The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 303]

GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.

§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.

CAMBRIDGE MS.

[and begynneth þe tale

There was as tellith me Titus lyueus. A knyȝt/ þat clepid was Virgineus Fulfyllyd of honoures and of worþinesse And stronge of ffrendes and of grete rychesse [Sloane MS 1685 folio 178b] A douȝtyr/ he hade by hys wyf/ Line 5 And neuere hade he mo in alle hys lyf· ffayre was þis mayde in excellent beute A-bouen euery wyȝt/ þat man may see· Line 8 ffor nature haþe with souereyne diligence ffourmyd hir/ in so grete excellence As þouȝe she wolde say loo I nature Thus can I forme and peynt/ a creature Line 12 Whan þat/ me lyst/ who can me counterfet/ Pignalyon nouȝt þouȝe he alwey forge and bete Or graue or peynte for y dare wele sayne Apollus ȝepherus shulde worche in vayne Line 16 To graue or peynte or forge or bete ȝif/ þei presumyd me forto conterfete ffor he þat ys þe formour principal Hath made me his Viker/ general Line 20 To forme and peynte eche erthly creature Ryȝt/ as me lyste for alle thynge ys in my cure Vnder/ þe mone þat may wane or waxe And for my werke no þenge wille I axe Line 24

[6-text p 304] Line 24 My lord/ and I ben fully at accorde I made hir/ to þe worshipe of my lord So do I alle myne oþere creatures· Of what coloure þei be or what figures Line 28 þus semethe me þat nature wolle say This mayde was of/ age twelue ȝeere & twey In whiche þat nature hath suche delyte For riȝt/ as she can peynte as lyly white Line 32 And rudy as roose riȝt with suche paynture She paynteth hath þis noble creature Or she was borne vpon hir/ lymes fre Were also bryȝt/ as suche coloures shuld be Line 36 And Phebus dyed hade hir/ tressys grete Lyke to þe stremes of his bornyd heete And ȝif þat excellent was hir/ beaute· A þousand sithe more Vertuouse was she [Sloane MS 1685 folio 179a] Line 40 In her/ ne lacked no condicioun That/ ys to preyse as by discrecioun As wele in body as goste Chast was she ffor whiche she floured in Virgynite Line 44 With alle humilite and abstynence With alle temperance & pacience With mesure eke and berynge of array Discrete she was in answerynge alway Line 48 Though she were wys as Pallas dar I sayne hir/ faucond eke fulle womanly & pleyne None counterfetid termes hade she To seme wys but / aftyr/ hir/ degre Line 52 Sche spake alle hir/ wordes more and lesse Sounynge in vertu and in gentilnesse Constant in hert / and euere in besynesse Line 56 Schamefaste she was in maydens shamefastnesse Line 55 To dryue hir/ oute of hir/ slougardye Bacus hade of/ hir/ mouthe no Maystrie ffor wylle and þouȝt done Venus encrece As men in fyre wille casten oyle or grece Line 60

[6-text p 305] Line 60 And of/ hir/ owen vertu vnconstreyned She hathe fulle ofte tyme hir/ seeke feyned ffor þat she wolde fle þe companye Where likly was to treten of foly Line 64 As ys at feestes Reueles and at daunces þat/ bene occasions of/ dalyaunces Suche thynge maken · Chyldren for to be To sone rype and bolde as men may see Line 68 Whyche ys fulle peryllous and hath bene yore ffor alle to sone may she lerne lore Of/ boldenesse whan she ys a wyf And ȝe maystresses in youre olde lyf Line 72 þat/ lordes douȝters han in gouernaunce Ne taketh of/ my worde no displesaunce Thynges þat ben sette in gouernynges · Of lordes douȝters only for two thynges [Sloane MS 1685 folio 179b] Line 76 Ouþer for ȝe han kepte youre honeste Oþere elles ȝe han fallen in frelete And knowen wele ynouȝe þe olde daunce And conne for-sake fully myschaunce Line 80 ffor euermo · þerfore for crystes sake kepith wele þo · þat ȝe Vndirtake A theefe of veneson þat hath for-laft his lycouresnesse and alle his þefes craft Line 84 kan kepe a forest best/ of any man Nowe kepeth hem wel for and ȝe wele kan lokeþe wele þat to no vice ȝe assent Leest/ ȝe be dampned for youre euel entent Line 88 ffor who so dothe a traytour ys certayn And taketh of þat þat I shal sayn Of/ alle tresoun suffreyn pestelence Ys whan a wyȝt be-trayth Innocence Line 92 ȝe fadres and ȝe modres eke also Thogh ȝe haue Childre by it one or two Ȝoure ys þe charge of alle her/ sufferaunce Whiles þei bene vnder/ gouernaunce Line 96

[6-text p 306] Line 96 Be ware þat be ensample of/ youre liuynge Outher by necligence of Chastisynge That þei ne peryssh for I dare wele say Ȝif þat/ þei done ȝe shulle fulle sore obeye Line 100 Vnder .a. sheperd softe and necligente The wolfe hath many an sheepe & lambe to-rente Suffiseth on · ensample nowe as here ffor I mote turne a-yeyne to my matere Line 104 Thys mayde of whiche I telle my tale expresse Sche kepte hir selfe hir/ nedeth no maystresse ffor in hir lyuynge maydens myȝt/ rede As in a booke euery gode worde & dede Line 108 That longethe to a mayde vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bounteuous · ffor whiche oute spronge on euery syde Bothe of hir/ beaute and of hir/ bounte wyde [Sloane MS 1685 folio 180a] Line 112 þat/ þorouȝe þe londe þei preysed hir eccheone That/ louyd vertu safe Envie allone þat/ sorye ys of oþere mennes wele And glad ys of hys sorowe and vnhele Line 116 The docture maketh þis discripcioun Thys mayde wente on a day into þe toun Toward þe temple with hir/ moder/ dere As ys of yonge maydens þe manere Line 120 // Now was þere a Iustice in þe toun þat/ gouernour was of þat regioun And so by-felle thys Iuge hys eyȝen caste Vpon þis mayde avisynge hir/ fulle faste Line 124 As she come forth by þere þe Iuge stoode A-none his hert chaungeth and hys mode So was he/ cauȝt/ with beaute of þis mayde And to hym · self/ fulle pryuely he saide Line 128 Thys mayde shalle be myne for ony man A-noone þe feende in-to hys hert/ ranne And tauȝte hym sodeynly by/ what sleiȝt/ þe mayde to hys purpos wynne he myȝt/ Line 132

[6-text p 307] Line 132 ffor certes by no force ne by no mede hym þouȝt he was not able for to spede ffor he was stronge of frendes and eke she Confermyd was in suche souereyne beaute Line 136 þat/ wele he wyste he myȝt/ hir/ nevere wynne As for to make hir with hir/ body synne ffor whiche with grete deliberacioun he sent/ aftyr/ a Clerk/ in-to þe toun Line 140 The whiche he knewe for sotelle and for bolde Thys Iuge vnto þis Clerk his tale hathe tolde I secre wyse and made hym to assure he shulde telle it to no creature Line 144 And ȝif/ he did he shulde lese hys hede Whan ascented was þis cursid reede Glad was þe Iuge and made glad chere And ȝafe hym ȝiftes precious & dere [Sloane MS 1685 folio 180b] Line 148 Whan shapen was alle þis conspiracie ffrom poynt to poynt how þat his lecherie Perfourmed shulde be fulle sotelly As ȝe shalle here and afterward opunly Line 152 home gothe þis. Clerk þat hiȝt Claudius. Thys false Iuge þat/ hiȝt Apius. So was hys name for it ys no fable But/ knowen for an historialle þenge notable Line 156 The sentence of/ hit · sothe ys oute of/ doute Thys false Iuge gothe nowe faste a-boute To hasten his delyte al þat/ he may And so by-felle sone after/ on a day Line 160 Thys false Iuge as tellethe vs þe storie As he was wonte sat in his consistorie And ȝaue his domes vpon sundry caas. This false clerke come forthe a wele gode paas. Line 164 And said lord ȝif it be youre wille Ȝis dothe me riȝt/ vpon þis pitous bille] In which I pleyne vp-on virginius [folio 302a] And ȝif he wele seyn it is not thus Line 168

[6-text p 308] Line 168 I wele it preue / & fynde it good witnesse That soth is that myn bille wele expresse The Iuge answerde / of this in his absence I may not ȝeue diffynytiue sentence Line 172 Lat do hym calle & I wele gladli here Thow schalt haue alle ryȝt & no wrong heere Virgynyus cam to wete the Iugis wille And ryȝt a-non was rad this curssede bylle Line 176 The sentence of it was as ȝe schul here To ȝow myn lord sire apius so deere Schewith ȝoure poure seruaun[t] claudyus How that a knygh[t] / callyd virgynyus Line 180 A-geyns the lawe a-geyn alle equyte Holdyth expres a-geyn the wil of me Myn seruant which that ¹is myn¹ thral be ryȝt Whiche from myn hous was stole vp-on a nyȝt Line 184 Whil that sche was ful ȝyng this wele I preue By witnesse lord so that it nat ȝow greue Sche nys his doughty[r]/ nat what so he seye Wherefore to ȝow myn lord ȝe Iuge I preye Line 188 Ȝilde me my thral / ȝif þat it be ȝoure wille Lo this was al the sentens of his bille Virginius gan vp-on the cherl be-holde But hastyly er he his tale tolde Line 192 And wolde a preued it as schulde a knyȝt And ek by witnesse of manye a wight That it was fals that seyde his aduersarye This cursede Iuge wolde no thyng tarye Line 196 Ne here a word more of virginius But ȝaf his Iugement & seyde thus I deme a-noon / this cherl his seruaunt haue Thow schalt no lengere / in thyn hous here saue³ Go brynge hire forth / & putte hire in owere warde Line 201 This cherl schal han / his thral this I awrarde And whan this worthi / knyȝt virgynyus Thour sentence / of this Iustyse Apyus Line 204

[6-text p 309] Line 204 Muste be forse his dere douȝtyr ȝeuy [folio 302b] Vn-to the Iuge in lecherye to lyuyn He goth hym hom & settyth hym in his halle And leet a-non his deere douȝtyr calle Line 208 And with a face ded as aschyn colde Vp-on hire humble face he gan by-holde With faderys pite styngynge thour his herte Al wolde he not from his purpos conuerte Line 212 Douȝtyr quod he virginia bi thyn name There been two woyis othir ded or schame That þou muste suffere allas that I was bore ffor neuere thow deseruedist wherefore Line 216 To deyen with a swerd or wit a knyf O deere douȝtyr endere of myn lyf Which I haue fostered vp with swich plesaunce That thow were neuere out of myn remembraunce Line 220 O douȝtyr which that art myn laste wo And in myn lyf myn laste Ioye also O gemme of chastite in pacience Take thow thyn deth for this is myn sentence Line 224 ffor loue & not for hate þou muste be deed Myn pitous hand mote smytyn of thyn heed Allas that euere apius the say Thus hath he falsely Iuged the to day Line 228 And tolde hire al the case as ȝe be-fore Han herd / nought nedyth for to telle it more. O mercy dere fadyr quod this mayde. Line 231 And with that word sche bothe hire armys layde Aboute his nekke as sche was wont to do. The teris broste out of hise eyen two And seyde goode fadyr schal I deye Is there no grace is there no remedye Line 236 No certis dere douȝtyr myn quod he Thanne ȝeue me leue fadyr myn quod sche Myn deth for to compleyne a lytyl space Parde Iepte ȝaf his douȝtyr grace Line 240

[6-text p 310] Line 240 ffor to compleyne er he hire slow allas And god it wot no thyng was hire trespas [But þat she ranne hir/ fadir/ fyrst/ to see To welcome hym with grete sollempnite Line 244 And with þat worde she felle on swoune a-noone And aftyr/ whan hir/ swonynge was gone Sche risethe vp and to hir/ fadir/ sayde Blessyd be god þat I shalle deye a mayde Line 248 ȝif/ me my dethe or þat/ I haue a shame Dothe with youre childe youre wille of goddes name And with þat worde she praythe fulle ofte þat with his swerde he shulde smyte hir/ softe Line 252 And with þat/ worde on swone doune she felle Hir fadyr/ with fulle sorowfulle hert/ and fel Hir/ heede of/ smote and by þe top it hent/ And to þe Iuge he yaue it/ to present [Sloane MS 1685 folio 182a] Line 256 As he sat in hys dome in consistorie What þe Iuge it sawe as saithe þe storie He bade take hym and honge hym also faste But riȝt/ a-noon alle þe peple in þraste Line 260 To saue þe knyȝt/ for reuthe and for pite ffor knowen was þe folys Iniquyte The peple a-none hade suspecte in þis thynge By manere of thys Clerkes chalengynge Line 264 That it was by þe assent/ of Apius· They wyste wele þat he was lecherous· ffor whiche vnto þis Apius þei gone And kysten hym in prison riȝt anone Line 268 Where as he slouȝe hym self/ and claudius þat seruaunt was vnto þis apius. Was demed for [to] hange vpon a tre But Virgineus of/ his grete pite Line 272 Prayde for hym þat he was exiled And elles certes he hade be begyled· The remenaunt were honged more & lesse þat consentid weren to his cursidnesse Line 276

[6-text p 311] Line 276 here may men see how synne hathe hys merite Be ware for no man wote howe god wille smyte In no degre ne in whiche manere wyse· The worme of conscience wylle aryse Line 280 Of wycked lyf/ þouȝe it/ so preue be þat/ no man woote of hit but god and he. Wheþere he be lewed man or leryd he note howe sone þat he may ben a-feryd· Line 284 Therfore I rede you þis counselle take ffor-sakeþe synne or synne you for-sake

Here endethe þe tale of þe Mayster of phisyk/

[6-text p 312]

[Here begynneth þe prologge of/ þe Perdonere

[Sloane MS 1685 folio 182]

Oure oste gan swere as he were woode Harrowe quod he by nayles and by bloode Line 288 Thys was a false Clerk/ and a false Iustice As shamefulle deth as tonge can deuyse [Sloane MS 1685 folio 182b] Come to þe Iustice and hir/ aduocase Algate þis sely woman ys slayne Alas. Line 292 Alas [to] dere a-bouȝte she Bewte Wherfore I say al day þat men may see þat ȝift/ of fortune or of nature Ben cause of/ dethe of many a creature Line 296 . . . . . . . . . . As bothe ȝiftes as I speke of nowe Men han fulle ofte more harme þen prowe Line 300 But/ truly myn owen Maystre dere Thys ys a pitous tale forto here But natheles passe ouere ys no force I pray to god so saue þi gentel corse Line 304 And þine vrynales/ and þyne Ioudans Thyne ypocras and eke þi galyans· And euery Boxe fulle of þi letuary God blesse hem and oure lady seynt/ mary Line 308 So mot I the þou art/ a propre man And I-lyke a prelate be seynt Runyan Saue þat/ I kon not/ speke wele in terme But/ wele I woote þou doest/ myn hert erme Line 312 þat/ I haue almoste cauȝt a Cardiache By corps bones but/ yf/ I haue treacle Or. elles a drauȝt/ of moost or corny ale Or but/ I here a-none a mery tale Line 316

[6-text p 313] Line 316 My hert/ ys loste for pite of þis mayde Than belamy Iohn perdoner/ he sayd Telle vs some myrthe or some Iapes here anone hit shal be done quod he by seynt/ runyon Line 320 But first/ quod/ he at þe next/ ale stake I wol bothe dryng and ete of a kake But/ riȝt anone þise gentelys gan to crye Nay let/ hym telle vs of/ no rebaudrye Line 324 Tel vs some moral thenge þat/ we may here Some wytte and þan wille we gladly here I graunte I-wys quod he but/ I mot/ thynke Vpon some honest/ thynge whyle þat I drynke [Sloane MS 1685 folio 183a] Line 328

[Here] endeth þe Prolooge

[6-text p 314]

and begynneth þe tale

[Sloane MS 1685 folio 183]

[Lor]dynges quod/ he in Chirche whan I preche [I] peyne me to haue an hautyn speche [And] rynge it/ oute as rounde as goth a belle ffor I con alle by roote þat I telle Line 332 [My teme] ys alle-way on and euere was Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas ffyrst/ I pronounce whens þat I come And þan my bulles shewen alle and somme Line 336 Oure lege lordes seal on my patent þat/ shewe I fyrst/ my body to warant/ That no man be so bolde prest nor Clerk Me to disturbe of/ crystes holy werke Line 340 And after þat telle I forthe my tales Bulles of Popes and of/ Cardynales Of Patryarkes and Bysshopes I shewe And in laten I speke wordes fewe Line 344 To sauere with my predicacioun And forto styrre men to deuocioun þan shewe I forth my longe Cristal stones I-crommed fulle of/ cloutys and of bones Line 348 Relikes þei bene as wene þei ychone þan haue I in laton a shulder bone Whiche þat was an holy Iewes shepe Goode men say I take at my wordes kepe Line 352 ȝif þat þis bone be wasshen in a welle ȝif/ cowe or Calf/ shepe or Ox swelle þat any worme hathe ete or stonge A-boute þe herte or elles þe longe Line 356

[6-text p 315] Line 356 And it is hole a-none and ferthermore Of/ pockes and of scabbe and of/ euery sore Shall euery shepe be hole þat of þis welle Drenkyth a draught/ take hede what I telle Line 360 Ȝif þat þe godeman þat þe bestes ouȝte Wolle euery wooke or þat/ þe Cok/ hym crouthe/ ffastynge drynke of/ þis welle a drauȝt/ [Sloane MS 1685 folio 183b] As þilke holy Iewe oure eldres tauȝt/ Line 364 hys beestes and hys store shal multeplie And sires also it heleth Ielousey And þouȝe a man be fallen in a Ielouse rage let maken with þis water/ hys potage Line 368 And neuere shal he hys wyf mystruste Thouȝe he þe sothe of his defaute wyste Alle hade she taken preestes two or thre here ys a myteyne eke þat/ ye may se Line 372 he þat/ hys honde wylle putte in his myteyne he shalle haue multiplyenge in his greyne Whan he hathe sowen be it Whete or Otes So þat/ he brynge me gode pans or elles grotes Line 376 And men and women oo þenge I warne you Ȝif/ ony wiȝt/ be in þis Chirche nowe þat/ hathe done synne horrible þat/ he Dare not/ for shame of it/ shryuen be Line 380 Or ony woman be she yonge or olde þat/ hath made hir/ husbonde Cokewolde Suche folke shul haue no power ne no grace To offre to my relleckes in þis place Line 384 And who fyndeth hym oute of suche blame They wol come vp and offre in goddes name] And I assolie hym be the autorite [folio 305a] Which that by bulle is grauntid on-to me Line 388 By this gaude haue I wonne ȝeer be ȝeer An hunderede mark sythe I was pardounneer I stonde lyk a clerk in myn pulpet And whan that the lewede peple is doun I-set Line 392

[6-text p 316] Line 392 I preche so as ȝe han herd by-fore And telle an hunderede false Iapis more Thanne peyne I me to streche forth myn nekke And est & west vp-on the peple I bekke Line 396 As doth a douue syttynge on a berne Mynne handys & myn tunge goon so ȝerne That it is Ioye to se myn besynesse Of auarice & of swich cursedenesse Line 400 Is al myn prechyng for to makyn hem fre To ȝeuyn here penys & nameli on-to me ffor myn entent is not but for to wynne And no thyng for correccioun of synne Line 404 I rekke neuere whanne that they been beryed Thow tha^t here soulis goon a blakeberyed ffor certis manye a predicacioun Comyth ofte of euele entencioun Line 408 Some for plesaunce of folk & flaterye To been a-vansed be ypocrysie And some for veynglorie & some for hate And whanne I dar non othere woyis debate Line 412 Thanne wele I stynge men with myn tunge smerte In prechynge so that I schal nat a-sterte To been defamyd falsely that he Hath trespased to myne brothir or to me Line 416 ffor thow I telle nat his proper name Men schal wel knowe þat it is the same By sygnys & be othere circumstauncis Thus quyte I folk that don vs displesauncis Line 420 Thus spitte I out myn venym vndyr hewe Of holynesse to semyn holy & trewe But schortely myn entent I wele deuyse I preche of no thyng but of coueytyse Line 424 Therefore myn teme is ȝit & euere was [folio 305b] Radix malorum est cupiditas Thus can I preche a-ȝen the same vice Whiche that I vse & that is aueryce Line 428

[6-text p 317] Line 428 But thow myn self be gilty in that synne Ȝit can I make othere folk to twynne ffrom aueryce & sore to repente But that is nat myn pryncipal entente Line 432 I preche no thyng but for coueytyse Of this matire it ouȝte I-nogh suffise Thanne telle I hem ensaumplys many on Of olde storyis long tyme a goon Line 436 ffor lewede peple louyn talys olde Sweche thyngis can they wel reporte & holde What trowe ȝe that whilis that I may preche And wynne gold & syluyr for I teche Line 440 That I wele lyue in pouerte wilfully Nay nay I thouȝte it neuere trewely ffor I wele preche & begge in sundery landis I wele don no labour with mynne handys Line 444 Ne make basketys & lyue therby By cause I wele nat beggen ydely I wele none of the apostelys countyrfete I wele haue monye / wolle / cheese / & wheete Line 448 Al weere it ȝeuyn of the poreste page Or of the poreste wedew in a village Al schulde hire chylderyn sterue for famyne Nay I wele drynke licour of the vyne Line 452 And haue a Ioly wenche in euery toun But herkenyth lordyngis in conclusioun Ȝoure lykynge is that I schal telle a tale Now haue I dronke a draught of corny ale Line 456 By god I hope I schal ȝowe telle a thyng That schal be resoun been at ȝoure lykyng ffor thow myn self be a ful vicious man A moral tale ȝit I ȝow telle can Line 460 Whiche I am wonet to preche for to wynne Now holde ȝoure pes myn tale I wele begynne

[6-text p 318]

Here begynnyth the Pardounner his tale [folio 306a]

IN flanderys whilhom dwellede a cumpaynye Of ȝonge folk that hauntedyn folye Line 464 As ryot hasard stewys & tauernys Where as with harpys lutys & geternys They daunce & pleye at deis bothe day & nyght And ete & drynke also ouyr here myȝt Line 468 Thoure whiche they don the deuyl sacryfise With-inne that deuyll ²temple in² cursede wyse By superfluyte / abominable Here othis been so greete & so dampnable Line 472 That it is gresely for to here hem swere Oure blyssede lordis body they to-tere Hem thouȝte that Iewis rente hym not I-nough And eche of hem at otherys synne lough Line 476 And thanne ryȝt a-non / comyn Tumbesteris ffetyse & smale & ȝynge frutesteris Syngeris with harpis / Baudis wafereris Line 479 Whiche been / the ³werray devill offiserys³ To kyndele & blowe the fyr of lecherye [folio 306b] That is annexed on-to Glotenye The holy writ take I to witnesse That luxurye is in wyn & dronkenesse Line 484 Lo how that dronkyn looth vnkyndely Lay by his doughterys two on-wityngely So dronke he was he nyste what he wrouȝte Herodes who so weel the storyis souȝte Line 488 . . . . .

[6-text p 319] Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste Line 489 Rygh at his owene table he ȝaf his heste To slen the Baptist Iohn ful gilteles Senek seyth a good word douteles Line 492 He seyth he can no difference fynde By-twixe a man that is out of his mynde And a man which that is dronkelewe But that wodnesse I-fallyn in a schrewe Line 496 Perseueryth lengere than doth dronkenesse O glotenye ful of cursedenesse O cause fyrst of oure confusioun O original of oure dampnacioun Line 500 Til Cryst hadde bouȝt vs with his blod a-geyn Lo how deere schortely for to seyn Abovghte was thilk cursede vilanye Corrup was al this world for glotenye Line 504 Adam oure fadyr & his wif also ffrom paradys to labour & to wo Were dreuyn for that vice it is no drede ffor whil that adam fasted as I rede Line 508 He was in paradys / & thil that he Eet of the freut defendit of the tre A-non he was out cast to wo & pyne O glotenye on the / wel ouȝte vs pleyne Line 512 O wiste a man how manye maladyis ffolewyn of exces & of glotenyis He wolde been the moore mesurable Of his dyete syttynge at his table Line 516 Allas the schorte throte the tendere mouth Makyth that est & west & north & South In erthe in Ayr / in watyr men to swynke [folio 307a] To gete a glotoun / deinte mete & drynke Line 520 Of this matire / O paul weel canst thow trete Mete on-to wombe / & wombe weel vn-to mete Schal god distroyen / bothe as paul seyth Allas a foul thyng is it / be myn feith Line 524

[6-text p 320] Line 524 To seye this word / & foulere is the dede Whan man so drynkyth / of the white & reede That of his throte / he makyth his priue Thurgh thilke cursede / superfluite Line 528 The apostele wepynge / seyth ful pytously T[h]ere walkyn manye / of whiche ȝow told haue I I seye it now / wepynge with pitous woys There been enemyis / of crystis croys Line 532 Of whiche the ende is deth / wombe is here god O wombe / O bely / O stynkynge Cod ffulfyld of dunge & of corrupcioun At eythyr ende of the foul is the soun Line 536 How greet labour & cost is the to fynde These cookis how they stampe & streyne & grynde And turnyn substauns in-to accident To fulfille al the lykerous talent Line 540 Out of the harde bonys knokke they The mary for thei caste nat a-wey That may goon thurgh the golet softe & soote Of spicerye / of lef / of bark / of roote Line 544 Schal been his saus / makyd bi delyt To make hym ȝit / a newere apetit But certis he that / hauntyth swyche delicis Is ded whil that he / lyuyth in swiche vicis Line 548 A lecherous thyng / is wyn and dronkenesse Is ful of stryuyng & of wrechedenesse O dronke man / disfigured is thyn face Sour is thyn breth / foul art þou to enbrace Line 552 And thour thyn dronke nose / semyth the soun As thow þou seydyst euere / sampsoun Sampsoun And ȝit god wot/ Sampsoun drank neuere no wyn Thow fallist / as it weere a stekyd swyn Line 556 Thyn tunge is lost & al thyn honeste cure [folio 307b] ffor drunkenesse is verray sepulture Oof mannys wit & his discrecioun In whom that drynk hath dominacioun Line 560

[6-text p 321] Line 560 He can no conseyl kepe it is no drede Now kepe ȝow from the white & from the reede And namely from the white wyn of lepe That is to selle in fiche streete or in Chepe Line 564 This wyn of spayne crepyth subtily In othere wynys growynge faste by Of which there rysith swich fumosite That whan a man haue dronkyn drauȝtis thre Line 568 And weneth that he be at hom in chepe He is in spayne ryȝt at the toun of leepe Nat at rochel / ne at burdeux toun And thanne wele he seye sampsoun sampsoun Line 572 But herkenyth lordyngis o word I ȝow preye That alle the souereyn actis dar I seye Of victoryis in the olde testament Thurgh verray god that is omnypotent Line 576 Were don in abstinence & in preyere Lokyth the bible & there ȝe may it leere Loke attilla the greete conquerour Deyede in his slep / with schame & dishonour Line 580 Bledynge at his nose in dronkenesse A Capitayn schulde leue in soberenesse And ouyr al this / aviseth ȝow ryȝt weel What was comaundit to Lamuel Line 584 Nat Samuel but Lamuel seye I Redyth the byble / & fynde it expresly Of wyn ȝeuynge to hem that han iustise Namore of this for it may I-nough suffyse Line 588 And now that I haue spokyn of glotenye Now wele I ȝow defende hasarderye Hasard is verray modyr of lesyngis And of disseyd & cursede forsweryngis Line 592 Blaspheme of Cryst manslauȝt & wast also Of catel of tyme / & ferthere mo ¶ It is repref & contrarye to honour [folio 308a] ffor to ben holdyn a comoun hasardour Line 596

[6-text p 322] Line 596 And euere the heyere he is of ¹estat¹ The moore is he holdyn desolat ȝif that a prynce vseth hasarderye In alle gouernaunce & polycie Line 600 He is as be comune opinioun I-holde the lesse in reputacioun Stilboun þat was a wys Embassadour Was sent to Corenthe in ful greet honour Line 604 ffrom latidomye to makyn hire allyaunce And whan he cam hym happede par chaunce That alle the gretteste that were of that lond Pleyinge at the hasard he hem fond Line 608 ffor which as soone as it myghte be He stal hym hom a-geyn in-to his cuntre ¶ And seyde there wel I nat leese myn name Nay wil nat take on me so greet diffame Line 612 Ȝow for to a-lye vn-to none hasardourys Sendyth othere wyse embassadourys ffor be myn trouthe me were leuere dye Than I ȝow schulde to hasardourys alye Line 616 ffor ȝe that been so gloryous in honourys Schal not a-lye ȝow to hasardourys By myn wil ne as bi myn tretee This wyse philisophere thus seyde he Line 620 Loke ek that to the kyng demetryus The kyng of Parthes as the bok seyth vs Sente hym a payre of deis of gold in scorn ffor he hadde vsed hasard there by-forn Line 624 ffor which he held his glorye or his renoun At no valu or reputacioun ¶ Lordis may fynde other maner pley Honeste I-now to dryue the day a-wey Line 628 Now wele I speke of othes false & greete A word or two as olde bokys trete Greet swerynge is a thyng abhominable And fals swerynge ²is ȝit² more repreuable Line 632

[6-text p 323] Line 632 The hye god forbad swerynge at al [folio 308b] Witnesse of Mathew but in special Of swerynge seyth the holy Ieremye Thow schalt swere soth thynne othis & not lye Line 636 And swere in dom & ek in ryghtwysnesse But ydele swerynge is a cursedenesse Bi-hold & se that in the ferste table Of heye goddys hestis honurable Line 640 How that the secounde heste of hym is this Take nat myn name in idil or a-mys Lo rathere he forbedyth sweche swerynge Than homyside or manye a cursede thyng Line 644 I seye that as by ordere thus it standith This knowith that his bokys vndirstonde How that the secunde heste of god is that And ferthere ouyr / I wele the telle al plat Line 648 That vengeaunce schal nat passe from his hous That of hise othis is to outrageous By godys precyus herte & by hise naylys And by the blod o crist that is in haylys Line 652 Seuene is myn chaunce / & thyn is synk & treye By godys armys ȝif thow falsely pheye This daggar schal thorgh out thyn herte go This freut comyth of þe bicche bonys two Line 656 fforswerynge Ire falsenesse homysyde Now for the loue of cryst þat for vs deyede Leveth ȝoure swerynge bothe greete & smale But serys now wele I telle forth myn tale Line 660 Theise riotourys thre of whiche I telle Longe erst er pryme rong the belle Were sett hem in a tauerne to drynke Line 663 And as the[y] sat / they herde a belle ²clynke² By-forn a cors was caryed to his graue That on of hem gan callyn to his knaue Go bet quod he and axe redyly What cors is this that caryed is forby Line 668

[6-text p 324] Line 668 And loke that thow reporte his name wel Sere quod this boy it nedyth neuere a deel It was me told er ȝe cam here thre ouris [folio 309a] He was parde an old felawe of ouris Line 672 And sodeynly he was I-slayn to nyght ffor-dronke as he sat on his bench vp ryȝt There cam a priue thef men clepyn deth That in this cuntre al the peple sleth Line 676 And with his spere he smot his herte atwo And wente his weie with-outyn wordis mo And maystir er ȝe come in his presence Line 680 He hath a thousent slayn this pestelence Line 679 Methynkyth that it were necessarye ffor to ben war of swich an aduersarye Beth redy for to mete hym euere more Thus thaute me myn dame I seye nomore Line 684 Be seynte marie seyde this tauernere The child seyth soth for he hath slayn this ȝere Hene ouyr a myle with-inne a greet village Bothe man & woman child & hewe & page Line 688 I trowe his habitacioun be there To been a-vised greet wisdam it weere Er that he deyede a man a dishonour ¶ Ye goddis armys quod this riotour Line 692 Is it swich peril with hym for to mete I schal hym seeke by woye & ek bi streete I make a wow to goddys digne bonys Herkenyth felawis we thre been a-lonys Line 696 Lat ych of vs holdyn vp his hand to othir And eche of vs bi-comyn otherys brothir And we wele sleen this false traytour deth He schal been slayn he that so manye sleth Line 700 By godis dygnete er it be nygh To-gederys han these thre here treuthes plyght To lyuyn & deyen eche of hem with othyr As though he were his owe bore brothir Line 704

[6-text p 325] Line 704 And vp they stertyn & dronkyn in this rage And forth they gon towardys that village Of whiche the tauerner hadde spoke by-forn And manye a gresely oth thanne han they sworn Line 708 And crystis blyssede body they to-rente [folio 309b] Deth schal ben ded ȝif they may hym hente Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle Ryght as they woldyn a trodyn ouyr a style Line 712 An old man & a poure ¹with hem¹ mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette And seydyn thus now lordis god ȝow see The proudeste of these ryatourys three Line 716 Answerede a-gayn what cherl with sory grace Why art thow for-wrappid saue thyn face Why lyggist thow so longe in so greet age This olde man gan lokyn in his visage Line 720 And seyde thus for I ne can nat fynde A man thow I walkede in-to ynde Neythir in cete ne in non village That wolde chaunge his ȝouthe for myn age Line 724 And therfore mote I holde myn age stylle As long tyme as it is godys wille Ne deth allas wele nat han myn lyf Thus walke I lych a recheles caytyf Line 728 And on the ground whiche is myn moderys gate I knokke with myn staf bothe erly & late And seye leue modyr lete me in Lo how I vanyche bothe flesch & blood & skyn Line 732 Allas whanne schal myne bonys been at reste Modyr with ȝow wolde I schaunge myn cheste That in myn chaumbre long tyme hath be Ȝa for an heyre clout to wrappe me Line 736 But ȝit to me ȝe wele nat do that grace ffor which ful pale & welkid is myn face But syrys to ȝow it is no curteysye To spekyn to an old man vilanye Line 740

[6-text p 326] Line 740 But he trespace in word or ellis in dede In holy wryt ye may youre seluyn weel reede [A-geyns an olde man / hoor vp-on his hed Ȝe shulde aryse / wherfore I ȝeue ȝow red [Cambr. MS Dd. 4. 24 folio 147a] ] Line 744 Ne doth vn-to an old man noon harm now Na more than ȝe wolde men dede to ȝow In age ȝif that ȝe so longe a-byde And god be wyth ȝow where ȝe go or ryde Line 748 I mot go thedyr there I haue to go [folio 310a] ¶ Nay olde cherl by god thow schat nat so Seyde this othir hasardour a-non Thow partist nat so lyȝtely by seynt Iohn Line 752 Thow speke ryȝt now of thilke traytour deth That in oure cuntre alle oure frendys sleth Haue here myn treuthe as thow art his espie Telle where he is / or / thow schalt it a-bye Line 756 By god & by holye sacrement ffor sothly thow art of his assent To sleen vs ȝonge folk thow false thef Now seris quod he syn that ye be so lef Line 760 To fynde deth turne vp this crokede wey ffor in that groue I lefte hym by myn fey Vndyr a tre & there he wolde a-byde Nat for youre bost he wele hym nat hyde Line 764 Se ye that ook ryȝt there ye schul hym fynde God saue yow that boughte a-ȝen man-kynde And ȝow a-mende thus seyde this olde man ¶ And eueryche of these ryotourys ran Line 768 Til they come to that tre & there they founde Of floreynys fyne of gold I-coynede rounde Wel nygh an viij buschellis as hem thouȝte No lengere thanne aftyr deth they souȝte Line 772 But eche of hem so glad was of the syght ffor that floreynys been so fayre & bryȝt That doun they sette hem by this precious hord The werste of hem spak the ferste word Line 776

[6-text p 327] Line 776 Bretheryn quod he thyng what I seye Myn wit is greet thow that I borde & pleye This tresore hath fortune vn-to vs ȝeuyn In myrthe & Iolyte oure lyf to leuyn Line 780 And lyghtely as it comyth so wele we spende Ey godys precyous dignetee ho wende To day that we schuldyn han so fayr grace But myghte this gold been caryed from this place Line 784 Hom to myn hous or ellys vn-to ȝourys ffor weel ȝe wot that al this gold is ourys Thanne were we in high felicite [folio 310b] But treweli by day it may nat be Line 788 Men woldyn seyn that we were thevis stronge And for oure owene tresore doon vs honge This tresore muste Icaryede been by nyght As wysely & as slyly as men myght Line 792 Therefore I rede that cut a-mong vs alle Be drawe & lat se where the cut wele falle And he that hat the cut with herte blythe Schal renne to tounne & that ful swythe Line 796 And brynge vs breed & wyn pryuyly And two of vs schal kepen subtily This tresor wel / if he wele nat tarye Whan it is nyght we wele this tresore carye Line 800 By on assent / where as vs thynkyth best That on of hem the Cut brouȝte in his fest And bad hem drawe & loke wheere it wolde falle And it fel on the ȝongest of hem alle Line 804 And forth toward the toun he wente a-non And al so soone as þat he was goon That oon of hem spak on-to that othyr Thow knowyst weel thow art myn swore brothir Line 808 Thyn profyt wele I telle the a-noon Thow wist weel that oure falawe is goon And heere is gold & that ful greet plentee That schal departid be a-mong vs three Line 812

[6-text p 328] Line 812 But natheles If I can speke it so That it departyd were a-mong vs two Hadde I nat doon a frendys turn to thee That othir answerde I not how that may bee Line 816 He wot that the gold is with vs tweye What schal we do what schal we to hym seye Schal it be conseyl seyde the ferste schrewe And I schal tellyn in a wordys fewe Line 820 What we schal doon & brynge it weel a-boute I graunte quod that othyr out of doute That by myn trouthe I wele the nat by-wrye Now quod he thow wost weel that we ben twye Line 824 And two of vs schal strengere been than oon [folio 311a] Loke whan he is set that ryȝt a-noon Arys as thow woldys with hym pleye And I schal ryue hym thour the sydys tweye Line 828 Whil that thow strogelyst with hym as in game And with thyn daggere loke thow do the same And thanne schal al this gold departid be Myn deere frend be-twixe me & the Line 832 Thanne may we bothe oure lustis al fulfylle And pleye at the deis ryȝt at oure owene wille And thus acordede been these schrewys tweye To sleen the thredde as ȝe han herd me seye Line 836 ¶ This ȝongeste wyght that wente to the toun fful ofte in hese herte he rollede vp & doun The beute of the floreynys newe & brighte O lord quod he If so were that I myȝte Line 840 Haue al thes tresor to myn self a-lone There is no man that lyuyth vndyr the trone Of good that schulde liue so merye as I And at the laste the fend oure enemy Line 844 Put in his herte / that he schulde poysounne ²beye² With whiche he myghte sleen hise felawis tweye ffor why the fend fond hym in swich lyuynge That he hadde leue hem to sorwe brynge Line 848

[6-text p 329] Line 848 This was vttyrly his entente To slen hem bothe & neuere to repente And forth he goth no lengere wolde he tarye In-to the toun vn-to a potecarye Line 852 And preyede hym that he hym wolde selle Sum poysoun that he myȝte hise rattis quelle And eek there was a polkat in his hawe That as he seyde his capounnys hadde he slawe Line 856 And fayn he wolde wreke hym ȝif he myȝte On vermyn that destroyede hym be nyghte ¶ The potecarye answerde & thow schalt haue A thyng that also god myn soule saue Line 860 In al this world there is no creature That etyn or drynk of this confyture Nat but the moutenaunce of a corn of wheete [folio 311b] That he schal his lyf a-noon for-leete Line 864 Ya sterue he schal and that in lasse while Than thow wylt gon a pas nat but a myle The poysoun is so strong & violent ¶ This cursede man hath in his hond I-hent Line 868 The poysoun in a box & sythe he ran In-to the nexte streete vn-to a man And borwede hym large botellys tre And in the two his pousoun pourede he Line 872 The thredde he kepte clene for his drynk ffor al the nygh[t] he schop hym for to swynk In caryinge of that gold out of that place And whan this ryotour with sory grace Line 876 Hadde fylled wyth wyn hise greete botellis thre To hise felas a-geyn repayrede hee ¶ What neede of it to sarmone moore ffor ryȝt as they hadde cast his deth byfore Line 880 Rygh[t] so they han hym slayn & that a-noon And whan this was doon thus spak that oon Now lat vs sitte & drynke & make vs merye And aftyr that we wele his body berye Line 884

[6-text p 330] Line 884 And with that word it happede hym percas To take the botel there the poysoun was And drank & ȝaf his felawe d[r]ynke also ffor whiche a-noon they storve bothe two Line 888 ¶ But certys I suppose that Aucyen Wrot neuere in no canoun ne in no fen Mo wondere sygnys of enpoysounnynge Than hadde these wrechis two er hire endynge Line 892 Thus endede been these homycidis two And ek the false enpoysonere also ¶ O cursede synne of alle cursedenesse O traytourys homycyde / o wikkedenesse Line 896 O glotonye / luxurye / & hasarderye Thow blasphemere of cryst with vilonye And othis greete of vsage & of pryde Allas mankynde how may it betyde Line 900 That to thyn creatour whiche that the wrough [folio 312a] And with hise precious blood the bough Thow art so fals & so vnkynde allas Now goode men god for-ȝeue ȝow ȝoure trespas Line 904 And ware ȝow from the synne of aueryce Myn holy pardoun may ȝow alle waryce So that ȝe offere / noblis or starlyngis Or ellys syluyr sponys brochis ryngis Line 908 Bowith ȝoure heed vndyr this holy bulle Comyth vp ȝe wyuys offerith of ȝoure wolle Ȝoure name I entere here in myn rolle a-non In-to the blysse of heuene schul ȝe gon Line 912 I ȝow assoyle by myn heye power Yow that wele offere as clene & eek as cleer As ȝe weryn born & lo seris thus I preche And Ihesu cryst that is oure soulys leche Line 916 So graunte ȝow his pardoun to resceyue ffor that is best I wele ȝou nat disceyue But seris on word forgat I in myn tale I haue relikys & pardoun in myn male Line 920

[6-text p 331] Line 920 As fayre as ony man in yngeland Whiche were me ȝouyn by the popis hand Ȝyf ony of yow wele of deuocyoun Offeryn & han myn absolucioun Line 924 Comyth forth anon & knelyth here a-doun And mekely resseyuyth myn pardoun Or ellis takyth pardoun as ȝe weende Al newe & frosch at euery mylys ende Line 928 So that ȝe offere alwey newe & newe Nobelis & penys whiche that been goode & trewe It is an honour to eueriche that is here That ye mowen haue a suffycient pardonere Line 932 To a-soyle ȝow in cuntre as ȝe ryde ffor auenture whiche that may be-tyde Perauenture there may falle on or two Doun of his hors & breke his nekke a· two Line 936 Loke which a seurete it is to ȝow alle That I am in ȝoure felaueschepe I-falle That may assoyle ȝow bothe more & lasse [folio 312b] Whan that the soule schal from the body passe Line 940 I rede that oure ost here schal begynne ffor he is most enuolupid in synne Come forth sere ost & offere here a-non And thow schat kysse myne relykys euerychoon Line 944 Ye for a groote vnbokele a-noon thyn pors Nay nay quodd he / thanne haue I crystis curs Lat be quod he it schal nat be so theech Thow woldyst make me to kysse thynno olde brech Line 948 And swere it weere a relike of a seynt They it were with tyn fundement depeynt But by the cros that seynt elyne fond I wolde I hadde thyne colyounnys in myn hond Line 952 In stede of relikys or of seyntewarye Let kutte hem of I wele from the hem carye They schul been schrynyd in an hoggis tord This pardouner answerde nat a word Line 956

[6-text p 332] Line 956 So wroth he was he wolde no word seye Now quod oure ost I wele no lengere pleye With the ne with noon othyr angery man But rygh a-noon the worthy knygh be-gan Line 960 Whan that he saw that al the peple lough Na moore of this for it is ryght I-nough Sire pardoneer be merie & glad of cheere And sere ost that been to me so deere Line 964 I preye ȝow that ȝe kysse the pardounneer And pardounner I preye the drawe the neer And as we dede lat vs laughe & pleye Anon they kyste & rede forth here weye Line 968

Here endith the pardonneris tale

Notes

• Sloane MS 1685, on leaf 178
• [Sloane MS 1635]
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [Sloane extract ends]
• Camb. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4. 27
• [^1_1 later]
• [² ous & ^2_3 corrected]
• [yr corrected]
• [e later]
• [he corr.]
• [Camb. MS has lost 2 leaves]
• Sloane MS 1685, on leaf181, back
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [? MS Z, E, or I.]
• no gap in the MS.
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [Sloane extract ends]
• Camb. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4. 27
• [^t corrected]
• [v, first w]
• [Painting of the Pardoner.]
• [The I runs the length of the page]
• [^2_2 corrected]
• [^3_3 corrected]
• no spurious lines in this MS.
• Seneca.
• [e inserted]
• [is corr.]
• [and later]
• [^1_1 corrected]
• [^2_2 corrected]
• [first good]
• [^2_2 later]
• [^1_1 corrected]
• [se corrected]
• [^2_2 corr.]
• [y corrected]
• [d later?]
• [? second n]