Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400. The Canterbury tales :
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
|
Table of Contents for this work | | All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |
Retraction
1082: Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this
1082: Litel tretys or rede, that if ther be any thynge
1082: In it that liketh hem, that therof they thanken
1082: Oure lord jhesu crist, of whom procedeth al
1083: Wit and al goodnesse./ And if ther be any
1083: Thyng that displese hem, I preye hem also that
1083: They arrette it to the defaute of myn unkonnynge,
1083: and nat to my wyl, that wolde ful fayn
1084: Have seyd bettre if I hadde had konnynge./
1084: For oure book seith, al that is writen is writen
1085: For our doctrine, and that is myn entente./
1085: Wherfore I biseke yow mekely, for the mercy
1085: Of go, that ye preye for me that crist have
1086: Mercy on me and foryeve me my giltes;/ and
1086: Namely of my translacions and enditynges of
1086: Worldly vanitees, the whiche I revoke in
1087: My retracciouns:/ as is the book of troilus;
1087: the book also of fame; the book of
1087: The xxv. Ladies; the book of the duchesse;
1087: The book of seint valentynes day of the parlemen
1087: of briddes; the tales of counterbury,
1088: Thilke that sownen into synne;/ the book of the
1088: Leoun; and many another book. If they were
1088: In my remembrance, and many a song and
1088: Many a leccherous lay; that crist for his grete
1089: Mercy foryeve me the synne./ But of the translacion
1089: of boece de consolacione, and othere
1089: Bookes of legendes of seintes, and omelies and
1090: Moralitee, and devocioun./ That thanke I oure
1090: Lord jhesu crist and his blisful mooder, and
1091: Alle the seintes of hevene,/ bisekynge hem that
1091: They from hennes forth unto my lyves ende
1091: Sende me grace to biwayle my giltes, and to
1091: Studie to the salvacioun of my soule, and
1091: Graunte me grace of verray penitence, confessioun
1091: and satisfaccioun to doon in this
1092: Present lyf,/ thurgh the benigne grace of
1092: Hym that is kyng of kynges and preest
1092: Over alle preestes, that boghte us with the
1093: Precious blood of his herte;/ so that is may
1093: Been oon of hem at the day of doom that shulle
1093: Be saved. Qui cum patre et spiritu sancto vivit
1093: Et regnat deus per omnia secula. Amen.