Author: classicpoetrydaily

A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also,That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.As leene was his hors as is a rake,And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,But looked holwe and therto sobrely.Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy;For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office.For hym was levere … Continue reading The Clerk of Oxford

A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd,In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat,275 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.His resons he spak ful solempnely,Sownynge alway th'encrees of his wynnyng.He wolde the see were kept for any thyngBitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.This worthy … Continue reading The Marchant

A Frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye, A lymytour, a ful solémpne man. In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. He hadde maad ful many a mariage Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. Unto his ordre he was a noble post. Ful wel … Continue reading The Friea

A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie, An outridere, that lovede venerie, A manly man, to been an abbot able. Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable, And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere 170 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere And eek as loude, as dooth the … Continue reading The Monk

There was also a Nonne a PRIORESSE, That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy; Hire greatest ooth was but by seiny Loy, And she was cleped madame Englentye. Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne Entuned in hir nose ful semely; And Frenssh She spak ful faire and fetisly Aftee she scole of … Continue reading The Prioress

A YEAMAN hadde he and servantz namo At that tyme, for hym liste ride soo; And he was clad in coat and hood of grene. A sheef of pecock arwes bright and kene, Under his belt he bar ful thriftily— Wel koude her dresse his takel yemanly; His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe. And … Continue reading The Yeaman

With hym there was his sone, a yong SQUIER. A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, i gesse. Of his stature he was of evene lenghte, And wonderly delyvere greet of strengthe; And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie, In … Continue reading The squire

A KNIGHT there was and that a worthy man, That fro the tyne that he first bigan To riden out, he loved chivalrie, Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie, Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, And thereto hadde he riden, no man ferre, As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, And ever honoured … Continue reading The Knight

Whan that aprill his shoures soote The droghte of March bath perced to the root, And bathed every veyne in swich licour Of wich virtu engendred in the flour; Whan zaphorus eek with his sweet breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes and young sonne Hath in the ram his half … Continue reading Here Bygynneth The Book Of The Tales Of Centerbury.