The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 178r
14 of 15 folios
That wil chaunge his ȝouþe for myne age
And þerfore most .I. haue my age stille
As longe time as it is goddes wille
Ne deþe alas ne wil nouht haue my lyue
400
Þus walke .I. lyke a risteles chaitif
And on þe grounde whyche is my moders gate
I. knok wiþ my staf erly & late
And seye leue moder lete me inne
Lo howe .I. wane boþe flesche blode & scynne
405
Alas when schol my bones bien att rest
Moder wiþ ȝowe wold .I. chaunge my chest
Thatt in my chambre longe time haþ be
Ȝe for an here cloute to wrappe me
Bot ȝitt to me sche wil nouȝt do þat grace
410
For whiche ful pale & welked is my face
Bot sires to ȝowe it is no curtesie
To speken vnto an holdman vilanye
Bot he trespas in worde eyþer in dede
In holy write ȝe maie ȝoure self wele rede
415
Aȝeines an oldman hore vpon his hede
Ȝe scholden arise wherfor .I. ȝif ȝowe rede
Ne doþe nouht to an oldeman none harme nowe
Ne more þan ȝe wolde men dide to ȝow
In age if þat . ȝe so longe a bide
420
And god bewiþe ȝowe wheþer ȝe go or ride
I mote go þeder þer as .I. haue to go
Nay olde cherle be god þou schalt nouht so
Saide þis oþere hasardour anone
Thou partes nouht so lyhtly be seint Ioħn
425
Thou spakkest riht nowe of þilke traitor deþe
That in þis Countre aloure frendes sleþe
Haue here my trouþe as þou ert his aspye
Tel where he his or þou schalt abye
Be god & be þe holi sacrament
430
For soþely þou ert on of his assent
To slene vs ȝonge folke þou fals þef
Nowe sire if þat it be to ȝowe so lef
To finde deþe torne vp þis croked weie
For in þat . groue .I. laft him be my feye
435
Vnder a tre & þere he wil a bide
Ne for ȝoure boste he wil him no þinge hide
See ȝe þat ooke riht þere ȝe schulne him finde