‘Wel,’ quod our host, ‘I pray thee, tel me than, 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— 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, (70)
Til that we come to Caunterbury toun,
He coude al clene turne it up-so-doun, 625
And pave it al of silver and of gold.’