(In Chaucer’s Middle English. See modern English translation on next page.)
Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne, And smale fowles maken melodye, That slepen al the night with open ye, (So priketh him nature in hir corages): Than longen folke to goon on pilgrimages.
(from “The Prologue,” page 2)
Thou mightest wene that this Palamoun In his fighting were a wood leoun, And as a cruel tygre was Arcite: As wilde bores gonne they to smyte, That frothen whyte as foom for ire wood. Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood.
(from “The Knightes Tale,” page 88)
“Thou shalt na-more, thurgh thy flaterye, Do me to singe and winke with myn ye. For he that winketh, whan he sholde see, Al wilfully, god lat him never thee!”
(from “The Nonne Preestes Tale,” page 570)
From the Pages of The Canterbury Tales
(In modern English. See Chaucer’s original Middle English on previous page.)
When April with his showers sweet The drought of March has pierced to the root, And rain, like virtue Made those flowers grow; When West Wind with his sweet breath has Blown through every wood and heath The tender buds, and the young sun In Aries has his half-course run; And little birds make melody, That sleep all night with open eye—So pricks them Nature in their souls—Then folks yearn to go on pilgrimages.
(from “The General Prologue,” page 3)
You may be sure that this Palamon In his fighting was an enraged lion, And as a cruel tiger was Arcita; They proceeded to smite like wild boars That froth white with foam in wild anger. Up to the ankle fought they in their blood.
(from “The Knight’s Tale,” page 89)
“You shall no more, through your flattery, Cause me to sing and close my eyes. For he who blinks when he should look, All willfully, may God not give him luck!”
(from “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale,” page 571)
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Geoffrey Chaucer worked on his Canterbury Tales from 1386 or 1387 until his death in 1400. The current edition presents Chaucer’s original English, as edited by W. W. Skeat (Clarendon Press, 1900), and a new, modern English translation by Peter Tuttle.
Published in 2007 by Barnes & Noble Classics with new modern English translation, Introduction, A Note on the Text and the Translation, Notes, Biography, Chronology, Inspired By, Comments & Questions, and For Further Reading.
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The Canterbury Tales
ISBN-13: 978-1-59308-080-8 ISBN-10: 1-59308-080-8
eISBN : 978-1-411-43378-6
LC Control Number 2006937723
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FIRST PRINTING
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer, author of one of the greatest—and earliest—poems written in English, was born in London in the early 1340s. His father was a successful vintner and deputy chief butler to King Edward III. Little is known of Chaucer’s early years. He most likely attended a grammar school but did not study at a university. He learned Latin and French, and perhaps some Italian, the latter probably from wine traders with whom his father did business. Around 1356 he became a page in the household of Elizabeth, countess of Ulster and wife of Lionel, one of Edward III’s sons.
In 1359 Chaucer journeyed to France in the service of Prince Lionel and Edward III on one of the many campaigns fought during the Hundred Years’ War; when Chaucer was captured, Edward provided the money for his ransom. Little is known of Chaucer during the decade following his return from France. In the early 1360s he entered Edward III’s household as a yeoman and soon became an esquire; as such, he probably lived at court and performed duties for the crown. He married Philippa Roet, who was descended from a powerful family, in 1366. During the same period, Edward III awarded him a lifetime annuity, one among many Chaucer and his wife received.
Chaucer served Edward III, John of Gaunt, and Richard II in a variety of capacities, including diplomat, justice of the peace, and translator. Beginning in 1374 he was controller of wool customs for the port of London; around this time he and his family moved into comfortable, rent-free quarters above one of London’s seven city gates. He traveled frequently on royal business; in the late 1370s, during a trip to Italy, he may have obtained copies of the works of Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch.
Possibly in response to political pressures, Chaucer resigned his position as controller of customs and left his London apartment in 1386; that same year he was elected to Parliament from the county of Kent, and in 1387 his wife is reported to have died. In 1391 he retired to Kent, presumably to write. A year or two before his death, he returned to London to live.
Chaucer is thought to have begun The Canterbury Tales, his masterpiece, in the late 1380s. While he drew on French and Italian forms of prose, and on the work of Dante, Ovid, and Virgil, his poetry was innovative—written in his native tongue, while most writers of the day composed in Latin or French. He produced some of the most renowned verse in the history of the English language, particularly in The Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer died in 1400 and was buried in Westminster Cathedral.
The World of Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales
1340- 1345
Geoffrey Chaucer is born in London, the son of John Chaucer, a prominent wine importer, and his wife, Agnes.
1346
The English triumph at Crecy, one of many bloody battles fought between England and France during the Hundred Years’ War.
1348 1349
The Black Death (the plague) sweeps through England, reportedly killing one-third of the population.
1349 1351
Giovanni Boccaccio writes the Decameron.
1356
The English are victorious at the battle of Poitiers; Edward III captures the French king, John II.
1357
The first known mention of Chaucer is a record of a pur chase of clothing, possibly suggesting he was a page in the household of Elizabeth, countess of Ulster and wife of Li onel, the second son of Edward III.
1359 - 1360
Chaucer serves in the English army and travels to the battle fields of France with Edward III and his sons, including the eldest, known as the Black Prince.
1360
Chaucer is captured by the French and held for ransom until he is released for the sum of £16; Edward III provides the sum. With the Treaty of Brétigny, England establishes peace with France that will last nine years.
1361- 1362
The plague returns, again devastating the population.
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