Quotes from Geoffrey Chaucer

But we'll try anything once hot or cold; A man must be a young food, or an old

By Pluto sent at the request of Saturn. Arcita's horse in terror danced a pattern And leapt aside and foundered as he leapt, And ere he was aware Arcite was swept Out of the saddle and pitched upon his head Onto the ground, and there he lay for dead; His breast was shattered by the saddle-bow.

And Christ's law and His Apostles twelve he taught, but first he followed it himself.

Having to read a footnote resembles having to go downstairs to answer the door while in the midst of making love.

Just as there never died a man, quoth he, But he had lived on earth in some degree, Just so there never lived a man, he said, In all this world, but must be sometime dead. This world is but a thoroughfare of woe, And we are pilgrims passing to and fro;

Go, litel bok, go, litel myn tragedye

Men may the wise atrenne, and naught atrede.

For thus men seyth, That on thenketh the beere, But al another thenketh his ledere.

The fiery heat of love by now had cooled, For from the time he kissed her hinder parts He didn't give a tinker's curse for tarts; His malady was cured by this endeavor And he defied all paramours whatever.

It is ful fair a man to bere him evene,/For alday meeteth men at unset stevene.

He hath considered shortly, in a clause The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause, And althogh that his ire hir gilt accused, Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused, As thus: he thoghte wel that every man Wol helpe himself in love if that he kan, And eek delivere himself out of prisoun;

And as for me, though that I konne but lyte, On bokes for to rede I me delyte, And to hem yive I feyth and ful credence, And in myn herte have hem in reverence So hertely, that ther is game noon That fro my bokes maketh me to goon, But yt be seldom on the holyday, Save, certeynly, whan that the month of May Is comen, and that I here the foules synge, And that the floures gynnen for to sprynge, Farewel my bok and my devocioun!

Truly, it is said, age has great advantage over youth. In age is both wisdom and experience. Youth may outrun the old, but not outwit

Ne nevere mo ne lakked hire pite; Tendre-herted, slydynge of corage; But trewely, I kan nat telle hire age.

His spirit changed house, and vanished there, Where I have not been, so cannot say where.

Of Pride. And though it be so that no man can accurately tell the number of the twigs and the evils that come from Pride, yet will I show you a part of them, as you shall understand. There is Disobedience, Boasting, Hypocrisy, Contempt, Arrogance, Impudence, Swelling of Heart, Insolence, Elation, Impatience, Haughtiness, Presumption, Irreverence, Obstinacy, Vainglory, and many another twig that I can not declare.

Chese now, quod she, oon of thise thynges tweye: To han me foul and old til that I deye, And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf, And nevere yow displese in al my lyf, Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair, And take youre aventure of the repair That shal be to youre hous by cause of me, Or in som oother place, may wel be. Now chese yourselven, wheither that yow liketh.

A faithful servant is more diligent in keeping your goods safe than is your own wife, because she will claim a half part of your worth all her life.

For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.

Lo que comenzó mal, rara vez y con muchísima dificultad concluirá bien.

You fare by love as owls do by light.

for that which goes beyond moderation is folly and Sin.

You Fathers and you Mothers, let me add, However many children you have had, Yours is the duty of their supervision As long as they are bound by your decision. Beware lest the example you present Or your neglect in giving chastisement Cause them to perish; otherwise I fear, If they should do so, you will pay it dear.

The Wife of Bath A good Wife was there from Bath. She was somewhat deaf, and that was a pity. Of cloth-making had she such a skill that she surpassed even the weavers of Ypres and of Ghent. In all the Parish there was no Wife who dared precede her to the offering at Mass; and, if perchance one did, it was certain so wrathful was she that she forgot all thoughts of charity.