The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 162r
15 of 19 folios
That ouhwhere is where for as forþe best
140
Of all þis names now wiƚƚ .I. me rest
For as .I. troue .I. haue ȝowe tolde ynowhe
To Reysen a fende loke he neuer so rouhe
A nay lat be þe philosophre stone
Elixir cleped we sechen fast ychon
145
For had we him þan were we seker ynowhe
Bot vnto god of heuen .I. maak a vowe
For al oure craft whan we haue al y do
And al oure sleiht he wil nouht com vs to
He haþe vs made spend muche good
150
For sorwe of whiche al moste we wexen wode
Bot þat goode hope crepeþ in oure herte
Supposeinge euer þouhe we sore smert
To be releued be him afterwarde
Supposinge & hope is scharpe & harde
155
I warne ȝowe wele it is to seken euer
Þat futur temps haþ maad men deseuer
In trust þer of from al þat euer þei hadd
Ȝit of þat art þei couþ nouht wex sadde
For vn to hem it is a bitter swete
160
So semeþ it forne had þei bot a shete
Whiche þei miht wrappe in anyht
And Abak to walken inne be daie liht
Thei wold hem sellen & spenden on þis craft
Thei can nouht stint til noþinge be laft
165
And euer more where þat euer þei gone
Men maye hem knowe be smeƚƚ of bromstone
For alþe worlde þei stinken as a gote
Hir sauoure is so rammysshe & so hote
That þouhe a man from hem a mile be
170
The sauour wil infecte trusteþ me
Lo þus be smellinge & be þrede bare arraie
If þat men lust þis folke þei knowe maie
And if aman wil ax him piuely
Whi þei bne cloþed so vnthriftely .
175
Riht anone þei wil roune in his ere
And seie if þei espied were
Men wold hem sle be cause of hir science
Lo þus folke be trayen Innocence
Passe ouer þis .I. go my tale vntoo
180
Er þat þe pote be on þe fire y doo