Page:Tales from Chaucer.djvu/101

 poor Village : yet was he rich in holy thought and works, as well as in learning a faithful preacher of the gospel of Christ; full of gentleness and diligence; patient in adversity, and forbearing. So far was he from distressing for his tithes, that he disbursed his offerings, and almost his whole substance among his poor parishioners. A pittance sufficed him. The houses in his parish were situate far asunder, yet neither wind and rain, nor storm and tempest could keep him from his duty; but, with staff in hand, would he visit the remotest, great and small, rich and poor. This noble example he kept before his flock; that first he himself performed, what he afterwards preached, joining this figure with his admonition: 'If gold will rust, what will not iron do?' For, if a priest in whom we confide become tarnished, a wonder if the frail layman keep himself unpolluted. The priest should set an example of purity to his flock; for how shameful a sight is a foul shepherd and cleanly sheep!

He did not let out his benefice to hire, and desert his flock to run up to London for the