Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas
Once everybody is done fawning over the Prioress's tale, the Host looks at Chaucer and says "Hey you. You look like a handsome guy who all the ladies love. How come you ain't said a thing to anybody yet today? I think you should go next." To which Chaucer replies, "Oh, well I really only know one rhyme I learned it a long time ago, and it's not very good." But the Host figures it must be a rare treat, so Chaucer begins:
Sir Thopas was a knight from Flanders, the son of a lord. His face was white, his lips were red, his skin was flush, and he had a nice nose. He had long blonde hair and wore a nice robe and stockings. He was a good hunter and archer and nobody could out-wrestle him. Women pined over him, but he was too chaste for all that.
Anyway he was out riding through the woods one day, where herbs and spices grow, and birds were singing. In fact, when he heard the dove sing, he spurred on his horse at a gallop like a crazy person. He rode so hard that eventually he fell off his horse, exhausted, and says (I guess to nobody in particular) that he's now aching for the love of an elf-queen, and no other woman will do. Then he gets back on his horse and keeps going.
He reaches the land of the faeries, where he runs into a giant named Sir Elephant. Sir Elephant tells Sir Thopas to get out because the elf-queen lives there, and if he doesn't leave he'll kill him. Sir Thopas says, okay, well I'm going to come back tomorrow and fight you. Then he goes back to town and rounds up the boys to help him get ready.
He eats a big meal, then he puts on pants and a shirt. Then a quilted tunic and chainmail. Then a hauberk. And a surcoat. Then he picked up his shield. Oh, and his greaves were boiled leather, and his sword's sheath was ivory. His helm, saddle, bridle, and spear were all very high quality too. Then he got on his horse and set out.
Also he slept out in a field that night, and then drank from a well the next day, along with his friend Sir Percivel who is apparently here even though this is the first time we're meeting him—
Here the Host stops Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas.