The General Prologue
Folio 3r
19 of 21 folios
85
And he had be sume time in cheualrie
In Flandres in artoys and in Pykardie
And borne him wele as of so litel space
In hope to stonden in his lady grace
Embrowded was he as it were a mede
90
Al ful of frissche flowres white & rede
Singeinge he was or flowteinge al þe daie
He was al so fresche as is þe moneþ of maie .
Schort was his goune wt sleues longe & wide
Wele couþe he sitte on an horse & faire ride
95
He couþe songes make & wele endite
Iuste and eke daunce & wele purtreie & write
So hote he loued þat be nyghter tale
He slepete no more þan doþe þe nyhtegale
Corteis he was lowly & seruisable
100
And karf to for his fader att þe table
A ȝoman had he and seruantes no moo
Att þat time for him liste ride soo
And he was cladde in cote & hoode of grene
A sheef of pokoke arwes briht & kene
105
Vnder his belte he bare ful þreftelie
Wele couþe he drese his takel ȝemonlie
His arwes drouped nouht wiþ feþeres lowe
And in his honde he bare a myhti bowe
Anotte hede had he wiþ a broune visage
110
Of wodecraft wele couþe he al þe vsage
Vpon his arme he bare a gaie brasere
And be his side a swerde &~ a bokelere
And on þat oþere side a gaie daggere .
Herneyste wele & scharpe as þe pointe of a spere .
115
A xperofur on his breste of siluer schene .
An horne he bare þe bawdrik was of grene
A forster was he soþelye as .I. gesse .
¶ Thare was also a Nonne a Prioresse
That of hir smyleynge was ful simple & coye
120
Her grettest oþe was bot be seint Loye .
And sche was cleped madame Englentyne
Ful wele sche songe þe seruise deuine
Entuned in hir nose ful semely .
And franche sche spake ful faire & fetisly
125
After þe scole att Stretford att Bowe
For frenche of Paris was to hire unknowe