An Introduction to the Study of Chaucer |
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Common terms and phrases
14th century according Ages allied ancient Anglo-Saxon applied belle bread called century changed Chaucer church clerk cloth colour common Compare court cowde denote derived dress early England English expression face fair fish four French frequently Friars gentil give given gold gret hadde hand head heed hence Henry hire holy honour horse Italy keep kind King knew Knight lady land Latin lived London lord manner meaning mentioned modern English monk note on line noun occurs origin passage past person phrase pilgrims plural present probably referred reign rich root Saxon says schal sche Scotland seems sense shillings sing six MSS sometimes Tale term termination ther thing translation usually verb whan wine wolde word worthy writers written
Popular passages
Page 131 - And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, "Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
Page 121 - Unspeakably touching is it, however, when I find both dignities united ; and he that must toil outwardly for the lowest of man's wants, is also toiling inwardly for the highest. Sublimer in this world know I nothing than a Peasant Saint, could such now anywhere be met with. Such a one will take thee back to Nazareth itself; thou wilt see the splendour of Heaven spring forth from the humblest depths of Earth, like a light shining in great darkness.
Page 121 - Two men I honor, and no third. First, the toil-worn Craftsman that with earth-made Implement laboriously conquers the Earth, and makes her man's. Venerable to me is the hard Hand ; crooked, coarse ; wherein notwithstanding lies a cunning virtue, indefeasibly royal, as of the Scepter of this Planet. Venerable too is the rugged face, all weather-tanned, besoiled, with its rude intelligence ; for it is the face of a Man living manlike.
Page 15 - The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit, By-cause that it was old and som-del streit, This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace, And held after the newe world the space. He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, That seith, that hunters been nat holy men...
Page 137 - The houses were not numbered. There would indeed have been little advantage in numbering them; for of the coachmen, chairmen, porters, and errand boys of London, a very small proportion could read. It was necessary to use marks which the most ignorant could understand. The shops were therefore distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets. The walk from Charing Cross to Whitechapel lay through an endless succession of saracens...
Page 121 - A second man I honour and still more highly, him who is seen toiling for the spiritually indispensable, not daily bread but the bread of life.
Page 99 - So glad am I, whan that I have presence Of it, to doon it alle reverence, As she that is of alle...
Page 54 - Of which ful blythe and glad was every wight; And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun, By forward and by composicioun, As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
Page 2 - And bathed every veyne in swich licour. Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes...
Page 47 - For this ye knowen al so wel as I, Whoso shal telle a tale after a man, He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan Everich a word, if it be in his charge, Al speke he never so rudeliche and large, Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe, Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.