that side of More of which you know nothing, in height
and stature he is not tall, nor again noticeably short, but there is
such symmetry in all his limbs as leaves nothing to be desired here. He
has a fair skin, his complexion glowing rather than pale, though far
from ruddy, but for a very faint rosiness shining through. His hair is
of a darkish blond, or if you will, a lightish brown, his beard scanty,
his eyes bluish grey, with flecks here and there: this usually denotes a
happy nature and is also thought attractive by the English, whereas we
are more taken by dark eyes. It is said that no type of eyes is less
subject to defects. His expression corresponds to his character, always
showing a pleasant and friendly gaiety, and rather set in a smiling
look; and, to speak honestly, better suited to merriment than to
seriousness and solemnity, though far removed from silliness or
buffoonery. His right shoulder seems a little higher than the left,
particularly when he is walking: this is not natural to him but due to
force of habit, like many of the little habits which we pick up. There
is nothing to strike one in the rest of his body; only his hands are
somewhat clumsy, but only when compared with the rest of his appearance.
He has always from a boy been very careless of everything to do with
personal adornment, to the point of not greatly caring for those things
which according to Ovid's teaching should be the sole care of men. One
can tell even now, from his appearance in maturity, how handsome he must
have been as a young man: although when I first came to know him he was
not more than three and twenty years old, for he is now barely
forty.[82]

His health is not so much robust as satisfactory, but equal to all tasks
becoming an honourable citizen, subject to no, or at least very few,
diseases: there is every prospect of his living long, as he has a father
of great age[83]--but a wondrously fresh and green old age. I have never
yet seen anyone less fastidious in his choice of food. Until he grew up
he liked water to drink; in this he took after his father. But so as to
avoid irritating anyone over this, he would deceive his comrades by
drinking from a pewter pot ale that was very nearly all water, often
pure water. Wine--the custom in England is to invite each other to drink
from the same goblet--he would often sip with his lips, not to give the
appearance of disliking it, and at the same time to accustom himself to
co