In all this world there nis no creature, That eaten or drunk hath of this confecture, Naught but the mountance[252] of a corn of wheat, That he ne shall his life anon forlete[253]; Yea, sterve[254] he shall, and that in lesse while, Than thou wilt go a pace[255] not but a mile: This poison is so strong and violent." This cursed man hath in his hand yhent[256] This poison in a box, and sith he ran Into the nexte street unto a man, And borrowed of him large bottles three; And in the two his poison poured he; The third he kept clean for his owen drink, For all the night he shope[257] him for to swink[258] In carrying the gold out of that place. And when this riotour, with sorry grace, Had filled with wine his greate bottles three, To his fellows again repaireth he. What needeth it to sermon of it more? For right as they had cast his death before, Right so they have him slain, and that anon. And when that this was done, thus spake that one: "Now let us sit and drink, and make us merry, And afterward we will his body bury." And with that word it happed him _par cas_,[259] To take the bottle there the poison was, And drank, and gave his fellow drink also, For which anon they storven[260] bothe two. But certes I suppose that Avicen Wrote never in no canon, n' in no fen,[261] Mo wonder signes of empoisoning, Than had these wretches two ere hir ending. Thus ended be these homicides two, And eke the false empoisoner also. [198] Guitars. [199] Dreadful. [200] Tear in pieces. [201] It seemed to them. [202] Laughed. [203] Female dancers. [204] Neat. [205] Female fruit-sellers. [206] Sellers of wafer-cakes. [207] Long first before. [208] Servant. [209] Quickly. [210] Excessively drunk. [211] Call. [212] Innkeeper. [213] Peasant. [214] Watchful. [215] Worthy. [216] At one. [217] Born. [218] Dreadful. [219] Tear in pieces. [220] Die. [221] Seize. [222] Greeted. [223] Keep in sight, protect. [224] Churl. [225] Completely wrapped up. [226] Dear. [227] Withered. [228] Unless. [229] To meet. [230] Advice. [231] Suffer for. [232] Desirous. [233] Each one. [234] Heed. [235] Joke. [236] Thought. [237] Cause us to be hanged. [238] Advise. [239] Lot. [240] Run. [241] Quickly. [242] As. [243] Knowest. [244] Know not. [245] Two. [246] Buy. [247] Because. [248] Farm-yard. [249] Slain. [250] Revenge. [251] As. [252] Amount. [253] Give up. [254] Die. [255] At a footpace. [256] Seized. [257] Purposed. [258] Labor. [259] By chance. [260] Died. [261] 'Fen': the name of the sections of Avicenna's great work entitled 'Canon.' THE NUN'S PRIESTS TALE