The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 527]

GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII.

§ 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE.

CAMBRIDGE MS.

[THE PROEM.]

[Here begynnethe þe Prologge of þe Secound Nunne [Sloane MS 1685 folio 157b] [[No breaks between the stanzas in Sloane.]]

(1)

The mynystre of þe Noryce vnto vices. Line 1 whiche þat men clepen in englys ydylnesse The portere of þe gate ys of delyces To eschewe and by hir contraryry hym oppresse Line 4 þat ys to say by lefefulle besynesse [Sloane MS 1685 folio 158a] wele ouȝte we don oure entent leste þat þe fende þorouȝe ydelnesse vs hent Line 7

(2)

ffor he þat with his þousand cordes sliȝ Line 8 Contynuelly vs awayteth to be-clappe þan he may man in ydelnes aspye he can so liȝtly cacche hym in his trappe Line 11 Tylle þat a man be hent riȝt/ by þe lappe he nys not ware þe fende haþe hym in honde wele ouȝt vs worche and ydelnesse with stonde] [[Sloane 1685 extract stops]]

(3)

And thow men dreddyn neuere for to deyin [Camb. MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 373a] ȝit seen men weel by resoun douteles That ydilnesse is rote slogardye Of whiche there neuere comyth encrees Line 18 And seen that slouthe hire holdyt in a lees Only for to slepe & ete & drynke And to deuoure al that othir swynke Line 21

[6-text p 528] Line 21

(4)

And for to putte vs from swich ydilnes Line 22 That cause is of so greet confusioun I haue here don myn feythful businesse Aftyr the legende in translacioun Line 25 Rygh of thyn glorious lyf & pascioun [.id est. cecilie] Thow with thyn garland wrogh[t] with rose & lilye Tho meene I mayde & martyr Seyn Cecyle Line 28

(5)

And thow that flour of virgynis art alle Line 29 Of whom that bernard lyste so weel to write To the at myn begynnynge I leste to calle [.i. ihesus [MS ihc]] Thow confort of vs wrechis do me endite [[later]] Line 32 Thyn maydenys deth / that wan thour hire meryte The eternal lyf & ouyr the fend victorye As man may aftyr redyn in h[i]re storye Line 35

(6)

Thow maydyn & modyr doghtir of the sone Line 36 Thow welle of mercy synful soulys cure In whom that god of mercy ches to wone Thow humble & heig ouer euery creature Line 39 Thow nobledist so fer forth oure nature That no disdayn the makere hadde of kynde His sone in blood & flesch to clothe & wynde Line 42

(7)

With-inne the cloystre blisful of thynne sydis Line 43 Tok mannys schap the eternal loue & pees That of the tryne cumpas lord & gide is Won heuene & se & erthe out of reles Line 46 Ay heryen & [[h altered]] thow virgyne wemmelees Bar of thyn body & dweldist mayde pure The creatour of euery creature Line 49

[6-text p 529] Line 49

(8)

Assembled is in the magnyficence [folio 373b] Line 50 With mercy goodnesse & swich pete That thow that art the sunne of excellence Nat only helpist hem that preyen the Line 53 But ofte tyme of thyn benygnetee fful frely er that men thyn helpe be-seche Thow gost by-forn & art oure lyuys leche Line 56

(9)

Now help thow meke & blysful fayre mayde Line 57 Me flemede wreche in this desert of galle Thynk on the woman Canane that sayde [.i. Maria [later]] That whelpis etyn some of the cromys alle Line 60 That from hire lordis table been I-falle And thow that I onworthi sone of eue Be synful ȝit accepte myn beleue Line 63

(10)

And for that feyth is deed with outyn werkis Line 64 So for to werkyn ȝeue me wit & space That I be quyt from thens that most derk is O thow that art so fayr & ful of grace Line 67 Be myn aduocat in that hyge place Theere that withoutyn ende is sunge osanne Thow cristis modir doughtir deere of Anne [[first anne]]

(11)

And of thyn grace [[corr.]] myn soule in prisoun lighte Line 71 That troblid is bi the cogitacioun [[as in Arch. Seld. B. 14]] Of myn body & also by the whighte Of ertheli lust & fals affeccioun Line 74 O hauen of refut / O saluacioun Of hem that been in sorwe & in distresse Now help for to myn werk I wele me dresse Line 77

[6-text p 530] Line 77

(12)

Ȝit preye ych ¹ȝow þat¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] Line 78 ffor-ȝeue me that I do / no diligence This ilke story / subtily tendite ffor bothe haue I / the wordis & the sentence Line 81 Of hym that at the / seyntis reuerence The storye wrot / & folwe hire legende And preye ȝow that ȝe / wele myn werk amende [leaf 374 is out of the Camb. MS.]

(13) [THE TALE.]

[ffyrst wolle I you þe name of Seynt Cecile [Sloane MS 1685 folio 159a] Expoune as men may in hir stories see hit ys to say on englysshe heuen lilie Pure Chastnesse of Virginite Line 88 Or for she wytnesse hade of honeste Of greue of conscience and of gode fame The swoote sauoure lylie was hir name Line 91

(14)

Other / Cecile ys to say þe wey to blynde Line 92 ffor she ensample was by god techynge Or elles Ceciles as I wryten fynde Is ioyned by manere comoynynge Line 95 Of heuen and lya and hiȝer/ in figurynge þe heuen ys. sette for þouȝt of holynesse And lya for hir lastynge besynesse Line 98

(15)

Cecile may eke be sayde in þis manere Line 99 Wantynge hir blynednesse for hir grete liȝt Of sapience for hir/ thewes clere Or elles lo þis maydons name briȝt Line 102 Of/ heuen and loos comethe for whiche be riȝt Men myȝt þe heuen of peple hir/ calle Ensample of god and wyse werkes with alle Line 105

[6-text p 531] Line 105

(16)

ffor leos peple in Englyssh in to say [[Sloane 1685]] Line 106 And riȝt/ as men may in þis heuen se The sonne and mone and sterres euery way Riȝt/ so gostely in þis mayden fre Line 109 Seyen þe feithe of Magnificence And eke of helthe and of sapience And sondry werkes briȝt of Excellence Line 112

(17)

And riȝt as þe phylosophre wryte [Sloane MS 1685 folio 159b] Line 113 þat heuen ys swyfte rounde and brennynge Riȝt so was fayre Cecile þe white ffulle swyfte and besy euere in goode wirkynge Line 116 And rounde and hoole in goode perseuerynge And brenne euere in Charite liȝt Nowe haue I declared you what she hiȝt Line 119

Here endethe þe Prologge and begynnethe þe tale

(18)

This mayd bryȝt Cecile as hir/ lyf sayþe Line 120 Was comen of Romayns & of noble kynde And so forthe forstred vp in þe feiþe Of Cryst and bare his Gospel in hir mynde Line 123 Sche neuere sesede as I wryten fynde Of hir/ prayers but god to loue & drede Besechynge hym to kepen hir/ maydenhede Line 126

(19)

And whan þis Mayde shulde vnto a man Line 127 y-wedded be þat was so ȝonge of age The whiche y-cleped was Valerian And þe day was come of/ hir/ maryage Line 130 She fulle deuoute and humble in hir corage Vnder hir robe of golde þat sat fulle fayre And nexte hir/ flesshe ycladde was in heyre Line 133

[6-text p 532] Line 133

(20)

And while þe Organes made melodye [[Sloane 1685]] Line 134 To god alle loue þus in hert sange she O lord my saule and eke my body gye Vnwemmed leste I confounded be Line 137 And for hys loue þat deyde vpon a tre Euery second or þrid day she faste Ay bydynge in hir Orisons fulle faste] [[Sloane 1685 extract stops]]

(21)

¹The nyght cam & to bedde muste sche goon [Camb. MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 375a] With her husbond as ofte is the manner And preuyly to hym sche saide A-noon¹ [[^1_1 rewritten by the corrector?]] O sweete & weel belouyd spouse deere Line 144 There is a conseyl & ȝe wele it here Whiche that rygh fayn I wolde vn-to ȝow seye So that ȝe swere ȝe schul it nat bewreye Line 147

(22)

Valerian gan faste vn-to hire swere Line 148 That for no cas ne thyng that myghte be He schulde neueremore bewreyen hire And thanne at erst to hym seyde sche Line 151 I haue an aungel whiche that louygh me That with greet loue wheere so I wake or sleepe Is redy ay myn body for to keepe Line 154

(23)

But ȝif that he m^ay felyn out of dreede Line 155 That ȝe me touche or loue in vilenye He rygh a-noon wele sle ȝow with the dede [And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye [Harl. 7335 folio 92b] [[No gap in the Camb. MS, but at the end of the stanza there is space for a line.]] ] And ȝif that ȝe in cleene loue me gye He wele ȝow loue as me for ȝoure clennesse And schewe to ȝow his ioye & his bryghtnesse Line 161

[6-text p 533] Line 161

(24)

This valerian corektid as god wolde Line 162 Answerede a-geyn as I schal truste the Lat me that angel se & ek beholde And ȝif that it a verray aungel be Line 165 Thanne wele I doon as thow hast preyed me And ȝif thow loue a-nothir man forsothe Ryght with this swerd I wele sle ȝow bothe Line 168

(25)

Cecyle answerede a-noon rygh in this wise Line 169 ȝif that ȝe lyste the aungel schal ȝe se So that ȝe trowe on cryst & ȝow baptyse Goth forth to via apia quod sche Line 172 That from this toun stant but mylis three And to the poure folkys that theere dwelle Seye hem righ as I schal ȝow telle Line 175

(26)

Telle hem that I Cecile ȝow to hem sente [folio 375b] To shewyn ȝow the goode vrban the olde ffor secre nedis & for good entente And whan that ȝe seynt vrban han beholde Line 179 Telle hym the wordis whiche I to ȝow tolde And whan that he hath purgede ȝow from synne Thanne schal ȝe seen that aungel er ȝe twynne Line 182

(27)

This valerian is to the place I-gon Line 183 And rygh as he was taught by his lernynge He fond this holye olde vrban a-non A-mong the seyntis veryely lokynge Line 186 And he a-non with-oute taryinge Dede his massage & whan that he it tolde Vrban for Ioye / hise handys gan vp holde Line 189

[6-text p 534] Line 189

(28)

The teeris from hise eyen leet he falle Line 190 Almyghty lord now Ihesu cryst quod he Sowere of chast conseyl / herde of vs alle The freut of thilke seed of chastite Line 193 That thow hast sowe in Cecyle take to the Lo lyk a bisy bee with-outyn gile The seruyth ay thyn owene thral Cecile· Line 196

(29)

ffor thilke spouse that sche tok but now Line 197 fful lik a feers [[first feeris]] leoun / sche sendyth hire As meke [[ke corrected]] as euere was ony lamb to ȝow And with that word a-noon there gan apeere Line 200 An old man clad in white clothis cleere That hadde a bok with lettere of gold in honde And gan byforn valeryan to stonde Line 203

(30)

Valerian as deed fil doun for dreede Line 204 Whan he hym saw / & he vp hente hym tho And on his bok rygh thus he gan to reede O lord o god o feith with-outyn mo Line 207 O cristendom & fadyr of alle also Abouyn alle & ouer alle euerywheere These wordys alle of gold I-wretyn weere Line 210

(31)

Whanne this was rad thanne seyde this olde man [folio 376a] Leuyst this thyng or no sey ȝe or nay I leue al this thyng quod Valeryan ffor sothere thyng this / I dar weel say Line 214 Vndyr the heuene no wight thynkyn may Tho vaneschid this olde man he nyste wheere And Poope vrban hym cristenede ryght theere Line 217

[6-text p 535] Line 217

(32)

Valarian goth hom & fynd Cecile Line 218 In-with his chambir with an Au[n]gel stonde This aungel hadde of rosis & of lylye Corounnys two the whiche he bar in honde Line 221 And fyrst to cecilie as I vndirstonde He ȝaf that on & aftyr gan he take That othir to valeryan hire make Line 224

(33)

With body cleene & with vnwemmede thought Line 225 Kepith ay cleene these coronys quod he ffrom paradys to ȝow / I haue hem brought Ne neuere mo ne schal they rote be Line 228 Ne leese here sote sauour trustith me Ne neuere wigh schal seen hem with his ye But he be chast & haate vilenye Line 231

(34)

And thow Valerian for thow so soone Line 232 Assentedist to good conseyl also Sey what the lyste & thow schat haue thyn boone I haue a brothir quod valeryan tho Line 235 That in this world I loue no man so I preye ȝow that myn brothir may han grace To knowe the trouthe as I do in this place Line 238

(35)

The aungel seyde god lykyth thyn requeste Line 239 And bothe with the palm of martyrdom ȝe schul come vn-tyl his blysful feste And with that word Tiburse his brothyr coom Line 242 And whan that he the sauour Vndyrnom Which that the rosis & the lylyis caste With-inne his herte he gan to wondere faste Line 245

[6-text p 536] Line 245

(36)

And seyde I wondere this tyme of the ȝeer [folio 376b] Whens that the sote sauour comyth so Of rose & lylyis / that I smelle heere / ffor thow I hadde hem in myne handis two Line 249 The sauour myghte in me no deppere go The swete smel that in myn herte I fynde Hath chaunged me al in a nothir kynde Line 252

(37)

Valerian seyde two corounnys han we Line 253 Snow whit & rose reed that schynyn cleere Whiche that thynne eyne han no myght to se And as thow smellyst hem thour myn preyere Line 256 So schalt thow seen hem leue brothir deere Ȝif it so be thow wolt with-outyn slouthe Byleue arygh & knowyn werray trouthe Line 259

(38)

Tiburse answerde seyst thow this to me Line 260 In sothnesse or in drem I herkene this In dremys quod Valerian haue we be Vn-to this tyme brothir myn I-wis Line 263 But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellynge is How wost thow this quod Tiburce & in what wyse Quod valerian that schal I the deuyse Line 266

(39)

The Au[n]gel of god hath me the trouthe taught Line 267 Which thow schalt se ȝif that thow wilt reneye Thynne Idolis & been cleene & ellis not And of the myrakele of these coronys tweye Line 270 Seynt Ambrose in his prefas leste to seye Solempnely this noble doughtyr dere Commendyth it & seyth in this maneere Line 273

[6-text p 537] Line 273

(40)

The palme of marterdam for to reseeyue Line 274 Seynt Secile fulfild of godis ȝifte The world & ek hire [[first hise]] chambre gan sche weyue Witnesse Tiburce & Cecilies schryfte Line 277 To whiche god of his bounte wolde shifte Corounnys two of flouris sweete smellynge And made his aungel hem the corounnys to brynge Line 280

(41)

This maydyn hath brought hem to blysse a-boue [folio 377a] The world hat wist / what it is wroth certeyn Deuocioun of chastite to loue Tho schewede hym Cecile al opyn & pleyn Line 284 That alle ydolis nys but a thyng in veyn ffor they been dombe & therto they been deeue And chargede hym hise ydolis for to leue Line 287

(42)

Who so that trowith not this a beste he is Line 288 Quod tho tyburse ȝif that I schal nat lye And sche gan kisse his brest that herde this And was ful glad he coude trouthe espye Line 291 This day I take the for myn alye Seyde this blysful fayre mayde deere And aftyr that sche seyde as ȝe may here Line 294

(43)

Lo right so as the loue of Crist quod she Line 295 Made me thyn brothir wif rygh in that wise A-noon for myn alye I here take the So that thow wolt thynne ydolis espie Line 298 Go with thyn brothir now & the baptyse And make the clene so that thow mowe be-holde The aungellis face of which then brothir tolde Line 301

[6-text p 538] Line 301

(44)

Tyburce answerde & seyde brothir deere Line 302 ffyrst telle me whidyr that I schal & to what man To whom quod he come forth with rygh good cheere I wele the lede vn-to the pope vrban Line 305 Tyl vrban brothir myn valerian Quod tho Tiburce / wilt thow me dedyr leede Me thynkyth that it were a wondyr deede Line 308

(45)

Ne knowyst tow nat vrban quod he tho Line 309 That is so ofte dampned to be deed And wonyth in halkis alwey two & fro And dar nat onys putte forth his heed Line 312 Men schulde hym brenne in a fyr so reed ȝif he were founde or ȝif men myghte hym spye And we also to bere hym compaynye [[o altered]] Line 315

(46)

And whil we seke thilke dyuinite [folio 377b] That is I-hid in heuene pryuyly Algate I-brend in this world schul we be To whom Cecile answerde boldely Line 319 Men myghtyn dredyn weel & skylfully This lif to lese myn owene dere brothir If this weere lyuynge only & non othir Line 322

(47)

But theere is betere lyf in othir place Line 323 That neuere schal been lost ne drede the not With godys sone / vs tolde thour his grace That faderis sone hath alle thyngis wrouȝt Line 326 And al that wrouȝt is with a skylful thouȝt The gost that from the fadyr gan procede Hath soulede hem with-outyn ony dreede Line 329

[6-text p 539] Line 329

(48)

By word & by myrakele he goddis sone Line 330 Whan he was in this world declared heere That theere is othir lyf / theere men may wone To whom answerde Tiburce o sistyr deere Line 333 Ne seydist tow right now in this maneere Theere nys but on god / in sothfastnesse And now of thre / how maystow bere witnesse Line 336

(49)

That schal I telle quod sche er ¹than I¹ [[^1_1 altered]] go Line 337 Ryght as a man hath sapiencis thre Memorye engyn & intellect also So in o beyinge of dyuynytee Line 340 Thre personys may theere weel bee Tho gan sche hym ful busili to preche Of Cristis sone & of hise peynys teche Line 343

(50)

And manye poyntis of hise passioun Line 344 How goddis sone in this world was with-holde To doon mankynde pleyn remyssioun That was I-boundyn in synne & caris colde Line 347 Al this thyng sche vn-to tiburce tolde And aftyr this Thiburce with good entente With valerian to pope vrban he wente Line 350

(51)

That thankede god & with good herte & lyght [folio 378a] He cristenede hym & made hym in that place Parfit in his lernynge goddis knyght And aftyr this Tibur[c]e gat swich grace Line 354 That eueri day he saw in tyme & space The aungel of god & euery manere boone That he god axed it was sped ful soone Line 357

[6-text p 540] Line 357

(52)

It weere ful hard by ordere for to seyn Line 358 How manye wonderis Ihesu for hem wroughte But at the laste to tellyn schort & pleyn The sergeauntis of the toun of rome hem souȝte Line 361 And hem by-forn almache the prefect broughte Which hem opposede & knew al hire entente And to the ymage of Iupiter hem sente.— Line 364

(53)

And seyde ho so wele not sacrifise Line 365 Swap of his heed this myn centence heere Anoon these martiris that I ȝow deuyse On Maximus that was an officeere Line 368 Of the Prefectis & his Corniculeere Hem hente & whan he forth the seyntis ladde Hym self he wepte for pite that he hadde Line 371

(54)

Whan Maximus hadde herd the seyntis loore Line 372 He gat hym of the turmentouris leeue And ladde hem to his hous with-outyn moore And with heere prechyng er than it was eue Line 375 They gunne from the turmentouris to reue And from Maxime & from hise folk echoone The false feith to trowe in god a-loone Line 378

(55)

Cecile cam whan it was wexe nyght Line 379 With prestis that hem cristenede alle in feere And aftyrward whan day was wexen lyght Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobere cheere Line 382 Now cristis owene knyghtis leue & deere Cast al a-wey the werkis of derknesse And armyth ȝow in armys / of brightnesse. Line 385

[6-text p 541] Line 385

(56)

ȝe han forsothe don a greet batayle / [folio 378b] Line 386 ȝoure cours is don / ȝoure feyth haue ȝe conseruyd Goth to the coroun of lyf that may nat fayle The rightful Iuge / which that ȝe han seruyd Line 389 Schal ȝeue it ȝow right as ȝe han [[dis in the margin]] seruyd And whan this thyng was seyd as I deuyse Men ledde hem forth / to don the sacrifise Line 392

(57)

But whan they weere to the place brought Line 393 To tellyn schortely the conclusyoun The nolde encense [[first ensense]] ne sacrifise right noght But on here kneis they settyn hem a-doun Line 396 With humble herte & sad deuocioun And leftyn bothe here heuedis in the place Here soulis wentyn to the kyng of grace Line 399

(58)

This Maximus that saw this thyng betyde Line 400 With pituse teris tolde it a-non right That he here soulis saw to heuene glyde With aungellis ful of cleernesse & of ligh Line 403 And with his word conuertede manye a wight ffor whiche Almachius dide hym so beete With whippe of leed til he his lyf gan lete Line 406

(59)

Cecile hym tok & buried a-non Line 407 Bi Tiburce & Valirian softely With-inne hire buriinge place vndyr the stoon And aftyr this Almathius hastili Line 410 Bad hise mynystris fightyn opynly Cecile so that sche myghte in hise presence Don sacrifise & Iupiter encence Line 413

[6-text p 542] Line 413

(60)

But they conuertid at here wise loore Line 414 Weptyn ful soore & ȝeuyn ful credence Vn-to hire word & cryedyn moore & moore Crist goddis sone with-outyn difference Line 417 Is verray goddys sone this al oure centence That hath so good a seruaunt hym to serue This with on vois we trowyn thow we sterue Line 420

(61)

Almachius that herde al this doing [folio 379a] Line 421 Bad feche Cecile that he myghte hire se And aldyr ferst lo this was his axsyng What manere woman art thow quod he Line 424 I am a gentil woman born quod sche I axe the quod he thow it the greeue Of thyn religioun & of thin beleeue Line 427

(62)

ȝe han begunne ȝoure questioun folyly Line 428 Quod sche that woldyn to answeris conclude In on demaunde ȝe axsyn lewedely Almache answerede vnto that simylitude Line 431 Of whens comyth thyn answerynge so rude Of whens quod sche / whan that sche was freynyd Of concience & of good feyth vnfeynyd Line 434

(63)

Almachius seyde ne takist thow noon hede Line 435 Of myn powere & sche answerde him thus ȝoure myght quod sche ful lytil is to drede ffor euery manys mortal power nys Line 438 But lyk a bladdere ful of wynd I-wis ffor with a nedellis poynt whan it is blowe May al the bost of it been leyd ful lowe Line 441

[6-text p 543] Line 441

(64)

fful wrongfully bigunne thow quod sche Line 442 And ȝit in wrong is al thyn perseueraunce Wost tow not how oure myghti pryncis free Han thus comaundit & mad ordenaunce Line 445 That euery cristene whight schal han penaunce But ȝif that he his cristendom withseye And goon al quik ȝif he wele it reneye Line 448

(65)

Ȝoure pryncis erryn as ȝoure nobleye doth Line 449 Quod tho Cecile / & with a wood centence ȝe makyn vs gilty & is nat soth ffor ȝe that knowyn weel oure Innocence Line 452 ffor as meche as we doon a reuerence To Cryst & for we bere a cristene name Ȝe puttyn on vs a cryme & ek a blame Line 455

(66)

But we that knowen thilke name [folio 379b] Line 456 ffor vertuous we may it not with-seye Almache answerde chees on of these two Do sacrifise & cristendam reneye Line 459 That thow mowe escape by that weye At which this holy blysful fayre mayde Gan for to laughe & to the Iuge sayde Line 462

(67)

O Iuge confus in thyn nycete Line 463 Wilt thow that I reneye Innocence To makyn me a wikkede wight quod sche Lo he dissimulyth here in audience Line 466 He starith & wodit in hise aduertence To whom Almachius onsely wreche Ne wost thow not how fer ^myn mygh may streche Line 469

[6-text p 544] Line 469

(68)

Han not oure mighti pryncis to me ȝeuyn Line 470 ȝe boothe power & autorite To makyn folk to deyin or to leuyn Whi spekist thow so proudely thanne to me Line 473 I speke noght but stedefastly quod sche Nat proudely I seye as for myn side We hatyn dedly thilke vyce of pryde— Line 476

(69)

And ȝif thow dreede nat a soth to heere Line 477 Thanne wele I schewe al opynly be ryght That thow hast mad a ful greet lesyng heere Thow seyst thynne pryncis han the ȝouyn myght Line 480 Bothe for to slen & for to quekyn a wight Thow that ne mayst but only lyf bereue Thow hast non othir power ne no leue Line 483

(70)

But thow mayst seyn thynne pryncis han the makid Line 484 Ministre of deth / for ȝif thow speke of mo Thow lyist for thyn power is ful nakyd Do wey thyn boldenesse seyde Almathius thoo Line 487 And sacrifise to the goddis er thow go I reche nat what wrong that thow me profere ffor I can suffere it as a Philisophere Line 490

(71)

But thilke wrongis may I not endure [folio 380a] Line 491 That thow spekist of oure goddis heere quod he Cecile answerde o nyce creature Thow seydist no word syn thow spake with me Line 494 That I ne knew therwith thyn nycetee And that thow were in euery maner wise A lewede offiser & veyn Iustise Line 497

[6-text p 545] Line 497

(72)

Teere lakkyth no thyng to thyn vtter Iyen Line 498 That thow nart blynd / for thyng that we seen alle That is a stoon that men may wel espyen That ilke stoon a god thow wilt it calle Line 501 I rede the let thyn hond vp-on it falle And taste it weel & ston thow schalt it fynde Syn that thow sest nat with thynne eyin blynde Line 504

(73)

It is schame that the peple schal Line 505 So scorne the & laghe at thyn folye ffor comounly men wot it weel oueral That myghty god is in hise heuenys hye Line 508 And these ymagis weel thow mayst espie To the ne to hem self may nought profyghte ffor in effect they been nat worth a myghte Line 511

(74)

These wordis & swiche othere seyde sche Line 512 And he wex wroth & bad men schulde hire leede Hom to hire hous / & in hire hous quod he Brenne hire right in a bath with flambis reede Line 515 And as he bad ryȝt so was doon the dede ffor in a bath the gune hire faste schette And nygh & day greet fyr they vndyr bette Line 518

(75)

The longe nyght & ek a day also Line 519 ffor al the feer & ek the bathis heete Sche sat al cold & felede no woo It made hire not a drope for to sweete Line 522 But in that bath hire lyf muste sche lete ffor he Almachius with a wekkede entent To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sent/ Line 525

[6-text p 546] Line 525

(76)

Thre strokis in the nekke he smoot hire tho [folio 380b] The turmentour but for no manere chaunce He myghte nat smyte al hire nekke a two And for there was that tyme an ordynaunce Line 529 That no man schulde doon / man swich penaunce The fourte strook to smyte soffte or sore This turmentour ne durste doon no moore Line 532

(77)

But half deed with hire nekke I-koruyn theere Line 533 He lefte hire lye / & on his woye is went The cristene folk whiche that a-boute hire weere With scheetis han the blood ful fayre I-hent Line 536 Thre dayis leuede sche in that turnement And neuere sesede hem the feyth to teche That sche hadde fosterede hem sche gan to preche Line 539

(78)

And hem sche ȝaf hire meoblis & hire thyng Line 540 And to the Poope Vrban bi-tok hem tho And seyde I axede this of heuene kyng To haue thre dayis respit & namo Line 543 To recommende to ȝow / er that I go These soulis lo & that I myghte do werche Heere of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche Line 546

(79)

Seynt vrban with hise dekenys priuily Line 547 The body fette & beriede it be nyght Among hise othere seyntis honestely Hyre hous the cherche of seynt cecile hyghte Line 550 Seynt Vrban halwede it as he weel myght In which in to this day in noble wyse Meen don to Cryst & to his seynt seruyse Line 553

[6-text p 547]

Here folwyn the mery wordys of chaucer & of þ^e host And the prologe of the chanonnys man [on leaf 380, back]

hat told was the lif of seynt Cecile [folio 381a] [ [[gaps filled-in from Sloane 1685, leaf 165,except that at ² it has "Boxton."]] Er w]e fully haddyn redyn fyue myle [At ²Boug]hton vndyr Blee vs gan a take [A man] that clothede was in clothis blake Line 557 [And vn]dyr that he hadde a whit surplys [hys ha]keny that was al pomele gris [So swa]tte that it wondir was to se [hit seme]de that he hadde prekede mylis thre Line 561 [The hors eke þat hys yoman r]od vpon [So swet þat vnneþe my]hte [["myȝt," in Sloane 1685]] it goon Aboute þe pey[trelle stode the] fom ful hye He was of foom al flekked as a pye Line 565 A male twifold on his croper lay It semede that he cariede lyte aray Al lygh for somyr rod this worthi man And in myn herte wonderyn I began Line 569 What that he was that I vndyrstood How that his cloke was sowid to his hood ffor which whanne I longe hadde auysede me I demede hym ^a schanoun for to be Line 573 His hat hyng doun at his bak by a lace ffor he hadde redyn moore than trot or pace He hadde ay prikyd lyk as he were wood A cloote lef he hadde vndyr his hood Line 577 ffro swot & for to kepe his heed from heete But it was Ioye for to seen hym sweete His forhed dropped as a stillatorie Were ful of plauntayn & of permytorye Line 581

[6-text p 548] Line 581 And whan that he was come he gan to crye Line 582 God saue quod he this fayre compaynye ffaste haue I prikyd quod he for ȝoure sake By cause that I wolde ȝow a take Line 585 To rydyn in this murye cumpaynye His ȝeman ek was ful of curteysie And seyde sens now in the morwe tyde Out of ȝoure hostelrye I saw ȝow ryde Line 589 And warnede heere myn lord & myn souereyn Which for to ridyn with ȝow is ful fayn ffor his disport he lout[h [[gaps filled-in from Sloane 1685]] dalyaunce] [folio 381b] ffreend for thyn warny[nge god ȝeue þe gode chaunce] Line 593 Thanne seyde oure h[Oste certes hit wolde seme] Thyn lord weere w[yse and so I may wele deme] He is ful Iocunde a[lso dare I leye] Can he ough a me[ry tale or tweye] Line 597 With which he glade [may þis companye] // Who sere myn lord [ȝe with out lie] He can of merthe & [eke of Iolyte] Nat but I-now also [sir trestyth me] Line 601 And ȝe hym knewe a[lso wele as] that do I Ȝe woldyn wondere how weel & craftyly He coude werke & that in sundery wise He hath takyn on hym manye a greet emprise Line 605 Whiche were ful hard for ony that is heere To brynge a-boute but ²they of hym it leere² [[^2_2 later]] As hoomely as he rit a-mongis ȝow Ȝif ȝe hym knewe it wolde be for ȝoure prow Line 609 ȝe wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce ffor meche good I dare leye in balaunce Al that I haue in myn possessioun He is a man of heigh discrecioun Line 613 I warne ȝow weel he is a passynge man Weel quod oure host I preye the telle me than Is he clerk or noon I preye the telle me this Nay he is grettere than a clerk I-wis Line 617

[6-text p 549] Line 617 Seyde this ȝeman & in wordis fewe Line 618 Hoost of his craft sumwhat I wele ȝow schewe I seye myn lord can swich sotyletee But al his craft ȝe may nat wete at me Line 621 And sumwhat helpe I ȝit to his werkyng That al this ground on which we been rydyng Til that we comyn to cauntyrbery toun He coude al clene turne vp so doun Line 625 And paue it al of syluyr & of gold / And whan this ȝeman hadde this I-told Vn-to oure host he seyde benedicite This thyng is wondyr meruelious to me Line 629 Syn that thyn lord is of so hegh prudence [folio 382a] By cause of which men wolde hym reuerence That of his worschepe rekkith he but lyte His ouere sloppe nys nat worth a myte Line 633 As in effect to hym so mote I go It is al baudit & to-tore also Whi is thyn lord so slottysch I the preye And is of power betere cloth to beye Line 637 If that his deede a-cordit with his speche Tel me that & that I the be-seche // Whi quod this ȝeman wherto axe ȝe me God help me so for he schal neuere the Line 641 But I wele nat a-wowe that I seye And therfore kepe it secre I ȝow preye He is to wis in feyth as I be-leue That is ouerdone it wele nat preue Line 645 Aryght / as clerkis seyn it is a vice Wherfore in that I helde hym lewid & nyce ffor whan a man hath ouergreet a wit fful ofte hym happith to mysusen it Line 649 So doth myn lord & that me greuyth soore God it amende I can sey ȝow na moore Therof no fors goode ȝeman quod oure hoost Syn of the cunnyng of thyn lord thow wost Line 653

[6-text p 550] Line 653 Telle how he doth I preye the hertyly Line 654 Syn that he is so crafty & so sly Wheere dwellyn ȝe / ȝif it to tellyn be In the subarblis of a toun quod he Line 657 Lurkynge in hernys & in [[first lonys]] lanys blynde Where as these robbouris & these theuys by kynde Holdyn here priue ferful residence As they that dore nat schewe here presence Line 661 So fare we ȝif I schal seye the sothe Now quod oure hoost ȝit lat me speke to the Whi art thow so discolouryd in thyn face Petir quod he god ȝeue it harde grace Line 665 I am so vsed in the fuir to blowe That it hath chaunged myn colour I trowe I am not wone in no myrour to prye [folio 382b] But swynke sore & lerne multeplye Line 669 We blundere euere & poure in the fuyr And for al that we fayle of oure desyr ffor euere we lakke oure conclusioun To muche folk we doon illusyoun Line 673 And borwe gold be it a pound or two Or ten or twelve or manye summys mo And makyn hem to wenyn at the leste weye That of a pound we coudyn make tweye Line 677 ȝit is it fals but ay we han good hope It for to doon & aftyr it we grope But that science is so fer vs be-foren We mow not al-thogh we haddyn it sworen Line 681 It ouyrtake it slyt awey so faste It wele vs make beggeris at the laste // Whil this ȝeman was thus in his talkyng This chanoun drow hym neer & herde alle thyng Line 685 Which this ȝeman spak . for suspecioun Of menys speche / euere hadde this chanoun for Catoun seyth he that gilty is [Concius esse sibi.] Demyth alle thynge is seyd of hym I-wis Line 689

[6-text p 551] Line 689 That was the cause he gan so nygh hym drawe Line 690 To his ȝeman to herkenyn al his sawe And thus he seyde vn-to his ȝeman tho Hold thow thyn pees & spek no wordis mo Line 693 ffor ȝif thow do thow schat it dere a-beye Thow slaunderyst me / heere in this cumpaynye And ek discouerist that thow schuldist hide Ȝa quod oure ost telle on whatso betyde Line 697 Of al this thretyng relke nat a myte Infeyth quod he namore I do but lyte And whan this chanoun saw it wolde nat be But his ȝeman wolde telle his pryuyte Line 701 He fledde a-wey for verray sorwe & schame A quod the ȝeman here schal aryse game Al that I can a-non now wele I telle Line 704 Syn he is goon the foule fend hym quelle [folio 383a] [cut out of the Camb. MS.] [ffore neuere here aftere wolle with hym mete [Sloane MS 1685 folio 167b] ffor peny ne for pounde I be-hete he þat me brouȝt/ fyrst/ in to þat game Er/ þat he deyde sorowe haue he & shame Line 709 ffor hit ys ernest/ to me by my fayþe þat fele I wele what so ony man saythe And ȝit for alle my smert and alle my greef / And alle my sorowe laboure and myschef Line 713 I couþe neuere leeue hit / in no wyse Nowe wolde god my wytte myȝt / suffice To tellen alle þat longethe to þat arte But nathles ȝit wylle I telle you part Line 717 Syþens þat my lorde ys gone I wolle not spare Suche þenge as I knowe I wille declare

Here endith þe Prologge

[6-text p 552]

and be-gynneþe þe tale [THE PREAMBLE.]

[Sloane 1685 folio 167]

Wyth þis Chanon dwellyd haue I seuen ȝeere And of hys science neuere þe nere Line 721 And þat I hade I haue loste þerby And god woote so hathe mony mo þan I There I was wonte to be riȝt fresshe & gay Of cloþinge and of gode array Line 725 Nowe may I were an hose vpon myne hede And where my coloure was bothe fressh & reede Nowe it ys wan and of a len hewe Who so hit vseþe sore shalle he rewe Line 729 And of my swynke blered ys myn eyee Lo whiche avauntage hit ys to multiply þat slydynge science hathe me made so bare That I haue no gode where þat euere I fare Line 733 And ȝit / I am endetted so þer by Of golde þat I haue borowed truly þat whyle I lyue hit/ shalle I quyte nevere lat euery man by ware by me for euere Line 737 what manere man þat casteth hym þer to yf/ he contynewe I holde hys thryfte y-do. [But so helpe me god ther/-by schall he noght wynne. But empten his/ purs/ & make his/ wittis/ thynne. Line 741 And whan he thorough his/ madnesse & folye/. Hath lost his/ owne good thorough iopardye. Than he exitith other/ men therto. Line 744 To lese her/ good as/ hym self haþ do. [Harl. 1758 folio 145a] ] ffor vnto shrewes Ioye hit ys and ese [Sloane MS 1685 folio 168a] To haue hir/ felawes in peyne and dissese

[6-text p 553] Thys was I oones lerned of a Clerke [[Sloane 1685]] Of þat no Charge I wolle speke of oure werke Line 749 whan we bene þere as we shall exercise Oure Eluysshe crafte we seem wonder/ wyse Oure termes ben so clergial and so queynte I blowe þe fyre tylle þat myn hert/ feynte Line 753 what/ shulde I telle ecche proporcioun Of/ þenges whiche þat we worchen vppoun As on fyue or sixe vnces may wele be Line 756 Of siluere or of som oþere quantite] [[Sloane 1685 extract ends]] And besye me to telle ȝow the namys [Camb. MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 384a] Of orpemynt brend bonys / Iren squamys That in to poudere grounde been ful smal And in an erthene pot how put is al Line 761 And salt I-put in & also papeer By-fore these pouderis that I speke of heer And weel I-keuered with a laumpe of glas And of muche othir thyng whiche there was Line 765 And of the pot & glasis enlutynge That of the ayr myghte passe out nothynge And of the esy fuyr & smert also Whiche that was mad & the care & wo Line 769 That we hadde in oure mateeris sublymyng And in a-malgamynge & calcenyng Of quik siluyr I-clepede Mercurye Crude ffor alle oure slytis we cunne not conclude Line 773 Of oure orpemynt & sublimyd mercurye Oure groundyn lytarge ek & the porphurye Of eche of these / of ounces a certeyn Noght helpith vs oure labour is in veyn Line 777 Ne ek oure spiritis ascencioun Ne oure matieris that lyn al fyx a-doun Mowe in oure werkynge no thyng vs avayle ffor lost is al oure labour & trauayle Line 781 And al the cost a twenty deuelleweye Is lost also which we on it leye

[6-text p 554] Ther is also ful manye anothir thyng That is vnto oure craft aperteynynge Line 785 Thow I be ordere / hem nat reherce can By cause that I am a lewede man That wele I telle hem as they come in mynde Thow I ne can nat sette hem in hir [[h r altered]] kynde Line 789 As bole armonyak verdegres boras And sunderi vessellys mad of erthe & glas Oure vrynallis & oure discensories Violys / Crosletis / & sublymatories Line 793 Cucurbites / & alembikes eek And othere swiche / deere I-nogh a leek Not nedyth it for to reherse hem alle [folio 384b] Wateris rubifyinge & bolis galle Line 797 Arsenyk Salarmoniak & bronston And erbis coude I telle ek manyon Of Egremoyne Walerian & lunarye And othere sweche / If that me leste tarye Line 801 Oure laumpis brennynge bothe nygh^t & day To brynge aboute oure craft ȝif that we may Oure furneys ek of Calcinacioun And of oure wateris albifacacioun Line 805 Vnslekkid lym chalk & gleyer of an ey Pouderis dyuerce Aschis donge / pisse & cley Cerede pokettis Sal petyr vitriole And dyuerse feris mad of wode & cole Line 809 Sal tartere altaly / And Sal preparaat And combust matiers / & coagulaat Cley mad with hors heer or manis & oyle Of Tartere Alumglas. berme wort & argoyle Line 813 Rosealger & othere matieris enbibyng And ek of othere matieris / encorporyng And of oure siluyr citrynacioun Oure cymentynge / & formentacyoun Line 817 Oure ingotis testis & manyon mo I wele ȝow telle as was me taught also

[6-text p 555] //The foure spiritis & the bodyis seuene By ordere As ofte herde I myn lord hem nemene Line 821 The fyrste spirit quik siluys callid is The secunde orpemynt & the thredde I-wis Sal Armonyak & the fourte brunston The bodyis seuene lo hem ek here a-non Line 825 Sol gold is & luna syluyr whe treepe Mars yryn. Mercurie quik siluyr we clepe Saturnus led & Iupiter is tyn And Venus Copir be myn fadir kyn Line 829 This cursede craft who so wele excercyse He schal no good han that hym may suffyse ffor al the good he spendyth theere aboute He lese schal therof haue I no doute Line 833 Ho so that lystyth outyn his folye [folio 385a] Let hym come forth & lerne multeplye And euery man that hat ought in his cofere Lat hym apere & wexe a philysophere Line 837 Ascauns that craft is so lyght to lere Nay nay god wot al be he monk or frere Prest or chanoun or ony othir whit Thow he sete at his bok day or nygh[t] Line 841 In lernynge of this eluyssch nyce loore Al is in veyn & parde meche moore To lerne a lewede man this sotylete ffy spek nat therof for it wele nat be Line 845 And kunne he lettereure or cunne he non As in effect he schal fynde it al oon For bothe to be myn saluacioun Concludyn as in multiplicacyoun Line 849 I-lyche weel / whan they han al I-do This is to seyn they fayle bothe twe // ȝit forgat I to make rehersayle Of wateris coresif & of lemayle Line 853 And of bodyis mollyficacioun And also of here induracioun

[6-text p 556] Oyles absolucioun / & metal fusible To tellyn al wolde passyn any bible Line 857 That ower is / wherefore as for the beste Of alle [[word scratcht out]] these namys now wele I me reste ffor as I trowe I haue ȝow told I-nogh To reyse a fend al loke he neuere so rogh Line 861 // A nay lat be the philisopheris stoon Elixer clepid / we sekyn faste echon ffor hadde we hym we were sekyr I-nogh But on to god of heuene I make a wow Line 865 ffor al oure craft whan we han al I-do And al oure sleyghte he wele nat come vs to He hath I-mad vs spende mechil good ffor sorwe of whiche almost [[word scratcht out]] we wexe wood Line 869 But that good hope crepith in oure herte Supposynge euere thow we sore smerte To be releuyd by hym aftyrward / [folio 385b] Swich supposynge & hope is scharp & hard Line 873 I warne ȝow wel it is to sekyn euere That future temps that made men to disseuere In trust therof from al that euere they hadde ȝit of that art they can not wexe sadde Line 877 ffor vn-to hem it is a bittyr swete So semyth it for ne hadde they but a schete Whiche that they myghte wrappe hem in a nyght And a bakke for to walke in be day light Line 881 They wolde hem selue / & spendyn on this craft They can not stynte til no thyng be laft And euere more where that euere they goon Men may hem knowe by smel of bronston Line 885 ffor al the world they stynkyn as a got Here sauour is so rammysch & so hot That thow a man [[some letters scratcht out]] from hem a myle bee The sauour wele enfecte hem trustyth me Line 889 Lo thus be smellynge & thredbare aray ȝif that men lyste these folk knowe may

[6-text p 557] And ȝif a man wele aske hem pryuyly Whi that they been clothid so vn-thriftyly Line 893 They righ a-non wele rounne in his ere And seyn ȝif that they espied were Men woldyn hem sle by cause of here science Lo thus these folk betrayen innocence Line 897 Passe ouer this I go myn tale vnto Er than the pot be on the fyre I-do Of metallis with a certeyn quantite Myn lord hem tempereth & no man but he Line 901 Now he is goon I dar say boldely ffor as men saye he can do craftyly Algate I wot wel he hath swich a name And ȝit ful ofte he rennyth in a blame Line 905 // And wete ȝe how ful oftyn it happith soo The pot to-brekith & farwel al is go These metallis been of so greet violence Oure wallis mowe not make hem resistence Line 909 But ȝif they were wrought of lym / & ston [folio 386a] They perce so & thour the wal they gon And some of hem synke in-to the ground Thus haue we lost be tymys manye a pound Line 913 And some are skaterede in the flor a-boute Some lepe in-to the rof / with-outyn doute Thow that the fend nat in the sight hym schewe I trowe he with vs be that ilke schrewe Line 917 In helle where as he is lord & syre Ne is there more wo ne more rancour ne yre Whan that oure pot as I haue sayd / Euery man chit / & halt hym euelle a-payed Line 921 //Some seyn it was a-long on the fyr makyng Some seydyn nay / it was on the blowyng Thanne was I aferid / for that was myn offis Straw quod the thredde / ȝe been lewede & nys Line 925 It was nat tempered as it aughte to be Nay quod the forte stynt & lestene to me

[6-text p 558] By cause oure fyr was not mad of bech That is the cause & othir noon so theech Line 929 I can not telle wheron it was long But wel I wot greet stryf is vs a-mong // What quod myn lord there is no more to done Of these perilis I wele be war eft sone Line 933 I am rygh sekyr that the pot was crased Be as be may be ȝe no thyng a-mased As vsage is lat swepe the flor aswythe Pluk vp ȝoure hertys & beth glad & blythe Line 937 The mullok on an hep I-swepid was And on the flor I-caste a canevas And al the mullok in a seue I-throwe And syftid & I-pikid manye a throwe Line 941 // Parde quod on / sumwhat of oure metal ȝit is ther heere they that we haue nat al And thow this thyng mys happe as now A-nothir tyme it may be weel I-now Line 945 Vs muste putte oure good in auenture A marchaunt parde may not al-wey endure Trustyth me wel in his prosperite [folio 386b] Sumtyme his good is drouned in the se Line 949 And sumtyme comyth it saf vn-to the londe Pes quod myn lord the nexte tyme wele I fonde To brynge oure craft al in a-nothir plit And but I do sere lat me han the wit Line 953 There was defaute in sumwhat wel I wot A-nothir seyde the fuyr was ouyr hot But be it hot or cold I dare seye this That we concludyn euere more amys Line 957 We fayle of that whiche that we woldyn haue And in oure madnesse eueremore we raue And whan we been to-gederis euerichon Euery man semyth a salamon Line 961 But alle thynge whiche that schynyth as the gold [Non teneas aurum &c.] Nis nat gold / as I haue herd told

[6-text p 559] Ne eueri appil that is fayr at eye Ne is nat good / what so men clappe or crye Line 965 Righ so lo faryth it a-mongis vs He that semyth the wiseste be Iesus Is most fol whan it comyth to the pref And he that semyth treweste is a thef Line 969 That schal ȝe knowe er that I from ȝow wende By that I of myn tale haue mad an ende [[No break in the MS.]]

[6-text p 560]

[THE TALE.]

// There is a chanoun of religioun A-mongis vs wolde enfecte al a toun Line 973 They it as gret were as was nynyue Rome Alysaundir Troye / & othere thre Hise sleyghtis & his infinit falsenesse There coude no man write as I gesse Line 977 Thow that he myghte leue a thousend ȝeer In al this world of falshed nys his per ffor in hise termys he so wel hym wyndis And spekyn hise wordis in so slye kyndis Line 981 Whan he comune schal with ony wight That he wele make hym dote a-non ryght But it a fend be as hym seluyn is fful manye a man hath he begyled er this Line 985 And wele ȝif that he leue may a while [folio 387a] And ȝit men ride & goon ful manye a myle Hym for to seke & haue his acqueyntaunce Not knowynge of his false gouernaunce Line 989 And ȝif ȝow liste to ȝeue me audyence I wole it telle / here in ȝoure presence But worschepful Chanony[s] relygious Ne demyth nat that I slau[n]dere ȝoure hous Line 993 Al thow myn tale of a chanoun be Of euery ordere sum schrewe is pardee That god forbede that al a cumpayny Schulde rewe a synguler manys foly Line 997 To slaundere ȝow is nothyng myn entent But to correcte that is mys I-ment

[6-text p 561] This tale was nat only told for ȝow But for othere mo ȝe wete wel how Line 1001 That a-mongis cristis apostellis twelwe There was no traytour but Iudas hym selue Thanne why schulde the remenaunt han blame That gilteles were / be ȝow seye I the same Line 1005 Saue only this ȝif ȝe wele herkene me If ony Iudas in ȝoure couent be Remeuyth hym be tymys I ȝow rede If schame or los may causen ony drede Line 1009 And beth nothyng displesid I ȝow preye But in this cas herkenyth what I schal seye // In lundene was a prest an annueler That therin dwellede hadde manye a ȝer Line 1013 Whiche was so plesaunt & so seruysable Vn-to the wif where as sche was at table That sche wolde suffere hym no thyng for to paye ffor bord ne clothing wente he neuere so gaye Line 1017 And spendynge siluyr hade he righ I-now Therof no fors I wele procede as now And telle forth myn tale of the Chanoun That brougte this prest to confusioun Line 1021 // This false Chanoun cam vp on a day Vn-to this prestis chaumbere where he lay Be-sekynge him to lenyn hym a certeyn [folio 387b] Of gold & he wolde quite it hym ageeyn Line 1025 Lene me a mark quod he but dayis thre And at myn day I wele it quytyn the And If so be that thow me fynde fals A-nothir day do hange me by the hals Line 1029 // This man [[first monk]] hym tok a mark & that aswythe And this chanoun hym thankede ofte sythe And tok his leue & wente forth his weye And at the thredde day broughte his monye Line 1033 And to the prest tok his gold a-geyn Wherof this prest was wondir glad & fayn

[6-text p 562] Certis quod he no thyng a-noyeth me To lene a man a nobele or to or thre Line 1037 Or what thyng were in myn possessioun Whan he so trewe is of condicioun That in nowise he breke wele his day To swich a man I can neuere seyn nay Line 1041 // What quod this chanoun schulde I be ontrewe Nay that were a thyng I-falle were al of newe Trouthe is a thyng that I wele euere kepe Vn-to that day In whiche that I schal crepe Line 1045 [In to my graue or elles god for-bede Beleueth þis as sykere as ys youre crede [Sloane MS 1685 folio 172a] ] God thanke I & in good tyme be it seyd That there was neuere man ȝit euele apayed Line 1049 ffor gold ne siluyr that he to me sente Ne neuere falshed in myn herte I mente And sere quod he now of myn pryuyte Syn ȝe godly han ben on to me Line 1053 And kythed to me so gret gentillesse Sumwhat to kythe with ȝoure kyndenesse I wele ȝow schewe & ȝif ȝow lyste to lere I wele ȝow teche pleynly the manere Line 1057 How I can werke in philosophie Takith good hed ȝe schul wel sen at Iȝe That I wele don a maystrie er I go // Ȝe quod the prest / ȝe sere & wele ȝe so Line 1061 Marie therof I preye ȝow hertely At ȝoure comaundement trewely Qu[o]d the chanoun & ellis god for-beede [folio 388a] Lo how this thef coude his seruyse bede Line 1065 fful soth it is that swich profered seruyse Stynkyth as wytnesseth these olde wise And that ful sone I wele it veryfye In this chanoun rote of alle trecherye Line 1069 That eueremore delit hath & gladnesse Sweche fendely thouȝtis in his herte inpresse

[6-text p 563] How cristis peple he may to myschef brynge God kepe vs from his false dissymulynge Line 1073 // Not wiste this prest with hom that he delte Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte O sely prest o sely innocent With coueytyse a-non thow schat ben blent Line 1077 O graceles ful blynde is thyn conceyte [[first concente]] No thyng art thow war of the disseyte Whiche that this fox I-schapyn hat to thee Hise wyly wrenchis / thow ne mayst not fle Line 1081 Wherfore to the conclusioun That referith to thyn confusyoun Vnhappi man a-non I wele me hie To tellyn thyn vnwit & heigh folye Line 1085 And ek the falsenesse of that othir wreche As fer forth as that myn conyng wele streche // This Chanoun was myn lord ȝe wolden wene Sire hust in feyth & by the heuenys queene Line 1089 It was a nothir Chanoun & not he That can an hunderede fold more subtylete He hath betrayed folkis sundery tyme Of his falsenesse it dullyth me to ryme Line 1093 Euere whan that I speke / of his falshede ffor schame of hym mynne chekis waxen reede Algatis they begynne for to glowe ffor rednesse haue I non righ wel I knowe Line 1097 In myn visage for fumys dyuerse Of metallis whiche as ȝe han herd me reherse Consumyd & wastid han myn rednesse Now tak bed of this Chanounnys curssedenesse Line 1101 Sere quod he to the prest let ȝoure man gon [folio 388b] ffor quik siluyr that we hadde it a-non And lat hym bryngyn ouuncis two or thre And whan he comyth as faste schul ȝe se Line 1105 A wondyr thyng whiche ȝe say neuere er this // Sere quod the prest it schal ben don I-wis

[6-text p 564] He bad his seruaunt / fechyn hym this thyng And he al redy was at his bedyng Line 1109 And wente hym forth & cam a-non a-geyn With this quik syluyr sot[h]ly for to seyn And tok these ouncis thre to the Chanoun And hem [[l first h]] leyde fayre & weel a doun Line 1113 And bad the seruaunt colis for to brynge That he a-non myght go to hese werkynge The colis right a-non weren I-fet And this Chanoun tok out a croslet Line 1117 Of his bosum & schewed it the prest This instrument wheche that thow sest Take in thyn hand / & put thyn self ther-inne Line 1120 Of this quiksiluir [an vnce and here be-gynne] [[Sloane 1685, lf 173: half the line scralcht out in Camb. MS.]] In name of cryst to wexe a philysophere There ben but fewe to whiche that I wolde profere To schewyn hem thus meche of myn science ffor ȝe schul sen here be experience Line 1125 That this quik siluyr I wele mortifye Rygh in ȝoure sighte a-non with-outyn lye And make it as good siluer & as fyn As there is ony in ȝoure pors or myn Line 1129 Or ellis where & make it malliable And ellis heldith me fals & vn-stable Amongis folk for euere to appere // I haue a poudere here that coste me ful dere Line 1133 Schal make al good for it is cause of al Myn kunnyng whiche that I ȝow schewe schal Voydith ȝoure man & lat hym be ther oute And schet the dore whil we ben a-boute Line 1137 Oure pryuyte that no man vs espye Whilis that we werke in this philosephie Al as he bad fulfyld was in dede [folio 389a] This ilke seruaun[t] a-non ryght out ȝeede Line 1141 And his maystyr schette the dore a-non And to here labour spedyly they gon

[6-text p 565] This prest at this chanonys biddy[n]g Vp-on the fer a-non sette this thyng Line 1145 And blew the fuyr & besiede hym ful faste And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste A poudere not I wherof that it was I-mad othir of chalk othir of glas Line 1149 Or sumwhat ell / was nat worth a flye To blynde with this prest & bad hym hye The colis for to couche al a-boue The croslet for in tokenynge I the loue Line 1153 Quod the chanoun thynne owene handis two Schul werche alle thynge whiche that schal here be do Graunt mercy quod the prest & was ful glad And couchede cole as that the chanoun bad Line 1157 And whil he besi was this fendeli wreche This false chanoun the foule fend hym feche Out of his bosum tok a bechene cole In which ful subtily was mad an hole Line 1161 And there in was put of siluyr lymayle An ounce & stoppid was with-outyn fayle This hole with wex to putte the lymayl in And vndyr-stondith that this false gyn Line 1165 Was not mad there but it was mad byfore And othere thyngis that I schal telle more Here aftyrward which that he with hym broughte Er he cam ther hym to begile he thoughte Line 1169 And so he dede er than they wente a twynne Til he hadde ternede hym coude he not blynne It dullede me whan I of hym speke On his falsehed fayn wolde I be wreke Line 1173 Ȝif I wiste how but he is her & ther He is so varyaunt he abit nower But takyth hed seris now for godis lowe He tok his cole of which I spak a-boue Line 1177 And in his hand he bar it pryuyly [folio 389b] And whilis the prest couchede besili [[first pryuyly]]

[6-text p 566] The colis as I tolde ȝow er this This chanoun seyde frend ȝe don a-mys Line 1181 This is nat couched as it oughte be But sone I schal amendyn it quod he Now lat me medle therewith but a while ffor of ȝow haue I pete be seynt gyle Line 1185 ȝe been rygh hot I se wel how ȝe swete Haue here a cloth & wipe awoy the weete And whilis that the prest wipede his face This chanoun tok his cole with sory grace Line 1189 And leyde a-boue vp on the mydward Of the croslet & blew wel aftyrward Til that the colys begynne faste brenne Now ȝeue vs drynke quod the Chanoun thānne Line 1193 As swythe al schal be wel I vndirtake Sitte we doun & lat vs merye make And whan that this chanonys bechene cole Was brent al the lemayle out of the hole Line 1197 In-to the croslet fyl a-non a-doun And so it muste nedis be resoun Syn it so euene a-boue couchede was But therof^ne wyste the prest allas Line 1201 He demede alle the colis lyche goode ffor of the sleyghte he nothyng vndyrstode And whan this alcamystre saw his tyme Rise vp quod he sere prest & stand by me Line 1205 And for I wot weel Ingot haue ȝe non Goth walkyth forth & bryngeth a chalk ston ffor I wele make it of the same schap That is an Ingot / ȝif I may han hap Line 1209 And brynge ek with ȝow a bolle or a panne fful of watyr & ȝe schul wel se thanne How that oure besynesse schal thryue & preue And ȝit for ȝe schal han non mys-beleue Line 1213 Ne wrong conceite of me in ȝoure absence I wele not ben out of ȝoure presence

[6-text p 567] But gon with ȝow & come with ȝow a-geyn [folio 390a] The chambere dore schortly for to seyn Line 1217 They openede & schette & wente here weye And forth with hem they caryedyn the keye And come ageyn with-outyn ony delay What schulde I taryen al the longe day Line 1221 He tok the chalk & schop it in the wise Of an Ingot as I schal ȝow deuyse I seye he tok out of his owene sleue A teyne of syluyr euele mote he cheue Line 1225 Whiche that ne was but an ounce of weighte And taketh hed now of his owene sleighte He schop his Ingot in lenthe & in breede Of this teigne with-outyn ony drede Line 1229 So slyly that the prest it nat espide And in his sleue a-non he gan it hide And from the fuyr he tok vp his mater And in the Ingot put it with merye cheer Line 1233 And in the watyr vessel he it caste Whan that hym leste & bad the prest as faste Loke what there is put in thyn hand & grope Thow fynde schalt there syluyr as I hope Line 1237 What deuyl of helle schulde it ellis be Schauynge of syluyr syluyr is parde // He put his hand in & tok vp a teyne Of silluyr fyn & glad in euery veyne Line 1241 Was this prest whan he seyg[h] that it was so Goddis blyssyngis & hise moderis also And alle halwis haue the sere chanoun Seyde the prest & I here malysoun Line 1245 But & ȝe vouchen saf to techyn it me This nobelle craft & this sotylete I wele been ȝoure in al that euere I may // Quod the chanoun ȝit wele I make asay Line 1249 The secunde tyme that ȝe may takyn hede And been expert of this / & in ȝoure nede

[6-text p 568] A-nothir day assay in myn absence This disciplyne & this crafty science Line 1253 Let take a-nothir vnce quod he tho [folio 390b] Of quyk siluyr with-outyn wordis mo An[d] do therwith as ȝe han don er this Whith that othyr which that now syluyr is Line 1257 // The prest hym besyed in al that euere he can To doon as this Chanoun this cursede man Comaundede hym & faste blew the fyr ffor to come theffect of his desyr Line 1261 And this chanoun rygh in the meene while Al redy was this prest eft to begyle And for a cuntenaunce in his hand he bar An holmene stikke / taak keepe & be war Line 1265 In the ende of which an ounce & nomore [[first namare]] Of silvir lemail put was as byfore Was in his cole / & stoppid with wex weel ffor to kepe in his lymayl euerydel Line 1269 And whil the prest was in his besynesse This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse To hym a-non & his poudere caste in As he dede er [[t first d]] the deuyl out of his skyn Line 1273 Hym turne I preye to god for his falsehede ffor he was euere fals in thought & dede And with this stikke a-boue the Croslet That was ordeynyd with that false Iet Line 1277 He styre [[ty altered]] the colis til relente gan The wex a-ȝen the fer as euery man But it a fol be wot wel it mot neede And al that in the stikke was out ȝede Line 1281 And in the croslet hastyliche it fel // Now goode sere what wele ȝe bet than weel Whan that this prest was begiled ageyn Supposynge nought but trouthe sothe to seyn Line 1285 He was so glad that I can not expresse In no manere his trouthe & his gladnesse

[6-text p 569] And to the Chanoun he proferede eft sone Body & good ȝe quod the Chanoun sone Line 1289 Thow pore I [[b altered]] be crafty thow schat me fynde I warne the ȝit is there more be-hynde. . Is there ²ony copyr / herinne seyde he² [[^2_2 in the cor|rector's hand]] [folio 391a] ȝa quod the prest / sere I trowe wel there be Line 1293 Ellis go beye vs sum & that aswythe Now goode sere go thyn wey an hithe He wente his wey & with this coper cam And this chanoun it in his handis nam Line 1297 And of that copar weyed vp but an ounce Al to symple is myn tunge to pronounce As mynystre of myn wit the doubilnesse Of this Chanoun rote of alle cursedenesse Line 1301 He semede frendely to hem that knewyn hym not But he was feenly bothe in werk & thouȝt It deryeth me to telle of his falsenesse And neuer the les ȝit wele I it expresse Line 1305 To the entent that men may be war therby And for non othir cause trewely // He putte his Ounce of copir in the croslet And on the fer aswythe he hath it set Line 1309 And cast in poudyr & made the prest to blowe And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe As he dede er & al was but a Iape Rygh as hym lyste the prest he made Line 1313 And aftyrward in the Ingot it caste And in the panne put it as the laste Of watyr / & in he putte his owene hand And in his sleue as ȝe be-forynhand Line 1317 Herde me telle he hadde a syluyr teyne He slyly tok it out this cursede heyne Vnwetynge this prest of this false craft And in the pannys boteme he hath it laft Line 1321 And in the watyr roumbelynge to & fro And wondyr pryuyly tok vp also

[6-text p 570] The copyr teyne nought knowynge this prest And hedde it & hym hente by the brest Line 1325 And to hym spak & thus seyde in his game [[s later]] sToupith a-doun by god ȝe be to blame Helpith me now as I dede ȝow whil er Put in ȝoure Hand & lokyth what is ther Line 1329 This prest tok vp the syluyr teyn a-non [folio 391b] Thanne seyde the chanoun lat hym gon With these thre teynys ²which thatwe han wrought² [[^2_2 corr.]] To sum gold smyth & loke ȝif they been ouȝt Line 1333 ffor be myn feyth I nolde for myn hood But ȝif there were siluyr fyn & good And that aswithe preuyd schal ²it be² [[^2_2 corr.]] // // Vn-to the goldsmyth with these teynys thre Line 1337 They wente & putte these teynys in asay To fier & hamyr ne myghte no man sey nay But that they were as hem oghte bee // This sottede prest ho was gladdere than he Line 1341 Was neuere brid gladdere a-ȝen the day Ne nyghtyngale in the sesoun of may Was neuere non that leste bet to synge Ne lady lustiere in carolynge Line 1345 Or for to speke of loue & womanhede Ne knyght in armys to don an hardy dede To standyn in grace of his lady dere Than hadde this prest this sory craft to lere Line 1349 And to the Chanoun thus he spak & seide ffor loue of god that for vs alle deyede And as I may deserue it vn-to ȝow What schal this resceyt coste tellith me now Line 1353 // By oure lord quod this Chanoun it is dere I warne ȝow wel / for saue I & a frere In [[I first i]] Ingelond there can no man it make No fors quod he now sere for godys sake Line 1357 What schal I paye tellith me I preye I-wis quod he it is wol deere I seye

[6-text p 571] Sire at on word ȝif that ȝow leste it haue Ȝe schul paye fourty pound so god me saue Line 1361 And nere the frenchepe that ȝe dede er this To me ȝe schuldyn paye more I-wis This prest the summe of fourty pound anon Of noblis fette & tok hem euerichon Line 1365 To this Chanun for this ilke resseit Al his werkyng was but fraude & disseid Sire prest quod he / I kepe to han no loos [folio 392a] Of myn craft for I wolde it kept weere clos Line 1369 And as ȝe loue me kepith it secre ffor and men knewyn al myn subtilete By god they woldyn haue so gret enuye To me by cause of myn philosophie Line 1373 I schulde been deed there were non othir weye God it for-bede quod the prest what seyȝe ȝit hadde I leuere to spendyn al myn good Whiche that I haue & ellis wexe I wood Line 1377 Than that ȝe schuldyn fallyn in swich myschef ffor ȝoure goode wil sere haue ȝe rygh good pref Quod the chanoun & farewel graunt mercy He wente his wey & neuere the prest hym sey Line 1381 Aftyr that day & whan the prest schulde Makyn assay at swych tyme as he wolde Of this resseit farewel it wolde not be Lo thus be-Iapid & begiled was he Line 1385 Thus made he his introductioun To brynge folk to distruccioun // Considerith seris / how that in eche estat By-twixe men & gold there is debat Line 1389 So fer forth that onethis is there non This multiplyinge thus blent manyon That in good fey I trowe that it be The cause grettest of swich skarsete Line 1393 Philisopheris spekyn so mystily In this craft that men may not come therby

[6-text p 572] ffor ony with that men han now on dayis They mowe weel cheteryn as don Iayis Line 1397 And in here termys sette here lust & peyne But to here purpos schul they neuere atteyne A man may lightely lerne ȝif he haue ought To multyplye & turne his good to noght Line 1401 Lo swich a lukere is in this lusty game A manys murthe it wolde turne in-to grame And emptyn grete & heuy pursis And makyn folk for to purchase cursis Line 1405 Of hem that han here good there-to I-lent [folio 392b] O fy for schame they that han been brent Allas can they nat flen the feris hete ȝe that it vse I rede ȝe it lete Line 1409 Lest ȝe lese al / for bet than neuere is late Neuere to thryue were to longe a date Thow ȝe prolle ay ȝe schul it neuere fynde ȝe been as bold as is bayard the blynde Line 1413 That blunderith forth & peril castyth non He is as bold to renne ageyn a ston As for to gon besydis in the weye So fare ȝe that multyplie I seye Line 1417 ȝ[i]f that ȝoure eye can not seen a ryght Loke that ȝoure mynde lakke not ȝoure sight ffor thow ȝe loke neuere so broode & stare ȝe schul no thyng wynne on that chaffare Line 1421 But waste al that ȝe may rape & renne With-drawe the fuyr lest it to faste brenne Medelyth no more with that art I meene ffor ȝif ȝe don ȝoure thrift is goon ful cleene Line 1425 And rygh aswithe I wele ȝow tellyn heere What that ȝe philisopheris seyn in this mateere // Lo thus seyth arnold of the newe toun As his rosarie makyth mencyoun Line 1429 He seyth riȝt thus with-outyn ony lye Theere may no man Mercurye mortifye

[6-text p 573] But ȝif it be with his brotheris knowelechyng How that he / which that fyrst seyde this thing Line 1433 Of philosopheris fadir was / hermes He sey how that he dragoun douteles Ne deyeth nat but ȝif that he be slayn With his brothir & that is for to sayn Line 1437 By dragoun mercurye & non othir He vndyr-stod & brymston by his brothyr That out of sol & luna weere I-drawe And therfore tak heed / seyde he to myn sawe Line 1441 Lat no man besye this art for to seche But ȝif that he thentencioun & speche Of philisopheris vndyrstonde can [folio 393a] An[d] ȝif he do he is a lowede man Line 1445 ffor this science & this cunnynge quod he Is of the secre of the secretis parde // Also there was a disciple of plato That on a tyme he seyde his maystir to Line 1449 As his bok Senyor wele bere witnesse And this was his demaunde in sothfastnesse Teelle me the name of the pryue stoon And plato answerde vn-to hym a-noon Line 1453 Take the ston that Titanos men name Whiche is that quod he Magnasia is the same Seyde plato ȝa syre & is it thus This is ignotum per ignocius Line 1457 What is magnacia goode sere I ȝow preye // It is a watyr that is mad I seye Of elementis foure quod Plato Telle me the rooche goode sire quod he tho Line 1461 Of that watyr ȝif that it be ȝoure wil Nay nay quod plato serteyn that I nyl // The philisopheris sworn were euerichon That they schulde discouere it on to non Line 1465 Nor in the bok it write in no manere ffor on to cryst it is so lef & deere

[6-text p 574] That he wele not that it discouered be But wheere it likyth to his deitee Line 1469 Men for to enspire & ek for to defende Whom that hym likith lo this is the ende Thanne conclude [[lu first hi]] I thus syn that god of heuene Ne wele not that the philisopheris neuene Line 1473 How that a man schal come vn-to this stoon I rede as for the beste lat it gon ffor ho so makyth good his aduersarye As for to werkyn ony thyng In contrarye Line 1477 Of his wil sertis neuere schal he thryue Thow that he multyplie terme of lyue And there a poynt for endit is myn tale God sende euery trewe man bote of his bale Line 1481

Here is endit the chanounnys manys tale [folio 393b] [[Slight break in the MS.]]