‘Pardee,’ quod oon, ‘somwhat of our metal
Yet is ther heer, though that we han nat al. (390)
Al-though this thing mishapped have as now,
Another tyme it may be wel y-now, 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.’ 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; (400)
Ther was defaute in som-what, wel I woot.’
951. E. shal; _rest_ wol, wil, wele. 952. E. bryngen; _rest_
bringe. 953. E. _omits_ sirs.
Another seyde, the fyr was over hoot:— 955
[539: T. 16424-16454.]
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, 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; (410)
Ne every appel that is fair at yë
Ne is nat good, what-so men clappe or crye. 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, 970
By that I of my tale have maad an ende.
_Explicit prima pars. Et sequitur pars secunda_.
956. E. And; _rest_ But. 962. E. eu_er_y; _rest_ al, alle. Cm.
schynyth; Ln. schyneth; Hl. schineth; E. seineth; Cp. semeth. 963.
Cp. Pt. Ln. it; E. Cm. Hl. _omit_ it. 964. E. to; _rest_ at. 965.
E. Nis; _rest_ Ne is. 966. E. _omits_ lo. 967. E. Cm. wiseste;
_rest_ wisest. 972. E. was; _rest_ is. Cf. l. 987.
Ther is a chanoun of religioun
Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun, (420)
Though it as greet were as was Ninivee,
Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. 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, 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, (430)
But it a feend be, as him-selven is.
Ful many a man hath he bigyled er this, 985
And wol, if that he live may a whyle;
[540: T. 16455-16488.]
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, 990
I wol it tellen heer in your presence.
976. E. sleighte; Hl. sleight; _rest_ sleightes. 978. E. lyne myghte;
_rest_ myghte lyuen. 979. E. nas; Ln. ne is; _rest_ nis, nys. 991.
Cp. Pt. Ln. tellen; _rest_ telle.
But worshipful chanouns religious,
Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre your hous, (440)
Al-though my tale of a chanoun be.
Of every ordre som shrewe is, parde, 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, 1000
But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how
That, among Cristes apostelles twelve,
Ther nas no traytour but Iudas him-selve. (450)
Than why sholde al the remenant have blame
That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same. 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, 1010
But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.
993. E. desclaundre; _rest_ sclaundre; see l. 998. 994. E. Al-though
that; _rest omit_ that. 997. E. o; _rest_ a. 1002. Cm. apostellis;
Li. aposteles; E. apostles. 1004. E. Hl. a blame; _rest omit_ a.
1008. Cm. Remeuyth; E. Remoeueth. 1011. E. herketh.
In London was a preest, an annueleer,
That therin dwelled hadde many a yeer, (460)
Which was so plesaunt and so servisable
Unto the wyf, wher-as he was at table, 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 precede as now,
And telle forth my tale of the chanoun, 1020
[541: T. 16489-16524.]
That broghte this preest to confusioun.
1012. E. _omits_ an. 1013. E. had dwelled; _rest_ dwelled hadde (or
had).
This false chanoun cam up-on a day
Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, (470)
Biseching him to lene him a certeyn
Of gold, and he wolde quyte it him ageyn. 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, 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, (480)
And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. 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; 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. (490)
Trouthe is a thing that I wol ever kepe
Un-to that day in which that I shal crepe 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, 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, (500)
And kythed to me so greet gentillesse,
Somwhat to quyte with your kindenesse, 1055
I wol yow shewe, and, if yow list to lere,
[542: T. 16525-16559.]
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.’ 1060
1043. E. Cm. a thyng; _rest omit_ a. 1045. E. Ln. In-to; _rest_
Vn-to. 1046. E. or; _rest_ and. 1047. E. the; Hl. your; _rest_ is
your. 1056. E. if that; _rest_ and if (_or_ yif.) 1059. Cp. Hl.
heed; E. Li. heede.
‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘ye, sir, and wol ye so?
Marie! ther-of I pray yow hertely!’
1061. _After_ sir, E. _wrongly inserts_ quod he.
‘At your comandement, sir, trewely,’ (510)
Quod the chanoun, ‘and elles god forbede!’
Lo, how this theef coude his servyse bede! 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— 1070
Swich feendly thoughtes in his herte impresse—
How Cristes peple he may to meschief bringe;
God kepe us from his fals dissimulinge! (520)
1073. E. Cm. false; _rest_ fals.
Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,
Ne of his harm cominge he no-thing felte. 1075
O sely preest! o sely innocent!
With coveityse anon thou shall 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! 1080
His wyly wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.
Wherfor, to go to the conclusioun
That refereth to thy confusioun, (530)
Unhappy man! anon I wol me hye
To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, 1085
And eek the falsnesse of that other wrecche,
As ferforth as that my conning may strecche.
1078, 1079. Hn. Hl. conceyt, deceyt; E. conceite, deceite. 1080. E.
for; _rest_ to. 1085. E. his; Cm. heigh; _rest_ thy. 1087. Cm.
that, _which seems required; rest omit_.
This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden wene?
Sir host, in feith, and by the hevenes quene,
It was another chanoun, and nat he, 1090
That can an hundred fold more subtiltee!
[543: T. 16560-16594.]
He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;
Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme. (540)
Ever whan that I speke of his falshede,
For shame of him my chekes wexen rede; 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. 1100
Now tak heed of this chanouns cursednesse!
1101. E. heede; Hl. heed; Cm. hed.
‘Sir,’ quod he to the preest, ‘lat your man gon
For quik-silver, that we it hadde anon; (550)
And lat him bringen ounces two or three;
And whan he comth, as faste shul ye see 1105
A wonder thing, which ye saugh never er this.’
1103. E. Cm. hadde it; _rest_ it hadde. 1106. Cm. Cp. say; E. saugh.
‘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 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, (560)
And bad the servant coles for to bringe,
That he anon mighte go to his werkinge. 1115
1111. E. Cm. soothly; _rest_ schortly. 1112. Hl. took; E. toke.
1113. E. Cm. hem; _rest_ it.
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 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 (570)
To shewen hem thus muche of my science.
For ye shul seen heer, by experience, 1125
That this quik-silver wol I mortifye
[544: T. 16595-16627.]
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; 1130
And elles, holdeth me fals and unable
Amonges folk for ever to appere!
I have a poudre heer, that coste me dere, (580)
Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
My conning, which that I yow shewen shal. 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, 1140
This ilke servant anon-right out yede,
And his maister shette the dore anon,
And to hir labour speedily they gon. (590)
1118. E. to the; _rest_ omit to. 1120. Hl. Cp. Tak; E. Taake. 1123.
E. to whiche; Cm. to whiche that; _rest_ whiche that. 1127. E. I wol
nat; Hl. with-outen; Cm. w_i_t_h_-outyn; _the rest_ withoute (_or_
without.) 1128. E. _omits_ it. 1135. E. to yow; _rest omit_ to.
1137. Hl. Cp. Pt. schitte.
This preest, at this cursed chanouns bidding,
Up-on the fyr anon sette this thing, 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, 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,’ (600)
Quod this chanoun, ‘thyn owene hondes two
Shul werche al thing which that shal heer be do.’ 1155
1147. Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Li. crosselet. _So in_ 1153. 1149. other
(2)] E. Li. or: Pt. or ellis. 1155. Cm. Hl. that; E. _om._; _rest_
as. E. Cm. heer; _rest om._
‘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!
[545: T. 16628-16659.]
Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, 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, (610)
The hole with wex, to kepe the lymail in.
And understondeth, that this false gin 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; 1170
Til he had torned him, coude he not blinne.
It dulleth me whan that I of him speke,
On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, (620)
If I wiste how; but he is heer and ther:
He is so variaunt, he abit no-wher. 1175
1157. E. Cm. cole; _rest_ coles. E. that; Cm. that the; _rest_ the.
1159. Li. Pt. Ln. fals; _rest_ false. 1160. E. he took; _rest omit_
he. 1162, 1164. E. lemaille; _but_ Cm. lymayle, lymayl; _see_ l.
853. 1171. E. terned; Cm. ternede; _rest_ torned, turned. E. he
coude. 1175. E. Cp. that he; _rest omit_ that.
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, 1180
This chanoun seyde, ‘freend, ye doon amis;
This is nat couched as it oghte be;
But sone I shal amenden it,’ quod he. (630)
‘Now lat me medle therwith but a whyle,
For of yow have I pitee, by seint Gyle! 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 1190
Of the croslet, and blew wel afterward,
[546: T. 16660-16695.]
Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
1177. E. this; _rest_ his; _see_ l. 1189. 1179. Cm. couchede; Cp.
couchide; _rest_ couched. 1188. Cm. Pt. whilis; Hl. Lichf. whiles; E.
whils. 1189. _So_ E.; Cm. with sory grace (_see_ l. 665). _Most MSS.
have_. I shrewe his face, _and make_ l. 1188 _end with_ him wyped
has. 1190. E. _has_ aboue vp on; Cm. _the same, but omitting_ it; Hl.
abouen on; _the rest_ vpon abouen. 1191. Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Cp.
crosselet.
‘Now yeve us drinke,’ quod the chanoun thenne, (640)
‘As swythe al shal be wel, I undertake;
Sitte we doun, and lat us mery make.’ 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; 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. (650)
And whan this alkamistre saugh his tyme,
‘Rys up,’ quod he, ‘sir preest, and stondeth by me; 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, 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 (660)
Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence,
I ne wol nat been out of your presence, 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. 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. (670)
1195. E. myrie; Cm. Cp. merye; _rest_ mery. 1200. E. abouen it;
_rest_ aboue. 1203. the] E. that. 1205. Lichf. Cp. Pt. stondeth;
Ln. Hl. stonde; Cm. stand; E. sit. 1206. ye] E. I. 1214. E.
conceite.
I seye, he took out of his owene sleve,
A teyne of silver (yvele mote he cheve!) 1225
Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte;
And taketh heed now of his cursed sleighte!
1226. Cm. ne; _rest omit_. 1227. E. taak; _rest_ taketh. 1228. E.
eek; _rest omit_.
[547: T. 16696-16730.]
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; 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, (680)
And in the water-vessel he it caste
Whan that him luste, and bad the preest as faste, 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 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, (690)
And alle halwes have ye, sir chanoun,’
Seyde this preest, ‘and I hir malisoun, 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!’
1229. Tyrwhitt _reads_ Of thilke; _I propose_—As of this teyne.
1236. E. What that heer is; _rest_ Look what ther is. 1239. E.
_omits_ ll. 1238, 1239. _From_ Lichf. 1242. E. Hl. _omit_ that;
_found in_ Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. 1247. Hl. subtilite; Cm. sotylete; E.
subtiltee; _rest_ sotilte, sotiltie; _see_ l. 620.
Quod the chanoun, ‘yet wol I make assay
The second tyme, that ye may taken hede 1250
And been expert of this, and in your nede
Another day assaye in myn absence
This disciplyne and this crafty science. (700)
Lat take another ounce,’ quod he tho,
‘Of quik-silver, with-outen wordes mo, 1255
And do ther-with as ye han doon er this
With that other, which that now silver is.’
1249. E. preest; _rest_ chanoun.
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, 1260
For to come to theffect of his desyr.
And this chanoun, right in the mene whyle,
[548: T. 16731-16763.]
Al redy was, the preest eft to bigyle, (710)
And, for a countenance, in his hande he bar
An holwe stikke (tak keep and be war!) 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, 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 (720)
Him torne, I pray to god, for his falshede;
For he was ever fals in thoght and dede); 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, 1280
And al that in the stikke was out yede,
And in the croslet hastily it fel.
1260. E. he; _rest om._ 1265. Hl. keep; E. kepe; Cm. keepe; _rest_
hede. 1268. E. _omits_ Was. 1272. Lichf. Ln. pouder; Cm. poudere;
E. Cp. poudre. 1274. E. terve; Cm. Pt. turne; _rest_ torne. 1277.
E. Cm. Iet ( = jet); Hl. get; Ln. gett; Cp. Pt. gette.
Now gode sirs, what wol ye bet than wel? (730)
Whan that this preest thus was bigyled ageyn,
Supposing noght but trouthe, soth to seyn, 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; 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.’ (740)
‘Elles go by us som, and that as swythe,
Now, gode sir, go forth thy wey and hy the.’ 1295
1283. Cm. goode: E. good; see l. 1295. Cp. Pt. Ln. The preest
supposede nothing but wel. 1284. Cp. Pt. Ln. But busyed him faste,
and was wonder fayn. 1286. E. ne kan; _rest omit_ ne. 1292. _So
all_. 1295. Cm. Hl. goode; E. good; _rest omit_.
[549: T. 16764-16799.]
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 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. (750)
It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse,
And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, 1305
To thentente that men may be war therby,
And for noon other cause, trewely.
1301. E. Cm. alle; _rest omit; read_ al.
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, 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; (760)
And afterward in the ingot he it caste,
And in the panne putte it at the laste 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— 1320
And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;
And in the water rombled to and fro,
And wonder prively took up also (770)
The coper teyne, noght knowing this preest,
And hidde it, and him hente by the breest, 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.’
1308. Cm. his; E. the; _rest_ this. 1316. E. the water; _rest_ water
and. 1318. E. _omits_ he. 1319. Cp. Hl. took; Cm. tok; E. tooke.
1328. E. a; _rest_ I.
This preest took up this silver teyne anon, 1330
And thanne seyde the chanoun, ‘lat us gon
[550: T. 16800-16836.]
With thise three teynes, which that we han wroght,
To som goldsmith, and wite if they been oght. (780)
For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,
But-if that they were silver, fyn and good, 1335
And that as swythe preved shal it be.’
1336. E. it shal; Ln. schal he; _rest_ shal it.
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. 1340
1339. E. seye; Cm. sey.
This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
Was never brid gladder agayn the day,
Ne nightingale, in the sesoun of May, (790)
Nas never noon that luste bet to singe;
Ne lady lustier in carolinge 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, 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!’ (800)
1344. E. man; _rest_ noon (non). 1353. E. receite; Lichf. Cp. Hl.
receyt.
‘By our lady,’ quod this chanoun, ‘it is dere,
I warne yow wel; for, save I and a frere, 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, 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.’ (810)
This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon 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
[551: T. 16837-16871.]
Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;
And as ye love me, kepeth it secree; 1370
For, and men knewe al my subtilitee,
By god, they wolden han so greet envye
To me, by-cause of my philosophye, (820)
I sholde be deed, ther were non other weye.’
1371. E. Cp. knewen; Cm. knewyn; _rest_ knewe. Ln. subtilite; Cm.
subtilete; E. soutiltee; _see_ ll. 620, 1247.
‘God it forbede!’ quod the preest, ‘what sey ye?’ 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.’
1377. E. or; _rest_ and.
‘For your good wil, sir, have ye right good preef,’
Quod the chanoun, ‘and far-wel, grant mercy!’ 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, (830)
Of this receit, far-wel! it wolde nat be!
Lo, thus byiaped and bigyled was he! 1385
Thus maketh he his introduccioun
To bringe folk to hir destruccioun.—
1387. E. Cm. _omit_ hir.
Considereth, sirs, how that, in ech estaat,
Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat
So ferforth, that unnethes is ther noon. 1390
This multiplying blent so many oon,
That in good feith I trowe that it be
The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. (840)
Philosophres speken so mistily
In this craft, that men can nat come therby, 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, 1400
To multiplye, and bringe his good to naught!
1390. E. Hl. vnnethe; _rest_ vnnethes. 1397. E. as that doon; Cm. as
don; _rest_ as doon thise.
Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game,
A mannes mirthe it wol torne un-to grame, (850)
[552: T. 16872-16907.]
And empten also grete and hevy purses,
And maken folk for to purchasen curses 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. 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, (860)
That blundreth forth, and peril casteth noon;
He is as bold to renne agayn a stoon 1415
As for to goon besydes in the weye.
So faren ye that multiplye, I seye.
If that your yën can nat seen aright,
Loke that your minde lakke nought his sight.
For, though ye loke never so brode, and stare, 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; (870)
Medleth na-more with that art, I mene,
For, if ye doon, your thrift is goon ful clene. 1425
And right as swythe I wol yow tellen here,
What philosophres seyn in this matere.
1404. E. Cp. heuye; _rest_ hevy. 1407. E. _omits_ O. 1414. E.
blondreth. 1421. E. Cm. no thyng wynne; Hl. nought Wynne (upon);
_rest_ nat wynne a myte. 1427. Cm. What that ȝe; _rest_ What that
the (_badly_). 1434. E. fader first was; _rest omit_ first.
Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun,
As his Rosarie maketh mencioun;
He seith right thus, with-outen any lye, 1430
‘Ther may no man Mercurie mortifye,
But it be with his brother knowleching.
How that he, which that first seyde this thing, (880)
Of philosophres fader was, Hermes;
He seith, how that the dragoun, doutelees, 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,
[553: T. 16908-16942.]
That out of _sol_ and _luna_ were y-drawe. 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 (890)
Of philosophres understonde can;
And if he do, he is a lewed man. 1445
For this science and this conning,’ quod he,
‘Is of the secree of secrees, parde.’
1441. Cm. Cp. Hl. heed; _rest_ heede, hede. 1447. E. Cm. of the
secretes; Cp. Pt. of secrees; Hl. of secretz; Ln. of secretees.
Also ther was a disciple of Plato,
That on a tyme seyde his maister to,
As his book Senior wol bere witnesse, 1450
And this was his demande in soothfastnesse:
‘Tel me the name of the privy stoon?’
And Plato answerde unto him anoon, (900)
‘Tak the stoon that Titanos men name.’
‘Which is that?’ quod he. ‘Magnesia is the same,’ 1455
Seyde Plato. ‘Ye, sir, and is it thus?
This is _ignotum per ignotius_.
What is Magnesia, good sir, I yow preye?’
1455, 8. Lichf. Ln. magnesia; _rest_ magnasia.
‘It is a water that is maad, I seye,
Of elementes foure,’ quod Plato. 1460
‘Tel me the rote, good sir,’ quod he tho,
‘Of that water, if that it be your wille?’
1461. E. roote; _rest_ roche, rooche, roches. 1462. Cm. that it;
_rest omit_ that.
‘Nay, nay,’ quod Plato, ‘certein, that I nille. (910)
The philosophres sworn were everichoon,
That they sholden discovere it un-to noon, 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 1470
Whom that him lyketh; lo, this is the ende.’
1467. E. lief; Lichf. Cp. Pt. Hl. leef; Cm. lef.
Thanne conclude I thus; sith god of hevene
Ne wol nat that the philosophres nevene (920)
How that a man shal come un-to this stoon,
[554: T. 16943-9.]
I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. 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; 1480
God sende every trewe man bote of his bale!—Amen. (928)
=Here is ended the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.=
1472. Hl. syn; Lichf. Cm. syn that; E. sith that; Cp. Pt. sithens that;
_rest_ sith that, sithens that. 1475. E. _vs_; _the rest_ as. 1477.
E. werken; Cm. werkyn; Hl. werke; _rest_ worche. 1479. E. Cm. _omit_
his. COLOPHON. _So in_ E. Cm.; Hl. has—Here endeth the chanouns
yeman his tale.
[555: T. 16950-16968.]
* * * * *