Character Development

A PARSON of a town came next,
Poor in gold, but one suspects
Richer then most in holy works.
He was a learned man, a clerk.
Deep gospel-lore informed his preaching,
And daily life and moral teaching.
He was benign and diligent,
Even tempered and content,
Though life for him was seldom blithe.
He'd curse no one who couldn't tithe,
But gave food and clothes and more-
All that he could to help the poor-
Drawn from the Church and his own savings.
Long temperance had quelled his cravings.
Although his flock was widely scattered,
Storms or distance never mattered:
Near or far, great or small,
He'd visit anyone at all,
Tramping on foot the direst traces.
He put things in their proper places,
For, "first he wrought, and then he taught
Becuase the Gospel said he ought."
He had another motto too:
"If gold rusts, what will iron do?"
If a priest is foul, with souls in trust,
Why should a layman curb his lust?
This sight must make the angels weep:
A shepherd shittier then his sheep.
A priest's commitment should be ample
To lead his people by example.
This Parson never hired a curate
To tend his parish and secure it,
While he himself besieged the Church
For an easy job that he could shirk
Or post as chaplain to some guild.
No, he stayed home to watch and build
Against the wolf, lest sheep miscarry,
A shepherd, not a mercenary.
But though a priest of sterling worth,
He spurned no other man on earth
Nor took a domineering tone.
Indeed, his fellow-feeling shown
In every word, for saving souls
Was always first among his goals.
But faced with hardened, stiff-necked scoffers,
However places or full their coffers,
He'd prick their wicked hides, I'm bound.
No better parson could be found,
A lowly man and free from vice,
Not finely dressed nor over-nice,
But like Christ's humble first attendants,
In heaven's light he shown resplendent.

Excerpt from The Canterbury Tales, By Geoffrey Chaucer