That who list now to walk thereto, May wade it over and wet no shoe. So was this castle laid wide open, That every man might see the token. But in a good hour may these[506] words be spoken After the tampion on the walls was wroken, And piece by piece in pieces broken. And she delivered with such violence Of all her inconvenience, I left her in good health and lust; And so she doth continue, I trust. PEDLAR. Sir, in your cure I can nothing tell; But to your[507] purpose ye have said well. PARDONER. Well, sir, then mark what I can say. I have been a pardoner many a day, And done greater[508] cures ghostly Than ever he did bodily. Namely this one, which ye shall hear, Of one departed within this seven year, A friend of mine, and likewise I To her again was as friendly: Who fell so sick so suddenly, That dead she was even by and by, And never spake with priest nor clerk, Nor had no whit of this holy work; For I was thence, it could not be, Yet heard I say she asked for me. But when I bethought me how this chanced, And that I have to heaven avanced So many souls to me but strangers, And could not keep my friend from dangers, But she to die so dangerously, For her soul-health especially; That was the thing that grieved me so, That nothing could release my woe, Till I had tried even out of hand, In what estate her soul did stand. For which trial, short tale to make, I took this journey for her sake.[509] Give ear, for here beginneth the story: From hence I went to Purgatory, And took with me this gear in my fist, Whereby I may do there what I list. I knocked and was let in quickly: But, Lord, how low the souls made curtesy; And I to every soul again Did give a beck[510] them to retain, And asked them this question then, If that the soul of such a woman Did late among them there appear? Whereto they said, she came not here. Then feared I much it was not well; Alas, thought I, she is in hell; For with her life I was so acquainted, That sure I thought she was not sainted. With this it chanced me to sneeze; Christ help, quoth a soul that lay for his fees. Those words, quoth I, thou shalt not lese; Then with these pardons of all degrees I paid his toll and set him so quit, That straight to heaven he took his flight, And I from thence to hell that night, To help this woman, if I might; Not as who saith by authority, But by the way of entreaty. And first to the devil that kept the gate I came, and spake after this rate: All hail, sir devil, and made low curtesy: Welcome, quoth he thus smilingly.[511] He knew me well, and I at last Remembered him since long time past: For, as good hap would have it chance, This devil and I were of old acquaintance; For oft, in the play of Corpus Christi,[512] He hath played the devil at Coventry. By his acquaintance and my behaviour, He showed to me right friendly favour, And to make my return the shorter, I said to this devil: Good master porter, For all old love, if it lie in your power,