Aprille is the Cruellest Month

[Pete Zicato]

Since you mentioned April -- I had to memorize this much of the introduction to Canterbury Tales in high school.


Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,

And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open eye-
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

Since you mentioned April -- I had to memorize this much of the introduction to Canterbury Tales in high school.


Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,

And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open eye-
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages

har! I studied that at sixth-form college. Love it. I know most of prologue inside and out

That and the Pardoner's Tale, which I have mostly forgotten.

I remember our tutor read it beautifully. She had such a melodic voice with a rich timbre. Perfect for Anglo-Saxon.