The Nun's Priest's Tale Quotes
Quotes:
Modern English: (I dreamed how I roamed up and down / Within our yard, where I saw a beast / Was like a hound, and would have seized / Upon my body, and would have had me dead.)“Me mette how that I romed up and doun
Within our yeerd, where as I saugh a beest
Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest
Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed.”- Chaunticleer
Explanation: Chaunticleer describes a terrifying dream where he sees a beast resembling a dog that wants to kill him.
Modern English: (This night I shall be murdered where I lie!)"This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye!" - Chaunticleer (quoting the pilgrim’s dream story)
Explanation: He narrates a story of two pilgrims, where one friend’s dream predicts the other’s murder. The dream warns of impending doom, which later proves true.
Modern English: (Murder will out; we see that day by day.)“Mordre wol out, that se we day by day." - Chaunticleer (commenting on the story’s moral)
Explanation: Chaunticleer believes dreams often reveal hidden truths, referencing real-life instances of dreams foretelling murder.
Modern English: ("Shame!" said she, "fie on you, coward! / Alas," said she, "for, by that God above,)"Avoy!" quod she, "fy on yow, hertelees! / Allas! What eyleth yow to grone in this manere?” - Pertelote
Explanation: Pertelote mocks Chaunticleer, calling him heartless for worrying about the dream.
"Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man, / Seyde he nat thus, `Ne do no fors of dremes'?" - Pertelote
Modern English: ("Lo Cato, who was so wise a man, / Said he not thus, `Attach no importance to dreams'?)Explanation: Pertelote uses Cato’s wisdom to argue that dreams are meaningless and should be ignored.
Modern English: (Nothing, God knows, but foolishness is in dreams. / Dreams are produced by overeating, / And often by stomach vapors and by the mixture of bodily humors,)“Nothyng, God woot, but vanitee in swevene is.
Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
And ofte of fume and of complecciouns,” - Pertelote
Explanation: She insists that dreams are nothing but vanity and foolishness. Dreams come from overeating.
Modern English: (Said, "Gentle sir, alas, where will you go? / Are you afraid of me, who is your friend?)“Gentil sire, allas, wher wol ye gon? / Be ye affrayed of me that am your freend?” - The Fox (Russel)
Explanation: The fox pretends to be friendly, attempting to calm Chaunticleer with kind words.
Modern English: (For truly, you have as merry a voice / As has any angel that is in heaven.)“For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene / As any aungel hath that is in hevene.” - The Fox (Russel)
Explanation: The fox compares Chaunticleer’s voice to that of an angel and lures him to sing and ignore the danger. Chaunticleer goes to sing; meanwhile, the fox captures his throat and runs.
Modern English: (And as he spoke that word, all suddenly / This cock nimbly broke from his mouth, / And high upon a tree he quickly flew.)"And as he spak that word, al sodeynly / This cok brak from his mouth delyverly, / This cok brak from his mouth delyverly, / And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon." - Narrator / Chaucer (describing the scene)
Explanation: Chaunticleer lures Russell by saying he would have mocked the chasers if he were in his position. Being flattered, the fox opens his mouth to mock the chasers. Meanwhile, the rooster flies from the fox's mouth.
Modern English: (But, sir, I did it with no wicked intention. / Come down, and I shall tell you what I meant;)"But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente. / Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente;" - The Fox (Russel)
Explanation: The fox takes the second chance and lures again.
Modern English: (Nay then," said he, "I curse both of us two.)"Nay thanne," quod he, "I shrewe us bothe two.” - Chaunticleer
Explanation: Chaunticleer, now aware of the fox’s deceit, vows never to be fooled by flattery again.
Noticeable Literary Devices:
- Digression: In "The Nun's Priest's Tale," digressions pause the main story to explore ideas like dreams, fortune, and classical stories. Chaunticleer's discussion about the meaning of dreams is an example. These digressions develop the theme of fate and chance. While they distract from the plot, they add humor, philosophy, and warnings to enrich the tale.
- Irony: The tale uses irony, particularly in how Chaunticleer, despite being proud and wise, is easily fooled by the fox's flattery. Again, despite being proud and wise, the fox is easily fooled by the flattery of Chaunticleer.