The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 187r
4 of 18 folios
For whan I dar not oþer weys debate
85
Than wil I stynge him with my tonge smerte
In preching so þat he schal not astert
To be diffamed falsly if þat he
Haþ trespast to my breþeren or to me
For þougħ I telle not his propre name
90
Men schal wel knowe þat it is þe same /
By signes and by oþer circumstaunces
Thus quyt I folk þat doon vs displesaunces
Thus put I out my venym vnder hiewe
Of holynes . to seme holy and trewe /
95
But schortly myn entent I wol deuyse
I preche no þing but of coueityse
Therfor my teem is ȝit and euer was
Radix omnium . malorum est Cupiditas
Thus can I preche agayn þe same vice
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Which þat I vse and þat is auarice
But thougħ myself be gulty in þe synne
Ȝit can I make oþer folk to twynne /
From auarice and soone to repent
But þat is not my principal entent /
105
I preche no þing but for coueitise
Of þis matier it ought Inough suffise
Than telle I hem ensamples many oon
Of olde þinges longe tyme agoon
For lewed poeple louen tales olde
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Which þinges can þay wel report and holde /
What trowe ȝe whiles I may preche
And wynne gold and siluer for I teche
That I wil lyue in pouert wilfully
Nay nay I þougħt it neuer trewly
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For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes
I wil do no labour wiþ myn hondes
Ne make basketis and lyue þer by
By cause I wil nought begge y delly
I wol noon of thapostles counterfete
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I wol haue money wolle chese and whete /
Al were it ȝeuen of þe prestes page