Previous Previous:
From The Introduction to the Pardoner's Tale, lines 1-33:
The Host comments on The Physician's Tale
Previous
Librarius Homepage
© Librarius
All rights reserved.


From The Canterbury Tales:
The Introduction to the Pardoner's Tale
lines 34-42: The Pardoner shows some reluctance when asked to tell a tale


       "It shal be doon," quod he, "by Seint Ronyon;
35But first," quod he, "heere at this alestake,
I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake."
       But right anon the gentils gonne to crye,
"Nay, lat hym telle us of no ribaudye!
Telle us som moral thyng that we may leere
40Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere!"
"I graunte, ywis," quod he, "but I moot thynke
Upon som honeste thyng, while that I drynke."
       "It shall be done," said he, "by Saint Ronan!
35But first," he said, "just here, at this ale-stake,
       I will both drink and eat a bite of cake."
But then these gentle folk began to cry:
"Nay, let him tell us naught of ribaldry;
Tell us some moral thing, that we may hear
40Wisdom, and then we gladly will give ear."
"I grant it, aye," said he, "but I must think
Upon some seemly tale the while I drink."




Next Next:
From The Pardoner's Prologue, lines 43-48:
The theme of the Pardoner
Next