co-ment - The Franklin from the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales


	There was a Franlin with him, it appeared; White as a daisy-petal was his beard.
	A sanguine^° man, high-colored and benign,
	He loved a morning sop of cake in wine.
345	He lived for pleasure and had always done,
	For he was Epicurus’^° very son,
	In whose opinion sensual delight
	Was the one true felicity in sight.
	As noted as St. Julian^° was for bounty
350	He made his household free to all the County.
	His bread, his ale were finest of the fine
	And no one had a better stock of wine.
	His house was never short of bake-meat pies,
	Of fish and flesh, and these in such supplies
355	It positively snowed with meat and drink
	And all the dainties that a man could think.
	According to the seasons of the year
	Changes of dish were ordered to appear.
	He kept fat partridges in coops, beyond,
360	Many a bream and pike were in his pond.
	Woe to the cook unless the sauce was hot
	And sharp, or if he wasn’t on the spot!
	And in his hall a table stood arrayed
	And ready all day long, with places laid.
365	As Justice at the Sessions^° none stood higher;
	He often had been Member for the Shire.^°
	A dagger and a little purse of silk
	Hung at his girdle, white as morning milk.
	As Sheriff he checked audit, every entry.
370	He was a model among landed gentry.