60

Ther prechede a pardoner as22 he a prest were,

And brought forthe a bulle schopes seles,

And seide that himself mighte

hem alle

65

with bis

asoylen23

Of falsnesse and fastinge and of vowes

y-broken.

The lewede24 men leved25 him wel・ and

lyked his wordes,

My spirit shall not remain in any man
That through fleshly liking is my fone,*
But till six score years be gone,
To look if they will blynne.41
Man that I made I will destroy,
Beast, man, and fowl that fly,
For on earth they do me annoy,
The folk that are thereon;
It harms me so hurtfully,
The malice now that does multiply,

And comen up knelynge and cusseden 26 That sore it grieveth me inwardly

his bulle;

70

That ever I made man.

Therefore, Noah, my servant free,
That righteous man art, as I see,
A ship soon thou shalt make thee
Of trees dry and light;

30 reached, got.

2 went.
they.

3 crammed.

♦ shammed.

7 ribaldry.
• follow.

12 bellies.

13 interpreting.

15 covetousness.
19 as they please.

16 construe.

23 shrive.

26 kissed.

38 poor people.

29 eyes.

40 foe.

18 may.

24 ignorant. 27 banged.

25 believed.

21 merchandise. 22 as if.

28 letter of indulgence.

33 rascals.

36 all the fault of.