But still, while I have time and space, I think I had better tell you who these people were, their condition and rank, which was which, and what they looked like. I will begin, then, with
The Knight.
A Knight[34] ther was and that a worthy man,there, valuable
That from the tyme that he ferst bigan
To ryden out, he lovede chyvalrye,ride
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curtesie.frankness
Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre,war
And therto hadde he riden, noman ferre,further
As wel in Cristendom as in hethenesse,
And evere honoured for his worthinesse.
A knight there was, and that a worthy man,
Who from the time in which he first began
To ride afield, loved well all chivalry,
Honour and frankness, truth and courtesy.
Most worthy was he in his master’s war,
And thereto had he ridden, none more far,
As well in Christian as in heathen lands,
And borne with honour many high commands.
He had been at Alexandria when it was won: in Prussia he had gained great honours, and in many other lands. He had been in fifteen mortal battles, and had fought in the lists for our faith three times, and always slain his foe. He had served in Turkey and in the Great Sea. And he was always very well paid too. Yet, though so great a soldier, he was wise in council; and in manner he was gentle as a woman. Never did he use bad words in all his life, to any class of men: in fact
He was a verray perfight, gentil knight.
He was a very perfect, noble knight.
As for his appearance, his horse was good, but not gay. He wore a gipon of fustian, all stained by his habergeon;[35] for he had only just arrived home from a long voyage.
The Squire.
With him ther was his sone, a yong Squyer,there, son
A lovyer, and a lusty bacheler,[36]merry
With lokkes crulle as they were layde in presse.locks curled
Of twenty yeer he was of age I gesse.guess
Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
And wondurly delyver, and gret of strengthe.wonderfully nimble, great
And he hadde ben somtyme in chivachie,[37]had been
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and in Picardie,
And born him wel, as in so litel space,little
In hope to stonden in his lady grace.[38]stand
Embrowdid[39] was he, as it were a mede
Al ful of fresshe floures, white and reede.
Syngynge he was, or flowtynge al the day;playing on the flute
He was as fressh as is the moneth of May.
Schort was his goune, with sleeves long and wyde.
Wel cowde he sitte on hors, and faire ryde.could, horse
He cowde songes wel make and endite,relate
Justne and eek daunce, and wel purtray and write.also, draw pictures
With him there was his son, a gay young squire,
A bachelor and full of boyish fire,
With locks all curl’d as though laid in a press,
And about twenty years of age, I guess.
In stature he was of an even length,
And wonderfully nimble, and great of strength.
And he had followed knightly deeds of war
In Picardy, in Flanders, and Artois,
And nobly borne himself in that brief space,
In ardent hope to win his lady’s grace.
Embroidered was he, as a meadow bright,
All full of freshest flowers, red and white;
Singing he was, or flute-playing all day,
He was as fresh as is the month of May.
Short was his gown, his sleeves were long and wide,
Well he became his horse, and well could ride;
He could make songs, and ballads, and recite,
Joust and make pretty pictures, dance, and write.