Monday, January 5, 2009

The Canterbury Tales-- Beautiful

Okay, the poem "The Canterbury Tales" we quite possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever read. My favorite part is the part of "The Parson". Read this part: (In modern Language)

"The true example that a priest should give,
Is one of cleanness, how the sheep should live.
He did not set his benefice to hire
And leave his sheep encumbered in the mire
Or run to London to earn easy bread
By singing masses for the wealthy dead,
Or find some Brotherhood and get enrolled.
He stayed at home and watched over his fold
So that no wolf should make his sheep miscarry.
He was a shepherd and no mercenary."

I think that is truly beautiful. This entire poem is 856 lines and it tells the story of many different people on a pilgrimage to a sacred place. There are different sections describing the different people and the Parson is my absolute favorite. This Chaucer guy was very talented.

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