{"id":1539,"date":"2019-07-05T14:44:48","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T14:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/epcc-britlit1\/?post_type=chapter&p=1539"},"modified":"2019-07-05T14:58:51","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T14:58:51","slug":"general-prologue-miller-manciple-reeve-summoner-pardoner","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/epcc-britlit1\/chapter\/general-prologue-miller-manciple-reeve-summoner-pardoner\/","title":{"raw":"General Prologue: Miller, Manciple, Reeve, Summoner, Pardoner","rendered":"General Prologue: Miller, Manciple, Reeve, Summoner, Pardoner"},"content":{"raw":"Ther was also a REVE and a MILLERE,\r\n545<\/span><\/small> A SOMNOUR and a PARDONER also,\r\nA MAUNCIPLE, and myself \u2013 ther were namo.\r\n\r\nThe MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;\r\nFul byg he was of brawn and eek of bones-\r\nThat proved wel, for over al ther he cam\r\n550<\/span><\/small> At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.\r\nHe was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,\r\nTher was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,\r\nOr breke it at a rennyng with his heed.\r\nHis berd as any sowe or fox was reed,\r\n555<\/span><\/small> And therto brood, as though it were a spade.\r\nUpon the cop right of his nose he hade\r\nA werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys,\r\nReed as the brustles of a sowes erys;\r\nHise nosethirles blake were and wyde.\r\n560<\/span><\/small> A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.\r\nHis mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.\r\nHe was a janglere and a goliardeys,\r\nAnd that was moost of synne and harlotries.\r\nWel koude he stelen corn, and tollen thries;\r\n565<\/span><\/small> And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.\r\nA whit cote and a blew hood wered he.\r\nA baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,\r\nAnd therwithal he broghte us out of towne.\r\n\r\nA gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,\r\n570<\/span><\/small> Of which achatours myghte take exemple\r\nFor to be wise in byynge of vitaille;\r\nFor wheither that he payde or took by taille,\r\nAlgate he wayted so in his achaat\r\nThat he was ay biforn, and in good staat.\r\n575<\/span><\/small> Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace,\r\nThat swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace\r\nThe wisdom of an heep of lerned men?\r\nOf maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,\r\nThat weren of lawe expert and curious,\r\n580<\/span><\/small> Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous\r\nWorthy to been stywardes of rente and lond\r\nOf any lord that is in Engelond,\r\nTo maken hym lyve by his propre good,\r\nIn honour dettelees (but if he were wood),\r\n585<\/span><\/small> Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire,\r\nAnd able for to helpen al a shire\r\nIn any caas that myghte falle or happe-\r\nAnd yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.\r\n\r\nThe REVE was a sclendre colerik man.\r\n590<\/span><\/small> His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;\r\nHis heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;\r\nHis top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.\r\nFul longe were his legges, and ful lene,\r\nYlyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.\r\n595<\/span><\/small> Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;\r\nTher was noon auditour koude on him wynne.\r\nWel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn,\r\nThe yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.\r\nHis lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,\r\n600<\/span><\/small> His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,\r\nWas hoolly in this Reves governynge,\r\nAnd by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,\r\nSyn that his lord was twenty yeer of age,\r\nTher koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.\r\n605<\/span><\/small> Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,\r\nThat he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;\r\nThey were adrad of hym as of the deeth.\r\nHis wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;\r\nWith grene trees shadwed was his place.\r\n610<\/span><\/small> He koude bettre than his lord purchace.\r\nFul riche he was astored pryvely:\r\nHis lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,\r\nTo yeve and lene hym of his owene good,\r\nAnd have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.\r\n615<\/span><\/small> In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster;\r\nHe was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.\r\nThis Reve sat upon a ful good stot,\r\nThat was al pomely grey, and highte Scot.\r\nA long surcote of pers upon he hade,\r\n620<\/span><\/small> And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.\r\nOf Northfolk was this Reve, of which I telle,\r\nBisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.\r\nTukked he was as is a frere aboute,\r\nAnd evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.\r\n\r\n625<\/span><\/small> A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,\r\nThat hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,\r\nFor saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.\r\nAs hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,\r\nWith scalled browes blake, and piled berd,\r\n630<\/span><\/small> Of his visage children were aferd.\r\nTher nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,\r\nBoras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,\r\nNe oynement, that wolde clense and byte,\r\nThat hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,\r\n635<\/span><\/small> Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.\r\nWel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,\r\nAnd for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;\r\nThanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.\r\nAnd whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,\r\n640<\/span><\/small> Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn.\r\nA fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,\r\nThat he had lerned out of som decree-\r\nNo wonder is, he herde it al the day,\r\nAnd eek ye knowen wel how that a jay\r\n645<\/span><\/small> Kan clepen \"Watte\" as wel as kan the pope.\r\nBut whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,\r\nThanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;\r\nAy \"Questio quid iuris\" wolde he crie.\r\nHe was a gentil harlot and a kynde;\r\n650<\/span><\/small> A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde;\r\nHe wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn,\r\nA good felawe to have his concubyn\r\nA twelf-monthe, and excuse hym atte fulle;\r\nFul prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.\r\n655<\/span><\/small> And if he foond owher a good felawe,\r\nHe wolde techen him to have noon awe,\r\nIn swich caas, of the ercedekenes curs,\r\nBut if a mannes soule were in his purs;\r\nFor in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.\r\n660<\/span><\/small> \"Purs is the erchedekenes helle,\" seyde he.\r\nBut wel I woot he lyed right in dede;\r\nOf cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,\r\nFor curs wol slee, right as assoillyng savith,\r\nAnd also war him of a Significavit.\r\n665<\/span><\/small> In daunger hadde he at his owene gise\r\nThe yonge girles of the diocise,\r\nAnd knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.\r\nA gerland hadde he set upon his heed\r\nAs greet as it were for an ale-stake;\r\n670<\/span><\/small> A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake.\r\n\r\nWith hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER\r\nOf Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,\r\nThat streight was comen fro the court of Rome.\r\nFul loude he soong \"Com hider, love, to me!\"\r\n675<\/span><\/small> This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;\r\nWas nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.\r\nThis Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,\r\nBut smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;\r\nBy ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,\r\n680<\/span><\/small> And therwith he hise shuldres overspradde;\r\nBut thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon.\r\nBut hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,\r\nFor it was trussed up in his walet.\r\nHym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;\r\n685<\/span><\/small> Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.\r\nSwiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.\r\nA vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.\r\nHis walet lay biforn hym in his lappe\r\nBretful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.\r\n690<\/span><\/small> A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot,\r\nNo berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;\r\nAs smothe it was as it were late shave,\r\nI trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.\r\nBut of his craft, from Berwyk into Ware,\r\n695<\/span><\/small> Ne was ther swich another pardoner;\r\nFor in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,\r\nWhich that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl:\r\nHe seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl\r\nThat Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente\r\n700<\/span><\/small> Upon the see, til Jesu Crist hym hente.\r\nHe hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,\r\nAnd in a glas he hadde pigges bones.\r\nBut with thise relikes, whan that he fond\r\nA povre persoun dwellyng upon lond,\r\n705<\/span><\/small> Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye\r\nThan that the person gat in monthes tweye;\r\nAnd thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,\r\nHe made the persoun and the peple his apes.\r\nBut trewely to tellen atte laste,\r\n710<\/span><\/small> He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.\r\nWel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,\r\nBut alderbest he song an offertorie;\r\nFor wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,\r\nHe moste preche, and wel affile his tonge\r\n715<\/span><\/small> To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;\r\nTherfore he song the murierly and loude.","rendered":"

Ther was also a REVE and a MILLERE,
\n545<\/span><\/small> A SOMNOUR and a PARDONER also,
\nA MAUNCIPLE, and myself \u2013 ther were namo.<\/p>\n

The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;
\nFul byg he was of brawn and eek of bones-
\nThat proved wel, for over al ther he cam
\n550<\/span><\/small> At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
\nHe was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
\nTher was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
\nOr breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
\nHis berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
\n555<\/span><\/small> And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
\nUpon the cop right of his nose he hade
\nA werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys,
\nReed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
\nHise nosethirles blake were and wyde.
\n560<\/span><\/small> A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.
\nHis mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
\nHe was a janglere and a goliardeys,
\nAnd that was moost of synne and harlotries.
\nWel koude he stelen corn, and tollen thries;
\n565<\/span><\/small> And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
\nA whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
\nA baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
\nAnd therwithal he broghte us out of towne.<\/p>\n

A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
\n570<\/span><\/small> Of which achatours myghte take exemple
\nFor to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
\nFor wheither that he payde or took by taille,
\nAlgate he wayted so in his achaat
\nThat he was ay biforn, and in good staat.
\n575<\/span><\/small> Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace,
\nThat swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
\nThe wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
\nOf maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
\nThat weren of lawe expert and curious,
\n580<\/span><\/small> Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous
\nWorthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
\nOf any lord that is in Engelond,
\nTo maken hym lyve by his propre good,
\nIn honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
\n585<\/span><\/small> Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire,
\nAnd able for to helpen al a shire
\nIn any caas that myghte falle or happe-
\nAnd yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.<\/p>\n

The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
\n590<\/span><\/small> His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
\nHis heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
\nHis top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
\nFul longe were his legges, and ful lene,
\nYlyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
\n595<\/span><\/small> Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
\nTher was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
\nWel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn,
\nThe yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
\nHis lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
\n600<\/span><\/small> His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,
\nWas hoolly in this Reves governynge,
\nAnd by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
\nSyn that his lord was twenty yeer of age,
\nTher koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
\n605<\/span><\/small> Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
\nThat he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
\nThey were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
\nHis wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
\nWith grene trees shadwed was his place.
\n610<\/span><\/small> He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
\nFul riche he was astored pryvely:
\nHis lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
\nTo yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
\nAnd have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
\n615<\/span><\/small> In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster;
\nHe was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
\nThis Reve sat upon a ful good stot,
\nThat was al pomely grey, and highte Scot.
\nA long surcote of pers upon he hade,
\n620<\/span><\/small> And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
\nOf Northfolk was this Reve, of which I telle,
\nBisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
\nTukked he was as is a frere aboute,
\nAnd evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.<\/p>\n

625<\/span><\/small> A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,
\nThat hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
\nFor saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
\nAs hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
\nWith scalled browes blake, and piled berd,
\n630<\/span><\/small> Of his visage children were aferd.
\nTher nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
\nBoras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
\nNe oynement, that wolde clense and byte,
\nThat hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
\n635<\/span><\/small> Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
\nWel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
\nAnd for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
\nThanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
\nAnd whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
\n640<\/span><\/small> Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
\nA fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
\nThat he had lerned out of som decree-
\nNo wonder is, he herde it al the day,
\nAnd eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
\n645<\/span><\/small> Kan clepen “Watte” as wel as kan the pope.
\nBut whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
\nThanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
\nAy “Questio quid iuris” wolde he crie.
\nHe was a gentil harlot and a kynde;
\n650<\/span><\/small> A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde;
\nHe wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn,
\nA good felawe to have his concubyn
\nA twelf-monthe, and excuse hym atte fulle;
\nFul prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
\n655<\/span><\/small> And if he foond owher a good felawe,
\nHe wolde techen him to have noon awe,
\nIn swich caas, of the ercedekenes curs,
\nBut if a mannes soule were in his purs;
\nFor in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
\n660<\/span><\/small> “Purs is the erchedekenes helle,” seyde he.
\nBut wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
\nOf cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,
\nFor curs wol slee, right as assoillyng savith,
\nAnd also war him of a Significavit.
\n665<\/span><\/small> In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
\nThe yonge girles of the diocise,
\nAnd knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
\nA gerland hadde he set upon his heed
\nAs greet as it were for an ale-stake;
\n670<\/span><\/small> A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake.<\/p>\n

With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
\nOf Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
\nThat streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
\nFul loude he soong “Com hider, love, to me!”
\n675<\/span><\/small> This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
\nWas nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
\nThis Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
\nBut smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
\nBy ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
\n680<\/span><\/small> And therwith he hise shuldres overspradde;
\nBut thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon.
\nBut hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
\nFor it was trussed up in his walet.
\nHym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
\n685<\/span><\/small> Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
\nSwiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
\nA vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
\nHis walet lay biforn hym in his lappe
\nBretful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.
\n690<\/span><\/small> A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot,
\nNo berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
\nAs smothe it was as it were late shave,
\nI trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
\nBut of his craft, from Berwyk into Ware,
\n695<\/span><\/small> Ne was ther swich another pardoner;
\nFor in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
\nWhich that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl:
\nHe seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
\nThat Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
\n700<\/span><\/small> Upon the see, til Jesu Crist hym hente.
\nHe hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
\nAnd in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
\nBut with thise relikes, whan that he fond
\nA povre persoun dwellyng upon lond,
\n705<\/span><\/small> Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
\nThan that the person gat in monthes tweye;
\nAnd thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
\nHe made the persoun and the peple his apes.
\nBut trewely to tellen atte laste,
\n710<\/span><\/small> He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
\nWel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
\nBut alderbest he song an offertorie;
\nFor wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
\nHe moste preche, and wel affile his tonge
\n715<\/span><\/small> To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
\nTherfore he song the murierly and loude.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Public domain content<\/div>