The Canterbury tales

The Wife of Bath's Prologue

Experience, though noon auctoritee Line 1 Were in this world, is right ynogh for me Line 2 To speke of wo that is in mariage; Line 3 For, lordynges, sith I twelve yeer was of age, Line 4 Thonked be God that is eterne on lyve, Line 5 Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve, -- Line 6 If I so ofte myghte have ywedded bee, -- Line 7 And alle were worthy men in hir degree. Line 8 But me was toold, certeyn, nat longe agoon is, Line 9 That sith that crist ne wente nevere but onis Line 10 To weddyng, in the cane of galilee, Line 11 That by the same ensample taughte he me Line 12 That I ne sholde wedded be but ones. Line 13 Herkne eek, lo, which a sharp word for the nones, Line 14 Biside a welle, jhesus, God and man, Line 15 Spak in repreeve of the samaritan: Line 16 Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes, -- quod he, Line 17 -- And that ilke man that now hath thee Line 18 Is noght thyn housbonde, -- thus seyde he certeyn. Line 19 What that he mente therby, I kan nat seyn; Line 20 But that I axe, why that the fifthe man Line 21 Was noon housbonde to the samaritan? Line 22 How manye myghte she have in mariage? Line 23 Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age Line 24 Upon this nombre diffinicioun. Line 25 Men may devyne and glosen, up and doun, Line 26 But wel I woot, expres, withoute lye, Line 27 God bad us for to wexe and multiplye; Line 28 That gentil text kan I wel understonde. Line 29 Eek wel I woot, he seyde myn housbonde Line 30 Sholde lete fader and mooder, and take to me. Line 31 But of no nombre mencion made he, Line 32 Of bigamye, or of octogamye; Line 33 Why sholde men thanne speke of it vileynye? Line 34 Lo, heere the wise kyng, daun salomon; Line 35 I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon. Line 36 As wolde God it were leveful unto me Line 37 To be refresshed half so ofte as he! Line 38 Which yifte of God hadde he for alle his wyvys! Line 39 No man hath swich that in this world alyve is. Line 40 God woot, this noble kyng, as to my wit, Line 41 The firste nyght had many a myrie fit Line 42 With ech of hem, so wel was hym on lyve. Line 43 Yblessed be God that I have wedded fyve! Line 44 Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal. Line 45 For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chaast in al. Line 46 Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon, Line 47 Som cristen man shal wedde me anon, Line 48 For thanne, th' apostle seith that I am free Line 49 To wedde, a goddes half, where it liketh me. Line 50 He seith that to be wedded is no synne; Line 51 Bet is to be wedded than to brynne Line 52 What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileynye Line 53 Of shrewed lameth and his bigamye? Line 54 I woot wel abraham was an hooly man, Line 55 And jacob eek, as ferforth as I kan; Line 56 And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two, Line 57 And many another holy man also. Line 58 Wher can ye seye, in any manere age, Line 59 That hye God defended mariage Line 60 By expres word? I pray yow, telleth me. Line 61 Or where comanded he virginitee? Line 62 I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede, Line 63 Th' apostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede, Line 64 He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon. Line 65 Men may conseille a womman to been oon, Line 66 But conseillyng is no comandement. Line 67 He putte it in oure owene juggement; Line 68 For hadde God comanded maydenhede, Line 69 Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede. Line 70 And certes, if ther were no seed ysowe, Line 71 Virginitee, thanne wherof sholde it growe? Line 72 Poul dorste nat comanden, atte leeste, Line 73 A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste. Line 74 The dart is set up for birginitee: Line 75 Cacche whoso may, who renneth best lat see. Line 76 But this word is nat taken of every wight, Line 77 But ther as God lust gyve it of his myght. Line 78 I woot wel that th' apostel was a mayde; Line 79

Line 79 But nathelees, thogh that he wroot and sayde Line 80 He wolde that every wight were swich as he, Line 81 Al nys but conseil to virginitee. Line 82 And for to been a wyf he yaf me leve Line 83 Of indulgence; so nys it no repreve Line 84 To wedde me, if that my make dye, Line 85 Withouten excepcion of bigamye. Line 86 Al were it good no womman for to touche, -- Line 87 He mente as in his bed or in his couche; Line 88 For peril is bothe fyr and tow t' assemble: Line 89 Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble. Line 90 This is al and som, he heeld virginitee Line 91 Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee. Line 92 Freletee clepe I, but if that he and she Line 93 Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee. Line 94 I graunte it wel, I have noon envie, Line 95 Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye. Line 96 It liketh hem to be clene, body and goost; Line 97 Of myn estaat I nyl nat make no boost. Line 98 For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold, Line 99 He nath nat every vessel al of gold; Line 100 Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse. Line 101 God clepeth folk to hym in sondry wyse, Line 102 And everich hath of God a propre yifte, Line 103 Som this, som that, as hym liketh shifte. Line 104 Virginitee is greet perfeccion, Line 105 And continence eek with devocion, Line 106 But crist, that of perfeccion is welle, Line 107 Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle Line 108 Al that he hadde, and gyve it to the poore Line 109 And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore. Line 110 He spak to hem that wolde lyve parfitly; Line 111 And lordynges, by youre leve, that am nat I. Line 112 I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age Line 113 In the actes and in fruyt of mariage. Line 114 Telle me also, to what conclusion Line 115 Were membres maad of generacion, Line 116 And of so parfit wys a wight ywroght? Line 117 Trusteth right wel, they were nat maad for noght. Line 118 Glose whoso wole, and seye bothe up and doun, Line 119 That they were maked for purgacioun Line 120 Of uryne, and oure bothe thynges smale Line 121 Were eek to knowe a femele from a male, Line 122 And for noon oother cause, -- say ye no? Line 123 The experience woot wel it is noght so. Line 124 So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe, Line 125 I sey this, that they maked ben for bothe, Line 126 This is to seye, for office, and for ese Line 127 Of engendrure, ther we nat God displese. Line 128 Why sholde men elles in hir bookes sette Line 129 That man shal yelde to his wyf hire dette? Line 130 Now wherwith sholde he make his paiement, Line 131 If he ne used his sely instrument? Line 132 Thanne were they maad upon a creature Line 133 To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure. Line 134 But I seye noght that every wight is holde, Line 135 That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde, Line 136 To goon and usen hem in engendrure. Line 137 Thanne sholde men take of chastitee no cure. Line 138 Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man, Line 139 And many a seint, sith that the world bigan; Line 140 Yet lyved they evere in parfit chastitee. Line 141 I nyl envye no virginitee. Line 142 Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed, Line 143 And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed; Line 144 And yet with barly-breed, mark telle kan, Line 145 Oure lord jhesu refresshed many a man. Line 146 In swich estaat as God hath cleped us Line 147 I wol persevere; I nam nat precius. Line 148 In wyfhod I wol use myn instrument Line 149 As frely as my makere hath it sent. Line 150 If I be daungerous, God yeve me sorwe! Line 151 Myn housbonde shal it have bothe eve and morwe, Line 152 Whan that hym list come forth and paye his dette. Line 153 An housbonde I wol have, I wol nat lette, Line 154 Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral, Line 155 And have his tribulacion withal Line 156 Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf. Line 157 I have the power durynge al my lyf Line 158 Upon his propre body, and noght he. Line 159 Right thus the apostel tolde it unto me; Line 160 And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel. Line 161 Al this sentence me liketh every deel -- Line 162 Up stirte the pardoner, and that anon: Line 163 Now, dame, quod he, by God and by seint john! Line 164 Ye been a noble prechour in this cas. Line 165 I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas! Line 166 What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere? Line 167 Yet hadde I levere wedde no wyf to-yeere! Line 168 Abyde! quod she, my tale is nat bigonne. Line 169 Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne, Line 170 Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale. Line 171 And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale Line 172 Of tribulacion in mariage, Line 173 Of which I am expert in al myn age, Line 174 This is to seyn, myself have been the whippe, -- Line 175 Than maystow chese wheither thou wolt sippe Line 176 Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche. Line 177 Be war of it, er thou to ny approche; Line 178 For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten. Line 179 --Whoso that nyl be war by othere men, Line 180 By hym shul othere men corrected be. -- Line 181 The same wordes writeth ptholomee; Line 182 Rede in his almageste, and take it there. Line 183

Line 183 Dame, I wolde praye yow, if youre wyl it were, Line 184 Seyde this pardoner, as ye bigan, Line 185 Telle forth youre tale, spareth for no man, Line 186 And teche us yonge men of youre praktike. Line 187 Gladly, quod she, sith it may yow like; Line 188 But that I praye to al this compaignye, Line 189 If that I speke after my fantasye, Line 190 As taketh not agrief of that I seye; Line 191 For myn entente is nat but for to pleye. Line 192 Now, sire, now wol I telle forth my tale. -- Line 193 As evere moote I drynken wyn or ale, Line 194 I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde, Line 195 As thre of hem were goode, and two were badde. Line 196 The thre were goode men, and riche, and olde; Line 197 Unnethe myghte they the statut holde Line 198 In which that they were bounden unto me. Line 199 Ye woot wel what I meene of this, pardee! Line 200 As help me god, I laughe whan I thynke Line 201 How pitously a-nyght I made hem swynke! Line 202 And, by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor. Line 203 They had me yeven hir lond and hir tresoor; Line 204 Me neded nat do lenger diligence Line 205 To wynne hir love, or doon hem reverence. Line 206 They loved me so wel, by God above, Line 207 That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love! Line 208 A wys womman wol bisye hire evere in oon Line 209 To gete hire love, ye, ther as she hath noon. Line 210 But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond, Line 211 And sith they hadde me yeven al hir lond, Line 212 What sholde I taken keep hem for to plese, Line 213 But it were for my profit and myn ese? Line 214 I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey, Line 215 That many a nyght they songen -- weilawey! -- Line 216 The bacon was nat fet for hem, I trowe, Line 217 That som men han in essex at dunmowe. Line 218 I governed hem so wel, after my lawe, Line 219 That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe Line 220 To brynge me gaye thynges fro the fayre. Line 221 They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire; Line 222 For, God it woot, I chidde hem spitously. Line 223 Now herkneth hou I baar me proprely, Line 224 Ye wise wyves, that kan understonde. Line 225 Thus shulde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde; Line 226 For half so boldely kan ther no man Line 227 Swere and lyen, as a womman kan. Line 228 I sey nat this by wyves that been wyse, Line 229 But if it be whan they hem mysavyse. Line 230 A wys wyf shal, it that she kan hir good, Line 231 Bere hym on honde that the cow is wood, Line 232 And take witnesse of hir owene mayde Line 233 Of hir assemt; but herkneth how I sayde: Line 234 Sire olde kaynard, is this thyn array? Line 235 Why is my neighbores wyf so gay? Line 236 She is honoured over al ther she gooth; Line 237 I sitte at hoom I have no thrifty clooth. Line 238 What dostow at my neighebores hous? Line 239 Is she so fair? artow so amorous? Line 240 What rowne ye with oure mayde? benedicite! Line 241 Sire olde lecchour, lat thy japes be! Line 242 And if I have a gossib or a freend, Line 243 Withouten gilt, thou chidest as a feend, Line 244 If that I walke or pleye unto his hous! Line 245 Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous, Line 246 And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef! Line 247 Thou seist to me it is a greet meschief Line 248 To wedde a povre womman, for costage; Line 249 And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, Line 250 Thanne seistow that it is a tormentrie Line 251 To soffre hire pride and hire malencolie. Line 252 And if that she be fair, thou verray knave, Line 253 Thou seyst that every holour wol hire have; Line 254 She may no while in chastitee abyde, Line 255 That is assailled upon ech a syde. Line 256 Thou seyst som folk desiren us for richesse, Line 257 Somme for oure shap, and somme for oure fairnesse, Line 258 And som for she kan outher synge or daunce, Line 259 And som for gentillesse and daliaunce; Line 260 Som for hir handes and hir armes smale: Line 261 Thus goth al to the devel, by thy tale. Line 262 Thou seyst men may nat kepe a castel wal, Line 263 It may so longe assailled been over al. Line 264 And if that she be foul, thou seist that she Line 265 Coveiteth every man that she may se, Line 266 For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe, Line 267 Til that she fynde som man hire to chepe. Line 268 Ne noon so grey goos gooth ther in the lake Line 269 As, seistow, wol been withoute make. Line 270 And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde Line 271 A thyng that no man wole, his thankes, helde. Line 272 Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde; Line 273 And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde, Line 274 Ne no man that entendeth unto hevene. Line 275 With wilde thonder-dynt and firy levene Line 276 Moote thy welked nekke be tobroke! Line 277 Thow seyst that droppyng houses, and eek smoke, Line 278 And chidyng wyves maken men to flee Line 279 Out of his owene hous; a! benedicitee! Line 280 What eyleth swich an old man for to chide? Line 281 Thow seyst we wyves wol oure vices hide Line 282 Til we be fast, and thanne we wol hem shewe, -- Line 283 Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe! Line 284 Thou seist that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes, Line 285

Line 285 They been assayed at diverse stoundes; Line 286 Bacyns, lavours, er that men hem bye, Line 287 Spoones and stooles, and al swich housbondrye, Line 288 And so been pottes, clothes, and array; Line 289 But folk of wyves maken noon assay, Line 290 Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe! Line 291 And thanne, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe. Line 292 Thou seist also that it displeseth me Line 293 But if that thou wolt preyse my beautee, Line 294 And but thou poure alwey upon my face, Line 295 And clepe me faire dame in every place. Line 296 And but thou make a feeste on thilke day Line 297 That I was born, and make me fressh and gay; Line 298 And but thou do to my norice honour, Line 299 And to my chamberere withinne my bour, Line 300 And to my fadres folk and his allyes, -- Line 301 Thus seistow, olde barel-ful of lyes! Line 302 And yet of oure apprentice janekyn, Line 303 For his crispe heer, shynynge as gold so fyn, Line 304 And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun, Line 305 Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun. Line 306 I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed tomorwe! Line 307 But tel me this: why hydestow, with sorwe, Line 308 They keyes of thy cheste awey fro me? Line 309 It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee! Line 310 What, wenestow make an ydiot of oure dame? Line 311 Now by that lord that called is seint jame, Line 312 Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood, Line 313 Be maister of my body and of my good; Line 314 That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yen. Line 315 What helpith it of me to enquere or spyen? Line 316 I trowe thou woldest loke me in thy chiste? Line 317 Thou sholdest seye, wyf, go wher thee liste; Line 318 Taak youre disport, I wol nat leve no talys. Line 319 I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame alys. Line 320 We love no man that taketh kep or charge Line 321 Wher that we goon; we wol ben at oure large. Line 322 Of alle men yblessed moot he be, Line 323 The wise astrologien, daun ptholome, Line 324 That seith this proverbe in his almageste -- Line 325 Of alle men his wysdom is the hyeste Line 326 That rekketh nevere who hath the world in honde. Line 327 By this proverbe thou shalt understonde, Line 328 Have thou ynogh, what thar thee recche or care Line 329 How myrily that othere folkes fare? Line 330 For, certeyn, olde dotard, by youre leve, Line 331 Ye shul have queynte right ynogh at eve. Line 332 He is to greet a nygard that wolde werne Line 333 A man to light a candle at his lanterne; Line 334 He shal have never the lasse light, pardee. Line 335 Have thou ynogh, thee thar nat pleyne thee. Line 336 Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay Line 337 With clothyng, and with precious array, Line 338 That it is peril of oure chastitee; Line 339 And yet, with sorwe! thou most enforce thee, Line 340 And seye thise wordes in the apostles name: Line 341 in habit maad with chastitee and shame Line 342 Ye wommen shul apparaille yow, quod he, Line 343 And noght in tressed heer and gay perree, Line 344 As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche. Line 345 After thy text, ne after thy rubriche, Line 346 I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat. Line 347 Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat; Line 348 For whoso wolde senge a cattes skyn, Line 349 Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in; Line 350 And if the cattes skyn be slyk and gay, Line 351 She wol nat dwelle in house half a day, Line 352 But forth she wole, er any day be dawed, Line 353 To shewe hir skyn, and goon a-caterwawed. Line 354 This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe, Line 355 I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe. Line 356 Sire olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen? Line 357 Thogh thou preye argus with his hundred yen Line 358 To be my warde-cors, as he kan best, Line 359 In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest; Line 360 Yet koude I make his berd, so moot I thee! Line 361 Thou seydest eek that ther been thynges thre, Line 362 The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe, Line 363 And that no wight may endure the ferthe. Line 364 O leeve sire shrewe, jhesu shorte thy lyf! Line 365 Yet prechestow and seyst and hateful wyf Line 366 Yrekened is for oon of thise meschances. Line 367 Been ther none othere maner resemblances Line 368 That ye may likne youre parables to, Line 369 But if a sely wyf be oon of tho? Line 370 Thou liknest eek wommenes love to helle, Line 371 To bareyne lond, ther water may nat dwelle. Line 372 Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr; Line 373 The moore it brenneth, the moore it hath desir Line 374 To consume every thyng that brent wole be. Line 375 Thou seyest, right as wormes shende a tree, Line 376 Right so a wyf destroyeth hire housbonde; Line 377 This knowe they that been to wyves bonde. -- Line 378 Lordynges, right thus, as ye have understonde, Line 379 Baar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde Line 380 That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse; Line 381 And al was fals, but that I took witnesse Line 382 On janekyn, and on my nece also. Line 383 O lord! the peyne I dide hem and the wo, Line 384 Ful giltelees, by goddes sweete pyne! Line 385 For as an hors I koude byte and whyne. Line 386 I koude pleyne, and yit was in the gilt, Line 387 Or elles often tyme hadde I been spilt. Line 388

Line 388 Whose that first to mille comth, first grynt; Line 389 I pleyned first, so was oure werre ystynt. Line 390 They were ful glade to excuse hem blyve Line 391 Of thyng of which they nevere agilte hir lyve. Line 392 Of wenches wolde I beren hem on honde, Line 393 Whan that for syk unnethes myghte they stonde. Line 394 Yet tikled I his herte, for that he Line 395 Wende that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee! Line 396 I swoor that al my walkynge out by nyghte Line 397 Was for t' espye wenches that he dighte; Line 398 Under that colour hadde I many a myrthe. Line 399 For al swich wit is yeven us in oure byrthe; Line 400 Deceite, wepyng, spynnyng God hath yive Line 401 To wommen kyndely, whil that they may lyve. Line 402 And thus of o thyng I avaunte me, Line 403 Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree, Line 404 By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thyng, Line 405 As by continueel murmur or grucchyng. Line 406 Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce: Line 407 Ther wolde I chide, and do hem no plesaunce; Line 408 I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde, Line 409 If that I felte his arm over my syde, Line 410 Til he had maad his raunson unto me; Line 411 Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his necetee. Line 412 And therfore every man this tale I telle, Line 413 Wynne whose may, for al is for to selle; Line 414 With empty hand men may none haukes lure. Line 415 For wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure, Line 416 And make me feyned appetit; Line 417 And yet in bacon hadde I nevere delit; Line 418 That made me that evere I wolde hem chide. Line 419 For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside, Line 420 I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord; Line 421 For, by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word. Line 422 As helpe me verray God omnipotent, Line 423 Though I right now sholde make my testament, Line 424 I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quit. Line 425 I broghte it so aboute by my wit Line 426 That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste, Line 427 Or elles hadde we nevere been in reste. Line 428 For thogh he looked as a wood leon, Line 429 Yet sholde he faille of his conclusion. Line 430 Thanne wolde I seye, -- goode lief, taak keep Line 431 How mekely looketh wilkyn, oure sheep! Line 432 Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke! Line 433 Ye sholde been al pacient and meke, Line 434 And han a sweete spiced conscience, Line 435 Sith ye so preche of jobes pacience. Line 436 Suffreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche; Line 437 And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche Line 438 That it is fair to have a wyf in pees. Line 439 Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees; Line 440 And sith a man is moore resonable Line 441 Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable. Line 442 What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone? Line 443 Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone? Line 444 Wy, taak it al! lo, have it every deel! Line 445 Peter! I shrewe yow, but ye love it weel; Line 446 For if I wolde selle my bele chose, Line 447 I koude walke as fressh as is a rose; Line 448 But I wol kepe it for youre owene tooth. Line 449 Ye be to blame, by god! I sey yow sooth. -- Line 450 Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde. Line 451 Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde. Line 452 My fourthe housbonde was a revelour; Line 453 This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour; Line 454 And I was yong and ful of ragerye, Line 455 Stibourn and strong, and joly as a pye. Line 456 How koude I daunce to an harpe smale, Line 457 And synge, ywis, as any nyghtyngale, Line 458 Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn! Line 459 Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn, Line 460 That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf, Line 461 For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf, Line 462 He sholde nat han daunted me from drynke! Line 463 And after wyn on venus moste I thynke, Line 464 For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, Line 465 A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl. Line 466 In wommen vinolent is no defence, -- Line 467 This knowen lecchours by experience. Line 468 But, lord crist! whan that it remembreth me Line 469 Upon my yowthe, and on my jolitee, Line 470 It tikleth me aboute myn herte roote. Line 471 Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote Line 472 That I have had my world as in my tyme. Line 473 But age, allas! that al wole envenyme, Line 474 Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith. Line 475 Lat go, farewel! the devel go therwith! Line 476 The flour is goon, ther is namoore to telle; Line 477 The bren, as I best kan, now moste I selle; Line 478 But yet to be right myrie wol I fonde. Line 479 Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde. Line 480 I seye, I hadde in herte greet despit Line 481 That he of any oother had delit. Line 482 But he was quit, by God and by seint joce! Line 483 I made hym of the same wode a croce; Line 484 Nat of my body, in no foul manere, Line 485 But certeinly, I made folk swich cheere Line 486 That in his owene grece I made hym frye Line 487 For angre, and for verray jalousye. Line 488 By god! in erthe I was his purgatorie, Line 489 For which I hope his soule be in glorie. Line 490 For, God it woot, he sat ful ofte and song, Line 491 Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong. Line 492 Ther was no wight, save God and he, that wiste, Line 493

Line 493 In many wise, how soore I hym twiste. Line 494 He deyde whan I cam fro jerusalem, Line 495 And lith ygrave under the roode beem, Line 496 Al is his tombe noght so curyus Line 497 As was the sepulcre of hym daryus, Line 498 Which that appeles wroghte subtilly; Line 499 It nys but wast to burye hym preciously. Line 500 Lat hym fare wel, God yeve his soul reste! Line 501 He is now in his grave and in his cheste. Line 502 Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle. Line 503 God lete his soule nevere come in helle! Line 504 And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe; Line 505 That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe, Line 506 And evere shal unto myn endyng day. Line 507 But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay, Line 508 And therwithal so wel koude he me glose, Line 509 Whan that he wolde han my bele chose, Line 510 That thogh he hadde me bete on every bon, Line 511 He koude wynne agayn my love anon. Line 512 I trowe I loved hym best, for that he Line 513 Was of his love daungerous to me. Line 514 We wommen han if that I shal nat lye, Line 515 In this matere a queynte fantasye; Line 516 Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly have, Line 517 Therafter wol we crie al day and crave. Line 518 Forbede us thyng, and that desiren we; Line 519 Preesse on us faste, and thanne wol we fle. Line 520 With daunger oute we al oure chaffare; Line 521 Greet prees at market maketh deere ware, Line 522 And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys: Line 523 This knoweth every womman that is wys. Line 524 My fifthe housbonde, God his soule blesse! Line 525 Which that I took for love, and no richesse, Line 526 He som tyme was a clerk of oxenford, Line 527 And hadde left scole, and wente at hom to bord Line 528 With my gossib, dwellynge in oure toun; Line 529 God have hir soule! hir name was alisoun. Line 530 She knew myn herte, and eek my privetee, Line 531 Bet than oure parisshe preest, so moot I thee! Line 532 To hire biwreyed I my conseil al. Line 533 For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal, Line 534 Or doon a thyng that sholde han cost his lyf, Line 535 To hire, and to another worthy wyf, Line 536 And to my nece, which that I loved weel, Line 537 I wolde han toold his conseil every deel. Line 538 And so I dide ful often, God it woot, Line 539 That made his face often reed and hoot Line 540 For verray shame, and blamed hymself for he Line 541 Had toold to me so greet a pryvetee. Line 542 And so bifel that ones in a lente -- Line 543 So often tymes I to my gossyb wente, Line 544 For evere yet I loved to be gay, Line 545 And for to walke in march, averill, and may, Line 546 Fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys -- Line 547 That jankyn clerk, and my gossyb dame alys, Line 548 And I myself, into the feeldes wente. Line 549 Myn housbonde was at londoun al that lente; Line 550 I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye, Line 551 And for to se, and eek for to be seye Line 552 Of lusty folk. What wiste I wher my grace Line 553 Was shapen for to be, or in what place? Line 554 Therfore I made my visitaciouns Line 555 To vigilies and to processiouns, Line 556 To prechyng eek, and to thise pilgrimages, Line 557 To pleyes of myracles, and to mariages, Line 558 And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes. Line 559 Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes, Line 560 Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel; Line 561 And wostow why? for they were used weel. Line 562 Now wol I tellen forth what happed me. Line 563 I seye that in the feeldes walked we, Line 564 Til trewely we hadde swich daliance, Line 565 This clerk and I, that of my purveiance Line 566 I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he, Line 567 If I were wydwe, sholde wedde me. Line 568 For certeinly, I sey for no bobance, Line 569 Yet was I nevere withouten purveiance Line 570 Of mariage, n' of othere thynges eek. Line 571 I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek Line 572 That hath but oon hole for to sterte to, Line 573 And if that faille, thanne is al ydo. Line 574 I bar hym on honde he hadde enchanted me, -- Line 575 My dame taughte me that soutiltee. Line 576 And eek I seyde I mette of hym al nyght, Line 577 He wolde han slayn me as I lay upright, Line 578 And al my bed was ful of verray blood; Line 579 But yet I hope that he shal do me good, Line 580 For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught. Line 581 And al was fals; I dremed of it right naught, Line 582 But as I folwed ay my dames loore, Line 583 As wel of this as of othere thynges moore. Line 584 But now, sire, lat me se, what I shal seyn? Line 585 A ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn. Line 586 Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere, Line 587 I weep algate, and made sory cheere, Line 588 As wyves mooten, for it is usage, Line 589 And with my coverchief covered my visage, Line 590 But for that I was purveyed of a make, Line 591 I wepte but smal, and that I undertake. Line 592 To chirche was myn housbonde born a-morwe Line 593 With neighebores, that for hym maden sorwe; Line 594 And jankyn, oure clerk, was oon of tho. Line 595 As help me god! whan that I saugh hym go Line 596 After the beere, me thoughte he hadde a paire Line 597 Of legges and of feet so clene and faire Line 598

Line 598 That al myn herte I yaf unto his hoold. Line 599 He was, I trowe, a twenty wynter oold, Line 600 And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth; Line 601 But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth. Line 602 Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel; Line 603 I hadde the prente of seinte venus seel. Line 604 As help me god! I was a lusty oon, Line 605 And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon; Line 606 And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me, Line 607 I hadde the beste quoniam myghte be. Line 608 For certes, I am al venerien Line 609 In feelynge, and myn herte is marcien. Line 610 Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse, Line 611 And mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse; Line 612 Myn ascendent was taur, and mars therinne. Line 613 Allas! allas! that evere love was synne! Line 614 I folwed ay myn inclinacioun Line 615 By vertu of my constellacioun; Line 616 That made me I koude noght withdrawe Line 617 My chambre of venus from a good felawe. Line 618 Yet have I martes mark upon my face, Line 619 And also in another privee place. Line 620 For God so wys be my savacioun, Line 621 I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun, Line 622 But evere folwede myn appetit, Line 623 Al were he short, or long, or blak, or whit; Line 624 I took no kep, so that he liked me, Line 625 How poore he was, ne eek of what degree. Line 626 What sholde I seye? but, at the monthes ende, Line 627 This joly clerk, jankyn, that was so hende, Line 628 Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee; Line 629 And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee Line 630 That evere was me yeven therbifoore. Line 631 But afterward repented me ful soore; Line 632 He nolde suffre nothyng of my list. Line 633 By god! he smoot me ones on the lyst, Line 634 For that I rente out of his book a leef, Line 635 That of the strook myn ere wax al deef. Line 636 Stibourn I was as is a leonesse, Line 637 And of my tonge verray jangleresse, Line 638 And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn, Line 639 From hous to hous, although he had it sworn; Line 640 For which he often tymes wolde preche, Line 641 And me of olde romayn geestes teche; Line 642 How he symplicius gallus lefte his wyf, Line 643 And hire forsook for terme of al his lyf, Line 644 Noght but for open-heveded he hir say Line 645 Lookynge out at his dore upon a day. Line 646 Another romayn tolde he me by name, Line 647 That, for his wyf was at a someres game Line 648 Withouten his wityng, he forsook hire eke. Line 649 And thanne wolde he upon his bible seke Line 650 That ilke proverbe of ecclesiaste Line 651 Where he comandeth, and forbedeth faste, Line 652 Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute. Line 653 Thanne wolde he seye right thus, withouten doute: Line 654 -whoso that buyldeth his hous al of salwes, Line 655 And priketh his blynde hors over the falwes, Line 656 And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes, Line 657 Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes! -- Line 658 But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe Line 659 Of his proverbes n' of his olde sawe, Line 660 Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be. Line 661 I hate hym that my vices telleth me, Line 662 And so doo mo, God woot, of us than I. Line 663 This made hym with me wood al outrely; Line 664 I nolde noght forbere hym in no cas. Line 665 Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint thomas, Line 666 Why that I rente out of his book a leef, Line 667 For which he smoot me so that I was deef. Line 668 He hadde a book that gladly, nyght and day, Line 669 For his desport he wolde rede alway; Line 670 He cleped it valerie and theofraste, Line 671 At which book he lough alwey ful faste. Line 672 And eek ther was somtyme a clerk at rome, Line 673 A cardinal, that highte seint jerome, Line 674 That made a book agayn jovinian; Line 675 In which book eek ther was tertulan, Line 676 Crisippus, trotula, and helowys, Line 677 That was abbesse nat fer fro parys; Line 678 And eek the parables of salomon, Line 679 Ovides art, and bookes many on, Line 680 And alle thise were bounden in o volume. Line 681 And every nyght and day was his custume, Line 682 Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun Line 683 From oother worldly occupacioun, Line 684 To reden on this book of wikked wyves. Line 685 He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves Line 686 Than been of goode wyves in the bible. Line 687 For trusteth wel, it is an impossible Line 688 That any clerk wol speke good of wyves, Line 689 But if it be of hooly seintes lyves, Line 690 Ne of noon oother womman never the mo. Line 691 Who peyntede the leon, tel me who? Line 692 By god! if wommen hadde writen stories, Line 693 As clerkes han withinne hire oratories, Line 694 They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse Line 695 Than al the mark of adam may redresse. Line 696 The children of mercurie and of venus Line 697 Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius; Line 698 Mercurie loveth wysdam and science, Line 699 And venus loveth ryot and dispence. Line 700 And, for hire diverse disposicioun, Line 701 Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun. Line 702 And thus, God woot, mercurie is desolat Line 703

Line 703 In pisces, wher venus is exaltat; Line 704 And venus falleth ther mercurie is reysed. Line 705 Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed. Line 706 The clerk, whan he is oold, and may noght do Line 707 Of venus werkes worth his olde sho, Line 708 Thanne sit he doun, and writ in his dotage Line 709 That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage! Line 710 But now to purpos, why I tolde thee Line 711 That I was beten for a book, pardee! Line 712 Upon a nyght jankyn, that was oure sire, Line 713 Redde on his book, as he sat by the fire, Line 714 Of eva first, that for hir wikkednesse Line 715 Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse, Line 716 For which that jhesu crist hymself was slayn, Line 717 That boghte us with his herte blood agayn. Line 718 Lo, heere expres of womman may ye fynde, Line 719 That womman was the los of al mankynde. Line 720 The redde he me how sampson loste his heres: Line 721 Slepynge, his lemman kitte it with hir sheres; Line 722 Thurgh which treson loste he bothe his yen. Line 723 Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen, Line 724 Of hercules and of his dianyre, Line 725 That caused hym to sette hymself afyre. Line 726 No thyng forgat he the care and the wo Line 727 That socrates hadde with his wyves two; Line 728 How xantippa caste pisse upon his heed. Line 729 This sely man sat stille as he were deed; Line 730 He wiped his heed, namoore dorste he seyn, Line 731 But -- er that thonder stynte, comth a reyn! -- Line 732 Of phasipha, that was the queen of crete, Line 733 For shrewednesse, hym thoughte the tale swete; Line 734 Fy! spek namoore -- it is a grisly thyng -- Line 735 Of hire horrible lust and hir likyng. Line 736 Of clitermystra, for hire lecherye, Line 737 That falsly made hire housbonde for to dye, Line 738 He redde it with ful good devocioun. Line 739 He tolde me eek for what occasioun Line 740 Amphiorax at thebes loste his lyf. Line 741 Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf, Line 742 Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold Line 743 Hath prively unto the grekes told Line 744 Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place, Line 745 For which he hadde at thebes sory grace. Line 746 Of lyvia tolde he me, and of lucye: Line 747 They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye; Line 748 That oon for love, that oother was for hate. Line 749 Lyvia hir housbonde, on an even late, Line 750 Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo; Line 751 Lucia, likerous, loved hire housbonde so Line 752 That, for he sholde alwey upon hire thynke, Line 753 She yaf hym swich a manere love-drynke Line 754 That he was deed er it were by the morwe; Line 755 And thus algates housbondes han sorwe. Line 756 Thanne tolde he me how oon latumyus Line 757 Compleyned unto his felawe arrius Line 758 That in his gardyn growed swich a tree Line 759 On which he seyde how that his wyves thre Line 760 Hanged hemself for herte despitus. Line 761 -- O leeve brother, -- quod this arrius, Line 762 -- Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree, Line 763 And in my gardyn planted shal it bee. -- Line 764 Of latter date, of wyves hath he red Line 765 That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed, Line 766 And lete hir lecchour dighte hire al the nyght, Line 767 Whan that the corps lay in the floor upright. Line 768 And somme han dryve nayles in hir brayn, Line 769 Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slayn. Line 770 Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hire drynke. Line 771 He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke; Line 772 And therwithal he knew of mo proverbes Line 773 Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes. Line 774 -- Bet is, -- quod he, -- thyn habitacioun Line 775 Be with a leon or foul dragoun, Line 776 Than with a womman usynge for to chyde -- Line 777 -- Bet is, -- quod he, -- hye in the roof abyde, Line 778 Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous; Line 779 They been so wikked and contrarious, Line 780 They haten that hir housbondes loven ay. -- Line 781 He seyde, -- a womman cast hir shame away, Line 782 Whan she cast of hir smok; -- and forthermo, Line 783 -- A fair womman, but she be chaast also, Line 784 Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose. -- Line 785 Who wolde wene, or who wolde suppose, Line 786 The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne? Line 787 And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne Line 788 To reden on this cursed book al nyght, Line 789 Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght Line 790 Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke Line 791 I with my fest so took hym on the cheke Line 792 That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun. Line 793 And he up stirte as dooth a wood leoun, Line 794 And with his fest he smoot me on the heed, Line 795 That in the floor I lay as I were deed. Line 796 And whan he saugh how stille that I lay, Line 797 He was agast, and wolde han fled his way, Line 798 Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde. Line 799 -- O! hastow slayn me, false theef? -- I seyde, Line 800 -- And for my land thus hastow mordred me? Line 801 Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee. -- Line 802 And neer he cam and kneled faire adoun, Line 803 And seyde, -- deere suster alisoun, Line 804 As help me god! I shal thee nevere smyte. Line 805 That I have doon, it is thyself to wyte. Line 806 Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke! -- Line 807

Line 807 And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke, Line 808 And seyde, -- theef, thus muchel am I wreke; Line 809 Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke. -- Line 810 But atte laste, with muchel care and wo, Line 811 We fille acorded by us selven two. Line 812 He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond, Line 813 To han the governance of hous and lond, Line 814 And of his tonge, and of his hond also; Line 815 And made hym brenne his book anon right tho. Line 816 And whan that I hadde geten unto me, Line 817 By maistrie, al the soveraynette, Line 818 And that he seyde, -- myn owene trewe wyf, Line 819 Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf; Line 820 Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat -- Line 821 After that day we hadden never debaat. Line 822 God helpe me so, I was to hym as kynde Line 823 As any wyf from denmark unto ynde, Line 824 And also trewe, and so was he to me. Line 825 I prey to god, that sit in magestee, Line 826 So blesse his soule for his mercy deere. Line 827 Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol heere. Line 828 The frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this; Line 829 Now dame, quod he, so have I joye or blis, Line 830 This is a long preable of a tale! Line 831 And whan the somonour herde the frere gale, Line 832 Lo, quod the somonour, goddes armes two! Line 833 A frere wol entremette hym everemo. Line 834 Lo, goode men, a flye and eek a frere Line 835 Wol falle in every dyssh and eek mateere. Line 836 What spwkestow of preambulacioun? Line 837 What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun! Line 838 Thou lettest oure disport in this manere. Line 839 Ye, woltow so, sire somonour? quod the frere; Line 840 Now, by my feith, I shal, er that I go, Line 841 Telle of a somonour swich a tale or two, Line 842 That alle the folk shal laughen in this place. Line 843 Now elles, frere, I bishrewe thy face, Line 844 Quod this somonour, and I bishrewe me, Line 845 But if I telle tales two or thre Line 846 Of freres, er I come to sidyngborne, Line 847 That I shal make thyn herte for to morne, Line 848 For wel I woot thy pacience is gon. Line 849 Oure hooste cride pees! and that anon! Line 850 And seyde, lat the womman telle hire tale. Line 851 Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale. Line 852 Do, dame, telle forth youre tale, and that is best. Line 853 Al redy, sire, quod she, right as yow lest, Line 854 If I have licence of this worthy frere. Line 855 Yis, dame, quod he, tel forth, and I wol heere. Line 856