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From The Friar's Tale, lines 346-359:
The summoner persists and the old woman curses the summoner
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Friar's Tale
lines 360-380: The true meaning and intention of the old woman's curse


360        And whan the devel herde hire cursen so
Upon hir knees, he seyde in this manere,
"Now, Mabely, myn owene mooder deere,
Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye?"
360        And when the devil heard her cursing so
Upon her knees, he said to her just here:
"Now, Mabely, my own old mother dear,
Is this your will, in earnest, that you say?"
       "The devel," quod she, "so fecche hym er he deye,
365And panne and al, but he wol hym repente!"
       "Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,
Quod this somonour, "for to repente me
For any thyng that I have had of thee.
I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth!"
370       "Now, brother," quod the devel, "be nat wrooth;
Thy body and this panne been myne by right.
Thou shalt with me to helle yet to-nyght,
Where thou shalt knowen of oure privetee
Moore than a maister of dyvynytee."
375And with that word this foule feend hym hente;
Body and soule he with the devel wente
Where as that somonours han hir heritage.
And God, that maked after his ymage
Mankynde, save and gyde us, alle and some,
380And leve thise somonours goode men bicome!
       "The Devil," said she, "take him alive today,
365And pan and all, unless he will repent!"
       "Nay, you old heifer, it's not my intent,"
The summoner said, "for pardon now to sue
Because of aught that I have had from you;
I would I had your smock and all your clo'es."
370       "Nay, brother," said the devil, "easy goes;
Your body and this pan are mine by right.
And you shall come to hell with me tonight,
Where you shall learn more of our privity
Than any doctor of divinity."
375And with that word this foul fiend to him bent;
Body and soul he with the devil went
Where summoners have their rightful heritage.
And God, Who made after his own image
Mankind, now save and guide us, all and some;
380And grant that summoners good men become!




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From The Friar's Tale, lines 381-400:
The moral of the friar's tale
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