CHAUCER’S JUSTIFICATION OF HIS REALISM
717- Now have I toold you soothly (truly), in a clause (briefly),
Now have I told you truly, briefly,
718- Th’ estaat (status), th’ array (dress), the nombre (number), and eek the cause
The rank, the dress, the number, and also the cause
719- Why that assembled was this compaignye
Why this company was assembled
720- In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye (inn)
In Southwark at this fine hostelry
721- That highte (was named) the Tabard, faste (very near/close) to the Belle(another Southwark tavern).
That is called the Tabard, close by the Bell.
722- But now is tyme to yow (you) for to telle
But now it is time to tell to you
723- How that we baren us (conducted/behaved ourselves) that ilke (same) nyght,
How we conducted ourselves that same night,
724- Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght (alighted/settled/arrived);
When we had arrived in that hostelry;
725- And after wol I telle of our viage (voyage)
And after that I will tell of our journey
726- And al the remenauntrest (remaining part) of oure pilgrimage.
And all the rest of our pilgrimage.
727- But first I pray (request) yow, of youre curteisye,
But first I pray yow, of your courtesy,
728- That ye n’ arrete (attribute to) it nat my vileynye (rudeness/ill-breeding),
That you do not attribute it to my rudeness,
729- Thogh that I pleynly (openly) speke in this mateere (matter),
Though I speak plainly in this matter,
730- To telle yow hir (their) wordes and hir cheere (behavior),
To tell you their words and their behavior,
731- Ne thogh (nor if) I speke hir wordes proprely (their own exact words).
Nor though I speak their words accurately.
732- For this ye knowen al so (just as) wel as I,
For this you know as well as I:
733- Whoso (anybody) shal telle a tale after a man,
Whoever must repeat a story after someone,
734- He moot (must) reherce (rehearse/retell) as ny (closely) as evere he kan
He must repeat as closely as ever he knows how
735- Everich a(every) word, if it be in his charge (power/responsibility),
Every single word, if it be in his power,
736- Al speke he never so rudeliche (rudely) and large (broadly),
Although he may speak ever so rudely and freely,
737- Or ellis he moot (must) telle his tale untrewe (incorrectly),
Or else he must tell his tale inaccurately,
738- Or feyne (invent/make up) thyng, or fynde (find) wordes newe.
Or make up things, or find new words.
739- He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother
He may not refrain from (telling the truth), although he were his brother;
740- He moot (may) as wel seye o (one) word as another.
He must as well say one word as another.
741- Crist spak hymself ful brode (plainly/extensively) in hooly writ ( Bible),
Christ himself spoke very plainly in holy writ,
742- And wel ye woot (know) no vileynye is it.
And you know well it is no rudeness.
743- Eek Plato seith (says), whoso that kan hym rede (read),
Also Plato says, whosoever knows how to read him,
744- The wordes moote (must) be cosyn (cousin) to the dede (deed).
The words must be closely related to the deed.
745- Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
Also I pray you to forgive it to me,
746- Al (If) have I nat set (ordered) folk in hir degree (by their social status)
Although I have not set folk in order of their rank
747- Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde (stand).
Here in this tale, as they should stand.
748- My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
My wit is short, you can well understand.
