“Now, brother,” said the Summoner, “I pray, Teach me while we are riding on our way, Since you a bailiff are, as well as I, Some subtle craft, and tell me faithfully How in my office I most gold may win, And hide not aught for conscience or for sin, But as my brother, tell me how do ye?” The strange yeoman is delighted at these questions, and you will see that in his answer he pretends to describe himself, but he is really describing all the Summoner does! Now, by my trouthe, brothir myn, sayde he, As I schal telle the a faithful tale. My wages ben ful streyt and eek ful smale; narrow, small My lord to me is hard and daungerous, severe And myn office is ful laborous, laborious And therfor by extorciouns[121] I lyve. Forsoth I take al that men wil me yive, give Algate by sleighte or by violence, always, cunning Fro yer to yer I wynne my despence, I can no better telle faithfully. Now, certes, quod this Sompnour, so fare I. I spare not to take, God it woot, knows But-if it be to hevy or to hoot.[122] unless What I may gete in counseil prively, get No more consciens of that have I; conscience Nere myn extorcions I mighte not lyven, were it not for Ne of such japes I wil not be schriven. games, shriven Stomak ne conscience know I noon. I schrew thes schrifte-fadres, everichoon. curse Wel be we met, by God and by seint Jame! But, leve brother, telle me thy name? Quod this Sompnour. Right[123] in this menewhile This yeman gan a litel for to smyle. began Brothir, quod he, woltow that I the telle? wilt thou I am a feend, my dwellyng is in helle, And her I ryde about my purchasyng, here To wite wher men wol yive me eny thing. know My purchas is theffect of all my rent. the effect Loke how thou ridest for the same entent To wynne good, thou rekkist never how, Right so fare I, for ryde I wolde now Unto the worldes ende for a praye. prey A, quod the Sompnour, _benedicite_, what say ye?[124] ah “Now, by my troth, my brother dear,” quoth he, “I will be frank with you, and tell you all: The wages that I get are very small, My master’s harsh to me, and stingy too, And hard is all the work I have to do; And therefore by extortion do I live. Forsooth, I take what any one will give; Either by cunning or by violence From year to year I snatch my year’s expense. No better can I tell you honestly.”