THE FRIAR'S TALE; OR, THE SUMMONER AND THE DEVIL. A Summoner finds himself riding in company with a Devil, and makes an agreement with him which turns out to be of an unexpected nature. A Summoner was a church officer, who cited offenders into the ecclesiastical court. The friars and the dignified clergy were at great variance in Chaucer's time; and therefore it is a friar who relates the following amusing and exquisitely complete story, in which I have omitted nothing but a superfluous exordium. -And so befell, that ones on a day This Sompnour, waiting ever on his prey, A gay yeman under a forest side; A bow he bare; and arwes bright and kene And hat upon his hed with frenges blake. Sire, quod the Sompnour, haile and wel atake. A summoner, who was ever on the watch for prey, rode forth one morning to cheat a poor old woman, against whom he pretended to have a complaint. His track lay by a forest-side; and it chanced, that he saw before him, under the trees, a yeoman on horseback, gaily equipped with a bow and arrows. The stranger was in a short green cloak: and he had a hat with a black fringe. "Good-morrow, sir," quoth the summoner, overtaking him. "The same to you," quoth the yeoman, "and to every other jolly companion. What road are you bound upon to-day through the green wood? Are you going far?" * Ribibe was a word for the musical instrument called also a rebec (a sort of guitar). Why it was applied to old women the commentators cannot say; Tyrwhitt thinks, perhaps on account of its sharp tone. This Sompnour him answerd, and saide, Nay, To riden, for to reisen up a rent That longeth to my lordes duětee. A! art thou than a baillif? Ye, quod he. I am unknowěn as in this contrée; Grand mercy, quod this Sompnour, by my faith. For to be sworně brethren til they dey. This Sompnour, which that was as ful of jangles, Another day if that I shuld you seche? This yeman him answerd in softè speche, "No," replied the summoner. "My business is close at hand. I'm only going about a rent that's owing to my master." 66 Oh, what, you are a bailiff, then?" quoth the yeoman. "Just so," returned the summoner. He had not the face to own himself what he was; the very name of summoner was such a disgrace. "Well now; that's good," said the stranger; "for I'm a bailiff myself; and as I am not very well acquainted with this part of the country, I shall be glad of your good offices, if you have no objection to my company. I have plenty of money at home; so if you travel into our parts, you shall want for nothing." "Many thanks," cried the summoner; "I'm yours, with all my heart." The new friends gave their hands to one another, and pushed on their horses merrily. The summoner, who always had an eye to business, and was besides of an inquisitive nature, and as fond of poking his nose into everything as a wood-pecker, lost no time in asking the stranger where he lived, in case he should come to see him. The yeoman, in a tone of singular gentleness, answered, that he should Brother, quod he, fer in the north contrèe,* Now brother, quod this Sompnour, I you pray Now by my trouthě, brother min, said he, And therefore by extortion I leve; I can no better tellen faithfully. Now certes (quod this Sompnour) so fare I; Ne of swiche japès wol I not be shriven. be very glad of his visit; that he lived indeed a great way off, in the north; but that before they parted, he would instruct him so well in the locality, that it should be impossible for him to miss it. 66 "Good," returned the summoner. "And now, as we are of one accord and one occupation, pray let me into a secret or two, how I may prosper in my employment. Don't mince the matter as to conscience or sin, or any of that kind of nonsense; but tell me plainly how you transact business yourself. Why, to say the truth," answered the yeoman, " I have a very hard master and very little wages; and so I live by extortion. I take all that people give me, and a good deal more besides. I couldn't make both ends meet else; and that's the plain fact." "Precisely my case," cried the summoner. "I take everything I can lay my hands on, unless it be too heavy or too hot. To the devil with * The supposed locality of devils. Stomak ne consciencè know I non; I shrew thise shriftè faders everich on: Brother, quod he, wolt thou that I thee tell? Unto the worldĕs endě for a prayè. A, quod this Sompnour, benedicite! what say ye? Ye have a mannès shape as wel as I: In hellè, ther ye ben in your estat ? Nay, certainly, quod he, ther have we non; But whan us liketh we can take us on, Or elles make you wene that we ben shape conscience and repentance, say I. Catch me at confession who can. Well are we met, by the Lord. What is your name, my dear fellow?" The yeoman began smiling a little at this question. "Why, if you must know," quoth he, " my name, betwixt you and me, is Devil. I am a fiend, and live in hell; and I am riding hereabouts to see what I can get. Your business and mine is precisely the same. get anything provided you succeed; nor do I. You don't care how you I'll ride to the world's end, for instance, this very morning, sooner than not meet with a prey." "God bless me," cried the summoner, crossing himself, "a" devil' do you say? I thought you were a man like myself. You have a man's shape. Have you no particular shape then of your own ?” "Not a bit of it," quoth the stranger. "We take what likeness we please; sometimes a man's, sometimes a monkey's; nay, an angel's, if it suits us. And no marvel. For a common juggler can deceive your eyes in such matters; and it is hard if a devil can't do it better than a juggler.” Why, quod the Sompnour, ride ye than or gon For we, quod he, wol us swiche formě make What maketh you to han al this labour ! It is a cause of his salvation; "But why," inquired the summoner, "not be content with some one shape in particular?" "Because," replied the other, "the more disguises, the more booty." "That is taking a great deal of trouble, is it not?" asked the summoner. 'Why couldn't you take less?" "For many reasons, good Master Summoner," quoth the devil. "But all in good time. The day wears, and I have got nothing yet, so I must attend to business. Besides, you couldn't understand the matter, if I told it. You haven't wit enough for its comprehension. But if you ask why we trouble ourselves at all, you must know, that God wills it, and that devils themselves are but instruments in his hands. We can do nothing at all if he doesn't choose it; and do what we may, we can sometimes go no further than the body. We are not always permitted to touch the soul. Witness the case of Job. Sometimes, on the other hand, we are permitted to torment a man's soul, and not his body: and all is for the best. Our very temptations are the cause of a man being saved, if he resists them. |