And evermore he hadde a sovereyn prys. And though that he was worthy, he was wys, And of his port as meke as is a mayde. He nevere yit no vileinye ne sayde In al his lyf, unto no maner wight.{18} He was a verray perfight gentil knight. But for to tellen you of his array, His hors was good, but he ne was nought gay. Of fustyan he werede a gepoun Al bysmotered with his habergeoun. For he was late ycome from his viage, And wentë for to doon his pilgrimage. With him ther was his sone, a yong SQUYER, A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler,{19} With lokkës crulle as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Of his stature he was of even lengthe, And wonderly delyver, and gret of strengthe. And he hadde ben somtyme in chivachye, In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye, And born him wel, as of so litel space, In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Embrowded was he, as it were a mede Al ful of fresshë floures, white and reede. Syngynge he was, or floytynge,{20} al the day; He was as fressh as is the moneth of May. Schort was his goune, with sleevës longe and wyde. Wel cowde he sitte on hors, and fairë ryde. He cowdë songës make and wel endite, Juste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye and write. So hote he lovedë, that by nightertale He sleep nomore than doth a nightyngale. Curteys he was, lowly, and servysable, And carf byforn his fader at the table. A YEMAN hadde he,{21} and servaunts nomoo At that tyme, for him lustë rydë soo; And he was clad in coote and hood of grene. A shef of pocok arwës{22} brighte and kene Under his belte he bar ful thriftily. Wel cowde he dresse his takel yemanly; His arwes drowpede nought with fetheres lowe. And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe A not-heed hadde he with broun visage. Of woodë-craft wel cowde he al the usage. Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer{23} And by his side a swerd and a bokeler, And on that other side a gay daggere, Harneysed wel, and scharp as poynt of spere; A Cristofre{24} on his brest of silver schene. An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene; A forster was he sothly, as I gesse. Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, That of hire smylyng was ful symple and coy; Hire grettest ooth ne was but by seynt Loy{25}; And sche was cleped madame Eglentyne. Ful wel sche sang the servisë divyne, Entuned in hire nose ful semëly; And Frensch sche spak ful faire and fetysly, After the scole of Stratford attë Bowe, For Frensch of Parys was to hire unknowe. At metë wel i-taught was sche withalle; Sche leet no morsel from hire lippës falle, Ne wette hire fyngres in hire saucë deepe. Wel cowde sche carie a morsel, and wel keepe, That no dropë ne fille upon hire breste.