Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Thopas, the Prologue

WHEN said was this miracle, every man As sober* was, that wonder was to see, serious Till that our Host to japen he began, *talk lightly And then at erst he looked upon me, for the first time And saide thus; “What man art thou?” quoth he; “Thou lookest as thou wouldest find an hare, For ever on the ground I see thee stare.

“Approache near, and look up merrily. Now ware you, Sirs, and let this man have place. He in the waist is shapen as well as I; <2> This were a puppet in an arm t’embrace For any woman small and fair of face. He seemeth elvish* by his countenance, *surly, morose For unto no wight doth he dalliance.

“Say now somewhat, since other folk have said; Tell us a tale of mirth, and that anon.” “Hoste,” quoth I, “be not evil apaid,* dissatisfied For other tale certes can I none, know Eut of a rhyme I learned yore agone.” long “Yea, that is good,” quoth he; “now shall we hear Some dainty thing, me thinketh by thy cheer.” *expression, mien

Notes to the Prologue to Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Thopas

1. This prologue is interesting, for the picture which it gives of Chaucer himself; riding apart from and indifferent to the rest of the pilgrims, with eyes fixed on the ground, and an “elvish”, morose, or rather self-absorbed air; portly, if not actually stout, in body; and evidently a man out of the common, as the closing words of the Host imply.

2. Referring to the poet’s corpulency.