the secrets that they knew— For their acquaintance was not come of new; They were his approvers privily. He took himself at great profit thereby: His master knew not always what he wan. Withoutë mandement, a lewëd man He could summon, on pain of Christë’s curse, And they were inly glad to fill his purse, And make him greatë feastës at the nale. And right as Judas haddë purses smale, And was a thief, right such a thief was he, His master had but half his duëty. He was (if I shall givë him his laud) A thief, and eke a Sompnour, and a bawd. And he had wenches at his retinue, That whether that Sir Robert or Sir Hugh, Or Jack, or Ralph, or whoso that it were That lay by them, they told it in his ear. Thus were the wench and he of one assent; And he would fetch a feigned mandement, And to the chapter summon them both two, And pill the man, and let the wenchë go. Then would he say, “Friend, I shall for thy sake Do strike thee out of ourë letters blake; Thee thar no more as in this case travail; I am thy friend where I may thee avail.” Certain he knew of bribers many mo’ Than possible is to tell in yearës two: For in this world is no dog for the bow, That can a hurt deer from a wholë know, Bet than this Sompnour knew a sly lechour, Or an adult’rer, or a paramour: And, for that was the fruit of all his rent, Therefore on it he set all his intent.
And so befell, that once upon a day. This Sompnour, waiting ever on his prey, Rode forth to summon a widow, an old ribibe, Feigning a cause, for he would have a bribe. And happen’d that he saw before him ride A gay yeoman under a forest side: A bow he bare, and arrows bright and keen, He had upon a courtepy of green, A hat upon his head with fringes blake. “Sir,” quoth this Sompnour, “hail, and well o’ertake.” “Welcome,” quoth he, “and every good felláw; Whither ridést thou under this green shaw?” Saidë this yeoman; “wilt thou far to-day?” This Sompnour answer’d him, and saidë, “Nay. Here fastë by,” quoth he, “is mine intent To ridë, for to raisen up a rent, That longeth to my lordë’s duety.” “Ah! art thou then a bailiff?” “Yea,” quoth he. He durstë not for very filth and shame Say that he was a Sompnour, for the name. “ De par dieux ,”