The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales

Prologue

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When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath, The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun Into the Ram one half hiscourse has run, And many little birds make melody

10 That sleep through all the night with open eye 11 (So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)12 Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage, 13 And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, 14 To distant shrines well known in sundry lands. 15 And specially from every shire's end 16 Of England they to Canterbury wend, 17 The holy blessed martyr thereto seek 18 Who helped them when they lay so ill and weal 19 Befell that, in that season, on a day
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20 In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay 21 Ready to start upon my pilgrimage 22 To Canterbury, full of devout homage, 23 There came at nightfall to that hostelry 24 Some nine and twenty in a company 25 Of sundry persons who had chanced to fall 26 In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all 27That toward Canterbury town would ride. 28 The rooms and stables spacious were and wide, 29 And well we there were eased, and of the best. 30 And briefly, when the sun had gone to rest, 31 So had I spoken with them, every one, 32 That I was of their fellowship anon, 33 And made agreement that we'd early rise 34 To take the road, as you I will apprise. 35 But none the less, whilst I have time andspace, 36 Before yet farther in this tale I pace, 37 It seems to me accordant with reason 38 To inform you of the state of every one 39 Of all of these, as it appeared to me, 40 And who they were, and what was their degree, 41 And even how arrayed there at the inn; 42 And with a knight thus will I first begin. 43 A knight there was, and he a worthy man,
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44 Who, from the moment that he firstbegan 45 To ride about the world, loved chivalry, 46 Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy. 47 Full worthy was he in his liege-lord's war, 48 And therein had he ridden (none more far) 49 As well in Christendom as heathenesse, 50 And honoured everywhere for worthiness. 51 At Alexandria, he, when it was won; 52 Full oft the table's roster he'd begun 53 Above all nations' knights in Prussia. 54 InLatvia raided he, and Russia, 55 No christened man so oft of his degree. 56 In far Granada at the siege was he 57 Of Algeciras, and in Belmarie. 58 At Ayas was he and at Satalye 59 When they were won; and on the Middle Sea 60 At many a noble meeting chanced to be. 61 Of mortal battles he had fought fifteen, 62 And he'd fought for our faith at Tramissene 63 Three times in lists, and each time slainhis foe. 64 This self-same worthy knight had been also 65 At one time with the lord of Palatye 66 Against another heathen in Turkey: 67 And always won he sovereign fame for prize.
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68 Though so illustrious, he was very wise 69 And bore himself as meekly as a maid. 70 He never yet had any vileness said, 71 In all his life, to whatsoever wight. 72 He was a truly perfect, gentle knight. 73 Butnow, to tell you all of his array, 74 His steeds were good, but yet he was not gay. 75 Of simple fustian wore he a jupon 76 Sadly discoloured by his habergeon; 77 For he had lately come from his voyage 78 And now was going on this pilgrimage. 79 With him there was his son, a youthful squire, 80 A lover and a lusty bachelor, 81 With locks well curled, as if they'd laid in press. 82 Some twentyyears of age he was, I guess. 83 In stature he was of an average length, 84 Wondrously active, aye, and great of strength. 85 He'd ridden sometime with the cavalry 86 In Flanders, in Artois, and Picardy, 87 And borne him well within that little space 88 In hope to win thereby his lady's grace. 89 Prinked out he was, as if he were a mead, 90 All full of fresh-cut flowers white and red. 91 Singing he...