And now that I have spoken of glotonye,
Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye.
Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges,
And of deceite, and cursed forswerynges,
Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo,
It is repreeve and contrarie of honour
For to ben holde a commune hasardour.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Tale. After his stern lecture to the party animals for their gluttony, the Pardoner moves on to the sin of gambling and doesn’t hold back here either. He describes gambling as the true mother of lies and deceit, a blasphemy of Christ, and a waste of possessions and time.