Comparison of Geoffrey Chaucer Sir Thopas' Prologue to Geoffrey Chaucer

And whan this frere had seyd al his entente,

And whan this thing was seyd as I devyse, [continues next]

[continues previous] And whan this thing was seyd as I devyse,

'Ey! goddes mercy!' seyde our Hoste tho,

... my sonne, and fond the poynte of my label in the bordure, up-on a capital lettre that is cleped an X; tho rekened I alle the capitalles lettres fro the lyne of midnight un-to this forseide lettre X, and fond that it was 9 of the clokke of the day. Tho loked I down up-on the est orisonte, and fond there the 20 degree of Geminis assending; which that I tok for myn assendent. And in this wyse hadde I the experience for ever-mo in which maner I sholde knowe the tyd of the day, and eek myn assendent. Tho wolde I wite the same night folwing the hour of the night, and wroughte in this wyse. Among an heep of sterris fixe, it lyked me for to take the altitude of the feire white sterre that is cleped Alhabor; and fond hir sitting on the west side of the lyne of midday, 18 degres of heighte taken by my rewle on the bak-syde. Tho sette I the centre of this Alhabor up-on 18 degrees among myn almikanteras, up-on the west syde; by-cause that she was founden on the west syde. Tho leide I my label over the degree of the sonne that was descended under the weste orisonte, and rikened alle the lettres capitals fro the lyne of midday un-to the point of my label in the bordure; and fond that it was passed 8 of the clokke the space of 2 degrees. Tho loked I doun up-on myn est orisonte, and fond ther 23 degrees of Libra assending, whom I tok for myn assendent; and thus lerned I to knowe ones for ever in which manere I shuld come to the houre of the night and to myn assendent; as verreyly as may ... [continues next]

And than at erst amonges hem they seye,

And thanne at erst to him thus seyde she, [continues next]

[continues previous] ... sonne, and fond the poynte of my label in the bordure, up-on a capital lettre that is cleped an X; tho rekened I alle the capitalles lettres fro the lyne of midnight un-to this forseide lettre X, and fond that it was 9 of the clokke of the day. Tho loked I down up-on the est orisonte, and fond there the 20 degree of Geminis assending; which that I tok for myn assendent. And in this wyse hadde I the experience for ever-mo in which maner I sholde knowe the tyd of the day, and eek myn assendent. Tho wolde I wite the same night folwing the hour of the night, and wroughte in this wyse. Among an heep of sterris fixe, it lyked me for to take the altitude of the feire white sterre that is cleped Alhabor; and fond hir sitting on the west side of the lyne of midday, 18 degres of heighte taken by my rewle on the bak-syde. Tho sette I the centre of this Alhabor up-on 18 degrees among myn almikanteras, up-on the west syde; by-cause that she was founden on the west syde. Tho leide I my label over the degree of the sonne that was descended under the weste orisonte, and rikened alle the lettres capitals fro the lyne of midday un-to the point of my label in the bordure; and fond that it was passed 8 of the clokke the space of 2 degrees. Tho loked I doun up-on myn est orisonte, and fond ther 23 degrees of Libra assending, whom I tok for myn assendent; and thus lerned I to knowe ones for ever in which manere I shuld come to the houre of the night and to myn assendent; as verreyly as may be taken by so smal an instrument. But ...

This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde, 'What man,' quod he, 'sholde of his weping stinte, that hath so greet a cause for to wepe? Iesu Crist, our lord, him-self wepte for the deeth of Lazarus his freend.' Prudence answerde, 'Certes, wel I woot, attempree weping is no-thing defended to him that sorweful is, amonges folk in sorwe, but it is ...

[continues previous] And thanne at erst to him thus seyde she,

What man,' quod he, 'was ever thus at ese

That sorwest thus?' And he answerde, 'nay.'

'Wher-of artow,' quod Pandare, 'than a-mayed,

Thou woldest finde occasioun [continues next]

[continues previous] And never, for fals suspeccioun,

[continues previous] For to gon unto hir hous.

In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight. [continues next]

his corage un-to vyces, and forlete his propre burthe. [continues next]

That no wight of his contenaunce aspyde. [continues next]

[continues previous] In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight.

[continues previous] He was a verray parfit gentil knight.

'My wyf,' quod he, 'ther may no wight sey nay; [continues next]

[continues previous] maker, thanne nis ther no forlived wight, but-yif he norisshe

[continues previous] his corage un-to vyces, and forlete his propre burthe.

'And I thy borw? fy! no wight dooth but so;

[continues previous] That no wight of his contenaunce aspyde.

[continues previous] Than seyde he thus, 'O paleys desolat,

[continues previous] 'My wyf,' quod he, 'ther may no wight sey nay;

He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd [continues next]

Tel us a tale anon, as forward is;

'Tel us som mirthe or Iapes right anon.'

Tel us a tale, as was thy forward yore.

[continues previous] He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd [continues next]

[continues previous] A tale, of which he is now yvel apayd. [continues next]

Thou sholdest knitte up wel a greet matere.

Tel us a tale anon, for cokkes bones!'

'My lord,' quod he, 'be ye nat yvel apayd; [continues next]

I coude telle, for a goune-clooth, [continues next]

I prey yow that ye be nat yvel apayd.' [continues next]

'Wel,' quod this Ianuarie, 'and hastow sayd? [continues next]

... conseil your freendes that been trewe. For Salomon seith: that "right as the herte of a man delyteth in savour that is sote, right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeveth swetenesse to the soule." He seith also: "ther may no-thing be lykned to the trewe freend." For certes, gold ne silver beth nat so muche worth as the gode wil of a trewe freend. And eek he seith, that "a trewe freend is a strong deffense; who-so that it findeth, certes he findeth a greet tresour." Thanne shul ye eek considere, if that your trewe freendes been discrete and wyse. For the book ... [continues next]

That ther was never man yet yvel apayd [continues next]

For gold ne silver that he to me lente, [continues next]

[continues previous] A tale, of which he is now yvel apayd. [continues next]

For-bereth me, and beth nat evel apayd,

Sin that ye see I do hit in the honour

And therfor, swete, ne beth nat evil apayd. [continues next]

[continues previous] I coude telle, for a goune-clooth,

[continues previous] I prey yow that ye be nat yvel apayd.'

[continues previous] ... clepe to your conseil your freendes that been trewe. For Salomon seith: that "right as the herte of a man delyteth in savour that is sote, right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeveth swetenesse to the soule." He seith also: "ther may no-thing be lykned to the trewe freend." For certes, gold ne silver beth nat so muche worth as the gode wil of a trewe freend. And eek he seith, that "a trewe freend is a strong deffense; who-so that it findeth, certes he findeth a greet tresour." Thanne shul ye eek considere, if that your trewe freendes been discrete ...

[continues previous] For gold ne silver that he to me lente,

[continues previous] A tale, of which he is now yvel apayd.

[continues previous] For so good and so fair as [that] ye be,

For other bond can I noon on hir knette.

I sholde have deyed, ye, longe tyme agoon, [continues next]

But Iesu Crist, as ye in bokes finde, [continues next]

'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon [continues next]

'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon [continues next]

Sith Lamek was, that is so longe agoon, [continues next]

As ye wel knowe how longe tyme agoon [continues next]

[continues previous] I sholde have deyed, ye, longe tyme agoon,

[continues previous] But Iesu Crist, as ye in bokes finde,

[continues previous] 'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon

[continues previous] That I yow knew so charitable and trewe,

[continues previous] 'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon

[continues previous] That I yow knew so charitable and trewe,

[continues previous] Sith Lamek was, that is so longe agoon,

But, sir, oo thing wol ye here? [continues next]

Now nece myn, ye shul wel understonde,'

Quod he, 'so as ye wommen demen alle,

[continues previous] As ye wel knowe how longe tyme agoon

[continues previous] That ye me lafte in aspre peynes smerte,

For trewely, me thinketh, by thy chere,

[continues previous] Right so me thinketh by your chere.

[continues previous] But, sir, oo thing wol ye here?

[continues previous] Me thinketh, in gret sorwe I yow see;