The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 189v
20 of 22 folios
To bringe folk to here destruccioū
Considereþ sires how þat in eche astate
670
Bitwixe men and gold þer is debate
So ferforþ þat vnneþes þer is non
This multiplyȝing blendeþ so many oon
Þat in good faiþ I trowe þat it be
Þe cause grettest of þis skarsete
675
This philosophres speken so mystily
In þis craft þat men can not come þerby
For ony witte þat men han now a dayes
Þey may wel chitre and Iangle as don þis Iayes
And in here termes sette lust and peyne
680
But to here prpos schul þey neuer atteyne
A man may lightliche lerne if he haþ ought
To multiplye and brynge his good to nouȝt
Lo such a lucre is in þis lusty game
A mannes merþe it wol torne aƚƚ to game
685
And empte also grete and heuye purses
And make folk to purchacen curses
Of hem þat han þerto here good y lent
O fy for schame þey þat haue be brent
Allas can þey nat fle þe fyres hete
690
Ȝe þat it vsen I rede ȝe it lete
Lest ȝe lese al for bet þan neuer is late
Neuer to þriue were to longe a date
Þougħ ȝe prolle ay ȝe schuƚƚ it neuer fynde
Ȝe ben as bolde as is bayard þe blynde
695
Þat blundreth forþ and peril casteþ he non
He is as bold to renne agayn a stoon
As for to go bysydes in þe weye
So fare ȝe þat multiplie I seye
If þat ȝoure yȝen may not seen arigħt
700
Lokeþ þat ȝoure mynd lakke nougħt his sigħt
For þougħ ȝe loke neuer so brode and stare /
Ȝe schulle nat wynne a myte in þat chaffare
But wasten al þat ȝe may Rappe and renne