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Thread: a chaucer's quote?

  1. #1
    confidentially pleased cacian's Avatar
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    a chaucer's quote?

    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!
    it may never try
    but when it does it sigh
    it is just that
    good
    it fly

  2. #2
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    "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."

  3. #3
    confidentially pleased cacian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hawkman View Post
    "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?
    Last edited by cacian; 03-30-2012 at 07:59 AM.
    it may never try
    but when it does it sigh
    it is just that
    good
    it fly

  4. #4
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    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.

  5. #5
    confidentially pleased cacian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hawkman View Post
    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!!
    it may never try
    but when it does it sigh
    it is just that
    good
    it fly

  6. #6
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    If you are trying to cipher out Chaucer, try reading aloud. Not a cure all, but it helps in a few difficult spots.

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