| 625 |
A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place, |
| That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face, |
| For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe. |
| As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe, |
| With scalled browes blake, and piled berd, |
| 630 | Of his visage children were aferd. |
| Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon, |
| Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, |
| Ne oynement, that wolde clense and byte, |
| That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white, |
| 635 | Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes. |
| Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, |
| And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood; |
| Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood. |
| And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, |
| 640 | Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn. |
| A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, |
| That he had lerned out of som decree- |
| No wonder is, he herde it al the day, |
| And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay |
| 645 | Kan clepen "Watte" as wel as kan the pope. |
| But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope, |
| Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie; |
| Ay "Questio quid iuris" wolde he crie. |
| He was a gentil harlot and a kynde; |
| 650 | A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde; |
| He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn, |
| A good felawe to have his concubyn |
| A twelf-monthe, and excuse hym atte fulle; |
| Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle. |
| 655 | And if he foond owher a good felawe, |
| He wolde techen him to have noon awe, |
| In swich caas, of the ercedekenes curs, |
| But if a mannes soule were in his purs; |
| For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be. |
| 660 | "Purs is the erchedekenes helle," seyde he. |
| But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; |
| Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede, |
| For curs wol slee, right as assoillyng savith, |
| And also war him of a Significavit. |
| 665 | In daunger hadde he at his owene gise |
| The yonge girles of the diocise, |
| And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed. |
| A gerland hadde he set upon his heed |
| As greet as it were for an ale-stake; |
| 670 | A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake. |
|
| 625 |
A SUMMONER was with us in that place, |
| Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face, |
| All pimpled it was; his eyes were narrow |
| As hot he was, and lecherous, as a sparrow; |
| With black and scabby brows and scanty beard; |
| 630 | He had a face that little children feared. |
| There was no mercury, sulphur, or litharge, |
| No borax, ceruse, tartar, could discharge, |
| Nor ointment that could cleanse enough, or bite, |
| To free him of his boils and pimples white, |
| 635 | Nor of the knobs located on his cheeks. |
| Well loved he garlic, onions, and also leeks, |
| And drink strong blood red wine untill dizzy. |
| Then would he talk and shout as if he's crazy. |
| And when a deal of wine he'd taken in, |
| 640 | Then would he utter no word except Latin. |
| Some phrases had he learned, say two or three, |
| Which he had learned out of some decree; |
| No wonder, he had heard it all the day; |
| And all you know right well that even a jay |
| 645 | Can call out "Walter" better than the Pope. |
| But if, to try his wits in him you'd grope, |
| 'Twas found he'd spent his whole philosophy; |
| Always "Questio quid juris" would he cry. |
| He was a noble rascal, and a kind; |
| 650 | A better comrade would be hard to find. |
| Why, he would suffer, for a quart of wine, |
| Some good fellow to have his concubine |
| A twelve-month, and excuse him to the full |
| (Secretly, though he knew how a trick to pull). |
| 655 | And if he found somewhere a good fellow, |
| He would instruct him never to have awe, |
| In such a case, of the archdeacon's curse, |
| Unless a man's soul were within his purse; |
| For in his purse the man should punished be. |
| 660 | "The purse is the archdeacon's hell," said he. |
| But well I know he lied in what he said; |
| A curse ought every guilty man to dread |
| (For curse can kill, as absolution save), |
| And also be aware of Significavit. |
| 665 | In his own power had he, and at ease, |
| Young people of the entire diocese, |
| And knew their secrets, they did what he said. |
| A garland had he set upon his head, |
| Large as a tavern's road sign on a stake; |
| 670 | He'd made himself a buckler from a cake. |
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