And for he was a knyght auntrous, He nolde slepen in noon hous, But liggen in his hoode; His brighte helm was his wonger, And by hym baiteth his dextrer Of herbes fyne and goode. Hymself drank water of the well, As dide the knyght sire Percyvell So worly under wede, Til on a day - .

And for he was a knyght auntrous,
He nolde slepen in noon hous,
But liggen in his hoode;
His brighte helm was his wonger,
And by hym baiteth his dextrer
Of herbes fyne and goode.
Hymself drank water of the well,
As dide the knyght sire Percyvell
So worly under wede,
Til on a day – .

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas. Chaucer continues to describe how the adventurous knight would sleep outdoors, his helmet for his pillow, his war-horse grazing beside him. This is as far as Chaucer gets in his story before it is interrupted by the Host, who can’t listen to any more of it.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes