Chaucer's Works, Volume 4 — The Canterbury Tales (part 3 of 4)

Chaucer's Works, Volume 4 — The Canterbury Tales (part 3 of 4)

A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee, 4405 That in the grove hadde woned yeres three, By heigh imaginacioun forn-cast, The same night thurgh-out the hegges brast Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire; 4410 And in a bed of wortes stille he lay, (401) Til it was passed undern of the day, Wayting his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle, As gladly doon thise homicydes alle, That in awayt liggen to mordre men. 4415 O false mordrer, lurking in thy den! O newe Scariot, newe Genilon! False dissimilour, O Greek Sinon, That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe! O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe, 4420 That thou into that yerd flough fro the bemes! (411) Thou were ful wel y-warned by thy dremes, That thilke day was perilous to thee. But what that god forwoot mot nedes be, After the opinioun of certeyn clerkis. 4425 Witnesse on him, that any perfit clerk is, That in scole is gret altercacioun In this matere, and greet disputisoun, And hath ben of an hundred thousand men. But I ne can not bulte it to the bren, 4430 As can the holy doctour Augustyn, (421) Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardyn, [283: T. 15249-15284.] Whether that goddes worthy forwiting Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thing, (Nedely clepe I simple necessitee); 4435 Or elles, if free choys be graunted me To do that same thing, or do it noght, Though god forwoot it, er that it was wroght; Or if his witing streyneth nevere a del But by necessitee condicionel. 4440 I wol not han to do of swich matere; (431) My tale is of a cok, as ye may here, That took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe, To walken in the yerd upon that morwe That he had met the dreem, that I yow tolde. 4445 Wommennes counseils been ful ofte colde; Wommannes counseil broghte us first to wo, And made Adam fro paradys to go, Ther-as he was ful mery, and wel at ese. But for I noot, to whom it mighte displese, 4450 If I counseil of wommen wolde blame, (441) Passe over, for I seyde it in my game. Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich matere, And what thay seyn of wommen ye may here. Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne; 4455 I can noon harm of no womman divyne.

4412. E. Hn. Pt. vndren. 4421. E. Hn. flaugh; Cm. flaw; Cp. fleyȝe; Hl. flough. 4433. E. Wheither. 4434. E. nedefully to doon. 4442. may] Hl. Cp. Pt. schal (schuln). 4445. yow] E. of. 4448. E. out of (for fro). 4452. seyde] E. seye.

Faire in the sond, to bathe hir merily, Lyth Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by, Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so free Song merier than the mermayde in the see; 4460 For Phisiologus seith sikerly, (451) How that they singen wel and merily. And so bifel that, as he caste his yë, Among the wortes, on a boterflye, He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 4465 No-thing ne liste him thanne for to crowe, But cryde anon, ‘cok, cok,’ and up he sterte, As man that was affrayed in his herte. [284: T. 15285-15322.] For naturelly a beest desyreth flee Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, 4470 Though he never erst had seyn it with his yë. (461)

4460. E murier. 4462. E. myrily.

This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him espye, He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon Seyde, ‘Gentil sire, allas! wher wol ye gon? Be ye affrayed of me that am your freend? 4475 Now certes, I were worse than a feend, If I to yow wolde harm or vileinye. I am nat come your counseil for tespye; But trewely, the cause of my cominge Was only for to herkne how that ye singe. 4480 For trewely ye have as mery a stevene (471) As eny aungel hath, that is in hevene; Therwith ye han in musik more felinge Than hadde Boece, or any that can singe. My lord your fader (god his soule blesse!) 4485 And eek your moder, of hir gentilesse, Han in myn hous y-been, to my gret ese; And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese. But for men speke of singing, I wol saye, So mote I brouke wel myn eyen tweye, 4490 Save yow, I herde never man so singe, (48l) As dide your fader in the morweninge; Certes, it was of herte, al that he song. And for to make his voys the more strong, He wolde so peyne him, that with bothe his yën 4495 He moste winke, so loude he wolde cryen, And stonden on his tiptoon ther-with-al, And strecche forth his nekke long and smal. And eek he was of swich discrecioun, That ther nas no man in no regioun 4500 That him in song or wisdom mighte passe. (491) I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse, Among his vers, how that ther was a cok, For that a preestes sone yaf him a knok Upon his leg, whyl he was yong and nyce, 4505 He made him for to lese his benefyce. [285: T. 15323-15359.] But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee. Now singeth, sire, for seinte charitee, 4510 Let see, conne ye your fader countrefete?’ (501) This Chauntecleer his winges gan to bete, As man that coude his tresoun nat espye, So was he ravisshed with his flaterye.

4482. E. om. hath. 4484. Hl. Pt. had. 4489. E. ins. yow after wol. 4491. E. herde I; yet (for so). 4508. E. Cm. Cp. Bitwixe.

Allas! ye lordes, many a fals flatour 4515 Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour, That plesen yow wel more, by my feith, Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith. Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye; Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520

This Chauntecleer stood hye up-on his toos, (511) Strecching his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos, And gan to crowe loude for the nones; And daun Russel the fox sterte up at ones, And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 4525 And on his bak toward the wode him beer, For yet ne was ther no man that him sewed. O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed! Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes! Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes! 4530 And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce. (521) O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce, Sin that thy servant was this Chauntecleer, And in thy service dide al his poweer, More for delyt, than world to multiplye, 4535 Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to dye? O Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn, That, whan thy worthy king Richard was slayn With shot, compleynedest his deth so sore, Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy lore, 4540 The Friday for to chide, as diden ye? (531) (For on a Friday soothly slayn was he.) Than wolde I shewe yow how that I coude pleyne [286: T. 15360-15395.] For Chauntecleres drede, and for his peyne.

4524. E. Hn. Cm. stirte. 4525. E. Hn. gargat; Cm. Hl. garget; Ln. gorge. 4531. E. Hn. Cm. fil; rest fel.

Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun 4545 Was never of ladies maad, whan Ilioun Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd, Whan he hadde hent king Priam by the berd, And slayn him (as saith us Eneydos), As maden alle the hennes in the clos, 4550 Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. (541) But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte, Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf, Whan that hir housbond hadde lost his lyf, And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage; 4555 She was so ful of torment and of rage, That wilfully into the fyr she sterte, And brende hir-selven with a stedfast herte. O woful hennes, right so cryden ye, As, whan that Nero brende the citee 4560 Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves, (551) For that hir housbondes losten alle hir lyves; Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn. Now wol I torne to my tale agayn:—

4552. E. sodeynly (for sovereynly). 4554. Hn. Cm. y-lost. 4564. E. Now turne I wole.

This sely widwe, and eek hir doghtres two, 4565 Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo, And out at dores sterten they anoon, And syen the fox toward the grove goon, And bar upon his bak the cok away; And cryden, ‘Out! harrow! and weylaway! 4570 Ha, ha, the fox!’ and after him they ran, (561) And eek with staves many another man; Ran Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland, And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand; Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges 4575 So were they fered for berking of the dogges And shouting of the men and wimmen eke, They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breke. They yelleden as feendes doon in helle; [287: T. 15396-15431.] The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle; 4580 The gees for fere flowen over the trees; (571) Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees; So hidous was the noyse, a! benedicite! Certes, he Iakke Straw, and his meynee, Ne made never shoutes half so shrille, 4585 Whan that they wolden any Fleming kille, As thilke day was maad upon the fox. Of bras thay broghten bemes, and of box, Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped, And therwithal thay shryked and they houped; 4590 It semed as that heven sholde falle. (581) Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth alle!

4567. E. Hn. Cm. stirten. 4570. Pt. They. 4575. E. Hl. om. eek. 4576. Hl. were they; rest om. 4579. E. yolleden. 4585. E. Ln. shille. 4590. E. Hn. skriked.

Lo, how fortune turneth sodeinly The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy! This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 4595 In al his drede, un-to the fox he spak, And seyde, ‘sire, if that I were as ye, Yet sholde I seyn (as wis god helpe me), Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle! A verray pestilence up-on yow falle! 4600 Now am I come un-to this wodes syde, (591) Maugree your heed, the cok shal heer abyde; I wol him ete in feith, and that anon.’— The fox answerde, ‘in feith, it shal be don,’— And as he spak that word, al sodeinly 4605 This cok brak from his mouth deliverly, And heighe up-on a tree he fleigh anon. And whan the fox saugh that he was y-gon, ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘O Chauntecleer, allas! I have to yow,’ quod he, ‘y-doon trespas, 4610 In-as-muche as I maked yow aferd, (601) Whan I yow hente, and broghte out of the yerd; But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente; Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente. I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me so.’ 4615 [288: T. 15432-15452.] ‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘I shrewe us bothe two, And first I shrewe my-self, bothe blood and bones, If thou bigyle me ofter than ones. Thou shalt na-more, thurgh thy flaterye, Do me to singe and winke with myn yë. 4620 For he that winketh, whan he sholde see, (611) Al wilfully, god lat him never thee!’ ‘Nay,’ quod the fox, ‘but god yeve him meschaunce, That is so undiscreet of governaunce, That Iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.’ 4625

4594. E. om. eek. 4598. E. wolde (for sholde). 4601. E. the (for this). 4608. Hl. i-goon; rest gon, goon. 4612. E. Hn. into this (for out of the). 4613. E. of (for in). 4618. E. Hn. Hl. ins. any before ofter.

Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees, And necligent, and truste on flaterye. But ye that holden this tale a folye, As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, Taketh the moralitee, good men. 4630 For seint Paul seith, that al that writen is, (621) To our doctryne it is y-write, y-wis. Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.

4630. Pt. good; rest goode.

Now, gode god, if that it be thy wille, As seith my lord, so make us alle good men; 4635 And bringe us to his heighe blisse. Amen.

=Here is ended the Nonne Preestes Tale.=

4635. Hl. Pt. Ln. good; rest goode. COLOPHON. Cp. Nonne; E. Hn. Nonnes. Hl. Here endeth the tale of Chaunteclere and p_er_telote.

[289: T. 15453-15468.]

* * * * *

EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.

* * * * *

‘Sir Nonnes Preest,’ our hoste seyde anoon, ‘Y-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon! This was a mery tale of Chauntecleer. But, by my trouthe, if thou were seculer, 4640 Thou woldest been a trede-foul a-right. For, if thou have corage as thou hast might, Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene, Ya, mo than seven tymes seventene. See, whiche braunes hath this gentil Preest, 4645 So greet a nekke, and swich a large breest! (10) He loketh as a sperhauk with his yën; Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen With brasil, ne with greyn of Portingale. Now sire, faire falle yow for youre tale!’ 4650

And after that he, with ful mery chere, Seide to another, as ye shullen here.

These genuine lines only occur in Dd., in MS. Reg. 17 D. xv, and in MS. Addit. 5140 (B. M.). The text is founded on Dd.

4637. Dd. oure hoost. 4639. Dd. murie; Reg. Add. mery. 4641. Dd. ben. Dd. tredfoul; Reg. Add. trede foule. 4645. Dd. which; Reg. whiche; Add. suche. 4646. Dd. gret. 4647. Dd. sp_er_hauke; eyen. 4648. Dd. dyghen; Reg. Add. dyen. 4650-2. I suspect these three lines to be spurious. 4650. Reg. youre mery tale. 4652. to] all un-to. another] Add. the Nonne.

NOTE. Three varieties of a Doctour’s Prologue are given, respectively, by Tyrwhitt, Wright, and Morris; but are all spurious. Perhaps the best is the very short one in Tyrwhitt, as follows:—

‘Ye, let that passen,’ quod our Hoste, ‘as now. Sire Doctour of Phisyk, I preye yow, Telle us a tale of som honest matere.’ ‘It shal be doon, if that ye wol it here,’ Seyde this Doctour, and his tale bigan anon. ‘Now, good men,’ quod he, ‘herkneth everichon.’

[290: T. 11935-11957.]

* * * * *

GROUP C.

THE PHISICIENS TALE.

* * * * *

*** For a spurious Prologue, see p. 289.

=Here folweth the Phisiciens Tale.=

Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius, A knight that called was Virginius, Fulfild of honour and of worthinesse, And strong of freendes and of greet richesse.

2. Hn. called was; E. was called; rest cleped was.

This knight a doghter hadde by his wyf, 5 No children hadde he mo in al his lyf. Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee Aboven every wight that man may see; For nature hath with sovereyn diligence Y-formed hir in so greet excellence, 10 As though she wolde seyn, ‘lo! I, Nature, Thus can I forme and peynte a creature, Whan that me list; who can me countrefete? Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete, Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn, 15 Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn, Outher to grave or peynte or forge or bete, If they presumed me to countrefete. For he that is the former principal Hath maked me his vicaire general, 20 To forme and peynten erthely creaturis Right as me list, and ech thing in my cure is Under the mone, that may wane and waxe, [291: T. 11958-11993.] And for my werk right no-thing wol I axe; My lord and I ben ful of oon accord; 25 I made hir to the worship of my lord. So do I alle myne othere creatures, What colour that they han, or what figures.’— Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye.

16. E. Hn. Apelles; Hl. Appollus; rest Apollus. E. Hn. Zanzis; rest zephirus (!). 25. E. Hn. ful of oon; rest fully at.

This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye, 30 In which that Nature hadde swich delyt. For right as she can peynte a lilie whyt And reed a rose, right with swich peynture She peynted hath this noble creature Er she were born, up-on hir limes free, 35 Wher-as by right swiche colours sholde be; And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete Lyk to the stremes of his burned hete. And if that excellent was hir beautee, A thousand-fold more vertuous was she. 40 In hir ne lakked no condicioun, That is to preyse, as by discrecioun. As wel in goost as body chast was she; For which she floured in virginitee With alle humilitee and abstinence, 45 With alle attemperaunce and pacience, With mesure eek of bering and array. Discreet she was in answering alway; Though she were wys as Pallas, dar I seyn, Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn, 50 No countrefeted termes hadde she To seme wys; but after hir degree She spak, and alle hir wordes more and lesse Souninge in vertu and in gentillesse. Shamfast she was in maydens shamfastnesse, 55 Constant in herte, and ever in bisinesse To dryve hir out of ydel slogardye. Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye; For wyn and youthe doon Venus encrece, [292: T. 11994-12028.] As men in fyr wol casten oile or grece. 60 And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyned, She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned, For that she wolde fleen the companye Wher lykly was to treten of folye, As is at festes, revels, and at daunces, 65 That been occasions of daliaunces. Swich thinges maken children for to be To sone rype and bold, as men may see, Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore. For al to sone may she lerne lore 70 Of boldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.

49. Cp. Pt. Ln. as; rest om. 50. E. a (for and). 55. E. Shamefast. E. om. in. 59. E. Hn. dooth; rest doon. E. Hn. encresse. 60. E. man; rest men. E. wasten; rest casten. E. oille; greesse. 67. E. Hn. thyng; rest thinges. 70. E. Hn. they; rest she.

And ye maistresses in your olde lyf, That lordes doghtres han in governaunce, Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce; Thenketh that ye ben set in governinges 75 Of lordes doghtres, only for two thinges; Outher for ye han kept your honestee, Or elles ye han falle in freletee, And knowen wel y-nough the olde daunce, And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce 80 For evermo; therfore, for Cristes sake, To teche hem vertu loke that ye ne slake. A theef of venisoun, that hath forlaft His likerousnesse, and al his olde craft, Can kepe a forest best of any man. 85 Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol, ye can; Loke wel that ye un-to no vice assente, Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente; For who-so doth, a traitour is certeyn. And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn; 90 Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.

80. E. Hn. han; rest conne. 82. So E. Hn.; rest Kepeth wel tho that ye undertake. 84. E. Hn. olde; rest theves. 86. Read kep’th; E. Hn. om. hem; Hl. hir(!). E. wolde; rest wole (wil). 92. E. Hn. bitrayseth; rest betrayeth.

Ye fadres and ye modres eek also, Though ye han children, be it oon or two, [293: T. 12029-12063.] Your is the charge of al hir surveyaunce, 95 Whyl that they been under your governaunce. Beth war that by ensample of your livinge, Or by your necligence in chastisinge, That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye, If that they doon, ye shul it dere abeye. 100 Under a shepherde softe and necligent The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent. Suffyseth oon ensample now as here, For I mot turne agayn to my matere.

95. E. Hn. surveiaunce; rest sufferaunce (suffraunce). 97. E. Hn. if; rest that. 99. E. Hn. om. ne. 103, 4. E. om. both lines; I follow Hn. and the rest.

This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse, 105 So kepte hir-self, hir neded no maistresse; For in hir living maydens mighten rede, As in a book, every good word or dede, That longeth to a mayden vertuous; She was so prudent and so bountevous. 110 For which the fame out-sprong on every syde Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde; That thurgh that land they preysed hir echone, That loved vertu, save envye allone, That sory is of other mennes wele, 115 And glad is of his sorwe and his unhele; (The doctour maketh this descripcioun). This mayde up-on a day wente in the toun Toward a temple, with hir moder dere, As is of yonge maydens the manere. 120

105. E. Hn. I wol this; rest I telle my. 119. E. Hn. a; rest the.

Now was ther thanne a Iustice in that toun, That governour was of that regioun. And so bifel, this Iuge his eyen caste Up-on this mayde, avysinge him ful faste, As she cam forby ther this Iuge stood. 125 Anon his herte chaunged and his mood, So was he caught with beautee of this mayde; And to him-self ful prively he sayde, ‘This mayde shal be myn, for any man.’

125. E. Hn. ther as; rest om. as.

[294: T. 12064-12100.]

Anon the feend in-to his herte ran, 130 And taughte him sodeynly, that he by slighte The mayden to his purpos winne mighte. For certes, by no force, ne by no mede, Him thoughte, he was nat able for to spede; For she was strong of freendes, and eek she 135 Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee, That wel he wiste he mighte hir never winne As for to make hir with hir body sinne. For which, by greet deliberacioun, He sente after a cherl, was in the toun, 140 Which that he knew for subtil and for bold. This Iuge un-to this cherl his tale hath told In secree wyse, and made him to ensure, He sholde telle it to no creature, And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed. 145 Whan that assented was this cursed reed, Glad was this Iuge and maked him greet chere, And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and dere.

138. E. maken; rest make. 140, 142. E. Hn. cherl; rest clerk. 147. E. Hn. this; rest the.

Whan shapen was al hir conspiracye Fro point to point, how that his lecherye 150 Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly, As ye shul here it after openly, Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius. This false Iuge that highte Apius, So was his name, (for this is no fable, 155 But knowen for historial thing notable, The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute), This false Iuge gooth now faste aboute To hasten his delyt al that he may. And so bifel sone after, on a day, 160 This false Iuge, as telleth us the storie, As he was wont, sat in his consistorie, And yaf his domes up-on sondry cas. This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas, And seyde, ‘lord, if that it be your wille, 165 As dooth me right up-on this pitous bille, [295: T. 12101-12136.] In which I pleyne up-on Virginius. And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus, I wol it preve, and finde good witnesse, That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.’ 170

149. E. Hn. hir; rest this. 153, 164. E. Hn. cherl; rest clerk. 155. E. Hn. this; rest it.

The Iuge answerde, ‘of this, in his absence, I may nat yeve diffinitif sentence. Lat do him calle, and I wol gladly here; Thou shall have al right, and no wrong here.’

172. E. diffynyue; rest diffinitif. 173, 174. E. heere, glossed audire; and heere, glossed hie.

Virginius cam, to wite the Iuges wille, 175 And right anon was rad this cursed bille; The sentence of it was as ye shul here.

‘To yow, my lord, sire Apius so dere, Sheweth your povre servant Claudius, How that a knight, called Virginius, 180 Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee, Holdeth, expres agayn the wil of me, My servant, which that is my thral by right, Which fro myn hous was stole up-on a night, Whyl that she was ful yong; this wol I preve 185 By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greve. She nis his doghter nat, what so he seye; Wherfore to yow, my lord the Iuge, I preye, Yeld me my thral, if that it be your wille.’ Lo! this was al the sentence of his bille. 190

Virginius gan up-on the cherl biholde, But hastily, er he his tale tolde, And wolde have preved it, as sholde a knight, And eek by witnessing of many a wight, That it was fals that seyde his adversarie, 195 This cursed Iuge wolde no-thing tarie, Ne here a word more of Virginius, But yaf his Iugement, and seyde thus:—

191. E. Hn. Cm. cherl; rest clerk.

‘I deme anon this cherl his servant have; Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save. 200 Go bring hir forth, and put hir in our warde, The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde.’

199, 202. E. Hn. Cm. cherl; rest clerk.

[296: T. 12137-12173.]

And whan this worthy knight Virginius, Thurgh sentence of this Iustice Apius, Moste by force his dere doghter yiven 205 Un-to the Iuge, in lecherye to liven, He gooth him hoom, and sette him in his halle, And leet anon his dere doghter calle, And, with a face deed as asshen colde, Upon hir humble face he gan biholde, 210 With fadres pitee stiking thurgh his herte, Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte.

202. E. Hn. Cm. this; rest thus. 205. Hl. Cp. yiuen; rest yeuen.

‘Doghter,’ quod he, ‘Virginia, by thy name, Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame, That thou most suffre; allas! that I was bore! 215 For never thou deservedest wherfore To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf. O dere doghter, ender of my lyf, Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce, That thou were never out of my remembraunce! 220 O doghter, which that art my laste wo, And in my lyf my laste Ioye also, O gemme of chastitee, in pacience Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence. For love and nat for hate, thou most be deed; 225 My pitous hand mot smyten of thyn heed. Allas! that ever Apius thee say! Thus hath he falsly Iuged thee to-day’— And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it more. 230

223. E. o; rest of.

‘O mercy, dere fader,’ quod this mayde, And with that word she both hir armes layde About his nekke, as she was wont to do: The teres broste out of hir eyen two, And seyde, ‘gode fader, shal I dye? 235 Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye?’

234. E. Hn. teeris. E. bruste; Cm. broste; Pt. brosten; Hn. borste; Cp. Ln. barsten; Hl. brast.

‘No, certes, dere doghter myn,’ quod he.

‘Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,’ quod she, ‘My deeth for to compleyne a litel space; [297: T. 12174-12208.] For pardee, Iepte yaf his doghter grace 240 For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas! And god it woot, no-thing was hir trespas, But for she ran hir fader first to see, To welcome him with greet solempnitee.’ And with that word she fil aswowne anon, 245 And after, whan hir swowning is agon, She ryseth up, and to hir fader sayde, ‘Blessed be god, that I shal dye a mayde. Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame; Doth with your child your wil, a goddes name!’ 250

243. E. Hn. for; rest first. 248. E. Ln. Blissed; rest Blessed.

And with that word she preyed him ful ofte, That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe, And with that word aswowne doun she fil. Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil, Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente, 255 And to the Iuge he gan it to presente, As he sat yet in doom in consistorie. And whan the Iuge it saugh, as seith the storie, He bad to take him and anhange him faste. But right anon a thousand peple in thraste, 260 To save the knight, for routhe and for pitee, For knowen was the false iniquitee. The peple anon hath suspect of this thing, By manere of the cherles chalanging, That it was by the assent of Apius; 265 They wisten wel that he was lecherous. For which un-to this Apius they gon, And caste him in a prison right anon, Wher-as he slow him-self; and Claudius, That servant was un-to this Apius, 270 Was demed for to hange upon a tree; But that Virginius, of his pitee, So preyde for him that he was exyled; And elles, certes, he had been bigyled. [298: T. 12209-12220.] The remenant were anhanged, more and lesse, 275 That were consentant of this cursednesse.—

252. All but E. Hn. ins. hir before softe. 259. E. Hn. anhange; rest honge. 260. E. Hn. a thousand; rest al the. 263. E. of; rest in. 264. E. Hn. the cherles; rest this clerkes. 269. E. Hn. Ther; rest Wher. 271. E. And; rest Was. 275. E. Hn. Hl. anhanged; rest honged.

Heer men may seen how sinne hath his meryte! Beth war, for no man woot whom god wol smyte In no degree, ne in which maner wyse The worm of conscience may agryse 280 Of wikked lyf, though it so privee be, That no man woot ther-of but god and he. For be he lewed man, or elles lered, He noot how sone that he shal been afered. Therfore I rede yow this conseil take, 285 Forsaketh sinne, er sinne yow forsake.

=Here endeth the Phisiciens Tale.=

278. E. Hn. whom; rest how. 280. E. Hn. may agryse; rest wol (wil) arise. 283. E. ellis. Cp. Ln. Whether he be lewed man or lered; so Pt. (with Where for Whether); so Hl. (with Wher that for Whether). COLOPHON. So E. Hn.; Sloane has Here endethe the tale of the Mayster of phisyk; Hl. Here endeth the Doctor of phisique his tale.

[299: T. 12221-12239.]

* * * * *

WORDS OF THE HOST.

* * * * *

=The wordes of the Host to the Phisicien and the Pardoner.=

Our Hoste gan to swere as he were wood, ‘Harrow!’ quod he, ‘by nayles and by blood!. This was a fals cherl and a fals Iustyse! As shamful deeth as herte may devyse 290 Come to thise Iuges and hir advocats! Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas! Allas! to dere boghte she beautee! Wherfore I seye al day, as men may see, That yiftes of fortune or of nature 295 Ben cause of deeth to many a creature. (10) Hir beautee was hir deeth, I dar wel sayn; Allas! so pitously as she was slayn! Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now Men han ful ofte more harm than prow. 300 But trewely, myn owene mayster dere, This is a pitous tale for to here. But natheles, passe over, is no fors; I prey to god, so save thy gentil cors, And eek thyne urinals and thy Iordanes, 305 [300: T. 12240-12262.] Thyn Ypocras, and eek thy Galianes, (20) And every boist ful of thy letuarie; God blesse hem, and our lady seinte Marie! So mot I theen, thou art a propre man, And lyk a prelat, by seint Ronyan! 310 Seyde I nat wel? I can nat speke in terme; But wel I woot, thou doost my herte to erme, That I almost have caught a cardiacle. By corpus bones! but I have triacle, Or elles a draught of moyste and corny ale, 315 Or but I here anon a mery tale, (30) Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde. Thou bel amy, thou Pardoner,’ he seyde, ‘Tel us som mirthe or Iapes right anon.’ ‘It shall be doon,’ quod he, ‘by seint Ronyon! 320 But first,’ quod he, ‘heer at this ale-stake I wol both drinke, and eten of a cake.’

HEADING. So E. E. Hoost. 287. Ln. oste; rest hoost, ost. 290. E. shameful. 291, 292. So E. Hn. Pt.; but Cp. has—So falle vpon his body and his bones The deuyl I bekenne him al at ones; so also Ln. Hl. 291. E. (alone) ins. false before Iuges. E. Hn. Aduocatz; Pt. aduocas. 295. E. Hn. and; rest or. 296. E. Hn. to; rest of. 297, 298. So Cp. Ln. Hl.; rest omit these lines. 300. E. Hn. for harm; rest om. for. 303. Hl. this is; the rest omit this. 305. Ln. Iordanes; Cp. Iurdanes; E. Hn. Iurdones. 306. Cp. Galianes; E. Hn. Galiones. 307. Hl. boist; E. Hn. boyste; Cp. Pt. Ln. box. 313. E. Hn. cardynacle(!). 322. eten of] Hl. byt on.

But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye, ‘Nay! lat him telle us of no ribaudye; Tel us som moral thing, that we may lere 325 Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly here.’ (40) ‘I graunte, y-wis,’ quod he, ‘but I mot thinke Up-on som honest thing, whyl that I drinke.

323. E. Hn. And; the rest But. 324. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. ribaudye; Ln. rebaudie; Pt. rybaudrye. 327. For ll. 326, 327, Hl. has—Gladly, quod he, and sayde as ye schal heere: But in the cuppe wil I me bethinke.

[301: T. 12263-12288.]

* * * * *

THE PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE.

* * * * *

=Here folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale.=

Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, sexto.

‘Lordings,’ quod he, ‘in chirches whan I preche, I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche, 330 And ringe it out as round as gooth a belle, For I can al by rote that I telle. My theme is alwey oon, and ever was— “Radix malorum est Cupiditas.”

First I pronounce whennes that I come, 335 And than my bulles shewe I, alle and somme. Our lige lordes seel on my patente, That shewe I first, my body to warente, (10) That no man be so bold, ne preest ne clerk, Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk; 340 And after that than telle I forth my tales, Bulles of popes and of cardinales, Of patriarkes, and bishoppes I shewe; And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe, To saffron with my predicacioun, 345 And for to stire men to devocioun. Than shewe I forth my longe cristal stones, Y-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones; (20) Reliks been they, as wenen they echoon. Than have I in latoun a sholder-boon 350 Which that was of an holy Iewes shepe. “Good men,” seye I, “tak of my wordes kepe; If that this boon be wasshe in any welle, If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle [302: T. 12289-12324.] That any worm hath ete, or worm y-stonge, 355 Tak water of that welle, and wash his tonge, And it is hool anon; and forthermore, Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every sore (30) Shal every sheep be hool, that of this welle Drinketh a draughte; tak kepe eek what I telle. 360 If that the good-man, that the bestes oweth, Wol every wike, er that the cok him croweth, Fastinge, drinken of this welle a draughte, As thilke holy Iewe our eldres taughte, His bestes and his stoor shal multiplye. 565 And, sirs, also it heleth Ialousye; For, though a man be falle in Ialous rage, Let maken with this water his potage, (40) And never shal he more his wyf mistriste, Though he the sooth of hir defaute wiste; 370 Al had she taken preestes two or three.

346. E. Hn. Hl. hem; rest men. 350. E. omits I by accident. 352. E. Hl. Pt. Ln. Good; E. Hn. Cp. Goode. Hn. I seye; rest say I, saie I. 366. E. Hn. sire; rest sires, sirs.

Heer is a miteyn eek, that ye may see. He that his hond wol putte in this miteyn, He shal have multiplying of his greyn, Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes, 375 So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.

Good men and wommen, o thing warne I yow, If any wight be in this chirche now, (50) That hath doon sinne horrible, that he Dar nat, for shame, of it y-shriven be, 380 Or any womman, be she yong or old, That hath y-maad hir housbond cokewold, Swich folk shul have no power ne no grace To offren to my reliks in this place. And who-so findeth him out of swich blame, 385 He wol com up and offre in goddes name, And I assoille him by the auctoritee Which that by bulle y-graunted was to me.” (60)

377. E. Hn. Goode; rest And. 382. Cp. Ln. Hl. ymaad; Pt. made; E. Hn. ymaked. 385. E. fame; rest blame. 386. Hn. He; rest They. E. on; Hn. a; rest in. 387. E. Hl. hem; rest him or hym.

By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer, An hundred mark sith I was Pardoner. 390 [303: T. 12325-12361.] I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet, And whan the lewed peple is doun y-set, I preche, so as ye han herd bifore, And telle an hundred false Iapes more. Than peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke, 395 And est and west upon the peple I bekke, As doth a dowve sitting on a berne. Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerne, (70) That it is Ioye to see my bisinesse. Of avaryce and of swich cursednesse 400 Is al my preching, for to make hem free To yeve her pens, and namely un-to me. For my entente is nat but for to winne, And no-thing for correccioun of sinne. I rekke never, whan that they ben beried, 405 Though that her soules goon a-blakeberied! For certes, many a predicacioun Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun; (80) Som for plesaunce of folk and flaterye, To been avaunced by ipocrisye, 410 And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate. For, whan I dar non other weyes debate, Than wol I stinge him with my tonge smerte In preching, so that he shal nat asterte To been defamed falsly, if that he 415 Hath trespased to my brethren or to me. For, though I telle noght his propre name, Men shal wel knowe that it is the same (90) By signes and by othere circumstances. Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances; 420 Thus spitte I out my venim under hewe Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe.

395. the] Cm. myn; Cp. Ln. Hl. my. 405. E. Hl. omit that.

But shortly myn entente I wol devyse; I preche of no-thing but for coveityse. Therfor my theme is yet, and ever was— 425 “Radix malorum est cupiditas.” Thus can I preche agayn that same vyce [304: T. 12362-12396.] Which that I use, and that is avaryce. (100) But, though my-self be gilty in that sinne, Yet can I maken other folk to twinne 430 From avaryce, and sore to repente. But that is nat my principal entente. I preche no-thing but for coveityse; Of this matere it oughte y-nogh suffyse.

425. E. Hn. theme; rest teme (teem).

Than telle I hem ensamples many oon 435 Of olde stories, longe tyme agoon: For lewed peple loven tales olde; Swich thinges can they wel reporte and holde. (110) What? trowe ye, the whyles I may preche, And winne gold and silver for I teche, 440 That I wol live in povert wilfully? Nay, nay, I thoghte it never trewely! For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes; I wol not do no labour with myn hondes, Ne make baskettes, and live therby, 445 Because I wol nat beggen ydelly. I wol non of the apostles counterfete; I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete, (120) Al were it yeven of the povrest page, Or of the povrest widwe in a village, 450 Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne. Nay! I wol drinke licour of the vyne, And have a Ioly wenche in every toun. But herkneth, lordings, in conclusioun; Your lyking is that I shal telle a tale. 455 Now, have I dronke a draughte of corny ale, By god, I hope I shal yow telle a thing That shal, by resoun, been at your lyking. (130) For, though myself be a ful vicious man, A moral tale yet I yow telle can, 460 Which I am wont to preche, for to winne. Now holde your pees, my tale I wol beginne.

439. E. Pt. the whiles; Cm. that whilis that; Cp. Ln. whiles that; Hl. whiles; Hn. that whiles. 449. Hl. prestes (for povrest).

[305: T. 12397-12422.]

* * * * *

THE PARDONERS TALE.

(Numbered in continuation of the preceding.)

* * * * *

=Here biginneth the Pardoners Tale.=

In Flaundres whylom was a companye Of yonge folk, that haunteden folye, As ryot, hasard, stewes, and tavernes, 465 Wher-as, with harpes, lutes, and giternes, They daunce and pleye at dees bothe day and night, And ete also and drinken over hir might, (140) Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifyse With-in that develes temple, in cursed wyse, 470 By superfluitee abhominable; Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable, That it is grisly for to here hem swere; Our blissed lordes body they to-tere; Hem thoughte Iewes rente him noght y-nough; 475 And ech of hem at otheres sinne lough. And right anon than comen tombesteres Fetys and smale, and yonge fruytesteres, (150) Singers with harpes, baudes, wafereres, Whiche been the verray develes officeres 480 To kindle and blowe the fyr of lecherye, That is annexed un-to glotonye; The holy writ take I to my witnesse, That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.

HEADING; from E. Hn. 465. E. Hl. stywes. 475. So Cp. Ln. Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. that Iewes; Pt. þe Iwes. 478, 479. Hl. omits.

Lo, how that dronken Loth, unkindely, 485 Lay by his doghtres two, unwitingly; So dronke he was, he niste what he wroghte.

Herodes, (who-so wel the stories soghte), (160) [306: T. 12423-12459.] Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste, Right at his owene table he yaf his heste 490 To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees.

488. E. Hn. Cm. P. Hl. agree here; Cp. Ln. have two additional (spurious) lines; see note.

Senek seith eek a good word doutelees; He seith, he can no difference finde Bitwix a man that is out of his minde And a man which that is dronkelewe, 495 But that woodnesse, y-fallen in a shrewe, Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse. O glotonye, ful of cursednesse, (170) O cause first of our confusioun, O original of our dampnacioun, 500 Til Crist had boght us with his blood agayn! Lo, how dere, shortly for to sayn, Aboght was thilke cursed vileinye; Corrupt was al this world for glotonye!

492. Hl. Seneca (for Senek). Cp. Ln. eek; rest omit. 495. which that] Hl. the which; Cp. Pt. Ln. om. which. 496. E. Hl. fallen; Hn. Cm. y-fallen.

Adam our fader, and his wyf also, 505 Fro Paradys to labour and to wo Were driven for that vyce, it is no drede; For whyl that Adam fasted, as I rede, (180) He was in Paradys; and whan that he Eet of the fruyt defended on the tree, 510 Anon he was out-cast to wo and peyne. O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne! O, wiste a man how many maladyes Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes, He wolde been the more mesurable 515 Of his diete, sittinge at his table. Allas! the shorte throte, the tendre mouth, Maketh that, Est and West, and North and South, (190) In erthe, in eir, in water men to-swinke To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drinke! 520 Of this matere, o Paul, wel canstow trete, ‘Mete un-to wombe, and wombe eek un-to mete, Shal god destroyen bothe,’ as Paulus seith. Allas! a foul thing is it, by my feith, To seye this word, and fouler is the dede, 525 [307: T. 12460-12496.] Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and rede, That of his throte he maketh his privee, Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. (200)

519. E. Hl. man; rest men.

The apostel weping seith ful pitously, ‘Ther walken many of whiche yow told have I, 530 I seye it now weping with pitous voys, That they been enemys of Cristes croys, Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is her god.’ O wombe! O bely! O stinking cod, Fulfild of donge and of corrupcioun! 535 At either ende of thee foul is the soun. How greet labour and cost is thee to finde! Thise cokes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grinde, (210) And turnen substaunce in-to accident, To fulfille al thy likerous talent! 540 Out of the harde bones knokke they The mary, for they caste noght a-wey That may go thurgh the golet softe and swote; Of spicerye, of leef, and bark, and rote Shal been his sauce y-maked by delyt, 545 To make him yet a newer appetyt. But certes, he that haunteth swich delyces Is deed, whyl that he liveth in tho vyces. (220)

532. That they is Tyrwhitt’s reading; Hl. Thay; but the rest have Ther, probably repeated by mistake from l. 530. 534. Hl. o stynking is thi cod.

A lecherous thing is wyn, and dronkenesse Is ful of stryving and of wrecchednesse. 550 O dronke man, disfigured is thy face, Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace, And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun As though thou seydest ay ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun’; And yet, god wot, Sampsoun drank never no wyn. 555 Thou fallest, as it were a stiked swyn; Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honest cure; For dronkenesse is verray sepulture (230) Of mannes wit and his discrecioun. In whom that drinke hath dominacioun, 560 He can no conseil kepe, it is no drede. Now kepe yow fro the whyte and fro the rede, [308: T. 12497-12533.] And namely fro the whyte wyn of Lepe, That is to selle in Fish-strete or in Chepe. This wyn of Spayne crepeth subtilly 565 In othere wynes, growing faste by, Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee, That whan a man hath dronken draughtes three, (240) And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe, He is in Spayne, right at the toune of Lepe, 570 Nat at the Rochel, ne at Burdeux toun; And thanne wol he seye, ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun.’

But herkneth, lordings, o word, I yow preye, That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye, Of victories in the olde testament, 575 Thurgh verray god, that is omnipotent, Were doon in abstinence and in preyere; Loketh the Bible, and ther ye may it lere. (250)

573. E. lordes; rest lordinges, lordynges, lordyngs.

Loke, Attila, the grete conquerour, Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour, 580 Bledinge ay at his nose in dronkenesse; A capitayn shoulde live in sobrenesse. And over al this, avyseth yow right wel What was comaunded un-to Lamuel— Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I— 585 Redeth the Bible, and finde it expresly Of wyn-yeving to hem that han Iustyse. Na-more of this, for it may wel suffyse. (260)

And now that I have spoke of glotonye, Now wol I yow defenden hasardrye. 590 Hasard is verray moder of lesinges, And of deceite, and cursed forsweringes, Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo, It is repreve and contrarie of honour 595 For to ben holde a commune hasardour. And ever the hyër he is of estaat, The more is he holden desolaat. (270) If that a prince useth hasardrye, [309: T. 12534-12569.] In alle governaunce and policye 600 He is, as by commune opinoun, Y-holde the lasse in reputacioun.

589. E. Hl. omit that. 593. E. Blasphemyng; rest Blaspheme.

Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour, Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour, Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. 605 And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce, That alle the grettest that were of that lond, Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. (280) For which, as sone as it mighte be, He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, 610 And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name; Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, Yow for to allye un-to none hasardours. Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, 615 Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. For ye that been so glorious in honours Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours (290) As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’ This wyse philosophre thus seyde he. 620

606. Cm. Cp. Hl. happede; rest happed. 612. Hn. Ny; Cm. Nay (both put for Ne I) which shews the scansion. Hl. I nyl not. 614. So all.

Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius The king of Parthes, as the book seith us, Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun 625 At no value or reputacioun. Lordes may finden other maner pley Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey. (300)

621. E. Ln. Hl. omit to.

Now wol I speke of othes false and grete A word or two, as olde bokes trete. 630 Gret swering is a thing abhominable, And false swering is yet more reprevable. The heighe god forbad swering at al, Witnesse on Mathew; but in special Of swering seith the holy Ieremye, 635 [310: T. 12570-12605.] ‘Thou shalt seye sooth thyn othes, and nat lye, And swere in dome, and eek in rightwisnesse;’ But ydel swering is a cursednesse. (310) Bihold and see, that in the firste table Of heighe goddes hestes honurable, 640 How that the seconde heste of him is this— ‘Tak nat my name in ydel or amis.’ Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering Than homicyde or many a cursed thing; I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth; 645 This knowen, that his hestes understondeth, How that the second heste of god is that. And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat, (320) That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous, That of his othes is to outrageous. 650 ‘By goddes precious herte, and by his nayles, And by the blode of Crist, that it is in Hayles, Seven is my chaunce, and thyn is cink and treye; By goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye, This dagger shal thurgh-out thyn herte go’— 655 This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two, Forswering, ire, falsnesse, homicyde. Now, for the love of Crist that for us dyde, (330) Leveth your othes, bothe grete and smale; But, sirs, now wol I telle forth my tale. 660

632. Cp. Ln. Hl. om. yet. 644. Hn. Cm. Hl. many a.; E. any; Cp. Pt. Ln. eny other. 656. Hl. bicchid; Ln. becched; Hn. Cm. bicche; Pt. thilk. 659. E. Hn. Lete; rest Leueth.

Thise ryotoures three, of whiche I telle, Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle, Were set hem in a taverne for to drinke; And as they satte, they herde a belle clinke Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave; 665 That oon of hem gan callen to his knave, ‘Go bet,’ quod he, ‘and axe redily, What cors is this that passeth heer forby; (340) And look that thou reporte his name wel.’

661. E. Hn. Pt. Hl. riotours. 663. Cp. Pt. Hl. for; rest om.

‘Sir,’ quod this boy, ‘it nedeth never-a-del. 670 It was me told, er ye cam heer, two houres; [311: T. 12606-12642.] He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres; And sodeynly he was y-slayn to-night, For-dronke, as he sat on his bench upright; Ther cam a privee theef, men clepeth Deeth, 675 That in this contree al the peple sleeth, And with his spere he smoot his herte a-two, And wente his wey with-outen wordes mo. (350) He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence: And, maister, er ye come in his presence, 680 Me thinketh that it were necessarie For to be war of swich an adversarie: Beth redy for to mete him evermore. Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na-more.’ ‘By seinte Marie,’ seyde this taverner, 685 ‘The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer, Henne over a myle, with-in a greet village, Both man and womman, child and hyne, and page. (360) I trowe his habitacioun be there; To been avysed greet wisdom it were, 690 Er that he dide a man a dishonour.’ ‘Ye, goddes armes,’ quod this ryotour, ‘Is it swich peril with him for to mete? I shal him seke by wey and eek by strete, I make avow to goddes digne bones! 695 Herkneth, felawes, we three been al ones; Lat ech of us holde up his hond til other, (370) And ech of us bicomen otheres brother, And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth; He shal be slayn, which that so many sleeth, 700 By goddes dignitee, er it be night.’

Togidres han thise three her trouthes plight, To live and dyen ech of hem for other, As though he were his owene y-boren brother. And up they sterte al dronken, in this rage, 705 And forth they goon towardes that village, Of which the taverner had spoke biforn, And many a grisly ooth than han they sworn, (380) [312: T. 12643-12680.] And Cristes blessed body they to-rente— ‘Deeth shal be deed, if that they may him hente.’ 710

704. E. yborn; Hn. ybore; Cm. bore; Pt. born; Cp. Ln. Hl. sworne. 705. E. Hn. stirte. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. al; E. Cm. Pt. and. 710. they] Cp. Pt. Ln. we.

Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle, Right as they wolde han troden over a style, An old man and a povre with hem mette. This olde man ful mekely hem grette, And seyde thus, ‘now, lordes, god yow see!’ 715

The proudest of thise ryotoures three Answerde agayn, ‘what? carl, with sory grace, Why artow al forwrapped save thy face? (390) Why livestow so longe in so greet age?’

This olde man gan loke in his visage, 720 And seyde thus, ‘for I ne can nat finde A man, though that I walked in-to Inde, Neither in citee nor in no village, That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age; And therfore moot I han myn age stille, 725 As longe time as it is goddes wille.

Ne deeth, allas! ne wol nat han my lyf; Thus walke I, lyk a restelees caityf, (400) And on the ground, which is my modres gate, I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late, 730 And seye, “leve moder, leet me in! Lo, how I vanish, flesh, and blood, and skin! Allas! whan shul my bones been at reste? Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste, That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, 735 Ye! for an heyre clout to wrappe me!” But yet to me she wol nat do that grace, For which ful pale and welked is my face. (410)

But, sirs, to yow it is no curteisye To speken to an old man vileinye, 740 But he trespasse in worde, or elles in dede. In holy writ ye may your-self wel rede, “Agayns an old man, hoor upon his heed, Ye sholde aryse;” wherfor I yeve yow reed, Ne dooth un-to an old man noon harm now, 745 Na-more than ye wolde men dide to yow [313: T. 12681-12718.] In age, if that ye so longe abyde; And god be with yow, wher ye go or ryde. (420) I moot go thider as I have to go.’

746. E. Hn. than that; rest omit that.

‘Nay, olde cherl, by god, thou shall nat so,’ 750 Seyde this other hasardour anon; ‘Thou partest nat so lightly, by seint Iohn! Thou spak right now of thilke traitour Deeth, That in this contree alle our frendes sleeth. Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his aspye, 755 Tel wher he is, or thou shalt it abye, By god, and by the holy sacrament! For soothly thou art oon of his assent, (430) To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!’

‘Now, sirs,’ quod he, ‘if that yow be so leef 760 To finde Deeth, turne up this croked wey, For in that grove I lafte him, by my fey, Under a tree, and ther he wol abyde; Nat for your boost he wol him no-thing hyde. See ye that ook? right ther ye shul him finde. 765 God save yow, that boghte agayn mankinde, And yow amende!’—thus seyde this olde man. And everich of thise ryotoures ran, (440) Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde Of florins fyne of golde y-coyned rounde 770 Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte. No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte, But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte, For that the florins been so faire and brighte, That doun they sette hem by this precious hord. 775 The worste of hem he spake the firste word.

760. E. Cm. ye; Hn. Hl. yow.

‘Brethren,’ quod he, ‘tak kepe what I seye; My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye. (450) This tresor hath fortune un-to us yiven, In mirthe and Iolitee our lyf to liven, 780 And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende. Ey! goddes precious dignitee! who wende To-day, that we sholde han so fair a grace? But mighte this gold be caried fro this place [314: T. 12719-12754.] Hoom to myn hous, or elles un-to youres— 785 For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures— Than were we in heigh felicitee. But trewely, by daye it may nat be; (460) Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge, And for our owene tresor doon us honge. 790 This tresor moste y-caried be by nighte As wysly and as slyly as it mighte. Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle; And he that hath the cut with herte blythe 795 Shal renne to the toune, and that ful swythe, And bringe us breed and wyn ful prively. And two of us shul kepen subtilly (470) This tresor wel; and, if he wol nat tarie, Whan it is night, we wol this tresor carie 800 By oon assent, wher-as us thinketh best.’ That oon of hem the cut broughte in his fest, And bad hem drawe, and loke wher it wol falle; And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle; And forth toward the toun he wente anon. 805 And al-so sone as that he was gon, That oon of hem spak thus un-to that other, ‘Thou knowest wel thou art my sworne brother, (480) Thy profit wol I telle thee anon. Thou woost wel that our felawe is agon; 810 And heer is gold, and that ful greet plentee, That shal departed been among us three. But natheles, if I can shape it so That it departed were among us two, Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?’ 815

779. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. yeuen. 780. E. Ioliftee. 796. Hl. Ln. the; rest omit. 803. E. hym; rest hem. E. Hn. Cp. wol; Hl. wil; Cm. Pt. Ln. wolde. 807. E. omits of hem. 808. E. Hn. Pt. sworn; Cm. swore: Cp. Ln. Hl. sworne.

That other answerde, ‘I noot how that may be; He woot how that the gold is with us tweye, What shal we doon, what shal we to him seye?’ (490)

‘Shal it be conseil?’ seyde the firste shrewe, ‘And I shal tellen thee, in wordes fewe, 820 [315: T. 12755-12790.] What we shal doon, and bringe it wel aboute.’

820. Hl. the (=thee); rest omit. E. Hn. Cm. in a; rest omit a.

‘I graunte,’ quod that other, ‘out of doute, That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye.’

823. E. shal; rest wol (wil, wyl).

‘Now,’ quod the firste, ‘thou woost wel we be tweye, And two of us shul strenger be than oon. 825 Look whan that he is set, and right anoon Arys, as though thou woldest with him pleye; And I shal ryve him thurgh the sydes tweye (500) Whyl that thou strogelest with him as in game, And with thy dagger look thou do the same; 830 And than shal al this gold departed be, My dere freend, bitwixen me and thee; Than may we bothe our lustes al fulfille, And pleye at dees right at our owene wille.’ And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye 835 To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.

826. E. Hn. Cm. that right; Cp. and thanne; Pt. Ln. Hl. and that. I take and from Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl., and right from E. Hn. Cm.

This yongest, which that wente un-to the toun, Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun (510) The beautee of thise florins newe and brighte. ‘O lord!’ quod he, ‘if so were that I mighte 840 Have al this tresor to my-self allone, Ther is no man that liveth under the trone Of god, that sholde live so mery as I!’ And atte laste the feend, our enemy, Putte in his thought that he shold poyson beye, 845 With which he mighte sleen his felawes tweye; For-why the feend fond him in swich lyvinge, That he had leve him to sorwe bringe, (520) For this was outrely his fulle entente To sleen hem bothe, and never to repente. 850 And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie, Into the toun, un-to a pothecarie, And preyed him, that he him wolde selle Som poyson, that he mighte his rattes quelle; And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe, 855 That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde y-slawe, [316: T. 12791-12826.] And fayn he wolde wreke him, if he mighte, On vermin, that destroyed him by nighte. (530)

847. E. Hn. foond. 848. E. Cm. hem; rest hym or him. 853. Hn. preyed; Cm. preyede; rest preyde.

The pothecarie answerde, ‘and thou shalt have A thing that, al-so god my soule save, 860 In al this world ther nis no creature, That ete or dronke hath of this confiture Noght but the mountance of a corn of whete, That he ne shal his lyf anon forlete; Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse whyle 865 Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a myle; This poyson is so strong and violent.’

861. E. Hn. Cm. is; rest nys or nis.

This cursed man hath in his hond y-hent (540) This poyson in a box, and sith he ran In-to the nexte strete, un-to a man, 870 And borwed [of] him large botels three; And in the two his poyson poured he; The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke. For al the night he shoop him for to swinke In caryinge of the gold out of that place. 875 And whan this ryotour, with sory grace, Had filled with wyn his grete botels three, To his felawes agayn repaireth he. (550)

871. All omit of. 873. E. his owene; rest omit owene.

What nedeth it to sermone of it more? For right as they had cast his deeth bifore, 880 Right so they han him slayn, and that anon. And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon, ‘Now lat us sitte and drinke, and make us merie, And afterward we wol his body berie.’ And with that word it happed him, par cas, 885 To take the botel ther the poyson was, And drank, and yaf his felawe drinke also, For which anon they storven bothe two. (560)

880. E. so as; rest omit so.

But, certes, I suppose that Avicen Wroot never in no canon, ne in no fen, 890 Mo wonder signes of empoisoning Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir ending. [317: T. 12827-12861.] Thus ended been thise homicydes two, And eek the false empoysoner also.

891. E. Hn. Cm. signes; Cp. Ln. Hl. sorwes; Pt. sorowes.

O cursed sinne, ful of cursednesse! 895 O traytours homicyde, o wikkednesse! O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye! Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileinye (570) And othes grete, of usage and of pryde! Allas! mankinde, how may it bityde, 900 That to thy creatour which that thee wroghte, And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte, Thou art so fals and so unkinde, allas!

895. E. Hn. Cm. of alle; Cp. Ln. Hl. ful of; Pt. ful of al.

Now, goode men, god forgeve yow your trespas, And ware yow fro the sinne of avaryce. 905 Myn holy pardoun may yow alle waryce, So that ye offre nobles or sterlinges, Or elles silver broches, spones, ringes. (580) Boweth your heed under this holy bulle! Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of your wolle! 910 Your name I entre heer in my rolle anon; In-to the blisse of hevene shul ye gon; I yow assoile, by myn heigh power, Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer As ye were born; and, lo, sirs, thus I preche. 915 And Iesu Crist, that is our soules leche, So graunte yow his pardon to receyve; For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve. (590)

910. E. Com; rest Cometh, Comyth. 911. E. Hl. names; rest name.

But sirs, o word forgat I in my tale, I have relikes and pardon in my male, 920 As faire as any man in Engelond, Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond. If any of yow wol, of devocioun, Offren, and han myn absolucioun, Cometh forth anon, and kneleth heer adoun, 925 And mekely receyveth my pardoun: Or elles, taketh pardon as ye wende, [318: T. 12862-12897.] Al newe and fresh, at every tounes ende, (600) So that ye offren alwey newe and newe Nobles and pens, which that be gode and trewe. 930 It is an honour to everich that is heer, That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer Tassoille yow, in contree as ye ryde, For aventures which that may bityde. Peraventure ther may falle oon or two 935 Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo. Look which a seuretee is it to yow alle That I am in your felaweship y-falle, (610) That may assoille yow, bothe more and lasse, Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe, 940 I rede that our hoste heer shal biginne, For he is most envoluped in sinne. Com forth, sir hoste, and offre first anon, And thou shalt kisse the reliks everichon, Ye, for a grote! unbokel anon thy purs.’ 945

925. E. Hn. Com; rest Cometh, Comyth. 928. E. Hn. Cm. myles; rest tounes. 930. E. Hn. or; rest and. 935. E. fallen. 941. E. Cm. heere; rest om. 944. E. my; Cm. myne; rest the.

‘Nay, nay,’ quod he, ‘than have I Cristes curs! Lat be,’ quod he, ‘it shal nat be, so theech! Thou woldest make me kisse thyn old breech, (620) And swere it were a relik of a seint, Thogh it were with thy fundement depeint! 950 But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond, I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond In stede of relikes or of seintuarie; Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie; Thay shul be shryned in an hogges tord.’ 955

947. Hn. thee ich; rest theech. 954. Cp. Ln. the helpe; Pt. Hl. helpe; E. with thee; Cm. from the; Hn. thee.

This pardoner answerde nat a word; So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.

‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘I wol no lenger pleye (630) With thee, ne with noon other angry man.’ But right anon the worthy knight bigan, 960 Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough, ‘Na-more of this, for it is right y-nough; Sir pardoner, be glad and mery of chere; [319: T. 12898-12902.] And ye, sir host, that been to me so dere, I prey yow that ye kisse the pardoner. 965 And pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer, And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye.’ (639) Anon they kiste, and riden forth hir weye. [T. 12902.

=Here is ended the Pardoners Tale.=

(For T. 12903, see p. 165).

COLOPHON. From E. Hn.; Hl. Here endeth the pardoneres tale.

[320: T. 5583-5602.]

* * * * *

GROUP D.

THE WIFE OF BATH’S PROLOGUE.

T. 5583 sqq.; for T. 5582, see p. 164.)

* * * * *

=The prologe of the Wyves Tale of Bathe.=

‘Experience, though noon auctoritee Were in this world, were right y-nough to me To speke of wo that is in mariage; For, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age, Thonked be god that is eterne on lyve, 5 Housbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve; For I so ofte have y-wedded be; And alle were worthy men in hir degree. But me was told certeyn, nat longe agon is, That sith that Crist ne wente never but onis 10 To wedding in the Cane of Galilee, That by the same ensample taughte he me That I ne sholde wedded be but ones. Herke eek, lo! which a sharp word for the nones Besyde a welle Iesus, god and man, 15 Spak in repreve of the Samaritan: “Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes,” quod he, “And thilke man, the which that hath now thee, Is noght thyn housbond;” thus seyde he certeyn; What that he mente ther-by, I can nat seyn; 20 [321: T. 5603-5636.] But that I axe, why that the fifthe man Was noon housbond to the Samaritan? How manye mighte she have in mariage? Yet herde I never tellen in myn age Upon this nombre diffinicioun; 25 Men may devyne and glosen up and doun. But wel I woot expres, with-oute lye, God bad us for to wexe and multiplye; That gentil text can I wel understonde. Eek wel I woot he seyde, myn housbonde 30 Sholde lete fader and moder, and take me; But of no nombre mencioun made he, Of bigamye or of octogamye; Why sholde men speke of it vileinye?

HEADING. So E.; Hn. Here bigynneth the prologe of the tale of the Wyf of Bathe; Hl. Here bygynneth the prologe of the wyf of Bathe. 5. Hn. Pt. Ln. Thonked; E. Ythonked. 7. So E.; rest If (Hl. For) I so ofte myghte haue wedded be. 12. E. om. That. E. thoughte; rest taughte he. 14. E. Herkne; Hl. Herken; rest Herke (Herk). E. Hl. om. lo. 18. E. And that; rest And that ilke (read thilke). 29. E. om. wel. 31. E. take; Hl. folwe; rest take to.

Lo, here the wyse king, dan Salomon; 35 I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon; As, wolde god, it leveful were to me To be refresshed half so ofte as he! Which yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyvis! No man hath swich, that in this world alyve is. 40 God woot, this noble king, as to my wit, The firste night had many a mery fit With ech of hem, so wel was him on lyve! Blessed be god that I have wedded fyve! Welcome the sixte, whan that ever he shal. 45 For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chast in al; Whan myn housbond is fro the world y-gon, Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon; For thanne thapostle seith, that I am free To wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh me. 50 He seith that to be wedded is no sinne; Bet is to be wedded than to brinne. What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileinye Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye? [322: T. 5637-5672.] I woot wel Abraham was an holy man, 55 And Iacob eek, as ferforth as I can; And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two; And many another holy man also. Whan saugh ye ever, in any maner age, That hye god defended mariage 60 By expres word? I pray you, telleth me; Or wher comanded he virginitee? I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede, Thapostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede; He seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he noon. 65 Men may conseille a womman to been oon, But conseilling is no comandement; He putte it in our owene Iugement. For hadde god comanded maydenhede, Thanne hadde he dampned wedding with the dede; 70 And certes, if ther were no seed y-sowe, Virginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe? Poul dorste nat comanden atte leste A thing of which his maister yaf noon heste. The dart is set up for virginitee; 75 Cacche who so may, who renneth best lat see.

37. So all but E., which has it were leueful vn-to me. 42. E. myrie; Hn. murye. 44. E. Hl. Yblessed; rest Blessed (Blissed). 46. E. chaast. 49. E. om. that. 50. Hl. wher so it be; rest wher it liketh me (correctly; for a goddes half = a god’s half). 51. E. om. that. 52. E. Hn. Hl. Bet; rest Better. 54. E. Hl. of; rest his. 58. E. om. holy. 59. Hl. Whan; E. Whanne; rest Where (Wher). E. om. any. 64. E. Whan thapostel speketh. 67. E. nat; rest no (non). 71. E. certein. 73. E. Hl. ins. ne after Poul. 75. E. of; Cp. fro; Hl. on; rest for.

But this word is nat take of every wight, But ther as god list give it of his might. I woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde; But natheless, thogh that he wroot and sayde, 80 He wolde that every wight were swich as he, Al nis but conseil to virginitee; And for to been a wyf, he yaf me leve Of indulgence; so it is no repreve To wedde me, if that my make dye, 85 With-oute excepcioun of bigamye. Al were it good no womman for to touche, He mente as in his bed or in his couche; For peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble; Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble. 90 [323: T. 5673-5706.] This is al and som, he heeld virginitee More parfit than wedding in freletee. Freeltee clepe I, but-if that he and she Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.

77. E. Hl. taken. 78. E. Cm. lust; Hn. Hl. list. 79. E. om. that. 85. E. Cm. om. that. 89. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. to assemble. 91. E. Cm that; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. he heeld; Hl. he holdith. 92. E. Cm. profiteth; rest parfit. 94. Hn. Hl. leden; rest lede.

I graunte it wel, I have noon envye, 95 Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye; Hem lyketh to be clene, body and goost, Of myn estaat I nil nat make no boost. For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold, He hath nat every vessel al of gold; 100 Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse. God clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse, And everich hath of god a propre yifte, Som this, som that,—as him lyketh shifte.

104. So all but Hl. Ln. which have to schifte. Perhaps read right as him.

Virginitee is greet perfeccioun, 105 And continence eek with devocioun. But Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle, Bad nat every wight he shold go selle All that he hadde, and give it to the pore, And in swich wyse folwe hime and his fore. 110 He spak to hem that wolde live parfitly; And lordinges, by your leve, that am nat I. I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age In the actes and in fruit of mariage.

108. E. Cm. Hl. om. he. 109, 110. E poore, foore; and foore is glossed by steppes. 113. E Hl. om. al.

Telle me also, to what conclusioun 115 Were membres maad of generacioun, And for what profit was a wight y-wroght? Trusteth right wel, they wer nat maad for noght. Glose who-so wole, and seye bothe up and doun, That they were maked for purgacioun Of urine, and our bothe thinges smale Were eek to knowe a femele from a male, And for noone other cause: sey ye no? The experience woot wel it is noght so; [324: T. 5707-5741.] So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe, 125 I sey this, that they maked been for bothe, This is to seye, for office, and for ese Of engendrure, ther we nat god displese. Why sholde men elles in hir bokes sette, That man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette? 130 Now wher-with sholde he make his payement, If he ne used his sely instrument? Than were they maad up-on a creature, To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure.

116 E. ymaad. 120. Cm. makyd; rest maad; see l. 126. 121. So Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. vryne bothe and thynges. 122. E. Cm. And; Hn. Hl. Was; rest Were. 126. this] E. yis. E. Cm. beth maked. 130. E. Cm. a man. 133. E. Thanne. 134. E. Cm. om. eek.

But I seye noght that every wight is holde, 135 That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde, To goon and usen hem in engendrure; Than sholde men take of chastitee no cure. Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man, And many a seint, sith that the world bigan, 140 Yet lived they ever in parfit chastitee. I nil envye no virginitee; Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed, And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed; And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle can, 145 Our lord Iesu refresshed many a man. In swich estaat as god hath cleped us I wol persevere, I nam nat precious. In wyfhode I wol use myn instrument As frely as my maker hath it sent. 150 If I be daungerous, god yeve me sorwe! Myn housbond shal it have bothe eve and morwe, Whan that him list com forth and paye his dette. An housbonde I wol have, I nil nat lette, Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral, 155 And have his tribulacioun with-al Up-on his flessh, whyl that I am his wyf. I have the power duringe al my lyf Up-on his propre body, and noght he. [325: T. 5742-5776.] Right thus the apostel tolde it un-to me; 160 And bad our housbondes for to love us weel. Al this sentence me lyketh every-deel’—

136. Hn. Hl. to yow; E. Cm. of. 138. E. Cm. They shul nat; rest Than sholde men. 140. E. Cm. om. that (perhaps read së-int). 142. E. Cm. nil nat. 144. E. hoten; Hn. Cm. hote; Cp. Pt. Ln. ete(!); Hl. eten(!). 146. E. Cm. Hl. om. Iesu. 148. E. Hn. precius.

Up sterte the Pardoner, and that anon, ‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘by god and by seint Iohn, Ye been a noble prechour in this cas! 165 I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas! What sholde I bye it on my flesh so dere? Yet hadde I lever wedde no wyf to-yere!’

163. E. Hn. stirte.

‘Abyde!’ quod she, ‘my tale is nat bigonne; Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tonne 170 Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale. And whan that I have told thee forth my tale Of tribulacioun in mariage, Of which I am expert in al myn age, This to seyn, my-self have been the whippe;— 175 Than maystow chese whether thou wolt sippe Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche. Be war of it, er thou to ny approche; For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten. Who-so that nil be war by othere men, 180 By him shul othere men corrected be. The same wordes wryteth Ptholomee; Rede in his Almageste, and take it there.’

172. Hn. Hl. thee; rest om. 173. E. Cm. that is in (for in). 176. E. wheither. 177. E. Cm. that; rest thilke. 180. Hn. nyle; Hl. nyl; rest wol nat. 182. Ln. tholome; Pt. ptholome; Hl. p_ro_tholome; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Protholome(!). 183. E. Cm. Rede it in.

‘Dame, I wolde praye yow, if your wil it were,’ Seyde this Pardoner, ‘as ye bigan, 185 Telle forth your tale, spareth for no man, And teche us yonge men of your praktike.’

184. E. Cm. om. yow.

‘Gladly,’ quod she, ‘sith it may yow lyke. But yet I praye to al this companye, If that I speke after my fantasye, 190 As taketh not a-grief of that I seye; For myn entente nis but for to pleye.

188. E. sires; Cm. sire; rest quod she. 191. E. Cm. om. of. 192. Hn. nis; E. Cm. is; rest is not.

Now sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.— As ever mote I drinken wyn or ale, [326: T. 5777-5811.] I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde, 195 As three of hem were gode and two were badde. The three men were gode, and riche, and olde; Unnethe mighte they the statut holde In which that they were bounden un-to me. Ye woot wel what I mene of this, pardee! 200 As help me god, I laughe whan I thinke How pitously a-night I made hem swinke; And by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor. They had me yeven hir gold and hir tresoor; Me neded nat do lenger diligence 205 To winne hir love, or doon hem reverence. They loved me so wel, by god above, That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love! A wys womman wol sette hir ever in oon To gete hir love, ther as she hath noon. 210 But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond, And sith they hadde me yeven all hir lond, What sholde I taken hede hem for to plese, But it were for my profit and myn ese? I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey, 215 That many a night they songen “weilawey!” The bacoun was nat fet for hem, I trowe, That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe. I governed hem so wel, after my lawe, That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe 220 To bringe me gaye thinges fro the fayre. They were ful glad whan I spak to hem fayre; For god it woot, I chidde hem spitously.

193. E. Hn. Cm. sire. 195. E. of tho; Hl. Cm. of; Hn. Cp. Pt. tho; Ln. the. 197. Cp. Pt. Ln. men; rest om. 210. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. ye ther; but read lov-ë. 215. E. Hn. a-werk; rest a-werke. 220. E. was ful blisful; Cm. was blysful and ful.

Now herkneth, how I bar me proprely, Ye wyse wyves, that can understonde. 225

224. E. baar.

Thus shul ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde; For half so boldely can ther no man Swere and lyen as a womman can. I sey nat this by wyves that ben wyse, [327: T. 5812-5845.] But-if it be whan they hem misavyse. 230 A wys wyf, if that she can hir good, Shal beren him on hond the cow is wood, And take witnesse of hir owene mayde Of hir assent; but herkneth how I sayde.

226. E. beren: om. wrong. 228. MSS. lye; read lyen. Hn. Ln. a womman kan; Pt. womman can; rest kan a womman. 231. E. Hn. Cm. A wys; Hl. I-wis a; rest wise. Read wys-e? 232. Hl. beren; rest bere. Cm. cou; Pt. Ln. cowe.

‘Sir olde kaynard, is this thyn array? 235 Why is my neighebores wyf so gay? She is honoured over-al ther she goth; I sitte at hoom, I have no thrifty cloth. What dostow at my neighebores hous? Is she so fair? artow so amorous? 240 What rowne ye with our mayde? benedicite! Sir olde lechour, lat thy Iapes be! And if I have a gossib or a freend, With-outen gilt, thou chydest as a feend, If that I walke or pleye un-to his hous! 245 Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous, And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef! Thou seist to me, it is a greet meschief To wedde a povre womman, for costage; And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, 250 Than seistow that it is a tormentrye To suffre hir pryde and hir malencolye. And if that she be fair, thou verray knave, Thou seyst that every holour wol hir have; She may no whyle in chastitee abyde, 255 That is assailled up-on ech a syde.

242. E. Pt. Hl. lecchour. 250. E. Cm. om. that. E. Cm. Hl. and of; rest of. 251. E. Cm. Hl. om. that. 252. E. soffren.

Thou seyst, som folk desyre us for richesse, Somme for our shap, and somme for our fairnesse; And som, for she can outher singe or daunce, And som, for gentillesse and daliaunce; 260 Som, for hir handes and hir armes smale; Thus goth al to the devel by thy tale. Thou seyst, men may nat kepe a castel-wal; [328: T. 5846-5880.] It may so longe assailled been over-al.

257. E. Cm. that som. E. Hn. Cm. desiren. 258. E. Cm. om. and. 259. E. Cm. Hl. om. outher. E. Cm. Hl. and (for or). 260. and] E. Cm. and som for; Hl. or.

And if that she be foul, thou seist that she 265 Coveiteth every man that she may se; For as a spaynel she wol on him lepe, Til that she finde som man hir to chepe; Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake, As, seistow, that wol been with-oute make. 270 And seyst, it is an hard thing for to welde A thing that no man wol, his thankes, helde. Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde; And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde, Ne no man that entendeth un-to hevene. 275 With wilde thonder-dint and firy levene Mote thy welked nekke be to-broke!

269. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. ther; rest om. 270. Cp. Pt. Ln. that; rest om. 271, 272. Hn. Hl. wolde, holde. 277. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. welked; Cm. wekede; Cp. Hl. wicked.

Thow seyst that dropping houses, and eek smoke, And chyding wyves, maken men to flee Out of hir owene hous; a! benedicite! 280 What eyleth swich an old man for to chyde?

280. E. Hn. Cp. houses.

Thow seyst, we wyves wol our vyces hyde Til we be fast, and than we wol hem shewe; Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!

282. E. Cm. that we.

Thou seist, that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes, 285 They been assayed at diverse stoundes; Bacins, lavours, er that men hem bye, Spones and stoles, and al swich housbondrye, And so been pottes, clothes, and array; But folk of wyves maken noon assay 290 Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe! And than, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe.

286. E. assayd; Pt. Ln. assaide; rest assayed. 292. Hn. Hl. supply And.

Thou seist also, that it displeseth me But-if that thou wolt preyse my beautee, And but thou poure alwey up-on my face, 295 And clepe me “faire dame” in every place; And but thou make a feste on thilke day That I was born, and make me fresh and gay, [329: T. 5881-5913.] And but thou do to my norice honour, And to my chamberere with-inne my bour, 300 And to my fadres folk and his allyes;— Thus seistow, olde barel ful of lyes!

295. Hl. pore; rest poure. 300. Cm. chaumberere; Hl. chamberer; E. Hn. chambrere.

And yet of our apprentice Ianekyn, For his crisp heer, shyninge as gold so fyn, And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun, 305 Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun; I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed to-morwe.

303. E. Ianekyn; rest Iankyn.

But tel me this, why hydestow, with sorwe, The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me? It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee. 310 What wenestow make an idiot of our dame? Now by that lord, that called is seint Iame, Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood, Be maister of my body and of my good; That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yën; 315 What nedeth thee of me to enquere or spyën? I trowe, thou woldest loke me in thy chiste! Thou sholdest seye, “wyf, go wher thee liste, Tak your disport, I wol nat leve no talis; I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alis.” 320 We love no man that taketh kepe or charge Wher that we goon, we wol ben at our large.

308. E. Cm. Hl. om. this. 309. thy] E. Cm. my. 311. E. Cm. to make; rest om. to. 313. Hn. Ln. that; rest om. 315. Hl. yen; E. eyen. 316. E. nedeth thee; rest helpeth it. Hn. Cp. Ln. om. to. Hl. tenqueren; read t’enquere. 319. All but Cp. Ln. om. not (nat). 320. E. Pt. Alys; Ln. Ales.

Of alle men y-blessed moot he be, The wyse astrologien Dan Ptholome, That seith this proverbe in his Almageste, 325 “Of alle men his wisdom is the hyeste, That rekketh never who hath the world in honde.” By this proverbe thou shalt understonde, Have thou y-nogh, what thar thee recche or care How merily that othere folkes fare? 330 For certeyn, olde dotard, by your leve, [330: T. 5914-5949.] Ye shul have queynte right y-nough at eve. He is to greet a nigard that wol werne A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne; He shal have never the lasse light, pardee; 335 Have thou y-nough, thee thar nat pleyne thee.

323. Hn. Hl. yblessed; rest blessed. 324. MSS. Daun. E. Protholome; Hn. Cm. Hl. P_ro_tholome. 326. E. Cm. ins. the before hyeste; (read th’ hy-est-e). 328. Cp. Pt. Ln. shal wel. 330. E. myrily. 333. E. Cm. wolde.

Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay With clothing and with precious array, That it is peril of our chastitee; And yet, with sorwe, thou most enforce thee, 340 And seye thise wordes in the apostles name, “In habit, maad with chastitee and shame, Ye wommen shul apparaille yow,” quod he, “And noght in tressed heer and gay perree, As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche;” 345 After thy text, ne after thy rubriche I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat. Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat; For who-so wolde senge a cattes skin, Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in; 350 And if the cattes skin be slyk and gay, She wol nat dwelle in house half a day, But forth she wole, er any day be dawed, To shewe hir skin, and goon a-caterwawed; This is to seye, if I be gay, sir shrewe, 355 I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe.

348. Hl. thus; Cp. Pt. Ln. als; rest this. 350. All his.

Sire olde fool, what eyleth thee to spyën? Thogh thou preye Argus, with his hundred yën, To be my warde-cors, as he can best, In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest; 360 Yet coude I make his berd, so moot I thee.

358. Hl. yen; E. eyen. 359. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. -corps. 360. E. om. 2nd me.

Thou seydest eek, that ther ben thinges three, The whiche thinges troublen al this erthe, And that no wight ne may endure the ferthe; O leve sir shrewe, Iesu shorte thy lyf! 365 Yet prechestow, and seyst, an hateful wyf Y-rekened is for oon of thise meschances. [331: T. 5950-5982.] Been ther none othere maner resemblances That ye may lykne your parables to, But-if a sely wyf be oon of tho? 370

364. All but Pt. Ln. om. ne. 366. E. and (for an). 368. Cp. Pt. Ln. maner; Cm. of these; Hl. of thy; E. om.

Thou lykenest wommanes love to helle, To bareyne lond, ther water may not dwelle. Thou lyknest it also to wilde fyr; The more it brenneth, the more it hath desyr To consume every thing that brent wol be. 375 Thou seyst, that right as wormes shende a tree, Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housbonde; This knowe they that been to wyves bonde.’

371. Cp. Ln. Hl. likenest; Cm. likkenyst; E. Hn. Pt. liknest. E. wommennes. 375. E. Hn. consumen. 376. Cp. Pt. that; rest om. Hn. Cp. Pt. shende; E. Pt. shendeth.

Lordinges, right thus, as ye have understonde, Bar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde, 380 That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse; And al was fals, but that I took witnesse On Ianekin and on my nece also. O lord, the peyne I dide hem and the wo, Ful giltelees, by goddes swete pyne! 385 For as an hors I coude byte and whyne. I coude pleyne, thogh I were in the gilt, Or elles often tyme hadde I ben spilt. Who-so that first to mille comth, first grint; I pleyned first, so was our werre y-stint. 390 They were ful glad to excusen hem ful blyve Of thing of which they never agilte hir lyve.

383. Hl. vpon. 385. E. Hn. giltlees. 389. So Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. Who so comth first to mille; Hl. Who-so first cometh to the mylle. 391. E. Cm. om. 2nd ful.

Of wenches wolde I beren him on honde, Whan that for syk unnethes mighte he stonde. Yet tikled it his herte, for that he 395 Wende that I hadde of him so greet chiertee. I swoor that al my walkinge out by nighte Was for tespye wenches that he dighte; Under that colour hadde I many a mirthe. For al swich wit is yeven us in our birthe; 400 [332: T. 5983-6019.] Deceite, weping, spinning god hath yive To wommen kindely, whyl they may live. And thus of o thing I avaunte me, Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree, By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thing, 405 As by continuel murmur or grucching; Namely a bedde hadden they meschaunce, Ther wolde I chyde and do hem no plesaunce; I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde, If that I felte his arm over my syde, 410 Til he had maad his raunson un-to me; Than wolde I suffre him do his nycetee. And ther-fore every man this tale I telle, Winne who-so may, for al is for to selle. With empty hand men may none haukes lure; 415 For winning wolde I al his lust endure, And make me a feyned appetyt; And yet in bacon hadde I never delyt; That made me that ever I wolde hem chyde. For thogh the pope had seten hem biside, 420 I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord. For by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word. As help me verray god omnipotent, Thogh I right now sholde make my testament, I ne owe hem nat a word that it nis quit. 425 I broghte it so aboute by my wit, That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste; Or elles hadde we never been in reste. For thogh he loked as a wood leoun, Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun. 430

393. E. hym; rest hem; but see 394. 395. E. it; rest I. 400. E. thyng was; rest wit is. 401. E. yeue. 402. All but Hn. Hl. ins. that before they. 406. E. continueel. 428. E. rest.

Thanne wolde I seye, ‘gode lief, tak keep How mekely loketh Wilkin oure sheep; Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke! Ye sholde been al pacient and meke, And han a swete spyced conscience, 435 Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience. Suffreth alwey, sin ye so wel can preche; [333: T. 6020-6056.] And but ye do, certain we shal yow teche That it is fair to have a wyf in pees. Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees; 440 And sith a man is more resonable Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable. What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone? Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone? Why taak it al, lo, have it every-deel; 445 Peter! I shrewe yow but ye love it weel! For if I wolde selle my bele chose, I coude walke as fresh as is a rose; But I wol kepe it for your owene tooth. Ye be to blame, by god, I sey yow sooth.’ 450

431. Cp. Pt. Hl. ins. now before goode. 445. E. Hn. Pt. Wy.

Swiche maner wordes hadde we on honde. Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.

My fourthe housbonde was a revelour, This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour; And I was yong and ful of ragerye, 455 Stiborn and strong, and Ioly as a pye. Wel coude I daunce to an harpe smale, And singe, y-wis, as any nightingale, Whan I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn. Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn, 460 That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf, For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf, He sholde nat han daunted me fro drinke; And, after wyn, on Venus moste I thinke: For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, 465 A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl. In womman vinolent is no defence, This knowen lechours by experience.

456. Cm. Cp. Ln. Styborne; Pt. Hl. Stiborn; E. Hn. Stibourne. 464. Cm. muste; Ln. must. 467. E. Hl. wommen.

But, lord Crist! whan that it remembreth me Up-on my yowthe, and on my Iolitee, 470 It tikleth me aboute myn herte rote. Unto this day it dooth myn herte bote That I have had my world as in my tyme. But age, allas! that al wol envenyme, [334: T. 6057-6093.] Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith; 475 Lat go, fare-wel, the devel go therwith! The flour is goon, ther is na-more to telle, The bren, as I best can, now moste I selle; But yet to be right mery wol I fonde. Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde. 480

479. E. myrie; Hn. murye.

I seye, I hadde in herte greet despyt That he of any other had delyt. But he was quit, by god and by seint Ioce! I made him of the same wode a croce; Nat of my body in no foul manere, 485 But certeinly, I made folk swich chere, That in his owene grece I made him frye For angre, and for verray Ialousye. By god, in erthe I was his purgatorie, For which I hope his soule be in glorie. 490 For god it woot, he sat ful ofte and song Whan that his shoo ful bitterly him wrong. Ther was no wight, save god and he, that wiste, In many wyse, how sore I him twiste. He deyde whan I cam fro Ierusalem, 495 And lyth y-grave under the rode-beem, Al is his tombe noght so curious As was the sepulcre of him, Darius, Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly; It nis but wast to burie him preciously. 500 Lat him fare-wel, god yeve his soule reste, He is now in the grave and in his cheste.

486. E. c_er_tein. 497. E. Hn. curyus.

Now of my fifthe housbond wol I telle. God lete his soule never come in helle! And yet was he to me the moste shrewe; 505 That fele I on my ribbes al by rewe, And ever shal, un-to myn ending-day. But in our bed he was so fresh and gay, And ther-with-al so wel coude he me glose, Whan that he wolde han my bele chose, 510 That thogh he hadde me bet on every boon, [335: T. 6094-6129.] He coude winne agayn my love anoon. I trowe I loved him beste, for that he Was of his love daungerous to me. We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye, 515 In this matere a queynte fantasye; Wayte what thing we may nat lightly have, Ther-after wol we crye al-day and crave. Forbede us thing, and that desyren we; Prees on us faste, and thanne wol we flee. 520 With daunger oute we al our chaffare; Greet prees at market maketh dere ware, And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys; This knoweth every womman that is wys.

508. E. ful; rest so. 511. Cp. Hl. boon; rest bon. 513. Cm. Hl. beste; E. Hn. best; Cp. Pt. the bet; Ln. bette. 520. E. Hn. Preesse; Cm Presse. 521. E. Hn. Cm. oute; Cp. Ln. Hl. outen; Pt. outer.

My fifthe housbonde, god his soule blesse! 525 Which that I took for love and no richesse, He som-tyme was a clerk of Oxenford, And had left scole, and wente at hoom to bord With my gossib, dwellinge in oure toun, God have hir soule! hir name was Alisoun. 530 She knew myn herte and eek my privetee Bet than our parisshe-preest, so moot I thee! To hir biwreyed I my conseil al. For had myn housbonde pissed on a wal, Or doon a thing that sholde han cost his lyf, 535 To hir, and to another worthy wyf, And to my nece, which that I loved weel, I wolde han told his conseil every-deel. And so I dide ful often, god it woot, That made his face ful often reed and hoot 540 For verray shame, and blamed him-self for he Had told to me so greet a privetee.

528. E. hadde; hom. 532. E. Hn. as; rest so. 534. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. hadde.

And so bifel that ones, in a Lente, (So often tymes I to my gossib wente, For ever yet I lovede to be gay, 545 And for to walke, in March, Averille, and May, Fro hous to hous, to here sondry talis), [336: T. 6130-6164.] That Iankin clerk, and my gossib dame Alis, And I my-self, in-to the feldes wente. Myn housbond was at London al that Lente; 550 I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye, And for to see, and eek for to be seye Of lusty folk; what wiste I wher my grace Was shapen for to be, or in what place? Therefore I made my visitaciouns, 555 To vigilies and to processiouns, To preching eek and to thise pilgrimages, To pleyes of miracles and mariages, And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes. Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes, 560 Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel; And wostow why? for they were used weel.

545. Hn. Cm. louede; E. Hl. loued. 550. E. the; rest that. 558. E. Hn. and to; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. and of; Hl. om. to (or of). 561. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. peril (correctly); Pt. perile; Ln. Hl. perel.

Now wol I tellen forth what happed me. I seye, that in the feeldes walked we, Til trewely we hadde swich daliance, 565 This clerk and I, that of my purveyance I spak to him, and seyde him, how that he, If I were widwe, sholde wedde me. For certeinly, I sey for no bobance, Yet was I never with-outen purveyance 570 Of mariage, nof othere thinges eek. I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek, That hath but oon hole for to sterte to, And if that faille, thanne is al y-do.

571. E. Hn. nof; Cm. and more; rest ne of. 572. herte] Cp. Pt. Ln. witte.

I bar him on honde, he hadde enchanted me; 575 My dame taughte me that soutiltee. And eek I seyde, I mette of him al night; He wolde han slayn me as I lay up-right, And al my bed was ful of verray blood, But yet I hope that he shal do me good; 580 For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught. And al was fals, I dremed of it right naught, [337: T. 6165-6199.] But as I folwed ay my dames lore, As wel of this as of other thinges more.

575-584. All but E. Cm. omit these lines; (Dd. has them). 583. E. Cm. om. as; but it occurs in MSS. Camb. Dd. 4. 24, Ii. I. 36, &c.

But now sir, lat me see, what I shal seyn? 585 A! ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn.

Whan that my fourthe housbond was on bere, I weep algate, and made sory chere, As wyves moten, for it is usage, And with my coverchief covered my visage; 590 But for that I was purveyed of a make, I weep but smal, and that I undertake.

592. E. wepte; but see 588.

To chirche was myn housbond born a-morwe With neighebores, that for him maden sorwe; And Iankin oure clerk was oon of tho. 595 As help me god, whan that I saugh him go After the bere, me thoughte he hadde a paire Of legges and of feet so clene and faire, That al myn herte I yaf un-to his hold. He was, I trowe, a twenty winter old, 600 And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth; But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth. Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel; I hadde the prente of sëynt Venus seel. As help me god, I was a lusty oon, 605 And faire and riche, and yong, and wel bigoon; And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me, I had the beste quoniam mighte be. For certes, I am al Venerien In felinge, and myn herte is Marcien. 610 Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse, And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse. Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars ther-inne. Allas! allas! that ever love was sinne! I folwed ay myn inclinacioun 615 By vertu of my constellacioun; That made me I coude noght withdrawe [338: T. 6200-6225.] My chambre of Venus from a good felawe. Yet have I Martes mark up-on my face, And also in another privee place. 620 For, god so wis be my savacioun, I ne loved never by no discrecioun, But ever folwede myn appetyt, Al were he short or long, or blak or whyt; I took no kepe, so that he lyked me, 625 How pore he was, ne eek of what degree.

595. Or Ianekin, see 383; MSS. Iankyn. 603. Ln. Gate-toþede. 605-612. Hl. omits. 608. E. hadde. E. Hn. quonyam; Cm. Pt. Ln. quoniam; Cp. queynte. 609-612. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. omit. 619-626. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. omit. 623. Cm. folwede; E. folwed. 626. Cm. pore; E. poore.

What sholde I seye, but, at the monthes ende, This Ioly clerk Iankin, that was so hende, Hath wedded me with greet solempnitee, And to him yaf I al the lond and fee 630 That ever was me yeven ther-bifore; But afterward repented me ful sore. He nolde suffre nothing of my list. By god, he smoot me ones on the list, For that I rente out of his book a leef, 635 That of the strook myn ere wex al deef. Stiborn I was as is a leonesse, And of my tonge a verray Iangleresse, And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn, From hous to hous, al-though he had it sworn. 640 For which he often tymes wolde preche, And me of olde Romayn gestes teche, How he, Simplicius Gallus, lefte his wyf, And hir forsook for terme of al his lyf, Noght but for open-heeded he hir say 645 Lokinge out at his dore upon a day.

634. E. Hn. on the lyst; (Ln. luste; Cp. Pt. lest); Hl. Cm. with his fist. 636. E. Hl. wax. 637. E. Hn. Stibourne. 645. E. Hn. -heueded; Hl. heedid.

Another Romayn tolde he me by name, That, for his wyf was at a someres game With-oute his witing, he forsook hir eke. And than wolde he up-on his Bible seke 650 That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste, Wher he comandeth and forbedeth faste, Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute; [339: T. 6226-6271.] Than wolde he seye right thus, with-outen doute, “Who-so that buildeth his hous al of salwes, 655 And priketh his blinde hors over the falwes, And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes, Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes!” But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe Of his proverbes nof his olde sawe, 660 Ne I wolde nat of him corrected be. I hate him that my vices telleth me, And so do mo, god woot! of us than I. This made him with me wood al outrely; I nolde noght forbere him in no cas. 665

649. E. Hn. Cm. With-outen. 650. E. thanne. 654. E. Thanne. 660. E. Hn. nof; rest ne of. E. awe; Hn. Cm. Hl. sawe; Cp. Pt. Ln. lawe.

Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint Thomas, Why that I rente out of his book a leef, For which he smoot me so that I was deef.

He hadde a book that gladly, night and day, For his desport he wolde rede alway. 670 He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste, At whiche book he lough alwey ful faste. And eek ther was som-tyme a clerk at Rome, A cardinal, that highte Seint Ierome, That made a book agayn Iovinian; 675 In whiche book eek ther was Tertulan, Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys, That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys; And eek the Parables of Salomon, Ovydes Art, and bokes many on, 680 And alle thise wer bounden in o volume. And every night and day was his custume, Whan he had leyser and vacacioun From other worldly occupacioun, To reden on this book of wikked wyves. 685 He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves Than been of gode wyves in the Bible. For trusteth wel, it is an impossible That any clerk wol speke good of wyves, [340: T. 6272-6305.] But-if it be of holy seintes lyves, 690 Ne of noon other womman never the mo. Who peyntede the leoun, tel me who? By god, if wommen hadde writen stories, As clerkes han with-inne hir oratories, They wolde han writen of men more wikkednesse 695 Than all the mark of Adam may redresse. The children of Mercurie and of Venus Been in hir wirking ful contrarious; Mercurie loveth wisdom and science, And Venus loveth ryot and dispence. 700 And, for hir diverse disposicioun, Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun; And thus, god woot! Mercurie is desolat In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat; And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed; 705 Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed. The clerk, whan he is old, and may noght do Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho, Than sit he doun, and writ in his dotage That wommen can nat kepe hir mariage! 710

676. Cm. Ln. whiche; rest which. Cp. Pt. Hl. Terculan. 680. Hl. bourdes; rest bookes (bokes). 683. E. hadde. 691. E. Ne; Hn. Nof; rest Ne of. 692. Cm. peyntede; rest peynted. 697. Cm. Hl. and of; rest om. of. 698. E. Hn. Ln. Hl. contrarius. 699. E. wysdam. 705. Over is reysed E. has i. in Virgine. 709. E. Thanne.

But now to purpos, why I tolde thee That I was beten for a book, pardee. Up-on a night Iankin, that was our syre, Redde on his book, as he sat by the fyre, Of Eva first, that, for hir wikkednesse, 715 Was al mankinde broght to wrecchednesse, For which that Iesu Crist him-self was slayn, That boghte us with his herte-blood agayn. Lo, here expres of womman may ye finde, That womman was the los of al mankinde. 720

717-720. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. omit. 717. E. om. that Iesu; which occurs in MS. Bibl. Reg. 17. D. xv. and in Dd.

Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres, Slepinge, his lemman kitte hem with hir sheres; Thurgh whiche tresoun loste he bothe his yën.

721, 723. E. hise. 722. Cm. hem; rest it (badly). 723. Pt. Ln. whiche; rest which (badly). E. eyen.

[341: T. 6306-6340.]

Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen, Of Hercules and of his Dianyre, 725 That caused him to sette himself a-fyre.

No-thing forgat he the penaunce and wo That Socrates had with hise wyves two; How Xantippa caste pisse up-on his heed; This sely man sat stille, as he were deed; 730 He wyped his heed, namore dorste he seyn But “er that thonder stinte, comth a reyn.”

727. Cp. Pt. Ln. penaunce; E. Hn. sorwe; Cm. Hl. care. 728. E. hadde.

Of Phasipha, that was the quene of Crete, For shrewednesse, him thoughte the tale swete; Fy! spek na-more—it is a grisly thing— 735 Of hir horrible lust and hir lyking.

733. E. Hn. Phasifpha; Cm. Phasippa; rest Phasipha. 735. E. speke; Hn. Cm. Cp. Hl. spek.

Of Clitemistra, for hir lecherye, That falsly made hir housbond for to dye, He redde it with ful good devocioun.

737. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Clitermystra; Cm. Clitemysta; Hl. Clydemystra.

He tolde me eek for what occasioun 740 Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf; Myn housbond hadde a legende of his wyf, Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold Hath prively un-to the Grekes told Wher that hir housbonde hidde him in a place, 745 For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.

Of Lyma tolde he me, and of Lucye, They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye; That oon for love, that other was for hate; Lyma hir housbond, on an even late, 750 Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo. Lucya, likerous, loved hir housbond so, That, for he sholde alwey up-on hir thinke, She yaf him swich a maner love-drinke, That he was deed, er it were by the morwe; 755 And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.

750. E. vpon; rest on.

Than tolde he me, how oon Latumius Compleyned to his felawe Arrius, [342: T. 6341-6376.] That in his gardin growed swich a tree, On which, he seyde, how that his wyves three 760 Hanged hem-self for herte despitous. “O leve brother,” quod this Arrius, “Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree, And in my gardin planted shal it be!”

757. E. Thanne. E. Hn. how that oon. Cm. Latymyus; rest Latumyus. 758. E. Hn. Hl. vnto; rest to. 764. E. Ln. it shal; Pt. shal he; rest shal it.

Of latter date, of wyves hath he red, 765 That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed, And lete hir lechour dighte hir al the night Whyl that the corps lay in the floor up-right. And somme han drive nayles in hir brayn Whyl that they slepte, and thus they han hem slayn. 770 Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hir drinke. He spak more harm than herte may bithinke. And ther-with-al, he knew of mo proverbes Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes. “Bet is,” quod he, “thyn habitacioun 775 Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun, Than with a womman usinge for to chyde. Bet is,” quod he, “hye in the roof abyde Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous; They been so wikked and contrarious; 780 They haten that hir housbondes loveth ay.” He seyde, “a womman cast hir shame away, Whan she cast of hir smok;” and forther-mo, “A fair womman, but she be chaast also, Is lyk a gold ring in a sowes nose.” 785 Who wolde wenen, or who wolde suppose The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?

767. E. lecchour. 768. Cm. Whils; Hl. Whil; rest Whan; see 770. 786. E. leeue; rest wene; but read wenen.

And whan I saugh he wolde never fyne To reden on this cursed book al night, Al sodeynly three leves have I plight 790 Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke, I with my fist so took him on the cheke, That in our fyr he fil bakward adoun. And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun, [343: T. 6377-6410.] And with his fist he smoot me on the heed, 795 That in the floor I lay as I were deed. And when he saugh how stille that I lay, He was agast, and wolde han fled his way, Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde: “O! hastow slayn me, false theef?” I seyde, 800 “And for my land thus hastow mordred me? Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.”

792. E. Cp. fest; rest fist. 795. E. Hn. Cp. fest; rest fist.

And neer he cam, and kneled faire adoun, And seyde, “dere suster Alisoun, As help me god, I shal thee never smyte; 805 That I have doon, it is thy-self to wyte. Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke”— And yet eft-sones I hitte him on the cheke, And seyde, “theef, thus muchel am I wreke; Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.” 810 But atte laste, with muchel care and wo, We fille acorded, by us selven two. He yaf me al the brydel in myn hond To han the governance of hous and lond, And of his tonge and of his hond also, 815 And made him brenne his book anon right tho. And whan that I hadde geten un-to me, By maistrie, al the soveraynetee, And that he seyde, “myn owene trewe wyf, Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf, 820 Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat”— After that day we hadden never debaat. God help me so, I was to him as kinde As any wyf from Denmark un-to Inde, And also trewe, and so was he to me. 825 I prey to god that sit in magestee, So blesse his soule, for his mercy dere! Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol here.’

812. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. vs; Cm. Ln. Hl. oure. 815. E. Hn. Pt. om. 2nd of. 820. E. to; Cm. for; Hl. in; rest the (before terme). 822. Hl. neuer had.

[344: T. 6411-6438.]

=Biholde the wordes bitween the Somonour and the Frere.=

The Frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this, ‘Now, dame,’ quod he, ‘so have I Ioye or blis, 830 This is a long preamble of a tale!’ And whan the Somnour herde the Frere gale, ‘Lo!’ quod the Somnour, ‘goddes armes two! A frere wol entremette him ever-mo. Lo, gode men, a flye and eek a frere 835 Wol falle in every dish and eek matere. What spekestow of preambulacioun? What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun; Thou lettest our disport in this manere.’

832. E. Somonour; Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. somnour. 836. Cp. Pt. Ln. eek; rest om.

‘Ye, woltow so, sir Somnour?’ quod the Frere, 840 ‘Now, by my feith, I shal, er that I go, Telle of a Somnour swich a tale or two, That alle the folk shal laughen in this place.’

‘Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe thy face,’ Quod this Somnour, ‘and I bishrewe me, 845 But if I telle tales two or thre Of freres er I come to Sidingborne, That I shal make thyn herte for to morne; For wel I wool thy patience is goon.’

Our hoste cryde ‘pees! and that anoon!’ 850 And seyde, ‘lat the womman telle hir tale. Ye fare as folk that dronken been of ale. Do, dame, tel forth your tale, and that is best.’

850. Cp. Hl. hoste; Ln. oste; E. Hn. hoost. 852. E. Cm. were; rest ben. 853. E. telle (but tel in 856).

‘Al redy, sir,’ quod she, ‘right as yow lest, If I have licence of this worthy Frere.’ 855

‘Yis, dame,’ quod he, ‘tel forth, and I wol here.’

=Here endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe.=

COLOPHON. Hn. Here endeth the prologe of the Wyf of Bathe. E. adds and bigynneth hir tale.

[345: T. 6439-6463.]

* * * * *

THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE.

* * * * *

=Here biginneth the Tale of the Wyf of Bathe.=

In tholde dayes of the king Arthour, Of which that Britons speken greet honour, All was this land fulfild of fayerye. The elf-queen, with hir Ioly companye, 860 Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede; This was the olde opinion, as I rede, I speke of manye hundred yeres ago; But now can no man see none elves mo. For now the grete charitee and prayeres 865 Of limitours and othere holy freres, (10) That serchen every lond and every streem, As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem, Blessinge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures, Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, 870 Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes, This maketh that ther been no fayeryes. For ther as wont to walken was an elf, Ther walketh now the limitour him-self In undermeles and in morweninges, 875 And seyth his matins and his holy thinges (20) As he goth in his limitacioun. Wommen may go saufly up and doun, In every bush, or under every tree; Ther is noon other incubus but he, 880 And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.

HEADING. From Hn. 857. E. Cm. om. the. 859. Cp. fayerie; rest fairye. 872. Cp. fayeries; E. Hn. fairyes. 880. Hl. incumbent (!). 881. Cm. non; rest but. Hl. ne wol but doon hem.

[346: T. 6464-6498.]

And so bifel it, that this king Arthour Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler, That on a day cam rydinge fro river; And happed that, allone as she was born, 885 He saugh a mayde walkinge him biforn, (30) Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed, By verray force he rafte hir maydenheed; For which oppressioun was swich clamour And swich pursute un-to the king Arthour, 890 That dampned was this knight for to be deed By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed Paraventure, swich was the statut tho; But that the quene and othere ladies mo So longe preyeden the king of grace, 895 Til he his lyf him graunted in the place, (40) And yaf him to the quene al at hir wille, To chese, whether she wolde him save or spille.

882. E. Hn. Cm. om. it. 883. E. om. his. 885. E. Hn. he(!). 887. Cm. Ln. whiche; rest which. 888. E. Cm. Hl. birafte; rest he rafte (refte). 895. Hl. Cm. preyeden; E. Hn. preyden. 898. E. wheither.

The quene thanketh the king with al hir might, And after this thus spak she to the knight, 900 Whan that she saugh hir tyme, up-on a day: ‘Thou standest yet,’ quod she, ‘in swich array, That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee. I grante thee lyf, if thou canst tellen me What thing is it that wommen most desyren? 905 Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from yren. (50) And if thou canst nat tellen it anon, Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon A twelf-month and a day, to seche and lere An answere suffisant in this matere. 910 And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace, Thy body for to yelden in this place.’

907. E. Hl. tellen it; Hn. tellen me; Cm. telle me; rest telle it me. 908. E. shal (for wol).

Wo was this knight and sorwefully he syketh; But what! he may nat do al as him lyketh. And at the laste, he chees him for to wende, 915 And come agayn, right at the yeres ende, (60) [347: T. 6499-6536.] With swich answere as god wolde him purveye; And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.

914. Cm. ȝit (for what); E. om.

He seketh every hous and every place, Wher-as he hopeth for to finde grace, 920 To lerne, what thing wommen loven most; But he ne coude arryven in no cost, Wher-as he mighte finde in this matere Two creatures accordinge in-fere.

Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse, 925 Somme seyde, honour, somme seyde, Iolynesse; (70) Somme, riche array, somme seyden, lust abedde, And ofte tyme to be widwe and wedde.

Somme seyde, that our hertes been most esed, Whan that we been y-flatered and y-plesed. 930 He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye; A man shal winne us best with flaterye; And with attendance, and with bisinesse, Been we y-lymed, bothe more and lesse.

And somme seyn, how that we loven best 935 For to be free, and do right as us lest, (80) And that no man repreve us of our vyce, But seye that we be wyse, and no-thing nyce. For trewely, ther is noon of us alle, If any wight wol clawe us on the galle, 940 That we nil kike, for he seith us sooth; Assay, and he shal finde it that so dooth. For be we never so vicious with-inne, We wol been holden wyse, and clene of sinne.

935. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. om. how. 941. nil] E. nel; Cm. nolde.

And somme seyn, that greet delyt han we 945 For to ben holden stable and eek secree, (90) And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle, And nat biwreye thing that men us telle. But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele; Pardee, we wommen conne no-thing hele; 950 Witnesse on Myda; wol ye here the tale?

Ovyde, amonges othere thinges smale, Seyde, Myda hadde, under his longe heres, Growinge up-on his heed two asses eres, [348: T. 6537-6572.] The which vyce he hidde, as he best mighte, 955 Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte, (100) That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it na-mo. He loved hir most, and trusted hir also; He preyede hir, that to no creature She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960

958. Hn. Cp. Hl. trusted; Cm. trostid; E. triste. 959. Cm. preyede; Hl. prayed; Hn. preyed; E. preyde.

She swoor him ‘nay, for al this world to winne, She nolde do that vileinye or sinne, To make hir housbond han so foul a name; She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.’ But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde, 965 That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; (110) Hir thoughte it swal so sore aboute hir herte, That nedely som word hir moste asterte; And sith she dorste telle it to no man, Doun to a mareys faste by she ran; 970 Til she came there, hir herte was a-fyre, And, as a bitore bombleth in the myre, She leyde hir mouth un-to the water doun: ‘Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,’ Quod she, ‘to thee I telle it, and namo; 975 Myn housbond hath longe asses eres two! (120) Now is myn herte all hool, now is it oute; I mighte no lenger kepe it, out of doute,’ Heer may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde, Yet out it moot, we can no conseil hyde; 980 The remenant of the tale if ye wol here, Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it lere.

972. Cm. bumbith; Cp. Pt. bumlith; Hl. bumblith.

This knight, of which my tale is specially, Whan that he saugh he mighte nat come therby, This is to seye, what wommen loven moost, 985 With-inne his brest ful sorweful was the goost; (130) But hoom he gooth, he mighte nat soiourne. The day was come, that hoomward moste he tourne, And in his wey it happed him to ryde, In al this care, under a forest-syde, 990 [349: T. 6573-6609.] Wher-as he saugh up-on a daunce go Of ladies foure and twenty, and yet mo; Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne, In hope that som wisdom sholde he lerne. But certeinly, er he came fully there, 995 Vanisshed was this daunce, he niste where. (140) No creature saugh he that bar lyf, Save on the grene he saugh sittinge a wyf; A fouler wight ther may no man devyse. Agayn the knight this olde wyf gan ryse, 1000 And seyde, ‘sir knight, heer-forth ne lyth no wey. Tel me, what that ye seken, by your fey? Paraventure it may the bettre be; Thise olde folk can muchel thing,’ quod she.

985. E. loue. 990. E. Hn. this; rest his. 993. Hn. whiche; E. which; rest vary.

‘My leve mooder,’ quod this knight certeyn, 1005 ‘I nam but deed, but-if that I can seyn (150) What thing it is that wommen most desyre; Coude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quyte your hyre.’

‘Plighte me thy trouthe, heer in myn hand,’ quod she, ‘The nexte thing that I requere thee, 1010 Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy might; And I wol telle it yow er it be night.’ ‘Have heer my trouthe,’ quod the knight, ‘I grante.’

‘Thanne,’ quod she, ‘I dar me wel avante, Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby, 1015 Up-on my lyf, the queen wol seye as I. (160) Lat see which is the proudeste of hem alle, That wereth on a coverchief or a calle, That dar seye nay, of that I shal thee teche; Lat us go forth with-outen lenger speche.’ 1020 Tho rouned she a pistel in his ere, And bad him to be glad, and have no fere.

1016. E. queene.

Whan they be comen to the court, this knight Seyde, ‘he had holde his day, as he hadde hight, And redy was his answere,’ as he sayde. 1025 Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde, (170) And many a widwe, for that they ben wyse, [350: T. 6610-6645.] The quene hir-self sittinge as a Iustyse, Assembled been, his answere for to here; And afterward this knight was bode appere. 1030

1028. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. om. a.

To every wight comanded was silence, And that the knight sholde telle in audience, What thing that worldly wommen loven best. This knight ne stood nat stille as doth a best, But to his questioun anon answerde 1035 With manly voys, that al the court it herde: (180)

‘My lige lady, generally,’ quod he, ‘Wommen desyren to have sovereyntee As wel over hir housbond as hir love, And for to been in maistrie him above; 1040 This is your moste desyr, thogh ye me kille, Doth as yow list, I am heer at your wille.’

1038. E. om. to. 1042. E. om. heer; Cm. al.

In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde, Ne widwe, that contraried that he sayde, But seyden, ‘he was worthy han his lyf.’ 1045

And with that word up stirte the olde wyf, (190) Which that the knight saugh sittinge in the grene: ‘Mercy,’ quod she, ‘my sovereyn lady quene! Er that your court departe, do me right. I taughte this answere un-to the knight; 1050 For which he plighte me his trouthe there, The firste thing I wolde of him requere, He wolde it do, if it lay in his might. Bifore the court than preye I thee, sir knight,’ Quod she, ‘that thou me take un-to thy wyf; 1055 For wel thou wost that I have kept thy lyf. (200) If I sey fals, sey nay, up-on thy fey!’

1052. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. om. of. 1054. E. thanne.

This knight answerde, ‘allas! and weylawey! I woot right wel that swich was my biheste. For goddes love, as chees a newe requeste; 1060 Tak al my good, and lat my body go.’

1061. E. Hn. Taak.

‘Nay than,’ quod she, ‘I shrewe us bothe two! For thogh that I be foul, and old, and pore, [351: T. 6646-6682.] I nolde for al the metal, ne for ore, That under erthe is grave, or lyth above, 1065 But-if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.’ (210)

1062. E. thanne. 1063. All but Cp. Pt. om. 1st and. E. oold, poore. 1064. Hl. the oure; E. Hn. oore; Cm. Pt. ore; Cp. oure; Ln. oer.

‘My love?’ quod he; ‘nay, my dampnacioun! Allas! that any of my nacioun Sholde ever so foule disparaged be!’ But al for noght, the ende is this, that he 1070 Constreyned was, he nedes moste hir wedde; And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.

1070. E. Hn. thende.

Now wolden som men seye, paraventure, That, for my necligence, I do no cure To tellen yow the Ioye and al tharray 1075 That at the feste was that ilke day. (220) To whiche thing shortly answere I shal; I seye, ther nas no Ioye ne feste at al, Ther nas but hevinesse and muche sorwe; For prively he wedded hir on a morwe, 1080 And al day after hidde him as an oule; So wo was him, his wyf looked so foule.

Greet was the wo the knight hadde in his thoght, Whan he was with his wyf a-bedde y-broght; He walweth, and he turneth to and fro. 1085 His olde wyf lay smylinge evermo, (230) And seyde, ‘o dere housbond, benedicite! Fareth every knight thus with his wyf as ye? Is this the lawe of king Arthures hous? Is every knight of his so dangerous? 1090 I am your owene love and eek your wyf; I am she, which that saved hath your lyf; And certes, yet dide I yow never unright; Why fare ye thus with me this firste night? Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit; 1095 What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it, (240) And it shal been amended, if I may.’

1091. Cp. Pt. Ln. eek; rest om. 1093. E. Hn. yet ne dide. 1096. Cm. Hl. me; rest om. (Read goddes as god’s).

‘Amended?’ quod this knight, ‘allas! nay, nay! It wol nat been amended never mo! Thou art so loothly, and so old also, 1100 [352: T. 6683-6718.] And ther-to comen of so lowe a kinde, That litel wonder is, thogh I walwe and winde. So wolde god myn herte wolde breste!’

1101. E. lough. 1102. Pt. no (for litel). Read wonder’s.

‘Is this,’ quod she, ‘the cause of your unreste?’

‘Ye, certainly,’ quod he, ‘no wonder is.’ 1105

‘Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘I coude amende al this, (250) If that me liste, er it were dayes three, So wel ye mighte here yow un-to me.

But for ye speken of swich gentillesse As is descended out of old richesse, 1110 That therfore sholden ye be gentil men, Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen. Loke who that is most vertuous alway, Privee and apert, and most entendeth ay To do the gentil dedes that he can, 1115 And tak him for the grettest gentil man. (260) Crist wol, we clayme of him our gentillesse, Nat of our eldres for hir old richesse. For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage, For which we clayme to been of heigh parage, 1120 Yet may they nat biquethe, for no-thing, To noon of us hir vertuous living, That made hem gentil men y-called be; And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.

1112. Cp. Pt. nys (for is). 1116. Cp. Pt. Ln. And take; rest om. And.

Wel can the wyse poete of Florence, 1125 That highte Dant, speken in this sentence; (270) Lo in swich maner rym is Dantes tale: “Ful selde up ryseth by his branches smale Prowesse of man, for god, of his goodnesse, Wol that of him we clayme our gentillesse;” 1130 For of our eldres may we no-thing clayme But temporel thing, that man may hurte and mayme.

1126. Hl. of (for in). Cm. declare (for speken in). 1129. E. goodnesse; rest prowesse.

Eek every wight wot this as wel as I, If gentillesse were planted naturelly Un-to a certeyn linage, doun the lyne, 1135 Privee ne apert, than wolde they never fyne (280) [353: T. 6719-6753.] To doon of gentillesse the faire offyce; They mighte do no vileinye or vyce.

1134. E. natureelly. 1136. E. Cm. nor; Hl. ne; rest and. E. thanne.

Tak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous Bitwix this and the mount of Caucasus, 1140 And lat men shette the dores and go thenne; Yet wol the fyr as faire lye and brenne, As twenty thousand men mighte it biholde; His office naturel ay wol it holde, Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye. 1145

1139. E. Taak. 1140. E. Kaukasous. 1144. E. natureel.

Heer may ye see wel, how that genterye (290) Is nat annexed to possessioun, Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo! in his kinde. For, god it woot, men may wel often finde 1150 A lordes sone do shame and vileinye; And he that wol han prys of his gentrye For he was boren of a gentil hous, And hadde hise eldres noble and vertuous, And nil him-selven do no gentil dedis, 1155 Ne folwe his gentil auncestre that deed is, (300) He nis nat gentil, be he duk or erl; For vileyns sinful dedes make a cherl. For gentillesse nis but renomee Of thyne auncestres, for hir heigh bountee, 1160 Which is a strange thing to thy persone. Thy gentillesse cometh fro god allone; Than comth our verray gentillesse of grace, It was no-thing biquethe us with our place.

1153. Cp. Hl. boren; Cm. bore; rest born. 1155. E. nel; rest nyl. 1156. E. Hn. folwen. 1162. Read comth; see 1163. 1163. E. Thanne.

Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius, 1165 Was thilke Tullius Hostilius, (310) That out of povert roos to heigh noblesse. Redeth Senek, and redeth eek Boëce, Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is, That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis; 1170 And therfore, leve housbond, I thus conclude, [354: T. 6754-6788.] Al were it that myne auncestres were rude, Yet may the hye god, and so hope I, Grante me grace to liven vertuously. Thanne am I gentil, whan that I biginne 1175 To liven vertuously and weyve sinne. (320)

1166. E. Hn. Hostillius. 1167. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. pouert; rest pouerte. 1168. E. Reed; rest Redeth. 1169. Cp. Pt. Ln. it; rest om. 1172. E. Hn. weren (2nd). 1176. Cm. leuyn; Pt. leuen; rest weyue (weyuen).

And ther-as ye of povert me repreve, The hye god, on whom that we bileve, In wilful povert chees to live his lyf. And certes every man, mayden, or wyf, 1180 May understonde that Iesus, hevene king, Ne wolde nat chese a vicious living. Glad povert is an honest thing, certeyn; This wol Senek and othere clerkes seyn. Who-so that halt him payd of his poverte, 1185 I holde him riche, al hadde he nat a sherte. (330) He that coveyteth is a povre wight, For he wolde han that is nat in his might. But he that noght hath, ne coveyteth have, Is riche, al-though ye holde him but a knave. 1190

1177. E. Hn. pouerte; rest pouert. 1179. E. Hn. Pt. pouerte; rest pouert; so in 1183, 1191. 1182. E. chesen; E. om. a. 1183. E. Hn. honeste; Cm. oneste.

Verray povert, it singeth proprely; Iuvenal seith of povert merily: “The povre man, whan he goth by the weye, Bifore the theves he may singe and pleye.” Povert is hateful good, and, as I gesse, 1195 A ful greet bringer out of bisinesse; (340) A greet amender eek of sapience To him that taketh it in pacience. Povert is this, al-though it seme elenge: Possessioun, that no wight wol chalenge. 1200 Povert ful ofte, whan a man is lowe, Maketh his god and eek him-self to knowe. Povert a spectacle is, as thinketh me, Thurgh which he may his verray frendes see. And therfore, sire, sin that I noght yow greve, 1205 Of my povert na-more ye me repreve. (350)

1191. E. Cm. it syngeth; rest is sinne (!). 1192. E. Hn. Cp. myrily. 1195. Cp. Pt. Ln. hatel. 1199. Hn. Hl. elenge; Ln. alinge; rest alenge. 1205. E. hise.

[355: T. 6789-6826.]

Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me; And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee Were in no book, ye gentils of honour Seyn that men sholde an old wight doon favour, 1210 And clepe him fader, for your gentillesse; And auctours shal I finden, as I gesse.

Now ther ye seye, that I am foul and old, Than drede you noght to been a cokewold; For filthe and elde, al-so moot I thee, 1215 Been grete wardeyns up-on chastitee. (360) But nathelees, sin I knowe your delyt, I shal fulfille your worldly appetyt.

Chese now,’ quod she, ‘oon of thise thinges tweye, To han me foul and old til that I deye, 1220 And be to yow a trewe humble wyf, And never yow displese in al my lyf, Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair, And take your aventure of the repair That shal be to your hous, by-cause of me, 1225 Or in som other place, may wel be. (370) Now chese your-selven, whether that yow lyketh.’

1227. E. wheither.

This knight avyseth him and sore syketh, But atte laste he seyde in this manere, ‘My lady and my love, and wyf so dere, 1230 I put me in your wyse governance; Cheseth your-self, which may be most plesance, And most honour to yow and me also. I do no fors the whether of the two; For as yow lyketh, it suffiseth me.’ 1235

‘Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,’ quod she, (380) ‘Sin I may chese, and governe as me lest?’

1234. E. wheither. 1236. of—maistrye] Cm. the maysterye.

‘Ye, certes, wyf,’ quod he, ‘I holde it best.’

‘Kis me,’ quod she, ‘we be no lenger wrothe; For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe, 1240 This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good. I prey to god that I mot sterven wood, But I to yow be al-so good and trewe As ever was wyf, sin that the world was newe. [356: T. 6827-6846.] And, but I be to-morn as fair to sene 1245 As any lady, emperyce, or quene, (390) That is bitwixe the est and eke the west, Doth with my lyf and deeth right as yow lest. Cast up the curtin, loke how that it is.’

And whan the knight saugh verraily al this, 1250 That she so fair was, and so yong ther-to, For Ioye he hente hir in his armes two, His herte bathed in a bath of blisse; A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hir kisse. And she obeyed him in every thing 1255 That mighte doon him plesance or lyking. (400)

1254. E. Hn. Ln. a rewe; Hl. on rowe; rest a rowe.

And thus they live, un-to hir lyves ende, In parfit Ioye; and Iesu Crist us sende Housbondes meke, yonge, and fresshe a-bedde, And grace toverbyde hem that we wedde. 1260 And eek I preye Iesu shorte hir lyves That wol nat be governed by hir wyves; And olde and angry nigardes of dispence, God sende hem sone verray pestilence.

=Here endeth the Wyves Tale of Bathe.=

1259. E. om. and Ln. fresshe; E. fressh. 1260. E. Hn. touerbyde; Cm. Hl. to ouerbyde; Cp. Pt. Ln. to ouerlede (!). 1261. Cm. preye; Hn. praye; E. pray. 1262. E. Hn. nat wol; rest transpose. COLOPHON. So E. Hn.

[357: T. 6847-6868.]

* * * * *

THE FRIAR’S PROLOGUE.

* * * * *

=The prologe of the Freres Tale.=

This worthy limitour, this noble Frere, 1265 He made alwey a maner louring chere Upon the Somnour, but for honestee No vileyns word as yet to him spak he. But atte laste he seyde un-to the Wyf, ‘Dame,’ quod he, ‘god yeve yow right good lyf! 1270 Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee, In scole-matere greet difficultee; Ye han seyd muchel thing right wel, I seye; But dame, here as we ryden by the weye, (10) Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, 1275 And lete auctoritees, on goddes name, To preching and to scole eek of clergye. But if it lyke to this companye, I wol yow of a somnour telle a game. Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name, 1280 That of a somnour may no good be sayd; I praye that noon of you be yvel apayd. A somnour is a renner up and doun With mandements for fornicacioun, (20) And is y-bet at every tounes ende.’ 1285

HEADING. So E. Hn. 1266. E. chiere. 1267. E. Somonour; Hn. Somnour. 1273. E. Hn. muche; Ln. muchel; rest mochel. 1274. E. ryde; rest ryden. 1277. Hl. scoles. E. Hn. Hl. om. eek. 1278. K. And; rest But. 1284. E. Hn. mandementz.

Our host tho spak, ‘a! sire, ye sholde be hende [358: T. 6869-6882.] And curteys, as a man of your estaat; In companye we wol have no debaat. Telleth your tale, and lat the Somnour be.’

1286. Hl. oste (om. tho).

‘Nay,’ quod the Somnour, ‘lat him seye to me 1290 What so him list; whan it comth to my lot, By god, I shal him quyten every grot. I shal him tellen which a greet honour (29) It is to be a flateringe limitour; [T. 6876 And his offyce I shal him telle, y-wis.’ [T. 6879

After l. 1294 all but Hl. wrongly insert ll. 1307 and 1308; which see. Tyrwhitt also inserts them.

Our host answerde, ‘pees, na-more of this.’ 1296 And after this he seyde un-to the Frere, ‘Tel forth your tale, leve maister deere.’

=Here endeth the Prologe of the Frere.=

1298. E. Hn. leeue; Hl. my; Cp. Ln. my leue; Pt. my owen. COLOPHON. From Hn.; so Pt.(with Thus for Here).

[359: T. 6883-6902.]

* * * * *

THE FRERES TALE.

* * * * *

=Here biginneth the Freres Tale.=

Whilom ther was dwellinge in my contree An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree, 1300 That boldely dide execucioun In punisshinge of fornicacioun, Of wicchecraft, and eek of bauderye, Of diffamacioun, and avoutrye, Of chirche-reves, and of testaments, 1305 Of contractes, and of lakke of sacraments, And eek of many another maner cryme [T. om. Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; [T. om. Of usure, and of symonye also. (11) But certes, lechours dide he grettest wo; 1310 They sholde singen, if that they were hent; And smale tytheres weren foule y-shent. If any persone wolde up-on hem pleyne, Ther mighte asterte him no pecunial peyne. For smale tythes and for smal offringe, 1315 He made the peple pitously to singe. For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook, They weren in the erchedeknes book. (20) Thanne hadde he, thurgh his Iurisdiccioun, Power to doon on hem correccioun. 1320 [360: T. 6903-6937.] He hadde a Somnour redy to his hond, A slyer boy was noon in Engelond; For subtilly he hadde his espiaille, That taughte him, wher that him mighte availle. He coude spare of lechours oon or two, 1325 To techen him to foure and twenty mo. For thogh this Somnour wood were as an hare, To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare; (30) For we been out of his correccioun; They han of us no Iurisdiccioun, 1330 Ne never shullen, terme of alle hir lyves.

HEADING. So E. Pt. 1306. E. Hn. and eek; rest and. 1307, 1308. Wrongly inserted after l. 1294 in all but Hl. 1307. E. Hn. Ln. om. eek. 1308. E. Hn. for; rest at. 1310. Ln. lychoures; rest lecchours. 1315. Hn. Hl. for; Cp. eek for; Pt. Ln. eek; E. om. 1317. E. Hl. him. 1318. Cp. Pt. Hl. weren; rest were. 1319. Hl. And; rest And thanne; read Thanne. 1321. E. Somonour; Hl. Sompnour; rest Somnour. 1322. E. Pt. Ln. boye. 1324. Read taughten(?), or taught-e. Cp. Pt. that; rest om. 1325. E. lecchours. 1327. E. was; rest were. 1331. E. Hn. om. alle.

‘Peter! so been the wommen of the styves,’ Quod the Somnour, ‘y-put out of my cure!’

1332. E. Cm. om. 1st the.

‘Pees, with mischance and with misaventure,’ Thus seyde our host, ‘and lat him telle his tale. 1335 Now telleth forth, thogh that the Somnour gale, Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister dere.’

This false theef, this Somnour, quod the Frere, (40) Hadde alwey baudes redy to his hond, As any hauk to lure in Engelond, 1340 That tolde him al the secree that they knewe; For hir acqueyntance was nat come of-newe. They weren hise approwours prively; He took him-self a greet profit therby; His maister knew nat alwey what he wan. 1345 With-outen mandement, a lewed man He coude somne, on peyne of Cristes curs, And they were gladde for to fille his purs, (50) And make him grete festes atte nale. And right as Iudas hadde purses smale, 1350 And was a theef, right swich a theef was he; His maister hadde but half his duëtee. He was, if I shal yeven him his laude, A theef, and eek a Somnour, and a baude. He hadde eek wenches at his retenue, 1355 [361: T. 6938-6971.] That, whether that sir Robert or sir Huwe, Or Iakke, or Rauf, or who-so that it were, That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere; (60) Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent. And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, 1360 And somne hem to the chapitre bothe two, And pile the man, and lete the wenche go. Thanne wolde he seye, ‘frend, I shal for thy sake Do stryken hir out of our lettres blake; Thee thar na-more as in this cas travaille; 1365 I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.’ Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo Than possible is to telle in yeres two. (70) For in this world nis dogge for the bowe, That can an hurt deer from an hool y-knowe, 1370 Bet than this Somnour knew a sly lechour, Or an avouter, or a paramour. And, for that was the fruit of al his rente, Therfore on it he sette al his entente.

1343. Ln. approwers; Cm. apprououris; Pt. aprouers; rest approuwours. 1348. Cp. gladde; E. Hn. glade. 1349. Cm. at the nale; (atte nale = atten ale). 1352. Hl. not (for but). Cp. dewete. 1356. E. wheither. 1364. E. Hn. hir; rest þe. 1367. E. bribryes. 1370. Hl. y-knowe; rest knowe [perhaps read hole knowe). 1371. Cm. lechour; E. Hn. lecchour. 1372. Hn. Cp. Pt. auouter; E. Hl. auowtier.

And so bifel, that ones on a day 1375 This Somnour, ever waiting on his pray, Rood for to somne a widwe, an old ribybe, Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. (80) And happed that he saugh bifore him ryde A gay yeman, under a forest-syde. 1380 A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene; He hadde up-on a courtepy of grene; An hat up-on his heed with frenges blake.

1377. Hl. Rod; Cp. Pt. Ln. Rode; Cm. Wente; E. Hn. om. Cm. a wedewe an old; Hl. a widew and(!) old; E. Hn. an old wydwe a. 1379. E. Hn.om. And

‘Sir,’ quod this Somnour, ‘hayl! and wel a-take!’ ‘Wel-come,’ quod he, ‘and every good felawe! 1385 Wher rydestow under this grene shawe?’ Seyde this yeman, ‘wiltow fer to day?’

1386. E. Cm. Pt. Ln. grene wode shawe (too long).

This Somnour him answerde, and seyde, ‘nay; (90) Heer faste by,’ quod he, ‘is myn entente [362: T. 6972-7007.] To ryden, for to reysen up a rente 1390 That longeth to my lordes duëtee.

1391. Cp. dewete.

‘Artow thanne a bailly?’ ‘Ye!’ quod he. He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame, Seye that he was a somnour, for the name.

‘Depardieux,’ quod this yeman, ‘dere brother, 1395 Thou art a bailly, and I am another. I am unknowen as in this contree; Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, (100) And eek of brotherhede, if that yow leste. I have gold and silver in my cheste; 1400 If that thee happe to comen in our shyre, Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desyre.’

1395. Cm. leue; Hl. lieue; rest dere (deere). 1399. Cm. brotherhode; Hl. brotherheed; rest brether-.

‘Grantmercy,’ quod this Somnour, ‘by my feith!’ Everich in otheres hand his trouthe leith, For to be sworne bretheren til they deye. 1405 In daliance they ryden forth hir weye.

1405. Hl. sworne; E. Hn. sworn; rest swore.

This Somnour, which that was as ful of Iangles, As ful of venim been thise wariangles, (no) And ever enquering up-on every thing, ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘where is now your dwelling, 1410 Another day if that I sholde yow seche?’

1407. E. Cm. om. which.

This yeman him answerde in softe speche, ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘fer in the north contree, Wher, as I hope, som-tyme I shal thee see. Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse, 1415 That of myn hous ne shaltow never misse.’

‘Now, brother,’ quod this Somnour, ‘I yow preye, Teche me, whyl that we ryden by the weye, (120) Sin that ye been a baillif as am I, Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully 1420 In myn offyce how I may most winne; And spareth nat for conscience ne sinne, But as my brother tel me, how do ye?’

1421. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. how that I.

‘Now, by my trouthe, brother dere,’ seyde he, ‘As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, 1425 [363: T. 7008-7043.] My wages been ful streite and ful smale. My lord is hard to me and daungerous, And myn offyce is ful laborous; (130) And therfore by extorcions I live. For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive; 1430 Algate, by sleyghte or by violence, Fro yeer to yeer I winne al my dispence. I can no bettre telle feithfully.’

1426. Hl. and eek (but read streit-e). 1428. Cp. laborious; rest laborous. 1430. E. yeue.

‘Now, certes,’ quod this Somnour, ‘so fare I; I spare nat to taken, god it woot, 1435 But if it be to hevy or to hoot. What I may gete in conseil prively, No maner conscience of that have I; (140) Nere myn extorcioun, I mighte nat liven, Ne of swiche Iapes wol I nat be shriven. 1440 Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon; I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everichoon. Wel be we met, by god and by seint Iame! But, leve brother, tel me than thy name,’ Quod this Somnour; and in this mene-whyle, 1445 This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.

1440. E. Nor; Hn. Cm. Hl. Ne. 1444. E. thanne. 1445. Cm. and; rest om.

‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘wiltow that I thee telle? I am a feend, my dwelling is in helle. (150) And here I ryde about my purchasing, To wite wher men wolde yeve me any thing. 1450 My purchas is theffect of al my rente. Loke how thou rydest for the same entente, To winne good, thou rekkest never how; Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now Un-to the worldes ende for a preye.’ 1455

1450. E. me yeuen; rest yeue (yiue) me. 1454. E. I wolde right; Hl. I wolde; rest wolde I.

‘A,’ quod this Somnour, ‘benedicite, what sey ye? I wende ye were a yeman trewely. Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; (160) Han ye figure than determinat In helle, ther ye been in your estat?’ 1460

1459. E. thanne.

‘Nay, certeinly,’ quod he, ‘ther have we noon; [364: T. 7044-7080.] But whan us lyketh, we can take us oon, Or elles make yow seme we ben shape Som-tyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape; Or lyk an angel can I ryde or go. 1465 It is no wonder thing thogh it be so; A lousy Iogelour can deceyve thee, And pardee, yet can I more craft than he.’ (170)

‘Why,’ quod the Somnour, ‘ryde ye thanne or goon In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?’ 1470

‘For we,’ quod he, ‘wol us swich formes make As most able is our preyes for to take.’

1471. E. Hn. swiche; Cm. Cp. swich.

‘What maketh yow to han al this labour?’

‘Ful many a cause, leve sir Somnour,’ Seyde this feend, ‘but alle thing hath tyme. 1475 The day is short, and it is passed pryme, And yet ne wan I no-thing in this day. I wol entende to winnen, if I may, (180) And nat entende our wittes to declare. For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare 1480 To understonde, al-thogh I tolde hem thee. But, for thou axest why labouren we; For, som-tyme, we ben goddes instruments, And menes to don his comandements, Whan that him list, up-on his creatures, 1485 In divers art and in divers figures. With-outen him we have no might, certayn, If that him list to stonden ther-agayn. (190) And som-tyme, at our prayere, han we leve Only the body and nat the soule greve; 1490 Witnesse on Iob, whom that we diden wo. And som-tyme han we might of bothe two, This is to seyn, of soule and body eke. And somtyme be we suffred for to seke Up-on a man, and doon his soule unreste, 1495 And nat his body, and al is for the beste. Whan he withstandeth our temptacioun, It is a cause of his savacioun; (200) [365: T. 7081-7118.] Al-be-it that it was nat our entente He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde him hente. 1500 And som-tyme be we servant un-to man, As to the erchebisshop Seint Dunstan, And to the apostles servant eek was I.’

1479. E. hir; rest oure. Cm. wordis; Hl. thinges; rest wittes. 1486. E. Hn. Cm. diuerse (2nd time). 1496. body] E. soule(!). 1498. E. om. a; Cm. the. 1502. E. bisshop(!).

‘Yet tel me,’ quod the Somnour, ‘feithfully, Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway 1505 Of elements?’ the feend answerde, ‘nay; Som-tyme we feyne, and som-tyme we aryse With dede bodies in ful sondry wyse, (210) And speke as renably and faire and wel As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel. 1510 And yet wol som men seye it was nat he; I do no fors of your divinitee. But o thing warne I thee, I wol nat Iape, Thou wolt algates wite how we ben shape; Thou shalt her-afterward, my brother dere, 1515 Com ther thee nedeth nat of me to lere. For thou shalt by thyn owene experience Conne in a chayer rede of this sentence (220) Bet than Virgyle, whyl he was on lyve, Or Dant also; now lat us ryde blyve. 1520 For I wol holde companye with thee Til it be so, that thou forsake me.’

1515. E Hn. -wardes; rest -ward.

‘Nay,’ quod this Somnour, ‘that shal nat bityde; I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde; My trouthe wol I holde as in this cas. 1525 For though thou were the devel Sathanas, My trouthe wol I holde to my brother, As I am sworn, and ech of us til other (230) For to be trewe brother in this cas; And bothe we goon abouten our purchas. 1530 Tak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive, And I shal myn; thus may we bothe live. And if that any of us have more than other, Lat him be trewe, and parte it with his brother.’

1528, 1533. E. oother. 1531. E. Taak; yeue.

‘I graunte,’ quod the devel, ‘by my fey.’ 1535 And with that word they ryden forth hir wey. [366: T. 7119-7153.] And right at the entring of the tounes ende, To which this Somnour shoop him for to wende, (240) They saugh a cart, that charged was with hey, Which that a carter droof forth in his wey. 1540 Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood. The carter smoot, and cryde, as he were wood, ‘Hayt, Brok! hayt, Scot! what spare ye for the stones? The feend,’ quod he, ‘yow fecche body and bones, As ferforthly as ever were ye foled! 1545 So muche wo as I have with yow tholed! The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey!’

This Somnour seyde, ‘heer shal we have a pley;’ (250) And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were, Ful prively, and rouned in his ere: 1550 ‘Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith; Herestow nat how that the carter seith? Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee, Bothe hey and cart, and eek hise caples three.’

‘Nay,’ quod the devel, ‘god wot, never a deel; 1555 It is nat his entente, trust me weel. Axe him thy-self, if thou nat trowest me, Or elles stint a while, and thou shall see.’ (260)

1556. E. Hn. trust thou; rest om. thou.

This carter thakketh his hors upon the croupe, And they bigonne drawen and to-stoupe; 1560 ‘Heyt, now!’ quod he, ‘ther Iesu Crist yow blesse, And al his handwerk, bothe more and lesse! That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy! I pray god save thee and sëynt Loy! Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee!’ 1565

1559. Cm. thakkyth; Hl. thakketh; Ln. thakkes; Cp. Pt. thakked; E. Hn. taketh. Hn. Cm. Hl. upon; rest om. 1562. Cp. hondywerk; Hn. handes werk. 1564. E. to god; rest om. to. 1565. Cp. slough; Pt. schlough; Ln. slouhe; Hl. sloo.

‘Lo! brother,’ quod the feend, ‘what tolde I thee? Heer may ye see, myn owene dere brother, The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another. (270) Lat us go forth abouten our viage; Heer winne I no-thing up-on cariage.’ 1570

1568. E. Hl. oon; Cm. on; rest o (oo). E. om. thing.

Whan that they comen som-what out of toune, [367: T. 7154-7187.] This Somnour to his brother gan to roune, ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘heer woneth an old rebekke, That hadde almost as lief to lese hir nekke As for to yeve a peny of hir good. 1575 I wol han twelf pens, though that she be wood, Or I wol sompne hir un-to our offyce; And yet, god woot, of hir knowe I no vyce. (280) But for thou canst nat, as in this contree, Winne thy cost, tak heer ensample of me.’ 1580

1571. E. coomen.

This Somnour clappeth at the widwes gate. ‘Com out,’ quod he, ‘thou olde viritrate! I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee!’

1582. Hn. Cp. Hl. viritrate; E. virytrate; Cm. verye crate; Pt. viritate; Ln. veritate.

‘Who clappeth?’ seyde this widwe, ‘benedicite! God save you, sire, what is your swete wille?’ 1585

1584. Cm. widew; Hl. widow; rest wyf (but read ben’cite).

‘I have,’ quod he, ‘of somonce here a bille; Up peyne of cursing, loke that thou be To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee (290) Tanswere to the court of certeyn thinges.’

1586. Cp. Pt. Ln. here; rest om. 1587. E. Vp-on; rest Vp. 1589. E. Hn. Tanswere; rest To answere (answer).

‘Now, lord,’ quod she, ‘Crist Iesu, king of kinges, 1590 So wisly helpe me, as I ne may. I have been syk, and that ful many a day. I may nat go so fer,’ quod she, ‘ne ryde, But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde. May I nat axe a libel, sir Somnour, 1595 And answere there, by my procutour, To swich thing as men wol opposen me?’

1596. Hl. ther; Ln. the; rest there. Hl. procuratour; Cm. Ln. procatour; rest procutour.

‘Yis,’ quod this Somnour, ‘pay anon, lat se, (300) Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquyte. I shall no profit han ther-by but lyte; 1600 My maister hath the profit, and nat I. Com of, and lat me ryden hastily; Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarie.’

‘Twelf pens,’ quod she, ‘now lady Seinte Marie So wisly help me out of care and sinne, 1605 [368: T. 7188-7225.] This wyde world thogh that I sholde winne, Ne have I nat twelf pens with-inne myn hold. Ye knowen wel that I am povre and old; (310) Kythe your almesse on me povre wrecche.’

1605. E. Hn. me god; rest om. god.

‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘the foule feend me fecche 1610 If I thexcuse, though them shul be spilt!’

1610. E. thanne.

‘Alas,’ quod she, ‘god woot, I have no gilt.’

‘Pay me,’ quod he, ‘or by the swete seinte Anne, As I wol bere awey thy newe panne For dette, which that thou owest me of old, 1615 Whan that thou madest thyn housbond cokewold, I payde at hoom for thy correccioun.’

‘Thou lixt,’ quod she, ‘by my savacioun! (320) Ne was I never er now, widwe ne wyf, Somoned un-to your court in al my lyf; 1620 Ne never I nas but of my body trewe! Un-to the devel blak and rough of hewe Yeve I thy body and my panne also!’

And whan the devel herde hir cursen so Up-on hir knees, he seyde in this manere, 1625 ‘Now Mabely, myn owene moder dere, Is this your wil in ernest, that ye seye?’

1626. Cm. Mabelyn.

‘The devel,’ quod she, ‘so fecche him er he deye, (330) And panne and al, but he wol him repente!’

‘Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,’ 1630 Quod this Somnour, ‘for to repente me, For any thing that I have had of thee; I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth!’

‘Now, brother,’ quod the devel, ‘be nat wrooth; Thy body and this panne ben myne by right. 1635 Thou shalt with me to helle yet to-night, Where thou shalt knowen of our privetee More than a maister of divinitee:’ (340) And with that word this foule feend him hente; Body and soule, he with the devel wente 1640 Wher-as that somnours han hir heritage. And god, that maked after his image Mankinde, save and gyde us alle and some; [369: T. 7226-7246.] And leve this Somnour good man to bicome!

1642. Hl. maked; rest made. 1644. E. Hn. this Somonours goode men bicome.

Lordinges, I coude han told yow, quod this Frere, 1645 Hadde I had leyser for this Somnour here, After the text of Crist [and] Poul and Iohn And of our othere doctours many oon, (350) Swiche peynes, that your hertes mighte agryse, Al-be-it so, no tonge may devyse, 1650 Thogh that I mighte a thousand winter telle, The peyne of thilke cursed hous of helle. But, for to kepe us fro that cursed place, Waketh, and preyeth Iesu for his grace So kepe us fro the temptour Sathanas. 1655 Herketh this word, beth war as in this cas; The leoun sit in his await alway To slee the innocent, if that he may. (360) Disposeth ay your hertes to withstonde The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde. 1660 He may nat tempten yow over your might; For Crist wol be your champion and knight. And prayeth that thise Somnours hem repente Of hir misdedes, er that the feend hem hente.

=Here endeth the Freres Tale.=

1647. I supply and. 1649. E. Ln. Hl. herte (see l. 1659). 1650. E. Hn. may it; rest om. it. 1652. E. Hn. Pt. peynes; rest peyne. 1661. E. Hn. Hl. tempte; rest tempten. 1663. So E. Hn.; Cp. Pt. Ln. this somnour him; Hl. oure sompnour him. 1664. So E. Hn.; rest his mysdede ... him. Cm. om. that (perhaps rightly). COLOPHON. So E. Hn. Cm.; Cp. Hl. Her endeth the Frere his tale.

[370: T. 7247-7270.]

* * * * *

THE SOMNOUR’S PROLOGUE

* * * * *

=The prologe of the Somnours Tale.=

This Somnour in his stiropes hye stood; 1665 Up-on this Frere his herte was so wood, That lyk an aspen leef he quook for yre.

HEADING. So E. Hn.; E. Somonours. 1665. E. Somonour; Hl. sompnour; rest Somnour.

‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘but o thing I desyre; I yow biseke that, of your curteisye, Sin ye han herd this false Frere lye, 1670 As suffereth me I may my tale telle! This Frere bosteth that he knoweth helle, And god it woot, that it is litel wonder; Freres and feendes been but lyte a-sonder. (10) For pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle, 1675 How that a frere ravisshed was to helle In spirit ones by a visioun; And as an angel ladde him up and doun, To shewen him the peynes that ther were, In al the place saugh he nat a frere; 1680 Of other folk he saugh y-nowe in wo. Un-to this angel spak the frere tho:

1676. E. vanysshed(!); rest rauysshed.

“Now, sir,” quod he, “han freres swich a grace That noon of hem shal come to this place?” (20)

“Yis,” quod this angel, “many a millioun!” 1685 And un-to Sathanas he ladde him doun. “And now hath Sathanas,” seith he, “a tayl Brodder than of a carrik is the sayl. [371: T. 7271-7290.] Hold up thy tayl, thou Sathanas!” quod he, “Shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere see 1690 Wher is the nest of freres in this place!” And, er that half a furlong-wey of space, Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve, Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve (30) Twenty thousand freres in a route, 1695 And thurgh-out helle swarmeden aboute; And comen agayn, as faste as they may gon, And in his ers they crepten everichon. He clapte his tayl agayn, and lay ful stille. This frere, whan he loked hadde his fille 1700 Upon the torments of this sory place, His spirit god restored of his grace Un-to his body agayn, and he awook; But natheles, for fere yet he quook, (40) So was the develes ers ay in his minde, 1705 That is his heritage of verray kinde. God save yow alle, save this cursed Frere; My prologe wol I ende in this manere.’

=Here endeth the prologe of the Somnours Tale.=

1692. Pt. Hl. than; rest that. 1693. E. Hn. swarmeden; Hl. swarmed al. 1700. Cp. Hn. loked hadde; Pt. Ln. Hl. loked had; E. hadde looke al (sic). COLOPHON. From Hn.

[372: T. 7291-7314.]

* * * * *

THE SOMNOURS TALE.

* * * * *

=Here biginneth the Somonour his Tale.=

Lordinges, ther is in Yorkshire, as I gesse, A mersshy contree called Holdernesse, 1710 In which ther wente a limitour aboute, To preche, and eek to begge, it is no doute. And so bifel, that on a day this frere Had preched at a chirche in his manere, And specially, aboven every thing, 1715 Excited he the peple in his preching, To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake, Wher-with men mighten holy houses make, (10) Ther as divyne service is honoured, Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, 1720 Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive, As to possessioners, that mowen live, Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce. ‘Trentals,’ seyde he, ‘deliveren fro penaunce Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, 1725 Ye, whan that they been hastily y-songe; Nat for to holde a preest Ioly and gay, He singeth nat but o masse in a day; (20) Delivereth out,’ quod he, ‘anon the soules; Ful hard it is with fleshhook or with oules 1730 To been y-clawed, or to brenne or bake; Now spede yow hastily, for Cristes sake.’ [373: T. 7315-7349.] And whan this frere had seyd al his entente, With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente.

HEADING. So E.; Hn. Somnours (for Somonour his). 1710. Cp. Pt. Ln. mersshy; Hl. mersschly; E. Hn. merssh. 1718. Cp. Hl. mighten; E. Hn. myghte. 1721. Cp. Hl. yiue; rest yeue.

Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste, 1735 He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste, With scrippe and tipped staf, y-tukked hye; In every hous he gan to poure and prye, (30) And beggeth mele, and chese, or elles corn. His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn, 1740 A peyre of tables al of yvory, And a poyntel polisshed fetisly, And wroot the names alwey, as he stood, Of alle folk that yaf him any good, Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye. 1745 ‘Yeve us a busshel whete, malt, or reye, A goddes kechil, or a trip of chese, Or elles what yow list, we may nat chese; (40) A goddes halfpeny or a masse-peny, Or yeve us of your brawn, if ye have eny; 1750 A dagon of your blanket, leve dame, Our suster dere, lo! here I write your name; Bacon or beef, or swich thing as ye finde.’

1735. E. lest. 1736. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. went. 1738. E. Hn. Ln. poure; rest pore. 1743. E. wroote. 1745. Hn. Ascaunces; E. Asaunces; Hl. Pt. Ln. Ascaunce; Cp. Ascance. E. prey. 1746. Ln. Yeue; Cp. Yiue; rest Yif (see 1750). E. him; rest vs. 1747. Ln. kechel; Hl. kichil. Cp. Pt. trippe; Ln. trep. 1750. E. Hn. Hl. yif; rest yeue (yiue). 1751. Cm. Cp. Hl. dagoun.

A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihinde, That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak, 1755 And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak. And whan that he was out at dore anon, He planed awey the names everichon (50) That he biforn had writen in his tables; He served hem with nyfles and with fables. 1760

‘Nay, ther thou lixt, thou Somnour,’ quod the Frere. ‘Pees,’ quod our Host, ‘for Cristes moder dere; Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al.’ So thryve I, quod this Somnour, so I shal.—

So longe he wente hous by hous, til he 1765 Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be Refresshed more than in an hundred placis. [374: T. 7350-7385.] Sik lay the gode man, whos that the place is; (60) Bedrede up-on a couche lowe he lay. ‘Deus hic,’ quod he, ‘O Thomas, freend, good day,’ 1770 Seyde this frere curteisly and softe. ‘Thomas,’ quod he, ‘god yelde yow! ful ofte Have I up-on this bench faren ful weel. Here have I eten many a mery meel’; And fro the bench he droof awey the cat, 1775 And leyde adoun his potente and his hat, And eek his scrippe, and sette him softe adoun. His felawe was go walked in-to toun, (70) Forth with his knave, in-to that hostelrye Wher-as he shoop him thilke night to lye. 1780

1768. Hl. that; rest om. 1769. Pt. Hl. Bedred. 1772. Hl. yeld it. 1774. E. myrie; Hn. Cm. murye; rest mery.

‘O dere maister,’ quod this syke man, ‘How han ye fare sith that March bigan? I saugh yow noght this fourtenight or more.’ ‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘laboured have I ful sore; And specially, for thy savacioun 1785 Have I seyd many a precious orisoun, And for our othere frendes, god hem blesse! I have to-day been at your chirche at messe, (80) And seyd a sermon after my simple wit, Nat al after the text of holy writ; 1790 For it is hard to yow, as I suppose, And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose. Glosinge is a glorious thing, certeyn, For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn. Ther have I taught hem to be charitable, 1795 And spende hir good ther it is resonable, And ther I saugh our dame; a! wher is she?’

1783. E. Hn. fourtnyght; rest fourtenight. 1784. E. Hn. I haue; rest haue I. 1792. Hl. ay (for al). 1793. Hl. a ful glorious. 1794. E. thise; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. we.

‘Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,’ (90) Seyde this man, ‘and she wol come anon.’

‘Ey, maister! wel-come be ye, by seint Iohn!’ 1800 Seyde this wyf, ‘how fare ye hertely?’

The frere aryseth up ful curteisly, And hir embraceth in his armes narwe, [375: T. 7386-7422.] And kiste hir swete, and chirketh as a sparwe With his lippes: ‘dame,’ quod he, ‘right weel, 1805 As he that is your servant every deel. Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and lyf, Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf (100) In al the chirche, god so save me!’

1804. E. Hn. chirteth.

‘Ye, god amende defautes, sir,’ quod she, 1810 ‘Algates wel-come be ye, by my fey!’ ‘Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey. But of your grete goodnesse, by your leve, I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve, I wol with Thomas speke a litel throwe. 1815 Thise curats been ful necligent and slowe To grope tendrely a conscience. In shrift, in preching is my diligence, (110) And studie in Petres wordes, and in Poules. I walke, and fisshe Cristen mennes soules, 1820 To yelden Iesu Crist his propre rente; To sprede his word is set al myn entente.’

‘Now, by your leve, o dere sir,’ quod she, ‘Chydeth him weel, for seinte Trinitee. He is as angry as a pissemyre, 1825 Though that he have al that he can desyre. Though I him wrye a-night and make him warm, And on hym leye my leg outher myn arm, (120) He groneth lyk our boor, lyth in our sty. Other desport right noon of him have I; 1830 I may nat plese him in no maner cas.’

1830. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. of him right non.

‘O Thomas! Ie vous dy, Thomas! Thomas! This maketh the feend, this moste ben amended. Ire is a thing that hye god defended, And ther-of wol I speke a word or two.’ 1835

1832. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. Ieo.

‘Now maister,’ quod the wyf, ‘er that I go, What wol ye dyne? I wol go ther-aboute.’

‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘Ie vous dy sanz doute, (130) Have I nat of a capon but the livere, And of your softe breed nat but a shivere, 1840 [376: T. 7423-7459.] And after that a rosted pigges heed, (But that I nolde no beest for me were deed), Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce. I am a man of litel sustenaunce. My spirit hath his fostring in the Bible. 1845 The body is ay so redy and penyble To wake, that my stomak is destroyed. I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, (140) Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe; By god, I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.’ 1850

1838. Cp. Pt. Hl. Ieo.

‘Now, sir,’ quod she, ‘but o word er I go; My child is deed with-inne thise wykes two, Sone after that ye wente out of this toun.’

‘His deeth saugh I by revelacioun,’ Seith this frere, ‘at hoom in our dortour. 1855 I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour After his deeth, I saugh him born to blisse In myn avisioun, so god me wisse! (150) So dide our sexteyn and our fermerer, That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; 1860 They may now, god be thanked of his lone, Maken hir Iubilee and walke allone. And up I roos, and al our covent eke, With many a tere trikling on my cheke, Withouten noyse or clateringe of belles; 1865 Te deum was our song and no-thing elles, Save that to Crist I seyde an orisoun, Thankinge him of his revelacioun. (160) For sir and dame, trusteth me right weel, Our orisons been more effectueel, 1870 And more we seen of Cristes secree thinges Than burel folk, al-though they weren kinges. We live in povert and in abstinence, And burel folk in richesse and despence Of mete and drinke, and in hir foul delyt. 1875 We han this worldes lust al in despyt. Lazar and Dives liveden diversly, [377: T. 7460-7496.] And diverse guerdon hadden they ther-by. (170) Who-so wol preye, he moot faste and be clene, And fatte his soule and make his body lene. 1880 We fare as seith thapostle; cloth and fode Suffysen us, though they be nat ful gode. The clennesse and the fastinge of us freres Maketh that Crist accepteth our preyeres.

1856. Ln. than; rest that. 1870. E. Hn. wel moore; rest om. wel. 1872. Hl. borel. 1873. Cm. Hl. pouert; rest pouerte. 1874. Hl. borel. 1878. E. Hn. gerdon; Cm. gerdoun; Pt. guardon.

Lo, Moyses fourty dayes and fourty night 1885 Fasted, er that the heighe god of might Spak with him in the mountain of Sinay. With empty wombe, fastinge many a day, (180) Receyved he the lawe that was writen With goddes finger; and Elie, wel ye witen, 1890 In mount Oreb, er he hadde any speche With hye god, that is our lyves leche, He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce.

1887. Hn. mountayne; Ln. Dd. mounte; rest mount.

Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce, And eek the othere preestes everichon, 1895 In-to the temple whan they sholde gon To preye for the peple, and do servyse, They nolden drinken, in no maner wyse, (190) No drinke, which that mighte hem dronke make, But there in abstinence preye and wake, 1900 Lest that they deyden; tak heed what I seye. But they be sobre that for the peple preye, War that I seye,—namore! for it suffyseth. Our lord Iesu, as holy writ devyseth, Yaf us ensample of fastinge and preyeres. 1905 Therfor we mendinants, we sely freres, Been wedded to poverte and continence, To charitee, humblesse, and abstinence, (200) To persecucion for rightwisnesse, To wepinge, misericorde, and clennesse. 1910 And therfor may ye see that our preyeres— I speke of us, we mendinants, we freres— Ben to the hye god more acceptable Than youres, with your festes at the table. [378: T. 7497-7530.] Fro Paradys first, if I shal nat lye, 1915 Was man out chaced for his glotonye; And chaast was man in Paradys, certeyn.

1895. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. that; Cm. Hl. Pt. the. 1901. E. taak heede. 1906, 12. E. mendynantz.

But herkne now, Thomas, what I shal seyn. (210) I ne have no text of it, as I suppose, But I shall finde it in a maner glose, 1930 That specially our swete lord Iesus Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus: “Blessed be they that povre in spirit been.” And so forth al the gospel may ye seen, Wher it be lyker our professioun, 1925 Or hirs that swimmen in possessioun. Fy on hir pompe and on hir glotonye! And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. (220)

1918. Cm. Pt. Hl. now; rest om. 1923. E. pouere; Hn. poure; Ln. Hl. pouer; Cm. poore; Cp. pore. 1925. E. Hn. likker; Cm. lykere. 1927. E. Hn. om. 2nd on.

Me thinketh they ben lyk Iovinian, Fat as a whale, and walkinge as a swan; 1930 Al vinolent as botel in the spence. Hir preyer is of ful gret reverence; Whan they for soules seye the psalm of Davit, Lo, “buf!” they seye, “cor meum eructavit!” Who folweth Cristes gospel and his fore, 1935 But we that humble been and chast and pore, Werkers of goddes word, not auditours? Therfore, right as an hauk up, at a sours, (230) Up springeth in-to their, right so prayeres Of charitable and chaste bisy freres 1940 Maken hir sours to goddes eres two. Thomas! Thomas! so mote I ryde or go, And by that lord that clepid is seint Yve, Nere thou our brother, sholdestou nat thryve! In our chapitre praye we day and night 1945 To Crist, that he thee sende hele and might, Thy body for to welden hastily.’

1934. buf] E. but; Hl. boef. 1935. E. Hn. foore; Cm. Hl. fore; rest lore. 1937. E. Cm. Werkeris. 1938. up at] Hl. vpon. 1939. Hl. thaer; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. the eyre (ayre). 1947. E. weelden.

‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘no-thing ther-of fele I; (240) [379: T. 7531-7565.] As help me Crist, as I, in fewe yeres, Han spended, up-on dyvers maner freres, 1950 Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet. Certeyn, my good have I almost biset. Farwel, my gold! for it is al ago!’

1949. Hn. Hl. I in; E. Cm. in a; Pt. I haue in. 1950. Hn. Hl. Haue spended; E. I han spent. 1952. E. I haue.

The frere answerde, ‘O Thomas, dostow so? What nedeth yow diverse freres seche? 1955 What nedeth him that hath a parfit leche To sechen othere leches in the toun? Your inconstance is your confusioun. (250) Holde ye than me, or elles our covent, To praye for yow ben insufficient? 1960 Thomas, that Iape nis nat worth a myte; Your maladye is for we han to lyte. “A! yif that covent half a quarter otes!” “A! yif that covent four and twenty grotes!” “A! yif that frere a peny, and lat him go!” 1965 Nay, nay, Thomas! it may no-thing be so. What is a ferthing worth parted in twelve? Lo, ech thing that is oned in him-selve (260) Is more strong than whan it is to-scatered. Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been y-flatered; 1970 Thou woldest han our labour al for noght. The hye god, that al this world hath wroght, Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre. Thomas! noght of your tresor I desyre As for my-self, but that al our covent 1975 To preye for yow is ay so diligent, And for to builden Cristes owene chirche. Thomas! if ye wol lernen for to wirche, (270) Of buildinge up of chirches may ye finde If it be good, in Thomas lyf of Inde. 1980 Ye lye heer, ful of anger and of yre, With which the devel set your herte a-fyre, And chyden heer this sely innocent, [380: T. 7566-7597.] Your wyf, that is so meke and pacient. And therfor, Thomas, trowe me if thee leste, 1985 Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste; And ber this word awey now, by thy feith, Touchinge this thing, lo, what the wyse seith: (280) “With-in thyn hous ne be thou no leoun; To thy subgits do noon oppressioun; 1990 Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee.” And Thomas, yet eft-sones I charge thee, Be war from hir that in thy bosom slepeth; War fro the serpent that so slyly crepeth Under the gras, and stingeth subtilly. 1995 Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently, That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves, For stryving with hir lemmans and hir wyves. (290) Now sith ye han so holy and meke a wyf, What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken stryf? 2000 Ther nis, y-wis, no serpent so cruel, Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel, As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire; Vengeance is thanne al that they desyre. Ire is a sinne, oon of the grete of sevene, 2005 Abhominable un-to the god of hevene; And to him-self it is destruccion. This every lewed viker or person (300) Can seye, how Ire engendreth homicyde. Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. 2010 I coude of Ire seye so muche sorwe, My tale sholde laste til to-morwe. And therfor preye I god bothe day and night, An irous man, god sende him litel might! It is greet harm and, certes, gret pitee, 2015 [381: T. 7598-7632.] To sette an irous man in heigh degree.

1959. E. thanne. 1968. E. it-; rest him-. 1977. E. Hn. Hl. buylden; Cm. bildyn; Cp. bulden; Pt. beelden; Ln. bilden. 1981. E. om. and. 1983. E. Hn. Hl. the; rest this. 1988. E. this; rest swich (such). 1989. All With-inne. 1991. E. Hn. Cm. aqueyntances; Hl. acqueyntis; rest aqueintance. Cm. not to; Pt. for to; Hl. fro thee; rest nat for to. 1993. Pt. yre (for hir). 1994. Hn. War fro; Hl. War for; Pt. Ware the for; Cm. By-war from; E. Be war fro; Cp. Ln. Be war of. 1999. Hl. and meke; Cp. Ln. and so meke; rest meke. 2002. E. What (for Whan). E. Hn. man tret; Cm. man trat; rest men trede. After 2004 Hl. ins. 2 spurious lines: Schortly may no man by rym and vers Tellen her thoughtes, thay ben so diuers. After 2012 Hl. ins. 2 spurious lines: Ire is the grate of synne as saith the wise To fle ther-fro ech man schuld him deuyse. 2015. Hn. Cp. Ln. certes; Hl. also; rest eke (eek).

Whilom ther was an irous potestat, As seith Senek, that, duringe his estaat, (310) Up-on a day out riden knightes two, And as fortune wolde that it were so, 2020 That oon of hem cam hoom, that other noght. Anon the knight bifore the Iuge is broght, That seyde thus, ‘thou hast thy felawe slayn, For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn.’ And to another knight comanded he, 2025 ‘Go lede him to the deeth, I charge thee.’ And happed, as they wente by the weye Toward the place ther he sholde deye, (320) The knight cam, which men wenden had be deed. Thanne thoughte they, it was the beste reed, 2030 To lede hem bothe to the Iuge agayn. They seiden, ‘lord, the knight ne hath nat slayn His felawe; here he standeth hool alyve.’ ‘Ye shul be deed,’ quod he, ‘so moot I thryve! That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and three!’ 2035 And to the firste knight right thus spak he, ‘I dampned thee, thou most algate be deed. And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, (330) For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.’ And to the thridde knight right thus he seyth, 2040 ‘Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee.’ And thus he dide don sleen hem alle three.

2037. Here Hl. adds two spurious lines: Than thoughte thay it were the beste rede To lede him forth into a fair mede.

Irous Cambyses was eek dronkelewe, And ay delyted him to been a shrewe. And so bifel, a lord of his meynee, 2045 That lovede vertuous moralitee, Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus: ‘A lord is lost, if he be vicious; (340) And dronkenesse is eek a foul record Of any man, and namely in a lord. 2050 [382: T. 7633-7669.] Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere Awaiting on a lord, and he noot where. For goddes love, drink more attemprely; Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly His minde, and eek his limes everichon.’ 2055

2046. Hn. Cm. louede (= lov’de); E. loued. 2047. E. bitwene. 2048. Here Hl. adds two spurious lines: An irous man is lik a frentik best In which ther is of wisdom noon arrest. 2048. E. Pt. vicius. 2050. Hl. of (for in). 2055. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. eek; rest om.

‘The revers shaltou se,’ quod he, ‘anon; And preve it, by thyn owene experience, That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence. (350) Ther is no wyn bireveth me my might Of hand ne foot, ne of myn eyen sight’— 2060 And, for despyt, he drank ful muchel more An hondred part than he had doon bifore; And right anon, this irous cursed wrecche Leet this knightes sone bifore him fecche, Comandinge him he sholde bifore him stonde. 2065 And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde, And up the streng he pulled to his ere, And with an arwe he slow the child right there: (360) ‘Now whether have I a siker hand or noon?’ Quod he, ‘is al my might and minde agoon? 2070 Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight?’

2062. E. om. doon. 2064. Hl. sone anoon; rest sone. 2069. E. wheither. 2071. E. bireft; rest byreued.

What sholde I telle thanswere of the knight? His sone was slayn, ther is na-more to seye. Beth war therfor with lordes how ye pleye. Singeth Placebo, and I shal, if I can, 2075 But if it be un-to a povre man. To a povre man men sholde hise vyces telle, But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle. (370)

Lo irous Cirus, thilke Percien, How he destroyed the river of Gysen, 2080 For that an hors of his was dreynt ther-inne, Whan that he wente Babiloigne to winne. He made that the river was so smal, That wommen mighte wade it over al. Lo, what seyde he, that so wel teche can? 2085 “Ne be no felawe to an irous man, Ne with no wood man walke by the weye, [383: T. 7670-7704.] Lest thee repente;” ther is na-more to seye. (380)

Now Thomas, leve brother, lef thyn ire; Thou shall me finde as Iust as is a squire. 2090 Hold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte; Thyn angre dooth thee al to sore smerte; But shewe to me al thy confessioun.’

2091, 2. Hl. transposes these lines.

‘Nay,’ quod the syke man, ‘by Seint Simoun! I have be shriven this day at my curat; 2095 I have him told al hoolly myn estat; Nedeth na-more to speke of it,’ seith he, ‘But if me list of myn humilitee.’ (390)

2095. Hl. of (for at). 2096. E. Hn. Hl. hoolly al; rest al holly (holy). 2097. E. Hl. speken.

‘Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make our cloistre,’ Quod he, ‘for many a muscle and many an oistre, 2100 Whan other men han ben ful wel at eyse, Hath been our fode, our cloistre for to reyse. And yet, god woot, unnethe the fundement Parfourned is, ne of our pavement Nis nat a tyle yet with-inne our wones; 2105 By god, we owen fourty pound for stones! Now help, Thomas, for him that harwed helle! For elles moste we our bokes selle. (400) And if ye lakke our predicacioun, Than gooth the world al to destruccioun. 2110 For who-so wolde us fro this world bireve, So god me save, Thomas, by your leve, He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne. For who can teche and werchen as we conne? And that is nat of litel tyme,’ quod he; 2115 ‘But sith that Elie was, or Elisee, Han freres been, that finde I of record, In charitee, y-thanked be our lord. (410) Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee!’ And doun anon he sette him on his knee. 2120

2101, 2. Hl. transposes these lines. 2105. E. Cm. tyl; rest tyle. 2110. E. Thanne. 2116. Hl. siththen; Cp. Ln. sethyns; Cm. sithe that; E. syn; Hn. Ln. sith. E. Ennok; rest Elie (Elye).

This syke man wex wel ny wood for ire; He wolde that the frere had been on-fire [384: T. 7705-7738.] With his false dissimulacioun. ‘Swich thing as is in my possessioun,’ Quod he, ‘that may I yeven, and non other. 2125 Ye sey me thus, how that I am your brother?’

2121. E. wax; Hn. weex; rest wex. 2125. Hl. yeue yow; rest om. yow. 2126. E. Cp. Ln. om. how.

‘Ye, certes,’ quod the frere, ‘trusteth weel; I took our dame our lettre with our seel.’ (420)

2128. Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. with; E. and; Pt. of; Hl. vnder.

‘Now wel,’ quod he, ‘and som-what shal I yive Un-to your holy covent whyl I live, 2130 And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anoon; On this condicioun, and other noon, That thou departe it so, my dere brother, That every frere have also muche as other. This shaltou swere on thy professioun, 2135 With-outen fraude or cavillacioun.’

2129. Cp. Hl. yiue; rest yeue. 2133. E. leeue; rest dere (deere).

‘I swere it,’ quod this frere, ‘upon my feith!’ And ther-with-al his hand in his he leith: (430) ‘Lo, heer my feith! in me shal be no lak.’

2137. E. Pt. by; rest vpon.

‘Now thanne, put thyn hand doun by my bak,’ 2140 Seyde this man, ‘and grope wel bihinde; Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow finde A thing that I have hid in privetee.’

2140. E. Now thanne put in; Hn. Hl. Now thanne put; Pt. Now than put; Cp. Ln. Than putte (put).

‘A!’ thoghte this frere, ‘this shal go with me!’ And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, 2145 In hope for to finde ther a yifte. And whan this syke man felte this frere Aboute his tuwel grope there and here, (440) Amidde his hand he leet the frere a fart. Ther nis no capul, drawinge in a cart, 2150 That mighte have lete a fart of swich a soun.

2145. Hl. launched; Cp. Pt. Ln. launceth. 2148. Cm. tewel; Hl. tuel; Ln. touele.

‘The frere up stirte as doth a wood leoun: ‘A! false cherl,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones, This hastow for despyt doon, for the nones! Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may!’ 2155

2153. E. Pt. Ln. fals.

His meynee, whiche that herden this affray, [385: T. 7739-7773.] Cam lepinge in, and chaced out the frere; And forth he gooth, with a ful angry chere, (450) And fette his felawe, ther-as lay his stoor. He looked as it were a wilde boor; 2160 He grinte with his teeth, so was he wrooth. A sturdy pas doun to the court he gooth, Wher-as ther woned a man of greet honour, To whom that he was alwey confessour; This worthy man was lord of that village. 2165 This frere cam, as he were in a rage, Wher-as this lord sat eting at his bord. Unnethes mighte the frere speke a word, (460) Til atte laste he seyde: ‘god yow see!’

2161. Hn. Cm. Pt. grynt; Cp. grynded; Ln. grenteth. 2162. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. paas. E. lordes court; rest om. lordes. 2163. E. om. ther.

This lord gan loke, and seide, ‘benedicite! 2170 What, frere Iohn, what maner world is this? I see wel that som thing ther is amis. Ye loken as the wode were ful of thevis, Sit doun anon, and tel me what your greef is, And it shal been amended, if I may.’ 2175

2170. E. bigan to; Cm. gan to; rest gan. 2172. So Hn. Cm.; E. I trowe som manerthing. 2174. Cp. greef; Cm. Hl. gref; E. Hn. grief. 2175. E. Cp. Ln. Hl. if that; rest om. that.

‘I have,’ quod he, ‘had a despyt this day, God yelde yow! adoun in your village, That in this world is noon so povre a page, (470) That he nolde have abhominacioun Of that I have receyved in your toun. 2180 And yet ne greveth me no-thing so sore, As that this olde cherl, with lokkes hore, Blasphemed hath our holy covent eke.’

2181. E. Cp. Ln. om. ne.

‘Now, maister,’ quod this lord, ‘I yow biseke.’

‘No maister, sire,’ quod he, ‘but servitour, 2185 Thogh I have had in scole swich honour. God lyketh nat that “Raby” men us calle, Neither in market ne in your large halle.’ (480)

2185. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. om. sire. 2186. E. swich; Hl. such; rest that.

‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘but tel me al your grief.’

‘Sire,’ quod this frere, ‘an odious meschief 2190 This day bitid is to myn ordre and me, [386: T. 7774-7808.] And so per consequens to ech degree Of holy chirche, god amende it sone!’

2190. E. he (for this frere). 2192. E. Pt. in; rest to.

‘Sir,’ quod the lord, ‘ye woot what is to done. Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; 2195 Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour. For goddes love your pacience ye holde; Tel me your grief:’ and he anon him tolde, (490) As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what.

The lady of the hous ay stille sat, 2200 Til she had herd al what the frere sayde: ‘Ey, goddes moder,’ quod she, ‘blisful mayde! Is ther oght elles? telle me faithfully.’

2200. E. al; rest ay. 2201. MS. Add. 5140. all; rest om.

‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘how thinketh yow her-by?’

2204. Hn. thynketh yow; Cp. thenke you; Hl. Ln. thynke yow; E. thynke ye. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. ther-by.

‘How that me thinketh?’ quod she; ‘so god me speede, I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede. What shold I seye? god lat him never thee! His syke heed is ful of vanitee, (500) I hold him in a maner frenesye.’

2205. thinketh = think’th.

‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god I shal nat lye; 2210 But I on other weyes may be wreke, I shal diffame him over-al ther I speke, This false blasphemour, that charged me To parte that wol nat departed be, To every man y-liche, with meschaunce!’ 2215

2211. E. ins. hym after on (wrongly). E. om. may. 2212. Hn. Cp. diffame; Cm. Hl. defame; E. disclaundre.

The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce, And in his herte he rolled up and doun, ‘How hadde this cherl imaginacioun (510) To shewe swich a probleme to the frere? Never erst er now herde I of swich matere; 2220 I trowe the devel putte it in his minde. In ars-metryke shal ther no man finde, Biforn this day, of swich a questioun. Who sholde make a demonstracioun, That every man sholde have y-liche his part 2225 As of the soun or savour of a fart? [387: T. 7809-7843.] O nyce proude cherl, I shrewe his face! Lo, sires,’ quod the lord, with harde grace, (520) ‘Who ever herde of swich a thing er now? To every man y-lyke? tel me how? 2230 It is an inpossible, it may nat be! Ey, nyce cherl, god lete him never thee! The rumblinge of a fart, and every soun, Nis but of eir reverberacioun, And ever it wasteth lyte and lyte awey. 2235 Ther is no man can demen, by my fey, If that it were departed equally. What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly (530) Un-to my confessour to-day he spak! I holde him certeyn a demoniak! 2240 Now ete your mete, and lat the cherl go pleye, Lat him go honge himself a devel weye!’

2218. E. the (for this). E. Cm. insert this after cherl. 2222. Ln. metrike; rest metrik. 2224. So the rest; E. Certes it was a shrewed conclusion. 2227. E. vile; rest nyce. 2229. E. herd; rest herde. E. Cm. Cp. herd euere. 2232. him] E. thee. 2235. E. Cp. Pt. Hl. litel and litel.

Now stood the lordes squyer at the bord, That carf his mete, and herde, word by word, Of alle thinges of which I have yow sayd. 2245 ‘My lord,’ quod he, ‘be ye nat yvel apayd; I coude telle, for a goune-clooth, To yow, sir frere, so ye be nat wrooth, (540) How that this fart sholde even deled be Among your covent, if it lyked me.’ 2250

2245. So Hn. Cp. Ln.; E. which that I haue. 2246. E. Cp. beth; Ln. be; rest be ye. 2249. E. euene delt shal; Hl. euen departed schuld; rest as above.

‘Tel,’ quod the lord, ‘and thou shall have anon A goune-cloth, by god and by Seint Iohn!’

‘My lord,’ quod he, ‘whan that the weder is fair, With-outen wind or perturbinge of air, Lat bringe a cartwheel here in-to this halle, 2255 But loke that it have his spokes alle. Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly. And bring me than twelf freres, woot ye why? (550) For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse. The confessour heer, for his worthinesse, 2260 Shal parfourne up the nombre of his covent. [388: T. 7844-7876.] Than shal they knele doun, by oon assent, And to every spokes ende, in this manere, Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere. Your noble confessour, ther god him save, 2265 Shal holde his nose upright, under the nave. Than shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght As any tabour, hider been y-broght; (560) And sette him on the wheel right of this cart, Upon the nave, and make him lete a fart. 2270 And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf, By preve which that is demonstratif, That equally the soun of it wol wende, And eek the stink, un-to the spokes ende; Save that this worthy man, your confessour, 2275 By-cause he is a man of greet honour, Shal have the firste fruit, as reson is; The noble usage of freres yet is this, (570) The worthy men of hem shul first be served; And certeinly, he hath it weel deserved. 2280 He hath to-day taught us so muchel good With preching in the pulpit ther he stood, That I may vouche-sauf, I sey for me, He hadde the firste smel of fartes three, And so wolde al his covent hardily; 2285 He bereth him so faire and holily.’

2255. E. Hl. om. here. Hl. a large wheel. 2257. Hn. Hl. Twelf; E. Cm. Twelue. 2258. E. thanne. xij. 2259. E. Ln. twelue (for thrittene). 2262, 7. E. Thanne. 2268. E. Cm. been hyder. 2272. Hl. By verray proef. 2274. E. eke; Hn. eek. 2278. So Hn. Cp. Ln.; Pt. it (for yet); Hl. om. yet; E. As yet the noble vsage of freres is. 2280. E. Hn. Cp. disserued. 2281. Hn. muchel; Hl. Cp. mochil; E. Ln. muche. 2285. E. the (for his).

The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere, Seyde that Iankin spak, in this matere, (580) As wel as Euclide or [as] Ptholomee. Touchinge this cherl, they seyde, subtiltee 2290 And heigh wit made him speken as he spak; He nis no fool, ne no demoniak. And Iankin hath y-wonne a newe goune.— My tale is doon; we been almost at toune. 2294

=Here endeth the Somnours Tale.=

2287. E. alle men. 2289. E. Euclude. I supply 2nd as (Hl. supplies elles); Ln. has ptholome; E. Hn. Protholomee; Cp. Hl. p_ro_tholome. 2291. Hl. speken; rest speke. COLOPHON. So E. Hn. Cp. Hl.; E. Somonours.

[389: T. 7877-7898.]

* * * * *

GROUP E

THE CLERK’S PROLOGUE.

* * * * *

=Here folweth the Prologe of the Clerkes Tale of Oxenford.=

‘Sir clerk of Oxenford,’ our hoste sayde, ‘Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde, Were newe spoused, sitting at the bord; This day ne herde I of your tonge a word. I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme, 5 But Salomon seith, “every thing hath tyme.”

1. Hl. hoste; Cp. Ln. oste; E. Hn. hoost.

For goddes sake, as beth of bettre chere, It is no tyme for to studien here. Telle us som mery tale, by your fey; For what man that is entred in a pley, 10 He nedes moot unto the pley assente. But precheth nat, as freres doon in Lente, To make us for our olde sinnes wepe, Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe.

Telle us som mery thing of aventures;— 15 Your termes, your colours, and your figures, Kepe hem in stoor til so be ye endyte Heigh style, as whan that men to kinges wryte. Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, I yow preye, That we may understonde what ye seye.’ 20

17. E. Hl. that ye; rest omit that. 19. E. Hn. we; rest I.

This worthy clerk benignely answerde, ‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘I am under your yerde; [390: T. 7899-7932.] Ye han of us as now the governaunce, And therfor wol I do yow obeisaunce, As fer as reson axeth, hardily. 25 I wol yow telle a tale which that I Lerned at Padowe of a worthy clerk, As preved by his wordes and his werk. He is now deed and nayled in his cheste, I prey to god so yeve his soule reste! 30

22. Ln. Oste; E. Hn. Pt. Hoost; Hl. Sir host.

Fraunceys Petrark, the laureat poete, Highte this clerk, whos rethoryke sweete Enlumined al Itaille of poetrye, As Linian dide of philosophye Or lawe, or other art particuler; 35 But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer But as it were a twinkling of an yë, Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dyë.

32. Hl. rethorique; Cp. retorique; Pt. retorike; E. Hn. Ln. rethorik. 36. E. omits suffre us.

But forth to tellen of this worthy man, That taughte me this tale, as I bigan, 40 I seye that first with heigh style he endyteth, Er he the body of his tale wryteth, A proheme, in the which discryveth he Pemond, and of Saluces the contree, And speketh of Apennyn, the hilles hye, 45 That been the boundes of West Lumbardye, And of Mount Vesulus in special, Where as the Poo, out of a welle smal, Taketh his firste springing and his sours, That estward ay encresseth in his cours 50 To Emelward, to Ferrare, and Venyse: The which a long thing were to devyse. And trewely, as to my Iugement, Me thinketh it a thing impertinent, Save that he wol convey en his matere: 55 But this his tale, which that ye may here.’

51. E. Hn. Emele; Hl. Emyl; Cp. Pt. Ln. Emel. 55. E. Hn. conuoyen; rest conueyen (-eye). 56. E. Hn. this his tale (where this is a contraction for this is; cf. mod. E. ’tis); Hl. Pt. this is the tale; Ln. this is tale.

[391: T. 7933-7957.]

* * * * *

THE CLERKES TALE.

* * * * *

=Here biginneth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.=

Ther is, at the west syde of Itaille, Doun at the rote of Vesulus the colde, A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille, Wher many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde, 60 That founded were in tyme of fadres olde, And many another delitable sighte, And Saluces this noble contree highte.

A markis whylom lord was of that londe, As were his worthy eldres him bifore; 65 And obeisant and redy to his honde (10) Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and more. Thus in delyt he liveth, and hath don yore, Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune, Bothe of his lordes and of his commune. 70

Therwith he was, to speke as of linage, The gentilleste y-born of Lumbardye, A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age, And ful of honour and of curteisye; Discreet y-nogh his contree for to gye, 75 Save in somme thinges that he was to blame, (20) And Walter was this yonge lordes name.

76. E. Saue that; rest omit that.

I blame him thus, that he considereth noght In tyme cominge what mighte him bityde, But on his lust present was al his thoght, 80 As for to hauke and hunte on every syde; [392: T. 7958-7988.] Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde, And eek he nolde, and that was worst of alle, Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle.

79. So Hn. Ln.; E. hym myghte; Pt. myȝt; Hl. mighte. 84. Pt. Ln. ouȝt; E. Hn. noght; Hl. no thing.

Only that point his peple bar so sore, 85 That flokmele on a day they to him wente, (30) And oon of hem, that wysest was of lore, Or elles that the lord best wolde assente That he sholde telle him what his peple mente, Or elles coude he shewe wel swich matere, 90 He to the markis seyde as ye shul here.

‘O noble markis, your humanitee Assureth us and yeveth us hardinesse, As ofte as tyme is of necessitee That we to yow mowe telle our hevinesse; 95 Accepteth, lord, now for your gentillesse, (40) That we with pitous herte un-to yow pleyne, And lete your eres nat my voys disdeyne.

93. Hn. Pt. and yeueth; Hl. and yiueth; E. to yeue; Ln. and whisse.

Al have I noght to done in this matere More than another man hath in this place, 100 Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so dere, Han alwey shewed me favour and grace, I dar the better aske of yow a space Of audience, to shewen our requeste, And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste. 105

103. E. Hn. bettre; rest better.

For certes, lord, so wel us lyketh yow (50) And al your werk and ever han doon, that we Ne coude nat us self devysen how We mighte liven in more felicitee, Save o thing, lord, if it your wille be, 110 That for to been a wedded man yow leste, Than were your peple in sovereyn hertes reste.

108. Pt. Ln. oure; E. Hn. Cp. vs. 110. E. Ln. omit it.

[393: T. 7989-8023.]

Boweth your nekke under that blisful yok Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse, Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlok; 115 And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes wyse, (60) How that our dayes passe in sondry wyse; For though we slepe or wake, or rome, or ryde, Ay fleeth the tyme, it nil no man abyde.

And though your grene youthe floure as yit, 120 In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon, And deeth manaceth every age, and smit In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon: And al so certein as we knowe echoon That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle 125 Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle. (70)

Accepteth than of us the trewe entente, That never yet refuseden your heste, And we wol, lord, if that ye wol assente, Chese yow a wyf in short tyme, atte leste, 130 Born of the gentilleste and of the meste Of al this lond, so that it oghte seme Honour to god and yow, as we can deme.

128. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. your; E. Hn. Cm. thyn. 128, 130, 131. E. heeste, leeste, meeste; Cm. heste, leste, meste.

Deliver us out of al this bisy drede, And tak a wyf, for hye goddes sake; 135 For if it so bifelle, as god forbede, (80) That thurgh your deeth your linage sholde slake, And that a straunge successour sholde take Your heritage, o! wo were us alyve! Wherfor we pray you hastily to wyve.’ 140

137. Cp. Pt. lynage; Ln. Hl. lignage; E. lyne; Hn. ligne; Cm. lyf.

Hir meke preyere and hir pitous chere Made the markis herte han pitee. ‘Ye wol,’ quod he, ‘myn owene peple dere, To that I never erst thoghte streyne me. I me reioysed of my libertee, 145 That selde tyme is founde in mariage; (90) Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.

144. E. thoughte; Hn. thoghte.

[394: T. 8024-8058.]

But nathelees I see your trewe entente, And truste upon your wit, and have don ay; Wherfor of my free wil I wol assente 150 To wedde me, as sone as ever I may. But ther-as ye han profred me to-day To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse.

152. to-] E. this. 154. E. (only) omits yow.

For god it woot, that children ofte been 155 Unlyk her worthy eldres hem bifore; (100) Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen Of which they been engendred and y-bore; I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore My mariage and myn estaat and reste 160 I him bitake; he may don as him leste.

Lat me alone in chesinge of my wyf, That charge up-on my bak I wol endure; But I yow preye, and charge up-on your lyf, That what wyf that I take, ye me assure 165 To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may dure, (110) In word and werk, bothe here and everywhere, As she an emperoures doghter were.

165. So Hn. Cp. Ln.; E. Cm. omit That; Pt. om. what.

And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that ye Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve; 170 For sith I shal forgoon my libertee At your requeste, as ever moot I thryve, Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve; And but ye wole assente in swich manere, I prey yow, speketh na-more of this matere.’ 175

174. E. this; rest swich, such.

With hertly wil they sworen, and assenten (120) To al this thing, ther seyde no wight nay; Bisekinge him of grace, er that they wenten, That he wolde graunten hem a certein day Of his spousaille, as sone as ever he may; 180 For yet alwey the peple som-what dredde Lest that this markis no wyf wolde wedde.

[395: T. 8059-8089.] He graunted hem a day, swich as him leste, On which he wolde be wedded sikerly, And seyde, he dide al this at hir requeste; 185 And they, with humble entente, buxomly, (130) Knelinge up-on her knees ful reverently Him thanken alle, and thus they han an ende Of hir entente, and hoom agayn they wende.

And heer-up-on he to his officeres 190 Comaundeth for the feste to purveye, And to his privee knightes and squyeres Swich charge yaf, as him liste on hem leye; And they to his comandement obeye, And ech of hem doth al his diligence 195 To doon un-to the feste reverence. (140)

=Explicit prima pars. Incipit secunda pars.=

Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable Ther-as this markis shoop his mariage, Ther stood a throp, of site delitable, In which that povre folk of that village 200 Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage, And of hir labour took hir sustenance After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.

199. Hl. throp; E. Hn. Cp. throop.

Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man Which that was holden povrest of hem alle; 205 But hye god som tyme senden can (150) His grace in-to a litel oxes stalle: Ianicula men of that throp him calle. A doghter hadde he, fair y-nogh to sighte, And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte. 210

208. Pt. throp; E. Hn. Cp. throop; Cm. thorp; Ln. thorpe.

But for to speke of vertuous beautee, Than was she oon the faireste under sonne; For povreliche y-fostred up was she, [396: T. 8090-8121.] No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne; Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne 215 She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese, (160) She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese.

211. E. bountee; rest beautee, beute.

But thogh this mayde tendre were of age, Yet in the brest of hir virginitee Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; 220 And in greet reverence and charitee Hir olde povre fader fostred she; A fewe sheep spinning on feeld she kepte, She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.

And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde bringe 225 Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, (170) The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir livinge, And made hir bed ful harde and no-thing softe; And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte With everich obeisaunce and diligence 230 That child may doon to fadres reverence.

Up-on Grisilde, this povre creature, Ful ofte sythe this markis sette his yë As he on hunting rood paraventure; And whan it fil that he mighte hir espye, 235 He noght with wantoun loking of folye (180) His yën caste on hir, but in sad wyse Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse,

233. E. caste; rest sette (set). 235. E. that it; rest omit that. 238. E. gan; rest wolde. 238. E. chiere.

Commending in his herte hir wommanhede, And eek hir vertu, passing any wight 240 Of so yong age, as wel in chere as dede. For thogh the peple have no greet insight In vertu, he considered ful right Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde sholde. 245

241. E. chiere. 242. E. hadde; Hn. Cm. hath; Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. haue.

[397: T. 8122-8156.]

The day of wedding cam, but no wight can (190) Telle what womman that it sholde be; For which merveille wondred many a man, And seyden, whan they were in privetee, ‘Wol nat our lord yet leve his vanitee? 250 Wol he nat wedde? allas, allas the whyle! Why wol he thus him-self and us bigyle?’

249. E. Cm. that they; rest omit that.

But natheles this markis hath don make Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure, Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake, 255 And of hir clothing took he the mesure (200) By a mayde, lyk to hir stature, And eek of othere ornamentes alle That un-to swich a wedding sholde falle.

257. Hl. y-lik to hir of stature.

The tyme of undern of the same day 360 Approcheth, that this wedding sholde be; And al the paleys put was in array, Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree; Houses of office stuffed with plentee Ther maystow seen of deyntevous vitaille, 265 That may be founde, as fer as last Itaille. (210)

This royal markis, richely arrayed, Lordes and ladyes in his companye, The whiche unto the feste were y-prayed, And of his retenue the bachelrye, 270 With many a soun of sondry melodye, Un-to the village, of the which I tolde, In this array the righte wey han holde.

269. Cp. Ln. Hl. vnto; Cm. Pt. to; E. Hn. that to. E. weren.

Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent, That for hir shapen was al this array, 275 To fecchen water at a welle is went, (220) And cometh hoom as sone as ever she may. For wel she hadde herd seyd, that thilke day The markis sholde wedde, and, if she mighte, She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte. 280

[398: T. 8157-8191.] She thoghte, ‘I wol with othere maydens stonde, That been my felawes, in our dore, and see The markisesse, and therfor wol I fonde To doon at hoom, as sone as it may be, The labour which that longeth un-to me; 285 And than I may at leyser hir biholde, (230) If she this wey un-to the castel holde.’

And as she wolde over hir threshfold goon, The markis cam and gan hir for to calle; And she sette doun hir water-pot anoon 290 Bisyde the threshfold, in an oxes stalle, And doun up-on hir knees she gan to falle, And with sad contenance kneleth stille Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.

This thoghtful markis spak un-to this mayde 295 Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere, (240) ‘Wher is your fader, Grisildis?’ he sayde, And she with reverence, in humble chere, Answerde, ‘lord, he is al redy here.’ And in she gooth with-outen lenger lette, 300 And to the markis she hir fader fette.

297. E. Hn. Cm. insert o after fader.

He by the hond than took this olde man, And seyde thus, whan he him hadde asyde, ‘Ianicula, I neither may ne can Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde. 305 If that thou vouche-sauf, what-so bityde, (250) Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende, As for my wyf, un-to hir lyves ende.

302. E. thanne; Hn, than.

Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn, And art my feithful lige man y-bore; 310 And al that lyketh me, I dar wel seyn It lyketh thee, and specially therfore Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore, If that thou wolt un-to that purpos drawe, To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe?’ 315

[399: T. 8192-8226.] This sodeyn cas this man astoned so, (260) That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking He stood unnethes seyde he wordes mo, But only thus: ‘lord,’ quod he, ‘my willing Is as ye wole, ne ayeines your lyking 320 I wol no-thing; ye be my lord so dere; Right as yow lust governeth this matere.’

317. E. Cp. Hl. wax; Hn. weex; rest wex. 320. E. ayeins; Ln. a-yeines; see l. 2325 below (Group E).

‘Yet wol I,’ quod this markis softely, ‘That in thy chambre I and thou and she Have a collacion, and wostow why? 325 For I wol axe if it hir wille be (270) To be my wyf, and reule hir after me; And al this shal be doon in thy presence, I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.’

And in the chambre whyl they were aboute 330 Hir tretis, which as ye shal after here, The peple cam un-to the hous with-oute, And wondred hem in how honest manere And tentifly she kepte hir fader dere. But outerly Grisildis wondre mighte, 335 For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte. (280)

No wonder is thogh that she were astoned To seen so greet a gest come in that place; She never was to swiche gestes woned, For which she loked with ful pale face. 340 But shortly forth this tale for to chace, Thise arn the wordes that the markis sayde To this benigne verray feithful mayde.

337. E. Pt. omit that.

‘Grisilde,’ he seyde, ‘ye shul wel understonde It lyketh to your fader and to me 345 That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde, (290) As I suppose, ye wol that it so be. But thise demandes axe I first,’ quod he, ‘That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse, Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse? 350

[400: T. 8227-8261.] I seye this, be ye redy with good herte To al my lust, and that I frely may, As me best thinketh, do yow laughe or smerte, And never ye to grucche it, night ne day? And eek whan I sey “ye,” ne sey nat “nay,” 355 Neither by word ne frowning contenance; (300) Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.’

357. E. yow; rest oure.

Wondring upon this word, quaking for drede, She seyde, ‘lord, undigne and unworthy Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede; 360 But as ye wol your-self, right so wol I. And heer I swere that never willingly In werk ne thoght I nil yow disobeye, For to be deed, though me were looth to deye.’

‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn!’ quod he. 365 And forth he gooth with a ful sobre chere (310) Out at the dore, and after that cam she, And to the peple he seyde in this manere, ‘This is my wyf,’ quod he, ‘that standeth here. Honoureth hir, and loveth hir, I preye, 370 Who-so me loveth; ther is na-more to seye.’

And for that no-thing of hir olde gere She sholde bringe in-to his hous, he bad That wommen sholde dispoilen hir right there; Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad 375 To handle hir clothes wher-in she was clad. (320) But natheles this mayde bright of hewe Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.

Hir heres han they kembd, that lay untressed Ful rudely, and with hir fingres smale 380 A corone on hir heed they han y-dressed, And sette hir ful of nowches grete and smale; Of hir array what sholde I make a tale? Unnethe the peple hir knew for hir fairnesse, Whan she translated was in swich richesse. 385

385. translated] Cp. transmewed; Pt. transformed.

[401: T. 8262-8296.]

This markis hath hir spoused with a ring (330) Broght for the same cause, and than hir sette Up-on an hors, snow-whyt and wel ambling, And to his paleys, er he lenger lette, With Ioyful peple that hir ladde and mette, 390 Conveyed hir, and thus the day they spende In revel, til the sonne gan descende.

And shortly forth this tale for to chace, I seye that to this newe markisesse God hath swich favour sent hir of his grace, 395 That it ne semed nat by lyklinesse (340) That she was born and fed in rudenesse, As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle, But norished in an emperoures halle.

To every wight she woxen is so dere 400 And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yere, Unnethe trowed they, but dorste han swore That to Ianicle, of which I spak bifore, She doghter nas, for, as by coniecture, 405 Hem thoughte she was another creature. (350)

404. E. That she; rest omit she. 405. Cp. Ln. nas; E. Hn. Cm. Hl. were; Pt. ne were.

For thogh that ever vertuous was she, She was encressed in swich excellence Of thewes gode, y-set in heigh bountee, And so discreet and fair of eloquence, 410 So benigne and so digne of reverence, And coude so the peples herte embrace, That ech hir lovede that loked on hir face.

Noght only of Saluces in the toun Publiced was the bountee of hir name, 415 But eek bisyde in many a regioun, (360) If oon seyde wel, another seyde the same; So spradde of hir heigh bountee the fame, That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde, Gon to Saluce, upon hir to biholde. 420

415. E. Publiced; Pt. Publisshed; Hn. Publissed. E. beautee; rest bountee. 418. E. heighe. E. name; rest fame.

[402: T. 8297-8324.]

Thus Walter lowly, nay but royally, Wedded with fortunat honestetee, In goddes pees liveth ful esily At hoom, and outward grace y-nogh had he; And for he saugh that under low degree 425 Was ofte vertu hid, the peple him helde (370) A prudent man, and that is seyn ful selde.

425. E. saugh; see B. 810. E. heigh; the rest lowe, low. 426. E omits ofte.

Nat only this Grisildis thurgh hir wit Coude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse, But eek, whan that the cas requyred it, 430 The commune profit coude she redresse. Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevinesse In al that lond, that she ne coude apese, And wysly bringe hem alle in reste and ese.

429. So Cp. Ln.; Hl. humblesse; rest humblenesse.

Though that hir housbonde absent were anoon, 435 If gentil men, or othere of hir contree (380) Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon; So wyse and rype wordes hadde she, And Iugements of so greet equitee, That she from heven sent was, as men wende, 440 Peple to save and every wrong tamende.

439. E. Iuggementz.

Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild Was wedded, she a doughter hath y-bore, Al had hir lever have born a knave child. Glad was this markis and the folk therfore; 445 For though a mayde child come al bifore, (390) She may unto a knave child atteyne By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne.

=Explicit secunda pars. Incipit tercia pars.=

444. E. man; rest knaue. 447. E. man; the rest knaue. 448. Cm. liklyhed; E. Hn. liklihede.

[403: T. 8325-8359.]

Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo, Whan that this child had souked but a throwe, 450 This markis in his herte longeth so To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe, That he ne mighte out of his herte throwe This merveillous desyr, his wyf tassaye, Needless, god woot, he thoughte hir for taffraye. 455

He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore, (400) And fond hir ever good; what neded it Hir for to tempte and alwey more and more? Though som men preise it for a subtil wit, But as for me, I seye that yvel it sit 460 Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede, And putten her in anguish and in drede.

457. E. foond; Hn. Cm. fond.

For which this markis wroghte in this manere; He cam alone a-night, ther as she lay, With sterne face and with ful trouble chere, 465 And seyde thus, ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘that day (410) That I yow took out of your povre array, And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse, Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse.

465. Cm. sterne; E. stierne. 466, 470. Hl. Grisild; E. Hn. Cm. Grisilde.

I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee, 470 In which that I have put yow, as I trowe, Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe For any wele ye moot your-selven knowe. Tak hede of every word that I yow seye, 475 Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. (420)

Ye woot your-self wel, how that ye cam here In-to this hous, it is nat longe ago, And though to me that ye be lief and dere, Un-to my gentils ye be no-thing so; 480 They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo For to be subgets and ben in servage To thee, that born art of a smal village.

477. E. Hn. Cm. cam; Cp. Pt. come; Ln. com; Hl. comen. 482. E. subgetz and to; rest omit to.

[404: T. 8360-8394.]

And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore, Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees; 485 But I desyre, as I have doon bifore, (430) To live my lyf with hem in reste and pees; I may nat in this caas be recchelees. I moot don with thy doghter for the beste, Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste. 490

And yet, god wot, this is ful looth to me; But nathelees with-oute your witing I wol nat doon, but this wol I,’ quod he, ‘That ye to me assente as in this thing. Shewe now your pacience in your werking 495 That ye me highte and swore in your village (440) That day that maked was our mariage.’

Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved Neither in word, or chere, or countenaunce; For, as it semed, she was nat agreved: 500 She seyde, ‘lord, al lyth in your plesaunce, My child and I with hertly obeisaunce Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or spille Your owene thing; werketh after your wille.

499. E. chiere. 503. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. and; rest or.

Ther may no-thing, god so my soule save, 505 Lyken to yow that may displese me; (450) Ne I desyre no-thing for to have, Ne drede for to lese, save only ye; This wil is in myn herte and ay shal be. No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface, 510 Ne chaunge my corage to another place.’

507. E. Hn. Ne I ne; rest omit ne. 508. E. Hn. thee vel yee; Pt. Hl. ȝe; Cm. Cp. Ln. thee.

Glad was this markis of hir answering, But yet he feyned as he were nat so; Al drery was his chere and his loking Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go. 515 Sone after this, a furlong wey or two, (460) He prively hath told al his entente Un-to a man, and to his wyf him sente.

[405: T. 8395-8429.] A maner sergeant was this privee man, The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde 520 In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel can Don execucioun on thinges badde. The lord knew wel that he him loved and dradde; And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille, In-to the chambre he stalked him ful stille. 525

524. his] E. the; Cm. this.

‘Madame,’ he seyde, ‘ye mote foryeve it me, (470) Thogh I do thing to which I am constreyned; Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye That lordes hestes mowe nat been y-feyned; They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned, 530 But men mot nede un-to her lust obeye, And so wol I; ther is na-more to seye.

530. E. Cm. and; rest or.

This child I am comanded for to take’— And spak na-more, but out the child he hente Despitously, and gan a chere make 535 As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. (480) Grisildis mot al suffren and consente; And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille, And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille.

Suspecious was the diffame of this man, 540 Suspect his face, suspect his word also; Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan. Allas! hir doghter that she lovede so She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho. But natheles she neither weep ne syked, 545 Consenting hir to that the markis lyked. (490)

But atte laste speken she bigan, And mekely she to the sergeant preyde, So as he was a worthy gentil man, That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde; 550 And in her barm this litel child she leyde With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse And lulled it, and after gan it blisse.

547. E. to speken; rest omit to. 552, 3. E. kisse, blisse; rest blisse, kisse; see 678.

[406: T. 8430-8462.]

And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys, ‘Far weel, my child; I shal thee never see; 555 But, sith I thee have marked with the croys, (500) Of thilke fader blessed mote thou be, That for us deyde up-on a croys of tree. Thy soule, litel child, I him bitake, For this night shaltow dyen for my sake.’ 560

557. E. Hn. Cm. he; rest thou.

I trowe that to a norice in this cas It had ben hard this rewthe for to se; Wel mighte a mooder than han cryed ‘allas!’ But nathelees so sad stedfast was she, That she endured all adversitee, 565 And to the sergeant mekely she sayde, (510) ‘Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.

564. E. Cm. Pt. sad and; rest omit and. E. stide-; Pt. Ln. sted-; rest stede-.

Goth now,’ quod she, ‘and dooth my lordes heste, But o thing wol I preye yow of your grace, That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leste 570 Burieth this litel body in som place That bestes ne no briddes it to-race.’ But he no word wol to that purpos seye, But took the child and wente upon his weye.

569. E. Pt. And; rest But.

This sergeant cam un-to his lord ageyn, 575 And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere (520) He tolde him point for point, in short and playn, And him presenteth with his doghter dere. Somwhat this lord hath rewthe in his manere; But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille, 580 As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille;

And bad his sergeant that he prively Sholde this child ful softe winde and wrappe With alle circumstances tendrely, And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe; 585 But, up-on peyne his heed of for to swappe, (530) [407: T. 8463-8492.] That no man sholde knowe of his entente, Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;

583. Cp. Pt. Ln. ful; rest omit. 588. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Hl. he cam (com); E. Ln. omit.

But at Boloigne to his suster dere, That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse, 590 He sholde it take, and shewe hir this matere, Bisekinge hir to don hir bisinesse This child to fostre in alle gentilesse; And whos child that it was he bad hir hyde From every wight, for oght that may bityde. 595

590. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; rest Pavik, Pauyk, Pavie. 594. E. him; rest hire, hir.

The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thing; (540) But to this markis now retourne we; For now goth he ful faste imagining If by his wyves chere he mighte see, Or by hir word aperceyve that she 600 Were chaunged; but he never hir coude finde But ever in oon y-lyke sad and kinde.

As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse, And eek in love as she was wont to be, Was she to him in every maner wyse; 605 Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. (550) Non accident for noon adversitee Was seyn in hir, ne never hir doghter name Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.

=Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.=

In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer 610 Er she with childe was; but, as god wolde, A knave child she bar by this Walter, Ful gracious and fair for to biholde. And whan that folk it to his fader tolde, Nat only he, but al his contree, merie 615 Was for this child, and god they thanke and herie. (560)

612. E. man; rest knaue.

[408: T. 8493-8527.]

Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest Departed of his norice, on a day This markis caughte yet another lest To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may. 620 O needles was she tempted in assay! But wedded men ne knowe no mesure, Whan that they finde a pacient creature.

‘Wyf,’ quod this markis, ‘ye han herd er this, My peple sikly berth our mariage, 625 And namely, sith my sone y-boren is, (570) Now is it worse than ever in al our age. The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage; For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte, That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte. 630

626. Hl. y-boren; E. Hn. Cm. yborn.

Now sey they thus, “whan Walter is agoon, Then shal the blood of Ianicle succede And been our lord, for other have we noon;” Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede. Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken hede; 635 For certeinly I drede swich sentence, (580) Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.

I wolde live in pees, if that I mighte; Wherfor I am disposed outerly, As I his suster servede by nighte, 640 Right so thenke I to serve him prively; This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly Out of your-self for no wo sholde outraye; Beth pacient, and ther-of I yow preye.’

640. Cm. Cp. Hl. seruede; rest serued. 643. E. outreye.

‘I have,’ quod she, ‘seyd thus, and ever shal, 645 I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn, (590) But as yow list; noght greveth me at al, Thogh that my doghter and my sone be slayn, At your comandement, this is to sayn. I have noght had no part of children tweyne 650 But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.

[409: T. 8528-8562.] Ye been our lord, doth with your owene thing Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me. For, as I lefte at hoom al my clothing, Whan I first cam to yow, right so,’ quod she, 655 ‘Left I my wil and al my libertee, (600) And took your clothing; wherfor I yow preye, Doth your plesaunce, I wol your lust obeye.

And certes, if I hadde prescience Your wil to knowe er ye your lust me tolde, 660 I wolde it doon with-outen necligence; But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde, Al your plesaunce ferme and stable I holde; For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese, Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese. 665

Deth may noght make no comparisoun (610) Un-to your love:’ and, whan this markis sey The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun His yën two, and wondreth that she may In pacience suffre al this array. 670 And forth he gooth with drery contenaunce, But to his herte it was ful greet plesaunce.

667. MSS. say.

This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse That he hir doghter caughte, right so he, Or worse, if men worse can devyse, 675 Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of beautee. (620) And ever in oon so pacient was she, That she no chere made of hevinesse, But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse;

Save this; she preyed him that, if he mighte, 680 Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave, His tendre limes, delicat to sighte, Fro foules and fro bestes for to save. But she non answer of him mighte have. He wente his wey, as him no-thing ne roghte; 685 But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte. (630)

680. Cm. preyede; Hl. prayed; E. Hn. preyde.

[410: T. 8563-8597.]

This markis wondreth ever lenger the more Up-on hir pacience, and if that he Ne hadde soothly knowen ther-bifore, That parfitly hir children lovede she, 690 He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee, And of malice or for cruel corage, That she had suffred this with sad visage.

687. E. wondred; rest wondreth. 692. E. crueel.

But wel he knew that next him-self, certayn, She loved hir children best in every wyse. 695 But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn, (640) If thise assayes mighte nat suffyse? What coude a sturdy housbond more devyse To preve hir wyfhod and hir stedfastnesse, And he continuing ever in sturdinesse? 700

699. E. or; rest and. E. stede-.

But ther ben folk of swich condicioun, That, whan they have a certein purpos take, They can nat stinte of hir entencioun, But, right as they were bounden to a stake, They wol nat of that firste purpos slake. 705 Right so this markis fulliche hath purposed (650) To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed.

704. E. Hn. Cm. that; the rest a.

He waiteth, if by word or contenance That she to him was changed of corage; But never coude he finde variance; 710 She was ay oon in herte and in visage; And ay the forther that she was in age, The more trewe, if that it were possible, She was to him in love, and more penible.

For which it semed thus, that of hem two 715 Ther nas but o wil; for, as Walter leste, (660) The same lust was hir plesance also, And, god be thanked, al fil for the beste. She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste A wyf, as of hir-self, no-thing ne sholde 720 Wille in effect, but as hir housbond wolde.

[411: T. 8598-8630.] The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde, That of a cruel herte he wikkedly, For he a povre womman wedded hadde, Hath mordred bothe his children prively. 725 Swich murmur was among hem comunly. (670) No wonder is, for to the peples ere Ther cam no word but that they mordred were.

For which, wher-as his peple ther-bifore Had loved him wel, the sclaundre of his diffame 730 Made hem that they him hatede therfore; To been a mordrer is an hateful name. But natheles, for ernest ne for game He of his cruel purpos nolde stente; To tempte his wyf was set al his entente. 735

731. Cp. Hl. hatede; rest hated. 734. E. crueel.

Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age, (680) He to the court of Rome, in subtil wyse Enformed of his wil, sente his message, Comaunding hem swiche bulles to devyse As to his cruel purpos may suffyse, 740 How that the pope, as for his peples reste, Bad him to wedde another, if him leste.

740. E. crueel.

I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete The popes bulles, making mencioun That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete, 745 As by the popes dispensacioun, (690) To stinte rancour and dissencioun Bitwixe his peple and him; thus seyde the bulle, The which they han publiced atte fulle.

749. E. publiced; Cp. publisshed; Hn. publissed.

The rude peple, as it no wonder is, 750 Wenden ful wel that it had been right so; But whan thise tydinges cam to Grisildis, I deme that hir herte was ful wo. But she, y-lyke sad for evermo, [412: T. 8631-8660.] Disposed was, this humble creature, 755 Thadversitee of fortune al tendure. (700)

751. Cm. been; Hn. ben; rest be.

Abyding ever his lust and his plesaunce, To whom that she was yeven, herte and al, As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce; But shortly if this storie I tellen shal, 760 This markis writen hath in special A lettre in which he sheweth his entente, And secrely he to Boloigne it sente.

To the erl of Panik, which that hadde tho Wedded his suster, preyde he specially 765 To bringen boom agayn his children two (710) In honurable estaat al openly. But o thing he him preyede outerly, That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere, Sholde nat telle, whos children that they were, 770

764. Hl. panyk; Cp. Panyke; rest Pavyk, Pauyke, Pavie. 770. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. that they; the rest omit that.

But seye, the mayden sholde y-wedded be Un-to the markis of Saluce anon. And as this erl was preyed, so dide he; For at day set he on his wey is goon Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon, 775 In riche array, this mayden for to gyde; (720) Hir yonge brother ryding hir bisyde.

773. Cp. Cm. preyed; E. preyd; Hn. Hl. prayd.

Arrayed was toward hir mariage This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes clere; Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age, 780 Arrayed eek ful fresh in his manere. And thus in greet noblesse and with glad chere, Toward Saluces shaping hir Iourney, Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.

=Explicit quarta pars. Sequitur quinta pars.=

[413: T. 8661-8695.] Among al this, after his wikke usage, 785 This markis, yet his wyf to tempte more (730) To the uttereste preve of hir corage, Fully to han experience and lore If that she were as stedfast as bifore, He on a day in open audience 790 Ful boistously hath seyd hir this sentence:

787. Cm. vttyreste; E. outtreste. 789. E. Cp. stide-; Pt. Ln. sted-; rest stede-.

‘Certes, Grisilde, I hadde y-nough plesaunce To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse, As for your trouthe and for your obeisaunce, Nought for your linage ne for your richesse; 795 But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse (740) That in gret lordshipe, if I wel avyse, Ther is gret servitute in sondry wyse.

I may nat don as every plowman may; My peple me constreyneth for to take 800 Another wyf, and cryen day by day; And eek the pope, rancour for to slake, Consenteth it, that dar I undertake; And treweliche thus muche I wol yow seye, My newe wyf is coming by the weye. 805

Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place, (750) And thilke dower that ye broghten me Tak it agayn, I graunte it of my grace; Retourneth to your fadres hous,’ quod he; ‘No man may alwey han prosperitee; 810 With evene herte I rede yow tendure The strook of fortune or of aventure.’

812. E. This; the rest The.

And she answerde agayn in pacience, ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I woot, and wiste alway How that bitwixen your magnificence 815 And my poverte no wight can ne may (760) Maken comparison; it is no nay. I ne heeld me never digne in no manere To be your wyf, no, ne your chamberere.

[414: T. 8696-8730.] And in this hous, ther ye me lady made— 820 The heighe god take I for my witnesse, And also wisly he my soule glade— I never heeld me lady ne maistresse, But humble servant to your worthinesse, And ever shal, whyl that my lyf may dure, 825 Aboven every worldly creature. (770)

That ye so longe of your benignitee Han holden me in honour and nobleye, Wher-as I was noght worthy for to be, That thonke I god and yow, to whom I preye 830 Foryelde it yow; there is na-more to seye. Un-to my fader gladly wol I wende, And with him dwelle un-to my lyves ende.

829. E. omits for to.

Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal, Til I be deed, my lyf ther wol I lede 835 A widwe clene, in body, herte, and al. (780) For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede, And am your trewe wyf, it is no drede, God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take Another man to housbonde or to make. 840

And of your newe wyf, god of his grace So graunte yow wele and prosperitee: For I wol gladly yelden hir my place, In which that I was blisful wont to be, For sith it lyketh yow, my lord,’ quod she, 845 ‘That whylom weren al myn hertes reste, (790) That I shal goon, I wol gon whan yow leste.

But ther-as ye me profre swich dowaire As I first broghte, it is wel in my minde It were my wrecched clothes, no-thing faire, 850 The which to me were hard now for to finde. O gode god! how gentil and how kinde Ye semed by your speche and your visage The day that maked was our mariage!

[415: T. 8731-8765.] But sooth is seyd, algate I finde it trewe— 855 For in effect it preved is on me— (800) Love is noght old as whan that it is newe. But certes, lord, for noon adversitee, To dyen in the cas, it shal nat be That ever in word or werk I shal repente 860 That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.

My lord, ye woot that, in my fadres place, Ye dede me strepe out of my povre wede, And richely me cladden, of your grace. To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede, 865 But feyth and nakednesse and maydenhede. (810) And here agayn my clothing I restore, And eek my wedding-ring, for evermore.

867, 868. my] Cp. Pt. Ln. your.

The remenant of your Iewels redy be In-with your chambre, dar I saufly sayn; 870 Naked out of my fadres hous,’ quod she, ‘I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn. Al your plesaunce wol I folwen fayn; But yet I hope it be nat your entente That I smoklees out of your paleys wente. 875

869. Hn. Hl. Ln. Iewels; E. Iueles.

Ye coude nat doon so dishoneste a thing, (820) That thilke wombe in which your children leye Sholde, biforn the peple, in my walking, Be seyn al bare; wherfor I yow preye, Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye. 880 Remembre yow, myn owene lord so dere, I was your wyf, thogh I unworthy were.

Wherfor, in guerdon of my maydenhede, Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere, As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my mede, 885 But swich a smok as I was wont to were, (830) That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here That was your wyf; and heer take I my leve Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve.’

883. E. Hn. gerdon; rest guerdon, guerdo_u_n.

[416: T. 8766-8798.]

‘The smok,’ quod he, ‘that thou hast on thy bak, 890 Lat it be stille, and ber it forth with thee.’ But wel unnethes thilke word he spak, But wente his wey for rewthe and for pitee. Biforn the folk hir-selven strepeth she, And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare, 895 Toward hir fader hous forth is she fare. (840)

The folk hir folwe wepinge in hir weye, And fortune ay they cursen as they goon; But she fro weping kepte hir yën dreye, Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon. 900 Hir fader, that this tyding herde anoon, Curseth the day and tyme that nature Shoop him to been a lyves creature.

For out of doute this olde povre man Was ever in suspect of hir mariage; 905 For ever he demed, sith that it bigan, (850) That whan the lord fulfild had his corage, Him wolde thinke it were a disparage To his estaat so lowe for talighte, And voyden hir as sone as ever he mighte. 910

Agayns his doghter hastilich goth he, For he by noyse of folk knew hir cominge, And with hir olde cote, as it mighte be, He covered hir, ful sorwefully wepinge; But on hir body mighte he it nat bringe. 915 For rude was the cloth, and more of age (860) By dayes fele than at hir mariage.

916. E. Hn. Cm. and she moore; rest omit she.

Thus with hir fader, for a certeyn space, Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience, That neither by hir wordes ne hir face 920 Biforn the folk, ne eek in hir absence, Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence; [417: T. 8799-8828.] Ne of hir heigh estaat no remembraunce Ne hadde she, as by hir countenaunce.

No wonder is, for in hir grete estaat 925 Hir goost was ever in pleyn humylitee; (870) No tendre mouth, non herte delicaat, No pompe, no semblant of royaltee, But ful of pacient benignitee, Discreet and prydeles, ay honurable, 930 And to hir housbonde ever meke and stable.

Men speke of Iob and most for his humblesse, As clerkes, whan hem list, can wel endyte, Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse, Thogh clerkes preyse wommen but a lyte, 935 Ther can no man in humblesse him acquyte (880) As womman can, ne can ben half so trewe As wommen been, but it be falle of-newe.

933. E. Hn. conne; rest can. 937. Hn. kan; Cp. Ln. Hl. can; rest omit (2nd time).

[Pars Sexta.]

Fro Boloigne is this erl of Panik come, Of which the fame up-sprang to more and lesse, 940 And in the peples eres alle and some Was couth eek, that a newe markisesse He with him broghte, in swich pompe and richesse, That never was ther seyn with mannes yë So noble array in al West Lumbardye. 945

939. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; Pt. Pavie; rest Pavyk, Pauyk. 944. Hl. ye; rest eye.

The markis, which that shoop and knew al this, (890) Er that this erl was come, sente his message For thilke sely povre Grisildis; And she with humble herte and glad visage, Nat with no swollen thoght in hir corage, 950 Cam at his heste, and on hir knees hir sette, And reverently and wysly she him grette.

[418: T. 8829-8863.] ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘my wille is outerly, This mayden, that shal wedded been to me, Receyved be to-morwe as royally 955 As it possible is in myn hous to be. (900) And eek that every wight in his degree Have his estaat in sitting and servyse And heigh plesaunce, as I can best devyse.

953. Cp. Pt. wille; rest wil.

I have no wommen suffisaunt certayn 960 The chambres for tarraye in ordinaunce After my lust, and therfor wolde I fayn That thyn were al swich maner governaunce; Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce; Though thyn array be badde and yvel biseye, 965 Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye.’ (910)

‘Nat only, lord, that I am glad,’ quod she, ‘To doon your lust, but I desyre also Yow for to serve and plese in my degree With-outen feynting, and shal evermo. 970 Ne never, for no wele ne no wo, Ne shal the gost with-in myn herte stente To love yow best with al my trewe entente.’

And with that word she gan the hous to dighte, And tables for to sette and beddes make; 975 And peyned hir to doon al that she mighte, (920) Preying the chambereres, for goddes sake, To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake; And she, the moste servisable of alle, Hath every chambre arrayed and his halle. 980

977. Cp. Hl. Cm. chambereres; E. Hn. Pt. Ln. chambreres.

Abouten undern gan this erl alighte, That with him broghte thise noble children tweye, For which the peple ran to seen the sighte Of hir array, so richely biseye; And than at erst amonges hem they seye, 985 That Walter was no fool, thogh that him leste (930) To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste.

981. Hl. Pt. Ln. vndern; E. Hn. Cp. vndren; Cm. vndryn.

[419: T. 8864-8898.]

For she is fairer, as they demen alle, Than is Grisild, and more tendre of age, And fairer fruit bitwene hem sholde falle, 990 And more plesant, for hir heigh linage; Hir brother eek so fair was of visage, That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce, Commending now the markis gouernaunce.—

Auctor. ‘O stormy peple! unsad and ever untrewe! 995 Ay undiscreet and chaunging as a vane, (940) Delyting ever in rumbel that is newe, For lyk the mone ay wexe ye and wane; Ay ful of clapping, dere y-nogh a Iane; Your doom is fals, your constance yvel preveth, 1000 A ful greet fool is he that on yow leveth!’

997. E. Cm. rumbul; Hn. rumbel; Hl. rombel. 1000. Hl. yuel; Cm. euel; E. Hn. yuele.

Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee, Whan that the peple gazed up and doun, For they were glad, right for the noveltee, To han a newe lady of hir toun. 1005 Na-more of this make I now mencioun; (950) But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse, And telle hir constance and hir bisinesse.—

Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thing That to the feste was apertinent; 1010 Right noght was she abayst of hir clothing, Though it were rude and somdel eek to-rent. But with glad chere to the yate is went, With other folk, to grete the markisesse, And after that doth forth hir bisinesse. 1015

1013. E. Hn. Hl. is she; rest omit she. E. Hn. Ln. chiere; Hl. chier.

With so glad chere his gestes she receyveth, (960) And conningly, everich in his degree, That no defaute no man aperceyveth; But ay they wondren what she mighte be That in so povre array was for to see, 1020 And coude swich honour and reverence; And worthily they preisen hir prudence.

1017. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. And so; Cp. Pt. Ln. omit so.

[420: T. 8899-8933.]

In al this mene whyle she ne stente This mayde and eek hir brother to commende With al hir herte, in ful benigne entente, 1025 So wel, that no man coude hir prys amende. (970) But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle.

‘Grisilde,’ quod he, as it were in his pley, 1030 ‘How lyketh thee my wyf and hir beautee?’ ‘Right wel,’ quod she, ‘my lord; for, in good fey, A fairer say I never noon than she. I prey to god yeve hir prosperitee; And so hope I that he wol to yow sende 1035 Plesance y-nogh un-to your lyves ende. (980)

1033. E. saugh; see l. 1114.

O thing biseke I yow and warne also, That ye ne prikke with no tormentinge This tendre mayden, as ye han don mo; For she is fostred in hir norishinge 1040 More tendrely, and, to my supposinge, She coude nat adversitee endure As coude a povre fostred creature.’

1040. E. Hn. norissynge.

And whan this Walter say hir pacience, Hir glade chere and no malice at al, 1045 And he so ofte had doon to hir offence, (990) And she ay sad and constant as a wal, Continuing ever hir innocence overal, This sturdy markis gan his herte dresse To rewen up-on hir wyfly stedfastnesse. 1050

1044. E. saugh; see l. 1114. 1045. E. Ln. chiere.

‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn,’ quod he, ‘Be now na-more agast ne yvel apayed; I have thy feith and thy benignitee, As wel as ever womman was, assayed, In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed. 1055 Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse,’— (1000) And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse.

1056. E. goode; rest dere.

[421: T. 8934-8968.]

And she for wonder took of it no keep; She herde nat what thing he to hir seyde; She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep, 1060 Til she out of hir masednesse abreyde. ‘Grisilde,’ quod he, ‘by god that for us deyde, Thou art my wyf, ne noon other I have, Ne never hadde, as god my soule save!

1063. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. ne; Pt. and; E. Hn. omit ne.

This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed 1065 To be my wyf; that other feithfully (1010) Shal be myn heir, as I have ay purposed; Thou bare him in thy body trewely. At Boloigne have I kept hem prively; Tak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye 1070 That thou hast lorn non of thy children tweye.

1067. Cp. Ln. Hl. purposed; E. Hn. Cm. supposed (wrongly); Pt. disposed. 1070. E. Taak.

And folk that otherweyes han seyd of me, I warne hem wel that I have doon this dede For no malice ne for no crueltee, But for tassaye in thee thy wommanhede, 1075 And nat to sleen my children, god forbede! (1020) But for to kepe hem prively and stille, Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.’

Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth For pitous Ioye, and after hir swowninge 1080 She bothe hir yonge children un-to hir calleth, And in hir armes, pitously wepinge, Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissinge Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teres She batheth bothe hir visage and hir heres. 1085

O, which a pitous thing it was to see (1030) Hir swowning, and hir humble voys to here! ‘Grauntmercy, lord, that thanke I yow,’ quod she, ‘That ye han saved me my children dere! Now rekke I never to ben deed right here; 1090 Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace, No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace!

[422: T. 8969-9003.] O tendre, o dere, o yonge children myne, Your woful mooder wende stedfastly That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne 1095 Hadde eten yow; but god, of his mercy, (1040) And your benigne fader tendrely Hath doon yow kept;’ and in that same stounde Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde.

1095. E. crueel.

And in her swough so sadly holdeth she 1100 Hir children two, whan she gan hem tembrace, That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee The children from hir arm they gonne arace. O many a teer on many a pitous face Doun ran of hem that stoden hir bisyde; 1105 Unnethe abouten hir mighte they abyde. (1050)

Walter hir gladeth, and hir sorwe slaketh; She ryseth up, abaysed, from hir traunce, And every wight hir Ioye and feste maketh, Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce. 1110 Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce, That it was deyntee for to seen the chere Bitwixe hem two, now they ben met y-fere.

Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say, Han taken hir, and in-to chambre goon, 1115 And strepen hir out of hir rude array, (1060) And in a cloth of gold that brighte shoon, With a coroune of many a riche stoon Up-on hir heed, they in-to halle hir broghte, And ther she was honoured as hir oghte. 1120

1117. Cm. cloth; E. Hn. clooth.

Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende, For every man and womman dooth his might This day in murthe and revel to dispende Til on the welkne shoon the sterres light. For more solempne in every mannes sight 1125 This feste was, and gretter of costage, (1070) Than was the revel of hir mariage.

[423: T. 9004-9036.] Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee Liven thise two in concord and in reste, And richely his doghter maried he 1130 Un-to a lord, oon of the worthieste Of al Itaille; and than in pees and reste His wyves fader in his court he kepeth, Til that the soule out of his body crepeth.

His sone succedeth in his heritage 1135 In reste and pees, after his fader day; (1080) And fortunat was eek in mariage, Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay. This world is nat so strong, it is no nay, As it hath been in olde tymes yore, 1140 And herkneth what this auctour seith therfore.

1140. in] E. of.

This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde Folwen Grisilde as in humilitee, For it were importable, though they wolde; But for that every wight, in his degree, 1145 Sholde be constant in adversitee (1090) As was Grisilde; therfor Petrark wryteth This storie, which with heigh style he endyteth.

1147. Cm. this Petrak; rest omit this. Hl. Petrark; E. Hn. Cm. Petrak.

For, sith a womman was so pacient Un-to a mortal man, wel more us oghte 1150 Receyven al in gree that god us sent; For greet skile is, he preve that he wroghte. But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte, As seith seint Iame, if ye his pistel rede; He preveth folk al day, it is no drede, 1155

And suffreth us, as for our excercyse, (1100) With sharpe scourges of adversitee Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wyse; Nat for to knowe our wil, for certes he, Er we were bom, knew al our freletee; 1160 [424: T. 9037-9055.] And for our beste is al his governaunce; Lat us than live in vertuous suffraunce.

1160. E. omits al; the rest have it.

* * * * *

It seems to have been Chaucer’s intention, in the first instance, to end this Tale here. Hence, we find, in MSS. E. Hn. Cm. Dd., the following genuine, but rejected stanza, suitable for insertion at this point:—

=Bihold the merye wordes of the Hoste.=

This worthy Clerk, whan ended was his tale, Our hoste seyde, and swoor by goddes bones, ‘Me were lever than a barel ale My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones; This is a gentil tale for the nones, 5 As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille; But thing that wol nat be, lat it be stille.’

=Here endeth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.=

HEADING. E. Bihoold; murye; Hoost. 2. E. Oure hoost. 3. E. leuere. Dd. barel of ale. 5. E. Hn. Dd. is; Cm. was. 6. E. Hn. wiste; Dd. wyst; Cm. woste. N.B. With 1. 3, compare B. 3083.

* * * * *

But o word, lordinges, herkneth er I go:— It were ful hard to finde now a dayes In al a toun Grisildes three or two; 1165 For, if that they were put to swiche assayes, (1110) The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at yë, It wolde rather breste a-two than plye.

For which heer, for the wyves love of Bathe, 1170 Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene In heigh maistrye, and elles were it scathe, I wol with lusty herte fresshe and grene Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene, And lat us stinte of ernestful matere:— 1175 Herkneth my song, that seith in this manere. (1120)

=Lenvoy De Chaucer.=

Grisilde is deed, and eek hir pacience, And bothe atones buried in Itaille; For which I crye in open audience, [425: T. 9056-9088.] No wedded man so hardy be tassaille 1180 His wyves pacience, in hope to finde Grisildes, for in certein he shall faille!

O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence, Lat noon humilitee your tonge naille, Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence 1185 To wryte of yow a storie of swich mervaille (1130) As of Grisildis pacient and kinde; Lest Chichevache yow swelwe in hir entraille!

Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence, But evere answereth at the countretaille; 1190 Beth nat bidaffed for your innocence, But sharply tak on yow the governaille. Emprinteth wel this lesson in your minde For commune profit, sith it may availle.

Ye archewyves, stondeth at defence, 1195 Sin ye be stronge as is a greet camaille; (1140) Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offence. And sclendre wyves, feble as in bataille, Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Inde; Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille. 1200

Ne dreed hem nat, do hem no reverence; For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille, The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence Shal perce his brest, and eek his aventaille; In Ialousye I rede eek thou him binde, 1205 And thou shalt make him couche as dooth a quaille.

1201. Cm. Ln. Hl. do; rest doth.

If thou be fair, ther folk ben in presence Shew thou thy visage and thyn apparaille; If thou be foul, be free of thy dispence, To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille; 1210 Be ay of chere as light as leef on linde, And lat him care, and wepe, and wringe, and waille!

=Here endeth the Clerk of Oxonford his Tale.=

1211. E. chiere; Hn. cheere. COLOPHON. From Cp.

[426: T. 9089-9120.]

* * * * *

THE MERCHANT’S PROLOGUE.

* * * * *

=The Prologe of the Marchantes Tale.=

‘Weping and wayling, care, and other sorwe I know y-nogh, on even and a-morwe,’ Quod the Marchaunt, ‘and so don othere mo 1215 That wedded been, I trowe that it be so. For, wel I woot, it fareth so with me. I have a wyf, the worste that may be; For thogh the feend to hir y-coupled were, She wolde him overmacche, I dar wel swere. 1220 What sholde I yow reherce in special Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al. (10) Ther is a long and large difference Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience And of my wyf the passing crueltee. 1225 Were I unbounden, al-so moot I thee! I wolde never eft comen in the snare. We wedded men live in sorwe and care; Assaye who-so wol, and he shal finde I seye sooth, by seint Thomas of Inde, 1230 As for the more part, I sey nat alle. God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! (20)

A! good sir hoost! I have y-wedded be Thise monthes two, and more nat, pardee; And yet, I trowe, he that all his lyve 1235 Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve Un-to the herte, ne coude in no manere Tellen so muchel sorwe, as I now here Coude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!’

‘Now,’ quod our hoost, ‘Marchaunt, so god yow blesse, 1240 Sin ye so muchel knowen of that art, Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.’ (30)

‘Gladly,’ quod he, ‘but of myn owene sore, For sory herte, I telle may na-more.’

[427: T. 9121-9147.]

* * * * *

THE MARCHANTES TALE.

* * * * *

=Here biginneth the Marchantes Tale.=

Whylom ther was dwellinge in Lumbardye 1245 A worthy knight, that born was of Pavye, In which he lived in greet prosperitee; And sixty yeer a wyflees man was he, And folwed ay his bodily delyt On wommen, ther-as was his appetyt, 1250 As doon thise foles that ben seculeer. And whan that he was passed sixty yeer, Were it for holinesse or for dotage, I can nat seye, but swich a greet corage (10) Hadde this knight to been a wedded man, 1255 That day and night he dooth al that he can Tespyen where he mighte wedded be; Preyinge our lord to granten him, that he Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf That is bitwixe an housbond and his wyf; 1260 And for to live under that holy bond With which that first god man and womman bond, ‘Non other lyf,’ seyde he, ‘is worth a bene; For wedlok is so esy and so clene, (20) That in this world it is a paradys.’ 1265 Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so wys.

HEADING. So E. Hn. Pt. 1246. Pt. at; Ln. in (for of).

And certeinly, as sooth as god is king, To take a wyf, it is a glorious thing, And namely whan a man is old and hoor; Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor. 1270 Than sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir, [428: T. 9148-9180.] On which he mighte engendren him an heir, And lede his lyf in Ioye and in solas, Wher-as thise bacheleres singe ‘allas,’ (30) Whan that they finden any adversitee 1275 In love, which nis but childish vanitee. And trewely it sit wel to be so, That bacheleres have often peyne and wo; On brotel ground they builde, and brotelnesse They finde, whan they wene sikernesse. 1280 They live but as a brid or as a beste, In libertee, and under non areste, Ther-as a wedded man in his estaat Liveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat, (40) Under the yok of mariage y-bounde; 1285 Wel may his herte in Ioye and blisse habounde. For who can be so buxom as a wyf? Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf To kepe him, syk and hool, as is his make? For wele or wo, she wol him nat forsake. 1290 She nis nat wery him to love and serve, Thogh that he lye bedrede til he sterve. And yet somme clerkes seyn, it nis nat so, Of whiche he, Theofraste, is oon of tho. (50) What force though Theofraste liste lye? 1295 ‘Ne take no wyf,’ quod he, ‘for housbondrye, As for to spare in houshold thy dispence; A trewe servant dooth more diligence, Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf. For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf; 1300 And if that thou be syk, so god me save, Thy verray frendes or a trewe knave Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay After thy good, and hath don many a day. (60) And if thou take a wyf un-to thyn hold, [T. om. Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold.’ [T. om. [429: T. 9181-9216.] This sentence, and an hundred thinges worse, Wryteth this man, ther god his bones corse! But take no kepe of al swich vanitee; Deffye Theofraste and herke me. 1310

1271. E. Thanne. 1274, 1278. E. bacheleris. 1281, 2. E. Pt. beest, arreest; Cm. Ln. beste, areste. 1285. E. Hn. this; rest the. 1293. E. Cp. nis; rest is. 1301. E. Hn. Cm. om. that. 1305, 6. Not in Cp. Ln.; _in a spurious form in _Hn. Pt. Hl. 1310. Cp. Hl. herkne; Pt. Ln. herkeneth.

A wyf is goddes yifte verraily; Alle other maner yiftes hardily, As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune, Or moebles, alle ben yiftes of fortune, (70) That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. 1315 But dredelees, if pleynly speke I shal, A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous endure, Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure.

1316. Cm. dredles; Hn. Hl. dreed nat; Cp. Ln. drede nought; Pt. drede it nouȝt.

Mariage is a ful gret sacrement; He which that hath no wyf, I holde him shent; 1320 He liveth helplees and al desolat, I speke of folk in seculer estaat. And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, That womman is for mannes help y-wroght. (80) The hye god, whan he hadde Adam maked, 1325 And saugh him al allone, bely-naked, God of his grete goodnesse seyde than, ‘Lat us now make an help un-to this man Lyk to him-self;’ and thanne he made him Eve. Heer may ye se, and heer-by may ye preve, 1330 That wyf is mannes help and his confort, His paradys terrestre and his disport. So buxom and so vertuous is she, They moste nedes live in unitee. (90) O flesh they been, and o flesh, as I gesse, 1335 Hath but on herte, in wele and in distresse.

1323. Cp. herkne; Pt. Ln. Hl. herken.

A wyf! a! Seinte Marie, benedicite! How mighte a man han any adversitee That hath a wyf? certes, I can nat seye. The blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye 1340 Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thinke. If he be povre, she helpeth him to swinke; [430: T. 9217-9252.] She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; Al that hir housbonde lust, hir lyketh weel; (100) She seith not ones ‘nay,’ whan he seith ‘ye.’ 1345 ‘Do this,’ seith he; ‘al redy, sir,’ seith she. O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, Thou art so mery, and eek so vertuous, And so commended and appreved eek, That every man that halt him worth a leek, 1350 Up-on his bare knees oghte al his lyf Thanken his god that him hath sent a wyf; Or elles preye to god him for to sende A wyf, to laste un-to his lyves ende. (110) For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; 1355 He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, So that he werke after his wyves reed; Than may he boldly beren up his heed, They been so trewe and ther-with-al so wyse; For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, 1360 Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede.

1340. Hl. ioye (for blisse). 1348. E. Hn. murye. 1350. Hl. holt; Ln. holdeth. 1351. E. oughte; Hn. Cm. oghte. 1357. E. reede; Hn. Cm. Cp. reed. The scribe of E. misses 1358-61, by confusing this reed with rede (1361). 1358-61. From Hn.; so Cm.; so the rest (nearly). 1358. Hn. kepen; rest beren, bere.

Lo, how that Iacob, as thise clerkes rede, By good conseil of his moder Rebekke, Bond the kides skin aboute his nekke; (120) Thurgh which his fadres benisoun he wan. 1365

Lo, Iudith, as the storie eek telle can, By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte, And slow him, Olofernus, whyl he slepte.

Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she Saved hir housbond Nabal, whan that he 1370 Sholde han be slayn; and loke, Ester also By good conseil delivered out of wo The peple of god, and made him, Mardochee, Of Assuere enhaunced for to be. (130)

Ther nis no-thing in gree superlatyf, 1375 As seith Senek, above an humble wyf.

Suffre thy wyves tonge, as Caton bit; She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it; [431: T. 9253-9289.] And yet she wol obeye of curteisye. A wyf is keper of thyn housbondrye; 1380 Wel may the syke man biwaille and wepe, Ther-as ther nis no wyf the hous to kepe. I warne thee, if wysly thou wolt wirche, Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loveth his chirche. (140) If thou lovest thy-self, thou lovest thy wyf; 1385 No man hateth his flesh, but in his lyf He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee, Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt never thee. Housbond and wyf, what so men Iape or pleye, Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; 1390 They been so knit, ther may noon harm bityde; And namely, up-on the wyves syde. For which this Ianuarie, of whom I tolde, Considered hath, in with his dayes olde, (150) The lusty lyf, the vertuous quiete, 1395 That is in mariage hony-swete; And for his freendes on a day he sente, To tellen hem theffect of his entente.

1384. E. Hn. loued; Cm. louede; Cp. Pt. Ln. loueth; Hl. doth.

With face sad, his tale he hath hem told; He seyde, ‘freendes, I am hoor and old, 1400 And almost, god wot, on my pittes brinke; Up-on my soule somwhat moste I thinke. I have my body folily despended; Blessed be god, that it shal been amended! (160) For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, 1405 And that anoon in al the haste I can, Un-to som mayde fair and tendre of age. I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde; And I wol fonde tespyen, on my syde, 1410 To whom I may be wedded hastily. But for-as-muche as ye ben mo than I, Ye shullen rather swich a thing espyen Than I, and wher me best were to allyen. (170)

1402. E. Cm. the; rest my. 1410. Cp. Ln. aspye.

But o thing warne I yow, my freendes dere, 1415 [432: T. 9290-9324.] I wol non old wyf han in no manere. She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn; Old fish and yong flesh wolde I have ful fayn. Bet is,’ quod he, ‘a pyk than a pikerel; And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. 1420 I wol no womman thritty yeer of age, It is but bene-straw and greet forage. And eek thise olde widwes, god it woot, They conne so muchel craft on Wades boot, (180) So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste, 1425 That with hem sholde I never live in reste. For sondry scoles maken sotil clerkis; Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is. But certeynly, a yong thing may men gye, Right as men may warm wex with handes plye. 1430 Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause, I wol non old wyf han right for this cause. For if so were, I hadde swich mischaunce, That I in hir ne coude han no plesaunce, (190) Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, 1435 And go streight to the devel, whan I dye. Ne children sholde I none up-on hir geten; Yet were me lever houndes had me eten, Than that myn heritage sholde falle In straunge hand, and this I tell yow alle. 1440 I dote nat, I woot the cause why Men sholde wedde, and forthermore wot I, Ther speketh many a man of mariage, That woot na-more of it than woot my page, (200) For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf. 1445 If he ne may nat liven chast his lyf, Take him a wyf with greet devocioun, By-cause of leveful procreacioun Of children, to thonour of god above, And nat only for paramour or love; 1450 [433: T. 9325-9360.] And for they sholde lecherye eschue, And yelde hir dettes whan that they ben due; Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen other In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; (210) And live in chastitee ful holily. 1455 But sires, by your leve, that am nat I. For god be thanked, I dar make avaunt, I fele my limes stark and suffisaunt To do al that a man bilongeth to; I woot my-selven best what I may do. 1460 Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree That blosmeth er that fruyt y-woxen be; A blosmy tree nis neither drye ne deed. I fele me nowher hoor but on myn heed; (220) Myn herte and alle my limes been as grene 1465 As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. And sin that ye han herd al myn entente, I prey yow to my wil ye wole assente.’

1418. E. Hn. Pt. om. ful. 1420. Cm. bef; Cp. Pt. beef. Hl. Ln. om. the. 1427. E. sotile. 1432. E. Cm. Cp. Ln. om. right. 1433. E. were that I. 1436. Hl. Hn. go; Cp. Pt. Ln. so; E. Cm. om. E. vnto (for to). 1438. E. Pt. leuere that houndes. 1446. E. Siththe; Cm. Sith (for If). Hn. Cm. Hl. ne; rest om. 1451. E. Hl. Cp. Pt. leccherye. 1456. Cm. siris. 1462. E. Cp. that; Ln. Hl. that the; Cm. than; Hn. Pt. the. 1463. E. Hn. And; Pt. That; rest A.

Diverse men diversely him tolde Of mariage manye ensamples olde. 1470 Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn; But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, As al day falleth altercacioun Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, (230) Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, 1475 Of whiche that oon was cleped Placebo, Iustinus soothly called was that other.

Placebo seyde, ‘o Ianuarie, brother, Ful litel nede had ye, my lord so dere, Conseil to axe of any that is here; 1480 But that ye been so ful of sapience, That yow ne lyketh, for your heighe prudence, To weyven fro the word of Salomon. This word seyde he un-to us everichon: (240) “Wirk alle thing by conseil,” thus seyde he, 1485 “And thanne shaltow nat repente thee.” [434: T. 9361-9394.] But though that Salomon spak swich a word, Myn owene dere brother and my lord, So wisly god my soule bringe at reste, I hold your owene conseil is the beste. 1490 For brother myn, of me tak this motyf, I have now been a court-man al my lyf. And god it woot, though I unworthy be, I have stonden in ful greet degree (250) Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; 1495 Yet hadde I never with noon of hem debaat. I never hem contraried, trewely; I woot wel that my lord can more than I. What that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable; I seye the same, or elles thing semblable. 1500 A ful gret fool is any conseillour, That serveth any lord of heigh honour, That dar presume, or elles thenken it, That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. (260) Nay, lordes been no foles, by my fay; 1505 Ye han your-selven shewed heer to-day So heigh sentence, so holily and weel, That I consente and conferme every-deel Your wordes alle, and your opinioun. By god, ther nis no man in al this toun 1510 Nin al Itaille, that coude bet han sayd; Crist halt him of this conseil wel apayd. And trewely, it is an heigh corage Of any man, that stopen is in age, (270) To take a yong wyf; by my fader kin, 1515 Your herte hangeth on a Ioly pin. Doth now in this matere right as yow leste, For finally I holde it for the beste.’

1479. E. hadde. 1490. MSS. holde. 1491. E. taak. 1503. E. Hn. Cm. elles; rest ones. 1506. Hn. Cm. shewed; E. seyd; Hl. y-spoken; rest spoken. 1511. E. Nyn; rest Ne in. Cm. al; rest om. 1512. E. Hn. ins. ful (Cm. wol) before wel; rest Crist holdeth him of this ful wel apayd. 1514. Cp. Hl. stopen; Ln. stoupin; E. Hn. stapen; Cm. schapyn. 1517. E. matiere.

Iustinus, that ay stille sat and herde, Right in this wyse to Placebo answerde: 1520 [435: T. 9395-9430.] ‘Now brother myn, be pacient, I preye, Sin ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye. Senek among his othere wordes wyse Seith, that a man oghte him right wel avyse, (280) To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel. 1525 And sin I oghte avyse me right wel To whom I yeve my good awey fro me, Wel muchel more I oghte avysed be To whom I yeve my body; for alwey I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley 1530 To take a wyf with-oute avysement. Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe, Or proud, or elles other-weys a shrewe; (290) A chydester, or wastour of thy good, 1535 Or riche, or poore, or elles mannish wood. Al-be-it so that no man finden shal Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, Ne man ne beest, swich as men coude devyse; But nathelees, it oghte y-nough suffise 1540 With any wyf, if so were that she hadde Mo gode thewes than hir vyces badde; And al this axeth leyser for tenquere. For god it woot, I have wept many a tere (300) Ful prively, sin I have had a wyf. 1545 Preyse who-so wole a wedded mannes lyf, Certein, I finde in it but cost and care, And observances, of alle blisses bare. And yet, god woot, my neighebores aboute, And namely of wommen many a route, 1550 Seyn that I have the moste stedefast wyf, And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf. But I wot best wher wringeth me my sho. Ye mowe, for me, right as yow lyketh do; (300) Avyseth yow, ye been a man of age, 1555 How that ye entren in-to mariage, [436: T. 9431-9465.] And namely with a yong wyf and a fair. By him that made water, erthe, and air, The yongest man that is in al this route Is bisy y-nogh to bringen it aboute 1560 To han his wyf allone, trusteth me. Ye shul nat plese hir fully yeres three, This is to seyn, to doon hir ful plesaunce. A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. (320) I prey yow that ye be nat yvel apayd.’ 1565

1520. All but Cm. insert he before Right, or to, or answerde. 1531. E. Hn. Ln. withouten. 1539. E. Cm. which. Hl. man can; Cp. Pt. men conne; E. Hn. Cm. men koude. 1543. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. to enquere. 1545. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. sin that I hadde. 1551. Ln. stedfast. 1559. E. yongeste. 1560. E. ynough; Cm. I-nogh. 1562. Cm. Hl. plese; rest plesen.

‘Wel,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘and hastow sayd? Straw for thy Senek, and for thy proverbes, I counte nat a panier ful of herbes Of scole-termes; wyser men than thow, As thou hast herd, assenteden right now 1570 To my purpos; Placebo, what sey ye?’

1566. E. Hn. ysayd; Cm. Hl. sayd; Cp. Pt. Ln. al said.

‘I seye, it is a cursed man,’ quod he, ‘That letteth matrimoine, sikerly.’ And with that word they rysen sodeynly, (330) And been assented fully, that he sholde 1575 Be wedded whanne him list and wher he wolde.

1573. E. Hn. Hl. matrimoigne; Pt. matrimoyne; rest matrimonye.

Heigh fantasye and curious bisinesse Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse Of Ianuarie aboute his mariage. Many fair shap, and many a fair visage 1580 Ther passeth thurgh his herte, night by night. As who-so toke a mirour polished bright, And sette it in a commune market-place, Than sholde he see many a figure pace (340) By his mirour; and, in the same wyse, 1585 Gan Ianuarie inwith his thoght devyse Of maydens, whiche that dwelten him bisyde. He wiste nat wher that he mighte abyde. For if that oon have beaute in hir face, Another stant so in the peples grace 1590 For hir sadnesse, and hir benignitee, [437: T. 9466-9503.] That of the peple grettest voys hath she. And somme were riche, and hadden badde name. But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, (350) He atte laste apoynted him on oon, 1595 And leet alle othere from his herte goon, And chees hir of his owene auctoritee; For love is blind al day, and may nat see. And whan that he was in his bed y-broght, He purtreyed, in his herte and in his thoght, 1600 Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, Hir myddel smal, hir armes longe and sclendre, Hir wyse governaunce, hir gentillesse, Hir wommanly beringe and hir sadnesse. (360) And whan that he on hir was condescended, 1605 Him thoughte his chois mighte nat ben amended. For whan that he him-self concluded hadde, Him thoughte ech other mannes wit so badde, That inpossible it were to replye Agayn his chois, this was his fantasye. 1610 His freendes sente he to at his instaunce, And preyed hem to doon him that plesaunce, That hastily they wolden to him come; He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some. (370) Nedeth na-more for him to go ne ryde, 1615 He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde.

1582. E. And; rest As. E. polisshed. 1584. E. Thanne. E. Hn. se ful many. 1587. E. Cm. Pt. dwellen. 1591. E. Cm. benyngnytee. 1602. E. sklendre. 1609. E. repplye. 1611. E. Cm. Hise. 1615. Ln. hem.

Placebo cam, and eek his freendes sone, And alderfirst he bad hem alle a bone, That noon of hem none argumentes make Agayn the purpos which that he hath take; 1620 ‘Which purpos was plesant to god,’ seyde he, ‘And verray ground of his prosperitee.’

1617. E. Cm. Hise.

He seyde, ther was a mayden in the toun, Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, (380) Al were it so she were of smal degree; 1625 Suffyseth him hir youthe and hir beautee. Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf, To lede in ese and holinesse his lyf. And thanked god, that he mighte han hire al, [438: T. 9504-9539.] That no wight of his blisse parten shal. 1630 And preyde hem to labouren in this nede, And shapen that he faille nat to spede; For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese. ‘Thanne is,’ quod he, ‘no-thing may me displese, (390) Saue o thing priketh in my conscience, 1635 The which I wol reherce in your presence.

1630. Cm. of; Cp. Ln. with; rest om. 1631. Hn. labouren; rest laboure.

I have,’ quod he, ‘herd seyd, ful yore ago, Ther may no man han parfite blisses two, This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene. For though he kepe him fro the sinnes sevene, 1640 And eek from every branche of thilke tree, Yet is ther so parfit felicitee, And so greet ese and lust in mariage, That ever I am agast, now in myn age, (400) That I shal lede now so mery a lyf, 1645 So delicat, with-outen wo and stryf, That I shal have myn hevene in erthe here. For sith that verray hevene is boght so dere, With tribulacioun and greet penaunce, How sholde I thanne, that live in swich plesaunce 1650 As alle wedded men don with hir wyvis, Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyve is? This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye, Assoilleth me this questioun, I preye.’ (410)

1645. E. myrie; Hn. murye.

Iustinus, which that hated his folye, 1655 Answerde anon, right in his Iaperye; And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, But seyde, ‘sire, so ther be noon obstacle Other than this, god of his hye miracle 1660 And of his mercy may so for yow wirche, That, er ye have your right of holy chirche, Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf, In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. (420) And elles, god forbede but he sente 1665 [439: T. 9540-9576.] A wedded man him grace to repente Wel ofte rather than a sengle man! And therfore, sire, the beste reed I can, Dispeire yow noght, but have in your memorie, Paraunter she may be your purgatorie! 1670 She may be goddes mene, and goddes whippe; Than shal your soule up to hevene skippe Swifter than dooth an arwe out of the bowe! I hope to god, her-after shul ye knowe, (430) That their nis no so greet felicitee 1675 In mariage, ne never-mo shal be, That yow shal lette of your savacioun, So that ye use, as skile is and resoun, The lustes of your wyf attemprely, And that ye plese hir nat to amorously, 1680 And that ye kepe yow eek from other sinne. My tale is doon:—for my wit is thinne. Beth nat agast her-of, my brother dere.’— (But lat us waden out of this matere. (440) The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde, 1685 Of mariage, which we have on honde, Declared hath ful wel in litel space).— ‘Fareth now wel, god have yow in his grace.’

1660. Hn. Pt. hye; E. hygh. 1661. E. his hygh mercy; rest om. hygh. 1665. Cp. Pt. Ln. but if. 1672. E. Thanne. 1682. Incomplete. 1686. Hn. we; rest ye.

And with this word this Justin and his brother Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of other. 1690 For whan they sawe it moste nedes be, They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, That she, this mayden, which that Maius highte, As hastily as ever that she mighte, (450) Shal wedded be un-to this Ianuarie. 1695 I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond, By which that she was feffed in his lond; Or for to herknen of hir riche array. But finally y-comen is the day 1700 That to the chirche bothe be they went For to receyve the holy sacrement. [440: T. 9577-9612.] Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nekke, And bad hir be lyk Sarra and Rebekke, (460) In wisdom and in trouthe of mariage; 1705 And seyde his orisons, as is usage, And crouched hem, and bad god sholde hem blesse, And made al siker y-nogh with holinesse.

1691. Hn. Cp. sawe; E. Hl. saugh. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. ins. that bef. it. E. om. nedes. 1692. sly] Hl. sleighte. 1693. MSS. Mayus. 1698. Hl. feoffed. 1704. E. lyk to; rest om. to. 1706. his] E. hir. 1707. E. Hn. Cm. croucheth.

Thus been they wedded with solempnitee, And at the feste sitteth he and she 1710 With other worthy folk up-on the deys. Al ful of Ioye and blisse is the paleys, And ful of instruments and of vitaille, The moste deyntevous of al Itaille. (470) Biforn hem stoode swiche instruments of soun, 1715 That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun, Ne maden never swich a melodye.

1715. So Cm. Hl.; E. puts swich before soun; Hn. repeats swich before soun.

At every cours than cam loud minstraleye, That never tromped Ioab, for to here, Nor he, Theodomas, yet half so clere, 1720 At Thebes, whan the citee was in doute. Bacus the wyn hem skinketh al aboute, And Venus laugheth up-on every wight. For Ianuarie was bicome hir knight, (480) And wolde bothe assayen his corage 1725 In libertee, and eek in mariage; And with hir fyrbrond in hir hand aboute Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route. And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this, Ymenëus, that god of wedding is, 1730 Saugh never his lyf so mery a wedded man. Hold thou thy pees, thou poete Marcian, That wrytest us that ilke wedding murie Of hir, Philologye, and him, Mercurie (490) And of the songes that the Muses songe. 1735 To smal is bothe thy penne, and eek thy tonge, For to descryven of this mariage. Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stouping age, [441: T. 9613-9648.] Ther is swich mirthe that it may nat be writen; Assayeth it your-self, than may ye witen 1740 If that I lye or noon in this matere.

1718. E. Hn. thanne; Hl. ther. 1731. E. myrie; Hn. murye. 1740. E. thanne. 1741. E. matiere.

Maius, that sit with so benigne a chere, Hir to biholde it semed fayëryë; Quene Ester loked never with swich an yë (500) On Assuer, so meke a look hath she. 1745 I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee; But thus muche of hir beautee telle I may, That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May, Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce.

1742. E. benyngne; chiere. 1743. Cp. Pt. Hl. fayerye: rest fairye. 1744. Pt. Hl. ye; Cp. yhe; rest eye.

This Ianuarie is ravisshed in a traunce 1750 At every time he loked on hir face; But in his herte he gan hir to manace, That he that night in armes wolde hir streyne Harder than ever Paris dide Eleyne. (510) But nathelees, yet hadde he greet pitee, 1755 That thilke night offenden hir moste he; And thoughte, ‘allas! o tendre creature! Now wolde god ye mighte wel endure Al my corage, it is so sharp and kene; I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. 1760 But god forbede that I dide al my might! Now wolde god that it were woxen night, And that the night wolde lasten evermo. I wolde that al this peple were ago.’ (520) And finally, he doth al his labour, 1765 As he best mighte, savinge his honour, To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse.

1751. Hl. lokith.

The tyme cam that reson was to ryse; And after that, men daunce and drinken faste, And spyces al aboute the hous they caste; 1770 And ful of Ioye and blisse is every man; All but a squyer, highte Damian, Which carf biforn the knight ful many a day. He was so ravisshed on his lady May, (530) [442: T. 9649-9683.] That for the verray peyne he was ny wood; 1775 Almost he swelte and swowned ther he stood. So sore hath Venus hurt him with hir brond, As that she bar it daunsinge in hir hond. And to his bed he wente him hastily; Na-more of him as at this tyme speke I. 1780 But ther I lete him wepe y-nough and pleyne, Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne.

1772. E. Hn. Cm. highte; rest that highte (hight). 1780. Hl. as; rest om. E. om. I.

O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth! =Auctor.= O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth! (540) O servant traitour, false hoomly hewe, 1785 Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe, God shilde us alle from your aqueyntaunce! O Ianuarie, dronken in plesaunce Of mariage, see how thy Damian, Thyn owene squyer and thy borne man, 1790 Entendeth for to do thee vileinye. God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo tespye. For in this world nis worse pestilence Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence. (550)

1784. Cp. Hl. famuler; Pt. famulere; Ln. famylere. 1786. Hn. Cp. neddre; Cm. neddere; Hl. nedder; Pt. adder. 1789. Pt. Hl. Of; Cp. Ln. O(!); rest In. 1790. Cm. bore; Cp. Ln. Hl. borne; rest born. 1792. Cp. Ln. to espye; Hn. Hl. espye.

Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne, 1795 No lenger may the body of him soiurne On thorisonte, as in that latitude. Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude, Gan oversprede the hemisperie aboute; For which departed is this lusty route 1800 Fro Ianuarie, with thank on every syde. Hom to hir houses lustily they ryde, Wher-as they doon hir thinges as hem leste, And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. (560) Sone after that, this hastif Ianuarie 1805 Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarie. He drinketh ipocras, clarree, and vernage Of spyces hote, tencresen his corage; And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn, [443: T. 9684-9719.] Swiche as the cursed monk dan Constantyn 1810 Hath writen in his book de Coitu; To eten hem alle, he nas no-thing eschu. And to his privee freendes thus seyde he: ‘For goddes love, as sone as it may be, (570) Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse.’ 1815 And they han doon right as he wol devyse. Men drinken, and the travers drawe anon; The bryde was broght a-bedde as stille as stoon; And whan the bed was with the preest y-blessed, Out of the chambre hath every wight him dressed. 1820 And Ianuarie hath faste in armes take His fresshe May, his paradys, his make. He lulleth hir, he kisseth hir ful ofte With thikke bristles of his berd unsofte, (580) Lyk to the skin of houndfish, sharp as brere, 1825 For he was shave al newe in his manere. He rubbeth hir aboute hir tendre face, And seyde thus, ‘allas! I moot trespace To yow, my spouse, and yow gretly offende, Er tyme come that I wil doun descende. 1830 But nathelees, considereth this,’ quod he, ‘Ther nis no werkman, what-so-ever he be, That may bothe werke wel and hastily; This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. (590) It is no fors how longe that we pleye; 1835 In trewe wedlok wedded be we tweye; And blessed be the yok that we been inne, For in our actes we mowe do no sinne. A man may do no sinne with his wyf, Ne hurte him-selven with his owene knyf; 1840 For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe.’ Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe; And than he taketh a sop in fyn clarree, And upright in his bed than sitteth he, (600) And after that he sang ful loude and clere, 1845 [444: T. 9720-9755.] And kiste his wyf, and made wantoun chere. He was al coltish, ful of ragerye, And ful of Iargon as a flekked pye. The slakke skin aboute his nekke shaketh, Whyl that he sang; so chaunteth he and craketh. 1850 But god wot what that May thoughte in hir herte, Whan she him saugh up sittinge in his sherte, In his night-cappe, and with his nekke lene; She preyseth nat his pleying worth a bene. (610) Than seide he thus, ‘my reste wol I take; 1855 Now day is come, I may no lenger wake.’ And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme. And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme, Up ryseth Ianuarie; but fresshe May Holdeth hir chambre un-to the fourthe day, 1860 As usage is of wyves for the beste. For every labour som-tyme moot han reste, Or elles longe may he nat endure; This is to seyn, no lyves creature, (620) Be it of fish, or brid, or beest, or man. 1865

1802. E. Hl. hous; rest houses. 1808. Cp. Pt. Hl. to encresen. 1809. E. hath. 1810. E. om. cursed. 1812. Cm. Ln. was; rest nas. 1824. Cp. HL. thikke; rest thilke (with lk = kk). E. Cm. brustles. 1838. E. Hn. Cm. om. our. 1843. E. thanne; fyne. 1844. E. thanne. 1846. E. wantowne. 1847. E. coltissh. 1848. Cp. Pt. Girgoun; Ln. Girgun. 1851. Hn. thoghte. 1855. E. Thanne. 1860. Pt. Ln. Hl. Holdeth; Cp. Holt; E. Hn. Heeld; Cm. Held.

Now wol I speke of woful Damian, That languissheth for love, as ye shul here; Therfore I speke to him in this manere: I seye, ‘O sely Damian, allas! Answere to my demaunde, as in this cas, 1870 How shaltow to thy lady fresshe May Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye “nay”; Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye; God be thyn help, I can no bettre seye.’ (630)

1867. Cp. langureth; Pt. languowreth; Ln. longurith. 1870. E. Andswere.

This syke Damian in Venus fyr 1875 So brenneth, that he dyeth for desyr; For which he putte his lyf in aventure, No lenger mighte he in this wyse endure; But prively a penner gan he borwe, And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, 1880 In manere of a compleynt or a lay, [445: T. 9756-9792.] Un-to his faire fresshe lady May. And in a purs of silk, heng on his sherte, He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. (640)

The mone that, at noon, was, thilke day 1885 That Ianuarie hath wedded fresshe May, In two of Taur, was in-to Cancre gliden; So longe hath Maius in hir chambre biden, As custume is un-to thise nobles alle. A bryde shal nat eten in the halle, 1890 Til dayes foure or three dayes atte leste Y-passed been; than lat hir go to feste. The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon, Whan that the heighe masse was y-doon, (650) In halle sit this Ianuarie, and May 1895 As fresh as is the brighte someres day. And so bifel, how that this gode man Remembred him upon this Damian, And seyde, ‘Seinte Marie! how may this be, That Damian entendeth nat to me? 1900 Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde?’ His squyeres, whiche that stoden ther bisyde, Excused him by-cause of his siknesse, Which letted him to doon his bisinesse; (660) Noon other cause mighte make him tarie. 1905

1888. Hl. Hn. Cp. abiden. 1892. E. thanne. 1896. E. fressh. 1902. E. Hise.

‘That me forthinketh,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘He is a gentil squyer, by my trouthe! If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe; He is as wys, discreet, and as secree As any man I woot of his degree; 1910 And ther-to manly and eek servisable, And for to been a thrifty man right able. But after mete, as sone as ever I may, I wol my-self visyte him and eek May, (670) To doon him al the confort that I can.’ 1915 And for that word him blessed every man, That, of his bountee and his gentillesse, He wolde so conforten in siknesse [446: T. 9793-9830.] His squyer, for it was a gentil dede. ‘Dame,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘tak good hede, 1920 At-after mete ye, with your wommen alle, Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle, That alle ye go see this Damian; Doth him disport, he is a gentil man; (680) And telleth him that I wol him visyte, 1925 Have I no-thing but rested me a lyte; And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde Til that ye slepe faste by my syde.’ And with that word he gan to him to calle A squyer, that was marchal of his halle, 1930 And tolde him certeyn thinges, what he wolde.

1920. E. taak. 1921. E. noon; rest mete.

This fresshe May hath streight hir wey y-holde, With alle hir wommen, un-to Damian. Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, (690) Confortinge him as goodly as she may. 1935 This Damian, whan that his tyme he say, In secree wise his purs, and eek his bille, In which that he y-writen hadde his wille, Hath put in-to hir hand, with-outen more, Save that he syketh wonder depe and sore, 1940 And softely to hir right thus seyde he: ‘Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me; For I am deed, if that this thing be kid.’ This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hid, (700) And wente hir wey; ye gete namore of me. 1945 But un-to Ianuarie y-comen is she, That on his beddes syde sit ful softe. He taketh hir, and kisseth hir ful ofte, And leyde him doun to slepe, and that anon. She feyned hir as that she moste gon 1950 Ther-as ye woot that every wight mot nede. And whan she of this bille hath taken hede, She rente it al to cloutes atte laste, And in the privee softely it caste. (710)

Who studieth now but faire fresshe May? 1955 Adoun by olde Ianuarie she lay, [447: T. 9831-9866.] That sleep, til that the coughe hath him awaked; Anon he preyde hir strepen hir al naked; He wolde of hir, he seyde, han som plesaunce, And seyde, hir clothes dide him encombraunce, 1960 And she obeyeth, be hir lief or looth. But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth, How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle; Or whether hir thoughte it paradys or helle; (720) But here I lete hem werken in hir wyse 1965 Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse.

1957. Hn. Cm. coghe; Ln. couhe. 1962. E. ye; Cm. the; rest that. 1964. E. wheither that; Hn. Cm. Hl. om. that. 1966. Cp. Ln. euesong.

Were it by destinee or aventure, Were it by influence or by nature, Or constellacion, that in swich estat The hevene stood, that tyme fortunat 1970 Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes (For alle thing hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes) To any womman, for to gete hir love, I can nat seye; but grete god above, (730) That knoweth that non act is causelees, 1975 He deme of al, for I wol holde my pees. But sooth is this, how that this fresshe May Hath take swich impression that day, For pitee of this syke Damian, That from hir herte she ne dryve can 1980 The remembraunce for to doon him ese. ‘Certeyn,’ thoghte she, ‘whom that this thing displese, I rekke noght, for here I him assure, To love him best of any creature, (740) Though he na-more hadde than his sherte.’ 1985 Lo, pitee renneth sone in gentil herte.

1967. All but Ln. Hl. ins. by after or. 1969, 70. E. estaat, fortunaat. 1971. Hn. Hl. As; E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Was.

Heer may ye se how excellent franchyse In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse. Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon, That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, 1990 Which wolde han lete him sterven in the place Wel rather than han graunted him hir grace; [448: T. 9867-9902.] And hem reioysen in hir cruel pryde, And rekke nat to been an homicyde. (750)

1991. E. Cm. lat. E. storuen. 1993. E. crueel.

This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee, 1995 Right of hir hande a lettre made she, In which she graunteth him hir verray grace; Ther lakketh noght but only day and place, Wher that she mighte un-to his lust suffyse: For it shal be right as he wol devyse. 2000 And whan she saugh hir time, up-on a day, To visite this Damian goth May, And sotilly this lettre doun she threste Under his pilwe, rede it if him leste. (760) She taketh him by the hand, and harde him twiste 2005 So secrely, that no wight of it wiste, And bad him been al hool, and forth she wente To Ianuarie, whan that he for hir sente.

1996. Hn. Hl. maked; Cm. makede. 1998. Cm. Hl. but only; rest only but. 2002. All visite; perhaps read visiten. 2007. she] E. he. 2008. hir] E. him.

Up ryseth Damian the nexte morwe, Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe. 2010 He kembeth him, he proyneth him and pyketh, He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh; And eek to Ianuarie he gooth as lowe As ever dide a dogge for the bowe. (770) He is so plesant un-to every man, 2015 (For craft is al, who-so that do it can) That every wight is fayn to speke him good; And fully in his lady grace he stood. Thus lete I Damian aboute his nede, And in my tale forth I wol procede. 2020

2011. E. preyneth; Hn. prayneth; Hl. pruneth. 2018. Hn. Cm. ladyes; rest lady.

Somme clerkes holden that felicitee Stant in delyt, and therefor certeyn he, This noble Ianuarie, with al his might, In honest wyse, as longeth to a knight, (780) Shoop him to live ful deliciously. 2025 His housinge, his array, as honestly To his degree was maked as a kinges. Amonges othere of his honest thinges, [449: T. 9903-9938.] He made a gardin, walled al with stoon; So fair a gardin woot I nowher noon. 2030 For out of doute, I verraily suppose, That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose Ne coude of it the beautee wel devyse; Ne Priapus ne mighte nat suffyse, (790) Though he be god of gardins, for to telle 2035 The beautee of the gardin and the welle, That stood under a laurer alwey grene. Ful ofte tyme he, Pluto, and his quene, Proserpina, and al hir fayërye Disporten hem and maken melodye Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde.

2024, 2028. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. honeste. 2032. Cm. Hl. romanus; Ln. romans. 2039. Cp. Hl. fayerie; rest fairye.

This noble knight, this Ianuarie the olde, Swich deintee hath in it to walke and pleye, That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye (800) Save he him-self; for of the smale wiket 2045 He bar alwey of silver a smal cliket, With which, whan that him leste, he it unshette. And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette In somer seson, thider wolde he go, And May his wyf, and no wight but they two; And thinges whiche that were nat doon a-bedde, He in the gardin parfourned hem and spedde. And in this wyse, many a mery day, Lived this Ianuarie and fresshe May. (810) But worldly Ioye may nat alwey dure 2055 To Ianuarie, ne to no creature.

2046. E. baar. Hl. smal; rest om. 2053. E. Hn. murye.

O sodeyn hap, o thou fortune instable, =Auctor.= Lyk to the scorpion so deceivable, That flaterest with thyn heed when thou wolt stinge; Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn enveniminge. 2060 O brotil Ioye! o swete venim queynte! O monstre, that so subtilly canst peynte Thy yiftes, under hewe of stedfastnesse, That thou deceyvest bothe more and lesse! (820) [450: T. 9939-9974.] Why hastow Ianuarie thus deceyved, 2065 That haddest him for thy ful frend receyved? And now thou hast biraft him bothe hise yën, For sorwe of which desyreth he to dyen.

2059. E. synge; rest stinge. 2061. venim] Cp. Pt. Ln. poyson. 2063. E. stidefastnesse. 2067. Hl. yen; Cm. Iyen; rest eyen.

Allas! this noble Ianuarie free, Amidde his lust and his prosperitee, 2070 Is woxen blind, and that al sodeynly. He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; And ther-with-al the fyr of Ialousye, Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, (830) So brente his herte, that he wolde fayn 2075 That som man bothe him and hir had slayn. For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf, Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf, But ever live as widwe in clothes blake, Soul as the turtle that lost hath hir make. 2080 But atte laste, after a monthe or tweye, His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; For whan he wiste it may noon other be, He paciently took his adversitee; (840) Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon 2085 That he nas Ialous evermore in oon; Which Ialousye it was so outrageous, That neither in halle, nin noon other hous, Ne in noon other place, never-the-mo, He nolde suffre hir for to ryde or go, 2090 But-if that he had hand on hir alway; For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May, That loveth Damian so benignely, That she mot outher dyen sodeynly, (850) Or elles she mot han him as hir leste; 2095 She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste.

2074. E. swich; rest som (sum). 2080. Cp. Ln. Soule; Pt. Sool; rest Soul. 2089. E. Nyn; rest Ne in. 2091. E. hond (but hand in l. 2103). 2093. E. benyngnely.

Up-on that other syde Damian Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man That ever was; for neither night ne day Ne mighte he speke a word to fresshe May, 2100 [451: T. 9975-10010.] As to his purpos, of no swich matere, But-if that Ianuarie moste it here, That hadde an hand up-on hir evermo. But nathelees, by wryting to and fro (860) And privee signes, wiste he what she mente; 2105 And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.

O Ianuarie, what mighte it thee availle, =Auctor.= Thou mightest see as fer as shippes saille? For also good is blind deceyved be, As be deceyved whan a man may se. 2110 Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondred yën, For al that ever he coude poure or pryen, Yet was he blent; and, god wot, so ben mo, That wenen wisly that it be nat so. (870) Passe over is an ese, I sey na-more. 2115

2108. E. Ln. Thogh thou; Hl. If thou; rest Thou. 2109. Cm. Ln. also; rest as. 2110. All As to be. 2111. Ln. yene; rest eyen.

This fresshe May, that I spak of so yore, In warme wex hath emprented the cliket, That Ianuarie bar of the smale wiket, By which in-to his gardin ofte he wente. And Damian, that knew al hir entente, 2120 The cliket countrefeted prively; Ther nis na-more to seye, but hastily Som wonder by this cliket shal bityde, Which ye shul heren, if ye wole abyde. (880)

2117. Pt. Ln. warme; rest warm. Perhaps read emprented hath. 2118. Pt. smal; rest smale.

O noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, god woot! =Auctor.= What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot, 2126 That he nil finde it out in som manere? By Piramus and Tesbee may men lere; Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal, They been accorded, rouninge thurgh a wal, 2130 Ther no wight coude han founde out swich a sleighte.

But now to purpos; er that dayes eighte Were passed, er the monthe of Iuil, bifil That Ianuarie hath caught so greet a wil, (890) Thurgh egging of his wyf, him for to pleye 2135 In his gardin, and no wight but they tweye, [452: T. 10011-10046.] That in a morwe un-to this May seith he: ‘Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free; The turtles vois is herd, my douve swete; The winter is goon, with alle his reynes wete; 2140 Com forth now, with thyn eyën columbyn! How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn! The gardin is enclosed al aboute; Com forth, my whyte spouse; out of doute, (900) Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf! 2145 No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf. Com forth, and lat us taken our disport; I chees thee for my wyf and my confort.’

2133, 4. Cm. befel, wyl; rest bifille, wille; see note. 2139. E. turtle. 2140. Cp. Pt. Ln. alle (al); rest om. 2146. Cp. Pt. Ln. in (for of). 2147. E. som; rest our (oure).

Swiche olde lewed wordes used he; On Damian a signe made she, 2150 That he sholde go biforen with his cliket: This Damian thanne hath opened the wiket, And in he stirte, and that in swich manere, That no wight mighte it see neither y-here; (910) And stille he sit under a bush anoon. 2155

2151. Ln. beforne; rest biforn; read biforen.

This Ianuarie, as blind as is a stoon, With Maius in his hand, and no wight mo, In-to his fresshe gardin is ago, And clapte to the wiket sodeynly.

‘Now, wyf,’ quod he, ‘heer nis but thou and I, 2160 That art the creature that I best love. For, by that lord that sit in heven above, Lever ich hadde dyen on a knyf, Than thee offende, trewe dere wyf! (920) For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees, 2165 Noght for no coveityse, doutelees, But only for the love I had to thee. And though that I be old, and may nat see, Beth to me trewe, and I shal telle yow why. Three thinges, certes, shul ye winne ther-by; 2170 First, love of Crist, and to your-self honour, And al myn heritage, toun and tour; [453: T. 10047-10082.] I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste; This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste. (930) So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse, 2175 I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse. And thogh that I be Ialous, wyte me noght. Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght, That, whan that I considere your beautee, And ther-with-al the unlykly elde of me, 2180 I may nat, certes, thogh I sholde dye, Forbere to been out of your companye For verray love; this is with-outen doute. Now kis me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute.’ (940)

2163. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. to dyen; Cp. Pt. Ln. om. to. 2170. E. Hn. shal; Pt. Cm. Hl. shul. 2177, 2181. E. though. 2179. E. Pt. om. that.

This fresshe May, whan she thise wordes herde, 2185 Benignely to Ianuarie answerde, But first and forward she bigan to wepe, ‘I have,’ quod she, ‘a soule for to kepe As wel as ye, and also myn honour, And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour, 2190 Which that I have assured in your hond, Whan that the preest to yow my body bond; Wherfore I wole answere in this manere By the leve of yow, my lord so dere: (950) I prey to god, that never dawe the day 2195 That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may, If ever I do un-to my kin that shame, Or elles I empeyre so my name, That I be fals; and if I do that lakke, Do strepe me and put me in a sakke, 2200 And in the nexte river do me drenche. I am a gentil womman and no wenche. Why speke ye thus? but men ben ever untrewe, And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe. (960) Ye han non other contenance, I leve, 2205 But speke to us of untrust and repreve.’

2186. E. Benyngnely. 2194. Cp. Pt. Ln. With (for By). 2205. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. can (for han).

And with that word she saugh wher Damian Sat in the bush, and coughen she bigan, [454: T. 10083-10114.] And with hir finger signes made she, That Damian sholde climbe up-on a tree, 2210 That charged was with fruit, and up he wente; For verraily he knew al hir entente, And every signe that she coude make Wel bet than Ianuarie, hir owene make. (970) For in a lettre she had told him al 2215 Of this matere, how he werchen shal. And thus I lete him sitte up-on the pyrie, And Ianuarie and May rominge myrie.

2208. E. Hl. coughen; Hn. coghen; Cm. coghe. 2215. E. hadde toold. 2217. Pt. pirry; Hn. purye; rest pyrie (pirie, pyry). 2218. Hn. murye; Cp. myry; Hl. mirye; Cm. Pt. Ln. merie (mery).

Bright was the day, and blew the firmament, Phebus of gold his stremes doun hath sent, 2220 To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. He was that tyme in Geminis, as I gesse, But litel fro his declinacioun Of Cancer, Iovis exaltacioun. (980) And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, 2225 That in that gardin, in the ferther syde, Pluto, that is the king of fayërye, And many a lady in his companye, Folwinge his wyf, the quene Proserpyne, Ech after other, right as any lyne— 2230 Whil that she gadered floures in the mede, In Claudian ye may the story rede, How in his grisly carte he hir fette:— This king of fairye thanne adoun him sette (990) Up-on a bench of turves, fresh and grene, 2235 And right anon thus seyde he to his quene.

2220. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. put hath before of gold; Cp. Pt. Ln. doun hath his stremes sent. E. Hn. Hl. ysent; rest sent. 2227. Cp. Pt. Ln. the; rest on. Cp. Hl. fayerye; rest fairye. 2230. Cm. ony; E. Hl. a (for any). Cp. Pt. Ln. have Which that he rauysshed out of Proserpyna(!). 2232. Hl. story; rest stories. 2233. E. And; rest How. E. grisely. E. Hn. Cm. sette; rest fette. 2234. Cp. Pt. Ln. om. thanne.

‘My wyf,’ quod he, ‘ther may no wight sey nay; Thexperience so preveth every day The treson whiche that wommen doon to man. Ten hondred thousand [stories] telle I can 2240 [455: T. 10115-10149.] Notable of your untrouthe and brotilnesse. O Salomon, wys, richest of richesse, Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie, Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie (1000) To every wight that wit and reson can. 2245 Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man: “Amonges a thousand men yet fond I oon, But of wommen alle fond I noon.”

2237. E. seye. 2239. E. tresons. 2240. I supply stories. Pt. Ln. telle; rest tellen. 2242. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. wys and; Cp. Pt. Ln. om. both wys and and. 2247, 8. E. foond.

Thus seith the king that knoweth your wikkednesse; And Iesus filius Syrak, as I gesse, 2250 Ne speketh of yow but selde reverence. A wilde fyr and corrupt pestilence So falle up-on your bodies yet to-night! Ne see ye nat this honurable knight, (1010) By-cause, allas! that he is blind and old, 2255 His owene man shal make him cokewold; Lo heer he sit, the lechour, in the tree. Now wol I graunten, of my magestee, Un-to this olde blinde worthy knight That he shal have ayeyn his eyen sight, 2260 Whan that his wyf wold doon him vileinye; Than shal he knowen al hir harlotrye Both in repreve of hir and othere mo.’

2262. E. Thanne.

‘Ye shal,’ quod Proserpyne, ‘wol ye so; (1020) Now, by my modres sires soule I swere, 2265 That I shal yeven hir suffisant answere, And alle wommen after, for hir sake; That, though they be in any gilt y-take, With face bold they shulle hem-self excuse, And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse. 2270 For lakke of answer, noon of hem shal dyen. Al hadde man seyn a thing with bothe his yën, Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily, And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, (1030) So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees. [456: T. 10150-10184.] What rekketh me of your auctoritees?

2264. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. and wol (for wol). 2272. Pt. Hl. yen; rest eyen (eyȝen). 2273. Cp. Pt. Ln. so (for wommen). 2274. E. visage it (for chyde, by mistake).

I woot wel that this Iew, this Salomon, Fond of us wommen foles many oon. But though that he ne fond no good womman, Yet hath ther founde many another man 2280 Wommen ful trewe, ful gode, and vertuous. Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous, With martirdom they preved hir constance. The Romayn gestes maken remembrance (1040) Of many a verray trewe wyf also. 2285 But sire, ne be nat wrooth, al-be-it so, Though that he seyde he fond no good womman, I prey yow take the sentence of the man; He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee Nis noon but god, that sit in Trinitee. 2290

2278. E. Foond; fooles. 2279. E. foond. 2284. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. eek maken; rest om. eek. 2287. E. foond. 2290. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. but neither he ne she (for that ... Trinitee).

Ey! for verray god, that nis but oon, What make ye so muche of Salomon? What though he made a temple, goddes hous? What though he were riche and glorious? (1050) So made he eek a temple of false goddis, 2295 How mighte he do a thing that more forbode is? Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre, He was a lechour and an ydolastre; And in his elde he verray god forsook. And if that god ne hadde, as seith the book, 2300 Y-spared him for his fadres sake, he sholde Have lost his regne rather than he wolde. I sette noght of al the vileinye, That ye of wommen wryte, a boterflye. (1060) I am a womman, nedes moot I speke, 2305 Or elles swelle til myn herte breke. For sithen he seyde that we ben Iangleresses, As ever hool I mote brouke my tresses, I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, To speke him harm that wolde us vileinye.’ 2310 [457: T. 10185-10221.] ‘Dame,’ quod this Pluto, ‘be no lenger wrooth; I yeve it up; but sith I swoor myn ooth That I wolde graunten him his sighte ageyn, My word shal stonde, I warne yow, certeyn. (1070) I am a king, it sit me noght to lye.’ 2315

2291. So all. 2298. E. lecchour. 2300. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. om. that. 2301. E. Cm. om. him. 2303. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. sette right noght.