Henne1 over a myle, with-in a greet village, Both man and womman, child and hyne,2 and page. 360 I trowe his habitacioun be there; By goddes dignitee, er it be night." Togidres han thise three her trouthes plight, To live and dyen ech of hem for other, 375 As though he were his owene yboren brother. Thou spak right now of thilke traitour Deeth, 425 That in this contree alle our frendes sleeth. Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his aspye, 23 430 Tel wher he is, or thou shalt it abye,24 By god, and by the holy sacrament! For soothly thou art oon of his assent, To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!" "Now, sirs," quod he, "if that yow be so leef26 To finde Deeth, turne up this croked wey, For in that grove I lafte him, by my fey, Under a tree, and ther he wol abyde; 435 Nat for your boost28 he wol him no-thing hyde. 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 2 note of. • quickly. 3 jest. 4 thought. 7 it seems best. 8 fist. 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. The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke. For all the night he shoop him15 for to swinke 16 546 In caryinge of the gold out of that place. And whan this ryotour, with sory grace, "O lord!" quod he, "if so were that I Had filled with wyn his grete botels three, And afterward we wol his body berie." And with that word it happed him, par cas, 18 To take the botel ther the poyson was, And drank, and yaf his felawe drinke also, For which anon they storven19 bothe two. But, certes, I suppose that Avicen 561 Wroot never in no canon,20 ne in no fen,20 Mo21 wonder22 signes of empoisoning Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir ending. Thus ended been thise homicydes two, 565 And eek the false empoysoner also. 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. 1Ο Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse, Daunte1 thyself, that dauntest otheres dede; And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede. Whan that the soule shal fro the body And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede. That of yelownesse hadde never pere. Now purs, that be to me my lyves light, 15 Sin that ye wole nat been my tresorere; 20 And habbeth wit at heor wille66 to worchen67 gif hem luste; That68 Poul precheth of hem I dar not preoven heere; 25 saw. 28 made. 69 26 cleared space. 20 sight. 31 working. 32 requires. 34 played. 37 labored. 35 seldom. 38 these. 48 happiness of the kingdom of heaven. 49 nuns. 50 keep themselves. 45 many. 2 down. * close. 7 clothed. 10 went. 4 friar. 8 garment. 11 hills. 5 art. 6 have power to. shepherd. 12 happened. 15 tired with wandering. 18 sounded. 21 dream. 23 knew. 13 wonder. 14 enchantment. 16 brook. 17 leaned. 20 did. 19 merry. 22 dream. 24 on high. 53 wander. 54 luxurious. 57 trade. 60 know how. 63 buffoons. 64 feigned. 66 at command. 68 what. 44 prayer. 47 lived. |