Of cloth making she hadde swiche an haunt,' And it ther did, certain so wroth was she, Hire coverchiefs weren tul fine of ground; 1 Practice. #THEMS That on the Sonday were upon hire hede. Ful streite yteyed, and shoon ful moist and newe. Housbondes at the chirche dore had she had five, But therof nedeth not to speke as nouthe.1 She hadde passed many a strange streme. Upon an ambler esily she sat, Ywimpled wel, and on hire hede an hat, As brode as is a bokeler, or a targe. A fote-mantel about hire hippes large, And on hire fete a pair of sporres sharpe. In felawship wel coude she laughe and carpe A good man ther was of religioun, That was a poure PERSONE 3 of a toun: But riche he was of holy thought and werk. He was also a lerned man, a clerk, That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche. His parishens devoutly wolde he teche. And swiche he was ypreved1 often sithes. Of his offring, and eke of his substance. The ferrest in his parish, moche and lite,3 Upon his fete, and in his hand a staf. I Tried. 2 Give. 3 Great and small. To seken him a chanterie for soules, Or with a brotherhede to be withold: But dwelt at home, and kepte wel his fold, What so he were of highe, or low estat, Him wolde he snibben3 sharply for the nones. A better preest I trowe that nowher non is. He taught, but first he folwed it himselve. With him ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, That hadde ylaid of dong ful many a fother.4 A trewe swinker,5 and a good was he, God loved he beste with alle his herte At alle times, were it gain or smerte, 1 Endowment. 2 Very angry. 3 Reprove. 4 Cart-load. For Cristes sake, for every poure wight, His tithes paied he ful fayre and wel Ther was also a reve,' and a millere, The MILLER was a stout carl for the nones, Ful bigge he was of braun, and eke of bones; That proved wel, for over all ther he came, At wrastling he wold bere away the ram. He was short shuldered brode, a thikké gnarre,5 Ther n'as no dore, that he n'olde heve of barre, Or breke it at a renning with his hede. His berd as any sowe or tox was rede, And therto brode, as though it were a spade. A wert, and theron stode a tufte of heres, His nose-thirles blacke were and wide. A swerd and bokeler bare he by his side. His mouth as wide was as a forneis. He was a jangler, and a goliardeis, And that was most of sinne, and harlotries, Wel coude he stelen corne, and tollen thries. I Steward. 2 An officer of Ecclesiastical Courts. 4 The officer who purchased food for an Inn of Court. 3 A seller of pardons. 5 Knot in wood. |