The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 303]

GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.

§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.

CORPUS MS.

¶ The doctour of phisik

THer was as telleþ vs Titus lyueus A knight þat cleped was virgineus ffulfilled of honoures and worþinesse And strong of frendes and of gret richesse Line 4 A doughter he hadde by his wyf And neuere hadde he mo in alle his lyf ffair was þis mayde in excellent beaute Abouen euery wight þat man may se Line 8 ffor nature haþ with souerein diligence fformed hire in so gret excellence As þough sche wolde say lo I nature Thus can I forme and peinte a creature Line 12 Whan þat me list who can me countrefete [folio 191a] Pigmalion nouȝt þough he alwey forge and bete Or graue or peynte for I dar wel sayn Apollus ȝephirus schulde worche in vayn Line 16 To graue or paynte or forge or bete ȝif þey presumede me for to countirfete ffor he þat is þe formour principal haþ maad me his viker general Line 20 To forme and peynte ech erþely creature Right as me lyst for al þing is in my cure vnder þe moone þat may wane and waxe And for my werke no þing wol I axe Line 24

[6-text p 304] Line 24 My lord and I ben fully at acord I made hire to þe worschip of my lord So do I alle myn oþre creatures Of what colour þey be or what figures Line 28 Thus semeþ me þat nature wolde say This mayde was of age .xij. ȝeer and tway In which þat nature haþ such delyt ffor right as sche can paynte as lily whit Line 32 And rody as rose right wiþ such peynture Sche peynted haþ þis noble creature / Er sche was born vppon hire lymes fre Were also bright as such colours scholde be / Line 36 And Phebus dyed haþ his tresses grete like to þe stremes of his boornyd hete And if þat excellent was hire beaute A þousend fold more vertuous was sche Line 40 In hire ne lakkeþ no condicion þat is to preise as by discrecion As wel in body as gost chaste was sche ffor which sche floured in virginite Line 44 Wiþ alle humilite and abstinence Wiþ alle attemperance and pacience Wiþ mesure eek and beryng of array Discret sche was in answering alway Line 48 þough sche were wys as Pallas dar I seyn [folio 191b] hire faucond eek ful wommanly and pleyn None counterfeted termes hadde sche To seme wys but after hire degre Line 52 Sche spak and alle hire wordes more and lesse Sownyng in vertue and in gentillesse Schamefast sche was in maydens schamefastnesse Constant in herte and euere in busynesse Line 56 To dryue hire oute of hire slogardye Bachus hadde of hir mouþ no maystrie ffor will and þought doon venus encrece As men in fyr wol casten oyle or grece / Line 60

[6-text p 305] Line 60 And of hire owne vertue constreyned Sche haþ ful ofte tyme hire seek feyned ffor þat sche wolde flee þe companye / Wher likly was to treten of folye Line 64 As is at festes . Reueles . and at Daunces That ben occasions of dalyaunces Suche þinges maken children for to be To sone rype and bolde as men may se Line 68 Which is ful perilous and haþ ben ȝore ffor al to sone may sche lerne lore / Of boldenesse whan sche is a wijf And ȝe maystresses in ȝoure olde lyf Line 72 þat lordes doughtres han in gouernance / Ne takeþ of my word no displesance þinges þat ben sette in gouernynges Of lordes doughtres only for tuo þinges Line 76 Ouþer for ȝe han kept ȝour honeste / Oþer ȝe han falle in frelete And knowen wel ynough þe olde daunce And konne forsake fully meschaunce Line 80 ffor euermo þer-fore for cristes sake / kepeþ wel þo þat ȝe vndertake A þeef of venyson þat haþ forlaft his likorousnesse and alle his theues craft Line 84 Kan kepe a forest best of ony man [folio 192a] Now kepeþ hem wel for and ȝe wil ȝe can lokeþ wel to no vice þat ȝe assente lest ȝe be dampned for ȝoure yuel entente Line 88 ffor who so doþ a tretour is certayn And takeþ heed of þat þat I schal sayn Of alle tresoun suffreyn pestilence Is whan a wight betrayeþ Innocence Line 92 ȝe fadres and ȝe modres eek also þough ȝe haue children be it oon or mo ȝoure is þe charge of alle here sufferance Whil þey ben vnder ȝoure gouernance Line 96

[6-text p 306] Line 96 Beþ war þat by ensample of ȝoure lyuynge Owþer by necligence in chastysynge þat þey ne perissche I dar wel seye If þat þey don ȝe schulle ful sore abeye Line 100 vnder a schepperde softe and necligent þe wolf haþ many a scheep and lamb torent Sufficeth oon ensample now as heere ffor I moot torne aȝen to my mateere / Line 104 This mayde of which I telle my tale expresse / Sche kepte hir self hir needed no maistresse ffor in hire lyuyng maydens mighte rede / As in a book euery good word and dede Line 108 þat longeþ to a mayde vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bountyuous ffor which out sprong þe fame on euery syde Boþe of hire beaute and of hire bounte wyde Line 112 þat þurgh þe lond þey preised hire echone That louede vertu saue envye alone þat sory is of oþer mennes wele And glad is of his sorwe and vnhele Line 116 The doctour makeþ þis discripcion þis mayde wente on a day in-to þe toun Toward þe temple wiþ hire mooder deere As is of ȝonge maydens þe maneere Line 120 Now was þer a Iustice in þe toun [folio 192b] That gouernour was of þat region And so bifelle þis Iuge his yhen caste vppon þis mayde hire ful faste Line 124 As sche cam forthby þer þe Iuge stood Anon his herte chaungeþ and his mood So was he caught wiþ beaute of þis mayde / And to himself ful priuely he sayde / Line 128 This mayde schal be myn for ony man Anon þe feend in-to his herte ran And taught him sodeynly by what sleighte þe mayde to his purpos wynne he mighte Line 132

[6-text p 307] Line 132 ffor certes by no force ne by no meede him þought/ he was not able for to speede / ffor he was strong of freendes and eek sche Confermed was in such souereyn beaute Line 136 þat wel he wiste he might hire neuer wynne As for to make hire wiþ hire body synne ffor which wiþ gret deliberacion he sente after a clerk in-to þe toun Line 140 The which he knew for subtil and for bold This Iuge vnto þis clerk his tale haþ told In secre wise and made him to assure / he scholde telle it to no creature Line 144 And if he dide he scholde leese his heed Whan assented was þis cursed reed Glad was þe Iuge and made glad chere / And ȝaf him ȝiftes precious and deere / Line 148 Whan schapen was al þis conspiracie ffrom poynt to poynt how þat his leccherie Parformed schulde be ful subtilly as ȝe schal here aftirward openly Line 152 hom goþ þis clerk þat highte Claudius þis false Iuge þat highte Apius So was his name for it is no fable / But knowen for an historial þing notable Line 156 The sentence of it soþ is out of doute [folio 193a] þis false Iuge goþ now faste aboute To hasten his delyt al þat he may And so bifelle sone after on a day Line 160 þis false Iuge as telleþ vs þe story As he was woned sat in his consistory And ȝaf his domes vpon sondry cas This false clerk cam forþ a wel good paas Line 164 And seyde lord if þat it be ȝour wille / As doþ me right vpon þis pitous bille In which I pleyne vppon virginius And if þat he wol seyn it is not þus Line 168

[6-text p 308] Line 168 I wol proue it and fynde good witnesse That soþ is þat my bille wol expresse þe Iuge answerde of þis in his absence I may not ȝiue diffinityf sentence Line 172 let don him calle and I wol gladly heere Thou schalt haue right and no wrong heere Virginius cam to wite þe Iuges wille And right anon was rad þis cursed bille / Line 176 The sentence of it was as ȝe schul heere To ȝou my lord sire Apius so deere Scheweþ ȝoure pouere seruant Claudius how þat a knight called virginius Line 180 Aȝens þe lawe aȝeins alle equite holdeþ expres aȝeins þe will of me my seruaunt which þat is my þral by right Which from myn hous was stolen on a night Line 184 Whils sche was ful ȝong I wol it preue By witnesse lord so þat ȝe ȝou not greue Sche is nought his doughter what so he say Wherfore my lord þe Iuge to ȝou I pray Line 188 ȝelde me my þralle if þat it be ȝour wille lo þis was al þe sentence of þe bille Virgineus gan vpon þe clerk biholde But hastily er he his tale tolde / Line 192 he wolde haue defended it as scholde a knight [folio 193b] And by witnesse of many a trewe wight That al was fals þat seyde his aduersarie This cursed Iuge wolde no lenger tarie / Line 196 Ne here a word more of virgineus But ȝaf his Iuggement and seyde þus I deme anon þis clerk his seruaunt haue þou schalt no lenger in þin hous hire saue Line 200 Go bring hire forth and put hire in oure warde þis clerk schal haue his þral þus I awarde / And whan þis worþi knight virgineus / þurgh þe assent of þe Iuge apius Line 204

[6-text p 309] Line 204 Moste by force his deere doughter ȝyuen vnto þe Iuge in lecchorie to lyuen he goþ him hom and sette him in his halle And leet anon his deere douȝter calle / Line 208 And with a face deed as ayssches colde vppon hire humble face he gan biholde Wiþ fadres pite stiking þorugh his herte Al wolde he not from his purpos conuerte Line 212 Doughter quod he virginea by þy name þer ben tuo weyes oþer deþ or schame That þou most suffre allas þat I was bore ffor neuer þou deseruedest wherfore Line 216 To deyen with a swerd or wiþ a knyf O deere doughter endere of my lijf Which I haue fostred vp wiþ such plesaunce þat þou ne were out of my remembrance / Line 220 O doughter which þat art my laste wo / And in my lijf my laste ioye also O gemme of chastite in pacience Tak þou þi deþ for þis is my sentence / Line 224 ffor loue and nat/ for hate þou most be deed My pitous hond moot smyten of þin heed Allas þat euer Apius þe say þus haþ he falsly iugged þe to day Line 228 And tolde hire al þe cas as ȝe bifore [folio 194a] han herd it nedeþ not to telle it more Mercy deere fader quod þis mayde And wiþ þat word sche boþe hire armes layde Line 232 Aboute his necke as sche was woned to do þe teeres barsten out of hire eyen tuo And sayde goode fader schal I dye Is þer no grace is þer no remedye Line 236 No certes deere douȝter myn quod he þanne ȝif me leue fader myn quod sche My deþ to compleigne a litel space ffor parde Ieffa ȝaf his douȝter grace Line 240

[6-text p 310] Line 240 ffor to compleyne ar he hir slough allas And god it wot noþing was hire trespas But þat sche ran hire fader first to see To welcome him wiþ gret solempnite Line 244 And wiþ þat word sche felle on swown anon And after whan hir swownyng was agon Sche riseþ vp and to hire fader sayde / Blessed be god þat I schal deye a mayde Line 248 ȝif me my deth er þat I haue a schame Doþ wiþ ȝour child ȝour wil a goddes name And wiþ þat word sche prayeþ him ful ofte þat wiþ his swerd he schulde hir smyte softe Line 252 And wiþ þat word on swoune doun sche fel hir fader wiþ ful sorweful herte and fel hire heed of smoot and by þe top it hente And to þe Iuge he ȝaf it to presente Line 256 As he sat in his doom in consistory Whan þe Iuge it say as saiþ þe story He bad take him and honge him also faste But right anon al þe poeple in þraste Line 260 To saue þe knight for rouþe and for pite ffor knowen was þe fooles Iniquite The poeple anon hadde suspecte in þis þing By maner of þis clerkes chalangyng Line 264 That it was by þassent of Apius [folio 194b] They wisten wel þat he was lecchorous ffor which vnto þis Apius þey gon And casten him in prison right anon Line 268 Wher as he slough himself and Claudius þat seruant was vnto þis Apius Was demed for to honge vpon a tre But/ virgineus of his grete pite Line 272 Prayde for him þat he was exiled And elles certes he hadde be bygyled The remenant were honged more & lesse þat consented were to his cursednesse Line 276

[6-text p 311] Line 276 Here may men se how synne haþ his meryt / Be war for noman wot how god wol smyt In no degre ne in which maner wise The worm of conscience wol arise Line 280 Of wicked lyf þough it so preuy be þat noman woot of it but god and he Wheþer he be lewed man or lered he not how soone þat he may ben afeered Line 284 þer-fore I rede ȝou þis counseil take fforsakeþ synne er synne ȝou forsake

[6-text p 312]

Owre oost gan for to swere as he were wood harrow quod he by nayles and by blood Line 288 This was a cursed þeef a fals Iustise As schamful deþ as herte can deuyse So falle vpon his body and his bones þe deuyl I bekenne him al at ones Line 292 Allas to deere boughte sche hire beaute Wherfore I say þat alle men may se That ȝiftes of fortune or of nature Beþ cause of deþ of many a creature Line 296 hire beaute was hire deþ I dar wel sayn Allas so pitously as sche was slayn But her of wil I not procede as now Men haue ful often more harm þan prow Line 300 But trewely myn owne mayster deere [folio 195a] This is a pitous tale for to heere But naþeles passe ouer is no fors I pray to god so saue þin gentil cors Line 304 And þin vrynals and þin Iurdanes Thyn ypocras and þin Galianes And euery box ful of þin letuarie God blesse hem and oure lady seinte marie Line 308 So mote I þe þou art a propre man And ylike a prelat by seint Runyan Sayde I nouȝt wel can I nouȝt speke in terme But wel I woot þou dost myn herte to erme Line 312 That I almost haue caught a Cardyacle / By Corpus bones but if I haue triacle Oþer elles a draught of moyste and corny ale / Or but I heere anoon a merye tale / Line 316

[6-text p 313] Line 316 Myn herte is lost for pite of þis mayde þou belamy Iohn Pardoner he sayde es right anon eint Runyon Line 320 re at þis ale stake nke and eten of a Cake þise gentils bygonne to crye lle vs of no rybaudye Line 324 ortal þing þat we may leere þenne wol we gladly heere wys quod he but I moot þynke honest þing whil þat I drinke Line 328

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bygynneþ þe Pardoneres tale folwynge

LOrdynges quod he in chirches whan I preche I peyne me to haue an hauteyn speche I ryng it out as round as goþ a belle ffor I can al by rote þat I telle Line 332 My teeme is alway oon and euer was malorum est Cupiditas whennes þat I come A þenne my bulles schewe I alle and some [folio 195b] Oure liege lordes seal is my patent þat schewe I first my body to warant That no man be so bolde ne prest ne clerk me to destourbe of cristes holy werk Line 340 And after þat telle I forþ my tales Bulles of Popes and of Cardinales Of Patriarkes and bisschoppes I schewe And in latyn I speke wordes a fewe Line 344 To saffran wiþ my predicacion And for to stere men to deuoicon þanne schewe I forþ my lange cristal stones I-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones Line 348 Relikes þey ben as wenen þey echone þan haue I in latoun a schulder bone Which þat was of an holy iewes scheep Goode men say I takeþ of my wordes keep Line 352 If þat þis bon be waisshe in any welle If kow or calf scheep or oxe swelle That eny worme haþ y-bite or stronge Touche he þis boon anon he schal be sounde Line 356

[6-text p 315] Line 356 And ȝit also I seye forþermore Of pokkes of scabbes and of euery sore Schal euery scheep be hool þat of þis welle Drinkeþ a draught and take keep what I telle Line 360 Wole euery wight er þat þe cok him croweþ And do þing þat him oweþ ffastynge drinke of þis welle a draught As þilke holy iewe oure eldre ous taught Line 364 his bestes and his store schal multiplye And sires also it heleþ Ielousie And þey a man be falle in gelouse rage Let make wiþ þis water his potage Line 368 And neuer schal he more his wijf mystreste þey he in soþe a defaute by hire wiste Al had sche taken prestes tuo or þre heer is a myteyn eek as ȝe may see [folio 196a] Line 372 he þat his hond wol putte in þat myteyne he schal haue multiplyyng of his greyne When he haþ sowen be it whete or ootes So þat of pens oþer elles of grootes Line 376 And men and wommen o þing warne I ȝou If any wight be in þis chirche now That haþ don synne orrible þat he Dar nought for schame schriuen be Line 380 Or eny womman be sche ȝong or old þat haþ y-maad hire housbonde kokewold Such folk schuln haue no power ne grace To offre to my relikes in þis place Line 384 And who so fyndeþ him out of such blame þey wole come vp and offre in goddes name And I assoile him by þe auctorite Which þat by bulle was y-graunted me Line 388 By þis gande haue I wonne euery ȝere An hundred mark seþenes I was pardonere I stande lik a clerk in many a pulpette And schewe lewed poeple and doun þey sette Line 392

[6-text p 316] Line 392 I preche so as ȝe haue herd byfore And telle an hundred Iapes more / þenne peyne I me to strecche forþ my nekke And Est and west vpon þe poeple I bekke Line 396 As doþ a dowfe sittyng vpan a berne myn handes and my tonge gon so ȝerne þat is it ioye to se my busynes Of auarice and such oþer cursednes Line 400 Is al my prechinge to make hem fre To ȝiue here pans and namely vnto me ffor myn entent is nouȝt but for to wynne And noþing for correccion of synne Line 404 I rekke neuer whan þat þey ben beried þough þat here soules gon a blake beryed ffor certes many a predicacion Sowneþ ofte tyme of yuel intencion [folio 196b] Line 408 Somme for plesaunce of folk and for flaterie To ben auaunced by ypocresye And somme for veynglorie and somme for hate / ffor whan I dar nouȝt oþerwise debate Line 412 þanne wil I stynge hem with my tonge smerte In preching so þat þei schal nouȝt asterte To be diffamed falsly if þat he haþ trespassed to my breþeren oþer to me Line 416 ffor þough I telle nouȝt his propre name Men schal wel knowe þat it is þe same By symony and by oþer circumstaunces þus quyte I folk þat doþ vs displesaunces Line 420 þus spitte I out my venym vnder hewe Of holynesse to seme holy and trewe But schortly myn entent I wil deuyse I preche of no þing but of coueytise Line 424 þerfore my teeme is ȝit and euer was Radix malorum est cupiditas / Thus gan I preche aȝeins þe same vice Such þat I vse and þat is auarice Line 428

[6-text p 317] Line 428 That þough I my self be gulty in þat synne ȝit kan I make oþer folk for to wynne ffrom auarice and sore to repente But þat nys nought my principal entente Line 432 I preche no þing but for coueityse Of þis matiere I ought ynough suffise þenne telle I of ensamples many on Of olde stories longe tyme agon Line 436 ffor lewed poeple louen tales olde Whiche þinges can þey wel reporte and holde What trowe ȝe whiles þat I may preche And wynne gold and siluer for I teche Line 440 That I wol lyue in pouert wilfully Nay nay I þought it neuer trewely ffor I wol preche and begge in sondry landes ffor I wole do no labour wiþ myn handes [folio 197a] Line 444 And make basketes and lyue þerby By cause I wol not beggen ydelly I wole none of þe aposteles countrefete I wole haue money chese and whete Line 448 Al were it ȝeuen of þe porest page Oþer of þe porest wydewe in a village Al scholde here children sterue for famyne Nay I wol drynke þe likour of þe vyne Line 452 And haue a Ioly wenche in euery toun But herkneþ lordynges in conclusion ȝoure liking is þat I schal telle a tale Now I haue drunke a draught of corny ale Line 456 By god I hope I schal telle ȝou a þing Þat schal by resoun ben at ȝour liking ffor þough my selue be a vicious man A more-ille tale ȝit I ȝou telle can Line 460 Which I am wont to preche for to wynne Now holde ȝoure pees my tale I wol begynne

[6-text p 318]

IN fflaundres whilom was a companye / Of ȝong folk þat haunteden folye Line 464 As Ryot hasard stewes and tauernes ¹Where as whyþ harpes lutes and gyternes¹ They daunce and pleye at dyse boþe day and night And eeten also and drunken ouer al here might Line 468 þorugh which þey doon þe deueles sacrifise Wiþinne þe deueles temple in cursed wyse þe Superflues abhominable here oþes ben so grete and dampna[b]le / Line 472 þat it is grisly for to here hem swere Oure blessed lordes body they to-tere hem þoughte Iewes rent/ him nought ynough And ilke of hem at oþer synnes lowh Line 476 And right anon þenne come tomblisteres ffetys and smal ȝong fruytesteres / Syngers with harpes bawdes wafereres Suche ben verray þe deueles officers [folio 197b] Line 480 To kyndle and blowe þe fyr of leccherie / That is annexed to glotonye / The holy writ take I to witnesse / That leccherie is in wyn and drunkenesse Lo how þat drunken loth vnkyndely Line 485 lay by his doughtres tuo vnwetyngly So drunke he was he nyste what he wrought And þerfore sore repente him oughte Line 487b heroudes who so wole þe stories seche Line 488 þer may ȝe lerne and by ensample teche Line 488b

[6-text p 319] Line 488b Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste Line 489 Right at his owen table ȝaf his heste To slen þe Baptist Iohan ful gulteles Senek saiþ eek goode wordes douteles Line 492 he seiþ he can no difference fynde Bitwix a man þat/ is out of his mynde And a man þat is drunkelewe But þat wodnesse is fallen in a schrewe Line 496 Perseuereþ lenger þan doþ drunkenes O glotenye ful of cursednes O cause ferst of oure confusion O original of oure dampnacion Line 500 Til crist hadde brought out wiþ his blood agayn lo how deere and schortly was to sayn Aboute was þe cursed vilanye / Corrupte was al þis world þurgh glotenye Line 504 Adam oure fader and his wyf also ffro paradys to labour and to wo Were dryuen for þat vice it nys no drede ffor whiles þat adam fasted as I rede Line 508 He was in paradys and whan þat he / Ete of þe fruyte defended on a tre Anon he was out cast to woo and pleyne O glotonye on þe wel oughte ous pleigne Line 512 O wiste a man how many maladyes ffolweþ of excesse and of glotenyes [folio 198a] he schulde be þe more mesurable Of his diete sittyng at þe table Line 516 Allas þe schorte þrote þe tendre mouþ Makeþ þat Est and West north and souþ In erþe in aier in water men to swynke / To gete a glotoun mete and drynke Line 520 Of þis matiere o poule wel canst þou entrete Mete vnto wombe and wombe eek vnto mete Schal god discryuen boþe as poule saiþ Allas a foul þing is it by my faiþ / Line 524

[6-text p 320] Line 524 To say þis word and fouler is þe dede When men so drynkeþ of þe white and þe rede / þat of his þrote he makeþ his pryue þurgh þilke cursed superfluite Line 528 The apostel wepyng saiþ ful pitously Ther walken many of which ȝou told haue I I say it now wepyng wiþ pitous voys Ther ben enemys of cristes croys Line 532 Of which þe ende is deþ þe wombe is here god O wombe o holy o stynkynge kod ffulfilde of dunge and of corupcion At eyþer ende of þe foule is þe soun Line 536 How gret cost and labour is to fynde þise cookes how þey scampe and streyne and grynde / And turnen substaunce in-to accident To fulfille al þy likerous talent Line 540 Out of þe harde bones knokken þay þe mary for þay caste nought away þat may go þurgh þe golet softe and swoote Of spicerie of leues bark and roote Line 544 Schal ben his sause y-maad by delyte To make him ȝit a newer appetite But certes he þat haunteþ suche delices Is deed whiles þat he lyueþ in þe vices Line 548 A leccherous þing is wyn and drunkenes / Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednes [folio 198b] O drunken man disfigured is þi face ffoul is þi breþ foul art þou to embrace Line 552 And þurgh þin drunken nose semeþ þi soun As þough þou seydest ay Sampson Sampson And ȝit god woot Sampson drank neuer no wyn Thow fallest as it were a stiked swyn Line 556 Thyn tunge is lost and alle þin honeste cures ffor drunkenes is verray sepultures Of mannes wit and his discrecion In whom þat drynke haþ dominacion Line 560

[6-text p 321] Line 560 He can no counseil kepe it is no drede Now kepe ȝou fro þe white and fro þe rede Namly fro þe white wyn of lepe þat is to selle in ffischstret or in Chepe / Line 564 This wyn of Spayne crepeþ subtilly In oþer wynes growyng faste by Of which þer ryseþ such fumosite þat whan a man haþ drunken draughtes þre / Line 568 And weneþ þat he be at home in chepe he is in spayne right at þe toune of lepe Nought at þe Rochel ne at Burdeux toun And þenne wolen þey sayn Sampsoun Sampsoun Line 572 But herkneþ lordinges o word I ȝou prey That all þe souerein actes dar I say Of victories in þe olde testament þat þurgh verray god þat is omnipotent Line 576 Were don in abstinence and in prayere lokeþ þe bible and þere ȝe may it leere lokeþ attyla þe grete conquerour Deyed in his sleepe wiþ schame and dishonour Line 580 Bledyng ay at his nose in drunkenes A Capitayne schulde lyue in sobernes / And ouer al þis avise ȝou right wel What was comaunded vnto lamuel Line 584 Nought Samuel but lamuel say I / Redeþ þe bible and fyndeþ it expressely [folio 199a] Of wyn ȝeuynge to hem þat han iustice Nomore of þis for it may wel suffice Line 588

ANd now þat I haue spoke of glotonye Now wole I defende ȝou hasardye hasard is verray mooder of lesynges And of disceipt cursed forswerynges Line 592 Blaspheme of crist and mansleynges also Of batayle of tyme and of oþer mo It is repreff and contrarie to honour ffor to be holde a comune hasardour Line 596

[6-text p 322] Line 596 And euer þe hyer he is of astate þe more he is y-halden desolate If þat a prince vse hasardrye In alle gouernaunce and alle polesye Line 600 he is as by comun opynyon y-halde þe lasse in reputacion [Stilbon that was holde. a wise ambassatour Was sent in-to Corynthy . with ful grete honour [Reg. 17 D xv folio 222a] ] ffro Calydonye to maken him alleaunce And whan he cam him happede þis chaunce þat alle þe grettest þat were of þis lande Pleying at þe hasard he hem fande Line 608 ffor which as sone as þat mighte be he stal him home aȝein to his cuntre And sayde þer I wol nought lese my name I ne wol nought take on me so gret diffame Line 612 ȝou to alleye to none hasardoures Sendeþ oþerwise embassetoures ffor by my trouþe me were leuer deye / þan I to ȝou schulde hasardoures alleye / Line 616 ffor ȝe þat ben so glorious in honoures Schal nouȝt aleye ȝou wiþ hasardoures As by my wille ne as by my trete Þis wise Philosophre sayde to me Line 620 loke þou vse no pley of dees in þin hous loke eek þat to þe king Demetrus Sente him a payre of dees of gold in scorn ffor he hadde vsed hasardye þer byforn [folio 199b] Line 624 ffor which he helde his glorie and his renoun At no value of reputacioun lordes mighten fynden oþer maner pley honeste ynough to dryue þe day awey Line 628

NOw wol I speke of oþes false and grete A word or tuo as oþer bookes entrete Gret sweryng is a þing abhominable And fals swerynge is more reprouable Line 632

[6-text p 323] Line 632 þe hihe god forbad sweryng at al Witnesse at Matthew but in special Of sweryng saiþ þe holy Ieromie þou schalt swere soþ þin oþes and nought lye / Line 636 And swere in doome and eek in rightwisnesse But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse Bihold and see þat in þe ferste table / Of heyhe goddes hestes honurable / Line 640 how þat þe secounde heste of him is þis / Take nought my name in ydelnesse amys / lo raþer he forbedeþ such sweryng Or Omycyde or eny oþer cursed þing Line 644 I say as by ordre þus it standeþ This knoweþ þat his hestes vnderstandeþ how þat þe secounde heste of god is þat And forþermore I wol þe telle al plat Line 648 þat vengeaunte schal nouȝt parte fro his hous þat of his othis is so outrageous By goddes precious herte and his nayles And by his blood þat is in hayles Line 652 Seuen is my chaunce and þin is fyue and þre / By goddes armes if þou falsly pleye me þis dagger schal þurgh þin herte go þis fruyt comeþ of þe bicched bones tuo Line 656 fforsweryng Ire falsnes homicyde Now for þe loue of crist þat for vs dyde leueþ ȝoure oþes boþe grete and smale ffor cristes sake and herkne to my tale [folio 200a] Line 660 þise ryetoures þre of which I telle longe er pryme ronge eny belle Were sette hem in a tauerne for to drynke / And as þey sate þey herde a belle clynke / Line 664 Byforn a corps was caryed to his graue þat oon of hem gan calle to his knaue / Go bet quoþ he and axe redyly What corps is þis þat passeþ faste by / Line 668

[6-text p 324] Line 668 And loke þat þou reporte his name wel Sire quod þis boye it nedeþ neuer a del It was me told er ȝe came here to oures He was parde an old felawe of ȝoures Line 672 Al sodeynly was he slayn to night / ffor-drunke as he sate vp his benche vpright Ther came a pryue þeef men cleped deþ þat in his cuntre al þe poeple sleþ Line 676 And with his spere he smot his herte a tuo And went his way wiþouten wordes mo And maister er ȝe come in his presence / Line 680 he haþ a þousend slain þis pestilence / Line 679 Me þinkeþ it were necessarie / ffor to be war of such an aduersarie / Beþ redy for to mete him euermore / þus taughte me my dame I say no more / Line 684 By seinte mary seyde þis tauernere þe child saiþ soþ for he haþ slayn to ȝere Hens ouer a myle wiþinne a gret village Boþe man and womman child and page Line 688 I trowe his habitacion be þere / To ben auysed gret wisedom it were / Er þat he dede a man dishonour Ȝe goddes armes quod þis ryetour Line 692 Is it/ such peril wiþ him for to mete I schal him seeke by wey and eek by strete I make avow to goddes digne bones Herkne felawes we þre ben alle ones [folio 200b] Line 696 let eche of vs halde vp his hand to oþer And eche of vs bycome oþeres broþer And we woln slee þis false traytour deþ He schal be slayn he þat so many sleþ Line 700 By goddes dignite er it be night To-gidre haue þese þre here hertes hight To lyue and deye ilk of hem to oþer As þough he were his owen sworne broþer Line 704

[6-text p 325] Line 704 And vp þey sterte al drunken in þis rage And forþ þey gon toward þat village Of which þe tauerner haþ spoke byforn And many a grisly oþ þenne haue þey sworn Line 708 And cristes blessed body þey torent Deth schal be deed if þat we may him hent/ Whan þey han goon nought fully a myle / Right as þey wolde haue treden ouer a style Line 712 And olde and a pore man with hem mette þis olde man ful mekely hem grette And seyde þus now lordes god ȝou se þe proudest of þese ryettoures þre Line 716 Answered agayn what carle wiþ harde grace Why art þou al forwrapped saue þy face / Why lyuest þou so longe in so gret age / þis olde man gan loke in his visage / Line 720 And sayde þus for I can nought fynde / A man þough þat I walked in-to ynde / Neyþer in Cite ne in village That wol chaunge his ȝouþe for myn age Line 724 And þerfore moot I haue myn age stille As lange tyme as it is goddes wille / Ne deþ allas nel nought haue my lyf þus walke I lyk a resteles kaytyf Line 728 And on þe ground which is my moodres gate / I knokke wiþ my staff erly and late And saye leeue mooder lete me Inne Lo how I wanse fleissch and blood and skyn [folio 201a] Line 732 Allas whan schullen myne bones ben at reste Moder with ȝou wolde I chaunge my cheste That in my chambre lange tyme haue be ȝe for an here clout/ to wrappe me Line 736 But ȝit to me sche wole nouȝt do þat/ grace ffor which ful hale and welked is my face But sires to ȝou it nys no curtesye To speken vntil an olde man vilenye Line 740

[6-text p 326] Line 740 But he trespace in word oþer elles. in dede In holy wryt ȝe may ȝoure self wel rede / Aȝeins an olde man hoor vpon his heede / ȝe schullen aryse wherfore I ȝiue ȝow rede Line 744 Ne doþ nouȝt to an olde man non harme now No more þat men dede to ȝow In age if þat ȝe so longe abyde And god be wiþ ȝou wheþer ȝe go or ryde Line 748 I mot go þider þer as I haue to go Nay olde cherl by god þou schalt nouȝt so Sayde þis olde hasardour anon þou þartest nought so lightly by seint Ion Line 752 þou spake right now of þilke traitour deþ þat in þis cuntre alle oure frendes sleeþ haue heer my trouþe as þou art his aspye / Telle wher he is or þou schalt abye Line 756 By god and by þe holy sacrament/ ffor soþly þou art on of his assent To slen vs ȝonge folk þou false þeef Now sires if þat it be to ȝou so leef Line 760 To fynde deþ turne vp þis croked wey ffor in þat groue I lafte him by my fey vnder a tre and þere he wole abyde Ne for ȝoure bost he nyl him no þing hyde Line 764 Se ȝe þat Oke right þere ȝe schuln him fynde God saue ȝou þat bouȝt aȝein mankynde. And ȝou amende þus sayde þis olde man And euery of þise ryetoures ran [folio 201b] Line 768 Til þey came to þe tree and þer þey founde Of floryns fyne of gold y-coyned rounde Wel neih a seuen buscheles as hem þought No lenger þenne after deþ þey sought Line 772 But eche of hem so glad was of þe sight ffor þat þe floryns so faire ben and bright That doun þey sette hem by þe precious horde The worste of hem he spak/ þe firste worde Line 776

[6-text p 327] Line 776 Breþeren quod he take keepe what I say My witte is gret þough þat I bourde and play þis tresour haþ fortune to vs ȝiuen In merþe and Iolyte oure lijf to lyuen Line 780 And lightly as it comeþ so wole we spende Ey goddes precious dignite who wende To day þat we schulde haue so fair a grace But mighte þis golde be caryed fro þis place Line 784 home to myn hous oþer elles vnto ȝoures þanne mighte we seye þat it/ were al oures / þenne were we in heih felicite but trewely by day it may nought be / Line 788 Men wolde say þat we were þeues stronge And for oure oughne tresour don vs honge þis tresour moste y-karied be by night As wysly and as sleighly as hit might Line 792 Wherfore I rede let loke among vs alle Be drawe and let see wher þe cutte wol falle he þat haþ þe cutte wiþ herte blythe Schal renne to toune and þat ful swythe Line 796 To brynge vs breed and wyn ful pryuyly And tuo of ous schuln kepe ful subtilly þis tresour wel and if he wol nought tarien Whan þat it is night we woln þy tresour carien Line 800 By on assent wher as vs luste best þat oon of hem broughte in his feste And bad hem drawe and loke on whom it wol falle And it fille on þe ȝongeste of hem alle [folio 202a] Line 804 And forþ toward þe toun he wente anon And also soone as he was y-gon þat on of hem spak þus vnto þat oþer þou wost wel þat þou art myn owen sworne broþer Line 808 Thyn prophyte wol I telle þe anon þou wost wel þat oure felawe is gon And heere is gold and þat ful gret plente That it schal departed be among vs þre Line 812

[6-text p 328] Line 812 But naþeles if I can schape it/ so þat it departed were among vs tuo had I nought don a frendes turne to þe þat oþer answerde I not how þat mighte be Line 816 I woot wel þat þe gold is oure tuo What schulde we seye what schulde we do Schal it be counseil sayde þe firste schrewe / And I schal telle in wordes fewe Line 820 What we schuln doon and bringe it wel aboute I graunte quod þat oþer out of doute þat by my trewþe I wol þe nouȝt bewreye Now quoþ þe firste þou wost wel we be tweye Line 824 And tweyne of vs schuln strenger ben þan oon loke whenne he is sette and þanne anon Aryse as þou woldest wiþ him pleye And I schal renne him þurgh þe sydes tweye Line 828 Whiles þat þou struggelist wiþ him in game And wiþ þy dagger loke þou do þe same And þenne schal al þis gold departed be My deere freend bitwixe þe and me Line 832 þenne may we boþe oure lustes fulfille And pleye atte dys right at oure owen wille And þus accorded ben þese schrewes tweye To sleen þe þridde as ȝe herde me seye Line 836 þis ȝongest which þat wente to þe toun fful ofte in herte he rolleþ vp and doun þe beaute of þese floreynes newe and bright O lord quoþ he if so were þat I might [folio 202b] Line 840 Al þis tresour wynne to my self allone þer nys no man þat lyueþ vnder þe trone / Of god þat scholde lyue as mery as I And at þe laste þe feend oure enemy Line 844 Putte in his þouȝt þat he schulde poyson beye With which he mighte sleen his felawes tweye ffor why þe feend fand him in such lyuyng That hadde leue him to sorwe brynge Line 848

[6-text p 329] Line 848 ffor þis was vtterly his entent To slen hem boþe and neuer to repent And forþ he goþ no lenger nolde he tarye In-to þe toun vnto a potycarie / Line 852 And preyde him þat he him wolde selle Som poysoun þat he might his rattes quelle And eek þer was a polkat in his hawe þat as he sayde his Capons had y-slawe / Line 856 And sayde he wolde wreken him if he might Of vermyn þat distroyed him by night þe apotykaries answerde þou schalt haue A þing þat als god my soule saue Line 860 In al þis world þer nys no creature þat eten or drunken haþ of þis confecture Nought but þe mountaunce of a corn of whete þat he ne schal his lyf anon forlete Line 864 ȝe sterue he schal and þat in lasse while / þenne þou wolt gon a pace nought but a myle þis poysoun is so strong and so vyolent þis cursed man haþ in his hand y-hent Line 868 þis þoysoun in a box and seþenes he ran In-to þe nexte strete vnto a man And borwed him large botelles þre And in þe tweyne þis poyson poured he Line 872 þe þridde he keped clene for his drynke ffor al þe night he schop him to swynke In karying of þe golde out of þat place And whan þis ryetour wiþ sory grace [folio 203a] Line 876 had felled wiþ him his grete botelles þre To his felawes aȝayn repayreþ he What nedeþ it to sermone þer-of more ffor right as þay hadde cast his deþ afore Line 880 Right so þey haue him slayn and þat anon And whenne þat þis was don þen spak þat oon Now let vs drynke and sytte and make vs mery And afterward we wolen his body bery Line 884

[6-text p 330] Line 884 And aftirward it happed hem per cas To take þe botel þer-in þe poyson was And drank and ȝaf his felawe drynke also ffor which anon þey storuen boþe tuo Line 888 But certes I suppose þat Auycenne Wrot neuer in no Canoun ne in no fenne Mo wonder sorwes of enpoysonyng Thus hadde þise wrecches tuo here endynge Line 892 Thus ended ben þis Omycides tuo And eek þe false enpoysonere also O cursed synne ful of cursednes O traytours Omycyderes o wikkednes Line 896 O glotenye o luxurie O hasardye þou blasphemer of crist wiþ vilenye And oþes grete of vsage and of pryde Allas mankynde how may it betyde Line 900 þerto þin creatour / which þat þe wrought And wiþ his precious blood þe bought þou art so fals and so vnkynde allas Now goode men god forȝiue ȝoure trespas Line 904 And ware ȝou fro þe synne of auarice / Myn holy pardoun may ȝou alle warische So þat ȝe offre nobles or sterlinges Oþer elles seluer spones broches and rynges / Line 908 Boweþ ȝoure hed vnder þis holy bulles Comeþ vp ȝe wyues offreþ ȝoure wulles Ȝoure name I entre here in my rolle anon In-to þe blisse of heuen schul ȝe gon [folio 203b] Line 912 I ȝou assoille by myn heih powere ȝe þat woln offre as clene and eek as cleere As ȝe were born and sires lo þus I preche And Ihesu crist þat is oure soules leche Line 916 So graunte ȝou his pardoun to resceyue ffor þat is best I wol ȝou nouȝt disceyue But sires o word forgat I in my tale I haue reliqes and pardon in my male Line 920

[6-text p 331] Line 920 As faire as eny man in Engelond Whiche were me y-ȝoue by þe popes hond If eny of ȝou wole of deuocion Offren and haue myn absolucion Line 924 Comeþ forþ anon and kneleþ doun heere And ȝe schuln haue my pardon þat is deere Oþer elles takeþ pardoun as ȝe wende Al newe and freissche at euery tounes ende Line 928 So þat ȝe offren alway newe and newe / Nobles and pens which þat ben good and trewe It is an honour to euerich þat is heere þat ȝe may haue a suffisaunt pardonere Line 932 To assoille ȝou in cuntre as I ryde ffor auentures which þat may betyde ffor peraduenture þer may falle on or tuo Doun of his hors and breke his necke a tuo Line 936 loke which a suerte it is to ȝou alle þat I am in ȝour felaschipe y-falle þat may assoille ȝou boþe more and lasse Whan þat þe soule schal fro þe body passe / Line 940 I rede þat oure hooste schal begynne ffor he is most envoluped in synne Comeþ forþ sire Ost and offreþ first anon And þou schalt kisse þe relikes euerychoon Line 944 ȝe for a grote vnbokel anon þy purs Nay nay quod he þenne haue I cristes curs Let be quod he it / schal nouȝt be so þeche þou woldest make me kesse þin olde breche [folio 204a] Line 948 And swere it were a relyk of a seint þough it were wiþ þyn foundement depeynt But by þe Crosse which þat seint Eleyne fand I wolde I hadde þine coyllons in myn hand Line 952 In stede of relikes oþer of seintuary let cutte hem of I wol þe helpe hem cary þey schuln be schryned in an hogges tord þis pardoner answerde nouȝt a word Line 956

[6-text p 332] Line 956 So wroþ he was he nolde no word say Now quod oure Oost I wil no lenger play Wiþ þe ne with non oþer angry man But right anon þe worþy knight bygan Line 960 Whan þat he saugh þat al þe poeple l[ough] Nomore of þis for it is right ynough Sire pardoner be mery and glad of cheere And ȝe sire Oste þat ben to me so deere Line 964 I pray ȝou þat ȝe kisse þe pardoneere And pardoner I pray þe þat þou drawe þe neere And as we dide let vs laughe and pleye Line 967 Anon þey kisse and ryden forþ here weye

¶ Explicit. fabula Pardonarii

Notes

• on leaf 190, back
• Prologus
• on leaf 194, back
• [^*]
• [^*]
• [spurious]
• [Part of the MS is cut away here]
• [Part of the MS is cut away here]
• C^m xvj^m.
• [Part of the MS is cut away here]
• [Part of the MS is cut away here]
• [^1_1 In a different hand.]
• ¶ Nolite inebriari vino in
• ¶ quo est luxuria
• [spurious]
• [spurious]
• ¶ Ieronimus contra Iouinianum quamdiu ieiunauit in paradiso fuit commedit et eiectus est statim duxit vxorem
• ¶ Esca ve tibi & venter escis deus [?] aurtem & hunc in illam destre.