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

114 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
With martyrdom they proved their constance, That she may dien, but 17 she of it have."
The Roman gestes 1 mak6 remembrance "Alas!" quoth he, " that I had here a knave 18
Of many a very true wife also. That couldi climb; alas! alas! " quoth he,
But, Sire, be not wroth, albeit so, "For I am blind." "Yea, Sir, no force," 19
Though that he said he found no good woman, quoth she;
I pray you take the sentence2 of the man: "But would ye vouchesafe, for Godde's sake,
He meant thus, that in sovereign bount6 3 The perry in your armes for to take
Is none but God, no, neither he nor she.4 (For well I wot that ye mistruste me),
Hey, for the very God that is but one, Then would I climbS well enough," quoth she,
Why makB ye so much of Solomon? "So I my foot might set upon your back."
What though he made a temple, Godde's house? " Certes," said he, "therein shall be no lack,
What though he were rich and gloriofis? Might I you helpS with mine hearte's blood."
So made he eke a temple of false goddes; He stooped down, and on his back she stood,
How might he do a thing that more forbode 5 And caught her by a twist,20 and up she go'th.
is? (Ladies, I pray you that ye be not wroth, *
Pardie, as fair as ye his name emplaster,6 I cannot glose,21 I am a rude man):
He was a lechour, and an idolaster,7 And suddenly anon this Damian
And in his eld he very 8 God forsook. Gan pullen up the smock, and in he throng.22
And if that God had not (as saith the book) And when that Pluto saw this greatS wrong,
Spared him for his father's sake, he should To January he gave again his sight,
Have lost his regne 9 rather 10 than he would. And made him see as well as ever he might.
I sette not, of 11 all the villainy And when he thus had caught his sight again,
That he of women wrote, a butterfly. Was never man of anything so fain:
I am a woman, needes must I speak, But on his wife his thought was evermo'.
Or elles swell until mine heart5 break. Up to the tree he cast his eyen two,
For since he said that we be jangleresses,'2 And saw how Damian his wife had dress'd,
As ever may I brooke 13 whole my tresses, In such mannere, it may not be express'd,
I shall not spare for no courtesy But if 23 I woulde speak uncourteously.
To speak him harm, that said us villainy." And up he gave a roaring and a cry,
"Dame," quoth this Pluto, " be no longer As doth the mother when the child shall die;
wroth; "Out! help! alas! harow! " he gan to cry;
I give it up: but, since I swore mine oath "0 stronge, lady, stowre! 24 what doest thou?"
That I would grant to him his sight again, And she answered: "Sir, what aileth you?
My word shall stand, that warn I you certain: Have patience and reason in your mind,
I am a king, it sits14 me not to lie." I have you help'd on both your eyen blind.
"And I," quoth she, " am queen of Faerie. On peril of my soul, I shall not lien,
Her answer she shall have, I undertake, As me was taught to help6 with your eyen,
Let us no morB wordes of it make. Was nothing better for to make you see,
Forsooth, I will no longer you contrary." Than struggle with a man upon a tree:
Now let us turn again to January, God wot, I did it in full good intent."
That in the garden with his faird May "Struggle! " quoth he, "yea, algate in it
Singeth well merrier than the popinjay:15 went.
" You love I best, and shall, and other none." God give you both one shaml's death to dien!
So long about the alleys is he gone, He swived thee; I saw it with mine eyen;
Till he was comi to that ilk6 perry,6.. And ellis be I hanged by the halse." 25
Where as this Damian satt6 full merry "Then is," quoth she, " my medicine all false;
On high, among the freshe leaves green. For certainly, if that ye mighte see,
This freshe May, that is so bright and sheen, Ye would not say these word's unto me.
Gan for to sigh, and said, "Alas my side! Ye have some glimpsing,26 and no perfect sight."
Now, Sir," quoth she, "for aught that may "I see," quoth he, " as well as ever I might,
betide, (Thanked be God!) with both mine eyen two,
I must have of the pearis that I see, And by my faith me thought he did thee so."
Or I must die, so sore longeth me " Ye maze, ye maze,27 goode Sir," quoth she;
To eaten of the smalle peares green; "This thank have I for I have made you see:
Help, for her love that is of heaven queen! Alas!" quoth she, "' that e'er I was so kind."
I tell you well, a woman in my plight "Now, Dame," quoth he, "let all pass out of
May have to fruit so great an appetite, mind;
1 Histories; such as those of Lucretia, Porcia, &c. several verses of a very coarse character had been in2 Opinion, real meaning. 3 Perfect goodness. serted in later manuscripts; but they are evidently
4 Man nor woman. 5 Forbidden. spurious, and are omitted in the best editions.
6 Plaster over, whitewash." 7 Idolater. 23 Unless.
8 The true. 9 Kingdom. 10 Sooner. 24 "Store" is the general reading here, but its mean11 Care not for, value not. 12 Praters. ing is not obvious.' Stowre" is found in several manu13 Enjoy the use of, preserve. 14 Becomes, befits, scripts; it signifies " struggle " or "resist;" and both
15 Parrot. 16 That same pear-tree. for its own appropriateness, and for the force which it
17 Unless. 18 Servant. \ 19 No matter. gives the word "stronge," the reading in the text seems
20 Twig, bough. 21 Mince matters, the better. 25 Neck. 26 Glimmering.
22 At this point, and again some twenty lines below, 27 Rave, are confused,