When
April with his sweet vernal showers has pierced to the root the dryness of
March, and watered every vein in that moisture, of the quickening power of
which is born the flower : when Zephyr also with his sweet breath has quickened
the tender new shoots in every holt and moor, and young sun has run his
half-course. The little birds, that sleep with open eyes at night, make melody,
nature pricking them so in their hearts; then people long to go on pilgrimage
to renowned shrines or well-known lands. Especially, from every shire's end in
England, they go their way to Canterbury to seek the only blessed martyr who
helped them when they were sick.
On
a day in that season, as I lay at the Tabard Inn, at Southwark about to go on
my pilgrimage with devout heart to Canterbury with the company of full nine and
twenty sundry folk, who by chance had fallen into fellowship: they were all
pilgrims who wanted to ride to Canterbury. The chambers and stables were wide (the
people belong to different sections of the society) and we were entertained in
the best manner. But in brief, when the sun was about to rest, I had spoken
with every one of them and was soon of their company, and agreed to rise
eagerly to make our way to the place I mention to you. Neverthless, whilst I
have opportunity, before I proceed further in this tale, I think it is
reasonable to tell you the quality of each of them, as it appeared to me, what
sort of folk they were, and of what station; and what equipment they were with.
I shall then begin first with a Knight.
The
Knight
There was a Knight, and
a brave person he was, who loved knighthood, faithfulness and honour,
liberality and courtesy. He was very valiant in his lord's war. He had joined
expeditions in Lithuania and Russia. He had been in fifteen mortal
battles and had thrice fought for our faith. Though he was valorous, he
was wise, and as gentle as a maid of his bearing. In all his life he has never
yet spoken discourtesy to any kind of person. he was truly a perfect gentle
knight. But to tell you of his equipment, his horses were good, but he was not
gaily clad.
The
squire
With him, there was his son, a young squire, a
lover, and a gay young bachelor, with curled locks. He may have twenty years of
age, I believe. Of his stature, he was of middling height, and wonderfully flexible,
acrobatic and of great strength. His clothes were embroidered red and
white, as if it were a meadow full of fresh flowers. All the day long he was
singing or playing upon his flute, he was as fresh as the month of May. His
coat was short, with long, wide sleeves. Well could he sit on a horse and ride.
He knew how to make songs, compose, dance, draw, and write. He loved so
ardently that at night-time he slept no more than a nightingale He was
courteous, modest and helpful.
The
Yeoman
He had a yeoman with
him, and had no other servant on that journey, for it pleased him to ride in
that manner. He was clad in coat and hood of green, and under his belt he bore
very carefully a sheaf of peacock arrows, bright and sharp.
He
knew how to arrange his gear like a yeoman; in his hand he carried a
mighty bow. His head was cropped, and his visage brown. He understood well all
the practice of wood-craft. Upon his arm he carried a gay arm-guard, and at one
side a word and a buckler, and a fine dagger.
The
Prioress (head superior of Nuns)
There
was also a nun, a Prioress, very quiet and simple in her smiling. She was named
Madame Eglantine. Well she sang the divine service, beautifully intoned through
her nose. And French she spoke properly. She was also taught well the art of
eating; she let no morsel fall from her lips, nor did she wet her fingers
deeply in the sauce. She knew well how to carry a morsel, and how to hold it,
so that no drop fell upon her breast. She took great pleasure in courtesy. She
wiped her upper lip so cleanly that no film of grease was to be seen on her cup
after she had taken her draught. She reached her food with great seemliness;
and surely she was very diverting, pleasant and amiable of bearing divine love.
She took pains to
imitate court manners, to be stately in her demeanour, and to be regarded
worthy of reverence. But, to speak of her sensibility, she was charitable and
compassionate that she would weep if she saw a mouse caught in a trap, if it
were dead or bleeding. She had some small hounds whom she fed with roasted
meat, or milk and bread of fine sour She would weep bitterly if any of them
were dead. She has for all warm feeling and tender heart. Her nose was
long and well proportioned, her eyes grey as glass, her mouth was small, and
soft and red besides : certainly she had a fine forehead, I believe. Her cloak was neat, I thought. She wore a
brooch of gold, on which was engraved first an 'A' with a crown and over it,
'Amor Vincit Omnia'.
The
Monk
There was a monk, an
excellent one, above all others, an outrider who loved hunting, fit to be an
abbot (head of monks). He had an excellent horse in his stable, and when he
rode, men could hear jingle in a whistling wind as clearly and as loudly as the
Chapel bell. He was therefore rightly a hard rider, he had greyhounds, as swift
as fowls in flight, all his pleasure was in hard riding, and in hunting the hare,
for which he would spare no expenses. He was a fat lord, and in good condition;
his eyes were bright. His boots were soft, his horse in a fine condition.
The
Friar
His name is
Hubert. He is sensual, licentious and salacious person. Who seduces young girls
and then arranges their marriages. He spends most of his times at bars and
carries knives and pins in his sleeves. He accepts bribes, readily gives
absolutions to people in exchange for money and avoids sick and poor people
because they have no money to give. He is wanton, merry, unscrupulous and quite
irreligious.
The Merchant
He is clever but arrogant and never let
others become aware of his true financial status. The merchant talks of
nothing, but business and thinks himself an expert on all matters related to
trade. He represents the rising middle class.
The clerk of Oxford
A sincere and devout
student of philosophy at oxford university, who is fond of erudition. Much of
his study is devoted to the works of Aristotle. He is basically poor and spends
all money on books. He is laconic in words, but when he does, his words are full
of wisdom and moral virtue.
Sergeant of Law
A successful lawyer
commissioned by the king. He is cautious and wise. He upholds justice in every
dispute. He knows every statue of England’s Law by heart. He projects an
image of himself as busy and successful.
The Franklin
He is a wealthy
landowner, who lives for his own sensual pleasure. He is a hedonist and
compared himself to Epicurus and St. Julian as he is also jovial and
hospitable. He has a white beard and a ruddy complexion and carries a dagger and
a trinket bag of silk in his girdle. He has served as a justice of the peace
and a member of parliament.
The Guildsmen
The five guildsmen
including Haberdasher (peddlers/ sellers of small goods), the carpenter, the
weaver, the dyer and the tapestry maker. Though they have different trades,
they appear as a unit. They represent the rising new middle classes.
The Cook
He works for the
guildsmen and is famous for his culinary skills. He is quite able and
experienced. The only detail provided about him is a crusty sore on his leg.
The shipman
The shipman is a huge,
uncouth (lacking manners) man, who is an expert sailor. He rides his horse so
poorly, it is obvious the man is much more comfortable on the sea than on the
land. His skin has turned brown from years of sailing. He steals wine while the
ship’s captain sleeps.
The physician
Well educated and
thrifty person. He is very much fond of gold and makes a lot of money during
the plague time. He has not studied the Bible the lacks the concern of mercy.
The Wife of Bath
She is one of the most
famous characters in literature. Her real name is Alisoun. She is a
professional weaver. She is gap-toothed, somewhat deaf and wears bright scarlet
red stockings. She has been married five times and had many other affairs in
her youth. She was very much expert in the art of love making.
She makes a great show of being
religious, takes part in charities. She is going to Canterbury to find her
sixth husband.
The Parson (vicar / rector)
The parson is very
poor, but holy and virtuous man. He is gentle, kindly and diligent. He preaches
the gospel and practices what he preaches. Whatever little money he has, he
gives to his poor parishioners.
The Plowman (ploughman)
Brother of the parson,
honest and virtuous man like his brother. A member of the peasant class. He
pays his tithes to the church and leads an ideal Christian life. He wears a
tabard smock (sleeveless garment) that reflects his poverty.
The Miller
Chaucer pays a great
attention to the physical appearance of the miller. He is huge, stout, brawny,
broad and strong and has red beard. His nose has a hairy wart. He has a large
mouth and nostrils. He wears a blue hood and white coat. He is an expert in
wrestling and has animal like instincts. He is always drunken, brash and vulgar
man. His manners and conversation are as coarse as his appearance.
The Manciple (steward)
He works at inns of
court. He is in charge of getting provisions for the court. Though illiterate,
he is smart and cautious. He is smarter than the thirty lawyers he feeds. He
tricks his employers to earn maximum profit.
The Reeve
He works as a steward
on an estate. He is an old, choleric thin man with shaved head and lean legs.
He wears a blue overcoat and carries a rusty blade. He was earlier a carpenter
and resents the miller’s tale. He distrusts people and keeps a check on
everyone.
The Summoner
He is an officer at the church, who
calls people for a church trial. He is extremely unattractive with his red
complexion, pimples and infected skin. He had a bad breath and often gets
drunk. He is lecherous and morally corrupt.
The Pardoner (a church
representative sells pardons to common people)
The most evil of the pilgrims. He
has yellow hair, bulging eye ball, goat like voice and wears a small hat. He
fools people to make money and carries a bag full of fake relics. He is greedy
and hypocrite. He has an ambiguous sexuality. He also good at singing and
preaching.
