II. MIDDLE ENGLISH MODERN TRANSLATION (INTERNET HYBRIDS) IDIOMATIC MODERN TRANSLATION 272 275 280 285 A marchant was ther with a forked berd, In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat; Upon his heed a flaundryssh bever hat, His bootes clasped faire and fetisly. His resons he spak ful solempnely, Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng He wolde the see were kept for any thyng Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle. Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette: Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, So estatly was he of his governaunce With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce. For sothe he was a worthy man with alle, But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle. There was a merchant with a forked beard Wearing motley clothing, and high on horse he sat, Upon his head a Flemish beaver hat; His boots were fastened neatly and elegantly. He spoke out his opinions very solemnly, Concerning always the increase of his profits. He wanted the sea were guarded at all costs Between Middleburgh and Orwell. He knew how to deal foreign currencies. This worthy man employed his wit very well: There was no person that knew he was in debt, So well he managed all his affairs With his buying and selling and financial deals. Indeed, he was a worthy man indeed, But, to tell the truth, his name I can t recall. 287 290 295 300 305 A clerk ther was of Oxenford also, That unto logyk hadde longe ygo. As leene was his hors as is a rake, And he nas nat right fat, I undertake, But looked holwe, and therto sobrely. Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy; For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office. For hym was levere have at his beddes heed Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed, Of aristotle and his philosophie, Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. But al be that he was a philosophre, Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; But al that he myghte of his freendes hente, On bookes and on lernynge he it spente, And bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede, Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, And that was seyd in forme and reverence, And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence; A clerk from Oxford there was also, Who d studied philosophy, long ago. As lean was his horse as is a rake, And he too was not fat, that I take, But he looked emaciated, moreover, abstemiously. Very worn off was his overcoat; for he Had had not obtained an ecclesiastical employment, For he was worldly to accept secular office. For he would rather have at his bed s head Some twenty books all bound in black or red, Of Aristotle and his philosophy Than rich robes, fiddle, or an elegant psaltery. Yet, and for all he was philosopher in base, He had but little gold within his suitcase; But all that he could borrow from friends On books and learning he would swiftly spend, And then he d pray diligently for the souls Of those who gave him resources to attend schools. He took utmost care and heed for his study. Not one word spoke he more than was necessary; And that was said with due formality and dignity And short and lively, and full of high morality; There was a merchant with a forked beard. He wore motley clothing and a Flemish beaver hat and sat proudly on his horse. His boots were fastened neatly and elegantly. He was solemn in his opinions and always talked about his increase in wealth. He wanted the coast guarded at any cost from Middleburgh and Orwell. He knew how to buy and sell foreign currencies. He was very clever: he managed his financial affairs so well that nobody knew he was in debt. Indeed, he was a worthy man, but I can t remember his name. There was a clerk from Oxford as well, who had studied philosophy long ago. His horse was as lean as a rake, and the clerk was not fat either. Instead, he looked emaciated and seemed to only eat sparingly. His overcoat was threadbare, as he was too inexperienced and had not yet secured a job with the Church. He would rather have at his bed s head twenty books, all in black or red, on Aristotle and his philosophy instead of rich robes, a fiddle, or a psaltery. Yet for all his philosophical learning, he had very little money. All the money he could borrow from his friends he would quickly spend on books and learning; and then he would diligently pray for the souls of the people who had given him the means for his education. He took utmost care and dedication towards his study. He did not speak one word more than what was necessary; but what he did say was formal and dignified, short and lively, and highly moral. Everything he said was filled with moral virtue, and was glad to learn or teach.
310 311 315 320 325 330 333 335 340 345 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche. A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys, That often hadde been at the parvys, Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. Discreet he was and of greet reverence -- He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise. Justice he was ful often in assise, By patente and by pleyn commissioun. For his science and for his heigh renoun, Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. So greet a purchasour was nowher noon: Al was fee symple to hym in effect; His purchasyng myghte nat been infect. Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas, And yet he semed bisier than he was. In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That from the tyme of kyng william were falle. Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng, Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng; And every statut koude he pleyn by rote. He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote. Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale; Of his array telle I no lenger tale. A frankeleyn was in his compaignye. Whit was his berd as is the dayesye; Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn; To lyven in delit was evere his wone, For he was epicurus owene sone, That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Was verray felicitee parfit. An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; Seint julian he was in his contree. His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon; A bettre envyned man was nowher noon. Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous, Filled with moral virtue was his speech; And gladly would he learn and gladly teach. A sergeant of the law, keen and wise, Who d often been to St. Paul s Porch, to advise, There was also, rich of superior quality. Judicious he was, and of great dignity; At least it seemed so, his words were so wise. Often he was a judge in court, in assize, By royal appointment and full jurisdiction; Because of his knowledge and high reputation, He took large fees, had robes more than one. So great a land-buyer there was none. All was unrestricted possession to him, in fact Wherefore his claims could never be suspect. Nowhere a man so busy of his class, And yet he seemed much busier than he was. He knew all convictions, common and crime Recorded since King William s time. And he could write a contract so explicit Not any man could trace a fault in it; And every law he knew entirely by rote. He rode but simply in a coloured coat, Girded with a belt of silk, with little stripes, But of his outfit no more particulars. There was a franklin in his company; White was his beard is as a daisy. Of sanguine temperament by every sign, He loved to dip his morning bread in wine. A pleasing life was the custom he d won, For he was Epicurus very son, That held opinion that plain and pure delight Was perfect happiness. A householder, and that a great one at that; Saint Julian he was in his own country. His bread, his ale were always good and fine; No man had cellars better stocked with wine. His house was never short of food and pies Of fish and flesh, and these in large supplies There was a sergeant of the law, keen and wise, who had often been to the Porch of St. Paul s Cathedral to advise. His words were so wise it seemed that he was judicious and full of dignity. Often he was a judge in court, in assize, by royal appointment and full jurisdiction. He was able to charge lots for his knowledge and high reputation. He was able to buy any land he wished; there were no restrictions on what he could have, nor were there any suspicions on his purchases. There was nobody busier than he was, even though he seemed busier than he really was. He knew all convictions recorded since King William s time. He could also draw up a faultless document, and he knew every statute off by heart. He rode simply in a motley coat, with a silk belt with little stripes, but no more on his outfit. There was a franklin in his company. He had a daisy-white beard and an optimistic temperament from his appearance. He loved to dip his morning bread in wine; it was a simple life he had, for her was Epicurus own son and thought that plain delight was perfect happiness. He was a great householder; he was St Julian in his own country. His bread and ale were always good and fine no man had wine cellars better stocked. His house was never short of food, and fish and meat pies were in large supply. It seemed to snow in his house of food and drink, of every dainty a man could think of. He changed his lunch and supper according to the seasons of the year. In a mew, he
It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke, Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke. After the sondry sesons of the yeer, 350 So chaunged he his mete and his soper. Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe, And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe. Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere. 355 His table dormant in his halle alway Stood redy covered al the longe day. At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire. An anlaas and a gipser al of silk 360 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk. A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour. Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour. 363 An haberdasshere and a carpenter, A webbe, a dyere, and a tapycer, -- 365 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee. Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was; Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras But al with silver; wroght ful clene and weel 370 Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel. Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys. Everich, for the wisdom that he kan, Was shaply for to been an alderman. 375 For catel hadde they ynogh and rente, And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente; And elles certeyn were they to blame. It is ful fair to been ycleped madame, And goon to vigilies al bifore, 380 And have a mantel roialliche ybore. 381 A cook they hadde with hem for the nones To boille the chiknes with the marybones, And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale. Wel koude he knowe a draughte of londoun ale. It seemed to snow therein both food and drink Of every dainty that a man could think. According to the various seasons of the year He changed lunch and changed his supper. Very many fattened partridges he kept in a mew, And many a bream and pike in fish-point too. Woe to his cook, unless the sauces were Poignant and sharp, and ready all his gear. His dining table, waiting in his hall, I say, Stood ready covered throughout the whole day. At county sessions he was lord and sire, And often acted as a knight of shire. A dagger and purse all of silk Hung at his belt, white as morning milk. He had been sheriff and been tax auditor; There was nowhere such a worthy landowner. A haberdasher and a carpenter, An weaver, a dyer, and a tapestry-maker Were with us, clothed in the same livery, All of one solemn, great fraternity. Freshly and new their gear, and well adorned it was; Their weapons were not cheaply shaped with brass, But all with silver; neatly made and well Their belt and their purses too, I tell. Each man of them appeared a proper citizen To sit in guildhall on a dais, he can And each of them, for wisdom he could span, Was suitable to serve as an alderman; For property they d enough, and income too; Besides their wives declared it was their due, Or else for certain they had been to blame. It s good to hear Madam before one s name, And go to church when all the world may see, Having one s gown with a train royally carried. A cook they had with them, just for once, To boil the chickens with the marrow-bones, And poudre-marchant tart and galingale. He knew how to recognise a draught of London ale. kept many fattened partridges; and in a fish pond he kept bream and pike. Woe was his cook, unless his sauces were poignant and spiced and all his cooking equipment was ready. His dining table, waiting in his hall, stood covered throughout the whole day. He presided as lord and sire at court sessions and often a member of Parliament. A dagger and silk purse hung at his belt, white as morning milk. He had been a sheriff and tax auditor. There was nowhere such a worthy landowner! A haberdasher, carpenter, weaver, dyer and tapestry-maker were with us, clothed in the same livery of a solemn, great guild. Their equipment was all new and adorned; their weapons were mounted with silver and not cheap brass, wrought neatly and well, their belts and their purses every bit. Each of them seemed a proper citizen to sit on a dais in a city hall. Every one of them, for their wisdom, was suitable to serve as an alderman. They had enough property and income; and their wives would asset to it, otherwise they would certainly be at fault. It is very fine to be called my lady, and go to feasts on holiday eves at the head of the procession wearing gowns with royally carried trains. They had a cook with them to boil chickens with the marrow bones, and tart poudre-marchant and galingale. He knew how to judge a draught of London ale. He could roast, boil, broil and fry;
385 He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye, Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye. But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, That on his shyne a mormal hadde he. For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. 390 A shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste; For aught I woot, he was of dertemouthe. He rood upon a rounce, as he kouthe, In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he 395 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun. The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun; And certeinly he was a good felawe. Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe Fro burdeux-ward, whil that the chapmen sleep. 400 Of nyce conscience took he no keep. If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond, By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes, His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides, 405 His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage, Ther nas noon swich from hulle to cartage. Hardy he was and wys to undertake; With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake. He knew alle the havenes, as they were, 410 Fro gootlond to the cape of fynystere, And every cryke in britaigne and in spayne. His barge ycleped was the maudelayne. 413 With us ther was a doctour of phisik; In al this world ne was the noon hym lik, 415 To speke of phisik and of surgerye For he was grounded in astronomye. He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel In houres by his magyk natureel. Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent 420 Of his ymages for his pacient. He knew the cause of everich maladye, Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye, And he could roast and boil and broil and fry, And prepare a stew, and bake a tasty pie. But a pity it was, it seemed to me, That on his shin an open sore had he; For sweet blanc-mange, he made it with the best. There was a sailor, living far out west; For all I know, he was of Darmouth town. He sadly rode a carthorse, in a gown, Of thick woollen cloth that reached unto the knee. A dagger hanging on a cord had he About his neck, under his arm, and down. The hot summer had burned his face all brown; And certainly he was a person fine. Very often he took a draught of wine, Of Bordeaux vintage, while the trader slept. Nice conscience was a thing he never kept. And if he fought and got the upper hand, By water he sent them home to every land. But as for craft, to calculate his tides, His currents and the dangerous watersides, His harbours, and his moon, his pilotage, There was none such from Hull to far Carthage. Hardy and wise in all things undertaken, By many tempests had his beard been shaken. He knew well all the havens, how they were, From Gottland to the Cape of Finisterre, And every creek in Brittany and Spain; His vessel had been called the Madeleine. With us there was a doctor of medicine; In all this world there was none like him To speak of medicine and surgery; For he was instructed in astronomy. He cared for and saved a patient many times By natural science and studying astrological signs. Well could he calculate the planetary position To improve the state his patient is in. He knew the cause of every sickness, Whether it brings heat or cold, moisture or dryness, prepare a stew; bake a tasty pie. It was a pity, it seemed to me, that he had an open sore on his shin. As for white pudding, he made it with the best quality. There was a sailor, living far out west; for all I know, he was from Dartmouth. He rode a cart horse, in a gown of thick woollen cloth that reached to his knees. A dagger hung on a cord around his neck, under his arm. The hot summer had burned his face brown; and he certainly was a good companion. Very often he took a draught of wine, from Bordeaux, while the trader slept. He never kept a scrupulous conscience. If he fought and got the upper hand, he made his opponents walk the plank. But of his skill: to calculate tides, currents and dangers nearby, his harbours, positions of the moon, navigation there was no other from Hull to Cartagena. He was bold and hardy in undertakings, his beard had been shaken by many tempests. He knew all the safe harbours, how they were, from Gotland to the Cape of Finisterre; every inlet in Brittany and Spain. His ship was called the Maudelayne. With us there was a doctor of medicine; there was none like him in the whole world, to speak of medicine and surgery, for he was based in astronomy. He took care of his patients by natural science and astrological signs. He could calculate the planetary positions to improve his patient s condition. He knew the cause of every sickness, whether it was of hot, cold, moist or dry elements, and where they were engendered, and of what humour. He was the perfect practitioner: the
425 430 435 440 445 And where they engendred, and of what humour. He was a verray, parfit praktisour: The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries To sende hym drogges and his letuaries, For ech of hem made oother for to wynne -- Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne. Wel knew he the olde esculapius, And deyscorides, and eek rufus, Olde ypocras, haly, and galyen, Serapion, razis, and avycen, Averrois, damascien, and constantyn, Bernard, and gatesden, and gilbertyn. Of his diete mesurable was he, For it was of no superfluitee, But of greet norissyng and digestible. His studie was but litel on the bible. In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, Lyned with taffata and with sendal; And yet he was but esy of dispence; He kepte that he wan in pestilence. For gold in phisik is a cordial, Therefore he lovede gold in special. And where engendered, and of what humour; He was a very good practictioner. The cause being known, the root of the malady, At once he gave to the sick man his remedy. Prepared he was, with his apothecaries, To send him drugs and all electuaries, By mutual aid much gold they d always won Their friendship was a thing not new begun. Well he knew the old Esculapius, And Deiscorides, and also Rufus, Old Hippocrates, Hali, and Galen, Serapion, Rhazes, and Avicen, Averroes, Gilbertus, and Constantine, Bernard and Gatisden, and John Damascene. In diet he was modest as could be, No one could blame him of superfluity, But greatly nourishing and digestable. His study was but little on the Bible. Blue and scarlet his clothes were therewithal, Lined with taffeta and with sandal; And yet he was right careful of expense; He kept the gold he gained from pestilence. Since gold in physic is a cordial, Therefore he loved his gold exceeding all. cause known, and the root of the illness, at once he gave his patient the remedy. He had his apothecaries ready to send him the drugs and electuaries, for they made each other profit their friendship was not new. He knew well the old [saints]. He had a moderate diet, for it was not excessive but greatly nourishing and digestible. His study was little on the Bible. He was clad all in red and blue, lined with taffeta and silk. Yet, he was a moderate spender; he kept what he earned in times of plague. Since in medicine, gold is a restorative for the heart, he loved gold in particular.