priest), And hid it, and him hentë by the breast, And to him spake, and thus said in his game; “Stoop now adown; by God, ye be to blame; Helpë me now, as I did you whilére; Put in your hand, and lookë what is there.”
This priest took up this silver teine anon; And thennë said the canon, “Let us gon, With these three teinës which that we have wrought, To some goldsmith, and weet if they be aught: For, by my faith, I would not for my hood But if they werë silver fine and good, And that as swithe well proved shall it be.” Unto the goldsmith with these teinës three They went anon, and put them in assay To fire and hammer; might no man say nay, But that they weren as they ought to be. This sotted priest, who gladder was than he? Was never bird gladder against the day; Nor nightingale in the season of May Was never none, that better list to sing; Nor lady lustier in carolling, Or for to speak of love and womanhead; Nor knight in arms to do a hardy deed, To standen in grace of his lady dear, Than had this priest this craftë for to lear; And to the canon thus he spake and said; “For love of God, that for us allë died, And as I may deserve it unto you, What shall this réceipt costë? tell me now.” “By our Lady,” quoth this canon, “it is dear. I warn you well, that, save I and a frere, In Engleland there can no man it make.” “No force,” quoth he; “now, Sir, for Goddë’s sake, What shall I pay? tellë me, I you pray.” “Y-wis,” quoth he, “it is full dear, I say. Sir, at one word, if that you list it have, Ye shall pay forty pound, so God me save; And n’ere the friendship that ye did ere this To me, ye shouldë payë more, y-wis.” This priest the sum of forty pound anon Of nobles fet, and took them every one To this canón, for this ilkë receipt. All his workíng was but fraud and deceit. “Sir Priest,” he said, “I keep to have no los Of my craft, for I would it were kept close; And as ye lovë me, keep it secré: For if men knewen all my subtletý, By God, they wouldë have so great envý To me, because of my philosophý, I should be dead, there were no other way.” “God it forbid,” quoth the priest, “what ye say. Yet had I lever spenden all the good Which that I have (and ellës were I wood ), Than that ye shouldë fall in