Chaucer's Retraction
Chaucer's Retraction is the final section of the Canterbury Tales. It is written as an apology, where Chaucer apologises for the vulgar and unworthy parts of this and other past works, and seeks absolution for his sins.
- Wherfore I biseke yow mekely, for the mercy
- Of God, that ye preye for me that crist have
- Mercy on me and foryeve me my giltes;/ and
- Namely of my translacions and enditynges of
- Worldly vanitees, the whiche I revoke in
- My retracciouns:/ as is the book of troilus;
- the book also of fame; the book of
- The xxv. Ladies; the book of the duchesse;
- The book of seint valentynes day of the parlemen
- of briddes; the tales of counterbury,
- Thilke that sownen into synne;/ the book of the
- Leoun; and many another book.
