Here endeth the Millere his tale.

THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE.

The prologe of the Reves tale.

  • WHAN folk had laughen at this nyce cas Skeat1900: 3855
  • Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
  • Diverse folk diversely they seyde;
  • But, for the more part, they loughe and pleyde,
  • Ne at this tale I saugh no man him greve,
  • But it were only Osewold the Reve, Skeat1900: 3860
  • By-cause he was of carpenteres craft.
  • A litel ire is in his herte y-laft,
  • He gan to grucche and blamed it a lyte.
  • ‘So theek,’ quod he, ‘ful wel coude I yow quyte Skeat1900: (10)
  • With blering of a proud milleres yë, Skeat1900: 3865
  • If that me liste speke of ribaudye.
  • But ik am old, me list not pley for age;
  • Gras-tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage,
  • This whyte top wryteth myne olde yeres,
  • Myn herte is al-so mowled as myne heres, Skeat1900: 3870
  • But-if I fare as dooth an open-ers;
  • That ilke fruit is ever leng the wers,
  • Til it be roten in mullok or in stree.
  • We olde men, I drede, so fare we; Skeat1900: (20)
  • Til we be roten, can we nat be rype; Skeat1900: 3875
  • We hoppen ay, whyl that the world wol pype.
  • For in oure wil ther stiketh ever a nayl,
  • To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,
  • As hath a leek; for thogh our might be goon,
  • Our wil desireth folie ever in oon. Skeat1900: 3880
  • For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke;
  • Yet in our asshen olde is fyr y-reke.
  • Foure gledes han we, whiche I shal devyse,
  • Avaunting, lying, anger, coveityse; Skeat1900: (30)
  • Thise foure sparkles longen un-to elde. Skeat1900: 3885
  • Our olde lemes mowe wel been unwelde,
  • But wil ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth.
  • And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
  • As many a yeer as it is passed henne
  • Sin that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne. Skeat1900: 3890
  • For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon
  • Deeth drogh the tappe of lyf and leet it gon;
  • And ever sith hath so the tappe y-ronne,
  • Til that almost al empty is the tonne. Skeat1900: (40)
  • The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chimbe; Skeat1900: 3895
  • The sely tonge may wel ringe and chimbe
  • Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yore;
  • With olde folk, save dotage, is namore.’
  • Whan that our host hadde herd this sermoning,
  • He gan to speke as lordly as a king; Skeat1900: 3900
  • He seide, ‘what amounteth al this wit?
  • What shul we speke alday of holy writ?
  • The devel made a reve for to preche,
  • And of a souter a shipman or a leche. Skeat1900: (50)
  • Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme, Skeat1900: 3905
  • Lo, Depeford! and it is half-way pryme.
  • Lo, Grenewich, ther many a shrewe is inne;
  • It were al tyme thy tale to biginne.’
  • ‘Now, sires,’ quod this Osewold the Reve,
  • ‘I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve, Skeat1900: 3910
  • Thogh I answere and somdel sette his howve;
  • For leveful is with force force of-showve.
  • This dronke millere hath y-told us heer,
  • How that bigyled was a carpenteer, Skeat1900: (60)
  • Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon. Skeat1900: 3915
  • And, by your leve, I shal him quyte anoon;
  • Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
  • I pray to god his nekke mote breke;
  • He can wel in myn yë seen a stalke,
  • But in his owne he can nat seen a balke. Skeat1900: 3920

THE REVES TALE.

Here biginneth the Reves tale.

  • At Trumpington, nat fer fro Cantebrigge,
  • Ther goth a brook and over that a brigge,
  • Up-on the whiche brook ther stant a melle;
  • And this is verray soth that I yow telle.
  • A Miller was ther dwelling many a day; Skeat1900: 3925
  • As eny pecok he was proud and gay.
  • Pypen he coude and fisshe, and nettes bete,
  • And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and shete;
  • And by his belt he baar a long panade,
  • And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade. Skeat1900: 3930
  • A Ioly popper baar he in his pouche; Skeat1900: (11)
  • Ther was no man for peril dorste him touche.
  • A Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose;
  • Round was his face, and camuse was his nose.
  • As piled as an ape was his skulle. Skeat1900: 3935
  • He was a market-beter atte fulle.
  • Ther dorste no wight hand up-on him legge,
  • That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge.
  • A theef he was for sothe of corn and mele,
  • And that a sly, and usaunt for to stele. Skeat1900: 3940
  • His name was hoten dëynous Simkin. Skeat1900: (21)
  • A wyf he hadde, y-comen of noble kin;
  • The person of the toun hir fader was.
  • With hir he yaf ful many a panne of bras,
  • For that Simkin sholde in his blood allye. Skeat1900: 3945
  • She was y-fostred in a nonnerye;
  • For Simkin wolde no wyf, as he sayde,
  • But she were wel y-norissed and a mayde,
  • To saven his estaat of yomanrye.
  • And she was proud, and pert as is a pye. Skeat1900: 3950
  • A ful fair sighte was it on hem two; Skeat1900: (31)
  • On haly-dayes biforn hir wolde he go
  • With his tipet bounden about his heed,
  • And she cam after in a gyte of reed;
  • And Simkin hadde hosen of the same. Skeat1900: 3955
  • Ther dorste no wight clepen hir but ‘dame.’
  • Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye
  • That with hir dorste rage or ones pleye,
  • But-if he wolde be slayn of Simkin
  • With panade, or with knyf, or boydekin. Skeat1900: 3960
  • For Ialous folk ben perilous evermo, Skeat1900: (41)
  • Algate they wolde hir wyves wenden so.
  • And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich,
  • She was as digne as water in a dich;
  • And ful of hoker and of bisemare. Skeat1900: 3965
  • Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hir spare,
  • What for hir kinrede and hir nortelrye
  • That she had lerned in the nonnerye.
  • A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two
  • Of twenty yeer, with-outen any mo, Skeat1900: 3970
  • Savinge a child that was of half-yeer age; Skeat1900: (51)
  • In cradel it lay and was a propre page.
  • This wenche thikke and wel y-growen was,
  • With camuse nose and yën greye as glas;
  • With buttokes brode and brestes rounde and hye, Skeat1900: 3975
  • But right fair was hir heer, I wol nat lye.
  • The person of the toun, for she was feir,
  • In purpos was to maken hir his heir
  • Bothe of his catel and his messuage,
  • And straunge he made it of hir mariage. Skeat1900: 3980
  • His purpos was for to bistowe hir hye Skeat1900: (61)
  • In-to som worthy blood of auncetrye;
  • For holy chirches good moot been despended
  • On holy chirches blood, that is descended.
  • Therfore he wolde his holy blood honoure, Skeat1900: 3985
  • Though that he holy chirche sholde devoure.
  • Gret soken hath this miller, out of doute,
  • With whete and malt of al the land aboute;
  • And nameliche ther was a greet collegge,
  • Men clepen the Soler-halle at Cantebregge, Skeat1900: 3990
  • Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt y-grounde. Skeat1900: (71)
  • And on a day it happed, in a stounde,
  • Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye;
  • Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye.
  • For which this miller stal bothe mele and corn Skeat1900: 3995
  • An hundred tyme more than biforn;
  • For ther-biforn he stal but curteisly,
  • But now he was a theef outrageously,
  • For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare.
  • But ther-of sette the miller nat a tare; Skeat1900: 4000
  • He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat so. Skeat1900: (81)
  • Than were ther yonge povre clerkes two,
  • That dwelten in this halle, of which I seye.
  • Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye,
  • And, only for hir mirthe and revelrye, Skeat1900: 4005
  • Up-on the wardeyn bisily they crye,
  • To yeve hem leve but a litel stounde
  • To goon to mille and seen hir corn y-grounde;
  • And hardily, they dorste leye hir nekke,
  • The miller shold nat stele hem half a pekke Skeat1900: 4010
  • Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem reve; Skeat1900: (91)
  • And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leve.
  • Iohn hight that oon, and Aleyn hight that other;
  • Of o toun were they born, that highte Strother,
  • Fer in the north, I can nat telle where. Skeat1900: 4015
  • This Aleyn maketh redy al his gere,
  • And on an hors the sak he caste anon.
  • Forth goth Aleyn the clerk, and also Iohn,
  • With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde.
  • Iohn knew the wey, hem nedede no gyde, Skeat1900: 4020
  • And at the mille the sak adoun he layth. Skeat1900: (101)
  • Aleyn spak first, ‘al hayl, Symond, y-fayth;
  • How fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf?’
  • ‘Aleyn! welcome,’ quod Simkin, ‘by my lyf,
  • And Iohn also, how now, what do ye heer?’ Skeat1900: 4025
  • ‘Symond,’ quod Iohn, ‘by god, nede has na peer;
  • Him boes serve him-selve that has na swayn,
  • Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.
  • Our manciple, I hope he wil be deed,
  • Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed. Skeat1900: 4030
  • And forthy is I come, and eek Alayn, Skeat1900: (111)
  • To grinde our corn and carie it ham agayn;
  • I pray yow spede us hethen that ye may.’
  • ‘It shal be doon,’ quod Simkin, ‘by my fay;
  • What wol ye doon whyl that it is in hande?’ Skeat1900: 4035
  • ‘By god, right by the hoper wil I stande,’
  • Quod Iohn, ‘and se how that the corn gas in;
  • Yet saugh I never, by my fader kin,
  • How that the hoper wagges til and fra.’
  • Aleyn answerde, ‘Iohn, and wiltow swa, Skeat1900: 4040
  • Than wil I be bynethe, by my croun, Skeat1900: (121)
  • And se how that the mele falles doun
  • In-to the trough; that sal be my disport.
  • For Iohn, in faith , I may been of your sort;
  • I is as ille a miller as are ye.’ Skeat1900: 4045
  • This miller smyled of hir nycetee,
  • And thoghte, ‘al this nis doon but for a wyle;
  • They wene that no man may hem bigyle;
  • But, by my thrift, yet shal I blere hir ye
  • For al the sleighte in hir philosophye. Skeat1900: 4050
  • The more queynte crekes that they make, Skeat1900: (131)
  • The more wol I stele whan I take.
  • In stede of flour, yet wol I yeve hem bren.
  • “The gretteste clerkes been noght the wysest men,”
  • As whylom to the wolf thus spak the mare; Skeat1900: 4055
  • Of al hir art I counte noght a tare.’
  • Out at the dore he gooth ful prively,
  • Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely;
  • He loketh up and doun til he hath founde
  • The clerkes hors, ther as it stood y-bounde Skeat1900: 4060
  • Bihinde the mille, under a levesel; Skeat1900: (141)
  • And to the hors he gooth him faire and wel;
  • He strepeth of the brydel right anon.
  • And whan the hors was loos, he ginneth gon
  • Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne, Skeat1900: 4065
  • Forth with wehee, thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne.
  • This miller gooth agayn, no word he seyde,
  • But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde,
  • Til that hir corn was faire and wel y-grounde.
  • And whan the mele is sakked and y-bounde, Skeat1900: 4070
  • This Iohn goth out and fynt his hors away, Skeat1900: (151)
  • And gan to crye ‘harrow’ and ‘weylaway!
  • Our hors is lorn! Alayn, for goddes banes,
  • Step on thy feet, com out, man, al at anes!
  • Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn.’ Skeat1900: 4075
  • This Aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn,
  • Al was out of his mynde his housbondrye.
  • ‘What? whilk way is he geen?’ he gan to crye.
  • The wyf cam leping inward with a ren,
  • She seyde, ‘allas! your hors goth to the fen Skeat1900: 4080
  • With wilde mares, as faste as he may go. Skeat1900: (161)
  • Unthank come on his hand that bond him so,
  • And he that bettre sholde han knit the reyne.’
  • ‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘Aleyn, for Cristes peyne,
  • Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa; Skeat1900: 4085
  • I is ful wight, god waat, as is a raa;
  • By goddes herte he sal nat scape us bathe.
  • Why nadstow pit the capul in the lathe?
  • Il-hayl, by god, Aleyn, thou is a fonne!’
  • This sely clerkes han ful faste y-ronne Skeat1900: 4090
  • To-ward the fen, bothe Aleyn and eek Iohn. Skeat1900: (171)
  • And whan the miller saugh that they were gon,
  • He half a busshel of hir flour hath take,
  • And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake.
  • He seyde, ‘I trowe the clerkes were aferd; Skeat1900: 4095
  • Yet can a miller make a clerkes berd
  • For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye.
  • Lo wher they goon, ye, lat the children pleye;
  • They gete him nat so lightly, by my croun!’
  • Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun Skeat1900: 4100
  • With ‘keep, keep, stand, stand, Iossa, warderere, Skeat1900: (181)
  • Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe him here!’
  • But shortly, til that it was verray night,
  • They coude nat, though they do al hir might,
  • Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste, Skeat1900: 4105
  • Til in a dich they caughte him atte laste.
  • Wery and weet, as beste is in the reyn,
  • Comth sely Iohn, and with him comth Aleyn.
  • ‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘the day that I was born!
  • Now are we drive til hething and til scorn. Skeat1900: 4110
  • Our corn is stole , men wil us foles calle, Skeat1900: (191)
  • Bathe the wardeyn and our felawes alle,
  • And namely the miller; weylaway!’
  • Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goth by the way
  • Toward the mille, and Bayard in his hond. Skeat1900: 4115
  • The miller sitting by the fyr he fond,
  • For it was night, and forther mighte they noght;
  • But, for the love of god, they him bisoght
  • Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.
  • The miller seyde agayn, ‘if ther be eny, Skeat1900: 4120
  • Swich as it is, yet shal ye have your part. Skeat1900: (201)
  • Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned art;
  • Ye conne by argumentes make a place
  • A myle brood of twenty foot of space.
  • Lat see now if this place may suffyse, Skeat1900: 4125
  • Or make it roum with speche, as is youre gyse.’
  • ‘Now, Symond,’ seyde Iohn, ‘by seint Cutberd,
  • Ay is thou mery, and this is faire answerd.
  • I have herd seyd, man sal taa of twa thinges
  • Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he bringes. Skeat1900: 4130
  • But specially, I pray thee, hoste dere, Skeat1900: (211)
  • Get us som mete and drinke, and make us chere,
  • And we wil payen trewely atte fulle.
  • With empty hand men may na haukes tulle;
  • Lo here our silver, redy for to spende.’ Skeat1900: 4135
  • This miller in-to toun his doghter sende
  • For ale and breed, and rosted hem a goos,
  • And bond hir hors, it sholde nat gon loos;
  • And in his owne chambre hem made a bed
  • With shetes and with chalons faire y-spred, Skeat1900: 4140
  • Noght from his owne bed ten foot or twelve. Skeat1900: (221)
  • His doghter hadde a bed, al by hir-selve,
  • Right in the same chambre, by and by;
  • It mighte be no bet, and cause why,
  • Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place. Skeat1900: 4145
  • They soupen and they speke, hem to solace,
  • And drinken ever strong ale atte beste.
  • Aboute midnight wente they to reste.
  • Wel hath this miller vernisshed his heed;
  • Ful pale he was for-dronken, and nat reed. Skeat1900: 4150
  • He yexeth , and he speketh thurgh the nose Skeat1900: (231)
  • As he were on the quakke, or on the pose.
  • To bedde he gooth, and with him goth his wyf.
  • As any Iay she light was and Iolyf,
  • So was hir Ioly whistle wel y-wet. Skeat1900: 4155
  • The cradel at hir beddes feet is set,
  • To rokken, and to yeve the child to souke.
  • And whan that dronken al was in the crouke,
  • To bedde went the doghter right anon;
  • To bedde gooth Aleyn and also Iohn; Skeat1900: 4160
  • Ther nas na more, hem nedede no dwale. Skeat1900: (241)
  • This miller hath so wisly bibbed ale,
  • That as an hors he snorteth in his sleep,
  • Ne of his tayl bihinde he took no keep.
  • His wyf bar him a burdon, a ful strong, Skeat1900: 4165
  • Men mighte hir routing here two furlong;
  • The wenche routeth eek par companye.
  • Aleyn the clerk, that herd this melodye,
  • He poked Iohn, and seyde, ‘slepestow?
  • Herdestow ever slyk a sang er now? Skeat1900: 4170
  • Lo, whilk a compline is y-mel hem alle! Skeat1900: (251)
  • A wilde fyr up-on thair bodyes falle!
  • Wha herkned ever slyk a ferly thing?
  • Ye, they sal have the flour of il ending.
  • This lange night ther tydes me na reste; Skeat1900: 4175
  • But yet, na fors; al sal be for the beste.
  • For Iohn,’ seyde he, ‘als ever moot I thryve,
  • If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve.
  • Som esement has lawe y-shapen us;
  • For Iohn, ther is a lawe that says thus, Skeat1900: 4180
  • That gif a man in a point be y-greved, Skeat1900: (261)
  • That in another he sal be releved.
  • Our corn is stoln, shortly, it is na nay,
  • And we han had an il fit al this day.
  • And sin I sal have neen amendement, Skeat1900: 4185
  • Agayn my los I wil have esement.
  • By goddes saule, it sal neen other be!’
  • This Iohn answerde, ‘Alayn, avyse thee,
  • The miller is a perilous man,’ he seyde,
  • ‘And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde, Skeat1900: 4190
  • He mighte doon us bathe a vileinye.’ Skeat1900: (271)
  • Aleyn answerde, ‘I count him nat a flye;’
  • And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte.
  • This wenche lay upright, and faste slepte,
  • Til he so ny was, er she mighte espye, Skeat1900: 4195
  • That it had been to late for to crye,
  • And shortly for to seyn, they were at on;
  • Now pley, Aleyn! for I wol speke of Iohn.
  • This Iohn lyth stille a furlong-wey or two,
  • And to him-self he maketh routhe and wo: Skeat1900: 4200
  • ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘this is a wikked Iape; Skeat1900: (281)
  • Now may I seyn that I is but an ape.
  • Yet has my felawe som-what for his harm;
  • He has the milleris doghter in his arm.
  • He auntred him, and has his nedes sped, Skeat1900: 4205
  • And I lye as a draf-sek in my bed;
  • And when this Iape is tald another day,
  • I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay!
  • I wil aryse, and auntre it, by my fayth!
  • “Unhardy is unsely,” thus men sayth.’ Skeat1900: 4210
  • And up he roos and softely he wente Skeat1900: (291)
  • Un-to the cradel, and in his hand it hente,
  • And baar it softe un-to his beddes feet.
  • Sone after this the wyf hir routing leet,
  • And gan awake, and wente hir out to pisse, Skeat1900: 4215
  • And cam agayn, and gan hir cradel misse,
  • And groped heer and ther, but she fond noon.
  • ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘I hadde almost misgoon;
  • I hadde almost gon to the clerkes bed.
  • Ey, benedicite! thanne hadde I foule y-sped:’ Skeat1900: 4220
  • And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond. Skeat1900: (301)
  • She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond,
  • And fond the bed, and thoghte noght but good,
  • By-cause that the cradel by it stood,
  • And niste wher she was, for it was derk; Skeat1900: 4225
  • But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk,
  • And lyth ful stille, and wolde han caught a sleep.
  • With-inne a whyl this Iohn the clerk up leep,
  • And on this gode wyf he leyth on sore.
  • So mery a fit ne hadde she nat ful yore; Skeat1900: 4230
  • He priketh harde and depe as he were mad. Skeat1900: (311)
  • This Ioly lyf han thise two clerkes lad
  • Til that the thridde cok bigan to singe.
  • Aleyn wex wery in the daweninge,
  • For he had swonken al the longe night; Skeat1900: 4235
  • And seyde, ‘far wel, Malin, swete wight!
  • The day is come, I may no lenger byde;
  • But evermo, wher so I go or ryde,
  • I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel!’
  • ‘Now dere lemman,’ quod she, ‘go, far weel! Skeat1900: 4240
  • But er thou go, o thing I wol thee telle, Skeat1900: (321)
  • Whan that thou wendest homward by the melle,
  • Right at the entree of the dore bihinde,
  • Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel finde
  • That was y-maked of thyn owne mele, Skeat1900: 4245
  • Which that I heelp my fader for to stele.
  • And, gode lemman, god thee save and kepe!’
  • And with that word almost she gan to wepe.
  • Aleyn up-rist, and thoughte, ‘er that it dawe,
  • I wol go crepen in by my felawe; Skeat1900: 4250
  • And fond the cradel with his hand anon, Skeat1900: (331)
  • ‘By god,’ thoghte he, ‘al wrang I have misgon;
  • Myn heed is toty of my swink to-night,
  • That maketh me that I go nat aright.
  • I woot wel by the cradel, I have misgo, Skeat1900: 4255
  • Heer lyth the miller and his wyf also.’
  • And forth he goth, a twenty devel way,
  • Un-to the bed ther-as the miller lay.
  • He wende have cropen by his felawe Iohn;
  • And by the miller in he creep anon, Skeat1900: 4260
  • And caughte hym by the nekke, and softe he spak: Skeat1900: (341)
  • He seyde, ‘thou, Iohn, thou swynes-heed, awak
  • For Cristes saule, and heer a noble game.
  • For by that lord that called is seint Iame,
  • As I have thryes, in this shorte night, Skeat1900: 4265
  • Swyved the milleres doghter bolt-upright,
  • Whyl thow hast as a coward been agast.’
  • ‘Ye, false harlot,’ quod the miller, ‘hast?
  • A! false traitour! false clerk!’ quod he,
  • ‘Thou shalt be deed, by goddes dignitee! Skeat1900: 4270
  • Who dorste be so bold to disparage Skeat1900: (351)
  • My doghter, that is come of swich linage?’
  • And by the throte-bolle he caughte Alayn.
  • And he hente hym despitously agayn,
  • And on the nose he smoot him with his fest. Skeat1900: 4275
  • Doun ran the blody streem up-on his brest;
  • And in the floor, with nose and mouth to-broke,
  • They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke.
  • And up they goon, and doun agayn anon,
  • Til that the miller sporned at a stoon, Skeat1900: 4280
  • And doun he fil bakward up-on his wyf, Skeat1900: (361)
  • That wiste no-thing of this nyce stryf;
  • For she was falle aslepe a lyte wight
  • With Iohn the clerk, that waked hadde al night.
  • And with the fal, out of hir sleep she breyde— Skeat1900: 4285
  • ‘Help, holy croys of Bromeholm,’ she seyde,
  • In manus tuas! lord, to thee I calle!
  • Awak, Symond! the feend is on us falle,
  • Myn herte is broken, help, I nam but deed;
  • There lyth oon up my wombe and up myn heed; Skeat1900: 4290
  • Help, Simkin, for the false clerkes fighte.’ Skeat1900: (371)
  • This Iohn sterte up as faste as ever he mighte,
  • And graspeth by the walles to and fro,
  • To finde a staf; and she sterte up also,
  • And knew the estres bet than dide this Iohn. Skeat1900: 4295
  • And by the wal a staf she fond anon,
  • And saugh a litel shimering of a light,
  • For at an hole in shoon the mone bright;
  • And by that light she saugh hem bothe two,
  • But sikerly she niste who was who, Skeat1900: 4300
  • But as she saugh a whyt thing in hir yë. Skeat1900: (381)
  • And whan she gan the whyte thing espye,
  • She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer.
  • And with the staf she drough ay neer and neer,
  • And wende han hit this Aleyn at the fulle, Skeat1900: 4305
  • And smoot the miller on the pyled skulle,
  • That doun he gooth and cryde, ‘harrow! I dye!’
  • Thise clerkes bete him weel and lete him lye;
  • And greythen hem, and toke hir hors anon,
  • And eek hir mele, and on hir wey they gon. Skeat1900: 4310
  • And at the mille yet they toke hir cake Skeat1900: (391)
  • Of half a busshel flour, ful wel y-bake.
  • Thus is the proude miller wel y-bete,
  • And hath y-lost the grinding of the whete,
  • And payed for the soper every-deel Skeat1900: 4315
  • Of Aleyn and of Iohn, that bette him weel.
  • His wyf is swyved, and his doghter als;
  • Lo, swich it is a miller to be fals!
  • And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful sooth.
  • ‘Him thar nat wene wel that yvel dooth; Skeat1900: 4320
  • A gylour shal him-self bigyled be.’ Skeat1900: (401)
  • And God, that sitteth heighe in magestee,
  • Save al this companye grete and smale!
  • Thus have I quit the miller in my tale.

Here is ended the Reves tale.

THE COOK’S PROLOGUE.

The prologe of the Cokes Tale.

  • THE Cook of London, whyl the Reve spak, Skeat1900: 4325
  • For Ioye, him thoughte, he clawed him on the bak,
  • ‘Ha! ha!’ quod he, ‘for Cristes passioun,
  • This miller hadde a sharp conclusioun
  • Upon his argument of herbergage!
  • Wel seyde Salomon in his langage, Skeat1900: 4330
  • “Ne bringe nat every man in-to thyn hous;”
  • For herberwing by nighte is perilous.
  • Wel oghte a man avysed for to be
  • Whom that he broghte in-to his privetee. Skeat1900: (10)
  • I pray to god, so yeve me sorwe and care, Skeat1900: 4335
  • If ever, sith I highte Hogge of Ware,
  • Herde I a miller bettre y-set a-werk.
  • He hadde a Iape of malice in the derk.
  • But god forbede that we stinten here;
  • And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to here Skeat1900: 4340
  • A tale of me, that am a povre man,
  • I wol yow telle as wel as ever I can
  • A litel Iape that fil in our citee.’
  • Our host answerde, and seide, ‘I graunte it thee; Skeat1900: (20)
  • Now telle on, Roger, loke that it be good; Skeat1900: 4345
  • For many a pastee hastow laten blood,
  • And many a Iakke of Dover hastow sold
  • That hath been twyes hoot and twyes cold.
  • Of many a pilgrim hastow Cristes curs,
  • For of thy persly yet they fare the wors, Skeat1900: 4350
  • That they han eten with thy stubbel-goos;
  • For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos.
  • Now telle on, gentil Roger, by thy name.
  • But yet I pray thee, be nat wrooth for game, Skeat1900: (30)
  • A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley.’ Skeat1900: 4355
  • ‘Thou seist ful sooth,’ quod Roger, ‘by my fey,
  • But “sooth pley, quaad pley,” as the Fleming seith;
  • And ther-fore, Herry Bailly, by thy feith,
  • Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen heer,
  • Though that my tale be of an hostileer. Skeat1900: 4360
  • But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit,
  • But er we parte, y-wis, thou shalt be quit.’
  • And ther-with-al he lough and made chere,
  • And seyde his tale, as ye shul after here. Skeat1900: (40)

Thus endeth the Prologe of the Cokes tale.

THE COKES TALE.

Heer bigynneth the Cokes tale.

  • A PRENTIS whylom dwelled in our citee, Skeat1900: 4365
  • And of a craft of vitaillers was he;
  • Gaillard he was as goldfinch in the shawe,
  • Broun as a berie, a propre short felawe,
  • With lokkes blake, y-kempt ful fetisly.
  • Dauncen he coude so wel and Iolily, Skeat1900: 4370
  • That he was cleped Perkin Revelour.
  • He was as ful of love and paramour
  • As is the hyve ful of hony swete;
  • Wel was the wenche with him mighte mete. Skeat1900: (10)
  • At every brydale wolde he singe and hoppe, Skeat1900: 4375
  • He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe.
  • For whan ther any ryding was in Chepe,
  • Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe.
  • Til that he hadde al the sighte y-seyn,
  • And daunced wel, he wolde nat come ageyn. Skeat1900: 4380
  • And gadered him a meinee of his sort
  • To hoppe and singe, and maken swich disport.
  • And ther they setten steven for to mete
  • To pleyen at the dys in swich a strete. Skeat1900: (20)
  • For in the toune nas ther no prentys, Skeat1900: 4385
  • That fairer coude caste a paire of dys
  • Than Perkin coude, and ther-to he was free
  • Of his dispense, in place of privetee.
  • That fond his maister wel in his chaffare;
  • For often tyme he fond his box ful bare. Skeat1900: 4390
  • For sikerly a prentis revelour,
  • That haunteth dys, riot, or paramour,
  • His maister shal it in his shoppe abye,
  • Al have he no part of the minstralcye; Skeat1900: (30)
  • For thefte and riot, they ben convertible, Skeat1900: 4395
  • Al conne he pleye on giterne or ribible.
  • Revel and trouthe, as in a low degree,
  • They been ful wrothe al day, as men may see.
  • This Ioly prentis with his maister bood,
  • Til he were ny out of his prentishood, Skeat1900: 4400
  • Al were he snibbed bothe erly and late,
  • And somtyme lad with revel to Newgate;
  • But atte laste his maister him bithoghte,
  • Up-on a day, whan he his paper soghte, Skeat1900: (40)
  • Of a proverbe that seith this same word, Skeat1900: 4405
  • ‘Wel bet is roten appel out of hord
  • Than that it rotie al the remenaunt.’
  • So fareth it by a riotous servaunt;
  • It is wel lasse harm to lete him pace,
  • Than he shende alle the servants in the place. Skeat1900: 4410
  • Therfore his maister yaf him acquitance,
  • And bad him go with sorwe and with meschance;
  • And thus this Ioly prentis hadde his leve.
  • Now lat him riote al the night or leve. Skeat1900: (50)
  • And for ther is no theef with-oute a louke, Skeat1900: 4415
  • That helpeth him to wasten and to souke
  • Of that he brybe can or borwe may,
  • Anon he sente his bed and his array
  • Un-to a compeer of his owne sort,
  • That lovede dys and revel and disport, Skeat1900: 4420
  • And hadde a wyf that heeld for countenance
  • A shoppe, and swyved for hir sustenance. Skeat1900: 4422
  • * * * * * *

Of this Cokes tale maked Chaucer na more.

[ For The Tale of Gamelin, see the Appendix.]

GROUP B.

INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE. (T. 4421-4446.)

The wordes of the Hoost to the companye.

  • OUR Hoste sey wel that the brighte sonne
  • The ark of his artificial day had ronne
  • The fourthe part, and half an houre, and more;
  • And though he were not depe expert in lore,
  • He wiste it was the eightetethe day Skeat1900: 5
  • Of April, that is messager to May;
  • And sey wel that the shadwe of every tree
  • Was as in lengthe the same quantitee
  • That was the body erect that caused it.
  • And therfor by the shadwe he took his wit Skeat1900: 10
  • That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,
  • Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte;
  • And for that day, as in that latitude,
  • It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,
  • And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. Skeat1900: 15
  • ‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘I warne yow, al this route,
  • The fourthe party of this day is goon;
  • Now, for the love of god and of seint Iohn,
  • Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may;
  • Lordinges, the tyme wasteth night and day, Skeat1900: 20
  • And steleth from us, what prively slepinge,
  • And what thurgh necligence in our wakinge,
  • As dooth the streem, that turneth never agayn,
  • Descending fro the montaigne in-to playn.
  • Wel can Senek, and many a philosophre Skeat1900: 25
  • Biwailen tyme, more than gold in cofre.
  • “For los of catel may recovered be,
  • But los of tyme shendeth us,” quod he.
  • It wol nat come agayn, with-outen drede,
  • Na more than wol Malkins maydenhede, Skeat1900: 30
  • Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse;
  • Lat us nat moulen thus in ydelnesse.
  • Sir man of lawe,’ quod he, ‘so have ye blis,
  • Tel us a tale anon, as forward is;
  • Ye been submitted thurgh your free assent Skeat1900: 35
  • To stonde in this cas at my Iugement.
  • Acquiteth yow, and holdeth your biheste,
  • Than have ye doon your devoir atte leste.’
  • ‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘ depardieux ich assente,
  • To breke forward is not myn entente. Skeat1900: 40
  • Biheste is dette, and I wol holde fayn
  • Al my biheste; I can no better seyn.
  • For swich lawe as man yeveth another wight,
  • He sholde him-selven usen it by right;
  • Thus wol our text; but natheles certeyn Skeat1900: 45
  • I can right now no thrifty tale seyn,
  • But Chaucer, though he can but lewedly
  • On metres and on ryming craftily,
  • Hath seyd hem in swich English as he can
  • Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man. Skeat1900: 50
  • And if he have not seyd hem, leve brother,
  • In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
  • For he hath told of loveres up and doun
  • Mo than Ovyde made of mencioun
  • In his Epistelles, that been ful olde. Skeat1900: 55
  • What sholde I tellen hem, sin they ben tolde?
  • In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcion,
  • And sithen hath he spoke of everichon,
  • Thise noble wyves and thise loveres eke.
  • Who-so that wol his large volume seke Skeat1900: 60
  • Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupyde,
  • Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde
  • Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tisbee;
  • The swerd of Dido for the false Enee;
  • The tree of Phillis for hir Demophon; Skeat1900: 65
  • The pleinte of Dianire and Hermion,
  • Of Adriane and of Isiphilee;
  • The bareyne yle stonding in the see;
  • The dreynte Leander for his Erro;
  • The teres of Eleyne, and eek the wo Skeat1900: 70
  • Of Brixseyde, and of thee, Ladomëa;
  • The crueltee of thee, queen Medëa,
  • Thy litel children hanging by the hals
  • For thy Iason, that was of love so fals!
  • O Ypermistra, Penelopee , Alceste, Skeat1900: 75
  • Your wyfhod he comendeth with the beste!
  • But certeinly no word ne wryteth he
  • Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee,
  • That lovede hir owne brother sinfully;
  • Of swiche cursed stories I sey ‘fy’; Skeat1900: 80
  • Or elles of Tyro Apollonius,
  • How that the cursed king Antiochus
  • Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
  • That is so horrible a tale for to rede,
  • Whan he hir threw up-on the pavement. Skeat1900: 85
  • And therfor he, of ful avysement,
  • Nolde never wryte in none of his sermouns
  • Of swiche unkinde abhominaciouns,
  • Ne I wol noon reherse, if that I may.
  • But of my tale how shal I doon this day? Skeat1900: 90
  • Me were looth be lykned, doutelees,
  • To Muses that men clepe Pierides—
  • Metamorphoseos wot what I mene:—
  • But nathelees, I recche noght a bene
  • Though I come after him with hawe-bake; Skeat1900: 95
  • I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make.’
  • And with that word he, with a sobre chere,
  • Bigan his tale, as ye shal after here.

The Prologe of the Mannes Tale of Lawe.

  • O hateful harm! condicion of poverte!
  • With thurst, with cold, with hunger so confounded! Skeat1900: 100
  • To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;
  • If thou noon aske, with nede artow so wounded,
  • That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!
  • Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence
  • Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence! Skeat1900: 105
  • Thou blamest Crist, and seyst ful bitterly,
  • He misdeparteth richesse temporal;
  • Thy neighebour thou wytest sinfully, Skeat1900: (10)
  • And seyst thou hast to lyte, and he hath al.
  • ‘Parfay,’ seistow, ‘somtyme he rekne shal, Skeat1900: 110
  • Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the glede,
  • For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir nede.’
  • Herkne what is the sentence of the wyse:—
  • ‘Bet is to dyën than have indigence;’
  • Thy selve neighebour wol thee despyse; Skeat1900: 115
  • If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!
  • Yet of the wyse man tak this sentence:—
  • ‘Alle the dayes of povre men ben wikke;’ Skeat1900: (20)
  • Be war therfor, er thou come in that prikke!
  • If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee, Skeat1900: 120
  • And alle thy freendes fleen fro thee, alas!
  • O riche marchaunts, ful of wele ben ye,
  • O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
  • Your bagges been nat filled with ambes as,
  • But with sis cink, than renneth for your chaunce; Skeat1900: 125
  • At Cristemasse merie may ye daunce!
  • Ye seken lond and see for your winninges,
  • As wyse folk ye knowen al thestaat Skeat1900: (30)
  • Of regnes; ye ben fadres of tydinges
  • And tales, bothe of pees and of debat. Skeat1900: 130
  • I were right now of tales desolat,
  • Nere that a marchaunt, goon is many a yere,
  • Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal here.

THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE.

Here beginneth the Man of Lawe his Tale.

    • IN Surrie whylom dwelte a companye
    • Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe, Skeat1900: 135
    • That wyde-wher senten her spycerye,
    • Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe;
    • Her chaffar was so thrifty and so newe, Skeat1900: (40)
    • That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
    • With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir ware. Skeat1900: 140
    • Now fel it, that the maistres of that sort
    • Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;
    • Were it for chapmanhode or for disport,
    • Non other message wolde they thider sende,
    • But comen hem-self to Rome, this is the ende; Skeat1900: 145
    • And in swich place, as thoughte hem avantage
    • For her entente, they take her herbergage.
    • Soiourned han thise marchants in that toun Skeat1900: (50)
    • A certein tyme, as fel to hir plesance.
    • And so bifel, that thexcellent renoun Skeat1900: 150
    • Of themperoures doghter, dame Custance,
    • Reported was, with every circumstance,
    • Un-to thise Surrien marchants in swich wyse,
    • Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
    • This was the commune vois of every man— Skeat1900: 155
    • ‘Our Emperour of Rome, god him see,
    • A doghter hath that, sin the world bigan,
    • To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beautee, Skeat1900: (60)
    • Nas never swich another as is she;
    • I prey to god in honour hir sustene, Skeat1900: 160
    • And wolde she were of al Europe the quene.
    • In hir is heigh beautee, with-oute pryde,
    • Yowthe, with-oute grenehede or folye;
    • To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde,
    • Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye. Skeat1900: 165
    • She is mirour of alle curteisye;
    • Hir herte is verray chambre of holinesse,
    • Hir hand, ministre of fredom for almesse.’ Skeat1900: (70)
    • And al this vois was soth, as god is trewe,
    • But now to purpos lat us turne agayn; Skeat1900: 170
    • Thise marchants han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
    • And, whan they han this blisful mayden seyn,
    • Hoom to Surryë been they went ful fayn,
    • And doon her nedes as they han don yore,
    • And liven in wele; I can sey yow no more. Skeat1900: 175
    • Now fel it, that thise marchants stode in grace
    • Of him, that was the sowdan of Surrye;
    • For whan they came from any strange place, Skeat1900: (80)
    • He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
    • Make hem good chere, and bisily espye Skeat1900: 180
    • Tydings of sondry regnes, for to lere
    • The wondres that they mighte seen or here.
    • Amonges othere thinges, specially
    • Thise marchants han him told of dame Custance,
    • So gret noblesse in ernest, ceriously, Skeat1900: 185
    • That this sowdan hath caught so gret plesance
    • To han hir figure in his remembrance,
    • That al his lust and al his bisy cure Skeat1900: (90)
    • Was for to love hir whyl his lyf may dure.
    • Paraventure in thilke large book Skeat1900: 190
    • Which that men clepe the heven, y-writen was
    • With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
    • That he for love shulde han his deeth, allas!
    • For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
    • Is writen, god wot, who-so coude it rede, Skeat1900: 195
    • The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
    • In sterres, many a winter ther-biforn,
    • Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles, Skeat1900: (100)
    • Of Pompey, Iulius, er they were born;
    • The stryf of Thebes; and of Ercules, Skeat1900: 200
    • Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
    • The deeth; but mennes wittes been so dulle,
    • That no wight can wel rede it atte fulle.
    • This sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
    • And, shortly of this mater for to pace, Skeat1900: 205
    • He hath to hem declared his entente,
    • And seyde hem certein, ‘but he mighte have grace
    • To han Custance with-inne a litel space, Skeat1900: (110)
    • He nas but deed;’ and charged hem, in hye,
    • To shapen for his lyf som remedye. Skeat1900: 210
    • Diverse men diverse thinges seyden;
    • They argumenten , casten up and doun;
    • Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden,
    • They speken of magik and abusioun;
    • But finally, as in conclusion, Skeat1900: 215
    • They can not seen in that non avantage,
    • Ne in non other wey, save mariage.
    • Than sawe they ther-in swich difficultee Skeat1900: (120)
    • By wey of resoun, for to speke al playn,
    • By-cause that ther was swich diversitee Skeat1900: 220
    • Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn,
    • They trowe ‘that no cristen prince wolde fayn
    • Wedden his child under oure lawes swete
    • That us were taught by Mahoun our prophete.’
    • And he answerde, ‘rather than I lese Skeat1900: 225
    • Custance, I wol be cristned doutelees;
    • I mot ben hires, I may non other chese.
    • I prey yow holde your arguments in pees; Skeat1900: (130)
    • Saveth my lyf, and beeth noght recchelees
    • To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure; Skeat1900: 230
    • For in this wo I may not longe endure.’
    • What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
    • I seye, by tretis and embassadrye,
    • And by the popes mediacioun,
    • And al the chirche, and al the chivalrye, Skeat1900: 235
    • That, in destruccioun of Maumetrye,
    • And in encrees of Cristes lawe dere,
    • They ben acorded, so as ye shal here; Skeat1900: (140)
    • How that the sowdan and his baronage
    • And alle his liges shulde y-cristned be, Skeat1900: 240
    • And he shal han Custance in mariage,
    • And certein gold, I noot what quantitee,
    • And her-to founden suffisant seurtee;
    • This same acord was sworn on eyther syde;
    • Now, faire Custance, almighty god thee gyde! Skeat1900: 245
    • Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
    • That I shulde tellen al the purveyance
    • That themperour, of his grete noblesse, Skeat1900: (150)
    • Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custance.
    • Wel may men knowe that so gret ordinance Skeat1900: 250
    • May no man tellen in a litel clause
    • As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
    • Bisshopes ben shapen with hir for to wende,
    • Lordes, ladyes, knightes of renoun,
    • And other folk y-nowe, this is the ende; Skeat1900: 255
    • And notifyed is thurgh-out the toun
    • That every wight, with gret devocioun,
    • Shulde preyen Crist that he this mariage Skeat1900: (160)
    • Receyve in gree, and spede this viage.
    • The day is comen of hir departinge, Skeat1900: 260
    • I sey, the woful day fatal is come,
    • That ther may be no lenger taryinge,
    • But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some;
    • Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
    • Ful pale arist, and dresseth hir to wende; Skeat1900: 265
    • For wel she seeth ther is non other ende.
    • Allas! what wonder is it though she wepte,
    • That shal be sent to strange nacioun Skeat1900: (170)
    • Fro freendes, that so tendrely hir kepte,
    • And to be bounden under subieccioun Skeat1900: 270
    • Of oon, she knoweth not his condicioun.
    • Housbondes been alle gode, and han ben yore,
    • That knowen wyves, I dar say yow no more.
    • ‘Fader,’ she sayde, ‘thy wrecched child Custance,
    • Thy yonge doghter, fostred up so softe, Skeat1900: 275
    • And ye, my moder, my soverayn plesance
    • Over alle thing, out-taken Crist on-lofte,
    • Custance, your child, hir recomandeth ofte Skeat1900: (180)
    • Un-to your grace, for I shal to Surryë,
    • Ne shal I never seen yow more with yë. Skeat1900: 280
    • Allas! un-to the Barbre nacioun
    • I moste anon, sin that it is your wille;
    • But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun,
    • So yeve me grace, his hestes to fulfille;
    • I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille. Skeat1900: 285
    • Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
    • And to ben under mannes governance.’
    • I trowe, at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal Skeat1900: (190)
    • Or Ylion brende, at Thebes the citee,
    • Nat Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanibal Skeat1900: 290
    • That Romayns hath venquisshed tymes thre,
    • Nas herd swich tendre weping for pitee
    • As in the chambre was for hir departinge;
    • Bot forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or singe.
    • O firste moevyng cruel firmament, Skeat1900: 295
    • With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
    • And hurlest al from Est til Occident,
    • That naturelly wolde holde another way, Skeat1900: (200)
    • Thy crowding set the heven in swich array
    • At the beginning of this fiers viage, Skeat1900: 300
    • That cruel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
    • Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
    • Of which the lord is helples falle, allas!
    • Out of his angle in-to the derkest hous.
    • O Mars, O Atazir, as in this cas! Skeat1900: 305
    • O feble mone, unhappy been thy pas!
    • Thou knittest thee ther thou art nat receyved,
    • Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved. Skeat1900: (210)
    • Imprudent emperour of Rome, allas!
    • Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun? Skeat1900: 310
    • Is no tyme bet than other in swich cas?
    • Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
    • Namely to folk of heigh condicioun,
    • Nat whan a rote is of a birthe y-knowe?
    • Allas! we ben to lewed or to slowe. Skeat1900: 315
    • To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
    • Solempnely, with every circumstance.
    • ‘Now Iesu Crist be with yow alle,’ she sayde; Skeat1900: (220)
    • Ther nis namore but ‘farewel! faire Custance!’
    • She peyneth hir to make good countenance, Skeat1900: 320
    • And forth I lete hir sayle in this manere,
    • And turne I wol agayn to my matere.
    • The moder of the sowdan, welle of vyces,
    • Espyëd hath hir sones pleyn entente,
    • How he wol lete his olde sacrifyces, Skeat1900: 325
    • And right anon she for hir conseil sente;
    • And they ben come, to knowe what she mente.
    • And when assembled was this folk in-fere, Skeat1900: (230)
    • She sette hir doun, and sayde as ye shal here.
    • ‘Lordes,’ quod she, ‘ye knowen everichon, Skeat1900: 330
    • How that my sone in point is for to lete
    • The holy lawes of our Alkaron,
    • Yeven by goddes message Makomete.
    • But oon avow to grete god I hete,
    • The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte Skeat1900: 335
    • Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte!
    • What shulde us tyden of this newe lawe
    • But thraldom to our bodies and penance? Skeat1900: (240)
    • And afterward in helle to be drawe
    • For we reneyed Mahoun our creance? Skeat1900: 340
    • But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
    • As I shal seyn, assenting to my lore,
    • And I shall make us sauf for evermore?’
    • They sworen and assenten, every man,
    • To live with hir and dye, and by hir stonde; Skeat1900: 345
    • And everich, in the beste wyse he can,
    • To strengthen hir shal alle his freendes fonde;
    • And she hath this empryse y-take on honde, Skeat1900: (250)
    • Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
    • And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse. Skeat1900: 350
    • ‘We shul first feyne us cristendom to take,
    • Cold water shal not greve us but a lyte;
    • And I shal swich a feste and revel make,
    • That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quyte.
    • For though his wyf be cristned never so whyte, Skeat1900: 355
    • She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
    • Thogh she a font-ful water with hir lede.’
    • O sowdanesse, rote of iniquitee, Skeat1900: (260)
    • Virago, thou Semyram the secounde,
    • O serpent under femininitee, Skeat1900: 360
    • Lyk to the serpent depe in helle y-bounde,
    • O feyned womman, al that may confounde
    • Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malyce,
    • Is bred in thee, as nest of every vyce!
    • O Satan, envious sin thilke day Skeat1900: 365
    • That thou were chased from our heritage,
    • Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
    • Thou madest Eva bringe us in servage. Skeat1900: (270)
    • Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage.
    • Thyn instrument so, weylawey the whyle! Skeat1900: 370
    • Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt begyle.
    • This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warie,
    • Leet prively hir conseil goon hir way.
    • What sholde I in this tale lenger tarie?
    • She rydeth to the sowdan on a day, Skeat1900: 375
    • And seyde him, that she wolde reneye hir lay,
    • And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
    • Repenting hir she hethen was so longe, Skeat1900: (280)
    • Biseching him to doon hir that honour,
    • That she moste han the cristen men to feste; Skeat1900: 380
    • ‘To plesen hem I wol do my labour.’
    • The sowdan seith, ‘I wol don at your heste,’
    • And kneling thanketh hir of that requeste.
    • So glad he was, he niste what to seye;
    • She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye. Skeat1900: 385

Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.

    • Arryved ben this cristen folk to londe,
    • In Surrie, with a greet solempne route,
    • And hastily this sowdan sente his sonde, Skeat1900: (290)
    • First to his moder, and al the regne aboute,
    • And seyde, his wyf was comen, out of doute, Skeat1900: 390
    • And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the quene,
    • The honour of his regne to sustene.
    • Gret was the prees, and riche was tharray
    • Of Surriens and Romayns met y-fere;
    • The moder of the sowdan, riche and gay, Skeat1900: 395
    • Receyveth hir with al-so glad a chere
    • As any moder mighte hir doghter dere,
    • And to the nexte citee ther bisyde Skeat1900: (300)
    • A softe pas solempnely they ryde.
    • Noght trowe I the triumphe of Iulius, Skeat1900: 400
    • Of which that Lucan maketh swich a bost,
    • Was royaller, ne more curious
    • Than was thassemblee of this blisful host.
    • But this scorpioun, this wikked gost,
    • The sowdanesse, for al hir flateringe, Skeat1900: 405
    • Caste under this ful mortally to stinge.
    • The sowdan comth him-self sone after this
    • So royally, that wonder is to telle, Skeat1900: (310)
    • And welcometh hir with alle Ioye and blis.
    • And thus in merthe and Ioye I lete hem dwelle. Skeat1900: 410
    • The fruyt of this matere is that I telle.
    • Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
    • That revel stinte, and men goon to hir reste.
    • The tyme cam, this olde sowdanesse
    • Ordeyned hath this feste of which I tolde, Skeat1900: 415
    • And to the feste cristen folk hem dresse
    • In general, ye! bothe yonge and olde.
    • Here may men feste and royaltee biholde, Skeat1900: (320)
    • And deyntees mo than I can yow devyse,
    • But al to dere they boughte it er they ryse. Skeat1900: 420
    • O sodeyn wo! that ever art successour
    • To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse;
    • Thende of the Ioye of our worldly labour;
    • Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse.
    • Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse, Skeat1900: 425
    • Up-on thy glade day have in thy minde
    • The unwar wo or harm that comth bihinde.
    • For shortly for to tellen at o word, Skeat1900: (330)
    • The sowdan and the cristen everichone
    • Ben al to-hewe and stiked at the bord, Skeat1900: 430
    • But it were only dame Custance allone.
    • This olde sowdanesse, cursed crone,
    • Hath with hir frendes doon this cursed dede,
    • For she hir-self wolde al the contree lede.
    • Ne ther was Surrien noon that was converted Skeat1900: 435
    • That of the conseil of the sowdan woot,
    • That he nas al to-hewe er he asterted.
    • And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot, Skeat1900: (340)
    • And in a shippe al sterelees, god woot,
    • They han hir set, and bidde hir lerne sayle Skeat1900: 440
    • Out of Surrye agaynward to Itayle.
    • A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
    • And, sooth to sayn, vitaille gret plentee
    • They han hir yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
    • And forth she sayleth in the salte see. Skeat1900: 445
    • O my Custance, ful of benignitee,
    • O emperoures yonge doghter dere,
    • He that is lord of fortune be thy stere! Skeat1900: (350)
    • She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys
    • Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde she, Skeat1900: 450
    • ‘O clere, o welful auter, holy croys,
    • Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee,
    • That wesh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
    • Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe,
    • That day that I shal drenchen in the depe. Skeat1900: 455
    • Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
    • That only worthy were for to bere
    • The king of heven with his woundes newe, Skeat1900: (360)
    • The whyte lamb, that hurt was with the spere,
    • Flemer of feendes out of him and here Skeat1900: 460
    • On which thy limes feithfully extenden,
    • Me keep, and yif me might my lyf tamenden.’
    • Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
    • Thurghout the see of Grece un-to the strayte
    • Of Marrok, as it was hir aventure; Skeat1900: 465
    • On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
    • After her deeth ful often may she wayte,
    • Er that the wilde wawes wole hir dryve Skeat1900: (370)
    • Un-to the place, ther she shal arryve.
    • Men mighten asken why she was not slayn? Skeat1900: 470
    • Eek at the feste who mighte hir body save?
    • And I answere to that demaunde agayn,
    • Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave,
    • Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
    • Was with the leoun frete er he asterte? Skeat1900: 475
    • No wight but god, that he bar in his herte.
    • God liste to shewe his wonderful miracle
    • In hir, for we sholde seen his mighty werkes; Skeat1900: (380)
    • Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
    • By certein menes ofte, as knowen clerkes, Skeat1900: 480
    • Doth thing for certein ende that ful derk is
    • To mannes wit, that for our ignorance
    • Ne conne not knowe his prudent purveyance.
    • Now, sith she was not at the feste y-slawe,
    • Who kepte hir fro the drenching in the see? Skeat1900: 485
    • Who kepte Ionas in the fisshes mawe
    • Til he was spouted up at Ninivee?
    • Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he Skeat1900: (390)
    • That kepte peple Ebraik fro hir drenchinge,
    • With drye feet thurgh-out the see passinge. Skeat1900: 490
    • Who bad the foure spirits of tempest,
    • That power han tanoyen land and see,
    • ‘Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
    • Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree?’
    • Sothly, the comaundour of that was he, Skeat1900: 495
    • That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
    • As wel whan [that] she wook as whan she slepte.
    • Wher mighte this womman mete and drinke have? Skeat1900: (400)
    • Three yeer and more how lasteth hir vitaille?
    • Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave, Skeat1900: 500
    • Or in desert? no wight but Crist, sans faille.
    • Fyve thousand folk it was as gret mervaille
    • With loves fyve and fisshes two to fede.
    • God sente his foison at hir grete nede.
    • She dryveth forth in-to our occean Skeat1900: 505
    • Thurgh-out our wilde see, til, atte laste,
    • Under an hold that nempnen I ne can,
    • Fer in Northumberlond the wawe hir caste, Skeat1900: (410)
    • And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste,
    • That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde, Skeat1900: 510
    • The wille of Crist was that she shulde abyde.
    • The constable of the castel doun is fare
    • To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
    • And fond this wery womman ful of care;
    • He fond also the tresor that she broghte. Skeat1900: 515
    • In hir langage mercy she bisoghte
    • The lyf out of hir body for to twinne,
    • Hir to delivere of wo that she was inne. Skeat1900: (420)
    • A maner Latin corrupt was hir speche,
    • But algates ther by was she understonde; Skeat1900: 520
    • The constable, whan him list no lenger seche,
    • This woful womman broghte he to the londe;
    • She kneleth doun, and thanketh goddes sonde.
    • But what she was, she wolde no man seye,
    • For foul ne fair, though that she shulde deye. Skeat1900: 525
    • She seyde, she was so mased in the see
    • That she forgat hir minde, by hir trouthe;
    • The constable hath of hir so greet pitee, Skeat1900: (430)
    • And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe,
    • She was so diligent, with-outen slouthe, Skeat1900: 530
    • To serve and plesen everich in that place,
    • That alle hir loven that loken on hir face.
    • This constable and dame Hermengild his wyf
    • Were payens, and that contree every-where;
    • But Hermengild lovede hir right as hir lyf, Skeat1900: 535
    • And Custance hath so longe soiourned there,
    • In orisons, with many a bitter tere,
    • Til Iesu hath converted thurgh his grace Skeat1900: (440)
    • Dame Hermengild, constablesse of that place.
    • In al that lond no cristen durste route, Skeat1900: 540
    • Alle cristen folk ben fled fro that contree
    • Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
    • The plages of the North, by land and see;
    • To Walis fled the cristianitee
    • Of olde Britons, dwellinge in this yle; Skeat1900: 545
    • Ther was hir refut for the mene whyle.
    • But yet nere cristen Britons so exyled
    • That ther nere somme that in hir privetee Skeat1900: (450)
    • Honoured Crist, and hethen folk bigyled;
    • And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three. Skeat1900: 550
    • That oon of hem was blind, and mighte nat see
    • But it were with thilke yën of his minde,
    • With whiche men seen, after that they ben blinde.
    • Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
    • For which the constable and his wyf also Skeat1900: 555
    • And Custance han y-take the righte way
    • Toward the see, a furlong wey or two,
    • To pleyen and to romen to and fro; Skeat1900: (460)
    • And in hir walk this blinde man they mette
    • Croked and old, with yën faste y-shette. Skeat1900: 560
    • ‘In name of Crist,’ cryde this blinde Britoun,
    • ‘Dame Hermengild, yif me my sighte agayn.’
    • This lady wex affrayed of the soun,
    • Lest that hir housbond, shortly for to sayn,
    • Wolde hir for Iesu Cristes love han slayn, Skeat1900: 565
    • Til Custance made hir bold, and bad hir werche
    • The wil of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.
    • The constable wex abasshed of that sight, Skeat1900: (470)
    • And seyde, ‘what amounteth al this fare?’
    • Custance answerde, ‘sire, it is Cristes might, Skeat1900: 570
    • That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.’
    • And so ferforth she gan our lay declare,
    • That she the constable, er that it were eve,
    • Converted, and on Crist made him bileve.
    • This constable was no-thing lord of this place Skeat1900: 575
    • Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
    • But kepte it strongly, many wintres space,
    • Under Alla, king of al Northumberlond, Skeat1900: (480)
    • That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
    • Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel here, Skeat1900: 580
    • But turne I wol agayn to my matere.
    • Sathan, that ever us waiteth to bigyle,
    • Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun,
    • And caste anon how he mighte quyte hir whyle,
    • And made a yong knight, that dwelte in that toun, Skeat1900: 585
    • Love hir so hote, of foul affeccioun,
    • That verraily him thoughte he shulde spille
    • But he of hir mighte ones have his wille. Skeat1900: (490)
    • He woweth hir, but it availleth noght,
    • She wolde do no sinne, by no weye; Skeat1900: 590
    • And, for despyt, he compassed in his thoght
    • To maken hir on shamful deth to deye.
    • He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
    • And prively, up-on a night, he crepte
    • In Hermengildes chambre whyl she slepte. Skeat1900: 595
    • Wery, for-waked in her orisouns,
    • Slepeth Custance, and Hermengild also.
    • This knight, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns, Skeat1900: (500)
    • Al softely is to the bed y-go,
    • And kitte the throte of Hermengild a-two, Skeat1900: 600
    • And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
    • And wente his wey, ther god yeve him meschance!
    • Sone after comth this constable hoom agayn,
    • And eek Alla, that king was of that lond,
    • And saugh his wyf despitously y-slayn, Skeat1900: 605
    • For which ful ofte he weep and wrong his hond,
    • And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
    • By dame Custance; allas! what mighte she seye? Skeat1900: (510)
    • For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
    • To king Alla was told al this meschance, Skeat1900: 610
    • And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wyse
    • That in a ship was founden dame Custance,
    • As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
    • The kinges herte of pitee gan agryse,
    • Whan he saugh so benigne a creature Skeat1900: 615
    • Falle in disese and in misaventure.
    • For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
    • So stant this innocent bifore the king; Skeat1900: (520)
    • This false knight that hath this tresoun wroght
    • Berth hir on hond that she hath doon this thing. Skeat1900: 620
    • But nathelees, ther was greet moorning
    • Among the peple, and seyn, ‘they can not gesse
    • That she hath doon so greet a wikkednesse.
    • For they han seyn hir ever so vertuous,
    • And loving Hermengild right as her lyf.’ Skeat1900: 625
    • Of this bar witnesse everich in that hous
    • Save he that Hermengild slow with his knyf.
    • This gentil king hath caught a gret motyf Skeat1900: (530)
    • Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
    • Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. Skeat1900: 630
    • Allas! Custance! thou hast no champioun,
    • Ne fighte canstow nought, so weylawey!
    • But he, that starf for our redempcioun
    • And bond Sathan (and yit lyth ther he lay)
    • So be thy stronge champioun this day! Skeat1900: 635
    • For, but-if Crist open miracle kythe,
    • Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swythe.
    • She sette her doun on knees, and thus she sayde, Skeat1900: (540)
    • ‘Immortal god, that savedest Susanne
    • Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde, Skeat1900: 640
    • Mary I mene, doghter to Seint Anne,
    • Bifore whos child aungeles singe Osanne,
    • If I be giltlees of this felonye,
    • My socour be, for elles I shal dye!’
    • Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face, Skeat1900: 645
    • Among a prees, of him that hath be lad
    • Toward his deeth, wher-as him gat no grace,
    • And swich a colour in his face hath had, Skeat1900: (550)
    • Men mighte knowe his face, that was bistad,
    • Amonges alle the faces in that route: Skeat1900: 650
    • So stant Custance, and loketh hir aboute.
    • O quenes, livinge in prosperitee,
    • Duchesses, and ye ladies everichone,
    • Haveth som routhe on hir adversitee;
    • An emperoures doghter stant allone; Skeat1900: 655
    • She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
    • O blood royal, that stondest in this drede,
    • Fer ben thy freendes at thy grete nede! Skeat1900: (560)
    • This Alla king hath swich compassioun,
    • As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, Skeat1900: 660
    • That from his yën ran the water doun.
    • ‘Now hastily do fecche a book,’ quod he,
    • ‘And if this knight wol sweren how that she
    • This womman slow, yet wole we us avyse
    • Whom that we wole that shal ben our Iustyse.’ Skeat1900: 665
    • A Briton book, writen with Evangyles,
    • Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
    • She gilty was, and in the mene whyles Skeat1900: (570)
    • A hand him smoot upon the nekke-boon,
    • That doun he fil atones as a stoon, Skeat1900: 670
    • And bothe his yën broste out of his face
    • In sight of every body in that place.
    • A vois was herd in general audience,
    • And seyde, ‘thou hast desclaundred giltelees
    • The doghter of holy chirche in hey presence; Skeat1900: 675
    • Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees.’
    • Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
    • As mased folk they stoden everichone, Skeat1900: (580)
    • For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
    • Greet was the drede and eek the repentance Skeat1900: 680
    • Of hem that hadden wrong suspeccioun
    • Upon this sely innocent Custance;
    • And, for this miracle, in conclusioun,
    • And by Custances mediacioun,
    • The king, and many another in that place, Skeat1900: 685
    • Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!
    • This false knight was slayn for his untrouthe
    • By Iugement of Alla hastifly; Skeat1900: (590)
    • And yet Custance hadde of his deeth gret routhe.
    • And after this Iesus, of his mercy, Skeat1900: 690
    • Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
    • This holy mayden, that is so bright and shene,
    • And thus hath Crist y-maad Custance a quene.
    • But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
    • Of this wedding but Donegild, and na mo, Skeat1900: 695
    • The kinges moder, ful of tirannye?
    • Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast a-two;
    • She wolde noght hir sone had do so; Skeat1900: (600)
    • Hir thoughte a despit, that he sholde take
    • So strange a creature un-to his make. Skeat1900: 700
    • Me list nat of the chaf nor of the stree
    • Maken so long a tale, as of the corn.
    • What sholde I tellen of the royaltee
    • At mariage, or which cours gooth biforn,
    • Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn? Skeat1900: 705
    • The fruit of every tale is for to seye;
    • They ete, and drinke, and daunce, and singe, and pleye.
    • They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right; Skeat1900: (610)
    • For, thogh that wyves been ful holy thinges,
    • They moste take in pacience at night Skeat1900: 710
    • Swich maner necessaries as been plesinges
    • To folk that han y-wedded hem with ringes,
    • And leye a lyte hir holinesse asyde
    • As for the tyme; it may no bet bityde.
    • On hir he gat a knave-child anoon, Skeat1900: 715
    • And to a bishop and his constable eke
    • He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is goon
    • To Scotland-ward, his fo-men for to seke; Skeat1900: (620)
    • Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,
    • So longe is goon with childe, til that stille Skeat1900: 720
    • She halt hir chambre, abyding Cristes wille.
    • The tyme is come, a knave-child she ber;
    • Mauricius at the font-stoon they him calle;
    • This Constable dooth forth come a messager,
    • And wroot un-to his king, that cleped was Alle, Skeat1900: 725
    • How that this blisful tyding is bifalle,
    • And othere tydings speedful for to seye;
    • He takth the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye. Skeat1900: (630)
    • This messager, to doon his avantage,
    • Un-to the kinges moder rydeth swythe, Skeat1900: 730
    • And salueth hir ful faire in his langage,
    • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘ye may be glad and blythe,
    • And thanke god an hundred thousand sythe;
    • My lady quene hath child, with-outen doute,
    • To Ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute. Skeat1900: 735
    • Lo, heer the lettres seled of this thing,
    • That I mot bere with al the haste I may;
    • If ye wol aught un-to your sone the king, Skeat1900: (640)
    • I am your servant, bothe night and day.’
    • Donegild answerde, ‘as now at this tyme, nay; Skeat1900: 740
    • But heer al night I wol thou take thy reste,
    • Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste.’
    • This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
    • And stolen were his lettres prively
    • Out of his box, whyl he sleep as a swyn; Skeat1900: 745
    • And countrefeted was ful subtilly
    • Another lettre, wroght ful sinfully,
    • Un-to the king direct of this matere Skeat1900: (650)
    • Fro his constable, as ye shul after here.
    • The lettre spak, ‘the queen delivered was Skeat1900: 750
    • Of so horrible a feendly creature,
    • That in the castel noon so hardy was
    • That any whyle dorste ther endure.
    • The moder was an elf, by aventure
    • Y-come , by charmes or by sorcerye, Skeat1900: 755
    • And every wight hateth hir companye.’
    • Wo was this king whan he this lettre had seyn,
    • But to no wighte he tolde his sorwes sore, Skeat1900: (660)
    • But of his owene honde he wroot ageyn,
    • ‘Welcome the sonde of Crist for evermore Skeat1900: 760
    • To me, that am now lerned in his lore;
    • Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce,
    • My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce!
    • Kepeth this child, al be it foul or fair,
    • And eek my wyf, un-to myn hoom-cominge; Skeat1900: 765
    • Crist, whan him list, may sende me an heir
    • More agreable than this to my lykinge.’
    • This lettre he seleth, prively wepinge, Skeat1900: (670)
    • Which to the messager was take sone,
    • And forth he gooth; ther is na more to done. Skeat1900: 770
    • O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
    • Strong is thy breeth, thy limes faltren ay,
    • And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
    • Thy mind is lorn, thou Ianglest as a Iay,
    • Thy face is turned in a newe array! Skeat1900: 775
    • Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
    • Ther is no conseil hid, with-outen doute.
    • O Donegild, I ne have noon English digne Skeat1900: (680)
    • Un-to thy malice and thy tirannye!
    • And therfor to the feend I thee resigne, Skeat1900: 780
    • Let him endyten of thy traitorye!
    • Fy, mannish, fy! o nay, by god, I lye,
    • Fy, feendly spirit, for I dar wel telle,
    • Though thou heer walke, thy spirit is in helle!
    • This messager comth fro the king agayn, Skeat1900: 785
    • And at the kinges modres court he lighte,
    • And she was of this messager ful fayn,
    • And plesed him in al that ever she mighte. Skeat1900: (690)
    • He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte.
    • He slepeth, and he snoreth in his gyse Skeat1900: 790
    • Al night, un-til the sonne gan aryse.
    • Eft were his lettres stolen everichon
    • And countrefeted lettres in this wyse;
    • ‘The king comandeth his constable anon,
    • Up peyne of hanging, and on heigh Iuÿse, Skeat1900: 795
    • That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
    • Custance in-with his regne for tabyde
    • Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde; Skeat1900: (700)
    • But in the same ship as he hir fond,
    • Hir and hir yonge sone, and al hir gere, Skeat1900: 800
    • He sholde putte, and croude hir fro the lond,
    • And charge hir that she never eft come there.’
    • O my Custance, wel may thy goost have fere
    • And sleping in thy dreem been in penance,
    • When Donegild caste al this ordinance! Skeat1900: 805
    • This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
    • Un-to the castel halt the nexte wey,
    • And to the constable he the lettre took; Skeat1900: (710)
    • And whan that he this pitous lettre sey,
    • Ful ofte he seyde ‘allas!’ and ‘weylawey!’ Skeat1900: 810
    • ‘Lord Crist,’ quod he, ‘how may this world endure?
    • So ful of sinne is many a creature!
    • O mighty god, if that it be thy wille,
    • Sith thou art rightful Iuge, how may it be
    • That thou wolt suffren innocents to spille, Skeat1900: 815
    • And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
    • O good Custance, allas! so wo is me
    • That I mot be thy tormentour, or deye Skeat1900: (720)
    • On shames deeth; ther is noon other weye!’
    • Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place, Skeat1900: 820
    • Whan that the king this cursed lettre sente,
    • And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
    • The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
    • But natheles she taketh in good entente
    • The wille of Crist, and, kneling on the stronde, Skeat1900: 825
    • She seyde, ‘lord! ay wel-com be thy sonde!
    • He that me kepte fro the false blame
    • Whyl I was on the londe amonges yow, Skeat1900: (730)
    • He can me kepe from harme and eek fro shame
    • In salte see, al-thogh I se nat how. Skeat1900: 830
    • As strong as ever he was, he is yet now.
    • In him triste I, and in his moder dere,
    • That is to me my seyl and eek my stere.’
    • Hir litel child lay weping in hir arm,
    • And kneling, pitously to him she seyde, Skeat1900: 835
    • ‘Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee non harm.’
    • With that hir kerchef of hir heed she breyde,
    • And over his litel yën she it leyde; Skeat1900: (740)
    • And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
    • And in-to heven hir yën up she caste. Skeat1900: 840
    • ‘Moder,’ quod she, ‘and mayde bright, Marye,
    • Sooth is that thurgh wommannes eggement
    • Mankind was lorn and damned ay to dye,
    • For which thy child was on a croys y-rent;
    • Thy blisful yën sawe al his torment; Skeat1900: 845
    • Than is ther no comparisoun bitwene
    • Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
    • Thou sawe thy child y-slayn bifor thyn yën, Skeat1900: (750)
    • And yet now liveth my litel child, parfay!
    • Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryën, Skeat1900: 850
    • Thou glorie of wommanhede, thou faire may,
    • Thou haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
    • Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
    • Rewest on every rewful in distresse!
    • O litel child, allas! what is thy gilt, Skeat1900: 855
    • That never wroughtest sinne as yet, pardee,
    • Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
    • O mercy, dere Constable!’ quod she; Skeat1900: (760)
    • ‘As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
    • And if thou darst not saven him, for blame, Skeat1900: 860
    • So kis him ones in his fadres name!’
    • Ther-with she loketh bakward to the londe,
    • And seyde, ‘far-wel, housbond routhelees!’
    • And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
    • Toward the ship; hir folweth al the prees, Skeat1900: 865
    • And ever she preyeth hir child to holde his pees;
    • And taketh hir leve, and with an holy entente
    • She blesseth hir; and in-to ship she wente. Skeat1900: (770)
    • Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
    • Habundantly for hir, ful longe space, Skeat1900: 870
    • And other necessaries that sholde nede
    • She hadde y-nogh, heried be goddes grace!
    • For wind and weder almighty god purchace,
    • And bringe hir hoom! I can no bettre seye;
    • But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. Skeat1900: 875

Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.

    • Alla the king comth hoom, sone after this,
    • Unto his castel of the which I tolde,
    • And axeth wher his wyf and his child is. Skeat1900: (780)
    • The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
    • And pleynly al the maner he him tolde Skeat1900: 880
    • As ye han herd, I can telle it no bettre,
    • And sheweth the king his seel and [eek] his lettre,
    • And seyde, ‘lord, as ye comaunded me
    • Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein.’
    • This messager tormented was til he Skeat1900: 885
    • Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and plein,
    • Fro night to night, in what place he had leyn.
    • And thus, by wit and subtil enqueringe, Skeat1900: (790)
    • Ymagined was by whom this harm gan springe.
    • The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, Skeat1900: 890
    • And al the venim of this cursed dede,
    • But in what wyse, certeinly I noot.
    • Theffect is this, that Alla, out of drede,
    • His moder slow, that men may pleinly rede,
    • For that she traitour was to hir ligeaunce. Skeat1900: 895
    • Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschaunce.
    • The sorwe that this Alla, night and day,
    • Maketh for his wyf and for his child also, Skeat1900: (800)
    • Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
    • But now wol I un-to Custance go, Skeat1900: 900
    • That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
    • Fyve yeer and more, as lyked Cristes sonde,
    • Er that hir ship approched un-to londe.
    • Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
    • Of which the name in my text noght I finde, Skeat1900: 905
    • Custance and eek hir child the see up-caste.
    • Almighty god, that saveth al mankinde,
    • Have on Custance and on hir child som minde, Skeat1900: (810)
    • That fallen is in hethen land eft-sone,
    • In point to spille, as I shal telle yow sone. Skeat1900: 910
    • Doun from the castel comth ther many a wight
    • To gauren on this ship and on Custance.
    • But shortly, from the castel, on a night,
    • The lordes styward—god yeve him meschaunce!—
    • A theef, that had reneyed our creaunce, Skeat1900: 915
    • Com in-to ship allone, and seyde he sholde
    • Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
    • Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon, Skeat1900: (820)
    • Hir child cryde, and she cryde pitously;
    • But blisful Marie heelp hir right anon; Skeat1900: 920
    • For with hir strugling wel and mightily
    • The theef fil over bord al sodeinly,
    • And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
    • And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
    • O foule lust of luxurie! lo, thyn ende! Auctor. Skeat1900: 925
    • Nat only that thou feyntest mannes minde,
    • But verraily thou wolt his body shende;
    • Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes blinde Skeat1900: (830)
    • Is compleyning, how many-oon may men finde
    • That noght for werk som-tyme, but for thentente Skeat1900: 930
    • To doon this sinne, ben outher sleyn or shente!
    • How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
    • Hir to defende agayn this renegat?
    • O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
    • How mighte David make thee so mat, Skeat1900: 935
    • So yong and of armure so desolat?
    • How dorste he loke up-on thy dredful face?
    • Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes grace! Skeat1900: (840)
    • Who yaf Iudith corage or hardinesse
    • To sleen him, Olofernus, in his tente, Skeat1900: 940
    • And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
    • The peple of god? I seye, for this entente,
    • That, right as god spirit of vigour sente
    • To hem, and saved hem out of meschance,
    • So sente he might and vigour to Custance. Skeat1900: 945
    • Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the narwe mouth
    • Of Iubaltar and Septe, dryving ay,
    • Som-tyme West, som-tyme North and South, Skeat1900: (850)
    • And som-tyme Est, ful many a wery day,
    • Til Cristes moder (blessed be she ay!) Skeat1900: 950
    • Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
    • To make an ende of al hir hevinesse.
    • Now lat us stinte of Custance but a throwe,
    • And speke we of the Romain Emperour,
    • That out of Surrie hath by lettres knowe Skeat1900: 955
    • The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
    • Don to his doghter by a fals traitour,
    • I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse, Skeat1900: (860)
    • That at the feste leet sleen both more and lesse.
    • For which this emperour hath sent anoon Skeat1900: 960
    • His senatour, with royal ordinance,
    • And othere lordes, got wot, many oon,
    • On Surriens to taken heigh vengeance.
    • They brennen, sleen, and bringe hem to meschance
    • Ful many a day; but shortly, this is thende, Skeat1900: 965
    • Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
    • This senatour repaireth with victorie
    • To Rome-ward, sayling ful royally, Skeat1900: (870)
    • And mette the ship dryving, as seith the storie,
    • In which Custance sit ful pitously. Skeat1900: 970
    • No-thing ne knew he what she was, ne why
    • She was in swich array; ne she nil seye
    • Of hir estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
    • He bringeth hir to Rome, and to his wyf
    • He yaf hir, and hir yonge sone also; Skeat1900: 975
    • And with the senatour she ladde her lyf.
    • Thus can our lady bringen out of wo
    • Woful Custance, and many another mo. Skeat1900: (880)
    • And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
    • In holy werkes ever, as was hir grace. Skeat1900: 980
    • The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
    • But for al that she knew hir never the more;
    • I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
    • But to king Alla, which I spak of yore,
    • That for his wyf wepeth and syketh sore, Skeat1900: 985
    • I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
    • Under the senatoures governance.
    • King Alla, which that hadde his moder slayn, Skeat1900: (890)
    • Upon a day fil in swich repentance,
    • That, if I shortly tellen shal and plain, Skeat1900: 990
    • To Rome he comth, to receyven his penance;
    • And putte him in the popes ordinance
    • In heigh and low, and Iesu Crist bisoghte
    • Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
    • The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born, Skeat1900: 995
    • How Alla king shal come in pilgrimage,
    • By herbergeours that wenten him biforn;
    • For which the senatour, as was usage, Skeat1900: (900)
    • Rood him ageyn , and many of his linage,
    • As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence Skeat1900: 1000
    • As to don any king a reverence.
    • Greet chere dooth this noble senatour
    • To king Alla, and he to him also;
    • Everich of hem doth other greet honour;
    • And so bifel that, in a day or two, Skeat1900: 1005
    • This senatour is to king Alla go
    • To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
    • Custances sone wente in his companye. Skeat1900: (910)
    • Som men wolde seyn, at requeste of Custance,
    • This senatour hath lad this child to feste; Skeat1900: 1010
    • I may nat tellen every circumstance,
    • Be as be may, ther was he at the leste.
    • But soth is this, that, at his modres heste,
    • Biforn Alla, during the metes space,
    • The child stood, loking in the kinges face. Skeat1900: 1015
    • This Alla king hath of this child greet wonder,
    • And to the senatour he seyde anon,
    • ‘Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?’ Skeat1900: (920)
    • ‘I noot,’ quod he, ‘by god, and by seint Iohn!
    • A moder he hath, but fader hath he non Skeat1900: 1020
    • That I of woot’—but shortly, in a stounde,
    • He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.
    • ‘But god wot,’ quod this senatour also,
    • ‘So vertuous a livere in my lyf,
    • Ne saugh I never as she, ne herde of mo Skeat1900: 1025
    • Of worldly wommen, mayden, nor of wyf;
    • I dar wel seyn hir hadde lever a knyf
    • Thurgh-out her breste, than been a womman wikke; Skeat1900: (930)
    • Ther is no man coude bringe hir to that prikke.’
    • Now was this child as lyk un-to Custance Skeat1900: 1030
    • As possible is a creature to be.
    • This Alla hath the face in remembrance
    • Of dame Custance, and ther-on mused he
    • If that the childes moder were aught she
    • That was his wyf, and prively he sighte, Skeat1900: 1035
    • And spedde him fro the table that he mighte.
    • ‘Parfay,’ thoghte he, ‘fantome is in myn heed!
    • I oghte deme, of skilful Iugement, Skeat1900: (940)
    • That in the salte see my wyf is deed.’
    • And afterward he made his argument— Skeat1900: 1040
    • ‘What woot I, if that Crist have hider y-sent
    • My wyf by see, as wel as he hir sente
    • To my contree fro thennes that she wente?’
    • And, after noon, hoom with the senatour
    • Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce. Skeat1900: 1045
    • This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,
    • And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.
    • But trusteth weel, hir liste nat to daunce Skeat1900: (950)
    • Whan that she wiste wherefor was that sonde.
    • Unnethe up-on hir feet she mighte stonde. Skeat1900: 1050
    • When Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hir grette,
    • And weep, that it was routhe for to see.
    • For at the firste look he on hir sette
    • He knew wel verraily that it was she.
    • And she for sorwe as domb stant as a tree; Skeat1900: 1055
    • So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
    • Whan she remembred his unkindenesse.
    • Twyës she swowned in his owne sighte; Skeat1900: (960)
    • He weep, and him excuseth pitously:—
    • ‘Now god,’ quod he, ‘and alle his halwes brighte Skeat1900: 1060
    • So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
    • That of your harm as giltelees am I
    • As is Maurice my sone so lyk your face;
    • Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!’
    • Long was the sobbing and the bitter peyne Skeat1900: 1065
    • Er that hir woful hertes mighte cesse;
    • Greet was the pitee for to here hem pleyne,
    • Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse. Skeat1900: (970)
    • I prey yow al my labour to relesse;
    • I may nat telle hir wo un-til tomorwe, Skeat1900: 1070
    • I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
    • But fynally, when that the sooth is wist
    • That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,
    • I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
    • And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two Skeat1900: 1075
    • That, save the Ioye that lasteth evermo,
    • Ther is non lyk, that any creature
    • Hath seyn or shal, whyl that the world may dure. Skeat1900: (980)
    • Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely,
    • In relief of hir longe pitous pyne, Skeat1900: 1080
    • That he wold preye hir fader specially
    • That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne
    • To vouche-sauf som day with him to dyne;
    • She preyde him eek, he sholde by no weye
    • Un-to hir fader no word of hir seye. Skeat1900: 1085
    • Som men wold seyn, how that the child Maurice
    • Doth this message un-to this emperour;
    • But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce Skeat1900: (990)
    • To him, that was of so sovereyn honour
    • As he that is of cristen folk the flour, Skeat1900: 1090
    • Sente any child, but it is bet to deme
    • He wente him-self, and so it may wel seme.
    • This emperour hath graunted gentilly
    • To come to diner, as he him bisoghte;
    • And wel rede I, he loked bisily Skeat1900: 1095
    • Up-on this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
    • Alla goth to his in, and, as him oghte,
    • Arrayed for this feste in every wyse Skeat1900: (1000)
    • As ferforth as his conning may suffyse.
    • The morwe cam, and Alla gan him dresse, Skeat1900: 1100
    • And eek his wyf, this emperour to mete;
    • And forth they ryde in Ioye and in gladnesse.
    • And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
    • She lighte doun, and falleth him to fete.
    • ‘Fader,’ quod she, ‘your yonge child Custance Skeat1900: 1105
    • Is now ful clene out of your remembrance.
    • I am your doghter Custance,’ quod she,
    • ‘That whylom ye han sent un-to Surrye. Skeat1900: (1010)
    • It am I, fader, that in the salte see
    • Was put allone and dampned for to dye. Skeat1900: 1110
    • Now, gode fader, mercy I yow crye,
    • Send me namore un-to non hethenesse,
    • But thonketh my lord heer of his kindenesse.’
    • Who can the pitous Ioye tellen al
    • Bitwix hem three, sin they ben thus y-mette? Skeat1900: 1115
    • But of my tale make an ende I shal;
    • The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
    • This glade folk to diner they hem sette; Skeat1900: (1020)
    • In Ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
    • A thousand fold wel more than I can telle. Skeat1900: 1120
    • This child Maurice was sithen emperour
    • Maad by the pope, and lived cristenly.
    • To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour;
    • But I lete al his storie passen by,
    • Of Custance is my tale specially. Skeat1900: 1125
    • In olde Romayn gestes may men finde
    • Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in minde.
    • This king Alla, whan he his tyme sey, Skeat1900: (1030)
    • With his Custance, his holy wyf so swete,
    • To Engelond been they come the righte wey, Skeat1900: 1130
    • Wher-as they live in Ioye and in quiete.
    • But litel whyl it lasteth, I yow hete,
    • Ioye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
    • Fro day to night it changeth as the tyde.
    • Who lived ever in swich delyt o day Skeat1900: 1135
    • That him ne moeved outher conscience,
    • Or ire, or talent, or som kin affray,
    • Envye, or pryde, or passion, or offence? Skeat1900: (1040)
    • I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
    • That litel whyl in Ioye or in plesance Skeat1900: 1140
    • Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.
    • For deeth, that taketh of heigh and low his rente,
    • When passed was a yeer, even as I gesse,
    • Out of this world this king Alla he hente,
    • For whom Custance hath ful gret hevinesse. Skeat1900: 1145
    • Now lat us preyen god his soule blesse!
    • And dame Custance, fynally to seye,
    • Towards the toun of Rome gooth hir weye. Skeat1900: (1050)
    • To Rome is come this holy creature,
    • And fyndeth ther hir frendes hole and sounde: Skeat1900: 1150
    • Now is she scaped al hir aventure;
    • And whan that she hir fader hath y-founde,
    • Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;
    • Weping for tendrenesse in herte blythe,
    • She herieth god an hundred thousand sythe. Skeat1900: 1155
    • In vertu and in holy almes-dede
    • They liven alle, and never a-sonder wende;
    • Til deeth departed hem, this lyf they lede. Skeat1900: (1060)
    • And fareth now weel, my tale is at an ende.
    • Now Iesu Crist, that of his might may sende Skeat1900: 1160
    • Ioye after wo, governe us in his grace,
    • And kepe us alle that ben in this place! Amen.

Here endeth the Tale of the Man of Lawe; and next folweth the Shipmannes Prolog.

THE SHIPMAN’S PROLOGUE.

Here biginneth the Shipmannes Prolog.

asterisks In Tyrwhitt’s text, ll. 12903-12924.

  • OUR hoste up-on his stiropes stood anon,
  • And seyde, ‘good men, herkneth everich on;
  • This was a thrifty tale for the nones! Skeat1900: 1165
  • Sir parish prest,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones,
  • Tel us a tale, as was thy forward yore.
  • I see wel that ye lerned men in lore
  • Can moche good, by goddes dignitee!’
  • The Persone him answerde, ‘ benedicte ! Skeat1900: 1170
  • What eyleth the man, so sinfully to swere?’
  • Our hoste answerde, ‘O Iankin, be ye there? Skeat1900: (10)
  • I smelle a loller in the wind,’ quod he.
  • ‘How! good men,’ quod our hoste, ‘herkneth me;
  • Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun, Skeat1900: 1175
  • For we shal han a predicacioun;
  • This loller heer wil prechen us som-what.’
  • ‘Nay, by my fader soule! that shal be nat,’
  • Seyde the Shipman; ‘heer he shal nat preche,
  • He shal no gospel glosen heer ne teche. Skeat1900: 1180
  • We leve alle in the grete god,’ quod he,
  • ‘He wolde sowen som difficultee, Skeat1900: (20)
  • Or springen cokkel in our clene corn;
  • And therfor, hoste, I warne thee biforn,
  • My Ioly body shal a tale telle, Skeat1900: 1185
  • And I shal clinken yow so mery a belle,
  • That I shal waken al this companye;
  • But it shal nat ben of philosophye,
  • Ne physices, ne termes queinte of lawe; Skeat1900: (27)
  • Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe.’ Skeat1900: 1190

Here endeth the Shipman his Prolog.

THE SHIPMANNES TALE.

Here biginneth the Shipmannes Tale.

  • A Marchant whylom dwelled at Seint Denys,
  • That riche was, for which men helde him wys;
  • A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee,
  • And compaignable and revelous was she,
  • Which is a thing that causeth more dispence Skeat1900: 1195
  • Than worth is al the chere and reverence
  • That men hem doon at festes and at daunces;
  • Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces
  • Passen as dooth a shadwe up-on the wal.
  • But wo is him that payen moot for al; Skeat1900: 1200
  • The sely housbond, algate he mot paye; Skeat1900: (11)
  • He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye,
  • Al for his owene worship richely,
  • In which array we daunce Iolily.
  • And if that he noght may, par-aventure, Skeat1900: 1205
  • Or elles , list no swich dispence endure,
  • But thinketh it is wasted and y-lost,
  • Than moot another payen for our cost,
  • Or lene us gold, and that is perilous.
  • This noble Marchant heeld a worthy hous, Skeat1900: 1210
  • For which he hadde alday so greet repair Skeat1900: (21)
  • For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair,
  • That wonder is; but herkneth to my tale.
  • Amonges alle his gestes, grete and smale,
  • Ther was a monk, a fair man and a bold, Skeat1900: 1215
  • I trowe of thritty winter he was old,
  • That ever in oon was drawing to that place.
  • This yonge monk, that was so fair of face,
  • Aqueinted was so with the gode man,
  • Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan, Skeat1900: 1220
  • That in his hous as famulier was he Skeat1900: (31)
  • As it possible is any freend to be.
  • And for as muchel as this gode man
  • And eek this monk, of which that I bigan,
  • Were bothe two y-born in o village, Skeat1900: 1225
  • The monk him claimeth as for cosinage;
  • And he again, he seith nat ones nay,
  • But was as glad ther-of as fowel of day;
  • For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce.
  • Thus been they knit with eterne alliaunce, Skeat1900: 1230
  • And ech of hem gan other for tassure Skeat1900: (41)
  • Of bretherhede, whyl that hir lyf may dure.
  • Free was daun Iohn, and namely of dispence,
  • As in that hous; and ful of diligence
  • To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage. Skeat1900: 1235
  • He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page
  • In al that hous; but, after hir degree,
  • He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee,
  • When that he cam, som maner honest thing;
  • For which they were as glad of his coming Skeat1900: 1240
  • As fowel is fayn, whan that the sonne up-ryseth. Skeat1900: (51)
  • Na more of this as now, for it suffyseth.
  • But so bifel, this marchant on a day
  • Shoop him to make redy his array
  • Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare, Skeat1900: 1245
  • To byen ther a porcioun of ware;
  • For which he hath to Paris sent anon
  • A messager, and preyed hath daun Iohn
  • That he sholde come to Seint Denys to pleye
  • With him and with his wyf a day or tweye, Skeat1900: 1250
  • Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wyse. Skeat1900: (61)
  • This noble monk, of which I yow devyse,
  • Hath of his abbot, as him list, licence,
  • By-cause he was a man of heigh prudence,
  • And eek an officer, out for to ryde, Skeat1900: 1255
  • To seen hir graunges and hir bernes wyde;
  • And un-to Seint Denys he comth anon.
  • Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn,
  • Our dere cosin, ful of curteisye?
  • With him broghte he a Iubbe of Malvesye, Skeat1900: 1260
  • And eek another, ful of fyn Vernage, Skeat1900: (71)
  • And volatyl , as ay was his usage.
  • And thus I lete hem ete and drinke and pleye,
  • This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.
  • The thridde day, this marchant up aryseth, Skeat1900: 1265
  • And on his nedes sadly him avyseth,
  • And up in-to his countour-hous goth he
  • To rekene with him-self, as wel may be,
  • Of thilke yeer, how that it with him stood,
  • And how that he despended hadde his good; Skeat1900: 1270
  • And if that he encressed were or noon. Skeat1900: (81)
  • His bokes and his bagges many oon
  • He leith biforn him on his counting-bord;
  • Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,
  • For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette; Skeat1900: 1275
  • And eek he nolde that no man sholde him lette
  • Of his accountes, for the mene tyme;
  • And thus he sit til it was passed pryme.
  • Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also,
  • And in the gardin walketh to and fro, Skeat1900: 1280
  • And hath his thinges seyd ful curteisly. Skeat1900: (91)
  • This gode wyf cam walking prively
  • In-to the gardin, ther he walketh softe,
  • And him saleweth, as she hath don ofte.
  • A mayde child cam in hir companye, Skeat1900: 1285
  • Which as hir list she may governe and gye,
  • For yet under the yerde was the mayde.
  • ‘O dere cosin myn, daun Iohn,’ she sayde,
  • ‘What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?’
  • ‘Nece,’ quod he, ‘it oghte y-nough suffyse Skeat1900: 1290
  • Fyve houres for to slepe up-on a night, Skeat1900: (101)
  • But it were for an old appalled wight,
  • As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare
  • As in a forme sit a wery hare,
  • Were al for-straught with houndes grete and smale. Skeat1900: 1295
  • But dere nece, why be ye so pale?
  • I trowe certes that our gode man
  • Hath yow laboured sith the night bigan,
  • That yow were nede to resten hastily?’
  • And with that word he lough ful merily, Skeat1900: 1300
  • And of his owene thought he wex al reed. Skeat1900: (111)
  • This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed,
  • And seyde thus, ‘ye, god wot al,’ quod she;
  • ‘Nay, cosin myn, it stant nat so with me.
  • For, by that god that yaf me soule and lyf, Skeat1900: 1305
  • In al the reme of France is ther no wyf
  • That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.
  • For I may singe “allas” and “weylawey,
  • That I was born,” but to no wight,’ quod she,
  • ‘Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me. Skeat1900: 1310
  • Wherfore I thinke out of this land to wende, Skeat1900: (121)
  • Or elles of my-self to make an ende,
  • So ful am I of drede and eek of care.’
  • This monk bigan up-on this wyf to stare,
  • And seyde, ‘allas, my nece, god forbede Skeat1900: 1315
  • That ye, for any sorwe or any drede,
  • Fordo your-self; but telleth me your grief;
  • Paraventure I may, in your meschief,
  • Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth me
  • Al your anoy, for it shal been secree; Skeat1900: 1320
  • For on my porthors here I make an ooth, Skeat1900: (131)
  • That never in my lyf, for lief ne looth,
  • Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.’
  • ‘The same agayn to yow,’ quod she, ‘I seye;
  • By god and by this porthors, I yow swere, Skeat1900: 1325
  • Though men me wolde al in-to peces tere,
  • Ne shal I never, for to goon to helle,
  • Biwreye a word of thing that ye me telle,
  • Nat for no cosinage ne alliance,
  • But verraily, for love and affiance.’ Skeat1900: 1330
  • Thus been they sworn, and heer-upon they kiste, Skeat1900: (141)
  • And ech of hem tolde other what hem liste.
  • ‘Cosin,’ quod she, ‘if that I hadde a space,
  • As I have noon, and namely in this place,
  • Than wolde I telle a legende of my lyf, Skeat1900: 1335
  • What I have suffred sith I was a wyf
  • With myn housbonde, al be ne your cosyn.’
  • ‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘by god and seint Martyn,
  • He is na more cosin un-to me
  • Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree! Skeat1900: 1340
  • I clepe him so, by Seint Denys of Fraunce, Skeat1900: (151)
  • To have the more cause of aqueintaunce
  • Of yow, which I have loved specially
  • Aboven alle wommen sikerly;
  • This swere I yow on my professioun. Skeat1900: 1345
  • Telleth your grief, lest that he come adoun,
  • And hasteth yow, and gooth your wey anon.’
  • ‘My dere love,’ quod she, ‘o my daun Iohn,
  • Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde,
  • But out it moot, I may namore abyde. Skeat1900: 1350
  • Myn housbond is to me the worste man Skeat1900: (161)
  • That ever was, sith that the world bigan.
  • But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me
  • To tellen no wight of our privetee,
  • Neither a bedde, ne in non other place; Skeat1900: 1355
  • God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!
  • A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
  • But al honour, as I can understonde;
  • Save un-to yow thus muche I tellen shal;
  • As help me god, he is noght worth at al Skeat1900: 1360
  • In no degree the value of a flye. Skeat1900: (171)
  • But yet me greveth most his nigardye;
  • And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
  • Desyren thinges sixe, as wel as I.
  • They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be Skeat1900: 1365
  • Hardy, and wyse, and riche, and ther-to free,
  • And buxom to his wyf, and fresh a-bedde.
  • But, by that ilke lord that for us bledde,
  • For his honour, my-self for to arraye,
  • A Sonday next, I moste nedes paye Skeat1900: 1370
  • An hundred frankes, or elles am I lorn. Skeat1900: (181)
  • Yet were me lever that I were unborn
  • Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileinye;
  • And if myn housbond eek it mighte espye,
  • I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye Skeat1900: 1375
  • Lene me this somme, or elles moot I deye.
  • Daun Iohn, I seye, lene me thise hundred frankes;
  • Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thankes,
  • If that yow list to doon that I yow praye.
  • For at a certein day I wol yow paye, Skeat1900: 1380
  • And doon to yow what plesance and servyce Skeat1900: (191)
  • That I may doon, right as yow list devyse.
  • And but I do, god take on me vengeance
  • As foul as ever had Geniloun of France!’
  • This gentil monk answerde in this manere; Skeat1900: 1385
  • ‘Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere,
  • I have,’ quod he, ‘on yow so greet a routhe,
  • That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe,
  • That whan your housbond is to Flaundres fare,
  • I wol delivere yow out of this care; Skeat1900: 1390
  • For I wol bringe yow an hundred frankes.’ Skeat1900: (201)
  • And with that word he caughte hir by the flankes,
  • And hir embraceth harde, and kiste hir ofte.
  • ‘Goth now your wey,’ quod he, ‘al stille and softe,
  • And lat us dyne as sone as that ye may; Skeat1900: 1395
  • For by my chilindre it is pryme of day.
  • Goth now, and beeth as trewe as I shal be.’
  • ‘Now, elles god forbede, sire,’ quod she,
  • And forth she gooth, as Iolif as a pye,
  • And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye, Skeat1900: 1400
  • So that men mighte dyne, and that anon. Skeat1900: (211)
  • Up to hir housbonde is this wyf y-gon,
  • And knokketh at his countour boldely.
  • Qui la? ’ quod he. ‘Peter! it am I,’
  • Quod she, ‘what, sire, how longe wol ye faste? Skeat1900: 1405
  • How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
  • Your sommes, and your bokes, and your thinges?
  • The devel have part of alle swiche rekeninges!
  • Ye have y-nough, pardee, of goddes sonde;
  • Come doun to-day, and lat your bagges stonde. Skeat1900: 1410
  • Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn Skeat1900: (221)
  • Shal fasting al this day elenge goon?
  • What ! lat us here a messe, and go we dyne.’
  • ‘Wyf,’ quod this man, ‘litel canstow devyne
  • The curious bisinesse that we have. Skeat1900: 1415
  • For of us chapmen, al-so god me save,
  • And by that lord that cleped is Seint Yve,
  • Scarsly amonges twelve ten shul thryve,
  • Continuelly, lastinge un-to our age.
  • We may wel make chere and good visage, Skeat1900: 1420
  • And dryve forth the world as it may be, Skeat1900: (231)
  • And kepen our estaat in privetee,
  • Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye
  • A pilgrimage, or goon out of the weye.
  • And therfor have I greet necessitee Skeat1900: 1425
  • Up-on this queinte world tavyse me;
  • For evermore we mote stonde in drede
  • Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhede.
  • To Flaundres wol I go to-morwe at day,
  • And come agayn, as sone as ever I may. Skeat1900: 1430
  • For which, my dere wyf, I thee biseke, Skeat1900: (241)
  • As be to every wight buxom and meke,
  • And for to kepe our good be curious,
  • And honestly governe wel our hous.
  • Thou hast y-nough, in every maner wyse, Skeat1900: 1435
  • That to a thrifty houshold may suffyse.
  • Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille,
  • Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille.’
  • And with that word his countour-dore he shette,
  • And doun he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette, Skeat1900: 1440
  • But hastily a messe was ther seyd, Skeat1900: (251)
  • And spedily the tables were y-leyd,
  • And to the diner faste they hem spedde;
  • And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
  • At-after diner daun Iohn sobrely Skeat1900: 1445
  • This chapman took a-part, and prively
  • He seyde him thus, ‘cosyn, it standeth so,
  • That wel I see to Brugges wol ye go.
  • God and seint Austin spede yow and gyde!
  • I prey yow, cosin, wysly that ye ryde; Skeat1900: 1450
  • Governeth yow also of your diete Skeat1900: (261)
  • Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
  • Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare;
  • Fare-wel, cosyn; god shilde yow fro care.
  • If any thing ther be by day or night, Skeat1900: 1455
  • If it lye in my power and my might,
  • That ye me wol comande in any wyse,
  • It shal be doon, right as ye wol devyse.
  • O thing, er that ye goon, if it may be,
  • I wolde prey yow; for to lene me Skeat1900: 1460
  • An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye, Skeat1900: (271)
  • For certein beestes that I moste beye,
  • To store with a place that is oures.
  • God help me so, I wolde it were youres!
  • I shal nat faille surely of my day, Skeat1900: 1465
  • Nat for a thousand frankes, a myle-way.
  • But lat this thing be secree, I yow preye,
  • For yet to-night thise beestes moot I beye;
  • And fare-now wel, myn owene cosin dere,
  • Graunt mercy of your cost and of your chere.’ Skeat1900: 1470
  • This noble marchant gentilly anon Skeat1900: (281)
  • Answerde, and seyde, ‘o cosin myn, daun Iohn,
  • Now sikerly this is a smal requeste;
  • My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste.
  • And nat only my gold, but my chaffare; Skeat1900: 1475
  • Take what yow list, god shilde that ye spare.
  • But o thing is, ye knowe it wel y-nogh,
  • Of chapmen, that hir moneye is hir plogh.
  • We may creaunce whyl we have a name,
  • But goldlees for to be, it is no game. Skeat1900: 1480
  • Paye it agayn whan it lyth in your ese; Skeat1900: (291)
  • After my might ful fayn wolde I yow plese.’
  • Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon,
  • And prively he took hem to daun Iohn.
  • No wight in al this world wiste of this lone, Skeat1900: 1485
  • Savinge this marchant and daun Iohn allone.
  • They drinke, and speke, and rome a whyle and pleye,
  • Til that daun Iohn rydeth to his abbeye.
  • The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rydeth
  • To Flaundres-ward; his prentis wel him gydeth, Skeat1900: 1490
  • Til he cam in-to Brugges merily. Skeat1900: (301)
  • Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily
  • Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth.
  • He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth;
  • But as a marchant, shortly for to telle, Skeat1900: 1495
  • He let his lyf, and there I lete him dwelle.
  • The Sonday next this Marchant was agon,
  • To Seint Denys y-comen is daun Iohn,
  • With crowne and berd all fresh and newe y-shave.
  • In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave, Skeat1900: 1500
  • Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn, Skeat1900: (311)
  • For that my lord daun Iohn was come agayn.
  • And shortly to the point right for to gon,
  • This faire wyf accorded with daun Iohn,
  • That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al night Skeat1900: 1505
  • Have hir in his armes bolt-upright;
  • And this acord parfourned was in dede.
  • In mirthe al night a bisy lyf they lede
  • Til it was day, that daun Iohn wente his way,
  • And bad the meynee ‘fare-wel, have good day!’ Skeat1900: 1510
  • For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun, Skeat1900: (321)
  • Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
  • And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye,
  • Or where him list; namore of him I seye.
  • This marchant, whan that ended was the faire, Skeat1900: 1515
  • To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire,
  • And with his wyf he maketh feste and chere,
  • And telleth hir that chaffare is so dere,
  • That nedes moste he make a chevisaunce.
  • For he was bounde in a reconissaunce Skeat1900: 1520
  • To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon. Skeat1900: (331)
  • For which this marchant is to Paris gon,
  • To borwe of certein frendes that he hadde
  • A certein frankes; and somme with him he ladde.
  • And whan that he was come in-to the toun, Skeat1900: 1525
  • For greet chertee and greet affeccioun,
  • Un-to daun Iohn he gooth him first, to pleye;
  • Nat for to axe or borwe of him moneye,
  • But for to wite and seen of his welfare,
  • And for to tellen him of his chaffare, Skeat1900: 1530
  • As freendes doon whan they ben met y-fere. Skeat1900: (341)
  • Daun Iohn him maketh feste and mery chere;
  • And he him tolde agayn ful specially,
  • How he hadde wel y-boght and graciously,
  • Thanked be god, al hool his marchandyse. Skeat1900: 1535
  • Save that he moste, in alle maner wyse,
  • Maken a chevisaunce , as for his beste,
  • And thanne he sholde been in Ioye and reste.
  • Daun Iohn answerde, ‘certes, I am fayn
  • That ye in hele ar comen hoom agayn. Skeat1900: 1540
  • And if that I were riche, as have I blisse, Skeat1900: (351)
  • Of twenty thousand sheeld shold ye nat misse,
  • For ye so kindely this other day
  • Lente me gold; and as I can and may,
  • I thanke yow, by god and by seint Iame! Skeat1900: 1545
  • But nathelees I took un-to our dame,
  • Your wyf at hoom, the same gold ageyn
  • Upon your bench; she woot it wel, certeyn,
  • By certein tokenes that I can hir telle.
  • Now, by your leve, I may no lenger dwelle, Skeat1900: 1550
  • Our abbot wol out of this toun anon; Skeat1900: (361)
  • And in his companye moot I gon.
  • Grete wel our dame, myn owene nece swete,
  • And fare-wel, dere cosin, til we mete!’
  • This Marchant, which that was ful war and wys, Skeat1900: 1555
  • Creaunced hath, and payd eek in Parys,
  • To certeyn Lumbardes, redy in hir hond,
  • The somme of gold, and gat of hem his bond;
  • And hoom he gooth, mery as a papeiay.
  • For wel he knew he stood in swich array, Skeat1900: 1560
  • That nedes moste he winne in that viage Skeat1900: (371)
  • A thousand frankes above al his costage.
  • His wyf ful redy mette him atte gate,
  • As she was wont of old usage algate,
  • And al that night in mirthe they bisette; Skeat1900: 1565
  • For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
  • Whan it was day, this marchant gan embrace
  • His wyf al newe, and kiste hir on hir face,
  • And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough.
  • ‘Namore,’ quod she, ‘by god, ye have y-nough!’ Skeat1900: 1570
  • And wantounly agayn with him she pleyde; Skeat1900: (381)
  • Til, atte laste, that this Marchant seyde,
  • ‘By god,’ quod he, ‘I am a litel wrooth
  • With yow, my wyf, al-thogh it be me looth.
  • And woot ye why? by god, as that I gesse, Skeat1900: 1575
  • That ye han maad a maner straungenesse
  • Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn.
  • Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon,
  • That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed
  • By redy tokene; and heeld him yvel apayed, Skeat1900: 1580
  • For that I to him spak of chevisaunce, Skeat1900: (391)
  • Me semed so, as by his contenaunce.
  • But nathelees, by god our hevene king,
  • I thoghte nat to axe of him no-thing.
  • I prey thee, wyf, ne do namore so; Skeat1900: 1585
  • Tel me alwey, er that I fro thee go,
  • If any dettour hath in myn absence
  • Y-payëd thee; lest, thurgh thy necligence,
  • I mighte him axe a thing that he hath payed.’
  • This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed, Skeat1900: 1590
  • But boldely she seyde, and that anon: Skeat1900: (401)
  • ‘Marie, I defye the false monk, daun Iohn!
  • I kepe nat of hise tokenes never a deel;
  • He took me certein gold, that woot I weel!
  • What! yvel thedom on his monkes snoute! Skeat1900: 1595
  • For, god it woot, I wende, withouten doute,
  • That he had yeve it me bycause of yow,
  • To doon ther-with myn honour and my prow,
  • For cosinage, and eek for bele chere
  • That he hath had ful ofte tymes here. Skeat1900: 1600
  • But sith I see I stonde in this disioint, Skeat1900: (411)
  • I wol answere yow shortly, to the point.
  • Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I!
  • For I wol paye yow wel and redily
  • Fro day to day; and, if so be I faille, Skeat1900: 1605
  • I am your wyf; score it up-on my taille,
  • And I shal paye, as sone as ever I may.
  • For, by my trouthe, I have on myn array,
  • And nat on wast, bistowed every deel.
  • And for I have bistowed it so weel Skeat1900: 1610
  • For your honour, for goddes sake, I seye, Skeat1900: (421)
  • As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and pleye.
  • Ye shal my Ioly body have to wedde;
  • By god, I wol nat paye yow but a-bedde.
  • Forgive it me, myn owene spouse dere; Skeat1900: 1615
  • Turne hiderward and maketh bettre chere.’
  • This marchant saugh ther was no remedye,
  • And, for to chyde, it nere but greet folye,
  • Sith that the thing may nat amended be.
  • ‘Now, wyf,’ he seyde, ‘and I foryeve it thee; Skeat1900: 1620
  • But, by thy lyf, ne be namore so large; Skeat1900: (431)
  • Keep bet our good, this yeve I thee in charge.’
  • Thus endeth now my tale, and god us sende
  • Taling y-nough un-to our lyves ende. Amen.

Here endeth the Shipmannes Tale.

THE PRIORESS’S PROLOGUE. (T. 13365-13382.)