GROUP D. FRAGMENT V.
§ 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE.
HENGWRT MS.
¶ Here bigynneth the prologe of the tale of the Wyf of Bathe. [folio 58a]
Experience / thogh noon Auctoritee
Were in this world / is right ynogh for me
To speke of wo / that is in mariage
ffor lordynges / sith þat I twelf yeer was of age
Line 4
Thonked be god / that is eterne on lyue.
Housbondes atte chirche dore / I haue had fyue
If I so ofte / myghte han wedded be
And alle were worthy men / in hir degree
Line 8
But me was told certeyn / noght longe agon is
That sith þat Crist ne wente neuere but onys
To weddyng in the Cane of Galilee
That by the same ensample / taughte he me
Line 12
That I ne sholde / wedded be but ones
¶ Herke eek / lo / which a sharp word for the nones
Bisyde a welle / Ihesus / god and man
Spak/ in repreeue of the Samaritan
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¶ Thow hast yhad / fyue housbondes quod he
And that ilke man / which that now hath thee
Is nat thyn housbonde / thus he seyde certeyn.
What that he mente ther-by / I kan nat seyn
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But þat I axe / why þat the fifthe man
Was noon housbonde / to the Samaritan
How manye / myghte she han in mariage
Yet herde I neuere / tellen in myn age
Line 24
