15. … When he’d said his piece The rest agreed, and the three friends hit the streets And went to seek their destiny and provoke a confrontation, In a drunken rage hoping Death would come and face them. Their intoxication made them sure of their purpose And fed the infernal furnace of their courage, A kernel nourished by these three murderous wretches in denial. Less than a mile into their quest to put Death on trial They met this guy all wrapped in bandages: An old handicapped man with disadvantages, And the three friends examined his bleeding flesh And demanded he tell them how he was cheating death. And up they started in their drunken rage And made towards this village which the page And publican had spoken of before. Many and grisly were the oaths they swore, Tearing Christ’s blessed body to a shred; “ If we can only catch him, Death is dead!” When they had gone not fully half a mile, Just as they were about to cross a stile, They came upon a very poor man Who humbly greeted them and thus began, “ God look to you, my lords, and give you quiet!” To which the proudest of these men of riot Gave back the answer, “What, old fool? Give place! Why are you all wrapped up except your face? Why live so long? Isn’t it time to die?” Chaucer – Modern English Baba Brinkman – Rap Chaucer – Middle English And up they stirte al dronken in this rage, And forth they goon towardes that village, Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn. And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn, And Cristes blessed body they torente - Deeth shal be deed, if that they may hym hente! Whan they han goon nat fully half a mile, Right as they wolde han troden over a stile, An oold man and a povre with hem mette. This olde man ful mekely hem grette, And seyde thus, "Now, lordes, God yow see!" The proudeste of thise riotoures three Answerde agayn, "What, carl, with sory grace, Why artow al forwrapped save thy face? Why lyvestow so longe in so greet age?"
![The Pardoner’s Tale ,[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)