The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 174v
3 of 15 folios
100
Suche þat .I. vse & þat is of auarice
Bot þeihe .I. me self be gilte in þat sinne
Ȝit kanne .I. maake oþer folke to wynne
Frōme auarice & sore to repent
Bot þat nes nouht myn pincipal entent
105
.I. perche no þinge bot for couetise
Of þis matiere it ouȝte ynowhe suffise
Þan tel .I. of ensamples many one
Of Olde stories longe time a gone
For lewde peple louen tales olde
110
Whiche þinges can þei wele reporte & holde
What trowe ȝe whiles þat .I. maie preche
And wynne gold & siluer for .I. teche
Þat .I. wil leue in pouert wilfully
Nay . nay .I. þouht it neuer treulye
115
For .I. preche & begge in sundre landes
.I. wil nouht do no labour wiþ myn handes
An make basketes & leue þere bye
Be cause .I. wil nouht bigge ydelye
.I. wil none of þe aposteles counterfete
120
.I. wil haue mony chese & whete
Al were it ȝeuen of þe porest page
Eyþer of þe pourest wedowe in a vilage
Al schold hir childerne sterue for famyne
Nay .I. wil drinke þe lycoure of þe vine
125
And haue a Ioly wenche in euerych toune
Bot herkeneþ lordynges in conclusione
Ȝoure lykeinge is þat .I. schal tel a tale
Nowe .I. haue droke a drauhte of Corne ale
Be god .I. hope .I. schal tel ȝowe a þinge
130
Þat schal be reson biene at ȝoure lykeinge
For þouhe my self be aful vicious man
Amore il tale ȝit .I. ȝowe teƚƚ can
Whiche .I. am wont to perche for to wynne
Now holde ȝoure pes my tale .I. wil beginne .
135
IN flaundres whilom was a compaignie
Of ȝonge folke þat hawten folye
As Riott . hasard . stewes . & tauerns
Þei daunce & pleie & dise boþe daie & nyht
140
And eten & drenke also ouer al her miht
Thorwhe whiche þei done þe deuel sacrifise
Wiþ inne þe deueles temple in cursed wyse