No Fear Literature: The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner's Tale The Pardoner’s Tale Page 5

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Already have an account? Log in

Original Text	Modern Text
Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour, Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour, Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce, That alle the grettest that were of that lond, Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. For which, as sone as it mighte be, He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name; Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, Yow for to allye unto none hasardours. Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. For ye that been so glorious in honours Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’ This wyse philosophre thus seyde he.	Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour, Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour, Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce, That alle the grettest that were of that lond, Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. For which, as sone as it mighte be, He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name; Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, Yow for to allye unto none hasardours. Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. For ye that been so glorious in honours Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’ This wyse philosophre thus seyde he.
Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius The king of Parthes, as the book seith us, Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun At no value or reputacioun. Lordes may finden other maner pley Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey.	Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius The king of Parthes, as the book seith us, Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun At no value or reputacioun. Lordes may finden other maner pley Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey.

Original Text	Modern Text
Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour, Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour, Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce, That alle the grettest that were of that lond, Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. For which, as sone as it mighte be, He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name; Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, Yow for to allye unto none hasardours. Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. For ye that been so glorious in honours Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’ This wyse philosophre thus seyde he.	Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour, Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour, Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce, That alle the grettest that were of that lond, Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. For which, as sone as it mighte be, He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name; Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, Yow for to allye unto none hasardours. Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. For ye that been so glorious in honours Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’ This wyse philosophre thus seyde he.
Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius The king of Parthes, as the book seith us, Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun At no value or reputacioun. Lordes may finden other maner pley Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey.	Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius The king of Parthes, as the book seith us, Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun At no value or reputacioun. Lordes may finden other maner pley Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey.