The line in the excerpt from Arthur Conan Doyle's "The contest" which suggest that Emperor Nero was ruthless and the line is this one <span>“Quick, Policles, quick!” he cried. “My pony is tethered behind yonder grove. A grey he is, with red trappings. </span>Get you gone as hard as hoof will bear you, for if you are taken you will have no easy death.”
“No easy death! What mean you, Metas? Who is the fellow?”
<span>“Great Jupiter! did you not know? Where have you lived? <span>It is Nero the Emperor! Never would he pardon what you have said about his voice. </span>Quick, man, quick, or the guards will be at your heels!”</span>
The right answer is "A. The clergy "
You should be referring to the quote from "The Canterbury Tales" where the word gold is used to represent the clergy in all its purity that leaves it in such a high standard that nothing can reach it, just as gold can not be attained by rust.
I won't write a whole paragraph but i'll list the symbolism. The gold represents the purity and value they had at the time, the hair of the wife represents the youth the woman once had, and the chain represented the emotional attachment she had for her husband.
big foot......................
