| 720 | With this Chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer, |
| And of his science am I never the neer. |
| Al that I hadde I have lost therby, |
| And, God woot, so hath many mo than I. |
| Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay |
| 725 | Of clothyng and of oother good array, |
| Now may I were an hose upon myn heed; |
| And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed, |
| Now is it wan and of a leden hewe -- |
| Whoso it useth, soore shal he rewe! -- |
| 730 | And of my swynk yet blered is myn ye. |
| Lo, which avantage is to multiplie! |
| That slidynge science hath me maad so bare |
| That I have no good, wher that evere I fare; |
| And yet I am endetted so therby |
| 735 | Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, |
| That whil I lyve I shal it quite nevere. |
| Lat every man be war by me for evere! |
| What maner man that casteth hym therto, |
| If he continue, I holde his thrift ydo. |
| 740 | For so helpe me God, therby shal he nat wynne, |
| But empte his purs and make his wittes thynne. |
| And whan he thurgh his madnesse and folye |
| Hath lost his owene good thurgh jupartye, |
| Thanne he exciteth oother folk therto, |
| 745 | To lesen hir good as he hymself hath do. |
| For unto shrewes joye it is and ese |
| To have hir felawes in peyne and disese. |
| Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk. |
| Of that no charge; I wol speke of oure werk. |
| 750 | Whan we been there as we shul exercise |
| Oure elvysshe craft, we semen wonder wise, |
| Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte. |
| I blowe the fir til that myn herte feynte. |
| What sholde I tellen ech proporcion |
| 755 | Of thynges whiche that we werche upon -- |
| As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be, |
| Of silver, or som oother quantitee -- |
| And bisye me to telle yow the names |
| Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames, |
| 760 | That into poudre grounden been ful smal; |
| And in an erthen pot how put is al, |
| And salt yput in, and also papeer, |
| Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer; |
| And wel ycovered with a lampe of glas; |
| 765 | And of muche oother thyng which that ther was; |
| And of the pot and glasses enlutyng |
| That of the eyr myghte passe out nothyng; |
| And of the esy fir, and smart also, |
| Which that was maad, and of the care and wo |
| 770 | That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng, |
| And in amalgamyng and calcenyng |
| Of quyksilver, yclept mercurie crude? |
| For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude. |
| Oure orpyment and sublymed mercurie, |
| 775 | Oure grounden litarge eek on the porfurie, |
| Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn -- |
| Noght helpeth us; oure labour is in veyn. |
| Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun, |
| Ne oure materes that lyen al fix adoun, |
| 780 | Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng us availle, |
| For lost is al oure labour and travaille; |
| And al the cost, a twenty devel waye, |
| Is lost also, which we upon it laye. |
| Ther is also ful many another thyng |
| 785 | That is unto oure craft apertenyng. |
| Though I by ordre hem nat reherce kan, |
| By cause that I am a lewed man, |
| Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde, |
| Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde: |
| 790 | As boole armonyak, verdegrees, boras, |
| And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas, |
| Oure urynales and oure descensories, |
| Violes, crosletz, and sublymatories, |
| Cucurbites and alambikes eek, |
| 795 | And othere swiche, deere ynough a leek -- |
| Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle -- |
| Watres rubifiyng, and boles galle, |
| Arsenyk, sal armonyak, and brymstoon; |
| And herbes koude I telle eek many oon, |
| 800 | As egremoyne, valerian, and lunarie, |
| And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie; |
| Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day, |
| To brynge aboute oure purpos, if we may; |
| Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun, |
| 805 | And of watres albificacioun; |
| Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey, |
| Poudres diverse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley, |
| Cered pokkets, sal peter, vitriole, |
| And diverse fires maad of wode and cole; |
| 810 | Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat, |
| And combust materes and coagulat; |
| Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oille |
| Of tartre, alum glas, berme, wort, and argoille, |
| Resalgar, and oure materes enbibyng, |
| 815 | And eek of oure materes encorporyng, |
| And of oure silver citrinacioun, |
| Oure cementyng and fermentacioun, |
| Oure yngottes, testes, and many mo. |
| I wol yow telle, as was me taught also, |
| 820 | The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, |
| By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene. |
| The firste spirit quyksilver called is, |
| The seconde orpyment, the thridde, ywis, |
| Sal armonyak, and the ferthe brymstoon. |
| 825 | The bodyes sevene eek, lo, hem heere anoon: |
| Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe, |
| Mars iren, Mercurie quyksilver we clepe, |
| Saturnus leed, and Juppiter is tyn, |
| And Venus coper, by my fader kyn! |
| 830 | This cursed craft whoso wole excercise, |
| He shal no good han that hym may suffise, |
| For al the good he spendeth theraboute |
| He lese shal; therof have I no doute. |
| Whoso that listeth outen his folie, |
| 835 | Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie; |
| And every man that oght hath in his cofre, |
| Lat hym appiere and wexe a philosophre. |
| Ascaunce that craft is so light to leere? |
| Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere, |
| 840 | Preest or chanoun, or any oother wyght, |
| Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght |
| In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore, |
| Al is in veyn, and parde, muchel moore. |
| To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee -- |
| 845 | Fy! Spek nat therof, for it wol nat bee. |
| And konne he letterure or konne he noon, |
| As in effect, he shal fynde it al oon. |
| For bothe two, by my savacioun, |
| Concluden in multiplicacioun |
| 850 | Ylike wel, whan they han al ydo; |
| This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two. |
| Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille |
| Of watres corosif, and of lymaille, |
| And of bodies mollificacioun, |
| 855 | And also of hire induracioun; |
| Oilles, ablucions, and metal fusible -- |
| To tellen al wolde passen any bible |
| That owher is; wherfore, as for the beste, |
| Of alle thise names now wol I me reste, |
| 860 | For, as I trowe, I have yow toold ynowe |
| To reyse a feend, al looke he never so rowe. |
| A! Nay! Lat be; the philosophres stoon, |
| Elixer clept, we sechen faste echoon; |
| For hadde we hym, thanne were we siker ynow. |
| 865 | But unto God of hevene I make avow, |
| For al oure craft, whan we han al ydo, |
| And al oure sleighte, he wol nat come us to. |
| He hath ymaad us spenden muchel good, |
| For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood, |
| 870 | But that good hope crepeth in oure herte, |
| Supposynge evere, though we sore smerte, |
| To be releeved by hym afterward. |
| Swich supposyng and hope is sharp and hard; |
| I warne yow wel, it is to seken evere. |
| 875 | That futur temps hath maad men to dissevere, |
| In trust therof, from al that evere they hadde. |
| Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde, |
| For unto hem it is a bitter sweete -- |
| So semeth it -- for nadde they but a sheete |
| 880 | Which that they myghte wrappe hem inne a-nyght, |
| And a brat to walken inne by daylyght, |
| They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft. |
| They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft. |
| And everemoore, where that evere they goon, |
| 885 | Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon. |
| For al the world they stynken as a goot; |
| Hir savour is so rammyssh and so hoot |
| That though a man from hem a mile be, |
| The savour wole infecte hym, trusteth me. |
| 890 | Lo, thus by smellyng and threedbare array, |
| If that men liste, this folk they knowe may. |
| And if a man wole aske hem pryvely |
| Why they been clothed so unthriftily, |
| They right anon wol rownen in his ere, |
| 895 | And seyn that if that they espied were, |
| Men wolde hem slee by cause of hir science. |
| Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence! |
| Passe over this; I go my tale unto. |
| Er that the pot be on the fir ydo, |
| 900 | Of metals with a certeyn quantitee, |
| My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he -- |
| Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely -- |
| For, as men seyn, he kan doon craftily. |
| Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name; |
| 905 | And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame. |
| And wite ye how? Ful ofte it happeth so |
| The pot tobreketh, and farewel, al is go! |
| Thise metals been of so greet violence |
| Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence, |
| 910 | But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon; |
| They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon. |
| And somme of hem synken into the ground -- |
| Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound -- |
| And somme are scatered al the floor aboute; |
| 915 | Somme lepe into the roof. Withouten doute, |
| Though that the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe, |
| I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe! |
| In helle, where that he is lord and sire, |
| Nis ther moore wo, ne moore rancour ne ire. |
| 920 | Whan that oure pot is broke, as I have sayd, |
| Every man chit and halt hym yvele apayd. |
| Somme seyde it was long on the fir makyng; |
| Somme seyde nay, it was on the blowyng -- |
| Thanne was I fered, for that was myn office. |
| 925 | "Straw!" quod the thridde, "ye been lewed and nyce. |
| It was nat tempred as it oghte be." |
| "Nay," quod the fourthe, "stynt and herkne me. |
| By cause oure fir ne was nat maad of beech, |
| That is the cause and oother noon, so thee 'ch!" |
| 930 | I kan nat telle wheron it was long, |
| But wel I woot greet strif is us among. |
| "What," quod my lord, "ther is namoore to doone; |
| Of thise perils I wol be war eftsoone. |
| I am right siker that the pot was crased. |
| 935 | Be as be may, be ye no thyng amased; |
| As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swithe, |
| Plukke up youre hertes and beeth glad and blithe." |
| The mullok on an heep ysweped was, |
| And on the floor ycast a canevas, |
| 940 | And al this mullok in a syve ythrowe, |
| And sifted, and ypiked many a throwe. |
| "Pardee," quod oon, "somwhat of oure metal |
| Yet is ther heere, though that we han nat al. |
| And though this thyng myshapped have as now, |
| 945 | Another tyme it may be well ynow. |
| Us moste putte oure good in aventure. |
| A marchant, pardee, may nat ay endure, |
| Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee. |
| Somtyme his good is drowned in the see, |
| 950 | And somtyme comth it sauf unto the londe." |
| "Pees!" quod my lord, "the nexte tyme I wol fonde |
| To bryngen oure craft al in another plite, |
| And but I do, sires, lat me han the wite. |
| Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I woot." |
| 955 | Another seyde the fir was over-hoot -- |
| But, be it hoot or coold, I dar seye this, |
| That we concluden everemoore amys. |
| We faille of that which that we wolden have, |
| And in oure madnesse everemoore we rave. |
| 960 | And whan we been togidres everichoon, |
| Every man semeth a Salomon. |
| But al thyng which that shineth as the gold |
| Nis nat gold, as that I have herd told; |
| Ne every appul that is fair at eye |
| 965 | Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye. |
| Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us: |
| He that semeth the wiseste, by Jhesus, |
| Is moost fool, whan it cometh to the preef; |
| And he that semeth trewest is a theef. |
| 970 | That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende, |
| By that I of my tale have maad an ende. |
| |
| |
| Ther is a chanoun of religioun |
| Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun, |
| Thogh it as greet were as was Nynyvee, |
| 975 | Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. |
| His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse |
| Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse, |
| Though that he myghte lyve a thousand yeer. |
| In al this world of falshede nis his peer, |
| 980 | For in his termes he wol hym so wynde, |
| And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde, |
| Whanne he commune shal with any wight, |
| That he wol make hym doten anonright, |
| But it a feend be, as hymselven is. |
| 985 | Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this, |
| And wole, if that he lyve may a while; |
| And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile |
| Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce, |
| Noght knowynge of his false governaunce. |
| 990 | And if yow list to yeve me audience, |
| I wol it tellen heere in youre presence. |
| But worshipful chanons religious, |
| Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous, |
| Although that my tale of a chanoun bee. |
| 995 | Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee, |
| And God forbede that al a compaignye |
| Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye. |
| To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente, |
| But to correcten that is mys I mente. |
| 1000 | This tale was nat oonly toold for yow, |
| But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how |
| That among Cristes apostelles twelve |
| Ther nas no traytour but Judas hymselve. |
| Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame |
| 1005 | That giltlees were? By yow I seye the same, |
| Save oonly this, if ye wol herkne me: |
| If any Judas in youre covent be, |
| Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede, |
| If shame or los may causen any drede. |
| 1010 | And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye, |
| But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye. |
| In Londoun was a preest, an annueleer, |
| That therinne dwelled hadde many a yeer, |
| Which was so plesaunt and so servysable |
| 1015 | Unto the wyf, where as he was at table, |
| That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye |
| For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye, |
| And spendyng silver hadde he right ynow. |
| Therof no fors; I wol procede as now, |
| 1020 | And telle forth my tale of the chanoun |
| That broghte this preest to confusioun. |
| This false chanon cam upon a day |
| Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, |
| Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn |
| 1025 | Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn. |
| "Leene me a marc," quod he, "but dayes three, |
| And at my day I wol it quiten thee. |
| And if so be that thow me fynde fals, |
| Another day do hange me by the hals!" |
| 1030 | This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe, |
| And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe, |
| And took his leve, and wente forth his weye, |
| And at the thridde day broghte his moneye, |
| And to the preest he took his gold agayn, |
| 1035 | Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. |
| "Certes," quod he, "no thyng anoyeth me |
| To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre, |
| Or what thyng were in my possessioun, |
| Whan he so trewe is of condicioun |
| 1040 | That in no wise he breke wole his day; |
| To swich a man I kan never seye nay." |
| "What!" quod this chanoun, "sholde I be untrewe? |
| Nay, that were thyng yfallen al of newe. |
| Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe |
| 1045 | Unto that day in which that I shal crepe |
| Into my grave, and ellis God forbede. |
| Bileveth this as siker as your Crede. |
| God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd, |
| That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd |
| 1050 | For gold ne silver that he to me lente, |
| Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente. |
| And sire," quod he, "now of my pryvetee, |
| Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me, |
| And kithed to me so greet gentillesse, |
| 1055 | Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse |
| I wol yow shewe, and if yow list to leere, |
| I wol yow teche pleynly the manere |
| How I kan werken in philosophie. |
| Taketh good heede; ye shul wel seen at ye |
| 1060 | That I wol doon a maistrie er I go." |
| "Ye," quod the preest, "ye, sire, and wol ye so? |
| Marie, therof I pray yow hertely." |
| "At youre comandement, sire, trewely," |
| Quod the chanoun, "and ellis God forbeede!" |
| 1065 | Loo, how this theef koude his service beede! |
| Ful sooth it is that swich profred servyse |
| Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse, |
| And that ful soone I wol it verifie |
| In this chanoun, roote of al trecherie, |
| 1070 | That everemoore delit hath and gladnesse -- |
| Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse -- |
| How Cristes peple he may to meschief brynge. |
| God kepe us from his false dissymulynge! |
| Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte, |
| 1075 | Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte. |
| O sely preest! O sely innocent! |
| With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent! |
| O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite, |
| No thyng ne artow war of the deceite |
| 1080 | Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee! |
| His wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee. |
| Wherfore, to go to the conclusion, |
| That refereth to thy confusion, |
| Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye |
| 1085 | To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, |
| And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche, |
| As ferforth as that my konnyng wol strecche. |
| This chanon was my lord, ye wolden weene? |
| Sire hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene, |
| 1090 | It was another chanoun, and nat hee, |
| That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee. |
| He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme; |
| Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme. |
| Evere whan that I speke of his falshede, |
| 1095 | For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede. |
| Algates they bigynnen for to glowe, |
| For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe, |
| In my visage; for fumes diverse |
| Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce, |
| 1100 | Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. |
| Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse! |
| "Sire," quod he to the preest, "lat youre man gon |
| For quyksilver, that we it hadde anon; |
| And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three; |
| 1105 | And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see |
| A wonder thyng, which ye saugh nevere er this." |
| "Sire," quod the preest, "it shal be doon, ywis." |
| He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng, |
| And he al redy was at his biddyng, |
| 1110 | And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn |
| With this quyksilver, shortly for to sayn, |
| And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun; |
| And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun, |
| And bad the servant coles for to brynge, |
| 1115 | That he anon myghte go to his werkynge. |
| The coles right anon weren yfet, |
| And this chanoun took out a crosselet |
| Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest. |
| "This instrument," quod he, "which that thou seest, |
| 1120 | Taak in thyn hand, and put thyself therinne |
| Of this quyksilver an ounce, and heer bigynne, |
| In name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre. |
| Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre |
| To shewen hem thus muche of my science. |
| 1125 | For ye shul seen heer, by experience, |
| That this quyksilver I wol mortifye |
| Right in youre sighte anon, withouten lye, |
| And make it as good silver and as fyn |
| As ther is any in youre purs or myn, |
| 1130 | Or elleswhere, and make it malliable; |
| And elles holdeth me fals and unable |
| Amonges folk for evere to appeere. |
| I have a poudre heer, that coste me deere, |
| Shal make al good, for it is cause of al |
| 1135 | My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal. |
| Voyde youre man, and lat hym be theroute, |
| And shette the dore, whils we been aboute |
| Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie, |
| Whils that we werke in this philosophie." |
| 1140 | Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede. |
| This ilke servant anonright out yede, |
| And his maister shette the dore anon, |
| And to hire labour spedily they gon. |
| This preest, at this cursed chanons biddyng, |
| 1145 | Upon the fir anon sette this thyng, |
| And blew the fir, and bisyed hym ful faste. |
| And this chanoun into the crosselet caste |
| A poudre, noot I wherof that it was |
| Ymaad, outher of chalk, outher of glas, |
| 1150 | Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye, |
| To blynde with this preest; and bad hym hye |
| The coles for to couchen al above |
| The crosselet. "For in tokenyng I thee love," |
| Quod this chanoun, "thyne owene handes two |
| 1155 | Shul werche al thyng which that shal heer be do." |
| "Graunt mercy," quod the preest, and was ful glad, |
| And couched coles as the chanoun bad. |
| And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche, |
| This false chanoun -- the foule feend hym fecche! -- |
| 1160 | Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, |
| In which ful subtilly was maad an hole, |
| And therinne put was of silver lemaille |
| An ounce, and stopped was, withouten faille, |
| This hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in. |
| 1165 | And understondeth that this false gyn |
| Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore; |
| And othere thynges I shal tellen moore |
| Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte. |
| Er he cam there, hym to bigile he thoghte, |
| 1170 | And so he dide, er that they wente atwynne; |
| Til he had terved hym, koude he nat blynne. |
| It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke. |
| On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, |
| If I wiste how, but he is heere and there; |
| 1175 | He is so variaunt, he abit nowhere. |
| But taketh heede now, sires, for Goddes love! |
| He took his cole of which I spak above, |
| And in his hand he baar it pryvely. |
| And whiles the preest couched bisily |
| 1180 | The coles, as I tolde yow er this, |
| This chanoun seyde, "Freend, ye doon amys. |
| This is nat couched as it oghte be; |
| But soone I shal amenden it," quod he. |
| "Now lat me medle therwith but a while, |
| 1185 | For of yow have I pitee, by Seint Gile! |
| Ye been right hoot; I se wel how ye swete. |
| Have heere a clooth, and wipe awey the wete." |
| And whiles that the preest wiped his face, |
| This chanoun took his cole -- with sory grace! -- |
| 1190 | And leyde it above upon the myddeward |
| Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward |
| Til that the coles gonne faste brenne. |
| "Now yeve us drynke," quod the chanoun thenne; |
| "As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake. |
| 1195 | Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make." |
| And whan that this chanounes bechen cole |
| Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole |
| Into the crosselet fil anon adoun; |
| And so it moste nedes, by resoun, |
| 1200 | Syn it so evene above couched was. |
| But therof wiste the preest nothyng, alas! |
| He demed alle the coles yliche good, |
| For of that sleighte he nothyng understood. |
| And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme, |
| 1205 | "Ris up," quod he, "sire preest, and stondeth by me; |
| And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon, |
| Gooth, walketh forth, and bryngeth a chalk stoon; |
| For I wol make it of the same shap |
| That is an ingot, if I may han hap. |
| 1210 | And bryngeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne |
| Ful of water, and ye shul se wel thanne |
| How that oure bisynesse shal thryve and preeve. |
| And yet, for ye shul han no mysbileeve |
| Ne wrong conceite of me in youre absence, |
| 1215 | I ne wol nat been out of youre presence, |
| But go with yow and come with yow ageyn." |
| The chambre dore, shortly for to seyn, |
| They opened and shette, and wente hir weye. |
| And forth with hem they carieden the keye, |
| 1220 | And coome agayn withouten any delay. |
| What sholde I tarien al the longe day? |
| He took the chalk and shoop it in the wise |
| Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse. |
| I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve |
| 1225 | A teyne of silver -- yvele moot he cheeve! -- |
| Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte. |
| And taaketh heede now of his cursed sleighte! |
| He shoop his ingot in lengthe and in breede |
| Of this teyne, withouten any drede, |
| 1230 | So slyly that the preest it nat espide, |
| And in his sleve agayn he gan it hide, |
| And fro the fir he took up his mateere, |
| And in th' yngot putte it with myrie cheere, |
| And in the water-vessel he it caste, |
| 1235 | Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste, |
| "Loke what ther is; put in thyn hand and grope. |
| Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope." |
| What, devel of helle, sholde it elles be? |
| Shaving of silver silver is, pardee! |
| 1240 | He putte his hand in and took up a teyne |
| Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne |
| Was this preest, whan he saugh it was so. |
| "Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also, |
| And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun," |
| 1245 | Seyde the preest, "and I hir malisoun, |
| But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me |
| This noble craft and this subtilitee, |
| I wol be youre in al that evere I may." |
| Quod the chanoun, "Yet wol I make assay |
| 1250 | The seconde tyme, that ye may taken heede |
| And been expert of this, and in youre neede |
| Another day assaye in myn absence |
| This disciplyne and this crafty science. |
| Lat take another ounce," quod he tho, |
| 1255 | "Of quyksilver, withouten wordes mo, |
| And do therwith as ye han doon er this |
| With that oother, which that now silver is." |
| This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan |
| To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man, |
| 1260 | Comanded hym, and faste blew the fir, |
| For to come to th' effect of his desir. |
| And this chanon, right in the meene while, |
| Al redy was this preest eft to bigile, |
| And for a contenaunce in his hand he bar |
| 1265 | An holwe stikke -- taak kep and be war! -- |
| In the ende of which an ounce, and namoore, |
| Of silver lemaille put was, as bifore |
| Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel |
| For to kepe in his lemaille every deel. |
| 1270 | And whil this preest was in his bisynesse, |
| This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse |
| To hym anon, and his poudre caste in |
| As he dide er -- the devel out of his skyn |
| Hym terve, I pray to God, for his falshede! |
| 1275 | For he was evere fals in thoght and dede -- |
| And with this stikke, above the crosselet, |
| That was ordeyned with that false jet, |
| He stired the coles til relente gan |
| The wex agayn the fir, as every man, |
| 1280 | But it a fool be, woot wel it moot nede, |
| And al that in the stikke was out yede, |
| And in the crosselet hastily it fel. |
| Now, good sires, what wol ye bet than wel? |
| Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn, |
| 1285 | Supposynge noght but treuthe, sooth to seyn, |
| He was so glad that I kan nat expresse |
| In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse; |
| And to the chanoun he profred eftsoone |
| Body and good. "Ye," quod the chanoun soone, |
| 1290 | "Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me fynde. |
| I warne thee, yet is ther moore bihynde. |
| Is ther any coper herinne?" seyde he. |
| "Ye," quod the preest, "sire, I trowe wel ther be." |
| "Elles go bye us som, and that as swithe; |
| 1295 | Now, goode sire, go forth thy wey and hy the." |
| He wente his wey, and with the coper cam, |
| And this chanon it in his handes nam, |
| And of that coper weyed out but an ounce. |
| Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce, |
| 1300 | As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse |
| Of this chanoun, roote of alle cursednesse! |
| He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght, |
| But he was feendly bothe in werk and thoght. |
| It weerieth me to telle of his falsnesse, |
| 1305 | And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, |
| To th' entente that men may be war therby, |
| And for noon oother cause, trewely. |
| He putte this ounce of coper in the crosselet, |
| And on the fir as swithe he hath it set, |
| 1310 | And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe, |
| And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe, |
| As he dide er -- and al nas but a jape; |
| Right as hym liste, the preest he made his ape! |
| And afterward in the ingot he it caste, |
| 1315 | And in the panne putte it at the laste |
| Of water, and in he putte his owene hand, |
| And in his sleve (as ye biforen-hand |
| Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne. |
| He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne, |
| 1320 | Unwityng this preest of his false craft, |
| And in the pannes botme he hath it laft; |
| And in the water rombled to and fro, |
| And wonder pryvely took up also |
| The coper teyne, noght knowynge this preest, |
| 1325 | And hidde it, and hym hente by the breest, |
| And to hym spak, and thus seyde in his game: |
| "Stoupeth adoun. By God, ye be to blame! |
| Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whileer; |
| Putte in youre hand, and looketh what is theer." |
| 1330 | This preest took up this silver teyne anon, |
| And thanne seyde the chanoun, "Lat us gon |
| With thise thre teynes, whiche that we han wroght, |
| To som goldsmyth and wite if they been oght, |
| For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood, |
| 1335 | But if that they were silver fyn and good, |
| And that as swithe preeved it shal bee." |
| Unto the goldsmyth with thise teynes three |
| They wente and putte thise teynes in assay |
| To fir and hamer; myghte no man seye nay, |
| 1340 | But that they weren as hem oghte be. |
| This sotted preest, who was gladder than he? |
| Was nevere brid gladder agayn the day, |
| Ne nyghtyngale, in the sesoun of May, |
| Was nevere noon that luste bet to synge; |
| 1345 | Ne lady lustier in carolynge, |
| Or for to speke of love and wommanhede, |
| Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede, |
| To stonden in grace of his lady deere, |
| Than hadde this preest this soory craft to leere. |
| 1350 | And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde: |
| "For love of God, that for us alle deyde, |
| And as I may deserve it unto yow, |
| What shal this receite coste? Telleth now!" |
| "By oure Lady," quod this chanon, "it is deere, |
| 1355 | I warne yow wel; for save I and a frere, |
| In Engelond ther kan no man it make." |
| "No fors," quod he, "now, sire, for Goddes sake, |
| What shal I paye? Telleth me, I preye." |
| "Ywis," quod he, "it is ful deere, I seye. |
| 1360 | Sire, at o word, if that thee list it have, |
| Ye shul paye fourty pound, so God me save! |
| And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this |
| To me, ye sholde paye moore, ywis." |
| This preest the somme of fourty pound anon |
| 1365 | Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon |
| To this chanoun for this ilke receite. |
| Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceite. |
| "Sire preest," he seyde, "I kepe han no loos |
| Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos; |
| 1370 | And, as ye love me, kepeth it secree. |
| For, and men knewen al my soutiltee, |
| By God, they wolden han so greet envye |
| To me by cause of my philosophye |
| I sholde be deed; ther were noon oother weye." |
| 1375 | "God it forbeede," quod the preest, "what sey ye? |
| Yet hadde I levere spenden al the good |
| Which that I have, and elles wexe I wood, |
| Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef." |
| "For youre good wyl, sire, have ye right good preef," |
| 1380 | Quod the chanoun, "and farwel, grant mercy!" |
| He wente his wey, and never the preest hym sy |
| After that day; and whan that this preest shoolde |
| Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde, |
| Of this receit, farwel! It wolde nat be. |
| 1385 | Lo, thus byjaped and bigiled was he! |
| Thus maketh he his introduccioun, |
| To brynge folk to hir destruccioun. |
| Considereth, sires, how that, in ech estaat, |
| Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat |
| 1390 | So ferforth that unnethes is ther noon. |
| This multiplying blent so many oon |
| That in good feith I trowe that it bee |
| The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. |
| Philosophres speken so mystily |
| 1395 | In this craft that men kan nat come therby, |
| For any wit that men han now-a-dayes. |
| They mowe wel chiteren as doon jayes, |
| And in hir termes sette hir lust and peyne, |
| But to hir purpos shul they nevere atteyne. |
| 1400 | A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught, |
| To multiplie, and brynge his good to naught! |
| Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game, |
| A mannes myrthe it wol turne unto grame, |
| And empten also grete and hevye purses, |
| 1405 | And maken folk for to purchacen curses |
| Of hem that han hir good therto ylent. |
| O, fy, for shame! They that han been brent, |
| Allas, kan they nat flee the fires heete? |
| Ye that it use, I rede ye it leete, |
| 1410 | Lest ye lese al; for bet than nevere is late. |
| Nevere to thryve were to long a date. |
| Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it nevere fynde. |
| Ye been as boold as is Bayard the blynde, |
| That blondreth forth and peril casteth noon. |
| 1415 | He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon |
| As for to goon bisides in the weye. |
| So faren ye that multiplie, I seye. |
| If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright, |
| Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight. |
| 1420 | For though ye looken never so brode and stare, |
| Ye shul nothyng wynne on that chaffare, |
| But wasten al that ye may rape and renne. |
| Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne; |
| Medleth namoore with that art, I mene, |
| 1425 | For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene. |
| And right as swithe I wol yow tellen heere |
| What philosophres seyn in this mateere. |
| Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun, |
| As his Rosarie maketh mencioun; |
| 1430 | He seith right thus, withouten any lye: |
| "Ther may no man mercurie mortifie |
| But it be with his brother knowlechyng"; |
| How [be] that he which that first seyde this thyng |
| Of philosophres fader was, Hermes; |
| 1435 | He seith how that the dragon, doutelees, |
| Ne dyeth nat but if that he be slayn |
| With his brother; and that is for to sayn, |
| By the dragon, Mercurie, and noon oother |
| He understood, and brymstoon by his brother, |
| 1440 | That out of Sol and Luna were ydrawe. |
| "And therfore," seyde he -- taak heede to my sawe -- |
| "Lat no man bisye hym this art for to seche, |
| But if that he th' entencioun and speche |
| Of philosophres understonde kan; |
| 1445 | And if he do, he is a lewed man. |
| For this science and this konnyng," quod he, |
| "Is of the secree of the secretes, pardee." |
| Also ther was a disciple of Plato, |
| That on a tyme seyde his maister to, |
| 1450 | As his book Senior wol bere witnesse, |
| And this was his demande in soothfastnesse: |
| "Telle me the name of the privee stoon." |
| And Plato answerde unto hym anoon, |
| "Take the stoon that Titanos men name." |
| 1455 | "Which is that?" quod he. "Magnasia is the same," |
| Seyde Plato. "Ye, sire, and is it thus? |
| This is ignotum per ignocius. |
| What is Magnasia, good sire, I yow preye?" |
| "It is a water that is maad, I seye, |
| 1460 | Of elementes foure," quod Plato. |
| "Telle me the roote, good sire," quod he tho, |
| "Of that water, if it be youre wil." |
| "Nay, nay," quod Plato, "certein, that I nyl. |
| The philosophres sworn were everychoon |
| 1465 | That they sholden discovere it unto noon, |
| Ne in no book it write in no manere. |
| For unto Crist it is so lief and deere |
| That he wol nat that it discovered bee, |
| But where it liketh to his deitee |
| 1470 | Men for t' enspire, and eek for to deffende |
| Whom that hym liketh; lo, this is the ende." |
| Thanne conclude I thus, sith that God of hevene |
| Ne wil nat that the philosophres nevene |
| How that a man shal come unto this stoon, |
| 1475 | I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. |
| For whoso maketh God his adversarie, |
| As for to werken any thyng in contrarie |
| Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve, |
| Thogh that he multiplie terme of his lyve. |
| 1480 | And there a poynt, for ended is my tale. |
| God sende every trewe man boote of his bale! |