Explicit secunda pars. Incipit pars tercia.

  • Appollo whirleth up his char so hye, [T. om.
  • Til that the god Mercurius hous the slye— [T. om.
  • . . . . . . . . . .

Here folwen the wordes of the Frankelin to the Squier, and the wordes of the Host to the Frankelin.

  • ‘In feith, Squier, thou hast thee wel y-quit,
  • And gentilly I preise wel thy wit,’
  • Quod the Frankeleyn, ‘considering thy youthe, Skeat1900: 675
  • So feelingly thou spekest, sir, I allow the!
  • As to my doom, there is non that is here
  • Of eloquence that shal be thy pere,
  • If that thou live; god yeve thee good chaunce,
  • And in vertu sende thee continuaunce! Skeat1900: 680
  • For of thy speche I have greet deyntee.
  • I have a sone, and, by the Trinitee, Skeat1900: (10)
  • I hadde lever than twenty pound worth lond,
  • Though it right now were fallen in myn hond,
  • He were a man of swich discrecioun Skeat1900: 685
  • As that ye been! fy on possessioun
  • But-if a man be vertuous with-al.
  • I have my sone snibbed, and yet shal,
  • For he to vertu listeth nat entende;
  • But for to pleye at dees, and to despende, Skeat1900: 690
  • And lese al that he hath, is his usage.
  • And he hath lever talken with a page Skeat1900: (20)
  • Than to comune with any gentil wight
  • Ther he mighte lerne gentillesse aright.’
  • ‘Straw for your gentillesse,’ quod our host; Skeat1900: 695
  • ‘What, frankeleyn? pardee, sir, wel thou wost
  • That eche of yow mot tellen arte leste
  • A tale or two, or breken his biheste.’
  • ‘That knowe I wel, sir,’ quod the frankeleyn;
  • ‘I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn Skeat1900: 700
  • Though to this man I speke a word or two.’
  • ‘Telle on thy tale with-outen wordes mo.’ Skeat1900: (30)
  • ‘Gladly, sir host,’ quod he, ‘I wol obeye
  • Un-to your wil; now herkneth what I seye.
  • I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse Skeat1900: 705
  • As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse;
  • I prey to god that it may plesen yow,
  • Than woot I wel that it is good y-now.’

[ The Frankleyn’s Prologue follows immediately; see p. 482]

THE FRANKLIN’S PROLOGUE. (T. 11021-11040).

The Prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale.

[ This Prologue follows immediately after the Words on p. 481.]

  • THISE olde gentil Britons in hir dayes
  • Of diverse aventures maden layes, Skeat1900: 710
  • Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge;
  • Which layes with hir instruments they songe, Skeat1900: (40)
  • Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce;
  • And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,
  • Which I shal seyn with good wil as I can. Skeat1900: 715
  • But, sires, by-cause I am a burel man,
  • At my biginning first I yow biseche
  • Have me excused of my rude speche;
  • I lerned never rethoryk certeyn;
  • Thing that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn. Skeat1900: 720
  • I sleep never on the mount of Pernaso,
  • Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Cithero. Skeat1900: (50)
  • Colours ne knowe I none, with-outen drede,
  • But swiche colours as growen in the mede,
  • Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte. Skeat1900: 725
  • Colours of rethoryk ben me to queynte;
  • My spirit feleth noght of swich matere.
  • But if yow list, my tale shul ye here.

THE FRANKELEYNS TALE.

Here biginneth the Frankeleyns Tale.

  • IN Armorik, that called is Britayne,
  • Ther was a knight that loved and dide his payne Skeat1900: 730
  • To serve a lady in his beste wyse;
  • And many a labour, many a greet empryse
  • He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne.
  • For she was oon, the faireste under sonne,
  • And eek therto come of so heigh kinrede, Skeat1900: 735
  • That wel unnethes dorste this knight, for drede,
  • Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.
  • But atte laste, she, for his worthinesse, Skeat1900: (10)
  • And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
  • Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce, Skeat1900: 740
  • That prively she fil of his accord
  • To take him for hir housbonde and hir lord,
  • Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves;
  • And for to lede the more in blisse hir lyves,
  • Of his free wil he swoor hir as a knight, Skeat1900: 745
  • That never in al his lyf he, day ne night,
  • Ne sholde up-on him take no maistrye
  • Agayn hir wil, ne kythe hir Ialousye, Skeat1900: (20)
  • But hir obeye, and folwe hir wil in al
  • As any lovere to his lady shal; Skeat1900: 750
  • Save that the name of soveraynetee,
  • That wolde he have for shame of his degree.
  • She thanked him, and with ful greet humblesse
  • She seyde, ‘sire, sith of your gentillesse
  • Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, Skeat1900: 755
  • Ne wolde never god bitwixe us tweyne,
  • As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.
  • Sir, I wol be your humble trewe wyf, Skeat1900: (30)
  • Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste.’
  • Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. Skeat1900: 760
  • For o thing, sires, saufly dar I seye,
  • That frendes everich other moot obeye,
  • If they wol longe holden companye.
  • Love wol nat ben constreyned by maistrye;
  • Whan maistrie comth, the god of love anon Skeat1900: 765
  • Beteth hise winges, and farewel! he is gon!
  • Love is a thing as any spirit free;
  • Wommen of kinde desiren libertee, Skeat1900: (40)
  • And nat to ben constreyned as a thral;
  • And so don men, if I soth seyen shal. Skeat1900: 770
  • Loke who that is most pacient in love,
  • He is at his avantage al above.
  • Pacience is an heigh vertu certeyn;
  • For it venquisseth, as thise clerkes seyn,
  • Thinges that rigour sholde never atteyne. Skeat1900: 775
  • For every word men may nat chyde or pleyne.
  • Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon,
  • Ye shul it lerne, wher-so ye wole or noon. Skeat1900: (50)
  • For in this world, certein, ther no wight is,
  • That he ne dooth or seith som-tyme amis. Skeat1900: 780
  • Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun,
  • Wyn, wo, or chaunginge of complexioun
  • Causeth ful ofte to doon amis or speken.
  • On every wrong a man may nat be wreken;
  • After the tyme, moste be temperaunce Skeat1900: 785
  • To every wight that can on governaunce.
  • And therfore hath this wyse worthy knight,
  • To live in ese, suffrance hir bihight, Skeat1900: (60)
  • And she to him ful wisly gan to swere
  • That never sholde ther be defaute in here. Skeat1900: 790
  • Heer may men seen an humble wys accord;
  • Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord,
  • Servant in love, and lord in mariage;
  • Than was he bothe in lordship and servage;
  • Servage? nay, but in lordshipe above, Skeat1900: 795
  • Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love;
  • His lady, certes, and his wyf also,
  • The which that lawe of love acordeth to. Skeat1900: (70)
  • And whan he was in this prosperitee,
  • Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree, Skeat1900: 800
  • Nat fer fro Penmark, ther his dwelling was,
  • Wher-as he liveth in blisse and in solas.
  • Who coude telle, but he had wedded be,
  • The Ioye, the ese, and the prosperitee
  • That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf? Skeat1900: 805
  • A yeer and more lasted this blisful lyf,
  • Til that the knight of which I speke of thus,
  • That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, Skeat1900: (80)
  • Shoop him to goon, and dwelle a yeer or tweyne
  • In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne, Skeat1900: 810
  • To seke in armes worship and honour;
  • For al his lust he sette in swich labour;
  • And dwelled ther two yeer, the book seith thus.
  • Now wol I stinte of this Arveragus,
  • And speken I wole of Dorigene his wyf, Skeat1900: 815
  • That loveth hir housbonde as hir hertes lyf.
  • For his absence wepeth she and syketh,
  • As doon thise noble wyves whan hem lyketh. Skeat1900: (90)
  • She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth;
  • Desyr of his presence hir so distreyneth, Skeat1900: 820
  • That al this wyde world she sette at noght.
  • Hir frendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght,
  • Conforten hir in al that ever they may;
  • They prechen hir, they telle hir night and day,
  • That causelees she sleeth hir-self, allas! Skeat1900: 825
  • And every confort possible in this cas
  • They doon to hir with al hir bisinesse,
  • Al for to make hir leve hir hevinesse. Skeat1900: (100)
  • By proces, as ye knowen everichoon,
  • Men may so longe graven in a stoon, Skeat1900: 830
  • Til som figure ther-inne emprented be.
  • So longe han they conforted hir, til she
  • Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun,
  • The emprenting of hir consolacioun,
  • Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; Skeat1900: 835
  • She may nat alwey duren in swich rage.
  • And eek Arveragus, in al this care,
  • Hath sent hir lettres hoom of his welfare, Skeat1900: (110)
  • And that he wol come hastily agayn;
  • Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. Skeat1900: 840
  • Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake,
  • And preyede hir on knees, for goddes sake,
  • To come and romen hir in companye,
  • Awey to dryve hir derke fantasye.
  • And finally, she graunted that requeste; Skeat1900: 845
  • For wel she saugh that it was for the beste.
  • Now stood hir castel faste by the see,
  • And often with hir freendes walketh she Skeat1900: (120)
  • Hir to disporte up-on the bank an heigh,
  • Wher-as she many a ship and barge seigh Skeat1900: 850
  • Seilinge hir cours, wher-as hem liste go;
  • But than was that a parcel of hir wo.
  • For to hir-self ful ofte ‘allas!’ seith she,
  • ‘Is ther no ship, of so manye as I see,
  • Wol bringen hom my lord? than were myn herte Skeat1900: 855
  • Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte.’
  • Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thinke,
  • And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brinke. Skeat1900: (130)
  • But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake,
  • For verray fere so wolde hir herte quake, Skeat1900: 860
  • That on hir feet she mighte hir noght sustene.
  • Than wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene,
  • And pitously in-to the see biholde,
  • And seyn right thus, with sorweful sykes colde:
  • ‘Eterne god, that thurgh thy purveyaunce Skeat1900: 865
  • Ledest the world by certein governaunce,
  • In ydel, as men seyn, ye no-thing make;
  • But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, Skeat1900: (140)
  • That semen rather a foul confusioun
  • Of werk than any fair creacioun Skeat1900: 870
  • Of swich a parfit wys god and a stable,
  • Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable?
  • For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest,
  • Ther nis y-fostred man, ne brid, ne beest;
  • It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth. Skeat1900: 875
  • See ye nat, lord, how mankinde it destroyeth?
  • An hundred thousand bodies of mankinde
  • Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in minde, Skeat1900: (150)
  • Which mankinde is so fair part of thy werk
  • That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. Skeat1900: 880
  • Than semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee
  • Toward mankinde; but how than may it be
  • That ye swiche menes make it to destroyen,
  • Whiche menes do no good, but ever anoyen?
  • I woot wel clerkes wol seyn, as hem leste, Skeat1900: 885
  • By arguments, that al is for the beste,
  • Though I ne can the causes nat y-knowe.
  • But thilke god, that made wind to blowe, Skeat1900: (160)
  • As kepe my lord! this my conclusioun;
  • To clerkes lete I al disputisoun. Skeat1900: 890
  • But wolde god that alle thise rokkes blake
  • Were sonken in-to helle for his sake!
  • Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the fere.’
  • Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous tere.
  • Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport Skeat1900: 895
  • To romen by the see, but disconfort;
  • And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles.
  • They leden hir by riveres and by welles, Skeat1900: (170)
  • And eek in othere places delitables;
  • They dauncen, and they pleyen at ches and tables. Skeat1900: 900
  • So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde,
  • Un-to a gardin that was ther bisyde,
  • In which that they had maad hir ordinaunce
  • Of vitaille and of other purveyaunce,
  • They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. Skeat1900: 905
  • And this was on the sixte morwe of May,
  • Which May had peynted with his softe shoures
  • This gardin ful of leves and of floures; Skeat1900: (180)
  • And craft of mannes hand so curiously
  • Arrayed hadde this gardin, trewely, Skeat1900: 910
  • That never was ther gardin of swich prys,
  • But-if it were the verray paradys.
  • The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte
  • Wolde han maad any herte for to lighte
  • That ever was born, but-if to gret siknesse, Skeat1900: 915
  • Or to gret sorwe helde it in distresse;
  • So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.
  • At-after diner gonne they to daunce, Skeat1900: (190)
  • And singe also, save Dorigen allone,
  • Which made alwey hir compleint and hir mone; Skeat1900: 920
  • For she ne saugh him on the daunce go,
  • That was hir housbonde and hir love also.
  • But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde,
  • And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.
  • Up-on this daunce, amonges othere men, Skeat1900: 925
  • Daunced a squyer biforen Dorigen,
  • That fressher was and Iolyer of array,
  • As to my doom, than is the monthe of May. Skeat1900: (200)
  • He singeth, daunceth, passinge any man
  • That is, or was, sith that the world bigan. Skeat1900: 930
  • Ther-with he was, if men sholde him discryve,
  • Oon of the beste faringe man on-lyve;
  • Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche and wys,
  • And wel biloved, and holden in gret prys.
  • And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, Skeat1900: 935
  • Unwiting of this Dorigen at al,
  • This lusty squyer, servant to Venus,
  • Which that y-cleped was Aurelius, Skeat1900: (210)
  • Had loved hir best of any creature
  • Two yeer and more, as was his aventure, Skeat1900: 940
  • But never dorste he telle hir his grevaunce;
  • With-outen coppe he drank al his penaunce.
  • He was despeyred, no-thing dorste he seye,
  • Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye
  • His wo, as in a general compleyning; Skeat1900: 945
  • He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no-thing.
  • Of swich matere made he manye layes,
  • Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, Skeat1900: (220)
  • How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,
  • But languissheth, as a furie dooth in helle; Skeat1900: 950
  • And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko
  • For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo.
  • In other manere than ye here me seye,
  • Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye;
  • Save that, paraventure, som-tyme at daunces, Skeat1900: 955
  • Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces,
  • It may wel be he loked on hir face
  • In swich a wyse, as man that asketh grace; Skeat1900: (230)
  • But no-thing wiste she of his entente.
  • Nathelees, it happed, er they thennes wente, Skeat1900: 960
  • By-cause that he was hir neighebour,
  • And was a man of worship and honour,
  • And hadde y-knowen him of tyme yore,
  • They fille in speche; and forth more and more
  • Un-to his purpos drough Aurelius, Skeat1900: 965
  • And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus:
  • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god that this world made,
  • So that I wiste it mighte your herte glade, Skeat1900: (240)
  • I wolde, that day that your Arveragus
  • Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, Skeat1900: 970
  • Had went ther never I sholde have come agayn;
  • For wel I woot my service is in vayn.
  • My guerdon is but bresting of myn herte;
  • Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte;
  • For with a word ye may me sleen or save, Skeat1900: 975
  • Heer at your feet god wolde that I were grave!
  • I ne have as now no leyser more to seye;
  • Have mercy, swete, or ye wol do me deye!’ Skeat1900: (250)
  • She gan to loke up-on Aurelius:
  • ‘Is this your wil,’ quod she, ‘and sey ye thus? Skeat1900: 980
  • Never erst,’ quod she, ‘ne wiste I what ye mente.
  • But now, Aurelie, I knowe your entente,
  • By thilke god that yaf me soule and lyf,
  • Ne shal I never been untrewe wyf
  • In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit: Skeat1900: 985
  • I wol ben his to whom that I am knit;
  • Tak this for fynal answer as of me.’
  • But after that in pley thus seyde she: Skeat1900: (260)
  • ‘Aurelie,’ quod she, ‘by heighe god above,
  • Yet wolde I graunte yow to been your love, Skeat1900: 990
  • Sin I yow see so pitously complayne;
  • Loke what day that, endelong Britayne,
  • Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon,
  • That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon—
  • I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene Skeat1900: 995
  • Of rokkes, that ther nis no stoon y-sene,
  • Than wol I love yow best of any man;
  • Have heer my trouthe in al that ever I can.’ Skeat1900: (270)
  • ‘Is ther non other grace in yow,’ quod he.
  • ‘No, by that lord,’ quod she, ‘that maked me! Skeat1900: 1000
  • For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.
  • Lat swiche folies out of your herte slyde.
  • What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf
  • For to go love another mannes wyf,
  • That hath hir body whan so that him lyketh?’ Skeat1900: 1005
  • Aurelius ful ofte sore syketh;
  • Wo was Aurelie, whan that he this herde,
  • And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde: Skeat1900: (280)
  • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘this were an inpossible!
  • Than moot I dye of sodein deth horrible.’ Skeat1900: 1010
  • And with that word he turned him anoon.
  • Tho come hir othere freendes many oon,
  • And in the aleyes romeden up and doun,
  • And no-thing wiste of this conclusioun,
  • But sodeinly bigonne revel newe Skeat1900: 1015
  • Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe;
  • For thorisonte hath reft the sonne his light;
  • This is as muche to seye as it was night. Skeat1900: (290)
  • And hoom they goon in Ioye and in solas,
  • Save only wrecche Aurelius, allas! Skeat1900: 1020
  • He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte;
  • He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte.
  • Him semed that he felte his herte colde;
  • Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde,
  • And on his knowes bare he sette him doun, Skeat1900: 1025
  • And in his raving seyde his orisoun.
  • For verray wo out of his wit he breyde.
  • He niste what he spak, but thus he seyde; Skeat1900: (300)
  • With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne
  • Un-to the goddes, and first un-to the sonne: Skeat1900: 1030
  • He seyde, ‘Appollo, god and governour
  • Of every plaunte, herbe, tree and flour,
  • That yevest, after thy declinacioun,
  • To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun,
  • As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or hye, Skeat1900: 1035
  • Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable ye
  • On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn.
  • Lo, lord! my lady hath my deeth y-sworn Skeat1900: (310)
  • With-oute gilt, but thy benignitee
  • Upon my dedly herte have som pitee! Skeat1900: 1040
  • For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest,
  • Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best.
  • Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse
  • How that I may been holpe and in what wyse.
  • Your blisful suster, Lucina the shene, Skeat1900: 1045
  • That of the see is chief goddesse and quene,
  • Though Neptunus have deitee in the see,
  • Yet emperesse aboven him is she: Skeat1900: (320)
  • Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desyr
  • Is to be quiked and lightned of your fyr, Skeat1900: 1050
  • For which she folweth yow ful bisily,
  • Right so the see desyreth naturelly
  • To folwen hir, as she that is goddesse
  • Bothe in the see and riveres more and lesse.
  • Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste— Skeat1900: 1055
  • Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste—
  • That now, next at this opposicioun,
  • Which in the signe shal be of the Leoun, Skeat1900: (330)
  • As preyeth hir so greet a flood to bringe,
  • That fyve fadme at the leeste it overspringe Skeat1900: 1060
  • The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne;
  • And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne;
  • Than certes to my lady may I seye:
  • “Holdeth your heste, the rokkes been aweye.”
  • Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me; Skeat1900: 1065
  • Preye hir she go no faster cours than ye;
  • I seye, preyeth your suster that she go
  • No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. Skeat1900: (340)
  • Than shal she been evene atte fulle alway,
  • And spring-flood laste bothe night and day. Skeat1900: 1070
  • And, but she vouche-sauf in swiche manere
  • To graunte me my sovereyn lady dere,
  • Prey hir to sinken every rok adoun
  • In-to hir owene derke regioun
  • Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne, Skeat1900: 1075
  • Or never-mo shal I my lady winne.
  • Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke;
  • Lord Phebus, see the teres on my cheke, Skeat1900: (350)
  • And of my peyne have som compassioun.’
  • And with that word in swowne he fil adoun, Skeat1900: 1080
  • And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce.
  • His brother, which that knew of his penaunce,
  • Up caughte him and to bedde he hath him broght.
  • Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght
  • Lete I this woful creature lye; Skeat1900: 1085
  • Chese he, for me, whether he wol live or dye.
  • Arveragus, with hele and greet honour,
  • As he that was of chivalrye the flour, Skeat1900: (360)
  • Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men.
  • O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen, Skeat1900: 1090
  • That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes,
  • The fresshe knight, the worthy man of armes,
  • That loveth thee, as his owene hertes lyf.
  • No-thing list him to been imaginatyf
  • If any wight had spoke, whyl he was oute, Skeat1900: 1095
  • To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute.
  • He noght entendeth to no swich matere,
  • But daunceth, Iusteth, maketh hir good chere; Skeat1900: (370)
  • And thus in Ioye and blisse I lete hem dwelle,
  • And of the syke Aurelius wol I telle. Skeat1900: 1100
  • In langour and in torment furious
  • Two yeer and more lay wrecche Aurelius,
  • Er any foot he mighte on erthe goon;
  • Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon,
  • Save of his brother, which that was a clerk; Skeat1900: 1105
  • He knew of al this wo and al this werk.
  • For to non other creature certeyn
  • Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. Skeat1900: (380)
  • Under his brest he bar it more secree
  • Than ever dide Pamphilus for Galathee. Skeat1900: 1110
  • His brest was hool, with-oute for to sene,
  • But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.
  • And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure
  • In surgerye is perilous the cure,
  • But men mighte touche the arwe, or come therby. Skeat1900: 1115
  • His brother weep and wayled prively,
  • Til atte laste him fil in remembraunce,
  • That whyl he was at Orliens in Fraunce, Skeat1900: (390)
  • As yonge clerkes, that been likerous
  • To reden artes that been curious, Skeat1900: 1120
  • Seken in every halke and every herne
  • Particuler sciences for to lerne,
  • He him remembred that, upon a day,
  • At Orliens in studie a book he say
  • Of magik naturel , which his felawe, Skeat1900: 1125
  • That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe,
  • Al were he ther to lerne another craft,
  • Had prively upon his desk y-laft; Skeat1900: (400)
  • Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns,
  • Touchinge the eighte and twenty mansiouns Skeat1900: 1130
  • That longen to the mone, and swich folye,
  • As in our dayes is nat worth a flye;
  • For holy chirches feith in our bileve
  • Ne suffreth noon illusion us to greve.
  • And whan this book was in his remembraunce, Skeat1900: 1135
  • Anon for Ioye his herte gan to daunce,
  • And to him-self he seyde prively:
  • ‘My brother shal be warisshed hastily; Skeat1900: (410)
  • For I am siker that ther be sciences,
  • By whiche men make diverse apparences Skeat1900: 1140
  • Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye.
  • For ofte at festes have I wel herd seye,
  • That tregetours, with-inne an halle large,
  • Have maad come in a water and a barge,
  • And in the halle rowen up and doun. Skeat1900: 1145
  • Somtyme hath semed come a grim leoun;
  • And somtyme floures springe as in a mede;
  • Somtyme a vyne, and grapes whyte and rede; Skeat1900: (420)
  • Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon;
  • And whan hem lyked, voyded it anoon. Skeat1900: 1150
  • Thus semed it to every mannes sighte.
  • Now than conclude I thus, that if I mighte
  • At Orliens som old felawe y-finde,
  • That hadde this mones mansions in minde,
  • Or other magik naturel above, Skeat1900: 1155
  • He sholde wel make my brother han his love.
  • For with an apparence a clerk may make
  • To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake Skeat1900: (430)
  • Of Britaigne weren y-voyded everichon,
  • And shippes by the brinke comen and gon, Skeat1900: 1160
  • And in swich forme endure a day or two;
  • Than were my brother warisshed of his wo.
  • Than moste she nedes holden hir biheste,
  • Or elles he shal shame hir atte leste.’
  • What sholde I make a lenger tale of this? Skeat1900: 1165
  • Un-to his brotheres bed he comen is,
  • And swich confort he yaf him for to gon
  • To Orliens, that he up stirte anon, Skeat1900: (440)
  • And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare,
  • In hope for to ben lissed of his care. Skeat1900: 1170
  • Whan they were come almost to that citee,
  • But-if it were a two furlong or three,
  • A yong clerk rominge by him-self they mette,
  • Which that in Latin thriftily hem grette,
  • And after that he seyde a wonder thing: Skeat1900: 1175
  • ‘I knowe,’ quod he, ‘the cause of your coming’;
  • And er they ferther any fote wente,
  • He tolde hem al that was in hir entente. Skeat1900: (450)
  • This Briton clerk him asked of felawes
  • The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes; Skeat1900: 1180
  • And he answerde him that they dede were,
  • For which he weep ful ofte many a tere.
  • Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon,
  • And forth with this magicien is he gon
  • Hoom to his hous, and made hem wel at ese. Skeat1900: 1185
  • Hem lakked no vitaille that mighte hem plese;
  • So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon
  • Aurelius in his lyf saugh never noon. Skeat1900: (460)
  • He shewed him, er he wente to sopeer,
  • Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; Skeat1900: 1190
  • Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye,
  • The gretteste that ever were seyn with ye.
  • He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes,
  • And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.
  • He saugh, whan voided were thise wilde deer, Skeat1900: 1195
  • Thise fauconers upon a fair river,
  • That with hir haukes han the heron slayn.
  • Tho saugh he knightes Iusting in a playn; Skeat1900: (470)
  • And after this, he dide him swich plesaunce,
  • That he him shewed his lady on a daunce Skeat1900: 1200
  • On which him-self he daunced, as him thoughte.
  • And whan this maister, that this magik wroughte,
  • Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two,
  • And farewel! al our revel was ago.
  • And yet remoeved they never out of the hous, Skeat1900: 1205
  • Whyl they saugh al this sighte merveillous,
  • But in his studie, ther-as his bookes be,
  • They seten stille, and no wight but they three. Skeat1900: (480)
  • To him this maister called his squyer,
  • And seyde him thus: ‘is redy our soper? Skeat1900: 1210
  • Almost an houre it is, I undertake,
  • Sith I yow bad our soper for to make,
  • Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me
  • In-to my studie, ther-as my bookes be.’
  • ‘Sire,’ quod this squyer, ‘whan it lyketh yow, Skeat1900: 1215
  • It is al redy, though ye wol right now.’
  • ‘Go we than soupe,’ quod he, ‘as for the beste;
  • This amorous folk som-tyme mote han reste.’ Skeat1900: (490)
  • At-after soper fille they in tretee,
  • What somme sholde this maistres guerdon be, Skeat1900: 1220
  • To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne,
  • And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne.
  • He made it straunge, and swoor, so god him save,
  • Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have,
  • Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon. Skeat1900: 1225
  • Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon,
  • Answerde thus, ‘fy on a thousand pound!
  • This wyde world, which that men seye is round, Skeat1900: (500)
  • I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it.
  • This bargayn is ful drive, for we ben knit. Skeat1900: 1230
  • Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe!
  • But loketh now, for no necligence or slouthe,
  • Ye tarie us heer no lenger than to-morwe.’
  • ‘Nay,’ quod this clerk, ‘have heer my feith to borwe.’
  • To bedde is goon Aurelius whan him leste, Skeat1900: 1235
  • And wel ny al that night he hadde his reste;
  • What for his labour and his hope of blisse,
  • His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. Skeat1900: (510)
  • Upon the morwe, whan that it was day,
  • To Britaigne toke they the righte way, Skeat1900: 1240
  • Aurelius, and this magicien bisyde,
  • And been descended ther they wolde abyde;
  • And this was, as the bokes me remembre,
  • The colde frosty seson of Decembre.
  • Phebus wex old, and hewed lyk latoun, Skeat1900: 1245
  • That in his hote declinacioun
  • Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte;
  • But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, Skeat1900: (520)
  • Wher-as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn.
  • The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn, Skeat1900: 1250
  • Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd.
  • Ianus sit by the fyr, with double berd,
  • And drinketh of his bugle-horn the wyn.
  • Biforn him stant braun of the tusked swyn,
  • And “Nowel” cryeth every lusty man. Skeat1900: 1255
  • Aurelius, in al that ever he can,
  • Doth to his maister chere and reverence,
  • And preyeth him to doon his diligence Skeat1900: (530)
  • To bringen him out of his peynes smerte,
  • Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. Skeat1900: 1260
  • This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man,
  • That night and day he spedde him that he can,
  • To wayte a tyme of his conclusioun;
  • This is to seye, to make illusioun,
  • By swich an apparence or Iogelrye, Skeat1900: 1265
  • I ne can no termes of astrologye,
  • That she and every wight sholde wene and seye,
  • That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye, Skeat1900: (540)
  • Or elles they were sonken under grounde.
  • So atte laste he hath his tyme y-founde Skeat1900: 1270
  • To maken his Iapes and his wrecchednesse
  • Of swich a supersticious cursednesse.
  • His tables Toletanes forth he broght,
  • Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked noght,
  • Neither his collect ne his expans yeres, Skeat1900: 1275
  • Ne his rotes ne his othere geres,
  • As been his centres and his arguments,
  • And his proporcionels convenients Skeat1900: (550)
  • For his equacions in every thing.
  • And, by his eighte spere in his wirking, Skeat1900: 1280
  • He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove
  • Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above
  • That in the ninthe speere considered is;
  • Ful subtilly he calculed al this.
  • Whan he had founde his firste mansioun, Skeat1900: 1285
  • He knew the remenant by proporcioun;
  • And knew the arysing of his mone weel,
  • And in whos face, and terme, and every-deel; Skeat1900: (560)
  • And knew ful weel the mones mansioun
  • Acordaunt to his operacioun, Skeat1900: 1290
  • And knew also his othere observaunces
  • For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces
  • As hethen folk used in thilke dayes;
  • For which no lenger maked he delayes,
  • But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, Skeat1900: 1295
  • It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.
  • Aurelius, which that yet despeired is
  • Wher he shal han his love or fare amis, Skeat1900: (570)
  • Awaiteth night and day on this miracle;
  • And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, Skeat1900: 1300
  • That voided were thise rokkes everichon,
  • Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon,
  • And seyde, ‘I woful wrecche, Aurelius,
  • Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus,
  • That me han holpen fro my cares colde:’ Skeat1900: 1305
  • And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde,
  • Wher-as he knew he sholde his lady see.
  • And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right he, Skeat1900: (580)
  • With dredful herte and with ful humble chere,
  • Salewed hath his sovereyn lady dere: Skeat1900: 1310
  • ‘My righte lady,’ quod this woful man,
  • ‘Whom I most drede and love as I best can,
  • And lothest were of al this world displese,
  • Nere it that I for yow have swich disese,
  • That I moste dyen heer at your foot anon, Skeat1900: 1315
  • Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon;
  • But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne;
  • Ye slee me giltelees for verray peyne. Skeat1900: (590)
  • But of my deeth, thogh that ye have no routhe,
  • Avyseth yow, er that ye breke your trouthe. Skeat1900: 1320
  • Repenteth yow, for thilke god above,
  • Er ye me sleen by-cause that I yow love.
  • For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight;
  • Nat that I chalange any thing of right
  • Of yow my sovereyn lady, but your grace; Skeat1900: 1325
  • But in a gardin yond, at swich a place,
  • Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me;
  • And in myn hand your trouthe plighten ye Skeat1900: (600)
  • To love me best, god woot, ye seyde so,
  • Al be that I unworthy be therto. Skeat1900: 1330
  • Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow,
  • More than to save myn hertes lyf right now;
  • I have do so as ye comanded me;
  • And if ye vouche-sauf, ye may go see.
  • Doth as yow list, have your biheste in minde, Skeat1900: 1335
  • For quik or deed, right ther ye shul me finde;
  • In yow lyth al, to do me live or deye;—
  • But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye!’ Skeat1900: (610)
  • He taketh his leve, and she astonied stood,
  • In al hir face nas a drope of blood; Skeat1900: 1340
  • She wende never han come in swich a trappe:
  • ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever this sholde happe!
  • For wende I never, by possibilitee,
  • That swich a monstre or merveille mighte be!
  • It is agayns the proces of nature’: Skeat1900: 1345
  • And hoom she gooth a sorweful creature.
  • For verray fere unnethe may she go,
  • She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two, Skeat1900: (620)
  • And swowneth, that it routhe was to see;
  • But why it was, to no wight tolde she; Skeat1900: 1350
  • For out of toune was goon Arveragus.
  • But to hir-self she spak, and seyde thus,
  • With face pale and with ful sorweful chere,
  • In hir compleynt, as ye shul after here:
  • ‘Allas,’ quod she, ‘on thee, Fortune, I pleyne, Skeat1900: 1355
  • That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne;
  • For which, tescape, woot I no socour
  • Save only deeth or elles dishonour; Skeat1900: (630)
  • Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese.
  • But nathelees, yet have I lever to lese Skeat1900: 1360
  • My lyf than of my body have a shame,
  • Or knowe my-selven fals, or lese my name,
  • And with my deth I may be quit, y-wis.
  • Hath ther nat many a noble wyf, er this,
  • And many a mayde y-slayn hir-self, allas! Skeat1900: 1365
  • Rather than with hir body doon trespas?
  • Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse;
  • Whan thretty tyraunts, ful of cursednesse, Skeat1900: (640)
  • Had slayn Phidoun in Athenes, atte feste,
  • They comanded his doghtres for tareste, Skeat1900: 1370
  • And bringen hem biforn hem in despyt
  • Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delyt,
  • And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce
  • Upon the pavement , god yeve hem mischaunce!
  • For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede, Skeat1900: 1375
  • Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede,
  • They prively ben stirt in-to a welle,
  • And dreynte hem-selven, as the bokes telle. Skeat1900: (650)
  • They of Messene lete enquere and seke
  • Of Lacedomie fifty maydens eke, Skeat1900: 1380
  • On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye;
  • But was ther noon of al that companye
  • That she nas slayn, and with a good entente
  • Chees rather for to dye than assente
  • To been oppressed of hir maydenhede. Skeat1900: 1385
  • Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?
  • Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides
  • That loved a mayden, heet Stimphalides, Skeat1900: (660)
  • Whan that hir fader slayn was on a night,
  • Un-to Dianes temple goth she right, Skeat1900: 1390
  • And hente the image in hir handes two,
  • Fro which image wolde she never go.
  • No wight ne mighte hir handes of it arace,
  • Til she was slayn right in the selve place.
  • Now sith that maydens hadden swich despyt Skeat1900: 1395
  • To been defouled with mannes foul delyt,
  • Wel oghte a wyf rather hir-selven slee
  • Than be defouled, as it thinketh me. Skeat1900: (670)
  • What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf,
  • That at Cartage birafte hir-self hir lyf? Skeat1900: 1400
  • For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun,
  • She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun
  • In-to the fyr, and chees rather to dye
  • Than any Romayn dide hir vileinye.
  • Hath nat Lucresse y-slayn hir-self, allas! Skeat1900: 1405
  • At Rome, whanne she oppressed was
  • Of Tarquin, for hir thoughte it was a shame
  • To liven whan she hadde lost hir name? Skeat1900: (680)
  • The sevene maydens of Milesie also
  • Han slayn hem-self, for verray drede and wo, Skeat1900: 1410
  • Rather than folk of Gaule hem sholde oppresse.
  • Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse,
  • Coude I now telle as touchinge this matere.
  • Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so dere
  • Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde Skeat1900: 1415
  • In Habradates woundes depe and wyde,
  • And seyde, “my body, at the leeste way,
  • Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may.” Skeat1900: (690)
  • What sholde I mo ensamples heer-of sayn,
  • Sith that so manye han hem-selven slayn Skeat1900: 1420
  • Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?
  • I wol conclude, that it is bet for me
  • To sleen my-self, than been defouled thus.
  • I wol be trewe un-to Arveragus,
  • Or rather sleen my-self in som manere, Skeat1900: 1425
  • As dide Demociones doghter dere,
  • By-cause that she wolde nat defouled be.
  • O Cedasus! it is ful greet pitee, Skeat1900: (700)
  • To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas!
  • That slowe hem-selven for swich maner cas. Skeat1900: 1430
  • As greet a pitee was it, or wel more,
  • The Theban mayden, that for Nichanore
  • Hir-selven slow, right for swich maner wo.
  • Another Theban mayden dide right so;
  • For oon of Macedoine hadde hir oppressed, Skeat1900: 1435
  • She with hir deeth hir maydenhede redressed.
  • What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf,
  • That for swich cas birafte hir-self hir lyf? Skeat1900: (710)
  • How trewe eek was to Alcebiades
  • His love, that rather for to dyen chees Skeat1900: 1440
  • Than for to suffre his body unburied be!
  • Lo which a wyf was Alceste,’ quod she.
  • ‘What seith Omer of gode Penalopee?
  • Al Grece knoweth of hir chastitee.
  • Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus, Skeat1900: 1445
  • That whan at Troye was slayn Protheselaus,
  • No lenger wolde she live after his day.
  • The same of noble Porcia telle I may; Skeat1900: (720)
  • With-oute Brutus coude she nat live,
  • To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive. Skeat1900: 1450
  • The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesye
  • Honoured is thurgh al the Barbarye.
  • O Teuta, queen! thy wyfly chastitee
  • To alle wyves may a mirour be.
  • The same thing I seye of Bilia, [T. om.
  • Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria.’ [T. om.
  • Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye,
  • Purposinge ever that she wolde deye. Skeat1900: (730)
  • But nathelees, upon the thridde night,
  • Hom cam Arveragus, this worthy knight, Skeat1900: 1460
  • And asked hir, why that she weep so sore?
  • And she gan wepen ever lenger the more.
  • ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever was I born!
  • Thus have I seyd,’ quod she, ‘thus have I sworn’—
  • And told him al as ye han herd bifore; Skeat1900: 1465
  • It nedeth nat reherce it yow na-more.
  • This housbond with glad chere, in freendly wyse,
  • Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse: Skeat1900: (740)
  • ‘Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?’
  • ‘Nay, nay,’ quod she, ‘god help me so, as wis; Skeat1900: 1470
  • This is to muche, and it were goddes wille.’
  • ‘Ye, wyf,’ quod he, ‘lat slepen that is stille;
  • It may be wel, paraventure, yet to-day.
  • Ye shul your trouthe holden, by my fay!
  • For god so wisly have mercy on me, Skeat1900: 1475
  • I hadde wel lever y-stiked for to be,
  • For verray love which that I to yow have,
  • But-if ye sholde your trouthe kepe and save. Skeat1900: (750)
  • Trouthe is the hyeste thing that man may kepe’:—
  • But with that word he brast anon to wepe, Skeat1900: 1480
  • And seyde, ‘I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,
  • That never, whyl thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,
  • To no wight tel thou of this aventure.
  • As I may best, I wol my wo endure,
  • Ne make no contenance of hevinesse, Skeat1900: 1485
  • That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse.’
  • And forth he cleped a squyer and a mayde:
  • ‘Goth forth anon with Dorigen,’ he sayde, Skeat1900: (760)
  • ‘And bringeth hir to swich a place anon.’
  • They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon; Skeat1900: 1490
  • But they ne wiste why she thider wente.
  • He nolde no wight tellen his entente. Skeat1900: (764)
  • Paraventure an heep of yow, y-wis, [T. om.
  • Wol holden him a lewed man in this, [T. om.
  • That he wol putte his wyf in Iupartye; [T. om.
  • Herkneth the tale, er ye up-on hir crye. [T. om.
  • She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth; [T. om.
  • And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth. [T. om.
  • This squyer, which that highte Aurelius, Skeat1900: (771)
  • On Dorigen that was so amorous, Skeat1900: 1500
  • Of aventure happed hir to mete
  • Amidde the toun, right in the quikkest strete,
  • As she was boun to goon the wey forth-right
  • Toward the gardin ther-as she had hight.
  • And he was to the gardinward also; Skeat1900: 1505
  • For wel he spyed, whan she wolde go
  • Out of hir hous to any maner place.
  • But thus they mette, of aventure or grace; Skeat1900: (780)
  • And he saleweth hir with glad entente,
  • And asked of hir whiderward she wente? Skeat1900: 1510
  • And she answerde, half as she were mad,
  • ‘Un-to the gardin, as myn housbond bad,
  • My trouthe for to holde, allas! allas!’
  • Aurelius gan wondren on this cas,
  • And in his herte had greet compassioun Skeat1900: 1515
  • Of hir and of hir lamentacioun,
  • And of Arveragus, the worthy knight,
  • That bad hir holden al that she had hight, Skeat1900: (790)
  • So looth him was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe;
  • And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe, Skeat1900: 1520
  • Consideringe the beste on every syde,
  • That fro his lust yet were him lever abyde
  • Than doon so heigh a cherlish wrecchednesse
  • Agayns franchyse and alle gentillesse;
  • For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: Skeat1900: 1525
  • ‘Madame, seyth to your lord Arveragus,
  • That sith I see his grete gentillesse Skeat1900: (800)
  • To yow, and eek I see wel your distresse,
  • That him were lever han shame (and that were routhe)
  • Than ye to me sholde breke thus your trouthe, Skeat1900: 1530
  • I have wel lever ever to suffre wo
  • Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.
  • I yow relesse, madame, in-to your hond
  • Quit every surement and every bond,
  • That ye han maad to me as heer-biforn, Skeat1900: 1535
  • Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.
  • My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve
  • Of no biheste, and here I take my leve, Skeat1900: (810)
  • As of the treweste and the beste wyf
  • That ever yet I knew in al my lyf. Skeat1900: 1540
  • But every wyf be-war of hir biheste,
  • On Dorigene remembreth atte leste.
  • Thus can a squyer doon a gentil dede,
  • As well as can a knight, with-outen drede.’
  • She thonketh him up-on hir knees al bare, Skeat1900: 1545
  • And hoom un-to hir housbond is she fare,
  • And tolde him al as ye han herd me sayd;
  • And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd, Skeat1900: (820)
  • That it were inpossible me to wryte;
  • What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? Skeat1900: 1550
  • Arveragus and Dorigene his wyf
  • In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf.
  • Never eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene;
  • He cherisseth hir as though she were a quene;
  • And she was to him trewe for evermore. Skeat1900: 1555
  • Of thise two folk ye gete of me na-more.
  • Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn,
  • Curseth the tyme that ever he was born: Skeat1900: (830)
  • ‘Allas,’ quod he, ‘allas! that I bihighte
  • Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte Skeat1900: 1560
  • Un-to this philosophre! how shal I do?
  • I see na-more but that I am fordo.
  • Myn heritage moot I nedes selle,
  • And been a begger; heer may I nat dwelle,
  • And shamen al my kinrede in this place, Skeat1900: 1565
  • But I of him may gete bettre grace.
  • But nathelees, I wol of him assaye,
  • At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye, Skeat1900: (840)
  • And thanke him of his grete curteisye;
  • My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye.’ Skeat1900: 1570
  • With herte soor he gooth un-to his cofre,
  • And broghte gold un-to this philosophre,
  • The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse,
  • And him bisecheth, of his gentillesse,
  • To graunte him dayes of the remenaunt, Skeat1900: 1575
  • And seyde, ‘maister, I dar wel make avaunt,
  • I failled never of my trouthe as yit;
  • For sikerly my dette shal be quit Skeat1900: (850)
  • Towardes yow, how-ever that I fare
  • To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare. Skeat1900: 1580
  • But wolde ye vouche-sauf, up-on seurtee,
  • Two yeer or three for to respyten me,
  • Than were I wel; for elles moot I selle
  • Myn heritage; ther is na-more to telle.’
  • This philosophre sobrely answerde, Skeat1900: 1585
  • And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde:
  • ‘Have I nat holden covenant un-to thee?’
  • ‘Yes, certes, wel and trewely,’ quod he. Skeat1900: (860)
  • ‘Hastow nat had thy lady as thee lyketh?’
  • ‘No, no,’ quod he, and sorwefully he syketh. Skeat1900: 1590
  • ‘What was the cause? tel me if thou can.’
  • Aurelius his tale anon bigan,
  • And tolde him al, as ye han herd bifore;
  • It nedeth nat to yow reherce it more.
  • He seide, ‘Arveragus, of gentillesse, Skeat1900: 1595
  • Had lever dye in sorwe and in distresse
  • Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals.’
  • The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him als, Skeat1900: (870)
  • How looth hir was to been a wikked wyf,
  • And that she lever had lost that day hir lyf, Skeat1900: 1600
  • And that hir trouthe she swoor, thurgh innocence:
  • ‘She never erst herde speke of apparence;
  • That made me han of hir so greet pitee.
  • And right as frely as he sente hir me,
  • As frely sente I hir to him ageyn. Skeat1900: 1605
  • This al and som, ther is na-more to seyn.’
  • This philosophre answerde, ‘leve brother,
  • Everich of yow dide gentilly til other. Skeat1900: (880)
  • Thou art a squyer, and he is a knight;
  • But god forbede, for his blisful might, Skeat1900: 1610
  • But-if a clerk coude doon a gentil dede
  • As wel as any of yow, it is no drede!
  • Sire, I relesse thee thy thousand pound,
  • As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,
  • Ne never er now ne haddest knowen me. Skeat1900: 1615
  • For sire, I wol nat take a peny of thee
  • For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille.
  • Thou hast y-payed wel for my vitaille; Skeat1900: (890)
  • It is y-nogh, and farewel, have good day:’
  • And took his hors, and forth he gooth his way. Skeat1900: 1620
  • Lordinges, this question wolde I aske now, Skeat1900: 1621
  • Which was the moste free, as thinketh yow?
  • Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende.
  • I can na-more, my tale is at an ende. Skeat1900: (896)

Here is ended the Frankeleyns Tale.

GROUP G.

THE SECONDE NONNES TALE.

asterisks In Tyrwhitt’s text, ll. 15469-15489; see p. 508

The Prologe of the Seconde Nonnes Tale.

    • THE ministre and the norice un-to vyces,
    • Which that men clepe in English ydelnesse,
    • That porter of the gate is of delyces,
    • To eschue, and by hir contrarie hir oppresse,
    • That is to seyn, by leveful bisinesse, Skeat1900: 5
    • Wel oghten we to doon al our entente,
    • Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.
    • For he, that with his thousand cordes slye
    • Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,
    • Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye, Skeat1900: 10
    • He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe,
    • Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,
    • He nis nat war the feend hath him in honde;
    • Wel oughte us werche, and ydelnes withstonde.
    • And though men dradden never for to dye, Skeat1900: 15
    • Yet seen men wel by reson doutelees,
    • That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,
    • Of which ther never comth no good encrees;
    • And seen, that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees
    • Only to slepe, and for to ete and drinke, Skeat1900: 20
    • And to devouren al that othere swinke.
  • And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,
  • That cause is of so greet confusioun,
  • I have heer doon my feithful bisinesse,
  • After the legende, in translacioun Skeat1900: 25
  • Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun,
  • Thou with thy gerland wroght of rose and lilie;
  • Thee mene I, mayde and martir, seint Cecilie!
  • Inuocacio ad Mariam.

    • AND thou that flour of virgines art alle,
    • Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte, Skeat1900: 30
    • To thee at my biginning first I calle;
    • Thou comfort of us wrecches, do me endyte
    • Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hir meryte
    • The eternal lyf, and of the feend victorie,
    • As man may after reden in hir storie. Skeat1900: 35
    • Thou mayde and mooder, doghter of thy sone,
    • Thou welle of mercy, sinful soules cure,
    • In whom that god, for bountee, chees to wone,
    • Thou humble, and heigh over every creature,
    • Thou nobledest so ferforth our nature, Skeat1900: 40
    • That no desdeyn the maker hadde of kinde,
    • His sone in blode and flesh to clothe and winde.
    • Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydes
    • Took mannes shap the eternal love and pees,
    • That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is, Skeat1900: 45
    • Whom erthe and see and heven, out of relees,
    • Ay herien; and thou, virgin wemmelees,
    • Bar of thy body, and dweltest mayden pure,
    • The creatour of every creature.
    • Assembled is in thee magnificence Skeat1900: 50
    • With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee
    • That thou, that art the sonne of excellence,
    • Nat only helpest hem that preyen thee,
    • But ofte tyme, of thy benignitee,
    • Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche, Skeat1900: 55
    • Thou goost biforn, and art hir lyves leche.
    • Now help, thou meke and blisful fayre mayde,
    • Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle;
    • Think on the womman Cananee, that sayde
    • That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle Skeat1900: 60
    • That from hir lordes table been y-falle;
    • And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve,
    • Be sinful, yet accepte my bileve.
    • And, for that feith is deed with-outen werkes,
    • So for to werken yif me wit and space, Skeat1900: 65
    • That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is!
    • O thou, that art so fayr and ful of grace,
    • Be myn advocat in that heighe place
    • Ther-as withouten ende is songe ‘Osanne,’
    • Thou Cristes mooder, doghter dere of Anne! Skeat1900: 70
    • And of thy light my soule in prison lighte,
    • That troubled is by the contagioun
    • Of my body, and also by the wighte
    • Of erthly luste and fals affeccioun;
    • O haven of refut, o salvacioun Skeat1900: 75
    • Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,
    • Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.
    • Yet preye I yow that reden that I wryte,
    • Foryeve me, that I do no diligence
    • This ilke storie subtilly to endyte; Skeat1900: 80
    • For both have I the wordes and sentence
    • Of him that at the seintes reverence
    • The storie wroot, and folwe hir legende,
    • And prey yow, that ye wol my werk amende.
  • Interpretacio nominis Cecilie, quam ponit frater Iacobus Ianuensis in Legenda Aurea.

    • FIRST wolde I yow the name of seint Cecilie Skeat1900: 85
    • Expoune, as men may in hir storie see,
    • It is to seye in English ‘hevenes lilie,’
    • For pure chastnesse of virginitee;
    • Or, for she whytnesse hadde of honestee,
    • And grene of conscience, and of good fame Skeat1900: 90
    • The sote savour, ‘lilie’ was hir name.
    • Or Cecile is to seye ‘the wey to blinde,’
    • For she ensample was by good techinge;
    • Or elles Cecile, as I writen finde,
    • Is ioyned, by a maner conioininge Skeat1900: 95
    • Of ‘hevene’ and ‘Lia’; and heer, in figuringe,
    • The ‘heven’ is set for thoght of holinesse,
    • And ‘Lia’ for hir lasting bisinesse.
    • Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere,
    • ‘Wanting of blindnesse,’ for hir grete light Skeat1900: 100
    • Of sapience, and for hir thewes clere;
    • Or elles, lo! this maydens name bright
    • Of ‘hevene’ and ‘leos’ comth, for which by right
    • Men mighte hir wel ‘the heven of peple’ calle,
    • Ensample of gode and wyse werkes alle. Skeat1900: 105
    • For ‘leos’ ‘peple’ in English is to seye,
    • And right as men may in the hevene see
    • The sonne and mone and sterres every weye,
    • Right so men gostly, in this mayden free,
    • Seyen of feith the magnanimitee, Skeat1900: 110
    • And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience,
    • And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence.
  • And right so as thise philosophres wryte
  • That heven is swift and round and eek brenninge,
  • Right so was fayre Cecilie the whyte Skeat1900: 115
  • Ful swift and bisy ever in good werkinge,
  • And round and hool in good perseveringe,
  • And brenning ever in charitee ful brighte;
  • Now have I yow declared what she highte.

Explicit.

Here biginneth the Seconde Nonnes Tale, of the lyf of Seinte Cecile.

    • THIS mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lyf seith, Skeat1900: 120
    • Was comen of Romayns, and of noble kinde,
    • And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith
    • Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir minde;
    • She never cessed, as I writen finde,
    • Of hir preyere, and god to love and drede, Skeat1900: 125
    • Biseking him to kepe hir maydenhede.
    • And when this mayden sholde unto a man
    • Y-wedded be, that was ful yong of age,
    • Which that y-cleped was Valerian,
    • And day was comen of hir mariage, Skeat1900: 130
    • She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,
    • Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful fayre,
    • Had next hir flesh y-clad hir in an heyre.
    • And whyl the organs maden melodye,
    • To god alone in herte thus sang she; Skeat1900: 135
    • ‘O lord, my soule and eek my body gye
    • Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be:’
    • And, for his love that deyde upon a tree,
    • Every seconde or thridde day she faste,
    • Ay biddinge in hir orisons ful faste. Skeat1900: 140
    • The night cam, and to bedde moste she gon
    • With hir housbonde, as ofte is the manere,
    • And prively to him she seyde anon,
    • ‘O swete and wel biloved spouse dere,
    • Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it here, Skeat1900: 145
    • Which that right fain I wolde unto yow seye,
    • So that ye swere ye shul me nat biwreye.’
    • Valerian gan faste unto hir swere,
    • That for no cas, ne thing that mighte be,
    • He sholde never-mo biwreyen here; Skeat1900: 150
    • And thanne at erst to him thus seyde she,
    • ‘I have an angel which that loveth me,
    • That with greet love, wher-so I wake or slepe,
    • Is redy ay my body for to kepe.
    • And if that he may felen, out of drede, Skeat1900: 155
    • That ye me touche or love in vileinye,
    • He right anon wol slee yow with the dede,
    • And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye;
    • And if that ye in clene love me gye,
    • He wol yow loven as me, for your clennesse, Skeat1900: 160
    • And shewen yow his Ioye and his brightnesse.’
    • Valerian, corrected as god wolde,
    • Answerde agayn, ‘if I shal trusten thee,
    • Lat me that angel se, and him biholde;
    • And if that it a verray angel be, Skeat1900: 165
    • Than wol I doon as thou hast preyed me;
    • And if thou love another man, for sothe
    • Right with this swerd than wol I slee yow bothe.’
    • Cecile answerde anon right in this wyse,
    • ‘If that yow list, the angel shul ye see, Skeat1900: 170
    • So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptyse.
    • Goth forth to Via Apia,’ quod she,
    • ‘That fro this toun ne stant but myles three,
    • And, to the povre folkes that ther dwelle,
    • Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle. Skeat1900: 175
    • Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente.
    • To shewen yow the gode Urban the olde,
    • For secree nedes and for good entente.
    • And whan that ye seint Urban han biholde,
    • Telle him the wordes whiche I to yow tolde; Skeat1900: 180
    • And whan that he hath purged yow fro sinne,
    • Thanne shul ye see that angel, er ye twinne.’
    • Valerian is to the place y-gon,
    • And right as him was taught by his lerninge,
    • He fond this holy olde Urban anon Skeat1900: 185
    • Among the seintes buriels lotinge.
    • And he anon, with-outen taryinge,
    • Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde,
    • Urban for Ioye his hondes gan up holde.
    • The teres from his yen leet he falle— Skeat1900: 190
    • ‘Almighty lord, o Iesu Crist,’ quod he,
    • ‘Sower of chast conseil, herde of us alle,
    • The fruit of thilke seed of chastitee
    • That thou hast sowe in Cecile, tak to thee!
    • Lo, lyk a bisy bee, with-outen gyle, Skeat1900: 195
    • Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile!
    • For thilke spouse, that she took but now
    • Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth here,
    • As meke as ever was any lamb, to yow!’
    • And with that worde, anon ther gan appere Skeat1900: 200
    • An old man, clad in whyte clothes clere,
    • That hadde a book with lettre of golde in honde,
    • And gan biforn Valerian to stonde.
    • Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
    • Whan he him saugh, and he up hente him tho, Skeat1900: 205
    • And on his book right thus he gan to rede—
    • ‘Oo Lord, oo feith, oo god with-outen mo,
    • Oo Cristendom, and fader of alle also,
    • Aboven alle and over al everywhere’—
    • Thise wordes al with gold y-writen were. Skeat1900: 210
    • Whan this was rad, than seyde this olde man,
    • ‘Levestow this thing or no? sey ye or nay.’
    • ‘I leve al this thing,’ quod Valerian,
    • ‘For sother thing than this, I dar wel say,
    • Under the hevene no wight thinke may.’ Skeat1900: 215
    • Tho vanisshed the olde man, he niste where,
    • And pope Urban him cristened right there.
    • Valerian goth hoom, and fint Cecilie
    • With-inne his chambre with an angel stonde;
    • This angel hadde of roses and of lilie Skeat1900: 220
    • Corones two, the which he bar in honde;
    • And first to Cecile, as I understonde,
    • He yaf that oon, and after gan he take
    • That other to Valerian, hir make.
    • ‘With body clene and with unwemmed thoght Skeat1900: 225
    • Kepeth ay wel thise corones,’ quod he;
    • ‘Fro Paradys to yow have I hem broght,
    • Ne never-mo ne shal they roten be,
    • Ne lese her sote savour, trusteth me;
    • Ne never wight shal seen hem with his yë, Skeat1900: 230
    • But he be chaast and hate vileinyë.
    • And thou, Valerian, for thou so sone
    • Assentedest to good conseil also,
    • Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy bone.’
    • ‘I have a brother,’ quod Valerian tho, Skeat1900: 235
    • ‘That in this world I love no man so.
    • I pray yow that my brother may han grace
    • To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place.’
    • The angel seyde, ‘god lyketh thy requeste,
    • And bothe, with the palm of martirdom, Skeat1900: 240
    • Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste.’
    • And with that word Tiburce his brother com.
    • And whan that he the savour undernom
    • Which that the roses and the lilies caste,
    • With-inne his herte he gan to wondre faste, Skeat1900: 245
    • And seyde, ‘I wondre, this tyme of the yeer,
    • Whennes that sote savour cometh so
    • Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer.
    • For though I hadde hem in myn hondes two,
    • The savour mighte in me no depper go. Skeat1900: 250
    • The sote smel that in myn herte I finde
    • Hath chaunged me al in another kinde.’
    • Valerian seyde, ‘two corones han we,
    • Snow-whyte and rose-reed, that shynen clere,
    • Whiche that thyn yen han no might to see; Skeat1900: 255
    • And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere,
    • So shaltow seen hem, leve brother dere,
    • If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,
    • Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe.’
    • Tiburce answerde, ‘seistow this to me Skeat1900: 260
    • In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?’
    • ‘In dremes,’ quod Valerian, ‘han we be
    • Unto this tyme, brother myn, y-wis.
    • But now at erst in trouthe our dwelling is.’
    • ‘How woostow this,’ quod Tiburce, ‘in what wyse?’ Skeat1900: 265
    • Quod Valerian, ‘that shal I thee devyse.
    • The angel of god hath me the trouthe y-taught
    • Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye
    • The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught.’—
    • And of the miracle of thise corones tweye Skeat1900: 270
    • Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye;
    • Solempnely this noble doctour dere
    • Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:
    • The palm of martirdom for to receyve,
    • Seinte Cecile, fulfild of goddes yifte, Skeat1900: 275
    • The world and eek hir chambre gan she weyve;
    • Witnes Tyburces and Valerians shrifte,
    • To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte
    • Corones two of floures wel smellinge,
    • And made his angel hem the corones bringe: Skeat1900: 280
    • The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above;
    • The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn,
    • Devocioun of chastitee to love.—
    • Tho shewede him Cecile al open and pleyn
    • That alle ydoles nis but a thing in veyn; Skeat1900: 285
    • For they been dombe, and therto they been deve,
    • And charged him his ydoles for to leve.
    • ‘Who so that troweth nat this, a beste he is,’
    • Quod tho Tiburce, ‘if that I shal nat lye.’
    • And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this, Skeat1900: 290
    • And was ful glad he coude trouthe espye.
    • ‘This day I take thee for myn allye,’
    • Seyde this blisful fayre mayde dere;
    • And after that she seyde as ye may here:
    • ‘Lo, right so as the love of Crist,’ quod she, Skeat1900: 295
    • ‘Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wyse
    • Anon for myn allye heer take I thee,
    • Sin that thou wolt thyn ydoles despyse.
    • Go with thy brother now, and thee baptyse,
    • And make thee clene; so that thou mowe biholde Skeat1900: 300
    • The angels face of which thy brother tolde.’
    • Tiburce answerde and seyde, ‘brother dere,
    • First tel me whider I shal, and to what man?’
    • ‘To whom?’ quod he, ‘com forth with right good chere,
    • I wol thee lede unto the pope Urban.’ Skeat1900: 305
    • ‘Til Urban? brother myn Valerian,’
    • Quod tho Tiburce, ‘woltow me thider lede?
    • Me thinketh that it were a wonder dede.
    • Ne menestow nat Urban,’ quod he tho,
    • ‘That is so ofte dampned to be deed, Skeat1900: 310
    • And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,
    • And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
    • Men sholde him brennen in a fyr so reed
    • If he were founde, or that men mighte him spye;
    • And we also, to bere him companye— Skeat1900: 315
    • And whyl we seken thilke divinitee
    • That is y-hid in hevene prively,
    • Algate y-brend in this world shul we be!’
    • To whom Cecile answerde boldely,
    • ‘Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully Skeat1900: 320
    • This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother,
    • If this were livinge only and non other.
    • But ther is better lyf in other place,
    • That never shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,
    • Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace; Skeat1900: 325
    • That fadres sone hath alle thinges wroght;
    • And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght,
    • The goost, that fro the fader gan procede,
    • Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.
    • By word and by miracle goddes sone, Skeat1900: 330
    • Whan he was in this world, declared here
    • That ther was other lyf ther men may wone.’
    • To whom answerde Tiburce, ‘o suster dere,
    • Ne seydestow right now in this manere,
    • Ther nis but o god, lord in soothfastnesse; Skeat1900: 335
    • And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?’
    • ‘That shal I telle,’ quod she, ‘er I go.
    • Right as a man hath sapiences three,
    • Memorie, engyn, and intellect also,
    • So, in o being of divinitee, Skeat1900: 340
    • Three persones may ther right wel be.’
    • Tho gan she him ful bisily to preche
    • Of Cristes come and of his peynes teche,
    • And many pointes of his passioun;
    • How goddes sone in this world was withholde, Skeat1900: 345
    • To doon mankinde pleyn remissioun,
    • That was y-bounde in sinne and cares colde:
    • Al this thing she unto Tiburce tolde.
    • And after this Tiburce, in good entente,
    • With Valerian to pope Urban he wente, Skeat1900: 350
    • That thanked god; and with glad herte and light
    • He cristned him, and made him in that place
    • Parfit in his lerninge, goddes knight.
    • And after this Tiburce gat swich grace,
    • That every day he saugh, in tyme and space, Skeat1900: 355
    • The angel of god; and every maner bone
    • That he god axed, it was sped ful sone.
    • It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn
    • How many wondres Iesus for hem wroghte;
    • But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn, Skeat1900: 360
    • The sergeants of the toun of Rome hem soghte,
    • And hem biforn Almache the prefect broghte,
    • Which hem apposed, and knew al hir entente,
    • And to the image of Iupiter hem sente,
    • And seyde, ‘who so wol nat sacrifyse, Skeat1900: 365
    • Swap of his heed, this is my sentence here.’
    • Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse,
    • Oon Maximus, that was an officere
    • Of the prefectes and his corniculere,
    • Hem hente; and whan he forth the seintes ladde, Skeat1900: 370
    • Him-self he weep, for pitee that he hadde.
    • Whan Maximus had herd the seintes lore,
    • He gat him of the tormentoures leve,
    • And ladde hem to his hous withoute more;
    • And with hir preching, er that it were eve, Skeat1900: 375
    • They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve,
    • And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone
    • The false feith, to trowe in god allone.
    • Cecilie cam, whan it was woxen night,
    • With preestes that hem cristned alle y-fere; Skeat1900: 380
    • And afterward, whan day was woxen light,
    • Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobre chere,
    • ‘Now, Cristes owene knightes leve and dere,
    • Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
    • And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse. Skeat1900: 385
    • Ye han for sothe y-doon a greet bataille,
    • Your cours is doon, your feith han ye conserved,
    • Goth to the corone of lyf that may nat faille;
    • The rightful Iuge, which that ye han served,
    • Shall yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved.’ Skeat1900: 390
    • And whan this thing was seyd as I devyse,
    • Men ladde hem forth to doon the sacrifyse.
    • But whan they weren to the place broght,
    • To tellen shortly the conclusioun,
    • They nolde encense ne sacrifice right noght, Skeat1900: 395
    • But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
    • With humble herte and sad devocioun,
    • And losten bothe hir hedes in the place.
    • Hir soules wenten to the king of grace.
    • This Maximus, that saugh this thing bityde, Skeat1900: 400
    • With pitous teres tolde it anon-right,
    • That he hir soules saugh to heven glyde
    • With angels ful of cleernesse and of light,
    • And with his word converted many a wight;
    • For which Almachius dide him so to-bete Skeat1900: 405
    • With whippe of leed, til he his lyf gan lete.
    • Cecile him took and buried him anoon
    • By Tiburce and Valerian softely,
    • Withinne hir burying-place, under the stoon.
    • And after this Almachius hastily Skeat1900: 410
    • Bad his ministres fecchen openly
    • Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence
    • Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense.
    • But they, converted at hir wyse lore,
    • Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence Skeat1900: 415
    • Unto hir word, and cryden more and more,
    • ‘Crist, goddes sone withouten difference,
    • Is verray god, this is al our sentence,
    • That hath so good a servant him to serve;
    • This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!’ Skeat1900: 420
    • Almachius, that herde of this doinge,
    • Bad fecchen Cecile, that he might hir see,
    • And alderfirst, lo! this was his axinge,
    • ‘What maner womman artow?’ tho quod he.
    • ‘I am a gentil womman born,’ quod she. Skeat1900: 425
    • ‘I axe thee,’ quod he, ‘thogh it thee greve,
    • Of thy religioun and of thy bileve.’
    • ‘Ye han bigonne your question folily,’
    • Quod she, ‘that wolden two answeres conclude
    • In oo demande; ye axed lewedly.’ Skeat1900: 430
    • Almache answerde unto that similitude,
    • ‘Of whennes comth thyn answering so rude?’
    • ‘Of whennes?’ quod she, whan that she was freyned,
    • ‘Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned.’
    • Almachius seyde, ‘ne takestow non hede Skeat1900: 435
    • Of my power?’ and she answerde him this—
    • ‘Your might,’ quod she, ‘ful litel is to drede;
    • For every mortal mannes power nis
    • But lyk a bladdre, ful of wind, y-wis.
    • For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe, Skeat1900: 440
    • May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.’
    • ‘Ful wrongfully bigonne thou,’ quod he,
    • ‘And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce;
    • Wostow nat how our mighty princes free
    • Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce, Skeat1900: 445
    • That every cristen wight shal han penaunce
    • But-if that he his cristendom withseye,
    • And goon al quit, if he wol it reneye?’
    • ‘Your princes erren, as your nobley dooth,’
    • Quod tho Cecile, ‘and with a wood sentence Skeat1900: 450
    • Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth;
    • For ye, that knowen wel our innocence,
    • For as muche as we doon a reverence
    • To Crist, and for we bere a cristen name,
    • Ye putte on us a cryme, and eek a blame. Skeat1900: 455
    • But we that knowen thilke name so
    • For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.’
    • Almache answerde, ‘chees oon of thise two,
    • Do sacrifyce, or cristendom reneye,
    • That thou mowe now escapen by that weye.’ Skeat1900: 460
    • At which the holy blisful fayre mayde
    • Gan for to laughe, and to the Iuge seyde,
    • ‘O Iuge, confus in thy nycetee,
    • Woltow that I reneye innocence,
    • To make me a wikked wight?’ quod she; Skeat1900: 465
    • ‘Lo! he dissimuleth here in audience,
    • He stareth and woodeth in his advertence!’
    • To whom Almachius, ‘unsely wrecche,
    • Ne woostow nat how far my might may strecche?
    • Han noght our mighty princes to me yeven, Skeat1900: 470
    • Ye, bothe power and auctoritee
    • To maken folk to dyen or to liven?
    • Why spekestow so proudly than to me?’
    • ‘I speke noght but stedfastly,’ quod she,
    • ‘Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my syde, Skeat1900: 475
    • We haten deedly thilke vyce of pryde.
    • And if thou drede nat a sooth to here,
    • Than wol I shewe al openly, by right,
    • That thou hast maad a ful gret lesing here.
    • Thou seyst, thy princes han thee yeven might Skeat1900: 480
    • Bothe for to sleen and for to quiken a wight;
    • Thou, that ne mayst but only lyf bireve,
    • Thou hast non other power ne no leve!
    • But thou mayst seyn, thy princes han thee maked
    • Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo, Skeat1900: 485
    • Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked.’
    • ‘Do wey thy boldnes,’ seyde Almachius tho,
    • ‘And sacrifyce to our goddes, er thou go;
    • I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre,
    • For I can suffre it as a philosophre; Skeat1900: 490
    • But thilke wronges may I nat endure
    • That thou spekest of our goddes here,’ quod he.
    • Cecile answerede, ‘o nyce creature,
    • Thou seydest no word sin thou spak to me
    • That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee; Skeat1900: 495
    • And that thou were, in every maner wyse,
    • A lewed officer and a veyn Iustyse.
    • Ther lakketh no-thing to thyn utter yen
    • That thou nart blind, for thing that we seen alle
    • That it is stoon, that men may wel espyen, Skeat1900: 500
    • That ilke stoon a god thou wolt it calle.
    • I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle,
    • And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it finde,
    • Sin that thou seest nat with thyn yen blinde.
    • It is a shame that the peple shal Skeat1900: 505
    • So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye;
    • For comunly men woot it wel overal,
    • That mighty god is in his hevenes hye,
    • And thise images, wel thou mayst espye,
    • To thee ne to hem-self mowe nought profyte, Skeat1900: 510
    • For in effect they been nat worth a myte.’
    • Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she,
    • And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede
    • Hom til hir hous, ‘and in hir hous,’ quod he,
    • ‘Brenne hir right in a bath of flambes rede.’ Skeat1900: 515
    • And as he bad, right so was doon in dede;
    • For in a bath they gonne hir faste shetten,
    • And night and day greet fyr they under betten.
    • The longe night and eek a day also,
    • For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete, Skeat1900: 520
    • She sat al cold, and felede no wo,
    • It made hir nat a drope for to swete.
    • But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete;
    • For he, Almachius, with ful wikke entente
    • To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente. Skeat1900: 525
    • Three strokes in the nekke he smoot hir tho,
    • The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce
    • He mighte noght smyte al hir nekke a-two;
    • And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce,
    • That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce Skeat1900: 530
    • The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or sore,
    • This tormentour ne dorste do na-more.
    • But half-deed, with hir nekke y-corven there,
    • He lefte hir lye, and on his wey is went.
    • The cristen folk, which that aboute hir were, Skeat1900: 535
    • With shetes han the blood ful faire y-hent.
    • Thre dayes lived she in this torment,
    • And never cessed hem the feith to teche;
    • That she hadde fostred, hem she gan to preche;
    • And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thing, Skeat1900: 540
    • And to the pope Urban bitook hem tho,
    • And seyde, ‘I axed this at hevene king,
    • To han respyt three dayes and na-mo,
    • To recomende to yow, er that I go,
    • Thise soules, lo! and that I mighte do werche Skeat1900: 545
    • Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche.’
    • Seint Urban, with his deknes, prively
    • The body fette, and buried it by nighte
    • Among his othere seintes honestly.
    • Hir hous the chirche of seint Cecilie highte; Skeat1900: 550
    • Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel mighte;
    • In which, into this day, in noble wyse,
    • Men doon to Crist and to his seint servyse.

Here is ended the Seconde Nonnes Tale.

THE CANON’S YEOMAN’S PROLOGUE. (T. 16022-16043.)

The prologe of the Chanons Yemannes Tale.

  • WHAN ended was the lyf of seint Cecyle,
  • Er we had riden fully fyve myle, Skeat1900: 555
  • At Boghton under Blee us gan atake
  • A man, that clothed was in clothes blake,
  • And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys.
  • His hakeney, that was al pomely grys,
  • So swatte, that it wonder was to see; Skeat1900: 560
  • It semed he had priked myles three.
  • The hors eek that his yeman rood upon
  • So swatte, that unnethe mighte it gon. Skeat1900: (10)
  • Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye,
  • He was of fome al flekked as a pye. Skeat1900: 565
  • A male tweyfold on his croper lay,
  • It semed that he caried lyte array.
  • Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
  • And in myn herte wondren I bigan
  • What that he was, til that I understood Skeat1900: 570
  • How that his cloke was sowed to his hood;
  • For which, when I had longe avysed me,
  • I demed him som chanon for to be. Skeat1900: (20)
  • His hat heng at his bak doun by a laas,
  • For he had riden more than trot or paas; Skeat1900: 575
  • He had ay priked lyk as he were wood.
  • A clote-leef he hadde under his hood
  • For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from hete.
  • But it was Ioye for to seen him swete!
  • His forheed dropped as a stillatorie, Skeat1900: 580
  • Were ful of plantain and of paritorie.
  • And whan that he was come, he gan to crye,
  • ‘God save,’ quod he, ‘this Ioly companye! Skeat1900: (30)
  • Faste have I priked,’ quod he, ‘for your sake,
  • By-cause that I wolde yow atake, Skeat1900: 585
  • To ryden in this mery companye.’
  • His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,
  • And seyde, ‘sires, now in the morwe-tyde
  • Out of your hostelrye I saugh you ryde,
  • And warned heer my lord and my soverayn, Skeat1900: 590
  • Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn,
  • For his desport; he loveth daliaunce.’
  • ‘Freend, for thy warning god yeve thee good chaunce,’
  • Than seyde our host, ‘for certes, it wolde seme Skeat1900: (41)
  • Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme; Skeat1900: 595
  • He is ful Iocund also, dar I leye.
  • Can he oght telle a mery tale or tweye,
  • With which he glade may this companye?’
  • ‘Who, sire? my lord? ye, ye, withouten lye,
  • He can of murthe, and eek of Iolitee Skeat1900: 600
  • Nat but ynough; also sir, trusteth me,
  • And ye him knewe as wel as do I,
  • Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily Skeat1900: (50)
  • He coude werke, and that in sondry wyse.
  • He hath take on him many a greet empryse, Skeat1900: 605
  • Which were ful hard for any that is here
  • To bringe aboute, but they of him it lere.
  • As homely as he rit amonges yow,
  • If ye him knewe, it wolde be for your prow;
  • Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce Skeat1900: 610
  • For mochel good, I dar leye in balaunce
  • Al that I have in my possessioun.
  • He is a man of heigh discrecioun, Skeat1900: (60)
  • I warne you wel, he is a passing man.’
  • ‘Wel,’ quod our host, ‘I pray thee, tel me than, Skeat1900: 615
  • Is he a clerk, or noon? tel what he is.’
  • ‘Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, y-wis,’
  • Seyde this yeman, ‘and in wordes fewe,
  • Host, of his craft som-what I wol yow shewe.
  • I seye, my lord can swich subtilitee— Skeat1900: 620
  • (But al his craft ye may nat wite at me;
  • And som-what helpe I yet to his werking)—
  • That al this ground on which we been ryding, Skeat1900: (70)
  • Til that we come to Caunterbury toun,
  • He coude al clene turne it up-so-doun, Skeat1900: 625
  • And pave it al of silver and of gold.’
  • And whan this yeman hadde thus y-told
  • Unto our host, he seyde, ‘ benedicite!
  • This thing is wonder merveillous to me,
  • Sin that thy lord is of so heigh prudence, Skeat1900: 630
  • By-cause of which men sholde him reverence,
  • That of his worship rekketh he so lyte;
  • His oversloppe nis nat worth a myte, Skeat1900: (80)
  • As in effect, to him, so mote I go!
  • It is al baudy and to-tore also. Skeat1900: 635
  • Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee preye,
  • And is of power better cloth to beye,
  • If that his dede accorde with thy speche?
  • Telle me that, and that I thee biseche.’
  • ‘Why?’ quod this yeman, ‘wherto axe ye me? Skeat1900: 640
  • God help me so, for he shal never thee!
  • (But I wol nat avowe that I seye,
  • And therfor kepe it secree, I yow preye). Skeat1900: (90)
  • He is to wys, in feith, as I bileve;
  • That that is overdoon, it wol nat preve Skeat1900: 645
  • Aright, as clerkes seyn, it is a vyce.
  • Wherfor in that I holde him lewed and nyce.
  • For whan a man hath over-greet a wit,
  • Ful oft him happeth to misusen it;
  • So dooth my lord, and that me greveth sore. Skeat1900: 650
  • God it amende, I can sey yow na-more.’
  • ‘Ther-of no fors, good yeman,’ quod our host;
  • ‘Sin of the conning of thy lord thou wost, Skeat1900: (100)
  • Tel how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,
  • Sin that he is so crafty and so sly. Skeat1900: 655
  • Wher dwellen ye, if it to telle be?’
  • ‘In the suburbes of a toun,’ quod he,
  • ‘Lurkinge in hernes and in lanes blinde,
  • Wher-as thise robbours and thise theves by kinde
  • Holden hir privee fereful residence, Skeat1900: 660
  • As they that dar nat shewen hir presence;
  • So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe.’
  • ‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘yit lat me talke to the; Skeat1900: (110)
  • Why artow so discoloured of thy face?’
  • ‘Peter!’ quod he, ‘god yeve it harde grace, Skeat1900: 665
  • I am so used in the fyr to blowe,
  • That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe.
  • I am nat wont in no mirour to prye,
  • But swinke sore and lerne multiplye.
  • We blondren ever and pouren in the fyr, Skeat1900: 670
  • And for al that we fayle of our desyr,
  • For ever we lakken our conclusioun.
  • To mochel folk we doon illusioun, Skeat1900: (120)
  • And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,
  • Or ten, or twelve, or many sommes mo, Skeat1900: 675
  • And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,
  • That of a pound we coude make tweye!
  • Yet is it fals, but ay we han good hope
  • It for to doon, and after it we grope.
  • But that science is so fer us biforn, Skeat1900: 680
  • We mowen nat, al-though we hadde it sworn,
  • It overtake, it slit awey so faste;
  • It wol us maken beggers atte laste.’ Skeat1900: (130)
  • Whyl this yeman was thus in his talking,
  • This chanoun drough him neer, and herde al thing Skeat1900: 685
  • Which this yeman spak, for suspecioun
  • Of mennes speche ever hadde this chanoun.
  • For Catoun seith, that he that gilty is
  • Demeth al thing be spoke of him, y-wis.
  • That was the cause he gan so ny him drawe Skeat1900: 690
  • To his yeman, to herknen al his sawe.
  • And thus he seyde un-to his yeman tho,
  • ‘Hold thou thy pees, and spek no wordes mo, Skeat1900: (140)
  • For if thou do, thou shalt it dere abye;
  • Thou sclaundrest me heer in this companye, Skeat1900: 695
  • And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde.’
  • ‘Ye,’ quod our host, ‘telle on, what so bityde;
  • Of al his threting rekke nat a myte!’
  • ‘In feith,’ quod he, ‘namore I do but lyte.’
  • And whan this chanon saugh it wolde nat be, Skeat1900: 700
  • But his yeman wolde telle his privetee,
  • He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.
  • ‘A!’ quod the yeman, ‘heer shal aryse game, Skeat1900: (150)
  • Al that I can anon now wol I telle.
  • Sin he is goon, the foule feend him quelle! Skeat1900: 705
  • For never her-after wol I with him mete
  • For peny ne for pound, I yow bihete!
  • He that me broghte first unto that game,
  • Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame!
  • For it is ernest to me, by my feith; Skeat1900: 710
  • That fele I wel, what so any man seith.
  • And yet, for al my smert and al my grief,
  • For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief, Skeat1900: (160)
  • I coude never leve it in no wyse.
  • Now wolde god my wit mighte suffyse Skeat1900: 715
  • To tellen al that longeth to that art!
  • But natheles yow wol I tellen part;
  • Sin that my lord is gon, I wol nat spare;
  • Swich thing as that I knowe, I wol declare.— Skeat1900: 719

Here endeth the Prologe of the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.

THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE.

Here biginneth the Chanouns Yeman his Tale.

[ Prima pars. ]

    • WITH this chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer, Skeat1900: 720
    • And of his science am I never the neer.
    • Al that I hadde, I have y-lost ther-by;
    • And god wot, so hath many mo than I. Skeat1900: (170)
    • Ther I was wont to be right fresh and gay
    • Of clothing and of other good array, Skeat1900: 725
    • Now may I were an hose upon myn heed;
    • And wher my colour was bothe fresh and reed,
    • Now is it wan and of a leden hewe;
    • Who-so it useth, sore shal he rewe.
    • And of my swink yet blered is myn ye, Skeat1900: 730
    • Lo! which avantage is to multiplye!
    • That slyding science hath me maad so bare,
    • That I have no good, wher that ever I fare; Skeat1900: (180)
    • And yet I am endetted so ther-by
    • Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, Skeat1900: 735
    • That whyl I live, I shal it quyte never.
    • Lat every man be war by me for ever!
    • What maner man that casteth him ther-to,
    • If he continue, I holde his thrift y-do.
    • So helpe me god, ther-by shal he nat winne, Skeat1900: 740
    • But empte his purs, and make his wittes thinne.
    • And whan he, thurgh his madnes and folye,
    • Hath lost his owene good thurgh Iupartye, Skeat1900: (190)
    • Thanne he excyteth other folk ther-to,
    • To lese hir good as he him-self hath do. Skeat1900: 745
    • For unto shrewes Ioye it is and ese
    • To have hir felawes in peyne and disese;
    • Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.
    • Of that no charge, I wol speke of our werk.
    • Whan we been ther as we shul exercyse Skeat1900: 750
    • Our elvish craft, we semen wonder wyse,
    • Our termes been so clergial and so queynte.
    • I blowe the fyr til that myn herte feynte. Skeat1900: (200)
    • What sholde I tellen ech proporcioun
    • Of thinges whiche that we werche upon, Skeat1900: 755
    • As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be,
    • Of silver or som other quantite,
    • And bisie me to telle yow the names
    • Of orpiment, brent bones, yren squames,
    • That into poudre grounden been ful smal? Skeat1900: 760
    • And in an erthen potte how put is al,
    • And salt y-put in, and also papeer,
    • Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer, Skeat1900: (210)
    • And wel y-covered with a lampe of glas,
    • And mochel other thing which that ther was? Skeat1900: 765
    • And of the pot and glasses enluting,
    • That of the eyre mighte passe out no-thing?
    • And of the esy fyr and smart also,
    • Which that was maad, and of the care and wo
    • That we hadde in our matires sublyming, Skeat1900: 770
    • And in amalgaming and calcening
    • Of quik-silver, y-clept Mercurie crude?
    • For alle our sleightes we can nat conclude. Skeat1900: (220)
    • Our orpiment and sublymed Mercurie,
    • Our grounden litarge eek on the porphurie, Skeat1900: 775
    • Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn
    • Nought helpeth us, our labour is in veyn.
    • Ne eek our spirites ascencioun,
    • Ne our materes that lyen al fixe adoun,
    • Mowe in our werking no-thing us avayle. Skeat1900: 780
    • For lost is al our labour and travayle,
    • And al the cost, a twenty devel weye,
    • Is lost also, which we upon it leye. Skeat1900: (230)
    • Ther is also ful many another thing
    • That is unto our craft apertening; Skeat1900: 785
    • Though I by ordre hem nat reherce can,
    • By-cause that I am a lewed man,
    • Yet wol I telle hem as they come to minde,
    • Though I ne can nat sette hem in hir kinde;
    • As bole armoniak, verdegrees, boras, Skeat1900: 790
    • And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas,
    • Our urinales and our descensories,
    • Violes, croslets, and sublymatories, Skeat1900: (240)
    • Cucurbites, and alembykes eek,
    • And othere swiche, dere y-nough a leek. Skeat1900: 795
    • Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle,
    • Watres rubifying and boles galle,
    • Arsenik, sal armoniak, and brimstoon;
    • And herbes coude I telle eek many oon,
    • As egremoine, valerian, and lunarie, Skeat1900: 800
    • And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie.
    • Our lampes brenning bothe night and day,
    • To bringe aboute our craft, if that we may. Skeat1900: (250)
    • Our fourneys eek of calcinacioun,
    • And of watres albificacioun, Skeat1900: 805
    • Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey,
    • Poudres diverse, asshes, dong, pisse, and cley,
    • Cered pokets, sal peter, vitriole;
    • And divers fyres maad of wode and cole;
    • Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat, Skeat1900: 810
    • And combust materes and coagulat,
    • Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oile
    • Of tartre, alum, glas, berm, wort, and argoile, Skeat1900: (260)
    • Resalgar, and our materes enbibing;
    • And eek of our materes encorporing, Skeat1900: 815
    • And of our silver citrinacioun,
    • Our cementing and fermentacioun,
    • Our ingottes, testes, and many mo.
    • I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,
    • The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, Skeat1900: 820
    • By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.
    • The firste spirit quik-silver called is,
    • The second orpiment, the thridde, y-wis, Skeat1900: (270)
    • Sal armoniak, and the ferthe brimstoon.
    • The bodies sevene eek, lo! hem heer anoon: Skeat1900: 825
    • Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe,
    • Mars yren, Mercurie quik-silver we clepe,
    • Saturnus leed, and Iupiter is tin,
    • And Venus coper, by my fader kin!
    • This cursed craft who-so wol exercyse, Skeat1900: 830
    • He shal no good han that him may suffyse;
    • For al the good he spendeth ther-aboute,
    • He lese shal, ther-of have I no doute. Skeat1900: (280)
    • Who-so that listeth outen his folye,
    • Lat him come forth, and lerne multiplye; Skeat1900: 835
    • And every man that oght hath in his cofre,
    • Lat him appere, and wexe a philosofre.
    • Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere?
    • Nay, nay, god woot, al be he monk or frere,
    • Preest or chanoun, or any other wight, Skeat1900: 840
    • Though he sitte at his book bothe day and night,
    • In lernyng of this elvish nyce lore,
    • Al is in veyn, and parde, mochel more! Skeat1900: (290)
    • To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee,
    • Fy! spek nat ther-of, for it wol nat be; Skeat1900: 845
    • Al conne he letterure, or conne he noon,
    • As in effect, he shal finde it al oon.
    • For bothe two, by my savacioun,
    • Concluden, in multiplicacioun,
    • Y-lyke wel, whan they han al y-do; Skeat1900: 850
    • This is to seyn, they faylen bothe two.
    • Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille
    • Of watres corosif and of limaille, Skeat1900: (300)
    • And of bodyes mollificacioun,
    • And also of hir induracioun, Skeat1900: 855
    • Oiles, ablucions, and metal fusible,
    • To tellen al wolde passen any bible
    • That o-wher is; wherfor, as for the beste,
    • Of alle thise names now wol I me reste.
    • For, as I trowe, I have yow told y-nowe Skeat1900: 860
    • To reyse a feend, al loke he never so rowe.
    • A! nay! lat be; the philosophres stoon,
    • Elixir clept, we sechen faste echoon; Skeat1900: (310)
    • For hadde we him, than were we siker y-now.
    • But, unto god of heven I make avow, Skeat1900: 865
    • For al our craft, whan we han al y-do,
    • And al our sleighte, he wol nat come us to.
    • He hath y-maad us spenden mochel good,
    • For sorwe of which almost we wexen wood,
    • But that good hope crepeth in our herte, Skeat1900: 870
    • Supposinge ever, though we sore smerte,
    • To be releved by him afterward;
    • Swich supposing and hope is sharp and hard; Skeat1900: (320)
    • I warne yow wel, it is to seken ever;
    • That futur temps hath maad men to dissever, Skeat1900: 875
    • In trust ther-of, from al that ever they hadde.
    • Yet of that art they can nat wexen sadde,
    • For unto hem it is a bitter swete;
    • So semeth it; for nadde they but a shete
    • Which that they mighte wrappe hem inne a-night, Skeat1900: 880
    • And a bak to walken inne by day-light,
    • They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft;
    • They can nat stinte til no-thing be laft. Skeat1900: (330)
    • And evermore, wher that ever they goon,
    • Men may hem knowe by smel of brimstoon; Skeat1900: 885
    • For al the world, they stinken as a goot;
    • Her savour is so rammish and so hoot,
    • That, though a man from hem a myle be,
    • The savour wol infecte him, trusteth me;
    • Lo, thus by smelling and threedbare array, Skeat1900: 890
    • If that men liste, this folk they knowe may.
    • And if a man wol aske hem prively,
    • Why they been clothed so unthriftily, Skeat1900: (340)
    • They right anon wol rownen in his ere,
    • And seyn, that if that they espyed were, Skeat1900: 895
    • Men wolde hem slee, by-cause of hir science;
    • Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence!
    • Passe over this; I go my tale un-to.
    • Er than the pot be on the fyr y-do,
    • Of metals with a certein quantite, Skeat1900: 900
    • My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he—
    • Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely—
    • For, as men seyn, he can don craftily; Skeat1900: (350)
    • Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name,
    • And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame; Skeat1900: 905
    • And wite ye how? ful ofte it happeth so,
    • The pot to-breketh, and farewel! al is go!
    • Thise metals been of so greet violence,
    • Our walles mowe nat make hem resistence,
    • But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon; Skeat1900: 910
    • They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon,
    • And somme of hem sinken in-to the ground—
    • Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound— Skeat1900: (360)
    • And somme are scatered al the floor aboute,
    • Somme lepe in-to the roof; with-outen doute, Skeat1900: 915
    • Though that the feend noght in our sighte him shewe,
    • I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe!
    • In helle wher that he is lord and sire,
    • Nis ther more wo, ne more rancour ne ire.
    • Whan that our pot is broke, as I have sayd, Skeat1900: 920
    • Every man chit, and halt him yvel apayd.
    • Som seyde, it was long on the fyr-making,
    • Som seyde, nay! it was on the blowing; Skeat1900: (370)
    • (Than was I fered, for that was myn office);
    • ‘Straw!’ quod the thridde, ‘ye been lewed and nyce, Skeat1900: 925
    • It was nat tempred as it oghte be.’
    • ‘Nay!’ quod the ferthe, ‘stint, and herkne me;
    • By-cause our fyr ne was nat maad of beech,
    • That is the cause, and other noon, so theech!’
    • I can nat telle wher-on it was long, Skeat1900: 930
    • But wel I wot greet stryf is us among.
    • ‘What!’ quod my lord, ‘ther is na-more to done,
    • Of thise perils I wol be war eft-sone; Skeat1900: (380)
    • I am right siker that the pot was crased.
    • Be as be may, be ye no-thing amased; Skeat1900: 935
    • As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swythe,
    • Plukke up your hertes, and beth gladde and blythe.’
    • The mullok on an hepe y-sweped was,
    • And on the floor y-cast a canevas,
    • And al this mullok in a sive y-throwe, Skeat1900: 940
    • And sifted, and y-piked many a throwe.
    • ‘Pardee,’ quod oon, ‘somwhat of our metal
    • Yet is ther heer, though that we han nat al. Skeat1900: (390)
    • Al-though this thing mishapped have as now,
    • Another tyme it may be wel y-now, Skeat1900: 945
    • Us moste putte our good in aventure;
    • A marchant, parde! may nat ay endure,
    • Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee;
    • Somtyme his good is drenched in the see,
    • And somtym comth it sauf un-to the londe.’ Skeat1900: 950
    • ‘Pees!’ quod my lord, ‘the next tyme I wol fonde
    • To bringe our craft al in another plyte;
    • And but I do, sirs, lat me han the wyte; Skeat1900: (400)
    • Ther was defaute in som-what, wel I woot.’
    • Another seyde, the fyr was over hoot:— Skeat1900: 955
    • But, be it hoot or cold, I dar seye this,
    • That we concluden evermore amis.
    • We fayle of that which that we wolden have,
    • And in our madnesse evermore we rave.
    • And whan we been togidres everichoon, Skeat1900: 960
    • Every man semeth a Salomon.
    • But al thing which that shyneth as the gold
    • Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told; Skeat1900: (410)
    • Ne every appel that is fair at ye
    • Ne is nat good, what-so men clappe or crye. Skeat1900: 965
    • Right so, lo! fareth it amonges us;
    • He that semeth the wysest, by Iesus!
    • Is most fool, whan it cometh to the preef;
    • And he that semeth trewest is a theef;
    • That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende, Skeat1900: 970
    • By that I of my tale have maad an ende.

Explicit prima pars. Et sequitur pars secunda.

    • Ther is a chanoun of religioun
    • Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun, Skeat1900: (420)
    • Though it as greet were as was Ninivee,
    • Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. Skeat1900: 975
    • His sleightes and his infinit falsnesse
    • Ther coude no man wryten, as I gesse,
    • Thogh that he mighte liven a thousand yeer.
    • In al this world of falshede nis his peer;
    • For in his termes so he wolde him winde, Skeat1900: 980
    • And speke his wordes in so sly a kinde,
    • Whan he commune shal with any wight,
    • That he wol make him doten anon right, Skeat1900: (430)
    • But it a feend be, as him-selven is.
    • Ful many a man hath he bigyled er this, Skeat1900: 985
    • And wol, if that he live may a whyle;
    • And yet men ryde and goon ful many a myle
    • Him for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,
    • Noght knowinge of his false governaunce.
    • And if yow list to yeve me audience, Skeat1900: 990
    • I wol it tellen heer in your presence.
    • But worshipful chanouns religious,
    • Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre your hous, Skeat1900: (440)
    • Al-though my tale of a chanoun be.
    • Of every ordre som shrewe is, parde, Skeat1900: 995
    • And god forbede that al a companye
    • Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye.
    • To sclaundre yow is no-thing myn entente,
    • But to correcten that is mis I mente.
    • This tale was nat only told for yow, Skeat1900: 1000
    • But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how
    • That, among Cristes apostelles twelve,
    • Ther nas no traytour but Iudas him-selve. Skeat1900: (450)
    • Than why sholde al the remenant have blame
    • That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same. Skeat1900: 1005
    • Save only this, if ye wol herkne me,
    • If any Iudas in your covent be,
    • Remeveth him bitymes, I yow rede,
    • If shame or los may causen any drede.
    • And beth no-thing displesed, I yow preye, Skeat1900: 1010
    • But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.
    • In London was a preest, an annueleer,
    • That therin dwelled hadde many a yeer, Skeat1900: (460)
    • Which was so plesaunt and so servisable
    • Unto the wyf, wher-as he was at table, Skeat1900: 1015
    • That she wolde suffre him no-thing for to paye
    • For bord ne clothing, wente he never so gaye;
    • And spending-silver hadde he right y-now.
    • Therof no fors; I wol procede as now,
    • And telle forth my tale of the chanoun, Skeat1900: 1020
    • That broghte this preest to confusioun.
    • This false chanoun cam up-on a day
    • Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, Skeat1900: (470)
    • Biseching him to lene him a certeyn
    • Of gold, and he wolde quyte it him ageyn. Skeat1900: 1025
    • ‘Lene me a mark,’ quod he, ‘but dayes three,
    • And at my day I wol it quyten thee.
    • And if so be that thou me finde fals,
    • Another day do hange me by the hals!’
    • This preest him took a mark, and that as swythe, Skeat1900: 1030
    • And this chanoun him thanked ofte sythe,
    • And took his leve, and wente forth his weye,
    • And at the thridde day broghte his moneye, Skeat1900: (480)
    • And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
    • Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. Skeat1900: 1035
    • ‘Certes,’ quod he, ‘no-thing anoyeth me
    • To lene a man a noble, or two or three,
    • Or what thing were in my possessioun,
    • Whan he so trewe is of condicioun,
    • That in no wyse he breke wol his day; Skeat1900: 1040
    • To swich a man I can never seye nay.’
    • ‘What!’ quod this chanoun, ‘sholde I be untrewe?
    • Nay, that were thing y-fallen al of-newe. Skeat1900: (490)
    • Trouthe is a thing that I wol ever kepe
    • Un-to that day in which that I shal crepe Skeat1900: 1045
    • In-to my grave, and elles god forbede;
    • Bileveth this as siker as is your crede.
    • God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,
    • That ther was never man yet yvel apayd
    • For gold ne silver that he to me lente, Skeat1900: 1050
    • Ne never falshede in myn herte I mente.
    • And sir,’ quod he, ‘now of my privetee,
    • Sin ye so goodlich han been un-to me, Skeat1900: (500)
    • And kythed to me so greet gentillesse,
    • Somwhat to quyte with your kindenesse, Skeat1900: 1055
    • I wol yow shewe, and, if yow list to lere,
    • I wol yow teche pleynly the manere,
    • How I can werken in philosophye.
    • Taketh good heed, ye shul wel seen at yë,
    • That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.’ Skeat1900: 1060
    • ‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘ye, sir, and wol ye so?
    • Marie! ther-of I pray yow hertely!’
    • ‘At your comandement, sir, trewely,’ Skeat1900: (510)
    • Quod the chanoun, ‘and elles god forbede!’
    • Lo, how this theef coude his servyse bede! Skeat1900: 1065
    • Ful sooth it is, that swich profred servyse
    • Stinketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse;
    • And that ful sone I wol it verifye
    • In this chanoun, rote of al trecherye,
    • That ever-more delyt hath and gladnesse— Skeat1900: 1070
    • Swich feendly thoughtes in his herte impresse—
    • How Cristes peple he may to meschief bringe;
    • God kepe us from his fals dissimulinge! Skeat1900: (520)
    • Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,
    • Ne of his harm cominge he no-thing felte. Skeat1900: 1075
    • O sely preest! o sely innocent!
    • With coveityse anon thou shalt be blent!
    • O gracelees, ful blind is thy conceit,
    • No-thing ne artow war of the deceit
    • Which that this fox y-shapen hath to thee! Skeat1900: 1080
    • His wyly wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.
    • Wherfor, to go to the conclusioun
    • That refereth to thy confusioun, Skeat1900: (530)
    • Unhappy man! anon I wol me hye
    • To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, Skeat1900: 1085
    • And eek the falsnesse of that other wrecche,
    • As ferforth as that my conning may strecche.
    • This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden wene?
    • Sir host, in feith, and by the hevenes quene,
    • It was another chanoun, and nat he, Skeat1900: 1090
    • That can an hundred fold more subtiltee!
    • He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;
    • Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme. Skeat1900: (540)
    • Ever whan that I speke of his falshede,
    • For shame of him my chekes wexen rede; Skeat1900: 1095
    • Algates, they biginnen for to glowe,
    • For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,
    • In my visage; for fumes dyverse
    • Of metals, which ye han herd me reherce,
    • Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. Skeat1900: 1100
    • Now tak heed of this chanouns cursednesse!
    • ‘Sir,’ quod he to the preest, ‘lat your man gon
    • For quik-silver, that we it hadde anon; Skeat1900: (550)
    • And lat him bringen ounces two or three;
    • And whan he comth, as faste shul ye see Skeat1900: 1105
    • A wonder thing, which ye saugh never er this.’
    • ‘Sir,’ quod the preest, ‘it shall be doon, y-wis.’
    • He bad his servant fecchen him this thing,
    • And he al redy was at his bidding,
    • And wente him forth, and cam anon agayn Skeat1900: 1110
    • With this quik-silver, soothly for to sayn,
    • And took thise ounces three to the chanoun;
    • And he hem leyde fayre and wel adoun, Skeat1900: (560)
    • And bad the servant coles for to bringe,
    • That he anon mighte go to his werkinge. Skeat1900: 1115
    • The coles right anon weren y-fet,
    • And this chanoun took out a crosselet
    • Of his bosom, and shewed it the preest.
    • ‘This instrument,’ quod he, ‘which that thou seest,
    • Tak in thyn hand, and put thy-self ther-inne Skeat1900: 1120
    • Of this quik-silver an ounce, and heer biginne,
    • In the name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre.
    • Ther been ful fewe, whiche that I wolde profre Skeat1900: (570)
    • To shewen hem thus muche of my science.
    • For ye shul seen heer, by experience, Skeat1900: 1125
    • That this quik-silver wol I mortifye
    • Right in your sighte anon, withouten lye,
    • And make it as good silver and as fyn
    • As ther is any in your purs or myn,
    • Or elleswher, and make it malliable; Skeat1900: 1130
    • And elles, holdeth me fals and unable
    • Amonges folk for ever to appere!
    • I have a poudre heer, that coste me dere, Skeat1900: (580)
    • Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
    • My conning, which that I yow shewen shal. Skeat1900: 1135
    • Voydeth your man, and lat him be ther-oute,
    • And shet the dore, whyls we been aboute
    • Our privetee, that no man us espye
    • Whyls that we werke in this philosophye.’
    • Al as he bad, fulfilled was in dede, Skeat1900: 1140
    • This ilke servant anon-right out yede,
    • And his maister shette the dore anon,
    • And to hir labour speedily they gon. Skeat1900: (590)
    • This preest, at this cursed chanouns bidding,
    • Up-on the fyr anon sette this thing, Skeat1900: 1145
    • And blew the fyr, and bisied him ful faste;
    • And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste
    • A poudre, noot I wher-of that it was
    • Y-maad, other of chalk, other of glas,
    • Or som-what elles, was nat worth a flye, Skeat1900: 1150
    • To blynde with the preest; and bad him hye
    • The coles for to couchen al above
    • The croslet, ‘for, in tokening I thee love,’ Skeat1900: (600)
    • Quod this chanoun, ‘thyn owene hondes two
    • Shul werche al thing which that shal heer be do.’ Skeat1900: 1155
    • ‘Graunt mercy,’ quod the preest, and was ful glad,
    • And couched coles as the chanoun bad.
    • And whyle he bisy was, this feendly wrecche,
    • This fals chanoun, the foule feend him fecche!
    • Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, Skeat1900: 1160
    • In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,
    • And ther-in put was of silver lymaille
    • An ounce, and stopped was, with-outen fayle, Skeat1900: (610)
    • The hole with wex, to kepe the lymail in.
    • And understondeth, that this false gin Skeat1900: 1165
    • Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore;
    • And othere thinges I shal telle more
    • Herafterward, which that he with him broghte;
    • Er he cam ther, him to bigyle he thoghte,
    • And so he dide, er that they wente a-twinne; Skeat1900: 1170
    • Til he had terved him, coude he not blinne.
    • It dulleth me whan that I of him speke,
    • On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, Skeat1900: (620)
    • If I wiste how; but he is heer and ther:
    • He is so variaunt, he abit no-wher. Skeat1900: 1175
    • But taketh heed now, sirs, for goddes love!
    • He took his cole of which I spak above,
    • And in his hond he baar it prively.
    • And whyls the preest couchede busily
    • The coles, as I tolde yow er this, Skeat1900: 1180
    • This chanoun seyde, ‘freend, ye doon amis;
    • This is nat couched as it oghte be;
    • But sone I shal amenden it,’ quod he. Skeat1900: (630)
    • ‘Now lat me medle therwith but a whyle,
    • For of yow have I pitee, by seint Gyle! Skeat1900: 1185
    • Ye been right hoot, I see wel how ye swete,
    • Have heer a cloth, and wype awey the wete.’
    • And whyles that the preest wyped his face,
    • This chanoun took his cole with harde grace,
    • And leyde it above, up-on the middeward Skeat1900: 1190
    • Of the croslet, and blew wel afterward,
    • Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
    • ‘Now yeve us drinke,’ quod the chanoun thenne, Skeat1900: (640)
    • ‘As swythe al shal be wel, I undertake;
    • Sitte we doun, and lat us mery make.’ Skeat1900: 1195
    • And whan that this chanounes bechen cole
    • Was brent, al the lymaille, out of the hole,
    • Into the croslet fil anon adoun;
    • And so it moste nedes, by resoun,
    • Sin it so even aboven couched was; Skeat1900: 1200
    • But ther-of wiste the preest no-thing, alas!
    • He demed alle the coles y-liche good,
    • For of the sleighte he no-thing understood. Skeat1900: (650)
    • And whan this alkamistre saugh his tyme,
    • ‘Rys up,’ quod he, ‘sir preest, and stondeth by me; Skeat1900: 1205
    • And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon,
    • Goth, walketh forth, and bring us a chalk-stoon;
    • For I wol make oon of the same shap
    • That is an ingot, if I may han hap.
    • And bringeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne, Skeat1900: 1210
    • Ful of water, and ye shul see wel thanne
    • How that our bisinesse shal thryve and preve.
    • And yet, for ye shul han no misbileve Skeat1900: (660)
    • Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence,
    • I ne wol nat been out of your presence, Skeat1900: 1215
    • But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn.’
    • The chambre-dore, shortly for to seyn,
    • They opened and shette, and wente hir weye.
    • And forth with hem they carieden the keye,
    • And come agayn with-outen any delay. Skeat1900: 1220
    • What sholde I tarien al the longe day?
    • He took the chalk, and shoop it in the wyse
    • Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse. Skeat1900: (670)
    • I seye, he took out of his owene sleve,
    • A teyne of silver (yvele mote he cheve!) Skeat1900: 1225
    • Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte;
    • And taketh heed now of his cursed sleighte!
    • He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and eek in brede,
    • Of this teyne, with-outen any drede,
    • So slyly, that the preest it nat espyde; Skeat1900: 1230
    • And in his sleve agayn he gan it hyde;
    • And fro the fyr he took up his matere,
    • And in thingot putte it with mery chere, Skeat1900: (680)
    • And in the water-vessel he it caste
    • Whan that him luste, and bad the preest as faste, Skeat1900: 1235
    • ‘Look what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope,
    • Thow finde shalt ther silver, as I hope;
    • What, devel of helle! sholde it elles be?
    • Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!’
    • He putte his hond in, and took up a teyne Skeat1900: 1240
    • Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne
    • Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so.
    • ‘Goddes blessing, and his modres also, Skeat1900: (690)
    • And alle halwes have ye, sir chanoun,’
    • Seyde this preest, ‘and I hir malisoun, Skeat1900: 1245
    • But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me
    • This noble craft and this subtilitee,
    • I wol be youre, in al that ever I may!’
    • Quod the chanoun, ‘yet wol I make assay
    • The second tyme, that ye may taken hede Skeat1900: 1250
    • And been expert of this, and in your nede
    • Another day assaye in myn absence
    • This disciplyne and this crafty science. Skeat1900: (700)
    • Lat take another ounce,’ quod he tho,
    • ‘Of quik-silver, with-outen wordes mo, Skeat1900: 1255
    • And do ther-with as ye han doon er this
    • With that other, which that now silver is.’
    • This preest him bisieth in al that he can
    • To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,
    • Comanded him, and faste he blew the fyr, Skeat1900: 1260
    • For to come to theffect of his desyr.
    • And this chanoun, right in the mene whyle,
    • Al redy was, the preest eft to bigyle, Skeat1900: (710)
    • And, for a countenance, in his hande he bar
    • An holwe stikke (tak keep and be war!) Skeat1900: 1265
    • In the ende of which an ounce, and na-more,
    • Of silver lymail put was, as bifore
    • Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel
    • For to kepe in his lymail every deel.
    • And whyl this preest was in his bisinesse, Skeat1900: 1270
    • This chanoun with his stikke gan him dresse
    • To him anon, and his pouder caste in
    • As he did er; (the devel out of his skin Skeat1900: (720)
    • Him terve, I pray to god, for his falshede;
    • For he was ever fals in thoght and dede); Skeat1900: 1275
    • And with this stikke, above the croslet,
    • That was ordeyned with that false get,
    • He stired the coles, til relente gan
    • The wex agayn the fyr, as every man,
    • But it a fool be, woot wel it mot nede, Skeat1900: 1280
    • And al that in the stikke was out yede,
    • And in the croslet hastily it fel.
    • Now gode sirs, what wol ye bet than wel? Skeat1900: (730)
    • Whan that this preest thus was bigyled ageyn,
    • Supposing noght but trouthe, soth to seyn, Skeat1900: 1285
    • He was so glad, that I can nat expresse
    • In no manere his mirthe and his gladnesse;
    • And to the chanoun he profred eftsone
    • Body and good; ‘ye,’ quod the chanoun sone,
    • ‘Though povre I be, crafty thou shalt me finde; Skeat1900: 1290
    • I warne thee, yet is ther more bihinde.
    • Is ther any coper her-inne?’ seyde he.
    • ‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘sir, I trowe wel ther be.’ Skeat1900: (740)
    • ‘Elles go by us som, and that as swythe,
    • Now, gode sir, go forth thy wey and hy the.’ Skeat1900: 1295
    • He wente his wey, and with the coper cam,
    • And this chanoun it in his handes nam,
    • And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.
    • Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce,
    • As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse Skeat1900: 1300
    • Of this chanoun, rote of al cursednesse.
    • He semed freendly to hem that knewe him noght,
    • But he was feendly bothe in herte and thoght. Skeat1900: (750)
    • It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse,
    • And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, Skeat1900: 1305
    • To thentente that men may be war therby,
    • And for noon other cause, trewely.
    • He putte his ounce of coper in the croslet,
    • And on the fyr as swythe he hath it set,
    • And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe, Skeat1900: 1310
    • And in his werking for to stoupe lowe,
    • As he dide er, and al nas but a Iape;
    • Right as him liste, the preest he made his ape; Skeat1900: (760)
    • And afterward in the ingot he it caste,
    • And in the panne putte it at the laste Skeat1900: 1315
    • Of water, and in he putte his owene hond.
    • And in his sleve (as ye biforn-hond
    • Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne.
    • He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne—
    • Unwiting this preest of his false craft— Skeat1900: 1320
    • And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;
    • And in the water rombled to and fro,
    • And wonder prively took up also Skeat1900: (770)
    • The coper teyne, noght knowing this preest,
    • And hidde it, and him hente by the breest, Skeat1900: 1325
    • And to him spak, and thus seyde in his game,
    • ‘Stoupeth adoun, by god, ye be to blame,
    • Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whyl-er,
    • Putte in your hand, and loketh what is ther.’
    • This preest took up this silver teyne anon, Skeat1900: 1330
    • And thanne seyde the chanoun, ‘lat us gon
    • With thise three teynes, which that we han wroght,
    • To som goldsmith, and wite if they been oght. Skeat1900: (780)
    • For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,
    • But-if that they were silver, fyn and good, Skeat1900: 1335
    • And that as swythe preved shal it be.’
    • Un-to the goldsmith with thise teynes three
    • They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay
    • To fyr and hamer; mighte no man sey nay,
    • But that they weren as hem oghte be. Skeat1900: 1340
    • This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
    • Was never brid gladder agayn the day,
    • Ne nightingale, in the sesoun of May, Skeat1900: (790)
    • Nas never noon that luste bet to singe;
    • Ne lady lustier in carolinge Skeat1900: 1345
    • Or for to speke of love and wommanhede,
    • Ne knight in armes to doon an hardy dede
    • To stonde in grace of his lady dere,
    • Than had this preest this sory craft to lere;
    • And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde, Skeat1900: 1350
    • ‘For love of god, that for us alle deyde,
    • And as I may deserve it un-to yow,
    • What shal this receit coste? telleth now!’ Skeat1900: (800)
    • ‘By our lady,’ quod this chanoun, ‘it is dere.
    • I warne yow wel; for, save I and a frere, Skeat1900: 1355
    • In Engelond ther can no man it make.’
    • ‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘now, sir, for goddes sake,
    • What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye.’
    • ‘Y-wis,’ quod he, ‘it is ful dere, I seye;
    • Sir, at o word, if that thee list it have, Skeat1900: 1360
    • Ye shul paye fourty pound, so god me save!
    • And, nere the freendship that ye dide er this
    • To me, ye sholde paye more, y-wis.’ Skeat1900: (810)
    • This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
    • Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon Skeat1900: 1365
    • To this chanoun, for this ilke receit;
    • Al his werking nas but fraude and deceit.
    • ‘Sir preest,’ he seyde, ‘I kepe han no loos
    • Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;
    • And as ye love me, kepeth it secree; Skeat1900: 1370
    • For, and men knewe al my subtilitee,
    • By god, they wolden han so greet envye
    • To me, by-cause of my philosophye, Skeat1900: (820)
    • I sholde be deed, ther were non other weye.’
    • ‘God it forbede!’ quod the preest, ‘what sey ye?’ Skeat1900: 1375
    • Yet hadde I lever spenden al the good
    • Which that I have (and elles wexe I wood!)
    • Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef.’
    • ‘For your good wil, sir, have ye right good preef,’
    • Quod the chanoun, ‘and far-wel, grant mercy!’ Skeat1900: 1380
    • He wente his wey and never the preest him sy
    • After that day; and whan that this preest sholde
    • Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde, Skeat1900: (830)
    • Of this receit, far-wel! it wolde nat be!
    • Lo, thus byiaped and bigyled was he! Skeat1900: 1385
    • Thus maketh he his introduccioun
    • To bringe folk to hir destruccioun.—
    • Considereth, sirs, how that, in ech estaat,
    • Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat
    • So ferforth, that unnethes is ther noon. Skeat1900: 1390
    • This multiplying blent so many oon,
    • That in good feith I trowe that it be
    • The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. Skeat1900: (840)
    • Philosophres speken so mistily
    • In this craft, that men can nat come therby, Skeat1900: 1395
    • For any wit that men han now a-dayes.
    • They mowe wel chiteren, as doon thise Iayes,
    • And in her termes sette hir lust and peyne,
    • But to hir purpos shul they never atteyne.
    • A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught, Skeat1900: 1400
    • To multiplye, and bringe his good to naught!
    • Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game,
    • A mannes mirthe it wol torne un-to grame, Skeat1900: (850)
    • And empten also grete and hevy purses,
    • And maken folk for to purchasen curses Skeat1900: 1405
    • Of hem, that han hir good therto y-lent.
    • O! fy! for shame! they that han been brent,
    • Allas! can they nat flee the fyres hete?
    • Ye that it use, I rede ye it lete,
    • Lest ye lese al; for bet than never is late. Skeat1900: 1410
    • Never to thryve were to long a date.
    • Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it never finde;
    • Ye been as bolde as is Bayard the blinde, Skeat1900: (860)
    • That blundreth forth, and peril casteth noon;
    • He is as bold to renne agayn a stoon Skeat1900: 1415
    • As for to goon besydes in the weye.
    • So faren ye that multiplye, I seye.
    • If that your yen can nat seen aright,
    • Loke that your minde lakke nought his sight.
    • For, though ye loke never so brode, and stare, Skeat1900: 1420
    • Ye shul nat winne a myte on that chaffare,
    • But wasten al that ye may rape and renne.
    • Withdrawe the fyr, lest it to faste brenne; Skeat1900: (870)
    • Medleth na-more with that art, I mene,
    • For, if ye doon, your thrift is goon ful clene. Skeat1900: 1425
    • And right as swythe I wol yow tellen here,
    • What philosophres seyn in this matere.
    • Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun,
    • As his Rosarie maketh mencioun;
    • He seith right thus, with-outen any lye, Skeat1900: 1430
    • ‘Ther may no man Mercurie mortifye,
    • But it be with his brother knowleching.
    • How that he, which that first seyde this thing, Skeat1900: (880)
    • Of philosophres fader was, Hermes;
    • He seith, how that the dragoun, doutelees, Skeat1900: 1435
    • Ne deyeth nat, but-if that he be slayn
    • With his brother; and that is for to sayn,
    • By the dragoun, Mercurie and noon other
    • He understood; and brimstoon by his brother,
    • That out of sol and luna were y-drawe. Skeat1900: 1440
    • And therfor,’ seyde he, ‘tak heed to my sawe,
    • Let no man bisy him this art for to seche,
    • But-if that he thentencioun and speche Skeat1900: (890)
    • Of philosophres understonde can;
    • And if he do, he is a lewed man. Skeat1900: 1445
    • For this science and this conning,’ quod he,
    • ‘Is of the secree of secrees, parde.’
    • Also ther was a disciple of Plato,
    • That on a tyme seyde his maister to,
    • As his book Senior wol bere witnesse, Skeat1900: 1450
    • And this was his demande in soothfastnesse:
    • ‘Tel me the name of the privy stoon?’
    • And Plato answerde unto him anoon, Skeat1900: (900)
    • ‘Tak the stoon that Titanos men name.’
    • ‘Which is that?’ quod he. ‘Magnesia is the same,’ Skeat1900: 1455
    • Seyde Plato. ‘Ye, sir, and is it thus?
    • This is ignotum per ignotius.
    • What is Magnesia, good sir, I yow preye?’
    • ‘It is a water that is maad, I seye,
    • Of elementes foure,’ quod Plato. Skeat1900: 1460
    • ‘Tel me the rote, good sir,’ quod he tho,
    • ‘Of that water, if that it be your wille?’
    • ‘Nay, nay,’ quod Plato, ‘certein, that I nille. Skeat1900: (910)
    • The philosophres sworn were everichoon,
    • That they sholden discovere it un-to noon, Skeat1900: 1465
    • Ne in no book it wryte in no manere;
    • For un-to Crist it is so leef and dere
    • That he wol nat that it discovered be,
    • But wher it lyketh to his deitee
    • Man for tenspyre, and eek for to defende Skeat1900: 1470
    • Whom that him lyketh; lo, this is the ende.’
    • Thanne conclude I thus; sith god of hevene
    • Ne wol nat that the philosophres nevene Skeat1900: (920)
    • How that a man shal come un-to this stoon,
    • I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. Skeat1900: 1475
    • For who-so maketh god his adversarie,
    • As for to werken any thing in contrarie
    • Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve,
    • Thogh that he multiplye terme of his lyve.
    • And ther a poynt; for ended is my tale; Skeat1900: 1480
    • God sende every trewe man bote of his bale!—Amen. Skeat1900: (928)