THE PROLOGUE.

A FRIAR there was, a wanton and a merry,

A limitour <18>, a full solemne man.

In all the orders four is none that can* *knows

So much of dalliance and fair language.

He had y-made full many a marriage

Of younge women, at his owen cost.

Unto his order he was a noble post;

Full well belov'd, and familiar was he

With franklins *over all* in his country, *everywhere*

And eke with worthy women of the town:

For he had power of confession,

As said himselfe, more than a curate,

For of his order he was licentiate.

Full sweetely heard he confession,

And pleasant was his absolution.

He was an easy man to give penance,

*There as he wist to have a good pittance:* *where he know he would

For unto a poor order for to give get good payment*

Is signe that a man is well y-shrive.

For if he gave, he *durste make avant*, *dared to boast*

He wiste* that the man was repentant. *knew

For many a man so hard is of his heart,

He may not weep although him sore smart.

Therefore instead of weeping and prayeres,

Men must give silver to the poore freres.

His tippet was aye farsed* full of knives *stuffed

And pinnes, for to give to faire wives;

And certainly he had a merry note:

Well could he sing and playen *on a rote*; *from memory*

Of yeddings* he bare utterly the prize. *songs

His neck was white as is the fleur-de-lis.

Thereto he strong was as a champion,

And knew well the taverns in every town.

And every hosteler and gay tapstere,

Better than a lazar* or a beggere, *leper

For unto such a worthy man as he

Accordeth not, as by his faculty,

To have with such lazars acquaintance.

It is not honest, it may not advance,

As for to deale with no such pouraille*, *offal, refuse

But all with rich, and sellers of vitaille*. *victuals

And *ov'r all there as* profit should arise, *in every place where&

Courteous he was, and lowly of service;

There n'as no man nowhere so virtuous.

He was the beste beggar in all his house:

And gave a certain farme for the grant, <19>

None of his bretheren came in his haunt.

For though a widow hadde but one shoe,

So pleasant was his In Principio,<20>

Yet would he have a farthing ere he went;

His purchase was well better than his rent.

And rage he could and play as any whelp,

In lovedays <21>; there could he muchel* help. *greatly

For there was he not like a cloisterer,

With threadbare cope as is a poor scholer;

But he was like a master or a pope.

Of double worsted was his semicope*, *short cloak

That rounded was as a bell out of press.

Somewhat he lisped for his wantonness,

To make his English sweet upon his tongue;

And in his harping, when that he had sung,

His eyen* twinkled in his head aright, *eyes

As do the starres in a frosty night.