With this Canón I dwelt have seven year, And of his science am I ne’er the near: All that I had I havë lost thereby, And, God wot, so have many more than I.
Where I was wont to be right fresh and gay Of clothing, and of other good array Now may I wear an hose upon mine head; And where my colour was both fresh and red, Now is it wan, and of a leaden hue (Whoso it useth, sore shall he it rue); And of my swink yet bleared is mine eye; Lo what advantage is to multiply!
That sliding science hath me made so bare, That I have no good, where that ever I fare; And yet I am indebted so thereby Of gold, that I have borrow’d truëly, That, while I live, I shall it quitë never; Let every man beware by me for ever.
What manner man that casteth him thereto, If he continue, I hold his thrift y-do; So help me God, thereby shall he not win, But empty his purse, and make his wittës thin.
And when he, through his madness and follý, Hath lost his owen good through jupartie, Then he exciteth other men thereto, To lose their good as he himself hath do’. For unto shrewës joy it is and ease To have their fellows in pain and disease.
Thus was I onës learned of a clerk; Of that no charge; I will speak of our work.
Cuando allí estemos para ejercitar nuestro arte feérico, cual sabios sin par parecemos, de términos tan sabios y oscuros. Soplo el fuego hasta que mi corazón desfallece. ¿Por qué he de contar cada proporción de las cosas en las que trabajamos, como cinco o seis