REVIEW OF LECTURE 3 Introduction The Knight The Squire The
Yeoman The Prioress
Slide 3
A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, L.165 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 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere And eek as
loude as dooth the chapel belle. L.171 Maistrie superiority
Outridere officer of monastry Venerie hunting Deyntee good choice
Rood rode Brydel bridle of the horse Heere hear Gynglen jingle Als
Cleere very clear
Slide 4
Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle, L.172 The reule of
seint maure or of seint beneit, By cause that it was old and somdel
streit This ilke monk leet olde thynges pace, And heeld after the
newe world the space. L.176 Ther as where Kepere keeper The celle a
subordinate monastery Reule rule Seint maureSt. Maurus Seint
beneit-St.Benedict Somdel - somewhat Streit narrow Heeld held Space
- course
Slide 5
He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, L.177 That seith that
hunters beth nat hooly men, Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,
Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees, -- This is to seyn, a monk
out of his cloystre. L.181 Yaf not gave not Of that text scriptures
Beth are Ne that not that he cared for the text that said Waterlees
out of water Seyn says Cloystre cloystre
Slide 6
But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre; L.182 And I seyde
his opinioun was good. What sholde he studie and make hymselven
wood, Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure, Or swynken with his
handes, and laboure, As austyn bit? how shal the world be served?
L.187 Thilke-same Heeld-held nat worth an oystre-of no value
Seyde-said Opinioun-opinion What sholde-why should
Hymselven-himself Wood-senseless Poure-read Swynken-hardwork Austyn
bit- augustine bid
Slide 7
Lat austyn have his swynk to hym reserved! L.188 Therfore he
was a prikasour aright: Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in
flight; Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare Was al his lust, for
no cost wolde he spare. L.192 Lat-let Prikasour- practice pricking
Lust- desire
Slide 8
I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond L.193 With grys, and
that the fyneste of a lond; And, for to festne his hood under his
chyn, He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn; A love-knotte in
the gretter ende ther was. His heed was balled, that shoon as any
glas, And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt. L.199 Purfiled-
dacorated at the edge Grys- grey squirrel the fyneste of a lond-
the finest fur Love knotte- a twisted loop Gretter- larger Balled
bald Enoynt-anointed
Slide 9
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt; L.200 His eyen stepe,
and rollynge in his heed, That stemed as a forneys of a leed; His
bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat. Now certeinly he was a
fair prelaat; He was nat pale as a forpyned goost. L.205 Poynt-
condition Stepe- bright Souple- soft Estaat- good condition
Prelaat- clergyman forpyned goost- a ghost that has pined away
Slide 10
A fat swan loved he best of any roost. L.206 His palfrey was as
broun as is a berye. L.207 Roost- roast Palfrey- small riding horse
Berye- berry
Slide 11
THE MONKS CHARACTER Description Humour
Slide 12
A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye, L.208 A lymytour, a
ful solempne 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. L.213 Frere- friar
Wantowne- very gay Merye- merry Lymytour- the area of a friar
Solempne- important looking Noon- none Daliaunce- speech in a fine
language Maad- made Owene- own
Slide 13
Unto his ordre he was a noble post. L.214 Ful wel biloved and
famulier was he With frankeleyns over al in his contree, And eek
with worthy wommen of the toun; For he hadde power of confessioun,
As seyde hymself, moore than a curat, For of his ordre he was
licenciat. L.220 Noble post- great authority Biloved- loved
Famulier- familiar Frankeleyns- big land ownersranting Contree-
country Toun- town Confessioun- power of granting absolution Seyde-
said Curat- priest Licenciat- licensed
Slide 14
Ful swetely herde he confessioun, L.221 And plesaunt was his
absolucioun: He was an esy man to yeve penaunce, Ther as he wiste
to have a good pitaunce. L.224 Swetely- attentively Herde- heard
Cofessioun- confessions Plesaunt- pleasant Absolucioun-forgiving
sense Yeve- give Penaunce- penence Pitaunce- extra allowance
Slide 15
For unto a povre ordre for to yive L.225 Is signe that a man is
wel yshryve; For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, He wiste that a
man was repentaunt; For many a man so hard is of his herte, He may
nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte. L.230 Povre- poor Yshryve-
confessed He dorste- he durst make Avaunt- boast He may nat- he is
not able to soore smerte- it may trouble him
Slide 16
Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres L.231 Men moote yeve
silver to the povre freres. His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves. And certeinly he hadde a
murye note: Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; Of yeddynges
he baar outrely the pris. L.237 Men moote- one ought to Typet-
stuffed Rote- fiddle Yeddynges- songs Pris- prize
Slide 17
His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys; L.238 Therto he strong
was as a champioun. He knew the tavernes wel in every toun And
everich hostiler and tappestere Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;
L.242 Tappestere- a female tapster Bet- better Lazer- leper
Slide 18
For unto swich a worthy man as he L. 243 Acorded nat, as by his
facultee, To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce. It is nat honest,
it may nat avaunce, For to deelen with no swich poraille, But al
with riche and selleres of vitaille. L.248 Facultee- abilities
Poraille- poor people Riche- rich men and women
Slide 19
And over al, ther as profit sholde arise, L.249 Curteis he was
and lowely of servyse. Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. He was
the beste beggere in his hous; (and yaf a certeyne ferme for the
graunt; L.252.1 Ther as- where ever Lowely- humble Nas no man-
never was Vertuous- efficient Hous- monastry
Slide 20
Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;) L.252 For thogh a
wydwe hadde noght a sho, So plesaunt was his in principio, Yet
wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente. His purchas was wel bettre
than his rente. And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp. L.257
Wydwe- widow Noght- not so much Sho- shoe Plesaunt- pleasant Rage-
sport Whelp- a puppy
Slide 21
In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help, L.258 For ther he was
nat lyk a cloysterer With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
But he was lyk a maister or a pope. Of double worstede was his
semycope, That rounded as a belle out of the presse. L.263. Lyk- is
like Cloysterer- a clergyman Cope- cloak Povre scoler- poor scholar
Double worstede- worsted Semycope- small cloak
Slide 22
Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, L.264 To make his
englissh sweete upon his tonge; And in his harpyng, whan that he
hadde songe, His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght, As doon the
sterres in the frosty nyght. This worthy lymytour was cleped
huberd. L.269 Lipsed- stammered Walntownesse- gayfulness Harpyng-
singing on a flute Twynkled- glittered Doon- do Sterres- stars
Lymytour- friar Cleped- called
Slide 23
A marchant was ther with a forked berd, L.270 In mottelee, and
hye on horse he sat; Upon his heed a flaundryssh bever hat, His
bootes clasped faire and fetisly. His resons he spak ful
solempnely, Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng. L.275 Berd-
beard Mottelee- dress of different colours Hye- high Heed- head
flaundryssh bever hat- a costly hat faire and fetisly- fair and
neatly
Slide 24
He wolde the see were kept for any thyng L.276 Bitwixe
middelburgh and orewelle. Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: Ther wiste no wight that
he was in dette, L.280 Bitwixe- between Bisette- employed
Slide 25
So estatly was he of his governaunce L.281 With his bargaynes
and with his chevyssaunce. For sothe he was a worthy man with alle,
But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle. L.284 Chevyssaunce-
usury
Slide 26
A clerk ther was of oxenford also, L.285 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. L.289
Clerk- scholar Ygo- long go Holwe- hollow Soberly- sad
Slide 27
Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy; L.290 For he hadde
geten hym yet no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office.
For hym was levere have at his beddes heed Twenty bookes, clad in
blak or reed, Of aristotle and his philosophie, Than robes riche,
or fithele, or gay sautrie. L.296 overeste courtepy- his short gown
Geten hym- secured for himself Benefice- church living Office-
secular work robes riche- costly garments Fithele- stringed musical
instrument Sautrie- a small harp
Slide 28
But al be that he was a philosophre, L.297 Yet hadde he but
litel gold in cofre; But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
On bookes and on lernynge he it spente, And bisily gan for the
soules preye Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. L.302 Al be-
although Philosophre philosopher and alchemist Cofre- coffer
Myghte- suceed in Hente- get Bisily- sincerely Yaf- gave Scoleye-
to study
Slide 29
Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, L.303 Noght o
word spak he moore than was neede, And that was seyd in forme and
reverence, And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence; Sownynge in
moral vertu was his speche, And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly
teche. L.308 Heede- attention forme and reverence- propriety and
modesty Quyk- quick Hy- high Sentence- meaning Sownynge- tending
towards Speche- talk Teche- teach
Slide 30
A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys, L.309 That often hadde
been at the parvys, Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
Discreet he was and of greet reverence -- He semed swich, his
wordes weren so wise. L.313 sergeant of the lawe- sergeants-at-law
War and wys- prudent and wise ful riche of excellence-
distinguished
Slide 31
Justice he was ful often in assise, L.314 By patente and by
pleyn commissioun. For his science and for his heigh renoun, Of
fees and robes hadde he many oon. So greet a purchasour was nowher
noon: Al was fee symple to hym in effect; His purchasyng myghte nat
been infect. L.320 Science- knowledge Purchasour- puyer up of land
Noone- none Fee symple- owners absolute authority in effect- in
reality Infect- invalid
Slide 32
Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, L.321 And yet he semed
bisier than he was. In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That
from the tyme of kyng william were falle. L.324 Bisier- busier
Termes- terms (legal jargon)
Slide 33
Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng, L.325 Ther koude no
wight pynche at his writyng; And every statut koude he pleyn by
rote. He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote. Girt with a ceint of
silk, with barres smale; Of his array telle I no lenger tale. L.330
Pynche- find fault with Statut- statute Koude- knew By rote- by
heart medlee cote- a coat of many colours Ceint- belt Barres -
metal ornaments
Slide 34
A frankeleyn was in his compaignye. L.331 Whit was his berd as
is the dayesye; Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. Wel loved he by
the morwe a sop in wyn; L.334 Frankeley- a wealthy country
gentleman by the morwe- every morning
Slide 35
To lyven in delit was evere his wone, L.335 For he was epicurus
owene sone, That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Was verray
felicitee parfit. An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; Seint
julian he was in his contree. L.340 Lyven- live Delit- delight
Wone-Custom Epicurus- Greek Philosopher pleyn delit- plain diet
Verrily- truly Felicitee- happiness Housholdere- head of a house
Seint julian- a saint of hospitality
Slide 36
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; L.341 A bettre
envyned man was nowher noon. Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous
Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous, It snewed in his hous
of mete and drynke, Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke. L.346
Breed- bread Ale- wine After oon- first class A bettre envyned man-
a better celler man Noon- known Plentevous- in plenty Snewed snowed
Deyntees- rare delicacies
Slide 37
After the sondry sesons of the yeer, L.347 So chaunged he his
mete and his soper. Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe, And
many a breem and many a luce in stuwe. Wo was his cook but if his
sauce were Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere. L.352 Sondry-
every Soper- supper Partrich- bird Muwe- cage Breem, Luce, Stuwe-
Fish Wo- sad
Slide 38
His table dormant in his halle always L.353 Stood redy covered
al the longe day. At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; Ful ofte
tyme he was knyght of the shire. L.356 Table dormant- irremovable
table Sessiouns- meetings Knyght of the shire- representative in
the parliament
Slide 39
An anlaas and a gipser al of silk L.357 Heeng at his girdel,
whit as morne milk. A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour. Was
nowher swich a worthy vavasour. L.360 Anlaas- wood knife Gipser-
pouch Shirreve- Governor of the country Contour- accountant
Vavasour- kings tenants
Slide 40
An haberdasshere and a carpenter, L.361 A webbe, a dyere, and a
tapycer, -- And they were clothed alle in o lyveree Of a solempne
and a greet fraternitee. L.364 Haberdasshere- haberdasher Webbe-
weaver Tapycer- upholsterer Lyveree- a gild dress
Slide 41
Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was; L.365 Hir knyves were
chaped noght with bras But al with silver; wroght ful clene and
weel Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel. L.368 Geere- apparel
Apiked- trimmed Chaped- a plate was capped in metal
Slide 42
Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys L.369 To sitten in a
yeldehalle on a deys. Everich, for the wisdom that he kan, Was
shaply for to been an alderman. L.372 a fair burgeys- prosperous
citizen Yeldehalle- guild hall Everich- each Kan- know Shaply-
fit
Slide 43
For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, L.373 And eek hir wyves
wolde it wel assente; And elles certeyn were they to blame. It is
ful fair to been ycleped madame, And goon to vigilies al bifore,
And have a mantel roialliche ybore. L.378 Catel- cattle Rente-
income from rent Assente- agree ful fair- very plesant Goon to- to
walk Vigilies- vigils Roialliche ybore- in a royal manner
Slide 44
A cook they hadde with hem for the nones L.379 To boille the
chiknes with the marybones, And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.
Wel koude he knowe a draughte of londoun ale. L.380 They- the five
burgesses Nones- occasion poudre-marchant- flavouring powder
Tart-sharp taste Galyngale- the root of sweet cypress londoun ale-
London wine
Slide 45
He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye, Maken
mortreux, and wel bake a pye. L.384 But greet harm was it, as it
thoughte me, That on his shyne a mormal hadde he. For blankmanger,
that made he with the beste L.387 Rooste- roast Sethe- cook over
fire Mortreux- meat stew Pye- pie Mormal- cancerous sore
Blankmanger- made of cream & flour
Slide 46
RECAP OF LECTURE The Monk The Friar The Oxford Clerk The
Sergeant of Law The Franklin Haberdasher, Carpenter, Dyer, Weaver,
tapycer The Cook