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A frere ther was, a wantowne_and a merye,
A lymytour, a ful solempne man.
In alle the ordres foure_is noon that kan
So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
He hadde maad ful many a mariage
Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
Unto his ordre_he was a noble post.
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
With frankeleyns over al in his contree,
And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
For he hadde power of confessioun,
As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,
For of his ordre he was licenciat.
Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
For unto a povre_ordre for to yive
Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;
For if he yaf, he dorste make_avaunt,
He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
For many a man so hard is of his herte,
He may nat wepe,_althogh hym soore smerte.
Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
Men moote_yeve silver to the povre freres.
His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
And certeinly he hadde_a murye note:
Wel koude_he synge_and pleyen on a rote;
Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.
His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys;
Therto he strong was as a champioun.
He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
And everich hostiler and tappestere
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;
For unto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce,
For to deelen with no swich poraille,
But al with riche_and selleres of vitaille.
And over al, ther as profit sholde_arise,
Curteis he was and lowely of servyse.
Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
He was the beste beggere in his hous;
(and yaf a certeyne ferme for the graunt;
Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;)
For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
So plesaunt was his in principio,
Yet wolde_he have_a ferthyng, er he wente.
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage_he koude,_as it were right a whelp.
In love-dayes ther koude_he muchel help,
For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
With a thredbare cope,_as is a povre scoler,
But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
Of double worstede was his semycope,
That rounded as a belle_out of the presse.
Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
To make_his englissh sweete upon his tonge;
And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght,
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
This worthy lymytour was cleped huberd.