The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 150r
4 of 19 folios
Som for plesaunce of folk and flaterie
To ben auanced bi ypocrisie
And som for veyn glorie and som for hate
For whan I dar non othir weyes debate
85
Than wol I stynge him wyth my tonge smerte
In preching so that he shal nat a sterte
To be defamed falsly yif that he
Hath trespaced to my britheren or to me
For thogh I telle nat his propre name
90
Men shul wel knowen that it is the same
Bi signes and bi other circumstances
Thus quyte I folk that doon vs displesances
Thus spit I out my venym vnder hewe
Of holynesse to seme holy and trewe
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¶ But shortely myn entent I wol deuyse
I preche of no thing but of couetise
Ther fore my tyme is yit and euer was
Radix malores est cupiditas
Thus can I preche ageyn the same vice
100
Which that I vse and that is auarice
But thogh my self be gilty in that synne
Yit can I make other folk to twynne
Fro auarice and sore to repente
But that is nat my pincipal entente
105
I preche nothing but for couetise
Of this matere it oght ynogh suffise
¶ Than telle I hem ensamples many on
Of olde stories longe tyme a goon
For lewde peple louen tales olde
110
Swich thinges can thei wel reporte and holde
What trow ye that whiles I may perche
And wynne gold or siluer for I teche
That I wol lyue in pouer wilfully
Nay nay I thoght it neuer trewly
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For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes
I wole nat do no labour with myn hondes
Ne make baskettes ne lyue ther by
By cause y wol nat beggen ydelly .