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1992-07-31
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1380
CANTERBURY TALES
HERE THE MAKER OF THIS BOOK TAKES HIS LEAVE
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Now do I pray all those who hear this little treatise, or read it,
that, if there be within it anything that pleases them, they thank Our
Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom proceeds all understanding and all
goodness. And if there be anything that displeases them, I pray
them, also, that they impute it to the fault of my ignorance and not
to my intention, which would fain have better said if I had had
knowledge. For our Book says, "All that is written is written for
our instruction;" and that was my intention. Wherefore I meekly
beseech you that, for the sake of God's mercy, you pray for me that
Christ have mercy upon me and forgive me my trespasses and
especially for my translations and the writing of worldly vanities,
the which I withdraw in my retractations: as, The Book of Troilus;
also The Book of Fame; The Book of the Nineteen Ladies; The Book of
the Duchess; The Book of Saint Valentine's Day, Of the Parliament of
Birds; The Tales of Canterbury, those that tend toward sin; The Book
of the Lion; and many another book, were they in my remembrance; and
many a song and many a lecherous lay,- as to which may Christ, of
His great mercy, forgive me the sin. But for the translation of
Boethius's de Consolatione, and other books of legends of saints,
and homilies, and of morality and devotion- for those I thank Our Lord
Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother and all the saints of Heaven;
beseeching them that they, henceforth unto my life's end, send me
grace whereof to bewail my sins, and to study for the salvation of
my soul:- and grant me the grace of true penitence, confession, and
expiation in this present life; through the benign grace of Him Who is
King of kings and Priest over all priests, Who redeemed us with the
precious blood of His heart; so that I may be one of those, at the day
of doom, that shall be saved: Qui cum patre, etc.
HERE ENDS THE BOOK
OF THE TALES OF CANTERBURY,
WRITTEN BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER,
ON WHOSE SOUL
MAY JESUS CHRIST HAVE MERCY.
AMEN.