|
By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer, |
| An hundred mark, sith I was pardoner. |
| 105 | I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet, |
| And whan the lewed peple is doun yset, |
| I preche so, as ye han heerd bifoore, |
| And telle an hundred false japes moore. |
| Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke, |
| 110 | And est and west upon the peple I bekke, |
| As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne. |
| Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne |
| That it is joye to se my bisynesse. |
| Of avarice and of swich cursednesse |
| 115 | Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free |
| To yeven hir pens; and namely, unto me! |
| For myn entente is nat but for to wynne, |
| And no thyng for correccioun of synne. |
| I rekke nevere, whan that they been beryed, |
| 120 | Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberyed! |
| For certes, many a predicacioun |
| Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun. |
| Som for plesance of folk, and flaterye, |
| To been avaunced by ypocrisye, |
| 125 | And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate. |
| For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate, |
| Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte |
| In prechyng, so that he shal nat asterte |
| To been defamed falsly, if that he |
| 130 | Hath trespased to my bretheren, or to me. |
| For though I telle noght his propre name, |
| Men shal wel knowe that it is the same |
| By signes, and by othere circumstances. |
| Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances, |
| 135 | Thus spitte I out my venym, under hewe |
| Of hoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe. |
|
|
"By this fraud have I won me, year by year, |
| A hundred marks, since I've been pardoner. |
| 105 | I stand up like a scholar in pulpit, |
| And when the uneducated people all do sit, |
| I preach, as you have heard me say before, |
| And tell a hundred false jokes, less or more. |
| I am at pains, then, to stretch forth my neck, |
| 110 | And east and west upon the folk I beck, |
| As does a dove that's sitting on a barn. |
| With hands and swift tongue, then, do I so yarn |
| That it's a joy to see my busyness. |
| Of avarice and of all such wickedness |
| 115 | Is all my preaching, thus to make them free |
| With offered pence, the which pence come to me. |
| For my intent is only pence to win, |
| And not at all for punishment of sin. |
| When they are dead, for all I think thereon |
| 120 | Their souls may well black-berrying have gone! |
| For, certainly, there's many a sermon grows |
| Ofttimes from evil purpose, as one knows; |
| Some for folks' pleasure and for flattery, |
| To be advanced by all hypocrisy, |
| 125 | And some for vainglory, and some for hate. |
| For, when I dare not otherwise debate, |
| Then do I sharpen well my tongue and sting |
| The man in sermons, and upon him fling |
| My lying defamations, if but he |
| 130 | Has wronged my brethren or, worse, wronged me. |
| For though I mention not his proper name, |
| Men know whom I refer to, all the same, |
| By signs I make and other circumstances. |
| Thus I pay those who do us displeasances. |
| 135 | Thus spit I out my venom under hue |
| Of holiness, to seem both good and true. |
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