[And he gave a certain fee for his grant (of begging
rights);
252a Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;]
None of his brethren came there in his territory;]
253 For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
For though a widow had not a shoe,
254 So plesaunt was his "In principio,"
So pleasant was his "In the beginning,"
255 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente.
Yet he would have a farthing, before he went away.
256 His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
His total profit was much more than his proper
income.
257 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp.
And he knew how to frolic, as if he were indeed a
pup.
258 In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
He knew how to be much help on days for resolving
disputes,
259 For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
For there he was not like a cloistered monk
260 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
With a threadbare cope, like a poor scholar,
261 But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
But he was like a master of arts or a pope.
262 Of double worstede was his semycope,
Of wide (expensive) cloth was his short cloak,
263 That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
Which was round as a bell fresh from the
clothespress.
264 Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
Somewhat he lisped, for his affectation,
265 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;
To make his English sweet upon his tongue;
266 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
And in his harping, when he had sung,
267 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght His eyes twinkled in his head exactly
268 As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
As do the stars in the frosty night.
269 This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
This worthy friar was called Huberd.
270 A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd,
There was a MERCHANT with a forked beard,
271 In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;
Wearing parti-colored cloth, and proudly he sat on
his horse;
272 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat,
Upon his head (he wore a) Flemish beaver hat,
273 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
His boots were buckled handsomely and elegantly.
274 His resons he spak ful solempnely,
His opinions he spoke very solemnly,
275 Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng. Concerning always the increase of his profits.
276 He wolde the see were kept for any thyng He wanted the sea to be guarded at all costs
277 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Between Middelburgh (Holland) and Orwell
(England).
278 Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
He well knew how to deal in foreign currencies.
279 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
This worthy man employed his wit very well:
280 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
There was no one who knew that he was in debt,
281 So estatly was he of his governaunce
He was so dignified in managing his affairs
282 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
With his buying and selling and with his financial
deals.
283 For sothe he was a worthy man with alle,
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Truly, he was a worthy man indeed,
284 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
But, to say the truth, I do not know what men call
him.
285 A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also,
There was also a CLERK (scholar) from Oxford,
286 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
Who long before had begun the study of logic.
287 As leene was his hors as is a rake,
His horse was as lean as is a rake,
288 And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
And he was not very fat, I affirm,
289 But looked holwe, and therto sobrely.
But looked emaciated, and moreover abstemious.
290 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy,
His short overcoat was very threadbare,
291 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
For he had not yet obtained an ecclesiastical living,
292 Ne was so worldly for to have office.
Nor was he worldly enough to take secular employment.
293 For hym was levere have at his beddes heed For he would rather have at the head of his bed
294 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
Twenty books, bound in black or red,
295 Of Aristotle and his philosophie Of Aristotle and his philosophy
296 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
Than rich robes, or a fiddle, or an elegant psaltery.
297 But al be that he was a philosophre,
But even though he was a philosopher,
298 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
Nevertheless he had but little gold in his strongbox;
299 But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
But all that he could get from his friends,
300 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
He spent on books and on learning,
301 And bisily gan for the soules preye
And diligently did pray for the souls
302 Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
Of those who gave him the wherewithal to attend the
schools.
303 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede.
He took most care and paid most heed to study.
304 Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
He spoke not one word more than was needed,
305 And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
And that was said with due formality and respect,
306 And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence;
And short and lively and full of elevated content;
307 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
His speech was consonant with moral virtue,
308 And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.
309 A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys,
A SERGEANT OF THE LAW (high-ranking attorney), prudent and wise,
310 That often hadde been at the Parvys,
Who often had been at the Porch of St. Paul's (where lawyers gather)
311 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
Was also there, very rich in superior qualities.
312 Discreet he was and of greet reverence -He was judicious and of great dignity -
313 He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise.
He seemed such, his words were so wise.
314 Justice he was ful often in assise,
He was very often a judge in the court of assizes,
315 By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
By royal appointment and with full jurisdiction.
316 For his science and for his heigh renoun,
For his knowledge and for his excellent reputation,
317 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
He had many grants of yearly income.
318 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
There was nowhere so great a land-buyer:
319 Al was fee symple to hym in effect;
In fact, all was unrestricted possession to him;
320 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
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His purchasing could not be invalidated.
321 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
There was nowhere so busy a man as he,
322 And yet he semed bisier than he was.
And yet he seemed busier than he was.
323 In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle
He had in Year Books all the cases and decisions
324 That from the tyme of kyng William were falle.
That from the time of king William have occurred.
325 Therto he koude endite and make a thyng,
Furthermore, he knew how to compose and draw up a legal document,
326 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
So that no one could find a flaw in his writing;
327 And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
And he knew every statute completely by heart.
328 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote,
He rode but simply in a parti-colored coat,
329 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
Girded with a belt of silk, with small stripes;
330 Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
| 331 A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye. A FRANKLIN was in his company. |
332 Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;
His beard was white as a daisy;
333 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
As to his temperament, he was dominated by the humor blood.
334 Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn;
He well loved a bit of bread dipped in wine in the
morning;
335 To lyven in delit was evere his wone,
His custom was always to live in delight,
336 For he was Epicurus owene sone,
For he was Epicurus' own son,
337 That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit Who held the opinion that pure pleasure
338 Was verray felicitee parfit.
Was truly perfect happiness.
339 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
He was a householder, and a great one at that;
340 Seint Julian he was in his contree.
He was Saint Julian (patron of hospitality) in his
country.
341 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
His bread, his ale, was always of the same (good)
quality;
342 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
Nowhere was there any man better stocked with
wine.
343 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous,
His house was never without baked pies
344 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous Of fish and meat, and that so plentiful
345 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke;
That in his house it snowed with food and drink;
346 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke,
Of all the dainties that men could imagine,
347 After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
In accord with the various seasons of the year,
348 So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
So he varied his midday meal and his supper.
349 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe,
He had very many fat partridges in pens,
350 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
And many a bream and many a pike in his fish pond
351 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Woe was his cook unless his sauce was
352 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere.
Hotly spiced and sharp, and ready all his cooking
equipment.
353 His table dormant in his halle alway In his hall his dining table always
354 Stood redy covered al the longe day.
Stood covered (with table cloth) and ready all the
long day.
355 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
He presided as lord and sire at court sessions;
356 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
He was a member of parliament many times.
357 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk A dagger and a purse all of silk
358 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
Hung at his belt, white as morning milk.
359 A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour.
He had been a sheriff, and an auditor of taxes.
360 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.
There was nowhere such a worthy landowner.
361 AN HABERDASSHERE and a CARPENTER,
A HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER,
362 A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER -A WEAVER, a DYER, and a TAPESTRY-MAKER -
363 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
And they were all clothed in one livery
364 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
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Of a solemn and a great parish guild.
365 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;
Their equipment was adorned all freshly and new;
366 Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras Their knives were not mounted with brass
367 But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
But entirely with silver, wrought very neatly and well,
368 Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
Their belts and their purses every bit.
369 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
Each of them well seemed a solid citizen
370 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
To sit on a dais in a city hall.
371 Everich, for the wisdom that he kan,
Every one of them, for the wisdom that he knows,
372 Was shaply for to been an alderman.
Was suitable to be an alderman.
373 For catel hadde they ynogh and rente,
For they had enough possessions and income,
374 And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
And also their wives would well assent to it;
375 And elles certeyn were they to blame.
And otherwise certainly they would be to blame.
376 It is ful fair to been ycleped "madame,"
It is very fine to be called "my lady,"
377 And goon to vigilies al bifore,
And go to feasts on holiday eves heading the procession,
378 And have a mantel roialliche ybore.
And have a gown with a train royally carried.
379 A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones A COOK they had with them for the occasion
380 To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
To boil the chickens with the marrow bones,
381 And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.
And tart poudre-marchant and galingale (spices).
382 Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale.
He well knew how to judge a draft of London ale.
383 He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
He knew how to roast, and boil, and broil, and fry,
384 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
Make stews, and well bake a pie.
385 But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
But it was a great harm, as it seemed to me,
386 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
That he had an open sore on his shin.
387 For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
As for white pudding, he made that of the best
quality.
388 A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
A SHIPMAN was there, dwelling far in the west;
389 For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
For all I know, he was from Dartmouth.
390 He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe,
He rode upon a cart horse, insofar as he knew how,
391 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
In a gown of woolen cloth (that reached) to the knee.
392 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
He had a dagger hanging on a cord
393 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
About his neck, down under his arm.
394 The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
The hot summer had made his hue all brown;
395 And certeinly he was a good felawe.
And certainly he was a boon companion.
396 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe He had drawn very many a draft of wine
397 Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep. While coming from Bordeaux, while the merchant
slept.
398 Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
He had no concern for a scrupulous conscience.
399 If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond,
If he fought and had the upper hand,
400 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
He sent them home by water to every land (they walked the plank).
401 But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
But of his skill to reckon well his tides,
402 His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
His currents, and his perils near at hand,
403 His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage,
His harbors, and positions of his moon, his
navigation,
404 Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
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There was none other such from Hull to Cartagena
(Spain).
405 Hardy he was and wys to undertake;
He was bold and prudent in his undertakings;
406 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
His beard had been shaken by many a tempest.
407 He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
He knew all the harbors, how they were,
408 Fro Gootlond to the cape of Fynystere,
From Gotland to the Cape of Finisterre,
409 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
And every inlet in Brittany and in Spain.
410 His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne.
His ship was called the Maudelayne.
411 With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK;
With us there was a DOCTOR OF MEDICINE
412 In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
In all this world there was no one like him,
413 To speke of phisik and of surgerye,
To speak of medicine and of surgery,
414 For he was grounded in astronomye.
For he was instructed in astronomy.
415 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
He took care of his patient very many times
416 In houres by his magyk natureel.
In (astronomically suitable) hours by (use of) his natural science.
417 Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
He well knew how to calculate the planetary position
418 Of his ymages for his pacient.
Of his astronomical talismans for his patient.
419 He knew the cause of everich maladye,
He knew the cause of every malady,
420 Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
Were it of hot, or cold, or moist, or dry elements,
421 And where they engendred, and of what humour.
And where they were engendered, and by what
bodily fluid.
422 He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
| He was a truly, perfect practitioner: | That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. | ||
| The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, | That on a Sunday were upon her head. | ||
| harm, | The cause known, and the source of his (patient's) | Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, Her stockings were of fine scarlet red, | |
| Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. Straightway he gave the sick man his remedy. | Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe. Very closely laced, and shoes very supple and new. | ||
| Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries He had his apothecaries all ready | Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. Bold was her face, and fair, and red of hue. | ||
| To sende hym drogges and his letuaries, To send him drugs and his electuaries, | She was a worthy womman al hir lyve: She was a worthy woman all her life: | ||
| For ech of hem made oother for to wynne -For each of them made the other to profit -- | Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, She had (married) five husbands at the church door, | ||
| Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne. Their friendship was not recently begun. | Withouten oother compaignye in youthe -Not counting other company in youth -- | ||
| Wel knew he the olde Esculapius, He well knew the old Aesculapius, | But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. But there is no need to speak of that right now. | ||
| And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus, And Dioscorides, and also Rufus, | And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem; And she had been three times at Jerusalem; | ||
| Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen, Old Hippocrates, Haly, and Galen, | She hadde passed many a straunge strem; She had passed many a foreign sea; | ||
| Serapion, Razis, and Avycen, Serapion, Rhazes, and Avicenna, | At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, She had been at Rome, and at Boulogne, | ||
| Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn, Averroes, John the Damascan, and Constantine, | In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne. In Galicia at Saint-James (of Compostella), and at | ||
| Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn. | Cologne | ||
| Bernard, and Gaddesden, and Gilbertus. | She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye. | ||
| Of his diete mesurable was he, | She knew much about wandering by the way. | ||
| He was moderate in his diet, | Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. | ||
| For it was of no superfluitee, | She had teeth widely set apart, truly to say. | ||
| For it was of no excess, | Upon an amblere esily she sat, | ||
| But of greet norissyng and digestible. | She sat easily upon a pacing horse, | ||
| But greatly nourishing and digestible. | Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat | ||
| His studie was but litel on the Bible. | Wearing a large wimple, and on her head a hat | ||
| His study was but little on the Bible. | As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; | ||
| In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, | As broad as a buckler or a shield; | ||
| He was clad all in red and in blue, | A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, | ||
| Lyned with taffata and with sendal. | An overskirt about her large hips, | ||
| Lined with taffeta and with silk. | And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. | ||
| And yet he was but esy of dispence; | And on her feet a pair of sharp spurs. | ||
| And yet he was moderate in spending; | In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe. | ||
| He kepte that he wan in pestilence. | In fellowship she well knew how to laugh and chatter. | ||
| He kept what he earned in (times of) plague. | Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, | ||
| For gold in phisik is a cordial, | She knew, as it happened, about remedies for love | ||
| Since in medicine gold is a restorative for the heart, | For she koude of that art the olde daunce. | ||
| Therefore he lovede gold in special. Therefore he loved gold in particular. | that art. | For she knew the old dance (tricks of the trade) of | |
| A good WIF was ther OF biside BATHE, There was a good WIFE OF beside BATH, | A good man was ther of religioun, A good man was there of religion, | ||
| But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. But she was somewhat deaf, and that was a pity. | And was a povre PERSOUN OF A TOUN, And (he) was a poor PARSON OF A TOWN, | ||
| Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt She had such a skill in cloth-making | But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk. But he was rich in holy thought and work. | ||
| She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. She surpassed them of Ypres and of Ghent. | He was also a lerned man, a clerk, He was also a learned man, a scholar, | ||
| In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon In all the parish there was no wife | That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche; Who would preach Christ's gospel truly; | ||
| That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon; Who should go to the Offering before her; | His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. He would devoutly teach his parishioners. | ||
| And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she And if there did, certainly she was so angry | Benygne he was, and wonder diligent, He was gracious, and wonderfully diligent, | ||
| That she was out of alle charitee. That she was out of all charity (love for her neighbor). | And in adversitee ful pacient, And very patient in adversity, | ||
| Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; Her kerchiefs were very fine in texture; | And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes. And such he was proven many times. | ||
| I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound I dare swear they weighed ten pound | Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes, He was very reluctant to excommunicate for |
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| (nonpayment of) his tithes, | But in his techyng discreet and benygne. | ||
| But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute, | But in his teaching courteous and kind. | ||
| But rather would he give, there is no doubt, | To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse, | ||
| Unto his povre parisshens aboute | To draw folk to heaven by gentleness, | ||
| Unto his poor parishioners about | By good ensample, this was his bisynesse. | ||
| Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce. | By good example, this was his business. | ||
| Some of his offering (received at mass) and also some | But it were any persone obstinat, | ||
| of his income. | Unless it were an obstinate person, | ||
| He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. He knew how to have sufficiency in few possessions. | What so he were, of heigh or lough estat, Whoever he was, of high or low rank, | ||
| Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder, His parish was wide, and houses far apart, | Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. He would rebuke him sharply at that time. | ||
| But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder, But he did not omit, for rain nor thunder, | A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys. I believe that nowhere is there a better priest. | ||
| In siknesse nor in meschief to visite In sickness or in trouble to visit | He waited after no pompe and reverence, He expected no pomp and ceremony, | ||
| The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, Those living farthest away in his parish, high-ranking | Ne maked him a spiced conscience, Nor made himself an overly fastidious conscience, | ||
| and low, | But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve | ||
| Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. | But Christ's teaching and His twelve apostles | ||
| Going by foot, and in his hand a staff. | He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve. | ||
| This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, He gave this noble example to his sheep, | He taught; but first he followed it himself. | ||
| That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte. | With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, | ||
| That first he wrought, and afterward he taught. | With him there was a PLOWMAN, who was his | ||
| Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte, | brother | ||
| He took those words out of the gospel, | That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother; | ||
| And this figure he added eek therto, | Who had hauled very many a cartload of dung; | ||
| And this metaphor he added also to that, | A trewe swynkere and a good was he, | ||
| That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? | He was a true and good worker, | ||
| That if gold rust, what must iron do? | Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee. | ||
| For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, | Living in peace and perfect love. | ||
| For if a priest, on whom we trust, should be foul | God loved he best with al his hoole herte | ||
| No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; | He loved God best with all his whole heart | ||
| It is no wonder for a layman to go bad; | At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte, | ||
| And shame it is, if a prest take keep, | At all times, whether it pleased or pained him, | ||
| And it is a shame, if a priest is concerned: | And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve. | ||
| A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. | And then (he loved) his neighbor exactly as himself. | ||
| A shit-stained shepherd and a clean sheep. | He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve, | ||
| Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, | He would thresh, and moreover make ditches and | ||
| Well ought a priest to give an example, | dig, | ||
| By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve. By his purity, how his sheep should live. | For Cristes sake, for every povre wight, For Christ's sake, for every poor person, | ||
| He sette nat his benefice to hyre He did not rent out his benefice (ecclesiastical living) | Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght. Without payment, if it lay in his power. | ||
| And leet his sheep encombred in the myre And leave his sheep encumbered in the mire | His tithes payde he ful faire and wel, He paid his tithes completely and well, | ||
| And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules And run to London unto Saint Paul's | Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel. Both of his own labor and of his possessions. | ||
| To seken hym a chaunterie for soules, | In a tabard he rood upon a mere. | ||
| To seek an appointment as a chantry priest (praying | He rode in a tabard (sleeveless jacket) upon a mare. | ||
| for a patron) | |||
| Or with a bretherhed to been withholde; | Ther was also a REVE, and a MILLERE, | ||
| Or to be hired (as a chaplain) by a guild; | There was also a REEVE, and a MILLER, A SOMNOUR, and a PARDONER also, | ||
| But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde, | |||
| But dwelt at home, and kept well his sheep fold | |||
| (parish), | A SUMMONER, and a PARDONER also, | ||
| So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie; So that the wolf did not make it go wrong; | A MAUNCIPLE, and myself -- ther were namo. | ||
| A MANCIPLE, and myself -- there were no more. | |||
| He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie. | |||
| He was a shepherd and not a hireling. | The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones; | ||
| And though he hooly were and vertuous, | The MILLER was a stout fellow indeed; | ||
| And though he was holy and virtuous, | Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones. | ||
| He was to synful men nat despitous, | He was very strong of muscle, and also of bones. | ||
| He was not scornful to sinful men, | That proved wel, for over al ther he cam, | ||
| Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, | That was well proven, for wherever he came, | ||
| Nor domineering nor haughty in his speech, | At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram. |
