do I, Ye would wonder how well and craftily He couldë work, and that in sundry wise. He hath take on him many a great emprise, Which were full hard for any that is here To bring about, but they of him it lear. As homely as he rides amongës you, If ye him knew, it would be for your prow: Ye wouldë not forego his ácquaintánce For muchë good, I dare lay in balance All that I have in my possessión. He is a man of high discretión. I warn you well, he is a passing man.” “Well,” quoth our Host, “I pray thee tell me than, Is he a clerk, or no? Tell what he is.” “Nay, he is greater than a clerk, y-wis,” Saidë this Yeoman; “and, in wordës few, Host, of his craft somewhat I will you shew. I say, my lord can such a subtletý (But all his craft ye may not weet of me, And somewhat help I yet to his workíng), That all the ground on which we be ridíng Till that we come to Canterbury town, He could all cleanë turnen up so down, And pave it all of silver and of gold.”
And when this Yeoman had this talë told Unto our Host, he said; “ Ben’dicite! This thing is wonder marvellous to me, Since that thy lord is of so high prudénce, Because of which men should him reverence, That of his worship recketh he so lite; His overest slop it is not worth a mite As in effect to him, so may I go; It is all baudy and to-tore also. Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee pray, And is of power better clothes to bey, If that his deed accordeth with thy speech? Tellë me that, and that I thee beseech.” “Why?” quoth this Yeoman, “whereto ask ye me? God help me so, for he shall never thé (But I will not avowë that I say, And therefore keep it secret, I you pray); He is too wise, in faith, as I believe. Thing that is overdone, it will not preve Aright, as clerkës say; it is a vice; Wherefore in that I hold him lew’d and nice. For when a man hath over great a wit, Full oft him happens to misusen it; So doth my lord, and that me grieveth sore. God it amend; I can say now no more.”
“Thereof no force, good Yeoman,” quoth our Host; “Since of the conning of thy lord, thou know’st, Tell how he doth, I pray thee heartilý, Since that be is so crafty and so sly. Where dwellë ye, if it to tellë be?” “In