| 125 |
Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal |
| As any wezele hir body gent and smal. |
| A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk, |
| A barmclooth as whit as morne milk |
| Upon her lendes, ful of many a goore. |
| 130 | Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore |
| And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute, |
| Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute. |
| The tapes of hir white voluper |
| Were of the same suyte of his coler; |
| 135 | Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye. |
| And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye; |
| Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two, |
| And tho were bent and blake as any sloo. |
| She was ful moore blisful on to see |
| 140 | Than is the newe pere-jonette tree, |
| And softer than the wolle is of a wether. |
| And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether, |
| Tasseled with silk, and perled with latoun. |
| In al this world, to seken up and doun, |
| 145 | There nys no man so wys that koude thenche |
| So gay a popelote or swich a wenche. |
| Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe |
| Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe. |
| But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne |
| 150 | As any swalwe sittynge on a berne. |
| Therto she koude skippe and make game, |
| As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame. |
| Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth, |
| Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth. |
| 155 | Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt, |
| Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt. |
| A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler, |
| As brood as is the boos of a bokeler. |
| Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye. |
| 160 | She was a prymerole, a piggesnye, |
| For any lord to leggen in his bedde, |
| Or yet for any good yeman to wedde. |
|
| 125 |
Fair was this youthful wife, and therewithal |
| As weasel's was her body slim and small. |
| A girdle wore she, barred and striped, of silk. |
| An apron, too, as white as morning milk |
| About her loins, and full of many a gore; |
| 130 | White was her smock, embroidered all before |
| And even behind, her collar round about, |
| Of coal-black silk, on both sides, in and out; |
| The strings of the white cap upon her head |
| Were, like her collar, black silk worked with thread, |
| 135 | Her fillet was of wide silk worn full high: |
| And certainly she had a lickerish eye. |
| She'd thinned out carefully her eyebrows two, |
| And they were arched and black as any sloe. |
| She was a far more pleasant thing to see |
| 140 | Than is the newly budded young pear-tree; |
| And softer than the wool is on a wether. |
| Down from her girdle hung a purse of leather, |
| Tasselled with silk, with latten beading sown. |
| In all this world, searching it up and down, |
| 145 | So gay a little doll, I well believe, |
| Or such a wench, there's no man can conceive. |
| Far brighter was the brilliance of her hue |
| Than in the Tower the gold coins minted new. |
| And songs came shrilling from her pretty head |
| 150 | As from a swallow's sitting on a shed. |
| Therewith she'd dance too, and could play and sham |
| Like any kid or calf about its dam. |
| Her mouth was sweet as bragget or as mead |
| Or hoard of apples laid in hay or weed. |
| 155 | Skittish she was as is a pretty colt, |
| Tall as a staff and straight as cross-bow bolt. |
| A brooch she wore upon her collar low, |
| As broad as boss of buckler did it show; |
| Her shoes laced up to where a girl's legs thicken. |
| 160 | She was a primrose, and a tender chicken |
| For any lord to lay upon his bed, |
| Or yet for any good yeoman to wed. |
|
