The General Prologue
Folio 4r
7 of 14 folios
Reed as the bristell of a Sow yeres.
His nostrelles blake were and wyde
560
A swerd and a bokelere bare he by his syde
His mowthe as gret was as a gret fourneys
He was a Iangeler and \a/ Galiardeys
And that was moste of synne and harlotryes
Wel couthe he stele corn and tolle it thries
565
And yit he had a thombe of gold pardee
A white coote and a bluwe hood wered hee.
A baggapipe wel coude he blowe and sowne
And ther wythal he brought vs owte of towne.
A gentyl maunciple was there of a temple.
570
Of whych Achatours myght take exemple
For to be wyse in bying of vitaille
For whether that he payde or toke by entaille.
Algate he waited so in his acate
That he was be forn and in good estate
575
Now is not that of god a ful faire grace
That syche a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men
Of mastres had he moo than thries ten
That were of lawe expert and curious
580
Of whych there were adoseyn in that hous.
Worthi to ben stewardes of rent and lond
Of eny lord that is in Engelond
To make him lyve by his propour good
In honour detles but yif he were wood
585
Othir lyve as scarsly as him list desyre
And able to helpen al a shire.
In any caas that myght falle or happe
And yit this maunciple set her alder cappe.
The Reue was a sclendre colryk man
590
His berd was shaue as nygh as euere he can
His heer was by his yeres ful round y shore
His toppe was tokked lyke a perst by fore
Ful lange were his leggis and ful lene
I. like a staf ther nas no calfe y sene.
595
Wel coude he kepe a gerner and a bynne