The Canon's Yeoman's Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme

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THE PROLOGUE	A
	-
	-
WHEN ended was the life of Saint Cecile	B
Ere we had ridden fully five mile	C
At Boughton under Blee us gan o'ertake	A
A man that clothed was in clothes black	A
And underneath he wore a white surplice	D
His hackenay which was all pomely gris nag dapple gray	E
So sweated that it wonder was to see	D
It seem'd as he had pricked miles three spurred	F
The horse eke that his yeoman rode upon	G
So sweated that unnethes might he gon hardly go	A
About the peytrel stood the foam full high	H
He was of foam as flecked as a pie spotted like a magpie	H
A maile twyfold on his crupper lay	E
It seemed that he carried little array	E
All light for summer rode this worthy man	I
And in my heart to wonder I began	I
What that he was till that I understood	J
How that his cloak was sewed to his hood	J
For which when I had long advised me considered	F
I deemed him some Canon for to be	D
His hat hung at his back down by a lace cord	K
For he had ridden more than trot or pace	D
He hadde pricked like as he were wood mad	L
A clote leaf he had laid under his hood burdock leaf	M
For sweat and for to keep his head from heat	N
But it was joye for to see him sweat	O
His forehead dropped as a stillatory still	P
Were full of plantain or of paritory wallflower	Q
And when that he was come he gan to cry	H
'God save ' quoth he 'this jolly company	D
Fast have I pricked ' quoth he 'for your sake	A
Because that I would you overtake	A
To riden in this merry company '	-
His Yeoman was eke full of courtesy	D
And saide 'Sirs now in the morning tide	R
Out of your hostelry I saw you ride	R
And warned here my lord and sovereign	S
Which that to ride with you is full fain	T
For his disport he loveth dalliance '	-
'Friend for thy warning God give thee good chance ' fortune	S
Said oure Host 'certain it woulde seem	U
Thy lord were wise and so I may well deem	U
He is full jocund also dare I lay	E
Can he aught tell a merry tale or tway	V
With which he gladden may this company '	-
'Who Sir my lord Yea Sir withoute lie	H
He can of mirth and eke of jollity knows	D
Not but enough also Sir truste me not less than	I
An ye him knew all so well as do I if	W
Ye would wonder how well and craftily	H
He coulde work and that in sundry wise	D
He hath take on him many a great emprise task undertaking	A
Which were full hard for any that is here	X
To bring about but they of him it lear unless learn	Y
As homely as he rides amonges you	Z
If ye him knew it would be for your prow advantage	A2
Ye woulde not forego his acquaintance	D
For muche good I dare lay in balance	D
All that I have in my possession	S
He is a man of high discretion	S
I warn you well he is a passing man ' surpassing extraordinary	D
Well ' quoth our Host 'I pray thee tell me than	I
Is he a clerk or no Tell what he is ' scholar priest	B2
'Nay he is greater than a clerk y wis ' certainly	D
Saide this Yeoman 'and in wordes few	Z
Host of his craft somewhat I will you shew	Z
I say my lord can such a subtlety knows	D
But all his craft ye may not weet of me learn	Y
And somewhat help I yet to his working	A
That all the ground on which we be riding	A
Till that we come to Canterbury town	C2
He could all cleane turnen up so down	C2
And pave it all of silver and of gold '	-
And when this Yeoman had this tale told	D2
Unto our Host he said 'Ben'dicite	D2
This thing is wonder marvellous to me	D
Since that thy lord is of so high prudence	D
Because of which men should him reverence	D
That of his worship recketh he so lite honour little	H
His overest slop it is not worth a mite upper garment	D2
As in effect to him so may I go	A
It is all baudy and to tore also slovenly	D
Why is thy lord so sluttish I thee pray	E
And is of power better clothes to bey buy	H
If that his deed accordeth with thy speech	E2
Telle me that and that I thee beseech '	-
	-
'Why ' quoth this Yeoman 'whereto ask ye me	D
God help me so for he shall never the thrive	F2
But I will not avowe that I say admit	D2
And therefore keep it secret I you pray	E
He is too wise in faith as I believe	G2
Thing that is overdone it will not preve stand the test	D2
Aright as clerkes say it is a vice	D
Wherefore in that I hold him lewd and nice ' ignorant and foolish	H2
For when a man hath over great a wit	D2
Full oft him happens to misusen it	D2
So doth my lord and that me grieveth sore	I2
God it amend I can say now no more '	-
	-
'Thereof no force good Yeoman 'quoth our Host no matter	Q
'Since of the conning of thy lord thou know'st knowledge	J2
Tell how he doth I pray thee heartily	D
Since that be is so crafty and so sly wise	D
Where dwelle ye if it to telle be '	-
'In the suburbes of a town ' quoth he	D
'Lurking in hernes and in lanes blind corners	D
Where as these robbers and these thieves by kind nature	Q
Holde their privy fearful residence	D
As they that dare not show their presence	D
So fare we if I shall say the soothe ' truth	K2
'Yet ' quoth our Hoste 'let me talke to thee	D
Why art thou so discolour'd of thy face '	-
'Peter ' quoth he 'God give it harde grace	D
I am so us'd the hote fire to blow	A
That it hath changed my colour I trow	A
I am not wont in no mirror to pry	H
But swinke sore and learn to multiply labour	L2
We blunder ever and poren in the fire toil peer	M2
And for all that we fail of our desire	Q
For ever we lack our conclusion	S
To muche folk we do illusion	S
And borrow gold be it a pound or two	Z
Or ten or twelve or many summes mo'	D
And make them weenen at the leaste way fancy	D
That of a pounde we can make tway	Z
Yet is it false and aye we have good hope	N2
It for to do and after it we grope search strive	F2
But that science is so far us beforn	S
That we may not although we had it sworn	S
It overtake it slides away so fast	D2
It will us make beggars at the last '	-
While this Yeoman was thus in his talking	A
This Canon drew him near and heard all thing	A
Which this Yeoman spake for suspicion	S
Of menne's speech ever had this Canon	S
For Cato saith that he that guilty is	D
Deemeth all things be spoken of him y wis surely	D
Because of that he gan so nigh to draw	O2
To his Yeoman that he heard all his saw	O2
And thus he said unto his Yeoman tho then	S
'Hold thou thy peace and speak no wordes mo'	D
For if thou do thou shalt it dear abie pay dearly for it	D2
Thou slanderest me here in this company	D
And eke discoverest that thou shouldest hide '	-
'Yea ' quoth our Host 'tell on whatso betide	D2
Of all his threatening reck not a mite '	-
'In faith ' quoth he 'no more do I but lite ' little	H
And when this Canon saw it would not be	D
But his Yeoman would tell his privity secrets	D
He fled away for very sorrow and shame	D
	-
'Ah ' quoth the Yeoman 'here shall rise a game some diversion	S
All that I can anon I will you tell	H
Since he is gone the foule fiend him quell destroy	P2
For ne'er hereafter will I with him meet	D2
For penny nor for pound I you behete promise	D
He that me broughte first unto that game	D
Ere that he die sorrow have he and shame	D
For it is earnest to me by my faith a serious matter	Q
That feel I well what so any man saith	D
And yet for all my smart and all my grief	M
For all my sorrow labour and mischief	Q2

Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canon's Yeoman's Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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