To  drawe  folk  to  heven  by  fairnesse,
By  good  ensample,  [this]  was  his  busynesse  :
But  it  were  eny  persone  obstinat,
What  so  he  were  of  high  or  lowe  estat,
Him  wolde  he  snybbe  scharply  for  the  nones.
A  bettre  preest  I  trowe  ther  nowher  non  is.
He  waytud  after  no  pompe  ne  reverence,
.Ne  maked  him  a  spiced  conscience,
But  Cristes  lore,  and  his  apostles  twelve,
He  taught,  and  ferst  he  followed  it  himselve.
With  him  ther  was  a  PLOUGHMAN,  his  brothur,
That  hadde  i-lad  of  dong  ful  many  a  fothur.
A  trewe  swynker  and  a  good  was  hee,
Lyvynge  in  pees  and  perf^t  charitee.
God  loved  he  best  with  al  his  trewe  herte
At  alle  tymes,  though  him  gamed  or  smerte,
And  thanne  his  neighebour  right  as  himselve.
He  wolde  threisshe,  and  therto  dyke  and  delve,
For  Cristes  sake,  with  every  pore  wight,
Withouten  huyre,  if  it  laye  in  his  might.
His  tythes  payede  he  ful  faire  and  wel,
Bathe  of  his  owne  swynk  and  his  catel.
In  a  tabbard  [he]  rood  upon  a  mere.
Ther  was  also  a  reeve  and  a  mellere,
A  sompnour  and  a  pardoner  also,
A  maunciple,  and  my  self,  ther  was  no  mo.
The  MELLERE  was  a  stout  carl  for  the  nones,
Ful  big  he  was  of  braun,  and  eek  of  boones  ;
That  prevede  wel,  for  overal  ther  he  cam,
At  wrastlynge  he  wolde  bere  awey  the  ram.
He  was  schort  schuldred,  broode,  a  thikke  knarre,
Ther  nas  no  "dore  that  he  nolde  heve  of  harre,


THE  MANCIPLE.  3°7

Or  breke  it  with  a  rennyng  with  his  heed.
