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A good man was ther of religioun, |
| 480 | And was a povre PERSOUN OF A TOUN, |
| But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk. |
| He was also a lerned man, a clerk, |
| That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche; |
| His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. |
| 485 | Benynge he was, and wonder diligent, |
| And in adversitee ful pacient, |
| And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes. |
| Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes, |
| But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute, |
| 490 | Unto his povre parisshens aboute |
| Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce. |
| He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce. |
| Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder, |
| But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder, |
| 495 | In siknesse nor in meschief to visite |
| The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite, |
| Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf. |
| This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, |
| That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte. |
| 500 | Out of the gosple he tho wordes caughte, |
| And this figure he added eek therto, |
| That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? |
| For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, |
| No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; |
| 505 | And shame it is, if a prest take keep, |
| A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. |
| Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, |
| By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve. |
| He sette nat his benefice to hyre |
| 510 | And leet his sheep encombred in the myre |
| And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules |
| To seken hym a chaunterie for soules, |
| Or with a bretherhed to been witholde; |
| But dwelt at hoom, and kepte wel his folde, |
| 515 | So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie; |
| He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie. |
| And though he hooly were and vertuous, |
| He was to synful men nat despitous, |
| Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, |
| 520 | But in his techyng discreet and benygne; |
| To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse, |
| By good ensample, this was his bisynesse. |
| But it were any persone obstinat, |
| What so he were, of heigh or lough estat, |
| 525 | Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys. |
| A bettre preest I trowe, that nowher noon ys. |
| He waited after no pompe and reverence, |
| Ne maked him a spiced conscience, |
| But Cristes loore, and Hise apostles twelve |
| 530 | He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve. |
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A good man was there of religion, |
| 480 | He was a poor COUNTRY PARSON, |
| But rich he was in holy thought and work. |
| He was a learned man also, a clerk, |
| Who Christ's own gospel truly sought to preach; |
| Devoutly his parishioners would he teach. |
| 485 | Gracious he was and wondrously diligent, |
| Patient in adversity and well content, |
| Many times thus proven had he |
| He excommunicated not to force a fee, |
| But rather would he give, there is no doubt, |
| 490 | Unto his poor parishioners about, |
| Some of his income, even of his property. |
| He could in little find sufficiency. |
| Wide was his parish, houses far asunder, |
| But never did he fail, for rain or thunder, |
| 495 | In sickness, or in sin, or any state, |
| To visit the farthest, regardless their financial state, |
| Going by foot, and in his hand, a stave. |
| This fine example to his flock he gave, |
| That first he wrought and afterwards he taught; |
| 500 | Out of the gospel then that text he caught, |
| And this metaphor he added thereunto - |
| That, if gold would rust, what shall iron do? |
| For if the priest be foul, in whom we trust, |
| No wonder that a layman thinks of lust? |
| 505 | And shame it is, if priest take thought for keep, |
| A shitty shepherd, looking after clean sheep. |
| A trully good example a priest should give, |
| Is his own chastity, how his flock should live. |
| He never let his benefice for hire, |
| 510 | And leave his sheep encumbered in the mire, |
| And ran to London, up to old Saint Paul's |
| To get himself a chantry there for souls, |
| Nor in some fraternity did he withhold; |
| But dwelt at home and kept so well the fold |
| 515 | That never wolf could make his plans miscarry; |
| He was a shepherd and not mercenary. |
| And holy though he was, and virtuous, |
| To sinners he was not impiteous, |
| Nor haughty in his speech, nor too divine, |
| 520 | But in all teaching courteous and benign. |
| To lead folk into Heaven by means of gentleness |
| By good example was his business. |
| But if some sinful one proved obstinate, |
| Whoever, of high or low financial state, |
| 525 | He put to sharp rebuke, to say the least. |
| I think there never was a better priest. |
| He had no thirst for pomp or ceremony, |
| Nor spiced his conscience and morality, |
| But Christ's own law, and His apostles' twelve |
| 530 | He taught, but first he followed it himselve. |
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