The Canterbury tales

The Friar's Tale

Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree Line 1301 And erchedeken, a man of heigh degree, Line 1302 That boldely dide execucioun Line 1303 In punysshynge of fornicacioun, Line 1304 Of wicchecraft, and eek of bawderye, Line 1305 Of difamacioun, and avowtrye, Line 1306 Of chirche reves, and of testamentz, Line 1307 Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz, Line 1308 Of usure, and of symonye also. Line 1309 But certes, lecchours dide he grettest wo; Line 1310 They sholde syngen if that they were hent; Line 1311 And smale tytheres weren foule yshent, Line 1312 If any persoun wolde upon hem pleyne. Line 1313 Ther myghte asterte hym no pecunyal peyne. Line 1314 For smale tithes and for smal offrynge Line 1315 He made the peple pitously to synge. Line 1316 For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook, Line 1317 They weren in the erchedeknes book. Line 1318 Thanne hadde he, thurgh his jurisdiccioun, Line 1319 Power to doon on hem correccioun. Line 1320 He hadde a somonour redy to his hond; Line 1321 A slyer boye nas noon in engelond; Line 1322 For subtilly he hadde his espiaille, Line 1323 That taughte hym wel wher that hym myghte availle. Line 1324 He koude spare of lecchours oon or two, Line 1325 To techen hym to foure and twenty mo. Line 1326 For thogh this somonour wood were as an hare, Line 1327 To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare; Line 1328 For we been out of his correccioun. Line 1329 They han of us no jurisdiccioun, Line 1330 Ne nevere shullen, terme of alle hir lyves. -- Line 1331 Peter! so been the wommen of the styves, Line 1332 Quod the somonour, yput out of oure cure! Line 1333 Pees! with myschance and with mysaventure! Line 1334

Line 1334 Thys seyde oure hoost, and lat hym telle his tale. Line 1335 Now telleth forth, thogh that the somonour gale; Line 1336 Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister deere. -- Line 1337 This false theef, this somonour, quod the frere, Line 1338 Hadde alwey bawdes redy to his hond, Line 1339 As any hauk to lure in engelond, Line 1340 That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe; Line 1341 For hire acqueyntace was nat come of newe. Line 1342 They weren his approwours prively. Line 1343 He took hymself a greet profit therby; Line 1344 His maister knew nat alwey what he wan. Line 1345 Withouten mandement a lewed man Line 1346 He koude somne, on peyne of cristes curs, Line 1347 And they were glade for to fille his purs, Line 1348 And make hym grete feestes atte nale. Line 1349 And right as judas hadde purses smale, Line 1350 And was a theef, right swich a theef was he; Line 1351 His maister hadde but half his duetee. Line 1352 He was, if I shal yeven hym his laude, Line 1353 A theef, and eek a somnour, and baude. Line 1354 He hadde eek wenches at his retenue, Line 1355 That, wheither that sir robert or sir huwe, Line 1356 Or jakke, or rauf, or whoso that it were Line 1357 That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere. Line 1358 Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent; Line 1359 And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, Line 1360 And somne hem to chapitre bothe two, Line 1361 And pile the man, and lete the wenche go. Line 1362 Thanne wolde he seye, freend, I shal for thy sake Line 1363 Do striken hire out of oure lettres blake; Line 1364 Thee thar namoore as in this cas travaille. Line 1365 I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle. Line 1366 Certeyn he knew of briberyes mo Line 1367 Than possible is to telle in yeres two. Line 1368 For in this world nys dogge for the bowe Line 1369 That kan an hurt deer from an hool yknowe Line 1370 Bet than this somnour knew a sly lecchour, Line 1371 Or an avowtier, or a paramour. Line 1372 And for that was the fruyt of al his rente, Line 1373 Therfore on it he sette al his entente. Line 1374 And so bifel that ones on a day Line 1375 This somnour, evere waityng on his pray, Line 1376 Rood for to somne an old wydwe, a ribibe, Line 1377 Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. Line 1378 And happed that he saugh bifore hym ryde Line 1379 A gay yeman, under a forest syde, Line 1380 A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene; Line 1381 He hadde upon a courtepy of grene, Line 1382 An hat upon his heed with frenges blake. Line 1383 Sire, quod this somnour, hayl, and wel atake! Line 1384 Welcome, quod he, and every good felawe! Line 1385 Wher rydestow, under this grene-wode shawe? Line 1386 Seyde this yeman, wiltow fer to day? Line 1387 This somnour hym answerde and seyde, nay; Line 1388 Heere faste by, quod he, is myn entente Line 1389 To ryden, for to reysen up a rente Line 1390 That longeth to my lordes duetee. Line 1391 Artow thanne a bailly? ye, quod he. Line 1392 He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame Line 1393 Seye that he was a somonour, for the name. Line 1394 Depardieux, quod this yeman, deere broother, Line 1395 Thou art a bailly, and I am another. Line 1396 I am unknowen as in this contree; Line 1397 Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, Line 1398 And eek of bretherhede, if that yow leste. Line 1399 I have gold and silver in my cheste; Line 1400 If that thee happe to comen in oure shire, Line 1401 Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desire. Line 1402 Grantmercy, quod this somonour, by my feith! Line 1403 Everych on ootheres hand his trouthe leith, Line 1404 For to be sworne bretheren til they deye. Line 1405 In daliance they ryden forth and pleye. Line 1406 This somonour, which that was as ful of jangles, Line 1407 As ful of venym been thise waryangles, Line 1408 And evere enqueryng upon every thyng, Line 1409 Brother, quod he, where is now youre dwellyng Line 1410 Another day if that I sholde yow seche? Line 1411 This yeman hym answerde in softe speche, Line 1412 Brother, quod he, fer in the north contree, Line 1413 Where-as I hope som tyme I shal thee see. Line 1414 Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse Line 1415 That of myn hous ne shaltow nevere mysse. Line 1416 Now, brother, quod this somonour, I yow preye, Line 1417 Teche me, whil that we ryden by the weye, Line 1418 Syn that ye been a baillif as am I, Line 1419 Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully Line 1420 In myn office how that I may moost wynne; Line 1421 And spareth nat for conscience ne synne, Line 1422 But as my brother tel me, how do ye. Line 1423 Now, by my trouthe, brother deere, seyde he, Line 1424 As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, Line 1425 My wages been ful streite and ful smale. Line 1426 My lord is hard to me and daungerous, Line 1427 And myn office is ful laborous, Line 1428 And therfore by extorcions I lyve. Line 1429 For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive. Line 1430

Line 1430 Algate,by gleyghte or by violence, Line 1431 Fro yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence. Line 1432 I kan no bettre telle, feithfully. Line 1433 Now certes, quod this somonour, so fare I. Line 1434 I spare nat to taken, God it woot, Line 1435 But if it be to hevy or to hoot. Line 1436 What I may gete in conseil prively, Line 1437 No maner conscience of that have I. Line 1438 Nere myn extorcioun, I myghte nat lyven, Line 1439 Ne of swiche japes wol I nat be shryven. Line 1440 Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon; Line 1441 I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everychoon. Line 1442 Wel be we met, by God and by seint jame! Line 1443 But, leeve brother, tel me thanne thy name, Line 1444 Quod this somonour. In this meene while Line 1445 This yeman gan a litel for to smyle. Line 1446 Brother, quod he, wiltow that I thee telle? Line 1447 I am a feend; my dwellyng is in helle, Line 1448 And heere I ryde aboute my purchasyng, Line 1449 To wite wher men wol yeve me any thyng. Line 1450 My purchas is th' effect of al my rente. Line 1451 Looke how thou rydest for the same entente, Line 1452 To wynne good, thou rekkest nevere how; Line 1453 Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now Line 1454 Unto the worldes ende for a preye. Line 1455 Al! quod this somonour, benedicite! sey ye? Line 1456 I wende ye were a yeman trewely. Line 1457 Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; Line 1458 Han ye a figure thanne determinat Line 1459 In helle, ther ye been in youre estat? Line 1460 Nay, certeinly, quod he, ther have we noon; Line 1461 But whan us liketh, we kan take us oon, Line 1462 Or elles make yow seme we been shape Line 1463 Somtyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape, Line 1464 Or lyk an angel kan I ryde or go. Line 1465 It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so; Line 1466 A lowsy jogelour kan deceyve thee, Line 1467 And pardee, yet kan I moore craft than he. Line 1468 Why, quod this somonour, ryde ye thanne or goon Line 1469 In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon? Line 1470 For we, quod he, wol us swiche formes make Line 1471 As moost able is oure preyes for to take. Line 1472 What maketh yow to han al this labour? Line 1473 Ful many a cause, leeve sire somonour, Line 1474 Seyde this feend, but alle thyng hath tyme. Line 1475 The day is short, and it is passed pryme, Line 1476 And yet ne wan I nothyng in this day. Line 1477 I wol entende to wynnyng, if I may, Line 1478 And nat entende oure wittes to declare. Line 1479 For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare Line 1480 To understonde, althogh I tolde hem thee. Line 1481 But, for thou axest why labouren we -- Line 1482 For somtyme we been goddes instrumentz, Line 1483 And meenes to doon his comandementz, Line 1484 Whan that hym list, upon his creatures, Line 1485 In divers art and in diverse figures. Line 1486 Withouten hym we have no myght, certayn, Line 1487 If that hym list stonden ther-agayn. Line 1488 And somtyme, at oure prayere, han we leve Line 1489 Oonly the body and nat the soule greve; Line 1490 Witnesse on job, whom that we diden wo. Line 1491 And somtyme han we myght of bothe two, Line 1492 This is to seyn, of soule and body eke. Line 1493 And somtyme be we suffred for to seke Line 1494 Upon a man, and doon his soule unreste, Line 1495 And nat his body, and al is for the beste. Line 1496 Whan he withstandeth oure temptacioun, Line 1497 It is a cause of his savacioun, Line 1498 Al be it that it was nat oure entente Line 1499 He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde hym hente. Line 1500 And somtyme be we servant unto man, Line 1501 As to the erchebisshop seint dunstan, Line 1502 And to the apostles servent eek was I. Line 1503 Yet tel me, quod the somonour, feithfully, Line 1504 Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway Line 1505 Of elementz? the feend answerde, nay. Line 1506 Somtyme we feyne, and somtyme we aryse Line 1507 With dede bodyes, in ful sondry wyse, Line 1508 And speke as renably and faire and wel Line 1509 As to the phitonissa dide samuel. Line 1510 (and yet wol som men seye it was nat he; Line 1511 I do no fors of youre dyvynytee.) Line 1512 But o thyng warne I thee, I wol nat jape, -- Line 1513 Thou wolt algates wite how we been shape; Line 1514 Thou shalt herafterward, my brother deere, Line 1515 Come there thee nedeth nat of me to leere. Line 1516 For thou shalt, by thyn owene experience, Line 1517 Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence Line 1518 Bet than virgile, while he was on lyve, Line 1519 Or dant also. Now lat us ryde blyve, Line 1520 For I wole holde compaignye with thee Line 1521 Til it be so that thou forsake me. Line 1522 Nay, quod this somonour, that shal nat bityde! Line 1523 I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde; Line 1524 My trouthe wol I holde, as in this cas. Line 1525 For though thou were the devel sathanas, Line 1526 My trouthe wol I holde to my brother, Line 1527 As I am sworn, and ech of us til oother, Line 1528 For to be trewe brother in this cas; Line 1529 And bothe we goon abouten oure purchas. Line 1530

Line 1530 Taak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive, Line 1531 And I shal myn; thus may we bothe lyve. Line 1532 And if that any of us have moore than oother, Line 1533 Lat hym be trewe, and parte it with his brother. Line 1534 I graunte, quod the devel, by my fey. Line 1535 And with that word they ryden forth hir wey. Line 1536 And right at the entryng of the townes ende, Line 1537 To which this somonour shoop hym for to wende, Line 1538 They saugh a cart that charged was with hey, Line 1539 Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey. Line 1540 Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood. Line 1541 The cartere smoot, and cryde as he were wood, Line 1542 Hayt, brok! hayt, scot! what spare ye for the stones? Line 1543 The feend, quod he, yow fecche, body and bones, Line 1544 As ferforthly as evere were ye foled, Line 1545 So muche wo as I have with yow tholed! Line 1546 The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey! Line 1547 This somonour seyde, heere shal we have a pley. Line 1548 And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were, Line 1549 Ful prively, and rowned in his ere: Line 1550 Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith! Line 1551 Herestow nat how that the cartere seith? Line 1552 Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee, Line 1553 Bothe hey and cart, and eek his caples thre. Line 1554 Nay, quod the devel, God woot, never a deel! Line 1555 It is nat his entente, trust me weel. Line 1556 Axe hym thyself, it thou nat trowest me; Line 1557 Or elles stynt a while, and thou shalt see. Line 1558 This cartere thakketh his hors upon the croupe, Line 1559 And they bigonne to drawen and to stoupe. Line 1560 Heyt! now, quod he, ther jhesu crist yow blesse, Line 1561 And al his handwerk, bothe moore and lesse! Line 1562 That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy. Line 1563 I pray God save thee, and seinte loy! Line 1564 Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee! Line 1565 Lo, brother, quod the feend, what tolde I thee? Line 1566 Heere may ye se, myn owene deere brother, Line 1567 The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another. Line 1568 Lat us go forth abouten oure viage; Line 1569 Heere wynne I nothyng upon cariage. Line 1570 Whan that they coomen somwhat out of towne, Line 1571 This somonour to his brother gan to rowne: Line 1572 Brother, quod he, heere woneth an old rebekke, Line 1573 That hadde almoost as lief to lese hire nekke Line 1574 As for to yeve a peny of hir good. Line 1575 I wole han twelf pens, though that she be wood, Line 1576 Or I wol sompne hire unto oure office; Line 1577 And yet, God woot, of hire knowe I no vice. Line 1578 But for thou kanst nat, as in this contree, Line 1579 Wynne thy cost, taak heer ensample of me. Line 1580 This somonour clappeth at the wydwes gate. Line 1581 Com out, quod he, thou olde virytrate! Line 1582 I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee. Line 1583 Who clappeth? seyde this wyf, benedicitee! Line 1584 God save you, sire, what is youre sweete wille? Line 1585 I have, quod he, of somonce here a bille; Line 1586 Up peyne of cursyng, looke that thou be Line 1587 To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee, Line 1588 T' answere to the court of certeyn thynges. Line 1589 Now, lord, quod she, crist jhesu, kyng of kynges, Line 1590 So wisly helpe me, as I ne may. Line 1591 I have been syk, and that ful many a day. Line 1592 I may nat go so fer, quod she, ne ryde, Line 1593 But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde. Line 1594 May I nat axe a libel, sire somonour, Line 1595 And answere there by my procuratour Line 1596 To swich thyng as men wole opposen me? Line 1597 Yis, quod this somonour, pay anon, lat se, Line 1598 Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquite. Line 1599 I shal no profit han therby but lite; Line 1600 My maister hath the profit, and nat I. Line 1601 Com of, and lat me ryden hastily; Line 1602 Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarye. Line 1603 Twelf pens! quod she, now, lady seinte marie Line 1604 So wisly help me out of care and synne, Line 1605 This wyde world thogh that I sholde wynne, Line 1606 Ne have I nat twelf pens withinne myn hoold. Line 1607 Ye knowen wel that I am povre and oold; Line 1608 Kithe youre almesse on me povre wrecche. Line 1609 Nay thanne, quod he, the foule feend me fecche Line 1610 If I th' excuse, though thou shul be spilt! Line 1611 allas! quod she, God woot, I have no gilt. Line 1612 Pay me, quod he, or by the swete seinte anne, Line 1613 As I wol bere awey thy newe panne Line 1614 For dette which thou owest me of old. Line 1615

Line 1615 Whan that thou madest thyn housbonde cokewold, Line 1616 I payde at hoom for thy correccioun. Line 1617 Thou lixt! quod she, by my savacioun, Line 1618 Ne was I nevere er now, wydwe ne wyf, Line 1619 Somoned unto youre court in al my lyf; Line 1620 Ne nevere I nas but of my body trewe! Line 1621 Unto the devel blak and rough of hewe Line 1622 Yeve I thy body and my panne also! Line 1623 And whan the devel herde hire cursen so Line 1624 Upon hir knees, he seyde in this manere, Line 1625 Now, mabely, myn owene mooder deere, Line 1626 Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye? Line 1627 The devel, quod she, so fecche hym er he deye, Line 1628 And panne and al, but he wol hym repente! Line 1629 Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente, Line 1630 Quod this somonour, for to repente me Line 1631 For any thyng that I have had of thee. Line 1632 I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth! Line 1633 Now, brother, quod the devel, be nat wrooth; Line 1634 Thy body and this panne been myne by right. Line 1635 Thow shalt with me to helle yet to-nyght, Line 1636 Where thou shalt knowen of oure privetee Line 1637 Moore than a maister of dyvynytee. Line 1638 And with that word this foule feend hym hente; Line 1639 Body and soule he with the devel wente Line 1640 Where as that somonours han hir heritage. Line 1641 And god, that maked after his ymage Line 1642 Mankynde, save and gyde us, alle and some, Line 1643 And leve thise somonours goode men bicome! Line 1644 Lordynges, I koude han toold yow, quod this frere, Line 1645 Hadde I had leyser for this somonour heere, Line 1646 After the text of crist, poul, and john, Line 1647 And of oure othere doctours many oon, Line 1648 Swiche peynes that youre hertes myghte agryse, Line 1649 Al be it so no tonge may it devyse, Line 1650 Thogh that I myghte a thousand wynter telle Line 1651 The peynes of thilke cursed hous of helle. Line 1652 But for to kepe us fro that cursed place, Line 1653 Waketh, and preyeth jhesu for his grace Line 1654 So kepe us from the temptour sathanas. Line 1655 Herketh this word! beth war, as in this cas: Line 1656 The leoun sit in his awayt alway Line 1657 To sle the innocent, if that he may. Line 1658 Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde Line 1659 The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde. Line 1660 He may nat tempte yow over youre myght, Line 1661 For crist wol be youre champion and knyght. Line 1662 And prayeth that thise somonours hem repente Line 1663 Of hir mysdedes, er that the feend hem hente! Line 1664