Gentilesse
Moral Ballad of Chaucer
Whatever man claims to be noble must tread in the steps of Him Who was the first stock and father of nobility, and set all his wit to follow virtue and to flee from vices. For dignity belongs to virtue and not, I dare safely hold, to iniquity, even if one may wear a miter, crown, or diadem.
This first stock of nobility was full of righteousness, true of His word, calm, pitiful, generous, clean in spirit, and loved honorable diligence and not the vice of sloth; and unless, like Him, His heir will love virtue, though he may seem rich, he is not noble, even if one may wear a miter, crown, or diadem.
Vice may well be the heir to ancient wealth, but, as all may well perceive, nobody can bequeath to an heir virtuous nobleness (which is appropriated to no station, except to the Father, foremost in majesty, who makes that person who can best please him His heir) even if one may wear a miter, crown, or diadem.
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. Gentilesse. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
