Chaucer in translation By Britt Lewis | March 30, 2010 As part of ASU's celebration of Chaucer – March 31 to April 2 – here is an excerpt from "The Summoner's Tale" that compares Chaucer's text to a modern translation. Wikipedia translation: This friar boasts that he knows hell, Wikipedia translation: And God knows that it is little wonder; Wikipedia translation: Friars and fiends are seldom far apart. Wikipedia translation: For, by God, you have ofttimes heard tell Wikipedia translation: How a friar was taken to hell Wikipedia translation: In spirit, once by a vision; Wikipedia translation: And as an angel led him up and down, ikipedia translation: To show him the pains that were there, Wikipedia translation: In the whole place he saw not one friar; Wikipedia translation: He saw enough of other folk in woe.