When that Aprílè with his showers swoot[18] The drought of March hath piercèd to the root, And bathèd every vein in such liqoúr Of which virtue engendered is the flower; When Zephyrús eke with his sweetè breath Inspirèd hath in every holt and heath The tender croppès, and the youngè sun Hath in the Ram his halfè course yrun, And smallè fowlès maken melody, That sleepen all the night with open eye,-- So pricketh hem natúre in hir couráges[19]-- Then longen folk to go on pilgrimáges, And palmers for to seeken strangè strands, To fernè hallows[20] couth[21] in sundry lands; And specially, from every shirès end Of Engèland, to Canterbury they wend, The holy blissful martyr for to seek, That hem hath holpen when that they were sick. Befell that in that season on a day, In Southwark at the Tabard[22] as I lay, Ready to wenden on my pilgrimáge To Canterbury with full devout couráge, At night were come into that hostelry Well nine and twenty in a company Of sundry folk, by áventúre[23] yfalle In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all, That toward Canterbury woulden ride. The chambers and the stables weren wide, And well we weren easèd[24] at the best. And shortly, when the sunnè was to rest, So had I spoken with hem evereach-one,[25] That I was of hir fellowship anon, And madè forward[26] early for to rise To take our way there-as I you devise.[27] But nathèless, while I have time and space, Ere that I further in this talè pace, Me thinketh it accordant to reasón, To tellen you all the conditìón Of each of hem, so as it seemèd me, And which they weren, and of what degree, And eke in what array that they were in: And at a knight then will I first begin.
A knight there was, and that a worthy[28] man, That[29] from the timè that he first began To riden out, he[29] lovèd chivalry, Truth and honoúr, freedom[30] and courtesy. Full worthy was he in his Lordès war, And thereto had he ridden, no man farre,[31] As well in Christendom as in Heatheness, And ever honoured for his worthiness. At Alexandr' he was when it was won; Full oftè time he had the board begun[32] Aboven allè natìóns in Prusse; In Lettowe[33] had he reyséd[34] and in Russe, No Christian man so oft of his degree; In Gernade[35] at the siegè had he be Of Algezir,[36] and ridden in Belmarié.[37] At Lieys[38] was he, and at Satalié,[39] When they were won; and in the Greatè Sea[40] At many a noble army[41] had he be. At mortal battles had he been fifteen, And foughten for our faith at Tramassene[42] In listès thriès, and aye slain his foe. This ilkè[43] worthy knight had been also Sometimè with the lord of Palatié,[44] Again another heathen in Turkéy: And evermore he had a sovereign pris.[45] And though that he were worthy[46] he was wise, And of his port as meek as is a maid. He never yet no villainy[47] ne said In all his life unto no manner wight.[48] He was a very perfect gentle knight. But for to tellen you of his array, His horse were good, but he ne was not gay[49]; Of fustìán he wearèd a gipon,[50] All besmuterèd[51] with his habergeón, For he was late ycome from his viáge.[52] And wentè for to do his pilgrimáge.
