Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue 03, The Knight - (A Minimalist Translation) Poem by Forrest Hainline

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue 03, The Knight - (A Minimalist Translation)

A knight there was, and that a worthy man
That from the time that he first began
To ride out, he loved chivalry,
Truth and honor, freedom and courtesy,
Full worthy was he in his lord's war,
And thereto had he ridden, no man as far,
As well in Christendom as in heatheness,
And ever honored for his worthiness.
At Alexander he was when it was won;
Full oft time he had the board begun
Above all nations in Prussia;
In Lithuania had he raised and in Russia,
No Christian man so oft of his degree;
In Grenada at the siege eek had he be
Of Algezir, and ridden in Belmarie;
At Ayas was he and at Attalie,
When they were won, and in the Great Sea
At many a noble army had he be.
At mortal battles had he been fifteen,
And fought for our faith at Tlemcen
In lists thrice, and aye slain his foe.
This same worthy knight had been also
Sometime with the lord of Paletey
Against another heathen in Turkey:
And evermore he had a sovereign prize.
And though that he were worthy, he was wise,
And of his port as meek as is a maid.
He never yet any villainy said
In all of his life, unto no manner wight.
He was a very perfect, gentle knight.
But for to tell you of his array,
His horse was good, but he was not gay.
Of fustian he wore a gipon
All bespattered with his habergeon;
For he was lately come from his voyage,
And went for to do his pilgrimage.

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Forrest Hainline