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… 

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…