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The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner's Tale Tale, Lines 177 – 198 Summary

Pardoner's Tale

  • Once upon a time in Flanders, there was a group of young people who loved vices like troublemaking, gambling, brothels, and taverns.
  • With harps, lutes, and guitars they dance and play dice day and night.
  • They also eat and drink way more than they need; they're total gluttons, which is like worshipping the devil.
  • They curse like you wouldn't believe.
  • They rip apart our Lord's body with all their swearing, like the Jews hadn't tortured him enough.
  • They think it's all just hilarious.
  • Then come beautiful dancing-girls, fruit-sellers, harp-singers, bawds, and cake-sellers. 
  • They're all the devil's assistants, ramping up the gluttony and lechery.
  • If you read the Bible, you'll see that wine and drunkenness always lead to lust.