Summoner_Translation_GrahamS

=The Summoner=

//623:// A somonour was ther with us in that place, //624:// That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face, //625:// For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe. //626:// As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, //627:// With scalled browes blake and piled berd. //628:// Of his visage children were aferd. //629:// Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon, //630:// Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon; //631:// Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte, //632:// That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white, //633:// Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. //634:// Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, //635:// And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood; //636:// Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. //637:// And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, //638:// Thanne wolde he speke no word but latyn. //639:// A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, //640:// That he had lerned out of som decree -- //641:// No wonder is, he herde it al the day; //642:// And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay //643:// Kan clepen watte as wel as kan the pope. //644:// But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, //645:// Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie; //646:// Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crie. //647:// He was a gentil harlot and a kynde; //648:// A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde. //649:// He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn //650:// A good felawe to have his concubyn //651:// A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle; //652:// Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle. //653:// And if he foond owher a good felawe, //654:// He wolde techen him to have noon awe //655:// In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs, //656:// But if a mannes soule were in his purs; //657:// For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be. //658:// Purs is the ercedekenes helle, seyde he. //659:// But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; //660:// Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, //661:// For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith, //662:// And also war hym of a significavit. //663:// In daunger hadde he at his owene gise //664:// The yonge girles of the diocise, //665:// And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. //666:// A gerland hadde he set upon his heed //667:// As greet as it were for an ale-stake. //668:// A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake.
 * A Summoner was there with us in that place**
 * That had a fire red cheribums face**
 * He was ___, with narrow eyes**
 * He was hot and lecherous as a sparrow**
 * With a scabbed brow and thin beard**
 * Children were afraid of his appearance**
 * There was no mercury, sulphur, or lytarge**
 * no borax, ceruse, or tartar**
 * No ointment that would cleanse or bite**
 * That he might rid him of his white boils and pimples**
 * Nor of the knobs sitting on his cheeks**
 * He loved garlic, onions, and leeks very much**
 * And for drinking strong wine, red as blood**
 * Then he would speak and cry as if he was insane**
 * And when he had drunk much wine**
 * Then he would speak no word but latin**
 * He had a few terms, two or three**
 * That he learned out of some decree**
 * It is no wonder, he heard it all day**
 * And all you know well that a jay**
 * Can yell out Wat as well as can the Pope**
 * But when, for lack of ianything else, would grope into him**
 * Then had he finished his philosophy**
 * Just "Question quid Juris" would he cry**
 * He was a gentel man and kind**
 * A better fellow could not be found**
 * He would suffer for a quart of wine**
 * A good fellow to have his concubine**
 * A twelth month, and excuse him fully**
 * Privately he could pluch a finch**
 * And if he chanced upon a good fellow**
 * He would teach him never to have awe**
 * In such as an archdeacons curse**
 * But if a man's soul was in his purse**
 * For being in his purse, he should be punnished**
 * The purse is the archdeacon's hell, said he**
 * But I well know he lied in what he did**
 * Of cursing, every man should dread**
 * For curses can kill, like absolution save**
 * And wear it significantly to his grave**
 * In danger he had at his ease**
 * The young girls of the diocese**
 * And knew secrests, and was their guide**
 * He had a garland set upon his head**
 * As big as an ale-stake**
 * He had a buckler made of bread**