This tresor hath Fortune unto us yiven
In myrthe and joliftee oure lyf to lyven,
And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende.
Ey, Goddes precious dignitee! Who wende
To-day that we sholde han so fair a grace?
But myghte this gold be caried fro this place
Hoom to myn hous, or elles unto youres –
For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures –
Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Tale. The three young revelers are beside themselves with joy after discovering the bags of gold, it is as if they have won the lottery. They have no intention of turning it over to the rightful owner but intend to keep it for themselves. Fortune has given this treasure to them to live in mirth and jollity and spend on themselves, the leader of the scoundrels explains. So he suggests that they carry it home to one of their houses. And he takes the name of God in vain for good measure – "God’s precious dignity!" – a sin of blasphemy against the Second Commandment.