DCCXIX.
Simplex aliquando deridetur.
Cesarius tellis how þat som tyme in Colan̛ þer was a chanon̛ at was so symple & so vnconnyng þat he cuthe nott teƚƚ no maner of nowmer, nor teƚƚ whilk was od̛ whilk was evyn̛ [Harl. MS. vt nichil numerare sciret nisi in quantum res essent pares.] , bod at he wald̛ aƚƚ way cownt ij thynges to-gedur. So on̛ a tyme hym̛ happend̛ be made chanon̛ of þe kechyng, and he had þer many bakon-flikkis in þe balkis. So on̛ a tyme hym̛ happend̛ to teƚƚ þaim, and he cuthe no noderways teƚƚ, & he cuthe say none oder bod þus; "Lo, þer a baken̛-flykk̘ & his felagℏ, and þer a noder bakon̛-flikk & his felow [MS. flelow.] ." And so of aƚƚ þe toder. So on̛ a tyme one of hys meneya with-drew one of þies bakon̛-flykkis. So on̛ [a] tyme afterward̛, þis chanon̛ come into þe kechyn̛ agayn̛, and tellid̛ þies bakon̛-flykkis & fand̛ at þai war od, & ane wantid̛. And he sayd vnto his menya þer-of, and þai prayed hym̛ be in pease & go vnto his chawmer and þai sulde fynd̛ it wele agayn̛ or þat he come; and so he did̛. And whils he was away, his meneya withdrew a noder bakon̛-flykk̘, and so þer was evyn̛ behynd̛ as þer was befor̛. And þan̛ þai callid̛ þer maister & bad hym̛ go luke if he had aƚƚ his bakon̛-flikkis, and he come & teld̛ þaim agayn̛ as he was wunte to doo, & fand þai wer evyn̛. And so he trowed̛ at he had getten̛ his flykkis agayn̛, & in a grete myrthe he sayde vnto his meneya; "O, ye felows! I mot hafe haldyn̛ my tong & loste my bakyn̛-flyk̘." And when̛ his servandis wolde eatt any gude meate, þai wolde threpe vppon̛ hym̛ at he was seke; and he wulde aske þaim whareby þai wyste, & þai wold̛ say, "Yis, Sur, for your haris er passand̛ bolnyd̛." & þan̛ he wold̛ trow he was seke, & lay hym̛ down̛ on̛ his bedd̛. And þan̛ þai wold̛ ordand̛ gude metis and gyff hym̛ owder little or noght þeroff, & eate vp̛ þe toder þer selfe.
- ...Simplicitatem deus remunerat. Supra de contricione.