Tale of Melibee Quotes

Shul men warisshe werre by vengeaunce.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Melibee. Chaucer the Pilgrim tells this tale in which Melibee’s wife has been beaten and his daughter greviously injured by three enemies. Melibee wants to avenge himself but his wife Prudeice convinces im to call a group of people together to give him counsel. Men shall cure war by vengeance, the Physicians advise Melibee in this quote.

Er that any werre bigynne, men moste have greet conseil and greet deliberacion.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Melibee. The Elders tell Melibee to proceed with caution regarding war, saying before any war begins men must have much advice and deliberation.

Right so as whil that iren is hoot men sholden smyte,
Right so men sholde wreken hir wronges whil that they been fresshe and newe.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Melibee. The young people urge Melibee to go to war. Just so as while that iron is hot men should smite, just so men should avenge their wrongs while they are fresh and new, they say.

Whil that iren is hoot men sholden smyte.
Modern English:
Strike while the iron is hot.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Melibee. The young people call on Melibee to go to war to avenge the injury to his family.

And what is better than wisedoom? Womman. And what is bettre than a good womman? Nothyng.
Modern English:
And what is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Melibee. Prudence strongly affirms woman’s value when she says this to her husband Melibee.

Pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Melibee. Melibee quotes Saint Paul saying that patience is a great virtue of perfection.