hap and preve. And yet, for ye shall have no misbelieve Nor wrong conceit of me, in your absénce, I willë not be out of your presénce, But go with you, and come with you again.” The chamber-doorë, shortly for to sayn, They opened and shut, and went their way, And forth with them they carried the key; And came again without any delay. Why should I tarry all the longë day? He took the chalk, and shap’d it in the wise Of an ingot, as I shall you devise; I say, he took out of his owen sleeve A teine of silver (evil may he cheve! ) Which that ne was but a just ounce of weight. And takë heed now of his cursed sleight; He shap’d his ingot, in length and in brede Of this teinë, withouten any drede, So slily, that the priest it not espied; And in his sleeve again he gan it hide; And from the fire he took up his mattére, And in th’ ingot put it with merry cheer; And in the water-vessel he it cast, When that him list, and bade the priest as fast Look what there is; “Put in thine hand and grope; There shalt thou findë silver, as I hope.” What, devil of hellë! should it ellës be? Shaving of silver, silver is, pardie. He put his hand in, and took up a teine Of silver fine; and glad in every vein Was this priest, when he saw that it was so. “Goddë’s blessing, and his mother’s also, And allë hallows’, have ye, Sir Canón!” Saidë this priest, “and I their malison But, an’ ye vouchësafe to teachë me This noble craft and this subtilitý, I will be yours in all that ever I may.” Quoth the canón, “Yet will I make assay The second time, that ye may takë heed, And be expert of this, and, in your need, Another day assay in mine absénce This discipline, and this crafty sciénce. Let take another ouncë,” quoth he tho, “Of quicksilver, withoutë wordës mo’, And do therewith as ye have done ere this With that other, which that now silver is.”
The priest him busied, all that e’er he can, To do as this canón, this cursed man, Commanded him, and fast he blew the fire For to come to th’ effect of his desire. And this canón right in the meanëwhile All ready was this priest eft to beguile, and, for a countenance, in his handë bare An hollow stickë (take keep and beware); In th’ end of which an ouncë and no more Of silver limaile put was, as before Was in his coal, and