A dagger and a hawking-pouch of silk Hung at his girdle, white as morning milk. A Haberdasher, a Carpenter, a Webber (weaver), a Dyer, and a Tapiser (tapestry-maker) came next, with the Cook they brought with them, a Shipman, a Doctor of Physic, and a ‘worthy[66] woman,’ called the Wife of Bath, because she lived near that city. [Illustration: The Doctor of Physic.] [Illustration: The Wife of Bath.] The Wife of Bath. She was so expert in weaving cloth, that there was no one who could come up to her; and she thought so much of herself, that if another woman even went up to the church altar before her, she considered it a slight upon her. The Wife of Bath was middle-aged, and somewhat deaf: she had had five husbands, but they had all died--she was such a shrew: and she had taken pilgrimages to Cologne and Rome, and many other places; for she had plenty of money, as one might see by her showy dress. Hire hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, hose Ful streyte yteyd, and schoos ful moyst and newe. Bold was hire face, and fair and rede of hew. Her stockings were of finest scarlet red, All straitly tied, and shoes all moist and new. Bold was her face, and fair and red of hue. She was well wimpled with fine kerchiefs, and her hat was as broad as a buckler or a target. The Parson. [Illustration] Then came the poor Parson--poor in condition, but ‘rich in holy thought and work’--who was so good, and staunch, and true, so tender to sinners and severe to sin, regarding no ranks or state, but always at his post, an example to men. Wyd was his parisch, and houses fer asondur, wide But he ne lafte not for reyne ne thondur, ceased In siknesse nor in meschief to visite The ferrest in his parissche, moche and lite, furthest Uppon his feet, and in his hond a staf. * * * * * But Cristes lore and his apostles twelve He taught, and ferst he folwed it himselve.[67] followed Wide was his parish, the houses far asunder, But never did he fail, for rain or thunder, In sickness and in woe to visit all Who needed--far or near, and great and small-- On foot, and having in his hand a staff. * * * * * Christ’s and the twelve apostles’ law he taught, But first himself obey’d it, as he ought. The Ploughman. Then the parson’s brother, who was only a Ploughman, and worked hard in the fields, kind to his neighbours, ever honest, loving God above all things. He wore a tabard, and rode on a mare.[68] There was also a Miller, a Manciple, a Reve, a Summoner, a Pardoner, and myself [Chaucer]. [Illustration: The Ploughman.] [Illustration: The Summoner.] [Illustration: The Pardoner.] The Summoner.