But sirs, o word forgat I in my tale,
I have relikes and pardon in my male, 920
As faire as any man in Engelond,
Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.
If any of yow wol, of devocioun,
Offren, and han myn absolucioun,
Cometh forth anon, and kneleth heer adoun, 925
And mekely receyveth my pardoun:
Or elles, taketh pardon as ye wende,
[318: T. 12862-12897.]
Al newe and fresh, at every tounes ende, (600)
So that ye offren alwey newe and newe
Nobles and pens, which that be gode and trewe. 930
It is an honour to everich that is heer,
That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
Tassoille yow, in contree as ye ryde,
For aventures which that may bityde.
Peraventure ther may falle oon or two 935
Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo.
Look which a seuretee is it to yow alle
That I am in your felaweship y-falle, (610)
That may assoille yow, bothe more and lasse,
Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe, 940
I rede that our hoste heer shal biginne,
For he is most envoluped in sinne.
Com forth, sir hoste, and offre first anon,
And thou shalt kisse the reliks everichon,
Ye, for a grote! unbokel anon thy purs.’ 945
925. E. Hn. Com; _rest_ Cometh, Comyth. 928. E. Hn. Cm. myles; _rest_
tounes. 930. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. 935. E. fallen. 941. E. Cm.
heere; _rest om._ 944. E. my; Cm. myne; _rest_ the.
‘Nay, nay,’ quod he, ‘than have I Cristes curs!
Lat be,’ quod he, ‘it shal nat be, so theech!
Thou woldest make me kisse thyn old breech, (620)
And swere it were a relik of a seint,
Thogh it were with thy fundement depeint! 950
But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond,
I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond
In stede of relikes or of seintuarie;
Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie;
Thay shul be shryned in an hogges tord.’ 955
947. Hn. thee ich; _rest_ theech. 954. Cp. Ln. the helpe; Pt. Hl.
helpe; E. with thee; Cm. from the; Hn. thee.
This pardoner answerde nat a word;
So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.
‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘I wol no lenger pleye (630)
With thee, ne with noon other angry man.’
But right anon the worthy knight bigan, 960
Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough,
‘Na-more of this, for it is right y-nough;
Sir pardoner, be glad and mery of chere;
[319: T. 12898-12902.]
And ye, sir host, that been to me so dere,
I prey yow that ye kisse the pardoner. 965
And pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer,
And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye.’ (639)
Anon they kiste, and riden forth hir weye. [T. 12902.
=Here is ended the Pardoners Tale.=
(_For_ T. 12903, _see_ p. 165).
COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn.; Hl. Here endeth the pardoneres tale.
[320: T. 5583-5602.]
* * * * *