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Chaucer Review.
http://www.jstor.org
ARE CHAUCER'S PILGRIMS
KEYED TO THE ZODIAC?
byWilliam Spencer
lore
It has been widely
drew on astrological
that Chaucer
accepted
in many places
in the Canterbury
the
Tales?not
least in depicting
it
to her tale.1 Equally
of Bath in the prologue
character of the Wife
is evident
char
that he used other literary sources in this particular
as I shall do
in proposing,
and so one must be cautious
acter-sketch;
can
in the
an
in this paper,
be discerned
that
pattern
astrological
of
of
General
the
sequence
Prologue.
pilgrims
follows
that nothing which
Let me say very clearly at the outset
should be read as denying
the other influences and schemata which
as for example
the corres
out?such
scholars have pointed
previous
and Clerk to the different
of the Knight, Parson, Plowman
pondence
in mediaeval
social writ
classes of society traditionally
distinguished
a
am
I
to
detail
of
the Gen
claim
that
every
fortiori,
ings. Nor,
going
or
is astrologically
eral Prologue
that
Chaucer,
determined,
poring
over his astrological
tomes, failed to recall other books, or to look out
at the living people of his time.2
of his study window
we
in common with
I
think
must recognize
that Chaucer,
However,
an immense
was
other
of
creative
many
artists,
integrating
capable
sources.
of
drawn
Hence
from
there is no
data
different
many
range
he
But
character
sketch.
of
any
evidently
single simple "explanation"
on his reading,
in
his
drew widely
and equally
evidently
reading
to present a hy
treatises. So I propose
cluded mediaeval
astrological
that the outlines of an overall plan, based on
pothesis which
suggests
in the sequence of the General
mediaeval
astrology, may be detected
sig
Prologue. This implies that many more details are astrologically
than has generally been supposed.
in setting out to create "wel
may consider Chaucer's
problems
characters:
nyne and twenty" different
quite a tall order. Dry den,
in an age which
think
still retained some traces of mediaeval
writing
was
not
inclusive
but
the
also
the
ing,
only by
impressed
diversity,
nificant
We
1.
2.
are to F. N. Robin
D 604-20
the passage
line references
(all my
Especially
2nd ed. [London,
See W.
Chaucer
son's Works
C. Curry,
of Chaucer,
1957]).
and the Mediaeval
2nd ed.
Sciences,
V, for a full
1960),
(London,
Chapter
discussion
of the use of astrology
here.
no doubt
as
of the "real-life
models"
evidence
pp.
117-18,
Curry,
thinking
in Some
presented
by J. M. Manly
not
to over-emphasize
is at pains
creation
of the character
of the Wife
New
the
Light
importance
of Bath.
on Chaucer
1926),
(London,
of astrology
in Chaucer's
are
148
pilgrims
chaucer's
keyed
to
the
zodiac?
ness
vision:
of Chaucer's
"Not a single character has escaped him."3
no
was
set
I believe
this
that
accident, but that Chaucer
deliberately
a
so
to
create
If
he
would
himself
human panorama.
comprehensive
sciences of human
surely turn, as a man of his age, to the mediaeval
on possible
were
sources
of information
the authoritative
types. They
to
variations.
risk
To ignore the sciences would
be
human
writing
nonsense
in mediaeval
terms; to use them would provide a firm ground
of humanity.
out some sub-species
plan, and guard against missing
with
its
four humours;
Two sciences offered themselves:
physiology,
seven
and
with
of
zodiac
twelve
the
planets. Astrology
signs
astrology,
was
the
richer
source
of material,
and
Chaucer's
countless
references
in his mind.4 He would undoubtedly
that it was very much
to
create a multiplicity
of characters,
wanted
if
he
prefer astrology
and the twelve-fold
zodiac appears to offer more scope than the seven
to the planets are much
references
planets. But against this, Chaucer's
to the zodiac.5
detail than his references
richer in psychological
them
If he opted for the planets, we might
expect him to present
i.e.
in the standard mediaeval
inwards,
order, from the outermost
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, etc. But testing this hypothesis
against the
the first pil
between
General
Prologue, we find no correspondence
the second pilgrim,
and hoary Saturn, or between
grim, the Knight,
the Squire, and "Juppiter so wys" (A 2786).
less obvious, order of planets was open to him, based on
Another,
their rulership of the signs of the zodiac, as follows:
to it show
1. Aries
2. Taurus
3. Gemini
4.
Cancer
5. Leo
6. Virgo
7. Libra
8. Scorpio
3.
4.
5.
ruled
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
by" Mars
Venus
"
" Mercury
Moon
"
Sun
"
Mercury
"
Venus
"
Mars
relevance
is of considerable
to the Fables
The whole
passage
(1700).
Preface
I am putting
forward.
to the theory
toward Astrology
Attitude
T. O. Wedel,
The Mediaeval
1920),
(New Haven,
on the increase
was
in astrology
that interest
generally
esp. Chapter
IX, shows
of
a high
in the writings
and reached
in fourteenth
point
century
England,
Chaucer.
In this
in
the tendency
of mediaeval
follows
Chaucer
astrologers
emphasis
than a reference
is little more
For them the zodiac
grid in the heavens,
general.
des
us in La Survivance
as Jean Seznec
reminds
are gods,
the planets
but
35
S.
Dieux
esp.
pp.
1940),
Antiques
(London,
WILLIAM SPENCER149
"
"
"
"
9. Sagittarius
10. Capricorn
11. Aquarius
12. Pisces
"
" Jupiter
Saturn
"
Saturn
"
Jupiter6
the
scheme has the advantage
of combining
the zodiac with
so
more
and
offer
would
Chaucer
options.
planets,
The twelvefold
is, I hope to show, the
pattern of signs and planets
hidden ground plan of the General Prologue. The rest of this paper is
to early astrological
to exploring
this hypothesis
devoted
by reference
room
is
for
details of the
there
salient
here
the
works,
only
though
a
in
to
treatment
evidence
the
fuller
present
future). All the
(I hope
and could therefore have been
I quote are pre-Chaucerian
authorities
seventeenth
consulted
except for William
Lilly, whose
by Chaucer,
in
lore.
wide
earlier
show
century writings
reading
This
THE KNIGHT (Aries/Mars)
Mars means war,
and those born under his influence make
good
soldiers. Ptolemy
says that Mars in an honour
(second century A.D.)
able position makes
his subjects "noble, commanding,
spirited, mili
the qualities
of leadership."7
has distin
The Knight
tary . . . with
Firmicus
"Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre."8
guished himself:
Maternus
invictos9
says that Mars faciet asperos
(third century A.D.)
has slain three
invincible
The Knight
fierce,
("will make
men").
in single combat,
to be on the winning
enemies
and seems always
. . .
Firmicus
that
Mars
will
make fortes: aequales
side.
adds
ignotos
& principalis
sibi
vendicantes
semper
insignia
("strong
potestatis
men,
recognizing
no
equals
.
.
. and
always
the
claiming
foremost
"Ful
is pre-eminent:
for themselves").
The Knight
emblems of might
the bord bigonne."
Albohazen
ofte tyme he hadde
Haly
(eleventh
Mars amator em armo
calls the man born under well-placed
century)
rum10 ("a lover of arms");
"he
and Chaucer
says of the Knight,
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
in any considerable
for this standard
be found
may
Authority
arrangement
was
of mediaeval
the
work
Chaucer
familiar
with
astrology.
undoubtedly
as many
in his writings
of the planets,
references
show.
"dignities"
Claudius
Classical
ed.
Loeb
Tetrabiblos,
Ptolemy,
Library
(London,
1956),
and trans. F. E. Robbins,
p. 353.
I give no line numbers
where
is to an easily-located
the reference
description
of a pilgrim
in the Prologue.
De Nativitatibus
Iulius
Firmicus
Book
Maternus,
(Venetiis,
III, p.
1497),
xlviiir.
Albohazen
Haly
Astrorum
Iudiciis
filius
(Ali
Abenragel
p.
(Basileae,
1551),
ibn Abi
170.
al-Rajjal,
Abu
al Hasan),
De
are
150
chaucer's
keyed
pilgrims
to
the
zodiac?
loved chivalrie." Alchabitius,
another mediaeval
Arab astrologer, notes
. . .
. . .
est significator
that Mars
peregrinationum11
("signifies
in
Bonatti
Guido
because,
journeyings
lands");
foreign
explains
hard
such journeys
involve much
century Florentine)
(thirteenth
an
is
he
Chaucer's
inveterate
hadde
traveller
ship.12
Knight
("therto
no
no
man
in
too
Cristen
this
he
riden,
equal ("No
ferre");
recognizes
man so ofte of his degree").
are not apparent
in
in the Mars character
Some vicious tendencies
us
views
Chaucer's
chivalrous Knight. But Chaucer
two
equally gives
a grim pagan deity
of Mars. The Knight's Tale presents
(A 2041-50),
but in the Complaint
refers to Mars as "thys worthy
of Mars, Chaucer
knyght"
(275),
(44) and as "patroun" of the hardy knights of renown
i.e.
patron
of
chivalry.13
the first sign of the zodiac, has for symbol the ram which
Aries,
leads the flock. In Aries the sun starts his yearly
journey, and Gower
/ The world."14
says the Creator "upon this Signe ferst began
Begin
"And at a
of the Knight:
ning and coming first are characteristics
the bord
than wol I first bigynne";
"Ful ofte tyme he hadde
knyght
. . I shal
bigonne." The lot aptly falls to him to tell the first tale (".
the game" [A 853]).
bigynne
cares
In Aries, Venus
is in detriment.15
the Aries character
Hence
The
clothes which
little for the gay and splendid
delight Venus.
turnout is poor; he is "nat gay" in attire; his tunic is "bis
Knight's
motered" with his iron mail; and iron is the metal of Mars.
THE SQUIRE (Taurus/Venus)
tells us that
Venus means
love, and the Squire is "a lovyere." Firmicus
venereos
desv
coitus
ardore
crebro
Venus
cupiditatis
subjects semper
with
intercourse
sexual
derent
desire
repeated
(xlviiiv, "constantly
The Squire: "So hoote he lovede that by nyghter
burning passion").
tale / He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale."
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Libellus
'Aziz
al
ibn
Isagogicus
('Abd
'Uthman,
al-Kabisi),
p. b iir.
(Venetiis,
1502),
De Astronomia
Tractatus
X (Basileae,
col. 103.
Guido
Bonatti,
1550),
in Jean Seznec's
in full armour
numbers
Mars
is shown as a knight
illustrations
artists
de
that mediaeval
frequently
64, 74, 75, 76 and 77, and it is evident
Alchabitius
thus.
him
picted
VII
Amantis,
Confessio
Gower,
in which
the world
bigan,/That
the diametrically
Since
she rules
in opposition
in detriment
when
below.
"Whan
that the month
Cf. Chaucer:
. ." (B2 4371-78).
March.
A planet
is always
sign of Libra.
opposite
to a sign which
it rules. Cf.
the Scholar,
995-96.
highte
WILLIAM SPENCER151
besides
love. Ptolemy
But Venus has other meanings
says that well
of
Venus
her
makes
fond
eager for
placed
subjects "cheerful,
dancing,
.
.
.
in
arts
of
the
haters
lovers
of
evil,
and,
beauty,
general, charming"
as one of the
is mentioned
(p. 357). Dancing
accomplish
Squire's
ments. Music-making
is another Venus aptitude: Albohazen
Haly says
eius magisteria
sunt in faciendo
6- sapientiae,
concordando
cantus,
are
instrumenta
and wisdom
sonos, tangendo
(p. 12, 'Tier magistery
in making
sweet sounds, playing mstruments").
The
songs, blending
he was,
Squire: "He koude songes make and wel endite"; "Syngynge
or floytynge,
al the day." In the same passage Haly
also says that
scribere
Venus often significat pulchre
("signifies beautiful
writing,,)
if Mercury
with
her; and Venus
represents
participates
by herself
The Squire
figurare 6- pingere
("to draw and paint?or
embroider").
could "weel purtreye
and write." Alchabitius
says Venus
signifies com
coronarum
and pul
of garlands")
positiones
(p. b iiir, "the weaving
ac mundiciam
vestimenta
etiam ir ornamenta
chritudinem
("beauty
and
elegance,
and
clothes
and
ornaments").
The
Squire
wears
magni
/ Al
ficently flowery clothes: "Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
to Firmicus,
have
ful of fresshe floures." According
Venus
subjects
venu
spissos capillos: aut molliter
flexos: aut gradata pulchritudinis
state componit:
aut crispos crinium facit (p. xlviiiv, "thick hair; either
or [Venus] arranges the hair charmingly
in beautiful
gently waving;
or
crulle as
she
makes
"With
The
lokkes
layers;
curly hair").
Squire:
were
in
they
leyd
presse."
sons (Bonatti, col. 108), and the Squire is the son
Venus represents
ex etate
of the Knight.
too, is sl Venus quality. Alchabitius:
Youth,
vel adolescentiam
habet inventutem
b
iiir,
ages
[Venus]
"among
(p.
a
anno
more
or
14
is
Bonatti
youth
precise:
signifies
adolescence").
usque ad 22 (col. 109, "from 14 to 22"). The Squire: "Of twenty yeer
of age he was, I gesse."16
in the Complaint
Chaucer
confirms
the overall picture
of Mars,
where he refers to Venus as the source and well
Of beaute,
lust, fredom, and gentilnesse,
Of riche aray?how
dere men hit selle!?
Of al disport in which men frendly duelle,
Of love and pley, and of benigne humblesse,
16.
It may
as he grew
a
be objected
that the Squire,
still remain
older, would
of Venus
But Chaucer
the Squire
subject
(cf. the Reeve,
presents
below).
in youth,
at a time when
is most
the Venus
influence
the
vivid.
Similarly
as an old man with
a white
is presented
of Saturn,
beard
Franklin,
subject
(see
below).
are
152
Of
soun
instrumentes
of
keyed
pilgrims
chaucer's
of
al
to
the
zodiac?
. . .
swetnesse.
(175-79)
lust, rich array, love and the sweet sound of music we have
Beauty,
re
already covered, but two other points are significant
(both would
ceive support from the astrologers).
men
in
"al
which
First,
disport
the Squire's
frendly duelle"; Chaucer mentions
jousting ability. Sec
and
the
ond, "gentilnesse"
"benigne humblesse";
Squire is described
as
"curteis
. . .
lowely,
and
servysable."
Chaucer
elsewhere
refers to May as the month when
the sun is in
"whan Phebus doth his bryghte bemes
in the
Taurus,
/
sprede,
Right
- Taurus.
white Bole" (Troilus II, 54-55),
link
the
May
establishing
the special appropriateness
Hence
of the Squire's being "as fressh as
is the month
of May."17 But May
is the month
of flowers
(as Chau
cer several times tells us in his writings),
is ruled by
and Taurus
and flowery
Venus, who
represents
beauty,
embroidery,
garlands?
roses, as Albricus notes.18 More
especially
garlands of red and white
over
is an
Taurus
earth
sign,19
and
"earth"
equals
meadow
("meede").
All this lends special point to Chaucer's
lines: "Embrouded was
it were a meede
and reede."
/ Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte
he, as
THE YEOMAN (Gemini/Mercury)
at this point reflects the need to provide
Yeoman's presence
the
some retinue, however modest.
has not yet hit
Chaucer
Knight with
of simply listing minor
characters without
upon the device
descrip
as
he
with
the
does
those who
the Prioress. However,
follow
tion,
us
is not inappropriate
since
Yeomen
tells
Alchabitius
astrologically,
servos
Chaucer
that Mercury
b
iiiv, "signifies servants").
significat
(p.
The
says,
"A Yeman
hadde
he
and
servantz
namo."
is also
and learning. Firmicus
the planet
of intelligence
Mercury
to
cuncta
discentes
the
phrase
Mercury
(p. xlixr,
applies
subjects
own
In
Yeoman
shows
this
his
modest
the
way
"learning everything").
18.
seems
not-uncommon
to contain
the May
This
often
Chaucerian
image
- Venus
so
association
Taurus
described
e.g. Aurelius,
(F 927-28),
implicitly,
to Venus"
is also "servant
(F 937).
a garland
was
See
of white
red roses.
Venus
shown wearing
and
typically
De
in the Fahularum
Liber
deorum
libellus
imaginibus
Albricus,
(included
exact date of the Libellus
of C. Iulius Hyginus
p. 165. The
[Basileae,
1570]),
is not known,
but it is in any case a summary
material.
of pre-Chaucerian
19.
Each
17.
its appropriate
the first four
has of course
element;
sign of the zodiac
then repeat
and this sequence
air, water,
respectively,
signs being
fire, earth,
seems
to be
sometimes
influenced
this
imagery
system.
by
ing. Chaucer's
below.
and Miller,
See esp. Monk
WILLIAM SPENCER153
wel koude he al the usage (my italics)?and
"Of wodecraft
tendency:
it is appropriate
because
should be of woodcraft,
that his knowledge
in
rebus
of
naturalibus
Albohazen
the
says
Mercury
subject:
Haly
is
versatur
in
is
of
Yeoman
versed
The
"he
171,
nature").
things
(p.
a skilled forester who
carries "ful thriftily" his "bright and kene"
arrows which
his takel
"Wel koude he dresse
"drouped
noght";
as
is
wel
his
of
"harneised
and
point
yemanly";
sharp
spere."
dagger
The Yeoman is not a learned man, but he is thoroughly versed in what
concerns
him.
is Chaucer's
to "pecock
curious
More
reference
telling, perhaps,
were used
arwes." Skeat's note, while
feathers
that
peacocks'
showing
to
for arrows, quotes Ascham's
that
the
effect
they were
Toxophilus
a stickler for
inferior to goose
feathers. Why
should the Yeoman,
efficient equipment,
arrows? Astrol
carry showy but inferior peacock
is
the
tail
the
decorated
with
ogy and mythology
explain:
peacock's
v.
is
Classical
And
there
eyes of Argus
(q.
Lempriere's
Dictionary).
a link between Mercury
and Argus,
since the decapitated
head of
shown in pictures
was regularly
Argus
(who was slain by Mercury)
as Albricus
of Mercury,
notes
(p. 165). So we have the association
can extend to read Yeo
Mercury
Argus
peacock, which Chaucer
man
-
Gemini
-
-
Mercury
-
Argus
peacock.
THE PRIORESS (Cancer/Moon)
est significatrix matrum
that the Moon
(p. b iiiir,
&
The
is
kind
Prioress
of
"signifies mothers").
mother-figure,
by virtue
of the religious office she holds. Paradoxically,
she is also a virgin,
. . .
and so expresses
link with Diana
the Moon's
("O chaste goddesse
- Moon
Goddesse
of maydens"
This link Prioress
[A 2297-2300]).
is made
Diana
clear by another detail. Elsewhere
Chaucer
depicts
Alchabitius
Diana
says
Prioress,
"with smale houndes
al aboute hir feet" (A 2076); and of the
uses much
Chaucer
the same phrase:
"Of smale houndes
hadde
she."
Bonatti
the mansion
of the Moon?"
and ex
asks, "Why is Cancer
cum Luna in foemineitate,
plains: quod concordat
mobilitate,
frigidit
the
ate, atque humiditate
(col. 36, "because
[Cancer]
agrees with
in femininity, mobility,
Moon
The Prioress
frigidity and humidity").
shows all four qualities:
her coyness, by her mealy
(1) femininity?by
mouthed
all conscience
and tender heart?perhaps
oaths, by being
even by her motto Amor vincit omnia;
emotions
(2) mobility?her
are easily roused, she is very impressionable,
she suffers if she sees a
ARE CHAUCER^ PILGRIMS KEYED TO THE ZODIAC?
154
or coolness?like
in a trap; (3) frigidity
Diana,
tiny mouse
caught
she is a virgin;
from
her
copious flow of tears
(4) humidity?evident
to her weep
second reference
("soore wepte
she"). This is Chaucer's
a
water
waters.
is
Moon
and
the
the
governs
ing: Cancer
sign;
signi
susceptibility,
saying that the Moon
Lilly stresses emotional
fies
"a
soft,
tender
creature
.
.
.
Timorous,
Prodigal,
and
easily
Prioress not only suffers over trapped mice, but also
Frighted."20
if
weeps
somebody hits one of her little dogs.
woman
is also a great lady. Albohali
Yet this tenderhearted
says the
with
in
autoritatis21
born
Moon
erit
Cancer
the
person
magnae
("will
be of great authority").
Firmicus
says the Moon makes men honoratos
and takes
The Prioress holds a high position,
(p. xlixv, "respected").
to
"to
estatlich
And
holden
been
of
ben
manere,/
pains
digne of rev
The
erence."
are noteworthy.
Two physical
Firmicus
details
says also that the
Moon makes her subjects magnos
Chaucer
corpore
("large-bodied");
of
says
the
Prioress,
"For,
hardily,
she
was
nat
undergrowe."
The
full moon
The Moon,
looms large in the heavens.
says Lilly, makes
"the face round, gray Eyes"
(p. 81); the Prioress has "even greye
as glas." The moon's
light is silvery or "grey," like the eyes of her
subjects.
MINOR CHARACTERS
read: "Another
The next lines in the Prologue
and preestes
she / That was hir chapeleyne,
so we
these pilgrims without
description,
seems
to
It
them.
and
zodiacal
signs
planets
the
Nonne with hire hadde
dismisses
thre." Chaucer
cannot very well
assign
fair to leave
them out of
scheme.
THE MONK (Leo/Sun)
his round face hot and
is the source of light and warmth,
"His
with perspiration:
So
Monk's
face
the
shines,
glistening
beaming.
that shoon as any glas,/ And eek his face, as he
heed was balled,
hadde been enoynt." Firmicus
says the Sun makes
(p.
corpulentos
suits exactly Chaucer's
xlixv, "corpulent men"), which
phrase "ful fat
The
20.
21.
Sun
2nd
treated
Christian
hooks,
of in three
modestly
Astrology,
Lilly,
p. 81.
1659),
ed., revised
(London,
Nativitatum
De
Iudiciis
Albohali
1549),
(Noribergae,
'Ali, al-Khaiyat),
(Abu
over
the nyghtes,"
hath
"the mone
(Tr III
lordshipe
caput xlv. Cf. Chaucer,
William
1756).
WILLIAM SPENCER 155
and in good poynt."
ir animam
Alchabitius
says that the Sun signifies regnum maximum
ir
& intellectum
vitalem & lumen ir splendorem
ir pulchritudinem
"the
b
and
mundiciam
iiv,
greatest
vitality,
fidem
rulership,
(p.
atque
and beauty
and elegance,
and light and spendour,
and intelligence,
and faith"). Analysing
this in terms of Chaucer's Monk:
(1) ruler
fair for the maistrie";
"to been an abbot able"; (2) vitality
ship?"a
?"a
"nat pale as a forpyned
goost";
light and
(3)
manly man";
Monk argues tendentiously
above; (4) intelligence?the
splendour?see
. . .
sieves purfiled
and elegance?"his
about theology;
(5) beauty
doubtful
with grys"; "his bootes
quantity.
souple," etc.; (6) faith?a
Firmicus
cautions:
fidei; sed inflatos
itaque homines
facit
plenos
full of
superbiae
spiritu sapientes
(p. xlixv, "[the Sun] makes men
own
a
The
in
with
their
of
faith, but puffed up
spirit
wisdom").
pride
Monk is opinionated:
"He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen. . . ."
and
Alchabitius
goes on to mention
(7) venationem
("hunting")
aurum
Monk
The
"lovede
venerie," and
(8)
plurimum
("much gold").
had a curious pin of gold.
too is a hunter. Marcus Manilius
The Lion
(first century A.D.)
stresses this quality
in the Leo subject: hos habet hoc studium, postis
. ,22
ornare superbos / pellibus
et captas domibus praefigere
praedas.
to
is
to
and
decorate
his
with
skins,
eager
("he
proud doorposts
The Monk's
fasten the spoils of the chase on his house").
eagerness
for the chase is evident:
"Of prikyng and of huntyng
for the hare /
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare."
Lilly describes Leo subjects as having "big Eyes starting or staring
writes
of the
out, or goggle-eyes,
quick-sighted"
(p. 95). Chaucer
. . ."
in his heed.
"His eyen stepe [i.e."bulging"],
Monk:
and rollynge
an
to
Leo:
He then adds
image appropriate
fiery Sun and fire-sign
".
. .That
stemed
as
a
forneys
of
a
leed."
THE FRIAR (Virgo/Mercury)
was
the messenger
of the gods, hence
is char
Mercury
eloquence
acteristic of the Mercury
ratiocina
Albohazen
bene
subject.
Haly says
tur & loquitur
So
(p. 171, "he reasons well and speaks eloquently").
Chaucer's Friar: "In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan / So muchel
of daliaunce
and fair langage." Haly also mentions
commercial
tenden
cies: hie etiam lucra diligit mercimoniorum
man
in
("this
delights
22.
Marcus
Manilius,
IV 180-81.
Astronomicon,
ed.
A.
E.
Housman
(Cambridge,
1937),
are
156
mercantile
Curteis
chaucer's
gain").
he
was.
pilgrims
The Friar:
keyed
to
the
zodiac?
"And over al, ther as profit
sholde
arise,/
. . ."
in a good position; but Haly says that when
refers to Mercury
or
natum
lo
afflicted,
Mercury
producit
fraudulentum,
ill-placed
non
vanum:
aliis
ir
hie etiam nititur
quacem
ipse
quod
persuadere
a fraudulent man,
talkative and vain; for
credit
(p. 171, "produces
to persuade
others what he does not believe
this person endeavours
a
is
fraud. Lilly
such
The
Friar
persuasive
just
himself").
loquacious,
...
a
a
wit
"A
troublesome
of
"bad"
Mercury:
gives
graphic picture
...
a
he
if
tale-carrier
false,
great lyar, boaster, pratler, busibody,
then a meer verball fellow" (pp. 77-78). The Friar is
prove a Divine,
a boaster:
As seyde hymself,
of confessioun,/
"For he hadde power
moore
all the other things Lilly men
than a curat." He is probably
. . . with worthy
and famulier
tions, since he was "ful wel biloved
wommen
of words
his religion is a mere matter
of the toun." Certainly
a
was
his
he
'In
Yet
have
wolde
?"So
/
ferthyng
principio,'
plesaunt
. . . ."That he is a
line "In
is perhaps
busybody
implied by Chaucer's
Friar
the
But
muchel
koude
he
ther
may
help."
equally
We-dayes
have some real skill to offer, for Bonatti says the Mercury
subject sciet
se intromittet, ir sciet ilia ducere
negotia multa, & de multis
disponere
to arrange many
how
"will
know
ad effectum
transactions,
112,
(col.
in a multitude
of these, and will know
involved
and will get himself
how to bring them to a successful
conclusion").
includes
with Mercury,
associated
of
sickness
Lilly
types
Among
The
in the Tongue"
and imperfection
"all stammering
(pp. 78-79).
cultivated.
Friar speaks with a lisp that he has deliberately
This
THE MERCHANT
(Libra/Venus)
and
and elegance
above),
(cf. the Squire,
signifies beauty
to his
clear the Merchant's
Chaucer makes
by references
elegance
bever hat" and "his bootes
"forked berd," his "Flaundryssh
clasped
faire and fetisly."
means
Libra, "the balance," has for symbol a pair of scales, and also
to Chaucer
that
This probably
in weight.
lb.?one
suggested
pound
of the sign. But
be an appropriate
a merchant
would
representative
in money. Moreover
of "?", a pound
Libra has a further meaning
as
indicated elsewhere
is associated with
Libra's ruler, Venus,
riches,
Venus
"And in a prive corner in disport
by Chaucer:
So we have
hire porter Richesse"
(PF 260-61).
ciations:
and
/ Fond I Venus
asso
of
this system
WILLIAM SPENCER157
Libra-Venus
(the scales)
(weighing)
Libra =
buying
lb.-Libra
and selling
=
?
money-riches
as a Libra/Venus
Hence
the Merchant,
thinks a great
representative,
encrees
deal about money,
of
th'
his
alwey
wynnyng";
"Sownynge
and he is adept at buying
it
and selling money,
probably weighing
in the process
in
to guard against debased
he
koude
coinage?"Wel
sheeldes
selle."
eschaunge
THE CLERK (Scorpio/Mars)
of Mars, as Aries is the positive. The
Scorpio is the negative mansion
in Aries,
and active
turn inward
in
outward
energies which were
the Martian
the Knight
Scorpio. Hence
goes
hardship which
(Aries)
out to meet
in his wanderings
and warfare,
the Clerk inflicts on him
self as asceticism?he
"nas nat right fat, I undertake,/
But looked
holwe, and therto sobrely."
is opposite Taurus
in the zodiac's
Scorpio
circle, so Venus
(ruler
of Taurus),
the symbol of joy, beauty and love, is in detriment
again:
Gower
"He harmeth Venus
and empeireth"
says of Scorpio,
(VII
to the Squire (Taurus/
1135). Thus the Clerk is in many ways opposite
the Squire is splendidly
is thread
the Clerk
Venus). While
dressed,
thredbare was his overeste courtepy"; and while
bare?"Ful
the Squire
is singing or fluting all the day, the Clerk is mostly
o
silent?"Noght
moore
word
was
he
than
is
the
while
the
neede";
spak
gay,
Squire
Clerk looks sober. The Clerk would
rather own twenty books "than
robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie": those very things dedicated
to
Venus?fine
clothes and musical
instruments?that
the Squire so much
enjoys.
the eighth house,
Scorpio, being the eighth sign, has affinities with
the "house of death." Hence
the link with necromancy
and other forms
of occultism.
This may be the point of Chaucer's word-play
on "phi
al be that he was a philosophre,/
Yet hadde he but
losophre"?"But
litel gold in cofre"?with
its hint at occult practices.
is a "mute" sign (the scorpion has no voice),
so Chaucer
Scorpio
are
158
chaucer's
pilgrims
keyed
to the
zodiac?
. .
stresses the Clerk's habitual
silence both here ("Noght o word
.")
and later when
the Host returns to the theme: "Ye ryde as coy and
stille as dooth a mayde"
(E 2), and "This day ne herde I of youre
a
word"
too, is silent, sober and "stille."
tonge
(E 4). Death,
THE MAN OF LAW (Sagittarius/Jupiter)
link Jupiter with
ascribes
The old astrologers
the law. Alchabitius
to Jupiter ex magisteriis
ad
que pertinent
legem
(p. bv, "magistery
over matters pertaining
to law"). He adds: ut iusta iudicia iudicare:
ir pacem inter homines mittere
and
("such as giving just judgements,
Chaucer
Of
of
between
the
says:
Law,
Sergeant
men").
making peace
"Justice he was ful often in assise."
Alchabitius
further says that Jupiter substantie
significat abundant
is a man of
iam ("signifies abundance
The Sergeant
of substance").
substance:
"Of fees and robes hadde he many
oon./ So greet a pur
chasour
was
noon."
nowhere
Alchabitius
concludes:
ir
est
planeta
and
ir usus ("and he is the planet of wisdom
intellectus
twice uses the word "wise" in his
and custom"). Chaucer
intelligence
in "his science"?
is evident
The Sergeant's
description.
intelligence
was
in effect"),
itself
to hym
his mastery
fee symple
of law ("Al
a
matter
custom which
follows:
of established
the Sergeant
largely
sapientie
"In
termes
ir
hadde
he
caas
and
doomes
alle.
. . ."
a man magnae
Albohazen
nobilitatis,
says that Jupiter makes
Haly
laudis ir magnae
famae (p. 169, "of great nobility, of high praise and
and "of
"ful riche of excellence"
great fame"). The Sergeant was
to
"his
renoun."
refers
Chaucer
and
reverence"
greet
heigh
reflects some of the wisdom
Thus at a human
level the Sergeant
so wys"
and excellence
of the divine Jupiter?"Juppiter
(A 2786)?
from
justice
Olympus.
dispensing
THE FRANKLIN
(Capricorn/Saturn)
ut homo senex, canus, prolixa
Albricus
tells us that Saturn pingebatur,
barba (p. 164, "used to be painted as an old man, grey-haired, with a
"Whit was his
first detail about the Franklin:
long beard"). Chaucer's
a man of advanced
is evidently
berd as is the dayesye." He
years.
Firmicus
refers to Saturn subjects as potatione multa
(p.
gaudentes
is
Saturn
is
because
This
"dry,"
xlviiv, "enjoying much
drinking").23
23.
sumentes
cibum
it by
modicum
Firmicus
rather
("eating
adding
spoils
eats hugely:
not to say that the Franklin
is careful
But Chaucer
moderately").
in his house.
Cf. note
is wonderfully
is simply
that food
the point
plentiful
25 below.
WILLIAM SPENCER 159
so his
a
are thirsty.24
subjects
Chaucer:
"Wel
loved
he by
the morwe
in wyn."
sop
to Saturn, when well
the attributes
Alchabitius
ascribes
placed,
in plenty
6- vere dilectionis
multe comestionis
(p. br, "of comestibles
and true delight").
Chaucer
says, "It snewed in his hous of mete and
later
drynke" and "To lyven in delit was evere his wone." Alchabitius
a surpris
as though confirming
to true delight,
repeats the reference
. . . verray
and so does Chaucer?"pleyn
delit
ing Saturn attribute,25
on
to
felicitee parfit." Alchabitius
say: ir significat cultus agrorum
goes
b- populationem
terrarum & fluminum
si fuerit fortunatus
("and he
in earth
and
the
of
signifies agriculture,
living things
multiplying
...
so
and rivers, if fortunately
"fissh
and
Chaucer:
flessh
placed").
a
in
And
"Ful
fat
hadde
he
many
many
muwe,/
plentevous";
partrich
a breem
In
and
a
many
luce
in
stuwe."
same
Saturn
Alchabitius
passage
says fortunately-placed
res
ir
ir
&
durabiles
hereditates
signifies among possessions
antiques
terre cultus
and
durable
old
and
inheritances
and
agricul
("things
ture"). The Franklin gives the impression of being an old-established
a man of wealth
and dignity,
inherited
landowner,
perhaps
having
a
was
his estate.
and
and
that
"lord
he";
housholdere,
greet,
("An
sire,"
the
etc.)
Saturn is old Father Time, Chronos. Time comes into
Slow-moving
sesons of the yeer,/
Chaucer's
"After the sondry
So
description:
he his mete
and his soper" and "His table dormant
in his
chaunged
halle alway/ Stood redy covered al the longe day."
Saturn is the planet of extreme cold, gravitatem
frigoris ("the weight
of cold") as Alchabitius
too, is the mid-winter
puts it.26 Capricorn,
the astrological
sign. Hence
rightness of Chaucer's wintry
image, "It
in his hous of mete and drynke."
snewed
THE GUILDSMEN
The
24.
25.
26.
eleventh
(Aquarius/Saturn)
sign, Aquarius,
is a standard
has
affinities
with
the eleventh
house.
attribute
of Saturn
col. 97),
and a
Dryness
(see e.g. Bonatti,
later authority,
of Saturn
satis bibunt,
Baptista
Porta,
explains
subjects,
quia
a lot, because
sicci
are dry").
drink
See his Coelestis
quite
("they
they
Libri
Sex
p. 24.
Physiognomoniae,
(Neapoli,
1603),
To astrologers,
Saturn
is the most malign
of planets?"the
infortune"
greater
as he
is called.
But
he has a good
too. And
side
in mythology,
evidently
Saturn's
with
the age of gold, when
all was
reign was
equated
happiness,
were
and the arts of agriculture
first learned
Hence
the abundance
by man.
of food.
Cf. Henryson's
of a frigid
in The
Saturn
Testament
graphic
description
of
Cresseid,
lines
148-68.
are
160
chaucer's
pilgrims
keyed
to
the
zodiac?
domus est pars amicorum
says undecima
(page unmarked,
c
to
"the
eleventh
house refers to friends"),
and Lilly
viir,
equivalent
of
"It
eleventh
the
doth
and
Friends
says
house,
represent
naturally
a
association
is
Such
Friendship"
friendly
represented
(p. 56).
by the
to a
must
since
different
Guildsmen
follow
who,
trades,
they
belong
are "clothed alle in o lyveree
social and religious fraternity. They
/
Of a solempne
and a greet fraternitee."
Alchabitius
?AND
THEIR COOK
the Aquarius
group includes a further pilgrim.
Oddly enough
(It has
as Robinson
were
notes [p. 660], that the Guildsmen
been suggested,
an interpolation).
carrier (a man
The symbol of Aquarius,
the water
a pitcher),
to Chaucer
the trade of
may have
carrying
suggested
is to be included under Aquarius,
cook. Certainly
for "on
the Cook
his shyne a mormal hadde he." Parts of the body are governed by dif
ferent signs of the zodiac, and the shins, as Bonatti
specifies, belong
crura a genubus usque ad cavillas pedum
to Aquarius:
(col. 56, "the
the knees as far as the insteps of the feet"). The
shins?from
legs?or
a malady
on his shin is, for good measure,
Cook's mormal
appropriate
to the ruler of Aquarius,
Saturn. Alchabitius
says Saturn signifies ex
ir melancholicos
(p. br, "among in
flegmaticos
infirmitatibus morbos
and W. C.
and
melancholic
of
diseases
firmities,
origin"),
phlegmatic
a
to
is
that
mormal
show
authorities
by the
produced
Curry quotes
or
with
mixed
salt
of
of
natural
melancholia
melancholia
corruption
ut
multum
habet
Bonatti
Saturn
Morover
says
sig
(p. 48).
phlegm
non curantur
incurable
(col. 99, "often signifies
nificare morbos
qui
incurable.
and the Cook's mormal was presumably
diseases"),
Cook
of selling stale,
the
Later we find the Host
jokingly accusing
a
soold
hastow
of
Dovere
food
/ That hath
("many
Jakke
fly-blown
Bonatti
twies hoot and twies coold"?A
says badly
4347-48).
natus
ir sordidis
utetur
Saturn
aquis
putridis
significat
quod
placefl
. . . i? comedet pisces
6- carries putridas
(col. 99, "signifies
putridos
that is putrid and sordid . . . and he
that the native27 will use water
ex
The Cook evidently
fish
and
devour
will
putrid meat").
putrid
customers.
to
his
this
tends
courtesy
ir mali odoris, ac si sit de foetore
Bonatti
also says erit foetidus
foetid
and of an evil smell, as from a
will
be
hircino
(col. 98, "he
levels similar accusations
The Manciple
against
stinking he-goat").
been
27.
"The
born,"
native"
whose
is of
course
horoscope
term
the regular
or nativity
is being
in astrology
studied.
for
the
"one-who-is
WILLIAM SPENCER 161
the drunken
Cook,
"Fy, stynkyng
"thy breeth
(H 40).
saying
swyn!"
ful soure
stynketh"
(H 32)
and
THE SHIPMAN (Pisces/Jupiter)
Marcus Manilius
Pisces as follows?I
describes
in 1700:
Creech's
translation published
quote
from Thomas
Last double
Pisces, from their shining scale,
influence, and incline to Sail;
Spread watry
To trust their Lives to Seas, to plow the Deep,
or to build a Ship.
To make fit Rigging,
In short, what e're can for a Fleet be fram'd
A thousand Arts, too numerous
to be nam'd.
Beside to steer, observe the Stars, and guide
As they direct, and never lose the Tide;
To know the Coasts, the Winds,
the Ports, and Shores;
or ply the bending Oars;
To turn the Helm,
To sweep smooth Seas with Nets, to drag the Sand,
to the Land,
And draw the leaping Captives
or with unfaithful
bait,
Lay cheating Wires,
The Hook conceal, and get by the deceit:
To fight at Sea, to stain the Waves with blood,
Whilst War
lies floating on th'unstable flood.28
are noteworthy:
a sea
is identified with
parallels
(1) Pisces
life like the Shipman's.
Manilius
stresses
the
going
(2)
knowledge
to navigate a ship. Chaucer
necessary
says of the Shipman:
Four
But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
His herberwe,
and his moone, his lodemenage,
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle
to Cartage.
He also "knew alle the havenes"
and "every cryke."
(3) Manilius
refers to bloody battles
at sea. Chaucer
writes:
"If that he faught,
and hadde
the hyer hond,/
to every
By water he sente hem hoom
lond." (4) Manilius mentions
in reference
deceit (fraudem),
to catch
of wyn
ing fish. The Shipman practises deceit: "Ful many a draughte
had he ydrawe
whil
that the chapman
/ Fro Burdeux-ward,
sleep."
Fraud and deceit are also typical of a person with
badly-placed
Jupi
ter. Bonatti
says he will be versatus circa diabolicas
operationes
(col.
28.
See Manilius,
IV 273-89.
are
162
101,
void
chaucer's
keyed
pilgrims
to
the
zodiac?
is de
with
diabolical
The Shipman
"pre-occupied
activities").
of moral scruples: "Of nyce conscience
took he no keep."
THE DOCTOR (Aries/Mars)
has
Chaucer
the Doctor.
second cycle of the zodiac begins with
use
now
his
most
and
used
familiar
the
up
by
astrological material,
of the remainder has to be rather more selective and arbitrary.
like
of Mars, because,
But clearly the surgeon
is a representative
instru
iron
and
the soldier, his job entails wounds,
cutting
bleeding
not
ments.
of medicine,
Bonatti
the whole
says that Mars
signifies
cum
medicinae
Et
solus
opus
just surgery:
fuerit
significator,
significat
tarn chirurgiae,
quam alterius partis medicinae
(col. 104, "And when
A
both surgery
he signifies medical
[Mars] is sole significator,
practice,
covers this in his description
and other kinds of medicine").
Chaucer
of the Doctor:
"In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,/ To speke
of
phisik
and
of
surgerye.
. . ."
Chaucer
then goes on to give
in astronomye"
doctor
"grounded
W. C. Curry
(pages 3-36).
It is worth noting that Chaucer
a vivid
(i.e.
contemporary
astrology),
portrait
as discussed
of a
by
"He was a ver
"He was
and of the Knight
ray, parfit praktisour,"
(also Aries/Mars),
a verray, parfit gentil knyght." "Verray, parfit" is not a common phrase
in his original works
in Chaucer:
in only one other place
it occurs
once
this
in
his
and
translations
(Bo III, pr. 9, 149). Was
(I 106)
source
some
in
for
consulted
Chaucer
which
Aries/
phrase
astrological
Mars?
THE WIFE
OF
says of the Doctor,
BATH
(Taurus/Venus/Mars)
is Taurus/Venus
We
because Chaucer
know the Wife
says so: "Myn
me
was
"Venus
lust
ascendent
Taur"
yaf my
(611). But
(D 613),
"Mars
ther
is marred
has
the ascendant
her horoscope
because
sign
in
are powerful:
therefore
inne" (613). Two planets
Mars, by being
the
29.
ascendant;
Venus,
because
she
is
ruler
of
the
ascendant
sign.29
is also ascendant
that Venus
page
93,
(see p. 94, diagram
conjectures
Curry
with
but Chaucer
in conjunction
and therefore
and note
Mars,
3, p. 329),
Venus
enter
into a full discussion
here but, briefly,
does not say this. I cannot
the ascendant
since
she rules
in any case be powerful
would
sign Taurus;
of seinte Venus
the prente
seel"
statement
"I hadde
and the Wife's
(D 604)
of
the unmistakable
bear
and person
stamp
may
"my character
simply mean
Venus."
WILLIAM SPENCER 163
The
result
is a
coarser,
more
frankly
animal,30
more
aggressive
per
sonality than that of the Squire.
The Wife
She is much
clearly shows the influence of both planets.
concerned with
love (Venus),
but her marriages
have a background
of strife and violence
(Mars "that god is of bataylle" HF 1447). She
so
feels intense anger (Mars)
if other women
precede
her?"certeyn
wrooth was she, / That she was out of alle charitee."
Like the Squire, she loves fine clothes
coverchiefs
(Venus)?"Hir
ful fyne weren
of ground";
and her occupation
is cloth-making
as Manly
(Venus). But possibly her taste in dress is not impeccable,
so
and
if
is at
the
of
Mars
influence
suggests
(p. 230),
coarsening
work. Mars
shows his colour in her stockings
of "fyn scarlet reed"
show in her florid face:
(cf. "rede Mars" LGW 2589). Both planets
"Boold was hir face" (Mars) "and fair" (Venus)
"and reed of hewe"
on her
And
his
has
left
birth-mark
Mars, being ascendant,
(Mars).
face?and
elsewhere
(619-20).
to foreign travel (Mars, cf. the Knight)?"thries
She is addicted
hadde she been at Jerusalem," etc. She has sharp spurs (Mars, blood/
ends her description
with
the joyful, playful,
iron). But Chaucer
amorous
influence of Venus:
"In felawshipe
wel koude
she laughe
. . . For she koude of that art
and carpe.
[love] the olde daunce";
with a final image of dancing, a Venus pastime
(cf. the Squire).
THE PARSON (Gemini/Mercury)
Bonatti makes clear a link between Mercury
and religion: Et significat
Mercurius
aestimationem
ir cogitationem
dilectionis
Dei
(col. 112,
"And Mercury
signifies setting value on, and thinking about, pleasing
God"),
adding erit bonae fidei & catholicae
opinionis
("he will be of
and catholic opinion").
faith
This of course refers to Mercury
good
we have already seen the unfortunate
results of badly
well-placed:
in
the
Friar.
placed Mercury
The Parson is also "a lerned man, a clerk," reflecting
another Mer
the Yeoman, above). Bonatti,
cury quality
("learning everything,>?see
then tells us that Mercury
quoting Alchabitius,
significat ex operibus
et rethoricam
opera quae generant
veritatis,
cognitionem
("signifies,
30.
Mars
is associated
with
the animal-instinctive
side of sex; Alchabitius
says
he signifies
coitus
the two signs
feditatem
p. b iir). Of
("sexual
foulness,"
Mars
the reproductive
the genitals
governs
rules, Aries
instinct,
Scorpio
(see
cols. 22 and 55). The Wife
makes
several
rather blatant
Bonatti,
references
to the genitals
in her Prologue.
a
more
aesthetic
Venus,
acting
alone, produces
to love.
approach
are
164
pilgrims
chaucer's
keyed
the
to
zodiac?
of the truth, and also
labours, those which produce knowledge
the truth by preaching,
rhetoric"). The Parson's
job is to disseminate
i.e. rhetoric. Bonatti adds: Et si fuerit effectus clericus, erit bonus ir
a cleric, he will be a
placabilis
praedicator
("And if he was made
us
that the Parson "Cristes
Chaucer
tells
good and pleasing preacher").
he
His
wolde
gospel
preche;/
parisshens
devoutly
trewely wolde
among
teche."
significat philo
finally quotes Afla as saying that Mercury
erit bonus moralis
6*
ir scripturam,
ir proverbia:
sophiam,
auguria,
he will be
("signifies philosophy,
scripture and proverbs;
prophecies,
and
Parson
is
and
and
The
ethical,
good
ethical").
certainly
good
tells us that he first wrought
and then taught:
Chaucer
Bonatti
Out of the gospel he tho wordes
caughte,
And this figure he added eek therto,
That if gold ruste, what
shal iren do?
?showing
his use of scripture
in his preaching.
and proverbs
THE PLOWMAN (Cancer/Moon)
Firmicus
honestos:
says the Moon
magnos
makes
corpore
(p.
homines
xlixv,
stabiles:
"men
who
honoratos:
are
stable,
ordinatos:
respected,
is just such a steady,
The Plowman
orderly, honest,
large-bodied").
"A trewe swynkere and a good was he,/Lyvynge
honest countryman:
to the effect
in pees and parfit charitee." Bonatti quotes Alchabitius
that,
among
labours,
the Moon
governs
opera
aquarum
atque
and earth, and
cultum
(col. 115, "works of water
to
is
The
Plowman
"dyke" (dig water ditches)
willing
ture").
as "delve" (till the earth), and agriculture
is his occupation.
ir
terrae
terrarum,
agricul
as well
THE MILLER (Leo/Sun)
version of the Monk,
is a cruder, plebeian
the Miller
In some ways
as
the Monk
earlier. The Host describes
who
Leo/Sun
represented
the
for
A
wel
of
and
of brawnes
"therwithal
bones,/
farynge persone
'The Millere was a stout carl for the
nones"
Compare:
(B2 3131-32).
and eek of bones." The verbal
Ful byg he was of brawn,
nones;/
in
has
the great size and muscular
mind
is striking. Chaucer
parallel
the
strength of the Lion, and
subjects, reflecting
strength of Leo/Sun
to other planets.
Sun
of
the
size and vitality
the power,
compared
man
in
and
a
Leo
and
with
born
Sun
describes
Albohali
angular
and
as
ir
strong"). Lilly de
magnus,
fortis (caput xlii, "big
diurnal,
WILLIAM SPENCER 165
as usually "of a good, large and strong Corpora
scribes Sun-subjects
as "strong, valiant and active"
ture" (p. 70), and the Leo-subject
(p.
at
The
"wolde
have alwey the ram./ He was
Miller,
96).
wrestling,
short-sholdred,
brood, a thikke knarre."
Lilly ascribes to Leo a "great round Head"
(p. 95), and to the Sun
says of the Sun
subject "a round, large Forehead"
(p. 70). Bonatti
est in capite
subject, virtus eius & potestas maxime
(col. 107, "his
lie chiefly in his head"). Hence
the Miller,
if he
strength and power
cannot heave a door off its hinges, can always "breke it at a rennyng
with his heed."
Alchabitius
says the Sun signifies imperium vocis
(p. b iiv, "a com
we
out
later find the Miller roaring
in his "Pilates
manding
voice") and
voys" (A 3124), and insisting on having his way. Lilly says the Sun
to Rule and Sway where
he
subject has "a kind of itching desire
even overrules
comes" (p. 70), and the drunken Miller
the Host
(A
3132-35).
is no direct evidence
There
aurum plurimum
(Alchabitius,
ex substantia
the Miller possesses
b
much
iiv, "among possessions,
p.
a thombe of gold, pardee." Gold
is the
that
yet he hadde
gold")?"And
metal of the Sun.
Since Leo is a fire sign, Chaucer
gives us another
furnace-image,
like the one used earlier about the Monk.
The Miller's mouth
"as
greet was as a greet forneys." Here we see the Lion opening his huge
jaws and roaring like the hot blast from a furnace.
THE MANCIPLE
Mercury,
as we
(Virgo/Mercury)
have
noted,
signifies
servants
(see
the
Yeoman,
above).
is a servant of many masters?"of
The Manciple
maistres
hadde he
mo than thries ten." Another Mercury
characteristic
which
he shows
is intelligence.
Albohazen
natum
subtilis
says Mercury
Haly
fovet
a
intellectus 6- cogitationis
native
"fosters
of
subtle
intellect
171,
(p.
and thought").
is no learned man, but his native wit
The Manciple
enables him to outpace
less mercurial minds:
is nat that of God a ful fair grace
Now
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wisdom
of an heep of lerned men?
The Manciple
we saw to be
his intelligence
in commercial
which
matters,
of
the Friar, above). He
is
typical
Mercury
(compare
"wise in byynge of vitaille."
But there is special interest in the fact that those he outwits
are
shows
are
166
chaucer's
pilgrims
keyed
to
the
zodiac?
(Man
lawyers
lawyers. We have seen that Jupiter is associated with
and in the sign Virgo,
of Law, above);
the planet Jupiter is in detri
is at a dis
since it rules opposing
Pisces. That
ment,
is, Jupiter
in
situation by
this
Chaucer
dramatises
Virgo.
astrological
advantage
men
are
made
fools of
that
the
of
the
Law
great
showing
(Jupiter)
on
own
his
the
(in
(little Mercury)
by
insignificant Manciple
ground
sette hir aller cappe." And the lawyers seem
Manciple
Virgo)?"this
Chaucer
calls Mercury
elsewhere
hardly aware that it is happening.
"the slye" god (F 672), and Lilly says "he is the author of subtilty,
tricks, devices, perjury, &c." (p. 77).
THE REEVE (Libra/Venus)
the weighing
As manager
of an estate, the Reeve probably
supervises
=
We
have noted
the
and pricing of produce
scales, lb., ?).
(Libra
above
the Merchant
of Venus with riches in discussing
the association
of
th'encrees
is
Merchant
The
"sownynge
alwey
(also Libra/Venus).
is very wealthy?"ful
riche he was astored
his wynnyng";
the Reeve
pryvely."
as a pair of scales, aims to keep the balance
level, including
writes
of
the Merchant,
Chaucer
balance?for
the
financial
evidently
"ther
no wight
in dette," and of the Reeve,
that he was
"ther wiste
koude no man brynge hym in arrerage."
to please his
is a beguiling
Venus
charmer, and the Reeve manages
lord while
actually cheating him?
Libra,
His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood
to Venus.
in return fine clothing appropriate
?receiving
But there is a sinister side to the Reeve's
nature, due I think to
of blend
is trying again the experiment
Saturn's influence. Chaucer
This
as
Bath.
of
Wife
a
he
did
with
the
with
Venus,
ing malign planet
to
the
he
rood
comes out clearly in the Reeve's
lag ("evere
tendency
tarditatem
oure
since
Saturn
of
("tardi
signifies
route"),
hyndreste
is
col. 99). The choice of Saturn is apt, for the Reeve
ness," Bonatti,
A
and
olde
an old man
writeth
white
myne
3869)
yeris,"
top
("This
and by
he by the droghte
with
("Wel wiste
agriculture
of his seed and of his greyn")?both
the reyn / The yeldynge
appro
us
Moreover
Bonatti
tells
Franklin
to
the
Saturn
above).
(cf.
priate
in
"those
that Saturn signifies eos qui praesunt
100,
(col.
operibus
concerned
WILLIAM SPENCER167
overseer whose
is a much-feared
and the Reeve
charge of work")
are "adrad of hym as of the deeth"
subordinates
(death too is linked
with cold Saturn31).
it is
rarely laugh, says Bonatti;
Saturn-subjects
their way semper esse tristes ir malarn voluntatem
habere
(col. 100,
"to be
follows
and full of ill-will"). When
always gloomy
general
laughter
the Miller's bawdy
tale, the Reeve begins to "grucche" A 3863
on old age (= Saturn),
into a gloomy meditation
98),32
launching
which
includes such saturnine
imagery as rotten fruit and old ashes.
If we detect a streak of wry humour here, it shows the influence of
all but overpowered
of Saturn.
playful Venus,
by the cold weight
a
The Reeve
is
that
he
like
with
"an
hoor
and a
heed
leek,
implies
the hoar head is hoary Saturn, but the green
grene tayl" (A 3878):
his
like
"coltes
the promptings
of Venus.33
tail,
tooth," represents
The gay music and dancing of Venus have become
a macabre
spright
liness: "We hoppen alwey whil the world wol pype" (3876).
THE SUMMONER (Scorpio/Mars)
Alchabitius
ascribes to Mars, among infirmities, febres calidas ir san
alabraha que est rubedo corporis cum
guineas ir pustulas
sanguineas
ir feditate
asperitate
fevers, and the san
(p. b iir, "hot and sanguine
of 'alabraha' which
is a reddening
of the body, with
guine pustules
The Summoner has a "fyr-reed cherubynnes
roughness and filthiness").
to red Mars, complete with pustules
face" appropriate
("the knobbes
to Mars
Bonatti also ascribes
such skin dis
sittynge on his chekes").
eases as sanguine pustules
and impetigo,
and rubidines
adventicias,
quae fiunt in corpore praeter naturam cum asperitate
atque foeditate
occur unnaturally
in the
rednesses which
(col. 104, "adventitious
with
ac
and
Summoner
The
body
roughness
filthiness").
probably
or
his
made
it
in
his
habits.
worse,
disease,
quired
by being filthy
that the Summoner
is suffering from alopecia,
termed
Curry considers
a form of leprosy, but confused
in the mediaeval
mind with venereal
disease acquired by consorting with filthy and infected women
(pp.
an association with venereal
Since Scorpio rules the genitals,
37-47).
31.
32.
33.
is slow Time
men
who
down.
Bonatti
says Saturn
scythes
signifies
mortis
of death").
(col.
100, "causes
Chaucer
a car
that the Reeve
had been
explains
this, of course,
by saying
but it remains
"in character."
penter
(A 3861),
very much
Note
that the same phrase
is also applied
"coltes
tooth"
to herself
by the Wife
of Bath?another
Venus
character
(D 602).
Saturn
causas
168
are
chaucer's
pilgrims
keyed
to
the
zodiac?
is certainly
lecherous
would
be appropriate.
The Summoner
as
was
as
we have
a
and
hoot
he
lecherous
and
Mars,
("As
sparwe")
lustful side of sex (Wife of Bath,
seen, is associated with the animal,
above, and note 30).
disease
also aggravates
his condition
The Summoner
by eating garlic, on
to
ions and leeks, and drinking
wine.
ascribes
Alchabitius
red
strong
or
Mars ex saporibus amarmum
b
the
iir,
flavours,
pungent
(p.
"among
and among herbs associated
with Mars, Lilly
specifically
bitter");
mentions
onions, garlic and leeks (p. 68). The fact that the Summoner
to Mars.
prefers his wine "reed as blood" is also clearly appropriate
THE PARDONER (Sagittarius/Jupiter)
of the bad side
showed
The Shipman's
lack of conscience
something
is another bad Jupiter character. Albohazen
of Jupiter. The Pardoner
in his birth-chart will
says that the man with Jupiter ill-placed
Haly
ir loco
in aliqua mala
be loco casti ir religiosi credens
credulitate,
ir
loco
mansueti
ir
loco
nobUitatis
homines,
timidus,
vilipendet
in
"instead
of
malis
Mud
loco
collocabit
bonum
169,
pure
(p.
faciendi
in all kinds of evil credulity;
and instead of
and religious, believing
men
will
and
instead
of
he
noble,
timid;
cynically;
regard
being
gentle,
is good into an evil set
and instead of doing good, he will put what
his
to the general drift of this. With
conforms
ting"). The Pardoner
is
as
he
other
off
and
bones"
frauds,
relics,
bring
holy
passed
"pigges
is also a thoroughgoing
is good into disrepute.
He
cynic,
ing what
himself he certainly
and though not credulous
encourages
credulity
circa dia
in others. Bonatti
tells a similar story: he will be versatus
studebit
sub spem hypocrisis
bolicas
(col. 101, "pre
operationes,
he will be concerned with hypo
activities,
occupied with diabolical
is diabolical
and he raises
The Pardoner
critical hopes").
enough,
customers.
in
his
hopes
hypocritical
Bonatti
electionis
adds
that he will
be malus,
laboriosus,
debilis,
insipiens
of
foolish, causing
trouble,
pravae
depraved
("evil, weak,
timidus
The word debilis
("weak") and Haly's word
inclinations").
us
the
Pardoner
are
interest.
tells
that
Chaucer
of
special
("timid")
has a voice "as smal as hath a goot." He has no beard, nor ever will
or a mare." Firmicus
have: he is in fact "a geldyng
says that when
ir omni
viribus:
native
will
be
is
the
deficiens
badly placed,
Jupiter
means
this
licentia
translated,
(p. xlviiir). Literally
potestatis
privatus
WILLIAM SPENCER 169
"lacking
gives"
in strength,
(i.e.
weak
and deprived
and
powerless,
of all the freedom
one
might
say,
which
as
strength
a woman?"a
some hint of "lacking
in virility,
but there is also probably
of all power
of licentiousness"
geld
(i.e. emasculate?"a
in his graphic phrase,
has covered both possibilities
yng"). Chaucer
is
since the symbol of Sagittarius
using an appropriate
horse-imagery,
a centaur?a
man with the lower parts of a horse.
mare");
deprived
that though
the reader will
the evidence
see, I believe,
Weighing
is
not
and
clear-cut
free
from over
mediaeval
completely
astrology
are
"hits"
too
successful
achieved
many
by
lapping between
planets,
the theory to be explained by chance alone. The sceptical reader may
to Saturn,
the Squire
like to try a negative
test, such as matching
the Knight
to Venus, and the Prioress to Mars; I do not think he will
succeed. Despite
retains its own
each planet
marginal
overlapping,
distinct identity.
definite check
theory gains strength from a number of unusually
a
we
The
of
is
since
Wife
Bath
such
know her to
fixed
points.
point,
be Taurus,
i.e. the second sign in the second cycle. Counting
back
two pilgrims and two signs, we come to 12. the Shipman, who
wards
locks on to sea-going
Pisces.
clearly
Just before him comes 11. the
a mormal
on his shin (Aquarius).
Cook with
start of the first
The
2. the Squire
cycle is equally clear: 1. the Knight = Aries/Mars/war;
= Taurus/Venus/love.
is the Yeoman,
Next
rather indistinct. But 4.
the Prioress = Cancer/Moon/Diana/small
and 5. the Monk
hounds,
=
face are firm. Thus the two ends of the first cycle
Leo/Sun/shining
are established,
with adequate
intermediate
locking points such as 9.
=z
the Man of Law =
and 10. the Franklin
Sagittarius/Jupiter/law
is
food. The
second cycle
and
Capricorn/Saturn/much
incomplete,
therefore beyond
the Wife
of Bath is rather more
in my
conjectural
=
head looks well-estab
mind,
though 5. the Miller
Leo/Sun/strong
and
the
red-faced
Summoner
and effeminate
Pardoner
lished,
bring
The
up
the
rear.
and consider the
Finally one must stand well back from the material
likelihood of Chaucer's using such a hidden astrological
plan. It makes
sense in terms of what we know about the man and his
age. His in
tention was
to shape his General
a
into
microcosm
of the
Prologue
to
a
create
human
in the
the
universe,
pageant matching
pageant
heavens. This at any rate is my conviction.
But if I have failed to
him of the validity of the
carry the reader with me, and not convinced
overall scheme, I hope he will have been rewarded
in
by occasional
170
are chaucer's
pilgrims
sights along the way?insights
ogers may still yield valuable
34.
which
material
keyed
to the
zodiac?
astrol
suggest that the mediaeval
to the student of Chaucer.34
of Sussex,
of the University
thanks
Matthew
go to Professor
Hodgart
My
on
criticism
his helpful
for his guidance
and advice
of my
reading,
England,
to Mr.
Prior
Latin
of this paper;
for checking
the presentation
my
Roger
a
to Mrs.
for answering
and
translations;
Joan Rodgers
by correspondence
on astrology.
query
Crawley College, Sussex, England