#  8.2 The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale 

 



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## **The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue**

554 **Whan ended was the lyf of Seinte Cecile,**  
 When the life of Saint Cecile was ended,  
555 **Er we hadde riden fully fyve mile,**  
 Before we had ridden a good five miles,  
556 **At Boghtoun under Blee us gan atake**  
 At Boghtoun under Blee overtook us   
557 **A man that clothed was in clothes blake,**  
 A man who was clothed in black clothes,  
558 **And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys.**  
 And underneath that he had a white surplice.  
559 **His hakeney, that was al pomely grys,**  
 His riding horse, that was all dapple gray,  
560 **So swatte that it wonder was to see;**  
 So sweated that it was a wonder to see;  
561 **It semed as he had priked miles three.**  
 It seemed as if he had spurred hard for three miles.  
562 **The hors eek that his yeman rood upon**  
 The horse also that his yeoman rode upon  
563 **So swatte that unnethe myghte it gon.**  
 So sweated that it could hardly move.  
564 **Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye;**  
 About the collar stood the foam very high;  
565 **He was of foom al flekked as a pye.**  
 He was by foam all flecked like a magpie.  
566 **A male tweyfoold on his croper lay;**  
 A double bag on his crupper lay;  
567 **It semed that he caried lite array.**  
 It seemed that he carried little gear.  
568 **Al light for somer rood this worthy man,**  
 All lightly clad for summer rode this worthy man,  
569 **And in myn herte wondren I bigan**  
 And in my heart I began to wonder  
570 **What that he was til that I understood**  
 What he was until I understood  
571 **How that his cloke was sowed to his hood,**  
 How his cloak was sewn to his hood,  
572 **For which, whan I hadde longe avysed me,**  
 For which, when I had long thought about it,  
573 **I demed hym som chanoun for to be.**  
 I judged him to be some sort of canon.  
574 **His hat heeng at his bak doun by a laas,**  
 His hat hung at his back down by a strap,  
575 **For he hadde riden moore than trot or paas;**  
 For he had ridden at more than a trot or a walk;  
576 **He hadde ay priked lik as he were wood.**  
 He had always spurred as if he were crazy.  
577 **A clote-leef he hadde under his hood**  
 A burdock-leaf he had under his hood  
578 **For swoot and for to keep his heed from heete.**  
 For sweat and to keep his head from heat.  
579 **But it was joye for to seen hym swete!**  
 But what a joy it was to see him sweat!  
580 **His forheed dropped as a stillatorie**  
 His forehead dripped like a still  
581 **Were ful of plantayne and of paritorie.**  
 Full of the herbs plantain and pellitory.  
582 **And whan that he was come, he gan to crye,**  
 And when he was come to us, he began to cry out,  
583 **"God save," quod he, "this joly compaignye!**  
 "God save," said he, "this jolly company!  
584 **Faste have I priked," quod he, "for youre sake,**  
 Fast have I spurred," said he, "for your sake,  
585 **By cause that I wolde yow atake,**  
 Because I wanted to overtake you,  
586 **To riden in this myrie compaignye."**  
 To ride in this merry company."  
587 **His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,**  
 His yeoman also was full of courtesy,  
588 **And seyde, "Sires, now in the morwe-tyde**  
 And said, "Sirs, just now in the morning time  
589 **I saugh yow ryde out of youre hostelrie,**  
 I saw you ride out of your hostelry,  
590 **And warned heer my lord and my soverayn,**  
 And told my lord here and my sovereign,  
591 **Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn**  
 Who is very eager to ride with you   
592 **For his desport; he loveth daliaunce."**  
 For his pleasure; he loves sociability."

593 **"Freend, for thy warnyng God yeve thee good chaunce,"**  
 "Friend, for thy telling him God give thee good luck,"  
594 **Thanne seyde oure Hoost, "for certein it wolde seme**  
 Then said our Host, "for certainly it would seem  
595 **Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme.**  
 Thy lord is wise, and as I can well judge.  
596 **He is ful jocunde also, dar I leye!**  
 He is very cheerful also, I dare wager!  
597 **Can he oght telle a myrie tale or tweye,**  
 Can he in any way tell a merry tale or two,  
598 **With which he glade may this compaignye?"**  
 With which he may gladden this company?"

599 **"Who, sire? My lord? Ye, ye, withouten lye,**  
 "Who, sir? My lord? Yes, yes, without lie,  
600 **He kan of murthe and eek of jolitee**  
 He knows about mirth and also about jollity  
601 **Nat but ynough; also, sire, trusteth me,**  
 More than enough; also, sir, trust me,  
602 **And ye hym knewe as wel as do I,**  
 If you knew him as well as do I,  
603 **Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily**  
 You would wonder how well and craftily  
604 **He koude werke, and that in sondry wise.**  
 He knows how to work, and that in a variety of ways.  
605 **He hath take on hym many a greet emprise,**  
 He has taken on him many a great enterprise,  
606 **Which were ful hard for any that is heere**  
 Which would be very hard for any one who is here  
607 **To brynge aboute, but they of hym it leere.**  
 To bring about, unless they learn it from him.  
608 **As hoomly as he rit amonges yow,**  
 Despite how modestly he rides amongst you,  
609 **If ye hym knewe, it wolde be for youre prow.**  
 If you knew him, it would be to your advantage.  
610 **Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce**  
 You would not forgo his acquaintance  
611 **For muchel good, I dar leye in balaunce**  
 For great riches, I dare wager on that  
612 **Al that I have in my possessioun.**  
 All that I have in my possession.  
613 **He is a man of heigh discrecioun;**  
 He is a man of great discretion;  
614 **I warne yow wel, he is a passyng man."**  
 I tell you indeed, he is a remarkable man."

615 **"Wel," quod oure Hoost, "I pray thee, tel me than,**  
 "Well," said our Host, "I pray thee, tell me then,  
616 **Is he a clerk, or noon? Telle what he is."**  
 Is he a clerk, or not? Tell what he is."

617 **"Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, ywis,"**  
 "Nay, he is greater than a clerk, indeed,"  
618 **Seyde this Yeman, "and in wordes fewe,**  
 Said this Yeoman, "and in few words,  
619 **Hoost, of his craft somwhat I wol yow shewe.**  
 Host, I will show you something of his craft.

620 **"I seye, my lord kan swich subtilitee --**  
 "I say, my lord knows such esoteric science --  
621 **But al his craft ye may nat wite at me,**  
 But all his craft you can not know from me,  
622 **And somwhat helpe I yet to his wirkyng --**  
 And yet somewhat I help in his work --  
623 **That al this ground on which we been ridyng,**  
 That all this ground on which we are riding,  
624 **Til that we come to Caunterbury toun,**  
 Until we come to Canterbury town,  
625 **He koude al clene turnen up-so-doun,**  
 He could turn all completely upside down,  
626 **And pave it al of silver and of gold."**  
 And pave it all with silver and with gold."

627 **And whan this Yeman hadde this tale ytold**  
 And when this Yeoman had this tale told  
628 **Unto oure Hoost, he seyde, "Benedicitee!**  
 Unto our Host, he said, "Bless you!  
629 **This thyng is wonder merveillous to me,**  
 This thing is wonderfully marvelous to me,  
630 **Syn that thy lord is of so heigh prudence,**  
 Since thy lord is of such great prudence,  
631 **By cause of which men sholde hym reverence,**  
 Because of which men should reverence him,  
632 **That of his worshipe rekketh he so lite.**  
 That he cares so little for his own self-respect.  
633 **His overslope nys nat worth a myte,**  
 His outer garment is not worth a fraction of a penny,  
634 **As in effect, to hym, so moot I go,**  
 Because in fact, to him, as I may go (I swear),   
635 **It is al baudy and totore also.**  
 It is all dirty and tattered also.  
636 **Why is thy lord so sluttissh, I the preye,**  
 Why is thy lord so slovenly, I pray thee,  
637 **And is of power bettre clooth to beye,**  
 And has the power to buy better cloth,  
638 **If that his dede accorde with thy speche?**  
 If his deeds accord with thy speech?  
639 **Telle me that, and that I thee biseche."**  
 Tell me that, and of that I beseech thee."

640 **"Why?" quod this Yeman, "wherto axe ye me?**  
 "Why?" said this Yeoman, "why do you ask me?  
641 **God help me so, for he shal nevere thee!**  
 So help me God, for he shall never prosper!  
642 **(But I wol nat avowe that I seye,**  
 (But I will not publicly acknowledge what I say,  
643 **And therfore keepe it secree, I yow preye.)**  
 And therefore keep it secret, I pray you.)  
644 **He is to wys, in feith, as I bileeve.**  
 He is too wise, in faith, as I believe.  
645 **That that is overdoon, it wol nat preeve**  
 That which is done too much, it will not turn out  
646 **Aright, as clerkes seyn; it is a vice.**  
 Right, as clerks say; it is a vice.  
647 **Wherfore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce.**  
 Therefore in that I hold him ignorant and foolish.  
648 **For whan a man hath over-greet a wit,**  
 For when a man has too great a wit,  
649 **Ful oft hym happeth to mysusen it.**  
 Very often he happens to misuse it.  
650 **So dooth my lord, and that me greveth soore;**  
 So does my lord, and that sorely grieves me;  
651 **God it amende! I kan sey yow namoore."**  
 God amend it! I can tell you no more."

652 **"Ther-of no fors, good Yeman," quod oure Hoost;**  
 "That does not matter, good Yeoman," said our Host;  
653 **"Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost,**  
 "Since thou knowest of the cunning of thy lord,  
654 **Telle how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,**  
 Tell how he does, I pray thee heartily,  
655 **Syn that he is so crafty and so sly.**  
 Since he is so crafty and so sly.  
656 **Where dwelle ye, if it to telle be?"**  
 Where do you dwell, if it can be told?"

657 **"In the suburbes of a toun," quod he,**  
 "In the outskirts of a town," said he,  
658 **"Lurkynge in hernes and in lanes blynde,**  
 "Lurking in hiding places and in dead-end alleys,  
659 **Whereas thise robbours and thise theves by kynde**  
 Where these robbers and these thieves by nature  
660 **Holden hir pryvee fereful residence,**  
 Hold their private fearful residence,  
661 **As they that dar nat shewen hir presence;**  
 Like those who dare not show their presence;  
662 **So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe."**  
 So fare we, if I shall say the truth."

663 **"Now," quod oure Hoost, "yit lat me talke to the.**  
 "Now," said our Host, "yet let me talk to thee.  
664 **Why artow so discoloured of thy face?"**  
 Why art thou so discolored in thy face?"

665 **"Peter!" quod he, "God yeve it harde grace,**  
 "Peter!" said he, "God give it bad luck,  
666 **I am so used in the fyr to blowe**  
 I am so used to blow in the fire   
667 **That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe.**  
 That it has changed my color, I believe.  
668 **I am nat wont in no mirour to prie,**  
 I am not accustomed to peer in any mirror,  
669 **But swynke soore and lerne multiplie.**  
 But to work hard and to learn to transmute metals.  
670 **We blondren evere and pouren in the fir,**  
 We blunder ever and stare in the fire,  
671 **And for al that we faille of oure desir,**  
 And despite all that, we fail to achieve our desire,  
672 **For evere we lakken oure conclusioun.**  
 For ever we lack our desired conclusion.  
673 **To muchel folk we doon illusioun,**  
 To many folk we do delusion,  
674 **And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,**  
 And borrow gold, be it a pound or two,  
675 **Or ten, or twelve, or manye sommes mo,**  
 Or ten, or twelve, or many greater sums,  
676 **And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,**  
 And make them believe, at the very least,  
677 **That of a pound we koude make tweye.**  
 That of one pound we could make two.  
678 **Yet is it fals, but ay we han good hope**  
 Yet is it false, but always we have good hope  
679 **It for to doon, and after it we grope.**  
 To do it, and after it we grope.  
680 **But that science is so fer us biforn,**  
 But that knowledge is so far ahead of us,  
681 **We mowen nat, although we hadden it sworn,**  
 We can not, although we had sworn it,  
682 **It overtake, it slit awey so faste.**  
 Overtake it, it slides away so fast.  
683 **It wole us maken beggers atte laste."**  
 It will make us beggars at the last."

684 **Whil this Yeman was thus in his talkyng,**  
 While this Yeoman was thus in his talking,  
685 **This Chanoun drough hym neer and herde al thyng**  
 This Canon drew himself nearer and heard every thing  
686 **Which this Yeman spak, for suspecioun**  
 Which this Yeoman spoke, for suspicion  
687 **Of mennes speche evere hadde this Chanoun.**  
 Of men's speech ever had this Canon.  
688 **For Catoun seith that he that gilty is**  
 For Cato says that he who is guilty  
689 **Demeth alle thyng be spoke of hym, ywis.**  
 Believes every thing is spoken about him, indeed.  
690 **That was the cause he gan so ny hym drawe**  
 That was the cause he did draw himself so near   
691 **To his Yeman, to herknen al his sawe.**  
 To his Yeoman, to hear all his speech.  
692 **And thus he seyde unto his Yeman tho:**  
 And thus he said unto his Yeoman then:  
693 **"Hoold thou thy pees and spek no wordes mo,**  
 "Hold thou thy peace and speak no more words,  
694 **For if thou do, thou shalt it deere abye.**  
 For if thou do, thou shalt dearly pay for it.  
695 **Thou sclaundrest me heere in this compaignye,**  
 Thou slanderest me here in this company,  
696 **And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde."**  
 And also revealest what thou shouldest hide."

697 **"Ye," quod oure Hoost, "telle on, what so bityde.**  
 "Yes," said our Host, "tell on, whataever may happen.  
698 **Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte!"**  
 Reckon all his threatening not worth a fraction of a penny!"   
699 **"In feith," quod he, "namoore I do but lyte."**  
 "In faith," said he, "I do (reckon him) but little any more."

700 **And whan this Chanon saugh it wolde nat bee,**  
 And when this Canon saw it would not be,  
701 **But his Yeman wolde telle his pryvetee,**  
 But that his Yeoman would tell his secrets,  
702 **He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.**  
 He fled away for true sorrow and shame.

703 **"A!" quod the Yeman, "heere shal arise game;**  
 "Ah!" said the Yeoman, "here shall arise some amusement;  
704 **Al that I kan anon now wol I telle.**  
 Right now I will tell all that I know.  
705 **Syn he is goon, the foule feend hym quelle!**  
 Since he is gone, may the foul fiend kill him!  
706 **For nevere heerafter wol I with hym meete**  
 For never hereafter will I meet with him   
707 **For peny ne for pound, I yow biheete.**  
 For penny nor for pound, I promise you.  
708 **He that me broghte first unto that game,**  
 He who brought me first unto that game,  
709 **Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame!**  
 Before he dies, may he have sorrow and shame!  
710 **For it is ernest to me, by my feith;**  
 For it is serious (not game) to me, by my faith;  
711 **That feele I wel, what so any man seith.**  
 That feel I well, whatever any man says.  
712 **And yet, for al my smert and al my grief,**  
 And yet, for all my pain and all my grief,  
713 **For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief,**  
 For all my sorrow, labor, and mischief,  
714 **I koude nevere leve it in no wise.**  
 I could never leave it in any way.  
715 **Now wolde God my wit myghte suffise**  
 Now I wish to God my wit might suffice  
716 **To tellen al that longeth to that art!**  
 To tell all that belongs to that art!  
717 **But nathelees yow wol I tellen part.**  
 But nonetheless you desire that I tell part.  
718 **Syn that my lord is goon, I wol nat spare;**  
 Since my lord is gone, I will not spare;  
719 **Swich thyng as that I knowe, I wol declare.**  
 Such things as what I know, I will declare.

*Heere endeth the Prologe of the Chanouns Yemannes Tale* .  
\[*Here ends the Prologue of the Canon's Yeoman's Tale*\]

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**The Canon's Yeoman's Tale**

*Heere bigynneth the Chanouns Yeman his Tale.*  
\[*Here begins the Canon's Yeoman's Tale*\]

 *Prima Pars*  
 \[*First Part\]*

720 **With this Chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer,**  
 With this Canon I have dwelt seven years,  
721 **And of his science am I never the neer.**  
 And as to his science I am never the nearer (to success).  
722 **Al that I hadde I have lost therby,**  
 All that I had I have lost thereby,  
723 **And, God woot, so hath many mo than I.**  
 And, God knows, so have many more than I.  
724 **Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay**  
 Where I was accustomed to be right fresh and gay  
725 **Of clothyng and of oother good array,**  
 Of clothing and of other splendid furnishings,  
726 **Now may I were an hose upon myn heed;**  
 Now may I wear a hose upon my head;  
727 **And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed,**  
 And whereas my color was both fresh and red,  
728 **Now is it wan and of a leden hewe --**  
 Now is it pale and of a leaden hue --  
729 **Whoso it useth, soore shal he rewe! --**  
 Whoever uses it (that art), sorely shall he rue! --  
730 **And of my swynk yet blered is myn ye.**  
 And by my work yet my eye is bleared.  
731 **Lo, which avantage is to multiplie!**  
 Lo, how profitable it is to transute metals!  
732 **That slidynge science hath me maad so bare**  
 That slippery science has made me so bare   
733 **That I have no good, wher that evere I fare;**  
 That I have no possessions, wherever I fare;  
734 **And yet I am endetted so therby**  
 And yet by this I am so indebted   
735 **Of gold that I have borwed, trewely,**  
 For gold that I have borrowed, truly,  
736 **That whil I lyve I shal it quite nevere.**  
 That while I live I shall never repay it.  
737 **Lat every man be war by me for evere!**  
 Let every man be warned by me forever!  
738 **What maner man that casteth hym therto,**  
 Whatever sort of man that applies himself to that,  
739 **If he continue, I holde his thrift ydo.**  
 If he continue, I consider his prosperity done for.  
740 **For so helpe me God, therby shal he nat wynne,**  
 For so help me God, he shall not profit thereby,  
741 **But empte his purs and make his wittes thynne.**  
 But empty his purse and make his wits thin.  
742 **And whan he thurgh his madnesse and folye**  
 And when he through his madness and folly  
743 **Hath lost his owene good thurgh jupartye,**  
 Has lost his own possessions in this dangerous business,  
744 **Thanne he exciteth oother folk therto,**  
 Then he incites other folk to that,  
745 **To lesen hir good as he hymself hath do.**  
 To lose their possessions as he himself has done.  
746 **For unto shrewes joye it is and ese**  
 For unto scoundrels it is joy and ease  
747 **To have hir felawes in peyne and disese.**  
 To have their fellows in pain and hardship.  
748 **Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.**  
 Thus was I once taught by a clerk.  
749 **Of that no charge; I wol speke of oure werk.**  
 No matter about that; I will speak of our work.

750 **Whan we been there as we shul exercise**  
 When we are where we shall exercise  
751 **Oure elvysshe craft, we semen wonder wise,**  
 Our mysterious craft, we seem wonderfully wise,  
752 **Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte.**  
 Our terms are so scholarly and so strange.  
753 **I blowe the fir til that myn herte feynte.**  
 I blow the fire until my heart faints.  
754 **What sholde I tellen ech proporcion**  
 Why should I tell each proportion  
755 **Of thynges whiche that we werche upon --**  
 Of the things that we work upon --  
756 **As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be,**  
 As on five or six ounces, it may well be,  
757 **Of silver, or som oother quantitee --**  
 Of silver, or some other quantity --  
758 **And bisye me to telle yow the names**  
 And busy myself to tell you the names  
759 **Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames,**  
 Of orpiment (arsenic trisulfide), burned bones, iron flakes,  
760 **That into poudre grounden been ful smal;**  
 That are ground into very fine powder;  
761 **And in an erthen pot how put is al,**  
 And how all is put in an earthen pot,  
762 **And salt yput in, and also papeer,**  
 And salt put in, and also pepper,  
763 **Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer;**  
 Before these powders that I speak of here;  
764 **And wel ycovered with a lampe of glas;**  
 And well covered with a lamp-shaped vessel of glass;  
765 **And of muche oother thyng which that ther was;**  
 And of many other things which were there;  
766 **And of the pot and glasses enlutyng**  
 And sealing of the pot and glasses  
767 **That of the eyr myghte passe out nothyng;**  
 So that not a bit of the air could pass out;  
768 **And of the esy fir, and smart also,**  
 And of the slow fir, and fast also,  
769 **Which that was maad, and of the care and wo**  
 Which was made, and of the care and woe  
770 **That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng,**  
 That we had in purifying our materials,  
771 **And in amalgamyng and calcenyng**  
 And in blending and reducing to powder  
772 **Of quyksilver, yclept mercurie crude?**  
 Of quicksilver, called raw mercury?  
773 **For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude.**  
 Despite all our tricks we can not succeed.  
774 **Oure orpyment and sublymed mercurie,**  
 Our orpiment (arsenic trisulfide), and purified mercury,  
775 **Oure grounden litarge eek on the porfurie,**  
 Our litharge (lead monoxide) ground also on the porphyry mortar,  
776 **Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn --**  
 A certain number of ounces of each of these --  
777 **Noght helpeth us; oure labour is in veyn.**  
 Nothing helps us; our labor is in vain.  
778 **Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun,**  
 Also neither our spirit's vaporization,  
779 **Ne oure materes that lyen al fix adoun,**  
 Nor our materials that remain fixed in the pot,  
780 **Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng us availle,**  
 Can in any way help us in our working,  
781 **For lost is al oure labour and travaille;**  
 For all our labor and travail is lost;  
782 **And al the cost, a twenty devel waye,**  
 And all the expenditure, in the name of twenty devils,  
783 **Is lost also, which we upon it laye.**  
 Which we spent upon it, is lost also.

784 **Ther is also ful many another thyng**  
 There is also very many another thing  
785 **That is unto oure craft apertenyng.**  
 That pertains unto our craft.  
786 **Though I by ordre hem nat reherce kan,**  
 Though I can not list them in their proper order,  
787 **By cause that I am a lewed man,**  
 Because I am an unlearned man,  
788 **Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde,**  
 Yet will I tell them as they come to mind,  
789 **Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde:**  
 Though I can not set them in their proper categories:  
790 **As boole armonyak, verdegrees, boras,**  
 Such as armenian bol (red clay), verdigris (copper acetate), borax,  
791 **And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas,**  
 And various vessels made of clay and glass,  
792 **Oure urynales and oure descensories,**  
 Our urinals and our retorts,  
793 **Violes, crosletz, and sublymatories,**  
 Vials, crucibles, and sublimation vessels,  
794 **Cucurbites and alambikes eek,**  
 Vessels for distilling and alembics also,  
795 **And othere swiche, deere ynough a leek --**  
 And other such things, very expensive at the price of a leek --  
796 **Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle --**  
 There ia no need to list them all --  
797 **Watres rubifiyng, and boles galle,**  
 Liquids that cause reddening, and bull's gall,  
798 **Arsenyk, sal armonyak, and brymstoon;**  
 Arsenic, sal ammoniac, and brimstone;  
799 **And herbes koude I telle eek many oon,**  
 And herbs could I tell also many a one,  
800 **As egremoyne, valerian, and lunarie,**  
 Such as agrimony, valerian, and moonwort,  
801 **And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie;**  
 And other such things, if I wanted to tarry;  
802 **Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day,**  
 Our lamps burning both night and day,  
803 **To brynge aboute oure purpos, if we may;**  
 To bring about our purpose, if we can;  
804 **Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun,**  
 Also our furnace for reducing substances to powder,  
805 **And of watres albificacioun;**  
 And of whitening by liquids;  
806 **Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey,**  
 Unslaked lime, chalk, and white of an egg,  
807 **Poudres diverse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley,**  
 Various powders, ashes, dung, piss, and clay,  
808 **Cered pokkets, sal peter, vitriole,**  
 Waxed (waterproofed) packets, saltpeter, sulphuric acid,  
809 **And diverse fires maad of wode and cole;**  
 And various sorts of fires made of wood and coal;  
810 **Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat,**  
 Potassium nitrate, alkali, and purified salt,  
811 **And combust materes and coagulat;**  
 And burned materials and solidified;  
812 **Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oille**  
 Clay made with horse or man's hair, and oil  
813 **Of tartre, alum glas, berme, wort, and argoille,**  
 Of tartar, crystallized alum, yeast, unfermented malt, and argol,  
814 **Resalgar, and oure materes enbibyng,**  
 Arsenic, and soaking our materials,  
815 **And eek of oure materes encorporyng,**  
 And also of forming a compound of our materials,  
816 **And of oure silver citrinacioun,**  
 And of turning our silver to a yellow color,  
817 **Oure cementyng and fermentacioun,**  
 Our fusion by heat and fermentation,  
818 **Oure yngottes, testes, and many mo.**  
 Our casting molds, crucibles for testing, and many more.

819 **I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,**  
 I will tell you, as it was taught also to me,  
820 **The foure spirites and the bodies sevene,**  
 The four spirits and the seven metals  
821 **By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.**  
 By order, as often I heard my lord name them.

822 **The firste spirit quyksilver called is,**  
 The first spirit is called quicksilver,  
823 **The seconde orpyment, the thridde, ywis,**  
 The second orpiment (arsenic trisulfide), the third, indeed,  
824 **Sal armonyak, and the ferthe brymstoon.**  
 Sal ammoniac, and the fourth brimstone.  
825 **The bodyes sevene eek, lo, hem heere anoon:**  
 The seven metals also, lo, hear them now:  
826 **Sol gold is, and Luna silver we insist,**  
 Sun is gold, and Moon silver we say,  
827 **Mars iren, Mercurie quyksilver we clepe,**  
 Mars iron, Mercury we call quicksilver,  
828 **Saturnus leed, and Juppiter is tyn,**  
 Saturn lead, and Jupiter is tin,  
829 **And Venus coper, by my fader kyn!**  
 And Venus copper, by my father's kin!

830 **This cursed craft whoso wole excercise,**  
 Whoever will exercise this cursed craft,  
831 **He shal no good han that hym may suffise,**  
 He shall have no wealth that can be enough for him,  
832 **For al the good he spendeth theraboute**  
 For all the wealth he spends on this  
833 **He lese shal; therof have I no doute.**  
 He shall lose; of that have I no doubt.  
834 **Whoso that listeth outen his folie,**  
 Whoever desires to make public his folly,  
835 **Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie;**  
 Let him come forth and learn to transmute base metals;  
836 **And every man that oght hath in his cofre,**  
 And every man that has anything in his strong-box,  
837 **Lat hym appiere and wexe a philosophre.**  
 Let him appear and become an alchemist.  
838 **Ascaunce that craft is so light to leere?**  
 Is that craft were so easy to learn?  
839 **Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere,**  
 Nay, nay, God knows, be he monk or friar,  
840 **Preest or chanoun, or any oother wyght,**  
 Priest or canon, or any other creature,  
841 **Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght**  
 Though he sit at his book both day and night  
842 **In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore,**  
 In learning of this mysterious foolish lore,  
843 **Al is in veyn, and parde, muchel moore.**  
 All is in vain, and by God, much more.  
844 **To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee --**  
 To teach an ignorant man this ingenious skill --  
845 **Fy! Spek nat therof, for it wol nat bee.**  
 Fie! Speak not about that, for it will not be.  
846 **And konne he letterure or konne he noon,**  
 And know he book learning or know he none,  
847 **As in effect, he shal fynde it al oon.**  
 In fact, he shall find it all the same.  
848 **For bothe two, by my savacioun,**  
 For both of the two, by my salvation,  
849 **Concluden in multiplicacioun**  
 Conclude in transmutation  
850 **Ylike wel, whan they han al ydo;**  
 Equally well, when they are all done;  
851 **This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two.**  
 This is to say, they fail, both of the two.

852 **Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille**  
 Yet I forgot to make enumeration   
853 **Of watres corosif, and of lymaille,**  
 Of acidic waters, and of metal filings,  
854 **And of bodies mollificacioun,**  
 And of the softening of materials,  
855 **And also of hire induracioun;**  
 And also of their hardening;  
856 **Oilles, ablucions, and metal fusible --**  
 Oils, cleansings, and fusible metal --  
857 **To tellen al wolde passen any bible**  
 To tell all would be longer than any large book  
858 **That owher is; wherfore, as for the beste,**  
 That is anywhere; therefore, as for the best,  
859 **Of alle thise names now wol I me reste,**  
 Of all these names now I will rest myself,  
860 **For, as I trowe, I have yow toold ynowe**  
 For, as I believe, I have told you enough  
861 **To reyse a feend, al looke he never so rowe.**  
 To raise a fiend, though he look never so rough.

862 **A! Nay! Lat be; the philosophres stoon,**  
 Ah! Nay! Let be; the philosophers' stone,  
863 **Elixer clept, we sechen faste echoon;**  
 Called Elixir, we seek earnestly each one of us;  
864 **For hadde we hym, thanne were we siker ynow.**  
 For if we had it, then we would be very well off.  
865 **But unto God of hevene I make avow,**  
 But unto God of heaven I make avow,  
866 **For al oure craft, whan we han al ydo,**  
 Despite all our craft, when we have all done,  
867 **And al oure sleighte, he wol nat come us to.**  
 And all our skill, he will not come us to.  
868 **He hath ymaad us spenden muchel good,**  
 He has made us spend much money,  
869 **For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood,**  
 For sorrow of which we almost go mad,  
870 **But that good hope crepeth in oure herte,**  
 Except that good hope creeps into our heart,  
871 **Supposynge evere, though we sore smerte,**  
 Supposing ever, though we sorely suffer,  
872 **To be releeved by hym afterward.**  
 To be relieved by him afterward.  
873 **Swich supposyng and hope is sharp and hard;**  
 Such supposing and hope is sharp and hard;  
874 **I warne yow wel, it is to seken evere.**  
 I warn you well, it is to keep seeking forever.  
875 **That futur temps hath maad men to dissevere,**  
 That future tense has made men to be separated,  
876 **In trust therof, from al that evere they hadde.**  
 In trust on that, from all that ever they had.  
877 **Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde,**  
 Yet of that art they can not be satisfied,  
878 **For unto hem it is a bitter sweete --**  
 For unto them it is a bitter sweet --  
879 **So semeth it -- for nadde they but a sheete**  
 So it seems -- for had they nothing but a sheet  
880 **Which that they myghte wrappe hem inne a-nyght,**  
 Which they might wrap themselves in at night,  
881 **And a brat to walken inne by daylyght,**  
 And a rough cloak to walk in by daylight,  
882 **They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft.**  
 They would sell them and spend it on this craft.  
883 **They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft.**  
 They can not stop until nothing is left.  
884 **And everemoore, where that evere they goon,**  
 And evermore, wherever they go,  
885 **Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon.**  
 Men can know them by the smell of brimstone.  
886 **For al the world they stynken as a goot;**  
 For all the world they stink like a goat;  
887 **Hir savour is so rammyssh and so hoot**  
 Their odor is so like a goat and so intense  
888 **That though a man from hem a mile be,**  
 That though a man be a mile from them,  
889 **The savour wole infecte hym, trusteth me.**  
 The odor will infect him, trust me.  
890 **Lo, thus by smellyng and threedbare array,**  
 Lo, thus by smelling and threadbare array,  
891 **If that men liste, this folk they knowe may.**  
 If men so desire, this folk they can know.  
892 **And if a man wole aske hem pryvely**  
 And if a man will ask them privily  
893 **Why they been clothed so unthriftily,**  
 Why they are clothed so poorly,  
894 **They right anon wol rownen in his ere,**  
 They right away will whisper in his ear,  
895 **And seyn that if that they espied were,**  
 And say that if they were recognized,  
896 **Men wolde hem slee by cause of hir science.**  
 Men would slay them because of their knowledge.  
897 **Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence!**  
 Lo, thus these folk betray innocence!

898 **Passe over this; I go my tale unto.**  
 Pass over this; I go unto my tale.  
899 **Er that the pot be on the fir ydo,**  
 Before the pot on the fire is done,  
900 **Of metals with a certeyn quantitee,**  
 With a specific quantity of metals,  
901 **My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he --**  
 My lord tempers them, and no man but he --  
902 **Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely --**  
 Now he is gone, I dare say boldly --  
903 **For, as men seyn, he kan doon craftily.**  
 For, as men say, he can work craftily.  
904 **Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name;**  
 Although I know well he has such a reputation;  
905 **And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame.**  
 And yet very often he gets in trouble.  
906 **And wite ye how? Ful ofte it happeth so**  
 And do you know how? Full often it so happens  
907 **The pot tobreketh, and farewel, al is go!**  
 The pot shatters, and farewell, all is gone!  
908 **Thise metals been of so greet violence**  
 These metals are of such great violence  
909 **Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence,**  
 The sides of our vessels can not make resistance to them,  
910 **But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon;**  
 Unless they were made of lime and stone;  
911 **They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon.**  
 They pierce so, and through the wall they go.  
912 **And somme of hem synken into the ground --**  
 And some of them sink into the ground --  
913 **Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound --**  
 Thus have we quickly lost many a pound --  
914 **And somme are scatered al the floor aboute;**  
 And some are scattered all over the floor;  
915 **Somme lepe into the roof. Withouten doute,**  
 Some leap into the roof. Without doubt,  
916 **Though that the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe,**  
 Though the fiend does not show himself to our sight,  
917 **I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe!**  
 I believe he is with us, that same scoundrel!  
918 **In helle, where that he is lord and sire,**  
 In hell, where he is lord and sire,  
919 **Nis ther moore wo, ne moore rancour ne ire.**  
 There is no greater woe, nor greater rancor nor ire.  
920 **Whan that oure pot is broke, as I have sayd,**  
 When our pot is broken, as I have said,  
921 **Every man chit and halt hym yvele apayd.**  
 Every man chides and considers himsef ill used.

922 **Somme seyde it was long on the fir makyng;**  
 Some said it was due to the making of the fire;  
923 **Somme seyde nay, it was on the blowyng --**  
 Some said nay, it was due to the blowing --  
924 **Thanne was I fered, for that was myn office.**  
 Then was I afraid, for that was my job.  
925 **"Straw!" quod the thridde, "ye been lewed and nyce.**  
 "Rubbish!" said the third, "you are ignorant and foolish.  
926 **It was nat tempred as it oghte be."**  
 It was not tempered as it ought to be."  
927 **"Nay," quod the fourthe, "stynt and herkne me.**  
 "Nay," said the fourth, "be quiet and listen to me.  
928 **By cause oure fir ne was nat maad of beech,**  
 Because our fire was not made of beech,  
929 **That is the cause and oother noon, so thee'ch!"**  
 That is the cause and none other, as I may prosper!"  
930 **I kan nat telle wheron it was long,**  
 I can not tell what it was due to,  
931 **But wel I woot greet strif is us among.**  
 But well I know great strife is among us.

932 **"What," quod my lord, "ther is namoore to doone;**  
 "Well," said my lord, "there is no more to do;  
933 **Of thise perils I wol be war eftsoone.**  
 Of these perils I will be wary next time.  
934 **I am right siker that the pot was crased.**  
 I am very sure that the pot was cracked.  
935 **Be as be may, be ye no thyng amased;**  
 Be as be may, be you in no way amazed;  
936 **As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swithe,**  
 As our practice is, have the floor quickly swept,  
937 **Plukke up youre hertes and beeth glad and blithe."**  
 Pluck up your hearts and be glad and blithe."

938 **The mullok on an heep ysweped was,**  
 The rubbish was swept in a heap,  
939 **And on the floor ycast a canevas,**  
 And on the floor was cast a canvas,  
940 **And al this mullok in a syve ythrowe,**  
 And all this rubbish thrown in a sieve   
941 **And sifted, and ypiked many a throwe.**  
 And sifted, and picked over many a time.  
942 **"Pardee," quod oon, "somwhat of oure metal**  
 "By God," said one, "something of our metal  
943 **Yet is ther heere, though that we han nat al.**  
 Yet is there here, though we have not all.  
944 **And though this thyng myshapped have as now,**  
 And though this thing may have turned out badly this time,  
945 **Another tyme it may be well ynow.**  
 Another time it may go well indeed.  
946 **Us moste putte oure good in aventure.**  
 We must put our possessions at risk.  
947 **A marchant, pardee, may nat ay endure,**  
 A merchant, by God, may not endure forever,  
948 **Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee.**  
 Trust me well, in his prosperity.  
949 **Somtyme his good is drowned in the see,**  
 Sometimes his goods are drowned in the sea,  
950 **And somtyme comth it sauf unto the londe."**  
 And sometime they come safely unto the land."

951 **"Pees!" quod my lord, "the nexte tyme I wol fonde**  
 "Quiet!" said my lord, "the next time I will endeavor  
952 **To bryngen oure craft al in another plite,**  
 To bring our experiment to an entirely different state,  
953 **And but I do, sires, lat me han the wite.**  
 And unless I do, sirs, let me have the blame.  
954 **Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I woot."**  
 There was something wrong, I well know."

955 **Another seyde the fir was over-hoot --**  
 Another said the fire was too hot --  
956 **But, be it hoot or coold, I dar seye this,**  
 But, be it hot or cold, I dare say this,  
957 **That we concluden everemoore amys.**  
 That we conclude always with something gone wrong.  
958 **We faille of that which that we wolden have,**  
 We fail to get that which we want to have,  
959 **And in oure madnesse everemoore we rave.**  
 And in our madness always we rave.  
960 **And whan we been togidres everichoon,**  
 And when we are all together every one,  
961 **Every man semeth a Salomon.**  
 Every man seems a Solomon.  
962 **But al thyng which that shineth as the gold**  
 But every thing thah shines like gold  
963 **Nis nat gold, as that I have herd told;**  
 Is not gold, as I have heard said;  
964 **Ne every appul that is fair at eye**  
 Nor every apple that is fair to the eye  
965 **Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye.**  
 Is not good, whatever men may chatter or cry.  
966 **Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us:**  
 Right so, lo, it fares among us:  
967 **He that semeth the wiseste, by Jhesus,**  
 He who seems the wisest, by Jesus,  
968 **Is moost fool, whan it cometh to the preef;**  
 Is the greatest fool, when it comes to the proof;  
969 **And he that semeth trewest is a theef.**  
 And he that seems truest is a thief.  
970 **That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende,**  
 That shall you know, before I from you wend,  
971 **By that I of my tale have maad an ende.**  
 By the time that I have made an end of my tale.

*Explicit prima pars*  
\[*The first part ends*\]  
  
*Et sequitur pars secunda*  
\[*And the second part follows*\]

972 **Ther is a chanoun of religioun**  
 There is a canon regular  
973 **Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun,**  
 Amongst us, who would infect a whole town,  
974 **Thogh it as greet were as was Nynyvee,**  
 Though it were as big as was Nineveh,  
975 **Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three.**  
 Rome, Alexandria, Troy, and any three others.  
976 **His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse**  
 His tricks and his infinite falseness  
977 **Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse,**  
 No man could write, as I guess,  
978 **Though that he myghte lyve a thousand yeer.**  
 Though he might live a thousand years.  
979 **In al this world of falshede nis his peer,**  
 In all this world is not his equal in falsehood,  
980 **For in his termes he wol hym so wynde,**  
 For in his technical terms he will so wrap himself,  
981 **And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde,**  
 And speak his words in so deceitful a manner,  
982 **Whanne he commune shal with any wight,**  
 When he shall converse with any person,  
983 **That he wol make hym doten anonright,**  
 That he will make a fool of him right away,  
984 **But it a feend be, as hymselven is.**  
 Unless it be a fiend, as he himself is.  
985 **Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this,**  
 Very many a man has he beguiled before this,  
986 **And wole, if that he lyve may a while;**  
 And will, if he may live a while longer;  
987 **And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile**  
 And yet men ride and walk very many a mile  
988 **Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,**  
 To seek him and have his acquaintance,  
989 **Noght knowynge of his false governaunce.**  
 Not knowing of his false way of life.  
990 **And if yow list to yeve me audience,**  
 And if you want to listen to me,  
991 **I wol it tellen heere in youre presence.**  
 I will tell it here in your presence.

992 **But worshipful chanons religious,**  
 But worshipful religious canons,  
993 **Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous,**  
 Do not think that I slander your house,  
994 **Although that my tale of a chanoun bee.**  
 Although my tale be about a canon.  
995 **Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee,**  
 There is some scoundrel in every order, by God,  
996 **And God forbede that al a compaignye**  
 And God forbid that a whole company  
997 **Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye.**  
 Should suffer for one single man's folly.  
998 **To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente,**  
 To slander you is not at all my intention,  
999 **But to correcten that is mys I mente.**  
 But I mean to correct what is amiss.  
1000 **This tale was nat oonly toold for yow,**  
 This tale was not only told for you,  
1001 **But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how**  
 But also for many others; you know well   
1002 **That among Cristes apostelles twelve**  
 That among Christ's twelve apostles   
1003 **Ther nas no traytour but Judas hymselve.**  
 There was no traitor but Judas himself.  
1004 **Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame**  
 Then why should all the remnant have the blame  
1005 **That giltlees were? By yow I seye the same,**  
 Who were guiltless? Concerning you I say the same,  
1006 **Save oonly this, if ye wol herkne me:**  
 Save only this, if you will listen to me:  
1007 **If any Judas in youre covent be,**  
 If any Judas be in your convent,  
1008 **Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede,**  
 Remove him quickly, I advise you,  
1009 **If shame or los may causen any drede.**  
 If the prospect of shame or dishonor can cause any fear.  
1010 **And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye,**  
 And be not at all displeased, I pray you,  
1011 **But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.**  
 But in this case listen to what I shall say.

1012 **In Londoun was a preest, an annueleer,**  
 In London was a priest, a chantry priest,  
1013 **That therinne dwelled hadde many a yeer,**  
 Who therein had dwelled many a year,  
1014 **Which was so plesaunt and so servysable**  
 Who was so pleasant and so attentive  
1015 **Unto the wyf, where as he was at table,**  
 Unto the woman, where he took his meals,  
1016 **That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye**  
 That she would not allow him to pay anything  
1017 **For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye,**  
 For board nor clothing, went he never so gay,  
1018 **And spendyng silver hadde he right ynow.**  
 And he had plenty of spending money.  
1019 **Therof no fors; I wol procede as now,**  
 That does not not matter; I will now proceed,  
 And tell forth my tale of the canon  
1021 **That broghte this preest to confusioun.**  
 Who brought this priest to ruin.

1022 **This false chanon cam upon a day**  
 This false canon came upon one day  
1023 **Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay,**  
 Unto this priest's chamber, where he stayed,  
1024 **Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn**  
 Beseeching him to lend him a certain amount  
1025 **Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn.**  
 Of gold, and he would pay it back to him again.  
1026 **"Leene me a marc," quod he, "but dayes three,**  
 "Loan me a mark," said he, "for only three days,  
1027 **And at my day I wol it quiten thee.**  
 And at my assigned day I will repay it to thee.  
1028 **And if so be that thow me fynde fals,**  
 And if it so be that thou find me false,  
1029 **Another day do hange me by the hals!"**  
 The next day have me hanged by the neck!"

1030 **This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe,**  
 This priest gave him a mark, and that very quickly,  
1031 **And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe,**  
 And this canon thanked him many times,  
1032 **And took his leve, and wente forth his weye,**  
 And took his leave, and went forth on his way,  
1033 **And at the thridde day broghte his moneye,**  
 And at the third day brought his money,  
1034 **And to the preest he took his gold agayn,**  
 And to the priest he gave back his gold,  
1035 **Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn.**  
 For which this priest was wonderfully glad and happy.

1036 **"Certes," quod he, "no thyng anoyeth me**  
 "Certainly," said he, "in no way does it annoy me  
1037 **To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre,**  
 To lend a man a noble, or two, or three,  
1038 **Or what thyng were in my possessioun,**  
 Or whatever thing if it were in my possession,  
1039 **Whan he so trewe is of condicioun**  
 When he is so true, of such character  
1040 **That in no wise he breke wole his day;**  
 That in no way will he fail to pay on his assigned day:  
1041 **To swich a man I kan never seye nay."**  
 To such a man I can never say no."

1042 **"What!" quod this chanoun, "sholde I be untrewe?**  
 "What!" said this canon, "should I be untrue?  
1043 **Nay, that were thyng yfallen al of newe.**  
 Nay, that would be a thing completely without precedent.  
1044 **Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe**  
 My pledged word is a thing that I will always keep  
1045 **Unto that day in which that I shal crepe**  
 Until that day in which I shall creep  
1046 **Into my grave, and ellis God forbede.**  
 Into my grave, and God forbid it be otherwise.  
1047 **Bileveth this as siker as your Crede.**  
 Believe this is as true as your Creed.  
1048 **God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,**  
 I thank God, and rightly it may be said,  
1049 **That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd**  
 That there was never man yet suffered evil  
1050 **For gold ne silver that he to me lente,**  
 For gold or silver that he lent to me,  
1051 **Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente.**  
 Nor did I ever intend falsehood in my heart.  
1052 **And sire," quod he, "now of my pryvetee,**  
 And sir," said he, "now some of my secrets,  
1053 **Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me,**  
 Since you have been so goodly unto me,  
1054 **And kithed to me so greet gentillesse,**  
 And shown to me such great courtesy,  
1055 **Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse**  
 Something with which to repay your kindness  
1056 **I wol yow shewe, and if yow list to leere,**  
 I will show you, and if you want to learn,  
1057 **I wol yow teche pleynly the manere**  
 I will teach you fully the manner  
1058 **How I kan werken in philosophie.**  
 How I know how to to work in alchemy.  
1059 **Taketh good heede; ye shul wel seen at ye**  
 Pay cl,ose attention; you shall well see by eye  
1060 **That I wol doon a maistrie er I go."**  
 That I will do a masterful work before I go."

1061 **"Ye," quod the preest, "ye, sire, and wol ye so?**  
 "Yes," said the priest, "yes, sir, and will you so?  
1062 **Marie, therof I pray yow hertely."**  
 By Saint Mary, for that I pray you heartily."

1063 **"At youre comandement, sire, trewely,"**  
 "At your commandment, sir, truly,"  
1064 **Quod the chanoun, "and ellis God forbeede!"**  
 Said the canon, "and otherwise God forbid!"

1065 **Loo, how this theef koude his service beede!**  
 Lo, how this thief could offer his service!  
1066 **Ful sooth it is that swich profred servyse**  
 Very true it is that such a favor not asked for  
1067 **Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse,**  
 Stinks, as these old wise writers bear witness,  
1068 **And that ful soone I wol it verifie**  
 And very soon I will verify it  
1069 **In this chanoun, roote of al trecherie,**  
 In (the deeds of) this canon, root of all treachery,  
1070 **That everemoore delit hath and gladnesse --**  
 Who evermore has delight and gladness --  
1071 **Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse --**  
 Such fiendish thoughts in his heart are fixed --  
1072 **How Cristes peple he may to meschief brynge.**  
 How he can bring Christ's people to mischief.  
1073 **God kepe us from his false dissymulynge!**  
 God keep us from his false dissimulation!

1074 **Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,**  
 This priest knew not with whom he dealt,  
1075 **Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte.**  
 And of his coming harm he felt nothing.  
1076 **O sely preest! O sely innocent!**  
 O hapless priest! O hapless innocent!  
1077 **With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent!**  
 Very soon thou shalt be blinded by greed!  
1078 **O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite,**  
 O unfortunate, completely blind is thy mind,  
1079 **No thyng ne artow war of the deceite**  
 In no way art thou aware of the deceit  
1080 **Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee!**  
 Which this fox has destined for thee!  
1081 **His wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.**  
 His cunning deceptions thou canst not flee.  
1082 **Wherfore, to go to the conclusion,**  
 Therefore, to go to the conclusion,  
1083 **That refereth to thy confusion,**  
 That refers to thy ruin,  
1084 **Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye**  
 Unhappy man, right now I will hasten myself  
1085 **To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye,**  
 To tell thy lack of prudence and thy folly,  
1086 **And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche,**  
 And also the falseness of that other wretch,  
1087 **As ferforth as that my konnyng wol strecche.**  
 Insofar as my skill will stretch.

1088 **This chanon was my lord, ye wolden weene?**  
 This canon was my lord, you would suppose?  
1089 **Sire hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene,**  
 Sir host, in faith, and by the heaven's queen,  
1090 **It was another chanoun, and nat hee,**  
 It was another canon, and not he,  
1091 **That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee.**  
 Who knows a hundred times more trickery.  
1092 **He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;**  
 He has betrayed folks many a time;  
1093 **Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme.**  
 It distresses me to compose rimes about his falseness.  
1094 **Evere whan that I speke of his falshede,**  
 Every time I speak of his falsehood,  
1095 **For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede.**  
 For shame of him my cheeks grow red.  
1096 **Algates they bigynnen for to glowe,**  
 At least they begin to glow,  
1097 **For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,**  
 For redness have I none, very well I know,  
1098 **In my visage; for fumes diverse**  
 In my visage; for various fumes  
1099 **Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce,**  
 Of metals, which you have heard me rehearse,  
1100 **Consumed and wasted han my reednesse.**  
 That have consumed and wasted my redness.  
1101 **Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse!**  
 Now pay attention to this canon's cursedness!

1102 **"Sire," quod he to the preest, "lat youre man gon**  
 "Sir," said he to the priest, "have your man go  
1103 **For quyksilver, that we it hadde anon;**  
 For quicksilver, would that we had it right now;  
1104 **And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three;**  
 And have him bring two or three ounces;  
1105 **And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see**  
 And when he comes, quickly you shall see  
1106 **A wonder thyng, which ye saugh nevere er this."**  
 A wonderful thing, which you never saw before this."  
1107 **"Sire," quod the preest, "it shal be doon, ywis."**  
 "Sir," said the priest, "it shall be done, indeed."  
1108 **He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng,**  
 He bad his servant fetch him this thing,  
1109 **And he al redy was at his biddyng,**  
 And he was all ready at his bidding,  
1110 **And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn**  
 And went forth, and came right back again  
1111 **With this quyksilver, shortly for to sayn,**  
 With this quicksilver, shortly to say,  
1112 **And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun;**  
 And gave these three ounces to the canon;  
1113 **And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun,**  
 And he laid them down neatly and carefully,  
1114 **And bad the servant coles for to brynge,**  
 And bad the servant to bring coals,  
1115 **That he anon myghte go to his werkynge.**  
 So that he might go to his working right away.

1116 **The coles right anon weren yfet,**  
 The coals right away were fetched,  
1117 **And this chanoun took out a crosselet**  
 And this canon took out a crucible  
1118 **Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest.**  
 From his bosom, and showed it to the priest.  
1119 **"This instrument," quod he, "which that thou seest,**  
 "This instrument," said he, "which thou seest,  
1120 **Taak in thyn hand, and put thyself therinne**  
 Take in thy hand, and thyself put therein  
1121 **Of this quyksilver an ounce, and heer bigynne,**  
 An ounce of this quicksilver, and here begin,  
1122 **In name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre.**  
 In the name of Christ, to become an alchemist.  
1123 **Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre**  
 There are very few to whom I would offer  
1124 **To shewen hem thus muche of my science.**  
 To show them thus so much of my science.  
1125 **For ye shul seen heer, by experience,**  
 For you shall see here, by experience,  
1126 **That this quyksilver I wol mortifye**  
 That this quicksilver I will harden  
1127 **Right in youre sighte anon, withouten lye,**  
 Right in your sight indeed, without lie,  
1128 **And make it as good silver and as fyn**  
 And make it as good silver and as fine  
1129 **As ther is any in youre purs or myn,**  
 As there is any in your purse or mine,  
1130 **Or elleswhere, and make it malliable;**  
 Or elsewhere, and make it malleable;  
1131 **And elles holdeth me fals and unable**  
 And otherwise consider me false and unable  
1132 **Amonges folk for evere to appeere.**  
 For ever to appear amongst folk.  
1133 **I have a poudre heer, that coste me deere,**  
 I have a powder here, that cost me dearly,  
1134 **Shal make al good, for it is cause of al**  
 Shall make all good, for it is cause of all  
1135 **My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal.**  
 My cunning, which I shall show you.  
1136 **Voyde youre man, and lat hym be theroute,**  
 Send away your man, and have him be outside,  
1137 **And shette the dore, whils we been aboute**  
 And shut the door, while we are about  
1138 **Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie,**  
 Our secret business, so that no man espy us,  
1139 **Whils that we werke in this philosophie."**  
 While we work in this science."

1140 **Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede.**  
 All was in deed fulfilled as he commanded.  
1141 **This ilke servant anonright out yede,**  
 This same servant right away went out,  
1142 **And his maister shette the dore anon,**  
 And his master shut the door quickly,  
1143 **And to hire labour spedily they gon.**  
 And to their labor speedily they go.

1144 **This preest, at this cursed chanons biddyng,**  
 This priest, at this cursed canon's bidding,  
1145 **Upon the fir anon sette this thyng,**  
 Upon the fire at once set this thing,  
1146 **And blew the fir, and bisyed hym ful faste.**  
 And blew the fire, and busied himself very intently.  
1147 **And this chanoun into the crosselet caste**  
 And this canon into the crucible cast  
1148 **A poudre, noot I wherof that it was**  
 A powder, I do not know of what it was  
1149 **Ymaad, outher of chalk, outher of glas,**  
 Made, either of chalk, or of glass,  
1150 **Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye,**  
 Or something else, that was not worth a fly,  
1151 **To blynde with this preest; and bad hym hye**  
 With which to blind this priest; and bade him hasten  
1152 **The coles for to couchen al above**  
 To lay all the coals above  
1153 **The crosselet. "For in tokenyng I thee love,"**  
 The crucible. "To serve as a sign that I love thee,"  
1154 **Quod this chanoun, "thyne owene handes two**  
 Said this canon, "thine own two hands  
1155 **Shul werche al thyng which that shal heer be do."**  
 Shall do every thing that shall here be done."

1156 **"Graunt mercy," quod the preest, and was ful glad,**  
 "Many thanks," said the priest, and was very glad,  
1157 **And couched coles as the chanoun bad.**  
 And laid the coals as the canon bad.  
1158 **And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche,**  
 And while he was busy, this fiendish wretch,  
1159 **This false chanoun -- the foule feend hym fecche! --**  
 This false canon -- may the foul fiend fetch him! --  
1160 **Out of his bosom took a bechen cole,**  
 Out of his bosom took a beech coal,  
1161 **In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,**  
 In which very skilfully was made a hole,  
1162 **And therinne put was of silver lemaille**  
 And therein was put of silver filings  
1163 **An ounce, and stopped was, withouten faille,**  
 An ounce, and was sealed shut, without doubt,   
1164 **This hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in.**  
 This hole with wax, to keep the filings in.  
1165 **And understondeth that this false gyn**  
 And understand that this false device  
1166 **Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore;**  
 Was not made there, but it was made before;  
1167 **And othere thynges I shal tellen moore**  
 And other things I shall tell more  
1168 **Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte.**  
 Later, which he brought with him.  
1169 **Er he cam there, hym to bigile he thoghte,**  
 Before he came there, he intended to trick him,  
1170 **And so he dide, er that they wente atwynne;**  
 And so he did, before they went apart;  
1171 **Til he had terved hym, koude he nat blynne.**  
 Until he had skinned him, he could not cease.  
1172 **It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke.**  
 It distresses me when I speak of him.  
1173 **On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke,**  
 I would like to avenge myself for his falsehood,  
1174 **If I wiste how, but he is heere and there;**  
 If I knew how, but he is now here and now there;  
1175 **He is so variaunt, he abit nowhere.**  
 He is so changeable, he abides nowhere.

1176 **But taketh heede now, sires, for Goddes love!**  
 But pay attention now, sirs, for God's love!  
1177 **He took his cole of which I spak above,**  
 He took his coal of which I spoke above,  
1178 **And in his hand he baar it pryvely.**  
 And in his hand he bore it secretly.  
1179 **And whiles the preest couched bisily**  
 And while the priest busily laid  
1180 **The coles, as I tolde yow er this,**  
 The coals, as I told you before this,  
1181 **This chanoun seyde, "Freend, ye doon amys.**  
 This canon said, "Friend, you do it wrong.  
1182 **This is nat couched as it oghte be;**  
 This is not arranged as it ought to be;  
1183 **But soone I shal amenden it," quod he.**  
 But soon I shall amend it," said he.  
1184 **"Now lat me medle therwith but a while,**  
 "Now let me work with it but a while,  
1185 **For of yow have I pitee, by Seint Gile!**  
 For I have pity of you, by Saint Gile!  
1186 **Ye been right hoot; I se wel how ye swete.**  
 You are very hot; I see well how you sweat.  
1187 **Have heere a clooth, and wipe awey the wete."**  
 Have here a cloth, and wipe away the wetness."  
1188 **And whiles that the preest wiped his face,**  
 And while the priest wiped his face,  
1189 **This chanoun took his cole -- with sory grace! --**  
 This canon took his coal -- may he have bad luck! --  
1190 **And leyde it above upon the myddeward**  
 And laid it above, upon the middle  
1191 **Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward**  
 Of the crucible, and blew well afterward  
1192 **Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.**  
 Until the coals began to burn fast.

1193 **"Now yeve us drynke," quod the chanoun thenne;**  
 "Now give us drink," said the canon then;  
1194 **"As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake.**  
 "Soon all shall be well, I guarantee.  
1195 **Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make."**  
 Sit we down, and let us make merry."  
1196 **And whan that this chanounes bechen cole**  
 And when this canon's beech coal  
1197 **Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole**  
 Was burned, all the filings out of the hole  
1198 **Into the crosselet fil anon adoun;**  
 Into the crucible fell right down;  
1199 **And so it moste nedes, by resoun,**  
 And so it must be necessarily, by reason,  
1200 **Syn it so evene above couched was.**  
 Since it was placed so exactly above.  
1201 **But therof wiste the preest nothyng, alas!**  
 But of this the priest knew nothing, alas!  
1202 **He demed alle the coles yliche good,**  
 He thought all the coals equally good,  
1203 **For of that sleighte he nothyng understood.**  
 For he understood nothing of that trick.  
1204 **And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme,**  
 And when this alchemist saw his time,  
1205 **"Ris up," quod he, "sire preest, and stondeth by me;**  
 "Rise up," said he, "sir priest, and stand by me;  
1206 **And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon,**  
 And because I know well you have no ingot,  
1207 **Gooth, walketh forth, and bryngeth a chalk stoon;**  
 Go, walk forth, and bring a chalk stone;  
1208 **For I wol make it of the same shap**  
 For I will make it of the same shape  
1209 **That is an ingot, if I may han hap.**  
 As is an ingot, if I may have such luck.  
1210 **And bryngeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne**  
 And bring also with you a bowl or a pan  
1211 **Ful of water, and ye shul se wel thanne**  
 Full of water, and you shall see well then  
1212 **How that oure bisynesse shal thryve and preeve.**  
 How our business shall thrive and succeed.  
1213 **And yet, for ye shul han no mysbileeve**  
 And yet, so that you shall have no suspicion  
1214 **Ne wrong conceite of me in youre absence,**  
 Nor wrong opinion of me in your absence,  
1215 **I ne wol nat been out of youre presence,**  
 I will not be out of your presence,  
1216 **But go with yow and come with yow ageyn."**  
 But go with you and come with you again."  
1217 **The chambre dore, shortly for to seyn,**  
 The chamber door, shortly to say,  
1218 **They opened and shette, and wente hir weye.**  
 They opened and shut, and went their way.  
1219 **And forth with hem they carieden the keye,**  
 And forth with them they carried the key,  
1220 **And coome agayn withouten any delay.**  
 And came back again without any delay.  
1221 **What sholde I tarien al the longe day?**  
 Why should I tarry all the long day?  
1222 **He took the chalk and shoop it in the wise**  
 He took the chalk and shaped it in the manner  
1223 **Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse.**  
 Of an ingot, as I shall tell you.

1224 **I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve**  
 I say, he took out of his own sleeve  
1225 **A teyne of silver -- yvele moot he cheeve! --**  
 A small bar of silver -- may he have evil luck! --  
1226 **Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte.**  
 Which was not more than an ounce of weight.  
1227 **And taaketh heede now of his cursed sleighte!**  
 And pay attention now to his cursed trick!

1228 **He shoop his ingot in lengthe and in breede**  
 He shaped his ingot in the length and in the breadth  
1229 **Of this teyne, withouten any drede,**  
 Of this small bar, without any doubt,  
1230 **So slyly that the preest it nat espide,**  
 So slyly that the priest did not see it,   
1231 **And in his sleve agayn he gan it hide,**  
 And in his sleeve again he did hide it,  
1232 **And fro the fir he took up his mateere,**  
 And from the fire he took up his material,  
1233 **And in th'yngot putte it with myrie cheere,**  
 And put it in the ingot with merry demeanor,  
1234 **And in the water-vessel he it caste,**  
 And in the pan of water he cast it,  
1235 **Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste,**  
 When it pleased him, and commanded the priest quickly,  
1236 **"Loke what ther is; put in thyn hand and grope.**  
 "See what is there; put in thy hand and grope.  
1237 **Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope."**  
 Thou shalt find there silver, as I believe."  
1238 **What, devel of helle, sholde it elles be?**  
 What else, devil of hell, should it be?  
1239 **Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!**  
 Shaving of silver is silver, by God!  
1240 **He putte his hand in and took up a teyne**  
 He put his hand in and took up a small bar  
1241 **Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne**  
 Of pure silver, and glad in every vein  
1242 **Was this preest, whan he saugh it was so.**  
 Was this priest, when he saw it was so.  
1243 **"Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also,**  
 "God's blessing, and his mother's also,  
1244 **And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun,"**  
 And all saints, have you (in their protection), sir canon,"  
1245 **Seyde the preest, "and I hir malisoun,**  
 Said the priest, "and may I have their curse,  
1246 **But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me**  
 But, if you condescend to teach me  
1247 **This noble craft and this subtilitee,**  
 This noble craft and this esoteric art,  
1248 **I wol be youre in al that evere I may."**  
 I will be yours in all that ever I can."

1249 **Quod the chanoun, "Yet wol I make assay**  
 Said the canon, "Yet I will make trial   
1250 **The seconde tyme, that ye may taken heede**  
 The second time, that you may pay attention  
1251 **And been expert of this, and in youre neede**  
 And be expert concerning this, and when you are in need  
1252 **Another day assaye in myn absence**  
 Some other day in my absence to try out  
1253 **This disciplyne and this crafty science.**  
 This discipline and this ingenious science.  
1254 **Lat take another ounce," quod he tho,**  
 Let's take another ounce," said he then,  
1255 **"Of quyksilver, withouten wordes mo,**  
 "Of quicksilver, without more words,  
1256 **And do therwith as ye han doon er this**  
 And do therewith as you have done before this  
1257 **With that oother, which that now silver is."**  
 With that other, which now is silver."

1258 **This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan**  
 This priest busies himself in all that he knows how  
1259 **To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,**  
 To do as this canon, this cursed man,  
1260 **Comanded hym, and faste blew the fir,**  
 Commanded him, and blew hard on the fire,  
1261 **For to come to th' effect of his desir.**  
 In order to come to the realization of his desire.  
1262 **And this chanon, right in the meene while,**  
 And this canon, at exactly the same time,  
1263 **Al redy was this preest eft to bigile,**  
 Was all ready to beguile this priest again,  
1264 **And for a contenaunce in his hand he bar**  
 And for show in his hand he bore  
1265 **An holwe stikke -- taak kep and be war! --**  
 A hollow stick -- pay attention and beware! --  
1266 **In the ende of which an ounce, and namoore,**  
 In the end of which an ounce, and no more,  
1267 **Of silver lemaille put was, as bifore**  
 Of silver filings was put, as before  
1268 **Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel**  
 Was in his coal, and well sealed shut with wax  
1269 **For to kepe in his lemaille every deel.**  
 To keep in his filings every bit.  
1270 **And whil this preest was in his bisynesse,**  
 And while this priest was busy with his work,  
1271 **This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse**  
 This canon with his stick began to go  
1272 **To hym anon, and his poudre caste in**  
 To him right away, and his powder cast in  
1273 **As he dide er -- the devel out of his skyn**  
 As he did before-- the devil out of his skin  
1274 **Hym terve, I pray to God, for his falshede!**  
 Flay him, I pray to God, for his falsehood!  
1275 **For he was evere fals in thoght and dede --**  
 For he was ever false in thought and deed --  
1276 **And with this stikke, above the crosselet,**  
 And with this stick, above the crucible,  
1277 **That was ordeyned with that false jet,**  
 That was prepared with that false contrivance,  
1278 **He stired the coles til relente gan**  
 He stirred the coals until it began to melt  
1279 **The wex agayn the fir, as every man,**  
 The wax next to the fire, as every man,  
1280 **But it a fool be, woot wel it moot nede,**  
 Unless he be a fool, knows well it must by necessity,  
1281 **And al that in the stikke was out yede,**  
 And all that was in the stick went out,  
1282 **And in the crosselet hastily it fel.**  
 And into the crucible it quickly fell.

1283 **Now, good sires, what wol ye bet than wel?**  
 Now, good sirs, what more will you have?  
1284 **Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn,**  
 When this priest was thus beguiled again,  
1285 **Supposynge noght but treuthe, sooth to seyn,**  
 Supposing nothing but truth, sooth to say,  
1286 **He was so glad that I kan nat expresse**  
 He was so glad that I can not express  
1287 **In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse;**  
 In any manner his mirth and his gladness;  
1288 **And to the chanoun he profred eftsoone**  
 And to the canon he offered again  
1289 **Body and good. "Ye," quod the chanoun soone,**  
 Body and possessions. "Yes," quickly said the canon,  
1290 **"Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me fynde.**  
 "Though I be poor, thou shalt find me skilfull.  
1291 **I warne thee, yet is ther moore bihynde.**  
 I warn thee, there is yet more to come.  
1292 **Is ther any coper herinne?" seyde he.**  
 Is there any copper here?" said he.

1293 **"Ye," quod the preest, "sire, I trowe wel ther be."**  
 "Yes," said the priest, "sir, I believe well there is some."

1294 **"Elles go bye us som, and that as swithe;**  
 "Otherwise go buy us some, and do that quickly;  
1295 **Now, goode sire, go forth thy wey and hy the."**  
 Now, good sir, go forth thy way and hurry thee."

1296 **He wente his wey, and with the coper cam,**  
 He went his way, and with the copper came back,  
1297 **And this chanon it in his handes nam,**  
 And this canon took it in his hands,  
1298 **And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.**  
 And of that copper weighed out only an ounce.

1299 **Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce,**  
 All too simple is my tongue to pronounce,  
1300 **As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse**  
 As servant of my wit, the duplicity  
1301 **Of this chanoun, roote of alle cursednesse!**  
 Of this canon, root of all cursedness!  
1302 **He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght,**  
 He seemed friendly to those that did not know him,  
1303 **But he was feendly bothe in werk and thoght.**  
 But he was fiendish both in deed and thought.  
1304 **It weerieth me to telle of his falsnesse,**  
 It wearies me to tell of his falseness,  
1305 **And nathelees yet wol I it expresse,**  
 And nonetheless I will yet express it,  
1306 **To th'entente that men may be war therby,**  
 With the intention that men may be warned by this,  
1307 **And for noon oother cause, trewely.**  
 And for no other cause, truly.

1308 **He putte this ounce of coper in the crosselet,**  
 He put this ounce of copper in the crucible,  
1309 **And on the fir as swithe he hath it set,**  
 And on the fire quickly he has set it,  
1310 **And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe,**  
 And cast in powder, and made the priest to blow,  
1311 **And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe,**  
 And in his working to stoop low,  
1312 **As he dide er -- and al nas but a jape;**  
 As he did before -- and all was nothing but a trick;  
1313 **Right as hym liste, the preest he made his ape!**  
 Exactly as he wished, he made the priest his ape!  
1314 **And afterward in the ingot he it caste,**  
 And afterward he cast the ingot in it,  
1315 **And in the panne putte it at the laste**  
 And put it at the last into the pan   
1316 **Of water, and in he putte his owene hand,**  
 Of water, and in he put his own hand,  
1317 **And in his sleve (as ye biforen-hand**  
 And in his sleeve (as you before-hand  
1318 **Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne.**  
 Heard me tell) he had a small bar of silver.  
1319 **He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne,**  
 He slyly took it out, this cursed rascal,  
1320 **Unwityng this preest of his false craft,**  
 This priest not knowing of his false craft,  
1321 **And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;**  
 And in the pan's bottom he has left it;  
1322 **And in the water rombled to and fro,**  
 And in the water groped noisily about to and fro,  
1323 **And wonder pryvely took up also**  
 And wonderfully secretly took up also   
1324 **The coper teyne, noght knowynge this preest,**  
 The copper bar, this priest not knowing,  
1325 **And hidde it, and hym hente by the breest,**  
 And hid it, and grabbed him by his coat,  
1326 **And to hym spak, and thus seyde in his game:**  
 And to him spoke, and thus said jokingly:

1327 **"Stoupeth adoun. By God, ye be to blame!**  
 "Stoop down. By God, you are to blame!  
1328 **Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whileer;**  
 Help me now, as I did you before;  
1329 **Putte in youre hand, and looketh what is theer."**  
 Put in your hand, and see what is there."

1330 **This preest took up this silver teyne anon,**  
 This priest quickly took up this silver bar,  
1331 **And thanne seyde the chanoun, "Lat us gon**  
 And then said the canon, "Let us go  
1332 **With thise thre teynes, whiche that we han wroght,**  
 With these three bars, which we have wrought,  
1333 **To som goldsmyth and wite if they been oght,**  
 To some goldsmith and learn if they are worth anything,  
1334 **For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,**  
 For, by my faith, I would not (have them), for (the cost of) my hood,  
1335 **But if that they were silver fyn and good,**  
 Unless they be silver pure and good,  
1336 **And that as swithe preeved it shal bee."**  
 And that very quickly shall be tested."

1337 **Unto the goldsmyth with thise teynes three**  
 Unto the goldsmith with these three bars  
1338 **They wente and putte thise teynes in assay**  
 They went and put these bars to the test  
1339 **To fir and hamer; myghte no man seye nay,**  
 Of fire and hammer; no man could say nay,  
1340 **But that they weren as hem oghte be.**  
 But that they were as they ought to be.

1341 **This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?**  
 This deluded priest, who was gladder than he?  
1342 **Was nevere brid gladder agayn the day,**  
 Was never bird more glad at daybreak,  
1343 **Ne nyghtyngale, in the sesoun of May,**  
 Nor nightingale in the season of May,  
1344 **Was nevere noon that luste bet to synge;**  
 Was never none that was more eager to sing;  
1345 **Ne lady lustier in carolynge,**  
 Nor lady more enthusiastic in singing carols to spring,  
1346 **Or for to speke of love and wommanhede,**  
 Or to speak of love and womanhood,  
1347 **Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede,**  
 Nor knight in arms to do a hardy deed,  
1348 **To stonden in grace of his lady deere,**  
 To stand in the good graces of his dear lady,  
1349 **Than hadde this preest this soory craft to leere.**  
 Than this priest had to learn this sorry craft.  
1350 **And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde:**  
 And to the canon thus he spoke and said:

1351 **"For love of God, that for us alle deyde,**  
 "For love of God, Who died for us all,  
1352 **And as I may deserve it unto yow,**  
 And as I may deserve (to have) it from you,  
1353 **What shal this receite coste? Telleth now!"**  
 What shall this recipe cost? Tell now!"

1354 **"By oure Lady," quod this chanon, "it is deere,**  
 "By our Lady," said this canon, "it is expensive,  
1355 **I warne yow wel; for save I and a frere,**  
 I warn you well; for except for me and a friar,  
1356 **In Engelond ther kan no man it make."**  
 There is no man in England who can make it."

1357 **"No fors," quod he, "now, sire, for Goddes sake,**  
 "No matter," said he, "now, sir, for God's sake,  
1358 **What shal I paye? Telleth me, I preye."**  
 What shall I pay? Tell me, I pray."

1359 **"Ywis," quod he, "it is ful deere, I seye.**  
 "Indeed," said he, "as I say, it is very expensive.  
1360 **Sire, at o word, if that thee list it have,**  
 Sir, at one word, if thou want to have it,  
1361 **Ye shul paye fourty pound, so God me save!**  
 You must pay forty pounds, so help me God!  
1362 **And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this**  
 And were it not for the act of friendship that before this you did  
1363 **To me, ye sholde paye moore, ywis."**  
 To me, you should pay more, indeed."

1364 **This preest the somme of fourty pound anon**  
 This priest right away the sum of forty pounds   
1365 **Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon**  
 Of nobles fetched, and gave every one of them  
1366 **To this chanoun for this ilke receite.**  
 To this canon for this same recipe.  
1367 **Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceite.**  
 All his working was nothing but fraud and deceit.

1368 **"Sire preest," he seyde, "I kepe han no loos**  
 "Sir priest," he said, "I do not care to have fame  
1369 **Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;**  
 For my craft, for I would that it were kept confidential;  
1370 **And, as ye love me, kepeth it secree.**  
 And, as you love me, keep it secret.  
1371 **For, and men knewen al my soutiltee,**  
 For, if men knew of all my esoteric skill,  
1372 **By God, they wolden han so greet envye**  
 By God, they would have so great envy  
1373 **To me by cause of my philosophye**  
 Of me because of my science  
1374 **I sholde be deed; ther were noon oother weye."**  
 I should be dead; there would be no other way."

1375 **"God it forbeede," quod the preest, "what sey ye?**  
 "God forbid it," said the priest, "what say you?  
1376 **Yet hadde I levere spenden al the good**  
 Yet would I rather spend all the wealth  
1377 **Which that I have, and elles wexe I wood,**  
 That I have, and otherwise I would rather go mad,  
1378 **Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef."**  
 Than that you should fall in such distress."

1379 **"For youre good wyl, sire, have ye right good preef,"**  
 "For your good will, sir, you have givem right good proof,"  
1380 **Quod the chanoun, "and farwel, grant mercy!"**  
 Said the canon, "and farewell, many thanks!"  
1381 **He wente his wey, and never the preest hym sy**  
 He went his way, and never the priest him saw  
1382 **After that day; and whan that this preest shoolde**  
 After that day; and when this priest should  
1383 **Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde,**  
 At such time as he wanted, make a trial   
1384 **Of this receit, farwel! It wolde nat be.**  
 Of this recipe, farewell! It would not work.  
1385 **Lo, thus byjaped and bigiled was he!**  
 Lo, thus tricked and beguiled was he!  
1386 **Thus maketh he his introduccioun,**  
 Thus he makes his introductory gambit,  
1387 **To brynge folk to hir destruccioun.**  
 To bring folk to their destruction.

1388 **Considereth, sires, how that, in ech estaat,**  
 Consider, sirs, how, in each social rank,  
1389 **Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat**  
 Betwixt men and gold there is conflict   
1390 **So ferforth that unnethes is ther noon.**  
 So widespread that there is hardly any gold left.  
1391 **This multiplying blent so many oon**  
 This transmutation blinds so many a one  
1392 **That in good feith I trowe that it bee**  
 That in good faith I believe that it is  
1393 **The cause grettest of swich scarsetee.**  
 The greatest cause of such scarcity.  
1394 **Philosophres speken so mystily**  
 Philosophers speak so mystically  
1395 **In this craft that men kan nat come therby,**  
 About this craft that men can not come to it,  
1396 **For any wit that men han now-a-dayes.**  
 For any wit that men have now-a-days.  
1397 **They mowe wel chiteren as doon jayes,**  
 They may well chatter as do jays,  
1398 **And in hir termes sette hir lust and peyne,**  
 And in their technical terms set their desire and pain,  
1399 **But to hir purpos shul they nevere atteyne.**  
 But to their purpose shall they never attain.  
1400 **A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught,**  
 A man can easily learn, if he have anything,  
1401 **To multiplie, and brynge his good to naught!**  
 To transmute metals, and bring his wealth to nothing!

1402 **Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game,**  
 Lo! such a profit is in this pleasing game,  
1403 **A mannes myrthe it wol turne unto grame,**  
 It will turn a man's mirth into sorrow,  
1404 **And empten also grete and hevye purses,**  
 And empty also great and heavy purses,  
1405 **And maken folk for to purchacen curses**  
 And make folk to deserve curses  
1406 **Of hem that han hir good therto ylent.**  
 Of those who have lent their wealth for that purpose.  
1407 **O, fy, for shame! They that han been brent,**  
 O, fie, for shame! Those who have been burned,  
1408 **Allas, kan they nat flee the fires heete?**  
 Alas, can they not flee the fire's heat?  
1409 **Ye that it use, I rede ye it leete,**  
 You who use it, I advise you let it go,  
1410 **Lest ye lese al; for bet than nevere is late.**  
 Lest you lose all; for late is better than never.  
1411 **Nevere to thryve were to long a date.**  
 Never to thrive would be too long a time.  
1412 **Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it nevere fynde.**  
 Though you search forever, you shall never find it.  
1413 **Ye been as boold as is Bayard the blynde,**  
 You are as heedless as is Bayard the blind horse,  
1414 **That blondreth forth and peril casteth noon.**  
 That blunders forth and takes account of no peril.  
1415 **He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon**  
 He is as likely to run against a stone  
1416 **As for to goon bisides in the weye.**  
 As to go around it in the road.  
1417 **So faren ye that multiplie, I seye.**  
 So fare you who multiply, I say.  
1418 **If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright,**  
 If your eyes can not see clearly,  
1419 **Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight.**  
 See that your mind lacks nothing of its sight.  
1420 **For though ye looken never so brode and stare,**  
 For though you look never so broadly and stare,  
1421 **Ye shul nothyng wynne on that chaffare,**  
 You shall gain nothing on that transaction,  
1422 **But wasten al that ye may rape and renne.**  
 But waste all that you can steal and carry away.  
1423 **Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne;**  
 Withdraw the fire, lest it burn too fast;  
1424 **Medleth namoore with that art, I mene,**  
 Meddle no more with that art, I mean,  
1425 **For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene.**  
 For if you do, your prosperity is completely gone.  
1426 **And right as swithe I wol yow tellen heere**  
 And very quickly I will you tell here  
1427 **What philosophres seyn in this mateere.**  
 What alchemists say in this matter.

1428 **Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun,**  
 Lo, thus says Arnold of the New Town,  
1429 **As his Rosarie maketh mencioun;**  
 As his book Rosari makes mention;  
1430 **He seith right thus, withouten any lye:**  
 He says right thus, without any lie:  
1431 **"Ther may no man mercurie mortifie**  
 "There is no man who can harden mercury   
1432 **But it be with his brother knowlechyng";**  
 Unless it be with his brother's knowledge";  
1433 **How \[be\] that he which that first seyde this thyng**  
 Although he who first said this thing  
1434 **Of philosophres fader was, Hermes;**  
 Was father of philosophers, Hermes Trismegistus;  
1435 **He seith how that the dragon, doutelees,**  
 He says that the dragon, doubtless,  
1436 **Ne dyeth nat but if that he be slayn**  
 Does not die unless he be slain  
1437 **With his brother; and that is for to sayn,**  
 By his brother; and that is to say,  
1438 **By the dragon, Mercurie, and noon oother**  
 By the dragon, Mercury, and none other  
1439 **He understood, and brymstoon by his brother,**  
 He understood, and brimstone by his brother,  
1440 **That out of Sol and Luna were ydrawe.**  
 That out of Sol (gold) and Luna (silver) were drawn.  
1441 **"And therfore," seyde he -- taak heede to my sawe --**  
 "And therefore," said he -- take heed of my words --  
1442 **"Lat no man bisye hym this art for to seche,**  
 "Let no man busy himself to seek this art,  
1443 **But if that he th'entencioun and speche**  
 Unless he the meaning and speech  
1444 **Of philosophres understonde kan;**  
 Of alchemists can understand;  
1445 **And if he do, he is a lewed man.**  
 And if he do, he is an ignorant man.  
1446 **For this science and this konnyng," quod he,**  
 For this science and this cunning," said he,  
1447 **"Is of the secree of the secretes, pardee."**  
 "Concerns the secret of the secrets, by God."

1448 **Also ther was a disciple of Plato,**  
 Also there was a disciple of Plato,  
1449 **That on a tyme seyde his maister to,**  
 That one time said to his master,  
1450 **As his book Senior wol bere witnesse,**  
 As his book Senior will bear witness,  
1451 **And this was his demande in soothfastnesse:**  
 And this was his question in truth:  
1452 **"Telle me the name of the privee stoon."**  
 "Tell me the name of the secret stone."

1453 **And Plato answerde unto hym anoon,**  
 And Plato answered unto him straightaway,  
1454 **"Take the stoon that men name Titanos."**  
 "Take the stone that men name Titanos."

1455 **"Which is that?" quod he. "Magnasia is the same,"**  
 "What is that?" said he. "Magnesia is the same,"  
1456 **Seyde Plato. "Ye, sire, and is it thus?**  
 Said Plato. "Yes, sir, and is it thus?  
1457 **This is ignotum per ignocius.**  
 This is explaining the unknown by the more unknown.  
1458 **What is Magnasia, good sire, I yow preye?"**  
 What is Magnesia, good sir, I pray you?"

1459 **"It is a water that is maad, I seye,**  
 "It is a liquid that is made, I say,  
1460 **Of elementes foure," quod Plato.**  
 Of the four elements," said Plato.

1461 **"Telle me the roote, good sire," quod he tho,**  
 Good sir," said he then, "Tell me the basic constituent  
1462 **"Of that water, if it be youre wil."**  
 "Of that liquid, if it be your wish."

1463 **"Nay, nay," quod Plato, "certein, that I nyl.**  
 "Nay, nay," said Plato, "certainly, that I will not.  
1464 **The philosophres sworn were everychoon**  
 The alchemists were sworn every single one  
1465 **That they sholden discovere it unto noon,**  
 That they should reveal it unto no one,  
1466 **Ne in no book it write in no manere.**  
 Nor in any book write it in any way.  
1467 **For unto Crist it is so lief and deere**  
 For unto Christ it is so beloved and dear  
1468 **That he wol nat that it discovered bee,**  
 That He does not wish that it be discovered,  
1469 **But where it liketh to his deitee**  
 Except where it is pleasing to his deity  
1470 **Men for t'enspire, and eek for to deffende**  
 To enlighten men, and also to forbid  
1471 **Whom that hym liketh; lo, this is the ende."**  
 Whomever he pleases; lo, this is the end."

1472 **Thanne conclude I thus, sith that God of hevene**  
 Then I conclude thus, since God of heaven  
1473 **Ne wil nat that the philosophres nevene**  
 Does not wish that the alchemists should tell  
1474 **How that a man shal come unto this stoon,**  
 How a man shall come unto this stone,  
1475 **I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon.**  
 I advise, as for the best, let it go.  
1476 **For whoso maketh God his adversarie,**  
 For whoever makes God his adversary,  
1477 **As for to werken any thyng in contrarie**  
 As to do any thing in contrary  
1478 **Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve,**  
 To his will, certainly, never shall he thrive,  
1479 **Thogh that he multiplie terme of his lyve.**  
 Though he practice alchemy all his life.  
1480 **And there a poynt, for ended is my tale.**  
 And there (put) a period, for my tale is ended.  
1481 **God sende every trewe man boote of his bale!**  
 God send every true man remedy for his troubles!

*Heere is ended the Chanouns Yemannes Tale*  
\[*Here is ended the Canon's Yeoman's Tale*\]