The Canterbury Tales

With their astonishing diversity of tone and subject matter, The Canterbury Taleshave become one of the touchstones of medieval literature. Translated here into modern English, these tales of a motley crowd of pilgrims drawn from all walks of life-from knight to nun, miller to monk-reveal a picture of English life in the fourteenth century that is as robust as it is representative. Translated by Nevill Coghill

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1342-1400) had a career in royal service as a member of the court and a diplomat. His literary work, notable for its range of genres, helped establish the English literary tradition.

Nevill Coghill (1899-1980) held many appointments at Oxford University. His translation of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde is also published by Penguin Classics.

Introduction: Chaucer's Life -- Chaucer's Works

xi

The Canterbury Tales

[GROUP A]

The Prologue

3

(23)

The Knight's Tale

26

(62)

Words between the Host and the Miller

86

(2)

The Miller's Tale

88

(20)

The Reeve's Prologue

106

(2)

The Reeve's Tale

108

(12)

The Cook's Prologue

119

(1)

The Cook's Tale

120

(6)

[GROUP B]

Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale

122

(3)

The Man of Law's Prologue

125

(1)

The Man of Law's Tale

126

(31)

Epilogue to the Man of Law's Tale

156

(1)

The Shipman's Tale

157

(13)

Words of the Host to the Shipman and the Prioress

169

(1)

The Prioress's Prologue

169

(1)

The Prioress's Tale

170

(7)

Words of the Host to Chaucer

176

(1)

Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topaz

177

(8)

The Host stops Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topaz

183

(2)

Chaucer's Tale of Melibee (in synopsis)

185

(4)

Words of the Host to the Monk

186

(3)

The Monks Tale

189

(25)

(Lucifer, Adam, Samson, Hercules, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Zenobia, King Peter of Spain, King Peter of Cyprus, Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy, Count Ugolino of Pisa, Nero, Holofernes, King Antiochus the Illustrious, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Croesus)

Words of the Knight and the Host

213

(1)

The Nun's Priest's Tale

214

(18)

Words of the Host to the Nun's Priest

231

(1)

[GROUP C]

The Physician's Tale

232

(12)

Words of the Host to the Physician and to the Pardoner

239

(2)

The Pardoner's Prologue

241

(3)

The Pardoner's Tale

244

(37)

[GROUP D]

The Wife of Bath's Prologue

258

(22)

Words between the Summoner and the Friar

280

(1)

The Wife of Bath's Tale

281

(12)

The Friar's Prologue

292

(1)

The Friar's Tale

293

(12)

The Summoner's Prologue

303

(2)

The Summoner's Tale

305

(17)

[GROUP E]

The Clerk's Prologue

320

(2)

The Clerk's Tale

322

(35)

Chaucer's Envoy to the Clerk's Tale

354

(2)

The Merchant's Prologue

356

(1)

The Merchant's Tale

357

(32)

Epilogue to the Merchant's Tale

388

(1)

[GROUP F]

The Squire's Prologue

389

(1)

The Squire's Tale

389

(20)

Words of the Franklin to the Squire and of the Host to the Franklin

407

(1)

The Franklin's Prologue

408

(1)

The Franklin's Tale

409

(28)

[GROUP G]

The Second Nun's Prologue

433

(4)

The Second Nun's Tale

437

(17)

The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue

449

(5)

The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

454

(24)

[GROUP H]

The Manciple's Prologue

475

(3)

The Manciple's Tale

478

(9)

[GROUP I]

The Parson's Prologue

485

(2)

The Parson's Tale (in synopsis)

487

(3)

Chaucer's Retractions

489

(1)

Notes

490

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Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials