Canterbury Tales Plowman Quotes

With hym ther was a Plowman, was his brother,
That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loved he best with al his hoole herte.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The dung-hauling Plowman, whose job it is to clear the roads of feces, is the brother of the Parson and a hard-working man. He is a poor man who lives in peace and perfect love with his fellow man.

Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loved he best with al his hoole herte.
At alle tymes thogh him gamed or smerte.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Plowman leads a moral, religious life, loving God with his whole heart at all times, whether it pleases or pains him. He is the model Christian.

He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve.
For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Plowman not only works for himself, but lends his labors to others in need. He is willing to thresh wheat and dig ditches without any payment for any poor man who needs his help. In this he demonstrates true Christian charity. The Plowman is symbolic of the medieval poor in Chaucer’s time.

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