The Japere
The Prologe of The Japeres Tale
- Whan atte ende was the Cookes tale,
- The Knyght, riden forward, done heil,
- Upon the rode, he seyde he coude seie
- Walken slou toward oure compaignye
- An asse with a bodi on its rigg leien
- Parchaunce, he seyde, this persoun was sleinge.
- He spored his hors and wende forto lok,
- He tornedde about and feue wordes spok.
- He spored his hors and camen bak oure wei,
- We alle waited to her whet he wold sei.
- ‘Alive he is, but thenne he was aslepe
- A Japere he claimen be for his kepe.’
- ‘A Japere,’ the Miller ycried, still wette
- ‘Unnit thei be, a wisse on I ne mete.’
- ‘Nai,’ seyde oure Hoost, ‘if he can be marrie,
- A japere is welcom for rybaudrie’
- And sone met our compaignye the Japere,
- But a treu jaudewin he was not, I sweare.
- The colours he wered was bright no more,
- The lok of him unto min sighte was sore.
- ‘Wel met, leve Japere.’ Oure Hoost yseien,
- And tolde of oure pilgrimage and plein.
- ‘Forsooth,’ quod he, ‘yjoinen I wol
- Forto aske the martyr blessen min soule
- Thenne back to London I maken passage
- From inne to tavern to taken min wage’
- ‘Wage?’ Seyde the Pardoner, his eyes was glouen
- ‘No toules haf thou or suete to put on’
- ‘I ned no helpe,’ the Japere replien,
- ‘For Wit, knak and a god storri art min’
- ‘Storri?’ Quod oure Hoost. ‘Then one nouwe ytell
- And jugen thy wordes and skille we welle’
- ‘Gladli,’ seyde the Japere, the throte voiden.
- He claspen his hondes and this spoken.
Heere Endeth The Prologe of The Japeres Tale
———-
Heere Bigynneth The Japere His Tale
“Once, there was a very rich man named Rhinehart, who, having reached his latter years, had retired to a beautiful country manor. There, he kept a menagerie of rare and exotic animals with the centrepiece of the collection being a small yellow sheep.
One dark day, as he was walking about his grounds and enjoying the sight of his animals, he realised with great shock (and not too little awe) that his yellow sheep was missing. And his heart, overcome by the thought of life without his sheep, all but gave way.
Rhinehart, however, was a wise man, and quickly hit upon a way to find his most prized possession: he would ask his sons to search for it. So, from the sickbed in which he had retired, he called for his eldest son, Horace. And once the young man had come to his father’s side, Rhinehart told him of the request.
‘Horace, he said, ‘I am old and have few pleasures left in life. In fact, since the passing of your mother (God bless her soul!) the only thing that has been able to give me pleasure has been my yellow sheep. And now, that too has been lost to me and you thus you see me here, a sad old man. Find it for me, Horace, and I shall leave my entire fortune to you. But do so quickly, for I fear that if I do not have my sheep soon, I shall die.’
Now Horace, though a truly dull fellow, knew an opportunity when he saw one. He immediately promised his help and rushed off to find the sheep. He found a few servants and had them scour the manor and surrounding village for the yellow sheep. They returned to him after many hours and told him that the sheep was nowhere to be found. So Horace, saddened at the thought of his lost fortune, went and told his father that he had not been able to find the sheep.
But Rhinehart, though further distraught by the continued absence of his sheep, was not so easily dissuaded. He called for his second son, Abernathy, and told him as he had told Horace: ‘Find my sheep and my fortune shall be yours. But be quick, for I am sad and can feel that my death is near.’
Abernathy, like Horace, seized the opportunity and immediately found some servants to look for the sheep, sending them throughout the country this time. And scour the country they did, searching far and wide. But they too returned without the sheep. And so, Abernathy also returned to his father empty handed.
Thus, Rhinehart was left with only his youngest son, James, to turn to. He called him and repeated what he had said to Horace and Abernathy: ”Find my sheep, James, and all that is mine will be yours. But quickly my son, for my death is upon me. Bring me my sheep, or I shall die a sad man!”
James, being the wisest and bravest of the three, gathered some servants and set off to find the sheep. After scouring the surrounding areas, he made his way throughout the country. And when his search through the England yielded nothing, he made his way to the surrounding lands and even beyond.
Finally, after many years of searching, he returned home. He rushed to his father’s bedside and fell down next to him. ‘Father,” he said, ‘I have been gone many years - I have searched the whole world over. And I have failed. I have not found your sheep.’
And so, Rhinehart died.”
Heere Is Ended The Japeres First Tale
- ‘What,’ seyde oure Hoost, ‘was the mening of that?
- None tale that was, but an evil pratte.
- No more canst thou speken till Caunterbury’
- And to thes with on minde we all don aggreed.
———-
- The Nonnes Preestes tale was not grouen colde
- The Japere begain to speken in manere bolde
- ‘On more tale,’ seyde he, ‘I haven to spinne,
- And wold tellen for redempcion of sinne.’
Heere Bigynneth The Japere His Second Tale
“Listen closely and I too will tell you a tale of a husband and wife.” The Japere said. “But be warned, this story is not for the faint of heart…
Not too long ago, a young man named Jasper and a young woman named Teslin were married. And because they were both from very wealthy families, their lavish wedding was followed by a yearlong trip to the continent.
After crossing the channel at Arcae, they boarded a large, luxurious carriage and headed to their first destination, Paris. All the way there, they discussed the things they would see and do, and as they were still living in wedded bliss, the time passed quickly. Once they arrived, too eager to even wait for the servants, Jasper opened the door and began to step down when he was stopped by a scream from Teslin. ’Look!’ She cried, pointing out the window.
Looking in the direction of her gaze, he suddenly realised why the servants had not as yet descended. For there, a few feet from the carriage, was a small bush, rustling as if possessed by a faerie or another similarly evil creature. Fearing for the safety of his wife, Jasper quickly closed the door and commanded the servants to head for their next stop. Thankfully, they had packed much provisions, so Jasper and Teslin (and their servants) were quite willing to wait until they reached Senones to truly begin their honeymoon.
It was early in the morn when they arrived, but after many days in the carriage, they were only too happy to step out into the crisp morning air. But again, Teslin cried out. Jasper looked around, and there, near the wheel was a shaking bush. In fact, it appeared to be the same bush! And Jasper, while being wonderful in many ways, was not truly a brave man. He banged the door shut and pleaded with the servants to move on to Divopia.
But it was there in Divopia as well! And in Geneva. And in Vienna, and Valencia, and Avenio. The faerie bush was everywhere they went! And to make matters worse, their supplies were running low. So Jasper decided that it would be best to retrace their steps and return to the safety of England and home.
After they had reached Arcae, Jasper told the servants to drive to the docks and then find the nearest ship. Once there, Jasper slowly opened the door and looked down. And there, as expected, was the bush.
But by now, Jasper was as a man gone mad. He ran down the coach steps, ignoring the cries of Teslin and the servants, and thrust his hands into the bush. He wrapped his hands around whatever it was that was inside and yanked as hard as he could. And when he looked down to see what was in his hands, he found himself holding the yellow sheep.”
Heere Is Ended The Japeres Second Tale
The Epilogue of The Japeres Tales
- ‘Bi God, that was wel tolde,’ cried oure Hoost,
- Youe art, forsoth, morre connen thanne most’
- ‘The yelwe shep!’ He seyde, and laughen with chere.
- ‘Thinken, from the furst tale, him fonde his wei here’
- And everinne there afer as I seien,
- Was gladde the Japere was oure compaignye.
References
Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. 1908. Ed. A. C. Cawley. New York: Alfre A. Knopf, 1992.
Davis, Norman, Douglas Gray, Patricia Ingham and Anne Wallace-Hadril, eds. A Chaucer Glossary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1979.
Koppen, Adolph Ludvig. The World in the Middle Ages. New York: D. Appleton, 1854.
The Middle English Dictionary. Ed. Frances McSparran. 2001. 17 November 2005 <http ://ets.umdl.umich.edu/m/med/>
