‘Abyde!’ quod she, ‘my tale is nat bigonne;
Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tonne 170
Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale.
And whan that I have told thee forth my tale
Of tribulacioun in mariage,
Of which I am expert in al myn age,
This to seyn, my-self have been the whippe;— 175
Than maystow chese whether thou wolt sippe
Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
Be war of it, er thou to ny approche;
For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
Who-so that nil be war by othere men, 180
By him shul othere men corrected be.
The same wordes wryteth Ptholomee;
Rede in his Almageste, and take it there.’
172. Hn. Hl. thee; _rest om._ 173. E. Cm. that is in (_for_ in).
176. E. wheither. 177. E. Cm. that; _rest_ thilke. 180. Hn. nyle;
Hl. nyl; _rest_ wol nat. 182. Ln. tholome; Pt. ptholome; Hl.
p_ro_tholome; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Protholome(!). 183. E. Cm. Rede it in.
‘Dame, I wolde praye yow, if your wil it were,’
Seyde this Pardoner, ‘as ye bigan, 185
Telle forth your tale, spareth for no man,
And teche us yonge men of your praktike.’