The General Prologue
Folio 5v
10 of 14 folios
675
This pardoner had heer as yolowe as wax
But smothe yt henge as doth a strike of flax
By ownces heng his lokkes that he hadde
And ther wyth he his sholdres ouerspradde
But thynne it lay by culpons on and oon
680
But hood for Iolyte wered he noon
For hit was trussed vp in his walet
Him thought he rood al of the new get
Discheuele saue his cappe he rood al bare
Swich glaryng eyen had he as an hare
685
A vernycle had he sewed on his cappe
His walet by forn him in his lappe.
Bretful of pardoū comen fro Rome al. hoot
A voice he hadde as smal as hath a goot
No berd had he ne neuer sholde have
690
As smothe it was as it were late y shaue.
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare
But of his crafte from berwyk vn to ware.
Ne was ther swych a nother pardoner
For in his male he hadde a pylow bere
695
Which that he seide was oure lady vaile
He seyde he had a gobet of the saile
That seint petre had whan that he went
Vppon the see til. Iħu criste him hent
He had a croys of laton ful of Stones
700
And in a glas he had pygges bones
But wyth thise relikes whan that he foond
A pouere person dwellyng vppon lond
Vppon a day he gate him more moneye
Than that the persoun gat in monthes twaye.
705
And thus wyth feyned flatery and Iapes
He maad the persoun and the people his apes
But trewly to tellen at the last
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiast
Wel coude he reed a lesson or a story.
710
But altherbest he sang an offratory.
For wel he wist whan that song was songe
He moste perche and wel afile his tonge
To wynne siluer as he ful wel coude