Class Minutes Dec 16

The Sailor/Shipman

General Prologue (line 390 to line 412)

Rode a carthorse
Wore a gown of thick rough cloth that fell to his knees
Wore a dagger around his neck and under his arm
Had a golden brown tan from the sun
When on his ship, he would steal wine from the merchant while he slept
Did not have a conscience
Was a very experienced sailor; knew all of the harbors
Sailor’s Prologue

Host decides that the priest will preach to everyone and tell a tale
The sailor interrupts the conversation between the host and the priest, and says that HE will tell the next tale
He also makes it clear that the tale will not be about philosophy, physics or law
The tale will be about Latin
Sailor’s Tale

About a rich merchant from Saint Denys who had a very beautiful wife
They lived in a very nice house and often had guests
His wife loved to go to social events and wear fine clothing
All of this was very expensive for the merchant and he ended up losing his money because of it
One of the merchant’s guests was a very handsome, 30-year old monk named Dan John
Dan John told the merchant that they were cousins
The two men became very close, and the merchant thought of the monk as a brother
Whenever he was at the merchant’s house, Dan John was always very generous and kind to the servants
When the merchant had to make a trip to Bruges, he insisted that Dan John stop by and spend some time with him and his wife
He brought wine and food for the group to enjoy together
On the monk’s third day with the merchant, the merchant decided to spend time going over his finances and didn’t want anyone to disturb him
At the same time, Dan John rose and wandered into the garden where he ran into the merchant’s wife
Noticing the paleness of the woman’s face, Dan John asked her what was wrong
The wife promised to tell the monk her problems as long as he kept it a secret
The woman told him that she is unhappy with her husband, but felt bad for speaking so badly of the monks cousin
Dan John then told her that the two men really weren’t related at all
The merchant’s wife continued and said that there were six things that every woman desired a husband to be: hardy, wise, rich and therewith free, obedient to the wife and fresh in bed
The wife then said she needed to borrow 100 francs from him. She was adamant about paying him back at some point and/or give him whatever pleasure or service he desired
She said that if she didn’t pay him back, then God take vengeance on her
The monk said he would give her the money when her husband left on his trip to Bruges and told her not to worry
Then he hugged her and kissed her
The wife then went to find her husband to have supper with and found him still looking over his finances, not eating or doing anything else
She asked him how long he would stay there and he said that out of 12 merchants, 2 may survive financially. Therefore, he had to pay attention and take special care of his business
He then said that merchants must always live in dread and fear in case of chances and mishaps that could affect their business
The merchant then told his wife that he was leaving in the morning for his trip and she had enough food, clothing, etc. to last his absence
The group had dinner and the monk pulls the merchant aside and tells him to have a safe, healthful journey
Dan John then asked the merchant to lend him 100 francs to buy cattle and to keep the loan a secret
The merchant nobly replied that the merchant’s gold was the monk’s as well and he told him to take what he like or need
He told Dan John to pay it back when he was able to and gave him the money
They walked around drinking and talking, and then the monk left for the abbey
The merchant went on his journey the next day, but did not gamble or dance at all
On the Sunday after the merchant left, Dan John traveled back to the merchant’s home with the 100 francs
He and the merchant’s wife agreed that he would give her the 100 frances if she would spend the night in bed with him
The next day, the monk returned to the abbey
When all of the merchant’s business was done, he returned to his wife in Saint Denys

then she tells him her story and pleads with him to loan her one hundred francs to buy clothes that her frugal husband denies her. Sir John agrees to bring the money when the merchant leaves for Bruges. Then he draws the wife to him, kisses her madly, and confesses his desire for her
After dinner that night, the monk draws the merchant aside and asks him for a loan of one hundred francs to purchase cattle. The merchant gladly gives Sir John the money. The next day, the merchant leaves for Bruges. Soon after, the monk arrives at the merchant’s home, and in, exchange for the money, the wife agrees to spend the night in bed with the monk.


Sometime later, the merchant stops by the monk’s abbey to pay a social call. The monk volunteers the information that he has repaid the one hundred francs to the merchant’s wife only a day or two after he had borrowed it. When the merchant returns home, he chides his wife for not telling him that the loan was repaid. She explains that she used the money to buy fine clothes and promises to repay him — not with money, but in bed. Seeing no point in scolding her further, the merchant concludes, “Well, I forgive you what you spent / But don’t be so extravagant again.”




The Physician
Very good doctor who was very close with the pharmacist to make money.
Gold was the most important thing in his life.
Not religious, but very well read in philosophy.

Tale
Virginius was a night with a daughter named Virginia.
She was beautiful, sweet, and a virgin.
She faked sick to get out of many things.

One day Virginia went into town with her mother where Judge Appius saw her.
He was immeadiatley in lust with her.
His freind Claudius helped him divise a plan to bring a criminal case against Virginius and take Virginia as a slave.
Virginius killed his daughter so she wouldn't become a slave.
The whole town got involved and brought Judge Appius.
He was sentenced to a life in prison where he killed himself.
Virginius felt Claudius was taken advantage of and shouldn't be hung so he set him free.