So that in our retrospective glance, we may pity while we condemn "the friar of orders gray." With a delicate irony in Chaucer's picture, is combined somewhat of a liking for this "worthy limitour."[17] In the same category of contempt for the existing ecclesiastical system, Chaucer places the sompnour, or summoner to the Church courts.

Of his fire-red face, scattered beard, and the bilious knobs on his cheeks, "children were sore afraid." The friar, in his tale, represents him as in league with the devil, who carries him away.

He is a drinker of strong wines, a conniver at evil for bribes: for a good sum he would teach "a felon" ...

not to have none awe In swiche a case of the archdeacon's curse.
To him the Church system was nothing unless he could make profit of it.
THE PARDONERE .-- Nor is his picture of the pardoner, or vender of indulgences, more flattering.

He sells--to the great contempt of the poet--a piece of the Virgin's veil, a bit of the sail of St.Peter's boat, holy pigges' bones, and with these relics he made more money in each parish in one day than the parson himself in two months.
Thus taking advantage of his plot to ridicule these characters, and to make them satirize each other--as in the rival stories of the sompnour and friar--he turns with pleasure from these betrayers of religion, to show us that there was a leaven of pure piety and devotion left.
THE POOR PARSON .-- With what eager interest does he portray the lovely character of the _poor parson_, the true shepherd of his little flock, in the midst of false friars and luxurious monks!--poor himself, but Riche was he of holy thought and work, * * * * * That Cristes gospel truely wolde preche, His parishers devoutly wolde teche.
* * * * * Wide was his parish and houses fer asonder, But he left nought for ne rain no thonder, In sickness and in mischief to visite The ferrest in his parish, moche and lite.
Upon his fete, and in his hand a staf, This noble example to his shepe he yaf, That first he wrought and afterward he taught.
Chaucer's description of the poor parson, which loses much by being curtailed, has proved to be a model for all poets who have drawn the likeness of an earnest pastor from that day to ours, among whom are Herbert, Cowper, Goldsmith, and Wordsworth; but no imitation has equalled this beautiful model.