KNYGHTES TALE

Theseus returns from the wars in Thebes and imprisons the brother knights Palamon and Arcite, who both vie for the affections of Theseus's fair daughter, Emily. Here's a fascinating and surprising performance from the world's leading experts on Chaucerian pronunciation. Chaucer's evolving tongue drew from a huge melting pot of ornate Norman and Latin word endings combined with guttural Celtic and German roots. The late Richard Bebb employs a heightened performance and complete command of the original Middle English to draw out the meter, meaning, and emotion of this somber and classically based selection from THE CANTERBURY TALES. This may not be the easiest listening, but hearing Chaucer's words as he heard them is well worth the effort. B.P. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]