The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 186r
2 of 18 folios
And þanne my bulles schewe I alle and some
Oure liege lordes seal vpon my patent
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That schewe I first my body to warent
That no man be so hardy prest ne clerk
Me to destourbe of cristes holy werk
And after þat þan tel I forth my tales
Bulles of popes and of Cardynales /
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Of patriarkes and of bisshops I schewe
And in latyn speke I wordes fewe /
To sauore with my predicaciou~
And for to stere hem to deuociou~
Thanne schewe I forþ my longe cristal stoones
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I crammed ful of cloutes and of boones
Reliks þay ben as wene þei echoon
Than haue I in latoū a schulder boon
Which þat was of an holy Iewes scheep
Good men say I tak of my wordes keep /
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If þat þis boon be waische in eny welle /
If cow . or calf scheep or oxe swelle
That eny worm haþ ete or worm I stonge
Tak water of þat welle and waisch his tonge
And it is hool anoon and forþer more
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Of pokkes and of scabbe and euery sore /
Schal euery scheep be hool þat of þis welle
That drynketh a draught tak heed eek what I telle
If þat þe goode man þat þe beest oweþ
Wol euery wike er þat þe cok him croweþ
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Fastynge drynke / of þis welle a draugħt
As þilke holy Iew oure eldres taugħt
His beestes and his stoor schal multiplie
And sires also it kelith Ialousie
For þougħ a man be ful in ialous rage
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Let make wiþ þis water his potage
And neuer schal he more his wyf mys trist
Þougħ he þe soþ of hir defaute wist
Al hadde sche take prestes tuo or þre
Her is a meteyn eek þat ȝe may see
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He þat his honde put in þis metayn