The Canterbury Tales In Modern Verse Author:Geoffrey Chaucer Now, gentle reader, I implore you, — When I put his tale before you, — Dont think me lecherous or shameless. — Most of my stories are quite blameless, — But I must tell the bad ones too, — Or shirk what I set out to do. — Turn the page and choose another; — My tamer tales would suit your mother. — They praise good morals and embody — The opposite o... more »f all things bawdy.
from the Prologue to "The Millers Tale"
------------------------------------------------- Readers of this witty and fluent new translation of The Canterbury Tales should find themselves turning page after page: by recasting Chaucers ten-syllable couplets into eight-syllable lines, Joseph Glaser achieves a lighter, more rapid cadence than other translators, a four-beat rhythm well-established in the English poetic tradition up to Chaucers time. Glasers shortened lines make compelling reading and mirror the elegance and variety of Chaucers verse to a degree rarely met by translations that copy Chaucer beat for beat. Moreover, this translations full, Chaucerian range of dictionfrom earthy to Latinateconveys the great scope of Chaucers interests and effects. The selection features complete translations of the majority of the stories, including all of the more familiar tales and narrative links along with abridgments or summaries of the others. To reflect Chaucers interest in poetic technique, Glaser presents the tales written in non-couplet stanzas in their original forms. An Introduction, marginal glosses, bibliography, and notes are also included.« less