The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue
Folio 159r
3 of 5 folios
To bringe aboute . bot þei of him it lere
55
As homely as he rideþ amonges ȝowe
If ȝe him knewe it wolde be ȝoure prowe
Ȝe nolde nouht forgone his aqueyntance
For mochel good .I. dare leie in abalance
Al þat .I. haue myne proossione
60
He is a man of of hihe discrecione
I. warne ȝowe wele he is a passinge man
Wele qd oure oste .I. pay þe tel me þan
Is he clerk or none tel what he is
Nay he is gretter þan a clerke ywis
65
Seide ȝoman & in wordes fewe
Ofte & of his craft sum what .I. wil ȝowe schewe
.I. sei my lorde can suche a sutelte
Bot al his craft ȝe maie nouht wite att me
And som what help .I. ȝit to his worcheinge
70
Þat al þis grounde whiche þat we bien on rideinge
Til þat we come to Canturbury toune .
He couþe al clene tornevp se doune
And paue it al of siluer & of golde
And whan þis ȝoman hadde þus y tolde
75
Vnto oure hoste he seide benedicite
Þis þinge is wonder meruelous to me
Seþens þat þi lorde of so hihe prudence
Be cause of whiche men scholde hem reuerence
Þat of his worschipe recheþ he so lite
80
His ouere slope is not worþe a myte
As in effecte to him so mot .I. go
It is al bawde & to tore also
Whi is þi lorde so slottesche .I. þe preie
And his of pouer better cloþes to beie
85
If þat his dede accorde wiþ þi speche
Tel me þat . & þat .I. þe beseche
Whie qd þis ȝoman wherto ax ȝe me
God helpe me so for he schal neuer þe
Bot .I. wil nouht avowe þat .I. seie
90
And þere for kepe it secre .I. ȝowe preie
He is to wise in feiþe as .I. beleue
Þat þat is ouere done it wil nouht preue
And riht as clerkes seine it is a vice
Where fore in þat .I. holde him lewde & nyce
95
For whan a man haþ ouere grete a witte