The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 190v
22 of 22 folios
740
It is a water þat is maad I say
Of elementes foure quod Plato
Tel me þe roche goode sire quod he þo
Of þat water if it be ȝour wille
Nay nay qd Plato certeyn þat I nylle
745
Þe Philosophres were sworn echon
Þat þey scholde discouere it to no mon
Ne in no book it write in no manere
For vnto crist it is so leef and deere
Þat he wil nat þat it discouered be
750
But where it likeþ to his deite
Man to enspire and eek for to defende
Whom þat him likeþ lo þis is þe ende
Thanne conclude I þus siþens þat god of heuene
Ne wole nat þat þe Philosophres neuene
755
How þat a man schal come vnto þis stoon
I rede as for þe beste lat it goon
For who so maketh god his aduersarie
As for to worche eny þing in contrarie /
Vnto his wille certes neuer schal he þriue
760
Þougħ þat he multiplie terme of his lyue
And þere a poynt for ended is my tale /
God sende euery trewe man boote of his bale amē
Ther was as telleþ vs Titus Lyueus
A knigħt þat cleped was vigineus
Fulfilled of honoures and worþinesse
And strong of frendes and of gret richesse
5
A doughter he hadde by his wyf
And neuere hadde he mo in aƚƚ his lyf
Fair was þis mayde in excellent beaute
Abouen euery wigħt þat man may se
For nature haþ with souerein diligence
10
Formed hire in so gret excellence
As þough sche wolde say lo I nature
Thus can I forme and peinte a creatur