There were less peasants to work so wages were higher, land value fell, most govt. officials were dead, the people believed less in the church because they were all dying
Answer:
"<em>So exhausted and battered it barely stirred</em>" works as a great replacement for "<em>Its dark eyes dim and not at their prime</em>."
Explanation:
Both metaphors refer to exhaustion and a feeling of "nothingness."
Chaucer's character of the Pardoner is a man who's work is tricking people of their money by allowing them to touch a supposedly "holy" bone that is really from a normal animal. The Pardoner is wealthy from swindling people out of their money by promising them pardon for their sins and get them entrance into heaven if they gave their money to him. He has a nice hat and a wallet full of money or pardons as Chancer sarcastically refers to it.