The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 305v
2 of 16 folios
Therefore myn teme is ȝit & euere was
Radix malorum est cupiditas
Thus can I perche a ȝen the same vice
100
Whiche that I vse & that is aueryce
But thow myn self be gilty in that sȳne
Ȝit can I make othere folk to twynne
Frō aueryce & sore to repente
But that is nat myn pryncipal entente
105
I preche no thyng but for coueytyse
Of this this matire it ouȝte I nogh suffise
Thāne telle I hē ensaūplys manyon
Of olde storyis long tyme a goon
For lewede peple louyn talys olde
110
Sweche thyngis can they wel reporte & holde
What trowe ȝe that whilis that I may preche
And wȳne gold & syluyr for I teche
That I wele lyue in pouerte wilfully
Nay nay I thouȝte it neuere trewely
115
For I wele preche & begge in sūdery landis
I wele don no labour wt mȳne handys
Ne make basketys & lyue therby
By cause I wele nat beggen ydely
I wele none of the apostelys coūtyrfete
120
I wele haue monye / wolle / cheese / & wheete
Al weere it ȝeuyn of the poreste page
Or of the poreste wedew in a village
Al schulde hire chylderyn sterue for famyne
Nay I wele drynke licour of the vyne
125
And haue a Ioly wenche in euery toun
But herkenyth lordyngis in conclusioun
Ȝoure lykȳge is that I schal telle a tale
Now haue I dronke a draught of corny ale
By god I hope I schal ȝow telle a thyng
130
That schal be resoū been at ȝoure lykyng
For thow myn self be a ful vicious man
A moral tale ȝit I ȝow telle can
Whiche I am wonet to preche for to wȳne
Now holde ȝoure pes myn tale I wele begȳne