The famous line from the General Prologue and something to aspire to for the rest of us.
In terms of meaning 'veray' is from the French of which the modern version is 'vrai' - meaning 'true', 'parfit' you can understand from the modern French 'parfait' for 'perfect' and 'gentil' which would translate to a modern 'gentleman' or someone 'noble' in character.
So, 'He was a true perfect noble knight.'
With thanks to thnidu for some corrections to the above.
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«In terms of meaning 'veray' is clearly 'very'»
ReplyDeleteClear but not correct.
The phrase is "a verray, parfit, gentil knyght"
(http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/knightport.htm, line 72).
"Verray" is an adjective, not an adverb like Modern English "very",,
with the meaning still kept by Modern French "vrai",
namely "true" (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Verray),
here in the sense of "genuine".
"Gentil", likewise, is not the same as modern "gentle" 600 years later:
1. noble (in character); 2. refined, excellent
(http://www.librarius.com/gy.htm)
So an accurate (though unpoetic) translation is
"He was a true perfect knight of noble character"
Accurate translations are preferable to guessing (no matter how "logical") so, the clarity advanced by thnidu is much appreciated. Thank you!
DeleteThank you - and another modern translation might be "He was a genuinely perfect knight (and) of noble character."
ReplyDeleteAs few people today publicly support classism, we prefer to see “gentil” as “noble in character.” In Chaucer’s time it was much clearer that being “high-born” was literally what “gentility” was all about. (“Gentle” simply meant “of the nobility”). It was taken for granted that the positive character and “moral refinement” associated with the noble classes was simply resulting from its members being offspring of superior lineages, plus the added benefit of the special instruction & discipline provided to such heirs.
ReplyDelete'Be he ere so vile, this day shall gentle his condition' Shakespeare Henry V before Agincourt. Anyone fighting in the battle, whatever his status, he shall be ennobled.
ReplyDelete