worthi^ secre^ trewe as stel^ 395 
 
 Whiche I have formyd^ as ye may wel se^ 
 
 In every part as it best likyth me^ 
 
 It nedith not^ his shap yow to devyse^ 
 
 He shal ferst chese^ and spekyn in his gyse. 
 
 And aftyr hym^ by ordere shul ye chese 400 
 
 Aftyr youre kynde^ everiche as ye lykyth^ 
 
 And as youre hap is^ shul ye wynne or lese. 
 
 But which of yow that love most entrikyth^ 
 
 God synde hym hire that soryest for hym sykyth/' 
 
 And therwithal the tersel gan she calle^ - 405 
 
 And seyde^ '^^7 sone^ the choys is to yow falle. 
 
 384 yore (l). 400 ye they. 
 
478 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But natheles^ in this condicioun 
 
 Mot be the choys of everich that is heere ; 
 
 That she agre to his eleccioun_, 
 
 What so he be^ that shulde be hire feere. 410 
 
 This is oure usage alwey^ fro yer to yeere; 
 
 And ho so may at this tyme have his grace^ 
 
 In blisf ul tyme he cam into this place V 
 
 With hed enclyned^ and with humble cheere^ 
 
 This ryal tersel spak^ and tariede noht; 415 
 
 "Unto my sovereyn lady^ and not my fere^ 
 
 I chese_, and ches with wil and herte and thought 
 
 The formel on youre hond^ so wel iwrought; 
 
 Whos I am al^ and evere wele hire serve^ 
 
 Do what hire lest^ to do me leve or sterve; 420 
 
 Besekynge hire of merci and of grace^ 
 
 As she that is my lady sovereyne^ 
 
 Or let me deye present in this place ; 
 
 For certis^ longe I may nat lyve in payne^ 
 
 For in myn herte is korvyn every veyne^ 425 
 
 And havynge only reward to my trouthe^ 
 
 My dere herte_, have of my wo sum routhe. 
 
 And if that I to hyre be f ounde untrewe, 
 
 Dishobeysaunt or wilful necligent^ 
 
 Avauntour^ or in proces love a newe^ 430 
 
 I preye to yow this be my jugement. 
 
 That with these foulis be I al torent^ 
 
 That ilke day that evere she me f ynde 
 
 To hire untrewe or in my gilt unkynde. 
 
 And syn that hire lovyth non so wel as I, 435 
 
 Al be it that she me nevere of love beheete^ * 
 Thanne ouhte she be myn^ thourgh hire mercy, 
 
 416 myn. 417 ches shes. 431 myn. 434 vntrere. 436 she he. 
 
. THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 479 
 
 For othir bond can I non on hire knette^ 
 
 Ne nevere for no wo ne shal I lette 
 
 To servyn hire^ how fer so that she wende. 440 
 
 Say what vow leste^ my tale is at an ende/' 
 
 Ryght as the fresche rede rose newe 
 
 Ayen the somyr sunne coloured is^ 
 
 Ryght so for shame al wexen gan hire hewe 
 
 Of this f ormel^ whan she herde al this ; 445 
 
 She neythir answerde wel^ ne seyde amys^ 
 
 So sore abashat was she^ tyl that Nature 
 
 Seyde^ ''Doughter, drede the nought^ I yow assure." 
 
 Anothir tersel egle spak anon 
 
 Of lower kynde^ seyde^ "That shal nat be; 450 
 
 I love hire bet than ye don^ be Seynt Jon^ 
 
 Or at the leste I love as wel as ye^ 
 
 And longere have servyd hire in my degre ; 
 
 And if she shulde a lovid for long lovynge_, 
 
 To me fullonge hadde be the gerdonynge. 455 
 
 I dar ek seyn^ if she me fynde fals^ 
 
 LTnkynde^ or jangelere^ or rebel ony wyse^ 
 
 Or gelous^ do me hangyn by the hals; 
 
 And but I here me in hire servyse 
 
 As wel as that my wit can me sufFyse 460 
 
 From poynt to poynt^ hyre honour for to save^ 
 
 Tak ye my lif^ and al the good I have." 
 
 The thredde tercel egle answerde tho^ 
 
 **Now^ serys_, ye seen the lytil leyser heere^ 
 
 For every foul cryeth out to ben ago 465 
 
 Forth with his mak^ or with his lady deere ; 
 
 And ek Nature hireself ne wele not heere 
 
 For taryinge here not half that I wolde seye; 
 
 And but I speke^ I mot for sorwe deye. 
 
 438 knette areete. 442 frosche. 460, 462 myn. 461 to in. 462 the. 
 
480 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Of long servyse avante I me nothings 470 
 
 But as possible is me to deye today 
 
 For wo^ as he that hath ben languyssynge 
 
 This twenty yeer_, and as wel happyn may^ 
 
 A man may servyn bet and more to pay 
 
 In half a yer althau it were no moore^ 475 
 
 Than sum man doth^ that servyd hath ful yoore. 
 
 I sey not this by me^ for I ne can 
 
 Don no servyse that may my lady plese ; 
 
 But I dar seyn^ I am hire treweste man^ 
 
 As to my dom^ and fayneste wolde hire ese; 480 
 
 At shorte wordis_, til that deth me sese 
 
 I wele ben heris^ where I wake or wynke^ 
 
 And trewe in al that herte may bethynke." 
 
 Of al myn lyf^ syn that day I was born^ 
 
 So gentil pie in love or othir thyng 485 
 
 Ne herde nevere no man me beforn^ 
 
 Ho that hadde leyser and eunnyng 
 
 For to reherse hyre cher and hire spekyng ; 
 
 And from the morwe gan this speche laste 
 
 Tyl dounward drow the sunne wondir faste. 490 
 
 The noyse of foulis for to ben delyvered 
 
 So loude ronge^ ''Have don^ and lat us wende_,'' 
 
 That wel wende I^ the wode hadde al toslyvered. 
 
 ''Cum of/' they criedyn^ "AUas^ ye wele us shende; 
 
 Whan shal youre cursede pletynge havyn an ende ? 495 
 
 How shulde a juge eythir partie leve 
 
 For ye or nay^ withoutyn othir preve?'' 
 
 The goos^ the cokkow^ and the doke also 
 
 So cryede^ "kek kek^'' "kokkow^'' "quek quek^'' hye^ 
 
 That thourw myne erys the noyse wente tho. 500 
 
 The goos seyde^ "Al this nys not worth a flye; 
 
 471 But as Thsit; to lae. 476 hath servyd. 482 ichere were. 494 shynde. 
 
 I 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 481 
 
 But I can shappe herof a remedie^ 
 
 And I wele seye myn verdit fayre and swythe^ 
 
 For watyr foul^ ho so be wroth or blythe/' 
 
 *'And I for werm foul/' quod the fol kokkowe^ 505 
 
 **And I wele of myn owene autorite^ 
 
 For comun profit tak the charge nowe^ 
 
 For to delyvere us is gret charite/' 
 
 "Ye may onbyde a while yit^ perde^" 
 
 Quod the turtil^ ''if it be youre wille. 510 
 
 A wiht may speke_, hym were as f ayr ben stylle. 
 
 I am a sed foul^ on the onworthieste^ 
 
 That wot I wel^ and litil of cunnynge; 
 
 But bet is^ that a wyhtis tunge reste 
 
 Than entirmetyn hym of suche doinge '515 
 
 Of which he neythir rede can^ ne fynde; 
 
 And who so doth ful f oule_, hymself acloyith^ 
 
 For offys uncommyttid ofte anoyeth." 
 
 Nature^ which that alwey hadde an ere 
 
 To murmur of the lewedenesse behynde^ 520 
 
 With facound voys seyde^ "Hold youre tungis_, there^ 
 
 And I shal sone^ I hope_, a conseyl fynde 
 
 Yow to delyvere and from this noyse unbynde. 
 
 I juge of every folk men shul on calle^ 
 
 To seyn the verdit for yow foulys alle/' 525 
 
 Assentid was to this conclusioun 
 
 The briddis alle^ and foulis of ravyne 
 
 Han chosyn fyrst^ by playn eleccioun^ 
 
 The terselet of the facoun to diiFyne 
 
 Al here centence^ as hem leste to termyne^ 530 
 
 And to nature hym gunne to presente; 
 
 And she acceptyth hym with glad entente. 
 
 507 the charge nowe on no carghowe. 511 wiht whit. 515 suhe. 518 un- 
 commyttid onquit. 520 behynde om. 524 of on. 527 lauyne. 
 
482 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 The terselet seyde than in this manere: 
 
 **Ful hard were it to prove by resoun 
 
 Who lovyth best this gentil formele heere^ 535 
 
 For everych hath swich replicacioun 
 
 That non by skillis may been brought adoun. 
 
 I can not se that argumentis avayle; 
 
 Thanne semyth it there muste be batayle/' 
 
 "Al redy V' quod this eglis terslet tho. 540 
 
 **Nay^ seris/' quod he^ "if that I durste it seye. 
 
 Ye don me wrongs myn tale is not ido^ 
 
 For^ seris^ ne takith not a-gref^ I preye^ 
 
 It may not gon as ye wolde in this weye ; 
 
 Oure is the voys that han the charg on honde^ 545 
 
 And to the jugis dom ye motyn stonde. 
 
 And therf ore pes ; I seye^ as to myn wit 
 
 Me wolde thynke how that the worthiest 
 
 Of knyghthod and lengest hath used it^ 
 
 Most of estate of blod the gentilleste^ 550 
 
 Were sittyngest for hire^ if that her leste; 
 
 And of these thre she wot hireself^ I trowe^ 
 
 Whiche that he be^ for it is light to knowe.' 
 
 The watyr foulis han here hedis leid 
 
 Togedere^ and of a short avysement 555 
 
 Whan everryche hadde his large gole seyd^ 
 
 They seydyn^ sothly^ al be on assent^ 
 
 How that the goos with hire f acounde so gent, 
 
 *'That so desyrith to pronounce oure nede, 
 
 Shal telle oure tale/' and preyede God hym spede. 560 
 
 As for these watyr foulis tho began 
 The goos to speke^ and in his kakelynge 
 He seyde_, "Pes, now tak kep, every man, 
 And herkenyth which a resoun I shal brynge. 
 
 533 terslet ; than om. 551 her he. 553 it here. 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 483 
 
 Myn wit is sharp^ I love no taryinge; 565 
 
 I seye, I rede hym, thow he were myn brothir^ 
 But she wele love hym^ let hym take anothir/' 
 
 **Lo^ here a perfit resoun of a goos V 
 
 Quod the sperhauk^ *'nevere mot he the! 
 
 Lo_, sich it is to have a tunge loos. 570 
 
 Now^ perde^ fol^ now were it bet for the 
 
 Han holde thyn pes^ than shewe thyn nysete ! 
 
 It lyth nat in his myght^ ne in his wille^ 
 
 But soth is seyd^ a fol can not ben stille/' 
 
 The laughtere aros of gentil foulis alle^ 575 
 
 And right anon the sed foul chosyn hade 
 
 The turtel trewe^ and gunne hire to hem calle^ 
 
 And preyede hire for to seyn the sothe sadde 
 
 Of this matere^ and axsede what she radde. 
 
 And she answer de^ that^ pleynly^ hire entente 580 
 
 She wolde it shewe^ and sothly what she mente. 
 
 "Nay^ God forbede a lovere shulde chaunge/' 
 
 The turtel seyde^ and wex for shame red^ 
 
 *'Thow that his lady evere more be straunge^ 
 
 Yit lat hym serve hire^ til that he be ded. 585 
 
 Forsothe I preyse nat the gosis red; 
 
 For thow sche deyede^ I wolde non othir make^ 
 
 I wele ben hire til that the deth me take/' 
 
 "Wei bordit V quod the doke^ **by myn hat ! 
 
 That men shul lovyn alwey causeles^ 590 
 
 Who can a resoun f ynde^ or wit_, in that ? 
 
 Daunsith he murye that is myrtheles? 
 
 What shulde I rekke of hym that is recheles ? 
 
 Kek kek/' yit seith the doke^ ful wel and fayre^ 
 
 *'There been mo sterris^ God wot^ than a payre V 595 
 
 573 mygh. 576 righ. 579 rardde. 577, 583 tersel. 
 
484 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 **Now^ fy^ cherl/' quod the gentil terselet^ 
 
 *'Out of the donghil cam that word ful right; 
 
 Thow canst nat seen what thyng is wel beset; 
 
 Thow farst by love as oulys don by lyght. 
 
 The day hem blent^ but wel they sen be nyght. 600 
 
 Thy kynde is of so low a wrechednesse 
 
 That what love is^ thow canst nat seen ne gesse." 
 
 Tho gan the kokkow putte hym forth in pres 
 
 For foul that etith werm^ and seyde blyve^ 
 
 '*So I/' quod he^ '*may have my make in pes^ 605 
 
 I reche nat how longe that ye stryve^ 
 
 Lat eche of hem ben soleyn al here lyve^ 
 
 This is myn red^ syn they may nat acorde^ 
 
 This shorte lessoun nedith nat recorde/' 
 
 *'Ye^ have the glotoun fild inow his paunche^ 6lO 
 
 Thanne are we wel^'' seyde thanne a merlioun^ 
 
 "Thow mortherere of the heysoge on the braunche 
 
 That broughte the forth^ thow reutheles glotoun^ 
 
 Leve thow soleyn^ wermes corupcioun^ 
 
 For no fors is of lak of thy nature; 6l5 
 
 Go^ lewed be thow^ whil that the world may dure !" 
 
 ''Now pes/' quod Nature^ ''I comaunde here^ 
 
 For I have herd al youre opynyoun^ 
 
 And in effect yit be we not the nere; 
 
 But fynally^ this is my conclusioun^ 620 
 
 That she hireself shal han the eleccioun 
 
 Of whom hire lest^ and who be wroth and blythe^ 
 
 Hym that she chesith^ he shal hire han as swithe. 
 
 For syn it may not here discussid be 
 
 Who lovyth hire best^ as seyth the terselet^ 625 
 
 Thanne wele I don hire this favour^ that she 
 
 596/1/ sey; terslet. 600 nygh. 601 wrechednese. 602 gese. 604 blythe. 
 613 reufulles. 614 werm. 623 as a. 625 terslet. 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 485 
 
 Shal han hym on horn hire herte is set^ 
 
 And he hire/ that his herte hath on hire knet^ 
 
 Thus juge I Nature^ for I may not lye 
 
 To non estate I have non othir eye. 630 
 
 But as for conseyl for to chese a make^ 
 
 If^ I were Resoun^ eertis^ thanne wolde I 
 
 Conseyle yow the ryal tersel take^ 
 
 As seyde the terselet^ ful skylfuUy^ 
 
 As for the gentilleste and most worthi^ 6S5 
 
 Which I have wrought so wel to my plesaunce_, 
 
 That to yow oughte to been a sufEsaunce/' 
 
 With dredful vois the formel tho answerde^ 
 
 "My rightful lady^ goddesse of Nature^, 
 
 Soth is that I am evere undyr youre yerde^ 640 
 
 As is anothir lyvis creature^ 
 
 And mot ben youre^ whil that my lyf may dure; 
 
 And therfore grauntyth me my ferste bone^ 
 
 And myn entent that wele I seyn wol sone/' 
 
 "I graunte it yow/' quod she, and than a-non 64*5 
 
 This formel egle spak in this degre: 
 
 "Almyghty queen, unto this yer be gon, 
 
 I axe respit for to avise me. 
 
 And af tyr that to have my choys al f re ; 
 
 This al and sum that I wele speke and seye, 650 
 
 Ye gete no more al thow ye do me deye. 
 
 I wele nat serve Venus ne Cupide 
 
 Forsothe as yit, be no manere weye." 
 
 "Now syn it may non othirwise betyde/' 
 
 Quod tho Nature, "heere is no more to seye, 655 
 
 Thanne wolde I that these foulis were aweye, 
 
 Eche with his make, for taryinge lengere heere,'* — 
 
 And seyde hem thus, as ye shul aftyr here. 
 
 628 knyt. 645 than that. 658 hem h>Tn. 
 
486 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 "To yow speke I^ ye tersletis/' quod Nature^ 
 
 "Beth of good herte and servyth^ alle thre; 660 
 
 A yer ne is nat so longe to endure^ 
 
 And eche of yow peignynge in his degre 
 
 For to do wel ; for God wot quit is she 
 
 For yow this yer^ what aftyr so befalle^ 
 
 This entyrmes is dressid for yow alle/' 665 
 
 And whan this werk al brought was to an ende^ 
 
 To every foul Nature yaf his make 
 
 By evene aeord^ and on here weye they wende. 
 
 But lord^ the blisse and joye that they make^ 
 
 For ech gan othir in his wyngis take_, 670 
 
 And with here nekkis eche gan othyr wynde^ 
 
 Thankynge alwey the noble queen of kynde. 
 
 But fyrst were chosyn foulis for to synge^ 
 
 As yer be yer was alwey the usance 
 
 To synge a roundele at here departynge^ 675 
 
 To don to Nature honour and plesaunce; 
 
 The note^ I trow_, imakid were in Fraunce. 
 
 The wordis were sweche as ye may fynde • 
 
 The nexte vers_, as I now have in mynde. 
 
 Nowe welcome somer_, with thy sonne softe^ 680 
 
 That hast thes wintres wedres ovire-shake^ 
 And drevyne away the ionge nyghtes blake. 
 
 Saynt Valentyne that ert ful hye olofte^ 
 
 Thus syngen smale foules for thy sake 
 
 Nowe welcome somer, with thy sonne softe, 685 
 
 That hast thes wintr^es wedres ovire-shahe, 
 
 Wele han they cause forto gladen ofte 
 
 Sethe ech of hem recoverede hathe hys make^ 
 
 Ful blisseful mowe they ben when they wake. 
 
 663 quit what. 680 thy om. 
 
THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES 487 
 
 Nowe welcome somer, with thy sonne softe, 690 
 
 That hast thes wintres wedres ovire-shahe. 
 And drevyne away the longe nyghtes hlahe. 
 
 And with the shoutyng^ whan the song was do^ 
 
 That foulys madyn at here flyght awey 
 
 I wok^ and othere bokys tok me to 695 
 
 To rede upon; and yit I rede alwey 
 
 In hope^ I wis_, to rede so sum day 
 
 That I shal mete sum thyng for to fare 
 
 The bet^ and thus to rede I nele nat spare. 
 
 Explicit parliamentuTYi Auium In die sancti Valentini ten- 
 turn secundum Galfridum Chaucer, Deo gracias, 
 
 694 the foulys. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 
 
 The Prologue, 
 [A Version^ Later.] 
 
 A thousent sythis have I herd .men telle 
 
 That there is joye in hevene^ and peyne in helle^ 
 
 And I acorde wel that it be so; 
 
 But natheles^ this wit I wel also^ 
 
 That there ne is non that dwellyth in this cuntre 5 
 
 That e^^thir hath in helle or hevene ibe^ 
 
 Ne may of it non othere weyis wytyn^ 
 
 But as he hath herd seyd_, or founde it wrytyn^ 
 
 For by asay there may no man it preve. 
 
 But Goddis forbode^ but men schulde leve 10 
 
 Wel more thyng than men han seyn with eye ! 
 
 Men schal nat wenyn every thyng a lye 
 
 For that he say it nat of yore ago ; 
 
 God wot^ a thyng is nevere the lesse so^ 
 
 Thow every wyght ne may it nat ise; 15 
 
 Bernard the monk ne say nat al^ parde ! 
 
 Thanne motyn we to bokys that we fynde^, 
 
 Thourw whiche that olde thyngis ben in mynde_, 
 
 And to the doctryne of these olde wyse 
 
 Yevyn credence,, in every skylful wyse^ 20 
 
 And trowyn on these olde aprovede storjas 
 
 Of holynesse^ of regnys^ of victoryis^ 
 
 Of love^ of hate^ of othere sundery thyngis^ 
 
 Of whiche I may nat make rehersyngys. 
 
 And if that olde bokis weryn aweye^ 25 
 
 Iloryn were of remembrance the keye. 
 
 Wel oughte us thanne on olde bokys leve^ 
 
 Thereas there is non othyr asay be preve. 
 
 And as for me^ thow that myn wit be lite^ 
 On bokys for to rede I me delyte^ 30 
 
 And in myn herte have hem in reverence^ 
 And to hem yeve swich lust and swich credence 
 That there is wel onethe game non 
 That from my bokys make me to gon^ 
 34 myne (and elsewhere in this MS.). 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 
 
 The prologe of Ax. goode Wymmen. 
 [B Version, Earlier.] 
 
 A thousande tymes I have herd telle 
 
 That ther ys joy in hevene^ and peyne in helle^ 
 
 And I acorde wel that it ys so; 
 
 But netheles^ yet wot I wel also^ * " 
 
 That ther is noon duellyng in this contree 5 
 
 That eythir hath in hevene or helle y-be_, 
 
 Ne may of hit noon other weyes witen^ 
 
 But as he hath herd seyde or founde it writen_, 
 
 For by assay ther may no man it preve. 
 
 But God forbede^ but men shulde leve 10 
 
 Wel more thing then men han seen with eye ! 
 
 Men shal not wenen every thing a lye 
 
 But yf himself e yt seeth^ or elles dooth; 
 
 For God wot^ thing is never the lasse sooth^ 
 
 Thogh every wight ne may it nat ysee ; 15 
 
 Bernarde the monke ne saugh nat all^ pardee! 
 
 Than mote we to bokes that we fynde^ 
 
 Thurgh which that olde thinges ben in mynde^ 
 
 And to the doctrine of these olde wyse 
 
 Yeve credence^ in every skylful wise^ 20 
 
 That tellen of these olde appreved stories^ 
 
 Of holynesse^ of regnes^ of victories^ 
 
 Of love^ of hate^ of other sondry thynges^ 
 
 Of whiche I may not maken rehersynges. 
 
 And yf that olde bokes were awey^ 25 
 
 Yloren were of remembraunce the key. 
 
 Wel ought us thanne honouren and beleve 
 
 These bokes^ there we han noon other preve. 
 
 And as for me^ though that I konne but lyte^ 
 
 On bokes for to rede I me delyte^ SO 
 
 And to hem yive I feyth and ful credence_, 
 
 And in myn herte have hem in reverence 
 
 So hertely^ that ther is game noon 
 
 That fro my bokes maketh me to goon^ 
 
 2 That om. 3 acord. 6 or in. 26 ylorne. 33 hertly. 
 
490 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But it be other upon the halyday^ 35 
 
 Or ellis in the joly tyme of May; 
 
 Whan that I here the smale f oulys synge^ 
 
 And that the flouris gynne for to sprynge^ 
 
 Farwel^ my stodye^ as lastynge that sesoun! 
 
 Now have I therto this condycyoun 40 
 
 That of alle the flouris in the mede 
 
 Thanne love I most these flouris white and rede 
 
 Swyche as men calle dayesyis in oure toun; 
 
 To hem have I so gret aiFeceioun^ 
 
 As I seyde erst^ whan comyn is the May 45 
 
 That in myn bed there dawith me no day 
 
 That I ne am up^ and walkynge in the mede 
 
 To sen these flouris agen the sunne to sprede 
 
 Whan it upryseth be the morwe schene^ 
 
 The longe day thus walkynge in the grene. 50 
 
 And whan the sunne gynnys for to weste 
 
 Thanne closeth it^ and drawith it to reste^ 
 
 So sore it is aferid of the nyght^ 
 
 Til on the morwe^ that it is day is lyght; 
 
 This dayeseye^ of alle flouris flour. 55 
 
 Fulfyld of vertu and of alle honour^ 
 
 And evere ilike fayr and fresch of hewe^ 
 
 As wel in wyntyr as in somyr newe 
 
 Fayn wolde I preysyn if I coude^ aryght ; 
 
 But wo is me^ it lyth nat in myn myght ! 60 
 
 For wel I wot^ that folk han here beforn 
 Of makynge ropyn^ and lad awey the corn. 
 
 51 begynnys. 57 frosch. 
 
 I 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 491 
 
 But yt be seldom on the holyday; 35 
 
 Save certeynly^ whan that the monethe of May 
 
 Is comen^ and that I here the foules synge^ 
 
 And that the floures gynnen for to sprynge^ 
 
 Fairewel my boke and my devocioun. 
 
 Now have I thanne suche a condicioun^ 40 
 
 That of al the floures in the mede 
 
 Thanne love I most thise floures white and rede^ 
 
 Suche as men eallen daysyes in her toune. 
 
 To hem have I so grete aiFeccioun^ 
 
 As I seyde erst^ whanne comen is the May^ 45 
 
 That in my bed ther daweth me no day 
 
 That I nam uppe and walkyng in the mede^ 
 
 To seen this floure ayein the sonne sprede^ 
 
 Whan it uprysith erly by the morwe. 
 
 That blisful sighte softneth al my sorwe; 50 
 
 So glad am I^ whan that I have presence 
 
 Of it^ to doon it alle reverence^ 
 
 As she that is of alle floures flour^ 
 
 Fulfilled of al vertue and honour^ 
 
 And evere-ilyke faire and fressh of hewe^ 55 
 
 And I love it^ and ever ylike newe^ 
 
 And evere shal til that myn herte dye; 
 
 Al swere I nat^ of this I wol nat lye^ 
 
 Ther loved no wight hotter in his lyve. 
 
 And whan that hit ys eve^ I renne blyve^ 60 
 
 As sone as evere the sonne gynneth weste^ 
 
 To seen this flour_, how it wol go to reste^ 
 
 For fere of nyght^ so hateth she derknesse ! 
 
 Hire chere is pleynly sprad in the brightnesse 
 
 Of the sonne^ for ther yt wol unclose. 65 
 
 Allas^ that I ne had Englyssh^ ryme or prose^ 
 
 Suffisant this flour to preyse aryght ! 
 
 But helpeth^ ye that han konnyng and myght^ 
 
 Ye lovers^ that kan make of sentiment; 
 
 In this case oghte ye be diligent 70 
 
 To forthren me somwhat in my labour^ 
 
 Whethir ye ben with the leef or with the flour. 
 
 For wel I wot that ye han herbiforne 
 
 Of makynge ropen^ and lad awey the corne ; 
 
 50 sight. 52, 53 al. 57 hert. 69 sentment. 70 oght. 
 
492 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 I come aftyr^ glenynge here and ther^ 
 
 And am ful glad if I may fynde an er 
 
 Of ony goodly word that they han laft. 65 
 
 And if it happe me rehersen eft 
 
 That they han in here fresehe songis said^ 
 
 I hope that they wele nat ben evele apayed ; 
 
 Sithe it is seyd in fortheryng and honour 
 
 Of hem that eythir servyn lef^or flour. 70 
 
 For trustyth wel_, I ne have nat undyrtake 
 
 As of the lef agayn the flour to make, 
 
 Ne of the flour to make ageyn the lef. 
 
 No more than of the corn agen the shef ; 
 
 For as to me is lefere non ne lothere, 75 
 
 I am witholde yit with never nothire; 
 
 I not ho servyth lef ne who the flour, 
 
 That nys nothyng the entent of my labour. 
 
 For this werk is al of anothyr tunne 
 
 Of olde story er swich strif was begunne. 80 
 
 But wherfore that I spak to yeve credence 
 
 To bokys olde, and don hem reverence. 
 
 Is for men schulde autoriteis beleve 
 
 There as there lyth non othyr asay be preve ; 
 
 For myn entent is, or I fro yow fare, 85 
 
 The nakede tixt in Englis to declare 
 
 Of manye a story^ or ellis of manye a geste. 
 
 As autourys seyn, levyth hem if yow leste. 
 
 Whan passed was almost the monyth of May, 
 
 And I hadde romed al the somerys day 90 
 
 The grene medewe, of which that I yow tolde. 
 
 Upon the fresehe dayseie to beholde. 
 
 And that the sonne out of the south gan weste. 
 
 And clothede was the flour, and gon to reste 
 
 For derknese of the nyht of which sche dradde, 95 
 
 Hom to myn hous ful swiftly I me spadde, 
 
 And in a lytyl erber that I have . . 
 
 66 reherse. 67, etc., frosch. 80 old. 93 souht. J| 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 493 
 
 And I come after^ glenyng here and there^ 75 
 
 And am ful glad yf I may fynde an ere 
 
 Of any goodly word that ye han left. 
 
 And thogh it happen me rehercen eft 
 
 That ye han in your fresshe songes sayede^ 
 
 Forbereth me^ and beth nat evele apayede^ 80 
 
 Syn that ye see I do yt in the honour 
 
 Of love^ and eke in service of the flour 
 
 Whom that I serve^ as I have witte or myght. 
 
 She is the clerenesse and the verray lyght^ 
 
 That in this derke worlde me wynt and ledyth. 85 
 
 The hert inwith my sorwfuU brest yow dredith 
 
 And loveth so sore^ that ye ben verrayly 
 
 The maistresse of my witte and no thing I. 
 
 My worde^ my werkes^ ys knyt so in youre bond_, 
 
 That as an harpe obeieth to the hond^ 90 
 
 And rnaketh it soune after his fyngerynge^ 
 
 Ryght so mowe ye oute of myn herte bringe 
 
 Swich vois^ ryght as yow lyst to laughe or pleyn^ 
 
 Be ye my gide and lady sovereyn; 
 
 As to myn erthely god^ to yowe I calle^ 95 
 
 Bothe in this werke^ and in my sorwes alle. 
 
 But wherfore that I spake^ to yive credence 
 
 To olde stories^ and doon hem reverence 
 
 And that men mosten more thyng beleve 
 
 Then men may seen at eighe^ or elles preve? 100 
 
 That shal I seyn^ whanne that I see my tyme ; 
 
 I may not al attones speke in ryme. 
 
 My besy gost^ that thrusteth alwey newe 
 
 To seen this flour so yong^ so fressh of hewe^ 
 
 Constreyned me with so gledy desire^ 105 
 
 That in myn herte I f eele yet the fire 
 
 That made me to ryse^ er yt wer day^ 
 
 (And this was now the firste morwe of May)^ 
 
 With dredful hert and glad devocioun 
 
 For to ben at the resureccioun 110 
 
 Of this flour whan yt shulde unclose 
 
 Agayne the sonne^ that roos as rede as rose; 
 
 That in the brest was of the beste that day 
 
 That Agenores doghtre ladde away. 
 
 79 fressh. 92 hert. 96 in (2) om. 102 al om. 108 this om. 
 
494 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ibenchede newe with turwis fresche i-grawe^ 
 
 I bad men schulde me my couche make ; 
 
 For deynte of the newe somerys sake^ 100 
 
 I bad hem strowe flouris on myn bed. 
 
 Whan I was layd^ and hadde myn eyen hid^ 
 
 I fel aslepe withinne an our or two. 
 
 Me mette^ how I was in the medewe tho 
 
 And that I romede in that same gyse 105 
 
 To sen that flour as ye han herd devyse. 
 
 Fayr was this medewe^ as thoughte me^ overall 
 
 With flouris sote enbroudit was it al^ 
 
 As for to speke of gomme_, or erbe_, or tre^ 
 
 Comparisoun may non imakede be; 110 
 
 For it surmountede pleynly alle odours 
 
 And eek of ryche beute alle floury s. 
 
 Forgetyn hadde the erthe his pore estat 
 
 Of wyntyr^ that hym nakede made and mat_, 
 
 And with his swerd of cold so sore hadde grevyd; 115 
 
 Now hadde the tempre sonne al that relevyd^ 
 
 And clothede hym in grene al newe ageyn. 
 
 The smale foulis^ of the seson fayn^ 
 
 That from the panter and the net ben skapid^ 
 
 Upon the foulere that hem made awapid 120 
 
 In wyntyr^ and distroyed hadde hire brod^ 
 
 In his dispit hem thoughte it dede hem good 
 
 To synge of hym^ and in here song despise 
 
 The foule cherl^ that for his covetyse 
 
 Hadde hem betrayed with his sophistrye. 125 
 
 This was here song^ ''The foulere we defye V 
 
 Some songyn layes on the braunehis clere 
 
 Of love and May^ that joye it was to here^ 
 
 In worsehepe and in preysyng of hire make^ 
 
 And of the newe blysful somerys sake^ ISO 
 
 That sungyn^ "Blyssede be Seynt Volentyn ! 
 
 At his day I ches yow to be myn^ 
 
 Withoute repentynge_, myn herte swete V 
 
 And therwithal here bekys gunne mete. 
 
 The honour and the humble obeysaunces 135 
 
 They dede^ and after othere observauncys 
 
 127 layes om. 128 May oni. 135 obeysaunce. 136 And after dedyn. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 495 
 
 And doune on knes anoon-ryght I me sette^ 115 
 
 And^ as I koude^ this fresshe flour I grette^ 
 
 Knelyng alwey til it unclosed was 
 
 Upon the smale_, softe^ swote gras_, 
 
 That was with floures swote enbrouded al 
 
 Of swich suetnesse^ and swich odour over-al^ 120 
 
 That for to speke of gomme^ or herbe_, or tree^ 
 
 Comparisoun may noon ymaked bee; 
 
 For yt surmounteth pleynly alle odoures^ 
 
 And eek of riche beaute alle floures. 
 
 Forgeten had the erthe his pore estate 125 
 
 Of wyntir^ that hem naked made and mate^ 
 
 And with his swerd of colde so sore greved ; 
 
 Now hath thatempre sonne all that releved 
 
 That naked was^ and clad yt new agayn. 
 
 The smale foules^ of the seson fayn^ 130 
 
 That of the panter and the nette ben scaped^ 
 
 Upon the foweler that hem made awhaped 
 
 In wynter^ and distroyed hadde hire broode^ 
 
 In his dispite hem thoghte yt did hem goode 
 
 To synge of hym^ and in hir songe dispise 135 
 
 The foule cherle^ that for his covetise 
 
 Had hem betrayed with his sophistrye. 
 
 This was hire songe^ "The foweler we defi*ye 
 
 And al his crafte/' and somme songen clere 
 
 Layes of love^ that joye it was to here^ 140 
 
 In worshipynge_, and in preysinge of hir make^ 
 
 And for the newe blisful somers sake. 
 
 Upon the braunches^ ful of blosmes softe^ 
 
 In hire delyt they turned hem ful ofte^ 
 
 And songen^ "Blessed be Seynt Valentyne^ 145 
 
 For on his day I chees yow to be myne^ 
 
 With-outen repentyng^ myn herte swete V 
 
 And therwithalle hire bekes gonnen meete^ 
 
 Yeldyng honour and humble obeysaunces 
 
 To love^ and diden hire othere observaunces 150 
 
 116 fressh. 124: alle of ; eek om . 147 hert. 
 
496 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ryht plesyng onto Love and to Nature^ 
 
 So eche of hem doth wel to cryatur. 
 
 This song to herken I dede al myn entent. 
 
 For why^ I mette I wiste what they ment. 140 
 
 137 plesyng om. ; nature. 138 doth wel om.; cryaturys. 139 herkenyn. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 497 
 
 That longeth onto Love^ and to Nature; — 
 Construeth that as yow lyst_, I do no cure. 
 And thoo that hadde doon unkyndenesse^ 
 As dooth the tydif^ for newfangelnesse 
 
 Besoghte mercy of hir trespassynge, 155 
 
 And humblely songen hire repentynge^ 
 And sworen on the blosmes to be trewe^ 
 So that hire makes wolde upon hem rewe ; 
 And at the laste maden hire acord^ 
 
 Al founde they Daunger for a tyme a lord; 160 
 
 Yet Pitee^ thurgh his stronge gentil myght^ 
 Forgaf^ and maked mercy passen ryght^ 
 Thurgh innocence and ruled curtesye. 
 But I ne clepe nat innocence folye^ 
 
 Ne fals pitee^ for vertue is the mene^ l65 
 
 As Etike seith_, in swich maner I mene. 
 And thus thise foweles^ voide of al malice^ 
 Acordeden to love_, and laften vice 
 Of hate^ and songen alle of oon acorde^ 
 
 'Welcome^ somer^ oure governour and lorde !" 170 
 
 And Zepherus and Flora gentilly 
 Yaf to the floures^ softe and tenderly^ 
 Hire swoote breth^ and made hem for to sprede^ 
 As god and goddesse of the floury mede^ 
 In whiche me thoght I myghte day by day 175 
 
 Duellen alwey^ the joly monyth of May^ 
 Withouten slepe^ withouten mete or drynke. 
 Adoune ful softely I gan to synke^ 
 And lenynge on myn elbowe and my syde^ 
 The longe day I shoope me for tabide^ 180 
 
 For nothing ellis^ and I shal nat lye^ 
 But for to loke upon the daysie; 
 That men by reson wel it calle may 
 The daisie^ or elles the ye of day_, 
 
 The emperice and floure of floures alle; 185 
 
 I pray to God^ that faire mote she falle^ 
 And alle that loven floures for hire sake ! 
 But natheles^ ne wene nat that I make 
 In preysing of the flour agayn the leef^ 
 
 No more than of the corne agayn the sheef^ 190 
 
 For as to me^ nys lever noon ne lother^ 
 
 153 unkyndnesse. 156 songe. 162 mad. 164 yt nat. 169 songe. 175 myg-ht. 
 
498 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Tyl at the laste a larke song above^ 
 "I se^" quod she^ ''the myghty God of Love ; 
 Lo yond he comyth^ I se hise wyngis sprede !" 
 Tho gan I loken endelong the mede/ 
 
 And saw hym come and in his hond a quene 145 
 
 Clothid in ryal abyte^ al of grene. 
 A frette of goold sche hadde^ next hyre her^ 
 And upon that a whit corone sche ber 
 With many flourys^ and I schal nat lye ; 
 
 For al the worlds ryght as the dayseye 150 
 
 leorounede is with white levys lite^ 
 Swiche were the flourys of hire corone white. 
 For of o perle fyn and oryental 
 Hyre white coroun was imakyd al; 
 
 For whiche the white coroun above the grene 155 
 
 Made hire lyk a dayseye for to sene^ 
 Considerede ek the fret of gold above. 
 Iclothede was this myhty God of Love 
 Of silk^ ibroudede ful of grene grevys^ 
 
 A garlond on his hed of rose levys 160 
 
 Stekid al with lylye flourys newe. 
 But of his face I can not seyn the hewe; 
 For sekyrly^ his face schon so bryhte 
 That with the glem astonede was the syhte^ 
 A furlongwey I myhte hym not beholde. l65 
 
 143 loke. 149 mane. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 499 
 
 I nam withholden yit with never nother 
 
 Ne I not who serveth leef ne who the flour; 
 
 Wei browken they her service or labour^ 
 
 For this thing is al of another tonne 195 
 
 Of olde storye^ er swiche thinge was begonne. 
 
 Whan that the sonne out of the south gan west^ 
 And that this floure gan close and goon to rest^ 
 For derknesse of the nyght^ the which she dred_, 
 Home to myn house ful swiftly I me sped^ 200 
 
 To goon to reste^ and erly for to ryse^ 
 To seen this flour sprede^ as I devyse^ 
 And in a litel herber that I have^ ^^^""^ 
 
 That benched was on turves fressh ygrave^ 
 I bad men sholde me my couche make; 205 
 
 For deyntee of the newe someres sake^ 
 I bad hem strawen floures on my bed. 
 Whan I was leyde^ and had myn eyen hed^ 
 I fel on slepe inwith an houre or twoo. 
 
 Me mette how I lay in the medewe thoo^ 210 
 
 And from afer come walkyng in the mede^ 
 To seen this flour that I love so and drede^ 
 The God of Love and in his hande a quene^ 
 And she was clad in real habite grene. 
 
 A fret of gold she hadde next her heer^ 215 
 
 And upon that a white coroune she beer^ 
 With flourouns smale^ and I shal nat lye^ 
 For al the worlde ryght as a daysye 
 Ycorouned ys with white leves lyte^ 
 
 So were the flowrouns of hire coroune white; 220 
 
 For of o perle fyne^ oriental^ 
 Hire white coroune was imaked al; 
 For which the white coroune above the grene 
 Made hire lyke a daysie for to sene^ 
 
 Considered eke hir fret of golde above. 225 
 
 Yclothed was this myghty God of Love 
 In silke^ enbrouded ful of grene greves^ 
 Inwith a fret of rede rose leves^ 
 The fresshest syn the worlde was first bygonne; 
 His gilte here was corowned with a sonne^ 230 
 
 Istede of golde for hevynesse and wyght. 
 Therwith me thoght his face shoon so bryght 
 That wel unnethes myght I him beholde^ 
 
 192 mother, 215 had. 216 corwne. 
 
500 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But at the laste in hande I saw hym holde 
 
 Two fery dartis^ as the gleedys rede^ 
 
 And aungellych hyse wengis gan he sprede. 
 
 And al be that men seyn that blynd is he^ 
 
 Algate me thoughte he myghte wel ise^ 170 
 
 For sternely on me he gan beholde 
 
 So that his lokynge doth myn herte colde. 
 
 And be the hond he held the noble quene 
 
 Corouned with whit and clothede al in grene^ 
 
 So womanly^ so benygne^ and so meke^ 175 
 
 That in this world thow that men wolde seke^ 
 
 Half hire beute schulde men nat fynde 
 
 In cryature that formede is be kynde. 
 
 Hire name was Alceste the debonayre_, 
 
 I preye to God^ that evere falle sche fayre! 180 
 
 For ne hadde eonfort been of hire presence^ 
 
 I hadde be ded^ withoutyn ony defence^ 
 
 For dred of Lovys wordys and his chere^ 
 
 As^ whan tyme is^ hereaftyr ye schal here. 
 
 Byhynde this God of Love^ upon this grene^ 185 
 
 I saw comynge of lady is nynetene^ 
 In ryal abyte^ a ful esy pas^ 
 And aftyr hem come of wemen swich a tras 
 That syn that God Adam made of erthe^ 
 The thredde part of wemen^ ne the ferthe^ 190 
 
 Ne wende I not by possibilite^ 
 Haddyn evere in this world ibe^ 
 And trewe of love these wemen were echon. 
 Now whether was that a wondyr thyng or non_, 
 That ryht anon, as that they gunne espye 195 
 
 This flour^ whiche that I clepe the dayseye^ 
 Ful sodeynly they styntyn alle atonys^ 
 And knelede adoun, as it were for the nonys^ 
 And aftyr that they wentyn in cumpas 
 
 Daunsynge aboute this flour an esy pas^ 200 
 
 And songyn^ as it were^ in carolewyse^ 
 This balade^ whiche that I schal yow devyse. 
 
 167 Two Tho. 172 both. 178 In on. 179 thebonayre. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 501 
 
 And in his hande me thoght I saugh him holde 
 
 Twoo firy dartes^ as the gledes rede^ 235 
 
 And aungelyke hys wynges saugh I sprede. 
 
 And al be that men seyn that blynd ys he_, 
 
 Algate me thoghte that he myghte se^ 
 
 For sternely on me he gan byholde^ 
 
 So that his loking dooth myn herte colde. 240 
 
 And by the hande he helde this noble quene^ 
 
 Corowned with white and clothed al in grene^ 
 
 So womanly^ so benigne^ and so meke 
 
 That in this world thogh that men wolde seke^ 
 
 Half of hire beaute shulde men nat fynde 245 
 
 In creature that formed ys by kynde. 
 
 And therfore may I seyn^ as thynketh me^ 
 This songe^ in preysyng of this lady fre. 
 
 238 thoght, myght. 240 hert. 244 icolde seke om. 245 MS. has only 
 nat fynde. 
 
502 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 [Balade,~\ 
 
 Hyd Absalon^ thy gilte tressis clere; 
 
 Ester^ ley thow thy meknesse al adoun; 
 
 Hyde^ Jonathas^ al thy frendely manere; 205 
 
 Penolope_, and Marcia Catoun_, 
 
 Mak of youre wyf hood no comparisoun ; 
 
 Hyde ye youre beuteis^ Ysoude and Elene^ 
 
 Alceste is here^ that al that may destene. 
 
 Thy fayre body, lat it nat apeere, 210 
 
 Laveyne, and thow, Lucresse of Rome Toun, 
 
 And PoUexene^ that boughte love so dere, 
 
 Ek Cleopatre with al thy passioun, 
 
 Hide ye youre trouth in love and youre renoun; 
 
 And thow, Tysbe, that hast for love swich peyne, 215 
 
 Alceste is here, that al that may desteyne. 
 
 Herro, Dido, Laodomya, alia in fere, 
 
 Ek Phillis hangynge for thyn Demophoun, 
 
 And Canace, espied be thy chere, 
 
 Ysiphile, bytrayed with Jasoun, 220 
 
 Mak of youre trouthe in love no host ne soun ; 
 
 Nor Ypermystre or Adriane, ne pleyne; 
 
 Alceste is here, that al that may disteyne. 
 
 Whan that this balade al isongyn was. 
 
 203, etc., thyne, thyn. 214 ronoun. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 503 
 
 HydCy Absolon^ thy gilte tresses clere; 
 
 Ester^ ley thou thy mekenesse al adowne; 250 
 
 Hyde^ Jonathas^ al thy frendly manere; 
 
 Penalopee and Marcia Catoun^ 
 
 Make of youre wifhode no comparysoun ; 
 
 Hyde ye youre beautes^ Ysoude and Eleyne ; 
 
 My lady comith^ that al this may disteyne. 255 
 
 Thy faire body^ lat yt nat appere_, 
 
 Lavyne; and thou^ Lucresse of Rome toune^ 
 
 And Polixene^ that boghten love so dere; 
 
 And Cleopatre with al thy passyon^ 
 
 Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun; 260 
 
 And thou Tesbe_, that hast of love suche peyne^ 
 
 My lady comith^ that al this may disteyne. 
 
 Herro^ Dido_, Laudomia^ alle y-fere^ 
 
 And Phillis hangyng for thy Demophon^ 
 
 And Canaee espied by thy ehere^ 265 
 
 Ysiphile^ betraysed with lason^ 
 
 Maketh of your trouthe neythir boost- ne soune; 
 
 Nor Ypermystre or Adriane^ ye tweyne^ 
 
 My lady eometh_, that al this may dysteyne. 
 
 This balade may ful wel y-songen be^ 270 
 
 As I have seyde erst^ by my lady free; 
 
 For certeynly^ al thise mowe nat suffise 
 
 To apperen wyth my lady^ in no wyse. 
 
 For as the sonne wole the fire disteyne^ 
 
 So passeth al my lady sovereyne^ 275 
 
 That ys so good^ so faire^ so debonayre; 
 
 I prey to God^ that ever f alle hire faire ! 
 
 For nadde comfort ben of hire presence^ 
 
 I hadde ben dede withouten any defence^ 
 
 For drede of Loves wordes and his chere; 280 
 
 As when tyme ys^ herafter ye shal here. 
 
 Behynde this God of Love^ upon the grene^ 
 
 I saugh comyng of ladyes nientene 
 
 254 Elyene. 
 
504 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Upon the softe and sote grene gras 225 
 
 They settyn hem ful softely adoun^ 
 
 By ordere alle in cumpas^ alle enveroun. 
 
 Fyrst sat the God of Love^ and thanne this queene. 
 
 With the white corone clad in grene^ 
 
 And sithyn al the remenant by and by^ 230 
 
 As they were of degre^ ful curteysly ; 
 
 Ne nat a word was spokyn in that place 
 
 The mountenaunce of a furlongwey of space. 
 
 I^ lenynge faste by undyr a bente^ 
 
 Abod to knowe what this peple mente^ 2S5 
 
 As stille as ony ston; til at the laste 
 
 The God of Love on me his eye caste^ 
 
 And seyde^ '*Ho restith there?'' and I answerde 
 
 Unto his axsynge^ whan that I hym herde^ 
 
 And seyde^ '*Sere^ it am I''; and cam hym ner^ 240 
 
 And salewede hym. Quod he^ ''What dost thow her 
 
 In my presence^ and that so boldely.'^ 
 
 For it were bettere worthi trewely 
 
 A werm to comen in my syht than thow." 
 
 ''And why. sere?'' quod I^ "and it lyke yow?" 245 
 
 "For thow/' quod he^ "art therto nothyng able; 
 
 My servauntis ben alle wyse and honourable^ 
 
 Thow art my mortal f o^ and me warrej^est^ 
 
 And of myne olde servauntis thow mysseyst^ 
 
 And hynderyst hem with thy translacyoun^ 250 
 
 And lettist folk to han devocyoun 
 
 227 in veroun. 244 come. 
 
 I 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 505 
 
 In real habite^ a ful esy paas ; 
 
 And after hem coome of wymen swich a traas^ 285 
 
 That syn that God Adam hadde made of erthe^ 
 
 The thirdde part of mankynde^ or the ferthe^ 
 
 Ne wende I not by possibilitee 
 
 Had ever in this wide worlde ybee. 
 
 And trewe of love thise women were echon. 290 
 
 Now wheither was that a wonder thing or non_, 
 
 That ryght anoon as that they gonne espye 
 
 Thys flour^ which that I clepe the daysie^ 
 
 Ful sodeynly they stynten al attones, 
 
 And knelede doune^ as it were for the nones^ 295 
 
 And songen with o vois^ '*Heel and honour 
 
 To trouthe of womanhede^ and to this flour 
 
 That bereth our alder pris in figurynge; 
 
 Hire white corowne beryth the witnessynge/' 
 
 And with that word^ acompas enviroun^ 300 
 
 They setten hem ful softly adoun. 
 
 First sat the God of Love^ and syth his queue 
 
 With the white corowne^ clad in grene; 
 
 And sithen al the remenaunt by and by^ 
 
 As they were of estaat^ ful curteysly ; 305 
 
 Ne nat a worde was spoken in the place 
 
 The mountaunce of a furlong wey of space. 
 
 I^ knelyng by this floure in good entente^ 
 
 Aboode to knowen what this peple mente^ 
 
 x\s stille as any ston; til at the last 310 
 
 This God of Love on me hyse eighen caste^ 
 
 And seyde^ ''Who kneleth there?'' and I answerde 
 
 Unto his askynge^, whan that I it herde^ 
 
 And seyde^ '*Sir^ it am 1/' and come him nere_, 
 
 And salwed him. Quod he^ "What dostow here 315 
 
 So nygh myn oune floure so boldely.^ 
 
 Yt were better worthy trewely 
 
 A worme to neghen ner my flour than thow." 
 
 "And why^ sire.^'' quod I^ "and yt lyke yow.^^'' 
 
 "For thow/' quod he^ "art therto nothing able. 320 
 
 Yt is my relyke^ digne and delytable^ 
 
 And thow my foo^ and al my folke werreyest^ 
 
 And of myn olde servauntes thow mysseyest^ 
 
 And hynderest hem with thy translacioun^ 
 
 And lettest folke from hire devocioun 325 
 
 294 styten. 297 To (l) The. 314 Sir om. 317 trewly. 
 
506 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 To servyn me^ and haldist it folye 
 
 To troste on me^ thow mayst it nat denye_, 
 
 For in pleyn tixt^ it nedyth nat to glose^ 
 
 Thow hast translatid the Romauns of the Rose^ 255 
 
 That is an eresye ageyns my lawe^ 
 
 And makyst wise folk fro me withdrawe. 
 
 And thynkist in thy wit^ that is ful cole^ 
 
 That he nys but a verray propre fole 
 
 That lovyth paramouris to harde and hote. 260 
 
 Wei wot I therby^ thow begynnyst dote^ 
 
 As olde folis whan here spiryt f aylyth. 
 
 Thanne blame they f olk^ and wete nat what hem ealyth ! 
 
 Hast thow nat mad in Englys ek the bok 
 
 How that Crisseyde Troylis forsok^ 265 
 
 In schewynge how that wemen han don mis ? 
 
 Bit natheles^ answere me now to this^ 
 
 Why noldist thow as wel a seyd goodnes 
 
 Of wemen^ as thow hast seyd wekedenes? 
 
 Was there no good matyr in thy mynde^ 270 
 
 Ne in alle thy bokys ne coudist thow nat fynde 
 
 Sum story of wemen^ that were goode and trewe ? 
 
 Yis^ God wot sixty bokys olde and newe 
 
 Hast thow thyself^ alle ful of storyis grete^ 
 
 That bothe Romaynys and ek Grekis trete 275 
 
 Of sundery wemen^ whiche lyf that they ladde^ 
 
 And evere an hunderede goode ageyn on badde. 
 
 This knowith God^ and alle clerkis ek^ 
 
 That usyn sweche materis for to sek. 
 
 What seith Valerye, Titus, or Claudyan? 280 
 
 What seith Jerome agayns Jovynyan? 
 
 How clene maydenys and how trewe wyvys, 
 
 How stedefaste wedewys durynge alle here lyvys 
 
 Tellyth Jerome; and that nat of a fewe, 
 
 But I dar seyn an hunderede on a rewe, 285 
 
 That it is pete for to rede, and routhe. 
 
 The wo that they endure for here trouthe. 
 
 For to hyre love were they so trewe. 
 
 That rathere than they wolde take a newe. 
 
 They chose to be ded in sundery wyse, 290 
 
 And deiedyn, as the story wele devyse. 
 
 And some were brend, and some were cut the hals. 
 
 And some dreynt, for they woldyn not be fals, 
 
 262 spryt. 276 ledde. 289 wole. 293 thy. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 507 
 
 To serve me^ and boldest it folye 
 
 To serve love^ thou maist yt nat denye; 
 
 For in pleyne text^ withouten nede of glose^ 
 
 Thou hast translated the Romaunce of the Rose^ 
 
 That is an heresye ayeins my lawe, 830 
 
 And makest wise folke fro me withdrawe. 
 
 And of Creseyde thou hast seyde as the lyste^ 
 That maketh men to wommen lasse triste 
 
 That ben as trewe as ever was any steel. 
 
 326 line defective in MS. 329 translated om. 
 
508 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For alle kepid they here maydynhed^ 
 
 Or ellis wedlok^ or here wedewehed; 295 
 
 And this thing was nat kept for holynesse^ 
 
 But al for verray vertu and clennesse^ 
 
 And for men schulde sette on hem no lak ; 
 
 And yit they were hethene^ al the pak^ 
 
 That were so sore adrad of alle schame. 300 
 
 These olde wemen kepte so here name^ 
 
 That in this worlds I trowe^ men schal nat fynde 
 
 A man that coude be so trewe and kynde^ 
 
 As was the leste woman in that tyde. 
 
 What seyth also the Epistelle of Ovyde 305 
 
 Of trewe wyvys and of here labour? 
 
 What Vincent^ in his Estoryal Myrour? 
 
 Ek al the world of autourys maystow here^ 
 
 Cristene and hethene^ trete of swich matere^ 
 
 It nedyth nat al day thus for to endite. 310 
 
 But yit I seye^ what eylyth the to wryte 
 
 The draf of storyis^ and forgete the corn? 
 
 Be Seynt Venus^ of whom that I was born^ 
 
 Althow thow reneyed hast my lay, 
 
 As othere olde folys, manye a day, 315 
 
 Thow schalt repente it, so that it schal be sene !" 
 
 Thanne spak Alceste, the worthyeste queene. 
 
 And seyde, *'God, ryght of youre curteysye, 
 
 Ye motyn herkenyn if he can replye 
 
 Ageyns these poyntys that ye han to hym mevid. 320 
 
 A god ne schulde not thus been agrevyd. 
 
 But of his deite he schal be stable 
 
 And therto ryghtful and ek mercyable. 
 
 He schal nat ryghtfuUy his yre wreke 
 
 Or he have herd the tothyr partye speke. 325 
 
 Al ne is nat gospel that is to yow pleynyd, 
 
 The God of Love hereth manye a tale if eynyd ; 
 
 For in youre court is manye a losengeour, 
 
 And manye a queynte totulour acusour, 
 
 That tabourryn in youre eres manye a thyng 330 
 
 For hate, or for jelous ymagynyng. 
 
 And for to han with you sum dalyaunce. 
 
 308 the te ; mayst tow. 314 reneyist. 318 worthyere. 322 deite dede. 
 328 losenger. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 509 
 
 Of thyn answere avise the ryght weel; 335 
 
 For thogh that thou reneyed hast my lay^ 
 
 As other wrecches han doon many a day^ 
 
 By seynte Venus^ that my moder ysy 
 
 If that thou lyve^ thou shalt repenten this 
 
 So cruelly^ that it shal wele be sene/' 340 
 
 Thoo spake this lady^ clothed al in grene^ 
 
 And seyde^ *'God^ ryght of youre eurtesye_, 
 
 Ye moten herken yf he can replye 
 
 Agayns al this^ that ye have to him meved. 
 
 A god ne sholde nat be thus agreved^ 345 
 
 But of hys deitee he shal be stable^ 
 
 And therto gracious^ and merciable. 
 
 And yf ye nere a god^ that knowen alle^ 
 
 Thanne myght yt be^ as I yow tellen shalle^ 
 
 This man to yow may falsly ben accused^ 350 
 
 That as by right him oughte ben excused. 
 
 For in youre courte ys many a losengeour^ 
 
 And many a queynte totelere accusour, 
 
 That tabouren in youre eres many a sown. 
 
 Ryght aftir hire ymagynacioun^ S55 
 
 To have youre daliance^ and for envie. 
 
 336 that om. 338 seint. 353 aqueynt. 354 swon. 
 
510 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Envye — I preie to god yeve hire myschaunce ! — 
 
 Is lavender in the grete court alway^ 
 
 For she ne partyth^ neythir nyght ne day^ SS5 
 
 Out of the hous of Cesar^ thus seyth Dante ; 
 
 Whoso that goth^ alwey sche mote not wante. 
 
 This man to yow may wrongly ben acused, 
 
 There as be ryght hym oughte ben excusid; 
 
 Or ellis^ sere^ for that this man is nyce, 340 
 
 He may translate a thyng in no malyce^ 
 
 But for he usyth bokis for to make^ 
 
 And takyth non hed of what matere he take ; 
 
 Therfore he wrot the Rose and ek Crisseyde 
 
 Of innocence^ and nyste what he seyde. 345 
 
 Or hym was bodyn make thilke tweye 
 
 Of sum persone^ and durste it not withseye; 
 
 For he hath wrete manye a bok er this. 
 
 He ne hath not don so grevosly amys 
 
 To translate that olde clerkis wryte^ 350 
 
 As thow that he of maleys wolde endyte 
 
 Despit of love^ and hadde hymself iwrouht. 
 
 This schulde a ryghtwys lord han in his thought^ 
 
 And not ben lyk tyrauntis of Lumbardye 
 
 That usyn wilfulhed and tyrannye; 355 
 
 For he that kyng or lord is naturel^ 
 
 Hym oughte nat be tyraunt and crewel 
 
 As is a fermour^ to don the harm he can; 
 
 He muste thynke^ it is his lige man^ 
 
 And that hym owith^ o verry duetee^ 360 
 
 Schewyn his peple pleyn benygnete^ 
 
 And wel to heryn here excusacyouns^ 
 
 And here compleyntys and petyciouns^ 
 
 In duewe tyme whan they schal it prof re ; 
 
 This is the sentens of the philysophre: S65 
 
 A kyng to kepe hise lygis in justise^ 
 
 Withouten doute^ that is his offise^ 
 
 And thertb is a kyng f ul depe isworn 
 
 Ful manye an hunderede wyntyr here beforn^ 
 
 And for to kepe his lordys hir degre^ 370 
 
 As it is ryght and skylful that they be 
 
 Enhaunsede and honoured^ and most dere. 
 
 For they ben half goddys in this world here; 
 
 335 she he ; nygh. 337 not om. 359 must. 367 which oughtyn. 
 372 and om. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 511 
 
 Thise ben the causes^ and I shal not lye ; 
 
 Envie ys lavendere of the court alway^ 
 
 For she ne parteth_, neither nyght ne day^ 
 
 Out of the house of Cesar^ thus seith Dante; 360 
 
 Who so that gooth_, algate she wol nat wante. 
 
 And eke perauntere for this man ys nyce, 
 
 He myghte doon yt^ gessyng no malice; 
 
 But for he useth thynges for to make^ 
 
 Hym rekketh noght of what matere he take; S65 
 
 Or him was boden maken thilke tweye 
 
 Of somme persone^ and durste yt nat with-seye ; 
 
 Or him repenteth outrely of this^ 
 
 He ne hath nat doon so grevously amys 
 
 To translaten that olde clerkes writen^ 370 
 
 As thogh that he of malice wolde enditen 
 
 Despite of love, and had him-selfe yt wroght. 
 
 This shoolde a ryghtwis lord have in his thoght^ 
 
 And nat be lyke tirauntez of Lumbardye^ 
 
 That han no reward but at tyrannye. 375 
 
 For he that kynge or lord ys naturel^ 
 
 Hym oghte nat be tiraunt ne crewel 
 
 As is a fermour^ to doon the harme he kan. 
 
 He moste thinke yt is his leege man^ 
 
 And is his tresour^ and his gold in cofre. 380 
 
 This is the sentence of the philosophre: 
 A kyng to kepe hise leeges in justice^ 
 Withouten doute^ that is his office; 
 
 Al wol he kepe hise lordes hire- degree^ 
 
 As it ys ryght and skilful that they bee 385 
 
 Enhaunced and honoured^ and most dere^ 
 
 For they ben half goddys in this world here^ 
 
 363 myght. 364 But om. 366 Or Of. 371 As And. 376 ys in. 377 oght. 
 
512 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 This schal he don^ bothe to pore and ryche, 
 
 Al be that her estat be nat alyche^ 375 
 
 And han of pore folk compassioun; 
 
 For lo^ the gentyl kynde of the lyoun ! 
 
 For whan a flye oiFendyth hym or bytith^ 
 
 He with his tayl awey the flye smytyth 
 
 Al esyly; for^ of his genterye^ 380 
 
 Hym deynyth nat to wreke hym on a flye^ 
 
 As doth a eurre^ or ellis anothir beste. 
 
 In noble corage oughte ben areste^ 
 
 And weyen every thyng by equite^ 
 
 And evere han reward to his owen degre. 385 
 
 For^ sire^ it is no maystrye for a lord 
 
 To dampne a man withoute answere or word ; 
 
 And for a lord that is wol foul to use. 
 
 And if so be^ he may hym nat ascuse^ 
 
 But axith mercy with a sorweful herte^ 390 
 
 And proferyth hym ryght in his bare scherte 
 
 To been ryght at youre owene jugement^ 
 
 Than ought a God^ by schort avisement^ 
 
 Considere his owene honour and his trespaee. 
 
 For sythe no cause of deth lyth in this cace^ 395 
 
 Yow oughte to ben the lyghtere merciable. 
 
 Letith youre yre and beth sumwhat tretable; 
 
 The man hath servyd yow of his konnyng^ 
 
 And fortheryd youre lawe with his makyng. 
 
 Whil he was yong he kepte youre estat; 400 
 
 I not where he be now a renagat_, 
 
 But wel I wot^ with that he can endyte^ 
 
 He hath makid lewede folk to delyte 
 
 To servyn yow in preysynge of youre name. 
 
 He made the bok that highte the Hous of Fame^ 405 
 
 And ek the Deth of Blaunche the duchesse^ 
 
 And the Parlement of Foulis^ as I gesse^ 
 
 And al the love of Palamon and Arcite 
 
 Of Thebes^ thow the storye is knowe lite; 
 
 And manye an ympne for your halydayis^ 410 
 
 That hightyn baladis^ roundelys^ vyrelayes ; 
 
 And for to speke of othyr besynesse^ 
 
 He hath in prose translatid Boece^ 
 
 And of the Wrechede Engendrynge of Mankynde^ 
 
 374 and om. 384 euerych. 390 But om. 398 konnyg. 410 thour. 
 411 and vyrelayis. 
 
 t 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 513 
 
 Yit mote he doon bothe ryght to poore and ryche^ 
 
 Al be that hire estaat be nat yliche^ 
 
 And han of poore folke compassvoun. 390 
 
 For_, loo^ the gentil kynde of the lyon ! 
 
 For whan a flye oiFendith him or biteth^ 
 
 He with his tayle awey the flye smyteth 
 
 Al esely^ for of hys gentry e 
 
 Hym deyneth not to wreke hym on a flye^ 395 
 
 As dooth a curre^ or elles another best. 
 
 In noble corage oughte ben arest^ 
 
 And weyen every thing by equytee^ 
 
 And ever have rewarde to his owen degree. 
 
 For^ syr^ yt is no maistrye for a lorde 400 
 
 To dampne a man without answere of worde_, 
 
 And for a lorde that is ful foule to use. 
 
 And it so be he may hym nat excuse_, 
 
 But asketh mercy with a dredeful herte^ 
 
 And prof ere th him ryght in his bare sherte 405 
 
 To ben ryght at your owen jugement^ 
 
 Than oght a God^ by short avysement^ 
 
 Consydre his owne honour and hys trespas. 
 
 For syth no cause of dethe lyeth in this caas^ 
 
 Yow oghte to ben the lyghter merciable; 410 
 
 Leteth youre ire_, and beth sumwhat tretable ! 
 
 The man hath served yow of his kunnyng^ 
 
 And furthred wel youre lawe in his makyng. 
 
 Al be hit that he kan nat wel endite^ 
 
 Yet hath he made lewde folke delyte 415 
 
 To serve yow^ in preysinge of your name. 
 
 He made the book that hight the Hous of Fame^ 
 
 And eke the deeth of Blaunche the Duchesse^ 
 
 And the Parlement of Foules^ as I gesse^ 
 
 And al the love of Palamon and Arcite 420 
 
 Of Thebes^ thogh the storye ys knowen lyte ; 
 
 And many an ympne for your halydayes^ 
 
 That highten balades^ roundels, virelayes. 
 
 And for to speke of other holynesse. 
 
 He hath in proce translated Boece, 425 
 
 393 fle. 397 ought. 399 to unto. 
 
514 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 As man may in Pope Innocent ifynde; 415 
 
 And made the Lyf also of Seynt Cecile. 
 
 He made also_, gon sithen a gret while^ 
 
 Ory genes upon the Maudeleyne ; 
 
 Hym oughte now to have the lesse peyne. 
 
 He hath mad manye a lay and manye a thyng; 420 
 
 Now as ye ben a god and ek a kyng^ 
 
 I^ youre Alceste^ whilom Quene of Trace^ 
 
 I axe yow this man ryght of youre grace^ 
 
 That ye hym nevere hurte in al his ly ve ; 
 
 And she schal swere to yow^ and that as blyve, 425 
 
 He schal no more agiltyn in this wyse ; 
 
 But he schal makyn^ as ye wele devyse^ 
 
 Of wemen^ trewe in lovynge al here lyve^ 
 
 Wher-so ye wele_, of maydyn or of wyve ; 
 
 And fortheryn yow^ as meche as he mysseyde 430 
 
 Or in the Rose or ellis in Crisseyde/' 
 
 The God of Love answerede hire thus anon: 
 
 "Madame_," quod he^ ''it is so longe agon 
 
 That I jbw knew so charytable and trewe^ 
 
 That nevere yit^ sithe that the world was newe^ 435 
 
 To me ne fond I never non bet than the ; 
 
 That if that I wele save my degre^ 
 
 I may ne wel not warne youre requeste. 
 
 Al lyth in yow^ doth with hym what yow leste^ 
 
 And al foryeve^ withoute lengere space^ 440 
 
 For who so yevyth a yifte^ or doth a grace^ 
 
 Do it be-tyme^ his thank is wel the more. 
 
 And demyth ye what he shal don therfore. 
 
 Go^ thanke now my lady here/' quod he. 
 
 I ros^ and doun I sette me on my kne^ 445 
 
 And seyde thus: ''Madame^ the God above 
 
 Foryelde yow that ye the God of Love 
 
 Han makyd me his wrethe to f ory eve; 
 
 And yeve me grace so longe for to leve 
 
 That I may knowe sothly what ye be^ 450 
 
 That han me holpyn and put in swich degre. 
 
 But trewely I wende^ as in this cas^ 
 
 Naught have agilt^ ne don to Love trespas. 
 
 For why^ a trewe man withoute drede^ 
 
 Hath nat to parte with a thevys dede^ 455 
 
 417 sithen is. 419 ouughte. 423 rygh. 436 betere. 442 tJie te. 451 put me. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 515 
 
 And maade the Lyfe also of Seynt Cecile. 
 
 He made also goon sithen a grete while^ 
 
 Origenes upon the Maudeleyne; 
 
 Hym oughte now to have the lesse peyne. 
 
 He hath maade many a lay and many a thinge. 430 
 
 Now as ye be a God and eke a kynge^ 
 
 !_, your Alceste^ whilom queue of Trace, 
 
 Y aske yow this man ryght of your grace^ 
 
 That ye him never hurte in al his lyve. 
 
 And he shal sweren to yow^ and that as blyve^ 435 
 
 He shal never more agilten in this wyse; 
 
 Eut he shal maken^ as ye wol devyse^ 
 
 Of wommen trewe in lovyng al hire lyfe^ 
 
 Wherso ye wol^ of mayden or of wyfe_, 
 
 And forthren yow as muche as he mysseyde 440 
 
 Or in the Rose_, or elles in Creseyde/' 
 
 The God of Love answerede hire anoon^ 
 
 ''Madame/' quod he^ ''it is so long agoon 
 
 That I yow knewe so charitable and trewe^ 
 
 That never yit^ syn that the worlde was newe, 445 
 
 To me ne founde y better noon than yee. 
 
 If that I wolde save my degree^ 
 
 I may ne wol nat werne your requeste^ 
 
 Al lyeth in yow^ dooth wyth hym as yow liste ; 
 
 I al foryeve^ withouten lenger space; 450 
 
 For who so yeveth a yifte or dooth a grace^ 
 
 Do it by-tyme^ his thank ys wel the more. 
 
 And demeth ye^ what he shal doo therfore. 
 
 Goo thanke now my lady here/' quod he. 
 
 I roos^ and doune I sette me on my knee^ 455 
 
 And seyde thus^ "Madame^ the God above 
 
 Foryelde yow^ that ye the god of love 
 
 Han maked me his wrathe to foryive^ 
 
 And gyve me grace so long for to lyve^ 
 
 That I may knowe soothly what ye bee^ 460 
 
 That han me holpe and put in this degree. 
 
 But trewely I wende^ as in this cas. 
 
 Naught have agilt^ ne doon to Love trespas. 
 
 For why^ a trewe man^ withouten drede^ 
 
 Hath nat to parten with a theves dede ; 465 
 
 i27 sithen ys. 4S5 as om. 4:37 he am. 447 /ye. 467 ye om. 469 gyve me om. 
 461 me in. 462 trewly. 
 
516 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Ne a trewe lovere oughte me nat blame^ 
 
 Thow that I speke a f als lovere sum schame ; 
 
 They aughte rathere with me for to holde^ 
 
 For that I of Criseyde wrot or tolde^ 
 
 Or of the Rose^ what so myn auctour mente^ 460 
 
 Algate^ God wot^ it was myn entente 
 
 To forthere trouthe in love and it cheryse^ 
 
 And to be war from falsenesse and from vice 
 
 By swich ensaumple^ this was nay menynge." 
 
 And sche answerde^ **Lat be thyn arguynge^ 4^65 
 
 For Love ne wele nat countyrpletyd be 
 
 In ryght ne wrong; and lerne this at me^ 
 
 Thow hast thy grace^ and holde the ryght therto. 
 
 Now wole I seyn^ what penaunce thow schalt do 
 
 For thy trespace^ and undyrstonde it here ; 470 
 
 Thow schalt^ whil that thow levyst yer be yere 
 
 The moste partye of thy lyve spende 
 
 In makynge of a gloryous legende 
 
 Of goode wemen^ maydenys and wyves^ 
 
 That were trewe in lovynge al here lyvys ; 475 
 
 And telle of false men that hem betrayen 
 
 That al here lyf ne don nat but asayen 
 
 How manye wemen they may don a schame. 
 
 For in youre world that is now holdyn game ! 
 
 And thow the lestyth nat a lovere be^ 480 
 
 Spek wel of love^ this penaunce yeve I the; 
 
 And to the God of Love I schal so preye 
 
 That he schal charge hise servauntys. by ony weye. 
 
 To fortheryn the^ and wel thy labour quite. 
 
 Go now thy wey^ thy penaunce is but lyte." 485 
 
 The God of Love gan smyle^ and thanne he seyde^ 
 
 "Wostow/' quod he^ *Vher this be wif or mayde 
 
 Or queen or countesse^ or of what degre 
 
 That hath so lytil penaunce yevyn the^ 
 
 That hast deservyd sorere for to smerte? 490 
 
 But pete rennyth sone in gentil herte; 
 
 That mayst thow sen^ sche kytheth what sche is." 
 
 And I answerde^ "Nay^ sere^ so have I blys^ 
 
 No more but that I se wel sche is good." 
 
 456 oughte may. 469 schat. 471 that om. 472 lyf. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 517 
 
 Ne a trewe lover oghte me not to blame^ 
 
 Thogh that I spake a fals lovere som shame. 
 
 They oghte rather with me for to holde 
 
 For that I of Creseyde wroot or tolde^ 
 
 Or of the Rose^ what so myn auctour mente. 470 
 
 Algate^ God woot^ yt was myn entente 
 
 To forthren trouthe in love^ and yt cheryce^ 
 
 And to ben war fro falsnesse and fro vice 
 
 By swiche ensample^ this was my menynge/' 
 
 And she answerde, 'Xat be thyn arguynge^ 475 
 
 For Love ne wol nat countrepleted be 
 
 In ryght ne wrong; and lerne that of me; 
 
 Thow hast thy grace^ and holde the ryght therto. 
 
 Now wol I seyn what penance thou shalt do 
 
 For thy trespas^ and understonde yt here^ 480 
 
 Thow shalt^ while that thou lyvest yere by yere^ 
 
 The most partye of thy tyme spende 
 
 In makyng of a glorious legende 
 
 Of goode wymmen^ maydenes and wyves^ 
 
 That weren trew in lovyng al hire lyves^ 485 
 
 And telle of false men that hem bytraien^ 
 
 That al hir lyfe ne do nat but as say en 
 
 How many women they may doon a shame; 
 
 For in youre worlde that is now holde a game ! 
 
 And thogh the lyke nat a lovere bee^ 490 
 
 Speke wel of love ; this penance yive I the. 
 
 And to the God of Love I shal so preye^ 
 
 That he shal charge his servantez^ by any weye_, 
 
 To forthren thee_, and wel thy labour quyte. 
 
 Goo now thy weye^ this penaunce ys but lyte; 495 
 
 And whan this book ys maade^ yive it the queue 
 
 On my byhalfe^ at Eltham or at Sheene.'' 
 
 The God of Love gan smyle^ and than he sayde^ 
 
 **Wostow/' quod he^ "wher this be wyf or mayde^ 
 
 Or queene or countesse^ or of what degre 500 
 
 That hath so lytel penance yiven thee 
 
 That hast deserved sorere for to smerte ? 
 
 But pite renneth soone in gentil herte; 
 
 That maistow seen^ she kytheth what she ys.'' 
 
 And I answered^ ''Naj, sire^ so have I blys^ 505 
 
 Na moore^ but that I see wel she is good.'' 
 
 466 oght. 480 and om. 484 good. 487 line om. 488 they that. 
 50^2-3 MS. defective. 
 
518 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 ''That is a trewe tale^ by myn hod/' 495 
 
 Quod Love^ *'and that thow knowist wel^ parde. 
 
 Yif it be so that thow avise the ! 
 
 Hast thow nat in a bok^ lyth in thy cheste^ 
 
 The grete goodnesse of the queene Alceste^ 
 
 That turnede was into a dayesye; 500 
 
 Sche that for hire husbonde ches to deye 
 
 And ek to gon to helle^ rathere than he; 
 
 And Ercules rescued hire^ parde^ 
 
 And broughte hyre out of helle ageyn to blys ?'' 
 
 And I answerde agen^ and seyde^ '*Yis^ 505 
 
 Now knowe I hire^ and is this goode Alceste^ 
 
 The dayeseye^ and myn owene hertes reste? 
 
 Now fele I wel the goodnesse of this wif^ 
 
 That bothe aftyr hire deth and ek hire lyf 
 
 Hire grete bounte doubelyth hire renoun. 510 
 
 Wel hath sche quit me myn aiFeccioun 
 
 That I have to hire flour^ the dayesye; 
 
 No wondyr is^ thow Jove hire stellefye^ 
 
 As tellyth Agaton^ for hyre goodnesse ! 
 
 Hire white coroun beryth of it witnesse; 515 
 
 For also manye vertuys hath sche 
 
 As smale flourys in hyre coroun be. 
 
 Of remembrauns of hire^ and in honour^ 
 
 Cibella made the dayesye and the flour 
 
 Icoroned al with whit^ as men may se ; 520 
 
 And Mars yaf to hire corone red^ parde^ 
 
 In stede of rubeis^ set among the white/' 
 
 Therwith this queene wex red for schame a lyte^ 
 Whan sche was preysid so in hire presence. 
 
 Thanne seyde Love^ *'A ful gret neglygence 525 
 
 Was it to the^ to write onstedef astnesse 
 Of women^ sithe thow knowist here goodnesse 
 By pref^ and ek by storyis here byforn. 
 Let be the chaf^ and writ wel of the corn. 
 Why noldist thow han writyn of Alceste^ 530 
 
 And latyn Criseide ben aslepe^ and reste .^ 
 For of Alceste schulde thy wrytynge be^ 
 Syn that thow wist that calandier is she 
 
 Of goodnesse^ for sche taughte of fyn lovynge^ 
 
 And namely^ of wifhod the lyvynge^ 5S5 
 
 496 Qod. 507 herte is. 513 stellesye. 520 ma. 531 rest. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 519 
 
 "That is a trewe tale_, by myn hood_,'' 
 
 Quod Love^ '*and that thou knowest wel^ pardee^ 
 
 If yt be so that thou avise the ! 
 
 Hastow nat in a book^ lyth in thy cheste^ 510 
 
 The grete goodnesse of the queue Alceste^ 
 
 That turned was into a daysye? 
 
 She that for hire housbonde chees to dye^ 
 
 And eke to goon to helle^ rather than he_, 
 
 And Ercules rescowed hire^ parde^ 515 
 
 And broght hir out of helle agayne to blys ?" 
 
 And I answerd ageyn, and sayde_, ''Yis^ 
 
 Now knowe I hire; and is this good Alceste^ 
 
 The daysie^ and myn owene hertes reste? 
 
 Now fele I weel the goodnesse of this wyf ; 520 
 
 That both aftir hir deth and in hir lyf 
 
 Hir grete bounte doubleth hire renoun. 
 
 Wei hath she quyt me myn afFeccioun 
 
 That I have to hire flour^ the daysye ! 
 
 No wonder ys thogh Jove hire stellyfye^ 525 
 
 As telleth Agaton_, for hire goodenesse. 
 
 Hire white corowne berith of hyt witnesse; 
 
 For also many vertues hadde shee 
 
 As smale florouns in hire corowne bee\ 
 
 In remembraunce of hire and in honoure 530 
 
 Cibella maade the daysye and the floure 
 
 Ycrowned al with white^ as men may see; 
 
 And Mars yaf to hire corowne reede^ pardee^ 
 
 In stede of rubyes^ sette among the white/' 
 
 Therwith this queene wex reed for shame a lyte_, 53 5 
 
 Whan she was preysed so in hire presence. 
 
 Thanne seyde Love^ *'A ful grete necligence 
 
 Was yt to the^ that ylke tyme thou made. 
 
 'Hyd, Ahsolon thy tresses in balade^ 
 
 That thou forgate hire in thi songe to sette^ 540 
 
 Syn that thou art so gretly in hire dette^ 
 
 And wost so wel that kalender ys shee 
 
 To any woman that wol lover bee; 
 
 For she taught al the crafte of fyne lovyng_, 
 
 And namely of wyfhode the lyvyng^ 54^5 
 
 508 that om. 511 gret. 542 so om. 
 
520 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And alle the boundys that sche aughte kepe. 
 
 Thy lityl wit was thilke tyme aslepe. 
 
 But now I charge the^ upon thy lyi. 
 
 That in thy legende thow make of this wif. 
 
 Whan thow hast othere smale mad by fore; 540 
 
 And fare now wel_, I charge the no more. 
 
 At Cliopatre I wele that thow begynne^ 
 
 And so forth; and my love so shaltow wynne. 
 
 And with that word of slep I gan a-wake^ 
 And ryght thus on my Legende gan I make. 
 
 Explicit prohemium, 
 
 543 Shalt tow. 
 
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN 521 
 
 And al the boundes that she oght kepe^ 
 
 Thy litel witte was thilke tyme a-slepe ; 
 
 But now I charge the_, upon thy lyfe 
 
 That in thy legende thou make of thys wyfe 
 
 Whan thou hast other smale ymaade before. 550 
 
 And fare now wel^ I charge the namore. 
 
 But er I goo^ thus muche I wol the telle ; 
 
 Ne shal no trewe lover come in helle. 
 
 Thise other ladies sittynge here arowe 
 
 Ben in thy balade^ yf thou kanst hem knowe; 555 
 
 And in thy bookes alle thou shalt hem fynde. 
 
 Have hem in thy legende now al in mynde; 
 
 I mene of hem that ben in thy knowyng^ 
 
 For here ben twenty thousande moo sittyng 
 
 Thanne thou knowest^ that ben good wommen alle^ 560 
 
 And trewe of love for oght that may byfalle. 
 
 Make the metres of hem as the lest^ 
 
 I mot goon home_, the sonne draweth west_, 
 
 To paradys with al thise companye^ 
 
 And serve alwey the fresshe daysye ! 565 
 
 At Cleopatre I wole that thou begynne^ 
 
 And so forthe_, and my love so shal thou wynne. 
 
 For lat see now^ what man that lover be 
 
 Wol doon so stronge a peyne for love as she? 
 
 I wot wel that thou maist nat al yt ryme^ 570 
 
 That swiche lovers diden in hire tyme; 
 
 It were to long to reden and to here. 
 
 Sufficeth me thou make in this manere^ 
 
 That thou reherce of al hir lyfe the grete^ 
 
 After thise olde auctours lysten for to trete; 575 
 
 For whoso shal so many a storye telle^ 
 
 Sey shortly^ or he shal to longe dwelle.'' 
 
 And with that worde my bokes gan I take^ 
 And ryght thus on my Legende gan I make. 
 
 555 thy my. 560 that ben om. 561 may my. 565 fressh. 
 571 swich; dide. 573 sufifich. 
 
THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA 
 
 Incipit legenda Cleopatrie regine. 
 
 Aiftyr the deth of Tholome the kyng, 580 
 
 That al Egipt hadde in his governyng^ 
 
 Regnede his queene Cleopataras; 
 
 Tyl on a tyme befel there swich a cas^ 
 
 That out of Rome was sent a senatour_, 
 
 For to conqueryn regnys and honour 585 
 
 Unto the Toun of Rome as was usaunee^ 
 
 To han the world unto hyre obeysaunce; 
 
 And soth to seyne^ Antonius was his name. 
 
 So fil it^ as fortune hym aughte a schame 
 
 Whan he was fallyn in prosperite^ 590 
 
 Rebel unto the Toun of Rome is he^ 
 
 And ovyral this^ the sustyr of Cesar 
 
 He lafte hire falsly_, or that sche was war^ 
 
 And wolde algates han a nothir wif^ 
 
 For which he tok with Rome and Cesar stryf. 595 
 
 Natheles_, for sothe_, this ilke senatour 
 
 Was a ful worthy gentyl werriour_, 
 
 And of his deth it was ful gret damage. 
 
 But love hadde brought this man in swich a rage^ 
 
 And hym so narwe boundyn in his las^ 600 
 
 Al for the love of Cleopataras^ 
 
 That al the world he sette at no value. 
 
 Hym thoughte there nas to hym nothyng so dewe 
 
 As Cleopatras for to love and serve. 
 
 Hym roughte nat in armys for to sterve 605 
 
 In the difFens of hyre^ and of hire ryght. 
 
 This noble queene ek lovede so this knyght_, 
 
 Thourgh his desert^ and for his chyvalrye^ 
 
 As certeynly^ but if that bokys lye^ 
 
 582 queen. 586 usage. 593 falsly falle. 594 algate. 603 thoute. 608 thour. 
 
THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA 523 
 
 He was of j)ersone and of gentillesse^ 6lO 
 
 And of discrecioun and of hardynesse^ 
 
 Worthi to ony wyght that lyvyn may; 
 
 And sche was fayr as is the rose in May. 
 
 And for to make shortly is the beste; 
 
 Sche wax his wif, and hadde hym as hire leste. 615 
 
 The weddynge and the feste to devyse_, 
 To me that have ytake swich empryse 
 Of so manye a story for to make^ 
 It were to longe^ lest that I schulde slake 
 Of thyng that beryth more effect and charge. 620 
 
 For men may overlade a schip or barge 
 And forthy^ to thefeect thanne wele I skyppe^ 
 And al the remenaunt I wele lete slippe. 
 
 Octovyan^ that wod was of this dede^ 
 Schop hym an ost on Antonye to lede^ 625 
 
 Al utyrly for his destruccioun^ 
 With stoute Romeynys^ crewel as lyoun; 
 To schepe they wente_, and thus I lat hem sayle. 
 
 Antonius was war, and wele nat fayle 
 To metyn with these Romeynys^ if he may; 630 
 
 Tok eek his red^ and bothe^ upon a day^ 
 Hys wif and he^ and al his ost forth wente^ 
 To shepe anon^ no lengere they ne stente; 
 And in the se it happede hem to mete — 
 
 Up goth the trompe! and for to schoute and schete^ 635 
 And peynede hem to sette on with the sunne ; 
 With grysely soun out goth the grete gonne^ 
 And heterly they hurtelyn al atony s. 
 From the top doun comyth the grete stonys ; 
 In goth the grapenel so ful of crokis^ 640 
 
 Among the ropis rennyth the scherynge hokys; 
 In with the polax presith he and he; 
 Byhyndyn the mast begynnyth he to fle ; 
 And out a-geyn and dryvyth hym overborde; 
 
 632 wentyn. 642 he & sche. 
 
524 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 He styngith hym upon his sperys orde; 645 
 
 He rent the seyl with hokys lyk a sithe; 
 
 He bryngith the cuppe and biddyth hem to be blythe ; 
 
 He pouryth pesyn up on the hachis sledere ; 
 
 With pottis ful of lym they gon togedere. 
 
 And thus the longe day togedere they spende^ 650 
 
 Tyl at the laste^ as every thyng hath ende^ 
 
 Antony e is schent^ and put hym to the flyght ; 
 
 And al his folk to-go^ that best go myght. 
 
 Fleth ek the queen, with al hire porpere sayl^ 
 
 For strokys whiche that wente as thikke as hayl; 655 
 
 No wondyr was sche myghte it nat endure. 
 
 And whan that Antonye saw that aventure^ 
 "Alias/' quod he^ "the day that I was born ! 
 My worshepe in this day thus have I lorn V 
 And for dispeyr out of his wit he sterte^ 660 
 
 And rof hymself anon thourgh out the herte_, 
 Or that he ferthere wente out of the place. 
 His wif^ that coude of Cesar have no grace^ 
 To Egipt is fled^ for dred and for destresse. 
 But herkenyth^ ye that spekyn of kyndenesse^ 665 
 
 Ye men that falsely swere manye an oth^ 
 That ye wele deye^ if that youre love be wroth_, 
 Here may ye sen of wemen which a trouthe ! 
 This woful Cleopatre hath mad swich routhe 
 That ther is tunge non that may it telle ; 670 
 
 But on the morwe sche wolde no lengere dwelle^ 
 But made hire subtyl werkemen make a schryne 
 Of alle the rubyis and the stonys fyne 
 In al Egypte^ that sche coude espie; 
 
 And putte ful the schryne of spicerye^ 675 
 
 And let the cors enbaumme_, and forth sche fette 
 This dede cors^ and in the schryne it schette^ 
 And next the schryne a pet thanne doth sche grave^ 
 And alle the serpentys that sche myghte have^ 
 
 651 hat. 661 thour. 664 is sche. 674 Egypt. 
 
 
THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA 525 
 
 Sche putte hem in that grave; and thus sche seyde: 680 
 
 "Now^ love^ to whom myn sorweful herte obeyede 
 
 So ferforthly^ that from that blisful our 
 
 That I yow swor to ben al frely your^ 
 
 I mene yow^ Antonius^ my knyght ! 
 
 That nevere wakynge in the day or nyght 685 
 
 Ye nere out of myn hertis remembraunce_, 
 
 For wel or wo^ for carole or for daunce; 
 
 And in myn self this covenaunt made I tho^ 
 
 For ryght swich as ye f eldyn^ wel or wo^ 
 
 As fer forth as it in my power lay 690 
 
 Unreprovable onto my wyfhod ay^ 
 
 The same wolde I fele^ lyf or deth^ 
 
 And thilke covenant^ whil me lastith breth^ 
 
 I wele fulfille^ and that schal ben wel sene; 
 
 Was nevere onto hire love a trewere quene/' QQ5 
 
 And with that word^ nakyd^ with ful good herte. 
 
 Among the serpentis in the pit sche styrte, 
 
 And there sche ches to havyn hire buryinge. 
 
 Anon the nadderys gonne hire for to stynge_, 
 
 And sche hire deth receyvyth with good cheere, 700 
 
 For love of Antonye that was hire so dere. 
 
 And this is storyal soth, it is no fable. 
 Now, or I fynde a man thus trewe and stable. 
 And wele for love his deth so frely take, 
 I preye God let oure hedys nevere ake. Amen. 705 
 
 Explicit Cliopatra.^ 
 
 685 nygh. 689 rygh. 693 comenant. 
 
 ^The Legends follow of Thisbe, Dido, Hypsipyle and Medea, Ariadne, Philo- 
 mela, Phyllis, and Hypermnestra. 
 
A COMPLEINT TO HIS LADY 
 
 (I. Seven-line Stanzas, 1) 
 
 The longe nyghtis whan every creature 
 
 Shuld have theyr rest in somwhat^ as be kynde^ 
 Or ellis ne may theyr lif nought longe endure^ 
 It fallith most into my wooful mynde 
 
 How I so fer have brought my self behynde^ 5 
 
 That_, sauf the deth_, ther may nothyng me lisse, 
 So disespaired I am from alle blisse. 
 
 (I. 2) 
 
 This same thought me lastith til the morow. 
 
 And from the morow furth til it be eve; 
 There nedith me no care for to borow^ 10 
 
 For both I have gode leyser and goode leve. 
 Ther is no wight that wil my wo bireve 
 To wepe inough^ and wailen al my fill; 
 The sore spark of peyne now doth me spill. 
 
 (3) {^Terza Rima, 1] 
 
 The sore spark of peyne now doth me spill^ 15 
 
 This love that hath me set in suche a place 
 That my desire never wil fulfill, 
 
 For neither pite, mercy, neyther grace 
 Can I nat fynde; and yit my sorowful hert 
 
 For to be dede, I can it nat arace. 20 
 
 The more I love, the more she doth me smert^ 
 
 Thurgh whiche I se without remedye 
 That from the dethe I may in no wise astert. 
 
 f as om. 7 dispaired ; al. 17 neuer wil. 22 / se om. 
 
A COMPLEINT TO HIS LADY 527 
 
 (4) [II. Terza Rima, 2] 
 
 Now sothly what she hight^ I wil reherce: 
 Hir name is Bounte set in Wommanhede^ 25 
 
 Sadnesse in Yowth_, and Beaute Prideles^ 
 And Plesaunce under Governaunce and Drede. 
 
 Hir surname is eke Faire Rowtheles 
 The Wise iknyt unto Goode Aventure^ 
 
 That^ for I love hir^ she sleeth me giltles. 30 
 
 Hir love I best^ and shal^ while I may dure^ 
 
 Better than my self^ an hundred thousand dele^ 
 Than al this worldis riches or creature. 
 
 Now hath nat Love me bestowed wele 
 To love^ there I never shal have part? 35 
 
 Elas_, right thus is turned me the whele ! 
 Thus am I slayn with Loves fury dart; 
 
 I can but love hir best^, my swete foo^ 
 Love hath me taught nomore of his art 
 
 But serve alwey^ and stynte for no woo. 40 
 
 (5) [HI. Ten-line Stanzas, 1] 
 
 In my trewe careful hert there is 
 So moche woo^ and eek so litel blisse_, 
 
 That woo is me that ever I was bore. 
 For alle thyng whiche I desire^ I mysse^ 
 And al that ever I wold nat_, Iwisse^ 45 
 
 That fynd I redy to me evermore; 
 And of al this I not to whom me pleyne 
 
 For she that myghte me out of this bryng 
 Ne recchith nought^ whether I wepe or synge^ 
 So litel rowth hath she upon my peyne. 50 
 
 (6) (III. 2) 
 
 Elas, whan slepyng tyme is^ lo^ than I wake ; 
 Whan I shuld daunce_, for feere^ lo^ than I qwake, 
 
 40 stynt. 42 eek om. 44 al. 48 myght. 
 
528 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 This hevy lifF I leede^ loo^ for yowre sake^ 
 
 Though ye therof in no wise heede take^ 
 
 Myn hertis lady^ and hole my lives qwene 55 
 
 For trewly durst I sey^ and that I fele^ 
 
 Me semeth that your sweete hert of Steele 
 Is whetted now ayeines me to kene. 
 
 (7) (HI. 3) 
 
 My dere hert^ and best be-loved foo^ 
 
 Why likith yow to do me al this woo ? 60 
 
 What have I don that grevith yow^ or saide^ 
 But for I serve and love yow^ and no mo^ 
 And while I live I wil ever do soo ? 
 
 And therfor^ sweete^ me beth nat evil apayed; 
 For so goode and so faire as ye be^ 65 
 
 It were right grete wonder but ye had 
 
 Of al servauntis_, both of goode and bad^ 
 And lest worthy of al hem^ I am he. 
 
 (8) (III. 4) 
 
 But nevertheless my righte lady swete_, 
 
 Though that I be unkonnyng and unmeete 70 
 
 To serve as I best kowde ay yowre hienesse^ 
 Yit is ther non fayner^ that wolde I heete^ 
 Than I to do youre ease_, or ellis beete 
 
 What so I wist^ that were to your distresse. 
 And had I myght as goode as I have wil^ 75 
 
 Than shuld ye feele where it were so^ or non; 
 
 For in this world than livyng is ther non^ 
 That fayner wolde youre hertis wil fulfil. 
 
 (9) (III. 5) 
 
 For both I love^ and eke drede yow so sore^ 
 
 And algatis mote^ and have yow don ful yoore^ 80 
 
 53, 56 missing. 58 ayens. 69 right. 71 best om. 74 distresse hyenesse. 
 
 i 
 
A COMPLEINT TO HIS LADY 529 
 
 That bettir loved is non^ ne never shal. 
 And yit I wold besechen you of nomore 
 But levith wele^ and beth nat wroth therfore. 
 
 And lete me serve yow forth_, lo_, this is al. 
 For I am nat so hardy^ ne so woode^ 85 
 
 For to desire that ye shuld love me^ 
 
 For wele I wote_, elas^ that wil nat be^ 
 I am so litel worthy^ and ye so goode. 
 
 (10) (III. 6) 
 
 For ye be oon the worthyest on lyve^ 
 
 And I the most unlikly for to thryve. 90 
 
 Yit^ for al this^ witeth ye right wele^ 
 That ye ne shul me from youre service dryve^ 
 That I ne wil ay with al my wittes fyve^ 
 
 Serve yow triewly what wo so that I fele^ 
 For I am sette on yow in suche manere^ 95 
 
 That though ye never wil upon me rewe, 
 
 I must yow love^ and bien ever als triew^ 
 As any man can^ or may^ on live here. 
 
 (11) (III. 7) 
 
 But the more that I love yow^ goodly free^ 
 
 The lasse fynd I that ye loven me; 100 
 
 Elas^ whan shal that harde witte amend ? 
 Where is now al your wommanly pite^ 
 Youre gentilnesse^ and your debonarite? 
 
 Wil ye nothyng therof upon me spende? 
 And so hoole^ swete^ as I am yowres al^ 105 
 
 And so grete wil as I have yow to serve^ 
 
 Now certis^ and ye lete me thus sterve^ 
 Yet have ye wonne theron but a smal. 
 
 83 lovith. 98 here om. 101 hard. 108 ye om. 
 
530 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 (12) (HI. 8) 
 
 For^ at my knowyng^ I do nat why; 
 
 And this I wil beseche yow hertily^ 110 
 
 That there ever ye finde^ whiles ye live^ 
 A triewer servaunt to yow than am I^ 
 Loveth [hym] thanne^ and sle me hardily^ 
 
 And [I] my deth to yow wil al for gyve. 
 And if ye fynde no trewer [goodly free] 115 
 
 Wil ye sufFre than that I thus spil^ 
 
 And for no maner gilt but my goode wil ? 
 Als goode were thanne untriewe as triewe to be. 
 
 (13) {Unique final stanza. III. 9) 
 
 But I, my lif and deth^ to yow obey^ 
 
 And with right buxum her t holy I prey^ 120 
 
 As youre most plesure is^ so doth by me ; 
 For wele lever is me liken yow and dye^ 
 Than for to any thyng or thynk or say 
 
 That yow myght offenden^ in any tyme. 
 And therfor^ swete^ rewe on my peynes smert^ 125 
 
 And of your grace grauntith me som drope^ 
 
 For ellis may me last no blisse ne hope^ 
 Ne dwelle withy n my trouble careful hert. 
 
 Explicit Pyte, 
 
 115 trewer so verily. 118 to be triewly. 121 is om. 
 
 ' 
 
ANELYDA AND ARCYTE 
 
 Lo my lordis and ladyes Here folowyng may ye see the 
 maner of the lovyng bytwene Arcite of Thebes and AneUda 
 the faire Quene of Hermony which with his feyned chere 
 doublenesse and flateryng disceiued her withouten cause she 
 beyng than oon of the trewest gentilwomen that here lyf 
 compleyneth her I beseche you. 
 
 Thow fierse god of armes_, Mars the rede^ 
 
 That in the frosty contrey called Trace^ 
 
 Within thi gresly temple ful of drede 
 
 Honured art^ as patroun of that place^ 
 
 With thi Bellona^ Pallas_, ful of grace^ 5 
 
 Be present^ and my song contynue and guy; 
 
 At my begynnyng thus to the I cry. 
 
 For hit ful depe is sonken in my mynd 
 
 With pitous herte in Englissh for to endite 
 
 This olde story in Latyne which I fynde, 10 
 
 Of quene Anelyda and fals Arcite^ 
 
 That eelde^ which that all can frete and bite^ 
 
 As hit hath froten many a noble story^ 
 
 Hath negh devoured oute of my memory. 
 
 Be favourable eke, thow Polymea, 15 
 
 On Parnaso that with thi sustren glade 
 
 By Ellicon_, noght fer frome Cirea, 
 
 Syngest with voice memorial in the shade, 
 
 Undir the laurier which that may not fade; 
 
 And do that I my ship to haven wynne. 20 
 
 First folowe I Stace, and aftir that Corynne. 
 
 Whan Theseus, with werres longe and grete, 
 The aspre folke of Cithe had overcome. 
 With laurer corouned, in his chare gold-bete, 
 1 fiers. 17 nogrh. 
 
532 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Home to his cuntre-houses is ecome_, 25 
 
 For which the people^ blisfuU hole and some^ 
 So crydon that unto the sterres it wente^ 
 And him to honuren^ diden all her entente. 
 
 Beforne this duk_, in signe of hie victorye^ 
 
 The trumpes came^ and in his baner large 30 
 
 The ymage of Mars ; and tokenyng of his glorie^ 
 
 Men mighten seen of tresoure many a charge^ 
 
 Many bright helme_, and many spere and targe_, 
 
 Many a fressh knyght^ and blisful route^ 
 
 On hors and fote^ in all the felde aboute. S5 
 
 Ypolita his wyf^ the hardy quene 
 
 Of Cithea^ that he conquered had^ 
 
 With Emelye^ her yonge sustir shene^ 
 
 Faire in a chaier of gold he with him ladde^ 
 
 That all the ground aboute the chare she sprad 40 
 
 With brightnesse of the beaute in her face^ 
 
 Fulfilled of largesse and of alle grace. 
 
 With his tryumphe^ of la wrier corouned thus^ 
 
 In all the floure of Fortunes yevyng 
 
 Lete I this noble prince^ this Theseus^ 45 
 
 Towardes Attenes in his wey ridyng; 
 
 And fonde I woU in shortly for to bryng 
 
 The slye wey of that I gan to write^ 
 
 Of quene Anelida and fals Arcyte. 
 
 
 Mars^ which that thurgh his furious cours of yre^ 50 
 
 The olde wrath of Juno to fulfiUe^ 
 
 Hath sette the peoplis hertis both on fyre 
 
 Of Thebes and Grece^ yche othir for to kylle^ 
 
 With blody speris ne rested never stille M 
 
 But throngs now here^ now there^ amongis hem both^ 55 
 
 Tyll everich othir sloughy so were thei wroth. 
 
 37 conquerd. 38 yong. 41 With the. 48 slye sleght. 49 Of the. 50 that om. 
 
ANELYDA AND ARCYTE 5SS 
 
 For whan Amphyorax and Tydius^ 
 
 Ypomedon^ Parthonopee also 
 
 Weren dede^ and sleyn proude Campaneus^ 
 
 And whan the wrechid Thebans^ bretheren two^ 60 
 
 Were slayne; and kyng Adrastus home ego^ 
 
 So desolate stode Thebes and so bare^ 
 
 That no wight coude remedy of his fare. 
 
 And whan that olde Creon gan espie 
 
 How that the blode riall was brought adoun^ 65 
 
 . He held that cite by his thyrannye^ 
 And did the gentils of that regyoune 
 To ben his frend^ and wonen in the toune; 
 So what for love of him_, and what for awe^ 
 The noble folke were to the toune edrawe. 70 
 
 Amonges all thies^ Anelida_, the queue 
 
 Of Ermony was in that toune duellyng^ 
 
 That feirer was than is the sonne shene 
 
 Thurghoute the world so gan her name spryng 
 
 That her to seen had every wight likyng. 75 
 
 For^ as of trouth^ is there non her liche 
 
 Of all the wymen in this worlde riche. 
 
 Yong was this quene^ of twenty yere of elde^ 
 
 Of myddell stature^ and of suche fairenesse 
 
 That Nature had grete joy her to beholde; 80 
 
 And for to speken of her stedfastnes^ 
 
 She passed hath Penelope and Lucresse^ 
 
 And shortly if she shall be comprehendid_, 
 
 In her ne myghte nothing be amendid. 
 
 This Theban knyght eke_, Arcite soth to seyn_, 85 
 
 Was yong^ and therewithall a lusty knyght^ 
 But he was double in love^ and nothing pleyne^ 
 
 57 Tedius. 63 coude no. Q5 edoun. 66 heled. 68 wonnen. 78 of om, 
 84 myght. 85 Arcite om. ; the soth. 
 
584^ THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And subtill in that crafte over any wight^ 
 
 And with his connyng wan that lady bright. 
 
 So ferforth^ loo^ he gan her trouth ensure^ 90 
 
 That she him trustith above eche creature. 
 
 What shuld I seyn? she lovid Arcyte so^ 
 
 That whan that he was absent any throwe^ 
 
 Anon her thought hir herte brast on two^ 
 
 For in her sight to her he bare him lowe^ 95 
 
 So that she wende have all his hert eknowe, 
 
 But he was fals^ hit nas but feyned chere^ 
 
 All nedith not to men suche crafte to lere. 
 
 But natheles^ ful mychell besynesse 
 
 Had he^ or that he myght his lady wynne; 100 
 
 And swore he wolde deye for distresses 
 
 Or from his witte he seyde he wolde twynne. 
 
 Alas^ the while ! for hit was routh and synne^ 
 
 That she upon his sorowis wolde rewe. 
 
 But nothing thenkith the fals as doth the trewe. 105 
 
 Hir fredome fonde Arcyte in suche maner 
 
 That all was his that she hath^ moche or lyte. 
 
 Ne to no creature made she chere^ 
 
 Forther than that hit liked to Arcyte ; 
 
 Ther nas no lacke with wiche he myght her wite^ 110 
 
 Sheo was so ferforthe gyven him to plese^ 
 
 That all that liked him^ hit did her ese. 
 
 There nas to hir no maner lettre sent 
 
 That towchid love^ from anye maner wyght 
 
 That she ne shewid it him or it was brent^ 115 
 
 So pleyne she was^ and did hir fuUe might 
 
 That she nil hyden nothing frome hir knyght^ 
 
 Lest he of eny untrouthe hir upbreyde^ 
 
 Withouten bode his heste sheo obeyde. 
 
 89 wan what. 94 hert. 101 dey. 102 he seyde om. 104 wolden. 
 109 to om. 116 ful. 118 upbroyde. 119 cleyde (?). 
 
ANELYDA AND ARCYTE 535 
 
 And eke he made him jalowse over hir^ 120 
 
 That what that any man had to hir seyde^ 
 
 Anoon he wolde preyen her to swere 
 
 What was that worde^ or maken him yvel apayde^ 
 
 Thanne wende sheo oute of her wyt have brayed^ 
 
 But all this nas but slight and flaterie^ 125 
 
 Withouten love^ of feyned jalowsye. 
 
 And al this toke sheo so debonayrely^ 
 
 That al his willey hir thought hit skilful thing; 
 
 And ever the lenger sheo lovid him tendrely^ 
 
 And did him honour^ as he were a kynge. 130 
 
 Hir hart was to him weddid with a ringe ; 
 
 So ferforthe upon trowthe is hir entente 
 
 That where he goothe hir herte with him wente. 
 
 When sheo shall ete^ on him is al hir thought^ 
 
 That wele unnethe of mete tooke she keepe; 135 
 
 And what that sheo was to hir reste ebrought^ 
 
 On him sheo thought alwey till that sheo slepe ; 
 
 Whan he was absent^ prevely sheo weepe. 
 
 Thus lyvethe f ayere Anelyda the queene 
 
 For fals Arcyte^ that did hir al this tene. 140 
 
 This fals Arcite^ of his nuwefangulnesse_, 
 
 For sheo to him so lovely was and trewe^ 
 
 Tooke lasse deyntee of hir stedfastnesse^ 
 
 And sawe anothere ladye^ proude and nuwe_, 
 
 And ryght anoon he cladde him in her huwe^ 145 
 
 Woot I nowght whethir in white^ rede^ or grene^ 
 
 And falsed fayr Anelide the qwene. 
 
 But natheles^ gret wondre was it noone 
 
 Thawgh he were fals^ for it is kynde of mane^ 
 
 Sithe Lamek was^ that is so longe agoone^ 150 
 
 128 hit hir. 130 ^nd An. 131 weddi. 133 his hert. 137 that om. 
 140 al this that. 147 falshed that. 150 lanek. 
 
536 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 To been in love als fals as ever he cane; 
 He was the firste fadre that begane 
 To loven too^ and liven in bygamye ; 
 And he founde tentis firste^ but yf men lye. 
 
 This fals Arcyte^ sumwhat moste he feyne^ 155 
 
 Whane he was fals^ to cover his traitourye^ 
 
 Right as an hors that can boothe byte and pleyne. 
 
 For he bare hir on honde of trecherye^ 
 
 And swore he coude hir dowbilnesse espie^ 
 
 And all was falsnesse^ that sheo to him mente; l60 
 
 Thus swore this theofF_, and forthe his weye he wente. 
 
 EUas^ what herte myght enduren it^ 
 
 For routhe and woo hir sorow for to tell_, 
 
 Or what man hath the connyng or the witte^ 
 
 Or what man myght within the chambre dwelle, l65 
 
 Yf I to him rehersin shoulde the helle^ 
 
 Which sufFerith faire Anelyda the Quene 
 
 For fals Arcyte^ that did her all this teene? 
 
 Sheo weopethe^ waylethe^ swoonethe pytously^ 
 
 To grounde sheo fallethe^ dede as any stoone^ 170 
 
 Al craumpisshed hir lymmes crockedly. 
 
 Sheo spekithe as hir witte were all agoone^ 
 
 Other coloure thanne asshen Jiath sheo noone^ 
 
 Noon othir worde spekithe sheo^ muche or lyte^ 
 
 But ''mercy^ cruell herte myn^ Arcyte !" 175 
 
 And thus endurith^ til sheo was soo mate 
 
 That sheo nathe foot on whiche sheo may sustene^ 
 
 But forthe langwissing ever in this estate^ 
 
 On which Arcyte hath rowthe noon ne teene ; 
 
 His herte was ellis where^ nuwe and grene^ 180 
 
 That on hir woo nought deynid him to thinke^ 
 
 Him reccheth nought whether sheo fleete or synke. 
 
 152 thateuer. 156 thratourye. 162 hart; endure. 174 luytle. 175 liarte. 
 177 foot om. 178 ever om. 182 swynke. 
 
ANELYDA AND ARCYTE 537 
 
 His nuwe ladye holdithe him so narowe 
 
 Up by the brydell^ at the staves ende^ 
 
 That every worde he drad hit as an arowe; 185 
 
 Hir daunger made him boothe bowe and beende^ 
 
 And as hir lyste_, made him tourne and wende; 
 
 For sheo ne graunted him in hir lyvynge 
 
 No grace^ whi that he hathe luste to synge; 
 
 But drofe him forthe^ unnethe list hir knowe 190 
 
 That he was sarvant unto hir ladishippe^ 
 
 But leste that he vi^ere proude^ sheo held him lowe; 
 
 Thus servethe he_, withouten fee or shipe_, 
 
 Sheo sent him nowe to lande and nowe to shipe; 
 
 And for sheo gave him daunger e al his fille 195 
 
 Therefore sheo had him at hir owne wille. 
 
 Ensaumple of this^ yee thrifty women all^ 
 
 Taketh here Anelida and fals Arcyte; 
 
 That for hir list him dere herte calle^ 
 
 And was soo meke^ therefore he lovd hir luyte; 200 
 
 The kynde of mannes herte is to delighte 
 
 In thing that straunge is^ alsoo God me save ! 
 
 For what he may not gete^ that wolde he have. 
 
 Nowe tourne we to Anelyda ageyne^ 
 
 Which peynithe day by day in languisshing; 205 
 
 But whane sheo sawe that hir gate no gayne_, 
 
 Uppon a day full soroufuU wepynge^ 
 
 Sheo caste hir for to make a compleyning_, 
 
 And of hir owne honde sheo gane hit wryte^ 
 
 And sent hit to hir Theban knyght^ Arcyte. 210 
 
 The compleynte of Anelida the Quene of Hermonye upon 
 Arcyte borne of the blode riall of Thebes for his Doublenesse. 
 
 So thirllethe with the poynt of rememberaunce 
 The swerde of sorowe^ whette with fals plesaunce^ 
 
 185 hit om. 189 that om.; noo luste. 193 mete or shepe. 198 here of ; fals om. 
 199 That And. 201 delight. 209 wreyte. 210 dann Arcyte. 
 
538 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Myn herte^ bare of blisse and blak of huwe^ 
 
 That turnid is in quakynge all my daunce^ 
 
 My suretee in awhaaped countenaunce^ 215 
 
 Sithe it avay lithe nowght for to be trewe; 
 
 For whoso trewest is^ it shall hir rewe^ 
 
 That servithe love and dothe hir observaunce 
 
 Alday till oon^ and chaungethe for no newe. 
 
 I wot my self e als welle als any wight^ 220 
 
 For I lovid oon with all myn herte and might 
 
 More than myselfe^ an hunderithe thousand sithe, 
 
 And callid him myn hertes lyff^ my knight^, 
 
 And was al his als f er as it was right ; 
 
 When he was glad thane was I evere blythe, 225 
 
 And his disese was to me dethe als swythe; 
 
 And he ageyne his trouthe me had plight 
 
 For evermore^ his ladye me to kythe. 
 
 Nowe is he fals^ ellas ! and causelesse^ 
 
 And of my woo he is so rewthelesse_, 230 
 
 That with oon worde him liste not oonys deyne 
 
 To brynge ageyne my sorowfuU hert in pese. 
 
 For he is kaute up in another lese ; 
 
 Right as him liste^ he laughethe at my peyne^ 
 
 And I ne can myne herte nought restreyne 235 
 
 For to love him_, alweye never the lesse; • 
 
 And of all this I note to whome me pleyne. 
 
 And shall I pleyne^ ellas^ that harde stounde ! — 
 
 Unto my foo that gave myn herte a wounde^ 
 
 And yette desirithe that myne harome be more? 240 
 
 Nay^ certes^ for ther shall I never founde; 
 
 Noon othir helpethe my soores for to sounde^ 
 
 My destenye hathe shapen it full yore. 
 
 213 hart; hues. 219 and om. 225 klythe. 226 For his desire. 
 227 trought hathe nie. 233 anether. 241 for certes ther; be founde. 
 
ANELYDA AND ARCYTE 539 
 
 I woUe noon other medecyne ne lore^ 
 
 I woUe ben ay there I was oones bounde; 245 
 
 That I have seyde^ beo seyde for evermore. 
 
 Ellas^ wher is becomen your gentilnesse^ 
 
 Youre wordes full of plesaunce and humblesse^ 
 
 Youre observaunces^ and so lowe manere_, 
 
 Youre away tinges and youre besynesse 250 
 
 Uppon me^ that ye callid your mastresse^ 
 
 Youre soverayne ladye of this worlde here? 
 
 EUas^ and is there neyther worde ne cheere 
 
 Yee vouchensaiF uppon myn hevinesse? 
 
 Ellas^ youre love^ I bie it all to dere ! 255 
 
 Nowe eertes^ swete^ thaughe that yee 
 
 Thus causelesse the cause be 
 
 Of my dedely adversitee^ 
 
 Your manly raysoun aught it to respite 
 
 To slee your frende^ and namlie me^ 260 
 
 That never yitte in noo degree 
 
 OfFendid yowe^ als wissely he 
 
 That al wot^ oute of woo my sowle quite ! 
 
 But for I was so pleyne^ Arcyte^ 
 
 In all my werkes^ much and lyte^ 265 
 
 And so besye yowe to delyte- — 
 
 Myn honour sauf — meke and kynde and free^ 
 
 Therfore ye putte on me this wyte^ 
 
 And als ye recche not a myte^ 
 
 Thaughe that the swerde of sorowe byte 270 
 
 My woofull herte^ thorowe your creweltee. 
 
 My swete f oo^ whye doo yee soo ? for shame ! 
 
 And thenken yee^ that f ertherid be your name 
 
 To love a newe^ and be untrewe ? nay ! 
 
 And putte yowe in sclaundre nowe and blame 275 
 
 246 syde (2). 253 Ellas om.; there nowe. 259 for to. 269 myght. 271 harte. 
 272 foo for. 
 
540 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 For to do me adversite and grame^, 
 
 That love yowe moste^ God^ well thou woste^ alwaye ? 
 
 Yitt come agayne^ and yit be playne some daye^ 
 
 And than shall this that nowe is mis be game^ 
 
 And al forgyve^ while that here live I maye. 280 
 
 Loo^ herte myne ! al this is for to seyne^ 
 
 As whethir shall I pray or elles pleyne? 
 
 Which is the wey to do yowe to be trewe ? 
 
 For outher mote I have yow in my eheyne^ 
 
 Or withe the dethe yee mutte departe us tweyne^ 285 
 
 Ther lithe noon othir meene weyes nuwe; 
 
 For God so wissly of my soule ruwe^ 
 
 As verraylye yee slee me with the peyne^ 
 
 That may yee see unfeynid on myn huwe. 
 
 For thus ferforth have I my deth ysoghte^ 290 
 
 Myselfe I morder with my pryve thoghte^ 
 
 For sorou and routh of youre unkyndenes ; 
 
 I wepe^ I wake^ I f aste^ all helpeth noghte ; 
 
 I weyve j oy that is to speke of oghte ; 
 
 I voyde companye^ I flee gladdenes^ 295 
 
 Who may avaunte her bet of hevynes 
 
 Then I ? and to this plite have ye me broghte^ 
 
 Withoute gilte_, me nedyth no witnes. 
 
 And shulde I preye and weyve womanhode? 
 
 Nay rathere dye^ than do soo creuell dede^ 300 
 
 And axse mercy causeles^ what nede? 
 
 And yf I pleyne what life that I lede^ 
 
 Thane wol yee laughe^ I knowe it oute of drede. 
 
 And yf that I to yowe myne othes beede 
 
 For myn excuse^ a scorne shall be my mede; 305 
 
 Youre chere flourethe but it wolle not sede^ 
 
 Full longe a-gon I ought to have taken hede. 
 
 280 forgyven. 282 As And. 285 twene. 290 soght. This stanza from MS. 
 Tanner 346. 293 wake wele. 294 iceyve voyde. 296 avaunce. 299 iveyve 
 venyone. 300 than that. 
 
ANELYDA AND ARCYTE 541 
 
 For thaughe I hade yowe nuwe to morowe agayne 
 
 I myght als weele kepe Averyll from rayne 
 
 As holde yow trewe_, to make yowe stedfaste. 310 
 
 Almyghti God^ of trowthe soverayne^ 
 
 Where is the trowthe of man^ whoo hathe it slayne ? 
 
 Sheo that hem trustithe shall hem fynde als faste^ 
 
 As in a tempeste is the roton maste. 
 
 Is that a tame beste that is ay fayne 315 
 
 To fleen aweye^ when he is leeste agaste? 
 
 But mercy^ swete^ yf I myssaye^ 
 
 Have I ought saide oute of the waye ? 
 
 I not; my wytte is halfFe awaye^ 
 
 I fare as dothe the songe of Chaunte-pleure ; 320 
 
 For nowe I pleyne^ and now I playe^ 
 
 I am so mased that I deye. 
 
 Arcyte hathe borne aweye the keye 
 
 Of all my worlde^ and my goode aventure. 
 
 For in this worlde nys creature . 325 
 
 Wakynge in moore discomfiture 
 
 Thane I^ ne more sorowe endure ; 
 
 And yf I slepe a furlonge wey or tweye^ 
 
 Than thinkithe me that youre figure 
 
 Before me stante cloothed in asure^ 330 
 
 To profren efte^ and nuwe ensure 
 
 For to be trewe^ and love me til I deye. 
 
 The longe nyght this wonder sight I drye^ 
 
 And on the day for thilke af raye I dye^ 
 
 And of al this right nought^ ewysse^ yee rechche. SS5 
 
 Ne never mo myne eyen two beo drye^ 
 
 And to youre routh and to your trouthe I crye 
 
 But welawaye ! to f er ben thei to f ecche ; 
 
 Thus holdithe me my destenye a wrechche. 
 
 310 to and; yowe hoole. 316 leeste lefte. 332 dye. 337 rought. 
 
542 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 But me to rede oute of this drede or gjc 340 
 
 Ne may my witte^ so weyke is it^ nought strecehe. 
 
 Thanne eonde I thus^ sithe I may do namore^ 
 
 And yeve it up for now and evir-more; 
 
 For shall I never efte put in balaunse 
 
 My sikurnesse^ or leorne of love the lore. 345 
 
 But as the swane^ I have harde sey full yore, 
 
 Ageynist his dethe shall syngen his penaunse. 
 
 So sey I here my destenye or ehaunce. 
 
 How that Arcyte Anelyda so sore 
 
 Hathe thrilled with the poynte of rememberaunce. 350 
 
 When that Annelida, this wo full quene, 
 Hath of her hande writen in this wise, 
 With face dede, betwixe pale and grene, 
 She felle a-swow, and sith she gan to rise, 
 And unto Mars avowyth sacrifice, S55 
 
 Withinne the temple, with a sorofuU chere. 
 That shapyn was, as ye shall aftyr here. 
 
 340 gye crye. 342 eondid. 351 This stanza from Tanner MS. 
 
 [Unfinished,'] 
 
THE FORMER AGE 
 
 (De Consolationo of Boethius, Philosophiae.) 
 
 Chawcer vp-on this fyfte metur of the second book. 
 
 A blysful lyf^ a paysyble and a swete 
 
 Ledden the peples in the former age; 
 
 They helde hem paied of fructes that they ete 
 
 Whiche that the feldes yave hem by usage. 
 
 They ne were nat f orpampred with owtrage ; 5 
 
 Onknowyn was the querne and ek the melle^ 
 
 They eten mast_, hawes^ and swych pownage^ 
 
 And dronken water of the colde welle. 
 
 Yit nas the grownd nat wownded with the plowh^ 
 
 But corn up sprong^ unsowe of mannes hond^ 10 
 
 The which they gnodded_, and eete nat half inowh; 
 
 No man yit knewe the forwes of his lond^ 
 
 No man the fyr owt of the flynt yit fonde; 
 
 Unkorven and ungrobbed lay the vyne; 
 
 No man yit in the morter spices grond^ 15 
 
 To clarre^ ne to sawse of galentyne. 
 
 No madyr_, welde^ or wod no litestere 
 
 Ne knewh^ the fles was of his former hewe; 
 
 No flessh ne wyste offence of cgge or spere; 
 
 No coyn ne knewh man^ which is fals or trewe; 20 
 
 No ship yit karf the wawes grene and blewe; 
 
 No marchaunt yit ne fette owtlandissh ware; 
 
 No trompes for the werres folk ne knewe^ 
 
 Ne towres heye^, and walles rownde or square. 
 
 What sholde it han avayled to werreye.^ 25 
 
 Ther lay no profyt^ ther was no rychesse; 
 Eut corsed was the tyme^ I dar wel seye^ 
 
 2 poeples. 3 of the. 6 quyerne. 18 his is. 23 ba tails trompes. 
 
544 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 That men fyrst dede hir swety bysynesse 
 
 To grobbe up metal^ lurkynge in dirkenesse. 
 
 And in the ryverys fyrst gemmys sowhte. 30 
 
 AUas^ than sprong up al the cursydnesse 
 
 Of coveytyse^ that fyrst owr sorwe browhte ! 
 
 Thyse tyrauntes put hem gladly nat in pres 
 
 No wyldnesse^ ne no busshes^ for to wynne 
 
 Ther poverte is^ as seith Diogenes^ 35 
 
 Ther as vitayle is ek so skars and thinne 
 
 That nat but mast or apples is therinne ; 
 
 But ther as bagges ben and fat vitaile_, 
 
 Ther wol they gon^ and spare for no synne^ 
 
 With al hir ost the cyte forto asayle. 40 
 
 Yit was no paleis chaumbres^ ne non halles^ 
 
 In kaves and in wodes softe and swete 
 
 Sleptin this blyssed folk^ withowte walles^ 
 
 On gras or leves in parfyt quiete. 
 
 No down of fetheres^ ne no bleched shete 45 
 
 Was kyd to hem_, but in surte they slepte ; 
 
 Hir hertes were al on withowte galles^ 
 
 Everych of hem his feith to oother kepte. 
 
 Unf orged was the hawberke and the plate ; 
 
 The lambyssh poeple^ voyde of alle vyse^ 50 
 
 Hadden no fantesye to debate^ 
 
 But eche of hem wolde oother wel cheryee; 
 
 No pride^ non envye^ non avaryee^ 
 
 No lord^ no taylage by no tyranye ; 
 
 Umblesse and Pes^ good Feith^ the emperice^ 55 
 
 [Line lost,] 
 
 34 places wyldnesse. 42 in (2) om. 44 On or; joye reste and quiete. 
 50 voyded. 56 Skeat suggests: Fulfilled erthe of olde curtesye ; the editor: And 
 Charite, thise koude hem beter gye. 
 
THE FORMER AGE 54^5 
 
 Yit was nat Juppiter the lykerous^ 
 
 That fyrst was fadyr of delicasie^ 
 
 Come in this worlds ne Nembrot^ desyrous 
 
 To regne^ had nat maad his towres hye. 60 
 
 Alias ! alias ! now may men wepe and crye. 
 
 For in owre dayes nis but covetyse^ 
 
 Dowblenesse^ and tresoun^ and envye^ 
 
 Poyson^ manslawhtre^ and mordre in sondry wyse. 
 
 61 men om. 64 Poyson and. 
 
ADAM SCRIVENER 
 
 Chancier s wordes a Geffrey unto A dame his owen scryveyne, 
 
 Adam scryveyne^ if ever it thee byfalle^ 
 
 Boece or Troylus for to wryten nuwe, 
 
 Under thy long lokkes thowe most have the scalle, 
 
 But affter my makyng thowe wryte more truwe; 
 
 So offt a daye I mot thy werk renuwe, 5 
 
 It to corect^ and eke to rubbe and scrape^ 
 
 And al is thorugh thy necglygenee and rape. 
 
FORTUNE 
 
 Le pleintif countre Fortune. 
 
 This wrecched worldes transmutacioun^ 
 
 As wele or wo^ now pore and now honour^ 
 
 Withowten ordyr or wis descresyoun^ 
 
 Governed is by Fortunes errour. 
 
 But natheles^ the lakke of hyr favowr 5 
 
 Ne may nat don me syngen^ thowh I deye^ 
 
 'Jay tout perdu mon temps et mon labour;' 
 
 For fynaly, Fortune^ I the deffye. 
 
 Yit is me left the lyht of my resoun^ 
 
 To knowen frend fro foo in thi merowr. 10 
 
 So mochel hath yit thy whirlynge up and down 
 
 Itawht me for to knowen in an howr. 
 
 But trewely^ no fors of thi reddowr 
 
 To hym that over hymself hath the maystrye ! 
 
 My suiFysaunce shal be my socour^ 15 
 
 For fynaly^ Fortune^ I thee deffye. 
 
 Socrates^ thou stidfast chaumpyoun. 
 She never myhte be thi tormentowr; 
 Thow never dreddest hyr oppressyoun^ 
 
 Ne in hyr chere fownde thow no savour. 20 
 
 Thow knewe wel deseyte of hyr colour 
 And that hir moste worshipe is to lye. 
 
 1 know hir ek a fals dissimulour_, 
 For fynaly^ Fortune^ I the deffye! 
 
 Le respounce de fortune a pleintif. 
 
 No man ys wrechchyd^ but hymself yt wene^ 25 
 
 And he that hath hymself hath suffisaunee. 
 
 1 worlde is. 2 poeere. 12 knowe. 18 myht. 21 the deseyte. 22 most. 
 23 knew. 
 
548 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Whi seysthow thanne^ y am to the so kene^ 
 
 That hast thyself owt of my governaunce? 
 
 Sey thus_, *'graunt mercy of thyn haboundaunce^ 
 
 That thow hast lent or this." Why wolt thou stryve? 30 
 
 What^ woost thow yit how y the wol avaunce ? 
 
 And ek thow hast thy beste frende alyve. 
 
 I have the tawht devisyoun bytwene 
 
 Frend of effect and frende of cowntenaunce. 
 
 The nedeth nat the galle of no hyene 35 
 
 That cureth eyen derkyd for penaunce. 
 
 Now seist thow cleer that were in ignoraunce. 
 
 Yit halt thin ancre^ and yit thow mayst aryve 
 
 Ther bownte berth the keye of my substaunce : 
 
 And ek thou hast thy beste frende alyve. 40 
 
 How manye have I refused to sustene^ 
 
 Syn I the f ostred have in thy plesaunce ! 
 
 Wolthow thanne make a statute on thy queue 
 
 That I shal ben ay at thy ordynaunce.^ 
 
 Thow born art in my regne of varyaunce^ 45 
 
 Abowte the wheel with oother most thow dryve ; 
 
 My loore is bet than wikke is thi grevaunce^ 
 
 And ek thou hast thy beste frende alyve. 
 
 Le Respounce du pleintif countre fortune. 
 
 Thy loore y dempne ! it is adversyte. 
 
 My frend maysthow nat reven^ blynde goddesse. 50 
 
 That I thy frendes knowe^ I thanke to the; 
 Tak hem agayn^ lat hem go lye on presse. 
 The negardye in kepynge hyr rychesse 
 Prenostik is, thow wolt hir towr asayle; 
 
 Wikke appetyt comth ay before sykenesse^ 55 
 
 In general this rewle may nat fayle. 
 27 to om. 43 quyene. 
 
FORTUNE 549 
 
 Le respounce de fortune countre le pleintif. 
 
 Thow pynchest at my mutabylyte^ 
 
 For I the lente a drope of my rychesse ; 
 
 And now me lykyth to withdrawe me^ 
 
 Whi sholdysthow my realte apresse? 60 
 
 The see may ebbe and flowen moore or lesse^ 
 
 The welkne hath myht to shyne^ reyne^ or hayle ; 
 
 Ryht so mot I kythen my brutelnesse^ 
 
 In general this rewle may nat f ayle. 
 
 Lo^ the execussyoun of the majeste 65 
 
 That al purveyeth of his ryhtwysnesse^ 
 
 That same thinge 'Fortune' clepyn je, 
 
 Ye blynde beestys ful of lewednesse ! 
 
 The hevene hath proprete of sykyrnesse^ 
 
 This world hath ever resteles travayle. 70 
 
 Thy laste day is ende of myn intresse^ 
 
 In general^ this rewele may nat fayle. 
 
 Lenvoy de fortune. 
 
 Prynses^ I prey yow^ of yowre gentilesse^ 
 
 Lat nat this man on me thus crye and pleyne^ 
 
 And I shal quyte yow yowre bysynesse. 75 
 
 At my requeste_, as thre of yow or tweyne^ 
 
 That but yow lest releve hym of hys peyne^ 
 
 Preyeth hys beste frend of his noblesse^ 
 
 That to som betere estat he may attayne. 
 
 65 the om.; excussyoun. 71 intersse. 78 best. 
 
MERCILES BEAUTE: A TRIPLE 
 ROUNDEL 
 
 Yowre yen two woUe sle me sodenly^ 
 
 I may the beaute of them not sustene^ 
 
 So wondeth it thorowout my herte kene. 
 
 And but your word will helen hastily 
 
 Mi hertis wounde^ while that hit is grene, 5 
 
 Your yen two wol sle me sodenly, 
 
 I may the beaute of hem not sustene. 
 
 Upon my trouth I sey yow feithfuUy 
 
 That ye ben of my lifFe and deth the queue ; 
 
 For with my deth the trouthe shal be sene. 10 
 
 Your yen two wol sle me sodenly 
 
 I may the beaute of them not sustene 
 
 So wondeth hit thorowout my herte kene, 
 
 II. 
 
 So hath yowr beaute fro your herte chaced 
 
 Pitee that me navailleth not to pleyn^ 15 
 
 For Danger halt your mercy in his cheyne. 
 
 Giltles my deth thus han ye me purchaced ; 
 
 I sey yow soth^ me nedeth not to fayn. 
 
 So hath your beaute fro your herte chaced 
 
 Pite that me navailleth not to pleyn. 20 
 
 Alias that nature hath in yow compased 
 So grete beaute^ that no man may atteyn 
 To merey^ though he sterve for the peyn. 
 
 1 two yen. 
 
 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, etc. The refrain only indicated by two words. 10 trouth. 
 
MERCILES BEAUTE 551 
 
 So hath your beaute fro your herte chaced 
 
 Pite that me navailleth not to pleyn 25 
 
 For Danger halt your mercy in his cheyne, 
 
 III. 
 
 Syn I fro Love escaped am so fat^ 
 
 I nevere thenk to ben in his prison lene; 
 
 Sin I am free^ I counte him not a bene. 
 
 He may answere and sey this or that; 30 
 
 I do no f ors^ I speke right as I mene, 
 
 Syn I fro Love escaped am so fat 
 
 I nevere thenk to ben in his prison lene. 
 
 Love hath my name istrike out of his selat^ 
 
 And he is strike out of my bokes clene 35 
 
 For evermo^ this is non other mene^ 
 
 Syn I fro Love escaped am so fat, 
 
 I nevere thenk to ben in his prison lene; 
 
 Sin I am free I counte him not a bene. 
 
TO ROSEMOUNDE: A BALADE 
 
 Madame^ ye ben of al beaute shryne 
 
 As fer as eercled is the mapamonde; 
 
 For as the cristall glorious ye shyne^ 
 
 And lyke ruby ben your chekys rounde. 
 
 Therwith ye ben so mery and so joconde 5 
 
 That at a revell whan that I se you dance^ 
 
 It is an oynement unto my wounde^ 
 
 Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce ! 
 
 For thogh I wepe of teres ful a tyne^ 
 
 Yet may that wo myn herte nat eonf ounde ; 10 
 
 Your seemly voys that ye so smal outtwyne 
 
 Makyth my thoght in joye and blys habounde. 
 
 So curtaysly I go_, with love bounde^ 
 
 That to myself I sey, in my penaunce^ 
 
 *'Suffyseth me to love you^ Rosemounde^ 15 
 
 Thogh ye to me do no daliaunce !'' 
 
 Nas never pyk walwed in galauntyne 
 
 As I in love am walwed and iwounde ; 
 
 For which ful ofte I of myself devyne 
 
 That I am trewe Tristam the secounde. 20 
 
 My love may not ref reyde- be nor affounde ; 
 
 I brenne ay in an amorouse plesaunce. 
 
 Do what ye lyst ; I wyl your thral be f ounde^ 
 
 Thogh ye to me ne do no daliance. 
 
 8 Thoght. 11 semy; sma? fynall (Sk). 20 trew. 
 
TRUTH 
 
 Fie fro the pres^ and dwelle with sothefastnesse^ 
 
 Suffise thin owen things thei it be smal; 
 
 For horde hathe hate and clymbyng tykelnesse^ 
 
 Frees hathe envye, and wele blent overal. 
 
 Savoure rfo more thanne the byhove schal^ 5 
 
 Reule weel thiself that other folk canst reede^ 
 
 And trouthe schal delyvere_, it is no drede. 
 
 Tempest the nought al eroked to redresse 
 
 In trust of hire that tourneth as a bal. 
 
 Myche wele stant in litel besynesse^ 10 
 
 Bywar therfore to spurne ageyns an al; 
 
 Stryve not as dothe the crokke with the wal. 
 
 Daunte thiself that dauntest otheres dede^ 
 
 And trouthe shal delyvere^ it is no drede. 
 
 That the is sent^ receyve in buxhumnesse; 15 
 
 The wrestlyng for the worlde axeth a f al. 
 
 Here is non home^ here nys but wyldernesse_, 
 
 Forthe^ pylgryme^ f orthe ! f orthe^ beste^ out of thi stal ! 
 
 Knowe thi contre ! loke up ! thonk God of al ! 
 
 Holde the heye-weye^ and lat thi gost the lede^ 20 
 
 And trouthe shal delyvere^ it is no drede. 
 
 [L'envoy.^ 
 
 Ther-fore^ thou vache^ leve thine olde wrechedenesse 
 
 Unto the world; leve now to be thral. 
 
 Crie Hym mercy^ that of Hys hie godnesse 
 
 Made the of nought and in especial 25 
 
 Drawe unto Hym^ and pray in general 
 
 For the and eke for other hevenelyche mede^ 
 
 And trouthe schal delyvere^ it is no drede. 
 
GENTILESSE 
 
 The firste stocke^ fader of gentilnesse^ 
 
 What man desireth gentil for to be 
 
 Must folowe his trace^ and alle his wittes dresse 
 
 Vertu to love_, and vyces for to flee; 
 
 For unto vertu longeth dignite^ • 5 
 
 And nought the reverse^ savely dar I deme 
 
 Al were he miter^ croune^ or dyademe. 
 
 This firste stok was full of rightwisenesse^ 
 
 Trewe of his word^ sobre^ pitous^ and fre^ 
 
 Clene of his goost^ and loved besynesse 10 
 
 Ayenst the vyse of slouthe^ in honestee; 
 
 And but his heire love vertue as did he^ 
 
 He is nought gentil^ thogh he riche seme^ 
 
 Al were he myter^ croune^ or dyademe. 
 
 Vices may well be heire to olde richesse^ 15 
 
 But ther may no man^ as men may well se^ 
 
 Biquethe his heire his vertuous noblesse; 
 
 That is aproprid unto no degre^ 
 
 But to the first fader in magestee^ 
 
 That maketh his heires hem that can hym queme. 20 
 
 Al were he mytre^ croune. or dyademe. 
 
 7 coroune miter. 8 first. 14, 21 coroune. 15 Vicesse. 17 vertues noblisse. 
 20 can om. 
 
ENVOY TO SCOGAN 
 
 Litera directa de Scogon per. G. C. 
 
 To-brokene ben the statutis hye in hevene 
 
 That ereat were eternally to dure^ 
 
 Syn that I se the bryghte goddis sevene 
 
 Mow wepe and wayle^ and passioun endure^ 
 
 As may in erthe a mortal creature. 5 
 
 Allas_, fro whennes may this thyng procede? 
 
 Of whiche errour I deye almost for drede. 
 
 Be word eterne whilhom was it schape 
 
 That fro the fifte serkele_, in no manere^ 
 
 Ne myghte a drope of teeris doun escape; 10 
 
 But now so wepyth Venus in hir spere^ 
 
 That with hire teris sche wele drenche us here. 
 
 Allas^ Skogon^ this is for thyn offence^ 
 
 Thu causist this deluge of pestelence. 
 
 Hast thu not seyd^ in blaspheme of the goddis^ 15 
 
 Thour pride^ or thour thy grete rechelesnesse_, 
 
 Swich thyng as in the lawe of love forbode is^ 
 
 That for thy ladi saw not thy distresses 
 
 Therf ore thou yeve hire up at Mychelmesse ! 
 
 Allas_, Scogon^ of olde folk ne yong^ 20 
 
 Was nevere erst Scogon blamyd for his tong ! 
 
 Thow drow in scorn Cupid ek to record 
 
 Of thilke rebel word that thou hast spoken ; 
 
 For whiche he wele no lengere be thy lord. 
 
 And thow his bowe^ Scogon^ be not broken^ 25 
 
 He wil not with his arwis ben iwroken 
 
 On the^ ne me^ ne none of oure figure; 
 
 We schal of him have neyther hurt ne cure. 
 
 1 hye om. 4 pascioun. 6 whens. 11 his. 14 deluye. 17 forbodyn. 
 20 no thong. 23 the ilke. 
 
556 
 
 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Now sertys^ frend^ I drede of thyn onhap^ 
 Lest for thy gilt the wreche of love procede 
 On alle hem_, that ben hore and round of schap^ 
 That ben so likly folk in love to spede. 
 Thanne schal we for oure labour han no mede; 
 But wel I wit^ thou wilt answere and seye^ 
 '*Lo^ olde Grisil leste to ryme and pleye." 
 
 Nay^ Scogon^ sey not so^ for I me excuse^ 
 God helpe me so ! in no rym douteles^ 
 Ne thynke I nevere of slep to wake my muse. 
 That rustyth in myn schethe stylle in pes. 
 Whil I was yong^ I putte it forth in pres ; 
 But al schal passyn that men prose or ryme, 
 Tak every man his torn, as for his tyme. 
 
 30 
 
 S5 
 
 40 
 
 Envoy. 
 
 Scogan, that knelist at the wellis hed 
 
 Of grace, of alle honour and worthynesse. 
 
 In the ende of wich strem I am dul as ded, 
 
 Forgete in solitarie wildirnes, 
 
 Yit, Scogan, thynk on TuUius kyndenes ; 
 
 Mynne thy frend, there it may fructifie, 
 
 Farewel, and loke thou nevere eft Love defye ! 
 
 .i. Wyndisore 
 
 45 
 
 i. a Grenewych 
 
 39 schede. 47 thyng. 48 Mynewe. 
 
LAK OF STEDFASTNESSE 
 
 Geffrey Chauncier sende these Balades to kyng Richard. 
 
 Sumtyme this world was so stedefast and stable 
 
 That mannes word was obligacioun^ 
 
 But now it is so fals and disceyvable 
 
 That word and dede^ as in conclusioun_, 
 
 Ben nothyng on_, for turned up so doun 5 
 
 Is al this world for mede and wilfulnesses 
 
 That al is lost for lak of stedefastnesse. 
 
 What maketh this world to be so variable 
 
 But lust that folkis han in discensioun? 
 
 For nowadayes a man is holde unable # 10 
 
 But yf he can^ by som coUusioun^ 
 
 Do to his neyghbur wrong or oppressioun. 
 
 What causeth that but wilful wrecehednesse^ 
 
 That al is lost for lak of stedefastnesse? 
 
 Trouthe is put doun^ resoun is holde fable ; 1 5 
 
 Vertu hath now no domynacioun ; 
 
 Pyte exiled^ no man is mercyable; 
 
 Thurgh covetyse is blent discrecioun; 
 
 The world hath mad a permutacioun 
 
 Fro ryght to wrongs fro trouthe to iikulnesse^ 20 
 
 That al is lost for lak of stedefastnesse. 
 
 Lenvoy. 
 
 O prince^ desyre to be honurable^ 
 
 Cherysshe thi folk^ and hate extorcioun; 
 
 Suffre no thyng that may be reproveable 
 
 To thyn estate don in thi regioun. 25 
 
 Shewe forth thi swerd of castigacioun^ 
 
 Drede God^ do lawe^ love trouthe and rightwesnesse^ 
 
 And dryve thi peple agayn to stedefastnesse. 
 
LENVOY DE CHAUCER A BUKTON 
 
 My maister Bukton^ whan of Criste our kyng 
 
 Was axed, what ys trouthe or sothefastnesse. 
 
 He nat a worde answerde to that axinge. 
 
 As who saith: *'Noo man is al trewe, I gesse." 
 
 And therfore, though I highte to expresse 5 
 
 The sorwe and woo that is in mariage, 
 
 I dar not writen of hyt noo wikkednesse, 
 
 Leste y myself falle eft in swich dotage, 
 
 I wol nat seyn, how that hyt is the cheyne 
 
 Of Sathanas, on which he gnaweth evere; 10 
 
 But I dar steyn, were he oute of his peyne. 
 
 As by his wille he wolde be bounde nevere. 
 
 But thilke doted foole that efte hath levere 
 
 Yeheyned be than out of prison crepe, 
 
 God lete him never fro his woo dissevere, 15 
 
 Ne noo man him bewayle, though he wepe. 
 
 But yet, lest thow doo worse, take a wyf e ; 
 
 Bet ys to wedde than brenne in worse wise. 
 
 But thow shalt have sorwe on thy flessh thy lyfe. 
 
 And ben thy wif es thral, as seyn these wise ; 20 
 
 And yf that hooly writte may nat sufFyse, 
 
 Experience shal the teche, so may happe. 
 
 That the were lever to be take in Frise, 
 
 Than eft to falle of weddynge in the trappe. 
 
 Envoy. 
 
 This lytel writte, proverbes, or figure 25 
 
 I sende yow, take kepe of hyt, I rede. 
 
 5 hight. 13 efte ofte. 24 to om. 
 
LENVOY DE CHAUCER A BUKTON 559 
 
 Unwise is he that kan noo wele endure, 
 
 Yf thow be siker, put the nat in drede. 
 
 The Wyfe of Bathe I pray yow that ye rede 
 
 Of this matere that we have on honde, 30 
 
 God graunte yow your lyfe frely to lede 
 
 In fredam, for ful harde is to be bonde. 
 
 32 it is. 
 
I 
 
 THE COMPLEYNT OF VENUS 
 
 And filowing begynnethe a balade translated out o£ frenshe 
 into englisshe by Chaucier Geffrey the frenshe made sir 
 Otes de Grauntsome knight Savosyen. 
 
 Ther nys so hye coumfort to my plesaunce^ 
 
 Whane that I am in' any hevynesse^ 
 
 As for to have leyser of remembraunce 
 
 Upon the manhoode and the worthynesse^ 5 
 
 Upon the trouthe and the stedfastnesse 
 
 Of him_, whos I am alweys^ whyle I may dure; 
 
 Ther aught to blamen me no creature^ 
 
 For he is croppe and roote of gentylesse. 
 
 In him is bountee^ wysdam^ and gouvernaunce^ 
 
 Weel more thanne any mannes wit kan gesse; 10 
 
 For grace hathe wolde so ferfoorthe him avaunce. 
 
 That of knighthoode he is parfyt rychchesse. 
 
 Honnour honourethe him for his noblesse ; 
 
 Therto so wel hathe fortuned him Nature^ 
 
 That I am his for ever^ I him ensure^ 15 
 
 For every wight preysethe his gentylesse. 
 
 And nought-withstanding al his souffisaunce^ 
 
 His gentyle hert is of so gret humblesse 
 
 To me^ in worde^ in werk_, in countenaunce_, 
 
 And me to serve is al his besynesse^ 20 
 
 That I am sette in verray sikurnesse; 
 
 Thus aught me wele to blesse myn aventure^ 
 
 Sith that him list me serven and honneure^ 
 
 For every wight preysethe his gentylesse. 
 
 II. 
 
 Nowe certes^ Love^ hit is right covenable 25 
 
 That men ful soore abye thy noble things 
 
THE COMPLEYNT OF VENUS 561 
 
 As waake abedde^ and fasting at the table^ 
 
 Weping to laughe_, and sing in compleyning^ 
 
 And doune to caste vysage and looking^ 
 
 Offtymes to chaunge huwe and countenaunce^ 30 
 
 Pleye in sleping^ and dremen at the daunce^ 
 
 Al the revers of any glaade felyng. 
 
 Thaughe j alousye wer hanged by a kable^ 
 
 Sheo wolde al knowe^ thorughe hir espying; 
 
 Ther doothe no wight no thing so raysonnable 35 
 
 That al nys harme in hir ymagynyng ; 
 
 Thus deere abought is love in gyving^ 
 
 Whiche offt he gyvethe withoute ordeynaunce^ 
 
 As sorowe enoughe_, and lytel of plesaunce^ 
 
 Al the revers of every glaade feeling. 40 
 
 A lytel tyme his gyiFt is agreable^ 
 
 But ful encoumberous is the using; ' 
 
 For soutyle j alousye the deceyvable 
 
 Ful offten-tymes causethe destourbing^ 
 
 Thus beon we ever in dreed souffering^ 45 
 
 In nouneertaine we langwisshe in penaunce^ 
 
 And have wel offt many an herd meschaunce^ 
 
 Al the revers of every glaade feelyng. 
 
 III. 
 
 But certes^ Love^ I say not in suche wyse^ 
 
 That for teschape oute of youre lace I ment^ 50 
 
 For I so long have beon in youre servyce 
 
 That for to leet of wol I never assente; 
 
 No force^ thaughe Jalousye me more tourment, 
 
 Souffisethe me to seon him whane I may_, 
 
 And therfore^ certes^ unto myn eending day^ 55 
 
 To love him best ne shal I never repent. 
 
562 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 And certes^ Love^ whanne I me weel avyse 
 
 On any estate^ that man may represent^ 
 
 Thane have yee maked me^ thorughe youre f raunchyse^ 
 
 Cheese the best^ that ever on eorthe went. 60 
 
 Nowe love weele^ hert^ and looke thou never stents 
 
 And let the jalouse put it nowe in assaye. 
 
 That for no peyne ne shal I never sey naye^ 
 
 To love him best^ ne never to repent. 
 
 Herte^ to the hit aught enough e souffyse^ 65 
 
 That Love so hye a grace hathe to thee sent^ 
 
 To cheese the worthyest of alle wyse^ 
 
 And mooste agreable^ unto myn entent; 
 
 Seeche nowe no firther^ neyther wey ner went^ 
 
 Sythe I have soufFysaunce unto my paye^ 70 
 
 Thus wol I eonde this compleynt or this laye. 
 
 To love him best^ and never to repent. 
 
 Lenvoye. 
 
 Pryncesse^ resceyvethe this complaynt in gree, 
 
 Unto youre excellent benignytee 
 
 Dyrect^ afFter my lytel souffysaunce; 75 
 
 For eelde^ that in my spiryt douUethe me^ 
 
 Hathe of thendyting al the subtylytee 
 
 Welnyeghe byraiFt out of my remembraunce ; 
 
 And eeke to me it is right gret penaunce^ 
 
 Sith ryme in Englisshe hathe suche skarsytee^ 80 
 
 To folowen word by word the curyosytee 
 
 Of Graunsome_, flour of hem that make in Fraunce. 
 
 Hit is sayde that Graunsome made this Last balade for 
 Venus resembled to my lady of york aunswering the com- 
 playnt of Mars. 
 
 65 Hert. 72 To And. 
 
THE COMPLAYNT OF CHAUCER TO 
 HIS PURSE 
 
 To yoWy my purse^ and to noon other wight 
 
 Complayn I^ for ye be my lady dere. 
 
 I am so sory now that ye been lyght_, 
 
 For certes^ but yf ye make me hevy chere^ 
 
 Me were as leef be layde upon my bere ; 5 
 
 For whiche unto your mercy thus I crye, 
 
 Beeth hevy ageyne^ or elles mote I dye. 
 
 Now vouehethsauf this day or hyt be nyght^ 
 
 That I of yow the blisful soune may here_, 
 
 Or see your colour lyke the sonne bryght^ 10 
 
 That of yelownesse hadde never pere. 
 
 Ye be my lyfe^ ye be myn hertys stere^ 
 
 Queue of comfort and of good companye; 
 
 Beth hevy ayeyne or elles moote I dye. 
 
 Now^ purse^ that ben to me my lyves lyght^ 15 
 
 And saveour as doun in this worlde here_, 
 
 Oute of this toune helpe me thurgh your myght^ 
 
 Syn that ye wole nat bene my tresorere; 
 
 For I am shave as nye as is a ffrere^ 
 
 But yet I pray imto your curtesye^ 20 
 
 Bethe hevy ayen^ or elles moote I dye. 
 
 Lenvoy de Chaucer. 
 
 O conquer our of Brutes Albyoun^ 
 
 Whiche that by lygne and free eleccioun 
 
 Been verray kynge^ this song to yow I sende ! 
 
 And je, that mo wen alle myn harme amende^ 25 
 
 Have mynde upon my supplicacioun ! 
 
PROVERBS 
 
 What shal thees clothes many f old^ 
 Loo^ this hoote somers day? 
 
 Affter gret heet komethe cold^ 
 No man cast his pilche away. 
 
 Quod Chaucer, 
 
 Of this worlde the wyde compas^ 
 Hit wol not in myn armes tweyne ; 
 
 Who so mychel wol embrace, 
 Lytel ther-of he shal destreyne. 
 
 Quod Chaucer. 
 
WOMMANLY NOBLESSE 
 
 Balade that Chaucier made. 
 
 So hath my herte caught in remembraunce 
 Yowre beaute hoole^ and stedfast governaunce^ 
 
 Yowre vertues al_, and yowre hie noblesse^ 
 That yow to serve is set al my plesaunee. 
 So wel me likith youre womanly contenaunce_, 5 
 
 Youre fresshe fetures and youre comlinesse^ 
 
 That while I live^ my hert to his maystresse 
 Yow hath ful chose^ in triew perseveraunce^ 
 
 Never to chaunge for no maner distresse. 
 
 And sith I shal do this observaunce 10 
 
 Al my lyve withouten displesaunce_, 
 
 Yow for to serve with al my besynesse^ 
 
 [Take my service in gre_, and nat grevaunce_5] 
 
 And have me somwhat in your souvenaunce. 
 
 My woful herte suffrith grete duresse; 15 
 
 And [lo] how humb[le]ly^ with al symplesse^ 
 
 My wil I conforme to your ordynaunce^ 
 
 As you best list_, my peynes for to redresse. 
 
 Considryng eek how I hange in balaunce 
 
 In your servyce; swiche^ lo^ is my chaunce^ 20 
 
 Abidyng grace_, whan that yowre gentilnesse 
 Of my grete wo list doon allegeaunce^ 
 And with your pite me som wyse avaunce_, 
 
 In ful rebatyng of myn hevynesse; 
 
 And thinkith be raison^ that wommanly noblesse 25 
 
 Shuld nat desyre til do the outraunce 
 
 Theras she fyndith non unbuxumnesse. 
 
 14 Line lost ; the editor suggests the above. 
 
566 THE COLLEGE CHAUCER 
 
 Lenvoye. 
 
 Auctour of norture_, lady of plesaunce^ 
 
 Soveraigne of beaute_, floure of wommanhede_, 
 
 Take ye non hede unto myn ignoraunee^ SO 
 
 But this receyvith of your goodlyhede^ 
 
 Thynkyng that I have caught in remembraunce 
 
 Yowre beaute hole^ your stidefast governaunce. 
 
NEWEFANGELNESSE 
 
 Against Women Inconstant. 
 
 (1) 
 
 Madame^ for your newefangelnesse^ 
 
 Manie a servaunt have ye put oute of grace. 
 
 I take my leve of your unstedf astnesse ; 
 
 For wel I wote^ while ye to lyve have space^ 
 
 Ye kunnought love ful half yeer in a place^ 5 
 
 To newe thinges your lust is ever kene. 
 
 In sted of blue^ thus may ye were al grene. 
 
 (2) 
 
 Right as a mirrour^ that nothing may enpresse^ 
 
 But lightly as it cometh^ so mot it pace_, 
 
 So f areth your love ; your werkes bereth witnesse. 1 
 
 Ther is no feith that may your hert enbrace; 
 
 But as a wedercok^ that turneth his face 
 
 With every wynd_, ye f are_, and that is sene ; 
 
 In sted of bliwe^ thus may ye were al grene. 
 
 (3) 
 
 Ye might be shrined for your brotilnesse 15 
 
 Bettir thanne Dalide^ Cresside^ or Candace, 
 
 For evere in changeng stondeth your sikernesse; 
 
 That tacche may no wight fro your hert arace; 
 
 Yif ye lese oon^ ye kunne wel tweine purchace; 
 
 All light for somer — ye wote wel what I mene — 20 
 
 In sted of blewe^ thus may ye were al grene. 
 
 2 of your. 6 so kene. 15 your om. 
 
 Explicit. 
 
PREFACE TO THE TREATISE ON 
 THE ASTROLABE 
 
 Litell Lowys my sone_, I have perceived wele by 
 certeyne evidences thine abilite to lerne sciencez 
 touchinge noumbres and prbporciouns ; and as wel 
 considere I thy bisi preyere in special to lerne the 
 Tretis of the Astrelabie. Than_, for as mechel as a 5 
 
 philosofre seith^ ''He wrappeth him in his frend^ 
 that condescendeth to the rihtful preiers of his 
 frend/' therfor have I geven the a suffisaunt Astra- 
 labie as for owre orizonte^ compowned after the lati- 
 tude of Oxenford; upon which^ by mediacion of 10 
 this litel tretis^ I purpose to teche thee a certein of 
 conclusions apertenyng to the same instrument. I 
 seye a certein of conclusiouns for three causes. The 
 furste cause is this: truste wel that alle the conclu- 
 siouns that han ben fownde^ or elles possibli myhten 15 
 be fownde in so noble an instrument as an Astra- 
 labie^ ben unknowe perfitly to any mortal man in this 
 regioun^ as I suppose. Another cause is this: that 
 sothly in any tretis of the Astrelabie that I have 
 seyn^ there ben some conclusions that wole nat in alle 20 
 thinges perf ormen hir byhestes ; and some of hem 
 ben to harde to thy tendre age of ten yer to conseyve. 
 
 This tretis^ divided in fyve parties^ wole I shewe 
 the under ful lighte rewles and naked wordes in 
 Englissh^ for Latyn ne kanstow yit but smal^ my lite 25 
 
 sone. But natheles^ suffise to thee thise trewe con- 
 clusiouns in Englissh^ as wel as suffiseth to thise noble 
 clerkes Grekes thise same conclusiouns in Grek^ and 
 to Arabiens in Arabik^ and to Jewes in Ebrew^ and 
 to the Latyn folk in Latyn; whiche Latyn folk han SO 
 
 hem furst out of othre diverse langages^ and writen 
 
PREFACE TO ASTROLABE 569 
 
 in hir owne tonge^ that is to sein^ in Latyn. And 
 God wot^ that in alle thise langages^ and many mo^ 
 han thise conclusiouns ben suffisantly lerned and 
 tawht^ and yit by diverse rewles^ ryht as diverse S5 
 
 pathes leden diverse folk the rihte wey to Roome. 
 Now wol I prey mekly every discret persone that 
 redith or herith this litel tretis^ to have my rewde 
 endytyng for excused^ and my superfluite of wordes^ 
 for two causes: the firste cause is^ for that curios 40 
 
 enditing and hard sentence is ful hevy atones for 
 swich a child to lerne. And the seconde cause is this ; 
 that sothly me semeth betre to writen unto a child 
 twies a good sentence^ than he forget it ones. And 
 Lowis^ yif so be that I shewe thee in my lihte 45 
 
 Englissh as trewe conclusiouns touching this matere^ 
 and nawht only as trewe but as many and as subtil 
 conclusiouns as ben shewed in Latyn in ani com- 
 mune tretis of the Astrelabie^ kon me the more 
 thank; and preye God save the kyng^ that is lord 50 
 
 of this langage^ and alle that him feyth bereth and 
 obeieth_, everech in his degree^ the more arid the lasse. 
 But considere wel_, that I ne usurpe nat to have 
 fownde this werk of my labour or of myn engin; I 
 nam but a lewd compilatour of the labour of olde 55 
 
 Astrolog[i]ens^ and have hit translated in myn 
 Englissh only for thi doctrine; and with this swerd 
 shal I slen envie. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 I. Pronunciation. §1-4. 
 
 II. Language. §5-33. 
 
 III. Notes on Special Usages. §34-39. 
 
 IV. Meter. §40-42. 
 V. Life. §43-50. 
 
 VI. Dates of Chaucer's Works. §51-52. 
 VII. Chaucer's Reading. §53-58. 
 VIII. The Human Comedy of the "Canterbury Tales." §59. 
 
 I. Pronunciation. 
 
 §1. Pronunciation of the Middle English of Chaucer. 
 
 The beginner will find the vowels his chief difficulty in 
 Chaucerian pronunciation. The consonants are pronounced 
 nearly as by a Scotchman today; that is to say, the r is trilled, 
 and gh has the sound of the Scottish ch in loch. Words 
 derived from the French retained more of the French dis- 
 tinctness of utterance; -cion, -tion, -sion, -ssion kept the 
 distinct ci-on, ti-on, ssi-on, with no sh sound. French -ge, 
 as in age, retained the soft zh sound. Kn as in German 
 Knabe, kept the original sound; and ng retained the full 
 sound of the g as in anger, not as in singer. Th in certain 
 proper names probably was tt, as in Thopas, Atthenes; 
 elsewhere as in modern English. Other consonants were 
 sounded nearly as they are today. 
 
 §2. The vowels present more difficulty. In general, one 
 should keep in mind the values of vowels in Continental lan- 
 guages, rather than in modern English. The three most 
 difficult rules to remember are (1) a always as in German 
 Mann or Vater; (2) e in long syllables always as e or e in 
 French, not as in mere, weed; (3) doubling of vowels does 
 not change the sound except to lengthen it; thus boote is 
 like modern boat, not modern boot; heede is like modern 
 hayed, not like our heed. The other rules are simple, and 
 easily kept in mind; most errors are due to forgetfulness of 
 the rules just given. 
 
574 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 §3. Table of vowel-sounds. 
 
 Short. 
 
 a as in Ger. Mann, 
 e as in then. 
 
 1, y as in mn. 
 
 o as in Ger. Gott. 
 
 u as in full, rarely as in cup. 
 Written often o in words 
 which today have a u 
 sound: moche (much), 
 Sonne (sun), ronne (run), 
 companye; also in dore, 
 spore, woUe. 
 
 ay, ey as ai in straits. 
 
 ou, owas in French doux, English you. 
 
 Long. 
 
 aa, a as in father. 
 
 e open as in where, or 
 
 e closed as in way. Chaucer 
 rarely rimed open and close 
 long e (ex. lere, here); but 
 the rime does occur. Most 
 Americans can make little 
 distinction in the sounds. 
 
 i, y as in gasoline. Found in 
 words which today have 
 the diphthongal i sound: 
 life, hide, child, plight 
 (ME plit). But note that 
 ME words in -ght have the 
 short i: lyght, myghte. 
 
 6 open as in more, and 
 
 6 close as in boat. The dis- 
 tinction is of little value to 
 the beginner. Chaucer 
 evidently felt free to break 
 the rule against riming o 
 open and close.* 
 
 u as in compute, suit. 
 
 * By the use of the etymologies given in the Glossary, the student can 
 readily distinguish between open and close 6, open and close e, if he 
 observes the rules here given: (1) ME open e is found in words which 
 in AS had se, e, ea; (2) ME close e is found in words which in AS had 
 e, e before -Id, eo, and also in ME final e; (3) ME open 6 is found in 
 words which in AS had a, a (from se, ea), o in open syllables, and before 
 -Id; (4) ME close 6 is found in words which in AS had 6 (also in 
 ON 6). 
 
APPENDIX 575 
 
 Diphthongs. 
 
 au as ou in house, or as au in German aus. 
 
 ew, e plus oo,* fewe, newe, trewe (not as in modern 
 pronunciation). 
 
 oi as in modern speech, joye. 
 
 §4. Doubling of vowels, as has been said, indicates a long 
 vowel only, not a different sound from the single vowel, as 
 in our writing. Doubled consonants were, as in modern 
 German, given full value; son-ne, ron-ne. 
 
 • 
 
 II. Language. 
 
 §5. Chaucer's Language.- Chaucer's language was that of 
 the London of his day, which grammarians now call the 
 Southeast Midland dialect of Middle English. Soon after 
 his time this dialect became the standard English speech, 
 especially after the establishment of Caxton's press at West- 
 minster (1477); so that our own literary language descends 
 directly from Chaucer's dialect. 
 
 §6. Before the stage known as Middle English, in the cen- 
 turies previous to 1150, lies the stage which we call Anglo- 
 Saxon, or Old English, the chief monument of which is the 
 epic poem Beowulf. Anglo-Saxon may be distinguished from 
 Middle English by its more elaborate system of inflections 
 in nouns and verbs, and its freedom from the influence of 
 French. Apart from some words of Danish or Norse 
 (Scandinavian) origin, and a very few from Latin, Old Eng- 
 lish was a "self-supporting" tongue. 
 
 §7. Middle English, on the other hand, received many 
 words from French, either through the dialect of the Nor- 
 mans in England (Anglo-French, "AF"), or later through the 
 Old French of the Continent ("OF"). The inflections which 
 in Anglo-Saxon are only slightly less numerous than in 
 classical Latin, were mostly lost, or reduced to a common 
 stage, that known as final -e. 
 
 §8. Final -e. This suflix, the distinguishing feature of 
 Middle English, has been long lost as a - syllable, though 
 retained in the spelling of many words. In Chaucer's day 
 it was already beginning to disappear in pronunciation; but 
 
 * Almost as in our mimicking of a dandy's vewy for very. 
 
576 APPENDIX 
 
 the memory of it was still sufficiently fresh in England to 
 permit its use in the counted syllables, chiefly unaccented, 
 of poetry. The similar use of -e in contemporary French 
 poetry, which had a great influence on English literature, no 
 doubt assisted its preservation. On the other hand, some 
 poets of Chaucer's day did not employ the final -e as a pro- 
 nounced syllable. William Parys, the squire of Thomas 
 Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick — whose son. Lord William 
 Beau champ, was a friend of Chaucer's — wrote a poem, St. 
 Cristine, in 1397, in which the -e is practically non-existent.* 
 It is certain, also, that Chaucer felt free, in some cir- 
 cumstances, to neglect or slur this syllable — that is to say, 
 to count ten syllables in a line of decasyllabic verse, regard- 
 less of some of the syllables ending in -e, -es, -ed, and even 
 -eth. 
 
 §9. The manuscripts of Chaucer's poems, which now exist, 
 were written after Chaucer's death. In the case of the shorter 
 poems, the manuscripts are perhaps fifty years later. They 
 exhibit, to various degrees, many final -e's which were never 
 sounded in speech, since they did not represent any syllabic 
 ending in Anglo-Saxon or Old French. As we do not pos- 
 sess any manuscripts in Chaucer's handwriting, we do not 
 know whether he was in the habit of writing these or not; 
 in other words, whether the manuscripts of Chaucer in any 
 way represent his own spelling. Believing that any recon- 
 struction of Chaucer's spelling, from the extant manuscripts, 
 is impossible at present, the editor prefers to exhibit the 
 actual spelling of a trustworthy manuscript of each work.f 
 If the student learns carefully the following rules for the 
 
 * The -e's in black type in the stanza below would have been normally 
 sounded in Chaucer. This copy of Parys is from MS. Arundel 168, folio 
 4b, Brit. Mus. 
 
 Seint Cristyne, helpe thorough thi prayer 
 
 That we may fare the better for the, 
 That hath ben longe in prisoun here, 
 
 The He of Man, that stronge cuntre ; 
 
 Sir Thomas Beawchamp, an erle was he, 
 In Warwikshire was his power, 
 
 Now is he of so povre degre, 
 He hath no man, save on squier. 
 
 t The marks of abbreviation above final r, p, and n (where -e is possibly 
 meant) have not been expanded. Otherwise the MS. text spellings are 
 used. 
 
APPENDIX 577 
 
 sounding of final -e, the spelling of the manuscripts will give 
 him no trouble; and he will understand better the history of 
 Chaucer criticism and of our own texts than from a so-called 
 "normalized" text. 
 
 §10. Final -e generally appears in the Middle English 
 poetry of Chaucer with syllabic value in the following forms: 
 
 (a) In certain nouns of Anglo-Saxon or other Germanic 
 origin.* Ex. bere, bowe, drope, erthe, herte, eye, leche, sone, 
 answere, bote, comynge, mayde, cloude, tere, drede. 
 
 (b) In nouns of Romance (Old French) origin which 
 originally ended in -e mute. Ex. age, chere, cure, distresse, 
 gyse, lettre, madame, route, signe, substaunce, violence, 
 vileynye. 
 
 (c) In some Romance nouns which did not originally end 
 in -e. Ex. travayle, mene. 
 
 (d) In certain nouns preceded by prepositions, represent- 
 ing an old (petrified) dative in -e. Ex. on honde, in toune. 
 
 (e) In certain adjectives of Germanic origin. Ex. grene, 
 mylde, thikke. 
 
 (f) In Romance adjectives, ending in -e mute. Ex. digne, 
 huge, humble. 
 
 (g) In some Romance adjectives which did not end in -e 
 mute. Ex. clere, comune, secounde. 
 
 (h) In adjectives preceded by a possessive or demonstra- 
 tive pronoun, or by the definite article; i.e., in the ''definite'' 
 or ''weak" form of adjectives. Ex. the beste rym, my dere 
 foo, this swete preest. 
 
 (i) In adjectives in the vocative, preceding their noun. 
 Ex. O longe day! Now, faire lady! Leve brother! Seynte 
 Marie !t 
 
 (j) In the plural of monosyllabic adjectives, and occa- 
 sionally of polysyllabic adjectives where the meter may 
 require it. Ex. gode men, longe nyghtes, the frendlyeste 
 men. 
 
 (k) In adverbs of Anglo-Saxon origin, ending in -e. Ex. 
 clene, depe, lowde, sodeynliche. But ryght and lyk. 
 
 (1) In certain particles of adverbial or prepositional use. 
 Ex. aboute, bothe, bysyde, sone. 
 
 * See §15 below for details. The etymologies in the Glossary are in- 
 tended to guide the student in olDserving these nouns, and similar sources 
 of -e. 
 
 t On seynte, see the Glossary. . ; 
 
578 APPENDIX 
 
 (m) In verbs, in 
 
 (1) The first person singular, present indicative: I wake. 
 
 (2) The plural present indicative: We wake (waketh, 
 waken). 
 
 (3) The singular and plural present subjunctive: If he 
 wake. 
 
 (4) The imperative second person singular and plural of 
 most weak verbs: Leve wel. 
 
 (5) The infinitive: To telle (tellen). 
 
 (6) The verbal noun: Comynge. 
 
 (7) The perfect participle of strong verbs: She was 
 i-founde. 
 
 (8) The preterite indicative, first and third persons sin- 
 gular, of weak verbs (ending in -ed, -t, in modern 
 English) : I wenede, wende. 
 
 (9) Preterite indicative, second person singular of 
 strong verbs: thou founde, thou woke. 
 
 (10) Preterite plural of all verbs: they wente, we songe. 
 
 (11) Preterite subjunctive, all verbs: er that he sawe. 
 
 §11. Final en appears in 
 
 (a) The plural of certain nouns: sustren, shoon. 
 
 (b) Certain particles: aboven, withouten. 
 
 (c) The infinitive: to singen. 
 
 (d) The plural forms of verbs: they wenten, we that 
 singen. 
 
 (e) The past participle of strong verbs. 
 
 (f) Reflexive pronouns: myselven. 
 
 §12. Final es appears in 
 
 (a) The possessive singular of nOuns: wommannes 
 counseil. 
 
 (b) The plural of nouns: dogges, hogges. 
 
 (c) Some adverb forms: ones, twyes. 
 
 The above list is intended for ready reference only. 
 Chaucer's system of inflections, with their chief Anglo-Saxon 
 equivalents, are given in fuller detail in the sections that 
 follow. 
 
 §13. The Noun. In Anglo-Saxon nouns are divided into 
 two classes, according as the stem originally ended in a 
 vowel or in a consonant. Vowel-stems make up the strong, 
 stems in -n the weak declension. Other consonantal stems 
 are grouped by themselves. Owing to the loss in primitive 
 or prehistoric Anglo-Saxon of final short vowels and of final 
 
 I 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 579 
 
 consonants of stems, it is not possible in Anglo-Saxon to 
 distinguish all these classes at first glance. Comparative 
 study of other Germanic tongues, such as Gothic and Old 
 Norse, has therefore been employed. Various case-endings 
 had also been lost before the historic period of Anglo-Saxon, 
 so that the English language, at its earliest known stage, 
 was already a language of partly leveled inflections. The 
 Middle English of Chaucer, and our own modern English, 
 represent further steps along this same course of develop- 
 ment. 
 
 §14. It is not proposed here to give an outline of all Anglo- 
 Saxon inflections, but only of such as are perhaps sufficient 
 to illustrate the development of Chaucerian English. A few 
 only of the several types of noun-inflection are given. 
 
 Sing. Nom. 
 
 Gen. 
 
 Dat. 
 
 Ace. 
 PI. Nom. Ace. 
 
 Gen. 
 
 Dat. 
 
 Sing. 
 
 PL 
 
 Nom. 
 
 Gen. 
 
 Dat. 
 
 Ace. 
 
 Nom. Ace. 
 
 Gen. 
 
 Dat. 
 
 ; Sing. 
 
 i PI. 
 
 Nom. 
 Gen. 
 Dat. 
 Ace. 
 
 Nom. Ace. 
 
 Gen. 
 
 Dat. 
 
 masc. 
 
 Stan 
 
 stanes 
 
 stane 
 
 Stan 
 
 stanas 
 
 stana 
 
 stanum 
 
 a-stems. 
 M. Eng. 
 (stoon) 
 (stoones) 
 
 (stoones) 
 
 neut. 
 
 word 
 
 wordes 
 
 worde 
 
 word 
 
 .word 
 
 worda 
 
 wordum 
 
 M. Eng. 
 
 (word) 
 
 (wordes) 
 
 (wordes) 
 
 fern. 
 giefu, -c 
 giefe 
 giefe 
 giefe 
 giefe, -a 
 giefa, (-ena) 
 giefum 
 
 o-stems. 
 
 M. Eng. 
 
 -o (gyft) 
 
 (gyftes) 
 
 fem. 
 
 cwen 
 
 cwene 
 
 cwene 
 
 i-stems. 
 
 M. Eng. 
 (quene) 
 (quenes) 
 
 .(gyftes) 
 
 cwene 
 cwena 
 cwenum 
 
 (quenes) 
 
 n-declension 
 
 M. Eng. 
 (tunge) 
 (tunges) 
 
 fem. 
 
 tunge 
 
 tungan 
 
 tungan 
 
 tungan 
 
 tungan 
 
 tungena 
 
 tungum 
 
 (tunges) 
 
580 APPENDIX 
 
 §15. The nominative case in nouns in Chaucer ends in -e, 
 of such nouns as in Anglo-Saxon were 
 
 (a) Of the n- declension, masculine, feminine, and neuter. 
 Ex. drope (AS m. dropa), harpe (AS f. hearpe), ere (AS 
 n. eare). 
 
 (b) Masculine and neuter nouns of the vowel-stem declen- 
 sions, which ended in AS in a final vowel. Ex. ende (AS 
 m. ende), spere (AS n. spere). 
 
 (c) Feminine nouns of the vowel-stem declensions that 
 ended in -u in the nominative, in Anglo-Saxon. Ex. care 
 (AS f. caru), dore (AS f. duru), lawe (AS f. lagu). 
 
 (d) Monosyllabic feminine nouns with a long stem- 
 syllable. The -e here in oblique cases influenced the nomi- 
 native. Ex. bote (AS f. b5t), cheste (AS f. cest), halle (AS 
 f. heall). 
 
 Certain very common words are exceptions to this. Ex. 
 ok, plyt, sped, thryft, wight, won, world, bench, bok, bond, 
 might, nyght. 
 
 (e) Nouns of the gerund form, in -ing, -inge, -yng, -ynge. 
 Not the present participle. 
 
 (f) Nouns, ending in -en in Anglo-Saxon, apocopate to -e. 
 Ex. eve (AS n. sefen), game AS n. gamen), mayde (AS n. 
 maegden). 
 
 (g) Some masculine and neuter nouns end in -e, which in 
 AS ended in a consonant in the nominative. Ex. botme 
 (AS botm), cloude (AS clud), dethe (AS dea)?), welkne 
 (woken). 
 
 (h) The "petrified" dative. Some familiar phrases, con- 
 taining in AS a preposition with the dative case, remain in 
 Chaucer. Ex. to borwe, on horse, to bedde. 
 
 (i) Some nouns of uncertain derivation end in -e. Ex. 
 drede (AS verb draedan), hye (AS verb higian). 
 
 §16. Nouns which in Old French end in -e, retain the -e 
 in Chaucer. Ex. fortune, aventure. 
 
 §17. Genitive. The genitive singular of nouns ends in -es 
 in Chaucer. Certain nouns are exceptions to this rule, being 
 usually old genitival forms. Ex. his lady grace, his herte 
 blood, his fader wil. 
 
 Proper nouns in -s often have a genitive identical with the 
 nominative. Ex. That was the kyng Priamus sone of Troye. 
 
 §18. Plurals. The plural of nouns ends regularly in -es, 
 or (if the nominative ends in -e) in -s. 
 
 N 
 
APPENDIX 581 
 
 Words in -aunt, -ent, -ioun, -ion, -r, -en, -on, -an, usually 
 take -s, -z. Ex. servauntz, payementz, prisouns. 
 Certain other exceptions to the -s plural should be noted. 
 
 (a) asshen, ben, eyen, foon, shoon. 
 
 (b) brethren, doughtren, sustren, children, hosen. 
 
 (c) feet, men, wommen. 
 
 (d) (Plural identical with singular) wyntir, yer, nyght, 
 folk, thyng. 
 
 §19. Genitive Plural. Except in a few cases, as in nonne 
 preest, the genitive plural is identical with the nominative. 
 
 The old dative plural exists only in particles such as 
 whilom, a thousand si the (AS sithum), fote (AS fotum). 
 
 §20. Adjectives. 
 
 (a) Anglo-Saxon adjectives, ending in -e or -a in the 
 strong form, end in -e in Chaucer. Ex. blithe (AS bli)?e), 
 clene (AS claene), grene (AS grene); lyte, muche, from AS 
 lyt, lytel, micel, mycel, retain the -e. 
 
 (b) Some adjectives, probably in the petrified vocative, 
 or in a weak use as a well-known epithet, take -e in Chaucer. 
 Ex. hye God, goode fayre Whyt, longe while (perhaps from 
 AS ace. of time). 
 
 (c) Some adjectives of Germanic origin other than Anglo- 
 Saxon, take -e. Ex. badde, lowe, meke, shene, wykke. 
 
 (d) Romance adjectives preserve their -e in Chaucer. 
 Ex. huge, nice, straunge. 
 
 (e) Some Romance adjectives get -e in Chaucer, perhaps 
 from the influence of the feminine ending. Ex. comune. 
 
 Some Romance adjectives preserve their French endings: 
 o bele nece, egles tercels. 
 
 (f) All w^eak or definite adjectives end in -e. Exceptions 
 occur, his good wil, the first day of the yere. 
 
 (g) Vocative adjectives before the noun are in the weak 
 form, with -e. O harde grace. 
 
 (h) Dissyllabic and trisyllabic adjectives, accented on the 
 penult, keep or drop -e in the weak form, to suit the metrical 
 needs, according to the position of the accent of the following 
 word. Ex. this woful day, the grettest joy, his excellent 
 nature, the wofuUeste wight. 
 
 (i) Monosyllabic plural adjectives end in -e. Ex. dede 
 men. 
 
 In the predicate position this -e is sometimes lost. Ex. 
 Ye be so wys. 
 
582 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 (j) Plural polysyllabic adjectives do not take -e, except 
 rarely for metrical needs. 
 
 (k) Adjectives end as now in -er, -est in the comparative 
 and superlative. 
 
 §21. Pronouns. 
 
 Nominative. 
 
 I, y, ich, ik 
 
 thou, thow 
 
 he 
 
 she, sche, scho 
 
 it, hit 
 
 we 
 
 ye 
 
 they, thei 
 
 Possessive 
 
 my, myn 
 
 thy, thyn - 
 
 his, hise 
 
 hire, hir (mon. syll.) 
 
 his 
 
 our, cure 
 
 your, youre 
 
 hire, here 
 
 ther, their 
 
 Accusative. 
 
 me 
 
 the, thee 
 
 hym, him 
 
 hire, here (mon. syll.) 
 
 it, hit 
 
 us 
 
 yow, you 
 
 hem, them 
 
 Absolute or Attributive. 
 myn 
 
 thyn (thow is often attached to verbs, as sekestow?) 
 his 
 
 hires (usually monosyllabic) 
 hire 
 
 oures, oure 
 youres, youre 
 hires, theires 
 
 §22. Relative pronouns appear as in modern English. 
 
 (a) Which often appears with conjunctive that; which 
 that, the which that. Swych appears along with such; pi. 
 aldre, in compounds like alderbest, alderlest, aldermost, alder- 
 bothe, men (me), noon, nought, etc. 
 
 (b) Al. Alle in the singular is often found, alongside al; 
 plural regularly alle. Genitive plural (AS ealra), alder, 
 aldre, in compounds like alderbest, alderlest, aldermost, alder- 
 levest. 
 
 (c) Reflexive forms in -en occur regularly, as myselven, 
 hemselven, etc. 
 
 (d) Demonstratives, 
 that, pi. tho. 
 
 thilke, pi. thilke (that ilke). 
 
 this, pi. this, thise, these (monosyllabic). 
 
 this ilke. 
 
 that oon, that other, by corruption the toon, the -tother. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 583 
 
 (e) Interrogatives. Who, whos, whom, ho, hos, horn, 
 what, which (often used for our what). What often equals 
 why. What shulde he fasten? 
 
 §23. Adverbs. 
 
 (a) The Anglo-Saxon ending of adverbs in -e is preserved. 
 Ex. bryghte, softe. 
 
 Ryght and lyk, really conjunctives, are exceptions. 
 
 (b) Adverbs end also in -ly, -lich, -liche (the latter end- 
 ings rare before consonants), Ex. Softeliche he cam. They 
 ronnen hastifliche. 
 
 (c) Adverbs are compared as in modern English. Observe 
 the forms bet, wors, mo, ner, more, lasse, derre, ferther, 
 ferre, gladlyer, best, mest. 
 
 (d) Some adverbial particles end in -es in Chaucer, either 
 from the AS ending, or by analogy. Ex. algates (ONorse 
 alle gotu), amonges (AS onmang), ageynes (AS ongaegnes), 
 elles, ellis (AS elles), hennes (AS heonan, hionan). So 
 ones, thennes, thries, togederes, towardes, twyes, unnethes, 
 whennes. 
 
 §24. The Verb. In Chaucer, as in Anglo-Saxon, the verbs 
 are divided into the strong and weak conjugations. The 
 strong verbs form the preterite and other past forms by 
 means of ablaut, or vowel-gradation of the verb stem-vowel; 
 the weak verbs for the past add -de, -te, for the past participle 
 -ed. 
 
 §25. Strong Verbs. Including the verbs which at an earlier 
 stage of the language employed reduplication, the strong 
 verbs appear in seven classes; that is, the vowel-gradations in 
 the stems appear in seven combinations. 
 
 Strong Verbs, vowel-gradation in Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 
 Stem I. 
 
 Stem II. 
 
 Stem III. 
 
 Stem IV. 
 
 
 All forms of 
 present. 
 
 1 and 3 pret. 
 sing. 
 
 2 pret. sing., 
 pret. pi. and 
 subj. 
 
 Past part. 
 
 1. 
 
 2. 
 3. 
 
 1 bidan (bide) 
 eo beodan 
 i, e bindan 
 
 a bad 
 eabead 
 a band 
 
 i bidon 
 u budon 
 u bundon 
 
 i biden 
 boden 
 u, bunden 
 
 4. 
 
 e, beran 
 
 aebaer 
 
 aebaeron 
 
 o boren 
 
 5. 
 6. 
 
 e metan 
 a f aran 
 
 ae maet 
 5 for 
 
 ae maeton 
 o foron 
 
 e meten 
 
 a faren, faeren 
 
 Class seven will be considered separately. 
 
584 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 §26. Mood and tense-endings being alike for all strong 
 verbs, a single paradigm of Anglo-Saxon risan is given v^ith 
 the Middle English corresponding form in parenthesis. 
 
 Present Indicative. 
 
 Sing. 1 rise (rise) 
 
 2 [risest] rist (rist, risest) 
 
 3 [risej?] rist (rist, riseth) 
 
 1 ] 
 
 2 I risath 
 
 o I (riseth, risen, rise, rises) 
 
 Plur. 
 
 Subjunctive. 
 rise (rise) 
 rise (rise) 
 rise (rise) 
 
 risen (risen, -e) 
 
 
 
 Imperative 
 
 Infinitive. 
 
 Participle. 
 
 Sing. 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 1 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 ris (rise) 
 
 risan (risen) 
 
 risende (risyng, 
 risynge) 
 
 Plur. 
 
 risa)? 
 (riseth, rise) 
 
 
 
 Preter 
 
 ite 
 
 Indicative. 
 
 Subjunctive. 
 
 Past Participle. 
 
 Sing. 
 Plur. 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 1 
 
 ras (roos) 
 rise (rise) 
 ras (roos) 
 
 rise (rise) 
 
 risen (risen) 
 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 Vrison (risen) 
 
 risen (risen) 
 
 
 §27. 
 
 Notes on the forms 
 
 in Chaucer. 
 
 
 (a) 
 
 Present. The first 
 
 person singular 
 
 regularly ends in 
 
 -e, but sometimes this -e is not sounded in the commonest 
 verbs. 
 
 The second person singular, by syncopation, often con- 
 tracts to -St. Thow farst, thow wenst. 
 
 The third person singular regularly ended in -eth, as in the 
 paradigm-. Frequently this appears as -th only, as in comth, 
 goth, etc. Even where the full -eth is written, it is some- 
 times not sounded as a syllable. Verbs with stems ending 
 in -t, -d, -s, as riden, writen, sometimes contract to -t. So 
 rit, stant, writ. 
 
 The modern form (a northern dialect form in Chaucer's 
 day) sometimes appears; he dwelles. 
 
 The plural ending is regularly -en; sometimes occur the 
 variants -eth, -es. 
 
APPENDIX 585 
 
 (b) Preterite. Noteworthy is the second person singular 
 form in -e; rise. The modern form in -est belongs generally 
 in weak verbs after -ed. 
 
 §28. List of Strong Verbs. 
 
 Class I. 
 AS i a i i 
 
 Chaucer i o i i 
 
 shinen shoon shinen shinen 
 
 Verbs: shyne, dryve, ryve, shryve, thryve, byte, slyte, 
 smyte, wryte, byde, glyde, ryde, slyde, bistryde, wrythe, 
 agryse, ryse, wrye, stryve (added from Old French). 
 
 Class II. 
 
 AS eo ea u o 
 
 Chaucer e, u e o o 
 
 Verbs: creepe, cleeve, brewe, fleete, sheete, beede, seethe, 
 cheese, leese (with wk. pret. loste also), flye, lye, flee (also 
 with weak pret. fledde), brouke, louke. 
 
 Class III. 
 AS i, e a u ' u, o 
 
 Chaucer i, e o, a ou, o ou, o 
 Verbs: swelle, helpe, yelpe, delve, yeelde, worthe, kerve, 
 sterve, breste, thresshe, fighte, swimme, clymbe, biginne, 
 blinne (brenne), (renne), spinne, winne, bynde, fynde, 
 grynde, wynde, ringe, singe, springe, stinge, thringe, wringe, 
 drinke, sinke, stinke, swinke. 
 
 Brenne, renne are forms from Old Norse. Brenne is in- 
 flected in the weak conjugation. 
 
 Class IV. 
 AS e ae ae o 
 
 Chaucer e a e, e o 
 
 Verbs: stele, bere, shere, tere, come, nime, trede, breke, 
 speke, wreke. Come, nome form sing. pret. in o; com, nom. 
 
 Class V. 
 AS e ae ae e 
 
 Chaucer e, i a, e e e, i 
 
 Verbs: yive, weve, ete, mete, gete, quethe, see, sitte, bidde, 
 lye (lie down), weve, pp. woven; ete, pt. eet; (quethe), pt. 
 quoth, quod; see, pt. saugh; sy, pp. seyen, sene, yseene. 
 
586 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Class VI. 
 AS a 5 5 a 
 
 Chaucer a, a, e o o a, a, e, o 
 
 Verbs: fare (pt. ferde < AS feran), swere (pp. sworen), 
 shape, stape, grave, shave, heve (pt. ha£), drawe, gnawe, 
 stonde (stande), (pp. stonden), bake, forsake, shake, take 
 (from Old Norse), wake, laughe, slee (pt. slough, slow; pp. 
 slawen, slayn), waxe, wexe (pt. weex, wex, wax; pp. woxen), 
 wasshe (pt. wessh). 
 
 Class VII. 
 Verbs which in early Germanic languages, e.g., Gothic, 
 reduplicated the stem in the preterite, are called redupli- 
 cating verbs. Ex. Gothic haihald (held). 
 
 AS a (or other vowel) e, eo a, etc. 
 
 Chaucer a, etc. e, a, etc. (same vowel as in 
 
 falle fell fallen present stem). 
 
 walke welk walken 
 
 Verbs: falle, holde, wolde, walke (also with wk. pret. 
 walkede), fonge, honge, hote, blowe, knowe, crowe, sowe, 
 throwe, sleepe (also wk. pret. slepte), wepe (wk. pret. also 
 wepte), lete (pp. often laten), drede, rede, lepe (also wk. pret. 
 lepte), hewe, bete, growe. 
 
 §29. Weak Verbs. Three classes of weak verbs existed in 
 Anglo-Saxon. Note that in these the preterite plural is from 
 the same stem as the singular. 
 
 Class I. 
 
 AS 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 AS 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 herian 
 
 herien 
 
 pret. herede 
 
 herede 
 
 deman 
 
 demen 
 
 demde 
 
 demde 
 
 bycgan. 
 
 byen 
 
 bohte 
 
 bouhte 
 
 AS 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 pp. gehered yhered hered 
 gedemed ydemed demed 
 geboht ybouht bouht 
 
 In herian the ending is -ian. In many Chaucerian verbs the 
 -i disappears. Ex. derian, Ch. dere. 
 In deman, the -ede of the preterite appears as -de. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 587 
 
 In bycgan, the stem-vowel changes. Ex. selle, solde; telle, 
 tolde; wirchen, worhte. Changes also occur in recche, 
 strecche, teche, byen, thenken, bringe, wirchen, seche, seke. 
 
 
 Class 11. 
 
 
 AS 
 
 lufian lufode 
 
 gelufod 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 love lovede 
 
 Class III. 
 
 loved 
 
 AS 
 
 libban lifde 
 
 gelifd 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 live livede 
 
 ylived, lived 
 
 §30. Inflections of weak verb. 
 
 Pres. Sing. 1 
 2 
 3 
 Plur. 
 
 AS Ch. 
 
 deme deme 
 
 demest demest, demst 
 
 deme)? demeth 
 
 dema)? demeth, demen 
 
 Subj. sing, deme; pi. demen. 
 
 Imper. deme (AS and Ch.); ph demaK Ch. deme>. 
 
 Infinitive deman, Ch. demen. 
 
 Participle demende, Ch. demyng. 
 
 AS Ch. 
 
 Pret. Sing. 1 demde demde, demede 
 
 2 demdest demdest 
 
 3 demde demde 
 
 Plur. demdon demden, demeden 
 
 Subj. sing, demde, pi. demden. 
 
 (AS and Ch.) 
 Past participle gedemed, Ch. ydemed, demed. 
 
 In Chaucer, usually, the syncopated forms in -de are pre- 
 ferred to the full forms in -ede. Ex. felte for felede. Verbs 
 in -ede, as demede, semede, are the exception rather than 
 the rule in the weak preterites. 
 
 §31. Preterite-present class. A few verbs in Anglo-Saxon, 
 originally perfects, came to acquire a present meaning. In 
 some cases it is easy to see how this happened, since wat^ 
 I know, implies I have seen, or have learned. In the present 
 these verbs belong to the strong conjugation, except for the 
 
588 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 second person singular, which belongs to the singular stem, 
 and adds -t. These verbs added a new weak preterite, an 
 infinitive, present participle, and in a few verbs a strong past 
 participle. 
 
 I Class of strong verbs. AS wat, Chaucer wot. 
 
 III Class, AS can, J?ear£, dear, Chaucer can, dar, thar. 
 
 IV Class, AS sceal, Chaucer shal. 
 
 V Class, AS maeg, Chaucer may. 
 
 VI Class, AS mot, Chaucer mot. 
 
 VII Class, AS ag, ah, Chaucer owe. 
 
 §32. The inflections of these verbs in Chaucer follows. 
 
 Inf. 
 
 
 Present 
 
 
 
 
 sing. 1, 3 
 
 sing. 2 
 
 pl. 
 
 subj. 
 
 witen 
 
 wot, woot 
 
 west 
 
 wite, wote 
 
 
 konne 
 
 kan 
 
 kanst 
 
 konne 
 
 konne 
 kan 
 
 (durre) 
 
 dar 
 
 thar (impers. 
 
 w. ace.) 
 hym thar 
 
 darst 
 
 dar 
 
 dare 
 
 
 shal 
 
 Shalt 
 
 shal, shul 
 
 shul 
 
 mowen 
 
 may 
 
 mayst 
 
 may, mowe 
 
 may, n 
 
 
 mot, moot 
 
 most 
 
 mote, moten 
 
 mote 
 
 owen 
 
 him oweth 
 
 Preterite 
 
 owen 
 
 
 sing. 1, 
 
 3 sing. 2 
 
 pl. 
 
 subj. 
 
 PF 
 
 wiste 
 
 wistest 
 
 wiste 
 
 wiste 
 
 wist 
 
 koude. 
 
 kowde koudest 
 
 koude 
 
 koude 
 
 kouth 
 
 kouthe 
 
 
 
 koude 
 
 
 dorste 
 
 dorstest 
 
 dorste 
 
 
 
 thurfte 
 
 
 
 
 
 sholde. 
 
 shulde sholdest 
 
 sholde (n) 
 
 
 myghte 
 
 myghtest 
 
 myghten myghte 
 
 
 moste, 1 
 
 must(e) 
 
 mosten 
 
 most, moste 
 
 oghte, < 
 
 DUghte oughtestow oughten 
 
 
 owed 
 
 (usually 
 
 ' impers. with 
 
 
 
 
 all numbers and 
 
 
 
 
 persons) 
 
 
 
 

 APPENDIX 
 
 
 §33. Special Verbs. Be, wil 
 
 don, gon. 
 
 and have. 
 
 Pres. Sing. 1 
 
 am 
 
 wil, wyl 
 
 
 2 
 
 art, artow 
 
 wilt, wylt 
 
 
 3 
 
 is 
 
 wil 
 
 
 PL 
 
 be, ben 
 
 wol, wole 
 
 
 Subj. Pres. 
 
 be, pi. be, ben 
 
 wol 
 wole 
 
 
 Pret. Sing. 1 
 
 was 
 
 wolde 
 
 
 2 
 
 were 
 
 woldest 
 
 
 3 
 
 was 
 
 wolde 
 
 
 PI. 
 
 were 
 
 wolde, wolden 
 
 Pret. Subj. 
 
 were 
 
 wolde 
 
 
 
 
 wolde, wolden 
 
 Imperative 
 
 be 
 beth 
 
 
 
 Pres. part. 
 
 beyng 
 
 
 
 Past. part. 
 
 ben 
 
 
 
 Infinitive 
 
 be, ben 
 
 
 
 Pres. Sing. 1 
 
 do 
 
 go 
 
 have 
 
 2 
 
 dost 
 
 goost 
 
 hast 
 
 3 
 
 doth 
 
 goth 
 
 hath 
 
 PI. 
 
 don 
 
 gon 
 
 han 
 
 Subj. Pres. 
 
 do 
 
 go 
 
 have 
 
 
 do, don 
 
 go, gon 
 
 
 Pret. Sing. 1 
 
 dide, dyde dede 
 
 
 hadde 
 
 2 
 
 didest, dedest 
 
 
 haddest 
 
 3 
 
 dide, etc. 
 
 
 hadde 
 
 PI. 
 
 diden 
 
 
 hadde 
 
 Pret. Subj. 
 
 dide, dede 
 dede, deden 
 
 
 hadden 
 
 Imperative 
 
 do 
 
 
 have 
 
 
 doth 
 
 
 haveth, hath 
 
 Pres. part. 
 
 doyng 
 
 goyng 
 
 havyng 
 
 Past. part. 
 
 idon, ydon, don 
 
 go, goon 
 
 ihad, had 
 
 Infinitive 
 
 do, don 
 
 gon 
 
 have, ha 
 
 589 
 
 III. Notes on Special Usages. 
 
 §34. Nouns. Certain expressions, which we should call 
 adverbial, preserve old uses of the oblique cases. The geni- 
 tive is found in his thonkes (thanks to his own efforts), the 
 old dative form in time constructions, his lyve (during all his 
 
590 APPENDIX 
 
 life), and the accusative of time is more common than now; 
 this yere, this pestilence. 
 
 §35. Adjectives. The substantival use is common; this 
 goodly fre (lady understood); chaunge for no newe; the 
 grete (greater part). For the usage of such forms as oon, 
 oonly, see the Glossary. 
 
 §36. Prepositions. Many verbs in Chaucer take preposi- 
 tions in uses which are now obsolete. Cf. on reste, on eve, 
 of a purpos. Some prepositions, which now appear at the 
 clause-end, follow the verb; to hele with your hurtes. Others 
 sometimes follow their object; wente hir fro. The construc- 
 tions to wedde (for a pledge), to wyve, etc., represent an old 
 dative construction. The preposition with is almost impre- 
 catory; with sory grace! C'bad luck to him"). 
 
 §37. Adverbs. An important difference between Chaucer's 
 use of adverbs and ours lies in the repetition of a negative 
 idea for emphasis where to us it appears redundant or, 
 according to some, contradictory. 
 
 He never yet no vileynye ne sayde 
 In al his lyf, unto no maner wyght. 
 She nas hir doghter nat. 
 
 Conjunctions. The conjunction as appears in poetry in 
 innumerable cases where it is untranslatable, with a vague 
 enclitic and expletive force, slightly restrictive usually, mean- 
 ing ''considering," ''that is to say." 
 
 And borne hym wel, as of so lytel space 
 In hope to stonden in his lady grace. 
 
 §38. Pronouns. A verb may agree with the pronoun in 
 apposition; hit am I. 
 
 The greater use of the impersonal verbs causes greater use 
 of the dative (objective) forms of the pronouns. Wel was 
 him, us lyketh, hem thynketh wel. What nedeth yow? 
 Similar constructions employed the reflexive forms fre- 
 quently. Thou is used in familiar, hostile, or in prayerful 
 discourse; ye is used for the singular second person in forms 
 of courtesy. Where no especial person is addressed the 
 singular may be found; Ther maystow seen devysyng of 
 herneys. The distinction is clear, if we compare the respect- 
 ful address of the captured Cok to the Fox, CT. B 4595 (ye) 
 with his scornful words upon escape immediately thereafter 
 
APPENDIX 591 
 
 (thou, thow, thy). He sometimes appears as Lat. ille; he 
 Jakke Straw ("The famous JS.")- 
 
 §39. Verbs. The subjunctive was very common in Chau- 
 cer's day, and was used not merely for conditional clauses, 
 but almost all other subordinate relations, as time, concession, 
 desire, and command. I deme anon this clerk his servaunt 
 have. 
 
 Intransitive verbs frequently used a perfect form with the 
 verb be instead of the simple past, or the perfect with have. 
 This Piramus is come. This usage is most common with 
 verbs of motion. Compare the modern "Is he gone?" 
 
 The perfect participle in the predicate after do, make, is 
 seen in such constructions as Thise merchauntz han doon 
 fraught hir shippis. Compare also He leet do make a temple. 
 
 IV. Meter. 
 
 §40. Chaucer employed, except in a few specimens, the 
 eight-syllable or ten-syllable iambic line. The former he 
 employed almost exclusively in the short couplet, the latter 
 in the heroic couplet or in ballade. Ballade, sometimes called 
 also ballade royal or rime royal, is so^ named from its use in 
 the French halades. These had stanzas of seven or eight 
 lines. The rime-scheme of the former was ababbcc, of the 
 latter ababbcbc. The typical ballade had three stanzas with 
 common rimes and refrain and an envoy of five or six lines. 
 
 §41. Description of the other types of verse, since the 
 specimens are so few, is not needed here. The reader will 
 not fail to observe the tail-rime stanzas of Sir Thopas, and 
 the fantastic strophes of the Anelida, as well as the ter^a rima 
 of the Compleint, and the roundels of Merciles Beaute. 
 
 §42. The attempt has been made to consider Chaucer's 
 line apart from the use of other poets, and to enter into much 
 detail on the peculiar usages of his verse. When all has been 
 said, however, it remains true that but a single form of his 
 usage is rare among English poets. This is the nine-syllable 
 line; Gynglyng in a whistlyng wynde as clere. Where, else- 
 where, there appear a wrong number of syllables in the line, 
 the reader will find that by applying the practices of other 
 poets, or in the elision, apocope, or syncope of final weak -e, 
 the apparent difficulty will disappear. Particularly at the 
 caesura this treatment of -e will dispose of most of the cases* 
 
592 APPENDIX 
 
 known as the extra-syllable. Final -e at the end of the line, 
 of course, counts as in Dante's verse as a feminine ending. 
 
 V. Chaucer's Life. 
 
 §43. Chaucer's life was spent in service at court. Recent 
 study has proved that the facts we possess concerning his 
 life — chiefly records of payment — show only that his service 
 was faithful and well rewarded; that he rose steadily in 
 fortune and regard; and that" he died a prosperous, successful 
 man. His career in the royal household was like that of 
 others in similar positions. Nothing in the long list of entries 
 in the records of his Hfe is out of the ordinary life of the 
 court-attendant; nor is it established that Chaucer's literary 
 genius furthered his worldly welfare. Shakespeare's success 
 as actor and manager, and our meager information about his 
 literary life, are curiously paralleled by what we know of 
 the career of our greatest English mediaeval poet. 
 
 §44. Birth and Death. The dates of Chaucer's birth and 
 death are uncertain. The years 1340-1344 may be given as 
 limits for the former, however. October 25, 1400, is the 
 traditional date of his death. The year is almost certainly 
 correct. He was buried in Westminster Abbey; and around 
 his tomb sprang up, long afterwards, the famous Poets' Corner. 
 
 §45. Parentage. John Chaucer, Geoffrey Chaucer's father, 
 was a London wine-merchant. He owned a brew-house, 
 shops, etc., without Aldgate. His family may have been 
 originally of Norfolk stock. Following what seems to have 
 been a practice of prosperous merchants, he was able to 
 obtain for his son a position as page in a royal household. 
 Doubtless his personal services to Edward III, of which there 
 is some record, gained him this favor. 
 
 §46. Early Life. We know nothing of Chaucer's educa- 
 tion. His name first appears May 20, 1357, in the household 
 accounts of Elizabeth, Countess of Clarence, whose husband, 
 Lionel, was a younger son of the king. In 1359, while in 
 France during the invasion of that country, Chaucer was one 
 of her household to be ransomed from captivity. Of his 
 capture we know nothing. In 1360, still in service with the 
 Countess or Duke Lionel, he was a bearer of messages 
 between the young commander at Calais and his father, 
 Edward IH, in London. His further promotion was due, no 
 doubt, to well-earned popularity. A pleasant passage in The 
 
APPENDIX 59s 
 
 Knyghtes Tale (A 1426-40) offers an interesting parallel, all the 
 more valuable because the source of the poem, Boccaccio's 
 Teseide, contains no hint of these lines. They may well be 
 taken as a reminiscence of Chaucer's early days at court. 
 
 A yeer or two he was in this servyse 
 
 Page of the chambre of E'melye the brighte ; 
 
 And Philostrate he seyde that he highte. 
 
 But half so wel biloved a man as he 
 
 Ne was ther nevere in court, of his degree ; 
 
 He was so gentil of condicioun 
 
 That thurghout al the court was his renoun. 
 
 They seyden, that it were a charitee, 
 
 That Theseus wolde enhaunsen his degree, 
 
 And putten hym in worshipful servyse 
 
 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, 
 
 And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree. 
 
 §47. Missions in the King's Service. In 1367, when Chau- 
 cer's nam_e next appears, we find him newly established in 
 the king's own household; a promotion which appears natural 
 and not uncommon. His title was al first "vallettus," after- 
 wards "esquier" (or in Latin ''scutifer" and "armiger"). The 
 class of squires to which Chaucer belonged can best be com- 
 pared to secretaries, in our day and land. They acted for 
 the king in the purchase of supplies, in managing the house- 
 hold, and in bearing messages of importance. Often during 
 the wars they served abroad in the army. Thus in 1369 
 Chaucer was in France, wnth many others of the king's house- 
 hold. Other particular services, with dates, follow. 
 
 1370. Dispatches to France. 
 
 1372-1373. Secret service to Italy (Genoa and Florence), 
 probably in connection with trade alliances. 
 
 1376. Secret service abroad, with Sir John de Burley, who 
 had been Captain of Calais. 
 
 1377. Missions to Flanders and France, on a secret treaty 
 with France. In these Chaucer was a subordinate, but 
 apparently a trusted one. 
 
 1378. Missions for the young king, Richard II, who had 
 succeeded his grandfather, Edward III, in 1377, to France 
 and to Lombardy. The latter embassy was sent to Barnabo 
 Visconti, Lord of Milan, for assistance in his wars. 
 
594^ APPENDIX 
 
 §48. Rewards. The squires of the King's household 
 received a regular wage, sevenpence halfpenny a day. In 
 addition, however, they were given such benefits as it was 
 in the King's power to grant, such as annuities, grants of 
 land, grants of office, the custody of lands belonging to heirs 
 under age, and other valuable favors. Chaucer's rewards 
 were apparently like those of other squires, some of whom 
 received more, some less. His rewards follow. 
 
 1367. Yearly pension of 20 marks (£13 6s. 8d.). 
 1374. Pitcher of wine daily, from the king. 
 
 1374. ControUership of Customs and Subsidy of Wools, 
 skins, and leather for the Port of London. This was ended 
 in 1386. 
 
 1375. Custody of lands and person of Edmund Staplegate, 
 of Kent. 
 
 1376. Grant of fine paid by John Kent for smuggling. 
 1382. ControUership of Petty Customs, Port of London. 
 
 This was ended in 1386. 
 
 1385. Justice of the Peace for Kent. 
 
 1386. Knight of the Shire for Kent, and thus a member of 
 Parliament. 
 
 1389. Clerk of the King's Works at Westminster. 
 
 1390. Clerk of the King's Works at Windsor. These offices 
 probably involved superintendency of repairs and alterations. 
 
 1390. Commission to repair the banks of the Thames 
 between Woolwich and Greenwich. In this year Chaucer 
 erected the royal scaffolds — grandstands — for a tournament 
 in Smithfield. He was also appointed joint forester of North 
 Petherton Park. 
 
 1394. Grant of £20 annually for life. 
 
 1398. Sole Forester of North Petherton Park. 
 
 1399. Henry IV, crowned September, 1399, granted Chau- 
 cer 40 marks (£26 13s. 4d.) annuity, in addition to the £20 
 annuity, which was confirmed. 
 
 All these rewards Chaucer owed, officially at least, directly 
 to the King. His loss of the customs positions in 1386 may have 
 been merely a resignation, and cannot be held to argue loss of 
 fortune or royal favor. No doubt, in his twelve years of office, 
 Chaucer's shrewdness and ability to deal with all sorts of people 
 had brought him a considerable fortune. He must have become 
 a landholder of some consequence in Kent to have been 
 appointed Justice of the Peace for that shire. To the end of 
 
APPENDIX 595 
 
 his life, so far as we have any right to judge, Chaucer appears 
 to have steadily advanced in purse and reputation; and 
 although a few records show Chaucer borrowing money, or 
 sued for debt, yet he was probably no more hard pressed for 
 that commodity than the King's exchequer. 
 
 §49. Marriage, and Life in London and Greenwich. 
 Squires of the royal household, as was natural, often married 
 ladies-in-waiting. Probably before 1366, Chaucer married 
 Philippa, generally believed to be Philippa Roet, Lady of 
 the Chamber to Queen Philippa. She was the sister of 
 Catherine Swynford, mistress and afterwards wife of John 
 of Gaunt, of whose infant children she had been governess. 
 In 1372 Philippa received a small grant from John of' Gaunt, 
 and in 1374, with her husband, a further grant of £10 yearly. 
 In the latter grant Chaucer's services to the Duke are also 
 referred to, but it is likely that the whole grant was intended 
 for the service of Philippa. Chaucer had written The Boke 
 of the Duchesse in 1366 as a memorial of John of Gaunt's 
 first wife, but the poem does not appear to have brought any 
 immediate reward; nor does the traditional theory of John 
 of Gaunt's patronage of Chaucer have any strong foundation. 
 Still, in 1386, the Duke was present at a ceremony in Lincoln, 
 when Philippa was admitted as a lay-member of the Cathedral 
 body. 
 
 Chaucer lived in 1374 in the dwelling-house above the gate 
 of Aldgate. About 1386 he went to live in Greenwich; 
 and shortly before the end of his life he leased a residence at 
 Westminster. 
 
 Of his married life we know nothing; less even than of 
 Shakespeare's. His wife died about 1387. Thomas Chaucer, 
 whose relationship to the poet is almost beyond dispute, 
 appears to have been the only child to gain distinction. He 
 was chief butler to Richard II, before Geoffrey died. A 
 "litel sone Lowis," for whom Chaucer prepared his Astrolabe, 
 is not mentioned elsewhere. 
 
 Cecilia Chaumpaigne, in 1380, released Chaucer from all 
 liability '*de raptu meo." The exact nature of the charge we 
 have no means of knowing; it is likely that it was merely 
 a civil suit, and that Chaucer was only one of a number 
 involved. In September, 1390, Chaucer was robbed twice, 
 near the Foul Oak in Kent, while traveling on business of 
 his office, and some of the King's money was taken from 
 him. 
 
596 APPENDIX 
 
 §50. Chaucer's Friends. With his excellent opportunities 
 and the amiable character which we observe in his writings, 
 it would have been strange if Chaucer had not had a wide 
 circle of friends. As a member of the King's household he 
 doubtless felt it wrong to mix in the politics of the great 
 lords, or the religious or social quarrels of his time. His 
 associates, at any rate, are drawn from both of the chief 
 conflicting parties. John Gower, the poet, author of Con- 
 fessio Amantis, was an unsparing critic of Richard II and 
 of the clergy. Chaucer dedicated his Troilus to him and to 
 Ralph Strode, Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and an 
 opponent of Wycliffe. Chaucer also left Gower as his attor- 
 ney upon his departure for France in 1378. Henry Scogan, 
 to whom Chaucer addressed an Envoy, was tutor to King 
 Henr}^ IV's sons, and had previously been in Richard's ser- 
 vice. Otes de Graunson, from whose French verses Chaucer 
 translated his Compleynt of Venus, was a knight of Savoy 
 in the service of John of Gaunt. Robert de Bukton, to whom 
 (probably) Chaucer addressed an Envoy, was a squire of 
 Queen Anne's household, in Richard H's court. Eustache 
 Deschamps, a contemporary poet of France, who served, like 
 Chaucer, at his King's court, sent to his English rival in 
 poetry a copy of his poems, with a ballade addressed to the 
 ''Grant translateur, noble Geffroy Chancier." Deschamps' 
 poems had great influence upon Chaucer. Deschamps' 
 friend, Lewis Clifford, who bore the poems to England, was 
 an opponent of John of Gaunt, but with Lollard leanings. 
 
 Other prominent men with whom Chaucer had relations 
 were Lord William de Beauchamp, a son of the Earl of 
 Warwick, and Thomas de Percy, a brother of the Earl of 
 Northumberland. 
 
 Of Chaucer's acquaintance in Italy we know nothing. He 
 may have met Boccaccio and Petrarch, or he may not. At 
 all events, he had time in a four-months' stay to make some 
 Italian friendships. 
 
 VI. Dates of Chaucer's Works. 
 
 §51. None of Chaucer's writings is definitely dated. All de- 
 pend upon more or less uncertain inferences from style, source, 
 or allusions to contemporary events. It is a curious fact, that 
 while the poet tells Scogan that while he was young, he put 
 his pen ''forth in press," yet only one poem, the Boke of the 
 
APPENDIX 597 
 
 Duchesse, can be dated with certainty before his thirty-fifth 
 3^ear, and most of his extant work lies between the years of 
 forty-five and sixty. Much, evidently, has been lost. 
 
 1369-1370. Bokc of the Duchesse. Blanche, Duchess of Lan- 
 caster, died in the autumn of 1369. 
 
 1377-1381. Translation of Bocthius. 
 
 1381. Parlement of Foules, celebrating the betrothal of 
 Richard II and Anne of Bohemia, in 1381. 
 
 1380-1385. Troihis and Criseyde. 
 
 1386-1387. Legend of Good Women. Second Prologue (A- 
 version) somewhat later (1394-95, according to Tatlock). 
 
 1391-1392. Treatise on the Astrolabe. 
 
 1387-1400. The Canterbury Tales. Of these the Knightes 
 Tale (under the name of Palemon and Arcite), the Lyf of Seynt 
 Cecilie, and perhaps other parts, were written earlier. The invo- 
 cation in St. Cecilie has been placed at 1385, the rest of the 
 Seconde Nonnes Tale earlier. 
 
 1396. Lenz'oy to Bukton. If addressed to Robert' Bukton, as 
 is probable, then just at his marriage before January, 1397. 
 
 1399. Compleynt to his Purse. Addressed to Henry IV, as 
 "conquerour" of England. Henry was crowned in 1399. 
 
 §52. The other works have only vague and general evidence 
 for date. Early work probably includes Chaucer's A B C, 3. 
 translation, Origenes upon the Maudeleyne, Boke of the Leoun 
 (lost), Compleynt of Mars, complaints, roundels, etc. The Hous 
 of Fame and Anelida have been placed between 1380 and 1385. 
 Late work includes probably a translation of Pope Innocent's 
 De Contemptu Mundi, Fortune, Lak of Stedfastnesse, Envoy to 
 Scogan, Compleynt of Venus and The Former Age. Last of all, 
 according to the sentimental tradition supported by early scribes, 
 came Trouthe, "written on his death-bed." 
 
 VII. Chaucer's Reading. 
 
 §53. Chaucer's works present to us a writer familiar with the 
 best reading accessible in his age. There is little phenomenal or 
 surprising in the great number of authors cited by Chaucer, 
 whose names and works appear in the glossarial-index. More- 
 over, many of the ancient writers Chaucer knew probably from 
 the excerpts quoted in Florilegia, or mediaeval encyclopaedias. 
 His wide acquaintance with the great French poets of his day 
 was a natural thing, since for centuries French literature had 
 
598 APPENDIX 
 
 been a model for English poets. His admiration for Dante, 
 Petrarch and Boccaccio, however, marks the first influence of 
 Italian literature upon our own. 
 
 §54. Two works, the Roman de la Rose, of the thirt-eenth 
 century, and Boethius' treatise De Consolatione Philosophice, of 
 the sixth century, had the strongest hold upon Chaucer's thought 
 and imagination. He published translations of both, and the 
 worldly wisdom of the one and the spiritual wisdom of the other 
 appear upon every page of his writings. 
 
 §55. Next to these in influence come Guillaume Machault 
 (fl. 1350), and Eustache Deschamps and Jehan Froissart, whose 
 work was contemporary with his own. Their poems of courtly 
 love, in the fiction of which the poet falls asleep and dreams a 
 love-adventure, had become a definite literary type. Chaucer's 
 own vision-poems. The Parlement of Foules, Boke of the 
 Dtichesse, Prologue to the Legend of Good Women and The 
 Hous of Fame, were the result of his study of French models. 
 The Hous of Fame was perhaps intended to serve as prologue to 
 some collection of tales; but it was never finished. 
 
 §56. Of the Italians, Boccaccio was most influential. His 
 Teseide is the source of The Knightes Tale; his Filostrato and 
 Filocolo the chief sources of Troilus and Criseyde, though 
 Chaucer nowhere acknowledges these debts. Boccaccio's tale of 
 Griselda, translated by Petrarch from the Decameron into Latin, 
 reached Chaucer in the later form. Other works by him may 
 possibly have influenced the English poet. A sonnet of Petrarch's 
 found its way into some stanzas of the Troilus, and some lines 
 from Dante's Divina Commedia into the Invocation of the 
 Seconde Nonnes Tale. It is now thought probable, also, that 
 Chaucer's scheme of the pilgrimage with tales by the pilgrims, 
 was the result of reading similar arrangements of tales by Italian 
 authors, especially the Novelle of Giovanni Sercambi (1347- 
 1424). 
 
 §57. Of the Latin authors of the classical agfe— Chaucer, like 
 other mediaeval readers, knew no Greek — our poet was acquainted 
 with Virgil, Ovid (the chief source of the Legend of Good 
 Women), Livy, Lucan, Claudian, and Maximian. The mediaeval 
 encyclopaedists, and especially the writers in Latin of the twelfth 
 to fourteenth centuries, furnished him with most of his varied 
 knowledge of medicine, alchemy, precious stones, astronomy, 
 history, biography, morals and religion. The Tale of the Man 
 of Lawe, Melibee and the Persones Tale were versions of narra- 
 
APPENDIX 599 
 
 tives from Latin sources. The Church Fathers, especially 
 Augustine and Jerome, were part of the reading of good 
 Christians. 
 
 §58. French fabliaux furnished Chaucer with the plots of the 
 tales of the Miller, Reeve, Shipman, Pardoner, Wife of Bath, 
 Siimmoner, Merchant and Manciple. A Breton lay, in a French 
 form, may have suggested the Frankeleyns Tale; and the Nonne 
 Preestes Tale of the Cock and Fox was a chapter of the bour- 
 geois mock-heroic epic, Lc Roman de Renart. 
 
 Chaucer's achievement, however, lay not in the introduction 
 of foreign matter and manner into English literature, nor in the 
 number and variety of the books he read, but in his perfect 
 assimilation of their thought, and in the wholly original impress 
 with which every line of his poems is stamped. 
 
 VIII. The Human Comedy of the Canterbury Tales. 
 
 §59. On the sixteenth of April, 13 — , Chaucer and the other 
 twenty-eight pilgrims gathered at the Tabard Inn in Southwark. 
 The next morning they agreed to the Host's proposal of two 
 tales by each pilgrim, both on the outward and the homeward 
 way, the winner to have a dinner as a prize — the best prize of 
 which Mine Host Harry Bailey could dream. At St. Thomas a 
 Waterings the cuts were drawn, and the lot fell upon the 
 knight — not by accident, if we know the admirable Host aright. 
 Precedence at the high table in his inn had taught him somewhat. 
 
 At the conclusion of the Knight's tale. Mine Host proceeded 
 as courtesy asked, to invite the Monk to tell his tale. But the 
 rules of courtesy, it seemed, must be laid aside. Drunken Robin, 
 the Miller, has a tale of a carpenter to say, which vexes a little 
 good Oswald the Reeve, and just by Deptford and Greenwich 
 he retorts with the most famous tale of a miller that ever was 
 known. Hodge of Ware, the London Cook, thought so at least, 
 and with a threat of a tale of a landlord ere the pilgrimage were 
 done, began a tale of an apprentice of London. This Chaucer 
 never finished; and so ends all that was planned of the first day's 
 stories (Group A). 
 
 About ten o'clock, after leaving Dartford, Mine Host called 
 upon the Man of Lawe. He responded nobly; and the Host 
 would have followed up the godly story with something more 
 of the serious, had not the Parson objected so strenuously to 
 the profanity of landlord Harry. The Shipman rudely broke 
 
600 APPENDIX 
 
 in with a ribald narrative, which greatly delighted master Bailey. 
 Nevertheless, pursuing his rule of inviting the better class first, 
 he called upon Madame Eglantine the Prioresse. So sober was 
 her tale, that Mine Host, in desperation to relieve the tension, 
 sought out Chaucer, who had been a source of considerable 
 speculation to the worthy student of mankind at inns. A poet 
 came his way but seldom. Alas ! the poet played him a scurvy 
 trick with his ryme of Sir Thopas; and Mine Host got such 
 relief that his ears ached. In revenge for being stopped, Chaucer 
 next told a long tale in prose about patience, to the great edifi- 
 cation of all. Mine Host wishes his wife might have heard it, 
 for patience had never been her chief virtue. Now all was clear, 
 and with the inevitability which comes to those who deal with 
 ranks and classes, the Host succeeded, as they came in sight of 
 Rochester, in getting Sir Piers the Monk to tell his melancholy 
 long list of "tragedies." At last the pilgrims murmured, and 
 the Knight, speaking for all, ventured to interrupt the Monk. 
 Greatly relieved at this outcome, and grateful that the inter- 
 ruption of a gentle had not been forced upon him, Mine Host 
 turned, after the Monk's rebuff, to Sir John, the Nun^' Priest, 
 and won the crown of the Tales, that of the Cock and Fox. 
 Thus, scarcely outside Rochester, ended the second day (Group 
 B). 
 
 Next day, between Rochester and Sittingbourne, came the 
 Physician with his sad story of Virginia, which almost broke 
 Harry Bailey's heart. The jolly Pardoner rescued him with 
 his bold and shameless self-revelation, and, indeed, so deeply 
 impressed the Host a little later with his magnificent sermon 
 against avarice, that for a moment the Pardoner really thought 
 his confession had been forgotten. But Mine Host was not to 
 be caught, and took refuge in abuse. Shortly afterwards, for 
 they were still far from Sittingbourne, the Wife of Bath, Dame 
 Alice, began the immortal discussion of the married state with 
 her statement of her creed. Virginity for others, not for her. 
 She will have a husband, and sovereignty as well. Friar Hubert, 
 who had been somewhat ill at ease under the preachments of one 
 whose sex had furnished the bulk of his own congregations, 
 interrupted once during her recital, and again after her Tale, 
 to the great disgust of the Summoner, his rival in ecclesiastical 
 rascality. High words ensued, and it was not to be wondered at 
 that their tales should have been virulent attacks upon each other, 
 and furnished a highly comic interlude to the rest (Groups C- 
 D). 
 
APPENDIX 601 
 
 After luncheon at Sittingbourne, we may imagine the Host 
 turning once more to his beloved gentles for a story-teller. He 
 fixed upon the Clerk of Oxford, who had in silence been rumi- 
 nating upon the sermon and creed of Dame Alice of Bath. His 
 tale of Griselda, though the point was not at first apparent, was 
 his own grave and yet mocking answer to the philosophy of the 
 Wife. Griselda's patience, however, touched by contrast a very 
 sore spot in the breast of the Merchant, and the Host begged 
 him to continue the discussion. This he did, in the utter dis- 
 credit and slander of the fair sex. In their defence. Mine Host 
 next called upon the Squire to speak of love, which as yet had 
 scarcely been mentioned. This point Chaucer himself did not 
 finish, for the Squire's tale is left half-told. The Franklin, how- 
 ever, was greatly pleased with the nobility of the young Squire, 
 being all the more reminded of it by the want of gentlemanly 
 breeding in his own son. Upon Mine Host's urging, he concludes 
 the discussion of marriage by a tale in which both love and mar- 
 riage are exalted, but honour more than all, a most worthy con- 
 clusion. Thus the pilgrims reach Ospringe, upon the end of 
 their third day (Groups E-F). 
 
 On the fourth day, the Second Nun tells her tale of St. Cecilia, 
 and the pilgrims are overtaken at Boughton by the alchemy-mad 
 Canon and his Yeoman. The Host, ever curious as to the 
 humours of mankind, engages the Yeoman in conversation, and 
 learns more than the Canon cares to have known about his 
 practices. The Canon flees away for very shame, and as they 
 pass Blcan Forest the Yeoman tells a tale of trickery in trans- 
 mutation. Not long afterwards, they come -in sight of Bob-up- 
 and-down, or Harbledown, only a couple of miles out of Canter- 
 bury, and the drunken Cook falls off his horse. The Manciple 
 mocks him, but retracts upon second thought, and placates the 
 Cook with wine from his own gourd. His Tale of a tattling 
 crow brings the pilgrims into Canterbury, and at its close Mine 
 Host calls upon the Parson to wind all up with a godly dis- 
 course. With the Host's excellent injunction to be "fructuous, 
 and that in lytel space," he begins his discourse upon Penitence, 
 and the Comedy of the leisurely Canterbury Pilgrims comes to 
 an end (Groups G-I). 
 
 Note. — The above summary gives a more complete unity to 
 the groups of extant Tales than perhaps ever really existed. In 
 the Prologue, the reader will observe Chaucer planned for two 
 tales each way by each pilgrim, but less than one-fifth were 
 
602 APPENDIX 
 
 provided, and the connecting "links" leave nine separate groups 
 of Tales (Groups A-I), the exact order of which is still a dis- 
 puted matter. The order of the Ellesmere MS., for example, is 
 held by Koch to be best. It arranges the Groups thus : A, B 
 (through Man of Lazve), D, E, F, C, (rest of) B, G, H, I. 
 
GLOSSARY 
 
( 
 
 J 
 
GLOSSARY 
 
 Names, and in some cases notes on special words, are 
 included in the following pages. Such etymologies as are 
 needed for proper understanding of the Middle English 
 forms are also included; but the etymologies are not 
 intended to be complete guides to the early history of words, 
 where the development of the form may be easily guessed. 
 
 The student should remember the frequent interchange of 
 "a" and "aa," 'T and "y,'' "e" and "ee," "o" and "oo" in 
 referring to words. 
 
 References to the selections are designated as follows: in 
 the order printed, 
 
 A, B, 
 
 C, etc., to I, refer to the 
 
 Ro 
 
 To Rosemounde 
 
 
 groups of the Canter- 
 
 Tr 
 
 Truth 
 
 
 bury Tales 
 
 Gent 
 
 Gentilesse 
 
 Pi 
 
 Compleint unto Pite 
 
 LS 
 
 Lak of Stedfastnesse 
 
 Du 
 
 Book of the Duchesse 
 
 Sc 
 
 Envoy to Scogan 
 
 Cm 
 
 Compleint of Mars 
 
 Bu 
 
 Envoy to Bukton 
 
 Pf 
 
 Parlement of Foules 
 
 CV 
 
 Compleint of Venus 
 
 L 
 
 Legend of Good Women 
 
 P 
 
 To his Purse 
 
 CL 
 
 Compleynt to his Lady 
 
 Pr 
 
 Proverbs 
 
 An 
 
 Anelida and Arcite 
 
 AgW 
 
 Against Women Incon- 
 
 Ad 
 
 Adam Scrivener 
 
 
 stant 
 
 Fa 
 
 Former Age 
 
 Wn 
 
 Wommanly Noblesse 
 
 Fo 
 
 Fortune 
 
 As 
 
 Astrolabe 
 
 MB 
 
 Merciless Beaute 
 
 
 
' 
 
 The following- are the chief abbreviations used: 
 
 a 
 
 adjective 
 
 refi 
 
 reflexive 
 
 ace 
 
 accusative 
 
 s 
 
 singular 
 
 ad 
 
 adverb 
 
 saec 
 
 century 
 
 art 
 
 article 
 
 sb 
 
 substantive 
 
 c 
 
 circa, about (dates) 
 
 Sk 
 
 according to W. W. Skeat 
 
 cf. 
 
 compare 
 
 subj 
 
 subject 
 
 conj 
 
 conjunction 
 
 suff 
 
 suffix 
 
 d 
 
 died 
 
 vb 
 
 verb, verbal 
 
 dat 
 
 dative 
 
 < 
 
 derived from 
 
 f 
 
 feminine 
 
 1,2,3 
 
 first, second and third per- 
 
 gen 
 
 genitive 
 
 
 son 
 
 imp 
 
 imperative 
 
 AF 
 
 Anglo-French 
 
 impers 
 
 impersonal 
 
 Arab 
 
 Arabic 
 
 inf 
 
 infinitive 
 
 AS 
 
 Anglo-Saxon 
 
 interj 
 
 interjection 
 
 Dan 
 
 Danish 
 
 m 
 
 masculine 
 
 Du 
 
 Dutch 
 
 n 
 
 neuter 
 
 F 
 
 French 
 
 P 
 
 present participle 
 
 Gael 
 
 Gaelic 
 
 pers 
 
 personal 
 
 Ger 
 
 German 
 
 pers 
 
 personification 
 
 Gr 
 
 Greek 
 
 pl 
 
 plural 
 
 Icel 
 
 Icelandic 
 
 poss 
 
 possessive 
 
 Lat 
 
 Latin 
 
 pp 
 
 past participle 
 
 L Ger 
 
 Low German 
 
 pr 
 
 present 
 
 ME 
 
 Middle English 
 
 prep 
 
 preposition 
 
 OF 
 
 Old French 
 
 pron 
 
 pronoun 
 
 ON 
 
 Old Norse 
 
 Pt 
 
 past tense 
 
 Sw 
 
 Swedish 
 
 qv 
 
 which see 
 
 
 
A AN— 
 
 607 
 
 — ACLOYITH 
 
 a an art. a AS an (n before cons. 
 
 dropped after 1200) 
 a inf. have (through slurring) 
 
 ME haven, han 
 a interj. ah! Oh! ME, OF a. 
 a prep. in, on, for ; a certain 
 
 years] for a space of years ; a 
 
 twenty winter] twenty years; a 
 
 Goddes half] for God's sake ; a 
 
 wordes few] in few words; a 
 
 three] in three ; a-nyght] at 
 
 night; a-morwe] on the morrow; 
 
 AS on 
 abak : backwards AS onbaec 
 abashat, abasshed pp. abashed, 
 
 disconcerted OF esbair, pres. 
 
 stem esba'iss- 
 abawed pp. disconcerted OF 
 
 abaubir "stammer," influenced by 
 
 esbahir 
 abayst pp. abashed, disconcerted; 
 
 cf. abashat. ^ 
 
 abbesse: abbess F abbesse 
 abedde: abed AS on bedde 
 a-begged: a-beggng ME a(on) + 
 
 beggeth, analogy with AS huntaS 
 
 "hunting" 
 abeye inf. pay for AS abycgan 
 abhomynable: horrible, vile OF 
 
 abominable 
 abhomynacions: abominations OF. 
 abiUte: ability OF. 
 abode, pt. s. expected ; cf. abyde 
 abood sb. delay vb. sb. from pt. 
 
 of AS abidan 
 aboughte 3 pt. s. bought, atoned 
 
 for ; abought, pp. ; aboght pp. ; 
 
 cf. abye 
 about prep, about ; aboute 
 aboute ad. around AS abutan 
 aboven : above AS abufan 
 Abraham: Hebrew patriarch; cf. 
 
 Genesis 
 a-brayede pt. s. awoke AS 
 
 abregdan 
 abregge inf. abridge OF abregier, 
 
 abrevier 
 abroche inf. broach, open (a 
 
 cask) ME on + OF broche 
 
 "spigot" 
 abrood: wide open ME on + AS 
 
 brad, ME brod 
 
 Absalom Absalom, son of David, 
 famous for beauty 
 
 absolucioun: absolution OF. 
 
 abusioun: illusion OF. 
 
 abyden inf. wait for ; abyd imp. 
 AS abidan 
 
 abyen inf. pay for, suffer, atone 
 for, abide AS abycgan 
 
 abyte: habit, dress OF habit 
 
 a-caterwawed : caterwauling ; cf. 
 a-begged ME on + cat + wawe 
 "wail" 
 
 accident: the outward appearance 
 or phenomenon of a thing, as 
 opposed to the thing (substance) 
 itself, in allusion to the dispute 
 between Realists and Nominalists 
 (Sk.) C 539; unusual appearance, 
 E 607; OF. 
 
 accomplice inf. accomplish OF 
 accomplir, pr. part, accompliss- 
 
 accord sb. agreement, decision 
 OF acorde 
 
 accordant: suitable OF. 
 
 accorde 3 pr. pi. agree OF acorder 
 
 achaat sb. buying OF, 
 
 achatours: purchasing agents OF 
 achateor^ achetour 
 
 Acheloys gen. Achelous, river-god, 
 took form of a bull in wrestling 
 with Hercules 
 
 Achetofel: Ahithophel, adviser of 
 David, and afterward adviser of 
 Absalom against David; cf. 2 
 Samuel xvii. Dryden uses the 
 form Achitophel in his Absalom 
 and Achitophel 
 
 Achilles: the greatest warrior 
 among the Greeks at Troy. To 
 avenge the death of his friend 
 Patroclus he slew Hector and 
 dragged his body thrice around 
 the walls of Troy. Later he was 
 lured to the temple of Apollo in 
 Troy by the promise of marriage 
 to Polyxena, daughter of Priam, 
 and was there attacked by Paris 
 and a band of men and slain, 
 together with his friend Archilo- 
 chus. This story of his death 
 comes from Benoit de Sainte- 
 Maure and Guido delle Colonne 
 
 acloyith: cloys, loads up OF 
 encloyer 
 
A-COMPAS- 
 
 608 
 
 — ALAYES 
 
 a-compas: in a circle ME on + F 
 
 compas 
 acordaunt a. in accord with ; 
 
 acordaunt to resoun] reasonable, 
 
 proper OF. 
 acorde sb. accord ; al of oon 
 
 acorde] in harmony OF. 
 acorden 3 pr. pi. agree ; acorded 
 
 3 pt. s. was fitting ; acordeden 
 
 3 pt. pi. ; acorded pp. OF 
 
 acorder 
 acounte: take count of OF aconter 
 acquite inf. acquit oneself ; 
 
 acquiteth 2 pi. imp. OF aquiter 
 actes pi. deeds OF acte 
 acusour: informer OF acuseor 
 acustumaunce: habit OF acous- 
 
 tumance 
 adamant: adamant, fabulous mate- 
 rial of extreme strength ; ada- 
 
 mauntis pi. magnets OF. 
 Adoon : Adonis, Grecian youth be- 
 loved by Venus A 2224 
 adoun : down, downwards ; adoune : 
 
 AS of + dune dat. dun "hill, 
 
 down" 
 adrad pp. afraid, fearful AS 
 
 ofdrsedan 
 Adriane : Ariadne, beloved of The- 
 seus and Bacchus 
 Adromacha : Andromache, wife of 
 
 Hector 
 adversarie : adversary Lat adversa- 
 
 rius F adversaire 
 adversitee, adversyte : misfortune, 
 
 adversity OF. 
 advertence; attention OF. 
 advocat: advocate; advocatz pi. 
 
 (the t is mute) OF avocat 
 a-£er: afar ME on + fer 
 aferd, afered, aferid pp. afraid 
 
 AS afseran 
 affeccioun of hoolynesse : love for 
 
 a divine nature OF affection 
 affermeth 3 pr. s. affirms ; affermed 
 
 pp. OF afermer 
 affile inf. smooth OF afiler 
 affray, afraye sb. fright, terror 
 
 OF esfrei 
 affrayed pp. frightened OF es- 
 
 freier 
 Affrik : Africa 
 
 Affrikan, Affrycan : cf. Scipioun 
 afounde: founder, sink OF afonder 
 
 dread ; cf. affray 
 frightened AS afyrht 
 to get, for, according 
 
 oon] alike, equal AS 
 
 afraye sb. 
 
 afright pp. 
 
 after prep, 
 to ; after 
 sefter 
 
 aftir: cf. after 
 
 aftyr as: according as 
 
 agame: in sport ME on + game 
 
 agaste 3 pt. s. refl. was aghast; 
 agaste, agast pp. frightened 
 AS agslstan 
 
 Agaton: Agatho, perhaps an Athe- 
 nian poet mentioned by Aris- 
 totle as author of play called 
 *'The Flower" (Gary and Skeat) 
 
 agayn, agaynes, agayns ad. again ; 
 prep, against, towards, to meet 
 AS ongegn, ongeanes 
 
 agaynward: back again 
 
 agen : again 
 
 Agenores poss. Agenor's daughter, 
 Europa, was carried off by Jupi- 
 ter, who had taken the form of a 
 bull 
 
 ageyn : again, in reply 
 
 ageynist: against, before 
 
 agiltyn inf. com.mit wrong; agilte 
 3 pt. pi. were at fault AS 
 agiltan 
 
 ago, agon, agoo, agoon pp. gone 
 AS agan "pass away" 
 
 a-gref ad. ill ME on -\- OF grief 
 
 agreved pp. angry OF agrever 
 
 agrief: in ill humor 
 
 agryse inf. dread, tremble with 
 
 fear ; agryse of] shudder at G 280 ; 
 AS agrisan 
 
 agu: ague OF ague f. of agu 
 
 aiel: grandfather OF aiol, aiuel 
 
 ake inf. ache ; aken 3 pr. pi. AS 
 acan 
 
 aketoun: short stuffed jacket OF 
 aketon 
 
 al a. all; al a] the whole of; al 
 and sum] the whole ; al ad. all, 
 completely ; al be, al conj. 
 though ; al redy : all ready 
 eal pi. ealle 
 
 al sb. awl, prick AS ael 
 
 al outerly: utterly 
 
 alabastre: alabaster OF. 
 
 alauntz pi. wolf (?) -hounds 
 alan, alant 
 
 alayes: alloy OF alei 
 
 al- 
 
 AS 
 
 OF 
 
ALCEBIADES— 
 
 609 
 
 -ALYGHT 
 
 Alcebiades: Alcibiades, Athenian 
 commander in the Peloponnesian 
 war, famous for his beauty and 
 grace 
 
 Alceste: queen of Admetus, king 
 of Thessaly, went to Hades as a 
 substitute for her husband 
 
 Alcipyades : cf. Alcebiades 
 
 Alcyone : Alcyone, or Halcyone, 
 who for grief at the death of 
 her husband, Ceyx, threw herself 
 into the sea. The gods in pity 
 changed them to birds, king- 
 fishers 
 
 alday : continually, all day 
 
 alder poss. pi. of all ; our alder] 
 of us all AS ealre 
 
 alderbeste ad. best of all 
 
 alderfayrest : the very fairest 
 
 alderfirst: first of all 
 
 alderman sb. head of a guild AS 
 ealdorman 
 
 Aldiran: Aldiran, a star in Leo 
 
 aldirnex : next of all 
 
 ale-stake: stake from which hung 
 branch of ivy, etc., the "bush," 
 as sign of an ale-house AS ealu 
 n. + staca m. 
 
 aleye: alley OF alee 
 
 Aleyn: Alain de I'lsle, saec. xii, 
 wrote *'De Planctu Naturae," a 
 treatise in prose and verse, and 
 "Anticlaudianus," defending celi- 
 bacy 
 
 Algarsyf: son of Cambynskan 
 
 algate, algates, algatis ad. in every 
 way, always, at least, neverthe- 
 less, anyhow, no matter how, at 
 any rate ON alia gotu ad. ace. 
 
 Algezir: city in Granada, captured 
 from the Moors in 1344 
 
 alighte 3 pt. s. dismounted, 
 camped ; alight pp. AS alihtan 
 "remove load from" 
 
 Alisaundre: Alexandria in Egypt 
 was captured by the King of 
 Cyprus in 1365 
 
 Alisaundre, Alysaunder: Alexander 
 the Great 
 
 Alisoun : friend of Dame Alice, the 
 Wife of Bath 
 
 Alkaron : Al-Koran, the Moslem 
 Bible 
 
 all : although 
 
 Alia, Alle, Aella: king of Northum- 
 berland, 560-567 A. D. 
 
 alias interj. alas! OF. 
 
 alle pi. al : all; alle and some] one. 
 and all 
 
 allegge inf. allege, put forth as 
 evidence OF esligier "free of 
 legal difficulties" 
 
 aller poss. pi. of all; at oure aller 
 cost] at the expense of all of us 
 
 alliaunce: alliance OF. 
 
 allon, allone: alone ME al -f on 
 < AS an, (?)ana 
 
 allowethe for allow the 1 pr. s. I 
 commend thee OF alouer 
 
 allye, allyee sb. ally ; allyes pi. 
 family connections OF alier 
 "bind" 
 
 allyen, allie inf. ally oneself, join 
 with; allyed pp. OF alier 
 
 Alma redemptoris: the first words 
 of several Latin hymns : alma 
 redemptoris mater, benign mother 
 of the Redeemer 
 
 Almache : Almachius, "prefect" of 
 Rome 
 
 Almageste : the greatest astronomi- 
 cal work of Ptolemy (c. 150 
 A. D.) < Arab al (the) + 
 mejisti < Gr megiste, greatest 
 
 almesse: alms AS aelmysse 
 
 almest: almost AS eal + maest 
 
 almoost ad. almost 
 
 almusdede: the giving of alms AS 
 aelmysse + dsed f. 
 
 Alnath: a fixed star in Aries, name 
 of the moon's first mansion 
 
 Alocen: Alhazen c. 1000, an Ara- 
 bian astronomer 
 
 alofte: aloft ON a lopt 
 
 als : as AS eal swa 
 
 also: as; often used to introduce a 
 wish AS eal swa 
 
 altercacioun: dispute OF. 
 
 althou : although ; cf. althogh 
 
 alther-first : first of all ; cf. aider- 
 first 
 
 althogh, althou, althow: although 
 ME al -f AS >eah 
 
 alway, alwey : always, continually ; 
 AS ealne weg ad. ace. 
 
 alyche : alike AS onlic a. 
 
 alyght pp. alighted, arrived; cf. 
 alight 
 
ALYVE— 
 
 610 
 
 —APERCEYVYNGES 
 
 alyve : alive AS on lyfe dat. 
 
 Amadrides : Hamadryades, wood- 
 nymphs 
 . Amazones : Amazons, nation of 
 women 
 
 ambes as: double aces, lowest 
 throw in dice OF. 
 
 ambil sb. amble, gentle pace OF 
 ambler 
 
 amblere sb. ambling horse 
 
 amblyng : ambling, pacing gently - 
 
 amenden inf. better, improve ; 
 amended 3 pt. s. ; amendid pp. 
 OF amender 
 
 ameved 3 pt. s. changed, altered 
 OF esmovoir 
 
 amonge, amonges ad. all the 
 while; among prep. AS onmang 
 
 amor vincit omnia: Love conquers 
 all things 
 
 amorouse : amorous, loving OF 
 amoros 
 
 a-morwe: on the morrow 
 
 amounteth 3 pr. s. means, amounts 
 to OF amonter 
 
 Amphiorax: Amphiaraus, one of 
 the Seven against Thebes, be- 
 trayed by Eriphyle, his wife, for 
 a necklace 
 
 Amphioun: Amphion, king of 
 Thebes, the music of whose lyre 
 caused stones to form themselves 
 into the walls of Thebes 
 
 amy: friend OF. 
 
 amyable: amiable OF. 
 
 amydde, amyddes, amyddis: amid, 
 amidst AS on middan (dat. f. 
 -{- -es ad. sufif.) 
 
 amys: amiss, wrong ON a mis(?) 
 AS missan 
 
 an : cf . a 
 
 an prep, on AS on 
 
 ancre: ayichor AS ancor 
 
 and conj. and; and if] used with 
 conditional force ; used as a rela- 
 tive B 622 AS and 
 
 Anelyda: queen of "Ermonye," 
 Armenia 
 
 angle : four houses, or divisions of 
 zodiacal circle, were called angles, 
 N. E, S. and West ; angle merid- 
 ional] tenth mansion of the 
 heavens (Sk.) OF. 
 
 anglehoke: fish-hook, angle -1- AS 
 hoc m. 
 
 anglis: angles 
 
 angre: anger, trouble ON angr 
 
 angwissh: anguish OF anguisse 
 
 anhange : hang ME on + AS hon 
 (pp. hangen) 
 
 anlaas: knife, dagger ME on -|- 
 OF laz "hanging on cord" 
 
 annexe : annex ; annexed pp. bound 
 to OF annexer 
 
 annunciat pp. told of by annun- 
 ciation Lat. annunciatus 
 
 anon, anone, anoon ad. right away, 
 soon; anon ryght] at once AS 
 on an "in one (moment)" 
 
 anoy: trouble OF anoi 
 
 anoyeth 3 pr. s. turns out ill; 
 annoy ye imp. pi OF anoier 
 
 answere sb. answer, reply AS 
 and swarn f. 
 
 answere inf. answer; answerde, 
 answered 3 pt. s. AS andswarion 
 
 antheme: anthem AS antefen < 
 antiphona 
 
 Anthenor : Antenor, according to 
 Guide's Historia Troiana, be- 
 trayed Troy by sending the 
 sacred Palladium to Ulysses 
 
 Antheus, Antaeus : a giant, strength- 
 ened by every contact with earth, 
 slain by Hercules, who held him 
 over his head B 3298 
 
 anthiphoner : antiphonea, hymn- 
 book 
 
 Antiochus, Anthiochus : Antiochus, 
 the great king of Syria, character 
 in "Apollonius" 
 
 Antonius: Mark Antony 
 
 Antylegyus : Archilochus, slain with 
 Achilles, q. v. 
 
 anvelet: anvil AS anfilte, anfselt f. 
 
 anyght: at night 
 
 apalled pp. weakened, pallid OF 
 apallir 
 
 apayd pp. paid, repaid, satisfied 
 OF paier 
 
 ape sb. ape, dupe AS apa m. 
 
 Apelles; cf. Appelles 
 
 Apennyn : The iVpennines 
 
 aperceyve inf. perceive OF aper- 
 cevoir 
 
 aperceyvynges: perceptions 
 
APERE— 
 
 611 
 
 —ARRAYED 
 
 apere inf. appear OF aparoir 
 
 pres. stem aper 
 apert: openly 
 apertenaunt, apertenent, apertinent: 
 
 belonging to OF apartenant 
 apertenyng: belonging to 
 apese inf. appease, allay ; apeseth 
 
 imp. pi OF apaisier 
 apeyren inf. injure OF empeirier 
 apiked pp. trimmed, adorned OF 
 
 a + piquer 
 Apius: Appius Claudius, a Roman 
 
 judge 
 apostles poss. pi. apostles' 
 apothecarie : apothecary OF 
 
 apotecaire 
 apparaille sb. and inf. apparel OF 
 
 aparailler 
 apparaillynge : preparation 
 apparence : appearance, illusion 
 
 OF. 
 appeere, apperen inf. appear OF 
 
 aparoir 
 Appelles: Apelles, Grecian painter 
 
 of Alexander's time 
 appetit: appetite OF. 
 appreved pp. approved, true OF 
 
 aprover 
 Apprile, Aprill, Aprille : April 
 approcheth 3 pr. s. approacheth 
 
 OF aprochier 
 apresse: oppress, blame; cf. 
 
 oppresse 
 aproprid pp. appropriated, inhe- 
 rent in OF aproprier 
 aprovede pp. approved ; cf . 
 
 appreved 
 aqueynt inf. refl. make myself 
 
 acquainted OF acointer 
 aqueyntaunce : acquaintance OF 
 
 acointance 
 Arabe, Arabye : Arabia 
 Arabyen: Arabian OF. 
 arace inf. tear away, root out 
 
 OF arachier 
 aray: array, apparition OF arai 
 archeer: archer OF archier 
 archiwyves: wives who rule AS 
 
 arce + wif 
 Arcita, Arcite, Arcyte : Theban 
 
 noble, cousin of Palamon in the 
 
 Knight's Tale 
 arede inf. interpret AS araedan 
 areest, areste: seizure, counsel, 
 
 deliberation; cf. arreeste. OF 
 areste 
 
 areste inf. stop, halt OF arester 
 
 arette imp. pi. impute; aretted pp. 
 OF areter 
 
 arewe: in a row AS on + raw, 
 rsew f. 
 
 argued 3 pt. s. argued ; arguynge 
 p. OF arguer 
 
 argumenten 3 pr. pi. argue OF. 
 
 argumentis : arguments 
 
 argumentz : argument, angle, arc, 
 etc., from which another quan- 
 ity may be deduced 
 
 Argus: the hundred-eyed guardian, 
 set by Juno to guard lo, slain 
 by Mercury. He is confused 
 (Du 435) with Algus, or Abu 
 Ja'far Mohamed Ben Musa, 
 whose work on algebra intro- 
 duced Arabic numerals into 
 Europe 
 
 arist 3 pr. s. arises; arcs 3 pt. s. 
 arose ; arys imp. AS arisan 
 
 Aristoclides : a Greek tyrant 
 
 Aristotle: the great Athenian phil- 
 osopher, and rhetorician 
 
 arive : disembarkation of troops for 
 assault OF. 
 
 ark: arc, entent along rim horizon 
 AS arc, arce 
 
 armen inf. arm ; armeth imp. pi. ; 
 armed pp. OF armer 
 
 armes, armys pi. arms, coat-of- 
 arms AS earm m. 
 
 arm-greet : as large as your arm 
 
 armlees : armless 
 
 armonye : harmony OF harmonic 
 
 Armorik: Armorica, Latin name 
 for Brittany 
 
 armoure: armor OF armure 
 
 armurers: armorers OF armurier 
 
 armynge sb. arming 
 
 armypotente: powerful in arms 
 Lat armipotens 
 
 arn 3 pr. pi. are 
 
 arowe, arwes pi. arrow AS 
 ar(e)we f. 
 
 arowe ad. in a row ; cf. arewe 
 
 Arpies: Harpies, birds with female 
 heads, mentioned in Virgil 
 
 arrayed pp. equipped, prepared 
 OF araier 
 
ARREESTE— 
 
 612 
 
 -ASYDE 
 
 arreeste: arrest, confinement OF 
 
 areste 
 arrerage: arrears OF ariere + age 
 arrest: the rest, or lance support; 
 
 in arrest] into position OF 
 
 arest 
 Arrius: friend of Latumius (Pale- 
 
 tinus), two characters in Gesta 
 
 Romanorum 
 ars-metrik: arithmetic Lat ars 
 
 metrica 
 Arthemesie: Artemisia, wife of 
 
 Mausolus, erected the mauso- 
 leum for his sepulchre 
 Arthour: Arthur, king of Britain 
 artificial day: "day," in which sun 
 
 is above horizon 
 artow: art thou 
 Artoys : a province of France 
 art, arte : art, science ; pars. Arti- 
 ficiality ; specifically, Ovid's **Ars 
 
 Amatoria," A 476 
 arwes : cf. arowe 
 aryht, aryght: aright ME on + 
 
 right 
 aryve inf. come to land OF 
 
 ariver 
 as: as if; used as expletive, with 
 
 little meaning, slightly restrictive 
 
 AS eal swa 
 as: ace OF as 
 
 asay: trial OF essai ob asaier 
 asaye: try; cf. assaye OF asaier 
 asayle inf. assail; cf. assaille OF 
 
 assaillir 
 ascencioun of the equynoxial: as- 
 cension of the equinoctial, fifteen 
 
 degrees, or one hour OF ascen- 
 
 cion 
 ascendent: ascendant, point of 
 
 ecliptic rising above horizon at 
 
 given moment OF. 
 ascendynge: in the ascendant; cf. 
 
 ascendent 
 ascuse : excuse OF escuse 
 asken inf. ask ; aske 2 and 3 pr. s. 
 
 subj. AS ascian, acsian 
 asking s. question 
 aslaked pp. assuaged AS aslacian 
 aslepe : asleep ME on + slep dat. 
 asonder a. asunder, apart AS 
 
 onsundran 
 asp: aspen, poplar; aspe AS aesp, 
 
 sespe f. 
 
 aspect: astrological situation; the 
 relation between two planets OF 
 aspect 
 
 aspre: fierce OF. 
 
 aspye: spy, see OF espier 
 
 assaille, asayle inf. assail ; as- 
 sailled pp. OF assailler 
 
 assaut sb. assault OF assaut 
 
 assay sb. test, trial OF assai 
 
 assay inf. try, test; assayed pp. 
 OF assier 
 
 asse: ass AS assa m. 
 
 asseged pp. besieged OF asegier 
 
 assemblen inf. assemble ; assem- 
 blede pp. OF asembler 
 
 assente inf. agree to, consent ; as- 
 sentid pp. OF assentir 
 
 asseureth 3 pr. s. assures OF 
 aseiirer 
 
 assh: ash tree AS sesc m. (i-stem) 
 
 asshen sb. pi. ashes AS asce f. 
 
 asshen a. ashen, pale 
 
 asshy: strewn with ashes 
 
 assise: assize OF assise "sitting" 
 
 assoille: absolve OF assoile pr. s. 
 subj. of assoudre 
 
 assoillyng sb. absolution 
 
 asterte inf. escape, burst, out ; 3 
 pt. s. subj. might escape ; aS' 
 terted 3 pt. s. ; astert pp. ME 
 asterten ; cf. AS sturtan 
 
 astonyed 3 pt. s. astonished 
 astoned, astonied, astonyd pp. 
 OF estoner 
 
 astored pp. provided OF estorer 
 
 astrelabie: astrolabe, instrument 
 for obtaining altitude of planets 
 and stars Lat astrolabium 
 
 astrologien : astrologer, astrono- 
 mer OF. 
 
 astronomye: really astrology, the 
 science of the application of 
 astronomy to human uses through 
 prediction or through the sup- 
 posed influence of the planets 
 over the lives of men OF astron- 
 omic 
 
 asure: azure, blue OF azur 
 
 aswage : assuage, lessen OF 
 asuagier 
 
 aswow, aswowne : in a swoon 
 on + AS swogen (geswogen 
 "senseless") 
 
 asyde : aside ME on + AS side f. 
 
 I 
 
ASYE— 
 
 613 
 
 — AVAUNTOUR 
 
 Asye : Asia, or Asia Minor OF 
 
 Asie 
 at: at, through, of; at all] in everj 
 
 respect; at our large] free AS 
 
 «t 
 atake inf. overtake ME a + take 
 Atazir: influence Arab al-tazir 
 atempry : temperate OF atempre 
 ateyn inf. attain, discover OF 
 
 ateindre, pr. stem ateign 
 Athalante : Atalante, a nymph, a 
 
 keen, swift huntress, beloved by 
 
 Hippomenes, and beaten by hirn 
 
 in a race through his dropping 
 
 of golden apples ; she took part 
 
 with Meleager in the Calydonian 
 
 boar-hunt 
 Athalus: Attalus, reputed inventor 
 
 of chess 
 aton ad. at one] into reconcilia- 
 tion 
 atones, attones ad. at one time, 
 
 at once ME at -f AS ones 
 atrede inf. surpass in judgment 
 
 ME at + rede AS raedan 
 atrenne inf. surpass in running 
 
 at + AS rinnan 
 att GO worde : in a word 
 attamed pp. brought on OF 
 
 atamer 
 atte: at the; atte beste] in the 
 
 best way ; atte fulle] fully 
 attemperaunce : self-control OF 
 
 atemprance 
 attempre, attempree : temperate, 
 
 tempered, mild OF atem.pre 
 attendance: attentive service OF. 
 Attenes: Athens 
 atteyne inf. attain ; cf. ateyn 
 Atthalante, *Athalante 
 atthamaunt: adamant, q. v. 
 Atthenes: Athens 
 Attheon : Actaeon, a Grecian youth, 
 
 accidentally sav/ Diana bathing, 
 
 whereupon he was turned into a 
 
 stag and devoured by his own 
 
 dogs 
 Attilla: Attila, *'the scourge of 
 
 God," is said to have burst a 
 
 blood-vessel 
 attones: at one time; cf. atones 
 atweyne: in two ME on -}- tweyne 
 
 q. v. 
 
 atwo : in two ME on, a + two 
 
 q. V. 
 atyr: attire OF atire 
 auctoritee, autorite : authority, 
 
 authoritative statement OF 
 
 autorite 
 auctour, autourys pi. author ; in 
 
 B 4172 the reference is to 
 
 Cicero, author of De Divinatione 
 
 OF autor, auctour 
 audience: hearing OF. 
 auditour: auditor OF. 
 aught ad. at all AS awiht 
 aught, ought: ought, owed AS 
 
 ahte 
 auncestre: ancestor OF ancestre 
 aungel: angel AS sengel, engel, 
 
 OF angele 
 aungellyche : like an angel 
 aunte : aunt OF aunte 
 auntrous: adventurous OF aven- 
 
 turos 
 Aurelian : Roman Emperor d. 275 
 Aurelius: a Breton squire 
 Aurora: the title of a Latin metri- 
 cal version of the Bible by Petrus 
 
 de Riga, in the twelfth century 
 Austyn: ^t. Augustine of Hippo, 
 
 author of the rules governing the 
 
 Augustinian canons 
 autentyke a. authentic OF 
 
 autentique 
 auter: altar OF auter AS altar 
 autorite : authority ; autoriteis pi. 
 
 cf. auctoritee OF autorite 
 autourys : authors ; cf. auctour 
 availe, availle inf. avail, aid, be of 
 
 value : availeth 3 pr. s. ; avayle 
 
 3 pr. pi OF a + valoir, pres. 
 
 stem vail 
 avalen inf. take down, cast down 
 
 OF avaler 
 avantage: advantage; doon his 
 
 avantage] employ his opportunity 
 
 OF. 
 avante, avaunte 1 pr. s. boast 
 
 OF avanter 
 avaunce inf. advance, aid OF 
 
 avancer 
 avaunt sb. boast, claim OF 
 
 avaunt 
 avauntage: advantage OF. 
 avaunte 1 pr. s. refl. boast OF. 
 avauntour: boaster OF. 
 
AVAUNTYNG— 
 
 614 
 
 — BARBARYE 
 
 avauntyng sb. boasting 
 
 Ave Marie: Ave Maria, Hail Mary 
 
 aventaille: the lower part of the 
 
 helmet OF esventail 
 aventure: hap, fortune, chance 
 
 OF. 
 Arveragus: a Breton knight < Celt 
 
 name 
 Averill: April OF Avril 
 Averrois: Averroes, Moorish 
 
 scholar and physician of twelfth 
 
 century 
 avise, avyse 1 pr. s. refl. reflect 
 
 OF aviser 
 avision : vision, dream OF. 
 avouterye : adultery OF avoutrie 
 avow sb. vow OF avoue 
 avowe inf. avow ; avowyth 3 pr. s. 
 
 vows OF avouer 
 Avoy! fie! OF avoy 
 Avycen: Avicenna, Ibn Sina, Ara- 
 bian physician of the eleventh 
 
 century, called the "Prince of 
 
 Physicians" 
 avys: advice, discussion, opinion 
 
 OF avis 
 avyse inf. take counsel with 
 
 (refl.) , consider, ponder ; avyseth 
 
 2 imp. deliberate OF aviser 
 avysely : advisedly 
 avysement: consideration OF. 
 awake imp. s. awaken; awaketh 
 
 imp. pi. ; awaked, awooke 1 pt. s. 
 
 AS awacnan int. (weak) on- 
 
 waecnan (strong) 
 awapid, awhaaped pp. amazed ME 
 
 a + whape ; cf. whap to strike 
 awayt sb. watch, surveillance OF 
 
 awaitier 
 awaytinges : services 
 awerke: at work ME on werke, 
 
 petrified dat. 
 aweye: gone, absent AS on weg, 
 
 aweg 
 aweyward : away, backwards 
 awhaaped pp. amazed, dumb- 
 founded ; cf. awaped 
 awreke inf. avenge ; awreke pp. 
 
 AS on + wrecan 
 ax sb. axe AS sex, eax f. 
 axen inf. ask, seek, incur ; axe 
 
 1 pr. s. ; axed 3 pt. s. ; axsede 
 
 3 pt. pi. AS acsian 
 axyng sb. request, question 
 
 ay ad. aye, always, ever AS a, 
 
 Icel ei 
 ayen, ayeyn : again ; cf. ageyn 
 ayen, ayenst, ayeyns: opposite, 
 
 against 
 ayleth 2, 3 pr. s. ails AS eglan 
 ayre: air OF air 
 
 B 
 
 ba: caress, kiss OF baer "to open 
 
 the mouth" 
 baar, bar 3 pt. s. bore ; cf. here 
 Babilon a. Babylonian 
 Babiloigne, Babyloyne: Babylon 
 bacheler: youth, candidate for 
 
 knighthood OF. 
 bachelrye: young men OF bach- 
 
 elerie 
 bacoun: bacon OF bacon 
 Bacus: Bacchus, god of wine 
 bacyns: basins OF bacin 
 bad 3 pt. s. bade ; cf. bidde 
 bade 1 pt. s. bidde 
 badde a. bad (orig. unkn.) 
 badder: worse 
 
 baggepipe: bagpipe Icel baggi 
 bagges: bags Icel baggi 
 baggeth 3 pr. s. looks askance 
 baillif sb. bailiff, steward or over- 
 seer OF. 
 baiteth 3 pr. s. baits, pastures ; cf. 
 
 bayte 
 bak, bake, bakke sb. back AS 
 
 bsec n. 
 bake pp. baked AS bacan 
 balade : a poem of three stanzas 
 
 with "envoy" ; the meter found 
 
 in such a poem riming abab bcc 
 balaunce s. balance; in balaunce] 
 
 in suspense OF. 
 Baldeswelle : Bawdeswell 
 bale: ill, sorrow; for bote ne bale] 
 
 for good nor for ill AS balu, 
 
 bealu n. 
 balke: beam AS balca "a heap," 
 
 "ridge" 
 balled a. bald Gael bal "spot" 
 bane: death, destruction AS bana 
 
 m. "slayer" 
 baner: banner, the signal for the 
 
 muster of troops OF banere 
 banysshed pp. banished OF 
 
 banir 
 Barbarye : heathendom 
 
BARBOUR- 
 
 615 
 
 — BENYGNE 
 
 harbour: barber, who often acted 
 
 as surgeon OF barbeor 
 barbre : barbarian ME barbare < 
 
 Lat barbarus 
 barel: barrel; barel ale] barrel of 
 
 ale OF baril 
 baren 3 pt. pi. refl. behaved ; cf. 
 
 here 
 bareyne; barren OF baraine 
 bargaynes sb. pi. bargains OF 
 
 bargaigne 
 barly: barley AS baerlic 
 barm: bosom; barme dat. AS 
 
 bearm m. 
 Barnabo Viscounte : Bernabo Vis- 
 
 conti, duke of Milan, died 1385 
 baronage : assembly of barons, the 
 
 nobility OF. 
 barre : bar ; barres : metal orna- 
 ments on a girdle OF. 
 bataille, batayle sb. battle OF. 
 batailled a. embattled, like a bat- 
 tlement 
 bateth 3 pr. s. baits ; cf. bayte 
 Bathe: Bath, in Somerset, England 
 bauderie : gaiety; cf. OF bauderie 
 
 "boldness" 
 baudes: bawds ME bawdstrot < 
 
 OF baldestrot 
 baudy : dirty 
 bawdryk : baldric or belt worn 
 
 over one shoulder OF baldric, 
 
 baldrei 
 bayte inf. bait, feed ; baiteth 3 pr. 
 
 s. ; bateth ON beita "to make 
 
 bite" 
 be 3 pr. s. subj., imp., pp. ; cf. ben 
 
 AS beon 
 be prep, b}- ; be my trouthe] truly, 
 
 verily AS bi 
 beare inf. bear; cf. here; beare 
 
 lyfe] live 
 beaute: beauty; beauteis pi. OF. 
 bech: beech tree AS bece f. 
 become inf. become ; becomen pp. ; 
 
 wher is becomen] what has be- 
 come of AS becuman 
 bed: bed; bedde; beddes, beddys, 
 
 bedis poss. ; bedde pi. AS bed 
 beddynge: bedding 
 bede 1 pt. pi., pp. ordered; cf. 
 
 bidde 
 bedes pi. beads AS bed- (in 
 
 comp.) prayer < biddan 
 
 beede 1 pr. s. offer ; 2 pr. pi. ; 
 
 bede pp. AS beodan 
 beek sb. beak; bek OF bee 
 beel amy: good friend OF bel ami 
 beem sb. beam; hemes pi. AS 
 
 beam m. 
 been pi. bees AS beo f. 
 beende : bend AS bendan 
 beer 3 pt. s bore ; cf. here 
 beerd : beard x\S beard m. 
 beere: bier AS bair f. 
 beeste: beast OF beste 
 beete inf. kindle, mend ; betten 
 
 3 pt. pi. AS betan 
 befill 3 pt. s. happened ; cf. bifalle 
 
 AS befeallan 
 beforn: beforehand AS beforan 
 began pt. s. beginne 
 begge inf. beg OF begger 
 begged: a begged] a-begging (old 
 
 gerund ending -ath) ; cf. a 
 beggere: begger OF begart 
 beggestere: beggar woman OF 
 
 beg + AS estere f. suflf. 
 begile inf. beguile, deceive be + 
 
 OF guiler 
 begoon: situated; cf. bigon 
 beheette : promised AS behatan 
 beholde': behold, look at ; on to 
 
 behold] look upon AS behealdan 
 behoteth 3 pr. s. promise ; cf. 
 
 behote AS behatan 
 behynde : behind, in the rear ranks 
 
 AS behindan 
 bek: beak; bekys pi. OF bee 
 bekke : beck, nod 
 
 beleve inf. believe AS ge-lyfan 
 belle sb. bell AS belle 
 Bellona: Goddess of War 
 Belmarye: a Moorish kingdom in 
 
 Africa, Benamarin 
 hemes pi. trumpets AS hemes 
 hemes, hemys pi. beams AS beam 
 hen inf. to be ; pp. AS beon 
 bene : bean AS bean f. 
 benedicite : bless ye; often pro- 
 nounced as a three-syllable word, 
 
 ben'cite, bendiste Lat. 
 benefice sb. ecclesiastical living 
 
 OF. 
 benethen: beneath AS beneoSan 
 bente : grassy slope AS beonet, 
 
 "a grass" 
 benygne a. kindly OF benigne 
 
BENYGNELY- 
 
 616 
 
 — BIFOREN 
 
 benygnely : lovingly 
 benyngnytee: benignity OF be- 
 nignite 
 
 beo 3 pi. pr. be; cf. ben 
 
 berafte 3 pt. s. bereft AS bireafian 
 
 berd sb. beard ; forked berd] 
 forked beards were the custom 
 among the bourgeois of Chaucer's 
 day ; make his berd] beguile him ; 
 double berd] two beards F 1252 ; 
 cf. Janus AS beard m. 
 
 here sb. bear; beres poss. or pi. 
 AS bera m. 
 
 bere sb. bier ; cf. beere 
 
 bare sb. pillow case ; cf. pilwebeer 
 AS bere ''covering" 
 
 bere, ber inf. bear, endure ; 1 pr. 
 s ; 3 pr. s. subj. pierce ; bereth 
 3 pr. s. ; bar 3 pt. s. ; bore, borne 
 pp. ; bere on honde] pretend, 
 "bluflf" AS beran 
 
 berie inf. bury ; beryed pp. AS 
 byrgan 
 
 berkyng sb. barking AS beorcan 
 
 Bernard: St. Bernard (1091-1153) 
 
 Bernard: Bernardus Gordonius, 
 professor of medicine at Mont- 
 pellier, was a contemporary of 
 Chaucer 
 
 berne : barn AS bern 
 
 berth 3 pr. s. beareth ; berth on 
 honde] chargeth ; cf. bere 
 
 Berwyk: a town in Northumber- 
 land, on the Tweed 
 
 berye sb. berry AS berie 
 
 beryed pp. buried 
 
 berynge: bearing, behavior 
 
 beseche inf. beseech ME sechen 
 
 besely, bisily: busily AS bisig 
 
 besette inf. employ, bestow ; 3 pt. 
 s. ; pp. ; beset pp. be + AS 
 settan 
 
 besey pp. beseen ; wel besey] good- 
 looking, fair to see ; cf. see 
 
 bespreynte -pp. sprinkled, bedewed 
 AS besprengan 
 
 beste sb. beast; bestis pi. OF 
 beste 
 
 besy : busy, anxious AS bysig 
 
 besyede 3 pt. pi busied AS 
 bysgian 
 
 besyly : busily 
 
 besynesse: business AS bysig + 
 ness 
 
 bet ad. better AS bet 
 
 bet: better; go bet] go as rapidly 
 
 as possible 
 bete inf. amend; cf. beete. AS 
 
 betan 
 bete 1 pr. s. beat, hammer ; 3 pr. 
 
 s. subj. ; beten, bet pp. AS 
 
 beatan 
 beter : better AS betra 
 beth imp. pi. be 
 bethenke 1 pr. s. refl. consider ; 
 
 imp. ; bethoughte 1 pt. s. AS 
 
 be]?encan 
 Bethulia: home of Judith q. v. 
 bethynke inf. imagine, contrive 
 betraysed 3 pt. s. betrayed be -{- 
 
 OF trair 
 betre ad. better 
 betten 3 pt. pi. kindle ; cf. beete 
 betwex, betwixen, betwixsyn, bet- 
 
 wixe : betwixt, between AS 
 
 betweox 
 betyde: happen ME be + tiden < 
 
 AS tidan 
 betyme : promptly be + time 
 betyr: better 
 Beute: Beauty 
 bevere a. of beaver AS beofor 
 
 m. (n) 
 Beves: Sir Bevis of Hampton, a 
 
 popular Middle English metrical 
 
 romance 
 bewayled 3 pt. s. bewailed ME be 
 
 + wailen 
 bewreye inf. betray be + AS 
 
 wregan "accuse" 
 beye inf. buy AS bycgan 
 bi: of, about AS bi 
 bibledde: drenched with blood 
 
 AS bi + bledan 
 Biblis: Byblis, changed to a foun-_ 
 
 tain on being rejected in love 
 bicched: cursed (orig. uncert.) 
 biclappe: catch AS clappan 
 bidaffed pp. befooled (orig. un- 
 cert. < dafif "fool") 
 bidde : ask, command ; bit 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 bade pt. s. ; byd imp. AS biddan 
 bifalle inf. befall; pp.; bifil pt. 
 
 impers. ; bifelle 3 pr. s. subj. AS 
 
 befeallan 
 bifore, biforn ad., prep, before AS 
 
 beforan 
 biforen ad. in the front of 
 
BIFORN— 
 
 617 
 
 — BLANKMANGER 
 
 biforn a. forehanded, prudent 
 bigamye: bigamy, marrying twice 
 
 OF bigamie 
 bigan 3 pt. s. began; cf. bigynne 
 
 AS beginnan 
 bigeten pp. begotten AS be + 
 
 gitan 
 bigile inf. beguile ; cf. begile ME 
 
 be + OF guiler 
 bigon: situated, beset; wel bigon] 
 
 happy ; wo bigon] distressed AS 
 
 bigan 
 bigonne 2 pt. s. ; began pp. bord 
 
 bigonne] sat at the head of the 
 
 table; cf. bigynne 
 bigynne inf. begin; bygynneth 3 
 
 pr. s. ; bigonne 2 pt. s. ; bigan 
 
 3 pt. s. ; bigonne pp. AS be- 
 ginnan 
 biheeste: promise AS behses 
 biheete inf. promise; bihight pp. 
 
 AS behatan 
 bihight pp. promised ; cf. biheete 
 biholde inf. behold; cf. beholde 
 bihote 1 pr. s. promise 
 bihoveth: it is necessary, fitting 
 
 AS bihofian 
 bihynde : behind 
 
 biknowe inf. acknowledge, con- 
 fess; biknewe 3 pt. pi. AS bi + 
 
 cnawan 
 bileeve: creed AS geleafa 
 bileve: stay behind AS belsefan 
 bille: bill, petition NorF bille > 
 
 billet 
 biloved pp. beloved AS be + 
 
 lufian 
 Bilyea: wife of Duellius ; she was 
 
 silent about his defects 
 biquethe 1 pr. s. bequeath; pp.; 
 
 AS becwetSan "make a state- 
 ment" 
 biraft pp. bereft; cf. bireve 
 bireve inf. bereave, deprive ; 
 
 birafte 3 pt. s. bereft; biraft 
 
 pp. AS bireafian 
 biseged pp. besieged; cf. sege 
 biseke 1 pr. s. beseech; biseken 
 
 1 pr. pi. ; bisekynge p. ME be 
 
 + sechen 
 bisette 3 pt. s. employed, used; 
 
 cf. besette 
 biseye pp. beseen, adorned ; yvel 
 
 biseye] ill-appearing; cf. besey 
 
 AS beseon 
 bishrewe 1 pr. s. curse be + AS 
 
 screawa "shrew-mouse" 
 biside : near, beside ; hym bisides] 
 
 around him, at hand AS be sidan 
 
 dat. 
 bisily : busily 
 bismotered pp. stained, soiled 
 
 ME bi + smot; cf. Sw smuts 
 
 "dirt" 
 bistad: ill-situated, troubled ME 
 
 bisteden < Scan ; cf. AS stede 
 bistowe: bestow bi -{- AS stow, 
 
 "place" 
 bistrood 3 pt. s. bestrode AS 
 
 bestridan 
 bisy a. busy AS bysig 
 bisynesse: business 
 bit: but AS butan 
 bit 3 pr. s. biddeth; cf. bidde 
 bitake 1 pr. s. commit AS be -}- 
 
 ME taken 
 biteche 1 pr. s. consign to AS 
 
 bitsecan 
 bitokneth 3 pr. s. signifies ME 
 
 be + AS getacnian 
 bitore: bittern OF butore 
 bitrayseth 3 pr, s. betrays; 
 
 bitraysed pp. OF trair 
 bittre: bitter AS bitter 
 bityde inf. betide, happen to; 3 
 
 pr. s. subj. ; bitidde 3 pt. s. AS 
 
 be + tidan 
 bitynge: sharp AS bitan 
 biwaillen inf. bewail; biwailled 
 
 pp. ; cf. bewayled 
 biwreye inf. reveal, betray be + 
 
 AS wregan 
 biyonde: beyond AS begeondan 
 bladdre: bladder AS blaedre f. 
 blak: black; a man in blak] John 
 
 of Gaunt, in black for the death 
 
 of his duchess, Blaunche AS 
 
 blac, blaec 
 blakeberyed: a blackberrying, wan- 
 dering 
 blaked pp. turned black 
 blame sb. censure OF blasmer 
 blame inf. condemn ; blamyd pp. 
 blankmanger sb. a compound of 
 
 capon, rice, milk, sugar and 
 
 almonds, named from its color 
 
 OF. 
 
BLASPHEME— 
 
 618 
 
 — BOREL 
 
 blaspheme sb. blasphemy Lat 
 
 blasphemare 
 blasphemour: blasphemer 
 bleched pp. bleached AS blsecan 
 bledde 3 pt. s., pi. bled AS 
 
 bledan 
 Blee: Blean Forest, near Canter- 
 bury 
 blent 3 pr. s. blinds; pp. AS 
 
 blindan 
 blered pp. bleared, dimmed ME 
 
 bleren "to become watery" 
 blerying of an eye : cheating, trick- 
 ing 
 blew a. blue OF bleu 
 blew pt. s. blowe AS blawan 
 bleynte 3 pt. s. blenched, drew 
 
 back AS blencan "deceive" 
 blisful a. happy, bliss-bestowing, 
 
 helpful AS bH>s + ful 
 blisse inf. bless AS bletsian 
 blody; bloody AS bl5dig 
 blondren 1 pr. pi. blunder Norw 
 
 blundra "shut the eyes" 
 bloode: blood AS blod n. 
 blosmy : full of blossoms AS 
 
 bl5sma + y, ig 
 blowe inf. blow ; blowe, blowen 
 pp. blown, proclaimed by her- 
 • aids AS blawan 
 blynd: blind AS blind 
 blysse: bliss, joy AS bH>s f. 
 blythe: glad AS bli>e 
 bly thely : gladly 
 blyve : quickly, soon ; as blyve] 
 
 very soon ME be + lyve 
 bobance: brag, boast OF 
 Bobbe-up-and-down: a village near 
 
 Canterbury 
 bocher: butcher OF bochier 
 bode sb. delay < abood; cf. abyde 
 bode sb. foreboding AS bod n. 
 
 message 
 bode pp. ■ bidden ; cf. bede 
 body: body, corpse AS bodig 
 bodyn pp. bidden ; cf. bidde 
 Boece: Boethius "De Consolatione 
 Philosophise," a Latin work in 
 prose and verse, popular in the 
 Middle Ages. Boethius (Boetius) 
 lived 475-524 A. D. He also 
 wrote a treatise on music. He 
 was put to death by Theodoric 
 
 boght pp. bought; boghte agayne] 
 
 redeemed ; cf. bye 
 Boghtoun under Blee: Boughton- 
 under-Blean, a village five miles 
 from Canterbury 
 boille inf. boil, cook OF boillir 
 boistous: loud, rude < OF bois- 
 
 teus(?) 
 boistously : loudly 
 bok: book AS boc f. 
 Boke of the Leoun: a lost work 
 
 of Chaucer's 
 bokeler: buckler, a small round 
 
 shield OF bucler 
 bokelynge : buckling 
 boket: bucket OF boket < AS 
 
 buc pitcher 
 bolde : to grow bold ; cf. AS beal- 
 
 dian 
 boldely : boldly 
 boldenesse : courage 
 boles: bulls AS bula(?) 
 Boloigne: Boulogne, France, on 
 English Channel, visited by pil- 
 grims because of an image of 
 the Virgin 
 Boloigne: Bologne in Italy 
 bombleth: makes a booming noise 
 
 ME < boonen < Du(?) 
 bonde s. bond OF bande 
 bonde pp. bound ; cf. bynde 
 bone: boon, request Icel bon AS 
 
 ben f. 
 bontee: generosity OF. 
 boon: bone AS ban n. 
 boond 3 pt. s. bound ; cf. bynde 
 boor: the Erymanthian boar slain 
 
 by Hercules AS bar m. 
 boot sb. boat AS bat m. ^ 
 
 boot 3 pt. s. bit ; cf. byte 
 boote : help, remedy AS bot f. 
 bootes pi. boots OF bote 
 boras sb. borax OF < Arab 
 bord sb. board, plank, side of 
 ship, table ; bord bigonne] sat 
 at the head of the table; borde 
 AS bord n. 
 bord inf. to board OF aborder 
 bordit pp. jested OF bourder 
 bore pp. born ; cf. here 
 borel sb. coarse garments OF 
 
 burel "coarse woollen cloth" 
 borel a. rude; borel men] lay- 
 
BORES— 
 
 619 
 
 — BROSTEN 
 
 bores: boars; poss. AS bar m. 
 
 borne pp. bere; cf. bere 
 
 borowe, borwe : security ; seynt 
 
 John to borowe] St. John for 
 
 security (protection on journey) 
 
 AS borg m. 
 borwe inf. borrow AS borgian 
 host sb. boast AF host 
 bote sb. good; for bote ne bale] 
 
 for good nor for ill AS bot f. 
 hotel: bottle; a hotel hey] bundle 
 
 of hay OF hotel 
 boterflye: butterfly AS butere + 
 
 fleoge f. 
 bothe pi., poss. pi. both AS ba, ]?a 
 botme : bottom AS botm m. 
 bouk: trunk of the body AS hue 
 
 m. 
 bounden pp. bound; cf. binde 
 boundes : bounds AF bounde 
 bountee: kindness, generosity OF 
 
 bonte 
 bounteous: bountiful OF bontif 
 hour, bouris pi. bower AS bur m. 
 bourde: joke OF. 
 bow, bowys pi. bough AS bog m. 
 bowe sb. bow AS boga m. 
 bowen inf. bow ; boweth 2 imp. s. ; 
 
 bowynge p. AS bugan 
 bowgh: bough, branch AS bog 
 
 m. 
 bown: ready, prepared Icel buinn 
 boxtree : symbolical for paleness 
 
 AS box m. 
 boydekyns: daggers, bodkins Gael 
 
 orig.(?) 
 boyste: box OF boiste 
 bracer: a leather guard to protect 
 
 the arm from the bowstring OF. 
 Bradwardyn: Proctor at Oxford 
 
 1325, afterwards chancellor 
 brak 3 pt. s. broke ; cf. breke 
 bras: brass AS braes n. 
 brast 3 pt. s. subj. would burst ; 
 
 cf. bresten 
 braunches: boughs OF branche 
 brawen: brawm of the boar OF 
 
 braon 
 brawnes : muscles 
 brayed pp. started; cf. breyde 
 brayn: brain AS braegen n. 
 brede: breadth AS brsedu m'. 
 breech: breeches AS brec, s. of 
 
 broc f. 
 
 breede, breed: bread AS bread n. 
 breek 3 pt. s. subj. broke ; cf. 
 
 breke 
 breem : bream, a fresh water fish 
 
 OF bresme 
 breeth: breath AS brseS m. 
 breke inf. break, break off, go to 
 
 pieces; brake, broke 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 breek 3 pt. s. subj. AS brecan 
 brekers : breakers, trespassers 
 brekke: flaw, wrinkle AS brece(?) 
 brembulflour: flower of the bramble 
 
 AS brembel m. 
 breme: furiously, famously AS 
 
 breme 
 bren sb. bran OF. 
 brenne, bren inf. burn ; 3 pr. pi. ; 
 
 brendest 2 pt. s. ; brende, brente 
 
 3 pt. s. ; brend, brent pp. AS 
 
 baernan 
 brennynge sb. burning 
 brennyngly : ardently 
 breres: briars AS brser f. 
 brest sb. breast; breste. AS 
 
 breost n. 
 bresten inf. break, burst; brest 
 
 3 pr. s. ; bruste, brosten 3 pt. pi. ; 
 
 breste 3, pr. s. subj ; brast 3 pt. 
 
 s. subj. AS berstan 
 bretful a. brimful AS brerd 
 
 "brim" + ful 
 bretherhood: brotherhood AS 
 
 broSor + hood 
 breyde 3 pt. s. cast; brayed pp. 
 
 AS bregdan 
 brist: breast; cf. brest 
 bristplate: breastplate OF plate 
 Britaigne : Brittany, Bretagne in 
 
 France 
 Britons: Britons, the Welsh 
 Brixseyde: Briseis, beloved by 
 
 Achilles, and cause of his quarrel 
 
 with Agamemnon (Iliad I) 
 broche : brooch OF. 
 brod sb. brood AS brod f. 
 brode a. broad AS brad * 
 
 brode ad. broadly, plainly 
 broght pp. brought; cf. bryngen 
 broille inf. broil AF broiller 
 broke 3 pt. s. broke ; cf . breke 
 bronde : brand, fire brand AS 
 
 brand m, 
 brosten, broste 3 pi. pt. burst ; cf. 
 
 bresten 
 
BROTELNESSE— 
 
 620 
 
 — BYNDE 
 
 brotelnesse : frailty ; cf. brutelnesse 
 brother : brother ; brother, brothres 
 
 poss. s. AS broSor 
 brouded pp. embroidered OF 
 
 brosder 
 broughte 3 pt. s. ; broughten 3 pt. 
 
 pi. brought ; cf. bryngen 
 brouke : enjoy the use of AS 
 
 brucan 
 broun, broune a. brown AS 
 
 brun 
 browdynge : embroidery 
 browes: brows AS bru, pi. brua, 
 
 bruwa f. 
 browken 3 pr. pi. subj. enjoy ; cf. 
 
 brouke 
 browhte 3 pt. s. brought 
 broyded pp. braided OF brosder 
 
 + AS bregdan, by confusion 
 Brugges: Bruges, city in Belgium 
 bruste: 3 pt. pi. burst; cf. bresten 
 brustles : bristles 
 brutelnesse : instability, **brittle- 
 
 ness" ME brotel < AS breotan 
 
 "break'* + nesse 
 Brutes Albyoun: Brutus Albion, 
 
 England, founded according to 
 
 legend by Brutus 
 Brutus Cassius; an error by 
 
 Chaucer for Brutus and Cassius, 
 
 the conspirators (the symbol & 
 
 being probably omitted in Vin- 
 cent of Beauvais, Chaucer's 
 
 source) 
 bryddis: birds AS bridd m. 
 brydel sb. bridle, rule AS bridel 
 brydeleth 3 pr. s. bridles, governs 
 
 in love 
 bryghte: bright AS berht, beorht 
 brymstoon sb. brimstone, sulphur 
 
 ME brenstoon ^'burning stone" 
 bryngen inf. bring; broughte, 
 
 browhte 3 pt. s. ; broughten 3 pt. 
 
 pi. ; broght pp. AS bringan 
 brynke:" brink Icel brekka(?) 
 
 ''crest of hill" 
 brynne : burn ; cf. brenne 
 buk, bukke: buck, so-called from 
 
 the sixth year on AS bucca m. 
 bulles: bulls, papal edicts Lat 
 
 bulla "seal" 
 bulte 3 pt. s. built AS byldan 
 bulte it to the bren: sift to the 
 
 bran OF bulter 
 
 Burdeux: Bordeaux: Burdeux- 
 
 ward: the region of Bordeaux 
 burdoun sb. burden of song, bass 
 
 accompaniment OF bourdon 
 burel : of rough cloth ; hence, rude ; 
 
 cf. borel 
 burgeys sb. burgess OF burgeis 
 burghes: towns AS burg f. 
 burned pp. burnished OF burnir 
 Burnel the Asse : Burnellus seu 
 speculum stultorum (The Mir- 
 ror of Fools) by Nigel Wireker 
 about 1200 
 burthe sb. birth Icel byr^ f. 
 burye inf. bury AS byrgan 
 buryeles: burial-places < AS 
 
 byrigels, tomb 
 Busirus: Busiris, a king of Egypt, 
 slain by Hercules, confused by 
 Chaucer with Diom.edes, king of 
 Thrace, of whom the story of 
 the mare is told B 3293 
 buskes: bushes Scan busk 
 bussh: bush; bussh unbrent] the 
 burning, but unconsumed, bush 
 which Moses saw was consid- 
 ered a symbol of Mary's constant 
 virginity 
 but conj. unless, except AS butan 
 but ad. but, only ; prep, without 
 but if: unless 
 
 butiller: butler OF butuiller 
 buxomly: obediently AS buhsum 
 
 + lie 
 buxhumnesse : obedient spirit 
 by: for, concerning, by the example 
 
 of, with reference to 
 by and by: side by side 
 by ony weye : in every way 
 bycause: because ME bi -j- cause 
 byd imper. order; cf. bidde 
 byde inf. wait AS bidan 
 bye inf. buy, pay for ; bie 1 pr. s. 
 
 AS bycgan 
 byfore, byforen: before AS beforan 
 byheste : behest, promise ; pers. 
 byhove inf. need AS bihufian 
 byjaped pp. befooled, tricked OF 
 
 japper **yap" 
 byldere : builder, used in building 
 byle: bill AS bile m. 
 bynde inf. bind ; bynt 3 pr. s. ; 
 boond 3 pt. s. ; bonde pp. ; 
 bounden pp. AS bindan 
 
BYNDYNG— 
 
 621 
 
 — CARRENARE 
 
 byndyng sb. binding 
 
 bynne: bin AS binn 
 
 bynt 3 pr. s. binds; cf. bynde 
 
 byte inf. bite, take hold ; bytith 3 
 
 pr. s. ; boot 3 pt. s. AS bitan 
 bythoght pp. bethought AS 
 
 bi]?encan 
 byttyrnesse: bitterness 
 byynge: buying 
 
 caas sb. chance, misfortune ; pi. 
 
 cases of law OF cas 
 cacche, cachche inf. win ; caughte, 
 
 kaught 1 pt. s., pi. ; kaught, kaute 
 
 pp. NorF cachier 
 Cacus: a famous giant, robber and 
 
 cannibal, strangled by Hercules 
 Cadmus: the founder of Thebes; 
 
 Cadme 
 cake: round, flat loaf of bread 
 
 Icel kaka 
 calandier: calendar, record OF 
 
 < Lat. 
 Calistopee: Callisto; cf. Calyxte 
 calle: caul, close cap or net OF 
 
 cale 
 calle inf., 3 pt. s. call; callid 2 
 
 pt. pi. Icel kalla AS ceallian*' 
 Calyxte : Callisto, nymph of Diana, 
 
 ancestress of the Arcadians, 
 
 turned into a bear (the star 
 
 Arctus) for her infidelity to 
 
 chastity 
 camaille: camel NorF camel 
 Cambalo: son of Cambynskan 
 Cambynskan : Genghis Khan, grand- 
 father of Kublai Khan 
 Campaneus: Capaneus, one of the 
 
 Seven against Thebes 
 Canacee: Canace, sister and mis- 
 tress of Macareus (Ovid) 
 Canacee: daughter of Cambynskan 
 Cananee : Canaanitish 
 Candace : queen of India, beloved 
 
 of Alexander 
 ^ candel: candle AS candel 
 (i Cane: Cana, town in Galilee, John 
 
 ii. 1 
 canel-boon: collar bone OF canel 
 
 "channel" 
 canoun : the "Canon in Medicine," 
 
 a work by Avicenna 
 
 cantel: portion ONorF cantel 
 
 capitayn: captain OF capitaine 
 
 Capitolie : the Capitol in Rome 
 
 Cappaneus : Capaneus, one of the 
 seven heroes who besieged 
 Thebes; killed by a thunderbolt 
 as he was scaling the wall 
 
 cappe : cap ; sette hir aller cappe] 
 cheated them all AS caeppe 
 
 capul: nag Icel kapall(?) 
 
 cardyacle: heart-spasm Lat. 
 
 care : care, trouble ; a sory care] 
 a misfortune AS caru f. 
 
 careyne, carayne: carcase, carrion 
 OF caroigne 
 
 carf 3 pt. s. carved. Carving was 
 one of the duties of the squire 
 
 carie inf. carry ; caryeden 3 pt. pi. ; 
 caried pp. ONorF carier 
 
 cariynge: carrying 
 
 carl: churl, low fellow AS ceorl 
 m. 
 
 Carole inf. dance to the accom- 
 paniment of a song sung by the 
 dancer OF. 
 
 caroles pi. a dance with singing 
 OF. 
 
 carolewyse-: like a carol 
 
 carpe inf. chatter, talk Icel karpa 
 
 carpenteris poss. carpenter's 
 
 ONorF carpentier 
 
 Carrenare: Various attempts have 
 been made to expain the "dry 
 sea" and the "Carrenare." The 
 former has been explained va- 
 riously as the Sahara, the "Grav- 
 elly Sea" of Mandeville, the 
 variable Lake of Czirknitz, and 
 the "Adrye Se" or Adriatic. 
 Carrenare is generally explained 
 as the Gulf of Carnaro. J. L. 
 Lowes has collected good evi- 
 dence to show that the dry sea 
 is the Lop Nor (sand lake) or 
 Desert of Gobi in Asia, near 
 which was situated a Kara Nor 
 (Black Lake). Both of these 
 are close to the old overland 
 caravan route from China, and 
 are found on medieval maps. 
 To go "hoodeles" there would 
 be a test of love, indeed. Such 
 tests of love are a common con- 
 vention in Chaucer's time 
 
CARTAGE— 
 
 Cartage : Carthage, ancient city on 
 the African shore of the Medi- 
 terranean 
 
 carte: cart, chariot AS craet n. 
 
 cartere : carter, charioteer 
 
 caryeden 3 pt. pi carried 
 
 cas : luck, chance, case 
 
 Cassandra: the daughter of King 
 Priam, had the power of proph- 
 ecy, but also a curse which pre- 
 vented belief in her prophecies. 
 Therefore she had the sorrow of 
 foreseeing all the misfortune of 
 the city without being able to 
 use her knowledge and prevent 
 the coming evils 
 
 cast sb. plan, occasion Icel kast 
 
 caste 1 pr. s., 3 pt. s. cast, con- 
 jecture, purpose, plan ; casteth 
 3 pr. s. ; cast pp. ; with hys on 
 ye caste up] looked up Icel 
 kasta 
 
 castel: castle; longe castel: a ref- 
 erence to Lancaster, John of 
 Gaunt ("seynt Johan") , earl of 
 Richmond ("ryche hille"), and 
 husband of Blanche ("with walles 
 whyte") AS castel 
 
 castigacioun : punishment Lat 
 
 castigatio 
 
 casuelly: by accident OF casuel 
 
 catel sb. chattel, property OF. 
 
 caughte 3 pt. s. caught ; cf. cacche 
 
 Caunturbury : Canterbury 
 
 cause : cause, purpose, plea, reason ; 
 cause why] there's a reason OF. 
 
 causeles: without reason 
 
 caytyf sb., caytayves pi. prisoner, 
 wretch OF caitif 
 
 caytyf a. wretched 
 
 Cecile, Cecilie : Cecilia, Christian 
 martyr, died at Rome 230 A. D. ; 
 cf. heven for explanation of ety- 
 
 ' mologies 
 
 ceint sb. girdle OF. 
 
 celerer: cellarer OF cellerier 
 
 celle sb. a small monastery under 
 the control of another monas- 
 tery ; celle fantastik : the part of 
 the brain whence fancies arose; 
 the brain was divided into three 
 cells, each the seat of a different 
 faculty OF celle 
 
 622 — CHAMBRE 
 
 cely: silly, innocent, poor AS 
 sselig 
 
 Cenobia: Zenobia, queen of Pal- 
 myra 
 
 centaure, centaury: an herb OF 
 centorye 
 
 Centauros ace. pi. Centaurs, fabu- 
 lous half-man, half-horse 
 
 centence: sentence, matter OF. 
 
 centre: fulcrum, pivot OF. 
 
 centris: centres, the small brass 
 projection on the rete of astro- 
 labe, denoting position of fixed 
 star (Sk.) 
 
 ceptre: sceptre OF. 
 
 Cerberus: the three-headed watch- 
 dog of Hades 
 
 cercled pp. extended in a circle 
 
 cercles: circles OF. 
 
 cerial: a kind of oak Lat cerreus 
 
 ceriously: minutely Lat ceriose, 
 seriose 
 
 certeinly ad. certainly OF certein 
 
 certes, certis: truly OF. 
 
 certeyn a. certain, sure OF cer- 
 tein 
 
 certeyn ad. certainly, surely 
 
 ceruce sb. a cosmetic made from 
 white lead OF ceruse 
 
 cerymonyes: observances of forms 
 of courtship OF ceremonie 
 
 Cesar: Julius Caesar 
 
 Cesar: Caesar, the emperor; Augus- 
 tus L 592 
 
 cese, cesse inf. cease OF cesser 
 
 cetewale: valerian, an herb OF 
 citoual 
 
 chaar: chariot OF. 
 
 chaast: chaste OF chaste 
 
 chaastnesse: chastity OF chast 
 
 chace inf. chase, hunt, drive OF 
 chacer 
 
 chaffare: bargaining, business AS 
 chap price + faru f. business 
 
 chaffare inf. bargain 
 
 chaier: chariot OF chaiere 
 
 ChalAsye: Chaldaea 
 
 chalenge inf. claim; chalange 1 
 pr. s. OF. 
 
 chamberere: chambermaid OF. 
 
 chamberleyn: chamberlain OF 
 chambrelenc 
 
 chambre: chamber; marriage-cham- 
 
CHAMPARTIE— 
 
 623 
 
 -CHIRCHE-DORE 
 
 ber, marriage ; chambre of pare- 
 mentz] presence-chamber OF. 
 
 champartie : equality, division of 
 power* OF. 
 
 champioun sb. champion OF. 
 
 chanon: canon, member of religious 
 order, like monks, but under dif- 
 ferent rule 
 
 chaped pp. provided with metal 
 mountings OF chape 
 
 chapeleyne : chaplain ; the ofifice is 
 held by a nun OF. 
 
 chapiteris: chapters OF. 
 
 chapman : merchant AS ceap + 
 man 
 
 chapmanhode : trade, business 
 
 charbocle: carbuncle OF char- 
 boncle 
 
 chare: chariot OF char 
 
 charg, charge sb. care, trouble, 
 responsibility OF. 
 
 charite : charity, love OF. 
 
 Charles Olyver : Charlemagne's 
 Olyver, a peer of France, brother- 
 in-arms of Roland 
 
 chasted pp. taught OF chastier 
 
 chasteyn: chestnut OF chastaigne 
 
 chastise inf. discipline OF. 
 
 chastitee : chastity OF. 
 
 chaunce : chance, incident OF. 
 
 chaunge sb. exchange OF. 
 
 chaunge inf. change 
 
 chaungeable a. changeable, fickle 
 
 chauntepleure : half joy, half sad- 
 ness, a song of alternate spirits 
 OF. 
 
 chauntery sb. chantry, an endow- 
 ment to pay a priest to sing daily 
 masses for the soul of the giver 
 of the endowment, or of some 
 one designated by him OF 
 chanterie 
 
 chayer: chair, palanquin OF 
 chaiere 
 
 cheep: market; greet cheep] low 
 price, cheap (in modern sense) 
 AS ceap m. 
 
 cheere sb. cheer, manner, behavior, 
 countenance OF chere 
 
 chees 2 imp. choose ; cf. chese 
 
 chefe a. chief OF chef 
 
 chek: "check!" in chess; check and 
 mate] checkmate, a term in chess 
 denoting that the king cannot 
 
 be moved. This ends the game 
 OF eschec 
 
 cheke : cheeke-bone ; pi. cheeks 
 AS ceare f. 
 
 chekkere s. chess-board OF. 
 
 Chepe: Cheapside (market street) 
 London 
 
 cher, chere : manner, look ; cf. 
 cheere 
 
 cherisseth 3 pr, s. cherishes ; cher- 
 ish imp. s. OF cheris- < cherir 
 
 cherl : churl, base fellow, menial ; 
 cherles poss. used as ad. churlish 
 AS ceorl 
 
 cherlyssh : churlish 
 
 cherubynnes poss. pi. the cheru- 
 bim were generally painted red 
 in medieval pictures 
 
 cheryse inf. cherish OF cheris- 
 
 chese inf. choose; imp.; ches 1, 3 
 pt. s. ; chose pp. AS ceosan 
 
 chesse : game of chess OF. 
 
 cheste: cofifin AS cest 
 
 chesynge : choosing 
 
 chevache : journey a-horseback OF 
 chevauchie 
 
 chevetayn : chieftain, leader OF 
 chevetain 
 
 chevise refl. do for herself OF 
 chevir 
 
 chevyssaunce : contract for borrow- 
 ing money, note OF chevissance 
 "accomplishment" 
 
 cheyne : chain ; cheynes pi. Zenobia 
 was so weighed down with gold 
 chains and gems that she could 
 scarcely walk B 3554 OF 
 chaene 
 
 Chichivache: the lean cow which, 
 in the old fable, lived upon 
 patient wives, and in consequence 
 was always very lean OF. 
 
 chidde 1 pt. s. chid ; cf. chyde 
 
 chiere : mien; cf. cheere OF. 
 
 chiertee: regard, good-will OF. 
 
 chiknes pi. chickens AS cicen 
 
 Child, Childe : a title for a squire 
 or a knight, as Childe Harold 
 AS cild 
 
 childely a. childish, immature 
 
 childhede: childhood 
 
 chirch, chirche : church AS cirice 
 
 chirche-dore : church-door ; couples 
 were married in the church-porch, 
 
CHIRKYNG— 
 
 624 
 
 — CLITERMYSTRA 
 
 and then entered the church for 
 mass 
 
 chirkyng : harsh noise, creaking AS 
 cearcian 
 
 chiste : chest AS cist 
 
 chivalrie : knighthood, with its cus- 
 toms and ideals; knightly prow- 
 ess; group of knights OF. 
 
 choghe, chough : crow ; cf. AS ceo 
 
 chose pp. chosen ; cf. chese 
 
 choys: choice OF choix 
 
 chuk: cluck, clucking noise 
 
 chukketh 3 pr. s. clucks 
 
 chyde : chide, scold ; chidde 1 pt. s. 
 AS cidan 
 
 chymbe: the rim of a barrel, stave 
 ends AS cim 
 
 chymbe inf. chime OF cymbe 
 NF chimbe 
 
 chyn: chin AS cin 
 
 chy vachee : exploit a-horseback, 
 military expedition OF che- 
 vauchie 
 
 Cibella: Cybele, Great Mother of 
 the Gods 
 
 Cilinios: Mercury, born on Mt. 
 Cyllene in Greece 
 
 Cipion: cf. Scipioun 
 
 Cipre : Cyprus 
 
 cipress, cipresse: cypress, the sym- 
 bol of mourning OF cypres 
 
 Circes: Circe, the sorceress who 
 turned Odysseus's companions 
 into swine by an enchanted cry. 
 Odysseus forced her to restore 
 his companions 
 
 circumstaunce : ceremony OF. 
 
 Cirea: Cirra, a town near Parnas- 
 sus 
 
 Cirus: Cyrus, king of Persia 
 
 ciser: cider OF sisre 
 
 citee: city OF cite 
 
 Cithe, Cithea: Scythia 
 
 Citherea: .a name for Venus, who 
 v/as fabled to have risen from 
 the sea near the island of 
 Cythera 
 
 Citheroun : Cithseron or Cythera, 
 island sacred to Venus 
 
 citole: a psaltery, a stringed instru- 
 ment OF. 
 
 citryn a. citron, yellow OF citrin 
 
 cladde 3 pt. s. clothes; cledde, 
 clothed pp. AS (North) clsedde 
 
 clamb 3 pt. s. climbed; cf. clymben 
 
 clamour: clamor OF. 
 
 clappe: noise, chatter; cf. Icel 
 
 klappa 
 clappeth 3 pr. s. ; imp. pi. chatter 
 clappyng : chattering 
 clariounes: clarions, trumpets OF 
 
 clarion 
 clarre: wine mixed with honey and 
 
 spices, and strained "clear" AF 
 
 claret 
 clateren 3 pr. pi clatter; clatereden 
 
 3 pt. pi. ; cf. AS clatrung, a rat- 
 tle 
 claterynge : clattering 
 Claudius: Marcus Claudius, the 
 
 **cherl" of Appius Claudius 
 Claudius: the second emperor of 
 
 Rome 268-270 
 Claudyan : Claudius Claudianus, 
 
 author of "De Raptu Proser- 
 
 pinas," about A. D. 400 
 clawe inf. scratch, rub, stroke; 
 
 clawed 3 pt. s. AS clawu f. 
 cledde pp. covered 
 cleer, cleere: clear, unspotted OF 
 
 cler 
 cleernesse : brightness, glory 
 cleft 3 pt. s. split; cloven pp. AS 
 
 clifian 
 clemence: clemency, pity OF. 
 clene: clean, smooth, neat AS 
 
 clsene 
 clenly : cleanly 
 clennesse: cleanness, purity 
 dense inf. cleanse AS claensian 
 Cleopataras : Cleopatra 
 clepen inf. call ; clepith, clepeth 
 
 3 pr. s. ; clepe 3 pr. pi. ; cleped 
 
 pp. AS cleopian 
 cler, clere a. clear OF cler 
 clere ad. clearly 
 clerer : clearer 
 
 clergeon: chorister, choir-boy OF. 
 clergy e: learning OF. 
 clerk: the term for a student in 
 
 university, a scholar preparing 
 
 for the priesthood, a learned 
 
 man, or a man in holy orders 
 
 AS clere 
 Cliopatre: Cleopatra, queen of 
 
 Egypt 
 clippe: cut Icel klippa 
 Clitermystra : Clytemnestra, wife of 
 
CLOBBED— 
 
 625 
 
 — COMPLEXIOUN 
 
 Agamemnon, slew him with the 
 
 help of .Egisthus, her lover 
 clobbed: clubbed 
 cloistre: met, enclosure; cf. cloystre 
 
 OF. 
 cloke: cloak OF. 
 clokke: clock; at the clokke] 
 
 o'clock OF cloke 
 clombe 1 pt. s. climbed; clombe, 
 
 clomben pp. ; cf. clymben 
 cloos inf. close; closed pp. OF 
 
 clos < clore 
 clooth: cloth, clothing; clooth of 
 
 Tars] a kind of silk AS claS m. 
 clooth-makyng sb. cloth-making, 
 
 an important industry in Western 
 
 England 
 clos: close, yard OF clos 
 clote-leef: leaf of burdock AS 
 
 elate 
 clothe : cloth 
 
 clothered: clotted AS clott 
 cloumbe pp. climbed 
 clout: bit of cloth; cloutes pi. rags 
 
 AS clut m. 
 cloven pp. cleft, split 
 clowde: cloud AS cliid m. 
 clowe-gylofre : clove OF clou 
 
 "nail" 
 cloysterer: a retiring, secluded 
 
 monk 
 cloystre sb. cloister OF cloistre 
 clyiTes pi. cliffs AS chf n. 
 clymben inf. climb; clymbeth 3 pr. 
 
 s. ; clombe 1 pt. s. ; clamb 3 pt. 
 
 s. ; clomben, cloumbe pp. AS 
 
 climb an 
 clymbyng: climbing, ambition 
 clynkyn inf. ring; cf. Fries klinken 
 clynkyng: jingling 
 cod: bag, belly AS cod m. 
 cofere, cofre : box, coffer, coffin 
 
 OF cofre 
 cok: cock (to awaken us) AS cocc 
 cokewold: cuckold, deceived hus- 
 band OF cucualt 
 cokkel: cockle, a weed AS coccel 
 Cokkes: slang for Goddes 
 cokkow: cuckoo OF cucu 
 colblak : coal-black AS col 
 colde: cold, fatal AS ceald 
 coldes inf. make cold AS cealdian 
 •cole sb. coal AS col n. 
 
 cole a. cool, without imaginative 
 fire AS col 
 
 colera : choler, with blood made 
 rede colera Lat cholera 
 
 colered pp. collared, decked with 
 a collar OF coler 
 
 colerik: choleric, hot tempered OF 
 cholerique 
 
 colfox: fox tipped with black, as 
 with coal 
 
 collacioun : conference OF colla- 
 tion 
 
 collect yeeris: anni collect!, a term 
 for periods of years in round 
 numbers (20, 40, 60, etc.) 
 
 collusioun: plot OF. 
 
 Coloigne: Cologne, where the bones 
 of the three Wise Men of the 
 East were said to be preserved 
 
 colour, coloure : color, pretense ; 
 under colour] in the guise of, 
 masked under P 66 ; colours : fine 
 phrases E 16; colouris pi. OF. 
 
 colpons: portions, bunches OF. 
 
 coltes : colt's, frisky AS colt 
 
 comande, comaunde inf. command, 
 order OF comander 
 
 comandement: command 
 
 comandour: director 
 
 comaundynge : commanding 
 
 come sb. coming < AS cyme 
 
 come inf. come ; cometh 3 pr. s. ; 
 come pt. s., pp., pr. s. subj. ; 
 cometh imp. < AS cuman 
 
 comelely ad. handsomely, grace- 
 fully AS cymlic 
 
 comelynesse : comeliness, beauty 
 
 comende inf. commend OF com- 
 ender 
 
 commissioun sb. commission 
 
 commune sb. the commons; com- 
 moners pi. OF. 
 
 commune, comoun a. common ; 
 in commune] commonly 
 
 compaas, compas: circle, orbit OF. 
 
 compaignye, companye : company, 
 group, lovers OF compaignie 
 
 comparisoun: comparison OF. 
 
 compassioun: compassion OF. 
 
 compassyng: contrivance 
 
 compeer: comrade, gossip OF 
 compere 
 
 compilatour: compiler OF. 
 
 complexioun: complexion OF. 
 
COMPLEYNE— 
 
 626 
 
 — COOTE 
 
 compleyne inf. complain ; 2 pr. pi. 
 
 compleynt: complaint, lament OF 
 compleint 
 
 composicioun : agreement; pi. elab- 
 orate arrangements OF. 
 
 compowned pp. constructed, adapt- 
 ed Lat componere 
 
 comprehende inf. understand, ap- 
 preciate ; comprehendid pp. Lat 
 comprehendere 
 
 comune a. accustomed (to) ; cf. 
 commune 
 
 comunly : commonly 
 
 comyn, cumin: a spice OF cumin 
 
 comyn inf. come ; comyth 3 pr. s. ; 
 cf. come AS cuman 
 
 concluden inf. conclude, include 
 Lat concludere 
 
 concubyn sb. concubine OF con- 
 cubine 
 
 condescende inf. stoop to OF 
 condescendre 
 
 condicion, condicioun : condition, 
 stipulation, character OF. 
 
 condicioneel: conditional OF con- 
 ditionel 
 
 confedred pp. confederated, united 
 Lat confoederatus 
 
 confermed pp. confirmed, decreed ; 
 confermeth imp. pi. OF con- 
 fermer 
 
 confessioun sb. confession ; power 
 of confessioun] the right to hear 
 confession OF. 
 
 confiture : confection, compound 
 OF. 
 
 conf ort : comfort OF. 
 
 conforteth 3 pr. s. comfo/teth ; 
 conforten pr. pi. 
 
 confus: confused OF. 
 
 congregacioun: assemblage OF. 
 
 conjoynynge sb. conjunction 
 
 conqueredein 3 pt. pi. conquered 
 OF conquerre 
 
 conquerour: conqueror OF. 
 
 conquerynge sb. conquest 
 
 consaille 1 pr. s. counsel OF con- 
 seil 
 
 conscience: pity, sympathy OF. 
 
 consecrat: consecrated Lat conse- 
 cratus 
 
 conseil sb. council, counsel, secret 
 counsel, secret, counsellor OF. 
 
 conseille inf. counsel OF con- 
 
 seiller 
 conseillyng sb. counsel 
 consentant of: accomplices in OF. 
 consente inf. agree to OF con- 
 
 senter 
 conserve 2 imp. s. preserve OF. 
 conseyve inf. understand OF con- 
 
 ceiver 
 considere 1 pr. s., imp. consider 
 
 OF considerer 
 consistorie: place of judgment OF. 
 consolacioun : consolation OF. 
 conspiracie : plot OF. 
 I constable : governor ; constablesse 
 I f. OF conestable 
 I Constance: constancy OF. 
 
 Constantyn : Constantinus Afer, a 
 
 monk of Monte Cassino, founder 
 
 of school of Salermo, eleventh 
 
 century 
 constellacioun : constellation OF. 
 constreyneth 3 pr. s. constrains; 
 
 constreyned pp. OF constraindre 
 contek: strife OF contec 
 contenance, contenaunce : counte- 
 
 naunce, demeanor; sign OF. 
 continued: continual OF. 
 contraire, contrarie sb. adversary, 
 
 opposite OF. 
 contrarien inf. oppose AF con- 
 trarie 
 contrarius : opposite 
 contrarye a. contrary 
 centre, contree, contrey: country, 
 
 district OF contree 
 contynue: encourage, further OF 
 
 continuer 
 converte : turn, change ; convert- 
 
 ynge p. OF convertir 
 convoyen inf. convey ; convoyen 
 
 his mateere] give his informa- 
 tion; convoyed pp. accompanied 
 
 OF conveier 
 conyes: rabbits OF conil 
 coold a. cold AS ceald 
 coomb: comb (of a cock) AS 
 
 camb 
 coome 3 pr. s. subj. ; cf. come 
 coomen 3 pt. pi. came 
 coost, cost: coast, countryside; 
 
 by the cost] along the coast OF 
 
 coste 
 coote: coat OF cote 
 
COP— 627 
 
 cop sb. top w!\S cop 
 
 cope sb. priest's cloak AS cape 
 
 f.(?) 
 coppe: cup, measure; withouten 
 
 coppe] without stint AS cuppe f. 
 corage : heart, spirit, disposition 
 
 OF. 
 corageus: courageous OF corageos 
 corde sb. cord OF. 
 Cordewane : Cordovan leather OF 
 
 cordewan 
 cordial: gold, in the form of aurum 
 
 potabile, was used in medicine. 
 
 Chaucer's play upon words is 
 
 obvious Lat cordialis 
 cormeraunt: cormorant OF cor- 
 
 merant 
 come : corn, grain (not the Indian 
 
 corn of Amxcrica), wheat, best 
 
 part ; pi. fields of corn AS 
 
 corn n. 
 corniculer: secretary Lat corni- 
 
 culer 
 corny: strong of corn or malt 
 corone : garland Lat. 
 coroned pp. crowned OF coroner 
 coroune: crown OF corone 
 corowne : crown 
 corps: corpse OF. 
 corpus: body; corpus dominus : for 
 
 corpus domini, the Lord's body 
 correccioun: correction, punishment 
 
 OF. 
 corrumpable: corruptible OF cor- 
 
 rompable 
 corrupcioun: corruption OF. 
 corrupteth pr. s. becomes corrupt ; 
 
 corrupt pp. Lat. 
 cors: corpse OF. 
 corsed pp. accursed AS cursian 
 Corynne: Corinna, Ovid's mistress, 
 
 celebrated in his "Amores," the 
 
 source of "Anelida and Arcite" 
 cost: choice, condition; nedes cost] 
 
 of necessity OF cost 
 costage : cost, expense OF. 
 costes for to quite : to pay expenses 
 coste : inf. ; pt. s. cost OF coster 
 cosyn : cousin OF cosin 
 cotage : cottage AS cot + -age 
 cote sb. coat OF. 
 cote : cot, cottage, dungeon AS 
 
 cote 
 cote-armure, cote-armour: the coat 
 
 — COYN 
 
 or vest worn over the armor, 
 embroidered with the knight's 
 armorial bearmgs 
 
 couche sb. bed OF. 
 
 couche inf. cower, lie, set ; 
 couchede 3 pt. s. set in order; 
 couched pp. laid, studded, beset 
 OF coucher 
 
 coude pt. s. could ; cf. konne 
 
 counseyl sb. counsel ; cf. conseil 
 
 counted, counte pt. s. counted, 
 cared OF conter 
 
 countenaunce: looks, facial expres- 
 sion; OF contenance 
 
 counter, countour: one who counts, 
 mathematician Du 435 ; abacus, 
 or counting board Du 436 ; ac- 
 countant or auditor A 359 
 
 counterfete, countrefete inf. coun- 
 terfeit OF contrefait pp. 
 
 countesse: countess OF. 
 
 countretaille : at the countretaille] 
 in reply OF contretaille 
 
 countyrpletyd pp. pleaded against 
 OF contre + plaidier 
 
 cours : course, orbit, w^ay, course 
 (of 2c meal) OF. 
 
 courseres: coursers, war-horses 
 OF coursier 
 
 courtepy sb. short coarse cloak 
 Du kort "short" + pije "coarse 
 cloth" 
 
 couthe 1 pt. s. could, knew; 
 known pp. 
 
 coveiteth : covets ; cf. coveten AF 
 coveiter 
 
 coveitise, coveityse, coveytyse : 
 covetousness, greed OF coveitise 
 
 covenable : natural, proper, fit OF. 
 
 covenant sb. agreement ; coven- 
 antz pi. OF. 
 
 covent: convent OF. 
 
 coverchief: kerchief or head cov- 
 ering OF couvrechef 
 
 coveten inf. covet; coveiteth pr. s. 
 OF coveiter 
 
 covyne sb. deceitful agreement of 
 two men against a third ; covin 
 (law term) conspiracy OF covin 
 \ cow: chough, jackdaw; cf. AS ceof 
 I cowardye : cowardice OF couardie 
 I cowntenaunce : appearance OF. 
 ' coyn, coyne: coin OF coin, coign 
 
CRACCHYNGE— 
 
 628 
 
 — CURTEIS 
 
 cracchynge: scratching orig. un- 
 
 cert. ; cf. MS scratten 
 cradel sb. cradle AS cradol 
 craft, crafte sb. skill, cunning, art, 
 
 profession, trade AS craeft 
 craftier: more crafty- 
 crafty : crafty, skilful 
 craumpisshed: cramped, paralyzed 
 
 OF crampe 
 creacioun: creation OF creation 
 creance: belief, faith, object of 
 
 belief OF creance 
 creat pp. created Lat creatus 
 creatour: Creator OF creatour 
 creest: crest OF creste 
 creature: creature, person OF. 
 Creon: tyrant of Thebes 
 crepe inf. creep ; crepeth 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 crepte 3 pt. s. ; cropen pp. AS 
 
 creopan 
 Cresus: Croesus, king of Lydia, 
 
 famed for his wealth, and for 
 
 his unhappy downfall 
 crewel: cruel OF cruel 
 creweltee: cruelty OF cruelte 
 cri sb. cry OF cri 
 crien inf. cry, cry for; crien 3 pr. 
 
 pi. ; crye 2 pr pi. ; cridestow 2 
 
 pt. s. did you cry; cride, cried 
 
 3 pt. s. ; criden, crieden, criedyn, 
 
 crydon, cryede 3 pt. pi. ; crie imp. 
 
 OF crier 
 Crisippus: Chrysippus, name of 
 
 some Greek philosopher, men- 
 tioned by Jerome 
 crisp, crispe: curly AS crisp 
 Crisseyde: **Troilus and Criseyde," 
 
 Chaucer's poem 
 cristal stones: glass cases 
 Cristemasse: Christmas AS cristes 
 
 maesse 
 cristen, cristene a. Christian AS 
 
 cristen 
 cristendom : the Christian faith B 
 
 351 Christian lands AS. 
 cristenly: as a Christian 
 Cristes poss. Christ's 
 cristned pp. christened AS crist- 
 
 nian 
 Cristophere : a small figure of St. 
 
 Christopher was frequently worn 
 
 for good luck 
 cristyanytee : company of Chris- 
 tians 
 
 criynge p. crymg , 
 croce: stick, staff OF croce 
 croked: crooked, wrong ME crok 
 
 + ed 
 crockedly: crookedly 
 crokke: crock, jar AS crocca 
 crommes: crumbs AS cruma 
 crony cle sb. chronicle OF cron- 
 
 ique 
 cropen pp. crawled ; cf. crepe 
 croper: crupper OF cropere 
 croppe: top, sprout, branch end, 
 
 crop, fruit AS cropp m. 
 croude inf. drive out AS crudan 
 crouned, crowned pp. OF coroner 
 crowdyng: pushing 
 crowe sb. crow AS crawe f. 
 crowe inf. crow; croweth 3 pr. s. 
 
 refl. ; crew 3 pt. s. AS crawan 
 croys sb. cross OF crois 
 crueel: cruel OF. 
 crueltee: cruelty 
 crulle a. pi. curled ON kurle 
 cryature: person; cf. creature 
 crydon, cryede 3 pt. pi. cried; cf. 
 
 crie 
 cryke sb. creek OF crique 
 cubites: cubits Lat cubitus 
 cum of: come away, cease (jocu- 
 lar) 
 cumpas: a circle OF compas 
 cunne 3 pr. pi. know how ; cf. 
 
 conne AS cunnan 
 cuntre-houses : native homes 
 Cupide, Cupido: Cupid, God of 
 
 Love, represented as a young 
 
 man in Chaucer 
 cuppe : cup AS cuppe f. 
 curat sb. curate, parish priest Lat 
 
 curatus 
 cure sb. cure, remedy, care, heed, 
 
 diligence; diden cure] were busy; 
 
 take no cure] care not OF cure 
 curios, curious a. careful, skilful 
 
 OF curios 
 curre: cur Scan kurre 
 curs sb. curse AS curs 
 cursede a. accursed 
 cursen inf. curse, excommunicate 
 
 AS cursian 
 cursydnesse : curse, sin 
 cursyng : cursing 
 curteis a. courteous OF curteis 
 
 II 
 
CURTEISIE— 
 
 629 
 
 -DE OWTER MERE 
 
 curteisie, curteysie, curtesye sb. 
 
 courtesy, ways of court OF. 
 curtyn: curtain OF curtine 
 curyosytee: subtle care OF curi- 
 
 osite 
 curyus: carefully wrought OF 
 
 curios 
 Custance: Constance 
 custume: custom OF custume 
 cut: lot; cf. W. cuturs, a lot 
 cynk: cinq, five OF cinq 
 Cypride: Venus, born at Paphos 
 
 in Cyprus 
 Cypyon : Scipio 
 Cytherea: Venus; cf. Citherea 
 
 daggere: dagger F dague 
 
 daisie : daisy AS dasgesege 
 
 daliaunce: friendly talk, gossip OF 
 daliance 
 
 Dalida: Delilah, the Philistine 
 woman who discovered the secret 
 of Samson's strength and be- 
 trayed him to the Philistines; 
 cf. Judges xvi. 
 
 damage: pity OF. 
 
 Damascien: Johannes Damascenus, 
 Arabian physician of probably 
 the ninth century 
 
 dame : mother, goodwife ; madame] 
 madam OF. 
 
 damoysele : damsel OF damoisele 
 
 dampnable: damnable OF damn- 
 able 
 
 dampnacioun: damnation OF 
 
 damnation 
 
 dampned pp. condemned OF 
 damner 
 
 Damyssene : Damascene ; Eden was 
 thought to have been near 
 Damascus 
 
 Dane : Daphne, pursued by Apollo, 
 was saved from him by being 
 turned into a laurel tree. Hence 
 the laurel is Apollo's tree 
 
 Dant, Dante: Dante Alighieri, 
 1265-1321, Italian poet, wrote 
 **Divina Commedia" 
 
 Danyel: Daniel 
 
 dappull-gray : dapple-gray Icel 
 depill **spot" 
 
 dar 1, 3 pr. s. dare; darst 2 pr. s. ; 
 
 dorste, durst, durste pr., pt., pr. 
 subj. AS dear 
 
 Dares Frygius : Dares the Phry- 
 gian. He is mentioned together 
 with Dictys Cretensis, as the 
 source of the history of the Tro- 
 jan War written by Guido delle 
 Colonne, who really took his 
 material from the Roman du 
 Troie of Benoit de Sainte-Maure. 
 Guido's history was popular ; 
 Chaucer uses material from it 
 elsewhere 
 
 darreyne inf. to decide one's claim 
 to OF deraisnier 
 
 dart, dartis pi. dart, spear, set up 
 as prize in races OF dart 
 
 Daryus: Darius, king of Persia 
 
 daswen 3 pr. pi. blink; cf. daze 
 
 daun, dan: sir, a title of respect 
 OF dan 
 
 daunce sb. dance ; olde daunce] 
 old sport OF dance 
 
 dauncen inf. dance; daunsith 3 pr. 
 s. ; daunsedyn 3 pt. pi. OF 
 dancer 
 
 daunger: peril, penalty, control, 
 power OF dangier 
 
 daungerous : masterful, threatening 
 OF dangeros 
 
 daunsedyn 3 pt. pi. danced ; cf. 
 dauncen 
 
 daunsith 3 pr. s. dances ; cf. 
 dauncen 
 
 daunsynge p. dancing 
 
 daunte imp. s. rule ; dauntist 2 pr. 
 s. AF daunter 
 
 dawe inf. dawn ; daweth 3 pr. s. ; 
 dawed pp. AS dagian 
 
 dawenynge sb. dawn, daybreak 
 
 dawes: days AS dagas 
 
 dayerye : dairy AS dsege "dairy- 
 maid" -j- F. erie 
 
 dayeseye, dayseie, dayesyis, day- 
 syes pi. daisy AS dsegesege 
 
 de Casibus Virorum Illustrium: on 
 the falls of famous men (from 
 good fortune), a work by Gio- 
 vanni Boccaccio, upon which 
 model the "Monkes Tale" is 
 based 
 
 de owter mere : from over sea, im- 
 ported 
 
DEBAAT— 
 
 630 
 
 — DESCLAUNDRED 
 
 debaat sb. contest, conflict OF 
 debat 
 
 debate inf. fight OF debatre 
 
 debonaire a. gentle, gracious; as s. 
 courteous person OF. 
 
 debonairly : debonairely, graciously 
 
 debonairyete : gentleness, gracious- 
 ness OF. 
 
 declare inf. declare OF. 
 
 declinacioun: angle of the sun in 
 the ecliptic OF. 
 
 ded, dede, deed a. dead, deadly; 
 be deed] be ^lain AS dead 
 
 Dedalus: Daedalus, legendary artist 
 and mechanician of Greece, 
 chiefly noted for his attempt to 
 fly by means of attached wings. 
 Mentioned as a typical mechani- 
 cian, whose mechanical skill can- 
 not help the mourner 
 
 dede: deed, act; with the dede] as 
 soon as it is done AS dsed f. 
 
 dede 3 pt. s. did ; cf. doon 
 
 dede pp. died ; cf, dye 
 
 dedely, dedly: deadly, mortal 
 
 deduyt: delight OF deduit 
 
 deedly : death-like 
 
 deef: deaf AS deaf 
 
 deal, del, dele : part, share AS 
 dael f. 
 
 deelen inf. deal AS daelan 
 
 dees: dice OF det, pi. dez 
 
 deeth sb. death; the death] the 
 pestilence AS dea^ m. 
 
 defame sb. dishonor OF defamer 
 
 defaulte: fault, check (hunting 
 term) ; lack OF defaute 
 
 deffenden inf. forbid OF defendre 
 
 deffye, defye 1 pr. s. defy F deffier 
 
 degree: rank in life, step OF. 
 
 deiedyn 3 pt. pi. died ; cf. dye 
 
 deite, deitee : deity OF. 
 
 deknes: deacons AS deacon 
 
 del, dele: part, share; every del] 
 wholly; never a dele] not a bit; 
 cf. deel 
 
 deliberacioun: deliberation OF 
 deliberation 
 
 delicaat: delicate, dainty Lat deli- 
 catus 
 
 delicasye: wantonness, vain delight 
 OF delicacie 
 
 delices : delights Lat deliciae 
 
 delit, delite sb. delight, pleasure 
 
 OF delit 
 delitable: delectable, pleasing OF, 
 delite inf. delight OF deleitier 
 
 3 pr. s. delite 
 delivere inf. free OF delivrer 
 Delphos: ace. form of Delphi, 
 
 famous for Apollo's temple 
 delve inf. dig; dolven pp. AS 
 
 delfan 
 Delyt: pers. Delight; cf. delit 
 delyvere a. active OF delivre 
 delyvered pp. set free ; cf . delivere 
 dely verly : with dexterity 
 demande s. question OF de- 
 
 mander 
 demen inf. imagine, judge, decide 
 
 AS deman 
 Demetrius: king of the Parthians 
 Demociones: of Demotion, a Greek 
 demeyne: dominion OF demaine 
 Demophoun : Demophoon ; cf. 
 
 Phyllis 
 dempne 1 pr. s. despise, damn OF 
 
 dampner 
 demyn inf. deem, judge ; cf. demen 
 dennes pi. dens AS denn n. 
 depardieux : in God's name 
 departe inf. part, separate, leave ; 
 
 departen 1 pr. pi. OF departir 
 departynge sb. departure 
 depe a. deep AS deop 
 depe ad. deeply 
 Depeford: Deptford, about three 
 
 males from Southwark 
 depeynted pp. depicted OF de- 
 
 peint 
 depper: deeper 
 depryved pp. deprived OF de- 
 
 priver 
 dere a. dear AS deore 
 dere ad. dearly 
 dere inf. harm AS derian 
 derke a. dark AS deorc 
 derke sb. darkness 
 derkeste : darkest 
 derre : dearer 
 
 Dertemouthe: Dartmouth, in Dev- 
 onshire 
 deryveth 3 pr. s. is derived OF 
 
 deriver 
 desclaundred pp. slandered OF 
 
 esclandre 
 
 I 
 
DESCRESYOUN— 
 
 631 
 
 — DIGNE 
 
 descresyoun: discretion OF discre- 
 tion 
 
 descripcioun, discripsioun : descrip- 
 tion OF description 
 
 desdeyn sb. disdain OF desdein 
 
 desdeyne inf. disdain OF des- 
 degnier 
 
 desever: dissever, part OF des- 
 sevrer 
 
 deseyte: deceit OF deceite 
 
 desir sb. desire OF. 
 
 desire inf. desire OF desirer 
 
 desirus, desirous a. desirous OF 
 desiros 
 
 desirynge : yearning 
 
 desolat: dejected, weakest of in- 
 fluence, forsaken OF. 
 
 despence: support OF dispense 
 
 despendest 2 pr. s. wasteth OF 
 despendre 
 
 despeyred pp. sunk in despair OF 
 desperer 
 
 despit sb. spite, contempt, act of 
 despite OF, 
 
 despitous: merciless, contemptuous, 
 angry OF despitos 
 
 despitously : pitilessly 
 
 desplayeth 3 pr. s. displays OF 
 desployer 
 
 desport: amusement, sport; cf. OF 
 se desporter 
 
 destene : cf. disteyne 
 
 destinee: destiny OF destinee 
 
 destourbe inf. destourbe of] hinder 
 in OF destourber 
 
 destourbing: disturbance 
 
 destreyneth 3 pr. s. oppresses OF 
 destraindre 
 
 destroubled pp. troubled, disturbed 
 OF destroubler 
 
 destroyeth: ruins OF destruire 
 
 destruccioun : destruction OF des- 
 truction 
 
 Desyr: pers. Desire 
 
 deth, dethe: death 
 
 dette: debt OF dette 
 
 dettelees a. free from debt 
 
 dettour: debtor OF. 
 
 deve a. pi. deaf AS deaf 
 
 devele way a. to the devil ! AS 
 deofol 
 
 devisioun: division, party; of my 
 devisioun] under my influence 
 OF division 
 
 devocioun: devotion OF devotion 
 
 devoir: duty OF. 
 
 devoutely: devoutly OF devote 
 
 devyne inf. divine, predict OF 
 deviner 
 
 devys sb. device, direction OF 
 devis m. 
 
 devysen inf. imagine, tell ; devyse 
 1 pr. s. OF deviser 
 
 dewe : dew AS deaw m. and n. 
 (wa- stem) 
 
 dextrer: courser OF destrier 
 
 dey, deye inf. die ; deyde, deyede 
 3 pt. Scan. 
 
 deye: dairymaid AS dsege f. 
 
 deyne inf. deign ; deyned, deynid 
 3 pt. s. refl. OF digner, deigne 
 3 pr. s. 
 
 deynge p. dying 
 
 deyntee a. dainty, pleasant, high 
 bred OF deintie 
 
 deyntee sb. regard, estimation, 
 desire ; pi. dainties 
 
 deyntevous: dainty 
 
 deys sb. dais, platform OF deis 
 
 Deyscorides: Dioscorides, Greek 
 physician and botanist of the sec- 
 ond century 
 
 deyynge: dying 
 
 Dianira, Dianyre : Deianira, jilted 
 by Hercules, sent him a poisoned 
 shirt, which consumed him when 
 put on 
 
 dide 3 subj. did; cf. doon 
 
 Dido: queen of Carthage, heroine 
 of the *'^neid" 
 
 diete sb. diet OF diete 
 
 diff"ame: ill repute OF difl'amer 
 
 diffens: defence OF defense 
 
 diffinicioun : definite order Lat 
 definition 
 
 diffye inf. defy, despise F deffier 
 
 diffyne inf. declare plainly OF 
 definer 
 
 diffynytyve: final, definite 
 
 digestioun : digestion OF diges- 
 tion 
 
 digestyves: aids to digestion OF. 
 
 dighte inf. prepare, serve, deco- 
 rate ; 3 pt. s. ; dight pp. AS 
 dihtan 
 
 digne a. worthy, proud, distant 
 OF. 
 
DIGNITEE— 
 
 632 
 
 — DISTURBAUNCE 
 
 dignitee: worth, rank, dignity OF 
 deintie Lat dignitas 
 
 dilatacioun: delay Lat dilatio 
 
 diocise: diocese OF diocese 
 
 Diogenes: Diogenes, Greek phi- 
 losopher in Alexander's time 
 
 direct: directed Lat directus 
 
 dirke : dark AS deorc 
 
 dirkenesse : darkness 
 
 discensioun: dissension OF. 
 
 discerne inf. discern OF dis- 
 cerner 
 
 disceyvable: deceitful F decevable 
 
 dischevele : disheveled, disar- 
 
 ranged, with hair flowing loosely 
 OF descheveler 
 
 disconfiture : defeat OF. 
 
 disconfitynge : discomfiture OF 
 desconfit 
 
 disconfort: discomfort, discourage- 
 ment OF desconfort 
 
 disconforten inf. discourage 
 
 discrecioun: discretion OF dis- 
 cretion 
 
 discret: discreet 
 
 discripsioun : description OF de- 
 scription 
 
 discryven inf. describe OF de- 
 scrivre 
 
 discure inf. reveal, disclose OF 
 descovrir 
 
 discussid: pp. discussed Lat dis- 
 cus sus 
 
 disese: discomfort OF desaise 
 
 disespaired pp. hopeless OF 
 disespere 
 
 disfigurat: ugly OF desfigurer + 
 Lat suff. atus 
 
 disfigure sb. deformity 
 
 disgysed pp. disguised OF des- 
 guiser 
 
 disherited pp. disinherited OF 
 desheriter 
 
 dishobeysaunt: disobedient OF 
 desobeir" 
 
 dishonour sb. disgrace OF des- 
 honneur 
 
 disjoynt sb. trouble OF desjoinct 
 
 diskryve inf. describe ; cf. discryve 
 
 dismalle s. unlucky day. Dismal 
 comes through French from the 
 Latin dies malus, evil day. Later 
 the -al sufifix caused it to be 
 iised as an adjective. The days 
 
 of the ten plagues of Egypt were 
 considered as unlucky. Unlucky 
 days were also called ^^gyptiaci 
 
 disparage sb. disgrace OF des- 
 parager 
 
 disparaged pp. misallied 
 
 dispeir sb. despair OF despoir 
 
 dispence : expenditure, extrava- 
 gance OF dispense 
 
 dispend inf. spend OF dispendre 
 < Lat. 
 
 dispensacioun: dispensation 
 
 dispeyred: despairing 
 
 dis{)ise inf. despise OF despire 
 
 dispit sb. despite OF despit 
 
 dispitouse: cruel; cf. despitous OF 
 despitos 
 
 dispitously ad. angrily 
 
 displesance, displesaunce : annoy- 
 ance, displeasure OF desplai- 
 sance 
 
 displese inf. displease OF de- 
 splaisir 
 
 dispoillen inf. despoil OF despoil- 
 lier 
 
 disport sb. sport OF. 
 
 disporte inf. amuse OF se des- 
 porter 
 
 disposed pp. in condition, health 
 OF disposer 
 
 disposicioun : disposition, situation ; 
 character as determined by posi- 
 tion of planet OF disposicion 
 
 disputisoun: dispute OF. 
 
 dissencioun : strife 
 
 disserved pp. deserved OF deser- 
 vir ' 
 
 dissever inf. dissever, part OF 
 dessevrer 
 
 dissimulour: dissimulater, liar OF 
 dissimuler 
 
 dissymulynges : pretences 
 
 distaf: distaff AS distaef 
 
 disteyne, dysteyne inf. cf. destene 
 bedim, take away the color of 
 OF desteindre 
 
 distraynyth: clutches; cf. distreyne 
 OF destraindre 
 
 distresse: distress, trouble, sorrow 
 OF destrecier 
 
 distreyne inf. constrain 
 
 disturbaunce : trouble OF destour- 
 bance 
 
 II 
 
DIVERS— 
 
 633 
 
 -DREMYTH 
 
 divers, dyverse : different, changed 
 
 OF. 
 divinistre: diviner, prophet OF < 
 
 deviner 
 divisioun : distinction, sect OF 
 
 division 
 divisynge : devising 
 divyn : divine OF divin 
 diyng: dying 
 do, doo, don, doon inf., imp. have, 
 
 cause to be ; cf. doon AS don 
 doctour: doctor; doctour of Phisik] 
 
 physician ; Augustine, the "holy 
 
 doctor" of the Middle Ages OF. 
 doctrine : learning, instructive tales 
 
 or speech OF. 
 does sb. pi. does AS da 
 dogerel: doggerel < dog 
 dogges: dogs AS dogga 
 doghter : daughter ; poss. davigh- 
 
 ter's AS dohtor 
 doghty: strong, valiant AS dohtig 
 doke : duck AS duce f. 
 dokked pp. cut close; cf. Icel 
 
 dockr short tail 
 dolven : buried ; cf. delven 
 dom, doom : judgment ; to my dom] 
 • in my opinion AS d5m 
 domesman : judge AS. 
 dominacioun : control, power AS 
 
 domination 
 Donegild: mother of King Alia 
 dong sb. manure ; donge dat. AS 
 
 dung 
 donge inf. cover with manure 
 dongeoun: dungeon, donjon OF 
 
 donjon 
 donghil : dunghill 
 
 doom: judgment, decision; cf. dom 
 doon, doone, done, doo, do inf. do, 
 
 cause, make for ; doon wroght] 
 
 caused to be made ; for to doone] 
 
 proper ; doth, dooth 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 dooth for to] causes to ; doth 
 
 me dye] slays me ; don 2 pr. pi. ; 
 
 did, dede, dyd 3 pt. s. ; did of] 
 
 took off; dide 3 pr. subj. ; done 
 
 pp. AS don ; cf. Appendix 
 dore: door AS duru f. 
 Dorigene : wife of Arveragus < 
 
 Celt Drognen 
 dormant: permanent; cf. table OF. 
 ■dorste 3 pt. s. dared ; cf. dar 
 ■dotage: dotage, folly OF. 
 
 doted pp. doting OF doter 
 doubelyth 3 pr. s. doubles OF 
 
 dobler 
 double: deceitful OF doble 
 doughter: daughter AS dohtor 
 doughtyr: daughter. Pleasure, 
 
 daughter of Cupid 
 doumb a. dumb AS dumb 
 doun ad. down AS of-dune 
 doune prep, down 
 dounward : downward 
 doute sb. doubt, fear OF doute 
 douteless: doubtless 
 dowaire: dowry OF doaire 
 dowbilnesse, dowblenesse : duplic- 
 ity 
 dowere : dowry OF doaire 
 downe sb. down, upland region 
 
 AS dun 
 downe sb. down, soft feathers 
 
 Icel diinn 
 dowve : dove (pigeon) ; dowvis pi. 
 
 AS dufe 
 doynge: act, deed 
 draf : refuse, chaff orig. uncert. 
 dragoun: dragon (cited in Eccle- 
 
 siasticus xxv. 16 Sk.) OF dragon 
 drasty: filj:hy AS < dserstan + ig 
 draughte : draught ; move at chess 
 
 AS dragan, "drow," "move" 
 drawen inf. draw, incline, carry, 
 
 bring, recall ; drough, drow pt. s. 
 
 drawe pp. drawn, moved in a 
 
 game ; drawe the same draught] 
 
 made the same move AS dragan 
 drecched pp. bored, troubled AS 
 
 dreccean 
 drede sb. fear, doubt, hesitation ; 
 
 withoute drede] doubtless, surely 
 
 AS draedan 
 drede inf. be afraid, fear ; drede 
 
 1 pr. s. ; dreddest 2 pt. s. ; drad, 
 
 dradde, dredde 3 pt. s. ; dradden 
 
 3 pt. pi. subj. ; drad pp. AS 
 
 draedan 
 dredeful : fearful, cautious 
 dredeles, dredles ad. without 
 
 dread, fearlessly, certainly 
 dreem, drem sb. dream AS 
 
 dream 
 dreint 3 pt. s. drowned ; cf. 
 
 drenche AS drencan 
 dremed 1 pt. s. dreamed 
 dremyth 3 pr. s. dreameth 
 
DRENCHE— 
 
 634 
 
 — EBROUGHT 
 
 drenche inf. drown ; dreint 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 dreynte pp. AS drencan 
 drenchyng : drowning 
 drery: dreary, sad AS dreorig 
 dresse inf., 3 pr. pi. fit up; ar- 
 range, make ready OF dresser 
 drewh 3 pt. s. drew, attracted 
 drevyne pp. driven 
 dreye: dry AS dryge 
 dreynte pp. drowned ; cf. drenche 
 drive inf. drive ; drive away] pass 
 
 away AS drifan 
 drofe 3 pt. s. drove ; cf . dryven 
 drogges sb. pi. drugs OF drogue 
 drogthe sb. drought, dryness AS 
 
 drugaS 
 dronkelewe: a drunkard, drunken 
 
 + Isewe AS suff. 
 dronken 1 pt. pi. drank; pp.; 
 
 dronke pp. cf. drynken 
 dronkenesse : drunkenness 
 drope sb. drop AS dropa m. 
 droppyng: leaking 
 drough 3 pt. s. drew ; cf. drawe 
 drouped 3 pt. pi drooped Icel 
 
 drupa 
 drow pt. s. drew, drew near ; cf. 
 
 drawen 
 drugge inf. drudge orig. uncert. ; 
 
 cf. AS dreogan 
 drye a. dry, dried up, wizened ; 
 
 drye se] ; cf. Carrenare AS drige 
 drye 1 pr. s., 3 pt. pi. endure AS 
 
 dreogan 
 drynke sb. drink AS drincan 
 drynken inf. drink; dronken pt. 
 
 pi., pp ; dronke pp. 
 dryve inf. drive, compel ; drofe 3 
 
 pt. s. ; dryven pp. AS drifan 
 due: duke OF. 
 duchesse: duchess OF. 
 duel, duelle inf. dwell, remain ; cf. 
 
 dwelle AS dwellan 
 duetee : duty AF duete 
 duewe : due OF deu ; cf. deue 
 dul, dulle a. dvill ; cf. AS dol 
 dulnesse : dullness 
 Dun is in the Myre : an old game ; 
 
 serving-men attempting to drag 
 
 the "horse" (a log of wood) 
 
 along a kitchen floor. Dun = 
 
 The dun horse 
 Dunmowe : a village in Essex, 
 
 where a flitch of bacon was yearly 
 
 offered to the couple who could 
 
 prove their first year and day of 
 
 marriage happily spent 
 dunne a. dun, dark AS dunn 
 duracioun: duration OF duration 
 dure inf. endure, last OF durer 
 durst, durste 1 pr. s., pt. s. subj., 
 
 dare ; cf. dar 
 duszeyne: dozen OF dosaine 
 dwellen inf. 3 pr. pi dwell, delay ; 
 
 dwelled, dwelte 3 pt. s. AS 
 
 dwellan 
 dwellynge sb. residence 
 dyademe: diadem, crown OF dia- 
 
 deme 
 dyamauntz: diamonds OF dia- 
 
 mant 
 Dyane: Diana, goddess of chastity 
 
 and of hunting 
 dyapred pp. diversified with figures 
 
 OF diapre 
 dych sb. ditch AS die, dat. dice 
 dyched pp. ditched, moated 
 dyd pt. s. did ; cf. doon 
 dyde 3 pr. s. subj. should die; cf. 
 
 dye 
 Dydo : Dido of Carthage, who slew 
 
 herself for grief and anger when 
 
 her lover, ^neas, secretly de- 
 serted her 
 dye inf. die ; dyde, dyed pt. s. ; 
 
 deiedyn 3 pt. pi. ; dede pp. Icel 
 
 deyja 
 dye 3 pr. pi. dye; dyed 3 pt. s., 
 
 pp. AS deagian 
 dyere: dyer 
 
 dyke inf. ditch AS die 
 dynt: stroke AS dynt 
 dys pi. dice OF det, pi. dez 
 dyvers, dyverse a. diverse, various 
 dyvded pp. divided 
 dyvyne a. divine 
 dyvynynge p. foretelling 
 dyvynys: divines, theologians 
 
 ealyth 3 pr. s. ails AS eglam. 
 ease inf. ease OF aise 
 eate inf. eat AS etan 
 ebbe sb. ebb-tide AS ebba 
 ebbe inf. ebb AS ebbian 
 Ebrayk: Hebrew OF ebraique 
 Ebrew : Hebrew 
 ebrought pp. brought; cf. brynge 
 
ECCLESIASTE— 
 
 635 
 
 — ENBRACE 
 
 Ecclesiaste: Ecclesiastes, a book of 
 
 the Bible (xxv. 25) 
 Ecclesiaste: Ecclesiasticus, one of 
 
 the books of the Apocrypha 
 
 (xii. 10) 
 ecclesiaste: prelate OF. 
 ech, eche a. each; ech a] every 
 
 AS aelc 
 echon : each one, each 
 Eclympasteyre : son of the god of 
 
 sleep 
 ecome pp. come 
 Ecquo : Echo, who fell in love with 
 
 Narcissus. When he slighted her 
 
 love, she pined away until only 
 
 her voice was left 
 Ector: Hector, son of King Priam 
 
 of Troy, chief fighter on the 
 
 Trojan side 
 edrawe pp. drawn 
 eek, eke, ek : eke, also AS eac 
 eelde, elde: age, time AS seldu, 
 
 yldu 
 eere pi. ears AS eare n. 
 eerly: early AS serlice 
 eeste: east AS east 
 effect: fact AF. 
 eft, efte ad. again, another time 
 
 AS eft 
 eft-soones: eftsoon, again AS eft 
 
 4" sona 
 Egeus: king of Athens and father 
 
 of Theseus 
 egge: edge AS ecg f, 
 eggement: egging 
 Egipcien : Egyptian 
 Egipte: Egypt 
 
 egle: eagle; eglis pi. AF egle 
 ego pp. gone 
 
 egre: sour, bitter, sharp AF egre 
 eighe: eye AS eage n. 
 eightetethe : eighteenth 
 eir: air OF air 
 ek: eke, also ; cf. eek 
 Ekko; cf. Ecquo 
 eknowe pp. known 
 elde: age; cf. eelde 
 eldres pi. ancestors AS yldra 
 eleccioun: selection OF election 
 element: element. In Chaucer's 
 
 time all matter was thought to 
 
 be composed of the four ele- 
 ments : earth, air, fire, and water 
 
 OF. 
 
 elenge: tedious, unendurable AS 
 
 selenge 
 Eleyne: Helen, wife of Menelaus 
 
 of Sparta. She was seduced by 
 
 Paris, q. v., and this caused the 
 
 Trojan war 
 elf: sprite, witch AS allf 
 elf-queene : fairj'- queen 
 Eliachim : priest of Bethulia 
 Elicon: Mt. Helicon, confused with 
 
 some fountain sacred to Apollo 
 
 (Hippocrene, Castalia) 
 elis: eels AS ael m. 
 ellas : alas ! cf. F helas 
 ellebor: hellebore, an herb OF 
 
 ellebore 
 elles, ellis: else AS elles 
 eloquence: eloquence OF. 
 Elpheta: wife of Cambynskan 
 elves; cf. elf 
 
 elvysch: elf-like, reserved, shy 
 embassadour: ambassador OF. 
 embassadrye: diplomacy OF. 
 embosed pp. embossed, plunged 
 
 into the thick woods OF em- 
 
 bosquer 
 embrace inf. hold OF embracer 
 embroudpd pp. embroidered OF 
 
 enbroder 
 Emeleward: toward Emelye 
 Emelye: sister of Hippolyta, her- 
 oine of the "Knightes Tale" 
 emeraude, emeroude : emerald MF 
 
 esmeraude 
 Emetreus: king of India, who 
 
 fought with Arcita 
 emforth prep, to the extent of AS 
 
 em =: efen -|- forS 
 emperesse, emperice, emperise, em- 
 
 perisse : empress OF. 
 emperoures pi. emperors OF 
 
 empereor 
 empoysoned pp. poisoned OF 
 
 empoisonner 
 empoysonere : poisoner 
 empoysonyng sb. poisoning 
 emprenteth 2 imp. pi. imprint ; 
 
 emprented pp. OF empreindre 
 emprentyng sb. impression 
 emprise : enterprise, undertaking 
 
 OF emprise 
 enbaumme: embalm OF embaumer 
 enbrace inf. embrace; enbraceth 
 
 pr. s. OF embrace 
 
ENCENS- 
 
 636 
 
 — EQUITEE 
 
 encens sb. incense OF. 
 encense inf. cast incense 
 enchauntement s. enchantment 
 
 OF. 
 encheson : occasion, reason OF 
 
 enchaison 
 enclyne inf. bow, stimulate ; 
 
 enclyned pp. inclined OF 
 
 encliner 
 encomberous: burdensome < OF 
 
 encombrance 
 enccmbred pp. encumbered, caught 
 
 OF encombrer 
 encrees sb. increase AF encrestre 
 encrese inf. increase ; encreseth, 
 
 encresseth 3 pr. s. ; encresede 3 
 
 pt. s. ; encressed pp. 
 ende: end AS ende m. 
 endelees: endless 
 endelong ad. lengthwise, along 
 endelong prep, along 
 endere sb. ender 
 endite inf. write, compose OF 
 
 enditer 
 endure inf. endure, live OF 
 
 endurer 
 endytyng: mode of writing 
 Eneas: ^neas, hero of the ^neid 
 
 of Virgil; cf. Dido 
 enemyte : enmity AF enemite 
 Eneydos: the ^neid (quoted in 
 
 gen. case) 
 enforce inf. strengthen OF en- 
 forcer 
 enformed pp. informed OF en- 
 former 
 enfortuned: devised OF enfortu- 
 
 ner 
 engendre inf. procreate, produce; 
 
 engendred 3 pt. pi. ; engendred 
 
 pp. ; engenderede, engendrid OF 
 
 engendrer 
 engendrure: propagation OF. 
 engin: skill, genius OF. 
 Englis, Englissh : English 
 engyn : machine OF engin 
 engyned pp. tortured 
 enhauncen inf. raise, promote ; 
 
 enhaunsed pp. OF enhancier 
 enhorte inf. exhort OF enhorter 
 enlumyned 3 pt. s. illumined OF 
 
 enluminer 
 enoynt pp. anointed OF enoint 
 
 pp. 
 
 enquere inf. inquire OF enquerre 
 
 enquerynge : inquiry 
 
 ensample : example, sample AS 
 ensample 
 
 ensure inf. pledge, engage one's 
 self, take security for OF en + 
 seiir 
 
 entencioun: intention OF enten- 
 tion 
 
 entende inf. give attention to, 
 strive OF entendre 
 
 entent, entente: intent, intention, 
 will ; doo thyn entent] be intent, 
 give heed ; in good entente] with 
 resignation OF entent 
 
 entewnes pi. tunes OF entones 
 
 entirmes : entremet, dish served 
 between courses OF entremet 
 
 entirmetyn: (of) middle, mix one's 
 self (in) ; cf. entremette 
 
 entraille: entrails OF. 
 
 entre inf. enter OF entrer 
 
 entree: entrance OF entre 
 
 entremette inf. interrupt OF 
 entremettre 
 
 entrikyth pr. s. snares OF 
 entriquier 
 
 entuned pp. intoned OF entoner 
 
 entytlt pp. entitled F en + title 
 
 envenyme inf. poison OF en- 
 venimer 
 
 envoluped pp. enveloped, en- 
 wrapped OF envoluper 
 
 envye sb. envy, hatred OF envie 
 
 envye inf. vie, strive, envy OF 
 envie 
 
 envyned pp. stored with wine 
 F envine 
 
 envyous: envious OF envios 
 
 eny : any AS senig 
 
 eonde 1 pr. s. end; cf. ende 
 
 Epicurus : Greek philosopher, whose 
 doctrine was that pleasure is the 
 chief good in life 
 
 Epistelle of Ovyde : Ovid's "Epis- 
 tolae," or Heroides, a series of 
 poetical letters supposedly ad- 
 dressed by unfortunate women 
 to their lovers 
 
 equacions : equations, exact quan- 
 tities Lat aequationem 
 
 equynoxial : equinoxial circle F. 
 
 equitee : equity, fairness OF equite 
 
ER— 
 
 637 
 
 — EVERICH 
 
 er conj. ere, before; er that: 
 before AS aer 
 
 er prep, before 
 
 er, ere sb. ear; ear (of corn) AS 
 ear n. 
 
 erande: errand AS serende n. 
 
 erbe : herb F herbe 
 
 erber: arbor OF herbier 
 
 erchedekenes poss. archdeacon ; 
 erchedekenes curs] excommuni- 
 cation ; purs is the erchedekenes 
 helle] the archdeacon would pun- 
 ish him in his purse; i.e., he 
 could avoid the curse by giving 
 money arch + AS deacon 
 
 Ercules: Hercules, famed for his 
 feats of strength. He rescued 
 Alcestes from Hades 
 
 ere inf. plough AS erian 
 
 eresye : heresy OF beresie 
 
 Eriphilem : ace. case of Eriphyle, 
 wife of Amphiaraus 
 
 erl: earl AS eorl 
 
 erly ad. early AS serlice 
 
 erme inf. feel pain, grieve AS 
 yrman 
 
 Ermony: Armenia 
 
 Ermyn: Armenian 
 
 ernest sb. a serious matter ; ernest 
 of game] seriousness out of sport 
 AS eornost 
 
 errante, erraunt a. wandering, 
 stray ; near middle of chess-board 
 OF errant 
 
 Erro : Hero ; cf. Leandre 
 
 errour: error, doubt OF. 
 
 erst: first, at first AS serest 
 
 ert: art 
 
 erthe: earth AS eort5e f. 
 
 erthely : earthly 
 
 erys pi. ears AS eare 
 
 escapen inf. escape AF escaper 
 
 eschaunge sb. exchange ; in es- 
 chaunge shuldes selle] profit by 
 the different rates of exchange 
 in the different money-markets 
 OF eschange 
 
 eschue inf. eschew, shun AF 
 eschuer 
 
 Esculapius: the Greek god of medi- 
 cine, son of Apollo 
 
 ese sb, ease OF aise 
 
 ese inf. ease, help, accommodate. 
 
 compensate ; esed atte beste] 
 given the best possible service 
 
 esily ad. with ease 
 
 espye sb. spy OF espie 
 
 espye inf. spy, find out OF espier 
 
 est, eest sb. east ; ad. eastward 
 
 estaat, estat: estate, rank, dignity, 
 condition OF estat 
 
 estatlich a. stately 
 
 estatly ad. with dignity 
 
 Ester: Esther 
 
 Estoryal Myrour: Speculum His- 
 toriale of Vincent, q. v. 
 
 estres : parts, nature OF estre "to 
 be," then "state," "part," "divi- 
 sion" 
 
 estward: eastward 
 
 esy: easy, mild OF aisie 
 
 ete inf. eat ; etyn 3 pr. pi. ; eet 
 3 pt. s. ate ; ete, eten pp. AS 
 etan 
 
 eterne a. eternal OF. 
 
 Etike: the "Ethics" of Aristotle, 
 in which virtue is represented as 
 a mean between two extremes 
 (Sk.) 
 
 etyn 3 pr. pi. eat 
 
 Eva : Eve 
 
 Evangeliset: Evangelist, writer of 
 Gospel 
 
 evaungiles: The Gospels OF evan- 
 gile 
 
 eve : evening AS efen 
 
 evel ad. ill AS yfel 
 
 even, evene ad. exactly, cau- 
 tiously; here even] act with 
 moderation ; ful even] actually 
 AS efen 
 
 evene a. equal, well-matched, ordi- 
 nary, full 
 
 even-song: evening prayer; if 
 even-song and morwe-song ac- 
 corde] if in the morning you 
 agree to the evening's plan 
 
 eventyde : evening 
 
 ever: ever; evere in oon] al- 
 together ; ever leng the worse] 
 the worse the longer it hangs; 
 evere lenger the more] the 
 longer, the more AS sifre 
 
 everech: each one; cf. everich 
 
 everemoore : evermore 
 
 everich, everiche : every one, each 
 AS sefre -|- allc 
 
EVERMO— 
 
 638 
 
 — FASTE 
 
 evermo : evermore, constantly 
 ever + ino 
 
 everychon : every one 
 
 everydel, everydelle: entirely, com- 
 pletely 
 
 everylyche : constantly ME ever 
 + ylike, AS gelice 
 
 ew: yew-tree AS iw 
 
 ewysse : I wis 
 
 exaltacioun: sign in which a star 
 has greatest power for good or 
 ill OF exaltation 
 
 exaltat pp. raised in zodiacal 
 sign Lat. 
 
 exametron : hexameter Lat. 
 
 excuse inf. pardon OF. 
 
 execucioun, execussyoun : execu- 
 tion OF execution 
 
 example sb. example OF ex- 
 ample 
 
 exercise inf. exercise OF excer- 
 cice 
 
 expans yeeris : anni expansi, a 
 term for separate numbers of 
 years below twenty, in tables 
 
 experience: proof, example OF. 
 
 expowne inf. explain 
 
 expres: expressly OF. 
 
 expresse inf. 3 pr. pi. express 
 < expres 
 
 expulsif: expellent; cf. vertu OF. 
 
 extender! 3 pr. pi. are extended 
 Lat extendere 
 
 extorcioun: extortion OF extor- 
 sion 
 
 ey: ^gg AS seg n. pi. aegru 
 
 eye: eye; eyen pi.; at eye] at a 
 glance AS eage n. 
 
 eyleth 3 pr. s. ails AS eglan 
 
 eyr: air OF air 
 
 eyre: heir, son OF heir 
 
 eyther, eythir: either AS 3i:g>er 
 
 fables: stories OF. 
 
 face : a division of the signs of 
 
 the zodiac in mediaeval astrology 
 facoun: falcon OF faucon 
 facound, facounde sb. eloquence 
 
 Lat facundus a. 
 facound a. ready, fluent Lat 
 
 facundus 
 facultee sb. ability F faculte 
 fader, fadre : father, ancestor. 
 
 patriarch ; father's poss. ; fader 
 kyn] father's family AS faeder 
 
 fadme pi. fathoms AS fsetSm 
 
 faile sb. failure, fail F faillir 
 
 faillen inf. fail; failled 3 pt. s, 
 
 fair, faire a. fair; as sb. a fair 
 part; a fair] an excellent speci- 
 men AS faeger 
 
 faire ad. fairly, well 
 
 fairer: more fair 
 
 fairnesse, fairenesse sb. square 
 living, uprightness ; swiche a 
 fairenesse of a nekke] a neck of 
 such fairness 
 
 Fairye : Faerie, Fairyland 
 
 fal sb. fall 
 
 fal inf fall; cf. falle 
 
 faldyng sb. coarse cloth, frieze 
 
 falle inf. fall, happen, prosper, 
 belong to ; falleth, fallys 3 pr. s. ; 
 falleth in my thoght] comes to 
 my mind ; fel 3 pt. s. ; fil, fille 
 pt. ; falle 3 pr. s. subj. ; falle pp. ; 
 AS feallan Icel falla 
 
 falow: yellow, pallid AS fealu 
 
 fals a. false OF fals 
 
 falsen inf. be false to, betray, lie 
 
 falsly : falsely 
 
 faltren: falter; orig. uncert. 
 
 falwes: soft, fallow fields AS 
 fealgas "harrows" 
 
 famulier: familiar OF familier 
 
 fan : the quintain was pivoted ; its 
 two parts were the **fan" or 
 "board" (shield), and the 
 "club" or "bag.'* The tilter, on 
 striking the board, had to 
 dodge the swing of the bag 
 which followed AS fann 
 
 fantasye, fantesye sb. desire, fan- 
 tasy OF fantasie 
 
 fantome : fantastic vision OF fan- 
 tosme 
 
 fare sb. conduct, proceeding, 
 business; evil fare] ill hap, mis- 
 fortune AS faru "journey" f. 
 
 fare inf. fare, prosper, behave, 
 proceed ; faren 1 pr. pi. ; ferde, 
 ferden pt. s., pi. ; fare pp. AS 
 faran 
 
 farewel, farwel : farewell 
 
 farsed pp. stuffed F farce 
 
 faste ad. rapidly, fast ; faste by] 
 near by AS faeste 
 
 II 
 
PASTE— 
 
 639 
 
 -FERME 
 
 faste 1 pr. s. fast AS fsestan 
 
 fastynge s. fasting 
 
 fattyssh: fat, plump 
 
 faucon : falcon; faucon peregryn] 
 peregrine falcon OF faucon 
 
 fauconers: falconers 
 
 faught 3 pt. s. fought; cf. fighte 
 
 fauned 3 pt. s. fawned on AS 
 fagnian 
 
 f awe : fain, glad AS fsegen 
 
 fawnes : fauns Lat faunus 
 
 f ayerye : fairies, Fairyland OF 
 faerie "enchantment" 
 
 fayle inf. fail ; cf. faillen 
 
 fayn a. glad AS fsegen 
 
 fayne ad. gladly; han fayn] fain 
 have 
 
 fayner a. gladder; ad. more gladly 
 
 fayneste : gladdest 
 
 faynte inf. faint ; feyntest 2 pr. s. ; 
 OF feint pp. of feindre 
 
 fayr ad. well 
 
 fayre sb. fair AS faeger 
 
 fayrest: fairest, most beautiful 
 
 fable: feeble AF feble 
 
 fecchen inf. take, bring; fette 3 
 pt. s. ; fat pp. AS fecc(e)an 
 
 fadda 3 pt. s. fed AS fedan 
 
 fader: feather; fedarys pi. AS 
 feSer 
 
 fadma pi. fathoms AS faeSm 
 
 fae: pay; fee symple] estate free 
 from any limitation or entail 
 AF fee 
 
 faeld: field; faeldas pi. the field 
 or background of banner or 
 arms; feeld of snow, etc.] Bert- 
 rand du Guesclin, constable of 
 France, bore in his coat-of- 
 arms a black eagle, upon a silver 
 field ("feeld of snow") with a 
 red band ("lymerod") across the 
 whole, from left to right AS 
 feld m. 
 
 faalyngly : sympathetically 
 
 feand : fiend AS feond m. 
 
 feandly : fiendish 
 
 faendlych: fiendish 
 
 faara sb. fear AS fsir 
 
 faere sb. mate; in feere] with each 
 other AS gefera m. 
 
 faasta : merriment ; cf. fasta OF 
 feste 
 
 faastlych : fond of feasts 
 
 faat: feats, acts AF fet 
 
 faith: faith OF fei + -th (cf. 
 
 truth) 
 faithful : faithful 
 fal, falle a. evil, cruel OF fel 
 fel 3 pt. s. fell; cf. falle 
 felawa sb. fellow, chum Icel 
 
 felagi m. 
 falawashipa: fellowship, company 
 falda : field ; faldys pi. ; cf. faald 
 faldefara : fieldfare, a kind of 
 
 thrush ME felde + fare 
 feldyn: 2 pt. pi. felt; cf. falan 
 fele a. many AS fela 
 fale inf. feel ; felad 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 faldyn 2 pt. pi. AS felan 
 falicitae: happiness OF. 
 fella inf. fell, cut down ; fild pp. 
 
 AS fyllan, faellan 
 falonya: felony, crime OF felonie 
 falowa : fellow ; cf. felawa 
 felynge : feeling, fancy, sensitive- 
 ness, passion, artistic skill 
 falyngly : feelingly 
 falysshyppe : company, gathering 
 Famenya: the country of the 
 
 Amazons 
 femynyny^aa: feminine form F 
 
 femininite 
 fen: fann (Arab.) a branch of 
 
 science ; part of Avicenna's 
 
 "canon" 
 fandaly : fiendlike, devilish 
 Fanix : phoenix, a fabulous bird 
 
 which every 500 years burned 
 
 itself on the altar and rose again 
 
 from the ashes young and beau- 
 tiful 
 far a., ad. far ; fer ne ner] neither 
 
 more nor less AS feor 
 farbrond: firebrand AS fyr n. + 
 
 AS brand 
 farde pt. s. prospered, went ; cf . 
 
 fare 
 fare, faara sb. fear AS fser 
 fare, faara sb. mate in fere 
 
 together 
 farad pp. frightened 
 farforth : far, forward 
 ferforthly : thoroughly 
 farmacies: pharmacies, remedies 
 
 OF farmacie 
 farme sb. rent, payment ; he 
 
 "farmed" the revenues of his dis- 
 
FERME- 
 
 640 
 
 — FLATERYE 
 
 trict, so that no one else begged 
 in his district F ferme 
 ferme a. firm OF ferme 
 fermour: farmer, collector of taxes 
 fern: long time AS feorran 
 fern asshen : fern ashes, used as 
 alkali in mediaeval glass AS 
 fearn 
 feme: distant (pi. of ferren) AS 
 
 feorran 
 Ferrare : Ferrara 
 ferre, ferrer ad. further AS 
 
 feorran 
 ferreste a. most remote 
 fers: the piece at chess next to 
 the king, which we call the 
 queen, but which was originally 
 the Pherz, which in Persian 
 signifies the chief counsellor. 
 The loss of the queen for noth- 
 ing generally means the loss of 
 the game ; ferses twelve] not 
 twelve queens ; here fers is used 
 to mean all the pieces save the 
 king; the bishop, knight and 
 rook counting but one apiece 
 OF fierce 
 ferst: first AS fyrst 
 ferthe : fourth AS feortSa 
 ferther, ferthere : farther ; cf. 
 
 AS furtSor 
 ferthyng: farthing AS feorSung 
 fesaunt: pheasant AF fesaunt 
 fest: fist AS fyst f. 
 feste sb. feast; festys pi. OF 
 
 feste 
 festeiyng: feasting, entertaining 
 
 OF festeier 
 festeth 3 pr. s. feasts 
 festure inf. fasten AS fsestan 
 fet, fete sb. pi. feet AS fet 
 fet pp. fetched; cf. fecchen 
 fethere: feather AS fet5r 
 fethered 3 pt. s. feathered 
 fetisly: neatly, correctly OF fetis, 
 
 faitis 
 fette 3 pt. s. fetched, brought; cf. 
 
 fecchen 
 fettred 3 pt. s. fettered, put in 
 
 chains AS fetor 
 fettres pi. fetters 
 fetys: neat, well-shaped OF fetis 
 fevere terciane : tertian fever, with 
 
 rise of temperature every other 
 day AS fefor 
 
 fewe pi. few AS feawe 
 
 fey: faith; in good fey] i' faith 
 OF fey 
 
 feyne ad. gladly AS faegen 
 
 feyne : feign, pretend, speak false- 
 ly ; feyned pp. OF feindre, 
 feign-ant 
 
 feyntest : m.akest faint ; cf. faynte 
 
 feyntynge : fainting, failing 
 
 feynynge s. pretence 
 
 feyrenesse : beauty 
 
 fey the: faith OF fei + th ; cf. 
 truth 
 
 fieble: feeble AF feble 
 
 fiers, fierse: fierce OF fiers 
 
 fifte, fifthe: fifth AS fifta 
 
 fighte inf. fight ; fyght 3 pr. s. ; 
 f aught 3 pt. s. ; foghten 3 pt. pi., 
 pp. AS feohtan 
 
 figure : shape, figure ; figuris pi. 
 figures ; figuris ten] the ten 
 Arabic numerals F fi.gure 
 
 figurynge sb. form, figure 
 
 fikulnesse: fickleness AS ficol 
 
 fil, fille pt. fell, happened; cf. 
 falle 
 
 fild pp. felled; cf. felle 
 
 fild pp. filled 
 
 fille sb. fill AS fyllo, -u f. 
 
 filthe: filth AS fylS f. 
 
 finde : find, discover, invent, fur- 
 nish ; fynd, fynt pr. s. ; fond, 
 foond, founde 1, 3 pt. s. ; founde 
 pp. ; fynde 3 pr. s. subj. AS 
 findan 
 
 fir, fire: fire AS fyr n. 
 
 firi a. fiery 
 
 firmament: sky, heaven Lat 
 firmamentum 
 
 firre : fir-tree ; cf. Icel fura 
 
 firste table: the first of the ten 
 commandments refers to God 
 
 firy : fiery 
 
 fissh: fish AS fisc 
 
 fissher : fisherman 
 
 fit: a portion of a song AS fit 
 
 fithele: fiddle AS fitSele 
 
 fixe pp. fixed OF fi.xe 
 
 flambes: flames OF fl.ambe, flame 
 
 flater 1 pr. s. flatter; cf. Ger. 
 flattern, F flatter 
 
 flaterye: flattery OF flaterie 
 
 I 
 
FLATERY- 
 
 641 
 
 —FOOT-HOOT 
 
 flatery, flateyrynge sb. flatter- 
 ing 
 flatour: fxatterer OF. 
 flatter flat Icel flatr 
 flaugh 2 pt. s. flewest; cf. flee 
 flaume: flame OF flame 
 Flaundres: Flanders, a district 
 
 now forming parts of France, 
 
 Holland and Belgium 
 Flaundryssh a. Flemish 
 fle,fleen inf. flee, escape; fledde 
 
 3 pt. s. ; fleeth imp. pi. ; fled pp. ; 
 
 AS fleon 
 fledde 3 pt. s. ; cf. flee 
 flee inf. fly ; flaugh 2 pt. s. ; fleigh, 
 
 fly 3 pt. s. ; flowen 3 pt. pi. AS 
 
 fleogan 
 fleemeth 3 pr. s. banisheth; 
 
 flemed pp. AS fleman 
 fleen sb. pi. fleas AS flea m. (-n) 
 fleete, flete inf. float, swim ; flete 
 
 1 pr. s. ; fleteth pr. s. ; fleete 
 
 3 pr. s. subj. AS fleotan 
 fleeth imp. pi. flee; cf. fle 
 fleight 3 pt. s. flew ; cf. flee 
 flekked pp. spotted ; cf. Icel 
 
 flekke 
 flemed pp. banished AS fleman 
 flemere: banisher 
 Flemyng: Fleming, native of 
 
 Flanders 
 flen inf. flee ; cf. fle 
 fles sb. fleece AS fleos 
 flessh sb. flesh, meat AS flsesc n. 
 fleshly ad. in the flesh, carnal 
 flesshy : fleshy 
 flek inf., 1 pr. s. float, swim; cf. 
 
 fleete 
 fletynge p. floating 
 flex sb. flax AS fleax n. 
 fleynge p. flying; cf. flee 
 flikerynge p. flickering AS flice- 
 
 rain 
 flo: arrow AS fla f(-n) 
 flok sb. flock AS flocc m. 
 flokmeele: in a flock, in troops 
 Flora: Goddess of flowers 
 floryn: florin, a coin OF florin < 
 
 Florence 
 flotery: fluttering, unkempt < AS 
 
 flotorian 
 flour : flower ; flourys pi. ; flour 
 
 delys] fleur de lis, lily OF flour 
 flourethe 3 pr. s. blooms, flour- 
 
 ishes ; floure 3 pr. s. subj. ; 
 
 floured 3 pt. s. 
 flourouns: little flowers, florets 
 floury: flowery 
 
 flowen 3 pt. pi. flew ; cf. flee 
 floytynge p. playing the flute OF 
 
 flauter 
 fly 3 pt. s. flew ; cf. flee 
 flye sb. fly AS fleoge f. 
 flynt: flint AS flint 
 flyttynge p. fleeting, transitory, 
 
 of little value 
 fneseth 3 pr. s. puffs AS gefne- 
 
 san 
 fnorteth 3 pt. s. snoreth < AS 
 
 fneosan (wk. grade) 
 fodder is now forage : my prov- 
 ^ender is provided for me, as 
 
 hay for a horse in winter AS 
 
 fodder 
 foghten 3 pt. pi. fought; cf. fighte 
 fol, fole sb. fool OF fol 
 fol a. foul AS ful 
 folde sb. fold ; metaphor for par- 
 ish AS fald 
 folely, folily: foolishly 
 folic: folly OF. 
 folk, folke : folk, people, company 
 
 AS folc n. 
 folwen inf. follow ; folwe pr. s. ; 
 
 folwen pr. pi. ; folwed, folowed 
 
 3 pt. s. ; folowed wel] was a 
 
 natural consequence ; folwynge 
 
 p. AS folgian 
 foly, folye sb. folly, foolishness 
 foly ad. foolishly 
 fomy a. foaming < AS fam 
 fon pi. foes AS fa m. 
 fond, fonde 1 pt. s. found ; cf. 
 
 finde 
 fonde inf. attempt, sound, try out 
 
 AS fandian 
 fonge inf. receive, take AS fon 
 fontstoon : font 
 foo: foe AS fa m. 
 foole: fool; foolys pi. OF fol 
 foolhardynesse : foolhardiness ; pers. 
 
 Pf 227 
 foom, fome : foam AS fam n. 
 foomen : foes 
 
 foond 1 pt. s. found ; cf . finde 
 foore: track, way, steps < AS 
 
 for f. journey 
 foot-hoot: foot-hot, speedily 
 
FOOT-MANTEI 
 
 642 
 
 — FORYETFUL 
 
 foot-mantel: an outer skirt to pro- 
 tect the gown when riding horse- 
 back 
 
 for conj. for, because, in order 
 that AS. 
 
 for prep, for, for the sake of, for 
 fear of, in spite of, as far as 
 concerns 
 
 for al: notwithstanding 
 
 for river: to the river 
 
 forage : winter food, hay ; cf. fod-. 
 der OF fourage 
 
 forbede, forbedeth 3 pr. s. for- 
 biddeth ; forbede imp. ; forbode 
 pp. AS forbeodan 
 
 forbere inf. refrain from, forbear ; 
 forbereth imp. pi. AS forferan 
 
 for blak: very black 
 
 forbode sb. Goddis forbode] [it 
 is] God's forbidding, God for- 
 bid! AS forbod 
 
 forbode pp. forbidden; cf. forbede 
 
 forbrused: badly bruised 
 
 forby ad. past 
 
 fordoon inf. render vain, destroy ; 
 fordo pp. AS fordon 
 
 for-dronken pp. very drunk 
 
 fordryed: dried up 
 
 foresterys pi. foresters F fores- 
 tier 
 
 foreward sb. agreement AS fore- 
 weard 
 
 forfered: greatly frightened 
 
 forgate, forgete pt. s. forgot ; cf . 
 foryete 
 
 forgeten pp. forgotten ; cf. foryete 
 
 forgoon inf. forego, give up ; 
 forgo pp. lost AS foregan 
 
 forheed: forehead AS forheafod 
 
 forkerveth 3 pr. s. hews in pieces 
 
 forkutteth 3 pr. s. cuts to pieces 
 
 forlete inf. lose, give up AS 
 forlaetan 
 
 forleygne: the recall note, sounded 
 when the hounds are off the 
 trail OF for(s)loignier "leave 
 far behind" 
 
 forlorn pp. lost AS forloren 
 
 forme sb. form ; in form] with 
 propriety 
 
 forme inf. form; formed to 3 pt. 
 s. formed so as to be 
 
 formel, f ormele : female bird 
 
 former: early; former age: olden 
 time 
 
 formere : creator 
 
 formest a. foremost 
 
 forncast: provided 
 
 forneys sb. furnace 
 
 fornicacioun : fornication 
 
 for old: with age 
 
 forpampred: over-pampered 
 
 forpyned pp. tormented, wasted 
 away 
 
 fors: force; no fors] no matter; 
 no fors of] no matter about; I 
 do no fors] I regard not 
 
 forseyde pp. aforesaid 
 
 forslewthen inf. waste idly 
 
 forsok pp. forsook 
 
 f orsothe : verily 
 
 forster : forester 
 
 forswerynges : forswearing 
 
 forth, forthe : forth, onward 
 
 f orther : further 
 
 forthermoor: further on 
 
 f ortherover : moreover 
 
 fortheryng: furthering 
 
 forthren inf. further, assist 
 
 forthright : straightforward 
 
 forthward : forward 
 
 forthy : therefore 
 
 Fortune: the goddess of fortune 
 
 fortunen inf. give fortune; fortu- 
 nen the ascendent] choose a 
 fortunate ascendent ; fortunest 2 
 pr. s. ; fortuned 3 pt. pi. hap- 
 pened ; fortuned pp. ; gifted by 
 Fortune CM 180 
 
 for-waked pp. wearied out by 
 watching 
 
 forward : agreement 
 
 forweped pp. worn out with weep- 
 ing 
 
 forwery : very weary 
 
 forwes : furrows 
 
 for-why conj. ad. wherefor, why, 
 because 
 
 forwityng : prescience, foreknowl- 
 edge 
 
 forwoot 3 pt. s. foreknew 
 
 forwrapped pp. wrapped up 
 
 foryelde inf. requite, repay 
 
 foryete inf. forget; forgate, for- 
 gete pt. s. ; forgeten, foryeten 
 pp. 
 
 f oryetful : forgetful 
 
FORYEVE— 
 
 643 
 
 — FULSOMNESSE 
 
 foryeve inf. forgive ; foryeve 3 
 imp. s., imp, pi.; foryevith imp. 
 pi. ; foryevyn, foryive pp. 
 
 fostred 3 pt. s., pp. fostered, 
 brought up 
 
 fote: foot; fote hote] foot hot, 
 right away 
 
 fother: cart-load 
 
 foughte 3 pt. pi. fought ; foughten 
 3 pt. pi., pp. 
 
 foul sb. bird ; smale foules] song 
 birds 
 
 foul a. evil, dangerous 
 
 foule ad. fotiUy 
 
 f oulere : fowler 
 
 founde pt. s., pp.; found; cf. finde 
 
 foundred 3 pt. s. stumbled 
 
 founes pi. fawns, bucks in the 
 first year 
 
 foure : four 
 
 foure and twenty: John of Gaunt 
 was really 29. It is suggested 
 that some scribe read xxviiij as 
 though it were xxiiij 
 
 fourneys : furnace 
 
 fourtenyght: fortnight, two weeks 
 
 f ourty : forty 
 
 f owel : bird; smale foweles] song 
 birds 
 
 fownde pp. found ; cf. finde 
 
 foyne imp. let him thrust ; 
 foyneth 3 pr. s. ; foynen 3 pr. pi. 
 
 foyson : abundance 
 
 frakenes: freckles; cf. Icel frelknur 
 
 fram : from AS. 
 
 franchise: liberality, nobleness OF. 
 
 frankeleyn: the franklins were well- 
 to-do farmers, householders; in 
 social rank inferior to the 
 knights, yet having certain dig- 
 nities AF fraunkelayn 
 
 fraternitee sb. guild OF. 
 
 fraught pp. lade 
 
 Fraunceys Petrark : Francesco Pe- 
 trarch [1304-1374] one of the 
 greatest of Italian poets, best 
 known for his sonnets to Laura. 
 He lived at Arqua, two miles 
 from Padua 
 
 frayneth 3 pr. s. prays AS 
 fregnan 
 
 fre, free a. free, gracious, liberal 
 AS freo 
 
 fredam, fredome: generosity AS 
 
 freoddm 
 freend, frend : friend AS freond 
 
 n. 
 freendlich a. friendly 
 freeten 3 pr. pi devour ; cf. freten 
 
 AS fretan 
 freletee: frailty OF frailete 
 f rely : freely 
 
 fremde : strange AS fremde 
 frend sb. friend ; cf. freend 
 frendely a. friendly 
 frendly ad. friendly 
 frendshipe: friendship AS freond- 
 
 scipe 
 Frenssh : French 
 frere: friar OF. 
 fresche, freshe, fressh: fresh, 
 
 bright, lively, frank OF fres, 
 
 f. fresche 
 fressher a. fresher, brighter 
 fresshly newe : unwearyingly 
 fret: gold band, ornament OF 
 
 frete 
 freten inf. devour; freeten 3 pr. 
 
 pi. ; frete pp. AS fretan 
 freut: fruit OF fruit 
 freyned pp. asked AS fregnan 
 Friday: Venus' day (vendredi) 
 Frise: Holland, Friesland, country 
 
 of the Frisians 
 fro ad. fro Icel fra 
 fro prep, from 
 frosche: fresh OF fresche f. 
 frothen 3 pr. pi. froth, foam Icel 
 
 froSa 
 fructes: fruits Lat fructum 
 fructifie : come to fruition, bear 
 
 fruit Lat. 
 fructuous: fruitful, full of meat 
 
 Lat. 
 frutesteres : fruit-girls 
 fruyt: fruit, prize 
 frye inf. fry, burn OF frire 
 ful a. full; atte fulle] completely 
 
 AS. 
 ful ad. fully, completely 
 ful dryve: settled 
 
 fulfild pp. filled full AS fulfyllan 
 fiille a. full; cf. ful 
 f ulliche : fully 
 fullonge : long 
 fulsomnesse : over-abundance 
 
FUME— 
 
 644 
 
 — GARGAT 
 
 fume : the distillation of substance 
 in the body OF fum 
 
 fumetere : fumitory, earth-smoke, 
 an herb OF fume-terre 
 
 fumositee: fumes (of wine) 
 
 furial: dreadful, as by furies op- 
 pressed Lat furialis 
 
 furie: monster. Fury OF. 
 
 furlong way: a short distance, or 
 time, a while AS furlang 
 
 furste: first; cf. firste 
 
 further over: moreover 
 
 fustian: strong cloth OF fustaine 
 
 fuyr: fire AS fyr n. 
 
 fy interj. fie ! (with stronger sense 
 than now) F fi ! 
 
 fyght 3 pr. s. fighteth ; cf . fighte 
 
 fyle sb. file AS feol, Merc, fil f. 
 
 fyled pp. filed 
 
 fylthe: filth AS fylt5 f. 
 
 fyn, fyne sb. end, purpose OF fin 
 
 fynaly: once for all 
 
 fynch sb. finch, a small bird, a 
 mistress AS fine 
 
 fynde a tale : think up something 
 to say ; cf. finde 
 
 fynder : discoverer 
 
 fyne inf. finish (followed by in- 
 finitive) 
 
 fyne a. fine ; fyne of ground] of 
 fine texture OF fin 
 
 fyneste a. finest 
 
 fyngerynge: fingering (of strings) 
 
 fyngres: fingers AS finger 
 
 fynnys: fins AS finn 
 
 fynt 3 pr. s. finds; cf. finde 
 
 Fynystere: the Cape of Finistere, 
 western France 
 
 fyr: fire; pyre A 2914 AS fyr 
 
 fyr : fir ; cf . fir 
 
 fyr-reed a. fiery-red 
 
 fyrst : first 
 
 Fyssh: Pisces, a zodiacal sign, the 
 **exaltation" of Venus 
 
 gabbe: talk idly OF gaber 
 gadereth 3 pr. s. gathers; gadered, 
 
 gadrede pt. ; cf. Du gaderen 
 gaf 3 pt. s. gave; cf. yeven 
 gaitrys berys : "goat-berries," of 
 
 the buckthorn (Sk.) AS < gate- 
 
 treow, goat-tree 
 
 galauntyne: a sauce F galantine 
 
 galaxye: the Milky Way F gal- 
 axie 
 
 gale inf. sing out AS galan 
 
 galentyne: a sauce for fowl F 
 galantine 
 
 Galgopheye : perhaps Gargaphie, 
 where Actaeon was turned into 
 a stag 
 
 Galianes: "Galeus," probably an 
 (intentional?) error of the Host, 
 who thought Galen, like Hippoc- 
 rates, must have some medicine 
 named for him 
 
 Galice: Galicia, a province in 
 Spain, the seat of the shrine of 
 St. James (Santiago) of Compo- 
 stella 
 
 Galien: Gallienus, emperor of Rome 
 before Claudius II 
 
 galle sb. gall; pi. feelings of 
 spleen, discord AS gealla m. 
 
 galle sb. sore spot OF galle 
 
 galoche: shoe OF. 
 
 galon wyn: gallon of wine OF 
 galon 
 
 galpyng : gaping, yawning ; cf. Du 
 galpen "cry" 
 
 galwes: gallows AS galga 
 
 Galyen: Galen, a celebrated physi- 
 cian of the second century, whose 
 books were considered for four- 
 teen centuries the highest author- 
 ity on medicine 
 
 galyngale sb. a spice of the cy- 
 perus root F galingal 
 
 game sb. game, sport, pleasure, 
 jest AS gamen 
 
 gamed pt. s. impers. it pleased 
 
 gan pt. s. began; cf. ginne 
 
 Ganelon: one of the knights of 
 Charlemagne, whose treachery 
 caused the destruction of Roland, 
 Oliver and the rear guard under 
 them 
 
 ganeth 3 pr. s. yawns AS ganian 
 
 gape inf. gape, yawn; cf. Icel 
 gapa 
 
 gappe sb. gap ; cf. Icel gap 
 
 gapyng p. gaping 
 
 gardyn: garden OF gardin 
 
 gardynward: direction of the gar- 
 den 
 
 gargat: throat < OF gar gate 
 
GARLEEK— 
 
 645 
 
 — GIGGYNGE 
 
 garleek sb. garlic AS garleac 
 garlondes: garlands OF garlande 
 gastly: ghastly < AS gaestan 
 gat: 3 pt. s. begot; cf. gete 
 gate sb. gate ; gatis pi. ; cf. Icel 
 
 gata 
 gate : 3 pt. s. refl. got ; cf. gete 
 Gatesden: John Gatisden, physician 
 at Oxford in fourteenth century, 
 court-doctor of Edward II 
 gat-tothed a. gap-toothed, with 
 teeth set wide apart < Icel gat 
 "hole"(?) 
 gaude sb. deceit, graft; cf. OF 
 
 gaudir "rejoice" 
 gaude grene: light or yellowish 
 green F gaude *'weld" a plant 
 for dyeing 
 gauded pp. ornamented with 
 gawdies, which were the larger 
 beads in the set, marking the 
 Paternosters 
 Gaufred: Geoffrey de Vinsauf, 
 mediaeval scholar, wrote "Nova 
 Poetria" shortly after the death 
 of Richard I, with original mod- 
 els, in bombastic and turgid 
 style. One poem bewailed Rich- 
 ard's death: "O Veneris lacri- 
 mosa dies,'* etc. 
 Gaunt: Ghent, city in Flanders, 
 
 a center of cloth-making 
 gauren inf. stare 
 Gawayn : Sir Gawain, nephew and 
 bravest knight of King Arthur 
 in older tales 
 Gawle : Chaucer translates "Galli" 
 
 as folk of Gawle, The Gauls 
 gay: gay, gaudy in dress F gai 
 gayler: jailer OF geolier 
 gayne : benefit Icel gagn 
 gayneth pr. s. impers. gains 
 Gazan : ace. of Gaza, a city on the 
 
 plain of Philistia, south of Jaffa 
 geaunt: giant OF geant 
 geere: clothes, garb, equipment; 
 
 cf. AS gearwe, Icel gervi 
 geere : inconstant behavior orig. 
 
 uncert. 
 gees pi. geese AS gos, pi. ges 
 geeste : geste, story of adventure ; 
 pi. Gesta Romanorum, a mediae- 
 val book of anecdotes OF geste 
 "history" 
 
 geestours : gestours, tellers of tales 
 or gestes 
 
 gelde inf. castrate 
 
 gelous: jealous OF gelos 
 
 gemmes, gemmys : gems, jewels F 
 gemme 
 
 Genelloun : Ganelon, one of Char- 
 lemagne's officers, who betrayed 
 the rear-guard of Charlemagne's 
 army as it passed over the 
 Pyrenees. The entire rear guard, 
 including Roland and Oliver, was 
 destroyed at Roncesvalles. Gane- 
 lon was punished by being torn 
 to pieces by horses 
 
 generalle : liberal, broadly sympa- 
 thetic OF general 
 
 gent a. elegant OF. 
 
 genterye: gentleness, noble birth, 
 "gentilesse" OF genterise 
 
 gentil: gentle, noble, well-bred 
 OF. 
 
 gentilesse: gentleness, nobility OF. 
 
 gentilleste: noblest, most delicate 
 
 gentilly: gently, honourably 
 
 gentilman: gentleman 
 
 gentils sb. pi. nobility OF. 
 
 gentrye : ^nobility ; cf. genterye 
 
 Genyloun: Ganelon, of Brittany; 
 cf. Genelloun 
 
 geometrie: geometry OF. 
 
 gerdonyng : guerdoning, reward 
 OF guerdoner 
 
 gerdoun: guerdon, recompence OF 
 guerdon 
 
 gere sb. equipment ; cf. geere 
 
 gereful : changeable 
 
 geres pi. behaviors ; cf. geere 
 
 gerland : cf. garland 
 
 Gernade : Granada, in Spain 
 
 gerner sb. garner OF gernier 
 
 Gerounde : Gironde, a river on west 
 coast of France 
 
 gery: changeable; cf. geere 
 
 gesse 1 pr. s. guess, think ; cf. 
 Dan gissa 
 
 gest: guest AS. 
 
 gete inf. get, gain, regain, beget ; 
 gate 3 pt. s. refl. ; gat 3 pt. s. ; 
 cf. Icel geta, AS gitan 
 
 gethe 3 pr. s. goes ; cf. gon 
 
 geven pp. given ; cf. yive 
 
 gide sb. guide F guide' 
 
 giggynge p. fitting; the "guige," 
 
GILBERTYN— 
 
 646 
 
 —GOON 
 
 or leather strap by which a 
 
 knight's shield was slung OF 
 
 guige 
 Gilbertyn: perhaps Gilbertus An- 
 
 glicus 
 gilde: golden AS gyldan 
 gile: guile OF. 
 gilt: guilt AS gylt "crime" 
 gilte : golden 
 giltelees : guiltless 
 gilty a. guilty 
 ginne inf. begin, attempt ; gan 
 
 pt. s. ; gonne, gunne 3 pt. pi. 
 
 < AS beginnan 
 gipser sb. pouch, wallet F 
 
 gibeciere 
 girdel sb. girdle AS gyrdel 
 girden: strike orig. uncert. 
 girles pi. youth of either sex AS 
 
 gyrl(?) 
 
 girt 3 pt. s., pp. girdled AS 
 gyrdan 
 
 gise: guise, fashion, dress OF 
 guise 
 
 glad, glade: glad, merry; pi. bright, 
 sparkling AS glaed 
 
 gladde, glade inf. make glad, com- 
 fort; gladeth imp. pi. AS 
 gladian 
 
 glader: one who makes glad 
 
 gladly : usually ; willingly 
 
 gladnesse: gladness, joy; wel sette 
 gladnesse] seemly or becoming 
 joy 
 
 gladsom : pleasant 
 
 glarynge : glaring, staring 
 
 glas : glass AS glaes n. 
 
 glasynge : glasswork 
 
 gledy : burning AS gled, "a coal" 
 
 glee : entertainment AS gleo 
 
 gleede: glowing coal, fire AS 
 gled f. 
 
 glem sb. gleam AS glsem m. 
 
 gliterynge : glittering 
 
 glood 3 pt. s. glided ; cf. glyde 
 
 gloria: glory OF glorie 
 
 glose sb. interpretation, commen- 
 tary, hence margin of book ; cf. 
 text F glose 
 
 glosen inf. gloze, interpret texts, 
 flatter, cajole F gloser 
 
 glotenye: gluttony OF glotence 
 
 glotoun: glutton F glouton 
 
 gloweden 3 pt. pi. glowed AS 
 
 glowan 
 glowynge p. glowing, shining 
 glyde inf. glide, ascend; glood 3 
 
 pt. s. AS glidan 
 glyteren 3 pr. pi. glitter; glytered 
 
 3 pt. s. 
 gnawynge p. gnawing, champing 
 
 AS gnagan 
 gnodded 3 pi. pt. rubbed; cf. 
 
 AS gnidan 
 gnow 3 pt. s. gnawed 
 gobet sb. section, fragment F 
 
 gobet 
 Goddesse : goddess AS god 
 Goddis poss. s. God's; pi. Gods 
 godelyhede s. goodliness 
 godenesse, godnesse: goodness 
 godhede : divinity 
 gold, golde s. gold AS gold n. 
 gold-bete pp. covered with beaten 
 
 gold 
 goldene : golden 
 gold-hewen : hewn of gold 
 goldryng: gold ring 
 goldsmythrye : goldsmith's work 
 gold-threed: gold thread 
 gole: mouthful of words, cackle F 
 
 golee 
 golet: throat, gullet OF goulet 
 goliardeys sb. buffoon, teller of 
 
 coarse jests 
 Golias: Goliath, giant slain by 
 
 David 
 gomme: gum OF. 
 gon inf. go ; goo 1 pr. s. ; goost 
 
 2 pr. s. ; gethe, goth 3 or. s. ; 
 
 goon 2 pr. pi. ; go imp ; goynge 
 
 p. ; go, goon pp. ; go betj go as 
 
 quickly as possible AS gan 
 gonne sb. gun orig. uncert. 
 gonne 3 pt. pi. began ; cf. ginne 
 good sb. goods, property ; by his 
 
 propre good] within his own 
 
 income AS god 
 goode sb. good 
 goode a. good 
 goodely:. goodly, kindly 
 goodenesse: goodness 
 goodlich : goodly 
 goodlieste : goodliest 
 gooldes: marigolds 
 goon inf. go ; cf. gon ; goon with 
 
 childe] pregnant; goon a blake- 
 
 I 
 
GOON— 
 
 647 
 
 — GROND 
 
 beryed] go a blackberrying, 
 
 wandering ; up goon the trom- 
 
 pes] the trumpets sound 
 goon is: ago 
 goore : a gore, part of a garment, 
 
 met. for the garment ; under my 
 
 goore] within my garment AS 
 
 gara m. 
 goos: goose AS gos 
 goost sb. ghost, spirit ; Holy 
 
 Ghost AS gast m. 
 goost biforn : anticipatest ; cf . 
 
 gon 
 goot: goat AS gat m. 
 Gootland : Gotland, an island in 
 
 the Baltic Sea 
 goshauk : goshawk AS goshafuc 
 gosis: poss. goose's 
 gossib: friend, gossip AS godsibb 
 
 "God-relative." i.e. by baptismal 
 
 sponsorship 
 gossomer: gossamer, thin fabric 
 gost: spirit; cf. goost 
 goth 3 pr. s. ; goes ; cf. gon 
 gourde: gourd, drinking vessel 
 
 OF gourde 
 goute: gout OF goutte 
 governaille: control, rule OF 
 
 gouvernail "rudder" 
 governaunce : method of manage- 
 ment, control, self-control OF, 
 governed 3 pt. s. governed ; 
 
 governeth 2 imp. pi. OF gov- 
 
 erner 
 governeresse : governess, mistress, 
 
 ruler OF. 
 governour: ruler, umpire OF. 
 governyng sb. control, guardian- 
 ship 
 gowne: gown OF gone 
 goynge p. going; cf. gon 
 grace : grace, favor, help, mercy, 
 
 lot ; his lady grace] his lady's 
 
 favor OF. 
 grame : harm, misery AS grama 
 grammeere: grammar OF gram- 
 
 maire 
 grapenel: grapnel, grappling iron 
 
 diminutive of OF grapin "hook" 
 gras : grace 
 gras: grass AS grses 
 gras-tyme : the summer, when a 
 
 horse can get grass in the fields 
 Graunsome: Sir Oto de Graunson, 
 
 knight of Savoy, in the pay of 
 Richard II 
 
 graunt sb. grant, privilege OF 
 graunter 
 
 graunt mercy of: great thanks for 
 
 graunten inf. grant ; grauntith 
 imp. s. 
 
 grauntyng sb. granting, grant 
 
 graven inf. carve, dig, bury AS 
 grafan 
 
 grayn: dye term; in grayn] a fast 
 color, made from the grain, or 
 kermes F grain 
 
 Grece : Greece 
 
 grece sb. grease F graisse 
 
 gree: good part; in gree] in good- 
 will F gre 
 
 gree: rank, superiority OF gre 
 
 greet, greete a. great, splendid ; 
 the greete] the important part 
 AS great 
 
 Greke : Greek; Grekes poss. 
 
 grene : green, usual color for arch- 
 ers AS grene 
 
 grenehede: youthful folly 
 
 Grenewych : Greenwich, Chaucer's 
 home, below Deptford 
 
 gres: grass AS graes 
 
 gresly: grisly, fearsome AS grislic 
 
 gret, grete: great; cf. greete 
 
 Grete See: the Mediterranean 
 
 gretenesse : greatness, size 
 
 grette pt. s. greeted AS gretan 
 
 gretter : greater 
 
 gretteste : greatest 
 
 grevaunce : grievance, trouble F 
 grevance 
 
 greve inf. grieve, trouble OF 
 grever 
 
 greve sb. grove AS graf f. 
 
 grevosly : grievously 
 
 grevous : grievous 
 
 grew pt. pi. grew ; cf. growe 
 
 greye: grey AS grseg 
 
 greyn : grain OF grain 
 
 griffon: griffin, fabulous beast, half 
 lion, half eagle OF. 
 
 Grisil : Grisel, name for a gray 
 horse 
 
 Grisildis: Griselda 
 
 grisly: horrible, awful AS grislic 
 
 grobbe inf. grub orig. uncert. 
 
 grond: 3 pt. s. ground AS grin- 
 dan 
 
GRONTE— 
 
 gronte 3 pt. s. groaned AS 
 
 granian 
 grope inf. test, feel AS gropian 
 grot: atom, particle AS grot 
 grot: groat, small coin ODu 
 
 groot 
 grounded pp. well versed in 
 growe inf. grow; grew pt. pi. 
 
 AS growan 
 groynynge: murmuring of discon- 
 tent 
 grucche inf. grumble; grucchen 
 
 pr. pi. OF grouchier 
 gruf ad. groveling, on his face ; cf. 
 
 grovel 
 grym, grymme : grim, fierce AS 
 
 grim 
 grynt 3 pr. s. grindeth 
 grys sb. an expensive grey fur, 
 
 very stylish at this time OF gris 
 grysely : horrible 
 gunne 3 pi. pt. began ; cf. ginne 
 guy imp. pi. guide ; cf. gye OF 
 
 gui 
 gyde sb. guide 
 gyden inf. guide, conduct 
 gye inf. guide, lead; guy imp. pi. 
 gyle: guile, deceit OF. 
 gyn :' machine, device OF engin 
 gyngebreed: ginger bread OF 
 
 gingebras 
 gynglen inf. jingle. Bridles were 
 
 often decorated with small bells 
 gypoun: a doublet, tunic OF 
 
 jupon 
 gyse: manner, custom OF guise 
 gyterne: kind of guitar OF gui- 
 
 terne 
 gytes pi. mantel; cf. OF guite 
 
 **hat" 
 
 H 
 
 haberdasshere sb. haberdasher, 
 merchant of hats, or of pins, 
 buttons, etc. ; cf. AF hapertas 
 
 habergeoun : a short hauberk, or 
 coat-of-mail OF haubergeon 
 
 habitacioun: habitation OF habi- 
 tation 
 
 habounde inf. abound F abonder 
 
 Habradate: Abradates, king of 
 Susi 
 
 habundance : abundance 
 
 648 — HARDELY 
 
 habundant : abundant 
 habundantly : abundantly 
 hachis: hatches AS haecc f. 
 haddist 3 pt. s. hadst ; haddyn 
 
 3 pt. pi. ; cf. have 
 haire: hair-shirt AS hser f. 
 hakeney: hackney; cf. OF haque- 
 
 nee, and Hackney 
 hakke inf. hack AS haccian 
 haldist 2 pr. s. boldest; cf. holde 
 hale inf. draw; cf. AS geholian 
 half wey pryme : 7.30, half way 
 
 from 6 to 9 
 halfe sb. side, behalf; a goddes 
 
 halfe] in God's name AS healf 
 halfe a. half 
 halfe word : equivocation 
 halke : hiding-place 
 hallis : halls AS heal 
 hals: neck; (ace. of reference) 
 
 AS heals 
 halse 1 pr. s. conjure AS heal- 
 
 sian 
 halt 3 pr. s. holds; cf. holde 
 halte a. lame AS healt 
 halwed pp. blessed AS halgian 
 halwes pi. saints, used to denote 
 
 saint's shrines; halwes twelve] 
 
 the twelve disciples of Christ 
 
 AS halig "holy" 
 Haly: Arabian physician of elev- 
 enth century 
 halyday : holyday 
 hamer sb. hammer AS hamer 
 han inf., 3 pr. pi. have; cf. have 
 
 AS hablem 
 handes pi. hands AS hand m. 
 hangyn inf. hang; hongeth 3 pr. 
 
 s. ; heeng, heng, henge pt. s., pi. ; 
 
 honge 3 pt. pi. ; hyng 3 pt. s. 
 
 AS hongion 
 Hanybal ; Hannibal, Carthaginian 
 
 general, defeated Rome at Pla- 
 
 centia. Lake Trasimenus, and 
 
 Cannae, B. C. 218-217 
 happe sb. chance, luck, good for- 
 tune ; cf. Icel happ 
 happe, happyn inf. happen, occur; 
 
 happith 3 pr. s. ; happed, happede 
 
 3 pt. s. 
 harder hard; harde grace] misery 
 
 AS heard 
 harde pp. heard ; cf. here 
 hardely, hardily: certainly, surely 
 
HARDINESSE— 
 
 649 
 
 — HELE 
 
 hardinesse: boldness 
 
 hardnesse : cruelty 
 
 hardy: strong, brave F hardi 
 
 hardyng: hardening 
 
 harlotrye : ribaldry ; pi. ribald jests 
 
 OF. 
 harme s. harm, injury, evil AS 
 
 hearm 
 harmeful : harmful, evil 
 harneised pp. equipped, decorated 
 
 OF harneschier 
 barneys : armor F harnais 
 harome : harm ; cf. harme 
 harpe sb. harp AS hearpe 
 harpyng sb. playing upon the harp 
 harre sb. hinge AS heorra 
 harrow! interj. alas! 
 hart: heart; cf. herte 
 hartely: heartily, truly 
 haryed pp. dragged along AS 
 
 hergian "ravage" 
 hasard: gambling OF. 
 hasardour : gamester 
 hasardrye: dicing, gaming 
 Hasdrubales: Hasdrubal, a Car- 
 thaginian general 
 hasel: hazel-tree AS haesel 
 hastely : hastily 
 hastif: hasty OF hasti 
 hastifliche : hastily 
 hastiliche : hastily 
 hastou, hastow 2 pr. s. hast thou ; 
 
 cf. have 
 hate sb. hatred AS hete m. 
 hate 1 pr. s. hate AS hatian 
 hath 3 pr. s. has, there is; cf. 
 
 have 
 haubergeoun : coat of mail ; cf. 
 
 habergeoun 
 hauberke: coat of mail OF hau- 
 
 berc 
 hauk sb. hawk AS hafoc 
 hauke inf. hawk, hunt with the 
 
 hawk 
 haukyng: hawking 
 haunt: abode, region; practice, 
 
 skill ; dictrict covered by one 
 
 man OF hanter 
 haunteth 3 pr. s. makes a practice 
 
 of 
 hautayn, hauteyn : proud, high- 
 sounding F hautain 
 have, han, havyn inf. have, keep ; 
 
 hastow 2 pr. s. hast thou ; hath 
 
 3 pr. s. ; han 3 pr. pi ; haddist 2 
 
 pt. s. ; haddyn 3 pt. pi. ; have 
 
 3 pr. s. subj. AS habben 
 haven: port 
 
 havyn inf. have ; cf. have 
 hawberk: hauberk OF hauberc 
 hawe : haw, fruit of dog-rose AS 
 
 haga 
 hawebake: a baked haw, husk for 
 
 a famished man ; hence, plain 
 
 food 
 hawethorn : hawthorn AS haga- 
 
 Jjorn 
 hayl sb. hail AS haegel 
 hayle inf. hail 
 Hayles: Hailes, in Gloucester 
 he . . . he . . . he used as dem. 
 
 pron. this one, that one, an- 
 other, etc. 
 healle inf. heal ; heeled pp. AS 
 
 hselan 
 Hebrayk a. Hebraic, Hebrew 
 hed, hede, heed: head AS heafod n. 
 heede sb. heed AS hedan 
 heeld 3 pt. s. held; cf. holde 
 heele sb. health AS haelu f. 
 heelp inf. help ; cf. helpe 
 heeng 3 pt. s., pi. hanged; cf. 
 
 hangyn 
 heep sb. heap, crowd, lot AS 
 
 heap 
 heer sb. hair ; heeris pi. AS hser 
 heer ad. here AS her 
 heer-biforn : heretofore 
 heere inf. hear ; cf. here 
 heerforth: in this direction 
 heerupon : hereupon 
 heeste: command AS hses f. 
 heete 3 pr. s. promise; cf. hete 
 heete sb. vow ; cf. AS gehat 
 heeth sb. heath, field AS haetS 
 hegges: hedges; cf. AS hege m. 
 heigh, heih a. high; in heigh and 
 
 lough] under all circumstances, 
 
 completely AS heah 
 heigh, heighe ad. high 
 hel, helle : Hades, Hell, torment 
 
 AS hell 
 helde inf. hold ; pt. s. held ; cf. 
 
 holde AS healdan 
 hele sb. health, well-being AS 
 
 hallu 
 hele inf. conceal AS helan 
 hele inf. heal AS hselan 
 
HELME— 
 
 650 
 
 — HEVENELYCHE 
 
 helme : helmet AS. 
 
 helmed pp. protected by a helmet 
 
 OF < AS. 
 Helowys: Heloise, wife of Abelard, 
 
 great teacher of Xllth century, 
 
 retired to a convent 
 helpe s. help, aid ; do helpe] aid, 
 
 assist AS help 
 helpe, heelp inf. help, assist ; heelp 
 
 3 pt. s. ; helpe 3 pr. s. subj., 
 
 imp. ; holpen pp. AS helpan 
 helplees: helpless 
 hem : them 
 hende : courteous, gentle AS 
 
 gehenda "near" 
 heng, henge 3 pt. s., pi. hanged; 
 
 cf. hangyn 
 henne : hence AS heona, hine 
 hente inf. acquire, seize, grip ; 
 
 hente pt. s. ; hent pp. AS henton 
 hepe : hip ; fruit of the dog-rose 
 
 AS heope 
 hepe: heap, number; cf. heep 
 her: hair AS haer 
 heraud: herald OF. 
 herbe y ve : herb, ivy, ground-pine 
 herbergage : lodging, • furnishing, 
 
 lodgings OF. 
 herbergeours : purveyors of lodging 
 herberwe : harbor, inn, position in 
 
 the ecliptic; cf. Icel herbergi 
 herberwynge : harboring 
 Hercules: son of Zeus and Alc- 
 
 mene 
 herd : hard 
 
 herde sb. herdsman AS hierde 
 herde 3 pt. s. heard ; cf. here 
 here sb. hair AS hser 
 here : their 
 here, heere inf. hear ; herde 3 pt. 
 
 s. ; harde, herd, herde pp. ; 
 
 heere 2 imp. s. AS heran 
 herebefore, herebeforne : previous- 
 ly, a while ago 
 Herenus: the Erinnys, or Fates 
 Hereos (med.) the malady of love 
 herieth 3 pr. s. praises ; heryen 
 
 3 pr. pi. ; heryed pp. AS herian 
 heris pi. hair, hairs ; cf. here 
 herith 3 pr. s. hears ; cf. here 
 heriynge sb. praise 
 herkene, herkne inf. listen, bark- 
 en ; herkenyth, herkneth imp. 
 
 AS hercnian 
 
 Hermanno : really Herennianus, . 
 son of Zenobia 
 
 Hermengyld: Ermengild 
 
 Hermyon : Hermione 
 
 heme: corner, nook AS liyrne 
 
 Herodes s., pi. Herod; Herod 
 ordered the slaughter of the 
 Innocents in Bethlehem ; cf. 
 Matt. ii. 16 
 
 heronsewes : heronsaw, hernsaw, 
 heron OF heronceau 
 
 heroun: heron OF heron 
 
 Herro: Hero, beloved of Leander 
 at Sestos 
 
 Herry: Harry 
 
 herse : hearse, in the sense of bier, 
 or of a body lying in state OF 
 herce 
 
 hert: hart, stag AS heort 
 
 herte sb. heart AS heorte 
 
 herte 3 pt. s. hurt OF heurter 
 
 herte-blood: heart's blood 
 
 hertely a. hearty 
 
 hertely ad. sincerely, cordially 
 
 herte-roote: "bottom of one's 
 heart" 
 
 herte-spoon: breast-bone 
 
 herye 3 pr. pi. praise; cf. herieth 
 AS herian 
 
 herytage: heritage OF heritage 
 
 heste : behest, command AS hses 
 
 Hester: Esther, queen of Ahasue- 
 rus; cf. the Book of Esther 
 
 hete sb. heat AS hsitu f. 
 
 hete inf. promise,, be named; het, 
 heete, hete, highte pr. s. ; het, 
 hete, hight pt. ; hyght pp. 
 
 heterly : fiercely ; cf. Low Ger bet- 
 ter "irritating" 
 
 hethen sb. heathen ; another 
 
 hethen] a different heathen from 
 AS hsetSen 
 
 Hethenesse : heathen lands 
 
 hette 3 pt. s. heated AS hsetan 
 
 heve inf. heave, lift AS hebban 
 
 hevedes, hevedis: heads AS heafod 
 
 heven, hevene : heaven ; hevene and 
 lia] heaven (coelum) and Leah 
 (the busy wife) ; hevene of peo- 
 ple] < coelum + leos (gr. peo- 
 ple) ; hevenes lilie] < coeli lilia, 
 fanciful etymologies for Cecilia 
 AS heofon m. 
 
 hevenelyche : heavenly 
 
HEVENYSH— 651 — HORNCHILD 
 
 hevenysh : heavenly, of the heav- 
 
 holwe a. hollow AS holh 
 
 enly bodies 
 
 holy : wholly, entirely 
 
 hevyness: heaviness, despondency, 
 
 holyday: holy day, holiday 
 
 sorrow AS hefige 
 
 horn : whom 
 
 hewe : hue, color, complexion AS 
 heovv n. 
 
 homage : homage ; did homage] 
 
 acknowledged as lord OF. 
 
 hewed a. hued 
 
 
 hewen inf. cut, hew AS heawan 
 
 hom-comynge; cf. hoom-comynge 
 
 hey: hay AS heg 
 heyest: highest 
 
 homward: homeward 
 
 homycide: murderer OF homicide 
 
 heye-weye : highway 
 
 hond, honde s. hand, oath ; of 
 
 heyre-clowt: hair-cloth AS cliit 
 
 hir hond] of arms AS hand f. 
 
 m. 
 
 hondred: hundred AS hundred 
 
 heyres: heirs OF heir 
 
 honeste, honestee, honestetee sb. 
 
 heysoge: hedge-sparrow, "hay- 
 
 honesty, decency OF honeste 
 
 suck" 
 
 honeste a. honorable, decent OF. 
 
 hider ad. hither AS. 
 
 honge 3 pt. pi. hanged; cf. 
 
 hidouse: hideous OF hidous 
 
 hangyn 
 
 hidously : hideously 
 
 hongeth 3 pr. s. hangs; cf. 
 
 hie ad. high AS heah 
 
 hangyn 
 
 hierde: shepherd AS hierde m. 
 
 honneure inf. honor; honoureth 
 
 high: in a high pitch 
 
 3 pr. s. ; honouren 3 pr. pi. subj. ; 
 
 highte 3 pr. s. was named; cf. 
 
 honured pp. OF honourer 
 
 hete 
 
 honouren pi. s. ; cf. honneure 
 
 hil: hill AS hyll m. 
 
 honurable: honorable 
 
 hipes, hypes sb. pi. hips AS 
 
 hony: honey AS hunig 
 
 hype m. 
 
 hoode sb. hood AS h5d 
 
 hir pers. pron., dat. and ace. to 
 
 hoodeles: hoodless, unprotected 
 
 her, her 
 
 from weather 
 
 hir, hire poss. her, their 
 
 hool a. whole, well, entire AS 
 
 hires: her 
 
 hoi 
 
 hise: his 
 
 hoold sb. castle; cf. AS heald 
 
 historial: historic 
 
 hoold imp. hold ; cf. holde 
 
 hit pron. it 
 
 hoole sb. hole 
 
 hitte pt. s. hit; cf. Icel hitta 
 
 hoole ad. wholly 
 
 ho: who AS hwa 
 
 hooly a. holy 
 
 hod: hood AS hod 
 
 hooly ad. wholly, entirely 
 
 Hogge: Hodge, nickname for 
 
 hoolynesse: holiness 
 
 Roger 
 
 hoom ad. home AS ham m. 
 
 hogges poss. hog's AS hogga 
 
 hoom-comynge : home-coming 
 
 hoke: hook AS hoc m. 
 
 hoomely, hoomly : simply, unos- 
 
 hold, holde inf., 1 pr. s. hold, 
 
 tentatiously 
 
 keep, possess, consider; haldist 
 
 hoor: hoary AS har 
 
 2 pr. s. ; halt, halte 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 hoord: hoard, treasure AS hord 
 
 heeld, helde 3 pt. s. ; hoold imp. ; 
 
 hoot, hoote a. hot ; cf . humour 
 
 holde pp. AS healdan 
 
 AS hat 
 
 hole sb- hole, hollow AS hoi n. 
 
 hoote ad. hotly 
 
 hole a. all AS hal 
 
 hoppen 1 pr. pi. dance AS hop- 
 
 holly: wholly, entirely 
 
 pian 
 
 holm: oak (evergreen) AS holen(?) 
 
 hoppesteres a. dancing 
 
 holour: lecher OF holier 
 
 horde sb. hoard, much money AS 
 
 holpen pp. helped; cf. helpe 
 
 hord n. m. 
 
 holsum : wholesome 
 
 hore: grayhaired AS har 
 
 holt: grove AS holt n. 
 
 Hornchild: King Horn, or Horn 
 
HORNE— 
 
 Childe, a Middle English metri- 
 cal romance 
 
 home : horn, bugle ; drinking horn 
 AS horn m. 
 
 horowe : foul AS horig 
 
 hors: horse AS. 
 
 horse a. hoarse AS has 
 
 horsly: horselike, thoroughbred 
 
 hosen pi. hose AS hose 
 
 hostelry e: inn OF hostelerie 
 
 hostileer: inn-keeper OF hosteller 
 
 hote: hot; fote hote] foot hot, 
 right away, hastily AS hat 
 
 hou : how 
 
 houndes, houndys pi. hounds AS 
 hund 
 
 houres: hours; kepte in houres] 
 treated him according to the as- 
 trological hours; watched for 
 times when the planets were in 
 the proper position for favorable 
 treatment OF hore 
 
 hous sb. house ; one of the 12 
 parts of the zodiacal circle ; 
 derkeste hous] Scorpio (Sk.) ; 
 Hous of Fame] The House of 
 Fame, poem by Chaucer AS 
 hus 
 
 housbond: husband Icel husbondi 
 
 housbondrie: economy 
 
 houses of office: servants' quarters 
 
 housholdere : householder 
 
 how! inter j. hoi 
 
 how, howe ad. how, in what man- 
 ner 
 
 how; however 
 
 howped pt. pi. whooped OF 
 houper 
 
 howve: hood; sette his howve] 
 make him look foolish AS hufe 
 
 huge: great; cf. OF ahuge 
 
 Hugelyn of Pyze : Ugolino of Pisa, 
 slain July, 1288 
 
 Hugh of Lyncoln: Hugh of Lin- 
 coln, a boy of eight, was sup- 
 posed to have been murdered by 
 Jews at Lincoln in 1255 
 
 Hulle : Hull, seaport on east coast 
 of England 
 
 humanitee : kindness F. 
 
 humblely: humbly 
 
 humblesse: humbleness 
 
 humour sb. element or quality. 
 Ancient medicine was based up- 
 
 652 —HYPES 
 
 on Galen's idea of the four ele- 
 ments: earth, air, fire, and 
 water, and the four humours or 
 qualities: hot, cold, dry, moist. 
 A man's temperament depended 
 upon the combinations of these 
 qualities. Sickness was supposed 
 to result from an excess of one 
 or more of these. Each part of 
 the body could be affected; thus 
 the liver might have an excess 
 of hot, or of dry, or of both 
 OF humor 
 
 humylitee : humility 
 
 hunderede: hundred 
 
 hungir: hunger AS hungor 
 
 hunte sb. huntsman ; huntys pi. 
 AS hunta m. 
 
 hunten inf. hunt AS huntian 
 
 huntere: hunter 
 
 hunteresse: huntress 
 
 huntynge : hunting 
 
 hurte 3 pt. s. hurt; cf. OF hurter 
 
 hurtelyn 3 pr. pi hurtle, drive, 
 dash; hurtleth 3 pr. s. < 
 "hurt" -\- frequentative -le 
 
 hurtes pi. hurts 
 
 hust pp. hushed 
 
 huwes sb. color AS hiw 
 
 hy, hye a. lofty 
 
 hyde inf. hide; hydestow 2 pr. s. 
 AS hydan 
 
 hyderward: in this direction 
 
 hye sb. haste < AS higian 
 
 hye inf. hasten, hie ; imp. ; hyed 
 pt. pi. AS higian 
 
 hyene: hyena, the gall of which 
 was a cure for weak eyes OF. 
 
 hyer a. higher, upper ; hadde the 
 hyer bond] gained the victory 
 
 hyeste : highest 
 
 hyeweye : highway 
 
 hyght pp. called; cf. hete 
 
 hylde pt. s. bent AS hyldan 
 
 hym dat. of reference 
 
 hynd: hind, doe AS hind f. 
 
 hyndre inf. hinder, interfere with 
 AS hindrian 
 
 hyndreste a. hindermost 
 
 hyne sb. hind, farm-hand AS 
 hina m. 
 
 hyng 3 pt. s. hung; cf. hangyn 
 
 hypes: hips AS hype 
 
HYRE— 
 
 653 
 
 — ITAWGHT 
 
 hyre sb. hire, pay ; sette to hyre] 
 
 sub-let to another AS hyrian 
 hyre : their 
 hyred pp. hired 
 
 I 
 
 I, ik pers. pron. I ; common pre- 
 fix of pp. ; cf. Y 
 
 ibenched: couched < AS bene 
 
 iboundyn pp. bound AS bunden 
 
 ibroke pp. broken AS brocen 
 
 ibroudede : embroidered OF broude 
 
 icorounede pp. crowned OF. 
 
 ido pp. done, ended; cf. don 
 
 Idus: Ides, 15 March Lat. 
 
 ifounded pp. founded, set AS 
 fundian 
 
 ignoraunce : ignorance OF. 
 
 i-halowed: view-hallooed (of hert) 
 OF halloer 
 
 ik pers. pron. I 
 
 iknyt pp. knit, bound AS cnyt- 
 tan 
 
 ilke: same, very AS ilea 
 
 illusioun: illusion OF. 
 
 iloryn pp. lost AS loren < 
 leosan 
 
 Ilyoun: Ilion or Ilium, the Greek 
 name for Troy, is used by Chau- 
 cer as though it were not the 
 same place. This is probably 
 because in Guido delle Colonne 
 Ilion is used as the name of the 
 citadel of Troy 
 
 imaginacioun : imagination OF. 
 
 imakid pp. made AS macod < 
 macian 
 
 impertinent: not appertaining OF. 
 
 importable : unendurable OF. 
 
 impressioun : remembrance OF. 
 
 in sb. inn AS inn, in 
 
 in conseil: secretly OF. 
 
 In principio: The friars constantly 
 quoted the text, "In principio 
 erat verbum," **in the beginning 
 was the word," John i. 1, as 
 they went from house to house 
 
 In principio mulier est hominis 
 contusio: Woman, from the be- 
 ginning, has been man's ruin 
 (Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum 
 Historiale X. 71) 
 
 in the gilt: at fault 
 
 inclinacioun: inclination, tendency 
 due to natal star OF. 
 
 incubus: sprite, fiend Lat. 
 
 Inde: India OF. 
 
 indulgence: permission OF. 
 
 inequal : unequal ; houre inequal] 
 the astrological hours varied 
 with the time of year, the period 
 of daylight being always divided 
 into twelve hours Lat in- 
 sequalis 
 
 infect a. invalid A 320 The 
 sergeant could clear up any 
 tangles or limitations in the title, 
 and transfer the property in fee 
 simple Lat. 
 
 infecte inf. infect Lat infectus 
 
 infeere a. together in + AS 
 gefera 
 
 infortunat a. carrying misfortune 
 Lat infortunatus 
 
 infortune: misfortune OF. 
 
 iniquitee sb. evil OF. 
 
 inmortal: immortal OF. 
 
 inne prep, in 
 
 inned pp. provided inns, lodged 
 
 Innocent III: 1161-1216, Pope 
 
 inome pp. taken AS genomen 
 
 inow, inowh : enough AS genoh 
 
 inportable : insufferable, unbearable 
 OF. 
 
 inpossible: sb. an impossibility OF. 
 
 inquisityf: inquisitive OF. 
 
 inspired pp. filled with life or ani- 
 mation OF inspirer 
 
 instreumentis : instruments OF 
 instrument 
 
 instrument : musical instrument 
 
 intresse : interest, concern Lat 
 interesse "usury'* 
 
 inwith : within 
 
 ipeyntede pp. painted OF peint 
 
 < peindre 
 iren : iron 
 
 Isaude: Isolt, Iseult, Isolde; cf. 
 
 Tristram 
 istede : instead 
 istrike pp. struck AS gestricen 
 
 < strican 
 
 isworn pp. sworn AS gesworen 
 
 < swerian 
 
 itawght pp. taught AS getaht < 
 tsecan 
 
ITHEWID— 
 
 654 
 
 —JOVINIAN 
 
 ithewid a. or pp. trained, accus- 
 tomed AS ]?eaw "manner" 
 
 iwaxe pp. become AS weaxan 
 
 iwounde pp. wounded AS ge- 
 wundod 
 
 iwreten, iwretyn pp. written AS 
 gewriten < writan 
 
 iwroken pp. avenged AS ge- 
 wrocen < wrecan 
 
 iwrought, iwrowht pp. wrought 
 AS gewocht < wircan 
 
 jade : poor horse ; cf. Icel jada 
 
 "mare" 
 Jakke of Dovere: Jack of Dover, 
 
 probaby a warmed-over pastry 
 Jakke Straw: Jack Straw, leader 
 
 of riots in London (1381) 
 jalous, jalowse: jealous (fol. by 
 
 over) OF jalous 
 jalousie: jealousy OF. 
 jambeux : plates to protect the 
 
 shins OF. 
 Jame: James, at whose shrine the 
 
 Wife had been as pilgrim 
 jane : a small silver coin of Genoa, 
 
 whence the name 
 Janekyn : Jenkin 
 jangelynge : jangling, chattering 
 
 OF j angler 
 jangle 3 pr. pi. chatter; jangleth 
 
 2 pr. s. 
 janglere : noisy fellow, chatterer 
 jangleresse: loose talker 
 janglyng: disputing 
 Jankyn : Johnny ; priests were 
 
 called Sir John 
 Janus: Bifrons, the Roman god of 
 
 beginnings, two-faced 
 jape sb. trick, jest OF. 
 jape inf. jest, play tricks ; japed 
 
 pp. tricked 
 Jason: the leader of the Argonauts 
 
 in the quest for the Golden 
 
 Fleece, which he gained by the 
 
 aid of Medea, q. v. 
 jay: a bird which can be taught 
 
 a few words OF jai 
 Jay tout perdu mon temps et mon 
 
 labour: I have lost my tim.e and 
 
 my pains 
 jeet: jet OF jet 
 jelosye: jealousy OF. 
 
 jelous: jealous OF jalous 
 
 Jepte : Jephthah, judge of Israel ; 
 (cf. Book of Judges xi) 
 
 Jeremye : Jeremiah (iv) 
 
 Jerome : "Adversus Jovinianum" 
 Libri II, a Latin work of St. 
 Jerome (d. 420), directed against 
 a monk who held widows and 
 married women equal in grace 
 with virgins 
 
 jet: fashion; newe jet] latest style 
 OF get 
 
 jeupardyes pi. jeopardies, dangers ; 
 problems in chess, situations or 
 positions of chess men OF jeu 
 parti "a game with even 
 chances" 
 
 jeweles pi. jewels OF juel 
 
 Jewerye: Jewry, Jewish quarter 
 
 Jewes poss. pi. Jews' ; Jewes work] 
 perhaps damascened work, or in- 
 laid work 
 
 Jobes: Job's 
 
 Joce: St. Josse, confused by the 
 wife with Sir Joce, whose treat- 
 ment of his wife deserved and 
 received a reward similar to that 
 of the Wife ; (cf. Jean de Meung, 
 "Testament," 461 f. Skeat) 
 
 jocunde: merry Lat jocundus 
 
 jogelours: jugglers OF jogleor 
 
 jogelrye: act of jugglery OF. 
 
 John: the Nun's Priest 
 
 joie: joy OF. 
 
 jolif: jolly OF. 
 
 jolitee: enjoyment, comfort, fun 
 OF. 
 
 joly: pretty, merry OF. 
 
 jolyer: more handsome 
 
 jolynesse: merriment 
 
 jolyte: jollity 
 
 Jon: John 
 
 Jonas: Jonah 
 
 Jonathas: Jonathan 
 
 Joseph : son of Jacob, gained a 
 high position in Egypt through 
 his interpretation of Pharaoh's 
 dream of the seven lean kine 
 which devoured the seven fat 
 kine. Cf. Genesis xl. 41 
 
 journee: day's march OF. 
 
 Jovinian: object of Jerome's at- 
 tack in his treatise "Adv. Jovin- 
 ianum" ; cf. Jerome 
 
JOYE— 
 
 joye: joy 
 
 joynant a. adjoining OF joignant 
 
 joyned pt. s. joined, let touch 
 OF joindre 
 
 Jubaltar: Gibraltar 
 
 Judicum: the Book "of Judges" 
 Lat (gen. pi. used) 
 
 Judith: Judith of Bethulia, slew 
 Holofernes, captain of the host, 
 and saved her people, Cf. the 
 "Book of Judith," in the "Apoc- 
 rypha" 
 
 jueles: jewels OF juel 
 
 juge sb. judge OF. 
 
 juge 1 pr. s. judge 
 
 juggement: judgment, decision OF, 
 
 Julius: Julius Caesar 
 
 Juno: the consort of Jove, and 
 queen of Olympus 
 
 jupartie: jeopardy OF jeu parti 
 "game with even chances" 
 
 juste inf. joust, fight in tourna- 
 ment OF j ouster 
 
 justes pi. as s. tournament OF 
 justes 
 
 justise sb. judge ; administration 
 of justice 
 
 Juvenal: satirist of later Roman 
 empire 
 
 juwise, juyse: judgment, sentence 
 OF juise 
 
 K 
 
 kable: rope OF cable 
 
 kaityf: villain OF caitif 
 
 kakelynge : cackling 
 
 kalkuled: calculated OF calculer 
 
 kan pr. s., pi. know, knows, can; 
 
 cf. konne AS can 
 kanstow 2 pr. s. canst thou ; cf. 
 
 konne 
 karf 3 pt. s. cleft AS ceorfan 
 katapuce : caper-spurge F cata- 
 
 puce 
 kaught pt. s., pi. caught; cf. 
 
 cacche, OF cachier 
 Kaukasous : Caucasus, mountains 
 
 between Caspian and Black Seas 
 kaute pp. caught ; cf. cacche 
 kaves: caves OF, 
 kaynard: sluggard, fool OF cag- 
 
 nard 
 Kayrrud: "Red Town," an un- 
 
 655 — KNELED 
 
 known place in Brittany Celt 
 
 Kerr (town) -|- rud (red) 
 keen : cows AS cu ; pi. cy, eye, 
 
 gen. cyna 
 keene: bold AS cene 
 keep sb. notice, heed; take keep] 
 
 pay heed to AS cepan 
 kembd pp. combed AS camb 
 kempe: coarse (of hair) (PAS 
 
 cempa "champion") 
 kempt pp. combed 
 ken: kin, men; al ken] all men, 
 
 mankind AS cynn 
 kende pp. know, discern ; cf. 
 
 konne 
 kene a, keen, sharp AS cene 
 kene ad. keenly 
 Keneln: king of Mercia in the 
 
 ninth century, murdered as a 
 
 child 
 kep, kepe sb. heed; take kepe] 
 
 observe ; cf. keep 
 kepe inf. take care of, keep ; 
 
 good to kepe] worth returning 
 
 to, or sticking to 
 kepere sb. ruler, prior 
 kept pp. protected; from pirates 
 
 or privateers 
 kepynge p. pr. keeping; cf. kepe 
 kertelis : kirtles, frock AS cyrtel 
 kerve inf. cut ; korven, korvyn pp. 
 
 AS ceorfan 
 kervere : carver 
 kervyng sb. carving 
 kesse inf. kiss ; keste 3 pt. s. AS 
 
 cyssan 
 keverede pp. covered OF covrir 
 keye : key AS cseg f. 
 kichenes : kitchens AS cycene 
 kike inf. kick orig, unkn. 
 kind, kinde sb. nature AS cynd 
 
 fn. 
 king: king AS cyning 
 kisse inf. kiss; kys 2 imp. s. ; kist 
 
 pp. AS cysson 
 kitte 3 pt, s. cut; cf. kutte 
 knakkes pi. tricks 
 knarre sb. knot, knotty muscled 
 
 fellow; cf. LG knarre 
 knarry a. gnarled 
 knave : boy, servant ; knave-child] 
 
 male child AS cnafa 
 knavyssh : knavish 
 kneled 3 pt, s. knelt AS cneowlian 
 
KNELYNGE— 
 
 656 
 
 — LANGWISSHETH 
 
 knelynge : kneeling 
 
 knette inf. bind ; knet pp. ; cf . 
 knytte 
 
 knewe, knewh pt. s., pi., pt. s. subj. 
 knew ; cf. knowen 
 
 knight of the shire : the representa- 
 tive in Parliament of the county 
 at large 
 
 knobbes pi. blotches; cf. LG 
 knobbe 
 
 knokkeden 3 pt. pi. knocked AS 
 cnocian 
 
 knotte sb. knot AS cnotta 
 
 knowen inf. know; knowestow 2 
 pr. s. ; knowe pp. AS cnawan 
 
 knowes: knees AS cneow n. 
 
 knowlachynge : knowing, knowl- 
 edge 
 
 knowynge s. knowledge 
 
 knyf: knife, dagger AS cnif 
 
 knyghte : knight 
 
 knyghthod, knyghthede : knight- 
 hood 
 
 knytte inf. knit; knyttest 3 pr. s. 
 puttest thyself in conjunction (in 
 astronomical sign) B 306 ; knyt 
 pp. AS cnyttan 
 
 kok: cock AS coc 
 
 kon imp. acknowledge; cf. konne 
 
 konne inf. be able, know how, 
 know ; kan pr. s., pi. ; kanstow 
 2 pr. s. ; konne 2 pr. s. ; koude, 
 kouthe pt. ; kende, kouth, kowthe 
 pp. AS cunnan, pr. cann 
 
 konnyng : skill 
 
 konnyngly : skillfully 
 
 korven, korvyn pp. carved, cut; 
 cf. kerve 
 
 koude pt. knew, could; cf. konne 
 
 kouth pp. known; cf. konne 
 
 kouthe pt. could, knew how ; cf. 
 konne 
 
 kowthe pp. well known ; cf. konne 
 
 kunnynge: cunning, skillful 
 
 kutte inf. cut ; kitte 3 pt. s. ; kut 
 pp. ; orig. unkn. 
 
 kyd pp. disclosed AS cy?5an 
 
 kylle inf. kill; cf. AS cwellan 
 
 kynde sb. nature, species; by 
 kynde] according to its natural 
 function; by wey of kynde] in 
 the course of nature AS gecynd 
 fm. 
 
 kynde a. kind 
 
 kyndely ad. naturally 
 
 kyndely a. natural, kindly 
 
 kyndenesse: kindness 
 
 kyndled pp. kindles; cf. Icel 
 
 kynda 
 kyngis poss. king's 
 kynrede sb. kindred, family AS 
 
 cynn *'race'* -|- rseden "rule" 
 kys 2 imp. s. kiss; cf. kisse 
 kyte: kite, bird of prey AS cyta 
 kythe inf. disclose, show ; kytheth 
 
 3 pr. s. ; kyd pp. AS yt5an 
 
 laas, las: lace, cord, snare OF 
 laz 
 
 labbyng: blabbing, babbling; cf. 
 Du labben 
 
 laboure inf. labor OF labour 
 
 Lacedomya : Laodamia 
 
 Lacedomye : Lacedaemonia, Sparta 
 
 lacerte : muscle OF. 
 
 lacynge : lacing 
 
 lad pp. led; cf. lede 
 
 ladde 3 pt. s., pi. took, led; cf. 
 lede 
 
 ladel: ladle AS hl^del 
 
 ladi: lady AS hlsefdie 
 
 ladishippe : ladyship 
 
 lady : lady ; poss. lady's 
 
 lafte 3 pt. s. ; pp. neglected, 
 ceased ; cf. leve 
 
 lak, lakke sb. lack, defect; cf. 
 Dan lak *'slander" 
 
 lake: linen; cf. G laken 
 
 lakketh pr. s. lacks ; lakked pt. ; 
 cf. lak 
 
 lambyssh : lamb-like 
 
 Lamek, Lamekys poss. Lamech, 
 the first practicer of polygamy. 
 Genesis iv. and v. He was the 
 father of Jubal and Jubal-Cain; 
 cf. Tuballe 
 
 Lamedon: Laomedon, father of 
 King Priam of Troy 
 
 lamentacioun : lamentation OF. 
 
 Lameth : Lamech 
 
 Lamwel: Lemuel, the king (Prov- 
 erbs xxxi. 1) 
 
 langage sb. language; fair Ian- 
 gage] flattery OF. 
 
 langour: pain, torment OF. 
 
 langwissheth 3 pr. s. languishes; 
 langwissing p. OF languir 
 
LANGUYSSYNGE— 
 
 657 
 
 — LEEVESTOW 
 
 languyssynge pr. p. langtiishing 
 
 lanterne : lantern OF. 
 
 Laodomya : Laodamia, wife of 
 
 Protesilaus, chose to die with 
 
 him 
 lappa sb. lap, fold of garment, 
 
 wrapper iVS laeppa 
 lappeth : embraceth 
 lapwynge : lapwing AS hleape- 
 
 wince 
 large a. free, generous; at his 
 
 large] at liberty OF. 
 large ad. freely 
 
 largesse: generosity, nobility OF. 
 larke : lark AS lawerce 
 las: leash, net, snare OF laz 
 lasch sb. lash ; cf. Du lasch 
 lasse a, less; lasse and moore] 
 
 both smaller and greater AS 
 
 Isessa 
 lasse ad. less 
 last pi. loads; last quade yeer] 
 
 wagon-load of bad years AS 
 
 hlaest 
 last, laste inf., 3 pr. s. ; 3 pt. s., 
 
 pi. last, endure ; lasteth 3 pr. s. 
 
 AS Isestan 
 lat imp. allow; cf. lette 
 laten blood pp. let blood, drained 
 
 off the gravy, that it might keep 
 
 longer ; cf. lette 
 laton, latoun: latten, a brass alloy 
 
 OF laton 
 Latumyus: friend of Arrius 
 Latyn, Latyne sb. Latin 
 laude sb. praise F laude 
 laughe inf. laugh ; lough 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 laughan pp. AS hlehhan 
 launcegay: a kind of lance OF 
 
 lanegaie 
 Launcelet: Sir Launcelot, chief 
 
 knight in Arthur's court 
 launde: clearing, dale OF lande 
 laurer, laurier: laurel OF laurier 
 lauriat: laureate, crowned with 
 
 laurel Lat laureatus 
 lavender: laundress OF lavandier 
 lavours: lavers, basins OF laveoir 
 Lavyne : Lavinia, whom ^neas 
 
 married after he reached Italy 
 lawe : law ; lawe in kind] law of 
 
 nature AS lagu f. 
 lawghe inf. laugh AS hlehhan 
 lawghtre: laughter AS hleahtor 
 
 lawghynge p. laughing 
 lawrer: laurel OF laurier 
 lawriol: spurge-laurel OF laureole 
 laxatyf: lavative, purge OF laxa- 
 
 tif 
 lay sb. lay, song OF lai < Celt 
 
 laoi "poem" 
 lay sb. law, faith OF lei 
 lay 3 pt. s., pi. ; cf. lye 
 layneres: thongs: with layneres 
 lacynge] with fastening up of 
 straps OF laniere 
 lazar: leper Lat Lazarus (Luke 
 
 xvi. 20) 
 Leandre: Leander, lover of Hero, 
 who frequently swam the Helles- 
 pont to see her, and was finally 
 drowned in a storm 
 leche: leech, physician AS Isece 
 lechecraft: skill in medicine 
 lecherous a. sensual OF. 
 lecherye: lust OF. 
 lechour: lewd fellow OF lecheor 
 lede inf. bring; ledith pr. s. ; leden 
 pr. pi; ladd pt. s., pi.; lad pp. 
 AS Isldan 
 leden sb. speech; ledene dat. AS 
 
 leden , 
 ledith pr. s. leads; cf. lede 
 leed sb. kettle, the kitchen-copper, 
 sometimes built in permanently 
 with grate, or furnace, below 
 AS lead n. 
 leed sb. lead 
 
 leef sb. leaf; leef or with the 
 flour. Lb 72, an apparent refer- 
 ence to a courtly debate among 
 poets in Chaucer's time AS leaf 
 n. 
 leef a. lief, gladly AS leof 
 leefful: permissible AS leaf -|- ful 
 leeges: lieges, subjects OF liege 
 leene a. lean AS hlaene 
 leep 3 pt. s. leaped AS hleapan 
 leere sb. the loin, flank ME lire; 
 
 cf. Icel Iser 
 leere inf. learn AS leornian 
 leese inf. lose ; cf. lese AS leosan 
 leeste: least 
 
 leet pt. s. let; leet he slyde] he 
 neglected ; leet do] ordered to 
 make ; cf. lette 
 leeve a. dear AS leofe 
 leevestow: believest thou; cf. leve 
 
LEEVETH— 
 
 658 
 
 — LICENCIAT 
 
 leeveth pr. believes; cf. leva 
 
 lefere : gladder, more welcome 
 
 left pp. left, neglected; cf. leva 
 
 legenda: story, often religious OF. 
 
 lagges: legs; cf. Icel leggr 
 
 laid pp. laid 
 
 lakes pi. leeks AS leac 
 
 lames: beams AS leoma 
 
 lames: limbs AS lim 
 
 lemman : lover, mistress AS leof 
 
 **dear" + mann 
 lane inf., imp. lend, give AS 
 
 laenan 
 lane a. lean, thin AS hlsene 
 langar a. longer AS. 
 langar ad. longer; ever lenger 
 
 the more] the longer I love and 
 
 dread you, the more I do Pi 95 
 langast: longest 
 lengtha: length, height; upon 
 
 lengthe] after a long run AS 
 
 leng>u 
 Lante: Lenten time 
 laonassa : lioness 
 laonyn: lion-like OF leonin 
 laorna inf. learn AS leornian 
 lacs : people ; cf. haven 
 leoun : lion ; the constellation Leo, 
 
 of which the principal star is 
 
 called Regulus (royal) 
 Lapa: a town in Spain 
 lara inf. learn ; larad pp. AS 
 
 laeran 
 lerna inf. learn, teach; larnad pp. 
 
 AS leornian 
 larnyd a. learned, educated 
 larnynga sb. learning 
 lesa sb. leash OF lesse 
 lasa inf. lose, ruin ; lasath 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 losta pt. s. ; lostan pr. pi. ; lore, 
 
 lorn, lorna, lost pp. AS leosan 
 lassa: less AS Isessa 
 lassoun: lesson F legon 
 lest sb. 'delight, desire AS lust 
 last pr. s. list, desire AS lystan 
 last a. least 
 lastyth 2 pr. pi. list, desire ; cf. 
 
 last 
 lesynge: losing, loss 
 lasynges: lies, deceits AS leasung 
 let 3 pr. s. hinders ; pp. ; cf. lattan 
 let imper. put aside ; cf. latta 
 late inf. let, allow, give up, di- 
 vorce ; cf. latta 
 
 latith pr. s. leave ; cf. latta 
 
 latra s. letters OF. 
 
 lette sb. delay < AS lettan 
 
 "hinder" 
 lette, lattan inf. let, allow, give up, 
 
 cease ; lete pr. s. ; letith pr. s, ; 
 
 leat pt. s. ; lat, let imp. ; latan 
 
 pp. AS Isetan 
 latta 3 pt. s. hindered ; cf. lattan 
 lettan inf. hinder ; lat, lattest pr. 
 
 s. ; lette pt. s. ; lat pp. AS let- 
 tan 
 lattest pr. s. hindrest ; cf. lattan 
 lattaris : characters 
 Lattow: Lithuania, now a part of 
 
 Western Russia and Eastern 
 
 Prussia 
 lattrura: learning OF letreiire 
 letuaria: letuary, physician's chest 
 
 of remedies; s., pi. medicine < 
 
 Lat electuarium 
 leva sb. permission, leave AS 
 
 leaf f. 
 leve a. dear; leve nor looth] good 
 
 or ill AS leof 
 lava inf., 1 pr. s., imp. believe; 
 
 laavath pr. s. ; leavastow 2 pr. s. 
 
 AS lefan < gelefan 
 lava inf., 3 pr. s. leave, neglect; 
 
 lafte 3 pt. s., pi. ; lafta, left pp. 
 
 AS Isefan 
 lava imp. live ; cf. lyvan AS lifian 
 lavada 3 pt. pi. lived ; cf. lyven 
 leveful : permissible 
 lavana: lightning-bolt 
 lavara a. dearer 
 levas pi. leaves 
 lavyth 3 pr. s. lives ; cf. lyvan 
 lawad, lawada: ignorant, base, 
 
 rude, lay AS laewede **laical" 
 lewadanassa, lawadnassa : rude 
 
 speech, ignorance, stupidity 
 lawadasta: most vile 
 lawadly : ignorantly 
 lawid : ignorant 
 lay inf., 3 pt. s., imp. lay; layn 
 
 pr. pi. ; layda pt. s., pi. ; leyd. 
 
 layde pp. AS lecgan 
 layn 3 pr. pi. lay ; cf. lay 
 laysar: leisure, time OF leisir 
 Libra: the Balance, a sign of the 
 
 zodiac 
 licanciat: the licentiate had a li- 
 cense from the Pope to hear con- 
 
LICHE— 
 
 659 
 
 —LOO 
 
 fessions everywhere, independ- 
 ently of the local authorities 
 
 Lat. 
 liche : like AS gelice 
 licour: liquor OF licur 
 lief a. dear ; as sb. friend ; good 
 
 lief my wyf] my dear good wife 
 
 AS leof 
 lif: life AS Hf 
 lifly ad. to the life 
 liftyng: lifting 
 lige: true, loyal OF liege 
 ligeance: allegiance OF. 
 liges: lieges, vassals 
 liggen inf. lie AS licgan 
 liggynge p. lying 
 light: easy, light AS leoht 
 lighte inf. feel light; 3 pt. s. 
 
 lighted, illuminated ; lightned pp. 
 
 AS lihtan 
 lighte 3 pt. s. alighted AS lihtan 
 lightned pp. lighted (as the moon 
 
 by the sun) 
 lightnesse : light 
 ligne: line, descent OF. 
 lihte: simple; cf. light 
 likerous : thirsty, greedy, wanton 
 
 AS liccian 
 liketh 3 pr. impers; if you liketh] 
 
 if you please ; cf. likne AS lician 
 likinge : pleasure 
 liklihede : likelihood 
 likly : likely 
 liklynesse : probability 
 likne inf. liken ; liketh, likyth 3 
 
 pr. impers. ; likned pp. ; cf. lyken 
 liknesse : parable 
 likyth 3 pr. impers. pleases; cf. 
 
 likne 
 lilye sb. lily AS lilie 
 lippe : lip AS lippa 
 lipsed 3 pt. s. lisped < AS wlisp 
 
 "stammering" 
 lisse sb. solace, comfort, allevia- 
 tion AS liss, lijjs f. 
 lisse inf. alleviate, comfort, ease ; 
 
 lysse pr. s. subj. ; lissed pp. AS 
 
 lissan 
 list sb. desire AS lust m. 
 liste impers. it pleased 
 listes pi. the lists in which tour- 
 naments were held AS list 
 listow 2 pr. s. liest thou ; cf. lye 
 lite: small, little AS lyt 
 
 litel, litele a. little AS lytel 
 
 litel ad. little 
 
 litestere: dyer ME lit *'dye" + 
 stere 
 
 lith sb. limb AS liS 
 
 lithe 3 pr. s. lieth ; cf. lye 
 
 litil: little 
 
 livede 3 pt. pi. lived ; cf. lyven 
 
 Livius: Livy, Roman historian, 
 whose story of Appius and Vir- 
 ginia (bk. iii) came to Chaucer 
 through the Roman de la Rose 
 
 lode: load AS l5d f. 
 
 lodemenage: pilotage AS lodmann 
 "guide" 
 
 lofte: lofte ; kepte on lofte] kept 
 aloft, sustained ; cf. Icel lopt 
 
 logger lodge, place OF loge 
 
 logged pp. lodged 
 
 loggyng: lodging 
 
 logh : low ; cf. Icel lagr 
 
 logyk sb. logic F logique 
 
 loke sb. look < AS locian 
 
 loke inf. look, see, contemplate, 
 search ; looketh imp. ; loked pt. 
 pp. ; over loked] looked over 
 AS locian 
 
 loken pp. locked < AS loc 
 
 lokkes: locks of hair AS locc m. 
 
 lokyng, lokynge : glance, gazing, 
 manner of looking; lokynge of] 
 looking at 
 
 LoUere : Lollard, mumbler of 
 prayers, a term of reproach ap- 
 pield to such reformers as Wy- 
 clif; it is confused with Idler, 
 a vagabond, and is made to pun 
 badly with the Latin lolium, 
 or tare, as in B 1183 
 
 lomb: lamb AS lamb n. 
 
 lond sb. land ; pi. countries AS 
 lond n. 
 
 longcastel: punning allusion to 
 Lancaster, John of Gaunt, earl of 
 Richmond ("riche hil") Du 1318 
 
 longe a. long 
 
 longen inf. belong; longeth 3 pr. s. 
 
 < AS gelong 
 longen 3 pr. pi. long, desire; 
 
 longed pt. s. AS langian 
 longere : longer 
 longes: lungs AS lungen 
 longynge : belonging 
 loo inter j. lo ! 
 
LOODE-STERRE— 
 
 660 
 
 — LYGHT 
 
 loode-sterre: lode-star, pole-star 
 
 looke sb. glance 
 
 looketh imp. search ; of. loke 
 
 lookyng sb. glance 
 
 loore: lore, learning, teaching AS 
 lar f. 
 
 loos a. loose, unrestrained; cf. 
 Icel lauss 
 
 Looth: Lot, Abraham's kinsman 
 
 looth a. loath, unwilling, odious, 
 hateful; looth or lief] displeasing 
 or pleasing; me were looth] I 
 should be loath AS la?S 
 
 loothly a. hideous 
 
 lord: lord (Mars) B 303; lordes 
 poss. AS hlaford m. "loaf- 
 ward" 
 
 Lorde interj. Lord ! 
 
 lordeth 3 pr. s. lords over 
 
 lordynges: sirs 
 
 lore sb. learning AS lar f. 
 
 lore pp. lost ; cf. lese 
 
 lorel : wretch ; cf. lorn, a "lost" 
 person 
 
 lorn pp. lost; cf. lese 
 
 los, losse: loss, destruction AS. 
 
 losengeour: flattering liar OF 
 losengeor 
 
 loste pt. s., pp. lost; cf. lese 
 
 losten pt. pi lost; cf. lese 
 
 lothere: less welcome 
 
 lotynge: hiding; cf. AS lutian 
 
 loude ad. loud AS hlude 
 
 loueste : lowest 
 
 lough : low ; cf. Icel lagr 
 
 lough 3 pt. s., pi. laughed; cf. 
 laughe 
 
 louryng: lowering, threatening; cf. 
 Du loeren 
 
 loute inf. bow AS lutian 
 
 love sb. love, lady-love AS lufu 
 
 love-days: days for settling dis- 
 putes by a referee, without going 
 to law. .The friars were fre- 
 quently the umpires 
 
 love-drury: aflfection OF druerie 
 
 love-drynke : love-potion 
 
 love-knotte : love-knot 
 
 love-likynge : loving 
 
 lovede 3 pt. s. loved 
 
 loves: loaves AS hlaf 
 
 lovyere : lover < AS lufian 
 
 lowde: loud, rude AS hlud 
 
 lowe: low, draggled, in a low 
 
 pitch ; he bar him lowe] behaved 
 as a menial 
 
 lowely a. humble 
 
 lowely ad. humbly 
 
 lowere : lower 
 
 Lucan: Lucan, b. 38 A. D., 
 Roman poet, wrote Pharsalia, an 
 historical poem treating of Caesar 
 and Pompey 
 
 luce sb. pike OF lus 
 
 Lucifer: the fallen angel 
 
 Lucina: the moon, Proserpina 
 
 Lucrece: wife of Collatinus; when 
 ravished by Sextus Tarquinius, 
 she slew herself for shame. Her 
 death is given as the cause for 
 the overthrow of the kingly 
 power and the foundation of the 
 republic in Rome 
 
 Lucresse; cf. Lucrece 
 
 Lucye: Lucilia, wife of Lucretius 
 
 lulleth 3 pr. s. lulls, soothes; cf. 
 G lullen 
 
 Lumbardye: Lombardy, the plain 
 of North Italy, in which Milan 
 is situated 
 
 lurkynge : lying hid 
 
 lussheburghes: light coins from 
 Luxembourg, whence the name 
 
 lust, luste sb. desire, pleasure, de- 
 light AS lust 
 
 luste 3 pt. s. reflex, liked 
 
 lustyhede: lustihood, vigor 
 
 lustely, lustily: lustily, gaily 
 
 lusty: eager, vigorous, gay < AS 
 lust 
 
 lustynesse : pleasure 
 
 luxurie : lechery OF. 
 
 luyte ad. little; cf. lyte 
 
 lychewake: watch over a corpse 
 AS lie -f- waca 
 
 lycorys: licorice OF licoris 
 
 Lyde: Lydia, an ancient kingdom 
 in Asia Minor 
 
 lye sb. a lie AS lyge 
 
 lye inf. lie, lie prostrate, remain, 
 lodge ; listow 2 pr. s. ; lithe, lyth 
 pr. s. ; lay pt. s., pi AS licgan 
 
 lyen inf. tell lies, deceive; lyeth 
 pr. ; lyed pt. AS leogan 
 
 Lyeys: city in Armenia, taken 
 about 1367 
 
 lyf, lyfe: life AS lif 
 
 lyght sb. light AS leoht 
 
LYGHT— 
 
 661 
 
 —MAISTRIE 
 
 lyght a. light, easy 
 
 lygne: line OF ligne 
 
 Lygurge : Lycurgus 
 
 lyinge p. lying 
 
 lyke a. like AS gelice 
 
 lyke conj. as 
 
 lyken inf. please ; lykne 1 pr. s. ; 
 
 lyked 3 pt. s. ; lyke pr. s. subj. 
 
 AS lician 
 lykerous : lecherous 
 lyking sb. pleasure 
 lylie sb. lily AS lilie 
 lym: limb AS lim 
 lym : lime AS lim 
 lyme-rod: lime-twig 
 lymere : dog in leash ; lymerys pi. 
 
 OF limier 
 lymmes pi. limbs 
 lymytacioun: limit, district OF 
 
 limitation 
 lymytour sb. a begging friar who 
 
 was limited in his begging to a 
 
 certain territory OF. 
 lynage : lineage, descent F lignage 
 lynde: linden tree AS lind f. 
 lyne: line, race OF ligne 
 lyned pp. lined 
 
 Lynyan: Giovanni di Lignano, pro- 
 fessor of law at Bologne, 1363- 
 
 1383 
 lysse pr. s. subj. comfort, ease; 
 
 cf. lisse 
 lyst sb. ear < AS hlyst, hearing 
 lyst pr. s. impers. it pleases; me 
 lyst ryght evil] I had no desire to 
 
 AS lystan 
 lystes: lists 
 lytarge sb. litharge, lead monoxide 
 
 OF. 
 lyte a. little 
 lyte ad. little 
 lytel a., ad. little 
 lyth sb. limb AS liS 
 lyth 3 pr. s. lies (at law) ; cf. lye 
 lyve dat. life; a life; on lyve] 
 
 alive ; in his life (with vague 
 
 expletive force) D 43 ; hiS lyve] 
 
 in his life Du 247 
 lyven inf. live ; lyve 1 pr. s. ; 
 
 levyth 3 pr. s. ; levede, livede 3 
 
 pt. pi. ; leva imp. AS libban 
 lyvely a. lively 
 ly ver : liver, person alive 
 lyveree : livery F livree 
 
 lyves (a. use), alive, live, living 
 Lyvia : Livia, wife and murderer 
 
 of Drusus, son of Tiberius, A. D. 
 
 23 
 lyvis creature : living creature 
 lyvynge : life, manner of life ; in 
 
 hir lyvynge, hir lyvynge] during 
 
 her whole life 
 lyvys (a. use), life's 
 
 M 
 
 maad 3 pt. s., pp. made; cf. make 
 
 maat a. dejected, feeble OF 
 mater 
 
 Macedoyne, Macidonye : Mace- 
 donia 
 
 Machabee : "Book of the Macca- 
 bees," in the Apocrypha 
 
 Macrobeus: Macrobius, Latin au- 
 thor of about 400, whose edition 
 of Cicero's "Somnium Scipionis" 
 was accepted as authoritative on 
 the subject of dreams. 
 
 mad inf. be mad ; madde 2 pr. s. 
 < AS gemaidd 
 
 mad pp. made; cf. make 
 
 madist 2 pt. s. made ; cf. make 
 
 Madriaji: probably St. Mathurin, 
 whose body would not stay in 
 the earth until it was buried in 
 France, as he desired 
 
 madyn 3 pt. pi. made ; cf. make 
 
 madyr: madder, a plant used in 
 dyeing AS maedere 
 
 magestee : majesty, power OF 
 majeste 
 
 magicien : magician OF. 
 
 magyk sb. magic; magyk nat- 
 ureel] a proper use of occult 
 powers, as opposed to the im- 
 proper use, or black art OF. 
 
 Mahoun : Mahomet, Mohammed 
 B 224 
 
 maille : mail, armor OF maille 
 "ring of mail" 
 
 maist 2 pr. s. may ; cf. mow 
 
 maister: master, sir (a general 
 appellative) ; maistres pi. OF 
 maistre 
 
 maister-strete: main street 
 
 maister-tour : main tower 
 
 maistresse : mistress ; duenna 
 
 maistrie : the best ; medical term = 
 sovereign OF, 
 
MAKE- 
 
 662 
 
 — MATHEW 
 
 make sb. mate, husband, wife AS 
 gemaca 
 
 make inf. make, draft, formulate, 
 compose (poetry) ; makestow 2 
 pr. s. ; maketh 3 pr. s. ; maken 
 3 pr. pi. ; madist 2 pt. s. ; made, 
 maad 3 pt. s, ; madyn 3 pt. pi. ; 
 mad, maad, maked pp. AS 
 macian 
 
 makere: creator Pf 199 
 
 makestow 2 pr. s. makest thou ; 
 cf. make 
 
 Makomete : Mohammed 
 
 makyng: composing 
 
 maladye : malady ; lik the loveris 
 maladye of Hereos] like one 
 afflicted with the lover's disease 
 OF maladie A 1373 
 
 male: bag OF male 
 
 malencolie: melancholy, bitter hu- 
 mor OF malencollie 
 
 malencolik a. melancholic, one of 
 the four humors; choleric, phleg- 
 matic, sanguine and melancholic 
 
 maleys: malice OF malice 
 
 malgre: in spite of OF. 
 
 Malkin: Maud, the maid 
 
 Malkynes: poss. of Malkin, nick- 
 name for Maud ' 
 
 Malle: a sheep's name; (cf. 
 Burns' Buir Mailie) 
 
 malyce : malice 
 
 manace sb. menace, threat OF 
 menace 
 
 manaceth 3 pr. s. menaces OF. 
 
 manasynge : threatening 
 
 mandementz : summonses OF. 
 
 mane, techel, phares; cf. Daniel v. 
 
 maner: manor-house OF maneir 
 "village" 
 
 maner, manere: manner, behavior, 
 deportment ; kind of, sort of ; 
 assured maner] self-reliance OF 
 maniere 
 
 manhede, manhod : manhood, man- 
 liness 
 
 mankynde : mankind, the human 
 race 
 
 mannes poss. s. man's 
 
 mannysh : virago, woman who as- 
 sumes man's character 
 
 mansioun : mansion ; cf. paleys 
 OF. 
 
 manslawhtre : manslaughter AS 
 
 mannslacht 
 mantel sb. mantle, cloak OF. 
 mantelet: small mantle OF. 
 manye sb. mania OF manie 
 manye a. many AS manig 
 manys: poss. man's 
 mapamonde: map of the world 
 
 OF mappemonde 
 mapul: maple AS mapultreow 
 marbul: marble OF marbre 
 marchal: marshal OF mareschal 
 marchant sb. merchant OF. 
 Marcia Catouri: Marcia, daughter 
 
 of Cato the Younger, refused to 
 
 remarry 
 Marcien: belonging to Mars 
 mareys: marsh OF marais 
 mariage : marriage ; maad many a 
 
 mariage ... at his owene cost] 
 
 arranged weddings OF. 
 mark: likeness, image AS mearc 
 
 D 696 
 mark : an English money pf ac- 
 count, value 13s. 4d. AS marc 
 markys: marquis OF. 
 markysesse : marchioness 
 Mars: the god of war 
 Martes: poss, of Mars 
 martir: martyr; Thomas a Becket, 
 
 slain at Canterbury, 1170, by 
 
 emissaries of Henry II. A 17 
 
 AS martyr 
 martirdom: martyrdom 
 martireth 3 pr. s. martyrs 
 marybones: marrow-bones 
 maryed 3 pt. s. married 
 maryneer : mariner OF marinier 
 mased : amazed, bewildered ; cf. 
 
 Norw. masast *'to fall asleep" 
 masse: mass, eucharist OF. 
 Massyrisse: Massinissa, king of 
 
 Numidia, ally of Rome 
 mast: mast, acorns, beechnuts 
 
 AS maest f. 
 maste: mast (of a ship) maest m 
 mastresse; cf. maistresse 
 mat : exhausted ; cf . maat 
 mate : checkmate ; exhausted ; cf. 
 
 check 
 mateere, matere : matter, business, 
 
 subject OF matiere 
 Mathew: the "gospeller," who 
 
MATRIMOIGNE— 
 
 663 
 
 — MERCENARIE 
 
 gives the words "swear not at 
 all" (v. 34) 
 
 matrimoigne : matrimony OF mat- 
 rimoine 
 
 matyns: matins, prayers OF 
 matines ^ 
 
 Maudelayne, Maudeleyne: a cor- 
 ruption of Magdalen 
 
 maugree: in spite of OF. 
 
 maumettrie: Islam, Mohammedan- 
 ism 
 
 maunciple : manciple, or steward of 
 an inn of court or a college OF 
 manciple 
 
 Mauricius: son of Alia and Con- 
 stance 
 
 mawe : stomach AS maga m. 
 
 mawgree : in spite of ; mawgree my 
 hede] in spite of all I could do 
 OF. 
 
 Maximus : a Roman officer 
 
 may: maiden AS mseg 
 
 mayde sb. maid, maid-servant 
 AS maegden 
 
 mayde a. unmarried, chaste ; (of 
 man or Vv^om.an) AS maegden 
 D 79 
 
 mayden : maid ; maydenys pi. 
 
 maydenhede, maydenhod, maydyn- 
 hed : maidenhood, chastity 
 
 may me: injure OF mahaignier 
 
 mayntene, maynteyne inf. main- 
 tain, carry out OF maintenir 
 A 1441 
 
 mayst 2 pr. s. may ; cf. mow 
 
 mayster sb. master 
 
 mayster a. master, chief 
 
 maystrye: token of mastery 
 
 maze : puzzling thing ; cf. mase • 
 
 mazednesse: amazement 
 
 mazelyn : maple-bowl; cf. ODu 
 maser "maple-excrescence" 
 
 me pers. pron., dat. and ace. to 
 me, me 
 
 Mecene : Messene, a town near 
 Sparta 
 
 meche, mechel : much; cf. mochel 
 
 mede, meede : mead, meadow AS 
 msed f, 
 
 mede : mead (drink) AS meodo m. 
 
 Medea: wife of Jason q. v. She 
 helped Jason to obtain the 
 Golden Fleece, and then fled 
 with him to Greece. By magic 
 
 she restored Jason's father to 
 youth. When Jason proved un- 
 true to her, she slew her chil- 
 dren, took vengeance on her 
 rival, and returned to her home 
 
 medecyne sb. remedy OF. 
 
 mediacion, mediacioun : mediation, 
 intercession OF. 
 
 mediae a. medley, of mixed stuff 
 or color OF medlee 
 
 meede sb. reward AS med f. 
 
 Meede: Lucre 
 
 meeke: meek Scand. 
 
 meel: meal AS melu 
 
 meene inf. mean, intend, say ; 
 mene 1 pr. s, ; menyst 2 pr. s. ; 
 mente 3 pt. s. ; ment pp. AS 
 msenan "tell" 
 
 meenewhile : meanwhile 
 
 meeste : greatest (in rank) 
 
 meeth: mead (drink) AS meodu 
 
 meetre: metre, verse OF. 
 
 meignee: army; cf. meynee OF 
 maisnie B 3532 
 
 mekly : meekly 
 
 meknesse: meekness 
 
 Melan : Milan 
 
 melancoly^ : melancholy, sadness 
 OF melancolie 
 
 Meleagree: Meleager, Grecian hero, 
 organized the Calydonian boar- 
 hunt 
 
 meles pi. meals, repasts AS mael 
 n. 
 
 Melesie: maidens of Miletus, in 
 Asia Minor 
 
 melle: mill AS mylen 
 
 melodye : melody, music OF. 
 
 membre : member, part OF. 
 
 memorial: preserving memory OF. 
 
 memorie : memory ; in memorie] 
 conscious OF. 
 
 memoyre : memory, recollection 
 OF memoire 
 
 mencioun sb. m.ention OF men- 
 tion 
 
 mene a. middle; meene weyes : 
 middle course OF meiien 
 
 mente 3 pt. s. meant; cf. meene; 
 ment pp. 
 
 menyst 2 pr. s. say, mean ; cf. 
 meene 
 
 mercenarie : hireling Lat mercen- 
 arius 
 
MERCURIE— 
 
 664 
 
 — MOEVYNG 
 
 Mercuric: Mercury, patron of 
 
 learning and of "clerks" ; also 
 
 the star Mercury, opposite in its 
 
 exaltation and dejection to 
 
 Venus 
 mercy interj. have mercy! OF 
 
 Du 1218 
 mercyable: merciful OF merciable 
 mere: mare AS mere f. 
 mere: F sea 
 
 merite: recompense OF. 
 merk: image, form AS mearc 
 merlioun: merlin, a kind of hawk 
 
 OF esmerillon 
 mermayde: mermaid 
 meroure, merour: mirror OF 
 
 mireor 
 merthe: mirth, good cheer AS 
 
 myrg> f. 
 merveille, mervayles pi. wonder, 
 
 strange circumstance, marvels 
 
 OF. 
 merveillous: marvellous 
 mery a. merry AS myrig 
 mery ad. (ironically) finely 
 meschance: misfortune OF mes- 
 
 cheance 
 mescheef. meschief: mishap, mis- 
 fortune; at meschief] overcome, 
 
 defeated OF. 
 message : message, messenger, 
 
 prophet OF. 
 messager: messenger 
 messagerye : message-sending 
 messedayes: mass-days 
 mester : occupation OF mestier 
 mesurable a. temperate OF. 
 mesure s. moderation; by mesure] 
 
 moderately, to a proper extent 
 
 OF. 
 met 3 pr. s. dreameth; cf. mete 
 met pp. dreamed; cf. mete 
 mete sb._ meat, food ; at mete] at 
 
 the table AS mete m. 
 mete a. meet, fitting; no mete] 
 
 no equal Du 488 AS msete 
 mete inf. meet ; metyth 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 mette pt. pp. AS metan 
 mete inf. dream ; met, mette pr. 
 
 s. ; mette pt. ; met pp. AS msetan 
 Metellius: Metellius, said by Vale- 
 rius Maximus to have killed his 
 
 wife when drunk 
 
 Methamorphosios: the "Metamor- 
 phoses" of Ovid 
 
 methynketh: I think 
 
 metres: poetry OF. 
 
 mette 3 pt. pi., pp. met; cf. mete 
 
 mette ^pt. dreamed; cf. mete 
 
 metynge sb. dreaming; kynges 
 metynge Pharao] the dream of 
 King Pharaoh 
 
 metyth 3 pr. s. meets; cf. mete 
 
 meve inf. move OF moveir 
 
 mevid : proposed 
 
 mewe: perch or place for bird 
 OF mue 
 
 meynee: household menials, ser- 
 vants, company OF maisnie 
 
 meyntenaunce s. demeanor OF 
 maintenance 
 
 Middelburgh: a Dutch port on the 
 island of Walcheren. The wool 
 staple was situated here from 
 1384 to 1388, before and after 
 which it was at Calais. This 
 reference seems to date the writ- 
 ing of the prologue between 1384 
 and 1388 
 
 mille: mill AS mylen 
 
 miilere : miller 
 
 ministre : servant, ruler ; pi. officers 
 OF. 
 
 mirour sb. mirror OF mireor 
 
 mirre: myrrh OF. 
 
 mis sb. wrong OF L 266 
 
 mis a. wrong 
 
 mishappe 3 pr. imper. mishap, go 
 wrong 
 
 misseyst 2 pr. s. speakest ill 
 
 miteyn: mJtten OF mitaine 
 
 mo a. morCj another ; tymes mo] 
 at other times AS ma n. 
 
 mo ad. more 
 
 mochel sb. size AS micel 
 
 mochel a., ad. much 
 
 modifye inf. modify OF modifier 
 
 modyr : mother AS modor 
 
 moebles: furniture OF moble 
 
 moerdre sb. murder AS mort5or 
 
 moeved 3 pt. s. stirred OF moveir 
 
 moevere : mover, originator 
 
 moevyng : moving ; firste moevyng] 
 the primum mobile, or first (that 
 is, ninth) sphere, in which all 
 planets are carried in diurnal mo- 
 tion from east to west (Ptolemy) 
 
MONE— 
 
 665 
 
 —•'MY LIEF IS 
 
 mone sb. moon AS mona 
 
 mone sb. moan, complaint (? AS 
 
 man f.) 
 moneie, moneye: money OF. 
 monethe sb. month AS monatS m. 
 monstre: monster OF. 
 montaigne: mountain OF. 
 montance: amount, value OF. 
 monthe: month AS mdnatS m. 
 mony: many AS monig 
 moo: more; cf. mo 
 mooder: mother; the earth C 729; 
 
 cf. moder 
 moone sb. moon ; phases of moon 
 
 A 403 ; cf. mone 
 moore a. more AS mara 
 moorne 3 pr. s., pi. mourn ; cf. 
 
 morne 
 moornynge : mourning 
 moost: most, greatest 
 moote 3 pr. s., 1 pr. pi. must; 
 
 cf. mot 
 moralitee : morality OF. 
 mordre sb, murder AS mortSor 
 morder 1 pr. s. murder; mordred 
 
 2 pt. pi. subj. ; mordred pp. AS 
 
 myrSrian 
 mordrere : murderer 
 mordrynge : murdering 
 mormal sb. cancer, open sore OF 
 
 mortmal 
 morne sb. morning; morne milk] 
 
 morning-milk AS morgen m. 
 morne inf. mourn; moorne, 
 
 moorneth pr. AS murnan 
 Morpheus: the god of dreams, son 
 
 of Somnus, god of sleep, some- 
 times called the god of sleep 
 morter: mortar OF mortier 
 mortherere: murderer 
 mortreux sb. a kind of stew or 
 
 soup OF. 
 morwe : morrow, morning ; a 
 
 morwe] in the morning; by the 
 
 morwe] in the morning AS 
 
 morgen 
 morwenynge sb. morning 
 morwe-song: matins A 830 
 morwetyde : morning 
 morv/nyng : morning 
 mosel : muzzle OF musel 
 most, moste 1, 3 pt. s. must, might 
 mot, mote 1 pr. s. must ; mote, 
 
 moote 3 pr. s. ; moote 3 pr. pi. ; 
 motyn 1 pr. pi. AS mot 
 
 mote sb. notes of horn OF mot 
 
 motes sb. pi. motes, small par- 
 ticles AS mot 
 
 mottelee sb. motley, party-colored 
 garb; cf. OF motelet ''little 
 clod" 
 
 motthes: moths AS mot5Se 
 
 motyf: idea OF motif 
 
 motyn pr. pi. must; cf. mot 
 
 mountaunce, mountenaunce : 
 amount OF montance 
 
 mous : mouse AS mus, pi. mys 
 
 moustre sb. pattern OF. 
 
 mow 3 pr. pi. may; mowe pr. s., 
 pi. ; maist 2 pr. s. ; myght, 
 myghten pr. AS magan 
 
 mowled pp. mouldy, old ; cf. 
 mowlen < ME moul "mould" 
 
 mowlen inf. grow mouldy orig. 
 uncert. 
 
 Moyses: Moses, in Jewish legend, 
 had a ring causing forgetfulness 
 F 250 
 
 moyst, moyste: moist; cf. humour 
 A 420 ; new ; soft, not yet dried 
 out and stiff A 457 OF moiste 
 
 moysty : new (of ale) 
 
 muche and lite: great and small 
 
 muchel a. much 
 
 muchel ad. much, greatly 
 
 mullok: refuse heap < mull "dirt" 
 
 multiplie inf. multiply; change 
 metals alchemically G 669 OF. 
 
 murie : merry AS myrig 
 
 murier : more pleasant 
 
 murierly ad. more merrily 
 
 murmure sb. murmuring OF. 
 
 murmureden pt. pi. buzzed, talked 
 in low voice 
 
 murmurynge : murmur 
 
 murthe: mirth AS myrg]? 
 
 mury, murye a. merry 
 
 murye ad. merrily 
 
 mused 3 pt. s. wondered, re- 
 volved OF muser "loiter" 
 
 musik: music OF musique 
 
 muste 3 pr. s. must ; cf. mot 
 
 mutabylyte: inconstancy OF. 
 
 mutte 2 pr. pi. must 
 
 muwe : coop for fattening fowl 
 OF mue 
 
 "My lief is faren in londe" : first 
 
MYCHEL— 
 
 666 
 
 — NAROWE 
 
 line of an old song, "My love 
 is gone to the country" B 4069 
 
 mychel: much AS miul 
 
 Mychelmesse : Michaelmas, Sep- 
 tember 29 
 
 myd a. mid, middle 
 
 Myda: Midas, king in Crete, fa- 
 mous for wealth and folly 
 
 myddell: mean, medium AS mid- 
 del 
 
 mydnyght: midnight 
 
 myght sb. might, power; do youre 
 myght] do all in your power 
 AS miht f. 
 
 myght 1 pt. s. might ; cf. mow 
 
 myghty : powerful 
 
 myht sb. might AS miht f. 
 
 myhten pt. pi. might; cf. mow 
 
 myle: mile AS mil f. 
 
 my lord: the archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, or perhaps the Pope 
 B 4635 
 
 myn poss. mine 
 
 mynde : mind, understanding, mem- 
 ory AS gemynd 
 
 Mynerva: Minerva, Goddess of 
 Wisdom 
 
 mynne imp. have in mind AS 
 gemyngian 
 
 Mynotaur : a monster, half-man 
 and half-bull, which lived in the 
 labyrinth in Crete. Athenian 
 youths were doomed by him, 
 until he was slain by Theseus 
 
 mynour: miner, sapper OF mineor 
 
 mynstralcie : minstrelsy, instru- 
 ment OF menestralsie 
 
 mynstrales: minstrels OF menes- 
 trel 
 
 myracle ; pi. myraklis : miracle ; 
 pleyes of myracles] miracle plays 
 (of Biblical history) OF miracle 
 
 myre : mire, mud ; cf. Icel myer 
 
 myrie a. -merry AS myrge 
 
 myrthe : mirth AS myrg]? f. 
 
 myrtheles : mirthless 
 
 mys ad. amiss 
 
 mysaventure: mishap OF. 
 
 mysavyse 3 pr. pi. refl. are wrong- 
 ly counseled OF. 
 
 mysboden pp. insulted, abused 
 AS mis-beodan 
 
 myscarie inf. miscarry, go amiss 
 
 myschefe : sorrow OF meschief 
 
 mysdeparteth 3 pr. s. wrongly 
 
 divides 
 mysdooth 3 pr. s. mistreats 
 myselvyn : myself 
 myserie : misery OF miserie 
 mysfille 3 pt. s. it went amiss 
 myssayde pp. missaid 
 mysse inf., pr. s. fail, lack AS 
 
 missan 
 myssette pp. misplaced, unsuit- 
 able 
 mysspeke 1 pr. s. subj. speak 
 
 amiss 
 mystake pp. mistaken 
 myster : trade, craft ; what myster 
 
 men] what sort of men OF 
 
 mestier 
 mystihede : mistiness, mystery 
 mystriste inf. mistrust 
 mysusen inf. misuse OF mesuser 
 myte: mite, little bit OF mite 
 
 "small coin" 
 mytes: mites, small insects AS 
 
 mite 
 
 N 
 
 na: no AS na never 
 Nabugodonosor : Nebuchadnezzar 
 nacion: nation OF nation 
 nadderys: serpents AS naedre 
 naille 3 imp. s. nail up AS nag- 
 
 lian 
 nailynge p. fitting with spikes 
 naked pp. as a. naked, bare, des- 
 titute, plain AS nacod 
 nakednesse : nakedness 
 nakerers: drums OF nacaire 
 nakyd : naked 
 nam for ne am: am not 
 namlie : namely, particularly AS 
 
 nama + -ly 
 namo: no more 
 namoore : no more 
 napoplexie : nor apoplexy 
 nappeth : naps AS hnaeppian 
 Narcisus: Narcissus, beloved by 
 Echo, was punished for his neg- 
 lect of her by becoming en- 
 amoured of the reflection of his 
 own face in a fountain which 
 he watched until he pined away 
 and was turned into a flower 
 narette for ne arette : ascribe not 
 narowe : close AS nearu 
 
NART— 667 — NOGHT 
 
 nart for ne art: art not 
 
 nekke: neck AS hnecca 
 
 narwe: narrow, close 
 
 nekke-boon: spine 
 
 nas for ne was: was not; I nas 
 
 nel, nele for ne wele : will not 
 
 but] I was simply 
 
 Nembrot: Nimrod, a "mighty 
 
 nat : not 
 
 hunter" in the Bible, and builder 
 
 nath, nathe for ne hath: hath not 
 
 of Nineveh, Genesis x. 9 
 
 nathelees : nevertheless AS na 
 
 nempnen inf. call by name; 
 
 never 
 
 nempned 3 pt. s. AS nemnan 
 
 nativitee: birth OF. 
 
 ner, nere for ne were pt. s., pi.; 
 
 nature: nature, race OF. 
 
 pt. subj. were not, should not 
 
 natureel, naturel: natural; naturel 
 
 be 
 
 day] twenty-four hours ; natureel 
 
 ner ad. never, ne'er 
 
 magyk] cf. magyk OF naturel 
 
 ner, nere ad. comp. nearer 
 
 navele : navel AS navela 
 
 nercotikes: narcotics OF nar- 
 
 nawht: not AS nawiht 
 
 cotique 
 
 nay a. as sb. untruth Du 147 ; cf. 
 
 Nero: emperor of Rome, famed 
 
 Icel nei 
 
 for his cruelty 
 
 nayl: nail, to catch and hinder 
 
 nerre : nearer 
 
 one, a hindrance A 3877 ; pi. 
 
 Nessus: a Centaur, killed by Her- 
 
 finger-nails C 651 AS naegel 
 
 cules 
 
 ne : nor, not 
 
 netheles : natheles 
 
 necessarie: necessary act OF 
 
 nette: net AS nett n. 
 
 necessaire 
 
 neveradeel: not at all 
 
 necessitee condicioneel : necessity 
 
 nevew: nephew OF neveu 
 
 which is conditioned only by 
 
 nevir: never 
 
 knowledge not by compulsion, 
 
 newe a. new AS newe 
 
 as when we see a man falling 
 
 newe ad. newly 
 
 from a roof and know he will 
 
 newed 3, pt. s., pp. renewed, was 
 
 be killed B 4440 
 
 freshened 
 
 necligence: negligence OF negh- 
 
 newefangel a. fickle 
 
 gence 
 
 newefangelnesse : fondness for nov- 
 
 necligent: negligent OF negligent 
 
 elty, fickleness 
 
 nede sb. need, desire, peril AS 
 
 next: next, nearest; next before] 
 
 neod f. 
 
 just before 
 
 nede inf. need ; nedeth 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 neyghbur: neighbor AS neahge- 
 
 nedest 3 pt. s. AS neodian 
 
 bur 
 
 nede ad. needs, of necessity AS 
 
 neythir: neither 
 
 nedes Du 1073 
 
 Nicerates: Niceratus, a Greek 
 
 nedelees: needlessly 
 
 Nichanore: Nicanor, a Greek, gen- 
 
 nedely: of necessity 
 
 eral of Antiochus 
 
 nedes: needs, of necessity 
 
 niente : nothing Ital. 
 
 nedescost: necessarily 
 
 nil for ne will: will not 
 
 nedles: poss. needle's AS nsedl 
 
 ninthe: ninth AS nigoSa 
 
 nedys pi. needs; for nedys] of 
 
 nobil: noble OF noble 
 
 necessity 
 
 nobledest 2 pt. s. ennobled 
 
 neede a. necessary 
 
 noblesse : nobleness, rank, honor 
 
 needfull : needy 
 
 OF. 
 
 neer ad. poss. near AS near 
 
 nobleye: nobility OF nobleie 
 
 neer ad. comp. nearer 
 
 nodde inf. nod, shake his head 
 
 neet sb. neat, cattle AS neat 
 
 orig. uncert. 
 
 negardye : niggardliness 
 
 noe : no 
 
 negh: nearly AS neh 
 
 nof, ne of: nor of 
 
 neighebore: neighbor AS neah- 
 
 noght sb. nothing AS na wiht 
 
 gebur 
 
 noght ad. not ; not at all 
 
NOHT— 
 
 668 
 
 — OBSERVAUNCE 
 
 noht ad. not, naught 
 
 nolde for ne wolde : would not 
 
 nombre: number OF. 
 
 non: none AS nan 
 
 nones sb. nonce, time-being ME 
 for then ones < J>am (dat. AS 
 >e) 
 
 nonne: nun AS nunne f. 
 
 nonys adv. for the nonce ; cf. 
 nones 
 
 noo: no 
 
 noon: none AS nan 
 
 noot for ne wot : know not 
 
 noote : note, tune ; by noote] ac- 
 cording to musical note OF 
 note 
 
 norice sb. nurse OF nurrice 
 
 norissed pp. raised OF nurir 
 
 norisshynge : period of growth 
 
 norissyng sb. nourishment, nutri- 
 ment, rearing 
 
 Northfolk sb. Norfolk, a county 
 of England on the east coast 
 (East Anglia) 
 
 northren: northern 
 
 norture: good manners OF norri- 
 ture 
 
 nosethirles pi. nostrils AS nosjjyrl 
 
 nost 2 pr. s. knowest not; cf. 
 noot 
 
 not for ne wot: does not know; 
 cf. noot 
 
 notabilitee: striking event OF. 
 
 note: music, tune OF. 
 
 notemuge: nutmeg ME note "nut" 
 4" OF mugue "musk" 
 
 not-heed: close cropped head 
 
 nother: neither; never nother] 
 neither of them AS nowSer 
 
 nothyng ad. not at all 
 
 notified pp. proclaimed OF. 
 
 notys pi. notes 
 
 nought: not 
 
 noumberis: numbers, ratios OF 
 nombre 
 
 noumbre sb. and inf. number 
 
 nouncertaine: uncertainty < non- 
 certain 
 
 nouther: neither AS nowSer 
 
 novelrie: variety OF novelerie 
 
 noveltee: novelty OF. 
 
 novys : novice OF. 
 
 nowadayes : nowadays 
 
 nowches: brooch OF nusche 
 
 "necklace" 
 nowe: now; as nowe] now 
 Nowel: Noel, birthday (of Christ) 
 nowght : not 
 nowher: nowhere 
 
 nowthe : now ; as nowthe] at pres- 
 ent AS nii^a "now then" 
 noyse : noise OF. 
 nuwefangulnesse : fickleness 
 ny : nigh AS neh 
 nyce: ignorant, foolish, without 
 
 malice; careful A 398 OF nice 
 
 < Lat nescius 
 nycete s. folly 
 
 nygard: niggard, stingy one OF. 
 nygh, nyghe ad. nigh, nearly OF 
 
 neh 
 nyght, nyghte sb. night AS 
 
 neaht, niht f. 
 nyghte inf. become night 
 nyghtertale: night time; cf. Icel 
 
 natterjjel 
 nyghtyngale : nightingale AS 
 
 nihtegale 
 nyhtyngale : nightingale 
 riyghtys pi. nights 
 nyl for ne wyl : will not 
 nymphes: nymphs Lat nympha 
 nyn: nor in 
 nyne: nine AS nigon 
 nynetene : nineteen AS nigontyne 
 Nynyve: Nineveh, ancient capital 
 
 of Assyria 
 nys for ne is: is not 
 nysete : foolishness 
 nyste for ne wyste : did not know 
 
 o: of L 360 
 
 o : one AS an 
 
 obeieth 3 pr. pi. obeys; cf. obeye 
 OF obeh- 
 
 obeisant: obedient 
 
 obeisaunce, obeissaunce : obedi- 
 ence ; in your obeisaunce] obedi- 
 ent to you 
 
 obeye inf., 3 pr. pi. obey; obeyde 
 3 pt. OF obeir 
 
 obligacioun: a bond OF obliga- 
 tion 
 
 observaunce: respect, homage, cer- 
 emony OF observance 
 
OBSERVE— 669 — OPPRESSE 
 
 observe inf. favor, allow OF ob- 
 
 Olofernus: Holofernes, captain of 
 
 server Lat observare 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar's army 
 
 obstinat: obstinate Lat obstinatus 
 
 olofte: aloft ME on lofte 
 
 Occident: west 
 
 olyve: olive OF. 
 
 occupye inf. occupy; occupieth 3 
 
 Olyvere: Oliver, one of Charle- 
 
 pr. s. OF occuper 
 
 magne's Twelve Peers. Slain 
 
 octogamye : marriage of eight 
 
 with Roland at Roncesvalles, 
 
 wives in succession < Jerome's 
 
 through the treachery of Ganelon 
 
 treatise Advers. Jovinianum, 
 
 q. V. Du 1122 
 
 "octogamos" 
 
 olyveres: olive-yards OF olivier 
 
 Octovyan: Augustus Caesar, Octa- 
 
 Omer: Homer 
 
 vian L 624 
 
 on prep, on, in ; on alle thynge] 
 
 Octovyen: an emperor of Rome 
 
 at all cost; on shames deeth] a 
 
 who married Floraunce, daugh- 
 
 death of shame 
 
 ter of Dagobert, king of France. 
 
 on: one 
 
 He is the subject of an early 
 
 onbyde: abide, wait 
 
 English metrical romance Du 
 
 ones: once, united C 696; at 
 
 368 
 
 ones] at once 
 
 Odenake: Odenathus or Odenatus, 
 
 onethe: scarcely; cf. unnethe AS 
 
 king of Palmyra 
 
 uneatSe "un-easy" 
 
 of ad. off 
 
 onhap: misfortune 
 
 of prep. in, with; of newe] re- 
 
 onknowyn : unknown 
 
 cently 
 
 onkynde: unkind 
 
 of caste imp. discard 
 
 on-lofte : aloft 
 
 offenden inf. offend 
 
 on the : one , of the (followed by 
 
 offensioun: harm OF. 
 
 superlative) 
 
 ofTertorie: offertory Lat offer- 
 
 onstedefastnesse : unsteadfastness 
 
 torium 
 
 onworthieste : unworthiest 
 
 office sb. secular employment 
 
 ony: any AS senig 
 
 officere: officer; pi. servants OF. 
 
 oo : one ; cf. oon 
 
 offreth imp. pi. offer AS ofTrian 
 
 ook: oak AS ac f. 
 
 OF offrir 
 
 oold: old AS aid 
 
 offring sb. the proceeds of the 
 
 oon: one; evere in oon] constant- 
 
 voluntary offerings 
 
 ly; after oon] up to standard 
 
 offrynge: offering; in Chaucer's 
 
 oones : once 
 
 day the people carried their of- 
 
 oonly : only 
 
 ferings to the altar, and ques- 
 
 oonys : once 
 
 tions of precedence arose A 450 
 
 oore: ore AS ora 
 
 offys: office, duty 
 
 ooth: oath AS atS m. 
 
 of-showve: shove off, repel 
 
 oother: other 
 
 ofspryng sb. offspring 
 
 opene inf. open 
 
 oftaken pp. removed 
 
 openers: fruit of the medlar, not 
 
 ofte a. pi. many; ofte tyme] often 
 
 good to eat until it began to 
 
 AS oft 
 
 decay 
 
 ofte ad. often 
 
 open-heveded : bare-headed 
 
 after: more often 
 
 operaciouns: operations, affects 
 
 oght sb. aught AS awiht 
 
 OF operation 
 
 oght 3 pr. s. ought AS agan 
 
 opie : opium OF. 
 
 oght ad. at all 
 
 opposicioun: opposition (of sun 
 
 oille sb. oil; oille of tartre] cream 
 
 and moon in sky in relation to 
 
 of tartar OF oille 
 
 earth) OF opposition 
 
 ok(e) : oak AS ac f. 
 
 opposit: opposite OF opposit 
 
 olde: old AS aid 
 
 oppresse inf. oppress, violate OF 
 
 olifaunt: elephant OF olifant 
 
 oppresser 
 
OPPRESSYOUN- 
 
 670 
 
 — OVERBORDE 
 
 oppressyoun : oppression, tyranny 
 OF oppression 
 
 opyn a. open AS open 
 
 or conj. before, ere, or 
 
 or prep, before 
 
 oratorie: oratory, small chapel OF 
 oratorie 
 
 orde: point AS ord m. 
 
 ordenaunce: order OF. 
 
 ordeyned pp. ordained, arranged 
 OF ordener 
 
 ordinance : arrangement ; by ordi- ■ 
 nance] in order 
 
 ordre sb. order, religious order ; 
 ordres foure] the four orders of 
 begging friars were: the Domin- 
 icans, or Black Friars; the 
 Franciscans, or Grey Friars ; the 
 Carmelites, or White Friars ; the 
 Augustin Friars A 210 OF 
 ordre 
 
 Orewelle : an early name for Har- 
 wich, a seaport on the eastern 
 coast of England 
 
 orgnes pi. organs, the earlier 
 name for what we call an organ 
 (cf. a bellows) AS organe 
 
 orgon: organ B 4041 
 
 orient: the east 
 
 original sb. origin 
 
 orisoun: prayer OF orison 
 
 orizonte : horizon OF orizonte 
 
 Orliens: Orleans, seat of a uni- 
 versity 
 
 orloge, orlogge: large clock OF. 
 
 ornementz : ornaments 
 
 Orpheus: legendary Greek musi- 
 cian, whose music moved even 
 stones and trees, and enabled 
 him to descend with safety into 
 the infernal regions in search of 
 his dead wife, Eurydice. She was 
 given permission to follow him 
 back to. earth, provided that he 
 did not turn back to see whether 
 she were following him. He was 
 unable to refrain from looking 
 back, whereupon Eurydice van- 
 ished from his sight. While he 
 was in Hades, his music gave 
 temporary release from toil and 
 punishment to all who heard it 
 
 Orygenes poss. Origen, 185-253 
 A. D., church father, wrongly 
 
 thought to have written a trea- 
 tise on Mary Magdalene 
 Osanne : Hosanna 
 ost: host OF. 
 otes: oats AS ate pi. atan 
 other, othre: other; otheres poss. 
 
 s. ; othere pi. AS ot5er 
 other conj. either, or 
 ootherweys : otherwise 
 othes: oaths AS at5 m. 
 ouche: clasp, necklace, nouch OF 
 
 nusche 
 ought sb. anything AS awiht 
 oughte pr. pi., pt. s. ought 
 oughte ad. at all Du 536 
 ouhte 3 pr. s. ought 
 oule: owl; oulys pi. AS ule 
 ounces: thin locks, parts OF once 
 oune: own AS agen 
 oure: pron. our C 786 
 oures pi. hours OF heures 
 out interj. down with! B 4233; 
 
 alas! B 4570 
 outbreke : break out, begin to speak 
 out caughte 3 pt. s. drew out 
 oute ad. out, uttered 
 outen inf. utter ; oute 1 pr. pi. 
 
 AS utian 
 outerly: utterly, finally AS uttra 
 outhees: outcry AS ut + hses 
 
 "command" 
 outher: either, or AS awSer 
 outlawe: outlaw AS utlaga 
 outrageous: insolent, reckless C 
 
 650 OF outrageus 
 outraunce: the last extremity OF. 
 outrely ad. utterly, absolutely 
 outreye inf. exceed the proper 
 
 bounds (rOF outreier) 
 outridere: outrider, whose business 
 was to look after the outlying 
 manors belonging to the mon- 
 astery 
 outspronge 3 pt. s. spread abroad 
 outsterte 3 pt. pi. ran out 
 out-taken pp. excepted 
 outter : outer 
 outtreste : uttermost 
 outtwyne 2 pr. pi. twist out, utter 
 over: over, above 
 overal : everywhere 
 overborde: overboard AS ofer 
 bord 
 
OVERCASTE— 
 
 671 
 
 — PANIK 
 
 overcaste inf. cast down 
 
 overdoon pp. done to excess 
 
 overest a. uppermost 
 
 overlad pp. put upon, domineered 
 AS oferlaedan 
 
 overlade inf. over load 
 
 over-lippe: upper lip 
 
 overmacche inf. overmatch 
 
 overmesure : to excess, in the ex- 
 treme 
 
 overryden pp. run over AS 
 oferridan 
 
 overshette pt. pi. over-run the 
 scent ME oversheten 
 
 overskipte 1 pt. s. skipped, passed 
 over 
 
 overslope : upper garment AS 
 oferslop 
 
 overspradde 3 pt. s. covered AS 
 ofersprsedan 
 
 oversprynge pr. s. subj. flood 
 
 overthwart, overthwert : across, 
 askance 
 
 overtoke pt. s. overtook, caught 
 up 
 
 ovireshake pp. shaken off 
 
 Ovyde: Publius Ovidius Naso, gen- 
 erally called Ovid, a Latin poet 
 (B. C. 43-19? A. D.). His chief 
 works are the Metamorphoses, 
 a great source book of mythol- 
 ogy; the De Arte Amandi (The 
 Art of Love) ; and the De Re- 
 medio Amoris (The Cure of 
 Love). The two last named 
 had great influence upon mediae- 
 val conceptions of love 
 
 ovyral: besides 
 
 owene a. own AS agen 
 
 oweth 3 pr. s. owns 
 
 owhere : anywhere 
 
 owr, owre : our 
 
 owter : over ; cf. de F outre 
 
 owtlandissh : foreign 
 
 owtrage : insolence, excess OF 
 outrage 
 
 oxe : ox ; exes pi. AS oxa 
 
 oxe-stalle : ox-stall 
 
 Oxenford: Oxford 
 
 oynement: ointment OF oigne- 
 ment 
 
 oynons pi. onions OF oignon 
 
 oystre: oyster OF oistre 
 
 paas : step, foot-pace ; goon a 
 go at a foot-pace OF pas 
 
 pace inf. pass, go, step, surpass 
 OF pas 
 
 Pacience pers. Patience 
 
 pacient sb. patient OF. 
 
 pacient a. patient 
 
 Padwe : Padua, in northern Italy 
 
 paiementz: payments OF paiement 
 
 paire : pair OF. 
 
 pak : lot ; cf. Du pak 
 
 Palamon: Theban noble, cousin of 
 Arcite, in the Knight's Tale 
 
 Palatye: Palathia in Anatolia or 
 Asia Minor 
 
 paleys: palace, mansion, or house; 
 zodiacal sign astrologically ap- 
 propriated to planet ; in C M 
 the mansions concerned are 
 Gemini, Taurus, Aries; Venus 
 and Mars meet in Taurus, 
 Venus' mansion (?); Venus flees 
 to Cylenius (Mercury's) "tour,'* 
 Gemini (113); Mercury beholds 
 Venus from Venus' valance, the 
 edge of Aries, fancifully called 
 Venus' bed-curtains ; Mars is left 
 in Taurus by the more rapid 
 motions of the other planets ; 
 the sun, Phoebus, entered Taurus 
 April 12; C M 54 
 
 palfrey: saddle-horse OF palefrei 
 
 Pallas: Minerva, goddess of wis- 
 dom 
 
 palled: pale OF pale 
 
 palmeres: pilgrims who bear palm 
 branches as signs that they 
 have reached the Holy Land. 
 Used by Chaucer more loosely 
 as meaning a pilgrim OF pau- 
 mier 
 
 Palymerie : Palmyra 
 
 Pamphilus : author of "Liber de 
 Amore," a Latin poem, in ele- 
 giac form, bewailing his love 
 for Galatea 
 
 pan : skull, crown of head AS 
 panne 
 
 Pan: Greek god of shepherds, and 
 of nature in general. He is 
 depicted as half-man, half-goat 
 
 Panik : the location is uncertain 
 
PANTERE— 
 
 pantere: snare, bag-net OF pan- 
 tiere 
 
 Pape : Pope 
 
 papejay: popinjay, green wood- 
 pecker OF papegai 
 
 par amour: lovingly, with devotion 
 OF. 
 
 par cas: perchance 
 
 paradys: paradise OF paradis 
 
 parage: parentage OF. 
 
 paramentz: fine mantles Lat para- 
 mentum 
 
 paramour sb. lover, mistress OF. 
 
 paramour, paramours ad. long- 
 ingly, lovingly 
 
 paraunter: perhaps OF par aven- 
 ture 
 
 para venture: peradventure, perhaps 
 
 parcel: part, small part OF par- 
 celle 
 
 parde interj. OF par Dieu 
 
 pardoner: the business of the par- 
 doner was to sell pardons or 
 indulgences issued by the Pope. 
 He carried relics to add cre- 
 dence to ,the pardons OF par- 
 donier 
 
 pardoun sb. pardon OF. 
 
 parementz : rich hangings ; cham- 
 bre of parementz] presence- 
 chamber OF parement 
 
 parfay: by the faith OF B 110 
 
 parfit a. perfect; with regard to 
 holy living D 92 OF. 
 
 parfitly : perfectly 
 
 parfourne inf. perform ; parfourn- 
 est 2 pr. s. ; parfourned pp. OF 
 parfournir 
 
 Paris : son of King Priam of Troy ; 
 by his seduction of Helen, wife 
 of Menelaus, he caused the Tro- 
 jan war Du 331 
 
 parisshe : parish OF paroisse 
 
 parisshens sb. pi. parishioners 
 OF paroissien 
 
 paritorie: pellitory, an herb OF 
 paritoire 
 
 parlement: deliberative body; de- 
 cision, as of such body OF. 
 
 Parnaso: Mt. Parnassus, sacred to 
 Apollo, above Delphi 
 
 parte inf. share ; parteth 3 pr. s. 
 departs OF partir 
 
 Parthes: the Parthians, who lived 
 
 672 —PEES 
 
 in the east borders of what is 
 now Turkey 
 
 Parthonopee : Parthenopseus, one 
 of the Seven against Thebes 
 
 partre: part, section; partial per- 
 son A 2657 OF partie 
 
 partrich sb. partridge OF per- 
 driz 
 
 party ad. partly OF parti 
 
 parvys sb. the church-porch of St. 
 Paul's, a common place for con- 
 sultation OF. 
 
 Parys : Paris 
 
 pas sb. pace, yard OF. 
 
 passant: surpassing OF. 
 
 passen inf. surpass, pass over, 
 omit ; passed 3 pt. s. ; passid pp. 
 OF passer 
 
 passid pp. passed; cf. passen 
 
 passioun: passion, suffering, mar- 
 tyrdom OF. 
 
 passyng a. surpassing 
 
 pastee: pasty OF paste 
 
 patente : an "open" letter, con- 
 ferring privilege OF patente 
 
 Pathmos: Patmos, the island upon 
 which St. John spent his last 
 days ; cf. Rev. i. 9 
 
 patriarkes: patriarchs OF. 
 
 patrone s. pattern OF patron 
 
 patroun : patron 
 
 Paulus : Paul 
 
 paunche: belly OF panche 
 
 pavement: floor OF. 
 
 pay: advantage, liking; to pay] to 
 advantage Pf 474 OF paie 
 
 paye inf. pay ; payed 3 pt. s. ; 
 payede pp. satisfied OF paier 
 
 payen a. pagan OF paien 
 
 payens sb. pagans 
 
 payndemayn: the finest and whitest 
 bread OF pain -|- demaine 
 "manorial" "private'* 
 
 payne sb. pain OF peine 
 
 paynyth pr. s. takes pains; cf. 
 peyne 
 
 payre sb. pair OF. 
 
 paysyble: peaceable OF paisible 
 
 pece: piece OF piece 
 
 pecok a. peacock AS pea "pea- 
 cock" 
 
 Pedmark: Penmark, a promontory 
 in Brittany, on the west coast 
 
 pees: peace OF pais 
 
PEIGNYNGE— 
 
 673 
 
 — PHARAO 
 
 peignynge p. taking pains OF 
 pener 
 
 peire sb. string OF paire 
 
 pekke imp. peck 
 
 pelowe : pillow AS pyle 
 
 Pemond: Piedmont 
 
 penant sb. penitent, one doing 
 penance OF. 
 
 penaunce: penance OF. 
 
 pencel: pencil, brush OF pincel 
 
 Penelope, Penolopee : Penelope, 
 wife of Odysseus, noted for her 
 faithfulness to him during the 
 ten years of his wanderings, in 
 spite of the importunities of 
 many suitors 
 
 penoun: pennon OF penon 
 
 pens: pence, money AS penig 
 
 penyble : painstaking, eager to 
 please OF penible 
 
 peple : people, common people OF 
 pueple 
 
 perauntere : par aventure, perchance 
 OF. 
 
 peraventure : perhaps OF. 
 
 Perce: Persia ^ 
 
 percely: parsley OF perresil 
 
 percen inf. pierce ; perseth pr. s. ; 
 perced pp. OF percer 
 
 perchaunce : perhaps OF. 
 
 perche: perch, roost OF. 
 
 percynge: piercing; for percynge] 
 to prevent piercing 
 
 pare: peer, equal OF per 
 
 peregryn : peregrine, foreign Lat 
 peregrinus 
 
 perfit: perfect OF. 
 
 perfitly : perfectly 
 
 performen inf. perform, fulfill OF 
 parfournir 
 
 peril: danger; upon my peril] so 
 far as I could help it OF. 
 
 perilouse: perilous, dangerous 
 
 perisse 3 pr. pi. perish OF perir 
 
 perle: pearl OF. 
 
 permutacioun : complete change 
 OF. 
 
 Perotheus: Pirithous, whom The- 
 seus accompanied to Hades in 
 an attempt to carry off Proser- 
 pina 
 
 perpetuely: perpetually OF per- 
 petuel 
 
 perrie, perrye : jewelry, precious 
 stones OF pierrerie 
 
 pers sb. bluish-gray material OF. 
 
 perseveraunce : perseverance, en- 
 durance OF. 
 
 perseverynge : perseverance 
 
 Persians : Persians 
 
 persith pr, s. pierceth ; cf. percen 
 
 persone: person OF. 
 
 persoun : parson ; persoun of a 
 toun] parish priest OF persone 
 
 perspectives: perspectives, lenses 
 OF. 
 
 Pertelote : the hen 
 
 perturben 3 pt. pi. disturb OF 
 pertourber 
 
 pervers : perverse, headstrong OF. 
 
 pes, pese : peace OF pais 
 
 pestelence : pestilence, woe OF 
 pestilence 
 
 pesyn: pease AS pise, pi. pisan 
 
 pet: pit AS pytt 
 
 pete: pity; cf. pite 
 
 petouse : piteous, sad 
 
 petously: piteously 
 
 Petrak : Petrarch 
 
 Petro of Cipre : Pierre de Lusig- 
 nan, king of Cyprus, killed 1369 
 B 3581 
 
 Petro: Pedro of Castile, ally of 
 the Black Prince, killed 1369 
 B 3565 
 
 petyciouns: petitions OF. 
 
 peyne sb. pain, grief, care, torture ; 
 nevere for to dyen in the peyne] 
 never even in case of death by 
 torture OF peine 
 
 peyne inf. refl. take pains, en- 
 deavor ; payneth pr. s. ; peyned 
 pt. pp. OF pener 
 
 peynte inf. paint, depict ; peyntede 
 3 pt. s. ; do peynte] cause to be 
 painted OF peindre, pp. peint 
 
 peyntede 3 pt. s. painted ; peyntede 
 the leoun] ^sop tells of a man's 
 picture of a man conquering a 
 lion. A lion remarked, "We 
 lions are none of us painters." 
 
 peynture : painting OF. 
 
 peyre sb. pair OF paire 
 
 peytrel : poitrel, breast-plate of 
 horse-armor OF peitral 
 
 Phanye : daughter of Croesus 
 
 Pharao : Pharaoh 
 
PHASIFPHA- 
 
 674 
 
 — PLENTEE 
 
 Phasifpha: Pasiphse, queen of 
 Crete, mother of the Minotaur, 
 half-man, half-bull 
 
 Phebus: Phoebus Apollo 
 
 Phidoun: Phido, slain at banquet 
 in Athens, under the thirty ty- 
 rants, B. C. 403 (this exemplum 
 and those following from Jerome 
 "contra Jovinianum") 
 
 Philippes : Philips* 
 
 Philistiens : Philistines 
 
 Phillis: cf. PhylHs 
 
 philosofre : philosopher OF phil- 
 osophe 
 
 philosophie : philosophy, learning 
 OF. 
 
 philosophre : philosopher, used in 
 a double sense, for the alchem- 
 ists called themselves philoso- 
 phers. The clerk was no al- 
 chemist, and had little gold 
 A 297 
 
 Philostrate : name assumed by Ar- 
 cite 
 
 phisic, phisik: physic, medicine 
 OF. 
 
 phisicien : physician, doctor OF. 
 
 phislyas: probably the shipman's 
 error for physices, natural phil- 
 osophy 
 
 Phitoun: the Python, killed by 
 Apollo ; Ovid "Metamorphoses I" 
 
 Phyllis: daughter of Sithon, king 
 of Thrace, and betrothed to 
 Demophoon, son of Theseus, king 
 of Athens, slew herself when her 
 lover, who had gone to Athens 
 to arrange for the wedding, did 
 not return at the appointed time 
 
 Pictagoras: Pythagoras of Samos, 
 B. C. 550, a mathematician who 
 constructed a philosophy based 
 upon the numerical relations of 
 things. He was the first to 
 make a scientific study of 
 sounds and harmony 
 
 Pierides: daughters of Pierus in 
 Thessaly, who contended with 
 the Muses 
 
 Piers : Pierce 
 
 pigges poss. pig's ME pigge 
 
 pighte 3 pt. s. pitched < picchen 
 
 Pigmalion : Pygmalion, Greek 
 
 sculptor, whose statue Galatea 
 
 was given life 
 Pilates voys: a loud, boastful 
 
 voice, like that of Pilate in the 
 
 mystery plays 
 pilche: fur cloak or coat AS pylce 
 piled pp. scraggly, wanting hair 
 
 AS pylian "peel" 
 piler, pilere sb. pillar OF A 2466 
 pilere a. used for pillars Pf 177 
 pilgrymage; pilgrimage; cf. OF 
 
 pelegrinage 
 pilours: pillagers, robbers OF pil- 
 
 leur 
 pilwe-beer: pillowcase ME here 
 
 "case" 
 pipen in an yvy-leef: whistle for it 
 pipere a. used for pipes Pf 178 
 Pirrus: Pyrrhus, son of Achilles 
 Pisces: the Fish, a sign of the 
 
 zodiac, opposite Virgo 
 pistel: epistle (read in church ser- 
 vice), a lesson AS pistol 
 pitaunce: mess of victuals OF 
 
 pitance 
 pita, ^itee sb. pity OF pite 
 pith: strength AS piSa 
 pitous: piteous, kind OF pitos 
 pitously ad. piteously, sorrowfully 
 pitta: pit AS pytt 
 pittaa: pity; cf. pita 
 place: manor house B 1910 OF. 
 plages: regions OF. 
 planeta: planet OF. 
 plantayn: plantain OF. 
 planta sb. shoot AS plante D 
 
 763 
 piastres: bandages OF piastre 
 
 AS plaster 
 plat: fiat OF. 
 plata sb. flat, flat side OF. 
 plates: plates of iron, armor OF. 
 Plato: 427-347 B. C., Athenian 
 
 philosopher 
 play, playa: sport, amusement, con- 
 trivance AS plega 
 playn, playne sb. the plain OF. 
 playn a. flat OF. 
 pla : plea, contention OF plet 
 piadynga s. strife OF plaidier 
 plais pi. pleas; cf. pie 
 plentea: abundance; greet plciitee] 
 
 in great abundance OF. 
 
PLENTEVOUS— 
 
 675 
 
 —POUDRE-MARCHANT 
 
 plentevous sb. plenteous OF 
 plentious 
 
 plesance, plesaunce : pleasure, de- 
 light ; desire of love Pf 389 OF 
 plaisance 
 
 plesaunt a. pleasant, good natured 
 OF plaisant 
 
 plesen inf. please; plesed pp. OF 
 plaisir 
 
 plesure : pleasure OF plaisir 
 
 plesynges: satisfactions 
 
 pletynge: disputing OF plaidier 
 
 pley sb. play, trick, delusion AS 
 plega 
 
 pley, pleye inf. play, jest; pleyde 
 pt., pp. AS plegan 
 
 pleyn a. plain, open, fair, full ; 
 pleyne pi. smooth Pf 180 OF 
 plain 
 
 pleyn ad. plainly, fully 
 
 Pleyndamour: the probable hero of 
 a metrical romance which has dis- 
 appeared 
 
 pleyne inf. complain ; pleynes pi. 
 OF plaindre 
 
 pleynge p. amusement, sport 
 
 pleynly : plainly 
 
 Pleynt of Kynde: **De Planctu 
 Naturae," nature's complaint 
 against unnatural vices ; cf. 
 Alain 
 
 pleynte: plaint, complaint OF 
 plainte 
 
 pleynynge : complaining, lamenting 
 
 pleyynge : playing, amusement 
 
 plighte 3 pt. s. pulled ME 
 plicchen < AS plyccan "pluck'* 
 
 plighte: plighted, pledged D 1051 
 AS plihtan 
 
 plite sb. plight AS pliht m. 
 
 plogh, piowh sb. plough AS ploh 
 
 plowman : husbandman, small 
 farmer, who did his own plough- 
 ing 
 
 Pluto: god of the lower world 
 
 plye inf. bend OF plier 
 
 plyt: plight, woe AS pliht m. 
 
 poete: poet OF poete 
 
 poetrie: poetry OF. 
 
 poilleys: of Apulia, a district in 
 southern Italy 
 
 point devys: at, perfectly correct 
 
 pokkes: pox AS pocc 
 
 pokok: peacock AS pea + cock 
 
 polax: pole-axe; cf. LG poUex 
 "poll, head" + ax 
 
 polcat: polecat; cf. F poule -f cat 
 
 Polixena: Polyxena, loved by 
 Achilles, q. v. 
 
 Pollexene: cf. Polixena 
 
 Polymea : Polymnia, muse of se- 
 rious song 
 
 polyve: pulley OF poulie 
 
 pomel: crown of the head OF 
 A 2689 
 
 pomely grey or grys: apple-gray, 
 dapple-gray OF pomele G 559 
 
 pompe: pomp, ceremony OF. 
 
 Pompeus, Pompeye : Pompey, who 
 married Caesar's daughter and 
 (according to some historians) 
 whose daughter Caesar married 
 
 Poo: the river Po 
 
 popeler: poplar OF poplier 
 
 Poperyng: Poperinghe, a town 
 near Ostend 
 
 popet: doll, used ironically OF 
 poupette 
 
 popynjay: parrot OF papegai 
 
 poraille sb. poor trash, the mob 
 OF povraille 
 
 Porcia : Portia 
 
 porpere: purple OF porpre 
 
 port: bearing, behavior OF port 
 A 69 
 
 portrayture s. painting, portrai- 
 ture OF. 
 
 portreitour: artist 
 
 portreitures: paintings 
 
 portrey inf. draw, depict OF 
 portraire 
 
 portreyynge sb. painting 
 
 pose : cold in the head AS gepose 
 
 pose 1 pr. s. put the case OF 
 poser 
 
 positif a. fixed OF. 
 
 possessioun : possession, wealth 
 OF. 
 
 possibilitee : possibility OF. 
 
 possyble: possible OF. 
 
 post: pillar, support OF poste 
 
 potage: broth OF. 
 
 pothecarie : apothecarie OF apote- 
 carie 
 
 pottes, pottis: pots AS pott 
 
 poudre-marchant sb. a flavoring 
 powder used in cooking in Chau- 
 
POUI 
 
 (i7(> 
 
 -PROGRESSIOUNS 
 
 cer's day ; marchant "mer- 
 chant's," hence "good" 
 Poul: St. Paul 
 
 poune: pawn in chess OF peon 
 pouped pp. blown 
 poure inf. pore, gaze ; orig. un- 
 
 cert. 
 poure, povre a. poor OF povre 
 povertee : poverty 
 povre ad. poorly E 1040 
 povreliche : poorly, in poverty 
 povrely: in poverty 
 pownage, pannage, food for swine 
 
 OF pasnage 
 powped pt. pi. blew 
 poynaunt a. poignant, pungent 
 
 OF poignant 
 poynt: point; in poynt] on the 
 
 point of, ready; myd poynt] 
 
 middle ; in good poynt] well 
 
 filled out OF. 
 poyson sb. poison OF. 
 praktike: practice OF practique 
 praktisour sb. practitioner OF. 
 pray sb. prey, plunder OF preie 
 prayen inf. pray ; pray 1 pr. s. ; 
 
 prayede pt. s. OF preier 
 preamble : introduction Lat pre- 
 
 ambulum 
 preambulacioun : preamble 
 preche inf. preach OF prechier 
 prechour: preacher OF precheor 
 predicacioun : sermon OF. 
 preef: talk, assertion; with yvel 
 
 preef] bad luck to your talk 
 
 D 24 ? OF pruef 
 prees sb. press, the crowd OF 
 
 presse 
 preesseth 3 pr. s. presses 
 preest: priest AS preost 
 preeve inf. prove OF prover 
 pref: proof ? OF pruef; cf. preef 
 prefectes poss. prefect's 
 preferre: -be preferred to, better 
 
 than OF preferer 
 preiede pt. s. prayed 
 praise inf. praise OF preisier 
 prelaat: prelate OF prelat 
 prenostik : prognostication, pre- 
 diction Lat praenosticabus 
 prente sb. print; cf. F empreint 
 pres sb. press ; forth in pres] 
 
 press forward OF presse 
 prescience: foreknowledge OF. 
 
 OF. 
 
 prover 
 
 prese inf. hasten, press on OF 
 
 presser 
 presse sb. press; leyd in press] 
 
 curled by tongs or curling- 
 papers A 81 ; clothes-press F O 
 
 52 ; mould in which bell is cast 
 
 A 263 OF. 
 prest sb. priest AS preost 
 prest a. ready OF. 
 presumpcioun : presumption 
 preve sb. proof OF pruef 
 preve inf. prove OF 
 
 prueve 3 pr. s. 
 prevely : privily OF prive 
 prevy a. privy, secret 
 prey, preye inf. pray ; prey 1 pr. 
 
 s. ; preyen 1 pr. pi. ; preyden 1 
 
 pt. pi. OF preier 
 preyere: prayer OF preiere 
 Priamus : Priam, king of Troy 
 Priapus : god of fruitfulness. For 
 
 the story mentioned, Pf 255, see 
 
 Ovid, "Fasti," 415 
 pridelees: without pride 
 prie inf. look, peer orig. tmcert. 
 prikasour: a hard rider < AS 
 
 prician 
 prike inf. incite, spur, urge AS 
 
 prician 
 priking, prikynge sb. hard riding 
 prikke : point, prick, thrust AS 
 
 pricca 
 principalle a. principal Du 1003 
 prioresse : a nun next in rank to 
 
 an abbess OF. 
 pris sb. price, estim.ation, worth 
 
 OF. 
 prisoun: prison OF prison 
 privee: private, personal, attendant 
 
 OF prive 
 prively : secretly 
 privetee: secrets OF privete 
 precede inf. proceed OF proceder 
 proces, processe : course, passage 
 
 of time, long story OF proces 
 processiouns : religious processions. 
 
 OF. 
 profre sb. offer AF profrer 
 profren inf. proffer; profre 2 pr. 
 
 pi. ; profred pp. AF profrer 
 profyt: profit OF profit 
 progressiouns : progressions, devel* 
 
 opments Lat progressio 
 
PROHEMYE— 
 
 677 
 
 -PYRAMUS 
 
 prohemye: proem, introduction 
 Lat prooemium 
 
 prolixitee : long-windedness OF. 
 
 proporcioned pp. built in propor- 
 tion OF. 
 
 proporcionels convenientz: fitting 
 proportionals, tables of fractions 
 of the year 
 
 proporcioun : calculation of ratios 
 OF. 
 
 propre: own, peculiar, individual, 
 special OF. 
 
 proprely: properly 
 
 proprete: property, right OF. 
 
 prosperite : prosperity OF. 
 
 proteccioun: protection OF pro- 
 tection 
 
 protestacioun : protestation OF. 
 
 Protheseiaus: a Greek at Troy 
 
 proverbe: proverb OF. 
 
 provost: magistrate OF. 
 
 prow sb. advantage OF prou 
 
 prowesse : valor, excellence OF 
 proesce 
 
 Pruce: Prussia, English knights 
 frequently helped the Teutonic 
 knights against the Lithuanians 
 and Russians 
 
 pruddest: proudest AS priit 
 
 Pruyse : Prussia 
 
 prye inf. pry, peer orig. uncert. 
 
 pryme: prime, 6-9 a. m. OF prime 
 
 prymer: primer OF primier 
 
 prynses: princes OF princesse 
 
 prys: esteem, renown; sovereyn 
 prys] unusual renown OF pris 
 
 prysoun: prison OF prison 
 
 pryve a. secret 
 
 pryvee ad. secretly ; pryvee and 
 apert] in private and openly 
 
 pryvee sb. privy OF prive 
 
 pryvely : secretly 
 
 pryvetee : privacy 
 
 Ptholomee : Ptolemy, early geogra- 
 pher, misquoted by Wife of 
 Bath 
 
 publiced pp. made public, pro- 
 claimed OF publier 
 
 Puella and Rubens: two astrologi- 
 cal figures 
 
 pul sb. pull, try Pf 164 AS 
 pullian 
 
 pulle inf. pluck, cheat AS pullian 
 
 pulpet: pulpit Lat pulpitum 
 pultrye: poultry OF pouleterie 
 purchace inf. buy, obtain OF 
 
 purchacier 
 purchas sb. gain, from begging 
 
 A 256 OF pourchas 
 purchasour: conveyancer 
 purchasyng sb. conveyancing, 
 
 transference of property 
 pure a. pure, natural ; very, ut- 
 terly ; the pure death] death it- 
 self OF pur 
 pure ad. entirely 
 pured pp. refined 
 purely; purely, totally 
 purgatorie: purgatory Lat purga- 
 
 torium 
 purpos : purpose; to purpos of] a 
 
 propos OF pourpos 
 purs : purse AS purs 
 pursute: pursuit, hue-and-cry OF 
 
 poursuite 
 purtreye inf. draw OF pourtraire 
 purveiaunce: providence OF por- 
 
 veance 
 purveye^ inf. provide OF por- 
 
 veeir 
 put inf., 3 pr. s., pp. put, present; 
 
 putte 3 pt. s. ; cf. AS putung 
 
 "instigation" 
 Pycardie : a province of France on 
 
 the English Channel 
 pye sb. pie (? OF pie) 
 pye sb. magpie OF pie 
 pyk : pike AS pic 
 pykepurs : pick purse, pickpocket 
 pyler: pillar OF piler 
 pyn sb. pin AS pinn 
 pynche inf. find fault with (?)OF 
 
 pinchier 
 pynched pp. arranged in plaits 
 pyne : pain, suffering, passion AS 
 
 pin f. 
 pyne inf. torture, harm AS 
 
 pinian 
 pynnes sb. pins 
 pype inf. pipe, play the pipe < 
 
 AS pipe 
 pypes: pipes 
 Pyramus : lover of Thisbe, slew 
 
 himself when he found her robe 
 
 torn by a lion 
 
QUAD— 
 
 678 
 
 — RAYSOUN 
 
 quad, quade : evil < Flemish 
 
 quaad 
 quaille sb. quail OF. 
 quakynge p. quaking, trembling 
 
 AS cwacian 
 qualm: pestilence AS cwealm 
 quantite: size OF. 
 quarter: fourth part of night Du 
 
 198 OF quartier 
 quaylis poss. pi. quails' 
 queene: queen AS cwen f. 
 queerne: mill AS cweorn f. 
 quelle subj. slay AS cwellan 
 queme inf. phase AS cweman 
 quene: queen, quean AS cwen f. 
 querne: hand-mill AS cweorn f. 
 questio quid juris: the question is, 
 
 what is the law? 
 questioun: question, dispute Lat 
 
 questio 
 queynte 3 pt. s. went out, was 
 
 quenched ; queynt pp. AS 
 
 cwencan < cwincan 
 queynte a. prudent, ingenious, 
 
 elegant, neat, affected, odd OF 
 
 cointe 
 quite inf. release, ransom, requite; 
 
 quitith 3 pr. s. ; quite pp. ; quite 
 
 hir while] pay her for it; quite 
 
 yow youre meede] reward you 
 
 OF quiter 
 quitly ad. freely, wholly 
 quitte: 1 pt. s. paid back; cf. 
 
 quite 
 quod pt. s. said AS cwetSan, pt. 
 
 cwaeS 
 quook 3 pt. s. quaked, shook 
 
 AS cwacian 
 quoth pt. s. said 
 quyk, quyke a. lively, alive AS 
 
 cwic 
 quyken : bring alive, come to life ; 
 
 quyked 3 pt. s. AS cwician 
 quyknesse : liveliness 
 quyk-silver : quick-silver, mercury 
 quyrboilly : cuir bouilli, leather 
 
 soaked in hot water and pressed 
 
 into shape, becoming stiff on 
 
 drying 
 quyte inf. requite, reward ; cf. 
 
 quite 
 
 Rachel: Rachel, "weeping for her 
 children" Matt. ii. 18 
 
 rad pp. read ; cf. rede 
 
 radde 3 pt. s. advised; cf. rede 
 
 Radix malorum est cupiditas: love 
 of money is the root of ills (1 
 Tim. vi. 10) 
 
 rage sb. frenzy, fierce blast A 
 1985 OF. 
 
 rage inf. romp, toy wantonly 
 OF ragier 
 
 ragerye: wild spirits OF ragerie 
 
 rakel: rash 
 
 rakelnesse : recklessness 
 
 rake-stele: rake-handle AS stel f. 
 
 ram: a ram was the usual prize at 
 wrestling matches AS ramm 
 
 Ram : one of the signs of the 
 zodiac. In Chaucer's day the 
 sun entered the Ram (Aries) on 
 March 12, and left it on April 
 11. The half course refers to 
 the half of April which is in 
 Aries, the other half being in 
 Taurus. The year began in 
 March, hence the phrase, yonge 
 Sonne. Skeat gives April 16, 
 1387, as the probable date of the 
 meeting of the pilgrims A 8 
 
 rampeth 3 pr. s. rush about OF 
 ramper 
 
 ransake inf. ransack, search ; cf. 
 Icel raunsake "search a house" 
 
 rape sb. haste; cf. Icel hrapa 
 "hasten" 
 
 rasour: razor OF rasor 
 
 rather: sooner; never the rather] 
 none the sooner; more willingly 
 AS hraSor 
 
 raughte 3 pt. s., pi. reached ; cf. 
 reche 
 
 raunson, raunsoun: ransom OF 
 rangon 
 
 ravenes poss. raven's AS hraefn 
 
 ravyne: rapine, prey, greed OF. 
 
 ravysedest 2 pt. s. didst draw 
 down OF ravir 
 
 ravyshynge : ravishing 
 
 rayed pp. striped OF rai 
 
 raysoun : reason; cf. resoun OF 
 raison 
 
RAZIS— 
 
 679 
 
 —REMEDIES 
 
 Razis: Rhazes, Arabian physician 
 
 of the tenth century- 
 real: royal OF reial 
 realte: royalty OF roialte 
 reawme : realm, kingdom OF 
 
 reialme 
 rebellyng sb. rebellion 
 recche 1 pr. s. reck, care ; reccheth 
 
 3 pr. s. ; roghte, rought 3 pt. s. 
 
 AS reccean 
 recche: read, interpret (or make 
 
 capable of interpretation) AS 
 
 reccean 
 reccheless : careless, neglectful 
 receyven inf. accept OF receivre 
 rechased pp. headed off and driven 
 
 back OF rechasser 
 reche inf. reach; raughte 3 pt. s., 
 
 pi. AS rsecan 
 recheles : reckless 
 rechelesnesse : recklessness 
 reclayme inf. reclaim, check OF 
 
 reclamer 
 recomandeth 3 pr. s. reflex, com- 
 mends OF recommander 
 recomende inf. give in charge, 
 
 commend 
 reconforte inf. comfort again OF 
 
 reconforter 
 recorde sb. report, testimony OF 
 
 record 
 recorde 1 pr. s. record, remind 
 
 OF recorder 
 recoverede pp. gained, won OF 
 
 recovrer 
 red, rede, reed sb. advice, help, 
 
 comfort AS raed m. 
 red, rede a. red AS read 
 red pp. read; cf. rede 
 redde 3 pt. s., pp. read; cf. rede 
 reddour : violence OF reidour 
 rede inf., 1 pr. s. read, advise, 
 
 interpret ; radde, redde 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 rad, red, redde pp. ; sweven rede] 
 
 interpret the dream AS raedan 
 redelees, redelesse : without rede or 
 
 counsel, perplexed ; redeless of 
 
 peyne] without remedy for sor- 
 row 
 redere : reader 
 redily : quickly 
 
 redith 3 pr. s. reads ; cf. rede 
 redoutynge : reverence, religious 
 
 fear OF redouter 
 
 redresse sb. redress OF redresser 
 
 redresse inf. redress 
 
 redy a. ready AS raede 
 
 reed sb. advice, plan raed m. 
 
 reed sb. adviser A 665 
 
 reed a. red AS read 
 
 refresshen inf. refresh OF re- 
 freschier 
 
 refreyde pp. cooled down OF 
 refreidier 
 
 reft pp. taken from ; cf. reven 
 
 refuseded 3 pt. pi. disobeyed OF 
 refuser 
 
 refut: refuge OF refuite 
 
 regalye: rule, authority OF 
 regalie 
 
 regard: at regard of] in compari- 
 son with OF. 
 
 regioun: region OF region 
 
 registre: record OF. 
 
 regne: realm, rule, power OF. 
 
 regneth 3 pr. s. rules, reigns; 
 regnen 3 pr. pi. ; regned pp. OF 
 regner 
 
 reherce, rehersin inf. rehearse, re- 
 peat OF rehercier 
 
 rehersyngys : repetitions 
 
 rejoysed 1 pt. s. refl. rejoiced 
 
 rejoysynge: cause of rejoicing OF 
 resjoir 
 
 rekene inf. pay the reckoning AS 
 gerecnian B 110 
 
 rekene inf. reckon 
 
 rekenynge : reckoning, account ; 
 ther lyeth in rekenynge inne my 
 sorwe for no thynge] There is 
 nothing owing me (in reken- 
 ynge) in my sorrow, i.e. sorrow 
 has paid me in full Du 698-9 ; 
 maad our rekenynges] paid our 
 bills 
 
 rekke inf., 2 pr. pi. reck, care for 
 AS reccean 
 
 rekne 1 pr. s. reckon ; cf. rekene 
 
 relayes pi. relays, fresh sets of 
 dogs OF relai 
 
 relees: cease; out of relees] with- 
 out ceasing OF reles 
 
 relesse inf., 1 pr. s. release OF 
 relaissier 
 
 releve : relieve OF relever 
 
 religioun: religion OF. 
 
 relikes: relics OF relique 
 
 remedies pi. remedies, cures ; re- 
 
REMEMBRAUNCE— 
 
 680 
 
 — REWDE 
 
 of 
 
 OF 
 
 medies of love ; remedies 
 
 Ovyde; cf. Ovyde OF. 
 remembraunce : remembrance 
 remembre imp. remember 
 
 remembrer 
 remembrynge : calling to mind 
 remenant, remenaunt, remanent : 
 
 rest, remainder OF remenant 
 remes: realms OF reialmes 
 remewed pp. moved away 
 remoeve 2 pr. pi. subj. remove 
 
 OF removoir 
 renagat: renegade Lat renegatus 
 reneye: deny faith; reneyed pp. 
 
 OF reneier 
 ranges: ranks, rows OF renc 
 renne inf. run, go ; turn up 
 
 125 ; renneth, rennyth pr. 
 
 ronnen 3 pt. pi. ; ronne pp. 
 
 rinnan 
 rennere : runner 
 rennyng : running 
 rennyth 3 pr. s 
 
 town OF renome 
 
 glory OF 
 
 B 
 
 AS 
 
 renomee: renown OF renome 
 
 runs ; cf. renne 
 OI 
 
 renown, 
 
 pi. renew OF 
 tax, tribute 
 
 renoun sb. 
 
 renon 
 renoveleth imp. 
 
 renoveler 
 rente sb. income, 
 
 OF. 
 
 rendeth ; rente 3 
 
 OF 
 
 rent 3 pr. 
 
 pt. s. 
 rentynge: tearing AS rendan 
 repair sb. expense of repair 
 
 repaire 
 repaire inf. return OF reparer 
 repeireth 3 pr. s. returns 
 repentaunce : repentance OF. 
 repentaunt: repentant OF. 
 repente inf. repent OF repentir 
 repleccioun: repletion OF reple- 
 tion 
 repleet: rep-lete, full OF replet 
 replicacioun, repplicacioun: means 
 
 of reply OF replication 
 reporten inf. report OF reporter 
 reportour : reporter 
 repreeve: reproof OF reprueve 
 repreve inf. reproach, reprove OF 
 
 reprover, 3 pr. s. reprueve 
 reproveable : blameworthy 
 reputacioun; reputation OF repu- 
 tation 
 
 requere inf. seek, demand OF 
 
 requerre 
 requeste sb. request OF requeste 
 
 A 1204 
 rescous : rescue, attempt to rescue 
 
 OF rescousse 
 rese inf. shake AS rsesan 
 resigne: resign OF resigner 
 reson, resoun: reason, opinion, 
 
 right OF raison 
 resonable : reasonable, sensible, en- 
 dowed with reason OF. 
 resouneth 3 pr. s. resounds OF 
 
 resoner 
 respit: respite, delay, time OF 
 
 respit 
 respiten inf. respite, gain time ; 
 
 refuse An 259 OF respitier 
 reste sb. rest, repose; at reste] 
 
 comfortable AS rest 
 reste inf. rest AS restan 
 resteles: restless 
 restoore 1 pr. s. restore OF 
 
 restorer 
 restreyne inf. restrain OF re- 
 
 streindere 
 restynge place: dwelling 
 retenue: retinue, suite OF retenue 
 rethor: one skilled in rhetoric Lat 
 
 rhetor 
 rethorik: rhetoric OF rhetorique 
 retourneth imp. return OF re- 
 
 tourner 
 retournynge sb. return 
 retracciouns: retractions OF re- 
 traction 
 reule sb. rule of discipline OF 
 
 reule 
 reulen inf. rule ; refl. conform in 
 
 conduct OF rieuler 
 reuthe, : pity ; cf. routhe ; cf. AS 
 
 hreow 
 reutheles : ruthless 
 reve : bailiff, agent of manor AS 
 
 gerefa 
 revelour: reveler OF reveler 
 reven inf. rob, take away, bereave 
 
 AS reafian 
 rever: river OF riviere 
 revers: reverse OF. 
 revith : reaves, snathes ; cf. reven 
 revolucioun: orbit of stars 
 reward: regard OF. 
 rewde: rude OF rude 
 
 I 
 
REWE— 
 
 681 
 
 — ROOTE 
 
 re we sb. row AS raew f. 
 reweful : in sorrow 
 rewefulleste : most sorrowful 
 rewel-boon : whale-ivory; cf. OF 
 
 rochal 
 rewen inf. rue, take pity AS 
 
 hreowan 
 rewles : rules 
 reyn sb. rain AS regn 
 reynes sb. reins OF rene 
 Reynes : Rennes, a town in Brit- 
 tany ; clothe of reynes] linen 
 cloth made in Rennes Du 255 
 reyneth 3 pr. s. rains 
 reysed pp. made expeditions A 54 
 
 cf. Ger reisen 
 reysed pp. raised ; cf. Icel reisa 
 riall, rialle: royal OF reial 
 ribandye : ribaldry OF ribanderie 
 ribbes: ribs AS rib 
 riche : rich people A 248 AS rice 
 richely : richly 
 richesse : wealth ; the porter of 
 
 Venus OF richesse 
 
 riden' inf. ride, go on expedition ; 
 
 riden pr, pi., pt. pi., pp. ; rit pr. 
 
 s., pt. s; rood 3 pt. s. AS ridan 
 
 right sb. justice AS riht 
 
 right a. right; as it were right] 
 
 exactly as if it were 
 right ad. right, exactly ; right 
 
 thus] just so 
 rightful : righteous 
 rightwisnesse : righteousness 
 rihte : right 
 
 rihtful : rightful, proper 
 riotour: rioter OF. 
 rist pr. s. riseth ; cf. ryse 
 rit pr. s. rideth ; pt. s. rode ; cf. 
 
 riden 
 ro : roe, deer AS ra 
 robbour: robber OF robeor 
 roche: rock OF roche 
 the Rochele: La Rochelle, a town 
 
 in France 
 rode sb. complexion AS rudu f. 
 rode sb. rood, cross AS rod f. 
 Rodogone : Rhodogune, daughter 
 of Darius, slew her nurse who 
 counseled remarriage 
 rodok: robin AS rudduc 
 rody: ruddy, rosy AS nidig 
 rof 3 pt. s. stabbed 
 
 Roger: Ruggiero degli Ubaldini, 
 
 enemy of Ugolino B 3606 
 roghte 3 pt. s. affected, cared ; cf. 
 
 recche E 685 
 roial a. royal OF. 
 
 roialliche ad. royally 
 
 rokke : rock 
 
 rolleth 3 pr. s. turns over OF 
 roller 
 
 rollynge p. rolling, shifty 
 \ romaunce : romance, story OF, 
 Romaunce of the Rose : an alle- 
 gorical French love poem en- 
 I titled "Le Roman de la Rose," 
 w^ritten by Guillaume de Lorris 
 and Jean de Menn, in the thir- 
 teenth century. In the poem 
 the loved one is a Rose in a 
 beautiful garden ; the lover at- 
 tempts to pluck the Rose, but is 
 hindered by allegorical figures, 
 as Shame and Jealousy. Chau- 
 cer speaks of translating this, 
 (Prol. to Leg. G. W.) and a 
 translation, part of which may 
 be by Chaucer, is included in 
 all complete editions of his works 
 
 Romayn a. Roman 
 
 rombled 3 pt. s. shouted out ; cf. 
 Du rommelen 
 
 romed pp. roamed ; cf. romen 
 
 romen inf. roam, w-alk ; rome 1 
 pr. pi. ; romede 1 pt. s. ; romed 
 pt., pp. orig. uncert. 
 
 Romulus : founder of Rome, son 
 of Rhea Silvia 
 
 romynge p. roaming 
 
 ronge 3 pt. s., pi. rang; cf. rynge 
 
 ronne pp. run, completed ; cf. 
 renne 
 
 Ronyan : Ronan, a saint 
 
 rood 3 pt. s, rode ; cf. riden A 
 169 
 
 roode: rood, cross AS rod 
 
 roode-beem: beam supporting rood 
 or cross, over choir entrance 
 
 roofe : roof AS hrof 
 
 roore inf. roar AS rarian 
 
 rocs 3 pt. s. rose ; cf. ryse 
 
 roost sb. roast OF rostir 
 
 rooste inf. roast ; rosted pp. 
 
 roote : root; astronomical property 
 of birth of rich ; rootes pi. roots ; 
 given tabulated quantity, be- 
 
ROPYN— 
 
 682 
 
 -SALAMON 
 
 longing to a fixed date, from 
 which calculations are made AS 
 rot 
 ropyn pp. reaped AS ripan 
 roreth 3 pr. s. roars; cf. roore 
 rose and lilie: flowers of martyr- 
 dom and chastity G 21 
 rested pp. roasted; cf. rooste 
 rote sb. fiddle A 236 OF rote 
 rote sb. repetition ; by rote] by 
 
 heart orig. uncert. 
 roten, roton a. rotten; cf. Icel 
 
 rotinn 
 Rouchestre : Rochester 
 roughte: 3 pt. s. recked, cared; 
 
 cf. recche 
 rouketh 3 pr. s. cowers orig. 
 
 uncert. 
 roule: roll, ramble, gad OF rouler 
 Rouncivale: some cell in England 
 dedicated to the Blessed Mary 
 of Rouncevaux 
 rouncy: hackney, nag OF ronci 
 rounde a. round OF ronde 
 rounde ad. round, easily B 2076 
 roundele : roundel, a form of 
 French verse, rhyming abb 
 abab abb abb (and in other 
 ways) OF rondel 
 route sb. rout, throng, company 
 
 OF. 
 route inf. snore Du 172 AS 
 
 hriitan 
 route inf. assemble B540 OF 
 
 route 
 routhe : pity ; cf. hreow 
 routhelees : ruthless 
 rowe : row AS rsew f . 
 rowes pi. rays, beams 
 Rowlande: Roland, nephew of 
 Charlemagne and chief of his 
 Twelve Peers. He died at 
 Roncesvalles through the treach- 
 ery of Ganelon, q. v. 
 rownde: round OF ronde 
 rowne inf. whisper AS runian 
 rowthe : ruth, sorrow, pity ; cf. AS 
 
 hreow f. 
 rubeis, rubyes : rubies OF rubis 
 rubriche: rubric, rule OF rubriche 
 Ruce : Russia 
 rude: common OF. 
 rudeliche: rudely 
 ruest: takest pity AS hreowan 
 
 Rufus: Greek physician of Ephesus 
 rum, ram, ruf: alliterative sounds 
 rumbel, rumbul: rumbling, noise, 
 
 rumor ; cf . Du rommelen 
 rused pt. s. roused, got away AS 
 
 hreosan "rush" 
 Russell: the fox OF roussel "red" 
 russhyng p. rushing; cf. Du 
 
 ruischen 
 Russye : Russia 
 ruste inf. rust AS rustian 
 Tuyne sb. ruin OF ruine 
 ryal: royal OF reial 
 ryche : rich AS rice 
 rychesse: wealth OF richesse 
 ryde inf. ride ; ryden 1 pt. pi. ; cf. 
 
 riden 
 ryght sb. right; by ryght] justly 
 
 AS riht 
 ryght a. right, proper 
 ryght ad. exactly 
 rym sb. rime OF rime 
 ryme inf. rhyme ; rymeyed pp. 
 
 OF rimer 
 rynge : ring, resound ; ryngen 3 
 
 pr. pi.; ronge 3 pt. s., pi.- AS 
 
 hringan 
 rynges sb. rings 
 rype : ripe, mature AS ripe 
 ryse inf., pr. pi. subj. rise; rist 
 
 pr. s. ; roose pt. s. ; rysen pp. 
 
 AS risan 
 rysen pp. risen; cf. ryse 
 ryte : rite Lat ritus 
 ry ve inf. tear, cut open ; cf. Icel 
 
 rifa 
 ryver: river OF riviere 
 
 sacrifie imp. sacrifice OF sacrifier 
 sacrifise sb. sacrifice OF sacrifice 
 sad, sadde: patient, serious, sober 
 
 AS saed 
 sadel: saddle AS sadol 
 sadel-bowe : saddle-bow 
 sadly: seriously, deeply, plentifully 
 sadnesse : patience 
 saffron inf. to give color and 
 
 savor, as with saflfron OF saf- 
 
 raner 
 saffroun: saffron OF safran 
 saille inf. sail AS seglian 
 Salamon, Salomon : Solomon 
 
SALEWEDE— 
 
 683 
 
 —SCHETTE 
 
 salewede 1 pt. s, greeted OF 
 saluer 
 
 Saluces: Saluzzo 
 
 salue inf. greet ; salueth pr. s. 
 OF saluer 
 
 saluyng : greeting 
 
 salwes: willow twigs, osiers AS 
 sealh m. 
 
 Samaritan : the woman of Samaria 
 
 Sampson, Sampsoun : Samson, a 
 judge of Israel, famous for his 
 supernatural strength. As a 
 Nazarite, he drank no wine. 
 After his betrayal by Delilah, 
 when his strength returned he 
 caused himself to be led between 
 the two main pillars of the tem- 
 ple of Dagon, in which the lords 
 of the Philistines were feasting. 
 By thrusting the pillars out of 
 place he caused the temple to fall, 
 slaying himself and thousands of 
 the Philistines; cf. Judges xvi. 
 
 sangwyn sb. sanguine color, blood- 
 red cloth OF sanguin 
 
 sangwyn a. ruddy 
 
 sanz : without 
 
 sapience: wisdom OF. 
 
 Sapor: the first, king of Persia 240- 
 273. He defeated Emperor Vale- 
 rian, and in turn was defeated by 
 Zenobia and Odenatus 
 
 sarge: serge OF serge 
 
 Sarray : Sarai, a city near the Cas- 
 pian Sea, seat at one time of 
 the Tartar kings 
 
 sarvant: servant OF servant 
 
 Satalye : Attalia or Adalia, in Asia 
 Minor, captured in 1357 
 
 sate pt. s. sat ; cf. sitten ; doune 
 on knees sate] knelt; sate hyr 
 ful lytel at herte] troubled her 
 little 
 
 Sathanas: Satan 
 
 Saturne: the planet Saturn was 
 supposed to exert an evil in- 
 fluence 
 
 Saturnus: the father of Jupiter 
 and the gods. His planet was 
 supposed to have a baleful in- 
 fluence upon men and events, 
 causing strife and trouble 
 
 satyn: satin OF satin 
 
 sauf: saved, excepted OF. 
 
 saufly: safely 
 
 saugh 3 pt. s. saw ; cf. se 
 
 sautrie sb. psaltery, a stringed 
 
 instrument OF psalterie 
 savacyoun: salvation OF sauva- 
 
 cion 
 save : the herb sage Lat salvia 
 save prep., conj. save, except OF 
 
 sauf 
 save inf., 3 pr. s. subj. save; 
 
 savith 3 pr. s. ; savedest 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 saveth imp. pi. OF sauver 
 savedest 3 pt. s. saved; cf. save 
 saveour: savior OF sauveur 
 i savith 3 pr. s. saves; cf. save 
 ! savoure inf., imp. taste OF 
 I savourer 
 
 I savouris: smells Pf. 274 
 } savynge p. keeping inviolate 
 I savynge prep, saving, except 
 ; sawcefleem a. covered with pimples 
 
 OF saus "salt" + flemme 
 sawe sb. saying, maxim AS 
 
 sagu f. 
 sawe 1 pt. s. saw ; cf. se 
 sawse: sauce OF sausse 
 say pt. s. saw (probably Chaucer's 
 
 regular- form, as it occurs in 
 
 rime) ; cf. se 
 sayede pt. s., pp. said; cf. saye 
 saylynge a. sailing, used in ships 
 sayn, sayne inf. say ; cf. seye 
 sayn pp. seen ; cf. se 
 Sayne : the Seine 
 scabbe : scab Icel skab 
 scalle : scab ; cf. Icel skalli "bald" 
 scalled pp. scabby 
 scapen inf. escape OF escaper 
 scarsly ad. economically A 583 ; 
 
 scarcely B 3602 
 scathe sb. misfortune ; that was 
 
 scathe] that was a pity Icel 
 
 ska6i f. 
 Scedasus: a native of Boeotia, in 
 
 Greece 
 schap : shape AS sceap 
 schape pp. ordained AS scieppan, 
 
 pp. secapen 
 sche : she 
 
 scherte : shirt AS scyrte 
 scherynge: shearing AS sceran 
 schete inf. shoot AS sceotan 
 schethe sb. sheathe AS scetS f. 
 schette 3 pt. s. shut; cf. shetten 
 
SCHEWID— 
 
 684 
 
 — SEISTOW 
 
 schewid : shown ; cf. shewe 
 
 schop 3 pt. s. refl. prepared ; cf. 
 shape 
 
 schryne : shrine AS serin 
 
 schul 3 pr. pi. shall; cf. sTial 
 
 science: knowledge, science OF. 
 
 Scipioun: (1) Publius Cornelius 
 Scipio Africanus, Roman general 
 and conqueror of Carthage in 
 Africa, B. C. 202, whence his 
 name Affrikan. (2) Cornelius 
 Scipio ^milianus Africanus Min- 
 or, the hero of the Third Punic 
 War, whose dream of his grand- 
 father by adoption, the elder 
 Africanus, is discussed by Macro- 
 bius, q. V. 
 
 Scithero: Cicero; cf. Tullius 
 
 Scithia: Scythia, ancient country 
 around the Black Sea 
 
 sclat: slate OF esclat 
 
 sclaundre sb. slander, evil report 
 OF esclondre 
 
 sclendre: slender; cf. ODu. 
 
 Scogan : tutor to Henry IV's sons 
 
 scole : school, style AS scolu f . 
 
 scole-matere : subject for scholastic 
 disputation 
 
 scoler: scholar, student 
 
 to scoleward : on the way to school 
 
 scoleye inf. go to school. It was 
 customary for poor students to 
 beg money for their education, 
 even going from door to door; 
 cf. OF escoler "teach" 
 
 scorpioun: scorpion OF. 
 
 Scot sb. a common Norfolk name 
 for a horse 
 
 Scotlandward : towards Scotland 
 
 Scottes: Scots 
 
 scourging : scourging, disciplining 
 OF escorgier 
 
 scriveyn: scrivener OF escrivain 
 
 se, see sb. sea AS sse f. 
 
 se, seen, sen, scene, sene, seon inf. 
 see ; seen pr. pi ; sawe, saugh, 
 say, seigh, seye, seyen, seyide, 
 syen pt. ; sayn, sene, seye, seyn 
 pp. AS seon 
 
 seche inf. seek AS secan 
 
 secounde : second OF seconde 
 
 secre a. secret OF. 
 
 secree sb. and ad. secret, secretly 
 OF. 
 
 secreely : secretly 
 
 secreenesse: secrets 
 
 sed sb. seed AS ssed n. 
 
 sede inf. seed, give seed AS 
 s^dian 
 
 seege : siege OF siege 
 
 seeke : sick AS seoc 
 
 seel sb. seal, print OF. 
 
 seelde a. seldom AS seldan 
 
 seen inf., 2 pr. pi. see; cf. se 
 
 scene inf. see; cf. se 
 
 sect 3 pt. s. sat; cf. sittcn 
 
 secth 3 pt. s. boiled AS seotSan 
 
 scettes : seats ; cf . Icel sseti 
 
 seigh pt. s. saw ; cf. se 
 
 scillynge p. sailing 
 
 sein inf. say ; cf. seyn 
 
 seint a. holy OF saint 
 
 Seint Bcncit: St. Benet or Bene- 
 dict, the founder of the Benedic- 
 tine order of monks, died 542 
 
 Seint Edward: Edward the Con- 
 fessor 
 
 Seint Jamc: St. James, whose body 
 was carried in a rudderless ship 
 to Compostella, in Galicia 
 
 Seint Julian: St. Julian was famous ii 
 for providing good things for 11 
 his votaries 
 
 Seint Maure: St. Maur, a disciple 
 of St. Benet 
 
 Seint Nicholas: St. Nicholas, the 
 boy-bishop and patron of school 
 boys, showed marks of piety 
 when in the cradle 
 
 Seint Thomas: St. Thomas a 
 Becket killed at Canterbury 
 
 Seint Thomas of Ynde : The Apos- 
 tle Thomas died in India. He 
 is thus called to distinguish him 
 from St. Thomas of Canterbury 
 
 Seinte Loy: Loy < Eloy < Eligius. 
 St. Eligius refused to take the 
 oath when testifying, therefore 
 an oath in his name was very 
 mild, practically no oath, being, 
 once removed, no oath at all 
 
 Seinte Poules : St. Paul's Cathedral 
 
 Seintes Legende of Cupide: The 
 Legend of Good Women 
 
 seintuarie : saint's relic OF saint- 
 uaire 
 
 seistow 2 pr. s. sayest thou ; cf. 
 seye 
 
SEITH— 
 
 seith 3 pr. s. says ; for mysseith 
 
 3 pr. s. slanders B 3112; cf. 
 
 seye 
 sek, seke a. sick AS seoc 
 sekeenesse: sickness 
 seken inf., pr. pi. seek, visit; 
 
 soghte 3 pt. s. subj.; soughte 
 
 pp. ; sowhte pt. pi. AS secan 
 selde: seldom AS seldan A 1539 
 seled: sealed OF seeler 
 selle inf. sell AS sellan 
 selleres pi. merchants 
 selve a. own, very, same AS self 
 
 B 115 
 selven : self 
 sely: happy, harmless, weak, silly, 
 
 simple, kind, good AS saelig 
 
 "happy" 
 semblant: appearance OF. 
 seme inf. seem ; cf. Icel ssema 
 
 "honor" 
 semelieste : handsomest 
 semely a. likely, comely 
 semely ad. properly, in a seemly 
 
 manner 
 semycope sb. short cape OF. 
 semyly : comely 
 semynge : appearance, seeming ; to 
 
 my semynge] as it seems to me 
 Semyramus : Semiramis, queen of 
 
 Babylon, famous for wantonness 
 
 and imperial reign 
 sen inf. see ; cf. se 
 senatour : senator OF. 
 sendal: cloth of silk for lining OF 
 
 cendal 
 sende inf. send ; sent pt., pp. ; 
 
 synde 3 pr. s. subj. AS sendan 
 sene inf. and pp. to see ; cf. se 
 Senec : Seneca, Roman philosopher 
 senge inf. singe ; seynd pp. AS 
 
 sengan 
 sent pt. s. sent; cf. sende 
 sentement: the feeling of love OF 
 
 sentiment 
 sentence: meaning, sense, order; 
 
 hy sentence] lofty sentiment OF. 
 seen inf. see ; cf. se 
 Septe : Centa, in Morocco 
 Septemtrioun: North 
 septure: sceptre OF sceptre 
 sepulture: sepulchre OF. 
 Serapioun : a mediaeval physician, 
 
 685 — SEYDE 
 
 probably of the twelfth century 
 
 A 432 
 sercele : circle, sphere OF cercle 
 serchen 3 pr. pi. search, haunt 
 
 OF cerchier 
 Sereis: Ceres, goddess of harvest 
 Sergeant of the Lawe : sergeant-at- 
 
 law, the highest rank at the 
 
 common-law bar 
 sermonyng : preaching 
 sermoun: discourse OF sermon 
 serpent: the hydra of Lerna B 
 
 3295 OF. 
 sertys: certes OF certes, pi. f. 
 
 of cert 
 servage: service, bondage OF. 
 servant, servaunt: servant, lover 
 
 OF. 
 serve inf. serve, help ; servede 1 
 
 pt. s. OF servir 
 servise : performance, concert Du 
 
 302 OF. 
 servitute: servitude OF. 
 servyn inf. serve 
 servysable: helpful 
 servyse: service OF servise 
 serwaunt: servant 
 serye : series, connected argument 
 serys: sirs OF sire 
 sese: seize; sesed pp. OF seisir 
 seson, sesoun sb. season OF 
 
 saison 
 sessiouns sb. pi. meetings of the 
 
 Justices of the Peace OF ses- 
 sion Lat sessio 
 set 3 pr. s., pp. set ; cf. sette 
 sete pt. sat; cf. sitten 
 sethe inf. seethe, boil AS seot5an 
 sette inf., 3 pr. s., pp. set; set 
 
 3 pr. s., pp. ; set a cappe] make 
 
 a fool of ; wel sette] seemly, 
 
 suitable AS settan 
 seuretee: security, pledge OF 
 
 seurte 
 seven: seven; seven sterris] the 
 
 seven planets 
 seventhe : seventh 
 sewed 3 pt. s. followed OF sivre, 
 
 3 pr. s. suit 
 sewes: broths AS seaw "juice" 
 sexteyn: sexton < sacristan 
 sey inf., 3 pr. pi., imp. tell; cf. 
 
 seye 
 seyde 3 pt. pi. said; cf. seye 
 
SEYDYN- 
 
 686 
 
 — SHOLDER-BOON 
 
 seydyn 3 pt. pi. said; cf. seye 
 
 seye pp., f. seen ; cf. se 
 
 seye, sey, seyn, seyne, sayn, sayne 
 
 inf. say, tell ; seith 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 seistow 2 pr. s. ; sey 3 pr. pi. ; 
 
 seysthow 2 pr. s. ; sayed, sayede 
 
 pt. s. ; seyde 3 pt. pi. ; seydyn 
 
 3 pt. pi. ; sey imp. ; sayede pp. 
 
 AS secgan 
 seye 1 pt. s. saw; cf. se 
 seyen 3 pt. pi. saw; cf. se 
 Seyes: Ceyx, husband of Alcyone," 
 
 q. V. 
 seyide 1 pt. s. saw ; cf. se 
 seyl sb. sail AS segl 
 seyn inf. say; cf. seye 
 seyn pp. seen ; seyn biforn] fore- 
 seen; cf. se 
 seynd : singed, broiled ; cf . senge 
 seyne inf. say; cf. seye 
 seyne pp. seen; cf. se 
 seysthow 2 pr. s. sayest thou; cf. 
 
 seye 
 shadde 3 pt. s. poured AS scadan 
 shadewe, shadwe sb. shadow, 
 
 shade AS sceadu 
 shadwed pp. shaded 
 shaftes: spears, lances; shaft of 
 
 arrow A 1362 AS sceaft 
 shake pp. shaken AS scacan 
 shal 1 pr. s. shall ; schul, shalle, 
 
 shalt, shul, shulle pr. ; shuldest, 
 
 shulde pt. AS sceal 
 shalle 1 pr. s. shall; cf. shal 
 shaltow 2 pr. s. shalt thou; cf. 
 
 shal 
 shame s. shame, modesty ; doo 
 
 shame] put to shame AS scamu 
 
 f. 
 shamefast: shamefaced, modest 
 
 AS scamfsest 
 shamefastnesse : bashfulness, mod- 
 esty 
 shamen inf. shame 
 shameth 3 pr. s. thee shameth] 
 
 thou art ashamed; cf. shamen 
 shap sb. shape AS sceap Pf 373 
 shape inf. refl. plan, prepare ; 
 
 shapen 2 pr. pi. ; shoope pt. s. ; 
 
 shape, shapen pp. fated 
 shaply a. fitted 
 shappe 1 pr. s. devise, form 
 sharpe a. sharp AS scearp 
 sharpe ad. sharply 
 
 shave pp. shaved AS scafan 
 shedde 3 pt. s. shed AS scadan 
 sheef: sheaf AS sceaf 
 sheeld: shield AS scield m. 
 sheeldes: crowns, coins worth 
 
 3s. 4d. A 278 
 sheene: bright, beautiful AS 
 
 scene 
 shende inf. shame, ruin, corrupt, 
 
 scold ; shente 3 pt. s. ; shent pp. 
 
 AS scendan 
 shene sb. shining AS scene 
 shene a. bright 
 shene ad. brightly 
 shent pp. corrupted A 2754; 
 
 scolded B 1731; cf. shende 
 shente 3 pt. s. put to shame ; cf. 
 
 shende 
 sheo : she 
 shepherde: shepherd AS sceap- 
 
 hyrde 
 shepne: sheep fold AS scypen 
 shere sb. shears AS sceara 
 shere inf. shear, cut AS sceran 
 sherte: shirt AS scyrte 
 shet pp. shut; cf. shetten 
 shete: sheet AS scete 
 shetere a. shooter, used for bows 
 shetten inf. shut ; shette pt. pi. ; 
 
 shet, shette pp. AS scyttan 
 shewe inf. show ; sheweth 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 shewede 3 pt. s. ; shewid pp. 
 
 AS sceawian 
 sheweth pr. s. sheweth . . . youre 
 
 servaunt] your servant presents; 
 
 cf. shewe 
 shifte inf. distribute, ordain AS 
 
 sciftan 
 shilde 3 pr. s. prevent, shield AS 
 
 scyldan 
 shille: shrill AS scyl 
 shipe sb. pay An 193 AS scipe 
 shipe sb. ship An 194 AS scip n. 
 shipnes: stables, sheds AS scypen 
 shire sb. county; shires poss. A 
 
 15 AS scir f. 
 shirreve: reve or governor of a 
 
 shire ; modern sheriff 
 shiten pp. foul, defiled 
 sho: shoe AS sco 
 shode: temple of the head AS 
 
 sceada 
 shof 3 pt. s. shoved AS sciifan 
 sholder-boon : shoulder blade 
 
SHOLDRED— 
 
 687 
 
 -SKORNED 
 
 sholdred pp. shouldred 
 
 sholdysthow 2 pr. s. shouldest 
 thou ; cf. shal 
 
 shon pt. s. shone ; cf. shyne 
 
 shonde sb. shame AS second 
 
 shoo: shoe; shoon pi. AS sco 
 
 shoope, shope pt. s. planned, dis- 
 posed ; cf. shape 
 
 shorte a., pi. short; at shorte 
 wordis] in short AS scort 
 
 shorte inf. shorten AS sceortian 
 
 shortly: quickly, briefly 
 
 shot sb. arrow or crossbow bolt 
 AS scot 
 
 shoures: showers AS sciir 
 
 shoutynge sb. shouting orig. 
 unkn. 
 
 showvyng sb. shoving 
 
 shredde 3 pt. s. sliced AS screa- 
 dian 
 
 shrewe sb. shrew, cursed fellow 
 
 shrewe 1 pr. s. curse, consign to 
 the devil 
 
 shrewed a. cursed 
 
 shrewednesse : cursedness 
 
 shrighte 3 pt. s. shrieked 
 
 shryfte: shrift, confession; as 
 shryfte wythoute repentaunce] as 
 one who confesses but does not 
 repent AS scrift 
 
 shrympes: shrimps, dwarfs; cf. 
 AS scrimman "dry up" 
 
 shryned pp. enshrined AS serin 
 
 shul pr. pi. shall; cf. shal 
 
 shulde pt. s. should; cf. shal 
 
 shuldest 2 pt. s. should ; cf. shal 
 
 shuldres pi. shoulders AS sculdor 
 
 shulle, shuUen pr. shall; cf. shal 
 
 shyne sb. shin AS scinu 
 
 shyne inf. shine ; shon pt. s. AS 
 scinan 
 
 shyveren 3 pr. pi. shiver, go into 
 fragments 
 
 sich: such, that is what AS swylc 
 
 sicknes: sickness, disease 
 
 Sidyngborne : Sittingbourne, forty 
 miles from London, between 
 Rochester and Canterbury 
 
 sighte sb. sight AS ge-sihS f. 
 
 signe sb. sign OF. 
 
 significavit: a writ of excommuni- 
 cation beginning **significavit 
 nobis venerabilis frater" 
 
 sike a. sick AS seoc 
 
 sike inf. sigh ; siketh, sykyth 3 
 
 pr. s. AS sican 
 siker a. certain, safe AS sicor 
 siker ad. certainly 
 sikerer: surer, more regular 
 sikerly : certainly 
 sikernesse: safety, security 
 siketh, sikith 3 pr. s. sighs; cf. 
 
 sike 
 sikirly: surely 
 
 sikly ad. badly, with ill will 
 siknesse: sickness 
 Silla: for her lover Minos betrayed 
 
 her father Nisus 
 similitude : likeness, presentation, 
 
 statement OF. 
 simple a. unaffected OF. 
 sinne sb. sin, evil AS synn f. 
 sippe inf. sip, taste AS sypian 
 Sir Gy: Sir Guy of Warwick, a 
 
 Middle English metrical romance 
 Sir Lybeux: Lybeaus Disconus, a 
 
 Middle English metrical romance 
 Sir Percy veil: Sir Percival 
 sith ad. then C 869 AS sitSSan 
 sith, sithe conj. since 
 sithe sb. scythe AS sit5e 
 sithes^pl. times; ofte sithes] oft- 
 times AS sits 
 sitten inf. sit ; sitte pr. s. ; sate, 
 
 seet, sete pt. AS sittan 
 sitthe: afterwards 
 sittyngest: most suitable 
 sixte : sixth 
 
 skalis: scales OF escale 
 skapid pp. escaped OF eschaper 
 skars: scarce OF escars 
 skarsly : scarcely 
 skarsytee: scarcity 
 skile : cause, reason, profit ; pi. 
 
 fancies; cf. Icel skil 
 skilful a. reasonable; skilful placis 
 
 that here charge] in important 
 
 situations 
 skillis: reasons; cf. skile 
 skipte pt. s. jumped ; cf. skyppe 
 sklendre: slender, slight (?) Du 
 
 slinder 
 Skogon: Henry Scogan, tutor of 
 
 the sons of Henry IV, and friend 
 
 of Chaucer 
 skorned 3 pt. s. scorned ; ne 
 
 skorned less] nor one that 
 
 scorned less 
 
SKORNERE— 
 
 688 
 
 — SOLEMPNYTEE 
 
 skornere : scorner 
 
 skorneth 3 pr. s. scorns OF 
 
 escorner 
 skornynge : mocking 
 skriked pt. pi. shrieked ; cf. Icel 
 
 skraekja 
 skylful : skilful 
 skylfully : advantageously 
 skyppe inf. skip ; cf. Icel skopa 
 slake inf. desist, cease, end AS 
 
 slacian 
 slakke a. slow AS slaec 
 slaughtre: slaughter; cf. Icel slatr 
 
 "slain flesh" AS sliht 
 slawe pp. slain ; cf. sle 
 slayn pp. slain ; cf. sle 
 sle, slee inf., imp. slay; sleen 2 
 
 pr. pi. ; sleeth 3 pr. s. ; slough, 
 
 slowgh, slow pt. s. ; slawe, slayn, 
 
 sleyn pp. AS slean 
 sledere a. slippery AS slidor 
 sleen 2 pr. pi. slay ; cf. sle 
 sleer: slayer 
 
 sleeth 3 pr. s. slays ; cf. sle 
 sleighte sb. trickery, craft ; cf. 
 
 Icel slasgt5 
 slen inf. slay ; cf. sle 
 slep sb. sleep AS slslp m. 
 slepe inf. sleep ; slepes 3 pr. s. ; 
 
 slepen 3 pr. pi; sleep, slepe, 
 
 slepte 3 pt. s. ; sleptin 3 pt. pi. 
 
 AS slaepan 
 slepy: sleep-causing A 1387 
 slepynge sb. sleep 
 sieves: sleeves AS slef 
 sleyn pp. slain ; cf. sle 
 slider: slippery AS sliSor 
 slight : cunning ; cf. Icel slaegtS 
 slit 3 pr. s. slideth ; cf. slyde 
 slitte inf. pierce, slit AS slitan 
 slogardrie : sluggishness, laziness 
 
 orig. uncert. 
 slogardye: sloth 
 slong pt. s. -slung AS slingan 
 slough 3 pt. s. slew ; cf . sle 
 slouthe: sloth AS slaewtS f. 
 slow, slowgh pt. s. slew ; cf. sle 
 sluttissh : slovenly 
 slyde inf. slide, slip past ; slit 3 
 
 pr. s. AS slidan 
 slye : clever, crafty, neat ; cf. Icel 
 
 slsegr 
 slyghte : sleight 
 slyk : sleek orig. uncert. 
 
 smal ad. little AS smael 
 
 smale, smalle : slender, small 
 
 smel sb. odor ; cf. L Ger smelen 
 
 "smoke" 
 smelle 1 pr. s. smell 
 smellynge: smelling 
 smert sb. smart, pain ; cf. AS 
 
 smeortan 
 smerte a. sharp, painful 
 smerte ad. sharply 
 smerte inf., pt. s., impers. smart, 
 
 pain, grieve 
 smok : smock, dress AS smocc 
 smoklees: without even a sm^ock 
 smoot 3 pt. s. struck; cf. smyte 
 smothe a. smooth AS smot5 
 smothe ad. smoothly A 676 
 smylere: smiler, hypocrite; cf. Dan 
 
 smile 
 smylyng: sb. smiling 
 smyte inf. smite; smyt pr. s., 
 
 imp. ; smoot pt. s. ; smyten pp. 
 
 AS smitan 
 smyth: blacksmith AS smiS 
 snewed 3 pt. s. snowed AS snaw 
 snowte : nose ; cf. Icel snyta 
 snybben inf. rebuke ; snybbed pp. ; 
 
 cf. Icel snubba 
 so ad. so, so much AS swa 
 so conj. so that 
 so ferforthly: to the extent of 
 sobre : sober, serious OF. 
 sobrely ad. sadly, seriously 
 sobtil: crafty, searching OF sobtil 
 sobyrly : soberly 
 soche : such 
 
 socour sb. succor OF. 
 Socrates : Athenian philosopher, 
 
 famous for tranquillity under 
 
 affliction 
 sodeinly: suddenly OF sodain 
 sodeynliche : suddenly 
 soffren: suffer OF sofrir 
 softe a. gentle AS safte 
 softe ad. softly, timidly 
 soghte 3 pt. s. subj. examined ; cf. 
 
 seken 
 sojourne inf. tarry OF sojorner 
 solaas, solas : comfort, amusement 
 
 OF solas 
 solempne a. solemn, festive OF. 
 solempnely ad. in an important 
 
 manner A 274 
 solempnytee : ceremony 
 
SOLEYN— 689 — SOWDED 
 
 soleyn: alone, mateless OF solein 
 
 sophistrye : sophistry OF sophis- 
 
 solitarie: alone Lat solitarius 
 
 terie 
 
 som: some, a certain AS sum 
 
 sophyme : sophism, trick of logic 
 
 somdeel, somdel: somewhat, to 
 
 OF soffime E 5 
 
 some extent 
 
 sorcerie: sorcery OF. 
 
 somer: summer; somerys poss. ; 
 
 sorofull: sorrowful AS sorgful 
 
 someres game] (mid-) summer's 
 
 sorowe : sorrow AS sorg f. gen. 
 
 play D 648 AS sumor 
 
 sorge 
 
 som-kyn: some kind of 
 
 sorowfull: sorrowful 
 
 somme : some 
 
 sort: lot, fate OF. 
 
 somme : sum ; sommes pi. sum of 
 
 sorwe: sorrow AS sorg f. 
 
 money OF somme 
 
 sorwen 3 pr. pi. sorrow AS sor- 
 
 somnour, somonour : a summoner, 
 
 gian 
 
 whose business was to summon 
 
 sorwful : sorrowful 
 
 delinquents to the ecclesiastical 
 
 sorwynge s. sorrowing 
 
 courts OF semoneor 
 
 sory: sorry; sory grace] misfortune 
 
 somtyme: once, formerly 
 
 AS sarig 
 
 somwhat ad. somewhat 
 
 soryest: sorriest or sorest 
 
 send: sand AS sand m. 
 
 soth, sothe sb. truth AS soS 
 
 Sonday : Sunday 
 
 sothe a. true 
 
 sonde: message AS sand f. 
 
 sothefastnesse : truth 
 
 sondry a. sundry, various 
 
 sothely, sothly : certainly, truly 
 
 sone sb. son ; sone of Eve] child 
 
 sought pp. sought; cf. seken 
 
 of Eve AS sunu m. 
 
 souked pp. sucked AS sucan 
 
 sone ad, soon, quickly AS sona 
 
 soukynge: sucking, nursing 
 
 songe sb. song, poem AS song 
 
 soule : soul AS sawol f. 
 
 mn. 
 
 soun, soune sb. sound OF son 
 
 songe 3 pt. s. sang; songen pt. 
 
 sounde 4nf. heal AS sundian 
 
 pi. ; cf. synge 
 
 soupen inf. sup OF soper 
 
 sonken pp. sunken ; AS sincan 
 
 souple a. soft, flexible OF. 
 
 Sonne: sun AS sunne f. 
 
 soure: sourly AS sure 
 
 sonne-beem: sunbeam AS sunne- 
 
 sours: source, spring OF sourse 
 
 beam 
 
 E 49 
 
 sonnest: soonest 
 
 soutere: cobbler AS sutere 
 
 soo so ; who soo] whoso, whoso- 
 
 southe sb. truth ; cf. soth 
 
 ever AS swa 
 
 southren: southron, from the south 
 
 soold pp. sold AS sellan 
 
 of England, as opposed to north 
 
 soond: sand AS sand m. 
 
 England where alliterative poetry 
 
 soone : soon AS s5na 
 
 was most practiced 
 
 soong 1 pt. s. sang; cf. synge 
 
 Southwerk: Southwark, south of 
 
 soor sb. sore AS sar n. 
 
 the Thames, across London 
 
 soore a. sore AS sar 
 
 Bridge 
 
 soore ad. sorely AS sare A 148 
 
 soutil ad. subtly, finely OF. 
 
 soote a. sweet AS swete 
 
 soutiltee: device OF. 
 
 sooth a. true AS soS 
 
 soutyle : subtle 
 
 sooth pley quad pley : true jest is 
 
 souvenaunce : remembrance OF. 
 
 ill jest 
 
 soveraynetee, sovereynetee : sover- 
 
 soothe: truth; soothe to seyn] to 
 
 eignty OF sovrainete 
 
 speak truthfully AS sot5 n. 
 
 sovereyn a. great, excellent, chief 
 
 soothf astnesse : truthfulness 
 
 OF sovrain 
 
 soothly : truly 
 
 Sowdan : Sultan 
 
 sope: sop, bread or cake soaked in 
 
 Sowdanesse: Sultana 
 
 a liquid < AS supan "to sup" 
 
 sowded to pp. confirmed in OF 
 
 -soper: supper OF soper 
 
 souder 
 
SOWE— 
 
 690 
 
 — SQUYRELIS 
 
 sowe : sow ; sowes poss. s. AS sugu 
 sowed pp. sewed AS siwian 
 sowen inf., pp. sow AS sawan 
 sowhte pt. pi. sought; cf. seken 
 sowled pp. given a soul to 
 sowne inf. sound, play upon, be in 
 
 harmony with, tend to; sowneth 
 
 3 pr. s. tends to B 3158; 
 
 sownynge p. OF soner 
 sownynge p. sounding Du 925 ; 
 
 in harmony with, conducing to 
 
 A 275 
 sowple: obedient OF souple 
 sowre : sorely 
 sowres sb. pi. sowres, bucks of 
 
 the fourth year OF sor 
 space : space, length of time ; as 
 
 of so litel space] considering the 
 
 brevity of his service A 87 ; 
 
 course A 175 OF espace 
 spadde 1 pt. s. sped ; cf. spade 
 Spaigne : Spain 
 spak 3 pt. s. spoke ; cf. speke 
 spanne: span, measure of distance 
 
 AS spann 
 sparcle sb. spark < AS spearca 
 spare inf. refrain, cease, fail AS 
 
 sparian 
 sparhauk: sparrow-hawk AS spear- 
 
 hafoc 
 sparkes pi. sparks AS spearca 
 sparkles: sparks, live coals 
 sparklynge p. sparkling 
 sparre sb. beam orig. uncert. 
 sparth; battle-axe orig. uncert. 
 sparwe: sparrow AS spearwa 
 Spayne : Spain 
 
 spaynel: spaniel OF espagnol 
 speaken inf. speak; speake 3 pr. 
 
 s. ; cf. speke 
 speces pi. species OF especes 
 speche: speech, conversation, voice 
 
 AS spaec f. 
 spectacle: eyeglass OF. 
 spede inf., 3 pr. s. subj. succeed, 
 
 prosper ; spadde, spedded 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 sped pp. ; sped, spedde imp. AS 
 
 spedan 
 spedeful : profitable 
 speede imp. prosper ; cf. spede 
 speeke 3 pr. subj. speak ; cf. speke 
 speere : sphere ; eighte speere] 
 
 eighth sphere, sphere of the fixed 
 
 stars OF espere 
 
 speke inf., 3 pr. s. speak; speeke 
 
 3 pr. s. subj. ; spak 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 speken 3 pt. pi. ; spoken pp. AS 
 
 specan 
 spekyng sb. speech 
 spelle: story, tale AS spell n. 
 spende inf. spend; spenden 1 pr. 
 
 pi. ; spente 3 pt. s. ; spent pp. 
 
 AS spendan 
 spere sb. spear AS spere 
 sperhauk : sparrow-hawk AS spear- 
 
 hafoc 
 speris: spheres OF esperes 
 sperme: seed OF esperme 
 spiced a. seasoned (by hypocrisy) 
 
 OF espicier 
 spicerye: spices OF espicerie 
 spille inf. spill, upset, destroy, 
 
 spoil ; spille 3 pr. s. subj. may 
 
 die B 285 ; spilt pp. AS spillan 
 spirite: spirit; spiritis pi. OF es- 
 
 pirit 
 spitously: without pity OF de- 
 
 spitos 
 spitte 1 pr. s. spit AS spittan 
 spore sb. spur; paire of spores] 
 
 women then rode astride A 473 
 
 AS spura 
 spousaille: espousal, wedding OF 
 
 espousailles 
 spoused pp. espoused, wedded 
 spradde 3 pt. s. spread ; cf. sprede 
 sprede inf. spread, open; spradde 
 
 3 pt. s. ; sprad pp. AS spraedan 
 sprengen inf. sprinkle, scatter ; 
 
 spreynd pp. AS sprengan 
 spreynd pp. sprinkled; cf, sprengen 
 sprong: 3 pt. s. sprang up; cf. 
 
 sprynge 
 spryng flood: spring tide, when the 
 
 sun and moon are in opposition 
 sprynge inf. spring, grow; sprong 
 
 3 pt. s. ; spronge pp. AS sprin- 
 
 gan 
 spryngyng sb. source 
 spurne: kick AS spurnan 
 spynnynge : spinning ; spynnynge 
 
 on feeld] she spun while keeping 
 
 the sheep AS spinnan 
 Squier : squire, one who attends 
 
 on a knight OF escuier 
 squiereth 3 pr. s. squires, escorts 
 squyrelis, sqwireles: squirrels OF 
 
 esquireul 
 
STAALE— . 
 
 691 
 
 — STOD 
 
 staale 3 pt. s. stole upon; cf. 
 
 stelen 
 staat: state, condition OF estat 
 stable sb. stable OF estable 
 stable a. permanent, constant 
 stablissed pp. established OF 
 
 establir 
 Stace of Thebes: the **Thebaid" of 
 
 Statius, in which these details 
 
 are not given A 2294 
 staf: staff AS staef 
 staf-slynge: a sling fastened to a 
 
 stick to get greater power; cf. 
 
 F eslingue 
 stal 3 pt. s. stole ; cf. stelen C 
 
 610 
 stalke sb. stalk, stick; cf. the 
 
 parable of the mote and the 
 
 beam in Matt. vii. 3 A 3919; 
 
 cf. AS stela "handle" 
 stalke inf. creep, move slowly AS 
 
 stalcian 
 stalle sb. stall AS steall mn. 
 stampe pr. pi. pound AS stempan 
 stant 3 pr. s. stands ; cf. stonde 
 stape pp. far gone, advanced AS 
 
 steppan 
 starf 3 pt. s. died; cf. sterve 
 Starke: strong, severe AS stearc 
 starlyng: starling AS stserline 
 startlyng: moving rapidly AS 
 
 steartlian 
 Stat: state, estate OF estat 
 statue: statue, portrait OF. 
 stature: height OF estature 
 statut sb. statute; statutis pi. 
 
 OF. 
 staves poss. pole's AS staef 
 stede place ; in stede] instead AS 
 
 stede 
 stedefast, stedfaste: steadfast 
 stedfastnes : constancy 
 steedes: steeds AS steda 
 steere: rudder, guide AS steora, 
 
 steor 
 steerelees: rudderless 
 stekid pp. stuck AS stician 
 stel: steel AS stel 
 stelen inf. steal ; staale, stal 3 pt. 
 
 s. ; stole pp. AS stelan 
 stellefye inf. set among the stars 
 stemed 3 pt. pi. gleamed AS 
 
 steman 
 
 stenten inf. stop, cease ; stent pt. 
 
 s., pp. AS styntan 
 stepe a. bright AS steap 
 stere : rudder, guide AS steor, 
 
 steora 
 sterlynges: coins sterling AS 
 
 staerlinc 
 sternely: sternly AS styrne 
 sterres pi. stars ; sterres sevene] 
 
 this may mean the seven planets 
 
 known to the ancients, or, as the 
 
 planets have been mentioned, the 
 
 seven stars in Ursa Major, or 
 
 the Great Dipper; or possibly 
 
 the seven stars of the Pleiades 
 
 Du 823 AS steorra m. 
 sterry : starry 
 sterte sb. start; at a sterte] at 
 
 one leap; cf. AS sturtan 
 sterte inf., pt. s. start, leap ; 
 
 stirte 3 pt. s. 
 sterve inf. die, perish; starf 3 
 
 pt. s. AS steorfan 
 Steven sb. sound; appointed time; 
 
 at unset stevene] unexpectedly 
 
 AS stefn 
 steyre : stair, degree AS staeger 
 stibourne: stubborn < AS styb 
 
 *'stub" 
 stid: stead AS stede 
 stidefast, stidfast: steadfast 
 stierne : stern AS styrne 
 stif a. strong, deep AS stif 
 stifly: unremittingly 
 stiketh 3 pr. s. sticks ; stiked 
 
 3 pt. s. stuck; stiked pp. stabbed 
 
 AS stician 
 stikke sb. stick, twig AS sticca 
 Stilbon: the planet Mercury (an 
 
 error for Chilon, an embassador, 
 
 from Mercury's being messenger 
 
 of the gods) 
 stile : style, manner of writing E 
 
 41, F 105 OF stile 
 stillatorie: still F distillatoire 
 stille: still, quiet AS. 
 stinte inf. stop, leave off; cf. 
 
 stenten 
 stire inf. stir, incite AS styrian 
 stiropes: stirrups AS stigrop 
 
 "mounting-rope" 
 stirte 3 pt. s. started ; cf. sterte 
 stod pt. s., stoden pt. pi. stood; 
 
 cf. stonde Pf 98 
 
STODYE- 
 
 692 
 
 — STYNTE 
 
 stodye : industry in study; cf. OF 
 
 estudie 
 stok : stock, race ; stokkes pi. 
 
 stumps AS stocc 
 stoke inf. stab Du stoken 
 stole pp. stolen ; cf. stelen 
 stomblen 3 pr. pi. stumble 
 ston, stoon : stone AS stan m. 
 stonde inf. stand, be placed; 
 
 stant, stondeth pr. s. ; stod, 
 
 stood pt. s. ; stoden pt. pi. ; 
 
 stonde pp. ; stonden at] agree to 
 
 A 778 AS standan 
 stone: stone; pi. jewels Du 979 
 stongen pp. stung; cf. stynge 
 stoor : amount, store, stock ; telle 
 
 no stoor] take no ^tock in ; no 
 
 stoor] not at all OF estor 
 storial a. historical, storied 
 stot sb. a cob, strong horse 
 stounde: hour, time; that harde 
 
 stounde] that cruel time AS 
 
 stund f. 
 strake inf. move ; cf. AS strican 
 
 "go" 
 Stratford atte Bowe: a Benedictine 
 
 nunnery at Stratford, London E. 
 
 The French taught here would 
 
 be Anglo-French, the business, 
 
 legal, and court language of Eng- 
 land. It differed from Paris 
 
 French 
 straughte 3 pt. pi. stretched ; cf . 
 
 strecche 
 straunge : strange, foreign, distant ; 
 
 made it straunge] affected to 
 
 stand aloof OF estrange 
 strawe pr. s. strew AS strewian 
 Stray te of Marrok: Straits of 
 
 Morocco, Gibraltar 
 strecche inf. stretch ; straughte 3 
 
 pt. pi. AS streccan 
 stree : straw AS streaw 
 streem : stream AS stream 
 streen sb. strain, progeny AS 
 
 streon 
 streght, streight a. straight AS 
 
 str'eht 
 streight ad. straight 
 streit a. narrow, strict, little, close 
 
 OF estreit 
 streite pp. drawn B 4547 ; cf. 
 
 strecche 
 streite ad. tightly 
 
 streme : stream, current ; ray, beam 
 
 Pi 94, A 1495 AS stream 
 strengis: strings, stringed instru- 
 ments AS streng 
 strenger : stronger 
 strengthe : strength, might AS 
 
 strengt5u f. 
 strepe, streepe inf. strip; AS 
 
 strypan 
 strete: street, road AS strset f. 
 streyne inf. constrain, urge OF 
 
 estraindre 
 strif: strife OF estrif 
 strike sb. hank (of flax) ; cf. AS 
 
 strican 
 strike pp. struck AS strican 
 strogelest 2 pr. s. strugglest orig. 
 
 uncert. 
 strokis pi. strokes, blows orig. 
 
 uncert. 
 stronde : strand, beach AS strand 
 stronge a., pi. strong AS strong 
 stronge ad. strongly 
 stroof 3 pt. s. contested, vied; cf. 
 
 stryve OF estriver 
 strook sb. stroke AS stracian 
 stroong: strong AS strong 
 stroyere: destroyer OF destruieor 
 struglyng: struggling 
 stryve inf., imp. strive, vie ; 
 
 stryven 1 pr. pi. ; stroof 3 pt. s. 
 
 OF estriver 
 stubbel goos: the graylag goose 
 stubbes: stumps AS stub 
 studie sb. study; cf. OF estudie 
 studie inf., 2 pr. s. study, deliber- 
 ate; studieth imp. 
 sturdely: sturdily, boldly OF 
 
 estourdi *'sturdy" 
 sturdiness : sternness 
 sturdy: stern, harsh 
 stuwe sb. fish pond in which fish 
 
 were kept to ensure a supply of 
 
 food ; cf. OLG stouwe 
 style sb. mode of writing E 18 
 
 OF style 
 style sb. stile, used to cross a 
 
 barrier F 106 AS stigel 
 stylle a. still AS stille 
 Stymphalides : a Greek maiden 
 stynge inf. sting, pierce; styngith 
 
 3 pr. s. ; stongen pp. AS stingan 
 stynte inf., 1 pr. s., 3 pr. s. subj. 
 
STYRTE— 
 
 693 
 
 — SWEETE 
 
 stop ; styntyn 3 pt. pi. ; styntynge 
 p. ; cf. stente AS styntan 
 
 styrte 3 pt. s. jumped ; cf. sterte 
 
 styth sb. anvil AS stit5 
 
 styward : steward AS stiweard 
 
 stywes: brothels OF estuve 
 
 subgetz: subjects OF souzgiet 
 
 subjeccioun: obedience, lover's ser- 
 vice OF subjection 
 
 submytted pp. agreed Lat sub- 
 mittere 
 
 substaunce: income, property OF 
 substance 
 
 subtil, subtill a. subtle, intricate 
 OF sobtil 
 
 subtilitee : craft 
 
 subtilly: cleverly, slyly 
 
 subtyl : finely woven 
 
 subtylytee sb. cunning 
 
 suburbes: suburbs OF suburbe 
 
 succede inf. succeed Lat suc- 
 cedere 
 
 successiouns : successions OF suc- 
 cession 
 
 successour: successor OF succes- 
 sour 
 
 suete : sweet AS swete 
 
 suetnesse: sweetness AS swetness 
 
 suffice inf. suffice, be capable of 
 OF soufire, pr, p. soufisant 
 
 suffisance, suffisaunce : competence, 
 wealth 
 
 suffisant, suffisaunt: sufficient 
 
 suffisantly : sufficiently 
 
 suffise inf. suffice ; imp. be con- 
 tent ; cf. suffyse 
 
 suffrable : able to sufifer, patient 
 OF soufrable 
 
 sufTraunce: patience OF suf ranee 
 
 suffraunt a. patient Du 1009 
 
 sufTren inf. allow, suffer OF 
 sufrir 
 
 sufFysaunce : independence 
 
 suffyse inf. suffice OF soufire 
 
 suggestiour : charge of crime OF 
 suggestion 
 
 sugre: sugar OF sucre 
 
 sum : some AS. 
 
 sumdel : some part 
 
 sumtyme : once, formerly 
 
 sundery: sundry AS syndrig 
 
 sunne : sun AS sunne f. 
 
 sunnys: sun's 
 
 superfluitee : excess OF superfluite 
 
 supersticious : superstitious OF 
 superstitieux 
 
 supplicacioun : petition OF suppli- 
 cation 
 
 surcote: outer coat OF. 
 
 surement : security 
 
 suretee : feeling of security OF 
 seiirte 
 
 surgerye: surgery OF surgerie 
 
 surmountide of pp. surpassed in 
 OF surmonter 
 
 surplys : surplice OF surpliz 
 
 Surrien : Syrian 
 
 Surrye : Syria 
 
 sursanure : a wound festering in- 
 ward, though outwardly healed 
 OF sorsaneiire 
 
 surte: security OF seurte 
 
 surveiaunce: surveillance OF. 
 
 Susanne: Susanna, accused of wan- 
 ton conduct by two elders of the 
 Jews in Babylon, was saved by 
 Daniel's cross-examination of her 
 traducers 
 
 suspecious: suspicious OF suspi- 
 cieus 
 
 suspect sb. suspicion OF suspect 
 
 suspect a. suspected, suspicious, 
 ominous 
 
 susteene inf. sustain, maintain ; 
 sustened pp. OF sustenir 
 
 suster, sustir: sister; sustren pi. 
 cf. Icel systir 
 
 sute: suite, single pattern OF 
 siute 
 
 suyte: material OF suite 
 
 swal 3 pt. s. swelled ; cf, swelle 
 
 swalwe sb. swallow AS swealwe 
 Pf 353 
 
 swap imp. swipe, sweep, cut ; cf. 
 swappe 
 
 swappe inf. strike off; swapte 3 
 pt. s. fell ; swap imp. orig. 
 uncert. 
 
 swapte 3 pt. s. fell suddenly ; cf. 
 swappe 
 
 swatte 3 pt. s. sweated ; cf. sweetc 
 
 swche : such ; swche seven as in 
 the welkene sterris bee] the seven 
 stars (planets) which are in the 
 sky AS swylc 
 
 sweche : such 
 
 sweete inf. sweat; swatte 3 pt. s. 
 AS swaetan 
 
SWEIGH— 
 
 694 
 
 — SYWYNGE 
 
 sweigh: sway, motion; cf. Icel 
 
 sveigja 
 swelle inf. swell ; swal 3 pt. s. 
 
 AS swellan 
 swelt, swelte 3 pt. s. languished, 
 
 perished orig. uncert. 
 swelwe 3 pr. s. swallow AS swel- 
 
 gan 
 swemyn 3 pr. pi. swim AS swim- 
 man 
 swepe inf. sweep orig. uncert. ; 
 
 cf. AS swapan 
 swerd : sword AS sweord n. 
 sweren inf. swear ; swoor 3 pt. s. ; 
 
 swore, sworen 3 pt. pi. ; swere 
 
 imp. ; swore, sworn pp. AS 
 
 swerian 
 sweryng sb. swearing 
 swete sb. sweetheart AS swete 
 
 Du 831 
 swat, swete a. sweet 
 swetely : sweetly 
 swetnesse, swettenesse : sweetness 
 
 AS swetness 
 Swetonius: Suetonius, Roman his- 
 torian, wrote a history of the 
 
 Caesars 
 swety: sweaty < AS swat m. 
 sweven : dream, vision AS swefen 
 swich: such AS swylc 
 swifte pi. swift AS swift 
 swithe: quickly AS swiSe 
 swogh sb. swoon < AS swogan 
 
 "sigh" 
 swolwe inf. swallow AS swelgan 
 swoolen pp. proud ; cf. swellen 
 swoor 3 pt. s. swore; cf. sweren 
 swoot sb. sweat AS swat n. 
 swore 3 pt. pi., pp. swore, sworn; 
 
 cf. sweren 
 sworn pp. cf. sweren; although 
 
 he had it sworn] though he had 
 
 done all to* the contrary 
 swough: a sough, sighing of wind 
 
 < AS swugian 
 swouned pt. s. swooned ; cf. 
 
 swowne 
 swow sb. whistling of wind ; cf. 
 
 AS swugian 
 swowe sb. swoon 
 swowne sb. swoon, fainting spell ; 
 
 a-swowne] in a swoon Du 123 
 
 AS swogan 
 
 swowne inf. swoon; swouned 3 
 
 pt. s. ; swowned pp. 
 swownynge : fainting 
 swyn : swine AS swin 
 swynk sb. labor, toil AS swincan 
 swynken inf. labor, toil 
 swynker sb. toiler, worker 
 swythe: quickly; fayre and swythe] 
 
 good and quick AS swiSe 
 syde sb. side; other syde] other 
 
 hand P 102 AS side 
 syen 3 pt. pi. saw; cf. se 
 syghte dat. sb. sight AS gesiht 
 sygne : sign, mark ; wikked sygne] 
 
 mark or trace of wickedness OF 
 
 signe 
 syk sb. sigh AS sican 
 syk a. sick; for syk] for (being) 
 
 sick AS seoc 
 syke a. used as sb. sick man 
 
 Pf 104 
 sykernesse sb. safety, security 
 
 AS sicorness 
 syklatoun: a costly cloth OF cicla- 
 
 ton 
 sykys sb. sighs < AS sican 
 sykyth 3 pr. s. sighs; cf. sike 
 sylvyr: silver AS seolfor 
 symphonye: a kind of tabor, or 
 
 drum OF. 
 symple a. modest, innocent, un- 
 affected OF simple 
 symplesse: simplicity 
 Symplicius Gallus: a Roman 
 syn: since AS sit5?San 
 synde 3 pr. s. subj. send; cf. sende 
 synge inf. sing ; soong, song, 
 
 songe pt. s. songen pt. pi. 
 
 songe pp. AS singan 
 syngynge sb. singing 
 synke inf. sink AS sincan 
 synne : sin AS synn f. 
 Synoun: Sinon, a Greek spy, who 
 
 delivered the wooden horse to 
 
 the Trojans (poss. case) 
 syre : sire, lord 
 sys cynk: six-five, a (lucky) throw 
 
 in dice OF six, cinq 
 syth: time; sythis pi. AS sitS 
 sytte 3 pr. s. sits in, dwells in; 
 
 imp. ; cf. sitten 
 syttynge p. sitting 
 sywynge a. proportionate, suiting 
 
 OF sivre 
 
TAAK— 
 
 695 
 
 —TEMPLE 
 
 taak imp. take; cf. take 
 
 taas sb. heap, pile OF tas 
 
 Tabard: the Tabard Inn took its 
 name from the tabard on its 
 sign. The tabard was a sleeve- 
 less or short-sleeved coat worn 
 by knights over their armor. The 
 peasantry also wore a coat known 
 as a tabard OF. 
 
 table sb. table ; flat surface Dn 
 779 ; table dormant] a permanent 
 table, in contrast to the "bord'* 
 which was laid across trestles 
 A 353 ; tables pi. backgammon 
 OF. 
 
 tabourryn 3 pr. pi. beat the tabor, 
 drum OF taborer 
 
 tabyde inf. to abide 
 
 tacche sb. defect OF tache 
 
 tacord inf. to accord 
 
 taffata: thin silk, taffeta OF taffe- 
 tas 
 
 taffraye inf. for to affraye, frighten 
 
 taille sb. tally; by taille] on credit 
 OF. 
 
 take inf. take, seize, take place ; 
 toke, tooke pt. s. ; tooken pt. pi. ; 
 taak imp. ; take pp. ; take kepe] 
 take heed, observe AS (late) 
 tacan 
 
 takel : tackle, arrows ; cf. Du takel 
 
 taken pp. received as obligatory 
 D n\ cf. take 
 
 tale: account; telle no tale] say 
 nothing AS talu f. 
 
 talen inf. tell tales 
 
 talighte: to alight, descend 
 
 talle: docile, serviceable, tall orig. 
 uncert. 
 
 tamende inf. to amend 
 
 tanoyen : to annoy 
 
 Tantale: Tantalus, punished in 
 Hades by being forced to stand 
 up to the chin in water which 
 receded from his lips as often 
 as he attempted to quench his 
 constant thirst ; above his head 
 hung fruits which always eluded 
 his grasp 
 
 tapite inf. cover with tapestry 
 (?) OF tapeter < tapet 
 
 tappe sb. tap OF tape 
 
 tappestere : barmaid AS taepestre f. 
 
 tapycer sb. tapestry maker, up- 
 holsterer OF tapissier 
 
 tare: a weed OF tare 
 
 tareste inf. to arrest 
 
 targe: target, kind of shield OF. 
 
 tarien inf. tarry, keep waiting ; 
 taried 3 pt. s. ; tarie imp. AS 
 tergan "provoke" 
 
 tarraye inf. to array 
 
 Tars: clooth of Tars] a kind of 
 silk 
 
 tart : sharp AS teart 
 
 Tartarye: Tartary, probably refer- 
 ring to all except the western 
 part of what we know as Russia 
 
 Tartre: tartar; oille of Tartre] 
 cream of tartar 
 
 taryen inf. delay 
 
 taryynge sb. tarrying, delay 
 
 tassaille inf. assail 
 
 tassay inf. to assay, test 
 
 tassemble inf. to assemble 
 
 tassoille inf. to absolve 
 
 taughte 3 pt. s. taught, preached; 
 cf. teche 
 
 Taur, Ta'urus: the Bull, a sign of 
 the zodiac (reference to May 3) 
 
 taverne : tavern OF. 
 
 taverner: keeper of a tavern OF 
 tavernier 
 
 tawht pp. taught; cf. teche 
 
 tayl: tail, stalk AS taegl 
 
 taylage: taxing by count OF tail- 
 lage 
 
 teche inf. teach; taughte 3 pt. s. 
 AS tsecean 
 
 techyng sb. teaching A 518 
 
 teene sorrow, grief AS teona m. 
 
 teeres, teeris : tears AS tear 
 
 tel, tellen inf. tell, relate ; telles, 
 telleth pr. s. ; tellen 3 pr. pi. ; 
 tolde pr. s., pp. ; toold pp. AS 
 tellan 
 
 telles pr. s. tell ; cf. tellen 
 
 tembrace inf. to embrace 
 
 temperaunce: moderation OF. 
 
 temperede 3 pt. s. tempered 
 
 tempest sb. storm OF tempeste 
 
 tempest imp. trouble, distress 
 
 temple: an inn of court; in Lon- 
 don there were an Inner and 
 Middle Temple, occupied chiefly 
 
TEMPOREL— 
 
 696 
 
 — THEEN 
 
 by barristers and law students 
 A 567 OF. 
 
 temporel: temporal OF. 
 
 tempre: temperate OF tempre 
 
 tempte inf. make trial of OF 
 tempter 
 
 tenbrace inf. to embrace B 1891 
 
 tendirly: tenderly OF tendre 
 
 tendite inf. to endite 
 
 tendre a. tender; fastidious C 
 517 OF. 
 
 tendrely: tenderly 
 
 tendure inf. to endure 
 
 tendyte inf. to endite, set down 
 Pf 119 
 
 tene sb. vexation, sorrow AS 
 teona m. 
 
 tene a., pi. ten Dn 420 AS tyn 
 
 tente sb. tent; tentis pi. OF 
 tente 
 
 tentifly: attentively OF attentif 
 
 tercelet: male falcon; tercelettes 
 pi. OF. 
 
 terciane a. tertian Lat tertianus 
 
 tere s. tear ; teris pi. AS tear m. 
 
 Termagaunt: one of the idols whom 
 the Saracens were supposed to 
 worship 
 
 terme : set time, space of time ; 
 a division of the signs of the 
 zodiac in mediaeval astrology 
 F 1288; terme day] appointed 
 day ; in terme] in scientific ter- 
 minology C 311; he had at 
 command all the cases and the 
 decisions which had been handed 
 dov/n since the time of William 
 the Conqueror A 323 OF. 
 
 termyne inf. determine, set OF 
 terminer 
 
 tersel : male eagle ; cf. tercelet 
 
 terslet, tercelet: male hawk; ters- 
 letis pi. 
 
 Tertulan : " Tertullian, church father, 
 wrote treatises on chastity and 
 modesty 
 
 tescape inf. to escape 
 
 teschape inf. to escape 
 
 tespye inf. to espy 
 
 testeres: head-pieces OF testiere 
 
 Teuta: a queen of the Illyrians 
 
 Tewnis: Tunis; for the toune of 
 Tewnes] for all the wealth of 
 Tunis 
 
 texpounden inf. to expound 
 
 text: quotation, proverb; text, 
 printing on page; text and glose] 
 both text and margin, i.e., both 
 main panels and borders of the 
 walls Du 333 OF texte 
 
 textueel : able to draw nice dis- 
 tinctions in explaining terms 
 OF. 
 
 teyd pp. tied AS tigan 
 
 thabsence: the absence 
 
 thalighte — thee aiighte 3 pt. s. 
 alighted upon 
 
 thamendys: the amends 
 
 than : then AS ]?anne 
 
 thank, thanks sb. his thankes] if 
 he might have his way about it 
 AS J?anc 
 
 thanke 1 pr. s. AS J?ancian 
 
 thanne: then AS. 
 
 t"hapostel: the apostle (Paul, 1 Cor. 
 vii.) 
 
 thar ad. there AS J>ar, ]?ser 
 
 thar pr. s. impers. needs AS 
 >earf 
 
 tharray: the array OF. 
 
 thassay : the assay 
 
 thassemblee : the gathering 
 
 that rel. pron. what, that which 
 AS >set 
 
 that conj. as much as B 1036 
 
 that conj. used expletively after 
 rel. pron. or ad. conj. 
 
 thaughe: though AS Jjeah 
 
 thavys : the advice 
 
 thavysyoun : the avisioun, the vision 
 
 the pron. thee 
 
 the inf. prosper; cf. thee 
 
 Thebans a., pi. Polynices and 
 Eteocles, sons of (Edipus, king- 
 of Thebes. Polynices, the 
 
 younger, dissatisfied with his in- 
 heritance, beseiged the city with 
 his friends, under his father-in- 
 law, Adrastus, king of Argos. 
 All, save the latter, were slain 
 An 60 
 
 Thebes: ancient city in Greece 
 
 thee, theen inf. prosper AS J?eon 
 
 theech, thee ich : may I prosper ! 
 
 theef: thief AS >eof m. 
 
 theek for thee ik: may I thrive 
 (northern form) 
 
 theen inf. thrive ; cf. thee 
 
THEF— 
 
 697 
 
 —THOGH 
 
 thef, thefe: thief AS >eof 
 
 thefeect, theffect: the effect, result 
 
 thei pron. they 
 
 thai conj. though AS l?eh 
 
 thegle : the eagle 
 
 Thelophus: Telephus, wounded by 
 spear of Achilles, and healed by 
 its rust ; a king of Mysia 
 
 themperour: the emperor 
 
 then conj. than AS J?anne 
 
 thencens: the incense 
 
 thenchauntementz : the enchant- 
 ments 
 
 thencrees sb. the increase 
 
 thendyting: the enditing 
 
 thenken inf. think ; thynke 1 pr. 
 s. ; thought 3 pt. s. AS J?encan 
 
 thenne: then AS Jeanne 
 
 thennes : thence AS ]?anon 
 
 thentente: the intent 
 
 thenvyouse a. the envious 
 
 Theodora : beloved of Algarsif 
 
 theoff: thief AS >eof 
 
 Theofraste : Theophrastus, Aureolus 
 Liber de Nuptiis, a mediaeval 
 Latin tract against marriage 
 
 ther, there: there, where AS J^aer 
 
 ther as : where 
 
 ther : their 
 
 theraboute : around it 
 
 thereafter: thereafter, after that 
 
 therbifoore, therbiforn : beforehand 
 
 thereto: moreover, besides Du 678 
 
 therfore : therefore 
 
 therinne : therein 
 
 therof: concerning that 
 
 theron : thereupon 
 
 theroute: out there, in the open 
 
 therthe : the earth 
 
 therto: thereto, to it, also, and in 
 that 
 
 therupon : immediately 
 
 therwith : therewith, thereupon 
 
 therwithal : thereupon 
 
 theryn, therynne: therein, thereon 
 
 thes : these 
 
 theschewyng : the eschewing, avoid- 
 ance 
 
 Theseus : the great legendary hero 
 of Attica. He freed the Attic 
 roads from robbers; destroyed 
 the Cretan minotaur with the 
 aid of Ariadne, daughter of the 
 Cretan king, whom he deserted 
 
 on the voyage home; helped Her- 
 cules conquer the Amazons, 
 whose queen, Antiope, here called 
 Hippolyta, became his queen ; he 
 made Athens a city, and greatly 
 improved its government 
 
 Thesiphus: Sisyphus, punished in 
 Hades by the never-ending task 
 of rolling a huge stone up a hill, 
 down which it would constantly 
 roll again. S and C, C and T, 
 T and Th were constantly inter- 
 changed by scribes, hence the 
 spelling 
 
 Thessalie : Thessaly, in northern 
 Greece 
 
 thestaat: the estate, condition 
 
 thevys poss. thief's 
 
 thewed pp. mannered 
 
 thewes : qualities of mind AS 
 )7eawas m. 
 
 thexcellent a. the excelling 
 
 thider: thither AS >ider 
 
 thiderward : thither 
 
 thies : these 
 
 thikke: thick, luxuriant; greves 
 . . . thikke] groves abundant in 
 AS l^icce 
 
 thikke-herd : thick-haired 
 
 thikkere : thicker 
 
 thikkeste : thickest 
 
 thilke : that very AS l?ylc 
 
 thing: thing, property, good AS 
 >ing n. 
 
 thinke inf., impers. seem; thought 
 3 pt. s. ; thoughte me] it seemed 
 to me AS ]?encan 
 
 thinne : thin AS J?ynne 
 
 thirllethe 3 pr. s. pierceth ; thirled 
 pp. AS Jjyrlian 
 
 this for thus Du 710 
 
 this, thise pi. these Pf 540 
 
 this for this is (often this is 
 should be read as this, for the 
 metre) F 889 
 
 this al and som: this is the whole 
 part, the sum total 
 
 Thisbe : beloved of Pyramus in 
 Nineveh 
 
 tho pi. those AS >a 
 
 tho ad. then AS J?a 
 
 tho conj. though; cf. Icel ]>d 
 
 thoccident: the Occident, the west 
 
 thogh : though ; cf. AS ]?eah 
 
THOGHT— 
 
 698 
 
 —TITHES 
 
 thoght sb. thought AS >oht m. 
 
 tholde: the old 
 
 thombe sb. thumb ; thombe of 
 gold] probably the reference is 
 to the skill his thumb has gained 
 in judging corn and flour, with 
 a satirical reference to the prov- 
 erb, **An honest miller has a 
 thumb of gold" (Sk.) AS >uma 
 
 thonder sb. thunder AS ]?unor 
 
 thonderdynt : thunderclap 
 
 thonderynge : thundering AS ]?un- 
 rian 
 
 thonke 1 pr. s. thank ; thonken 
 pr. pi. ; thonk imp. AS ]?onc 
 
 thonour: the honor 
 
 thoo: yet, still, then Icel ]>d 
 
 thorgh: through; wher thorgh] by 
 means of which AS >urh 
 
 thorient: the orient, the east 
 
 thorisonte: the horizon OF ori- 
 zonte 
 
 thorpis: villages AS J^orp 
 
 thorw: through AS }7urh 
 
 thought pt. s. thought; cf. thenke 
 
 thought 3 pt. s. impers. seemed ; 
 methought] it seemed to me; cf. 
 thinke 
 
 thour, thourw: through AS ]?urh 
 
 thousande : thousand 
 
 thousent: thousand AS J?usend 
 
 thow pron. thou 
 
 thbw conj. though Icel Jjo AS 
 ]?eah 
 
 thral, thralle sb. slave, vassal AS 
 Jjrael 
 
 thral a. subject, debased 
 
 thraste 3 pt. pi. pushed ; cf. threste 
 
 thre: three AS Jjri, }?reo f. 
 
 thre formes: Diana is called Luna 
 in heaven ; on earth, Diana and 
 Lucina ; and in hell, Proserpina 
 
 thred, thread: cord, thread AS 
 ]?raed m. 
 
 thredbare a. threadbare 
 
 thredde: third AS >ridda 
 
 thresshe inf. thresh AS Jjerscan 
 
 thresshfold: threshold AS ]?ersc- 
 wald 
 
 threste inf. thrust, force his way; 
 thraste 3 pt. pi. ; cf. Icel J^rysta 
 
 thretyng : threatening AS Jjreatian 
 
 thridde: third AS Jjridda 
 
 thridde hevenes lord : Mars, the 
 
 third sphere 
 thries : thrice 
 thrifty : wise, excellent (in vague 
 
 sense) Icel. 
 thrilled pp. pierced ; cf. thirllethe 
 thritty: thirty AS >rittig 
 throgh: through AS J?urh 
 throng 3 pt. s. pressed AS 
 
 }?ringan 
 throope: thorp, village AS >orp 
 thropes: villages 
 throte: throat; throtys pi. AS 
 
 ]?rote f. 
 throwe sb. short period of time, 
 
 moment AS l?rag f. 
 throwe inf. throw ; throweth 3 pr. 
 
 s. AS ]brawan 
 thrustel: thrush AS >rostle 
 thrustelcok: male thrush 
 thryes: thrice AS Jjriwa + s ad. 
 
 suff. 
 thryve inf. prosper Icel J^rifask 
 thurgh prep. through, by means 
 
 of AS >urh 
 thurghfare : thoroughfare 
 thurgh-girt pp. pierced through 
 thurghout: throughout 
 thurst sb. thirst AS >urst 
 thursted hym 3 pt. s. impers. he 
 
 thirsted 
 thurstil: thrush AS >rostle 
 thymage : the image 
 Thymalao: really Timoleon, son of 
 
 Zenobia 
 Thymothee: Timothy, St. Paul's 
 
 friend and disciple 
 Thymothee: Timotheus, a general 
 
 of Antiochus 
 thyn : thine 
 
 thynke 1 pr. s. think; cf. thenken 
 thynne a. thin AS J?inne 
 Tiburce : Valerian's brother 
 tidyng: happening, news AS tidan 
 tidyves: tidy, a small bird (wren 
 
 or titmouse) F 648 
 tikled pt. s. tickled 
 til prep, to (before vowel) AS til 
 til conj. until, till; til now late] 
 
 until it became very late 
 tiptoon pi. tiptoes AS ta 
 tirannye: tyranny OF tirannie 
 tiraunt: tyrant OF. 
 tithes pi. the tenth part of the 
 
TITLELEES— 
 
 699 
 
 — TOWAILLE 
 
 produce or income of the people 
 
 was payable for the support of 
 
 the church and clergy, and was 
 
 generally collected by the priest. 
 
 Failure to pay could be punished 
 
 by the lesser excommunication 
 
 AS teotSa 
 titlelees: usurping 
 Titus: Livius, Roman historian, 
 
 tells the story of Lucrece 
 to ad. too AS to 
 to prep, to, for, as; hym to feete] 
 
 at his feet ; to creature] as a liv- 
 ing being 
 to: till C M 239 
 tobreste 3 pr. pi. break in pieces ; 
 
 tobrosten pp. AS toberstan 
 tobroke, tobroken: pp. broken in 
 
 pieces AS tobrecan 
 tobrosten pp. broken in pieces; 
 
 cf. tobreste 
 to fore: before 
 toforn prep, before 
 toft sb. tuft OF touffe 
 togedere, togedres, togidre, togi- 
 
 dres: together AS togsedre 
 to-go pp. fled AS to-gan 
 tohewen 3 pr. pi. hew to pieces; 
 
 tohewe pp. AS toheawan 
 tok, toke pt. s. took; cf. take; 
 
 it me tok] I took it Du 48 
 tokenynge sb. sign AS tacnian 
 tolde pt. s., pp. told; tolde of] 
 
 cared for, held in regard; cf. 
 
 tellen 
 tollen inf. take toll; tollen thryes] 
 
 take thrice the proper toll AS 
 
 toll 
 Tolletanes: Toledo, in Spain, was 
 
 selected by order of Alphonso X 
 
 of Spain, as the place for which 
 
 astronomical tables should be 
 
 calculated 
 tombe: tomb OF tombe 
 tombesteres: female dancers < 
 
 OF tombeor 
 tomorn: this morning 
 to-morwe : tomorrow 
 tonge sb. tongue AS tunge 
 tonged pp. tongued 
 tonne: tun, barrel of wine, ale AS 
 
 tunne 
 
 tonne-greet: as great as a tun or 
 
 barrel 
 too sb. toe ; toon pi. AS ta 
 too a. two AS twa An 153 
 too ad. to Pf 150 
 took, tooke pt. s. took, betook ; 
 
 tooke up] attracted, held; cf. 
 
 take 
 toold pp. told ; cf. tellen 
 toon pi. toes ; cf. too 
 top sb. crown AS top 
 to-race 3 pr. pi. tear in pieces 
 
 OF raser 
 torche: torch OF. 
 torente 3 pt. s. tore asunder ; 
 
 torent pp. AS torendan 
 tormentise : manner of torment 
 
 OF. 
 tormentour: tormenter OF. 
 tormentrie : torment OF tormen- 
 
 terie 
 tormentynge: torture 
 torn sb. turn OF torn 
 tortuous: indirect, oblique, not ris- 
 ing directly Lat tortuosus 
 toshrede 3 pr. pi. cut into shreds 
 
 AS screadian 
 toslyver'cd : split into pieces 
 totar pt. s. tore in pieces; cf. 
 
 totere 
 totelere, totulour sb. a. tattler, 
 
 tattling orig. uncert. 
 to-tere inf. tear to pieces (Christ's 
 
 body, by swearing by the various 
 
 members, as wounds, nails, eyes, 
 
 bones, etc.) C 474; totar 3 pt. 
 
 s. ; totore pp. AS toteran 
 tothyr: the tothyr = that other 
 to-tore pp. torn apart; cf. totere 
 touche 1 pr. s. mention ; touchede 
 
 pt. s. OF toucher 
 toumbe : tomb OF toumbe 
 toun, toune : town AS tun m. 
 tour, toure: tower OF A 1030 
 touret: turret OF tourete 
 tourettes: rings A 2152 
 tourment 3 pr. s. subj. torment 
 
 OF torment 
 tourne inf. turn OF torner 
 tourneyment: tournament OF 
 
 torneiement 
 toverbyde : to survive 
 towaille: towel OF touaille 
 
TOWARDES— 
 
 700 
 
 —TROUBLE 
 
 towardes : towards AS tdweard 
 towchid: concerned OF touchier 
 towgh : troublesome ; make it 
 
 towgh] be captious AS toh 
 towne : town AS tun m. 
 towonde 3 pt. s. broke in two 
 
 AS wundian 
 to-yeere: this year 
 Tface : Thrace, in classic myth, the 
 
 region north of Greece ; later, 
 
 what is now Eastern Rumelia 
 trace inf. follow OF trader 
 trad pt. s. trod; cf. trade 
 tragedie : tragedy, tragic history, 
 
 story OF. 
 traisoun : treason OF traison 
 traitour: traitor OF. 
 traitourye: deceit OF traitor 
 Tramyssene : Tremezen, Moorish 
 
 kingdom in Africa 
 transmutacioun : transmutation, 
 
 change OF transmutation 
 trappe sb. trap AS treppe 
 trappures: trappings for horses 
 
 orig. uncert. 
 tras: procession OF trace 
 traunce: trance OF transe 
 travaille sb. struggle, labor, pains 
 
 OF. 
 travaillynge p. travailing, in tra- 
 vail 
 trays: traces OF trais 
 trayteresse : traitress, deceiver 
 
 traitresse 
 traytore: traitor OF traitor 
 tre : tree AS treow n. 
 trecherye: treachery OF trecherie 
 trede 1 pr. pi. tread ; trad pt. s. ; 
 
 troden pp. AS tredan 
 tredefowel : cock 
 tredyng : treading 
 tree: wood; cf. tre 
 tregetouresi jugglers OF tresge- 
 
 teor 
 trench: alley OF trenche 
 tresons: treasons OF traison 
 tresoor, tresore sb. treasure OF 
 
 tresor 
 tresorere: treasurer OF tresorier 
 tresoun : treason, betrayal OF 
 
 traison 
 trespace sb. trespass, infidelity 
 
 OF trespas 
 
 trespace inf. do wrong to, offend 
 OF trespasser 
 
 trespas sb. wrong, fault OF. 
 
 tresse: tress; treses, tressis pi. OF 
 trece, tresse 
 
 tretable : affable, docile, receptive 
 OF traitable 
 
 trete inf. narrate, discuss OF 
 traiter 
 
 tretee : negotiation, business, treaty 
 OF traitie 
 
 tretys sb. treaty, treatise AF 
 tretiz 
 
 tretys a. well-formed OF tretis 
 
 trewe : true AS treowe 
 
 trewely, trewly : truly 
 
 trewer : truer 
 
 treweste : truest 
 
 treye: trois, three OF trei 
 
 triacle : sovereign medicine, heal- 
 ing OF. 
 
 tribulacioun : tribulation OF. 
 
 tributarye: tributary, subject Lat 
 tributarius 
 
 trice inf. pull away ; cf. Sw trissa 
 
 trikled 3 pt. pi. trickled orig. un- 
 cert. 
 
 trille inf. turn; cf. Sw trilla 
 
 trippe inf. dance, move lightly; 
 cf. Sw trippa 
 
 triste inf. 1 pr. s. trust; cf. Icel 
 traust 
 
 Tristram: Tristram, lover of Isolt, 
 queen of Cornwall 
 
 triumphe: triumph, triumphal pro- 
 cession Lat triumphus 
 
 troden pp. stepped; cf. trede 
 
 trompe : trumpet, trumpeter ; 
 
 trompis poss. OF. 
 
 tronchoun: broken staff of a spear 
 OF tronchon 
 
 trone: throne OF. 
 
 Trophee: an error by Chaucer, who 
 mistook the word "trophaea" 
 (pillars) in the apocryphal Epis- 
 tola Alexandri for the authority 
 upon whose word Hercules' pil- 
 lars in India and at Gades are 
 believed to exist (Kittredge) 
 
 troste inf. trust; cf. truste; cf. 
 Icel treysta 
 
 trotte imp. trot OF troter 
 
 trouble a. muddled, stupid OF 
 trouble 
 
TROUTHE— 
 
 701 
 
 — UNBOKELEN 
 
 trouthe: truth Du 998 AS treowtS 
 f. 
 
 trowe inf. believe, trust; trow pr. 
 s. ; trowen pr. pi.; trowed pt. pi., 
 pp. AS truwian 
 
 trowthe: truth AS treowtS f. 
 
 trowyn inf. believe (in) ; cf. trowe 
 
 Troye: the city of Troy, in Asia 
 Minor, the scene of the ten years' 
 fighting between the Greeks and 
 Trojans for the possession of 
 Helen, stolen from her husband 
 Menelaus by Paris, son of King 
 Priam of Troy 
 
 Troylus: Troilus, brother of Hector 
 and Paris, lover of and deserted 
 by Cressida 
 
 trussed pp. packed OF trousse 
 
 truste pr. s., pi., imp. trust; cf. 
 Icel treysta 
 
 truste 1 pr. pi. trust A 501 
 
 trwe : true AS treowe 
 
 trye a. choice OF trie 
 
 tryne: triune OF trine 
 
 Tuballe: Jubal, "father of all such 
 as handle the harp and pipe," is 
 here confused with his half- 
 brother, Tubal-Cain, "the forger 
 of every cutting instrument of 
 brass and iron"; cf. Gen, iv. 21, 
 22. The discovery of music by 
 hearing the sounds of the anvil 
 is sometimes attributed to Py- 
 thagoras, q. V. 
 
 tukked pp. with his long coat 
 tucked up in his girdle LGer 
 tukken 
 
 Tullius Hostillius : Roman general, 
 a shepherd in youth 
 
 Tullyus: Marcus Tullius Cicero, 
 Roman orator and patriot, model 
 of rhetoric in the Middle Ages, 
 author of "Somnium Scipionis" 
 
 tunge: tongue AS tunge f. 
 
 tunne: tun (met.) quality AS 
 tunne 
 
 Turkeys a. Turkish 
 
 Turkye : Turkey 
 
 turneiynge: tourneying OF tor- 
 neier 
 
 turnen inf. circle, turn; turne 
 imp. ; turned pp. OF torner 
 
 Turnus : a Latin king, overthown 
 by ^Eneas 
 
 turtil: turtle-dove AS turtle 
 
 turwis : sods, turf AS turf 
 
 twelf: twelve AS. 
 
 twelf-monthe sb, a twelve-month 
 
 twenty: score; a twenty winter] 
 twenty winters AS twentig 
 
 twey, tweye: two AS twa, f. 
 twegen 
 
 tweyfoold : folded over, double 
 
 tweyn, tweyne : twain, two AS 
 twegen f. 
 
 twies: twice AS twiwa 
 
 twiste sb. twist, twig AS twist 
 
 twiste inf., pt. s. wring, torment 
 
 twyes : twice 
 
 twyned pp. twisted < AS twin 
 
 twynkled 3 pt. s. twinkled AS 
 twinclian 
 
 twynklyng, twynkelyng: twinkling 
 
 twynne inf., pr. pi. separate, de- 
 part ; ci. AS getwinne "two and 
 two" 
 
 tyde: tide, time AS tid f. 
 
 tyden ini betide 
 
 tydif: small bird; cf. tidyves 
 
 Tydius: one of the Seven against 
 Thebes 
 
 tygre: tiger OF tigre 
 
 tykelnesse: danger, ticklish position 
 
 tyl: till 
 
 tyles pi. tiles AS tigele 
 
 tyme : time, season ; tymys pi. ; that 
 tyme] at that time Du 794, 796 
 AS tima 
 
 tyne : barrel OF tine 
 
 typet sb. hood, used as a port- 
 manteau by the friars who some- 
 times degenerated into peddlars 
 AS taeppet 
 
 Tyro Appollonius: Apollonius of 
 Tyre, hero of a classic romance, 
 used in Shakespeare's Pericles 
 
 Tysbe : beloved by Pyramus ; cf. 
 Thisbe 
 
 Tytus Lyvyus: Titus Livius, gen- 
 erally called Livy, a Roman his- 
 torian 
 
 u 
 
 unable: incapable OF able 
 unavysed: heedless OF avise 
 unbokelen inf. unbuckle, open ; 
 unbokeled pp. OF boucler 
 
UNBOUNDEN— 
 
 702 
 
 — UPYOLDEN 
 
 unbounden pp. unbound, unmar- 
 ried AS bindan 
 
 unbrent pp. unburnt AS bernan 
 
 unbuxumnesse : unsubmissiveness 
 AS buhsum 
 
 unbynde inf. unbind AS bindan 
 
 uncerteyn: uncertain OF certain 
 
 uncommytted : not assigned, gra- 
 tuitous 
 
 unconstreyned pp. unconstrained 
 OF constreindre 
 
 uncoupylynge : uncoupling, releas- 
 ing, letting loose OF couplen 
 
 uncowple : uncouple, spring 
 
 under-betten pp. kindled under AS 
 betan 
 
 undergrowe pp. under normal size 
 AS growan 
 
 undermeles: afternoons AS un- 
 dernmsel 
 
 undernethe: beneath, under + AS 
 beneoSan 
 
 undernoom pt. s. received AS 
 underniman 
 
 underpighte pt. s. stuffed under 
 < ME underpicchen 
 
 understonde inf., imp., pp. under- 
 stand AS understandan 
 
 understondynge sb. understanding, 
 mind 
 
 undertake inf. affirm 
 
 undigne: unworthy OF digne 
 
 undo inf. reveal AS undon 
 
 undren: undern, mid-forenoon, 9 
 A. M., or the time up to noon 
 AS undern 
 
 undyr: under 
 
 unfeestlich : unfestive 
 
 unfeyned a. unfeigned 
 
 ungrobbed : undelved 
 
 unheele: sickness, misfortune AS 
 unhsllu f. 
 
 unknowe pp.- unknown 
 
 unkonnynge : ignorant 
 
 unkorven : unpruned 
 
 unkouth: uncouth AS uncutS 
 
 unkynde : unnatural AS uncynde 
 
 unkyndely : unnaturally 
 
 unkyndenes : unkindness AS un- 
 cynde 
 
 unlikly: unlikely 
 
 unlyk: unlike E 156 
 
 unmeete: unfit AS unmsete 
 
 unneth, unnethe: scarcely AS 
 
 unease 
 unnethes: scarcely 
 unreprovable : not blameworthy 
 unresonable : unreasonable 
 unreste: restlessness 
 unright: ill, harm AS unriht 
 unsad: fickle AS unssed 
 unsely: deceitful AS unsaelig 
 unset : unappointed 
 unsoghte a. unsought, not sought 
 
 after 
 unsowe pp. unsown 
 unto: until; in addition to 
 untrewe : untrue 
 
 untrouthe : deceit AS untreow> f. 
 untrussede: in disordered array 
 unwar: unexpectedly AS unwaer 
 unweelde, unweeldy : unwieldy, 
 
 weak 
 unwemmed: unspotted AS un- 
 
 wemmed < wam **spot" 
 unwist : unknown 
 unwitte: folly AS with 
 unwityng: without (her) knowl- 
 edge F 936 
 unwityngly : unawares 
 unyolden: without having yielded 
 up prep, upon, up 
 up-so-down: upside down 
 upbreyde 3 pt. s. upbraid AS up 
 
 + bregdan "draw'* 
 upcaste pt. s. cast up 
 uphaf 3 pt. s. upHfted AS up -f 
 
 hof < hebban 
 upon: against Du 1022; upon pain 
 
 of A 1344 
 upon-land: in the country 
 uppe: up, left open 
 upplyght pp. plucked up ME up 
 
 + plicchen 
 upright a. flat; upright, standing 
 
 or sitting up Du 175 AS up- 
 
 riht 
 uprist 3 pr. s. upriseth 
 upriste sb. uprising AS uprist 
 upronne pp. ascended 
 upsprynge inf. rise; upsprong pt. 
 
 s. 
 upsprong 3 pt. s. sprang up; cf. 
 
 upsprynge 
 upsterte 3 pt. s. started up 
 upyaf 3 pt. s. gave up 
 upyolden pp. yielded up 
 
URBAN— 
 
 703 
 
 — VICAIRE 
 
 Urban: Pope at Rome, A. D. 222 
 
 usage: custom OF. 
 
 usance: custom OF. 
 
 used pt. pL, pp. was accustomed 
 
 to ; cf. usen 
 usen inf. accustom, use, enjoy ; 
 
 usyth 3 pr. s. ; usyn 3 pr. pi. ; 
 
 usedest 2 pt. s. ; used pt. pi., pp. 
 
 OF user 
 us selven : ourselves 
 usshdfs: ushers OF uissier 
 usure: usury OF. 
 usurpe 1 pr. s. usurp, claim falsely 
 
 OF usurper 
 usyn 3 pr. pi. are accustomed ; cf. 
 
 usen 
 usyth 3 pr. s. is accustomed ; cf. 
 
 vacacioun: leisure OF vacation 
 vache: beast, cow OF. 
 valaunse : curtains of a bed ; Venus 
 valaunse] the borders of Taurus, 
 the zodiacal sign called Venus* 
 mansion; Mercury was thus near 
 the end of Aries, which adjoins 
 Taurus in the zodiac C M 145. 
 Venus* bed is mentioned earlier, 
 line 1Z 
 valence: cloth of Valence, near 
 Lyon (?), or of Valenciennes lace 
 . (Belgium) Pf 272 
 Valentynys: Valentine's (Feb. 22) 
 Valeria: constant widow of Servius 
 Valerian: a Roman, converted by 
 
 Cecilia 
 Valerie: "Epistola Valerii ad Rufi- 
 num de non ducenda uxore," a 
 mediaeval Latin tract against 
 marriage 
 Valerius: V. Maximus, a Roman 
 
 author B 3910 
 Valerye: cf. Valerie 
 valey : valley, vale OF valee 
 vanysshe inf. vanish OF vanir 
 vanysshynge sb. disappearance 
 vanytee: vanity OF vanite 
 variacioun : variation OF variation 
 varyaunce: variation OF variance 
 varyinge: variable, changeable, in- 
 constant OF varier 
 vassellage: prowess OF. 
 
 vavasour sb. principal tenant of 
 a great lord, therefore beneath a 
 baron, who held land from the 
 king. "The term applied to most 
 middling land holder's," (Tyr- 
 whitt) OF vavassor 
 veluettes: velvets OF veluet 
 venerie sb. hunting OF venerie 
 Venerien: belonging to Venus 
 venquysseth 3 pr. s. vanquishes; 
 
 venquysshed pp. OF vainquir 
 ventusynge sb. cupping (surgical 
 
 operation) OF ventouser 
 Venus poss. Pf. 351 
 venym: venom, poison, pus OF 
 
 venim 
 Venyse: Venice 
 
 venysoun: venison OF veneison 
 verdit: verdict OF veirdit 
 vermyne: vermin OF vermine 
 vernycle: a vernicle, a copy in 
 miniature of the picture of Christ 
 printed in blood upon the hand- 
 kerchief or towel given by St. 
 Veronica to Christ (on the way 
 to Calvary) to wipe away the 
 blood which flowed from the 
 crown - of thorns 
 verraily: verily 
 verray: very, true, truly OF 
 
 verai 
 verrayment : verily 
 verrely: verily, truly 
 vers pi. verses OF vers AS fers 
 vertu : power, quickening force, 
 virtue, ability; vertu expulsif] 
 the power to expel what is harm- 
 ful OF. 
 vertuous a. able, efficient, virtuous 
 
 OF vertuos 
 vestimentz: vestments, garments 
 
 OF vestement 
 Vesulus: Monte Viso 
 veyl sb. veil OF veile 
 veyn a. foolish OF vain 
 veyne sb. vein OF veine 
 veyne-blood sb. blood-letting 
 veze sb. blast < (?) AS fesian 
 
 "drive'* 
 Via Apia: the Appian Way, a fa- 
 mous street running south from 
 Rome 
 viage : voyage, expedition OF. 
 vicaire, vicarye : vicar, deputy OF. 
 
VICE— 
 
 704 
 
 — WANYE 
 
 vice: defect OF. 
 
 vicius: vicious OF vicious 
 
 victorie: victory OF victorie 
 
 vigilies sb. pi. meeting in the 
 church yards upon festival evens. 
 The women came in state, and 
 those of the better sort had their 
 mantles carried before them, 
 partly for show, partly for com- 
 fort while seated at table OF. 
 
 vileyns a. evil, wicked 
 
 vileynye: abuse, ill manners, vulgar 
 speech, disgrace OF vileinie 
 
 Vincent: Bishop of Beauvais, tutor 
 of Louis IX, wrote "Speculum 
 Historiale" 
 
 vinolent: filled with wine OF 
 vinolentus 
 
 virelayes: virelais, ballads with a 
 return of rime OF virelai 
 
 Virginia: daughter of Virginius 
 
 Virginius: Roman **knight" 
 
 virginitee: chastity OF virginite 
 
 visitaciouns : visits OF visitation 
 
 visite inf. visit OF. 
 
 vitaile, vitaille sb. victuals, food 
 OF. 
 
 vitailled pp. provisioned 
 
 vitremyte: woman's cap (?) 
 
 Vitulo: Vitello, a Polish mathe- 
 matician, c. 1254 
 
 voide: empty, solitary OF. 
 
 voirdit: verdict OF. 
 
 vois: voice OF vois 
 
 volage a. giddy OF. 
 
 vomyt: vomit OF. 
 
 vouchensauf : vouchsafe (verbal 
 endings attached to vouchen) 
 D 52 OF vochier 
 
 vouchesauf 2 pr. pi. grant, agree, 
 vouchsafe (verbal endings at- 
 tached to vouchen) ; voucheth- 
 sauf imp. 
 
 vowe : vow OF vou 
 
 voyde a. free, void OF voide 
 
 voyden inf. void, expel, depart ; 
 voyde imp. 
 
 voys: voice OF vois 
 
 Vulcanus: Vulcan, god of fire, and 
 blacksmith of the gods, was the 
 husband of Venus 
 
 vyne: vine OF vigne 
 
 vyrelayes: virelais, songs after a 
 
 French pattern, with return of 
 rime OF virelais 
 vyse : vice OF vice 
 
 w 
 
 waast: waist; cf. AS waestm 
 
 "growth" 
 wade inf. go, descend AS wadan 
 wafereres: candy sellers OF 
 
 waufre 
 wailen inf. wail, lament ; waille 
 
 pr. s. ; waillynge p. ; cf. Icel 
 
 vaela 
 waiten inf. wait, expect, think 
 
 OF waitier 
 wake inf. remain awake, keep 
 
 wake ; wook 3 pt. s. ; wakyd pp. 
 
 AS wacian 
 wakepleyes : funeral games 
 wakyd pp. kept wake, caroused ; 
 
 cf. wake 
 wakynge : time of being awake 
 wakyr: watchful AS wacor 
 wal: wall AS weall 
 Walakye : Wallachia, a principality, 
 
 now a part of Rumania 
 walet: wallet orig. uncert. 
 walked for a-walking: AS wealcan 
 walle : wall ; wallys pi. 
 wallid pp. walled 
 walwe 1 pr. s. wallow ; walweth 
 
 3 pr. s. ; walv/ed pp. AS weal- 
 
 wian 
 Walys: Wales 
 wan: pale AS wann 
 wandrynge sb. traveHng AS 
 
 wandrian 
 wang-tooth: cheek-tooth, molar AS 
 
 wangtoS 
 wanhope sb. despair AS wan + 
 
 hopa 
 wanne pt. s. won ; cf. wynne 
 wante inf. want, lack, be absent 
 
 Icel vanta 
 wantowne a. wanton, wild AS 
 
 wan "1- togen 
 wantownesse : wantonness, extrava- 
 gant mannerism 
 wantrust: suspicion 
 wantynge of blyndnesse: caecitate 
 
 carens, by principle of opposites,. 
 
 an etymology of Cecilia 
 wanye inf. wane AS wanian 
 
WAR- 
 
 705 
 
 — WENEN 
 
 war a. wary, cautious, aware AS 
 w3er 
 
 war 3 pr. s., 2 imp. refl. look out, 
 make way AS warian 
 
 warde: keeping, custody AS weard 
 
 wardecors: body guard OF war- 
 decors 
 
 wardeyns: guardians OF wardein 
 
 Ware: town in Hertfordshire 
 
 ware sb. goods, wares AS waru 
 
 ware a. aware AS wser 
 
 ware imp. refl. beware AS warian 
 
 warente : protect OF warantir 
 
 warice: protect, cure OF warir 
 
 warie 1 pr. s. curse AS wergian 
 
 warished pp. cured 
 
 warme: warm AS wearm 
 
 warne inf. refuse, warn ; warnede 
 pp. AS warnian 
 
 warreyist 2 pr. s. makest war 
 upon OF werreier 
 
 waspes poss. pi. wasps' AS waeps 
 
 wasshe pp. washed AS waescan 
 
 wast sb. waste OF. 
 
 wastel-breed sb. bread made from 
 the finest flour OF wastel 
 **cake" 
 
 water: by water he sente hem 
 hoom] he made them walk the 
 plank, to swim home AS wseter 
 
 waterlees a. out of water 
 
 waterying : watering place ; this 
 was at the second milestone on 
 the road to the shrine of St. 
 Thomas a Becket 
 
 Watte: Wat or Walter 
 
 watyr: water 
 
 wawe: wave orig. uncert. 
 
 waxe inf. grow ; wax 3 pt. s. ; 
 waxen pp. ; cf. wexen AS 
 weaxan 
 
 wayk: weak Icel veikr 
 
 wayle: wail; cf. Icel vaela 
 
 waylyng sb. wailing 
 
 waymentynge : weeping, lamenta- 
 tion OF waimenter 
 
 wayten inf. watch, observe, care 
 for; wayted pt. OF waitier 
 
 webbe sb. weaver AS webba 
 
 wedde sb. to wedde] as a pledge 
 AS wedd 
 
 wedden inf. wed; weddede 3 pt. s. 
 AS weddian 
 
 weddynge: wedding AS weddung 
 
 wede sb. clothing AS weod 
 
 weder: weather AS weder 
 
 wedercok : weather-cock 
 
 wedewehed : widowhood 
 
 wedewys pi. widows 
 
 wedlok: wedlock AS wedlac 
 
 wedres: storms 
 
 weede: clothing 
 
 weel ad. well AS wel 
 
 weelde, weelded 3 pt. s. control, 
 manage ; cf. welde 
 
 weex 3 pt. s. waxed ; cf. wexe 
 
 weilawey interj. alas ! 
 
 weked : wicked AS wican "yield" 
 
 wel a. fortunate, contented ; wel 
 was hym] he rejoiced 
 
 wel ad. more ; wel ofter] more 
 often 
 
 welawaye interj. alas ! 
 
 wel-bigoon: pleased, fortunate 
 
 welde: weld, a plant used in dye- 
 ing AS woald 
 
 welde inf. wield, keep control of; 
 weelde, weelded, welte 3 pt. s. 
 AS wieldan 
 
 wele sb. weal, welfare, good for- 
 tune AS wela 
 
 wele ad. well 
 
 wele 1 pr. s. will; cf. wille 
 
 welfarynge: thriving, prosperous 
 
 welful: beneficent 
 
 welk 1 pt. s. walked 
 
 welked pp. dried up Du welken 
 
 welkene, welkne : tl.e heavens, the 
 sky AS wolcen 
 
 welle sb. well, spring, source ; 
 welle-stremes well-springs AS 
 wel la 
 
 welnyeghe : welnigh 
 
 welte 3 pt. s. wielded ; cf. welde 
 
 wem : harm, blemish AS wam 
 
 wemen pi. women AS wifman 
 
 wemmelees : stainless 
 
 wenche: girl, wanton AS wancol 
 "unstable" 
 
 wend pp. supposed; cf. wenen 
 
 wende 1 pt. s. weened, supposed ; 
 cf. wenen 
 
 wenden inf. travel ; wende pr. ; 
 went pt., pp. AS wendan 
 
 wenen inf., 3 pr. pi. ween, sup- 
 pose, imagine ; wenestow, wenyst 
 2 pr. s. ; wende pt. s. ; wenden 
 
WENESTOW— 
 
 706 
 
 — WHETTE 
 
 pt. pi. ; wene 3 pr. s. subj. ; wend 
 
 pp. AS wenan 
 wenestow 2 pr. s. weenest thou; 
 
 cf. wenen 
 wengis: pi. wings Icel vsengr 
 went sb. path Du 398 AS wend 
 wente 3 pt. pi. went; cf. wenden 
 wenyst 2 pr. s. suppose, imagine; 
 
 cf. wenen 
 weopeth 3 pr. s. weeps; cf. wepe 
 
 An 169 
 wepe inf. weep; weopeth, wepyth 
 
 pr. s. ; weep 3 pt. s. AS wepan 
 wepene, wepne: weapon AS waepen 
 wepynge sb. weeping 
 wepyth 3 pr. s. weeps; cf. wepe 
 werche, wirche inf. work, perform ; 
 
 worcheth 3 pr. s. ; wroghte pt. s. ; 
 
 wroght, wrought pp. AS wyrcean 
 were sb. weir, fish-trap AS wer 
 were sb. doubt; cf. OLG were 
 
 "disorder" 
 were inf. wear ; werestow 2 pr. s. ; 
 
 wered 3 pt. s. AS werian 
 were inf. defend A 2550 AS 
 
 werian 
 were pr. s. subj. must have been 
 werestow 2 pr. s. do you wear; 
 
 cf. were 
 werk sb. work; werkes pi. deeds, 
 
 works, paintings AS wore 
 werken inf. work, act; werketh 
 
 imp. pi. dispose of AS wircan 
 werkyng: behavior, action, works 
 werm: worm AS wyrm 
 werm foul: worm-eating birds 
 werne inf. refuse permission to 
 
 AS warnian 
 werne 3 pt. pi. were 
 werre sb. war, service AS werre 
 werre ad. worse AS wiers 
 werreyen inf. war against, make 
 
 war; werreyed pp. OF werreier 
 wers,' werse : worse AS wyrsa 
 werte sb. wart AS wearte 
 wery: weary AS werig 
 wessh, wesshe 3 pt. s. washed; 
 
 cf. wasshe 
 weste sb. west; by weste] west- 
 ward AS west 
 weste inf. go westward Pf 266 
 weste ad. west 
 
 Westlumbardye : West Lombardy 
 
 wete a. wet AS waeta 
 
 wete inf. wit, know AS waetan 
 
 wette 3 pt. s. wet 
 
 wex sb. wax AS weax 
 
 wexe inf. grow, become; weex, 
 wex, wexe pt. s. ; wexen pt. pi. ; 
 wexynge p. AS weaxan 
 
 wexynge p. waxing, growing; cf. 
 wexe 
 
 wey: way, path; do wey] lay aside; 
 wey ner went] highroad nor foot- 
 path; by al weyes] in all things 
 AS weg 
 
 wey to blynde: caecis via, an ety- 
 mology of Cecilia 
 
 weyen inf. weigh ; weyest, weyeth 
 pr. s. ; weyeden pt. pi. AS wegan 
 
 weyke: weak; cf. Icel veikr 
 
 weylaway interj. alas ! ; so wey- 
 lawey] alas ! 
 
 weyve inf. turn aside, abandon, 
 give up AF weyver 
 
 wham : whom 
 
 whan: when AS hwanne 
 
 what: whatever AS hwaet 
 
 what! interj. what! how I why! 
 
 wheel : wheel (of Fortune) A 925 ; 
 cf. whele AS hweol 
 
 wheither: whether, which of two 
 AS hwaetSer 
 
 whele s. wheel; the everturning 
 wheel was the symbol of the 
 goddess Fortune Du 643 AS 
 hweol 
 
 whelkes pi. pimples AS hwylca 
 
 whelpe: whelp, puppy AS hwelp 
 
 whenne, whennes: vrhence AS 
 hwanne 
 
 wher: whether 
 
 wheras: where that, where 
 
 wherfore: why; for any cause C 
 216 
 
 wherinne ad. in which 
 
 wher-so : wheresoever, whitherso- 
 ever 
 
 wher-thorgh: by means of which 
 
 wherto : why, for what purpose 
 Du 669 
 
 wherwith: by means of which 
 
 whete: wheat AS hwaete m. 
 
 whether, whethir: whether 
 
 whette : whet, sharpened AS 
 hwettan 
 
WHICH— 
 
 707 
 
 — WITHDRAWE 
 
 which for who Du 96 AS hwilc 
 
 which: what, what sort of, such; 
 which a] how great a, what a 
 
 whider: whither AS hwider 
 
 while sb. AS hwil f. 
 
 while: as long as 
 
 whiles: while; the whiles] while 
 Du 151 
 
 whilhom, whilom : upon a time, 
 once AS hwilum 
 
 whippe : whip ; whippis pi. orig. 
 uncert. 
 
 whippeltre: cornel-tree, or dogwood 
 
 whirle inf. whirl ; cf. Icel hvirfla 
 
 whistelynge sb. a whistling sound 
 AS hwistlung 
 
 whistlynge p. whistling 
 
 whit a. white AS hwit 
 
 White: a translation of the name 
 Blaunche. Blanche was the wife 
 of John of Gaunt, Earl of Lan- 
 caster. She died Sept. 12, 1369, 
 at the age of 29. John of Gaunt 
 is the "man in black,'* who 
 mourns for her Du 947 
 
 whitnesse: whiteness 
 
 whoe, whoo: who; whoo is] who 
 is it that Du 181 AS hwa 
 
 whos: whose Pf 419 
 
 whyne inf. whinny AS hwinan 
 
 whyte lylye: the white lily was the 
 token of the perpetual virginity 
 of Mary B 1651 
 
 wight sb. person, man AS wiht f. 
 
 v/ight a. active; cf. Icel vigr 
 
 wighte sb. weight AS wiht 
 
 wiht : person ; cf . wight 
 
 wikke a. wicked, unhappy, hard, 
 grievous; cf. AS wican 
 
 wikked a. wicked, evil; wikked 
 nest] Oliver le Mauny (Malni) 
 of Brittany, said to have be- 
 trayed, with du Guesclin, Pedro 
 of Spain 
 
 wikkedly : evilly 
 
 wikkednesse: evil 
 
 wil sb. will, desire AS willa 
 
 wil 3 pr. s. wills, desires; cf. wille 
 
 wilde: wild; wilde fyr] Greek fire, 
 difficult to extinguish AS wilde 
 
 wildely : wildly 
 
 wile: skill AS wil f. 
 
 wilful ad. wilfully 
 
 wilfulhed : presumption 
 
 wilfulnesse : wilfulness 
 
 wilkyn : diminutive of will 
 
 will, wille sb. desire, willingness; 
 good will] good will, free con- 
 sent Du 116 AS will 
 
 wille inf. desire, wish, will; wele 
 1 pr. s. ; wil 3 pr. s. ; wilte 2 pr. 
 s. ; woldest, wolt 2 pr. s. ; wole 
 3 pr. s. ; wold, wolde pt. s., pi., 
 subj. ; wolden pt. pi. ; wolde pp. 
 AS willian 
 
 willynge sb. will, desire 
 
 wilnen inf. desire; wilnest 2 pr. 
 s. ; wilned pt. s. ; cf. wille sb. 
 AS wilnian 
 
 wilte 2 pr. s. wilt; cf. wille 
 
 wimpul: wimple, the headdress of 
 a nun, covering head and neck 
 AS wimpel 
 
 wintres poss. winter's AS winter 
 
 wirche inf. work, assist AS 
 wyrcean 
 
 wirkyng sb. actions 
 
 wis a. wise AS wis 
 
 wis ad. certain; as wis] as certain 
 (it is) F 1470 
 
 wis 1 pr. s. know (used in ex- 
 pression **I wis, ywis") iwis, 
 ywis = AS gewiss ^'certainly 
 
 wisdome : wisdom AS wisdom m. 
 
 wise sb. manner, fashion AS wise 
 f. 
 
 wiseste : wisest 
 
 wisly: truly 
 
 wisse inf. instruct, tell; wysse 2 
 pr. subj. AS wissian 
 
 wissely: wisely, certainly 
 
 wisshe 1 pr. s. wish AS wyscan 
 
 wist pp. known; wiste 3 pr. pt. s. 
 know, knew how ; wistest 2 pr. s. 
 thou knowest; cf. witen 
 
 wit sb. wit, sense, reason, judg- 
 ment AS witt 
 
 wite inf. blame; cf. wyte 
 
 witen inf. to know, to wit; wiste, 
 woost, woot, woste, wot, wote 
 pr. ; wiste pt. s. ; wist pp. AS 
 witan 
 
 with: with meschance] misfortune 
 upon (her) ! ; with sorwe] sorrow 
 on you ! AS wi?S 
 
 withalle: withal, moreover 
 
 withdrawe inf. draw back, refuse, 
 withdraw AS witS + dragan 
 
WITHHOLDE— 
 
 708 
 
 — WORSHIPPE 
 
 withholde, witholde pp. engaged, 
 
 employed by; retained A 511 
 
 AS heoldan 
 withinne: within AS witSinnan 
 withoute, withouten: without, be- 
 sides AS wit5iitan 
 withseye, withseyn inf. withsay, 
 
 oppose, renounce AS witSsecgan 
 withstonde inf. oppose AS wit5- 
 
 standan 
 withynne : within 
 witnesse imp. bear witness AS sb. 
 
 witness 
 witte sb. wit 
 
 wityng: knowing, knowledge 
 wlatsom: loathsome AS wlsetta 
 
 ''loathing" 
 wo sb. woe, sorrow, grief AS wa 
 wo-bigon: woe-begone AS wa + 
 
 bigan 
 wod: wood, a plant used in dyeing 
 
 blue Fa 17 AS wad 
 wode sb. wood AS wudu m. 
 wode a. mad; cf. wood AS wod 
 wodebynde; woodbine AS wudu- 
 
 bindse 
 wodedowve: wood-pigeon 
 wofuller: more woeful 
 wol ad. well, full Pf 644 
 wold, wolde, wolden pt. s., pi. 
 
 would ; cf. wille 
 wolde pp. desired ; cf. wille 
 woldest 2 pr. s. wouldst; cf. 
 
 wille 
 wole 3 pr. s. will; cf. wille 
 wolle sb. wool AS wulle f. 
 wolt, wolthow, woltow 2 pr. s. 
 
 wilt ; cf . wille 
 womanly ad. in a womanly manner 
 wombe: the belly, womb AS wamb 
 
 f. 
 womman : woman ; wommen pi. 
 
 women AS wifmann 
 wommanhede: womanhood 
 wonder sb. marvel, wonder, anxi- 
 ety AS wundor 
 wonder a. wondrous 
 wonder ad. wondrously 
 wonderly ad. wonderfully 
 wondeth 3 pr. s. wounds ; cf. 
 
 wounde 
 wondre ini wonder; wondred, 
 
 wondreden pt. pi. ; wondri&d pp. 
 
 AS wundrian 
 
 wondres pi. wonders 
 
 wondrynge: wondering 
 
 wondyr ad. very (with vague in- 
 tensive force) 
 
 wondyrful : wonderful 
 
 wone sb. custom, wont ' AS 
 gewuna m. 
 
 wone, wonen inf. dwell, be accus- 
 tomed ; woned pt. s. ; wonynde 
 p. ; wonyd, woned, wont pp. AS 
 wunian 
 
 woneden 3 pt. pi. dwelt; cf. wone 
 
 wonger sb. pillow AS wongere 
 
 wonne, wonnen pp. captured, con- 
 quered AS winnan 
 
 wont pp. accustomed ; cf, wone 
 
 wonyd pp. accustomed, wont ; cf. 
 wone 
 
 wonyng sb. dwelling 
 
 wonynge p. dwelling; cf. wone 
 
 woo sb. sorrow ; me is woo] I am 
 sorry AS wa 
 
 woo a. woeful, sad 
 
 wood, woode a. mad, insane AS 
 wod 
 
 woode sb. wood AS wudu m. 
 
 woodecraft: woodcraft 
 
 woodeth pr. s. goes mad; cf. wood 
 
 woodly: madly, insanely 
 
 woodnesse : madness 
 
 wook 3 pt. s. woke ; cf. wake 
 
 woon sb. retreat, resource ; cf. 
 won 
 
 woost 2 pr. s. know; cf. witen 
 
 woot pr. s., pi. know; cf. witen 
 
 worcher: deviser < AS wyrcean 
 
 worcheth 3 pr. s. worketh ; cf. 
 werch 
 
 word, worde: word, saying, proverb 
 AS word n. 
 
 word and ende for ord and ende: 
 beginning and end 
 
 worldes, worldis, worldys poss. 
 world's AS weoruld f. 
 
 worly for worthly: worthily 
 
 worm : snake, serpent AS wyrm m. 
 
 wormes: worms, corresponding to 
 the wormwood in the mediaeval 
 pharmacopoeia B 4152 
 
 wors : worse AS wyrs 
 
 worshipe inf. reverence < AS 
 weorSscipe m. 
 
 worshippe s. worship, honor, re- 
 
WORSTE— 
 
 709 
 
 — WYFLEES 
 
 novvn; seyn worshyppe] speak 
 praise AS weort5scipu m. 
 
 worste : worst 
 
 worstede sb. worsted < Worth- 
 stead, town in Norfolk 
 
 wortes: herbs AS wyrt f. 
 
 worthe inf. go, become ; worth 
 upon] got upon AS weorSan 
 
 worthe, worthi a. worth, worthy, 
 profitable AS weorS 
 
 worthyeste : worthiest 
 
 worthynesse : worth 
 
 woste 2 pr. s. know, realize ; cf. 
 witen 
 
 wot, wote pr. s. know ; cf. witen 
 
 wounde inf. wound ; wondeth pr. 
 s. ; wounded, wownded pp. AS 
 wundian 
 
 wounde sb. wound ; woundes pi. 
 plagues ; the X woundes of 
 Egipte] the ten plagues sent 
 upon the Egyptians because 
 Pharaoh would not set free the 
 Children of Israel; cf. Exodus 
 vii.-xii. Du 1206 AS wund f. 
 
 wounder: wondrous; cf. wonder 
 
 woundis poss. pi. wounds' 
 
 woweth: wooeth AS wogean 
 
 wowke : week AS weocu f. 
 
 wownded pp. wounded ; cf. wounde 
 
 woxen pp. become, grown AS 
 weaxan 
 
 wrak: wreckage AS wraec n. 
 
 wrappe inf. cover, wrap orig. un- 
 cert. 
 
 wrastelyng: wrestling-match AS 
 wrastlian 
 
 wrastlen inf. wrestle 
 
 wrastling sb. wrestling 
 
 wrathe sb. anger AS wrsetSSo f. 
 
 wrathed pp. made angry 
 
 wraw: full of wrath orig. uncert. 
 
 wrecche, wrechch sb. wretched 
 creature ; Y wrechch] imhappy 
 creature that I am AS wrecca 
 m. 
 
 wrecche a. wretched, woful 
 
 wrecchedly : miserably 
 
 wrecched pp. wretched AS wrecc 
 
 wrecchednesse, wrechednesse: low 
 degree, misery 
 
 wreche sb. revenge AS wracu f. 
 
 wreched engendrynge of Man- 
 kynde : "De Miseria Conditionis 
 
 Humanae," a Latin prose work 
 by Pope Innocent III, translated 
 by Chaucer. Fragments are ap- 
 parently preserved in Man of 
 Law's Tale (Sk.) L 414 
 wreke inf. wreak vengence ; wrek 
 
 imp. ; wreke pp. AS wrecan 
 wrekere : avenger 
 wrete pp. written ; cf. write 
 wrethe : wreath AS wrseS 
 wreye inf. disclose AS wregan 
 wrie inf. disclose, reveal AS 
 
 wregan 
 wrien inf. turn aside AS wrigian 
 . wrighte sb. mechanic, carpenter; 
 wrightes poss. AS wyrhta m. 
 write inf. write ; writ 3 pr. s. ; 
 wroot, wrote pt. s. ; wrete, write, 
 writen, written, writyn pp. AS 
 writan 
 write, writen pp. written ; cf. 
 
 write 
 writhyng sb. turning AS wriSan 
 writte sb. writ AS writ n. 
 written pp. written; cf. write 
 writyn pp. written ; cf. write 
 writyng^sb. writing AS writing 
 wroght pp. made, created; cf. 
 
 werche 
 wroghte 3 pt. s. practiced ; first 
 he practiced, then he preached 
 A 497 ; cf. werche 
 wrong 3 pt. s. wrung; cf. wrynge 
 wronge sb. wrong AS wrang 
 wronge ad. wrongly Du 950 
 wroot 3 pt. s. wrote ; cf. write 
 wrooth, wroothe, wrothe a. angry; 
 be wroothe] are enemies AS 
 wraS 
 wrought pp. made, done ; born 
 
 Du 90; cf. werche 
 wrye inf. hide AS wreon 
 wryen inf. turn aside AS wrigian 
 wryng, wrynge inf. wring, wring 
 the hands ; wrong pt. s. AS 
 wringan 
 wyd, wyde a. broad, wide, roomy, 
 
 open AS wid 
 wyde ad. widely E 122 AS wide 
 wydewhere: far and wide 
 wydwe sb. widow AS widuwe 
 wyf, wyf e : wife, woman AS wif n. 
 wyfhod : wifehood 
 wyflees: wifeless 
 
WYFLY— 
 
 710 
 
 — YDRESSED 
 
 wyfly: wifely, womanly 
 
 wyght: weight AS wiht 
 
 wyghte: wight, person; wyghtys pi. 
 AS wiht 
 
 wyke: week AS weocu f. 
 
 wyl sb. will, desire AS willa, will 
 
 wyldernesse : wilderness 
 
 wyldnesse; wilderness 
 
 wyle sb. wile, deceit AS wil f. 
 
 wylugh: willow AS welig 
 
 wymen: women 
 
 wyn: wine; wyn ape] ape's wine; 
 wine made men lambs, apes, lions 
 or swine, according to their tem- 
 peraments H 44 AS win n. 
 
 wynd sb. wind AS wind m. 
 
 wyndas: windlass; cf. Icel vindas 
 "wind-pole" 
 
 wynde inf. swathe, wind about, 
 turn about; wynt 3 pr. s. AS 
 windan 
 
 Wyndisore: Windsor, the king's 
 palace Sc 43 marg. 
 
 wyndowe; window; cf. Icel vind- 
 auga "wind-eye" 
 
 wynged pp. winged 
 
 wynges; wings; cf. Dan vinge 
 
 wynke: sleep, shut the eyes AS 
 wincian 
 
 Wynne inf., pr. s. gain, get ahead 
 of, win, conquer ; wanne pt. s. ; 
 wonne, wonnen pp. AS winnan 
 
 wynnyng sb. profit 
 
 wynt 3 pr. s. windeth; cf. wynde 
 
 wynter: winter AS winter 
 
 wyped 3 pt. s. wiped AS wipian 
 
 wys a. wise, sensible; to make it 
 wys] make it a matter for delib- 
 eration AS wis 
 
 wys ad. certainly ? < gewiss 
 
 wyse sb. wise, manner AS wise 
 
 wyse pi. as sb. wise men 
 
 wysse a. wise AS wissian 
 
 wysse 2 pr. subj. guide, lead; cf. 
 wisse 
 
 wysshe sb. wish < AS wyscan 
 
 wyte sb. reproach AS wite n. 
 
 wyte inf., imp. blame, reproach 
 AS witan 
 
 wythoute ad. without, outside AS 
 witSutan 
 
 wytte: wit, wisdom, ability, mind 
 AS witt n. 
 
 wytyn inf. know ; cf. witen 
 
 wyve inf. wive, take a wife AS 
 
 wifian 
 
 wyves pi. wives 
 
 Xantippa: Xantippe, wife of Soc- 
 rates 
 
 Y: used for pers. pron. I 
 
 ya: yes, yea AS gea 
 
 yaf pt. s. gave; cf. yeven 
 
 yate: gate AS geat n. 
 
 ybe pp. been 
 
 ybeen pp. been 
 
 ybet, ybete pp. beaten, forged; 
 hammered into a thin foil A 979 
 AS beatan 
 
 yblent pp. blinded, deceived 
 
 ybore, yboren, yborn pp. born, 
 borne 
 
 ybounde, ybounden pp. bound 
 
 ybrend, ybrent pp. burned 
 
 ybroght pp. brought 
 
 yburyed pp. buried 
 
 ycalled pp. called 
 
 ycaried : 
 
 ycheyned pp. chained 
 
 yclad pp. clad 
 
 yclenched pp. clinched 
 
 ycleped pp. called 
 
 yclothed pp. clothed 
 
 ycome, yeomen pp. come, de- 
 scended 
 
 ycorouned pp. crowned 
 
 ycorve, ycorven pp. cut A 2013 
 
 ycoupled pp. coupled, wedded 
 
 ycoyned : coined 
 
 ycrammed : crammed 
 
 ycrased pp. cracked, broken 
 
 ycristned pp. christened 
 
 ycrowned pp. crowned 
 
 ydel: idle, vain AS idel 
 
 ydelly: vainly, to no profit 
 
 ydelnesse : idleness 
 
 ydiot: idiot OF idiot 
 
 ydolastre: idolater OF idolastre 
 
 ydole: idol OF idole 
 
 ydon, ydoo pp. done, finished 
 
 ydrawe pp. drawn, dragged, stolen 
 
 ydressed pp. arranged 
 
YDRESSED— 
 
 711 
 
 — YMAGES 
 
 ydressed pp. dressed, arranged 
 
 ydropped pp. sprinkled 
 
 ydryven pp. driven 
 
 ye sb. eye AS cage n. Du 807 
 
 ye pron., pi. used as s. Du 1129 
 
 ye ad. yea; yea or nay] affirmative 
 or negative AS gea 
 
 yeddynges sb. pi. minstrel songs, 
 ballads AS yeddung 
 
 yee : yea, verily 
 
 year sb. s., pi. year; yeere pi. AS 
 gear n. 
 
 yeldehalle sb. guild-hall; cf. Icel 
 gildi 
 
 yelden inf. yield AS gieldan 
 
 yeldyng sb. yield 
 
 yelewe: yellow AS geolu 
 
 yelow: yellow 
 
 yelownesse: yellowness 
 
 yelpe inf. boast AS gielpan 
 
 yelwe : yellow 
 
 yeman : yeoman, an attendant from 
 the peasant class, above the com- 
 mon servant orig. uncert. 
 
 yemanly: in a yeoman-like manner 
 
 yen: eyes; cf. ye 
 
 yer : year ; pi. ; cf. yeer 
 
 yerde: stick, rod, rule; slepy yerde] 
 the caduceus of Mercury, the 
 winged and serpent-entwined rod 
 with which he conducted the 
 souls of the departed to the lower 
 world AS gierd f. 
 
 yerde : yard, garden AS geard m. 
 
 yere : year ; yeris pi. ; cf . yeer 
 
 yerne ad. eagerly, gladly AS 
 georne 
 
 yearn AS gyrnan 
 nevertheless, still, even 
 
 yerne m. 
 yet: yet, 
 
 AS git 
 yeven inf. 
 
 yaf pt. 
 
 giefan 
 yevinge: giving 
 yfalle pp. fallen 
 yfeere: together 
 yfet pp. fetched 
 yfetered pp. fettered, chained 
 yfeyned pp. pretended, evaded 
 yflatered: flattered 
 yfolowed pp. followed 
 yformed pp. formed 
 yfostred: fostered, brought up 
 yfounde pp. found 
 
 give ; yeve 3 pr. s. ; gaf, 
 . ; yeve imp., pp. AS 
 
 ME in fere 
 
 yfounded pp. ; founde : founded, 
 
 established 
 yfynde inf. 
 yghe: eye; cf. ye 
 yglasyd pp. glazed 
 yglewed pp. glued 
 yglosed pp. flattered 
 ygo. ygoon pp. gone, devoted him- 
 self 
 ygraunted pp. granted 
 ygrave, grave pp. cut out, dug out 
 ygret pp. greeted 
 ygrounde pp. ground, sharpened 
 ygrounded pp. grounded, fixed 
 yhad pp. had 
 yharded pp. hardened 
 yhedde pp. hidden 
 yheere inf. hear 
 yhent pp. collected, taken 
 yhid pp. hid 
 yholde pp held, esteemed 
 yhurt pp. hurt 
 yif: if AS gif 
 yif imp. give; cf. yive 
 yifte: gift; cf. Icel gift 
 yis: yes 
 
 yit, yitte: yet AS gyt 
 yive inf. give ; yif imp. ; yive pp. 
 
 AS giefan 
 ykaught pp. caught; cf. cacche 
 ykorven pp. cut 
 yknowe inf. know ; pp. 
 ykoude pp. knovv^n well 
 ylad pp. carried, led 
 ylaft pp. left 
 yle: isle; bareyne yle] Naxos OF 
 
 isle 
 yleyd pp. laid 
 ylik a. like, alike 
 ylike ad. alike, equally AS gelice 
 Ylioun: the citadel of Troy 
 ylke: same; cf. ilke 
 yloren pp. lost 
 
 ylyche a. of one mind, constant 
 ylyche ad. alike, equally AS 
 
 gelice 
 ylyk a. like 
 ylymed pp. limed, caught (as birds 
 
 are) 
 ymaad pp. made, caused 
 ymages sb. pi. images to be used 
 
 as charms in treating patients A 
 
 418 OF. 
 
YMAGINATYF— 712 — YTOOLD 
 
 ymaginatyf: given to illusion or 
 
 Ypres: city in Flanders, famous for 
 
 suspicion OF. 
 
 its cloth 
 
 ymaginyng: considering, plotting 
 
 y-preved pp. proved 
 
 ymagynacioun : imagination, fancy 
 
 ypunysshed pp. punished 
 
 ymaked pp. made 
 
 ypurfiled pp. edged with fur 
 
 ymet pp. met 
 
 yquit pp. acquitted 
 
 ymeynd pp. niingled AS mengan 
 
 yraft pp. seized 
 
 ympes: shoots AS imp^ 
 
 yre: ire, anger OF ire 
 
 ympne: hymn OF hymne 
 
 yreke pp. raked together, as the 
 
 ynche: inch AS ynce 
 
 dying embers in the ashes 
 
 Ynde: India 
 
 yrekened pp. counted 
 
 ynde a. indigo, blue OF inde 
 
 yrent pp. torn 
 
 ynly: inwardly, deeply 
 
 yronne pp. run, run together. 
 
 ynogh, ynough: enough AS genoh 
 
 clustered 
 
 ynowe : enough 
 
 yryn: iron AS iren 
 
 yok: yoke AS geoc n. 
 
 ysayd, ysayede pp. said 
 
 yolle 3 pr. pi. cry aloud; yolleden 
 
 yscalded pp. scalded 
 
 pt. pi. AS gyllan 
 
 yse, ysee inf. see ; ysene pp. 
 
 yond: yonder AS geond 
 
 ysene pp. visible 
 
 yong, yonge: young AS geong 
 
 ysent pp. sent 
 
 yoore, yore: formerly, of old, from 
 
 yserved pp. served, treated 
 
 a long time past; yore ago] long 
 
 yset pp. set, placed, appointed 
 
 ago AS geara 
 
 yseyled pp. sailed 
 
 York, My Lady of: daughter of 
 
 yshapen pp. shaped, formed 
 
 K. Pedro of Spain 
 
 yshave pp. shaved 
 
 youlyng sb. outcry 
 
 yshette pp. shut 
 
 youre, youres : yours 
 
 yshewed pp. shown 
 
 yourselven: yourself 
 
 yshorn pp. shorn 
 
 youth, youthe: youth, period of 
 
 yshryve, ysshryven pp. shriven 
 
 youth AS geogut5, iugo]? f. 
 
 Ysiphile: Hypsipyle, queen of 
 
 yow, yowe : you, to you 
 
 Lemnos, wedded to and deserted 
 
 yowthe: youth 
 
 by Jason 
 
 ypayed pp. paid 
 
 yslawe pp. slain 
 
 Ypermistra : Hypermnestra saved 
 
 yslayn pp. slain 
 
 her husband. Lino, from death 
 
 ysoghte pp. sought 
 
 yplesed pp. pleased 
 
 ysongen pp. sung 
 
 Ypocras: Hippocrates, celebrated 
 
 ysowe pp. sown 
 
 Greek physician of the time of 
 
 ysprad pp. spread 
 
 Socrates; the greatest of ancient 
 
 yspreynd pp. sprinkled 
 
 physicians Du 571 
 
 ystiked pp. thrust, stabbed 
 
 ypocras: a sweet wine, spiced and 
 
 ystonge pp. stung 
 
 put through a strainer (Hippoc- 
 
 ystorve pp. dead 
 
 rates' sleeve, so-called) C 306 
 
 ystrawed pp. strewn 
 
 ypocrisye: hypocrisy OF hypocri- 
 
 ystynt pp. ended 
 
 sie 
 
 yswonke pp. labored 
 
 ypocryte: hypocrite 
 
 yswore pp. sworn F 325 
 
 Ypolita: Hippolyta, queen of the 
 
 ysworn pp. sworn A 1132 
 
 Amazons, wife of Theseus 
 
 Ytaille: Italy 
 
 Ypomedon: Hippomedon, one of 
 
 ytake pp. taken 
 
 the Seven against Thebes 
 
 ytaught pp. taught, trained 
 
 Ypotys : Ypotis is a Middle English 
 
 yteyd pp. tied 
 
 poem, religious rather than ro- 
 
 ythonked pp. thanked , 
 
 mantic 
 
 ythrowe pp. cast out 
 
 yprayed pp. invited 
 
 ytoold pp. told 
 
 I 
 
YTURNED— 
 
 713 
 
 -ZEPHIRUS 
 
 yturned pp. turned 
 
 ywriten pp. written 
 
 yve : ivy ; herb yve] ground pine 
 
 ywroght pp. wrought 
 
 AS ifig 
 
 ywrye pp. covered 
 
 yvel a. evil AS yfel 
 
 ywympled pp. covered with a 
 
 yvele ad. evil; me list ful yvele] 
 
 wimple 
 
 it does not please me 
 
 ywys: truly 
 
 yvory, yvoyre : ivory OF ivoire 
 
 
 yvoyded pp. removed 
 
 z 
 
 ywarned pp. warned 
 
 
 ywedded pp. married 
 
 Zanzis: Zeuxis, Greek painter men- 
 
 ywis: certainly, truly ME gewiss 
 
 tioned by Cicero 
 
 ywoundid pp. wounded 
 
 Zephirus: Zephyrus, the gentle 
 
 ywrien pp. hidden 
 
 west wind 
 
/ 
 
 
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 II