| 390 |
A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste; |
| For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe. |
| He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe, |
| In a gowne of faldyng to the knee. |
| A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he |
| 395 | Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun. |
| The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun, |
| And certeinly he was a good felawe. |
| Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe |
| Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep. |
| 400 | Of nyce conscience took he no keep. |
| If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond, |
| By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. |
| But of his craft, to rekene wel his tydes, |
| His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides, |
| 405 | His herberwe and his moone, his lodemenage, |
| Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage. |
| Hardy he was, and wys to undertake; |
| With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake. |
| He knew alle the havenes as they were, |
| 410 | From Gootlond to the Cape of Fynystere, |
| And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne. |
| His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne. |
|
| 390 |
There was a SAILOR, living far out west; |
| For all I know, he was of Dartmouth town. |
| He sadly rode a carthorse, in a gown, |
| Of thick woolen cloth that reached unto the knee. |
| A dagger hanging on a cord had he |
| 395 | About his neck, under his arm, and down. |
| The hot summer had burned his face all brown; |
| And certainly he was a person fine. |
| Very often he took a draught of wine, |
| Of Bordeaux vintage, while the trader slept. |
| 400 | Nice conscience was a thing he never kept. |
| And if he fought and got the upper hand, |
| By water he sent them home to every land. |
| But as for craft, to calculate his tides, |
| His currents and the dangerous watersides, |
| 405 | His harbours, and his moon, his pilotage, |
| There was none such from Hull to far Carthage. |
| Hardy and wise in all things undertaken, |
| By many tempests had his beard been shaken. |
| He knew well all the havens, how they were, |
| 410 | From Gottland to the Cape of Finisterre, |
| And every creek in Brittany and Spain; |
| His vessel had been called the Madeleine. |
|
