The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 443]

[and next folwith his tale of Ianuare and May. [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14.]]

Whilom ther was dwellyng / in Lumbardye a worthi knyght / that borne was in Pavie in which he lived / in grete prosperite and sexti yere / a wiffles man was he Line 1248 and folwed ay / his bodyly delite on women / there as was his appetite as don these foolis / that ben seculere and whan he was passed sexti yere Line 1252 were hit for holynes / or for dotage I can not sey / but suche a grete corage had this knyght / to be a wedded man that day and night / he doth al that he can Line 1256 to espien where he myghte / wedded be prayng oure lord / graunte him that he myghte onys knowe / of that blisful liff that is bitwixe an housbonde / and his wiff Line 1260 and for to live / vnder that holy bonde with which first / god man and woman bonde noon other liff seide he / is worthe a bene for wedlok is so esy / and so clene Line 1264 that in this world / hit is a paradise thus seide this olde knyght / that was so wise and certeynly / as soth as god is kynge to take a wiff / hit is a glorious thinge Line 1268 and namely whan a man is olde / and hore than is a wiff the fructe / of his tresore than shulde he take a yonge wiff / and a feyre [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 115b] on which he myghte / engender him an heyre Line 1272

[6-text p 444] Line 1272 and lede his liff in ioye / and in solas [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]] where that these bachelers / synge alas whan that thei fynden / any aduersite in love / which nys but childis vanyte Line 1276 and trewely hit sit wel / to be so that bachelers han ofte peyne and wo on brotil gronde thei bilde / and brotilnes they fynden / whan thei wenyn sikernes Line 1280 thei live but as a brid / or as a beste in liberte / and vnder noon a-reste there as a wedded man / in his estate livith a liff blisful / and ordynate Line 1284 vnder the yoke of mariage I-bounde wel may his herte / in ioye and blis habounde for who can be so boxom / as a wiff who is so trewe / and eke so ententiff Line 1288 to kepe him sike and hole / as his make for wel or wo / she wol him not forsake she is not wery / him to loue and serue though that he lye bedred / til he sterve] [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 extract ends]] And ȝit some clerkes seyn it nys nouȝt so [Corpus MS] [folio 145a] Of which Theoffraste / is on of þo What fors þeiȝ theofraste luste lye Ne take no wijf quod he for husbandrye Line 1296 As for to spare in housholde þin dispence A trewe seruaunt doþ more diligence þy good to kepe þan þin owen wijf ffor sche wol clayme half part al hire lijf Line 1300 And if þat þou be seek so god me saue þy verray frendes oþer a trewe knaue Wol kepe þe bet þan sche þat wayteþ ay After þy good and haþ don many a day Line 1304 [and if thow take a wiff / in thin age oolde fful lightly maist thow be a Cokewoolde] [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]] To þis entente and an C siþes wurse Line 1307 [writeth this man / there / god his bonys cors] [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]]

[6-text p 445] But tak no kepe of alle such vanyte Defye theofrast and herkne me A wyff is goddes ȝifte verrayly Alle oþer maner ȝiftes hardily Line 1312 As landes rentes pasture or comune Oþer oþer ȝiftes þat moebles of fortune þat passen as a schadewe on a wall But drede nought if pleynly speke I schall Line 1316 A wyf wil laste and in þin hous endure Wel lenger þan þe luste to endure mariage is a ful gret sacrament he which haþ no wijf I holde him schent Line 1320 he lyueþ helples and is al desolat I speke of folk in seculer estat And herkne why I say nouȝt þis for nouȝt þe womman is for mannes help y-wrouȝt Line 1324 þe hihe god when he hadde adam maked And sawe him allone bely naked God of his grete goodnesse sayde he þanne lete vs now make an helpe to þis manne Line 1328 ylike to himself and þen he made Eue here may ȝe se and here-by ȝe preue That wijf is mannes helpe and his comfort his paradis terreste and his disport [folio 145b] Line 1332 So buxom and so vertuous is sche þey mosten needes lyue in vnite Of fleisshe þei ben and O fleisch as I gesse nouȝt but on herte in wele and in distresse Line 1336 A wyf; A seinte mary benedicite how might a man han any aduersite þat haþ a wyf certes I can nouȝt say þe blisse þat is bitwexe hem tway Line 1340 þer may no tonge telle or herte þynke If he be pore sche helpeþ him to swynke Sche keepiþ his good and wasteþ neuer a del And al þat hire housband lust hir likeþ wel Line 1344

[6-text p 446] Line 1344 Sche saiþ nouȝt ones nay whan he saiþ ȝe Do þis saiþ he al redy sire seyþ sche O blisful ordre O wedlok precious þou art so mery and eek so vertuous Line 1348 And so comended and aproued eke That euery man þat halt/ him worþ a leek vpon his bare knees aught al his lijf þanken his god þat him haþ sent a wyf Line 1352 Oþer preyed god him for to sende A wijf to laste vnto his lyues ende ffor þanne his lijf is sett in sikernesse he may nouȝt be desceyued as I gesse Line 1356 So þat he werche after his wyues reed þanne may he boldely beren vp his heed þey ben so trewe and so wys ffor which if þou wolt worchen as þe wyse Line 1360 Do alway so as þe womman wol þe rede lo how þat Iacob as þise clerkes rede By good counseil of his moder rebekke Band þe kydes skyn abouten his nekke Line 1364 ffor which his fadres benyson he wan lo Iudith as þe story eek telle can By wys counseil sche goddes poeple kepte And slough him Olophinus whiles he slepte [folio 146a] Line 1368 Lo how Abygayle by good counseil how þat sche Saued hire housbonde Nabal whan þat he Schulde han be slayn and loke after also By good counseil delyuered out of wo Line 1372 The poeple of god and made him mardoche Of Assuer enhaunced for to be Ther is no þing gree superlatiff As seiþ Senek aboue an humble wyf Line 1376 Suffre þyn wyues tonge as Catoun byt Sche schal comaunde and þou schalt suffre yt And ȝit sche wolde obeye of curtesye A wyf is kepere of þin housbondrye Line 1380

[6-text p 447] Line 1380 Wel may þe seeke man bewayle and wepe / Ther as þer nys no wijf þe hous to keepe I warne þe if wysly þou wilt wirche loue wel þy wyf as crist loueþ his chirche Line 1384 If þou loue þy self þou louest þy wyf No man hateþ his flesch but in his lyf he fostreþ it/ and þerfore byd I þe Cherissche þy wijf or þou schalt neuer þe Line 1388 housbond & wijf what so men Iape or pleye Of worldly folk holde þe righte weye þey ben so knyt þer may non harm betyde And namely vpon þe wyues syde Line 1392 ffor which þis Ianuarye of which I tolde Considereþ haþ in wiþ his dayes olde þe lusty þe vertuous quyete þat is in mariage hony swete Line 1396 And for his frendes on a day sent To telle hem þeffect of his entent Wiþ face sadde he haþ hem þis tale tolde he sayde frendes I am hoor and olde Line 1400 And almost god wot at my pittis brinke vpon my sowle somwhat most I þinke I haue my body folyly dispended y-blessed be god þat it schal ben amended [folio 146b] Line 1404 ffor I wol be certein a wedded man And þat in alle þe haste þat I can vnto som mayde fayr and tendre of age I pray you schapeþ for my mariage Line 1408 Al sodeinly for I wol nouȝt abyde And I wole fonde aspye on my syde To whom I may be wedded hastely But for as moche þat ȝe ben mo þen I Line 1412 ȝe schullen raþer such a þing aspyen þan I and wher me luste best allyen But o þing warne I ȝou my frendes deere I wol non old wyf haue in no manere / Line 1416

[6-text p 448] Line 1416 She schal nouȝt passe xvj ȝer certayn Old fleissh and ȝong fleissh þat wolde I han ful fayn Bet is quod he a pyk þan a pykrelle And bet þan olde beef is þe tendre feelle Line 1420 I wol no womman xx^ti ȝer of age It nys but benestraw and gret forage And eek þis olde wydewes god it woot þey konne so moche craft on wades boot Line 1424 So mochil broken harme whan þat hem liste þat wiþ hem schulde I neuer lyuen in reste ffor sondry scoles makeþ subtile clerkys Wommen of many a scole half a clerk is Line 1428 But certeinly a ȝong þing may me gye Right as men may warm wax wiþ handes to-plye þerfore I sey ȝow pleinly in a clause I wol non old wijf haue for þis cause Line 1432 ffor if so were if I hadde so myschaunce That I in hire ne couþe han · no plesaunce þenne scholde I lede my lijf in aduoutrye And so streyt to þe deuyl whan I dye Line 1436 Ne children schulde I non vpon hire geten ȝit were me leuer houndes hadde me eten þan þat myn heritage scholde falle In straunge hande and þus I telle ȝou alle [folio 147a] Line 1440 I dowte nought I wot þe cause why men schulde wedde and forþermore wot I þer spekeþ many men of mariage þat wot nomore of hit þen wot my page Line 1444 ffor whiche causes men schulde take a wyf If he may not chaste be by his lijf Tak him a wijf wiþ gret deuocioun By cause of leofful procreacion Line 1448 Of children to þe honour of god aboue And nought only for paramour and for loue And for þei schulden leccherie eschue And ȝelde here dette whil þat it is newe Line 1452

[6-text p 449] Line 1452 Or for þat ilke man schulde helpe oþer In meschief as a soster schal do a broþer And lyue in chastite ful heuenly But sires by ȝour leue þat am not I Line 1456 ffor [god] be þanked I dar make auaunt I feele my lemes starke and suffisaunt To don al þat a man bilongeþ to do I wot my seluen best what I may do Line 1460 þough I be hoor and fare / as doþ a tree þat blosmeth er þat fruyt y-waxe be A blossemed tree nys neyþer druye ne deed I feele me no wher hoor but on myn heed Line 1464 Myn herte and myn lymes ben as greene As laurere þat purgh þe ȝer is seene And seþenes ȝe han herd al myn entent I pray ȝou to my wille þat ȝe assent Line 1468 Dyuerse men dyuersely him tolde Of mariages many ensamples olde Some blamed it some preysed it certein But atte laste schortly for to seyn Line 1472 As alday falleþ altercacion Bitwixe frendes in disputacion þer fel a stryf betwixe his breþeren tuo Of which þat on was cleped Placebo [folio 147b] Line 1476 Placebo seyde o Ianuare broþer To ȝou telle I þis tale and to non oþer fful litel need hadde ȝe my lord so deere / Counseil to aske of any þat is heere Line 1480 But þat ȝe be on so ful of sapience þat ȝou ne likeþ for ȝour heigh prudence To weyue fro þe word of Salomon This word sayde he vnto vs euerychon Line 1484 Wirke alle þing by counseil þus seyde he And þanne schalt þou nouȝt repente þe But þough þat Salomon speke such a word myn owen deere brother and my lord Line 1488

[6-text p 450] Line 1488 So wisly god my soule bringe at reste I halde ȝoure owne counseil for þe beste ffor broþer myn of me take þis motyf I haue now ben a court man al my lyf Line 1492 And ȝit god wot þough I vnworþy be I haue standen in ful gret degre Abouten lordes in ful gret estate ȝit hadde I neuer wiþ non of hem debate Line 1496 I neuer hem contraried trewely I wot wel þat my lord can more þan I What þat he saiþ I halde it ferme & stable I saye þe same or oþer þing semblable Line 1500 A ful gret fool is eny counseilour þat serueþ eny lord of heih honour þat dar presume or ones þenken it/ þat his counseil schulde passe his lordes witt Line 1504 Nay lordes ben no fooles by my fay ȝe haue ȝoure self spoken here to day So heih sentence so holy and so wel That I consente and conferme euery del Line 1508 ȝoure wordes alle and ȝoure opynioun By god þer nys no man in al þis toun Ne in ytaille couþe bet han sayd Crist haldeþ him of þis ful wel a-payd [folio 148a] Line 1512 And trewely it is an heih corage Of eny man þat stopen is in age To take a ȝong wyf by my fader kyn ȝoure herte hangeþ vpon a Ioly pyn Line 1516 Doþ now in þis matier right as ȝou leste ffor fynally I halde it for þe beste ¶ Iustynus þat ay stille sat and herde he right on þis wise to Placebo answerde Line 1520 Now broþer myn be pacient I preye Siþenes ȝe han sayd and herkneþ what I seye Senek amonges oþer wordes wyse Seiþ þat a man him oughte right wel auyse Line 1524

[6-text p 451] Line 1524 To whom he ȝeuyþ his lond oþer his catel And seþenes I aught/ auyse me right wel To whom I ȝiue my good awey fro me Wel more I auȝte to auȝse me Line 1528 To whom I ȝiue my body for alwey I warne ȝou wel it nys no childes pley To take a wijf wiþoute auysement Men moste enquere þis is myn assent Line 1532 Wheþer she be wys or sobre or drunkelewe Oþer proude oþer oþerwey a schrewe A chydester or a wastour of þy good Oþir riche or pore or of maneres wood Line 1536 Al be it so þat no man fynde schal None in þis worlde þat trottiþ hool in al Ne man ne beeste suche as men conne deuyse But naþeles it auȝt ynough suffise Line 1540 Wiþ any wijf if þat so were sche hadde mo goode þewes þan hire vices badde And al þis askeþ leiser for to enquere / ffor god it woot I haue wepte many a teere Line 1544 fful priuyly siþ þat I hadde a wyf Preyse who so wole a wedded mannes lijf Certayn I fynde in hit but coste and care And obseruaunces of alle blisses bare [folio 148b] And ȝit god wot my neygheburs aboute. And namely of wommen many a rowte Sayn þat I haue þe moste stedefast wijf And eek þe meekest oon þat bereþ lijf Line 1552 But I wot best wher wryngeþ me my scho ȝe may for me right as ȝou likeþ do Auyseþ ȝou ȝe ben a man of age how þat ȝe entren in to mariage Line 1556 And namely wiþ a ȝong wijf and a fayr By him þat made water erþe and ayr þe ȝongest man þat is in al þis route Is besy ynough to bringen it aboute Line 1560

[6-text p 452] Line 1560 To han his wijf allone trusteþ to me ȝe schulle nouȝt plesen hire oonly ȝeres þre þis is to seyn to don hire plesaunce A wijf axeþ ful many an obseruaunce Line 1564 I pray ȝou þat ȝe ne ben euyl payed Wel quod þis Ianuare and hast þou al sayd Straw for þyn Senek and for þy prouerbis I counte nought a paner ful of herbes Line 1568 Of scole termes wiser men þan þou And þou hast herde assenteden right now / To my purpos Placebo what say ȝe I say it is a cursed man quod he Line 1572 þat letteþ matrimonye sikerly And wiþ þat word þay rysen sodeinly And ben assented fully þat he scholde Be weddid whan him luste and whan he wolde Line 1576 þe fantasye and þe besy curiousnesse ffro day to day gan in þe soule impresse / Of Ianuare aboute his mariage / many fayr schapp and many fayr visage / Line 1580 þer passeþ þorgh his herte night be night As whos took a myrour polisshed bright And sette it in a comune market place þenne scholde he se many a figure pace [folio 149a] Line 1584 By his myrour and in þe same wise Gan Ianuare in wiþ his þouȝt deuyse Of maydenes whiche þat dwelte besyde he wiste nought wher he might abyde Line 1588 ffor þouȝ þat oon haþ beaute in hire face / Anoþer stant so in þe poeples grace / ffor hire sadnes and hire benignite þat of þe poeple grettest voys hadde sche Line 1592 And some were riche and hadde badde name but naþeles bitwixe ernest and game he atte laste appoynted him on oon And leet alle oþer fro his herte gon Line 1596

[6-text p 453] Line 1596 And ches hir of his owen auctorite ffor loue is blynd alday and may not se And whan þat he was in þe bed y-brought he purtreyed in his herte and in his þought Line 1600 hire freisshe beaute / and hir age tender hire myddel smal and hir armes long and sklender hire wise gouernaunce and hire grete gentilnes hir wommanly berynge and hire sadnes Line 1604 And whan þat he was fro hire condescended him þouȝte his þouȝt might nouȝt ben amended ffor whan þat he himself concluded hadde him þouȝt euer oþer mannes witte so badde Line 1608 þat inpossible it were to replye aȝein his choys þis was his fantasye his frendes sent he to at his instance And preyed hem to don him þat plesaunce Line 1612 þat hastely þey wolden don him come / he wolde abregge here labour alle and some Needeþ nomore for him to goon or ryde he was apoynted þer he wolde abyde Line 1616 Placebo cam and eek his freendes sone And alþer first he bad hem alle a bone þat non of hem non argumentes make Aȝeins þe purpos which þat he haþ take [folio 149b] Which purpos was plesaunt/ to god sayde he And verray ground of his prosperite he sayde þer was a mayden in þe toun Which þat of beaute hadde gret renoun Line 1624 Al were it so sche were of smal degre Sufficeþ him hire ȝouþe and hire beaute Which mayde he seyde schulde ben his wiff To lede in ese and holynesse his lijf Line 1628 And þanked god þat he might han hire al þat no wight wiþ his blisse parten schal And preyed hem to laboure in þis neede / And schaped þat he fayled not to spede Line 1632

[6-text p 454] Line 1632 ffor þanne he seyde his spirit was at eese þen is quod he no þing may me displese / Saue o þing prikeþ in my conscience þe which I wol reherse in ȝoure presence / Line 1636 I haue quod he herd seyd ful ȝore ago þer may no man han parfyt blisses tuo þis is to say in erþe and eek in heuene ffor þey he kepte him fro þe synnes seuene Line 1640 And eek for euery braunche of þilke tre ȝit is þer so parfit prosperite And so gret ese and lust in mariage þat euer I am agast now in myn age Line 1644 þat I schal lede now so mery a lijf [so delicate withouten wo / or striff [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14; no gap in Corpus.]] that I shal haue myn heuen / in erthe] heere ffor siþenes þat verray heuene is bought so deere Line 1648 Wiþ tribulacion and gret penaunce how scholde I lyue in such plesaunce As alle wedded men doþ wiþ here wyues / Come to þe blisse þer crist eterne on lyue is Line 1652 þis is my drede and ȝit myn breþeren tweye Assoylleþ me þis question I ȝou preye Iustynus which þat hated his folye Answeryng anon riȝt in his Iapere Line 1656 And for he wolde his longe tale abregge he wolde non auctorite alegge [folio 150a] But seyde sire so þer be non obstacle Oþer þan þis god of his heih miracle Line 1660 And of his mercy may so for ȝou wirche þat er ȝe han ȝour ȝiftes of holy chirche ȝe may repente of wedded mannes lijf In which ye sayn þer is neiþer woo ne strijf Line 1664 And elles god forbede but if he sente A wedded man grace to repente Wel often raþer þan a sengil man And þerfore sire þe beste reed I can Line 1668

[6-text p 455] Line 1668 Dispeyreþ ȝou nouȝt haueþ in memory Paraunter sche may be ȝour purgatory Sche may be goddes mene and goddes whippe þan schal ȝour soule vp to heuene skippe Line 1672 Swifter þan doþ an arwe out of a bowe I hope to god her-after schalt þou knowe þat þer nys non so gret felicite In mariage ne neuer more schal be Line 1676 þat ȝou schal lakke of ȝour saluacion So þat ȝe vse as skile is and resoun þe lustes of ȝour wijf attemperelly And þat ȝe plese hir nouȝt to amerously Line 1680 And þat ȝe kepe ȝou eek fro oþer synne / Myn tale is doon for my witte is þinne Beþ nouȝt agast here-of my broþer But let vs wade fro þis mater to anoþer Line 1684 þe wijf of Bathe if ȝe han vnderstonde Of mariage which ȝe han on honde Declared haþ ful wel in litel space ffareþ now wel god haue ȝou in his grace Line 1688 And wiþ þis word þis Iustyne and his broþer han take here leue and ilke of hem of oþer ffor whan þey sawe it moste needes be þey wrouȝten so by wys and sleigh trete Line 1692 þat sche þis mayden which þat mayus hight As hastely as euer þat sche might [folio 150b] Schal wedded be vnto Ianuarie / It trowe it were to long ȝou to tarie Line 1696 If I ȝou tolde of euery scryt or band By which þat sche was feffed in his land Oþer for to herken of hire riche aray But fynally y-comen is þis day Line 1700 That to þe chirche boþe ben þey went ffor to resceyue þe holy sacrament fforþ comþ þe prest wiþ stole aboute his nekke / And bad hire be ylike Sarra and Rebekke Line 1704

[6-text p 456] Line 1704 In wisdom and trouþe of mariage And sayde his orisouns as is his vsage And crouched hem and bad god schulde hem blesse And made al siker ynough with holynesse / Line 1708 þus ben þey weddid with solempnite And atte feste sitteþ he and sche Wiþ oþer worþy folk vpon þe deys Al ful of ioye and blisse is þe paleys Line 1712 And ful of instrumentz and of vitayle þe moste deyntevous of alle ytayle Byforn hem of instrumentz which a soun That Orpheus ne of Phebes ampheoun Line 1716 Ne maden neuer such a melodye And at euery cours cam lowde menstralcie þat neuer Ioab trumped for to heere / Neiþer Theodomas ȝit half so cleere Line 1720 And Thebes whan þe cite was in doute / Bacus þe wyn hem schenkeþ al aboute And venus lawheþ vpon euery wight ffor Ianuarye was bycome here knight Line 1724 And wolde boþe assayen his corage In liberte and eek in mariage And wiþ hir fyr brond wiþ hire hand aboute Daunsiþ byforn þe bryde al aboute Line 1728 And certeynly I dar wel seyn riȝt þis Emyneus þat god of weddyng is [folio 151a] Sawe neuer in his lijf so mery a wedded man halde þou þy pes þou poete Marcean Line 1732 þat writest vs þat ilke weddyng mery Of hire phylologie and of mercurye And of þe sanges þat þe muses song So smale as eek þin penne and eek þy tong Line 1736 ffor to discryuen of þis mariage When tendre ȝouþe haþ wedded stowpyng age þer is such myrþe þat it may nouȝt be write Assayeþ it ȝou self þen may ȝe wite / Line 1740

[6-text p 457] Line 1740 If þat I lakke or non in þis matere Mayus þat sitt wiþ so benigne a cheere hire to beholde it semed fayerye Queene Ester loked neuer wiþ such an yhe Line 1744 On assuer so meke a look haþ sche I may ȝou nouȝt deuyse al hire beaute But þus moche of hir beaute telle I may þat sche was like þe brighte morwe of may Line 1748 ffulfilde of beaute and of plesaunce þis Ianuarye is rauyssht in a traunce And at euery tyme he loked on hire face / But in his herte he gan hire to manace Line 1752 þat he þat night in armes wolde hir streyne harder þan euyr parys did Eleyne But naþeles ȝit had he gret pite þat þilke night offenden hire moste he Line 1756 And þouȝt allas O tender creature Now wolde god ȝe mighte wel endure Al my corrage / it is so scharpe and kene I am agast ȝe schullen it nat sustene Line 1760 But god forbede þat I did al my myght Now wolde god þat it were waxen nyght And þat þe night wolde lasten eueremo I wolde þat al þis poeple were a go Line 1764 And finally he doþ alle his labour As he best mighte sauynge his honour [folio 151b] To hasten hem fro þe mete in subtil wise þe tyme came þat resoun was to ryse Line 1768 And after þat men daunce and drynke faste And spices al aboute þe hous þay caste And ful of ioye and blisse is euery man Al but a squyer þat highte damyan Line 1772 Which karf byforn þe knight many a day he was so rauysshed on his lady may That for þe verray peyne he was neyȝ wood Almost he swelt and swowned þer he stood Line 1776

[6-text p 458] Line 1776 As þat sche bare daunsyng in hir hand So freisshe sche was and þerto so likand [[spurious]] And to his bed he went him hastily Nomore of him at þis tyme speke I Line 1780 But þere I lete him weepe ynough and pleyne Till freissche may wil rewen on his peyne ¶ O perilous fyr þat in þe bedstraw brediþ O famuler foo þat his seruise beediþ Line 1784 O seruant traytour fals holy hewe I-like to þe neddre sleyȝ and in Bosom vntrewe God schilde vs alle fro ȝoure iniquitance O Ianuare drunken in plesaunce Line 1788 O mariage see how þine Damyan þin oughne squyer and þyn borne man Entendiþ to do þe vylenye God graunte þe þin harmly foo to aspye Line 1792 ffor in þis world nys worse pestylence Than homly foo alday in þy presence Parfourmed haþ þis deuyn day his ark dyurne No lenger may þe body of him soiourne Line 1796 The Orisowte as in þat latitude Night wiþ his mantel þat is so derk & rude Gan for to sprede þe mysperye aboute ffor which departed is þe lusty route Line 1800 ffor Ianuare wiþ þank on euery syde home to here houses lustily þei ryde / [folio 152a] þer as þey don here þinges as hem leste And whanne þay seye her tyme gon to reste Line 1804 Sone after þat þis hastyf Ianuare Wol go to bedde he wol no lengere care he drynkeþ ypocras clarre and vernage Of spices hote to encresen his corage Line 1808 And many a letuare hadde he ful fyn Suche as þe cursed monk daun Constantyn haþ writen in his book of coytu To eten hem alle he nas no þing eschewe Line 1812

[6-text p 459] Line 1812 And þus to his priue freendes seyde he ffor goddes loue as sone as it may be let voyden alle þis hous in curteys wyse soone Line 1815 Men drunken and þe trauers drowe anone Line 1817 The bryde was brouȝt to bedde as stille as stoon Line 1818 So hastede Ianuer it moste be doon [[spurious]] And whan þe bed was wiþ þe prest y-blessed Out of þe chambre haþ euery wight him dressed Line 1820 And Ianuare haþ faste in armes take his freissche may his paradys his make he lulliþ hire he kisseþ hire ful ofte Wiþ þikke brystles of his berd vnsofte Line 1824 Ylike to þe skyn of an houndfissh scharp as brere ffor he was schaue al newe in his manere he rubbeþ hire vpon hire tendre face And sayde þus allas I mot trespace Line 1828 To ȝou my spouse and ȝou gretly offende Or tyme come þat I wol doun descende But naþeles considereþ þis quod he þis nys no werkman what so euer he be Line 1832 þat may boþe wirche wel and hastely þis wol be don at leyser parfitly It is no force how longe þat we pleye I trowe in wedlok coupled be we tweye Line 1836 And y-blessed be þe ȝok þat we ben Inne ffor in oure actis we may do no synne / [folio 152b] A man may do no synne wiþ his wijf Ne hurte himselue wiþ his owene knyf Line 1840 Now we han leue to pleye vs by þe lawe Thus laboureþ he til þat þe day gan dawe And þenne he takeþ a soppe in fyn clarre And vpright in his bedde þanne sitteþ he / Line 1844 And after þat he sang ful lowde and cleere And kissed his wijf and made wantoun cheere he was al coltissch and ful of ragerie And ful of Girgoun as is a flekked pye / Line 1848

[6-text p 460] Line 1848 þe slakke skyn aboute his nekke schakeþ Whil þat he sang so chaunteþ he and crakeþ / But god wot what may þouȝte in hire herte / Whan sche him saugh vp sittyng in his scherte Line 1852 In his night cappe and wiþ his nekke lene / Sche preyseþ nouȝt his pleying worþ a bene þenne seyde he þus my restyng wol I take Now day is come I may no lenger wake Line 1856 And doun he leyd his heed and sleep til prime And aftirward whan þat he saugh his tyme vp ryseþ Ianuare but/ freissche may holt hire chambre vnto þe ferþe day Line 1860 As vsage is of wyues for þe beste / ffor euery labour som tyme mot haue reste Oþer elles longe may he nouȝt endure þis is to say no lyues creature Line 1864 Be it of fissh or brid or best or man Now wol I speke of woful dauyan þat langureþ for loue as ȝe schullen heere þerfore I speke to him in þis manere Line 1868 I say O sely Damyan allas Answere to þis demaunde as in þis cas how schalt þou þy lady freisshe may Telle þy wo sche wole alway say nay Line 1872 Eke if þou speke sche wole þy wo bewreye God be þin helpe I can no bettre seye [folio 153a] þis sike damyan in venus fyre So brenneþ þat he deyeþ for desire Line 1876 ffor which he putte his liff/ in aduenture No lenger might he in þis wise endure But priuyly a penner gan he borwe And in a lettre wrot he alle his sorwe Line 1880 In maner of a complaynt oþer a lay vnto þis fair and freissche lady may And in a purs of silk heng on his scherte he haþ y-put and leyd it/ at his herte/ Line 1884

[6-text p 461] Line 1884 þe more þat at noon was þilke day That Ianuare haþ wedded þat freissche may In tuo of Taure was in þe Cancre Gliden So longe haþ sche in hire chambre abyden Line 1888 As costume is vnto þise noblis alle A bryde schal nouȝt eten in þe halle Til dayes foure oþer þre dayes atte leste y-passed ben þen lat hire go to feste Line 1892 þe ferþe day complet froo noon to noon Whan þat þe hihe masse was y-doon In halle sitt þis Ianuare and may As freissh as is þe brighte someres day Line 1896 And so bifelle how þat þis goode man Remembreþ him vpon þis damyan And sayde seinte mary how may þis be That Damyan entendiþ nouȝt to me Line 1900 Is he ay sike or how may þis betyde his squyers whiche þat stooden him besyde Excusynge him be cause of his seknesse Which letted him to don his busynesse Line 1904 Non oþer cause mighte make him care That me forþinkeþ quod þis Ianuare he is a gentil squyer by my trouþe / If þat he deyde it were harm and rouþe Line 1908 he is as wys discrete and secre As eny man I wot of his degre [folio 153b] And þerto manly and eek seruisable And for to ben a þrifty man right able Line 1912 But after mete as sone as euer I may I wole my self visite him and eek may To don him al þe confort þat I can And for þat word him blessed euery man Line 1916 That of his bounte and of his gentilnesse He wolde so conforten him in his siknesse His squyer for it was a gentil dede Dame quod he þis Ianuar take good hede Line 1920

[6-text p 462] Line 1920 That at after mete ȝe wiþ ȝour wommen alle Whan ȝe han ben in chambre out of þis halle That alle ȝe gon to se þis Damyan Doþ him disport he is a gentil man Line 1924 And telleþ him þat I wil him visite haue I no þing but rested me a lite [and spede yow faste / for I wol abide til that ye slepe / right bi my side] [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]] Now wiþ þat worde he gan to him calle A squyer þat was marschal of his halle And tolde him certeyn þinges what he wolde This freisshe may haþ streyt hir weye holde Line 1932 Wiþ alle hire wommen vnto þis damyan Doun by his beddes syde sat sche þan Confortyng him as goodly as sche may This damyan whan he his tyme say Line 1936 In secret wise his purs and eek his bille In which þat he writen hadde his wille haþ putte in to hire hond wiþouten more Saue þat he siked wonder sore Line 1940 And softely to hire right þus sayde he mercy and þat ȝe discouereþ nouȝt me ffor I am ded if þat þis þing be kyd This purs haþ sche wiþinne hir bosme hid Line 1944 And went hir way ȝe gete nomore of me But vnto Ianure y-comen is sche And on his beddes syde sitte ful softe He takeþ hire and kisseþ hire ful ofte [folio 154a] Line 1948 And leyde him doun to slepe and þat anon Sche feyned hire as þat sche moste gon þer as ȝe woot þat euery wight mot neede And when sche of þis bille haþ taken heede Line 1952 Sche rent it al to cloutes at þe laste And in þe pryue softely sche it caste Who studieþ now but fayre freissche may And a doun by Ianuer sche lay Line 1956

[6-text p 463] Line 1956 That sleep til þat þe coughe him haþ awaked Anon he preyed hir to strepen hire al naked he wolde of hire he sayde of hire haue som plesaunce he seyde hire cloþes dide him encombraunce Line 1960 And sche obeyeþ be he leef or loþ But lest þat precious folk be wiþ me wroþ how þat he wrouȝte I dar to ȝou nouȝt telle Oþer whether þat he þouȝt on paradys oþer of helle Line 1964 But I lete hem worchen in here wise Til euesong rynge and þat þey moste aryse / Were it by destyne oþir by auenture Were it by influence or by nature Line 1968 Oþer in constillacion þat in such estat The heuene stood þat tyme fortunat Was for to putte a bille of venus werkis ffor alle þing haþ tyme as seyn þise clerkis Line 1972 To any womman for to gete hir loue I can nouȝt say but þe grete god aboue þat knoweþ þat non acte is causeles he demeþ of alle for I wol holde my pes Line 1976 But soþ is þis how þat þis freissche may haþ take such impression þat day On pite of þis sike Damyan þat fro hir herte sche ne dryue can Line 1980 þe remembrance for to don him eese Certein þouȝt sche whom þat þis þing displese I rekke nouȝt for here I him assure To loue him best of eny creature / [folio 154b] Line 1984 þough he na more nadde þan his scherte lo pite renneþ sone in gentil herte Her may ȝe se how excellent franchise In wommen is whan þey narwe hem auyse Line 1988 Som tyrant þer is as þer ben many oon þat haþ an herte as hard as eny stoon Which wolde han lete him steruen in þe place Wel raþer þan haue graunted him þat grace Line 1992

[6-text p 464] Line 1992 And hem reioysen in here cruel pryde And recched nouȝt to ben an homicide ¶ This gentil may fulfild of alle pite Right so of hire hond a lettre made sche Line 1996 In which sche graunteþ him of hire verray grace þer lackeþ nouȝt oonly but day and space Wher þat sche mighte to his lust suffise ffor it schal be right as he wol deuyse Line 2000 And whan sche saugh hire tyme vpon a day To visite þis damyan goþ faire may And sotilly þis lettre doun sche þriste vnder his pilwe rede iff him liste Line 2004 Sche takeþ him by þe hond and harde him twiste So secrely þat no wight hit wiste And bad him be al hool and forþ sche wente To Ianuare whan þat he for hire sente Line 2008 vp ryseþ Damyan þe nexte morwe Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe he kembiþ him and proyneþ him and pikeþ he doþ al þat þis lady lust and likeþ Line 2012 And ek to Ianuare he goþ as lowe As euer did a dogge for þe bowe he is so plesaunt vnto euery man ffor craft is al who so þat it can Line 2016 þat euery wight is fayn to teche him good And fully in his lady grace he stood þus lete I Damyan aboute his neede And my tale forþ I wil procede [folio 155a] Line 2020 Some clerkes halden þat felicite; Stant in delite and þerfore he This noble Ianuare wiþ alle his might In honeste wise as longeþ to a knight Line 2024 Schop him to lyue ful deliciously his housynge his array al honestely To his degre was maked as a kinges Among oþir of his honeste þinges Line 2028

[6-text p 465] Line 2028 he hadde a gardyn walled al wiþ stoon So fair a gardyn wot I nowher noon ffor out of doute I verrayly suppose þat he þat wroot þe romance of þe rose Line 2032 Ne couþe of it þe beaute wel deuyse ne pryapus ne mighte nat suffise þouȝ he be god of gardyns for to telle The beaute of þe gardyn and of þe welle Line 2036 þat stood vnder a laurer alway greene fful often tyme king Pluto and his queene Preserpyna and alle hire fayerie Disporten hem and maken melodye Line 2040 aboute þat welle and daunced as men tolde þis noble knight þis Ianuare þe olde Suche deynte haþ in it to walken and to pleye þat he wol suffre no wight to bere þe keye Line 2044 Saue he himself or of þe smale wiket he bar alwey of siluer a clyket Wiþ þe whiche whan þat him lust vnschette And whan þat he wolde paye his wijf his dette Line 2048 In somer seson þider wolde he go And may his wijf and no wight but þay tuo A þinges whiche þat were nouȝt don a bedde þey in þe gardyn parformed han and spedde Line 2052 And in þis wise many a mery day lyuede þis Ianuare and freissche may But worldly ioye may nouȝt alwey endure To Ianuare ne to no worldly creature [folio 155b] Line 2056 O sodeyn happ O þou fortune vnstable / I-like to þe scorpion vnstable / That flaterest wiþ þin heed whan þou wolt stynge Thyn tayl is deþ þoruȝ þin enuenemynge Line 2060 O brutel ioye O swete poyson queynte O mustier þat sotilly canst peynte þine ȝiftes vnder þe hewe of stedefastnesse þat þou disceyuedest boþe more and lesse Line 2064

[6-text p 466] Line 2064 Why hast þou Ianuare þus deceyued And haddist him for þi fulle frend receyued And now þou hast byraft him boþe his eyen ffor sorwe of which desireþ he to deyen Line 2068 Allas þis noble Ianuare þat is so fre Amydde his lust and his prosperite Is woxen blynde and al sodeynly his deþ þerfore desireþ he outrely Line 2072 And þer wiþ al þe fyr of Ielousye leste þat his wijf schulde falle in som folye So brent his herte þat he wolde fayn That som man boþe hire and him hadde slayn Line 2076 ffor neuer [after] his deþ ne in his lyf Ne wolde he þat sche were loue ne wyf But euer lyue as a wydewe in cloþes blake Soule as þe turtil doþ þat haþ lost hire make / Line 2080 But at þe laste after a monþe or tweye his sorwe gan to swage soþ to seye ffor when he wiste it/ may non oþer be he paciently took his aduersite Line 2084 Saf out of doute may he nouȝt forgon þat he nas Ielous euermore in oon Which Ielousie it was so outrageous þat neiþer in halle ne in non oþer hous Line 2088 he nolde suffre hire for to ryde ne go Ne in non oþer place neuer þe mo But if þat he hadde hond on hire alway ffor which ful ofte wepeþ freisshe may [folio 156a] Line 2092 That loueþ Damyan so benignely þat sche moot eyþer deye sodeinly Or elles sche mote han him at hire leste sche wayteþ whan hir herte wolde toberste Line 2096 vpon þat oþer syde Damyan Bycomen is þe sorwfulleste man þat euere was for neiþer night nor day Ne might he speke a word to freisshe may Line 2100

[6-text p 467] Line 2100 As to his purpos of no such matiere / But if þat Ianuarie most it here / þat hadde oon hond on hir euer mo And naþeles by wrytyng to and fro Line 2104 And pryue signes wist he what sche ment/ And sche knew of þe signe of his entent O Ianuarie what mighte þe affayle / þou mightest see as fer as schippes sayle Line 2108 ffor a[s] good is a blynd disceyued be As to be deceyued whan a man may se Lo argus which þat hadde an C. eyen ffor al þat euer he couþe poure or prien Line 2112 ȝit was he blent and god wot so ben mo þat wenyn wisly þat it nys nat so Passe ouer is an ese and say nomore This freissche may of which I spak of yore Line 2116 In warm wax haþ emprynted þis cliket þat Ianuarye bar of þis smale wyket By which vnto his gardyn ofte he wente And Damyan þat knew hire entente Line 2120 þe clyket countrefeted priuily Ther nys no more to say but hastyly Som wonder by his cliket schal betyde / Which ȝe schullen heere if ȝe woln abyde Line 2124 O noble Ovyde soþ saist þou god wot What sleight is it þough it be long and hoot That he nyl fynde it out in som manere By Pyramus and Thysbe may men leere [folio 156b] þough þey were kepte ful longe streiȝt ouer al þey ben acorded rownynge þurgh a wal þer is no wight couþe han founde out such a sleiȝte But now to purpos er þat dayes eyȝte Line 2132 Were passed or þe monþe of Iuyl byfille þat Ianuarye haþ caught so gret a wille þurgh eggyng of his wijf him for to pleye In his gardyn and no wight but þey tweye Line 2136

[6-text p 468] Line 2136 That in a morwe vnto his may sayde he Rise vp my wijf/ my loue my lady fre þe turtlis voys is herd my doufe sweete The wynter is gon with alle his reynes weete Line 2140 Com forþ now wiþ þin eyen columbyne how fairer ben þy brestes þan is wyne þe gardyn is enclosed al aboute Come forþ my white spouse out of doute Line 2144 þou hast me wounded in myn herte O wyf No spotte in þe nas in al þy lyf Com forþ and let vs taken oure disport I chees þe for my wyff and my confort Line 2148 Suche olde lowde wordes vsed he On damyan a signe made sche That he schulde go biforn wiþ his clyket þis damyan haþ opened þe wyket Line 2152 And in he sterte and þat in such manere þat no wight might it se ne heere And stille he sitt vnder a bussch anon This Ianuare so blynd as is a stoon Line 2156 Wiþ mayus in his hond and no wight mo In to his freisshe gardyn is he go And clapte to þe wyket sodeynly Now wiff quod he her nys but þou and I Line 2160 þat art þe creature þat I best loue ffor by þat lord þat sitt vs alle aboue I hadde leuer deyen on a knyf Then þe offenden deere trewe wyf [folio 157a] Line 2164 ffor goddes sake þenk how I þe chees Nouȝt for no coueytise dowteles / But oonly for þe loue I hadde to þe And þough þat I be olde and may nouȝt se Line 2168 Be to me trewe and I wol telle ȝou why Certes þre þinges scholden ȝe wynne þerby ffirst loue of crist and to ȝour self honour And al myn heritage toun and tour Line 2172

[6-text p 469] Line 2172 I ȝiue it ȝow makeþ Chartres as ȝou leste This schal be do to morwe er sonnes reste So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse And preye ȝou on couenaunt þat ȝe me kisse Line 2176 And þough þat I be Ielous wyte me nouȝt ȝe ben so deepe enprynted in my þouȝt þat whan þat I considere ȝour beaute And þer wiþ al þe vnlikly elde of me Line 2180 I may nouȝt certes þough I schulde deye ffor-bere to ben out of ȝour companye ffor verray loue þis is wiþouten doute Now kisse me wijf and let vs rome aboute Line 2184 ¶ This freissche may whan sche þis wordes herde/ Benignely to Ianuarye answerde But first and forward sche bygan to weepe I haue quod sche a soule for to keepe Line 2188 As wel as ȝe and also myn honour And of my wifhede þilke tendre flour Which þat I haue asseured in ȝour hand Whan þat þe prest to yow my body band Line 2192 Wher-fore I wol answere in þis manere Wiþ þe leue of ȝou my lord so deere I pray god þat neuer dawe þat day þat I ne sterue as foule as womman may Line 2196 If euer I do vnto my kynne þat schame / Oþer elles I empeyre so my name / þat y be fals and if I do þat lak To strype me and putte me in a sakk [folio 157b] Line 2200 And in þe nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil womman and no wenche Why speke ȝe þus but men ben euer vntrewe And wommen han reproef of ȝou ay newe Line 2204 ȝe can non oþer contynaunce I leeue But speke to vs as vntriste and in repreue And wiþ þat word sche saugh wher damyan Sat in þe bussh and knelen he bigan Line 2208

[6-text p 470] Line 2208 And wiþ hire fynger signes made sche þat Damyan schulde clymbe vpon a tree þat charged was wiþ fruyt and vp he wente ffor verrayly he knew al hire entente Line 2212 And euery signe þat sche couþe make Wel bet þan Ianuarye hir owne make ffor in a lettre sche hadde told him al Of þis matiere how he worche schal Line 2216 And þus I lete him sitte in þe Pyry And Ianuarye and mayus rownynge myry ¶ Bright was þe day and blew þe firmament Phebus of gold doun haþ his stremes sent Line 2220 To gladen euery flour wiþ his warmnesse he was þat tyme in Gemynys as I gesse But litel fro his declynacion Of Cancer Iouys exaltacion Line 2224 And so bifelle þat in a bright morwetyde þat in þe gardyn on þat ferþer syde / Pluto þat is þe king of fayerye And many a lady in his companye Line 2228 ffolwyng his wyf þe queene proserpyna Which þat he rauyssched out of Proserpyna Whiles þat sche gaderede floures in a mede In Claudian ȝe may þe storyes rede Line 2232 how in his grysly carte he hire fette This kyng of fayerie a doun him sette vpon a benche of/ toruys freissch and grene And right anon seyde he þus to his queene [folio 158a] Line 2236 My wijf quod he þat may no wight seye nay þe experiens proueþ it euery day þe tresoun which þat womman doþ to man Ten hundred þousand tellen I can / Line 2240 Notable of ȝour vntrouþe and brytilnes O Salamon richest of alle richesse ffulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie fful worþy ben þyne wordes to memorie Line 2244

[6-text p 471] Line 2244 To euery wight þat witt and reson can þus preiseþ he ȝit þe bounte of man Among a þousand men ȝit fond I on But of alle wommen fond he neuer noon Line 2248 þus seiþ þe king þat knoweþ ȝoure wickednes / And Ihesus filius Cyrak as I ges / Ne spekeþ of ȝou but seeldyn reuerens A wilde fuyre a corumpte pestilens Line 2252 So falle vpon ȝour bodyes ȝit to nyght Ne se ȝe nought þis honurable knight By cause allas þat he is blynd and old his owne man schal make him kokewold Line 2256 Lo wher he sitte þe lecchour in þe tree Now wol I graunte of myn mageste vnto þis olde blynde worþy knight þat he schal han aȝein his eyȝen sight Line 2260 Whan þat his wijf wolde don him vylenye þan schal he knowe al hire harlottrie Boþe in repreef of hire and oþer mo ȝe schal quod Proserpyn and wol ȝe so Line 2264 Now by mo moodres syres soule I swere þat I schal ȝeuyn hire suffisaunt answere And alle wommen after for ȝour sake / þat þough þey ben in eny gilt y-take Line 2268 Wiþ face bold þei scholden hemself excuse And bere hem doun þat wolden hem accuse / ffor lakke of answere non of hem scholde deyen Al hadde ȝe seye a þing wiþ boþe ȝour eyȝen [folio 158b] ȝit schullen we so visagen it hardyly And weepe and swere and chide subtyly þat ȝe schuln ben as lewed as here gees What rekkeþ me of ȝour auctoritees Line 2276 I wot wel þis Iewe þis Salamon ffand of vs wommen fooles many oon But þough þat he ne fond no good womman þer haþ I-founde many anoþer man Line 2280

[6-text p 472] Line 2280 Wommen ful trewe ful good ful vertuous Witnesse on hem þat dwellen in cristes hous Wiþ martirdom þey prouyd hir [[MS h]] constance þe Romayne Iestes maken remembrance Line 2284 Of many a verray trewe wijf also but sire ne beþ nouȝt wroþ as be it so þouȝ þat he seyde he fond no good womman I pray ȝou take þe sentence of þe man Line 2288 he mente þus þat in souerayne bounte Nis non but god but neyþer he ne sche Ey for verray god þat nys but oon What make ȝe so moche of Salamon Line 2292 What þough he made a temple goddes hous What þough he were riche and glorious So made he a temple of false godis Who mighte do a þing þat more forbode is Line 2296 Parde as fayr as he his name in-plastre he was a lecchour and an ydolastre And in his eelde he verry god forsook And if þat god ne hadde as seiþ þe book Line 2300 y-spared him for his fadres sake he scholde haue lost his regne sonner þan he wolde I sette nouȝt of alle þe vylenye þat ȝe of wommen wite a bottirflye Line 2304 I am a womman needes moot I speke Oþer elles swelle til myn herte breke ffor siþenes he seyde þat we ben Iangeleresses As euer mote I brouke boþe my tresses [folio 159a] Line 2308 I schal not spare for no curtesye To speke him harm þat wolde vs vilanye Dame quod þis pluto be no lengere wroþ I ȝiue it vp but seþens I swor myn oþ Line 2312 þat I wolde graunten him his sight aȝein My word schal stonde þat warne I þe certayn I am a king it sitt me nouȝt to lye And I quod sche a queen of fayerye Line 2316

[6-text p 473] Line 2316 hire answere sche schal haue I vndertake let vs no more wordes make [[For the rest of the Tale (from MS Arch. Seld. B. 14) see the Appendix.]] Line 2318