Nun’s Priest’s Tale Flattery Quotes

This Chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye,
He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
Seyde, "Gentil sire, allas, wher wol ye gon?
Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend?
Now, certes, I were worse than a feend,
If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye!
I am nat come youre conseil for t’ espye,
But trewely, the cause of my comynge
Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Pretending to be his friend, sneaky Russell the Fox lies and smooth talks the rooster. He tells him he is not there to do him harm or villany, but to hear him sing. The smart Fox employs a simile to overstate the quality of Chauntecleer’s voice in a bid to dupe the easily flattered rooster. As merry as has any angel in heaven, he describes his voice. He appeals to Chauntecleer’s ego and pride. The rooster’s vanity and gullibility ensures that he doesn’t flee, as he should, and instead falls into the Fox’s trap.

"Lat se; konne ye youre fader countrefete?"
This Chauntecleer his wynges gan to bete,
As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale. The Fox gets to the punchline of his series of insincere compliments and false flattery of Chauntecleer. He issues the challenge: can the rooster imitate his father’s great singing? The proud cock begins to beat his sings. As one who cannot see the Fox’s treason he is said to be so ravished with his flattery.

This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos,
Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld hise eyen cloos,
And gan to crowe loude for the nones,
And daun Russell the fox stirte up atones,
And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer,
And on his bak toward the wode hym beer.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Overcome by the sin of pride, Chauntecleer falls for Russell the Fox’s flattery bait about his singing voice. Standing high on his toes, stretches his neck, closes his eyes and crows loudly. Taking his opportunity, the Fox seizes the rooster by the neck and carries him back towards the woods.

"Sire Nonnes Preest," oure Hooste seide anoon,
"I – blessed be thy breche, and every stoon!
This was a murie tale of Chauntecleer.
But by my trouthe, if thou were seculer,
Thou woldest ben a trede-foul aright.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, Epilogue to the Nun’s Priest’s Tale. The Host Harry Bailly thanks the Nun’s Priest for his merry tale of Chanticleer. He then flatters the priest in sexual terms, by blessing his breeches and testicles and saying that if he were a layman he would have been a great rooster among hens.
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