Chanticleer and Pertelote

This was one of the few stories I remember my Grandad "Pawdy" telling me when I was a wee one. I'm sure he embellished it a little because the entire story can get a little boring even for adults. Basically its the story of a coward rooster, Chanticleer, and his love interest, Pertelote, as put in writing around 700 years ago by Geoffrey Chaucer.

Read...

the original Middle English version, if you dare (can you believe people used to talk that way?)

or

a translated version that's a little easier to understand.

I once had a college professor that could read Middle English at full speed. It sounds beautiful when spoken, but it may as well be a completely different language.

Click here to hear a portion of The Nun's Priest's Tale (the story's actual title) read aloud.