The Canterbury Tales

probable, this “Tale” was translated from the French, the original is not now extant. Tyrwhitt remarks that the scene “is laid in Italy, but none of the names, except Damian and Justin, seem to be Italian, but rather made at pleasure; so that I doubt whether the story be really of Italian growth. The adventure of the pear-tree I find in a small collection of Latin fables, written by one Adoiphus, in elegiac verses of his fashion, in the year 1315.⁠ ⁠… Whatever was the real origin of the ‘Tale,’ the machinery of the fairies, which Chaucer has used so happily, was probably added by himself; and, indeed, I cannot help thinking that his Pluto and Proserpina were the true progenitors of Oberon and Titania; or rather, that they themselves have, once at least, deigned to revisit our poetical system under the latter names.” ↩

Of the laity; but perhaps, since the word is of twofold meaning, Chaucer intends a hit at the secular clergy, who, unlike the regular orders, did not live separate from the world, but shared in all its interests and pleasures⁠—all the more easily and freely, that they had not the civil restraint of marriage. ↩

Inclination. ↩

True. ↩

Especially. ↩

Mirth, delight. ↩

Becomes, befits. ↩

Think that there is security. ↩

Check, control. ↩

Obedient. ↩

Care for, attend to. ↩

Mate. ↩

Die. ↩

Those. ↩

What matter. ↩

Thrift. This and the next eight lines are taken from the Liber aureolus Theophrasti de nuptiis, quoted by Hieronymus, Contra Jovinianum, and thence again by John of Salisbury. ↩

Servant. ↩

Better. ↩

Waits on, longs to have. ↩

Heed, notice. ↩

Distrust. ↩

Truly. ↩

Common land. ↩

Movables, furniture, etc.; French, meubles. ↩

Doubt. ↩

Perhaps. ↩

Ruined. ↩

Who are not of the clergy. ↩

Prove. ↩

Obedient, complying. ↩

Labour. ↩

Whit. ↩

Pleaseth. ↩

Security. ↩

Counsel. ↩

Counsel. ↩

Benediction. ↩

Advanced in dignity. ↩

To be esteemed in the highest degree. ↩

Bade. ↩

Work. ↩

Thrive. ↩

Let men jest and laugh as they will. ↩

Sure. ↩

Especially. ↩

Grave, earnest. ↩

Grave’s. ↩

Arrange, contrive. ↩

Try. ↩

Sooner. ↩

Young pike. ↩

Know. ↩

“Wade’s boat” was called Guingelot; and in it, according to the old romance, the owner underwent a long series of wild adventures, and performed many strange exploits. The romance is lost, and therefore the exact force of the phrase in the text is uncertain; but Mr. Wright seems to be warranted in supposing that Wade’s adventures were cited as examples of craft and cunning⁠—that the hero, in fact, was a kind of Northern Ulysses, It is possible that to the same source we may trace the proverbial phrase, found in Chaucer’s “Remedy of Love,” to “bear Wattis pack” signifying to be duped or beguiled. ↩

So much mischief can they perform, employ. ↩

Pleases. ↩

Guide. ↩

Bend, mould. ↩

Adultery. ↩

I would rather. ↩

Trouble. ↩

Boast. ↩

Strong. ↩

Grown. ↩

See. ↩

Constantly, every day. ↩

Depart, deviate. ↩

Surely. ↩

Advice, encouragement. ↩

Knows. ↩

Judgement, sentiment. ↩

In every point. ↩

Satisfied. ↩

Advanced; past participle of “step.” Elsewhere “y-stepped in age” is used by Chaucer. ↩

Consider. ↩

Given to drink. ↩

A scold. ↩

Mad. ↩

Sound in every point. ↩

Describe, tell. ↩

Qualities. ↩

Especially. ↩

Company. ↩

Pinches. ↩

Especially. ↩

Company. ↩

Displeased. ↩

Ill-natured, wicked. ↩

Hindereth. ↩

Imprint themselves. ↩

Stay, fix his choice. ↩

Sedateness. ↩

Sedateness. ↩

Had selected her. ↩

In quest of a wife for him, as they had promised. ↩

He had definitively made his choice. ↩

First of all. ↩

Asked a favour, made a request. ↩

Although. ↩

Have a share. ↩

Long. ↩

That tree of original sin, of which the special sins are the branches. ↩

Comfort and pleasure. ↩

Alarmed, afraid. ↩

Lives eternally. ↩

Doubt. ↩

Resolve, answer. ↩

Mockery, jesting way. ↩

Written texts.