THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE When folk had laughed their fill at this nice pass Of Absalom and clever Nicholas, Then divers folk diversely had their say; And most of them were well amused and gay, Nor… 

THE TALE OF MELIBEE A young man named Melibee, mighty and rich, begot on Prudence, his wife, a daughter who was called Sophie. It happened one day that, for his amusement he went into the… 

THE MONK’S PROLOGUE The Merry Words of the Host to the Monk When ended was my tale of Melibee And of Prudence and her benignity, Our host remarked: “As I am faithful man, And by… 

EPILOGUE TO THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE “Sir nun’s priest,” said our host, and that anon, “Now blessed be your breech and every stone! This was a merry tale of Chanticleer. But, truth, if you were… 

THE PHYSICIAN’S TALE There was, as tells us Titus Livius, A knight whose name was called Virginius, Fulfilled of honour and of worthiness, Who many friends and much wealth did possess. This knight had had… 

THE WORDS OF THE HOST TO THE PHYSICIAN AND THE PARDONER Our host began to swear as madman would: “Halloo!” he cried, “now by the Nails and Blood! This was a false churl and a… 

THE MERCHANT’S PROLOGUE Of weeping and wailing, care and other sorrow I know enough, at eventide and morrow,” The merchant said, “and so do many more Of married folk, I think, who this deplore, For… 

THE KNIGHT A knight there was, and he a worthy man, Who, from the moment that he first began To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy. Full worthy was… 

THE COOK’S TALE There lived a ‘prentice, once, in our city, And of the craft of victuallers was he; Happy he was as goldfinch in the glade, Brown as a berry, short, and thickly made,… 

THE SUMMONER’S TALE Masters, there is in Yorkshire, as I guess, A marshy region that’s called Holderness, Wherein there went a limiter about To preach, and to beg too, beyond a doubt. And so befell…