PARDONER. So help me God, it liketh not me. Where company is met and well agreed, Good pastime doth right well indeed. But who can sit in daliance, Men sit in such a variance? As we were set, ere[429] ye came in, Which strife this man did first begin; Alleging that such men as use For love of God, and not[430] refuse On foot to go from place to place A pilgrimage, calling for grace, Shall in that pain with penitence Obtain discharge of conscience: Comparing that life for the best Induction to your endless rest. Upon these words[431] our matter grew: For if he could avow them true, As good to be a gardener. As for to be a pardoner. But when I heard him so far wide, I then approached and replied: Saying this, that this[432] indulgence, Having the foresaid penitence, Dischargeth man of all offence With much more profit than this pretence. I ask but twopence at the most; I-wis this is not very great cost, And from[433] all pain without despair, My soul for to keep[434] even in his chair, And when he dieth, he may be sure To come to heaven even at pleasure. And more than heaven he cannot[435] get, How far soever he list to jet. Then is his pain more than his wit, To walk[436] to heaven, since he may sit. Sir, as we were in this contention, In came this daw with his invention; Reviling us, himself avaunting, That all the souls to heaven ascending Are most bound to the 'pothecary, Because he helpeth most men to die, Before which death he saith indeed, No soul in heaven can have his mede. PEDLAR. Why, do 'pothecaries kill men? 'POTHECARY. By God, men say so, now and then. PEDLAR. And I thought ye would not have mit To make them live as long as ye list. 'POTHECARY. As long as we list? nay, as long as they can. PEDLAR. So might we live without you then. 'POTHECARY. Yea, but yet it is[437] necessary For to have a 'pothecary: For when ye feel your conscience ready, I can send you to heaven[438] quickly. Wherefore, concerning our matter here, Above these twain I am best clear; And if ye[439] list to take me so, I am content: you and no mo Shall be our judge as in this case, Which of us three shall take the best place. PEDLAR. I neither will judge thee best nor worst; For be ye blest or be ye curst, Ye know it is no whit my sleight To be a judge in matters of weight. It behoveth no pedlars nor proctors To take on them judgment as doctors: But if your minds be only set To work for soul-health, ye be well met: For each of you somewhat doth show, That souls toward heaven by you do grow. Then if ye can so well agree, To continue together all three; And all you three obey one will, Then all your minds ye may fulfil. As if ye came all to one man, Who should go pilgrimage[440] more than he can? In that ye, Palmer, as deputy,[441] May clearly discharge him, parde; And for all other sins once had contrition, Your pardons giveth him full remission. And then ye, Master 'Pothecary, May send him to heaven by and by.