The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 179v
17 of 21 folios
And wonder priuely took vp also
605
The coper teyne nougħt knowyng þis prest
And hidde it and hent him by þe brest
And to him spak and þus sayde in his game
Stoupeth a doun by god ȝe ben to blame
Helpeþ me now as I dede ȝou whil er
610
Put in ȝour hond and loke what is þer
This prest took vp þis siluer teyne anoon
And þanne sayde þe chanoū let vs goon
Wiþ þese þre teynes whiche þat we han wrougħt
To som goldsmyth and wite if it be ought
615
For by my faith I nolde for myn hood
But if þey were siluer fyn and good
And þat as swiþe proued schal it be
Vnto þe goldsmith wiþ þese teynes þre
Thay went and putte þese teynes in assay
620
To fuyr and hamer migħt no man say nay
But þay were as hem oughte be
This sotted prest who was gladder þan he //
Was neuer brid gladder agayn þe day
Ne nightyngale in þe sesoun of may
625
Was neuer noon þat liste better to synge /
Ne lady lustier in carolynge
And for to speke of loue and wōmanhede
Ne knyght in armes doon an hardy deede /
To stonde in grace of his lady deere
630
Than hadde þis prest þis craft for to lere
And to þe chanoun thus he spak and seyde
For þe loue of god þat for vs deyde
And as I may deserue it vnto ȝow
What schal þis receyt coste telleþ now
635
By oure lady quod þe chanoun it is deere
I warne ȝow wel for sire I and a freere
In Engelond þer can no man it make /
No fors quoþ he now sire for goddes sake /
What schal I paye telleþ me I pray
640
I wis quod he it is ful dere I say /
Sire at a word if þat þe lust it haue