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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 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.’
  • ‘Ye, woltow so, sir Somnour?’ quod the Frere, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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 woot thy pacience is goon.’
  • Our hoste cryde ‘pees! and that anoon!’ Skeat1900: 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.’
  • ‘Al redy, sir,’ quod she, ‘right as yow lest,
  • If I have licence of this worthy Frere.’ Skeat1900: 855
  • ‘Yis, dame,’ quod he, ‘tel forth, and I wol here.’

Here endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe.

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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 865
  • Of limitours and othere holy freres, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 875
  • And seyth his matins and his holy thinges Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 880
  • And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
  • 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, Skeat1900: 885
  • He saugh a mayde walkinge him biforn, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 895
  • Til he his lyf him graunted in the place, Skeat1900: (40)
  • And yaf him to the quene al at hir wille,
  • To chese, whether she wolde him save or spille.
  • The quene thanketh the king with al hir might,
  • And after this thus spak she to the knight, Skeat1900: 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? Skeat1900: 905
  • Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from yren. Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 910
  • And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
  • Thy body for to yelden in this place.’
  • 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, Skeat1900: 915
  • And come agayn, right at the yeres ende, Skeat1900: (60)
  • With swich answere as god wolde him purveye;
  • And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.
  • He seketh every hous and every place,
  • Wher-as he hopeth for to finde grace, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 925
  • Somme seyde, honour, somme seyde, Iolynesse; Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 935
  • For to be free, and do right as us lest, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.
  • And somme seyn, that greet delyt han we Skeat1900: 945
  • For to ben holden stable and eek secree, Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 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,
  • The which vyce he hidde, as he best mighte, Skeat1900: 955
  • Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte, Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 960
  • She swoor him ‘nay, for al this world to winne,
  • She nolde do that vileinye or sinne,
  • To make hir housbond han so ful a name;
  • She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.’
  • But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde, Skeat1900: 965
  • That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 975
  • Myn housbond hath longe asses eres two! Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 980
  • The remenant of the tale if ye wol here,
  • Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it lere.
  • 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, Skeat1900: 985
  • With-inne his brest ful sorweful was the goost; Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 990
  • 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, Skeat1900: 995
  • Vanisshed was this daunce, he niste where. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.
  • ‘My leve mooder,’ quod this knight certeyn, Skeat1900: 1005
  • ‘I nam but deed, but-if that I can seyn Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1015
  • Up-on my lyf, the queen wol seye as I. Skeat1900: (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.’ Skeat1900: 1020
  • Tho rouned she a pistel in his ere,
  • And bad him to be glad, and have no fere.
  • 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. Skeat1900: 1025
  • Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde, Skeat1900: (170)
  • And many a widwe, for that they ben wyse,
  • The quene hir-self sittinge as a Iustyse,
  • Assembled been, his answere for to here;
  • And afterward this knight was bode appere. Skeat1900: 1030
  • 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 Skeat1900: 1035
  • With manly voys, that al the court it herde: Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 1040
  • This is your moste desyr, thogh ye me kille,
  • Doth as yow list, I am heer at your wille.’
  • 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.’ Skeat1900: 1045
  • And with that word up stirte the olde wyf, Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 1055
  • For wel thou wost that I have kept thy lyf. Skeat1900: (200)
  • If I sey fals, sey nay, up-on thy fey!’
  • This knight answerde, ‘allas! and weylawey!
  • I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
  • For goddes love, as chees a newe requeste; Skeat1900: 1060
  • Tak al my good, and lat my body go.’
  • ‘Nay than,’ quod she, ‘I shrewe us bothe two!
  • For thogh that I be foul, and old, and pore,
  • I nolde for al the metal, ne for ore,
  • That under erthe is grave, or lyth above, Skeat1900: 1065
  • But-if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.’ Skeat1900: (210)
  • ‘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 Skeat1900: 1070
  • Constreyned was, he nedes moste hir wedde;
  • And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
  • Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,
  • That, for my necligence, I do no cure
  • To tellen yow the Ioye and al tharray Skeat1900: 1075
  • That at the feste was that ilke day. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1085
  • His olde wyf lay smylinge evermo, Skeat1900: (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? Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 1095
  • What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it, Skeat1900: (240)
  • And it shal been amended, if I may.’
  • ‘Amended?’ quod this knight, ‘allas! nay, nay!
  • It wol nat been amended never mo!
  • Thou art so loothly, and so old also, Skeat1900: 1100
  • 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!’
  • ‘Is this,’ quod she, ‘the cause of your unreste?’
  • ‘Ye, certainly,’ quod he, ‘no wonder is.’ Skeat1900: 1105
  • ‘Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘I coude amende al this, Skeat1900: (250)
  • If that me liste, er it were dayes three,
  • So wel ye mighte bere yow un-to me.
  • But for ye speken of swich gentillesse
  • As is descended out of old richesse, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1115
  • And tak him for the grettest gentil man. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.
  • Wel can the wyse poete of Florence, Skeat1900: 1125
  • That highte Dant, speken in this sentence; Skeat1900: (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;” Skeat1900: 1130
  • For of our eldres may we no-thing clayme
  • But temporel thing, that man may hurte and mayme.
  • Eek every wight wot this as wel as I,
  • If gentillesse were planted naturelly
  • Un-to a certeyn linage, doun the lyne, Skeat1900: 1135
  • Privee ne apert, than wolde they never fyne Skeat1900: (280)
  • To doon of gentillesse the faire offyce;
  • They mighte do no vileinye or vyce.
  • Tak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous
  • Bitwix this and the mount of Caucasus, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1145
  • Heer may ye see wel, how that genterye Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1155
  • Ne folwe his gentil auncestre that deed is, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.
  • Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius, Skeat1900: 1165
  • Was thilke Tullius Hostilius, Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 1170
  • And therfore, leve housbond, I thus conclude,
  • 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 Skeat1900: 1175
  • To liven vertuously and weyve sinne. Skeat1900: (320)
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1185
  • I holde him riche, al hadde he nat a sherte. Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 1190
  • 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, Skeat1900: 1195
  • A ful greet bringer out of bisinesse; Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1205
  • Of my povert na-more ye me repreve. Skeat1900: (350)
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1215
  • Been grete wardeyns up-on chastitee. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1225
  • Or in som other place, may wel be. Skeat1900: (370)
  • Now chese your-selven, whether that yow lyketh.’
  • This knight avyseth him and sore syketh,
  • But atte laste he seyde in this manere,
  • ‘My lady and my love, and wyf so dere, Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: 1235
  • ‘Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,’ quod she, Skeat1900: (380)
  • ‘Sin I may chese, and governe as me lest?’
  • ‘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, Skeat1900: 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.
  • And, but I be to-morn as fair to sene Skeat1900: 1245
  • As any lady, emperyce, or quene, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 1255
  • That mighte doon him plesance or lyking. Skeat1900: (400)
  • 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. Skeat1900: 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.

THE FRIAR’S PROLOGUE. (T. 6847-6868).

The Prologe of the Freres tale.

  • THIS worthy limitour, this noble Frere, Skeat1900: 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! Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (10)
  • Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (20)
  • And is y-bet at every tounes ende.’ Skeat1900: 1285
  • Our host tho spak, ‘a! sire, ye sholde be hende
  • And curteys, as a man of your estaat;
  • In companye we wol have no debaat.
  • Telleth your tale, and lat the Somnour be.’
  • ‘Nay,’ quod the Somnour, ‘lat him seye to me Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (29)
  • It is to be a flateringe limitour; [T. 6876
  • And his offyce I shal him telle, y-wis.’ [T. 6879
  • Our host answerde, ‘pees, na-more of this.’ Skeat1900: 1296
  • And after this he seyde un-to the Frere,
  • ‘Tel forth your tale, leve maister deere.’

Here endeth the Prologe of the Frere.

THE FRERES TALE.

Here biginneth the Freres tale.

  • WHILOM ther was dwellinge in my contree
  • An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: (11)
  • But certes, lechours dide he grettest wo; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1315
  • He made the peple pitously to singe.
  • For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook,
  • They weren in the erchedeknes book. Skeat1900: (20)
  • Thanne hadde he, thurgh his Iurisdiccioun,
  • Power to doon on hem correccioun. Skeat1900: 1320
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: (30)
  • For we been out of his correccioun;
  • They han of us no Iurisdiccioun, Skeat1900: 1330
  • Ne never shullen, terme of alle hir lyves.
  • ‘Peter! so been the wommen of the styves,’
  • Quod the Somnour, ‘y-put out of my cure!’
  • ‘Pees, with mischance and with misaventure,’
  • Thus seyde our host, ‘and lat him telle his tale. Skeat1900: 1335
  • Now telleth forth, thogh that the Somnour gale,
  • Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister dere.’
  • This false theef, this Somnour, quod the Frere, Skeat1900: (40)
  • Hadde alwey baudes redy to his hond,
  • As any hauk to lure in Engelond, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1345
  • With-outen mandement, a lewed man
  • He coude somne, on peyne of Cristes curs,
  • And they were gladde for to fille his purs, Skeat1900: (50)
  • And make him grete festes atte nale.
  • And right as Iudas hadde purses smale, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1355
  • 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; Skeat1900: (60)
  • Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent.
  • And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 1365
  • I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.’
  • Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo
  • Than possible is to telle in yeres two. Skeat1900: (70)
  • For in this world nis dogge for the bowe,
  • That can an hurt deer from an hool y-knowe, Skeat1900: 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.
  • And so bifel, that ones on a day Skeat1900: 1375
  • This Somnour, ever waiting on his pray,
  • Rood for to somne a widwe, an old ribybe,
  • Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. Skeat1900: (80)
  • And happed that he saugh bifore him ryde
  • A gay yeman, under a forest-syde. Skeat1900: 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.
  • ‘Sir,’ quod this Somnour, ‘hayl! and wel a-take!’
  • ‘Wel-come,’ quod he, ‘and every good felawe! Skeat1900: 1385
  • Wher rydestow under this grene shawe?’
  • Seyde this yeman, ‘wiltow fer to day?’
  • This Somnour him answerde, and seyde, ‘nay; Skeat1900: (90)
  • Heer faste by,’ quod he, ‘is myn entente
  • To ryden, for to reysen up a rente Skeat1900: 1390
  • That longeth to my lordes duëtee.
  • ‘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, Skeat1900: 1395
  • Thou art a bailly, and I am another.
  • I am unknowen as in this contree;
  • Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, Skeat1900: (100)
  • And eek of brotherhede, if that yow leste.
  • I have gold and silver in my cheste; Skeat1900: 1400
  • If that thee happe to comen in our shyre,
  • Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desyre.’
  • ‘Grantmercy,’ quod this Somnour, ‘by my feith!’
  • Everich in otheres hand his trouthe leith,
  • For to be sworne bretheren til they deye. Skeat1900: 1405
  • In daliance they ryden forth hir weye.
  • This Somnour, which that was as ful of Iangles,
  • As ful of venim been thise wariangles, Skeat1900: (110)
  • And ever enquering up-on every thing,
  • ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘where is now your dwelling, Skeat1900: 1410
  • Another day if that I sholde yow seche?’
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (120)
  • Sin that ye been a baillif as am I,
  • Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully Skeat1900: 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?’
  • ‘Now, by my trouthe, brother dere,’ seyde he,
  • ‘As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, Skeat1900: 1425
  • My wages been ful streite and ful smale.
  • My lord is hard to me and daungerous,
  • And myn offyce is ful laborous; Skeat1900: (130)
  • And therfore by extorcions I live.
  • For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive; Skeat1900: 1430
  • Algate, by sleyghte or by violence,
  • Fro yeer to yeer I winne al my dispence.
  • I can no bettre telle feithfully.’
  • ‘Now, certes,’ quod this Somnour, ‘so fare I;
  • I spare nat to taken, god it woot, Skeat1900: 1435
  • But if it be to hevy or to hoot.
  • What I may gete in conseil prively,
  • No maner conscience of that have I; Skeat1900: (140)
  • Nere myn extorcioun, I mighte nat liven,
  • Ne of swiche Iapes wol I nat be shriven. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1445
  • This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.
  • ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘wiltow that I thee telle?
  • I am a feend, my dwelling is in helle. Skeat1900: (150)
  • And here I ryde about my purchasing,
  • To wite wher men wolde yeve me any thing. Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: 1455
  • ‘A,’ quod this Somnour, ‘ benedicite, what sey ye?
  • I wende ye were a yeman trewely.
  • Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; Skeat1900: (160)
  • Han ye figure than determinat
  • In helle, ther ye been in your estat?’ Skeat1900: 1460
  • ‘Nay, certeinly,’ quod he, ‘ther have we noon;
  • 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. Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: (170)
  • ‘Why,’ quod the Somnour, ‘ryde ye thanne or goon
  • In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?’ Skeat1900: 1470
  • ‘For we,’ quod he, ‘wol us swich formes make
  • As most able is our preyes for to take.’
  • ‘What maketh yow to han al this labour?’
  • ‘Ful many a cause, leve sir Somnour,’
  • Seyde this feend, ‘but alle thing hath tyme. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (180)
  • And nat entende our wittes to declare.
  • For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1485
  • In divers art and in divers figures.
  • With-outen him we have no might, certayn,
  • If that him list to stonden ther-agayn. Skeat1900: (190)
  • And som-tyme, at our prayere, han we leve
  • Only the body and nat the soule greve; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1495
  • And nat his body , and al is for the beste.
  • Whan he withstandeth our temptacioun,
  • It is a cause of his savacioun; Skeat1900: (200)
  • Al-be-it that it was nat our entente
  • He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde him hente. Skeat1900: 1500
  • And som-tyme be we servant un-to man,
  • As to the erchebisshop Seint Dunstan,
  • And to the apostles servant eek was I.’
  • ‘Yet tel me,’ quod the Somnour, ‘feithfully,
  • Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway Skeat1900: 1505
  • Of elements?’ the feend answerde, ‘nay;
  • Som-tyme we feyne, and som-tyme we aryse
  • With dede bodies in ful sondry wyse, Skeat1900: (210)
  • And speke as renably and faire and wel
  • As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (220)
  • Bet than Virgyle, whyl he was on lyve,
  • Or Dant also; now lat us ryde blyve. Skeat1900: 1520
  • For I wol holde companye with thee
  • Til it be so, that thou forsake me.’
  • ‘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. Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (230)
  • For to be trewe brother in this cas;
  • And bothe we goon abouten our purchas. Skeat1900: 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.’
  • ‘I graunte,’ quod the devel, ‘by my fey.’ Skeat1900: 1535
  • And with that word they ryden forth hir wey.
  • And right at the entring of the tounes ende,
  • To which this Somnour shoop him for to wende, Skeat1900: (240)
  • They saugh a cart, that charged was with hey,
  • Which that a carter droof forth in his wey. Skeat1900: 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! Skeat1900: 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;’ Skeat1900: (250)
  • And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were,
  • Ful prively, and rouned in his ere: Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 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 shalt see.’ Skeat1900: (260)
  • This carter thakketh his hors upon the croupe,
  • And they bigonne drawen and to-stoupe; Skeat1900: 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 seynt Loy!
  • Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee!’ Skeat1900: 1565
  • ‘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. Skeat1900: (270)
  • Lat us go forth abouten our viage;
  • Heer winne I no-thing up-on cariage.’ Skeat1900: 1570
  • Whan that they comen som-what out of toune,
  • 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. Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: (280)
  • But for thou canst nat, as in this contree,
  • Winne thy cost, tak heer ensample of me.’ Skeat1900: 1580
  • This Somnour clappeth at the widwes gate.
  • ‘Com out,’ quod he, ‘thou olde viritrate!
  • I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee!’
  • ‘Who clappeth?’ seyde this widwe, ‘ benedicite!
  • God save you, sire, what is your swete wille?’ Skeat1900: 1585
  • ‘I have,’ quod he, ‘of somonce here a bille;
  • Up peyne of cursing, loke that thou be
  • To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee Skeat1900: (290)
  • Tanswere to the court of certeyn thinges.’
  • ‘Now, lord,’ quod she, ‘Crist Iesu, king of kinges, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1595
  • And answere there, by my procutour,
  • To swich thing as men wol opposen me?’
  • ‘Yis,’ quod this Somnour, ‘pay anon, lat se, Skeat1900: (300)
  • Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquyte.
  • I shall no profit han ther-by but lyte; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1605
  • 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; Skeat1900: (310)
  • Kythe your almesse on me povre wrecche.’
  • ‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘the foule feend me fecche Skeat1900: 1610
  • If I thexcuse, though thou shul be spilt!’
  • ‘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, Skeat1900: 1615
  • Whan that thou madest thyn housbond cokewold,
  • I payde at hoom for thy correccioun.’
  • ‘Thou lixt,’ quod she, ‘by my savacioun! Skeat1900: (320)
  • Ne was I never er now, widwe ne wyf,
  • Somoned un-to your court in al my lyf; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1625
  • ‘Now Mabely , myn owene moder dere,
  • Is this your wil in ernest, that ye seye?’
  • ‘The devel,’ quod she, ‘so fecche him er he deye, Skeat1900: (330)
  • And panne and al, but he wol him repente!’
  • ‘Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,’ Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1635
  • Thou shalt with me to helle yet to-night,
  • Where thou shalt knowen of our privetee
  • More than a maister of divinitee:’ Skeat1900: (340)
  • And with that word this foule feend him hente;
  • Body and soule, he with the devel wente Skeat1900: 1640
  • Wher-as that somnours han hir heritage.
  • And god, that maked after his image
  • Mankinde, save and gyde us alle and some;
  • And leve this Somnour good man to bicome!
  • Lordinges, I coude han told yow, quod this Frere, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (350)
  • Swiche peynes, that your hertes mighte agryse,
  • Al-be-it so, no tonge may devyse, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: (360)
  • Disposeth ay your hertes to withstonde
  • The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde. Skeat1900: 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.

THE SOMNOUR’S PROLOGUE. (T. 7247-7270.)

The prologe of the Somnours Tale.

  • THIS Somnour in his stiropes hye stood; Skeat1900: 1665
  • Up-on this Frere his herte was so wood,
  • That lyk an aspen leef he quook for yre.
  • ‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘but o thing I desyre;
  • I yow biseke that, of your curteisye,
  • Sin ye han herd this false Frere lye, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: (10)
  • For pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 1680
  • Of other folk he saugh y-nowe in wo.
  • Un-to this angel spak the frere tho:
  • “Now, sir,” quod he, “han freres swich a grace
  • That noon of hem shal come to this place?” Skeat1900: (20)
  • “Yis,” quod this angel, “many a millioun!” Skeat1900: 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.
  • Hold up thy tayl, thou Sathanas!” quod he,
  • “Shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere see Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (30)
  • Twenty thousand freres in a route, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (40)
  • So was the develes ers ay in his minde, Skeat1900: 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.

THE SOMNOURS TALE.

Here biginneth the Somonour his Tale.

  • LORDINGES, ther is in Yorkshire, as I gesse,
  • A mersshy contree called Holdernesse, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1715
  • Excited he the peple in his preching,
  • To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake,
  • Wher-with men mighten holy houses make, Skeat1900: (10)
  • Ther as divyne service is honoured,
  • Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: (20)
  • Delivereth out,’ quod he, ‘anon the soules;
  • Ful hard it is with fleshhook or with oules Skeat1900: 1730
  • To been y-clawed, or to brenne or bake;
  • Now spede yow hastily, for Cristes sake.’
  • And whan this frere had seyd al his entente,
  • With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente.
  • Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (30)
  • And beggeth mele, and chese, or elles corn.
  • His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: (40)
  • A goddes halfpeny or a masse-peny,
  • Or yeve us of your brawn, if ye have eny; Skeat1900: 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.’
  • A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihinde,
  • That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (50)
  • That he biforn had writen in his tables;
  • He served hem with nyfles and with fables. Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 1765
  • Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be
  • Refresshed more than in an hundred placis.
  • Sik lay the gode man, whos that the place is; Skeat1900: (60)
  • Bedrede up-on a couche lowe he lay.
  • Deus hic, ’ quod he, ‘O Thomas, freend, good day,’ Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (70)
  • Forth with his knave, in-to that hostelrye
  • Wher-as he shoop him thilke night to lye. Skeat1900: 1780
  • ‘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 Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (80)
  • And seyd a sermon after my simple wit,
  • Nat al after the text of holy writ; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 1795
  • And spende hir good ther it is resonable,
  • And ther I saugh our dame; a! wher is she?’
  • ‘Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,’ Skeat1900: (90)
  • Seyde this man, ‘and she wol come anon.’
  • ‘Ey, maister! wel-come be ye, by seint Iohn!’ Skeat1900: 1800
  • Seyde this wyf, ‘how fare ye hertely?’
  • The frere aryseth up ful curteisly,
  • And hir embraceth in his armes narwe,
  • And kiste hir swete, and chirketh as a sparwe
  • With his lippes: ‘dame,’ quod he, ‘right weel, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (100)
  • In al the chirche, god so save me!’
  • ‘Ye, god amende defautes, sir,’ quod she, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1815
  • Thise curats been ful necligent and slowe
  • To grope tendrely a conscience.
  • In shrift, in preching is my diligence, Skeat1900: (110)
  • And studie in Petres wordes, and in Poules.
  • I walke, and fisshe Cristen mennes soules, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (120)
  • He groneth lyk our boor, lyth in our sty.
  • Other desport right noon of him have I; Skeat1900: 1830
  • I may nat plese him in no maner cas.’
  • ‘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.’ Skeat1900: 1835
  • ‘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, Skeat1900: (130)
  • Have I nat of a capon but the livere,
  • And of your softe breed nat but a shivere, Skeat1900: 1840
  • 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. Skeat1900: 1845
  • The body is ay so redy and penyble
  • To wake, that my stomak is destroyed.
  • I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, Skeat1900: (140)
  • Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe;
  • By god, I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.’ Skeat1900: 1850
  • ‘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. Skeat1900: 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! Skeat1900: (150)
  • So dide our sexteyn and our fermerer,
  • That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 1865
  • Te deum was our song and no-thing elles,
  • Save that to Crist I seyde an orisoun,
  • Thankinge him of his revelacioun. Skeat1900: (160)
  • For sir and dame, trusteth me right weel,
  • Our orisons been more effectueel, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1875
  • We han this worldes lust al in despyt.
  • Lazar and Dives liveden diversly,
  • And diverse guerdon hadden they ther-by. Skeat1900: (170)
  • Who-so wol preye, he moot faste and be clene,
  • And fatte his soule and make his body lene. Skeat1900: 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.
  • Lo, Moyses fourty dayes and fourty night Skeat1900: 1885
  • Fasted, er that the heighe god of might
  • Spak with him in the mountain of Sinay.
  • With empty wombe, fastinge many a day, Skeat1900: (180)
  • Receyved he the lawe that was writen
  • With goddes finger; and Elie, wel ye witen, Skeat1900: 1890
  • In mount Oreb, er he hadde any speche
  • With hye god, that is our lyves leche,
  • He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce.
  • Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce,
  • And eek the othere preestes everichon, Skeat1900: 1895
  • In-to the temple whan they sholde gon
  • To preye for the peple, and do servyse,
  • They nolden drinken, in no maner wyse, Skeat1900: (190)
  • No drinke, which that mighte hem dronke make,
  • But there in abstinence preye and wake, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1905
  • Therfor we mendinants , we sely freres,
  • Been wedded to poverte and continence,
  • To charitee, humblesse, and abstinence, Skeat1900: (200)
  • To persecucion for rightwisnesse,
  • To wepinge, misericorde, and clennesse. Skeat1900: 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.
  • Fro Paradys first, if I shal nat lye, Skeat1900: 1915
  • Was man out chaced for his glotonye;
  • And chaast was man in Paradys, certeyn.
  • But herkne now, Thomas, what I shal seyn. Skeat1900: (210)
  • I ne have no text of it, as I suppose,
  • But I shall finde it in a maner glose, Skeat1900: 1920
  • 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, Skeat1900: 1925
  • Or hirs that swimmen in possessioun.
  • Fy on hir pompe and on hir glotonye!
  • And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. Skeat1900: (220)
  • Me thinketh they ben lyk Iovinian,
  • Fat as a whale, and walkinge as a swan; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (230)
  • Up springeth in-to their, right so prayeres
  • Of charitable and chaste bisy freres Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 1945
  • To Crist, that he thee sende hele and might,
  • Thy body for to welden hastily.’
  • ‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘no-thing ther-of fele I; Skeat1900: (240)
  • As help me Crist, as I, in fewe yeres,
  • Han spended, up-on dyvers maner freres, Skeat1900: 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!’
  • The frere answerde, ‘O Thomas, dostow so?
  • What nedeth yow diverse freres seche? Skeat1900: 1955
  • What nedeth him that hath a parfit leche
  • To sechen othere leches in the toun?
  • Your inconstance is your confusioun. Skeat1900: (250)
  • Holde ye than me, or elles our covent,
  • To praye for yow ben insufficient? Skeat1900: 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!” Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: (260)
  • Is more strong than whan it is to-scatered.
  • Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been y-flatered; Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 1975
  • To preye for yow is ay so diligent,
  • And for to builden Cristes owene chirche.
  • Thomas! if ye wol lernen for to wirche, Skeat1900: (270)
  • Of buildinge up of chirches may ye finde
  • If it be good, in Thomas lyf of Inde. Skeat1900: 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,
  • Your wyf, that is so meke and pacient.
  • And therfor, Thomas, trowe me if thee leste, Skeat1900: 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: Skeat1900: (280)
  • “With-in thyn hous ne be thou no leoun;
  • To thy subgits do noon oppressioun; Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 1995
  • Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently,
  • That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves,
  • For stryving with hir lemmans and hir wyves. Skeat1900: (290)
  • Now sith ye han so holy and meke a wyf,
  • What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken stryf? Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 2005
  • Abhominable un-to the god of hevene;
  • And to him-self it is destruccion.
  • This every lewed viker or person Skeat1900: (300)
  • Can seye, how Ire engendreth homicyde.
  • Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 2015
  • To sette an irous man in heigh degree.
  • Whilom ther was an irous potestat,
  • As seith Senek, that, duringe his estaat, Skeat1900: (310)
  • Up-on a day out riden knightes two,
  • And as fortune wolde that it were so, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (320)
  • The knight cam, which men wenden had be deed.
  • Thanne thoughte they, it was the beste reed, Skeat1900: 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!’ Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (330)
  • For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.’
  • And to the thridde knight right thus he seyth, Skeat1900: 2040
  • ‘Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee.’
  • And thus he dide don sleen hem alle three.
  • Irous Cambyses was eek dronkelewe,
  • And ay delyted him to been a shrewe.
  • And so bifel, a lord of his meynee, Skeat1900: 2045
  • That lovede vertuous moralitee,
  • Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus:
  • ‘A lord is lost, if he be vicious; Skeat1900: (340)
  • And dronkenesse is eek a foul record
  • Of any man, and namely in a lord. Skeat1900: 2050
  • 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.’ Skeat1900: 2055
  • ‘The revers shaltou se,’ quod he, ‘anon;
  • And preve it, by thyn owene experience,
  • That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence. Skeat1900: (350)
  • Ther is no wyn bireveth me my might
  • Of hand ne foot, ne of myn eyen sight’— Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 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: Skeat1900: (360)
  • ‘Now whether have I a siker hand or noon?’
  • Quod he, ‘is al my might and minde agoon? Skeat1900: 2070
  • Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight?’
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: (370)
  • Lo irous Cirus, thilke Percien,
  • How he destroyed the river of Gysen, Skeat1900: 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? Skeat1900: 2085
  • “Ne be no felawe to an irous man,
  • Ne with no wood man walke by the weye,
  • Lest thee repente;” ther is na-more to seye. Skeat1900: (380)
  • Now Thomas, leve brother, lef thyn ire;
  • Thou shalt me finde as Iust as is a squire. Skeat1900: 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.’
  • ‘Nay,’ quod the syke man, ‘by Seint Simoun!
  • I have be shriven this day at my curat; Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: (390)
  • ‘Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make our cloistre,’
  • Quod he, ‘for many a muscle and many an oistre, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 2105
  • By god, we owen fourty pound for stones!
  • Now help, Thomas, for him that harwed helle!
  • For elles moste we our bokes selle. Skeat1900: (400)
  • And if ye lakke our predicacioun,
  • Than gooth the world al to destruccioun. Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 2115
  • ‘But sith that Elie was, or Elisee,
  • Han freres been, that finde I of record,
  • In charitee, y-thanked be our lord. Skeat1900: (410)
  • Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee!’
  • And doun anon he sette him on his knee. Skeat1900: 2120
  • This syke man wex wel ny wood for ire;
  • He wolde that the frere had been on-fire
  • With his false dissimulacioun.
  • ‘Swich thing as is in my possessioun,’
  • Quod he, ‘that may I yeven, and non other. Skeat1900: 2125
  • Ye sey me thus, how that I am your brother?’
  • ‘Ye, certes,’ quod the frere, ‘trusteth weel;
  • I took our dame our lettre with our seel.’ Skeat1900: (420)
  • ‘Now wel,’ quod he, ‘and som-what shal I yive
  • Un-to your holy covent whyl I live, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 2135
  • With-outen fraude or cavillacioun.’
  • ‘I swere it,’ quod this frere, ‘upon my feith!’
  • And ther-with-al his hand in his he leith: Skeat1900: (430)
  • ‘Lo, heer my feith! in me shal be no lak.’
  • ‘Now thanne, put thyn hand doun by my bak,’ Skeat1900: 2140
  • Seyde this man, ‘and grope wel bihinde;
  • Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow finde
  • A thing that I have hid in privetee.’
  • ‘A!’ thoghte this frere, ‘this shal go with me!’
  • And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, Skeat1900: 2145
  • In hope for to finde ther a yifte.
  • And whan this syke man felte this frere
  • Aboute his tuwel grope there and here, Skeat1900: (440)
  • Amidde his hand he leet the frere a fart.
  • Ther nis no capul, drawinge in a cart, Skeat1900: 2150
  • That mighte have lete a fart of swich a soun.
  • ‘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!’ Skeat1900: 2155
  • His meynee, whiche that herden this affray,
  • Cam lepinge in, and chaced out the frere;
  • And forth he gooth, with a ful angry chere, Skeat1900: (450)
  • And fette his felawe, ther-as lay his stoor.
  • He looked as it were a wilde boor; Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (460)
  • Til atte laste he seyde: ‘god yow see!’
  • This lord gan loke, and seide, ‘ benedicite! Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: 2175
  • ‘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, Skeat1900: (470)
  • That he nolde have abhominacioun
  • Of that I have receyved in your toun. Skeat1900: 2180
  • And yet ne greveth me no-thing so sore,
  • As that this olde cherl, with lokkes hore,
  • Blasphemed hath our holy covent eke.’
  • ‘Now, maister,’ quod this lord, ‘I yow biseke.’
  • ‘No maister, sire,’ quod he, ‘but servitour, Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: (480)
  • ‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘but tel me al your grief.’
  • ‘Sire,’ quod this frere, ‘an odious meschief Skeat1900: 2190
  • This day bitid is to myn ordre and me,
  • And so per consequens to ech degree
  • Of holy chirche, god amende it sone!’
  • ‘Sir,’ quod the lord, ‘ye woot what is to done.
  • Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (490)
  • As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what.
  • The lady of the hous ay stille sat, Skeat1900: 2200
  • Til she had herd al what the frere sayde:
  • ‘Ey, goddes moder,’ quod she, ‘blisful mayde!
  • Is ther oght elles? telle me feithfully.’
  • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘how thinketh yow her-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, Skeat1900: (500)
  • I hold him in a maner frenesye.’
  • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god I shal nat lye; Skeat1900: 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!’ Skeat1900: 2215
  • The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce,
  • And in his herte he rolled up and doun,
  • ‘How hadde this cherl imaginacioun Skeat1900: (510)
  • To shewe swich a probleme to the frere?
  • Never erst er now herde I of swich matere; Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 2225
  • As of the soun or savour of a fart?
  • O nyce proude cherl, I shrewe his face!
  • Lo, sires,’ quod the lord, with harde grace, Skeat1900: (520)
  • ‘Who ever herde of swich a thing er now?
  • To every man y-lyke? tel me how? Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 2235
  • Ther is no man can demen, by my fey,
  • If that it were departed equally.
  • What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly Skeat1900: (530)
  • Un-to my confessour to-day he spak!
  • I holde him certeyn a demoniak! Skeat1900: 2240
  • Now ete your mete, and lat the cherl go pleye,
  • Lat him go honge himself a devel weye!’
  • 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. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (540)
  • How that this fart sholde even deled be
  • Among your covent, if it lyked me.’ Skeat1900: 2250
  • ‘Tel,’ quod the lord, ‘and thou shalt 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, Skeat1900: 2255
  • But loke that it have his spokes alle.
  • Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly.
  • And bring me than twelf freres, woot ye why? Skeat1900: (550)
  • For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse.
  • The confessour heer, for his worthinesse, Skeat1900: 2260
  • Shal parfourne up the nombre of his covent.
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: (560)
  • And sette him on the wheel right of this cart,
  • Upon the nave, and make him lete a fart. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: (570)
  • The worthy men of hem shul first be served;
  • And certeinly, he hath it weel deserved. Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 2285
  • He bereth him so faire and holily.’
  • The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere,
  • Seyde that Iankin spak, in this matere, Skeat1900: (580)
  • As wel as Euclide or [as] Ptholomee.
  • Touchinge this cherl, they seyde, subtiltee Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 2294

Here endeth the Somnours Tale.

GROUP E.

THE CLERK’S PROLOGUE. (T. 7877-7898.)

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, Skeat1900: 5
  • But Salomon seith, “every thing hath tyme.”
  • 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, Skeat1900: 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;— Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: 20
  • This worthy clerk benignely answerde,
  • ‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘I am under your yerde;
  • Ye han of us as now the governaunce,
  • And therfor wol I do yow obeisaunce,
  • As fer as reson axeth, hardily. Skeat1900: 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! Skeat1900: 30
  • 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; Skeat1900: 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.
  • But forth to tellen of this worthy man,
  • That taughte me this tale, as I bigan, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 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 conveyen his matere: Skeat1900: 55
  • But this his tale, which that ye may here.’

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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 65
    • And obeisant and redy to his honde Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 75
    • Save in somme thinges that he was to blame, Skeat1900: (20)
    • And Walter was this yonge lordes name.
    • I blame him thus, that he considereth noght
    • In tyme cominge what mighte him bityde,
    • But on his lust present was al his thoght, Skeat1900: 80
    • As for to hauke and hunte on every syde;
    • 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.
    • Only that point his peple bar so sore, Skeat1900: 85
    • That flokmele on a day they to him wente, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 95
    • Accepteth, lord, now for your gentillesse, Skeat1900: (40)
    • That we with pitous herte un-to yow pleyne,
    • And lete your eres nat my voys disdeyne.
    • Al have I noght to done in this matere
    • More than another man hath in this place, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 105
    • For certes, lord, so wel us lyketh yow Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 110
    • That for to been a wedded man yow leste,
    • Than were your peple in sovereyn hertes reste.
    • Boweth your nekke under that blisful yok
    • Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse,
    • Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlok; Skeat1900: 115
    • And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes wyse, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 125
    • Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.
    • Deliver us out of al this bisy drede,
    • And tak a wyf, for hye goddes sake; Skeat1900: 135
    • For if it so bifelle, as god forbede, Skeat1900: (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.’ Skeat1900: 140
    • 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, Skeat1900: 145
    • That selde tyme is founde in mariage; Skeat1900: (90)
    • Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.
    • But nathelees I see your trewe entente,
    • And truste upon your wit, and have don ay;
    • Wherfor of my free wil I wol assente Skeat1900: 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.
    • For god it woot, that children ofte been Skeat1900: 155
    • Unlyk her worthy eldres hem bifore; Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 165
    • To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may dure, Skeat1900: (110)
    • In word and werk, bothe here and everywhere,
    • As she an emperoures doghter were.
    • And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that ye
    • Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve; Skeat1900: 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.’ Skeat1900: 175
    • With hertly wil they sworen, and assenten Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 180
    • For yet alwey the peple som-what dredde
    • Lest that this markis no wyf wolde wedde.
    • 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; Skeat1900: 185
    • And they, with humble entente, buxomly, Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 195
    • To doon un-to the feste reverence. Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 200
    • Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage,
    • And of hir labour took hir sustenance
    • After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
    • Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
    • Which that was holden povrest of hem alle; Skeat1900: 205
    • But hye god som tyme senden can Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 210
    • But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
    • Than was she oon the faireste under sonne;
    • For povreliche y-fostred up was she,
    • No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne;
    • Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne Skeat1900: 215
    • She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese, Skeat1900: (160)
    • She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese.
    • But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
    • Yet in the brest of hir virginitee
    • Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 225
    • Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 235
    • He noght with wantoun loking of folye Skeat1900: (180)
    • His yen caste on hir, but in sad wyse
    • Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse,
    • Commending in his herte hir wommanhede,
    • And eek hir vertu, passing any wight Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 245
    • The day of wedding cam, but no wight can Skeat1900: (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? Skeat1900: 250
    • Wol he nat wedde? allas, allas the whyle!
    • Why wol he thus him-self and us bigyle?’
    • But natheles this markis hath don make
    • Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure,
    • Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake, Skeat1900: 255
    • And of hir clothing took he the mesure Skeat1900: (200)
    • By a mayde, lyk to hir stature,
    • And eek of othere ornamentes alle
    • That un-to swich a wedding sholde falle.
    • The tyme of undern of the same day Skeat1900: 260
    • 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, Skeat1900: 265
    • That may be founde, as fer as last Itaille. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.
    • Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent,
    • That for hir shapen was al this array, Skeat1900: 275
    • To fecchen water at a welle is went, Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 280
    • She thoughte, ‘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; Skeat1900: 285
    • And than I may at leyser hir biholde, Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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 thoughtful markis spak un-to this mayde Skeat1900: 295
    • Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 300
    • And to the markis she hir fader fette.
    • 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. Skeat1900: 305
    • If that thou vouche-sauf, what-so bityde, Skeat1900: (250)
    • Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,
    • As for my wyf, un-to hir lyves ende.
    • Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn,
    • And art my feithful lige man y-bore; Skeat1900: 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?’ Skeat1900: 315
    • This sodeyn cas this man astoned so, Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 320
    • I wol no-thing; ye be my lord so dere;
    • Right as yow lust governeth this matere.’
    • ‘Yet wol I,’ quod this markis softely,
    • ‘That in thy chambre I and thou and she
    • Have a collacion, and wostow why? Skeat1900: 325
    • For I wol axe if it hir wille be Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 335
    • For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte. Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 340
    • But shortly forth this tale for to chace,
    • Thise arn the wordes that the markis sayde
    • To this benigne verray feithful mayde.
    • ‘Grisilde,’ he seyde, ‘ye shul wel understonde
    • It lyketh to your fader and to me Skeat1900: 345
    • That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde, Skeat1900: (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? Skeat1900: 350
    • 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,” Skeat1900: 355
    • Neither by word ne frowning contenance; Skeat1900: (300)
    • Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.’
    • Wondring upon this word, quaking for drede,
    • She seyde, ‘lord, undigne and unworthy
    • Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede; Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 365
    • And forth he gooth with a ful sobre chere Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 375
    • To handle hir clothes wher-in she was clad. Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 385
    • This markis hath hir spoused with a ring Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 395
    • That it ne semed nat by lyklinesse Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 405
    • Hem thoughte she was another creature. Skeat1900: (350)
    • 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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 415
    • But eek bisyde in many a regioun, Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 420
    • 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 Skeat1900: 425
    • Was ofte vertu hid, the peple him helde Skeat1900: (370)
    • A prudent man, and that is seyn ful selde.
    • Nat only this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
    • Coude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse,
    • But eek, whan that the cas requyred it, Skeat1900: 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.
    • Though that hir housbonde absent were anoon, Skeat1900: 435
    • If gentil men, or othere of hir contree Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 440
    • Peple to save and every wrong tamende.
    • 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; Skeat1900: 445
    • For though a mayde child come al bifore, Skeat1900: (390)
    • She may unto a knave child atteyne
    • By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne.

Explicit secunda pars. Incipit tercia pars.

    • Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
    • Whan that this child had souked but a throwe, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 455
    • He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore, Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 460
    • Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede,
    • And putten her in anguish and in drede.
    • 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, Skeat1900: 465
    • And seyde thus, ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘that day Skeat1900: (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.
    • I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 475
    • Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 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.
    • And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore,
    • Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees; Skeat1900: 485
    • But I desyre, as I have doon bifore, Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 495
    • That ye me highte and swore in your village Skeat1900: (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: Skeat1900: 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.
    • Ther may no-thing, god so my soule save, Skeat1900: 505
    • Lyken to yow that may displese me; Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 510
    • Ne chaunge my corage to another place.’
    • 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. Skeat1900: 515
    • Sone after this, a furlong wey or two, Skeat1900: (460)
    • He prively hath told al his entente
    • Un-to a man, and to his wyf him sente.
    • A maner sergeant was this privee man,
    • The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 525
    • ‘Madame,’ he seyde, ‘ye mote foryeve it me, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 530
    • But men mot nede un-to her lust obeye,
    • And so wol I; ther is na-more to seye.
    • This child I am comanded for to take’—
    • And spak na-more, but out the child he hente
    • Despitously, and gan a chere make Skeat1900: 535
    • As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 545
    • Consenting hir to that the markis lyked. Skeat1900: (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; Skeat1900: 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.
    • And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys,
    • ‘Far weel, my child; I shal thee never see; Skeat1900: 555
    • But, sith I thee have marked with the croys, Skeat1900: (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.’ Skeat1900: 560
    • 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, Skeat1900: 565
    • And to the sergeant mekely she sayde, Skeat1900: (510)
    • ‘Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.
    • 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 Skeat1900: 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.
    • This sergeant cam un-to his lord ageyn, Skeat1900: 575
    • And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 585
    • But, up-on peyne his heed of for to swappe, Skeat1900: (530)
    • That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
    • Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;
    • But at Boloigne to his suster dere,
    • That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 595
    • The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thing; Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 605
    • Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 615
    • Was for this child, and god they thanke and herie. Skeat1900: (560)
    • 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. Skeat1900: 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, Skeat1900: 625
    • And namely, sith my sone y-boren is, Skeat1900: (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. Skeat1900: 630
    • 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; Skeat1900: 635
    • For certeinly I drede swich sentence, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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.’
    • ‘I have,’ quod she, ‘seyd thus, and ever shal, Skeat1900: 645
    • I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn, Skeat1900: (590)
    • But as yow list; noght greveth me at al,
    • Thogh that my doghter and my sone by slayn,
    • At your comandement, this is to sayn.
    • I have noght had no part of children tweyne Skeat1900: 650
    • But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.
    • 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, Skeat1900: 655
    • ‘Left I my wil and al my libertee, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 665
    • Deth may noght make no comparisoun Skeat1900: (610)
    • Un-to your love:’ and, whan this markis sey
    • The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
    • His yen two, and wondreth that she may
    • In pacience suffre al this array. Skeat1900: 670
    • And forth he gooth with drery contenaunce,
    • But to his herte it was ful greet plesaunce.
    • This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse
    • That he hir doghter caughte, right so he,
    • Or worse, if men worse can devyse, Skeat1900: 675
    • Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of beautee. Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 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; Skeat1900: 685
    • But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte. Skeat1900: (630)
    • 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, Skeat1900: 690
    • He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee,
    • And of malice or for cruel corage,
    • That she had suffred this with sad visage.
    • But wel he knew that next him-self, certayn,
    • She loved hir children best in every wyse. Skeat1900: 695
    • But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn, Skeat1900: (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? Skeat1900: 700
    • 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. Skeat1900: 705
    • Right so this markis fulliche hath purposed Skeat1900: (650)
    • To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed.
    • He waiteth, if by word or contenance
    • That she to him was changed of corage;
    • But never coude he finde variance; Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 715
    • Ther nas but o wil; for, as Walter leste, Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 720
    • Wille in effect, but as hir housbond wolde.
    • 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. Skeat1900: 725
    • Swich murmur was among hem comunly. Skeat1900: (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 Skeat1900: 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. Skeat1900: 735
    • Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age, Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 740
    • How that the pope, as for his peples reste,
    • Bad him to wedde another, if him leste.
    • I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete
    • The popes bulles, making mencioun
    • That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete, Skeat1900: 745
    • As by the popes dispensacioun, Skeat1900: (690)
    • To stinte rancour and dissencioun
    • Bitwixe his peple and him; thus seyde the bulle,
    • The which they han publiced atte fulle.
    • The rude peple, as it no wonder is, Skeat1900: 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,
    • Disposed was, this humble creature, Skeat1900: 755
    • Thadversitee of fortune al tendure. Skeat1900: (700)
    • 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, Skeat1900: 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 Skeat1900: 765
    • To bringen hoom agayn his children two Skeat1900: (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, Skeat1900: 770
    • 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, Skeat1900: 775
    • In riche array, this mayden for to gyde; Skeat1900: (720)
    • Hir yonge brother ryding hir bisyde.
    • Arrayed was toward hir mariage
    • This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes clere;
    • Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age, Skeat1900: 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.