Metrical analysis

GP 553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.

GP 553 And /ther// to /brood// as /though// it/were// a /spade//. 10 syllables

GP 554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade

GP 554 U /pon// the /cop// right /of// his /nose// he /hade// 10 syllables

GP 555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,

GP 555 A /werte// and /ther// on /stood// a /toft// of /herys// 10 syllables

GP 556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;

GP 556 Reed /as// the /brus// tles /of// a /sowes// e /rys// 10 syllables

GP 557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.

GP 557 His /nose// thir /les// bla /ke// were /and// wy /de//. 10 syllables

GP 558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.

GP 558 Aswerd /and/ a /bo/ ke /ler/ bar /he/ by /his/ syde//. 11 syllables

GP 559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.

GP 559 His /mouth// as /greet// was /as// a /greet// for /neys//. 10 syllables

GP 560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,

GP 560 He /was// a /jan// glere /and// a /go// liar /deys//, 10 syllables

GP 561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.

GP 561 And /that// was /moost// of /synne// and /har// lo /tries//. 10 syllables

GP 562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;

GP 562 Wel /koude// he /ste/ / len /corn// and /to// llen /thries//; 10 syllables

GP 563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.

GP 563 And /yet/ / he /hadde// a /thombe// of /gold// par /dee//. 10 syllables

GP 564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.

GP 564 A /whit// cote /and// a /blew// hood /we// red /he//. 10 syllables

GP 565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,

GP 565 A /bagge/ / pi /pe// wel /koude// he /blowe// and /sowne//, 10 syllables

GP 566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.

GP 566 And /ther// with /al// he /broghte// us /out// of /towne//. 10 syllables

GP 567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,

GP 567 A /gen/ til /MAUN/ CI /PLE/ was /ther/ of /a/ temple//, 11 syllables

GP 568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple

GP 568 Of /which// a /cha// tours /myghte// ta /ke// e /xemple// 10 syllables

GP 569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;

GP 569 For /to// be /wise// in /byyn// ge /of// vi /taille//; 10 syllables

GP 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,

GP 570 For /whei// ther /that// he /payde// or /took// by /taille//, 10 syllables

GP 571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat

GP 571 Al /gate// he /way// ted /so// in /his// a /chaat//10 syllables

GP 572 That he was ay biforn and in good staat.

GP 572 That /he// was /ay// bi /forn// and /in// good /staat//. 10 syllables

GP 573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace

GP 573 Now /is// nat /that// of /God// a /ful// fair /grac(e)// 10 syllables

GP 574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace

GP 574 That /swich// a /lew// ed /man// nes /wit// shal // 9 Syllables

GP 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?

GP 575 The /wis// dom /of// an /heep// of /ler// ned /men?// 10 syllables

GP 576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,

GP 576 Of /mais// tres /had// d(e) /he// mo /than// thries /ten//, 10 syllables

GP 577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,

GP 577 That /we// ren /of// law(e) /ex// pert /and// cu /rious//, 10 syllables

GP 578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous

GP 578 Of /whiCh// ther /wer(e) // a /dus// zeyn(e) /in// that /hous// 10 syllables

GP 579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond

GP 579 Wor /thy// to /been// sty /ward(e)s // of /rent(e) // and /lond//10 syllables

GP 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,

GP 580 Of /a// ny /lord// that /is// in /En// g(e) / lond// 10 syllables

GP 581 To make hym lyve by his propre good

GP 581 To/ make// hym/ lyve //by/ his// prop/re// good 9 syllables

GP 582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),

GP 582 In /honour// dette/lees// (but/ if// he/wer(e)// wo/od//), 10 syllables

GP 583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;

GP 583 Or /lyve// as/ scars//ly /as //hym/ list// de/sire//; 10 syllables

GP 584 And able for to helpen al a shire

GP 584 And/ able// for/ to// help/en// al/ a// shi/r(e)// 10 syllables

GP 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.

GP 585 In/ any// ca/as// that/ myght(e)// fall(e)/ or // hap/p(e)// 10 syllables.

GP 586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.

GP 586 And/ yet// this/ Man// ci/pl(e)// sett(e)/ hir// aller/ capp(e) 10 syllables

GP 587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.

GP 587 The/ REV(E)// was/ a// s/clen//dr(e)/ cole// rik/ man// 10 syllables.

GP 588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;

GP 588 His/ berd// was/ shav(e)// as/ (a)ny// as/ ever// he /kan//; 10 syllables

GP 589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;

GP 589 His/ heer// was/ by// his/ e//rys/ ful// round/ y//shorn; 11 syllables

GP 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.

GP 590 His/ top// was/ dokk(e)d// ly/k// a/ preest// bi/forn//.10 syllables

GP 591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,

GP 591 Ful/ long(e)// were/ his// leg/ges// and/ ful// le/ne//, 10 syllables

GP 592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.

GP 592 Y/lyk// a/ staf//; ther/ was// no /calf// y/sene//. 10 syllables

GP 593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;

GP 593 Wel/ koud(e)// he/ kep(e)// a/ ger//ner/ and/ a /bynn(e)//; 10 syllables

GP 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.

GP 594 Ther/ was// no/oon// audi/tour// koud(e)/ on// him/ wynn(e)//. 10 syllables

GP 595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn

GP 595 Wel/ wist(e)// he/ by// the/ droght(e)// and /by// the/ reyn// 10 syllables

GP 596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.

GP 596 The/ yel// dyng(e)/ of // his/ seed// and/ of// his /greyn.// 10 syllables

GP 597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,

GP 597 His/ lord//es/ sheep//, his/ neet//, his/ day//er/ye//, 10 syllables

GP 598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye

GP 598 His/ swyn//, his/ hors//, his / stoor//, and/ his// pult/rye// 10 syllables

GP 599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,

GP 599 Was/ hoo//lly/ in// this/ Re//ves/ go//ver/nyng(e)//, 10 syllables

GP 600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,

GP 600 And/ by// his/ cove//nant/ yaf //the/ rek//e/nyng(e)//, 10 syllables

GP 601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.

GP 601 Syn/ that// his/ lord// was/ twen//ty / ye/er// of /age.// 11 syllables

GP 602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage

GP 602 Ther/ koud(e)// no/ man// bryng(e)/ hym// in/ ar//re/rage// 10 syllables








Chaucer uses an AABB rhyme and a ten-syllable scheme to set an iambic pentameter rythm. This iambic pentameter is not always regular, and we can find variations about the number of syllables (nine or eleven syllabic patterns are acceptable when using iambic pentameter).
We can find also some parallelisms about syntax if we compare lines throughout the text. The rhyming words are usually in the same position, and it is funny the mood in that we can notice internal rhymes, and even an optional use of the ending “e”. The interesting of this prologue is to create a well-structured story by using such a rhythmic pattern, which gives to the text a sense of troubadouresque tone.



Jose Monfort, Clive Pertegas, J.Manuel Martin

Phonological transcription

GP 553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
ənd ðertɒ brɔ:d æz ðəʊ ɪt wɜ:re ə spæd.

GP 554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
ʊpɔn ðə kɒp rɪçt ɔv hɪs nəʊz he: hæd

GP 555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
ə wɜ:rtə, ənd ðerɒn stɔ:d ə tɒft ov heri:s,

GP 556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
re:d az ðə brʊstels ov ə soʊəs eri:s ;

GP 557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
hɪs nəʊzθirtels bla:kə wɜ:re ænd widə.

GP 558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.
ə swerd ænd ə bɒkeler bar he: bi: his sɪdə.

GP 559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
hɪs moʊθ az grɛ:t waz az ə grɛ:t forneis.

GP 560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
he: waz ə dʒæŋglerə ænd ə gɒliardeis,

GP 561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
ənd ðat waz mɔ:st ov sinə ænd harlɒtries.

GP 562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
wel koudə he: stelen kɒrn ænd tɒlən θries;

GP 563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
ənd yɛt he: hæd ə θɒmbə ov gɒld, pardɛ:

GP 564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
ə wɪt kɒtə ænd ə bljʊ hɔ:d wɜ:reð he:

GP 565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
ə bægpaipə wel koʊdə he: bloʊə ænd soʊnə,

GP 566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
ənd ðerwiðal he: brɔ:tə ʊs aʊt ov toʊnə.

GP 567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
ə dʒentɪl maʊncɪple waz ðer ov ə templə,

GP 568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple
ov hwɪtʃ akatoʊrs migtə ta:ke egzæmplə

GP 569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
for tɒ bi: waiz ɪn bi:nge ɔv vɪtaɪlə;

GP 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
for weɪðər ðat he: paɪdə ɔr tɔ:k bɪ taɪlə,

GP 571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat
algatə he: waited səʊ in hɪs atʃa:t

GP 572 That he was ay biforn, and in good staat.
ðat he: waz ai bɪfɒrn, ənd ɪn go:td sta:t.

GP 573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
naʊ iz næt ðat ov ga:d ə ful fer greɪs

GP 574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
ðat swɪtʃ ə leu:d mænns wɪt ʃæl peɪs

GP 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
ðə wɪzdəm ɔv æn he:p ɔv lʒ:rnəd men

GP 576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
ɔv mæsters hæd he: mɔ: ðæn θries ten,

GP 577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,
ðat wɜ:re ɔv lɔ:w ekspʒ:rt ænd Kjʊriəs,

GP 578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
ɔv hwɪtʃ ðer wɜ:re ə dʌzeɪnə ɪn ðat haʊs

GP 579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
wʒ:rði to bɪn stu:ərdəs ɔv rent ænd lond

GP 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
ov eni lɔ:rd ðat iz ɪn ɪngelond,

GP 581 To make hym lyve by his propre good
tɒ meik him lif bi: his proprə go:ð

GP 582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
in honour detelε:s bɔt iv he: wɜ:re wɔ:ð

GP 583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
Or lif az scarsli az him list disair

GP 584 And able for to helpen al a shire
ənd eibol for tu helpən al ə ʃirə

GP 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
In eni kas ðat migtə fal or hap

GP 586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
ənd yet ðis manciplə set hir alər kæp

GP 587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
ðə reve waz ə sklendre koleric man

GP 588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
his berð waz ʃeif az ny az evə he kan

GP 589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
his hε:r waz bi: hiz eri:z ful round isorn

GP 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
his top waz doked li:k ə pri:st biforn

GP 591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
ful longə wɜ:re his legəs ənd ful lenə

GP 592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
ili:k ə staf ðer waz no kalf isenə

GP 593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
wel kouðə he: kep ə gernər ənd ə bin

GP 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
ðer waz nɔ:n auðitu:r kouðə on him winə

GP 595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
wel wist he: bi: ðə drogtə əndº bi: ðə rein

GP 596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
ðə yeldingə ov his se:ð ənd ov his grein

GP 597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
his lordəs ʃe:p hiz ne:t hiz daiəri

GP 598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
his suin his horz his sto:r ənd his pultri

GP 599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
waz hɔ:li in ðis reves governingə

GP 600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
ənd bi: his covenənt yaf ðe rekeningə
r
GP 601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
sin ðat his lord waz tuenti ye:r ov agə

GP 602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage
ðer kouðə no man bringə him in areraʃ



Jose Monfort, Clive Pertegas, J.Manuel Martin

Modern Translation

And it was as broad as a spade. 553
Right on the tip of his nose he had
A wart, from which a tuft of hairs was spread,
Just as red as bristles on a sow's ears;
His nostrils were black and wide. 557
He had a sword and a buckler at his side.
His mout was as great as a furnace. And he
Could tell some jokes and stories, though they were
Mostly of sin and lust. He could well steal 561
Much corn, and then charged three times the price for a toll;
Yet he had a golden thumb, I do declare.
He wore a white coat and a blue hood.
He knew well how to blow and play a bagpipe, 565
And played it as he brought us out of town.
From an Inn of Court a gentle manciple
Was with us, one who set a fine example
In buying victuals wisely. Whether he 569
Would buy with cash or with credit,
He took such care in his purchases
That he would come well before in a good start.
Now is that not a sign of God's fair grace, 573
That such a simple man's wit shall displace
The wisdom of a heap of learned men?
He had more than three times ten masters,
That were expert and curious lawyers; 577
A dozen of them in that house (Inn of Court)
Worthy to be stewards of rent and land
Of any lord that is in England,
He might live, enjoying all that he had 581
In honor a debtless (unless he had gone mad),
Or live as poorly as he might desire;
And able to help an entire shire
In any case that might happen. 585
And yet this Manciple could shame them all.
The Reeve was a slender, choleric man.
He shaved his beard as closely as one can;
His hair was shortly cut around the ears 589
And on the top cut just like a priest's.
His legs were very long and very lean,
Each like a staff, no flesh was to be seen.
Well could he keep a granary and bin 593
There was no auditor who could beat him,
He could tell by the drought and rain
The true yield of his seed and of his grain.
His lord's sheep, his cattle, milk cows, 597
His swine, his horses, his store his poultry
Were wholly left under this Reeve's control,
And by contract his was the reckoning
Since his lord was twenty years old. 601
There could be no man to pay him late;


Jose Monfort, Clive Pertegas; J. Manuel Martin

Second Portfolio: Modern translation, phonological transcription and metrical analysis.

THIS FRAGMENT BELONGS TO THE GENERAL PROLOGUE OF CHAUCER'S CANTERBURY TALES.

GP 553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
GP 554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
GP 555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
GP 556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
GP 557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
GP 558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.
GP 559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
GP 560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
GP 561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
GP 562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
GP 563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
GP 564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
GP 565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
GP 566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
GP 567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
GP 568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple
GP 569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
GP 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
GP 571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat
GP 572 That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
GP 573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
GP 574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
GP 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
GP 576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
GP 577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,
GP 578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
GP 579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
GP 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
GP 581 To make hym lyve by his propre good
GP 582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
GP 583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
GP 584 And able for to helpen al a shire
GP 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
GP 586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
GP 587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
GP 588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
GP 589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
GP 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
GP 591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
GP 592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
GP 593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
GP 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
GP 595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
GP 596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
GP 597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
GP 598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
GP 599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
GP 600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
GP 601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
GP 602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage