outline of canterbury tales

A Short History of English LiteratureCourse Outline（09英语）I.Old English Literature (449 A.D.------ 1066)1. Historical Background（了解）(1) Celts(2) Roman Conquest(3) The English Conquest2. Literature Term: (记忆)EpicAlliteration3. Main work:The great epic-----Beowulf(1) The Content of Beowulf（了解）(2) The Theme of Beowulf（理解）(3) The Features of Beowulf (记忆)II. Medieval English Literature (1066--- 15th century)1. Historical Background（了解）(1) The Danish Invasion(2) The Norman Conquest(3) The Rising of 13812. Literature Terms: (记忆)Romance (definition, classification and class nature)BalladAllegoryHeroic couplet3. Major works: (记忆)(1) Sir Gawain and the Green KnightThe Content of it（了解）The Knight and Chivalry（了解）Analysis of the Character-----Sir Gawain(理解)(2) The Death of King ArthurThe Content of it（了解）Analysis of the Character-----King Arthur(理解)Evaluation(3) Robin Hood and BalladsThe Content of it（了解）Analysis of the Character-----Robin Hood (理解)Meter and Foot（了解）(4) Piers the PlowmanThe Author----Langland （了解）The Content of it（了解）The Theme of it（理解）The Features of it (背诵记忆)4. Major Poet---- Geoffrey Chaucer (重点记忆)(1) Life (1340-1400)（了解）(2) Literary Career (three periods)（了解）(3) The Canterbury TalesThe Content of it（了解）The Theme of it（理解）The Features of it (记忆)(4) Chaucer’s Contribution to English LiteratureIII. The English Renaissance Literature ( late 15th century ----- early 17th century)1. Historical Background（了解）The Political Background---The Establishment of Tudor Dynasty---The Religious ReformationThe Economic Background---The Enclosure Movement---The Commercial Expansion---The War with SpainThe Cultural Background---The Movement of Renaissance---The Thought of Humanism2. Literature Features (了解)Translation VersionsProsePoetryDrama3. Literature TermsSonnetBlank VerseSpenserian Stanza4. Main Writers and Their Works （记忆）John WycliffeWilliam Tyndale The English BibleThomas More Utopia （内容和主旨及对莫尔的评价）Francis Bacon Essays (Of Studies)（欣赏）Edmund Spenser The Shepherd’s CalendarThe Fairy Queen （为什么斯宾塞被称为诗人中的诗人? 《仙后》的寓意）Christopher Marlowe Tamburlaine, The Jew of Malta and Doctor Faustus(plots, theme, achievement)William Shakespeare (37 plays, 3 periods)The Tragicomics, esp Romeo and JulietGreat Comodies, esp The Merchant of VeniceGreat Tragedies, esp HamletHistories, esp Henry IVRomances,esp The Tempest( Plot, theme, characters)(对莎士比亚的评价及莎士比亚戏剧的特点) Ben Jonson Volpone (琼森戏剧的特点)IV. English Literature of the Revolution and Restoration Period (17th century)1.Historical Background (了解)The English RevolutionThe Restoration of MornachyThe Glorious Revolution2. Literature Features (了解). PoetryProseDrama3. Literature Terms:(记忆)Metaphysical PoetsCavalier Poets4. Main Writers and Their Works:（记忆）John Donne Songs and Sonnet (features of his poems)John Milton ( 3periods, poems, pamphlets and epics)Paradise Lost(story, theme, characters)（对弥尔顿的评价）John Bunyan The Pilgrim’s Progress（allegory, story, theme,features）to be or not to be ,that is a questionTo be, or not to be: that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing end them. To die: to sleep;No more; and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;To sleep: perchance to dream: aye, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,Must give us pause: there's the respectThat makes calamity of so long life;For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,The insolence of office, and the spurnsThat patient merit of the unworthy takes,When he himself might his quietus makeWith a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,To grunt and sweat under a weary life,But that the dread of something after death,The undiscover'd country from whose bournNo traveler returns, puzzles the will,And makes us rather bear those ills we haveThan fly to others that we know not of?Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolutionIs sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,And enterprises of great pitch and momentWith this regard their currents turn awryAnd lose the name of action.译文一：生存或毁灭, 这是个问题:是否应默默的忍受坎苛命运之无情打击,还是应与深如大海之无涯苦难奋然为敌,并将其克服。

Part on: Early and medieval english literature早期和中古时期的英国文学I.Beowulf <贝奥武夫>Features of Beowulf<贝奥武夫>的特点(1)Certain accented words in a line begin with the same consonant sound.,每一行的重读单词以相同的辅音开始。

(2)Other features of Beowulf are the use of metaphors and of understatements.《贝奥武夫》的另一些特点是隐喻和低调陈述的大量运用。

II The Romance(1)The Content of the Romance传奇文学的内容The most prevailing kind of literature in feudal England was the romance. It was a long composition, sometimes n verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero. The central character of romances was the knight.封建时期的英国最流行的文学形式是传奇文学。

传奇文学的作品篇幅较长，有时是诗歌的形式，有时是散文的形式，描写贵族英雄的生活和冒险故事。

传奇文学的中心人物是贵族出身的善于使用武器的骑士。

(2)The Romance Cycles传奇文学的类型a.Matters of Britain(adventures of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table)“取材于英国的作品”（亚瑟王和他的圆桌骑士）b.Matters of France(Emperor Charlemagne and his peers)“取材于法国作品”（查理曼大帝和他的贵族）c.Matters of Rome(Alexander the Great and so forth)“取材于罗马的作品”（亚历山大大帝）d.The romance of King Arthur is comparatively the most important for the history of English literature.比较起来亚瑟王的传奇故事是英国文学史中最重要的。

The Canterbury Tales : PrologueHere bygynneth the Book of the tales of CaunterburyHere begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote2: The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, 3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour;5: Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth6: Inspired hath in every holt and heeth7: Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne8: Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne,9: And smale foweles maken melodye,10: That slepen al the nyght with open ye11: (so priketh hem nature in hir corages);12: Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, 13: And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, 14: To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; 15: And specially from every shires ende16: Of engelond to caunterbury they wende,17: The hooly blisful martir for to seke,18: That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower;When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath,The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun Into the Ram one half his course has run,And many little birds make melodyThat sleep through all the night with open eye (So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)- Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage,And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, To distant shrines well known in sundry lands. And specially from every shire's endOf England they to Canterbury wend,The holy blessed martyr there to seekWho helped them when they lay so ill and weal19: Bifil that in that seson on a day,20: In southwerk at the tabard as I lay21: Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage22: To caunterbury with ful devout corage, 23: At nyght was come into that hostelrye24: Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye, 25: Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle26: In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, 27: That toward caunterbury wolden ryde.28: The chambres and the stables weren wyde, 29: And wel we weren esed atte beste.30: And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 31: So hadde I spoken with hem everichon 32: That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,33: And made forward erly for to ryse,34: To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.Befell that, in that season, on a dayIn Southwark, at the Tabard, as I layReady to start upon my pilgrimageTo Canterbury, full of devout homage,There came at nightfall to that hostelrySome nine and twenty in a companyOf sundry persons who had chanced to fallIn fellowship, and pilgrims were they allThat toward Canterbury town would ride.The rooms and stables spacious were and wide, And well we there were eased, and of the best. And briefly, when the sun had gone to rest,So had I spoken with them, every one,That I was of their fellowship anon,And made agreement that we'd early riseTo take the road, as you I will apprise.35: But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, 36: Er that I ferther in this tale pace,37: Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun38: To telle yow al the condicioun39: Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,40: And whiche they weren, and of what degree, 41: And eek in what array that they were inne; 42: And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.But none the less, whilst I have time and space, Before yet farther in this tale I pace,It seems to me accordant with reasonTo inform you of the state of every oneOf all of these, as it appeared to me,And who they were, and what was their degree, And even how arrayed there at the inn;And with a knight thus will I first begin.The Knight's Portrait THE KNIGHT43: A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man, 44: That fro the tyme that he first bigan45: To riden out, he loved chivalrie,46: Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. 47: Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, 48: And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, 49: As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, 50: And evere honoured for his worthynesse. 51: At alisaundre he was whan it was wonne. 52: Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne 53: Aboven alle nacions in pruce;54: In lettow hadde he reysed and in ruce, 55: No cristen man so ofte of his degree.56: In gernade at the seege eek hadde he be 57: Of algezir, and riden in belmarye.58: At lyeys was he and at satalye,59: Whan they were wonne; and in the grete see 60: At many a noble armee hadde he be.61: At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, 62: And foughten for oure feith at tramyssene 63: In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.64: This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also 65: Somtyme with the lord of palatye A knight there was, and he a worthy man, Who, from the moment that he first beganTo ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy.Full worthy was he in his liege-lord's war, And therein had he ridden (none more far)As well in Christendom as heathenesse,And honoured everywhere for worthiness.At Alexandria, he, when it was won;Full oft the table's roster he'd begunAbove all nations' knights in Prussia.In Latvia raided he, and Russia,No christened man so oft of his degree.In far Granada at the siege was heOf Algeciras, and in Belmarie.At Ayas was he and at SatalyeWhen they were won; and on the Middle Sea At many a noble meeting chanced to be.Of mortal battles he had fought fifteen,And he'd fought for our faith at Tramissene Three times in lists, and each time slain his foe. This self-same worthy knight had been alsoAt one time with the lord of Palatye66: Agayn another hethen in turkye.67: And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys; 68: And though that he were worthy, he was wys, 69: And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. 70: He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde71: In al his lyf unto no maner wight.72: He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.73: But, for to tellen yow of his array,74: His hors were goode, but he was nat gay. 75: Of fustian he wered a gypon76: Al bismotered with his habergeon,77: For he was late ycome from his viage,78: And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.Against another heathen in Turkey:And always won he sovereign fame for prize. Though so illustrious, he was very wiseAnd bore himself as meekly as a maid.He never yet had any vileness said,In all his life, to whatsoever wight.He was a truly perfect, gentle knight.But now, to tell you all of his array,His steeds were good, but yet he was not gay. Of simple fustian wore he a juponSadly discoloured by his habergeon;For he had lately come from his voyageAnd now was going on this pilgrimage.The Squire's Portrait THE SQUIRE79: With hym ther was his sone, a yong squier,80: A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,81: With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. 82: Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.83: Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,84: And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe. 85: And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie86: In flaundres, in artoys, and pycardie,87: And born hym weel, as of so litel space,88: In hope to stonden in his lady grace.89: Embrouded was he, as it were a meede90: Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.91: Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day;92: He was as fressh as is the month of may.93: Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde. 94: Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.95: He koude songes make and wel endite,96: Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write. 97: So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale.98: He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. 99: Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable,100: And carf biforn his fader at the table.With him there was his son, a youthful squire,A lover and a lusty bachelor,With locks well curled, as if they'd laid in press. Some twenty years of age he was, I guess.In stature he was of an average length, Wondrously active, aye, and great of strength.He'd ridden sometime with the cavalryIn Flanders, in Artois, and Picardy,And borne him well within that little spaceIn hope to win thereby his lady's grace.Prinked out he was, as if he were a mead,All full of fresh-cut flowers white and red.Singing he was, or fluting, all the day;He was as fresh as is the month of May.Short was his gown, with sleeves both long and wide. Well could be sit on horse, and fairly ride.He could make songs and words thereto indite, Joust, and dance too, as well as sketch and write.So hot he loved that, while night told her tale,He slept no more than does a nightingale. Courteous he, and humble, willing and able,And carved before his father at the table.The Yeoman's Portrait THE YEOMAN101: A yeman hadde he and servantz namo 102: At that tyme, for hym liste ride so,103: And he was clad in cote and hood of grene. 104: A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene, 105: Under his belt he bar ful thriftily,106: (wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly: 107: His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe) 108: And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. 109: A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage. 110: Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage. 111: Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,112: And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, 113: And on that oother syde a gay daggere 114: Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere; 115: A cristopher on his brest of silver sheene. 116: An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene; 117: A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.A yeoman had he, nor more servants, no,At that time, for he chose to travel so;And he was clad in coat and hood of green.A sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen Under his belt he bore right carefully(Well could he keep his tackle yeomanly:His arrows had no draggled feathers low),And in his hand he bore a mighty bow.A cropped head had he and a sun-browned face. Of woodcraft knew he all the useful ways.Upon his arm he bore a bracer gay,And at one side a sword and buckler, yea,And at the other side a dagger bright,Well sheathed and sharp as spear point in the light; On breast a Christopher of silver sheen.He bore a horn in baldric all of green;A forester he truly was, I guess.The Prioress' Portrait THE PRIORESS118: Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse,119: That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy; 120: Hire gretteste ooth was but by seinte loy; 121: And she was cleped madame eglentyne. 122: Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne, 123: Entuned in hir nose ful semely,124: And frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, 125: After the scole of stratford atte bowe, 126: For frenssh of parys was to hire unknowe. 127: At mete wel ytaught was she with alle: 128: She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, 129: Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe; 130: Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe 131: That no drope ne fille upon hire brest. 132: In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. 133: Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene134: That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene There was also a nun, a prioress,Who, in her smiling, modest was and coy; Her greatest oath was but "By Saint Eloy!" And she was known as Madam Eglantine. Full well she sang the services divine, Intoning through her nose, becomingly; And fair she spoke her French, and fluently, After the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow, For French of Paris was not hers to know. At table she had been well taught withal, And never from her lips let morsels fall, Nor dipped her fingers deep in sauce, but ate With so much care the food upon her plate That never driblet fell upon her breast.In courtesy she had delight and zest.Her upper lip was always wiped so clean That in her cup was no iota seen135: Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 136: Ful semely after hir mete she raughte.137: And sikerly she was of greet desport,138: And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,139: And peyned hire to countrefete cheere140: Of court, and to been estatlich of manere, 141: And to ben holden digne of reverence.142: But, for to speken of hire conscience,143: She was so charitable and so pitous144: She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous 145: Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 146: Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde 147: With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed. 148: But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, 149: Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;150: And al was conscience and tendre herte. 151: Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,152: Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,153: Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed; 154: But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;155: It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;156: For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.157: Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.158: Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar159: A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,160: And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, 161: On which ther was first write a crowned a, 162: And after amor vincit omnia.Of grease, when she had drunk her draught of wine. Becomingly she reached for meat to dine.And certainly delighting in good sport,She was right pleasant, amiable- in short.She was at pains to counterfeit the lookOf courtliness, and stately manners took,And would be held worthy of reverence.But, to say something of her moral sense,She was so charitable and piteousThat she would weep if she but saw a mouse Caught in a trap, though it were dead or bled.She had some little dogs, too, that she fedOn roasted flesh, or milk and fine white bread.But sore she'd weep if one of them were dead,Or if men smote it with a rod to smart:For pity ruled her, and her tender heart.Right decorous her pleated wimple was;Her nose was fine; her eyes were blue as glass; Her mouth was small and therewith soft and red; But certainly she had a fair forehead;It was almost a full span broad, I own,For, truth to tell, she was not undergrown.Neat was her cloak, as I was well aware.Of coral small about her arm she'd bearA string of beads and gauded all with green;And therefrom hung a brooch of golden sheen Whereon there was first written a crowned "A," And under, Amor vincit omnia.The Second Nun's Portrait THE NUN163: Another nonne with hire hadde she,Another little nun with her had she,THE THREE PRIESTS THE THREE PRIESTS 164: That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre.Who was her chaplain; and of priests she'd three.The e's Portrait THE MONK165: A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie,166: An outridere, that lovede venerie,167: A manly man, to been an abbot able.168: Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable, 169: And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere 170: Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere171: And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle. 172: Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle,173: The reule of seint maure or of seint beneit,174: By cause that it was old and somdel streit175: This ilke monk leet olde thynges pace,176: And heeld after the newe world the space.177: He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,178: That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,179: Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,180: Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees, --181: This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.182: But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre; 183: And I seyde his opinion was good.184: What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood, 185: Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,186: Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,187: As austyn bit? how shal the world be served? 188: Lat austyn have his swynk to hym reserved! 189: Therfore he was a prikasour aright:190: Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight; 191: Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare192: Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. 193: I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond194: With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;195: And, for to festne his hood under his chyn, 196: He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn; 197: A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.198: His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, 199: And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt. 200: He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;201: His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,202: That stemed as a forneys of a leed;203: His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat. A monk there was, one made for mastery,An outrider, who loved his venery;A manly man, to be an abbot able.Full many a blooded horse had he in stable: And when he rode men might his bridle hearA-jingling in the whistling wind as clear, Aye, and as loud as does the chapel bell Where this brave monk was of the cell.The rule of Maurus or Saint Benedict,By reason it was old and somewhat strict,This said monk let such old things slowly pace And followed new-world manners in their place. He cared not for that text a clean-plucked hen Which holds that hunters are not holy men;Nor that a monk, when he is cloisterless,Is like unto a fish that's waterless;That is to say, a monk out of his cloister.But this same text he held not worth an oyster; And I said his opinion was right good.What? Should he study as a madman would Upon a book in cloister cell? Or yetGo labour with his hands and swink and sweat, As Austin bids? How shall the world be served? Let Austin have his toil to him reserved. Therefore he was a rider day and night; Greyhounds he had, as swift as bird in flight. Since riding and the hunting of the hareWere all his love, for no cost would he spare.I saw his sleeves were purfled at the handWith fur of grey, the finest in the land;Also, to fasten hood beneath his chin,He had of good wrought gold a curious pin:A love-knot in the larger end there was.His head was bald and shone like any glass, And smooth as one anointed was his face.Fat was this lord, he stood in goodly case.His bulging eyes he rolled about, and hotThey gleamed and red, like fire beneath a pot; His boots were soft; his horse of great estate.204: Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat; 205: He was nat pale as a forpyned goost. 206: A fat swan loved he best of any roost. 207: His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.Now certainly he was a fine prelate:He was not pale as some poor wasted ghost.A fat swan loved he best of any roast.His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.The Friar's Portrait THE FRIAR208: A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye, 209: A lymytour, a ful solempne man.210: In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 211: So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. 212: He hadde maad ful many a mariage213: Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.214: Unto his ordre he was a noble post.215: Ful wel biloved and famulier was he216: With frankeleyns over al in his contree, 217: And eek with worthy wommen of the toun; 218: For he hadde power of confessioun,219: As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,220: For of his ordre he was licenciat.221: Ful swetely herde he confessioun,222: And plesaunt was his absolucioun:223: He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,224: Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce. 225: For unto a povre ordre for to yive226: Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;227: For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,228: He wiste that a man was repentaunt;229: For many a man so hard is of his herte, 230: He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte. 231: Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres 232: Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres. 233: His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves234: And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.235: And certeinly he hadde a murye note:236: Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; 237: Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.238: His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys; 239: Therto he strong was as a champioun.240: He knew the tavernes wel in every toun 241: And everich hostiler and tappestere242: Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;243: For unto swich a worthy man as he244: Acorded nat, as by his facultee,245: To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce. 246: It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce,247: For to deelen with no swich poraille,248: But al with riche and selleres of vitaille. 249: And over al, ther as profit sholde arise, 250: Curteis he was and lowely of servyse.251: Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.252: He was the beste beggere in his hous;252.1: (and yaf a certeyne ferme for the graunt; 252.2: Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;) 253: For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,254: So plesaunt was his in principio,255: Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente. 256: His purchas was wel bettre than his rente. 257: And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp. 258: In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help, 259: For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer260: With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, 261: But he was lyk a maister or a pope.262: Of double worstede was his semycope, 263: That rounded as a belle out of the presse. 264: Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, 265: To make his englissh sweete upon his tonge; 266: And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe, 267: His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght,268: As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.269: This worthy lymytour was cleped huberd.A friar there was, a wanton and a merry,A limiter, a very festive man.In all the Orders Four is none that canEqual his gossip and his fair language.He had arranged full many a marriageOf women young, and this at his own cost. Unto his order he was a noble post.Well liked by all and intimate was heWith franklins everywhere in his country, And with the worthy women of the town:For at confessing he'd more power in gown (As he himself said) than it good curate,For of his order he was licentiate.He heard confession gently, it was said, Gently absolved too, leaving naught of dread. He was an easy man to give penanceWhen knowing he should gain a good pittance; For to a begging friar, money givenIs sign that any man has been well shriven. For if one gave (he dared to boast of this),He took the man's repentance not amiss.For many a man there is so hard of heartHe cannot weep however pains may smart. Therefore, instead of weeping and of prayer, Men should give silver to poor friars all bare. His tippet was stuck always full of knives And pins, to give to young and pleasing wives. And certainly he kept a merry note:Well could he sing and play upon the rote.At balladry he bore the prize away.His throat was white as lily of the May;Yet strong he was as ever champion.In towns he knew the taverns, every one,And every good host and each barmaid too- Better than begging lepers, these he knew. For unto no such solid man as heAccorded it, as far as he could see,To have sick lepers for acquaintances.There is no honest advantageousnessIn dealing with such poverty-stricken curs;It's with the rich and with big victuallers.And so, wherever profit might arise, Courteous he was and humble in men's eyes. There was no other man so virtuous.He was the finest beggar of his house;A certain district being farmed to him,None of his brethren dared approach its rim; For though a widow had no shoes to show,So pleasant was his In principio,He always got a farthing ere he went.He lived by pickings, it is evident.And he could romp as well as any whelp.On love days could he be of mickle help.For there he was not like a cloisterer,With threadbare cope as is the poor scholar, But he was like a lord or like a pope.Of double worsted was his semi-cope,That rounded like a bell, as you may guess. He lisped a little, out of wantonness,To make his English soft upon his tongue; And in his harping, after he had sung,His two eyes twinkled in his head as brightAs do the stars within the frosty night.This worthy limiter was named Hubert.The Merchant's Portrait THE MERCHANT270: A marchant was ther with a forked berd, 271: In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat; 272: Upon his heed a flaundryssh bever hat, There was a merchant with forked beard, and girt In motley gown, and high on horse he sat, Upon his head a Flemish beaver hat;273: His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.274: His resons he spak ful solempnely,275: Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng. 276: He wolde the see were kept for any thyng 277: Bitwixe middelburgh and orewelle.278: Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. 279: This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: 280: Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 281: So estatly was he of his governaunce282: With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. 283: For sothe he was a worthy man with alle, 284: But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.His boots were fastened rather elegantly.His spoke his notions out right pompously, Stressing the times when he had won, not lost.He would the sea were held at any costAcross from Middleburgh to Orwell town.At money-changing he could make a crown.This worthy man kept all his wits well set;There was no one could say he was in debt,So well he governed all his trade affairsWith bargains and with borrowings and with shares. Indeed, he was a worthy man withal,But, sooth to say, his name I can't recall.The Clerk's Portrait THE CLERK285: A clerk ther was of oxenford also,286: That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.287: As leene was his hors as is a rake,288: And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,289: But looked holwe, and therto sobrely.290: Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy; 291: For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, 292: Ne was so worldly for to have office.293: For hym was levere have at his beddes heed 294: Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,295: Of aristotle and his philosophie,296: Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. 297: But al be that he was a philosophre,298: Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;299: But al that he myghte of his freendes hente, 300: On bookes and on lernynge he it spente, 301: And bisily gan for the soules preye302: Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. 303: Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, 304: Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, 305: And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 306: And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence; 307: Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, 308: And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.A clerk from Oxford was with us also,Who'd turned to getting knowledge, long ago. As meagre was his horse as is a rake,Nor he himself too fat, I'll undertake,But he looked hollow and went soberly.Right threadbare was his overcoat; for heHad got him yet no churchly benefice,Nor was so worldly as to gain office.For he would rather have at his bed's head Some twenty books, all bound in black and red, Of Aristotle and his philosophyThan rich robes, fiddle, or gay psaltery.Yet, and for all he was philosopher,He had but little gold within his coffer;But all that he might borrow from a friendOn books and learning he would swiftly spend, And then he'd pray right busily for the soulsOf those who gave him wherewithal for schools. Of study took he utmost care and heed.Not one word spoke he more than was his need; And that was said in fullest reverenceAnd short and quick and full of high good sense. Pregnant of moral virtue was his speech;And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.The The Man of Law's Portrait THE LAWYER309: A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys,310: That often hadde been at the parvys,311: Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.312: Discreet he was and of greet reverence -- 313: He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise. 314: Justice he was ful often in assise,315: By patente and by pleyn commissioun.316: For his science and for his heigh renoun, 317: Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.318: So greet a purchasour was nowher noon: 319: Al was fee symple to hym in effect;320: His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. 321: Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,322: And yet he semed bisier than he was.323: In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle 324: That from the tyme of kyng william were falle. 325: Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng, 326: Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng; 327: And every statut koude he pleyn by rote. 328: He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote.329: Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale; 330: Of his array telle I no lenger tale.A sergeant of the law, wary and wise,Who'd often gone to Paul's walk to advise, There was also, compact of excellence. Discreet he was, and of great reverence;At least he seemed so, his words were so wise. Often he sat as justice in assize,By patent or commission from the crown; Because of learning and his high renown,He took large fees and many robes could own. So great a purchaser was never known.All was fee simple to him, in effect, Wherefore his claims could never be suspect. Nowhere a man so busy of his class,And yet he seemed much busier than he was. All cases and all judgments could he cite That from King William's time were apposite. And he could draw a contract so explicitNot any man could fault therefrom elicit; And every statute he'd verbatim quote.He rode but badly in a medley coat,Belted in a silken sash, with little bars,But of his dress no more particulars.The Franklin's Portrait THE FRANKLIN331: A frankeleyn was in his compaignye. 332: Whit was his berd as is the dayesye; 333: Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. 334: Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn; 335: To lyven in delit was evere his wone, 336: For he was epicurus owene sone,337: That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit 338: Was verray felicitee parfit.339: An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; 340: Seint julian he was in his contree.341: His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; There was a franklin in his company;White was his beard as is the white daisy.Of sanguine temperament by every sign,He loved right well his morning sop in wine. Delightful living was the goal he'd won,For he was Epicurus' very son,That held opinion that a full delightWas true felicity, perfect and right.A householder, and that a great, was he; Saint Julian he was in his own country.His bread and ale were always right well done;。

A Brief Outline of British Literature（英国文学概要）I. The early and Medieval literature（早期和中世纪文学）1. Beowulf （贝奥武夫，有记载的最早的一部英国文学作品）2. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales。

（杰弗里乔叟的坎特伯雷故事集）II. The English Renaissance (1485-1603) （英国文艺复兴时期）1. Edmund Spence r’s The Shepherd's Calendar and Faerie Queen（埃德蒙斯宾塞的牧羊人日记和精灵女王）2. Francis Bacon’s Essays（弗朗西斯培根的散文）3. William Shakespeare’s dramas（威廉莎士比亚的戏剧）III. The 17th century (1603-1660)1. The English Revolution （英国革命）2. John Milton’s Paradise Lost（弥尔顿的失乐园）3. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress（约翰班扬的天路历程）IV. The Restoration and the 18th Century (1660-1798) （复辟与十八世纪）1. enlightenment （启蒙运动）2. neo-classicism:（新古典主义）a. John Dryden’s dramas（约翰德来端的戏剧）b. Ale xander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock （亚历山大蒲柏的夺发记）c. Richard Steele and Joseph Addison's essays（理查德斯蒂尔和约瑟夫艾迪生的散文）d. Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary（赛缪尔约翰逊的词典）3. rise of the novel writing:（小说创作的兴起）a. Daniel DeFoe’s Robinson Crusoe（丹尼尔笛福的鲁滨逊漂流记）b. Janathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels（贾纳森斯威夫特的格列佛游记）V. The Age of Romanticism (1798-1830)（浪漫主义时代）1. Pre-Romanticism : （前浪漫主义）a. William Blake （威廉布雷克英国诗人和画家）b. Robert Burn （罗伯特彭斯）c. William Wordsworth（威廉华兹华斯英国诗人）2. Romanticism （浪漫主义）a. P. B. Shelley （Percy Bysshe Shelley 珀西比西雪莱）b. G. G. Byron（George Gordon Byron 乔治戈登拜伦）c. J. Keats（John Keats 约翰济慈）3. Jane Austen’s novels（简奥斯丁小说）VI. The Victorian Age (1832-1901)（维多利亚时代）1. industrial revolution （工业革命）2. realism （现实主义）a. Charles Dickens （查尔斯狄更斯英国作家）b. Thomas Hardy（托马斯哈代英国小说家）c. Bronte sisters（勃朗特三姐妹）d. George Eliot（乔治艾略特）3. aestheticism: Oscar Wilde （唯美主义，奥斯卡王尔德）VII. The 20th century (1901-)1. two world wars（两次世界大战）2. modernism（现代主义）3. psychological fiction and stream of consciousness (心理小说与意识流)a. D. H. Lawrence （David Herbert Lawrence大卫赫伯特劳伦斯）b. James Joyce（詹姆斯乔伊斯）c. Virginia Woolf（弗吉尼亚伍尔夫）4. Poetry（诗歌）Definition of Literature ：Literature refers to All written or spoken compositions ( discourses) designed to tell stories, dramatize situations and reveal thoughts and emotions, and also more importantly, to interest, entertain, stimulate, broaden and ennoble readers. （文学的定义：文学是所有口头或书面的成分设计讲故事，戏剧化情况，揭示思想和情感，而且更重要的是，兴趣，娱乐，刺激，拓宽和授予爵位的读者。

Canterbury T alesBy Geoffrey Chaucer ProloguePart IHere Begins The Book Of The Tales Of Canterbury When April with his showers hath pierced the droughtOf March with sweetness to the very root,And flooded every vein with liquid powerThat of its strength engendereth the flower;When Zephyr also with his fragrant breathHath urged to life in every holt and heathNew tender shoots of green, and the young sunHis full half course within the Ram hath run,And little birds are making melodyThat sleep the whole night through with open eye,For in their hearts doth Nature stir them so,Then people long on pilgrimage to go,And palmers to be seeking foreign strands,To distant shrines renowned in sundry lands.And then from every English countrysideEspecially to Canterbury they ride,There to the holy sainted martyr kneelingThat in their sickness sent them help and healing.Now in that season it befell one dayIn Southwark at the Tabard as I lay,Ready upon my pilgrimage to startToward Canterbury, reverent of heart,There came at night into that hostelryFull nine and twenty in a company,People of all kinds that had chanced to fallIn fellowship, and they were pilgrims allRiding to Canterbury. The stables thereWere ample, and the chambers large and fair,And well was all supplied us of the best,And by the time the sun had gone to restI knew them and had talked with every one, And so in fellowship had joined them soon, Agreeing to be up and take our wayWhere I have told you, early with the day.But none the less, while I have space and time, Before I venture farther with my rhyme,It seems to me no more than reasonableThat I should speak of each of them and tell Their characters, as these appeared to me,And who they were, and what was their degree, And something likewise of their costumes write; And I will start by telling of a knight.A Knight there was, and that a noble man,Who from the earliest time when he beganTo ride forth, loved the way of chivalry,Honor and faith and generosity.Nobly he bare himself in his lord`s war,And he had ridden abroad (no man so far),In many a Christian and a heathen land,Well honored for his worth on every hand.He was at Alexandria when that townWas won, and many times had sat him down Foremost among the knights at feast in Prussia. In Lithuania had he fought, and Russia,No Christian more. Well was his worth attested In Spain when Algeciras was invested,And at the winning of Lyeys was he,And Sataly, and rode in Belmarie;And in the Great Sea he had been at hand When many a noble host had come to land.Of mortal battles he had known fifteen,And jousted for our faith at TramisseneThrice in the lists, and always slain his foe. And he had been in Turkey, years ago, Lending the prince of Palaty his swordIn war against another heathen lord;And everywhere he went his fame was high. And though renowned, he bore him prudently; Meek was he in his manner as a maid.In all his life to no man had he saidA word but what was courteous and right;He was a very perfect noble knight.But now to tell you what array he had -His steeds were good, but he himself was clad Plainly; in fustian doublet he was dressed, Discolored where his coat of mail had pressed,For he was lately come form his voyage,And went at once to do his pilgrimage.With him there went a Squire, that was his son -A lover and soldier, full of life and fun,With locks tight-curled, as if just out of press;His age in years was twenty, I should guess.In stature he appeared of middle height,And great of strength, and wondrous quick and light. And he had gone campaigning recentlyIn Flanders, in Artois, and Picardy,And in this short space bore a gallant part,Hoping for favor in his lady`s heart.His raiment shone as if he were a meadBroidered with flowers fresh and white and red. Singing or fluting was he all the day;He was as lusty as the month of May.Short was his gown, with sleeves both long and wide, Well could he sit a horse and fairly ride;He could make songs, and prettily indite,And joust and dance as well, and draw and write.So fierce by night did love his heart assailHe slept no more than doth a nightingale. Courteous he was, humble, willing and able,And carved before his father at the table.He had a Y eoman there, and none besideIn service, for it pleased him so to ride;And he was clad in coat and hood of green.He bore a sheaf of arrows, bright and keen,And wings of peacock feathers edged the wood.He kept his gear the way a yeoman should -No shafts of his with feathers dragging low! -And in his hand he bare a mighty bow.Close-cropped his head was, and his face was brown, He knew well all the woodcraft that was known. Gay on his arm an archer`s guard he wore;A buckler at one side and sword he bore;Upon the other side a dagger swung,Sharp as a spear`s point, richly wrought and hung. Saint Christopher on his breast made silver sheen. He bore a horn; his baldric was of green;In truth, he was a forester, I should guess.Also there was a nun, a Prioress,And she went smiling, innocent and coy;The greatest oath she swore was by Saint Loy; And she was known as Madame Eglentine.Full well she sang the services divine,Intoning through her nose right prettily,And fair she spoke her French and fluentlyAfter the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow;(The French of Paris - that she didn`t know). Well-taught she was at table; she would letNo food fall from her lips; she never wetHer fingers deeply in the sauce; with careShe raised each morsel; well would she beware Lest any drop upon her breast should fall;In manners she delighted above all.Always she wiped her upper lip so cleanThat never a fleck of grease was to be seen Within her cup when she had drunk. When she Reached for her food, she did it daintily. Pleasant she was, and loved a jest as well,And in demeanor she was amiable.Ever to use the ways of court she tried,And sought to keep her manner dignified,That all folk should be reverent of her.But, speaking of her heart and character,Such pity had she, and such charityThat if she saw a trapp`d mouse and would cry - If it had died, or even if it bled;And she had little dogs to which she fedFine roasted meat, or milk, or dainty bread;How would she weep if one of them were dead, Or anyone should strike it viciously:She was all heart and sensibility!Her face was fair in pleated wimple draped,Her eyes were gray as glass, her nose well-shaped, Her mouth full small and thereto soft and red,But of a truth she had a fair forehead,A span in breadth or I should be surprised,For certainly she was not undersized.Handsome her cloak, as I was well aware;And wrought of coral round her arm she bareA bracelet all of beads and green gauds strung,And down from this a golden pendant hung -A brooch on which was written a crown`d A,And after, Amor Vincit Omnia.Another Nun rode in her retinue,That as her chapelaine served, and Three Priests too.A Monk there was, as fair as ever was born,An outrider, that loved the hounds an horn,A manly man, to be an abbot able.Full many a blooded horse he had in stable,And when he rode ye might his bridle hearJingle upon the whistling wind as clearAnd loud as ever the chapel bell could ringWhere this same monk and lord was governing. The rules of Maurice and of Benedict,These being ancient now, and somewhat strict,This monk ignored, and let them go their ways, And laid a course by rules of newer days.He held that text worth less than a plucked hen Which said that hunters were not holy men,Or that a monk who follows not the ruleIs like a fish when it is out of pool -That is to say, a monk out of his cloister.Indeed, he held that text not worth an oyster;And his opinion here was good, I say.For why go mad with studying all day,Poring over a book in some dark cell,And with one`s hands go laboring as well,As Austin bids? How shall the world be served?Let Austin`s work for Austin be reserved! Therefore he hunted hard and with delight; Greyhounds he had as swift as birds in flight;To gallop with the hounds and hunt the hareHe made his joy, and no expense would spare.I saw his sleeves trimmed just above the handWith soft gray fur, the finest in the land;And fastening his hood beneath his chin,Wrought out of gold, he wore a curious pin -A love-knot at the larger end there was!His head was wholly bald and shone like glass, As did his face, as though with ointment greased; He was full fat and sleek, this lordly priest.His fierce bright eyes that in his head were turning Like flames beneath a copper cauldron burning, His supple boots, the trappings of his steed, Showed him a prelate fine and fair indeed!He was not pale like some tormented ghost.He loved a fat swan best of any roast.His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.There was a Friar, a wanton and a merry, Licensed to beg - a gay, important fellow.In all four orders no man was so mellowWith talk and dalliance. He had brought to pass The marrying of many a buxom lass,Paying himself the priest and the recorder:He was a noble pillar to his order!He was familiar too and well-belovedBy all the franklins everywhere he movedAnd by good women of the town withal,For he had special powers confessionalAs he himself would let folk understand:He had been licensed by the Pope`s own hand! Full sweetly would he listen to confession,And very pleasantly absolved transgression;He could give easy penance if he knewThere would be recompense in revenue;For he that to some humble order hath given -Is he not by that token all but shriven?For if he gave, then of a certain, said he,He knew the man was penitent already!For many a man may be so hard of heartHe cannot weep, though sore may be his smart; Therefore his case no tears and prayers requires: Let him give silver to the needy friars!Always he kept his tippet stuffed with knives And pins, that he could give to comely wives. And of a truth he had a merry note,For he could sing and play upon the rote -There he would take the prize for certainty.His neck was white as is the fleur-de-lys.He was as strong as any champion.As for the inns, he knew them every one,Their hosts and barmaids too - much better than He`d know a leper or a beggar-man;For it was not for such a one as heTo seek acquaintance in the companyOf loathsome lepers - no, not for a minute! There was no decency or profit in it.One should avoid such trash and cultivateV endors of food and folk of rich estate.And if a profit was to be expectedNo courtesy or service he neglected.There was no man so able anywhere -As beggar he was quite beyond compare.He paid a fee to get his haunting ground; None of his brethren dared to come around; For though a widow might not own a shoe,So pleasant was his In principioThat he would have a farthing ere he went;His profits more than paid him back his rent! And like a puppy could he romp; yet heCould work on love days with authority,For he was not a monk threadbare of collar, Out of some cloister, like a half-starved scholar, But rather like a master or a pope.Of double worsted was his semi-cope,And rounded like a bell hot from the press. Somewhat he lisped his words, in playfulness, To make his English sweet upon his tongue. And in his harping, after he had sung,Deep in his head his eyes would twinkle bright, As do the stars upon a frosty nightHubert this begging friar was called by name. Next, all in motley garbed, a Merchant came, With a forked beard, High on his horse he sat, Upon his head a Flanders beaver hat;His boots were buckled fair and modishly.He spoke his words with great solemnity, Having in mind his gain in pounds and pence. He wished the sea, regardless of expense,Kept safe from Middleburg to Orewell. Cunningly could he buy French crowns, or sell, And great sagacity in all ways showed;No man could tell of any debt he owed,So stately was his way in everything,His loans, his bargains, and his trafficking.In truth, a worthy man withal was he,And yet I know not what his name might be.There was a Student out of Oxford town, Indentured long to logic and the gown.Lean as a rake the horse on which he sat,And he himself was anything but fat,But rather wore a hollow look and sad. Threadbare the little outer coat he had,For he was still to get a beneficeAnd thoughts of worldly office were not his.For he would rather have beside his bedTwenty books arrayed in black or redOf Aristotle and his philosophyThan robes or fiddle or jocund psaltery.Y et though he was philosopher, his cofferIndeed but scanty store of gold could offer,And any he could borrow from a friendOn books and learning straightway would he spend, And make with prayer a constant offeringFor those that helped him with his studying.He gave to study all his care and heed,Nor ever spoke a word beyond his need,And that was said in form, respectfully,And brief and quick and charged with meaning high. Harmonious with virtue was his speech.And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.A Serjeant of the Law, wise and discreet,There was as well, who often held his seatIn the church porch; an excellent man was he, Prudent indeed, and great of dignity -Or so he seemed, his speeches were so wise.Oft-times he had been justice at assizeBy patent and by full commission too.For his renown and for the law he knewHe won good fees, and fine robes many a one. Conveyancer to match him was there none:All turned fee simple underneath his hand;No work of his but what was made to stand.No busier person could ye find than he,Y et busier than he was he seemed to be;He knew the judgments and the cases downFrom the first day King William wore his crown; And he could write, and pen a deed in lawSo in his writing none could pick a flaw,And every statute could he say by rote.He wore a simple, vari-colored coat,Girt with a fine-striped sash of silken stuff: This, as to his array, will be enough.A Franklin in his company appeared;As white as any daisy shone his beard; Sanguine was his complexion; he loved dearly To have his sop in wine each morning early. Always to pleasure would his custom run,For he was Epicurus` own son,Who held opinion that in pleasure solelyCan man find perfect bliss and have it wholly. Householder he, a mighty and a good;He was Saint Julian in his neighborhood;His bread, his ale, were always prime, and none Had better store of vintage than his own. Within his house was never lack of pastyOr fish or flesh - so plenteous and tastyIt seemed the place was snowing meat and drink, All dainty food whereof a man could think.And with the changing seasons of the yearEver he changed his suppers and his fare.Many fat partridges were in his mew,And bream in pond, and pike in plenty, too. Woe to his cook if all his gear were notIn order, or his sauce not sharp and hot!And in his hall the plenteous platters lay Ready upon the table all the day.At sessions he would play the lord and sire;He went to parliament as knight-of-shire.A dagger and a purse of woven silkHung at his girdle, white as morning milk.As sheriff he had served, and auditor; Nowhere was any vassal worthier.A Haberdasher and a Carpenter,A Weaver, Dyer and UpholstererWere with us too, clad all in liveryOf one illustrious great fraternity.All fresh and shining their equipment was;None of their dagger-sheaths was tipped with brass, But all with silver, fashioned well and new;So with their girdles and their pouches, too.Each of them seemed a burgess proud, and fitIn guildhall on a dais high to sit;And in discretion each was qualifiedTo be an alderman, and had besideIncome and goods sufficient for the station,Which would have filled their wives with jubilation, Or else for certain they had been to blame.Full fair it is when one is called "Ma Dame,"And at the vigils leads the company,And has one`s mantle carried royally.They brought a Cook for this occasion, whoWith marrow-bones would boil their chicken stew, With powder-marchant tart and galingale.Well could he judge a draught of London ale.And he could roast and seethe and broil and fry, And brew good soup, and well could bake a pie. But it was pity, as it seemed to me,That he should have a sore below his knee.His fowl-in-cream - he made that with the best! There was a Seaman hailing from the west,Far out - from Dartmouth if my guess is good.He rode upon his nag as best he could.His gown of falding hung about his knee.A dagger hanging on a slip had he,Slung from his neck under his arm and down.The summer heat had burned his visage brown.He was a right good fellow; many a draughtOf wine the merry rogue had drawn and quaffed This side of Bordeaux, the while the merchant slept. Nice conscience was a thing he never kept.And if he fought and had the upper hand,By water he sent `em home to every land.But as to skill in reckoning the tides,The ocean streams, the risks on divers sides; Harbors and moons and pilotage and such -No one from Hull to Carthage knew so much.Bold and yet wise in what he undertook,With many a bitter storm his beard had shook;He knew well all the harbors as they wereFrom Gothland to the Cape of Finisterre,And every creek in Brittany and Spain.The ship he sailed was called the Madelaine.A Doctor of Physic had we in our band,And none could match his skill in any land,To speak of physic or of surgery,For he was grounded in astrology.Much could he help his patient with his powers, Selecting well the most auspicious hours, When the ascendant ruled, and he was sureTo prosper in the making of his cure.He knew the cause of every malady,Were it from Hot or Cold or Moist or Dry,And where begun, and what its humor too;He was a perfect doctor and atrue.The cause once known, the root of his disease, At once he gave the patient remedies.For he would have at call apothecariesReady to send him drugs and lectuaries,For each of them from the other profit won; Their friendship was not something just begun. The ancient Aesculapius he knew,Haly and Rufus and Serapion, too, Avicenna, and great Hippocrates,Rhasis and Galen, Dioscorides,Averroes, Damascene, and Constantine, Bernard and Gatisden and Gilbertine.As for his diet, moderate was he,And never ate to superfluity,But for digestion and for nourishment.Upon the scriptures little time he spent.Sky-blue and sanguine was his whole array, Well-lined with sarcenet and taffeta;Y et he spent little, and with providenceHad saved his fees during the pestilence.For gold in physic is a cordial; heLoved gold on that account especially.A Good Wife was there dwelling near the city Of Bath-a little deaf, which was a pity.Such a great skill on making cloth she spent That she surpassed the folk of Ypres and Ghent. No parish wife would dream of such a thingAs going before her with an offering,And if one did, so angry would she beIt put her wholly out of charity.Her coverchiefs were woven close of ground, And weighed, I lay an oath, at least ten pound When of a Sunday they were on her head.Her stockings were a splendid scarlet redAnd tightly laced, with shoes supple and new. Bold was her face, and fair and red of hue. She was a worthy woman all her life;Five times at church door had she been a wife, Not counting other company in youth -But this we need not mention here, in truth. Thrice at Jerusalem this dame had been,And many a foreign river she had seen,And she had gone to Rome and to Boulogne, To Saint James` in Galicia, and Cologne. Much lore she had from wandering by the way; Still, she was gap-toothed, I regret to say. Upon a gentle, ambling nag she sat,Well-wimpled, and upon her head a hatAs broad as is a buckler or a targe.A mantle hung about her buttocks largeAnd on her feet a pair of pointed spurs.No tongue was readier with a jest than hers. Perhaps she knew love remedies, for sheHad danced the old game long and cunningly. There was a Parson, too, that had his cureIn a small town, a good man and a poor;But rich he was in holy thought and work. Also he was a learned man, a clerk,Seeking Christ`s gospel faithfully to preach; Most piously his people would he teach. Benign and wondrous diligent was he,And very patient in adversity -Often had he been tried to desperation!He would not make an excommunicationFor tithes unpaid, but rather would he give - Helping his poor parishioners to live -From the offerings, or his own small property; In little he would find sufficiency.Broad was his parish, with houses far apart,Y et come it rain or thunder he would startUpon his rounds, in woe or sickness too,And reach the farthest, poor or well-to-do,Going on foot, his staff within his hand - Example that his sheep could understand - Namely, that first he wrought and after taught. These words from holy gospel he had brought,And used to add this metaphor thereto -That if gold rust, what then shall iron do?For if the priest be bad, in whom we trust,What wonder is it if a layman rust?And shame to him - happy the priest who heeds it - Whose flock is clean when he is soiled who leads it! Surely a priest should good example give, Showing by cleanness how his sheep should live. He would not put his benefice to hire,Leaving his sheep entangled in the mire,While he ran off to London, to Saint Paul`s,To take an easy berth, chanting for souls,Or with some guild a sinecure to hold,But stayed at home and safely kept his foldFrom wolves that else had sent it wandering;He was a shepherd and no hireling.And virtue though he loved, and holiness,To sinful men he was not pitiless,Nor was he stern or haughty in his speech,But wisely and benignly would he teach.To tempt folk unto heaven by high endeavorAnd good example was his purpose ever.But any person who was obstinate,Whoever he was, of high or low estate,Him on occasion would he sharply chide;No better priest doth anywhere reside.He had no thirst for pomp or reverence,Nor bore too sensitive a conscience,But taught Christ`s and his twelve apostle`s creed, And first in living of it took the lead.With him his brother, a simple Plowman, rode, That in his time had carted many a loadOf dung; true toiler and a good was he,Living in peace and perfect charity.First he loved God, with all his heart and will, Always, and whether life went well or ill;And next - and as himself - he loved his neighbor.And always for the poor he loved to labor,And he would thresh and ditch and dyke, and take Nothing for pay, but do it for Christ`s sake. Fairly he paid his tithes when they were due, Upon his goods and on his produce, too.In plowman`s gown he sat astride a mare.。