The description of the Knight from The Prologue
43. A Knight ther was, and that a worthy man,
44. That fro the tyme that he first bigan
45. To ryden out, he loved chivalrye,
46. Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
47. Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
48. And therto hadde he riden (no man ferre)
49. As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse,
50. And ever honoured for his worthinesse.
51. At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne;
52. Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
53. Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce.
54. In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
55. No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
56. In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be
57. Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
58. At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye,
59. Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See
60. At many a noble aryve hadde he be.
61. At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
62. And foughten for our feith at Tramissene
63. In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo.
64. This ilke worthy knight had been also
65. Somtyme with the lord of Palatye,
66. Ageyn another hethen in Turkye:
67. And evermore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
68. And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
69. And of his port as meke as is a mayde.
70. He never yet no vileinye ne sayde
71. In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight.
72. He was a verray parfit gentil knight.
73. But for to tellen yow of his array,
74. His hors were gode, but he was nat gay.
75. Of fustian he wered a gipoun
76. Al bismotered with his habergeoun;
77. For he was late y-come from his viage,
78. And wente for to doon his pilgrimage.
A KNIGHT there was, and that a worthy man,
That from the time that he first began
To riden out, he loved chivalry,
Truth and honour, freedom and courtesy.
Full worthy was he in his lord’s war,
And thereto had he ridden (no man far)
As well in Christendom as heathenness,
And ever honoured for his worthiness.
At Alexandria he was, when it was won;
Full oft time he had the board begun
Aboven all nations in Prussia.
In Lettow had he reised and in Russia,
No Christian man so oft of his degree.
In Granada at the siege eke had he be
Of Algezir, and ridden in Belmarie.
At Ayaş was he, and at Satalie,
When they were won, and in the Great Sea
At many a noble arrive had he be.
At mortal battles had he been fifteen,
And foughten for our faith at Tramissene
In lists thrice, and aye slain his foe.
This ilk worthy knight had been also
Sometime with the lord of Palatie,
Against another heathen in Turkey:
And evermore he had a sovereign prize.
And though that he were worthy, he was wise,
And of his port as meek as is a maid.
He never yet no villainy ne said
In all his life, unto no manner wight.
He was a very perfect gentil knight.
But for to tellen you of his array,
His horse were good, but he was not gay.
Of fustian he weared a gipon
All besmottered with his habergeon;
For he was late y-come from his voyage,
And went for to do his pilgrimage.
The following is an interpretation of The Knight’s Tale.