The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priests’s Tale
(ed. Benson 1987)
gb 2009
2821 A povre wydwe, somdeel stape in age,
povre poor
wydwe widow
somdeel somewhat
stape advanced
2822 Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage,
whilom once
narwe narrow
2823 Biside a grove, stondynge in a dale.
dale valley
2824 This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
wydwe widow
which whom
2825 Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf
Syn since
thilke that
2826 In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf,
ladde led
ful very
lyf life
2827 For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
litel little
catel property
rente income
2828 By housbondrie of swich as God hire sente
housbondrie careful management
swich such
2829 She foond hirself and eek hir doghtren two.
foond provided for
eek also
doghtren daughters
2830 Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo,
namo no more
2831 Three keen, and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
keen cows
eek also
highte was called
2832 Ful sooty was hire bour and eek hir halle,
Ful very
bour bedchamber
eek also
2833 In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel.
eet ate
ful very
sklendre meagre
meel meal
2834 Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
poynaunt spicy
hir neded she needed
never a deel not a bit
2835 No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte;
deyntee delicious
thurgh through
2836 Hir diete was accordant to hir cote.
accordant consonant
to with
cote small farm
2837 Repleccioun ne made hire nevere sik;
Repleccioun overeating
2838 Attempree diete was al hir phisik,
Attempree moderate
phisik medicine
2839 And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
hertes of the heart
suffisaunce contentment
2840 The goute lette hire nothyng for to daunce,
goute gout
lette prevented
nothyng not at all
daunce dance
2841 N’apoplexie shente nat hir heed.
N’apoplexie nor apoplexy
shente injured
heed head
2842 No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed;
ne nor
reed red
2843 Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak –
bord table
2844 Milk and broun breed, in which she foond no lak,
breed bread
lak lack (or fault)
2845 Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye,
Seynd broiled
ey egg
tweye two
2846 For she was, as it were, a maner deye.
maner a sort of
deye dairywoman
2847 A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
yeerd garden
2848 With stikkes, and a drye dych withoute,
stikkes palings
dych ditch
withoute outside
2849 In which she hadde a cok, hight Chauntecleer.
hight called
2850 In al the land, of crowyng nas his peer.
nas was not
2851 His voys was murier than the murie orgon
voys voice
murier merrier
orgon organ
2852 On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon.
messe-dayes mass-days
gon go
2853 Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge
Wel much
sikerer more accurate
logge dwelling
2854 Than is a clokke or an abbey orlogge.
orlogge timepiece
2855 By nature he knew ech ascencioun
ech each
ascencioun ascension (=rising of a zodiacal sign)
2856 Of the equynoxial in thilke toun;
equynoxial celestial eaquator
thilke that
2857 For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended,
2858 Thanne crew he that it myghte nat been amended.
myghte could
been be
amended surpassed
2859 His coomb was redder than the fyn coral,
coomb cockscomb
fyn fine
2860 And batailled as it were a castel wal;
batailled crenellated
castel castle
2861 His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon;
byle beak
jeet jet
shoon shone
2862 Lyk asure were his legges and his toon;
Lyk like
asure azure
toon toes
2863 His nayles whitter than the lylye flour,
whitter whiter
flour flower
2864 And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
lyk like
burned burnished
2865 This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce
gentil noble
governaunce control
2866 Sevene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
hennes hens
doon do
plesaunce pleasure
2867 Whiche were his sustres and his paramours,
sustres sisters
paramours concubines
2868 And wonder lyk to hym, as of colours;
wonder wonderfully
lyk like
2869 Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
hewed coloured
2870 Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote.
cleped called
damoysele gentlewoman
2871 Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire,
discreet respectful of decorum
debonaire gracious
2872 And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire
compaignable sociable
bar bore
faire courteously
2873 Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold
Syn since
thilke that
oold old
2874 That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
trewely truly
hoold possession
2875 Of Chauntecleer, loken in every lith;
loken locked
lith limb
2876 He loved hire so that wel was hym therwith.
therwith with that
2877 But swich a joye was it to here hem synge,
swich such
here hear
hem them
2878 Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge,
Whan that when
sonne sun
gan began
2879 In sweete accord “My lief is faren in londe!” –
lief love
faren departed
in to
londe country
2880 For thilke tyme, as I have understonde,
thilke that
understonde understood
2881 Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge.
Beestes beasts
briddes birds
koude knew how to
2882 And so bifel that in a dawenynge,
bifel happened
dawenynge dawn
2883 As Chauntecleer among his wyves alle
2884 Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
2885 And next hym sat this faire Pertelote,
2886 This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,
gan did
gronen groan
2887 As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
drecched troubled
soore sorely
2888 And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym roore,
whan that when
roore roar
2889 She was agast and seyde, “Herte, deere,
agast frightened
Herte sweetheart
2890 What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere?
eyleth ails
2891 Ye been a verray sleper; fy, for shame!”
Ye you
verray true
2892 And he answerde, and seyde thus: “Madame,
2893 I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief.
ye you
agrief amiss
2894 By God, me mette I was in swich meschief
me mette I dreamed
swich such
meschief trouble
2895 Right now that yet myn herte is soore afright.
soore sorely
afright afraid
2896 Now God, “quod he, “my swevene recche aright,
quod said
swevene dream
recche interpret
aright correctly
2897 And kepe my body out of foul prisoun!
2898 Me mette how that I romed up and doun
me mette I dremed
how that that
romed raomed
2899 Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest
yeerd garden
wheer as where
saugh saw
2900 Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest
han have
maad areest Upon seized
2901 Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed.
han have
deed dead
2902 His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed,
reed red
2903 And tipped was his tayl and bothe his eeris
eeris ears
2904 With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heeris;
unlyk unlike
remenant rest
heeris hairs
2905 His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye.
snowte snout
eyen eyes
tweye two
2906 Yet of his look for feere almoost I deye;
feere fear
deye die
2907 This caused me my gronyng, doutelees.”
doutelees doubtless
2908 “Avoy! “” quod she, “” fy on yow, hertelees!
Avoy shame
quod siad
hertelees coward
2909 Allas,” quod she, “for, by that God above,
quod said
2910 Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love!
han have
ye you
2911 I kan nat love a coward, by my feith!
2912 For certes, what so any womman seith,
certes certainly
what so whatever
seith says
2913 We alle desiren, if it myghte bee,
2914 To han housbondes hardy, wise, and free,
han have
free generous
2915 And secree and no nygard, ne no fool,
secree discreet
ne nor
2916 Ne hym that is agast of every tool,
Ne nor
agast frightened
tool weapon
2917 Ne noon avauntour, by that God above!
Ne nor
noon no
avauntour boaster
2918 How dorste ye seyn, for shame, unto youre love
dorste dared
ye you
seyn say
2919 That any thyng myghte make yow aferd?
myghte could
aferd afraid
2920 Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd?
ye you
mannes man’s
han have
berd beard
2921 Allas! And konne ye been agast of swevenys?
konne can
ye you
been be
agast frightened
swevenys dreams
2922 Nothyng, God woot, but vanitee in sweven is.
woot knows
sweven dream
2923 Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
Swevenes dreams
of from
replecciouns overeating
2924 And ofte of fume and of complecciouns,
fume vapour (rising from the stomach)
complecciouns complexions (=balance of the bodily humours)
2925 Whan humours been to habundant in a wight.
been are
to too
wight person
2926 Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-nyght,
Certes certainly
ye you
han have
met dreamed
2927 Cometh of the greete superfluytee
2928 Of youre rede colera, pardee,
rede red
colera choleric humour
pardee by God
2929 Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
dreden fear
hir their
2930 Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes,
arwes arrows
fyr fire
lemes flames
2931 Of rede beestes, that they wol hem byte,
wol will
hem them
2932 Of contek, and of whelpes, grete and lyte;
contek strife
whelpes dogs
lyte little
2933 Right as the humour of malencolie
malencolie melancholy
2934 Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie
ful very
2935 For feere of blake beres, or boles blake,
feere fear
blake black
beres bears
boles bulls
2936 Or elles blake develes wole hem take.
elles else
wole will
hem them
2937 Of othere humours koude I telle also
koude could
2938 That werken many a man sleep ful wo;
werken make
ful very
wo woefully
2939 But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
wol will
passe proceed
lightly quickly
2940 “Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man,
Catoun Cato
which that who
2941 Seyde he nat thus, ‘Ne do no fors of dremes’
do no fors of attach no importance to
2942 “Now sire,” quod she, “whan we flee fro the bemes,
sire sir
quod said
flee fly
fro from
bemes beams
2943 For Goddes love, as taak som laxatyf.
as taak take
2944 Up peril of my soule and of my lyf,
Up upon
2945 I conseille yow the beste – I wol nat lye –
wol will
2946 That bothe of colere and of malencolye
That so that
2947 Ye purge yow; and for ye shal nat tarie,
Ye you
yow yourself
for so that
ye you
tarie tarry
2948 Though in this toun is noon apothecarie,
noon no
2949 I shal myself to herbes techen yow
techen direct
2950 That shul been for youre hele and for youre prow;
shul shall
hele health
prow benefit
2951 And in oure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde
yeerd garden
tho those
2952 The whiche han of hire propretee by kynde
The whiche which
han have
hire their
propretee qualities
kynde nature
2953 To purge yow bynethe and eek above.
yow yourself
eek also
2954 Foryet nat this, for Goddes owene love!
Foryet forget
owene own
2955 Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun;
Ye you
been are
coleryk dominated by the choleric humour
compleccioun complexion
2956 Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
Ware be careful that
ascencioun ascension
2957 Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote.
repleet filled
of with
hoote hot
2958 And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote,
dar dare
leye bet
grote groat (=silver coin)
2959 That ye shul have a fevere terciane,
ye you
shul shall
fevere fever
terciane that recurs every third day
2960 Or an agu that may be youre bane.
that acute fever
bane killer
2961 A day or two ye shul have digestyves
ye you
shul shall
digestyves medicines to aid the digestion
2962 Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyves
er before
ye you
2963 Of lawriol, centaure, and fumetere,
lawriol spurge laurel
centaure centaury
fumetere fumitory
2964 Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there,
elles else
ellebor hellebore
2965 Of katapuce, or of gaitrys beryis,
katapuce euphorbia
gaitrys beryis rhamus
2966 Of herbe yve, growyng in oure yeerd, ther mery is;
herne yve ground ivy
yeerd garden
ther where
mery pleasant
is it is
2967 Pekke hem up right as they growe and ete hem yn.
hem them
2968 Be myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn!
myrie merry
fader father’s
2969 Dredeth no dreem; I kan sey yow namoore.
Dredeth fear
2970 “Madame,” quod he, “graunt mercy of youre loore.
graunt mercy great thanks
loore learning
2971 But nathelees, as touchyng daun Catoun,
nathelees nevertheless
daun master
Catoun Cato
2972 That hath of wysdom swich a greet renoun,
renoun renown
2973 Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
Thaugh that though
bad advised
drede fear
2974 By God, men may in olde bookes rede
rede read
2975 Of many a man moore of auctorite
auctorite authority
2976 Than evere Caton was, so moot I thee,
Caton Cato
so as
moot may
thee prosper
2977 That al the revers seyn of this sentence,
seyn say
sentence subject
2978 And han wel founden by experience
han have
2979 That dremes been significaciouns
been are
2980 As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns
2981 That folk enduren in this lif present.
2982 Ther nedeth make of this noon argument;
noon no
2983 The verray preeve sheweth it in dede.
verray true
preeve proof
dede deed
2984 “Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede
Oon one
auctour authors
rede read
2985 Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente
Seith says
whilom once
2986 On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente,
2987 And happed so, they coomen in a toun
happed happened
coomen came
2988 Wher as ther was swich congregacioun
Wher as where
2989 Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage,
eek also
streit scanty
herbergage lodging
2990 That they ne founde as muche as o cotage
o one
2991 In which they bothe myghte ylogged bee.
ylogged lodged
2992 Wherfore they mosten of necessitee
mosten must
2993 As for that nyght, departen compaignye;
departen part
2994 And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye,
ech each
hem them
hostelrye inn
2995 And took his loggyng as it wolde falle.
falle happen
2996 That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
oon one
hem them
2997 Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough;
Fer far
yeerd yard
2998 That oother man was logged wel ynough,
2999 As was his aventure or his fortune,
aventure chance
3000 That us governeth alle as in commune.
3001 And so bifel that, longe er it were day,
er before
3002 This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay,
mette dreamed
ther as where
3003 How that his felawe gan upon hym calle,
How that that
gan did
3004 And seyde, ‘Allas, for in an oxes stalle
oxes ox’s
3005 This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye!
mordred murdered
ther where
3006 Now help me, deere brother, or I dye.
3007 In alle haste com to me!’ he sayde.
3008 This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde;
feere fear
abrayde awakened suddenly
3009 But whan that he was wakened of his sleep,
3010 He turned hym and took of this no keep.
hym himself
keep notice
3011 Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee.
thoughte is seemed to
nas was not
3012 Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee;
twies twice
3013 And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
thridde third
3014 Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, ‘I am now slawe.
thoughte it seemed to
slawe slain
3015 Bihoold my bloody woundes depe and wyde!
3016 Arys up erly in the morwe tyde,
morwe morning
3017 And at the west gate of the toun,’ quod he,
quod said
3018 ‘A carte ful of dong ther shaltow se,
dong dung
shaltow you shall
se see
3019 In which my body is hid ful prively;
prively secretly
3020 Do thilke carte arresten boldely.
Do have
thilke that
arresten seized
3021 My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn,’
mordre murder
sooth truth
sayn say
3022 And tolde hym every point how he was slayn,
3023 With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.
pitous sorrowful
hewe colour
3024 And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trewe,
3025 For on the morwe, as soone as it was day,
morwe morning
3026 To his felawes in he took the way;
felawes fellow’s
in inn
3027 And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
oxes ox’s
3028 After his felawe he bigan to calle.
After for
3029 “The hostiler answerede hym anon,
hostiler innkeeper
anon at once
3030 And seyde, ‘Sire, your felawe is agon.
Sire sir
agon gone
3031 As soone as day he wente out of the toun.’
3032 “This man gan fallen in suspecioun,
gan did
suspecioun suspicion
3033 Remembrynge on his dremes that he mette,
on about
mette dreamed
3034 And forth he gooth – no lenger wolde lette –
gooth goes
lenger longer
lette delay
3035 Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond
3036 A dong-carte, wente as it were to donge lond,
donge fertilize
3037 That was arrayed in that same wise
arrayed arranged
wise manner
3038 As ye han herd the dede man devyse.
ye you
han have
herd heard
dede dead
devyse narrate
3039 And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
gan did
3040 Vengeance and justice of this felonye:
felonye crime
3041 ‘My felawe mordred is this same nyght,
3042 And in this carte he lith gapyng upright.
lith lies
upright face up
3043 I crye out on the ministres,’ quod he,
crye out complain
on to
ministres magistrates
quod said
3044 ‘That sholden kepe and reulen this citee.
reulen rule
3045 Harrow! Allas! Heere lith my felawe slayn!’
lith lies
3046 What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn?
3047 The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde,
sterte rushed
3048 And in the myddel of the dong they founde
3049 The dede man, that mordred was al newe.
dede dead
al newe recently
3050 “O blisful God, that art so just and trewe,
3051 Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway!
biwreyest reveal
alway always
3052 Mordre wol out; that se we day by day.
wol will
se see
3053 Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable
wlatsom disgusting
3054 To God, that is so just and resonable,
3055 That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be,
suffre allow
heled concealed
3056 Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or thre.
abyde remain
3057 Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun.
this this is
3058 And right anon, ministres of that toun
anon at once
ministres magistrates
3059 Han hent the carter and so soore hym pyned,
Han have
hent seized
soore sorely
pyned tortured
3060 And eek the hostiler so soore engyned,
eek also
hostiler innkeeper
soore sorely
engyned tortured
3061 That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon,
biknewe acknowledged
hire their
anon at once
3062 And were anhanged by the nekke-bon.
anhanged hanged
3063 “Heere may men seen that dremes been to drede.
may can
seen see
been are
drede to be feared
3064 And certes in the same book I rede,
certes certainly
rede read
3065 Right in the nexte chapitre after this –
chapitre chapter
3066 I gabbe nat, so have I joye or blis –
gabbe lie
have may have
3067 Two men that wolde han passed over see,
han have
see sea
3068 For certeyn cause, into a fer contree,
cause purpose
fer far
3069 If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie,
If that if
3070 That made hem in a citee for to tarie
hem them
tarie tarry
3071 That stood ful myrie upon an haven-syde;
myrie pleasant
haven-syde port
3072 But on a day, agayn the even-tyde,
even-tyde evening
3073 The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.
gan did
hem leste they desired
3074 Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste,
Jolif cheerful
hir their
3075 And casten hem ful erly for to saille.
casten arranged
hem themselves
3076 But herkneth! To that o man fil a greet mervaille:
herkneth listen
o one
fil befell
mervaille mrvel
3077 That oon of hem, in slepyng as he lay,
oon one
hem them
3078 Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day.
Hym mette he dreamed
wonder wonderful
agayn shortly before
3079 Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde,
thoughte it seemed to
beddes of his bed
3080 And hym comanded that he sholde abyde,
abyde wait
3081 And seyde hym thus: ‘If thou tomorwe wende,
wende go
3082 Thow shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.’
dreynt drowned
3083 He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette,
mette dreamed
3084 And preyde hym his viage for to lette;
viage journey
lette give up
3085 As for that day, he preyde hym to byde.
byde wait
3086 His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,
beddes of his bed
3087 Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste.
Gan began
faste firmly
3088 ‘No dreem,’ quod he, ‘may so myn herte agaste
quod said
agaste frighten
3089 That I wol lette for to do my thynges.
lette give up
3090 I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges,
sette value
straw straw (=nothing)
3091 For swevenes been but vanytees and japes.
swevenes dreams
been are
japes tricks
3092 Men dreme alday of owles and of apes,
alday all the time
3093 And of many a maze therwithal;
maze source of amazement
therwithal moreover
3094 Men dreme of thyng that nevere was ne shal.
3095 But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde,
sith since
wolt will
abyde stay
3096 And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde,
forslewthen slothfully waste
tyde time
3097 God woot, it reweth me; and have good day!
woot konws
it reweth me I feel sorry
3098 And thus he took his leve, and wente his way.
leve leave
3099 But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled,
er that before
yseyled sailed
3100 Noot I nat why, ne what myschaunce it eyled,
Noot know not
ne nor
myschaunce misfortune
eyled afflicted
3101 But casuelly the shippes botme rente,
casuelly by chance
shippes ship’s
botme bottom
rente split
3102 And ship and man under the water wente
3103 In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde,
3104 That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
hem them
seyled sailed
tyde time
3105 And therfore, faire Pertelote so deere,
3106 By swiche ensamples olde maistow leere
ensamples examples
maistow you can
leere learn
3107 That no man sholde been to recchelees
been be
to too
recchelees careless
3108 Of dremes; for I seye thee, doutelees,
doutelees doubtless
3109 That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede.
soore sorely
drede fear
3110 “Lo, in the lyf of Seint Kenelm I rede,
Seint Kenelm St. Cenelm
rede read
3111 That was Kenulphus sone, the noble kyng
Kenulphus Cenwulf’s
3112 Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thyng.
Mercenrike kingdom of Mercia
Kenelm Cenelm
mette dreamed
3113 A lite er he was mordred, on a day,
lite little
er before
3114 His mordre in his avysioun he say.
avysioun vision
say saw
3115 His norice hym expowned every deel
norice nursemaid
expowned explained to
deel bit
3116 His sweven, and bad hym for to kepe hym weel
sweven dream
bad advised
kepe take care of
hym himself
3117 For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer oold,
For to prevent
traisoun treason
nas was not
yeer years
3118 And therfore litel tale hath he toold
tale regard
toold had
3119 Of any dreem, so hooly was his herte.
Of for
3120 By God! I hadde levere than my sherte
hadde would have
levere dearer
3121 That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I.
ye you
rad read
3122 “Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely,
sey say to
3123 Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
Macrobeus Macrobius
that who
writ wrote
avisioun vision
3124 In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
Affrike Africa
Cipioun Scipio
3125 Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been
Affermeth declares as valid
been are
3126 Warnynge of thynges that men after seen.
seen see
3127 And forthermoore, I pray yow, looketh wel
3128 In the olde testament, of Daniel,
3129 If he heeld dremes any vanitee.
heeld considered
3130 Reed eek of Joseph, and ther shul ye see
Reed read
eek also
shul shall
ye you
3131 Wher dremes be somtyme – I sey nat alle –
3132 Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle.
falle occur
3133 Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao,
daun sir
Pharao Pharaoh
3134 His bakere and his butiller also,
bakere baker
butiller steward
3135 Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes.
felte perceived
noon no
effect significance
3136 Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes
Whoso whoever
wol will
seken examine
actes histories
sondry different
remes realms
3137 May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng.
wonder wonderful
3138 Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde kyng,
Cresus Croesus
which that who
Lyde Lydia
3139 Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,
Mette dreamed
3140 Which signified he sholde anhanged bee?
anhanged hanged
3141 Lo heere Andromacha, Ectores wyf,
Ectores Hector’s
3142 That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf,
Ector Hector
sholde was to
lese lose
3143 She dremed on the same nyght biforn
biforn before
3144 How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn,
sholde would
lorn lost
3145 If thilke day he wente into bataille.
thilke that
bataille battle
3146 She warned hym, but it myghte nat availle;
myghte could
availle do good
3147 He wente for to fighte natheles,
natheles nevertheless
3148 But he was slayn anon of Achilles.
anon at once
of by
3149 But thilke tale is al to longe to telle,
thilke that
3150 And eek it is ny day; I may nat dwelle.
eek also
ny near
may can
dwelle delay
3151 Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun,
3152 That I shal han of this avisioun
han have
avisioun vision
3153 Adversitee; and I seye forthermoor
3154 That I ne telle of laxatyves no stoor,
telle of...no stoor regard as worthless
3155 For they been venymes, I woot it weel;
For because
been are
venymes poisons
woot know
3156 I hem diffye, I love hem never a deel!
hem them
diffye renounce
hem them
deel bit
3157 “Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this.
stynte cease
3158 Madame Pertelote, so have I blis,
have may have
blis joy
3159 Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace;
o one
grace favour
3160 For whan I se the beautee of youre face,
3161 Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre yen,
Ye you
been are
yen eyes
3162 It maketh al my drede for to dyen;
drede fear
dyen die
3163 For al so siker as In principio,
siker sure
In principio in the beginning
3164 Mulier est hominis confusio –
Mulier es woman is
homnis confusio man’s ruin
3165 Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is,
sentence meaning
3166 Womman is mannes joye and al his blis.
mannes man’s
3167 For whan I feele a-nyght your softe syde –
a-nyght by night
3168 Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde,
Al be it that even if
3169 For that oure perche is maad so narwe, allas –
For that because
maad made
3170 I am so ful of joye and of solas,
solas pleasure
3171 That I diffye bothe sweven and dreem.
diffye defy
sweven dream
3172 And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,
fley flew
beem beam
3173 For it was day, and eke his hennes alle,
eke also
hennes hens
3174 And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
chuk cluck
gan began
hem them
3175 For he hadde founde a corn, lay in the yerd.
corn grain
yerd garden
3176 Real he was, he was namoore aferd.
Real royal
aferd afraid
3177 He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme,
fethered clasped with his wings
tyme times
3178 And trad hire eke as ofte, er it was pryme.
trad copulated with
eke also
er before
pryme prime (= 6 a.m.)
3179 He looketh as it were a grym leoun,
leoun lion
3180 And on his toos he rometh up and doun;
toos toes
rometh roams
3181 Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde.
deigned it seemed proper to
3182 He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde,
chukketh clucks
corn grain
yfounde found
3183 And to hym rennen thanne his wyves alle.
rennen run
thanne then
3184 Thus roial, as a prince is in his halle,
3185 Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture,
Leve leave
pasture feeding place
3186 And after wol I telle his aventure.
wol will
aventure adventure
3187 Whan that the month in which the world bigan,
3188 That highte March, whan God first maked man,
highte is called
maked made
3189 Was compleet, and passed were also,
compleet completed
3190 Syn March was gon, thritty dayes and two,
Syn since
thritty thirty
3191 Bifel that Chauntecleer in al his pryde,
Bifel it happened
3192 His sevene wyves walkynge by his syde,
3193 Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,
Caste threw
eyen eyes
3194 That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne
yronne run
3195 Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat moore,
oon one
3196 And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore,
kynde nature
noon no
loore learning
3197 That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene.
pryme prime (=9 a.m.)
stevene voce
3198 “The sonne,” he seyde, “is clomben up on hevene
clomben climbed
3199 Fourty degrees and oon, and moore ywis.
oon one
ywis surely
3200 Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis,
worldes world’s
3201 Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge,
Herkneth listen to
briddes birds
3202 And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge;
se see
floures flowers
3203 Ful is myn herte of revel and solas!”
revel revelry
solas pleasure
3204 But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas,
sodeynly suddenly
fil befell
3205 For evere the latter ende of joye is wo.
wo woe
3206 God woot that worldly joye is soone ago;
woot knows
ago gone
3207 And if a rethor koude faire endite,
rethor rhetorician
koude knew how to
endite compose
3208 He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write
saufly confidently
myghte could
3209 As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
sovereyn notable
notabilitee fact
3210 Now every wys man, lat him herkne me;
lat let
herkne listen to
3211 This storie is also trewe, I undertake,
undertake declare
3212 As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
3213 That wommen holde in ful greet reverence.
reverence honour
3214 Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
torne turn
sentence subject
3215 A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee,
col-fox fox with black-tipped feet, ears and tail
3216 That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
woned dwelt
yeres years
3217 By heigh ymaginacioun forncast,
By with
heigh skilful
ymaginacioun forethought
forncast planned ahead
3218 The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast
thurghout through
hegges hedges
brast broke
3219 Into the yerd ther Chauntecleer the faire
yerd garden
ther where
3220 Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire;
eek also
repaire go
3221 And in a bed of wortes stille he lay
wortes cabbages
3222 Til it was passed undren of the day,
undren the third hour (=9 a.m.)
3223 Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle,
3224 As gladly doon thise homycides alle
gladly habitually
doon do
homycides murderers
3225 That in await liggen to mordre men.
await ambush
liggen lie
3226 O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den!
false wicked
mordrour murderer
3227 O newe Scariot, newe Genylon,
Scariot Judas Iscariot
Genylon Ganelon
3228 False dissymulour, o Greek Synon,
False treacherous
dissymulour deceiver
3229 That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe!
outrely utterly
3230 Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe
acursed cursed
morwe morning
3231 That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the bemes!
yerd garden
flaugh flew
fro from
bemes beams
3232 Thou were ful wel ywarned by thy dremes
ywarned warned
3233 That thilke day was perilous to thee;
thilke that
3234 But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee,
what that what
forwoot foreknows
moot must
nedes of necessity
3235 After the opinioun of certein clerkis.
After according to
clerkis scholars
3236 Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is,
clerk scholar
3237 That in scole is greet altercacioun
3238 In this mateere, and greet disputisoun,
3239 And hath been of an hundred thousand men.
3240 But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren
bulte sift
bren husks
3241 As kan the hooly doctour Augustyn,
Augustyn St. Augustine
3242 Or Boece, or the Bisshop Bradwardyn,
Boece Boethius
Bradwardyn Bradwardine
3243 Wheither that Goddes worthy forwityng
Wheither that whether
worthy excellent
forwityng foreknowledge
3244 Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng –
Streyneth constrains
nedely of necessity
3245 “Nedely” clepe I symple necessitee –
Nedely of necessity
clepe call
3246 Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
elles else
choys choice
3247 To do that same thyng, or do it noght,
noght not
3248 Though God forwoot it er that I was wroght;
forwoot foreknew
er before
3249 Or if his wityng streyneth never a deel
wityng foreknowledge
streyneth constrains
never not
deel bit
3250 But by necessitee condicioneel.
But except
condicioneel inferential
3251 I wol nat han to do of swich mateere;
han have
3252 My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere,
may can
heere hear
3253 That tok his conseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
conseil counsel
of from
with sorwe to his sorrow
3254 To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
yerd garden
morwe morning
3255 That he hadde met that dreem that I yow tolde.
met dreamed
3256 Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde;
Wommennes women’s
conseils counsels
been are
colde fatal
3257 Wommannes conseil broghte us first to wo
Wommannes women’s
conseil counsel
wo woe
3258 And made Adam fro Paradys to go,
fro from
3259 Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese.
Ther as where
myrie merry
3260 But for I noot to whom it myght displese,
for because
noot know not
3261 If I conseil of wommen wolde blame,
3262 Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.
Passe over let it be
game jest
3263 Rede auctours, where they trete of swich mateere,
Rede read
auctours authors
3264 And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere.
seyn say
ye you
3265 Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne;
cokkes cock’s
3266 I kan noon harm of no womman divyne.
noon no
divyne suspect
3267 Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily,
soond sand
myrily merrily
3268 Lith Pertelote, and alle hire sustres by,
Lith lies
sustres sisters
3269 Agayn the sonne, and Chauntecleer so free
Agayn facing towards
free noble
3270 Soong murier than the mermayde in the see
Soong sang
murier more pleasantly
see sea
3271 (For Phisiologus seith sikerly
sikerly truly
3272 How that they syngen wel and myrily).
myrily pleasantly
3273 And so bifel that, as he caste his ye
caste threw
ye eye
3274 Among the wortes on a boterflye,
wortes cabbages
boterflye butterfly
3275 He was war of this fox, that lay ful lowe.
war aware
3276 Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
Nothyng not at all
liste hym he desired
thanne then
3277 But cride anon “Cok! cok!” and up he sterte
anon at once
sterte leaped
3278 As man that was affrayed in his herte.
affrayed frightened
3279 For natureelly a beest desireth flee
natureelly by nature
3280 Fro his contrarie, if he may it see,
Fro from
may can
3281 Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye.
erst before
seyn seen
ye eye
3282 This Chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye,
gan did
espye see
3283 He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
han have
3284 Seyde, “Gentil sire, allas, wher wol ye gon?
sire sir
ye you
gon go
3285 Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend?
ye you
affrayed frightened
of by
freend friend
3286 Now, certes, I were worse than a feend,
certes certainly
were would be
feend fiend
3287 If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye!
wolde desired
vileynye dishonour
3288 I am nat come youre conseil for t’espye,
conseil secret
t’espye to discover
3289 But trewely, the cause of my comynge
3290 Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge.
herkne listen
ye you
3291 For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene
ye you
myrie pleasant
stevene voice
3292 As any aungel hath that is in hevene.
3293 Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge
Therwith with that
ye you
han have
feelynge understanding
3294 Than hadde Boece, or any that kan synge.
Boece Boethius
3295 My lord youre fader – God his soule blesse! –
fader father
3296 And eek youre mooder, of hire gentillesse,
eek also
mooder moher
gentillesse nobility
3297 Han in myn hous ybeen to my greet ese;
Han have
ybeen been
ese pleasure
3298 And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
certes indeed
sire sir
fayn gladly
3299 But, for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye –
for because
3300 So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye –
moote may
brouke use
eyen eyes
tweye two
3301 Save yow, I herde nevere man so synge
Save except for
herde heard
3302 As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
morwenynge morning
3303 Certes, it was of herte, al that he song.
Certes indeed
of from the
song sang
3304 And for to make his voys the moore strong,
3305 He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe his yen
peyne endeavour
hym himself
yen eyes
3306 He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen,
moste must
wynke close
3307 And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal,
tiptoon tiptoes
therwithal moreover
3308 And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
strecche stretch
3309 And eek he was of swich discrecioun
eek also
discrecioun sound judgment
3310 That ther nas no man in no regioun
nas was not
3311 That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe.
passe surpass
3312 I have wel rad in ‘Daun Burnel the Asse,’
rad read
3313 Among his vers, how that ther was a cok,
vers verses
3314 For that a preestes sone yaf hym a knok
preestes priest’s
yaf gave
knok knock
3315 Upon his leg whil he was yong and nyce,
nyce foolish
3316 He made hym for to lese his benefice.
lese lose
3317 But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun
certeyn certainly
nys is not
3318 Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun
discrecioun sound judgment
3319 Of youre fader and of his subtiltee.
subtiltee subtety
3320 Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee;
syngeth sing
sire sir
for by
seinte holy
3321 Lat se; konne ye youre fader countrefete?”
ye you
countrefete imitate
3322 This Chauntecleer his wynges gan to bete,
gan began
bete beat
3323 As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
espie see
3324 So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.
ravysshed enraptured
with by
3325 Allas, ye lordes, many a fals flatour
ye you
fals wicked
flatour deceiver
3326 Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour,
losengeour flatterer
3327 That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith,
3328 Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
soothfastnesse truth
3329 Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye;
of about
3330 Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.
Beth war beware
ye you
3331 This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos,
3332 Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos,
eyen eyes
cloos closed
3333 And gan to crowe loude for the nones.
gan began
for the nones then
3334 And daun Russell the fox stirte up atones,
daun sir
stirte leaped
atones at once
3335 And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer,
gargat throat
hente seized
3336 And on his bak toward the wode hym beer,
wode wood
beer bore
3337 For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.
sewed pursued
3338 O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed!
mayst can
been be
eschewed fled from
3339 Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes!
fleigh flew
bemes beams
3340 Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes!
roghte cared
3341 And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce.
fil occurred
meschaunce misfortune
3342 O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce,
plesaunce pleasure
3343 Syn that thy servant was this Chauntecleer,
Syn that since
3344 And in thy servyce dide al his poweer,
3345 Moore for delit than world to multiplye,
delit delight
3346 Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye?
woldestow would you
suffre allow
3347 O Gaufred, deere maister soverayn,
Gaufred Geoffrey of Vinsauf
maister master
soverayn excellent
3348 That whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn
3349 With shot, compleynedest his deeth so soore,
With by
shot shot of an arrow
compleynedest lamented
deeth death
soore bittrely
3350 Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore,
sentence sententiousness
loore learning
3351 The Friday for to chide, as diden ye?
chide scold
diden did
ye you
3352 For on a Friday, soothly, slayn was he.
soothly truly
3353 Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I koude pleyne
pleyne lament
3354 For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne.
drede fear
peyne pain
3355 Certes, swich cry ne lamentacion
Certes indeed
3356 Was nevere of ladyes maad whan Ylion
of by
maad made
Ylion Ilium
3357 Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd,
wonne conquered
Pirrus Pyrrhus
streite drawn
swerd sword
3358 Whan he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd,
hent seized
berd beard
3359 And slayn hym, as seith us Eneydos,
Eneydos Aeneid
3360 As maden alle the hennes in the clos,
maden made
hennes hens
clos yard
3361 Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte.
seyn seen
3362 But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte
sovereynly supremely
shrighte shrieked
3363 Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf,
3364 Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf
3365 And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage.
Romayns Romans
brend burned
Cartage Carthage
3366 She was so ful of torment and of rage
torment suffering
rage grief
3367 That wilfully into the fyr she sterte
sterte rushed
3368 And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte.
brende burned
3369 O woful hennes, right so criden ye
hennes hens
criden cried
ye you
3370 As whan that Nero brende the citee
brende burned
3371 Of Rome cryden senatoures wyves
3372 For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyves –
For that because
hir their
losten lost
3373 Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.
gilt guilt
hem them
3374 Now wole I turne to my tale agayn.
3375 This sely wydwe and eek hir doghtres two
sely poor
wydwe widow
eek also
3376 Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo,
Herden heard
3377 And out at dores stirten they anon,
stirten rushed
anon at once
3378 And syen the fox toward the grove gon,
syen saw
gon go
3379 And bar upon his bak the cok away,
bar bore
3380 And cryden, “Out! Harrow and weylaway!
Out help
Harrow help
weylaway alas
3381 Ha, ha! The fox!” and after hym they ran,
3382 And eek with staves many another man.
eek also
another man other men
3383 Ran Colle oure dogge, and Talbot and Gerland,
3384 And Malkyn, with a dystaf in hir hand;
dystaf distaff
3385 Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges,
eek also
the verray hogges even the hogs
3386 So fered for the berkyng of the dogges
fered frightened
for by
berkyng barking
3387 And shoutyng of the men and wommen eeke
eeke as well
3388 They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breeke.
ronne ran
hem them
thoughte it seemed to
hir their
breeke would break
3389 They yolleden as feendes doon in helle;
yolleden yelled
feendes fiends
doon do
3390 The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle;
dokes ducks
hem them
quelle kill
3391 The gees for feere flowen over the trees;
feere fear
flowen flew
3392 Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees.
3393 So hydous was the noyse – a, benedicitee! –
benedicitee bless you
3394 Certes, he Jakke Straw and his meynee
Certes certainlt
meynee company
3395 Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille
3396 Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille,
3397 As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
thilke that
3398 Of bras they broghten bemes, and of box,
bemes trumpets
box boxwood
3399 Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped,
boon bone
powped puffed
3400 And therwithal they skriked and they howped.
therwithal moreover
skriked shrieked
howped whooped
3401 It semed as that hevene sholde falle.
3402 Now, goode men, I prey yow herkneth alle:
herkneth listen
3403 Lo, how Fortune turneth sodeynly
sodeynly suddenly
3404 The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy!
eek also
3405 This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak,
3406 In al his drede unto the fox he spak,
drede fear
3407 And seyde, “Sire, if that I were as ye,
ye you
3408 Yet sholde I seyn, as wys God helpe me,
seyn say
helpe may help
3409 ‘Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle!
Turneth turn
agayn back
ye you
cherles churls
3410 A verray pestilence upon yow falle!
verray true
falle may fall
3411 Now I am come unto the wodes syde;
wodes of the wood
3412 Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde.
Maugree youre heed in spite of all you can do
abyde stay
3413 I wol hym ete, in feith, and that anon!’”
ete eat
anon at once
3414 The fox answerde, “In feith, it shal be don.”
3415 And as he spak that word, al sodeynly
sodeynly suddenly
3416 This cok brak from his mouth delyverly,
brak broke loose
delyverly nimbly
3417 And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon,
heighe high
fleigh flew
anon at once
3418 And whan the fox saugh that the cok was gon,
saugh saw
3419 “Allas!” quod he, “O Chauntecleer, allas!
quod said
3420 I have to yow,” quod he, “ydoon trespas,
ydoon done
trespas wrong
3421 In as muche as I maked yow aferd
maked made
aferd afraid
3422 Whan I yow hente and broghte out of the yerd.
hente seized
yerd garden
3423 But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente.
sire sir
wikke wicked
3424 Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente;
mente meant
3425 I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so!”
sooth truth
3426 “Nay thanne,” quod he, “I shrewe us bothe two.
Nay no
thanne then
quod said
shrewe curse
3427 And first I shrewe myself bothe blood and bones,
shrewe curse
3428 If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
bigyle beguile
ones once
3429 Thou shalt namoore thurgh thy flaterye
thurgh through
3430 Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye;
Do cause
ye eye
3431 For he that wynketh, whan he sholde see,
3432 Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee!”
thee prosper
3433 “Nay,” quod the fox, “but God yeve hym meschaunce,
Nay no
quod said
yeve may give
meschaunce misfortune
3434 That is so undiscreet of governaunce
undiscreet unjudicious
governaunce behaviour
3435 That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.”
jangleth chatters
pees peace
3436 Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees
recchelees careless
3437 And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
on in
3438 But ye that holden this tale a folye,
ye you
holden consider
folye nonsense
3439 As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
3440 Taketh the moralite, goode men,
moralite moral significance
3441 For Seint Paul seith that al that writen is,
3442 To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis;
ywrite written
ywis indeed
3443 Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
lat let
chaf husk
3444 Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille,
3445 As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men,
3446 And brynge us to his heighe blisse! Amen.