A Knyght ther was, and that a worthy man, 
That fro the tyme that he first bigan 
To riden out, he loved chivalrye, 
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye. 
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, 
And therto hadde he riden, no rnan ferre, 
As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, 
And evere honoured for his worthynesse . . . 
And though that he wer€ 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 verrz.y parfit gentil knyght . . . 
Of fustian he wered a gypon, 
Al bismoteted with his habergeon, 
For he was late ycome from his viage, 
And wente {or to doon his pilgrymage.