a chaucer's quote?

[cacian]

Though ye prollee aye, ye shall it never find. - Chaucer

Looking to know which poem of chaucer's this is taken from and what it actually means..thank you!

[Hawkman]

"Neuer to þriue were to longe a date
þough ȝe prolle ay ȝe schulle it neuer fynde"

line 1412 Cantabury Tales Group G Fragment VIII (The Second Nun's Tale)
Corpus Christi MS edited by Frederickj j Furnivall.

So yes, it is Chaucer.

In context "Prolle" means to Prowl about searchingly. so effectively the line says, "...no matter how hard you look you won't find it."

[cacian]

"Neuer to þriue were to longe a date
þough ȝe prolle ay ȝe schulle it neuer fynde"

line 1412 Cantabury Tales Group G Fragment VIII (The Second Nun's Tale)
Corpus Christi MS edited by Frederickj j Furnivall.

So yes, it is Chaucer.

In context "Prolle" means to Prowl about searchingly. so effectively the line says, "...no matter how hard you look you won't find it."

Thank you Hawkman this is very helpful.
All I need to do now is try and read the whole piece.
Is that writing in Old English?

[Hawkman]

It's not Old English - Old English is the language of Beowulf. This is Middle English. You can find the entire text of Canterbury Tales in Middle English with translation here:

http://www.librarius.com/

Enjoy.

[cacian]

It's not Old English - Old English is the language of Beowulf. This is Middle English. You can find the entire text of Canterbury Tales in Middle English with translation here:

http://www.librarius.com/

Enjoy.

Thank you again Hawkman this is already looking great!!

[togre]

If you are trying to cipher out Chaucer, try reading aloud. Not a cure all, but it helps in a few difficult spots.