Scarica Geoffrey Chaucer - The Prioress e più Sintesi del corso in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! THE PRIORESS There was also a nun, a prioress, Who, in her smiling, modest was and coy; Her greatest oath was but “By Saint Eloy!” And she was known as Madam Eglantine. Full well she sang the services divine(5) Intoning through her nose, becomingly; And fair she spoke her French, and fluently. At table she had been well taught withal, And never from her lips let morsels fall, Nor dipped her fingers deep in sauce, but ate(10) With so much care the food upon her plate That never driblet fell upon her breast. In courtesy she had delight and zest. Her upper lip was always wiped so clean That in her cup was no iota seen(15) Of grease, when she had drunk her draught of wine. And certainly she was of great disport And full pleasant, and amiable of port And went to many pains to put on cheer Of court, and very dignified appear,(20) And to be thought worthy of reverence. But, to say something of her moral sense, She was so charitable and piteous That she would weep if she but saw a mouse Caught in a trap, though it were dead or bled.(25) She had some little dogs, too, that she fed On roasted flesh, or milk and fine white bread. But sore she’d weep if one of them were dead, Or if men smote it with a rod to smart: For pity ruled her, and her tender heart.(30) Full properly her wimple pleated was. Her nose was straight, her eyes as grey as glass, Her mouth full small, and also soft and red; But certainly she had a fair forehead; It was almost a full span broad, I own,(35) For, truth to tell, she was not undergrown. Full stylish was her cloak, I was aware. Of coral small about her arm she’d bear A string of beads, gauded all round with green; And from there hung a brooch of golden sheen(40) On which there was first written a crowned “A,” And under, Amor Vincit Omnia. The Prioress (La Badessa) C’era anche una suora, una badessa, Il suo modo di sorridere era molto semplice e timido, La sua più grande imprecazione era “per Sant’Egidio!” Ed era conosciuta come la Signora Eglantyne. E lei cantava bene la funzione, con una delicata E intonata voce che passava attraverso il suo naso, come era maggiormente decoroso, E parlava in modo estremamente raffinato in francese, Come si parlava alla scuola di Stratford Bow; Non conosceva il francese nello stile parigino. A tavola i suoi modi erano educati in tutto; Non lasciava cadere nessun boccone dalla bocca, E nemmeno intingeva troppo profondamente le mani nella salsa; Ma sapeva portare un boccone alla bocca e tenere La più piccola briciola senza farla cadere sul suo petto. Per la cortesia aveva uno speciale piacere, Ed era solita pulire il suo labbro superiore fino a farlo diventare così pulito Che non era possibile vedere nessuna traccia di grasso Sulla tazza dalla quale aveva bevuto; per mangiare, Lei allungava compostamente una mano per il pasto. Lei era sicuramente molto di compagnia, Piacevole e amichevole nei suoi atteggiamenti, e si sforzava Di simulare le maniere di corte, Un comportamento solenne appropriato al suo posto, E di sembrare dignitosa in tutti i suoi modi.
