The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 180r
1 of 22 folios
150
A quod þe ȝoman here schal aryse a game
Al þat I can anon rigħt wol I telle
Siþens he is gon þe foule feend him quelle /
For neuer her after wol I wiþ him mete
For peny ne for pound I ȝou biheete /
155
He þat me broughte ferst vnto þat game /
Er þat he deye sorwe haue he and schame
For it is ernest to me by my fayþ
That feele I wel what so eny man saiþ /
And ȝit for al my smert and al my greef
160
For al my sorwe labour and mescheef
I couþe neuer leue it in no wyse
Now wolde god my witt mighte suffise
To tellen al þat longeþ to þat art
But napeles ȝit wol I telle a part
165
Syþens þat my lord is gon I wol not spare
Such þing as I knowe I wol declare /
With þis chanoū dwelled haue I seuen ȝeer
And of his science am I neuer þe neer
Al þat I hadde I haue y lost þerby
And god wot so haue many mo þan I
5
Þer I was wont to be rigħt freissch and gay
Of cloþing and of good array
Now may I were an hose vpon myn heed
And wher my colour was boþe freissh and reed
Now is it wan and of a ledene hewe
10
Who so it vseth sore schal he rewe
And of my swynk ȝit blered is myn yȝe
Lo which auauntage it is to multiplye
That slydynge science haþ me maad so bare
That I haue no good where þat euer I fare
15
And ȝit I am endetted so þer by
Of gold þat I haue borwed trewely
Þat whil I lyue I schal it quite neuere /
Lat euery man be war by me for euere /
What maner man þat casteþ him þerto