At  Ley^s  was  he,  and  at  Satalie,
Whan  they  were  wonne  ;  and  in  the  Grete  see
At  many  a  noble  armee  hadde  he  be.
At  mortal  batailles  hadde  he  ben  fiftenc.
And  foughtcn  for  our  faith  at  Tramisscnc
In  list^s  thries,  and  ay  slain  his  fo.
This  ilkc  worthy  knight  hadde  ben  als6
Sometime  with  the  Lord  of  Palatie,
Agcn  another  hcthen  in  Turkic  :
And  evermore  he  hadde  a  sovereine  pris".
And  though  that  he  was  worthy  he  was  wise,
And  of  his  port  as  mcke  as  is  a  mayde.
He  never  yet  no  vilanie  ne  sayde
In  alle  his  lif,  unto  no  manere  wight.
He  was  a  veray  parfit  gentil  knight.
But  for  to  tellen  you  of  his  araie,
His  hors  was  good,  but  he  ne  was  not  gaic.
Of  fustian  he  wered  a  gip6n%
All^  besmotred*  with  his  habergeon*.
For  he  was  late  ycome  fro  his  viage.
And  wente  for  to  don  his  pilgrim^e.
With  him  ther  was  his  sone  a  yonge  Squier,
A  lover  and  a  lusty  bacheler.
With  lockes  ctu.U7  as  they  were  laide  in  presse.
Of  twenty  yere  of  age  he  was  I  gesse.
Of  his  stature  he  was  of  even  lengthe.
And  wonderly  deliver*,  and  grete  of  strengthe.
And  he  hadde  be  somtime  in  chevachie",
In  Flaundres,  in  Artois,  and  in  Picardie,
And  borne  him  wel,  as  of  so  litel  space,
In  hope  to  stonden  in  his  ladies  grace.
Embrouded**  was  he,  as  it  were  a  mede
Alle  ful  of  fresshc  floures,  white  and  rede.
Singing  he  was,  or  flo^ting*^  alle  the  day.
He  was  as  fresshe  as  is  the  moneth  of  May.
Short  was  his  goune,  with  sieves  long  and  wide.
Well  coude  he  sitte  on  hors,  and  fajTd  ride.
He  coude  songcs  make,  and  wel  endite.
