Chaucer's deathday

[daibhidc]

Memed from capriuni: Today is (probably) Chaucer's deathday, so come up with a quote.

I'm not very familiar with the works of Chaucer, but I know this bit[1]:

A KNYGHT ther was, and that a worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
...
And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.


I've always been fond of the theory that this is satire, meant to elict a weary laugh from people very familiar with thugs in armour. I don't know how sound a theory it is (not my field), but I like it.

[1]Well, not off the top of my head, I had to look it up.

Comments

[sloopjonb.livejournal.com]

Your theory is correct, young sir. The list of battles the parfit gentil one has been in is a catalogue of the bloodiest, lootiest, massacre-of-women-and-childreniest battles in medieval Europe. This theory was advanced and popularised by none other then Terry Jones. Yes, that one. Ducks were not mentioned.

[daibhid-c.livejournal.com]

Portrait of a Medieval Mercenary is on my "to read" list. I did enjoy his Medieval Lives.