Menu

Free Literature Study Guides
The Great Gatsby
Hamlet

Free Literature Study Guides
The Great Gatsby
Hamlet

Canterbury Tales Physician Quotes

In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik - The Physician in The Canterbury Tales

In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
To speke of phisik and of surgerye.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. Chaucer engages in some irony and satire here when he says that there is nobody in the world better in speaking about medicine and surgery than the Physician. This is not to say he is the world’s best practitioner of medicine, but merely best at talking about it, suggesting he is a bit of a boaster

For he was grounded in astronomye.
He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
In houres by his magyk natureel.
Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
Of his ymages for his pacient.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Physician is instructed in astronomy and uses natural science and the study of astrological signs to help treat his patients. He knows how to calculate the planetary position to improve the state of his patient.

He knew the cause of everich maladye,
Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
And where they engendred, and of what humour.
He was a verray, parfit praktisour.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Physician is an intelligent man of medicine, who knows the cause of every malady – which greatly aids their treatment. He is described as a truly, perfection practitioner.

Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
To sende hym drogges and his letuaries,
For ech of hem made oother for to wynne.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Physician has a very good, mutually beneficial relationship with the person who supplies him with drugs and electuaries. They have both helped to make each other wealthy from these transactions.

Of his diete mesurable was he,
For it was of no superfluitee,
But of greet norissyng and digestible.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. Being a man of medicine, you would expect the Physician to look after his own health. And he certainly does in his diet, which is nutritious and modest. He doesn’t eat or drink to excess.

His studie was but litel on the Bible - The Physician in The Canterbury Tales

His studie was but litel on the Bible.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Physician is not a very spiritual person, but is greedy and boastful.

In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
Lyned with taffata and with sendal.
And yet he was but esy of dispence;
He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial;
Therefore he lovede gold in special.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Physician is portrayed at a rich man with a lust for gold. He dresses in red and blue robes of silk and taffeta but is moderate in spending, suggesting he is stingy. He keeps what he earns in times of pestilence and has a very special love for gold. Medicine is more of a money maker than a vocation to the greedy Physician.

Anon his herte chaunged and his mood,
So was he caught with beautee of this mayde,
And to hymself ful pryvely he sayde,
"This mayde shal be myn, for any man!"

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Physician’s Tale. The lecherous judge Appius sees the knight’s young virtuous daughter Virginia and captivated by her beauty lusts after her. He vows that she will be his despite what any man may do.

Anon the feend into his herte ran.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Physician’s Tale. The devil runs into the wicked judge Appius’s heart to teach him by trickery how he can have the young virtuous maiden Virginia whom he lusts after.

Blissed be God that I shal dye a mayde!
Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;
Dooth with youre child youre wyl, a Goddes name!

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Physician’s Tale. Virginia’s father tells her that she must accept either death or shame at the hands of the lecherous judge Appius and blackguard Claudius. The virtuous young Virginia chooses death.

Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake - The Physician in The Canterbury Tales

Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Physician’s Tale. The Physician says that the moral of his tale is that sin leads to death, and he counsels: abandon sin, before it abandons you.