The Pardoner’s Tale
In the prologue, the Pardoner tells the company about his itinerant preaching. His theme is always the same: “Radix malorum est Cupiditas”, or the root of all evil is Greed. He gives a similar sermon to every congregation and convinces people of the evil of money simply so they will give it to him. He would rather take the last penny from a widow and her starving family than give up his money. Speaking of alcohol, he has now finished his drink and is ready to begin his tale.
The Pardoner tells of a group of youths in Flanders, who spend their time drinking and reveling. Commenting on their lifestyle, the Pardoner enters into a tirade against the vices that they practice. First and foremost is gluttony. Next, he attacks drunkenness, which makes a man seem mad and witless. Next is gambling, the temptation that ruins men of power and wealth. All of these were the particular vices of the rowdy youths in Flanders, to whose story the Pardoner finally returns.








The Pardoner’s Tale
In the prologue, the Pardoner tells the company about his itinerant preaching. His theme is always the same: “Radix malorum est Cupiditas”, or the root of all evil is Greed. He gives a similar sermon to every congregation and convinces people of the evil of money simply so they will give it to him. He would rather take the last penny from a widow and her starving family than give up his money. Speaking of alcohol, he has now finished his drink and is ready to begin his tale.
The Pardoner tells of a group of youths in Flanders, who spend their time drinking and reveling. Commenting on their lifestyle, the Pardoner enters into a tirade against the vices that they practice. First and foremost is gluttony. Next, he attacks drunkenness, which makes a man seem mad and witless. Next is gambling, the temptation that ruins men of power and wealth. All of these were the particular vices of the rowdy youths in Flanders, to whose story the Pardoner finally returns.
As three of these rioters sat drinking, they hear a mourning bell toll. A boy tells them that it is for an old friend of theirs, who was slain by a mysterious figure named Death. They decide to find Death and kill him to avenge their friend’s death. Going down the road, they met an old man who told them that Death may be found underneath a tree but wars them of the perils of finding him.