The Canterbury tales

Group 3

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

The Wife of Bath's Tale

In th' olde dayes of the kyng arthour, Line 857 Of which that britons speken greet honour, Line 858 Al was this land fulfild of fayerye. Line 859 The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye, Line 860 Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede. Line 861 This was the olde opinion, as I rede; Line 862 I speke of manye hundred yeres ago. Line 863 But now kan no man se none elves mo, Line 864 For now the grete charitee and prayers Line 865 Of lymytours and othere hooly freres, Line 866 That serchen every lond and every streem, Line 867 As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem, Line 868 Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures, Line 869 Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, Line 870 Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes -- Line 871 This maketh that ther ben no fayeryes. Line 872 For ther as wont to walken was an elf, Line 873 Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself Line 874 In undermeles and in morwenynges, Line 875 And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges Line 876 As he gooth in his lymytacioun. Line 877 Wommen may go now saufly up and doun. Line 878 In every bussh or under every tree Line 879 Ther is noon oother incubus but he, Line 880 And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour. Line 881 And so bifel it that this kyng arthour Line 882 Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler, Line 883 That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver; Line 884

Line 884 And happed that, allone as he was born, Line 885 He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn, Line 886 Of which mayde anon, maugree hir heed, Line 887 By verray force, he rafte hire maydenhed; Line 888 For which oppressioun was swich clamour Line 889 And swich pursute unto the kyng arthour, Line 890 That dampned was this knyght for to be deed, Line 891 By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed -- Line 892 Paraventure swich was the statut tho -- Line 893 But that the queene and othere ladyes mo Line 894 So longe preyeden the kyng of grace, Line 895 Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place, Line 896 And yaf hym to the queene, al at hir wille, Line 897 To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille. Line 898 The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght, Line 899 And after this thus spak she to the knyght, Line 900 Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day: Line 901 Thou standest yet, quod she, in swich array Line 902 That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee. Line 903 I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me Line 904 What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren. Line 905 Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from iren! Line 906 And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon, Line 907 Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon Line 908 A twelf-month and a day, to seche and leere Line 909 An answere suffisant in this mateere; Line 910 And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace, Line 911 Thy body for to yelden in this place. Line 912 Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh; Line 913 But what! he may nat do al as hym liketh. Line 914 And at the laste he chees hym for to wende, Line 915 And come agayn, right at the yeres ende, Line 916 With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye; Line 917 And taketh his leve, and wendeth froth his weye. Line 918 He seketh every hous and and every place Line 919 Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace, Line 920 To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost; Line 921 But he ne koude arryven in no coost Line 922 Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere Line 923 Two creatures accordynge in-feere. Line 924 Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse, Line 925 Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse, Line 926 Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde, Line 927 And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde. Line 928 Somme seyde that oure hertes been moost esed Line 929 Whan that we ben yflatered and yplesed. Line 930 He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye. Line 931 A man shal wynne us best with flaterye; Line 932 And with attendance, and with bisynesse, Line 933 Been we ylymed, bothe moore and lesse. Line 934 And somme seyen that we loven best Line 935 For to be free, and do right as us lest, Line 936 And that no man repreve us of oure vice, Line 937 But seye that we be wise, and no thyng nyce. Line 938 For trewely ther is noon of us alle, Line 939 If any wight wol clawe us on the galle, Line 940 That we nel kike, for he seith us sooth. Line 941 Assay, and he shal fynde it that so dooth; Line 942 For, be we never so vicious withinne, Line 943 We wol been holden wise and clene of synne. Line 944 And somme seyn that greet delit han we Line 945 For to been holden stable, and eek secree, Line 946 And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle, Line 947 And nat biwreye thyng that men us telle. Line 948 But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele. Line 949 Pardee, we wommen konne no thyng hele; Line 950 Witnesse on myda, -- wol ye heere the tale? Line 951 Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale, Line 952 Seyde myda hadde, under his longe heres, Line 953 Growynge upon his heed two asses eres, Line 954 The whiche vice he hydde, as he best myghte, Line 955 Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte, Line 956 That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it namo. Line 957 He loved hire moost, and trusted hire also; Line 958 He preyede hire that to no creature Line 959 She sholde tellen of his disfigure. Line 960 She swoor him, nay, for al this world to wynne, Line 961 She nolde do that vileynye or synne, Line 962 To make hir housbonde han so foul a name. Line 963 She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame. Line 964 But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde, Line 965 That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; Line 966 Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte Line 967 That nedely som word hire moste asterte; Line 968 And sith she dorste telle it to no man, Line 969 Doun to a mareys faste by she ran Line 970 Til she cam there, hir herte was a-fyre -- Line 971 And as a bitore bombleth in the myre, Line 972 She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun: Line 973 Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun, Line 974 Quod she; -- to thee I telle it and namo; Line 975 Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two! Line 976 Now is myn herte al hool, now is it oute. Line 977 I myghte no lenger kepe it, out of doute. Line 978 Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde, Line 979 Yet out it moot; we kan no conseil hyde. Line 980 The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere, Line 981 Redeth ovyde, and ther ye may it leere. Line 982 This knyght, of which my tale is specially, Line 983 Than that he saugh he myghte nat come therby, Line 984

Line 984 This is to seye, what wommen love moost, Line 985 Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost. Line 986 But hoom he gooth, he myghte nat sojourne; Line 987 The day was come that homward moste he tourne. Line 988 And in his wey it happed hym to ryde, Line 989 In al this care, under a forest syde, Line 990 Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go Line 991 Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo; Line 992 Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne, Line 993 In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne. Line 994 But certeinly, er he cam fully there, Line 995 Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste where. Line 996 No creature saugh he that bar lyf, Line 997 Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf -- Line 998 A fouler wight ther may no man devyse. Line 999 Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse, Line 1000 And seyde, sire knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey. Line 1001 Tel me what that ye seken, by youre fey! Line 1002 Paraventure it may the bettre be; Line 1003 Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng, quod she. Line 1004 My leeve mooder, quod this knyght, certeyn Line 1005 I nam but deed, but if that I kan seyn Line 1006 What thyng it is that wommen moost desire. Line 1007 Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire. Line 1008 Plight me thy trouthe heere in myn hand, quod she, Line 1009 The nexte thyng that I requere thee, Line 1010 Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght, Line 1011 And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght. Line 1012 Have heer my trouthe, quod the knyght, I grante. Line 1013 Thanne, quod she, I dar me wel avante Line 1014 Thy lyf is sauf; for I wol stonde therby, Line 1015 Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I. Line 1016 Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle, Line 1017 That wereth on a coverchief or a calle, Line 1018 That day seye nay of that I shal thee teche. Line 1019 Lat us go forth, withouten lenger speche. Line 1020 Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere, Line 1021 And bad hym to be glad, and have no fere. Line 1022 Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght Line 1023 Seyde he had holde his day, as he hadde hight, Line 1024 And redy was his answere, as he sayde. Line 1025 Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde, Line 1026 And many a wydwe, for that they been wise, Line 1027 The queene hirself sittynge as a justise, Line 1028 Assembled been, his answere for to heere; Line 1029 And afterward this knyght was bode appeere. Line 1030 To every wight comanded was silence, Line 1031 And that the knyght sholde telle in audience Line 1032 What thyng that worldly wommen loven best. Line 1033 This knyght ne stood nat stille as doth a best, Line 1034 But to his questioun anon answerde Line 1035 With manly voys, that al the court it herde: Line 1036 My lige lady, generally, quod he, Line 1037 Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee Line 1038 As wel over his housbond as hir love, Line 1039 And for to been in maistrie hym above. Line 1040 This is youre mooste desir, thogh ye me kille. Line 1041 Dooth as yow list; I am heer at youre wille. Line 1042 In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne mayde, Line 1043 Ne wydwe, that contraried that he sayde, Line 1044 But seyden he was worthy han his lyf. Line 1045 And with that word up stirte the olde wyf, Line 1046 Which that the knyght saugh sittynge on the grene: Line 1047 Mercy, quod she, my sovereyn lady queene! Line 1048 Er that youre court departe, do me right. Line 1049 I taughte this answere unto the knyght; Line 1050 For which he plighte me his trouthe there, Line 1051 The firste thyng that I wolde hym requere, Line 1052 He wolde it do, if it lay in his myghte. Line 1053 Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght, Line 1054 Quod she, that thou me take unto thy wyf; Line 1055 For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf. Line 1056 If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey! Line 1057 This knyght answerde, allas! and weylawey! Line 1058 I woot right wel that swich was my biheste. Line 1059 For goddes love, as chees a newe requeste! Line 1060 Taak al my good, and lat my body go. Line 1061 Nay, thanne, quod she, I shrewe us bothe two! Line 1062 For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore, Line 1063 I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore, Line 1064 That under erthe is grave, or lith above, Line 1065 But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love. Line 1066 My love? quod he, nay, my dampnacioun! Line 1067 Allas! that any of my nacioun Line 1068 Sholde evere so foule disparaged be! Line 1069 But al for noght; the ende is this, that he Line 1070 Constreyned was, he nedes moste hire wedde; Line 1071 And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde. Line 1072 Now wolden som men seye, paraventure, Line 1073 That for my necligence I do no cure Line 1074 To tellen yow the joye and al th' array Line 1075 That at the feeste was that ilke day. Line 1076 To which thyng shortly answeren I shal: Line 1077 I seye ther nas no joye ne feeste at al; Line 1078 Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sorwe. Line 1079

Line 1079 For prively he wedded hire on the morwe, Line 1080 And al day after hidde hym as an owle, Line 1081 So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule. Line 1082 Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght, Line 1083 Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght; Line 1084 He walweth and he turneth to and fro. Line 1085 His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo, Line 1086 And seyde, o deere housbonde, benedicitee! Line 1087 Fareth every knyght thys with his wyf as ye? Line 1088 Is this the lawe of kyng arthures hous? Line 1089 Is every knyght of his so dangerous? Line 1090 I am youre owene love and eek youre wyf; Line 1091 I am she which that saved hath youre lyf, Line 1092 And, certes, yet ne dide I yow nevere unright; Line 1093 Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght? Line 1094 Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit. Line 1095 What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it, Line 1096 And it shal been amende, if I may. Line 1097 Amended? quod this knyght, allas! nay, nay! Line 1098 It wol nat been amended nevere mo. Line 1099 Thou art so loothly, and so oold also, Line 1100 And therto comen of so lough a kynde, Line 1101 That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde. Line 1102 So wolde God myn herte wolde breste! Line 1103 Is this, quod she, the cause of youre unreste? Line 1104 Ye, certeinly, quod he, no wonder is. Line 1105 Now, sire, quod she, I koude amende al this, Line 1106 If that me liste, er it were dayes thre, Line 1107 So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me. Line 1108 But, for ye speken of swich gentillesse Line 1109 As is descended out of old richesse, Line 1110 That therfore sholden ye be gentil men, Line 1111 Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen. Line 1112 Looke who that is moost vertuous alway, Line 1113 Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay Line 1114 To do the gentil dedes that he kan; Line 1115 Taak hym for the grettest gentil man. Line 1116 Crist wole we clayme of hym oure gentillesse, Line 1117 Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse. Line 1118 For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage, Line 1119 For which we clayme to been of heigh parage, Line 1120 Yet may they nat biquethe, for no thyng, Line 1121 To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng, Line 1122 That made hem gentil men ycalled be, Line 1123 And bad us folwen hem in swich degree. Line 1124 Wel kan the wise poete of florence, Line 1125 That highte dant, speken in this sentence. Line 1126 Lo, in swich maner rym is dantes tale: Line 1127 -- Ful selde up riseth by his brances smale Line 1128 Prowesse of man, for god, of his goodnesse, Line 1129 Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse; -- Line 1130 For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme Line 1131 But temporel thyng, that man may hurte and mayme. Line 1132 Eek every wight woot this as wel as I, Line 1133 If gentillesse were planted natureelly Line 1134 Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne, Line 1135 Pryvee and apert, thanne wolde they nevere fyne Line 1136 To doon of gentillesse the faire office; Line 1137 They myghte do no vileynye or vice. Line 1138 Taak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous Line 1139 Bitwix this and the mount of kaukasous, Line 1140 And lat men shette the dores and go thenne; Line 1141 Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne Line 1142 As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde; Line 1143 His office natureel ay wol it holde, Line 1144 Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye. Line 1145 Heere may ye se wel how that genterye Line 1146 Is nat annexed to possessioun, Line 1147 Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun Line 1148 Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde. Line 1149 For, God it woot, men may wel often fynde Line 1150 A lordes sone do shame and vileynye; Line 1151 And he that wole han pris of his gentrye, Line 1152 For he was boren of a gentil hous, Line 1153 And hadde his eldres noble and vertuous, Line 1154 And nel hymselven do no gentil dedis, Line 1155 Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is, Line 1156 He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl; Line 1157 For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl. Line 1158 For gentillesse nys but renomee Line 1159 Of thyne auncestres, for hire heigh bountee, Line 1160 Which is a strange thyng to thy persone. Line 1161 Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone. Line 1162 Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace; Line 1163 It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place. Line 1164 Thenketh how noble, as seith valerius, Line 1165 Was thilke tullius hostillius, Line 1166 That out of poverte roos to heigh noblesse. Line 1167 Reedeth senek, and redeth eek boece; Line 1168 Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is Line 1169 That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis. Line 1170 And therfore, leeve housbonde, thus conclude: Line 1171 Al were it that myne auncestres were rude, Line 1172 Yet may the hye god, and so hope I, Line 1173 Grante me grace to lyven vertuously. Line 1174 Thanne am I gentil, whan that I bigynne Line 1175 To lyven vertuously and weyve synne. Line 1176 And ther as ye of poverte me repreeve, Line 1177 The hye god, on whom that we bileeve, Line 1178 In wilful poverte chees to lyve his lyf. Line 1179

Line 1179 And certes every man, mayden, or wyf, Line 1180 May understonde that jhesus, hevene kyng, Line 1181 Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyvyng. Line 1182 Glad poverte is an honest thyng, certeyn; Line 1183 This wole senec and othere clerkes seyn. Line 1184 Whoso that halt hym payd of his poverte, Line 1185 I holde hym riche, al hadde he nat a sherte. Line 1186 He that coveiteth is a povre wight, Line 1187 For he wolde han that is nat in his myght; Line 1188 But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth have, Line 1189 Is riche, although ye holde hym but a knave. Line 1190 Verray poverte, it syngeth proprely; Line 1191 Juvenal seith of poverte myrily: Line 1192 -- The povre man, whan he goth by the weye, Line 1193 Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye. Line 1194 Poverte is hateful good and, as I gesse, Line 1195 A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse; Line 1196 A greet amendere eek of sapience Line 1197 To hym that taketh it in pacience. Line 1198 Poverte is this, although it seme alenge, Line 1199 Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge. Line 1200 Poverte ful ofte, whan a man is lowe, Line 1201 Maketh his God and eek hymself to knowe. Line 1202 Poverte a spectacle is, as thynketh me, Line 1203 Thurgh which he may his verray freendes see. Line 1204 And therfore, sire, syn that I noght yow greve, Line 1205 Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve. Line 1206 No, sire, of elde ye repreve me; Line 1207 And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee Line 1208 Were in no book, ye gentils of honour Line 1209 Seyn that men sholde an oold wight doon favour, Line 1210 And clepe hym fader, for youre gentillesse; Line 1211 And auctours shal I fynde, as I gesse. Line 1212 Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old, Line 1213 Than drede you noght to been a cokewold; Line 1214 For filthe and eelde, also moot I thee, Line 1215 Been grete wardeyns upon chastitee. Line 1216 But nathelees, syn I knowe youre delit, Line 1217 I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit. Line 1218 Chese now, quod she, oon of thise thynges tweye: Line 1219 To han me foul and old til that I deye, Line 1220 And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf, Line 1221 And nevere yow displese in al my lyf; Line 1222 Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair, Line 1223 And take youre aventure of the repair Line 1224 That shal be to youre hous by cause of me, Line 1225 Or in som oother place, may wel be. Line 1226 Now chese yourselven, wheither that yow liketh. Line 1227 This knyght avyseth hym and sore siketh, Line 1228 But atte laste he seyde in this manere: Line 1229 My lady and my love, and wyf so deere, Line 1230 I put me in youre wise governance; Line 1231 Cheseth youreself which may be moost plesance, Line 1232 And moost honour to yow and me also. Line 1233 I do no fors the wheither of the two; Line 1234 For as yow liketh, it suffiseth me. Line 1235 Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie, quod she, Line 1236 Syn I may chese and governe as me lest? Line 1237 Ye, certes, wyf, quod he, I holde it best. Line 1238 Kys me, quod she, we be no lenger wrothe; Line 1239 For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe, Line 1240 This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good. Line 1241 I prey to God that I moote sterven wood, Line 1242 But I to yow be also good and trewe Line 1243 As evere was wyf, syn that the world was newe. Line 1244 And but I be to-morn as fair to seene Line 1245 As any lady, emperice, or queene, Line 1246 That is bitwixe the est and eke the west, Line 1247 Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest. Line 1248 Cast up the curtyn, looke how that it is. Line 1249 And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this, Line 1250 That she so fair was, and so yong therto, Line 1251 For joye he hente hire in his armes two, Line 1252 His herte bathed in a bath of blisse. Line 1253 A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hire kisse, Line 1254 And she obeyed hym in every thyng Line 1255 That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng. Line 1256 And thys they lyve unto hir lyves ende Line 1257 In parfit joye; and jhesu crist us sende Line 1258 Housbondes meeke, yonge, and fressh abedde, Line 1259 And grace t' overbyde hem that we wedde; Line 1260 And eek I praye jhesu shorte hir lyves Line 1261 That wol nat be governed by hir wyves; Line 1262 And olde and angry nygardes of dispence, Line 1263 God sende hem soone verray pestilence! Line 1264

The Friar's Prologue

This worthy lymytour, this noble frere, Line 1265 He made alwey a maner louryng chiere Line 1266 Upon the somonour, but for honestee Line 1267 No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he. Line 1268 But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf, Line 1269 Dame, quod he, God yeve yow right good lyf! Line 1270 Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee, Line 1271 In scole-matere greet difficultee. Line 1272 Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye; Line 1273 But, dame, heere as we ryde by the weye, Line 1274 Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, Line 1275 And lete auctoritees, on goddes name, Line 1276 To prechyng and to scole eek of clergye. Line 1277 But if it lyke to this compaignye, Line 1278 I wol yow of a somonour telle a game. Line 1279 Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name Line 1280 That of a somonour may no good be sayd; Line 1281 I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd. Line 1282 A somonour is a rennere up and doun Line 1283 With mandementz for fornicacioun, Line 1284 And is ybet at every townes ende. Line 1285 Oure hoost tho spak, a! sire, ye sholde be hende Line 1286 And curteys, as a man of youre estaat; Line 1287 In compaignye we wol have no debaat. Line 1288 Telleth youre tale, and lat the somonour be. Line 1289 Nay, quod the somonour, lat hym seye to me Line 1290 What so hym list; whan it comth to me lot, Line 1291 By god! I shal hym quiten every grot. Line 1292 I shal hym tellen which a greet honour Line 1293 It is to be a flaterynge lymytour; Line 1294 And eek of many another manere cryme Line 1295 Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; Line 1296 And his office I shal hym telle, ywis. Line 1297 Oure hoost answerde, pees, namoore of this! Line 1298 And after this he seyde unto the frere, Line 1299 Tel forth youre tale, my leeve maister deere. Line 1300

The Friar's Tale

Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree Line 1301 And erchedeken, a man of heigh degree, Line 1302 That boldely dide execucioun Line 1303 In punysshynge of fornicacioun, Line 1304 Of wicchecraft, and eek of bawderye, Line 1305 Of difamacioun, and avowtrye, Line 1306 Of chirche reves, and of testamentz, Line 1307 Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz, Line 1308 Of usure, and of symonye also. Line 1309 But certes, lecchours dide he grettest wo; Line 1310 They sholde syngen if that they were hent; Line 1311 And smale tytheres weren foule yshent, Line 1312 If any persoun wolde upon hem pleyne. Line 1313 Ther myghte asterte hym no pecunyal peyne. Line 1314 For smale tithes and for smal offrynge Line 1315 He made the peple pitously to synge. Line 1316 For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook, Line 1317 They weren in the erchedeknes book. Line 1318 Thanne hadde he, thurgh his jurisdiccioun, Line 1319 Power to doon on hem correccioun. Line 1320 He hadde a somonour redy to his hond; Line 1321 A slyer boye nas noon in engelond; Line 1322 For subtilly he hadde his espiaille, Line 1323 That taughte hym wel wher that hym myghte availle. Line 1324 He koude spare of lecchours oon or two, Line 1325 To techen hym to foure and twenty mo. Line 1326 For thogh this somonour wood were as an hare, Line 1327 To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare; Line 1328 For we been out of his correccioun. Line 1329 They han of us no jurisdiccioun, Line 1330 Ne nevere shullen, terme of alle hir lyves. -- Line 1331 Peter! so been the wommen of the styves, Line 1332 Quod the somonour, yput out of oure cure! Line 1333 Pees! with myschance and with mysaventure! Line 1334

Line 1334 Thys seyde oure hoost, and lat hym telle his tale. Line 1335 Now telleth forth, thogh that the somonour gale; Line 1336 Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister deere. -- Line 1337 This false theef, this somonour, quod the frere, Line 1338 Hadde alwey bawdes redy to his hond, Line 1339 As any hauk to lure in engelond, Line 1340 That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe; Line 1341 For hire acqueyntace was nat come of newe. Line 1342 They weren his approwours prively. Line 1343 He took hymself a greet profit therby; Line 1344 His maister knew nat alwey what he wan. Line 1345 Withouten mandement a lewed man Line 1346 He koude somne, on peyne of cristes curs, Line 1347 And they were glade for to fille his purs, Line 1348 And make hym grete feestes atte nale. Line 1349 And right as judas hadde purses smale, Line 1350 And was a theef, right swich a theef was he; Line 1351 His maister hadde but half his duetee. Line 1352 He was, if I shal yeven hym his laude, Line 1353 A theef, and eek a somnour, and baude. Line 1354 He hadde eek wenches at his retenue, Line 1355 That, wheither that sir robert or sir huwe, Line 1356 Or jakke, or rauf, or whoso that it were Line 1357 That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere. Line 1358 Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent; Line 1359 And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, Line 1360 And somne hem to chapitre bothe two, Line 1361 And pile the man, and lete the wenche go. Line 1362 Thanne wolde he seye, freend, I shal for thy sake Line 1363 Do striken hire out of oure lettres blake; Line 1364 Thee thar namoore as in this cas travaille. Line 1365 I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle. Line 1366 Certeyn he knew of briberyes mo Line 1367 Than possible is to telle in yeres two. Line 1368 For in this world nys dogge for the bowe Line 1369 That kan an hurt deer from an hool yknowe Line 1370 Bet than this somnour knew a sly lecchour, Line 1371 Or an avowtier, or a paramour. Line 1372 And for that was the fruyt of al his rente, Line 1373 Therfore on it he sette al his entente. Line 1374 And so bifel that ones on a day Line 1375 This somnour, evere waityng on his pray, Line 1376 Rood for to somne an old wydwe, a ribibe, Line 1377 Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. Line 1378 And happed that he saugh bifore hym ryde Line 1379 A gay yeman, under a forest syde, Line 1380 A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene; Line 1381 He hadde upon a courtepy of grene, Line 1382 An hat upon his heed with frenges blake. Line 1383 Sire, quod this somnour, hayl, and wel atake! Line 1384 Welcome, quod he, and every good felawe! Line 1385 Wher rydestow, under this grene-wode shawe? Line 1386 Seyde this yeman, wiltow fer to day? Line 1387 This somnour hym answerde and seyde, nay; Line 1388 Heere faste by, quod he, is myn entente Line 1389 To ryden, for to reysen up a rente Line 1390 That longeth to my lordes duetee. Line 1391 Artow thanne a bailly? ye, quod he. Line 1392 He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame Line 1393 Seye that he was a somonour, for the name. Line 1394 Depardieux, quod this yeman, deere broother, Line 1395 Thou art a bailly, and I am another. Line 1396 I am unknowen as in this contree; Line 1397 Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, Line 1398 And eek of bretherhede, if that yow leste. Line 1399 I have gold and silver in my cheste; Line 1400 If that thee happe to comen in oure shire, Line 1401 Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desire. Line 1402 Grantmercy, quod this somonour, by my feith! Line 1403 Everych on ootheres hand his trouthe leith, Line 1404 For to be sworne bretheren til they deye. Line 1405 In daliance they ryden forth and pleye. Line 1406 This somonour, which that was as ful of jangles, Line 1407 As ful of venym been thise waryangles, Line 1408 And evere enqueryng upon every thyng, Line 1409 Brother, quod he, where is now youre dwellyng Line 1410 Another day if that I sholde yow seche? Line 1411 This yeman hym answerde in softe speche, Line 1412 Brother, quod he, fer in the north contree, Line 1413 Where-as I hope som tyme I shal thee see. Line 1414 Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse Line 1415 That of myn hous ne shaltow nevere mysse. Line 1416 Now, brother, quod this somonour, I yow preye, Line 1417 Teche me, whil that we ryden by the weye, Line 1418 Syn that ye been a baillif as am I, Line 1419 Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully Line 1420 In myn office how that I may moost wynne; Line 1421 And spareth nat for conscience ne synne, Line 1422 But as my brother tel me, how do ye. Line 1423 Now, by my trouthe, brother deere, seyde he, Line 1424 As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, Line 1425 My wages been ful streite and ful smale. Line 1426 My lord is hard to me and daungerous, Line 1427 And myn office is ful laborous, Line 1428 And therfore by extorcions I lyve. Line 1429 For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive. Line 1430

Line 1430 Algate,by gleyghte or by violence, Line 1431 Fro yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence. Line 1432 I kan no bettre telle, feithfully. Line 1433 Now certes, quod this somonour, so fare I. Line 1434 I spare nat to taken, God it woot, Line 1435 But if it be to hevy or to hoot. Line 1436 What I may gete in conseil prively, Line 1437 No maner conscience of that have I. Line 1438 Nere myn extorcioun, I myghte nat lyven, Line 1439 Ne of swiche japes wol I nat be shryven. Line 1440 Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon; Line 1441 I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everychoon. Line 1442 Wel be we met, by God and by seint jame! Line 1443 But, leeve brother, tel me thanne thy name, Line 1444 Quod this somonour. In this meene while Line 1445 This yeman gan a litel for to smyle. Line 1446 Brother, quod he, wiltow that I thee telle? Line 1447 I am a feend; my dwellyng is in helle, Line 1448 And heere I ryde aboute my purchasyng, Line 1449 To wite wher men wol yeve me any thyng. Line 1450 My purchas is th' effect of al my rente. Line 1451 Looke how thou rydest for the same entente, Line 1452 To wynne good, thou rekkest nevere how; Line 1453 Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now Line 1454 Unto the worldes ende for a preye. Line 1455 Al! quod this somonour, benedicite! sey ye? Line 1456 I wende ye were a yeman trewely. Line 1457 Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; Line 1458 Han ye a figure thanne determinat Line 1459 In helle, ther ye been in youre estat? Line 1460 Nay, certeinly, quod he, ther have we noon; Line 1461 But whan us liketh, we kan take us oon, Line 1462 Or elles make yow seme we been shape Line 1463 Somtyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape, Line 1464 Or lyk an angel kan I ryde or go. Line 1465 It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so; Line 1466 A lowsy jogelour kan deceyve thee, Line 1467 And pardee, yet kan I moore craft than he. Line 1468 Why, quod this somonour, ryde ye thanne or goon Line 1469 In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon? Line 1470 For we, quod he, wol us swiche formes make Line 1471 As moost able is oure preyes for to take. Line 1472 What maketh yow to han al this labour? Line 1473 Ful many a cause, leeve sire somonour, Line 1474 Seyde this feend, but alle thyng hath tyme. Line 1475 The day is short, and it is passed pryme, Line 1476 And yet ne wan I nothyng in this day. Line 1477 I wol entende to wynnyng, if I may, Line 1478 And nat entende oure wittes to declare. Line 1479 For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare Line 1480 To understonde, althogh I tolde hem thee. Line 1481 But, for thou axest why labouren we -- Line 1482 For somtyme we been goddes instrumentz, Line 1483 And meenes to doon his comandementz, Line 1484 Whan that hym list, upon his creatures, Line 1485 In divers art and in diverse figures. Line 1486 Withouten hym we have no myght, certayn, Line 1487 If that hym list stonden ther-agayn. Line 1488 And somtyme, at oure prayere, han we leve Line 1489 Oonly the body and nat the soule greve; Line 1490 Witnesse on job, whom that we diden wo. Line 1491 And somtyme han we myght of bothe two, Line 1492 This is to seyn, of soule and body eke. Line 1493 And somtyme be we suffred for to seke Line 1494 Upon a man, and doon his soule unreste, Line 1495 And nat his body, and al is for the beste. Line 1496 Whan he withstandeth oure temptacioun, Line 1497 It is a cause of his savacioun, Line 1498 Al be it that it was nat oure entente Line 1499 He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde hym hente. Line 1500 And somtyme be we servant unto man, Line 1501 As to the erchebisshop seint dunstan, Line 1502 And to the apostles servent eek was I. Line 1503 Yet tel me, quod the somonour, feithfully, Line 1504 Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway Line 1505 Of elementz? the feend answerde, nay. Line 1506 Somtyme we feyne, and somtyme we aryse Line 1507 With dede bodyes, in ful sondry wyse, Line 1508 And speke as renably and faire and wel Line 1509 As to the phitonissa dide samuel. Line 1510 (and yet wol som men seye it was nat he; Line 1511 I do no fors of youre dyvynytee.) Line 1512 But o thyng warne I thee, I wol nat jape, -- Line 1513 Thou wolt algates wite how we been shape; Line 1514 Thou shalt herafterward, my brother deere, Line 1515 Come there thee nedeth nat of me to leere. Line 1516 For thou shalt, by thyn owene experience, Line 1517 Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence Line 1518 Bet than virgile, while he was on lyve, Line 1519 Or dant also. Now lat us ryde blyve, Line 1520 For I wole holde compaignye with thee Line 1521 Til it be so that thou forsake me. Line 1522 Nay, quod this somonour, that shal nat bityde! Line 1523 I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde; Line 1524 My trouthe wol I holde, as in this cas. Line 1525 For though thou were the devel sathanas, Line 1526 My trouthe wol I holde to my brother, Line 1527 As I am sworn, and ech of us til oother, Line 1528 For to be trewe brother in this cas; Line 1529 And bothe we goon abouten oure purchas. Line 1530

Line 1530 Taak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive, Line 1531 And I shal myn; thus may we bothe lyve. Line 1532 And if that any of us have moore than oother, Line 1533 Lat hym be trewe, and parte it with his brother. Line 1534 I graunte, quod the devel, by my fey. Line 1535 And with that word they ryden forth hir wey. Line 1536 And right at the entryng of the townes ende, Line 1537 To which this somonour shoop hym for to wende, Line 1538 They saugh a cart that charged was with hey, Line 1539 Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey. Line 1540 Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood. Line 1541 The cartere smoot, and cryde as he were wood, Line 1542 Hayt, brok! hayt, scot! what spare ye for the stones? Line 1543 The feend, quod he, yow fecche, body and bones, Line 1544 As ferforthly as evere were ye foled, Line 1545 So muche wo as I have with yow tholed! Line 1546 The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey! Line 1547 This somonour seyde, heere shal we have a pley. Line 1548 And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were, Line 1549 Ful prively, and rowned in his ere: Line 1550 Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith! Line 1551 Herestow nat how that the cartere seith? Line 1552 Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee, Line 1553 Bothe hey and cart, and eek his caples thre. Line 1554 Nay, quod the devel, God woot, never a deel! Line 1555 It is nat his entente, trust me weel. Line 1556 Axe hym thyself, it thou nat trowest me; Line 1557 Or elles stynt a while, and thou shalt see. Line 1558 This cartere thakketh his hors upon the croupe, Line 1559 And they bigonne to drawen and to stoupe. Line 1560 Heyt! now, quod he, ther jhesu crist yow blesse, Line 1561 And al his handwerk, bothe moore and lesse! Line 1562 That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy. Line 1563 I pray God save thee, and seinte loy! Line 1564 Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee! Line 1565 Lo, brother, quod the feend, what tolde I thee? Line 1566 Heere may ye se, myn owene deere brother, Line 1567 The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another. Line 1568 Lat us go forth abouten oure viage; Line 1569 Heere wynne I nothyng upon cariage. Line 1570 Whan that they coomen somwhat out of towne, Line 1571 This somonour to his brother gan to rowne: Line 1572 Brother, quod he, heere woneth an old rebekke, Line 1573 That hadde almoost as lief to lese hire nekke Line 1574 As for to yeve a peny of hir good. Line 1575 I wole han twelf pens, though that she be wood, Line 1576 Or I wol sompne hire unto oure office; Line 1577 And yet, God woot, of hire knowe I no vice. Line 1578 But for thou kanst nat, as in this contree, Line 1579 Wynne thy cost, taak heer ensample of me. Line 1580 This somonour clappeth at the wydwes gate. Line 1581 Com out, quod he, thou olde virytrate! Line 1582 I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee. Line 1583 Who clappeth? seyde this wyf, benedicitee! Line 1584 God save you, sire, what is youre sweete wille? Line 1585 I have, quod he, of somonce here a bille; Line 1586 Up peyne of cursyng, looke that thou be Line 1587 To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee, Line 1588 T' answere to the court of certeyn thynges. Line 1589 Now, lord, quod she, crist jhesu, kyng of kynges, Line 1590 So wisly helpe me, as I ne may. Line 1591 I have been syk, and that ful many a day. Line 1592 I may nat go so fer, quod she, ne ryde, Line 1593 But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde. Line 1594 May I nat axe a libel, sire somonour, Line 1595 And answere there by my procuratour Line 1596 To swich thyng as men wole opposen me? Line 1597 Yis, quod this somonour, pay anon, lat se, Line 1598 Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquite. Line 1599 I shal no profit han therby but lite; Line 1600 My maister hath the profit, and nat I. Line 1601 Com of, and lat me ryden hastily; Line 1602 Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarye. Line 1603 Twelf pens! quod she, now, lady seinte marie Line 1604 So wisly help me out of care and synne, Line 1605 This wyde world thogh that I sholde wynne, Line 1606 Ne have I nat twelf pens withinne myn hoold. Line 1607 Ye knowen wel that I am povre and oold; Line 1608 Kithe youre almesse on me povre wrecche. Line 1609 Nay thanne, quod he, the foule feend me fecche Line 1610 If I th' excuse, though thou shul be spilt! Line 1611 allas! quod she, God woot, I have no gilt. Line 1612 Pay me, quod he, or by the swete seinte anne, Line 1613 As I wol bere awey thy newe panne Line 1614 For dette which thou owest me of old. Line 1615

Line 1615 Whan that thou madest thyn housbonde cokewold, Line 1616 I payde at hoom for thy correccioun. Line 1617 Thou lixt! quod she, by my savacioun, Line 1618 Ne was I nevere er now, wydwe ne wyf, Line 1619 Somoned unto youre court in al my lyf; Line 1620 Ne nevere I nas but of my body trewe! Line 1621 Unto the devel blak and rough of hewe Line 1622 Yeve I thy body and my panne also! Line 1623 And whan the devel herde hire cursen so Line 1624 Upon hir knees, he seyde in this manere, Line 1625 Now, mabely, myn owene mooder deere, Line 1626 Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye? Line 1627 The devel, quod she, so fecche hym er he deye, Line 1628 And panne and al, but he wol hym repente! Line 1629 Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente, Line 1630 Quod this somonour, for to repente me Line 1631 For any thyng that I have had of thee. Line 1632 I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth! Line 1633 Now, brother, quod the devel, be nat wrooth; Line 1634 Thy body and this panne been myne by right. Line 1635 Thow shalt with me to helle yet to-nyght, Line 1636 Where thou shalt knowen of oure privetee Line 1637 Moore than a maister of dyvynytee. Line 1638 And with that word this foule feend hym hente; Line 1639 Body and soule he with the devel wente Line 1640 Where as that somonours han hir heritage. Line 1641 And god, that maked after his ymage Line 1642 Mankynde, save and gyde us, alle and some, Line 1643 And leve thise somonours goode men bicome! Line 1644 Lordynges, I koude han toold yow, quod this frere, Line 1645 Hadde I had leyser for this somonour heere, Line 1646 After the text of crist, poul, and john, Line 1647 And of oure othere doctours many oon, Line 1648 Swiche peynes that youre hertes myghte agryse, Line 1649 Al be it so no tonge may it devyse, Line 1650 Thogh that I myghte a thousand wynter telle Line 1651 The peynes of thilke cursed hous of helle. Line 1652 But for to kepe us fro that cursed place, Line 1653 Waketh, and preyeth jhesu for his grace Line 1654 So kepe us from the temptour sathanas. Line 1655 Herketh this word! beth war, as in this cas: Line 1656 The leoun sit in his awayt alway Line 1657 To sle the innocent, if that he may. Line 1658 Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde Line 1659 The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde. Line 1660 He may nat tempte yow over youre myght, Line 1661 For crist wol be youre champion and knyght. Line 1662 And prayeth that thise somonours hem repente Line 1663 Of hir mysdedes, er that the feend hem hente! Line 1664

The Summoner's Prologue

This somonour in his styropes hye stood; Line 1665 Upon this frere his herte was so wood Line 1666 That lyk an aspen leef he quook for ire. Line 1667 Lordynges, quod he, but o thyng I desire; Line 1668 I yow biseke that, of youre curteisye, Line 1669 Syn ye han herd this false frere lye, Line 1670 As suffreth me I may my tale telle. Line 1671 This frere bosteth that he knoweth helle, Line 1672 And God it woot, that it is litel wonder; Line 1673 Freres and feendes been but lyte asonder. Line 1674 For, pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle Line 1675 How that a frere ravyshed was to helle Line 1676 In spirit ones by a visioun; Line 1677 And as an angel ladde hym up and doun, Line 1678 To shewen hym the peynes that the were, Line 1679 In al the place saugh he nat a frere; Line 1680 Of oother folk he saugh ynowe in wo. Line 1681 Unto this angel spak the frere tho: Line 1682 Now, sire, quod he, han freres swich a grace Line 1683 That noon of hem shal come to this place? Line 1684 Yis, quod this aungel, many a millioun! Line 1685 And unto sathanas he ladde hym doun. Line 1686 -- And now hath sathanas, -- seith he, -- a tayl Line 1687 Brodder than of a carryk is the sayl. Line 1688 Hold up thy tayl, thou sathanas! -- quod he; Line 1689 -- shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere se Line 1690 Where is the nest of freres in this place! -- Line 1691 And er that half a furlong wey of space, Line 1692 Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve, Line 1693 Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve Line 1694

Line 1694 Twenty thousand freres on a route, Line 1695 And thurghout helle swarmed al aboute, Line 1696 And comen agayn as faste as they may gon, Line 1697 And in his ers they crepten everychon. Line 1698 He clapte his tayl agayn and lay ful stille. Line 1699 This frere, whan he looked hadde his fille Line 1700 Upon the tormentz of this sory place, Line 1701 His spirit God restored, of his grace, Line 1702 Unto his body agayn, and he awook. Line 1703 But natheles, for fere yet he quook, Line 1704 So was the develes ers ay in his mynde, Line 1705 That is his heritage of verray kynde. Line 1706 God save yow alle, save this cursed frere! Line 1707 My prologe wol I ende in this manere. Line 1708

The Summoner's Tale

Lordynges, ther is in yorkshire, as I gesse, Line 1709 A mersshy contree called holdernesse, Line 1710 In which ther wente a lymytour aboute, Line 1711 To preche, and eek to begge, it so no doute. Line 1712 And so bifel that on a day this frere Line 1713 Hadde preched at a chirche in his manere, Line 1714 And specially, aboven every thyng, Line 1715 Excited he the peple in his prechyng Line 1716 To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake, Line 1717 Wherwith men myghte hooly houses make, Line 1718 Ther as divine servyce is honoured, Line 1719 Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, Line 1720 Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive, Line 1721 As to possessioners, that mowen lyve, Line 1722 Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce. Line 1723 Trentals, seyde he, deliveren fro penaunce Line 1724 Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, -- Line 1725 Ye, whan that they been hastily ysonge, Line 1726 Nat for to holde a preest holy and gay -- Line 1727 He syngeth nat but o masse in a day. Line 1728 Delivereth out, quod he, anon the soules! Line 1729 Ful hard it is with flesshhook or with oules Line 1730 To been yclawed, or to brenne or bake. Line 1731 Now spede yow hastily, for cristes sake! Line 1732 And whan this frere had seyd al his entente, Line 1733 With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente. Line 1734 Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste, Line 1735 He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste, Line 1736 With scrippe and tipped staf, ytukked hye, Line 1737 In every hous he gan to poure and prye, Line 1738 And beggeth mele and chese, or elles corn. Line 1739 His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn, Line 1740 A peyre of tables al of yvory, Line 1741 And a poyntel polysshed fetisly, Line 1742 And wrooth the names alwey, as he stood, Line 1743 Of alle folk that yaf hym any good, Line 1744 Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye. Line 1745 Yif us a busshel whete, malt, or reye, Line 1746 A goddes kechyl, or a trype of chese, Line 1747 Or elles what yow lyst, we may nat cheese; Line 1748 A goddes halfpeny, or a masse peny, Line 1749 Or yif us of youre brawn, if ye have eny; Line 1750 A dagon of youre blanket, leeve dame, Line 1751 Oure suster deere, -- lo! heere I write youre name, -- Line 1752 Bacon or beef, or swich thyng as ye fynde. Line 1753 A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihynde, Line 1754 That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak, Line 1755 And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak. Line 1756 And whan that he was out at dore, anon Line 1757 He planed awey the names everichon Line 1758 That he biforn had writen in his tables; Line 1759 He served hem with nyfles and with fables. Line 1760 Nay, ther thou lixt, thou somonour! quod the frere. Line 1761 Pees, quod oure hoost, for cristes mooder deere! Line 1762 Tel forth thy tale, and spare it nat at al. Line 1763 So thryve I, quod this somonour, so I shal! Line 1764 So longe he wente, hous by hous, til he Line 1765 Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be Line 1766 Refresshed moore than in an hundred placis. Line 1767 Syk lay the goode man whos that the place is; Line 1768 Bedrede upon a couche lowe he lay. Line 1769 Deus hic! quod he, o thomas, freend, good day! Line 1770 Seyde this frere, curteisly and softe. Line 1771 Thomas, quod he, God yelde yow! ful ofte Line 1772 Have I upon this bench faren ful weel; Line 1773 Heere have I eten many a myrie meel. Line 1774 And fro the bench he droof awey the cat, Line 1775 And leyde adoun his potente and his hat, Line 1776 And eek his scrippe, and sette hym softe adoun. Line 1777 His felawe was go walked into toun Line 1778

Line 1778 Forth with his knave, into that hostelrye Line 1779 Where as he shoop hym thilke nyght to lye. Line 1780 O deere maister, quod this sike man, Line 1781 How han ye fare sith that march bigan? Line 1782 I saugh yow noght this fourtenyght or moore. Line 1783 God woot, quod he, laboured have I ful soore, Line 1784 And specially, for thy savacion Line 1785 Have I seyd many a precious orison, Line 1786 And for oure othere freendes, God hem blesse! Line 1787 I have to day been at youre chirche at messe, Line 1788 And seyd a sermon after my symple wit, Line 1789 Nat al after the text of hooly writ; Line 1790 For it is hard to yow, as I suppose, Line 1791 And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose. Line 1792 Glosynge is a glorious thyng, certeyn, Line 1793 For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn. Line 1794 There have I taught hem to be charitable, Line 1795 And spende hir good ther it is resonable; Line 1796 And there I saugh oure dame, -- a! where is she? Line 1797 Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be, Line 1798 Seyde this man,and she wol come anon. Line 1799 Ey, maister, welcome be ye, by seint john! Line 1800 Seyde this wyf, how fare ye, hertely? Line 1801 The frere ariseth up ful curteisly, Line 1802 And hire embraceth in his armes narwe, Line 1803 And kiste hire sweete, and chirketh as a sparwe Line 1804 With his lyppes: dame, quod he, right weel, Line 1805 As he that is youre servent every deel, Line 1806 Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and lyf! Line 1807 Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf Line 1808 In al the chirche, God so save me! Line 1809 Ye, God amende defautes, sire, quod she. Line 1810 Algates, welcome be ye, by my fey! Line 1811 Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey. Line 1812 But of youre grete goodnesse, by youre leve, Line 1813 I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve, Line 1814 I wole with thomas speke a litel throwe. Line 1815 Thise curatz been ful necligent and slowe Line 1816 To grope tendrely a conscience Line 1817 In shrift; in prechyng is my diligence, Line 1818 And studie in petres wordes and in poules. Line 1819 I walke, and fisshe cristen mennes soules, Line 1820 To yelden jhesu crist his propre rente; Line 1821 To sprede his word is set al myn entente. Line 1822 Now, by youre leve, o deere sire, she, Line 1823 Chideth him weel, for seinte trinitee! Line 1824 He is as angry as a pissemyre, Line 1825 Though that he have al that he kan desire, Line 1826 Though I hym wrye a-nyght and make hym warm, Line 1827 And over hym leye my leg outher myn arm, Line 1828 He groneth lyk oure boor, lith in oure sty. Line 1829 Oother desport right noon of hym have I; Line 1830 I may nat plese hym in no maner cas. Line 1831 O thomas, je vous dy, thomas! thomas! Line 1832 This maketh the feend; this moste ben amended. Line 1833 Ire is a thyng that hye God defended, Line 1834 And therof wol I speke a word or two. Line 1835 Now, maister, quod the wyf, er that I go, Line 1836 What wol ye dyne? I wol go theraboute. Line 1837 Now dame, quod he, now je vous dy sanz doute, Line 1838 Have I nat of a capon but the lyvere, Line 1839 And of youre softe breed nat but a shyvere, Line 1840 And after that a rosted pigges heed -- Line 1841 But that I nolde no beest for me were deed -- Line 1842 Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce. Line 1843 I am a man of litel sustenaunce; Line 1844 My spirit hath his fostryng in the bible. Line 1845 The body is ay so redy and penyble Line 1846 To wake, that my stomak is destroyed. Line 1847 I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, Line 1848 Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe. Line 1849 By god! I wolde nat telle it but a fewe. Line 1850 Now, sire, quod she, but o word er I go. Line 1851 My child is deed withinne thise wykes two, Line 1852 Soone after that ye wente out of this toun. Line 1853 His deeth saugh I by revelacioun, Line 1854 Seide this frere, at hoom in oure dortour. Line 1855 I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour Line 1856 After his deeth, I saugh hym born to blisse Line 1857 In myn avision, so God me wisse! Line 1858 So didde oure sexteyn and oure fermerer, Line 1859 That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; Line 1860 They may now -- God be thanked of his loone! -- Line 1861 Maken hir jubilee and walke allone. Line 1862 And up I roos, and al oure covent eke, Line 1863 With many a teere trillyng on my cheke, Line 1864 Withouten noyse or claterynge of belles; Line 1865 Te deum was oure song, and nothyng elles, Line 1866 Save that to crist I seyde an orison, Line 1867 Thankynge hym of his revelacion. Line 1868 For, sire and dame, trusteth me right weel, Line 1869 Oure orisons been moore effectueel, Line 1870 And moore we seen of cristes secree thynges, Line 1871 Than burel folk, although they weren kynges. Line 1872 We lyve in poverte and in abstinence, Line 1873 And burell folk in richesse and despence Line 1874 Of mete and drynke, and in hir foul delit. Line 1875 We han this worldes lust al in despit. Line 1876 Lazar and dives lyveden diversly, Line 1877 And divers gerdon hadden they therby. Line 1878

Line 1878 Whoso wol preye, he moot faste and be clene, Line 1879 And fatte his soule, and make his body lene. Line 1880 We fare as seith th' apostle; clooth and foode Line 1881 Suffisen us, though they be nat ful goode. Line 1882 The clennesse and the fastynge of us freres Line 1883 Maketh that crist accepteth oure preyeres. Line 1884 Lo, moyses fourty dayes and fourty nyght Line 1885 Fasted, er that the heighe God of myght Line 1886 Spak with hym in the mountayne of synay. Line 1887 With empty wombe, fastynge many a day, Line 1888 Receyved he the lawe that was writen Line 1889 With goddes fynger; and elye, wel ye witen, Line 1890 In mount oreb, er he hadde any speche Line 1891 With hye god, that is oure lyves leche, Line 1892 He fasted longe, and was in contemplaunce. Line 1893 Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce, Line 1894 And eek the othere preestes everichon, Line 1895 Into the temple whan they sholde gon Line 1896 To preye for the peple, and do servyse, Line 1897 They nolden drynken in no maner wyse Line 1898 No drynke which that myghte hem dronke make, Line 1899 But there in abstinence preye and wake, Line 1900 Lest that they deyden. Taak heede what I seye! Line 1901 But they be sobre that for the peple preye, Line 1902 War that I seye -- namoore, for it suffiseth. Line 1903 Oure lord jhesu, as hooly writ devyseth, Line 1904 Yaf us ensample of fastynge and preyeres. Line 1905 Therfore we mendynantz, we sely freres, Line 1906 Been wedded to poverte and continence, Line 1907 To charite, humblesse, and abstinence, Line 1908 To persecucioun for rightwisnesse, Line 1909 To wepynge, misericorde, and clennesse. Line 1910 And therfore may ye se that oure preyeres -- Line 1911 I speke of us, we mendynantz, we freres -- Line 1912 Been to the hye God moore acceptable Line 1913 Than youres, with youre feestes at the table. Line 1914 Fro paradys first, if I shal nat lye, Line 1915 Was man out chaced for his glotonye; Line 1916 And chaast was man in paradys, certeyn. Line 1917 But herkne now, thomas, what I shal seyn. Line 1918 I ne have no text of it, as I suppose, Line 1919 But I shal fynde it in a maner glose, Line 1920 That specially oure sweete lord jhesus Line 1921 Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus: Line 1922 -- Blessed be they that povere in spirit been. -- Line 1923 And so forth al the gospel may ye seen, Line 1924 Wher it be likker oure professioun, Line 1925 Or hirs that swymmen in possessioun. Line 1926 Fy on hire pompe and on hire glotonye! Line 1927 And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. Line 1928 My thynketh they been lyk jovinyan, Line 1929 Fat as a whale, and walkynge as a swan, Line 1930 Al vinolent as botel in the spence. Line 1931 Hir preyere is of ful greet reverence, Line 1932 Whan they for soules seye the psalm of davit; Line 1933 Lo, -- buf! -- they seye, -- cor meum eructavit! -- Line 1934 Who folweth cristes gospel and his foore, Line 1935 But we that humble been, and chaast, and poore, Line 1936 Werkeris of goddes word, nat auditours? Line 1937 Therfore, right as an hauk up at a sours Line 1938 Up springeth into th' eir, right so prayeres Line 1939 Of charitable and chaste bisy freres Line 1940 Maken hir sours to goddes eres two. Line 1941 Thomas! thomas! so moote I ryde or go, Line 1942 And by that lord that clepid is seint yve, Line 1943 Nere thou oure brother, sholdestou nat thryve. Line 1944 In our chapitre prayer we day and nyght Line 1945 To crist, that he thee sende heele and myght Line 1946 Thy body for to weelden hastily. Line 1947 God woot, quod he, nothyng therof feele i! Line 1948 As help me crist, as I in fewe yeres, Line 1949 Have spent upon diverse manere freres Line 1950 Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet. Line 1951 Certeyn, my good have I almoost biset. Line 1952 Farwel, my gold, for it is al ago! Line 1953 The frere answerde, o thomas, dostow so? Line 1954 What nedeth yow diverse freres seche? Line 1955 What nedeth hym that hath a parfit leche Line 1956 To sechen othere leches in the toun? Line 1957 Youre inconstance is youre confusioun. Line 1958 Holde ye thanne me, or elles oure covent, Line 1959 To praye for yow been insufficient? Line 1960 Thomas, that jape nys nat worth a myte. Line 1961 Youre maladye is for we han to lyte. Line 1962 A! yif that covent half a quarter otes! Line 1963 A! yif that covent foure and twenty grotes! Line 1964 A! yif that frere a peny, and lat hym go! Line 1965 Nay, nay, thomas, it may no thyng be so! Line 1966 What is a ferthyng worth parted in twelve? Line 1967 Lo, ech thyng that is oned in himselve Line 1968 Is moore strong than whan it is toscatered. Line 1969 Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been yflatered; Line 1970 Thou woldest han oure labour al for noght. Line 1971 The hye god, that al this world hath wroght, Line 1972 Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre. Line 1973 Thomas, noght of youre tresor I desire Line 1974 As for myself, but that al oure covent Line 1975 To preye for yow is ay so diligent, Line 1976 And for to buylden cristes owene chirche. Line 1977 Thomas, if ye wol lernen for to wirche, Line 1978 Of buyldynge up of chirches may ye fynde, Line 1979

Line 1979 If it be good, in thomas lyf of inde. Line 1980 Ye lye heere ful of anger and of ire, Line 1981 With which the devel set youre herte afyre, Line 1982 And chiden heere the sely innocent, Line 1983 Youre wyf, that is so meke and pacient. Line 1984 And therfore, thomas, trowe me if thee leste, Line 1985 Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste; Line 1986 And ber this word awey now, by thy feith, Line 1987 Touchynge swich thyng, lo, what the wise seith: Line 1988 -- Withinne thyn hous ne be thou no leon; Line 1989 To thy subgitz do noon oppression, Line 1990 Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee. -- Line 1991 And, thomas, yet eft-soones I charge thee, Line 1992 Be war from hire that in thy bosom slepeth; Line 1993 War fro the serpent that so slily crepeth Line 1994 Under the gras, and styngeth subtilly. Line 1995 Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently, Line 1996 That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves Line 1997 For stryvyng with hir lemmans and hir wyves. Line 1998 Now sith ye han so hooly and meke a wyf, Line 1999 What nedeth yow, thomas, to maken stryf? Line 2000 Ther nys, ywys, no serpent so cruel, Line 2001 Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel, Line 2002 As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire; Line 2003 Vengeance is thanne al that they desire. Line 2004 Ire is a synne, oon of the grete of sevene, Line 2005 Abhomynable unto the God of hevene; Line 2006 And to hymself it is destruccion. Line 2007 This every lewed viker or person Line 2008 Kan seye, how ire engendreth homycide. Line 2009 Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. Line 2010 I koude of ire seye so muche sorwe, Line 2011 My tale sholde laste til to-morwe. Line 2012 And therfore preye I god, bothe day and nyght, Line 2013 An irous man, God sende hym litel myght! Line 2014 It is greet harm and certes greet pitee Line 2015 To sette an irous man in heigh degree. Line 2016 Whilom ther was an irous potestat, Line 2017 As seith senek, that, durynge his estaat, Line 2018 Upon a day out ryden knyghtes two, Line 2019 And as fortune wolde that it were so, Line 2020 That oon of hem cam hoom, that oother noght. Line 2021 Anon the knyght bifore the juge is broght, Line 2022 That seyde thus, -- thou hast thy felawe slayn, Line 2023 For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn. -- Line 2024 And to another knyght comanded he, Line 2025 -- Go lede hym to the deeth, I charge thee, -- Line 2026 And happed, as they wente by the weye Line 2027 Toward the place ther he sholde deye, Line 2028 The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed. Line 2029 Thanne thoughte they it were the beste reed Line 2030 To lede hem bothe to the juge agayn. Line 2031 They seiden, -lord, the knyght ne hath nat slayn Line 2032 His felawe; heere he standeth hool alyve. -- Line 2033 -- Ye shul be deed, -- quod he, -- so moot I thryve! Line 2034 That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and thre! -- Line 2035 And to the firste knyght right thus spak he, Line 2036 -- I dampned thee; thou most algate be deed. Line 2037 And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, Line 2038 For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth. -- Line 2039 And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith, Line 2040 -- Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee. -- Line 2041 And thus he dide doon sleen hem alle thre. Line 2042 Irous cambises was eek dronkelewe, Line 2043 And ay delited hym to been a shrewe. Line 2044 And so bifel, a lord of his meynee, Line 2045 That loved vertuous moralitee, Line 2046 Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus: Line 2047 -- A lord is lost, if he be vicius; Line 2048 And dronkenesse is eek a foul record Line 2049 Of any man, and namely in a lord. Line 2050 Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere Line 2051 Awaityng on a lord, and he noot where. Line 2052 For goddes love, drynk moore attemprely! Line 2053 Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly Line 2054 His mynde and eek his lymes everichon. -- Line 2055 -- The revers shaltou se, -- quod he, -- anon, Line 2056 And preve it by thyn owene experience, Line 2057 That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence. Line 2058 Ther is no wyn bireveth me my myght Line 2059 Of hand ne foot, ne of myne eyen sight. -- Line 2060 And for despit he drank ful muchel moore, Line 2061 An hondred part, than he hadde don bifoore; Line 2062 And right anon this irous, cursed wrecche Line 2063 Leet this knyghtes sone bifore hym fecche, Line 2064 Comandynge hym he sholde bifore hym stonde. Line 2065 And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde, Line 2066 And up the streng he pulled to his ere, Line 2067 And with an arwe he slow the child right there. Line 2068 -- Now wheither have I a siker hand or noon? -- Line 2069 Quod he; -- is al my myght and mynde agon? Line 2070 Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight? -- Line 2071 What sholde I telle th' answere of the knyght? Line 2072 His sone was slayn, ther is namoore to seye. Line 2073 Beth war, therfore, with lordes how ye pleye. Line 2074 Syngeth placebo, and -- I shal, if I kan, -- Line 2075 But if it be unto a povre man. Line 2076 To a povre man men sholde his vices telle, Line 2077 But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle. Line 2078 Lo irous cirus, thilke percien, Line 2079 How he destroyed the ryver of gysen, Line 2080 For that an hors of his was dreynt therinne, Line 2081 Whan that he wente babiloigne to wynne. Line 2082 He made that the ryver was so smal Line 2083 That wommen myghte wade it over al. Line 2084 Lo, what seyde he that so wel teche kan? Line 2085

Line 2085 -- Ne be no felawe to an irous man, Line 2086 Ne with no wood man walke by the weye, Line 2087 Lest thee repente; -- I wol no ferther seye. Line 2088 Now, thomas, leeve brother, lef thyn ire; Line 2089 Thou shalt me fynde as just as is a squyre. Line 2090 Hoold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte -- Line 2091 Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte -- Line 2092 But shewe to me al thy confessioun. Line 2093 nay, quod the sike man, by seint symoun! Line 2094 I have be shryven this day at my curat. Line 2095 I have hym toold hoolly al myn estat; Line 2096 Nedeth namoore to speken of it, seith he, Line 2097 But if me list, of myn humylitee. Line 2098 Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make oure cloystre, Line 2099 Quod he, for many a muscle and many an oystre, Line 2100 Whan othere men han ben ful wel at eyse, Line 2101 Hath been oure foode, our cloystre for to reyse. Line 2102 And yet, God woot, unnethe the fundement Line 2103 Parfourned is, ne of our pavement Line 2104 Nys nat a tyle yet withinne oure wones. Line 2105 By god! we owen fourty pound for stones. Line 2106 Now help, thomas, for hym that harwed helle! Line 2107 For elles moste we oure bookes selle. Line 2108 And if yow lakke oure predicacioun, Line 2109 Thanne goth the world al to destruccioun. Line 2110 For whoso wolde us fro this world bireve, Line 2111 So God me save, thomas, by youre leve, Line 2112 He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne. Line 2113 For who kan teche and werchen as we konne? Line 2114 And that is nat of litel tyme, quod he, Line 2115 But syn elye was, or elise, Line 2116 Han freres been, that funde I of record, Line 2117 In charitee, ythanked be oure lord! Line 2118 Now thomas, help, for seinte charitee! Line 2119 And doun anon he sette hym on his knee. Line 2120 This sike man wax wel ny wood for ire; Line 2121 He wolde that the frere had been on-fire, Line 2122 With his false dissymulacioun. Line 2123 Swich thyng as is in my possessioun, Line 2124 Quod he, that may I yeve yow, and noon oother. Line 2125 Ye sey me thus, how that I am youre brother? Line 2126 Ye, certes, quod the frere, trusteth weel. Line 2127 I took oure dame oure lettre with oure seel. Line 2128 Now wel, quod he, and somwhat shal I yive Line 2129 Unto youre hooly covent whil I lyve; Line 2130 And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anon, Line 2131 On this condicion, and oother noon, Line 2132 That thou departe it so, my deere brother, Line 2133 That every frere have also muche as oother. Line 2134 This shaltou swere on thy professioun, Line 2135 Withouten fraude or cavillacioun. Line 2136 I swere it, quod this frere, by my feith! Line 2137 And therwithal his hand in his he leith, Line 2138 Lo, heer my feith; in me shal be no lak. Line 2139 Now thanne, put in thyn hand doun by my bak, Line 2140 Seyde this man, and grope wel bihynde. Line 2141 Bynethe my buttok there shaltow fynde Line 2142 A thyng that I have hyd in pryvetee. Line 2143 A! thoghte this frere, that shal go with me! Line 2144 And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, Line 2145 In hope for to fynde there a yifte. Line 2146 And whan this sike man felte this frere Line 2147 Aboute his tuwel grope there and heere, Line 2148 Amydde his hand he leet the frere a fart, Line 2149 Ther nys no capul, drawynge in a cart, Line 2150 That myghte have lete a fart of swich a soun. Line 2151 The frere up stirte as dooth a wood leoun, -- Line 2152 A! false cherl, quod he, for goddes bones! Line 2153 This hastow for despit doon for the nones. Line 2154 Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may! Line 2155 His meynee, whiche that herden this affray, Line 2156 Cam lepynge in and chaced out the frere; Line 2157 And forth he gooth, with a ful angry cheere, Line 2158 And fette his felawe, ther as lay his stoor. Line 2159 He looked as it were a wilde boor; Line 2160 He grynte with his teeth, so was he wrooth. Line 2161 A sturdy paas doun to the court he gooth, Line 2162 Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour, Line 2163 To whom that he was alwey confessour. Line 2164 This worthy man was lord of that village. Line 2165 This frere cam as he were in a rage, Line 2166 Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord; Line 2167 Unnethes myghte the frere speke a word, Line 2168 Til atte laste he seyde, God yow see! Line 2169 This lord gan looke, and seide, benedicitee! Line 2170 What, frere john, what maner world is this? Line 2171 I se wel that som thyng ther is amys; Line 2172 Ye looken as the wode were ful of thevys. Line 2173 Sit doun anon, and tel me what youre grief is, Line 2174 And it shal been amended, if I may. Line 2175 I have, quod he, had a despit this day, Line 2176 God yelde yow, adoun in youre village, Line 2177 That in this world is noon so povre a page Line 2178 That he nolde have abhomynacioun Line 2179 Of that I have receyved in youre toun. Line 2180 And yet ne greveth me nothyng so soore, Line 2181 As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore Line 2182 Blasphemed hath oure hooly covent eke. Line 2183 Now, maister, quod this lord, I yow biseke, -- Line 2184

Line 2184 No maister, sire, quod he, but servitour, Line 2185 Thogh I have had in scole that honour. Line 2186 God liketh nat that -- raby -- men us calle, Line 2187 Neither in market ne in youre large halle. Line 2188 No fors, quod he, but tel me al youre grief. Line 2189 Sire, quod this frere, and odious meschief Line 2190 This day bityd is to myn ordre and me, Line 2191 And so, per consequens, to ech degree Line 2192 Of hooly chirche, God amende it soone! Line 2193 Sire, quod the lord, ye woot what is to doone. Line 2194 Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; Line 2195 Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour. Line 2196 For goddes love, youre pacience ye holde! Line 2197 Tel me youre grief; and anon hym tolde, Line 2198 As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what. Line 2199 The lady of the hous ay stille sat Line 2200 Til she had herd what the frere sayde. Line 2201 Ey, goddes mooder, quod she, blisful mayde! Line 2202 Is ther oght elles? telle me feithfully. Line 2203 Madame, quod he, how thynke ye herby? Line 2204 How that me thynketh? quod she, so God me speede, Line 2205 I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede. Line 2206 What shold I seye? God lat hym nevere thee! Line 2207 His sike heed is ful of vanytee; Line 2208 I holde hym in a manere frenesye. Line 2209 Madame, quod he, by god, I shal nat lye Line 2210 But in on oother wyse may be wreke, Line 2211 I shal disclaundre hym over al ther I speke, Line 2212 This false blasphemour, that charged me Line 2213 To parte that wol nat departed be, Line 2214 To every man yliche, with meschaunce! Line 2215 The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce, Line 2216 And in his herte he rolled up and doun, Line 2217 How hadde this cherl ymaginacioun Line 2218 To shewe swich a probleme to the frere? Line 2219 Nevere erst er now herde I of swich mateere. Line 2220 I trowe the devel putte it in his mynde. Line 2221 In ars-metrike shal ther no man fynde, Line 2222 Biforn this day, of swich a question. Line 2223 Who sholde make a demonstracion Line 2224 That every man sholde have yliche his part Line 2225 As of the soun or savour of a fart? Line 2226 O nyce, proude cherl, I shrewe his face! Line 2227 Lo, sires, quod the lord, with harde grace! Line 2228 Who evere herde of swich a thyng er now? Line 2229 To every man ylike, tel me how? Line 2230 It is an inpossible, it may nat be. Line 2231 Ey, nyce cherl, God lete him nevere thee! Line 2232 The rumblynge of a fart, and every soun, Line 2233 Nis but of eir reverberacioun, Line 2234 And evere it wasteth litel and litel awey. Line 2235 Ther is no man kan deemen, by my fey, Line 2236 If that it were departed equally. Line 2237 What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly Line 2238 Unto my confessour to-day he spak! Line 2239 I holde hym certeyn a demonyak! Line 2240 Now ete youre mete, and lat the cherl go pleye; Line 2241 Lat hym go honge hymself a devel weye! Line 2242 Now stood the lordes squier at the bord, Line 2243 That karf his mete, and herde word by word Line 2244 Of alle thynges whiche I have yow sayd. Line 2245 My lord, quod he, be ye nat yvele apayd, Line 2246 I koude telle, for a gowne-clooth, Line 2247 To yow, sire frere, so ye be nat wrooth, Line 2248 How that this fart sholde evene deled be Line 2249 Among youre covent, if it lyked me. Line 2250 Tel, quod the lord, and thou shalt have anon Line 2251 A gowne-clooth, by God and by seint john! Line 2252 My lord, quod he, whan that the weder is fair, Line 2253 Withouten wynd or perturbynge of air, Line 2254 Lat brynge a cartwheel heere into this halle; Line 2255 But looke that it have his spokes alle, -- Line 2256 Twelve spokes hath a cartwheel comunly. Line 2257 And bryng me thanne twelve freres, woot ye why? Line 2258 For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse. Line 2259 Youre confessour heere, for his worthynesse, Line 2260 Shal parfoune up the nombre of his covent, Line 2261 Thanne shal they knele doun, by oon assent, Line 2262 And to every spokes ende, in this manere, Line 2263 Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere. Line 2264 Youre noble confessour -- there God hym save! -- Line 2265 Shal holde his nose upright under the nave. Line 2266 Thanne shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght Line 2267 As any tabour, hyder been ybroght; Line 2268 And sette hym on the wheel right of this cart. Line 2269 Upon the nave, and make hym lete a fart. Line 2270 And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf, Line 2271 By preeve which that is demonstratif, Line 2272 That equally the soun of it wol wende, Line 2273 And eke the stynk, unto the spokes ende. Line 2274 Save that this worthy man, youre confessour, Line 2275 By cause he is a man of greet honour, Line 2276 Shal have the firste fruyt, as resoun is. Line 2277

Line 2277 The noble usage of freres yet is this, Line 2278 The worthy men of hem shul first be served; Line 2279 And certeinly he hath it well disserved. Line 2280 He hath to-day taught us so muche good Line 2281 With prechyng in the pulpit the he stood, Line 2282 That I may vouche sauf, I sey for me, Line 2283 He hadde the firste smel of fartes thre; Line 2284 And so wolde al his covent hardily, Line 2285 He bereth hym so faire and hoolily. Line 2286 The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere, Line 2287 Seyde that jankyn spak, in this matere, Line 2288 As wel as euclide dide or ptholomee. Line 2289 Touchynge the cherl, they seyde, subtiltee Line 2290 And heigh wit made hym speken as he spak; Line 2291 He nys no fool, ne no demonyak. Line 2292 And jankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne. -- Line 2293 My tale is doon; we been almost at towne. Line 2294