On this day in 1397 Geoffrey Chaucer recounted the Canterbury Tales at the court of King Richard II of England.

The Canterbury Tales put him at the forefront of writers in Mediaeval England. The collection of tales from members of the little pilgrim band as they ride slowly from London to Canterbury is unforgettable.

Chaucer is the first author to be buried in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey. Here is one of his poems, Merciless Beauty (Merciles Beaute):

Your eyes two whole slay me suddenly;
I may the beauty of them not sustain
So wounds it, throughout my heart keen.
Unless your word will heal, all hastily,
My heart’s wound while it is yet green,
Your eyes two whole slay me suddenly;
I may the beauty of them not sustain.
By my truth, I tell you faithfully
That you are of my life and death the queen,
For at my death the truth shall be seen:
Your eyes two whole slay me suddenly;
I may the beauty of them not sustain,
So wounds it throughout my heart keen.
So has your beauty from your heart chased
Pity, that it avails not to complain,
For Pride holds your mercy by a chain.
Though guiltless, my death you have purchased.
I tell you truly, needing not to feign,
So has your beauty from your heart chased
Pity, that it avails not to complain…”

Today I will remember that we cannot get unless we give.