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The Plowman

With him there was a plowman, was his brother
That many a load of dung, and many another
Had scattered, for a good true toiler, he,
Living in peace and perfect charity.
He loved God most, and that with his whole heart(5)
At all times, though he played or plied his art
And next, his neighbour, even as himself.
He’d thresh and dig, with never thought of pelf,
For Christ’s own sake, for every poor wight
All without pay, if it lay in his might.
He paid his taxes, fully, fairly, well,
Both by his own toil and by stuff he’d sell.
In a tabard he rode upon a mare.

• supposed to represent a typical commoner, or member of the “third estate”; see glossary
• wealth
• man
• loose shirt

1. Notes
2. Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights
3. The General Prologue
   1. The General Prologue
   2. The Knight
   3. The Squire
   4. The Yeoman
   5. The Prioress
   6. The Monk
   7. The Friar
   8. The Merchant
   9. The Clerk
   10. The Five Guildsmen
   11. The Cook
   12. The Salior
   13. The Physician
   14. The Wife of Bath
   15. The Parson
   16. The Plowman
   17. The Miller
   18. The Manciple
   19. The Reeve
   20. The Summoner
   21. The Pardoner
4. The Knight’s Tale
5. The Miller’s Prologue
6. The Miller’s Tale
7. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue
8. The Tale of the Wife of Bath
9. The Pardoner’s Tale
10. The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue
11. The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
12. Copyright