A Frere there was, a wanton and a merry, A limitour,[78] a full solemne[79] man. In all the orders four is none that can[80] So much of dalliance and fair language. He hadde made full many a marriage Of younge women at his owen cost. Unto his order he was a noble post; Full well beloved and familiar was he With franklins over-all[81] in his country, And eke with worthy[82] women of the town: For he had power of confession, As saide himself, more than a curate, For of his order he was licentiate. Full sweetely heard he confession, And pleasant was his absolution. He was an easy man to give penance, There-as he wist to have[83] a good pittance; For unto a poor order for to give Is signe that a man is well yshrive; For if he gave, he durste make avaunt,[84] He wiste that a man was repentant. For many a man so hard is of his heart, He may not weep although him sore smart; Therefore instead of weeping and prayers, Men mote give silver to the poore freres. His tippet was aye farsed[85] full of knives And pinnes, for to given faire wives; And certainly he had a merry note: Well could he sing and playen on a rote[86]; Of yeddings[87] he bare utterly the pris.[88] His necke white was as the fleur-de-lis. Thereto he strong was as a champion. He knew the taverns well in every town, And every hosteler[89] and tapester, Bet than a lazar[90] or a beggester[91]; For unto such a worthy man as he Accorded nought, as by his faculty, To have with sicke lazars acquaintance; It is not honest, it may not advance For to dealen with no such poraille,[92] But all with rich and sellers[93] of vitaille.[94] And o'er-all,[95] there-as profit should arise, Courteous he was and lowly of service. There was no man nowhere so virtuous[96]; He was the beste beggar in his house: [And gave a certain farme[97] for the grant, None of his brethren came there in his haunt.] For though a widow hadde not a shoe, So pleasant was his _In principio_,[98] Yet would he have a farthing ere he went; His purchase[99] was well better than his rent.[100] And rage[101] he could as it were right a whelp: In lovedays[102] there could he muchel help; For there he was not like a cloisterer With a threadbare cope, as is a poor scholer; But he was like a master or a pope, Of double worsted was his semicope,[103] That rounded as a bell out of the press. Somewhat he lisped for his wantonness, To make his English sweet upon his tongue; And in his harping, when that he had sung, His eyen twinkled in his head aright, As do the starres in the frosty night. This worthy limitour was cleped[104] Huberd. THE CLERK OF OXFORD