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I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve |
| A teyne of silver - yvele moot he cheeve! - |
| Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte. |
| And taaketh heede now of his cursed sleighte! |
| 675 | He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and in breede |
| Of this teyne, withouten any drede, |
| So slyly that the preest it nat espide, |
| And in his sleve agayn he gan it hide, |
| And fro the fir he took up his mateere, |
| 680 | And in th' yngot putte it with myrie cheere, |
| And in the water-vessel he it caste, |
| Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste, |
| "Loke what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope. |
| Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope." |
| 685 | What, devel of helle, sholde it elles be? |
| Shaving of silver silver is, pardee! |
| He putte his hand in and took up a teyne |
| Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne |
| Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so. |
| 690 | "Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also, |
| And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun," |
| Seyde the preest, "and I hir malisoun, |
| But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me |
| This noble craft and this subtilitee, |
| 695 | I wol be youre in al that evere I may." |
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I say, he took, then, out of his own sleeve |
| A tain of silver - hell he should receive! - |
| Which was an ounce, no more or less, in weight; |
| Now here's the trick, the way of which I'll state! |
| 675 | He shaped his mould in length and breadth to be |
| Like to the tain of silver, as you see, |
| So slyly that the priest this never spied; |
| And in his sleeve did then the model hide; |
| And from the fire he took his crucible |
| 680 | And poured it in the mould, for all went well, |
| And in the bowl of water then did cast |
| The mould and all, and bade the priest, at last: |
| "Seek what there is, put in your hand and grope, |
| And you shall find there silver, as I hope; |
| 685 | What -devils out of hell!- should it else be? |
| Filing of silver silver is!" cried he. |
| He put his hand in and a tain took out |
| Of silver fine, and glad, you cannot doubt, |
| Was this priest when he saw that it was so. |
| 690 | "God's blessing, and his mother's dear also, |
| And all the saints', too, may you have, my friend," |
| The priest replied, "and may they curse my end |
| Unless you will vouchsafe to teach to me |
| This noble craft and all this subtlety; |
| 695 | I will be yours in all that ever I may!" |
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