The General Prologue
Folio 4v
8 of 14 folios
Ther was non Auditour couth of hym wynne
Wel wiste he by the drought and by the Reyne
The yeldyng of his seed and of his greyne
His lordes sheep his neet and his deyrye.
600
His swyn his hors his stoore and his pultrye
Was holly in his Reues gouernyngis
And by his couenant yaf the Rekenyng.
Sithens his lord was xx i yere of age
Ther couthe no man hym bringe in arerage.
605
Ther nas baillif hirde ne other hyne
That he ne knew his sleyght and his couyne
Thei were adrad of hym as of the deth
His wonyng was ful faire vpon an heeth
Wyth grene trees shadewed was his place
610
He coude bettur than his lorde purchase
Ful ryche he was and stored priuely
His lord couthe he plesen sotilly
To lene and yif him of his owne good.
And have an thanke and yit a coote and a hood
615
In youthe he had lirned a good mistere
He was a wel good wryght a Carpentere
This Reue sat vpon a wel good stot
That was a pomely grey and hight Scot
A longe Surcote of perce vppon he hadde
620
And by his syde he bar a rusty bladde.
Of northefolk was this Reue the which I telle
By sydes a toun men calleth Baldeswell
Tokled was he as is a frere a boute
And euer he rood the hyndrest of oure route.
625
A Sompnour was ther wyth vs in that place
That had a fuyre reed Cherubyns face
For Saucefleme he was wyth eyen narowe
Al hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe.
Wyth Scalled browes blaak and pylled berd
630
Of his visage children wers a ferd
Ther nas quyk siluer litarge ne brymstoū
Boras ceruse ne oille of tatre noon
Ne oynement that wolde clanze and bite.
That him myght helpe of his whelkes white
635
Ne of the knobbes sittyng on his chekys.