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cacian
03-29-2012, 03:26 AM
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
03-29-2012, 11:21 AM
"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
03-30-2012, 02:25 AM
"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
03-30-2012, 06:27 AM
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
03-30-2012, 08:00 AM
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!!:thumbs_up

togre
06-19-2012, 04:00 PM
If you are trying to cipher out Chaucer, try reading aloud. Not a cure all, but it helps in a few difficult spots.