Volume 1

The poetical works of Geoffrey Chaucer / with a memoir by Sir Harris Nicolas.

  • Geoffrey Chaucer
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The poetical works of Geoffrey Chaucer / with a memoir by Sir Harris Nicolas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/392 page 8
    Of yonge wymmen, at his owne cost. Unto his ordre he was a noble post, Ful wel biloved and famiilier was he With frankeleyns overal in his cuntrc, And eek with worthi wommen of the toun: For he hadde power of confessioiin, As seyde himself, more than a curat, For of his ordre he was licenciat. Ful sweetly herde he confessioiin. And plesaunt was his absolucioun; He was an esy man to yeve penance Ther as he wisto to han a good pitance; For unto a povre ordre for to geve Is signe that a man is wel i-schreve. For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt. He wiste that a man was repentaunt. For many a man so hard is of his hertc. Ho may not wepe though him sore smerte. Therfore in-stede of wepyng and prayeres. Men mooten yiven silver to the pore freres. His typet was ay farsud ful of knyfes And pynnes, for to yivc foire wyfes. And certa)mZi he hadde a raery noote. Wel couthe he synge and pleye on a role. Of yeddynges he bar utturly the prys. His nekke whit was as the fiour-de-lj-s. Therto he strong was as a champioun. He knew wel the tavernes in every toun, And every ostiUer or gay tapstere. Better than a lazer, or a beggere, For unto such a worthi man as he Acorded not, as by his faculte. To have with suche sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
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