It is not honest, it may not avance,[90]
As for to delen with no swiche pouraille,[91]
But all with riche, and sellers of vitaille.
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 ferme[92] for the grant,
Non of his bretheren came in his haunt.]
For though a widewe hadde 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 lovedayes,[95] ther coude he mochel help.
For ther he was nat like a cloisterere,
With thredbare cope, as is a poure scolere,
But he was like a maister or a pope.
Of double worsted was his semicope,[96]
That round was as a belle out of the presse.
Somwhat he lisped, for his wantonnesse,
To make his English swete upon his tonge;
And in his harping, whan that he hadde songe,
His eyen twinkeled in his hed aright,
As don the sterres in a frosty night.
This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd.
[Footnote 59: a fair one for the mastership.]
[Footnote 60: hunting.]
[Footnote 61: dainty.]
[Footnote 62: pass.]
[Footnote 63: did not care a plucked hen for the text.]
[Footnote 64: careless; removed from the restraints of his order and
vows.]
[Footnote 65: mad.]
[Footnote 66: toil.]
[Footnote 67: biddeth.
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