| | Of dubbyl worstede was his semy cope | |
| 265 | That round was as a belle out of presse | |
| | Somwhat he lispyd for his wantownesse | |
| | To make his english swete vp on his tunge | |
| | And in his harpynge whan he had I sunge | |
| | His yen twynklyd in his hed a right | |
| 270 | As doon the sterris in the frosty nyght | |
| | This worthy frere was callyd hubberd | |
| | A | Marchaunt ther was with a forkid berd | |
| | In motley on high on his hors he sat | |
| | Vp on his hed a flaundres beuer hat | |
| 275 | His bootis claspid feire and fetously | |
| | His resons he spak ful solempnely | |
| | Shewynge alwey the encrece of his wynnynge | |
| | He wolde the see were kept for ony thynge | |
| | Betwixt Middelburgh and Orewelle | |
| 280 | Well coude he in his eschaunges selle | |
| | This worthy man his witte ful wel besette | |
| | Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette | |
| | So estatly was he of gouernaunce | |
| | With his bargayns and with his cheuesaunce | |
| 285 | For sothe he was a worthy man with alle | |
| | But soth to say I not how men hym calle | |
| | A | Clerk ther was of Oxenforde also | |
| | That vnto logik hadde longe I go | |
| | As lene was his hors as a rake | |
| 290 | And he was not right fat I vndertake | |
| | But lokyd holow and therto sobirly | |
| | Ful threedbare was his ouerest courtby | |
