Gentilesse

Geoffrey Chaucer

The firste stok, fader of gentilesse --
What man that desireth gentil for to be
Must folowe his trace, and alle his wittes dresse
Vertu to love and vyces for to flee.
For unto vertu longeth dignitee
And noght the revers, saufly dar I deme,
Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.
This firste stok was ful of rightwisnesse,
Trewe of his word, sobre, pitous, and free,
Clene of his gost, and loved besinesse,
Ayeinst the vyce of slouthe, in honestee;
And, but his heir love vertu as dide he,
He is noght gentil, thogh he riche seme,
Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.
Vyce may wel be heir to old richesse,
But ther may no man, as men may wel see,
Bequethe his heir his vertuous noblesse
(That is appropred unto no degree
 But to the firste fader in magestee,
 That maketh hem his heyres that him queme),

Next 10 Poems

• Geoffrey Chaucer : Good Counsel Of Chaucer
• Geoffrey Chaucer : House Of Fame, The
• Geoffrey Chaucer : La Priere De Nostre Dame
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Lak Of Stedfastnesse
• Geoffrey Chaucer : L'envoy Of Chaucer To Bukton
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Merciles Beaute 03: Escape
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Merciles Beaute: Captivity
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Merciles Beaute: Rejection
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Parliament Of Fowles, The
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Proverbs Of Chaucer

Previous 10 Poems

• Geoffrey Chaucer : Fortune
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Court Of Love, The
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Complaint Unto Pity, The
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Complaint Of Chaucer To His Purse, The
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Chaucers Wordes Unto Adam
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Chaucer's Prophecy
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Book Of The Duchesse
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Balade
• Geoffrey Chaucer : Anelida And Arcite
• Geoffrey Chaucer : An Abc