odour of his work so strong upon him that you could recognise his
calling a mile off. But it is time I began my tale, and remember,
friends, that in alchemy as elsewhere all that glitters is not gold."



THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE OF A CUNNING ALCHEMIST

In a certain town there lived a canon, a man of religion by
profession, but in reality so full of iniquity that he could corrupt
a whole country-side. In this tale, I will tell you the way in which
he beguiled an honest man, for if I were to tell of all his victims
my tongue would fail me with the telling. But I beg you, friends,
not to misunderstand the drift of my story. I am not out to slander
any type of religion; quite the contrary. I wish rather, by showing
to what lengths wicked men will go, to put you on your guard to
distinguish the knaves from the truly virtuous, lest, if you are
deceived by the former, you may unjustly throw some of the blame on
the latter. But to my story.

In the same town there dwelt a priest, a man of quiet and virtuous
habits, well beloved, and rich enough through the generosity of his
landlady, who never suffered him to pay a penny for food or lodging,
she loved him so well. One day the canon came to him and begged a
loan. "On the third day," he said, "I will return it you, or you may
get me hanged as a thief." The priest gave him what he asked readily
enough, and punctually on the third day the canon repaid the loan in
full. "Truly," said the priest, "thou art an honest man. I should
never fear to lend thee whatsoever thou mightest ask." The canon
replied, "Honest have I ever been, and honest I hope I may remain