The General Prologue
Folio 8r
15 of 23 folios
535
God loued he best al his trewe herte
At alle tymes þough him gamed or smerte
And þanne his neighebour right as himselue
He wolde threisshe and þerto dyke and delue
For cristes sake with euery pore wigħt
540
Wiþouten huyre if it laye in his migħt
His tythes payede he ful faire and wel
Bathe of his owne swynk and his catel
In a tabbard Rood vpon a mere
Ther was also a Reeue and a mellere
545
A Sompnour and a pardoner also
A Maunciple and my self þer was no mo
THe mellere was a stout carl for þe nones
Ful big he was of braun and eek / of boones /
That preuede wel for ouer al þer he cam
550
At wrastlynge he wolde bere awey þe Ram
He was schort schuldred broode a þikke knarre
Ther nas no dore þat he nolde heue of harre
Or breke it with a rennyng with his heed
His berd as ony sowe or fox was reed
555
And þerto brood as þough it were a spade
Vpon þe cop rigħt of his nose he hade
A werte and þeron stood a tuft of heres
Reede as þe berstles of a souwes eeres
His nose þurles blake were and wyde
560
A swerd and a bocler baar he by his side
His mouth as wyde was as a gret forneys
He was a Iangler and a golyardeys
And þat was most of synne and harlotries
Wel cowde he stele corn and tollen þries
565
And ȝet he hadde a þombe of gold parde
A whiȝt cote and blewe hood wered he
A bagge pipe cowde he blowe and sowne
And þer wiþ al he brougħt vs out of towne .
A Gentil maunciple was ther of a temple
570
Of which achatours mighten take exemple
For to be wys in beyyng of vitaille
For wheþur þat he payde or took by taille