Three riotous young men, living a life of excess and debauchery, hear of Death's presence in their town and vow to seek him out and kill him. They believe they can conquer Death, driven by their arrogance and drunkenness. On their quest, they encounter an old man who reveals that Death can be found under a nearby tree. Upon reaching the tree, they discover a large stash of gold coins instead of Death. Greed takes over, and they decide to keep the treasure for themselves. They plot to send one of their number to fetch provisions while the others guard the gold. The youngest is sent to the town, but he secretly plans to poison his companions to claim the treasure for himself. Meanwhile, the two remaining men conspire to kill the youngest upon his return, believing they can split the gold between themselves. When the youngest returns, he unwittingly drinks the poisoned wine, and the two murderers soon meet the same fate after drinking from the same bottle. In the end, all three men die, illustrating the moral that greed and betrayal lead to destruction. The tale serves as a cautionary story about the dangers of avarice and the inevitability of death, emphasizing that one cannot escape their fate. The Pardoner concludes by offering his pardons, ironically highlighting his own greed and hypocrisy.
By Geoffrey Chaucer · First published 1395 · Genre: Allegory, Satire, Moral Tale