604 Curry I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn bond In stede of relikes or of seintuarie. It is no wonder that the Pardoner begins to redden at this unmannerly probing of his secret and that he should be speech- less with rage when the Host continues with withering sarcasm and scorn, Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie. 52 When we remember that the Pardoner is physically unfortunate, "natus sine testiculis vel parvissimos habens," this rude speech of the Host seems to be something more than "rough jocularity." As the Flemings say, "Sooth pley, quaad pley." And to make matters worse the whole company laughs! The good-natured Host, however, soon realizes his mistake, declares he will not "play" with an angry men, and at the request of the Knight consents to make peace with a kiss. The incident is closed. That the Pardoner is extremely sensitive upon the matter of his weakness is evidenced by his pathetic attempts to conceal it. He goes about singing in concert with the Summoner a gay little song "Come hider, love, to me," 63 and boasts with brazen affrontery that he will drink good wine "And have a joly wenche in every toun." 54 He sings and brags like a real man; but one suspects that most of his affaires d'amour result in chagrin and disappointment like that in which he engages with Kitt the Tapster in the Tale of Beryn, K and that many of his potations of wine and ale are taken to arouse an atrophied desire. He is almost as pitiable a figure as the aged January, who sits up late on the first night of his marriage with May, drinking strong wines hot with spices "t'encresen his corage." 66 Being feeble in body tho not necessarily entirely impotent , he permits his polluted imagination to revel in thoughts of lust and fleshly 62 C. T., C. 951 ff. 63 C. T., A. 672. 64 C. T., C. 453. 66 The Tale of Beryn, ed. Furnivall and Stone, EETS. E. S. 105. It is significant, I think, that in the Prologue to this pseudo-Chaucerian story the Pardoner appears in his true colors. Recognizing his weakness, the Tapster upon seeing him for the first time determines to make him her dupe. He is perfectly harmless, and she knows it. She leads him on, permits him to come into compromising positions with her, but finally hands him over to shameful treatment at the hands of her paramour. That he is a eunuch and therefore a fit butt for an ale-house joke, gives point to her treatment.
C. T., E. 1807 ff.
