The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 220r
5 of 21 folios
145
For had we him than were we siker ynowe
But vn to god of heuene I make a vowe
For al our crafte whan we haue al do
And al our sleigth he wole nat come vs to
He hath y maad vs spenden mochel good
150
For sorwe of which almost we wexen wood
But that good hope crepeth in oure herte
Supposynge euer thogh we sore smerte
To be releued bi him afterward
Swich supposinge and hope is sharp and hard
155
I warne yow wel it is to seken euer
That futurtemps hath made men to disseuer
In turst ther of from al that euer thei hadde
Yit of that art thei can nat wexen sadde
For vnto hem it is a bitter swete
160
So semeth it for had thei but a shete
Which that thei myght wrappe hem in atte nyght
And a brat for to walke in bi day light
Thei wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft
Thei can nat stynte til no thing be laft
165
And euermore where that euer thei gon
Men may hem know bi smel of Brymston
For al the world thei stynken as a goot
Hir sauour is so rammysh and so hoot
That thogh a man from hem a myle be
170
The sauour wol infect him trusteth me
Lo thus bi smellyng and thredebare array
If that men list this folk thei know may
And yif a man wol aske hem pryuely
Whi thei ben clothed so vnthriftyly
175
Thei right anon wol rownen in his yere
And seyn yif that thei espied were
Men wolde hem slee bi cause of hir science
Lo thus this folk bitrayen innocence
Passe ouer this I go my tale vnto
180
Er that our pot be on the fire ydo
Of metals with a certeyn quantite
My lord hem tempreth and no man but he