• From “The Canterbury Pilgrims: The Knightes Tale”

      THE BUSY 1 larke, messager of daye,
    Salueth in hire song the morwe graye;
    And fyry Phebus ryseth up so brighte,
    That al the orient laugheth of the lighte,
    And with his stremes dryeth in the greves 2
    The silver dropes, hongyng on the leeves.
    And Arcite, that is in the court ryal
    ...

  • From the “Legend of Good Women”
      OF all the floures in the mede,
    Than love I most these floures white and rede,
    Soch that men callen daisies in our town;
    To hem I have so great affection,
    As I said erst, when comen is the May,
    That in my bedde there daweth me no day
    That I nam 1 up and walking in the mede,
    To seene this flour...

  • From “The Canterbury Tales: Prologue”
    WHAN that Aprille with hise shourès soote 1
    The droghte of March hath percèd to the roote,
    And bathèd every veyne in swich 2 licour,
    Of which vertue engendred is the flour;
    Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
    Inspirèd hath in every holt 3 and heeth
    The tendre croppès, and the yongè sonne
    ...