I yow assoile, by myn heigh power, 585 Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer

As ye were born; and, lo, sirs, thus I
preche.

And Iesu Crist, that is our soules leche,
So graunte yow his pardon to receyve;
For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve.590
But sirs, o word forgat I in my tale;
I have reliks and pardon in my male,'
As faire as any man in Engelond,
Whiche were me yeven by the popes
hond.

1

If any of yow wol, of devocioun,
Offren, and han myn absolucioun,
Cometh forth anon, and kneleth heer
adoun,

And mekely receyveth my pardoun:
Or elles, taketh pardon as ye wende,
Al newe and fresh, at every tounes ende,
So that ye offren alwey newe and newe 601
Nobles and pens, which that be gode and
trewe.

595

It is an honour to everich that is heer,
That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
Tassoille2 yow, in contree as ye ryde, 605
For aventures which that may bityde.
Peraventure ther may falle oon or two
Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke
atwo.

That thee is sent, receyve in buxumnesse, 15
The wrastling for this world axeth18 a fal.
Her nis non hom, her nis but wildernesse;
Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beste, out
of thy stal!

Know thy countree; lok up, thank God of
al;

Hold the hye-way, and lat thy gost 19 thee lede!

20

And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede.
ENVOY
Therefore, thou Vache, leve20 thyn old
wrecchednesse;

Unto the world leve now to be thral;
Crye Him mercy that of His hy goodnesse
Made thee of noght, and in especial
Draw unto Him, and pray in general
For thee, and eek for other, hevenlich
mede;21

Whan that the soule shal fro the body And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede.

Look which a seuretee is it to yow alle
That I am in your felaweship yfalle,
That may assoille yow, both more3 and

610

lasse,

Werk wel thy-self, that other folk canst rede; 13

And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede.

10

16

Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse,
In trust of hir that turneth as a bal;
Gret reste11 stant 15 in litel besinesse,
And eek be war to sporne16 ageyn an al;
Stryve noght, as doth the crokke with
the wal.
Daunte1 thyself, that dauntest otheres
dede;

And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede.

THE COMPLAINT OF CHAUCER TO
HIS EMPTY PURSE

To you, my purse, and to non other wight22
Compleyne I, for ye be my lady dere!
I am so sory, now that ye be light;
For certes, but23 ye make me hevy chere,"
Me were as leef be leyd up-on my bere;
For whiche un-to your mercy thus I crye:
Beth25 hevy ageyn, or elles mot I dye!

5

Now voucheth sauf this day, or26 hit be
night,

That I of you the blisful soun may here,
Or see your colour lyk the sonne bright, 10

13 advise. 17 subdue. 21 reward. 25 be.

25

The folk that are thereon; It harms me so hurtfully, The malice now that does multiply, And comen up knelynge and cusseden 26 That sore it grieveth me inwardly That ever I made man.

lyked his wordes,