A Yeoman had he, and servánts no mo’ At that timë, for him list ridë so; And he was clad in coat and hood of green. A sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen Under his belt he bare full thriftily. Well could he dress his tackle yeomanly: His arrows drooped not with feathers low; And in his hand he bare a mighty bow. A nut-head had he, with a brown viságe: Of wood-craft coud he well all the uságe: Upon his arm he bare a gay bracér, And by his side a sword and a bucklér, And on that other side a gay daggere, Harnessed well, and sharp as point of spear: A Christopher on his breast of silver sheen. An horn he bare, the baldric was of green: A forester was he soothly as I guess.
There was also a Nun, a Prioress , That of her smiling was full simple and coy; Her greatest oathë was but by Saint Loy; And she was cleped Madame Eglentine. Full well she sang the servicë divine, Entuned in her nose full seemëly; And French she spake full fair and fetisly After the school of Stratford attë Bow, For French of Paris was to her unknow. At meatë was she well y-taught withal; She let no morsel from her lippës fall, Nor wet her fingers in her saucë deep. Well could she carry a morsel, and well keep, That no droppë ne fell upon her breast. In courtesy was set full much her lest. Her over-lippë wiped she so clean, That in her cup there was no farthing seen Of greasë, when she drunken had her draught; Full seemëly after her meat she raught: And sickerly she was of great disport, And full pleasánt, and amiable of port, And pained her to counterfeitë cheer Of court, and be estately of mannére, And to be holden digne of reverence.
But for to speaken of her consciénce, She was so charitable and so pitous, She wouldë weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled. Of smallë houndës had she, that she fed With roasted flesh, and milk, and wastel bread. But sore she wept if one of them were dead, Or if men smote it with a yardë smart: And all was conscience and tender heart. Full seemly her wimple y-pinched was; Her nose tretis; her eyen gray as glass; Her mouth full small, and thereto soft and red; But sickerly