The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

§ 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE.

LANSDOWNE MS.

Incipit prologus vxoris/. de Bathe. [on leaf 87]

THan schortly ansewarde þe wife of Bathe [spurious link] Line 1* And swore a wonder grete haþe [spurious link] Line 2* Be goddes bones .I. wil tel next [spurious link] Line 3* .I. will nouht glose bot saye þe text [spurious link] Line 4* Experiment þouhe none auctorite Line 1 Where in þis werlde is riht y-nouhe for me To speke of woo þat is in mariage For lordeinges sen .I. twelue ȝere was of Age Line 4 Þonked be god þat eterne alyue Hosbondes att þe cherche dor .I. haue hadde five If .I. so oft myht haue wedded be Bot al were worþi men in here degre. Line 8 Bot me was tolde certein nouȝt longe a-gon es [folio 87b] Þat seþen criste ne went neuer bot ones To weddeinge in þe Cane of Galile That be þilke ensample tauht he me Line 12 Þat .I. ne scholde wedded bue bot ones Herke eke loo suche a scharpe worde for þe nones Be side a well ihesu god and man Spak in repreue of þe Samaritan Line 16 Þou hast hi-hadde fyve husbondes quod he And þat ilke man þat nowe haþe þe Is nouht þin husbonde þus seide he serteine What he ment þerby .I. kan nouht seine Line 20 Well . Bot þat .I. ax. whi þe fift mane Was none husbonde to þe Semaritane How many myht sche haue in mariage Ȝit herd .I. neuer tell in myne age Line 24

[6-text p 335] Line 24 vpon þis nombre diffinicione Men maie devine and glosene vp and downe Bot wele .I. wote expresse wiþ-oute lye God bad vs wax and multiplye Line 28 Þat gentil tixt can .I. wele vnder-stonde Eke wele .I. he seide myn husbonde Scholde lete fader and moder and tak to me Bot of no nombre mencione maade he Line 32 Of bygamy or of octagamye Whi scholde y þan of it haue velanye Loke here þe wisman kinge Salomon .I. trowe he had wyues mo þan one Line 36 Now wolde god it leuefull were to me To be refresched half so oft as he Whiche ȝift of god had he for al his wyves No man haþe suche þat in þis werld on lyue is Line 40 God wote þis noble kinge as to my witt Þe first nyht he hadde mony a mery fitt Wiþ iche of hem so wele was him on live Blissed be god þat .I. haue wedded fyue Line 44 Welcome be þe sext whan þat euer he schall For soþe .I. wil nouȝt kepe chaste in all Whan myn husbonde is from þe werlde gone Son cresten man schal wedde me a-none Line 48 For þan þe Apostle seiþe þat .I. am fre To wedde on goddes halue where it likeþ me He seiþe to be wedede is no sinne [Melius est nubere quam vri] Better is to be wedded þan to berne [folio 88a] What rekkeþe me þouhe folke seie velanye Line 53 Of schrewed lameþ and his Bigamye .I. wote wele Abraham was an holy man And Iacob eke as fer as euere y kan Line 56 And eche of hem had wyves mo þan tuo And mony anoþer holy man also Wher can ȝe seye in any maner age Þat vs god defended Mariage Line 60

[6-text p 336] Line 60 Be expresse worde .I. praie ȝowe telleþ me Or where commaunded he virginite .I. wote as wele as ȝe it is no drede The Apostle whan he spekeþe of Maidenhede Line 64 He seide þere-of precept had .I. none Men mai consel a womman to bene one Bott counseillinge is no comandement He put it in owre owen Iugement Line 68 For had god commanded maidenhede þan hadde he dampned wedinge wiþ þe dede And certes if þere were no sede .I.-sowe virginite þan where-of schold it growe Line 72 Poule dorst nouht commanden att þe leste A þinge of whiche his maistre ȝaf him none heste The darte is sett vp for virginitee Chase who so maye . who so renneþ best let see Line 76 Bot þis worde is nouht take of euery whiht Bot þere as god wolde gif it of his myht .I. wote wele þat þe Apostle was a maide Bot Naþeles þouhe þat he wrote or saide Line 80 He wolde þat euery wight were suche as he All ne is bot counseill to virginite And for to be a wif he ȝaue me leue Of Indulgence so is it of no repreue Line 84 To wedde me if þat my . make dye Wiþ-oute excepcione of bigamye Al were it goode no womman for to touche He ment as in his body or his couche Line 88 For perill is boþe to touche and for to assemble Ȝe knowe what þis ensample maie resemble Þis all and somme he helde virginite Mor perfite þan wedded in frelete. Line 92 Freelte clepe .I. nouht bot þat he and sche [folio 88b] Wolde lede here life al in chastite .I. graunte it wele .I. haue none envye þouhe maidenhed prefer bygamye Line 96

[6-text p 337] Line 96 It likeþ hem to be clene in body and goste Of myne astate .I. wil make no boste For wele ȝe knowe a lorde in his housholde Haþe nouht euery vessel of golde Line 100 Some biene of tree and done lorde seruise God clepeþ folke to him in sunder wise And eueryche haþ of god a proper ȝift Som þis. som þat. as him likeþ to schift Line 104 Virginite is grete perfectione And conscience eke wiþ deuocione Bot crist þat of perfection is well Bad nouht euery whight he schold sell Line 108 All þat he hadde and ȝiue it to þe pore And in suche wise folowe him and his lore He spak to hem þat wolden leue perfitelye And lordeynges be ȝoure leue þat am nouȝt .I. Line 112 .I. wyl be-stowe þe flowre of al myne age In charite and fruyte of Mariage Tel me also to what conclusione Were membres maade of generacione Line 116 And of so perfit wise and why y-wrouht Tresteþ riht wele þei were nouht maad for nouht Glose who so will and sei boþe vp and doune þat þei were maad for purgacione Line 120 Of vryne. and owre boþe þinges smale Were eke to knowe a female frome a male And for none oþere cause what seie ȝe noo þe experience woote it is nouȝt soo Line 124 So þat þe clerkes be not wiþ me wroþe .I. sei þis þet þei maked bue for boþe þis is to seine for Office and for ese Of engenderinge þere we nouht god displese Line 128 Whi scholden men elles in hire bokes sette þat man schal ȝelde to his wife his dette Nowe where-wiþ scholde he paye his payment If þat he ne vsed his sely instrument Line 132

[6-text p 338] Line 132 Than were þei maade vpon a creature To purge vryne and eke for engendrure Bot .I. sei nouȝt þat euery wyht is holde [folio 89a] þat haþe suche hernays as .I. to ȝow of tolde Line 136 To gone and vsen hem in engendrure Than scholde men take of chastite no cure Criste was a mayden and schapen as a man And mony a seinte soþþ þat þis werlde began Line 140 Ȝit leued þei euer in perfite charite .I. nyl envye wiþ no virginite Lete hem ete brede of pured whete sed And late vs wyues ete barly brede Line 144 And ȝit wiþ barly brede Marke tel can Owre lorde ihesu refrissched mony a man In suche astate þat god haþ cleped vs .I. wil perseuere .I. am nouht precious Line 148 In whifehode wil .I. vse myne Instrument As frely as my maker haþ it sent If .I. be daungerous god gif me sorwe Myne husbond schal it haue boþe eue and morwe Line 152 Whan þat him luste com forþe and paie his dette An husbond .I. wil haue .I. wil not lette Whiche schal be boþe my dettour and my þrall Line 155 And haue his tribulacione wiþ all [¶ Ad Corinthios .vijo. vir sui corporis potes|tatem non habet set mulier.] Vpon his flesche while þat .I. am his wif .I. haue þe powere dureinge al my lif Vpon his propre body and not he Riht þus þe Apostle tolde to me Line 160 And bad owre husbondes for to loue vs wele Al þis sentens me likeþ euery dele

Vp stert þe pardoner and þat anone Nowe dame quod he be god and be seinte Iohn Line 164 Ȝe bue a noble prechoure in þis cas .I. was aboute to wed a wif alas What schold .I. by it on my flesche so dere Ȝit had .I. leuere none wedde to ȝere Line 168

[6-text p 339] Line 168 Abide quod sche Mi tale is nouȝt be-gonne Nay þou schalt drinken of a noþere tonne Are þat .I. go schal sauere wers þan ale And whan þat .I. haue tolde forþe my tale Line 172 Of tribulacione in mariage Of whiche .I. am experte in myne age This is to seye Mi-self haþ be þe whippe þan maist þou chese weder þou wilt scippe Line 176 Thilke tonne þat .I. schal a-broche [folio 89b] Be ware of it er þou to nyhe aproche For [I] schal tell ensamples mo þan tenne Wo so þat wil be war of oþere menne Line 180 Be him schal oþer men correct be þis same wordes writeþe tholome Ride in his almagist and take it þere Dame .I. praye ȝowe if ȝoure wil were Line 184 Said þis pardoner as ȝe began Tel forþ ȝowre tale spare for no man And teche vs ȝonge men of ȝoure practike Gladly quod sche if it maie ȝowe like Line 188 Bot þat .I. praie to al þis compaignye If þat .I. speke after my fantasie As takeþe not a greue of þat .I. saie For myne entent is nouht bot for to pleie Line 192

Nowe sires þan schal .I. tel ȝowe my tale As euere most .I. drink wyne or ale .I. schal seie soþe þe husbondes þat I. had As þre of hem were riht good and tuo were badde Line 196 The þre were godemen and riche and olde Vnneþ myht þei þe state holde In whiche þei were bounden vnto me Ȝe wote wele what .I. mene of þis parde Line 200 As god me help .I. lauhe whan .I. þinke Howe pytously a nyht .I. maade hem swynke Bot be me feie .I. told of hit no store þei hadde me ȝeue hir londe and here tresore Line 204

[6-text p 340] Line 204 Me neded nouȝt do longer diligence To wynne her loue and done hem reuerence Thei loued me so wele be god aboue þat .I. ne tolde no deynte of here loue Line 208 A wise womman wil bisie hire euere in one To gete hire loue ȝe þare as sche haþe none Bot seþþe .I. hadde hem holy in myne honde And siþþe þat þei hadde ȝif me al hir londe Line 212 What schold .I. take hem for to plese Bot if it were my profit and myne ese Bot .I. set hem so awerke be my faye þat mony a nyht þei songen walawaye Line 216 The bacon was nouȝt fette for hem .I. trowe That sum men haue in Essexe att Donnemowe I gouerne hem so wele after my lawe [folio 90a] That iche of hem ful blisful was and fawe Line 220 To bringe me gay þinges fro þe fayre Knyves ringes and purces wel fayre For god it wote .I. chidde hem spitously Nowe herkeneþe howe .I. bare me propu[r]ly Line 224 Ȝe wise wyves þat can vnder-stonde Thus scholde ȝe speke and bere hem wronge on honde For halue so boldely þer can no man Swere and lye as a womman can Line 228 .I. seie nouht þis be wives þat bue wise Bot it be whan þet þei hem mis-avise A wise wif schal if þat sche can hire gode Bere him on honde þat þe cowe is wode Line 232 And take wittenes of hire owen maide Of hir assent Bot herkeneþe how .I. saide Sir olde keynard þis is þin arraie Whi is my neihbors wif so gaie Line 236 Sche is honoured ouer al wher sche goþe .I. sette att home .I. haue no þrifty cloþe What dedest þou att myn neihbors house Is sche so feire ert þou so amerouse Line 240

[6-text p 341] Line 240 What roune ȝe wiþ oure maide benedicite Sire olde lichour lat þi Iapes bue And if .I. haue a gossib or a frende Wiþ-oute gilte ȝe chide as a fende Line 244 Ȝif þat .I. walk or pleie in-to his house Thowe comest home as dronke as mouse An prechest on þi bynche wiþ yuel preue Tho seid to me it is a grete Meschief Line 248 To wedde a pouer womman for costage And if þat sche be riche of grete parage Þan seist þat it is a tormentrie To suffur hire pride and malancolie Line 252 And if þat sche be faire þou verre knave Thow seiste þat euery hullur will hir have Sche maie no while in chastite abide That is assaide vpon iche a side Line 256 Thowe seiste som folke desire us for oure richesse Som for oure schappe and some for owre fairenesse And sum for sche kan eyþer singe oþere daunce Þus seyse þou wernard god ȝeue þe meschaunce Line 260 Some for her hondes and her armes smale [folio 90b] Þus goþe al to þe deuel be þi tale Þou seiste men maie nouȝt kepe a castel wall It maye so longe assailed be ouer all Line 264 And. if þat sche be foule þou seist þat sche coueteþe euery man þat sche maie see For as a spanyel sche wil on him lepe Til þat sche finde sum man þat wil hir chepe Line 268 Ne none so grei goos goþe þere in þe lake As seiste þou þat wil bue wiþ-owten make And seist it is an harde þinge for to welde A wyght þat no man wil his þonkes helde Line 272 Thus seiste þou lorel whan þou gost to bedde And þat no wise man nedeþ for to wedde And no man þat entendeþ to þe heuene Wiþ wilde þonder dint and fire leuene Line 276

[6-text p 342] Line 276 Mot þi welked nekke be to-broke Thow seist þat dropinge howses and eke smoke And chidinge wyves maken men to flye Owte of her owen house a benedicite Line 280 What eyleþe suche an holde man for to chide þou seist we wiues wil owre vices hide Til we be fast and þan we wil hem schewe Wele maie þis be a prouerbe of a schrewe Line 284 Thou seist þat oxen assen hors and houndes þei buen assaide att diuers stoundes Basyns lauours er þat men hem bye Spones stoles and suche husbondrie Line 288 And so buen cloþes pottes and oþere araies Bot aren of wemmen maked none assaies Til þei be wedded olde dotard schrewe And seystowe we wil þan owre vices schewe Line 292 Thou seiste also þat it displeseþ me Bot if þou wilt preis my beute And bot þou poure alwei vpon my face And clepe me faire dame in euery place Line 296 Bot þou make a fest on þilke daie Þat .I. was borne and make me frische and gaie And bot þou do to my Norise honoure And to my chambre wiþ-inne my boure Line 300 An to my faders folke and his allyes Thus seist þou olde barel full of lyes And ȝit of oure prentise Iankyn [folio 91a] For his crispe here schyneinge so gold fine Line 304 And for he swyers me boþe vp and downe Ȝit hast þou þouht and false suspecione .I. will him nouht þouhe þowe were dede to morue Bot tel me þis whi hides þou wiþ sorwe Line 308 The kayes of þi kist aweie fro me .It. is my good as wele as þine parde What wenes þou maake an Ideot of owr dame Nowe be þat lorde þat calle is seint Iame Line 312

[6-text p 343] Line 312 Thowe schalt nouht boþe þouhe þat þou were wode Be maistre of Mi body and my goode Þat on þou schalt for-goo mawgreve þine eyȝen What helpeþ it on me enquere and spien Line 316 .I. trowe þouhe þou woldest loke me in þi chist Þou schold seie wif go where as ȝow liste Take ȝowre disporte .I. wil not leue no tales .I. knowe ȝow for a good wif Dam Ales Line 320 We loue no man þat take kepe or charge Where þat we go we will be at owre large Of al men blissed mot he be The wise Astrologen Dam Ptholome Line 324 That seiþ þis prouerbe in his Almagest Of al men his wisdome is hiest Þat rekkeþ nouht who haþ þis werlde in honde Be þis prouerbe þou schalt wele vnde-stonde Line 328 Haue þoue .I.-nowhe what þare þe rekke or kare Howe merely þat oþe[r] folke fare For certes olde dotterd be ȝoure leue Ȝe schal haue qweynte riht. ynowhe att eue Line 332 He is to grete a nigarde þat wil warne A man to lyht a candel att his lanterne He schal haue neuere þe lesse liht parde Haue þou .I.-nowhe þe þar not pleine þe Line 336 Thou seiste also þat if þou make vs gaie Wiþ Cloþeinge or wiþ precious araye þat it is peril of owre chastite And ȝit wiþ wordes þou moste enfors me Line 340 And seie þes wordes in þe Apostles name In Abite maad wiþ chastite and schame Ȝe wemmen schold apparel ȝowe quod he And nouȝt in tressede here and gay perre Line 344 As perel ne wiþ gold ne cloþes riche [folio 91b] Aftere þi tixte ne after þi rubriche .I. wil nout wirke as muche as a gnatte Thou seide als þat .I. was like a catte Line 348

[6-text p 344] Line 348 Bot who so wolde seigne a catte scynne þat wolde þe cat wele dwelle in his Inne And if þe catt skynne be skyke and gaie Sche nil nouht dwel in house halue a daie Line 352 Bot forþe sche will or any daie be dawede To schewe hir scynn and go a Caterwawede This is to sei .If .I. be gaie sir sch [[A letter has been scratcht out after the h in this word.]] ewe .I. wil rinne out My borell for to sschewe Sire olde foole whatte helpeþ þe to spyen Line 357 Theihe þou preie Argus wiþ his hondred eyȝen [Argus habuit C oculos] To be my wardecors as he can best In feiþe he schal nouȝt kepe me bot if me list Line 360 Ȝite couþe .I. maake his berde so mut .I. þe Thow seist eke þat þere be þinges þre The whiche þinges troublen al þis erþe And þat no whiht ne maye endure þe ferþe Line 364 O leue sir schrewe ihesu schort þi lif ȝet prechest þou and seist an hateful wif .I.-reknyd is for on of þis meschaunces Bene þere none oþer maner resemblaunces Line 368 That ȝe maie likken ȝowre parables to Bot ȝif a sely wif be on of þo Thou likenest wommannes loue to hell To Bareine londe þer water maie not dwelle Line 372 Thou likenest it also to wilde fire þe more it berneþ þe more it haþe desire To consume any þinge þat brent wolde bee þou seist riht as wermes schendeþ a tree Line 376 Riht so a wif distreyeþ hir husbonde This knowe þei þat bue to wyues bonde ¶ Lordeynges riht þus as ȝe haue vnder-stande Bare .I. stifly myne olde hu[s]bondes on hande Line 380 þat þus þei seiden in her drunkennes And þat he had suspecion and Ielousenes On Iankyn and on my nefe also O lorde þe peine .I. ded hem and þe woo Line 384

[6-text p 345] Line 384 Ful giltelesse be goddes swete pine For as an hors .I. couþe boþe bite and whyne .I. couþe pleine. and .I. was in þe gilte [folio 92a] Or elles oft time .I. had bue spilte Line 388 Who-so þat first to mell comeþ first grindeþ .I. pleyned first so .I. owre werre stinteþ Thei were ful gladde to excusen hem ful bliue Of þinge whiche þei gilt neuer her lyue Line 392 Of wenches wolde .I. beren hem on honde Whann þat for seke vnneþ þei myht stonde Ȝit tikeled .I. his hert for þat he Wend .I. hadde of him so grete cherte Line 396 .I. swore þat al my walkynge be nyht Was to aspye wenches þat he diht Vnder þat colour had .I. mony a myrþe For al suche witte is ȝeue us in owre birþe Line 400 Desceite wepeynge spynnynge . god haþe ȝeue [¶ Fallere flere nere dedit deus in Muliere] To womman kindely while þat þei maie leue And þus of o þinge .I. auaunt me Att þe ende .I. had þe beste in yche degre Line 404 Be sleyȝt or force or be sum manere þinge As by continuel murmur or grucchinge Namely abedde had þei muschaunce Ther wolde .I. chide and do hem no plesance Line 408 .I. wolde no longer in þe bedde abide If þat .I. felte his arme ouer my side Til he had made his raunson vn-to me Than wolde .I. suffre him do his nycete Line 412 ¶ And þer-for euery man þis tale .I. telle Wyue who so maie al her for to sell Wiþþe empty hande men may none haukes lure For wynynge wold .I. al his lust endure Line 416 And make me a feyned appetite And ȝit in bacon had .I. neuere delyte That maked me þat euer y wolde him chide For þouhe þe pope had sette him be side Line 420

[6-text p 346] Line 420 I wold nouȝt spare him att his owene borde For be my trouþe .I. white him worde for worde As helpe me verrei gode omnipotent þouhe .I. scholde riht nowe make my testament Line 424 .I. ne hawe him a worde þat it nes quitte .I. brouht it so aboute be my witte þat he mot ȝeue it vp as for þe best Or elles had we neuer bue in rest Line 428 For þouhe he loked as a lyone [folio 92b] Ȝit scholde he faile of his conclusione þan wolde .I. sei goode leue take kepe Howe Mekely lokeþ wilkin owre schepe Line 432 Com nere my spouse lat me ba þi cheke Ȝe scholle be al pacient and meke And hane a swete spiced conscience Sen ȝe so preche of Iobis pacience Line 436 Suffreþ al-weie synne ȝe so wel can preche And bot ȝe do certeine we schol ȝowe teche þat it is faire to haue a wif in pes One of vs mote bowen douteles Line 440 And siþþe a man is more resonable Than womman is sir ȝowe must be more suffreable What eyleþ ȝowe to gruche þus and grone Is it for ȝe wolde haue myn queynte alone Line 444 Whi take it al lo haue it euery dele Petere .I. schrewe ȝowe bot ȝe loue me wele For. if .I. wolde selle my bele chose .I. couþe walke as fresche as a rose Line 448 Bot .I. wil kepe it for ȝoure owen toþe Ȝe be to blame be god .I. saie ȝow soþe Suche maner wordes had we on honde ¶ Now wil .I. speke of my ferþe husbonde Line 452 My ferþe husbonde was a reueloure This is to sey he had a paramour And .I. was ȝonge and ful of ragerie Stiborne and stronge and Ioly as a pye Line 456

[6-text p 347] Line 456 Lorde howe couþe .I. daunce to an harpe smale And singe .I.-wis as any nyhten-gale Whan .I. hadde dronke a drawht of swete wyne Metelinge þe foule cherle þe swyne Line 460 That wiþ a staf beraft his wif here lyf For sche dranke wyne. þouhe .I. had bue his wif Ne scholde he nouht haue daunted me fro drinke And after wyne of venus must .I. þinke Line 464 For also seker as colde engendereþ haile A likerous mouþe most haue a likerous taile In womman vi[n]olent is no defence þis knowen lichours bue experience Line 468 Bot lorde criste whan þat it remembreþ me Vpon my ȝouþe. and my Iolyte. It tikeleþ me aboute myne herte Rote [folio 93a] Vnto þis daie it doþ myne hert bote Line 472 That .I. haue had my werlde as my time Bot age alas þat all wil envenyme Haþe me be-raft my beaute and my piþþe Lat go fare wele þe deuel go þere wiþþe Line 476 The floure is gone þere is no more to telle Þe bran as .I. best can nowe mot .I. selle Bot ȝit to be riht merye wolde .I. fonde Now forþe to tell of my ferþe husbonde Line 480 .I. sei .I. had in herte grete dispite þat he of any oþer had delite Bot he was qwytte be god and be seinte Iose .I. maade him of þe same wode a crose Line 484 Not of my body in no foule manere Bot certeynly .I. maade folke suche chiere þat in his owen gres .I. maade him frie For angers and for verraie Ielousye Line 488 Be god in erþe .I. was his purgatorye For whiche .I. hope his soule be in glorie For god it wote he satte ful ofte and songe Whan þat his scho ful bitterly him wronge. Line 492

[6-text p 348] Line 492 For þere was none saue gode and he þat wiste In mony wise where .I. him twiste He dyed whan .I. cam from Ierusaleme And lyeþ in a graue vnder þe rode beme Line 496 Al nys is toumbe not so curious As was þe sepulcre of him Darius Whiche þat Appelles wrouhten soubtely It nys bot wast to beri him preciouslye Line 500 Lat him fare wele god ȝeue his sowle rest He is nowe in his graue and in his chest Nowe of my fift husbond wil .I. tell God lat neuer his soule come in hell Line 504 And ȝete was he to me þe most schrewe þat fele .I. on my ribbes al be rewe And euer schal vn-to myne endeynge daie Bot in owre bedde he was so fressche and gaie Line 508 And þer-wiþ also wele couþe he me glose Whan þat he wolde haue my bele chose þat þouhe he hadde me bette on euery bone He couþe winne a-ȝeine my loue a-none Line 512 .I. trow .I. louede him bette for he [folio 93b] Was of his loue daungerous to me We wemmen haue if þat .I. schal nouht lye In þis manere a qweynte fantasye Line 516 Whayte what þinke we may nouht lyhtly haue Þere-after wil we crie al daie and craue For-bede us þinge and þat desiren we Pres on vs fast and þan wil we fle Line 520 Wiþe daungier owten we al oure chafre Gret pres att þe Market makeþ dere ware And to grete chepe is holde att littel pris þis knoweþ euery womman þat is wys Line 524 My venus husbonde god his soule blisse Whiche þat .I. toke for loue and for no richisse He sumtyme was a clerke of Oxenforde And had left scole and went att home to borde Line 528

[6-text p 349] Line 528 Wiþþe my gossibbe dwelinge in oure toune God haue hire soule hire name was Alison Sche knewe myne hert and al my priuete better þan oure parische preste so mot .I. þe Line 532 To hire be-wryed .I. my counsell all For hadde my husbond pissed on a wall Or done a þinge þat schold haue cost his lif To hir and to anoþer worþi wif Line 536 And to my nece whiche .I. loue wele .I. wolde haue tolde his counsel euery dele And so .I. dide ful often god it wote þat maade his face often rede and hote Line 540 For verray schame and blamed him-selfe for he Had tolde to me so grete a priuete And so it be-fell þat ones in a lente So oft time .I. to my gossip wente Line 544 For euer ȝit .I. loued to be gay And for walke in marche aprile and Maie Fro hous to hous to herken sondaye tales Þat Iankin clerke and my gossib dam Alice Line 548 And .I. my selfe in-to þe felde wente Myne husbond was att Londen al þat lente .I. hadde þe better leyser for to pleie And for to see and eke for to be seie Line 552 Of lusty folke what wist .I. where my grace Was schapen for to be or in what place There-for maade .I. my visitacions [folio 94a] To vigiles and to processions Line 556 To precheinge eke and to þis pilgrimages To pleis of Miracles and of Mariages And wered vpon my gaie scarlet Gytes This wermes ne þes mouhtes ne þis mytes Line 560 Vpon my perel fete hem neuer a dele And wost þou whie for þei were vsed wele Nowe wil .I. telle forþe what happed me .I. saie þat in þe felde walked wee Line 564

[6-text p 350] Line 564 Til trewely we had suche daliance þis clerke and .I. þat of my purueance .I. spak to him and seide how þat he .If .I. were wedowe scholde wedde me Line 568 For certeinly .I. saie for no bobance þat was .I. neuer ȝit wiþ-oute purueance Of mariage ne of oþer þinges eke .I. holde a mannes witte nouht worþe a leke Line 572 þat haþ bott one hole to sterte vnto And if þat faile þan is þat al y-do [I bare hym on honde he hadde enchaunted me [[Cambr. Univ. MS Ii 3. 26, leaf 116, line 9]] My dame taught me that subtilte And I seide I mette of hym all nyght Line 577 He wolde haue shamed me as I ley vp-right And my bedde was verey blode But yite I hope that ye shull do me good Line 580 ffor good blode be-tokenyth Golde as I was taught And all was fals I dremed of hym right noght But as I folowed my Dames lore [a line misst in the MS.] [Cambr. Univ. MS Ii 3. 26 folio 116a] [[MS Ii 3. 26 extract stops]] ] Bot nowe sire lete me se what .I. schal seyne A ha be god .I. haue my tale a-ȝeine Whan þat myn faire husbonde laie on bere .I. wepe al gate. and maad sory chiere Line 588 As wives moten for it is vsage And wiþ my kerchef kouerde my vesage Bot for þat .I. was purveide of a make .I. wepe bot smale and þat .I. vnder take Line 592 To cherche was my husbonde borne on morwe Wiþ neyhbors þat for him maad sorwe And Iankin oure clerke was on of þo As helpe me god whan þat .I. sihe him go Line 596 Affeter þe bere me þouht he hadd a peire Of leges of feet so clene and faire þat al my herte .I. ȝaf vn-to his holde He was .I. trowe tuew[n]ty winter olde Line 600

[6-text p 351] Line 600 And .I. was fourty. if þat .I. schal seie soþe Bot ȝit .I. had alwaie a coltes toþe Gate toþede .I. was and þat be-come me wele .I. had þe printe of seint venus seale Line 604 As helpe me god .I. was a lusti one And faire and riche and ȝonge and wele be-gone And treuly as myne husbonde tolde me [folio 94b] .I. hadde þe best quoniam þat myht be Line 608 [ffor certis/ I am all/ fulli reueryan. In felyng/ & myn herte all marcian. Venus/ me yaf my lust/ my likyng/ & licorousnes/. And Mars/ gaf/ me my sturdi hardynes/. [Harl. 1758 folio 95a] ] Line 612 Myne asscendent was taurus and mars þere inne Alas alas þat euer loue was sinne .I. folowed ay myne Inclinacion Be vertue of mye constillacion Line 616 þat maade me .I. couþe nouȝt wiþ-drawe Mi chambre of venus frome a goode felawe [yet/ haue I a marke of/ Mars vp-on my face. [Harl. 1758 folio 95a] And also in another/ pryue place. ffor god so wisse be my saluacion. I louyd neuyr/ bi non discrescion. But euyr/ folewid myn appetite. All/ were he schort/ long/ blak/ or white. Line 624 I toke no kepe so that/ he liked me. How pore he was/ ne eke of what/ degre. [[Harl. 1758 ex|tract stops]] ] What scold .I. seie bot at þe moneþes ende This Ioly clerk Iankin þat was so hende Line 628 Haþe wedde me wiþ grete solempnite And to him ȝaf .I. al þe londe and fee þat euere was me ȝeuene þare before Bot afterwarde repentede me ful sore Line 632 He wolde suffer no þing of my lust Be god he smote me ones on þe luste for þat .I. rent oute of his booke a lef þat of þat stroke myne eren wexen def Line 636

[6-text p 352] Line 636 Styborne .I. was as is a lyonesse And of my tonge a verreie Iangeleres And walke .I. walde as .I. had do be-forne Frome house to house al þouhe he had it sworne Line 640 For wiþ often time he wolde preche And me olde romans gestes teche Howe he simplicius gallus left his wif And hire for-soke for terme of his lif Line 644 Not bot for hopen hede he hire seie Lokeynge oute att his dore on a daie Anoþer Romeyne tolde he me be name That for his wif was att a somer game Line 648 Wiþ-owte his weteinge he for-sooke here eke And þan wolde he vpon his bible seeke þat ilke prouerbe of ecclesiast Where he commandeþ and for-bedeþ fast Line 652 Man schal not suffur his wif go roile a-boute Than wolde he saie riht þus wiþ-outen doute ¶ Who so þat bildeþ his house al of salowes [Nota] And prikeþ his blinde hors ouere þ[e] falowes Line 656 And sufferþ his wif for seken halowes Is worþi to be honge on þe galowes Bot al for not .I. set not an hawe Of his prouerbes ne of his olde lawe. Line 660 Ne .I. wolde nouht of him correct be [folio 95a] .I. hate him þat my vice telleþ me And so do mo god wote of vs þan .I. þis maade him wiþe me woode al vtterly Line 664 .I. nolde nouht for-bere him in no caas Nowe wil .I. seye ȝowe soþe be seint thomas Whi þat .I. rent oute of his boke a lefe For whiche he smote me þat .I. was defe Line 668 He had a booke þat gladly nyht and daie For his disporte he wolde rede al weie He clepede valerye and theofraste Att whiche boke he lauhe al-weye ful fast Line 672

[6-text p 353] Line 672 Ande eke þare was sum time a clerke in rome A Cardinale þat hiht seint Ierome þat maad a boke aȝeine Iouynyane In whiche booke eke þer was torculane Line 676 Crisippus Trecula and helowys That was Abbas nouȝt fer fro parische And eke þe paraboles of Salomon Ovydes arte and bokes many one Line 680 And al þis were boundene in o velome And euery nyht and day was his custome Whan he had leysere and vacacione frome oþer werldly occupacione Line 684 To reden on þis boke of wikked wyues He knewe of hem mo legentez and liues Than bue of goode wyues in þe bible For trusteþ wele it is an impossible Line 688 þat any clerke wil speken good of wyves Bot if it bue of holy seintes lyues Ne of none oþer womman neuere þe mo Who peynted þe lyon tel me who Line 692 Be god if wemmen had wreten stories As clerkes haue wiþ-inne hire oratories Thei wold haue wreten of men more wikkednesse þan al þe mark of Adam maie redresse Line 696 The childern of Mercure and Venus Bene in hire wirkeinge contrarius Mercurie loue wisdome and sciens And venus loueþ riote and dispens Line 700 And for hir diuers disposicion Sche falleþ in oþer exaltacion. And þus godde wote Mercurie is desolate [folio 95b] In piscis where venus is exaltate Line 704 And venus falleþ þere Mercurie is reised Þere-for no womman of no man is preised Þe clerke whan he is olde and maie nouht do Of venus werkes worþe his olde scho Line 708

[6-text p 354] Line 708 Than sitte he doune and write in his dotage That wemmen kan nouht kepe here Mariage Bot nowe to purpos why .I. tolde þe Þat .I. was beten for a booke perde Line 712 Vpon a nyht Iankin þat was owre sire Radd on his boke as he satte be þe fire Of Eue first þat for hire wykkednesse Was al man kinde first brouht to wrechednesse Line 716 [for which Ihesu crist / him silff was sleyne that bought vs with his herte blood ageyne lo here expresse of recorde / may ye fynde that woman was the loos / of al mankynde [Laud. MS 600 folio 85a] [[No other Oxford MS has these lines.—G. Parker.]] ] Line 720 þo redde he me howe sampson lost his heris Slepeinge his lemman kut it wiþþe hire scheris Thorwhe whiche treson loste he boþe his eyȝen þo redde he me if þat .I. schal nouht lyȝen Line 724 Of Hercules & of Dyamyre þat caused him to sett him self a fire Noþinge forȝate he þe penance and woo þat Socrates had wiþþe his wyues twoo Line 728 Howe þat ancippa kest pisse on his hede þis sely man satte still as he were dede He wype his hede no more dorst he seine Bot or þat þonder stinte comeþ a raine Line 732 Of Phasipha þat was queene of Crete For schrewednesse him þouht þe tale swete Fy speke no more it [is] a grisely þinge Of hire orrible lust and hir lykeinge Line 736 Of Clitermistra for hir lycherie þat falsly maad hir husbond for to deye He red it wiþ ful good deuocion He told me for what occasion Line 740 Amphiorax att Thebes lost his lif Myne husbond hadd a legent of his wife Eriphilem þat for a nouche of golde Haþe priuely vnto þe Grekes tolde Line 744

[6-text p 355] Line 744 Where þat hir husbond hid him in a place For whiche he hadd att Thebes sori grace Off lima tolde he me . & of lucye þei boþe maade her husbondes for to deye Line 748 That oone for loue þe toþer was for hate [folio 96a] Lyma hir husbonde on euen late Enpoysond had for þat sche was his foo Lucia likerous loued hire husbond soo Line 752 Þat for he schold vpon hire alweie þinke Sche ȝaue him suche a loue maner drinke þat he was dede or it was be þe morwe And þus algates husbondes haue sorwe Line 756 Þan tolde he me howe one latumyus Compleynede to his felawe Arius That in his gardyne groued suche a tre On whiche he seide þat his wyues þre Line 760 Honged hem self for hertes dispitous O leue broþer quod þis Arrius ȝif me a plante of þat blisful tre And in my gardine plantid it schal be Line 764 ¶ Of latter date of wyues haþe he radde Þat han sleyne here husbonde in her bedde And lete hire lychoure diht hire al þe nyht Whan þat þe cors laie in flore vpriht Line 768 And sum haue dreuen nayles in here brayne While þat þei slepe and þus þei haue hem sleyne Some haue ȝeuen poyson in my drynke He spake more harme þan hert maie be-þinke Line 772 And þerwiþal he knewe of mo prouerbes Þan in þis werlde þer growen grasse or herbes Bet is quod he þin habitacione Be wiþ a leoun or a foule dragone Line 776 Þan wiþ a womman vsinge for to chide Better is quod he hihe in þe rofe abide Þan wiþ an angre wif doun in an hous Þei bene so wikked and contrarious Line 780

[6-text p 356] Line 780 þei hateþ þat her husbonde loueþ aye He seid a womman kest hir schame awaye Whan sche cast of hire smok and forþermo A faire womman bot sche be chaste also Line 784 Is like a gold ringe on a sowes nose Who walde wene or wold suppose þe wo þat in myne hert was and pine And whan .I. sawe he wolde neuer fyne Line 788 To reden on þis cursed booke al nyht Al sodanly. þre leues had .I. plyht. Out of his boke riht as he redde and eke [folio 96b] .I. wiþ my fiste so toke him on þe cheke Line 792 þat in oure fire he fel bakward a-doune And he vp stert as doþe a woode lyone And wiþ his fist he smote me on þe hede Þat in þe flore .I. laie as .I. ware dede Line 796 And whan he sawhe howe stille þat .I. laie He was a-gast and wolde haue fledde a-waie Til atte þast owte of myne swohe .I. braide O hastowe sleyne me false þefe .I. seide Line 800 And for my lande þus hast þou morþerd me Or .I. be dede ȝit wil .I. kisse þe And nere he come and kneled faire a-doune And seide dere suster Alison Line 804 As helpe me god .I. schal þe neuer smyte Þat .I. haue done it is þi self to wite For-ȝeue it me and þat .I. þe be-seke And ȝit eft-sones .I. hitte him on þe cheke Line 808 And seide þef þus wil .I. me awreke Nowe wil .I. deye .I. maie no longer speke Bot att þe last wiþ muchel care and woo We fell accorded be oure seluen tuoo Line 812 He ȝaue me al þe bride in myn honde To haue þe gouernance of owse and londe And of his tunge and of his honde also And maade him birne his boke anone riht þo Line 816

[6-text p 357] Line 816 And whan þat .I. had geten vn-to me Be maistre al þe souerainte þan he seide myne owen trewe wif Do as þu lyst þe terme of al my lyf Line 820 Kepe þine honoure and kepe eke my astate After þat daie we had neuere debate God helpe me so .I. was to him als kinde As any wyf fro danmark in-to hinde Line 824 And also trewe and so was he to me .I. praie to god þat siteþ in maieste So blisse his sowle for his mercy dere Nowe wil .I. seie my tale . if ȝe wil here Line 828

[The Wrangle between the Summoner and Friar.]

The frere lowhe whan he had herd al þis Nowe dame quod he so haue .I. ioye or blis þis is a longe preamble of a tale And whan þe Somenour herde þe frere gale [[ [folio 97a] It repeats And whan þe somen|our herd þe frere gale]] Lo quod þe Somenour be goddes armes tuo A frere wil entremete him euer mo Lo godemen a flye and eke a frere will fal in euery dissche and eke matere Line 836 What spekest þow of preambulacione What amble or trote or pees or goo sitte adoune Thou lettest owre disporte in þis manere Ȝe wil-tow so Somenour quod þe frere Line 840 Nowe be fey .I. schal or þat .I. go Tell of a somenour . suche a tale or tuo þat al þe folke schal lawhen In þis place Nowe elles frere .I. be-schrewe þi face Line 844 Quod þis Somenour. and .I. be-schrewe me Bot .I. tell þe tales two or þre Of freres ar .I. come to sideingborne þat .I. schal make þine herte for to morne Line 848

[6-text p 358] Line 848 For wele .I. wote þi pacien is gone Owre oste cried pees and þat a-none And seide lat þe womman tel hir tale Ȝe faren as folken bien of ale Line 852 Do dame tel forþe ȝowe tale and þat is best Al redi sire quod sche riht as ȝow lest Ȝif .I. haue lycence of þis worþi frere Ȝis dame quod he tell forþe þi tale .I. wil here Line 856