The General Prologue
Folio 7v
14 of 23 folios
Vppon his feet and in his hond a staf
This noble ensample vnto his scheep he ȝaf
That ferst he wroughte and after þat he taughte
500
Out of þe gospel he þo wordes caughte /
And þis figure he addid ȝit þerto
That if gold ruste what schulde yren doo
For if a prest be foul on whom we truste
No wondur is a lewid man to ruste
505
And schame it is if a prest take kepe
A schiten schepperd and a clene schepe
Wel oughte a prest ensample for to ȝiue
By his clennesse how þat his scheep schulde lyue
He sette not his benefice to huyre
510
And lefte his scheep encombred in þe myre
And ran to londoū vnto seynte poules
To seeken him a chaunterie for soules
Or with a brethurhede be wiþ holde
But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde
515
So þat þe wolf ne made it not myscarye
He was a schepperde and no mercenarie
And þough he holy were and vertuous
He was to senful man nought dispitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
520
But in his teching discret and benigne
To drawe folk to heuen by clennesse
By good ensample was his busynesse
But it were eny persone obstinat
What so he were of higħ or lowe estat
525
Him wolde he snybbe scharply for þe nones
A bettre preest I trow ther no wher non is
He waytud after no pompe ne reuerence
Ne maked him a spiced conscience /
But cristes lore and his apostles twelue
530
He taught . and ferst he folwed it him selue
WIth hem þer was a plougħ man his broþur
That hadde I lad of dong ful many a foþur
A trewe swynker and a good was hee
Lyuynge in pees and parfiȝt charitee