The General Prologue
Folio 4r
17 of 21 folios
And whanne herode men myht his bridele here
170
Gyngelinge in a whistelinge wynde al so clere
And eke as lowde as doþe þe chapel belle
There as þis lorde was keper of þe selle
The rewle of seint Maure or of seint Beneyte
Be cause þat it was olde & somdele streyte
175
This ilke monke lete olde þinges pace
And helde after þe newe werde þe pace
He ȝaf nouht of þe text apulled henne
Þat seiþe þat hunteres beþe nouht holy menne
Ne that a monke whan he is recheles
180
Is likkened til a fische þat is waterles .
That is to seie a monke oute of his cloistre
Bot þilke text held he nouht worþe an hoistre
And .I. seide his opinione was goode
Whatt scholde he stodie & make him selfe wode
185
Vpon a boke in cloister al were to powre
Or swynke wiþ his hondes & laboure
As Austine bite howe schal þe werld be serued
Latte Austine haue his swynke to him reseued
Thare for he was a prikasoure a right
190
Grehoundes he had as swift as foules in flyht
Of Prikinge & of huntynge for þe hare .
Was al his lust for no cost wolde he spare
.I. seighe his sleues purfiled att þe honde
Wiþ Gryse & þat þe fynest of a londe
195
And for to festen þe hode vnder his chynne
He had of golde wrought a ful coriouse pinne
A loue knotte on þe gretter hende þere was
His hede was balled þat schone as any glas
And eke his face as he had be anoynte
200
He was a lorde ful fatte & in goode pointe .
His yhen stepe & rollinge in his hede
That stemed as a furneis of a lede
His botes souple his hors in grete astate
Nowe certeynely he was a faire prelate .
205
He nas nouht pale as a forpyned goste
A fatte swanne loued he best of any roste
His Palfrei was as broune as is a burye
¶ A frere þare was a wanton & murye .
A lymitur a ful solempne manne
210
In aƚƚ þe orderes foure is none þat canne .