wel couþe he in eschange scheeldes selle /
This worþi man ful wel his witte bisette
Ther wiste no man that he was in dette
Line 280
So estately was he of gouernaunce
with his bargayns and with his cheuysaunce
For sothe he was a worþi man with alle
Bot soth to say I not what men him calle /
Line 284
A Clerk þer was of Oxenford also
That vnto logik hadde longe I-go
Al so lene was his hors as is a rake
And he was not right fat I vndertake
Line 288
But lokede holwe and þerto soburly
Ful thredbare was his ouerest courtepy
For he hadde nouȝt geten hym ȝit a benefice
Ne was not worþy to hauen an office
Line 292
For him was leuer haue at his beddes heed
Twenty bookes cloþed in blak and reed
Of Aristotil and of his philosophie
Then Robus Riche or fithul or Sawtrie
Line 296
But al þough he were a philosophre
Ȝet hadde he but litul gold in cofre
But al þat he might gete and his frendes sende
On bookes and his lernyng he it spende
Line 300
And busily gan for þe soules pray
Of hem þat ȝaf him wherwith to scolay
Of studie tooke he most cure and heede
Not oo word spak he more þan was neede
Line 304
Al þat he spak it was of heye prudence [folio 5a]
And schort and quyk and ful of gret sentence
Sownynge in moral manere was his speche /
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
Line 308
A Sergeant of lawe war and wys
That often hadde ben atte paruys
Ther was also ful riche of excellence
Discret/ he was and of gret Reuerence
Line 312
He semed such his wordes were so wise
