Prioress+&+Second+Nun_Translation_KCancellare

The Prioress' Portrait
//118:// Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse, //119:// That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy; //120:// Hire gretteste ooth was but by seinte loy; //121:// And she was cleped madame eglentyne. //122:// Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne, //123:// Entuned in hir nose ful semely, //124:// And frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, //125:// After the scole of stratford atte bowe, //126:// For frenssh of parys was to hire unknowe. //127:// At mete wel ytaught was she with alle: //128:// She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, //129:// Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe; //130:// Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe //131:// That no drope ne fille upon hire brest. //132:// In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. //133:// Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene //134:// That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene //135:// Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. //136:// Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. //137:// And sikerly she was of greet desport, //138:// And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port, //139:// And peyned hire to countrefete cheere //140:// Of court, and to been estatlich of manere, //141:// And to ben holden digne of reverence. //142:// But, for to speken of hire conscience, //143:// She was so charitable and so pitous //144:// She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous //145:// Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. //146:// Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde //147:// With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed. //148:// But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, //149:// Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte; //150:// And al was conscience and tendre herte. //151:// Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was, //152:// Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, //153:// Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed; //154:// But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; //155:// It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe; //156:// For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. //157:// Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war. //158:// Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar //159:// A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene, //160:// And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, //161:// On which ther was first write a crowned a, //162:// And after amor vincit omnia. A**nd engraved was "love conquers all."**
 * There was also a nun, a prioresse,**
 * Her smile was unaffected and very quiet;**
 * Her greatest oath was to Saint Eligious;**
 * And she was called Mary.**
 * She sang the divine liturgy well,**
 * So that it seemed to be modestly sung from her nose,**
 * And she spoke French fairly and elegantly,**
 * But not like the French of the royal court,**
 * For she did not know French** **prayers.**
 * At dinner she had perfect manners:**
 * She allowed no crumb to fall from her lips,**
 * She deeply wet her fingers in sauce;**
 * She knew how to use utelsils and take good care**
 * That no drop fell off of her fork onto her body.**
 * Her greatest pleasure was in good manners.**
 * She wiped her upper lip clean**
 * And there was nothing left in her cup**
 * When she had finished drinking her drink.**
 * She reached for her food with the most proper of manners.**
 * She truly had the greatest manners.**
 * And fully pleasant, and amiable in manner.**
 * And she took pleasure in showing her manners**
 * To the court, and to be dignified in behavior,**
 * And to be held in a position of high respect.**
 * But her moral sense and conscience,**
 * She was so charitable and compassionate**
 * She would weap, if she saw a mouse**
 * Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bleeding**
 * She had small hounds that she fed**
 * With roasted meat, or milk and expensive fine bread.**
 * But she bitterly weapt if one of them were dead,**
 * Or if men beat it painfully with a whip;**
 * And although she was conscience and tender hearted.**
 * Her head dress was apparently pleated,**
 * Her nose was well formed, and her eyes were as grey as glass,**
 * Her mouth was small, and moreover soft and red;**
 * But she certainly had a fair forehead;**
 * It was almost eight inches broud, I believe**
 * Certainly she was not done growing.**
 * Her cloke was very elegant, as I was aware.**
 * She wore a small coral bracelet around her arm**
 * A set of beads, divided with green,**
 * And there hung a trinket of bright gold,**
 * On which there was a crowned A,**

163:Another nonne with hire hadde she, 164: That was hit chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
 * The Second Nun's Portrait**
 * She had another nun with her,**
 * Who served as a secretary to her, and three priests.**

Click here to see my ChaucerSpace.

Click here to see the Monk translation.