The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Folio 168r
3 of 19 folios
To me ȝe scholde paie more ywys
645
This preste þe sūme of .xl. pounde anone
Of nobles fette . & toke hem euerychone
To þis Chanon for þis ilke receit
Al his worcheinge was fraude & deceite
Sire perste he seide .I. kepe for haue no los
650
Of my craft for .I. wolde it were kepped clos
And as ȝe loueþe me kepeþ it secre
For and men knewe al my subtilite
Be god men wolde haue so grete envie
To me because of my philosophie
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I. scholde be dede þere were none oþere weye
God it for bede qd þe preste what ȝe seye
Ȝit had .I. leuer spende aƚƚ þe goode
Whiche þat .I. haue & elles wex .I. woode
Þan þat ȝe scholde faƚƚ in suche meschife
660
For ȝoure goode wil serõ haue ȝe riht good prefe
Qd þe chanone wele gaunt mercie
He went his waye & neuer þe priste him sihe
After þat daie & whan þat þis perste schold
Maken assay . att suche time as he wolde
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Of þis receyte fare wele it wil nouht be
Lo þus be Iaped & begiled was he
Thus makeþ he his introduccōn
To bringe folke to hire destruccōn
¶ Considereþ sire sires howe þat in yche astate
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Be twex men & golde þar is debate
So ferforþe þat vnneþes þere is one
This multepliynge blindeþ so mony one
Þat in good feiþe I trowe þat it be
Þe cause grettest of al subtilite
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This Phylosophres speken xx so mystelye
In þis craft þat men can nouht com þer bye
For any witte þat men haue nowe a dayes
Þei maie wele Chitter & ganglen as done þes Iayes
And in her termes sett lust & peine
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Bot to her purpos schal þei neuere atteyne
Aman may lyhtlyche leren if he haue ouhte
To multeply & bringe his good to nouht
Lo suche a locre is in þis lusty game
Amānes merþe it wil torne al to gram
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And epete also grete & heuy porces