house, Although that my tale of a canon be. Of every order some shrew is, pardie; And God forbid that all a company Should rue a singular mannë’s folly. To slander you is no thing mine intent; But to correct that is amiss I meant. This talë was not only told for you, But eke for other more; ye wot well how That amongës Christë’s apostlës twelve There was no traitor but Judas himselve; Then why should all the remenant have blame, That guiltless were? By you I say the same. Save only this, if ye will hearken me, If any Judas in your convent be, Removë him betimës, I you rede, If shame or loss may causen any dread. And be no thing displeased, I you pray; But in this casë hearken what I say.
In London was a priest, an annualére, That therein dwelled haddë many a year, Which was so pleasant and so serviceáble Unto the wife, where as he was at table, That she would suffer him no thing to pay For board nor clothing, went he ne’er so gay; And spending silver had he right enow; Thereof no force; will proceed as now, And tellë forth my tale of the canón, That brought this priestë to confusión. This falsë canon came upon a day Unto the priestë’s chamber, where he lay, Beseeching him to lend him a certáin Of gold, and he would quit it him again. “Lend me a mark,” quoth he, “but dayës three, And at my day I will it quitë thee. And if it so be that thou find me false, Another day hang me up by the halse.” This priest him took a mark, and that as swithe, And this canón him thanked often sithe, And took his leave, and wentë forth his way; And at the thirdë day brought his monéy; And to the priest he took his gold again, Whereof this priest was wondrous glad and fain.
“Certes,” quoth he, “nothing annoyeth me To lend a man a noble, or two, or three, Or what thing were in my possessión, When he so true is of conditión, That in no wise he breakë will his day; To such a man I never can say nay.” “What,” quoth this canon, “should I be untrue? Nay, that were thing y-fallen all of new. Truth is a thing that I will ever keep, Unto the day in which that I shall creep Into my grave; and ellës God forbid; Believë this as sicker as your creed. God thank I, and in good time be it