The Canterbury Tales · The Pardoner’s Tale · The Prologue

Our Hostë gan to swear as he were wood;3479

“Harow!” quoth he, “by nailës and by blood,3480

This was a cursed thief, a false justíce.

As shameful death as heartë can devise

Come to these judges and their advoca’s.3481

Algate3482 this sely3483 maid is slain, alas!

Alas! too dearë bought3484 she her beautý.

Wherefore I say, that all day man may see

That giftës of fortúne and of natúre

Be cause of death to many a creatúre.

Her beauty was her death, I dare well sayn;

Alas! so piteously as she was slain.

[Of bothë giftës, that I speak of now,

Men have full often morë harm than prow.3485]

But truëly, mine owen master dear,

This was a piteous talë for to hear;

But natheless, pass over; ’tis no force.3486

I pray to God to save thy gentle corse,3487

And eke thine urinals, and thy jordans,

Thine Hippocras, and eke thy Galliens,3488

And every boist3489 full of thy lectuary,

God bless them, and our lady Saintë Mary.

So may I thé,3490 thou art a proper man,

And like a prelate, by Saint Ronian;

Said I not well? Can I not speak in term?3491

But well I wot thou dost3492 mine heart to erme,3493

That I have almost caught a cardiácle:3494

By corpus Domini, but3495 I have triácle,3496

Or else a draught of moist and corny3497 ale,

Or but3498 I hear anon a merry tale,

Mine heart is brost3499 for pity of this maid.

Thou bel ami, thou Pardoner,” he said,

“Tell us some mirth of japës3500 right anon.”

“It shall be done,” quoth he, “by Saint Ronion.

But first,” quoth he, “here at this alëstake3501

I will both drink, and biten on a cake.”

But right anon the gentles gan to cry,

“Nay, let him tell us of no ribaldry.

Tell us some moral thing, that we may lear3502

Some wit,3503 and thennë will we gladly hear.”

“I grant y-wis,”3504 quoth he; “but I must think

Upon some honest thing while that I drink.”