The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue
Folio 179r
3 of 5 folios
By cause of which men scholde him reuerence /
That of his worschipe rekkeþ he so lyte
80
His ouer sloppe nys nouȝt worþ a myte /
As in effecte to him so mote I go
It is al baudy and to tore also
Whi is þi lord so sluttissche I þe prey
And is of power better cloþes to bey
85
If þat his dede acorde wiþ þy speche
Teƚƚ me þat and þat I þe byseche /
Why quod þis ȝeman wherto aske ȝe me /
God help me so for he schal neuer y the
But I wol not avowe þat I say
90
And þerfore kepe it secre I ȝou pay
He is to wys in faiþ as I bileeue
And þat is ouer doon it nyl not preue
And right as clerkes sein it is a vice
Wherfore in þat I holde him lewed and nyce
95
For whan a ma haþ ouer gret a witt
Ful often it happeþ to mysvsen it
So doþ my lord and þat me greueþ sore
God it amende I can seye now no more
Ther of no fors goode ȝoman quod our hoost
100
Siþens of þe connyng of þy lord þou woost
Teƚƚ how he doþ I pray þe hertely
Siþens þat he is so crafty and so sly
Wher dwellen ȝe if to telle be
In subarbes of a toun qd he
105
Lurkyng in hernes and in lanes blynde
Where þise Robbers and þeeues be kynde
Holden here preuy ferful resydence
As þay þat dur nat schewe here persence
So fare we if I schal saye þe soþe
110
Ȝit quod oure hoste lat me talke toþe
Why art þou discoloured on þy face
Peter quod he god ȝiue hit harde grace
I am so vsed in þe fyre to blowe