The site is continually being worked on, The General Prologue through to The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue, I think, are all examples of how the other tales will read when similarly finalised.
The website contains a complete and unabridged text of The Canterbury Tales in its original Middle English, alongside a transcript that updates each word into the spelling of the Oxford English Dictionary. This modernised-spelling edition also includes a tooltip glossary for unfamiliar words and phrases, and links to Wikipedia throughout the General Prologue and one or two of the more popular tales.
You are welcome to read the complete work online, if you wish to copy or print it out, please request permission here.
There are obviously many ways to read Middle English; but my advice when starting out is that the word endings “-n,” or “-en” (which have to do with plurality and tense) can be largely read over or ignored when attempting to understand the word’s meaning; “weren” can be understood simply as “were;” “longen” as “long,” etc.
When hovered over, underlined words present a definition or explanation, and words coloured blue throughout the edition link to Wikipedia (in a separate tab).
The transcript used The Oxford English Dictionary, available at OED.com (with a subscription), and Wiktionary, which is a very good alternative. W. W. Skeat’s Middle English Glossary (A-D) (E-K) (L-R) (S-Z), and Index of Proper Names were also extensively used, and are available online at Wikisource, as were editions of Chaucer by W. W. Skeat, F. N. Robinson, and Larry D. Benson. The text is from W. W. Skeat’s edition.
If you enjoy the transcript, you can buy a copy of The Knight’s Tale and the Miller’s Tale: A Dramatised Edition in Modernised Spelling (PB) here, or The Knight’s Tale and the Miller’s Tale: A Modern-Spelling Edition (eBook) here. The General Prologue in modernised spelling, with glosses and links to Wikipedia, is also available as a free download, by entering your email address below.
Middle English
Balade to Rosemounde
Madame, ye ben of al beautè shryne
As fer as cercled is the mappemounde;
For as the cristal glorious ye shyne,
And lyke ruby ben your chekes rounde.
Therwith ye ben so mery and so iocounde,
That at a revel whan that I see you daunce,
It is an oynement unto my wounde,
Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
For thogh I wepe of teres ful a tyne,
Yet may that wo myn herte nat confounde;
Your seemly voys that ye so smal out-twyne
Maketh my thoght in Ioye and blis habounde.
So curteisly I go, with lovë bounde,
That to my-self I sey, in my penaunce,
Suffyseth me to love you, Rosemounde,
Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
Nas never pyk walwed in galauntyne
As I in love am walwed and y-wounde;
For which ful ofte I of my-self divyne
That I am trewe Tristan the secounde.
My love may not refreyd be nor afounde;
I brenne ay in an amorous plesaunce.
Do what you list, I wil your thral be founde,
Thoghe ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
Tregentil—-//—-Chaucer.
Modern Spelling
Ballade to Rosamond
Madame, ye been of all beauty shrine
As far as circled is the mappemonde;
For as the crystal glorious ye shine,
And like ruby been your cheeks round.
Therewith ye been so merry and so jocund
That at a revel when that I see you dance,
It is an ointment unto my wound,
Though ye to me ne do no dalliance.
For though I weep of tears full a tine,
Yet may that woe mine heart not confound;
Your seemly voice that ye so small out-twine
Maketh my thought in joy and bliss abound.
So courteously I go, with love bound,
That to myself I say, in my penance,
Sufficeth me to love you, Rosamond,
Though ye to me ne do no dalliance.
Nas never pike wallowed in galantine
As I in love am wallowed and y-wound;
For which full oft I of myself divine
That I am true Tristan the second.
My love may not refreid be nor afound;
I bren aye in an amorous pleasance.
Do what you list, I will your thrall be found,
Though ye to me ne do no dalliance.
Tregentil ——//—— Chaucer
Middle English
Balade to Rosemounde
Madame, ye ben of al beautè shryne
As fer as cercled is the mappemounde;
For as the cristal glorious ye shyne,
And lyke ruby ben your chekes rounde.
Therwith ye ben so mery and so iocounde,
That at a revel whan that I see you daunce,
It is an oynement unto my wounde,
Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
For thogh I wepe of teres ful a tyne,
Yet may that wo myn herte nat confounde;
Your seemly voys that ye so smal out-twyne
Maketh my thoght in Ioye and blis habounde.
So curteisly I go, with lovë bounde,
That to my-self I sey, in my penaunce,
Suffyseth me to love you, Rosemounde,
Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
Nas never pyk walwed in galauntyne
As I in love am walwed and y-wounde;
For which ful ofte I of my-self divyne
That I am trewe Tristan the secounde.
My love may not refreyd be nor afounde;
I brenne ay in an amorous plesaunce.
Do what you list, I wil your thral be founde,
Thoghe ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
Tregentil—-//—-Chaucer.
Modern Spelling
Ballade to Rosamond
Madame, ye been of all beauty shrine
As far as circled is the mappemonde;
For as the crystal glorious ye shine,
And like ruby been your cheeks round.
Therewith ye been so merry and so jocund
That at a revel when that I see you dance,
It is an ointment unto my wound,
Though ye to me ne do no dalliance.
For though I weep of tears full a tine,
Yet may that woe mine heart not confound;
Your seemly voice that ye so small out-twine
Maketh my thought in joy and bliss abound.
So courteously I go, with love bound,
That to myself I say, in my penance,
Sufficeth me to love you, Rosamond,
Though ye to me ne do no dalliance.
Nas never pike wallowed in galantine
As I in love am wallowed and y-wound;
For which full oft I of myself divine
That I am true Tristan the second.
My love may not refreid be nor afound;
I bren aye in an amorous pleasance.
Do what you list, I will your thrall be found,
Though ye to me ne do no dalliance.
Tregentil ——//—— Chaucer
