Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Allegra Villarreal, Editor

35 Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

“A coloured illustration from Heinrich Steinhowel’s Esopus,” by unknown artist, 1501. Wikimedia Commons.

Introduction

by Alexander Copeland

This 626-line narrative poem is a beast fable and mock epic based on an incident in the “Reynard cycle,” a literary compliation of medieval allegorical Dutch, English, French and German fables. The story of Chanticleer and the Fox became further popularised in Britain through Chaucer’s retelling below (“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”).

Summary

This story is an animal fable that conveys a moral lesson. The Nuns’s Priest is asked to tell his tale in an effort to lighten up the group after the previous, tragic story. The Knight requests that a tale of good fortune be told and calls on the Priest to deliver it. He begins his tale, by introducing a rooster named Chanticleer, who belongs to an elderly, poor widow. Chanticleer is described to be attractive and with a “merry…crowing”.

Chanticleer possesses many hen wives, his most magnificent being Pertelote. Chanticleer has a nightmare of someone trying to kill him but his dear wife will not reason with his dismay. In an effort to get her to take his dream seriously, he reiterates that ‘murder will reveal itself’, and gives proof of this belief, but to no avail. Chanticleer notices a fox watching him, but the fox warns him to not be afraid. He listens to the fox and ends up getting snatched up. He is fooled by the flattery of the fox which brings us to the moral of the story: never trust a flatterer. He eventually flatters the fox back resulting in his release where he is able to fly into a tree out of harm’s way. The fox tries to flatter him down but he has learned his lesson and the tale ends. The host proceeds to flatter the priest, and, in the end, wishes him good luck. This tale turns out to be all that it is explained to be, a moral lesson driven by romance. It is interesting that the story takes a complete turn and the character is able to learn a lesson. In most cases, the lesson would only be seen by the reader upon the fall of the main character. The priest proves himself to be a modest, sharp-witted individual and nothing more by successfully delivering a tale of good fortune.

Works Cited

“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.” Wikipedia. 09 Aug. 2020. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nun%27s_Priest%27s_Tale Accessed 29 Sept. 2020.

Discussion Questions

This story features a “frame narrative” (a story within a story). Explain how “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is a frame narrative and speculate on why Chaucer has used this appraoch.
This story is also a “beast fable” in which animals behave like himan beings; as such, these were often meant to comment on humanity’s flaws. With this in mind, what might Chaucer’s message be?
Chanticleer tells the story of “two comrades once who went/ On pilgrimage, sincere in their intent”. Why does Chanticleer tell this story? What is his point in the telling?
What is Chanticleer’s great fault? What is the redeeming quality that prevents his destruction?
What is the commentary here about women?

Further Resources

An animated video of Nun’s Priest’s Tale
Webpage on “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” from Havard University’s Geoffrey Chaucer Page
An academic journal article on the “Patriarchal Christianity” of “Nun’s Priests’s Tale”

Reading: The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue

	“Hoo!” quod the Knyght, “good sire, namoore of this,
	That ye han seyd is right ynough, ywis,
	And muchel moore, for litel hevynesse
	Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse.
5	I seye for me, it is a greet disese
	Where as men han been in greet welthe and ese,
	To heeren of hir sodeyn fal, allas!
	And the contrarie is joye and greet solas,
	As whan a man hath been in povre estaat,
10	And clymbeth up, and wexeth fortunat,
	And there abideth in prosperitee.
	Swich thyng is gladsom, as it thynketh me,
	And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle.”

	Hold!” said the knight. “Good sir, no more of this,
	What you have said is right enough, and is
	Very much more; a little heaviness
	Is plenty for the most of us, I guess.
5	For me, I say it’s saddening, if you please,
	As to men who’ve enjoyed great wealth and ease,
	To hear about their sudden fall, alas!
	But the contrary’s joy and great solace,
	As when a man has been in poor estate
10	And he climbs up and waxes fortunate,
	And there abides in all prosperity.
	Such things are gladsome, as it seems to me,
	And of such things it would be good to tell.”

lines 14-39: The Host asks the Monk to tell another tale

	“Ye,” quod our Hoost, “by Seint Poules belle,
15	Ye seye right sooth; this Monk, he clappeth lowde,
	He spak, how Fortune covered with a clowde-
	I noot nevere what; and also of a tragedie
	Right now ye herde; and pardee, no remedie
	It is for to biwaille ne compleyne
20	That that is doon; and als it is a peyne,
	As ye han seyd, to heere of hevynesse.

	“Yea,” said our host, “and by Saint Paul’s great bell,
15	You say the truth; this monk, his clapper’s loud.
	He spoke how Fortune covered with a cloud
	I know not what, and of a tragedy,
	As now you heard, and indeed no remedy
	It is to wail and wonder and complain
20	That certain things have happened, and it’s pain.
	As you have said, to hear of wretchedness.

	Sire Monk, namoore of this, so God yow blesse!
	Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye;
	Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye,
25	For therinne is ther no desport ne game.
	Wherfore, sire Monk, or daun Piers by youre name,
	I pray yow hertely, telle us somwhat elles,
	For sikerly, nere clynkyng of youre belles
	That on your bridel hange on every syde,
30	By hevene kyng, that for us alle dyde,
	I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleepe,
	Althogh the slough had never been so deepe;
	Thanne hadde your tale al be toold in veyn.
	For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn,
35	Whereas a man may have noon audience,
	Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
	And wel I woot the substance is in me,
	If any thyng shal wel reported be.
	Sir, sey somwhat of huntyng, I yow preye.”

	Sir Monk, no more of this, so God you bless!
	Your tale annoys the entire company;
	Such talking is not worth a butterfly;
25	For in it is no sport nor any game.
	Wherefore, sir monk, Don Peter by your name,
	I pray you heartily tell us something else,
	For truly, but for clinking of the bells
	That from your bridle hang on either side,
30	By Heaven’s king, Who for us all has died,
	I should, before this, have fallen down for sleep,
	Although the mud had never been so deep;
	Then had your story all been told in vain.
	For certainly, as all these clerks complain,
35	‘Whenas a man has none for audience,
	It’s little help to speak his evidence.’
	And well I know the substance is in me
	To judge of things that well reported be.
	Sir, tell a tale of hunting now, I pray.”

lines 40-54: The Monk is reluctant and the Host asks the Nun’s Priest to tell a tale

40	“Nay,” quod this Monk, “I have no lust to pleye;
	Not lat another telle as I have toold.”
	Thanne spak oure Hoost, with rude speche and boold,
	And seyde unto the Nonnes Preest anon,
	“Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou, sir John,
45	Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade;
	Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade.
	What thogh thyn hors be bothe foul and lene?
	If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene!
	Looke that thyn herte be murie everemo.”
50	“Yis, sir,” quod he, “yis, Hoost, so moot I go,
	But I be myrie, ywis, I wol be blamed.”
	And right anon his tale he hath attamed,
	And thus he seyde unto us everichon,
	This sweete preest, this goodly man sir John.

40	“Nay,” said this monk, “I have no wish to play;
	Now let another tell, as I have told.”
	Then spoke our host out, in rude speech and bold,
	And said he unto the nun’s priest anon:
	“Come near, you priest, come hither, you Sir John,
45	Tell us a thing to make our hearts all glad;
	Be blithe, although you ride upon a jade.
	What though your horse may be both foul and lean?
	If he but serves you, why, don’t care a bean;
	Just see your heart is always merry. So.”
50	“Yes, sir,” said he, “yes, host, so may I go,
	For, save I’m merry, I know I’ll be blamed.”
	And right away his story has he framed,
	And thus he said unto us, every one,
	This dainty priest, this goodly man, Sir John.

Reading: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

55	A povre wydwe, somdel stape in age,
	Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage
	Biside a greve, stondynge in a dale.
	This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
	Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf,
60	In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf,
	For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
	By housbondrie, of swich as God hir sente,
	She foond hirself and eek hire doghtren two.
	Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo,
65	Three keen, and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
	Ful sooty was hir bour and eek hire halle,
	In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel-
	Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
	No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte,
70	Hir diete was accordant to hir cote.
	Repleccioun ne made hire nevere sik,
	Attempree diete was al hir phisik,
	And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
	The goute lette hir nothyng for to daunce,
75	N’apoplexie shente nat hir heed.
	No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed,
	Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak,
	Milk and broun breed, in which she foond no lak,
	Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye,
80	For she was as it were a maner deye.

55	A poor widow, somewhat advanced in age,
	Lived, on a time, within a small cottage
	Beside a grove and standing down a dale.
	This widow, now, of whom I tell my tale,
	Since that same day when she’d been last a wife
60	Had led, with patience, her strait simple life,
	For she’d small goods and little income-rent;
	By husbanding of such as God had sent
	She kept herself and her young daughters two.
	Three large sows had she, and no more, there to,
65	Three cows and a lone sheep that she called Moll.
	Right neatly was her bedroom and her hall,
	Wherein she’d eaten many a slender meal.
	Of sharp sauce, why she needed no great deal,
	For dainty morsel never passed her throat;
70	Her diet well accorded with her coat.
	Repletion never made this woman sick;
	A temperate diet was her whole physic,
	And exercise, and her heart’s sustenance.
	The gout, it hindered her nowise to dance,
75	Nor apoplexy spun within her head;
	And no wine drank she, either white or red;
	Her board was mostly garnished, white and black,
	With milk and brown bread, whereof she’d no lack,
	Broiled bacon and sometimes an egg or two,
80	For a small dairy business did she do.

lines 81-115: The widow’s yard and its inhabitants

	A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
	With stikkes, and a drye dych withoute,
	In which she hadde a Cok, hight Chauntecleer,
	In al the land of crowyng nas his peer.
85	His voys was murier than the murie orgon
	On messe-dayes, that in the chirche gon.
	Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge,
	Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge.
	By nature he crew eche ascencioun
90	Of the equynoxial in thilke toun;
	For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended,
	Thanne crew he, that it myghte nat been amended.
	His coomb was redder than the fyn coral,
	And batailled, as it were a castel wal.
95	His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon,
	Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon,
	His nayles whiter than the lylye flour,
	And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
	This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce
100	Sevene hennes, for to doon al his plesaunce,
	Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours,
	And wonder lyk to hym as of colours;
	Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
	Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote.
105	Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire
	And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire
	Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold,
	That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
	Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith.
110	He loved hire so, that wel was hym therwith.
	But swich a joye was it to here hem synge
	Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge,
	In sweete accord, “My lief is faren in londe!”
	For thilke tyme, as I have understonde,
115	Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge.

	A yard she had, enclosed all roundabout
	With pales, and there was a dry ditch without,
	And in the yard a cock called Chauntecleer.
	In all the land, for crowing, he’d no peer.
85	His voice was merrier than the organ gay
	On Mass days, which in church begins to play;
	More regular was his crowing in his lodge
	Than is a clock or abbey horologe.
	By instinct he’d marked each ascension down
90	Of equinoctial value in that town;
	For when fifteen degrees had been ascended,
	Then crew he so it might not be amended.
	His comb was redder than a fine coral,
	And battlemented like a castle wall.
95	His bill was black and just like jet it shone;
	Like azure were his legs and toes, each one;
	His spurs were whiter than the lily flower;
	And plumage of the burnished gold his dower.
	This noble cock had in his governance
100	Seven hens to give him pride and all pleasance,
	Which were his sisters and his paramours
	And wondrously like him as to colours,
	Whereof the fairest hued upon her throat
	Was called the winsome Mistress Pertelote.
105	Courteous she was, discreet and debonnaire,
	Companionable, and she had been so fair
	Since that same day when she was seven nights old,
	That truly she had taken the heart to hold
	Of Chauntecleer, locked in her every limb;
110	He loved her so that all was well with him.
	But such a joy it was to hear them sing,
	Whenever the bright sun began to spring,
	In sweet accord, “My love walks through the land.”
	For at that time, and as I understand,
115	The beasts and all the birds could speak and sing.

lines 116-141: Chauntecleer the rooster has a bad dream

	And so bifel, that in the dawenynge,
	As Chauntecleer, among hise wyves alle,
	Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
	And next hym sat this faire Pertelote,
120	This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte
	As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
	And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym roore
	She was agast, and seyde, “Herte deere,
	What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere?
125	Ye been a verray sleper, fy for shame!”
	And he answerde and seyde thus, “Madame,
	I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief.
	By God, me thoughte I was in swich meschief
	Right now, that yet myn herte is soore afright.
130	Now God,” quod he, “my swevene recche aright,
	And kepe my body out of foul prisoun.
	Me mette how that I romed up and doun
	Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest
	Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest
135	Upon my body, and han had me deed.
	His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed,
	And tipped was his tayl and bothe hise eeris;
	With blak, unlyk the remenant of hise heeris;
	His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye.
140	Yet of his look, for feere almoost I deye!
	This caused me my gronyng, doutelees.”

	So it happened that, in a bright dawning,
	As Chauntecleer ‘midst wives and sisters all
	Sat on his perch, the which was in the hall,
	And next him sat the winsome Pertelote,
120	This Chauntecleer he groaned within his throat
	Like man that in his dreams is troubled sore.
	And when fair Pertelote thus heard him roar,
	She was aghast and said: “O sweetheart dear,
	What ails you that you groan so? Do you hear?
125	You are a sleepy herald. Fie, for shame!”
	And he replied to her thus: “Ah, madame,
	I pray you that you take it not in grief:
	By God, I dreamed I’d come to such mischief,
	Just now, my heart yet jumps with sore affright.
130	Now God,” cried he, “my vision read aright
	And keep my body out of foul prison!
	I dreamed, that while I wandered up and down
	Within our yard, I saw there a strange beast
	Was like a dog, and he’d have made a feast
135	Upon my body, and have had me dead.
	His colour yellow was and somewhat red;
	And tipped his tail was, as were both his ears,
	With black, unlike the rest, as it appears;
	His snout was small and gleaming was each eye.
140	Remembering how he looked, almost I die;
	And all this caused my groaning, I confess.”

lines 142-175: Pertelote the chicken defies bad dreams and cowardly men

	“Avoy!” quod she, “fy on yow hertelees!
	Allas,” quod she, “for by that God above
	Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love!
145	I kan nat love a coward, by my feith,
	For certes, what so any womman seith,
	We alle desiren, if it myghte bee,
	To han housbondes hardy, wise, and free,
	And secree, and no nygard, ne no fool,
150	Ne hym that is agast of every tool,
	Ne noon avauntour; by that God above!
	How dorste ye seyn for shame unto youre love
	That any thyng myghte make yow aferd?
	Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd?
155	Allas! and konne ye been agast of swevenys?
	Nothyng, God woot, but vanitee in swevene is!
	Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
	And ofte of fume and of complecciouns,
	Whan humours been to habundant in a wight.
160	Certes, this dreem which ye han met tonyght
	Cometh of greet superfluytee
	Of youre rede colera, pardee,
	Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
	Of arwes, and of fyre with rede lemes,
165	Of grete beestes, that they wol hem byte,
	Of contek, and of whelpes grete and lyte;
	Right as the humour of malencolie
	Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie
	For feere of blake beres, or boles blake,
170	Or elles blake develes wole him take.
	Of othere humours koude I telle also
	That werken many a man in sleep ful wo,
	But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
	Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man,
175	Seyde he nat thus, `Ne do no fors of dremes`?

	“Aha,” said she, “fie on you, spiritless!
	Alas!” cried she, “for by that God above,
	Now have you lost my heart and all my love;
145	I cannot love a coward, by my faith.
	For truly, whatsoever woman saith,
	We all desire, if only it may be,
	To have a husband hardy, wise, and free,
	And trustworthy, no niggard, and no fool,
150	Nor one that is afraid of every tool,
	Nor yet a braggart, by that God above!
	How dare you say, for shame, unto your love
	That there is anything that you have feared?
	Have you not man’s heart, and yet have a beard?
155	Alas! And are you frightened by a vision?
	Dreams are, God knows, a matter for derision.
	Visions are generated by repletions
	And vapours and the body’s bad secretions
	Of humours overabundant in a wight.
160	Surely this dream, which you have had tonight,
	Comes only of the superfluity
	Of your bilious irascibility,
	Which causes folk to shiver in their dreams
	For arrows and for flames with long red gleams,
165	For great beasts in the fear that they will bite,
	For quarrels and for wolf whelps great and slight;
	Just as the humour of melancholy
	Causes full many a man, in sleep, to cry,
	For fear of black bears or of bulls all black,
170	Or lest black devils put them in a sack.
	Of other humours could I tell also,
	That bring, to many a sleeping man, great woe;
	But I’ll pass on as lightly as I can.
	Lo, Cato, and he was a full wise man,
175	Said he not, ‘we should not trouble for dreams?’

lines 176-203: Pertelote advises Chauntecleer to eat some herbs

	Now sire,” quod she, “whan ye flee fro the bemes,
	For Goddes love, as taak som laxatyf.
	Up peril of my soule, and of my lyf,
	I conseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye,
180	That bothe of colere and of malencolye
	Ye purge yow; and for ye shal nat tarie,
	Though in this toun is noon apothecarie,
	I shal myself to herbes techen yow,
	That shul been for youre hele and for youre prow.
185	And in oure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde,
	The whiche han of hir propretee by kynde
	To purge yow bynethe and eek above.
	Foryet nat this, for Goddes owene love!
	Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun;
190	Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
	Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote.
	And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote
	That ye shul have a fevere terciane,
	Or an agu that may be youre bane.
195	A day or two ye shul have digestyves
	Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyves
	Of lawriol, centaure, and fumetere,
	Or elles of ellebor that groweth there,
	Of katapuce, or of gaitrys beryis,
200	Of herbe yve, growyng in oure yeerd, ther mery is;
	Pekke hem up right as they growe, and ete hem yn!
	Be myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn,
	Dredeth no dreem, I kan sey yow namoore!”

	Now, sir,” said she, “when we fly from the beams,
	For God’s love go and take some laxative;
	On peril of my soul, and as I live,
	I counsel you the best, I will not lie,
180	That both for choler and for melancholy
	You purge yourself; and since you shouldn’t tarry,
	And in this town there’s no apothecary,
	I will myself go find some herbs for you
	That will be good for health and pecker too;
185	And in our own yard all these herbs I’ll find,
	The which have properties of proper kind
	To purge you underneath and up above.
	Forget this not, now, for God’s very love!
	You are so very choleric of complexion.
190	Beware the mounting sun and all dejection,
	Nor get yourself with sudden humours hot;
	For if you do, I dare well lay a groat
	That you shall have the tertian fever’s pain,
	Or some ague that may well be your bane.
195	A day or two you shall have digestives
	Of worms before you take your laxatives
	Of laurel, centuary, and fumitory,
	Or else of hellebore purificatory,
	Or caper spurge, or else of dogwood berry,
200	Or herb ivy, all in our yard so merry;
	Peck them just as they grow and gulp them in.
	Be merry, husband, for your father’s kin!
	Dread no more dreams. And I can say no more.”

lines 204-217: Chauntcleer explains that dreams can have a certain meaning

	“Madame,” quod he, “graunt mercy of youre loore,
205	But nathelees, as touchyng daun Catoun,
	That hath of wysdom swich a greet renoun,
	Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
	By God, men may in olde bookes rede
	Of many a man moore of auctorite
210	Than evere Caton was, so moot I thee,
	That al the revers seyn of this sentence,
	And han wel founden by experience
	That dremes been significaciouns
	As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns
215	That folk enduren in this lif present.
	Ther nedeth make of this noon argument,
	The verray preeve sheweth it in dede.

	“Madam,” said he, “thank you for your lore.
205	Nevertheless, not running Cato down,
	Who had for wisdom such a high renown,
	And though he says to hold no dreams in dread,
	By God, men have, in many old books, read
	Of many a man more an authority
210	That ever Cato was, pray pardon me,
	Who say just the reverse of his sentence,
	And have found out by long experience
	That dreams, indeed, are good significations,
	As much of joys as of all tribulations
215	That folk endure here in this life present.
	There is no need to make an argument;
	The very proof of this is shown indeed.

lines 218-262: An example about a man having a bad dream

	Oon of the gretteste auctours that men rede
	Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente
220	On pilgrimage in a ful good entente;
	And happed so, they coomen in a toun
	Wher as ther was swich congregacioun
	Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage,
	That they ne founde as muche as o cotage
225	In which they bothe myghte logged bee;
	Wherfore they mosten of necessitee
	As for that nyght departen compaignye,
	And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye,
	And took his loggyng as it wolde falle.
230	That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
	Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough;
	That oother man was logged wel ynough,
	As was his aventure or his fortune,
	That us governeth alle as in commune.

	One of the greatest authors that men read
	Says thus: That on a time two comrades went
220	On pilgrimage, and all in good intent;
	And it so chanced they came into a town
	Where there was such a crowding, up and down,
	Of people, and so little harbourage,
	That they found not so much as one cottage
225	Wherein the two of them might sheltered be.
	Wherefore they must, as of necessity,
	For that one night at least, part company;
	And each went to a different hostelry
	And took such lodgment as to him did fall.
230	Now one of them was lodged within a stall,
	Far in a yard, with oxen of the plow;
	That other man found shelter fair enow,
	As was his luck, or was his good fortune,
	Whatever ’tis that governs us, each one.

235	And so bifel, that longe er it were day
	This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay,
	How that his felawe gan upon hym calle
	And seyde, `Allas, for in an oxes stalle
	This nyght I shal be mordred, ther I lye!
240	Now help me, deere brother, or I dye;
	In alle haste com to me!” he sayde.
	This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde;
	But whan that he was wakened of his sleep,
	He turned hym and took of it no keep.
245	Hym thoughte, his dreem nas but a vanitee.
	Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee,
	And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
	Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, `I am now slawe,
	Bihoold my bloody woundes depe and wyde;
250	Arys up erly in the morwe-tyde,
	And at the west gate of the toun,’ quod he,
	`A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se,
	In which my body is hid ful prively.
	Do thilke carte arresten boldely;
255	My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn.’-
	And tolde hym every point, how he was slayn,
	With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe;
	And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trewe.
	For on the morwe, as soone as it was day,
260	To his felawes in he took the way,
	And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
	After his felawe he bigan to calle.

235	So it happened that, long before it was day,
	This last man dreamed in bed, as there he lay,
	That his poor fellow did unto him call,
	Saying: ‘Alas! For in an ox’s stall
	This night shall I be murdered where I lie.
240	Now help me, brother dear, before I die.
	Come in all haste to me.’ ‘Twas thus he said.
	This man woke out of sleep, then, all afraid;
	But when he’d wakened fully from his sleep,
	He turned upon his pillow, yawning deep,
245	Thinking his dream was but a fantasy.
	And then again, while sleeping, thus dreamed he.
	And then a third time came a voice that said
	Or so he thought: ‘Now, comrade, I am dead;
	Behold my bloody wounds, so wide and deep!
250	Early arise tomorrow from your sleep,
	And at the west gate of the town,’ said he,
	‘A wagon full of dung there shall you see,
	Wherein is hid my body craftily;
	Do you arrest this wagon right boldly.
255	They killed me for what money they could gain.’
	And told in every point how he’d been slain,
	With a most pitiful face and pale of hue.
	And trust me well, this dream did all come true;
	For on the morrow, soon as it was day,
260	Unto his comrade’s inn he took the way;
	And when he’d come into that ox’s stall,
	Upon his fellow he began to call.

lines 263-296: The bad dream becomes truth

	The hostiler answerde hym anon,
	And seyde, `Sire, your felawe is agon,
265	As soone as day he wente out of the toun.’
	This man gan fallen in suspecioun,
	Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette,
	And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette,
	Unto the westgate of the toun; and fond
270	A dong carte, as it were to donge lond,
	That was arrayed in that same wise,
	As ye han herd the dede man devyse.
	And with an hardy herte he gan to crye,
	Vengeance and justice of this felonye;
275	‘My felawe mordred is this same nyght,
	And in this carte he lith gapyng upright.
	I crye out on the ministres,’ quod he,
	`That sholden kepe and reulen this citee!
	Harrow! Allas! Heere lith my felawe slayn!’
280	What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn?
	The peple out-sterte, and caste the cart to grounde,
	And in the myddel of the dong they founde
	The dede man, that mordred was al newe.

	The keeper of the place replied anon,
	And said he: ‘Sir, your friend is up and gone;
265	As soon as day broke he went out of town.’
	This man, then, felt suspicion in him grown,
	Remembering the dream that he had had,
	And forth he went, no longer tarrying, sad,
	Unto the west gate of the town, and found
270	A dung-cart on its way to dumping-ground,
	And it was just the same in every wise
	As you have heard the dead man advertise;
	And with a hardy heart he then did cry
	Vengeance and justice on this felony:
275	‘My comrade has been murdered in the night,
	And in this very cart lies, face upright.
	I cry to all the officers,’ said he
	‘That ought to keep the peace in this city.
	Alas, alas, here lies my comrade slain!’
280	“Why should I longer with this tale detain?
	The people rose and turned the cart to ground,
	And in the center of the dung they found
	The dead man, lately murdered in his sleep.

	O blisful God, that art so just and trewe!
285	Lo, howe that thou biwreyest mordre alway!
	Mordre wol out, that se we day by day.
	Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable
	To God that is so just and resonable,
	That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be,
290	Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or thre.
	Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun.
	And right anon ministres of that toun
	Han hent the carter, and so soore hym pyned,
	And eek the hostiler so soore engyned
295	That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon,
	And were anhanged by the nekke-bon.

	O Blessed God, Who art so true and deep!
285	Lo, how Thou dost turn murder out alway!
	Murder will out, we see it every day.
	Murder’s so hateful and abominable
	To God, Who is so just and reasonable,
	That He’ll not suffer that it hidden be;
290	Though it may skulk a year, or two, or three,
	Murder will out, and I conclude thereon.
	Immediately the rulers of that town,
	They took the carter and so sore they racked
	Him and the host, until their bones were cracked,
295	That they confessed their wickedness anon,
	And hanged they both were by the neck, and soon.

lines 297-343: Another example about a man having a bad dream

	Heere may men seen, that dremes been to drede!
	And certes, in the same book I rede
	Right in the nexte chapitre after this –
300	I gabbe nat, so have I joye or blis –
	Two men that wolde han passed over see
	For certeyn cause, into a fer contree,
	If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie,
	That made hem in a citee for to tarie,
305	That stood ful myrie upon an haven-syde-
	But on a day, agayn the even-tyde,
	The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.
	Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste,
	And casten hem ful erly for to saille,
310	But herkneth, to that o man fil a greet mervaille;
	That oon of hem, in slepyng as he lay,
	Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day.
	Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde,
	And hym comanded that he sholde abyde,
315	And seyde hym thus, `If thou tomorwe wende
	Thow shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.’
	He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette,
	And preyde hym his viage for to lette,
	As for that day, he preyede hym to byde.
320	His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,
	Gan for to laughe and scorned him ful faste.
	`No dreem,’ quod he, `may so myn herte agaste
	That I wol lette for to do my thynges.
	I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges,
325	For swevenes been but vanytees and japes.
	Men dreme al day of owles or of apes,
	And of many a maze therwithal.
	Men dreme of thyng that nevere was, ne shal;
	But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde
330	And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde,
	God woot it reweth me, and have good day.’
	And thus he took his leve and wente his way;
	But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled,
	Noot I nat why, ne what myschaunce it eyled,
335	But casuelly the shippes botme rente,
	And ship and men under the water wente
	In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde,
	That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
	And therfore, faire Pertelote so deere,
340	By swiche ensamples olde yet maistow leere,
	That no man sholde been to recchelees
	Of dremes, for I seye thee doutelees
	That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede.

	Here may men see that dreams are things to dread.
	And certainly, in that same book I read,
	Right in the very chapter after this –
300	I spoof not, as I may have joy and bliss –
	Of two men who would voyage oversea,
	For some cause, and unto a far country,
	If but the winds had not been all contrary,
	Causing them both within a town to tarry,
305	Which town was builded near the haven-side.
	But then, one day, along toward eventide,
	The wind did change and blow as suited best.
	Jolly and glad they went unto their rest.
	And were prepared right early for to sail;
310	But unto one was told a marvelous tale.
	For one of them, a-sleeping as he lay,
	Did dream a wondrous dream before it was day.
	He thought a strange man stood by his bedside
	And did command him, he should there abide,
315	And said to him: ‘If you tomorrow wend,
	You shall be drowned; my tale is at an end.’
	He woke and told his fellow what he’d met
	And prayed him quit the voyage and forget;
	For just one day he prayed him there to bide.
320	His comrade, who was lying there beside,
	Began to laugh and scorned him long and fast.
	‘No dream,’ said he, ‘may make my heart aghast,
	So that I’ll quit my business for such things.
	I do not care a straw for your dreamings,
325	For visions are but fantasies and japes.
	Men dream, why, every day, of owls and apes,
	And many a wild phantasm therewithal;
	Men dream of what has never been, nor shall.
	But since I see that you will here abide,
330	And thus forgo this fair wind and this tide,
	God knows I’m sorry; nevertheless, good day!’
	And thus he took his leave and went his way.
	But long before the half his course he’d sailed,
	I know not why, nor what it was that failed,
335	But casually the vessel’s bottom rent,
	And ship and men under the water went,
	In sight of other ships were there beside,
	The which had sailed with that same wind and tide
	And therefore, pretty Pertelote, my dear,
340	By such old-time examples may you hear
	And learn that no man should be too reckless
	Of dreams, for I can tell you, fair mistress,
	That many a dream is something well to dread

lines 344-355: About St. Kenelm’s bad dreams

	Lo, in the lyf of Seint Kenelm I rede,
345	That was Kenulphus sone, the noble kyng,
	Of Mercenrike how Kenelm mette a thyng.
	A lite er he was mordred, on a day
	His mordre in his avysioun he say.
	His norice hym expowned every deel
350	His sweven, and bad hym for to kepe hym weel
	For traisoun, but he nas but seven yeer oold,
	And therfore litel tale hath he toold
	Of any dreem, so hooly is his herte.
	By God! I hadde levere than my sherte
355	That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I.

	Why in the ‘Life’ of Saint Kenelm I read
345	Who was Kenelphus’ son, the noble king
	Of Mercia, how Kenelm dreamed a thing;
	A while before he was murdered, so they say,
	His own death in a vision saw, one day.
	His nurse interpreted, as records tell,
350	That vision, bidding him to guard him well
	From treason; but he was but seven years old,
	And therefore ’twas but little he’d been told
	Of any dream, so holy was his heart.
	By God! I’d rather than retain my shirt
355	That you had read this legend, as have I.

lines 356-390: Chauntecleer gives classical and biblical examples about bad dreams

	Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely,
	Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
	In Affrike of the worhty Cipioun,
	Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been
360	Warnynge of thynges, that men after seen.
	And forther-moore I pray yow looketh wel
	In the olde testament of Daniel,
	If he heeld dremes any vanitee!
	Reed eek of Joseph, and ther shul ye see
365	Wher dremes be somtyme – I sey nat alle –
	Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle.
	Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao,
	His baker and his butiller also,
	Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes!
370	Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes
	May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng.
	Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde kyng,
	Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,
	Which signified, he sholde anhanged bee?
375	Lo her Adromacha, Ectores wyf,
	That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf
	She dremed on the same nyght biforn
	How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn,
	If thilke day he wente into bataille.
380	She warned hym, but it myghte nat availle;
	He wente for to fighte natheles,
	But he was slayn anon of Achilles.
	But thilke is al to longe for to telle,
	And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle.
385	Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun,
	That I shal han of this avisioun
	Adversitee, and I seye forthermoor
	That I ne telle of laxatyves no stoor,
	For they been venymes, I woot it weel,
390	I hem diffye, I love hem never a deel.

	Dame Pertelote, I tell you verily,
	Macrobius, who wrote of Scipio
	The African a vision long ago,
	He holds by dreams, saying that they have been
360	Warnings of things that men have later seen.
	And furthermore, I pray you to look well
	In the Old Testament at Daniel,
	Whether he held dreams for mere vanity.
	Read, too, of Joseph, and you there shall see
365	Where dreams have sometimes been – I say not all –
	Warnings of things that, after did befall.
	Consider Egypt’s king, Dan Pharaoh,
	His baker and his butler, these also,
	Whether they knew of no effect from dreams.
370	Whoso will read of sundry realms the themes
	May learn of dreams full many a wondrous thing.
	Lo, Croesus, who was once of Lydia king,
	Dreamed he not that he sat upon a tree,
	Which signified that hanged high he should be?
375	Lo, how Andromache, great Hector’s wife,
	On that same day when Hector lost his life,
	She dreamed upon the very night before
	That Hector’s life should be lost evermore,
	If on that day he battled, without fail.
380	She warned him, but no warning could avail;
	He went to fight, despite all auspices,
	And so was shortly slain by Achilles.
	But that same tale is all too long to tell,
	And, too, it’s nearly day, I must not dwell
385	Upon this; I but say, concluding here,
	That from this vision I have cause to fear
	Adversity; and I say, furthermore,
	That I do set by laxatives no store,
	For they are poisonous, I know it well.
390	Them I defy and love not, truth to tell.

lines 391-420: Chauntecleer and Pertelote are done with bad dreams

	Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this;
	Madame Pertelote, so have I blis,
	Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace,
	For whan I se the beautee of youre face,
395	Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre eyen,
	It maketh al my drede for to dyen.
	For, al so siker as In principio
	Mulier est hominis confusio,-
	Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is,
400	`Womman is mannes joye and al his blis.’
	For whan I felle a-nyght your softe syde,
	Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde,
	For that oure perche is maad so narwe, allas!
	I am so ful of joye and of solas,
405	That I diffye bothe swevene and dreem.”
	And with that word he fly doun fro the beem,
	For it was day, and eke hise hennes alle;
	And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
	For he hadde founde a corn lay in the yerd.
410	Real he was, he was namoore aferd;
	He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme,
	And trad as ofte, er that it was pryme.
	He looketh as it were a grym leoun,
	And on his toos he rometh up and doun,
415	Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde.
	He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde,
	And to hym rennen thanne hise wyves alle.
	Thus roial as a prince is in an halle,
	Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture,
420	And after wol I telle his aventure.

	But let us speak of mirth and stop all this;
	My lady Pertelote, on hope of bliss,
	In one respect God’s given me much grace;
	For when I see the beauty of your face,
395	You are so rosy-red beneath each eye,
	It makes my dreadful terror wholly die.
	For there is truth in In principio
	Mulier est hominis confusio
	Madam, the meaning of this latin is,
400	Woman is man’s delight and all his bliss
	For when I feel at night your tender side,
	Although I cannot then upon you ride,
	Because our perch so narrow is, alas!
	I am so full of joy and all solace
405	That I defy, then, vision, aye and dream.”
	And with that word he flew down from the beam,
	For it was day, and down went his hens all;
	And with a cluck he them began to call,
	For he had found some corn within the yard.
410	Royal he was, and fears he did discard.
	He feathered Pertelote very many a time
	And twenty times he trod her before ’twas prime.
	He looked as if he were a grim lion
	As on his toes he strutted up and down;
415	He deigned not set his foot upon the ground.
	He clucked when any grain of corn he found,
	And all his wives came running at his call.
	Thus royal, as a prince is in his hall,
	I’ll now leave busy Chauntecleer to feed,
420	And with events that followed I’ll proceed.

lines 421-448: Chauntecleer and his wives walk happily in the yard when peril approaches

	Whan that the monthe in which the world bigan
	That highte March, whan God first maked man,
	Was compleet, and passed were also
	Syn March was gon, thritty dayes and two,
425	Bifel that Chauntecleer in al his pryde,
	Hise sevene wyves walkynge by his syde,
	Caste up hise eyen to the brighte sonne,
	That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne
	Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat moore;
430	And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore,
	That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene.
	“The sonne,” he seyde, “is clomben upon hevene
	Fourty degrees and oon, and moore, ywis.
	Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis,
435	Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge,
	And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge.
	Ful is myn herte of revel and solas.”
	But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas,
	For evere the latter ende of joye is wo.
440	God woot that worldly joye is soone ago,
	And if a rethor koude faire endite,
	He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write,
	As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
	Now every wys man, lat him herkne me:
445	This storie is al so trewe, I undertake,
	As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
	That wommen holde in ful greet reverence.
	Now wol I come agayn to my sentence.

	When that same month wherein the world began,
	Which is called March, wherein God first made man,
	Was ended, and were passed of days also,
	Since March began, full thirty days and two,
425	It fell that Chauntecleer, in all his pride,
	His seven wives a-walking by his side,
	Cast up his two eyes toward the great bright sun
	Which through die sign of Taurus now had run
	Twenty degrees and one, and somewhat more,
430	And knew by instinct and no other lore
	That it was prime, and joyfully he crew,
	“The sun, my love,” he said, “has climbed anew
	Forty degrees and one, and somewhat more.
	My lady Pertelote, whom I adore,
435	Mark now these happy birds, hear how they sing,
	And see all these fresh flowers, how they spring;
	Full is my heart of revelry and grace.”
	But suddenly he fell in grievous case;
	For ever the latter end of joy is woe.
440	God knows that worldly joys do swiftly go;
	And if a rhetorician could but write,
	He in some chronicle might well indite
	And mark it down as sovereign in degree.
	Now every wise man, let him hark to me:
445	This tale is just as true, I undertake,
	As is the book of Launcelot of the Lake,
	Which women always hold in such esteem.
	But now I must take up my proper theme.

lines 449-500: About a col-fox and examples of killers waiting in ambush


	A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee,
450	That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
	By heigh ymaginacioun forn-cast,
	The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast
	Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire
	Was wont, and eek hise wyves, to repaire;
455	And in a bed of wortes stille he lay,
	Til it was passed undren of the day,
	Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle,
	As gladly doon thise homycides alle
	That in await liggen to mordre men.
460	O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den!
	O newe Scariot! newe Genyloun!
	False dissymulour, O Greek synoun
	That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe!
	O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe
465	That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the bemes!
	Thou were ful wel ywarned by thy dremes
	That thilke day was perilous to thee;
	But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee,
	After the opinioun of certein clerkis.
470	Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is,
	That in scole is greet altercacioun
	In this mateere, and greet disputisoun,
	And hath been of an hundred thousand men.
	But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren,
475	As kan the hooly doctour Augustyn,
	Or Boece, or the Bisshop Bradwardyn,
	Wheither that Goddes worthy forwityng
	Streyneth me nedefully to doon a thyng, –
	“Nedely” clepe I symple necessitee;
480	Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
	To do that same thyng, or do it noght,
	Though God forwoot it, er that it was wroght;
	Or if his wityng streyneth never a deel
	But by necessitee condicioneel.
485	I wol nat han to do of swich mateere;
	My tale is of a Cok, as ye may heere,
	That tok his conseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
	To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
	That he hadde met that dreem, that I yow tolde.
490	Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde;
	Wommannes conseil broghte us first to wo,
	And made Adam fro Paradys to go,
	Ther as he was ful myrie, and wel at ese.
	But for I noot to whom it myght displese,
495	If I conseil of wommen wolde blame,
	Passe over, for I seye it in my game.
	Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich mateere,
	And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere.
	Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne;
500	I kan noon harm of no womman divyne.

	A brant-fox, full of sly iniquity,
450	That in the grove had lived two years, or three,
	Now by a fine premeditated plot
	That same night, breaking through the hedge, had got
	Into the yard where Chauntecleer the fair
	Was wont, and all his wives too, to repair;
455	And in a bed of greenery still he lay
	Till it was past the quarter of the day,
	Waiting his chance on Chauntecleer to fall,
	As gladly do these killers one and all
	Who lie in ambush for to murder men.
460	O murderer false, there lurking in your den!
	O new Iscariot, O new Ganelon!
	O false dissimulator, Greek Sinon
	That brought down Troy all utterly to sorrow!
	O Chauntecleer, accursed be that morrow
465	When you into that yard flew from the beams!
	You were well warned, and fully, by your dreams
	That this day should hold peril damnably.
	But that which God foreknows, it needs must be,
	So says the best opinion of the clerks.
470	Witness some cleric perfect for his works,
	That in the schools there’s a great altercation
	In this regard, and much high disputation
	That has involved a hundred thousand men.
	But I can’t sift it to the bran with pen,
475	As can the holy Doctor Augustine,
	Or Boethius, or Bishop Bradwardine,
	Whether the fact of God’s great foreknowing
	Makes it right needful that I do a thing –
	By needful, I mean, of necessity
480	Or else, if a free choice he granted me,
	To do that same thing, or to do it not,
	Though God foreknew before the thing was wrought;
	Or if his knowing constrains never at all,
	Except by necessity conditional.
485	I have no part in matters so austere;
	My tale is of a cock, as you shall hear,
	That took the counsel of his wife, with sorrow,
	To walk within the yard upon that morrow
	After he’d had the dream whereof I told.
490	Now women’s counsels oft are ill to hold;
	A woman’s counsel brought us first to woe,
	And Adam caused from Paradise to go,
	Wherein he was right merry and at ease.
	But since I know not whom it may displease
495	If woman’s counsel I hold up to blame,
	Pass over, I but said it in my game.
	Read authors where such matters do appear,
	And what they say of women, you may hear.
	These are the cock’s words, they are none of mine;
500	No harm in women can I e’er divine.

lines 501-515: Chauntecleer notices the fox

	Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily,
	Lith Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by,
	Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so free
	Soong murier than the mermayde in the see-
505	For Phisiologus seith sikerly
	How that they syngen wel and myrily.
	And so bifel, that as he cast his eye
	Among the wortes on a boterflye,
	He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe.
510	Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
	But cride anon, “Cok! cok!” and up he sterte,
	As man that was affrayed in his herte.
	For natureelly a beest desireth flee
	Fro his contrarie, if he may it see,
515	Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye.

	All in the sand, a-bathing merrily,
	Lay Pertelote, with all her sisters by,
	There in the sun; and Chauntecleer so free
	Sang merrier than a mermaid in the sea
505	For Physiologus says certainly
	That they do sing, both well and merrily.
	And so befell that, as he cast his eye
	Among the herbs and on a butterfly,
	He saw this fox that lay there, crouching low.
510	Nothing of urge was in him, then, to crow;
	But he cried “Cock-cock-cock” and did so start
	As man who has a sudden fear at heart.
	For naturally a beast desires to flee
	From any enemy that he may see,
515	Though never yet he’s clapped on such his eye.

lines 516-555: The fox enchants Chauntecleer and asks him to sing

	This Chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye,
	He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
	Seyde, “Gentil sire, allas, wher wol ye gon?
	Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend?
520	Now, certes, I were worse than a feend
	If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye.
	I am nat come your conseil for t’espye,
	But trewely, the cause of my comynge
	Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge.
525	For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene
	As any aungel hath that is in hevene.
	Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge
	Than hadde Boece, or any that kan synge.
	My lord youre fader – God his soule blesse! –
530	And eek youre mooder, of hir gentillesse
	Han in myn hous ybeen, to my greet ese;
	And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
	But for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye,
	So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye,
535	Save yow I herde nevere man yet synge
	As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
	Certes, it was of herte al that he song!
	And for to make his voys the moore strong,
	He wolde so peyne hym, that with bothe hise eyen
540	He moste wynke, so loude he solde cryen,
	And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal,
	And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
	And eek he was of swich discrecioun,
	That ther nas no man in no regioun,
545	That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe.
	I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse
	Among hise vers, how that ther was a cok,
	For that a presstes sone yaf hym a knok,
	Upon his leg, whil he was yong and nyce,
550	He made hym for to lese his benefice.
	But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun
	Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun
	Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee.
	Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee,
555	Lat se konne ye youre fader countrefete!”

	When Chauntecleer the fox did then espy,
	He would have fled but that the fox anon
	Said: “Gentle sir, alas! Why be thus gone?
	Are you afraid of me, who am your friend?
520	Now, surely, I were worse than any fiend
	If I should do you harm or villainy.
	I came not here upon your deeds to spy;
	But, certainly, the cause of my coming
	Was only just to listen to you sing.
525	For truly, you have quite as fine a voice
	As angels have that Heaven’s choirs rejoice;
	Boethius to music could not bring
	Such feeling, nor do others who can sing.
	My lord your father – God his soul pray bless! –
530	And too your mother, of her gentleness,
	Have been in my abode, to my great ease;
	And truly, sir, right fain am I to please.
	But since men speak of singing, I will say
	As I still have my eyesight day by day,
535	Save you, I never heard a man so sing
	As did your father in the grey dawning;
	Truly ’twas from the heart, his every song.
	And that his voice might ever be more strong,
	He took such pains that, with his either eye,
540	He had to blink, so loudly would he cry,
	A-standing on his tiptoes therewithal,
	Stretching his neck till it grew long and small.
	And such discretion, too, by him was shown,
	There was no man in any region known
545	That him in song or wisdom could surpass.
	I have well read, in Dan Burnell the Ass,
	Among his verses, how there was a cock,
	Because a priest’s son gave to him a knock
	Upon the leg, while young and not yet wise,
550	He caused the boy to lose his benefice.
	But, truly, there is no comparison
	With the great wisdom and the discretion
	Your father had, or with his subtlety.
	Now sing, dear sir, for holy charity,
555	See if you can your father counterfeit.”

lines 556-571: Chauntecleer falls for the trap

	This Chauntecleer hise wynges gan to bete,
	As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
	So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.
	Allas, ye lordes! many a fals flatour
560	Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour,
	That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith,
	Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
	Redeth Ecclesiaste of Flaterye;
	Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.

	This Chauntecleer his wings began to beat,
	As one that could no treason there espy,
	So was he ravished by this flattery
	Alas, you lords! Full many a flatterer
560	Is in your courts, and many a cozener,
	That please your honours much more, by my fay,
	Than he that truth and justice dares to say.
	Go read the Ecclesiast on flattery;
	Beware, my lords, of all their treachery!

565	This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos,
	Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld hise eyen cloos,
	And gan to crowe loude for the nones,
	And daun Russell the fox stirte up atones,
	And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer,
570	And on his bak toward the wode hym beer,
	For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.

565	This Chauntecleer stood high upon his toes,
	Stretching his neck, and both his eyes did close,
	And so did crow right loudly, for the nonce;
	And Russel Fox, he started up at once,
	And by the gorget grabbed our Chauntecleer,
570	Flung him on back, and toward the wood did steer,
	For there was no man who as yet pursued.

lines 572-608: How women respond to husband-endangering peril

	O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed!
	Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes!
	Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes!
575	And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce.
	O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce!
	Syn that thy servant was this Chauntecleer,
	And in thy servyce dide al his poweer,
	Moore for delit than world to multiplye,
580	Why woltestow suffre hym on thy day to dye?

	O destiny, you cannot be eschewed!
	Alas, that Chauntecleer flew from the beams!
	Alas, his wife recked nothing of his dreams!
575	And on a Friday fell all this mischance.
	O Venus, who art goddess of pleasance,
	Since he did serve thee well, this Chauntecleer,
	And to the utmost of his power here,
	More for delight than cocks to multiply,
580	Why would’st thou suffer him that day to die?

	O Gaufred, deere Maister soverayn!
	That whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn
	With shot, compleynedest his deeth so soore,
	Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore,
585	The Friday for to chide, as diden ye?-
	For on a Friday soothly slayn was he.
	Thanne wolde I shewe yow, how that I koude pleyne
	For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne.

	O Gaufred, my dear master sovereign,
	Who, when King Richard Lionheart was slain
	By arrow, sang his death with sorrow sore,
	Why have I not your faculty and lore
585	To chide Friday, as you did worthily?
	For truly, on a Friday slain was he.
	Then would I prove how well I could complain
	For Chauntecleer’s great fear and all his pain.

	Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun
590	Was nevere of ladyes maad, whan Ylion
	Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd,
	Whan he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd,
	And slayn hym, as seith us Eneydos,
	As maden alle the hennes in the clos,
595	Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte.
	But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte
	Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf,
	Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf,
	And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage;
600	She was so ful of torment and of rage
	That wilfully into the fyr she sterte,
	And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte.

	Certainly no such cry and lamentation
590	Were made by ladies at Troy’s debolation,
	When Pyrrhus with his terrible bared sword
	Had taken old King Priam by the beard
	And slain him, as the Aeneid tells to us,
	As made then all those hens in one chorus
595	When they had caught a sight of Chauntecleer.
	But fair Dame Pertelote assailed the ear
	Far louder than did Hasdrubal’s good wife
	When that her husband bold had lost his life,
	And Roman legionaries burned Carthage;
600	For she so full of torment was, and rage,
	She voluntarily to the fire did start
	And burned herself there with a steadfast heart.

	O woful hennes, right so criden ye,
	As, whan that Nero brende the Citee
605	Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves,
	For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyves, –
	Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.
	Now wole I turne to my tale agayn.

	And you, O woeful hens, just so you cried
	As when base Nero burned the city wide
605	Of Rome, and wept the senators’ stern wives
	Because their husbands all had lost their lives,
	For though not guilty, Nero had them slain.
	Now will I turn back to my tale again.

lines 609-635: All the inhabitants of the yard go after the fox

	This sely wydwe, and eek hir doghtres two,
610	Herden thise hennes crie, and maken wo,
	And out at dores stirten they anon,
	And seyn the fox toward the grove gon,
	And bar upon his bak the cok away;
	And cryden, “Out! Harrow and weylaway!
615	Ha! ha! The fox!” and after hym they ran,
	And eek with staves many another man,
	Ran Colle, oure dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland,
	And Malkyn with a dystaf in hir hand,
	Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges,
620	So fered they fered for berkyng of the dogges,
	And shoutyng of the men and wommen eeke,
	They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breeke;
	They yolleden as feends doon in helle,
	The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle,
625	The gees for feere flowen over the trees,
	Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees,
	So hydous was the noyse, a! benedicitee!
	Certes, he Jakke Straw and his meynee
	Ne made nevere shoutes half so shille,
630	Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille,
	As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
	Of bras they broghten bemes and of box,
	Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped,
	And therwithal they skriked and they howped,
635	It seemed as that hevene sholde falle!

	This simple widow and her daughters two
610	Heard these hens cry and make so great ado,
	And out of doors they started on the run
	And saw the fox into the grove just gone,
	Bearing upon his back the cock away.
	And then they cried, “Alas, and weladay!
615	Oh, oh, the fox!” and after him they ran,
	And after them, with staves, went many a man;
	Ran Coll, our dog, ran Talbot and Garland,
	And Malkin with a distaff in her hand;
	Ran cow and calf and even the very hogs,
620	So were they scared by barking of the dogs
	And shouting men and women all did make,
	They all ran so they thought their hearts would break.
	They yelled as very fiends do down in Hell;
	The ducks they cried as at the butcher fell;
625	The frightened geese flew up above the trees;
	Out of the hive there came the swarm of bees;
	So terrible was the noise, ah ben’cite!
	Certainly old Jack Straw and his army
	Never raised shouting half so loud and shrill
630	When they were chasing Flemings for to kill,
	As on that day was raised upon the fox.
	They brought forth trumpets made of brass, of box,
	Of horn, of bone, wherein they blew and pooped,
	And therewithal they screamed and shrieked and whooped;
635	It seemed as if the heaven itself should fall!

lines 636-647: Chauntecleer sets a trap for the fox

	Now, goode men, I pray yow, herkneth alle.
	Lo, how Fortune turneth sodeynly
	The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy!
	This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak,
640	In al his drede unto the fox he spak,
	And seyde, “Sire, if that I were as ye,
	Yet wolde I seyn, as wys God helpe me,
	`Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle,
	A verray pestilence upon yow falle!
645	Now am I come unto the wodes syde,
	Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde,
	I wol hym ete, in feith, and that anon.'”

	And now, good men, I pray you listen all.
	Behold how Fortune turns all suddenly
	The hope and pride of even her enemy!
	This cock, which lay across the fox’s back,
640	In all his fear unto the fox did clack
	And say: “Sir, were I you, as I should be,
	Then would I say as God may now help me!,
	‘Turn back again, presumptuous peasants all!
	A very pestilence upon you fall!
645	Now that I’ve gained here to this dark wood’s side,
	In spite of you this cock shall here abide.
	I’ll eat him, by my faith, and that anon!'”

lines 648-659: The fox falls for the trap

	The fox answerde, “In feith, it shal be don.”
	And as he spak that word, al sodeynly
650	This cok brak from his mouth delyverly,
	And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon.
	And whan the fox saugh that he was gon,
	“Allas!” quod he, “O Chauntecleer, allas!
	I have to yow,” quod he, “ydoon trespas,
655	In as muche as I maked yow aferd,
	Whan I yow hente and broght into this yerd.
	But, sire, I dide it of no wikke entente,
	Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente;
	I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so.”

	The fox replied: “In faith, it shall be done!”
	And as he spoke that word, all suddenly
650	This cock broke from his mouth, very cleverly,
	And high upon a tree he flew anon.
	And when the fox saw well that he was gone,
	“Alas,” quoth he, “O Chauntecleer, alas!
	I have against you done a base trespass
655	In that I frightened you, my dear old pard,
	When you I seized and brought from out that yard;
	But, sir, I did it with no foul intent;
	Come down, and I will tell you what I meant.
	I’ll tell the truth to you, God help me so!”

lines 660-680: Chauntecleer is safe and the Nun’s Priest urges his audience not to miss the moral of his tale

660	“Nay, thanne,” quod he, “I shrewe us bothe two,
	And first I shrewe myself bothe blood and bones,
	If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
	Thou shalt namoore, thurgh thy flaterye,
	Do me to synge and wynke with myn eye;
665	For he that wynketh whan he sholde see,
	Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee.”

660	“Nay then,” said he, “beshrew us both, you know,
	But first, beshrew myself, both blood and bones,
	If you beguile me, having done so once,
	You shall no more, with any flattery,
	Cause me to sing and close up either eye.
665	For he who shuts his eyes when he should see,
	And wilfully, God let him ne’er be free!”

	“Nay,” quod the fox, “but God yeve hym meschaunce,
	That is so undiscreet of governaunce,
	That jangleth, whan he sholde holde his pees.”
670	Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees,
	And necligent, and truste on flaterye!
	But ye that holden this tale a folye,
	As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
	Taketh the moralite, goode men;
675	For Seint Paul seith, that al that writen is,
	To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis.
	Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
	Now goode God, if that it be thy wille,
	As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men,
680	And brynge us to his heighe blisse. Amen.

	“Nay,” said the fox, “but, God give him mischance
	Who is so indiscreet in governance
	He chatters when he ought to hold his peace.”
670	Lo, such it is when watch and ward do cease,
	And one grows negligent with flattery.
	But you that hold this tale a foolery,
	As but about a fox, a cock, a hen,
	Yet do not miss the moral, my good men.
675	For Saint Paul says that all that’s written well
	Is written down some useful truth to tell.
	Then take the wheat and let the chaff lie still.
	And now, good God, and if it be Thy will,
	As says Lord Christ, so make us all good men
680	And bring us into His high bliss. Amen.

Heere is ended the Nonnes Preestes tale.

Source Text:

Kökbugur, Sinan, ed. The Canterbury Tales (in Middle and Modern English. Librarius.com, 1997, is copyright protected but reproduction expressly allowed for non-profit, educational use.

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An Open Companion to Early British Literature Copyright © 2019 by Allegra Villarreal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.