Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

foul and lean! If he serves you, don’t care a bean

about it. See that your heart will always be merry.
2815

“Yes, sir,” he said, “yes, Host, in faith if I am not

merry, you may rebuke me well.” And without delay
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale he began his tale and spoke thus to us all, this goodly
Geoffrey Chaucer man, this sweet priest, Sir John. 2820
❦
Here ends the prologue.
The Prologue of the Nun’s Priest’s Tale
Here begins the Nun’s Priest’s Tale of the Cock
“Ho, good sir, no more of this,” said the Knight.
and the Hen, Chanticleer and Pertelote.
“What you have told is enough, in truth, and much
more, for a little sorrow goes a long way with most
A widow, poor and somewhat advanced in years,
people, I believe. As for me, it is a great distress to
dwelt once in a little cottage that stood in a dale
hear of the sudden fall of people who have been in
beside a grove. Since the day she was last a wife, this
great wealth and ease. Alas! And the contrary is joy
widow of whom I tell this tale had lived patiently and
and delight, as when a man who has been in a low
simply; for her goods and earnings were small. By
station climbs up and becomes prosperous and
managing carefully what God sent, she provided for
remains there. Such a thing is joyful and pleasant to
herself and her two daughters; she had three large
speak of.” 2579
sows and no more, three cows and a sheep named
Molly. Her bedroom and living area, where she ate
“Yes, by St. Paul’s bell,” said our Host, “you tell the
many slender meals, were rather sooty; she never
truth. This monk mouth rings loudly; he told about
needed a bit of pungent sauce, nor did a dainty
how Fortune ‘covered with a cloud’ I don’t know
morsel ever pass her throat; her diet was in keeping
what. And you also heard right now of a ‘tragedy,’
with her livestock shed. Overeating never was the
and yet it does not help, by God, to bewail or
cause of any sickness; her only treatment was a
complain of what is past. And also it is grievous, as
temperate diet, with exercise and heart’s content. The
you have said, to hear of such sorrow. Sir Monk, no
gout never kept her from dancing, nor did the
more of this, for the love of heaven. Your tale
apoplexy bother her head. She drank neither red wine
distresses this whole party. Such talk is not worth a
nor white; her table was served for the most part with
butterfly, for there is no joviality or sport in it. 2591
white and black--milk and brown bread, of which she
found no lack, with broiled bacon and at times an egg
Therefore, Sir Monk, or, by your name, Sir Peter, tell
or two, for she was a kind of dairy woman. 2846
us something else, I pray you heartily; for in truth,
were it not for the clinking of your bells, hanging
She had a yard enclosed all around with sticks and a
over all your bridle, by heaven’s king, I would have
dry ditch, and in it she had a cock, who was called
fallen from this horse into slumber by now, even if
Chanticleer. In all the land there was no match for his
the mud is not very comfortable or deep. Then your
crowing; his voice was merrier than the merry organ
tale would have been told in vain, for truly, as these
that goes in church on mass-days. More trusty was
scholars say, ‘Whenever a man can find no audience,
his crowing in his yard than a clock or an abbey
it does no good to offer one’s opinions.’ I know how
timepiece; he knew by nature each coming of the
to understand a good tale well told, I believe. Sir, tell
hour in that place for when each fifteen degrees were
something about hunting, I ask you.” 2805
ascended2, then he crowed so well that it could not he
bettered. His comb was redder than fine coral and
“No,” said the Monk, “I do not wish to make sport.
crenellated like a castle-wall. His black bill shone
Let another tell, as I have told.” 2807
like jet; his legs and toes were like azure; his nails,
whiter than the lily flower; and his hue, like
Then our Host, with rough and bold speech, said
burnished gold. To do all his pleasure, this noble
without delay to the Nun’s Priest, “Come nearer, you
cock had in his governance seven hens, his sisters
priest, Sir John1, come here and tell of something to
and paramours, and very much like him in their
gladden our hearts. Be cheerful, even though you ride
upon a nag. What does it matter that your horse is
2
Fifteen degrees were ascended. The time was measured
1
Sir John. Usually a name of contempt for a priest, but by the movement of the sun, each of the twenty four hours
apparently his real name. being fifteen degrees.

1
 Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

markings; of these the one with the fairest hue on her man’s heart, though you have a beard! Alas, can you
throat was named lovely Mademoiselle Pertelote. be afraid of dreams? 2921
2870
“There is nothing in dreams but vanity, God knows.
She was courteous, discreet, generous and sociable, Dreams are engendered by excess and often by
and bore herself so fairly since she was seven nights vapors4 and by people’s temperaments, when their
old that truly she held the heart of Chanticleer humors are too abundant in a creature5. Truly this
completely locked, and she bore the key. He loved dream that you have dreamed comes from a excess of
her so that he was full of happiness. But such a joy as your red choler. This causes people in their dreams to
it was to hear them sing in sweet accord when the have fear of arrows and of fire with red blazes, of
bright sun began to rise, “My love has gone to the huge beasts (that they will bite them), of fighting, and
country3“--for at that time, as I have learned, beasts great and small dogs; just as the melancholy humor
and birds could sing and speak. 2881 causes many people to cry out in sleep for fear of
black bears or black bull, or else that black devils will
Now it so came to pass, one day at dawn, as seize him as well. I could tell also of other humors
Chanticleer sat on his perch among his wives in the that cause woe to many men in sleep, but I will pass
hall, and next to this fair Pertelote, that he began to on as lightly as I can. Lo, Cato6, who was so wise, did
groan in his throat as a man grievously troubled in his he not say this: ‘Take no heed of dreams’? 2941
dream. When Pertelote heard him roar this way, she
was aghast, and said: “Oh dear heart, what ails you to “Now sir,” she said, “for the love of heaven, when
groan so? A fine sleeper you are; fie, for shame!” we fly down from these rafters, please take some
2891 laxative. On peril of my life and soul, I do not lie, and
I counsel you for the best, that you should purge
And he answered, “Madame, don’t take it the wrong yourself both of choler and of melancholy, And since
way, I pray you. It is God’s truth, I dreamed right you should not delay, and because there is no
now that I was in such trouble that my heart is still apothecary in this town, I will myself direct you to
sorely frightened. Now may God” he said, “let my herbs that shall be for your health and wellbeing; and
dream be interpreted favorably, and keep my body I shall find the herbs in our yard that have the natural
from foul prison! I dreamed how I roamed up and property to purge you both beneath and above. Do
down within our yard, and saw there a beast like a not forget this, for God’s own love! You are
hound, who wished to seize my body and kill me. He completely choleric in your temperament. Beware,
was between yellow and red in color, his tail and ears lest the sun as he climbs up should find you full of
tipped with black, unlike the rest of his coat; his hot humors. And if he does, I dare lay a wager that
snout was slender and his two eyes glowing. For fear you will have a tertian fever7, or an ague that may be
of his looks I almost die, even now. This caused my the death of you. For a day or two you shall have a
groaning, without a doubt.” 2907 light diet of worms before you take your laxatives--

“Shame!” she said. “Fie upon you, heartless coward! 4

Alas! For by that God above you have now lost my Vapors. Vapors rising from the humors in the stomach to
the head.
heart and all my love. In faith, surely, I cannot love a 5
In medieval medicine, one’s health depended upon the
coward. Regardless of what any woman will say, all balance of the four humors, or fluids, of the body. The
of us desire to have husbands bold, wise, and noble, correspondences between the humors and the physical and
and trusty with secrets, not a miser nor a fool, nor psychological dispositions of humans are outlined below.
afraid of every weapon, nor yet a boaster, by God
Red Bile White Bile Black Bile
above! How dare you, for shame, say to your love Yellow Bile
Blood Phlegm
that anything could make you afraid? Have you not a
Air Fire Water Earth
Hot & Moist Hot & Dry Cold & Moist Cold & Dry
3
My love has gone to the country. A popular song of
Chaucer’s time: Sanguine Choleric Phlegmatic Melancholic
My love has gone to the country;
Amorous, Gluttonous,
Alas! Why is she gone! Violent, Dull, Pale,
Happy, Lazy,
And I am so sorely bound, Vengeful Cowardly
Generous Sentimental
I may not go to her.
She has my heart in her hold
6
Wherever she rides or walks, Cato.
7
With true love a thousand-fold. Tertian fever. A fever that recurs every five years.

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 Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

your spurge, laurel, centaury, and fumitory, or keeper answered directly, ‘Sir, your friend is gone. At
hellebore, that grows there, your caper-spurge or daybreak he left the town.’ This man began to
buck-thorn berries, or herb-ivy growing in our yard, become suspicious, remembering his dream, and he
and pleasant to take. Peck them right up as they grow went forth without delay to the west gate of the town
and eat them up. By your father’s soul, husband, be and found a dung-cart, ready to fertilize a field, and
merry and fear no dreams. I can say nothing else.” in such condition as you have heard the dead man
2969 say. And with a bold heart he began to call for
vengeance and justice upon this felony. ‘My friend is
“Madame,” he said, “God have mercy, for your murdered this very night and lies face upward and
advice! But nevertheless, as to Sir Cato, who has mouth open in this cart on his back. I cry out upon
such a name for wisdom, though he instructed to fear the magistrates who should rule and watch over the
no dreams, by God, one may read in old books of city. Help! Alas! Here my friend lies slain! 3842
many of more authority than ever Cato had, who say
the complete reverse of Cato’s opinion, and have well “What more should I tell of this tale? The people
found by experience that dreams are significant both rushed out, cast the dung-cart over, and in the middle
in the joys and the tribulations that people endure in of the dung they found the dead man, freshly
this present life. There is no need for argument in murdered. O blessed God, faithful and just! Lo, how
this; experience itself shows it. 2983 You always reveal murder! Murder will be found
out--we see that daily. Murder is so horrible and
“It is told by one of the greatest authors8 that one abominable to the God of justice and reason that He
may read that once two companions went with very will not permit it to be covered up. Though it may lie
good intentions on a pilgrimage, and it so happened hidden for years, murder will be found out: this is my
that they came into a town so full of people and so conclusion. And right away the magistrates seized the
scant of lodgings that they found not so much as one carter and tortured him so sorely, and the inn-keeper
cottage where they could both be lodged. Therefore as well, on the rack, that they soon acknowledged
they had to part company for that night, and each their wickedness and were hanged by the neck. 3063
went to his quarters as it would happen. One was
lodged in a stall far off in a yard, with plow-oxen; the “We may see by this that dreams are to be feared.
other was well enough housed, as was his chance or And surely I read in the same book9 in the very next
his fortune, which governs all of us. 3000 chapter (I do not lie, as I hope to be saved) about two
men that for a certain cause wished to pass over the
“It so happened that long before dawn this man sea into a distant land, if the wind had not been
dreamed, as he lay in his bed, that his friend began to adverse and made them to wait in a city standing
call upon him, saying, ‘Alas! For I shall be murdered pleasantly on the shore of a haven. But shortly before
in an ox’s stall this night. Now help me, brother dear, dawn, in the evening, the wind changed and blew just
before I die! Come to me in all haste!” This man as they wished. Merry and glad they went to rest, and
started out of his sleep for fear, but when he had planned to sail early. 3075
waked he turned over and took no heed of this,
thinking his dream was only vanity. Thus he dreamed “But a great marvel came to one man as he lay
twice in his sleep. And at the third time his fellow asleep, who dreamed toward day a wondrous dream.
seemed to come to him and say, ‘I am now slain. He thought a man stood beside his bed and ordered
Behold my wounds, deep, wide, and bloody. Arise him to wait; ‘if you go, tomorrow, you shall be
early in the morning, and at the west gate of the town drowned; my tale is done.’ He woke and told his
you shall see a dung-cart in which my body is friend his dream, and prayed him to give up his
secretly hidden; stop that cart boldly. In truth, my journey. His friend, who lay on the other side of the
gold caused my murder.’ And with a pale pitiful face bed, began to laugh and sorely mocked him. “No
he told him every point of how he was slain. 3023 dream can so frighten my heart that I will stop my
business; I would not give a straw for your dreams,
“And trust well, his friend found the dream entirely for dreams are but vanity and tricks. People are
true, for in the morning, at earliest day, he took always dreaming of owls or apes and of many other
himself to his friend’s lodging, and when he reached bewildering things; they dream of things that never
the ox-stall, he began to shout after him. The inn- were nor shall be. But since I see that you intend to
stay here and thus by your free will lose your chance
8
One of the greatest authors. Either Cicero, who wrote De
9
divinatione, or Valerius Maximus, who wrote Facta et In the same book. In either Cicero or Valerius, as noted
dicta memorabilia. Both contain the following two stories. previously.

3
 Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

through sloth, God knows, it will grieve me. But may turn to the chronicles of various realms may read
you have a good-day!” 3097 many wondrous things about them. 3137

“Thus he took his leave and departed. But before he “Lo, Croesus14, once king of Lydia! Did he not
had voyaged over half his journey, I do not know dream that he sat upon a tree, which signified that he
why, or how that misfortune arose, but by some would be hanged? Lo, Andromache, Hector’s wife15!
mishap the ship’s bottom was torn open, and ship and She dreamed the very night before the life of Hector
man went down in sight of other ships that had sailed should be lost if he went that day into battle; she
at the same time. 3104 warned him, but it did not matter, for he went
nonetheless to fight, and soon after was slain by
“Therefore, fair Pertelote so dear, you may learn by Achilles. 3148
such old examples that no person should think too
lightly of dreams, for I tell you that without doubt “But that tale would be entirely too long to tell, and I
many dreams are to be sorely feared. 3109 must not delay, for it is nearly day. In short, I
conclude that I shall have adversity after this vision;
“Lo, I read in the life of St. Kenelm10 the son of and I say, moreover, I put no confidence in laxatives.
Kenulph, the noble king of Mercia, how he dreamed I know well that they are poison; I defy them; I like
a dream; one day a little before he was murdered, he them not a bit. Now let us speak of mirth, and stop all
saw his murder in a vision. His nurse expounded his this. God has greatly blessed me in one thing,
entire dream and warned him to beware of treason; Madame Pertelote, and thus I have joy; for when I
but he was no more than seven years old and paid see how scarlet-red you are about your eyes, and the
little heed to any dream, so holy he was in spirit. By beauty of your face, all my fear dies away. For as true
God, I would give up my shirt to have you read his as the Gospel of John says, “Mulier est hominis
legend, as I have! I tell you truly, Madame Pertelote, confusio16“; Madame, the meaning of this Latin is
that Macrobius11, who wrote the vision of the noble that “Woman is all of man’s bliss and joy17!” 3166
Scipio in Africa, affirms dreams to be forewarnings
of things that men see afterward. 3126 “For when I feel your soft side at night--albeit I
cannot ride on you, because our perch is so narrow,
“Furthermore, I pray you look well in the Old alas--I am so full of joy and comfort that I defy all
Testament and see if Daniel12 held dreams to be in dreams and visions.” 3171
vain. Read about Joseph13 also, and there you will
find whether dreams be sometimes (I say not always) And with that, down he flew from the rafter, and
warnings of future things. Look at the king of Egypt, with him all his hens, for it was day. He began to call
Sir Pharaoh, and at his baker and his butler, and see if them all with a cluck, for he had found a grain of
they felt no virtue in dreams! Whosoever wishes to corn lying in the yard. He was royal, and he was
afraid no longer; twenty times before prime18 he
clasped Pertelote in his wings, and he coupled with
10
St. Kenelm. According to the legend, in 821, Kenulph, her just as often. He looked as if he were a grim lion,
only seven years of age, succeeded his father to the throne and roamed up and down on his toes, he chose not to
of the Mersions. In a dream he foresaw his own death, set his foot to ground. He clucked when he came
which was instigated by his own aunt; his body was upon a grain of corn, and his wives ran to him. Thus
afterward revealed by a heavenly light. A verse narrative of royal, like a prince in his hall, I will leave this
his life is one of the standard works of Middle English.
11
Macrobius. Late roman author (fl. c.400) who wrote a
commentary on the Dream of Scipio (Somnium Scipionis)
14
by Cicero, which is included in his Republic. The story is Croesus. King of Lydia who saw his own death in a
retold in Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls 29-84. dream but did not recognize it. His daughter interpreted it
12
Daniel. Biblical figure who interpreted the dreams of correctly, but this fact made no difference. See Chaucer’s
Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar. See Chaucer’s Monk’s Tale 2727-66.
15
Monk’s Tale 2143-82 and 2183-2246, his Man of Law’s Hector’s wife. Andromachae’s dream was included in
Tale 471-78 (for other information on Daniel), and, of Dares’ account of the Trojan War (De excidio Trojae
course, the Biblical Book of Daniel. Historia.), but not in most other accounts.
13 16
Joseph. Biblical figure who interpreted the dream of the Mulier est hominis confusio. Woman is the ruin of man.
17
Egyptian Pharaoh and was subsequently given much favor. Man’s bliss and joy. Of course, Chaunticleer’s translation
In Genesis 41:1-36, the Pharoah’s dream of seven fatted is incorrect. Why it is incorrect, from the perspectives of
cows followed by seven emaciated cows is interpreted by both Chaucer and Chaunticleer, is the subject of much
Joseph to be seven years of good harvest followed by seven speculation.
18
years of famine. Prime. 9 am.

4
 Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Chanticleer in his feeding-ground, and afterward I pass, according to certain scholars. You may witness
will say what happened to him. 3184 it from any perfect scholar that there is great
difference of opinion in the schools and great
When March, the month in which the world was disputation about this matter, and there always has
made, and when God first created mankind, was been among a hundred thousand people. 3239
complete, and there had passed thirty-two days since
March began, it happened that Chanticleer in all his But I cannot sift the wheat from the chaff24, as can
glory, with his seven wives walking beside him, cast the holy doctor Augustine or Boethius or Bishop
his eyes to the bright sun, which had sped through Bradwardine25; whether God’s glorious
twenty-one degrees and somewhat more in the sign foreknowledge compels me by necessity to do a thing
of Taurus. By nature and not education he knew that (by necessity I mean absolute necessity), or if I am
it was prime, and he crowed with joyous voice. “The granted free choice to do or not that same thing,
sun,” he said, “has climbed through the heavens though God foreknew it long before; or whether His
forty-one degrees and more. Madame Pertelote, my knowing does not constrains at all except by a
world’s bliss, listen to how the happy birds sing, and conditional necessity. With such matters I will not
see the fresh flowers springing up; my heart is full of concern myself. 3251
revelry and joy.” 3203
My tale is all about a cock, as you may hear, who
But suddenly a sorrowful event occurred. For the took his wife’s counsel, to his sorrow, to walk in the
latter end of joy is always woe, God knows. The joy yard that morning, after he had dreamed his dream of
of this world is soon gone, and if an orator could which I told you. Women’s pieces of advice are often
compose beautifully, he could confidently write it in fatal. Woman’s advice brought us first to woe and
a chronicle as a notable fact. Now let every wise man made Adam depart from Paradise where he was
listen; this story is every bit as true, I dare swear, as merry and at ease. But because I know not whom I
the book of Lancelot of the Lake19, whom women might disturb if I should insult women’s advice, let
hold in great reverence. Now I will return to my text. us pass it over, for I said it only in sport. Read what
3214 authors, who treat such matters, say of women. These
are the cock’s words and not mine; I cannot imagine
A coal-fox20, sly and unrighteous, who had dwelt harm by any woman. 3266
three years in the grove, by decree of almighty
Providence burst through the hedges that same night Pertelote lay fairly in the sunshine with all her sisters
into the yard where stately Chanticleer was nearby, bathing herself merrily in the sand, and the
accustomed to stroll with his wives. And there the gallant Chanticleer sang more merrily than the
fox lay quietly in a bed of cabbage until it was past mermaid in the sea; for Physiologus in truth says that
eleven o’clock, awaiting his time to fall upon they sing merrily and well26. And it so happened, as
Chanticleer, as do all these homicides that lie in wait
to murder men are glad to do. 3225 24
Chaff. The non-essential matter. Chaucer often
distinguishes the kernel or fruit of the wheat (or corn), the
False murderer, lurking in your lair! You new essential matter, from the chaff, the full description
Iscariot21, new Ganelon22, false deceiver, just like the (perhaps non-essential) of the matter.
Greek Sinon that brought Troy utterly to woe23! May 25
Augustine . . . Bradwardine. The original controversy
that morning be accursed, O Chanticleer, on which over the relations between the divine and human will, and
you flew from your rafter into the yard! Well you the related concepts of foreknowledge and free will, was in
were warned by your dreams that this day was the Fourth Century between St. Augustine, who maintained
perilous to you. But what God foresees must come to that man was born in original sin and could be saved only
by divine grace, and Pelagius, who maintained that man
was born innocent and had the free will to do good or evil.
19
Lancelot of the Lake, Famed Arthurian knight, lover of Boethius tried to reconcile the Augustinian and Pelagian
Queen Guinevere, both of whom fell from grace when their positions. In Chaucer’s own time, Thomas Bradwardine,
affair was made public. Oxford professor and at the time of the death Archbishop of
20
Coal-fox. A fox with black markings, as made with coal. Canterbury (1349), showed that the controversy was still
21
Iscariot. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ. very much alive by writing a major theological treatise De
22
Ganelon. Betrayed Roland in Song of Roland. See causa Dei contra Pelagium et de virtute causarum (The
Chaucer’s Monk’s Tale 2389 and Shipman’s Tale 194. cause of God versus Pelagian and concerning the nature of
23
Sinon . . . woe. Deceived the Troys into accepting the causation [in the world]). (JHF)
26
Trojan Horse, in which the Greeks were hidden. See Physiologus. Author of the very popular Bestiary, which
Vergil’s Aeneid 2.57-267, and Chaucer’s House of Fame described real and imaginary animals and attributed to them
152-56 and Squire’s Tale 209-10. moral qualities.

5
 Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

he cast his eye upon a butterfly among the cabbages, false flatterers and parasites, who please you more, in
that he noticed this fox who lay hidden. He had no faith, than he who tells you the truth. Read about
mind then to crow, but cried at once, “Cok! cok!” and flatterers in Ecclesiasticus29, and beware of their
started up like a man frightened in his heart. For by treachery. 3330
instinct a beast is glad to flee from his natural enemy
if he should see it, even if he had never seen it with Chanticleer stood high on his toes, stretching his
his eye before. 3281 neck and shutting his eyes, and began to crow loudly.
Up started Sir Russel the fox at once, seized
This Chanticleer, when he first detected him, would Chanticleer by the throat and bore him away on his
have fled, except that the fox immediately spoke, back toward the wood, for as yet nobody gave chase.
“Alas, gentle sir, where do you want to go? Are you 3337
afraid of me, your own friend? Now surely I would
be worse than a fiend if I desired harm or indignity to O destiny that may not be eluded! Alas that
you. I have not come to spy upon your privacy, but in Chanticleer flew down from the rafters and that his
truth only to listen how you sing. For truly you have wife did not care about dreams! And all this bad
as merry a voice as any angel in heaven, and more fortune fell on a Friday! O Venus, goddess of
feeling in music than Boethius27 had, or any singer. pleasure, why would Chanticleer, who was your
My lord your father (may God rest his soul), and your servant and did all within his might in your service
mother too, by her courtesy, have been in my house, (more for delight than to multiply the world), endure
to my great content; and you, sir, I would gladly to die upon your day? 3346
please, surely. And speaking of singing, I must say,
may I be struck blind if I ever heard anyone, except O Geoffrey de Vinsauf30, dear sovereign master, who
you, sing as did your father in the morning. 3302 when your noble king Richard was slain by shot did
mourn his death so sorely, why do I not have your
“Surely, all that he sung was from the heart. And to learning and your pen now to reproach Friday as you
make his voice stronger he took such pains that he did! (For truly it was on a Friday he was slain.) Then
had to shut both his eyes, he cried so loud, standing I would show you how I could mourn Chanticleer’s
on tip-toe as well and stretching forth his long, dread and torment. Not since Ilium31 was won and
slender neck. And he was also of such discretion that Pyrrhus had seized King Priam by the beard and slain
there was no man in any land who could surpass him him with his drawn sword, as the Aeneid32 says, was
in song or wisdom. 3311 ever such cry and lamentation made by ladies as by
the hens in the yard, when they saw this sight of
“I have indeed read in the life of Burnel the Ass28, Chanticleer. 3361
among the verses, about a cock, who, because a
priest’s son, when he was young and foolish, gave Above all Madame Pertelote shrieked, louder than
him a rap on his leg, in after years made him to lose Hasdrubal’s wife33 when her husband perished and
his estate. But certainly there is no comparison the Romans had burned Carthage; she was so full of
between his wisdom and subtlety and discretion and torment and frenzy that she leapt into the fire and
your father’s. Now sing, sir, for sweet charity’s sake. burned herself with a steadfast heart. O woeful hens,
Let’s see--can you imitate your father?” 3321 even so you cried as did the senators’ wives when

Chanticleer began to flap his wings, like one who

29
could not detect his treachery, so ravished he was by Ecclesiasticus. Biblical book that reflects this thought
the flattery. Alas! You lords, in your courts are many often.
30
Geoffrey of Vinsauf . Author of the Poetria Nova, an
early thirteenth-century treatise on the art of poetry, who
27
Boethius. Late Roman philosopher (c.475-525), best- had considerable influence on Chaucer’s early poetry.
known for his Consolation of Philosophy, but also the author Geoffrey of Vinsauf offered a model lament on the death of
of the standard treatise on music in the Middle Ages, De Richard I (d. 1199), which Chaucer, in a sense, burlesques
Musica. in the following passage. (ACC & JHF)
28 31
Burnel the Ass. Speculu, Stultorum (Mirror of Fools), a Ilium. The walled city of Troy.
32
popular Latin satire of the donkey who was dissatisfied Aeneid. Vergil’s epic poem, which describes the end of
with the length of his tail. Most of the medieval universities the Trojan war (including the death of Priam, 2. 469ff.) and
and religious orders are satirized in connection with his Aeneas’ search and fight for the land that will eventually
travels seeking to get his tail lengthened. In the Speculum, become Rome.
33
the boy had hit a cock with a stick; years later when the boy Hasdrubal’s wife. Hasdrubal, King of Carthage, was
was about to be ordained as a priest, the cock failed to crow defeated by the Roman Scipio (Africanus Minor) in 146
causing him to oversleep and lose his benefice. (JHF) BC.

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 Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Nero34 burned the city of Rome and their guiltless to frighten you, when I seized and brought you out of
husbands all perished, slain by this Nero. 3373 the yard.” 3421

But now I return to my tale once more. This poor “But, sir, I had no ill intent; come down and I shall
widow and her two daughters heard these hens cry tell you what I meant. I shall tell the truth to you, so
and lament, and started out the door immediately and may God help me!” 3425
saw the fox make toward the wood, bearing the cock
away on his back. “Out! Alas! Help!” they cried. “No then,” said the cock, “I curse both of us, and
“Ho! Ho! The fox!” and after him they ran, and many first I curse myself, both blood and flesh, if you
other people with cudgels. Colle, our dog, ran, and should trick me more than once. No more shall your
Garland and Talbot35, and Malkin with her distaff36 in flattery make me sing and shut my two eyes. For he
hand; the cow and calf ran and the hogs themselves, who willfully shuts his eyes when be should see, may
so afraid were they for the barking of the hounds and God let him never thrive!” 3432
the shouting of the men and women; they ran till they
thought their hearts would burst. 3388 “No,” said the fox, “but God give him bad fortune
who is so indiscreet as to prattle when he should hold
They yelled like fiends in hell. The ducks quacked as his peace!” 3435
if they were being slaughtered, and the geese in fear
flew over the tree-tops. A swarm of bees came out of Lo, such a thing it is to be negligent and heedless
the hive, so hideous was the noise. Ah God bless! and trust flattery! But you who maintain this tale to
Surely Jack Straw37 and his rabble never made shouts be foolishness, about nothing but a fox and a cock
half so shrill when they were slaughtering a Fleming, and a hen, take the moral, good sirs. For St. Paul says
as were made this day after the fox. They brought that all that is written is written for our learning, in
horns of brass, of wood, of horn and bone, and blew truth. Take the fruit and leave the chaff38. And now
and bellowed in them, and so shrieked and whooped may the good God, if His will be so, as says my
indeed until it seemed as if the heavens would drop. lord39, make us all good Christians and bring us to
3402 His heavenly bliss. Amen 3446

Now, good men, I pray you all listen. Lo, how Here is ended the Nun’s Priest’s Tale.
Fortune suddenly overturns the hope and arrogance
of her foe! This cock, lying upon the fox’s back, in [Epilogue]
all his fright spoke to the fox and said, “Sir, if I were
you, so may God help me, I should say, ‘Turn back, “Sir Nun’s Priest,” said our Host, “may your
all you proud churls! May a true pestilence fall on breeches be blessed for this merry tale of
you! Now that I have come to this wood’s edge, the Chanticleer! By my word, if you were a secular man,
cock shall remain here, in spite of anything you can a very hearty fellow you would be with women. See
do. I will eat him, in faith, and do so at once.’” 3413 what brawn and what a neck this gentle priest has,
and what a chest! He looks with his eyes like a
“In faith, it shall be done,” answered the fox. And as sparrow-hawk. He does not need to dye his color
he spoke that word, at once the cock broke away with brasil or Portugal40. Now may goodness come to
nimbly from his mouth and flew immediately high you for your tale, sir! 3460
upon a tree. 3418
And after that, with a merry look, he spoke to
And when the fox saw the cock was gone, “Alas! another as you shall hear. 3462
Chanticleer!” he said; “alas! I have done you wrong
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
34
Nero. Decadent Roman emperor who did not care when Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.
Rome burned. See Chaucer’s Monk’s Tale 2463-2550. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer:
35
Talbot and Gerland. Also dogs. http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/chaucer
36
Distaff. The staff used to hold the wool in the process of
spinning.
37 38
Jack Straw. One of the reported leaders of the Peasants’ Fruit and Chaff. See note above, 3240.
39
Revolt in and around London in 1381, in which many of My lord. The Ellesemere manuscript includes a note that
the Flemish (Belgian) merchants and manufacturers were this is a reference to the Archbishop of Canterbury, but the
killed because their great success was perceived as the relevance of the reference is not clear.
40
result of unfair competition. Brasil or Portugal. Red dyes.

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Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale