That rounded as a belle out of the presse. Somwhat he lipsede, for his wantownesse, To make his Englissch swete upon his tunge; And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde sunge His eyën twynkled in his heed aright, As don the sterrës in the frosty night. This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd. A MARCHAUNT was ther with a forkëd berd, In mottëleye, and hign on hors he sat, Upon his heed a Flaundrisch bevere hat; His botës clapsed faire and fetysly. His resons he spak ful solempnëly, Sownynge alway the encres of his wynnynge. He wolde the see were kept for{48} eny thinge Betwixë Middelburgh and Orëwelle. Wel couthe he in eschaungë scheeldës{49} selle. This worthi man ful wel his wit bisette; Ther wistë no wight that he was in dette, So estatly was he of governaunce, With his bargayns, and with his chevysaunce For sothe he was a worthy man withalle, But soth to sayn, I not how men him calle. A CLERK ther was of Oxenford{50} also, That unto logik haddë longe i-go. As lenë was his hors as is a rake, And he was not right{51} fat, I undertake; But lokëde holwe, and therto soberly. Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy. For he hadde geten him yit no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office. For him was levere have at his beddës heede Twenty bookës, clad in blak or reede, Of Aristotle and his philosophyë, Then robës riche, or fithel, or gay sawtryë.{52} But al be that he was a philosophre, Yet haddë he but litel gold in cofre; But al that he mighte of his frendës hente, On bookës and on lernyng he it spente, And busily gan for the soulës preye Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye; Of studie took he most cure and most heede. Not oo word spak he morë than was neede, And that was seid in forme and reverence And schort and quyk, and ful of high sentence. Sownynge{53} in moral vertu was his speche, And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. GLOSSARY.