下面是《坎特伯雷故事集》三月的干旱已经渗透到根部，把每一棵树都沐浴在棉花里，面粉就是从棉花里生出来的;当西风吹着他甜美的气息，在每一处茅草里都有柔嫩的庄稼，年轻的小伙子在公羊里有他的半边小径，小猎犬们唱着旋律，整夜睁着眼睛睡觉——这样，大自然就在他们的勇气里刺痛了他们——让人们去朝拜，让棕榈树去寻找奇异的力量，去祭拜半边的人，在辽阔的土地上叩头;特别地，从英格兰到考特伯里的每一个郡，他们都是神圣而幸福的烈士，当他们被寻找时，他们曾帮助过他们。就在那个季节，有一天，我躺在南方的塔巴德，准备踏上去坎特伯雷的朝圣之旅，怀着虔诚的勇气，在二十岁那年的晚上，我在一群小伙子的陪伴下，勇敢地走进了那间旅馆，他们结伴而行，被称为朝圣之旅，朝坎特伯雷驶去。房间和马厩都很宽敞，我们被看得很漂亮;及至孩子将要安歇的时候，我就对他们各人说，我不久就要与他们同党，就急忙起来，要照你们所吩咐的去取我们的性命。不过，趁我有时间和篇幅，在这个故事中继续讲下去，我想应该把我所看到的他们每一个人的全部情况告诉你们，告诉你们他们是什么人，他们的地位如何，他们的排列顺序如何;当我第一次成为骑士时，我就会比你更勇敢。他是一个骑士，而且是一个值得尊敬的人，从他第一次骑马外出的时候起，他就热爱骑士精神、绅士和荣誉、自由和礼节。 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, As wel in Cristendom as in Hethenesse, 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, 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 At many a noble arive 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 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; 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 weren goode, but he was nat gay. Of fustian he wered a gypoun, Al bismotered with his habergeoun; For he was late ycome from his viage, And wente for to doon his pilgrymage. With hym ther was his sone, a yong Squier, A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe. And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie, And born hym weel, as of so litel space, In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Embrouded was he, as it were a meede, Al ful of fresshe floures whyte and reede; Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day, He was as fressh as is the monthe of May. Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde. Wel koude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde, He koude songes make, and wel endite, Juste, and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write. So hoote he lovede, that by nyghtertale He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable, And carf biforn his fader at the table. A Yeman hadde he, and servantz namo At that tyme, for hym liste ride soo; And he was clad in cote and hood of grene, A sheef of pecok arwes bright and kene Under his belt he bar ful thriftily- Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly, Hise arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe- And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. A not -heed hadde he, with a broun visage, Of woodecraft wel koude he al the usage. Upon his arm he baar a gay brace