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This false theef, this somonour, quod the Frere, |
75 | Hadde alwey bawdes redy to his hond, |
| As any hauk to lure in Engelond, |
| That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe; |
| For hire acqueyntace was nat come of newe. |
| They weren his approwours prively. |
80 | He took hymself a greet profit therby; |
| His maister knew nat alwey what he wan. |
| Withouten mandement a lewed man |
| He koude somne, on peyne of Cristes curs, |
| And they were glade for to fille his purs, |
85 | And make hym grete feestes atte nale. |
| And right as Judas hadde purses smale, |
| And was a theef, right swich a theef was he; |
| His maister hadde but half his duetee. |
| He was, if I shal yeven hym his laude, |
90 | A theef, and eek a somnour, and baude. |
| He hadde eek wenches at his retenue, |
| That, wheither that sir Robert or sir Huwe, |
| Or Jakke, or Rauf, or whoso that it were |
| That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere. |
95 | Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent; |
| And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, |
| And somne hem to chapitre bothe two, |
| And pile the man, and lete the wenche go. |
| Thanne wolde he seye, 'Freend, I shal for thy sake |
100 | Do striken hire out of oure lettres blake; |
| Thee thar namoore as in this cas travaille. |
| I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.' |
| Certeyn he knew of briberyes mo |
| Than possible is to telle in yeres two. |
105 | For in this world nys dogge for the bowe |
| That kan an hurt deer from an hool yknowe |
| Bet than this somnour knew a sly lecchour, |
| Or an avowtier, or a paramour. |
| And for that was the fruyt of al his rente, |
110 | Therfore on it he sette al his entente. |
| And so bifel that ones on a day |
| This somnour, evere waityng on his pray, |
| Rood for to somne an old wydwe, a ribibe, |
| Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. |
115 | And happed that he saugh bifore hym ryde |
| A gay yeman, under a forest syde, |
| A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene; |
| He hadde upon a courtepy of grene, |
| An hat upon his heed with frenges blake. |
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This false thief, then, this summoner, said the friar |
75 | Had always panders ready to his hand, |
| For any hawk to lure in all England, |
| Who told him all the scandal that they knew; |
| For their acquaintances were nothing new. |
| They were all his informers privily; |
80 | And he took to himself great gain thereby; |
| His master knew not how his profits ran. |
| Without an order, and an ignorant man, |
| Yet would he summon, on pain of Christ's curse, |
| Those who were glad enough to fill his purse |
85 | And feast him greatly at the taverns all. |
| And just as Judas had his purses small |
| And was a thief, just such a thief was he. |
| His master got but half of every fee. |
| He was, if I'm to give him proper laud, |
90 | A thief, and more, a summoner, and a bawd. |
| He'd even wenches in his retinue, |
| And whether 'twere Sir Robert, or Sir Hugh, |
| Or Jack, or Ralph, or whosoever 'twere |
| That lay with them, they told it in his ear; |
95 | Thus were the wench and he in partnership. |
| And he would forge a summons from his scrip, |
| And summon to the chapter-house those two |
| And rob the man and let the harlot go. |
| Then would he say: "My friend, and for your sake, |
100 | Her name from our blacklist will I now take; |
| Trouble no more for what this may entail; |
| I am your friend in all where 'twill avail." |
| He knew more ways to rob and blackmail you |
| Than could be told in one year or in two. |
105 | For in this world's no dog trained to the bow |
| That can a hurt deer from a sound one know |
| Better than this man knew a sly lecher, |
| Or fornicator, or adulterer. |
| And since this was the fruit of all his rent, |
110 | Therefore on it he fixed his whole intent. |
| And so it happened that once upon a day |
| This summoner, ever lurking for his prey, |
| Rode out to summon a widow, an old rip, |
| Feigning a cause, for her he planned to strip. |
115 | It happened that he saw before him ride |
| A yeoman gay along a forest's side. |
| A bow he bore, and arrows bright and keen; |
| He wore a short coat of the Lincoln green, |
| And hat upon his head, with fringes black. |
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