| 660 |
"Nay, nay," quod he, "thanne have I Cristes curs! |
| Lat be," quod he, "it shal nat be, so theech, |
| Thou woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech, |
| And swere it were a relyk of a seint, |
| Though it were with thy fundement depeint. |
| 665 | But by the croys which that Seint Eleyne fond, |
| I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond |
| In stide of relikes or of seintuarie. |
| Lat kutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie; |
| They shul be shryned in an hogges toord." |
| 670 | This Pardoner answerde nat a word; |
| So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye. |
| "Now," quod oure Hoost, "I wol no lenger pleye |
| With thee, ne with noon oother angry man." |
| But right anon the worthy Knyght bigan, |
| 675 | Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough, |
| "Namoore of this, for it is right ynough. |
| Sir Pardoner, be glad and myrie of cheere; |
| And ye, sir Hoost, that been to me so deere, |
| I prey yow, that ye kisse the pardoner; |
| 680 | And Pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer, |
| And, as we diden lat us laughe and pley." |
| Anon they kiste, and ryden forth hir weye. |
|
| 660 |
"Nay, nay," said he, "then may I have Christ's curse! |
| It sha'n't be," said he, "as I've hope for riches, |
| Why, you would have me kissing your old breeches, |
| And swear they were the relics of a saint, |
| Though with your excrement 'twere dabbed like paint. |
| 665 | By cross Saint Helen found in Holy Land, |
| I would I had your ballocks in my hand |
| Instead of relics in a reliquary; |
| Let's cut them off, and them I'll help you carry; |
| They shall be shrined within a hog's fat turd." |
| 670 | This pardoner, he answered not a word; |
| So wrathy was he no word would he say. |
| "Now," said our host, "I will no longer play |
| With you, nor any other angry man." |
| But at this point the worthy knight began, |
| 675 | When that he saw how all the folk did laugh: |
| "No more of this, for it's gone far enough; |
| Sir pardoner, be glad and merry here; |
| And you, sir host, who are to me so dear, |
| I pray you that you kiss the pardoner. |
| 680 | And, pardoner, I pray you to draw near, |
| And as we did before, let's laugh and play." |
| And then they kissed and rode forth on their way. |
|
