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With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK; |
| In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik, |
| 415 | To speke of phisik and of surgerye, |
| For he was grounded in astronomye. |
| He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel |
| In houres, by his magyk natureel. |
| Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent |
| 420 | Of his ymages for his pacient. |
| He knew the cause of everich maladye, |
| Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye, |
| And where they engendred, and of what humour. |
| He was a verray parfit praktisour: |
| 425 | The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote, |
| Anon he yaf the sike man his boote. |
| Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaries |
| To sende him drogges and his letuaries, |
| For ech of hem made oother for to wynne- |
| 430 | Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne. |
| Wel knew he the olde Esculapius, |
| And Deyscorides and eek Rufus, |
| Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen, |
| Serapioun, Razis, and Avycen, |
| 435 | Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn, |
| Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn. |
| Of his diete mesurable was he, |
| For it was of no superfluitee, |
| But of greet norissyng, and digestible. |
| 440 | His studie was but litel on the Bible. |
| In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al, |
| Lyned with taffata and with sendal; |
| And yet he was but esy of dispence; |
| He kepte that he wan in pestilence. |
| 445 | For gold in phisik is a cordial, |
| Therfore he lovede gold in special. |
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With us there was a DOCTOR OF MEDICINE; |
| In all this world there was none like him |
| 415 | To speak of medicine and surgery; |
| For he was instructed in astronomy. |
| He cared for and saved a patient many times |
| By natural science and studying astrological signs. |
| Well could he calculate the planetary position |
| 420 | To improve the state his patient is in. |
| He knew the cause of every sickness, |
| Whether it brings heat or cold, moisture or dryness, |
| And where engendered, and of what humour; |
| He was a very good practitioner. |
| 425 | The cause being known, the root of the malady, |
| At once he gave to the sick man his remedy. |
| Prepared he was, with his apothecaries, |
| To send him drugs and all electuaries; |
| By mutual aid much gold they'd always won- |
| 430 | Their friendship was a thing not new begun. |
| Well he knew the old Esculapius, |
| And Deiscorides, and also Rufus, |
| Old Hippocrates, Hali, and Galen, |
| Serapion, Rhazes, and Avicen, |
| 435 | Averroes, Gilbertus, and Constantine, |
| Bernard and Gatisden, and John Damascene. |
| In diet he was modest as could be, |
| No one could blame him of superfluity, |
| But greatly nourishing and digestible. |
| 440 | His study was but little on the Bible. |
| Blue and scarlet his clothes were therewithal, |
| Lined with taffeta and with sendal; |
| And yet he was right careful of expense; |
| He kept the gold he gained from pestilence. |
| 445 | Since gold in physic is a cordial, |
| Therefore he loved his gold exceeding all. |
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