From The Belles of Canterbury: A Chaucer Tale Out of School by Anna Bird Stewart

O, try it then! (The PRIORESS sings to the tune of the Old English Ballad, "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.") Oh! We are Chaucer's children here, And well we love his name We live in hearts that hold him dear, Are nourished by his fame. Oh, listen now, while thus we sing Our songs of olden days, When court and king and common folk United, voiced his praise. When I was once a little lasse At Stratford-on-the-Bowe I hastened daily to my classe, My one dream was to know. I studied there, full seemly deep, With ne'er the smallest hint That other maids would some day weep, At seeing me in print. I thought of nothing but my booke, To make my mind grow fair So I'm afraid I never took The pains to do my hair! (She looks at the JUNIOR'S hair.) Perchance if now I went to school, And sought its culture wide, Of coiffures strange I'd learn the rule, And scorn what was inside. Oh, gentle Chaucer, could you see The world around us here, Perhaps you'd change your poetry And call no pilgrim queer And could you see the ladies' dress, And what they wear the while, You'd know what made the critics guess You had a simple style.

Second Nun Monologue from The Belles of Canterbury: A Chaucer Tale Out of School

Rehearse Second Nun's monologue