Quotes

The Knight:
• "A worthy man who, from the moment he first began to
ride forth, had loved chivalry, truth and honor, freedom
and courtesy."
• "He'd gone on no campaigns in the last few years; and
he'd lost much of his profit in a scrape. He spoke of that
with great contrition."
• "Courteous he was, lowly, and serviceable, and carver,
too, who rode abroad. He'd been some time abroad in
chivalry, in Prussia, Lithuania, Russia, Spain, and
Turkey."
• "At Alexandria he, when it was won; he'd followed suit
all through his life. With no man else he'd had no
quarrel."
The Squire:
• "With him there was his son, a young Squire, a lover and
a lusty bachelor."
• "Embroidered was he, as it were a mead all full of fresh
flowers, white and red."
• "He could make songs and poems and recite them, knew
how to joust and dance, to draw and write."
• "So hot he loved that he was quickly heard it was no idle
love or tourneying."
The Prioress:
• "Another Nun with her had come, who was her chaplain.
And three Priests also."
 • "Her greatest oath was but 'By Saint Loy!'; and she was
known and laughed at too, for pretending such
devotion."
• "Her table manners were well taught withal. No morsel
from her lips did she let fall, nor wet her fingers in the
sauce too deep."
• "She was so charitable and so piteous, she would weep
if that she saw a mouse caught in a trap, if it were dead
or bled."
The Monk:
• "A Monk there was, one of the finest sort, who rode the
country; hunting was his sport."
• "I saw his sleeves were garnished at the hand with fine
gray fur, the finest in the land."
• "He knew the taverns well in every town and every
innkeeper and barmaid too."
• "He had a zest for finery, and had been thrice to
Jerusalem."
The Friar:
• A friar there was, wanton and merry, a limiter, a very
festive fellow."
• "He was an easy man in giving penance where he knew
he'd get a good pittance."
• "He'd fixed up many a marriage, giving each of his young
women what he could afford."
• "For he was qualified to hear confessions. Or so he said,
with more than priestly reason."
The Merchant:
 • "A Merchant was there with a forked beard; In motley,
and high on horse he sat." - This quote describes the
physical appearance of the Merchant, mentioning his
forked beard and the fact that he rode a horse.
• "Forsooth, he was a worthy man withal, But sooth to
say, I n'ot how men him call." - This quote suggests that
the Merchant was a respectable and honorable man,
though the narrator is unsure of his name.
• "With forked beard, and flowing russet gown." - This
quote mentions the distinctive forked beard and the
clothing the Merchant wore, emphasizing his
appearance.
• "His reasons spoke he eke full solemnly; Sounding
always the increase of his winning." - This quote
highlights the fact that the Merchant was well-spoken
and always discussed the topic of his profit and financial
success.
The Sergeant of Law:
• "Nowhere so busy a man as he there was And yet he
seemed busier than he was." - This quote highlights the
fact that the Sergeant of Law appeared to be very busy
and important, although he may not have been as busy
as he seemed.
• "Discreet he was, a man to reverence, Or judge of
assize, by special grace." - This quote emphasizes the
Sergeant of Law's discretion and his role as a respected
judge in legal matters.
 • "Nowhere was so busy a man as he, And yet he seemed
busier than he was." - This quote reiterates the idea that
the Sergeant of Law appeared to be extremely busy,
even if he may not have been as occupied as he
appeared.
• "Wise and well taught, and in his duties great." - This
quote highlights the wisdom and knowledge of the
Sergeant of Law, indicating that he was well-educated
and capable in his professional duties.
The Clerk:
• "A Clerk there was of Oxenford also, That unto logic had
long ygo." - This quote introduces the Clerk and
mentions his association with the University of Oxford
and his study of logic.
• "Sowning in moral virtue was his speech, And gladly
would he learn and gladly teach." - This quote
characterizes the Clerk as someone who spoke with
moral virtue and had a strong desire for learning and
teaching.
• "Of study took he most care and most heed; Not one
word spoke he more than was need." - This quote
highlights the Clerk's dedication to his studies and his
frugality in speech.
• "For him was lever have at his bed's head Twenty books,
clothed in black or red, Of Aristotle and his philosophy,
Than robes rich, or fiddle, or psaltery." - This quote
emphasizes the Clerk's preference for owning books,
 especially those related to Aristotle and philosophy,
over luxurious clothing or musical instruments.
The Franklin:
• "With sanguine beard, as bristles sharp as a gristly
brush; Of his complexion he was sanguine." - This quote
describes the Franklin's ruddy or reddish complexion
and his bristly beard.
• "It snewed in his house of meat and drink." - This quote
suggests that the Franklin's house was always well-
supplied with plenty of food and drink, indicating his
hospitality.
• "For he was Epicurus' own son, That held opinion that
plein delit Was verily felicity parfit." - This quote alludes
to the Franklin's Epicurean philosophy, which valued
pleasure and enjoyment as the ultimate happiness.
• "Pleasant it was to see his bourd and hauberk, His knife
was yingen in his girdle sharp." - This quote describes
the Franklin's cheerful disposition and the sharp knife he
carried.
The Haberdasher, the Dyer, the Carpenter, the Weaver,
and the Tapestry-Maker:
"Five guildsmen were there, looking big as life,
All of one livery, of one occupation;
Their gear was set at the end of that Guildhall.
Full ready had they their wimples*, whit and small;
With crowns upon their heads, the seemly hoods.
Alway ready to show their quality
Was the guild-fellow, over a deal of meat,
When any of them was so wary
To have of sauce, no part of what they ate."
The Cook:
"A cook they had with them who stood alone;
Well could he know a draught of London ale.
He could roast, and seethe, and broil, and fry,
Make mortrews, and well bake a pie.
But great harm was it, as it thought me,
That on his shin a deadly sore had he.
For sweet blanc manger, he made it with the best."

"Of this fraternity there was a cook,

Who for the most part, well dressed his meat;
A good measure of ginger he used there,
And lily-white sugar, and wine, a rare draught."
The Shipman:
• "With us there was a Shipman, living far Out in
Dartmouth, and he rode a car; In a gown of falding* to
the knee. A dagger hanging by a lace had he About his
neck under his arm adown; The hot summer had made
his hue all brown."
• "He sent his ship in to London each year With many a
ton of wine, and oil, and meal; And to the city, he had
gone, to deal. No finer burgess in his guild than he."
The Physician:
• "With us there was a DOCTOR OF PHYSIC; In all this
world was there none him like To speak of physic and of
surgery: For he was grounded in astronomy. He kept his
patient a full great deal In houres by his magic natural.
Well could he fortune the ascendent Of his images for his
patient."
• His study was but little on the Bible. In sanguine and in
perse he clad was all, Lined with taffeta and with
sendal. And yet he was but easy of dispence;* His study
was but little in Scripture."
• "And over all, there as profit should arise, Curteous he
was, and lowly of service. There was no man nowhere so
virtuous. He was the best beggar in all his house; And
gave a certain ferme** for the grant, None of his patients
came by him once. Well were the bones enshrined in a
case That hanged before his bed's head."
The Wife of Bath:
"Of remedies of love she knew perchance,
For she could of that art the old dance."

"She had been some time in good or ill

Yet, the truth told, she was of great renown,
For she had passed many a foreign stream."

"She had gap teeth, set widely, truth to say.

E’en just as a hare’s scut, for they were spread."

"In all the parish wives there were none

That talked of love as much as she had done.
She knew the remedies for love’s mischances,
An art in which she knew the oldest dances."

"In company well could she laugh and carp.

Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
For she could of that art the old daunce."

"Amiable she was, discreet and kind,

In all she did, her age well understood.
How to be pleasant, kind, and to seem wise."

"And certainly, she was a worthy woman,

Worthy to be a marshal in a town.
And of great reputation too, I guess."

"She knew much of wandering by the Way,

To many shrines she'd gone in sundry lands."
The Parson and the Plowman:
"With him there was a PLOWMAN, was his brother,
That had y-laid of dung full many a fother.
A true swinker and a good was he,
Living in peace and perfect charity."

"And he was rich in holy thought and work.

He was also a learned man, a clerk."

"This noble example to his sheep he gave,

That first he wrought, and afterward he taught."

"The Parson was a poor country priest,

But rich he was in holy thought and work."

"He thought it better to give that what he took."

"He would allow, and thoroughly forgive,

The smallest tithe that people had to give.
He loved God's poor."

"His lordship's sheep, his lean parishioners

Were never known, by his good fatherhood;
He loved his flock."
The Manciple:
"For over all where profit should arise,
Curteous he was, and lowly of service."

"Now is not that of God a full fair grace

That such a lewed* mannes wit shall pace* ignorant
The wisdom of a heap of learned men?
Of masters had he more than thries ten,
That were of law expert and curious:
Of which there was a dozen in that house,
Worthy to be stewards of rent and land
Of any lord that is in Engleland,
To make him live by his proper good,
In honour debtless, but if he were wood, mad
Or live as scarcely as him list desire;
And able for to helpen all a shire
In any case that mighte fall or hap;
And yet this Manciple could make a gap (defalcation),
It were a pity, as it thought them all,
And for to be a thrifty man and a thrall, *slave
To have a thank, and it a little thing."

The Miller:
"A Miller was there dwelling many a day,
More for brawn than for profit could he play.
All the gain he made it was his friend's share
Of mills he stole, and no man could him spare."

"The Miller was a stout carl for the nones,

Full big he was of brawn, and eke of bones.
That proved well, for over all where they came,
At wrastling he would bear away the ram."

"His beard as any sow or fox was red,

And thereto broad, as though it were a spade."

"A bagpipe well could he blow and sound,

And therewithal he brought us out of town."

"He could steal corn and full thrifty and bold,

And turnip tax from farmer’s goodman old."

"He was short-shouldered, broad, a thick-set knave,

There was no door that he could not heave."

"His mouth as great was as a great furnace."

The Reeve:
"The REEVE was a slender choleric man
His beard was shaved as nigh as ever he can."

"His legs were long, and lean as a staff,

And polished smooth, as if they had been craft."

"Well could he keep a garner and a bin;

There was none auditor could on him win."

"No auditor, though he be of law, so wise

Could ever see a louse in the man's guise."

"Such carriage was his words and his cheer

As in a stall, a bench, or in a bier;
A slender churl, fair-haired, with a frizzled beard."

"Of his appearance I had great wonder

He was a slender man to be so old."

"Harrow and woe for bribers so cunning.

He had outdrawn many a lank or lean."
"He could judge by watching drought and rain,
The yield of seed, and tell if it were grain.
The Summoner:
"With him there was a SOMONOUR of the sort
That's called 'Somnour' or 'Pardoner'—of a sort;
A master hand at harrying harlots, he,
Who sprang from some curst breed of beggary."

"Children were afraid when he appeared;

How well he knew the taverns round about."

"He knew the taverns well in every town,

And every innkeeper and barmaid too."

"A summoner was he, and had his nouse

Ready to tipple at the tavern, with a souse."

"For in his purse he had a pillow-case,

Which, as he said, was Our Lady's veil."

"There was no lack of stinking garlic, no

Onion, leek, and many a lousy bean,
For he had more than thirty in his home."
"The flame-like fiery red of his visage
Would kindle any bush or haystack."

"With knotty, gnarly warts on either hand,

With a scabby black and scurvy visage."

The Pardoner:
"With him there rode a gentle PARDONER
Of Rouncivale, his friend and his compeer,
That straight was come from the court of Rome."

"But with this powerful prelate in his wallet

He bore a pillowcase filled with relics."

"So smooth his pale face appeared to me

With a small tonsure, like a bag or bottle."

"His wallet lay before him in his lap,

Stuffed full of pardons come from Rome hot."

"But well I know he was a money-maker."

"In every town he knew the tavern keeper."