--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was the murdered corpse, in covert…" description: "\"There was the murdered corpse, in covert laid, And violent death in thousand shapes displayed; The city to the soldier's rage resigned; Successless war..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_babe_there-was-the-murdered-corpse-in-covert_780880.jpg" --- # There was the murdered corpse, in covert laid, And violent… ![“There was the murdered corpse, in covert laid, And violent death in thousand shapes displayed; The city to the soldier's rage resigned; Successless wars, and poverty behind; Ships burnt in fight, or forced on rocky shores, And the rash hunter strangled by the boars; The newborn babe by nurses…” quote by Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_babe_there-was-the-murdered-corpse-in-covert_780880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_babe_there-was-the-murdered-corpse-in-covert_780880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_babe_there-was-the-murdered-corpse-in-covert_780880.jpg) > “There was the murdered corpse, in covert laid, And violent death in thousand shapes displayed; The city to the soldier's rage resigned; Successless wars, and poverty behind; Ships burnt in fight, or forced on rocky shores, And the rash hunter strangled by the boars; The newborn babe by nurses overlaid; And the cook caught within the raging fire he made.” [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid tableau of human suffering and chaos across various roles and settings. **In simple terms:** Human life is full of tragedy and misfortune. Key Takeaway Recognize life's fragility and act with compassion. Themes suffering war humanity Mood somber reflective Type literary poetic When to use this quote - battlefields - ships - hunting - childbirth - kitchen Key Concepts mortality chaos fate Questions to Reflect On - How do we find hope amid widespread tragedy? - What role does compassion play in such scenes? A Different Perspective Even in chaos, individuals can find meaning or resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boars/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hunters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Newborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newborn/) [Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurse/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-death/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, and burnt the topless towers of Ileum?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/was-this-the-face-that-launched-a-thousand-ships-and-burnt-the-3/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Was this the face that launched a thousand ships/And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoper-marlowe/was-this-the-face-that-launched-a-thousand-ships-and-burnt-the/) Christoper Marlowe > [The diversion of baiting an author has the sanction of all ages and nations, and is more lawful than the sport of teasing other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-diversion-of-baiting-an-author-has-the-sanction-of-all-ages-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [ “It's a pretty blokey magazine \[ Bacon Busters , 'Australia's only magazine dedicated to pig hunting'\], but they have women in it too. There's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-symonds/it-s-a-pretty-blokey-magazine-bacon-busters-australia-s-only-magazine/) Andrew Symonds > [A spider is proud when it has caught a fly; one man when he has caught a poor hare, and another when he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-spider-is-proud-when-it-has-caught-a-fly-one-man-when-he-has-caught/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Fishing from a boat seems like dilettante bullshit - like hunting wild boar with a can of spray paint from the safety of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/fishing-from-a-boat-seems-like-dilettante-bullshit-like-hunting-wild/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [A wild boar was sharpening his tusks upon the trunk of a tree in the forest when a fox came by and asked, Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/a-wild-boar-was-sharpening-his-tusks-upon-the-trunk-of-a-tree-in-the/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [The mighty hunter," I quipped as we snuck out the backdoor, escaping into the yard. "He can take down vicious rabids and rampaging boars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/the-mighty-hunter-i-quipped-as-we-snuck-out-the-backdoor-escaping/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I recycle. I have a house in the south of France and I have a small garden. My name is Dujardin - 'from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dujardin/i-recycle-i-have-a-house-in-the-south-of-france-and-i-have-a-small/) [Jean Dujardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dujardin/) > [A boar is often held by a not-so-large dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-boar-is-often-held-by-a-not-so-large-dog/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I shared this insight with some other boat owners, and they all agreed that, definitely, putting your boar into the water is asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-shared-this-insight-with-some-other-boat-owners-and-they-all-agreed/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [If you took the city of Tokyo and turned it upside down and shook it you would be amazed at the animals that fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/if-you-took-the-city-of-tokyo-and-turned-it-upside-down-and-shook-it/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [ The wild boar is often held by a small dog. \[Lat., A cane non magno saepe tenetur aper.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-wild-boar-is-often-held-by-a-small-dog-lat-a-cane-non-magno-saepe/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I'm getting the impression that women, in any form, scare you." He shrugged. "They're the more violent species. And unpredictable. I'd rather take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-m-getting-the-impression-that-women-in-any-form-scare-you-he/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/think-you-a-little-din-can-daunt-mine-ears-have-i-not-in-my-time/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Geoffrey Chaucer > [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean, And fat his soul, and make his body lean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whoso-will-pray-he-must-fast-and-be-clean-and-fat-his-soul-and-make/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“The man who has no wife is no cuckold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [One eare it heard, at the other out it went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/one-eare-it-heard-at-the-other-out-it-went/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [The handsome gifts that fate and nature lend us Most often are the very ones that end us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-handsome-gifts-that-fate-and-nature-lend-us-most-often-are-the/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/patience-is-a-conquering-virtue-the-learned-say-that-if-it-not-desert/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, That with the strook he was almoost yblent; And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/this-nicholas-anon-leet-fle-a-fart-as-greet-as-it-had-been-a-thonder/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [A whetstone is no carving instrument, And yet it maketh sharp the carving tool; And if you see my efforts wrongly spent, Eschew that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/a-whetstone-is-no-carving-instrument-and-yet-it-maketh-sharp-the/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“In general, my liege lady,’ he began, ‘Women desire to have dominion Over their husbands, and their lovers too; They want to have mastery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/in-general-my-liege-lady-he-began-women-desire-to-have-dominion-over/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“Till we be roten, kan we not be rypen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/till-we-be-roten-kan-we-not-be-rypen/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Venus me yaf my lust, my like rousnesse, And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/venus-me-yaf-my-lust-my-like-rousnesse-and-mars-yaf-me-my-sturdy/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-sondry-scoles-maken-sotile-clerkis-womman-of-manye-scoles-half-a/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [For God's love, take things patiently, have sense, Think! We are prisoners and shall always be. Fortune has given us this adversity, Some wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-god-s-love-take-things-patiently-have-sense-think-we-are/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whan-that-aprill-with-his-shoures-soote-the-droghte-of-march-hath/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/forbid-us-something-and-that-thing-we-desire/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) [Explore all 217 Geoffrey Chaucer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## More Babe quotes > [ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOU DID ME WRONG SO GUESS WAT BABE??FUKK YU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-you-did-me-wrong-so-guess-wat-babe/) JESSICA > [You two faced threw your teeth u ain't nun but babe daddy go wash your feet go with the girl u so call sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrykee/you-two-faced-threw-your-teeth-u-ain-t-nun-but-babe-daddy-go-wash/) Cherrykee > [“You’re all mine, babe. Knew it the first time I saw you. Couldn’t give you up if I tried.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-wylde/you-re-all-mine-babe-knew-it-the-first-time-i-saw-you-couldn-t-give/) [Joanna Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-wylde/) > [The home run became glorified with Babe Ruth. Starting with him, batters have been thinking in terms of how far they could hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/the-home-run-became-glorified-with-babe-ruth-starting-with-him/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I just hate it when my baby try to chill with some other guy..hunny.!.if u really want to chill then please use A.C. not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/i-just-hate-it-when-my-baby-try-to-chill-with-some-other-guy-hunny-if/) [Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/) > [“My heart slammed into my chest when he called her babe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-elliott/my-heart-slammed-into-my-chest-when-he-called-her-babe/) [Kelly Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-elliott/) > [Wine is the drink of the gods, milk the drink of babes, tea the drink of women, and water the drink of beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-blackie/wine-is-the-drink-of-the-gods-milk-the-drink-of-babes-tea-the-drink/) [John Stuart Blackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-blackie/) > [I need a man who can call me beautiful with no makeup on, who can be himself around me, who can kiss me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk/i-need-a-man-who-can-call-me-beautiful-with-no-makeup-on-who-can-be/) Idk > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/) [Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/) > [Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-as-the-unborn-babe-is-in-the-womb-of-his-mother-these-five-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Babe is one fellow, and I'm another and I could never be exactly like him. I don't try, I just go on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gehrig/the-babe-is-one-fellow-and-i-m-another-and-i-could-never-be-exactly/) [Lou Gehrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gehrig/) > [“Babe, the only times I've been in you have been too fast. The next time I strip you down, I want to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/babe-the-only-times-i-ve-been-in-you-have-been-too-fast-the-next-time/) [Jennifer L. 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