Notes to the Prologue to the Pardoner’s Tale
1. The nails and blood of Christ, by which it was then a fashion to swear.
2. Mediaeval medical writers; see note 36 to the Prologue to the Tales.
3. Boist: box; French “boite,” old form “boiste.”
4. Erme: grieve; from Anglo-Saxon, “earme,” wretched.
5. Cardiacle: heartache; from Greek, “kardialgia.”
6. Corpus Domini: God’s body.
7. Corny ale: New and strong, nappy. As to “moist,” see note 39 to the Prologue to the Tales.
8. (Transcriber’s Note)In this scene the pilgrims are refreshing themselves at tables in front of an inn. The pardoner is drunk, which explains his boastful and revealing confession of his deceits.