How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #1
[The Prioress] peyned hire to countrefete chere
Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,
And to ben holden digne of reverence.
(General Prologue 139 – 141)
With the Prioress we have the first of many characters who are pretending to be something they're not. The idea of counterfeiting is a word that also appears when Chaucer talks about his repetition of other pilgrim's words. This shows the way the word can have both negative ("faking") and positive ("repeating") connotations.
Quote #2
This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette.
(General Prologue 279 – 280)
Like the Prioress, the Merchant is working really hard to appear to be something he's not: financially solvent. In his case, though, this deception is probably necessary for his business success, whereas for the Prioress it's actually contrary to the obligations of her profession.