坎特伯雷故事集
The Canterbury Tales
by
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
A READER-FRIENDLY EDITION
Put into modern spelling
by
MICHAEL MURPHY
GENERAL PROLOGUE
1
1 When April with its sweet showers has pierced the drought of March to the root and bathed every rootlet in
the liquid by which the flower is engendered; when the west wind also, with its sweet breath, has brought forth young shoots in every grove and field; when the early sun of spring has run half his course in the sign of Aries, and when small birds make melody, birds that sleep all night with eyes open, (as Nature inspires them to) --THEN people have a strong desire to go on pilgrimages, and pilgrims long to go to foreign shores to distant shrines
known in various countries. And especially they go from every county in England to seek out the shrine of the holy blessed martyr who has helped them when they were sick.
2 4: "By virtue (strength) of which the flower is engendered."
3 8: The early sun of Spring has moved part way through the sign of Aries (the Ram) in the Zodiac.
4 13-14: "Pilgrims seek foreign shores (to go) to distant shrines known in different lands." Palmers : pilgrims,
from the palm-leaves they got in Jerusalem.
GENERAL PROLOGUE
The opening is a long, elaborate sentence about the effects of Spring on the vegetable and animal world, and on people. The style of the rest of the Prologue and Tales is much simpler than this opening. A close paraphrase of the opening sentence is offered at the bottom of this page.1
W hen that April with his showers soote
its showers sweet The drought of March hath pierc ?d to the root And bath ?d every vein in such liquor
rootlet / liquid
Of which virtúe engendered is the flower;2 5
When Zephyrus eke with his sweet ? breath West Wind also Inspir ?d hath in every holt and heath grove & field
The tender cropp ?s, and the young ? sun young shoots / Spring sun
Hath in the Ram his half ? course y-run,3 in Aries / has run
And small ? fowl ?s maken melody
little birds 10
That sleepen all the night with open eye Who sleep (So pricketh them Natúre in their courág es), spurs / spirits Then longen folk to go on pilgrimáges, people long And palmers for to seeken strang ? strands pilgrims / shores
To fern ? hallows couth in sundry lands,4 distant shrines known
15
And specially from every shir ?'s end county's
Of Eng ?land to Canterbury they wend go
The holy blissful martyr for to seek,
St. Thomas Becket That them hath holpen when that they were sick. Who has helped them
2CANTERBURY TALES
1 45-6: "He loved everything that pertained to knighthood: truth (to one's word), honor, magnanimity
At the Tabard Inn, just south of London, the poet-pilgrim falls in with a group of twenty nine other pilgrims who have met each other along the way.Befell that in that season on a day It happened
20In Southwark at The Tabard as I lay inn name / lodged Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage to go To Canterbury with full devout couráge, spirit, heart At night was come into that hostelry inn Well nine and twenty in a company fully 29 25Of sundry folk by áventure y-fall by chance fallen ...
In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all ...Into company That toward Canterbury woulden ride. wished to
The chambers and the stables weren wide were roomy And well we weren eas ?d at the best. entertained 30And shortly, when the sunn ? was to rest, sun had set
So had I spoken with them every one That I was of their fellowship anon, And mad ? forward early for to rise agreement
To take our way there as I you devise. I shall tell you
35 But natheless, while I have time and space, nevertheless Ere that I further in this tal ? pace, Before I go Methinketh it accordant to reason It seems to me To tell you all the condit?on circumstances Of each of them so as it seem ?d me, to me 40And which they weren, and of what degree And who / social rank And eke in what array that they were in; also / dress And at a knight then will I first begin.
The Knight is the person of highest social standing on the pilgrimage though you would never know it from his modest manner or his clothes. He keeps his ferocity for crusaders' battlefields where he has distinguished himself over many years and over a wide geographical area. As the text says, he is not "gay", that is, he is not showily dressed, but is still wearing the military padded coat stained by the armor he has only recently taken off. A KNIGHT there was and that a worthy man
That from the tim ? that he first began 45
To riden out, he lov ?d chivalry,
Truth and honóur, freedom and courtesy.1
CANTERBURY TALES
3
(freedom ), courtesy."
1 52-3: He had often occupied the seat of honor at the table of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, where badges
awarded to distinguished crusaders read "Honneur vainc tout: Honor conquers all." Though the campaigns listed below were real, and though it was perhaps just possible for one man to have been in them all, the list is probably idealized. The exact geographical locations are of little interest today. This portrait is generally thought to show a man of unsullied ideals; Jones (see Bibliography) insists that the knight was a mere mercenary.
2 63: "In single combat (listes ) three times, and always (ay ) killed his opponent."
3 64-67: The knight had fought for one Saracen or pagan leader against another, a common, if dubious,
practice. And ever more ... may mean he always kept the highest reputation or that he always came away with a splendid reward or booty (prize)..
Full worthy was he in his lord ?'s war,
lorde's = king's or God's
And thereto had he ridden--no man farre farther
As well in Christendom as Heatheness heathendom
50
And ever honoured for his worthiness.
His campaigns
At Alexandria he was when it was won. captured
Full often time he had the board begun table
Aboven all ? nat?ons in Prussia.1
In Lithow had he reis ?d and in Russia Lithuania / fought
55
No Christian man so oft of his degree. rank
In Gránad' at the siege eke had he be Granada / also
Of Algesir and ridden in Belmarie. At Ley ?s was he and at Satalie
When they were won, and in the Great ? Sea Mediterranean
60
At many a noble army had he be. At mortal battles had he been fifteen
And foughten for our faith at Tramissene In list ?s thric ?, and ay slain his foe.2 combat 3 times & always
This ilk ? worthy knight had been also same
65
Sometim ? with the lord of Palatie Against another heathen in Turkey,
And ever more he had a sovereign prize,3
always
His modest demeanor
And though that he was worthy he was wise, valiant / sensible
And of his port as meek as is a maid. deportment 70
Ne never yet no villainy he said
rudeness
CANTERBURY TALES
4 1 70-71: Notice quadruple negative: "ne, never, no ... no" used for emphasis, perhaps deliberately excessive
emphasis. It is not bad grammar. The four negatives remain in Ellesmer's slightlly different version: "He never yet no villainy ne said ... unto no manner wight"
2 74: "He (the Knight) was not fashionably dressed." horse was : most MSS read hors weere(n) = "horses
were." I have preferred the reading of MS Lansdowne.
3 75-78: The poor state of the knight's clothes is generally interpreted to indicate his pious anxiety to fulfill a
religious duty even before he has had a chance to change his clothes. Jones thinks it simply confirms that the knight was a mercenary who had pawned his armor. voyage : MSS have viage . Blessed viage was the term often used for the holy war of the crusades.
479-80: A squire learned his future duties as a knight by attending on one. Bachelor is another word meaning
a young man in training to be a knight.
5 87: "And distinguished himself, considering the short time he had been at it."
In all his life unto no manner wight.1 no kind of person He was a very perfect gentle knight. But for to tellen you of his array:
His horse was good; but he was not gay.2 well dressed
75Of fustian he wear ?d a gipoun coarse cloth / tunic All besmotered with his habergeon, stained / mail For he was late y-come from his voyáge, just come / journey
And went ? for to do his pilgrimáge.3
The Knight's 20-year-old son is a striking contrast to his father. True, he has seen some military action, but it was to impress his lady not his Lord God. Unlike his parent, he is fashionably dressed.He is very much in love, he has cultivated all the social graces, and is also aware of his duty to serve as his father's squire
With him there was his son, a young ? SQUIRE, 80
A lover and a lusty bachelor 4
With locks curled as they were laid in press.as if in curlers Of twenty years he was of age, I guess. Of his statúre he was of even length,
moderate height
And wonderly deliver and of great strength, very athletic 85
And he had been sometime in chivachy on campaign In Flanders, in Artois and Picardy,
And borne him well as in so little space 5 conducted / time
In hope to standen in his lady's grace. good graces
Embroidered was he as it were a mead meadow
90
All full of fresh ? flowers white and red.
CANTERBURY TALES
5
1 100: The table would be occupied at only one side, so when the Squire carved for his father, the Knight, he
stood before him across the table.
2 101: A servant of middle rank. This one looks after his master's forest land.
3 104-114: Why a forester should be so heavily armed on a pilgrimage is not clear.
Singing he was or fluting all the day. whistling? He was as fresh as is the month of May.
Short was his gown with sleev ?s long and wide.
Well could he sit on horse and fair ? ride.ride well
95He could ? song ?s make and well endite, write words & music Joust and eke dance, and well portray and write.also / draw So hot he lov ?d that by nightertale night(time) He slept no more than does a nightingale. Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable, 100 And carved before his father at the table.1
Knight and Squire are accompanied by their Yeoman . He is noticeably over-armed for a pilgrimage, which indicates probably suspicion of the big city by a man more at home in the forest. A YEOMAN he had and servants no more 2 At that tim ?, for him list ? rid ? so,
it pleased him to
And he was clad in coat and hood of green.
A sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen 105
Under his belt he bore full thriftily.
neatly Well could he dress his tackle yeomanly— care for
His arrows droop ?d not with feathers low, And in his hand he bore a mighty bow.
A not-head had he with a brown viságe. cropped head 110
Of woodcraft could he well all the uságe. knew all the skills Upon his arm he bore a gay bracér elaborate armguard
And by his side a sword and a bucklér shield
And on that other side a gay daggér
fine, splendid
Harnessed well and sharp as point of spear.3 Finely wrought 115
A Christopher on his breast of silver sheen. St C. medal / bright
A horn he bore, the baldrick was of green. cord A forester was he soothly as I guess.
truly
The Prioress is the head of a fashionable convent. She is a charming lady, none the less charming for her slight worldliness: she has a romantic name, Eglantine, wild rose; she has delicate table
CANTERBURY TALES
6 1 120: The joke that presumably lurks in this line is not explained by the usual annotation that St. Eloy (or
Loy or Eligius) was a patron saint of goldsmiths and of carters.
2 123: Another joke presumably, but again not adequately explained.
3 126: This is a snigger at the provincial quality of the lady's French, acquired in a London suburb, not in
Paris. Everything about the prioress is meant to suggest affected elegance of a kind not especially appropriate in a nun: her facial features, her manners, her jewelry, her French, her clothes, her name. Eglantine = "wild rose" or "sweet briar." Madame = "my lady."
4 139-40: She took pains to imitate the manners of the (king's) court.
manners and is exquisitely sensitive to animal rights; she speaks French -- after a fashion; she has a pretty face and knows it; her nun's habit is elegantly tailored, and she displays discreetly a little tasteful jewelry: a gold brooch on her rosary embossed with the nicely ambiguous Latin motto:Amor Vincit Omnia, Love conquers all.
There was also a nun, a PRIORESS,
head of a convent
That of her smiling was full simple and coy. modest
120
Her greatest oath was but by Saint Eloy,1 And she was clep ?d Madame Eglantine. called
Full well she sang the servic ? divine Entun ?d in her nose full seem ?ly.2
And French she spoke full fair and fetisly nicely
125
After the school of Stratford at the Bow, For French of Paris was to her unknow.3 At meat ? well y-taught was she withall: meals / indeed
She let no morsel from her lipp ?s fall,
Nor wet her fingers in her sauc ? deep.
130
Well could she carry a morsel and well keep handle That no drop ne fell upon her breast. So that
In courtesy was set full much her lest: v. much her interest
Her over lipp ? wip ?d she so clean
upper lip
That in her cup there was no farthing seen small stain 135
Of greas ?, when she drunk ?n had her draught. Full seem ?ly after her meat she raught, reached for her food And sikerly she was of great desport certainly / charm
And full pleasánt and amiable of port, behavior
And pain ?d her to counterfeit ? cheer imitate the manners
140
Of court,4 and be estately of mannér,
And to be holden digne of reverence.
thought worthy
CANTERBURY TALES
7
1 161-2: The gold brooch on her rosary had a capital "A" with a crown above it, and a Latin motto meaning
"Love conquers all," a phrase appropriate to both sacred and secular love. It occurs in a French poem that
Chaucer knew well, The Romance of the Rose (21327-32), where Courteoisie quotes it from Virgil's Eclogue X,69, to justify the plucking of the Rose by the Lover, a decidedly secular, indeed sexual, act of "Amor".
2 164: The Prioress's traveling companion is called, confusingly, her chaplain. The priests are employees of
the Prioress's well-to-do convent. Even in a market flooded with priests, bringing three along on the pilgrimage would be a display of celibate feminism and of conspicuous consumption as marked as the Prioress's jewelry and her choice of dog food. However, many scholars think that the words "and priests three" were inserted by a scribe.
She is very sensitive
But for to speaken of her consc?ence: sensitivity She was so charitable and so pitóus moved to pity
She would ? weep if that she saw a mouse 145Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled. Of small ? hound ?s had she that she fed
With roasted flesh or milk and wastel bread, fine bread But sore wept she if one of them were dead Or if men smote it with a yard ?, smart; a stick smartly
150 And all was consc?ence and tender heart.
Her personal appearance Full seem ?ly her wimple pinch ?d was, headdress pleated Her nose tretis, her eyen grey as glass,
handsome / eyes
Her mouth full small and thereto soft and red,and also
But sikerly she had a fair forehead. certainly
155
It was almost a spann ? broad, I trow, handsbreadth / I guess For hardily she was not undergrow. certainly / short? thin?
Full fetis was her cloak as I was 'ware. elegant / aware Of small coral about her arm she bare bore, carried
A pair of beads gauded all with green,
A rosary decorated
160
And thereon hung a brooch of gold full sheen shining
On which was written first a crown ?d A And after: Amor Vincit Omnia.1 Love Conquers All
Her traveling companions Another Nunn ? with her hadd ? she
nun
That was her chap ?lain, and priest ?s three.2
companion
CANTERBURY TALES
8Three priests would make the number of pilgrims 31 not 29, and only one is heard from again, in the Nun's Priests Tale.
1 166: venery : both "hunting" and the work of Venus, goddess of love. This description of the Monk is
larded with sexual innuendo.
2 172: The lordly monk is in charge of an annex (cell ) of the monastery.
Another member of the church is the Monk who, like the Prioress, is supposed to stay in his monastery but who, like her, finds an excuse to get away from it, something he does a lot. He has long since lost any of the monastic ideals he may have set out with, and he now prefers travel, good clothes, good food, good hunting with well-equipped horses, in place of the poverty, study and manual labor prescribed by his monastic rule. He may not be a bad man, but he is not a good monk.
165
A MONK there was, a fair for the mastery, a very fine fellow An outrider that lov ?d venery.1 horseman / hunting
A manly man to be an abbot able,
Full many a dainty horse had he in stable,
And when he rode, men might his bridle hear 170
Jingle in a whistling wind as clear
And eke as loud as does the chapel bell And also There as this lord is keeper of the cell.2 Where / annex The rule of Saint Maur or of Saint Bennett [monastic] rule
Because that it was old and somedeal strait somewhat strict 175
This ilk ? monk let old ? thing ?s pass This same / go And held after the new ? world the space. modern ways now
He gave not of that text a pull ?d hen plucked That says that hunters be not holy men
Nor that a monk, when he is reckless, careless of rules 180
Is likened to a fish that's waterless,
That is to say, a monk out of his cloister. monastery
But thilk ? text held he not worth an oyster.
this saying he thought
The poet pretends to agree with his lax views
And I said his opin?on was good;
I = narrator
What! Should he study and make himselfen wood himself mad 185
Upon a book in cloister always to pore? Or swinken with his hand ?s and labóur
or work
As Austin bids? How shall the world be served?
St Augustine
CANTERBURY TALES
9
1 188: "Let Augustine keep his work." An unbecoming way for a monk to speak of the great saint whose rule,
like that of St. Maurus and St. Benedict (Maur and Bennett, 173) prescribed study and physical labor for monks.
Let Austin have his swink to him reserved.1
His taste in sport and clothes Therefore he was a prickasour aright.
hunter, for sure 190
Greyhounds he had as swift as fowl in flight. Of pricking and of hunting for the hare tracking Was all his lust, for no cost would he spare. his passion I saw his sleev ?s purfled at the hand edged at the wrist
With gris, and that the finest of the land, fur 195
And for to fasten his hood under his chin
He had of gold y-wrought a full curious pin — very elaborate
A love knot on the greater end there was.
His physical appearance His head was bald, that shone as any glass
And eke his face, as he had been anoint. also / as if oiled 200
He was a lord full fat and in good point, in good health His eyen steep and rolling in his head eyes prominent That steam ?d as a furnace of a lead,
lead furnace His boots supple, his horse in great estate. in great shape
Now certainly he was a fair prelate. a fine cleric
205
He was not pale as is a forpined ghost. tortured
A fat swan loved he best of any roast.
His palfrey was as brown as any berry.
horse
The Friar , another cleric, is even less a man of God than the Monk. A member of a mendicant order of men who lived on what they could get by begging, he has become a professional fund-raiser, the best in his friary because of some special skills: personal charm, a good singing voice,an attractive little lisp, a talent for mending quarrels and having the right little gift for the ladies,and a forgiving way in the confessional especially when he expects a generous donation. He can find good economic reasons to cultivate the company of the rich rather than the poor.
A FRIAR there was, a wanton and a merry,
lively
CANTERBURY TALES
10 1 208-9: A Friar (Fr. frère ) was a member of one of four religious orders of men. Some were "mendicants,"
who depended on what they could get by begging. Our friar, a limiter , has a begging district within which he must stay. "Solempne" cannot mean solemn except as heavy irony. See l. 274
2 212-13: He had provided dowries for many young women, or he had performed the marriage ceremonies
without a fee.
3 218-220: Sometimes the pope or bishop would reserve to himself or to a special delegate (licenciate) the
right to hear the confessions of prominent public sinners, guilty of particularly heinous offences. This would have no relevance to the ordinary confession-goer, for whom the Friar had no more "power of confession" than the curate or parson .
4 227-8: "For if he (the penitent) gave (an offering), he (the Friar) would dare to say that he knew the man
was truly repentant."
A limiter, a full solémpn ? man.1
licensed beggar / v. impressive
210In all the orders four is none that can knows
So much of dalliance and fair language. smooth manners
He had made full many a marr?age Of young ? women at his own ? cost.2
Unto his order he was a noble post. pillar 215
Full well beloved and familiar was he With franklins over all in his country, landowners And eke with worthy women of the town, And also For he had power of confess?on,
As said himself, more than a curate, parish priest
220
For of his order he was licentiate.3
licensed
His manner in the confessional
Full sweet ?ly heard he confess?on And pleasant was his absolut?on. He was an easy man to give penánce
There as he wist to have a good pittánce, expected / offering
225
For unto a poor order for to give Is sign ? that a man is well y-shrive, confessed For if he gave, he durst ? make avaunt dared / boast
He wist ? that a man was répentaunt,4 knew
For many a man so hard is of his heart, 230
He may not weep though that he sor ? smart.it hurt him sharply
Therefore, instead of weeping and [of] prayers Men may give silver to the poor ? freres. friars
CANTERBURY TALES
11
1 241-2: "Tapster, beggester": the "-ster" ending signified, strictly, a female. It survives (barely) in "spinster."
2 251: The meaning of virtuous ("obliging? effective"?) would seem to depend on whether one takes 251 with
the preceding or the following line.
3 252a: He had paid a certain fee (farm') for the monopoly (grant ) of begging in his district (`haunt'). The
couplet 252 a-b occurs only in MS Hengwrt of the Six Text .
4 256: His income from the begging was much larger than his outlay for the monopoly.
His largess, his talents, and the company he cultivated
His tipet was ay fars ?d full of knives hood was always packed
And pinn ?s for to given fair ? wives.
pretty
235
And certainly he had a merry note— Well could he sing and playen on a rote. stringed instrument
Of yeddings he bore utterly the prize. ballad songs
His neck was white as is the fleur de lys; lily
Thereto he strong was as a champion. But also / fighter 240
He knew the taverns well in every town And every hosteler and tappester innkeeper & barmaid Bet than a lazar or a beggester,1 Better / leper or beggar
For unto such a worthy man as he
Accorded not as by his faculty
Didn't suit his rank
245
To have with sick ? lazars ácquaintance. lepers
It is not honest, it may not advance proper / profit For to dealen with no such poraille, poor people
But all with rich and sellers of vitaille. food
And overall there as profit should arise, everywhere that 250
Courteous he was and lowly of service;
humbly useful
His begging manner was so smooth he could, if necessary, extract money from the poorest There was no man nowhere so virtuous.2
He was the best ? beggar in his house 252a And gave a certain farm ? for the grant.3
252b
None of his brethren came there in his haunt. district For though a widow hadde not a shoe,
So pleasant was his "In Principio"
his blessing 255
Yet he would have a farthing ere he went. 1/4 of a penny
His purchase was well better than his rent.4
CANTERBURY TALES
12 1 259: cloisterer : probably a "real" friar who stayed largely within his cloister, satisfied with poor clothes
according to his vow of poverty.
2 261: master : possibly Master of Arts, a rather more eminent degree than it is now, though hardly making its
holder as exalted as the pope.
3 271: (dressed in) motley : probably not the loud mixed colors of the jester, but possibly tweed.
4 276-7: "He wished above all that the stretch of sea between Middleburgh (in Flanders) and Orwell (in
England) were guarded (kept ) against pirates."
5 278: He knew the intricacies of foreign exchange. Scholars have charged the Merchant with gold
smuggling or even coin clipping; but although shields were units of money, they were neither gold nor coins.
And he had other talents and attractions
And rage he could as it were right a whelp. frolic like a puppy
In lov ?days there could he muchel help, mediation days For there he was not like a cloisterer 1 260With a threadbare cope as is a poor ? scholar, cloak But he was like a master or a pope.2 Of double worsted was his semi-cope, short cloak And rounded as a bell out of the press. the mold
Somewhat he lisp ?d for his wantonness affectation
265To make his English sweet upon his tongue, And in his harping when that he had sung, His eyen twinkled in his head aright eyes As do the starr ?s in the frosty night. stars This worthy limiter was clept Huberd. was called
The Merchant is apparently a prosperous exporter who likes to TALK of his prosperity; he is concerned about pirates and profits, skillful in managing exchange rates, but tightlipped about
business details.
270
A MERCHANT was there with a fork ?d beard, In motley,3 and high on horse he sat, Upon his head a Flandrish beaver hat, from Flanders
His boots clasp ?d fair and fetisly. neatly
His reasons he spoke full solémpn ?ly,
solemnly 275
Sounding always the increase of his winning. profits He would the sea were kept for anything he wished
Betwixt Middleburgh and Or ?well.4
Well could he in Exchang ? shield ?s sell.5
currency
CANTERBURY TALES
13
1 285-6: He had long since set out to study logic, part of the trivium or lower section of the university syllabus
(the other two parts were rhetoric and grammar); hence his early college years had long since passed. y-go (gone)is the past participle of "go."
2 298: A joke. Although he was a student of philosophy, he had not discovered the "philosopher's stone,"
which was supposed to turn base metals into gold. The two senses of "philosopher" played on here are: a) student of the work of Aristotle b) student of science ("natural philosophy"), a meaning which shaded off into "alchemist,magician."
This worthy man full well his wit beset — used his brains
280There wist ? no wight that he was in debt, no person knew So stately was he of his governance management With his bargains and with his chevissance. money dealings Forsooth he was a worthy man withal, Truly / indeed But sooth to say, I n'ot how men him call. truth I don't know
The Clerk is the first admirable church member we meet on the pilgrimage. "Clerk" meant a number of related things: a cleric, a student, a scholar. This clerk is all three, devoted to the love of learning and of God, the quintessential scholar, who would rather buy a book than a coat or a good meal, totally unworldly . 285 A CLERK there was of Oxenford also Oxford That unto logic hadd ? long y-go.1 gone As lean ? was his horse as is a rake, And he was not right fat, I undertake, he=the Clerk But look ?d hollow, and thereto soberly. gaunt & also 290Full threadbare was his overest courtepy, outer cloak For he had gotten him yet no benefice parish Nor was so worldly for to have office, secular job For him was lever have at his bed's head For he would rather Twenty book ?s clad in black or red bound 295Of Aristotle and his philosophy Than rob ?s rich or fiddle or gay psalt'ry. stringed instrument But albeit that he was a philosopher, although
Yet hadd ? he but little gold in coffer,2
chest But all that he might of his friend ?s hent get 300On book ?s and on learning he it spent, And busily gan for the soul ?s pray regulary prayed for Of them that gave him wherewith to scholay. study Of study took he most care and most heed. Not one word spoke he mor ? than was need,
CANTERBURY TALES
14
1 315: patent / plain commission : technical terms meaning by royal appointment.
2 326: "Nobody could fault any document he had drawn up" (endited ). Clearly line 327 is a deliberate exaggeration.
305
And that was spoke in form and reverence, And short and quick and full of high senténce. lofty thought Sounding in moral virtue was his speech, And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.
The Sergeant of the Law is a successful but unostentatious, high-ranking lawyer who sometimes functions as a judge. We are told with just a touch of irony, that he is, like many of the pilgrims,
the very best at what he does, a busy man, but "yet he seem ?d busier than he was."
A SERGEANT of the law, waryand wise A ranking lawyer
310That often hadd ? been at the Parvise lawyer's meeting place There was also, full rich of excellence. Discreet he was and of great reverence; He seem ?d such, his word ?s were so wise. Justice he was full often in assize judge / circuit court
315By patent and by plain commiss?on.1
For his sciénce and for his high renown knowledge Of fees and rob ?s had he many a one. So great a purchaser was nowhere none; All was fee simple to him in effect. easy money (pun) 320His purchasing ? might not be infect. faulted Nowhere so busy a man as he there n'as, =ne was=was not
And yet he seem ?d busier than he was. In term ?s had he case and doom ?s all In books / judgements That from the time of King William were fall. W. the Conqueror / handed down 325Thereto he could endite and make a thing; Also / draw up There could ? no wight pinch at his writing.2 no person c. complain And every statute could he plein by rote. knew completely by heart He rode but homely in a medley coat simply / tweed? Girt with a ceint of silk with barr ?s small. bound w. a belt / stripes 330Of his array tell I no longer tale.
The Lawyer is accompanied by his friend, the Franklin , a prosperous country gentleman, prominent in his county. He is a generous extroverted man ("sanguine" the text says) who likes good food and drink and sharing them with others, somewhat like St Julian, the patron saint of hospitality
CANTERBURY TALES
15
1 333: Complexion ... sanguine probably means (1) he had a ruddy face and (2) he was of "sanguine humor"i.e. outgoing and optimistic because of the predominance of blood in his system. See ENDPAPERS: Humor
2 336-8: Epicurus was supposed, rightly or wrongly, to have taught that utmost pleasure was the greatest good (hence "epicure").
3 340: St Julian was the patron saint of hospitality
4 351-2: His cook would regret it if his sauce was not pungent and sharp ....
5 359-60: sherriff : "shire reeve," King's representative in a county. counter : overseer of taxes for the treasury.
vavasour : wealthy gentleman, possibly also a family name.
A FRANK ?LIN was in his company. rich landowner White was his beard as is the daisy. Of his complex?on he was sanguine.1
ruddy & cheerful
Well loved he by the morrow a sop in wine. in the a.m. 335
To liv ?n in delight was ever his wont, custom For he was Epicurus's own son That held opin?on that plain delight total pleasure
Was very felicity perfite.2
truly perfect happiness
A householder and that a great was he; 340
Saint Julian he was in his country.3
His bread, his ale, was always after one. of one kind i.e. good A better envin ?d man was never none. with better wine cellar
Withouten bak ?d meat was never his house meat = food
Of fish and flesh, and that so plenteous 345
It snow ?d in his house of meat and drink food
Of all ? dainties that men could bethink. After the sundry seasons of the year According to So chang ?d he his meat and his supper.
Full many a fat partridge had he in mew in a cage 350
And many a bream and many a luce in stew. fish in pond Woe was his cook but if his sauc ? were Poignant and sharp, and ready all his gear.4 tangy His table dormant in his hall alway set / always
Stood ready covered all the long ? day. 355
At sess?ons there was he lord and sire. law sessions
Full often time he was knight of the shire. member of Parliament
An anlace and a gipser all of silk
dagger & purse
Hung at his girdle white as morning milk.
A sherriff had he been, and a counter. tax overseer 360
Was nowhere such a worthy vavasoúr.5
gentleman
CANTERBURY TALES
16 1 361-64: Haberdasher: a dealer in items of clothing and notions; Webber: weaver; Dyer: a dyer of cloth;
Tapiser: tapestry maker--all connected with the cloth business. Since the Carpenter is a member of their
"fraternity," but not of their trade group, commentators say that theirs was not a trade guild but a parish guild, with its own livery or uniform. Perhaps "Carpeter" was meant, although all MSS of Six-Text read "Carpenter" and there is no entry for "Carpeter" in MED .
Somewhat lower in the social scale is a bevy of Skilled Tradesmen most of them connected with the fabric trades and belonging to a guild, a "fraternity". Their prosperity shows in their clothes, and their accouterments and the fact that they have brought their own cook, perhaps to
replace the skills of the ambitious wives they have left at home. A HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER,1 A WEBBER, a DYER and a TAPISER And they were clothed all in one livery uniform
Of a solemn and a great fraternity.
guild 365
Full fresh and new their gear apik ?d was: burnished Their kniv ?s wer ? chap ?d not with brass
finished But all with silver; wrought full clean and well made
Their girdles and their pouches everydeal. belts / every bit
Well seem ?d each of them a fair burgess citizen
370
To sitten in a Guildhall on a dais. [in City Council] / platform
Ever each for the wisdom that he can Every one / had Was shapely for to be an alderman, fit to be councilman For chattels hadd ? they enough and rent,property / income
And eke their wiv ?s would it well assent also / agree 375
And els ? certainly they were to blame: would be
It is full fair to be y-cleped "Madame," called "My Lady" And go to vigils all before
evening services
And have a mantle royally y-bore.
carried
They have a great chef with a gorge-raising affliction
A COOK they hadd ? with them for the nones the occasion 380
To boil the chickens and the marrow bones And powder merchant tart, and galingale. [names of spices]
Well could he know a draught of London ale.
He could ? roast and seeth and broil and fry
simmer
CANTERBURY TALES
17
1 384: Recipes for mortrews and chickens with marrow bones can be found in Pleyn Delit by C. Hieatt and S.
Butler (Toronto, 1979), 9, 11, 83.
2 387: blancmanger : a dish of white food, such as chicken or fish, with other items of white food--rice,
crushed almonds, almond "milk," etc. See Pleyn Delit , 58, 89.
3 390: "He rode upon a nag as best he knew how."
4 400: He made them walk the plank.
5 401-4: These lines deal with the mariner's skill as a navigator: he is the best from England to Spain.
lodemenage = navigation, cf. lodestone, lodestar. harborow = position of the sun in the zodiac, or simply "harbors."
Make mortrews and well bake a pie.1 thick soups
385But great harm was it, as it thought ? me, seemed to me That on his shin a mormal hadd ? he, open sore
For bláncmanger that made he with the best.2
The Shipman is a ship's captain, the most skilled from here to Spain, more at home on the deck of ship than on the back of a horse. He is not above a little larceny or piracy and in a sea fight
he does not take prisoners. A SHIPMAN was there, woning far by west; living
For aught I wot, he was of Dart ?mouth. aught I know
390
He rode upon a rouncy as he couth,3 nag In a gown of falding to the knee. wool cloth
A dagger hanging on a lace had he About his neck under his arm adown.
The hot summer had made his hue all brown. his color
395
And certainly he was a good fellow.
Full many a draught of wine had he y-draw
drawn
From Bordeaux-ward while that the chapman sleep. merchant slept Of nic ? consc?ence took he no keep: sensitive c. / care
If that he fought and had the higher hand upper hand
400
By water he sent them home to every land.4 But of his craft to reckon well his tides, for his skill His stream ?s and his dangers him besides, currents
His harborow, his moon, his lodemenage
sun's position / navigation
There was none such from Hull unto Cartháge.5 405
Hardy he was and wise to undertake.
With many a tempest had his beard been shake.
He knew all the havens as they were
harbors
CANTERBURY TALES
18 1 414: Astronomy = astrology. Medieval medicine was less the practice of an applied science than of magic
natural (white magic) including astrology.
2 415-18: These four lines are hard to render except by paraphrase: he treated his patient by "white magic" and
he knew how to cast horoscopes and calculate astronomically the best hours to treat his patient.
3 423: "When the cause and root of his illness were diagnosed".
4 428: They were old colleagues.
5 429-434: This list of classical, Arabic and other medieval authorities on medicine functions somewhat like
From Gothland to the Cape of Finisterre
And every creek in Brittany and Spain. 410His barge y-clep ?d was the Maud ?lain . ship was called
The medical Doctor is also the best in his profession, and though his practice, typical of the period,sounds to us more like astrology and magic than medicine, he makes a good living at it. With us there was a DOCTOR of PHYSIC. medicine
In all this world ne was there none him like To speak of physic and of surgery,
For he was grounded in astronomy:1 astrology
415
He kept his pat?ent a full great deal In hours, by his magic natural.2
Well could he fórtunen the áscendent Of his imáges for his pat?ent.
He knew the cause of every malady 420
Were it of hot or cold or moist or dry
And where engendered and of what humor.See Endpapers He was a very perfect practiser.
The cause y-know, and of his harm the root,3 known / source
Anon he gave the sick ? man his boote.
medicine, cure
His connections with the druggists
425
Full ready had he his apothecaries druggists To send him drugs and his letuaries, medicines For each of them made other for to win; to profit
Their friendship was not new ? to begin.4
Well knew he the old Esculapius 430
And Dioscorides and eke Rusus,5
also
CANTERBURY TALES
19
the list of the knight's battles, a deliberate exaggeration; here the result is mildly comic, intentionally.
1 438: Physicians were sometimes thought to tend towards atheism. Perhaps the rhyme here was just very
French. Or was meant to be comic; it could work in modern English if so regarded, with "digestible" pronounced exaggeratedly to rime fully with modern "Bible."
2 443-4: A pun. Gold was used in some medications (physic ); but physic is also the practice of medicine at
which much gold can be made, especially in time of plague (pestilence ), and that is good for the heart (cordial ).
Old Hippocras, Hali and Galen Serapion, Rasis and Avicen,
Averrois, Damascene and Constantine,
Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertine.
His personal habits; his appearance
435
Of his diet measurable was he moderate For it was of no superfluity excess But of great nourishing and digestible. His study was but little on the Bible.1
In sanguine and in perse he clad was all In red & blue 440
Lin ?d with taffeta and with sendall, silk And yet he was but easy of dispense. thrifty spender He kept ? what he won in pestilence. during plague For gold in physic is a cordial, Because
Therefore he lov ?d gold in spec?al.2
(Wife of Bath’s portrait begins on next page)
坎特伯雷故事集
The Canterbury Tales by GEOFFREY CHAUCER A READER-FRIENDLY EDITION Put into modern spelling by MICHAEL MURPHY GENERAL PROLOGUE
1 1 When April with its sweet showers has pierced the drought of March to the root and bathed every rootlet in the liquid by which the flower is engendered; when the west wind also, with its sweet breath, has brought forth young shoots in every grove and field; when the early sun of spring has run half his course in the sign of Aries, and when small birds make melody, birds that sleep all night with eyes open, (as Nature inspires them to) --THEN people have a strong desire to go on pilgrimages, and pilgrims long to go to foreign shores to distant shrines known in various countries. And especially they go from every county in England to seek out the shrine of the holy blessed martyr who has helped them when they were sick. 2 4: "By virtue (strength) of which the flower is engendered." 3 8: The early sun of Spring has moved part way through the sign of Aries (the Ram) in the Zodiac. 4 13-14: "Pilgrims seek foreign shores (to go) to distant shrines known in different lands." Palmers : pilgrims, from the palm-leaves they got in Jerusalem. GENERAL PROLOGUE The opening is a long, elaborate sentence about the effects of Spring on the vegetable and animal world, and on people. The style of the rest of the Prologue and Tales is much simpler than this opening. A close paraphrase of the opening sentence is offered at the bottom of this page.1 W hen that April with his showers soote its showers sweet The drought of March hath pierc ?d to the root And bath ?d every vein in such liquor rootlet / liquid Of which virtúe engendered is the flower;2 5 When Zephyrus eke with his sweet ? breath West Wind also Inspir ?d hath in every holt and heath grove & field The tender cropp ?s, and the young ? sun young shoots / Spring sun Hath in the Ram his half ? course y-run,3 in Aries / has run And small ? fowl ?s maken melody little birds 10 That sleepen all the night with open eye Who sleep (So pricketh them Natúre in their courág es), spurs / spirits Then longen folk to go on pilgrimáges, people long And palmers for to seeken strang ? strands pilgrims / shores To fern ? hallows couth in sundry lands,4 distant shrines known 15 And specially from every shir ?'s end county's Of Eng ?land to Canterbury they wend go The holy blissful martyr for to seek, St. Thomas Becket That them hath holpen when that they were sick. Who has helped them
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乔叟《坎特伯雷故事集序一》（中世纪英语）(2010-03-06 15:25:43) 转载▼ 分类：英语学习、英语文学研究 标签： 中世纪 英国 乔叟 坎特伯雷 故事 文化 The Canterbury Tales : Prologue Here bygynneth the Book 1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote 2: The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, 3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour 4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour; 5: Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 6: Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 7: Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 8: Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne, 9: And smale foweles maken melodye, 10: That slepen al the nyght with open ye 11: (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 ende 16: Of engelond to caunterbury they wende, 17: The hooly blisful martir for to seke, 18: That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. 19: Bifil that in that seson on a day, 20: In southwerk at the tabard as I lay 21: Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage 22: To caunterbury with ful devout corage, 23: At nyght was come into that hostelrye 24: Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye,
坎特伯雷故事集 中文 译文
夏雨给大地带来了喜悦， 送走了土壤干裂的三月， 沐浴着草木的丝丝经络， 顿时百花盛开，生机勃勃。西风轻吹留下清香缕缕， 田野复苏吐出芳草绿绿； 碧蓝的天空腾起一轮红日，青春的太阳洒下万道金辉。小鸟的歌喉多么清脆优美，迷人的夏夜怎好安然入睡——美丽的自然撩拨万物的心弦，多情的鸟儿歌唱爱情的欣欢。香客盼望膜拜圣徒的灵台，僧侣立愿云游陌生的滨海。信徒来自全国东西南北， 众人结伴奔向坎特伯雷， 去朝谢医病救世的恩主， 以缅怀大恩大德的圣徒。 那是个初夏方临的日子， 我到泰巴旅店投宿歇息； 怀着一颗虔诚的赤子心， 我准备翌日出发去朝圣。 黄昏前后华灯初上时分， 旅店院里涌入很多客人； 二十九人来自各行各业， 不期而遇都到旅店过夜。 这些香客人人虔心诚意， 次日要骑马去坎特伯雷。 客房与马厩宽敞又洁净， 店主的招待周到而殷勤。 夕阳刚从地平线上消失， 众人同我已经相互结识； 大家约好不等鸡鸣就起床，迎着熹微晨光干燥把路上。 可是在我叙述故事之前， 让我占用诸位一点时间， 依我之见似乎还很必要， 把每人的情况作些介绍。 谈谈他们从事什么行业， 社会地位属于哪个阶层，
容貌衣着举止又是如何， 那么我就先把骑士说说。 骑士的人品出众而且高尚，自从军以来就驰骋于疆场，待人彬彬有礼，大度而豪爽，珍惜荣誉节操和骑士风尚。为君主效命创辉煌战绩， 所到国家之远无人能比， 转战于基督和异教之邦， 因功勋卓著缕缕受表彰。 他攻打过亚历山大利亚； 在普鲁士庆功宴上有他， 这位佼佼者多次坐首席； 从立陶宛直打到俄罗斯， 同级的骑士都大为逊色； 攻克阿给西勒有他一个， 还出征到过柏尔玛利亚； 夺取烈亚斯和萨塔利亚； 他还多次游弋于地中海， 跟随登陆大军将敌战败。 十五次比武他大显身手， 为捍卫信仰而浴血奋斗； 在战场上三次杀死敌将， 高贵的武士美名传四方。 他还侍奉过柏拉西亚国君，讨伐另一支土耳其异教军；没有一次不赢得最高荣誉，他骁勇善战，聪慧而不痴愚。他温柔顺从像个大姑娘， 一生无论是在什么地方， 对谁也没有讲过半个脏字：堪称一个完美的真骑士。 他有一批俊美的千里马， 但是他的衣着朴实无华； 开价的底下是结识的布衣，上上下下到处是斑斑污迹。他风尘仆仆刚从战场归来，片刻未休息就急忙去朝拜。
坎特伯雷故事集
坎特伯雷故事集》（The Canterbury Tales）是一部詩體短篇小說集，作者是英國詩人喬叟（Geoffrey Chaucer）。故事敘說有29名朝聖者（pilgrims）聚集在倫敦一家客店，整裝前往70英裡外的坎特伯雷（Canterbury）。店主哈里?貝利自告奮勇擔任導遊，並在晚飯後提議在往返途中每人各講兩個故事，以解五天旅途中的無聊寂寞，看誰的故事講得最好，可以免費吃一餐好飯。這些朝聖者，有騎士、僧侶、侍從、商人、匠人、紡織匠、醫生、地主、農夫、海員、家庭主婦等，代表了廣泛的社會階層。他們講述的內容，主要包括愛情和騎士探險傳奇、宗教和道德故事、滑稽故事、動物寓言等24個故事，大多數的故事都是用雙韻詩體寫成的，喬叟自己講了《梅裡白的故事》則是散文體，廚師和見習騎士沒有講完故事，其中商人、農民、修女，巴斯婦人，以及賣贖罪券者的故事最為精彩，是本書的精華，基本上《坎特伯雷故事集》是一部未完成的作品。《坎特伯雷故事集》深受薄伽丘（Giovanni Boccaccio）的《十日談》(Decameron)的影響，是公認英國印刷史上的第一本書。喬叟因此被視為英國詩歌的奠基人。【内容介绍】乔叟的《坎特伯雷故事集》不是第一本短篇小说集，甚至让一群人中每人讲一个故事这种形式也不是什么新主意。在卜伽丘的《十日谈》中就有十个人，为了躲避1348年在佛罗伦萨肆虐的温疫逃到城郊的庄园。他们就是通过讲故事来消磨时间的。《坎特伯雷故事集》中也有一群人，每个人讲述一个故事。我们不仅对故事本身感兴趣，而且对讲述故事的人也感兴趣。他们中的每个人都是真实的。乔叟在引言中把他们一一作了介绍。然后，我们又在故事中与
No.2 坎特伯雷故事集简介(英语)
A Brief Introduction to Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. The tales, mostly written in verse(韵文), although some in prose （散文）, are told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. In a long list of works, including Troilus and Criseyde, House of Fame, Parliament of Fowls, The Canterbury Tales was Chaucer's magnum opus(力作). He uses the tales and the descriptions of the characters to paint an ironic and critical portrait of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church. Structurally, the collection bears the influence of The Decameron（意大利小说家薄伽丘的作品《十日谈》）, which Chaucer is said to have come across during his first diplomatic mission to Italy in 1372. However, Chaucer describes his tales with “sundry（各种各样的） folk”, rather than fleeing nobles（离家出走的贵族）.
坎特伯雷故事集
坎特伯雷故事集 篇一：坎特伯雷故事集_中文版 夏雨给大地带来了喜悦，送走了土壤干裂的三月， 沐浴着草木的丝丝经络，顿时百花盛开，生机勃勃。 西风轻吹留下清香缕缕，田野复苏吐出芳草绿绿； 碧蓝的天空腾起一轮红日，青春的太阳洒下万道金辉。 小鸟的歌喉多么清脆优美，迷人的夏夜怎好安然入睡—— 美丽的自然撩拨万物的心弦，多情的鸟儿歌唱爱情的欣欢。 香客盼望膜拜圣徒的灵台，僧侣立愿云游陌生的滨海。 信徒来自全国东西南北，众人结伴奔向坎特伯雷， 去朝谢医病救世的恩主，以缅怀大恩大德的圣徒。 那是个初夏方临的日子，我到泰巴旅店投宿歇息； 怀着一颗虔诚的赤子心，我准备翌日出发去朝圣。 黄昏前后华灯初上时分，旅店院里涌入很多客人； 二十九人来自各行各业，不期而遇都到旅店过夜。 这些香客人人虔心诚意，次日要骑马去坎特伯雷。 客房与马厩宽敞又洁净，店主的招待周到而殷勤。 夕阳刚从地平线上消失，众人同我已经相互结识； 大家约好不等鸡鸣就起床，迎着熹微晨光干燥把路上。 可是在我叙述故事之前，让我占用诸位一点时间， 依我之见似乎还很必要，把每人的情况作些介绍。 谈谈他们从事什么行业，社会地位属于哪个阶层， 容貌衣着举止又是如何，那么我就先把骑士说说。 骑士的人品出众而且高尚，自从军以来就驰骋于疆场， 待人彬彬有礼，大度而豪爽，珍惜荣誉节操和骑士风尚。 为君主效命创辉煌战绩，所到国家之远无人能比， 转战于基督和异教之邦，因功勋卓著缕缕受表彰。 他攻打过亚历山大利亚；在普鲁士庆功宴上有他， 这位佼佼者多次坐首席；从立陶宛直打到俄罗斯， 同级的骑士都大为逊色；攻克阿给西勒有他一个， 还出征到过柏尔玛利亚；夺取烈亚斯和萨塔利亚； 他还多次游弋于地中海，跟随登陆大军将敌战败。 十五次比武他大显身手，为捍卫信仰而浴血奋斗； 在战场上三次杀死敌将，高贵的武士美名传四方。 他还侍奉过柏拉西亚国君，讨伐另一支土耳其异教军；
坎特伯雷故事集中文版
当四月的甘霖渗透了三月枯竭的根须，沐灌了丝丝茎络，触动了生机，使枝头涌现出花蕾，当和风吹香，使得山林莽原遍吐着嫩条新芽，青春的太阳已转过半边白羊宫座，②小鸟唱起曲调，通宵睁开睡眼，是自然拨弄着它们的心弦：这时，人们渴想着朝拜四方名坛，游僧们也立愿跋涉异乡。尤其在英格兰地方，他们从每一州的角落，向着坎特伯雷出发，去朝谢他们的救病恩主、福泽无边的殉难圣徒。夏雨给大地带来了喜悦，送走了土壤干裂的三月，沐浴着草木的丝丝经络，顿时百花盛开，生机勃勃。西风轻吹留下碧蓝的天空腾起一轮红日，青春的太阳洒下万道金辉。 小鸟的歌喉多么清脆优美， 迷人的夏夜怎好安然入睡—— 美丽的自然撩拨万物的心弦， 多情的鸟儿歌唱爱情的欣欢。 香客盼望膜拜圣徒的灵台， 僧侣立愿云游陌生的滨海。 信徒来自全国东西南北， 众人结伴奔向坎特伯雷， 去朝谢医病救世的恩主， 以缅怀大恩大德的圣徒。 那是个初夏方临的日子， 我到泰巴旅店投宿歇息； 怀着一颗虔诚的赤子心， 我准备翌日出发去朝圣。
黄昏前后华灯初上时分，旅店院里涌入很多客人；二十九人来自各行各业，不期而遇都到旅店过夜。这些香客人人虔心诚意，次日要骑马去坎特伯雷。客房与马厩宽敞又洁净，店主的招待周到而殷勤。夕阳刚从地平线上消失，众人同我已经相互结识；大家约好不等鸡鸣就起床，迎着熹微晨光干燥把路上。可是在我叙述故事之前，让我占用诸位一点时间，依我之见似乎还很必要，把每人的情况作些介绍。谈谈他们从事什么行业，社会地位属于哪个阶层，容貌衣着举止又是如何，那么我就先把骑士说说。骑士的人品出众而且高尚，自从军以来就驰骋于疆场，
待人彬彬有礼，大度而豪爽，珍惜荣誉节操和骑士风尚。为君主效命创辉煌战绩， 所到国家之远无人能比， 转战于基督和异教之邦， 因功勋卓着缕缕受表彰。 他攻打过亚历山大利亚； 在普鲁士庆功宴上有他， 这位佼佼者多次坐首席； 从立陶宛直打到俄罗斯， 同级的骑士都大为逊色； 攻克阿给西勒有他一个， 还出征到过柏尔玛利亚； 夺取烈亚斯和萨塔利亚； 他还多次游弋于地中海， 跟随登陆大军将敌战败。 十五次比武他大显身手， 为扞卫信仰而浴血奋斗； 在战场上三次杀死敌将， 高贵的武士美名传四方。 他还侍奉过柏拉西亚国君，讨伐另一支土耳其异教军；
坎特伯雷故事集
坎特伯雷故事集 求助编辑百科名片 《坎特伯雷故事集》是描写10世纪英国俗世生活的人间喜剧，是一本不可不读的经典名著。目录 基本信息 内容介绍 作者介绍 简介 创作经历 创作背景 作品特色 文章摘录 故事赏析 书目一览 作品赏析 内容精要 专家点评 妙语佳句 基本信息 内容介绍 作者介绍 简介 创作经历 创作背景 作品特色 文章摘录 故事赏析 书目一览 作品赏析 内容精要 专家点评 妙语佳句 展开 编辑本段基本信息 作者：杰弗雷·乔叟原著 出版社：上海译文出版社 ISBN：7532719782
《坎特伯雷故事集》 页数：125 版次：1 包装：平装 开本：32开 印张：4.25 字数：77000 印次：2 印刷时间：2000/05/02 用纸：胶版纸 编辑本段内容介绍 乔叟的《坎特伯雷故事集》不是第一本短篇小说集，甚至让一群人中每人讲一个故事这种形式也不是什么新主意。在薄伽丘的《十日谈》中就有十个人，为了躲避1348年在佛罗伦萨肆虐的温疫逃到城郊的庄园。他们就是通过讲故事来消磨时间的。《坎特伯雷故事集》中也有一群人，每个人讲述一个故事。我们不仅对故事本身感兴趣，而且对讲述故事的人也感兴趣。他们中的每个人都是真实的。乔叟在引言中把他们一一作了介绍。然后，我们又在故事中与他们相识。很快，我们就觉得对他们每个人都有所了解。 编辑本段作者介绍 简介 乔叟(约1343—1400) 英国诗人。伦敦酒商的儿子。十几岁起进入宫廷当差。1359年随爱德华三世的部队远征法国，被法军俘虏，不久赎回。乔叟与宫廷往来密切，当过廷
乔叟 臣、关税督察、肯特郡的治安法官、郡下议院议员。他曾因外交事务出使许多国家和地区，到过比利时、法国、意大利等国，有机会遇见薄伽丘与彼特拉克，这对他的文学创作产生了很大的影响。乔叟在庇护者失宠期间，被剥夺了官位和年金，经济拮据。他曾写过打油诗《致空囊》给刚登基的亨利四世，申诉自己的贫穷。1400年乔叟逝世，安葬在伦敦威斯敏特斯教堂的“诗人之角”。 创作经历 乔叟的诗歌创作分为三个时期： ①法国影响时期(1359—1372)：主要翻译并仿效法国诗人的作品，创作了《悼公爵夫人》，用伦敦方言翻译了法国中世纪长篇叙事诗《玫瑰传奇》等。 ②意大利影响时期(1372—1386)：诗人接触了资产阶级人文主义的进步思想。这一时期的创作如《百鸟会议》、《特罗伊勒斯和克莱西德》、《好女人的故事》，反映了作者面向生活现实的创作态度和人文主义观点。 ③成熟时期(1386—1400)：乔叟在这最后15年里从事《坎特伯雷故事集》的创作。无论在内容和技巧上都达到他创作的顶峰。他首创的英雄双韵体为以后的英国诗人所广泛采用，被誉为“英国诗歌之父”。 编辑本段创作背景 4月的一天，一群香客去坎特伯雷朝圣，投宿在泰巴旅店。次日，店主、香客与在此住宿的作者一起出发。店主提议在去坎特伯雷的路上每人讲两个故事，回来时再讲两个，被大 《坎特伯雷故事集》插图 家公认为最佳的讲故事者可以在回来时白吃一顿丰盛的晚餐。乔叟只完成计划中120个故事
坎特伯雷故事集读后感
坎特伯雷故事集读后感 不过，有些地方不去深究也并不影响正确理解和顺利阅读，因此从整体意义上来说，这个译本还是很有价值的，比较真实流畅地传达了作者的本意。这也就为本人接下来的文字和分析提供了一个较科学的基矗 整本书看下来，最大的感言是——乔叟这厮太油菜了(油菜=有才)!且不论他的写作是采用十音节“双韵体”(后来发展为著名的‘英雄双韵体’)的抑扬格诗再加上两篇散文，光是看他塑造的那些栩栩如生的人物就足矣。从高贵的骑士到贫贱的农夫，从尊荣的女修道院长到口无遮拦的巴斯妇，各行各业各个阶层，无一雷同。他们的语言，行为，外貌，无一不反映了14世纪英国的社会现状。他们并不是生活在远古字里行间的虚构人物，而是活生生地存在于那个时期甚至是现在的，我们身边的普通人。 客店老板和乔叟自己在整部故事集里可算是特殊的存在。正是由于热情豪爽的客店老板提出的建议和乔叟这个文学家的记录，这些朝圣者的故事才得以流传。客店老板算是个穿针引线掌管全局的人物，风趣幽默，聪明又不失严谨，懂得在最恰当的时机说出最符合环境的话语。乔叟一直默然，一度被人忽略甚至忘记他的存在，但最后他那个关于梅利比和他夫人慎子的故事，着实给本人留下了印象深刻。 骑士的故事反映了那个时期典型的骑士精神和骑士恋
爱观。两个落难皇子爱上了敌国皇后的妹妹，最终反目，酿成悲剧(虽然某些方面来说算是圆满结局)。年轻美貌的贵族女子，没有任何肉体接触的“柏拉图”式恋情，为了心爱的女子决斗，战神Mars和爱神Venus的争战……典型的骑士传奇。最后的结局又隐隐透露出只能用爱去换取爱，而不是用武力。 管家(田产经纪人?)的故事讽刺报复了磨坊主，因磨坊主讲了个讽刺木匠的故事(仅为推测，因乔叟并未写出该故事)，而管家以前是个木匠。同样的事情发生在法院差使和游乞僧的身上，两个人相互以故事讥讽打压对方。却让读者从中看出二者半斤八两，都是以各种手段讹骗百姓钱财的骗子。他们故事的结局里，法院差使成为魔鬼的奴隶，游乞僧则受到了生平最大的羞辱。 律师用了散文形式，讲述了一位信心十足的公主康丝顿司的曲折故事。这位公主的美貌与信心成正比，她因在耶稣基-督的面前称义而备受神的怜悯。两次婚姻虽都遭受婆婆的迫-害，并受到魔鬼的攻击，但神的使者一直在保守这个圣洁的女子，最后的结局也算是苦尽甘来皆大欢喜了。 巴斯妇这个人物不可谓不是对传统的大挑战，她在故事前说的序言尤其精彩。她的五个丈夫，她的贞操观，她的婚姻观……每句话都是对这个男权主义至上社会的质疑与挑衅。正如她说“假如史书由女人来编纂的话，如教士们保
坎特伯雷故事集》
《坎特伯雷故事集》的大部分是以韵诗形式写成的。全书收有一篇总引和23篇故事，其中散文两篇，其余都是诗体。描写约30名前往坎特伯雷朝圣的骑士、乡绅、教士、学者、商人和自耕农在旅途轮流讲述的故事，表现了不同阶层、行为香客们的不同特点。刻画不同阶层的人物，以幽默的笔调讽刺封建社会的丑恶，揭露教会的腐朽，反对禁欲主义，宣扬世俗享乐。其间以短小的戏剧场面相串连，故事的内容和文体各异并符合每一个讲述者的身份。《坎特伯雷故事集》生动地描绘了14世纪英国的社会生活，体现了反封建倾向人文主义思想。 乔叟(Geoffrey Chaucer)诗选 乔叟（1343-1400），英国诗歌之父，主要作品是《坎特伯雷故事集》。 鸟儿回旋曲无情美人回旋曲 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 鸟儿回旋曲 来吧，夏天，用你柔和的阳光 对风雪交加的天气发动攻击， 赶得又长又黑的夜就此逃避！ 圣瓦伦丁河啊，小鸟在为你歌唱， 你戴着花冠坐在高高的云里： 来吧，夏天，用你柔和的阳光 对风雪交加的天气发动攻击。 那些鸟儿有理由不时地欢唱， 因为它们在树丛里找到伴侣。 啊，它们醒时唱得多幸福甜蜜： 来吧，夏天，柔和的阳光 对风雪交加的天气发动攻击， 赶得又长又黑的夜就此逃避！ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
无情美人回旋曲 你那双大眼睛能一下把我杀掉； 它们的美已使我无法再安祥； 我的心上被刺出剧痛的创伤。 只有你的话能把我的伤治好， 趁现在这创口还没开始溃疡－－ 你一双大眼睛能一下把我杀掉； 它们的美已使我无法再安祥。 相信我的话，我把实情奉告： 生前和死后你都是我的女王； 因为我的死会使你了解真相。 你一双大眼睛能一下把所杀掉； 它们的美已使我无法再安祥。 我的心上被刺出剧痛的创伤。 英国作家乔叟(CHAUCER)死亡之谜 CHAUCER的《坎特伯雷故事集》 GEOFFREY CHAUCER是十三世纪英国文学史上的重要人物，他可以被称为"英国诗歌之父"。他的诗歌集《坎特伯雷故事集》（CANTERBURY TALES）是中世纪最重要的文学作品之一。对于CHAUCER的生平人们知道的并不多，他是一位诗人、学者，同时还是一名政治家和外交官。 CHAUCER十几岁起进入宫廷当差，1359年随爱德华三世的部队远征法国，被法军俘虏，不久赎回。CHAUCER与宫廷往来密切，当过大臣、关税督察、KENT郡的治安法官、郡下议院议员。他曾因外交事务出使许多国家和地区，到过比利时、法国、意大利等国。最近一批学者联合出版了一本书，这本书对CHAUCER的死提出了质疑。史料对CHAUCER的出生和去世记载的不多，英国从事研究中世纪历史的学者TERRY JONES觉得谋杀是一个可能。
坎特伯雷故事集_中文版
当四月的XX渗透了三月枯竭的根须，沐灌了丝丝茎络，触动了生机，使枝头涌现出XX,当和风吹XX,使得XXXX遍吐着嫩条新芽，XX的XX已转过半边XXXX座，② 小鸟唱起曲调，通宵睁开睡眼，是自然拨弄着它们的心弦：这时，人们渴想着 XX四方名坛，XX们也立愿跋涉异乡。尤其在XX地方，他们从每一州的角落，向着坎特伯雷出发，去朝XX他们的救病恩主、XX 无边的殉难圣徒。XX给大地带来了喜悦，送走了土壤干裂的三月，沐浴着草木的丝丝经络，顿时百花盛开，生机勃勃。XX轻吹留下碧蓝的天空腾起一轮红日， 青春的太阳洒下万道金辉。 小鸟的歌喉多么清脆优美， 迷人的夏夜怎好安然入睡一一 美丽的自然撩拨万物的心弦， 多情的鸟儿歌唱爱情的欣欢。 香客盼望膜拜圣徒的灵台， 僧侣立愿云游陌生的滨海。 信徒来自全国东西南北， 众人结伴奔向坎特伯雷， 去朝谢医病救世的恩主， 以缅怀大恩大德的圣徒。 那是个初夏方临的日子， 我到泰巴旅店投宿歇息； 怀着一颗虔诚的赤子心，
我准备翌日出发去朝圣。 黄昏前后华灯初上时分，旅店院里涌入很多客人；二十九人来自各行各业，不期而遇都到旅店过夜。这些香客人人虔心诚意，次日要骑马去坎特伯雷。客房与马厩宽敞又洁净，店主的招待周到而殷勤。夕阳刚从地平线上消失，众人同我已经相互结识；大家约好不等鸡鸣就起床, 迎着熹微晨光干燥把路上。可是在我叙述故事之前，让我占用诸位一点时间，依我之见似乎还很必要，把每人的情况作些介绍。谈谈他们从事什么行业，社会地位属于哪个阶层，容貌衣着举止又是如何， 那么我就先把骑士说说骑士的人品出众而且高尚，自从军以来就驰骋于疆场，待人彬彬有礼，大度而豪爽, 珍惜荣誉节操和骑士风尚。为君主效命创辉煌战绩，所到国家之远无人能比，转战于基督和异教之邦，因功勋卓著缕缕受表彰。他攻打过亚历山大利亚；在普鲁士庆功宴上有他，这位佼佼者多次坐首席；从立陶宛直打到俄罗斯，同级的骑士都大为逊色；攻克阿给西勒有他一个，还出征到过柏尔玛利亚；夺取烈亚斯和萨塔利亚；他还多次游弋于地中海，跟随登陆大军将敌战败。十五次比武他大显身手， 为捍卫信仰而浴血奋斗; 在战场上三次杀死敌将, 高贵的武士美名传四方。他还侍奉过柏拉西亚君，讨伐另一支土耳其异教军；没有一次不赢得最高荣誉，他骁勇善战，聪慧而不痴愚他温柔顺从像个大姑娘，一生无论是在什么地方，对谁也没有讲过半个脏字：堪称一个完美的真骑士。他有一批俊美的千里马，但是他的衣着朴实无华；开价的底下是结识的布衣，上上下下到处是斑斑污迹。他风尘仆仆刚从战场归来，片刻未休息就急忙去朝拜。
乔叟坎特伯雷故事集
《坎特伯雷故事集》深受薄伽丘（Giovanni Boccaccio）的《十日談》(Decameron)的影響，是公認英國印刷史上的第一本書。喬叟因此被視為英國詩歌的奠基人。【内容介绍】乔叟的《坎特伯雷故事集》不是第一本短篇小说集，甚至让一群人中每人讲一个故事这种形式也不是什么新主意。在卜伽丘的《十日谈》中就有十个人，为了躲避1348年在佛罗伦萨肆虐的温疫逃到城郊的庄园。他们就是通过讲故事来消磨时间的。《坎特伯雷故事集》中也有一群人，每个人讲述一个故事。我们不仅对故事本身感兴趣，而且对讲述故事的人也感兴趣。他们中的每个人都是真实的。乔叟在引言中把他们一一作了介绍。然后，我们又在故事中与他们相识。很快，我们就觉得对他们每个人都有所了解。乔叟(约1343—1400) 英国诗人。伦敦酒商的儿子。十几岁起进入宫廷当差。1359年随爱德华三世的部队远征法国，被法军俘虏，不久赎回。乔叟与宫廷往来密切，当过廷臣、关税督察、肯特郡的治安法官、郡下议院议员。他曾因外交事务出使许多国家和地区，到过比利时、法国、意大利等国，有机会遇见薄伽丘与彼特拉克，这对他的文学创作产生了很大的影响。乔叟在庇护者失宠期间，被剥夺了官位和年金，经济拮据。他曾写过打油诗《致空囊》给刚登基的亨利四世，申诉自己的贫穷。1400年乔叟逝世，安葬在伦敦威斯敏特斯教堂的“诗人之角”。乔叟的诗歌创作分为三个时期：①法国影响时期(1359—1372)：主要翻译并仿效法国诗人的作品，创作了《悼公爵夫人》，用伦敦方言翻译了法国中世纪长篇叙事诗《玫瑰传奇》等。②意大利影响时期(1372—1386)：诗人接触了资产阶级人文主义的进步思想。这一时期的创作如《百鸟会议》、《特罗伊勒斯和克莱西德》、《好女人的故事》，反映了作者面向生活现实的创作态度和人文主义观点。③成熟时期(1386—1400)：乔叟在这最后15年里从事《坎特伯雷故事集》的创作。无论在内容和技巧上都达到他创作的顶峰。他首创的英雄双韵体为以后的英国诗人所广泛采用，被誉为“英国诗歌之父”。《坎特伯雷故事集》内容提要 4月的一天，一群香客去坎特伯雷朝圣，投宿在泰巴旅店。次日，店主、香客与在此住宿的作者一起出发。店主提议在去坎特伯雷的路上每人讲两个故事，回来时再讲两个，被大家公认为最佳的讲故事者可以在回来时白吃一顿丰盛的晚餐。乔叟只完成计划中120个故事中的24个(包括两个未完成的)，其中22个为诗体，两个散文体。每个故事前均有开场语，全书有一个总序。作者用这种方式把各个零散故事连成一体。《坎特伯雷故事集》有几点值得注意：一、它展现了广阔的社会画面。香客来自社会各个阶层：骑士、僧侣、学者、律师、商人、手工业者、自耕农、磨坊主等。二、它综合采用了中世纪的各种文学体裁，有骑士传奇、圣徒传、布道文、寓言等。三、总序和开场白中对人物的描写和故事本身饶有趣味，充满幽默感。四、语言带上了讲述人自身的特征，每人所讲的故事都体现出讲述人的身份、趣味、爱好、职业和生活经验。《坎特伯雷故事集》之女尼的教士的故事(梗概) 公鸡腔得克利与7只母鸡住在一位克勤克俭的寡妇院子里。一天凌晨，公鸡从噩梦中惊醒。他梦见一只野兽潜伏在草丛里伺机要咬死他。他最宠爱的母鸡帕特立特讥笑他胆小如鼠，认为男子汉大丈夫应该敢于蔑视一切，有胆有识，劝他不必把梦放在心上。可公鸡举了很多例子说明，人在遭恶运之前都曾在梦中得到预兆。比如：有两人因找不到旅店，一人不得不投宿牛棚。夜里，另一人两次梦见宿牛棚的朋友向他求救。他未加理会。第三次做梦时，朋友告诉他自己已被贪图金钱的马夫谋害，恳请他第二天清早拦住一辆粪车，他的尸体就藏在粪车底层。事实果然证实了梦中的景象。后来谋杀者被揭露并受绞刑。又如：有两人要乘船远航，因为风向不对，被迫耽误一天。就在这天夜里，其中一人梦中得到警告：第二天不要出海，否则会淹死。他的同伴听后不以为然，坚持动身。后来果然遇难。公鸡说完这些可怕的事情，又自我宽慰了一番。等天一亮，他如平日一样与母鸡们觅食寻欢，早把昨夜的担惊受怕抛在脑后。突然间，他发现躲在草丛里的狐狸，不禁大惊失色。正要拔腿逃跑，狐狸叫住他，说自己是专门来欣赏公鸡的歌声的。一番奉承话说得公鸡心花怒放。他刚摆好姿势准备引吭高歌，狐狸冲上前咬住他的颈项，急步向窝奔去。母鸡们慌乱的哭叫声引来了寡妇和她的两个女儿。众人带着棍棒协力追赶。公鸡见状，对狐狸耍了个花