(6) THE FRIAR
208- A marchant was ther with a forked berd,
There was a MERCHANT with a forked beard,
209- In mottelee (two-colored clothing), and hye (high up on the saddle) on horse he sat;
Wearing parti-colored cloth, and proudly he sat on his horse;
210- Upon his heed a Flaundryssh (imported from Flander place in Europe) bever(a large aquatic rodent) hat,
Upon his head (he wore a) Flemish beaver hat,
211- His bootes clasped (fastened) faire and fetisly (stylishly).
His boots were buckled handsomely and elegantly.
212- His resons (opinions) he spak ful solempnely (importantly),
His opinions he spoke very seriously,
213- Sownynge (Mentioning) alwey th’ encrees of his Wynnyng (earnings).
Concerning always the increase of his profits.
214- He wolde (wished) the see (sea) were kept (guarded) for any thyng
He wanted the sea to be guarded at all costs
215- Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Between Middelburgh (Holland) and Orwell (England).
216- Wel koude he in eschaunge (foreign exchange market) sheeldes (French gold coins) selle.
He well knew how to deal in foreign currencies.
217- This worthy man ful wel (very well) his wit bisette (employed):
This worthy man employed his wit very well:
218- Ther wiste (knew) no wight (nobody) that he was in dette (debt),
There was no one who knew that he was in debt,
219- So estatly (dignified) was he of his governaunce (behavior)
He was so dignified in managing his affairs
220- With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. lending with high rate of interest
With his buying and selling and with his financial deals.
221- For sothe (Truly) he was a worthy man with alle, (in every way)
Truly, he was a worthy man indeed,
222- But, sooth (truth) to seyn, I noot (don’t know) how men hym calle.
But, to say the truth, I do not know what men call him.
223- He was an esy man to yeve (give) penaunce (penance-act of punishment),
He was a lenient man in giving penance,
224- Ther as (wherever) he wiste (knew) to have a good pitaunce. (donation of food)
Where he knew he would have a good gift.
225- For unto a povre (poor) ordre for to yive (give)
For to give to a poor order (of friars)
226- Is signe that a man is wel yshryve (confessed);
Is a sign that a man is well confessed;
227- For if he yaf (gave), he dorste (dared) make avaunt,( to assert-boast)
For if he gave, he (the friar) dared to assert,
228- He wiste (knew) that a man was repentaunt (repentant);
He knew that a man was repentant;
229- For many a man so hard is of his herte (heart),
For many a man is so hard in his heart,
230- He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte.(sorely smart-suffer)
He can not weep, although he painfully suffers.
231- Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
Therefore instead of weeping and prayers
232- Men moote (might) yeve ( give) silver to the povre freres (poor friars).
One may give silver to the poor friars.
233- His typet (hood’s long tip) was ay farsed (always stuffed) ful of knyves
His hood was always stuffed full of knives. He sells like hawker.
234- And pynnes, for to yeven (give) faire wyves.
And pins, to give to fair wives.he gives gift to seduce the wives.
235- And certeinly he hadde a murvye note: (merry singing voice)
And certainly he had a merry voice:
236- Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;(a kind of fiddle or violin)
He well knew how to sing and play on a rote (string instrument);
237- Of yeddynges (wedding songs) he baar (bore) outrely (utterly ) the Pris (prize).
He absolutely took the prize for reciting ballads.
238- His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys (lily flower);
His neck was white as a lily flower;
239- Therto (therefore) he strong was as a champioun (champion) .
Furthermore he was strong as a champion fighter.
240- He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
He knew the taverns well in every town
241- And everich (every) hostiler (innkeeper) and tappestere (barmaid)
And every innkeeper and barmaid
242- Bet (Bette)r than a lazar (leper) or a beggestere; (beggar woman)
Better than a leper or a beggar-woman,
243- For unto swich (such) a worthy man as he
For unto such a worthy man as he
244- Acorded nat (Was not suitable), as by his facultee (profession-in view of his position),
It was not suitable, because of his official position,
245- To have with sike (sick) lazars (lepers) aqueyntaunce (acquaintance).
To have acquaintance with sick lepers.
246- It is nat honest (honorable), it may nat avaunce, (advance –be profitable)
It is not respectable; it can not be profitable,
247- For to deelen (deal) with no swich (such) poraille,( poor people)
To deal with any such poor people,
248- But al with riche and selleres (merchants) of vitaille (victuals-food provisions).
But all with rich people and sellers of victuals.
249- And over al, ther as (wherever) profit sholde arise,
And every where, where profit should arise,
250- Curteis he was and lowely of servyse (humble).
He was courteous and graciously humble;
251- Ther nas (wasn’t) no man nowher so vertuous (verstile-efficient).
There was no man anywhere so capable (of such work).
252- He was the beste beggere in his hous;
He was the best beggar in his house;
253- And yaf (gave) a certeyne ferme (payment) for the graunt; (grant of territorial rights)
[And he gave a certain fee for his grant (of begging rights);
254- Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt (territory;)
None of his brethren came there in his territory;
255- For thogh a wydwe (widow) hadde noght a sho, (shoe)
For though a widow had not a shoe,
256- So plesaunt was his in principio, (in the beginning, the opening line of St John’s Gospel)
So pleasant was his “In the beginning,”
257- Yet wolde he have a ferthyng (farthin-in the past British coin), er (before) he wente.
Yet he would have a farthing, before he went away.
258- His purchas (income) was wel bettre than his rente (payment).
His total profit was much more than his proper income.
259- And rage (romp-to play in a happy way or flirt), he koude, as it were right a whelp (puppy).
And he knew how to frolic as if he were indeed a pup.
260- In love-dayes (when disputes were arbitrated) ther koude he muchel (much) help,
He knew how to be much help on days for resolving disputes,
261- For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
For there he was not like a cloistered monk
262- With a thredbare (worn to the bare thread) cope (cloak), as is a povre (poor) scoler,
With a threadbare cope, like a poor scholar,
263- But he was lyk a maister (learned authority) or a pope.
But he was like a master of arts or a pope.
264- Of double worstede (worsted-a type of cloth made of wool) was his semy cope, (short cloak)
Of wide (expensive) cloth was his short cloak,
265- That rounded as a belle out of the presse mould (a hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquids).
Which was round as a bell fresh from the clothespress.
266- Somwhat he lipsed (lisped), for his wantownesse (wantonness),
Somewhat he lisped, for his affectation,
267- To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;
To make his English sweet upon his tongue;
268- And in his harpyng (playing on his harp), whan that he hadde songe,
And in his harping, when he had sung,
269- His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght (exactly),
His eyes twinkled in his head exactly
270- As doon (do) the sterres (stars) in the frosty nyght.
As do the stars in the frosty night.
271- This worthy lymytour (limitor) was cleped (named, called) Huberd.
This worthy friar was called Huberd.
(7) THE MERCHANT
272- A marchant was ther with a forked berd,
There was a MERCHANT with a forked beard,
273- In mottelee (two-colored clothing), and hye (high up on the saddle) on horse he sat;
Wearing parti-colored cloth, and proudly he sat on his horse;
274- Upon his heed a Flaundryssh (imported from Flander place in Europe) bever(a large aquatic rodent) hat,
Upon his head (he wore a) Flemish beaver hat,
275- His bootes clasped (fastened) faire and fetisly (stylishly).
His boots were buckled handsomely and elegantly.
276- His resons (opinions) he spak ful solempnely (importantly),
His opinions he spoke very seriously,
277- Sownynge (Mentioning) alwey th’ encrees of his Wynnyng (earnings).
Concerning always the increase of his profits.
278- He wolde (wished) the see (sea) were kept (guarded) for any thyng
He wanted the sea to be guarded at all costs
279- Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Between Middelburgh (Holland) and Orwell (England).
280- Wel koude he in eschaunge (foreign exchange market) sheeldes (French gold coins) selle.
He well knew how to deal in foreign currencies.
281- This worthy man ful wel (very well) his wit bisette (employed):
This worthy man employed his wit very well:
282- Ther wiste (knew) no wight (nobody) that he was in dette (debt),
There was no one who knew that he was in debt,
283- So estatly (dignified) was he of his governaunce (behavior)
He was so dignified in managing his affairs
284- With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce (lending with a high rate of interest).
With his buying and selling and with his financial deals.
285- For sothe (Truly) he was a worthy man with alle, (in every way)
Truly, he was a worthy man indeed,
286- But, sooth (truth) to seyn, I noot (don’t know) how men hym calle.
But, to say the truth, I do not know what men call him.
(8) THE CLERK
287- A clerk (student) ther was of Oxenford (Oxford) also,
There was also a (scholar) from Oxford,
288- That unto logyk (logic) hadde (had studied) longe ygo.
Who long before had begun the study of logic.
289- As leene was his hors as is a rake (a garden tool with long handle used for making the earth level or collecting leaves),
His horse was as lean as is a rake,
290- And he nas nat (was not) right fat, I undertake,
And he was not very fat, I affirm,
291- But looked holwe (hollow, emaciated [ɪˈmeɪʃieɪtɪd}- thin and weak]), and therto sobrely (seriously).
But looked emaciated, and moreover abstemious.
292- Ful (very) thredbare was his overeste (outer) courtepy (cloak-gown);
His short overcoat was very threadbare,
293- For he hadde geten (got) hym yet no benefice (a church living/position),
For he had not yet obtained an ecclesiastical living,
294- Ne (nor) was so worldly for to have office (government office work).
Nor was he worldly enough to take secular employment.
295- For hym was levere (dearer) have at his beddes heed
For he would rather have at the head of his bed
296- Twenty bookes, clad (bound) in blak or reedred,
Twenty books, bound in black or red,
297- Of Aristotle and his philosophie,
Of Aristotle and his philosophy
298- Than robes riche(costly garments), or fithele (fiddle), or gay (ornate) sautrie. (psaltery-musical instrument i.e stringed instrument)
Than rich robes, or a fiddle, or an elegant psaltery.
299- But al be that he was a philosophre,
But even though he was a philosopher,
300- Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre (box);-
Nevertheless he had but little gold in his strongbox;
301- But al that he myghte of his freendes hente (get),
But all that he could get from his friends,
302- On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
He spent on books and on learning,
303- And bisily (busily/sincerely) gandid for the soules preye
And diligently did pray for the souls
304- Of hem (them) that yaf (gave) hym wherwith (the means) to scoleye (go to school).
Of those who gave him the wherewithal to attend the schools.
305- Of studie took he moost cure (care) and moost heede (attention),
He took most care and paid most heed to study.
306- Nogh (not)t o (one) word spak he moore than was neede,
He spoke not one word more than was needed,
307- And that was seyd in forme (with formality) and reverence,
And that was said with due formality and respect,
308- And short and quyk and ful of hy(high) sentence (deep meaning).
And short and lively and full of elevated content;
309- Sownynge (in Full of Sounding in) moral vertu was his speche,
His speech was consonant with moral virtue,
310- And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.
