The Canterbury tales

Sequitur pars secunda

The norice of digestioun, the sleep, Line 347 Gan on hem wynke and bad hem taken keep Line 348 That muchel drynke and labour wolde han reste; Line 349 And with a galpyng mouth hem alle he keste, Line 350 And seyde that it was tyme to lye adoun, Line 351 For blood was in his domynacioun. Line 352 Cherisseth blood, natures freend, quod he. Line 353 They thanken hym galpynge, by two, by thre, Line 354 And every wight gan drawe hym to his reste, Line 355 As sleep hem bad; they tooke it for the beste. Line 356 Hire dremes shul nat now been toold for me; Line 357 Ful were hire heddes of fumositee, Line 358 That causeth dreem of which ther nys no charge. Line 359 They slepen til that it was pryme large, Line 360 The mooste part, but it were canacee. Line 361 She was ful mesurable, as wommen be; Line 362 For of hir fader hadde she take leve Line 363 To goon to reste soone after it was eve. Line 364 Hir liste nat appalled for to be, Line 365 Ne on the morwe unfeestlich for to se, Line 366 And slepte hire firste sleep, and thanne awook. Line 367 For swich a joye she in hir herte took Line 368 Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hire mirour, Line 369 That twenty tyme she changed hir colour; Line 370 And in hire sleep, right for impressioun Line 371 Of hire mirour, she hadde a visioun. Line 372 Wherfore, er that the sonne gan up glyde, Line 373 She cleped on hir maistresse hire bisyde, Line 374 And seyde that hire liste for to ryse. Line 375 Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse, Line 376 As is hire maistresse, answerde hire anon, Line 377 And seyde, madame, whider wil ye goon Line 378

Line 378 Thus erly, for the folk been alle on reste? Line 379 I wol, quod she, arise, for me leste Line 380 Ne lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute. Line 381 Hire maistresse clepeth wommen a greet route, Line 382 And up they rysen, wel a ten or twelve; Line 383 Up riseth fresshe canacee hireselve, Line 384 As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne, Line 385 That in the ram is foure degrees up ronne -- Line 386 Noon hyer was he whan she redy was -- Line 387 And forth she walketh esily a pas, Line 388 Arrayed after the lusty seson soote Line 389 Lightly, for to pleye and walke on foote, Line 390 Nat but with fyve or sixe of hir meynee; Line 391 And in a trench forth in the park gooth she. Line 392 The vapour which that fro the erthe glood Line 393 Made the sonne to seme rody and brood; Line 394 But nathelees it was so fair a sighte Line 395 That it made alle hire hertes for to lighte, Line 396 What for the seson and the morwenynge, Line 397 And for the foweles that she herde synge. Line 398 For right anon she wiste what they mente, Line 399 Right by hir song, and knew al hire entente. Line 400 The knotte why that every tale is toold, Line 401 If it be taried til that lust be coold Line 402 Of hem that han it after herkned yoore, Line 403 The savour passeth ever lenger the moore, Line 404 For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee; Line 405 And by the same resoun, thynketh me, Line 406 I sholde to the knotte condescende, Line 407 And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende. Line 408 Amydde a tree, for drye as whit as chalk, Line 409 As canacee was pleyyng in hir walk, Line 410 Ther sat a faucon over hire heed ful hye, Line 411 That with a pitous voys so gan to crye Line 412 That all the wode resouned of hire cry. Line 413 Ybeten hadde she hirself so pitously Line 414 With bothe hir wynges, til the rede blood Line 415 Ran endelong the tree ther-as she stood. Line 416 And evere in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte, Line 417 And with hir beek herselven so she prighte, Line 418 That ther nys tygre, ne noon so crueel beest, Line 419 That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest, Line 420 That nolde han wept, if that he wepe koude, Line 421 For sorwe of hire, she shrighte alwey so loude. Line 422 For ther nas nevere yet no man on lyve, Line 423 If that I koude a faucon wel discryve, Line 424 That herde of swich another of fairnesse, Line 425 As wel of plumage as of gentillesse Line 426 Of shap, of al that myghte yrekened be. Line 427 A faucon peregryn thanne semed she Line 428 Of fremde land; and everemoore, as she stood, Line 429 She swowneth now and now for lak of blood, Line 430 Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree. Line 431 This faire kynges doghter, canacee, Line 432 That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng, Line 433 Thurgh which she understood wel every thyng Line 434 That any fowel may in his leden seyn, Line 435 And koude answeren hym in his ledene ageyn, Line 436 Hath understonde what this faucon seyde, Line 437 And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde. Line 438 And to the tree she gooth ful hastily, Line 439 And on this faukon looketh pitously, Line 440 And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste Line 441 The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste, Line 442 Whan that it swowned next, for lak of blood. Line 443 A longe whil to wayten hire she stood, Line 444 Til atte laste she spak in this manere Line 445 Unto the hauk, as ye shal after heere: Line 446 What is the cause, if it be for to telle, Line 447 That ye be in this furial pyne of helle? Line 448 Quod canacee unto this hauk above. Line 449 Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of love? Line 450 For, as I trowe, thise been causes two Line 451 That causen moost a gentil herte wo; Line 452 Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke. Line 453 For ye youreself upon yourself yow wreke, Line 454 Which proveth wel that outher ire or drede Line 455 Moot been enchesoun of youre cruel dede, Line 456 Syn that I see noon oother wight yow chace. Line 457 For love of god, as dooth youreselven grace, Line 458 Or what may been youre help? for west nor est Line 459 Ne saugh I nevere er now no bryd ne beest Line 460 That ferde with hymself so pitously. Line 461 Ye sle me with youre sorwe verraily, Line 462 I have of yow so greet compassioun. Line 463 For goddes love, com fro the tree adoun; Line 464 And as I am a kynges doghter trewe, Line 465 If that I verraily the cause knewe Line 466 Of youre disese, if it lay in my myght, Line 467 I wole amenden it er that it were nyght, Line 468 As wisly helpe me grete God of kynde! Line 469 And herbes shal I right ynowe yfynde Line 470 To heel with youre hurtes hastily. Line 471 Tho shrighte this faucon yet moore pitously Line 472 Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anon, Line 473 And lith aswowne, deed and lyk a stoon, Line 474 Til canacee hath in hire lappe hire take Line 475 Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake. Line 476 And after that she of hir swough gan breyde, Line 477 Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde: Line 478 That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte, Line 479 Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte, Line 480 Is preved alday, as men may it see, Line 481 As wel by werk as by auctoritee; Line 482 For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse. Line 483 I se wel that ye han of my distresse Line 484

Line 484 Compassion, my faire canacee, Line 485 Of verray wommanly benignytee Line 486 That nature in youre principles hath set. Line 487 But for noon hope for to fare the bet, Line 488 But for to obeye unto youre herte free, Line 489 And for to maken othere be war by me, Line 490 As by the whelp chasted is the leon, Line 491 Right for that cause and that conclusion, Line 492 Whil that I have a leyser and a space, Line 493 Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace. Line 494 And evere, whil that oon hir sorwe tolde, Line 495 That oother weep as she to water wolde, Line 496 Til that the faucon bad hire to be stille, Line 497 And, with a syk, right thus she seyde hir wille: Line 498 Ther I was bred -- allas, that ilke day! -- Line 499 And fostred in a roche of marbul gray Line 500 So tendrely that no thyng eyled me, Line 501 I nyste nat what was adversitee, Line 502 Til I koude flee ful hye under the sky. Line 503 Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by, Line 504 That semed welle of alle gentillesse; Line 505 Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse, Line 506 It was so wrapped under humble cheere, Line 507 And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere, Line 508 Under plesance, and under bisy peyne, Line 509 That no wight koude han wend he koude feyne, Line 510 So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures. Line 511 Right as a serpent hit hym under floures Line 512 Til he may seen his tyme for to byte, Line 513 Right so this God of loves ypocryte Line 514 Dooth so his cerymonyes and obeisaunces, Line 515 And kepeth in semblaunt alle his observaunces Line 516 That sownen into gentillesse of love. Line 517 As in a toumbe is al the faire above, Line 518 And under is the corps, swich as ye woot, Line 519 Swich was this ypocrite, bothe coold and hoot. Line 520 And in this wise he served his entente, Line 521 That, save the feend, noon wiste what he mente, Line 522 Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned, Line 523 And many a yeer his service to me feyned, Line 524 Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce, Line 525 Al innocent of his crouned malice, Line 526 Forfered of his deeth, as thoughte me, Line 527 Upon his othes and his seuretee, Line 528 Graunted hym love, on this condicioun, Line 529 That everemoore myn honour and renoun Line 530 Were saved, bothe privee and apert; Line 531 This is to seyn, that after his desert, Line 532 I yaf hym al myn herte and al my thoght -- Line 533 God woot and he, that ootherwise noght -- Line 534 And took his herte in chaunge of myn for ay. Line 535 But sooth is seyd, goon sithen many a day, Line 536 -- A trewe wight and a theef thenken nat oon. -- Line 537 And whan he saugh the thyng so fer ygoon Line 538 That I hadde graunted hym fully my love, Line 539 In swich a gyse as I have seyd above, Line 540 And yeven hym my trewe herte as free Line 541 As he swoor he yaf his herte to me; Line 542 Anon this tigre, ful of doublenesse, Line 543 Fil on his knees with so devout humblesse, Line 544 With so heigh reverence, and, as by his cheere, Line 545 So lyk a gentil lovere of manere, Line 546 So ravysshed, as it semed, for the joye, Line 547 That nevere jason ne parys of troye -- Line 548 Jason? certes, ne noon oother man Line 549 Syn lameth was, that alderfirst bigan Line 550 To loven two, as writen folk biforn -- Line 551 Ne nevere, syn the firste man was born, Line 552 Ne koude man, by twenty thousand part, Line 553 Countrefete the sophymes of his art, Line 554 Ne were worthy unbokelen his galoche, Line 555 Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche, Line 556 Ne so koude thonke a wight as he dide me! Line 557 His manere was an hevene for to see Line 558 Til any womman, were she never so wys, Line 559 So peynted he and kembde at point-devys Line 560 As wel his wordes as his contenaunce. Line 561 And I so loved hym for his obeisaunce, Line 562 And for the trouthe I demed in his herte, Line 563 That if so were that any thyng hym smerte, Line 564 Al were it never so lite, and I it wiste, Line 565 Me thoughte I felte deeth myn herte twiste. Line 566 And shortly, so ferforth this thyng is went, Line 567 That my wyl was his willes instrument; Line 568 This is to seyn, my wyl obeyed his wyl Line 569 In alle thyng, as fer as reson fil, Line 570 Kepynge the boundes of my worshipe evere. Line 571 Ne nevere hadde I thyng so lief, ne levere, Line 572 As hym, God woot! ne nevere shal namo. Line 573 This laste lenger than a yeer or two, Line 574 That I supposed of hym noght but good. Line 575 But finally, thus atte laste it stood, Line 576 That fortune wolde that he moste twynne Line 577 Out of that place which that I was inne. Line 578 Wher me was wo, that is no questioun; Line 579 I kan nat make of it discripsioun; Line 580 For o thyng dar I tellen boldely, Line 581 I knowe what is the peyne of deeth therby; Line 582 Swich harm I felte for he ne myghte bileve. Line 583 So on a day of me he took his leve, Line 584 So sorwefully eek that I wende verraily Line 585 That he had felt as muche harm as I, Line 586 Whan that I herde hym speke, and saugh his hewe. Line 587 But nathelees, I thoughte he was so trewe, Line 588 And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn Line 589 Withinne a litel while, sooth to seyn; Line 590

Line 590 And resoun wolde eek that he moste go Line 591 For his honour, as ofte it happeth so, Line 592 That I made vertu of necessitee, Line 593 And took it wel, syn that it moste be. Line 594 As I best myghte, I hidde fro hym my sorwe, Line 595 And took hym by the hond, seint john to borwe, Line 596 And seyde hym thus: lo, I am youres al; Line 597 Beth swich as I to yow have been and shal. -- Line 598 What he answerde, it nedeth noght reherce; Line 599 Who kan sey bet than he, who kan do werse? Line 600 Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath he doon. Line 601 -- Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon Line 602 That shal ete with a feend, -- thus herde I seye. Line 603 So atte laste he moste forth his weye, Line 604 And forth he fleeth til he cam ther hym leste. Line 605 Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste, Line 606 I trowe he hadde thilke text in mynde, Line 607 That -- alle thyng, repeirynge to his kynde, Line 608 Gladeth hymself; -- thus seyn men, as I gesse. Line 609 Men loven of propre kynde newefangelnesse, Line 610 As briddes doon that men in cages fede. Line 611 For though thou nyght and day take of hem hede, Line 612 And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk, Line 613 And yeve hem sugre, hony, breed and milk, Line 614 Yet right anon as that his dore is uppe, Line 615 He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe, Line 616 And to the wode he wole, and wormes ete; Line 617 So newefangel been they of hire mete, Line 618 And loven novelries of propre kynde; Line 619 No gentillesse of blood ne may hem bynde. Line 620 So ferde this tercelet, allas the day! Line 621 Though he were gentil born, and fressh and gay, Line 622 And goodlich for to seen, and humble and free, Line 623 He saugh upon a tyme a kyte flee, Line 624 And sodeynly he loved this kyte so Line 625 That al his love is clene fro me ago; Line 626 And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse. Line 627 Thus hath the kyte my love in hire servyse, Line 628 And I am lorn withouten remedie! Line 629 And with that word this faucon gan to crie, Line 630 And swowned eft in canacees barm. Line 631 Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm Line 632 That canacee and alle hir wommen made; Line 633 They nyste hou they myghte the faucon glade. Line 634 But canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe, Line 635 And softely in plastres gan hire wrappe, Line 636 Ther as she with hire beek hadde hurt hirselve. Line 637 Now kan nat canacee but herbes delve Line 638 Out of the ground, and make salves newe Line 639 Of herbes preciouse and fyne of hewe, Line 640 To heelen with this hauk. Fro day to nyght Line 641 She dooth hire bisynesse and al hire myght, Line 642 And by hire beddes heed she made a mewe, Line 643 And covered it with veluettes blewe, Line 644 In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene. Line 645 And al withoute, the mewe is peynted grene, Line 646 In which were peynted alle this false fowles, Line 647 As ben thise tidyves, tercelettes, and owles; Line 648 Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde, Line 649 Pyes, on hem for to crie and chyde. Line 650 Thus lete I canacee hir hauk kepyng; Line 651 I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng, Line 652 Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn Line 653 How that this faucon gat hire love ageyn Line 654 Repentant, as the storie telleth us, Line 655 By mediacion of cambalus, Line 656 The kynges sone, of which that I yow tolde. Line 657 But hennesforth I wol my proces holde Line 658 To speken of aventures and of batailles, Line 659 That nevere yet was herd so grete mervailles. Line 660 First wol I telle yow of cambyuskan, Line 661 That in his tyme many a citee wan; Line 662 And after wol I speke of algarsif, Line 663 How that he wan theodora to his wif, Line 664 For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was, Line 665 Ne hadde he ben helpen by the steede of bras; Line 666 And after wol I speke of cambalo, Line 667 That faught in lystes with the bretheren two Line 668 For canacee er that he myghte hire wynne. Line 669 And ther I lefte I wol ayeyn bigynne. Line 670 Explicit secunda pars.