Chloe K

388: A shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
A sailor was there, dwelling for out west;
389: For aught I woot, he was of dertemouthe.
For all I know, he was of Dartmouthe.
390: He rood upon a rounce, as he kouthe,
He rode on a carthorse, as he is known,
391: In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
In a gowne of rough cloth to the knee.
392: A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
A dagger hanging on a cord had he
393: Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
About his neck, under his arm and under.
394: The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
The hot summer heat had burned his appearance all brown;
395: And certeinly he was a good felawe.
And certainly he was a good fellow.
396: Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
Many droughts of wine had he drawn full
397: Fro burdeux-ward, whil that the chapmen sleep.
Of Bordeaux vineyards, while the trader slept.
398: Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
Nice conscience was a thing he never kept.
399: If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
If that he fought, and had the upper hand,
400: By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
By water he sent them home to every land.
401: But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
But as to his craft he to recken well his tides,
402: His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
His streams, and his dangers by the watersides,
403: His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage,
His harbour, and his moon, his skill in navigation,
404: Ther nas noon swich from hulle to cartage.
There was none such from Hulle to Cartage.
405: Hardy he was and wys to undertake;
Hardy and wise was he in what he undertook;
406: With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
With many a tempest had shaken his beard.
407: He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
He knew all the heavens, as they were,
408: Fro gootlond to the cape of fynystere,
From Gootland to the Cape of Fynystere,
409: And every cryke in britaigne and in spayne.
And every creek in Britaigne and in Spain.
410: His barge ycleped was the maudelayne.
His ship had been christened Maudelayne.