"After this comth the synne of japeres, that been the develes apes; for they maken folk to laughe at hire japerie as folk doon at the gawdes of an ape. Swiche japes deffendeth Seint Paul. Looke how that vertuouse wordes and hooly conforten hem that travaillen in the service of Crist, right so conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of japeris hem that travaillen in the service of the devel. Thise been the synnes that comen of the tonge that comen of Ire and of othere synnes mo." (Chaucer, Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales)
It's at this point that I'm fairly sure that Chaucer is mocking parson who speak this way. And perhaps any and all religious officials. Almost all of the non-religious officials tell stories meant to amuse--that is, in fact, the *purpose* of telling these stories, to pass time on a long journey. So here comes this stuffy parson, who lies (or humble-brags, however you like) about not being a well-read man who can quote from books (and then goes on to quote a lot--though never the Greeks--was that the minimum standard for being well-read?) during the most interminably boring, officious, ass-eared sermon I have ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. I can't wait to see what the Host has to say about this tale after the telling is done.
