Therfore in stede of weping and praieres,
Men mote[85] give silver to the pourè freres.
His tippet was ay farsed[86] ful of knives,
And pinnès, for to given fayrè wives.
And certainly he hadde a mery note.
Wel coude he singe and plaien on a rote.[87]
Of yeddinges[88] he bar utterly the pris.
His nekke was white as the flour de lis.
Therto he strong was as a champioun,
And knew wel the tavérnes in every toun,
And every hosteler and tappestere,
Better than a lazar or a beggestere,
For unto swiche a worthy man as he
Accordeth not, as by his facultè,
To haven[89] with sike lazars acquaintànce.
It is not honest, it may not avànce,[90]
As for to delen with no swiche pouràille,[91]
But all with riche, and sellers of vitàille.
And over all, ther as profit shuld arise,
Curteis he was, and lowly of servise.
Ther nas no man no wher so vertuous.
He was the beste begger in his hous:
[And gave a certain fermè[92] for the grant,
Non of his bretheren came in his haunt.]
For though a widewe haddè but a shoo,
(So plesant was his _in principio_)
Yet wold he have a ferthing or[93] he went.
His pourchas was wel better than his rent.[94]
And rage he coude as it hadde ben a whelp,
In lovèdayes,[95] ther coude he mochel help.