The Canterbury tales

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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

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 May 23, 2024.

Pages

Group 5

The Squire's Prologue
Squier, com neer, if it youre wille be, Line 1 
And sey somwhat of love; for certes ye Line 2 
Konnen theron as muche as any man. Line 3 
Nay, sire, quod he, but I wol seye as I kan Line 4 
With hertly wyl; for I wol nat rebelle Line 5 
Agayn youre lust; a tale wol I telle. Line 6 
Have me excused if I speke amys; Line 7 
My wyl is good, and lo, my tale is this. Line 8 

The Squire's Tale

Part I
At sarray, in the land of tartarye, Line 9 
Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed russye, Line 10 
Thurgh which ther dyde many a doughty man. Line 11 
This noble kyng was cleped cambyuskan, Line 12 
Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun Line 13 
That ther was nowher in no regioun Line 14 
So excellent a lord in alle thyng. Line 15 
Hym lakked noght that longeth to a king. Line 16 
As of the secte of which that he was born Line 17 
He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn; Line 18 
And therto he was hardy, wys, and riche, Line 19 
And pitous and just, alwey yliche; Line 20 
Sooth of this word, benigne, and honurable; Line 21 
Of his corage as any centre stable; Line 22 
Yong, fressh, and strong, in armes desirous Line 23 
As any bacheler of al his hous. Line 24 
A fair persone he was and fortunat, Line 25 
And kepte alwey so wel roial estat Line 26 
That ther was nowher swich another man. Line 27 
This noble kyng, this tartre cambyuskan, Line 28 
Hadde two sones on elpheta his wyf, Line 29 
Of whiche the eldeste highte algarsyf, Line 30 
That oother sone was cleped cambalo. Line 31 
A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also, Line 32 
That yongest was, and highte canacee. Line 33 
But for to telle yow al hir beautee, Line 34 
It lyth nat in my tonge, n' yn my konnyng; Line 35 
I dar nat undertake so heigh a thyng. Line 36 
Myn englissh eek is insufficient. Line 37 
It moste been a rethor excellent, Line 38 
That koude his colours longynge for that art, Line 39 
If he sholde hire discryven every part. Line 40 
I am noon swich, I moot speke as I kan. Line 41 
And so bifel that whan this cambyuskan Line 42 
Hath twenty wynter born his diademe, Line 43 
As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme, Line 44 
He leet the feeste of his nativitee Line 45 
Doon cryen thurghout sarray his citee, Line 46 
The laste idus of march, after the yeer. Line 47 
Phebus the sonne ful joly was and cleer; Line 48 
For he was neigh his exaltacioun Line 49 
In martes face, and in his mansioun Line 50 
In aries, the colerik hoote signe. Line 51 
Ful lusty was the weder benigne, Line 52 
For which the foweles, agayn the sonne sheene, Line 53 
What for the sesoun and the yonge grene, Line 54 
Ful loude songen hire affecciouns. Line 55 
Hem semed han geten hem protecciouns Line 56 
Agayn the swerd of wynter, keene and coold. Line 57 
This cambyuskan, of which I have yow toold, Line 58 
In roial vestiment sit on his deys, Line 59 
With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys, Line 60 
And halt his feeste so solempne and so ryche Line 61 
That in this world ne was ther noon it lyche; Line 62 
Of which if I shal tellen al th' array, Line 63 
Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day; Line 64 
And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse Line 65 
At every cours the ordre of hire servyse. Line 66 
I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes, Line 67 
Ne of hir swannes, ne of hire heronsewes. Line 68 
Eek in that lond, as tellen knyghtes olde, Line 69 
Ther is som mete that is ful deynte holde, Line 70 
That in this lond men recche of it but smal; Line 71 
Ther nys no man that may reporten al. Line 72 
I wol nat taryen yow, for it is pryme,  Line 73 

Page 129

 Line 73 
And for it is no fruyt, but los of tyme; Line 74 
Unto my firste I wole have my recours. Line 75 
And so bifel that after the thridde cours, Line 76 
Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye, Line 77 
Herknynge his mynstralles hir thynges pleye Line 78 
Biforn hym at the bord deliciously, Line 79 
In at the halle dore al sodeynly Line 80 
Ther cam a knyght upon a steede of bras, Line 81 
And in his hand a brood mirour of glas. Line 82 
Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng, Line 83 
And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng; Line 84 
And up he rideth to the heighe bord. Line 85 
In al the halle ne was ther spoken a word Line 86 
For merveille of this knyght; hym to biholde Line 87 
Ful bisily they wayten, yonge and olde. Line 88 
This strange knyght, that cam thus sodeynly, Line 89 
Al armed, save his heed, ful richely, Line 90 
Saleweth kyng and queene and lordes alle, Line 91 
By ordre, as they seten in the halle, Line 92 
With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce, Line 93 
As wel in speche as in his contenaunce, Line 94 
That gawayn, with his olde curteisye, Line 95 
Though he were comen ayeyn out of fairye, Line 96 
Ne koude hym nat amende with a word. Line 97 
And after this, biforn the heighe bord, Line 98 
He with a manly voys seide his message, Line 99 
After the forme used in his langage, Line 100 
Withouten vice of silable or of lettre; Line 101 
And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre, Line 102 
Accordant to his wordes was his cheere, Line 103 
As techeth art of speche hem that it leere. Line 104 
Al be it that I kan nat sowne his stile, Line 105 
Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style, Line 106 
Yet seye I this, as to commune entente, Line 107 
Thus muche smounteth al that evere he mente, Line 108 
If it so be that I have it in mynde. Line 109 
He seyde, the kyng of arabe and of inde, Line 110 
My lige lord, on this solempne day Line 111 
Saleweth yow, as he best kan and may, Line 112 
And sendeth yow, in honour of youre feeste, Line 113 
By me, that am al redy at youre heeste, Line 114 
This steede of bras, that esily and weel Line 115 
Kan in the space of o day natureel --  Line 116 
This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres --  Line 117 
Wher-so yow lyst, in droghte or elles shoures, Line 118 
Beren youre body into every place Line 119 
To which youre herte wilneth for to pace; Line 120 
Withouten wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair; Line 121 
Or, if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air Line 122 
As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore, Line 123 
This same steede shal bere yow evere moore, Line 124 
Withouten harm, til ye be ther yow leste, Line 125 
Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste, Line 126 
And turne ayeyn with writhyng of a pyn. Line 127 
He that it wroghte koude ful many a gyn. Line 128 
He wayted many a constellacion Line 129 
Er he had doon this operacion, Line 130 
And knew ful many a seel and many a bond. Line 131 
This mirour eek, that I have in myn hond, Line 132 
Hath swich a myght that men may in it see Line 133 
Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee Line 134 
Unto youre regne or to youreself also, Line 135 
And openly who is your freend or foo. Line 136 
And over al this, if any lady bright Line 137 
Hath set hire herte on any maner wight, Line 138 
If he be fals, she shal his tresoun see, Line 139 
His newe love, and al his subtiltee, Line 140 
So openly that ther shal no thyng hyde. Line 141 
Wherfore, ageyn this lusty someres tyde, Line 142 
This morour and this ryng, that ye may see, Line 143 
He hath sent to my lady canacee, Line 144 
Youre excellente doghter that is heere. Line 145 
The vertu of the ryng, if ye wol heere, Line 146 
Is this, that if hire lust it for to were Line 147 
Upon his thombe, or in hir purs it bere, Line 148 
Ther is no fowel that fleeth under the hevene Line 149 
That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene, Line 150 
And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn, Line 151 
And answere hym in his langage ageyn; Line 152 
And every gras that groweth upon roote Line 153 
She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do boote, Line 154 
Al be his wondes never so depe and wyde. Line 155 
This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde, Line 156 
Swich verty hath that, what man so ye smyte, Line 157 
Thurgh out his armure it wole kerve an byte, Line 158 
Were it as thikke as is a branched ook; Line 159 
And what man that is wounded with the strook Line 160 
Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace, Line 161 
To stroke hym with the plat in thilke place Line 162 
Ther he is hurt; this is as muche to seyn, Line 163 
Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn Line 164 
Stroke hym in the wounde, and it wol close. Line 165 
This is a verray sooth, withouten glose; Line 166 
It failleth nat whils it is in youre hoold. Line 167 
And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold, Line 168 
He rideth out of halle, and doun he lighte. Line 169 
His steede, which that shoon as sonne brighte, Line 170 
Stant in the court as stille as any stoon. Line 171 
This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon, Line 172 
And is unarmed, and to mete yset. Line 173 
The presentes been ful roially yfet, --  Line 174 
This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour, Line 175 
And born anon into the heighe tour Line 176 
With certeine officers ordeyned therfore; Line 177 
And unto canacee this ryng is bore Line 178 
Solempnely, ther she sit at the table.  Line 179 

Page 130

 Line 179 
But sikerly, withouten any fable, Line 180 
The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed, Line 181 
It stant as it were to the ground yglewed. Line 182 
Ther may no man out of the place it dryve Line 183 
For noon engyn of wyndas or polyve; Line 184 
And cause why? for they kan nat the craft. Line 185 
And therfore in the place they han it laft, Line 186 
Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere Line 187 
To voyden hym, as ye shal after heere. Line 188 
Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro Line 189 
To gauren on this hors that stondeth so; Line 190 
For it so heigh was, and so brood and long, Line 191 
So wel proporcioned for to been strong, Line 192 
Right as it were a steede of lumbardye; Line 193 
Therwith so horsly, and so quyk of ye, Line 194 
As it a gentil poilleys courser were. Line 195 
For certes, fro his tayl unto his ere, Line 196 
Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende Line 197 
In no degree, as al the peple wende. Line 198 
But everemoore hir mooste wonder was Line 199 
How that it koude gon, and was of bras; Line 200 
It was of fairye, as the peple semed. Line 201 
Diverse folk diversely they demed; Line 202 
As many heddes, as manye wittes ther been. Line 203 
They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been, Line 204 
And maden skiles after hir fantasies, Line 205 
Rehersynge of thise olde poetries, Line 206 
And seyden it was lyk the pegasee, Line 207 
The hors that hadde wynges for to flee; Line 208 
Or elles it was the grekes hors synon, Line 209 
That broghte troie to destruccion, Line 210 
As man moun in thise olde geestes rede. Line 211 
Myn herte, quod oon, is everemoore in drede; Line 212 
I trowe som men of armes been therinne, Line 213 
That shapen hem this citee for to wynne. Line 214 
It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe. Line 215 
Another rowned to his felawe lowe, Line 216 
And seyde, he lyeth, for it is rather lyk Line 217 
An apparence ymaad by som magyk, Line 218 
As jogelours pleyen at thise feestes grete. Line 219 
Of sondry doutes thus they jangle and trete, Line 220 
As lewed peple demeth comunly Line 221 
Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly Line 222 
Than they kan in hire lewednesse comprehende; Line 223 
They demen gladly to the badder ende. Line 224 
And somme of hem wondred on the mirour, Line 225 
That born was up into the maister-tour, Line 226 
Hou men myghte in it swiche thynges se. Line 227 
Another answerde, and seyde it myghte wel be Line 228 
Naturelly, by composiciouns Line 229 
Of anglis and of slye reflexiouns, Line 230 
And seyde that in rome was swich oon Line 231 
They speken of alocen and vitulon, Line 232 
And aristotle, that writen in hir lyves Line 233 
Of queynte mirours and of perspectives, Line 234 
As knowen they that han hire bookes herd. Line 235 
And oother folk han wondred on the swerd Line 236 
That wolde percen thurghout every thyng, Line 237 
And fille in speche of thelophus the kyng, Line 238 
And of achilles with his queynte swerd Line 239 
For he koude with it bothe heele and dere. Line 240 
Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd Line 241 
Of which right now ye han youreselven herd. Line 242 
They speken of sondry hardyng of metal, Line 243 
And speke of medicynes therwithal, Line 244 
And how and whanne it sholde yharded be, Line 245 
Which is unknowe, algates unto me. Line 246 
Tho speeke they of canacees ryng, Line 247 
And seyden alle that swich an wonder thyng Line 248 
Of craft of rynges herde they nevere noon, Line 249 
Save that he moyses and kyng salomon Line 250 
Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art. Line 251 
Thus seyn the peple, and drawen hem apart. Line 252 
But nathelees somme seiden that it was Line 253 
Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas, Line 254 
And yet nys glas nat lyk asshen of fern; Line 255 
But, for they han yknowen it so fern, Line 256 
Therfore cesseth hir janglyng and hir wonder. Line 257 
As soore wondren somme on cause of thonder, Line 258 
On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on myst, Line 259 
And alle thyng, til that the cause is wyst. Line 260 
Thus jangle they, and demen, and devyse, Line 261 
Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse. Line 262 
Phebus hath laft the angle meridional, Line 263 
And yet ascendynge was the beest roial, Line 264 
The gentil leon, with his aldiran, Line 265 
Whan that this tartre knyg, this cambyuskan, Line 266 
Roos fro his bord, ther as he sat ful hye. Line 267 
Toforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye, Line 268 
Til he cam to his chambre of parementz, Line 269 
Ther as they sownen diverse instrumentz, Line 270 
That it is lyk an hevene for the heere. Line 271 
Now dauncen lusty venus children deere, Line 272 
For in the fyssh hir lady sat ful hye, Line 273 
And looketh on hem with a freendly ye. Line 274 
This noble kyng is set upon his trone. Line 275 
This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone, Line 276 
And on the daunce he gooth with canacee. Line 277 
Heere is the revel and the jolitee Line 278 
That is nat able a dul man to devyse. Line 279 
He moste han knowen love and his servyse, Line 280 
And been a feestlych man as fressh as may, Line 281 
That sholde yow devysen swich array.  Line 282 

Page 131

 Line 282 
Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces Line 283 
So unkouthe, and swiche fresshe contenaunces, Line 284 
Swich subtil lookyng and disymulynges Line 285 
For drede of jalouse meenes aperceyvynges? Line 286 
No man but launcelot, and he is deed. Line 287 
Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed; Line 288 
I sey namoore, but in this jolynesse Line 289 
I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse. Line 290 
The styward bit the spices for the hye, Line 291 
And eek the wyn, in al this melodye. Line 292 
The usshers and the squiers been ygoon, Line 293 
The spices and the wyn is come anoon. Line 294 
They ete and drynke; and whan this hadde and ende, Line 295 
Unto the temple, as reson was, they wende. Line 296 
The service doon, they soupen al by day. Line 297 
What nedeth yow rehercen hire array? Line 298 
Ech man woot wel that at a kynges feeste Line 299 
Hath plentee to the meeste and to the leeste, Line 300 
And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng. Line 301 
At after-soper gooth this noble kyng Line 302 
To seen this hors of bras, with al a route Line 303 
Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute. Line 304 
Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras Line 305 
That syn the grete sege of troie was, Line 306 
Theras men wondreden on an hors also, Line 307 
Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho. Line 308 
But fynally the kyng axeth this knyght Line 309 
The vertu of this courser and the myght, Line 310 
And preyde hym to telle his governaunce. Line 311 
This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce, Line 312 
Whan that this knyght leyde hand upon his reyne, Line 313 
And seyde, sire, ther is namoore to seyne, Line 314 
But, whan yow list to ryden anywhere, Line 315 
Ye mooten trille a pyn, stant in his ere, Line 316 
Which I shal telle yow bitwix us two. Line 317 
Ye moote nempne hym to what place also, Line 318 
Or to what contree, that yow list to ryde. Line 319 
And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde, Line 320 
Bidde hym descende, and trille another pyn, Line 321 
For therin lith th' effect of al the gyn, Line 322 
And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille, Line 323 
And in that place he wol abyde stille. Line 324 
Though al the world the contrarie hadde yswore, Line 325 
He shal nat thennes been ydrawe ne ybore. Line 326 
Or, if yow liste bidde hym thennes goon, Line 327 
Trille this pyn, and he wol vanysshe anoon Line 328 
Out of the sighte of every maner wight, Line 329 
And come agayn, be it by day or nyght, Line 330 
Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn Line 331 
In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn Line 332 
Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful soone. Line 333 
Ride whan yow list, ther is namoore to doone. Line 334 
Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght, Line 335 
And hath conceyved in his wit aright Line 336 
The manere and the forme of al this thyng, Line 337 
Ful glad and blithe, this noble doughty kyng Line 338 
Repeireth to his revel as biforn. Line 339 
The brydel is unto the tour yborn Line 340 
And kept among his jueles leeve and deere, Line 341 
The hors vanysshed, I noot in what manere, Line 342 
Out of hir sighte; ye gete namoore of me. Line 343 
But thus I lete in lust and jolitee Line 344 
This cambyuskan his lordes festeiynge, Line 345 
Til wel ny the day bigan to sprynge. Line 346 Explicit prima pars. 

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 

Page 132

 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 

Page 133

 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 

Page 134

 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. 

Incipit pars tercia.

Appollo whirleth up his chaar so hye, 671 Til that the God mercurius hous, the slye -- 672

The Franklin's words to the Squire
In feith, squier, thow hast thee wel yquit Line 673 
And gentilly. I preise wel thy wit, Line 674 
Quod the frankeleyn, considerynge thy yowthe, Line 675 
So feelyngly thou spekest, sire, I allow the! Line 676 
As to my doom, ther is noon that is heere Line 677 
Of eloquence that shal be thy peere, Line 678 
If that thou lyve; God yeve thee good chaunce, Line 679 
And in vertu sende thee continuance! Line 680 
For of thy speche I have greet deyntee.  Line 681 

Page 135

 Line 681 
I have a sone, and by the trinitee, Line 682 
I hadde levere than twenty pounnd worth lond, Line 683 
Though it right now were fallen in myn hond, Line 684 
He were a man of swich discrecioun Line 685 
As that ye been! fy on possessioun, Line 686 
But if a man be vertuous withal! Line 687 
I have my sone snybbed, and yet shal, Line 688 
For he to vertu listeth nat entende; Line 689 
But for to pleye at dees, and to despende Line 690 
And lese al that he hath, is his usage. Line 691 
And he hath levere talken with a page Line 692 
Than to comune with any gentil wight Line 693 
Where he myghte lerne gentillesse aright. Line 694 
Straw for youre gentillesse! quod oure hoost. Line 695 
What, frankeleyn! pardee, sire, wel thou woost Line 696 
That ech of yow moot tellen atte leste Line 697 
A tale or two, or breken his biheste. Line 698 
That knowe I wel, sire, quod the frankeleyn. Line 699 
I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn, Line 700 
Though to this man I speke a word or two. Line 701 
Telle on thy tale withouten wordes mo. Line 702 
Gladly, sire hoost, quod he, I wole obeye Line 703 
Unto your wyl; now herkneth what I seye. Line 704 
I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse Line 705 
As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse. Line 706 
I prey to God that it may plesen yow; Line 707 
Thanne woot I wel that it is good ynow. Line 708 

The Franklin's Prologue
Thise olde gentil britouns in hir dayes Line 709 
Of diverse aventures maden layes, Line 710 
Rymeyed in hir firste briton tonge; Line 711 
Whiche leyes with hir instrumentz songe, Line 712 
Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce, Line 713 
And oon of hem have I in remembraunce, Line 714 
Which I shal seyn with good wyl as I kan. Line 715 
But, sires, by cause I am a burel man, Line 716 
At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche, Line 717 
Have me excused of my rude speche. Line 718 
I lerned nevere rethorik, certeyn; Line 719 
Thyng that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn. Line 720 
I sleep nevere on the mount of pernaso, Line 721 
Ne lerned marcus tullius scithero. Line 722 
Colours ne knowe I none, withouten drede, Line 723 
But swiche colours as growen in the mede, Line 724 
Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte. Line 725 
Colours of rethoryk been to me queynte; Line 726 
My spririt feeleth noght of swich mateere. Line 727 
But if yow list, my tale shul ye heere. Line 728 

The Franklin's Tale
In armorik, that called is britayne, Line 729 
Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne Line 730 
To serve a lady in his beste wise; Line 731 
And many a labour, many a greet emprise Line 732 
He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne. Line 733 
For she was oon the faireste under sonne, Line 734 
And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede Line 735 
That wel unnethes dorste this knyght, drede, Line 736 
Telle hire his wo, his peyne, and his distresse. Line 737 
But atte laste she, for his worthynesse, Line 738 
And namely for his meke obeysaunce, Line 739 
Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce Line 740 
That pryvely she fil of his accord Line 741 
To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord, Line 742 
Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves. Line 743 
And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves, Line 744 
Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght Line 745 
That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,  Line 746 

Page 136

 Line 746 
Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie Line 747 
Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie, Line 748 
But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al, Line 749 
As any lovere to his lady shal, Line 750 
Save that the name of soveraynetee, Line 751 
That wolde he have for shame of his degree. Line 752 
She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse Line 753 
She seyde, sire, sith of youre gentillesse Line 754 
Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, Line 755 
Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne, Line 756 
As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf. Line 757 
Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf; Line 758 
Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste. Line 759 
Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. Line 760 
For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye, Line 761 
That freendes everych oother moot obeye, Line 762 
If they wol longe holden compaignye. Line 763 
Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye. Line 764 
Whan maistrie comth, the God of love anon Line 765 
Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon! Line 766 
Love is a thyng as any spirit free. Line 767 
Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee, Line 768 
And nat to been constreyned as a thral; Line 769 
And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal. Line 770 
Looke who that is moost pacient in love, Line 771 
He is at his advantage al above. Line 772 
Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn, Line 773 
For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn, Line 774 
Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne. Line 775 
For every word men may nat chide or pleyne. Line 776 
Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon, Line 777 
Ye shul it lerne, wher so ye wole or noon; Line 778 
For in this world, certein, ther no wight is Line 779 
That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys. Line 780 
Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun, Line 781 
Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun Line 782 
Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken. Line 783 
On every wrong a man may nat be wreken. Line 784 
After the tyme moste be temperaunce Line 785 
To every wight that kan on governaunce. Line 786 
And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght, Line 787 
To lyve in ese, suffrance hire bihight, Line 788 
And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere Line 789 
That nevere sholde ther be defaunte in here. Line 790 
Heere may men seen an humble, wys accord; Line 791 
Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord, --  Line 792 
Servant in love, and lord in mariage. Line 793 
Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and servage. Line 794 
Servage? nay, but in lordshipe above, Line 795 
Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love; Line 796 
His lady, certes, and his wyf also, Line 797 
The which that lawe of love acordeth to. Line 798 
And whan he was in this prosperitee, Line 799 
Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree, Line 800 
Nat fer fro pedmark, ther his dwellyng was, Line 801 
Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas. Line 802 
Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be, Line 803 
The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee Line 804 
That is bitwixe and housbonde and his wyf? Line 805 
A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf, Line 806 
Til that the knyght of which I speke thus, Line 807 
That of kayrrud was cleped arveragus, Line 808 
Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or tweyne Line 809 
In engelond, that cleped was eek briteyne, Line 810 
To seke in armes worshipe and honour; Line 811 
For al his lust he sette in swich labour; Line 812 
And dwelled there two yeer, the book seith thus. Line 813 
 now wol I stynten of this arveragus, Line 814 
And speken I wole of dorigen his wyf, Line 815 
That loveth hire housbonde as hire hertes lyf, Line 816 
For his absence wepeth she and siketh, Line 817 
As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh. Line 818 
She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth; Line 819 
Desir of his presence hire so destreyneth Line 820 
That al this wyde world she sette at noght. Line 821 
Hire freendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght, Line 822 
Conforten hire in al that ever they may. Line 823 
They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day Line 824 
That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas! Line 825 
And every confort possible in this cas Line 826 
They doon to hire with al hire bisynesse, Line 827 
Al for to make hire leve hire hevynesse. Line 828 
 by process, as ye knowen everichoon, Line 829 
Men may so longe graven in a stoon Line 830 
Til som figure therinne emprented be. Line 831 
So longe han they conforted hire, til she Line 832 
Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun, Line 833 
The empreyntyng of hire consolacioun, Line 834 
Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; Line 835 
She may nat alwey duren in swich rage Line 836 
 and eek arveragus, in al this care, Line 837 
Hath sent hire lettres hoom of his welfare, Line 838 
And that he wol come hastily agayn; Line 839 
Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. Line 840 
 hire freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake, Line 841 
And preyde hire on knees, for goddes sake, Line 842 
To come and romen hire in compaignye, Line 843 
Awey to dryve hire derke fantasye. Line 844 
And finally she graunted that requeste, Line 845 
For wel she saugh that it was for the beste. Line 846 
 now stood hire castel faste by the see, Line 847 
And often with hire freendes walketh shee,  Line 848 

Page 137

 Line 848 
Hire to disporte, upon the bank an heigh, Line 849 
Where as she many a ship and barge seigh Line 850 
Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go. Line 851 
But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo, Line 852 
For to hirself ful ofte, allas! seith she, Line 853 
Is ther no ship, of so manye as I se, Line 854 
Wol bryngeth hom my lord? thanne were myn herte Line 855 
Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte. Line 856 
 another tyme them wolde she sitte and thynke, Line 857 
And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke. Line 858 
But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake, Line 859 
For verray feere so wolde hir herte quake Line 860 
That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene. Line 861 
Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene, Line 862 
And pitously into the see biholde, Line 863 
And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde --  Line 864 
 eterne god, that thurgh thy purveiaunce Line 865 
Ledest the world by certein governaunce, Line 866 
In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make, Line 867 
But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, Line 868 
That semen rather a foul confusion Line 869 
Of werk than any fair creacion Line 870 
Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable Line 871 
Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable? Line 872 
For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest, Line 873 
Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest; Line 874 
It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth. Line 875 
So ye nat, lord, how mankynde it destroyeth? Line 876 
An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde Line 877 
Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde, Line 878 
Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk Line 879 
That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. Line 880 
Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee Line 881 
Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee Line 882 
That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen, Line 883 
Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen? Line 884 
I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste, Line 885 
By argumentz, that al is for the beste, Line 886 
Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe. Line 887 
But thilke God that made wynd to blowe Line 888 
As kepe my lord! this my conclusion. Line 889 
To clerkes lete I al disputison. Line 890 
But wolde God that alle thise rokkes blake Line 891 
Were sonken into helle for his sake! Line 892 
Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere. Line 893 
Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere. Line 894 
 hire freendes sawe that it was no disport Line 895 
To romen by the see, but disconfort, Line 896 
And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles. Line 897 
They leden hire by ryveres and by welles, Line 898 
And eek in othere places delitables; Line 899 
They dauncen, and they pleyen at ches and tables. Line 900 
 so on a day, right in the morwe-tyde, Line 901 
Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde, Line 902 
In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce Line 903 
Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce, Line 904 
They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. Line 905 
And this was on the sixte morwe of may, Line 906 
Which may hadde peynted with his softe shoures Line 907 
This gardyn ful of leves and of floures; Line 908 
And craft of mannes hand so curiously Line 909 
Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely, Line 910 
That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys, Line 911 
But if it were the verray paradys. Line 912 
The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte Line 913 
Wolde han maked any herte lighte Line 914 
That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse, Line 915 
Or to greet sorwe, helde it in distresse; Line 916 
So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce. Line 917 
At after-dyner gonne they to daunce, Line 918 
And synge also, save dorigen allone, Line 919 
Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone, Line 920 
For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go Line 921 
That was hir housbonde and hir love also. Line 922 
But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde, Line 923 
And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde. Line 924 
 upon this daunce, amonges othere men, Line 925 
Daunced a squier biforn dorigen, Line 926 
That fressher was and jolyer of array, Line 927 
As to my doom, than is the month of may. Line 928 
He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man Line 929 
That is, or was, sith that the world bigan. Line 930 
Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve, Line 931 
Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve; Line 932 
Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys, Line 933 
And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys. Line 934 
And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, Line 935 
Unwityng of this dorigen at al, Line 936 
This lusty squier, servant to venus, Line 937 
Which that ycleped was aurelius, Line 938 
Hadde loved hire best of any creature Line 939 
Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure, Line 940 
But nevere dorste he tellen hire his grevaunce. Line 941 
Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce. Line 942 
He was despeyred; no thyng dorste he seye, Line 943 
Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye Line 944 
His wo, as in a general compleynyng; Line 945 
He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no thyng. Line 946 
Of swich matere made he manye layes, Line 947 
Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, Line 948 
How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,  Line 949 

Page 138

 Line 949 
But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle; Line 950 
And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide ekko Line 951 
For narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo. Line 952 
In oother manere than ye heere me seye, Line 953 
Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye, Line 954 
Save that, paraventure, somtyme at daunces, Line 955 
Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, Line 956 
It may wel be he looked on hir face Line 957 
In swich a wise as man that asketh grace; Line 958 
But nothyng wiste she of his entente. Line 959 
Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente, Line 960 
By cause that he was hire neighebour, Line 961 
And was a man of worshipe and honour, Line 962 
And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore, Line 963 
They fille in speche; and forth, moore and moore, Line 964 
Unto his purpos drough aurelius, Line 965 
 and whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus --  Line 966 
 madame, quod he, by God that this world made, Line 967 
So that I wiste it myghte youre herte glade, Line 968 
I wolde that day that youre arveragus Line 969 
Wente over the see, that I, aurelius, Line 970 
Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn. Line 971 
For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn; Line 972 
My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte. Line 973 
Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte; Line 974 
For with a word ye may me sleen or save. Line 975 
Heere at youre feet God wolde that I were grave! Line 976 
I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye; Line 977 
Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye! Line 978 
 she gan to looke upon aurelius --  Line 979 
Is this youre wyl, quod she, and sey ye thus? Line 980 
Nevere erst, quod she, ne wiste I what ye mente. Line 981 
But now, aurelie, I knowe your entente, Line 982 
By thilke God that yaf me soule and lyf, Line 983 
Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf Line 984 
In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit; Line 985 
I wol been his to whom that I am knyt. Line 986 
Taak this for fynal answere as of me. Line 987 
But after that in pley thus seyde she --  Line 988 
 aurelie, quod she, by heighe God above, Line 989 
Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love, Line 990 
Syn I yow se so pitously complayne. Line 991 
Looke what day that endelong britayne Line 992 
Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon, Line 993 
That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon, --  Line 994 
I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene Line 995 
Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene, Line 996 
Thanne wol I love yow best of any man, Line 997 
Have heer my trouthe, in al that evere I kan. Line 998 
Is ther noon oother grace in yow? quod he. Line 999 
 no, by that lord, quod she, that maked me! Line 1000 
For wel I woot that it shal never bityde. Line 1001 
Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde. Line 1002 
What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf Line 1003 
For to go love another mannes wyf, Line 1004 
That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh? Line 1005 
 aurelius ful ofte soore siketh; Line 1006 
Wo was aurelie whan that he this herde, Line 1007 
And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde; Line 1008 
 madame, quod he, this were inpossible! Line 1009 
Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible. Line 1010 
And with that word he turned hym anon. Line 1011 
Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon, Line 1012 
And in the aleyes romeden up and doun, Line 1013 
And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun, Line 1014 
But sodeynly bigonne revel newe Line 1015 
Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe; Line 1016 
For th'orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght, --  Line 1017 
This is as muche to seye as it was nyght! --  Line 1018 
And hoom they goon in joye and in solas, Line 1019 
Save oonly wrecche aurelius, allas! Line 1020 
He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte. Line 1021 
He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte; Line 1022 
Hym semed that he felte his herte colde. Line 1023 
Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde, Line 1024 
And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun, Line 1025 
And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun. Line 1026 
For verray wo out of his wit he breyde. Line 1027 
He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde; Line 1028 
With pitous herte his pleynt hath bigonne Line 1029 
Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne; Line 1030 
 he seyde, appollo, God and governour Line 1031 
Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour, Line 1032 
That yevest, after thy declinacion, Line 1033 
To ech of hem his tyme and his seson, Line 1034 
As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe, Line 1035 
Lord phebus, cast thy merciable eighe Line 1036 
On wrecche aurelie, which that am but lorn. Line 1037 
Lo, lord! my lady hath my deeth ysworn Line 1038 
Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee Line 1039 
Upon my dedly herte have som pitee. Line 1040 
For wel I woot, lord phebus, if yow lest, Line 1041 
Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best. Line 1042 
Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse Line 1043 
How that I may been holpen and in what wyse. Line 1044 
 youre blisful suster, lucina the sheene, Line 1045 
That of the see is chief goddesse and queene Line 1046 
(though neptunus have deitee in the see,, Line 1047 
Yet emperisse aboven hym is she), Line 1048 
Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir Line 1049 
Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fir,  Line 1050 

Page 139

 Line 1050 
For which she folweth yow ful bisily, Line 1051 
Right so the see desireth naturelly Line 1052 
To folwen hire, as she that is goddesse Line 1053 
Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse. Line 1054 
Wherfore, lord phebus, this is my requeste --  Line 1055 
Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste --  Line 1056 
That now next at this opposicion Line 1057 
Which in the signe shal be of the leon, Line 1058 
As preieth hire so greet a flood to brynge Line 1059 
That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge Line 1060 
The hyeste rokke in armorik briteyne; Line 1061 
And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne. Line 1062 
Thanne certes to my lady may I seye, Line 1063 
'holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.' Line 1064 
 lord phebus, dooth this miracle for me. Line 1065 
Preye hire she go no faster cours than ye; Line 1066 
I seye, preyeth your suster that she go Line 1067 
No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. Line 1068 
Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alwey, Line 1069 
And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day. Line 1070 
And but she vouche sauf in swich manere Line 1071 
To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere, Line 1072 
Prey hire to synken every rok adoun Line 1073 
Into hir owene dirke regioun Line 1074 
Under the ground, ther pluto dwelleth inne, Line 1075 
Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne. Line 1076 
Thy temple in delphos wol I barefoot seke. Line 1077 
Lord phebus, se the teris on my cheke, Line 1078 
And of my peyne have som compassioun. Line 1079 
And with that word in swowne he fil adoun, Line 1080 
And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce. Line 1081 
 his brother, which that knew of his penaunce, Line 1082 
Up caughte hym, and to bedde he hath hym broght. Line 1083 
Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght Line 1084 
Lete I this woful creature lye; Line 1085 
Chese he, for me, wheither he wol lyve or dye. Line 1086 
 arveragus, with heele and greet honour, Line 1087 
As he that was of chivalrie the flour, Line 1088 
Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men. Line 1089 
O blisful artow now, thou dorigen, Line 1090 
That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes, Line 1091 
The fresshe knyght, the worthy man of armes, Line 1092 
That loveth thee as his owene hertes lyf. Line 1093 
No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf, Line 1094 
If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute, Line 1095 
To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute. Line 1096 
He noght entendeth to no swich mateere, Line 1097 
But daunceth, justeth, maketh hire good cheere; Line 1098 
And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle, Line 1099 
And of the sike aurelius wol I telle. Line 1100 
 in langour and in torment furyus Line 1101 
Two yeer and moore lay wrecche aurelyus, Line 1102 
Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon; Line 1103 
Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon, Line 1104 
Save of his brother, which that was a clerk. Line 1105 
He knew of al this wo and al this werk; Line 1106 
For to noon oother creature, certeyn, Line 1107 
Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. Line 1108 
Under his brest he baar it moore secree Line 1109 
Than evere dide pamphilus for galathee. Line 1110 
His brest was hool, withoute for to sene, Line 1111 
But in his herte ay was the arwe kene. Line 1112 
And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure Line 1113 
In surgerye is perilus the cure, Line 1114 
But men myghte touche the arwe, or come therby. Line 1115 
His brother weep and wayled pryvely, Line 1116 
Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce, Line 1117 
That whiles he was at orliens in fraunce, Line 1118 
As yonge clerkes, that been lykerous Line 1119 
To redern artes that been curious, Line 1120 
Seken in every halke and every herne Line 1121 
Particuler sciences for to lerne --  Line 1122 
He hym remembred that, upon a day, Line 1123 
At orliens in studie a book he say Line 1124 
Of magyk natureel, which his felawe, Line 1125 
That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe, Line 1126 
Al were he ther to lerne another craft, Line 1127 
Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft; Line 1128 
Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns Line 1129 
Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns Line 1130 
That longen to the moone, and swich folye Line 1131 
As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye, --  Line 1132 
For hooly chirches feith in our bileve Line 1133 
Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve. Line 1134 
And whan this book was in his remembraunce, Line 1135 
Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce, Line 1136 
And to hymself he seyde pryvely; Line 1137 
My brother shal be warisshed hastily; Line 1138 
For I am siker that ther be sciences Line 1139 
By whiche men make diverse apparences, Line 1140 
Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye. Line 1141 
For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye Line 1142 
That tregetours, withinne an halle large, Line 1143 
Have maad come in a water and a barge, Line 1144 
And in the halle rowen up and doun. Line 1145 
Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun; Line 1146 
And sometyme floures sprynge as in a mede; Line 1147 
Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede; Line 1148 
Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon; Line 1149 
And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon. Line 1150 
Thus semed it to every mannes sighte. Line 1151 
Now thanne conclude I thus, that if I myghte Line 1152 
At orliens som oold felawe yfynde Line 1153 
That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde,  Line 1154 

Page 140

 Line 1154 
Or oother magyk natureel above, Line 1155 
He sholde wel make my brother han his love. Line 1156 
For with an apparence a clerk may make, Line 1157 
To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake Line 1158 
Of britaigne weren yvoyded everichon, Line 1159 
And shippes by the brynke comen and gon, Line 1160 
And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two. Line 1161 
Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo; Line 1162 
Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste, Line 1163 
Or elles he shal shame hire atte leeste. Line 1164 
 what sholde I make a lenger tale of this? Line 1165 
Unto his brotheres bed he comen is, Line 1166 
And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon Line 1167 
To orliens that he up stirte anon, Line 1168 
And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare Line 1169 
In hope for to been lissed of his care. Line 1170 
 whan they were come almoost to that citee, Line 1171 
But if it were a two furlong or thre, Line 1172 
A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette, Line 1173 
Which that in latyn thriftily hem grette, Line 1174 
And after that he seyde a wonder thyng --  Line 1175 
I knowe, quod he, the cause of youre comyng. Line 1176 
And er they ferther any foote wente, Line 1177 
He tolde hem al that was in hire entente. Line 1178 
 this briton clerk hym asked of felawes Line 1179 
The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes, Line 1180 
And he answerde hym that they dede were, Line 1181 
For which he weep ful ofte many a teere. Line 1182 
 doun of his hors aurelius lighte anon, Line 1183 
And with this magicien forth is he gon Line 1184 
Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese. Line 1185 
Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese. Line 1186 
So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon Line 1187 
Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon. Line 1188 
 he shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer, Line 1189 
Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; Line 1190 
Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye, Line 1191 
The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye. Line 1192 
He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes, Line 1193 
And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes. Line 1194 
He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer, Line 1195 
Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver, Line 1196 
That with hir haukes han the heron slayn. Line 1197 
 tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn; Line 1198 
And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce Line 1199 
That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce, Line 1200 
On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte. Line 1201 
And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte Line 1202 
Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two, Line 1203 
And farewel! al oure revel was ago, Line 1204 
And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous, Line 1205 
Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous, Line 1206 
But in his studie, ther as his bookes be, Line 1207 
They seten stille, and no wight but they thre. Line 1208 
 to hym this maister called his squier, Line 1209 
And seyde hym thus -- is redy oure soper? Line 1210 
Almoost an houre it is, I undertake, Line 1211 
Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make, Line 1212 
Whan that thise wrothy men wenten with me Line 1213 
Into my studie, ther as my bookes be. Line 1214 
 sire, quod this squier, whan it liketh yow, Line 1215 
It is al redy, though ye wol right now. Line 1216 
Go we thanne soupe, quod he, as for the beste. Line 1217 
Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste. Line 1218 
 at after-soper fille they in tretee Line 1219 
What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be, Line 1220 
To remoeven alle the rokkes of britayne, Line 1221 
And eek from gerounde to the mouth of sayne. Line 1222 
 he made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save, Line 1223 
Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have, Line 1224 
Ne gladly for than somme he wolde nat goon. Line 1225 
 aurelius, with blisful herte anoon, Line 1226 
Answerde thus -- fy on a thousand pound! Line 1227 
This wyde world, which that men seye is round, Line 1228 
I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it. Line 1229 
This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt. Line 1230 
Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe! Line 1231 
But looketh now, for no necligence or slouthe Line 1232 
Ye tarie us heere no lenger than to-morwe. Line 1233 
 nay, quod this clerk, have heer my feith to borwe. Line 1234 
 to bedde is goon aurelius whan hym leste, Line 1235 
And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste. Line 1236 
What for his labour and his hope of blisse, Line 1237 
His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. Line 1238 
 upon the morwe, what that it was day, Line 1239 
To britaigne tooke they the righte way, Line 1240 
Aurelius and this magicien bisyde, Line 1241 
And been descended ther they wolde abyde. Line 1242 
And this was, as thise bookes me remembre, Line 1243 
The colde, frosty seson of decembre. Line 1244 
 phebus wax old, and hewed lyk laton, Line 1245 
That in his hoote declynacion Line 1246 
Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte; Line 1247 
But now in capricorn adoun he lighte, Line 1248 
Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn, Line 1249 
The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn,  Line 1250 

Page 141

 Line 1250 
Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd. Line 1251 
Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd, Line 1252 
And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn; Line 1253 
Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn, Line 1254 
And nowel crieth every lusty man. Line 1255 
 aurelius, in al that evere he kan, Line 1256 
Dooth to this maister chiere and reverence, Line 1257 
And preyeth hym to doon his diligence Line 1258 
To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte, Line 1259 
Or with swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. Line 1260 
 this subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man Line 1261 
That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan Line 1262 
To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun; Line 1263 
This is to seye, to maken illusioun, Line 1264 
By swich an apparence or jogelrye --  Line 1265 
I ne kan no termes of astrologye --  Line 1266 
That she and every wight sholde wene and seye Line 1267 
That of britaigne the rokkes were aweye, Line 1268 
Or ellis they were sonken under grounde. Line 1269 
So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde Line 1270 
To maken his japes and his wrecchednesse Line 1271 
Of swich a supersticiuos cursednesse. Line 1272 
His tables tolletanes forth he brought, Line 1273 
Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought, Line 1274 
Neither his collect ne his expans yeeris, Line 1275 
Ne his rootes, ne his othere geeris, Line 1276 
As been his centris and his argumentz Line 1277 
And his proporcioneles convenientz Line 1278 
For his equacions in every thyng. Line 1279 
And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng Line 1280 
He knew ful wel how fer alnath was shove Line 1281 
For the heed of thilke fixe aries above, Line 1282 
That in the ninthe speere considered is; Line 1283 
Ful subtilly he kalkulled al this. Line 1284 
 whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun, Line 1285 
He knew the remenaunt by propocioun, Line 1286 
And knew the arisyng of his moone weel, Line 1287 
And in whos face, and terme, and everydeel; Line 1288 
And knew ful weel the moones mansioun Line 1289 
Acordaunt to his operacioun, Line 1290 
And knew also his othere observaunces Line 1291 
For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces Line 1292 
As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes. Line 1293 
For which no lenger maked he delayes, Line 1294 
But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, Line 1295 
It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye. Line 1296 
 aurelius, which that yet despeired is Line 1297 
Wher he shal han his love or fare amys, Line 1298 
Awaitheth nyght and day on this myracle; Line 1299 
And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, Line 1300 
That voyded were thise rokkes everychon, Line 1301 
Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon, Line 1302 
And seyde, I woful wrecche, aurelius, Line 1303 
Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn venus, Line 1304 
That me han holpen fro my cares colde. Line 1305 
And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde, Line 1306 
Where as he knew he sholde his lady see. Line 1307 
And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right hee, Line 1308 
With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere, Line 1309 
Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere --  Line 1310 
 my righte lady, quod this woful man, Line 1311 
Whom I moost drede and love as best I kan, Line 1312 
And lothest were of al this world displese, Line 1313 
Nere it that I for yow have swich disese Line 1314 
That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon, Line 1315 
Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon. Line 1316 
But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne; Line 1317 
Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne. Line 1318 
But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe, Line 1319 
Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe. Line 1320 
Repenteth yow, for thilke God above, Line 1321 
Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love. Line 1322 
For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight --  Line 1323 
Nat that I chalange any thyng of right Line 1324 
Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace --  Line 1325 
But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place, Line 1326 
Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me; Line 1327 
And in my hand youre trouthe plighten ye Line 1328 
To love me best -- God woot, ye seyde so, Line 1329 
Al be that I unworthy am therto. Line 1330 
Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow Line 1331 
Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now, --  Line 1332 
I have do so as ye comanded me; Line 1333 
And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see. Line 1334 
Dooth as yow list; have youre biheste in mynde, Line 1335 
For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde. Line 1336 
In yow lith al to do me lyve or deye, --  Line 1337 
But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye. Line 1338 
 he taketh his leve, and she astoned stood; Line 1339 
In al hir face nas a drope of blood. Line 1340 
She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe. Line 1341 
Allas, quod she, that evere this sholde happe! Line 1342 
For wende I nevere by possibilitee Line 1343 
That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be! Line 1344 
It is agayns the proces of nature. Line 1345 
And hoom she goth a sorweful creature; Line 1346 
For verray feere unnethe may she go. Line 1347 
She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two. Line 1348 
And swowneth, that it routhe was to see. Line 1349 
But why it was to no wight tolde shee, Line 1350 
For out of towne was goon arveragus. Line 1351 
But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus, Line 1352 
With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere, Line 1353 
In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere --  Line 1354 
 allas, quod she, on thee, fortune, I pleyne,  Line 1355 

Page 142

 Line 1355 
That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne, Line 1356 
Fro which t'escape woot I no socour, Line 1357 
Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour; Line 1358 
Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. Line 1359 
But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese Line 1360 
My lif than of my body to have a shame, Line 1361 
Or knowe myselven fals, or lese my name; Line 1362 
And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis. Line 1363 
Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this, Line 1364 
And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas! Line 1365 
Rather than with hir body doon trespas? Line 1366 
 yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse --  Line 1367 
Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse, Line 1368 
Hadde slayn phidon in atthenes atte feste, Line 1369 
They comanded his doghtres for t'areste, Line 1370 
And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit, Line 1371 
Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit, Line 1372 
And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce Line 1373 
Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce! Line 1374 
For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede, Line 1375 
Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede, Line 1376 
They prively been stirt into a welle, Line 1377 
And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle. Line 1378 
 they of mecene leete enquere and seke Line 1379 
Of lacedomye fifty maydens eke, Line 1380 
On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye. Line 1381 
But was ther noon of al that compaignye Line 1382 
That she nas slayn, and with a good entente Line 1383 
Chees rather for to dye than assente Line 1384 
To been oppressed of hir maydenhede. Line 1385 
Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede? Line 1386 
Lo, eek, the tiraunt aristoclides, Line 1387 
That loved a mayden, heet stymphalides, Line 1388 
Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght, Line 1389 
Unto dianes temple goth she right, Line 1390 
And hente the ymage in hir handes two, Line 1391 
Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go. Line 1392 
No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace Line 1393 
Til she was slayn, right in the selve place. Line 1394 
 now sith that maydens hadden swich despit Line 1395 
To been defouled with mannes foul delit, Line 1396 
Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee Line 1397 
Than be defouled, as it thynketh me. Line 1398 
What shal I seyn of hasdrubales wyf, Line 1399 
That at cartage birafte hirself hir lyf? Line 1400 
For whan she saugh that romayns wan the toun, Line 1401 
She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun Line 1402 
Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye Line 1403 
Than any romayn dide hire vileynye. Line 1404 
Hath nat lucresse yslayn hirself, allas! Line 1405 
At rome, whan that she oppressed was Line 1406 
Of tarquyn, for hire thoughte it was a shame Line 1407 
To lyven whan that she had lost hir name? Line 1408 
The sevene maydens of milesie also Line 1409 
Han slayn hemself, for verrey drede and wo, Line 1410 
Rather than folk of gawle hem sholde oppresse. Line 1411 
Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse, Line 1412 
Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere. Line 1413 
Whan habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere Line 1414 
Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde Line 1415 
In habradates woundes depe and wyde, Line 1416 
And seyde, my body, at the leeste way, Line 1417 
Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may. Line 1418 
 what sholde I mo ensamples heerof sayn, Line 1419 
Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn Line 1420 
Wel rather than they wolde defouled be? Line 1421 
I wol conclude that it is bet for me Line 1422 
To sleen myself than been defouled thus. Line 1423 
I wol be trewe unto arveragus, Line 1424 
Or rather sleen myself in som manere, Line 1425 
As dide demociones doghter deere Line 1426 
By cause that she wolde nat defouled be. Line 1427 
O cedasus, it is ful greet pitee Line 1428 
To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas! Line 1429 
That slowe hemself for swich a manere cas. Line 1430 
As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore, Line 1431 
The theban mayden that for nichanore Line 1432 
Hirselven slow, right for swich manere wo. Line 1433 
Another theban mayden dide right so; Line 1434 
For oon of macidonye hadde hire oppressed, Line 1435 
She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed. Line 1436 
What shal I seye of nicerates wyf, Line 1437 
That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf? Line 1438 
How trewe eek was to alcebiades Line 1439 
His love, that rather for to dyen chees Line 1440 
Than for to suffre his body unburyed be. Line 1441 
Lo, which a wyf was alceste, quod she. Line 1442 
What seith omer of good penalopee? Line 1443 
Al grece knoweth of hire chastitee Line 1444 
Pardee, of laodomya is writen thus, Line 1445 
That whan at troie was slayn protheselaus, Line 1446 
Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day. Line 1447 
The same of noble porcia telle I may; Line 1448 
Withoute brutus koude she nat lyve, Line 1449 
To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive. Line 1450 
The parfit wyfhod of arthemesie Line 1451 
Honured is thurgh al the barbarie. Line 1452 
O teuta, queene! thy wyfly chastitee Line 1453 
To alle wyves may a mirour bee. Line 1454 
The same thyng I seye of bilyea, Line 1455 
Of rodogne, and eek valeria. Line 1456 
 thus pleyned dorigen a day or tweye, Line 1457 
Purposynge evere that she wolde deye. Line 1458 
But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght, Line 1459 
Hoom cam arveragus, this worthy knyght, Line 1460 
And asked hire why that she weep so soore;  Line 1461 

Page 143

 Line 1461 
And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore. Line 1462 
Allas, quod she, that evere was I born! Line 1463 
Thus have I seyd, quod she, thus have I sworn --  Line 1464 
And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore; Line 1465 
It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore. Line 1466 
This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse Line 1467 
Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse --  Line 1468 
Is ther oght elles, dorigen, but this? Line 1469 
 nay, nay, quod she, God helpe me so as wys! Line 1470 
This is to muche, and it were goddes wille. Line 1471 
 ye, wyf, quod he, lat slepen that is stille. Line 1472 
It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day. Line 1473 
Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay! Line 1474 
For God so wisly have mercy upon me, Line 1475 
I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be Line 1476 
For verray love which I to yow have, Line 1477 
But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save. Line 1478 
Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe --  Line 1479 
But with that word he brast anon to wepe, Line 1480 
And seyde, I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth, Line 1481 
That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth, Line 1482 
To no wight telle thou of this aventure, --  Line 1483 
As I may best, I wol my wo endure Line 1484 
Ne make no contenance of hevynesse, Line 1485 
That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse. Line 1486 
 and forth he cleped a squier and a mayde --  Line 1487 
Gooth forth anon with dorigen, he sayde, Line 1488 
And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon. Line 1489 
They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon Line 1490 
But they ne wiste why she thider wente. Line 1491 
He nolde no wight tellen his entente. Line 1492 
 paraventure an heep of yow, ywis, Line 1493 
Wol holden hym a lewed man in this Line 1494 
That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie. Line 1495 
Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie. Line 1496 
She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth; Line 1497 
And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth. Line 1498 
 this squier, which that highte aurelius, Line 1499 
On dorigen that was so amorous, Line 1500 
Of aventure happed hire to meete Line 1501 
Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete, Line 1502 
As she was bown to goon the wey forth right Line 1503 
Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight. Line 1504 
And he was to the gardyn-ward also --  Line 1505 
For wel he spyed whan she wolde go Line 1506 
Out of hir hous to any maner place. Line 1507 
But thus they mette, of aventure or grace, Line 1508 
And he saleweth hire with glad entente, Line 1509 
And asked of hire whiderward she wente; Line 1510 
And she answerde, half as she were mad, Line 1511 
Unto the gardyn, as myn housbonde bad, Line 1512 
My trouthe for to holde, allas! allas! Line 1513 
 aurelius gan wondren on this cas, Line 1514 
And in his herte hadde greet compassioun Line 1515 
Of hire and of hire lamentacioun, Line 1516 
And of arveragus, the worthy knyght, Line 1517 
That bad hire holden al that she had hight, Line 1518 
So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe Line 1519 
And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe, Line 1520 
Considerynge the beste on every syde, Line 1521 
That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde Line 1522 
Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse Line 1523 
Agayns franchise and all gentillesse; Line 1524 
For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus --  Line 1525 
 madame, seyth to youre lord arveragus, Line 1526 
That sith I se his grete gentillesse Line 1527 
To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse, Line 1528 
That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe) Line 1529 
Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe, Line 1530 
I have wel levere evere to suffre wo Line 1531 
Than I departe the love bitwix yow two. Line 1532 
I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond Line 1533 
Quyt every serement and every bond Line 1534 
That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn, Line 1535 
Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born. Line 1536 
My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve Line 1537 
Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve, Line 1538 
As of the treweste and the beste wyf Line 1539 
That evere yet I knew in al my lyf. Line 1540 
But every wyf be war of hire biheeste! Line 1541 
Or dorigen remembreth, atte leeste. Line 1542 
Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede Line 1543 
As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede. Line 1544 
 she thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare, Line 1545 
And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare, Line 1546 
And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd; Line 1547 
And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd Line 1548 
That it were inpossible me to wryte. Line 1549 
What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? Line 1550 
 arveragus and dorigen his wyf Line 1551 
In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf. Line 1552 
Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitweene. Line 1553 
He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene, Line 1554 
And she was to hym trewe for everemoore. Line 1555 
Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore. Line 1556 
 aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn, Line 1557 
Curseth the tyme that evere he was born --  Line 1558 
Allas, quod he, allas, that I bihighte Line 1559 
Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte Line 1560 
Unto this philosophre! how shal I do?  Line 1561 

Page 144

 Line 1561 
I se namoore but that I am fordo. Line 1562 
Myn heritage moot I nedes selle, Line 1563 
And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle, Line 1564 
And shamen al my kynrede in this place, Line 1565 
But I of hym may gete bettre grace. Line 1566 
But nathelees, I wole of hym assaye, Line 1567 
At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye, Line 1568 
And thanke hym of his grete curteisye. Line 1569 
My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye. Line 1570 
 with herte soor he gooth unto his cofre, Line 1571 
And broghte gold unto his philosophre, Line 1572 
The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse, Line 1573 
And hym bisecheth, of his gentillesse, Line 1574 
To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt; Line 1575 
And seyde, maister, I dar wel make avaunt, Line 1576 
I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit, Line 1577 
For sikerly my dette shal be quyt Line 1578 
Towardes yow, howevere that I fare Line 1579 
To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare. Line 1580 
But wolde ye vouche sauf, upon seuretee, Line 1581 
Two yeer or thre for to respiten me, Line 1582 
Thanne were I wel; for elles moot I selle Line 1583 
Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle. Line 1584 
 this philosophre sobrely answerde, Line 1585 
And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde --  Line 1586 
Have I nat holden covenant unto thee? Line 1587 
 yes, certes, wel and trewely, quod he. Line 1588 
 hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh? Line 1589 
 no, no, quod he, and sorwefully he siketh. Line 1590 
 what was the cause? tel me if thou kan. Line 1591 
 aurelius his tale anon bigan, Line 1592 
And tolde hym al, as ye han herd biroore; Line 1593 
It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore. Line 1594 
 he seide, arveragus, of gentillesse, Line 1595 
Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse Line 1596 
Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals. Line 1597 
The sorwe of dorigen he tolde hym als; Line 1598 
How looth hire was to been a wikked wyf, Line 1599 
And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf, Line 1600 
And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence, Line 1601 
She nevere erst hadde herd speke of apparence. Line 1602 
That made me han of hire so greet pitee; Line 1603 
And right as frely as he sente hire me, Line 1604 
As frely sente I hire to hym ageyn, Line 1605 
This al and som; ther is namoore to seyn. Line 1606 
This philosophre answerde, leeve brother, Line 1607 
Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother. Line 1608 
Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght; Line 1609 
But God forbede, for his blisful myght, Line 1610 
But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede Line 1611 
As wel as any of yow, it is no drede! Line 1612 
 sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound, Line 1613 
As thou right now were cropen out of the ground, Line 1614 
Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me. Line 1615 
For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee Line 1616 
For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille. Line 1617 
Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille. Line 1618 
It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day! Line 1619 
And took his hors, and forth he goth his way. Line 1620 
Lordynges, this question, thanne, wol I aske now, Line 1621 
Which was the mooste fre, as thenketh yow? Line 1622 
Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende. Line 1623 
I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende. Line 1624 

The Canterbury tales

About this Item

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Group 5

The Squire's Prologue

The Squire's Tale

Part I

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Sequitur pars secunda

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Incipit pars tercia.

The Franklin's words to the Squire

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The Franklin's Prologue

The Franklin's Tale

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