A Frere[76] ther was, a wanton and a mery, A Limitour,[77] a ful solempne man. In all the ordres foure is none that can So muche of daliance and fayre langage. He hadde ymade ful many a mariage Of yonge wimmen, at his owen cost. Until[78] his ordre he was a noble post. Ful wel beloved, and familier was he With frankeleins[79] over all in his contree, And eke with worthy wimmen of the toun: For he had power of confessioun, As saide himselfe, more than a curat, For of his ordre he was a licenciat. Ful swetely herde he confession, And plesant was his absolution. He was an esy man to give penaunce, Ther as he wiste[80] to han[81] a good pitaunce: For unto a poure[82] ordre for to give Is signe that a man is wel yshrive.[83] For if he gaf, he dorste make avaunt,[84] He wiste that a man was repentaunt. For many a man so hard is of his herte, He may not wepe although him sore smerte. Therfore in stede of weping and praieres, Men mote[85] give silver to the poure freres. His tippet was ay farsed[86] ful of knives, And pinnes, for to given fayre wives. And certainly he hadde a mery note. Wel coude he singe and plaien on a rote.[87] Of yeddinges[88] he bar utterly the pris. His nekke was white as the flour de lis. Therto he strong was as a champioun, And knew wel the tavernes in every toun, And every hosteler and tappestere, Better than a lazar or a beggestere, For unto swiche a worthy man as he Accordeth not, as by his faculte, To haven[89] with sike lazars acquaintance. It is not honest, it may not avance,[90] As for to delen with no swiche pouraille,[91] But all with riche, and sellers of vitaille. And over all, ther as profit shuld arise, Curteis he was, and lowly of servise. Ther nas no man no wher so vertuous. He was the beste begger in his hous: [And gave a certain ferme[92] for the grant, Non of his bretheren came in his haunt.] For though a widewe hadde but a shoo, (So plesant was his _in principio_) Yet wold he have a ferthing or[93] he went. His pourchas was wel better than his rent.[94] And rage he coude as it hadde ben a whelp, In lovedayes,[95] ther coude he mochel help. For ther he was nat like a cloisterere, With thredbare cope, as is a poure scolere, But he was like a maister or a pope. Of double worsted was his semicope,[96] That round was as a belle out of the presse. Somwhat he lisped, for his wantonnesse, To make his English swete upon his tonge; And in his harping, whan that he hadde songe, His eyen twinkeled in his hed aright, As don the sterres in a frosty night. This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd. [Footnote 59: a fair one for the mastership.] [Footnote 60: hunting.] [Footnote 61: dainty.] [Footnote 62: pass.] [Footnote 63: did not care a plucked hen for the text.] [Footnote 64: careless; removed from the restraints of his order and vows.] [Footnote 65: mad.] [Footnote 66: toil.]