The Canterbury tales

Et sequitur pars secunda.

Ther is a chanoun of religioun Line 972 Amounges us, wolde infecte al a toun, Line 973 Thogh it as greet were as was nynyvee, Line 974 Rome, alisaundre, troye, and othere three. Line 975 His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse Line 976 Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse, Line 977 Though that he myghte lyve a thousand yeer. Line 978 In al this world of falshede nis his peer; Line 979 For in his termes he wol hym so wynde, Line 980 And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde, Line 981 Whanne he commune shal with any wight, Line 982 That he wol make hym doten anonright, Line 983 But it a feend be, as hymselven is. Line 984 Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this, Line 985 And wole, if that he lyve may a while; Line 986 And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile Line 987 Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce, Line 988 Noght knowynge of his false governaunce. Line 989 And if yow list to yeve me audience, Line 990 I wol it tellen heere in youre presence. Line 991 But worshipful chanons religious, Line 992 Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous, Line 993 Although that my tale of a chanoun bee. Line 994 Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee, Line 995 And God forbede that al a compaignye Line 996 Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye. Line 997 To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente, Line 998 But to correcten that is mys I mente. Line 999 This tale was nat oonly toold for yow Line 1000 But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how Line 1001 That among cristes apostelles twelve Line 1002 Ther nas no traytour but judas hymselve. Line 1003 Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame Line 1004 That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same, Line 1005 Save oonly this, if ye wol herke me: Line 1006 If any judas in youre covent be, Line 1007 Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede, Line 1008 If shame or los may causen any drede. Line 1009 And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye, Line 1010 But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye. Line 1011 In londoun was a preest, an annueleer, Line 1012 That therinne dwelled hadde mayn a yeer, Line 1013 Which was so plesaunt and se servysable Line 1014 Unto the wyf, where as he was at table, Line 1015 That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye Line 1016 For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye; Line 1017 And spendyng silver hadde he right ynow. Line 1018 Therof no fors; I wol procede as now, Line 1019 And telle forth my tale of the chanoun Line 1020 That broghte this preest to confusioun. Line 1021 This false chanon cam upon a day Line 1022 Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, Line 1023 Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn Line 1024 Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn. Line 1025 Leene me a marc, quod he, but dayes three, Line 1026 And at my day I wol it quiten thee. Line 1027 And if so be that thow me fynde fals, Line 1028 Another day do hange me by the hals! Line 1029 This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe, Line 1030 And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe, Line 1031 And took his leve, and wente forth his weye, Line 1032 And at the thridee day broghte his moneye, Line 1033 And to the preest he took his gold agayn, Line 1034 Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. Line 1035 Certes, quod he, no thyng anoyeth me Line 1036 To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre, Line 1037 Or what thyng were in my possessioun, Line 1038 Whan he so trewe is of condicioun Line 1039 That in no wise he breke wole his day; Line 1040 To swich a man I kan never seye nay. Line 1041 What! quod this chanoun, sholde I be untrewe? Line 1042 Nay, that were thyng yfallen al of newe. Line 1043 Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe Line 1044 Unto that day in which that I shal crepe Line 1045 Into my grave, and ellis God forbede. Line 1046 Bileveth this as siker as your crede. Line 1047 God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd, Line 1048 That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd Line 1049 For gold ne silver that he to me lente, Line 1050 Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente. Line 1051 And sire, quod he, now of my pryvetee, Line 1052 Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me, Line 1053 And kithed to me so greet gentillesse, Line 1054 Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse Line 1055 I wol yow shewe, and if yow list to leere, Line 1056 I wol yow teche pleynly the manere Line 1057 Yow I kan werken in philosophie. Line 1058 Taketh good heede, ye shul wel seen at ye Line 1059 That I wol doon a maistrie er I go. Line 1060 Ye, quod the preest, ye, sire, and wol ye so? Line 1061 Marie! therof I pray yow hertely. Line 1062

Line 1062 At youre comandement, sire, trewely, Line 1063 Quod the chanoun, and ellis God forbeede! Line 1064 Loo, how this theef koude his service beede! Line 1065 Ful sooth it is that swich profred servyse Line 1066 Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse, Line 1067 And that, ful soone I wol it verifie Line 1068 In this chanoun, roote of al trecherie, Line 1069 That everemoore delit hath and gladnesse -- Line 1070 Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse -- Line 1071 How cristes peple he may to meschief brynge. Line 1072 God kepe us from his false dissymulynge! Line 1073 Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte, Line 1074 Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte. Line 1075 O sely preest! o sely innocent! Line 1076 With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent! Line 1077 O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite, Line 1078 No thyng ne artow war of the deceite Line 1079 Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee! Line 1080 His wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee. Line 1081 Wherfore, to go to the conclusion, Line 1082 That refereth to thy confusion, Line 1083 Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye Line 1084 To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, Line 1085 And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche, Line 1086 As ferforth as that my konnyng wol strecche. Line 1087 This chanon was my lord, ye wolden weene? Line 1088 Sire hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene, Line 1089 It was another chanoun, and nat hee, Line 1090 That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee. Line 1091 He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme; Line 1092 Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme. Line 1093 Evere whan that I speke of his falshede, Line 1094 For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede. Line 1095 Algates they bigynnen for to glowe, Line 1096 For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe, Line 1097 In my visage; for fumes diverse Line 1098 Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce, Line 1099 Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. Line 1100 Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse! Line 1101 Sire, quod he to the preest, lat youre man gon Line 1102 For quyksilver, that we it hadde anon; Line 1103 And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three; Line 1104 And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see Line 1105 A wonder thyng, which ye saugh nevere er this. Line 1106 Sire, quod the preest, it shal be doon, ywis. Line 1107 He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng, Line 1108 And he al redy was at his biddyng, Line 1109 And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn Line 1110 With this quyksilver, shortly for to sayn, Line 1111 And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun; Line 1112 And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun, Line 1113 And bad the servant coles for to brynge, Line 1114 That he anon myghte go to his werkynge. Line 1115 The coles right anon weren yfet, Line 1116 And this chanoun took out a crosselet Line 1117 Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest. Line 1118 This instrument, quod he, which that thou seest, Line 1119 Taak in thy hand, and put thyself therinne Line 1120 Of this quyksilver an ounce, and heer bigynne, Line 1121 In name of crist, to wexe a philosofre. Line 1122 Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre Line 1123 To shewen hem thus muche of my science. Line 1124 For ye shul seen heer, by experience, Line 1125 That this quyksilver I wol mortifye Line 1126 Right in youre sighte anon, withouten lye, Line 1127 And make it as good silver and as fyn Line 1128 As ther is any in youre purs or myn, Line 1129 Or elleswhere, and make it malliable; Line 1130 And elles holdeth me fals and unable Line 1131 Amonges folk for evere to appeere. Line 1132 I have poudre heer, that coste me deere, Line 1133 Shal make al good, for it is cause of al Line 1134 My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal. Line 1135 Voyde youre man, and lat hym be theroute, Line 1136 And shette the dore, whils we been aboute Line 1137 Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie, Line 1138 Whils that we werke in this philosophie. Line 1139 Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede. Line 1140 This ilke servant anonright out yede Line 1141 And his maister shette the dore anon, Line 1142 And to hire labour spedily the gon. Line 1143 This preest, at this cursed chanons biddyng, Line 1144 Upon the fir anon sette this thyng, Line 1145 And blew the fir, and bisyed hym ful faste. Line 1146 And this chanoun into the crosselet caste Line 1147 A poudre, noot I wherof that it was Line 1148 Ymaad, outher of chalk, outher of glas, Line 1149 Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye, Line 1150 To blynde with this preest; and bad hym hye Line 1151 The coles for to couchen al above Line 1152 The crosselet. For in tokenyng I thee love, Line 1153 Quod this chanoun, thyne owene handes two Line 1154 Shul werche al thyng which that shal heer be do. Line 1155 Graunt mercy, quod the preest, and was ful glad, Line 1156 And couched coles as that the chanoun bad. Line 1157 And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche, Line 1158 This false chanoun -- the foule feend hym fecche! -- Line 1159 Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, Line 1160 In which ful subtilly was maad an hole, Line 1161

Line 1161 And therinne put was of silver lemaille Line 1162 An ounce, and stopped was, withouten faille, Line 1163 This hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in. Line 1164 And understondeth that this false gyn Line 1165 Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore; Line 1166 And othere thynges I shal tellen moore Line 1167 Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte. Line 1168 Er he cam there, hym to bigile he thoghte, Line 1169 And so he dide, er that they wente at wynne; Line 1170 Til he had terved hym, koude he nat blynne. Line 1171 It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke. Line 1172 On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, Line 1173 If I wiste how, but he is heere and there; Line 1174 He is so variaunt, be abit nowhere. Line 1175 But taketh heed now, sires, for goddes love! Line 1176 He took his cole of which I spak above, Line 1177 And in his hand he baar it pryvely. Line 1178 And whiles the preest couched bisily Line 1179 The coles, as I tolde yow er this, Line 1180 This chanoun seyde, freend, ye doon amys. Line 1181 This is nat couched as it oghte be; Line 1182 But soone I shal amenden it, quod he. Line 1183 Now lat me medle therwith but a while, Line 1184 For of yow have I pitee, by seint gile! Line 1185 Ye been right hoot; I se wel how ye swete. Line 1186 Have heere a clooth, and wipe awey the wete. Line 1187 And whiles that the preest wiped his face, Line 1188 This chanoun took his cole -- with sory grace! -- Line 1189 And leyde it above upon the myddeward Line 1190 Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward, Line 1191 Til that the coles gonne faste brenne. Line 1192 Now yeve us drynke, quod the chanoun thenne; Line 1193 As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake. Line 1194 Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make. Line 1195 And whan that this chanounes bechen cole Line 1196 Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole Line 1197 Into the crosselet fil anon adoun; Line 1198 And as it moste nedes, by resoun, Line 1199 Syn it so even aboven it couched was. Line 1200 But therof wiste the preest nothyng, alas! Line 1201 He demed alle the coles yliche good; Line 1202 For of that sleighte he nothyng understood. Line 1203 And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme, Line 1204 Ris up, quod he, sire preest, and stondeth by me; Line 1205 And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon, Line 1206 Gooth, walketh forth, and brynge us a chalk stoon; Line 1207 For I wol make it of the same shap Line 1208 That is an ingot, if I may han hap. Line 1209 And bryngeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne Line 1210 Ful of water, and ye shul se wel thanne Line 1211 How that oure bisynesse shal thryve and preeve. Line 1212 And yet, for ye shul han no mysbileeve Line 1213 New wrong conceite of me in youre absence, Line 1214 I ne wol nat been out of youre presence, Line 1215 But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn. Line 1216 The chambre dore, shortly for to seyn, Line 1217 They opened and shette, and wente hir weye. Line 1218 And forth with hem they carieden the keye, Line 1219 And coome agayn withouten any delay. Line 1220 What sholde I tarien al the longe day? Line 1221 He took the chalk, and shoop it in the wise Line 1222 Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse. Line 1223 I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve Line 1224 A teyne of silver -- yvele moot he cheeve! -- Line 1225 Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte. Line 1226 And taaketh heede now of his cursed sleighte! Line 1227 He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and in breede Line 1228 Of this teyne, withouten any drede, Line 1229 So slyly that the preest it nat espide, Line 1230 And in his sleve agayn he gan it hide, Line 1231 And fro the fir he took up his mateere, Line 1232 And in th' yngot putte it with myrie cheere, Line 1233 And in the water-vessel he it caste, Line 1234 Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste, Line 1235 Loke what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope. Line 1236 Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope. Line 1237 What, devel of helle! sholde it elles be? Line 1238 Shaving of silver silver is, pardee! Line 1239 He putte his hand in and took up a teyne Line 1240 Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne Line 1241 Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so. Line 1242 Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also, Line 1243 And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun, Line 1244 Seyde the preest, and I hir malisoun, Line 1245 But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me Line 1246 This noble craft and this subtilitee, Line 1247 I wol be youre in al that evere I may. Line 1248 Quod the chanoun, yet wol I make assay Line 1249 The seconde tyme, that ye may taken heede Line 1250 And been expert of this, and in youre neede Line 1251 Another day assaye in myn absence Line 1252 This disciplyne and this crafty science. Line 1253 Lat take another ounce, quod he tho, Line 1254 Of quyksilver, withouten wordes mo, Line 1255 And do therwith as ye han doon er this Line 1256 With that oother, which that now silver is. Line 1257 This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan Line 1258 To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man, Line 1259 Comanded hym, and faste he blew the fir, Line 1260 For to come to th' effect of his desir. Line 1261 And this chanon, right in the meene while, Line 1262

Line 1262 Al redy was this preest eft to bigile, Line 1263 And for a contenaunce in his hand he bar Line 1264 An holwe stikke -- taak kep and be war! -- Line 1265 In the ende of which an ounce, and namoore, Line 1266 Of silver lemaille put was, as bifore Line 1267 Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel Line 1268 For to kepe in his lemaille every deel. Line 1269 And whil this preest was in his bisynesse, Line 1270 This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse Line 1271 To hym anon, and his poudre caste in Line 1272 As he dide er -- the devel out of his skyn Line 1273 Hym terve, I pray to god, for his falshede! Line 1274 For he was evere fals in thoght and dede -- Line 1275 And with this stikke, above the crosselet, Line 1276 That was ordeyned with that false jet Line 1277 He stired the coles til relente gan Line 1278 The wex agayn the fir, as every man, Line 1279 But it a fool be, woot wel it moot nede, Line 1280 And al that in the stikke was out yede, Line 1281 And in the crosselet hastily it fel. Line 1282 Now, good sires, what wol ye bet than wel? Line 1283 Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn, Line 1284 Supposynge noght but treuthe, sooth to seyn, Line 1285 He was so glad that I kan nat expresse Line 1286 In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse; Line 1287 And to the chanoun he profred eftsoone Line 1288 Body and good. Ye, quod the chanoun soone, Line 1289 Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me fynde. Line 1290 I warne thee, yet is ther moore bihynde. Line 1291 Is ther any coper herinne? seyde he. Line 1292 Ye, quod the preest, sire, I trowe wel ther be. Line 1293 Elles go bye us som, and that as swithe; Line 1294 Now, goode sire, go forth thy wey and hy the. Line 1295 He wente his wey, and with the coper cam, Line 1296 And this chanon it in his handes nam, Line 1297 And of that coper weyed out but an ounce. Line 1298 Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce, Line 1299 As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse Line 1300 Of this chanoun, roote of alle cursednesse! Line 1301 He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght, Line 1302 But he was feendly bothe in werk and thoght. Line 1303 It weerieth me to telle of his falsnesse, Line 1304 And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, Line 1305 To th' entente that men may be war therby, Line 1306 And for noon oother cause, trewely. Line 1307 He putte this ounce of coper in the crosselet, Line 1308 And on the fir as swithe he hath it set, Line 1309 And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe, Line 1310 And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe, Line 1311 As he dide er, -- and al nas but a jape; Line 1312 Right as hym liste, the preest he made his ape! Line 1313 And afterward in the ingot he it caste, Line 1314 And in the panne putte it at the laste Line 1315 Of water, and in he putte his owene hand, Line 1316 And in his sleve (as ye biforen-hand Line 1317 Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne. Line 1318 He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne, Line 1319 Unwityng this preest of his false craft, Line 1320 And in the pannes botme he hath it laft; Line 1321 And in the water rombled to and fro, Line 1322 And wonder pryvely took up also Line 1323 The coper teyne, noght knowynge this preest, Line 1324 And hidde it, and hym hente by the breest, Line 1325 And to hym spak, and thus seyde in his game: Line 1326 Stoupeth adoun, by god, ye be to balme! Line 1327 Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whileer; Line 1328 Putte in youre hand, and looketh what is theer. Line 1329 This preest took up this silver teyne anon, Line 1330 And thanne seyde the chanoun, lat us gon Line 1331 With thise thre teynes, whiche that we han wroght, Line 1332 To som goldsmyth, and wite if they been oght. Line 1333 For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood, Line 1334 But if that they were silver fyn and good, Line 1335 And that as swithe preeved it shal bee. Line 1336 Unto the goldsmyth with thise teynes three Line 1337 They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay Line 1338 Fo fir and hamer; myghte no man seye nay, Line 1339 But that they weren as hem oghte be. Line 1340 This sotted preest, who was gladder than he? Line 1341 Was nevere brid gladder agayn the day, Line 1342 Ne nyghtyngale, in the sesoun of may, Line 1343 Was nevere noon that luste bet to synge; Line 1344 Ne lady lustier in carolynge, Line 1345 Or for to speke of love and wommanhede, Line 1346 Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede, Line 1347 To stonden in grace of his lady deere, Line 1348 Than hadde this preest this soory craft to leere. Line 1349 And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde: Line 1350 For love of god, that for us alle deyde, Line 1351 And as I may deserve it unto yow, Line 1352 What shal this receite coste? telleth now! Line 1353 By oure lady, quod this chanon, it is deere, Line 1354 I warne yow wel; for save I and a frere, Line 1355 In engelond ther kan no man it make. Line 1356 No fors, quod he, now, sire, for goddes sake, Line 1357 What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye. Line 1358 Ywis, quod he, it is ful deere, I seye. Line 1359 Sire, at o word, if that thee list it have, Line 1360 Ye shul paye fourty pound, so God me save! Line 1361

Line 1361 And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this Line 1362 To me, ye sholde paye moore, ywis. Line 1363 This preest the somme of fourty pound anon Line 1364 Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon Line 1365 To this chanoun, for this ilke receite. Line 1366 Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceite. Line 1367 Sire preest, he seyde, I kepe han no loos Line 1368 Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos; Line 1369 And, as ye love me, kepeth it secree. Line 1370 For, and men knewen al my soutiltee, Line 1371 By god, they wolden han so greet envye Line 1372 To me, by cause of my philosophye, Line 1373 I sholde be deed; ther were noon oother weye. Line 1374 God it forbeede, quod the preest, what sey ye? Line 1375 Yet hadde I levere spenden al the good Line 1376 Which that I have, and elles wexe I wood, Line 1377 Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef. Line 1378 For youre good wyl, sire, have ye right good preef, Line 1379 Quod the chanoun, and farwel, grant mercy! Line 1380 He wente his wey, and never the preest hym sy Line 1381 After that day; and whan that this preest shoolde Line 1382 Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde, Line 1383 Of this receit, farwel! it wolde nat be. Line 1384 Lo, thus byjaped and bigiled was he! Line 1385 Thus maketh he his introduccioun, Line 1386 To brynge folk to hir destruccioun. Line 1387 Considereth, sires, how that, in ech estaat, Line 1388 Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat Line 1389 So ferforth that unnethes is ther noon. Line 1390 This multiplying blent so many oon Line 1391 That in good feith I trowe that it bee Line 1392 The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. Line 1393 Philosophres speken so mystily Line 1394 In this craft that men kan nat come therby, Line 1395 For any wit that men han now-a-dayes. Line 1396 They mowe wel chiteren as doon thise jayes, Line 1397 And in hir termes sette hir lust and peyne, Line 1398 But to hir purpos shul they nevere atteyne. Line 1399 A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught, Line 1400 To multiplie, and brynge his good to naught! Line 1401 Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game, Line 1402 A mannes myrthe it wol turne unto grame, Line 1403 And empten also grete and hevye purses, Line 1404 And maken folk for to purchacen curses Line 1405 Of hem that han hir good therto ylent. Line 1406 O! fy, for shame! they that han been brent, Line 1407 Allas! kan they nat flee the fires heete? Line 1408 Ye that it use, I rede ye it leete, Line 1409 Lest ye lese al; for bet than nevere is late. Line 1410 Nevere to thryve were to long a date. Line 1411 Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it nevere fynde. Line 1412 Ye been as boold as is bayard the blynde, Line 1413 That blondreth forth, and peril casteth noon. Line 1414 He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon Line 1415 As for to goon bisides in the weye. Line 1416 So faren ye that multiplie, I seye. Line 1417 If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright, Line 1418 Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight. Line 1419 For though ye looken never so brode and stare, Line 1420 Ye shul nothyng wynne on that chaffare, Line 1421 But wasten al that ye may rape and renne. Line 1422 Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne; Line 1423 Medleth namoore with that art, I mene, Line 1424 For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene. Line 1425 And right as swithe I wol yow tellen heere Line 1426 What philosophres seyn in this mateere. Line 1427 Lo, thus seith arnold of the newe toun, Line 1428 As his rosarie maketh mencioun; Line 1429 He seith right thus, withouten any lye: Line 1430 Ther may no man mercurie mortifie Line 1431 But it be with his brother knowlechyng. Line 1432 How be that he which that first seyde this thyng Line 1433 Of philosophres fader was, hermes -- Line 1434 He seith how that the dragon, doutelees, Line 1435 Ne dyeth nat, but if that he be slayn Line 1436 With his brother; and that is for to sayn, Line 1437 By the dragon, mercurie, and noon oother Line 1438 He understood, and brymstoon by his brother, Line 1439 That out of sol and luna were ydrawe. Line 1440 And therfore, seyde he, -- taak heede to my sawe -- Line 1441 Lat no man bisye hym this art for to seche, Line 1442 But if that he th' entencioun and speche Line 1443 Of philosophres understonde kan; Line 1444 And if he do, he is a lewed man. Line 1445 For this science and this konnyng, quod he, Line 1446 Is of the secree of secrees, pardee. Line 1447 Also ther was a disciple of plato, Line 1448 That on a tyme seyde his maister to, Line 1449 As his book senior wol bere witnesse, Line 1450 And this was his demande in soothfastnesse: Line 1451 Telle me the name of the privee stoon? Line 1452 And plato answerde unto hym anoon, Line 1453 Take the stoon that titanos men name. Line 1454 Which is that? quod he. Magnasia is the same, Line 1455 Seyde plato. Ye, sire, and is it thus? Line 1456 This is ignotum per ignocius. Line 1457 What is magnasia, good sire, I yow preye? Line 1458 It is a water that is maad, I seye, Line 1459 Of elementes foure, quod plato. Line 1460 Telle me the roote, good sire, quod he tho, Line 1461 Of that water, if it be youre wil. Line 1462 Nay, nay, quod plato, certein, that I nyl. Line 1463 The philosophres sworn were everychoon Line 1464

Line 1464 That they sholden discovere it unto noon, Line 1465 Ne in no book it write in no manere. Line 1466 For unto crist it is so lief and deere Line 1467 That he wol nat that it discovered bee, Line 1468 But where it liketh to his deitee Line 1469 Men for t' enspire, and eek for to deffende Line 1470 Whom that hym liketh; lo, this is the ende. Line 1471 Thanne conclude I thus, sith that God of hevene Line 1472 Ne wil nat that the philosophres nevene Line 1473 How that a man shal come unto this stoon, Line 1474 I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. Line 1475 For whoso maketh God his adversarie, Line 1476 As for to werken any thyng in contrarie Line 1477 Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve, Line 1478 Thogh that he multiplie terme of his lyve. Line 1479 And there a poynt; for ended is my tale. Line 1480 God sende every trewe man boote of his bale! Line 1481