he was clad in a goodly long gown of grey welted with silver,
of thin cloth meet for the summer-tide: for little he wrought with
his hands, but much with his tongue; he was a man of forty summers,
ruddy-faced and black-bearded, and he was called Clement Chapman.

When he saw Ralph he smiled kindly on him, and came and held
his stirrup as he lighted down, and said: "Welcome, lord!
Art thou come to give me a message, and eat and drink in a poor
huckster's house, and thou armed so gallantly?"

Ralph laughed merrily, for he was hungry, and he said:
"Yea, I will eat and drink with thee and kiss my gossip,
and go my ways."

Therewith the carle led him into the house; and if it were goodly without,
within it was better. For there was a fair chamber panelled with wainscot
well carven, and a cupboard of no sorry vessels of silver and latten:
the chairs and stools as fair as might be; no king's might be better:
the windows were glazed, and there were flowers and knots and posies in them;
and the bed was hung with goodly web from over sea such as the soldan useth.
Also, whereas the chapman's ware-bowers were hard by the chamber,
there was a pleasant mingled smell therefrom floating about. The table was
set with meat and drink and vessel of pewter and earth, all fair and good;
and thereby stood the chapman's wife, a very goodly woman of two-score years,
who had held Ralph at the font when she was a slim damsel new wedded;
for she was come of no mean kindred of the Kingdom of Upmeads:
her name was Dame Katherine.

Now she kissed Ralph's cheek friendly, and said:
"Welcome, gossip! thou art here in good time to break thy fast;