#  6.2 The Pardoner's Prologue, Introduction, and Tale 

 



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### **The Introduction to the Pardoner's Tale** 

*The wordes of the Hoost to the Phisicien and Pardoner.*

287 **Oure Hooste gan to swere as he were wood;**  
 Our Host began to swear as if he was crazy;  
288 **"Harrow!" quod he, "by nayles and by blood!**  
 "Alas!" said he, "by (Christ's) nails and by (His) blood!  
289 **This was a fals cherl and a fals justise.**  
 This was a false churl and a false judge.  
290 **As shameful deeth as herte may devyse**  
 As shameful a death as heart can devise  
291 **Come to thise juges and hire advocatz!**  
 Come to these judges and their advocates!  
292 **Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas!**  
 At any rate, this innocent maid is slain, alas!  
293 **Allas, to deere boughte she beautee!**  
 Alas, too dearly she paid for her beauty!  
294 **Wherfore I seye al day that men may see**  
 Therefore I say that every day men may see  
295 **That yiftes of Fortune and of Nature**  
 That gifts of Fortune and of Nature  
296 **Been cause of deeth to many a creature.**  
 Are cause of death to many a creature.  
297 **Hire beautee was hire deth, I dar wel sayn.**  
 Her beauty was her death, I dare well say.  
298 **Allas, so pitously as she was slayn!**  
 Alas, so pitifully as she was slain!  
299 **Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now**  
 Of both gifts that I speak of now  
300 **Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow.**  
 Men have very often more harm than benefit.  
301 **But trewely, myn owene maister deere,**  
 But truly, mine own master dear,  
302 **This is a pitous tale for to heere.**  
 This is a pitiful tale to hear.  
303 **But nathelees, passe over; is no fors.**  
 But nonetheless, pass over; is does not matter.  
304 **I pray to God so save thy gentil cors,**  
 I pray to God so save thy gentle body,  
305 **And eek thyne urynals and thy jurdones,**  
 And also thy vessels for analyzing urine and thy flasks,  
306 **Thyn ypocras, and eek thy galiones,**  
 Thine ipocras, and also thy galiones (*medicines*),  
307 **And every boyste ful of thy letuarie;**  
 And every container full of thy electuaries;  
308 **God blesse hem, and oure lady Seinte Marie!**  
 God bless them, and our lady Saint Mary!  
309 **So moot I theen, thou art a propre man,**  
 As I may prosper, thou art a proper man,  
310 **And lyk a prelat, by Seint Ronyan!**  
 And like a prelate, by Saint Ronyan!  
311 **Seyde I nat wel? I kan nat speke in terme;**  
 Said I not well? I can not speak in technical terms;  
312 **But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme,**  
 But well I know thou makes mine heart to grieve so,  
313 **That I almoost have caught a cardynacle.**  
 That I almost have caught a palpitation of the heart.  
314 **By corpus bones! but I have triacle,**  
 By corpus' bones! unless I have medicine,  
315 **Or elles a draughte of moyste and corny ale,**  
 Or else a draught of fresh and strong ale,  
316 **Or but I heere anon a myrie tale,**  
 Or unless I hear right now a merry tale,  
317 **Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.**  
 My heart is lost for pity of this maid.  
318 **Thou beel amy, thou Pardoner," he sayde,**  
 Thou fair friend (rascal), thou Pardoner," he said,  
319 **"Telle us som myrthe or japes right anon."**  
 "Tell us some mirth or comic tales right away."  
320 **"It shal be doon," quod he, "by Seint Ronyon!**  
 "It shall be done," said he, "by Saint Ronyon!  
321 **But first," quod he, "heere at this alestake**  
 But first," said he, "here at this ale stake (tavern sign)  
322 **I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake."**  
 I will both drink and eat of a cake."  
323 **But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye,**  
 But right away these gentlefolk began to cry,  
324 **"Nay, lat hym telle us of no ribaudye!**  
 "Nay, let him tell us of no ribaldry!  
325 **Telle us som moral thyng, that we may leere**  
 Tell us some moral thing, that we may learn  
326 **Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere."**  
 Some useful knowledge, and then will we gladly hear."  
327 **"I graunte, ywis," quod he, "but I moot thynke**  
 "I agree, indeed," said he, "but I must think  
328 **Upon som honest thyng while that I drynke."**  
 About some respectable thing while I drink."

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### **The Pardoner's Prologue**

*Heere folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale.*

***Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, 6°**.*  
\[Greed is the root of evils: Paul's Epistle to Timothy, chapter 6.\]

329  **"Lordynges," quod he, "in chirches whan I preche,**  
 "Gentlemen," he said, "in churches when I preach,  
330  **I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche,**  
 I take pains to have a loud voice,  
331  **And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle,**  
 And ring it out as round as goes a belle,  
332  **For I kan al by rote that I telle.**  
 For I know all by rote that I tell.  
333  **My theme is alwey oon, and evere was --**  
 My theme is always the same, and ever was --  
334  **Radix malorum est Cupiditas.**  
 'Greed is the root of all evil.'  
335  **"First I pronounce whennes that I come,**  
 "First I pronounce from whence I come,  
336  **And thanne my bulles shewe I, alle and some.**  
 And then my papal bulls I show, each and every one.  
337  **Oure lige lordes seel on my patente,**  
 Our liege lord's seal on my letter of authorization,  
338  **That shewe I first, my body to warente,**  
 I show that first, to protect my body,  
339  **That no man be so boold, ne preest ne clerk,**  
 So that no man be so bold, neither priest nor clerk,  
340  **Me to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk.**  
 To hinder me from (doing) Christ's holy work.  
341  **And after that thanne telle I forth my tales;**  
 And after that then I tell forth my tales;  
342  **Bulles of popes and of cardynales,**  
 Indulgences of popes and of cardinals,  
343  **Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe,**  
 Of patriarchs and bishops I show,  
344  **And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe,**  
 And in Latin I speak a few words,  
345  **To saffron with my predicacioun,**  
 With which to add spice to my preaching,  
346  **And for to stire hem to devocioun.**  
 And to stir them to devotion.  
347  **Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,**  
 Then I show forth my long crystal stones,  
348  **Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones --**  
 Crammed full of rags and of bones --  
349  **Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon.**  
 Relics they are, as suppose they each one.  
350  **Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon**  
 Then I have mounted in latten (brass-like alloy) a shoulder-bone  
351  **Which that was of an hooly Jewes sheep.**  
 Which was of a holy Jew's sheep.  
352  **`Goode men,' I seye, `taak of my wordes keep;**  
 `Good men,' I say, `take heed of my words;  
353  **If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,**  
 If this bone be washed in any well,  
354  **If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle**  
 If cow, or calf, or sheep, or ox swell  
355  **That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge,**  
 That any worm has eaten, or worm stung,  
356  **Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge,**  
 Take water of that well and wash its tongue,  
357  **And it is hool anon; and forthermoore,**  
 And it is whole right away; and furthermore,  
358  **Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every soore**  
 Of pocks and of scab, and every sore  
359  **Shal every sheep be hool that of this welle**  
 Every sheep shall be whole that of this well  
360  **Drynketh a draughte. Taak kep eek what I telle:**  
 Drinks a draft. Take heed also what I say:  
361  **If that the good-man that the beestes oweth**  
 If the householder who owns the beasts  
362  **Wol every wyke, er that the cok hym croweth,**  
 Will every week, before the cock crows,  
363  **Fastynge, drynken of this welle a draughte,**  
 Fasting, drink of this well a draft,  
364  **As thilke hooly Jew oure eldres taughte,**  
 As that same holy Jew taught our elders,  
365  **His beestes and his stoor shal multiplie.**  
 His beasts and his possessions shall multiply.  
366  **`And, sires, also it heeleth jalousie;**  
 `And, sirs, it also heals jealousy;  
367  **For though a man be falle in jalous rage,**  
 For though a man be fallen in jealous rage,  
368  **Lat maken with this water his potage,**  
 Have his potage made with this water,  
369  **And nevere shal he moore his wyf mystriste,**  
 And he shall never more mistrust his wife,  
370  **Though he the soothe of hir defaute wiste,**  
 Though he knew the truth of her misdeed,  
371  **Al had she taken prestes two or thre.**  
 Although she had taken two or three priests.  
372  **`Heere is a miteyn eek, that ye may se.**  
 `Here is a mitten also, that you may see.  
373  **He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn,**  
 He that will put his hand in this mitten,  
374  **He shal have multipliyng of his grayn,**  
 He shall have multiplying of his grain,  
375  **Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes,**  
 When he has sown, be it wheat or oats,  
376  **So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.**  
 Providing that he offer pennies, or else fourpences.  
377  **`Goode men and wommen, o thyng warne I yow:**  
 `Good men and women, one thing I warn you:  
378  **If any wight be in this chirche now**  
 If any person be in this church now  
379  **That hath doon synne horrible, that he**  
 Who has done such horrible sin, that he   
380  **Dar nat, for shame, of it yshryven be,**  
 Dare not, for shame, be confessed of it,  
381  **Or any womman, be she yong or old,**  
 Or any woman, be she young or old,  
382  **That hath ymaked hir housbonde cokewold,**  
 Who has made her husband cuckold,  
383  **Swich folk shal have no power ne no grace**  
 Such folk shall have no power nor no grace  
384  **To offren to my relikes in this place.**  
 To offer to my relics in this place.  
385  **And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame,**  
 And whoever finds himself out of such blame,  
386  **He wol come up and offre a Goddes name,**  
 He will come up and offer in God's name,  
387  **And I assoille him by the auctoritee**  
 And I will absolve him by the authority  
388  **Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.'**  
 Which by papal bull was granted to me.'

389  **"By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer,**  
 "By this trick have I won, year after year,  
390  **An hundred mark sith I was pardoner.**  
 An hundred marks since I was pardoner.  
391  **I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet,**  
 I stand like a clerk in my pulpit,  
392  **And whan the lewed peple is doun yset,**  
 And when the ignorant people are set down,  
393  **I preche so as ye han herd bifoore**  
 I preach as you have heard before  
394  **And telle an hundred false japes moore.**  
 And tell a hundred more false tales.  
395  **Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke,**  
 Then I take pains to stretch forth the neck,  
396  **And est and west upon the peple I bekke,**  
 And east and west upon the people I nod,  
397  **As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne.**  
 As does a dove sitting on a barn.  
398  **Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne**  
 My hands and my tongue go so quickly  
399  **That it is joye to se my bisynesse.**  
 That it is joy to see my business.  
400  **Of avarice and of swich cursednesse**  
 Of avarice and of such cursedness  
401  **Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free**  
 Is all my preaching, to make them generous  
402  **To yeven hir pens, and namely unto me.**  
 To give their pennies, and namely unto me.  
403  **For myn entente is nat but for to wynne,**  
 For my intention is only to make a profit,  
404  **And nothyng for correccioun of synne.**  
 And not at all for correction of sin.  
405  **I rekke nevere, whan that they been beryed,**  
 I care not a bit, when they are buried,  
406  **Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberyed!**  
 Though their souls go picking blackberries!   
407  **For certes, many a predicacioun**  
 For certainly, many a sermon  
408  **Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun;**  
 Comes often times from an evil intention;  
409  **Som for plesance of folk and flaterye,**  
 Some for pleasure of folk and flattery,  
410  **To been avaunced by ypocrisye,**  
 To be advanced by hypocrisy,  
411  **And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.**  
 And some for vain glory, and some for hate.  
412  **For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate,**  
 For when I dare debate no other ways,  
413  **Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte**  
 Then I will sting him with my sharp tongue  
414  **In prechyng, so that he shal nat asterte**  
 In preaching, so that he shall not escape  
415  **To been defamed falsly, if that he**  
 To be defamed falsely, if he  
416  **Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me.**  
 Has trespassed to my brethren or to me.  
417  **For though I telle noght his propre name,**  
 For though I tell not his proper name,  
418  **Men shal wel knowe that it is the same,**  
 Men shall well know that it is the same,  
419  **By signes, and by othere circumstances.**  
 By signs, and by other details.  
420  **Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances;**  
 Thus I repay folk who make trouble for us pardoners;  
421  **Thus spitte I out my venym under hewe**  
 Thus I spit out my venom under hue  
422  **Of hoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe.**  
 Of holinesses, to seem holy and true.

423  **"But shortly myn entente I wol devyse:**  
 "But shortly my intention I will tell:  
424  **I preche of no thyng but for coveityse.**  
 I preach of nothing but for greed.  
425  **Therfore my theme is yet, and evere was,**  
 Therefore my theme is yet, and ever was,  
426  **Radix malorum est Cupiditas.**  
 `Greed is the root of all evil.'  
427  **Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice**  
 Thus I can preach against that same vice  
428  **Which that I use, and that is avarice.**  
 Which I use, and that is avarice.  
429  **But though myself be gilty in that synne,**  
 But though myself be guilty of that sin,  
430  **Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne**  
 Yet I can make other folk to turn away  
431  **From avarice and soore to repente.**  
 From avarice and bitterly to repent.  
432  **But that is nat my principal entente;**  
 But that is not my principal intention;  
433  **I preche nothyng but for coveitise.**  
 I preach nothing but for greed.  
434  **Of this mateere it oghte ynogh suffise.**  
 Concerning this matter this ought to be enough.

435  **"Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon**  
 "Then I tell them illustrative tales many a one  
436  **Of olde stories longe tyme agoon.**  
 Of old stories from long time ago.  
437  **For lewed peple loven tales olde;**  
 For ignorant people love old tales;  
438  **Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde.**  
 Such things they can well repeat and hold in memory.   
439  **What, trowe ye, that whiles I may preche,**  
 What, do you suppose, that while I can preach,  
440  **And wynne gold and silver for I teche,**  
 And win gold and silver because I teach,  
441  **That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully?**  
 That I will live in poverty voluntarily?  
442  **Nay, nay, I thoghte it nevere, trewely!**  
 Nay, nay, I never thought it, truly!  
443  **For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes;**  
 For I will preach and beg in various lands;  
444  **I wol nat do no labour with myne handes,**  
 I will not do any labor with my hands,  
445  **Ne make baskettes and lyve therby,**  
 Nor make baskets and live thereby,  
446  **By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.**  
 Because I will not beg idly.  
447  **I wol noon of the apostles countrefete;**  
 I will imitate none of the apostles;  
448  **I wol have moneie, wolle, chese, and whete,**  
 I will have money, wool, cheese, and wheat,  
449  **Al were it yeven of the povereste page,**  
 Although it were given by the poorest servant boy,  
450  **Or of the povereste wydwe in a village,**  
 Or by the poorest widow in a village,  
451  **Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne.**  
 Even though her children should die of hunger.  
452  **Nay, I wol drynke licour of the vyne**  
 Nay, I will drink liquor of the vine  
453  **And have a joly wenche in every toun.**  
 And have a pretty wench in every town.  
454  **But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun:**  
 But listen, gentlemen, in conclusion:  
455  **Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale.**  
 Your desire is that I shall tell a tale.  
456  **Now have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,**  
 Now I have drunk a draft of strong ale,  
457  **By God, I hope I shal yow telle a thyng**  
 By God, I hope I shall tell you a thing  
458  **That shal by reson been at youre likyng.**  
 That shall, for good reason, be to your liking.  
459  **For though myself be a ful vicious man,**  
 For though myself be a very vicious man,  
460  **A moral tale yet I yow telle kan,**  
 Yet I can tell you a moral tale,  
461  **Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.**  
 Which I am accustomed to preach in order to profit.  
462  **Now hoold youre pees! My tale I wol bigynne."**  
 Now hold your peace! My tale I will begin."

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## **The Pardoner's Tale**

*Heere bigynneth the Pardoners Tale.*

463  **In Flaundres whilom was a compaignye**  
 In Flanders once was a company  
464  **Of yonge folk that haunteden folye,**  
 Of young folk who practiced folly,  
465  **As riot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes,**  
 Such as debauchery, gambling, brothels, and taverns,  
466  **Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes,**  
 Where with harps, lutes, and guitars,  
467  **They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght,**  
 They dance and play at dice both day and night,  
468  **And eten also and drynken over hir myght,**  
 And also eat and drink beyond their capacity,  
469  **Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifise**  
 Through which they do the devil sacrifice  
470  **Withinne that develes temple in cursed wise**  
 Within that devil's temple in cursed manner  
471  **By superfluytee abhomynable.**  
 By abominable excess.  
472  **Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable**  
 Their oaths are so great and so damnable  
473  **That it is grisly for to heere hem swere.**  
 That it is grisly to hear them swear.  
474  **Oure blissed Lordes body they totere --**  
 Our blessed Lord's body they tore in pieces --  
475  **Hem thoughte that Jewes rente hym noght ynough --**  
 They thought that the Jews did not tear him enough --  
476  **And ech of hem at otheres synne lough.**  
 And each of them laughed at the other's sin.  
477  **And right anon thanne comen tombesteres**  
 And right away then come dancing girls  
478  **Fetys and smale, and yonge frutesteres,**  
 Elegantly shaped and slim, and girls selling fruits,  
479  **Syngeres with harpes, baudes, wafereres,**  
 Singers with harps, bawds, girls selling wafers,  
480  **Whiche been the verray develes officeres**  
 Which are the very devil's officers  
481  **To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye,**  
 To kindle and blow the fire of lechery,  
482  **That is annexed unto glotonye.**  
 That is joined unto gluttony.  
483  **The hooly writ take I to my witnesse**  
 The Bible I take as my witness  
484  **That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.**  
 That lechery is in wine and drunkenness.

485  **Lo, how that dronken Looth, unkyndely,**  
 Lo, how that drunken Lot, unnaturally,  
486  **Lay by his doghtres two, unwityngly;**  
 Lay by his two daughters, unwittingly;  
487  **So dronke he was, he nyste what he wroghte.**  
 So drunk he was, he knew not what he did.  
488  **Herodes, whoso wel the stories soghte,**  
 Herod, whoever should seek well the histories (would learn),  
489  **Whan he of wyn was repleet at his feeste,**  
 When he was filled with wine at his feast,  
490  **Right at his owene table he yaf his heeste**  
 Right at his own table he gave his command  
491  **To sleen the Baptist John, ful giltelees.**  
 To slay John the Baptist, full guiltless.

492  **Senec seith a good word doutelees;**  
 Seneca says a good word, doubtless;  
493  **He seith he kan no difference fynde**  
 He says he can find no difference   
494  **Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde**  
 Between a man that is out of his mind  
495  **And a man which that is dronkelewe,**  
 And a man that is drunk,  
496  **But that woodnesse, yfallen in a shrewe,**  
 Except that madness, fallen in an evil person,  
497  **Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse.**  
 Lasts longer than does drunkenness.  
498  **O glotonye, ful of cursednesse!**  
 O gluttony, full of cursedness!  
499  **O cause first of oure confusioun!**  
 O first cause of our ruin!  
500  **O original of oure dampnacioun,**  
 O origin of our damnation,  
501  **Til Crist hadde boght us with his blood agayn!**  
 Until Christ had bought us with his blood again!  
502  **Lo, how deere, shortly for to sayn,**  
 Lo, how dearly, shortly to say,  
503  **Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye!**  
 Was bought that same cursed villainy!  
504  **Corrupt was al this world for glotonye.**  
 Corrupt was all this world for gluttony.

505  **Adam oure fader, and his wyf also,**  
 Adam our fader, and his wife also,  
506  **Fro Paradys to labour and to wo**  
 From Paradise to labor and to woe  
507  **Were dryven for that vice, it is no drede.**  
 Were driven for that vice, there is no doubt.  
508  **For whil that Adam fasted, as I rede,**  
 For while Adam fasted, as I read,  
509  **He was in Paradys; and whan that he**  
 He was in Paradise; and when he  
510  **Eet of the fruyt deffended on the tree,**  
 Ate of the forbidden fruit on the tree,  
511  **Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne.**  
 Immediately he was cast out to woe and pain.  
512  **O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne!**  
 O gluttony, on thee well we ought to complain!  
513  **O, wiste a man how manye maladyes**  
 O, if a man knew how many evils  
514  **Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes,**  
 Follow of excess and of gluttony,  
515  **He wolde been the moore mesurable**  
 He would be the more moderate  
516  **Of his diete, sittynge at his table.**  
 Of his diet, sitting at his table.  
517  **Allas, the shorte throte, the tendre mouth,**  
 Alas, the short throat, the tender mouth,  
518  **Maketh that est and west and north and south,**  
 Makes that east and west and north and south,  
519  **In erthe, in eir, in water, men to swynke**  
 In earth, in air, in water, men work  
520  **To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke!**  
 To get a glutton dainty food and drink!  
521  **Of this matiere, O Paul, wel kanstow trete:**  
 Of this matter, O Paul, well can thou treat  
522  **"Mete unto wombe, and wombe eek unto mete,**  
 "Food unto belly, and belly also unto food,  
523  **Shal God destroyen bothe," as Paulus seith.**  
 God shall destroy both," as Paul says.  
524  **Allas, a foul thyng is it, by my feith,**  
 Alas, a foul thing it is, by my faith,  
525  **To seye this word, and fouler is the dede,**  
 To say this word, and fouler is the deed,  
526  **Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede**  
 When man so drinks of the white and red  
527  **That of his throte he maketh his pryvee**  
 That he makes his privy of his throat   
528  **Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee.**  
 Through that same cursed excess.

529  **The apostel wepyng seith ful pitously,**  
 The apostle weeping says full piteously,  
530  **"Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold have I --**  
 "There walk many of whom I have told you --  
531  **I seye it now wepyng, with pitous voys --**  
 I say it now weeping, with piteous voice --  
532  **They been enemys of Cristes croys,**  
 They are enemies of Christ's cross,  
533  **Of whiche the ende is deeth; wombe is hir god!"**  
 Of which the end is death; belly is their god!"  
534  **O wombe! O bely! O stynkyng cod,**  
 O gut! O belly! O stinking bag,  
535  **Fulfilled of dong and of corrupcioun!**  
 Filled with dung and with corruption!  
536  **At either ende of thee foul is the soun.**  
 At either end of thee the sound is foul.  
537  **How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde!**  
 How great labor and cost it is to feed thee!  
538  **Thise cookes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grynde,**  
 These cooks, how they pound, and strain, and grind,  
539  **And turnen substaunce into accident**  
 And turn substance into outward appearance  
540  **To fulfille al thy likerous talent!**  
 To fulfill all thy gluttonous desire!  
541  **Out of the harde bones knokke they**  
 Out of the hard bones they knock   
542  **The mary, for they caste noght awey**  
 The marrow, for they throw nothing away  
543  **That may go thurgh the golet softe and swoote.**  
 That may go through the gullet softly and sweetly.  
544  **Of spicerie of leef, and bark, and roote**  
 Of seasonings of leaf, and bark, and root  
545  **Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit,**  
 Shall his sauce be made for delight,  
546  **To make hym yet a newer appetit.**  
 To make him yet a newer appetite.  
547  **But, certes, he that haunteth swiche delices**  
 But, certainly, he who habitually seeks such delicacies  
548  **Is deed, whil that he lyveth in tho vices.**  
 Is dead, while he lives in those vices.

549  **A lecherous thyng is wyn, and dronkenesse**  
 A lecherous thing is wine, and drunkenness  
550  **Is ful of stryvyng and of wrecchednesse.**  
 Is full of striving and of wretchedness.  
551  **O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,**  
 O drunken man, disfigured is thy face,  
552  **Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,**  
 Sour is thy breath, foul art thou to embrace,  
553  **And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun**  
 And through thy drunken nose the sound seems   
554  **As though thou seydest ay "Sampsoun, Sampsoun!"**  
 As though thou said always "Sampson, Sampson!"  
555  **And yet, God woot, Sampsoun drank nevere no wyn.**  
 And yet, God knows, Sampson never drank any wine.  
556  **Thou fallest as it were a styked swyn;**  
 Thou fallest like a stuck pig;  
557  **Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honeste cure,**  
 Thy tongue is lost, and all thy care for decency,  
558  **For dronkenesse is verray sepulture**  
 For drunkenness is truly the sepulcher  
559  **Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.**  
 Of man's wit and his discretion.  
560  **In whom that drynke hath dominacioun**  
 In whom drink has domination  
561  **He kan no conseil kepe; it is no drede.**  
 He can keep no secrets; there is no doubt.  
562  **Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede,**  
 Now guard yourself from the white and from the red,  
563  **And namely fro the white wyn of Lepe**  
 And namely from the white wine of Lepe  
564  **That is to selle in Fysshstrete or in Chepe.**  
 That is for sale in Fishstreet or in Cheapside.  
565  **This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly**  
 This wine of Spain creeps subtly  
566  **In othere wynes, growynge faste by,**  
 Into other wines, growing near by,  
567  **Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee**  
 Of which there rise such bodily vapors  
568  **That whan a man hath dronken draughtes thre,**  
 That when a man has drunk three drafts,  
569  **And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe,**  
 And supposes that he is at home in Cheapside,  
570  **He is in Spaigne, right at the toune of Lepe --**  
 He is in Spain, right at the town of Lepe --  
571  **Nat at the Rochele, ne at Burdeux toun --**  
 Not at La Rochelle, nor at Bordeaux town --  
572  **And thanne wol he seye "Sampsoun, Sampsoun!"**  
 And then will he say "Sampson, Sampson!"

573  **But herkneth, lordynges, o word, I yow preye,**  
 But listen, gentlemen, one word, I pray you,  
574  **That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye,**  
 That all the great deeds, I dare say,  
575  **Of victories in the Olde Testament,**  
 Of victories in the Old Testament,  
576  **Thurgh verray God, that is omnipotent,**  
 Through true God, who is omnipotent,  
577  **Were doon in abstinence and in preyere.**  
 Were done in abstinence and in prayer.  
578  **Looketh the Bible, and ther ye may it leere.**  
 Look in the Bible, and there you can learn it.

579  **Looke, Attilla, the grete conquerour,**  
 Consider how Attila, the great conqueror,  
580  **Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour,**  
 Died in his sleep, with shame and dishonor,  
581  **Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenesse.**  
 Bleeding ever at his nose in drunkenness.  
582  **A capitayn sholde lyve in sobrenesse.**  
 A captain should live in sobriety.  
583  **And over al this, avyseth yow right wel**  
 And beyond all this, consider right well  
584  **What was comaunded unto Lamuel --**  
 What was commanded unto Lamuel --  
585  **Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I;**  
 Not Samuel, but Lamuel, I say;  
586  **Redeth the Bible, and fynde it expresly**  
 Read the Bible, and find it explicitly  
587  **Of wyn-yevyng to hem that han justise.**  
 About giving wine to those that have the duty of doing justice.  
588  **Namoore of this, for it may wel suffise.**  
 No more of this, for it may well suffice.

589  **And now that I have spoken of glotonye,**  
 And now that I have spoken of gluttony,  
590  **Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye.**  
 Now I will forbid you gambling.  
591  **Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges,**  
 Dicing is the true mother of lies,  
592  **And of deceite, and cursed forswerynges,**  
 And of deceit, and cursed perjuries,  
593  **Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also**  
 Blasphemy of Christ, manslaughter, and waste also  
594  **Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo,**  
 Of possessions and of time; and furthermore,  
595  **It is repreeve and contrarie of honour**  
 It is a disgrace and contrary to honor  
596  **For to ben holde a commune hasardour.**  
 To be considered a common dice player.  
597  **And ever the hyer he is of estaat,**  
 And ever the higher he is of estate,  
598  **The moore is he yholden desolaat.**  
 The more is he considered abandoned (to shame).  
599  **If that a prynce useth hasardrye,**  
 If a prince plays at dicing,  
600  **In alle governaunce and policye**  
 In all governance and policy  
601  **He is, as by commune opinioun,**  
 He is, by common opinion,  
602  **Yholde the lasse in reputacioun.**  
 Held the less in reputation.

603  **Stilboun, that was a wys embassadour,**  
 Stilboun, who was a wise ambassador,  
604  **Was sent to Corynthe in ful greet honour**  
 Was sent to Corinth in very great honor  
605  **Fro Lacidomye to make hire alliaunce.**  
 From Sparta to make their alliance.  
606  **And whan he cam, hym happede, par chaunce,**  
 And when he came, it happened, by chance,  
607  **That alle the gretteste that were of that lond,**  
 That all the greatest men that were of that land,  
608  **Pleyynge atte hasard he hem fond.**  
 Playing at dice he found them.  
609  **For which, as soone as it myghte be,**  
 For which, as soon as it could be,  
610  **He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree,**  
 He stole home again to his country,  
611  **And seyde, "Ther wol I nat lese my name,**  
 And said, "There I will not lose my reputation,  
612  **Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame,**  
 Nor will I take on me so great infamy,  
613  **Yow for to allie unto none hasardours.**  
 To ally you unto any dice-players.  
614  **Sendeth othere wise embassadours;**  
 Send other wise ambassadors;  
615  **For, by my trouthe, me were levere dye**  
 For, by my troth, I would rather die  
616  **Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.**  
 Than I should ally you to dice-players.  
617  **For ye, that been so glorious in honours,**  
 For you, that are so glorious in honors,  
618  **Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours**  
 Shall not ally yourselves with dice-players  
619  **As by my wyl, ne as by my tretee."**  
 By my will, nor by my negotiation."  
620  **This wise philosophre, thus seyde hee.**  
 This wise philosopher, thus said he.

621  **Looke eek that to the kyng Demetrius**  
 Consider also that to the king Demetrius  
622  **The kyng of Parthes, as the book seith us,**  
 The king of Parthia, as the book tells us,  
623  **Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn,**  
 Sent him a pair of dice of gold in scorn,  
624  **For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn;**  
 Because he had played at dicing before that;  
625  **For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun**  
 For which he held his glory or his renown  
626  **At no value or reputacioun.**  
 At no value or esteem.  
627  **Lordes may fynden oother maner pley**  
 Lords may find other sorts of play  
628  **Honest ynough to dryve the day awey.**  
 Respectable enough to pass the time.

629  **Now wol I speke of othes false and grete**  
 Now will I speak of oaths false and great  
630  **A word or two, as olde bookes trete.**  
 A word or two, as old books treat them.  
631  **Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable,**  
 Great swearing is an abominable thing,  
632  **And fals sweryng is yet moore reprevable.**  
 And false swearing is yet more worthy of reproof.  
633  **The heighe God forbad sweryng at al,**  
 The high God forbad swearing at al,  
634  **Witnesse on Mathew; but in special**  
 Witness on Matthew; but in special  
635  **Of sweryng seith the hooly Jeremye,**  
 Of swearing says the holy Jeremiah,  
636  **"Thou shalt swere sooth thyne othes, and nat lye,**  
 "Thou shall swear truly thine oaths, and not lie,  
637  **And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnesse";**  
 And in judgement and also in righteousness";  
638  **But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse.**  
 But idle swearing is a cursed thing.  
639  **Bihoold and se that in the firste table**  
 Behold and see that in the first three  
640  **Of heighe Goddes heestes honurable,**  
 Of high God's honorable commandments,  
641  **Hou that the seconde heeste of hym is this:**  
 How the second of his commands is this:  
642  **"Take nat my name in ydel or amys."**  
 "Take not my name in vain nor amiss."  
643  **Lo, rather he forbedeth swich sweryng**  
 Lo, he forbids such swearing rather  
644  **Than homycide or many a cursed thyng;**  
 Than homicide or many a cursed thing;  
645  **I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth;**  
 I say that, so far as order is concerned, thus it stands;  
646  **This knoweth, that his heestes understondeth,**  
 He who understands his commandments knows this,  
647  **How that the seconde heeste of God is that.**  
 How that is the second command of God.  
648  **And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat**  
 And furthermore, I will tell thee flatly  
649  **That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous**  
 That vengeance shall not part from his house  
650  **That of his othes is to outrageous.**  
 Who of his oaths is too excessive.  
651  **"By Goddes precious herte," and "By his nayles,"**  
 "By God's precious heart," and "By his nails,"  
652  **And "By the blood of Crist that is in Hayles,**  
 And "By the blood of Christ that is in Hales Abbey,  
653  **Sevene is my chaunce, and thyn is cynk and treye!"**  
 Seven is my number, and thine is five and three!"  
654  **"By Goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye,**  
 "By God's arms, if thou falsely play,  
655  **This daggere shal thurghout thyn herte go!" --**  
 This dagger shall go throughout thy heart!" --  
656  **This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two,**  
 This fruit comes of the two cursed dice,  
657  **Forsweryng, ire, falsnesse, homycide.**  
 Perjury, anger, falseness, homicide.  
658  **Now, for the love of Crist, that for us dyde,**  
 Now, for the love of Christ, who for us died,  
659  **Lete youre othes, bothe grete and smale.**  
 Leave your oaths, both great and small.  
660  **But, sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.**  
 But, sirs, now will I tell forth my tale.

661  **Thise riotoures thre of whiche I telle,**  
 These three rioters of whom I tell,  
662  **Longe erst er prime rong of any belle,**  
 Long before prime rang of any bell,  
663  **Were set hem in a taverne to drynke,**  
 Had set themselves in a tavern to drink,  
664  **And as they sat, they herde a belle clynke**  
 And as they sat, they heard a bell clink  
665  **Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave.**  
 Before a corpse, which was carried to its grave.  
666  **That oon of hem gan callen to his knave:**  
 The one of them did call to his servant:  
667  **"Go bet," quod he, "and axe redily**  
 "Go quickly," he said, "and ask at once  
668  **What cors is this that passeth heer forby;**  
 What corpse is this that passes by here;  
669  **And looke that thou reporte his name weel."**  
 And see that thou report his name correctly."

670  **"Sire," quod this boy, "it nedeth never-a-deel;**  
 "Sir," said this boy, "that is not at all necessary;  
671  **It was me toold er ye cam heer two houres.**  
 It was told me two hours before you came here.  
672  **He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres,**  
 He was, indeed, an old fellow of yours,  
673  **And sodeynly he was yslayn to-nyght,**  
 And suddenly he was slain last night,  
674  **Fordronke, as he sat on his bench upright.**  
 Completely drunk, as he sat on his bench upright.  
675  **Ther cam a privee theef men clepeth Deeth,**  
 There came a stealthy thief men call Death,  
676  **That in this contree al the peple sleeth,**  
 Who slays all the people in this country,  
677  **And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo,**  
 And with his spear he struck his heart in two,  
678  **And wente his wey withouten wordes mo.**  
 And went his way without more words.  
679  **He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence.**  
 He has slain a thousand (during) this pestilence.  
680  **And, maister, er ye come in his presence,**  
 And, master, before you come in his presence,  
681  **Me thynketh that it were necessarie**  
 It seems to me that it would be necessary  
682  **For to be war of swich an adversarie.**  
 To beware of such an adversary.  
683  **Beth redy for to meete hym everemoore;**  
 Always be ready to meet him;  
684  **Thus taughte me my dame; I sey namoore."**  
 Thus taught me my mother; I say no more."  
685  **"By Seinte Marie!" seyde this taverner,**  
 "By Saint Mary!" said this tavern-keeper,  
686  **"The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer,**  
 "The child says truth, for he has slain this year,  
687  **Henne over a mile, withinne a greet village,**  
 Over a mile from here, within a great village,  
688  **Bothe man and womman, child, and hyne, and page;**  
 Both man and woman, child, and laborer, and servant boy;  
689  **I trowe his habitacioun be there.**  
 I suppose his habitation is there.  
690  **To been avysed greet wysdom it were,**  
 It would be great wisdom to be forewarned,  
691  **Er that he dide a man a dishonour."**  
 Before he did a man any harm."

692  **"Ye, Goddes armes!" quod this riotour,**  
 "Yea, God's arms!" said this rioter,  
693  **"Is it swich peril with hym for to meete?**  
 "Is it such peril to meet with him?  
694  **I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete,**  
 I shall seek him by path-way and also by street (everywhere),  
695  **I make avow to Goddes digne bones!**  
 I make a vow to God's honorable bones!  
696  **Herkneth, felawes, we thre been al ones;**  
 Listen, fellows, we three are all agreed;  
697  **Lat ech of us holde up his hand til oother,**  
 Let each of us hold up his hand to other,  
698  **And ech of us bicomen otheres brother,**  
 And each of us become the others' brother,  
699  **And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth.**  
 And we will slay this false traitor Death.  
700  **He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth,**  
 He shall be slain, he who slays so many,  
701  **By Goddes dignitee, er it be nyght!"**  
 By God's dignity, before it be night!"

702  **Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight**  
 Together have these three pledged their troths  
703  **To lyve and dyen ech of hem for oother,**  
 To live and die each of them for other,  
704  **As though he were his owene ybore brother.**  
 As though he were his own born brother.  
705  **And up they stirte, al dronken in this rage,**  
 And up they leaped, all drunken in this rage,  
706  **And forth they goon towardes that village**  
 And forth they go towards that village  
707  **Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn.**  
 Of which the tavern-keeper had spoken before.  
708  **And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn,**  
 And many a grisly oath then have they sworn,  
709  **And Cristes blessed body they torente --**  
 And Christ's blessed body they tore to pieces --  
710  **Deeth shal be deed, if that they may hym hente!**  
 Death shall be dead, if they can catch him!

711  **Whan they han goon nat fully half a mile,**  
 When they have gone not fully half a mile,  
712  **Right as they wolde han troden over a stile,**  
 Right as they would have stepped over a fence,  
713  **An oold man and a povre with hem mette.**  
 An old and poor man met with them.  
714  **This olde man ful mekely hem grette,**  
 This old man full meekly greeted them,  
715  **And seyde thus, "Now, lordes, God yow see!"**  
 And said thus, "Now, lords, may God look after you!"

716  **The proudeste of thise riotoures three**  
 The proudest of these three rioters  
717  **Answerde agayn, "What, carl, with sory grace!**  
 Answered in reply, "What, churl, bad luck to you!  
718  **Why artow al forwrapped save thy face?**  
 Why art thou all wrapped up except for thy face?  
719  **Why lyvestow so longe in so greet age?"**  
 Why live thou so long in such old age?"

720  **This olde man gan looke in his visage,**  
 This old man did look in his face,  
721  **And seyde thus: "For I ne kan nat fynde**  
 And said thus: "Because I can not find  
722  **A man, though that I walked into Ynde,**  
 A man, though I walked to India,  
723  **Neither in citee ne in no village,**  
 Neither in city nor in any village,  
724  **That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age;**  
 That would change his youth for my age;  
725  **And therfore moot I han myn age stille,**  
 And therefore I must have my age still,  
726  **As longe tyme as it is Goddes wille.**  
 As long a time as it is God's will.  
727  **Ne Deeth, allas, ne wol nat han my lyf.**  
 Nor Death, alas, will not have my life.  
728  **Thus walke I, lyk a restelees kaityf,**  
 Thus I walk, like a restless wretch,  
729  **And on the ground, which is my moodres gate,**  
 And on the ground, which is my mother's gate,  
730  **I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late,**  
 I knock with my staff, both early and late,  
731  **And seye `Leeve mooder, leet me in!**  
 And say `Dear mother, let me in!  
732  **Lo how I vanysshe, flessh, and blood, and skyn!**  
 Lo how I waste away, flesh, and blood, and skin!  
733  **Allas, whan shul my bones been at reste?**  
 Alas, when shall my bones be at rest?  
734  **Mooder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste**  
 Mother, with you would I exchange my strongbox  
735  **That in my chambre longe tyme hath be,**  
 That in my chamber long time has been,  
736  **Ye, for an heyre clowt to wrappe me!'**  
 Yea, for an hair shirt to wrap me!'  
737  **But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,**  
 But yet to me she will not do that favor,  
738  **For which ful pale and welked is my face.**  
 For which full pale and withered is my face.

739  **"But, sires, to yow it is no curteisye**  
 "But, sirs, to you it is no courtesy  
740  **To speken to an old man vileynye,**  
 To speak rudeness to an old man,  
741  **But he trespasse in word or elles in dede.**  
 Unless he trespass in word or else in deed.  
742  **In Hooly Writ ye may yourself wel rede:**  
 In Holy Writ you may yourself well read:  
743  **`Agayns an oold man, hoor upon his heed,**  
 `In the presence of an old man, gray upon his head,  
744  **Ye sholde arise;' wherfore I yeve yow reed,**  
 You should rise;' therefore I give you advice,  
745  **Ne dooth unto an oold man noon harm now,**  
 Do no harm now unto an old man,  
746  **Namoore than that ye wolde men did to yow**  
 No more than you would want men to do to you  
747  **In age, if that ye so longe abyde.**  
 In old age, if you live so long.  
748  **And God be with yow, where ye go or ryde!**  
 And God be with you, wherever you walk or ride!  
749  **I moot go thider as I have to go."**  
 I must go thither where I have to go."

750  **"Nay, olde cherl, by God, thou shalt nat so,"**  
 "Nay, old churl, by God, thou shall not so,"  
751  **Seyde this oother hasardour anon;**  
 Said this other dice-player quickly;  
752  **"Thou partest nat so lightly, by Seint John!**  
 "Thou depart not so quickly, by Saint John!  
753  **Thou spak right now of thilke traytour Deeth.**  
 Thou spoke right now of that same traitor Death.  
754  **That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth.**  
 That slays all our friends in this country.  
755  **Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his espye,**  
 Have here my pledge, as thou art his spy,  
756  **Telle where he is or thou shalt it abye,**  
 Tell where he is or thou shall pay for it,  
757  **By God and by the hooly sacrement!**  
 By God and by the holy sacrament!  
758  **For soothly thou art oon of his assent**  
 For truly thou art in league with him  
759  **To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!"**  
 To slay us young folk, thou false thief!"

760  **"Now, sires," quod he, "if that yow be so leef**  
 "Now, sirs," said he, "if you are so eager  
761  **To fynde Deeth, turne up this croked wey,**  
 To find Death, turn up this crooked way,  
762  **For in that grove I lafte hym, by my fey,**  
 For in that grove I left him, by my faith,  
763  **Under a tree, and there he wole abyde;**  
 Under a tree, and there he will wait;  
764  **Noght for youre boost he wole him no thyng hyde.**  
 He will not in any way hide himself because of your boast.  
765  **Se ye that ook? Right there ye shal hym fynde.**  
 Do you see that oak? Right there you shall find him.  
766  **God save yow, that boghte agayn mankynde,**  
 God save you, He who redeemed mankind,  
767  **And yow amende!" Thus seyde this olde man;**  
 And amend you!" Thus said this old man;  
768  **And everich of thise riotoures ran**  
 And every one of these rioters ran  
769  **Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde**  
 Until he came to that tree, and there they found  
770  **Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde**  
 Of fine round florins of coined gold  
771  **Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte.**  
 Well nigh eight bushels, as they thought.  
772  **No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte,**  
 No longer then after Death they sought,  
773  **But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte,**  
 But each of them was so glad of that sight,  
774  **For that the floryns been so faire and brighte,**  
 Because the florins are so faire and bright,  
775  **That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord.**  
 That they set themselves down by this precious hoard.  
776  **The worste of hem, he spak the firste word.**  
 The worst of them, he spoke the first word.

777  **"Bretheren," quod he, "taak kep what that I seye;**  
 "Brethren," he said, "take heed of what I say;  
778  **My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye.**  
 My wit is great, though I jest and play.  
779  **This tresor hath Fortune unto us yiven**  
 Fortune has given this treasure unto us   
780  **In myrthe and joliftee oure lyf to lyven,**  
 In mirth and jollity to live our life,  
781  **And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende.**  
 And as easily as it comes, so will we spend it.  
782  **Ey, Goddes precious dignitee! Who wende**  
 Ah, God's precious dignity! Who would have supposed  
783  **To-day that we sholde han so fair a grace?**  
 To-day that we should have such good fortune?  
784  **But myghte this gold be caried fro this place**  
 But if this gold could be carried from this place  
785  **Hoom to myn hous, or elles unto youres --**  
 Home to my house, or else unto yours --  
786  **For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures --**  
 For well you know that all this gold is ours --  
787  **Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.**  
 Then we would be in great happiness.  
788  **But trewely, by daye it may nat bee.**  
 But truly, it may not be (done) by day.  
789  **Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge,**  
 Men would say that we were arrant thieves,  
790  **And for oure owene tresor doon us honge.**  
 And for our own treasure have us hanged.  
791  **This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte**  
 This treasure must be carried by night  
792  **As wisely and as slyly as it myghte.**  
 As wisely and as slyly as it can be.  
793  **Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle**  
 Wherefore I advise that among us all straws  
794  **Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle;**  
 Be drawn, and let's see where the lot will fall;  
795  **And he that hath the cut with herte blithe**  
 And he who has the shortest straw with happy heart   
796  **Shal renne to the town, and that ful swithe,**  
 Shall run to the town, and that very quickly,  
797  **And brynge us breed and wyn ful prively.**  
 And very secretly bring us bread and wine.  
798  **And two of us shul kepen subtilly**  
 And two of us shall carefully guard  
799  **This tresor wel; and if he wol nat tarie,**  
 This treasure well; and if he will not tarry,  
800  **Whan it is nyght, we wol this tresor carie,**  
 When it is night, we will carry this treasure,  
801  **By oon assent, where as us thynketh best."**  
 By mutual agreement, where we think best."  
802  **That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest,**  
 That one of them brought the straws in his fist,  
803  **And bad hem drawe and looke where it wol falle;**  
 And commanded them to draw and see where it will fall;  
804  **And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle,**  
 And it fell on the youngest of them all,  
805  **And forth toward the toun he wente anon.**  
 And forth toward the town he went right away.  
806  **And also soone as that he was gon,**  
 And as soon as he was gone,  
807  **That oon of hem spak thus unto that oother:**  
 The one of them spoke thus unto that other:  
808  **"Thow knowest wel thou art my sworen brother;**  
 "Thou knowest well thou art my sworn brother;  
809  **Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.**  
 Thy profit will I tell thee straightway.  
810  **Thou woost wel that oure felawe is agon.**  
 Thou knowest well that our fellow is gone.  
811  **And heere is gold, and that ful greet plentee,**  
 And here is gold, and that a full great quantity,  
812  **That shal departed been among us thre.**  
 That shall be divided among us three.  
813  **But nathelees, if I kan shape it so**  
 But nevertheless, if I can arrange things so  
814  **That it departed were among us two,**  
 That it were divided among us two,  
815  **Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?"**  
 Had I not done a good turn to thee?"

816  **That oother answerde, "I noot hou that may be.**  
 That other answered, "I know not how that can be.  
817  **He woot that the gold is with us tweye;**  
 He knows that the gold is with us two;  
818  **What shal we doon? What shal we to hym seye?"**  
 What shall we do? What shall we say to him?"

819  **"Shal it be conseil?" seyde the firste shrewe,**  
 "Shall it be (our) secret plan?" said the first scoundrel,  
820  **"And I shal tellen in a wordes fewe**  
 "And I shall tell in a few words   
821  **What we shal doon, and brynge it wel aboute."**  
 What we shall do, and bring it well about."

822  **"I graunte," quod that oother, "out of doute,**  
 "I agree," said that other, "without doubt,  
823  **That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye."**  
 That, by my troth, I will not betray thee."

824  **"Now," quod the firste, "thou woost wel we be tweye,**  
 "Now," said the first, "thou knowest well we are two,  
825  **And two of us shul strenger be than oon.**  
 And two of us shall be stronger than one.  
826  **Looke whan that he is set, that right anoon**  
 Look, when he has set down, right away   
827  **Arys as though thou woldest with hym pleye,**  
 Arise as though thou would with him play,  
828  **And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye**  
 And I shall stab him through the two sides   
829  **Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game,**  
 While thou struggle with him as in game,  
830  **And with thy daggere looke thou do the same;**  
 And with thy dagger see that thou do the same;  
831  **And thanne shal al this gold departed be,**  
 And then shall all this gold be divided,  
832  **My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee.**  
 My dear friend, between me and thee.  
833  **Thanne may we bothe oure lustes all fulfille,**  
 Then we both can fulfill all our desires,  
834  **And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille."**  
 And play at dice just as we wish,"  
835  **And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye**  
 And thus these two scoundrels are agreed  
836  **To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.**  
 To slay the third, as you have heard me say.

837  **This yongeste, which that wente to the toun,**  
 This youngest, who went to the town,  
838  **Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun**  
 Very often in heart he rolls up and down  
839  **The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte.**  
 The beauty of these florins new and bright.  
840  **"O Lord!" quod he, "if so were that I myghte**  
 "O Lord!" he said, "if it would be that I might  
841  **Have al this tresor to myself allone,**  
 Have all this treasure to myself alone,  
842  **Ther is no man that lyveth under the trone**  
 There is no man that lives under the throne  
843  **Of God that sholde lyve so murye as I!"**  
 Of God that should live so merrily as I!"  
844  **And atte laste the feend, oure enemy,**  
 And at the last the fiend, our enemy,  
845  **Putte in his thought that he sholde poyson beye,**  
 Put in his thought that he should buy poison,  
846  **With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye;**  
 With which he might slay his two fellows;  
847  **For-why the feend foond hym in swich lyvynge**  
 Because the fiend found him in such a manner of living  
848  **That he hadde leve him to sorwe brynge.**  
 That he had leave bring him to sorrow.  
849  **For this was outrely his fulle entente,**  
 For this was utterly his full intention,  
850  **To sleen hem bothe and nevere to repente.**  
 To slay them both and never to repent.  
851  **And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie,**  
 And forth he goes, no longer would he tarry,  
852  **Into the toun, unto a pothecarie,**  
 Into the town, unto an apothecary,  
853  **And preyde hym that he hym wolde selle**  
 And prayed him that he would sell him   
854  **Som poyson, that he myghte his rattes quelle;**  
 Some poison, that he might kill his rats;  
855  **And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe,**  
 And also there was a polecat in his yard,  
856  **That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde yslawe,**  
 That, as he said, had slain his capons,  
857  **And fayn he wolde wreke hym, if he myghte,**  
 And he would gladly revenge himself, if he could,  
858  **On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte.**  
 On vermin that ruined him by night.

859  **The pothecarie answerde, "And thou shalt have**  
 The apothecary answered, "And thou shall have  
860  **A thyng that, also God my soule save,**  
 A thing that, as God may save my soul,  
861  **In al this world ther is no creature**  
 In all this world there is no creature  
862  **That eten or dronken hath of this confiture**  
 That has eaten or drunk of this concoction  
863  **Noght but the montance of a corn of whete,**  
 Only so much as the amount of a seed of wheat,  
864  **That he ne shal his lif anon forlete;**  
 That he shall not immediately lose his life;  
865  **Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse while**  
 Yea, he shall die, and that in less time  
866  **Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a mile,**  
 Than thou will go at a walk but only a mile,  
867  **This poysoun is so strong and violent."**  
 This poison is so strong and violent."

868  **This cursed man hath in his hond yhent**  
 This cursed man has in his hand taken   
869  **This poysoun in a box, and sith he ran**  
 This poison in a box, and then he ran  
870  **Into the nexte strete unto a man,**  
 Into the next street unto a man,  
871  **And borwed \[of\] hym large botelles thre,**  
 And borrowed \[of\] him three large bottles,  
872  **And in the two his poyson poured he;**  
 And in the two he poured his poison;  
873  **The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke.**  
 The third he kept clean for his drink.  
874  **For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke**  
 For all the night he intended to work  
875  **In cariynge of the gold out of that place.**  
 In carrying of the gold out of that place.  
876  **And whan this riotour, with sory grace,**  
 And when this rioter, bad luck to him,  
877  **Hadde filled with wyn his grete botels thre,**  
 Had filled his three big bottles with wine,  
878  **To his felawes agayn repaireth he.**  
 He goes back again to his fellows.

879  **What nedeth it to sermone of it moore?**  
 What needs it to preach of it more?  
880  **For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifoore,**  
 For right as they had planned his death before,  
881  **Right so they han hym slayn, and that anon.**  
 Right so they have him slain, and that immediately.  
882  **And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon:**  
 And when this was done, thus spoke that one:  
883  **"Now lat us sitte and drynke, and make us merie,**  
 "Now let us sit and drink, and make us merry,  
884  **And afterward we wol his body berie."**  
 And afterward we will bury his body."  
885  **And with that word it happed hym, par cas,**  
 And with that word it happened to him, by chance,  
886  **To take the botel ther the poyson was,**  
 To take the bottle where the poison was,  
887  **And drank, and yaf his felawe drynke also,**  
 And drank, and gave his fellow drink also,  
888  **For which anon they storven bothe two.**  
 For which straightway they died, both of the two.

889  **But certes, I suppose that Avycen**  
 But certainly, I suppose that Avicenna  
890  **Wroot nevere in no canon, ne in no fen,**  
 Wrote never in any authoritative book, nor in any chapter,  
891  **Mo wonder signes of empoisonyng**  
 More wondrous symptoms of poisoning  
892  **Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir endyng.**  
 Than had these two wretches, before their ending.  
893  **Thus ended been thise homycides two,**  
 Thus ended are these two homicides,  
894  **And eek the false empoysonere also.**  
 And also the false poisoner as well.

895  **O cursed synne of alle cursednesse!**  
 O cursed sin of all cursedness!  
896  **O traytours homycide, O wikkednesse!**  
 O treacherous homicide, O wickedness!  
897  **O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye!**  
 O gluttony, lechery, and dicing!  
898  **Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye**  
 Thou blasphemer of Christ with churlish speech  
899  **And othes grete, of usage and of pride!**  
 And great oaths, out of habit and out of pride!  
900  **Allas, mankynde, how may it bitide**  
 Alas, mankind, how may it happen  
901  **That to thy creatour, which that the wroghte**  
 That to thy creator, who made thee  
902  **And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte,**  
 And with his precious heart's blood redeemed thee,  
903  **Thou art so fals and so unkynde, allas?**  
 Thou art so false and so unnatural, alas?

904  **Now, goode men, God foryeve yow youre trespas,**  
 Now, good men, God forgive you your trespass,  
905  **And ware yow fro the synne of avarice!**  
 And guard yourselves from the sin of avarice!  
906  **Myn hooly pardoun may yow alle warice,**  
 My holy pardon can cure you all,  
907  **So that ye offre nobles or sterlynges,**  
 Providing that you offer gold coins or silver pennies,  
908  **Or elles silver broches, spoones, rynges.**  
 Or else silver brooches, spoons, rings.  
909  **Boweth youre heed under this hooly bulle!**  
 Bow your head under this holy papal bull!  
910  **Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of youre wolle!**  
 Come up, you wives, offer some of your wool!  
911  **Youre names I entre heer in my rolle anon;**  
 Your names I enter here in my roll immediately;  
912  **Into the blisse of hevene shul ye gon.**  
 Into the bliss of heaven you shall go.  
913  **I yow assoille, by myn heigh power,**  
 I absolve you, by my high power,  
914  **Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer**  
 You who will offer, as clean and also as clear (of sin)  
915  **As ye were born. -- And lo, sires, thus I preche.**  
 As you were born. -- And lo, sirs, thus I preach.  
916  **And Jhesu Crist, that is oure soules leche,**  
 And Jesus Christ, that is our souls' physician,  
917  **So graunte yow his pardoun to receyve,**  
 So grant you to receive his pardon,  
918  **For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve.**  
 For that is best; I will not deceive you.

919  **But, sires, o word forgat I in my tale:**  
 But, sirs, one word I forgot in my tale:  
920  **I have relikes and pardoun in my male,**  
 I have relics and pardons in my bag,  
921  **As faire as any man in Engelond,**  
 As fine as any man in England,  
922  **Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.**  
 Which were given to me by the pope's hand.  
923  **If any of yow wole, of devocion,**  
 If any of you will, of devotion,  
924  **Offren and han myn absolucion,**  
 Offer and have my absolution,  
925  **Com forth anon, and kneleth heere adoun,**  
 Come forth straightway, and kneel down here,  
926  **And mekely receyveth my pardoun;**  
 And meekly receive my pardon;  
927  **Or elles taketh pardoun as ye wende,**  
 Or else take pardon as you travel,  
928  **Al newe and fressh at every miles ende,**  
 All new and fresh at every mile's end,  
929  **So that ye offren, alwey newe and newe,**  
 Providing that you offer, again and again,  
930  **Nobles or pens, whiche that be goode and trewe.**  
 Gold coins or silver pennies, which are good and true.  
931  **It is an honour to everich that is heer**  
 It is an honor to every one that is here  
932  **That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer**  
 That you may have a pardoner with sufficient power  
933  **T' assoille yow in contree as ye ryde,**  
 To absolve you in the countryside as you ride,  
934  **For aventures whiche that may bityde.**  
 For accidents that may happen.  
935  **Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two**  
 Perhaps there may fall one or two  
936  **Doun of his hors and breke his nekke atwo.**  
 Down off his horse and break his neck in two.  
937  **Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle**  
 Look what a safeguard is it to you all  
938  **That I am in youre felaweshipe yfalle,**  
 That I happen to be in your fellowship,  
939  **That may assoille yow, bothe moore and lasse,**  
 Who can absolve you, both more and less (every one),  
940  **Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe.**  
 When the soul shall from the body pass.  
941  **I rede that oure Hoost heere shal bigynne,**  
 I advise that our Host here shall begin,  
942  **For he is moost envoluped in synne.**  
 For he is most enveloped in sin.  
943  **Com forth, sire Hoost, and offre first anon,**  
 Come forth, sir Host, and offer first right now,  
944  **And thou shalt kisse the relikes everychon,**  
 And thou shall kiss the relics every one,  
945  **Ye, for a grote! Unbokele anon thy purs."**  
 Yea, for a fourpence coin! Unbuckle thy purse right now."

946  **"Nay, nay!" quod he, "thanne have I Cristes curs!**  
 "Nay, nay!" he said, "then I will have Christ's curse!  
947  **Lat be," quod he, "it shal nat be, so theech!**  
 Let it be," he said, "it shall not be, as I may prosper!  
948  **Thou woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech,**  
 Thou would make me kiss thine old underpants,  
949  **And swere it were a relyk of a seint,**  
 And swear it was a relic of a saint,  
950  **Though it were with thy fundement depeint!**  
 Though it were stained by thy fundament!  
951  **But, by the croys which that Seint Eleyne fond,**  
 But, by the cross that Saint Helen found,  
952  **I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond**  
 I would I had thy testicles in my hand  
953  **In stide of relikes or of seintuarie.**  
 Instead of relics or a container for relics.  
954  **Lat kutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie;**  
 Have them cut off, I will help thee carry them;  
955  **They shul be shryned in an hogges toord!"**  
 They shall be enshrined in a hog's turd!"

956  **This Pardoner answerde nat a word;**  
 This Pardoner answered not a word;  
957  **So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.**  
 So angry he was, no word would he say.

958  **"Now," quod oure Hoost, "I wol no lenger pleye**  
 "Now," said our Host, "I will no longer joke  
959  **With thee, ne with noon oother angry man."**  
 With thee, nor with any other angry man."  
960  **But right anon the worthy Knyght bigan,**  
 But immediately the worthy Knight began,  
961  **Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough,**  
 When he saw that all the people laughed,  
962  **"Namoore of this, for it is right ynough!**  
 "No more of this, for it is right enough!  
963  **Sire Pardoner, be glad and myrie of cheere;**  
 Sir Pardoner, be glad and merry of cheer;  
964  **And ye, sire Hoost, that been to me so deere,**  
 And you, sir Host, who are so dear to me,  
965  **I prey yow that ye kisse the Pardoner.**  
 I pray you that you kiss the Pardoner.  
966  **And Pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer,**  
 And Pardoner, I pray thee, draw thyself nearer,  
967  **And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye."**  
 And, as we did, let us laugh and play."  
968  **Anon they kiste, and ryden forth hir weye.**  
 At once they kissed, and rode forth their way.

*Heere is ended the Pardoners tale.*