The General Prologue
WHEN APRIL with his showers sweet with fruit
四月瓜果伴雨香，
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
三月干渴已至根。
And bathed each vein with liquor that has power
初得甘霖润根络，
To generate therein and sire the flower;
浸润根络绽芳华。
When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath,(5)
西风流香今又疾，
Quickened again, in every holt and heath,
苍莽何处不惊奇！
The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun
嫩蕾翠枝伴初阳，
Into the Ram one half his cour has run,
金乌刚过白羊半。
And many little birds make melody
鸣禽欢喜争做歌，
That sleep through all the night with open eye(10)
夜半不用瞑目眠。
(So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)—
春息挑逗难沉寂，
Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage,
信徒踏上朝圣路。
And palmers to go eking out strange strands,
行者前行觅异路。
To distant shrines well known in sundry lands.
异域闻名之圣坛，
And specially from every shire’s end(15)
偏远直到五湖边。
Of England they to Canterbury wend蟹肉炒鸡蛋,
所去者坎特圣地，
The holy blesd martyr there to ek
昔日圣徒殉教在此地，
Who helped them when they lay so ill and weak.
困疠不堪何人助？
Befell that, in that ason, on a day
当此时，在此季，
In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay(20)
索斯沃克吾安歇，
Ready to start upon my pilgrimage
启程即将去圣地。
To Canterbury, full of devout courage,
坎特朝圣多虔诚。
冉良
There came at nightfall to that hostelry
奄忽旅社已黄昏，
Some nine and twenty in a company
络绎旅人二十九。
Of sundry persons who had chanced to fall(25)
天涯异路幸作伴，
In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all
心中皆有朝圣念。
That toward Canterbury town would ride.
齐心皆欲去坎特。
The rooms and stables spacious were and wide,
房厩宽敞兮人马皆得安，
And well we there were ead, and of the best.日薄西兮乃得所。
And briefly, when the sun had gone to rest,(30)
闲哉快哉心不烦！
So had I spoken with them, every one,
周易文化先领风骚兮吾发言：
That I was of their fellowship anon,
今后路上将做伴，
And made agreement that we’d early ri
大家协商要早起。
To take our way, as to you I’ll devi.
启程须早我尽力。
But nonetheless, whilst I have time and space,(35)给我个痛快
眼前夜暮尚得闲，
Before yet farther in this tale I pace,
澳洲钙片多说无妨大家事。
It ems to me accordant with reason
思忖不妨相交流，
To inform you of the state of every one
相互了解更亲近。
Of all of the, as it appeared to me,
如上述，依我看。
And who they were, and what was their degree,(40)
何籍何职互不知，
And also what array they all were in;
我要谢谢你
隔行隔地两茫茫！
And with a knight thus will I first begin.
年月日格式
此位骑士您开始。
