The Canterbury Tales/Source/The General Prologue: Difference between revisions

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[That was her chapelleine, and PRIESTES three.]
[That was her chapelleine, and PRIESTES three.]


A MONK there was, a fair *for the mast'ry*, *above all others*<14>
A MONK there was, a fair {{alttext|for the mast'ry|above all others}}<ref>"for the mastery" was applied to medicines in the sense of "sovereign" as we now apply it to a remedy.</ref>,
An out-rider, that loved venery*; *hunting
An out-rider, that loved {{alttext|venery|hunting}};
A manly man, to be an abbot able.
A manly man, to be an abbot able.
Full many a dainty horse had he in stable:
Full many a dainty horse had he in stable:
And when he rode, men might his bridle hear
And when he rode, men might his bridle hear
Jingeling <15> in a whistling wind as clear,
Jingeling<ref>It was fashionable to hang bells on horses' bridles.</ref> in a whistling wind as clear,
And eke as loud, as doth the chapel bell,
And eke as loud, as doth the chapel bell,
There as this lord was keeper of the cell.
There as this lord was keeper of the cell.
The rule of Saint Maur and of Saint Benet,<ref>St. Benedict was the first founder of a spiritual order in the Roman church. Maurus, abbot of Fulda from 822 to 842, did much to re-establish the discipline of the Benedictines on a true Christian basis.</ref>
The rule of Saint Maur and of Saint Benet, <16>
Because that it was old and somedeal strait
Because that it was old and somedeal strait
This ilke* monk let olde thinges pace, *same
This {{alttext|ilke|same}} monk let olde thinges pace,
And held after the newe world the trace.
And held after the newe world the trace.
He *gave not of the text a pulled hen,* *he cared nothing
He {{alttext|gave not of the text a pulled hen|he cared nothing for the text}},
That saith, that hunters be not holy men: for the text*
That saith, that hunters be not holy men:
Ne that a monk, when he is cloisterless;
Ne that a monk, when he is cloisterless;
Is like to a fish that is waterless;
Is like to a fish that is waterless;
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This ilke text held he not worth an oyster;
This ilke text held he not worth an oyster;
And I say his opinion was good.
And I say his opinion was good.
Why should he study, and make himselfe wood* *mad <17>
Why should he study, and make himselfe {{alttext|wood|mad}}<ref>Wood: Mad, Scottish "wud". Felix says to Paul, "Too much learning hath made thee mad".</ref>
Upon a book in cloister always pore,
Upon a book in cloister always pore,
Or swinken* with his handes, and labour, *toil
Or {{alttext|swinken|toil}} with his handes, and labour,
As Austin bid? how shall the world be served?
As Austin bid? how shall the world be served?
Let Austin have his swink to him reserved.
Let Austin have his swink to him reserved.
Therefore he was a prickasour* aright: *hard rider
Therefore he was a {{alttext|prickasour|hard rider}} aright:
Greyhounds he had as swift as fowl of flight;
Greyhounds he had as swift as fowl of flight;
Of pricking* and of hunting for the hare *riding
Of {{alttext|pricking|riding}} and of hunting for the hare
Was all his lust,* for no cost would he spare. *pleasure
Was all his {{alttext|lust|pleasure}}, for no cost would he spare.
I saw his sleeves *purfil'd at the hand *worked at the end with a
I saw his sleeves {{alttext|purfil'd at the hand
With gris,* and that the finest of the land. fur called "gris"*
With gris|worked at the end with a fur called <nowiki>"gris"</nowiki>}}, and that the finest of the land.
And for to fasten his hood under his chin,
And for to fasten his hood under his chin,
He had of gold y-wrought a curious pin;
He had of gold y-wrought a curious pin;
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And eke his face, as it had been anoint;
And eke his face, as it had been anoint;
He was a lord full fat and in good point;
He was a lord full fat and in good point;
His eyen steep,* and rolling in his head, *deep-set
His eyen {{alttext|steep|deep-set}}, and rolling in his head,
That steamed as a furnace of a lead.
That steamed as a furnace of a lead.
His bootes supple, his horse in great estate,
His bootes supple, his horse in great estate,
Now certainly he was a fair prelate;
Now certainly he was a fair prelate;
He was not pale as a forpined* ghost; *wasted
He was not pale as a {{alttext|forpined|wasted}} ghost;
A fat swan lov'd he best of any roast.
A fat swan lov'd he best of any roast.
His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.
His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.
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14. "for the mastery" was applied to medicines in the sense of
"sovereign" as we now apply it to a remedy.

15. It was fashionable to hang bells on horses' bridles.

16. St. Benedict was the first founder of a spiritual order in the
Roman church. Maurus, abbot of Fulda from 822 to 842, did
much to re-establish the discipline of the Benedictines on a true
Christian basis.

17. Wood: Mad, Scottish "wud". Felix says to Paul, "Too
much learning hath made thee mad".


18. Limitour: A friar with licence or privilege to beg, or
18. Limitour: A friar with licence or privilege to beg, or
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