"There was a Franklin with him, it appeared; white as a daisy-petal was his beard. As Justice at the Sessions none stood higher; He often had been Member for the Shire. As Sheriff he checked audit every entry. He was a model among landed gentry" (p12).
"The Franklin's Tale" by Geoffrey Chaucer is an admirable, noble, honorable love tale which, in some ways intertwines with "the Knight's Tale." In both Tales it's a first sight love where marriage is a strong unbreakable bond where the women are not only the servants but the husbands to behind closed doors at least.
Arveragus, a noble knight in Brittany, pronounced his undying love for Dorigen, who "amongst the loveliest under the sun" and she came from family "so high a kind." Dorigen finally in the end "saw his worthiness" and felt ashamed for all the sorrow and anguish he had suffered and "took him as her beloved husband and lord".
Arveragus gave his promise as a knight that he would never darken her delight (p409). He took this promise to honor and obey her and all her love always keeping her first and never trying to use or abuse his authority against her, for that would bring shame upon his honor. With all his promises he had made to her Dorigen vowed to never break or harm the free run he set upon her and to be truthful, loving, caring, humble wife. They both vowed that if this not be true their hearts should be broken without a doubt. .
With all their love and obedience to each other they moved to his homeland. They lived a year of blissful love when he decided to go to Britain seeking higher arms and higher reputation in honor. He said he would only be gone a year, but was gone two years. .
Dorigen wept and moaned with soar for all the days he was gone. She made herself sick with worry. She would walk along the cliffs looking and watching the wave's crash on to the black rocks below praying to god that he would vanish the rocks for her husband's safe homecoming.
