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; 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.