Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to The Canterbury Tales . But with these relics, when he came upon Some poor up-country priest or backwoods parson, In just one day he’d pick up far more money Than any parish priest was like to see In two whole months. With double-talk and tricks He made the people and the priest his dupes. But to speak truth and do the fellow justice, In church he made a splendid ecclesiastic. Which underlined word best characterizes the pardon-seller as a swindler?
“Double-talk” means confusing or misleading speech, which fits the pardon-seller’s use of tricks to deceive people and take their money. “Backwoods” describes a rural place, while “priest” and “money” do not directly characterize his dishonest behavior.
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