Humorous Sayings

His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys, Thereto strong he was as a champioun.

His legs were like sticks, and no calf muscle was visible on his legs.

The Wife of Bath... had set widely 'gap-teeth'.

The Miller's prominent feature was his nose with 'a wart on which there stood a tuft of hair Red as the bristles in an old sow's ear'.

'For shame,' she said, 'you timorous poltroon! Alas, what cowardice!'

He was a verray parfit gentil knyght. But for to speken of his array, his hors were goode, but he was nat gay.

And certeinly he was a good felawe; Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe.

A Monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, An outridere, that loved venerie.

He was a Reve, a sly and a trechour, And by his maister knew he every flour.

A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple, Of which achatours myghte take exemple For to be wise in byynge of vitaille.

This somnour was a gentil harlot and a kynde; A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.

Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse, That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy.

And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, For Frenssh of Parys was to hir unknowe.

He had maad ful many a mariage Of yonge wommen at his owne cost.

Of remedies of love she knew al chaunce, For she koude of that art the olde daunce.

And yet he was but of litel stature; But al he hadde, it was as he were wood.

His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.

He was a maister-hand at stelen corn, And that he gat, he wolde it wel defende.

For he hadde yeve his lord, and that of grace, The pleyn felicitee of his richesse.

He knew hir conseil, and hir pryvetee, And for to been a maister of his craft, Ful ofte hadde this man bigiled his maister.