Tales From Chaucer In Prose Author:Geoffrey Chaucer General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1833 Original Publisher: E. Wilson Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Literary Criticism / Medieval Literary Criticism / Poetry Poetry / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. ... more »It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: THE CLERK'S TALE. " The Marquis turned to this gentle and very faithful creature, and said - ' Grlselda, it pleases your father and myself that 1 should take you to be my wife; and I think you will not reject our wUhes.' " THE CLERK'S TALE. PROLOGUE. " Good Master Clerk of Oxford," said our host, " why, you ride there as still and coy as a young maid at her bridal feast! Not a word, I vow, has passed your lips the whole of this day. I would wager, now, that your brain is weaving some sophism or other: but as Solomon says, ' there is a time for every thing.' So, cheer up, man ! this is no time for studying. You have consented to take a part in our play, and, therefore, needs must be thinking of the character you have undertaken to perform. Come, then, tell us some merry tale; and for mercy's sake do not make it like a Lent sermon, bidding us bewail in sackcloth our sins and offences of the past year; or like many other sermons, -- drone us to sleep. Give us a lively history of adventures; and, as for your colouring and rhetorical flourishes, keep them by you snug and warm tillyou are called upon to indite some high style, as when men address the presence of royalty. Upon the present occasion I would beseech you to be plain and simple in your matter, that the homely part of your audience may understand the whole of your discourse." Our worthy collegian courteously answered; " Good host, I ackno...« less