The General Prologue
Folio 7v
6 of 22 folios
Olde ypocras / Haly / and Galyen
Serapion / Razis / and Avycen
435
Auerroys / Damascien / and Constantyn
Bernard / and Gatesden / and Gilbertyn
Of his diete / mexxxxxxsurable was hee
For it was / of no superfluytee
But of greet norissynge / and digestible
440
His studye / was but litel on the Bible
In sangwyn and in Pers / he clad was al
Lyned with Taffata / and with Sendal
And yet he was / but esy of dispence
He kepte / þt he wan in pestilence
445
For gold in Phisyk. is a Cordial
Ther fore / he loued gold in special
¶ A good wyf was ther / of bisyde Bathe
But she was somdel deef and that was scathe
Of clooth makynge / she hadde swich an haunt
450
She passed hem / of Ipres / and of Gaunt
In al the parysshe / wyf ne was ther noon
That to the offrynge / bifore hire sholde goon
And if ther dide / certeyn / so wrooth was shee
That she was / out of alle charitee
455
Hir Couerchiefes / ful fyne weere of grownd
I dorste swere / they weyeden . ten pownd
That on a Sonday / weeren vp on hir heed
Hir hosen weeren / of fyn Scarlet reed
Ful streyte yteyd / and shoes / ful moyste & newe
460
Boold was hir face / and fair and reed of hewe
She was a worthy wōman / al hir lyue
Housbondes at chirche dore / she hadde fyue
With outen oother compaignye / in yowthe
But ther of / nedeth noght to speke as nowthe
465
And thries / hadde she been at Ierusalem
She hadde passed / many a straunge strem
At Rome she hadde been / and at Boloyne
In Galyce at Seint Iame / and at Coloyne
She koude muchel / of wandrynge by the weye
470
Gattothed was she / soothly for to seye
Vp on an Amblere / esily she sat
Ywympled wel / and on hir heed an hat