The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 174v
7 of 21 folios
Par de quod oon somwhat of oure metal
Ȝet is þer heer þough þat we haue nougħt al
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And þough þis þing myshapped haþ a now
Anoþer tyme it may be wel ynow
Vs moste putte oure good in aduenture
A marchaunt par de may not ay endure
Trusteþ me wel in his propsperite
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Somtyme his good is drowned in þe see /
And som tyme comeþ it sauf vn to þe londe /
Pees quod my lord þe nexte tyme I wol fonde /
To bringe oure craft al in anoþer plyte
And but I do sire let me haue þe wyte
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Ther was defaute in som what wel I woot
Anoþer sayde þe fuyr was ouer hoot
But be it hoot or cold I dar say þis
That we concluden euermor amys
We faile of þat which þat we wolden haue
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And in oure madnesse euermore we raue
And whan we ben togideres euerichon
Eueriche man semeþ a Salamon
But al þing which þat schineþ as þe gold /
Is nougħt gold as þat I haue herd tolde
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Ne euery appel þat is fair at ye
Ne is not good what so men clappe or crye
Right so lo fareth it amonges vs
He þat semeþ wisest by Iesus
Is most fool whan it comeþ to þe preef
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And he þat semeth trewest is a þeef
That schul ȝe knowe er þat I fro ȝow wende /
By þat I of my tale haue maad an ende /
Ther is a chanoū of religiou~
Amonges vs wolde infecte al a toun
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Though it as gret were as was Niniue
Rome alisaundre troye and oþer þre /
His sleigħt and his infinite falsnesse /
Ther couþe no man writen as I gesse
Though þat he mighte lyuen a þousand ȝeer
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Of al þis world of falsheed nys his peer