A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 01
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 01
English drama
We may have no money nother more nor less--
PARDONER.
And this pardon is chief above all other--
FRIAR.
For worldly treasure we may nought care--
PARDONER.
For who to it offereth groat or penny--
FRIAR.
Our souls must be rich and our bodies bare--
PARDONER.
Though sins he had done never so many--
FRIAR.
And one thing I had almost left behind--
PARDONER.
And though that he had all his kindred slain--
FRIAR.
Which before came not to my mind--
PARDONER.
This pardon shall rid them from everlasting pain--
FRIAR.
And doubtless, it is none other thing--
PARDONER.
There is no sin so abhominable--
FRIAR.
But when ye will give your alms and offering--
PARDONER.
Which to remit this pardon is not able--
FRIAR.
Look that ye distribute it wisely--
PARDONER.
As well declareth the sentence of this letter--
FRIAR.
Not to every man that for it will cry--
PARDONER.
Ye cannot, therefore, bestow your money better--
FRIAR.
For if ye give your alms in that wise--
PARDONER.
Let us not here stand idle all the day--
FRIAR.
It shall not both to them and us suffice--
PARDONER.
Give us some money, ere that we go our way--
FRIAR.
But I say, thou lewd fellow thou,
Haddest none other time to show thy bulls but now?
Canst not tarry and abide till soon,
And read them then, when preaching is done?
PARDONER.
I will read them now, what sayest thou thereto?
Hast thou anything therewith to do?
Thinkest that I will stand and tarry for thy leisure?
Am I bound to do so much for thy pleasure?
FRIAR.
For my pleasure? nay I would thou knowest it well:
It becometh the knave never a deal
To prate thus boldly in my presence,
And let the Word of God of audience.
PARDONER
Let the Word of God, quod a? nay let a whoreson drivel
Prate here all day, with a foul evil,
And all thy sermon goeth on covetise,
And biddest men beware of avarice;
And yet in thy sermon dost thou none other thing,
But for alms stand all the day begging!
FRIAR.
Leave thy railing, I would thee advise--
PARDONER.
Nay, leave thou thy babbling, if thou be wise--
FRIAR.
I would thou knowest it, knave, I will not leave a whit--
PARDONER.
No more will I, I do thee well to wit--
FRIAR.
It is not thou shall make me hold my peace--
PARDONER.
Then speak on hardly, if thou thinkest it for thy ease--
FRIAR.
For I will speak, whither thou wilt or no--
PARDONER.
In faith, I care not, for I will speak also--
FRIAR.
Wherefore hardly let us both go to--
PARDONER.
See which shall be better heard of us two--
FRIAR.
What, should ye give ought to parting pardoners--
PARDONER.
What, should ye spend on these flattering liars--
FRIAR.
What, should ye give ought to these bold beggars--
PARDONER.
As be these babbling monks and these friars--
FRIAR.
Let them hardly labour for their living--
PARDONER.
Which do nought daily but babble and lie--
FRIAR.
It much hurteth them good men's giving--
PARDONER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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