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This cursed craft whoso wole excercise, |
| He shal no good han that hym may suffise; |
| For al the good he spendeth theraboute |
| 280 | He lese shal; therof have I no doute. |
| Whoso that listeth outen his folie, |
| Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie; |
| And every man that oght hath in his cofre, |
| Lat hym appiere, and wexe a philosophre. |
| 285 | Ascaunce that craft is so light to leere? |
| Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere, |
| Preest or chanoun, or any oother wyght, |
| Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght |
| In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore, |
| 290 | Al is in veyn, and parde! muchel moore. |
| To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee - |
| Fy! spek nat therof, for it wol nat bee; |
| And konne he letterure, or konne he noon, |
| As in effect, he shal fynde it al oon. |
| 295 | For bothe two, by my savacioun, |
| Concluden in multiplicacioun |
| Ylike wel, whan they han al ydo; |
| This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two. |
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This wicked craft, whoso will exercise, |
| He shall gain never wealth that may suffice; |
| For all the coin he spends therein goes out |
| 280 | And is but lost, of which I have no doubt. |
| Whoso, then, will exhibit such folly, |
| Let him come forth and learn to multiply; |
| And every man that has aught in coffer, |
| Let him appear and be philosopher. |
| 285 | Perhaps that craft is easy to acquire? |
| Nay, nay, God knows! And be he monk or friar |
| Canon, or priest, or any other wight, |
| Though he sit at his books both day and night |
| In learning of this elvish, fruitless lore, |
| 290 | All is in vain, and by gad it's much more! |
| To teach an ignorant man this subtlety- |
| Fie! Speak not of it, for it cannot be; |
| And though he has booklore, or though he's none, |
| In final count he shall find it all one. |
| 295 | For both of them, and this by my salvation, |
| Come to one end seeking multiplication; |
| They fare the same when they've done everything; |
| That is to say, they both fail, sorrowing. |
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