The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 334]

GROUP D. FRAGMENT V.

§ 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE.

¶ Here bygynneth the prologe of the wyf of Bathe

Experiens þough noon auctorite were in þis world. it were ynough for me To speke of wo þat is in mariage For lordyngs syns I twelf ȝer was of age Line 4 I thank it god þat is eterne on lyue housbondes atte chirch dore. I haue had fyue For I so ofte might haue weddid be And alle were worþy men in here degre Line 8 But me was taught nought longe tyme goon is That synnes crist went neuer but onys To weddyng in þe Cane of Galile That by þe same ensampul taught he me Line 12 That I ne weddid schulde be but ones Herken such a scharp word for þe nones Biside a welle Ihc god and man. Spak in reproef of þe Samaritan Line 16 Thou hast y-had fyue housbondes quod he And þat ilk man which þat now haþ þe Is nouȝt þin housbond þus he sayd certayn what þat he ment þer by I can not sayn Line 20 But þat I axe why þe fyfte man was nought housbond to þe Samaritan How many might sche haue in mariage Ȝit herd I neuer tellen in myn age Line 24

[6-text p 335] Line 24 Vppon þis noumbre diffinicioun Men may diuine and glosen vp and doun But wel I wot wiþouten eny lye God bad vs for to. wax and multiplie Line 28 That gentil tixt. can I wel vnderstonde Ek wel I wot he sayd myn housebonde Schuld lete fader and moder and folwe me [folio 87a] But of no noumber mencioun made he Line 32 Of Bygamye. or of Octogomye / why schuld men speken of þat vilonye / lo hier þe wise kyng Daun Salamon I trow he hadde wyfes mo þan oon. Line 36 As wold god it were leful vnto me To be refreisshed half so oft as he which ȝift of god had he for alle his wyuys No man haþ such þat in þe world on lyue is Line 40 God wot þis nobil king as to my wit The firste night had many a mery fit/ with ech of hem so wel was him on lyue I-blessid be god þat I haue weddid fyue Line 44 welcome þe sixte whan þat euer he schal For sothe I nyl not kepe me chast in al whan myn housbond is fro þe world I-gon Som cristne man schal wedde me anoon Line 48 For þan þapostil saith þat I am fre To wedde a goddis haf wher so it be he saith þat to be weddid is no synne Bet is to be weddid þan to brynne Line 52 what recchith me what folk sayn viloyne Of schrewith lameth or of Bigamye / I wot wel abram was an holy man And Iacob eek as ferforth as I can Line 56 And ech of hem had wyues mo than tuo And many another holy man also whan sawe ȝe in eny maner age That highe god defendid mariage Line 60

[6-text p 336] Line 60 By expres word I pray ȝow tellith me Or wher comaunded he virginite I wot as wel as ȝe it is no drede / Thapostil whan he spekþ of maydenhede Line 64 he sayd þat precept þer of had he noon Men may counseil a womman to be oon But counselyng nys no comaundement He put it in our owne Iuggement / Line 68 For hadde god comaundid maydenhede / [folio 87b] Than had he dampnyd weddyng with þe dede And certes if þer were no seed I-sowe / Virginite · wher-on schuld it growe Line 72 Poul ne dorst not comaunde atte lest A þing of which his maister ȝaf non hest The dart is set vpon virginite Cach who-so may who rennith best / let se Line 76 But þis word is not taken of euery wight But þer as god list ȝiue it of his might/ I wot wel þat þapostil was a mayde But naþeles þough þat he wrot or sayde Line 80 he wolde þat euery wight were such as he / Al nys but counseil vnto virginite And for to ben a wyf he ȝaf me leue Of indigence . so nys it to repreue Line 84 to wedde me if þat my make deye withoute excepcioun of bigamye Al were it good to womman for to touche he mente in his bed or in his couche Line 88 For peril is boþe fuyr an tow to assemble Ȝe knowe what þis ensample wold resemble This is al and som / he holdith virginite More parfit þan weddyng in frelte Line 92 Frelte clepe I · but if þat he and sche wold leden al her lif in chastite I graunt it wel I haue noon enuye Though maidenhede preferre bygamye Line 96

[6-text p 337] Line 96 It likeþ hem to be clene in body and gost Of myn estate I nyl make no bost For wel ȝe wot a lord in his houshold He nath not euery vessel ful of gold Line 100 Som ben of tre and don her lord seruise God clepeth folk to him in sondry wise And euery haþ of god a propre ȝifte Som þis som þat as him likith to schifte Line 104 Virginite is gret perfeccioun And continens eek wiþ gret deuocioun But crist þat of perfeccioun is welle [folio 88a] Bad nouȝt euery wight schuld go and selle Line 108 Al þat he had and ȝiue it to þe pore And in such wise folwe him and his fore / he spak to hem þat wolde lyue parfytly But lordyngs by ȝour leue þat am not I Line 112 I wol bystowe þe flour of myn age / In þe actes and in þe fruytes of mariage Tel me also to what conclusioun were membres maad of generacioun Line 116 And in what wise was a wight y-wrouȝt Trustith right wel þay were nouȝt maad for nouȝt Glose who-so wol and say boþe vp and doun þat þay were made for purgacioun Line 120 Oure boþe vryn and þinges smale / was eek to knowe a femel fro a male And for non oþer cause say ȝe no Thexperiens wot wel it is not so / Line 124 So þat þese clerke ben not with me wroþe / I say þis þat þay makid ben for boþe Þat is to say for office and for ease Of engendrure þer we god nouȝt displease Line 128 why schuld men ellis in her bokes sette That man schal ȝelde to his wif his dette Now wher-wiþ schuld he paye his payement If he ne vsed his sely instrument Line 132

[6-text p 338] Line 132 Than were þay maad vp a creature To purge vryn and eek for engendrure By I say not þat euery wight is holde That haþ such harneys as I to ȝow tolde Line 136 To gon and vsen hem in engendrure Than schuld men take of chastite no cure Crist was a mayde and schapen as a man And many a seynt sin þat þe world bygan Line 140 Ȝit lyued þay euer in parfyt charite I nyl enuye no virginite let hem be bred of pured whete seed And let vs wyues eten barly breed Line 144 And ȝet wiþ barly bred men telle can [folio 88b] Oure lord refreisschid many a man In such astaat as god haþ cleped ous I wil perseuer I am not precious Line 148 In wyfhode I wil vse myn instrument Als frely as my maker haþ me it sent If I be daungerous god ȝiue me sorwe Myn housbond schal han it at eue and at morwe Line 152 whan þat him list com forth and pay his dette An housbond wol I haue I wol not lette / which schal be boþe my dettour and my þral And haue his tribulacioun wiþ al Line 156 vpon his fleissch whil þat I am his wyf I haue þe power duryng al my lif vpon his propre body and not he / Right þus þapostil told it vnto me / Line 160 And bad oure housbondes for to loue vs wel Al þis sentence me likith euery del ¶ vp start þe pardoner and þat anoon Now dame quod he by god and by seint Iohn Line 164 Ȝe ben a noble prechour in þis caas I was aboute to wedde a wif allaas what schal I buy it on my fleisch so deere Ȝit had I leuer wedde no wif to ȝere Line 168

[6-text p 339] Line 168 Abyd quod sche my tale is not bygonne / Nay þou schalt drinke of anoþer tonne Er þat I go schal sauere wors þan ale And whan þat I haue told þe forþ my tale Line 172 Of tribulacioun in mariage I which I am expert/ in al myn age This is to say my self haþ ben þe whippe Than might þou chese wheþir þou wilt sippe Line 176 Of þilke tonne þat I schal abroche Be war of it er þou to neigh approche For I schal telle ensamples mo þan ten who-so þat nyl be war by oþer men Line 180 By him schal oþer men corrected be The same wordes writes protholome Rede in his almagest and tak it þere [folio 89a] Dame I wold pray ȝow . if þat ȝoure wille were Line 184 Sayde þis pardoner as ȝe bigan Tel forth ȝoure tale sparith for no man Teche vs ȝonge men of ȝoure practike Gladly quod sche syns it may ȝow like Line 188 But þat I pray to al þis companye / If þat I speke after my fantasie As takeþ nouȝt agreef of þat I say For myn entente is nought but/ to play / Line 192

NOw sires now wol I telle forth my tale As euer mote I drinke wyn or ale I schal say soþ of housbondes þat I hadde As þre of hem were goode and tuo were badde Line 196 Tuo of hem were goode riche and olde Vnnethes mighte þay þe statute holde In which þat þay were bounden vnto me Ȝe wot wel what I mene of þis par de Line 200 As help me god I laugh whan þat I þinke how pitously on night I made hem swynke / But by my fay I told of it no stoor Thay had me ȝiue her lond and her tresor Line 204

[6-text p 340] Line 204 Me nedith not no lenger doon diligence To wynne her loue or doon hem reuerence Thay loued me so wel by god aboue That I tolde no deynte of her loue Line 208 A wys womman wol bysi hir euer in oon To gete hir loue þere sche hath noon But synnes I had hem holly in myn hond And synnes þay had me ȝeuen al her lond Line 212 what schuld I take keep hem for to please But it were for my profyt and myn ease / I sette hem so on werke by my fay That many a night þay songen weylaway Line 216 The bacoun was nought fet for hem I trowe That som men fecche in Essex an donmowe I gouerned hem so wel after my lawe That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe Line 220 To bringe me gaye þinges fro þe faire [folio 89b] Þay were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire For god it woot I chidde hem spitously Now herkeneþ how I bar me proprely Line 224 Ȝe wise wyues þat can vnderstonde Þus scholde ȝe speke and bere hem wrong on honde For half so boldely can þer no man Swere and lye as can a womman Line 228 I say not by wyues þat ben wise But if it be whan þay ben mysauise I-wis a wif if þat sche can hir good schal beren him on hond þe cow is wood Line 232 And take witnes on hir oughne mayde / Of hire assent/. but herkeniþ how I sayde See olde Caynard is þis þin array why is my neghebores wif so gay Line 236 Sche is honoured ouer al þer sche goth I sitte at hom I haue no thrifty cloth / what dostow at my neighebores hous Is sche so fair . what artow amorous Line 240

[6-text p 341] Line 240 what roune ȝe wiþ hir maydenes benedicite Sir olde lecchour let þi iapes be And if I haue a gossib or a frend wiþouten gilt þou chidest as a fend Line 244 If þat I walk and play vnto his hous Þou comest hom as dronken as a mous And prechist on þy bench wiþ euel pree. Þou saist to me it is a gret meschief Line 248 To wedde a pouer womman for costage / And if þat sche be riche and of parage Thanne saist þou it/ is a tormentrie To suffre hir pride and hir malencolie Line 252 And if þat sche be fair þou verray knaue Þou saist þat euery holour wol hir haue Sche may no while in chastite abyde That is assayled þus on eche syde Line 256 Þou saist þat som folk desire vs for riches Som for our schap and som for our fairnes And some for þat sche can synge and daunce [folio 90a] And some for gentilesse or daliaunce Line 260 Som for hir handes and hir armes smale / Thus goth al to þe deuel by þi tale Thou saist men may nought kepe a castel wal Hit may so be biseged ouer al Line 264 And if sche be foul . þanne þou saist þat sche Coueitith euery man þat sche may se / For as a spaynel sche wol on him lepe Til þat sche fynde som man hire to chepe Line 268 Ne noon so gray a goos goþ in þe lake / As sayest þou wol be wiþouten make / And saist it is an hard þing for to wolde Thing þat no man wol . his willes holde Line 272 Thus seistow lorel whan þou gost to bedde And þat no wys man nedith for to wedde / Ne no man þat entendiþ vnto heuene wiþ wilde þunder dynt and fuyry leuene Line 276

[6-text p 342] Line 276 Mote þi wicked necke be tobroke / Þou saist þat droppyng hous and eek smoke / And chydyng wyues maken men to fle Out of here oughne hous a benedicite Line 280 what eylith such an old man for to chyde / Þou seist we wyues woln oure vices hide / Til we ben weddid and þan we wil hem schewe wel may þat be a prouerbe of a schrewe Line 284 Thou saist þat assen . oxen and houndes Þay ben assayed at diuers stoundes Basyns lauours eek er men hem bye Spones . stooles . and al such housbondrie Line 288 Also pottes cloþes and array But folk of wyues maken non assay Til þay ben weddid olde dotard schrewe. And þanne saistow we woln oure vices schewe Line 292 Þou saist also þat it displesith me But if þat þou wilt praysen my beaute And but þou pore alway in my face And clepe me faire dame in euery place Line 296 And but þou make a fest on þilke day; [folio 90b] Þat I was born and make me freisch and gay And but þou do my norice honoure And to my chamberer wiþinne þy boure Line 300 And to my fadres folk and myn allies Thus saistow olde barel ful of lies And ȝit of oure apprentys Iankyn For his crisp her schynyng as gold so fyn Line 304 And for he squiereþ me vp and doun Ȝet hastow caught a fals suspeccioun I nyl him nought þough þou were deed to morwe But tel me wher-for hydestow wiþ sorwe Line 308 Thy keyes of þy chist a-way fro me It is my good as wel as þin par de ¶ what wenest þou make an ydiot of oure dame Now by þat lord þat cleped is seint Iame Line 312

[6-text p 343] Line 312 Thow schalt not bothe þough þou were wood Be maister of my body and of my good That oon þou schalt for-go maugre þin yen what helpeth it on me tenqueren or espien Line 316 I trowe þou woldest lokke me in þy chest Thou scholdist say . wif go wher þe lest Take ȝoure disport I nyl lieue no talis I know ȝow for a trewe wif dame alis Line 320 we loueþ no man þat takith keep or charge wher þat we goon . we loue to be at large ¶ Of alle men I-blessed most he be Þe wise astrologe daun protholome Line 324 That saith þis prouerbe . in his almagest Of alle men his wisedom is highest Þat rekkith not who haþ þe world in honde By þis prouerbe . þou schalt vnderstonde / Line 328 Have þou ynough what þar þe recch or care How merily þat oþer folkes fare For certes olde dotard wiþ ȝour leue Ȝe schul haue queynte right ynough at eue Line 332 he is to gret a nygard þat wol werne A man to light a candel at his lanterne he schal haue neuer þe lasse light par de [folio 91a] Haue þou ynough þe thar not playne þe Line 336 Thou saist also þat if we make vs gay with cloþing and with precious array Þat it is peril of our chastite And ȝit wiþ sorwe þou most enforce þe Line 340 And say þese wordes in thapostles name In abyt maad wiþ chastite and schame Ȝe wommen schuld apparayl ȝow quod he / And nought wiþ tressed her . and gay perre / Line 344 As perles ne with golden cloþis riche After þy text ne after þin rubriche I wol nouȝt wirche as moche as a gnat Thow saist þus þat I was lik a cat Line 348

[6-text p 344] Line 348 But who-so wolde senge the cattes skyn Than wold þe catte . duellen in his In And if þe cattes skyn be slyk and gay Sche wol not duelle in house half a day Line 352 But forth sche wil er eny day be dawet To schewe hir skyn and goon a caterwrawet This is to say if I be gay sir schrewe / I wol renne aboute my borel for to schewe Line 356 Sir olde fool what helpith þe to aspien Þough þou praydest argus wiþ his hundrid yen To be my warde corps as he can best In faith he schuld not kepe me but if me lest Line 360 Ȝit couþe I make his berd þough queynte he be Þou saydest eek þat þer ben þinges þre/ The whiche þinges troublen al þis erþe And þat no wight may endure þe ferþe Line 364 O leue sire schrewe ihu schorte þy lif Ȝit prechestow and saist an hateful wif I-rekened is for oon of þese meschaunces Ben þer noon oþer of þy resemblaunces Line 368 Þat ȝe may liken ȝoure parables vnto But if a cely wyf be oon of þo Thow likenest wommannes loue to helle To bareyn lond þer water may not duelle Line 372 Thou likenest it/ also to wilde fuyr [folio 91b] The more it brenneth þe more it haþ desir To consume euery þing þat brent wol be Thou saist right as wormes schenden a tre Line 376 Right so a wif schendith hir housebonde This knowen þo þat ben to wyues bonde lordynges right þus as ȝe han vnderstonde Bar I styf myn housebondes on honde Line 380 Þat þus þay sayde in her dronkenesse And al was fals but þat I took witnesse On Iankyn and vpon my nece also O lord þe peyne I dede hem and þe wo Line 384

[6-text p 345] Line 384 Ful gulteles by goddes swete pyne For as an hors I couþe boþe bite and whyne I couþe pleyne and ȝet I was in þe gilt Or elles I hadde often tyme be spilt Line 388 who-so first comeþ to þe mylle first grynt I pleyned first so was oure werre stynt/ Thay were ful glad to excuse hem ful blyue Of þing þat þay neuer agilt in her lyue Line 392 And wenches wold I beren hem on honde whan þat/ for seek þay might vnnethes stonde Ȝit tykeled I his herte for þat he wende I had of him so gret/ chierete Line 396 I swor þat al my walkyng out a nyght was for to aspie wenches þat he dight vnder þat colour had I many a mirthe For al such witte is ȝeuen vs of birthe Line 400 Deceipt wepyng . spynnyng . god haþ ȝiue To wymmen kyndely whil þay may lyue And þus of o thing I auaunte me / And þende I had þe bet in ech degre Line 404 By sleight or fors or of som maner þing As by continuel murmur or chidyng Namly on bedde hadden þay meschaunce Ther wold I chide and do hem no plesaunce Line 408 I wold no lenger in þe bed abyde / If þat I felt his arm ouer my syde Til he had maad his raunsoun vnto me [folio 92a] Than wold I suffre him doon his nycete Line 412 And þerfor euery man þis tale telle wynne who-so may for al is for to selle wiþ empty hond men may noon haukes lure For wynnyng wold I al his lust endure Line 416 And make me a feyned appetyt/ And ȝit in bacoun had I neuer delyt That made me þat euer I wold hem chyde For þough þe pope had seten hem bisyde Line 420

[6-text p 346] Line 420 I nold not spare hem at her oughne bord For by my trouþe I quyt hem word for word Als help me verray god omnipotent / Þough I right now schuld make my testament Line 424 I owe hem nought a word þat it nys quitte I brought it so aboute by my witte Þat þay most ȝeue it vp as for þe best Or ellis had we neuer ben in rest Line 428 For þough he loked as a grym lyoun Ȝit schuld he fayle of his conclusioun Than wold I say . now goode leef tak keep how mekly lokith wilkyn oure scheep Line 432 Com ner my spouse let me ba þy cheke Ȝe schulde be al pacient and meke And haue a swete spiced consciens Siþþen ȝe preche so of Iopes paciens Line 436 Suffreth alway syns ȝe so wel can preche And but ȝe do certeyn we schul ȝow teche / That it is fair to haue a wyf in pees On of vs tuo mot bowe douteles Line 440 And siþþen man is more resonable Than womman is . ȝe moste be suffrable what aylith ȝow . þus for to grucche and grone Is it for ȝe wold haue my queynt allone / Line 444 why tak it al . lo haue it euery del Peter I schrewe ȝow but ȝe loue it wel For if I wolde selle my bele chose / I couþe walk as freisch as eny rose Line 448 But I wol kepe it for ȝoure owne toth [folio 92b] Ȝe ben to blame by god I say ȝow soth / Such maner wordes hadde we on honde Now wol I speke of my fourth housbonde / Line 452 My fourþe housbond was a reuelour This is to say he had a paramour I was ȝong and ful of ragerie Stiborn and strong and ioly as a pye Line 456

[6-text p 347] Line 456 how couþe I daunce to an harpe smale And synge y-wys as eny nightyngale whan I had dronke a draught of swete wyn Metillius þe foule cherl þe swyn Line 460 That with a staf byraft his wyf hir lyf For sche drank wyn þough I had ben his wif Ne schuld nouȝt haue daunted me fro drink And after wyn on venus most I þink Line 464 For also siker as cold engendrith hayl A likorous mouth most haue a licorous tail In wymmen vinolent is no defens This knowen lecchours by experiens Line 468 But lord crist whan þat it remembrith me vpon my ȝouthe and on my iolite It tikelith me aboute myn herte roote Vnto þis day it doþ myn herte boote Line 472 That I haue had my world as in my tyme But age allas þat al wol enuenyme Haþ me bireft my beaute and my pith Let go far wel . þe deuyl go þer wiþ Line 476 The flour is goon þer nis no more to telle The bran as I best can now mot I selle But ȝit to be mery wol I fonde / Now wol I telle of my fourt housbonde Line 480 I say I had in herte gret despyt That he of eny oþer had delit But he was quit/ by god and by seint Ioce I made him of þe same woode a croce Line 484 Nought of my body in no foul manere But certeynly I made folk such chere That in his owne grees I made him frie [folio 93a] For anger and for ialousie Line 488 By god in erþe I was his purgatory For which I hope his soule be in glory For god it wot . he sat ful stille and song whan þat his scho ful bitterly him wrong Line 492

[6-text p 348] Line 492 Ther was no wight sauf god and he þat wist/ In many wyse how sore I him twist I sayde whan I cam fro Ierusalem And lith I-graue vnder þe roode bem Line 496 Al is his tombe nought so curious As was þe sepulcre of him Darius which þat appellus wrought so subtily It nys but wast to burie him preciously Line 500 let him far wel god ȝiue his soule rest he is now in his graue and in his chest ¶ Now of my fifte housbond wol I telle / God let his soule neuer come in helle / Line 504 And ȝit was he to me þe moste schrewe / That fele I on my ribbes alle on rewe / And euer schal vnto myn endyng day But in oure bed he was so freisch and gay Line 508 And þer with al so wel he couþe me glose / whan þat he wolde haue my bele chose / That þough he had me bete on euery boon he couþe wynne my loue right anoon Line 512 I trowe I loued him beste for þat he was of his loue daungerous to me we wymmen han if þat I schal nouȝt lye In þis matier a queynte fantasie Line 516 wayte what þyng we may not lightly haue Ther after wol we sonnest crie and craue Forbeed vs þing and þat desire we Pres on vs fast and þanne wol we fle Line 520 wiþ daunger outen alle we oure ware Greet pres at market makith deer chaffare And to greet chep is holden at litel pris This knowith euery womman þat is wys Line 524 My fyfte housbond god his soule blesse [folio 93b] which þat I took for loue and no richesse / he somtyme was a clerk of Oxenford And had left scole and went at hoom to borde Line 528

[6-text p 349] Line 528 wiþ my gossib duellyng in oure toun God haue hir soule. hir name was Alisoun Sche knew myn herte and my priuite Bet þan oure parisch prest so mot I the / Line 532 To hir bywreyed I my counseil al For had myn housbond pissed on a wal Or don a þing þat schuld haue cost his lif To hir and to anoþer worþy wyf Line 536 And to my neece which I loued wel I wold haue told his counseil euery del And so I did ful ofte god it woot That made his face ofte reed and hoot Line 540 For verry schame. and blamyd himself þat he / had told to me so gret a priuete And so byfel þat oones in a lent So ofte tyme to my gossib I went Line 544 For euer ȝit I loued to be gay And for to walk in march aueril and may From hous to here sondry talis Þat Iankyn Clerk and my gossib dame alis Line 548 And I my self in to þe feldes went Myn housbond was at londone al þat lent I had þe bettir leysir for to pleye And for to see and eek for to be seye Line 552 Of lusty folk. what wist I wher my grace was schapen for to be or in what place Therfore I made my visitaciouns To vigiles and to processiouns Line 556 To prechings eek and to þis pilgrimages To pleyes miracles and mariages And wered vpon my scarlet gytes Þese wormes þese moughtes ne þese mytes Line 560 Vpon my perel fretith hem neuer a deel And wostow why. for þay were vsed wel Now wol I telle forþ what happid me [folio 94a] I say þat in þe feldes walkid we Line 564

[6-text p 350] Line 564 Til trewely we had such daliaunce This Clerk and I þat of my puruyaunce I spak to him and sayde how þat he If I were wydow schulde wedde me Line 568 For certeynly I say for no bobaunce Ȝit was I neuer wiþouten purueyaunce Of mariage ne of no þinges eeke I hold a mouses hert not worþ a leek Line 572 That haþ but oon hole to sterte to And if þat faile þan is al I-do . . . . . . . . . . Line 576 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 580 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 584 But now sir let me se what I schal sayn A ha by god I haue my tale agayn ¶ whan þat my fourþe housbond was on bere I wept algate and made a sory cheere Line 588 As wyues mooten for it is vsage And with my kerchief couered my visage But for þat I was purueyed of a make / I wept but smal and þat I vndertake Line 592 To chirche was myn housbond brought on morwe with neighebors þat for him made sorwe And Iankyn oure clerk was oon of þo As help me god whan þat I saugh him go Line 596 After þe beere me þought he had a paire Of legges and of feet so clene and faire That al myn hert I ȝaf vnto his hold He was I trowe twenty wynter old Line 600

[6-text p 351] Line 600 And I was fourty I schal say þe sothe But ȝit I had alway a Coltis toþe Gattothid I was and þat bycom me wel I had þe prynte of seynt Venus sel Line 604 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 608 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 612 Myn ascent was taur. and mars þer Inne / Allas alas þat euer loue was synne I folwed ay myn inclinacioun By vertu of my constillacioun Line 616 That made me þat I couþe nouȝt wiþdrawe / My chambre of venus from a good felawe / . . . . . . . . . . Line 620 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 624 . . . . . . . . . . what schuld I say but at þe monthis ende [folio 94b] This ioly clerk Iankyn þat was so heende Line 628 Haþ weddid me with gret solempnitee And to him ȝaf I al þe londe and fee That euer was me ȝiue þer bifore But aftirward repented me ful sore Line 632 he nolde suffre noþing of my list By god he smot me oones wiþ his fist For I rent oones out of his book a lef That of þat strok myn eere wax al deef Line 636

[6-text p 352] Line 636 Styborn I was as is a leones And of my tonge a verray iangleres And walk I wold as I had don biforn Fro hous to hous al þough he had it sworn Line 640 For which he ofte tyme wolde preche And me of olde Romayn gestes teche / How he Simplicius gallus left his wyf And hir forsok for terme of al his lyf Line 644 Nought but for open heedid he hir say lokyng out at his dore vpon a day Anoþer Romayn told he me by name That for his wyf was at a somer game Line 648 wiþout his wityng. he forsok hir eeke And þanne wold he vpon his book seeke That ilke prouerbe of Ecclesiaste wher he comaundith and forbedith faste Line 652 Man schal not suffre. his wyf go roule aboute / Than wold he say right þus wiþouten doute ¶ Who þat buyldith his hous al of salwes And priketh his blynde hors ouer the falwes Line 656 And suffrith his wyf. to go seken halwes Is worþy to ben honged on þe galwes But al for nought I sette nought an hawe Of his prouerbe. ne of his olde sawe Line 660 Ne I wolde not of him corrected be I hate him þat my vices tellith me. And so doon mo. god it wot þan I. This made him wiþ me wood al outerly Line 664 I nolde not forbere him in no cas [folio 95a] Now wol I say ȝow soth by seint Nicholas why þat I rent out of þe book a leef For which he smot me þat I was al def Line 668 he had a book þat gladly night and day For his desport he wolde rede alway he clepyd it Valelye and theofrast At which book he lough alway ful fast Line 672

[6-text p 353] Line 672 And eek þay say þer was som tyme at Rome A clerk a Cardynal þat heet seint Ierome That made a book aȝens Iouynyan In which book eeke þer was terculan Line 676 Crisippus tortula and eek helewys That was abbas not fer fro paris And eek þe parablis of Salamon Ouydes art and bourdes many oon Line 680 And alle þese were bounde in oo volume And euery night and day was his custume whan he had leysir and vacacioun From oþer worldes occupacioun Line 684 To reden in þis book of wikked wyues he knew of hem mo legendes and lyues Þan ben of goode wyues in þe bible For trustith wel it is an inpossible Line 688 That any clerk schal speke good of wyues But if it be of holy seintes lyues Ne of noon oþer wyfes neuer þe mo who peyntid þe leoun tel me who Line 692 By god if wommen hadde writen stories As clerkes haue wiþinne her oratories Thay wold haue write of men more wickidnes Than al þe mark of Adam may redres Line 696 These children of mercury and of venus Ben in her werkyng ful contrarius Mercury louith wisdom and science And venus loueth ryot and dispense Line 700 And for her diuers disposicioun Ech fallith in oþeres exaltacioun And þus god wot mercury is desolate [folio 95b] In pisses wher venus is exaltate Line 704 And venus faylith wher Mercury is reysed Therfor no womman of clerkes is preised The clerk whan he is old and may nouȝt do Of venus werkis is not worþ a scho Line 708

[6-text p 354] Line 708 Than sit he doun and writ in his dotage That wommen can nought kepe here mariage But now to purpos why I tolde þe That I was beten for a leef par de Line 712 vpon a night Iankyn þat was oure sire Rad on his book as he sat by þe fyre Of Eua first þat for hir wikkidnes was al mankynde brought to wrecchednes Line 716 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 720 Tho rad he me how Sampson left his heris Slepyng his lemman kut it wiþ hir scheris Thurgh which tresoun lost he boþe his yen Tho rad he me if þat I schal not lyen Line 724 Of Ercules and of his deianyre That caused him to sette himself on fuyre No þing forȝat he þe care and wo Þat Socrates had wiþ his wyues tuo Line 728 How exantipa cast pisse vpon his heed Þis seely man sat stille as he were deed he wyped his heed no more durst he sayn But er þunder stynte þer comeþ rayn Line 732 Of phasipha þat was þe queen Creete. For schrewednes him þought þe tale sweete. Fy spek no more it is a grisly þing For her horribil lust and her likyng Line 736 Of Clydemystra for hir leccherie That falsly made hir housbond for to dye he rad it with ful good deuocioun he told me eek for what occasioun Line 740 Amphiores at Thebes left his lif Myn housbond had a legend of his lyf Exiphilem þat for an ouche of gold haþ prively vnto þe Grekes told Line 744

[6-text p 355] Line 744 wher þat hir housbond hyd him in a place [folio 96a] For which he had at thebes sory grace Of lyma told he me and of lucye Thay boþe made her housbondes for to dye / Line 748 That oon for loue · þat oþer was for hate Lyma hir housbond on an euen late Empoysond hath . for þat sche was his fo Lucia licorous loued hir housbond so Line 752 For þat he schuld alway vpon hir þink Sche ȝaf him such a maner loue-drink That he was deed er it was by þe morwe And þus algates housbondes had sorwe Line 756 Than told he me how oon latumyus Compleigned vnto his felaw arrius That in his gardyn growed such a tre On which he sayde how þat his wyues þre / Line 760 Honged hem selfe / for herte despitous O leue broþer . quod þis arrious Ȝif me a plont of þilke blessid tre And in my gardyn schal it plantid be Line 764 Of latter date of wyues haþ he red That som han slayn her housbondes in her bed And let her lecchour dighten al þe night whil þat þe corps lay in þe flor vpright Line 768 And som han dryuen nayles in her brayn whiles þay sleepe and þus þey han hem slayn Som haue hem ȝiue poysoun in her drink he spak more harm þan herte may byþynk Line 772 And þer wiþ al he knew mo prouerbes Þan in þis world þer growen gres or herbes Better is quod he thyn habitacioun Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun Line 776 Than with a womman vsyng for to chyde Better is quod he hihe in þe roof abyde Than wiþ a wikked womman doun in a hous Thay ben so wicked and so contrarious Line 780

[6-text p 356] Line 780 Þay haten þat her housbondes louen ay He sayd a womman cast hir schame away whan sche cast of hir smok . and forþer mo [folio 96b] A fair womman but sche be chast also Line 784 Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose who wolde wene or who wolde suppose / The wo þat in myn herte was and pyne And whan I saugh he nolde neuer fyne Line 788 To reden on þis cursed book al night And sodeinly þre leues haue I plight Out of þis booke þat he had and eeke I with my fist so took him on þe cheeke Line 792 That in oure fuyr he fel bakward adoun· And he vpstert as doþ a wood leoun And wiþ his fist he smot me on þe hed That in þe floor I lay as I were deed Line 796 And whan he saugh so stille þat I lay he was agast and wold haue fled away Til atte last out of my swown I brayde O hastow slayn me false þef I sayde Line 800 And for my lond þus hastow mourdrid me Er I be deed ȝit wol I kisse þe And ner he cam and knelith faire a doun And sayde deere suster alisoun Line 804 As help me god I schal þe neuer smyte That I haue doon it is þiself to wite / Forȝiue it me and þat I þe biseke And ȝet eft sones I hyt him on þe cheke Line 808 And sayde þef þus mekil I me wreke Now wol I dye I may no lenger speke But atte last wiþ mochil care and wo we fyl accordid by our seluen tuo Line 812 he ȝaf me al þe bridil in myn hand To haue þe gouernaunce of hous and land And of his tonge and of his hond also / And made him brenne his book anoon right þo Line 816

[6-text p 357] Line 816 And whan I hadde geten vnto me By maistry al þe souereynete And þat he sayde myn owne trewe wif Do as þe list in term of al þy lif Line 820 kepe þyn honour and kep eek myn estat [folio 97a] And after þat day we neuer had debat God help me so I was to him as kynde As eny wyf fro Denmark vnto Inde Line 824 And also trewe was he vnto me I pray to god þat sitte in mageste So blesse his soule for his mercy deere Now wol I say my tale if ȝe wol heere Line 828

[The Wrangle between the Summoner and Friar.]

¶ The Frere lough when he had herd al þis Now dame quod he so haue I ioye or blis This is a long preambel of a tale And whan þe Sompnour herd þe frere gale Line 832 Lo quod þe sompnour for goddes armes tuo A frer wol entremet him euermo lo goode men a flie and eek a frere woln falle in euery dissche and matiere Line 836 what spekst þou of . perambulacioun what ambil . or trot . or pees or go sit doun Thou lettest oure disport in þis matere Ȝe woltow so sir sompnour quod þe frere Line 840 Now by my fay I schal er þat I go Telle of a sompnour such a tale or tuo That alle þe folk/ schuln laughen in þis place / Now ellis frere I byschrew þy face Line 844 Quod þis Sompnour and I byschrewe me But / if I telle tales tuo or þre Of freres er I come to Sydingborne Þat I schal make þin herte for to morne Line 848

[6-text p 358] Line 848 For wel I wot þy paciens is goon Oure hoste cride pees and þat anoon And sayde let þe womman telle hir tale / Ȝe fare as folkes þat dronken ben of ale Line 852 Do dame tel forth ȝour tale and þat is best/ Al redy sir quod sche right as ȝou lest/ If I haue licence of þis worthy frere Ȝis dame quod he tel forþ and I schal heere Line 856

[6-text p 359]

IN olde dayes of þe kyng arthour [folio 97b] Of which þat britouns speken gret honour Al was þis lond fulfilled of fayrie The elf queen wiþ hir ioly compaignye Line 860 Daunced fuloft in many a grene mede This was þe old oppynyoun as I rede I speke of many hundrid ȝer ago But now can no man see noon elues mo Line 864 For now þe grete charite and prayeres Of lymytours and oþer holy freres That sechen euery lond and euery streem As thik as motis in þe sonne beem Line 868 Blessynge halles . chambres . kichenes . boures Citees . burghes . castels . hihe and toures . Thropes . bernes . schepnes . and dayeries That makith þat þer ben no fayeries Line 872 For þer as wont was to walken an elf Ther walkith noon . but þe lymytour himself In vndermeles and in morwenynges And saith his matyns and his holy þinges Line 876 As he goþ in his lymytacioun wommen may go saufly vp and doun In euery bussch or vnder euery tre Þer is non oþer incumbent but/ he / Line 880 And ne wol but doon hem dishonour And so bifel it / þat þis king arthour had in his hous a lusty bacheler That on a day com rydyng fro ryuer Line 884

[6-text p 360] Line 884 And happed al alone as sche was born he saugh a mayde walkyng him byforn Of which mayden anoon maugre hir heed By verray fors byraft hir maydenhed Line 888 For such oppressioun was such clamour And such pursuyte vnto kyng arthour That dampned was þe knight and schuld be ded By cours of lawe and schuld haue lost his heed Line 892 Parauenture such was þe statut þo But þat þe queen and oþer ladys mo So longe preyeden þay þe kyng of grace [folio 98a] Til he his lif haþ graunted in þe place Line 896 And ȝaf him to þe queen al at hir wille To chese wethir sche wolde him saue or spille The queen thanked þe kyng wiþ al hir might And after þus sche spak vnto þe knight Line 900 whan þat sche saugh hir tyme vpon a day Thow stondest ȝet quod he in such array Þat of þy lyf hastow no sewerte I graunte þy lif if þou canst telle me Line 904 what þing is it þat wommen most desiren Be war and keep þy nek bon fro þe Iren And if þou canst not tellen it anoon Ȝet wol I ȝiue þe leue for to goon Line 908 A twelf month and a day it for to lere An answar suffisaunt in þis matiere And seurte wol I haue er þat þou pace Thy body for to ȝelden in þis place Line 912 wo was þis knight and sorwfully he siked But what. he may not doon al as him liked And atte last he ches him for to wende And cam aȝein right at þe ȝeres ende Line 916 wiþ swich answer as god him wolde purueye And takith his leue and wendith forþ his weye He sekith euery hous and euery place wher-so he hopith for to fynde grace Line 920

[6-text p 361] Line 920 To lerne what þing wommen louen most But he ne couþe arryuen in no cost wher as he mighte fynde þis matiere To þese þinges accordyng in fere Line 924 Somme sayden womme louen best richesse Somme sayde honour and some sayde iolynesse Somme sayde riche array some sayden lust on bedde And ofte tyme to be wydow and wedde Line 928 Somme sayden oure herte is most I-eased whan we ben y-flaterid and y-pleased He goþ ful neigh þe soth I wil not lye A man schal wynne vs best wiþ flaterye Line 932 And with attendaunce and busynesse [folio 98b] Ben we y-limed boþe more and lesse / And somme sayen þat we louen best For to be fre and to doon as vs lest Line 936 And þat no man repreue vs of oure vice But say þat we ben wys and no þing nyce For trewely þer is noon of vs alle If eny wight wold claw vs on þe galle / Line 940 That we nyl like for he saith vs soþ Assay and he schal fynd it þat so doþ For be we neuer so vicious wiþinne we schuln be holde wys and clene of synne Line 944 And somme sayn þat gret delit han we For to be holden stabil and secre / And in oon purpos stedfastly to duelle / And nought bywreye þing þat men vs telle / Line 948 But þat tale is not . worth a rakes stele Par dy we wymmen . can right no þing hele witnes on myda wil ȝe here þe tale / Ouyd among his oþer þinges smale Line 952 Sayde Myda had . vnder his lange heris Growyng vpon his heed tuo asses eeris The whiche vice he hid as he best might Ful subtilly fro euery mannes sight Line 956

[6-text p 362] Line 956 That saue his wyf þer wist of þat no mo he loued hir most . and trusted hir also / he prayed hir . þat to no creature sche schulde tellen . of his disfigure / Line 960 Sche swor him nay for al þis world to wynne Sche nolde do þat vilony or synne To make hir housbond haue so foul a name Sche wold not tel it for hir oughne schame Line 964 But natheles hir þoughte þat sche dyde That sche so long a counseil scholde hyde hir þought it swal . so sore about / hir hert That needely som word hir most astert Line 968 And sins sche dorst not tel it vn-to man Doun to a marreys faste by sche ran Til sche cam þer hir herte was on fuyre [folio 99a] And as a bytoure bumblith in þe myre Line 972 Sche layd hir mouth vnto þe water doun Bywrey me not þou watir with þi soun Quod sche to þe I telle it and no mo Myn housbond haþ long asse eeris tuo Line 976 Now is myn hert al hool now is it oute I might no lenger kepe it out of doute Her may ȝe se þeigh we a tyme abyde Ȝet out it moot we can no counseil hyde Line 980 The remenaunt of þe tale if ȝe wil here / Redith ovid . and þer ȝe mow it leere ¶ This knight of which my tale is specially whan þat he saugh he might nouȝt come þerby Line 984 This is to say what wommen louen most wiþinne his brest ful sorwful was þe gost/ But hom he goþ . he might no lenger soiourne The day was come þat homward most he torne Line 988 And in his way it hapnyd him to ride In al his care vnder a forest side wher as he saugh vpon a daunce go Of ladys four and twenty and ȝit mo Line 992

[6-text p 363] Line 992 Toward þis ilke daunce I drough ful ȝerne / In hope þat som wisdom schuld I lerne / But certeynly er I com fully þere Vanysshid was þis daunce he nyste where / Line 996 No creature saugh he þat bar lif Sauf on þe greene he saugh sittyng a wyf / A fouler wight þer may no man deuyse Aȝens þe knight þis olde wyf gan ryse Line 1000 And sayder sir knight heer forth lith no way Tel me what . ȝe seekyn by ȝour fay Par aduenture . it may þe better be / Thise olde folk can mochil þing quod sche Line 1004 My lieue modir quod þis knight certayn I am but ded but if þat I can sayn what þing is it . þat wommen most desire Couþe ȝe me wisse . I wold wel quyt ȝour huyre / Line 1008 Plight me þy trouth . her in myn hond quod sche [folio 99b] The nexte þing þat I require þe Thou schalt it doo if it be in þy might And I wol telle it þe er it be night Line 1012 haue her my trouþe quod þe knight I graunte Thanne quod sche I dar me wel auaunte Þy lif is sauf for I wol stonde þer by vpon my lif þe queen wol say as I Line 1016 let se which is þe proudest of hem alle Þat werith on a couerchief or a calle Þat dar say nay of þing I schal þe teche let vs go forth wiþouten more speche Line 1020 Tho rowned sche a pistil in his eere And bad him to be glad and haue no fere whan þay ben comen to þe court þis knight Sayd he had holde . þat day þat he hight Line 1024 Al redy was his answer as he sayde Ful many a noble wyf and many a mayde And many a wydow for þat þay ben wyse The queen hirself sittyng as a Iustise Line 1028

[6-text p 364] Line 1028 Assemblid ben his answer for to hiere And afterward þis knight was bode appiere To euery wight comaundid was cilence And þat þe knight schuld telle in audience Line 1032 what þing þat worldly wommen louen best ¶ Þe knight ne stood not stille as doþ a best But to þe questioun anoon answerde wiþ manly voys þat al the court it herde Line 1036 My liege lady generally quod he wommen desiren to haue soueraynte As wel ouer hir housbond as ouer hir loue And for to be in maystry him aboue Line 1040 This is þe most desir þough ȝe me kille / Doþ as ȝow list I am heer at ȝour wille In al þe court ne was þer wyf ne mayde Ne wydow þat contraried þat he sayde Line 1044 But sayden he . was worþy haue his lif And wiþ þat word vp start þat olde wif which þat þe knight saugh sittyng on þe grene [folio 100a] Mercy quod sche my soueraigne lady queene Line 1048 Er þat ȝour court departe doþ me right I taughte þis answer vnto þe knight For which he plighte me his trouþe there The firste þing þat I wold him requere Line 1052 he wold it do if it lay in his might Bifore þe court þen pray I þe sir knight Quod sche þat þou me take vnto þy wif For wel þou wost þat I haue kept þy lif Line 1056 If I say fals sey nay vpon þy fey This knight answerd allas and waylawey I wot right wel þat such was my byhest For goddes loue as chese a ne request Line 1060 Tak al my good and let my body go Nay quod sche þan I schrew vs boþe tuo For þough þat I be foule old and poure I nolde for al þe metal ne for þe oure Line 1064

[6-text p 365] Line 1064 That vnder erthe is graue or lith aboue But I þy wife . were and eek þy loue My loue quod he . nay nay . my dampnacioun Allas þat eny of my nacioun Line 1068 Schuld euer so foule disparagid be But/ al for nought . þe ende is þis þat he Constreigned was . he needes most hir wedde And takith his wyf and goþ wiþ hir to bedde Line 1072 ¶ Now wolden som men say par aduenture That for my necgligence I do no cure To telle ȝow þe ioye and tharray That at þat fest was maad þat ilke day Line 1076 To which þing schortly answeren I schal And say þer nas feste ne ioy at al Ther nas but heuynes and mochil sorwe For priuely he weddyd hir in a morwe Line 1080 And alday hudde him . as doþ an oule So wo was him his wyf loked so foule Gret was þe wo . þe knight had in his þought whan he was with his wyf on bedde brought Line 1084 He walwith and he torneth to and fro [folio 100b] his olde wyf lay smylyng euer mo And sayd o deere housbond benedicite Fareth euery knight wiþ his wyf as ȝe / Line 1088 Is þis þe lawe of king arthures hous Is euery knight of his þus daungerous I am ȝour oughne loue / and ȝour wyf I am sche þat hath sauyd ȝour lyf Line 1092 And certes ne dede I ȝow neuer vnright why fare ȝe þus with me þe firste night ȝe fare lik a man þat had left his wit/ what is my gult . for godes loue tel me it Line 1096 And it schal be amendid if þat I may Amendid quod þis knight allas nay nay It wol nought ben amendid neuer mo Thow art so loþly and so old also Line 1100

[6-text p 366] Line 1100 And þerto comen of so lowh a kynde That litil wonder is þough I walwe and wynde So wolde god myn herte wolde brest Is þis quod sche þe cause of ȝour vnrest; Line 1104 Ȝe certeynly quod he no wonder is Now sire quod sche I couþe amende al þis If þat me list er it were dayes þre / So wel ȝe mighte bere ȝow to me Line 1108 But for ȝe speken of such gentilesse As is descendit out of old richesse Therfor schuld ȝe . ben holden gentil men Such arrogaunce . is not worth an hen Line 1112 lok who þat is most vertuous alway Priue and pert and most entendiþ ay To do þe gentil dedes þat he can Tak him for þe grettest gentil man Line 1116 Crist wol we clayme of him oure gentilesse Nought of oure eldres for our gret richesse For þough þey ȝiue vs al her heritage For which we clayme to be of high parage Line 1120 Ȝit may þay not biqueþe for no þing To noon of vs so vertuous lyuyng That made hem gentil men y-callid be [folio 101a] And bad vs folwe hem in such degre Line 1124 wel can þe wyse poet of Florence That hatte Daunt speke of þis sentence / Lo in such maner of rym is Dauntes tale Ful seeld vprisith by his braunchis smale / Line 1128 Prowes of man . for god of his prowesse wol þat we clayme of him our gentilesse For of our auncestres . we no þing clayme But temporal þing þat men may hurt and mayme Line 1132 Ek euery wight wot þis as wel as I If gentiles were plaunted naturelly Vnto a certayn lignage doun þe line Priue ne apert/. þay wolde neuer fine Line 1136

[6-text p 367] Line 1136 To don of gentilesce þe fair office Thay might nought doon no vileny or vice Tak fuyr and ber it in þe derkest hous Bitwixe þis . and þe mount Cankasous Line 1140 And let men schit . þe dores and go þenne Ȝit wol þe fuyr as fair and lighte brenne As twenty þousand men might it biholde his office naturel ay wol it holde Line 1144 vp peril on my lif til þat it dye her / may ȝe se wel how þat genterye Is nought annexid to possessioun Sithins folk ne doon her operacioun Line 1148 Alway as doth þe fuyr lo in his kynde For god it wot men may ful often fynde A lordes sone do schame and vilonye And he þat wol haue pris of his gentrie Line 1152 For he was boren of a gentil hous And had his eldres noble and vertuous And nyl himselue . doo no gentil dedis Ne folw his gentil aunceter þat deed is Line 1156 he is nought gentil be he duk or erl . For vileyn synful deedes makeþ a cherl . For gentilnesse nys but renome Of þin auncestres for her heigh bounte Line 1160 which is a straunge þing to þy persone [folio 101b] Thy gentilesce comeþ fro god alloone Than comþ oure verray gentilesse of grace It was no þing biquethe vs wiþ oure place Line 1164 Thinkeþ how nobil as saith valerius was þilke tullius hostilius That out of pouert / ros to high noblesse Redith Senek/. and redith eek/ Boece . Line 1168 Ther schuln ȝe se expresse þat no dred is Þat he is gentil þat doþ gentil dedis And þerfor lieue housbond I conclude Al were it that myn auncetres wer rude Line 1172

[6-text p 368] Line 1172 Ȝit may þe highe god and so hope I Graunte me grace to lyue vertuously Than am I gentil whan þat I bygynne To lyue vertuously and weyuen synne Line 1176 And þer as ȝe of povert me repreue The heighe god on whom þat we bilieue In wilful pouert ches to lese his lif And certes euery man . mayden or wif Line 1180 May vnderstonde þat Ihc heuen king Ne wold not chese . a vicious lyuyng Glad pouert is an honest þing certayn This wol Senek and oþer clerkes sayn Line 1184 who þat holt him payd of his pouert I hold him riche . al had he nouȝt a schert he þat coueitith is a pore wight For he wold haue þat is not in his might Line 1188 But he þat nouȝt haþ . ne coueyteth nouȝt/ to haue Is riche al þough ȝe hold him but a knaue Verray pouert is synne proprely Iuuenal saith of pouert merily Line 1192 ¶ The pore man whan he goþ by þe way Bifore þe theues he may synge and play Pouert is hateful and as I gesse / A ful gret brynger out of busynesse / Line 1196 A gret amender eek of Sapiens To him þat takith it in paciens Pouert is þis al þough it seme elenge [folio 102a] Possessioun þat no wight wil chalenge Line 1200 ∴ Pouert ful often whan a man is lowe Makith him his god and eek himself/ to knowe ∴ Pouert a spectacle is as þinkith me Þurgh which he may his verray frendes se Line 1204 And þerfor sir syth þat I ȝow nought greue Of my pouert no more ȝe me repreue // Now sir of elde ȝe repreue me And certes sir þough noon auctorite Line 1208

[6-text p 369] Line 1208 were in no book ȝe gentils of honour Sayn þat men schuld an old wight doon fauour And clepe him fader for ȝour gentilesse And certes I schal fynden as I gesse Line 1212 Than drede ȝou nought to ben a cokewold Now þer þat ȝe sayn I am foul and old For filthe and elde also mot I the Ben grete wardeyns vpon chastite / Line 1216 But natheles sith I knowe ȝour delyt I schal fulfille ȝoure worldly appetyt Chese now quod sche oon of þese þinges tweye To haue me foul and old til þat I deye Line 1220 And be to ȝow a trewe humble wyf And neuer ȝow displease in al my lyf Or elles ȝe wol haue me ȝong and fair And take ȝour auenture of þe repair Line 1224 Þat schal be to ȝour hous by cause of me Or in som oþer place may wel be Now chese ȝour seluen whethir þat ȝow likith This knight auysith him and sore sikith Line 1228 But atte last he sayd in þis manere My lady and my loue . and my wif so deere I putte me in ȝour wyse gouernaunce Chesith ȝour self which may be most pleasaunce Line 1232 And most honour to ȝow and me also I do no fors þe wheþer of þe tuo For as ȝow likith it suffisith me Than haue I gete of ȝow þe maystry quod sche / Line 1236 Sith I may gouern and chese as me list/ [folio 102b] Ȝe certis wyf quod he I hold it best kys me quod sche we ben no lenger wroþe For by my trouþe . I wol be to ȝow boþe Line 1240 This is to say ȝe boþe fair and good I pray to god þat I mot sterue wood But/ I be to ȝow also good and trewe As euer was wyf siþþen þe world was newe Line 1244

[6-text p 370] Line 1244 And but/ I be to morow as fair to seen As eny lady emperesse or queen That is bitwixe thest and eek þe west Doth by my lyf . right euen as ȝow lest Line 1248 Cast vp þe cortyns and look what þis is And whan þe knyght saugh verrayly al þis That sche so fair was and so ȝong þer to For ioye he hent hir in hir armes tuo Line 1252 his herte bathid in a bath of blisse A thousand tyme on rowe he gan hir kisse And sche obeyed him in euery þing That mighte doon him pleisauns or likyng Line 1256 And þus þay lyue vnto her lyues end In parfyt ioye and ihū crist vs sende housbondes meke ȝonge and freissche on bedde And grace to ouerbyde hem þat we wedde Line 1260 And eek I pray to Ihū schort her lyues That wil nought be gouerned after her wyues And old and angry nygardes of despense God send hem sone verray pestilence / Line 1264

¶ Here endith þe wif of Bathe hire tale

[6-text p 371]

¶ Here bygynneth þe prologe of þe Freres tale

THis worthy lymytour þis noble Frere he made alway a lourynge cheere vpon the sompnour . but for honeste / No vileyns worde . ȝit to him spak he Line 1268 But atte last he sayd vnto þe wyf Dame quod he . god ȝiue ȝow good lyf Ȝe han her touchid al so mot I the In scole matier gret difficulte Line 1272 Ȝe han sayd mochel þing right wel I say [folio 103a] But dame right as we ryden by þe way Vs needeþ nouȝt but for to speke of game · And lete auctorites in goddes name Line 1276 To preching and to scoles of clergie / But if it like to þis companye / I wil ȝow of a sompnour telle a game Par de ȝe may wel knowe by þe name Line 1280 That of a sompnour may no good be sayd I pray ȝow þat noon of ȝow be euel a-payd A Sompnour is a renner vp and doun wiþ maundementȝ for fornicacioun Line 1284 And is y-bete at euery tounes eende / Our oste spak / a sir ȝe schold been heende / And curteys as a man of ȝour estaat In company we wol haue no debaat Line 1288 Telleþ ȝour tale and let þe sompnour be Nay quoþ þe sompnour let him say to me what so him list whan it comeþ to my lot By god I schal him quyten euery grot Line 1292 I schal him telle which a gret honour Is to ben a fals flateryng lymytour And his offis I schal him telle I-wis Our host answerd and sayd þe sompnour þis Line 1296 And after þis he sayd vnto þe Frere Telleþ forþ ȝour tale my maister deere

[6-text p 372]

¶ Narrat.

Whilom þer was duellyng in my countre An erchedeken a man of gret degre Line 1300 That boldely did execucioun In punyschyng of fornicacioun Of wicchecraft and eek of Bauderye Of diffamacioun and auoutrie / Line 1304 Of chirchereues and of testamentes Of contractes and of lak of sacraments And eek of many anoþer cryme which nediþ not to reherse at þis tyme Line 1308 Of vsur and of Symony also But certes lecchours did he grettest woo . Thay schulde synge if þay were hent [folio 103b] And smale tyþers þay were fouly schent Line 1312 If eny persoun wold vpon hem pleyne Ther might astert/ him no pecunial peyne For smale tyþes and for smal offrynge he made þe poeple pitously to synge Line 1316 For er þe bisschop caught him in his hook Þay weren in þe archedeknes book And hadde þurgh his iurediccioun Power to haue of hem correccioun Line 1320 he had a sompnour redy to his hond A slyer boy was noon in Engelond Ful priuely he had his espiaile That taughte him wher he might auayle Line 1324 he couþe spare of lecchours oon or tuo And techen him to four and twenty mo For þough þis sompnour wood were as an hare To telle his harlottry I wol not spare Line 1328

[6-text p 373] Line 1328 For we ben out of here correccioun Thay haue of vs no iurediccioun Ne neuer schul to terme of alle her lyues Peter so been þe wommen of þe styues Line 1332 Thay beþ I-put out of oure cures Pees with meschaunce and wiþ mesauentures Þus sayd our host and let him telle his tale / Now telleþ forþ al þough þe sompnour gale Line 1336 Ne spareþ nought myn owne maister deere Þis false þeef þe sompnour quoþ þe frere ./ Had alway bawdes redy to his hond As eny hauk to lure in engelond Line 1340 Þat told him al þe secre þat þay knewe For here acqueintaunce was not come of newe Þay were his approwours priuely He took himself a gret profyt þer by Line 1344 His maister knew nat alway what he wan wiþoute maundement/ a lewed man He couþe sompne vp peyne of cristes curs And þay were glad to fille wel his purs ./ Line 1348 And make him grete festis atte nale / [folio 104a] And right as Iudas hadde purses smale / And was a theef. right such a þeef was he his maister had not half his duete Line 1352 he was if I schal ȝiue him his laude . A þeef a sompnour and eek a baude . And he had wenches at his retenue That wheþir þat sir Robert or sir hughe Line 1356 Or Iak or Rauf or who-so þat it were That lay by hem þay told it in his eere Thus was þe wenche and he of oon assent And he wold fecche a feyned maundement Line 1360 And sompne hem to chapitre boþe tuo And pyle þe man and let þe wenche go Than wold he sayn I schal frend for þy sake Don strike þe out of oure lettres blake Line 1364

[6-text p 374] Line 1364 The þar no more as in þis cas trauayle I am þy frend þer I þe may avayle Certeynly he knew of bribours mo Than possible is to telle in ȝeres tuo Line 1368 For in þis world nys dogge for þe bowe Þat can an hurt deer from an hol y-knowe Bet þan þis sompnour knew a leccheour Or auoutier or ellis a paramour Line 1372 And for þat was þe fruyt of al his rent Therfore þer on he set al his entent And so bifel þat oones on a day This sompnour euer wayting on his pray Line 1376 Rod forth to sompne a widew and old ribibe Feynyng a cause for he wolde bribe And happed þat he say bifore him ryde A gay ȝeman vnder a forest syde Line 1380 A bow he bar and arwes bright and kene He had vpon a courtepy of grene An hat vpon his heed wiþ frenges blake Sir quod þis sompnour heyl and wel ouertake Line 1384 welcome quod he and euery good felawe whider ridestow vnder þis grene schawe Sayde þis ȝiman wiltow fer to day [folio 104b] This sompnour answerd and sayde nay Line 1388 Her faste by quod he is myn entent To ryden for to reysen vp a rent That longith to my lordes duete Artow þan a bayely quod he / Line 1392 He durste not for verray filth and schame Sayn þat he was a sompnour for þe name De par dieux quod þe ȝeman lieue broþer Thou art a bayly . and I am another Line 1396 I am vnknowen as in þis contre Of þin acqueintance I wol praye þe And eek of broþerheed it ȝow lest I haue gold and siluer in my chest Line 1400

[6-text p 375] Line 1400 If that þe happe come in to oure schire Al schal be þin right as þou wolt desire Graunt mercy quod þis sompnour by my faith / Euerich in otheres hond his trouthe laith Line 1404 For to be sworne breþeren til þay deyen In daliaunce forþ þay ride and pleyen This Sompnour which þat was as ful of iangles As ful of venym ben þese wery-angles Line 1408 And euer enquering vpon euery þing Broþer quod he wher now is ȝour dwellyng Anoþer day if þat I schuld ȝow seeche This ȝiman him answerd in softe speche Line 1412 Broþer quod he fer in þe norþ contre wher as I hope somtyme I schal þe se Er we depart I schal þe so wel wisse That of myn hous ne schaltow neuer misse Line 1416 Now broþer quod þis sompnour I ȝow pray Teche me whil þat we ryden by þe way Syn þat ȝe ben a baily as am I Som subtilte as tel me faithfully Line 1420 In myn office . how þat I may wynne. And spare not for consciens or for synne / But as my broþer tel me how do ȝe Now by my trouthe brothir myn sayd he / Line 1424 As I schal telle þe a faithful tale [folio 105a] My wages ben ful streyt and eek ful smale My lord to me is streyt and daungerous And myn office is ful laborous Line 1428 And þerfor by extorciouns I lyue For soþ I take al þat men wil me ȝiue Algate by sleighte or by violence Fro ȝer to ȝer I wynne my despence Line 1432 I can no better telle faithfully Now certes quod þis sompnour so fare I I spare not to take god it woot But if it be to heuy or to hoot Line 1436

[6-text p 376] Line 1436 what I may gete . in counseil priuely No more consciens of þat haue I Nere myn extorcions I might not lyuen Ne of such iapes I wil not be schriuen Line 1440 Stomak ne conscience . know I noon I schrew þes schriftefadres euerychoon wel be we met by god and by seint Iame But leue broþer telle me þy name Line 1444 Quod þis sompnour in þis mene while This ȝeman gan a litel for to smyle Broþir quod he woltow þat I þe telle I am a feend my dwellyng is in helle Line 1448 And her I ryde about my purchasyng To wite wher men wol ȝiue me eny þing My purchas is þeffect of al my rent loke how þou ridest for þe same entent/ Line 1452 To wynne good þou rekkist neuer how Right so fare I for ryde I wolde now vnto þe worldes ende for a pray A quod þe sompnour benedicite what ȝe say Line 1456 I wende ȝe were a ȝeman trewely ȝe han a mannes schap as wel as I haue ȝe a figure . þan determinate In helle þer ȝe ben in ȝour estate / Line 1460 Nay certeynly quod he þer haue we non But whan vs likith we can make vs on Or ellis make ȝow seme þat we ben schape [folio 105b] Som tyme like a man or like an ape Line 1464 Or lik aungel can I ryde or go It is no wonder þing þough it be so A lousy iogelour can decyue þe And parfay ȝit / can I more craft þan he Line 1468 ¶ why quod þis sompnour ryde ȝe þan or goon In sondry wyse and nouȝt alway in oon For quod he we wol vs in such forme make As most abil is . oure pray to take / Line 1472

[6-text p 377] Line 1472 what makith ȝow to haue al þis labour Ful many a cause lieue sir sompnour Sayde þis feend . but al þing hath a tyme Þe day is schort and it is passed prime Line 1476 And ȝit ne wan I no þing in þis day I wol entent to wynnyng if I may And not entende oure þinges to declare / For broþer myn þy wit is al to bare Line 1480 To vnderstond al þough I told hem þe For but þou axid . whi laboure we / For som tyme we ben goddis instrumentes And menes to don his comaundementes Line 1484 whan þat him list vpon his creatures In diuers act . and in diuers figures wiþouten him we haue no might certeyn If þat him liste . stonde þer ageyn Line 1488 And som tyme at our prayer haue we leeue Only þe body and not þe soule greue / witnes on Iope whom we dide ful wo And somtyme haue we might of boþe tuo Line 1492 This is to say of body and soule eeke And som tyme be we suffred for to seeke vpon a man and doon his soule vnrest/ And not his body and al is for þe best Line 1496 whan he wiþstondith oure temptacioun It is a cause of his sauacioun Al be it so . it was nought oure entent he schuld be sauf . but þat we wold him hent Line 1500 And som tyme we · ben seruaunt vnto man [folio 106a] As to therchebisschope seynt Dunstan And to thapostolis seruaunt was I Ȝit tel me quod þe sompnour faithfully Line 1504 Make ȝe ȝow . newe bodies alway Of elementȝ . þe fend answerde nay Som tyme we feyne . and somtyme we ryse wiþ dede bodies . in ful wonder wyse Line 1508

[6-text p 378] Line 1508 And speke renably . and as fair and wel As to þe Phitonissa dede Samuel And ȝit wol somme say . it was not he I do no fors . of ȝour diuinite Line 1512 But oon þing warne I þe I wol not iape. Þou wilt algates wite how we ben schape. Thow schalt her afterward my broþer deere Com wher þe nedith no þing for to leere Line 1516 For thou schalt by þin oughn experience Conne in a chayer reden of þis sentence Bet þan virgile whils he was on lyue / Or Daunt also / now let vs ryde blyue Line 1520 For I wol holde company with þe Til it be so þat þou forsake me Nay quod þe sompnour þat schal nought betyde I am a ȝiman þat knowen is ful wyde Line 1524 My trouþe wol I hold as in þis caas For þough þou be þe deuyl Sathanas My trouþe wol I holde . to þe my broþer As I am swore . and ech of vs to oþer Line 1528 For to be trewe breþeren in þis caas For boþe we goon abouten oure purchas Tak þou þi part and þat men wil þe ȝyuen And I schal myn þus may we boþe lyuen Line 1532 And if eny of us . haue more þan oþer Let him be trewe . and part it wiþ his broþer I graunte quod þe deuel by my fay / And wiþ þat word þay riden forth her way Line 1536 And right at þentryng of a townes ende / To which þis sompnour schope him for to wende Thay seigh a cart that chargid was with hay [folio 106b] which þat a carter drof forþ in his way / Line 1540 Deep was þe way for which þe carte stood This carter smoot and cryde as he wer wood hayt . brok . hayt . scot . / what spare ȝe for þe stoones Þe fend quod he . ȝow fech body and bones Line 1544

[6-text p 379] Line 1544 As ferforthly as euer wer ȝe folid So moche wo as I haue with ȝow tholid The deuyl haue al boþe cart . and hors and hay This sompnour sayde her schal we se play Line 1548 And ner þe feend he drough as nouȝt ne were Ful priuely and rouned in his eere herke my broþer herke by þi faith Ne herest nought þou . what þe carter saith Line 1552 hent it anoon · for he haþ ȝiuen it þe boþe hay and caples and eek his cart parde ¶ Nay quod þe deuyl god wot neuer a del It is nought his entente trustith wel Line 1556 Ask it þiself if þou not trowist me Or ellis stint a while and þou schalt se This carter thakketh his hors vpon the croupe And þay bygon to drawen and to stowpe Line 1560 hayt now quod he ther . Ihu crist ȝow blesse And al his hondwerk boþe more and lesse That was wel twight myn oughne lyard boy I pray god saue þy body and seint loy Line 1564 Now is my cart out of þe sloo par de Lo broþer quod þo feend what told I þe Her may ȝe seen . myn owne deere broþer The carter spak oon þing . and þought anoþer Line 1568 Let vs go forth . abouten our viage hier wynne I noþing vpon cariage whan þat þay comen som what out of toune This sompnour to his broþir gan to roune Line 1572 Brothir quod he . her wonyth an old rebekke That had almost . as lief to leese hir necke / As for to ȝiue a peny of hir good I wolf pens þough þat sche go wood Line 1576 Or I wol somone hir to oure office [folio 107a] And ȝit god wot I know of hir no vice But for þou canst not as in þis contre wynne þy cost tak/ her ensample of me Line 1580

[6-text p 380] Line 1580 This sompnour clapped at þe widowes gate Com out quod he þou olde viritrate I trowe þou hast som frere or prest wiþ þe who clappith þer sayd þis widow benedicite Line 1584 God saue ȝow sir . what is ȝour swete wille I haue quod he . a somonaunce of a bille vp payne of cursyng loke þat þou be To morwe biforn our erchedeknes kne Line 1588 To answer to þe court of certeyn þinges Now quod sche Ihū crist and king of kinges So wisly helpe me as I ne may I haue ben seek and þat ful many a day Line 1592 I may not goon so fer quod sche ne ryde But I be deed so prikith it in my syde May I nat aske a lybel sir Sompnour And answer þer . by my procuratour Line 1596 To suche þing as . men wol oppose me Ȝis quod þis sompnour . pay anoon let se Twelf pens to me and I þe wil acquite I schal no profyt haue þer-by but lite Line 1600 My mayster hath þe profyt and not I Com of and let me ryden hastily Ȝif me my twelf pens I may no lenger tary Twelf pens quod sche . now lady seinte mary Line 1604 So wisly help me . out of care and synne Þis wyde world . þough þat I schulde wynne Ne haue I not · xij · pens wiþinne myn hold Ȝe knowen wel þat I am pore and old Line 1608 kithe ȝoure almes on me pore wrecche Nay þan quod he . þe foule fend me fecche If I þexcuse þough þou schalt be spilt Allas quod sche god wot I haue no gilt Line 1612 Pay me quod he . or by þe swet seint Anne As I wol bere away þy newe panne For dette which þou owest me of old [folio 107b] whan þat þou madest þin housbond cokewold Line 1616

[6-text p 381] Line 1616 I payd at hom for þi correccioun Thou lixt quod sche by my sauacioun Ne was I neuer er now wydow ne wyf Somound vnto ȝour court/ in al my lyf Line 1620 Ne neuer I was but of my body trewe vnto þe deuel rough and blak of hiewe Ȝiue I þy body and þe panne also And whan þe deuyl herd hir curse so Line 1624 vpon his knees he sayd in þis manere Now mabely myn owne modir deere Is þis ȝour wil in ernest þat/ ȝe seye Þe deuel quod he fecche him er he deye Line 1628 And panne and al but he wol him repente Nay olde stot þat is not/ myn entente / Quod þis sompnour to repente me For eny þing þat I haue had of þe Line 1632 I wold I had þy smok and euery cloth Now broþir quod þe deuyl be not wroþ Thy body and þis panne is myn by right Thou schalt wiþ me to helle ȝit to night Line 1636 wher þou schalt knowen of our priuete More þan a maister of diuinite And wiþ þat word þe foule fend him hente Body and soule he wiþ þe deuyl wente Line 1640 wher as þe sompnours han her heritage And god þat maked after his ymage Mankynde saue and gyde vs alle and some And leene þis sompnour good man to bycome Line 1644 lordyngs I couþ han . told ȝow quod þe frere had I had leysir for þis sompnour here After þe text of crist powel and Ion And of oþer doctours many oon Line 1648 Such peynes þat our herte might agrise Al be it so no tonge may deuyse / Though þat I might a þousand wynter telle The peyn of þilke cursed hous of helle Line 1652

[6-text p 382] Line 1652 But for to kepe vs fro þat cursed place [folio 108a] wakiþ and prayeth ihu for his grace So kepe vs fro þe temptour Sathanas herknith þis word . beþ war as in þis cas Line 1656 The lyoun syt in his awayt alway To slen þe Innocent if þat he may Disposith ȝoure hertes to wiþstonde The fend þat wolde make ȝow þral and bonde / Line 1660 He may not tempte ȝow ouer ȝour might For crist wol be ȝour champioun and knight And prayeth þat oure sompnour him repente Of his mys dede . er þat þe fend him hente. Line 1664

¶ Here endith þe frere his tale

[6-text p 383]

¶ And here begynneth þe sompnour his prologe

This sompnour in his styrop vp he stood vpon þe Frere his herte was so wood That lyk an aspen leef/ he quok for Ire lordyngs quod he . but oon þing I desire Line 1668 I ȝow biseke þat of ȝour curtesye Syn ȝe han herd þis false frere lye As suffrith me I may my tale telle This frere bosteth þat he knowith helle Line 1672 And god it wot . þat is litil wonder Freres and feendes been but litel asonder For pardy ȝe han often tyme herd telle / how þat a frere rauyscht was to helle Line 1676 In spirit ones by a visioun And as an aungel . lad him vp and doun To schewen him þe peynes þat þer were In al þe place saugh he not a frere Line 1680 Of oþer folk he saugh ynowe in wo vnto þis aungel spak þis frere þo Now sire quod he han freres such a grace That noon of hem schal comen in þis place Line 1684 Ȝis quod þis aungil many a mylioun And vnto Sathanas he lad him doun And now haþ sathanas saith he a tayl Broder þan of a Carrik is þe sayl Line 1688 hold vp þy tayl þou Sathanas quod he [folio 108b] Schew forth þyn ars and let þe frere se wher is þe nest of freres in þis place And er þan half a forlong way of space Line 1692

[6-text p 384] Line 1692 Right so as bees swarmen out of an hyue Out of þe deueles ers þay gonne dryue Twenty þousand freres on a route And þorugh out helle swarmed al aboute Line 1696 And comen as fast as þay may goon And in his ers þay crepen euerich oon · he clappid his tayl agayn and lay ful stille This frere whan he loked had his fille Line 1700 Vpon þe torment of þis sory place his spirit god restored of his grace vnto his body agayn and he awook But naþeles for fere ȝit he quook Line 1704 So was þe deueles ers ȝit in his mynde That is his heritage of verray kynde/ God saue ȝow alle saue þis cursed frere My proloug wol I ende in þis manere Line 1708

[6-text p 385]

¶ Narrat

LOrdyngs þer is . in Engelond I gesse A mersschly lond called holdernesse In which þer went a lymytour aboute To preche and eek to begge it is no doubte Line 1712 And so bifel it . on a day þis frere had preched at a chirch in his manere And specially abouen euery þing Excited he þe poepul in his preching Line 1716 To trentals and to ȝiue for goddis sake wher that men mighten holy soules make Ther as diuine seruys is honoured Nought þer as it is wasted and deuoured Line 1720 Neither it needeþ not for to be ȝiue As to possessioneres þat mow lyue Thanked be god in wele and abundaunce Trentals sayd he delyuereth fro penaunce Line 1724 her frendes soules as wel eld as ȝonge Ȝe whanne þat þay hastily ben songe Nought for to hold a prest iolif and gay [folio 109a] he syngith not but oon masse in a day Line 1728 Delyuerith out quod he þe soules Ful hard it is wiþ fleischhok or with oules To ben y-clawed . or brend or I-bake Now speed ȝow hastily for cristes sake Line 1732 And whan þis frere had sayd al his entent with Qui cum patre . forþ he went whan folk in chirch had ȝiue him what hem lest he went his way no lenger wold he rest Line 1736

[6-text p 386] Line 1736 with scrip and pyked staf y-touked hye In euery hous and gan to pore and prye And beggyd mele or chese or ellis corn his felaw had a staf typped with horn Line 1740 A payr of tablis al of yuory And a poyntel y-polischt fetisly And wroot þe names alway as he stood Of alle folk that ȝaf him eny good Line 1744 Ascaunce þat he wolde for hem preye Ȝif vs a busshel . whet or malt or reye A goddes kichil or a trip of chese Or elles what ȝow list we may not chese Line 1748 A goddes halpeny or a masse peny Or ȝif vs of ȝoure braune if ȝe haue eny A dagoun of ȝour blanket leeue dame Oure suster deer . lo her I write ȝour name Line 1752 Bacoun or beef or such þing as we fynde A stourdy harlot ay went hem by hynde That was her hostis man and bar a sak And what men ȝaf hem layd it on his bak Line 1756 And whan þat he was out atte dore anoon he planed out þe names euerychoon That he biforn had writen in his tablis He serued hem wiþ nyfles and wiþ fablis Line 1760 Nay þer þou lixt þou sompnour sayd þe frere Pees quod our host for cristes moder deere Tel forþ þy tale and spare it not at al So thriue I quod þe sompnour so I schal Line 1764 So long he wente hous by hous til he [folio 109b] Cam til an hous þer he was wont to be Refresshid mor þan in an hundrid placis . Syk lay þe housbond man whos þat þe place is . Line 1768 Bedred vpon a couche lowe he lay Deus hic quod he O thomas frend good day Sayde þis frere al curteysly and softe / O. Thomas god ȝeld it ȝow ful ofte Line 1772

[6-text p 387] Line 1772 haue I vpon þis bench I-fare ful wel her haue I eten many a mery mel And fro þe bench he drof away þe cat And layd a-doun his potent and his hat Line 1776 And eek his scrip and set him soft a-doun his felaw was go walkid in þe toun Forth with his knaue to þe ostelrye / wher as he schop him þilke night to lye Line 1780 O deere maister quod þe seeke man how haue ȝe fare siþþe march bygan I saygh ȝow nouȝt þis fourtenight or more God wot quod he labord haue I ful sore Line 1784 And specially for þy saluacioun haue I sayd many a precious orisoun And for myn oþer frendes god hem blesse / I haue to day ben at your chirche at messe Line 1788 And sayd a sermoun after my simple wit Nought al after þe text of holy wryt For it is hard for ȝow as I suppose And þerfor wil I teche ȝow ay þe glose Line 1792 Glosyng is a ful glorious þing certayn For letter sleþ so as we clerkes sayn Þer haue I taught hem to be chariteable And spend her good . þer it is resonable Line 1796 And þer I seigh our dame wher is sche / Ȝond in þe ȝerd I trowe þat sche be Sayde þis man . and sche wil come anoon ¶ Ey mayster welcome be ȝe by seint Iohn Line 1800 Sayde þis wyf how fare ȝe hertily Þe frere ariseþ vp ful curteysly And hir embracith in his armes narwe [folio 110a] And kist hir swete . and chirkith as a sparwe; Line 1804 with his lippes dame quod he right wel . As he þat is ȝour seruaunt euery del Thankyd be god þat ȝow ȝaf soule and lif Ȝit saugh I not þis day so fair a wyf Line 1808

[6-text p 388] Line 1808 In al þe chirche god so saue me . Ȝe God amend defautes sir quod sche / Algates welcome be ȝe by my fay Graunt mercy dame þis haue I found alway Line 1812 But of ȝour grete goodnes by ȝoure leue I wolde pray ȝow þat ȝe ȝow not greeue I wil wiþ Thomas speke a litel þrowe These curates ben ful negligent and slowe Line 1816 To grope tendurly a conscience In schrift and preching is my diligence Study in petres wordes and in poules And walk and fissche cristen mennes soules Line 1820 To ȝelde Ihu crist his propre rent To spreden his word is al myn entent Now by ȝour leue o deere sire quod sche Chyd him right wel for seinte trinite Line 1824 he is as angry as a pissemyre Though þat he haue al þat he can desire Though I him wrye on night and make him warm And ouer him lay my leg oþer myn arm Line 1828 he groneth lik our boor that lith in sty . Othir disport of him right noon haue I I may please him in no maner caas . O Thomas Ieo vous dy Thomas Thomas . Line 1832 This makþ þe feend . þis moste ben amendid Ire is a þing þat highe god defendid And þer of wold I speke a word or tuo Now maister quod þe wyf er þat I go / Line 1836 what wil ȝe dyne . I wil go þer aboute Now dame quod he Ieo vous dy saunȝ doute haue I not of a capoun but þe lyuere And of ȝour softe brede but a schiuere Line 1840 And after þat a rostyd pigges heed [folio 110b] But þat I wold for me no best were deed Than had I wiþ ȝow homly suffisaunce I am a man of litel sustinaunce Line 1844

[6-text p 389] Line 1844 My spirit haþ his fostryng on þe bible / Þe body is ay so redy and penyble To wake þat my stomak is destroyed I pray ȝow dame þat ȝe be not anoyed Line 1848 For I so frendly ȝow my counseil schewe By I nold not telle it but a fewe / Now sir quod sche but o word er I go My child is deed wiþinne þise wykes tuo Line 1852 Soon after þat ȝe went out of þis toun his deth saugh I by reuelacioun Sayde þis frere at hoom in oure dortour I dar wel sayn er þat half an hour Line 1856 After his deth . I seigh him born to blisse In myn auysioun so god me wisse . So did our sextein . and our fermerere That han ben trewe freres many a ȝere Line 1860 Þay may now god be thanked of his lone Maken her Iubile . and walk alloone But vp I roos and al our couent eeke With many a teere trilling on my cheeke · Line 1864 Te deum was our song and no þing ellis wiþouten noys or clateryng of bellis Saue þat to crist I sayd an orisoun Thankyng him of my reuelacioun Line 1868 For sire and dame trustith me right wel Our orisouns ben more effectuel And more we se of goddis secre þinges Than borel folk alþough þat þay ben kinges Line 1872 we lyue in pouert and in abstinence And borel folk in riches and dispence Of mete and drink and in her ful delyt we han al þis worldes delit in despyt Line 1876 lazar and Diues lyueden diuersely And diuers guerdoun hadde þay þerby who-so wol praye . faste . and be clene . [folio 111a] And fatte his soule and make his body lene Line 1880

[6-text p 390] Line 1880 we faren as saith þapostil cloþ and foode Sufficeþ vs . þough þay ben not goode The clennes and þe fastyng of vs freres Makith þat crist acceptith oure prayeres Line 1884 lo moyses fourty dayes and fourty night Fasted er þat þe highe god of might Spak wiþ him in . þe mount of Synay with empty wombe fastyng many a day Line 1888 Receyued he þe lawe þat was writen with goddis fynger and holy wel ȝe w In mount oreb or he had eny speche with highe god þat is oure lyues leche Line 1892 He fastid and was in contemplacioun Aron þat had þe temple in gouernacioun And eek þe oþer prestes euerychoon In to þe temple whan þay schulden goon Line 1896 To preye for þe poeple and doon seruise Thay nolden drinken · in no maner wise / No drynke which þat dronke might hem make / But þer in abstinence prey and wake Line 1900 lest þat þay dedin . tak heed what I say But þay ben sobre þat for þe pepul pray war þat I say no mor . for it suffisith Oure lord Ihu as oure lore deuysith Line 1904 Ȝaf vs ensampil of fastyng and prayeres Þerfore we mendinauntȝ we cely freres Ben wedded to pouert and to continence To charite · humblesse and abstinence Line 1908 To persecucioun for rightwisnesse To wepyng misericord and clennesse And þerfor may ȝe seen þat oure prayeres I speke of vs we mendeaunts . we freres Line 1912 Ben to þe hihe god mor acceptable Than ȝoures with ȝour festis at ȝour table Fro paradis first if I schal not lye was man out chaced for his glotonye Line 1916

[6-text p 391] Line 1916 And chast was man in paradis certeyn [folio 111b] But now herk/ thomas . what I schal þe seyn I ne haue no tixt of it as I suppose / But I schal fynd it in a maner glose / Line 1920 That specially our swete lord ihc Spak þis by freres whan he sayde þus Blessed be þay þat pouer in spirit ben And so forþ in þe gospel ȝe may seen Line 1924 wheþer it be likir oure professioun Or heris þat swymmen in possessioun Fy on her pomp and on her glotenye And on her lewydnesse I hem defye Line 1928 Me þinkith þay ben lik Iouynian Fat as a whal and walken as a swan Al vinolent as botel in þe spence her prayer is of ful gret reuerence Line 1932 whan þay for soules sayn þe psalm of dauid lo boef þay say . Cor meum eructauit who folwith cristes gospel and his fore But we þat humble ben and chast and pore Line 1936 werkers of goddes word and auditours Ther-for right as an hauk vpon a sours vpspringeth in to þaer right so prayeres Of charitabil and chaste busy freres Line 1940 Maken her sours to goddis eeres tuo Thomas thomas so mote I ryde or go And by þat lord þat clepid is seint Iue Ner þou oure broþer schuldestow neuer þriue Line 1944 In oure chapitre pray we day and night To crist þat he þe sende hele and might Thy body for to welden hastily God wot quod he þer-of nought feele I . Line 1948 As help me crist as I in fewe ȝeeres haue spendid vpon many diuers freres Ful many a pound ȝit fare I neuer þe bet Certeyn my good haue I almost byset/ Line 1952

[6-text p 392] Line 1952 Far wel my gold for it is almost a go The frere answerd // O thomas dostow so what needith ȝow dyuerse freres seche [folio 112a] what needith him þat haþ a parfyt leche / Line 1956 To sechen oþir leches in þe toun Ȝoure inconstance is ȝoure confusioun holde ȝe þan me or oure couent To praye for ȝow insufficient Line 1960 Thomas þat iape is not worth a myte Ȝoure malady is for we haue to lite ¶ A ȝiue þat couent half a quarter otes A ȝiue þat couent four and twenty grotes Line 1964 A ȝiue þat frere a peny and let him go . Nay nay thomas. it may nought be so what is a ferthing worth depart in tuelue lo ech þing þat is ooned in himselue Line 1968 Is more strong þan whan it is to-skatrid Thomas of me þou schalt not ben y-flatrid Thow woldist haue our labour al for nought The hihe god þat al this world hath wrought Line 1972 Saith þat a werkman is worþy his hyre Thomas nouȝt of ȝour tresor I desire For my self. but for that oure couent/ To pray for ȝow is ay so diligent Line 1976 And for to buylden cristes holy chirche Thomas if ȝe wil lerne for to wirche / Of buyldyng vp on chirches may ȝe fynde If it be good in thomas lyf of ynde Line 1980 Ȝe lye her ful. of anger and of Ire wiþ which þe deuel set ȝour hert on fuyre And chyden her þe holy Innocent Ȝour wyf þat is. so meke and pacient / Line 1984 And þerfor trow me thomas if þou list Ne stryue nought wiþ þy wif as for þi best And ber þis word away now by þy faith Touchinge such þing lo þe wise man saith Line 1988

[6-text p 393] Line 1988 ¶ wiþinne þin hous be þou no lyoun To þy subiects. do noon oppressioun Ne make þyn acqueyntis fro þe fle And ȝit thomas eftsons I charge þe / Line 1992 Be war for hir þat in þy bosom slepith [folio 112b] war for þe serpent þat so priuely crepith vnder þe gras and styngith priuely Be war my sone and werk paciently Line 1996 For twenty þousend men han lost her lyues For stryuyng wiþ her lemmans and her wyues. Now syns ȝe han so holy and meeke a wif what nedith ȝow thomas to make strif Line 2000 Ther nys I-wis no serpent so cruel when men trede on his tail ne half so fel As womman is when sche haþ caught an Ire Vengeans is þanne . al þat þay desire Line 2004 Schortly may no man by rym and vers Line 2004b Tellen her thoughtes þay ben so dyuers Line 2004c Ire is a þing oon þe grete of seuene Abhominable to þe god of heuene And to himself it is destruccioun This euery lewed vicory or parsoun Line 2008 Can say how Ire engendrith homicide Ire is in soth executour of pride I couþe of Ire seyn so moche sorwe My tale schulde laste til to morwe Line 2012 Ire is þe grate of synne as saith þe wise Line 2012b To fle þer fro ech man schuld him deuyse Line 2012c And þer-for pray I god boþe day and night An Irous man god send him litil might It is greet harm. and also gret pite To set an Irous man in high degre Line 2016 ¶ whilom þer was an Irous potestate As seith senek þat duryng his estaat / vpon a day out/ riden knightes tuo And as fortune wolde right as it were so Line 2020 That oon of hem cam home þat oþer nouȝt Anoon þe knight bifore the iuge is brouȝt That sayde þus. þou hast þy felaw slayn For which I deme þe to deth certayn Line 2024

[6-text p 394] Line 2024 And to anothir knight comaundid he / Go lede him to þe deth I charge þe / And happed as þay wente by þe weye [folio 113a] Toward þe place þer he schulde deye Line 2028 The knight com which. men wend hadde be deed Than þoughten þay it were þe beste reed To lede hem boþe to þe iuge agayn Thay sayden lord þe knight haþ not slayn Line 2032 his felaw lo. heer he stont hool on lyue Ȝe schal be deed quod he so mote I þriue That is to sayn boþe oon. tuo. and þre And to þe firste knyȝt right þus spak he Line 2036 I deme þe þou most algate be deed Than þoughte þay it were þe beste rede Line 2037b To lede him forþ in to a fair mede Line 2037c And quod þe iuge also þou most lese þin heed For þou art cause why þy felaw deyth And to þe þridde felaw þus he seith Line 2040 Thou hast nought doon þat I comaundid þe And þus he let don sle hem alle þre Irous Cambises was eek dronkelewe And ay delited him to ben a schrewe Line 2044 And so bifel a lord of his meigne That loued vertues and eek/ moralite Sayd on a day bitwix hem tuo right þus A lord is lost if he be vicious Line 2048 An Irous man is lik a frentik best Line 2048b In which þer is of wisdom noon arrest Line 2048c And dronkenes is eek a foul record Of any man and namly of a lord Ther is ful many eyȝe and many an eere Awaytand on a lord and he not where Line 2052 For goddes loue drynk more attemperelly wyn makith man to lese wrecchedly his mynde and eek. his lymes euerichoon The reuers schaltow seen quod he anoon Line 2056 And proue it by þin owne experience That wyn ne doþ to folk non such offence Ther is no wyn. byreueth me my wit Of hond of foot ne of myn eyȝe sight Line 2060

[6-text p 395] Line 2060 And for despyt he dronke moche more [folio 113b] An hundrid part þan he had doon byfore And right anoon þis irous cursid wrecche / Let þis knightes sone anoon biforn him fecche Line 2064 Comaundyng hem þay schuld biforn him stonde And sodeinly he took his bowe on honde And vp þe streng he pulled to his eere And wiþ an arwe he slough þe child right þere Line 2068 Now wheþir haue I a sikur hond or noon Quod he is al my mynde and might agoon hath wyn byreuyd me myn eye sight what schuld I telle þe answer of þe knight Line 2072 his sone was slayn þer is no more to say Be war þerfor. wiþ lordes how ȝe play Syngith placebo. and I schal if I can But if it be. vnto a pore man Line 2076 To a pore man men schuld his vices telle But not to a lord þey he schuld go to helle lo Irous Cirus þilke Percien how he destruyed þe ryuer of Gysen Line 2080 For þat an hors of his was dreynt þer Inne. whan þat he wente Babiloyne to wynne he made þat þe ryuer was so smal Þat wommen mighte wade it ouer al Line 2084 lo what sayde he þat so wel teche can Ne be no felaw . to an irous man Ne with no wood man walke by þe way lest þe repent I wol no lenger say Line 2088 Now thomas leue broþer leue þin Ire Thow schalt me fynde as iust as is a squire Thyn anger doth þe al to sore smerte hald not þe deueles knyf alway at þyn herte Line 2092 But schewe to me al þy confessioun Nay quod þis syke man by seynt symoun I haue ben schriuen þis day of my curate I haue him told holly al myn estate/ Line 2096

[6-text p 396] Line 2096 Nedith no more to speken of it saith he / But if me list of myn humilite. Ȝif me þan of þy good to make our cloyster [folio 114a] Quod he for many a muscle and many an oyster Line 2100 haþ ben oure foode our Cloyster to arreyse whan oþer men han ben ful wel at eyse And ȝit god wot vnnethe þe foundement Parformed is ne of oure pauyment Line 2104 Is nought a tyle ȝit wiþinne our wones By god we owe ȝit fourty pound for stones Now help Thomas for him þat harewed helle Or elles moote we oure bookes selle Line 2108 And ȝif ȝow lakke oure predicacioun Thanne goþ þe world al to destruccioun For who-so wold vs fro þe world byreue So god me saue Thomas by ȝoure leue Line 2112 he wolde byreue out of þis world þe sonne For who can teche. and werken as we conne And þis is not of litel tyme quod he But siþþen Elye was her or ele Line 2116 han freres ben fynde I of record In charite I-þanked be oure lord Now Thomas help for seynte charite A-doun he sette him anoon on his kne Line 2120 This sike man wex welneigh wood for Ire he wolde þat þe frere had ben on fuyre with his fals dissimulacioun Such þing as is in my possessioun Line 2124 Quod he þat may I ȝeue ȝow and noon oþer Ȝe sayn me þus how þat I am ȝour broþer Ȝe certes quod þe frere trusteth wel I took our dame þe letter vnder oure sel Line 2128 Now wel quod he and som what schal I ȝiue Vnto ȝour holy couent whils þat I lyue And in þyn hond þou schalt it haue anoon On þis condicioun and oþer noon Line 2132

[6-text p 397] Line 2132 That þou depart it so my deere broþer That euery frere haue as moche as oþer Thy schaltow swere on þy professioun wiþouten fraude or cauillacioun Line 2136 I swere it quod þis frere vpon my faith [folio 114b] And þer-with his hond in his he laith lo her myn hond in me schal be no lak Now þanne put þyn hond doun at my bak Line 2140 Sayde þis man and grope wel byhynde Bynethe my buttok þere schaltow fynde A þing þat I haue hud in priuete A þought þis frere þat schal go with me / Line 2144 And doun his hond he launched to þe clifte In hope for to fynde þer a ȝifte And whan þis syke man felte þis frere Aboute his tuel grope þer and heere Line 2148 Amyd his hond he leet þe freere a fart Ther is no capul drawyng in a cart That might haue let a fart of such a soun The frere vpstart as doth a wood lyoun Line 2152 A false cherl quod he for goddes bones This hastow in despit don for þe noones Thou schalt abye þis fart if þat I may his meyne which þat herd of þis affray Line 2156 Com lepand In and chased out þe frere And forth he goþ wiþ a foul angry cheere And fat his felaw þere lay his stoor he lokid as it were a wylde boor Line 2160 And grynte with his teeþ so was he wroth A stordy paas doun to þe court he goth wher as þer wonyd a man of gret honour To whom þat he was alway confessour Line 2164 This worþy man was lord of þat / village This frere com as he were in a rage wher þat þis lord sat etyng at his bord Vnneþe might þe frere speke a word Line 2168

[6-text p 398] Line 2168 Til atte last he sayde god ȝow se This lord gan loke and sayde benedicite What frere Iohn what maner world is þis / I se wel. þat som þing is amys Line 2172 Ȝe loke as þough þe woode were ful of þeuys Sit doun anoon and tel me what ȝour gref is And it schal ben amendit if þat I may [folio 115a] I haue quod he had a despit to day Line 2176 God ȝelde ȝow a-doun in ȝoure vilage That in þis world is noon so pore a page/ That he nold haue abhominacioun Of þat I haue receyued in ȝoure toun Line 2180 And ȝet ne greuith me no þing so sore As þat þis elde cherl wiþ lokkes hore Blasphemed haþ our holy couent eeke Now maister quod þis lord I ȝow biseke Line 2184 No maister sir quod he but seruitour Þough I haue had in scole such honour God likith not þat Raby men vs calle Neither in market neyther in ȝour large halle Line 2188 No fors quod he tellith me al ȝour greef Þis frere sayd sire an odious meschief This day bytid is to myn ordre and to me And so par consequens to ech degre Line 2192 Of holy chirche god amend it soone Sir quod þe lord ȝe wot what is to doone Distempre ȝow nought ȝe ben my confessour Ȝe ben þe salt of þerþe and sauyour Line 2196 For goddes loue ȝoure pacience ȝe holde Tel me ȝour greef and he anoon him tolde As ȝe han herd bifore ȝe wot wel what The lady of þat hous ay stille sat Line 2200 Til sche had herd what þe frere sayde Ey goddes moodir quod she blisful mayde Is þer ought elles tel me faithfully Ma dame quod he how þynke ȝow þerby Line 2204

[6-text p 399] Line 2204 how þat me þynkith quod sche so god me speede I say a cherl haþ doon a cherles deede what schuld I say god let him neuer þe His syke heed is full of vanyte Line 2208 I hold him in a maner frenesye / Ma dame quod he I-wis I schal not lye But I in oþir wise may be wreke I schal defame him ouer al wher I speke Line 2212 The false blasfememour þat chargid me [folio 115b] To parten þat wil not departed be To euery man yliche wiþ meschaunce The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce Line 2216 And in his hert he rollid vp and doun How had þis cherl ymaginacioun So schewe such a probleme to þe frere Neuer eft er now herd I of such matiere Line 2220 I trowe þe deuel put it in his mynde In ars metrik / schal þer no man fynde Biforn þis day of such a questioun who schulde make a demonstracioun Line 2224 That euery man schuld haue a lyk his part As of a soun or of a sauour of a fart O nyce proude cherl I schrew his face lo sires quod þe lord wiþ harde grace Line 2228 who euer herde of such a þing er now To euery man y-like tel me how It is impossible it may not be Ey nyce cherl god let him neuer þe Line 2232 The romblyng of a fart and euery soun Nis but an aier reuerberacioun And euer it wastith lyte and lyt away Ther nys no man can deme by my fay / Line 2236 If þat it were departed equally what lo my cherl what lo how schrewedly vnto my confessour to day he spak I hold him certeinly demoniak Line 2240

[6-text p 400] Line 2240 Now etith ȝour mete and let þe cherl go play / Let him go honge himself on deuel way / Now stood þe lordes squier at þe bord That carf his mete and herde word by word Line 2244 Of al þis þing which þat I of haue sayd My lord quod he be ȝe nouȝt euel payd I couþe telle for a gowne cloth To ȝow sir frere so þat ȝe be not wroth Line 2248 How þat þis fart euen / departed schuld be Among ȝour couent if I comaunded be Tel quod þe lord and þou schalt haue anoon [folio 116a] A goune cloþ by god and by seint Iohn Line 2252 My lord quod he whan þat þe wedir is fair wiþoute wynd or pertourbyng of ayr let bring a large whel in to þis halle But þat it haue his spokes alle Line 2256 Twelf spokes hath a cart whel comunly And bring me . xij . freres wit ȝe why For þrettene is a couent as I gesse / Ȝour noble confessour her god him blesse Line 2260 Schal parfourn vp þe nombre of þis couent Thanne schal þay knele doun by oon assent And to euery spokes ende in þis manere Ful sadly lay his nose schal a frere Line 2264 Ȝour noble confessour þer god him saue Schal hold his nose vpright vnder þe naue Than schal þis churl with bely stif and tought As eny tabor hider ben y-brought Line 2268 And sette him on þe whele of þis cart vpon þe naue and make him lete a fart And ȝe schul seen vp peril of my lif By verray proef þat is demonstratif Line 2272

[6-text p 401] Line 2272 That equally þe soun of it wol wende / And eek þe stynk vnto þe spokes ende Saue þat þis worþy man ȝour confessour By cause he is a man of gret honour Line 2276 Schal haue þe firste fruyt as resoun is The noble vsage of freres is þis The worthy men of hem first schal be serued As certeynly he haþ it wel deserued Line 2280 he hath to day taught vs so mochil good with preching in þe pulpit þer he stood That I may vouche sauf I say for me He hadde þe firste smel of fartes þre Line 2284 And so wold al his couent hardily he berith him so fair and holily The lord þe lady and ech man sauf þe frere Sayde þan Iankyn spak in þis matiere Line 2288 As wel as euclide or elles protholome [folio 116b] Touchand þe clerk þay sayd þat subtilte An high wyt made him speken as he spak he nas no fool ne no demoniak / Line 2292 And Iankyn haþ I-wonne a newe goune My tale is don. we ben almost at toune.

¶ Here endith the sompnours tale

Notes

• ¶ Narrat
• ¶ nota
• ¶ nota
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• [No gap in the MS.]
• ¶ Here makith þe frere an interpre|tacion of þe wyfes tale /
• [or parambel]
• [Break of two lines in the MS.]
• ¶ Narrat
• [MS. bndicite]
• [No break in the MS.]
• [Lines 1307-8 follow wrongly here in the Six Texts.]
• [No gap in the MS.]
• [These 2 lines are misplaced, as 1295-6, in the Six Texts.]
• [No break in the MS.]
• [No break in the MS.]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [Spurious]
• [The Solution of the "Probleme" by the Lord's Sguire. No break in the MS.]
• [No break in the MS.]