At wrestling he would always take the the prize.
549 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
He was stoutly built, broad, a large-framed fellow;
550 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
There was no door that he would not heave off its
hinges,
551 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
Or break it by running at it with his head.
552 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
His beard was red as any sow or fox,
553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
And moreover broad, as though it were a spade.
554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade Upon the exact top of his nose he had
555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs,
556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
Red as the bristles of a sow's ears;
557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
His nostrils were black and wide.
558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.
He wore a sword and a buckler by his side.
559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
His mouth was as large as a large furnace.
560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
He was a loudmouth and a buffoon,
561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
And that was mostly of sin and deeds of harlotry.
562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
He well knew how to steal corn and take payment three times;
563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
And yet he had a thumb of gold, indeed.
564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
He wore a white coat and a blue hood.
565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
He well knew how to blow and play a bag-pipe,
566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
And with that he brought us out of town.
567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
There was a fine MANCIPLE of a temple (law school),
568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple
Of whom buyers of provisions might take example
569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
For how to be wise in buying of victuals;
570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
For whether he paid (cash) or took (goods) on credit,
571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat
Always he watched so (carefully for his opportunity) in his purchases
572 That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
That he was always ahead and in good state.
573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace Now is not that a very fair grace of God
574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace That such an unlearned man's wit shall surpass
575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
The wisdom of a heap of learned men?
576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
He had more than three times ten masters,
577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,
Who were expert and skillful in law,
578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous Of whom there were a dozen in that house
579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond Worthy to be stewards of rent and land
580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
Of any lord that is in England,
581 To make hym lyve by his propre good To make him live by his own wealth
582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
In honor and debtless (unless he were crazy),
583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
Or live as economically as it pleased him to desire;
584 And able for to helpen al a shire
And (they would be) able to help all a shire
585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
In any emergency that might occur or happen.
586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
And yet this Manciple fooled them all.
587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
The REEVE was a slender choleric man.
588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
His beard was shaved as close as ever he can;
589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
His hair was closely cropped by his ears;
590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
The top of his head in front was cut short like a
priest's.
591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
His legs were very long and very lean,
592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
Like a stick; there was no calf to be seen.
593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
He well knew how to keep a granary and a storage
bin;
594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
There was no auditor who could earn anything (by
catching him).
595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
He well knew by the drought and by the rain
596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
(What would be) the yield of his seed and of his grain
597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His lord's sheep, his cattle, his herd of dairy cows,
598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
His swine, his horses, his livestock, and his poultry
599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
Was wholly in this Reeve's control,
600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
And in accord with his contract he gave the
reckoning,
601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
Since his lord was twenty years of age.
602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
There was no man who could find him in arrears.
603 Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
There was no farm manager, nor herdsman, nor
other servant,
604 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
Whose trickery and treachery he did not know;
605 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
They were afraid of him as of the plague.
606 His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
His dwelling was very nicely situated upon an heath;
607 With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
His place was shaded by green trees.
608 He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
He could buy property better than his lord could.
609 Ful riche he was astored pryvely.
He was secretly very richly provided.
610 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
He well knew how to please his lord subtly,
611 To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
By giving and lending him some of his lord's own possessions,
612 And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
And have thanks, and also a coat and hood (as a
reward).
613 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster:
In youth he had learned a good craft:
614 He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
He was a very good craftsman, a carpenter.
615 This Reve sat upon a ful good stot This Reeve sat upon a very good horse
616 That was al pomely grey and highte Scot.
That was all dapple gray and was called Scot.
617 A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
He had on a long outer coat of dark blue,
618 And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
And by his side he wore a rusty sword.
619 Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle,
Of Northfolk was this Reeve of whom I tell,
620 Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
Near to a town men call Bawdeswelle.
621 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
He had his coat hitched up and belted, like a friar,
622 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
And ever he rode as the last of our company.
623 A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,
There was a SUMMONER with us in that place,
624 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
Who had a fire-red cherubim's face,
625 For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
For it was pimpled and discolored, with swollen
eyelids.
626 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
He was as hot and lecherous as a sparrow,
627 With scalled browes blake and piled berd.
With black, scabby brows and a beard with hair fallen
out.
628 Of his visage children were aferd.
Children were afraid of his face.
629 Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
There was no mercury, lead monoxide, nor sulphur,
630 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
Borax, white lead, nor any oil of tarter,
631 Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
Nor ointment that would cleanse and burn,
632 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
That could cure him of his white pustules,
633 Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
Nor of the knobs sitting on his cheeks.
634 Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
He well loved garlic, onions, and also leeks,
635 And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
And to drink strong wine, red as blood;
636 Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. Then he would speak and cry out as if he were crazy.
637 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
And when he had drunk deeply of the wine,
638 Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
Then he would speak no word but Latin.
639 A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
He had a few legal terms, two or three,
640 That he had lerned out of som decree -That he had learned out of some text of ecclesiastical
law --
641 No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
That is no wonder, he heard it all the day;
642 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay And also you know well how a jay
643 Kan clepen "Watte" as wel as kan the pope.
Can call out "Walter" as well as the pope can.
644 But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
But whoever knew how to examine him in other
matters,
645 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
(Would find that) he had used up all his learning;
646 Ay "Questio quid iuris" wolde he crie.
Always "The question is, what point of the law
applies?" he would cry.
647 He was a gentil harlot and a kynde;
He was a fine rascal and a kind one;
648 A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
One could not find a better fellow.
649 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn For a quart of wine he would allow
650 A good felawe to have his concubyn A good fellow to have his concubine
651 A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;
For twelve months, and excuse him completely;
652 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
Secretly he also knew how to pull off a clever trick.
653 And if he foond owher a good felawe,
And if he found anywhere a good fellow,
654 He wolde techen him to have noon awe He would teach him to have no awe
655 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs,
Of the archdeacon's curse (of excommunication) in such a case,
656 But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
Unless a man's soul were in his purse;
657 For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
For in his purse he would be punished.
658 "Purs is the ercedekenes helle," seyde he.
"Purse is the archdeacon's hell," he said.
659 But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
But well I know he lied right certainly;
660 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,
Each guilty man ought to be afraid of
excommunication,
661 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith,
For excommunication will slay just as forgiveness
saves,
662 And also war hym of a Significavit.
And let him also beware of a Significavit (order for imprisonment).
663 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise In his control he had as he pleased
664 The yonge girles of the diocise,
The young people of the diocese,
665 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
And knew their secrets, and was the adviser of them
all.
666 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed,
He had set a garland upon his heed,
667 As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
As large as if it were for the sign of a tavern
668 A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake.
He had made himself a shield of a cake.
669 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER With him there rode a fine PARDONER
670 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
Of Rouncivale, his friend and his companion,
671 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Who had come straight from the court of Rome.
672 Ful loude he soong "Com hider, love, to me!"
Very loud he sang "Come hither, love, to me!"
673 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
This Summoner harmonized with him in a strong
bass;
674 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
There was never a trumpet of half so great a sound.
675 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
This Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,
676 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
But smooth it hung as does a clump of flax;
677 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
By small strands hung such locks as he had,
678 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
And he spread them over his shoulders;
679 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
But thin it lay, by strands one by one.
680 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
But to make an attractive appearance, he wore no
hood,
681 For it was trussed up in his walet.
For it was trussed up in his knapsack.
682 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
It seemed to him that he rode in the very latest style;
683 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
With hair unbound, save for his cap, he rode all bareheaded.
684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
He had glaring eyes such as has a hare.
685 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
He had sewn a Veronica upon his cap.
686 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe,
Before him in his lap, (he had) his knapsack,
687 Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
Brimful of pardons come all fresh from Rome.
688 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
He had a voice as small as a goat has.
689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
He had no beard, nor never would have;
690 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
It (his face) was as smooth as if it were recently
shaven.
691 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
I believe he was a eunuch or a homosexual.
692 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware But as to his craft, from Berwick to Ware
693 Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
There was no other pardoner like him.
694 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
For in his pouch he had a pillow-case,
695 Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
Which he said was Our Lady's veil;
696 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl He said he had a piece of the sail
697 That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente That Saint Peter had, when he went
698 Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
Upon the sea, until Jesus Christ took him.
699 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
He had a cross of latten (brass-like alloy) covered with stones,
700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
And in a glass container he had pigs' bones.
701 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
But with these relics, when he found
702 A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
A poor parson dwelling in the countryside,
703 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye In one day he got himself more money
704 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
Than the parson got in two months;
705 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
And thus, with feigned flattery and tricks,
706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
He made fools of the parson and the people.
707 But trewely to tellen atte laste,
But truly to tell at the last,
708 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
He was in church a noble ecclesiast.
709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
He well knew how to read a lesson or a story,
710 But alderbest he song an offertorie;
But best of all he sang an Offertory;
711 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
For he knew well, when that song was sung,
712 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
He must preach and well smooth his speech
713 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
To win silver, as he very well knew how;
714 Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
Therefore he sang the more merrily and loud.
715 Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause,
Now have I told you truly, briefly,
716 Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause The rank, the dress, the number, and also the cause
717 Why that assembled was this compaignye Why this company was assembled
718 In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye In Southwark at this fine hostelry
719 That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
That is called the Tabard, close by the Bell.
720 But now is tyme to yow for to telle But now it is time to tell to you
721 How that we baren us that ilke nyght,
How we conducted ourselves that same night,
722 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght;
When we had arrived in that hostelry;
723 And after wol I telle of our viage
And after that I will tell of our journey
724 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
And all the rest of our pilgrimage.
725 But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
But first I pray yow, of your courtesy,
726 That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye,
That you do not attribute it to my rudeness,
727 Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
Though I speak plainly in this matter,
728 To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
To tell you their words and their behavior,
729 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
Nor though I speak their words accurately.
730 For this ye knowen al so wel as I:
For this you know as well as I:
731 Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
Whoever must repeat a story after someone,
732 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan
He must repeat as closely as ever he knows how
733 Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
Every single word, if it be in his power,
734 Al speke he never so rudeliche and large,
Although he may speak ever so rudely and freely,
735 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
Or else he must tell his tale inaccurately,
736 Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
Or make up things, or find new words.
737 He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
He may not refrain from (telling the truth), although he were his brother;
738 He moot as wel seye o word as another.
He must as well say one word as another.
739 Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
Christ himself spoke very plainly in holy writ,
740 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it.
And you know well it is no rudeness.
741 Eek Plato seith, whoso kan hym rede,
Also Plato says, whosoever knows how to read him,
742 The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
The words must be closely related to the deed.
743 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
Also I pray you to forgive it to me,
744 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
Although I have not set folk in order of their rank
745 Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
Here in this tale, as they should stand.
746 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
My wit is short, you can well understand.
747 Greet chiere made oure Hoost us everichon,
Our Host made great hospitality to everyone of us,
748 And to the soper sette he us anon.
And to the supper he set us straightway.
749 He served us with vitaille at the beste;
He served us with victuals of the best sort;
750 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
The wine was strong, and it well pleased us to drink.
751 A semely man OURE HOOSTE was withalle OUR HOST was an impressive man indeed
752 For to been a marchal in an halle.
(Qualified) to be a master of ceremonies in a hall.
753 A large man he was with eyen stepe -
He was a large man with prominent eyes -
754 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe -There was no better business man in Cheapside -
755 Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
Bold of his speech, and wise, and well mannered,
756 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
And he lacked nothing at all of the qualities proper to
a man.
757 Eek therto he was right a myrie man;
Also moreover he was a right merry man;
758 And after soper pleyen he bigan,
And after supper he began to be merry,
759 And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
And spoke of mirth among other things,
760 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,
When we had paid our bills,
761 And seyde thus: "Now, lordynges, trewely,
And said thus: "Now, gentlemen, truly,
762 Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
You are right heartily welcome to me;
763 For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
For by my word, if I shall not lie (I must say),
764 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye I saw not this year so merry a company
765 Atones in this herberwe as is now.
At one time in this lodging as is (here) now.
766 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how.
I would gladly make you happy, if I knew how.
767 And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,
And I have just now thought of an amusement,
768 To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
To give you pleasure, and it shall cost nothing.
769 "Ye goon to Caunterbury -- God yow speede,
"You go to Canterbury -- God give you success,
770 The blisful martir quite yow youre meede!
May the blessed martyr give you your reward!
771 And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
And well I know, as you go by the way,
772 Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
You intend to tell tales and to amuse yourselves;
773 For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon For truly, it is no comfort nor mirth
774 To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;
To ride by the way dumb as a stone;
775 And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
And therefore I will make a game for you,
776 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
As I said before, and provide you some pleasure.
777 And if yow liketh alle by oon assent And if pleases you all unanimously
778 For to stonden at my juggement,
To be subject to my judgment,
779 And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
And to do as I shall tell you,
780 Tomorwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
Tomorrow, when you ride by the way,
781 Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
Now, by the soul of my father who is dead,
782 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed!
Unless you be merry, I will give you my head!
783 Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche." Hold up your hands, without more speech."
784 Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche.
Our decision was not long to seek out.
785 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys,
It seemed to us it was not worthwhile to deliberate
on it,
786 And graunted hym withouten moore avys,
And (we) granted his request without more
discussion,
787 And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste.
And asked him to say his decision as it pleased him.
788 "Lordynges," quod he, "now herkneth for the beste; "Gentlemen," said he, "now listen for the best course
of action;
789 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
But, I pray yow, do not take it in disdain (scorn it).
790 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
This is the point, to speak briefly and clearly,
791 That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
That each of yow, to make our way seem short by this means,
792 In this viage shal telle tales tweye Must tell two tales in this journey
793 To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
On the way to Canterbury, that is what I mean,
794 And homward he shal tellen othere two,
And on the homeward trip he shall tell two others,
795 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
About adventures that in old times have happened.
796 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle -And whoever of you who does best of all --
797 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas That is to say, who tells in this case
798 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas -Tales of best moral meaning and most pleasure -
799 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
Shall have a supper at the cost of us all 8QQ Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
Here in this place, sitting by this post,
8Q1 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
When we come back from Canterbury.
8Q2 And for to make yow the moore mury,
And to make you the more merry,
8Q3 I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
I will myself gladly ride with you,
8Q4 Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde;
Entirely at my own cost, and be your guide;
8Q5 And whoso wole my juggement withseye
And whosoever will not accept my judgment 8Q6 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
Shall pay all that we spend by the way.
8Q7 And if ye vouche sauf that it be so,
And if you grant that it be so,
8Q8 Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
Tell me straightway, without more words,
8Q9 And I wol erly shape me therfore."
And I will get ready early for this."
81Q This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore This thing was granted, and our oaths sworn
811 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also With very glad hearts, and (we) prayed him also
812 That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so,
That he would consent to do so,
813 And that he wolde been oure governour,
And that he would be our governor,
814 And of oure tales juge and reportour,
And judge and score keeper of our tales,
815 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
And set a supper at a certain price,
816 And we wol reuled been at his devys And we will be ruled as he wishes
817 In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent In every respect; and thus unanimously
818 We been acorded to his juggement.
We are accorded to his judgment.
819 And therupon the wyn was fet anon;
And thereupon the wine was fetched immediately; 82Q We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
We drank, and each one went to rest,
821 Withouten any lenger taryynge.
Without any longer tarrying.
822 Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
In the morning, when day began to spring,
823 Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok,
Our Host arose, and was the rooster of us all
(awakened us).
824 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok,
And gathered us together all in a flock,
825 And forth we riden a litel moore than paas And forth we rode at little more than a walk
826 Unto the Wateryng of Seint Thomas;
Unto the Watering of Saint Thomas;
827 And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste And there our Host stopped his horse
828 And seyde, "Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste.
And said, "Gentlemen, listen, if you please.
829 Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde.
You know your agreement, and I remind you of it.
830 If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
If what you said last night agrees with what you say this morning,
831 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
Let's see now who shall tell the first tale.
832 As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
As ever I may drink wine or ale,
833 Whoso be rebel to my juggement Whosoever may be rebel to my judgment
834 Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
Shall pay for all that is spent by the way.
835 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne;
Now draw straws, before we depart further (from
