THE PROLOGUE OF THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE

“Whoa!” said the Knight, “good sire, no more, I pray!

What you have said is just enough today,

And so much more; for a little sadness¹

Is quite enough for many folks, I guess.

I say, for me, it causes great unease, 5

When men have lived in both great wealth and ease,

To hear about their sudden fall, alas!

The contrary is great joy and solace,

As when a man of a poor rank has been,

And he can climb and wax fortunate then, 10

And rest on high in great prosperity.

Such a thing is pleasing, it seems to me.

Of such a thing it would be good to tell.”

“Yes,” said our Host, “now by Saint Paul’s own bell!

You tell the truth; this Monk, he chatters loud. 15

He said how Fortune covered with a cloud

I know not what; and also tragedy

Right now you heard, and God, no remedy

It is now to lament or to complain

About what’s done, and also, it’s a pain, 20

As you have said, hearing about sadness.

Sir Monk, no more of this, may God you bless!

Your tale’s annoying all the company.

Such talking is not worth a butterfly,

For therein is found neither sport nor game. 25

And thus, sir Monk, Don Piers, as is your name,

Something else, heartily I pray, now tell;

If it weren’t for the clinking of your bells

That on your bridle hang on every side,

By heaven’s king, who for us all has died, 30

I should before have fallen down asleep,

Although the mud had never been so deep;

Then your tale would have been all told in vain.

For certainly, as these clerks do explain,

When there’s a man who has no audience, 35

It doesn’t help that his tale has substance.

And well I know, the meaning’s clear for me,

When anything shall well reported be.

Sire, tell something of hunting, I you pray.”

“No,” said this Monk, “I have no urge to play. 40

Now let another tell, for my tale’s told.”

Then our Host spoke with his speech rude and bold,

And said right to the Nun’s Priest,² “Now, come on!

Come near, you priest, come hither, you, sir John!

To cheer our hearts, you should tell us something. 45

Be happy, though on a nag you’re riding.

So what if your horse is both foul and lean?

If he serves you, don’t count it worth a bean.

See your heart merry while you are alive.”

“Yes, sir,” said he, “yes, Host, so may I thrive, 50

Unless I’m merry, I’m a scolded man.”

And right away, his tale then he began,

And spoke to each of us as we rode on,

This sweet priest and this goodly man, sir John.

It ends.

---

1 a little sadness: The Nun’s Priest immediately follows the Monk in the storytelling competition. The Knight interrupts The Monk’s Tale here because the Monk, depicted as a decidedly hedonistic character in his General Prologue portrait, has decided to tell a tale composed of many short tragic stories (from classical sources, the Bible, and medieval literature). The medieval definition of tragedy involved the rapid descent of one raised high on Fortune’s wheel who was then sunk into the abyss of misfortune in order to show the precariousness of human life.

2 Nun’s Priest: The Prioress’s chaplain who rides with her group, as we learn in the Prioress’s portrait in The General Prologue.