The Canterbury Tales

Based upon the above context, the word paragon best means _____ .

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

He had a latten cross set full of stones
And in a bottle had he some pig’s bones,
But with these relics, when he came upon.
Some simple parson, then this paragon
In that one day more money stood to gain ( The Canterbury Tales; “General Prologue,”lines 701-704)

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Last updated by Aslan
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I think this is referring to the Pardoner who sells useless junk as holy treasures. The speaker is being sarcastic about calling the pardoner the highest (paragon) of holy men.