The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 192r
14 of 18 folios
This tresour moste caried be by nigħt
As wysly and as slely as it migħt
465
Wherfore I rede þat cut among vs aƚƚ
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
To bring vs bred and wyn ful priuely
470
And tuo of vs schal kepe subtilly
This tresour wel and if he wil not tarie /
Whan it is nigħt we wol þis tresour carie
By oon assent þer as vs likeþ best
That oon of hem þe cut brougħt in his fest
475
And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wil falle
And it fel on þe ȝongest of hem alle /
And forþ toward þe toun he went anoon
And al so soone as he was agoon
That oon of hem . spak vnto þat oþer
480
Thow wost wel þat þou art my sworne broþer
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 /
485
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 /
He wot wel þat þe gold is wiþ vs tway
490
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 /
What we schul doon and bringe it wel aboute
I gaunte quod þat other wiþoute doute
495
That by my trouþe I wil þe nougħt by wray
Now quod þe first þou wost wel we ben tway
And two of vs schuln strenger be þan oon
Lok whanne he is sett and þat anoon /
Arys as þou woldest with him pleye /
500
And I schal ryf him thurgħ þe sydes tweye /.