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From The Summoner's Tale, lines 415-424:
King Cyrus destroyed a river in which a horse of him drowned
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Summoner's Tale
lines 425-456: The friar insists on cajoling Thomas out of gold


425        "Now, Thomas, leeve brother, lef thyn ire;
Thou shalt me fynde as just as is a squyre.
Hoold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte -
Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte -
But shewe to me al thy confessioun."
430       "Nay," quod the sike man, "by Seint Symoun!
I have be shryven this day at my curat.
I have hym toold hoolly al myn estat;
Nedeth namoore to speken of it," seith he,
"But if me list, of myn humylitee."
435       "Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make oure cloystre,"
Quod he, "for many a muscle and many an oystre,
Whan othere men han ben ful wel at eyse,
Hath been oure foode, our cloystre for to reyse.
And yet, God woot, unnethe the fundement
440Parfourned is, ne of our pavement
Nys nat a tyle yet withinne oure wones.
By God! we owen fourty pound for stones.
425       "Now, Thomas, my dear brother, leave your ire;
You shall find me as just as is a squire.
Hold not the Devil's knife against your heart;
Your anger does too sorely burn and smart;
But show me all, now, in confession, son."
430       "Nay," said the sick man, "by Saint Simeon!
I have confessed today by my curate;
I have him told the whole truth of my state;
There's no more need to speak of it," said he,
"Save as I please, of my humility."
435       "Then give me of your gold to build our cloister,"
Said he, "for many a mussel and an oyster,
When other men have been well at their ease,
Have been our food, that building should not cease,
And yet, God knows, is finished nothing more
440Than the foundation, while of all the floor
There's not a tile yet laid to call our own;
By God, we owe full forty pounds for stone!
       Now help, Thomas, for hym that harwed helle!
For elles moste we oure bookes selle.
445And if yow lakke oure predicacioun,
Thanne goth the world al to destruccioun.
For whoso wolde us fro this world bireve,
So God me save, Thomas, by youre leve,
He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne.
450For who kan teche and werchen as we konne?
And that is nat of litel tyme," quod he,
"But syn Elye was, or Elise,
Han freres been - that fynde I of record -
In charitee, ythanked be oure Lord!
455Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee!"
And doun anon he sette hym on his knee.
       Now help, Thomas, for Him that harried Hell!
Else must we turn about and our books sell.
445And if you laymen lack our high instruction,
Then will the world go all to its destruction.
For whoso shall deny us right to live,
So may God save me, Thomas, by your leave,
He'll have deprived the whole world of the sun.
450For who can teach and work as we have done?
And that's not been for little time," said he;
"Elias and Elisha used to be
Friars, you'll find the scriptures do record,
And beggars too, thanks be to the good Lord!
455Now, Thomas, help for holy charity!"
And down he went then, kneeling on one knee.




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From The Summoner's Tale, lines 457-479:
Thomas offers the friar something on the condition that he divides it equally among the other friars
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