The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

The yeoman tells he has worked with the canon for seven years With this Chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer, Seven years I've served this canon, but no more And of his science am I never the neer. I know about his science than before. Al that I hadde I have lost therby, All that I had I have quite lost thereby; And, God woot, so hath many mo than I. 170 And, God knows, so have many more than I. Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay Where I was wont to be right fresh and gay Of clothyng and of oother good array, Of clothing and of other good array, Now may I were an hose upon myn heed; Now may I wear my old hose on my head; And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed And where my colour was both fresh and red, Now is it wan and of a leden hewe - 175 Now it is wan and of a leaden hue; Whoso it useth, soore shal he rewe! - Whoso this science follows, he shall rue. And of my swynk yet blered is myn ye. And from my toil yet bleary is my eye, Lo, which avantage is to multiplie! Behold the gain it is to multiply! That slidynge science hath me maad so bare That slippery science has made me so bare That I have no good, wher that evere I fare; 180 That I've no goods, wherever I may fare; And yet I am endetted so therby, And I am still indebted so thereby Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, For gold that I have borrowed, truthfully, That whil I lyve I shal it quite nevere. That while I live I shall repay it never. Lat every man be war by me for evere! Let every man be warned by me for ever! What maner man that casteth hym therto, 185 And any man who casts his lot thereon, If he continue, I holde his thrift ydo. If he continue, I hold his thrift gone. For so helpe me God, therby shal he nat wynne, So help me God, thereby he shall not win, But empte his purs, and make his wittes thynne. But empty purse and have his wits grow thin. And whan he, thurgh his madnesse and folye, And when he, through his madness and folly, Hath lost his owene good thurgh jupartye, 190 Has lost his own, by willing jeopardy, Thanne he exciteth oother folk therto, Then will he incite others, many a one, To lesen hir good, as he hymself hath do. To lose their wealth as he himself has done. For unto shrewes joye it is and ese For unto scoundrels it's a pleasant thing To have hir felawes in peyne and disese. Their fellows in distress and pain to bring, array array noun 1. equipment; 2. dress, clothes chanon chanon, chanoun noun canon, a member of the clergy serving in a cathedral or collegiate church disese disese noun discomfort, distress ese ese noun pleasure, refreshment heed heed, heede noun, sg. head hewe hewe noun hue, appearance oother oother adv. other; either reed rede, reed, reede adj. red science science noun knowledge soore soor, soore adv. sorely, bitterly; painful, sore; misery, pain swynk swynk verb noun work, toil thurgh thurgh prep. 1. through; 2. because of trewely trewely adv. truly war war adj 1. aware; 2. prudent woot woot verb, 1st and 3rd know, knows pers. prsnt. sg. ye ye noun eye 636 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk. 195 Thus was I taught once by a learned clerk. Of that no charge, I wol speke of oure werk. Of that no matter, I'll speak of our work. The yeoman names the objects and materials of the canon's craft Whan we been there as we shul exercise When we are where we choose to exercise Oure elvysshe craft, we semen wonder wise, Our elvish craft, why, we seem wondrous wise, Oure termes been so clerigal and so queynte. Our terms are all so learned and so quaint. I blowe the fir til that myn herte feynte. 200 I blow the fire till my heart's like to faint. What sholde I tellen ech proporcion Why tell you what proportions of things went Of thynges whiche that we werche upon - In working out each new experiment, As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be, As five ounces, or six, it may well be, Of silver, or som oother quantitee - Of silver, or some other quantity? And bisye me to telle yow the names 205 Or tell you all the names, my memory fails, Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames, Of orpiment, burnt bones, and iron scales That into poudre grounden been ful smal; That into powder we ground fine and small? And in an erthen pot how put is al, Or in an earthen pot how we put all, And salt yput in, and also papeer, And salt put in, and also pepper dear, Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer; 210 Before these powders that I speak of here, And wel ycovered with a lampe of glas; And covered all these with a plate of glass, And of muche oother thyng which that ther was; And of the various other gear there was? And of the pot and glasses enlutyng, And of the sealing of the pot and glass, That of the eyr myghte passe out nothyng; So that the air might no way from it pass? And of the esy fir, and smart also, 215 And of the slow fire and the forced also, Which that was maad, and of the care and wo Which we made there, and of the care and woe That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng, That we took in our matter's sublimating, And in amalgamyng and calcenyng And in calcining and amalgamating Of quyksilver, yclept mercurie crude? Quicksilver, which is known as mercury crude? For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude. 220 For all our skill, we never could conclude. Oure orpyment and sublymed mercurie, Our orpiment and sublimed mercury, Oure grounden litarge eek on the porfurie, Our litharge that we ground on porphyry, Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn -- Of each some certain ounces- it is plain amalgamyng amalgamyng noun blending, amalgamation calcenyng calcenyng noun calcination, reducing to powder by heat clerk clerk noun 1. university student; 2. scholar crude crude adj. raw, unrefined ech ech pro. each (one) eek eek, eke adv. also fir fir, fyr noun fire herte herte noun heart litarge litarge, lytarge noun lead monoxide orpyment orpyment noun arsenic trisulfide papeer papeer noun pepper queynte queynte verb was extinguished, went out smart smart adj. brisk sublymed sublymed adj. purified sublymyng sublymyng verbal noun sublimating, purifying The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 637

Noght helpeth us, oure labour is in veyn. Naught helped us, all our labour was in vain. Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun, 225 Neither the gases that by nature rose Ne oure materes that lyen al fix adoun, Nor solid matter either- none of those Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng us availle, Might, in our working, anything avail. For lost is al oure labour and travaille; For lost was all our labour and travail, And al the cost, a twenty devel waye, And all the cost, the devil's own to pay, Is lost also, which we upon it laye. 230 Was lost also, for we made no headway. Ther is also ful many another thyng There is also full many another thing That is unto oure craft apertenyng. That to our craft pertains in labouring. Though I by ordre hem nat reherce kan, Though name them properly I never can, By cause that I am a lewed man, Because, indeed, I am an ignorant man, Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde, 235 Yet will I tell them as they come to mind, Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde: Though I'll not try to class each one by kind; As boole armonyak, verdegrees, boras, Armenian bole, borax, the green of brass, And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas, And various vessels made of earth and glass, Oure urynales and oure descensories, Our urinals and all our descensories, Violes, crosletz, and sublymatories, 240 Vials and crucibles, sublimatories, Cucurbites and alambikes eek, Cucurbites, and alembics, and such freaks, And othere swiche, deere ynough a leek. All dear enough if valued at two leeks. Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle, -- There is no need to specify them all, Watres rubifyng, and boles galle, The reddening waters and the dark bull's gall, Arsenyk, sal armonyak and brymstoon; 245 Arsenic, sal ammoniac, and brimstone; And herbes koude I telle eek many oon, And, too, of herbs could I name many a one, As egremoyne, valerian, and lunarie, Valerian, agrimony, and lunary, And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie; And others such, if I but wished to tarry. Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day, Our lamps that burned by day and burned by night To brynge aboute oure purpos, if we may; 250 To bring about our end, if but we might, Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun, Our furnace, too, white-hot for calcination, And of watres albificacioun; And waters all prepared for albication, Unslekked lym,chalk, and gleyre of an ey, Unslaked lime, chalk, and white of egg, I say, Poudres diverse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley, Powders diverse, and ashes, dung, piss, clay, Cered pokkets, sal peter, vitriole, 255 Little waxed bags, saltpetre, vitriol; And diverse fires maad of wode and cole; And many a different fire of wood and coal; Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat, Alkali, salt, potassium carbonate, And combust materes and coagulat; And our burnt matters, and coagulate, Cley maad with hors of mannes heer, and oille Clay mixed with horses' or men's hair, and oil Of tartre, alum glas, berme, wort, and argoille, 260 Of tartar, alum, glass, yeast, wort, argoil, descensories descensories noun, pl. retorts, flasks used for distillation eek eek, eke adv. also erthe erthe noun earth heer heer, heeres, noun hair heeris, heris, herys hem hem pro. them koude koude verb knew how to lewed lewed adj. uneducated reherce reherce, rehercen verb repeat sondry sondry adj. various, different urynales urynales noun glass flasks ynogh ynogh, ynough adj. and noun enough 638 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

Resalgar, and oure materes enbibyng, Realgar, and our matters absorbent, And eek of oure materes encorporyng, And with them, too, our matters resorbent, And of oure silver citrinacioun, And how we practised silver citrination Oure cementyng and fermentacioun, And our cementing and our fermentation, Oure yngottes, testes, and many mo. 265 Our moulds and testers, aye, and many more. The four spritis and the seven bodies I wol yow telle, as was me taught also, I will tell you, as I was taught before, The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, The bodies seven and the spirits four, By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene. In order, as my master named of yore. The firste spirit quyksilver called is, The first of spirits, then, quicksilver is, The seconde orpyment, the thridde, ywis, 270 The second arsenic, the third, ywis, Sal armonyak, and the ferthe brymstoon. Is sal ammoniac, the fourth brimstone. The bodyes sevene eek, lo! hem heere anoon: The seven bodies I'll describe anon: Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe, Sol, gold is, Luna's silver, as we see, Mars iren, Mercurie quyksilver we clepe, Mars iron, and quicksilver's Mercury, Saturnus leed, and Juppiter is tyn, 275 Saturn is lead, and Jupiter is tin, And Venus coper, by my fader kyn! And Venus copper, by my father's kin! The canon's craft is hard to learn This cursed craft whoso wole excercise, This wicked craft, whoso will exercise, He shal no good han that hym may suffise; He shall gain never wealth that may suffice; For al the good he spendeth theraboute For all the coin he spends therein goes out He lese shal; therof have I no doute. 280 And is but lost, of which I have no doubt. Whoso that listeth outen his folie, Whoso, then, will exhibit such folly, Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie; Let him come forth and learn to multiply; And every man that oght hath in his cofre, And every man that has aught in coffer, Lat hym appiere, and wexe a philosophre. Let him appear and be philosopher. Ascaunce that craft is so light to leere? 285 Perhaps that craft is easy to acquire? Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere, Nay, nay, God knows! And be he monk or friar Preest or chanoun, or any oother wyght, Canon, or priest, or any other wight, bodies bodies, bodyes noun metals eek eek, eke adv. also frere frere noun friar, a member of any certain religious orders of men hem hem pro. them lese lese verb loose luna Luna noun the moon multiplie multiplie verb transmute (technical term for changing base metals into gold and silver) oother oother adv. other; either orpyment orpyment noun arsenic trisulfide outen outen verb make public sol Sol noun the sun threpe threpe verb assert, affirm positively woot woot verb, 1st and 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 639

Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght Though he sit at his books both day and night In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore, In learning of this elvish, fruitless lore, Al is in veyn, and parde! muchel moore. 290 All is in vain, and by gad it's much more! To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee - To teach an ignorant man this subtlety- Fy! spek nat therof, for it wol nat bee; Fie! Speak not of it, for it cannot be; And konne he letterure, or konne he noon, And though he has booklore, or though he's none, As in effect, he shal fynde it al oon. In final count he shall find it all one. For bothe two, by my savacioun, 295 For both of them, and this by my salvation, Concluden in multiplicacioun Come to one end seeking multiplication; Ylike wel, whan they han al ydo; They fare the same when they've done everything; This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two. That is to say, they both fail, sorrowing. The yeoman names some fluids used by the canon Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille Yet I forgot to tell you in detail Of watres corosif, and of lymaille, 300 Of the corrosive waters and limaille, And of bodies mollificacioun, And of some bodies the mollification, And also of hire induracioun; And on the other hand of induration, Oilles, ablucions, and metal fusible, - Oils, and ablutions, metals fusible- To tellen al wolde passen any bible More than a bible it would need to tell, That owher is; wherfore, as for beste, 305 The largest ever; therefore I think best Of alle thise names now wol I me reste. That of these names I say no more, but rest. For, as I trowe, I have yow toold ynowe For I believe that I've told you enough To reyse a feend, al looke he never so rowe. To raise a devil, be he never so rough. The search for the philosopher's stone A! Nay! Lat be; the philosophres stoon, Ah no! Let be; the old philosopher's stone Elixer clept, we sechen faste echoon; 310 Is called elixir, which we seek, each one; For hadde we hym, thanne were we siker ynow. For had we that, then were we safe enow. abluciouns abluciouns noun cleansings bible bible noun book bodies bodies, bodyes noun metals elvysshe elvysshe adj. mysterious feend feend noun demon, devil induracioun induracioun noun hardening letterure letterure noun book-learning lewed lewed adj. uneducated lymaille lymaille noun metal filings mollificacioun mollificacioun noun softening multiplicacioun multiplicacioun noun transmutation nyce nyce adj. foolish, scrupulous rehersaille rehersaille noun enumeration subtiltee subtiltee noun craftiness, trickery, subility trowe trowe verb think, suppose watres corosif watres corosif noun acids 640 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

But unto God of hevene I make avow, But unto God in Heaven do I vow, For al oure craft, whan we han al ydo, For all our art, when we've done all things thus, And al oure sleighte, he wol nat come us to. And all our tricks, it will not come to us. He hath ymaad us spenden muchel good, 315 The thing has caused us to spend all we had, For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood, For grief of which almost we should go mad, But that good hope crepeth in oure herte, Save that good hope comes creeping in the heart, Supposynge evere, though we sore smerte, Supposing ever, though we sorely smart, To be releeved by hym afterward. The elixir will relieve us afterward; Swich supposyng and hope is sharp and hard; 320 The tension of such hope is sharp and hard; I warne yow wel, it is to seken evere. I warn you well, it means go seeking ever; That futur temps hath maad men to dissevere, That future time has made men to dissever, In trust therof, from al that evere they hadde. Trusting that hope, from all that ever they had. Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde, Yet of that art they cannot well grow sad, For unto hem it is a bitter sweete, - 325 For unto them it is a bitter-sweet; So semeth it, - for nadde they but a sheete, So it appears; for had they but a sheet Which that they myghte wrappe hem inne a-nyght, With which to wrap themselves about by night, And a brat to walken inne by daylyght, And a coarse cloak to walk in by daylight, They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft. They'd sell them both and spend it on this craft; They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft. 330 They can withhold naught till there's nothing left And everemoore, where that evere they goon And evermore, wherever they'll be gone, Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon. Men know them by their smell of foul brimstone; For al the world they stynken as a goot; For all the world they stink as does a goat; Hir savour is so rammyssh and so hoot Their savour is so rammish and so hot That though a man from hem a mile be, 335 That, though a man a mile away may be, The savour wole infecte hym, trusteth me. The odour will infect him, trust to me! And thus by smel, and by threedbare array, Thus by their smell and their threadbare array, If that men liste, this folk they knowe may. If men but wish, these folk they'll know, I say. And if a man wole aske hem pryvely And if a man but ask them privately Why they been clothed so unthriftily, 340 Why they do go clothed so unthriftily, They right anon wol rownen is his ere, They right away will whisper in his ear And seyn that if that they espied were, And say that if they should be noticed here, anon anon, anoon adv. straightway, at once, immediately array array noun 1. equipment; 2. dress, clothes avow avow noun vow, solemn pledge dissevere dissevere verb separate, be separated goot goot noun goat hem hem pro. them herte herte noun heart hevene hevene noun heaven infecte infecte verb affect negatively, pollute list list, liste verb, prsnt. sg. please, pleases muchel muchel adj. much pryvely prively, pryvely adv. secretly, discreetly, stealthily savour savour noun 1. smell, odor; 2. flavor sleighte sleighte noun trick, trickery swich swich pro. such unthriftily unthriftily adv. poorly wood wood adj. crazy, mad, insane The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 641

Men wolde hem slee by cause of hir science. Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence! Why, men would slay them, what of their science; Lo, thus these folk impose on innocence! The melting pot breaks Passe over this; if go my tale unto. 345 Pass over this; unto my tale I'll run. Er that the pot be on the fir ydo, Before the pot upon the fire be done, Of metals with a certeyn quantitee, Of metals in a certain quantity My lord hem tempreth, and no man be he - My lord it tempers, and no man save he- Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely - Now he is gone I dare say this boldly- For, as men seyn, he kan doon craftily. 350 For, as men say, he can work artfully; Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name, Always I well know be has such a name, And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame. And yet full often has he been to blame; And wite ye how? Ful ofte it happeth so, And know you how? Full oft it happens so, The pot tobreketh, and farewel, al is go! The pot broke, and farewell! All vanished, O! Thise metals been of so greet violence, 355 These metals have such violence and force Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence, That crucibles cannot resist their course But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon; Unless they are built up of lime and stone; They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon. They penetrate, and through the wall they're gone, And somme of hem synken into the ground - And some of them sink right into the ground - Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound - 360 Thus have we lost, at times, full many a pound - And somme are scatered al the floor aboute; And some are scattered all the floor about, Somme lepe into the roof. Withouten doute, Some leap up to the roof. Beyond a doubt, Though that the feend noght in oure sighte hym Although the devil's to us not visible, shewe, I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe! I think he's with us, aye, that same scoundrel! In helle, where that he lord is and sire, 365 In Hell, wherein he is the lord and sire, Nis ther moore wo, ne moore rancour ne ire. There's not more woe, nor rancour, nor more ire. Whan that oure pot is broke, as I have sayd, For when our pot is broken, as I've said, Every man chit, and halt hym yvele apayd. Each man will scold and think that he's been bled. Somme seyde it was long on the fir makyng; One said that it was due to fire-making, Somme seyde nay, it was on the blowyng, - 370 One said it was the blowing of the thing Thanne was I fered, for that was myn office. There I was scared, for that was what I did; er er adv. before, formerly; before; before feend feend noun demon, devil ful oft ful oft, ofte very often hem hem pro. them ilke ilke adj. same ire ire noun anger, irritability, the deadly sin of wrath science science noun knowledge sle sle, slee verb kill, slay swich swich pro. such thurgh thurgh prep. 1. through; 2. because of tobreketh tobreketh verb, 3rd prs. sg. shatters, breaks in pieces trowe trowe verb think, suppose wo wo noun woe, regret, sorrow, pain woot woot verb, 1st and 3rd know, knows yvele apayd yvele apayd, apayed pers. prsnt. sg. adj. displeased 642 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

"Straw!" quod the thridde, "ye been lewed and nyce. "O straw! You silly fool!" the third one chid, It was nat tempred as it oghte be. "It was not tempered as it ought to be." "Nay," quod the fourthe, "stynt and herkne me. "Nay," said the fourth, "shut up and list to me; By cause oure fir ne was nat maad of beech, 375 It was because our fire was not of beech, That is the cause, and oother noon, so th'eech!" That's why, by all the wealth I hope to reach!" I kan nat telle wheron it was long, I cannot tell where one should put the blame; But wel I woot greet strif is us among. There was a dreadful quarrel, just the same. Grumbling and cleaning up the garbage "What," quod my lord, "ther is namoore to doone; "What!" cried my lord, "there's no more to be done, Of thise perils I wol be war eftsoone. 380 Whatever 'twas, I'll know the reason soon; I am right siker that the pot was crased. I am quite certain that the pot was crazed. Be as be may, be ye no thyng amased; Be as it may, do not stand there amazed; As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swithe, As always, sweep the floor up quickly lad, Plukke up youre hertes, and beeth glad and blithe." Pluck up your hearts and be both blithe and glad." The mullok on an heep ysweped was, 385 The rubbish in a heap then swept up was, And on the floor ycast a canevas, And on the floor was spread a large canvas, And al this mullok in a syve ythrowe, And all this rubbish in a sieve was thrown, And sifted, and ypiked mayn a throwe. And sifted, picked, and whirled, both up and down. "Pardee," quod oon, "somwhat of oure metal "By gad," said one, "something of our metal Yet is ther heere, though that we han nat al. 390 There is yet here, although we have not all. Although this thyng myshapped have as now, Although this thing has gone awry for now, Another tyme it may be well ynow. Another time it may be well enow. Us moste putte oure good in aventure. We must put all our wealth at adventure; A marchant, pardee, may nat ay endure, A merchant's luck, gad! will not aye endure, Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee. 395 Believe me, in his high prosperity; Somtyme his good is drowned in the see, Sometimes his freight will sink beneath the sea, And somtyme comth it sauf unto the londe." And sometimes comes it safely unto land." "Pees!" quod my lord, the nexte tyme I wol "Peace," said my lord, "next time I'll understand fonde To bryngen oure craft al in another plite, How to proceed and with a better aim; And but I do, sires, lat me han the wite. 400 And, save I do, sirs, let me be to blame; Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I woot." There was defect in something, well I know 't." The moral of the previous narrative Another seyde the fir was over-hoot, - Another said the fire was far too hot. eftsoones eftsoone, eft adv. 1. again, once more; 2. immediately, very soon, right now soone, eft-soone, eftsoones, eft-soones herkne herkne verb, prsnt. hear, listen to; lewed lewed adj. uneducated marchant marchant noun merchant mullok mullok noun rubbish, garbage nyce nyce adj. foolish, scrupulous pardee pardee interj. indeed quod quod verb said siker siker adv. certain war war adj 1. aware; 2. prudent woot woot verb, 1st and 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 643

But, be it hoot or coold, I dar seye this, But were it hot or cold, I dare say this, That we concluden everemoore amys. That we concluded evermore amiss. We faille of that which that we wolden have, 405 We fail of that which we desire to have, And in oure madnesse everemoore we rave. And in our madness evermore we rave. And whan we been togidres everichoon, And when we're all together, then each one Every man semeth a Salomon. Seems as he were a very Solomon. But al thyng which that shineth as the gold But everything that glisters like fine gold Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told; 410 Is not gold, as I've often heard it told; Ne every appul that is fair at eye And every apple that is fair to eye Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye. Is yet not sound, whatever hucksters cry; Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us: And even so, that's how it fares with us: He that semeth the wiseste, by Jhesus! For he that seems the wisest, by Jesus, Is moost fool, whan it cometh to the preef; 415 Is greatest fool, when proof is asked, in brief; And he that semeth trewest is the theef. And he that seems the truest is a thief; That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende, That shall you know ere I from you do wend, By that I of my tale have maad an ende. When of my tale I've made at length an end. About a foul canon Ther is a chanoun of religioun There is a canon of religion known Amounges us, wolde infecte al a toun, 420 Among us, who'd contaminate a town, Thogh it as greet were as was Nynyvee, Though 'twere as great as Nineveh the free, Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. Rome, Alexandria, Troy, and others three. His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse His tricks and all his infinite treacherousness Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse, No man could write down fully, as I guess, Though that he myghte lyve a thousand yeer. 425 Though he should live unto his thousandth year. In al this world of falshede nis his peer; In all this world for falsehood he's no peer; For in his termes he wol hym so wynde, For in his terms he will so twist and wind And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde, And speak in words so slippery of kind, Whanne he commune shal with any wight, When he communicates with any wight, That he wol make hym doten anonright, 430 That he soon makes a fool of him, outright, But it a feend be, as hymselven is. Unless it be a devil, as he is. Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this, Full many a man has he beguiled before this, And wole, if that he lyve may a while; And will, if he may live a further while; And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile And yet men walk and ride full many a mile Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce, 435 To seek him out and have his acquaintance, commune commune verb communicate, have conversation with er er adv. before, formerly; before; before everichon everichon, pro. everyone everichoon, everychon feend feend noun demon, devil gesse gesse verb suppose, estimate infecte infecte verb affect negatively, pollute koude koude verb knew how to sleighte sleighte noun trick, trickery theef theef noun thief toun toun noun town wight wight, wyght noun person, creature, being 644 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

Noght knowynge of his false governaunce. And if yow list to yeve me audience, I wol it tellen heere in youre presence. Naught knowing of his treacherous simulance. And if you care to listen to me here, I'll make the proof of what I say quite clear. However, generally canons are just and true But worshipful chanons religious, But most religious canons, just and true, Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous, 440 Don't think I'm slandering your house, or you, Although that my tale of a chanoun bee. Although my tale may of a canon be. Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee, Some rogue's in every order, pardon me, And God forbede that al a compaignye And God forbid that for one rascal's sake Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye. Against a group we condemnation make. To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente, 445 To slander you is nowise my intent, But to correcten that is mys I mente. But to correct what is amiss I'm bent. This tale was nat oonly toold for yow This tale I tell here not alone for you, But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how But even for others, too; you know well how That among Cristes apostelles twelve Among Christ's twelve disciples there was not Ther nas no traytour but Judas hymselve. 450 One to play traitor, save Iscariot. Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame Then why should all the rest be put to blame That giltlees were? By yow I seye the same, Who guiltless were? Of you I say the same. Save oonly this, if ye wol herke me: Save only this, if you will list to me, If any Judas in youre covent be, If any Judas in your convent be, Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede, 455 Remove the man betimes, I counsel you, If shame or los may causen any drede. Lest shame or loss or trouble should ensue. And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye, And be displeased in nothing, I you pray, But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye. But hear what on this matter I may say. A priest in London In Londoun was a preest, an annueleer, In London was a priest, an annualeer That therinne dwelled hadde mayn a yeer, 460 Who had therein dwelt many a quiet year, Which was so plesaunt and se servysable A man so pleasant and so serviceable annueleer annueleer noun chantry priest, a priest who sings anniversary masses for the dead chanon chanon, chanoun noun canon, a member of the clergy serving in a cathedral or collegiate church eek eek, eke adv. also entente entente noun 1. intention, will; 2. plan governaunce governance, governaunce noun 1. behaviour; 2. control, management herkneth herkneth verb, 3rd prs. sg. hears, listens to list list, liste verb, prsnt. sg. please, pleases pardee pardee interj. indeed save save prep. except (that) sclaundre sclaundre noun disgrace servysable servysable adj. willing to serve, attentive shrewe shrewe verb curse, beshrew; curse, cursed person woot woot verb, 1st and 3rd know, knows pers. prsnt. sg. yeve yeve, yif verb, prsnt. give The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 645

Unto the wyf, where as he was at table, To the goodwife who shared with him her table, That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye That she would never suffer him to pay For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye; For board or clothing, went he ever so gay; And spendyng silver hadde he right ynow. 465 Of spending-silver, too, he had enow. Therof no fors; I wol procede as now, No matter; I'll proceed as I said, now, And telle forth my tale of the chanoun And tell about the canon all my tale, That broghte this preest to confusioun. Who gave this priest good cause to weep and wail. The false canon borrows money from the priest and pays him back on the due date This false chanon cam upon a day This canon false, he came, upon a day Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, 470 Into the chaplain's chamber, where he lay, Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn Beseeching him to lend him a certain Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn. Amount in gold, the which he'd pay again. "Leene me a marc," quod he, "but dayes three, "Lend me a mark," said he, "for three days, say, And at my day I wol it quiten thee. And when that time's done, I will it repay. And if so be that thow me fynde fals, 475 And if you find me false, I shall not reck Another day do hange me by the hals!" If, on a day, you hang me by the neck!" This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe, This priest brought him a mark, and quickly, too, And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe, Whereat this canon thanked him, said adieu, And took his leve, and wente forth his weye, And took his leave and went forth on his way, And at the thridee day broghte his moneye, 480 And brought the money back on the third day, And to the preest he took his gold agayn, And to the priest he gave his gold again, Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. Whereof this priest was wondrous glad, 'tis plain. "Certes," quod he, "no thyng anoyeth me "Truly," he said, "it no wise bothers me To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre, To lend a man a noble, or two, or three, Or what thyng were in my possessioun, 485 Or any modest thing that is my own, Whan he so trewe is of condicioun To him who has the disposition shown That in no wise he breke wole his day; That in no wise will he forgo to pay; To swich a man I kan never seye nay." To such a man I never can say nay." The canon offers to show the masterpiece of his craft "What!" quod this chanoun, "sholde I be "What!" cried this canon, "Should I be untrue? untrewe? Nay, that were thyng yfallen al of newe. 490 Nay, that for me would be a thing quite new. Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe Truth is a thing that I will ever keep bord bord noun dinner table certes certes adv. certainly, indeed chanon chanon, chanoun noun canon, a member of the clergy serving in a cathedral or collegiate church fayn fayn adj. glad, happy, pleased; gladly, happily hals hals noun neck kepe kepe verb keep, take care after, preserve quod quod verb said swich swich pro. such thre thre num. three trewe trewe adj. true; truly trouthe trouthe noun 1. fidelity, loyalty; 2. pledge, promise 646 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

Unto that day in which that I shal crepe Unto that day, at last, when I shall creep Into my grave, and ellis God forbede. Into my grave, or elsewise God forbid! Bileveth this as siker as your crede. Trust this as surely as you trust your creed. God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd, 495 I thank God, and in good time be it said, That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd That there was never yet man ill repaid For gold ne silver that he to me lente, For gold or silver that to me he lent, Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente. Nor ever falsehood in my heart I've meant. And sire," quod he, "now of my pryvetee, And, sir," said he, "out of my privity, Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me, 500 Since you have been so very good to me, And kithed to me so greet gentillesse, And showed to me so great a nobleness, Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse Somewhat to quit you for your kindliness, I wol yow shewe, and if yow list to leere, I'll show to you, and if you'd learn it here, I wol yow teche pleynly the manere I'll teach you plainly all the methods dear Yow I kan werken in philosophie. 505 I use in working at philosophy. Taketh good heede, ye shul wel seen at ye Give it good heed, for you'll see with your eye That I wol doon a maistrie er I go." I'll do a masterpiece before I go." The yeoman describes the trade of the canon "Ye," quod the preest, "ye, sire, and wol ye so? "Yes?" asked the priest, "Yes, sir, and will you so? Marie! Therof I pray yow hertely." Mary! Thereof I pray you heartily." "At youre comandement, sire, trewely," 510 "Right at your service, sir, and truthfully," Quod the chanoun, "and ellis God forbeede!" Replied the canon, "else, may God forbid!" Loo, how this theef koude his service beede! Service this thief could offer, and he did! Ful sooth it is that swich profred servyse Full true it is that service in this guise Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse, Stinks, as take witness of these old men wise; And that, ful soone I wol it verifie 515 And soon enough I will this verify In this chanoun, roote of al trecherie, By this canon, the root of treachery, That everemoore delit hath and gladnesse - Who always had delight, nor could refrain - Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse - Such devilish thoughts within his heart did reign - delit delit, delyt noun, sg. delight, pleasure, desire er er adv. before, formerly; before; before feendly feendly adj. devilish han han verb have herte herte noun heart kithed kithed verb, pst. prtcpl. shown koude koude verb knew how to list list, liste verb, prsnt. sg. please, pleases philosophie philosophie noun alchemy pryvetee privetee, pryvetee noun secret(s) quod quod verb said siker siker adv. certain sooth sooth, soothe, noun truth soth, sothe swich swich pro. such syn syn conj. and prep. since theef theef noun thief trewely trewely adv. truly yvele apayd yvele apayd, apayed adj. displeased The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 647

How Cristes peple he may to meschief brynge. When he brought Christian folk to tribulation. God kepe us from his false dissymulynge! 520 God keep us from his false dissimulation! Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte, Naught understood this priest with whom he dealt, Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte. And of his coming harm he nothing felt. O sely preest! O sely innocent! O hapless priest! O hapless innocent! With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent! Blinded by avarice malevolent! O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite, 525 O luckless one, full blind is your conceit, No thyng ne artow war of the deceite Nothing are you aware of the deceit Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee! Which this sly fox arranges here to be! His wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee. His wily stratagems you cannot flee. Wherfore, to go to the conclusion, Wherefore, at once to make the ending known, That refereth to thy confusion, 530 By which your troubles will be clearly shown, Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye Unhappy man, I'll hasten on to tell To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, The folly into which you blindly fell, And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche, And, too, the treachery of that other wretch, As ferforth as that my konnyng wol strecche. As far as what I know of him may stretch. This chanon was my lord, ye wolden weene? 535 This canon was my lord, you think I mean? Sire hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene, Sir host, in faith, and by the Heaven's Queen, It was another chanoun, and nat hee, It was another canon, and not he, That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee. Who has a hundred-fold more subtlety! He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme; He has betrayed the people many a time; Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme. 540 Of his deceit it wearies me to rhyme. Evere whan that I speke of his falshede, Whatever of his falsehood I have said, For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede. For shame of him I feel my cheeks grow red; Algates they bigynnen for to glowe, At any rate, my cheeks begin to glow, For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe, For redness have I none, right well I know, In my visage; for fumes diverse 545 In all my visage; for the fumes diverse Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce, Of metals, whereof you've heard me rehearse, Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. Have all consumed and wasted my redness. Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse! Now take heed of this canon's wickedness. The canon calls for some quicksilver and says he will turn it to silver "Sire," quod he to the preest, lat youre man gon "Sir," this to the priest, "let your man be gone algate algate, algates adv. always, all the same anon anon, anoon adv. straightway, at once, immediately blent blent verb deceived, blinded coveitise coveitise, noun avarice, greed, covetousness coveityse eek eek, eke adv. also han han verb have kepe kepe verb keep, take care after, preserve meschief mescheef, noun mischief, misfortune, adversity, trouble meschief oother oother adv. other; either quod quod verb said reed rede, reed, reede adj. red reherce reherce, rehercen verb repeat sely sely adj. innocent, hapless, ignorant, foolish, insignificant subtiltee subtiltee noun craftiness, trickery, subility war war adj 1. aware; 2. prudent 648 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

For quyksilver, that we it hadde anon; 550 For quicksilver, that we have some anon; And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three; And let him bring us ounces two or three; And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see And when he comes, just so soon shall you see A wonder thyng, which ye saugh nevere er this." A wondrous thing you've never seen ere this." "Sire," quod the preest, "it shal be doon, ywis." "Sir," said the priest, "it shall be done, ywis." He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng, 555 He bade his servant go to fetch them all, And he al redy was at his biddyng, And since the lad was ready at his call, And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn He got him forth and came anon again With this quyksilver, shortly for to sayn, With this quicksilver, truly to explain, And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun; And gave these ounces three to the canon; And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun, 560 And he took them and laid them fairly down, And bad the servant coles for to brynge, And bade the servant coals to go and bring, That he anon myghte go to his werkynge. That he might get to work with everything. The coles right anon weren yfet, The coals at once were brought, and all was well; And this chanoun took out a crosselet And then this canon took a crucible Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest. 565 Out of his bosom, showing it to the priest. "This instrument," quod he, "which that thou seest, "This instrument," said he, "you see- at least Taak in thy hand, and put thyself therinne Take in your hand, and put yourself therein Of this quyksilver an ounce, and heer bigynne, An ounce of quicksilver, and here begin, In name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre. And in God's name, to be philosopher! Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre 570 There are but few to whom I would proffer To shewen hem thus muche of my science. To make my science clear and evident. For ye shul seen heer, by experience, For you shall learn here, by experiment, That this quyksilver I wol mortifye That this quicksilver will I mortify Right in youre sighte anon, withouten lye, Right in your sight anon, without a lie, And make it as good silver and as fyn 575 And make it as good silver and as fine As ther is any in youre purs or myn, As any that's in your purse or in mine, Or elleswhere, and make it malliable; Or elsewhere, aye, and make it malleable; And elles holdeth me fals and unable Otherwise hold me false, unfit as well Amonges folk for evere to appeere. Among good folk for ever to appear. I have poudre heer, that coste me deere, 580 I have a powder here that cost me dear, Shal make al good, for it is cause of al Shall do all this, for it's the root of all My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal. My craft; you'll see what shall therewith befall. Voyde youre man, and lat hym be theroute, Dismiss your man and let him stay without, And shette the dore, whils we been aboute And shut the door fast while we are about Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie, 585 Our secret work, that no man may espy Whils that we werke in this philosophie." The way we work in this philosophy." The materials are brought in and the canon begins his work Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede. All was then done as canon had decreed; anon anon, anoon adv. straightway, at once, immediately crosselet crosselet noun crucible, a vessel made of a refractory substance used for melting materials at high temperatures er er adv. before, formerly; before; before hem hem pro. them philosophie philosophie noun alchemy pryvetee privetee, pryvetee noun secret(s) quod quod verb said saugh saugh verb, pst. sg. saw science science noun knowledge The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 649

This ilke servant anonright out yede This servant took himself straight out, indeed, And his maister shette the dore anon, Whereat his master barred the door anon, And to hire labour spedily the gon. 590 And to their labour quickly they were gone. This preest, at this cursed chanons biddyng, The priest, at this damned canon's ordering, Upon the fir anon sette this thyng, Upon the fire anon did set this thing, And blew the fir, and bisyed hym ful faste. And blew the fire and busied him full fast; And this chanoun into the crosselet caste Within the crucible the canon cast A poudre, noot I wherof that it was 595 A powder, I know not whereof it was Ymaad, outher of chalk, outher of glas, Compounded, whether of chalk, or maybe glass, Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye, Or something else - it was not worth a fly To blynde with this preest; and bad hym hye To blind the priest with; and he bade him high The coles for to couchen al above The coals to pile the crucible above. The crosselet. "For in tokenyng I thee love," 600 "In token of how much I bear you love," Quod this chanoun, "thyne owene handes two This canon said, "your own two hands, and none Shul werche al thyng which that shal heer be do." Other, shall do this thing that shall be done." The canon's trick "Graunt mercy," quod the preest, and was ful glad, "Thank you," the priest replied, and was right glad, And couched coles as that the chanoun bad. And heaped the coals up as the canon bade. And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche, 605 And while he laboured thus, this fiendish wretch, This false chanoun - the foule feend hym fecche! - This canon false- may the foul devil him fetch!- Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, Out of his bosom took a beechen coal, In which ful subtilly was maad an hole, Wherein right cunningly he'd bored a hole And therinne put was of silver lemaille In which, before, he'd put of silver limail An ounce, and stopped was, withouten faille, 610 An ounce, and which he'd stopped up, without fail, This hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in. With blackened wax, to keep the filings in. And understondeth that this false gyn And understand you well that this false gin Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore; Was not made there, but it was made before; And othere thynges I shal tellen moore And there were other things I'll tell you more Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte. 615 About hereafter, which with him he'd brought; Er he cam there, hym to bigile he thoghte, Before he came there, to cheat he'd taken thought, And so he dide, er that they wente atwynne; And before they parted he did even so; Til he had terved hym, koude he nat blynne. Till he had skinned him he could not forgo. It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke. It wearies me when of him I do speak, On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, 620 For on his falsehood I myself would wreak, anon anon, anoon adv. straightway, at once, immediately atwynne atwynne adv. apart crosselet crosselet noun crucible, a vessel made of a refractory substance used for melting materials at high temperatures er er adv. before, formerly; before; before fayn fayn adj. glad, happy, pleased; gladly, happily feend feend noun demon, devil feendly feendly adj. devilish gyn gyn noun contrivance ilke ilke adj. same koude koude verb knew how to noot noot verb do not know, does not know quod quod verb said wreke wreke, wreken verb 1. avenge, avenged; 2. revenge oneself 650 The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

If I wiste how, but he is heere and there; He is so variaunt, be abit nowhere. If I knew how; but he is here and there; He is so restless he abides nowhere. The priest falls for the trick But taketh heed now, sires, for goddes love! But take heed now, sirs, for God's very love! He took his cole of which I spak above, He took this coal whereof I spoke above, And in his hand he baar it pryvely. 625 And in his hand he bore it privily. And whiles the preest couched bisily And while the priest did pile up busily The coles, as I tolde yow er this, The burning coals, as I told you before this, This chanoun seyde, "Freend, ye doon amys. This canon said: "My friend, you do amiss; This is nat couched as it oghte be; This is not piled up as it ought to be; But soone I shal amenden it," quod he. 630 But soon I shall amend all that," said he. "Now lat me medle therwith but a while, "Now let me thereof have a hand the whiles, For of yow have I pitee, by Seint Gile! For I've great pity on you, by Saint Giles! Ye been right hoot; I se wel how ye swete. You are right hot, I see well how you sweat, Have heere a clooth, and wipe awey the wete." Take here a cloth and wipe away the wet." And whiles that the preest wiped his face, 635 And while the simple priest did wipe his face, This chanoun took his cole - with sory grace! - This canon took his coal, and with grave grace, And leyde it above upon the myddeward Laid it above and well to middleward Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward, Upon the crucible, and blew it hard Til that the coles gonne faste brenne. Until the flames did blaze, up hot again. "Now yeve us drynke," quod the chanoun 640 "Now give us drink, sir," said the canon then, thenne; "As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake. "For soon all shall be well, I undertake; Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make." Let us sit down, and let us merry make." And whan that this chanounes bechen cole And when this treacherous canon's beechen coal Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole Was burnt, then all the filings from the hole Into the crosselet fil anon adoun; 645 Into the crucible fell down anon; And as it moste nedes, by resoun, As so, in reason, it must needs have done, Syn it so even aboven it couched was. Since so well centred over it was; But therof wiste the preest nothyng, alas! But thereof nothing knew the priest, alas! He demed alle the coles yliche good; He deemed that all the coals alike were good, For of that sleighte he nothyng understood. 650 For of the trick he nothing understood. And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme, And when this alchemist was ready, he alkamystre alkamystre noun alchemist anon anon, anoon adv. straightway, at once, immediately couched couched verb placed, arranged crosselet crosselet noun crucible, a vessel made of a refractory substance used for melting materials at high temperatures er er adv. before, formerly; before; before pryvely prively, pryvely adv. secretly, discreetly, stealthily quod quod verb said saugh saugh verb, pst. sg. saw sleighte sleighte noun trick, trickery syn syn conj. and prep. since undertake undertake verb affirm, declare wiste wiste verb, pst. sg. knew; yeve yeve, yif verb, prsnt. give The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 651