The General Prologue
Folio 8r
12 of 21 folios
Wel ought a prest ensample for to ȝyue
By his clennes how þat his scheep schulde lyue
He sette nougħt his benefice to hire
510
And leet his scheep acombred in þe myre
And ran to londoū vnto Seinte Poules
To seeke him a Chaunterie for soules
Or with a breþerede for to be withholde
But duelte at hom and kepte wel his folde
515
So þat þe wolf ne made it not miscarie
He was a schepperde and not a mercenarie
And þough he holy were and vertuous
He was nought to synful men dispitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
520
But in his teching discret and benigne
To drawe folk to heuen by fairnesse
By good ensample þis was his bisynesse /
But it were ony persone obstinat
What so he were of heigh or low estat
525
Him wolde he snebbe scharply for þe nones
A bettre prest I trowe þat nowher non es
He waited after no pompe & reuerence
Ne maked him a spiced conscience
But cristes lore and his apostles twelue
530
He taught but ferst he folwed in himselue /
With him þer was a plowmā was his broþer
That hadde I ladde of dong ful many a foþer
A trewe swynker and a good was he
Lyuyng in pees and parfit charite
535
God loued he best wiþ alle his herte
At alle tymes þough him gamed or smerte
And þan his Neighebore right as himselue
He wolde þressche and þerto dike & delue
For cristes sake for euery pouere wight
540
Wiþouten hire if it lay in his might
His tiþes payed he ful fair and weƚƚ
Boþe of his propre swynk and his cateƚƚ