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"A!" quod this somonour, "benedicite! sey ye? |
| I wende ye were a yeman trewely. |
| Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; |
195 | Han ye a figure thanne determinat |
| In helle, ther ye been in youre estat?" |
| "Nay, certeinly," quod he, "ther have we noon; |
| But whan us liketh, we kan take us oon, |
| Or elles make yow seme we been shape |
200 | Somtyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape, |
| Or lyk an angel kan I ryde or go. |
| It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so; |
| A lowsy jogelour kan deceyve thee, |
| And pardee, yet kan I moore craft than he." |
205 | "Why," quod this somonour, "ryde ye thanne or goon |
| In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?" |
| "For we," quod he, "wol us swiche formes make |
| As moost able is oure preyes for to take." |
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"Ah," cried he, "ben'cite! What do you say? |
| I took you for a yeoman certainly. |
| You have a human shape as well as I; |
195 | Have you a figure then determinate |
| In hell, where you are in your proper state?" |
| "Nay," said he, "there of figure we have none; |
| But when it pleases us we can take one, |
| Or else we make you think we have a shape, |
200 | Sometimes like man, or sometimes like an ape; |
| Or like an angel can I seem, you know. |
| It is no wondrous thing that this is so; |
| A lousy juggler can deceive, you see, |
| And by gad, I have yet more craft than he." |
205 | "Why," asked the summoner, "ride you then, or go, |
| In various shapes, and not in one, you know?" |
| "Because," said he, "we will such figures make |
| As render likely that our prey we'll take." |
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