The Squieres Tale

The Prologue

“SQUIRE, COM NEER, IF it your wille be,

And sey somwhat of love; for, certes, ye

Connen ther-on as muche as any man.”

“Nay, sir,” quod he, “but I wol seye as I can

With hertly wille; for I wol nat rebelle

Agayn your lust; a tale wol I telle.

Have me excused if I speke amis,

My wil is good; and lo, my tale is this.”

The Tale

PART ONE

At Sarray, in the land of Tartarye,

Ther dwelte a king, that werreyed Russye,

Thurgh which ther deyde many a doughty man.

This noble king was cleped Cambinskan,

Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun

That ther nas no-wher in no regioun

So excellent a lord in alle thing;

Him lakked noght that longeth to a king.

As of the secte of which that he was born

He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn;

And ther-to he was hardy, wys, and riche,

And piëtous and just, alwey- y-liche;

Sooth of his word, benigne and honurable,

Of his corage as any centre stable;

Yong, fresh, and strong, in armes desirous

As any bacheler of al his hous.

A fair persone he was an fortunat,

And kepte alwey so wel royal estat,

That ther was nowher swich another man.

This noble king, this Tartre Cambinskan

Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf,

Of whiche th‘eldeste highte Algarsyf,