The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction
• Errata.
• Additions to ‘the Minor Poems’ In Vol. I.
• XXIV.: Womanly Noblesse.
• XXV.: Complaint to My Mortal Foe.
• XXVI.: Complaint to My Lode-sterre.
• Notes to the Preceding Poems.
• The Canterbury Tales. Group A.
• The Prologue.
• The Knightes Tale.
• The Miller’s Prologue.
• The Milleres Tale.
• The Reeve’s Prologue.
• The Reves Tale.
• The Cook’s Prologue.
• The Cokes Tale.
• Group B.
• Introduction to the Man of Law’s Prologue. (t. 4421-4446.)
• The Tale of the Man of Lawe.
• The Shipman’s Prologue.
• The Shipmannes Tale.
• The Prioress’s Prologue. (t. 13365-13382.)
• The Prioresses Tale.
• Prologue to Sir Thopas. (t. 13621-13641.)
• Sir Thopas.
• Prologue to Melibeus. (t. 13847-13875.)
• The Tale of Melibeus.
• The Monk’s Prologue. (t. 13895-13924.)
• The Monkes Tale.
• The Prologue of the Nonne Prestes Tale. (t. 14773-14798).
• The Nonne Preestes Tale.
• Epilogue to the Nonne Preestes Tale.
• Group C.
• The Phisiciens Tale. (t. 11935-11957.)
• Words of the Host. (t. 12221-12239.)
• The Prologue of the Pardoners Tale. (t. 12263-12288).
• The Pardoners Tale. ( Numbered In Continuation of the Preceding. )
• Group D.
• The Wife of Bath’s Prologue. (t. 5583-5602; For T. 5582, See P. 164.)
• The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe.
• The Friar’s Prologue. (t. 6847-6868).
• The Freres Tale.
• The Somnour’s Prologue. (t. 7247-7270.)
• The Somnours Tale.
• Group E.
• The Clerk’s Prologue. (t. 7877-7898.)
• The Clerkes Tale.
• The Merchant’s Prologue. (t. 9089-9120).
• The Marchantes Tale.
• Epilogue to the Marchantes Tale.
• Group F.
• The Squieres Tale. (t. 10315-10334).
• The Franklin’s Prologue. (t. 11021-11040).
• The Frankeleyns Tale.
• Group G.
• The Seconde Nonnes Tale.
• The Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue. (t. 16022-16043.)
• The Chanouns Yemannes Tale.
• Group H.
• The Manciple’s Prologue. (t. 16950-16968).
• The Maunciples Tale.
• Group I.
• The Parson’s Prologue. (t. 17312-17330).
• The Persones Tale.
• Appendix to Group A.
• The Tale of Gamelyn.

GROUP G.

THE SECONDE NONNES TALE.

*∗*In Tyrwhitt’s text, ll. 15469-15489; see p. 508

• • THE ministre and the norice un-to vyces,
  • Which that men clepe in English ydelnesse,
  • That porter of the gate is of delyces,
  • To eschue, and by hir contrarie hir oppresse,
  • That is to seyn, by leveful bisinesse,5
  • Wel oghten we to doon al our entente,
  • Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.
• • For he, that with his thousand cordes slye
  • Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,
  • Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye,10
  • He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe,
  • Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,
  • He nis nat war the feend hath him in honde;
  • Wel oughte us werche, and ydelnes withstonde.
• • And though men dradden never for to dye,15
  • Yet seen men wel by reson doutelees,
  • That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,
  • Of which ther never comth no good encrees;
  • And seen, that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees
  • Only to slepe, and for to ete and drinke,20
  • And to devouren al that othere swinke.
• And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,
• That cause is of so greet confusioun,
• I have heer doon my feithful bisinesse,
• After the legende, in translacioun25
• Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun,
• Thou with thy gerland wroght of rose and lilie;
• Thee mene I, mayde and martir, seint Cecilie!

• Inuocacio ad Mariam.
• • AND thou that flour of virgines art alle,
  • Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte,30
  • To thee at my biginning first I calle;
  • Thou comfort of us wrecches, do me endyte
  • Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hir meryte
  • The eternal lyf, and of the feend victorie,
  • As man may after reden in hir storie.35
• • Thou mayde and mooder, doghter of thy sone,
  • Thou welle of mercy, sinful soules cure,
  • In whom that god, for bountee, chees to wone,
  • Thou humble, and heigh over every creature,
  • Thou nobledest so ferforth our nature,40
  • That no desdeyn the maker hadde of kinde,
  • His sone in blode and flesh to clothe and winde.
• • Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydes
  • Took mannes shap the eternal love and pees,
  • That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is,45
  • Whom erthe and see and heven, out of relees,
  • Ay herien; and thou, virgin wemmelees,
  • Bar of thy body, and dweltest mayden pure,
  • The creatour of every creature.
• • Assembled is in thee magnificence50
  • With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee
  • That thou, that art the sonne of excellence,
  • Nat only helpest hem that preyen thee,
  • But ofte tyme, of thy benignitee,
  • Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche,55
  • Thou goost biforn, and art hir lyves leche.
• • Now help, thou meke and blisful fayre mayde,
  • Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle;
  • Think on the womman Cananee, that sayde
  • That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle60
  • That from hir lordes table been y-falle;
  • And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve,
  • Be sinful, yet accepte my bileve.
• • And, for that feith is deed with-outen werkes,
  • So for to werken yif me wit and space,65
  • That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is!
  • O thou, that art so fayr and ful of grace,
  • Be myn advocat in that heighe place
  • Ther-as withouten ende is songe ‘Osanne,’
  • Thou Cristes mooder, doghter dere of Anne!70
• • And of thy light my soule in prison lighte,
  • That troubled is by the contagioun
  • Of my body, and also by the wighte
  • Of erthly luste and fals affeccioun;
  • O haven of refut, o salvacioun75
  • Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,
  • Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.
• • Yet preye I yow that reden that I wryte,
  • Foryeve me, that I do no diligence
  • This ilke storie subtilly to endyte;80
  • For both have I the wordes and sentence
  • Of him that at the seintes reverence
  • The storie wroot, and folwe hir legende,
  • And prey yow, that ye wol my werk amende.

• Interpretacio nominis Cecilie, quam ponit frater Iacobus Ianuensis in Legenda Aurea.
• • FIRST wolde I yow the name of seint Cecilie85
  • Expoune, as men may in hir storie see,
  • It is to seye in English ‘hevenes lilie,’
  • For pure chastnesse of virginitee;
  • Or, for she whytnesse hadde of honestee,
  • And grene of conscience, and of good fame90
  • The sote savour, ‘lilie’ was hir name.
• • Or Cecile is to seye ‘the wey to blinde,’
  • For she ensample was by good techinge;
  • Or elles Cecile, as I writen finde,
  • Is ioyned, by a maner conioininge95
  • Of ‘hevene’ and ‘Lia’; and heer, in figuringe,
  • The ‘heven’ is set for thoght of holinesse,
  • And ‘Lia’ for hir lasting bisinesse.
• • Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere,
  • ‘Wanting of blindnesse,’ for hir grete light100
  • Of sapience, and for hir thewes clere;
  • Or elles, lo! this maydens name bright
  • Of ‘hevene’ and ‘leos’ comth, for which by right
  • Men mighte hir wel ‘the heven of peple’ calle,
  • Ensample of gode and wyse werkes alle.105
• • For ‘leos’ ‘peple’ in English is to seye,
  • And right as men may in the hevene see
  • The sonne and mone and sterres every weye,
  • Right so men gostly, in this mayden free,
  • Seyen of feith the magnanimitee,110
  • And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience,
  • And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence.
• And right so as thise philosophres wryte
• That heven is swift and round and eek brenninge,
• Right so was fayre Cecilie the whyte115
• Ful swift and bisy ever in good werkinge,
• And round and hool in good perseveringe,
• And brenning ever in charitee ful brighte;
• Now have I yow declared what she highte.

• • THIS mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lyf seith,120
  • Was comen of Romayns, and of noble kinde,
  • And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith
  • Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir minde;
  • She never cessed, as I writen finde,
  • Of hir preyere, and god to love and drede,125
  • Biseking him to kepe hir maydenhede.
• • And when this mayden sholde unto a man
  • Y-wedded be, that was ful yong of age,
  • Which that y-cleped was Valerian,
  • And day was comen of hir mariage,130
  • She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,
  • Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful fayre,
  • Had next hir flesh y-clad hir in an heyre.
• • And whyl the organs maden melodye,
  • To god alone in herte thus sang she;135
  • ‘O lord, my soule and eek my body gye
  • Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be:’
  • And, for his love that deyde upon a tree,
  • Every seconde or thridde day she faste,
  • Ay biddinge in hir orisons ful faste.140
• • The night cam, and to bedde moste she gon
  • With hir housbonde, as ofte is the manere,
  • And prively to him she seyde anon,
  • ‘O swete and wel biloved spouse dere,
  • Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it here,145
  • Which that right fain I wolde unto yow seye,
  • So that ye swere ye shul me nat biwreye.’
• • Valerian gan faste unto hir swere,
  • That for no cas, ne thing that mighte be,
  • He sholde never-mo biwreyen here;150
  • And thanne at erst to him thus seyde she,
  • ‘I have an angel which that loveth me,
  • That with greet love, wher-so I wake or slepe,
  • Is redy ay my body for to kepe.
• • And if that he may felen, out of drede,155
  • That ye me touche or love in vileinye,
  • He right anon wol slee yow with the dede,
  • And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye;
  • And if that ye in clene love me gye,
  • He wol yow loven as me, for your clennesse,160
  • And shewen yow his Ioye and his brightnesse.’
• • Valerian, corrected as god wolde,
  • Answerde agayn, ‘if I shal trusten thee,
  • Lat me that angel se, and him biholde;
  • And if that it a verray angel be,165
  • Than wol I doon as thou hast preyed me;
  • And if thou love another man, for sothe
  • Right with this swerd than wol I slee yow bothe.’
• • Cecile answerde anon right in this wyse,
  • ‘If that yow list, the angel shul ye see,170
  • So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptyse.
  • Goth forth to Via Apia,’ quod she,
  • ‘That fro this toun ne stant but myles three,
  • And, to the povre folkes that ther dwelle,
  • Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle.175
• • Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente.
  • To shewen yow the gode Urban the olde,
  • For secree nedes and for good entente.
  • And whan that ye seint Urban han biholde,
  • Telle him the wordes whiche I to yow tolde;180
  • And whan that he hath purged yow fro sinne,
  • Thanne shul ye see that angel, er ye twinne.’
• • Valerian is to the place y-gon,
  • And right as him was taught by his lerninge,
  • He fond this holy olde Urban anon185
  • Among the seintes buriels lotinge.
  • And he anon, with-outen taryinge,
  • Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde,
  • Urban for Ioye his hondes gan up holde.
• • The teres from his yen leet he falle—190
  • ‘Almighty lord, o Iesu Crist,’ quod he,
  • ‘Sower of chast conseil, herde of us alle,
  • The fruit of thilke seed of chastitee
  • That thou hast sowe in Cecile, tak to thee!
  • Lo, lyk a bisy bee, with-outen gyle,195
  • Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile!
• • For thilke spouse, that she took but now
  • Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth here,
  • As meke as ever was any lamb, to yow!’
  • And with that worde, anon ther gan appere200
  • An old man, clad in whyte clothes clere,
  • That hadde a book with lettre of golde in honde,
  • And gan biforn Valerian to stonde.
• • Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
  • Whan he him saugh, and he up hente him tho,205
  • And on his book right thus he gan to rede—
  • ‘Oo Lord, oo feith, oo god with-outen mo,
  • Oo Cristendom, and fader of alle also,
  • Aboven alle and over al everywhere’—
  • Thise wordes al with gold y-writen were.210
• • Whan this was rad, than seyde this olde man,
  • ‘Levestow this thing or no? sey ye or nay.’
  • ‘I leve al this thing,’ quod Valerian,
  • ‘For sother thing than this, I dar wel say,
  • Under the hevene no wight thinke may.’215
  • Tho vanisshed the olde man, he niste where,
  • And pope Urban him cristened right there.
• • Valerian goth hoom, and fint Cecilie
  • With-inne his chambre with an angel stonde;
  • This angel hadde of roses and of lilie220
  • Corones two, the which he bar in honde;
  • And first to Cecile, as I understonde,
  • He yaf that oon, and after gan he take
  • That other to Valerian, hir make.
• • ‘With body clene and with unwemmed thoght225
  • Kepeth ay wel thise corones,’ quod he;
  • ‘Fro Paradys to yow have I hem broght,
  • Ne never-mo ne shal they roten be,
  • Ne lese her sote savour, trusteth me;
  • Ne never wight shal seen hem with his yë,230
  • But he be chaast and hate vileinyë.
• • And thou, Valerian, for thou so sone
  • Assentedest to good conseil also,
  • Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy bone.’
  • ‘I have a brother,’ quod Valerian tho,235
  • ‘That in this world I love no man so.
  • I pray yow that my brother may han grace
  • To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place.’
• • The angel seyde, ‘god lyketh thy requeste,
  • And bothe, with the palm of martirdom,240
  • Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste.’
  • And with that word Tiburce his brother com.
  • And whan that he the savour undernom
  • Which that the roses and the lilies caste,
  • With-inne his herte he gan to wondre faste,245
• • And seyde, ‘I wondre, this tyme of the yeer,
  • Whennes that sote savour cometh so
  • Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer.
  • For though I hadde hem in myn hondes two,
  • The savour mighte in me no depper go.250
  • The sote smel that in myn herte I finde
  • Hath chaunged me al in another kinde.’
• • Valerian seyde, ‘two corones han we,
  • Snow-whyte and rose-reed, that shynen clere,
  • Whiche that thyn yen han no might to see;255
  • And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere,
  • So shaltow seen hem, leve brother dere,
  • If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,
  • Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe.’
• • Tiburce answerde, ‘seistow this to me260
  • In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?’
  • ‘In dremes,’ quod Valerian, ‘han we be
  • Unto this tyme, brother myn, y-wis.
  • But now at erst in trouthe our dwelling is.’
  • ‘How woostow this,’ quod Tiburce, ‘in what wyse?’265
  • Quod Valerian, ‘that shal I thee devyse.
• • The angel of god hath me the trouthe y-taught
  • Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye
  • The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught.’—
• • And of the miracle of thise corones tweye270
  • Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye;
  • Solempnely this noble doctour dere
  • Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:
• • The palm of martirdom for to receyve,
  • Seinte Cecile, fulfild of goddes yifte,275
  • The world and eek hir chambre gan she weyve;
  • Witnes Tyburces and Valerians shrifte,
  • To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte
  • Corones two of floures wel smellinge,
  • And made his angel hem the corones bringe:280
• • The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above;
  • The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn,
  • Devocioun of chastitee to love.—
  • Tho shewede him Cecile al open and pleyn
  • That alle ydoles nis but a thing in veyn;285
  • For they been dombe, and therto they been deve,
  • And charged him his ydoles for to leve.
• • ‘Who so that troweth nat this, a beste he is,’
  • Quod tho Tiburce, ‘if that I shal nat lye.’
  • And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this,290
  • And was ful glad he coude trouthe espye.
  • ‘This day I take thee for myn allye,’
  • Seyde this blisful fayre mayde dere;
  • And after that she seyde as ye may here:
• • ‘Lo, right so as the love of Crist,’ quod she,295
  • ‘Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wyse
  • Anon for myn allye heer take I thee,
  • Sin that thou wolt thyn ydoles despyse.
  • Go with thy brother now, and thee baptyse,
  • And make thee clene; so that thou mowe biholde300
  • The angels face of which thy brother tolde.’
• • Tiburce answerde and seyde, ‘brother dere,
  • First tel me whider I shal, and to what man?’
  • ‘To whom?’ quod he, ‘com forth with right good chere,
  • I wol thee lede unto the pope Urban.’305
  • ‘Til Urban? brother myn Valerian,’
  • Quod tho Tiburce, ‘woltow me thider lede?
  • Me thinketh that it were a wonder dede.
• • Ne menestow nat Urban,’ quod he tho,
  • ‘That is so ofte dampned to be deed,310
  • And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,
  • And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
  • Men sholde him brennen in a fyr so reed
  • If he were founde, or that men mighte him spye;
  • And we also, to bere him companye—315
• • And whyl we seken thilke divinitee
  • That is y-hid in hevene prively,
  • Algate y-brend in this world shul we be!’
  • To whom Cecile answerde boldely,
  • ‘Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully320
  • This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother,
  • If this were livinge only and non other.
• • But ther is better lyf in other place,
  • That never shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,
  • Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace;325
  • That fadres sone hath alle thinges wroght;
  • And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght,
  • The goost, that fro the fader gan procede,
  • Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.
• • By word and by miracle goddes sone,330
  • Whan he was in this world, declared here
  • That ther was other lyf ther men may wone.’
  • To whom answerde Tiburce, ‘o suster dere,
  • Ne seydestow right now in this manere,
  • Ther nis but o god, lord in soothfastnesse;335
  • And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?’
• • ‘That shal I telle,’ quod she, ‘er I go.
  • Right as a man hath sapiences three,
  • Memorie, engyn, and intellect also,
  • So, in o being of divinitee,340
  • Three persones may ther right wel be.’
  • Tho gan she him ful bisily to preche
  • Of Cristes come and of his peynes teche,
• • And many pointes of his passioun;
  • How goddes sone in this world was withholde,345
  • To doon mankinde pleyn remissioun,
  • That was y-bounde in sinne and cares colde:
  • Al this thing she unto Tiburce tolde.
  • And after this Tiburce, in good entente,
  • With Valerian to pope Urban he wente,350
• • That thanked god; and with glad herte and light
  • He cristned him, and made him in that place
  • Parfit in his lerninge, goddes knight.
  • And after this Tiburce gat swich grace,
  • That every day he saugh, in tyme and space,355
  • The angel of god; and every maner bone
  • That he god axed, it was sped ful sone.
• • It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn
  • How many wondres Iesus for hem wroghte;
  • But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn,360
  • The sergeants of the toun of Rome hem soghte,
  • And hem biforn Almache the prefect broghte,
  • Which hem apposed, and knew al hir entente,
  • And to the image of Iupiter hem sente,
• • And seyde, ‘who so wol nat sacrifyse,365
  • Swap of his heed, this is my sentence here.’
  • Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse,
  • Oon Maximus, that was an officere
  • Of the prefectes and his corniculere,
  • Hem hente; and whan he forth the seintes ladde,370
  • Him-self he weep, for pitee that he hadde.
• • Whan Maximus had herd the seintes lore,
  • He gat him of the tormentoures leve,
  • And ladde hem to his hous withoute more;
  • And with hir preching, er that it were eve,375
  • They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve,
  • And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone
  • The false feith, to trowe in god allone.
• • Cecilie cam, whan it was woxen night,
  • With preestes that hem cristned alle y-fere;380
  • And afterward, whan day was woxen light,
  • Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobre chere,
  • ‘Now, Cristes owene knightes leve and dere,
  • Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
  • And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.385
• • Ye han for sothe y-doon a greet bataille,
  • Your cours is doon, your feith han ye conserved,
  • Goth to the corone of lyf that may nat faille;
  • The rightful Iuge, which that ye han served,
  • Shall yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved.’390
  • And whan this thing was seyd as I devyse,
  • Men ladde hem forth to doon the sacrifyse.
• • But whan they weren to the place broght,
  • To tellen shortly the conclusioun,
  • They nolde encense ne sacrifice right noght,395
  • But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
  • With humble herte and sad devocioun,
  • And losten bothe hir hedes in the place.
  • Hir soules wenten to the king of grace.
• • This Maximus, that saugh this thing bityde,400
  • With pitous teres tolde it anon-right,
  • That he hir soules saugh to heven glyde
  • With angels ful of cleernesse and of light,
  • And with his word converted many a wight;
  • For which Almachius dide him so to-bete405
  • With whippe of leed, til he his lyf gan lete.
• • Cecile him took and buried him anoon
  • By Tiburce and Valerian softely,
  • Withinne hir burying-place, under the stoon.
  • And after this Almachius hastily410
  • Bad his ministres fecchen openly
  • Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence
  • Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense.
• • But they, converted at hir wyse lore,
  • Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence415
  • Unto hir word, and cryden more and more,
  • ‘Crist, goddes sone withouten difference,
  • Is verray god, this is al our sentence,
  • That hath so good a servant him to serve;
  • This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!’420
• • Almachius, that herde of this doinge,
  • Bad fecchen Cecile, that he might hir see,
  • And alderfirst, lo! this was his axinge,
  • ‘What maner womman artow?’ tho quod he.
  • ‘I am a gentil womman born,’ quod she.425
  • ‘I axe thee,’ quod he, ‘thogh it thee greve,
  • Of thy religioun and of thy bileve.’
• • ‘Ye han bigonne your question folily,’
  • Quod she, ‘that wolden two answeres conclude
  • In oo demande; ye axed lewedly.’430
  • Almache answerde unto that similitude,
  • ‘Of whennes comth thyn answering so rude?’
  • ‘Of whennes?’ quod she, whan that she was freyned,
  • ‘Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned.’
• • Almachius seyde, ‘ne takestow non hede435
  • Of my power?’ and she answerde him this—
  • ‘Your might,’ quod she, ‘ful litel is to drede;
  • For every mortal mannes power nis
  • But lyk a bladdre, ful of wind, y-wis.
  • For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe,440
  • May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.’
• • ‘Ful wrongfully bigonne thou,’ quod he,
  • ‘And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce;
  • Wostow nat how our mighty princes free
  • Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce,445
  • That every cristen wight shal han penaunce
  • But-if that he his cristendom withseye,
  • And goon al quit, if he wol it reneye?’
• • ‘Your princes erren, as your nobley dooth,’
  • Quod tho Cecile, ‘and with a wood sentence450
  • Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth;
  • For ye, that knowen wel our innocence,
  • For as muche as we doon a reverence
  • To Crist, and for we bere a cristen name,
  • Ye putte on us a cryme, and eek a blame.455
• • But we that knowen thilke name so
  • For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.’
  • Almache answerde, ‘chees oon of thise two,
  • Do sacrifyce, or cristendom reneye,
  • That thou mowe now escapen by that weye.’460
  • At which the holy blisful fayre mayde
  • Gan for to laughe, and to the Iuge seyde,
• • ‘O Iuge, confus in thy nycetee,
  • Woltow that I reneye innocence,
  • To make me a wikked wight?’ quod she;465
  • ‘Lo! he dissimuleth here in audience,
  • He stareth and woodeth in his advertence!’
  • To whom Almachius, ‘unsely wrecche,
  • Ne woostow nat how far my might may strecche?
• • Han noght our mighty princes to me yeven,470
  • Ye, bothe power and auctoritee
  • To maken folk to dyen or to liven?
  • Why spekestow so proudly than to me?’
  • ‘I speke noght but stedfastly,’ quod she,
  • ‘Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my syde,475
  • We haten deedly thilke vyce of pryde.
• • And if thou drede nat a sooth to here,
  • Than wol I shewe al openly, by right,
  • That thou hast maad a ful gret lesing here.
  • Thou seyst, thy princes han thee yeven might480
  • Bothe for to sleen and for to quiken a wight;
  • Thou, that ne mayst but only lyf bireve,
  • Thou hast non other power ne no leve!
• • But thou mayst seyn, thy princes han thee maked
  • Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo,485
  • Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked.’
  • ‘Do wey thy boldnes,’ seyde Almachius tho,
  • ‘And sacrifyce to our goddes, er thou go;
  • I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre,
  • For I can suffre it as a philosophre;490
• • But thilke wronges may I nat endure
  • That thou spekest of our goddes here,’ quod he.
  • Cecile answerede, ‘o nyce creature,
  • Thou seydest no word sin thou spak to me
  • That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee;495
  • And that thou were, in every maner wyse,
  • A lewed officer and a veyn Iustyse.
• • Ther lakketh no-thing to thyn utter yen
  • That thou nart blind, for thing that we seen alle
  • That it is stoon, that men may wel espyen,500
  • That ilke stoon a god thou wolt it calle.
  • I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle,
  • And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it finde,
  • Sin that thou seest nat with thyn yen blinde.
• • It is a shame that the peple shal505
  • So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye;
  • For comunly men woot it wel overal,
  • That mighty god is in his hevenes hye,
  • And thise images, wel thou mayst espye,
  • To thee ne to hem-self mowe nought profyte,510
  • For in effect they been nat worth a myte.’
• • Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she,
  • And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede
  • Hom til hir hous, ‘and in hir hous,’ quod he,
  • ‘Brenne hir right in a bath of flambes rede.’515
  • And as he bad, right so was doon in dede;
  • For in a bath they gonne hir faste shetten,
  • And night and day greet fyr they under betten.
• • The longe night and eek a day also,
  • For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete,520
  • She sat al cold, and felede no wo,
  • It made hir nat a drope for to swete.
  • But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete;
  • For he, Almachius, with ful wikke entente
  • To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente.525
• • Three strokes in the nekke he smoot hir tho,
  • The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce
  • He mighte noght smyte al hir nekke a-two;
  • And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce,
  • That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce530
  • The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or sore,
  • This tormentour ne dorste do na-more.
• • But half-deed, with hir nekke y-corven there,
  • He lefte hir lye, and on his wey is went.
  • The cristen folk, which that aboute hir were,535
  • With shetes han the blood ful faire y-hent.
  • Thre dayes lived she in this torment,
• • And never cessed hem the feith to teche;
  • That she hadde fostred, hem she gan to preche;
• • And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thing,540
  • And to the pope Urban bitook hem tho,
  • And seyde, ‘I axed this at hevene king,
  • To han respyt three dayes and na-mo,
  • To recomende to yow, er that I go,
  • Thise soules, lo! and that I mighte do werche545
  • Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche.’
• • Seint Urban, with his deknes, prively
  • The body fette, and buried it by nighte
  • Among his othere seintes honestly.
  • Hir hous the chirche of seint Cecilie highte;550
  • Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel mighte;
  • In which, into this day, in noble wyse,
  • Men doon to Crist and to his seint servyse.

THE CANON’S YEOMAN’S PROLOGUE.
(T. 16022-16043.)

The prologe of the Chanons Yemannes Tale.

• WHAN ended was the lyf of seint Cecyle,
• Er we had riden fully fyve myle,555
• At Boghton under Blee us gan atake
• A man, that clothed was in clothes blake,
• And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys.
• His hakeney, that was al pomely grys,
• So swatte, that it wonder was to see;560
• It semed he had priked myles three.
• The hors eek that his yeman rood upon
• So swatte, that unnethe mighte it gon.(10)
• Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye,
• He was of fome al flekked as a pye.565
• A male tweyfold on his croper lay,
• It semed that he caried lyte array.
• Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
• And in myn herte wondren I bigan
• What that he was, til that I understood570
• How that his cloke was sowed to his hood;
• For which, when I had longe avysed me,
• I demed him som chanon for to be.(20)
• His hat heng at his bak doun by a laas,
• For he had riden more than trot or paas;575
• He had ay priked lyk as he were wood.
• A clote-leef he hadde under his hood
• For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from hete.
• But it was Ioye for to seen him swete!
• His forheed dropped as a stillatorie,580
• Were ful of plantain and of paritorie.
• And whan that he was come, he gan to crye,
• ‘God save,’ quod he, ‘this Ioly companye!(30)
• Faste have I priked,’ quod he, ‘for your sake,
• By-cause that I wolde yow atake,585
• To ryden in this mery companye.’
• His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,
• And seyde, ‘sires, now in the morwe-tyde
• Out of your hostelrye I saugh you ryde,
• And warned heer my lord and my soverayn,590
• Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn,
• For his desport; he loveth daliaunce.’
• ‘Freend, for thy warning god yeve thee good chaunce,’
• Than seyde our host, ‘for certes, it wolde seme(41)
• Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme;595
• He is ful Iocund also, dar I leye.
• Can he oght telle a mery tale or tweye,
• With which he glade may this companye?’
• ‘Who, sire? my lord? ye, ye, withouten lye,
• He can of murthe, and eek of Iolitee600
• Nat but ynough; also sir, trusteth me,
• And ye him knewe as wel as do I,
• Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily(50)
• He coude werke, and that in sondry wyse.
• He hath take on him many a greet empryse,605
• Which were ful hard for any that is here
• To bringe aboute, but they of him it lere.
• As homely as he rit amonges yow,
• If ye him knewe, it wolde be for your prow;
• Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce610
• For mochel good, I dar leye in balaunce
• Al that I have in my possessioun.
• He is a man of heigh discrecioun,(60)
• I warne you wel, he is a passing man.’
• ‘Wel,’ quod our host, ‘I pray thee, tel me than,615
• Is he a clerk, or noon? tel what he is.’
• ‘Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, y-wis,’
• Seyde this yeman, ‘and in wordes fewe,
• Host, of his craft som-what I wol yow shewe.
• I seye, my lord can swich subtilitee—620
• (But al his craft ye may nat wite at me;
• And som-what helpe I yet to his werking)—
• That al this ground on which we been ryding,(70)
• Til that we come to Caunterbury toun,
• He coude al clene turne it up-so-doun,625
• And pave it al of silver and of gold.’
• And whan this yeman hadde thus y-told
• Unto our host, he seyde, ‘benedicite!
• This thing is wonder merveillous to me,
• Sin that thy lord is of so heigh prudence,630
• By-cause of which men sholde him reverence,
• That of his worship rekketh he so lyte;
• His oversloppe nis nat worth a myte,(80)
• As in effect, to him, so mote I go!
• It is al baudy and to-tore also.635
• Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee preye,
• And is of power better cloth to beye,
• If that his dede accorde with thy speche?
• Telle me that, and that I thee biseche.’
• ‘Why?’ quod this yeman, ‘wherto axe ye me?640
• God help me so, for he shal never thee!
• (But I wol nat avowe that I seye,
• And therfor kepe it secree, I yow preye).(90)
• He is to wys, in feith, as I bileve;
• That that is overdoon, it wol nat preve645
• Aright, as clerkes seyn, it is a vyce.
• Wherfor in that I holde him lewed and nyce.
• For whan a man hath over-greet a wit,
• Ful oft him happeth to misusen it;
• So dooth my lord, and that me greveth sore.650
• God it amende, I can sey yow na-more.’
• ‘Ther-of no fors, good yeman,’ quod our host;
• ‘Sin of the conning of thy lord thou wost,(100)
• Tel how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,
• Sin that he is so crafty and so sly.655
• Wher dwellen ye, if it to telle be?’
• ‘In the suburbes of a toun,’ quod he,
• ‘Lurkinge in hernes and in lanes blinde,
• Wher-as thise robbours and thise theves by kinde
• Holden hir privee fereful residence,660
• As they that dar nat shewen hir presence;
• So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe.’
• ‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘yit lat me talke to the;(110)
• Why artow so discoloured of thy face?’
• ‘Peter!’ quod he, ‘god yeve it harde grace,665
• I am so used in the fyr to blowe,
• That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe.
• I am nat wont in no mirour to prye,
• But swinke sore and lerne multiplye.
• We blondren ever and pouren in the fyr,670
• And for al that we fayle of our desyr,
• For ever we lakken our conclusioun.
• To mochel folk we doon illusioun,(120)
• And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,
• Or ten, or twelve, or many sommes mo,675
• And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,
• That of a pound we coude make tweye!
• Yet is it fals, but ay we han good hope
• It for to doon, and after it we grope.
• But that science is so fer us biforn,680
• We mowen nat, al-though we hadde it sworn,
• It overtake, it slit awey so faste;
• It wol us maken beggers atte laste.’(130)
• Whyl this yeman was thus in his talking,
• This chanoun drough him neer, and herde al thing685
• Which this yeman spak, for suspecioun
• Of mennes speche ever hadde this chanoun.
• For Catoun seith, that he that gilty is
• Demeth al thing be spoke of him, y-wis.
• That was the cause he gan so ny him drawe690
• To his yeman, to herknen al his sawe.
• And thus he seyde un-to his yeman tho,
• ‘Hold thou thy pees, and spek no wordes mo,(140)
• For if thou do, thou shalt it dere abye;
• Thou sclaundrest me heer in this companye,695
• And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde.’
• ‘Ye,’ quod our host, ‘telle on, what so bityde;
• Of al his threting rekke nat a myte!’
• ‘In feith,’ quod he, ‘namore I do but lyte.’
• And whan this chanon saugh it wolde nat be,700
• But his yeman wolde telle his privetee,
• He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.
• ‘A!’ quod the yeman, ‘heer shal aryse game,(150)
• Al that I can anon now wol I telle.
• Sin he is goon, the foule feend him quelle!705
• For never her-after wol I with him mete
• For peny ne for pound, I yow bihete!
• He that me broghte first unto that game,
• Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame!
• For it is ernest to me, by my feith;710
• That fele I wel, what so any man seith.
• And yet, for al my smert and al my grief,
• For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief,(160)
• I coude never leve it in no wyse.
• Now wolde god my wit mighte suffyse715
• To tellen al that longeth to that art!
• But natheles yow wol I tellen part;
• Sin that my lord is gon, I wol nat spare;
• Swich thing as that I knowe, I wol declare.—719

Here endeth the Prologe of the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.

THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE.

Here biginneth the Chanouns Yeman his Tale.

[Prima pars.]

• • WITH this chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer,720
  • And of his science am I never the neer.
  • Al that I hadde, I have y-lost ther-by;
  • And god wot, so hath many mo than I.(170)
  • Ther I was wont to be right fresh and gay
  • Of clothing and of other good array,725
  • Now may I were an hose upon myn heed;
  • And wher my colour was bothe fresh and reed,
  • Now is it wan and of a leden hewe;
  • Who-so it useth, sore shal he rewe.
  • And of my swink yet blered is myn ye,730
  • Lo! which avantage is to multiplye!
  • That slyding science hath me maad so bare,
  • That I have no good, wher that ever I fare;(180)
  • And yet I am endetted so ther-by
  • Of gold that I have borwed, trewely,735
  • That whyl I live, I shal it quyte never.
  • Lat every man be war by me for ever!
  • What maner man that casteth him ther-to,
  • If he continue, I holde his thrift y-do.
  • So helpe me god, ther-by shal he nat winne,740
  • But empte his purs, and make his wittes thinne.
  • And whan he, thurgh his madnes and folye,
  • Hath lost his owene good thurgh Iupartye,(190)
  • Thanne he excyteth other folk ther-to,
  • To lese hir good as he him-self hath do.745
  • For unto shrewes Ioye it is and ese
  • To have hir felawes in peyne and disese;
  • Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.
  • Of that no charge, I wol speke of our werk.
  • Whan we been ther as we shul exercyse750
  • Our elvish craft, we semen wonder wyse,
  • Our termes been so clergial and so queynte.
  • I blowe the fyr til that myn herte feynte.(200)
• • What sholde I tellen ech proporcioun
  • Of thinges whiche that we werche upon,755
  • As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be,
  • Of silver or som other quantite,
  • And bisie me to telle yow the names
  • Of orpiment, brent bones, yren squames,
  • That into poudre grounden been ful smal?760
  • And in an erthen potte how put is al,
  • And salt y-put in, and also papeer,
  • Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer,(210)
  • And wel y-covered with a lampe of glas,
  • And mochel other thing which that ther was?765
  • And of the pot and glasses enluting,
  • That of the eyre mighte passe out no-thing?
  • And of the esy fyr and smart also,
  • Which that was maad, and of the care and wo
  • That we hadde in our matires sublyming,770
  • And in amalgaming and calcening
  • Of quik-silver, y-clept Mercurie crude?
  • For alle our sleightes we can nat conclude.(220)
  • Our orpiment and sublymed Mercurie,
  • Our grounden litarge eek on the porphurie,775
  • Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn
  • Nought helpeth us, our labour is in veyn.
  • Ne eek our spirites ascencioun,
  • Ne our materes that lyen al fixe adoun,
  • Mowe in our werking no-thing us avayle.780
  • For lost is al our labour and travayle,
  • And al the cost, a twenty devel weye,
  • Is lost also, which we upon it leye.(230)
  • Ther is also ful many another thing
  • That is unto our craft apertening;785
  • Though I by ordre hem nat reherce can,
  • By-cause that I am a lewed man,
  • Yet wol I telle hem as they come to minde,
  • Though I ne can nat sette hem in hir kinde;
  • As bole armoniak, verdegrees, boras,790
  • And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas,
  • Our urinales and our descensories,
  • Violes, croslets, and sublymatories,(240)
  • Cucurbites, and alembykes eek,
  • And othere swiche, dere y-nough a leek.795
  • Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle,
  • Watres rubifying and boles galle,
  • Arsenik, sal armoniak, and brimstoon;
  • And herbes coude I telle eek many oon,
  • As egremoine, valerian, and lunarie,800
  • And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie.
  • Our lampes brenning bothe night and day,
  • To bringe aboute our craft, if that we may.(250)
  • Our fourneys eek of calcinacioun,
  • And of watres albificacioun,805
  • Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey,
  • Poudres diverse, asshes, dong, pisse, and cley,
  • Cered pokets, sal peter, vitriole;
  • And divers fyres maad of wode and cole;
  • Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat,810
  • And combust materes and coagulat,
  • Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oile
  • Of tartre, alum, glas, berm, wort, and argoile,(260)
  • Resalgar, and our materes enbibing;
  • And eek of our materes encorporing,815
  • And of our silver citrinacioun,
  • Our cementing and fermentacioun,
  • Our ingottes, testes, and many mo.
  • I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,
  • The foure spirites and the bodies sevene,820
  • By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.
  • The firste spirit quik-silver called is,
  • The second orpiment, the thridde, y-wis,(270)
  • Sal armoniak, and the ferthe brimstoon.
  • The bodies sevene eek, lo! hem heer anoon:825
  • Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe,
  • Mars yren, Mercurie quik-silver we clepe,
  • Saturnus leed, and Iupiter is tin,
  • And Venus coper, by my fader kin!
  • This cursed craft who-so wol exercyse,830
  • He shal no good han that him may suffyse;
  • For al the good he spendeth ther-aboute,
  • He lese shal, ther-of have I no doute.(280)
  • Who-so that listeth outen his folye,
  • Lat him come forth, and lerne multiplye;835
  • And every man that oght hath in his cofre,
  • Lat him appere, and wexe a philosofre.
  • Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere?
  • Nay, nay, god woot, al be he monk or frere,
  • Preest or chanoun, or any other wight,840
  • Though he sitte at his book bothe day and night,
  • In lernyng of this elvish nyce lore,
  • Al is in veyn, and parde, mochel more!(290)
  • To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee,
  • Fy! spek nat ther-of, for it wol nat be;845
  • Al conne he letterure, or conne he noon,
  • As in effect, he shal finde it al oon.
  • For bothe two, by my savacioun,
  • Concluden, in multiplicacioun,
  • Y-lyke wel, whan they han al y-do;850
  • This is to seyn, they faylen bothe two.
  • Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille
  • Of watres corosif and of limaille,(300)
  • And of bodyes mollificacioun,
  • And also of hir induracioun,855
  • Oiles, ablucions, and metal fusible,
  • To tellen al wolde passen any bible
  • That o-wher is; wherfor, as for the beste,
  • Of alle thise names now wol I me reste.
  • For, as I trowe, I have yow told y-nowe860
  • To reyse a feend, al loke he never so rowe.
  • A! nay! lat be; the philosophres stoon,
  • Elixir clept, we sechen faste echoon;(310)
  • For hadde we him, than were we siker y-now.
  • But, unto god of heven I make avow,865
  • For al our craft, whan we han al y-do,
  • And al our sleighte, he wol nat come us to.
  • He hath y-maad us spenden mochel good,
  • For sorwe of which almost we wexen wood,
  • But that good hope crepeth in our herte,870
  • Supposinge ever, though we sore smerte,
  • To be releved by him afterward;
  • Swich supposing and hope is sharp and hard;(320)
  • I warne yow wel, it is to seken ever;
  • That futur temps hath maad men to dissever,875
  • In trust ther-of, from al that ever they hadde.
  • Yet of that art they can nat wexen sadde,
  • For unto hem it is a bitter swete;
  • So semeth it; for nadde they but a shete
  • Which that they mighte wrappe hem inne a-night,880
  • And a bak to walken inne by day-light,
  • They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft;
  • They can nat stinte til no-thing be laft.(330)
  • And evermore, wher that ever they goon,
  • Men may hem knowe by smel of brimstoon;885
  • For al the world, they stinken as a goot;
  • Her savour is so rammish and so hoot,
  • That, though a man from hem a myle be,
  • The savour wol infecte him, trusteth me;
  • Lo, thus by smelling and threedbare array,890
  • If that men liste, this folk they knowe may.
  • And if a man wol aske hem prively,
  • Why they been clothed so unthriftily,(340)
  • They right anon wol rownen in his ere,
  • And seyn, that if that they espyed were,895
  • Men wolde hem slee, by-cause of hir science;
  • Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence!
  • Passe over this; I go my tale un-to.
  • Er than the pot be on the fyr y-do,
  • Of metals with a certein quantite,900
  • My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he—
  • Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely—
  • For, as men seyn, he can don craftily;(350)
  • Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name,
  • And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame;905
  • And wite ye how? ful ofte it happeth so,
  • The pot to-breketh, and farewel! al is go!
  • Thise metals been of so greet violence,
  • Our walles mowe nat make hem resistence,
  • But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon;910
  • They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon,
  • And somme of hem sinken in-to the ground—
  • Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound—(360)
  • And somme are scatered al the floor aboute,
  • Somme lepe in-to the roof; with-outen doute,915
  • Though that the feend noght in our sighte him shewe,
  • I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe!
  • In helle wher that he is lord and sire,
  • Nis ther more wo, ne more rancour ne ire.
  • Whan that our pot is broke, as I have sayd,920
  • Every man chit, and halt him yvel apayd.
  • Som seyde, it was long on the fyr-making,
  • Som seyde, nay! it was on the blowing;(370)
  • (Than was I fered, for that was myn office);
  • ‘Straw!’ quod the thridde, ‘ye been lewed and nyce,925
  • It was nat tempred as it oghte be.’
  • ‘Nay!’ quod the ferthe, ‘stint, and herkne me;
  • By-cause our fyr ne was nat maad of beech,
  • That is the cause, and other noon, so theech!’
  • I can nat telle wher-on it was long,930
  • But wel I wot greet stryf is us among.
  • ‘What!’ quod my lord, ‘ther is na-more to done,
  • Of thise perils I wol be war eft-sone;(380)
  • I am right siker that the pot was crased.
  • Be as be may, be ye no-thing amased;935
  • As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swythe,
  • Plukke up your hertes, and beth gladde and blythe.’
  • The mullok on an hepe y-sweped was,
  • And on the floor y-cast a canevas,
  • And al this mullok in a sive y-throwe,940
  • And sifted, and y-piked many a throwe.
  • ‘Pardee,’ quod oon, ‘somwhat of our metal
  • Yet is ther heer, though that we han nat al.(390)
  • Al-though this thing mishapped have as now,
  • Another tyme it may be wel y-now,945
  • Us moste putte our good in aventure;
  • A marchant, parde! may nat ay endure,
  • Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee;
  • Somtyme his good is drenched in the see,
  • And somtym comth it sauf un-to the londe.’950
  • ‘Pees!’ quod my lord, ‘the next tyme I wol fonde
  • To bringe our craft al in another plyte;
  • And but I do, sirs, lat me han the wyte;(400)
  • Ther was defaute in som-what, wel I woot.’
  • Another seyde, the fyr was over hoot:—955
  • But, be it hoot or cold, I dar seye this,
  • That we concluden evermore amis.
  • We fayle of that which that we wolden have,
  • And in our madnesse evermore we rave.
  • And whan we been togidres everichoon,960
  • Every man semeth a Salomon.
  • But al thing which that shyneth as the gold
  • Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told;(410)
  • Ne every appel that is fair at ye
  • Ne is nat good, what-so men clappe or crye.965
  • Right so, lo! fareth it amonges us;
  • He that semeth the wysest, by Iesus!
  • Is most fool, whan it cometh to the preef;
  • And he that semeth trewest is a theef;
  • That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende,970
  • By that I of my tale have maad an ende.

• • Ther is a chanoun of religioun
  • Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun,(420)
  • Though it as greet were as was Ninivee,
  • Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three.975
  • His sleightes and his infinit falsnesse
  • Ther coude no man wryten, as I gesse,
  • Thogh that he mighte liven a thousand yeer.
  • In al this world of falshede nis his peer;
  • For in his termes so he wolde him winde,980
  • And speke his wordes in so sly a kinde,
  • Whan he commune shal with any wight,
  • That he wol make him doten anon right,(430)
  • But it a feend be, as him-selven is.
  • Ful many a man hath he bigyled er this,985
  • And wol, if that he live may a whyle;
  • And yet men ryde and goon ful many a myle
  • Him for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,
  • Noght knowinge of his false governaunce.
  • And if yow list to yeve me audience,990
  • I wol it tellen heer in your presence.
  • But worshipful chanouns religious,
  • Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre your hous,(440)
  • Al-though my tale of a chanoun be.
  • Of every ordre som shrewe is, parde,995
  • And god forbede that al a companye
  • Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye.
  • To sclaundre yow is no-thing myn entente,
  • But to correcten that is mis I mente.
  • This tale was nat only told for yow,1000
  • But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how
  • That, among Cristes apostelles twelve,
  • Ther nas no traytour but Iudas him-selve.(450)
  • Than why sholde al the remenant have blame
  • That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same.1005
  • Save only this, if ye wol herkne me,
  • If any Iudas in your covent be,
  • Remeveth him bitymes, I yow rede,
  • If shame or los may causen any drede.
  • And beth no-thing displesed, I yow preye,1010
  • But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.
• • In London was a preest, an annueleer,
  • That therin dwelled hadde many a yeer,(460)
  • Which was so plesaunt and so servisable
  • Unto the wyf, wher-as he was at table,1015
  • That she wolde suffre him no-thing for to paye
  • For bord ne clothing, wente he never so gaye;
  • And spending-silver hadde he right y-now.
  • Therof no fors; I wol procede as now,
  • And telle forth my tale of the chanoun,1020
  • That broghte this preest to confusioun.
  • This false chanoun cam up-on a day
  • Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay,(470)
  • Biseching him to lene him a certeyn
  • Of gold, and he wolde quyte it him ageyn.1025
  • ‘Lene me a mark,’ quod he, ‘but dayes three,
  • And at my day I wol it quyten thee.
  • And if so be that thou me finde fals,
  • Another day do hange me by the hals!’
  • This preest him took a mark, and that as swythe,1030
  • And this chanoun him thanked ofte sythe,
  • And took his leve, and wente forth his weye,
  • And at the thridde day broghte his moneye,(480)
  • And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
  • Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn.1035
  • ‘Certes,’ quod he, ‘no-thing anoyeth me
  • To lene a man a noble, or two or three,
  • Or what thing were in my possessioun,
  • Whan he so trewe is of condicioun,
  • That in no wyse he breke wol his day;1040
  • To swich a man I can never seye nay.’
  • ‘What!’ quod this chanoun, ‘sholde I be untrewe?
  • Nay, that were thing y-fallen al of-newe.(490)
  • Trouthe is a thing that I wol ever kepe
  • Un-to that day in which that I shal crepe1045
  • In-to my grave, and elles god forbede;
  • Bileveth this as siker as is your crede.
  • God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,
  • That ther was never man yet yvel apayd
  • For gold ne silver that he to me lente,1050
  • Ne never falshede in myn herte I mente.
  • And sir,’ quod he, ‘now of my privetee,
  • Sin ye so goodlich han been un-to me,(500)
  • And kythed to me so greet gentillesse,
  • Somwhat to quyte with your kindenesse,1055
  • I wol yow shewe, and, if yow list to lere,
  • I wol yow teche pleynly the manere,
  • How I can werken in philosophye.
  • Taketh good heed, ye shul wel seen at yë,
  • That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.’1060
  • ‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘ye, sir, and wol ye so?
  • Marie! ther-of I pray yow hertely!’
  • ‘At your comandement, sir, trewely,’(510)
  • Quod the chanoun, ‘and elles god forbede!’
  • Lo, how this theef coude his servyse bede!1065
  • Ful sooth it is, that swich profred servyse
  • Stinketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse;
  • And that ful sone I wol it verifye
  • In this chanoun, rote of al trecherye,
  • That ever-more delyt hath and gladnesse—1070
  • Swich feendly thoughtes in his herte impresse—
  • How Cristes peple he may to meschief bringe;
  • God kepe us from his fals dissimulinge!(520)
  • Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,
  • Ne of his harm cominge he no-thing felte.1075
  • O sely preest! o sely innocent!
  • With coveityse anon thou shalt be blent!
  • O gracelees, ful blind is thy conceit,
  • No-thing ne artow war of the deceit
  • Which that this fox y-shapen hath to thee!1080
  • His wyly wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.
  • Wherfor, to go to the conclusioun
  • That refereth to thy confusioun,(530)
  • Unhappy man! anon I wol me hye
  • To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye,1085
  • And eek the falsnesse of that other wrecche,
  • As ferforth as that my conning may strecche.
  • This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden wene?
  • Sir host, in feith, and by the hevenes quene,
  • It was another chanoun, and nat he,1090
  • That can an hundred fold more subtiltee!
  • He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;
  • Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme.(540)
  • Ever whan that I speke of his falshede,
  • For shame of him my chekes wexen rede;1095
  • Algates, they biginnen for to glowe,
  • For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,
  • In my visage; for fumes dyverse
  • Of metals, which ye han herd me reherce,
  • Consumed and wasted han my reednesse.1100
  • Now tak heed of this chanouns cursednesse!
  • ‘Sir,’ quod he to the preest, ‘lat your man gon
  • For quik-silver, that we it hadde anon;(550)
  • And lat him bringen ounces two or three;
  • And whan he comth, as faste shul ye see1105
  • A wonder thing, which ye saugh never er this.’
  • ‘Sir,’ quod the preest, ‘it shall be doon, y-wis.’
  • He bad his servant fecchen him this thing,
  • And he al redy was at his bidding,
  • And wente him forth, and cam anon agayn1110
  • With this quik-silver, soothly for to sayn,
  • And took thise ounces three to the chanoun;
  • And he hem leyde fayre and wel adoun,(560)
  • And bad the servant coles for to bringe,
  • That he anon mighte go to his werkinge.1115
  • The coles right anon weren y-fet,
  • And this chanoun took out a crosselet
  • Of his bosom, and shewed it the preest.
  • ‘This instrument,’ quod he, ‘which that thou seest,
  • Tak in thyn hand, and put thy-self ther-inne1120
  • Of this quik-silver an ounce, and heer biginne,
  • In the name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre.
  • Ther been ful fewe, whiche that I wolde profre(570)
  • To shewen hem thus muche of my science.
  • For ye shul seen heer, by experience,1125
  • That this quik-silver wol I mortifye
  • Right in your sighte anon, withouten lye,
  • And make it as good silver and as fyn
  • As ther is any in your purs or myn,
  • Or elleswher, and make it malliable;1130
  • And elles, holdeth me fals and unable
  • Amonges folk for ever to appere!
  • I have a poudre heer, that coste me dere,(580)
  • Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
  • My conning, which that I yow shewen shal.1135
  • Voydeth your man, and lat him be ther-oute,
  • And shet the dore, whyls we been aboute
  • Our privetee, that no man us espye
  • Whyls that we werke in this philosophye.’
  • Al as he bad, fulfilled was in dede,1140
  • This ilke servant anon-right out yede,
  • And his maister shette the dore anon,
  • And to hir labour speedily they gon.(590)
  • This preest, at this cursed chanouns bidding,
  • Up-on the fyr anon sette this thing,1145
  • And blew the fyr, and bisied him ful faste;
  • And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste
  • A poudre, noot I wher-of that it was
  • Y-maad, other of chalk, other of glas,
  • Or som-what elles, was nat worth a flye,1150
  • To blynde with the preest; and bad him hye
  • The coles for to couchen al above
  • The croslet, ‘for, in tokening I thee love,’(600)
  • Quod this chanoun, ‘thyn owene hondes two
  • Shul werche al thing which that shal heer be do.’1155
  • ‘Graunt mercy,’ quod the preest, and was ful glad,
  • And couched coles as the chanoun bad.
  • And whyle he bisy was, this feendly wrecche,
  • This fals chanoun, the foule feend him fecche!
  • Out of his bosom took a bechen cole,1160
  • In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,
  • And ther-in put was of silver lymaille
  • An ounce, and stopped was, with-outen fayle,(610)
  • The hole with wex, to kepe the lymail in.
  • And understondeth, that this false gin1165
  • Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore;
  • And othere thinges I shal telle more
  • Herafterward, which that he with him broghte;
  • Er he cam ther, him to bigyle he thoghte,
  • And so he dide, er that they wente a-twinne;1170
  • Til he had terved him, coude he not blinne.
  • It dulleth me whan that I of him speke,
  • On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke,(620)
  • If I wiste how; but he is heer and ther:
  • He is so variaunt, he abit no-wher.1175
  • But taketh heed now, sirs, for goddes love!
  • He took his cole of which I spak above,
  • And in his hond he baar it prively.
  • And whyls the preest couchede busily
  • The coles, as I tolde yow er this,1180
  • This chanoun seyde, ‘freend, ye doon amis;
  • This is nat couched as it oghte be;
  • But sone I shal amenden it,’ quod he.(630)
  • ‘Now lat me medle therwith but a whyle,
  • For of yow have I pitee, by seint Gyle!1185
  • Ye been right hoot, I see wel how ye swete,
  • Have heer a cloth, and wype awey the wete.’
  • And whyles that the preest wyped his face,
  • This chanoun took his cole with harde grace,
  • And leyde it above, up-on the middeward1190
  • Of the croslet, and blew wel afterward,
  • Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
  • ‘Now yeve us drinke,’ quod the chanoun thenne,(640)
  • ‘As swythe al shal be wel, I undertake;
  • Sitte we doun, and lat us mery make.’1195
  • And whan that this chanounes bechen cole
  • Was brent, al the lymaille, out of the hole,
  • Into the croslet fil anon adoun;
  • And so it moste nedes, by resoun,
  • Sin it so even aboven couched was;1200
  • But ther-of wiste the preest no-thing, alas!
  • He demed alle the coles y-liche good,
  • For of the sleighte he no-thing understood.(650)
  • And whan this alkamistre saugh his tyme,
  • ‘Rys up,’ quod he, ‘sir preest, and stondeth by me;1205
  • And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon,
  • Goth, walketh forth, and bring us a chalk-stoon;
  • For I wol make oon of the same shap
  • That is an ingot, if I may han hap.
  • And bringeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne,1210
  • Ful of water, and ye shul see wel thanne
  • How that our bisinesse shal thryve and preve.
  • And yet, for ye shul han no misbileve(660)
  • Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence,
  • I ne wol nat been out of your presence,1215
  • But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn.’
  • The chambre-dore, shortly for to seyn,
  • They opened and shette, and wente hir weye.
  • And forth with hem they carieden the keye,
  • And come agayn with-outen any delay.1220
  • What sholde I tarien al the longe day?
  • He took the chalk, and shoop it in the wyse
  • Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse.(670)
  • I seye, he took out of his owene sleve,
  • A teyne of silver (yvele mote he cheve!)1225
  • Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte;
  • And taketh heed now of his cursed sleighte!
  • He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and eek in brede,
  • Of this teyne, with-outen any drede,
  • So slyly, that the preest it nat espyde;1230
  • And in his sleve agayn he gan it hyde;
  • And fro the fyr he took up his matere,
  • And in thingot putte it with mery chere,(680)
  • And in the water-vessel he it caste
  • Whan that him luste, and bad the preest as faste,1235
  • ‘Look what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope,
  • Thow finde shalt ther silver, as I hope;
  • What, devel of helle! sholde it elles be?
  • Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!’
  • He putte his hond in, and took up a teyne1240
  • Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne
  • Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so.
  • ‘Goddes blessing, and his modres also,(690)
  • And alle halwes have ye, sir chanoun,’
  • Seyde this preest, ‘and I hir malisoun,1245
  • But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me
  • This noble craft and this subtilitee,
  • I wol be youre, in al that ever I may!’
  • Quod the chanoun, ‘yet wol I make assay
  • The second tyme, that ye may taken hede1250
  • And been expert of this, and in your nede
  • Another day assaye in myn absence
  • This disciplyne and this crafty science.(700)
  • Lat take another ounce,’ quod he tho,
  • ‘Of quik-silver, with-outen wordes mo,1255
  • And do ther-with as ye han doon er this
  • With that other, which that now silver is.’
  • This preest him bisieth in al that he can
  • To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,
  • Comanded him, and faste he blew the fyr,1260
  • For to come to theffect of his desyr.
  • And this chanoun, right in the mene whyle,
  • Al redy was, the preest eft to bigyle,(710)
  • And, for a countenance, in his hande he bar
  • An holwe stikke (tak keep and be war!)1265
  • In the ende of which an ounce, and na-more,
  • Of silver lymail put was, as bifore
  • Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel
  • For to kepe in his lymail every deel.
  • And whyl this preest was in his bisinesse,1270
  • This chanoun with his stikke gan him dresse
  • To him anon, and his pouder caste in
  • As he did er; (the devel out of his skin(720)
  • Him terve, I pray to god, for his falshede;
  • For he was ever fals in thoght and dede);1275
  • And with this stikke, above the croslet,
  • That was ordeyned with that false get,
  • He stired the coles, til relente gan
  • The wex agayn the fyr, as every man,
  • But it a fool be, woot wel it mot nede,1280
  • And al that in the stikke was out yede,
  • And in the croslet hastily it fel.
  • Now gode sirs, what wol ye bet than wel?(730)
  • Whan that this preest thus was bigyled ageyn,
  • Supposing noght but trouthe, soth to seyn,1285
  • He was so glad, that I can nat expresse
  • In no manere his mirthe and his gladnesse;
  • And to the chanoun he profred eftsone
  • Body and good; ‘ye,’ quod the chanoun sone,
  • ‘Though povre I be, crafty thou shalt me finde;1290
  • I warne thee, yet is ther more bihinde.
  • Is ther any coper her-inne?’ seyde he.
  • ‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘sir, I trowe wel ther be.’(740)
  • ‘Elles go by us som, and that as swythe,
  • Now, gode sir, go forth thy wey and hy the.’1295
  • He wente his wey, and with the coper cam,
  • And this chanoun it in his handes nam,
  • And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.
  • Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce,
  • As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse1300
  • Of this chanoun, rote of al cursednesse.
  • He semed freendly to hem that knewe him noght,
  • But he was feendly bothe in herte and thoght.(750)
  • It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse,
  • And nathelees yet wol I it expresse,1305
  • To thentente that men may be war therby,
  • And for noon other cause, trewely.
  • He putte his ounce of coper in the croslet,
  • And on the fyr as swythe he hath it set,
  • And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe,1310
  • And in his werking for to stoupe lowe,
  • As he dide er, and al nas but a Iape;
  • Right as him liste, the preest he made his ape;(760)
  • And afterward in the ingot he it caste,
  • And in the panne putte it at the laste1315
  • Of water, and in he putte his owene hond.
  • And in his sleve (as ye biforn-hond
  • Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne.
  • He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne—
  • Unwiting this preest of his false craft—1320
  • And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;
  • And in the water rombled to and fro,
  • And wonder prively took up also(770)
  • The coper teyne, noght knowing this preest,
  • And hidde it, and him hente by the breest,1325
  • And to him spak, and thus seyde in his game,
  • ‘Stoupeth adoun, by god, ye be to blame,
  • Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whyl-er,
  • Putte in your hand, and loketh what is ther.’
  • This preest took up this silver teyne anon,1330
  • And thanne seyde the chanoun, ‘lat us gon
  • With thise three teynes, which that we han wroght,
  • To som goldsmith, and wite if they been oght.(780)
  • For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,
  • But-if that they were silver, fyn and good,1335
  • And that as swythe preved shal it be.’
  • Un-to the goldsmith with thise teynes three
  • They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay
  • To fyr and hamer; mighte no man sey nay,
  • But that they weren as hem oghte be.1340
  • This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
  • Was never brid gladder agayn the day,
  • Ne nightingale, in the sesoun of May,(790)
  • Nas never noon that luste bet to singe;
  • Ne lady lustier in carolinge1345
  • Or for to speke of love and wommanhede,
  • Ne knight in armes to doon an hardy dede
  • To stonde in grace of his lady dere,
  • Than had this preest this sory craft to lere;
  • And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde,1350
  • ‘For love of god, that for us alle deyde,
  • And as I may deserve it un-to yow,
  • What shal this receit coste? telleth now!’(800)
  • ‘By our lady,’ quod this chanoun, ‘it is dere.
  • I warne yow wel; for, save I and a frere,1355
  • In Engelond ther can no man it make.’
  • ‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘now, sir, for goddes sake,
  • What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye.’
  • ‘Y-wis,’ quod he, ‘it is ful dere, I seye;
  • Sir, at o word, if that thee list it have,1360
  • Ye shul paye fourty pound, so god me save!
  • And, nere the freendship that ye dide er this
  • To me, ye sholde paye more, y-wis.’(810)
  • This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
  • Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon1365
  • To this chanoun, for this ilke receit;
  • Al his werking nas but fraude and deceit.
  • ‘Sir preest,’ he seyde, ‘I kepe han no loos
  • Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;
  • And as ye love me, kepeth it secree;1370
  • For, and men knewe al my subtilitee,
  • By god, they wolden han so greet envye
  • To me, by-cause of my philosophye,(820)
  • I sholde be deed, ther were non other weye.’
  • ‘God it forbede!’ quod the preest, ‘what sey ye?’1375
  • Yet hadde I lever spenden al the good
  • Which that I have (and elles wexe I wood!)
  • Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef.’
  • ‘For your good wil, sir, have ye right good preef,’
  • Quod the ch

    [683. ]E. Discheuelee.

    [685. ]Hl. Cp. on; rest vp on.

    [686. ]Hl. lay; which the rest omit.

    [687. ]Hl. Cm. come; rest comen.

    [688. ]Hl. eny (for hath a).

    [690. ]Hn. yshaue; E. shaue.

    [695. ]All oure.

    [713. ]Hl. right (for ful).

    [714. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. so meriely; E. Hn. Cm. the murierly.

    [715. ]E. Hl. shortly; rest soothly.

    [716. ]Hl. Thestat; Hn. Thestaat; E. The staat; Cm. Cp. The estat.

    [718. ]E. as; rest at.

    [724. ]E. oure (but our in l. 723).

    [725. ]E. youre; Hl. ȝour.

    [726. ]E. Hn. Cm. narette; Cp. Pt. Hl. ne rette.

    [734. ]E. or; Hl. ne; rest and.

    [741. ]All but Hl. om. that.

    [747. ]E. chiere. E. hoost (see l. 751).

    [752. ]Hl. han; rest om.

    [754. ]E. Hn. was.

    [755. ]E. Hn. Boold.

    [756. ]Cm. Cp. lakkede; E. lakked.

    [761. ]now] Hl. lo.

    [764. ]Hl. ne saugh; rest saugh nat (seigh not, &c.). Hl. Cm. mery; E. myrie.

    [774. ]a] E. the; Hn. om.

    [778. ]All but Hl. om. Now.

    [782. ]E. But if; rest But. E. myrie. Hl. merye smyteth of.

    [785. ]Hl. nas.

    [787. ]Cp. verdit; Pt. veredit; Hl. Ln. verdite; Cm. verdoit; E. Hn. voirdit.

    [*∗* ]For ll. 11929-34 in Tyrwhitt’s text, see Note at the foot of p. 289; for ll. 11935-12902, see pp. 290-319; for ll. 12903-15468, see pp. 165-289.

    [7. ]Hn. Hl. hente; E. shente, Pt. shent, Ln. schent, wrongly.

    [17. ]E. Hn. Pt. Ln. Hl. roten; Cm. rote.

    [18. ]E. Hn. no good nencrees; Pt. Ln. non encrese; Hl. good encres; Cm. encrees.

    [19. ]Cm. hire; Pt. hure; Hn. Ln. hir; E. it; Hl. her.

    [27. ]Hn. Pt. of; E. Cm. Ln. Hl. with.

    [28. ]Hn. Cm. Pt. Ln. martir seinte (seint); Hl. martir; E. mooder.

    [32. ]Hn. mendite (showing the scansion).

    [34. ]E. eterneel; Hn. Cm. eternal.

    [43. ]E. Hn. Cm. Pt. sydis.

    [44. ]E. eterneel; Hn. Cm. eternal.

    [54. ]E. often; Hn. Cm. ofte.

    [80. ]Hn. Cm. tendite (shewing the scansion).

    [82. ]E. Hn. Cm. Hl. him; but Cp. Pt. Ln. hem.

    [83. ]Cm. folwe; E. Hn. Hl. folwen; Cp. Pt. Ln. folowen.

    [84. ]E. I pray; Cp. And pray I; rest And pray (or prei, or preye).

    []Heading.In margin of E. Hn. (E. om. Aurea).

    [85. ]E. omits yow.

    [91. ]E. favour; rest savour; see l. 229.

    [95. ]E. maneré.

    [110. ]E. Syen; Cp. Ln. Seyen; Hn. Sayen.

    [134. ]Hl. Hn. organs; Ln. orgens; E. Orgues; Cp. Orgles; Pt. Orgels.

    [137. ]E. it; rest I.

    [138. ]Hn. Cm. Cp. Hl. deyde; E. dyde.

    [139. ]E. Hn. and; rest or.

    [147. ]E. me; rest it; see l. 150.

    [152. ]E. aungel; but angel in 165, 170.

    [164. ]E. aungel; but angel in 165, 170.

    [171. ]on] E. in.

    [178. ]E. thynges; rest nedes, nedis, needes

    [180. ]E. Cp. Ln. Hl. whiche þat I; but Hn. Cm. Pt. omit that.

    [190. ]Ln. yen; rest eyen, eyhen.

    [192. ]E. Hn. hierde.

    [197. ]E. Hl. right; rest but.

    [203. ]E. bifore; Hl. to-forn; rest biforn, biforne, beforne.

    [208. ]E. Hn. Cm. O; Hl. On; Cp. Pt. Ln. Of.

    [209. ]E. omits and.

    [210. ]Hl. omits.

    [211. ]Hl. omits.

    [212. ]Hl. omits.

    [213. ]Hl. omits.

    [214. ]Hl. omits.

    [214. ]E. oother; rest sother.

    [215. ]Hl. omits.

    [216. ]Hl. omits.

    [216. ]E. Hn. Cm. this; Pt. that; Cp. Ln. the.

    [217. ]Hl. Pt. cristened; Cm. cristenede; E. Hn. Cp. cristned.

    [226. ]E. three; Hl. thre; rest quod he.

    [251. ]The MSS. have swete here; but in l. 247 we find only sote, soote, swote, suote, except swete in Pt.; in l. 229, E. Hl. soote; Hn. swote; Cm. sote; Cp. Pt. Ln. swete.

    [267. ]E. Ln. Hl omit the.

    [273. ]E. hym; rest it.

    [277. ]The MSS. have Cecilies, wrongly (for Valerians); Lat. text—Ualeriani; cf. l. 281.

    [281. ]E. Hn. omit thise; the rest retain it, except Cm., which has brought hem to blysse.

    [284. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit al.

    [288. ]E. Hn. Pt. beest; Hl. best; Cm. Cp. Ln. beste.

    [303. ]E. Hn. Cm. that I; rest omit that.

    [304. ]Hl. om. right.

    [323. ]Ln. Hl. Pt. better; E. Hn. bettre.

    [326. ]E. thyng ywroght; Hn. Cm. thynges wroght.

    [326. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [327. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [328. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [329. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [330. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [331. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [332. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [333. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [334. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [335. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [336. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [337. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. omit.

    [340. ]E. omits o.

    [355. ]E. saugh; Hl. say.

    [363. ]Hl. apposed; the rest opposed, wrongly.

    [366. ]E. Cm. Hl. omit is.

    [373. ]E. Hn. Pt. Ln. tormentours.

    [382. ]E. Hn. Hl. ful stedefast; Cm. ful sobere; Cp. Pt. Ln. sobre.

    [384. ]Cp. Pt. Casteth; rest Cast.

    [392. ]E. Hn. Cm. ledde.

    [398. ]E. Hn. Cm. heuedes; rest hedes.

    [400. ]E. saugh; Hn. Cp. Hl. say.

    [404. ]E. this; rest his.

    [405. ]E. Hn. Cm. Hl. so bete; Cp Pt. Ln. so to-bete.

    [406. ]E. the; rest his.

    [418. ]E. omits al.

    [424. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. tho; rest omit.

    [436. ]Hn. Hl. this; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. thus; E. omits.

    [451. ]E. Hn. Cm. omit it.

    [467. ]E. and he; rest omit he.

    [475. ]E. speke; rest seye.

    [487. ]Hl. lewednes; rest boldnesse.

    [510. ]E. Ln. insert ne before mowe; E. mowen; Hn. mowe.

    [518. ]E. fyre; Hn. Cm. fyr.

    [521. ]Cm. felede; E. Hn. feled; Cp. Pt. Ln. felt of it.

    [524. ]E. Hn. a ful; Cm. a; rest ful.

    [528. ]Cp. Pt. smyten; rest smyte.

    [530. ]man (2)] E. men.

    [534. ]Cm. is went; rest he wente (or he went) against the rime.

    [542. ]E. at; rest of; see G 621.

    [548. ]E. This; rest The.

    [550. ]E. Hn. Ln. seinte.

    [553. ]E. Hn. Pt. seinte; Cp. seintz; Pt. seintes.
    
    Colophon.From E. Hn.; Hl. Here endeth the secounde Nonne hir tale of the lif of seint Cecilie.

    [554. ]E. toold was al; Cm. told was; rest ended was. E. Pt. seinte.

    [558. ]So E.; rest And vnder that he hadde a whit surplys.

    [559. ]E. which þat; rest omit which.

    [561. ]E. as he; Cm. that he; rest he.

    [562. ]E. hakeney; rest hors.

    [564. ]E. omits ll. 564, 565.

    [566. ]E. Hn. vpon; rest on.

    [569. ]E. to wondren; rest omit to.

    [574. ]E. Hn. heeng; Hl. heng; Cm. Cp. hyng.

    [586. ]E. som; rest this.

    [589. ]E. Hn. saugh; Pt. segh.

    [591. ]E. omits that.

    [593. ]E. omits good.

    [594. ]E. certein; rest certes.

    [603. ]E. Cm. craftily; rest thriftily.

    [621. ]E. for; Hl. of; rest at.

    [627. ]E. this tale; Cm. this; rest thus.

    [663. ]Cm. Hl. yit; rest omit. E. telle; Cm. speke; rest talke.

    [672. ]E. Cm. lakke; rest lakken. E. of oure; rest omit of.

    [681. ]E. omits it.

    [686. ]E. Cm. Which this; rest Which that this; cf ll. 684, 691, 701 (yemán).

    [698. ]E. his; rest this. E. Cm. rekke; Cp. recche I; Hl Pt. Ln. recche the.

    [706. ]So Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. omits after, having heer only.

    [711. ]E. that; rest so.

    [717. ]E. And; rest But.

    [728. ]E. omits a.

    [740. ]E. Pt. Ln. Hl. For so; but Cp. omits For.

    [761. ]E. omits how.

    [762. ]E. Cm. papeer; Ln. papere; Lich. papire; Cp. Pt. Hl. paupere. (Tyrwhitt reads pepere.)

    [764. ]The MSS. have lampe, laumpe, lamp.

    [767. ]Lich. Pt. eyre; Ln. eyere; E. eyr; Cm. ayr; Cp. Hl. aier.

    [775. ]E. in; Cm. &; rest on.

    [776. ]E. And; rest Of.

    [782. ]E. Cm. a; Ln. in; rest on.

    [782. ]Cm. Pt. Ln. weye, leye; rest way, lay.

    [783. ]Cm. Pt. Ln. weye, leye; rest way, lay.

    [790. ]E. vertgrees; Li. Cm. Cp. Hl. verdegres; Pt. verdegrees.

    [792. ]E. Li. Hl. vrinals; Cm. vrynallis; Cp. Pt. vrinales.

    [803. ]E. purpos if; rest craft if that.

    [806. ]The MSS. all retain an.

    [808. ]Miswritten pottes in E.; Hl. poketts.

    [812. ]E. and; rest or.

    [813. ]Accent alum on the u.

    [817. ]E. And of oure; rest omit And of.

    [820. ]E. seuene; rest foure.

    [834. ]E. omits so.

    [836. ]E. oght hath; rest hath oght (ought).

    [838. ]E. Cm. Hl. Askauns; Ln. Ascance; rest Ascaunce

    [846. ]E. Cm. And; rest Al.

    [860. ]E. Pt. Hl. ynowe, rowe; Li. ynogh, rogh; Cm. I-nogh, rogh; Cp. ynough, rough.

    [861. ]E. Pt. Hl. ynowe, rowe; Li. ynogh, rogh; Cm. I-nogh, rogh; Cp. ynough, rough.

    [864. ]we (2)] E. it.

    [867. ]E. With; rest And.

    [868. ]Cm. I-mad vs; Hl. I-made vs; E. maad vs; rest vs made.

    [871. ]E. omits euer.

    [875. ]Cm. to; rest omit.

    [880. ]E. Inne at; rest in a.

    [881. ]E. brat; rest bak.

    [882. ]E. Li. the; rest this.

    [888. ]E. a Mile from hem; rest from hem a myle.

    [889. ]E. truste; rest trusteth.

    [890. ]E. And; rest Lo. E. smel; rest smellyng.

    [899. ]E. Ln. Lich. that; rest than.

    [902. ]dar] E. Ln. dare.

    [905. ]E. oft.

    [912. ]E. Cm. synke; rest sinken.

    [915. ]E. lepte; rest lepe, lepen.

    [918. ]E. lord is; rest is lord.

    [919. ]So E. Cm.; rest Nis ther no more wo ne anger ne ire.

    [922. ]E. Cm. along; rest long

    [927. ]E. fourthe; see l. 824.

    [930. ]Cm. Hl. long; rest along; see l. 922.

    [931. ]E. vs is; rest is vs.

    [938. ]Cm. I-swepid; Ln. yswepped; E. sweped; Cp. Pt. Hl. yswoped.

    [951. ]E. shal; rest wol, wil, wele.

    [952. ]E. bryngen; rest bringe.

    [953. ]E. omits sirs.

    [956. ]E. And; rest But.

    [962. ]E. euery; rest al, alle. Cm. schynyth; Ln. schyneth; Hl. schineth; E. seineth; Cp. semeth.

    [963. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. it; E. Cm. Hl. omit it.

    [964. ]E. to; rest at.

    [965. ]E. Nis; rest Ne is.

    [966. ]E. omits lo.

    [967. ]E. Cm. wiseste; rest wisest.

    [972. ]E. was; rest is. Cf. l. 987.

    [976. ]E. sleighte; Hl. sleight; rest sleightes.

    [978. ]E. lyne myghte; rest myghte lyuen.

    [979. ]E. nas; Ln. ne is; rest nis, nys.

    [991. ]Cp. Pt Ln. tellen; rest telle.

    [993. ]E. desclaundre; rest sclaundre; see l. 998.

    [994. ]E. Al-though that; rest omit that.

    [997. ]E. o; rest a.

    [1002. ]Cm. apostellis; Li. aposteles; E. apostles.

    [1004. ]E. Hl. a blame; rest omit a.

    [1008. ]Cm. Remeuyth; E. Remoeueth.

    [1011. ]F. herketh.

    [1012. ]E. omits an.

    [1013. ]E. had dwelled; rest dwelled hadde (or had).

    [1043. ]E. Cm. a thyng; rest omit a.

    [1045. ]E. Ln. In-to; rest Vn-to.

    [1046. ]E. or; rest and.

    [1047. ]E. the; Hl. your; rest is your.

    [1056. ]E. if that; rest and if (or yif.)

    [1059. ]Cp. Hl. heed; E. Li. heede.

    [1061. ]After sir, E. wrongly inserts quod he.

    [1073. ]E. Cm. false; rest fals.

    [1078. ]Hn. Hl. conceyt, deceyt; E. conceite, deceite.

    [1079. ]Hn. Hl. conceyt, deceyt; E. conceite, deceite.

    [1080. ]E. for; rest to.

    [1085. ]E. his; Cm. heigh; rest thy.

    [1087. ]Cm. that, which seems required; rest omit.

    [1101. ]E. heede; Hl. heed; Cm. hed.

    [1103. ]E. Cm. hadde it; rest it hadde.

    [1106. ]Cm. Cp. say; E. saugh.

    [1111. ]E. Cm. soothly; rest schortly.

    [1112. ]Hl. took; E. toke.

    [1113. ]E. Cm. hem; rest it.

    [1118. ]E. to the; rest omit to.

    [1120. ]Hl. Cp. Tak; E. Taake.

    [1123. ]E. to whiche; Cm. to whiche that; rest whiche that.

    [1127. ]E. I wol nat; Hl. with-outen; Cm. with-outyn; the rest withoute (or without.)

    [1128. ]E. omits it.

    [1135. ]E. to yow; rest omit to.

    [1137. ]Hl. Cp. Pt. schitte.

    [1147. ]Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Li. crosselet. So in 1153.

    [1149. ]other (2)] E. Li. or; Pt. or ellis.

    [1155. ]Cm. Hl. that; E. om.; rest as. E. Cm. heer; rest om.

    [1157. ]E. Cm. cole; rest coles. E. that; Cm. that the; rest the.

    [1159. ]Li. Pt. Ln. fals; rest false.

    [1160. ]E. he took; rest omit he.

    [1162. ]E. lemaille; but Cm. lymayle, lymayl; see l. 853.

    [1163. ]E. lemaille; but Cm. lymayle, lymayl; see l. 853.

    [1164. ]E. lemaille; but Cm. lymayle, lymayl; see l. 853.

    [1171. ]E. terned; Cm. ternede; rest torned, turned. E. he coude.

    [1175. ]E. Cp. that he; rest omit that.

    [1177. ]E. this; rest his; see l. 1189.

    [1179. ]Cm. couchede; Cp. couchide; rest couched.

    [1188. ]Cm. Pt. whilis; Hl. Lichf. whiles; E. whils.

    [1189. ]So E.; Cm. with sory grace (see l. 665). Most MSS. have I shrewe his face, and make l. 1188 end with him wyped has.

    [1190. ]E. has aboue vp on; Cm. the same, but omitting it; Hl. abouen on; the rest vpon abouen.

    [1191. ]Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Cp. crosselet.

    [1195. ]E. myrie; Cm. Cp. merye; rest mery.

    [1200. ]E. abouen it; rest aboue.

    [1203. ]the] E. that.

    [1205. ]Lichf. Cp. Pt. stondeth; Ln. Hl. stonde; Cm. stand; E. sit.

    [1206. ]ye] E. I.

    [1214. ]E. conceite.

    [1226. ]Cm. ne; rest omit.

    [1227. ]E. taak; rest taketh.

    [1228. ]E. eek; rest omit.

    [1229. ]Tyrwhitt reads Of thilke; I propose—As of this teyne.

    [1236. ]E. What that heer is; rest Look what ther is.

    [1239. ]E. omits ll. 1238, 1239. From Lichf.

    [1242. ]E. Hl. omit that; found in Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln.

    [1247. ]Hl. subtilite; Cm. sotylete; E. subtiltee; rest sotilte, sotiltie; see l. 620.

    [1249. ]E. preest; rest chanoun.

    [1260. ]E. he; rest om.

    [1265. ]Hl. keep; E. kepe; Cm. keepe; rest hede.

    [1268. ]E. omits Was.

    [1272. ]Lichf. Ln. pouder; Cm. poudere; E. Cp. poudre.

    [1274. ]E. terve; Cm. Pt. turne; rest torne.

    [1277. ]E. Cm. Iet (= jet); Hl. get; Ln. gett; Cp. Pt. gette.

    [1283. ]Cm. goode: E. good; see l. 1295. Cp. Pt. Ln. The preest supposede nothing but wel.

    [1284. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. But busyed him faste, and was wonder fayn.

    [1286. ]E. ne kan; rest omit ne.

    [1292. ]So all.

    [1295. ]Cm. Hl. goode; E. good; rest omit.

    [1301. ]E. Cm. alle; rest omit; read al.

    [1308. ]Cm. his; E. the; rest this.

    [1316. ]E. the water; rest water and.

    [1318. ]E. omits he.

    [1319. ]Cp. Hl. took; Cm. tok; E. tooke.

    [1328. ]E. a; rest I.

    [1336. ]E. it shal; Ln. schal he; rest shal it.

    [1339. ]E. seye; Cm. sey.

    [1344. ]E. man; rest noon (non).

    [1353. ]E. receite; Lichf. Cp. Hl. receyt.

    [1371. ]E. Cp. knewen; Cm. knewyn; rest knewe. Ln. subtilite; Cm. subtilete; E. soutiltee; see ll. 620, 1247.

    [1377. ]E. or; rest and.

    [1387. ]E. Cm. omit hir.

    [1390. ]E. Hl. vnnethe; rest vnnethes.