The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue
Folio 217v
5 of 6 folios
That of a pound we kouden make twey
125
Yit it is fals and ay we han good hope
It for to doon and aftir it we grope
But that science is so fer vs biforn
We Mowen not al thogh we had sworn
It ouertake it slit awey so fast
130
It wole vs make beggers atte last
Whil this yeman was thus in his talkyng
This Chanoun drow him nere and herd al thing
With this yeman spak for suspecioun
Of mennes speche euer hadde this Chanoun
135
For Caton seith he that gilty is
Demyth al thing be spoke of him I wis
That was the cause he gan so ny him drawe
To this yeman to herken al his sawe
And thus he seide vnto his yeman tho
140
Halde thow thi pees and speke no wordes mo
For yif thow do thow shalt it dere abie
Thou sclaundrest me here in this companye
And eke discouerest that thow sholdest hide
Ye quod our hoost telle on what so bityde
145
Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte
In feith quod he no more I do but lite
And whan this Chanoun saw it wol nat be
But his yeman wolde telle his piuetee
He fledde away for verray sorowe and shame
150
A quod the yeman here shal rise game
And that I kan anon now wol I telle
Syn he is goon the foule feende him quelle
For neuer here after wole I with him mete
For peny ne for pound I yow bihete
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He that me broghte first vnto that game
Or that he dye sorow haue he and shame
For it is ernest to me bi my feith
That fele I wel what that eny man seith
And yit for al my smerte and al my greef
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For al my sorowe and labour and meschief