5 10 40 The Pardoner's Tale (From The Canterbury Tales) In Flaundres whylom was a companye A ryot, hasard, stewes, and tavernes, Where-as, with harpes, lutes, and giternes, They daunce and pleye at dees both day and night, Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifyse Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable, Thise ryotoures three, of whiche I telle, 15 Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle, as riotous Once upon a time there was in Flanders a company of young people who followed after foolishness living, gambling, brothels, and taverns, where with harps, lutes, and guitars they dance and play at dice both day and night, and also eat and drink beyond their capacity, by Their oaths which they do sacrifice to the devil in that devil's temple in scandalous fashion, by outrageous excess. are so many and so dreadful that it is terrible to hear them Our blessed Lord's body they do tear to pieces it seemed to them Jews tore him not enough; and each of them laughed at the others' sins. swear. These three rioters of whom I tell, long before any bell struck nine, had gone into a tavern to drink; and as they sat, they heard a bell ringing before a corpse that was being Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave; Beth redy for to mete him evermore. Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na-more." carried to the grave. One of them called to his page, "Go quickly," said he, "and ask at once whose body is passing by; and be sure you report his name correctly." "Sir," said this boy, "that's not at all necessary. It was told me two hours before you came here; he was, in faith, an old companion of yours, and he was suddenly slain tonight, dead drunk, as he sat straight up on his bench. There came a secret thief, whom men call Death, who slays all the people in this country; and with his spear he broke his heart in two, and went his way without more words. He hath slain a thousand during this plague; and master, before you come into his presence, it seems to me necessary that you be cautious of such an adversary; be always ready to meet him. So my mother taught me; that's all I have to say." "By seinte Marie," said this taverner, "The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer, Togidres han thise three her trouthes plight, As though he were his owene y-boren brother. "By Saint Mary," said this taverner, "the child speaks These three pledged their words to live and die for each up a of w a ter "De W going old you, T CU why TH if I willi And therefore moot I han myn age stille, "Ne deeth, allas! ne wol nat han my lyf; Agayns an old man, hoor upon his heed, Ye sholde aryse;' wherfor I yeve yow reed, I must keep my age as long as it is God's will. "Even death, alas! will not have my life; so I keep going, like a restless wretch, and on the ground, which is my mother's gate, I knock with my staff early and late, saying, 'Dear mother [Earth], let me in! Lo, how I waste away, flesh, and blood, and skin! Alas! when shall my bones be at rest? Mother, I'd like to exchange the chest that hath been a long time in my chamber for a hairy shroud to wrap me in!' But yet she will not do me that favor, because of which my face is very pale and withered. "But, sirs, it is not courteous of you to speak rudely to an old man, unless he do you wrong in word or deed. In Holy Writ you yourselves may read, 'In the presence of an old man, hoary-headed, you should rise;' wherefore I counsel you, do no harm to an old man now, any more than you would |