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

[6-text p 303]

GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.

§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.

PETWORTH MS.

And here bygynneþ þe tale. [on leaf 211]

Ther was as telleþ vs tytus lyneus [¶ The tale./] A knyght þat cleped was virgineus ffulfilled of honoures and worþinesse And stronge of frendes and of richesse Line 4 A douȝter he had be his wiff [folio 211b] And neuere had hee moo in al his lif ffaire was þis maide in excellent bewte Abouen euery wiȝt þat man may see Line 8 ffor nature haþ wiþ souereyn [diligence] fformed hir in so grete excellence As þouȝe she wold say loo I nature. Thus can I forme and peynte a creature Line 12 Whan þat me list who can me countrefete Pigmalyon noght þouȝe he alway forge and bete Or graue or peynt for I dar wel sayn Apollus Zephirus shulde worche in veyn Line 16 Te graue. peynte. or forge or bete If þei presumed me to countrefete ffor he þat is þe fourmer principal Haþe made me his vikere general Line 20 To forme and peint eche erþely creature Riȝt as me list for al þinge is my cure. Vnder þe mone þat may wayne and waxe And for my werk · no þinge wil I axe Line 24

[6-text p 304] Line 24 My lorde and I bene fully atte acorde I made hir to þe worship of my lorde So doo I alle myne oþer creatures Of what coloure þei be or what figures Line 28 Thus semeþ me þat nature wolde say This maide was of age .xij. ȝere and tway In whiche þat nature haþ such delite ffor riȝt as she can peynt as lily white Line 32 And roody as roose riȝt wiþ such peynture She peynted haþ þis noble creature Er she was born vpon her lymes fre Were also briȝt as such coloures myȝt be. Line 36 And phebus died had her tresses grete Like to þe stremes of his boorned hete And ȝif þat excellent was her bewte A thowsand folde more vertuous was she Line 40 In hur ne lackeþ no condicion Þat is to preise as by discrecion. As wel in body as goost chaast was she [folio 212a] ffor which she flowred in virginite Line 44 Wiþ al humilite and abstinence Wiþ alle attemperance and pacience Wiþ mesure eke in beringe of araye. Discrete she was in answering alwaye Line 48 And she was wis as pallas dar I seyn Hir facon eke ful womanly and pleyn Noon counterfeted teermes had shee ¶ To seme wise but after her degree. Line 52 She spak and alle her wordes more and lasse Sownynge in vertue and in gentelnasse Shamefast she was in maidens shamfastnesse Constant in hert and euere in bysynesse Line 56 To drive hur out of her scloggardrie Bachus had of her mouþe no maistrie ffor wille and þouȝt done Venus encrece As men in fire wil casten oile or grece Line 60

[6-text p 305] Line 60 And of her owne vertue vnconstreyned. She haþe ful oft tyme hur seke feyned. ffor þat she wolde flee þe companye where likly was to treten of folye Line 64 As is at feestys. Reuels. and daunces Whiche bene occasion of daliaunces Suche þingges maken children forto be. To sone ripe and bolde as men may see Line 68 Which is ful perilous and haþ bene ȝoore ffor al to sone may she lerne lore. Of boldnesse whan she is a wiff And ȝe Maistresses in ȝoure olde liff Line 72 þat lordes douȝters han in gouernaunce Ne takeþ of my wordes no displesaunce Thingges þat bene sette in gouernyngges Of lordys douȝters oonly for two þingges Line 76 Oyþer for ȝe han kepte ȝoure honeste Oyþere ellis ȝe han falle in freelte And knowen wel ynouȝe þe olde daunce And konne for-sake fully [such] meschaunce. Line 80 ffor euermoo þerfor for cristes sake [folio 212b] kepeþ wel þoo þat ȝe vndertake A theef for venyson þat hath forlaft His likerousnesse and al his þeeues craft Line 84 Can kepe a forest best of eny man. Now kepeþ hem wel for and ȝe wil ȝe can. lokeþ wel to no vice þat ȝe assente. Lest ȝe be dampned for ȝoure euel entente. Line 88 ffor who so doþ a traitoure is certeyn. And takeþ [kepe] of þat þat I shal seyn. Of al treson suffreyn pestilence. Is whan a wiȝt bitraieþ innocence. Line 92 Ȝe faders and ȝe moders eke also. þouȝe ȝe han children be it on or twoo. Ȝoure is þe charge of al her suffraunce. Whiles þei bene vnder gouernaunce Line 96

[6-text p 306] Line 96 Be ware þat by ensample of ȝour lyuynge Eþere by necligence in chaastisinge þat þei ne perisshe for I dar wel saye Ȝif þat ȝe done ȝe shul ful sore abaye Line 100 vndere a sheparde. soft and negligent þe wolf haþ mony a shepe and lomb to-rent Suffiseþ oon ensample nowe as here ffor I mot/ turne aȝein to my matere Line 104 ¶ This maide of which I telle my tale expresse. She kept her self her neded no maistresse. ffor in her lyuynge maidens myȝt rede As in a booke euery good woord and dede Line 108 Þat longeþ to a maide vertuous She was so prudent and so bounteuous. ffor whiche [þe fame] out spronge on euery side. Both of her bewte and of her bounte wide. Line 112 Þat þorowe þe londe þei preised hure echon. Þat loued vertue sauf envie allone. Þat sorie is of oþer mennys wele ¶ And glad is of his sorowe and vnhele Line 116 The doctoure makeþ þis descripcioun This maide went on a day into þe toun Toward þe temple wiþ her modere dere [folio 213a] As is of yonge maidens þe manere Line 120 Now was þer a Iustice in þe toune Þat gouernere was of þat Regioun And so bifelle þis Iuge his eyen cast Vppon þis mayde avisinge hir ful fast Line 124 As she came forþe by þere þe Iuge stood. Anon his hert chaungeþ and his mood. So was he kauȝt wiþ þe bewte of þis maide And to him silf ful priuely he saide Line 128 This maide shal be myn for eny man. Anon þe feende into his hert ran And tauȝt him sodeynly by what scliȝt The maide to his purpoos wynne he myȝt Line 132

[6-text p 307] Line 132 ffor certis by no force ne by no mede Him þouȝt he was not able forto spede. ffor he was stronge of freendes and eke she Confeermed was in such souereyn bewte Line 136 þat wel he wist he myȝt her neuere wynne As forto make here wiþ hur body synne ffor whiche wiþ grete deliberacioun He sent after a clerk into þe toune. Line 140 þe whiche he knewe for subtile or for bold This Iuge vnto þis clerk his tale haþ told In secre wise and made him to assure He shulde telle it to no creature. Line 144 And if he did he shulde lese his hede whan assented was þis cursed rede Glad was þe Iuge and made glad chere And ȝaue hym ȝiftes precious and dere Line 148 whan shapen was all þis conspiracie ffrom poynt to poynt how þat þis lecherie Perfourmed shulde be ful sotelly And ȝe shul here afterward openly Line 152 Home gooþ this clerk þat hiȝt Claudius This fals Iuge þat hiȝt apius So was his name for it is no fable But knowen for an historial þing notable. Line 156 The sentence of hit soþ is out of dowte [folio 213b] This fals Iuge goþ nowe fast aboute To hasten his delit and þat he may And so bifelle sone after on a day. Line 160 This fals Iuge as telleþ vs þe story As he was wonned in his consistorie And ȝaf his doomes vpon sondrie caas This fals Clerk came forþ a wel good paas. Line 164 And saide lord if þat it be ȝoure wille As doþ me riȝt vpon þis pitous bille In whiche I pleyn vpon Virginius. And ȝif þat he wol sayn it is nat þus Line 168

[6-text p 308] Line 168 I will proue it and fynde good wittnesse þat soþe is þat my bille wil expresse Þe Iuge answerde of þis in his absence I may not ȝeue diffinitif sentence Line 172 Lat doon hym calle and I will gladly here þou shalt haue riȝt and no wronge here Virginius came to witte þe Iuges wille And riȝt anoon was rad þis cursed bille Line 176 ¶ The sentence of hit was as ȝe shul here To ȝowe my lord sir Apius so dere Sheweþ ȝour poor seruaunte Claudius How þat a knyȝt called Virginius Line 180 Aȝeinst þe lawe aȝeinst al equite Holdeþ expresse aȝeinst þe wille of me. My seruaunt which þat is þral be riȝt Which from myn hous was stolen on a nyȝt Line 184 Þe whiles she was ful ȝenge I wil it preue By witnesse lord so þat ȝe ȝou nat greue She is nat his douȝtere what so he saye wherfore my lord þe Iuge to ȝou I praye Line 188 Ȝeelde me my thrall if þat it be ȝour wille loo þis was alle þe sentence of þe bille Virginius gan vpon þe clerk biholde ¶ But hastely er he his tale tolde Line 192 he wold haue defended it as shuld a knyȝt And by witnesse of mony a trewe wiȝt That al was fals þat saide his aduersarie [folio 214a] This cursed Iuge wold no lenger tarye Line 196 Ne here oon woord more of Virgyneus But ȝaf his Iugement and saide þus. I deme anoon þis clerk his seruaunte haue Thow shalt no longer in þine hous hir saue Line 200 Goo bringe hir forþ and put hur in our warde This Clerk shal haue his þrall þus I awarde And whan þis worþi knyȝt Virgineus Thorgh þe assent of þe Iuge Apius Line 204

[6-text p 309] Line 204 Most by force his dere douȝtere ȝeuen Vnto the Iuge in lecchery to lyuen. He gooþ hym home and sette hym in his halle And lete anoon his deer douȝter calle. Line 208 And wiþ a face dede as asshen colde Vpon her humble face he can biholde Wiþ faders pite stikyng þorgh his herte Al wold he nat from his purpoos conuerte Line 212 Doughtere quod he Virginea be þi name Þer bene twoo weies. oiþer deþ oiþer shame Þat thow most suffre allas þat I was bore ffor neuer þou deseruedest wherfore Line 216 To dyen wiþ a sweerd or wiþ a knyf O dere douȝter ender of my lif Which I haue fostred vp wiþ such plesaunce Þat þou ne were out of my remembraunce Line 220 O doughtere which þat art my last woo. And in lif my last Ioie also O gemme of chastite in pacience Take þou þi deþ for þis is my sentence Line 224 ffor loue and nat for hate þou most be dede My pitous honde mote smyten of þine hede Allas þat euer Apius þe say Thus haþ he falsly Iuged þe to day Line 228 And tolde hur al þe caas as ȝe bifore Haue herd it nedeþ telle it no more Mercy dere fadere quod þis maide And wit þat word she boþ hure armes laide. Line 232 Aboute his nek as she was wonned to doo [folio 214b] Þe teeres brosten out of her eyen twoo A[n]d saide good fadere shal I dye Is þere no grace is þer no remedye Line 236 No certes dere douȝter myn quod he. Than ȝeue me leue fader myn quod she. My deþ [for] to compleyn a litel space ffor parde Ieffa ȝaue his douȝtere grace Line 240

[6-text p 310] Line 240 fforto compleyn er he her sclouȝe alas. And god it woot no þing was his trespas But þan she ranne her fader first to see To welcome him wiþ grete solempnite Line 244 And wiþ þat word she felle a swoun anon And aftere whan her swownyng was agon She riseþ vp and to her fadere saide Blessed be god þat I shal die a maide Line 248 Ȝeue me my deeþ er þat I haue a shame Doþ wiþ ȝoure childe ȝour wille a goddys name And wiþ þat word she preieþ [him] ful oft That wiþ his swerde he shuld smyte her soft Line 252 And wiþ þat woord in swowne doune she felle Hur fadere wiþ ful sorowful hert and felle Hure hede of smote and by þe top it hent And to the Iuge he ȝaue it to present Line 256 As he satte in his doome in consistorie And whan þe Iuge it seie as seiþ þe storie He bad take him and honge hym also fast But riȝt anoon al þe puple in þrast Line 260 To saue þe knyȝt for rewþe and for pite ffor knowen was þe fooles iniquite The puple anoon had suspecte in þis þinge By manere of þis clerkes chalengynge Line 264 Þat it was by þassent of Apius. Þei wist wel þat he was lecherus ssor which vnto þis Apius þei gon And casten hym in prison riȝt anōn Line 268 Wher as he sclough hym self and Claudius Þat Seruaunte was vnto þis Apius Was demed forto honge vpon a tree [folio 215a] But Virginius of his grete pite Line 272 Preide for hym þat he was exiled And ellis certys he had be begiled The remenant were honged more and lesse þat consented were to þis cursednesse / Line 276

[6-text p 311] Line 276 Here may men see howe synne haþ his merite Be ware for no man woote how god wil smyte In no degree ne in which manere wise þe worme of conscience wil arise. Line 280 Of wicked lif þough it so prive be þat no man woote of it. but god and hee Where he be lewde man or lered He note howe sone he may be afered. Line 284 Therfore I rede ȝou this counsel take fforsakeþ synne er synne ȝou forsake

[6-text p 312]

Our hoost gan swere as he were wood [‖ The prologe of þe Pardonere.] Harowe quod he by nailles and by blood Line 288 This was a cursed þeef a fals Iustise As shameful deeþ as herte can deuise. Come to þe Iustise and her aduocas. Algates þis sely womman is sclayn alas. Line 292 Allas dere abouȝte she bewtee. Wherfore I say alday þat man may se That ȝift of fortune or of nature Bene cause of deþ of mony a creature Line 296 [Hir beaute was hir deth I dar well sayn. Allas so pitously as sche was slayn. [Harl. 1758 folio 150b] ] As boþ ȝiftes as I speke of nowe Men han ful oft more harme þan prowe Line 300 But trewly myne owne maister dere This is a pitous tale for to here But naþelees passe ouer is no fors I prey to god to saue þi gentile cors / Line 304 And þine vrynales and þi Iordans Þine ypocras and eke þi Galyans And euery box ful of þi letwarye God blesse hem and our lady seint Marye Line 308 So mote I the þou art a propre man. And like a prelate by seynt Runyan. Saue þat I can not speke wel in terme [folio 215b] But wel I woote þou doost myn hert eerme Line 312 That I haue almost kaught a Cardyacle By corps boones but I haue triacle Or ellis a drauȝt of moist or corny ale Or but I here anoon a mery tale Line 316

[6-text p 313] Line 316 My hert is lost for pite of þis maide þowe belamy Iohn pardonere he saide Telle vs some merþe or Iapes riȝt anōn he shal be done quod he be seynt Runyon Line 320 But furst quod he here at þe next ale stake I wil boþ drink and ete of a cake But riȝt anon þise gentiles gon to crye Nay lat hym telle vs of no Rybaudrye. Line 324 Telle vs some moral þing þat we may lere Somme witte and þan wil we gladly here I graunt Iwis quod he but I mote þink Vpon som honest þinge whiles þat I drink / Line 328

¶ Thus endeþ þe prologe of þe pardoner.

[6-text p 314]

And here bygynneþ the tale. [on leaf 215, back] [folio 215b]

Loldingges quod he in church whan I preche [¶ The tale] I peyn me to haue an hautyn speche I ryng it out as rounde as goþ a belle ffor I can al by roote þat I telle Line 332 My teeme is alway oon and euere was. Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas. ffirst I pronouns whennys þat I come And þan my bulles schewe all and some / Line 336 Our liege lordes seel on my patent þat shewe I furst my body to warent That no man be so bolde preest ne clerk Me to distrowbe of cristes holy werk Line 340 And after þat telle I forþ my tales Bulles of popes and of Cardynales. Of patriarkes and bisshoppes I shewe. And in latyn I speke a wordys fewe Line 344 To sauer wiþ my predicacion And forto stirre men to deuocion Than shewe I forþ my longe cristal stones [folio 216a] Ycrommed ful of clowtes and of bones. Line 348 Relikes þei bene as wene men echon Þan haue I in laton a sholdere bone Which þat was an holy Iwes shepe Good men say I take at my wordes kepe Line 352 Ȝif þat þis boon be wasshen in a welle Ȝif kowe or calf. shepe or oxe swelle Þat eny worme hath ete or stonge About þe hert or ellis þe longe Line 356

[6-text p 315] Line 356 It is hool anon and ferþermore Of pokkes and of scabbe and of euery sore Shal euery shepe be hool þat of þis welle Drynkeþ a drauȝt take hede what I telle Line 360 Ȝif þat þe good man þat þe beest oweþ Wil euery weke er þat þe Cok hym croweþ ffastinge drink of þis welle a drauȝte. As þilk holy Iwe our eldere tauȝte Line 364 His beestees and his stoor shal multiplie And sirs also it heleþ Ialowsie And þouȝe a man be fallen in a Ialous rage Lat maken wiþ þis watere his potage Line 368 And neuer shal he [more] his wif mystrust þouȝe he þe soþ of hure defaute wost Al had she taken · preestes tweyn · or þree Here is a myten eke þat ȝe may see Line 372 He þat his honde wil putte in þis myteyn He shal haue multiplyinge of his greyn Whan he haþ sawen be it whete or otys So þat he bringe me good pans or ellis grotys. Line 376 And men and wommen · oo þing I warne ȝowe Ȝif eny wiȝt be in þis churche nowe Þat haþ doo synne horrible [so] þat he Dar not for shame of it shryuen be Line 380 Or eny womman be she ȝong or olde That haþ made her husbonde Cukwold Suche folk shal haue no power ne no grace To offre to my relikes in þis place. Line 384 And who so findeþ hym out of such blame [folio 216b] Thei wil come vp and offre in goddis name And I assoille hym by þe autorite Such as my bulle was graunted to me Line 388 By þis gaude haue I wonnen euery ȝeere An .C. Mark siþens I was pardonere. I stonde like a clerk in my pulpitte And schewe lewde puples synne ysette Line 392

[6-text p 316] Line 392 I preche so as I haue lered by-fore And telle an hundred Iapes more. Than peyne I me to streche forþ þe necke And eest and west vppon þe puple I bekke Line 396 As doþ a dowue sitting vppon a beerne Myne hondes and my tunge gon ful ȝeerne Þat it is ioye to see my bysynesse Of auarice and suche cursednesse. Line 400 Is al my prechinge for to make hem free To ȝeue her pans and namely vnto me ffor myn entent is nat but forto wynne And noþinge for correction of synne Line 404 I rekke neuere whan þat þei bene buried þouȝe þat her saules goo o blakburied. ffor certes mony a predicacion Commeþ ofte tyme of euel entencion Line 408 Somme of plesaunce of folk and of flaterye To bene auaunced by ypocresie And somme for veynglorie and for hate ffor whan I dar nat oþer waies debate Line 412 Than wil I stynge hem wiþ my tunge smerte In prechinge so that he shal not sterte To bene defamed falsely so þat he haþ trespased to my breþeren or to me Line 416 ffor þouȝe I telle nat his propre name Men shal wel knowe þat it is þe same By somme signe and oþer circumstaunces Thus smyte I folk þat don vs displesaunces. Line 420 Thus spitte I out my venyme vnder hwe Of holynesse to semen holy and trewe But shortely myne entent I wil devise ./ [folio 217a] I preche of no þinge but of Couetise ./ Line 424 Þerfore my teeme is ȝit and euer was Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas Thus can I preche aȝeinst þe same vice Which þat I vse and þat is Auarice Line 428

[6-text p 317] Line 428 But þouȝe my self be giltif in þat synne . Ȝit can I make oþer folk to wynne ffrom auarice and soor hem repent But þat nys not my principal entent Line 432 I preche nat but for coueityse Of þis matere it ouȝt ynowe suffise Than telle I hem ensamples mony oon Of olde stories longe tyme agon Line 436 ffor lewde puple louen tales olde which þingges þei conne report and hold What trow ȝe þe whiles I may preche And wynne gold and siluere forto teche Line 440 þat I wil lyve in pouert wilfully Nay nay I þouȝt it neuere trewly . ffor I wil preche and begge in sondry londys I nyl do no laboure wiþ my hondes . Line 444 Ne make baskettes for to lyve þer-by Because I wil not lyuen ydelly I wil noon of þe apostels counterfete I wil haue money . malt chees and whete Line 448 Al were it ȝeuen of þe poorest page Eyþere of þe poorest wydowe in a vilage Al shulde her children sterue or famyne And I wil drink þe licourest of þe wyne Line 452 And haue a ioly wenche in euery toune But harkeneþ lordes in conclusioun Ȝoure liking is þat I shal telle a tale Now haue I dronken . a drauȝt of corny ale Line 456 By god I hope I shal tel ȝou a þinge þat shal of reson be at ȝoure likinge ffor þouȝe my self be a vicious man · I morale tale ȝit I ȝou telle can . Line 460 Whiche Iames went to preche forto wynne . [folio 217b] Now holdeþ ȝoure pees my tale I wil bygynne .

[6-text p 318]

In fflanndres whilom was a companye [on leaf 217, back] Of yonge folk þat haunted folye Line 464 As hasard Riot / stewes . and tauernes . Harpes . Rubibes . lutes and giternes . Þei dauncen and pleyen at þe dys nyȝt and day and Eten also ouer þat her myȝt may Line 468 Thorgh whiche þei do þe deuel sacrifise Wiþ-in þe deuels temple in sondry wise By superfluite abhominable Her oþes bene so grete and damnable Line 472 Þat it is grisly forto here hem swere Our blessed lordys body þei to-tere Hem þouȝt þe Iwes rent hym nat ynowe And ilk of hem at oþer synne loowe Line 476 And riȝt anon commen Inne þan tomblesters ffetys and smale and ȝong fruters Syngers wiþ harpes . bawdes and waifrers Such bene verrey þe deuels officers . Line 480 To kyndel and blowe þe fyre of leccherye That is annexed [vn]to glotenye The holy writt take I to witnesse Þat lecherie is in wyne and dronknesse Line 484 ¶ Lo howe þat dronken Loth vnkindely [¶ nolite inebriari vino in quo est luxuria] Lay by his douȝters two vnwittyngly So dronken he was he nyst what he wrouȝt Herodes who so haþ þe stories souȝt Line 488 . . . . . [no spurious lines in this MS.] Line 489

[6-text p 319] whan he of wyne was replete at his feest Line 489 Riȝt at his owne table ȝaf his heest To sleen þe baptist Iohn ful giltelees Senec saiþ a good word doutelees . [¶ Seneca] Line 492 He seiþ he can no difference fynde Betwix a man þat is out of his mynde And a man þat is dronklewe But þat woodenesse is fallen in a shrewe Line 496 Perseuereþ lenger þan doþ dronknesse O gloteny ful of Cursednesse . O cause furst of our confusion [folio 218a] Oryginal of our dampnacion Line 500 Til crist had bouȝt vs wiþ his blood agayn Lo how dere shortely forto sayne Abouȝt was þe Cursed vilanye [¶ Ieronymus contra Io|uinianum Quamdiu ie|iunauit adam in para|diso · fuit . Comedit & eiectus est statím] Corrupte was as þis world þorgh glotenye Adam oure fadere and his wif also ffrom paradis to labour and to woo Were driven for þat wise it is no drede ffor whiles þat adam fasted as I rede Line 508 He was in paradys and whan þat hee Ete of þe fruyte defended on þe tree · Anoon he was out cast to woo & peyne O glotenye on þe wel ouȝt vs pleyne Line 512 O wist a man how mony maladyes ffoloweþ of excesse and of glotonyes He wolde bene þe more mesurable Of his diete sitting at his table Line 516 Allas þe short þrote þe tender mouþe Makeþ þat Est and West norþe & souþe In erthe in eire in watere men to synk To geten a gloton deynte mete and drink Line 520 Of þis matere o poule wel cast þou trete Mete vnto wombe and wombe eke vnto mete Shal god distroie boþ as Powle seiþ Allas a foule þinge it is be my feiþ . Line 524

[6-text p 320] Line 524 To saie þis worde and foulere is þe dede Whan men so drinken of þe white and rede þat of his þrote he makeþ his priuee Thorgh þilk cursed Superfluite Line 528 Þe Apostel wepinge seiþ ful pitously þer walken mony of which tolde haue I I saie it nowe weping wiþ pitous vois Þer bene enemyes of cristes croys Line 532 Of whiche þe eende is deþ . Wombe is her god O woombe o baly . o stynking cod . ffulfilled of donge. and of corrupciōn At eiþer eende of þe foule is þe seson Line 536 Howe grete cost and labour is to fynde [folio 218b] Thise Cokes howe þei stampe streyne and grynde And turnen substance into accident To ffulfille alle þe likerous talent Line 540 Out of þe hard bones knokke þei Þe mary for þei cast nat away Þat may goo þorgh þe golett sauf and soote Of spicery of leeues berk and roote Line 544 Shal bene his sause ymade be delite To maken hym ȝit a newe appetite But certes he þat haunteþ suche delices Is dede whiles þat he lyueþ in þoo vices Line 548 A lecherous þinge is wyne and dronknesse It is ful of strivinge and of wrecchednesse O dronken man disfigured in þi face ffoule is þi breeþ foule art þou to enbrace Line 552 And þorgh þi dronken nose souneþ þ^e soune As þouȝe þou seidest ay Sampson Sampsoun And ȝit god woot sampson dronk neuere no wyne Þow fallest as it were a dronken swyne Line 556 Þi tunge is lost and alle þine honest Cure ffor drunknesse is verray sepulture Of mannys witte and his discrecion In whoom þat drink haþ dominacion Line 560

[6-text p 321] Line 560 He can no counsaile kepe it is no drede Nowe kepe ȝou from þe white and fro þe rede Namely from þe white wyne of lepe Þat is to selle in fisshstrete and in chepe Line 564 This wyne of spayn crepeþ subtilly In oþer wynes growinge faste by Of woche riseth suche fumosite Þat whan a man haþ dronke a drauȝt or þre Line 568 And weneþ þat he be at home in chepe Þan is he in spayn riȝt at þe toune of lepe Nouȝt at the rochell ne at burdeux toun And þan wil þei say . Sampson sampsoun Line 572 But harkeneþ lordingges oo þing I ȝou pray þat alle þe souereyn actes dar I say Of victories in olde testament [folio 219a] þat þorghe verrey god þat is omnipotent Line 576 Weren doon in abstinence and in preiere Lokeþ þe bible and þer ȝe may it lere Lokeþ Attila þe grete conquerour Deide in his sclepe wiþ shame and dishonour Line 580 Bledinge at his nose in dronknesse A Captayn shuld live in sobrenesse And ouer al þise avise ȝow riȝt well What was comaunded vnto lamuell Line 584 Not Samuel but lamuel say .I. [¶ Noli vinum dare] Redeþ þe bible and fyndeþ it expresly Of wyne ȝeuynge of hem þat aren Iustise No more of þis for it may suffise Line 588 And now þat I haue spoken of glotenye Nowe wil I defende ȝou hasardye ¶ Hasard is verrey modere of lesingges [¶ Policratici [Jo. Sarisburiensis] li|bro .i. mendaciorum & periuriarum mater est alea] And of disceite cursed forswerynges Blaspheme of crist mansclaughter and waast also/ Of bataile and of tyme and of ferþermoo It is repreef and contrarie to honoure fforto be holden a comon hasardoure Line 596

[6-text p 322] Line 596 And euer þe hier he is of estate The more he is holden desolate Ȝif þat a prince vse hasardie In al gouernance and polecye Line 600 He is as by comon opinion Holde þe lasse in reputacion ¶ Stilboon þat was holde a wise embassatour [¶ Stilbon .i. Mercurius.] Was sent into Corinth with grete honour . ffro Calidoyne to make hem alliance And whan he came happed þis chance And al þe grettest þat were of þat lond Pleiyng at þe hasard he hem fond Line 608 ffor which as sone as þat myȝt be He stale hym home aȝein to his cuntre And saide þere I wold not lese my name I wold nat take on me so gret diffame. Line 612 fforto allye ȝou to noon hasardours ·/ [folio 219b] Sendeþ oþer wiser embassatours ./ ffor by my trouþe me were leuere dye Þan I shuld . ȝow to hasardours allie Line 616 But ȝe þat bene so glorious in honoures. Shal not allie ȝou wiþ hasardoures . As by my wille ne as by my trete This wis philisophre þus seide hee Line 620 Loke eeke þat to þe kinge Demetreus The kyng of partes as þe booke seiþ þus Sent hym a paire of golden dys in scorne ffor he had vsed hasardrie þer byforne Line 624 ffor whiche he heelde his glorie and his renoun ffor no value of reputacioun lordes myght fynde oþer manere playe Honest ynowe to dryue þe day awaye Line 628 Now wil I speke of oþes fals and grete A worde or twoo as oþer bookes entrete . Grete sweringe is a þing abhominable And fals sweringe is moche more reproueable Line 632

[6-text p 323] Line 632 The highe god forbere sweryng at alle [¶ Nolite omnino iurare] Witnesse of mathewe but in speciall Of swerynge [seiþ] þe holy Ieremye. [¶ Ieremie .4^o Iu|rabis inquit in veritate in iu|dicio & iusticia] Thowe shalt swere soþe þine oþes and not lie And swere in doome and eke in riȝtwisnesse But ydel sweringe is a cursednesse Biholde and see þat in þe first table. Of hie goddes heestes honurable Line 640 How þat twoo heestes of hym is þis Take not my tale in ydelnes amys Loo raþer he forbedeþ such swerynge Than homicide or eny oþer þinge. Line 644 I saie as þus by order it stondeþ This knowen þat heestes vnderstondeþ How þat þe Secounde heest of god is þat And ferþer ouer I wil þe telle al plat Line 648 Þat vengeance shal not part from his hous Þat of his oþes is so outrageous. By goddys precious hert and his nailles [folio 220a] And by his blood þat is in hailles Line 652 Seuen is my chaunce and his .v. and thre By goddys armes ȝif þou falsly plaie me This daggard shal þorgh þine hert goo. This fruite commeþ of þilk bones twoo. Line 656 ffor-sweringe Ire falsenesse homyside Now for þe loue of crist þat for vs dyde Leueþ ȝoure oþes bothe grete and smale ffor I shal telle ȝou a mervelous tale / Line 660 Thise Riotours of which I telle. Longe erste er prime. ronge eny belle Were sette in a tauerne for to drynke And as þei satte þei herd a belle chink Line 664 Byforn a corps was caried to his graue Þat oon of hem can calle to his knaue / Goo bette quod he and aske redely What coors is þat þat passeþ forþ by Line 668

[6-text p 324] Line 668 And loke þat þou report his name well Sire quod þis [knaue] it nedeþ neuer a dell It was me tolde eer ȝe came heer two houres He was parde an olde felawe of ȝoures Line 672 Al sodeynly was he sclayn to-nyȝt ffor-dronken as he satte vpon his bench vpriȝt Ther come a prive þeef men clepen deþe Þat in his contray al þe puple scleeþ Line 676 And wiþ his speer he smote his hert atwoo And went his way wiþ-oute wordes moo He haþ a thousand sclayn þis Pestilence And maistere er ȝe come in his presence Line 680 Me þenkeþ þat it were necessarie ffor to be war of such an aduersarie Beeþ redy forto mete hym euermore Thus tauȝt me my dame I saye no more Line 684 ¶ By seint marye saide þis tauernere Þe Childe seiþ sooþ for he haþ sclayn to ȝere hens ouer a myle wiþ-Inne a grete vilage Both man and womman childe and page. Line 688 I trowe his habitacioun be þere [folio 220b] To bene avised grete wisdome it were Er þat he did a man dishonoure Ȝe goddes armes quod þis Riatoure Line 692 Is it suche perile wiþ hym forto mete I shal hym sechen by stie and by strete I. make a vowe by goddys digne bones. Harkeneþ felawes we þre bene al ones. Line 696 Lat eche of vs holde vp his honde to oþere And eche of vs bycome oþers broþer And we wil slee þis fals traitour deþe He shal be slayne he þat so monye sleeþe Line 700 By goddys dignite er it be nyȝt To-gidere han þise þre her hertes pliȝt. To lif and to dye ilk of hem wiþ oþer As þouȝe he were his owne born broþer Line 704

[6-text p 325] Line 704 And vp þei sterten and dronken in þis rage. And forþ þei goon towardes þat vilage Of which þe tauernere haþ spoke byforne And mony a grisly ooþe han þei sworne Line 708 And cristes blessed body þei to-rent Þat deeth shal be dede if we may hym hent Whan þei han goon nat fully a myle Riȝt as þei wold haue troden ouer a stile Line 712 An olde and a poor man wiþ hem mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette And saide þus nowe lordes god ȝou see Þe Prowdest of þise Riatours thre Line 716 Answerde aȝein what cherlde wiþ harde grace Why art þou al forwrapped sauf þi face Whi lyuest þou so longe in so grete age This olde man gan loke in his visage Line 720 And seide þus for I can nat fynde A man þouȝe I walked into Ynde Neiþer in Cite ne in noon vilage Þat wil chaungen his ȝouþe for myn age Line 724 And þerfore mote I haue myn age stille As longe tyme as it is goddys wille / Ne deth allas nyl not haue my lif [folio 221a] Thus walk I like a restlees catif Line 728 And on þe grounde which is my moder gate I knokke wiþ my staf erly and late And saie leue moder lat me Inne Loo howe I vanyssh flessh blood and skynne Line 732 Allas whan shul my bones bene at reste Modere with ȝou wold I chaunge my chest That in my chambere longe tyme haþ be. Ȝe for an heeren cloute to wrappe me Line 736 But ȝit to me she wil nat do þat grace. ffor whiche ful welked is my face And sirs to ȝou it is no curtesie To speken vntil an olde man vilany Line 740

[6-text p 326] Line 740 But he trespase in word or ellis in dede In holy writte ȝe may ȝoure self wel rede ¶ Aȝeinst an ōolde man hoor vpon his hede [¶ Coram canuto capite consurge.] Ȝe shuld arise þerfor I ȝeue ȝou rede Line 744 Ne doþ vnto and olde man harme as nowe No more þan ȝe wolde a man did ȝowe In age if þat ȝe so longe abide And god be wiþ ȝow wheder ȝe goo or ride Line 748 I mote goo þidere as I haue to goo We nay olde cherle by god þou shalt nat soo. Seyde þise oþer hasardours anone Thow partest nat so liȝtly be seynt Iohn Line 752 Thow spak riȝt now of þilk tratour deþe þat in þis cuntre alle our frendes sleeþe Haue here my trouþe as þou art his aspie Telle wher he is or ellis þou shalt dye Line 756 By god and by þe holy sacrament ffor soþly þou art [on] of his assent To scleen vs ȝenge folk þou sals þeef Nowe sirres if it be to ȝou so leef Line 760 To fynde deþ turne vp þis croked way ffor in þat groue I left hym be my fay Vnder a tree and þere he wil abide Ne for ȝoure boost he nyl hym no þinge hide Line 764 See ȝe þat ooke riȝt þere ȝe shul hym fynde [folio 221b] God saue ȝou þat bouȝt aȝein mankynde And ȝou amende þus saide þis olde man And euery of þise Riatours ranne Line 768 Til þei come to þe tree and þer þei fonde ffloreyns of gold fyne. ykoyned rounde Wel nyghe a seuen busshells as hem þouȝt No lenger than aftere deþ þei souȝt Line 772 But eche of hem so glad was of þat syȝt ffor þat þe floreynes so faire be and briȝt That doune þei sette hem by þe precious hoorde The worst of hem he spak þe furst word Line 776

[6-text p 327] Line 776 Breþeren quod he take hede what I say My witte is grete þough I bourde and play This tresour haþ fortune to vs ȝeuen In myrþe and iolite our lyf to lyuen Line 780 And lightly so as it commeþ so wil we spende Ey precious goddys hert who wende To-day þat we shulde haue so faire a grace But myȝt þis gold be caried fro þis place Line 784 Home into myne hous or ellis to ȝoures ffor wel I woote þat all þis gold is oures/ Than were we in high ffelicite. But trewly by day it may nat be Line 788 Men wold say þat we were þeues stronge And for oure owne tresour done vs honge As wisely and as scliȝly as it myȝt This tresour most ycaried be be nyȝt Line 792 Wherfore I rede lat loke among vs alle To drawe and lat see where þe Cut wil falle he þat haþ þe curt wiþ herte blith Shal renne to toune and þat ful swith Line 796 To bringe vs brede and drink ful priuely And two of vs shal kepen sotilly This tresour wel and if he wil not tarie Whan it is nyȝt we wil þis tresor carie Line 800 By oon assent where as vs likeþ best That oon of ham broȝt gras in his fest And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wolde falle [folio 222a] And it felle on the ȝongest of hem alle Line 804 And forþ toward þe towne he went anoon And also sone as that he was goone That oon of hem spak vnto þat oþere Thewe woost wel þou art myn owne sworn broþere Line 808 Thi prophite wil I telle þe anon Thowe woost wel þat our felawe is goon And here is gold and þat grete plente Þat shal departed be amonges vs þree Line 812

[6-text p 328] Line 812 But naþelees if I can shape it soo Þat it departed were amonges vs twoo Had I not done a frendes turne to þe Þat oþer Answered I not howe þat myȝt be Line 816 I wold wel þat þe gold were oures twoo. What shuld wee doo þat it myȝt be soo. Shal it be counsaile said þe first schrewe And I shal telle [þe] in wordes fewe Line 820 What we shul doon and bringe it aboute I graunt quod þat oþer out of doute That by my trouþe I nyl þe nat bywreien Now quod the furst þou woote wel we be tweyen Line 824 And twoo of vs shul strenger be þan oōn loke whan he is sette and þat anōn Arise as þouȝe þou woldest wiþ hym play And I shal ryuen hym þorgh þe sides twey Line 828 Whiles þat þow strogelest with hym as in game And wiþ þi daggere loke þou doo þe same And þan shal al þis golde departed be My dere freende bytwixe þe and me Line 832 Than may we booþ our lustes fulfille And play at þe dice at our owne wille And þus accorded bene þise shrewes tway To scleen þe þred as ȝe han herd me say Line 836 ¶ This ȝongest which þat went to þe toune fful oft in his hert rolled vp and doune Þe bewte of þise floreyns faire and briȝt O lord quod he ȝif it so were I myȝt Line 840 Haue al þis tresour to myself alone [folio 222b] Ther nys no man þat lyueþ vnder trone Of golde þat shuld lyve so mery as I And at þe last þe feende oure enemye Line 844 Put in his þouȝt þat he shuld poysen bey wiþ which he myȝt scleen his felawes twey ffor whi þe feende fonde him in such liuynge That he had leue hym to sorowe bringe Line 848

[6-text p 329] Line 848 ffor þis was vtterly his entent To scleen hem boþe and neuere to repent And forþ he goþ no lenger wold he tarye Into þe towne vnto apotecarye Line 852 And preide hym þat he hym wolde selle Somme poysen þat he myȝt his rattes kelle And eke þer was a polcat in his hawe Þat as he seide his capons had Isclawe Line 856 And seide he wolk wreke hym ȝif he myȝt On vermyn þat destroyen hem by nyȝt The appoticarie answerd þou shalt haue A þinge þat as god my saule saue Line 860 In al þis worlde þer nys no creature Þat ete or drink of þis confecture Nouȝt but þe mountance of a corn of whete Þat he ne shal his lif anoon forlete Line 864 Ȝe sterue he shal and þat in lasse while Þan þow wilt goon a pace nat but a myle This poysen þat is so hard and violent This cursed man haþ in his honde it hent Line 868 This poysen in a boxe and siþens he ranne Into þe nexte strete vnto a man And borowed hym large botelles þre And to his felawes aȝein repaireþ he Line 872 The iij. he kepte clene for his drinke ffor alle þe nyȝt he shope hym forto swynk In cariyng of þat gold out of þat place And whan þis riotour wiþ sory grace Line 876 Had filled wiþ him his grete botels þre To his felawes aȝein repaireþ he./ What nedeþ it to sermon þerof more [folio 223a] ffor riȝt as þei had cast his deeþ byfore Line 880 Riȝt so þei han hym sclayn and þat anon And whan þat þis was doon þan speke þat on Now lat vs sitte and drink and make vs mery And afterward we wil his body bery Line 884

[6-text p 330] Line 884 And after þat hit happed hem percas To taken a botell wher-in the poyson was And drank and ȝaue his felawe drink alsoþe þorghe whiche anoon þei steruen bothe Line 888 But certes I suppose þat Auicen Wroote neuer in no canon ne in no fen Moo wondere sorowes of empoysenynge Thus had þise wrecches two her endinge Line 892 Thus eended be þise homycydes twoo And eke þis false enpoysoner alsoo O . cursed synne ful of al cursednesse O . traterous homycides .o. Wickednesse Line 896 O . glotenye luxurye and hasardrye Thow blasphemour of crist wiþ vileny And oþes grete of vsage and of pride Allas mankinde howe may it betide Line 900 That to þi creatour which þat þe wrouȝt And wiþ his precious blood þe bouȝt Thowe art so fals and so vnkynde allas Now good men god forȝeue ȝou ȝour trespas Line 904 And kepe ȝou from þe synne of auarice Myne holy pardon may ȝou all warisshe So that ȝe offer nobles or sterlyngges Oiþer ellis Siluere . spoones . broches . or ryngges Line 908 Boweþ ȝoure hede vnder þis bulle Commeþ vp ȝe Wyues offreþ ȝour wille Ȝoure name I entre here in my rolle anon In to þe blisse of heuene shul ȝe al goon Line 912 I ȝou assoille be my highe powere Ȝe þat wollen offre as clene and eke as cleere As ȝe were born and loo sirs þus I preche And Ihesu crist þat is our saules leche. Line 916 So graunte ȝou his pardon to receyue./ [folio 223b] ffor þat is best I wil ȝou not deceyue ¶ But sirs oon word forgate I in my tale I haue relikes and pardon in my male Line 920

[6-text p 331] Line 920 As faire as eny man in engelond Whiche were ȝeue me by þe popes hond Ȝif eny of ȝow wol of deuociōn Offre and han myn absolucion Line 924 Commeþ forþ anon and kneleþ here adoun Þat ȝe may haue part of my pardoun Or ellis takeþ pardon as ȝe wende Al newe and fressh at euery tounes ende Line 928 So þat ȝe offre alway newe and newe Nobles and pans which þat bene good and trewe It is an honure to euery þat bene here Þat ȝe may haue a suffisant pardonere Line 932 To assoile ȝou in contree as ȝe ride ffor auentures which þat may be-tide ffor parauenture þer may falle oon or twoo Doune of her hors and breke her nek atwoo Line 936 Looke swiche a swerte it is to ȝou alle That I am in ȝoure felawship yfalle Þat may assoile ȝou boþ more and lasse Whan þat þe soule shal fro þe body passe Line 940 I rede þat hour [hooste] shal bygynne ffor he is most enuolupte of synne Come forþ sire hoost and offre first anon And þou shalt kysse þe relikes euerechon Line 944 Ȝe for a groot vnbokel anon þi purs Nay nay quod he þan haue I cristes curs lat be quod he it shal nat be so theche Þow woldest make me kissen þine olde breche Line 948 And swere it were þe relike of a seynt Þouȝe it were wiþ þi foundement depeynt But by þe crosse which seint Elyne fonde I wold I had þi culyons in myne honde Line 952 In stede of relikes of seint-wary Lat kitte hem of and I wil helpe hem cary They shulde be schryned in an hogges toord [folio 224a] This Pardonere answered nat a woord Line 956

[6-text p 332] Line 956 So wroþ he was he wolde no word say Nowe quod our oost I nyl no lenger play Wiþ þe ne wiþ noon oþer angry man But riȝt anoon þe worþi knyȝt bygan Line 960 Whan þat he seegh þat alle þe puple louȝe No more of þis for it is riȝt ynoghe Sir Pardonere be mery and glad of chere And ȝee sir Hoost þat bene to me so dere Line 964 I prei ȝou þat ȝe kisse þe Pardonere And pardonere I prei ȝou drawe ȝe nere And as we did lat vs lauȝe and play And anon þei kissed and riden forþ her way Line 968

¶ Thus endeþ þe pardoners tale.