How we cite our quotes: (Line number)
Quote #7
And now that I have spoken of glotonye,
Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye.
Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges,
And of dedeite and cursed forswerynges,
Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughre and wast also
Of catel and of tyme, and forthermo
It is repreeve and contrarie of honour
For to ben holde a commune hasardour. (303 – 310)
The Pardoner's really on a roll here about how all sin is interrelated. Here, gambling (hasardrye) leads to other sins, like unpaid debts, blasphemous swearing, and even murder. It's a particularly odious sin to a medieval Christian because it's a waste of time, and all time was supposed to be spent productively.
Quote #8
Bihoold and se, that in the firste table
Of heighe Goddes heestes honurable
How that the seconde heeste of hym is this:
"Thake nat my name in ydel or amys."
Lo, rather he forbedeth swich sweryng
Than homycide, or any cursed thyng. (352 – 358)
Notice that the Pardoner is not arguing against all swearing, but "ydel" or false swearing—oath swearing that's done with a lack of seriousness. You're allowed to swear on God's name if you're doing it for a good reason. Medieval folks did it all the time; it was a way to show you were serious about a promise. The Pardoner implies that because God forbade false swearing in the Ten Commandments before most of the other sins (it's #2), he must really, really hate it. Hmmm…is oath swearing really worse than murder?
Quote #9
And atte laste the feend, oure enemy,
Putte in his thought that he sholde poyson beye,
With which he myghte sleen hise felawes tweye;
For-why, the feend foond hym in swich lyvynge
That he hadde leve hem to sorwe brynge.
For this was outrely his fulle entente,
To sleen hem bothe, and nevere to repente. (558 – 564)
The reason the devil's able to convince the Rioter to poison his friends is because he already lives such a sinful life. This makes the devil's job easy; he's been softening him up all along. The Rioter's intention never to repent is what ensures his damnation. Even the worst sinners could get to heaven with true repentance and confession; without it, it's hopeless.