"A good man there was of religioun, That was a poure persone of a toun; But riche he was of holy thought and werk. He was also a lerned man, a clerk, That Criste's gospel trewely wolde preche, His parishens devoutly wolde he teche. Benigne he was and wonder diligent, And in adversite ful patient; And such he was yproved often sithes. Full loth were he to cursen for his tithes, But rather wolde he given out of doubte Unto his poure parishens about, Of his offering and eke of his substance. He could in litel thing have suffisance. Wide was his parish, and houses fer asunder, But he ne left nought for no rain ne thunder, In sikenesse and in mischief to visite The farthest in his parish much and lite,[285] Upon his fete, and in his hand a staff. This noble ensample to his sheep he gaf[286] That first he wrought, and afterward he taught. Out of the gospel he the wordes caught, And this figure he added yet thereto, That if gold rusté what should iren do? For if a priest be foul, on whom we trust, No wonder is a léwéd man to rust; Well ought a preest ensample for to give, By his clenenesse how his shepe shulde live. He sette not his benefice to hire, And lefte his sheep accumbered in the mire, And ran unto London, unto Seint Poules, To seeken him a chanterie for souls, Or with a brotherhede to be withold, But dwelt at home and kepté well his fold. He was a shepherd and no mercenare; And though he holy were and vertuous, He was to sinful men not despitous,[287] Ne of his speché dangerous ne digne,[288] But in his teaching discrete and benigne. To drawen folk to heaven with fairénesse, By good ensample was his businesse. But it were any persone obstinat, What so he were of highe or low estate, Him wolde he snibben[289] sharply for the nones, A better preest I trow that nowhere none is. He waited after no pomp ne reverence, Ne maked him no spiced[290] conscience, But Christés lore, and his apostles twelve, He taught, but first he followed it himselve."