The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 303]

GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.

§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.

HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum).

¶ And here bygynneth þe tale of þe Doctor of of phisik

Ther was as telleþ Thitus lyuius Line 1 A knight þat cleped was virginieus Fulfild of honours and of worþines And strong of frendes and of gret riches Line 4 A doughter he hadde by his wyf And neuer ne hadde he mo in al his lyf Fair was þis mayde in excellent beaute Aboue euery wight that men may se Line 8 For nature haþ wiþ souereyn diligence I-formed hir in so gret excellence As þough sche wolde say lo I nature þus can I forme and peynte a creature Line 12 whan þat/ me lust who can me counterfete Pigmalion nouȝt þough he alwey forge and bete / Or graue or peynte for I dar wel sayn appollus ȝepherus schulde wirche in vayn Line 16 To graue or paynte or forge & bete If þay presumed me to counterfete For he þat is þe former principal haþ maad me his viker general Line 20 To forme and peynte erþely creature Right as me lust al þing is in my cure Vnder þe moone þat may wane and waxe And for my werke noþing wol I axe Line 24

[6-text p 304] Line 24 My lord and I ben fully at accord I made hir to þe worschip of my lord So do I alle myn oþer creatures what colour þat þay been or what figures / Line 28 Thus semeþ me þat nature wolde say This mayde was of age twelf ȝer and tway [folio 182a] In which þat nature haþ suche delite For right as sche can peynte a lili white Line 32 And rody a rose right with such peynture Sche peynted haþ þis noble creature Er sche was born vpon her limes fre were als bright as such colour schulde be Line 36 And phebus deyed hadde hire tresses grete I-lyk to þe stremes of his borned hete And if þat excellent was hir beaute A þousand fold more vertuous was sche Line 40 And hire ne lakkeþ no condicioun That is to preyse as by discrecioun As wel in body as goost chaste was sche For which sche floured in virginite Line 44 with alle humilite and abstinence with alle attemperaunce and pacience with mesure eek and beryng of array Discret sche was in answeryng alway Line 48 Though sche were wis pallas dar I sayn hir facound eek ful wommanly and playn Noon countrefeted termes hadde sche To seme wys but after hir degre Line 52 Sche spak and alle hire wordes more and lesse Sovnyng in vertu and in gentilesse Schamefast sche was in maydenes schamfastnesse Constant in hert. and euer in besynesse Line 56 To dryue hire out of hir slogardye Bachus had of hir mouþ no maistrye For wille and þought doon venus encrece As men in fuyr wil caste oyle or grece Line 60

[6-text p 305] Line 60 And of hir oughne vertu vnconstreigned Sche haþ ful ofte tyme hire seek y-feyned For þat sche wolde fleen þe companye wher likly was to treten of folye Line 64 As is at festes reueles and at daunces That ben occasiouns of daliaunces Such þinges maken children for to be / To soone rype and bold . as men may se / [folio 182b] Line 68 which is ful perilous and haþ ben ȝore For al to soone may sche lerne lore Of boldenesse whan sche is a wyf And ȝe maystresses in ȝoure olde lyf Line 72 That lordes doughtres han in gouernaunce Ne takeþ of my word no displesaunce / Thinges þat ben set in gouernynges Of lordes douȝtres oonly for tuo þinges / Line 76 Ouþer for ȝe han kept ȝour honeste Oþer elles for ȝe han falle in frelete And knowe wel y-nough þe olde daunce And conne forsake fully meschaunce Line 80 For euermo þerfore for cristes sake / kepeþ wel þo þat ȝe vndertake A þeof of venesoun þat haþ forlaft his licorousnesse and al his theues craft Line 84 Can kepe a forest best of eny man Now kepe hir wel for and ȝe wil ȝe can loke wel to no vice ȝe assent lest ȝe be dampned for ȝour wikked entent Line 88 For who-so doþ a traytour is certayn And takeþ keep of þat þat sche schal sayn Of al tresoun souereyn pestilence Is whan a wight bytrayeth Innocence Line 92 Ȝe fadres and ȝe modres eek also Though ȝe han children be it oon or mo Ȝoure is þe charge of al her sufferaunce whiles þay be vnder ȝour gouernaunce / Line 96

[6-text p 306] Line 96 Beth war þat by ensample of ȝoure lyuynge Ouþer by necgligence in chastisynge That þay ne perische for I dar wel seye If þat þay doon ȝe schul ful sore abeye Line 100 vnder a schepherd softe and necligent The wolf haþ many a schep and lamb torent Sufficeþ oon ensample now as here For I moot turne aȝein to my matiere Line 104 This mayde of which I telle my tale expresse So kept hir self hir neded no maystresse [folio 183a] For in hir lyuyng maydens mighte rede As in a book euery good word and dede / Line 108 That longeþ vnto a mayden vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bounteous For þe which out sprong on euery syde / Boþe of hir beaute and bounte wyde Line 112 That þurgh þe lond þay praysed hir ilkoone / That louede vertu saue enuye alloone / That sory is of oþer mennes wele / And glad is of his sorwe and vnhele Line 116 The doctor made þis descripcioun This mayde wente vpon a day in to þe toun Toward þe temple with hir moder deere As is of ȝonge maydenes þe manere Line 120 Now was þer a Iustice in þe toun That gouernour was of þat Regioun And so bifel þis Iuge his eyȝen cast Vpon þis mayde auysing hir ful fast Line 124 As sche cam forby þer þe Iuge stood Anoon his herte chaunged 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 any man Anoon þe feend in to his herte ran And taughte him sodeinly by what slighte This mayde to his purpos wynne he mighte / Line 132

[6-text p 307] Line 132 For certes by no fors ne by no meede him þought he was not able for to speede / For sche was strong of frendes and eek sche Conformed was in such souerayn bounte Line 136 That wel he wist he might hir neuer wynne As for to make hir with hir body synne For which wiþ gret deliberacioun he sent after a clerk was in þe toun Line 140 The which he knew for subtil and for bold This Iuge vnto þe clerk his tale haþ told In secre wyse and made him to assure He schulde telle it to no creature [folio 183b] Line 144 And if he dede he schulde lese his heed whan þat assented was þis cursed reed Glad was the Iuge and made glad cheere / And ȝaf him ȝiftes precious and deere / Line 148 whan schapen was al þis conspiracye / Fro poynt to poynt how þat his lecherie Parformed scholde be ful subtilly As ȝe schul here afterward openly / Line 152 hom goþ þis clerk þat highte Claudius This false Iuge þat highte apius So was his name for it is no fable But knowen for a storial þing notable Line 156 The sentence of hit soþ is out of doute This false iugge goþ now fast aboute / To hasten his delit al þat he may / And so bifel soone after on a day Line 160 This false Iuge as telleþ vs þe story As he was wont sat in his consistory And ȝaf his domes vpon sondry caas This false clerk com forth a ful good paas Line 164 And saide lord if þat it be ȝour wille As doþ me right vpon þis pitous bille In which I pleyne vpon virgilius And if he wile seyn it is nouȝt þus Line 168

[6-text p 308] Line 168 I wil proue hit and fynde good witnesse That soþ is þat my bulle wol expresse / The Iuge answerd of þis in his absence I may not ȝiue diffinityf sentence Line 172 let do him calle and I wol gladly hiere Thou schalt haue alle right and no wrong heere Virginius com to wite þe Iugges wille / And right anoon was red þis cursed bille Line 176 The sentence of hit was as ȝe schul heere ¶ To ȝow my lord sire apius so deere Scheweþ ȝoure pore seruaunt Claudius how þat a knight called Virginius Line 180 Aȝeins þe lawe aȝens alle equyte / holdeth expresse aȝeinst þe wille of me [folio 184a] My seruaunt which þat my thral is by right which fro myn hous was stolen on a night Line 184 whiles sche was ful ȝong þat wol I preue By witnesse lord so þat ȝe ȝow not greue Sche is nought his douȝter what so he say wherfore to ȝow my lord þe Iugge I pray Line 188 Ȝelde me my þrall if þat it be ȝour wille lo þis was al þe sentence of þe bille Virgineus gan vpon þe clerk byholde But hastily er he his tale tolde Line 192 he wolde haue proued it as schold a knight And eek by witnessyng of many a wight That al was fals þat sayde his aduersarie This cursed Iuge wold no lenger tarye / Line 196 Ne heere a word more of virgineus But ȝaf his Iugement and saide þus I deme anoon þis clerk his seruaunt haue Thou schalt no lenger in þin hous hir haue Line 200 Go bringe hir forþ and put hir in oure warde This clerk schal haue his thral thus I a-warde And whan þis worþy knight virgineus Thurgh þassent of þis Iuge apius Line 204

[6-text p 309] Line 204 Moste by force his deere douȝter ȝiuen Vnto þe Iuge in lecchery to lyuen he goþ him hom and sette him in his halle / And leet anoon his deere douȝter calle / Line 208 And wiþ a face deed as aisshen colde vpon hir humble face he gan byholde with fadres pite stiking þorugh his herte Al wolde he from his purpos not conuerte / Line 212 Doughter quod he virginea by þy name Ther ben tuo weyes eyþer deþ or schame That þou most suffre allas þat I was bore For neuer þou deseruedest wherfore Line 216 To deyen with a swerd or with a knyf O deere doughter ender of my lif which I haue fostred vp with such plesaunce· That þou nere oute of my remembraunce [folio 184b] Line 220 O doughter which . þat art my laste wo And in þis lif my laste ioye also O gemme of chastite in pacience Tak þou þy deth for þis is my sentence Line 224 For loue and not for hate þou most be deed My pitous hond mot smyten of þin heed Allas þat euer apius þe say Thus haþ he falsly iugged þe to day Line 228 And told hir al þe caas as ȝe bifore han herd . it nedeth nought to telle it more Mercy deere fader quod þis mayde And with þat word sche boþe hir armes layde / Line 232 Aboute his nekke as sche was wont to doo The teeres brast out of hir eyȝen tuo And sayde goode fader schal I dye Is ther no grace is þer no remedye Line 236 No certeyn deere doughter myn quod he / Than ȝeue me leue fader myn quod sche / My deþ for to compleyne a litel space / For par dy Ieffa ȝaf his douȝter grace Line 240

[6-text p 310] Line 240 For to compleyne er he hir slough allas And God it woot no þing was hir trespas But þat sche ran hir fader first/ to se To welcome him with gret solempnite Line 244 And with þat word a swoun sche fel anoon / And after whan hir swownyng was agoon Sche riseþ vp and to hir fader sayde / Blessed be god þat I schal deye a mayde / Line 248 Ȝeue me my deth er þat I haue a schame Do with ȝour child ȝour wille a goddes name And with þat word sche prayed him ful ofte That wiþ his swerd he schulde smyte hir softe Line 252 And wiþ þat word on swoune doun sche fel hir fader with ful sorwful hert and fel hir heed of smoot and by þe top it hente And to þe Iuge bigan it to presente Line 256 As he sat in his doom in concistory whan the Iuge it say as saiþ the story [folio 185a] he bad take him and honge him faste But right anoon alle þe poeple in þraste / Line 260 To saue þe knight for rouþe and for pite For knowen was þe fals iniquite / The poeple anoon had suspect in þis þing By moner of þis clerkes chalengyng Line 264 That it was by thassent of apius That wiste wel þat he was leccherous For which vnto þis Apius þay goon And casten him in prisoun right anoon Line 268 wher as he slough himself and Claudius That servaunt was vnto þis Apius was demed for to honge vpon a tree But virgineus of his grete pite Line 272 Prayde for him þat he was exiled And elles certes he had ben bigiled The remenaunt were anhanged more and lesse / That were consented to þis cursednesse / Line 276

[6-text p 311] Line 276 Her may men se how synne hath his merite Be war for no man woot how god wol smyte / In no degre ne in which maner wise The worm of conscience wol arise Line 280 Of wicked lyf þough it so pryue be That no man woot of it but god and he wher þat he be lewed man or lered He not how soone þat he may be afered Line 284 Therfore I rede ȝow this counseil take Forsakith synne / er synne yow forsake

¶ Here endeth þe Doctor of phisique his tale

[6-text p 312]

¶ And here bygynneth þe prologe of the Pardoner /

Owre ost gan swere as he were wood harrow quod he by nayles and by blood Line 288 This was a cursed þef a fals Iustice As schendful deþ as herte can deuise So falle vpon his body and his boones The deuel I bykenne him al at oones Line 292 Allas to deere boughte sche hir beaute wherfore I say þat alle men may se [folio 185b] That ȝiftes of fortune or of nature / Ben cause of deth of many a creature / Line 296 hir beaute was hir deþ I dar wel sayn Allas so pitously as he was slayn . . . . . . . . . . Line 300 But trewely myn owne maister deere This was a pitous tale for to heere But naþeles pas ouer þis is no fors I pray to god to saue þi gentil corps Line 304 . . . . . . . . . . And euery boist ful of þi letuarie God blesse hem and oure lady seinte marie / Line 308 So mot I þen þou art a propre man And y-lik a prelat by seint Runyan Sayde I wel can I not speke in terme But wel I woot þou dost myn herte erme Line 312 I haue almost y-caught a cardiacle By corpus boones but I haue triacle Oþer elles a draught of moyst and corny ale Oþer but/ I hiere anoon a mery tale Line 316

[6-text p 313] Line 316 Myn hert is brost. for pite of þat mayde Thow pardoner þou belamy he sayde / Tel vs a tale for þou canst many oon It schal be doon quod he and þat anoon Line 320 But first quod he her at þis ale stake / I wil first drynke and byt on a cake But right anoon þe gentils gan to crie Nay let him tellen vs no ribaudye Line 324 Tel vs som moral þing þat we may leere / Gladly quod he and sayde as ȝe schal heere But in þe cuppe wil I me beþinke vpon some honest tale whil I drinke / Line 328

[6-text p 314]

LOrdyngs quod he in chirche whan I preche I peyne me to haue an hauteyn speche / And ryng it out as lowd as doþ a belle For I can al by rote þat I telle Line 332 My teeme is alway oon and euer was Radix omnium malorum est Cupiditas First I pronounce whennes þat I come And þanne my bulles schewe I alle and some [folio 186a] Line 336 Oure liege lordes seal vpon my patent That schewe I first my body to warent/ That no man be so hardy prest ne clerk Me to destourbe of cristes holy werk Line 340 And after þat þan tel I forth my tales Bulles of popes and of Cardynales / Of patriarkes and of bisshops I schewe And in latyn speke I wordes fewe / Line 344 To sauore with my predicacioun And for to stere hem to deuocioun Thanne schewe I forth my longe cristal stoones I-crammed ful of cloutes and of boones Line 348 Reliks þay ben as wene þei echoon Than haue I in latoun a schulder boon which þat was of an holy Iewes scheep Good men say I tak of my wordes keep Line 352 If þat þis boon be waische in eny welle / If cow or calf or scheep or oxe swelle That eny worm haþ ete or worm I-stonge Tak water of þat welle and waisch his tonge Line 356

[6-text p 315] Line 356 And it is hool anoon and forþer-more Of pokkes and of scabbe and euery sore / Schal euery scheep be hool þat of þis welle That drynketh a draught tak heed eek what I telle Line 360 If þat þe goode man þat þe beest oweþ wol euery wike er þat þe cok him croweþ Fastynge drynke / of þis welle a draught As þilke holy Iew oure eldres taught Line 364 His beestes and his stoor schal multiplie And sires also it kelith Ialousie For þough a man be ful in ialous rage let make wiþ þis water his potage Line 368 And neuer schal he more his wyf mys trist þough he þe soþ of hir defaute wist Al hadde sche take prestes tuo or þre her is a meteyn eek þat ȝe may see Line 372 he þat his honde put in þis metayn he schal haue multiplying of grayn [folio 186b] whan he haþ sowen. be it whete or otes So þat ȝe offre pans or elles grootes Line 376 And men and wommen oon þing warne I ȝow If eny wight be in þis chirche now That haþ doon synne orrible þat he Dar nought for schame of it schryuen be Line 380 Or ony womman be sche ȝong or old That hath y-maad hir housbond cokewold which folk schal haue no power ne grace To offre to my relikes in þis place Line 384 And who so fint him out of suche blame Thay wol come vp and offre in goddes name And I assoile hem by þe auctorite which þat by bulle. was I-graunted me Line 388 By þis gaude haue I wonne euery ȝeer An hundred mark syn I was pardoner I stonde lik a clerk in my pulpit And whan þe lewed poeple is doun I-set Line 392

[6-text p 316] Line 392 I preche so as ȝe haue herd bifore And telle hem an hondred Iapes more Than peyne I me to strecche forþ my necke And est and west vpon þe poeple I bekke Line 396 As doþ a dowfe syttyng on a berne Myn hondes and my tonge goon so ȝerne That it is ioye to se my busynesse Of auarice and of such cursednesse Line 400 Is al my preching for to make hem fre To ȝeue here pans and namely vnto me For myn entent is nought but for to wynne And no þing for correccioun of synne Line 404 I rekke neuer. when þay ben I-beryed Though þat here soules gone a blakeberyed For certes many a predicacioun Comeþ ofte tyme of euel entencioun Line 408 Som for plesauns of folk and flaterie To ben auaunced by ypocrisie And som for veine gloir and som for hate For whan I dar not oþer weys debate [folio 187a] Line 412 Than wil I stynge him with my tonge smerte In preching so þat he schal not astert To be diffamed falsly if þat he haþ trespast to my breþeren or to me Line 416 For þough I telle not his propre name Men schal wel knowe þat it is þe same / By signes and by oþer circumstaunces Thus quyt I folk þat doon vs displesaunces Line 420 Thus put I out my venym vnder hiewe Of holynes. to seme holy and trewe / But schortly myn entent I wol deuyse I preche no þing but of coueityse Line 424 Therfor my teem is ȝit and euer was Radix omnium. malorum est Cupiditas Thus can I preche agayn þe same vice which þat I vse and þat is auarice Line 428

[6-text p 317] Line 428 But though my self be gulty in þe synne Ȝit can I make oþer folk to twynne / From auarice and soone to repent But þat/ is not my principal entent Line 432 I preche no þing but for coueitise Of þis matier it ought Inough suffise Than telle I hem ensamples many oon Of olde þinges longe tyme agoon Line 436 For lewed poeple louen tales olde which þinges can þay wel report and holde / what trowe ȝe whiles I may preche And wynne gold and siluer for I teche Line 440 That I wil lyue in pouert wilfully Nay nay I þought it/ neuer trewly For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes I wil do no labour wiþ myn hondes Line 444 Ne make basketis and lyue þer by By cause I wil nought begge ydelly I wol noon of thapostles counterfete I wol haue money. wolle chese and whete / Line 448 Al were it ȝeuen of þe prestes page Or of þe porest wydow in a village [folio 187b] And schold hir children sterue for famyn Nay I wol drinke licour of þe wyn Line 452 And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun But herkneþ lordynges my conclusioun Ȝoure likyng is. þat I schal telle a tale Now haue I dronk a draught of corny ale / Line 456 By god I hope I schal telle ȝow a þing That schal by resoun be at ȝour liking For þough myself be a ful vicious man A moral tale ȝit I ȝow telle can Line 460 which I am wont to preche for to wynne Now hold ȝour pees my tale I wol byginne

[6-text p 318]

IN Flaundres whilom was a companye / Of ȝonge folkes þat haunted folye Line 464 As ryot hasard stywes and tauernes wher as wiþ lutes harpes and gyternes Thay daunce and play at dees boþe day & night And ete also and drynk ouer her might Line 468 Thurgh which þay doon þe deuyl sacrifise wiþinne þe deueles temple in cursed wise By superfluite abhominable her othes been so greet and so dampnable Line 472 That it is grisly for to hiere hem swere Our blisful lordes body þay totere hem þoughte Iewes rent him nouȝt y-nough And ech of hem at oþeres synne lough Line 476 And right anoon þer come tombesteris . . . . . . . . . . Whiche þat ben verray þe deueles officeres Line 480 To kyndle and blowe þe fuyr of leccherie Þat is anexid vnto glotonye The holy wryt take I to my witnesse That luxury is in wyn and dronkenesse Line 484 lo how þat dronken loth vnkyndely lay by his doughtres tuo vnwityngly So dronk he was he niste what he wrought herodes who-so wel þe story sought Line 488 . . . . .

[6-text p 319] whan he of wyn was repleet at his fest [folio 188a] Right at his oughne table ȝaf his hest To sle þe baptist Iohn ful gilteles Seneca seiþ a good word douteles Line 492 he saiþ he can no difference fynde Bituyx a man þat is out of his mynde And a man þe which is dronkelewe But þat woodnes fallen in a schrewe Line 496 Perseuereth lenger þan doth dronkennesse O glutonye ful of corsidnesse O cause first of oure confusioun O origiual of oure dampnacioun Line 500 Til crist had bought out wiþ his blood agayn lo how dere schortly for to sayn Abought was first/ þis cursed felonye Corupt was al þis world for glotonye Line 504 Adam our fader and his wyf also Fro paradys to labour and to wo were dryuen for þat vice it is no drede For whils þat adam fasted as I rede Line 508 he was in paradis and whan þat he Eet of þe fruyt defendit of a tre he was out cast to wo and in-to peyne O. glotony. wel ought vs on þe pleyne Line 512 O. wist a man how many maladyes Folwith of excesse and of glotonyes he wolde be þe more mesurable Of his diete sittyng at his table Line 516 Allas þe schorte þrote þe tendre mouþ Makeþ þat Est. West. north and south In erþe in watir in ayer man to swynke To gete a sely glotoun mete and drynke. Line 520 Of þis matier o poul wel canstow trete Mete vnto wombe and wombe vnto mete Schal god destroyen boþe as powel 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 whan men so drynke / of þe whyt and rede That of his þrote he makiþ his priue [folio 188b] Thurgh þilke cursed superfluite Line 528 Thapostil wepyng saiþ ful pitously Ther walkith many of which ȝou told haue I I say it now wepyng wiþ pitous vois Thay are enemys of cristes croys / Line 532 Of which þe ende is deth wombe is her god O wombe / o bely. o stynkyng is þi cod Fulfild of dong / and of corrupcioun At eyþer ende of þe foul is þe soun Line 536 how gret cost / and labour is þe to fynde / These cokes how þey stamp and streyn and grynde / And torne substaunce in to accident To fulfille / þy licorous talent Line 540 Out of þe harde boones gete þay The mary for þay caste nouȝt away That may go þurgh þe golet softe and soote Of spicery and leuys bark and roote Line 544 Schal ben his sauce maad to his delyt/ To make him haue a newe appetit But certes he þat haunteþ suche delices Is deed þer whiles þat he lyueþ in vices Line 548 A licorous þing is wyn and dronkenesse Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednesse O dronke man disfigured is þi face Sour is þi breþ foul artow to embrace Line 552 And þurgh þi dronkenesse sowneþ þe soun As þough þou seydest ay Sampsoun Sampsoun And ȝit god wot sampson drank neuer wyn Thou fallist as it were a stiked swyn Line 556 Thy tonge is lost and al þin honest cure For dronkenes is verray sepulture Of mannes witt and his discrecioun In whom þat drynk haþ dominacioun Line 560

[6-text p 321] Line 560 He can no counseil kepe it is no drede Ne keep ȝow from þe white and from þe rede Namely fro þe white wyn of leepe That is to selle in Fleetstreet or in Chepe Line 564 This wyn of Spayne crepith subtily [folio 189a] In oþer wynes growyng faste by Of which þer riseth such fumosite / That whan a man hath dronke draughtes þre / Line 568 And weneth þat he be at hom in Chepe He is in Spayne right.at þe toun of lepe / Nought at þe Rochel ne at Burdeaux toun And þanne wol þai say Sampsoun Sampsoun. Line 572 But herken lordyngs o word I ȝou pray / That alle þe souerayn actes dar I say Of victories in þe olde testament That þorugh þe verray god omnipotent Line 576 were doon in abstinence and in prayere / Lokith þe bible and þer ȝe may it hiere Loke atthila þe grete conquerour Deyd in his sleep with schame and dishonour Line 580 Bleedyng ay at his nose in dronkenesse / A captayn schuld ay lyue in sobrenesse And ouer al this aryse ȝow right wel what was comaunded vnto lamuel Line 584 Nought samuel but lamuel say I Redith þe bible and fyndeþ expresly Of wyn ȝeuyng / to hem þat han Iustice No more of þis for it may wel suffice Line 588 And now I haue I-spoke of glotonye / Now wil I ȝow defende hasardrye ¶ Hasard is verray moder of lesynges And of deceipt of cursed forsweringes Line 592 Blaspheme of crist manslaught and wast also /; Of catel and of tyme. forther mo. It is reproef and contrair to honour For to be halde a comun hasardour Line 596

[6-text p 322] Line 596 And euer þe heyer he is of astaat The more is he holden desolaat If þat a prince vse hasardrie In alle gouernance and policie Line 600 He is as by comun opinioun Holde þe lasse in reputacioun Stilbon þat was I-holde a wis embasitour [folio 189b] was sent in to Corinthe with gret honour Line 604 Fro lacidome to make hir alliaunce And whan him cam him happede par chaunce / That alle þe grettest þat were of þat lond / Playing atte hasard he hem fond Line 608 For which as soone as it mighte be He stal him hoom aȝein to his contre And saide ther I nyl nouȝt lese my name I nyl not take on me so gret diffame Line 612 Ȝow for to allie vnto noon hasardoures / Sendeth oþerwise embasitoures For by my trouþe me were leuer dye Than I ȝow scholde / to hasardours allye / Line 616 For ȝe þat ben so glorious in honoures Schal not allie ȝow with hasardoures As by my wil / ne as by my trete This wise philosophre þus sayd he Line 620 lo eek þat þe king Demetrius The king of Parthes as þe saith vs Sent him a paire dees of gold in scorn For he had vsed tauern þer toforn Line 624 For which he hield his gloir and his renoun At no valieu or reputacioun Lordes may fynde oþer maner play Honest ynough to dryue away þe day Line 628 Now wol I speke of oþes fals and grete / A word or tuo as oþer bookes entrete Gret swering is a þing abhominable And fals swering is more reprouable Line 632

[6-text p 323] Line 632 The hyhe god forbad sweryng at al / witnes on Mathew but in special Of sweryng saith þe holy Ieremye Thou schalt say soth þin oþes and not lye Line 636 And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnes But ydel sweryng is a cursednes Bihold and se þer in þe firste table Of hihe goddes heste honurable / Line 640 How þat þe secounde heste is this [folio 190a] Tak not in ydel ne his name amys Lo he rather forbedith such sweryng Than homicide or many a corsed þing Line 644 I say as by order þus it stondith This knoweth he þat þe hestes vnderstondeth how þat þe second hest of god is that And forþermore I wol þe telle a plat Line 648 The vegance schal not parte fro his hous That of his othes is outrageous By goddes precious hert and by his nayles And by þe blood of crist þat/ is in hayles Line 652 Seuen is my chaunce and also cink and tray By goddis armes and þou falsly play This daggere schal þurgh þin herte goo This fruyt comeþ of þe bicchid boones tuo Line 656 Forswering Ire / falsnes homicide / Now for þe loue of crist þat for vs dyde leueth ȝoure othis boþe gret and smale But sires now wol I telle forþ my tale Line 660 These riottours þre / of which I ȝou telle longe erst þan prime rong eny belle were set hem in a tauern for to drynke And as þay sat þay herd a belle clinke Line 664 Biforn a corps was caried to þe graue That oon of hem gan calle vnto his knaue Go bet quoþ he and axe redily what corps is þat passeth her forþ by Line 668

[6-text p 324] Line 668 And loke þou report his name wel Sire quod he but þat nedeþ neuer a del It was me told er ȝe com heer tuo houres He was par dy an old felaw of ȝoures Line 672 And sodeinly he was I-slayn to night Fordronk as he sat on his bench vpright Ther com a priue thef men clepen deth That in þis contre al þe peple sleth Line 676 And with his spere he smot his hert a tuo And went his way wiþoute wordes mo he haþ a þousand slayn þis pestilence [folio 190b] And maister er ȝe come in his presence / Line 680 Me þinkeþ þat it is ful necessarie / For to be war of such an aduersarie Beþ redy for to meete him euermore Thus taughte me my dame I say nomore Line 684 By seinte mary sayde þe tauerner The child saiþ soþ for he haþ slayn þis ȝeer Hens ouer a myle wiþinne a gret village Boþe man and womman. child and page Line 688 I trowe his habitacioun be þere To ben auysed gret wisdom it were Er þat he dede a man þat dishonour ȝe goddis armes quod þis ryottour Line 692 Is it such peril with him for to meete / I schal him seeke by way and eek by strete I make avow to goddis digne boones Herkneþ felaws we þre ben al oones Line 696 let ech of vs hold vp his hond to other And ech of vs bycome oþeres broþer And we wil slee þis false traitour deth He schal be slayne/ that so many sleeth Line 700 By goddis dignete er it be night Togideres han þese þre here trouþes plight To lyue and deye ech of he wiþ oþer As þough he were his oughne sworne broþer Line 704

[6-text p 325] Line 704 And vp þai startyn al dronke in þis rage / And forþ þai goon towardes þat village Of which þe tauerner haþ spoke biforn And many a grisly oth þan han þay sworn Line 708 And cristes blessed body þay torent Deth schal be deed if þat þay may him hent Right as þay wolde haue torned ouer a style whan þai han goon nought fully a myle Line 712 An old man and a pore with hem mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette / And saide þus lordynges god ȝow se The proudest of þe ryotoures þre Line 716 Answerd aȝein. what carle wiþ meschaunce [folio 191a] why artow al forwrapped saue þi face whi lyuest þou in so gret an age This olde man gan loke on his visage Line 720 And saide þus for þat I can not fynde / A man þough þat I walke in to Inde Neiþer in Cite noon ne in village That wol chaunge his ȝouþe for myn age Line 724 And þerfore moot I haue myn age stille / As longe tyme as it is goddes wille And deth allas ne wil not haue my lif Thus walk I lik a resteles caytif Line 728 And on þe ground which is my modres gate I knokke with my staf erly and late And saye leeue moder let me In Lo how I wane fleisch. and blood and skyn Line 732 Allas whan schuln my boones ben at rest Moder with ȝow wil I chaunge my chest/ That in my chamber. longe tyme haþ be Ȝe for an haire clout/ to wrap in me Line 736 But ȝet to me sche wil not do þat grace For which ful pale and welkid is my face But sires to ȝow. it is no curtesye To speke vnto an old man vilonye Line 740

[6-text p 326] Line 740 But he trespas in word or elles dede In holy writ ȝe may ȝour self wel rede Aȝens an old man hoor vpon his hede Ȝe schold arise wherefor I ȝow rede / Line 744 Ne doth vnto an old man more harm now Na more þan ȝe wolde men dede to ȝow; In age . if þat ȝe may so long abyde And god be with ȝou / wher so ȝe go or ryde Line 748 I moot go þider as I haue to goo Nay olde cherl by god thou schalt not so Sayde þat oþer hasardour anoon Thou partist nouȝt so lightly by seint Iohn Line 752 Thou spak right now of þat traytour deþ [folio 191b] That in þis contre alle oure frendes sleþ Haue her my trouth as þou art his aspye / Tel wher he is or elles þou schalt dye / Line 756 By god and by þat holy sacrament/ For soþly þou art oon of his assent To schewe vs ȝonge folk þe false theef Now sires þan if þat ȝow be so leef Line 760 To fynde deþ torn vp þis croked way For in þat groue I laft him by my fay Vnder a tree and þer he wil abyde Ne for ȝour bost he nyl him no þing hyde Line 764 Se ȝe þat ook right þer ȝe schuln him fynde God saue ȝow þat bought aȝein mankynde And ȝow amend þus sayde þis olde man And euerich of þese riotoures ran Line 768 Til þay come to the tre and ther þay founde Of florins fyn of gold y-coyned rounde wel neygh a seuen busshels as me thought No lenger þanne after deþ þay sought Line 772 But ech of hem so glad was of þat sight For þat þe florens so faire were and bright That doun þai sette hem by þat precious hord The ȝongest of hem spak/ þe firste word Line 776

[6-text p 327] Line 776 Breþeren takeþ keep what I schal say My witte is gret þough þat I bourde and play This tresour haþ fortune to vs ȝiuen In mirth and iolyte our lif to lyuen Line 780 And lightly as it comth so wil we spende Ey goddis precious dignite who wende To day þat we schuld haue so fair a grace But might þis gold be caried fro þis place Line 784 Hom to myn hous or ellis vnto ȝoures For wel I wot þat þis gold is nouȝt oures Than were we . in heyh felicite But trewely by day it may not be Line 788 Men wolde say þat we were þeues stronge / And for oure tresour doon vs for to honge This tresour moste caried be by night [folio 192a] As wysly and as slely as it might Line 792 wherfore I rede þat cut among vs alle Be drawe and let se wher þe cut wil falle He þat haþ þe cut wiþ herte bliþe/ Schal renne to þe toun and þat ful swithe Line 796 To bring vs bred and wyn ful priuely And tuo of vs schal kepe subtilly This tresour wel and if he wil not tarie whan it is night we wol þis tresour carie Line 800 By oon assent þer as vs likeþ best/ That oon of hem þe cut/ brought in his fest/ And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wil falle And it fel on þe ȝongest of hem alle / Line 804 And forþ toward þe toun he went anoon And al so soone as he was agoon That oon of hem . spak vnto þat oþer Thow wost/ wel þat þou art my sworne broþer Line 808 Thy profyt wol I . telle þe anoon Thow wost wel þat our felaw is a-goon And her is gold and þat ful gret plente That schal departed be among vs þre / Line 812

[6-text p 328] Line 812 But naþeles if I can schape it so That it departed were bitwix vs tuo had I not doon a frendes torn to þe / That oþer answerd I not how þat may be/ Line 816 he wot wel þat þe gold is wiþ vs tway what schulde we þan do what schuld we say Schal it be counsail sayde þe ferste schrewe And I schal telle þe in wordes fewe / Line 820 what we schul doon and bringe it wel aboute I graunte quod þat other wiþoute doute That by my trouþe I wil þe nought bywray Now quod þe first þou wost wel we ben tway Line 824 And two of vs schuln strenger be þan oon lok whanne he is sett and þat anoon Arys as þou woldest with him pleye And I schal ryf him thurgh þe sydes tweye Line 828 whils þou strogelest wiþ him as in game [folio 192b] And with þi dagger loke þou do þe same And þan schal al þe gold departed be My dere frend bitwixe þe and me Line 832 Than may we oure lustes fulfille And play at dees right at our owne wille And þus accorded ben þese schrewes twayn To sle þe þridde . as ȝe herd me sayn Line 836 This ȝongest/ which þat wente to þe toun Ful fast in hert/ he rollith vp and doun The beaute of þe florins newe and bright O lord quod he if so were þat I might Line 840 Haue al þis gold vnto my self alloone Ther is no man þat lyueth vnder þe troone Of gold þat schulde lyue so mery as I And atte last þe feend oure enemy Line 844 Put in his þought þat he schuld poysoun beye wiþ which he mighte sle his felaws tweye For-why þe feend fond him in such lyuynge That he had leue to sorwe him to brynge Line 848

[6-text p 329] Line 848 For þis witterly . was his entent To slen hem boþe and neuer to repent/ And forth he goþ no lenger wold he tary In to þe toun vnto a potecary / Line 852 And prayde him þat he him wolde selle Som poysoun þat he might his rattis quelle And eek þer was a polkat in his hawe / As he sayde his capouns had I-slawe / Line 856 And said he wold him wreke if þat he might On vermyn þat destroyed him by night Thapotecary answerd and þou schalt haue A þing þat also god my soule saue Line 860 In al þis world þer nys no creature That ete or dronk had of þis confecture Nought but þe mountaunce of a corn of whete That he ne schuld his lif anoon forlete / Line 864 Ȝe sterue he schal and þat in lasse while Than þou wilt goon a paas not but a myle / The poysoun is so strong and violent [folio 193a] This cursed man haþ in his hond I-hent Line 868 This poysoun in a box & sins he ran In to þe nexte stret vnto a man And borwed him large botels þre And in þe two his poysoun poured he Line 872 The þrid he keped clene for his drynke For al þe night he schop him for to swynke In carying the gold out of þat place And whan þis riotour with sory grace Line 876 had fillid with wyn his botels þre To his felaws aȝein repaireth he what nedith it to sermoun it more For right as þay had cast/ his deth bifore Line 880 Right so þay han him slayn and þat anoon And whan þis was I-doon þan spak þat oon Now let vs drynk and sitte and make vs mery And siþþen we wil his body bery Line 884

[6-text p 330] Line 884 And afterward it happed hem par cas To take þe botel þer þe poysoun was And drank and ȝaf his felaw drink also For which þay sterued boþe tuo Line 888 But certes I suppose þat amycen wrot neuer in Canoun ne in non fen Mo wonder sorwes of empoisonyng Thus hadde þese wrecches tuo here endyng Line 892 Thus endid been þese homicides tuo And eek þe fals empoysoner also / O cursed synne ful of cursednesse O traytorous homicidy o wikkednesse Line 896 O glotony luxurie and hasardrye / Thou blasphemour of crist with vilanye And oþes grete of vsage and of pride Allas mankynde how may it bytyde Line 900 Ther to þy creatour which þat þe wrought And wiþ his precious herte blood þe bought Thou art so fals and so vnkynde allas Now good men god forȝeue ȝow ȝour trespas Line 904 And ware ȝow fro þe synne of auarice [folio 193b] Myn holy pardoun may ȝou alle warice So þat ȝe offren noblis or starlinges Or elles siluer spones broches or rynges Line 908 Bowiþ ȝour hedes vnder þis holy bulle Comeþ forþ ȝe wyues and offreþ ȝour wolle Ȝour names I entre her in my rolle anoon In to þe blis of heuen schul ȝe goon Line 912 I ȝow assoile by myn heyh power If ȝe woln offre as clene and eek als cler As ȝe were born . and sires lo þus I preche / And Ihū crist þat is oure soules leche Line 916 So graunte ȝow his pardoun to receyue For þat is best I wil not ȝow disceyue But sires o word forȝat I in my tale / I haue reliks and pardoun in my male / Line 920

[6-text p 331] Line 920 As fair as eny man in Engelond which were me I-ȝeue by popes hond If eny of ȝow wol of deuocioun Offren and haue myn absolucioun Line 924 Cometh forth anon knelith her a-doun And ȝe schul haue here my pardoun Or elles takith pardoun as ȝe wende Al newe and freissch at euery townes ende Line 928 So þat ȝe offren alway new and newe / Nobles and pens which þat ben good and trewe / It is an honur to euery þat is heer That may haue a suffisaunt pardoner Line 932 Tassoile ȝow in contre as ȝe ryde For auentures which þat may bytyde For paraunter· þer may falle oon or tuo Doun of his hors and breke his nekke a-tuo Line 936 loke such a seurete is to ȝou alle That I am in ȝour felaschip I-falle That may assoyle ȝou boþe more and lasse whan þat þe soule schal fro þe body passe Line 940 I rede þat oure hoste schal bygynne For he is most enuoliped in synne Com forþ sire ost and offer first anoon [folio 194a] And þou schalt kisse þe reliquis euerichoon Line 944 Ȝe for a grote vnbocle þi purs Nay nay quod he þan haue I cristes curs let be quod he it schal not be so theech Thou woldest make me kisse þin olde breech Line 948 And swere it were a relik of a seynt Though it were wiþ þi foundement depeynt But by þe cros which þat seynt heleyn fond I wold I had þy coylons in myn hond Line 952 In stede of reliks or of seintuary / let cut hem of I wol help hem to cary Thay schul be schryned in an hogges tord This pardoner answerde nat o word Line 956

[6-text p 332] Line 956 So wroþ he was he wolde no word say Now quod oure host I wol no lenger play wiþ þe ne with noon oþer angry man But right anoon þis worthy knight bygan Line 960 whan þat he saugh þat al þe peple lough No more of þis for it is right ynough Sir pardoner be glad and mery of cheere And ȝe sir host þat ben to me so deere Line 964 I pray ȝow þat ȝe kisse þe pardoner And pardoner I pray ȝow draweþ ȝow ner And as we dede let vs laugh and play Anoon þay kisse and riden forþ her way / Line 968

¶ Here endeth þe pardoneres tale

Notes

• [No break in the MS.]
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• [No break in the MS.]
• ¶ Narrat
• [Partial break of one line in the MS.]
• ¶ Narrat
• no gap in the MS.
• ¶ nolite inebriare vino in quo &c.
• no spurious lines in this MS.
• Quam diu ieiunauit adam in paradyso fuit comedit et eiectus est statim duxit vxorem &c.
• Esca ventris & venter escis deus autem hunc & illam destruet &c.
• Ad philipenses capitulo 3^o
• [A blank line is in MS after l. 717 and 718.]
• [No break in the MS.]