And Amongst The Rich Men Of His Country Is A Passing Rich Man, That
Is No Prince, Ne Duke, Ne Earl, But He Hath More That Hold Of Him
Lands And Other Lordships, For He Is More Rich.
For he hath, every
year, of annual rent 300,000 horses charged with corn of diverse
grains and of rice.
And so he leadeth a full noble life and a
delicate, after the custom of the country. For he hath, every day,
fifty fair damosels, all maidens, that serve him evermore at his
meat, and for to lie by him o' night, and for to do with them that
is to his pleasance. And when he is at table, they bring him his
meat at every time, five and five together; and in bringing their
service they sing a song. And after that, they cut his meat, and
put it in his mouth; for he toucheth nothing, ne handleth nought,
but holdeth evermore his hands before him upon the table. For he
hath so long nails, that he may take nothing, ne handle nothing.
For the noblesse of that country is to have long nails, and to make
them grow always to be as long as men may. And there be many in
that country, that have their nails so long, that they environ all
the hand. And that is a great noblesse. And the noblesse of the
women is for to have small feet and little. And therefore anon as
they be born, they let bind their feet so strait, that they may not
grow half as nature would. And this is the noblesse of the women
there to have small feet and little. And always these damosels,
that I spake of before, sing all the time that this rich man
eateth. And when that he eateth no more of his first course, then
other five and five of fair damsels bring him his second course,
always singing as they did before. And so they do continually
every day to the end of his meat. And in this manner he leadeth
his life. And so did they before him, that were his ancestors.
And so shall they that come after him, without doing of any deeds
of arms, but live evermore thus in ease, as a. swine that is fed in
sty for to be made fat. He hath a full fair palace and full rich,
where that he dwelleth in, of the which the walls be, in circuit,
two mile. And he hath within many fair gardens, and many fair
halls and chambers; and the pavement of his halls and chambers be
of gold and silver. And in the mid place of one of his gardens is
a little mountain, where there is a little meadow. And in that
meadow is a little toothill with towers and pinnacles, all of gold.
And in that little toothill will he sit often-time, for to take the
air and to disport him.
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