• Balthasar (Belshazzar).

    • His sone, which that highte Balthasar,
    • That heeld the regne after his fader day,
    • He by his fader coude nought be war, Skeat1900: 3375
    • For proud he was of herte and of array;
    • And eek an ydolastre was he ay.
    • His hye estaat assured him in pryde.
    • But fortune caste him doun, and ther he lay,
    • And sodeynly his regne gan divyde. Skeat1900: 3380
    • A feste he made un-to his lordes alle Skeat1900: (201)
    • Up-on a tyme, and bad hem blythe be,
    • And than his officeres gan he calle—
    • ‘Goth, bringeth forth the vessels,’ [tho] quod he,
    • ‘Which that my fader, in his prosperitee, Skeat1900: 3385
    • Out of the temple of Ierusalem birafte,
    • And to our hye goddes thanke we
    • Of honour, that our eldres with us lafte.’
    • His wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes
    • Ay dronken, whyl hir appetytes laste, Skeat1900: 3390
    • Out of thise noble vessels sundry wynes; Skeat1900: (211)
    • And on a wal this king his yën caste,
    • And sey an hond armlees, that wroot ful faste,
    • For fere of which he quook and syked sore.
    • This hond, that Balthasar so sore agaste, Skeat1900: 3395
    • Wroot Mane, techel, phares, and na-more.
    • In al that lond magicien was noon
    • That coude expoune what this lettre mente;
    • But Daniel expouned it anoon,
    • And seyde, ‘king, god to thy fader lente Skeat1900: 3400
    • Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente: Skeat1900: (221)
    • And he was proud, and no-thing god ne dradde,
    • And therfor god gret wreche up-on him sente,
    • And him birafte the regne that he hadde.
    • He was out cast of mannes companye, Skeat1900: 3405
    • With asses was his habitacioun,
    • And eet hey as a beste in weet and drye,
    • Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun,
    • That god of heven hath dominacioun
    • Over every regne and every creature; Skeat1900: 3410
    • And thanne had god of him compassioun, Skeat1900: (231)
    • And him restored his regne and his figure.
    • Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also,
    • And knowest alle thise thinges verraily,
    • And art rebel to god, and art his fo. Skeat1900: 3415
    • Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely;
    • Thy wyf eek and thy wenches sinfully
    • Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynes,
    • And heriest false goddes cursedly;
    • Therfor to thee y-shapen ful gret pyne is. Skeat1900: 3420
    • This hand was sent from god, that on the walle Skeat1900: (241)
    • Wroot mane, techel, phares, truste me;
    • Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at alle;
    • Divyded is thy regne, and it shal be
    • To Medes and to Perses yeven ,’ quod he. Skeat1900: 3425
    • And thilke same night this king was slawe,
    • And Darius occupyeth his degree,
    • Thogh he therto had neither right ne lawe.
    • Lordinges, ensample heer-by may ye take
    • How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse; Skeat1900: 3430
    • For whan fortune wol a man forsake, Skeat1900: (251)
    • She bereth awey his regne and his richesse,
    • And eek his freendes, bothe more and lesse;
    • For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune,
    • Mishap wol make hem enemys, I gesse: Skeat1900: 3435
    • This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune.
  • Cenobia (Zenobia).

    • Cenobia, of Palimerie quene,
    • As writen Persiens of hir noblesse,
    • So worthy was in armes and so kene,
    • That no wight passed hir in hardinesse, Skeat1900: 3440
    • Ne in linage, ne in other gentillesse. Skeat1900: (261)
    • Of kinges blode of Perse is she descended;
    • I seye nat that she hadde most fairnesse,
    • But of hir shape she mighte nat been amended.
    • From hir childhede I finde that she fledde Skeat1900: 3445
    • Office of wommen, and to wode she wente;
    • And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde
    • With arwes brode that she to hem sente.
    • She was so swift that she anon hem hente,
    • And whan that she was elder, she wolde kille Skeat1900: 3450
    • Leouns, lepardes, and beres al to-rente, Skeat1900: (271)
    • And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille.
    • She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke,
    • And rennen in the montaignes al the night,
    • And slepen under a bush, and she coude eke Skeat1900: 3455
    • Wrastlen by verray force and verray might
    • With any yong man, were he never so wight;
    • Ther mighte no-thing in hir armes stonde.
    • She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight,
    • To no man deigned hir for to be bonde. Skeat1900: 3460
    • But atte laste hir frendes han hir maried Skeat1900: (281)
    • To Odenake, a prince of that contree,
    • Al were it so that she hem longe taried;
    • And ye shul understonde how that he
    • Hadde swiche fantasyes as hadde she. Skeat1900: 3465
    • But nathelees, whan they were knit in-fere,
    • They lived in Ioye and in felicitee;
    • For ech of hem hadde other leef and dere.
    • Save o thing, that she never wolde assente
    • By no wey, that he sholde by hir lye Skeat1900: 3470
    • But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente Skeat1900: (291)
    • To have a child, the world to multiplye;
    • And al-so sone as that she mighte espye
    • That she was nat with childe with that dede,
    • Than wolde she suffre him doon his fantasye Skeat1900: 3475
    • Eft-sone, and nat but ones, out of drede.
    • And if she were with childe at thilke cast,
    • Na-more sholde he pleyen thilke game
    • Til fully fourty dayes weren past;
    • Than wolde she ones suffre him do the same. Skeat1900: 3480
    • Al were this Odenake wilde or tame, Skeat1900: (301)
    • He gat na-more of hir, for thus she seyde,
    • ‘It was to wyves lecherye and shame
    • In other cas, if that men with hem pleyde.’
    • Two sones by this Odenake hadde she, Skeat1900: 3485
    • The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure;
    • But now un-to our tale turne we.
    • I seye, so worshipful a creature,
    • And wys therwith, and large with mesure,
    • So penible in the werre, and curteis eke, Skeat1900: 3490
    • Ne more labour mighte in werre endure, Skeat1900: (311)
    • Was noon, thogh al this world men sholde seke.
    • Hir riche array ne mighte nat be told
    • As wel in vessel as in hir clothing;
    • She was al clad in perree and in gold, Skeat1900: 3495
    • And eek she lafte noght, for noon hunting,
    • To have of sondry tonges ful knowing,
    • Whan that she leyser hadde, and for to entende
    • To lernen bokes was al hir lyking,
    • How she in vertu mighte hir lyf dispende. Skeat1900: 3500
    • And, shortly of this storie for to trete, Skeat1900: (321)
    • So doughty was hir housbonde and eek she,
    • That they conquered many regnes grete
    • In the orient, with many a fair citee,
    • Apertenaunt un-to the magestee Skeat1900: 3505
    • Of Rome, and with strong hond helde hem ful faste;
    • Ne never mighte hir fo-men doon hem flee,
    • Ay whyl that Odenakes dayes laste.
    • Hir batailes, who-so list hem for to rede,
    • Agayn Sapor the king and othere mo, Skeat1900: 3510
    • And how that al this proces fil in dede, Skeat1900: (331)
    • Why she conquered and what title had therto,
    • And after of hir meschief and hir wo,
    • How that she was biseged and y-take,
    • Let him un-to my maister Petrark go, Skeat1900: 3515
    • That writ y-nough of this, I undertake.
    • When Odenake was deed, she mightily
    • The regnes heeld, and with hir propre honde
    • Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly,
    • That ther nas king ne prince in al that londe Skeat1900: 3520
    • That he nas glad, if that he grace fonde, Skeat1900: (341)
    • That she ne wolde up-on his lond werreye;
    • With hir they made alliaunce by bonde
    • To been in pees, and lete hir ryde and pleye.
    • The emperour of Rome, Claudius, Skeat1900: 3525
    • Ne him bifore, the Romayn Galien,
    • Ne dorste never been so corageous,
    • Ne noon Ermyn, ne noon Egipcien,
    • Ne Surrien, ne noon Arabien,
    • Within the feld that dorste with hir fighte Skeat1900: 3530
    • Lest that she wolde hem with hir hondes slen, Skeat1900: (351)
    • Or with hir meynee putten hem to flighte.
    • In kinges habit wente hir sones two,
    • As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,
    • And Hermanno, and Thymalao Skeat1900: 3535
    • Her names were, as Persiens hem calle.
    • But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle;
    • This mighty quene may no whyl endure.
    • Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle
    • To wrecchednesse and to misaventure. Skeat1900: 3540
    • Aurelian, whan that the governaunce Skeat1900: (361)
    • Of Rome cam in-to his hondes tweye,
    • He shoop up-on this queen to do vengeaunce,
    • And with his legiouns he took his weye
    • Toward Cenobie, and, shortly for to seye, Skeat1900: 3545
    • He made hir flee, and atte laste hir hente,
    • And fettred hir, and eek hir children tweye,
    • And wan the lond, and hoom to Rome he wente.
    • Amonges othere thinges that he wan,
    • Hir char, that was with gold wrought and perree, Skeat1900: 3550
    • This grete Romayn, this Aurelian, Skeat1900: (371)
    • Hath with him lad, for that men sholde it see.
    • Biforen his triumphe walketh she
    • With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hanging;
    • Corouned was she, as after hir degree, Skeat1900: 3555
    • And ful of perree charged hir clothing.
    • Allas, fortune! she that whylom was
    • Dredful to kinges and to emperoures,
    • Now gaureth al the peple on hir, allas!
    • And she that helmed was in starke stoures, Skeat1900: 3560
    • And wan by force tounes stronge and toures, Skeat1900: (381)
    • Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;
    • And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures
    • Shal bere a distaf, hir cost for to quyte. [T. 14380.

( Nero follows in T.; see p 259.)

  • De Petro Rege Ispannie.

    • O noble, o worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne, [T. 14685.
    • Whom fortune heeld so hy in magestee, Skeat1900: 3566
    • Wel oughten men thy pitous deeth complayne!
    • Out of thy lond thy brother made thee flee;
    • And after, at a sege, by subtiltee,
    • Thou were bitrayed , and lad un-to his tente, Skeat1900: 3570
    • Wher-as he with his owene hond slow thee, Skeat1900: (391)
    • Succeding in thy regne and in thy rente.
    • The feeld of snow, with thegle of blak ther-inne, [T. 14693.
    • Caught with the lymrod, coloured as the glede,
    • He brew this cursednes and al this sinne. Skeat1900: 3575
    • The ‘wikked nest’ was werker of this nede;
    • Noght Charles Oliver, that ay took hede
    • Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike
    • Genilon Oliver, corrupt for mede,
    • Broghte this worthy king in swich a brike. Skeat1900: 3580
  • De Petro Rege de Cipro.

  • O worthy Petro, king of Cypre, also, Skeat1900: (401)
  • That Alisaundre wan by heigh maistrye,
  • Ful many a hethen wroghtestow ful wo,
  • Of which thyn owene liges hadde envye,
  • And, for no thing but for thy chivalrye, Skeat1900: 3585
  • They in thy bedde han slayn thee by the morwe.
  • Thus can fortune hir wheel governe and gye,
  • And out of Ioye bringe men to sorwe. [T. 14708.
  • De Barnabo de Lumbardia.

  • Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte,
  • God of delyt, and scourge of Lumbardye, Skeat1900: 3590
  • Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte, Skeat1900: (411)
  • Sith in estaat thou clombe were so hye?
  • Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye,
  • For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe,
  • With-inne his prisoun made thee to dye; Skeat1900: 3595
  • But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe.
  • De Hugelino, Comite de Pize.

    • Of the erl Hugelyn of Pyse the langour
    • Ther may no tonge telle for pitee;
    • But litel out of Pyse stant a tour,
    • In whiche tour in prisoun put was he, Skeat1900: 3600
    • And with him been his litel children three. Skeat1900: (421)
    • The eldeste scarsly fyf yeer was of age.
    • Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee
    • Swiche briddes for to putte in swiche a cage!
    • Dampned was he to deye in that prisoun, Skeat1900: 3605
    • For Roger, which that bisshop was of Pyse,
    • Hadde on him maad a fals suggestioun,
    • Thurgh which the peple gan upon him ryse,
    • And putten him to prisoun in swich wyse
    • As ye han herd, and mete and drink he hadde Skeat1900: 3610
    • So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffyse, Skeat1900: (431)
    • And therwith-al it was ful povre and badde.
    • And on a day bifil that, in that hour,
    • Whan that his mete wont was to be broght,
    • The gayler shette the dores of the tour. Skeat1900: 3615
    • He herde it wel,—but he spak right noght,
    • And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght,
    • That they for hunger wolde doon him dyen.
    • ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘allas! that I was wroght!’
    • Therwith the teres fillen from his yën. Skeat1900: 3620
    • His yonge sone, that three yeer was of age, Skeat1900: (441)
    • Un-to him seyde, ‘fader , why do ye wepe?
    • Whan wol the gayler bringen our potage,
    • Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?
    • I am so hungry that I may nat slepe. Skeat1900: 3625
    • Now wolde god that I mighte slepen ever!
    • Than sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe;
    • Ther is no thing, save breed, that me were lever.’
    • Thus day by day this child bigan to crye,
    • Til in his fadres barme adoun it lay, Skeat1900: 3630
    • And seyde, ‘far-wel, fader, I moot dye,’ Skeat1900: (451)
    • And kiste his fader, and deyde the same day.
    • And whan the woful fader deed it sey,
    • For wo his armes two he gan to byte,
    • And seyde, ‘allas, fortune! and weylaway! Skeat1900: 3635
    • Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte!’
    • His children wende that it for hunger was
    • That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo,
    • And seyde, ‘fader, do nat so, allas!
    • But rather eet the flesh upon us two; Skeat1900: 3640
    • Our flesh thou yaf us, tak our flesh us fro Skeat1900: (461)
    • And eet y-nough:’ right thus they to him seyde,
    • And after that, with-in a day or two,
    • They leyde hem in his lappe adoun, and deyde.
    • Him-self, despeired, eek for hunger starf; Skeat1900: 3645
    • Thus ended is this mighty Erl of Pyse;
    • From heigh estaat fortune awey him carf.
    • Of this Tragedie it oghte y-nough suffyse.
    • Who-so wol here it in a lenger wyse,
    • Redeth the grete poete of Itaille, Skeat1900: 3650
    • That highte Dant, for he can al devyse Skeat1900: (471)
    • Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille. [T. 14772.

( For T. 14773, see p. 269; for T. 14380, see p. 256.)

  • Nero.

    • Al-though that Nero were as vicious [T. 14381.
    • As any feend that lyth ful lowe adoun,
    • Yet he, as telleth us Swetonius, Skeat1900: 3655
    • This wyde world hadde in subieccioun,
    • Both Est and West, South and Septemtrioun;
    • Of rubies, saphires, and of perles whyte
    • Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun;
    • For he in gemmes greetly gan delyte. Skeat1900: 3660
    • More delicat, more pompous of array, Skeat1900: (481)
    • More proud was never emperour than he;
    • That ilke cloth, that he had wered o day,
    • After that tyme he nolde it never see.
    • Nettes of gold-thred hadde he gret plentee Skeat1900: 3665
    • To fisshe in Tybre, whan him liste pleye.
    • His lustes were al lawe in his decree,
    • For fortune as his freend him wolde obeye.
    • He Rome brende for his delicacye;
    • The senatours he slow up-on a day. Skeat1900: 3670
    • To here how men wolde wepe and crye; Skeat1900: (491)
    • And slow his brother, and by his sister lay.
    • His moder made he in pitous array;
    • For he hir wombe slitte, to biholde
    • Wher he conceyved was; so weilawey! Skeat1900: 3675
    • That he so litel of his moder tolde!
    • No tere out of his yën for that sighte
    • Ne cam, but seyde, ‘a fair womman was she.’
    • Gret wonder is, how that he coude or mighte
    • Be domesman of hir dede beautee. Skeat1900: 3680
    • The wyn to bringen him comaunded he, Skeat1900: (501)
    • And drank anon; non other wo he made.
    • Whan might is Ioyned un-to crueltee,
    • Allas! to depe wol the venim wade!
    • In youthe a maister hadde this emperour, Skeat1900: 3685
    • To teche him letterure and curteisye,
    • For of moralitee he was the flour,
    • As in his tyme, but-if bokes lye;
    • And whyl this maister hadde of him maistrye,
    • He maked him so conning and so souple Skeat1900: 3690
    • That longe tyme it was er tirannye Skeat1900: (511)
    • Or any vyce dorste on him uncouple.
    • This Seneca, of which that I devyse,
    • By-cause Nero hadde of him swich drede,
    • For he fro vyces wolde him ay chastyse Skeat1900: 3695
    • Discreetly as by worde and nat by dede;—
    • ‘Sir,’ wolde he seyn, ‘an emperour moot nede
    • Be vertuous, and hate tirannye’—
    • For which he in a bath made him to blede
    • On bothe his armes, til he moste dye. Skeat1900: 3700
    • This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce Skeat1900: (521)
    • In youthe ageyn his maister for to ryse,
    • Which afterward him thoughte a greet grevaunce;
    • Therfor he made him deyen in this wyse.
    • But natheles this Seneca the wyse Skeat1900: 3705
    • Chees in a bath to deye in this manere
    • Rather than han another tormentyse;
    • And thus hath Nero slayn his maister dere.
    • Now fil it so that fortune list no lenger
    • The hye pryde of Nero to cheryce; Skeat1900: 3710
    • For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger; Skeat1900: (531)
    • She thoughte thus, ‘by god, I am to nyce
    • To sette a man that is fulfild of vyce
    • In heigh degree, and emperour him calle.
    • By god, out of his sete I wol him tryce; Skeat1900: 3715
    • When he leest weneth, sonest shal he falle.’
    • The peple roos up-on him on a night
    • For his defaute, and whan he it espyed,
    • Out of his dores anon he hath him dight
    • Alone, and, ther he wende han ben allyed, Skeat1900: 3720
    • He knokked faste, and ay, the more he cryed, Skeat1900: (541)
    • The faster shette they the dores alle;
    • Tho wiste he wel he hadde him-self misgyed,
    • And wente his wey, no lenger dorste he calle.
    • The peple cryde and rombled up and doun, Skeat1900: 3725
    • That with his eres herde he how they seyde,
    • ‘Wher is this false tyraunt, this Neroun?’
    • For fere almost out of his wit he breyde,
    • And to his goddes pitously he preyde
    • For socour, but it mighte nat bityde. Skeat1900: 3730
    • For drede of this, him thoughte that he deyde, Skeat1900: (551)
    • And ran in-to a gardin, him to hyde.
    • And in this gardin fond he cherles tweye
    • That seten by a fyr ful greet and reed,
    • And to thise cherles two he gan to preye Skeat1900: 3735
    • To sleen him, and to girden of his heed,
    • That to his body, whan that he were deed,
    • Were no despyt y-doon, for his defame.
    • Him-self he slow, he coude no better reed,
    • Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game. Skeat1900: 3740
  • De Oloferno (Holofernes).

    • Was never capitayn under a king Skeat1900: (561)
    • That regnes mo putte in subieccioun,
    • Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thing,
    • As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun,
    • Ne more pompous in heigh presumpcioun Skeat1900: 3745
    • Than Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste
    • So likerously, and ladde him up and doun
    • Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste.
    • Nat only that this world hadde him in awe
    • For lesinge of richesse or libertee, Skeat1900: 3750
    • But he made every man reneye his lawe. Skeat1900: (571)
    • ‘Nabugodonosor was god,’ seyde he,
    • ‘Noon other god sholde adoured be.’
    • Ageyns his heste no wight dar trespace
    • Save in Bethulia, a strong citee, Skeat1900: 3755
    • Wher Eliachim a prest was of that place.
    • But tak kepe of the deeth of Olofern;
    • Amidde his host he dronke lay a night,
    • With-inne his tente, large as is a bern,
    • And yit, for al his pompe and al his might, Skeat1900: 3760
    • Iudith, a womman, as he lay upright, Skeat1900: (581)
    • Sleping, his heed of smoot, and from his tente
    • Ful prively she stal from every wight,
    • And with his heed unto hir toun she wente.
  • De Rege Anthiocho illustri.

    • What nedeth it of King Anthiochus Skeat1900: 3765
    • To telle his hye royal magestee,
    • His hye pryde, his werkes venimous?
    • For swich another was ther noon as he.
    • Rede which that he was in Machabee,
    • And rede the proude wordes that he seyde, Skeat1900: 3770
    • And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee, Skeat1900: (591)
    • And in an hil how wrechedly he deyde.
    • Fortune him hadde enhaunced so in pryde
    • That verraily he wende he mighte attayne
    • Unto the sterres, upon every syde, Skeat1900: 3775
    • And in balance weyen ech montayne,
    • And alle the flodes of the see restrayne.
    • And goddes peple hadde he most in hate,
    • Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne,
    • Wening that god ne mighte his pryde abate. Skeat1900: 3780
    • And for that Nichanor and Thimothee Skeat1900: (601)
    • Of Iewes weren venquisshed mightily,
    • Unto the Iewes swich an hate hadde he
    • That he bad greithe his char ful hastily,
    • And swoor, and seyde, ful despitously, Skeat1900: 3785
    • Unto Ierusalem he wolde eft-sone,
    • To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;
    • But of his purpos he was let ful sone.
    • God for his manace him so sore smoot
    • With invisible wounde, ay incurable, Skeat1900: 3790
    • That in his guttes carf it so and boot Skeat1900: (611)
    • That his peynes weren importable.
    • And certeinly, the wreche was resonable,
    • For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne;
    • But from his purpos cursed and dampnable Skeat1900: 3795
    • For al his smert he wolde him nat restreyne;
    • But bad anon apparaillen his host,
    • And sodeynly, er he of it was war,
    • God daunted al his pryde and al his bost.
    • For he so sore fil out of his char, Skeat1900: 3800
    • That it his limes and his skin to-tar, Skeat1900: (621)
    • So that he neither mighte go ne ryde,
    • But in a chayer men aboute him bar,
    • Al for-brused, bothe bak and syde.
    • The wreche of god him smoot so cruelly Skeat1900: 3805
    • That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte;
    • And ther-with-al he stank so horribly,
    • That noon of al his meynee that him kepte,
    • Whether so he wook or elles slepte,
    • Ne mighte noght for stink of him endure. Skeat1900: 3810
    • In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte, Skeat1900: (631)
    • And knew god lord of every creature.
    • To al his host and to him-self also
    • Ful wlatsom was the stink of his careyne;
    • No man ne mighte him bere to ne fro. Skeat1900: 3815
    • And in this stink and this horrible peyne
    • He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.
    • Thus hath this robbour and this homicyde,
    • That many a man made to wepe and pleyne,
    • Swich guerdon as bilongeth unto pryde. Skeat1900: 3820
  • De Alexandro.

    • The storie of Alisaundre is so comune, Skeat1900: (641)
    • That every wight that hath discrecioun
    • Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
    • This wyde world, as in conclusioun,
    • He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun Skeat1900: 3825
    • They weren glad for pees un-to him sende.
    • The pryde of man and beste he leyde adoun,
    • Wher-so he cam, un-to the worldes ende.
    • Comparisoun might never yit be maked
    • Bitwixe him and another conquerour; Skeat1900: 3830
    • For al this world for drede of him hath quaked, Skeat1900: (651)
    • He was of knighthode and of fredom flour;
    • Fortune him made the heir of hir honour;
    • Save wyn and wommen, no-thing mighte aswage
    • His hye entente in armes and labour; Skeat1900: 3835
    • So was he ful of leonyn corage.
    • What preys were it to him, though I yow tolde
    • Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo,
    • Of kinges, princes, erles, dukes bolde,
    • Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem in-to wo? Skeat1900: 3840
    • I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, Skeat1900: (661)
    • The world was his, what sholde I more devyse?
    • For though I write or tolde you evermo
    • Of his knighthode, it mighte nat suffyse.
    • Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee; Skeat1900: 3845
    • Philippes sone of Macedoyne he was,
    • That first was king in Grece the contree.
    • O worthy gentil Alisaundre, allas!
    • That ever sholde fallen swich a cas!
    • Empoisoned of thyn owene folk thou were; Skeat1900: 3850
    • Thy sys fortune hath turned into as, Skeat1900: (671)
    • And yit for thee ne weep she never a tere!
    • Who shal me yeven teres to compleyne
    • The deeth of gentillesse and of fraunchyse,
    • That al the world welded in his demeyne, Skeat1900: 3855
    • And yit him thoughte it mighte nat suffyse?
    • So ful was his corage of heigh empryse.
    • Allas! who shal me helpe to endyte
    • False fortune, and poison to despyse,
    • The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? Skeat1900: 3860
  • De Iulio Cesare.

    • By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour Skeat1900: (681)
    • Fro humble bed to royal magestee,
    • Up roos he, Iulius the conquerour,
    • That wan al thoccident by lond and see,
    • By strengthe of hond, or elles by tretee, Skeat1900: 3865
    • And un-to Rome made hem tributarie;
    • And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he,
    • Til that fortune wex his adversarie.
    • O mighty Cesar, that in Thessalye
    • Ageyn Pompeius , fader thyn in lawe, Skeat1900: 3870
    • That of thorient hadde al the chivalrye Skeat1900: (691)
    • As fer as that the day biginneth dawe,
    • Thou thurgh thy knighthode hast hem take and slawe,
    • Save fewe folk that with Pompeius fledde,
    • Thurgh which thou puttest al thorient in awe. Skeat1900: 3875
    • Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde!
    • But now a litel whyl I wol biwaille
    • This Pompeius, this noble governour
    • Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille;
    • I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour, Skeat1900: 3880
    • His heed of smoot, to winnen him favour Skeat1900: (701)
    • Of Iulius, and him the heed he broghte.
    • Allas, Pompey, of thorient conquerour,
    • That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte!
    • To Rome ageyn repaireth Iulius Skeat1900: 3885
    • With his triumphe, laureat ful hye,
    • But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,
    • That ever hadde of his hye estaat envye,
    • Ful prively hath maad conspiracye
    • Ageins this Iulius, in subtil wyse, Skeat1900: 3890
    • And cast the place, in whiche he sholde dye Skeat1900: (711)
    • With boydekins, as I shal yow devyse.
    • This Iulius to the Capitolie wente
    • Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,
    • And in the Capitolie anon him hente Skeat1900: 3895
    • This false Brutus, and his othere foon,
    • And stikede him with boydekins anoon
    • With many a wounde, and thus they lete him lye;
    • But never gronte he at no strook but oon,
    • Or elles at two, but-if his storie lye. Skeat1900: 3900
    • So manly was this Iulius at herte Skeat1900: (721)
    • And so wel lovede estaatly honestee,
    • That, though his deedly woundes sore smerte,
    • His mantel over his hippes casteth he,
    • For no man sholde seen his privitee. Skeat1900: 3905
    • And, as he lay on deying in a traunce,
    • And wiste verraily that deed was he,
    • Of honestee yit hadde he remembraunce.
    • Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,
    • And to Sweton, and to Valerie also, Skeat1900: 3910
    • That of this storie wryten word and ende, Skeat1900: (731)
    • How that to thise grete conqueroures two
    • Fortune was first freend, and sithen fo.
    • No man ne truste up-on hir favour longe,
    • But have hir in awayt for ever-mo. Skeat1900: 3915
    • Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge.
  • Cresus.

    • This riche Cresus, whylom king of Lyde,
    • Of whiche Cresus Cyrus sore him dradde,
    • Yit was he caught amiddes al his pryde,
    • And to be brent men to the fyr him ladde. Skeat1900: 3920
    • But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde Skeat1900: (741)
    • That slow the fyr, and made him to escape;
    • But to be war no grace yet he hadde,
    • Til fortune on the galwes made him gape.
    • Whan he escaped was, he can nat stente Skeat1900: 3925
    • For to biginne a newe werre agayn.
    • He wende wel, for that fortune him sente
    • Swich hap, that he escaped thurgh the rayn,
    • That of his foos he mighte nat be slayn;
    • And eek a sweven up-on a night he mette, Skeat1900: 3930
    • Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn, Skeat1900: (751)
    • That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette.
    • Up-on a tree he was, as that him thoughte,
    • Ther Iuppiter him wesh, bothe bak and syde,
    • And Phebus eek a fair towaille him broughte Skeat1900: 3935
    • To drye him with, and ther-for wex his pryde;
    • And to his doghter, that stood him bisyde,
    • Which that he knew in heigh science habounde,
    • He bad hir telle him what it signifyde,
    • And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde. Skeat1900: 3940
    • ‘The tree,’ quod she, ‘the galwes is to mene, Skeat1900: (761)
    • And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,
    • And Phebus, with his towaille so clene,
    • Tho ben the sonne stremes for to seyn;
    • Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn; Skeat1900: 3945
    • Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye;’
    • Thus warned she him ful plat and ful pleyn,
    • His doughter, which that called was Phanye.
    • Anhanged was Cresus, the proude king,
    • His royal trone mighte him nat availle.— Skeat1900: 3950
    • Tragedie is noon other maner thing, Skeat1900: (771)
    • Ne can in singing crye ne biwaille,
    • But for that fortune alwey wol assaille
    • With unwar strook the regnes that ben proude;
    • For when men trusteth hir, than wol she faille, Skeat1900: 3955
    • And covere hir brighte face with a cloude. [ See p. 256.

Explicit Tragedia.

Here stinteth the Knight the Monk of his Tale.

THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE. (T. 14773-14798).

The prologue of the Nonne Preestes Tale.

  • ‘HO!’ quod the knight, ‘good sir, na-more of this,
  • That ye han seyd is right y-nough, y-wis,
  • And mochel more; for litel hevinesse
  • Is right y-nough to mochel folk, I gesse. Skeat1900: 3960
  • I seye for me, it is a greet disese
  • Wher-as men han ben in greet welthe and ese,
  • To heren of hir sodeyn fal, allas!
  • And the contrarie is Ioie and greet solas,
  • As whan a man hath been in povre estaat, Skeat1900: 3965
  • And clymbeth up, and wexeth fortunat, Skeat1900: (10)
  • And ther abydeth in prosperitee,
  • Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me,
  • And of swich thing were goodly for to telle.’
  • ‘Ye,’ quod our hoste, ‘by seint Poules belle, Skeat1900: 3970
  • Ye seye right sooth; this monk, he clappeth loude,
  • He spak how “fortune covered with a cloude”
  • I noot never what, and als of a “Tragedie”
  • Right now ye herde, and parde! no remedie
  • It is for to biwaille, ne compleyne Skeat1900: 3975
  • That that is doon, and als it is a peyne, Skeat1900: (20)
  • As ye han seyd, to here of hevinesse.
  • Sir monk, na-more of this, so god yow blesse!
  • Your tale anoyeth al this companye;
  • Swich talking is nat worth a boterflye; Skeat1900: 3980
  • For ther-in is ther no desport ne game.
  • Wherfor, sir Monk, or dan Piers by your name,
  • I preye yow hertely, telle us somwhat elles,
  • For sikerly, nere clinking of your belles,
  • That on your brydel hange on every syde, Skeat1900: 3985
  • By heven king, that for us alle dyde, Skeat1900: (30)
  • I sholde er this han fallen doun for slepe,
  • Although the slough had never been so depe;
  • Than had your tale al be told in vayn.
  • For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn, Skeat1900: 3990
  • “Wher-as a man may have noon audience,
  • Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.”
  • And wel I woot the substance is in me,
  • If any thing shal wel reported be.
  • Sir, sey somwhat of hunting, I yow preye.’ Skeat1900: 3995
  • ‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘I have no lust to pleye; Skeat1900: (40)
  • Now let another telle, as I have told.’
  • Than spak our host, with rude speche and bold,
  • And seyde un-to the Nonnes Preest anon,
  • ‘Com neer, thou preest, com hider, thou sir Iohn, Skeat1900: 4000
  • Tel us swich thing as may our hertes glade,
  • Be blythe, though thou ryde up-on a Iade.
  • What though thyn hors be bothe foule and lene,
  • If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene;
  • Look that thyn herte be mery evermo.’ Skeat1900: 4005
  • ‘Yis, sir,’ quod he, ‘yis, host, so mote I go, Skeat1900: (50)
  • But I be mery, y-wis, I wol be blamed:’—
  • And right anon his tale he hath attamed,
  • And thus he seyde un-to us everichon,
  • This swete preest, this goodly man, sir Iohn. Skeat1900: 4010

Explicit.

THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.

Here biginneth the Nonne Preestes Tale of the Cok and Hen, Chauntecleer and Pertelote.

  • APOVRE widwe, somdel stope in age,
  • Was whylom dwelling in a narwe cotage,
  • Bisyde a grove , stonding in a dale.
  • This widwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
  • Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf, Skeat1900: 4015
  • In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf,
  • For litel was hir catel and hir rente;
  • By housbondrye, of such as God hir sente,
  • She fond hir-self, and eek hir doghtren two.
  • Three large sowes hadde she, and namo, Skeat1900: 4020
  • Three kyn, and eek a sheep that highte Malle. Skeat1900: (11)
  • Ful sooty was hir bour, and eek hir halle,
  • In which she eet ful many a sclendre meel.
  • Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
  • No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte; Skeat1900: 4025
  • Hir dyete was accordant to hir cote.
  • Repleccioun ne made hir never syk;
  • Attempree dyete was al hir phisyk,
  • And exercyse, and hertes suffisaunce.
  • The goute lette hir no-thing for to daunce, Skeat1900: 4030
  • Napoplexye shente nat hir heed; Skeat1900: (21)
  • No wyn ne drank she, neither whyt ne reed;
  • Hir bord was served most with whyt and blak,
  • Milk and broun breed, in which she fond no lak,
  • Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye, Skeat1900: 4035
  • For she was as it were a maner deye.
  • A yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
  • With stikkes, and a drye dich with-oute,
  • In which she hadde a cok, hight Chauntecleer,
  • In al the land of crowing nas his peer. Skeat1900: 4040
  • His vois was merier than the mery orgon Skeat1900: (31)
  • On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon;
  • Wel sikerer was his crowing in his logge,
  • Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge.
  • By nature knew he ech ascencioun Skeat1900: 4045
  • Of equinoxial in thilke toun;
  • For whan degrees fiftene were ascended,
  • Thanne crew he, that it mighte nat ben amended.
  • His comb was redder than the fyn coral,
  • And batailed, as it were a castel-wal. Skeat1900: 4050
  • His bile was blak, and as the Ieet it shoon; Skeat1900: (41)
  • Lyk asur were his legges, and his toon;
  • His nayles whytter than the lilie flour,
  • And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
  • This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce Skeat1900: 4055
  • Sevene hennes, for to doon al his plesaunce,
  • Whiche were his sustres and his paramours,
  • And wonder lyk to him, as of colours.
  • Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
  • Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. Skeat1900: 4060
  • Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire, Skeat1900: (51)
  • And compaignable, and bar hir-self so faire,
  • Sin thilke day that she was seven night old,
  • That trewely she hath the herte in hold
  • Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith; Skeat1900: 4065
  • He loved hir so, that wel was him therwith.
  • But such a Ioye was it to here hem singe,
  • Whan that the brighte sonne gan to springe,
  • In swete accord, ‘my lief is faren in londe.’
  • For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, Skeat1900: 4070
  • Bestes and briddes coude speke and singe. Skeat1900: (61)
  • And so bifel, that in a daweninge,
  • As Chauntecleer among his wyves alle
  • Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
  • And next him sat this faire Pertelote, Skeat1900: 4075
  • This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,
  • As man that in his dreem is drecched sore.
  • And whan that Pertelote thus herde him rore,
  • She was agast, and seyde, ‘O herte dere,
  • What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere? Skeat1900: 4080
  • Ye been a verray sleper, fy for shame!’ Skeat1900: (71)
  • And he answerde and seyde thus, ‘madame,
  • I pray yow, that ye take it nat a-grief:
  • By god, me mette I was in swich meschief
  • Right now, that yet myn herte is sore afright. Skeat1900: 4085
  • Now god,’ quod he, ‘my swevene recche aright,
  • And keep my body out of foul prisoun!
  • Me mette, how that I romed up and doun
  • Withinne our yerde, wher-as I saugh a beste,
  • Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areste Skeat1900: 4090
  • Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed. Skeat1900: (81)
  • His colour was bitwixe yelwe and reed;
  • And tipped was his tail, and bothe his eres,
  • With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heres;
  • His snowte smal, with glowinge eyen tweye. Skeat1900: 4095
  • Yet of his look for fere almost I deye;
  • This caused me my groning, doutelees.’
  • ‘Avoy!’ quod she, ‘fy on yow, hertelees!
  • Allas!’ quod she, ‘for, by that god above,
  • Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love; Skeat1900: 4100
  • I can nat love a coward, by my feith. Skeat1900: (91)
  • For certes, what so any womman seith,
  • We alle desyren, if it mighte be,
  • To han housbondes hardy, wyse, and free,
  • And secree, and no nigard, ne no fool, Skeat1900: 4105
  • Ne him that is agast of every tool,
  • Ne noon avauntour, by that god above!
  • How dorste ye seyn for shame unto your love,
  • That any thing mighte make yow aferd?
  • Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd? Skeat1900: 4110
  • Allas! and conne ye been agast of swevenis? Skeat1900: (101)
  • No-thing, god wot, but vanitee, in sweven is
  • Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
  • And ofte of fume, and of complecciouns,
  • Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. Skeat1900: 4115
  • Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-night,
  • Cometh of the grete superfluitee
  • Of youre rede colera, pardee,
  • Which causeth folk to dreden in here dremes
  • Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes, Skeat1900: 4120
  • Of grete bestes, that they wol hem byte, Skeat1900: (111)
  • Of contek, and of whelpes grete and lyte;
  • Right as the humour of malencolye
  • Causeth ful many a man, in sleep, to crye,
  • For fere of blake beres, or boles blake, Skeat1900: 4125
  • Or elles, blake develes wole hem take.
  • Of othere humours coude I telle also,
  • That werken many a man in sleep ful wo;
  • But I wol passe as lightly as I can.
  • Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man, Skeat1900: 4130
  • Seyde he nat thus, ne do no fors of dremes? Skeat1900: (121)
  • Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘whan we flee fro the bemes,
  • For Goddes love, as tak som laxatyf;
  • Up peril of my soule, and of my lyf,
  • I counseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, Skeat1900: 4135
  • That bothe of colere and of malencolye
  • Ye purge yow; and for ye shul nat tarie,
  • Though in this toun is noon apotecarie,
  • I shal my-self to herbes techen yow,
  • That shul ben for your hele, and for your prow; Skeat1900: 4140
  • And in our yerd tho herbes shal I finde, Skeat1900: (131)
  • The whiche han of hir propretee, by kinde,
  • To purgen yow binethe, and eek above.
  • Forget not this, for goddes owene love!
  • Ye been ful colerik of compleccioun. Skeat1900: 4145
  • Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
  • Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hote;
  • And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote,
  • That ye shul have a fevere terciane,
  • Or an agu, that may be youre bane. Skeat1900: 4150
  • A day or two ye shul have digestyves Skeat1900: (141)
  • Of wormes, er ye take your laxatyves,
  • Of lauriol, centaure, and fumetere,
  • Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there,
  • Of catapuce, or of gaytres beryis, Skeat1900: 4155
  • Of erbe yve, growing in our yerd, that mery is;
  • Pekke hem up right as they growe, and ete hem in.
  • Be mery, housbond, for your fader kin!
  • Dredeth no dreem; I can say yow na-more.’
  • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘ graunt mercy of your lore. Skeat1900: 4160
  • But nathelees, as touching daun Catoun, Skeat1900: (151)
  • That hath of wisdom such a greet renoun,
  • Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
  • By god, men may in olde bokes rede
  • Of many a man, more of auctoritee Skeat1900: 4165
  • Than ever Catoun was, so mote I thee,
  • Than al the revers seyn of his sentence,
  • And han wel founden by experience,
  • That dremes ben significaciouns,
  • As wel of Ioye as tribulaciouns Skeat1900: 4170
  • That folk enduren in this lyf present. Skeat1900: (161)
  • Ther nedeth make of this noon argument;
  • The verray preve sheweth it in dede.
  • Oon of the gretteste auctours that men rede
  • Seith thus, that whylom two felawes wente Skeat1900: 4175
  • On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente;
  • And happed so, thay come into a toun,
  • Wher-as ther was swich congregacioun
  • Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage,
  • That they ne founde as muche as o cotage, Skeat1900: 4180
  • In which they bothe mighte y-logged be. Skeat1900: (171)
  • Wherfor thay mosten, of necessitee,
  • As for that night, departen compaignye;
  • And ech of hem goth to his hostelrye,
  • And took his logging as it wolde falle. Skeat1900: 4185
  • That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
  • Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough;
  • That other man was logged wel y-nough,
  • As was his aventure, or his fortune,
  • That us governeth alle as in commune. Skeat1900: 4190
  • And so bifel, that, longe er it were day, Skeat1900: (181)
  • This man mette in his bed, ther-as he lay,
  • How that his felawe gan up-on him calle,
  • And seyde, ‘allas! for in an oxes stalle
  • This night I shal be mordred ther I lye. Skeat1900: 4195
  • Now help me, dere brother, er I dye;
  • In alle haste com to me,’ he sayde.
  • This man out of his sleep for fere abrayde;
  • But whan that he was wakned of his sleep,
  • He turned him, and took of this no keep; Skeat1900: 4200
  • Him thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee. Skeat1900: (191)
  • Thus twyes in his sleping dremed he.
  • And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
  • Cam, as him thoughte, and seide, ‘I am now slawe;
  • Bihold my blody woundes, depe and wyde! Skeat1900: 4205
  • Arys up erly in the morwe-tyde,
  • And at the west gate of the toun,’ quod he,
  • ‘A carte ful of donge ther shaltow see,
  • In which my body is hid ful prively;
  • Do thilke carte aresten boldely. Skeat1900: 4210
  • My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn;’ Skeat1900: (201)
  • And tolde him every poynt how he was slayn,
  • With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.
  • And truste wel, his dreem he fond ful trewe;
  • For on the morwe, as sone as it was day, Skeat1900: 4215
  • To his felawes in he took the way;
  • And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
  • After his felawe he bigan to calle.
  • The hostiler answered him anon,
  • And seyde, ‘sire, your felawe is agon, Skeat1900: 4220
  • As sone as day he wente out of the toun.’ Skeat1900: (211)
  • This man gan fallen in suspecioun,
  • Remembring on his dremes that he mette,
  • And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette,
  • Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond Skeat1900: 4225
  • A dong-carte, as it were to donge lond,
  • That was arrayed in the same wyse
  • As ye han herd the dede man devyse;
  • And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
  • Vengeaunce and Iustice of this felonye:— Skeat1900: 4230
  • ‘My felawe mordred is this same night, Skeat1900: (221)
  • And in this carte he lyth gapinge upright.
  • I crye out on the ministres,’ quod he,
  • ‘That sholden kepe and reulen this citee;
  • Harrow! allas! her lyth my felawe slayn!’ Skeat1900: 4235
  • What sholde I more un-to this tale sayn?
  • The peple out-sterte, and caste the cart to grounde,
  • And in the middel of the dong they founde
  • The dede man, that mordred was al newe.
  • O blisful god, that art so Iust and trewe! Skeat1900: 4240
  • Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway! Skeat1900: (231)
  • Mordre wol out, that see we day by day.
  • Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominable
  • To god, that is so Iust and resonable,
  • That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be; Skeat1900: 4245
  • Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or three,
  • Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun.
  • And right anoon , ministres of that toun
  • Han hent the carter, and so sore him pyned,
  • And eek the hostiler so sore engyned, Skeat1900: 4250
  • That thay biknewe hir wikkednesse anoon, Skeat1900: (241)
  • And were an-hanged by the nekke-boon.
  • Here may men seen that dremes been to drede.
  • And certes, in the same book I rede,
  • Right in the nexte chapitre after this, Skeat1900: 4255
  • (I gabbe nat, so have I Ioye or blis,)
  • Two men that wolde han passed over see,
  • For certeyn cause, in-to a fer contree,
  • If that the wind ne hadde been contrarie,
  • That made hem in a citee for to tarie, Skeat1900: 4260
  • That stood ful mery upon an haven-syde. Skeat1900: (251)
  • But on a day, agayn the even-tyde,
  • The wind gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.
  • Iolif and glad they wente un-to hir reste,
  • And casten hem ful erly for to saille; Skeat1900: 4265
  • But to that oo man fil a greet mervaille.
  • That oon of hem, in sleping as he lay,
  • Him mette a wonder dreem, agayn the day;
  • Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde,
  • And him comaunded, that he sholde abyde, Skeat1900: 4270
  • And seyde him thus, ‘if thou to-morwe wende, Skeat1900: (261)
  • Thou shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.’
  • He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette.
  • And preyde him his viage for to lette;
  • As for that day, he preyde him to abyde. Skeat1900: 4275
  • His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,
  • Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste.
  • ‘No dreem,’ quod he, ‘may so myn herte agaste,
  • That I wol lette for to do my thinges.
  • I sette not a straw by thy dreminges, Skeat1900: 4280
  • For swevenes been but vanitees and Iapes. Skeat1900: (271)
  • Men dreme al-day of owles or of apes,
  • And eke of many a mase therwithal;
  • Men dreme of thing that nevere was ne shal.
  • But sith I see that thou wolt heer abyde, Skeat1900: 4285
  • And thus for-sleuthen wilfully thy tyde,
  • God wot it reweth me; and have good day.’
  • And thus he took his leve, and wente his way.
  • But er that he hadde halfe his cours y-seyled,
  • Noot I nat why, ne what mischaunce it eyled, Skeat1900: 4290
  • But casuelly the shippes botme rente, Skeat1900: (281)
  • And ship and man under the water wente
  • In sighte of othere shippes it byside,
  • That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
  • And therfor, faire Pertelote so dere, Skeat1900: 4295
  • By swiche ensamples olde maistow lere,
  • That no man sholde been to recchelees
  • Of dremes, for I sey thee, doutelees,
  • That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede.
  • Lo, in the lyf of seint Kenelm, I rede, Skeat1900: 4300
  • That was Kenulphus sone, the noble king Skeat1900: (291)
  • Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing;
  • A lyte er he was mordred, on a day,
  • His mordre in his avisioun he say.
  • His norice him expouned every del Skeat1900: 4305
  • His sweven, and bad him for to kepe him wel
  • For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer old,
  • And therfore litel tale hath he told
  • Of any dreem, so holy was his herte.
  • By god, I hadde lever than my sherte Skeat1900: 4310
  • That ye had rad his legende, as have I. Skeat1900: (301)
  • Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely,
  • Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
  • In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
  • Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been Skeat1900: 4315
  • Warning of thinges that men after seen.
  • And forther-more, I pray yow loketh wel
  • In the olde testament, of Daniel,
  • If he held dremes any vanitee.
  • Reed eek of Ioseph, and ther shul ye see Skeat1900: 4320
  • Wher dremes ben somtyme (I sey nat alle) Skeat1900: (311)
  • Warning of thinges that shul after falle.
  • Loke of Egipt the king, daun Pharao,
  • His bakere and his boteler also,
  • Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes. Skeat1900: 4325
  • Who-so wol seken actes of sondry remes,
  • May rede of dremes many a wonder thing.
  • Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde king,
  • Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,
  • Which signified he sholde anhanged be? Skeat1900: 4330
  • Lo heer Andromacha , Ectores wyf, Skeat1900: (321)
  • That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf,
  • She dremed on the same night biforn,
  • How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn,
  • If thilke day he wente in-to bataille; Skeat1900: 4335
  • She warned him, but it mighte nat availle;
  • He wente for to fighte nathelees,
  • But he was slayn anoon of Achilles.
  • But thilke tale is al to long to telle,
  • And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle. Skeat1900: 4340
  • Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, Skeat1900: (331)
  • That I shal han of this avisioun
  • Adversitee; and I seye forther-more,
  • That I ne telle of laxatyves no store,
  • For they ben venimous, I woot it wel; Skeat1900: 4345
  • I hem defye , I love hem never a del.
  • Now let us speke of mirthe, and stinte al this;
  • Madame Pertelote, so have I blis,
  • Of o thing god hath sent me large grace;
  • For whan I see the beautee of your face, Skeat1900: 4350
  • Ye ben so scarlet-reed about your yën, Skeat1900: (341)
  • It maketh al my drede for to dyen;
  • For, also siker as In principio,
  • Mulier est hominis confusio;
  • Madame, the sentence of this Latin is— Skeat1900: 4355
  • Womman is mannes Ioye and al his blis.
  • For whan I fele a-night your softe syde,
  • Al-be-it that I may nat on you ryde,
  • For that our perche is maad so narwe, alas!
  • I am so ful of Ioye and of solas Skeat1900: 4360
  • That I defye bothe sweven and dreem.’ Skeat1900: (351)
  • And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,
  • For it was day, and eek his hennes alle;
  • And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
  • For he had founde a corn, lay in the yerd. Skeat1900: 4365
  • Royal he was, he was namore aferd;
  • He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme,
  • And trad as ofte, er that it was pryme.
  • He loketh as it were a grim leoun;
  • And on his toos he rometh up and doun, Skeat1900: 4370
  • Him deyned not to sette his foot to grounde. Skeat1900: (361)
  • He chukketh, whan he hath a corn y-founde,
  • And to him rennen thanne his wyves alle.
  • Thus royal, as a prince is in his halle,
  • Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture; Skeat1900: 4375
  • And after wol I telle his aventure.
  • Whan that the month in which the world bigan,
  • That highte March, whan god first maked man,
  • Was complet, and [y]-passed were also,
  • Sin March bigan, thritty dayes and two, Skeat1900: 4380
  • Bifel that Chauntecleer, in al his pryde, Skeat1900: (371)
  • His seven wyves walking by his syde,
  • Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,
  • That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne
  • Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat more; Skeat1900: 4385
  • And knew by kynde, and by noon other lore,
  • That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene.
  • ‘The sonne,’ he sayde, ‘is clomben up on hevene
  • Fourty degrees and oon, and more, y-wis.
  • Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, Skeat1900: 4390
  • Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they singe, Skeat1900: (381)
  • And see the fresshe floures how they springe;
  • Ful is myn herte of revel and solas.’
  • But sodeinly him fil a sorweful cas;
  • For ever the latter ende of Ioye is wo. Skeat1900: 4395
  • God woot that worldly Ioye is sone ago;
  • And if a rethor coude faire endyte,
  • He in a cronique saufly mighte it wryte,
  • As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
  • Now every wys man, lat him herkne me; Skeat1900: 4400
  • This storie is al-so trewe, I undertake, Skeat1900: (391)
  • As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
  • That wommen holde in ful gret reverence.
  • Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
  • A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee, Skeat1900: 4405
  • That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
  • By heigh imaginacioun forn-cast,
  • The same night thurgh-out the hegges brast
  • Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire
  • Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire; Skeat1900: 4410
  • And in a bed of wortes stille he lay, Skeat1900: (401)
  • Til it was passed undern of the day,
  • Wayting his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle,
  • As gladly doon thise homicydes alle,
  • That in awayt liggen to mordre men. Skeat1900: 4415
  • O false mordrer, lurking in thy den!
  • O newe Scariot, newe Genilon!
  • False dissimilour, O Greek Sinon,
  • That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe!
  • O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe, Skeat1900: 4420
  • That thou into that yerd flough fro the bemes! Skeat1900: (411)
  • Thou were ful wel y-warned by thy dremes,
  • That thilke day was perilous to thee.
  • But what that god forwoot mot nedes be,
  • After the opinioun of certeyn clerkis. Skeat1900: 4425
  • Witnesse on him, that any perfit clerk is,
  • That in scole is gret altercacioun
  • In this matere, and greet disputisoun,
  • And hath ben of an hundred thousand men.
  • But I ne can not bulte it to the bren, Skeat1900: 4430
  • As can the holy doctour Augustyn, Skeat1900: (421)
  • Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardyn,
  • Whether that goddes worthy forwiting
  • Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thing,
  • (Nedely clepe I simple necessitee); Skeat1900: 4435
  • Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
  • To do that same thing, or do it noght,
  • Though god forwoot it, er that it was wroght;
  • Or if his witing streyneth nevere a del
  • But by necessitee condicionel. Skeat1900: 4440
  • I wol not han to do of swich matere; Skeat1900: (431)
  • My tale is of a cok, as ye may here,
  • That took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
  • To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
  • That he had met the dreem, that I yow tolde. Skeat1900: 4445
  • Wommennes counseils been ful ofte colde;
  • Wommannes counseil broghte us first to wo,
  • And made Adam fro paradys to go,
  • Ther-as he was ful mery, and wel at ese.
  • But for I noot, to whom it mighte displese, Skeat1900: 4450
  • If I counseil of wommen wolde blame, Skeat1900: (441)
  • Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.
  • Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich matere,
  • And what thay seyn of wommen ye may here.
  • Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne; Skeat1900: 4455
  • I can noon harm of no womman divyne.
  • Faire in the sond, to bathe hir merily,
  • Lyth Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by,
  • Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so free
  • Song merier than the mermayde in the see; Skeat1900: 4460
  • For Phisiologus seith sikerly, Skeat1900: (451)
  • How that they singen wel and merily.
  • And so bifel that, as he caste his yë,
  • Among the wortes, on a boterflye,
  • He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. Skeat1900: 4465
  • No-thing ne liste him thanne for to crowe,
  • But cryde anon, ‘cok, cok,’ and up he sterte,
  • As man that was affrayed in his herte.
  • For naturelly a beest desyreth flee
  • Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, Skeat1900: 4470
  • Though he never erst had seyn it with his yë. Skeat1900: (461)
  • This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him espye,
  • He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
  • Seyde, ‘Gentil sire, allas! wher wol ye gon?
  • Be ye affrayed of me that am your freend? Skeat1900: 4475
  • Now certes, I were worse than a feend,
  • If I to yow wolde harm or vileinye.
  • I am nat come your counseil for tespye;
  • But trewely, the cause of my cominge
  • Was only for to herkne how that ye singe. Skeat1900: 4480
  • For trewely ye have as mery a stevene Skeat1900: (471)
  • As eny aungel hath, that is in hevene;
  • Therwith ye han in musik more felinge
  • Than hadde Boece, or any that can singe.
  • My lord your fader (god his soule blesse!) Skeat1900: 4485
  • And eek your moder, of hir gentilesse,
  • Han in myn hous y-been, to my gret ese;
  • And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
  • But for men speke of singing, I wol saye,
  • So mote I brouke wel myn eyen tweye, Skeat1900: 4490
  • Save yow, I herde never man so singe, Skeat1900: (481)
  • As dide your fader in the morweninge;
  • Certes, it was of herte, al that he song.
  • And for to make his voys the more strong,
  • He wolde so peyne him, that with bothe his yën Skeat1900: 4495
  • He moste winke, so loude he wolde cryen,
  • And stonden on his tiptoon ther-with-al,
  • And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
  • And eek he was of swich discrecioun,
  • That ther nas no man in no regioun Skeat1900: 4500
  • That him in song or wisdom mighte passe. Skeat1900: (491)
  • I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse,
  • Among his vers, how that ther was a cok,
  • For that a preestes sone yaf him a knok
  • Upon his leg, whyl he was yong and nyce, Skeat1900: 4505
  • He made him for to lese his benefyce.
  • But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun
  • Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun
  • Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee.
  • Now singeth, sire, for seinte charitee, Skeat1900: 4510
  • Let see, conne ye your fader countrefete?’ Skeat1900: (501)
  • This Chauntecleer his winges gan to bete,
  • As man that coude his tresoun nat espye,
  • So was he ravisshed with his flaterye.
  • Allas! ye lordes, many a fals flatour Skeat1900: 4515
  • Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour,
  • That plesen yow wel more, by my feith,
  • Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
  • Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye;
  • Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. Skeat1900: 4520
  • This Chauntecleer stood hye up-on his toos, Skeat1900: (511)
  • Strecching his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos,
  • And gan to crowe loude for the nones;
  • And daun Russel the fox sterte up at ones,
  • And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, Skeat1900: 4525
  • And on his bak toward the wode him beer,
  • For yet ne was ther no man that him sewed.
  • O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed!
  • Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes!
  • Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes! Skeat1900: 4530
  • And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce. Skeat1900: (521)
  • O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce,
  • Sin that thy servant was this Chauntecleer,
  • And in thy service dide al his poweer,
  • More for delyt, than world to multiplye, Skeat1900: 4535
  • Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to dye?
  • O Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn,
  • That, whan thy worthy king Richard was slayn
  • With shot, compleynedest his deth so sore,
  • Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy lore, Skeat1900: 4540
  • The Friday for to chide, as diden ye? Skeat1900: (531)
  • (For on a Friday soothly slayn was he.)
  • Than wolde I shewe yow how that I coude pleyne
  • For Chauntecleres drede, and for his peyne.
  • Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun Skeat1900: 4545
  • Was never of ladies maad, whan Ilioun
  • Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd,
  • Whan he hadde hent king Priam by the berd,
  • And slayn him (as saith us Eneydos ),
  • As maden alle the hennes in the clos, Skeat1900: 4550
  • Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. Skeat1900: (541)
  • But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte,
  • Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf,
  • Whan that hir housbond hadde lost his lyf,
  • And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage; Skeat1900: 4555
  • She was so ful of torment and of rage,
  • That wilfully into the fyr she sterte,
  • And brende hir-selven with a stedfast herte.
  • O woful hennes, right so cryden ye,
  • As, whan that Nero brende the citee Skeat1900: 4560
  • Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves, Skeat1900: (551)
  • For that hir housbondes losten alle hir lyves;
  • Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.
  • Now wol I torne to my tale agayn:—
  • This sely widwe, and eek hir doghtres two, Skeat1900: 4565
  • Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo,
  • And out at dores sterten they anoon,
  • And syen the fox toward the grove goon,
  • And bar upon his bak the cok away;
  • And cryden, ‘Out! harrow! and weylaway! Skeat1900: 4570
  • Ha, ha, the fox!’ and after him they ran, Skeat1900: (561)
  • And eek with staves many another man;
  • Ran Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland,
  • And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand;
  • Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges Skeat1900: 4575
  • So were they fered for berking of the dogges
  • And shouting of the men and wimmen eke,
  • They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breke.
  • They yelleden as feendes doon in helle;
  • The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle; Skeat1900: 4580
  • The gees for fere flowen over the trees; Skeat1900: (571)
  • Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees;
  • So hidous was the noyse, a! benedicite!
  • Certes, he Iakke Straw, and his meynee,
  • Ne made never shoutes half so shrille, Skeat1900: 4585
  • Whan that they wolden any Fleming kille,
  • As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
  • Of bras thay broghten bemes, and of box,
  • Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped,
  • And therwithal thay shryked and they houped; Skeat1900: 4590
  • It semed as that heven sholde falle. Skeat1900: (581)
  • Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth alle!
  • Lo, how fortune turneth sodeinly
  • The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy!
  • This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, Skeat1900: 4595
  • In al his drede, un-to the fox he spak,
  • And seyde, ‘sire, if that I were as ye,
  • Yet sholde I seyn (as wis god helpe me),
  • Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle!
  • A verray pestilence up-on yow falle! Skeat1900: 4600
  • Now am I come un-to this wodes syde, Skeat1900: (591)
  • Maugree your heed, the cok shal heer abyde;
  • I wol him ete in feith, and that anon.’—
  • The fox answerde, ‘in feith, it shal be don,’—
  • And as he spak that word, al sodeinly Skeat1900: 4605
  • This cok brak from his mouth deliverly,
  • And heighe up-on a tree he fleigh anon.
  • And whan the fox saugh that he was y-gon,
  • ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘O Chauntecleer, allas!
  • I have to yow,’ quod he, ‘y-doon trespas, Skeat1900: 4610
  • In-as-muche as I maked yow aferd, Skeat1900: (601)
  • Whan I yow hente, and broghte out of the yerd;
  • But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente;
  • Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente.
  • I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me so.’ Skeat1900: 4615
  • ‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘I shrewe us bothe two,
  • And first I shrewe my-self, bothe blood and bones,
  • If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
  • Thou shalt na-more, thurgh thy flaterye,
  • Do me to singe and winke with myn yë. Skeat1900: 4620
  • For he that winketh, whan he sholde see, Skeat1900: (611)
  • Al wilfully, god lat him never thee!’
  • ‘Nay,’ quod the fox, ‘but god yeve him meschaunce,
  • That is so undiscreet of governaunce,
  • That Iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.’ Skeat1900: 4625
  • Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees,
  • And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
  • But ye that holden this tale a folye,
  • As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
  • Taketh the moralitee, good men. Skeat1900: 4630
  • For seint Paul seith, that al that writen is, Skeat1900: (621)
  • To our doctryne it is y-write, y-wis.
  • Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
  • Now, gode god, if that it be thy wille,
  • As seith my lord, so make us alle good men; Skeat1900: 4635
  • And bringe us to his heighe blisse. Amen.

Here is ended the Nonne Preestes Tale.

EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.

  • ‘SIR Nonnes Preest,’ our hoste seyde anoon,
  • ‘Y-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon!
  • This was a mery tale of Chauntecleer.
  • But, by my trouthe, if thou were seculer, Skeat1900: 4640
  • Thou woldest been a trede-foul a-right.
  • For, if thou have corage as thou hast might,
  • Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene,
  • Ya, mo than seven tymes seventene.
  • See, whiche braunes hath this gentil Preest, Skeat1900: 4645
  • So greet a nekke, and swich a large breest! Skeat1900: (10)
  • He loketh as a sperhauk with his yen;
  • Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen
  • With brasil, ne with greyn of Portingale.
  • Now sire, faire falle yow for youre tale!’ Skeat1900: 4650
  • And after that he, with ful mery chere,
  • Seide to another, as ye shullen here.

GROUP C.

THE PHISICIENS TALE. (T. 11935-11957.)

asterisks For a spurious Prologue, see p. 289.

Here folweth the Phisiciens Tale.

  • THER was, as telleth Titus Livius,
  • A knight that called was Virginius,
  • Fulfild of honour and of worthinesse,
  • And strong of freendes and of greet richesse.
  • This knight a doghter hadde by his wyf, Skeat1900: 5
  • No children hadde he mo in al his lyf.
  • Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
  • Aboven every wight that man may see;
  • For nature hath with sovereyn diligence
  • Y-formed hir in so greet excellence, Skeat1900: 10
  • As though she wolde seyn, ‘lo! I, Nature,
  • Thus can I forme and peynte a creature,
  • Whan that me list; who can me countrefete?
  • Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete,
  • Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn, Skeat1900: 15
  • Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn,
  • Outher to grave or peynte or forge or bete,
  • If they presumed me to countrefete.
  • For he that is the former principal
  • Hath maked me his vicaire general, Skeat1900: 20
  • To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
  • Right as me list, and ech thing in my cure is
  • Under the mone, that may wane and waxe,
  • And for my werk right no-thing wol I axe;
  • My lord and I ben ful of oon accord; Skeat1900: 25
  • I made hir to the worship of my lord.
  • So do I alle myne othere creatures,
  • What colour that they han, or what figures.’—
  • Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye.
  • This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye, Skeat1900: 30
  • In which that Nature hadde swich delyt.
  • For right as she can peynte a lilie whyt
  • And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
  • She peynted hath this noble creature
  • Er she were born, up-on hir limes free, Skeat1900: 35
  • Wher-as by right swiche colours sholde be;
  • And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete
  • Lyk to the stremes of his burned hete.
  • And if that excellent was hir beautee,
  • A thousand-fold more vertuous was she. Skeat1900: 40
  • In hir ne lakked no condicioun,
  • That is to preyse, as by discrecioun.
  • As wel in goost as body chast was she;
  • For which she floured in virginitee
  • With alle humilitee and abstinence, Skeat1900: 45
  • With alle attemperaunce and pacience,
  • With mesure eek of bering and array.
  • Discreet she was in answering alway;
  • Though she were wys as Pallas, dar I seyn,
  • Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn, Skeat1900: 50
  • No countrefeted termes hadde she
  • To seme wys; but after hir degree
  • She spak, and alle hir wordes more and lesse
  • Souninge in vertu and in gentillesse.
  • Shamfast she was in maydens shamfastnesse, Skeat1900: 55
  • Constant in herte, and ever in bisinesse
  • To dryve hir out of ydel slogardye.
  • Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye;
  • For wyn and youthe doon Venus encrece,
  • As men in fyr wol casten oile or grece. Skeat1900: 60
  • And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyned,
  • She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned,
  • For that she wolde fleen the companye
  • Wher lykly was to treten of folye,
  • As is at festes, revels, and at daunces, Skeat1900: 65
  • That been occasions of daliaunces.
  • Swich thinges maken children for to be
  • To sone rype and bold, as men may see,
  • Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore.
  • For al to sone may she lerne lore Skeat1900: 70
  • Of boldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.
  • And ye maistresses in your olde lyf,
  • That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,
  • Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce;
  • Thenketh that ye ben set in governinges Skeat1900: 75
  • Of lordes doghtres, only for two thinges;
  • Outher for ye han kept your honestee,
  • Or elles ye han falle in freletee,
  • And knowen wel y-nough the olde daunce,
  • And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce Skeat1900: 80
  • For evermo; therfore, for Cristes sake,
  • To teche hem vertu loke that ye ne slake.
  • A theef of venisoun, that hath forlaft
  • His likerousnesse, and al his olde craft,
  • Can kepe a forest best of any man. Skeat1900: 85
  • Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol, ye can;
  • Loke wel that ye un-to no vice assente,
  • Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente;
  • For who-so doth, a traitour is certeyn.
  • And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn; Skeat1900: 90
  • Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence
  • Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
  • Ye fadres and ye modres eek also,
  • Though ye han children, be it oon or two,
  • Your is the charge of al hir surveyaunce, Skeat1900: 95
  • Whyl that they been under your governaunce.
  • Beth war that by ensample of your livinge,
  • Or by your necligence in chastisinge,
  • That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye,
  • If that they doon, ye shul it dere abeye. Skeat1900: 100
  • Under a shepherde softe and necligent
  • The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent.
  • Suffyseth oon ensample now as here,
  • For I mot turne agayn to my matere.
  • This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse, Skeat1900: 105
  • So kepte hir-self, hir neded no maistresse;
  • For in hir living maydens mighten rede,
  • As in a book, every good word or dede,
  • That longeth to a mayden vertuous;
  • She was so prudent and so bountevous. Skeat1900: 110
  • For which the fame out-sprong on every syde
  • Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde;
  • That thurgh that land they preysed hir echone,
  • That loved vertu, save envye allone,
  • That sory is of other mennes wele, Skeat1900: 115
  • And glad is of his sorwe and his unhele;
  • (The doctour maketh this descripcioun).
  • This mayde up-on a day wente in the toun
  • Toward a temple, with hir moder dere,
  • As is of yonge maydens the manere. Skeat1900: 120
  • Now was ther thanne a Iustice in that toun,
  • That governour was of that regioun.
  • And so bifel, this Iuge his eyen caste
  • Up-on this mayde, avysinge him ful faste,
  • As she cam forby ther this Iuge stood. Skeat1900: 125
  • Anon his herte chaunged and his mood,
  • So was he caught with beautee of this mayde;
  • And to him-self ful prively he sayde,
  • ‘This mayde shal be myn, for any man.’
  • Anon the feend in-to his herte ran, Skeat1900: 130
  • And taughte him sodeynly, that he by slighte
  • The mayden to his purpos winne mighte.
  • For certes, by no force, ne by no mede,
  • Him thoughte, he was nat able for to spede;
  • For she was strong of freendes, and eek she Skeat1900: 135
  • Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee,
  • That wel he wiste he mighte hir never winne
  • As for to make hir with hir body sinne.
  • For which, by greet deliberacioun,
  • He sente after a cherl, was in the toun, Skeat1900: 140
  • Which that he knew for subtil and for bold.
  • This Iuge un-to this cherl his tale hath told
  • In secree wyse, and made him to ensure,
  • He sholde telle it to no creature,
  • And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed. Skeat1900: 145
  • Whan that assented was this cursed reed,
  • Glad was this Iuge and maked him greet chere,
  • And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and dere.
  • Whan shapen was al hir conspiracye
  • Fro point to point, how that his lecherye Skeat1900: 150
  • Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly,
  • As ye shul here it after openly,
  • Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius.
  • This false Iuge that highte Apius,
  • So was his name, (for this is no fable, Skeat1900: 155
  • But knowen for historial thing notable,
  • The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute),
  • This false Iuge gooth now faste aboute
  • To hasten his delyt al that he may.
  • And so bifel sone after, on a day, Skeat1900: 160
  • This false Iuge, as telleth us the storie,
  • As he was wont, sat in his consistorie,
  • And yaf his domes up-on sondry cas.
  • This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas,
  • And seyde, ‘lord, if that it be your wille, Skeat1900: 165
  • As dooth me right up-on this pitous bille,
  • In which I pleyne up-on Virginius.
  • And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,
  • I wol it preve, and finde good witnesse,
  • That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.’ Skeat1900: 170
  • The Iuge answerde, ‘of this, in his absence,
  • I may nat yeve diffinitif sentence.
  • Lat do him calle, and I wol gladly here;
  • Thou shalt have al right, and no wrong here.’
  • Virginius cam, to wite the Iuges wille, Skeat1900: 175
  • And right anon was rad this cursed bille;
  • The sentence of it was as ye shul here.
  • ‘To yow, my lord, sire Apius so dere,
  • Sheweth your povre servant Claudius,
  • How that a knight, called Virginius, Skeat1900: 180
  • Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee,
  • Holdeth, expres agayn the wil of me,
  • My servant, which that is my thral by right,
  • Which fro myn hous was stole up-on a night,
  • Whyl that she was ful yong; this wol I preve Skeat1900: 185
  • By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greve.
  • She nis his doghter nat, what so he seye;
  • Wherfore to yow, my lord the Iuge, I preye,
  • Yeld me my thral, if that it be your wille.’
  • Lo! this was al the sentence of his bille. Skeat1900: 190
  • Virginius gan up-on the cherl biholde,
  • But hastily, er he his tale tolde,
  • And wolde have preved it, as sholde a knight,
  • And eek by witnessing of many a wight,
  • That it was fals that seyde his adversarie, Skeat1900: 195
  • This cursed Iuge wolde no-thing tarie,
  • Ne here a word more of Virginius,
  • But yaf his Iugement, and seyde thus:—
  • ‘I deme anon this cherl his servant have;
  • Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save. Skeat1900: 200
  • Go bring hir forth, and put hir in our warde,
  • The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde.’
  • And whan this worthy knight Virginius,
  • Thurgh sentence of this Iustice Apius,
  • Moste by force his dere doghter yiven Skeat1900: 205
  • Un-to the Iuge, in lecherye to liven,
  • He gooth him hoom, and sette him in his halle,
  • And leet anon his dere doghter calle,
  • And, with a face deed as asshen colde,
  • Upon hir humble face he gan biholde, Skeat1900: 210
  • With fadres pitee stiking thurgh his herte,
  • Al wolde he from his purpose nat converte.
  • ‘Doghter,’ quod he, ‘Virginia, by thy name,
  • Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,
  • That thou most suffre; allas! that I was bore! Skeat1900: 215
  • For never thou deservedest wherfore
  • To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.
  • O dere doghter, ender of my lyf,
  • Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce,
  • That thou were never out of my remembraunce! Skeat1900: 220
  • O doghter, which that art my laste wo,
  • And in my lyf my laste Ioye also,
  • O gemme of chastitee, in pacience
  • Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence.
  • For love and nat for hate, thou most be deed; Skeat1900: 225
  • My pitous hand mot smyten of thyn heed.
  • Allas! that ever Apius thee say!
  • Thus hath he falsly Iuged thee to-day’—
  • And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore
  • Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it more. Skeat1900: 230
  • ‘O mercy, dere fader,’ quod this mayde,
  • And with that word she both hir armes layde
  • About his nekke, as she was wont to do:
  • The teres broste out of hir eyen two,
  • And seyde, ‘gode fader, shal I dye? Skeat1900: 235
  • Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye?’
  • ‘No, certes, dere doghter myn,’ quod he.
  • ‘Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,’ quod she,
  • ‘My deeth for to compleyne a litel space;
  • For pardee, Iepte yaf his doghter grace Skeat1900: 240
  • For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas!
  • And god it woot, no-thing was hir trespas,
  • But for she ran hir fader first to see,
  • To welcome him with greet solempnitee.’
  • And with that word she fil aswowne anon, Skeat1900: 245
  • And after, whan hir swowning is agon,
  • She ryseth up, and to hir fader sayde,
  • ‘Blessed be god, that I shal dye a mayde.
  • Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;
  • Doth with your child your wil, a goddes name!’ Skeat1900: 250
  • And with that word she preyed him ful ofte,
  • That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe,
  • And with that word aswowne doun she fil.
  • Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil,
  • Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente, Skeat1900: 255
  • And to the Iuge he gan it to presente,
  • As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.
  • And whan the Iuge it saugh, as seith the storie,
  • He bad to take him and anhange him faste.
  • But right anon a thousand peple in thraste, Skeat1900: 260
  • To save the knight, for routhe and for pitee,
  • For knowen was the false iniquitee.
  • The peple anon hath suspect of this thing,
  • By manere of the cherles chalanging,
  • That it was by the assent of Apius; Skeat1900: 265
  • They wisten wel that he was lecherous.
  • For which un-to this Apius they gon,
  • And caste him in a prison right anon,
  • Wher-as he slow him-self; and Claudius,
  • That servant was un-to this Apius, Skeat1900: 270
  • Was demed for to hange upon a tree;
  • But that Virginius, of his pitee,
  • So preyde for him that he was exyled;
  • And elles, certes, he had been bigyled.
  • The remenant were anhanged, more and lesse, Skeat1900: 275
  • That were consentant of this cursednesse.—
  • Heer men may seen how sinne hath his meryte!
  • Beth war, for no man woot whom god wol smyte
  • In no degree, ne in which maner wyse
  • The worm of conscience may agryse Skeat1900: 280
  • Of wikked lyf, though it so privee be,
  • That no man woot ther-of but god and he.
  • For be he lewed man, or elles lered,
  • He noot how sone that he shal been afered.
  • Therfore I rede yow this conseil take, Skeat1900: 285
  • Forsaketh sinne, er sinne yow forsake.

Here endeth the Phisiciens tale.

WORDS OF THE HOST. (T. 12221-12239.)

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

  • OUR Hoste gan to swere as he were wood,
  • ‘Harrow!’ quod he, ‘by nayles and by blood!
  • This was a fals cherl and a fals Iustyse!
  • As shamful deeth as herte may devyse Skeat1900: 290
  • Come to thise Iuges and hir advocats!
  • Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas!
  • Allas! to dere boghte she beautee!
  • Wherfore I seye al day, as men may see,
  • That yiftes of fortune or of nature Skeat1900: 295
  • Ben cause of deeth to many a creature. Skeat1900: (10)
  • Hir beautee was hir deeth, I dar wel sayn;
  • Allas! so pitously as she was slayn!
  • Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now
  • Men han ful ofte more harm than prow. Skeat1900: 300
  • But trewely, myn owene mayster dere,
  • This is a pitous tale for to here.
  • But natheles, passe over, is no fors;
  • I prey to god, so save thy gentil cors,
  • And eek thyne urinals and thy Iordanes, Skeat1900: 305
  • Thyn Ypocras, and eek thy Galianes, Skeat1900: (20)
  • And every boist ful of thy letuarie;
  • God blesse hem, and our lady seinte Marie!
  • So mot I theen, thou art a propre man,
  • And lyk a prelat, by seint Ronyan! Skeat1900: 310
  • Seyde I nat wel? I can nat speke in terme;
  • But wel I woot, thou doost my herte to erme,
  • That I almost have caught a cardiacle.
  • By corpus bones! but I have triacle,
  • Or elles a draught of moyste and corny ale, Skeat1900: 315
  • Or but I here anon a mery tale, Skeat1900: (30)
  • Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.
  • Thou bel amy, thou Pardoner,’ he seyde,
  • ‘Tel us som mirthe or Iapes right anon.’
  • ‘It shall be doon,’ quod he, ‘by seint Ronyon! Skeat1900: 320
  • But first,’ quod he, ‘heer at this ale-stake
  • I wol both drinke, and eten of a cake.’
  • But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye,
  • ‘Nay! lat him telle us of no ribaudye;
  • Tel us som moral thing, that we may lere Skeat1900: 325
  • Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly here.’ Skeat1900: (40)
  • ‘I graunte, y-wis,’ quod he, ‘but I mot thinke
  • Up-on som honest thing, whyl that I drinke.

THE PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE. (T. 12263-12288).

Here folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale.

Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, sexto.

  • LORDINGS,’ quod he, ‘in chirches whan I preche,
  • I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche, Skeat1900: 330
  • And ringe it out as round as gooth a belle,
  • For I can al by rote that I telle.
  • My theme is alwey oon, and ever was—
  • Radix malorum est Cupiditas.
  • First I pronounce whennes that I come, Skeat1900: 335
  • And than my bulles shewe I, alle and somme.
  • Our lige lordes seel on my patente,
  • That shewe I first, my body to warente, Skeat1900: (10)
  • That no man be so bold, ne preest ne clerk,
  • Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk; Skeat1900: 340
  • And after that than telle I forth my tales,
  • Bulles of popes and of cardinales,
  • Of patriarkes, and bishoppes I shewe;
  • And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe,
  • To saffron with my predicacioun, Skeat1900: 345
  • And for to stire men to devocioun.
  • Than shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,
  • Y-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones; Skeat1900: (20)
  • Reliks been they, as wenen they echoon
  • Than have I in latoun a sholder-boon Skeat1900: 350
  • Which that was of an holy Iewes shepe.
  • “Good men,” seye I, “tak of my wordes kepe;
  • If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,
  • If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle
  • That any worm hath ete, or worm y-stonge, Skeat1900: 355
  • Tak water of that welle, and wash his tonge,
  • And it is hool anon; and forthermore,
  • Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every sore Skeat1900: (30)
  • Shal every sheep be hool, that of this welle
  • Drinketh a draughte; tak kepe eek what I telle. Skeat1900: 360
  • If that the good-man, that the bestes oweth,
  • Wol every wike, er that the cok him croweth,
  • Fastinge, drinken of this welle a draughte,
  • As thilke holy Iewe our eldres taughte,
  • His bestes and his stoor shal multiplye. Skeat1900: 365
  • And, sirs, also it heleth Ialousye;
  • For, though a man be falle in Ialous rage,
  • Let maken with this water his potage, Skeat1900: (40)
  • And never shal he more his wyf mistriste,
  • Though he the sooth of hir defaute wiste; Skeat1900: 370
  • Al had she taken preestes two or three.
  • Heer is a miteyn eek, that ye may see.
  • He that his hond wol putte in this miteyn,
  • He shal have multiplying of his greyn,
  • Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes, Skeat1900: 375
  • So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.
  • Good men and wommen, o thing warne I yow,
  • If any wight be in this chirche now, Skeat1900: (50)
  • That hath doon sinne horrible, that he
  • Dar nat, for shame, of it y-shriven be, Skeat1900: 380
  • Or any womman, be she yong or old,
  • That hath y-maad hir housbond cokewold,
  • Swich folk shul have no power ne no grace
  • To offren to my reliks in this place.
  • And who-so findeth him out of swich blame, Skeat1900: 385
  • He wol com up and offre in goddes name,
  • And I assoille him by the auctoritee
  • Which that by bulle y-graunted was to me.” Skeat1900: (60)
  • By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer,
  • An hundred mark sith I was Pardoner. Skeat1900: 390
  • I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet,
  • And whan the lewed peple is doun y-set,
  • I preche, so as ye han herd bifore,
  • And telle an hundred false Iapes more.
  • Than peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke, Skeat1900: 395
  • And est and west upon the peple I bekke,
  • As doth a dowve sitting on a berne.
  • Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerne, Skeat1900: (70)
  • That it is Ioye to see my bisinesse.
  • Of avaryce and of swich cursednesse Skeat1900: 400
  • Is al my preching, for to make hem free
  • To yeve her pens, and namely un-to me.
  • For my entente is nat but for to winne,
  • And no-thing for correccioun of sinne.
  • I rekke never, whan that they ben beried, Skeat1900: 405
  • Though that her soules goon a-blakeberied!
  • For certes, many a predicacioun
  • Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun; Skeat1900: (80)
  • Som for plesaunce of folk and flaterye,
  • To been avaunced by ipocrisye, Skeat1900: 410
  • And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.
  • For, whan I dar non other weyes debate,
  • Than wol I stinge him with my tonge smerte
  • In preching, so that he shal nat asterte
  • To been defamed falsly, if that he Skeat1900: 415
  • Hath trespased to my brethren or to me.
  • For, though I telle noght his propre name,
  • Men shal wel knowe that it is the same Skeat1900: (90)
  • By signes and by othere circumstances.
  • Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances; Skeat1900: 420
  • Thus spitte I out my venim under hewe
  • Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe.
  • But shortly myn entente I wol devyse;
  • I preche of no-thing but for coveityse.
  • Therfor my theme is yet, and ever was— Skeat1900: 425
  • Radix malorum est cupiditas.
  • Thus can I preche agayn that same vyce
  • Which that I use, and that is avaryce. Skeat1900: (100)
  • But, though my-self be gilty in that sinne,
  • Yet can I maken other folk to twinne Skeat1900: 430
  • From avaryce, and sore to repente.
  • But that is nat my principal entente.
  • I preche no-thing but for coveityse;
  • Of this matere it oughte y-nogh suffyse.
  • Than telle I hem ensamples many oon Skeat1900: 435
  • Of olde stories, longe tyme agoon:
  • For lewed peple loven tales olde;
  • Swich thinges can they wel reporte and holde. Skeat1900: (110)
  • What? trowe ye, the whyles I may preche,
  • And winne gold and silver for I teche, Skeat1900: 440
  • That I wol live in povert wilfully?
  • Nay, nay, I thoghte it never trewely!
  • For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes;
  • I wol not do no labour with myn hondes,
  • Ne make baskettes, and live therby, Skeat1900: 445
  • Because I wol nat beggen ydelly.
  • I wol non of the apostles counterfete;
  • I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete, Skeat1900: (120)
  • Al were it yeven of the povrest page,
  • Or of the povrest widwe in a village, Skeat1900: 450
  • Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne.
  • Nay! I wol drinke licour of the vyne,
  • And have a Ioly wenche in every toun.
  • But herkneth, lordings, in conclusioun;
  • Your lyking is that I shal telle a tale. Skeat1900: 455
  • Now, have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,
  • By god, I hope I shal yow telle a thing
  • That shal, by resoun, been at your lyking. Skeat1900: (130)
  • For, though myself be a ful vicious man,
  • A moral tale yet I yow telle can, Skeat1900: 460
  • Which I am wont to preche, for to winne.
  • Now holde your pees, my tale I wol beginne.

THE PARDONERS TALE. ( Numbered in continuation of the preceding. )

Here biginneth the Pardoners Tale.

    • IN Flaundres whylom was a companye
    • Of yonge folk, that haunteden folye,
    • As ryot, hasard, stewes , and tavernes, Skeat1900: 465
    • Wher-as, with harpes, lutes, and giternes,
    • They daunce and pleye at dees bothe day and night,
    • And ete also and drinken over hir might, Skeat1900: (140)
    • Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifyse
    • With-in that develes temple, in cursed wyse, Skeat1900: 470
    • By superfluitee abhominable;
    • Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable,
    • That it is grisly for to here hem swere;
    • Our blissed lordes body they to-tere;
    • Hem thoughte Iewes rente him noght y-nough; Skeat1900: 475
    • And ech of hem at otheres sinne lough.
    • And right anon than comen tombesteres
    • Fetys and smale, and yonge fruytesteres, Skeat1900: (150)
    • Singers with harpes, baudes, wafereres,
    • Whiche been the verray develes officeres Skeat1900: 480
    • To kindle and blowe the fyr of lecherye,
    • That is annexed un-to glotonye;
    • The holy writ take I to my witnesse,
    • That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.
    • Lo, how that dronken Loth, unkindely, Skeat1900: 485
    • Lay by his doghtres two, unwitingly;
    • So dronke he was, he niste what he wroghte.
    • Herodes, (who-so wel the stories soghte), Skeat1900: (160)
    • Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste,
    • Right at his owene table he yaf his heste Skeat1900: 490
    • To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees.
    • Senek seith eek a good word doutelees;
    • He seith, he can no difference finde
    • Bitwix a man that is out of his minde
    • And a man which that is dronkelewe, Skeat1900: 495
    • But that woodnesse, y-fallen in a shrewe,
    • Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse.
    • O glotonye, ful of cursednesse, Skeat1900: (170)
    • O cause first of our confusioun,
    • O original of our dampnacioun, Skeat1900: 500
    • Til Crist had boght us with his blood agayn!
    • Lo, how dere, shortly for to sayn,
    • Aboght was thilke cursed vileinye;
    • Corrupt was al this world for glotonye!
    • Adam our fader, and his wyf also, Skeat1900: 505
    • Fro Paradys to labour and to wo
    • Were driven for that vyce, it is no drede;
    • For whyl that Adam fasted, as I rede, Skeat1900: (180)
    • He was in Paradys; and whan that he
    • Eet of the fruyt defended on the tree, Skeat1900: 510
    • Anon he was out-cast to wo and peyne.
    • O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne!
    • O, wiste a man how many maladyes
    • Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes,
    • He wolde been the more mesurable Skeat1900: 515
    • Of his diete, sittinge at his table.
    • Allas! the shorte throte, the tendre mouth,
    • Maketh that, Est and West, and North and South, Skeat1900: (190)
    • In erthe, in eir, in water men to-swinke
    • To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drinke! Skeat1900: 520
    • Of this matere, o Paul, wel canstow trete,
    • ‘Mete un-to wombe, and wombe eek un-to mete,
    • Shal god destroyen bothe,’ as Paulus seith.
    • Allas! a foul thing is it, by my feith,
    • To seye this word, and fouler is the dede, Skeat1900: 525
    • Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and rede,
    • That of his throte he maketh his privee,
    • Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. Skeat1900: (200)
    • The apostel weping seith ful pitously,
    • ‘Ther walken many of whiche yow told have I, Skeat1900: 530
    • I seye it now weping with pitous voys,
    • That they been enemys of Cristes croys,
    • Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is her god.’
    • O wombe! O bely! O stinking cod,
    • Fulfild of donge and of corrupcioun! Skeat1900: 535
    • At either ende of thee foul is the soun.
    • How greet labour and cost is thee to finde!
    • Thise cokes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grinde, Skeat1900: (210)
    • And turnen substaunce in-to accident,
    • To fulfille al thy likerous talent! Skeat1900: 540
    • Out of the harde bones knokke they
    • The mary, for they caste noght a-wey
    • That may go thurgh the golet softe and swote;
    • Of spicerye, of leef, and bark, and rote
    • Shal been his sauce y-maked by delyt, Skeat1900: 545
    • To make him yet a newer appetyt
    • But certes, he that haunteth swich delyces
    • Is deed, whyl that he liveth in tho vyces. Skeat1900: (220)
    • A lecherous thing is wyn, and dronkenesse
    • Is ful of stryving and of wrecchednesse. Skeat1900: 550
    • O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,
    • Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,
    • And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun
    • As though thou seydest ay ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun’;
    • And yet, god wot, Sampsoun drank never no wyn. Skeat1900: 555
    • Thou fallest, as it were a stiked swyn;
    • Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honest cure;
    • For dronkenesse is verray sepulture Skeat1900: (230)
    • Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.
    • In whom that drinke hath dominacioun, Skeat1900: 560
    • He can no conseil kepe, it is no drede.
    • Now kepe yow fro the whyte and fro the rede,
    • And namely fro the whyte wyn of Lepe,
    • That is to selle in Fish-strete or in Chepe.
    • This wyn of Spayne crepeth subtilly Skeat1900: 565
    • In othere wynes, growing faste by,
    • Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee,
    • That whan a man hath dronken draughtes three, Skeat1900: (240)
    • And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe,
    • He is in Spayne, right at the toune of Lepe, Skeat1900: 570
    • Nat at the Rochel, ne at Burdeux toun;
    • And thanne wol he seye, ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun.’
    • But herkneth, lordings, o word, I yow preye,
    • That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye,
    • Of victories in the olde testament, Skeat1900: 575
    • Thurgh verray god, that is omnipotent,
    • Were doon in abstinence and in preyere;
    • Loketh the Bible, and ther ye may it lere. Skeat1900: (250)
    • Loke, Attila, the grete conquerour,
    • Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour, Skeat1900: 580
    • Bledinge ay at his nose in dronkenesse;
    • A capitayn shoulde live in sobrenesse.
    • And over al this, avyseth yow right wel
    • What was comaunded un-to Lamuel—
    • Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I— Skeat1900: 585
    • Redeth the Bible, and finde it expresly
    • Of wyn-yeving to hem that han Iustyse.
    • Na-more of this, for it may wel suffyse. Skeat1900: (260)
    • And now that I have spoke of glotonye,
    • Now wol I yow defenden hasardrye. Skeat1900: 590
    • Hasard is verray moder of lesinges,
    • And of deceite, and cursed forsweringes,
    • Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
    • Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo,
    • It is repreve and contrarie of honour Skeat1900: 595
    • For to ben holde a commune hasardour.
    • And ever the hyër he is of estaat,
    • The more is he holden desolaat. Skeat1900: (270)
    • If that a prince useth hasardrye,
    • In alle governaunce and policye Skeat1900: 600
    • He is, as by commune opinioun,
    • Y-holde the lasse in reputacioun.
    • Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour,
    • Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour,
    • Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. Skeat1900: 605
    • And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce,
    • That alle the grettest that were of that lond,
    • Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. Skeat1900: (280)
    • For which, as sone as it mighte be,
    • He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, Skeat1900: 610
    • And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name;
    • Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame,
    • Yow for to allye un-to none hasardours.
    • Sendeth othere wyse embassadours;
    • For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, Skeat1900: 615
    • Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
    • For ye that been so glorious in honours
    • Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours Skeat1900: (290)
    • As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’
    • This wyse philosophre thus seyde he. Skeat1900: 620
    • Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius
    • The king of Parthes, as the book seith us,
    • Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn,
    • For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn;
    • For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun Skeat1900: 625
    • At no value or reputacioun.
    • Lordes may finden other maner pley
    • Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey. Skeat1900: (300)
    • Now wol I speke of othes false and grete
    • A word or two, as olde bokes trete. Skeat1900: 630
    • Gret swering is a thing abhominable,
    • And false swering is yet more reprevable.
    • The heighe god forbad swering at al,
    • Witnesse on Mathew; but in special
    • Of swering seith the holy Ieremye, Skeat1900: 635
    • ‘Thou shalt seye sooth thyn othes, and nat lye,
    • And swere in dome, and eek in rightwisnesse;’
    • But ydel swering is a cursednesse. Skeat1900: (310)
    • Bihold and see, that in the firste table
    • Of heighe goddes hestes honurable, Skeat1900: 640
    • How that the seconde heste of him is this—
    • ‘Tak nat my name in ydel or amis.’
    • Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering
    • Than homicyde or many a cursed thing;
    • I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth; Skeat1900: 645
    • This knowen, that his hestes understondeth,
    • How that the second heste of god is that.
    • And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat, Skeat1900: (320)
    • That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous,
    • That of his othes is to outrageous. Skeat1900: 650
    • ‘By goddes precious herte, and by his nayles,
    • And by the blode of Crist, that it is in Hayles,
    • Seven is my chaunce, and thyn is cink and treye;
    • By goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye,
    • This dagger shal thurgh-out thyn herte go’— Skeat1900: 655
    • This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two,
    • Forswering, ire, falsnesse, homicyde.
    • Now, for the love of Crist that for us dyde, Skeat1900: (330)
    • Leveth your othes, bothe grete and smale;
    • But, sirs, now wol I telle forth my tale. Skeat1900: 660
    • THISE ryotoures three, of whiche I telle,
    • Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle,
    • Were set hem in a taverne for to drinke;
    • And as they satte, they herde a belle clinke
    • Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave; Skeat1900: 665
    • That oon of hem gan callen to his knave,
    • ‘Go bet,’ quod he, ‘and axe redily,
    • What cors is this that passeth heer forby; Skeat1900: (340)
    • And look that thou reporte his name wel.’
    • ‘Sir,’ quod this boy, ‘it nedeth never-a-del. Skeat1900: 670
    • It was me told, er ye cam heer, two houres;
    • He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres;
    • And sodeynly he was y-slayn to-night,
    • For-dronke, as he sat on his bench upright;
    • Ther cam a privee theef, men clepeth Deeth, Skeat1900: 675
    • That in this contree al the peple sleeth,
    • And with his spere he smoot his herte a-two,
    • And wente his wey with-outen wordes mo. Skeat1900: (350)
    • He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence:
    • And, maister, er ye come in his presence, Skeat1900: 680
    • Me thinketh that it were necessarie
    • For to be war of swich an adversarie:
    • Beth redy for to mete him evermore.
    • Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na-more.’
    • ‘By seinte Marie,’ seyde this taverner, Skeat1900: 685
    • ‘The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer,
    • Henne over a myle, with-in a greet village,
    • Both man and womman, child and hyne, and page. Skeat1900: (360)
    • I trowe his habitacioun be there;
    • To been avysed greet wisdom it were, Skeat1900: 690
    • Er that he dide a man a dishonour.’
    • ‘Ye, goddes armes,’ quod this ryotour,
    • ‘Is it swich peril with him for to mete?
    • I shal him seke by wey and eek by strete,
    • I make avow to goddes digne bones! Skeat1900: 695
    • Herkneth, felawes, we three been al ones;
    • Lat ech of us holde up his hond til other, Skeat1900: (370)
    • And ech of us bicomen otheres brother,
    • And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth;
    • He shal be slayn, which that so many sleeth, Skeat1900: 700
    • By goddes dignitee, er it be night.’
    • Togidres han thise three her trouthes plight,
    • To live and dyen ech of hem for other,
    • As though he were his owene y-boren brother.
    • And up they sterte al dronken, in this rage, Skeat1900: 705
    • And forth they goon towardes that village,
    • Of which the taverner had spoke biforn,
    • And many a grisly ooth than han they sworn, Skeat1900: (380)
    • And Cristes blessed body they to-rente—
    • ‘Deeth shal be deed, if that they may him hente.’ Skeat1900: 710
    • Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle,
    • Right as they wolde han troden over a style,
    • An old man and a povre with hem mette.
    • This olde man ful mekely hem grette,
    • And seyde thus, ‘now, lordes, god yow see!’ Skeat1900: 715
    • The proudest of thise ryotoures three
    • Answerde agayn, ‘what? carl, with sory grace,
    • Why artow al forwrapped save thy face? Skeat1900: (390)
    • Why livestow so longe in so greet age?’
    • This olde man gan loke in his visage, Skeat1900: 720
    • And seyde thus, ‘for I ne can nat finde
    • A man, though that I walked in-to Inde,
    • Neither in citee nor in no village,
    • That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age;
    • And therfore moot I han myn age stille, Skeat1900: 725
    • As longe time as it is goddes wille.
    • Ne deeth, allas! ne wol nat han my lyf;
    • Thus walke I, lyk a restelees caityf, Skeat1900: (400)
    • And on the ground, which is my modres gate,
    • I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late, Skeat1900: 730
    • And seye, “leve moder, leet me in!
    • Lo, how I vanish, flesh, and blood, and skin!
    • Allas! whan shul my bones been at reste?
    • Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste,
    • That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, Skeat1900: 735
    • Ye! for an heyre clout to wrappe me!”
    • But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,
    • For which ful pale and welked is my face. Skeat1900: (410)
    • But, sirs, to yow it is no curteisye
    • To speken to an old man vileinye, Skeat1900: 740
    • But he trespasse in worde, or elles in dede.
    • In holy writ ye may your-self wel rede,
    • “Agayns an old man, hoor upon his heed,
    • Ye sholde aryse;” wherfor I yeve yow reed,
    • Ne dooth un-to an old man noon harm now, Skeat1900: 745
    • Na-more than ye wolde men dide to yow
    • In age, if that ye so longe abyde;
    • And god be with yow, wher ye go or ryde. Skeat1900: (420)
    • I moot go thider as I have to go.’
    • ‘Nay, olde cherl, by god, thou shalt nat so,’ Skeat1900: 750
    • Seyde this other hasardour anon;
    • ‘Thou partest nat so lightly, by seint Iohn!
    • Thou spak right now of thilke traitour Deeth,
    • That in this contree alle our frendes sleeth.
    • Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his aspye, Skeat1900: 755
    • Tel wher he is, or thou shalt it abye,
    • By god, and by the holy sacrament!
    • For soothly thou art oon of his assent, Skeat1900: (430)
    • To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!’
    • ‘Now, sirs,’ quod he, ‘if that yow be so leef Skeat1900: 760
    • To finde Deeth, turne up this croked wey,
    • For in that grove I lafte him, by my fey,
    • Under a tree, and ther he wol abyde;
    • Nat for your boost he wol him no-thing hyde.
    • See ye that ook? right ther ye shul him finde. Skeat1900: 765
    • God save yow, that boghte agayn mankinde,
    • And yow amende!’—thus seyde this olde man.
    • And everich of thise ryotoures ran, Skeat1900: (440)
    • Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde
    • Of florins fyne of golde y-coyned rounde Skeat1900: 770
    • Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte.
    • No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte,
    • But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte,
    • For that the florins been so faire and brighte,
    • That doun they sette hem by this precious hord. Skeat1900: 775
    • The worste of hem he spake the firste word.
    • ‘Brethren,’ quod he, ‘tak kepe what I seye;
    • My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye. Skeat1900: (450)
    • This tresor hath fortune un-to us yiven,
    • In mirthe and Iolitee our lyf to liven, Skeat1900: 780
    • And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende.
    • Ey! goddes precious dignitee! who wende
    • To-day, that we sholde han so fair a grace?
    • But mighte this gold be caried fro this place
    • Hoom to myn hous, or elles un-to youres— Skeat1900: 785
    • For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures—
    • Than were we in heigh felicitee.
    • But trewely, by daye it may nat be; Skeat1900: (460)
    • Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge,
    • And for our owene tresor doon us honge. Skeat1900: 790
    • This tresor moste y-carried be by nighte
    • As wysly and as slyly as it mighte.
    • Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle
    • Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle;
    • And he that hath the cut with herte blythe Skeat1900: 795
    • Shal renne to the toune, and that ful swythe,
    • And bringe us breed and wyn ful prively.
    • And two of us shul kepen subtilly Skeat1900: (470)
    • This tresor wel; and, if he wol nat tarie,
    • Whan it is night, we wol this tresor carie Skeat1900: 800
    • By oon assent, wher-as us thinketh best.’
    • That oon of hem the cut broughte in his fest,
    • And bad hem drawe, and loke wher it wol falle;
    • And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle;
    • And forth toward the toun he wente anon. Skeat1900: 805
    • And al-so sone as that he was gon,
    • That oon of hem spak thus un-to that other,
    • ‘Thou knowest wel thou art my sworne brother, Skeat1900: (480)
    • Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.
    • Thou woost wel that our felawe is agon; Skeat1900: 810
    • And heer is gold, and that ful greet plentee,
    • That shal departed been among us three.
    • But natheles, if I can shape it so
    • That it departed were among us two,
    • Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?’ Skeat1900: 815
    • That other answerde, ‘I noot how that may be;
    • He woot how that the gold is with us tweye,
    • What shal we doon, what shal we to him seye?’ Skeat1900: (490)
    • ‘Shal it be conseil?’ seyde the firste shrewe,
    • ‘And I shal tellen thee, in wordes fewe, Skeat1900: 820
    • What we shal doon, and bringe it wel aboute.’
    • ‘I graunte,’ quod that other, ‘out of doute,
    • That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye.’
    • ‘Now,’ quod the firste, ‘thou woost wel we be tweye,
    • And two of us shul strenger be than oon. Skeat1900: 825
    • Look whan that he is set, and right anoon
    • Arys, as though thou woldest with him pleye;
    • And I shal ryve him thurgh the sydes tweye Skeat1900: (500)
    • Whyl that thou strogelest with him as in game,
    • And with thy dagger look thou do the same; Skeat1900: 830
    • And than shal al this gold departed be,
    • My dere freend, bitwixen me and thee;
    • Than may we bothe our lustes al fulfille,
    • And pleye at dees right at our owene wille.’
    • And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye Skeat1900: 835
    • To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.
    • This youngest, which that wente un-to the toun,
    • Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun Skeat1900: (510)
    • The beautee of thise florins newe and brighte.
    • ‘O lord!’ quod he, ‘if so were that I mighte Skeat1900: 840
    • Have al this tresor to my-self allone,
    • Ther is no man that liveth under the trone
    • Of god, that sholde live so mery as I!’
    • And atte laste the feend, our enemy,
    • Putte in his thought that he shold poyson beye, Skeat1900: 845
    • With which he mighte sleen his felawes tweye;
    • For-why the feend fond him in swich lyvinge,
    • That he had leve him to sorwe bringe, Skeat1900: (520)
    • For this was outrely his fulle entente
    • To sleen hem bothe, and never to repente. Skeat1900: 850
    • And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie,
    • Into the toun, un-to a pothecarie,
    • And preyed him, that he him wolde selle
    • Som poyson, that he mighte his rattes quelle;
    • And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe, Skeat1900: 855
    • That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde y-slawe,
    • And fayn he wolde wreke him, if he mighte,
    • On vermin, that destroyed him by nighte. Skeat1900: (530)
    • The pothecarie answerde, ‘and thou shalt have
    • A thing that, al-so god my soule save, Skeat1900: 860
    • In al this world ther nis no creature,
    • That ete or dronke hath of this confiture
    • Noght but the mountance of a corn of whete,
    • That he ne shal his lyf anon forlete;
    • Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse whyle Skeat1900: 865
    • Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a myle;
    • This poyson is so strong and violent.’
    • This cursed man hath in his hond y-hent Skeat1900: (540)
    • This poyson in a box, and sith he ran
    • In-to the nexte strete, un-to a man, Skeat1900: 870
    • And borwed [of] him large botels three;
    • And in the two his poyson poured he;
    • The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke.
    • For al the night he shoop him for to swinke
    • In caryinge of the gold out of that place. Skeat1900: 875
    • And whan this ryotour, with sory grace,
    • Had filled with wyn his grete botels three,
    • To his felawes agayn repaireth he. Skeat1900: (550)
    • What nedeth it to sermone of it more?
    • For right as they had cast his deeth bifore, Skeat1900: 880
    • Right so they han him slayn, and that anon.
    • And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon,
    • ‘Now lat us sitte and drinke, and make us merie,
    • And afterward we wol his body berie.’
    • And with that word it happed him, par cas, Skeat1900: 885
    • To take the botel ther the poyson was,
    • And drank, and yaf his felawe drinke also,
    • For which anon they storven bothe two. Skeat1900: (560)
    • But, certes, I suppose that Avicen
    • Wroot never in no canon, ne in no fen, Skeat1900: 890
    • Mo wonder signes of empoisoning
    • Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir ending.
    • Thus ended been thise homicydes two,
    • And eek the false empoysoner also.
    • O cursed sinne, ful of cursednesse! Skeat1900: 895
    • O traytours homicyde, o wikkednesse!
    • O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye!
    • Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileinye Skeat1900: (570)
    • And othes grete, of usage and of pryde!
    • Allas! mankinde, how may it bityde, Skeat1900: 900
    • That to thy creatour which that thee wroghte,
    • And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte,
    • Thou art so fals and so unkinde, allas!
    • Now, goode men, god forgeve yow your trespas,
    • And ware yow fro the sinne of avaryce. Skeat1900: 905
    • Myn holy pardoun may yow alle waryce,
    • So that ye offre nobles or sterlinges,
    • Or elles silver broches, spones, ringes. Skeat1900: (580)
    • Boweth your heed under this holy bulle!
    • Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of your wolle! Skeat1900: 910
    • Your name I entre heer in my rolle anon;
    • In-to the blisse of hevene shul ye gon;
    • I yow assoile, by myn heigh power,
    • Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer
    • As ye were born; and, lo, sirs, thus I preche. Skeat1900: 915
    • And Iesu Crist, that is our soules leche,
    • So graunte yow his pardon to receyve;
    • For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve. Skeat1900: (590)
    • But sirs, o word forgat I in my tale,
    • I have relikes and pardon in my male, Skeat1900: 920
    • As faire as any man in Engelond,
    • Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.
    • If any of yow wol, of devocioun,
    • Offren, and han myn absolucioun,
    • Cometh forth anon, and kneleth heer adoun, Skeat1900: 925
    • And mekely receyveth my pardoun:
    • Or elles, taketh pardon as ye wende,
    • Al newe and fresh, at every tounes ende, Skeat1900: (600)
    • So that ye offren alwey newe and newe
    • Nobles and pens, which that be gode and trewe. Skeat1900: 930
    • It is an honour to everich that is heer,
    • That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
    • Tassoille yow, in contree as ye ryde,
    • For aventures which that may bityde.
    • Peraventure ther may falle oon or two Skeat1900: 935
    • Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo.
    • Look which a seuretee is it to yow alle
    • That I am in your felaweship y-falle, Skeat1900: (610)
    • That may assoille yow, bothe more and lasse,
    • Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe. Skeat1900: 940
    • I rede that our hoste heer shal biginne,
    • For he is most envoluped in sinne.
    • Com forth, sir hoste, and offre first anon,
    • And thou shalt kisse the reliks everichon,
    • Ye, for a grote! unbokel anon thy purs.’ Skeat1900: 945
    • ‘Nay, nay,’ quod he, ‘than have I Cristes curs!
    • Lat be,’ quod he, ‘it shal nat be, so theech!
    • Thou woldest make me kisse thyn old breech, Skeat1900: (620)
    • And swere it were a relik of a seint,
    • Thogh it were with thy fundement depeint! Skeat1900: 950
    • But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond,
    • I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond
    • In stede of relikes or of seintuarie;
    • Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie;
    • Thay shul be shryned in an hogges tord.’ Skeat1900: 955
    • This pardoner answerde nat a word;
    • So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.
    • ‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘I wol no lenger pleye Skeat1900: (630)
    • With thee, ne with noon other angry man.’
    • But right anon the worthy knight bigan, Skeat1900: 960
    • Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough,
    • ‘Na-more of this, for it is right y-nough;
    • Sir pardoner, be glad and mery of chere;
    • And ye, sir host, that been to me so dere,
    • I prey yow that ye kisse the pardoner. Skeat1900: 965
    • And pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer,
    • And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye.’ Skeat1900: (639)
    • Anon they kiste, and riden forth hir weye. [T. 12902.

Here is ended the Pardoners Tale.

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

GROUP D.

THE WIFE OF BATH’S PROLOGUE. (T. 5583-5602; for T. 5582, see p. 164.)

The Prologe of the Wyves Tale of Bathe.

  • ‘EXPERIENCE, though noon auctoritee
  • Were in this world, were right y-nough to me
  • To speke of wo that is in mariage;
  • For, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age,
  • Thonked be god that is eterne on lyve, Skeat1900: 5
  • Housbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve;
  • For I so ofte have y-wedded be;
  • And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
  • But me was told certeyn, nat longe agon is,
  • That sith that Crist ne wente never but onis Skeat1900: 10
  • To wedding in the Cane of Galilee,
  • That by the same ensample taughte he me
  • That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
  • Herke eek, lo! which a sharp word for the nones
  • Besyde a welle Iesus, god and man, Skeat1900: 15
  • Spak in repreve of the Samaritan:
  • “Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes,” quod he,
  • “And thilke man, the which that hath now thee,
  • Is noght thyn housbond;” thus seyde he certeyn;
  • What that he mente ther-by, I can nat seyn; Skeat1900: 20
  • But that I axe, why that the fifthe man
  • Was noon housbond to the Samaritan?
  • How manye mighte she have in mariage?
  • Yet herde I never tellen in myn age
  • Upon this nombre diffinicioun; Skeat1900: 25
  • Men may devyne and glosen up and doun.
  • But wel I woot expres, with-oute lye,
  • God bad us for to wexe and multiplye;
  • That gentil text can I wel understonde.
  • Eek wel I woot he seyde, myn housbonde Skeat1900: 30
  • Sholde lete fader and moder, and take me;
  • But of no nombre mencioun made he,
  • Of bigamye or of octogamye;
  • Why sholde men speke of it vileinye?
  • Lo, here the wyse king, dan Salomon; Skeat1900: 35
  • I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon;
  • As, wolde god, it leveful were to me
  • To be refresshed half so ofte as he!
  • Which yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyvis!
  • No man hath swich, that in this world alyve is. Skeat1900: 40
  • God woot, this noble king, as to my wit,
  • The firste night had many a mery fit
  • With ech of hem, so wel was him on lyve!
  • Blessed be god that I have wedded fyve!
  • Welcome the sixte, whan that ever he shal. Skeat1900: 45
  • For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chast in al;
  • Whan myn housbond is fro the world y-gon,
  • Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon;
  • For thanne thapostle seith, that I am free
  • To wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh me. Skeat1900: 50
  • He seith that to be wedded is no sinne;
  • Bet is to be wedded than to brinne.
  • What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileinye
  • Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
  • I woot wel Abraham was an holy man, Skeat1900: 55
  • And Iacob eek, as ferforth as I can;
  • And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two;
  • And many another holy man also.
  • Whan saugh ye ever, in any maner age,
  • That hye god defended mariage Skeat1900: 60
  • By expres word? I pray you, telleth me;
  • Or wher comanded he virginitee?
  • I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
  • Thapostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede;
  • He seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he noon. Skeat1900: 65
  • Men may conseille a womman to been oon,
  • But conseilling is no comandement;
  • He putte it in our owene Iugement.
  • For hadde god comanded maydenhede,
  • Thanne hadde he dampned wedding with the dede; Skeat1900: 70
  • And certes , if ther were no seed y-sowe,
  • Virginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe?
  • Poul dorste nat comanden atte leste
  • A thing of which his maister yaf noon heste.
  • The dart is set up for virginitee; Skeat1900: 75
  • Cacche who so may, who renneth best lat see.
  • But this word is nat take of every wight,
  • But ther as god list give it of his might.
  • I woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde;
  • But natheless, thogh that he wroot and sayde, Skeat1900: 80
  • He wolde that every wight were swich as he,
  • Al nis but conseil to virginitee;
  • And for to been a wyf, he yaf me leve
  • Of indulgence; so it is no repreve
  • To wedde me, if that my make dye, Skeat1900: 85
  • With-oute excepcioun of bigamye.
  • Al were it good no womman for to touche,
  • He mente as in his bed or in his couche;
  • For peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble;
  • Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble. Skeat1900: 90
  • This is al and som, he heeld virginitee
  • More parfit than wedding in freletee.
  • Freeltee clepe I, but-if that he and she
  • Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
  • I graunte it wel, I have noon envye, Skeat1900: 95
  • Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye;
  • Hem lyketh to be clene, body and goost,
  • Of myn estaat I nil nat make no boost.
  • For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
  • He hath nat every vessel al of gold; Skeat1900: 100
  • Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.
  • God clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse,
  • And everich hath of god a propre yifte,
  • Som this, som that,—as him lyketh shifte.
  • Virginitee is greet perfeccioun, Skeat1900: 105
  • And continence eek with devocioun.
  • But Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle,
  • Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle
  • All that he hadde, and give it to the pore,
  • And in swich wyse folwe him and his fore. Skeat1900: 110
  • He spak to hem that wolde live parfitly;
  • And lordinges, by your leve, that am nat I.
  • I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
  • In the actes and in fruit of mariage.
  • Telle me also, to what conclusioun Skeat1900: 115
  • Were membres maad of generacioun,
  • And for what profit was a wight y-wroght?
  • Trusteth right wel, they wer nat maad for noght.
  • Glose who-so wole, and seye bothe up and doun,
  • That they were maked for purgacioun Skeat1900: 120
  • Of urine, and our bothe thinges smale
  • Were eek to knowe a femele from a male,
  • And for noon other cause: sey ye no?
  • The experience woot wel it is noght so;
  • So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe, Skeat1900: 125
  • I sey this, that they maked been for bothe,
  • This is to seye, for office, and for ese
  • Of engendrure, ther we nat god displese.
  • Why sholde men elles in hir bokes sette,
  • That man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette? Skeat1900: 130
  • Now wher-with sholde he make his payement,
  • If he ne used his sely instrument?
  • Than were they maad up-on a creature,
  • To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure.
  • But I seye noght that every wight is holde, Skeat1900: 135
  • That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde,
  • To goon and usen hem in engendrure;
  • Than sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
  • Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man,
  • And many a seint, sith that the world bigan, Skeat1900: 140
  • Yet lived they ever in parfit chastitee.
  • I nil envye no virginitee;
  • Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,
  • And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed;
  • And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle can, Skeat1900: 145
  • Our lord Iesu refresshed many a man.
  • In swich estaat as god hath cleped us
  • I wol persevere, I nam nat precious.
  • In wyfhode I wol use myn instrument
  • As frely as my maker hath it sent. Skeat1900: 150
  • If I be daungerous, god yeve me sorwe!
  • Myn housbond shal it have bothe eve and morwe,
  • Whan that him list com forth and paye his dette.
  • An housbonde I wol have, I nil nat lette,
  • Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral, Skeat1900: 155
  • And have his tribulacioun with-al
  • Up-on his flessh, whyl that I am his wyf.
  • I have the power duringe al my lyf
  • Up-on his propre body, and noght he.
  • Right thus the apostel tolde it un-to me; Skeat1900: 160
  • And bad our housbondes for to love us weel.
  • Al this sentence me lyketh every-deel’—
  • UP sterte the Pardoner, and that anon,
  • ‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘by god and by seint Iohn,
  • Ye been a noble prechour in this cas! Skeat1900: 165
  • I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas!
  • What sholde I bye it on my flesh so dere?
  • Yet hadde I lever wedde no wyf to-yere!’
  • ‘Abyde!’ quod she, ‘my tale is nat bigonne;
  • Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tonne Skeat1900: 170
  • Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale.
  • And whan that I have told thee forth my tale
  • Of tribulacioun in mariage,
  • Of which I am expert in al myn age,
  • This to seyn, my-self have been the whippe;— Skeat1900: 175
  • Than maystow chese whether thou wolt sippe
  • Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
  • Be war of it, er thou to ny approche;
  • For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
  • Who-so that nil be war by othere men, Skeat1900: 180
  • By him shul othere men corrected be.
  • The same wordes wryteth Ptholomee;
  • Rede in his Almageste, and take it there.’
  • ‘Dame, I wolde praye yow, if your wil it were,’
  • Seyde this Pardoner, ‘as ye bigan, Skeat1900: 185
  • Telle forth your tale, spareth for no man,
  • And teche us yonge men of your praktike.’
  • ‘Gladly,’ quod she, ‘sith it may yow lyke.
  • But yet I praye to al this companye,
  • If that I speke after my fantasye, Skeat1900: 190
  • As taketh not a-grief of that I seye;
  • For myn entente nis but for to pleye.
  • Now sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.—
  • As ever mote I drinken wyn or ale,
  • I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde, Skeat1900: 195
  • As three of hem were gode and two were badde.
  • The three men were gode, and riche, and olde;
  • Unnethe mighte they the statut holde
  • In which that they were bounden un-to me.
  • Ye woot wel what I mene of this, pardee! Skeat1900: 200
  • As help me god, I laughe whan I thinke
  • How pitously a-night I made hem swinke;
  • And by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor.
  • They had me yeven hir gold and hir tresoor;
  • Me neded nat do lenger diligence Skeat1900: 205
  • To winne hir love, or doon hem reverence.
  • They loved me so wel, by god above,
  • That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love!
  • A wys womman wol sette hir ever in oon
  • To gete hir love, ther as she hath noon. Skeat1900: 210
  • But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond,
  • And sith they hadde me yeven all hir lond,
  • What sholde I taken hede hem for to plese,
  • But it were for my profit and myn ese?
  • I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey, Skeat1900: 215
  • That many a night they songen “weilawey!”
  • The bacoun was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
  • That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe.
  • I governed hem so wel, after my lawe,
  • That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe Skeat1900: 220
  • To bringe me gaye thinges fro the fayre.
  • They were ful glad whan I spak to hem fayre;
  • For god it woot, I chidde hem spitously.
  • Now herkneth, how I bar me proprely,
  • Ye wyse wyves, that can understonde. Skeat1900: 225
  • Thus shul ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde;
  • For half so boldely can ther no man
  • Swere and lyen as a womman can.
  • I sey nat this by wyves that ben wyse,
  • But-if it be whan they hem misavyse. Skeat1900: 230
  • A wys wyf, if that she can hir good,
  • Shal beren him on hond the cow is wood,
  • And take witnesse of hir owene mayde
  • Of hir assent; but herkneth how I sayde.
  • ‘Sir olde kaynard, is this thyn array? Skeat1900: 235
  • Why is my neighebores wyf so gay?
  • She is honoured over-al ther she goth;
  • I sitte at hoom, I have no thrifty cloth.
  • What dostow at my neighebores hous?
  • Is she so fair? artow so amorous? Skeat1900: 240
  • What rowne ye with our mayde? benedicite !
  • Sir olde lechour , lat thy Iapes be!
  • And if I have a gossib or a freend,
  • With-outen gilt, thou chydest as a feend,
  • If that I walke or pleye un-to his hous! Skeat1900: 245
  • Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous,
  • And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef!
  • Thou seist to me, it is a greet meschief
  • To wedde a povre womman, for costage;
  • And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, Skeat1900: 250
  • Than seistow that it is a tormentrye
  • To suffre hir pryde and hir malencolye.
  • And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
  • Thou seyst that every holour wol hir have;
  • She may no whyle in chastitee abyde, Skeat1900: 255
  • That is assailled up-on ech a syde.
  • Thou seyst, som folk desyre us for richesse,
  • Somme for our shap, and somme for our fairnesse;
  • And som, for she can outher singe or daunce,
  • And som, for gentillesse and daliaunce; Skeat1900: 260
  • Som, for hir handes and hir armes smale;
  • Thus goth al to the devel by thy tale.
  • Thou seyst, men may nat kepe a castel-wal;
  • It may so longe assailled been over-al.
  • And if that she be foul, thou seist that she Skeat1900: 265
  • Coveiteth every man that she may se;
  • For as a spaynel she wol on him lepe,
  • Til that she finde som man hir to chepe;
  • Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake,
  • As, seistow, that wol been with-oute make. Skeat1900: 270
  • And seyst, it is an hard thing for to welde
  • A thing that no man wol, his thankes, helde.
  • Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde;
  • And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde,
  • Ne no man that entendeth un-to hevene. Skeat1900: 275
  • With wilde thonder-dint and firy levene
  • Mote thy welked nekke be to-broke!
  • Thow seyst that dropping houses, and eek smoke,
  • And chyding wyves, maken men to flee
  • Out of hir owene hous ; a! benedicite ! Skeat1900: 280
  • What eyleth swich an old man for to chyde?
  • Thow seyst, we wyves wol our vyces hyde
  • Til we be fast, and than we wol hem shewe;
  • Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!
  • Thou seist, that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes, Skeat1900: 285
  • They been assayed at diverse stoundes;
  • Bacins, lavours, er that men hem bye,
  • Spones and stoles, and al swich housbondrye,
  • And so been pottes, clothes, and array;
  • But folk of wyves maken noon assay Skeat1900: 290
  • Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe!
  • And than, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe.
  • Thou seist also, that it displeseth me
  • But-if that thou wolt preyse my beautee,
  • And but thou poure alwey up-on my face, Skeat1900: 295
  • And clepe me “faire dame” in every place;
  • And but thou make a feste on thilke day
  • That I was born, and make me fresh and gay,
  • And but thou do to my norice honour,
  • And to my chamberere with-inne my bour, Skeat1900: 300
  • And to my fadres folk and his allyes;—
  • Thus seistow, olde barel ful of lyes!
  • And yet of our apprentice Ianekyn,
  • For his crisp heer, shyninge as gold so fyn,
  • And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun, Skeat1900: 305
  • Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun;
  • I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed to-morwe.
  • But tel me this, why hydestow, with sorwe,
  • The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
  • It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee. Skeat1900: 310
  • What wenestow make an idiot of our dame?
  • Now by that lord, that called is seint Iame,
  • Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood,
  • Be maister of my body and of my good;
  • That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yën; Skeat1900: 315
  • What nedeth thee of me to enquere or spyën?
  • I trowe, thou woldest loke me in thy chiste!
  • Thou sholdest seye, “wyf, go wher thee liste,
  • Tak your disport, I wol nat leve no talis;
  • I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alis.” Skeat1900: 320
  • We love no man that taketh kepe or charge
  • Wher that we goon, we wol ben at our large.
  • Of alle men y-blessed moot he be,
  • The wyse astrologien Dan Ptholome,
  • That seith this proverbe in his Almageste, Skeat1900: 325
  • “Of alle men his wisdom is the hyeste,
  • That rekketh never who hath the world in honde.”
  • By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
  • Have thou y-nogh, what thar thee recche or care
  • How merily that othere folkes fare? Skeat1900: 330
  • For certeyn, olde dotard, by your leve,
  • Ye shul have queynte right y-nough at eve.
  • He is to greet a nigard that wol werne
  • A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne;
  • He shal have never the lasse light, pardee; Skeat1900: 335
  • Have thou y-nough, thee thar nat pleyne thee.
  • Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay
  • With clothing and with precious array,
  • That it is peril of our chastitee;
  • And yet, with sorwe, thou most enforce thee, Skeat1900: 340
  • And seye thise wordes in the apostles name,
  • “In habit, maad with chastitee and shame,
  • Ye wommen shul apparaille yow,” quod he,
  • “And noght in tressed heer and gay perree,
  • As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche;” Skeat1900: 345
  • After thy text, ne after thy rubriche
  • I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat.
  • Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat;
  • For who-so wolde senge a cattes skin,
  • Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in; Skeat1900: 350
  • And if the cattes skin be slyk and gay,
  • She wol nat dwelle in house half a day,
  • But forth she wole, er any day be dawed,
  • To shewe hir skin, and goon a-caterwawed;
  • This is to seye, if I be gay, sir shrewe, Skeat1900: 355
  • I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe.
  • Sire olde fool, what eyleth thee to spyen?
  • Thogh thou preye Argus, with his hundred yën,
  • To be my warde-cors , as he can best,
  • In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest; Skeat1900: 360
  • Yet coude I make his berd, so moot I thee.
  • Thou seydest eek, that ther ben thinges three,
  • The whiche thinges troublen al this erthe,
  • And that no wight ne may endure the ferthe;
  • O leve sir shrewe, Iesu shorte thy lyf! Skeat1900: 365
  • Yet prechestow, and seyst, an hateful wyf
  • Y-rekened is for oon of thise meschances.
  • Been ther none othere maner resemblances
  • That ye may lykne your parables to,
  • But-if a sely wyf be oon of tho? Skeat1900: 370
  • Thou lykenest wommanes love to helle,
  • To bareyne lond, ther water may not dwelle.
  • Thou lyknest it also to wilde fyr;
  • The more it brenneth, the more it hath desyr
  • To consume every thing that brent wol be. Skeat1900: 375
  • Thou seyst, that right as wormes shende a tree,
  • Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housbonde;
  • This knowe they that been to wyves bonde.’
  • Lordinges, right thus, as ye have understonde,
  • Bar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde, Skeat1900: 380
  • That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
  • And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
  • On Ianekin and on my nece also.
  • O lord, the peyne I dide hem and the wo,
  • Ful giltelees , by goddes swete pyne! Skeat1900: 385
  • For as an hors I coude byte and whyne.
  • I coude pleyne, thogh I were in the gilt,
  • Or elles often tyme hadde I ben spilt.
  • Who-so that first to mille comth, first grint;
  • I pleyned first, so was our werre y-stint. Skeat1900: 390
  • They were ful glad to excusen hem ful blyve
  • Of thing of which they never agilte hir lyve.
  • Of wenches wolde I beren him on honde,
  • Whan that for syk unnethes mighte he stonde.
  • Yet tikled it his herte, for that he Skeat1900: 395
  • Wende that I hadde of him so greet chiertee.
  • I swoor that al my walkinge out by nighte
  • Was for tespye wenches that he dighte;
  • Under that colour hadde I many a mirthe.
  • For al swich wit is yeven us in our birthe; Skeat1900: 400
  • Deceite, weping, spinning god hath yive
  • To wommen kindely, whyl they may live.
  • And thus of o thing I avaunte me,
  • Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree,
  • By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thing, Skeat1900: 405
  • As by continuel murmur or grucching;
  • Namely a-bedde hadden they meschaunce,
  • Ther wolde I chyde and do hem no plesaunce;
  • I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde,
  • If that I felte his arm over my syde, Skeat1900: 410
  • Til he had maad his raunson un-to me;
  • Than wolde I suffre him do his nycetee.
  • And ther-fore every man this tale I telle,
  • Winne who-so may, for al is for to selle.
  • With empty hand men may none haukes lure; Skeat1900: 415
  • For winning wolde I al his lust endure,
  • And make me a feyned appetyt;
  • And yet in bacon hadde I never delyt;
  • That made me that ever I wolde hem chyde.
  • For thogh the pope had seten hem biside, Skeat1900: 420
  • I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord.
  • For by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word.
  • As help me verray god omnipotent,
  • Thogh I right now sholde make my testament,
  • I ne owe hem nat a word that it nis quit. Skeat1900: 425
  • I broghte it so aboute by my wit,
  • That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste;
  • Or elles hadde we never been in reste.
  • For thogh he loked as a wood leoun,
  • Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun. Skeat1900: 430
  • Thanne wolde I seye, ‘gode lief, tak keep
  • How mekely loketh Wilkin oure sheep;
  • Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke!
  • Ye sholde been al pacient and meke,
  • And han a swete spyced conscience, Skeat1900: 435
  • Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience.
  • Suffreth alwey, sin ye so wel can preche;
  • And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche
  • That it is fair to have a wyf in pees.
  • Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees; Skeat1900: 440
  • And sith a man is more resonable
  • Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable.
  • What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone?
  • Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone?
  • Why taak it al, lo, have it every-deel; Skeat1900: 445
  • Peter! I shrewe yow but ye love it weel!
  • For if I wolde selle my bele chose,
  • I coude walke as fresh as is a rose;
  • But I wol kepe it for your owene tooth.
  • Ye be to blame, by god, I sey yow sooth.’ Skeat1900: 450
  • Swiche maner wordes hadde we on honde.
  • Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.
  • My fourthe housbonde was a revelour,
  • This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour;
  • And I was yong and ful of ragerye, Skeat1900: 455
  • Stiborn and strong, and Ioly as a pye.
  • Wel coude I daunce to an harpe smale,
  • And singe, y-wis, as any nightingale,
  • Whan I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn.
  • Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn, Skeat1900: 460
  • That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf,
  • For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf,
  • He sholde nat han daunted me fro drinke;
  • And, after wyn, on Venus moste I thinke:
  • For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, Skeat1900: 465
  • A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
  • In womman vinolent is no defence,
  • This knowen lechours by experience.
  • But, lord Crist! whan that it remembreth me
  • Up-on my yowthe, and on my Iolitee, Skeat1900: 470
  • It tikleth me aboute myn herte rote.
  • Unto this day it dooth myn herte bote
  • That I have had my world as in my tyme.
  • But age, allas! that al wol envenyme,
  • Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith; Skeat1900: 475
  • Lat go, fare-wel, the devel go therwith!
  • The flour is goon, ther is na-more to telle,
  • The bren, as I best can, now moste I selle;
  • But yet to be right mery wol I fonde.
  • Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde. Skeat1900: 480
  • I seye, I hadde in herte greet despyt
  • That he of any other had delyt.
  • But he was quit, by god and by seint Ioce!
  • I made him of the same wode a croce;
  • Nat of my body in no foul manere, Skeat1900: 485
  • But certeinly, I made folk swich chere,
  • That in his owene grece I made him frye
  • For angre, and for verray Ialousye.
  • By god, in erthe I was his purgatorie,
  • For which I hope his soule be in glorie. Skeat1900: 490
  • For god it woot, he sat ful ofte and song
  • Whan that his shoo ful bitterly him wrong.
  • Ther was no wight, save god and he, that wiste,
  • In many wyse, how sore I him twiste.
  • He deyde whan I cam fro Ierusalem, Skeat1900: 495
  • And lyth y-grave under the rode-beem,
  • Al is his tombe noght so curious
  • As was the sepulcre of him, Darius,
  • Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly;
  • It nis but wast to burie him preciously. Skeat1900: 500
  • Lat him fare-wel, god yeve his soule reste,
  • He is now in the grave and in his cheste.
  • Now of my fifthe housbond wol I telle.
  • God lete his soule never come in helle!
  • And yet was he to me the moste shrewe; Skeat1900: 505
  • That fele I on my ribbes al by rewe,
  • And ever shal, un-to myn ending-day.
  • But in our bed he was so fresh and gay,
  • And ther-with-al so wel coude he me glose,
  • Whan that he wolde han my bele chose, Skeat1900: 510
  • That thogh he hadde me bet on every boon,
  • He coude winne agayn my love anoon.
  • I trowe I loved him beste, for that he
  • Was of his love daungerous to me.
  • We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye, Skeat1900: 515
  • In this matere a queynte fantasye;
  • Wayte what thing we may nat lightly have,
  • Ther-after wol we crye al-day and crave.
  • Forbede us thing, and that desyren we;
  • Prees on us faste, and thanne wol we flee. Skeat1900: 520
  • With daunger oute we al our chaffare;
  • Greet prees at market maketh dere ware,
  • And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys;
  • This knoweth every womman that is wys.
  • My fifthe housbonde, god his soule blesse! Skeat1900: 525
  • Which that I took for love and no richesse,
  • He som-tyme was a clerk of Oxenford,
  • And had left scole, and wente at hoom to bord
  • With my gossib, dwellinge in oure toun,
  • God have hir soule! hir name was Alisoun. Skeat1900: 530
  • She knew myn herte and eek my privetee
  • Bet than our parisshe-preest, so moot I thee!
  • To hir biwreyed I my conseil al.
  • For had myn housbonde pissed on a wal,
  • Or doon a thing that sholde han cost his lyf, Skeat1900: 535
  • To hir, and to another worthy wyf,
  • And to my nece, which that I loved weel,
  • I wolde han told his conseil every-deel.
  • And so I dide ful often, god it woot,
  • That made his face ful often reed and hoot Skeat1900: 540
  • For verray shame, and blamed him-self for he
  • Had told to me so greet a privetee.
  • And so bifel that ones, in a Lente,
  • (So often tymes I to my gossib wente,
  • For ever yet I lovede to be gay, Skeat1900: 545
  • And for to walke, in March, Averille, and May,
  • Fro hous to hous, to here sondry talis),
  • That Iankin clerk, and my gossib dame Alis,
  • And I my-self, in-to the feldes wente.
  • Myn housbond was at London al that Lente; Skeat1900: 550
  • I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye,
  • And for to see, and eek for to be seye
  • Of lusty folk; what wiste I wher my grace
  • Was shapen for to be, or in what place?
  • Therefore I made my visitaciouns, Skeat1900: 555
  • To vigilies and to processiouns,
  • To preching eek and to thise pilgrimages,
  • To pleyes of miracles and mariages,
  • And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes.
  • Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes, Skeat1900: 560
  • Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel;
  • And wostow why? for they were used weel.
  • Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
  • I seye, that in the feeldes walked we,
  • Til trewely we hadde swich daliance, Skeat1900: 565
  • This clerk and I, that of my purveyance
  • I spak to him, and seyde him, how that he,
  • If I were widwe, sholde wedde me.
  • For certeinly, I sey for no bobance,
  • Yet was I never with-outen purveyance Skeat1900: 570
  • Of mariage, nof othere thinges eek.
  • I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek,
  • That hath but oon hole for to sterte to,
  • And if that faille, thanne is al y-do.
  • I bar him on honde, he hadde enchanted me; Skeat1900: 575
  • My dame taughte me that soutiltee.
  • And eek I seyde, I mette of him al night;
  • He wolde han slayn me as I lay up-right,
  • And al my bed was ful of verray blood,
  • But yet I hope that he shal do me good; Skeat1900: 580
  • For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught.
  • And al was fals, I dremed of it right naught,
  • But as I folwed ay my dames lore,
  • As wel of this as of other thinges more.
  • But now sir, lat me see, what I shal seyn? Skeat1900: 585
  • A! ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn.
  • Whan that my fourthe housbond was on bere,
  • I weep algate, and made sory chere,
  • As wyves moten, for it is usage,
  • And with my coverchief covered my visage; Skeat1900: 590
  • But for that I was purveyed of a make,
  • I weep but smal, and that I undertake.
  • To chirche was myn housbond born a-morwe
  • With neighebores, that for him maden sorwe;
  • And Iankin oure clerk was oon of tho. Skeat1900: 595
  • As help me god, whan that I saugh him go
  • After the bere, me thoughte he hadde a paire
  • Of legges and of feet so clene and faire,
  • That al myn herte I yaf un-to his hold.
  • He was, I trowe, a twenty winter old, Skeat1900: 600
  • And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth;
  • But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.
  • Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel;
  • I hadde the prente of sëynt Venus seel.
  • As help me god, I was a lusty oon, Skeat1900: 605
  • And faire and riche, and yong, and wel bigoon;
  • And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me,
  • I had the beste quoniam mighte be.
  • For certes, I am al Venerien
  • In felinge, and myn herte is Marcien. Skeat1900: 610
  • Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse,
  • And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse.
  • Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars ther-inne.
  • Allas! allas! that ever love was sinne!
  • I folwed ay myn inclinacioun Skeat1900: 615
  • By vertu of my constellacioun;
  • That made me I coude noght withdrawe
  • My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.
  • Yet have I Martes mark up-on my face,
  • And also in another privee place. Skeat1900: 620
  • For, god so wis be my savacioun,
  • I ne loved never by no discrecioun,
  • But ever folwede myn appetyt,
  • Al were he short or long, or blak or whyt;
  • I took no kepe, so that he lyked me, Skeat1900: 625
  • How pore he was, ne eek of what degree.
  • What sholde I seye, but, at the monthes ende,
  • This Ioly clerk Iankin, that was so hende,
  • Hath wedded me with greet solempnitee,
  • And to him yaf I al the lond and fee Skeat1900: 630
  • That ever was me yeven ther-bifore;
  • But afterward repented me ful sore.
  • He nolde suffre nothing of my list.
  • By god, he smoot me ones on the list,
  • For that I rente out of his book a leef, Skeat1900: 635
  • That of the strook myn ere wex al deef.
  • Stiborn I was as is a leonesse,
  • And of my tonge a verray Iangleresse,
  • And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,
  • From hous to hous, al-though he had it sworn. Skeat1900: 640
  • For which he often tymes wolde preche,
  • And me of olde Romayn gestes teche,
  • How he, Simplicius Gallus, lefte his wyf,
  • And hir forsook for terme of al his lyf,
  • Noght but for open-heeded he hir say Skeat1900: 645
  • Lokinge out at his dore upon a day.
  • Another Romayn tolde he me by name,
  • That, for his wyf was at a someres game
  • With-oute his witing, he forsook hir eke.
  • And than wolde he up-on his Bible seke Skeat1900: 650
  • That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste,
  • Wher he comandeth and forbedeth faste,
  • Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute;
  • Than wolde he seye right thus, with-outen doute,
  • “Who-so that buildeth his hous al of salwes, Skeat1900: 655
  • And priketh his blinde hors over the falwes,
  • And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes,
  • Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes”
  • But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe
  • Of his proverbes nof his olde sawe, Skeat1900: 660
  • Ne I wolde nat of him corrected be.
  • I hate him that my vices telleth me,
  • And so do mo, god woot! of us than I.
  • This made him with me wood al outrely;
  • I nolde noght forbere him in no cas. Skeat1900: 665
  • Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint Thomas,
  • Why that I rente out of his book a leef,
  • For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
  • He hadde a book that gladly, night and day,
  • For his desport he wolde rede alway. Skeat1900: 670
  • He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste,
  • At whiche book he lough alwey ful faste.
  • And eek ther was som-tyme a clerk at Rome,
  • A cardinal that highte Seint Ierome,
  • That made a book agayn Iovinian; Skeat1900: 675
  • In whiche book eek ther was Tertulan,
  • Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys,
  • That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys;
  • And eek the Parables of Salomon,
  • Ovydes Art, and bokes many on, Skeat1900: 680
  • And alle thise wer bounden in o volume.
  • And every night and day was his custume,
  • Whan he had leyser and vacacioun
  • From other worldly occupacioun,
  • To reden on this book of wikked wyves. Skeat1900: 685
  • He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves
  • Than been of gode wyves in the Bible.
  • For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
  • That any clerk wol speke good of wyves,
  • But-if it be of holy seintes lyves, Skeat1900: 690
  • Ne of noon other womman never the mo.
  • Who peyntede the leoun, tel me who?
  • By god, if wommen hadde writen stories,
  • As clerkes han with-inne hir oratories,
  • They wolde han writen of men more wikkednesse Skeat1900: 695
  • Than all the mark of Adam may redresse.
  • The children of Mercurie and of Venus
  • Been in hir wirking ful contrarious;
  • Mercurie loveth wisdom and science,
  • And Venus loveth ryot and dispence. Skeat1900: 700
  • And, for hir diverse disposicioun,
  • Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun;
  • And thus, god woot! Mercurie is desolat
  • In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat;
  • And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed; Skeat1900: 705
  • Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
  • The clerk, whan he is old, and may noght do
  • Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho,
  • Than sit he doun, and writ in his dotage
  • That wommen can nat kepe hir mariage! Skeat1900: 710
  • But now to purpos, why I tolde thee
  • That I was beten for a book, pardee.
  • Up-on a night Iankin, that was our syre,
  • Redde on his book, as he sat by the fyre,
  • Of Eva first, that, for hir wikkednesse, Skeat1900: 715
  • Was al mankinde broght to wrecchednesse,
  • For which that Iesu Crist him-self was slayn,
  • That boghte us with his herte-blood agayn.
  • Lo, here expres of womman may ye finde,
  • That womman was the los of al mankinde. Skeat1900: 720
  • Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres,
  • Slepinge, his lemman kitte hem with hir sheres;
  • Thurgh whiche tresoun loste he bothe his yën.
  • Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
  • Of Hercules and of his Dianyre, Skeat1900: 725
  • That caused him to sette himself a-fyre.
  • No-thing forgat he the penaunce and wo
  • That Socrates had with hise wyves two;
  • How Xantippa caste pisse up-on his heed;
  • This sely man sat stille, as he were deed; Skeat1900: 730
  • He wyped his heed, namore dorste he seyn
  • But “er that thonder stinte, comth a reyn.”
  • Of Phasipha, that was the quene of Crete,
  • For shrewednesse, him thoughte the tale swete;
  • Fy! spek na-more—it is a grisly thing— Skeat1900: 735
  • Of hir horrible lust and hir lyking.
  • Of Clitemistra, for hir lecherye,
  • That falsly made hir housbond for to dye,
  • He redde it with ful good devocioun.
  • He tolde me eek for what occasioun Skeat1900: 740
  • Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf;
  • Myn housbond hadde a legende of his wyf,
  • Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold
  • Hath prively un-to the Grekes told
  • Wher that hir housbonde hidde him in a place, Skeat1900: 745
  • For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.
  • Of Lyma tolde he me, and of Lucye,
  • They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye;
  • That oon for love, that other was for hate;
  • Lyma hir housbond, on an even late, Skeat1900: 750
  • Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo.
  • Lucya, likerous, loved hir housbond so,
  • That, for he sholde alwey up-on hir thinke,
  • She yaf him swich a maner love-drinke,
  • That he was deed, er it were by the morwe; Skeat1900: 755
  • And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.
  • Than tolde he me, how oon Latumius
  • Compleyned to his felawe Arrius,
  • That in his gardin growed swich a tree,
  • On which, he seyde, how that his wyves three Skeat1900: 760
  • Hanged hem-self for herte despitous.
  • “O leve brother,” quod this Arrius,
  • “Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree,
  • And in my gardin planted shal it be!”
  • Of latter date, of wyves hath he red, Skeat1900: 765
  • That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed,
  • And lete hir lechour dighte hir al the night
  • Whyl that the corps lay in the floor up-right.
  • And somme han drive nayles in hir brayn
  • Whyl that they slepte, and thus they han hem slayn. Skeat1900: 770
  • Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hir drinke.
  • He spak more harm than herte may bithinke.
  • And ther-with-al, he knew of mo proverbes
  • Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
  • “Bet is,” quod he, “thyn habitacioun Skeat1900: 775
  • Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun,
  • Than with a womman usinge for to chyde.
  • Bet is,” quod he, “hye in the roof abyde
  • Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous;
  • They been so wikked and contrarious; Skeat1900: 780
  • They haten that hir housbondes loveth ay.”
  • He seyde, “a womman cast hir shame away,
  • Whan she cast of hir smok;” and forther-mo,
  • “A fair womman, but she be chaast also,
  • Is lyk a gold ring in a sowes nose.” Skeat1900: 785
  • Who wolde wenen, or who wolde suppose
  • The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?
  • And whan I saugh he wolde never fyne
  • To reden on this cursed book al night,
  • Al sodeynly three leves have I plight Skeat1900: 790
  • Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke,
  • I with my fist so took him on the cheke,
  • That in our fyr he fil bakward adoun.
  • And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
  • And with his fist he smoot me on the heed, Skeat1900: 795
  • That in the floor I lay as I were deed.
  • And when he saugh how stille that I lay,
  • He was agast, and wolde han fled his way,
  • Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde:
  • “O! hastow slayn me, false theef?” I seyde, Skeat1900: 800
  • “And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
  • Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.”
  • And neer he cam, and kneled faire adoun,
  • And seyde, “dere suster Alisoun,
  • As help me god, I shal thee never smyte; Skeat1900: 805
  • That I have doon, it is thy-self to wyte.
  • Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke”—
  • And yet eft-sones I hitte him on the cheke,
  • And seyde, “theef, thus muchel am I wreke;
  • Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.” Skeat1900: 810
  • But atte laste, with muchel care and wo,
  • We fille acorded, by us selven two.
  • He yaf me al the brydel in myn hond
  • To han the governance of hous and lond,
  • And of his tonge and of his hond also, Skeat1900: 815
  • And made him brenne his book anon right tho.
  • And whan that I hadde geten un-to me,
  • By maistrie, al the soveraynetee,
  • And that he seyde, “myn owene trewe wyf,
  • Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf, Skeat1900: 820
  • Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat”—
  • After that day we hadden never debaat.
  • God help me so, I was to him as kinde
  • As any wyf from Denmark un-to Inde,
  • And also trewe, and so was he to me. Skeat1900: 825
  • I prey to god that sit in magestee,
  • So blesse his soule, for his mercy dere!
  • Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol here.’