quoth this yeoman, “levë brother, Thou art a bailiff, and I am another. I am unknowen, as in this countrý. Of thine acquaintance I will prayë thee, And eke of brotherhood, if that thee list. I have gold and silver lying in my chest; If that thee hap to come into our shire, All shall be thine, right as thou wilt desire.” “ Grand mercy ,” quoth this Sompnour, “by my faith.” Each in the other’s hand his trothë lay’th, For to be swornë brethren till they dey. In dalliance they ridë forth and play.
This Sompnour, which that was as full of jangles, As full of venom be those wariangles, And ev’r inquiring upon every thing, “Brother,” quoth he, “where is now your dwelling, Another day if that I should you seech?” This yeoman him answered in soft speech; “Brother,” quoth he, “far in the North countrý, Where as I hope some time I shall thee see. Ere we depart I shall thee so well wiss, That of mine housë shalt thou never miss.” “Now, brother,” quoth this Sompnour, “I you pray, Teach me, while that we ridë by the way, (Since that ye be a bailiff as am I,) Some subtilty, and tell me faithfully For mine offíce how that I most may win. And sparë not for conscience or for sin, But, as my brother, tell me how do ye.” “Now by my trothë, brother mine,” said he, “As I shall tell to thee a faithful tale: My wages be full strait and eke full smale; My lord is hard to me and dangerous, And mine offíce is full laborious; And therefore by extortión I live, Forsooth I take all that men will me give. Algate by sleightë, or by violence, From year to year I win all my dispence; I can no better tell thee faithfully.” “Now certes,” quoth this Sompnour, “so fare I; I sparë not to takë, God it wot, But if it be too heavy or too hot. What I may get in counsel privily, No manner conscience of that have I. N’ere mine extortión, I might not live, For of such japës will I not be shrive. Stomach nor consciencë know I none; I shrew these shriftë-fathers every one. Well be we met, by God and by St. Jame. But, levë brother, tell me then thy name,” Quoth this Sompnour. Right in this meanë while This yeoman gan a little for to smile.
“Brother,” quoth he, “wilt thou that I thee tell? I am a fiend, my dwelling is in hell, And here I ride about my purchasing, To know where men will