The Canterbury tales

About this Item

Title

Author

Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400

Publication

Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin

1957

Rights/Permissions

Available at URL http://www.hti.umich.edu/c/cme/

This text has been made available through the Oxford Text Archive for personal scholarly use only. OTA number: U-1678-C

Link to this Item

http://name.umdl.umich.edu/CT

Cite this Item

"The Canterbury tales." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/CT. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 6, 2024.

Pages

Group 4

The Clerk's Prologue
Sire clerk of oxenford, oure hooste sayde, Line 1 
Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde Line 2 
Were newe spoused, sittynge at the bord; Line 3 
This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word. Line 4 
I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme; Line 5 
But salomon seith -- every thyng hath tyme. --  Line 6 
For goddes sake, as beth of bettre cheere! Line 7 
It is no tyme for to studien heere. Line 8 
Telle us som myrie tale, by youre fey! Line 9 
For what man that is entred in a pley, Line 10 
He nedes moot unto the pley assente. Line 11 
But precheth nat, as freres doon in lente, Line 12 
To make us for oure olde synnes wepe, Line 13 
Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe. Line 14 
Telle us som murie thyng of aventures. Line 15 
Youre termes, youre colours, and youre figures, Line 16 
Keepe hem in stoor til so be that ye endite Line 17 
Heigh style, as whan that men to kynges write. Line 18 
Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, we yow preye, Line 19 
That we may understonde what ye seye. Line 20 
This worthy clerk benignely answerde: Line 21 
Hooste, quod he, I am under youre yerde; Line 22 
Ye han of us as now the governance, Line 23 
And therfore wol I do yow obeisance, Line 24 
As fer as resoun axeth, hardily. Line 25 
I wol yow telle a tale which that I Line 26 
Lerned at padowe of a worthy clerk, Line 27 
As preved by his wordes and his werk. Line 28 
He is now deed and nayled in his cheste, Line 29 
I prey to God so yeve his soule reste! Line 30 
Fraunceys petrak, the lauriat poete, Line 31 
Highte this clerk, whos rethorike sweete Line 32 
Enlumyned al ytaille of poetrie, Line 33 
As lynyan dide of philosophie, Line 34 
Or lawe, or oother art particuler; Line 35 
But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer, Line 36 
But as it were a twynklyng of an ye, Line 37 
Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dye. Line 38 
But forth to tellen of this worthy man Line 39 
That taughte me this tale, as I bigan, Line 40 
I seye that first with heigh stile he enditeth, Line 41 
Er he the body of his tale writeth, Line 42 
A prohemye, in the which discryveth he Line 43 
Pemond, and of saluces the contree, Line 44 
And speketh of apennyn, the hilles hye, Line 45 
That been the boundes of west lumbardye, Line 46 
And of mount vesulus in special, Line 47 
Where as the poo out of a welle smal Line 48 
Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours, Line 49 
That estward ay encresseth in his cours Line 50 
To emele-ward, to ferrare, and venyse; Line 51 
The which a long thyng were to devyse. Line 52 
And trewely, as to my juggement, Line 53 
Me thynketh it a thyng impertinent, Line 54 
Save that he wole conveyen his mateere; Line 55 
But this his tale, which that ye may heere. Line 56 

The Clerk's Tale

Part I
Ther is, right at the west syde of ytaille, Line 57 
Doun at the roote of vesulus the colde, Line 58 
A lusty playn, habundant of vitaille, Line 59 
Where many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde, Line 60 
That founded were in tyme of fadres olde, Line 61 
And many another delitable sighte, Line 62 
And saluces this noble contree highte. Line 63 
A markys whilom lord was of that lond, Line 64 
As were his worthy eldres hym bifore; Line 65 
And obeisant, ay redy to his hond, Line 66 
Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and moore. Line 67 
Thus in delit he lyveth, and hath doon yoore, Line 68 
Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune, Line 69 
Bothe of his lordes and of his commune.  Line 70 

Page 102

 Line 70 
Therwith he was, to speke as of lynage, Line 71 
The gentillest yborn of lumbardye, Line 72 
A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age, Line 73 
And ful of honour and of curteisye; Line 74 
Discreet ynogh his contree for to gye, Line 75 
Save in somme thynges that he was to blame; Line 76 
And walter was this yonge lordes name. Line 77 
I blame hym thus, that he considered noght Line 78 
In tyme comynge what myghte hym bityde, Line 79 
But on his lust present was al his thoght, Line 80 
As for to hauke and hunte on every syde. Line 81 
Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde, Line 82 
And eek he nolde -- and that was worst of alle --  Line 83 
Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle. Line 84 
Oonly that point his peple bar so soore Line 85 
That flokmeele on a day they to hym wente, Line 86 
And oon of he, that wisest was of loore --  Line 87 
Or elles that the lord best wolde assente Line 88 
That he sholde telle hym what his peple mente, Line 89 
Or elles koude he shewe wel swich mateere --  Line 90 
He to the markys seyde as ye shul heere: Line 91 
O noble markys, youre humanitee Line 92 
Asseureth us and yeveth us hardinesse, Line 93 
As ofte as tyme is of necessitee, Line 94 
That we to yow mowe telle oure hevynesse. Line 95 
Accepteth, lord, now of youre gentilesse Line 96 
That we with pitous herte unto yow pleyne, Line 97 
And lat youre eres nat my voys desdeyne. Line 98 
Al have I noght to doone in this mateere Line 99 
Moore than another man hath in this place, Line 100 
Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so deere, Line 101 
Han alwey shewed me favour and grace Line 102 
I dar the bettre aske of yow a space Line 103 
Of audience, to shewen oure requeste, Line 104 
And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste. Line 105 
For certes, lord, so wel us liketh yow Line 106 
And al youre werk, and evere han doon, that we Line 107 
Ne koude nat us self devysen how Line 108 
We myghte lyven in moore felicitee, Line 109 
Save o thyng, lord, if it youre wille be, Line 110 
That for to been a wedded man yow leste; Line 111 
Thanne were youre peple in sovereyn hertes reste. Line 112 
Boweth youre nekke under that blisful yok Line 113 
Of sovereynetee, noght of servyse, Line 114 
Which that men clepe spousaille or wedlok; Line 115 
And thanketh, lord, among youre thoghtes wyse Line 116 
How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse; Line 117 
For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde, Line 118 
Ay fleeth the tyme; it nyl no man abyde. Line 119 
And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit, Line 120 
In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon, Line 121 
And deeth manaceth every age, and smyt Line 122 
In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon; Line 123 
And al so certein as we knowe echoon Line 124 
That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle Line 125 
Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle Line 126 
Accepteth thanne of us the trewe entente, Line 127 
That nevere yet refuseden thyn heeste, Line 128 
And we wol, lord, if that ye wole assente, Line 129 
Chese yow a wyf, in short tyme atte leeste, Line 130 
Born of the gentilleste and of the meeste Line 131 
Of al this land, so that it oghte seme Line 132 
Honour to God and yow, as we kan deeme. Line 133 
Delivere us out of al this bisy drede, Line 134 
And taak a wyf, for hye goddes sake! Line 135 
For if it so bifelle, as God forbede, Line 136 
That thurgh youre deeth youre lynage sholde slake, Line 137 
And that a straunge successour sholde take Line 138 
Youre heritage, o, wo were us alyve! Line 139 
Wherfore we pray you hastily to wyve. Line 140 
Hir meeke preyere and hir pitous cheer Line 141 
Made the markys herte han pitee. Line 142 
Ye wol, quod he, myn owene peple deere, Line 143 
To that I nevere erst thoughte streyne me. Line 144 
I me rejoysed of my liberte. Line 145 
That seelde tyme is founde in mariage; Line 146 
Ther I was free, I moot been in servage. Line 147 
But nathelees I se youre trewe entente, Line 148 
And truste upon youre wit, and have doon ay; Line 149 
Wherfore of my free wyl I wole assente Line 150 
To wedde me, as soone as evere I may. Line 151 
But ther as ye han profred me to-day Line 152 
To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse Line 153 
That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse. Line 154 
For God it woot, that children ofte been Line 155 
Unlyk hir worthy eldress hem bifore; Line 156 
Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen Line 157 
Of which they been engendred and ybore. Line 158 
I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore Line 159 
My mariage and myn estaat and reste Line 160 
I hym bitake; he may doon as hym leste. Line 161 
Lat me allone in chesynge of my wyf, --  Line 162 
That charge upon my bak I wole endure.  Line 163 

Page 103

 Line 163 
But I yow preye, and charge upon youre lyf, Line 164 
That what wyf that I take, ye me assure Line 165 
To worshipe hire, whil that hir lyf may dure, Line 166 
In word and werk, bothe heere and everywheere, Line 167 
As she and emperoures doghter weere. Line 168 
And forthermoore, this shal ye swere, that ye Line 169 
Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve; Line 170 
For sith I shal forgoon my libertee Line 171 
At youre requeste, as evere moot I thryve, Line 172 
Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve; Line 173 
And but ye wole assente in swich manere, Line 174 
I prey yow, speketh namoore of this matere. Line 175 
With hertely wyl they sworen and assenten Line 176 
To al this thyng, ther seyde no wight nay; Line 177 
Bisekynge hym of grace, er that they wenten, Line 178 
That he wolde graunten hem a certein day Line 179 
Of his spousaille, as soone as evere he may; Line 180 
For yet alwey the peple somwhat dredde, Line 181 
Lest that the markys no wyf wolde wedde. Line 182 
He graunted hem a day, swich as hym leste, Line 183 
On which he wolde be wedded sikerly. Line 184 
And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste. Line 185 
And they, with humble entente, buxomly, Line 186 
Knelynge upon hir knees ful reverently, Line 187 
Hym thonken alle; and thus they han an ende Line 188 
Of hire entente, and hoom agayn they wende. Line 189 
And heerupon he to his officeres Line 190 
Comaundeth for the feste to purveye, Line 191 
And to his privee knyghtes and squieres Line 192 
Swich charge yaf as hym liste on hem leye; Line 193 
And they to his comandement obeye, Line 194 
And ech of hem dooth al his diligence Line 195 
To doon unto the feeste reverence. Line 196 Explicit prima pars 

Incipit secunda pars
Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable, Line 197 
Wher as this markys shoop his mariage, Line 198 
There stood a throop, of site delitable, Line 199 
In which that povre folk of that village Line 200 
Hadden hir beestes and hir herbergage, Line 201 
And of hire labour tooke hir sustenance, Line 202 
After that the erthe yaf hem habundance. Line 203 
Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man Line 204 
Which that was holden povrest of hem alle; Line 205 
But hye God somtyme senden kan Line 206 
His grace into litel oxes stalle; Line 207 
Janicula men of that throop hym calle. Line 208 
A doghter hadde he, fair ynogh to sighte, Line 209 
And grisildis this yonge mayden highte. Line 210 
But for to speke of vertuous beautee, Line 211 
Thanne was she oon the faireste under sonne; Line 212 
For povreliche yfostred up was she, Line 213 
No likerous lust was thurgh hire herte yronne. Line 214 
Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne Line 215 
She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese, Line 216 
She knew wel labour, but noon ydel ese. Line 217 
But thogh this mayde tendre were of age, Line 218 
Yet in the brest of hire virginitee Line 219 
Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; Line 220 
And in greet reverence and charitee Line 221 
Hir olde povre fader fostred shee. Line 222 
A fewe sheep, spynnynge, on feeld she kepte; Line 223 
She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte. Line 224 
And whan she homward cam, she wolde brynge Line 225 
Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, Line 226 
The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir lyvynge, Line 227 
And made hir bed ful hard and nothyng softe; Line 228 
And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte Line 229 
With everich obeisaunce and diligence Line 230 
That child may doon to fadres reverence. Line 231 
Upon grisilde, this povre creature, Line 232 
Ful ofte sithe this markys sette his ye Line 233 
As he on huntyng rood paraventure; Line 234 
And whan it fil that he myghte hire espye, Line 235 
He noght with wantown lookyng of folye Line 236 
His eyen caste on hire, but in sad wyse Line 237 
Upon hir chiere he wolde hym ofte avyse, Line 238 
Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede, Line 239 
And eek hir verty, passynge any wight Line 240 
Of so yong age, as wel in chiere as dede. Line 241 
For thogh the peple have no greet insight Line 242 
In verty, he considered ful right Line 243 
Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde Line 244 
Wedde hire oonly, if evere he wedde sholde. Line 245 
The day of weddyng cam, but no wight kan Line 246 
Telle what womman that it sholde be; Line 247 
For which merveille wondred many a man, Line 248 
And seyden, whan they were in privetee, Line 249 
Wol nat oure lord yet leve his vanytee? Line 250 
Wol he nat wedde? allas; allas, the while! Line 251 
Why wole he thus hymself and us bigile?  Line 252 

Page 104

 Line 252 
But nathelees this markys hath doon make Line 253 
Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure, Line 254 
Brooches and rynges, for grisildis sake; Line 255 
And of hir clothyng took he the mesure Line 256 
By a mayde lyk to hire stature, Line 257 
And eek of othere aornementes alle Line 258 
That unto swich a weddyng sholde falle. Line 259 
The time of undren of the same day Line 260 
Approcheth, that this weddyng sholde be; Line 261 
And al the paleys put was in array, Line 262 
Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree; Line 263 
Houses of office stuffed with plentee Line 264 
Ther maystow seen, of deyntevous vitaille Line 265 
That may be founde as fer al last ytaille. Line 266 
This roial markys, richely arrayed, Line 267 
Lordes and ladyes in his compaignye, Line 268 
The whiche that to the feeste weren yprayed, Line 269 
And of his retenue the bachelrye, Line 270 
With manya soun of sondry melodye, Line 271 
Unto the village of the which I tolde, Line 272 
In this array the righte wey han holde. Line 273 
Grisilde of this, God woot, ful innocent, Line 274 
That for hire shapen was al this array, Line 275 
To fecchen water at a welle is went, Line 276 
And cometh hoom as soone as ever she may; Line 277 
For wel she hadde herd seyd that thilke day Line 278 
The markys sholde wedde, and if she myghte, Line 279 
She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte. Line 280 
She thoghte, I wole with othere maydens stonde, Line 281 
That been my felawes, in oure dore and se Line 282 
The markysesse, and therfore wol I fonde Line 283 
To doon at hoom, as soone as it may be, Line 284 
The labour which that longeth unto me; Line 285 
And thanne I may at leyser hire biholde, Line 286 
If she this wey unto the castel holde. Line 287 
And as she wolde over hir thresshfold gon, Line 288 
The markys cam and gan hire for to calle; Line 289 
And she set doun hir water pot anon, Line 290 
Biside the thresshfold, in an oxes stalle, Line 291 
And doun upon hir knes she gan to falle, Line 292 
And with sad contenance kneleth stille, Line 293 
Til she had herd what was the lordes wille. Line 294 
This thoghtful markys spak unto this mayde Line 295 
Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere: Line 296 
Where is youre fader, o grisildis? he sayde. Line 297 
And she with reverence, in humble cheere, Line 298 
Answerde, lord, he is al redy heere. Line 299 
And in she gooth withouten lenger lette, Line 300 
And to the markys she hir fader fette. Line 301 
He by the hand thanne took this olde man, Line 302 
And seyde thus, whan he hym hadde asyde: Line 303 
Janicula, I neither may ne kan Line 304 
Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde. Line 305 
If that thou vouche sauf, what so bityde, Line 306 
Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende, Line 307 
As for my wyf, unto hir lyves ende. Line 308 
Thou lovest me, I woot it wel certeyn, Line 309 
And art my feithful lige man ybore; Line 310 
And al that liketh me, I dar wel seyn Line 311 
It liketh thee, and specially therfore Line 312 
Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore, Line 313 
If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe, Line 314 
To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe. Line 315 
This sodeyn cas this man astonyed so Line 316 
That reed he wax; abayst and al quakynge Line 317 
He stood; unnethes seyde he wordes mo, Line 318 
But oonly thus: lord, quod he, my willynge Line 319 
Is as ye wole, ne ayeynes youre likynge Line 320 
I wol no thyng, ye be my lord so deere; Line 321 
Right as yow lust, governeth this mateere. Line 322 
Yet wol I, quod this markys softely, Line 323 
That in thy chambre I and thou and she Line 324 
Have a collacioun, and wostow why? Line 325 
For I wol axe if it hire wille be Line 326 
To be my wyf, and reule hire after me. Line 327 
And al this shal be doon in thy presence; Line 328 
I wol noght speke out of thyn audience. Line 329 
And in the chambre, whil they were aboute Line 330 
Hir tretys, which as ye shal after heere, Line 331 
The peple cam unto the hous withoute, Line 332 
And wondred hem in how honest manere Line 333 
And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere. Line 334 
But outrely grisildis wondre myghte, Line 335 
For nevere erst ne saugh she swich a sighte. Line 336 
No wonder is thogh that she were astoned Line 337 
To seen so greet a gest come in that place; Line 338 
She nevere was to swiche gestes woned, Line 339 
For which she looked with ful pale face. Line 340 
But shortly forth this matere for to chace, Line 341 
Thise arn the wordes that the markys sayde Line 342 
To this benigne, verray, feithful mayde. Line 343 
Grisilde, he seyde, ye shal wel understonde Line 344 
It liketh to youre fader and to me  Line 345 

Page 105

 Line 345 
That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde, Line 346 
As I suppose, ye wol that it so be. Line 347 
But thise demandes axe I first, quod he, Line 348 
That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse, Line 349 
Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse? Line 350 
I seye this, be ye redy with good herte Line 351 
To al my lust, and that I frely may, Line 352 
As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte, Line 353 
And nevere ye to grucche it, nyght ne day? Line 354 
And eek whan I sey 'ye,' ne sey nat 'nay,' Line 355 
Neither by word ne frownyng contenance? Line 356 
Swere this, and heere I swere oure alliance. Line 357 
Wondrynge upon this word, quakynge for drede, Line 358 
She seyde, lord, undigne and unworthy Line 359 
Am I to thilke honour that ye me beede, Line 360 
But as ye wole youreself, right so wol I. Line 361 
And heere I swere that nevere willyngly, Line 362 
In werk ne thogh, I nyl yow disobeye, Line 363 
For to be deed, though me were looth to deye. Line 364 
This is ynogh, grisilde myn, quod he. Line 365 
And forth he gooth, with a ful sobre cheere, Line 366 
Out at the dore, and after that cam she, Line 367 
And to the peple he seyde in this manere: Line 368 
This is my wyf, quod he, that standeth heere. Line 369 
Honoureth hire and loveth hire, I preye, Line 370 
Whoso me loveth; ther is namoore to seye. Line 371 
And for that no thyng of hir olde geere Line 372 
She sholde brynge into his hous, he bad Line 373 
That wommen sholde dispoillen hire right theere; Line 374 
Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad Line 375 
To handle hir clothes, wherinne she was clad. Line 376 
But nathelees, this mayde bright of hewe Line 377 
Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe. Line 378 
Hir heris han they kembd, that lay untressed Line 379 
Ful rudely, and with hir fyngres smale Line 380 
A corone on hire heed they han ydressed, Line 381 
And sette hire ful of nowches grete and smale. Line 382 
Of hire array what sholde I make a tale? Line 383 
Unnethe the peple hir knew for hire fairnesse, Line 384 
Whan she translated was in swich richesse. Line 385 
This markys hath hire spoused with a ryng Line 386 
Broght for the same cause, and thanne hire sette Line 387 
Upon an hors, snow-whit and wel amblyng, Line 388 
And to his paleys, er he lenger lette, Line 389 
With joyful peple that hire ladde and mette, Line 390 
Conveyed hire, and thus the day they spende Line 391 
In revel, til the sonne gan descende. Line 392 
And shortly forth this tale for to chace, Line 393 
I seye that to this newe markysesse Line 394 
God hath swich favour sent hire of his grace, Line 395 
That it ne semed nat by liklynesse Line 396 
That she was born and fed in rudenesse, Line 397 
As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle, Line 398 
But norissed in an emperoures halle. Line 399 
To every wight she woxen is so deere Line 400 
And worshipful that folk ther she was bore, Line 401 
And from hire birthe knewe hire yeer by yeere, Line 402 
Unnethe trowed they, -- but dorste han swore --  Line 403 
That to janicle, of which I spak bifore, Line 404 
She doghter were, for, as by conjecture, Line 405 
Hem thoughte she was another creature. Line 406 
For though that evere vertuous was she, Line 407 
She was encressed in swich excellence Line 408 
Of thewes goode, yset in heigh bountee, Line 409 
And so discreet and fair of eloquence, Line 410 
So benigne and so digne of reverence, Line 411 
And koude so the peples herte embrace, Line 412 
That ech hire lovede that looked in hir face. Line 413 
Noght oonly of saluces in the toun Line 414 
Publiced was the bountee of hir name, Line 415 
But eek biside in many a regioun, Line 416 
If oon seide wel, another seyde the same; Line 417 
So spradde of hire heighe bountee the fame Line 418 
That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde, Line 419 
Goon to saluce, upon hire to biholde. Line 420 
Thus walter lowely -- nay, but roially --  Line 421 
Wedded with fortunat honestetee, Line 422 
In goddes pees lyveth ful esily Line 423 
At hoom, and outward grace ynogh had he; Line 424 
And for he saugh that under low degree Line 425 
Was ofte vertu hid, the peple hym heelde Line 426 
A prudent man, and that is seyn ful seelde. Line 427 
Nat oonly this grisildis thurgh hir wit Line 428 
Koude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse, Line 429 
But eek, whan that the cas required it, Line 430 
The commune profit koude she redresse. Line 431 
Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevynesse Line 432 
In al that land, that she ne koude apese, Line 433 
And wisely brynge hem alle in reste and ese. Line 434 
Though that hire housbonde absent were anon, Line 435 
If gentil men or othere of hire contree  Line 436 

Page 106

 Line 436 
Were wrothe, she wolde bryngen hem aton; Line 437 
So wise and rype wordes hadde she, Line 438 
And juggementz of so greet equitee, Line 439 
That she from hevene sent was, as men wende, Line 440 
Peple to save and every wrong t' amende. Line 441 
Nat longe tyme after that this grisild Line 442 
Was wedded, she a doghter hath ybore. Line 443 
Al had hire levere have born a knave child, Line 444 
Glad was this markys and the folk therfore; Line 445 
For though a mayde child coome al bifore, Line 446 
She may unto a knave child attayne Line 447 
By liklihede, syn she nys nat bareyne. Line 448 Explicit secunda pars. 

Incipit tercia pars.
Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo, Line 449 
Whan that this child had souked but a throwe, Line 450 
This markys in his herte longeth so Line 451 
To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe, Line 452 
That he ne myghte out of his herte throwe Line 453 
This merveillous desir his wyf t' assaye; Line 454 
Nedelees, God woot, he thoghte hire for t' affraye. Line 455 
He hadde assayed hire ynogh bifore, Line 456 
And foond hire evere good; what neded it Line 457 
Hire for to tempte, and alwey moore and moore, Line 458 
Though som men preise it for a subtil wit? Line 459 
But as for me, I seye that yvele it sit Line 460 
To assaye a wyf whan that it is no nede, Line 461 
And putten hire in angwyssh and in drede. Line 462 
For which this markys wroghte in this manere: Line 463 
He cam allone a-nyght, ther as she lay, Line 464 
With stierne face and with ful trouble cheere, Line 465 
And seyde thus: grisilde, quod he, that day Line 466 
That I yow took out of youre povere array, Line 467 
And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse, --  Line 468 
Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse? Line 469 
I seye, grisilde, this present dignitee, Line 470 
In which that I have put yow, as I trowe, Line 471 
Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be Line 472 
That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe, Line 473 
For any wele ye moot youreselven knowe. Line 474 
Taak heede of every word that y yow seye; Line 475 
Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. Line 476 
Ye woot youreself wel how that ye cam heere Line 477 
Into this hous, it is nat longe ago; Line 478 
And though to me that ye be lief and deere, Line 479 
Unto my gentils ye be no thyng so. Line 480 
They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo Line 481 
For to be subgetz and been in servage Line 482 
To thee, that born art of a smal village. Line 483 
And namely sith thy doghter was ybore Line 484 
Thise wordes han they spoken, doutelees. Line 485 
But I desire, as I have doon bifore, Line 486 
To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees. Line 487 
I may nat in this caas be recchelees; Line 488 
I moot doon with thy doghter for the beste, Line 489 
Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste. Line 490 
And yet, God woot, this is ful looth to me; Line 491 
But nathelees withoute youre wityng Line 492 
I wol nat doon; but this wol I, quod he, Line 493 
That ye to me assente as in this thyng. Line 494 
Shewe now youre pacience in youre werkyng, Line 495 
That ye me highte and swore in youre village Line 496 
That day that maked was oure mariage. Line 497 
Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved Line 498 
Neither in word, or chiere, or contenaunce; Line 499 
For, as it semed, she was nat agreved. Line 500 
She seyde, lord, al lyth in youre plesaunce. Line 501 
My child and I, with hertely obeisaunce, Line 502 
Been youres al, and ye mowe save or spille Line 503 
Youre owene thyng; weketh after youre wille. Line 504 
Ther may no thyng, God so my soule save, Line 505 
Liken to yow that may displese me; Line 506 
Ne I desire no thyng for to have, Line 507 
Ne drede for to leese, save oonly yee. Line 508 
This wyl is in myn herte, and ay shal be; Line 509 
No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface, Line 510 
Ne chaunge my corage to another place. Line 511 
Glad was this markys of hire answeryng, Line 512 
But yet he feyned as he were nat so; Line 513 
Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng, Line 514 
Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go. Line 515 
Soone after this, a furlong wey or two, Line 516 
He prively hath toold al his entente Line 517 
Unto a man, and to his wyf hym sente. Line 518 
A maner sergeant was this privee man, Line 519 
The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde Line 520 
In thynges grete, and eek swich folk wel kan Line 521 
Doon execucioun in thynges badde. Line 522 
The lord knew wel that he hym loved and dradde; Line 523 
And whan this sergeant wist his lordes wille, Line 524 
Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille.  Line 525 

Page 107

 Line 525 
Madame, he seyde, ye moote foryeve it me, Line 526 
Though I do thyng to which I am constreyned. Line 527 
Ye been so wys that ful wel knowe ye Line 528 
That lordes heestes mowe nat been yfeyned; Line 529 
They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned, Line 530 
But men moote nede unto hire lust obeye, Line 531 
And so wol I; ther is namoore to seye. Line 532 
This child I am comanded for to take, --  Line 533 
And spak namoore, but out the child he hente Line 534 
Despitously, and gan a cheere make Line 535 
As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. Line 536 
Grisildis moot al suffre and al consente; Line 537 
And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille, Line 538 
And leet this crueel sergeant doon his wille. Line 539 
Suspecious was the diffame of this man, Line 540 
Suspect his face, suspect his word also; Line 541 
Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan. Line 542 
Allas! hir doghter that she loved so, Line 543 
She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho. Line 544 
But nathelees she neither weep ne syked, Line 545 
Conformynge hire to that the markys lyked. Line 546 
But atte laste to speken she bigan, Line 547 
And mekely she to the sergeant preyde, Line 548 
So as he was a worthy gentil man, Line 549 
That she moste kisse hire child er that it deyde. Line 550 
And in hir barm this litel child she leyde Line 551 
With ful sad face, and gan the child to blisse, Line 552 
And lulled it, and after gan it kisse. Line 553 
And thus she seyde in hire benigne voys, Line 554 
Fareweel my child! I shal thee nevere see. Line 555 
But sith I thee have marked with the croys Line 556 
Of thilke fader -- blessed moote he be! --  Line 557 
That for us deyde upon a croys of tree, Line 558 
Thy soule, litel child, I hym bitake, Line 559 
For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake. Line 560 
I trowe that to a norice in this cas Line 561 
It had been hard this reuthe for to se; Line 562 
Wel myghte a mooder thanne han cryd allas! Line 563 
But nathelees so sad stidefast was she Line 564 
That she endured al adversitee, Line 565 
And to the sergeant mekely she sayde, Line 566 
Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde. Line 567 
Gooth now, quod she, and dooth my lordes heeste; Line 568 
But o thyng wol I prey yow of youre grace, Line 569 
That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leeste Line 570 
Burieth this litel body in som place Line 571 
That beestes ne no briddes it torace. Line 572 
But he no word wol to that purpos seye, Line 573 
But took the child and wente upon his weye. Line 574 
This sergeant cam unto his lord ageyn, Line 575 
And of grisildis wordes and hire cheere Line 576 
He tolde hym point for point, in short and pleyn, Line 577 
And hym presenteth with his doghter deere. Line 578 
Somwhat this lord hadde routhe in his manere, Line 579 
But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille, Line 580 
As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille; Line 581 
And bad this sergeant that he pryvely Line 582 
Sholde this child ful softe wynde and wrappe, Line 583 
With alle circumstances tendrely, Line 584 
And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe; Line 585 
But, upon peyne his heed of for to swappe, Line 586 
That no man sholde knowe of his entente, Line 587 
Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente; Line 588 
But at boloigne to his suster deere, Line 589 
That thilke tyme of panik was countesse, Line 590 
He sholde it take, and shewe hire this mateere, Line 591 
Bisekynge hire to doon hire bisynesse Line 592 
This child to fostre in alle gentillesse; Line 593 
And whos child that it was he bad hire hyde Line 594 
From every wight, for oght that may bityde. Line 595 
The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thyng; Line 596 
But to this markys now retourne we. Line 597 
For now gooth he ful faste ymaginyng Line 598 
If by his wyves cheere he myghte se, Line 599 
Or by hire word aperceyve, that she Line 600 
Were chaunged; but he nevere hire koude fynde Line 601 
But evere in oon ylike sad and kynde. Line 602 
As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse, Line 603 
And eek in love, as she was wont to be, Line 604 
Was she to hym in every maner wyse; Line 605 
Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. Line 606 
Noon accident, for noon adversitee, Line 607 
Was seyn in hire, ne nevere hir doghter name Line 608 
Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game. Line 609 Explicit terci pars 

Sequitur pars quarta.

In this estaat the passed been foure yeer 610 Er she with childe was, but, as God wolde, 611 A knave child she bar by this walter, 612 Ful gracious and fair for to biholde. 613

Page 108

 Line 613 
And whan that folk it to his fader tolde, Line 614 
Nat oonly he, but al his contree merye Line 615 
Was for this child, and God they thanke and herye. Line 616 
Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest Line 617 
Departed of his norice, on a day Line 618 
This markys caughte yet another lest Line 619 
To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may. Line 620 
O nedelees was she tempted in assay! Line 621 
But wedded men ne knowe no mesure, Line 622 
Whan that they fynde a pacient creature. Line 623 
Wyf, quod this markys, ye han herd er this, Line 624 
My peple sikly berth oure mariage; Line 625 
And namely sith my sone yboren is, Line 626 
Now is it worse than evere in al oure age. Line 627 
The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage, Line 628 
For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte Line 629 
That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte. Line 630 
Now sey they thus: -- whan walter is agon, Line 631 
Thanne shal the blood of janicle succede Line 632 
And been oure lord, for oother have we noon. Line 633 
Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede. Line 634 
Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken heede; Line 635 
For certeinly I drede swich sentence, Line 636 
Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience. Line 637 
I wolde lyve in pees, if that I myghte; Line 638 
Wherfore I am disposed outrely, Line 639 
As I his suster servede by nyghte, Line 640 
Right to thenke I to serve hym pryvely. Line 641 
This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly Line 642 
Out of youreself for no wo sholde outreye; Line 643 
Beth pacient, and therof I yow preye. Line 644 
I have, quod she, seyd thys, and evere shal: Line 645 
I wol no thyng, ne nyl no thyng, certayn, Line 646 
But as yow list. Naught greveth me at al, Line 647 
Though that my doughter and my sone be slayn, --  Line 648 
At youre comandement, this is to sayn. Line 649 
I have noght had no part of children tweyne Line 650 
But first siknesse, and after, wo and peyne. Line 651 
Ye been oure lord, dooth with youre owene thyng Line 652 
Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me. Line 653 
For as I lefte at hoom al my clothyng, Line 654 
Whan I first cam to yow, right so, quod she, Line 655 
Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee, Line 656 
And took youre clothyng; wherfore I yow preye, Line 657 
Dooth youre plesaunce, I wol youre lust obeye. Line 658 
And certes, if I hadde prescience Line 659 
Youre wyl to knowe, er ye youre lust me tolde, Line 660 
I wolde it doon withouten necligence; Line 661 
But now I woot youre lust, and what ye wolde, Line 662 
Al youre plesance ferme and stable I holde; Line 663 
For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese, Line 664 
Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese. Line 665 
Deth may noght make no comparisoun Line 666 
Unto youre love. And whan this markys say Line 667 
The constance of hys wyf, he caste adoun Line 668 
His eyen two, and wondreth that she may Line 669 
In pacience suffre al this array; Line 670 
And forth he goth with drery contenance, Line 671 
But to his herte it was ful greet plesance. Line 672 
This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse Line 673 
That he hire doghter caughte, right so he, Line 674 
Or worse, if men worse kan devyse, Line 675 
Hath hent hire sone, that ful was of beautee. Line 676 
And evere in oon so pacient was she Line 677 
That she no chiere maade of hevynesse, Line 678 
But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse; Line 679 
Save this, she preyede hym that, if he myghte, Line 680 
Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave, Line 681 
His tendre lymes, delicaat to sighte, Line 682 
Fro foweles and fro beestes for to save. Line 683 
But she noon answere of hym myghte have. Line 684 
He wente his wey, as hym no thyng ne roghte; Line 685 
But to boloigne he tendrely it broghte. Line 686 
This markys wondred, evere lenger the moore, Line 687 
Upon hir pacience, and if that he Line 688 
Ne hadde soothly knowen therbifoore Line 689 
That parfitly hir children loved she, Line 690 
He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee, Line 691 
And of malice, or for crueel corage, Line 692 
That she hadde suffred this with sad visage. Line 693 
But wel he knew that next hymself, certayn, Line 694 
She loved hir children best in every wyse. Line 695 
But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn Line 696 
If thise assayes myghte nat suffise? Line 697 
What koude a sturdy housbonde moore devyse Line 698 
To preeve hir wyfhod and hir stedefastnesse, Line 699 
And he continuynge evere in sturdinesse?  Line 700 

Page 109

 Line 700 
But ther been folk of swich condicion Line 701 
That whan they have a certein purpos take, Line 702 
They kan nat stynte of hire entencion, Line 703 
But, right as they were bounden to a stake, Line 704 
They wol nat of that firste purpos slake. Line 705 
Right so this markys fulliche hath purposed Line 706 
To tempte his wyf as he was first disposed. Line 707 
He waiteth if by word or contenance Line 708 
That she to hym was changed of corage; Line 709 
But nevere koude he fynde variance. Line 710 
She was ay oon in herte and in visage; Line 711 
And ay the forther that she was in age, Line 712 
The moore trewe, if that it were possible, Line 713 
She was to hym in love, and moore penyble. Line 714 
For which it semed thus, that of hem two Line 715 
Ther nas but o wyl; for, as walter leste, Line 716 
The same lust was hire plesance also. Line 717 
And, God be thanked, al fil for the beste. Line 718 
She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste Line 719 
A wyf, as of hirself, nothing ne sholde Line 720 
Wille in effect, but as hir housbonde wolde. Line 721 
The sclaundre of walter ofte and wyde spradde, Line 722 
That of a crueel herte he wikkedly, Line 723 
For he a povre womman wedded hadde, Line 724 
Hath mordred bothe his children prively. Line 725 
Swich murmur was among hem comunly. Line 726 
No wonder is, for to the peples ere Line 727 
Ther cam no word, but that they mordred were. Line 728 
For which, where as his peple therbifore Line 729 
Hadde loved hym wel, the sclaundre of his diffame Line 730 
Made hem that they hym hatede therfore. Line 731 
To been a mordrere is an hateful name; Line 732 
But nathelees, for ernest ne for game, Line 733 
He of his crueel purpos nolde stente; Line 734 
To tempte his wyf was set al his entente. Line 735 
Than that his doghter twelve yeer was of age, Line 736 
He to the court of rome, in subtil wyse Line 737 
Enformed of his wyl, sente his message, Line 738 
Comaundynge hem swiche bulles to devyse Line 739 
As to his crueel purpos may suffyse, Line 740 
How that the pope, as for his peples reste, Line 741 
Bad hym to wedde another, if hym leste. Line 742 
I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete Line 743 
The popes bulles, makynge mencion Line 744 
That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete, Line 745 
As by the popes dispensacion, Line 746 
To stynte rancour and dissencion Line 747 
Bitwixe his peple and hym; thus seyde the bulle, Line 748 
The which they han publiced atte fulle. Line 749 
The rude peple, as it no wonder is, Line 750 
Wenden ful wel that it hadde be right so; Line 751 
But whan thise tidynges came to grisildis, Line 752 
I deeme that hire herte was ful wo. Line 753 
But she, ylike sad for everemo, Line 754 
Disposed was, this humble creature, Line 755 
The adversitee of fortune al t' endure, Line 756 
Abidynge evere his lust and his plesance, Line 757 
To whom that she was yeven herte and al, Line 758 
As to hire verray worldly suffisance. Line 759 
But shortly if this storie I tellen shal, Line 760 
This markys writen hath in special Line 761 
A lettre, in which he sheweth his entente, Line 762 
And secreely he to boloigne it sente. Line 763 
To the erl of panyk, which that hadde tho Line 764 
Wedded his suster, preyde he specially Line 765 
To bryngen hoom agayn his children two Line 766 
In honurable estaat al openly. Line 767 
But o thyng he hym preyede outrely, Line 768 
That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere, Line 769 
Sholde nat telle whos children that they were, Line 770 
But seye, the mayden sholde ywedded be Line 771 
Unto the markys of saluce anon. Line 772 
And as this erl was preyed, so dide he; Line 773 
For at day set he on his wey is goon Line 774 
Toward saluce, and lordes many oon Line 775 
In riche array, this mayden for to gyde, Line 776 
Hir yonge brother ridynge hire bisyde. Line 777 
Arrayed was toward hir mariage Line 778 
This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes cleere; Line 779 
Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age. Line 780 
Arrayed eek ful fressh in his manere. Line 781 
And thus in greet noblesse and with glad cheere, Line 782 
Toward saluces shapynge hir journey, Line 783 
Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey. Line 784 Explicit quarta pars. 

Sequitur pars quinta.

Among al this, after his wikke usage, 785 This markys, yet his wyf to tempte moore 786

Page 110

 Line 786 
To the outtreste preeve of hir corage, Line 787 
Fully to han experience and loore Line 788 
If that she were as stidefast as bifoore, Line 789 
He on a day, in open audience, Line 790 
Ful boistously hath seyd hire this sentence: Line 791 
Certes, grisilde, I hadde ynogh plesance Line 792 
To han yow to my wyf for youre goodnesse, Line 793 
As for youre trouthe and for youre obeisance, Line 794 
Noght for youre lynage, ne for youre richesse; Line 795 
But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse Line 796 
That in greet lordshipe, if I wel avyse, Line 797 
Ther is greet servitute in sondry wyse. Line 798 
I may nat doon as every plowman may. Line 799 
My peple me constreyneth for to take Line 800 
Another wyf, and crien day by day; Line 801 
And eek the pope, rancour for to slake. Line 802 
Consenteth it, that dar I undertake; Line 803 
And trewely thus muche I wol yow seye, Line 804 
My newe wyf is comynge by the weye. Line 805 
Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place, Line 806 
And thilke dowere that ye broghten me, Line 807 
Taak it agayn; I graunte it of my grace. Line 808 
Retourneth to youre fadres hous, quod he; Line 809 
No man may alwey han prosperitee. Line 810 
With evene herte I rede yow t' endure Line 811 
The strook of fortune or of aventure. Line 812 
And she agayn answerde in pacience, Line 813 
My lord, quod she, I woot, and wiste alway, Line 814 
How that bitwixen youre magnificence Line 815 
And my poverte no wight kan ne may Line 816 
Maken comparison; it is no nay. Line 817 
I ne heeld me nevere digne in no manere Line 818 
To be youre wyf, no, ne youre chamberere. Line 819 
And in this hous, ther ye me lady maade --  Line 820 
The heighe God take I for my witnesse, Line 821 
And also wysly he my soule glaade --  Line 822 
I nevere heeld me lady ne mistresse, Line 823 
But humble servant to youre worthynesse, Line 824 
And evere shal, whil that my lyf may dure, Line 825 
Aboven every worldly creature. Line 826 
That ye so longe of youre benignitee Line 827 
Han holden me in honour and nobleye, Line 828 
Where as I was noght worthy for to bee, Line 829 
That thonke I God and yow, to whom I preye Line 830 
Foryelde it yow; ther is namoore to seye. Line 831 
Unto my fader gladly wol I wende, Line 832 
And with hym dwelle unto my lyves ende. Line 833 
Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal, Line 834 
Til I be deed my lyf ther wol I lede, Line 835 
A wydwe clene in body, herte, and al. Line 836 
For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede, Line 837 
And am youre trewe wyf, it is no drede, Line 838 
God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take Line 839 
Another man to housbonde or to make! Line 840 
And of youre newe wyf God of his grace Line 841 
So graunte yow wele and prosperitee! Line 842 
For I wol gladly yelden hire my place, Line 843 
In which that I was blisful wont to bee. Line 844 
For sith it liketh yow, my lord, quod shee, Line 845 
That whilom weren al myn hertes reste, Line 846 
That I shal goon, I wol goon whan yow leste. Line 847 
But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire Line 848 
As I first broghte, it is wel in my mynde Line 849 
It were my wrecched clothes, nothyng faire, Line 850 
The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde. Line 851 
O goode god! how gentil and how kynde Line 852 
Ye semed by youre speche and youre visage Line 853 
The day that maked was oure mariage! Line 854 
But sooth is seyd -- algate I fynde it trewe, Line 855 
For in effect it preeved is on me --  Line 856 
Love is noght oold as whan that it is newe. Line 857 
But certes, lord, for noon adversitee, Line 858 
To dyen in the cas, it shal nat bee Line 859 
That evere in word or werk I shal repente Line 860 
That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente. Line 861 
My lord, ye woot that in my fadres place Line 862 
Ye dide me streepe out of my povre weede, Line 863 
And richely me cladden, of youre grace. Line 864 
To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede, Line 865 
But feith, and nakednesse, and maydenhede; Line 866 
And heere agayn your clothyng I restoore, Line 867 
And eek your weddyng ryng, for everemore. Line 868 
The remenant of youre jueles redy be Line 869 
Inwith youre chambre, dar I saufly sayn. Line 870 
Naked out of my fadres hous, quod she, Line 871 
I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn. Line 872 
Al youre plesance wol I folwen fayn; Line 873 
But yet I hope it be nat youre entente Line 874 
That I smoklees out of youre paleys wente. Line 875 
Ye koude nat doon so dishonest a thyng, Line 876 
That thilke wombe in which youre children leye Line 877 
Sholde biforn the peple, in my walkyng, Line 878 
Be seyn al bare; wherfore I yow preye, Line 879 
Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye.  Line 880 

Page 111

 Line 880 
Remembre yow, myn owene lord so deere, Line 881 
I was youre wyf, though I unworthy weere. Line 882 
Wherfore, in gerdon of my maydenhede, Line 883 
Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere, Line 884 
As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my meede, Line 885 
But swich a smok as I was wont to were, Line 886 
That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here Line 887 
That was youre wyf. And heer take I my leeve Line 888 
Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve. Line 889 
The smok, quod he, that thou hast on thy bak, Line 890 
Lat it be stille, and bere it forth with thee. Line 891 
But wel unnethes thilke word he spak, Line 892 
But wente his wey, for routhe and for pitee. Line 893 
Biforn the folk hirselven strepeth she, Line 894 
And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare, Line 895 
Toward hir fadre hous forth is she fare. Line 896 
The folk hire folwe, wepynge in hir weye, Line 897 
And fortune ay they cursen as they goon; Line 898 
But she fro wepyng kepte hire eyen dreye, Line 899 
Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon. Line 900 
Hir fader, that this tidynge herde anoon, Line 901 
Curseth the day and tyme that nature Line 902 
Shoop hym to been a lyves creature. Line 903 
For out of doute this olde poure man Line 904 
Was evere in suspect of hir mariage; Line 905 
For evere he demed, sith that it bigan, Line 906 
That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage, Line 907 
Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage Line 908 
To his estaat so lowe for t' alighte, Line 909 
And voyden hire as soone as ever he myghte. Line 910 
Agayns his doghter hastily goth he, Line 911 
For he by noyse of folk knew hire comynge, Line 912 
And with hire olde coote, as it myghte be Line 913 
He covered hire, ful sorwefully wepynge. Line 914 
But on hire body myghte he it nat brynge, Line 915 
For rude was the clooth, and moore of age Line 916 
By dayes fele than at hire mariage. Line 917 
Thus with hire fader, for a certeyn space, Line 918 
Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience, Line 919 
That neither by hire wordes ne hire face, Line 920 
Biforn the folk, ne eek in hire absence, Line 921 
Ne shewed she that hire was doon offence; Line 922 
Ne of hire heighe astaat no remembraunce Line 923 
Ne hadde she, as by hire contenaunce. Line 924 
No wonder is for in hire grete estaat Line 925 
Hire goost was evere in pleyn humylitee; Line 926 
No tendre mouth, noon herte delicaat, Line 927 
No pompe, no semblant of roialtee, Line 928 
But ful of pacient benyngnytee, Line 929 
Discreet and pridelees, ay honurable, Line 930 
And to hire housbonde evere meke and stable. Line 931 
Men speke of job, and moost for humblesse, Line 932 
As clerkes, whan hem list, konne wel endite, Line 933 
Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse, Line 934 
Though clerkes preise wommen but a lite, Line 935 
Ther kan no man in humbless hym acquite Line 936 
As womman kan, ne kan been half so trewe Line 937 
As wommen been, but it be falle of newe. Line 938 

Part VI
Fro boloigne is this erl of panyk come, Line 939 
Of which the fame up sprang to moore and lesse, Line 940 
And to the peples eres, alle and some, Line 941 
Was kouth eek that a newe markysesse Line 942 
He with hym broghte, in swich pompe and richesse Line 943 
That nevere was ther seyn with mannes ye Line 944 
So noble array in al west lumbardye. Line 945 
The markys, which that shoop and knew al this, Line 946 
Er that this erl was come, sente his message Line 947 
For thilke sely povre grisildis; Line 948 
And she with humble herte and glad visage, Line 949 
Nat with no swollen thoght in hire corage, Line 950 
Cam at his heste, and on hire knees hire sette, Line 951 
And reverently and wisely she hym grette. Line 952 
Grisilde, quod he, my wyl is outrely, Line 953 
This mayden, that shal wedded been to me, Line 954 
Received be to-morwe as roially Line 955 
As it possible is in myn hous to be, Line 956 
And eek that every wight in his degree Line 957 
Have his estaat, in sittyng and servyse Line 958 
And heigh plesaunce, as I kan best devyse. Line 959 
I have no wommen suffisaunt, certayn, Line 960 
The chambres for t' arraye in ordinaunce Line 961 
After my lust, and therfore wolde I fayn Line 962 
That thyn were al swich manere governaunce. Line 963 
Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce; Line 964 
Thogh thyn array be badde and yvel biseye, Line 965 
Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye. Line 966 
Nat oonly, lord, that I am glad, quod she, Line 967 
To doon youre lust, but I desire also Line 968 
Yow for to serve and plese in my degree  Line 969 

Page 112

 Line 969 
Withouten feyntyng, and shal everemo; Line 970 
Ne nevere, for no wele ne no wo, Line 971 
Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente Line 972 
To love yow best with al my trewe entente. Line 973 
And with that word she gan the hous to dighte, Line 974 
And tables for to sette, and beddes make; Line 975 
And peyned hire to doon al that she myghte, Line 976 
Preyynge the chambereres, for goddes sake, Line 977 
To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake; Line 978 
And she, the mooste servysable of alle, Line 979 
Hath every chambre arrayed and his halle. Line 980 
Abouten undren gan this erl alighte, Line 981 
That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye, Line 982 
For which the peple ran to seen the sighte Line 983 
Of hire array, so richely biseye; Line 984 
And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye Line 985 
That walter was no fool, thogh that hym leste Line 986 
To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste. Line 987 
For she is fairer, as they deemen alle, Line 988 
That is grisilde, and moore tendre of age, Line 989 
And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle, Line 990 
And moore plesant, for hire heigh lynage. Line 991 
Hir brother eek so fair was of visage Line 992 
That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce, Line 993 
Commendynge now the markys governaunce. Line 994 
O stormy peple! unsad and evere untrewe! Line 995 
Ay undiscreet and chaungynge as a fane! Line 996 
Delitynge evere in rumbul that is newe, Line 997 
For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane! Line 998 
Ay ful of clappyng, deere ynogh a jane! Line 999 
Youre doom is fals, youre constance preeveth; Line 1000 
A ful greet fool is he that on yow leeveth. Line 1001 
Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee, Line 1002 
Whan that the peple gazed up and doun; Line 1003 
For they were glad, right for the noveltee, Line 1004 
To han a newe lady of hir toun. Line 1005 
Namoore of this make I now mencioun, Line 1006 
But to grisilde agayn wol I me dresse, Line 1007 
And telle hir constance and hir bisynesse. --  Line 1008 
Ful bisy was grisilde in every thyng Line 1009 
That to the feeste was apertinent. Line 1010 
Right noght was she abayst of hire clothyng, Line 1011 
Thogh it were rude and somdeel eek torent; Line 1012 
But with glad cheere to the yate is went Line 1013 
With oother folk, to greete the markysesse, Line 1014 
And after that dooth forth hire bisynesse. Line 1015 
With so glad chiere his gestes she receyveth, Line 1016 
And konnyngly, everich in his degree, Line 1017 
That no defaute no man aperceyveth, Line 1018 
But ay they wondren what she myghte bee Line 1019 
That in so povre array was for to see, Line 1020 
And koude swich honour and reverence, Line 1021 
And worthily they preisen hire prudence. Line 1022 
In al this meene while she ne stente Line 1023 
This mayde and eek hir brother to commende Line 1024 
With al hir herte, in ful benyngne entente, Line 1025 
So wel that no man koude hir pris amende. Line 1026 
But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende Line 1027 
To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle Line 1028 
Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle. Line 1029 
Grisilde, quod he, as it were in his pley, Line 1030 
How liketh thee my wyf and hire beautee? Line 1031 
Right wel, quod she, my lord; for, in good fey, Line 1032 
A fairer saugh I nevere noon than she. Line 1033 
I prey to God yeve hire prosperitee; Line 1034 
And so hope I that he wol to yow sende Line 1035 
Plesance ynogh unto youre lyves ende. Line 1036 
O thyng biseke I yow, and warne also, Line 1037 
That ye ne prikke with no tormentynge Line 1038 
This tendre mayden, as ye han doon mo; Line 1039 
For she is fostred in hire norissynge Line 1040 
Moore tendrely, and, to my supposynge, Line 1041 
She koude nat adversitee endure Line 1042 
As koude a povre fostred creature. Line 1043 
And whan this walter saugh hire pacience, Line 1044 
Hir glade chiere, and no malice at al, Line 1045 
And he so ofte had doon to hire offence, Line 1046 
And she ay sad and constant as a wal, Line 1047 
Continuynge evere hire innocence overal, Line 1048 
This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse Line 1049 
To rewen upon hire wyfly stedfastnesse. Line 1050 
This is ynogh, grisilde myn, quod he; Line 1051 
Be now namoore agast ne yvele apayed. Line 1052 
I have thy feith and thy benyngnytee, Line 1053 
As wel as evere womman was, assayed, Line 1054 
In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed. Line 1055 
Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse, --  Line 1056 
And hire in armes took and gan hire kesse. Line 1057 
And she for wonder took of it no keep; Line 1058 
She herde nat what thyng he to hire seyde;  Line 1059 

Page 113

 Line 1059 
She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep, Line 1060 
Til she out of hire mazednesse abreyde. Line 1061 
Grisilde, quod he, by god, that for us deyde, Line 1062 
Thou art my wyf, ne noon oother I have, Line 1063 
Ne nevere hadde, as God my soule save! Line 1064 
This is thy doghter, which thou hast supposed Line 1065 
To be my wyf; that oother feithfully Line 1066 
Shal be myn heir, as I have ay disposed; Line 1067 
Thou bare hym in thy body trewely. Line 1068 
At boloigne have I kept hem prively; Line 1069 
Taak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye Line 1070 
That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye. Line 1071 
And folk that ootherweys han seyd of me, Line 1072 
I warne hem wel that I have doon this deede Line 1073 
For no malice, ne for no crueltee, Line 1074 
But for t' assaye in thee thy wommanheede, Line 1075 
And nat to sleen my children -- God forbeede! --  Line 1076 
But for to kepe hem pryvely and stille, Line 1077 
Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille. Line 1078 
Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth Line 1079 
For pitous joye, and after hire swownynge Line 1080 
She bothe hire yonge children to hire calleth, Line 1081 
And in hire armes, pitously wepynge, Line 1082 
Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissynge Line 1083 
Ful lyk a mooder, with hire salte teeres Line 1084 
She bathed bothe hire visage and hire heeres. Line 1085 
O which a pitous thyng it was to se Line 1086 
Hir swownyng, and hire humble voys to heere! Line 1087 
Grauntmercy, lord, God thanke it yow, quod she, Line 1088 
That ye han saved me my children deere! Line 1089 
Now rekke I nevere to been deed right heere; Line 1090 
Sith I stonde in youre love and in youre grace, Line 1091 
No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace! Line 1092 
O tendre, o deere, o yonge children myne! Line 1093 
Youre woful mooder wende stedfastly Line 1094 
That crueel houndes or som foul vermyne Line 1095 
Hadde eten yow; but god, of his mercy, Line 1096 
And youre benyngne fader tendrely Line 1097 
Hath doon yow kept, -- and in that same stounde Line 1098 
Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde, Line 1099 
And in hire swough so sadly holdeth she Line 1100 
Hire children two, whan she gan hem t' embrace, Line 1101 
That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee Line 1102 
The children from hire arm they gonne arace. Line 1103 
O many a teere on many a pitous face Line 1104 
Doun ran of hem that stooden hire bisyde; Line 1105 
Unnethe abouten hire myghte they abyde. Line 1106 
Walter hire gladeth, and hire sorwe slaketh; Line 1107 
She riseth up, abaysed, from hire traunce, Line 1108 
And every wight hire joye and feeste maketh Line 1109 
Til she hath caught agayn hire contenaunce. Line 1110 
Walter hire dooth so feithfully plesaunce Line 1111 
That it was deyntee for to seen the cheere Line 1112 
Bitwixe hem two, now they been met yfeere. Line 1113 
Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say, Line 1114 
Han taken hire and into chambre gon, Line 1115 
And strepen hire out of hire rude array, Line 1116 
And in a clooth of gold that brighte shoon, Line 1117 
With a coroune of many a riche stoon Line 1118 
Upon hire heed, they into halle hire broghte, Line 1119 
And ther she was honured as hire oghte. Line 1120 
Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende, Line 1121 
For every man and womman dooth his myght Line 1122 
This day in murthe and revel to dispende Line 1123 
Til on the welkne shoon the sterres lyght. Line 1124 
For moore solempne in every mannes syght Line 1125 
This feste was, and gretter of costage, Line 1126 
Than was the revel of hire mariage. Line 1127 
Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee Line 1128 
Lyven thise two in concord and in reste, Line 1129 
And richely his doghter maryed he Line 1130 
Unto a lord, oon of the worthieste Line 1131 
Of al ytaille; and thanne in pees and reste Line 1132 
His wyves fader in his court he kepeth, Line 1133 
Til that the soule out of his body crepeth. Line 1134 
His sone succedeth in his heritage Line 1135 
In reste and pees, after his fader day, Line 1136 
And fortunat was eek in mariage, Line 1137 
Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay. Line 1138 
This world is nat so strong, it is no nay, Line 1139 
As it hath been in olde tymes yoore, Line 1140 
And herkneth what this auctour seith therfoore. Line 1141 
This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde Line 1142 
Folwen grisilde as in humylitee, Line 1143 
For it were inportable, though they wolde; Line 1144 
But for that every wight, in his degree, Line 1145 
Sholde be constant in adversitee Line 1146 
As was grisilde; therfore petrak writeth Line 1147 
This storie, which with heigh stile he enditeth.  Line 1148 

Page 114

 Line 1148 
For, sith a womman was so pacient Line 1149 
Unto a mortal man, wel moore us oghte Line 1150 
Receyven al in gree that God us sent; Line 1151 
For greet skile is, he preeve that he wroghte. Line 1152 
But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte, Line 1153 
As seith seint jame, if ye his pistel rede; Line 1154 
He preeveth folk al day, it is no drede, Line 1155 
And suffreth us, as for oure excercise, Line 1156 
With sharpe scourges of adversitee Line 1157 
Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise; Line 1158 
Nat for to knowe oure wyl, for certes he, Line 1159 
Er we were born, knew al oure freletee; Line 1160 
And for oure beste is al his governaunce. Line 1161 
Lat us thanne lyve in vertuous suffraunce. Line 1162 
But o work lordynges, herkneth er I go: Line 1163 
It were ful hard to fynde now-a-dayes Line 1164 
In al a toun grisildis thre or two; Line 1165 
For if that they were put to swiche assayes, Line 1166 
The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes Line 1167 
With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at ye, Line 1168 
It wolde rather breste a-two than plye. Line 1169 
For which heere, for the wyves love of bathe --  Line 1170 
Whos lyf and al hire secte God mayntene Line 1171 
In heigh maistrie, and elles were it scathe --  Line 1172 
I wol with lusty herte, fressh and grene, Line 1173 
Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene; Line 1174 
And lat us stynte of ernestful matere. Line 1175 
Herkneth my song that seith in this manere: Line 1176 

Lenvoy de Chaucer
Grisilde is deed, and eek hire pacience, Line 1177 
And bothe atones buryed in ytaille; Line 1178 
For which I crie in open audience, Line 1179 
No wedded man so hardy be t' assaille Line 1180 
His wyves pacience in trust to fynde Line 1181 
Grisildis, for in certein he shal faille. Line 1182 
O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence, Line 1183 
Lat noon humylitee youre tonge naille, Line 1184 
Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence Line 1185 
To write of yow a storie of swich mervaille Line 1186 
As of grisildis pacient and kynde, Line 1187 
Lest chichevache yow swelwe in hire entraille! Line 1188 
Folweth ekko, that holdeth no silence, Line 1189 
But evere answereth at the countretaille. Line 1190 
Beth nat bidaffed for youre innocence, Line 1191 
But sharply taak on yow the governaille. Line 1192 
Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde, Line 1193 
For commune profit sith it may availle. Line 1194 
Ye archewyves, stondeth at defense, Line 1195 
Syn ye be strong as is a greet camaille; Line 1196 
Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offense. Line 1197 
And sklendre wyves, fieble as in bataille, Line 1198 
Beth egre as is a tygre yond in ynde; Line 1199 
Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille. Line 1200 
Ne dreed hem nat, doth hem no reverence, Line 1201 
For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille, Line 1202 
The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence Line 1203 
Shal perce his brest, and eek his aventaille. Line 1204 
In jalousie I rede eek thou hym bynde, Line 1205 
And thou shalt make hym couche as doth a quaille. Line 1206 
If thou be fair, ther folk been in presence, Line 1207 
Shewe thou thy visage and thyn apparaille; Line 1208 
If thou be foul, be fre of thy dispence; Line 1209 
To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille; Line 1210 
Be ay of chiere as light as leef on lynde, Line 1211 
And lat hym care, and wepe, and wrynge, and waille!   Line 1212 
This worthy clerk, whan ended was his tale, Line 1212.1 
Oure hooste seyde, and swoor, by goddes bondes, Line 1212.2 
Me were levere than a barel ale Line 1212.3 
My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones! Line 1212.4 
This is a gentil tale for the nones, Line 1212.5 
As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille; Line 1212.6 
But thyng that wol nat be, lat it be stille. Line 1212.7 

Page 115

The Merchant's Prologue
Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe Line 1213 
I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe, Line 1214 
Quod the marchant, and so doon other mo Line 1215 
That wedded been. I trowe that it be so, Line 1216 
For wel I woot it fareth so with me. Line 1217 
I have awyf, the worste that may be; Line 1218 
For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, Line 1219 
She sholde I yow reherce in special Line 1220 
What sholde I yow reherce in special Line 1221 
Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al. Line 1222 
Ther is a long and large difference Line 1223 
Bitwix grisildis grete pacience Line 1224 
And of my wyf the passyng crueltee. Line 1225 
Were I unbounden, also moot I thee! Line 1226 
I wolde nevere eft comen in the sanre. Line 1227 
We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care. Line 1228 
Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde Line 1229 
That I seye sooth , by seint thomas of ynde, Line 1230 
As for the moore part, I sey nat alle. Line 1231 
God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! Line 1232 
A! goode sire hoost, I have ywedded bee Line 1233 
Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee; Line 1234 
And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve Line 1235 
Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve Line 1236 
Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere Line 1237 
Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere Line 1238 
Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse! Line 1239 
Now, quod oure hoost, marchaunt, so God yow blesse, Line 1240 
Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art Line 1241 
Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part. Line 1242 
Gladly, quod he, but of myn owene soore, Line 1243 
For soory herte, I telle may namoore. Line 1244 

The Merchant's Tale
Whilom ther was dwellynge in lumbardye Line 1245 
A worthy knyght, that born was of pavye, Line 1246 
In which he lyved in greet prosperitee; Line 1247 
And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee, Line 1248 
And folwed ay his bodily delyt Line 1249 
On wommen, ther as was his appetyt, Line 1250 
As doon thise fooles that been seculeer. Line 1251 
And whan that he was passed sixty yeer, Line 1252 
Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage, Line 1253 
I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage Line 1254 
Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man Line 1255 
That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan Line 1256 
T' espien where he myghte wedded be, Line 1257 
Preyinge oure lord to graunten him that he Line 1258 
Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf Line 1259 
That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf, Line 1260 
And for to lyve under that hooly boond Line 1261 
With which that first God man and womman bond. Line 1262 
Noon oother lyf, seyde he, is worth a bene; Line 1263 
For wedlok is so esy and so clene, Line 1264 
That in this world it is paradys. Line 1265 
Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys. Line 1266 
And certeinly, as sooth as God is kyng, Line 1267 
To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng, Line 1268 
And namely whan a man is oold and hoor; Line 1269 
Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor. Line 1270 
Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir, Line 1271 
On which he myghte engendren hym and heir, Line 1272 
And lede his lyf in joye and in solas, Line 1273 
Where as thise bacheleris synge allas, Line 1274 
Whan that they funden any adversitee Line 1275 
In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee. Line 1276 
And trewely it sit wel to be so, Line 1277 
That bacheleris have often peyne and wo; Line 1278 
On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse Line 1279 
They fynde, whan they wene sikernesse. Line 1280 
They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest, Line 1281 
In libertee, and under noon arreest, Line 1282 
Ther as a wedded man in his estaat Line 1283 
Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat, Line 1284 
Under this yok of mariage ybounde. Line 1285 
Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde, Line 1286 
For who kan be so buxom as a wyf?  Line 1287 

Page 116

 Line 1287 
Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf Line 1288 
To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make? Line 1289 
For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake; Line 1290 
She nys nat wery hym to love and serve, Line 1291 
Thogh that he lye bedrede, til he sterve. Line 1292 
And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so, Line 1293 
Of whiche he theofraste is oon of tho. Line 1294 
What force though theofraste liste lye? Line 1295 
Ne take no wyf, quod he, for housbondrye, Line 1296 
As for to spare in houshold thy dispence. Line 1297 
A trewe servant dooth moore diligence Line 1298 
Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf, Line 1299 
For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf. Line 1300 
And if that thou be syk, so God me save, Line 1301 
Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave, Line 1302 
Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay Line 1303 
After thy good and hath doon many a day. Line 1304 
And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold, Line 1305 
Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold. Line 1306 
This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse, Line 1307 
Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse! Line 1308 
But take no kep of al swich vanytee; Line 1309 
Deffie theofraste, and herke me. Line 1310 
A wyf is goddes yifte verraily; Line 1311 
Alle othere manere yiftes hardily, Line 1312 
As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune, Line 1313 
Or moebles, alle been yiftes of fortune, Line 1314 
That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. Line 1315 
But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal, Line 1316 
A wyf wol laste, and thyn hous endure, Line 1317 
Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure. Line 1318 
Mariage is a ful greet sacrement. Line 1319 
He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent; Line 1320 
He lyveth helplees and al desolat, --  Line 1321 
I speke of folk in seculer estaat. Line 1322 
And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, Line 1323 
That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght. Line 1324 
The hye god, whan he hadde adam maked, Line 1325 
And saugh him al allone, bely-naked, Line 1326 
God of his grete goodnesse syde than, Line 1327 
Lat us now make an helpe unto this man Line 1328 
Lyk to hymself; and thanne he made him eve. Line 1329 
Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve, Line 1330 
That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort, Line 1331 
His paradys terrestre, and his disport. Line 1332 
So buxom and so vertuous is she, Line 1333 
They moste nedes lyve in unitee. Line 1334 
O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse, Line 1335 
Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse. Line 1336 
A wyf! a, seinte marie, benedicite! Line 1337 
How myghte man han any adversitee Line 1338 
That hath a wyf? certes, I kan nat seye. Line 1339 
 the blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye Line 1340 
Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke. Line 1341 
If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke; Line 1342 
She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; Line 1343 
Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel; Line 1344 
She seith nat ones nay, whan he seith ye. Line 1345 
Do this, seith he; al redy, sire, seith she. Line 1346 
O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, Line 1347 
Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous, Line 1348 
And so commended and appreved eek Line 1349 
That every man that halt hym worth a leek, Line 1350 
Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf Line 1351 
Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf, Line 1352 
Or elles preye to God hym for to sende Line 1353 
A wyf, to laste unto his lyves ende. Line 1354 
For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; Line 1355 
He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, Line 1356 
So that he werke after his wyves reed. Line 1357 
Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed, Line 1358 
They been so trewe, and therwithal so wyse; Line 1359 
For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, Line 1360 
Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede. Line 1361 
Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede, Line 1362 
By good conseil of his mooder rebekke, Line 1363 
Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke, Line 1364 
For which his fadres benyson he wan. Line 1365 
Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede, Line 1366 
By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte, Line 1367 
And slow hym olofernus, whil he slepte. Line 1368 
Lo abigayl, by good conseil, how she Line 1369 
Saved hir housbonde nabal, whan that he Line 1370 
Sholde han be slayn; and looke, ester also Line 1371 
By good conseil delyvered out of wo Line 1372 
The peple of god, and made hym mardochee Line 1373 
Of assuere enhaunced for to be. Line 1374 
Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf, Line 1375 
As seith senek, above and humble wyf. Line 1376 
Suffre thy wyves tonge, as catoun bit; Line 1377 
She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it, Line 1378 
And yet she wole obeye of curteisye. Line 1379 
A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye; Line 1380 
Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe, Line 1381 
Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe. Line 1382 
I warne thee, if wisely thou wolt wirche, Line 1383 
Love wel thy wyf, as crist loved his chirche. Line 1384 
If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf; Line 1385 
No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf Line 1386 
He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee, Line 1387 
Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee. Line 1388 
Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye, Line 1389 
Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; Line 1390 
They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde, Line 1391 
And namely upon the wyves syde. Line 1392 
For which this januarie, of whom I tolde,  Line 1393 

Page 117

 Line 1393 
Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde, Line 1394 
The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete, Line 1395 
That is in mariage hony-sweete; Line 1396 
And for his freendes on a day he sente, Line 1397 
To tellen hem th' effect of his entente. Line 1398 
With face sad his tale he hath hem toold. Line 1399 
He seyde, freendes, I am hoor and oold, Line 1400 
And almost, God woot, on my pittes brynke; Line 1401 
Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke. Line 1402 
I have my body folily despended; Line 1403 
Blessed be God that it shal been amended! Line 1404 
For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, Line 1405 
And that anoon in al the haste I kan. Line 1406 
Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age, Line 1407 
I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage Line 1408 
Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde; Line 1409 
And I wol fonde t' espien, on my syde, Line 1410 
To whom I may be wedded hastily. Line 1411 
But forasmuche as ye been mo than I, Line 1412 
Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen Line 1413 
Than I, and where me best were to allyen. Line 1414 
But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere, Line 1415 
I wol moon oold wyf han in no manere. Line 1416 
She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn; Line 1417 
Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde I have ful fayn. Line 1418 
Bet is, quod he, a pyk than a pykerel, Line 1419 
And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. Line 1420 
I wol no womman thritty yeer of age; Line 1421 
It is but bene-straw and greet forage. Line 1422 
And eek thise olde wydwes, God it woot, Line 1423 
They konne so muchel craft on wades boot, Line 1424 
So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste, Line 1425 
That with hem sholde I nevere lyve in reste. Line 1426 
For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Line 1427 
Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is. Line 1428 
But certeynly, a yong thyng may men gye, Line 1429 
Right as men may warm wex with handes plye. Line 1430 
Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause, Line 1431 
I wol noon oold wyf han right for this cause. Line 1432 
For if so were I hadde swich myschaunce, Line 1433 
That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce, Line 1434 
Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, Line 1435 
And go streight to the devel, whan I dye. Line 1436 
Ne children sholde I none upon hire geten; Line 1437 
Yet were me levere houndes hand me eten, Line 1438 
Than that myn heritage sholde falle Line 1439 
In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle. Line 1440 
I dote nat, I woot the cause why Line 1441 
Men sholde wedde, and forthermoore woot I, Line 1442 
Ther speketh many a man of mariage Line 1443 
That woot namoore of it than woot my page, Line 1444 
For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf. Line 1445 
If he ne may nat lyven chaast his lyf, Line 1446 
Take hym a wyf with greet devocioun, Line 1447 
By cause of leverful procreacioun Line 1448 
Of children, to th' onour of God above, Line 1449 
And nat oonly for paramour or love; Line 1450 
And for they sholde leccherye eschue, Line 1451 
And yelde hir dette whan that it is due; Line 1452 
Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother Line 1453 
In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; Line 1454 
And lyve in chastitee ful holily. Line 1455 
But sires, by youre leve, that am nat I. Line 1456 
For, God be thanked! I dar make avaunt, Line 1457 
I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt Line 1458 
To do al that a man bilongeth to; Line 1459 
I woot myselven best what I may do. Line 1460 
Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree Line 1461 
That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen bee; Line 1462 
And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed. Line 1463 
I feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed; Line 1464 
Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene Line 1465 
As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. Line 1466 
And syn that ye han herd al myn entente, Line 1467 
I prey yow to my wyl ye wole assente. Line 1468 
Diverse men diversely hym tolde Line 1469 
Of mariage manye ensamples olde. Line 1470 
Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn; Line 1471 
But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, Line 1472 
As al day falleth altercacioun Line 1473 
Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, Line 1474 
Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, Line 1475 
Of whiche that oon was cleped placebo, Line 1476 
Justinus soothly called was that oother. Line 1477 
Placebo seyde, o januarie, brother, Line 1478 
Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere, Line 1479 
Conseil to axe of any that is heere, Line 1480 
But that ye been so ful of sapience Line 1481 
That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence, Line 1482 
To weyven fro the word of salomon. Line 1483 
This word seyde he unto us everychon: Line 1484 
Wirk alle thyng by conseil, -- thus seyde he, Line 1485 
-- And thanne shaltow nat repente thee. --  Line 1486 
But though that salomon spak swich a word, Line 1487 
Myn owene deere brother and my lord, Line 1488 
So wysly God my soule brynge at reste, Line 1489 
I holde youre owene conseil is the beste. Line 1490 
For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf, Line 1491 
I have now been a court-man al my lyf, Line 1492 
And God it woot, though I unworthy be, Line 1493 
I have stonden in ful greet degree Line 1494 
Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; Line 1495 
Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat. Line 1496 
I nevere hem contraried, trewely; Line 1497 
I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I. Line 1498 
With that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable;  Line 1499 

Page 118

 Line 1499 
I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable. Line 1500 
A ful greet fool is any conseillour Line 1501 
That serveth any lord of heigh honour, Line 1502 
That dar presume, or elles thanken it, Line 1503 
That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. Line 1504 
Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay! Line 1505 
Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day Line 1506 
So heigh sentence, so holily and weel, Line 1507 
That I consente and conferme everydeel Line 1508 
Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun. Line 1509 
By god, ther nys no man in al this toun, Line 1510 
Ne in ytaille, that koude bet han sayd! Line 1511 
Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd. Line 1512 
And trewely, it is an heigh corage Line 1513 
Of any man that stapen is in age Line 1514 
To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn, Line 1515 
Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn! Line 1516 
Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste, Line 1517 
For finally I holde it for the beste. Line 1518 
Justinus, that ay stille sat and herde, Line 1519 
Right in this wise he to placebo answerde: Line 1520 
Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye, Line 1521 
Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye. Line 1522 
Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse, Line 1523 
Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse Line 1524 
To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel. Line 1525 
And syn I oghte avyse me right wel Line 1526 
To whom I yeve my good awey from me, Line 1527 
Wel muchel moore I oghte avysed be Line 1528 
To whom I yeve my body for alwey. Line 1529 
I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley Line 1530 
To take a wyf withouten avysement. Line 1531 
Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, Line 1532 
Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe, Line 1533 
Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe, Line 1534 
A chidestere, or wastour of thy good, Line 1535 
Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood. Line 1536 
Al be it so that no man fynden shal Line 1537 
Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, Line 1538 
Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude devyse; Line 1539 
But nathelees it oghte ynough suffise Line 1540 
With any wyf, if so were that she hadde Line 1541 
Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde; Line 1542 
And al this axeth leyser for t' enquere. Line 1543 
For, God it woot, I have wept many a teere Line 1544 
Ful pryvely, syn I have had a wyf. Line 1545 
Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf, Line 1546 
Certein I fynde in it but cost and care Line 1547 
And observances, of alle blisses bare. Line 1548 
And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute, Line 1549 
And namely of wommen many a route, Line 1550 
Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf, Line 1551 
And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf; Line 1552 
But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho. Line 1553 
Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do; Line 1554 
Avyseth yow -- ye been a man of age --  Line 1555 
How that ye entren into mariage, Line 1556 
And namely with a yong wyf and a fair. Line 1557 
By hym that made water, erthe, and air, Line 1558 
The yongeste man that is in al this route Line 1559 
Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute Line 1560 
To han his wyf allone. Trusteth me, Line 1561 
Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre, --  Line 1562 
This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce. Line 1563 
A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. Line 1564 
I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd. Line 1565 
Wel, quod this januarie, and hastow sayd? Line 1566 
Straw for thy senek, and for thy proverbes! Line 1567 
I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes Line 1568 
Of scole-termes. Wyser men than thow, Line 1569 
As thou hast herd, assenteden right now Line 1570 
To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye? Line 1571 
I seye it is a cursed man, quod he, Line 1572 
That letteth matrimoigne, sikerly. Line 1573 
And with that word they rysen sodeynly, Line 1574 
And been assented fully that he sholde Line 1575 
Be wedded whanne hym liste, and where he wolde. Line 1576 
Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse Line 1577 
Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse Line 1578 
Of januarie aboute his mariage. Line 1579 
Many fair shap and many a fair visage Line 1580 
Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght, Line 1581 
As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght, Line 1582 
And sette it in a commune market-place, Line 1583 
Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace Line 1584 
By his mirour; and in the same wyse Line 1585 
Gan januarie inwith his thoght devyse Line 1586 
Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde. Line 1587 
He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde. Line 1588 
For if that oon have beaute in hir face, Line 1589 
Another stant so in the peples grace Line 1590 
For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee Line 1591 
That of the peple grettest voys hath she; Line 1592 
And somme were riche, and hadden badde name. Line 1593 
But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, Line 1594 
He atte laste apoynted hym on oon, Line 1595 
And leet alle othere from his herte goon, Line 1596 
And chees hire of his owene auctoritee; Line 1597 
For love is blynd alday, and may nat see. Line 1598 
And whan that he was in his bed ybroght, Line 1599 
He purtreyed in his herte and in his thoght Line 1600 
Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, Line 1601 
Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklendre, Line 1602 
Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,  Line 1603 

Page 119

 Line 1603 
Hir wommanly berynge, and hire sadnesse. Line 1604 
And whan that he on hire was condescended, Line 1605 
Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended. Line 1606 
For whan that he hymself concluded hadde, Line 1607 
Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde Line 1608 
That inpossible it were to repplye Line 1609 
Agayn his choys, this was his fantasye. Line 1610 
His freendes sente he to, at his instaunce, Line 1611 
And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce, Line 1612 
That hastily they wolden to hym come; Line 1613 
He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some. Line 1614 
Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde; Line 1615 
He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde. Line 1616 
Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone, Line 1617 
And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone, Line 1618 
That noon of hem none argumentes make Line 1619 
Agayn the purpos which that he hath take, Line 1620 
Which purpos was plesant to god, seyde he, Line 1621 
And verray ground of his prosperitee. Line 1622 
He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun, Line 1623 
Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, Line 1624 
Al were it so she were of smal degree; Line 1625 
Suffiseth hym hir yowthe and hir beautee. Line 1626 
Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf, Line 1627 
To lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf; Line 1628 
And thanked God that he myghte han hire al, Line 1629 
That no wight his blisse parten shal. Line 1630 
And preyed hem to laboure in this nede, Line 1631 
And shapen that he faille nat to spede; Line 1632 
For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese. Line 1633 
Thanne is, quod he, no thyng may me displese, Line 1634 
Save o thyng priketh in my conscience, Line 1635 
The which I wol reherce in youre presence. Line 1636 
I have, quod he, herd seyd, ful yoore ago, Line 1637 
Ther may no man han parfite blisses two, --  Line 1638 
This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene. Line 1639 
For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene, Line 1640 
And eek from every branche of thilke tree, Line 1641 
Yet is ther so parfit felicitee Line 1642 
And so greet ese and lust in mariage, Line 1643 
That evere I am agast now in myn age Line 1644 
That I shal lede now so myrie a lyf, Line 1645 
So delicat, withouten wo and stryf, Line 1646 
That I shal have myn hevene in erthe heere. Line 1647 
For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere Line 1648 
With tribulation and greet penaunce, Line 1649 
How sholde I thanne, that lyve in swich plesaunce Line 1650 
As alle wedded men doon with hire wyvys, Line 1651 
Come to the blisse ther crist eterne on lyve ys? Line 1652 
This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye, Line 1653 
Assoilleth me this question, I preye. Line 1654 
Justinus, which that hated his folye, Line 1655 
Answerde anon right in his japerye; Line 1656 
And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, Line 1657 
He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, Line 1658 
But seyde, sire, so ther be noon obstacle Line 1659 
Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle Line 1660 
And of his mercy may so for yow wirche Line 1661 
That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche, Line 1662 
Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf, Line 1663 
In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. Line 1664 
And elles, God forbede but he sente Line 1665 
A wedded man hym grace to repente Line 1666 
Wel ofte rather than a sengle man! Line 1667 
And therfore, sire -- the beste reed I kan --  Line 1668 
Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie, Line 1669 
Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie! Line 1670 
She may be goddes meene and goddes whippe; Line 1671 
Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe Line 1672 
Swifter than dooth and arwe out of bowe. Line 1673 
I hope to god, herafter shul ye knowe Line 1674 
That ther nys no so greet felicitee Line 1675 
In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee, Line 1676 
That yow shal lette of youre savacion, Line 1677 
So that ye sue, as skile is an reson, Line 1678 
The lustes of youre wyf attemprely, Line 1679 
And that ye plese hire nat to amorously, Line 1680 
And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne. Line 1681 
My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne. Line 1682 
Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere, Line 1683 
But lat us waden out of this mateere. Line 1684 
The wyf of bethe, if ye han understonde, Line 1685 
Of mariage, which we have on honde, Line 1686 
Declared hath ful wel in litel space. Line 1687 
Fareth now wel, God have yow in his grace. Line 1688 
And with this word this justyn and his brother Line 1689 
Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother. Line 1690 
For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be, Line 1691 
They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, Line 1692 
That she, this mayden, which that mayus highte, Line 1693 
As hastily as evere that she myghte, Line 1694 
Shal wedded be unto this januarie. Line 1695 
I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, Line 1696 
If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond Line 1697 
By which that she was feffed in his lond, Line 1698 
Or for to herknen of hir riche array. Line 1699 
But finally ycomen is the day Line 1700 
That to the chirche bothe be they went  Line 1701 

Page 120

 Line 1701 
For to receyve the hooly sacrement. Line 1702 
Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nakke, Line 1703 
And bad hire be lyk sarra and rebekke Line 1704 
In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage; Line 1705 
And seyde his orisons, as is usage, Line 1706 
And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse, Line 1707 
And made al siker ynogh with hoolynesse. Line 1708 
Thus been they wedded with solempnitee, Line 1709 
And at the feeste sitteth he and she Line 1710 
With othere worthy folk upon the deys. Line 1711 
Al ful of joye and blisse is the paleys, Line 1712 
And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille, Line 1713 
The mooste deyntevous of al ytaille. Line 1714 
Biforn hem stoode instrumentz of swich soun Line 1715 
That orpheus, ne of thebes amphioun, Line 1716 
Ne maden nevere swich a melodye. Line 1717 
At every cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye, Line 1718 
That nevere tromped joab for to heer, Line 1719 
Nor he theodomas, yet half so cleere, Line 1720 
At thebes, whan the citee was in doute. Line 1721 
Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute, Line 1722 
And venus laugheth upon every wight, Line 1723 
For januarie was bicome hir knyght, Line 1724 
And wolde bothe assayen his corage Line 1725 
In libertee, and eek in mariage; Line 1726 
And with hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute Line 1727 
Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route. Line 1728 
And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this, Line 1729 
Ymeneus, that God of weddyng is, Line 1730 
Saugh nevere his lyf so myrie a wedded man. Line 1731 
Hoold thou thy pees, thou poete marcian, Line 1732 
That writest us that ilke weddyng murie Line 1733 
Of hire philologie and hym mercurie, Line 1734 
And of the songes that the muses songe! Line 1735 
To smal is bothe thy penen, and eek thy tonge, Line 1736 
For to descryven of this mariage. Line 1737 
Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age, Line 1738 
Ther is swich myrthe that it may nat be writen. Line 1739 
Assayeth it youreself, thanne may ye witen Line 1740 
If that I lye or noon in this matiere. Line 1741 
Mayus, that sit with so benyngne a chiere, Line 1742 
Hire to biholde it semed fayerye. Line 1743 
Queene ester looked nevere with swich an ye Line 1744 
On assuer, so meke a look hath she. Line 1745 
I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee. Line 1746 
But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may, Line 1747 
That she was lyk the brighte morwe of may, Line 1748 
Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce. Line 1749 
This januarie is ravysshed in a traunce Line 1750 
At every tyme he looked on hir face; Line 1751 
But in his herte he gan hire to manace Line 1752 
That he that nyght in armes wolde hire streyne Line 1753 
Harder than evere parys dide eleyne. Line 1754 
But nathelees yet hadde he greet pitee Line 1755 
That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he, Line 1756 
And thoughte, allas! o tendre creature, Line 1757 
Now wolde God ye myghte wel endure Line 1758 
Al my corage, it is so sharp and keene! Line 1759 
I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. Line 1760 
But God forbede that I dide al my myght! Line 1761 
Now wolde God that it were woxen nyght, Line 1762 
And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo. Line 1763 
I wolde that al this peple were ago. Line 1764 
And finally he dooth al his labour, Line 1765 
As he best myghte, savynge his honour, Line 1766 
To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse. Line 1767 
The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse; Line 1768 
And after that men daunce and drynken faste, Line 1769 
And spices al aboute the hous they caste, Line 1770 
And ful of joye and blisse is every man, --  Line 1771 
Al but a squyer, highte damyan, Line 1772 
Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day. Line 1773 
He was so ravysshed on his lady may Line 1774 
That for the verray peyne he was ny wood. Line 1775 
Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood, Line 1776 
So soore hath venus hurt hym with hire brond, Line 1777 
As that she bar it daunsynge in hire hond; Line 1778 
And to his bed he wente hym hastily. Line 1779 
Namoore of hym as at this tyme speke I, Line 1780 
But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne, Line 1781 
Til fresshe may wol rewen on his peyne. Line 1782 
O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth! Line 1783 
O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth! Line 1784 
O servant traytour, false hoomly hewe, Line 1785 
Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe, Line 1786 
God shilde us alle from youre aqueyntaunce! Line 1787 
O januarie, dronken in plesaunce Line 1788 
In mariage, se how thy damyan, Line 1789 
Thyn owene squier and thy borne man, Line 1790 
Entendeth for to do thee vileynye. Line 1791 
God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo t' espye! Line 1792 
For in this world nys worse pestilence Line 1793 
Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence. Line 1794 
Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne; Line 1795 
No lenger may the body of hym sojurne Line 1796 
On th' orisonte, as in that latitude. Line 1797 
Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude, Line 1798 
Gan oversprede the hemysperie aboute; Line 1799 
For which departed is this lusty route Line 1800 
Fro januarie, with thank on every syde. Line 1801 
Hoom to hir houses lustily they ryde, Line 1802 
Where as they doon hir thynges as hem leste, Line 1803 
And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. Line 1804 
Soone after than, this hastif januarie Line 1805 
Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarye.  Line 1806 

Page 121

 Line 1806 
He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage Line 1807 
Of spices hoote, t' encreessen his corage; Line 1808 
And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn, Line 1809 
Swiche as the cursed monk, daun constantyn, Line 1810 
Hath writen in his book de coitu; Line 1811 
To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu. Line 1812 
And to his privee freendes thus seyde he: Line 1813 
For goddes love, as soone as it may be, Line 1814 
Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse. Line 1815 
And they han doon right as he wol devyse. Line 1816 
Men drynken, and the travers drawe anon. Line 1817 
The bryde was broght abedde as stille as stoon; Line 1818 
And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed, Line 1819 
Out of the chambre hath every wight hym dressed; Line 1820 
And januarie hath faste in armes take Line 1821 
His fresshe may, his paradys, his make. Line 1822 
He lulleth hire, he kisseth hire ful ofte; Line 1823 
With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte, Line 1824 
Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere --  Line 1825 
For he was shave al newe in his manere --  Line 1826 
He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face, Line 1827 
And seyde thus, allas! I moot trespace Line 1828 
To yow, my spouse, and yow greetly offende, Line 1829 
Er tyme come that I wil doun descende. Line 1830 
But nathelees, considereth this, quod he, Line 1831 
Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be, Line 1832 
That may bothe werke wel and hastily; Line 1833 
This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. Line 1834 
It is no fors how longe that we pleye; Line 1835 
In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye; Line 1836 
And blessed be the yok that we been inne, Line 1837 
For in oure actes we mowe do no synne. Line 1838 
A man may do no synne with his wyf, Line 1839 
Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf; Line 1840 
For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe. Line 1841 
Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe; Line 1842 
And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree, Line 1843 
And upright in his bed thanne sitteth he, Line 1844 
And after that he sang ful loude and cleere, Line 1845 
And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere Line 1846 
He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye, Line 1847 
And ful of jargon as a flekked pye. Line 1848 
The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh, Line 1849 
Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh. Line 1850 
But God woot what that may thoughte in hir herte, Line 1851 
Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sherte, Line 1852 
In his nyght-cappe, and with his nekke lene; Line 1853 
She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene. Line 1854 
Thanne seide he thus, my reste wol I take; Line 1855 
Now day is come, I may no lenger wake. Line 1856 
And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme. Line 1857 
And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme, Line 1858 
Up ryseth januarie; but fresshe may Line 1859 
Heeld hire chambre unto the fourthe day, Line 1860 
As usage is of wyves for the beste. Line 1861 
For every labour somtyme moot han reste, Line 1862 
Or elles longe may he nat endure; Line 1863 
This is to seyn, no lyves creature, Line 1864 
Be it of fyssh, or bryd, or beest, or man. Line 1865 
Now wol I speke of woful damyan, Line 1866 
That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere; Line 1867 
Therfore I speke to hym in this manere: Line 1868 
I seye, o sely damyan, allas! Line 1869 
Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas. Line 1870 
How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe may, Line 1871 
Telle thy wo? she wole alwey seye nay. Line 1872 
Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye. Line 1873 
God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye. Line 1874 
This sike damyan in venus fyr Line 1875 
So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr, Line 1876 
For which he putte his lyf in aventure. Line 1877 
No lenger myghte he in this wise endure, Line 1878 
But prively a penner gan he borwe, Line 1879 
And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, Line 1880 
In manere of a compleynt or a lay, Line 1881 
Unto his faire, fresshe lady may; Line 1882 
And in a purs of sylk, heng on his sherte Line 1883 
He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. Line 1884 
The moone, that at noon was thilke day Line 1885 
That januarie hath wedded fresshe may Line 1886 
In two of tawr, was into cancre glyden; Line 1887 
So longe hath mayus in hir chambre abyden, Line 1888 
As custume is unto thise nobles alle. Line 1889 
A bryde shal nat eten in the halle Line 1890 
Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste, Line 1891 
Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste. Line 1892 
The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon, Line 1893 
Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon, Line 1894 
In halle sit this januarie and may, Line 1895 
As fressh as is the brighte someres day. Line 1896 
And so bifel how that this goode man Line 1897 
Remembred hym upon this damyan, Line 1898 
And seyde, seynte marie! how may this be, Line 1899 
That damyan entendeth nat to me? Line 1900 
Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde? Line 1901 
His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde, Line 1902 
Excused hym by cause of his siknesse, Line 1903 
Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse; Line 1904 
Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye. Line 1905 
That me forthynketh, quod this januarie, Line 1906 
He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe! Line 1907 
If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe. Line 1908 
He is as wys, discreet, and as secree Line 1909 
As any man I woot of his degree, Line 1910 
And therto manly, and eek servysable.  Line 1911 

Page 122

 Line 1911 
And for to been a thrifty man right able. Line 1912 
But after mete, as soone as evere I may, Line 1913 
I wol myself visite hym, and eek may, Line 1914 
To doon hym al the confort that I kan. Line 1915 
And for that word hym blessed every man, Line 1916 
That of his bountee and his gentillesse Line 1917 
He wolde so conforten in siknesse Line 1918 
His squier, for it was a gentil dede. Line 1919 
Dame, quod this januarie, taak good hede, Line 1920 
At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle, Line 1921 
Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle, Line 1922 
That alle ye go se this damyan. Line 1923 
Dooth hym disport -- he is a gentil man; Line 1924 
And telleth hym that I wol hym visite, Line 1925 
Have I no thyng but rested me a lite; Line 1926 
And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde Line 1927 
Til that ye slepe faste by my syde. Line 1928 
And with that word he gan to hym to calle Line 1929 
A squier, that was marchal of his halle, Line 1930 
And tolde hym certeyn thynges, what he wolde. Line 1931 
This fresshe may hath streight hir wey yholde, Line 1932 
With alle hir wommen, unto damyan. Line 1933 
Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, Line 1934 
Confortynge hym as goodly as she may. Line 1935 
This damyan, whan that his tyme he say, Line 1936 
In secree wise his purs and eek his bille, Line 1937 
In which that he ywriten hadde his wille, Line 1938 
Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore, Line 1939 
And softely to hire right thus seyde he: Line 1940 
And softely to hire right thus seyde he: Line 1941 
Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me, Line 1942 
For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd. Line 1943 
This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd, Line 1944 
And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me. Line 1945 
But unto januarie ycomen is she, Line 1946 
That on his beddes syde sit ful softe. Line 1947 
He taketh hire, and kisseth hire ful ofte, Line 1948 
And leyde hym doun to slepe, and that anon. Line 1949 
She feyned hire as that she moste gon Line 1950 
Ther as ye woot that every wight moot neede; Line 1951 
And whan she of this bille hath taken heede, Line 1952 
She rente it al to cloutes atte laste, Line 1953 
And in the pryvee softely it caste. Line 1954 
Who studieth now but faire fresshe may? Line 1955 
Adoun by olde januarie she lay, Line 1956 
That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked. Line 1957 
Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked; Line 1958 
He wolde of hire, he seyde, han som plesaunce, Line 1959 
And seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce, Line 1960 
And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth. Line 1961 
But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth, Line 1962 
How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle; Line 1963 
Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle. Line 1964 
But heere I lete hem werken in hir wyse Line 1965 
Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse. Line 1966 
Were it by destynee or aventure, Line 1967 
Were it by influence or by nature, Line 1968 
Or constellacion, that in swich estaat Line 1969 
The hevene stood, that tyme fortunaat Line 1970 
Was for to putte a bille of venus werkes --  Line 1971 
For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes --  Line 1972 
To any womman, for to gete hire love, Line 1973 
I kan nat seye; but grete God above, Line 1974 
That knoweth that noon act is causeless, Line 1975 
He deme of al, for I wole hole my pees. Line 1976 
But sooth is this, how that this fresshe may Line 1977 
Hath take swich impression that day Line 1978 
Of pitee of this sike damyan, Line 1979 
That from hire herte she ne dryve kan Line 1980 
The remembrance for to doon hym ese. Line 1981 
Certeyn, thoghte she, whom that this thyng displese, Line 1982 
I rekke noght, for heere I hym assure Line 1983 
To love hym best of any creature, Line 1984 
Though he namoore hadde than his sherte. Line 1985 
Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte! Line 1986 
Heere may ye se how excellent franchise Line 1987 
In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse. Line 1988 
Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon, Line 1989 
That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, Line 1990 
Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place Line 1991 
Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace; Line 1992 
And hem rejoysen in hire crueel pryde, Line 1993 
And rekke nat to been an homycide. Line 1994 
This gentil may, fulfilled of pitee, Line 1995 
Right of hire hand a lettre made she, Line 1996 
In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace. Line 1997 
Ther lakketh noght, oonly but day and place, Line 1998 
Wher that she myghte unto his lust suffise; Line 1999 
For it shal be right as he wole devyse. Line 2000 
And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon a day, Line 2001 
To visite this damyan gooth may, Line 2002 
And sotilly this lettre doun she threste Line 2003 
Under his pilwe, rede it if hym leste. Line 2004 
She taketh hym by the hand, and harde hym twiste Line 2005 
So secrely that no wight of it wiste, Line 2006 
And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente Line 2007 
To januarie, whan that he for hire sente. Line 2008 
Up riseth damyan the nexte morwe; Line 2009 
Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe. Line 2010 
He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh, Line 2011 
He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh; Line 2012 
And eek to januarie he gooth as lowe Line 2013 
As evere dide a dogge for the bowe.  Line 2014 

Page 123

 Line 2014 
He is so plesant unto every man Line 2015 
(for craft is al, whoso that do it kan) Line 2016 
That every wight is fayn to speke hym good; Line 2017 
And fully in his lady grace he stood. Line 2018 
Thus lete I damyan aboute his nede, Line 2019 
And in my tale forth I wol procede. Line 2020 
Somme clerkes holden that felicitee Line 2021 
Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he, Line 2022 
This noble januarie, with al his myght, Line 2023 
In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght, Line 2024 
Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously. Line 2025 
His housynge, his array, as honestly Line 2026 
To his degree was maked as a kynges. Line 2027 
Amonges othere of his honeste thynges, Line 2028 
He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon; Line 2029 
So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon. Line 2030 
For, out of doute, I verraily suppose Line 2031 
That he that wroot the romance of the rose Line 2032 
Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse; Line 2033 
Ne priapus ne myghte nat suffise, Line 2034 
Though he be God of gardyns, for to telle Line 2035 
The beautee of the gardyn and the welle, Line 2036 
That stood under a laurer alwey grene. Line 2037 
Ful ofte tyme he pluto and his queene, Line 2038 
Proserpina, and al hire fayerye, Line 2039 
Disporten hem and maken melodye Line 2040 
Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde. Line 2041 
This noble knyght, this januarie the olde, Line 2042 
Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye, Line 2043 
That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye Line 2044 
Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket Line 2045 
He baar alwey of silver a clyket, Line 2046 
With which, whan that hym leste, he it unshette. Line 2047 
And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette Line 2048 
In somer seson, thider wolde he go, Line 2049 
And may his wyf, and no wight but they two; Line 2050 
And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde, Line 2051 
He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde. Line 2052 
And in this wyse, many a murye day, Line 2053 
Lyved this januarie and fresshe may. Line 2054 
But worldly joye may nat alwey dure Line 2055 
To januarie, ne to creature. Line 2056 
O sodeyn hap! o thou fortune unstable! Line 2057 
Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable, Line 2058 
That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge; Line 2059 
Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge. Line 2060 
O brotil joye! o sweete venym queynte! Line 2061 
O monstre, that so subtilly kanst peynte Line 2062 
Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse, Line 2063 
That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse! Line 2064 
Why hastow januarie thus deceyved, Line 2065 
That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyved? Line 2066 
And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his ye, Line 2067 
For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen. Line 2068 
Allas! this noble januarie free, Line 2069 
Amydde his lust and his prosperitee, Line 2070 
Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly, Line 2071 
He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; Line 2072 
And therwithal the fyr of jalousie, Line 2073 
Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, Line 2074 
So brente his herte that he wolde fayn Line 2075 
That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn. Line 2076 
For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf, Line 2077 
Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf, Line 2078 
But evere lyve as wydwe in clothes blake, Line 2079 
Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make, Line 2080 
But atte laste, after a month or tweye Line 2081 
His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; Line 2082 
For whan he wiste it may noon oother be, Line 2083 
He paciently took his adversitee, Line 2084 
Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon Line 2085 
That he nas jalous everemoore in oon; Line 2086 
Which jalousye it was so outrageous, Line 2087 
That neither in halle, n' yn noon oother hous, Line 2088 
Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo, Line 2089 
He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go, Line 2090 
But if that he had hond on hire alway; Line 2091 
For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe may, Line 2092 
That loveth damyan so benyngnely Line 2093 
That she moot outher dyen sodeynly, Line 2094 
Or elles she moot han hym as hir leste. Line 2095 
She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste. Line 2096 
Upon that oother syde damyan Line 2097 
Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man Line 2098 
That evere was; for neither nyght ne day Line 2099 
Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe may, Line 2100 
As to his purpos, of no swich mateere, Line 2101 
But if that januarie moste it heere, Line 2102 
That hadde an hand upon hire everemo. Line 2103 
But nathelees, by writyng to and fro, Line 2104 
And privee signes, wiste he what she mente, Line 2105 
And she knew eek the fyn of his entente. Line 2106 
O januarie, what myghte it thee availle, Line 2107 
Thogh thou myghte se as fer as shippes saille? Line 2108 
For as good is blynd deceyved be Line 2109 
As to be deceyved whan a man may se. Line 2110 
Lo, argus, which that hadde an hondred yen, Line 2111 
For al that evere he koude poure or pryen, Line 2112 
Yet was he blent, and, God woot, so been mo, Line 2113 
That wenen wisly that it be nat so. Line 2114 
Passe over is an ese, I sey namoore. Line 2115 
This fresshe may, that I spak of so yoore, Line 2116 
In warm wex hath emprented the clyket Line 2117 
That januarie bar of the smale wyket,  Line 2118 

Page 124

 Line 2118 
By which into his gardyn ofte he wente; Line 2119 
And damyan, that knew al hire entente, Line 2120 
The cliket countrefeted pryvely. Line 2121 
Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily Line 2122 
Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde, Line 2123 
Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde. Line 2124 
O noble ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God woot, Line 2125 
What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot, Line 2126 
That love nyl fynde it out in som manere? Line 2127 
By piramus and tesbee may men leere; Line 2128 
Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal, Line 2129 
They been accorded, rownynge thurgh a wal, Line 2130 
Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte. Line 2131 
But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte Line 2132 
Were passed, er the month of juyn, bifil Line 2133 
That januarie hath caught so greet a wil, Line 2134 
Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye Line 2135 
In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye, Line 2136 
That in a morwe unto his may seith he: Line 2137 
Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free! Line 2138 
The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete; Line 2139 
The wynter is goon with alle his reynes weete. Line 2140 
Com forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn! Line 2141 
How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn! Line 2142 
The gardyn is enclosed al aboute; Line 2143 
Com forth, my white spouse! out of doute Line 2144 
Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf! Line 2145 
No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf. Line 2146 
Com forth, and lat us taken oure disport; Line 2147 
I chees thee for my wyf and my confort. Line 2148 
Swiche olde lewed wordes used he. Line 2149 
On damyan a signe made she, Line 2150 
That he sholde go biforn with his cliket. Line 2151 
This damyan thanne hath opened the wyket, Line 2152 
And in he stirte, and that in swich manere Line 2153 
That no wight myghte it se neither yheere, Line 2154 
And stille he sit under a bussh anon. Line 2155 
This januarie, as blynd as is a stoon, Line 2156 
With mayus in his hand, and no wight mo, Line 2157 
Into his fresshe gardyn is ago, Line 2158 
And clapte to the wyket sodeynly. Line 2159 
Now wyf, quod he, heere nys but thou and I, Line 2160 
That art the creature that I best love. Line 2161 
For by that lord that sit in hevene above, Line 2162 
Levere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf, Line 2163 
Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf! Line 2164 
For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees, Line 2165 
Noght for no coveitise, doutelees, Line 2166 
But oonly for the love I had to thee. Line 2167 
And though that I be oold, and may nat see, Line 2168 
Beth to me trewe, and I wol telle yow why. Line 2169 
Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby: Line 2170 
First, love of crist, and to youreself honour, Line 2171 
And al myn heritage, toun and tour; Line 2172 
I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste; Line 2173 
This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste, Line 2174 
So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse. Line 2175 
I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse; Line 2176 
And though that I be jalous, wyte me noght. Line 2177 
Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght Line 2178 
That, whan that I considere youre beautee, Line 2179 
And therwithal the unlikly elde of me, Line 2180 
I may nat, certes, though I sholde dye, Line 2181 
Forbere to been out of youre compaignye Line 2182 
For verray love; this is withouten doute. Line 2183 
Now kys me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute. Line 2184 
This fresshe may, whan she thise wordes herde, Line 2185 
Benyngnely to januarie answerde, Line 2186 
But first and forward she bigan to wepe. Line 2187 
I have, quod she, a soule for to kepe Line 2188 
As wel as ye, and also myn honour, Line 2189 
And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour, Line 2190 
Which that I have assured in youre hond, Line 2191 
Whan that the preest to yow my body bond; Line 2192 
Wherfore I wole answere in this manere, Line 2193 
By the leve of yow, my lord so deere: Line 2194 
I prey to God that nevere dawe the day Line 2195 
That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may, Line 2196 
If evere I do unto my kyn that shame, Line 2197 
Or elles I empeyre so my name, Line 2198 
That I be fals; and if I do that lak, Line 2199 
Do strepe me and put me in a sak, Line 2200 
And in the nexte ryver do me drenche. Line 2201 
I am a gentil womman and no wenche. Line 2202 
Why speke ye thus? but men been evere untrewe, Line 2203 
And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe. Line 2204 
Ye han noon oother contenance, I leeve, Line 2205 
But speke to us of untrust and repreeve. Line 2206 
And with that word she saugh wher damyan Line 2207 
Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan, Line 2208 
And with hir fynger signes made she Line 2209 
That damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree, Line 2210 
That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente. Line 2211 
For verraily he knew al hire entente, Line 2212 
And every signe that she koude make, Line 2213 
Wel bet than januarie, hir owene make; Line 2214 
For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al Line 2215 
Of this matere, how he werchen shal. Line 2216 
And thus I lete hym sitte upon the pyrie, Line 2217 
And januarie and may romynge ful myrie. Line 2218 
Bright was the day, and blew the firmament; Line 2219 
Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent,  Line 2220 

Page 125

 Line 2220 
To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. Line 2221 
He was that tyme in geminis, as I gesse, Line 2222 
But litel fro his declynacion Line 2223 
Of cancer, jovis exaltacion. Line 2224 
And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, Line 2225 
That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde, Line 2226 
Pluto, that is kyng of fayerye, Line 2227 
And many a lady in his compaignye, Line 2228 
Folwynge his wyf, the queene proserpyna, Line 2229 
Which that he ravysshed out of ethna Line 2230 
Whil that she gadered floures in the mede --  Line 2231 
In claudyan ye may the stories rede, Line 2232 
How in his grisely carte he hire fette --  Line 2233 
This kyng of fairye thanne adoun hym sette Line 2234 
Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene, Line 2235 
And right anon thus seyde he to his queene: Line 2236 
My wyf, quod he, ther may no wight seye nay; Line 2237 
Th' experience so preveth every day Line 2238 
The tresons whiche that wommen doon to man. Line 2239 
Ten hondred thousand (tales) tellen I kan Line 2240 
Notable of youre untrouthe and brotilnesse. Line 2241 
O salomon, wys, and richest of richesse, Line 2242 
Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie, Line 2243 
Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie Line 2244 
To every wight that wit and reson kan. Line 2245 
Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man: Line 2246 
-- Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon, Line 2247 
But of wommen alle foond I noon. --  Line 2248 
Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse. Line 2249 
And jhesus, filius syrak, as I gesse, Line 2250 
Ne speketh of yow but seelde reverence. Line 2251 
A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence Line 2252 
So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght! Line 2253 
Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght, Line 2254 
By cause, allas! that he is blynd and old, Line 2255 
His owene man shal make hym cokewold. Line 2256 
Lo, where he sit, the lechour, in the tree! Line 2257 
Now wol I graunten, of my magestee, Line 2258 
Unto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght Line 2259 
That he shal have ayen his eyen syght, Line 2260 
Whan that his wyf wold doon hym vileynye. Line 2261 
Thanne shal he knowen al hire harlotrye, Line 2262 
Bothe in repreve of hire and othere mo. Line 2263 
Ye shal? quod proserpyne, wol ye so? Line 2264 
Now by my moodres sires soule I swere Line 2265 
That I shal yeven hire suffisant answere, Line 2266 
And alle wommen after, for hir sake; Line 2267 
That, though they be in any gilt ytake, Line 2268 
With face boold they shulle hemself excuse, Line 2269 
And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse. Line 2270 
For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen. Line 2271 
Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his yen, Line 2272 
Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily, Line 2273 
And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, Line 2274 
So that ye man shul been as lewed as gees. Line 2275 
What rekketh me of youre auctoritees? Line 2276 
I woot wel that this jew, this salomon, Line 2277 
Foond of us wommen fooles many oon. Line 2278 
But though that he ne foond no good womman, Line 2279 
Yet hath ther founde many another man Line 2280 
Wommen ful trewe, ful goode, and vertuous. Line 2281 
Witnesse on hem that dwelle in cristes hous; Line 2282 
With martirdom they preved hire constance. Line 2283 
The romayn geestes eek make remembrance Line 2284 
Of many a verray, trewe wyf also. Line 2285 
But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so, Line 2286 
Though that he seyde he foond no good womman, Line 2287 
I prey yow take the sentence of the man; Line 2288 
He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee Line 2289 
Nis noon but god, but neither he ne she. Line 2290 
Ey! for verray god, that nys but oon, Line 2291 
What make ye so muche of salomon? Line 2292 
What though he made a temple, goddes hous? Line 2293 
What though he were riche and glorious? Line 2294 
So made he eek a temple of false goddis. Line 2295 
How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is? Line 2296 
Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre, Line 2297 
He was a lecchour and an ydolastre, Line 2298 
And in his elde he verray God forsook; Line 2299 
And if this God ne hadde, as seith the book, Line 2300 
Yspared hem for his fadres sake, he sholde Line 2301 
Have lost his regne rather than he wolde. Line 2302 
I sette right noght, of al the vileynye Line 2303 
That ye of wommen write, a boterflye! Line 2304 
I am a womman, nedes moot I speke, Line 2305 
Of elles swelle til myn herte breke. Line 2306 
For sithen he seyde that we been jangleresses, Line 2307 
As evere hool I moote brouke my tresses, Line 2308 
I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, Line 2309 
To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye. Line 2310 
Dame, quod this pluto, be no lenger wrooth; Line 2311 
I yeve it up! but sith I swoor myn ooth Line 2312 
That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn, Line 2313 
My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn. Line 2314 
I am a kyng, it sit me noght to lye. Line 2315 
And I, quod she, a queene of fayerye! Line 2316 
Hir answere shal she have, I undertake. Line 2317 
Lat us namoore wordes heerof make; Line 2318 
For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie. Line 2319 
Now lat us turne agayn to januarie, Line 2320 
That in the gardyn with his faire may Line 2321 
Syngeth ful murier than the papejay, Line 2322 
Yow love I best, and shal, and oother noon.  Line 2323 

Page 126

 Line 2323 
So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon, Line 2324 
Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie Line 2325 
Where as this damyan sitteth ful myrie Line 2326 
An heigh among the fresshe leves grene. Line 2327 
This fresshe may, that is so bright and sheene, Line 2328 
Gan for to syke, and seyde, allas, my syde! Line 2329 
Now sire, quod she, for aught that may bityde, Line 2330 
I moste han of the peres that I see, Line 2331 
Or I moot dye, so soore longeth me Line 2332 
To eten of the smale peres grene. Line 2333 
Help, for hir love that is of hevene queene! Line 2334 
I telle yow wel, a womman in my plit Line 2335 
May han to fruyt so greet an appetit Line 2336 
That she may dyen, but she of it have. Line 2337 
Allas! quod he, that I ne had heer a knave Line 2338 
That koude clymbe! allas, allas, quod he, Line 2339 
For I am blynd! ye, sire, no fors, quod she; Line 2340 
-- But wolde ye vouche sauf, for goddes sake, Line 2341 
The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take, Line 2342 
For wel I woot that ye mystruste me, Line 2343 
Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh, quod she, Line 2344 
So I my foot myghte sette ypon youre bak. Line 2345 
Certes,quod he, theron shal be no lak, Line 2346 
Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood. Line 2347 
He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood, Line 2348 
And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth --  Line 2349 
Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; Line 2350 
I kan nat glose, I am a rude man --  Line 2351 
And sodeynly anon this damyan Line 2352 
Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng. Line 2353 
And whan that pluto saugh this grete wrong, Line 2354 
To januarie he gaf agayn his sighte, Line 2355 
And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte. Line 2356 
And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn, Line 2357 
Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn, Line 2358 
But on his wyf his thoght was everemo. Line 2359 
Up to the tree he caste his eyen two, Line 2360 
And saugh that damyan his wyf had dressed Line 2361 
In swich manere it may nat been expressed, Line 2362 
But if I wolde speke uncurteisly; Line 2363 
And up he yaf a roryng and a cry, Line 2364 
As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye: Line 2365 
Out! he gan to crye, Line 2366 
O stronge lady stoore, what dostow? Line 2367 
And she answerde, sire, what eyleth yow? Line 2368 
Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde! Line 2369 
I have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde. Line 2370 
Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen, Line 2371 
As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen, Line 2372 
Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see, Line 2373 
Than strugle with a man upon a tree. Line 2374 
God woot, I dide it in ful good entente. Line 2375 
Strugle! quod he, ye algate in it wente! Line 2376 
God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen! Line 2377 
He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yen, Line 2378 
And elles be I hanged by the hals! Line 2379 
 thanne is, quod she, my medicyne fals; Line 2380 
For certeinly, if that ye myghte se. Line 2381 
Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me. Line 2382 
Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte. Line 2383 
 I se, quod he, as wel as evere I myghte, Line 2384 
Thonked be god! with bothe myne eyen two, Line 2385 
And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so. Line 2386 
 ye maze, maze, goode sire, quod she; Line 2387 
This thank have I for I have maad yow see. Line 2388 
Allas, quod she, that evere I was so kynde! Line 2389 
Now, dame, quod he, lat al passe out of mynde. Line 2390 
Com doun, my lief, and if I have myssayd, Line 2391 
God helpe me so, as I am yvele apayd. Line 2392 
But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn Line 2393 
How that this damyan hadde by thee leyn, Line 2394 
And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest. Line 2395 
Ye sire, quod she, ye may wene as yow lest. Line 2396 
But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep, Line 2397 
He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep Line 2398 
Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly, Line 2399 
Til that he be adawed verraily. Line 2400 
Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe, Line 2401 
Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse, Line 2402 
First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn, Line 2403 
As he that hath a day or two yseyn. Line 2404 
Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while, Line 2405 
Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile. Line 2406 
Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene kyng, Line 2407 
Ful many a man weneth to seen a thyng, Line 2408 
And it is al another than it semeth. Line 2409 
He that mysconceyveth, he mysdemeth. Line 2410 
And with that word she leep doun fro the tree, Line 2411 
This januarie, who is glad but he? Line 2412 
He kisseth hire, and clippeth hire ful ofte, Line 2413 
And on hire wombe he stroketh hire ful softe, Line 2414 
And to his palays hoom he hath hire lad. Line 2415 
Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad. Line 2416 
Thus endeth heere my tale of januarie; Line 2417 
God blesse us, and his mooder seinte marie! Line 2418 

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The Merchant's Epilogue
Ey! goddes marcy! seyde oure hooste tho, Line 2419 
Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro! Line 2420 
Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees Line 2421 
In wommen been! for ay as bisy as bees Line 2422 
Been they, us sely men for to deceyve, Line 2423 
And from the soothe evere wol they weyve; Line 2424 
By this marchauntes tale it preveth weel. Line 2425 
But doutelees, as trewe as any steel Line 2426 
I have a wyf, though that she povre be, Line 2427 
Nut of hir tonge, a labbyng shrewe is she, Line 2428 
And yet she hath an heep of vices mo; Line 2429 
Therof no fors! lat alle swiche thynges go. Line 2430 
But wyte ye what? in conseil be it seyd, Line 2431 
Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd. Line 2432 
For, and I sholde rekenen every vice Line 2433 
Which that she hath, ywis I were to nyce; Line 2434 
And cause why, it sholde reported by Line 2435 
And toold to hire of somme of this meynee, --  Line 2436 
Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare, Line 2437 
Syn wommen konnen outen swich chaffare; Line 2438 
And eek my with suffiseth nat therto, Line 2439 
To tellen al, wherfore my tale is do. Line 2440 

The Canterbury tales

About this Item

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Group 4

The Clerk's Prologue

The Clerk's Tale

Part I

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Incipit secunda pars

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Incipit tercia pars.

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Sequitur pars quarta.

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Sequitur pars quinta.

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Part VI

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Lenvoy de Chaucer

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The Merchant's Prologue

The Merchant's Tale

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The Merchant's Epilogue

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