Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400) - "The Canterbury Tales", from General Prologue, ll. 43-78

From The Canterbury Tales:
General Prologue
lines 43-78: The Knight

	A KNYGHT ther was, and that a worthy man,
	That fro the tyme that he first bigan
45	To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
	Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
	Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
	And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
	As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
50	And evere honoured for his worthynesse.
	At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne.
	Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
	Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;
	In Lettow hadde he reysed, and in Ruce,
55	No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
	In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
	Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
	At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
	Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See
60	At many a noble armee hadde he be.
	At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
	And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
	In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
	This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
65	Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
	Agayn another hethen in Turkye.
	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.
70	He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
	In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
	He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
	But, for to tellen yow of his array,
	His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
75	Of fustian he wered a gypon
	Al bismotered with his habergeoun,
	For he was late ycome from his viage,
	And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.

	A KNIGHT there was, and what a gentleman,
	Who, from the moment that he first began
45	To ride about the world, loved chivalry,
	Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy.
	Full worthy was he in his sovereign's war,
	And therein had he ridden, no man more,
	As well in Christendom as heathenesse,
50	And honoured everywhere for worthiness.
	At Alexandria, in the winning battle he was there;
	Often put in the place of honour, a chair.
	Above all nations' knights in Prussia.
	In Latvia raided he, and Russia,
55	No christened man so oft of his degree.
	In far Granada at the siege was he
	Of Algeciras, and in Belmarie.
	At Ayas was he and at Satalye
	When they were won; and on the Middle Sea
60	At many a noble meeting chanced to be.
	Of mortal battles he had fought fifteen,
	And he'd fought for our faith at Tramissene
	Three times in duels, always killed his foe.
	This self-same worthy knight had been also
65	At one time with the lord of Palatye
	Against another heathen in Turkey:
	And always won he widespread fame for prize.
	Though so strong and brave, he was very wise
	And of temper as meekly as a maid.
70	He never yet had any vileness said,
	In all his life, to whatsoever wight.
	He was a truly perfect, noble knight.
	But now, to tell you all of his array,
	His steeds were good, but he was not gaily dressed.
75	A tunic of simple cloth he possesed
	Discoloured and stained by his habergeon;
	For he had lately returned from his voyage
	And now was going on this pilgrimage.