Friar_Translation_JEngel

//208:// A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye, A friar there was, pleasure-loving and //209:// A lymytour, a ful solempne man. //210:// In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan //211:// So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. //212:// He hadde maad ful many a mariage //213:// Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. //214:// Unto his ordre he was a noble post. //215:// Ful wel biloved and famulier was he //216:// With frankeleyns over al in his contree, //217:// And eek with worthy wommen of the toun; //218:// For he hadde power of confessioun, //219:// As seyde hymself, moore than a curat, //220:// For of his ordre he was licenciat. //221:// Ful swetely herde he confessioun, //222:// And plesaunt was his absolucioun: //223:// He was an esy man to yeve penaunce, //224:// Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce. //225:// For unto a povre ordre for to yive //226:// Is signe that a man is wel yshryve; //227:// For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, //228:// He wiste that a man was repentaunt; //229:// For many a man so hard is of his herte, //230:// He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte. //231:// Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres //232:// Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres. //233:// His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves //234:// And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves. //235:// And certeinly he hadde a murye note: //236:// Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; //237:// Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris. //238:// His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys; //239:// Therto he strong was as a champioun. //240:// He knew the tavernes wel in every toun //241:// And everich hostiler and tappestere //242:// Bet than a lazar or a beggestere; //243:// For unto swich a worthy man as he //244:// Acorded nat, as by his facultee, //245:// To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce. //246:// It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce, //247:// For to deelen with no swich poraille, //248:// But al with riche and selleres of vitaille. //249:// And over al, ther as profit sholde arise, //250:// Curteis he was and lowely of servyse. //251:// Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. //252:// He was the beste beggere in his hous; //252.1:// (and yaf a certeyne ferme for the graunt; //252.2:// Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;) //253:// For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho, //254:// So plesaunt was his in principio, //255:// Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente. //256:// His purchas was wel bettre than his rente. //257:// And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp. //258:// In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help, //259:// For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer //260:// With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, //261:// But he was lyk a maister or a pope. //262:// Of double worstede was his semycope, //263:// That rounded as a belle out of the presse. //264:// Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, //265:// To make his englissh sweete upon his tonge; //266:// And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe, //267:// His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght, //268:// As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght. //269:// This worthy lymytour was cleped huberd.

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