The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 155v
15 of 19 folios
Had I nat doon a frendes turne to the
¶ That othir answerd I nat how that may be
He wot wel that the gold is with vs twey
490
What shul we do what shul we to him sey
¶ Schal it be counseil seide the first shrew
And I shal tellen in wordes few
What we shul doon and bringe it wel aboute
¶ I graunte quod that other out of dout
495
That bi my trouthe I wol the nat bewrye
¶ Now quod the first thow woste wel we be twey
And two of vs shul strenger be than on
Loke whan that he is set that ryght anon
Arise as thow woldest with him pley
500
And I shal ryue him thurgh the sides twey
While that thow strogolest with him in game
And with thi dagger loke thou do the same
And than shal al this gold departed be
Mi dere frende bitwix the and me
505
Thanne may we both our lustes alle fulfille
And pleye at dees right at our owne wille
And thus accorded ben thise shrewes twey
To sle the thrid as ye han hard me sey
¶ This yongest which that went vnto the toun
510
Ful ofte in herte he rolleth vp and doun
The beaute of this floryns new and bryght
O lord quod he yif so were that I myght
Haue al this tresour vnto my self allone
Ther nys no man that lyueth vnder the trone
515
Of god that sholde lyue so myry as I
And atte last the fend our enemy
Put in his thought that he shold poysoun beye
With which he myght sleen his felawes tweye
For whi the fend fand him in swich lyuyng
520
That he had leue him to sorwe brynge
For this was outrely his pleyn entent
To sleen hem bothe and neuer to repente
And forth he goth no lenger wold he tarye
In to the toun vn to a potecarye
525
And preide him that he him wolde selle