Who from the time at which he first began
To ride abroad had loved all chivalry,
Truth and honour, freedom and courtesy.
Most worthily he fought in his lord's wars,
Had ridden more than any in that cause.
By men of Christian or of heathen birth,
Was always widely honoured for his worth.
He was there to see Alexandria fall;
Often at table he sat above all
Men and nations when he was in Prussia;
He fought in Lithuania and Russia,
No man of his rank had done half his all.
He was in Granada besieging the wall
Of Algeciras. He rode in Morocco.
In Ayas, Adalia, he faced the foe
When these were won. And proud armadas, he
Joined on the Mediterranean sea.
In fifteen deadly battles he had been
And striving for our faith at Tremessene
Jousted three times and each time killed his foe.
Yet this same worthy knight had fought also
With the Lord of Balat who (even though he
Was heathen) fought against heathens in Turkey.
He always received the highest of praise
Yet though a great man, was wise in his ways
Seeming as meek as a maid ought to be.
He never spoke rudely or even harshly
To low or high, he was always polite.
Truly - a perfect gentleman and knight.
Now I must tell you about his outfit,
Though his horse was good his clothes were a bit
Drab. Beneath his coat of mail he simply wore
A cotton tunic stained with mud and gore,
Since he had only just come from abroad
And now as a pilgrim gave thanks to God.
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
And evere honoured for his worthynesse.
At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne.
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;
In Lettow hadde he reysed, and in Ruce,
No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
Whan they were wonne. And in the Grete See
At many a noble armee hadde he be.
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
Agayn another hethen in Turkye.
And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys;
And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
But, for to tellen yow of his array,
His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
Of fustian he wered a gypon
Al bismotered with his habergeoun,
For he was late ycome from his viage,
And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.