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UNIVERSITY
CALIFORNIA

BEAUTIES OF THE POETS.

CHAUCER.

FROM THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES

BEFELLE, that in that season on a day,
In Southwark at the Tabard as I lay,
Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage
To Canterbury, with devout courage,
At night was come into that hostelrie
Weli nine and twenty in a companie
Of sundry folk, by aventure y falle
In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all
That toward Canterbury wolden ride.
The chambers and the stables weren wide,
And well we weren eased at best.

And shortly, when the sun was gone to rest
So had I spoken with them every one,
That I was of their fellowship anon,
And made agreement early for to rise,

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To take our way there as I you advise,

But natheless, while I have the time and space
Before I further in the tale do pass,
It seemeth me accordant unto reason,
To tell unto you all the condition
Of each of them, so as it seemed me,
And who they weren, and of what degree;
And eke in what array they all were in,
And at a Knight then will I first begin.

A KNIGHT there was, and that a worthy ma
That from the time that he at first began
To riden out, he loved chivalrie,

Truthe and honour, freedom and courtesie,
Full worthy was he in his lord's war,
And thereto had he ridden, near and farre,

As well in Christendom as in Heatheness,
And ever honoured for his worthiness.
At Alisandr' he was when it was won,
Full oftentime he had the field outdone
Aboven all the nations warring in Prusse.
In Lettone had he travelled, and in Russe

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With many a noble army had he been.
Of mortal battles had he seen fifteen,

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And evermore he had a sovereign praise,
And though that he was worthy he was wise,
And of his port as meek as is a maid,
He never yet no villany had saide
In all his life, unto no man or wight,
He was a very perfect noble Knight.

But for to tellen you of his array,
His horse was good, but yet he was not gay,
Of fustian he weared a gipon,

All besmutted with his habergeon,

For he was lately come from his voyage,

And wenten for to do his pilgrimage.

With him there was his son, a fresh young SQUIRE

A lover and a lusty bachelor,

With locks curled as they were laid in press;
Of twenty years
of age he was I guess.
Of his stature he was of equal length,
And wonderf'ly agile, and great of strength;
And he had something seen of chivalric,
In Flanders, in Artois, and Picardie,
And borne him well, as of so little space,
In hope to standen in his ladies grace.

Embroidered was he, as it were a meade
All full of fresh flowers, white and red,
Singing he was, or fluting all the day,
He was as fresh as is the month of May.

Short was his gown, with sleeves full long and wide
Well could he sit on horse, and fairly ride.

He could songs make, and well endite,

Juste, and eke dance, and well pourtray and write. Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable,

And carved for his father at the table.

A YEOMAN had he, and servants no mo
At that time, for him pleased to ride so;
And he was clad in coat and hood of green,
A sheafe of peacock arrows bright and keen

Under his belt he bare full thriftily;
Well could he dress his tackel yeomanly.
His arrows drooped not with feathers low
And in his hand he bare a mighty bow.

A round head had he, with a brown visage;
Of wood craft knew he well all the usage;
Upon his arm he bare a gay bracer,
And by his side a sword and buckler,
And on that other side a gay dagger,
Harnessed well, and sharp as point of spear;
A cristofre on his breast of silver shene;
An horn he bare, the baudrick was of green.
A forester was he soothly I guess.

There also was a NUN, a Prioress,
That in her smiling was full simple and、coy;
Her greatest oath was but by Saint Eloy ;
And she was cleped Madame Eglantine.
Full well she sang the service divine,
Entuned in her nose full sweetly;

And French she spake full faire and fetisly,
After the school of Stratford at Bow,
For French of Paris was to her unknowe.
At meat was she well ytaught withall;
She let no morsel from her lips fall,
Nor wet her fingers in her sauce deep;
Well could she carry a morsel, and well keep,
That no drop neer fell upon her breast.
In courtesie was set full much her lest.

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And certainly she was of great disport,
And full pleasant, aud amiable of port,

And took much pains to imitate the air
Of court, and hold a stately manner,
And to be thoughten high of reverence.
But for to speaken of her conscience,
She was so charitable and so piteous,
She would weep if that she saw a mouse
Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled;
Two small hounds had she that she fed
With roasted flesh, and milk, and wasted bread,
But sore she wept if one of them were dead,
Or if men smote it with a staff smarte:
She was all conscience and tender heart.

Full seemely her wimple pinched was;
Her nose was strait; her eyes were grey as glass;
Her mouth full small, and thereto soft and red;
But certainly she had a fair forehead.

It was almost a span broad I trow,
For certainly she was not undergrowne.

Full handsome was her cloak, as I was 'ware

Of small coral about her arm she bare
A pair of beads, gauded all with green;
And thereon hung a broach of gold full shene,
On which was first ywritten a crowned A,
And after, Amor vincit omnia.

Another NUN also with her had she
That was her chaplain, and of PRIESTS three.

A MONK there was, full skilful in the chace,
A bold-rider, no better in that place,

A manly man, to be an Abbot able;
Full many a daintie horse had he in stable,
And when he rode, men might his bridle hear

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