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Arguably, English literature was born on this day in 1397, when Geoffrey Chaucer first recited The Canterbury Tales in the court of Richard II. Scholars also reckon that it was on this day ten years earlier that the pilgrims set out on their journey. It was certainly April -

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(so priketh hem nature in hir corages);

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