Canterbury Tales Parson Quotes

A good man was ther of religioun,
And was a povre persoun of a toun,
But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. These lines about the Parson are rich in irony, coming as they do after the descriptions of the wealth and decadence associated with some of the previous pilgrims, like the Monk and Friar. The Parson by contrast is poor, but rich in holy thought and work. He is the one religious character that actually lives his vow of poverty. But for morals and virtues and honest living, he is probably the richest of all.

But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
Unto his povre parisshens aboute
Of his offring, and eek of his substaunce.
He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Parson is a very selfless, kindly and generous man. He is a stark contrast to some of other characters who pocket all they can and take from the poor. He is not interested in accumulating wealth and finds sufficiency in few possessions. In fact the Parson gives some of his offering received at mass and some of his own income to poor parishioners.

A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
He waitede after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience;
But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Narrator believes there there is no better priest anywhere than the Parson. Leading a humble life without pomp or ceremony, he practices what he preaches. First he follows the teaching of Christ and the apostles, and then teaches it to others.

Thise olde dotardes holours, yet wol they kisse, though they may nat do, and smatre hem. Certes, they been lyk to houndes, for an hound whan he comth by the roser, or by other bushes, though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heve up his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse.
Modern English:
These old aged lechers, yet will they kiss, though they can not do, and defile themselves. Certainly, they are similar to hounds; for a hound, when he comes by the rosebush or by other bushes, though he can not piss, yet will he heave up his leg and make a pretence to piss.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Parson’s Tale. The Parson on the subject of lechery, specifically old lechers. He says they defile themselves because they will kiss though they cannot do, like a dog lifting its leg at a bush pretending to piss.
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