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Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 25 October 1400 / London, England)
Quotations
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''And therfore, at the kynges court, my brother,
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, Arcite, in "The Knight's Tale," l. 1181-2 (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.''
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''What is this world? what asketh men to have?
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, Arcite, in "The Knight's Tale," l. 2777-9 (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
Now with his love, now in his colde grave
Allone, withouten any compaignye.''
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''Love is a thyng as any spirit free.
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, "The Franklin's Tale," l. 767-70 (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee,
And nat to been constreyned as a thral;
And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal.''
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''Ther nis no werkman, whatsoevere he be,
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, Januarie, in "The Merchant's Tale," l. 1832-3 (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, etc. (1898).
That may bothe werke wel and hastily.''
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''Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth,
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, "General Prologue," l. 5-12 (1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open eye,
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages.''
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''She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, "General Prologue," l. 459-62 (1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898). Referring to the Wife of Bath.
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe,
But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.''
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''Mordre wol out; that se we day by day.''
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, "The Nun's Priest's Tale," l. 4242 (1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
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''Certes, they been lyk to houndes, for an hound whan he comth by the roser, or by other bushes, though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heve up his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse.''
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, "The Parson's Tale," Sequitur de Luxuria (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, etc. (1898).
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''Experience, though noon auctoritee
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, "The Wife of Bath's Prologue," l. 1-3 (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
Were in this world, were right ynogh to me
To speke of wo that is in mariage.''
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''This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), British poet. The Canterbury Tales, Egeus, in "The Knight's Tale," l. 2847-9 (c. 1387-1400), repr. In The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Alfred W. Pollard, et al. (1898).
And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro;
Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore.''
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