The Reevë 202 was a slender choleric man, His beard was shav’d as nigh as ever he can. His hair was by his earës round y-shorn; His top was docked like a priest beforn. Full longë were his leggës, and full lean, Y-like a staff, there was no calf y-seen. Well could he keep a garner and a bin: 203 There was no auditor 204 could on him win. Well wist he by the drought, and by the rain, The yielding of his seed and of his grain. His lordë’s sheep, his neat, 205 and his dairy. His swine, his horse, his store, and his poultrý, Were wholly in this Reevë’s governing, And by his cov’nant gave he reckoning, Since that his lord was twenty year of age; There could no man bring him in arrearáge.