|
Up stirte the Pardoner, and that anon; |
| 170 | "Now, dame," quod he, "by God and by Seint John! |
| Ye been a noble prechour in this cas. |
| I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas! |
| What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere? |
| Yet hadde I levere wedde no wyf to-yeere!" |
| 175 | "Abyde," quod she, "my tale in nat bigonne. |
| Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne, |
| Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale. |
| And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale |
| Of tribulacioun in mariage, |
| 180 | Of which I am expert in al myn age, |
| This to seyn, myself have been the whippe, - |
| Than maystow chese wheither thou wolt sippe |
| Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche, |
| Be war of it, er thou to ny approche; |
| 185 | For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten. |
| Whoso that nyl be war by othere men, |
| By hym shul othere men corrected be. |
| The same wordes writeth Ptholomee; |
| Rede it in his Almageste, and take it there."
| | 190 | "Dame, I wolde praye yow, if youre wyl it were," |
| Seyde this Pardoner, "as ye bigan, |
| Telle forth youre tale, spareth for no man, |
| And teche us yonge men of your praktike." |
|
| Up rose the pardoner, and that anon. |
| 170 | "Now dame," said he, "by God and by Saint John, |
| You are a noble preacher in this case! |
| I was about to wed a wife, alas! |
| Why should I buy this on my flesh so dear? |
| No, I would rather wed no wife this year." |
| 175 | "But wait," said she, "my tale is not begun; |
| Nay, you shall drink from out another tun |
| Before I cease, and savour worse than ale. |
| And when I shall have told you all my tale |
| Of tribulation that is in marriage, |
| 180 | Whereof I've been an expert all my age, |
| That is to say, myself have been the whip, |
| Then may you choose whether you will go sip |
| Out of that very tun which I shall broach. |
| Beware of it before you too near approach; |
| 185 | For I shall give examples more than ten. |
| Whoso will not be warned by other men |
| By him shall other men corrected be, |
| The self-same words has written Ptolemy; |
| Read in his Almagest and find it there." |
| 190 | "Lady, I pray you, if your will it were," |
| Spoke up this pardoner, "as you began, |
| Tell forth your tale, nor spare for any man, |
| And teach us younger men of your technique." |
|
