The good-humoured _naïveté_ of mine host, like all his class, never forgetful of business in the midst of play, is wonderfully well hit off; for the innkeeper clearly would be the gainer by this pleasant stratagem: and he prevents any one’s giving him the slip by going with them to Canterbury and back. The guests are glad enough of his company, for he could be especially useful to them on the way. The stories, also, will be found perfectly characteristic of the tellers--there is no story given to a narrator whose rank, education, or disposition make it inconsistent. Each tells a tale whose incidents savour of his natural occupation and sympathies, and the view each takes of right or wrong modes of conduct is well seen in the manner as well as the matter. Chaucer’s personal distrust of and contempt for the contemporary Church and its creatures was the natural and healthy aversion of a pure mind and a sincerely religious heart to a form of godliness denying the power thereof--a Church which had become really corrupt. It is significant of his perfect artistic thoroughness that, with this aversion, he never puts an immoral or unfitting tale into the mouth of nun or friar; for it would be most unlikely that these persons, whatever their private character might be, would criminate themselves in public. The Knight’s Tale. Once upon a time, as old stories tell us, there was a duke named Theseus, lord and governor of Athens, in Greece, and in his time such a conqueror that there was none greater under the sun. Full many a rich country owned his sway. That with his wisdam and his chivalrie, He conquered al the regne of Femynye, kingdom, Amazons That whilom was i-cleped Cithea; once, called And wedded the fresshe quene Ipolita,[76] fresh And brought her hoom with him to his contre, country With mochel glorie and gret solempnite; much, solemnity And eek hire yonge suster Emelye. also, sister And thus with victorie and with melodye music Lete I this noble duk to Athenes ryde, duke And al his ost, in armes him biside. arms What with his wisdom and his chivalry The kingdom of the Amazons won he, That was of old time naméd Scythia, And wedded the fresh Queen Ipolita, And brought her to his own land sumptuously, With pomp and glory, and great festivity; And also her young sister Emelye. And thus with victory and with melodie Let I this noble duke to Athens ride, And all his glittering hosts on either side.