The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

86 2t1 iArTHE CA4NTERPB R F rALES. ~
And with attendance, and with business Where as he saw upon a dance go
Be we y-limdd,l bothd more and less. Of ladies four-and-twenty, and yet mo'.
And some men said that we do love the best Toward this ilk1e6 dance he drew full yern,17
For to be free, and do right as us lest,2 In hope that he some wisdom there should learn;
And that no man reprove us of our vice, But certainly, ere he came fully there,
But say that we are wise, and nothing nice,3 Y-vanish'd was this dance, he knew not where;
For truly there is none among us all, No creature saw he that bare life,
If any wight will claw us on the gall,4 Save on the green he sitting saw a wife,That will not kick, for that he saith us sooth: A fouler wight there may no man devise.ls
Assay, and he shall find it, that so do'th. Against 19 this knight this old wife gan to rise,
For be we never so viciofs within, And said, " Sir Knight, hereforth20 lieth no way,
We will be held both wise and clean of sin. Tell me what ye are seeking, by your fay.21
And some men said, that great delight have we Paraventure it may the better be:
For to be held stable and eke secrd,6 These oldd folk know much5 thing," quoth she.
And in one purpose steadfastly to dwell, My lev5 22 mother," quoth this knight, "cerAnd not bewray a thing that men us tell. tin,
But that tale is not worth a raki-stele.7 I am but dead, but if 23 that I can sayn
Pardie, we women canne nothing heles What thing it is that women most desire:
Witness on Midas; will ye hear the tale? Could ye me wiss,24 I would well quite your
Ovid, amongis other thing's smale,9 hire." 25
Saith, Midas had, under his longe hairs, "Plight me thy troth here in mine hand,"
Growing upon his head two ass's ears; quoth she,
The which6 vice he hid, as best he might, "The nexte thing that I require of thee
Full subtlely from every man's sight, Thou shalt it do, if it be in thy might,
That, save his wife, there knew of it no mo'; And I will tell it thee ere it be night."
He lov'd her most, and trusted her also; " Have here my trothe," quoth the knight; "I
He prayed her, that to no creature grant."
She woulde tellen of his disfigfire.l0 " Thenne," quoth she, " I dare me well avaunt,28
She swore him, nay, for all the world to win, Thy life is safe, for I will stand thereby,
She would not do that villainy or sin, Upon my life the queen will say as I:
To make her husband have so foul a name: Let see, which is the proudest of them all,
She would not tell it for her owen shame. That wears either a kerchief or a caul,
But natheless her thoughts that she died, That dare say nay to that I shall you teach.
That she so longe should a counsel hide; Let us go forth withoute longer speech."
Her thought it swell'd so sore about her heart, Then rowned she a pistel 27 in his ear
That needis must some word from her astart; And bade him to be glad, and have no fear.
And, since she durst not tell it unto man, When they were come unto the court, this
Down to a marish fast thereby she ran, knight
Till she came there, her heart was all afire: Said, he had held his day, as he had hight,28
And, as a bittern bumbles 1 in the mire, And ready was his answer, as he said.
She laid her mouth unto the water down. Full many a noble wife, and many a maid,
"Bewray me not, thou water, with thy soun'," 12 And many a widow, for that they be wise,Quoth she, "to thee I tell it, and no mo', The queen herself sitting as a justice,Mine husband hath long ass's eares two! Assembled be, his answer for to hear,
Now is mine heart all whole; now is it out; And afterward this knight was bid appear.
I might no longer keep it, out of doubt." To every wight commanded was silence,
Here may ye see, though we a time abide, And that the knight should tell in audience
Yet out it must, we can no counsel hide. What thing that worldly women love the best.
The remnant of the tale, if ye will hear, This knight he stood not still, as doth a beast,
Read in Ovid, and there ye may it lear.13 But to this questi6n anon answer'd
This knight, of whom my tale is specially, With manly voice, that all the court it heard,
When that he saw he might not come thereby, - " My liege lady, generally," quoth he,
That is to say, what women love the most,- " Women desire to have the sovereignty
Within his breast full sorrowful was his ghost.14 As well over their husband as their love,
But home he went, for he might not sojourn, And for to be in mast'ry him above.
The day was come, that homeward he must turn. This is your most desire, though ye me kill,
And in his way it happen'd him to ride, Do as you list, I am here at your will."
In all his care,l1 under a forest side, In all the court there was no wife nor maid,
1 Caught, as birds with lime. 12 Sound. 13 Learn. 14 Spirit
2 Pleases. 3 Foolish; French, " niais." 15 Trouble, anxiety. 16 Same
4 Fret the sore. Compare, "Let the galled jade 17 Eagerly; German, "gern." 18 Imagine, tell.
wince." 5 Try. 19 To meet. 20 Forth from hence.
6 Secret, good at keeping confidence. 21 Faith. 22 Dear. 23 Unless.
7 Rake-handle. 24 Instruct; German,," welsen," to show or counsel,
8 From Anglo-Saxon, "helan," to hide, conceal. 25 Pay your reward. 26 Boast, affirm
9' Small. 10 Deformity, disfigurement, 27 Whispered a secret, a lesson.
11 Makes a humming noise. 28 Promised.