l character, but some evidence to this possibility is given in the epilogue to his tale. At lines 915-918 of “The Pardoner’s Tale”, after a spirited argument calling for the listeners to buy his pardons, the Pardoner states: “And lo, sires, thus I preche. / And Jhesu Crist, that is oure soules leche, / So graunte yow his pardoun to receive, / For that is best; I wol yow nat deceive.” The Pardoner is again informing the pilgrims on how he does his job. This is the only instance in these disclosures where he offers any personal insight or philosophy: namely, that Jesus is the soul’s healer. If we accept this message as telling the truth about the Pardoner as we accepted his other frank admissions, then we find that he has faith in Christ and is at heart religious! It seems that the fervor with which he has told his tale has excited him to the point of awakening some deep-rooted feelings of guilt that lead him to reveal a hidden Christian nature. The Pardoner then continues his sales pitch for the false relics. Here, he is either regaining control after an emotional lapse, or he is trying to repent by mockingly illustrating his normal routine. The latter situation seems more likely: under this interpretation, a desperate, forlorn Pardoner is bearing his outward sins and inner self to the group and specifically to the Host, but the Host doesn’t understand what is going on. Harry mercilessly rebukes the Pardoner and thoroughly insults his lack of masculinity by referring to cutting off his testicles. The Pardoner, whose strength is normally in speech, is left dumbfounded. He wanted some form of comfort or understanding, perhaps, but instead got cast down utterly. The image is so strong and the effect of this silence so great, that Harry says he will never again fool around with a man angered so. The Pardoner could have been beginning to feel comfortable in this group – and ...
