The Canterbury Pilgrims | Page 3

lips, neither did
she dip her fingers too deeply in the sauce, nor drop her meat as her
dainty fingers carried it from her plate to her mouth. She seemed ever
at pains to show her courtly behaviour, and may have kept a small
school, for she spoke French (as they speak it in London, however, not
as they speak it in Paris). She had brought her small dogs with her and
fed them carefully on best wheaten bread and roasted meat. If anyone
smote one of them Madame Eglantine wept bitterly, for she was full of
tenderness and pity, and had been known to cry if a mouse were caught
in a trap. With her were a nun, and her three priests.
As you would expect, many other members of the Church were among
our company. The Monk was a manly fellow who loved hunting and
good living. Many a horse he had in his stables, and many greyhounds
for hunting the hare. A fat swan was his favourite dish. His looks told
of his ample fare, for he was fat and rosy, and rode merrily along with
his bridle bells jingling clearly in the wind. "Some say that hunters can't
be holy men," he said, "but I can't agree with those that would make
monks madden themselves with study and tire themselves with labour.

What good comes of it all?" "What good indeed?" said I.
The Friar, Hubert, was a gay fellow too. I daresay that in all the Four
Orders of Friars you would not find a more pleasing talker--especially
in matters of love. He sang lustily, played the harp, and kept us merry
with his jesting.
Not so the Clerk from Oxford. He was a serious student. For many
years he had devoted himself to logic and philosophy, yet little gold
had got thereby! His horse was lean as a rake, and he himself was by no
means fat. His threadbare cloak hung limply on his shoulders. Had he
been more worldly-minded, he might have gained a rich benefice; but
all his treasure was in the twenty red and black books at his bedside,
where he found the rich thought of Aristotle--more satisfying to the
Clerk than gold, or robes or sweet music. All the money he was given
he spent on books, praying eagerly for the souls of them that helped
him to buy more. He spoke but little. His speech then was quick and
packed with thought, and he loved best to talk of moral virtue. Glad he
was to learn, and glad to teach.
One man among the company was terrible to look upon. His face was
fiery red with black brows and scabbed skin. He had crowned himself
with a great garland. It was no wonder that even children were afraid of
him. This man, I learned, was a Summoner, who brought up offenders
before the Church courts.
His friend was the Pardoner--just arrived from the court of Rome with
his wallet packed full of pardons and relics. You shall hear what he did
with these later. He had long straight oily yellow hair, spread thinly
around his shoulders. He had packed his hood in his wallet, for it
seemed more festive to him to ride bare-headed. His eyes shone like a
hare's. He had no beard, and his small, piping, goat-like voice made
him seem very youthful.
He was said to be a very successful Pardoner; for he could not only
read and sing delightfully (especially when asking for the offertory),
but his manner was so persuasive that in one day he could win more
silver than the parson earned in two or three months. A fine Pardoner,
this! No wonder he sang so merrily and loud!
A poor Parish Priest was there also. He was too occupied in holy works,
in teaching and diligently tending the sick to have time to hunt for high
positions in London. To him, all that mattered was that his parishioners

should know the true Gospel, and never, for rain, thunder, sickness, nor
danger did he to visit his people, scattered as they were over the wide
country-side. Often he gave them of his own poor substance, for he was
the true shepherd who gives all for his sheep. A better priest, I warrant,
could nowhere be found. He taught Christ's lore, but first he followed it
himself that his followers might find an example in him, and learn by
his practices, as well as by his words.
This Priest had brought his brother, a strong good-hearted Ploughman.
He too was a true Christian. Many a time had he dug and threshed for a
poor widow to help her pay her rent, and would take no reward for it.
He wore a loose tabard, and rode on