THE MERCHANT’S TALE Once on a time there dwelt in Lombardy One born in Pavia, a knight worthy, And there he lived in great prosperity; And sixty years a wifeless man was he, And followed… 

THE SECOND NUN’S PROLOGUE That servant and that nurse unto the vices Which men do call in English Idleness, Portress at Pleasure’s gate, by all advices We should avoid, and by her foe express, That… 

THE SECOND NUN’S TALE OF THE LIFE OF SAINT CECILIA This maiden bright, Cecilia, her life saith, Was Roman born and of a noble kind, And from the cradle tutored in the faith Of Christ,… 

INTRODUCTION TO THE LAWYER’S PROLOGUE The Words of the Host to the Company Our good host saw well that the shining sun The are of artificial day had run A quarter part, plus half an… 

THE LAWYER’S TALE In Syria, once, there dwelt a company Of traders rich, all sober men and true, That far abroad did send their spicery, And cloth of gold, and satins rich in hue; Their… 

HERE FOLLOW THE WORDS OF THE FRANKLIN TO THE SQUIRE, AND THE WORDS OF THE HOST TO THE FRANKLIN In faith, sir squire, you have done well with it, And openly I praise you for… 

THE PARSON’S PROLOGUE What time the manciple his tale had ended, The sun down from the south line had descended So low that he was not, unto my sight, Degrees full nine and twenty yet… 

PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS The Merry Words of the Host to Chaucer When told was all this miracle, every man So sober fell ’twas wonderful to see, Until our host in jesting wise began, And… 

SIR THOPAS The First Fit Listen, lords, with good intent, I truly will a tale present Of mirth and of solace; All of a knight was fair and gent In battle and in tournament. His… 

THE PROLOGUE TO THE PARDONER’S TALE Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, sexto. “Masters,” quoth he, “in churches, when I preach, I am at pains that all shall hear my speech, And ring it out…