The Pardoner's Tale

There came a privy thief, they call him Death, Who kills us all around here, and in a breath He speared him through the heart, he never stirred.

A secretive thief is personified Death. Death kills everyone at one point. In a breath, Death had affected the now-deceased heart. He never stirred- the man never saw it coming or Death was emotionless to it.

Be primed to meet him everywhere you go, That's what my mother said. It's all I know." The publican joined in with, "By St. Mary,

Always be prepared for Death at all points in life. Mother's advice to the know. Mothers once again are loving and keep their children on the right path. Publican- innkeeper; exclaims "By St. Mary," St. Mary- mother of Jesus and of her people

And then Death went his way without a word. He's killed a thousand in the present plague,

Death did his deed and left upon its completion. There is a current plague and Death has already killed a thousand.

Away with him as he has made away With all our friends. God's dignity! Tonight!"

Death escaped with the men's friends' lives. God's dignity- reference to value of life. Tonight- urgent

Yes, I imagine that he lives round there. It's well to be prepared in these alarms, He might do you dishonor." "Huh, God's arms!

Death is imagined to live in that village. Encounters with him is alarming. HAVE AN EXAMINED LIFE and be ready. Death may shame or mar one's reputation. God's arms- guiding

"Not even Death, atlas, will take my life; So, like a wretched prisoner at strife Within himself, I walk alone and wait About the earth, which is my mother's gate, Knock-knocking with my staff from night to noon

Death will not take the man's life. The elder is like a unhappy prisoner at the angering conflict within himself over his prolonged life. The elder walks by himself (friends died want to bet?) and wait on earth, which is the gate to the heaven. With his staff, the elder is out at night.

God's blessed bones! I'll register a vow! Here, chaps! The three of us together now, Hold up your hands, like me, and we'll be brothers In this affair, and each defend the others, And we will kill this traitor Death, I say!

God's bone- structure. A promise is made between the 3 men. They are together and hold hands. The men become "brothers" in the matter of Death and will protect one another. Goal: To kill the traitor to humanity- Death

When they had gone not fully half a mile, Just as they were about to cross a stile, They came upon a very poor old man Who humbly greeted them and thus began, "God look to you, my lords, and give you quiet!"

In half a mile. they came across a poor old man. The man is humble and greets them. He asks for God to watch over them and give them peace. Stile- stairs

What the child says is right; you'd best be wary, This every year he killed, in a large village A mile away, man, woman, serf at tillage, Page in the household, children -all there were.

Innkeeper agrees with the knave. Children are innocent that they are on the right path. Caution is needed to proceed. That year Death killed the people at tillage, a page, and children in a nearby village.

"Sir," said the boy, "no need, I promise you; Two hours before you came here I was told.

No promise is made since the boy was told who had died before the men had arrived.

One of them called the little tavern-knave And said "Go and find out at once -look spry!- Whose corpse is in that coffin passing by; And see you get the name correctly too."

One asked a knave to find the name of the coffin's corpse. Spry- active, lively

And, sir, it doesn't do to be too vague If you should meet him; you had best be wary. Be on your guard with an adversary,

One should not be vague or unfocused. EXAMINED LIFE. Upon meeting, one must be careful.

"By God," the gambler said, "you shan't do so, You don't get off so easy, by St. John! I heard you mention, just a moment gone, A certain traitor Death who singles out And kills the fine young fellows hereabout. And you're his spy, by God! You wait a bit. Say where he is or you shall pay for it, By God and by the Holy Sacrament! I say you've joined together by consent To kill us younger folk, you thieving swine!"

The GAMBLER said something about God. GAMBLING is a sin and not a honorable characteristic. By St. John- only saint you lived a full life and was given Mary as his mother. The gambler believes that the traitor Death chooses the fine and young. The old man is accused of being a spy for Death. God and the Holy Sacrament- Eucharist. Old man is accused of willing siding with Death to kill the younger folk. He is called a swine.

It's of three rioters I have to tell Who long before the morning service bell Were sitting in a tavern for a drink.

The Pardoner tells a story of 3 people. A rioter is someone who disturbs the public peace in protest of something. Setting: Saturday night before morning mass. The characters are at a pub for drinks.

He was a friend of yours in days of old, And suddenly, last night, the man was slain, Upon his bench, face up, dead drunk again.

The deceased person was a past friend of the man. Suddenly, last night, the man died on the seat. He was dead drunk so most likely the cause of his death is alcohol poisoning. Face up- to God or heaven?

And crying, 'Mother, open to me soon! Look at me, mother, won't you let me in? See how I wither, flesh and blood and skin! Alas! When will these bones be laid to rest?

The elder is distraught and calls for Mother Earth to take him soon. He is an old and withered man. He wishes to know when he will die and be buried.

Mother, I would exchange -for that were best- The wardrobe in my chamber, standing there So long, for yours! Aye, for a shirt of hair To wrap me in!' She has refused her grace, Whence comes the pallor of my withered face.

The elder is willing to exchange his best of clothing for hers. The wardrobe in this case is Earth's ground. The dirt would be around him as in a burial. Earth does not partaking in the grace and allowance of his death. It results in the pale and wrinkled face.

To which the proudest of these men of riot Gave back the answer, "What, old fool? Give place! Why are you all wrapped up except your face? Why live so long? Isn't it time to die?

The men are disturbing peace in protest of Death. The PROUDEST respond in an insult. He asks about the wrapping of him except for his face. The man insinuates to the elderly that it is time for him to die.

And up they started in their drunken rage And made towards this village with the page And publican had spoken of these before.

The men are intoxicated and have impaired judgement. They travel to the village with the knave and innkeeper.

They made their bargain, swore with appetite These three, to live and die for one another As brother-born might swear to his born brother.

The men had finished their vows with passion and zeal. These men will live and die for each other like family.

"If one could only get the gold away, Back to my house, or else to yours, perhaps - For as you know, the gold is ours, chaps- We'd all be at the top of fortune, hey? But certainly it can't be done by day. People would call us robbers -a strong gang, So our own property would make us hang. No, we must bring this treasure back by night Some prudent way, and keep it out of sight. And so as a solution I propose We draw for lots and see the way it goes. The one who draws the longest, lucky man, Shall run to town as quickly as he can To fetch us bread and wine -but keep things dark- While two remain in hiding here to mark Our heap of treasure. If there's no delay, When night comes down we'll carry it away, All three of us, wherever we have planned."

The men wish to bring the money

"Well, sirs," he said, "if it be your design To find out Death, turn up this crooked way Towards that grove. I left him there today Under a tree, and there you'll find him waiting. He isn't one to hide for all your prating You see that oak? He won't be far to find. And God protect you that redeemed mankind, Aye, and amend you!" Thus that ancient man.

The old man tells them if it is the men's plan to find and discover Death, they must go up the CROOKED way to the grove. The elder left Death under a tree that very day. There in the shadows Death is waiting. Death does not hide against the foolish talk and is never hard to find. The old man wishes that God protect the men for them to redeem mankind. He compensates or they do it to him. The man is ancient like history.

At once the three young rioters began To run, and reached the tree, and there they found A pile of golden florins on the ground, New-coined, eight bushels of them as they thought. No longer was it Death those fellows sought, For they were all so thrilled to see the sight, The florins were so beautiful and bright, That down they sat beside the precious pile. The wickedest spoke first after a while. "Brothers," he said, "you listen to what I say. I'm pretty sharp although I joke away. It's clear that Fortune has bestowed this treasure To let us live in jollity and pleasure. Light come, light go! We'll spend it as we ought. God's precious dignity! Who would have thought This morning was to be our lucky day?

The three young protestors run to the tree where death is. Located under the tree is a pile of British coins each worth two shillings for eight bushels. The men no longer wish to find Death and are satisfied with gold. The money is precious and beautiful. The wickedest said that this was a gift from Fortune. They are to live a life of jolly and pleasure. Light comes and goes like money. Today is there lucky day.

The old, old fellow looked him in the eye And said, "Because I never yet have found, Though I have walked to India, searching round Village and city on my pilgrimage, One who would change his youth to have my age. And so my age is mine and must be still Upon me, for such time as God may will.

The wise elder has seen much. With eye contact- honesty. The elder is well-traveled. The youth do not wish to be old. His age is HIS age and must be STILL. It is time for Death upon God's beckoning.

"But it dishonored you when you began To speak so roughly, sir, to an old man, Unless he had injured you in word or deed. It says in holy writ, as you may read, 'Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head And honor it.' And therefore be it said 'Do no more harm to an old man than you, Being now young, would have another do When you are old' -if you should live till then. And so may God be with you, gentlemen, For I must go whither I have to go."

The young proud man was dishonored by himself not by Death. The man unjustly spoke roughly with the elder. In the Bible, it states that the old, gray head should be respected. Treat others the way you wish to be treated if you live to be the elder's age. Yet the old man still wishes for God to be with them.

Many and grisly were the oaths they swore, Tearing Christ's blessed body to a shred; "If we can only catch him, Death is dead!"

These drunken men make disgusting and horrifying oaths. They destroy the temple of their own bodies and the representation of Christ as his people. The men shout that upon capturing Death, they will kill Him.

And as they sat, they heard the hand-bell clink Before a coffin going to the grave;

While they were sitting, the men heard the hand-bell clink of a coffin being brought to the grave.