The General Prologue
Folio 3v
6 of 14 folios
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
520
But in his teching discrete and benigne /
To drawe folke to heven wyth fairenes
By good ensample this was his bysynes.
But yif it were any persone obstinate
What so he were of hygħ or lowe astate
525
Hym wolde he snybben sharpely for the nones
A bettr preest I trowe nogh where noon is
He wayted after no pompe ne reuerence
Ne maked hym a spiced conscience.
But cristes loore and his apoostles xijõ.
530
He taught but ferst he folowed it hym selue.
Wyth him ther was a ploughman his brothere
That had I ladde of donge ful many a fothere
A trewe swynker and a good was he
Lyuyng in pees and in parfyte Charite
535
God loued he best wyth aƚƚ his herte
At al tymes thogħ hym gamed or smerte
And thanne his neighboure ryght as hym selue
He wolde thresshe and ther to dyke and delue.
For cristes sake wyth euery pore wyght
540
Wyth owten hire yif it lay in his myght
His tithes payde he ful faire and wel
Bothe of his propour swynke and of his catel
In atabard he rood vpon a mere
Ther was also a Reue and a Millere
545
A sompnour and a pardonere also
A maunciple and I my self ther were no moo.
The milner was a stowte carle for the nones
Ful bigge he was of braun and eke of bones.
That proued wel for oueral ther he cam
550
At wrastelyng he wolde ay have the ram.
He was short sholdred brood and thikke knarre
Ther nas no doore that he nolde heue on harre
Or breke it at rennyng wyth his heed
His berd as any sowe or fox was red
555
And ther to brode as though it were a spade
Vpon the coppe ryght of his nose he hade.
A werte and there stood a tufte of heres.