The General Prologue
Folio 8v
13 of 21 folios
In a Tabbard he rood vpon a mere
Ther was also a Reeue and a Mellere /
545
A Sompnor and a Pardoner also
A Maunciple & my self þer nare nomo /
The meller was a stout carl for þe nones
Ful big he was of brawn and eek of bones
That proued wel for ouer al þar he cam
550
Atte wrastlyng he wold haue a wey þe ram
He was schort schuldred a þikke knarre
The was no dore þat he nolde heue of harre
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heede
His berd as any sowe or eny fox was reede
555
And þerto brod as þough it were a spade /
Vpon þe cop right of his nose he hade
A wert and þer on stood a tuft of heeres
Reed as þe berstles of a sowes Eres /
Hise nose þrilles blake weren and wide
560
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde
His mouþ as gret was as a gret fourneys
He was a Iangler and a goliardeys
And þat was most of synne and harlotries
Wel couþe he stele corn and tolle þries
565
And ȝit he hadde a þombe of gold parde
A whit cote and a blew hood wered he
A Baggepipe wel couþe he blowe and soun
And þer with al he brought vs out of toun
A gentil maunciple was þer of a temple /
570
Of which achatours mighte take exsemple /
For to ben wyse in byeng of vitaile
For wheþer þat he paied or took by taile
Algate he wayted so in his achate
That he was ay biforn and in good estate /
575
Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace
That such a lewed mannes witt schal pace
The wisdom of an heep of lernede men
Of maistres hadde he mo þan þries ten