The retelling of the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale. Originally written by Geoffery Chaucer the tale starts in the camp when a Canon and his Yeoman ride, with speed, into the group. The host greets the two men and asks if they have a tale they can share. The Yeoman is the one who begins talking. He tells the host and the rest of the company that his master knows a special trade that he could share with the rest of them if they are willing to listen. They gather around as the Yeoman begins to speak. Talking about the Canon while he is away, the Yeoman begins with the telling of his deceitfulness and lies. As you may see later on the Canon is a sneak, using others’ money to become rich with their gold. “Men fight for gold, till hardly any’s left” (523). They claim to be alchemists of the finest trade turning common metals into pure silver. The Canon overhears the Yeoman and storms off leaving him to tell the rest of the tale. A Canon or alchemist some may call him, using his knowledge to get away with robbery. Starting off with the Canon being introduced to a priest he pays him off his only debt. Grateful the priest offers to loan him money any time knowing he shall be repaid. Rather than accepting the gesture, the Canon offers to show the priest how he can make his own silver out of common mercury. A trade only “true” alchemists understand. “He’ll talk in such a convoluted jargon Spoken so craftily, that in no time He’ll make a fool of anyone unless He is another devil” (512). The Yeoman knew the lies and continued to tell the host and his company. The Canon went on to show the priest what the process of turning mercury into silver is. Taking the mercury and heating it in a bowl over a flame while the priest cared for the fire, throwing a special powder in and beholding silver! The Canon had placed a coal in the fire with a hidden piece of silver within it, once heated the silver melted out into the bowl. He tricked the priest into believing they had actually changed the chemicals in the mercury with a special powder to match the silver. To ensure the Canon was true they attempted again and once the priest had the silver in his hand he wanted the secrets. Warning the priest it would cost him a lot for the Canon’s special powder he claimed he couldn’t sell. Insisting, the Canon gave the priest the powder for his gold and left never to be seen again, taking the gold and the lies with him. The Yeoman finished the story there telling the Host all of the alchemist's lifestyle was a lie.
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