The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 303]

GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.

§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.

LANSDOWNE MS.

¶ Incipit fabu[l]a.

Ther was as telleþ vs titus liueus A knyht þat cleped was virgineus Fulfilled of honoure & worþinesse And stronge of frendes and of riches Line 4 A douhtere he hadd be his wyf And neuer hadde he mo in al his lif Faire was þis maide in excellent beautee Abouen euery whight þat maie see Line 8 For Nature haþe wiþ souereigne diligence Formed hir in so grete excellence As þouhe sche wolde seie loo .I. Nature Thus can .I. forme and painte a creature Line 12 Whan þat me leste who can me counterfete Pigmalyon nouht þouhe he alweie forge or bete Or graue or peinte for .I. dar wel seine Apollus ȝepherus schold werche in veine Line 16 To graue or peinte or forge or bete If þei presumed me for to counterfete For he þat is þe formour principal Haþe maade me his viser general Line 20 To forme and peinte eche erþely creature Riht as me lest for al þinge is in my cure Vnder þe mone þat maie wane and wax And for my werke no þinge wil .I. ax Line 24

[6-text p 304] Line 24 My lorde and .I. bene fullye att acorde .I. maade hire to þe worschip of my lorde So do .I. al myn oþere creatures Of [what] colour þei bue or what figures Line 28 Thus semeþ me þat Nature wold seie This maide was of age twelue ȝere and tweye In whiche þat Nature haþe suche delite For riht as sche kan peinte as lyle white [folio 170a] Line 32 An[d] Rode as rose riht wiþ suche peinture Sche peinted haþe þis noble creature Ar sche was borne vppon hire limmes fre Were als briht as suche coloures scholde be Line 36 And phebus hadd dyed hire tresses grete Lyke to þe stremes of his burned hete And if þat excellent was hire beute A þousand folde mor vertuous was sche Line 40 In hire ne lakkeþ no condicione þat is to preise as be discrecione As wele in body . as goste chast was schee For whiche sche floured in virginite Line 44 Wiþ al humilite and abstinence And wiþ al attemperance and pacience Wiþ mesure eke and bereinge of araie Discrete sche was in ansewaringe alweie Line 48 þouhe sche were wise as pallas dar .I. seine Hire faukonde eke ful wommanly and pleyne None conterfeted termes hadde sche To seme wise bot after hire degre Line 52 Sche spakk and al hir wordes more and lesse Souneinge in vertue and in gentillesse Schamefast sche was in maidens schamfastnesse Constant in hert and euer in his besinesse Line 56 To dryue hire oute of hire slogardie Bachus hadde of hire mouþe no maistre For wil and þouht to done venus encrese As men in fire wil kasten oyle or grese Line 60

[6-text p 305] Line 60 And of hir owen vertue vnconstreyned Sche haþe ful oft time hire seke feyned For þat sche wolde flye þe companye Where likly was to treten of folye Line 64 As es att festes reueles and att daunces þat bene occasione of dalyaunces Suche þinges maken childern for to bee To sone Ripe and bolde as men maie see Line 68 Whiche is ful perilous and haþe be ȝore For al to sone maie sche leren lore Of boldenesse whan sche is a wyfe And ȝe maistresses in ȝoure olde life Line 72 þat lordes douhters haue in gouernance Ne takeþ of mi worde no displesance [folio 170b] Thinges þat bien set in gouernynges Of lordes douhtres only for tuo þinges Line 76 Eyþer for ȝe han kepped ȝoure honeste Or elles ȝe haue fall in frelte And knowe wele ynowhe þe olde daunce And konne forsaake fully meschaunce Line 80 For euere mo þer-fore for crist saak Kepeþ wel þo þat ȝe vndertak A þef of venison þat haþ for-laft His lycorusnesse and al his þefes craft Line 84 Kan kepe a forest best [of] ony man Nowe kepeþe hem wele for ȝe wele can Lokeþ wele to no vice þat ȝe assent Lest [ȝe] be dampned for ȝoure yuel entent Line 88 For who so doþe a traitour is certeine And takeþ of þat þat .I. schal seine Of al treson suffreine pestelence Is whan a whight be-trayeþ Innocence Line 92 Ȝe faders and ȝe moders eke also Þouhe ȝe haue childern be it on or mo Ȝoure is þe charge of al her suffrance Whiles þei bien vnder gouernance Line 96

[6-text p 306] Line 96 Beþe ware þat be ensample of ȝoure leueinge Eyþer be necligence in chastisinge þat þei ne perische for .I. dare wele seie Ȝif þat þei done ȝe schol ful sore abye Line 100 Vnder a scheperd soft and necligent þe wolf haþ mony a schepe and lamme to-rent Sufficit one ensample nowe as here For .I. most torne aȝeine to matiere Line 104 This maide of whiche .y tel my tale expresse Sche kepped hir self sche neded no maistresse For in hire leueynge maydens myht rede As in a boke euery good worde and dede Line 108 þat longeþ to a mayden vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bounteuous For whiche oute spronge on euery side Boþe of hir beute and hire bounte wide Line 112 þat þoruhe þe londe þei presede hire ychon þat loued verteus saue envye alone þat sory is of oþer mennes wele And gladde is of his sorwe and vnhele [folio 171a] Line 116 The doctour makeþ þis descripcioune This maide went on a daie in-to þe toune To-warde þe temple wiþ hir moder dere As is of ȝonge Maidens þe manere Line 120 Nowe was þer a Iustice in þe toune þat gouernour was of þat regioune And so befel þis Iuge his eyȝen kast Vppon þis maide aviseinge hire ful fast Line 124 As sche cam forþ by þere þe Iuge stode Anone his hert chaungeþ and his moode So was he cauht wiþ þe beaute of þis maide And to him self ful priuely he seide Line 128 This maiden schal be myne for any man Anone þe fende in to his hert ran And tauht him sodanly be what sleyht The maiden to his purpos wynne he myht Line 132

[6-text p 307] Line 132 For certes be no force ne be no meede Him þouht he was not able for to spede For he was stronge of frendes and eke sche Confermed was in suche souereigne beute Line 136 That wele he wist he myht hire neuer wynne As for to maake hire wiþ hire bodi synne For whiche wiþ grete deliberacioune He sent after a clerk in to þe toune Line 140 The whiche he knewe ful sotel and ful bolde This Iuge haþe vn-to þis clerke his tale ytolde In secre wise and maade him to assure He schold tel it to no creature Line 144 And if he dide he scholde lese his hede And whan assented was þis cursed rede Gladde was þe Iuge and maade goode chiere And ȝaf him ȝeftes precious and dere Line 148 Whan schapen was al þis conspiracie From pointe to pointe howe þat his licherye Performed schold be ful sotellye As ȝe schal heren afterward openlye Line 152 Home goþe þis clerk þat hiht Claudius This fals Iuge þat hiht Apius So was his name it is no fable Bot knowen for an historall þinge notable Line 156 The sentence of it soþ is oute of doute This fals Iuge goþ nowe faste aboute [folio 171b] To hasten his delite al þat he maie And so be-fel sone after on a daie Line 160 Þis fals Iuge as telleþ vs þe storie As he was wonte satt in his Consistorie And ȝaue his domes vpon sundre caas This fals clerke cam forþe a wel good paas Line 164 And seide lorde if þat it be ȝoure will As doþe me riht vpon þis pitous bill In whiche .I. pleine vpon virgineus And if þat he wil seine it is nouȝ[t] þus Line 168

[6-text p 308] Line 168 .I. wille preue it and finde good wittenesse þat soþe is þat my bill will expresse The Iuge Ansewerde of þis in his absence .I. maie not ȝif diffinitif sentence Line 172 Latt done him call . & .I. wil gladly here Thou schalt haue riht and no wronge here Virgineus came to wite þe Iuges will And riht a-none was redde þis cursed bill Line 176 þe sentence of hit was as ȝe schal here To ȝowe my lorde sir Apius so dere Scheweþ ȝoure pouer seruant Claudius Howe þat a knyht called virgineus Line 180 Aȝeines þe lawe aȝeines al equite Holdeþ expresse aȝeines þe wil of me Mi seruant whiche þat is þrall be riht Wyche from myne hous was stolne one a nyht Line 184 Whiles sche was ful ȝonge .I. will . it preue Be wittenesse lorde so þat ȝe ȝowe nouht greue Sche his nouht his douhter what so he seie Where-for my lorde þe Iugge to ȝowe .I. preie Line 188 Ȝelde me my þrall if it be ȝoure wil Lo þis was þe sentence of þe bil Virgineus began vpon þe clerke be-holde Bote hastely ar he his tale tolde Line 192 He wolde haue defended it as scholde a knyht And be wittenesse of mony a trewe wyht That al was fals þat seide his aduersarie This Cursed Iuge wolde no longer tarie Line 196 Ne here a worde more of Virgineus Bot ȝaf his Iugement and seide þus .I. deme anone þis clerk his seruant haue Thou schalt no longer in þin house hir saue [folio 172a] Line 200 Go bringe hir forþe and bringe hir in owre warde This clerk schal haue his þralle þus .I. awarde And whan þis worþi knyht Virgineus Thoruhe þassent of þe Iuge Apius Line 204

[6-text p 309] Line 204 Most be force his dere douhter ȝeuen Vn-to þe Iuge in lichere to leuen He goþe him home and sett him in his hall And lete anone his dere douhter call Line 208 And wiþ a face dede as asshen colde Vpon hire hum[ble] face he gan be-holde Wiþ faders pite stikinge þoruhe his hert Al wolde he nouht from his purpos conuert Line 212 Douhter quod he virginea be þi name There bien tuo weys eyþer oþer schame þat þou must soffer alas þat .I. was bore For neuer þou deseruest where fore Line 216 To deyen wiþ a swerde or wiþ a knyf O der douhter ender of my lif Whiche .I. haue fosterd vp wiþ suche plesance þat þou ne weer oute my remembrance Line 220 O douhter whiche þat ert my last woo And in lif my last ioy also O gemme of chastite in pacience Take þou þi deþ for þis is my sentence Line 224 For loue and nouht for hate þou must be dede My pitous honde most smyte of þin hede Alas þat euer Apius þe seyhe Thus haþe he falsly Iugged þe to day Line 228 And tolde hire al þe cas as ȝe be-fore Haue herd it nedeþ nouht to tel it no more Merce dere fadere quod þis maide And wiþe þat worde sche boþe hire armes leide Line 232 Aboute his nekke as sche was wont to do The teres barsten oute of hire yen tuo And seide goode fader schal .I. deye Is þere no grace is þere no remedie Line 236 No certes dere douhter myne quod he Than ȝeue me leue fader myn quod sche My deþ to compleyne a litel space For parde Ieffa ȝaue his douhter grace Line 240

[6-text p 310] Line 240 For to compleine ar he hir slowhe alas And god it wote no þinge was hire trespas [folio 172b] Bot þat sche rann hir fader first to see To welcom him wiþ grete solempnite Line 244 And wiþ þat worde sche fel in swoune anone And after whan hir swounynge was agone Sche riseþ vpe and to hire fader seide Blissed be god þat .I. schal deye a meide Line 248 ȝif me my deþe ar þat .I. haue a schame Doþe wiþ ȝoure Childe ȝoure wil a goddes name And wiþ þat word sche praieþ ful oft þat with his swerde he scholde smite hir softe Line 252 And wiþ þat word in swoune doune sche felle Hir fader wiþ ful sorweful hert and felle Hire heued of smote and be toppe it hent And to þe Iuge he ȝaue it to present Line 256 As he satt in his dome in consistorie Whan þe Iuge it sauhe as seiþe þe storie He badde take him and honge him also fast Bot riht anone al þe peple in þrast Line 260 To saue þe knyht for reuþe and for pyte ffor knowen was þe foles iniquite þe peple anone hadd susspecte in þis þinge Be maner of þis clerkes chalangeinge Line 264 þat it was be þe assent of Apius That wist wele þat he was lycherous ffor whiche vn-to þis Apius þei gone And kesten him in prison riht a-none Line 268 Whereas he slowhe him selfe and Claudius That seruant was vn-to þis Apius Was demed for to honge vpon a tre Bot virgineus of his grete Pite Line 272 Praide for him þat he was exiled And elles certes he hadde be by-gilede The remenant were honged more and lesse That consented were to þis cursednesse Line 276

[6-text p 311] Line 276 Here maye men see how sinne haþe his merite Be war for no man wote howe god wil smyte In no degre ne in wyche maner wise þe werme of conscience wil arise Line 280 Of wikked lif þouhe it so priue be þat no man woot of it bot god and he Wheþer he be lewde man or lerede He note howe sone . he maie bee aferde Line 284 Ther-fore rede .I. ȝowe þis counsel take [folio 173a] For-sakeþ sinne ar sinne ȝoue for-sake

Explicit fabula Magistri Phisicorum

[6-text p 312]

Incipit prologus questoris

Owre Oste gan swere as he ware wode Harrowe quod he be Nayles and be blode Line 288 This was a cussed þef a fals Iustice A schendful deþe as hert can deuise So fal vpon his body and his bones Þe deuel .I. be-ken him al att ones Line 292 Alas to dere bouht sche hir beute Wherefor .I. seie þat al men maie see þat ȝiftes of fortune or of Nature Beþe cause of deþe of mony a creature Line 296 Hire beute was hir deþe .I. dare wele seine Alas how pitously as sche was sleine Bot here-of wil .I. nouht procede as nowe Men haue ful often more harme þan prowe Line 300 Bot trewly myne owen maister dere This is a pitous tale for to here Bot naþeles pas ouer is no force .I. praie to god to saue þi gentil corps Line 304 And þine vrinals and þi Iordanes Þine ypocras and þine Galiounes And euery box ful of þine letuarie God blesse hem and oure lady seint Mary Line 308 So mot .I. þe þou ert a propre man And ylike a prelate · be seinte Runyan Sayd .I. nouht wele can .I. nouȝht speke in terme Bot wele .I. wote þou doste myne herte to erme Line 312 þat .I. almost haue cauht a cardiacle Be corpus bones bot ȝiue .I. haue triacle Or elles a drauht of moiste and corne ale Or bott .I. here a-none a meri tale Line 316

[6-text p 313] Line 316 Myne hert is loste for pete of þis maide Thowe belamy Iohen Pardoner he saide Tel vs sum Merthes or Iapes riht anone It schal be do quod he be seinte Ninione Line 320 Bot first quod he here at þis ale stake .I. wil boþe drinke and ette of a kake Bot riht anone þes gentiles begon to crie Nay lat him tel vs of no Rebaudie Line 324 Tel vs sume Moral þinge þat we mowe lere [folio 173b] Some wytt and þan will we gladly here .I. graun[t] y-wysse quod he . bot .I. most þenke Vppon . sum honest þinge whiles þat .I. drinke Line 328

Explicit Prologus questoris

[6-text p 314]

Incipit fabula questoris.

LOrdynges quod he in cherches whan .I. preche .I. peyne me to haue an haunteine speche Hereynge oute as rounde as goþe a bell For .I. kan be roote þat .I. tell Line 332 My teme is alweie one and euer was Radix omnium malorum est/ cupiditas; fferst .I. pronounce wense þat .I. come An[d] þan my billes schewe .I. al and somme Line 336 Oure liege lorde seal is my patent þat schewe .I. first my body to warent þat no man be so bolde preste ne clerke Me to destorble of cristes holy werke Line 340 And after þat tel .I. forþe my tales Bulles of popes and of Cardinales Of Patriarkes and of Bischopes .I. schewe And in latine .I. speke wordes a fewe Line 344 To sauern wiþ my predicacione And for to ster men to deuocione þan schewe .I. forþe my longe cristal stones Y-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones Line 348 Relekes þei buen as ween þei euerychon Than haue .I. in laton a scholdere bone Whiche þat was an holy Iewes schepe Goodmen saie .I. takeþe of my wordes kepe Line 352 If þat þis bone bue wasche in any welle Of cowe or calfe schepe or oxe swelle þat worme haþe y-ete or y-stonge [Take watir of that welle and wasshe his tonge [Harl. 7335 folio 159a] ] Line 356

[6-text p 315] Line 356 Touche he þis bone anone he schal be sounde And ȝit also forþermore; of pokkes & scabbes & of euery sore. Schal euery schepe be hole þat of þis well Drenkeþ a drawht of takeþ kepe what .I. tell Line 360 Wil euery wyhte er þat þe koke him croweþe And doþe þinge þat him oweþe ffastynge drinke of þis welle a drauht And þilke holy Iewe oure helders ones tauht Line 364 His bestes and his store schal multeplie And sires also it heleþ Ielousye [folio 174a] And þouhe a man be fal in Ielowsie rage Lat make wiþ þis water his potage Line 368 And neuer schal he more his wif mestruste þouhe he þe soþe a defaute by hire wiste Al hadde sche taken prestes tueyne or þre Here is a Metaine eke ȝe maye see Line 372 He þat his honde wil put in þat Metane He schall haue multipliinge of his greine Whan he haþe sowen be it whete or otes So þat of pens oþer of grotes Line 376 And men and wemmen o þinge warn .I. ȝowe If any whight be in þis cherche nowe þat haþ done sinne orrible þat he Dare nouht fo[r] schame schriuen be Line 380 Or any womman be sche ȝonge or olde þat haþ ymaad hir husbond cokwolde Suche folke schal haue no powere no grace To offer to my relikes in þis place Line 384 And who so findeþ him oute of suche blame þei wil come vp and offer in goddes name And .I. assoile him be þe auctorite Suche as be bul was graunted me Line 388 Be þis Gaude haue .I. wonne euery ȝere An .C. mark seþen .I. was pardonere .I. stonde like a clerke in mony a pulpitt And schewe þe lewde peple and doune þei sitt Line 392

[6-text p 316] Line 392 .I. preche so as ȝe haue herde be-fore And tel an hundreþ Iapes more Than peyne .I. me to strecche forþe my nekke And est and west uppon þe peple .I. bekke Line 396 As doþe a doue sittinge vpon a berne Myne hondes and my tonge go so ȝerne þat it is Ioye to see my besinesse Of avarise and suche oþer cursednesse Line 400 Is as Mi preccheinge to make hem fre To ȝeue here pens namely vnto me For myne entent is nouht bot for to wynne And no þinge for correction of sinne Line 404 .I. reke neuer whan þat þei be buried þouhe þat here soules gone a blakberied For certes mony a predicaciōne Souneþ oft time of yuel entencione Line 408 [Somme for plesance of folk and for flaterie [Addit. 25,718 folio 54a] To ben auaunsed for ypocresye And somme for veynglory and somme for hate [Addit. 25,718 folio 54b] ffor when I dar nought oother weys de-bate Line 412 Thenne wolly stynge him with my tunge smert I preching and that he shal nought astert To ben defamed falsly if that he Hath trespased to myn britheren other to me Line 416 ffor though I telle nought his propre name Men shal wel knowe that hit is the same Bothe by seignes and oother circumstaunces Thus . rule I folk that doth vs displesances Line 420 Thus spitte I myn venym vnder hewe Of holinesse to seme holy and trewe But shortly myn entent wol I deuyse I preche of no thing but of Coueytise Ther-fore my teme is ȝet and euer was Radix malorum est cupiditas Thus kan I preche ayayns that same vice] Suche þat .I. vse and þat is of auarice [folio 174b] Line 428

[6-text p 317] Line 428 Bot þeihe .I. me self be gilte in þat sinne Ȝit kanne .I. maake oþer folke to wynne Fromme auarice and sore to repent Bot þat nes nouht myn principal entent Line 432 .I. preche no þinge bot for Couetise Of þis matiere it ouȝte ynowhe suffise þan tel .I. of ensamples many one Of Olde stories longe time agone Line 436 For lewde peple louen tales olde Whiche þinges can þei wele reporte and holde What trowe ȝe whiles þat .I. maie preche And wynne gold and siluer for .I. teche Line 440 þat .I. wil leue in pouert wilfully Nay . nay .I. þouht it neuer treulye ffor .I. preche and begge in sundre landes .I. wil nouht do no labour wiþ myn handes Line 444 An[d] make basketes and leue þere-bye Be-cause .I. wil nouht bigge ydelye .I. wil none of þe aposteles counterfete .I. wil haue mony chese and whete Line 448 Al were it ȝeuen of þe porest page Eyþer of þe pourest wedowe in a vilage Al schold hir childerne sterue for famyne Nay .I. wil drinke þe lycoure of þe vine Line 452 And haue a Ioly wenche in euerych toune Bot herkeneþ lordynges in conclusione Ȝoure lykeinge is þat .I. schal tel a tale Nowe .I. haue dro[n]ke a drauhte of Corne ale Line 456 Be god .I. hope .I. schal tel ȝowe a þinge þat schal be reson biene at ȝoure lykeinge ffor þouhe my self be a ful vicious man A more.-il tale ȝit .I. ȝowe telle can Line 460 Whiche .I. am wont to preche for to wynne Now holde ȝoure pes my tale .I. wil beginne.

[6-text p 318]

IN flaundres whilom was a compaignie Of ȝonge folke þat hawten folye Line 464 As Riott . Hasard . stewes . and tauerns [Where as with harpees lutes and gyternes [Harl. 7335 folio 161b] ] þei daunce and pleie and dise boþe daie and nyht And eten and drenke al-so ouer al here myht Line 468 Thorwhe whiche þei done þe deuel sacrifise Wiþ-inne þe deueles temple in cursed wyse The superfluys abhomynable [folio 175a] Here oþes bene so grete and dampnable Line 472 þat it is grisely for to here hem swere Oure blissed lordes body þei to-tere Hem þouht . Iewes rent him nouht ynowhe And yche of hem att oþer sinnes lowhe Line 476 And riht anone þan came tomblesters ffetis and smal and ȝonge fruytsters Singers wiþ harpes baudes waferes Such bien þe deuel officiers Line 480 To kendel and blowe þe fire of lychery þat is annexed to glotonye þe holy writte take .I. to wittenesse þat lycherie is in wyne and dronkennesse Line 484 Lo howe þat dronken lothe vnkindelye Lay be his douhtres tuo vnweteynglye So dronke he was he nest what he wrouht And þerfore sore repent him ouhte Line 487b Herodes who so wil þe story seche Line 488 þere maie ȝe leren and be ensample teche Line 488b

[6-text p 319] Line 488b Whan he of wine was replete att his feste Line 489 Riht att his owen table ȝaf his heste To slene þe Baptiste Iohn ful gilteles Senec seiþe eke good wordes douteles Line 492 He seiþe he kan no difference finde Be-tuex a man þat is oute of his mynde And a man þat is drongelewe Bot wodenes is falne in a schrewe Line 496 Perseuereþ longer þan doþ dronkennesse O glotony ful of cursednesse O cause firste of oure confusione O originale of owre dampnacione Line 500 To criste hadde bouht owte wiþ his blode aȝeine Lo howe dere and schortly was to seine A-boute was þe cursed velanye Corrupte was al þis werld þoruhe glotonye Line 504 Adam oure fadere and his wif also Fro paradise to labour and to woo Were dreue for þat vice it is no drede For whiles þat adam fasted as .I. rede Line 508 He was in paradise & whan þat hee Ete of þe fruyte defended on a tree Anone he was out cast to woo and pyne [folio 175b] O glotonye on þe wele ouht vs to pleine Line 512 O wist a man howe many maladies Foloweþ of excesse and of glotonies He schold be þe more mesurable Of his Diet sittinge att þe table Line 516 Alas þe schort þrote þe tender mouþe Makeþ þat est and west Norþe and souþe In erþe in eyre in water men to swynke To gette a gloton Mete and drinkge Line 520 Of þis matiere o paule wele cans þou entrete Metee vn-to wome and wombe eke vn-to mete Schal god discriuen boþe as poule seiþe Alas a foule þinge it is be my feiþe Line 524

[6-text p 320] Line 524 To seie þis worde and fouler is þe dede When men so drenken of þe white and of þe rede Þat of his þrote he maade his priuetee Þoruhe þilke cursed superfluyte Line 528 þe Appostell wepeinge seiþe ful pitously þere walken mony of whiche ȝoue tolde haue .I. .I. saye it nowe wepeinge wiþ pitous voice There bien enmyes of cristes croice Line 532 Of whiche þe ende is deþe þe wombe is hire god O wombe o holy o stinkinge cod Fulfilled of donge and of corrupcione Att eyþe[r] ende of þe foule is þe soune Line 536 Howe grete cost and laboure is to finde þes cokes howe þaie stame and striue and grinde And turne substance in-to accident To fulfil al þi lykorous talent Line 540 Oute of þe harde bones knoke þeie þe mery for þei cast nouht aweie þat maie go þoruh þe golet soft and swote Of spicere of leues barke and rote Line 544 Schal be his sauce be maade be delite To maak him ȝitt a newere appetite Bot certes he þat haunteþ suche delices Is dede whiles þat he leueþ in þe vices Line 548 A lycherous þinge is wyne and dronkennesse Is ful of stryueynge and of wrechednesse O dronken man disfigured is þi face. Foul is þi breþ . foule ert þou to embrace Line 552 And þoruhe þi drongen nose semeþe þi soune [folio 176a] As þouhe þou ay said Samson samsoune And ȝit goode wotte Samson dranke neuer wyne þou falest as a dronken swyne Line 556 þi tonge is loste and al þine honest cures For dronkenes is verreie sepultures Of mannes witte and his discrecion In whome þat drinke haþ dominacion Line 560

[6-text p 321] Line 560 He can no counsel kepe it is no drede Now kepe ȝowe fro þe white and fro þe reede Namely fro þe white wyne of lepe þat is to sel in fische strete or in chep Line 564 þis wyne of Spayne crepeþ Sotelly In oþer wynes groweinge fast by Of whiche þere riseþ suche fumosite þat whan a man haþ dronke drauhtes þre Line 568 And weneþ þat he be att home in chepe He is in spayne riht atte þe toune of lepe Nouht att þe Rochel ne att Bordeux toune And þan wille þei seyn Sampsone Sampsone Line 572 Bot herken lordeynges o worde .I. ȝow preie þat al þe souereigne attes dar .I. seie Of victories in þe olde testament þat þoruhe verrey god þat is omnipotent Line 576 Weere done in abstinence and in preiere Loke þe bible and þere ȝe maie it leere. Loke Atthela þe grete conqueroure Deyed in his slepe wiþ schame and dishonoure Line 580 Bledeynge aye att is nose in dronkenesse A Capeteigne schold leue in soburnesse And ouer al þis a-vise ȝow riht wele What was comand vn-to Lamuele Line 584 Nouht Samuel bot Lamuel saie .I. Redeþe þe bible and findeþ it expresly Of wyne ȝifinge to hem þat han Iustice No mor of þis for it mai wele suffice Line 588

A now þat .I. haue spoke of glotonye Nowe wil .I. defend ȝowe hasardye Hasard is verreye moder of lesinges And of deceyte Cursed forswereinges Line 592 Blaspheme of criste and mansleinges also Of bataile oft time and of oþer mo It is repreue and contrarie to honoure [folio 176b] ffor to be holde a commune hasardoure Line 596

[6-text p 322] Line 596 And euer þe hihere he his of state þe more yhalden is he dissolate If þat a prince vse hasardie In al gouernance and al policie Line 600 He is as be commune opinion .I.-halde þe lasse in reputacion [Stilbon that was Ihalde a wis Embassetour Was sent into Corynthe with ful gret honour [Addit. 25,718 folio 57b] ] ffro Calidonye to maken hem alleaunce And whan he cam him happed þis chaunce That al þe grettest þat were of þis lande Pleynge att þe Hasard he hem fande Line 608 For whiche as sone as þat miht be He stale him home aȝeine to his contre And seide þere .I. wold nouht lese my name .I. wil nouht take on me so grete defame Line 612 Ȝowe for to alleye to none hasardoures Sendeþ oþere wise embassadoures For be my trouþe me were leuer deye þan .I. to ȝowe hasadoures scholde alleye Line 616 For ȝe þat bien so glorious in honoures Schall nouȝt alleye ȝowe wiþ asardoures As be my will ne as be my trete This wise philosophre þus seide to me Line 620 Looke þou vse no pleie of dees in þin house Looke eke þat þe kinge demetrius Sent him a paire of dees of golde in scoren For he hadd vsed hasardry þer be-forne Line 624 For whiche he held his glorie and renoune And no valewe of reputacione Lordes myhten finde oþere manere pleie Honest ynouhe to driue þe daie a-weie Line 628

Now wole .I. speke of othes fals and grete A worde or tuo as oþere bookes trete Grete swereynge is a þinge abhominable And fals swereinge is more repreueable Line 632

[6-text p 323] Line 632 The hihe god for-bad swereinge att al Wittenesse of Mathewe bot in special Of swereinge seiþe holy Ieromye Thowe shalt swere soþe þine oþes and nouht lye Line 636 And swere in dome and eke in rihtwisnesse Bot Idel swereinge is a cursedenesse Be-holde and see þat in þe first table [folio 177a] Of hihe goddes hestes honurable Line 640 How þat þe secunde hest of him is þis Take nouht my name in Idelnesse amys Lo raþer he for-bedes suche suereinge Or Omyside or any oþer Cursed þinge Line 644 .I. seie as be order þus it standeþ [This knoweth ye that his hestes vnderstandeth [Addit. 25,718 folio 58a] ] How þat þe secunde hest of god is þat And forþermore .I. wil þe tel al plat Line 648 þat vengeance schal nouht parte fro his hous þat of his oþes is so outrageous Be goddes precious hert and his nayles And be his blode þat is in hayles Line 652 Seuen is myn chaunce and þine is fyue and þre Be goddes armes if þou fals-ly pleie me This dagger schal þoruhe þine hert go This fruyte commeþ of þe becched bones tuo Line 656 Forswereynge . Ire . falsenes . Omycide Now for þe loue of criste þat for vs deide Leueþ ȝoure oþes boþe grete and smale And wiþe good entent herkeneþ my tale Line 660 Thes ryetoures þre of whiche .I. telle Longe ar prime ronge any belle Were sett hem in a tauerne to drinke And as þei satt þei herde a belle klynke Line 664 Be-forne a cors was cariede to his graue þan one of hem gan cal vnto his knaue Go bette quod he and axe redelye What corps it is þat passeþ fast bye Line 668

[6-text p 324] Line 668 And loke þat þoue reporte his name wele Sir quod þis boye it nedeþ neuer a dele It was me tolde ar ȝe cam here tuo owres He was parde an olde felawe of ȝoures Line 672 Al sodenly was he sleine to nyht For-dronke as he satt vp his benche vpriht Ther cam a priue þefe þat men clepen deþe That in his contre al þe peple sleþe Line 676 And wiþ his spere he smot his hert a tuo And went is waie wiþ-outen wordes mo And Maister ar ȝe com in his presence Line 680 He haþe a þousande sleine þis pestelence Line 679 Me þinkeþ it were necessarie For to bue war of suche an aduersarie [folio 177b] Beþ rede for to mete him euermore Thus tauht me my dame .I. seie no more Line 684 Be seinte Marie seyde þis tauernere This childe seiþ soþe for he haþ sleine to ȝere Hennes ouere a Mile wiþ-inne a gret village Boþe man and womman childe and page Line 688 I trowe his habitacione be þere To been avisede grete wisdome it weere Ere þat he dide a man dishonoure Ȝe goddes armes quod þis Rietoure Line 692 Is it suche perile wiþ him for to mete .I. schal him seeke be waie and eke be strete .I. make . avowe be goddes deyne bones Herkeneþ felawes we þre been al ones Line 696 Lat iche of vs holde vp his honde to oþere And iche of vs be-comme oþers broþere And we wil sle þis false traitur deþe He schal be sleyne he þat so mony sleþe Line 700 Be goddes dignite ar it be nihte To-geder haue þes þre her hertes hihte To leue and deie ilke of hem wiþ oþere As þouhe he ware his owen sworne broþer Line 704

[6-text p 325] Line 704 And vpe þei stert al dronken in þis rage And forþe þei gone to-warde þat vilage Of whiche þe tauernere haþ spoken be-forne And mony a grisely oþe þen haue þei sworne Line 708 And cristes blissed bodie þei to-rent Deþ schal be dede if þat we maie him hent Whan þei haue gone nouht fully a myle Riht as þe[i] wolde haue troden ouere a style Line 712 An olde and a pouer man wiþ hem he mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette And seide þus nowe lordes god ȝowe see þe proudeste of þes ryetoures þre Line 716 Anseward aȝeine what carle wiþ hard grace Whi art þou al for-wrapped saue þi face Whi leuest þou so longe in so grete age This olde man gan loke in his visage Line 720 And seid þus; for .I. can nouȝt finde A man þouhe þat .I. walked vnto ynde Neyþer in Cite ne in village. That wil chaunge his ȝouþe for myne age [folio 178a] Line 724 And þerfore most .I. haue my age stille As longe time as it is goddes wille Ne deþe alas ne wil nouht haue my lyue þus walke .I. lyke a risteles chaitif Line 728 And on þe grounde whyche is my moders gate .I. knok wiþ my staf erly and late And seye leue moder lete me inne Lo howe .I. wane boþe flesche blode and scynne Line 732 Alas when schol my lones bien att rest Moder wiþ ȝowe wold .I. chaunge my chest Thatt in my chambre longe time haþ be Ȝe for an here cloute to wrappe me Line 736 Bot ȝut to me sche wil nouȝt do þat grace For whiche ful pale and welked is my face Bot sires to ȝowe it is no curtesie To speken vnto an hold man vilanye Line 740

[6-text p 326] Line 740 Bot he trespas in worde eyþer in dede In holy write ȝe maie ȝoure self wele rede Aȝeines an old man hore vpon his hede Ȝe scholden arise wher-for .I. ȝif ȝowe rede Line 744 Ne doþe nouht to an olde man none harme nowe Ne more þan ȝe wolde men dide to ȝow In age if þat . ȝe so longe abide And god be wiþe ȝowe wheþer ȝe go or ride Line 748 .I. mote go þeder þer as .I. haue to go Nay olde cherle be god þou schalt nouht so Saide þis oþere hasardour anone Thou partes nouht so lyhtly be seint Iohn Line 752 Thou spakkest riht nowe of þilke traitour deþe That in þis Countre al oure frendes sleþe Haue here my trouþe as þou ert his aspye Tel where he his or þou schalt abye Line 756 Be god and be þe holi sacrament For soþely þou ert on of his assent To slene vs ȝonge folke þou fals þef Nowe sire if þat it be to ȝowe so lef Line 760 To finde deþe torne vp þis croked weie For in þat . groue .I. laft him be my feye Vnder a tre and þere he wil abide Ne for ȝoure boste he wil him no þinge hide Line 764 See ȝe þat ooke riht þere ȝe schulne him finde God saue ȝowe þat bouht ȝeine mankinde [folio 178b] And ȝowe amend þus seide þis olde manne And euery of þes ryetours ranne Line 768 Til þei came to þe tree and þere þei fonde Of flerens fyne of gold y-koyned rounde Wele nyhe a .vij. buschels as hem þouht No longere þan after deþe þei souht Line 772 Bot iche of hem was so gladde of þe siht For þat þe floreyns so faire bien and briht Þat doune þei sett hem be þe precious horde The werst of hem þo spak þe first worde Line 776

[6-text p 327] Line 776 Breþerne quod he takeþ kepe whatt .I. seie My witte is grete þouhe þat .I. bourde and pleie This tresor haþe fortun to vs ȝeuen In merþe and Iolite oure lif to leuen Line 780 And lihtly as it commeþ so wil we spende Ey goddes precious dignite who wende To daie þat we scholde haue so faire a grace Bot myht þis golde be caried fro þis place Line 784 Home to my hous oþer elles vnto ȝoures þan myht we seie þat it were al oures þan were we in hihe felicite Bott trewly be daie it maie nouht be Line 788 Men wold seie þat we were þeues stronge And for owre owen tresoure done vs honge This tresore most .ykaride be by nyht As wisely and as slely as it miht Line 792 Where-for .I. rede lette loke amonge vs al Be drawe and latte see where þe cutt will fal And he þat haþe þe cutte wiþ hert bliþe Schal renne to þe toune and þat ful swyþe Line 796 To bringe vs brede and wyne ful priuely And tuo of vs schal kepe ful subtelly þis tresoure wele and if he wil nouht tarien Whanne þat it is nyht we wollen þis tresor karien Line 800 Be one assent where as vs lust beste An kuttes one of hem brouht in his fiste And badde hem drawe and loke on whome it wolde fall And it fell on þe ȝongest of hem all Line 804 And forþe towarde þe toune he went anone And also sone as he was gone The tone of hem spake þus vnto þe toþere Thou wost wele þat þou ert myn owen sworne broþere [folio 179a] Thin profite wil .I. tel þe anone Line 809 Thou woste wele þat oure felawe is gone And here is golde and þat ful grete plente Þat it schal departed be amonges vs þre Line 812

[6-text p 328] Line 812 Bot naþeles if .I. can schape it so þat it departed weere a-monge vs tuo Hadd .I. nouȝt done a frendes torne to þe That oþere answerde .I. note howe þat myht be Line 816 .I. wote þat þe golde is owre tuo What schol we seie what schold we do Schall it be counseile seide þe first schrewe And .I. schal tel in wordes fewe Line 820 That we schal done and bringe it wele aboute .I. grant quod þat oþere oute of doute þat be my treuþe .I. will þe nouht be-wreye Now quod þe first þou woste wele we be tueye Line 824 And tueyne of vs schal stronger bien þan one Looke whan he is sett and þat anone Arise as þou woldest wiþ him pleye And .I. schal renne him þoruhe þe sides tueye Line 828 Whiles þat þou stroglest wiþ him in game And wiþ þi dagger loke þou do þe same And þanne schal al þis golde departed be My dere frende be-tuex me and þe Line 832 Than maie we boþe oure lustes fulfille And pleie att dees riht att oure owen will And þus accorded bien þe schrewes tueye To sle þe þredde as ȝe herd me seie Line 836 þis ȝongest whiche þat went to þe toune Ful oft in hert he rolleþ vpe and doune þe bewte of þes floreines newe and briht O lorde quod he if so were þat .I. myht Line 840 Al þis tresore winne to my self alone þere is no man þat leueþ vnder þe throne Of god þat schold leue as mery as .I. And att þe last þe fende oure enemye Line 844 Put in his þouht þat he scholde poyson bye With whiche he miht sleyne his felawes tueye For whi þe fend fonde him in suche leueynge That hadde leue him to sorwe bringe Line 848

[6-text p 329] Line 848 For þis was vtterly his entent To slene hem boþe and neuer to repent [folio 179b] And forþe he goþe No longer wold he tarye In-to þe toune vn-to a potecarie Line 852 And preide him þat he wold him sell sum poyson þat he myht his rattes qwell And eke þere was a polkat in his hawe þat as he seide his capons hadd y-slawe Line 856 And seide he wold wreken him if he myht Of vermyn þat destruyed him be nyht The potecary anseward þou schalt haue A þinge þat als god my soule saue Line 860 In al þis werlde þer nys no creature þat eten or drunke haþ of þis confecture Not bot þe mountance of a corne of whete þat he ne schal anone his lif for-lete Line 864 Ȝe sterue he schal and þat in lesse while þan þou wolte gone bot a pace not bot a myle This poyson is so stronge and so violent This cursed man haþ in his hande yhente Line 868 þis poysen in a box and seþen he ranne In-to þe next strete vnto a man And borwed him large botels þre And in þe tueyne þis poyson poured he Line 872 þe þredde he keped clen for his drinke For al þe nyht he schop him to swynke In cariynge of þe golde out [of] þat place And whan þis ryetoure wiþ sory grace Line 876 Hadde filled wiþ him his grete boteles þre To his felawes aȝeine repaireþ he What nedeþ it to sermon þer-of more For riht as þei had kast his deþe to-fore Line 880 Riht so þei haue him sleyne and þat anone And whan þat þis was done þan spak þe tone Nowe lat vs drinke and sitte and make vs merye And afterward we wollen his body berye Line 884

[6-text p 330] Line 884 And efteward it happed him percas To take þe botel þer-in þe poyson was And drange and ȝaue his felawe drinke also For whiche anone þei storuen boþe tuo Line 888 Bott certes .I. suppose þat Aucyenne Wrote neuer in no canon ne in no fenne No wonder sorwes of enpoysonynge. Thus hadde þes wriches tuo here endeinge [folio 180a] Line 892 Thus ended buen þes homicides tuo. And eke þe false empoysonere also O cursede sinne ful of cursednesse O traitoures homicideres o wikkednesse Line 896 O . glotony . o luxurye o hasardye Þou blasphemer of crist wiþ velanye And oþes grete of vsage and of pride Alas mankinde howe may it betide Line 900 Thereto þine Creatour whiche þat þe wrouht And wiþ his precious blode þe bouhte Thowe ert so fals and so vnkinde alas Nowe good men god for-ȝeue ȝowe ȝoure trespas Line 904 And war ȝowe fro þe sinne of Auarice Myne holy pardon may ȝow al warissche So þat ȝe ofer nobles oþer sterlinges Oþere elles siluer spones broches or ringes Line 908 Boweþ ȝowre heued vnder þis holy bulles Commeþ vpe ȝe wives and offer ȝoure wolles Ȝoure name .I. entre here in my rolle anone In-to þe blisse of heuen schole ȝe gone Line 912 .I. ȝowe assoile be myne hihe pouere Ȝe þat wollen offere as clene and eke as clere As ȝe weer borne and sires lo þus .I. preche And ihesu crist þat is oure sowles leche Line 916 So graunt ȝowe his pardon to receyve For þat is best .I. wil ȝowe nouht deceyve Bot sires o worde for-gat .I. in my tale .I. haue Reliques and pardon in my male Line 920

[6-text p 331] Line 920 As faire as any man of yngelonde Whiche were me yȝeue be þe popes honde If any of ȝow wil of deuocione Offerne and haue myne absolucione Line 924 Commeþ for anone and kneleþ adowne here And ȝe schal haue my pardon þat is dere Or elles takeþ pardon as ȝe wende All newe and frishe att euery tounes ende Line 928 So þat ȝe offren alwei newe and newe Nobles and pens whiche þat bien good and trewe It is an honur to eueryche þat is here þat ȝe maye haue a suffisaunt pardonere Line 932 To assoile ȝow in contre as .I. ride For aventures whiche þat mai be-tide For paraduenture þere maie fal on or tuo [folio 180b] Doune of his hors and breke his nekke a two Line 936 Looke whiche a surte it is to ȝowe al Þat .I. am in ȝoure felischipe yfal Þat maie assoile ȝowe boþe more and lasse Whan þat þe soule fro þe body passe Line 940 .I. rede þat oure oste schal beginne For he is most envolupte in sinne Commeþ forþe sire oste and offer first anone And þou schalt kisse re relikes euerychone Line 944 Ȝe for a grote vnbokel anone þi purce Nay nay . haue .I. þan quod he cristes curce Lat be quod he it schal not be so þeiche þou woldests make me kisse þine olde breche Line 948 And swere it were a relike of a seint Þouhe it were wiþ þi foundement depeint Bot be cros þat seint Elyne fonde .I. wold .I. had þi coylons in myne honde Line 952 In stede of relikes oþer of seyntuarie Let cutt hem of .I. wil þe helpe hem carie Thei scholl be schryned in an hogges torde This pardoner answerd nouht a worde Line 956

[6-text p 332] Line 956 So wroþe he was he nold no worde seie Nowe quod oure oste .I. wil no longer pleie Wiþ þe no wiþ none oþer angre man Bott riht anone þe worþi knyht be-gan Line 960 Whan þat he sawhe þat al þe peple louhe No more of þis for it is riht y-nouhe Sire pardoner be meri and glad of chere And ȝe sire oste þat bene to me so dere Line 964 I pray ȝowe þat ȝe kisse þe pardonere And pardoner .I. praie þe þat þou drau þe nere And as we dide now late vs lauhe and pleie Anone þei kisse and reden forþe þeire weye Line 968

Explicit fabula questoris;

Incipit prologus

BOt þan spak oure Oste vnto Maister schipman Maister quod he to vs summe tale tel ȝe can Where-withe ȝe myht glad al þis company If it were ȝoure pleseinge .I. wote wele sekurlye Line 4 Sertes quod þis Schipman a tale .I. can tell And þe[r]-fore herkeneþ hyderward how þat .I. wil spell

Explicit prologus.

Notes

• on leaf 169, back
• on leaf 173
• [^*]
• [^*]
• [spurious]
• [Not in Addit. 25,718]
• [? MS sir]
• [Addit. MS extract stops]
• [no break in the MS.]
• [Addit. 25,718 reads "And suche oother diuers mischaunces", leaf 55]
• [spurious]
• [spurious]
• on leaf 180, back