clamour

slain

Minotaur

pennon

red Mars,

Thebes

respite

iniquity

.

lamentation

Theseus

Hippolyta

Scythia

clamorous

dolorous

There was a duke whose name was Theseus: Of Athens he was lord and governor

The Knight’s Tale

we

.

offertory

mare

gelding

.

Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face, All pimpled it was

.

hindmost

Yet no man ever found him in arrears.

Well could he manage granary and bin; No auditor could ever find anything. He could foretell, by drought and by the rain, The yielding of his seed and of his grain.

foretell

pulpiteer

slender

choleric

victuals

MANCIPLE

But mostly all of sin and obscenity. He could steal corn and three times charge his fee;

.

But Christ’s own law, and His apostles’ twelve 530 He taught, but first he followed it himselve.

mercenary.

MILLER

haughty

COUNTRY PARSON

Devoutly

In company well could she laugh and chat

perchance

Married in church, husbands she had five

He kept the gold he gained from pestilence. 445 Since gold in physic is a cordial, Therefore he loved his gold exceeding all.

WIFE of BATH,

Very often he took a draught of wine, Of Bordeaux vintage, while the trader slept.

He knew how to recognize a draught of London ale.

PRIORESS

PARDONER

NUN

COUNTRY PARSON

KNIGHT

, or a near city,

A SERGEANT OF THE LAW

REEVE

FRIAR

COOK

All of one solemn, great fraternity.

Freshly and new their gear, and well adorned it was; Their weapons were not cheaply shaped with brass, But all with silver; neatly made and well 370 Their belt and their purses too, I tell.

HABERDASHER

According to the various seasons of the year 350 He changed lunch and changed his supper.

Wherefore

A SERGEANT OF THE LAW

But all that he might borrow from a friend On books and learning he would swiftly spend, And then he’d pray diligently for the souls Of those who gave him resources to attend schools.

But he looked emaciated, moreover, abstemiously.

CLERK

General Prologue

He spoke out his opinions very solemnly

MERCHANT

In motley gown, and high on horse he sat, Upon his head a Flemish beaver hat; 275 His boots were fastened neatly and elegantly.

This worthy man kept all his wits well set; There was no person that knew he was in debt

His revenue exceeded his costs, it is evident.

And pins, to give to young and pleasing wives.

It’s unsuitable, as far as he could see, 245 To have sick lepers for acquaintances. There is no honest advantageousness In dealing with such poor beggars;

He had arranged many a marriage, giving each Of young women, and this at his own cost.

Equal his gossip and well-spoken speech. He had arranged many a marriage, giving each Of young women, and this at his own cost

.

cloister

MONK

one of the finest sort

Then pity ruled her, and her tender heart. Very seemly her pleated wimple was; Her nose was fine; her eyes were grey as glass; Her mouth was small and therewith soft and red; But certainly her forehead was fairly spread; 155 It was almost a full span broad, I own, To tell the truth, she was not undergrown. Her cloak, as I was well aware, had a graceful charm

A forester he truly was, I guess.

a sun-browned face.

he was clothed in coat and hood of green

Courteous he, and humble, willing and able

He could make songs and words thereto indite, Joust, and dance too, as well as sketch and write.

Short was his gown, with sleeves both long and wide.

He never yet had any vileness said,

Algeciras

Tramissene

To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy.

So had I spoken with them, every one, That I was of their fellowship anon, And made agreement that we’d early rise To take the road, as I will to you apprise.

In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all That toward Canterbury town would ride.

Canterbury

So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage

pilgrimage

Then folk do long to go on pilgrimage,

When in April the sweet showers fall That pierce March’s drought to the root and all And bathed every vein in liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; 5 When Zephyr also has with his sweet breath, Filled again, in every holt and heath,

young sun

bygynneth

Canterbury Tales

General Prologue

morsels

Significavit

Geoffrey Chaucer

.

evermore

baldric

Gawain on steed I ween to the King goes fast as he could, and the man in the emerald green whithersoever he would.

She worked all this wonder your wits to ravel, to grieve Guinevere and to bring her to die

the most faultless man that was ever afoot

scathe

you have timed your travel as true man should

giant in green

tumult

‘Who stands in this stead, my tryst to uphold? For now is good Gawain grounded right here. If any man wills aught, wind hither fast, either now or never his needs to further.’

He saw no such thing either side

For I will go to the chapel, whatever chance may befall, and talk with that same fellow in whatever way I wish, whether it’s weal or woe, as fate may to me behave.

if you will lose your life, I’ll not you delay.

had been stabled snugly and in secure wise

yet he forgot not the lace, the lady’s gift; that Gawain did not fail of, for his own good.

all was as fresh as at first, and he to give thanks was glad

Though he closes his lids, full little he sleeps

If he did not sleep soundly, I dare say nothing, for he had much on the morrow to mind

needs

sojourn

Yet is the lord on his land, pursuing his sport.

And then he made himself merry among the fair ladies, with comely carols and all manner of joy, more than ever before that day, till the dark night

three times

perchance

shun

displeased

severs

The knight said: ‘By Saint John,’ and gentle was his smile ‘In faith I love no one, nor none will love the while.’

leman

be traitor to that lord

he saw her so glorious and gaily attired

slumber

‘Ah! Man, how can you sleep? This morning is so clear.’

But the lady for love could get no sleep, nor could the purpose impair pitched in her heart, but rose up swiftly, and took herself thither

wily

thicket

morsel

howsoever

brawn

asunder

irksome

at the last she did him kiss

As the daylight was done, the company came to the comely castle

the company off to the wood, ere daylight sprang, to the chase.

You shall not rise from your bed. I charge you better: I shall wrap you up here on this other side

stole to his bed

.

a bargain we’ll make: whatsoever I win in the wood is worthily yours; and whatever here you achieve, exchange me for it

trysting

So, sir, this request I make of you here, that you tell me true if ever you tale heard of the green chapel, on what ground it stands, and of the knight that keeps it, the colour of green. There was established by statute a pact us between both to meet at that mark, if I should live; and of that same New Year but little is wanting, and I would look on that lord, if God would let me, more gladly, by God’s Son, than any goods gain. So, indeed, by your leave, it behoves me to go. Now to work this business I’ve barely three days, and it’s fitter I fall dead than fail of my errand.’

When the lord learned what prince that he there had, loud laughed he thereat, so delightful he thought it, and all the men in that manse made it a joy to appear in his presence promptly that time, who all prize and prowess and purest ways appends to his person, and praised is ever; above all men upon earth his honour is most.

Servants him served seemly enough with several soups, seasoned of the best, double bowlfuls, as fitting, and all kinds of fish, some baked in bread, some browned on the coals, some seethed, some in stews savoured with spices, and sauces ever so subtle that the knight liked.

When he lifted his helmet, they hastened forward to heft it from his hand, the guest to serve; his blade and his blazon both they took. then hailed he full handily the host each one, and many proud men pressed close, that prince to honour. All clasped in his noble armour to hall they him brought, where a fair fire on a hearth fiercely flamed.

The knight that eventide to Mary made his moan, to show him where to ride, and guide him to some home.

for war worried him not so much but winter was worse

Sometimes with dragons he wars, and wolves also, sometimes with wild woodsmen haunting the crags, with bulls and bears both, and boar other times, and giants that chased after him on the high fells.

if they had heard any word of a knight in green, on any ground thereabout, of the green chapel; and all met him with nay, that never in their lives saw they ever a sign of such a one, hued in green.

He had no friend but his steed by furze and down,

holy Heaven’s Queen

Endless Knot

I intend to tell, though I tarry more than I should.

five points

The knight made yet good cheer, and said: ‘Why should I falter? Such destinies foul or fair what can men do but suffer?’

a year turns full turn, and yields never a like; the form of its finish foretold full seldom. For this Yuletide passed by, and the year after, and each season slips by pursuing another: after Christmas comes crabbed Lenten time, that forces on flesh fish and food more simple. But then the weather of the world with winter it fights, cold shrinks down, clouds are uplifted, shining sheds the rain in showers full warm,

.

that ugly body that bled

The green knight on his ground graciously stands: with a little lean of the head, flesh he uncovers; his long lovely locks he laid over his crown, and let the naked neck to the stroke show.

smoothly

countenance

Now has Arthur his axe

Now is the revel and the renown of the Round Table overthrown with the word of a wanderer’s speech, for all duck down in dread without dint of a blow!’

Where now your superiority and your conquests, your grinding down and your anger, your great words?

Therefore to answer was many a knight afraid, and all stunned at his shout and sat stock-still in a sudden silence through the rich hall

Arthur

each man marvelled what it might mean for a rider and his horse to own such a hue as grew green as the grass and greener it seemed

‘Where is,’ he said, ‘the governor of this throng?

soul

The mane of that mighty horse was much alike, well crisped and combed

Fair fanned-out flax enfolds his shoulders

A green horse great and thick

And all garbed in green this giant and his gear: a straight coat full tight that stuck to his sides, a magnificent mantle above, masked within with pelts pared pertly, the garment agleam with blithe ermine full bright, and his hood both, that was left from his locks and laid on his shoulders; neat, well-hauled hose of that same green that clung to his calves and sharp spurs under of bright gold, on silk stockings rich-barred, and no shoes under sole where the same rides.

Wonder at his hue men displayed, set in his semblance seen; he fared as a giant were made, and over all deepest green.

the most in the world’s mould of measure high, from the nape to the waist so swart and so thick, and his loins and his limbs so long and so great half giant on earth I think now that he was

dreadful

he would never eat on such dear days, before he had been advised, of some adventurous thing, an unknown tale,

Guinevere

Round Table all the rich brethren

jousted

Camelot

as in this land so long

Britain

beings