The mullok on a heap y-sweeped was, And on the floor y-cast a canëvas, And all this mullok in a sieve y-throw, And sifted, and y-picked many a throw. “Pardie,” quoth one, “somewhat of our metál Yet is there here, though that we have not all. And though this thing mishapped hath as now, Another time it may be well enow. We mustë put our good in ádventúre; A merchant, pardie, may not aye endure, Trustë me well, in his prosperity: Sometimes his good is drenched in the sea, And sometimes comes it safe unto the land.” “Peace,” quoth my lord; “the next time I will fand To bring our craft all in another plight, And but I do, Sirs, let me have the wite; There was default in somewhat, well I wot.” Another said, the fire was over hot. But be it hot or cold, I dare say this, That we concluden evermore amiss; We fail alway of that which we would have; And in our madness evermore we rave. And when we be together every one, Every man seemeth a Solomon. But all thing, which that shineth as the gold, It is not gold, as I have heard it told; Nor every apple that is fair at eye, It is not good, what so men clap or cry. Right so, lo, fareth it amongës us. He that the wisest seemeth, by Jesús, Is most fool, when it cometh to the prefe; And he that seemeth truest, is a thief. That shall ye know, ere that I from you wend; By that I of my tale have made an end.
There was a canon of religioún Amongës us, would ínfect all a town, Though it as great were as was Ninevéh, Rome, Alisandre, Troy, or other three. His sleightës and his infinite falsenéss There couldë no man writen, as I guess, Though that he mightë live a thousand year; In all this world of falseness n’is his peer. For in his termës he will him so wind, And speak his wordës in so sly a kind, When he commúnë shall with any wight, That he will make him doat anon aright, But it a fiendë be, as himself is. Full many a man hath he beguil’d ere this, And will, if that he may live any while; And yet men go and ride many a mile Him for to seek, and have his ácquaintánce, Not knowing of his falsë governánce. And if you list to give me audiénce, I will it tellë here in your presénce. But, worshipful canóns religioús, Ne deemë not that I slander your