The Summoner[69] was a terrible-looking person, and rode with the Pardoner, who was his friend: the Pardoner singing a lively song, and the Summoner growling out a bass to it, with a loud, harsh voice. As for his looks, he had A fyr-reed cherubynes face,[70] For sawceflem he was with eyghen narwe. pimply A ‘fiery-cherubin’ red face, For pimply he was, with narrow eyes. Children were sore afraid of him when they saw him, he was so repulsive, and so cruel in extorting his gains. He was a very bad man: for though it was his duty to call up before the Archdeacon’s court anybody whom he found doing wrong, yet he would let the wickedest people off, if they bribed him with money; and many poor people who did nothing wrong he forced to give him their hard earnings, threatening else to report them falsely to the Archdeacon. He carried a large cake with him for a buckler, and wore a garland big enough for the sign-post of an inn.[71] The Pardoner. The Pardoner[72] was a great cheat too, and so the friends were well matched; he had long thin hair, as yellow as wax, that hung in shreds on his shoulders. He wore no hood, but kept it in his wallet: he thought himself quite in the tip-top of fashion. Dischevele, sauf his cappe, he rood al bare. except Suche glaryng eyghen hadde he, as an hare. such, eyes A vernicle[73] hadde he sowed on his cappe; His walet lay byforn him in his lappe. before * * * * * But trewely to tellen atte laste, truly He was in churche a noble ecclesiaste. Wel cowde he rede a lessoun or a storye,[74] But altherbest he sang an offertorie: best of all For wel he wyste, whan that song was songe knew, when He moste preche, and wel affyle his tonge, preach, whet To wynne silver, as he right wel cowde: win Therfore he sang ful meriely and lowde. Dishevell’d, save his cap, he rode barehead: Such glaring eyes, like to a hare, he had! A vernicle was sewed upon his cap; His wallet lay before him, in his lap. * * * * * But honestly to tell the truth at last, He was in church a noble ecclesiast. Well could he read a lesson or a story, But ever best he sang the offertory: For well he knew that after he had sung, For preaching he must polish up his tongue, And thus make money, as he right well could: Therefore he sang full merrily and loud. Now I have told you as much as I can what people came into the Tabard Inn that night, and why they were all travelling together, and where they were going. [Illustration: Mine Host.] Our host made us very welcome, and gave us a capital supper. He was a thoroughly good fellow, our host--a large, stout man, with bright, prominent eyes, sensible and well behaved, and very merry.