| "Bretheren," quod he, "taak kepe what I seye; |
| My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye. |
| This tresor hath Fortune unto us yeven, |
| In myrthe and joliftee oure lyf to lyven, |
| 495 | And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende. |
| Ey, Goddes precious dignitee! Who wende |
| To-day that we sholde han so fair a grace? |
| But myghte this gold be caried fro this place |
| Hoom to myn hous or elles unto youres - |
| 500 | For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures - |
| Thanne were we in heigh felicitee. |
| But trewely, by daye it may nat bee; |
| Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge, |
| And for oure owene tresor doon us honge. |
| 505 | This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte |
| As wisely and as slyly as it myghte. |
| Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle |
| Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle, |
| And he that hath the cut, with herte blithe |
| 510 | Shal renne to the towne, and that ful swithe, |
| And brynge us breed and wyn, ful prively; |
| And two of us shul kepen subtilly |
| This tresor wel, and if he wol nat tarie, |
| Whan it is nyght, we wol this tresor carie, |
| 515 | By oon assent, where as us thynketh best." |
|
| "Brothers," said he, "take heed to what I say; |
| My wits are keen, although I mock and play. |
| This treasure here Fortune to us has given |
| That mirth and jollity our lives may liven, |
| 495 | And easily as it's come, so will we spend. |
| Eh! By God's precious dignity! Who'd pretend, |
| Today, that we should have so fair a grace? |
| But might this gold be carried from this place |
| Home to my house, or if you will, to yours - |
| 500 | For well we know that all this gold is ours - |
| Then were we all in high felicity. |
| But certainly by day this may not be; |
| For men would say that we were robbers strong, |
| And we'd, for our own treasure, hang ere long. |
| 505 | This treasure must be carried home by night |
| All prudently and slyly, out of sight. |
| So I propose that cuts among us all |
| Be drawn, and let's see where the cut will fall; |
| And he that gets the short cut, blithe of heart |
| 510 | Shall run to town at once, and to the mart, |
| And fetch us bread and wine here, privately. |
| And two of us shall guard, right cunningly, |
| This treasure well; and if he does not tarry, |
| When it is night we'll all the treasure carry |
| 515 | Where, by agreement, we may think it best." |
|
