See ye that ook? right ther ye shul him finde. God save yow, that boghte agayn mankinde, And yow amende!"-thus seyde this olde man. And everich of thise ryotoures ran, 440 Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde Of florins fyne of golde ycoyned rounde Wel ny an eighte1 busshels, as hem thoughte. No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte, But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte, For that the florins been so faire and brighte, 446 That doun they sette hem by this precious hord. The worste of hem he spak the firste word. "Brethren," quod he, "tak kepe2 what I seye; My wit is greet, though that I bourde3 and pleye. 450 Thy profit wol I telle thee anon. He woot10 how that the gold is with us tweye; What shal we doon, what shal we to him seye?" 490 But mighte this gold be caried fro this That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat place biwreye."13 495 "Now," quod the firste, "thou woost wel we be tweye, And two of us shul strenger be than oon. Look whan that he is set, and right anoon Arys, as though thou woldest with him pleye; And I shal ryve him thurgh the sydes tweye 500 Whyl that thou strogelest with him as in game, And with thy dagger look thou do the same; And than shal al this gold departed be, My dere freend, bitwixen me and thee; Than may we bothe our lustes al fulfille,505 And pleye at dees right at our owene wille." And thus acorded14 been thise shrewes tweye To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye. 2 note of. • quickly. 3 jest. 7 it seems best. 4 thought. 8 fist. 14 agreed. This yongest, which that wente un-to the toun, Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun 510 The beautee of thise florins newe and brighte. In caryinge of the gold out of that place. "O lord!" quod he, "if so were that I Had filled with Have al this tresor to my-self allone, Of god, that sholde live so mery as I!" 515 With which he mighte sleen his felawes 3 For why the feend fond him in swich lyvinge, 520 That he had leve1 him to sorwe bringe, Into the toun, un-to a pothecarie, And preyed him, that he him wolde 550 What nedeth it to sermone17 of it more? For right as they had cast his deeth bifore, Right so they han him slayn, and that anon. And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon, "Now lat us sitte and drinke, and make us merie, 555 And afterward we wol his body berie." cas, 18 For which anon they storven19 bothe two. Thus ended been thise homicydes two, 565 O cursed sinne, ful of cursednesse! And with his precious herte-blood thee Thou art so fals and so unkinde, allas! 575 trespas, And ware yow24 fro the sinne of avaryce. 26 Your name I entre heer in my rolle anon; 5 entirely. 10 amount. 14 seized. 15 planned. 16 labor. 23 habit. 24 keep you. 25 cure. 18 by chance. 22 wonderful. 26 wool. I yow assoile, by myn heigh power, 585 Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer As ye were born; and, lo, sirs, thus I preche. And Iesu Crist, that is our soules leche, Werk wel thy-self, that other folk canst rede;13 And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede. ΙΟ Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse, Daunte1 thyself, that dauntest otheres dede; And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede. 4 low. 17 subdue. 8 truth. 21 reward. 11 blinds. 12 have relish for. 25 be. 14 peace. 18 asks. 22 person. 15 resides. 19 spirit. 23 unless. 16 kick. 20 cease. 24 appearance. 25 before. That of yelownesse hadde never pere. Now Sin that ye wole nat been my tresorere; 20 And summe murthes59 to maken 30 that suche And get gold with here gle61 giltles I trowe. Bote japers62 and jangelers,63 Iudas chil 35 dren, Founden64 hem fantasyes65 and fooles hem maaden, And habbeth wit at heor wille66 to worchen67 gif hem luste; 14 enchantment. 43 outward appearance. 45 many. 46 our. 36 planting. 39 wasters. 42 clothed. 48 happiness of the kingdom of heaven. 50 keep themselves. 53 wander. 54 luxurious. $7 trade. 1 guide. 6 have power to. 9 shepherd. 10 went. 4 friar. garment. 11 hills. 5 art. 49 nuns. 12 happened. 13 wonder. 15 tired with wandering. 18 sounded. 21 dream. 22 dream. 24 on high. 60 know how. 58 prosper. 63 buffoons. 64 feigned. 66 at command. 68 what. 23 knew. |