Previous Previous:
From The Squire's Tale, lines 247-262:
The ring
Previous
Librarius Homepage
© Librarius
All rights reserved.


From The Canterbury Tales:
The Squire's Tale
lines 263-290: The knight dances with Canace, the king's daughter


      Phebus hath laft the angle meridional,
And yet ascendynge was the beest roial,
265The gentil Leoun, with his Aldiran,
Whan that this Tartre kyng, this Cambyuskan,
Roos fro his bord, ther that he sat ful hye.
Toforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye
Til he cam to his chambre of parementz,
270Ther as they sownen diverse intrumentz
That it is lyk an hevene for to heere.
Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere,
For in the Fyssh hir lady sat ful hye,
And looketh on hem with a freendly eye.
275      This noble kyng is set up in his trone;
This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone,
And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee.
Heere is the revel and the jolitee
That is nat able a dul man to devyse;
280He moste han knowen love and his servyse,
And been a feestlych man as fressh as May,
That sholde yow devysen swich array.
      Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces,
So unkouthe and so fresshe contenaunces,
285Swich subtil lookyng and dissymulynges,
For drede of jalouse mennes aperceyvynges?
No man but Launcelot, and he is deed.
Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed;
I sey namoore, but in this jolynesse
290I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse.
      Phoebus had left the angle meridional,
And yet ascending was that beast royal,
265The noble Lion, with his Aldiran,
When that this Tartar king, this Cambinskan
Rose from his board where he had sat full high.
Before him went the sounding minstrelsy,
Into a room hung with rich ornaments,
270Wherein they sounded divers instruments
Till it was like a heavenly thing to hear.
And now danced merry Venus' children dear,
For in the Fish their lady sat on high
And looked upon them with a friendly eye.
275      This noble king sat high upon his throne.
And this strange knight was brought to him anon,
And then to dance he went with Canace.
Here was such revel and such jollity
As no dull man is able to surmise;
280He must have known and served love's high emprise,
And be a festive man as fresh as May
Who could for you describe such an array.
      Who could tell you the figures of the dances,
So odd and strange and the blithe countenances,
285The subtle glances and dissimulation
For fear of jealous persons' observation?
No man but Launcelot, and he is dead!
I therefore pass the joyous life they led
And saw no more, but in this jolliness
290I leave them till to supper all did press.




Next Next:
From The Squire's Tale, lines 291-304:
The feast continues until everyone is satisfied
Next