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University of Virginia Library

The complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer

Edited, from numerous manuscripts by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat

Chaucer, Geoffrey

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I.

[VOLUME I.] ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE [AND] MINOR POEMS

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THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.

A.

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B.

Coment Raisoun vient a L'amant.

Comment Raisoun diffinist Amistie.

C.

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THE MINOR POEMS.

I.

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II.

II. THE COMPLEYNTE UNTO PITE.

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III.

III. THE BOOK OF THE DUCHESSE.

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IV.

IV. THE COMPLEYNT OF MARS.

The compleynt of Mars.

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V.

V. THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES.

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Qui bien aime a tard oublie.

VI.

VI. A COMPLEINT TO HIS LADY.

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VII.

VII. ANELIDA AND ARCITE.

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The compleynt of feire Anelida and fals Arcite.

The compleynt of Anelida the quene upon fals Arcite.

The story continued.

VIII.

VIII. CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM, HIS OWNE SCRIVEYN.

IX.

IX. THE FORMER AGE.

X.

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XI.

XI. MERCILES BEAUTE:

I.

II.

III.

XII.

XII. TO ROSEMOUNDE.

XIII.

XIV.

XIV. GENTILESSE.

XV.

XV. LAK OF STEDFASTNESSE.

XVI.

XVI. LENVOY DE CHAUCER A SCOGAN.

XVII.

XVII. LENVOY DE CHAUCER A BUKTON.

XVIII.

XVIII. THE COMPLEYNT OF VENUS.

XIX.

XIX. THE COMPLEINT OF CHAUCER TO HIS EMPTY PURSE.

XX.

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XXI.

XXI. AGAINST WOMEN UNCONSTANT.

XXII.

XXII. AN AMOROUS COMPLEINT. (COMPLEINT DAMOURS.)

XXIII.

XXIII. A BALADE OF COMPLEYNT.

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ADDITIONS TO ‘THE MINOR POEMS’ IN VOL. I.

XXIV.

XXIV. WOMANLY NOBLESSE.

XXV.

XXV. COMPLAINT TO MY MORTAL FOE.

XXVI.

XXVI. COMPLAINT TO MY LODE-STERRE.

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II.

[VOLUME II.] BOETHIUS AND TROILUS

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TROILUS AND CRISEYDE.

I.

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II.

Incipit prohemium Secundi Libri.

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III.

Incipit Prohemium Tercii Libri.

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IV.

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V.

Incipit Liber Quintus.

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III.

[VOLUME III.] THE HOUSE OF FAME: THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN

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THE HOUS OF FAME.

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I.

The Invocation.

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II.

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III.

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THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN.

The prologe of .ix. goode Wimmen.

I.

I. THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA.

II.

II. THE LEGEND OF THISBE OF BABYLON.

III.

III. THE LEGEND OF DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE.

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IV.

IV. THE LEGEND OF HYPSIPYLE AND MEDEA.

I.

Part I. The Legend of Hypsipyle.

II.

Part II. The Legend of Medea.

V.

V. THE LEGEND OF LUCRETIA.

VI.

VI. THE LEGEND OF ARIADNE.

VII.

VII. THE LEGEND OF PHILOMELA.

Incipit Legenda Philomene.

VIII.

VIII. THE LEGEND OF PHYLLIS.

IX.

IX. THE LEGEND OF HYPERMNESTRA.

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IV.

[VOLUME IV.] THE CANTERBURY TALES

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A.

THE KNIGHTES TALE.

THE MILLER'S PROLOGUE.

THE MILLERES TALE.

THE REEVE'S PROLOGUE.

THE REVES TALE.

THE COOK'S PROLOGUE.

THE COKES TALE.

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B.

INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW'S PROLOGUE.

The Prologe of the Mannes Tale of Lawe.

THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE.

THE SHIPMAN'S PROLOGUE.

THE SHIPMANNES TALE.

THE PRIORESS'S PROLOGUE.

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THE PRIORESSES TALE.

The Prologe of the Prioresses Tale.

PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS.

PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS.

THE MONK'S PROLOGUE.

THE MONKES TALE.

THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE.

THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.

EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.

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C.

THE PHISICIENS TALE.

WORDS OF THE HOST.

THE PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE.

THE PARDONERS TALE.

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D.

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THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE.

Biholde the wordes bitween the Somonour and the Frere.

THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE.

THE FRIAR'S PROLOGUE.

THE FRERES TALE.

THE SOMNOUR'S PROLOGUE.

THE SOMNOURS TALE.

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E.

THE CLERK'S PROLOGUE.

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THE CLERKES TALE.

1.

2.

[Pars Secunda.]

3.

4.

THE MERCHANT'S PROLOGUE.

THE MARCHANTES TALE.

EPILOGUE TO THE MARCHANTES TALE.

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F.

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THE SQUIERES TALE.

[The Squire's Prologue.]

1.

Here biginneth the Squieres Tale.

2.

3.

Here folwen the wordes of the Frankelin to the Squier, and the wordes of the Host to the Frankelin.

THE FRANKLIN'S PROLOGUE.

THE FRANKELEYNS TALE.

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G.

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THE SECONDE NONNES TALE.

The Prologe of the Seconde Nonnes Tale.

Here biginneth the Seconde Nonnes Tale, of the lyf of Seinte Cecile.

THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE.

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THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE.

1.

2.

[Secunda pars.]

3.

4.

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H.

THE MANCIPLE'S PROLOGUE.

THE MAUNCIPLES TALE.

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I.

THE PARSON'S PROLOGUE.

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392

XIV. GENTILESSE.

Moral Balade of Chaucer.

The firste stok, fader of gentilesse—
What man that claymeth gentil for to be,
Must folowe his trace, and alle his wittes dresse
Vertu to sewe, and vyces for to flee.
For unto vertu longeth dignitee,
And noght the revers, saufly dar I deme,
Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.

This firste stok was ful of rightwisnesse,
Trewe of his word, sobre, pitous, and free,
Clene of his goste, and loved besinesse,
Ageinst the vyce of slouthe, in honestee;
And, but his heir love vertu, as dide he,
He is noght gentil, thogh he riche seme,
Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.

Vyce may wel be heir to old richesse;
But ther may no man, as men may wel see,
Bequethe his heir his vertuous noblesse;

393

That is appropred unto no degree,
But to the firste fader in magestee,
That maketh him his heir, that can him queme,
Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.