General Prologue

The Prologue to the Friar's Tale

The Knight's Tale

The Friar's Tale

The Miller's Prologue

The Prologue to the Summoner's tale

The Miller's Tale

The Summoner's Tale

Prologue of the Reeve's Tale

The Prologue of the Scholar's Tale

The Reeve's Tale

The Scholar's Tale

Prologue of the Cook's Tale

The Prologue of the Merchant's Tale

The Cook's Tale

The Merchant's Tale

Introduction to the Sergeant-at-law's tale

Epilogue to the Merchant's Tale

The Sergeant-at-law's tale

The Squire's Tale

Epilogue of the Sergeant-at-law's tale

Epilogue to the Squire's Tale

The Sea captain's tale

The Franklin's Tale

The Prioress' tale

The Doctor's Tale

The Prologue to Sir Topaz

The Prologue of the Doctor's Tale

Sir Topaz

The Prologue to the Pardoner's Tale

The Prologue to the tale of Melibeus

The Pardoner's Tale

The tale of Meleibeus

The Prologue of the second Nun's Tale

The Prologue of the Monk's tale

The Second Nun's Tale

The Monk's tale

The Prologue of the Cannon Assistant's Tale

Prologue of the Nun Priest's Tale

The Cannon Assistant's Tale

The Nun Priest's Tale

The Manciple's Prologue

Epilogue to the Nun Priest's Tale

The Parson's Prologue

The Prologue of the Wife of Bath's Tale

The Parson's Tale

The Wife of Bath's Tale

Author's Valediction

During the time of King Arthur, a knight assaulted a young woman.  He was condemned to death, but the Queen begged Arthur to spare his life.  The Queen was given authority over the life or death of the knight, and she gave him a riddle.  She asked him to find the thing that women most desire, and she gave him a year to search for the answer, in any way he liked.  He searched in vain, until he came upon an old and ugly woman.  He asked her the question, and she promised to give him an answer, providing that he would marry her if she gave him the answer.  He agrees, and he returns to the Court to explain the answer in front of the Queen and lots of royal people.  The answer he gives is that women desire to have mastery over their husbands.  Then, the old woman speaks, and tells the Queen about her arrangement with the knight, who tries to back out of it, but he has to marry the old woman, and is miserable with her. 

His wife, knowing that he is depressed, makes him an offer. She shows him the virtues and vices of both a young wife and an old wife, and asks him to choose her young and promiscuous, or old and faithful.  The knight tells her that she should decide which way she thinks is best.  The wife, having gotten mastery over her husband, praises him for his wise choice, and vows to give him both beauty and loyalty.