Pardoner's Prologue
Note: Since The Pardoner's Tale is written entirely from the Pardoner's point of view, we decided to keep things simple by writing our summaries from his point of view, too.
- Lords, when I preach in Church, I always make to speak so that everyone can hear me, ringing out as loud as a bell.
- I've memorized everything I want to say.
- I always use "Radix malorum est cupiditas" as my theme: the root of all evil is greed.
- When I first arrive, I announce my entrance.
- Then I show everyone my pardons along with my permission to preach, affixed with our liege lord's official seal.
- I do this so the priests and clerks won't hassle me as I go about Christ's holy work.
- After that, I tell my tales.
- I show the audience the indulgences of popes, cardinals, patriarchs and bishops I've brought with me.
- I throw in few Latin words to spice up my sermon and stir the people to devotion.
- Then I display my glass cases, filled with rags and bones. Everyone believes these are real relics, the ignorant folks.
- In a box, I have the shoulder-bone of a sheep from a Jew's herd.
- I tell the listeners that the bone works great to cure animals of disease and make the herds grow.
- I say, "Also, sirs, this bone is a cure for jealousy: even if a man has fallen into a jealous rage, let him eat a porridge made with this water from the bone and he'll never again mistrust his wife, even if she has sex with two or three priests."