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From The Pardoner's Tale, lines 618-632:
The Pardoner explains the purpose of his pardons
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Pardoner's Tale
lines 633-659: The Pardoner offers his indulgences for sale


       But sires, o word forgat I in my tale:
I have relikes and pardoun in my male,
635As faire as any man in Engelond,
Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.
If any of yow wole of devocioun
Offren, and han myn absolucioun,
Com forth anon, and kneleth heere adoun,
640And mekely receyveth my pardoun;
Or elles taketh pardoun as ye wende,
Al newe and fressh at every miles ende,
So that ye offren alwey, newe and newe,
Nobles or pens, whiche that be goode and trewe.
645It is an honour to everich that is heer
That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
T'assoille yow in contree as ye ryde,
For aventures whiche that may bityde.
Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two
650Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo.
Look, which a seuretee is it to yow alle
That I am in youre felaweship yfalle,
That may assoille yow, bothe moore and lasse,
Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe.
655I rede that oure Hoost heere shal bigynne,
For he is moost envoluped in synne.
Com forth, sire Hoost, and offre first anon,
And thou shalt kisse my relikes everychon,
Ye, for a grote! unbokele anon thy purs."
       But, sirs, one word forgot I in my tale;
I've relics in my pouch that cannot fail,
635As good as England ever saw, I hope,
The which I got by kindness of the pope.
If gifts your change of heart and mind reveal,
You'll get my absolution while you kneel.
Come forth, and kneel down here before, anon,
640And humbly you'll receive my full pardon;
Or else receive a pardon as you wend,
All new and fresh as every mile shall end,
So that you offer me each time, anew,
More gold and silver, all good coins and true.
645It is an honour to each one that's here
That you may have a competent pardoner
To give you absolution as you ride,
For all adventures that may still betide.
Perchance from horse may fall down one or two,
650Breaking his neck, and it might well be you.
See what insurance, then, it is for all
That I within your fellowship did fall,
Who may absolve you, both the great and less,
When soul from body passes, as I guess.
655I think our host might just as well begin,
For he is most-enveloped in all sin.
Come forth, sir Host, and offer first anon,
And you shall kiss the relics, every one,
Aye, for a groat! Release and open your purse."




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From The Pardoner's Tale, lines 660-682:
The words between the Host, the Pardoner and the Knight
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