Canterbury Tales: The Cook

1. Canterbury Tales: The Cook Andrea Diamond January 30, 2012 A2nd period

2. The Prologue THE COOK'S TALE There lived a 'prentice, once, in our city, And of the craft of victuallers was he; Happy he was as goldfinch in the glade, Brown as a berry, short, and thickly made, With black hair that he combed right prettily. He could dance well, and that so jollily, That he was nicknamed Perkin Reveller. He was as full of love, I may aver, As is a beehive full of honey sweet; Well for the wench that with him chanced to meet. At every bridal would he sing and hop, Loving the tavern better than the shop. When there was any festival in Cheap, Out of the shop and thither would he leap, And, till the whole procession he had seen, And danced his fill, he'd not return again. He gathered many fellows of his sort To dance and sing and make all kinds of sport. And they would have appointments for to meet And play at dice in such, or such, a street.

3. THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COOK • The cook makes soups and he has a bandage on his knee. • He admires his ability to cook. • The cook may not have the best hygiene. • He is very skilled.

4. The Description • a master of his trade; good at cooking, but he has a running sore on his shin, because his best dish was a creamed chicken pie whose white sauce might be the same color as the pus from the sore.

5. The Summary of The Cook • The Cook’s Tale Once an apprentice lived in “our city” (perhaps “Ware” in Hertfordshire – the town the Cook is from) and his craft was selling food. He was a short man, with a dark complexion and black hair – and he was an excellent dancer: so good, that people called him “Perkin Reveller” (to “revel” is to dance and have a good time). • He loved the tavern better than his shop, and, whenever there was a procession in Cheapside, he would run out of the shop to enjoy himself and dance, forgetting about work. He often stole from his master, with whom he lived until he had finished his apprenticeship. However, one day, his master sent for him, and quoting the proverb “It is better to take the rotten apple out of the bag than to have it rot all the other apples”, decided to get rid of him.

6. The info • I pray God give me sorrow and much care If ever, since I have been Hodge of Ware, Heard I of miller better brought to mark. A wicked jest was played him in the dark. But God forbid that we should leave off here; And therefore, if you'll lend me now an ear, From what I know, who am but a poor man, I will relate, as well as ever I can, A little trick was played in our city." Our host replied: "I grant it readily. Now tell on, Roger; see that it be good; For many a pasty have you robbed of blood, And many a Jack of Dover have you sold That has been heated twice and twice grown cold. From many a pilgrim have you had Christ's curse, For of your parsley they yet fare the worse, Which they have eaten with your stubble goose; For in your shop full many a fly is loose.