587: The reve was a sclendre colerik man.
The reeve was a feeble, choleric man.
588: His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
His beard was shaven as close as he could;
589: His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
His hair was cut completely by his ears;
590: His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn
His top was cut short like a priest's
591: Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
Full and long were his legs, and fully lean,
592: Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
Like a staff, there was no calf to be seen
593: Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
He knew well how to keep a granary and a bin;
594: Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
There was no auditor who could win on him.
595: Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
He knew well by the dryness and by the rain
596: The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
The yield of his seed and of his grain
597: His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His lord's sheep, his cattle, his dairy,
598: His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
His pigs, his horses, his store, and his poultry
599: Was hoolly in this reves governynge,
Were wholly under this reeve's govern,
600: And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
And by his contract gave the reckoning,
601: Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
Since his lord was twenty years of age.
602: Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
There was no man who could bring him in arrears.
603: Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
There was no baillif, no shepherd, nor other servant,
604: That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
That knew his trickery and his treachery;
605: They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
They were afraid of him as of the death.
606: His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
His home was fully pleasing upon the health;
607: With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
With green trees shading his place.
608: He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
He knew how to purchace better than his lord.
609: Ful riche he was astored pryvely:
Full riches he stored secretly:
610: His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
His lord knew well how to please subtly,
611: To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
To give and lend him of his own good,
612: And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
And thanked, and yet given a coat and hood
613: In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster;
In youth he learned a good mastery;
614: He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
He was a very good carpenter.
615: This reve sat upon a ful good stot,
The reeve sat upon a fully good horse,
616: That was al pomely grey and highte scot.
That was grey and was named Scot.
617: A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
A long outer coat of bluish-grey he had,
618: And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
And by his side he carried a rusty blade.
619: Of northfolk was this reve of which I telle,
Of Northfolk was this reeve of which I tell,
620: Biside a toun men clepen baldeswelle.
Beside a town men call Baldeswelle.
621: Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
He was tucked like a friar all about,
622: And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
And ever he rode the last of our route.