The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue
Folio 216v
3 of 6 folios
Nat but ynow also syr trusteth me
And ye him knew as wel as that do I
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Ye wolden wondre how wel and craftily
He koude werke and that in sondry wise
He hath take on him many a grete emprise
Which were ful hard for any that is here
To brynge aboute but thei of him it lere
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As homely as he rit amonges yow
If ye him knew it wolde be for your prow
Ye wolde nat for goon his aqueyntance
For mochel good I dar ley in balance
Al that I haue in my possessioun
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He is a man of hie discrescioun
I warne yow wel he is a passyng man
Wel quod our hoost I prey the telle me than
Is he a Clerk or noon telle what he is
Nay he is a gretter than a Clerk I wis
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Seide this yeman and in wordes fewe
Hoost of his crafte somewhat I wol yow shewe
I sey my lord can swich a sotilitee
But al his crafte ye may nat wite of me
And somwhat helpe I yit to his wyrkyng
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That al this ground on which we been ridyng
Til that we come to Caunturbury toun
He coude al clene turnen vp so doun
And paue it al of syluer and of gold
And whan this yeman had thus Itold
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Vnto our hoost he seide benedicite
This thing is wonder merueillous to me
Syn that thi lord is of so hie prudence
Bi cause of which men shulde him reuerence
That of his worship rekketh he so lite
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His ouersloppe is nat worth a myte
As in effect to him so mote I go
It is al baudy and to tore also
Whi is thi lord so slottysh I the preye
And is of power better cloth to beye
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If that his dede accorde with thi speche