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First I pronounce whennes that I come, |
| 50 | And thanne my bulles shewe I, alle and some; |
| Oure lige lordes seel on my patente, |
| That shewe I first, my body to warente, |
| That no man be so boold, ne preest ne clerk, |
| Me to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk. |
| 55 | And after that thanne telle I forth my tales, |
| Bulles of popes and of cardynales, |
| Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe, |
| And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe, |
| To saffron with my predicacioun, |
| 60 | And for to stire hem to devocioun. |
| Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones, |
| Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones; |
| Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon. |
| Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon |
| 65 | Which that was of an hooly Jewes sheepe. |
| 'Goode men,' I seye, 'taak of my wordes keepe; |
| If that this boon be wasshe in any welle, |
| If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle, |
| That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge, |
| 70 | Taak water of that welle, and wassh his tonge, |
| And it is hool anon; and forthermoor, |
| Of pokkes and of scabbe and every soore |
| Shal every sheepe be hool that of this welle |
| Drynketh a draughte. Taak kepe eek what I telle, |
| 75 | If that the goode man that the beestes oweth, |
| Wol every wyke, er that the cok hym croweth, |
| Fastynge, drinken of this welle a draughte, |
| As thilke hooly Jew oure eldres taughte, |
| Hise beestes and his stoor shal multiplie. |
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First I announce the place whence I have come, |
| 50 | And then I show my pardons, all and some. |
| Our liege-lord's seal on my patent perfect, |
| I show that first, my safety to protect, |
| And then no man's so bold, no priest nor clerk, |
| As to disturb me in Christ's holy work; |
| 55 | And after that my tales I marshal all. |
| Indulgences of pope and cardinal, |
| Of patriarch and bishop, these I do |
| Show, and in Latin speak some words, a few, |
| To spice therewith a bit my sermoning |
| 60 | And stir men to devotion, marvelling. |
| Then show I forth my hollow crystal-stones, |
| Which are crammed full of rags, aye, and of bones; |
| Relics are these, as they think, every one. |
| Then I've in latten box a shoulder bone |
| 65 | Which came out of a holy Hebrew's sheep. |
| 'Good men,' say I, 'my words in memory keep; |
| If this bone shall be washed in any well, |
| Then if a cow, calf, sheep, or ox should swell |
| That's eaten snake, or been by serpent stung, |
| 70 | Take water of that well and wash its tongue, |
| And 'twill be well anon; and furthermore, |
| Of pox and scab and every other sore |
| Shall every sheep be healed that of this well |
| Drinks but one draught; take heed of what I tell. |
| 75 | And if the man that owns the beasts, I trow, |
| Shall every week, and that before cock-crow, |
| And before breakfast, drink thereof a draught, |
| As that Jew taught of yore in his priestcraft, |
| His beasts and all his store shall multiply. |
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