The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 226r
17 of 21 folios
And in the pannes botme he hathit laft
And in the water rumbled to and fro
And wonder pryuely took vp also
605
The Copir teyne nat knowyng this preest
And hid it and him hent bi the breest
And to him spak and thus seide in his game
Stoupith adoun bi god ye ben to blame
Helpeth me now as I dide yow whiler
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Put yn your hond and loketh what is ther
¶ This preest took vp this siluer teyne anon
And seide the Chanon late vs goon
With thise thre teynes which that we han wroght
To sum goldsmyth and wit yif thei ben ought
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For bi my feith I nolde for myn hood
But yif that thei were siluer fyn and good
And that as swithe preued shal it be
¶ Vnto the goldsmyth with his teynes thre
Thei went and put this teynes in assay
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To fyr and hamer myght no man sey nay
But that thei weren as hem ought to be
¶ This sottid preest who was gladder than he
Was neuer brid gladder agayn the day
Ne nyghtyngale in the sesoun of may
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Was neuer that list bet to singe
Ne lady lustier in carolyng
Or for to speke of loue or wommanhede
Ne knyght in armes doon an hardy dede
To stand in grace of his lady dere
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Than hadde this preest this sory craft to lere
And to the Chanon thus he spak and seide
For loue of god that for vs al deyde
And as I may deserue it vnto yow
What shal this resceyt cost telleth now
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By our lady quod this Chanon it is dere
I warne yow wel saue I and a frere
In Engelond ther can no man it make
¶ No fors quod he / nay syr for goddes sake