He was not pale as a forpined[75] gost.
A fat swan loved he best of any rost,
His palfrey was as broune as is a bery.


III.

A Frere[76] ther was, a wanton and a mery,
A Limitour,[77] a ful solempnè man.
In all the ordres foure is none that can
So muche of daliance and fayre langáge.
He hadde ymade ful many a mariáge
Of yongè wimmen, at his owen cost.
Until[78] his ordre he was a noble post.
Ful wel beloved, and familier was he
With frankeleins[79] over all in his contrèe,
And eke with worthy wimmen of the toun:
For he had power of confessioun,
As saide himselfè, more than a curát,
For of his ordre he was a licenciat.
Ful swetely herde he confession,
And plesant was his absolution.
He was an esy man to give penaunce,
Ther as he wiste[80] to han[81] a good pitaunce:
For unto a poure[82] ordre for to give
Is signè that a man is wel yshrive.[83]
For if he gaf, he dorstè make avaunt,[84]
He wistè that a man was repentaunt.
For many a man so hard is of his herte,
He may not wepe although him sorè smerte.