Tale of Sir Thopas Quotes

His heer, his berd was lyk saffroun,
That to his girdel raughte adoun;
His shoon of cordewane.
Of Brugges were his hosen broun,
His robe was of syklatoun,
That coste many a jane.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas. The tale is a satirical depiction of the chivalrous knight, focusing more on his looks, appearance and what he wears, than on his valor or prowess in battle. Here we are told about his saffron hair and beard, leather shoes, brown stockings from Bruges, and expensive silk robe woven with gold.

Ful many a mayde, bright in bour,
They moorne for hym paramour,
Whan hem were bet to slepe;
But he was chaast and no lechour,
And sweete as is the brembul flour
That bereth the rede hepe.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas. Many young maids while in their bed-chamber passionately dream of Sir Thopas, when it would be better for them to sleep. But he remains chaste and is no lecher, being as sweet as the dog rose that bears the red hip (simile), we learn. Chaucer is using parody here to mock traditional romance stories of the time.

For in that contree was ther noon
That to him durste ride or goon,
Neither wyf ne childe;
Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,
His name was sire Olifaunt,
A perilous man of dede.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas. When Sir Thopas rides into fairyland, he meets a three-headed giant named Sir Elephant. But Sir Thopas has forgotten his armor, and he can’t do battle with him. So instead he arranges to meet the giant the next day and rides home to fetch his armor and prepare himself.

He dide next his white leere
Of cloth of lake fyn and cleere,
A breech and eek a sherte;
And next his sherte an aketoun,
And over that an haubergeoun
For percynge of his herte;
And over that a fyn hawberk,
Was al ywroght of Jewes werk,
Ful strong it was of plate;
And over that his cote-armour
As whit as is a lilye flour,
His sheeld was al of gold so reed,
And therinne was a bores heed.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas. In a delightful send-up of the popular English romances, Sir Thopas prepares himself for battle with the three-headed giant by putting on layer after layer of fine clothes and armor. He puts on linen trousers and shirt, quilted jacket, chain-mail shirt, fine plate jeweled armor, and white surcoat. And let’s not forget his gold shield. Sir Thopas getting ready for battle is a parody of the battle preparations in the Knight’s Tale.

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.

"Namoore of this, for Goddes dignitee,"
Quod oure Hooste, "for thou makest me
So wery of thy verray lewednesse
That, also wisly God my soule blesse,
Myne eres aken of thy drasty speche.
Now swich a rym the devel I biteche!
This may wel be rym dogerel," quod he.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas. No more of this, the Host says, commanding Chaucer to halt his tale. The host rages that his ears ache from Chaucer’s worthless speech and this may well be doggerel verse. He definitely doesn’t appear to be impressed with Chaucer’s send-up of knights and chivalry.
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