American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"A Knight's Tale" (2001)

Geoffrey Chaucer: Declamation Honoring Sir William Thatcher

Audio mp3 of Address delivered by Paul Bettany

Chaucer:

Good People: I missed my introduction!

But please, please, I pray you -- hear it now.

For I would lay rest the grace in my tongue and speak plainly.

Days like these are far too rare to cheapen with heavy-handed words.

And so, I'm afraid without any ado whatsoever -- (Excuse me, my lord) --

Here he is! One of your own!

Born a stone's throw from this very stadium --

And here before you now --

The son of John Thatcher --

Sir William Thatcher!!!