from The Pardoner’s Tale

Geoffrey Chaucer

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Here begins the Pardoner’s Tale.

Directions: Please do the first three activities below. Please also answer the 3 questions in the text as you are reading.

(Please keep your responses to 2 or 3 sentences. These questions are not essay prompts. I am teaching you to do close reading. Close reading is a technique where you learn to highlight and take notes as you are reading. You can later refer to these notes when you respond to the essay prompt.)

1. Highlight 3 sentences that show situational irony. Explain why (3 points)

2. Highlight 2 sentences that show verbal irony. Explain why. (2 Points)

3. Highlight 1 sentence that show dramatic irony. Explain why. (1 Point)

Now for the love of Christ Who died for us, forsake your oaths, great and small. But, sirs, I will now tell my tale. These three rioters of whom I speak, long before any bell had rung for prime[1], were sitting in a tavern to drink. And as they sat, they heard a bell tinkle that was carried before a corpse to his grave. One of them called to his servant, “Go quickly,” he said, “and ask without delay what corpse passed by here, and see that you report his name correctly.” 669

“Sir,” said the boy, “there is no need. It was told to me two hours before you came here; he was an old friend of yours, by God, and he was slain suddenly in the night, as he sat very drunk on his bench. A stealthy thief that men call Death, who slays all the people in this country-side, came with his spear and struck his heart in two, and went his way without a word. He has slain a thousand in this pestilence; and master, before you come before him, it seems to me that you would be best if you were wary of such an adversary. Be ready to meet him at all times; my mother taught me this. I can say no more. 684

“The child speaks the truth, by Blessed Mary,” said the tavern-keeper, “for over a mile from here, in a large village, he has slain both man and woman, child, servant, and page. I believe his habitation to be there. It would be a bit of great wisdom to be forewarned before he does him great dishonor.” 691

“Yes, by God’s arms!” said this reveler, “Is it really such peril to meet with him? I vow to God’s bones I will seek to meet him in the highways and the byways. Listen, friends, we three are all one in this; let each of us hold up his hand and become the others’ brother, and slay this false traitor Death. He shall be slain before night that slays so many, by God’s dignity!” 701

These three pledged their word together, each to live and die for the rest as if he were their sworn brother, and up they all started in this drunken fury, and forth they went toward that village of which the tavern-keeper had spoken; and they swore many grisly oaths, and Christ’s blessed body they rent to pieces--Death shall be dead if they can catch him! 710

When they had gone only a little way, just as they were climbing over a fence, an old and poor man met them, and greeted them meekly, and said, “Now, gentle people, God be with you!” 715

The proudest of these three revelers answered, “What, churl, bad luck to you! Why are you completely wrapped up except your face? Why live you so long to such a great age?” 719

This old man began to peer into his face, and said, “Because I cannot find a man, even if I should walk from here to India, in city or in village, who will exchange his youth for my age. And therefore I must keep my old age as long as it is God’s will. Alas, death will not take me! Thus I walk, a restless wretch, and thus day and night I knock with my staff upon the ground, which is my mother’s gate, and say, “Dear mother, let me in. Lo, how I vanish away, flesh and skin and blood! Alas, when shall my bones be at peace? Mother, I would exchange my chest with you[2], which has been long time in my chamber, yes, for a hair-cloth shroud to wrap myself in!” But still she will not do me that favor; wherefore my face is pale and withered. 738

But sirs, it is not a courteous thing to speak rudely to an old man, unless he should trespass in act or word. You may read yourselves in Holy Scripture, “Before an old hoary head man you shall arise[3].” For this reason I counsel you, do no harm now to an old man, no more than you would like it to be done to you in your old age, if you remain so long. And now God be with you, wherever you may walk or ride; I must go where I have to go. 749

“Nay, old churl, not so fast, by God,” said this second gambler without delay. “By St. John, you shall not depart so easily! You spoke just now of that traitor Death who slays all our friends in this country-side. By my word, you are his spy! Tell where he is, or, by God and the Holy Sacrament, you shall pay for it. Truly you are in conspiracy with him to slay us young people, false thief.” 759

“Now sirs,” he said, “if you are so glad to find Death, turn up this crooked path; for by my faith I left him in that grove under a tree, and there he will wait, and for all your boasting will he hide. Do you see that oak? There you shall find him. May God, Who redeemed mankind, save you and amend you!” Thus spoke this old creature. 767

Question: Who, or what, do you think the old man represents? Highlight a sentence that you think supports your point and make a comment. (1 Points)

And each of these revelers ran until he came to that tree, and there they found nearly eight bushels, as it seemed to them, of florins coined of fine round gold. They no longer sought then after Death, but each was so glad at the sight, for the florins were so beautiful and bright, that they sat themselves down by this precious hoard. 775

The worst of them spoke the first word. “Brethren,” he said, “heed what I say; though I jest often and make sport, I have a good mind. Now Fortune has given us this treasure so that we may live the rest of our lives in mirth and jollity, and as easily as it comes, so too we will spend it. Ah! God’s precious dignity! Who would have thought today that we should have so wonderful a grace! Could this gold be but carried from here to my house or else to yours--for you know well all this gold is ours--then would we be in great joy. But truly it may not be done during the day. People would call us harsh thieves and hang us for our own treasure. It must be carried by night, as wisely and slyly as can be. Therefore I advise that we draw straws among us all, and he that draws the shortest shall run with a happy heart to the town and do so quickly, and secretly bring us wine and bread. And two of us shall secretly guard this treasure, and at night, if he does not delay, we will carry it where we all agree is safest.” 801

One of them brought the straws in his fist and told them to draw, and see where the lot would fall. It fell to the youngest of them and he went forth without delay toward the town. As soon as he was gone, the second said to the third, “You well know you are my sworn brother, and now I will tell you something to your advantage. Here is a great abundance of gold to divide among the three of us; and you know well our friend is gone. Now if I can plan it so that it will be divided among the two of us, will I not have done you a friendly turn?” 815

“I do not know how that can be,” the other answered. “He knows the gold is left with us two. What shall we do? What shall we say to him?” 817

“Shall it be a secret?” said the first villain. “I shall tell you in few words what we shall do to carry it out successfully.” 821

“I agree,” said the other, “not to betray you, by my word.” 823

“Now,” said the first, “you know well we are two and that two shall be stronger than one. See to it that when he is set down; you will arise and scuffle with him as in sport, and I will pierce him through the two sides, and you will see to it that you do the same with your dagger. And then shall all this gold be shared between you and me, dear friend. Then may we both fulfill all our desires, and play at dice at our own pleasure.” And thus were these two villains agreed to slay the third, as you have heard me say. 836

The youngest, going to the town, turns over and over in his heart the beauty of those bright new florins. “O Lord,” he said, “if only I could have all this treasure to myself, no man living under God’s throne should live as merry as I!” And at last the fiend, our enemy, put it into his mind to buy poison with which to slay his two friends; for the fiend found him in such a way of life that he had permission to bring him to ruin, for utterly his full purpose was to slay them both and never to repent. And he went forth without delay into the town to an apothecary, and asked him to sell him some poison so that he might kill his rats; and there was a pole-cat in his yard, he said, which had killed his capons, and he would gladly avenge him upon the pests that ruined him by night. 858

“And you shall have such a thing,” answered the apothecary, “that, so may God save my soul, no creature in all this world who can eat or drink the amount of a grain of wheat of this compound without dying immediately. Yes, he shall die, and will do so in less time than you can walk a mile, this poison is so violent.” 867

This cursed man gripped the box of poison in his hand, and then ran into the next street to a shop and borrowed three large bottles. Into two of them he poured his poison, but the third he kept clean for his own drink, for he planned to labor all night long carrying away the gold. And when this reveler (may the Devil take him!) had filled his three great bottles with wine, he returned again to his friends. 878

What need to describe it more? For just as they had planned his death, even so they slew him, and did so quickly. When this was done, one of the two said, “Now let us sit and drink and make merry, and then we will bury his body.” 884

And with that word he happened to take one of the bottles where the poison was, and he drank and gave his friend a drink also. Therefore, they both died soon. And surely Avicenna[4] never wrote in any canon or any chapter more wondrous signs of poisoning than these two wretches showed before they died. Thus these two murderers met their end, and the false poisoner also. 894

Question: What “sin” ultimately killed the three men? (1 Point)

***

“O cursed sin[5], full of cursedness! O treacherous homicide! O wickedness! 896

“O gluttony, lust and gambling! You blasphemer of Christ with insult and great oaths, habitual and proud! Alas mankind, how may it be that you art so false and unkind to your Creator, Who made you and redeemed you with His precious heart’s blood, alas! 903

“Now, good men, God forgive you your trespasses and guard you from the sin of avarice. My holy pardon will cure you all, provided that you offer nobles and other sterling coin, or else silver rings, brooches, spoons. Bow your heads, bow them under this holy bull! Come up, wives, offer of your wool! See, I enter your name here in my roll; you shall enter into heaven’s bliss; I absolve you by my high power, you that will make offerings, as clear and clean as when you were born. Lo, sirs, thus I preach). And may Jesus Christ, our soul’s physician, grant that you may receive His pardon; for that is better than mine, I will not deceive you. 918

“But sirs, one word I have forgotten to say. Here in my bag I have relics and indulgences, as fair as any man’s in Britain, which were given to me by the pope’s own hand. If any of you of devotion will make an offering and have my absolution, come forth now and kneel down here and meekly receive my pardon; or else take pardons all new and fresh as you go along, at every town’s end, so that you offer again and again nobles and pence which are good and sound. It is an honor to every creature here to have a competent pardoner to absolve you as you ride through the lonely country, in case of a misadventure which might happen. 934

“By chance one or two may fall down from their horses and break their necks in two. Look what a security it is to you all that I, who can absolve you all, high and low, when the soul shall pass from the body, fell into your company! I advise that our Host here be the first, for he is most enveloped in sin. 942

“Come forth, Sir Host, and offer first, and you shall kiss all the relics, yes, for a groat[6]; without delay unbuckle your purse.” 945

“No, no!” he said, “may I have the curse of Christ if I do so!” he said. “Leave me alone; it shall not be, I swear. You would make me kiss your old breech and swear it is a saint’s relic, no matter how foul it may be!

This Pardoner answered not a word; he was so angry, he would not speak. 955

“Now,” said our Host, “I will not talk with you longer, nor with any other angry man.” 957

But when the worthy Knight saw all the people laughing, he said, “Enough, no more of this. Sir Pardoner, be cheerful, and I pray you, Sir Host, who is so dear to me, kiss the Pardoner. And Pardoner, I pray you draw near again, and let us laugh and make sport as we did before.” 967

And without delay they kissed and rode on. 968

Question: What criticism do you think Chaucer is making of the Pardoner, or the church, by telling this story. (2 Points)

Here is ended the Pardoner’s Tale.

Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro

© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved

Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Pardoner’s Tale. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/chaucer

[1] Prime. 9 am.

[2] My chest. I.e., his chest containing valuables.

[3] You shall arise. See Leviticus. 19.32.

[4] Avicenna. Eleventh-century Arab (Persian) physician, who compiled the important treatise on medicine, “The Book of the Canon of Medicine.”

[5] O cursed sin. Though there is no formal break in the manuscripts, the tale is clearly finished and the Pardoner’s address to the other pilgrims begins. Thus the convention of adding quotation marks for the speech of the characters resumes here.

[6] Groat. Small coin.