That one of them in sleeping as he lay,
He met a wonder dream, again the day:
Him thought a man stood by his beddès side,
And him commanded that he should abide,
And said him thus: If thou to-morrow wend,
Thou shalt be dreynt 10; my tale is at an end.
He met a wonder dream, again the day:
Him thought a man stood by his beddès side,
And him commanded that he should abide,
And said him thus: If thou to-morrow wend,
Thou shalt be dreynt 10; my tale is at an end.
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»
That other answered, "I not how that may be:
He wot how that the gold is with us tway. 2
What shall we do? what shall we to him say? ”
"Shall it be counsel ? " said the firstè shrew;
"And I shall tellen thee in wordès few
What we shall do, and bring it well about. "
"I grantè," quoth that other, "out of doubt,
That by my truth I shall thee not bewray. "
"Now," quoth the first, "thou wost well we be tway,
And two of us shall strenger be than one.
Look, when that he is set, thou right anon
Arise, as though thou wouldest with him play;
And I shall rive him through the sidès tway,
While that thou strugglest with him as in game,
And with thy dagger look thou do the same;
And then shall all this gold departed be,
My dearè friend, betwixen me and thee:
Then may we both our lustès all fulfill,
And play at dice right at our owen will. "
And thus accorded be these shrewès tway
To slay the third, as ye have heard me say.
This youngest, which that went unto the town,
Full oft in heart he rolleth up and down
The beauty of these florins new and bright.
"O Lord! " quoth he, "if so were that I might
Have all this treasure to myself alone,
There is no man that liveth under the throne
Of God, that shouldè live so merry as I. "
And the last the fiend, our enemy,
Put in his thought that he should poison bey,³
With which he mightè slay his fellows twaye.
Forwhy the fiend found him in such living,
That he had leave him to sorrow bring.
For this was utterly his full intent
To slay hem both, and never to repent.
And forth he goeth, no lenger would he tarry,
Into the town unto a 'pothecary,
3
4
Buy.
Because.
## p. 3583 (#565) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3583
And prayed him that he him wouldè sell
Some poison, that he might his rattès quell,
And eke there was a polecat in his haw¹
That, as he said, his capons had yslawe²;
And fain he wouldè wreak him if he might,
On vermin, that destroyed him by night.
The 'pothecary answéred, "And thou shalt have
A thing that, also God my soulè save,
In all this world there nis no créàtúre,
That eaten or drunk hath of this cónfectúre,
Naught but the mountance of a corn of wheat,
That he ne shall his life anon forlete";
Yea, sterve' he shall, and that in lessè while,
Than thou wilt go a pace not but a mile:
This poison is so strong and violent. "
This cursed man hath in his hand yhent"
This poison in a box, and sith he ran
Into the nextè street unto a man,
And borrowed of him largè bottles three;
And in the two his poison pourèd he;
The third he kept clean for his owen drink,
For all the night he shope 10 him for to swink"
In carrying the gold out of that place.
And when this riotour, with sorry grace,
Had filled with wine his greatè bottles three,
To his fellows again repaireth he.
What needeth it to sermon of it more?
For right as they had cast his death before,
Right so they have him slain, and that anon.
And when that this was done, thus spake that one;
Now let us sit and drink, and make us merry,
And afterward we will his body bury. "
And with that word it happèd him par cas, 12
To take the bottle there the poison was,
And drank, and gave his fellow drink also,
For which anon they storven bothè two.
3
But certes I suppose that Avicen
Wrote never in no canon, n' in no fen,"
Mo wonder signès of empoisoning,
Than had these wretches two ere hir ending.
Thus ended be these homicidès two,
And eke the false empoisoner also.
2 Slain.
3
6 Give up.
7 Die.
1 Farm-yard.
Revenge.
13 Died.
9 Seized. 10 Purposed.
11 Labor. 12 By chance.
8 At a footpace.
14 Fen'; the name of the sections of Avicenna's great work entitled 'Canon. '
+ As. 5 Amount.
## p. 3584 (#566) ###########################################
3584
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
A
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
POORÈ widow somedeal stope¹ in age,
Was whilom dwelling in a narrow cottage,
Beside a grovè, standing in a dale.
This widow, of which I tellè you my tale,
Since thilkè day that she was last a wife,
In patience led a full simple life.
For little was her cattel' and her rent":
By husbandry of such as God her sent
She found herself, and eke her daughtren two.
Three large sowès had she, and no mo;
Three kine, and eke a sheep that hightè Mall.
Full sooty was her bower, and eke her hall,
In which she ate full many a slender meal.
Of poignant sauce her needed never a deal. '
No dainty morsel passèd through her throat;
Her diet was accordant to her cote.
Repletión ne made her never sick;
Attemper diet was all her physic,
And exercise, and heartès súffisánce. 10
The goutè let " her nothing for to dance,
N' apoplexy ne shentè " not her head.
No wine ne drank she, neither white ne red:
Her board was servèd most with white and black,
Milk and brown bread, in which she found no lack,
Seind 13 bacon, and sometime an egg or twey;
For she was as it were a manner dey. "
A yard she had, enclosed all about
With stickès, and a dryè ditch without,
In which she had a cock hight Chanticleer,
In all the land of crowing was none his peer.
His voice was merrier than the merry orgón,
On masse days that in the churchè gon.
Well sikerer 15 was his crowing in his lodge.
Than is a clock, or an abbéy horloge. 16
By nature he knew each ascensión
Of the equinoctìál in thilkè town;
1 Advanced.
"Capital.
3 Income.
+ Economical management.
5
Supported.
6 Was called.
7 Whit.
8
Cottage.
9 Temperate.
10 Content.
16 Clock, horologe.
11 Prevented.
12 Injured.
13
Singed, broiled.
14 A sort of dairy-woman
15 Surer.
## p. 3585 (#567) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3585
For when degrees fifteenè were ascended,
Then crew he, that it might not be amended.
His comb was redder than the fine corál,
And battled,' as it were a castle wall.
His bill was black, and as the jet it shone;
Like azure were his leggès and his ton 2;
His nailès whiter than the lily flower,
And like the burnèd³ gold was his colour.
This gentle cock had in his governance
Seven hennès, for to do all his pleasánce,
Which were his sisters and his paramours,
And wonder like to him, as of coloúrs;
Of which the fairest huèd on her throat
Was clepèd fairè Damosel Partelote.
Courteous she was, discreet, and debonair,
And cómpanáble, and bare herself so fair,
Sin' thilkè day that she was sevennight old,
That truely she hath the heart in hold
Of Chanticleer, locken' in every lith;
4
(
He loved her so, that well was him therewith.
But such a joy was it to hear hem sing,
When that the brightè sunnè gan to spring,
In sweet accord, My lief is faren on land. '"
For thilkè time, as I have understande,
Beastès and birdès couldè speak and sing.
And so befell, that in a dawèning,
As Chanticleer among his wivès all
Sat on his perchè, that was in the hall,
And next him sat this fairè Partèlote,
This Chanticleer gan groanen in his throat,
As man that in his dream is drecchèd
And when that Partèlote thus heard him roar,
She was aghast, and said, "O heartè dear,
What aileth you to groan in this mannére?
Ye be a very sleeper, fie, for shame! "
sore.
And he answéred and saidè thus: "Madáme,
I pray you that ye take it not agrief";
By God, me met 12 I was in such mischief "
13
1 Battlemented.
2 Toes.
3 Burnished.
* Companionable.
5 Since.
11 In offence.
6 Possession.
'Locked, inclosed.
8 Limb.
9"My love is gone to the country. "
10 Oppressed.
13 Misfortune.
12 I dreamed.
VI-225
## p. 3586 (#568) ###########################################
3586
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Dream.
2 Interpret.
3 Die.
4 Secret.
Right now, that yet mine heart is sore affright.
Now God," quoth he, "my sweven' read² aright,
And keep my body out of foul prisón.
Me met how that I roamèd up and down
Within our yard, where-as I saw a beast
Was like an hound, and would have made arrest
Upon my body, and have had me dead.
His colour was betwixè yellow and red;
And tippèd was his tail, and both his ears
With black, unlike the remnant of his hairs.
His snoutè small, with glowing eyen twey;
Yet of his look for fear almost I dey³:
This caused me my groaning doubtèless. "
"Avoy! " quoth she, "fie on you heartèless!
Alas! " quoth she, "for by that God above
Now have ye lost mine heart and all my love;
I cannot love a coward, by my faith.
For certes, what so any woman saith,
We all desiren, if it mightè be,
To have husbándès, hardy, wise, and free,
And secre, and no niggard ne no fool,
Ne him that is aghast of every tool,
Ne none avantour" by that God above.
How durst ye say for shame unto your love,
That anything might maken you afeard?
Have ye no mannès heart, and have a beard?
Alas! and can ye be aghast of swevenès ?
Nothing but vanity, God wot, in sweven is.
Swevens engender of repletìóns,
And oft of fume, and of complexións,'
When humours be too abundant in a wight.
Certes this dream, which ye have met to-night,
Cometh of the greatè superfluity
Of yourè redè colera," pardié,
Which causeth folk to dreamen in hir dreams
Of arrows, and of fire with redè leames, 10
Of greate beastès, that they will hem bite,
Of contek" and of whelpès great and lite¹²;
Right as the humour of melancholy
Causeth full many a man in sleep to cry,
5 Boaster of female favor.
Dreams.
Temperaments.
8 Dreamed.
9 Bile.
10 Flames.
11 Contention.
12 Little.
## p. 3587 (#569) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3587
For fear of blackè beares or bullès blake,
Or ellès blackè devils will hem take.
Of other humours could I tell also,
That worken many a man in sleep full woe:
But I will pass as lightly as I can.
Lo Cato, which that was so wise a man,
Said he not thus? Ne do no force of dreams. › »
"Now, Sir," quoth she, "when ye fly from the beams,
For Godès love, as take some laxative:
Up³ peril of my soul, and of my live,
I counsel you the best, I will not lie,
That both of choler, and of melancholy
Ye purge you; and for ye shall not tarry,
Though in this town is none apothecary,
I shall myself to herbès teachen you,
That shall be for your heal' and for your prow5;
And in our yard tho herbès shall I find,
The which have of hir property by kind'
To purgen you beneath, and eke above.
Forget not this for Godès owen love;
Ye be full choleric of complexìón;
Ware the sun in his ascensión
Ne find you not replete of humours hot:
And if it do, I dare well lay a groat,
That ye shall have a fever tertián,
Or an agúe, that may be yourè bane.
A day or two ye shall have digestives
Of wormès, ere ye take your laxatives,
Of lauriol, centaury, and fumetere,8
Or else of hellebore, that groweth there,
Of catapucè, or of gaitres-berríès, 10
Of herb ivy growing in our yard, that merry is:
Pick hem up right as they grow, and eat hem in.
Be merry, husband, for your father kin
Dreadeth no dream; I can say you no more. "
"Madame," quoth he, "grand mercy of your lore.
But nathèless, as touching Dan Caton,
That hath of wisdom such a great renown,
Though that he bade no dreamès for to drede,
By God, men may in oldè bookès read,
1
¹ Quickly.
* Make no account.
3
Upon.
'Health.
5 Profit.
6 Those.
10 Dogwood berries.
7 Nature.
8 Fumitory.
"Spurge.
11 Much obliged for.
## p. 3588 (#570) ###########################################
3588
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Of many a man, more of authority
Than ever Cato was, so mote I the,'
That all the réverse say of this senténce,
And have well founden by experience,
That dreamès be significatións
As well of joy, as of tribulatións,
That folk enduren in this life presént.
There needeth make of this none argument;
The very prevè sheweth it indeed.
"One of the greatest authors that men read,
Saith thus, that whilom two fellówès went
On pilgrimage in a full good intent;
And happèd so, they came into a town,
Where-as there was such congregation
Of people, and eke so strait of herbergage,³
That they ne found as much as one cottage,
In which they bothè might ylodgèd be:
Wherefore they musten of necessity,
As for that night, departen company;
And each of hem goeth to his hostelry,
And took his lodging as it wouldè fall.
That one of hem was lodgèd in a stall,
Far in a yard, with oxen of the plow;
That other man was lodgèd well enow,
As was his áventúre, or his fortúne,
That us govérneth all, as in commúne.
And so befell, that, long ere it were day,
This man met 5 in his bed, there-as he lay,
How that his fellow gan upon him call,
And said, 'Alas! for in an oxès stall
This night I shall be murdered, there I lie.
Now help me, dearè brother, or I die;
In alle hastè come to me,' he said.
This man out of his sleep for fear abraid®;
But when that he was wakened of his sleep,
He turned him, and took of this no keep';
Him thought his dream nas but a vanity.
Thus twiès in his sleeping dreamèd he.
And at the thirdè time yet his felláw
Came, as him thought, and said, 'I am now slawe.
1 Thrive.
2 Trial, experience.
3 Limited in accommodation.
4 Part.
5 Dreamed.
6 Awoke.
7 Heed.
8 Slain.
8
## p. 3589 (#571) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3589
Behold my bloody woundès, deep and wide.
Arise up early, in the morrow tide,
And at the west gate of the town,' quoth he,
'A cartè full of dung there shalt thou see,
In which my body is hid full privily.
Do thilkè cart arresten boldèly.
My gold caused my murder, sooth to sayn. '
And told him every point how he was slain
With a full piteous facè, pale of hue.
And trusteth well, his dream he found full true;
For on the morrow, as soon as it was day,
To his fellówès inn he took his way:
And when that he came to this oxès stall,
After his fellow he began to call.
The hosteler answérèd him anon,
And saidè, 'Sir, your fellow is agone,
As soon as day he went out of the town. '
"This man gan fallen in suspición
Remembering on his dreamès that he met,'
And forth he goeth, no lenger would he let,"
Unto the west gate of the town, and found
A dung cart, as it were to dungè lond,
That was arrayèd in that same wise
As ye have heard the deadè man devise:
And with an hardy heart he gan to cry,
'Vengeance and justice of this felony:
My fellow murdered is this samè night,
And in this cart he lieth, gaping upright. 3
I cry out on the ministers,' quoth he,
'That shouldè keep and rulen this city:
Harow! alas! here lieth my fellow slain. '
What should I more unto this talè sayn?
The people out start, and cast the cart to ground,
And in the middle of the dung they found
The deadè man, that murdered was all new.
O blissful God! that art so just and true,
Lo, how that thou bewrayest murder alway.
Murder will out, that see we day by day.
Murder is so wlatsom" and abominable
To God, that is so just and reasonable,
I Dreamed.
2 Stay.
3 Prone on his back.
+ Started.
5 Revealest.
6 Loathsome.
## p. 3590 (#572) ###########################################
3590
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Hidden.
2 Seized.
3 Tortured.
• Racked.
5 Confessed.
That he ne will not suffer it helèd¹ be,
Though it abide a year, or two, or three;
Murder will out, this is my conclusión.
"And right anon, ministers of that town
Have hent the carter, and so sore him pined,³
And eke the hostèler so sore engined,*
That they beknew hir wickedness anon,
And were anhangèd by the neckè bone.
5
"Here may men see that dreamès be to dread.
And certes in the samè book I read,
Right in the nextè chapter after this,
(I gabbè not, so have I joy and bliss,)
Two men that would have passed over sea
For certain cause into a far country,
If that the wind ne haddè been contráry,
That made hem in a city for to tarry,
That stood full merry upon an haven side.
But on a day, again the even tide,
7
The wind gan change, and blew right as hem lest.
Jolly and glad they went unto hir rest,
And casten hem full early for to sail;
But to that one man fell a great marvail.
That one of them in sleeping as he lay,
He met a wonder dream, again the day:
Him thought a man stood by his beddès side,
And him commanded that he should abide,
And said him thus: If thou to-morrow wend,
Thou shalt be dreynt 10; my tale is at an end. '
He woke, and told his fellow what he met,"
And prayed him his voyage to let";
As for that day, he prayed him for to abide.
His fellow, that lay by his beddès side,
Gan for to laugh, and scornèd him full fast.
'No dream,' quoth he, 'may so my heart aghast,
That I will letten for to do my things.
I settè not a straw by thy dreamings,
For swevens 2 be but vanities and japes. "
Men dream all day of owlès or of apes,
11 Stay.
• Talk idly.
'Toward.
8 Pleased.
9 Dreamed.
10 Drowned.
12 Dreams.
13 Tricks.
## p. 3591 (#573) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
And eke of many a masè¹ therewithal;
Men dream of thing that never was, ne shall.
But sith I see that thou wilt here abide,
And thus forslothen' wilfully thy tide,
God wot it rueth me, and have good day. '
And thus he took his leave, and went his way.
But ere that he had half his course ysailed,
Nought I not why, ne what mischance it ailed,
But casually the shippès bottom rent,
And ship and man under the water went
In sight of other shippès there beside,
That with hem sailèd at the samè tide.
"And therefore, fairè Partèlote so dear,
By such ensamples old yet mayst thou lere,³
That no man shouldè be too reckèless
Of dreamès, for I say thee doubtèless,
That many a dream full sore is for to dread.
"Lo, in the life of Saint Kenelm I read,
That was Kenulphus son, the noble king
Of Mercenrike," how Kenelm met' a thing.
A little ere he was murdered, on a day,
His murder in his ávisión" he say. "
His norice 10 him expounded every del
His sweven, and bade him for to keep him well
For" treason; but he nas but seven year old,
And therefore little talè hath he told ¹²
Of any dream, so holy was his heart.
By God, I haddè liefer than my shirt,
That ye had read his legend, as have I.
"Dame Partèlote, I say you truèly,
Macrobius, that writ the ávisión 13
In Afric of the worthy Scipion,
Affirmeth dreamès, and saith that they be
Warning of thingès that men after see.
And furthermore, I pray you looketh well
In the Oldè Testament, of Daniél,
If he held dreamès any vanity.
Read eke of Joseph, and there shall ye see
1 Wild fancy.
2 Lose by sloth.
3 Moves my pity.
• Know not.
5 Learn.
11 For fear of.
6 Mercia.
7 Dreamed.
8 Vision.
9 Saw.
10 Nurse.
12 Account hath he made.
13 Vision.
3591
## p. 3592 (#574) ###########################################
3592
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Whether.
2 Realms.
Where' dreamès be sometime (I say not all)
Warning of thingès that shall after fall.
Look of Egypt the king, Dan Pharao,
His baker and his butèler also,
Whether they ne felten none effect in dreams.
Whoso will seeken acts of sundry remes,"
May read of dreamès many a wonder thing.
Lo Croesus, which that was of Lydia king,
Met he not that he sat upon a tree,
Which signified he should anhangèd be?
"Lo here, Andromache, Hectórès wife,
That day that Hector shouldè lese his life.
She dreamed on the samè night beforn,
How that the life of Hector should be lorn,"
If thilke day he went into battáil:
She warned him, but it might not avail;
He wentè for to fighten nathèless,
And he was slain anon of Achillés.
But thilkè tale is all too long to tell,
And eke it is nigh day, I may not dwell.
"Shortly I say, as for conclusión,
That I shall have of this avisión
Adversity and I say furthermore,
That I ne tell of laxatives no store,
For they be venomous, I wot it well:
I hem defy, I love hem never a del.
"Now let us speak of mirth, and stint all this;
Madame Partèlote, so have I bliss,
Of one thing God hath sent me largè grace:
For when I see the beauty of your face,
Ye be so scarlet red about your eyen,
It maketh all my dreadè for to dien,
For, also sicker as In principio,
Mulier est hominis confusio,
Madam, the sentence of this Latin is,
Woman is mannès joy and all his bliss-
For when I feel a-night your softè side,
I am so full of joy and of soláce,
That I defyè bothè sweven" and dream. ”
7 As.
3 Dreamed.
'Lose.
8 Certain.
9 Meaning.
5 Lost.
6 Set no store.
10 Dream.
## p. 3593 (#575) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3593
1 Since.
2 Instinct.
3 Voice.
And with that word he flew down from the beam,
For it was day, and eke his hennès all;
And with a chuck he gan hem for to call,
For he had found a corn, lay in the yard.
Royal he was, he was no more afeard;
He looketh as it were a grim lión;
And on his toes he roameth up and down,
Him deigned not to set his feet to ground:
He chucketh, when he hath a corn yfound,
And to him rennen then his wivès all.
Thus royal, as a prince is in his hall,
Leave I this Chanticleer in his pastúre ;
And after will I tell his áventúre.
When that the month in which the world began,
That hightè March, when God first makèd man,
Was cómplete, and ypassèd were also,
Sithen' March began, thirty dayès and two,
Befell that Chanticleer in all his pride,
His seven wivès walking by his side,
Cast up his eyen to the brightè sun,
That in the sign of Taurus had yrun
Twenty degrees and one, and somewhat more:
He knew by kind,' and by none other lore,
That it was prime, and crew with blissful steven,³
"The sun," he said, "is clomben up on heaven
Forty degrees and one, and more ywis. *
Madamè Partèlote, my worldès bliss,
Hearkeneth these blissful birdès how they sing,
And see the freshè flowers how they spring;
Full is mine heart of revel and solace. "
But suddenly him fell a sorrowful case;
For ever the latter end of joy is woe:
God wot that worldly joy is soon ago;
And if a rethor couldè fair indite,
He in a chronique safely might it write,
As for a sovereign notability.
Now every wise man, let him hearken me:
This story is also true, I undertake,
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
* Certainly.
5 Rhetorician.
6 As.
## p. 3594 (#576) ###########################################
3594
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
¹ Crafty fox.
2 Dwelt.
3 Predestined.
That women hold in full great reverénce.
Now will I turn again to my senténce.
A col fox,' full of sly iniquity,
That in the grove had wonèd² yearès three,
By high imaginatión forncast,³
The same night throughout the hedges brast'
Into the yard, there Chanticleer the fair
Was wont, and eke his wivès, to repair:
And in a bed of wortès still he lay,
Till it was passèd undern® of the day,
Waiting his time on Chanticleer to fall:
As gladly do these homicidès all,
That in awaitè lie to murder men.
O falsè murderer! lurking in thy den!
O newè 'Scariot, newè Genelon!
False dissimulour, O Greek Sinon,
That broughtest Troy all utterly to sorrow!
O Chanticleer! accursèd be that morrow,
That thou into that yard flew from the beams,
Thou were full well ywarned by thy dreams,
That thilke day was perilous to thee.
But what that God forewot' mote needès be,
After the opinìón of certain clerkès.
Witness on him that any perfect clerk is,
That in school is great altercatión
In this mattér, and great disputison,
8
And hath been of an hundred thousand men.
But I ne cannot bolt it to the bren,⁹
As can the holy doctor Augustin,
Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardin,
Whether that Godès worthy forewiting 10
Straineth me needly for to do a thing,
Needly clepe I simple necessity-
Or ellès if free choice be granted me
To do that samè thing, or do it nought,
Though God forewot it ere that it was wrought;
Or if his witing" straineth never a del,
But by necessity conditionèl.
I will not have to do of such mattère;
My tale is of a cock, as ye may hear,
+ Burst.
5 Herbs.
"Mid-day meal time.
10 Foreknowledge.
Foreknows.
8 Sift.
9 Bran.
11 Knowledge.
## p. 3595 (#577) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3595
1 Dreamed.
2 Know not.
3 Conjecture.
That took his counsel of his wife with sorrow
To walken in the yard upon that morrow
That he had met¹ the dream, that I of told.
Womenès counsels be full often cold;
Womanès counsel brought us first to woe,
And made Adám from Paradise to go,
There as he was full merry, and well at ease.
But for I not, to whom it might displease,
If I counsel of women wouldè blame,
Pass over, for I said it in my game.
Read authors, where they treat of such mattére,
And what they say of women ye may hear.
These be the cockès wordès, and not mine;
I can none harm of no woman divine. 3
Fair in the sand, to bathe her merrily,
Lieth Partelote, and all her sisters by,
Again the sun; and Chanticleer so free
Sang merrier than the mermaid in the sea;
For Physiologus saith sikerly,'
How that they singen well and merrily.
And so befell that as he cast his eye
Among the wortès on a butterfly,
He was ware of this fox that lay full low.
Nothing ne list him thennè for to crow,
But cried anon "Cock! cock! " and up he start,"
As man that was affrayèd in his heart.
For naturally a beast desireth flee
From his contráry, if he may it see,
Though he ne'er erst had seen it with his eye.
This Chanticleer, when he gan him espy,
He would have fled, but that the fox anon
Said, "Gentle Sir, alas! why will ye gon?
Be ye afraid of me that am your friend?
Now certes, I were worsè than a fiend,
If I to you would harm or villainy.
I am not come your counsel for to espy,
But truely the cause of my coming
Was only for to hearken how that ye sing:
For truely ye have as merry a steven,
As any angel hath that is in heaven;
* Certainly.
5 Started.
6 Before.
7 Voice.
## p. 3596 (#578) ###########################################
3596
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Enjoy.
2 Foolish.
Therewith ye have in music more feeling,
Than had Boece, or any that can sing.
My lord your father! God his soulè bless
And eke your mother of her gentillesse,
Have in mine house ybeen, to my great ease:
And certes, sir, full fain would I you please.
But for men speak of singing, I will say,
So mote I brooken' well my eyen tway,
Save you, I heardè never man so sing,
As did your father in the morwening
Certes it was of heart all that he sung.
And for to make his voice the morè strong,
He would so pain him, that with both his eyen
He mustè wink, so loud he wouldè crien,
And standen on his tipton therewithal,
And stretchen forth his neckè long and small.
And eke he was of such discretión,
That there nas no man in no región,
That him in song or wisdom mightè pass.
I have well read in Dan Burnel the ass
Among his verse, how that there was a cock,
For that a priestès son gave him a knock
Upon his leg, while he was young and nice,'
He made him for to lese his benefice.
But certain there nis no comparisón
Betwix the wisdom and discretión
Of your father, and of his subtilty.
Now singeth, sir, for saintè Charity,
Let see, can ye your father counterfeit ? »
This Chanticleer his wingès gan to beat,
As man that could his treason not espy,
So was he ravished with his flattery.
Alas! ye lordès, many a false flatour³
Is in your courts, and many a losengeour,³
That pleasen you well morè, by my faith,
Than he that soothfastness unto you saith.
Readeth Ecclesiast of flattery,
Beware, ye lordès, of hir treachery.
This Chanticleer stood high upon his toes
Stretching his neck, and held his eyen close,
And gan to crowen loudè for the nonce:
And Dan Russèl the fox start up at once,
3 Flatterer.
+ Truth.
## p. 3597 (#579) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3597
1 Throat.
And by the garget¹ hentè² Chanticleer,
And on his back toward the wood him bare.
For yet ne was there no man that him sued. "
O destiny, that mayst not be eschewed!
Alas, that Chanticleer flew from the beams!
Alas, his wife ne raughtè not of dreams!
And on a Friday fell all this mischance.
O Venus, that art goddess of pleasance,
Sin that thy servant was this Chanticleer,
And in thy service did all his powér,
More for delight, than world to multiply,
Why wouldst thou suffer him on thy day to die?
O Gaufrid, dearè master sovereign,
That, when thy worthy king Richárd was slain
With shot, complainedest his death so sore,
Why nad I now thy sentence and thy lore,
The Friday for to chide, as diden ye? -
For on a Friday soothly slain was he,
Then would I shew you how that I could plain
For Chanticleerès dread, and for his pain.
Certes such cry, ne lamentatìón
Was ne'er of ladies made, when Ilión
Was won, and Pyrrhus with his streitè swerd,
When he had hent king Priam by the beard,
And slain him, as saith us Ænéidós,
As maden all the hennès in the close,
When they had seen of Chanticleer the sight.
But sovereignly Dame Partèlotè shright,
Full louder than did Hasdrubalès wife,
When that her husband haddè lost his life,
And that the Romans haddè burnt Carthage.
She was so full of torment and of rage,
That willfully into the fire she start,
And brents herselven with a steadfast heart.
O woful hennès! right so crieden ye,
As when that Nero brentès the city
Of Rome, crieden senatorès wives
For that their husbands losten all hir lives;
Withouten guilt this Nero hath hem slain.
Now will I turnè to my tale again;
This sely widow, and eke her daughters two,
Hearden these hennès cry and maken woe,
2 Seized.
* Cared.
8 Burnt.
• Drawn.
3 Followed.
Shrieked.
5 Had not.
9 Simple.
## p. 3598 (#580) ###########################################
3598
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
gon,
And out at doorès starten they anon,
And saw the fox toward the
And bare upon his back the cock away:
They crieden, "Out! harow and welawa!
Ha, ha! the fox! " and after him they ran,
And eke with stavès many another man;
Ran Coll our dog, and Talbot, and Garland,
And Malkin with a distaff in her hand;
Ran cow and calf, and eke the very hoggès,
So were they feared for barking of the doggès,
And shouting of the men and women eke,
They rannen so, hem thought hir heartè breke. '
They yellèden as fiendès do in hell:
The duckès crieden as men would hem quell:
The geese for fearè flewen o'er the trees,
Out of the hivè came the swarm of bees,
So hideous was the noise, a! ben'cite!
Certes he Jackè Straw, and his meyné,²
Ne maden never shoutès half so shrill,
When that they woulden any Fleming kill,
As thilkè day was made upon the fox.
Of brass they broughten beamès" and of box,
Of horn and bone, in which they blew and pooped,'
And therewithal they shrieked and they hoopèd³;
It seemed as that heaven shouldè fall.
Now, goodè men, I pray you hearkeneth all;
Lo, how Fortunè turneth suddenly
The hope and pride eke of her enemy.
This cock that lay upon the fox's back,
In all his dread, unto the fox he spake,
And saidè, "Sir, if that I were as ye,
Yet would I say, as wis God helpè me,
'Turneth again, ye proudè churlès all;
A very pestilence upon you fall!
Now am I come unto the woodès side,
Maugre your head, the cock shall here abide:
I will him eat in faith, and that anon. '»
The fox answered, "In faith, it shall be done:"
And as he spake that word, all suddenly
This cock brake from his mouth deliverly,'
And high upon a tree he flew anon.
1 Would break.
2 Followers.
3
Trumpets.
Trumpeted.
7
' Actively.
5 Whooped.
Surely.
## p. 3599 (#581) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
¹ Seized.
2 Wicked.
3 Curse.
And when the fox saw that he was ygone,
"Alas! " quoth he, "O Chanticleer, alas!
I have to you," quoth he, "ydone trespáss,
Inasmuch as I makèd you afeard,
When I you hent,' and brought out of the yard;
But, sir, I did it of no wicke intent:
Come down, and I shall tell you what I meant.
I shall say sooth to you, God help me so. "
"Nay then," quoth he, "I shrew³ us bothè two.
And first I shrew myself, both blood and bonès,
If thou beguile me any ofter than onès.
Thou shalt no morè through thy flattery
Do me to sing and winken with mine eye.
For he that winketh when he shouldè see,
All willfully, God let him never the 5! »
་ Nay," quoth the fox, "but God give him mischance,
That is so indiscreet of governance,
That jangleth when he shouldè hold his peace. "
Lo, such it is for to be reckèless
And negligent, and trust on flattery.
But ye that holden this tale a folly,
As of a fox, or of a cock and hen,
Take the morality thereof, good men.
For Saint Paul saith, That all that written is,
To our doctrine it is ywrit ywis,'
Taketh the fruit, and let the chaff be still.
Now goodè God, if that it be thy will,
As saith my lord, so make us all good men;
And bring us to his highè bliss. - Amen.
+ Cause.
5 Thrive.
That other answered, "I not how that may be:
He wot how that the gold is with us tway. 2
What shall we do? what shall we to him say? ”
"Shall it be counsel ? " said the firstè shrew;
"And I shall tellen thee in wordès few
What we shall do, and bring it well about. "
"I grantè," quoth that other, "out of doubt,
That by my truth I shall thee not bewray. "
"Now," quoth the first, "thou wost well we be tway,
And two of us shall strenger be than one.
Look, when that he is set, thou right anon
Arise, as though thou wouldest with him play;
And I shall rive him through the sidès tway,
While that thou strugglest with him as in game,
And with thy dagger look thou do the same;
And then shall all this gold departed be,
My dearè friend, betwixen me and thee:
Then may we both our lustès all fulfill,
And play at dice right at our owen will. "
And thus accorded be these shrewès tway
To slay the third, as ye have heard me say.
This youngest, which that went unto the town,
Full oft in heart he rolleth up and down
The beauty of these florins new and bright.
"O Lord! " quoth he, "if so were that I might
Have all this treasure to myself alone,
There is no man that liveth under the throne
Of God, that shouldè live so merry as I. "
And the last the fiend, our enemy,
Put in his thought that he should poison bey,³
With which he mightè slay his fellows twaye.
Forwhy the fiend found him in such living,
That he had leave him to sorrow bring.
For this was utterly his full intent
To slay hem both, and never to repent.
And forth he goeth, no lenger would he tarry,
Into the town unto a 'pothecary,
3
4
Buy.
Because.
## p. 3583 (#565) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3583
And prayed him that he him wouldè sell
Some poison, that he might his rattès quell,
And eke there was a polecat in his haw¹
That, as he said, his capons had yslawe²;
And fain he wouldè wreak him if he might,
On vermin, that destroyed him by night.
The 'pothecary answéred, "And thou shalt have
A thing that, also God my soulè save,
In all this world there nis no créàtúre,
That eaten or drunk hath of this cónfectúre,
Naught but the mountance of a corn of wheat,
That he ne shall his life anon forlete";
Yea, sterve' he shall, and that in lessè while,
Than thou wilt go a pace not but a mile:
This poison is so strong and violent. "
This cursed man hath in his hand yhent"
This poison in a box, and sith he ran
Into the nextè street unto a man,
And borrowed of him largè bottles three;
And in the two his poison pourèd he;
The third he kept clean for his owen drink,
For all the night he shope 10 him for to swink"
In carrying the gold out of that place.
And when this riotour, with sorry grace,
Had filled with wine his greatè bottles three,
To his fellows again repaireth he.
What needeth it to sermon of it more?
For right as they had cast his death before,
Right so they have him slain, and that anon.
And when that this was done, thus spake that one;
Now let us sit and drink, and make us merry,
And afterward we will his body bury. "
And with that word it happèd him par cas, 12
To take the bottle there the poison was,
And drank, and gave his fellow drink also,
For which anon they storven bothè two.
3
But certes I suppose that Avicen
Wrote never in no canon, n' in no fen,"
Mo wonder signès of empoisoning,
Than had these wretches two ere hir ending.
Thus ended be these homicidès two,
And eke the false empoisoner also.
2 Slain.
3
6 Give up.
7 Die.
1 Farm-yard.
Revenge.
13 Died.
9 Seized. 10 Purposed.
11 Labor. 12 By chance.
8 At a footpace.
14 Fen'; the name of the sections of Avicenna's great work entitled 'Canon. '
+ As. 5 Amount.
## p. 3584 (#566) ###########################################
3584
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
A
THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE
POORÈ widow somedeal stope¹ in age,
Was whilom dwelling in a narrow cottage,
Beside a grovè, standing in a dale.
This widow, of which I tellè you my tale,
Since thilkè day that she was last a wife,
In patience led a full simple life.
For little was her cattel' and her rent":
By husbandry of such as God her sent
She found herself, and eke her daughtren two.
Three large sowès had she, and no mo;
Three kine, and eke a sheep that hightè Mall.
Full sooty was her bower, and eke her hall,
In which she ate full many a slender meal.
Of poignant sauce her needed never a deal. '
No dainty morsel passèd through her throat;
Her diet was accordant to her cote.
Repletión ne made her never sick;
Attemper diet was all her physic,
And exercise, and heartès súffisánce. 10
The goutè let " her nothing for to dance,
N' apoplexy ne shentè " not her head.
No wine ne drank she, neither white ne red:
Her board was servèd most with white and black,
Milk and brown bread, in which she found no lack,
Seind 13 bacon, and sometime an egg or twey;
For she was as it were a manner dey. "
A yard she had, enclosed all about
With stickès, and a dryè ditch without,
In which she had a cock hight Chanticleer,
In all the land of crowing was none his peer.
His voice was merrier than the merry orgón,
On masse days that in the churchè gon.
Well sikerer 15 was his crowing in his lodge.
Than is a clock, or an abbéy horloge. 16
By nature he knew each ascensión
Of the equinoctìál in thilkè town;
1 Advanced.
"Capital.
3 Income.
+ Economical management.
5
Supported.
6 Was called.
7 Whit.
8
Cottage.
9 Temperate.
10 Content.
16 Clock, horologe.
11 Prevented.
12 Injured.
13
Singed, broiled.
14 A sort of dairy-woman
15 Surer.
## p. 3585 (#567) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3585
For when degrees fifteenè were ascended,
Then crew he, that it might not be amended.
His comb was redder than the fine corál,
And battled,' as it were a castle wall.
His bill was black, and as the jet it shone;
Like azure were his leggès and his ton 2;
His nailès whiter than the lily flower,
And like the burnèd³ gold was his colour.
This gentle cock had in his governance
Seven hennès, for to do all his pleasánce,
Which were his sisters and his paramours,
And wonder like to him, as of coloúrs;
Of which the fairest huèd on her throat
Was clepèd fairè Damosel Partelote.
Courteous she was, discreet, and debonair,
And cómpanáble, and bare herself so fair,
Sin' thilkè day that she was sevennight old,
That truely she hath the heart in hold
Of Chanticleer, locken' in every lith;
4
(
He loved her so, that well was him therewith.
But such a joy was it to hear hem sing,
When that the brightè sunnè gan to spring,
In sweet accord, My lief is faren on land. '"
For thilkè time, as I have understande,
Beastès and birdès couldè speak and sing.
And so befell, that in a dawèning,
As Chanticleer among his wivès all
Sat on his perchè, that was in the hall,
And next him sat this fairè Partèlote,
This Chanticleer gan groanen in his throat,
As man that in his dream is drecchèd
And when that Partèlote thus heard him roar,
She was aghast, and said, "O heartè dear,
What aileth you to groan in this mannére?
Ye be a very sleeper, fie, for shame! "
sore.
And he answéred and saidè thus: "Madáme,
I pray you that ye take it not agrief";
By God, me met 12 I was in such mischief "
13
1 Battlemented.
2 Toes.
3 Burnished.
* Companionable.
5 Since.
11 In offence.
6 Possession.
'Locked, inclosed.
8 Limb.
9"My love is gone to the country. "
10 Oppressed.
13 Misfortune.
12 I dreamed.
VI-225
## p. 3586 (#568) ###########################################
3586
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Dream.
2 Interpret.
3 Die.
4 Secret.
Right now, that yet mine heart is sore affright.
Now God," quoth he, "my sweven' read² aright,
And keep my body out of foul prisón.
Me met how that I roamèd up and down
Within our yard, where-as I saw a beast
Was like an hound, and would have made arrest
Upon my body, and have had me dead.
His colour was betwixè yellow and red;
And tippèd was his tail, and both his ears
With black, unlike the remnant of his hairs.
His snoutè small, with glowing eyen twey;
Yet of his look for fear almost I dey³:
This caused me my groaning doubtèless. "
"Avoy! " quoth she, "fie on you heartèless!
Alas! " quoth she, "for by that God above
Now have ye lost mine heart and all my love;
I cannot love a coward, by my faith.
For certes, what so any woman saith,
We all desiren, if it mightè be,
To have husbándès, hardy, wise, and free,
And secre, and no niggard ne no fool,
Ne him that is aghast of every tool,
Ne none avantour" by that God above.
How durst ye say for shame unto your love,
That anything might maken you afeard?
Have ye no mannès heart, and have a beard?
Alas! and can ye be aghast of swevenès ?
Nothing but vanity, God wot, in sweven is.
Swevens engender of repletìóns,
And oft of fume, and of complexións,'
When humours be too abundant in a wight.
Certes this dream, which ye have met to-night,
Cometh of the greatè superfluity
Of yourè redè colera," pardié,
Which causeth folk to dreamen in hir dreams
Of arrows, and of fire with redè leames, 10
Of greate beastès, that they will hem bite,
Of contek" and of whelpès great and lite¹²;
Right as the humour of melancholy
Causeth full many a man in sleep to cry,
5 Boaster of female favor.
Dreams.
Temperaments.
8 Dreamed.
9 Bile.
10 Flames.
11 Contention.
12 Little.
## p. 3587 (#569) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3587
For fear of blackè beares or bullès blake,
Or ellès blackè devils will hem take.
Of other humours could I tell also,
That worken many a man in sleep full woe:
But I will pass as lightly as I can.
Lo Cato, which that was so wise a man,
Said he not thus? Ne do no force of dreams. › »
"Now, Sir," quoth she, "when ye fly from the beams,
For Godès love, as take some laxative:
Up³ peril of my soul, and of my live,
I counsel you the best, I will not lie,
That both of choler, and of melancholy
Ye purge you; and for ye shall not tarry,
Though in this town is none apothecary,
I shall myself to herbès teachen you,
That shall be for your heal' and for your prow5;
And in our yard tho herbès shall I find,
The which have of hir property by kind'
To purgen you beneath, and eke above.
Forget not this for Godès owen love;
Ye be full choleric of complexìón;
Ware the sun in his ascensión
Ne find you not replete of humours hot:
And if it do, I dare well lay a groat,
That ye shall have a fever tertián,
Or an agúe, that may be yourè bane.
A day or two ye shall have digestives
Of wormès, ere ye take your laxatives,
Of lauriol, centaury, and fumetere,8
Or else of hellebore, that groweth there,
Of catapucè, or of gaitres-berríès, 10
Of herb ivy growing in our yard, that merry is:
Pick hem up right as they grow, and eat hem in.
Be merry, husband, for your father kin
Dreadeth no dream; I can say you no more. "
"Madame," quoth he, "grand mercy of your lore.
But nathèless, as touching Dan Caton,
That hath of wisdom such a great renown,
Though that he bade no dreamès for to drede,
By God, men may in oldè bookès read,
1
¹ Quickly.
* Make no account.
3
Upon.
'Health.
5 Profit.
6 Those.
10 Dogwood berries.
7 Nature.
8 Fumitory.
"Spurge.
11 Much obliged for.
## p. 3588 (#570) ###########################################
3588
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Of many a man, more of authority
Than ever Cato was, so mote I the,'
That all the réverse say of this senténce,
And have well founden by experience,
That dreamès be significatións
As well of joy, as of tribulatións,
That folk enduren in this life presént.
There needeth make of this none argument;
The very prevè sheweth it indeed.
"One of the greatest authors that men read,
Saith thus, that whilom two fellówès went
On pilgrimage in a full good intent;
And happèd so, they came into a town,
Where-as there was such congregation
Of people, and eke so strait of herbergage,³
That they ne found as much as one cottage,
In which they bothè might ylodgèd be:
Wherefore they musten of necessity,
As for that night, departen company;
And each of hem goeth to his hostelry,
And took his lodging as it wouldè fall.
That one of hem was lodgèd in a stall,
Far in a yard, with oxen of the plow;
That other man was lodgèd well enow,
As was his áventúre, or his fortúne,
That us govérneth all, as in commúne.
And so befell, that, long ere it were day,
This man met 5 in his bed, there-as he lay,
How that his fellow gan upon him call,
And said, 'Alas! for in an oxès stall
This night I shall be murdered, there I lie.
Now help me, dearè brother, or I die;
In alle hastè come to me,' he said.
This man out of his sleep for fear abraid®;
But when that he was wakened of his sleep,
He turned him, and took of this no keep';
Him thought his dream nas but a vanity.
Thus twiès in his sleeping dreamèd he.
And at the thirdè time yet his felláw
Came, as him thought, and said, 'I am now slawe.
1 Thrive.
2 Trial, experience.
3 Limited in accommodation.
4 Part.
5 Dreamed.
6 Awoke.
7 Heed.
8 Slain.
8
## p. 3589 (#571) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3589
Behold my bloody woundès, deep and wide.
Arise up early, in the morrow tide,
And at the west gate of the town,' quoth he,
'A cartè full of dung there shalt thou see,
In which my body is hid full privily.
Do thilkè cart arresten boldèly.
My gold caused my murder, sooth to sayn. '
And told him every point how he was slain
With a full piteous facè, pale of hue.
And trusteth well, his dream he found full true;
For on the morrow, as soon as it was day,
To his fellówès inn he took his way:
And when that he came to this oxès stall,
After his fellow he began to call.
The hosteler answérèd him anon,
And saidè, 'Sir, your fellow is agone,
As soon as day he went out of the town. '
"This man gan fallen in suspición
Remembering on his dreamès that he met,'
And forth he goeth, no lenger would he let,"
Unto the west gate of the town, and found
A dung cart, as it were to dungè lond,
That was arrayèd in that same wise
As ye have heard the deadè man devise:
And with an hardy heart he gan to cry,
'Vengeance and justice of this felony:
My fellow murdered is this samè night,
And in this cart he lieth, gaping upright. 3
I cry out on the ministers,' quoth he,
'That shouldè keep and rulen this city:
Harow! alas! here lieth my fellow slain. '
What should I more unto this talè sayn?
The people out start, and cast the cart to ground,
And in the middle of the dung they found
The deadè man, that murdered was all new.
O blissful God! that art so just and true,
Lo, how that thou bewrayest murder alway.
Murder will out, that see we day by day.
Murder is so wlatsom" and abominable
To God, that is so just and reasonable,
I Dreamed.
2 Stay.
3 Prone on his back.
+ Started.
5 Revealest.
6 Loathsome.
## p. 3590 (#572) ###########################################
3590
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Hidden.
2 Seized.
3 Tortured.
• Racked.
5 Confessed.
That he ne will not suffer it helèd¹ be,
Though it abide a year, or two, or three;
Murder will out, this is my conclusión.
"And right anon, ministers of that town
Have hent the carter, and so sore him pined,³
And eke the hostèler so sore engined,*
That they beknew hir wickedness anon,
And were anhangèd by the neckè bone.
5
"Here may men see that dreamès be to dread.
And certes in the samè book I read,
Right in the nextè chapter after this,
(I gabbè not, so have I joy and bliss,)
Two men that would have passed over sea
For certain cause into a far country,
If that the wind ne haddè been contráry,
That made hem in a city for to tarry,
That stood full merry upon an haven side.
But on a day, again the even tide,
7
The wind gan change, and blew right as hem lest.
Jolly and glad they went unto hir rest,
And casten hem full early for to sail;
But to that one man fell a great marvail.
That one of them in sleeping as he lay,
He met a wonder dream, again the day:
Him thought a man stood by his beddès side,
And him commanded that he should abide,
And said him thus: If thou to-morrow wend,
Thou shalt be dreynt 10; my tale is at an end. '
He woke, and told his fellow what he met,"
And prayed him his voyage to let";
As for that day, he prayed him for to abide.
His fellow, that lay by his beddès side,
Gan for to laugh, and scornèd him full fast.
'No dream,' quoth he, 'may so my heart aghast,
That I will letten for to do my things.
I settè not a straw by thy dreamings,
For swevens 2 be but vanities and japes. "
Men dream all day of owlès or of apes,
11 Stay.
• Talk idly.
'Toward.
8 Pleased.
9 Dreamed.
10 Drowned.
12 Dreams.
13 Tricks.
## p. 3591 (#573) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
And eke of many a masè¹ therewithal;
Men dream of thing that never was, ne shall.
But sith I see that thou wilt here abide,
And thus forslothen' wilfully thy tide,
God wot it rueth me, and have good day. '
And thus he took his leave, and went his way.
But ere that he had half his course ysailed,
Nought I not why, ne what mischance it ailed,
But casually the shippès bottom rent,
And ship and man under the water went
In sight of other shippès there beside,
That with hem sailèd at the samè tide.
"And therefore, fairè Partèlote so dear,
By such ensamples old yet mayst thou lere,³
That no man shouldè be too reckèless
Of dreamès, for I say thee doubtèless,
That many a dream full sore is for to dread.
"Lo, in the life of Saint Kenelm I read,
That was Kenulphus son, the noble king
Of Mercenrike," how Kenelm met' a thing.
A little ere he was murdered, on a day,
His murder in his ávisión" he say. "
His norice 10 him expounded every del
His sweven, and bade him for to keep him well
For" treason; but he nas but seven year old,
And therefore little talè hath he told ¹²
Of any dream, so holy was his heart.
By God, I haddè liefer than my shirt,
That ye had read his legend, as have I.
"Dame Partèlote, I say you truèly,
Macrobius, that writ the ávisión 13
In Afric of the worthy Scipion,
Affirmeth dreamès, and saith that they be
Warning of thingès that men after see.
And furthermore, I pray you looketh well
In the Oldè Testament, of Daniél,
If he held dreamès any vanity.
Read eke of Joseph, and there shall ye see
1 Wild fancy.
2 Lose by sloth.
3 Moves my pity.
• Know not.
5 Learn.
11 For fear of.
6 Mercia.
7 Dreamed.
8 Vision.
9 Saw.
10 Nurse.
12 Account hath he made.
13 Vision.
3591
## p. 3592 (#574) ###########################################
3592
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Whether.
2 Realms.
Where' dreamès be sometime (I say not all)
Warning of thingès that shall after fall.
Look of Egypt the king, Dan Pharao,
His baker and his butèler also,
Whether they ne felten none effect in dreams.
Whoso will seeken acts of sundry remes,"
May read of dreamès many a wonder thing.
Lo Croesus, which that was of Lydia king,
Met he not that he sat upon a tree,
Which signified he should anhangèd be?
"Lo here, Andromache, Hectórès wife,
That day that Hector shouldè lese his life.
She dreamed on the samè night beforn,
How that the life of Hector should be lorn,"
If thilke day he went into battáil:
She warned him, but it might not avail;
He wentè for to fighten nathèless,
And he was slain anon of Achillés.
But thilkè tale is all too long to tell,
And eke it is nigh day, I may not dwell.
"Shortly I say, as for conclusión,
That I shall have of this avisión
Adversity and I say furthermore,
That I ne tell of laxatives no store,
For they be venomous, I wot it well:
I hem defy, I love hem never a del.
"Now let us speak of mirth, and stint all this;
Madame Partèlote, so have I bliss,
Of one thing God hath sent me largè grace:
For when I see the beauty of your face,
Ye be so scarlet red about your eyen,
It maketh all my dreadè for to dien,
For, also sicker as In principio,
Mulier est hominis confusio,
Madam, the sentence of this Latin is,
Woman is mannès joy and all his bliss-
For when I feel a-night your softè side,
I am so full of joy and of soláce,
That I defyè bothè sweven" and dream. ”
7 As.
3 Dreamed.
'Lose.
8 Certain.
9 Meaning.
5 Lost.
6 Set no store.
10 Dream.
## p. 3593 (#575) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3593
1 Since.
2 Instinct.
3 Voice.
And with that word he flew down from the beam,
For it was day, and eke his hennès all;
And with a chuck he gan hem for to call,
For he had found a corn, lay in the yard.
Royal he was, he was no more afeard;
He looketh as it were a grim lión;
And on his toes he roameth up and down,
Him deigned not to set his feet to ground:
He chucketh, when he hath a corn yfound,
And to him rennen then his wivès all.
Thus royal, as a prince is in his hall,
Leave I this Chanticleer in his pastúre ;
And after will I tell his áventúre.
When that the month in which the world began,
That hightè March, when God first makèd man,
Was cómplete, and ypassèd were also,
Sithen' March began, thirty dayès and two,
Befell that Chanticleer in all his pride,
His seven wivès walking by his side,
Cast up his eyen to the brightè sun,
That in the sign of Taurus had yrun
Twenty degrees and one, and somewhat more:
He knew by kind,' and by none other lore,
That it was prime, and crew with blissful steven,³
"The sun," he said, "is clomben up on heaven
Forty degrees and one, and more ywis. *
Madamè Partèlote, my worldès bliss,
Hearkeneth these blissful birdès how they sing,
And see the freshè flowers how they spring;
Full is mine heart of revel and solace. "
But suddenly him fell a sorrowful case;
For ever the latter end of joy is woe:
God wot that worldly joy is soon ago;
And if a rethor couldè fair indite,
He in a chronique safely might it write,
As for a sovereign notability.
Now every wise man, let him hearken me:
This story is also true, I undertake,
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
* Certainly.
5 Rhetorician.
6 As.
## p. 3594 (#576) ###########################################
3594
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
¹ Crafty fox.
2 Dwelt.
3 Predestined.
That women hold in full great reverénce.
Now will I turn again to my senténce.
A col fox,' full of sly iniquity,
That in the grove had wonèd² yearès three,
By high imaginatión forncast,³
The same night throughout the hedges brast'
Into the yard, there Chanticleer the fair
Was wont, and eke his wivès, to repair:
And in a bed of wortès still he lay,
Till it was passèd undern® of the day,
Waiting his time on Chanticleer to fall:
As gladly do these homicidès all,
That in awaitè lie to murder men.
O falsè murderer! lurking in thy den!
O newè 'Scariot, newè Genelon!
False dissimulour, O Greek Sinon,
That broughtest Troy all utterly to sorrow!
O Chanticleer! accursèd be that morrow,
That thou into that yard flew from the beams,
Thou were full well ywarned by thy dreams,
That thilke day was perilous to thee.
But what that God forewot' mote needès be,
After the opinìón of certain clerkès.
Witness on him that any perfect clerk is,
That in school is great altercatión
In this mattér, and great disputison,
8
And hath been of an hundred thousand men.
But I ne cannot bolt it to the bren,⁹
As can the holy doctor Augustin,
Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardin,
Whether that Godès worthy forewiting 10
Straineth me needly for to do a thing,
Needly clepe I simple necessity-
Or ellès if free choice be granted me
To do that samè thing, or do it nought,
Though God forewot it ere that it was wrought;
Or if his witing" straineth never a del,
But by necessity conditionèl.
I will not have to do of such mattère;
My tale is of a cock, as ye may hear,
+ Burst.
5 Herbs.
"Mid-day meal time.
10 Foreknowledge.
Foreknows.
8 Sift.
9 Bran.
11 Knowledge.
## p. 3595 (#577) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3595
1 Dreamed.
2 Know not.
3 Conjecture.
That took his counsel of his wife with sorrow
To walken in the yard upon that morrow
That he had met¹ the dream, that I of told.
Womenès counsels be full often cold;
Womanès counsel brought us first to woe,
And made Adám from Paradise to go,
There as he was full merry, and well at ease.
But for I not, to whom it might displease,
If I counsel of women wouldè blame,
Pass over, for I said it in my game.
Read authors, where they treat of such mattére,
And what they say of women ye may hear.
These be the cockès wordès, and not mine;
I can none harm of no woman divine. 3
Fair in the sand, to bathe her merrily,
Lieth Partelote, and all her sisters by,
Again the sun; and Chanticleer so free
Sang merrier than the mermaid in the sea;
For Physiologus saith sikerly,'
How that they singen well and merrily.
And so befell that as he cast his eye
Among the wortès on a butterfly,
He was ware of this fox that lay full low.
Nothing ne list him thennè for to crow,
But cried anon "Cock! cock! " and up he start,"
As man that was affrayèd in his heart.
For naturally a beast desireth flee
From his contráry, if he may it see,
Though he ne'er erst had seen it with his eye.
This Chanticleer, when he gan him espy,
He would have fled, but that the fox anon
Said, "Gentle Sir, alas! why will ye gon?
Be ye afraid of me that am your friend?
Now certes, I were worsè than a fiend,
If I to you would harm or villainy.
I am not come your counsel for to espy,
But truely the cause of my coming
Was only for to hearken how that ye sing:
For truely ye have as merry a steven,
As any angel hath that is in heaven;
* Certainly.
5 Started.
6 Before.
7 Voice.
## p. 3596 (#578) ###########################################
3596
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1 Enjoy.
2 Foolish.
Therewith ye have in music more feeling,
Than had Boece, or any that can sing.
My lord your father! God his soulè bless
And eke your mother of her gentillesse,
Have in mine house ybeen, to my great ease:
And certes, sir, full fain would I you please.
But for men speak of singing, I will say,
So mote I brooken' well my eyen tway,
Save you, I heardè never man so sing,
As did your father in the morwening
Certes it was of heart all that he sung.
And for to make his voice the morè strong,
He would so pain him, that with both his eyen
He mustè wink, so loud he wouldè crien,
And standen on his tipton therewithal,
And stretchen forth his neckè long and small.
And eke he was of such discretión,
That there nas no man in no región,
That him in song or wisdom mightè pass.
I have well read in Dan Burnel the ass
Among his verse, how that there was a cock,
For that a priestès son gave him a knock
Upon his leg, while he was young and nice,'
He made him for to lese his benefice.
But certain there nis no comparisón
Betwix the wisdom and discretión
Of your father, and of his subtilty.
Now singeth, sir, for saintè Charity,
Let see, can ye your father counterfeit ? »
This Chanticleer his wingès gan to beat,
As man that could his treason not espy,
So was he ravished with his flattery.
Alas! ye lordès, many a false flatour³
Is in your courts, and many a losengeour,³
That pleasen you well morè, by my faith,
Than he that soothfastness unto you saith.
Readeth Ecclesiast of flattery,
Beware, ye lordès, of hir treachery.
This Chanticleer stood high upon his toes
Stretching his neck, and held his eyen close,
And gan to crowen loudè for the nonce:
And Dan Russèl the fox start up at once,
3 Flatterer.
+ Truth.
## p. 3597 (#579) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
3597
1 Throat.
And by the garget¹ hentè² Chanticleer,
And on his back toward the wood him bare.
For yet ne was there no man that him sued. "
O destiny, that mayst not be eschewed!
Alas, that Chanticleer flew from the beams!
Alas, his wife ne raughtè not of dreams!
And on a Friday fell all this mischance.
O Venus, that art goddess of pleasance,
Sin that thy servant was this Chanticleer,
And in thy service did all his powér,
More for delight, than world to multiply,
Why wouldst thou suffer him on thy day to die?
O Gaufrid, dearè master sovereign,
That, when thy worthy king Richárd was slain
With shot, complainedest his death so sore,
Why nad I now thy sentence and thy lore,
The Friday for to chide, as diden ye? -
For on a Friday soothly slain was he,
Then would I shew you how that I could plain
For Chanticleerès dread, and for his pain.
Certes such cry, ne lamentatìón
Was ne'er of ladies made, when Ilión
Was won, and Pyrrhus with his streitè swerd,
When he had hent king Priam by the beard,
And slain him, as saith us Ænéidós,
As maden all the hennès in the close,
When they had seen of Chanticleer the sight.
But sovereignly Dame Partèlotè shright,
Full louder than did Hasdrubalès wife,
When that her husband haddè lost his life,
And that the Romans haddè burnt Carthage.
She was so full of torment and of rage,
That willfully into the fire she start,
And brents herselven with a steadfast heart.
O woful hennès! right so crieden ye,
As when that Nero brentès the city
Of Rome, crieden senatorès wives
For that their husbands losten all hir lives;
Withouten guilt this Nero hath hem slain.
Now will I turnè to my tale again;
This sely widow, and eke her daughters two,
Hearden these hennès cry and maken woe,
2 Seized.
* Cared.
8 Burnt.
• Drawn.
3 Followed.
Shrieked.
5 Had not.
9 Simple.
## p. 3598 (#580) ###########################################
3598
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
gon,
And out at doorès starten they anon,
And saw the fox toward the
And bare upon his back the cock away:
They crieden, "Out! harow and welawa!
Ha, ha! the fox! " and after him they ran,
And eke with stavès many another man;
Ran Coll our dog, and Talbot, and Garland,
And Malkin with a distaff in her hand;
Ran cow and calf, and eke the very hoggès,
So were they feared for barking of the doggès,
And shouting of the men and women eke,
They rannen so, hem thought hir heartè breke. '
They yellèden as fiendès do in hell:
The duckès crieden as men would hem quell:
The geese for fearè flewen o'er the trees,
Out of the hivè came the swarm of bees,
So hideous was the noise, a! ben'cite!
Certes he Jackè Straw, and his meyné,²
Ne maden never shoutès half so shrill,
When that they woulden any Fleming kill,
As thilkè day was made upon the fox.
Of brass they broughten beamès" and of box,
Of horn and bone, in which they blew and pooped,'
And therewithal they shrieked and they hoopèd³;
It seemed as that heaven shouldè fall.
Now, goodè men, I pray you hearkeneth all;
Lo, how Fortunè turneth suddenly
The hope and pride eke of her enemy.
This cock that lay upon the fox's back,
In all his dread, unto the fox he spake,
And saidè, "Sir, if that I were as ye,
Yet would I say, as wis God helpè me,
'Turneth again, ye proudè churlès all;
A very pestilence upon you fall!
Now am I come unto the woodès side,
Maugre your head, the cock shall here abide:
I will him eat in faith, and that anon. '»
The fox answered, "In faith, it shall be done:"
And as he spake that word, all suddenly
This cock brake from his mouth deliverly,'
And high upon a tree he flew anon.
1 Would break.
2 Followers.
3
Trumpets.
Trumpeted.
7
' Actively.
5 Whooped.
Surely.
## p. 3599 (#581) ###########################################
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
¹ Seized.
2 Wicked.
3 Curse.
And when the fox saw that he was ygone,
"Alas! " quoth he, "O Chanticleer, alas!
I have to you," quoth he, "ydone trespáss,
Inasmuch as I makèd you afeard,
When I you hent,' and brought out of the yard;
But, sir, I did it of no wicke intent:
Come down, and I shall tell you what I meant.
I shall say sooth to you, God help me so. "
"Nay then," quoth he, "I shrew³ us bothè two.
And first I shrew myself, both blood and bonès,
If thou beguile me any ofter than onès.
Thou shalt no morè through thy flattery
Do me to sing and winken with mine eye.
For he that winketh when he shouldè see,
All willfully, God let him never the 5! »
་ Nay," quoth the fox, "but God give him mischance,
That is so indiscreet of governance,
That jangleth when he shouldè hold his peace. "
Lo, such it is for to be reckèless
And negligent, and trust on flattery.
But ye that holden this tale a folly,
As of a fox, or of a cock and hen,
Take the morality thereof, good men.
For Saint Paul saith, That all that written is,
To our doctrine it is ywrit ywis,'
Taketh the fruit, and let the chaff be still.
Now goodè God, if that it be thy will,
As saith my lord, so make us all good men;
And bring us to his highè bliss. - Amen.
+ Cause.
5 Thrive.
