The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale

Geoffrey Chaucer

Edited by Jack Lynch

I’m emphatically not an authority on textual criticism of Middle English texts. The text itself is cobbled together from a number of public domain sources and minimally edited. I’ve regularized the use of uppercase letters a bit to aid comprehension, and have added quotation marks where appropriate. The notes are my own.

The Wife of Bath’s Prologue

Experience, though noon° auctoritee even if no
Were in this world, is right ynogh° for me good enough
To speke of wo that is in mariage;
For, lordynges,° sith° I twelve yeer was of age, gentlemen — since
5 Thonked be God that is eterne on lyve,° eternally alive
Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve, —
If I so ofte myghte have ywedded bee,° — been
And alle were worthy men in hir degree.° their own way
But me was toold, certeyn, nat longe agoon is,
10 That sith° that Crist ne wente nevere but onis since
To weddyng, in the Cane° of Galilee, Canaan
That by the same ensample° taughte he me example
That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.° should be married only once
Herkne eek,° lo, which a sharp word for the nones,° listen also — occasion
15 Biside a welle, Jhesus, God and man,
Spak in repreeve° of the Samaritan: reproof
“Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes,” quod he,
“And that ilke° man that now hath thee same
Is noght thyn housbonde,” thus seyde he certeyn.
20 What that he mente therby,° I kan nat seyn;° by that — say
But that I axe,° why that the fifthe man ask
Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan?
How manye myghte she have in mariage?
Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age
25 Upon this nombre diffinicioun.° a clear determination
Men may devyne° and glosen,° up and doun, conjecture — interpret
But wel I woot,° expres, withoute lye,° know — clearly
God bad° us for to wexe° and multiplye; ordered — increase
That gentil text kan I wel understonde.
30 Eek° wel I woot,° he seyde myn housbonde also — know
Sholde lete° fader and mooder, and take to me. leave
But of no nombre mencion made he,
Of bigamye, or of octogamye;
Why sholde men thanne speke of it vileynye?
35 Lo, heere° the wise kyng, Daun Salomon; consider
I trowe° he hadde wyves mo° than oon.° believe — more — one
As wolde God it were leveful° unto me permitted
To be refresshed half so ofte as he!
Which yifte° of God hadde he for alle his wyvys! gift
40 No man hath swich that in this world alyve is.° No man alive had such
God woot,° this noble kyng, as to my wit,° knows — judgment
The firste nyght had many a myrie fit
With ech of hem, so wel was hym on lyve.° alive
Yblessed be God that I have wedded fyve!
45 Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal.
For sothe,° I wol nat kepe me chaast° in al. truly — chaste
Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon,
Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon,° soon
For thanne, th’ apostle seith that I am free
50 To wedde, a Goddes half,° where it liketh me. by God’s side
He seith that to be wedded is no synne;
Bet° is to be wedded than to brynne° beter — burn
What rekketh me,° thogh folk seye vileynye what do I care
Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
55 I woot° wel Abraham was an hooly man, know
And Jacob eek,° as ferforth° as I kan; too — far
And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two,
And many another holy man also.
Wher can ye seye, in any manere age,
60 That hye God defended mariage
By expres° word? I pray yow, telleth me. explicit
Or where comanded he virginitee?
I woot° as wel as ye, it is no drede,° know — doubt
Th’ apostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede,° virginity
65 He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon.° he had no rule about it
Men may conseille° a womman to been oon, advise
But conseillyng is no comandement.
He putte it in oure owene juggement;
For hadde God comanded maydenhede,° virginity
70 Thanne hadde he dampned° weddyng with the dede. damned
And certes,° if ther were no seed ysowe,° certainly — sown
Virginitee, thanne wherof sholde it growe?
Poul dorste nat comanden, atte leeste,
A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste.° gave no command
75 The dart is set up for virginitee:
Cacche whoso may, who renneth° best lat see. runs
But this word is nat taken of° every wight,° does not apply to — person
But ther as God lust° gyve it of his myght. desires
I woot° wel that th’ apostel was a mayde;° know — virgin
80 But nathelees, thogh that he wroot° and sayde wrote
He wolde that every wight° were swich as he,° person — like him
Al nys but° conseil to virginitee. it is only
And for to been a wyf he yaf me leve° gave me permission to be a wife
Of indulgence;° so nys it no repreve° by permission — reproof
85 To wedde me, if that my make° dye, mate
Withouten excepcion° of bigamye. objection on the grounds
Al° were it good no womman for to touche, — although
He mente as in his bed or in his couche;
For peril is bothe fyr and tow° t’ assemble: flax
90 Ye knowe what this ensample° may resemble. example
This is al and som,° he heeld virginitee the whole matter
Moore parfit° than weddyng in freletee.° perfect — because of weakness
Freletee clepe I,° but if that° he and she weakness I say — unless
Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
95 I graunte it wel, I have noon envie,
Thogh maydenhede° preferre bigamye. virginity
It liketh hem to be clene, body and goost;° soul
Of myn estaat° I nyl° nat make no boost. condition — will not
For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
100 He nath nat° every vessel al of gold; has not
Somme been of tree,° and doon hir lord servyse. wood
God clepeth° folk to hym in sondry wyse,° calls — various ways
And everich° hath of° God a propre yifte,° every one — from — gift
Som this, som that, as hym liketh shifte.
105 Virginitee is greet perfeccion,
And continence eek° with devocion, moderation also
But Crist, that of perfeccion is welle,
Bad° nat every wight° he sholde go selle ordered — person
Al that he hadde, and gyve it to the poore
110 And in swich° wise folwe° hym and his foore.° this — follow — footsteps
He spak to hem that wolde lyve parfitly;° perfectly
And lordynges,° by youre leve, that am nat I. gentelmen
I wol bistowe the flour° of al myn age flower
In the actes and in fruyt of mariage.
115 Telle me also, to what conclusion° purpose
Were membres maad of generacion,° were the genitals made
And of so parfit° wys° a wight ywroght?° perfect — manner — person made
Trusteth right wel, they were nat maad for noght.
Glose° whoso wole, and seye bothe up and doun, interpret
120 That they were maked for purgacioun
Of uryne, and oure bothe thynges smale
Were eek° to knowe a femele from a male, also
And for noon oother cause, — say ye no?
The experience woot° wel it is noght so. knows
125 So that the clerkes° be nat with me wrothe,° scholars — angry
I sey this, that they maked° ben for bothe, made
This is to seye, for office,° and for ese° use — pleasure
Of engendrure,° ther we nat God displese. procreation
Why sholde men elles in hir bookes sette
130 That man shal yelde to his wyf hire dette?° pay his marriage debt
Now wherwith sholde he make his paiement,
If he ne used his sely instrument?° innocent tool
Thanne were they maad upon a creature
To purge uryne, and eek° for engendrure.° also — having children
135 But I seye noght that every wight° is holde,° person — obliged
That hath swich harneys° as I to yow tolde, such genitals
To goon and usen hem in engendrure.° go and use them in procreation
Thanne sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
Crist was a mayde,° and shapen as a man, virgin
140 And many a seint, sith° that the world bigan; since
Yet lyved they evere in parfit° chastitee. perfect
I nyl° envye no virginitee. will not
Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,° refined wheat
And lat us wyves hoten° barly-breed;° be called — bread
145 And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle kan,
Oure lord Jhesu refresshed many a man.
In swich estaat° as God hath cleped° us such a state — called
I wol persevere; I nam nat precius.° fastidious
In wyfhod I wol use myn instrument
150 As frely as my makere hath it sent.
If I be daungerous,° God yeve me sorwe!° grudging — give me sorrow
Myn housbonde shal it have bothe eve and morwe,° morning
Whan that hym list° come forth and paye his dette. wants
An housbonde I wol have, I wol nat lette,° stop
155 Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral,° servant
And have his tribulacion withal° too
Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf.
I have the power durynge al my lyf
Upon his propre body, and noght he.
160 Right thus the apostel tolde it unto me;
And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.
Al this sentence° me liketh every deel° — wisdom — entirely
Up stirte the pardoner, and that anon:° immediately
“Now, dame,” quod° he, “by God and by Seint John! said
165 Ye been a noble prechour in this cas.
I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas!
What sholde I bye it on° my flessh so deere? pay for it with
Yet hadde I levere° wedde no wyf to-yeere!”° I would rather — this year
“Abyde!”° quod she, “my tale is nat bigonne. wait!
170 Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne,° barrel
Er° that I go, shal savoure° wors than ale. before — taste
And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale
Of tribulacion in mariage,
Of which I am expert in al myn age,
175 This is to seyn, myself have been the whippe, —
Than maystow° chese° wheither thou wolt sippe you may — choose
Of thilke° tonne° that I shal abroche.° the same — barrel — tap
Be war of it, er° thou to ny° approche; before — too near
For I shal telle ensamples° mo than ten. examples
180 ‘Whoso that nyl° be war by othere men, will not
By hym shul othere men corrected be.’
The same wordes writeth Ptholomee;
Rede in his Almageste, and take it there.”
“Dame, I wolde praye yow, if youre wyl it were,”
185 Seyde this Pardoner, “as ye bigan,
Telle forth youre tale, spareth for no man,
And teche us yonge men of youre praktike.”° practice
“Gladly,” quod° she, “sith° it may yow like;° said — since — please
But that I praye to al this compaignye,
190 If that I speke after my fantasye,° imagination
As taketh not agrief of° that I seye; don’t be offended by
For myn entente is nat but for to pleye.
Now, sire, now wol I telle forth my tale. —
As evere moote I drynken wyn or ale,
195 I shal seye sooth,° tho housbondes that I hadde, the truth
As thre of hem were goode, and two were badde.
The thre were goode men, and riche, and olde;
Unnethe° myghte they the statut° holde hardly — law
In which that they were bounden unto me.
200 Ye woot° wel what I meene of this, pardee!° know — by God!
As help me God, I laughe whan I thynke
How pitously a-nyght I made hem swynke!° work
And, by my fey,° I tolde of it no stoor.° faith — treated it as unimportant
They had me yeven hir lond° and hir tresoor; given their land
205 Me neded nat do lenger diligence
To wynne hir love, or doon hem reverence.
They loved me so wel, by God above,
That I ne tolde no deyntee° of hir love! did not take seriously
A wys womman wol bisye hire evere in oon° be constantly busy
210 To gete hire love, ye, ther as she hath noon.
But sith° I hadde hem hoolly° in myn hond, since — entirely
And sith° they hadde me yeven° al hir lond, since — given
What sholde I taken keep° hem for to plese, take care
But it were° for my profit and myn ese? unless
215 I sette hem so a-werke,° by my fey,° made them work so hard — faith
That many a nyght they songen ‘weilawey!’° alas!
The bacon was nat fet° for hem, I trowe,° fetched — believe
That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe.
I governed hem so wel, after° my lawe, according to
220 That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe° eager
To brynge me gaye thynges fro the fayre.
They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire;
For, God it woot,° I chidde° hem spitously.° knows — scolded — harshly
Now herkneth° hou I baar me° proprely, listen — behaved myself
225 Ye wise wyves, that kan understonde.
Thus shulde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde;° accuse them falsely
For half so boldely kan ther no man
Swere and lyen, as a womman kan.
I sey nat this by wyves that been wyse,
230 But if it be whan they hem mysavyse.
A wys wyf shal, if that she kan hir good,° knows what’s good for her
Bere hym on honde° that the cow° is wood,° deceive him by saying — chough (bird) — insane
And take witnesse of hir owene mayde
Of hir assent;° but herkneth° how I sayde: — agreement — listen
235 ‘Sire olde kaynard,° is this thyn array? dotard
Why is my neighbores wyf so gay?
She is honoured over al ther she gooth;
I sitte at hoom I have no thrifty clooth.° good clothes
What dostow° at my neighebores hous? do you do
240 Is she so fair? artow° so amorous? are you
What rowne° ye with oure mayde? benedicite!° whisper — mercy!
Sire olde lecchour,° lat thy japes° be!’ dirty old man — jokes
And if I have a gossib° or a freend, companion
Withouten gilt, thou chidest° as a feend, scold like
245 If that I walke or pleye unto his hous!
Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous,
And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef!° a bad outcome
Thou seist to me it is a greet meschief
To wedde a povre° womman, for costage;° poor — expenses
250 And if that she be riche, of heigh parage,° noble birth
Thanne seistow° that it is a tormentrie you say — torment
To soffre° hire pride and hire malencolie.° put up with — bad temper
And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
Thou seyst that every holour° wol hire have; lecher
255 She may no while in chastitee abyde,° remain
That is assailled upon ech a syde.
Thou seyst som folk desiren us for richesse,
Somme for oure shap,° and somme for oure fairnesse, shape
And som for she kan outher° synge or daunce, either
260 And som for gentillesse° and daliaunce;° graciousness — conversation
Som for hir handes and hir armes smale:° slim
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.
265 And if that she be foul, thou seist that she
Coveiteth° every man that she may se, desires
For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe,
Til that she fynde som man hire to chepe.° buy
Ne noon so grey goos gooth ther in the lake
270 As, seistow, wol been withoute make.° a mate
And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde° control
A thyng that no man wole, his thankes, helde.° willingly hold
Thus seistow,° lorel,° whan thow goost to bedde; you say — rogue
And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde,
275 Ne no man that entendeth unto° hevene. hopes to go
With wilde thonder-dynt° and firy levene° thunderclap — lightning
Moote thy welked° nekke be tobroke!° withered — broken
Thow seyst that droppyng° houses, and eek° smoke, dripping — also
And chidyng° wyves maken men to flee scolding
280 Out of his owene hous; a! benedicitee!° mercy
What eyleth° swich° an old man for to chide? ails — such
Thow seyst we wyves wol oure vices hide
Til we be fast,° and thanne we wol hem shewe,° — secure (in marriage) — show
Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!° scoundrel
285 Thou seist that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes,
They been assayed° at diverse stoundes;° tried — different times
Bacyns,° lavours,° er° that men hem bye,° basins — washing bowls — before — buy
Spoones and stooles, and al swich housbondrye,° such household goods
And so been pottes, clothes, and array;
290 But folk of wyves maken noon assay,° test
Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe!° senile scoundrel
And thanne, seistow,° we wol oure vices shewe. you say
Thou seist also that it displeseth me
But if that thou wolt preyse my beautee,
295 And but thou poure° alwey upon my face, stare
And clepe° me ‘faire dame’ in every place. call
And but thou make a feeste on thilke° day the same
That I was born, and make me fressh and gay;
And but thou do to my norice° honour, nurse
300 And to my chamberere withinne my bour,
And to my fadres folk° and his allyes, — kinsmen
Thus seistow,° olde barel-ful of lyes! you say
And yet of oure apprentice Janekyn,
For his crispe heer,° shynynge as gold so fyn, hair
305 And for he squiereth° me bothe up and doun, accompanies
Yet hastow° caught a fals suspecioun. you have
I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed° tomorwe! dead
But tel me this: why hydestow,° with sorwe, do you hide
They keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
310 It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee!° by God
What, wenestow° make an ydiot of oure dame? do you want
Now by that lord that called is Seint Jame,
Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood,° insane
Be maister of my body and of my good;
315 That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree° thyne yen.° despite — eyes
What helpith it of me to enquere or spyen?° look into
I trowe° thou woldest loke° me in thy chiste?° believe — lock — strongbox
Thou sholdest seye, ‘Wyf, go wher thee liste;° wherever you want
Taak youre disport,° I wol nat leve° no talys.° entertainment — believe — reports
320 I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alys.’
We love no man that taketh kep or charge
Wher that we goon; we wol ben at oure large.° free to do what we want
Of alle men yblessed moot° he be, must
The wise astrologien, Daun Ptholome,° Ptolemy
325 That seith this proverbe in his Almageste:
‘Of alle men his wysdom is the hyeste
That rekketh° nevere who hath the world in honde.’° cares — under control
By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
Have thou ynogh, what thar thee recche or care° if you have enough, what do you care
330 How myrily that othere folkes fare?
For, certeyn, olde dotard,° by youre leve, senile man
Ye shul have queynte° right ynogh at eve. sex
He is to greet a nygard° that wolde werne° too stingy — refuse
A man to light a candle at his lanterne;
335 He shal have never the lasse light, pardee.° by God
Have thou ynogh,° thee thar nat pleyne thee.° enough — you shouldn’t complain
Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay
With clothyng, and with precious array,° outfit
That it is peril of° oure chastitee; a threat to
340 And yet, with sorwe! thou most enforce thee,° must make an effort
And seye thise wordes in the Apostles name:
‘In habit° maad with chastitee and shame clothes
Ye wommen shul apparaille° yow,’ quod° he, dress — said
And noght in tressed heer° and gay perree,° styled hair — jewels
345 As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche.
After thy text, ne after thy rubriche,
I wol nat wirche° as muchel° as a gnat. work — much
Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat;
For whoso wolde senge° a cattes skyn, singe
350 Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in;° remain in his house
And if the cattes skyn be slyk and gay,
She wol nat dwelle in house half a day,
But forth she wole, er° any day be dawed, before
To shewe hir skyn, and goon a-caterwawed.° caterwauling
355 This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe,
I wol renne° out, my borel° for to shewe.° run — cheap clothes — show
Sire olde fool, what helpeth thee° to spyen? what good does it do you
Thogh thou preye Argus with his hundred yen° eyes
To be my warde-cors,° as he kan best, bodyguard
360 In feith, he shal nat kepe° me but me lest;° guard — unless I want it
Yet koude I make his berd,° so moot I thee! deceive him
Thou seydest eek° that ther been thynges thre, also
The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe,
And that no wight° may endure the ferthe.° person — fourth
365 O leeve sire shrewe, Jhesu shorte° thy lyf! shorten
Yet prechestow° and seyst° and hateful wyf you preach — you say
Yrekened° is for oon of thise meschances.° is considered — misfortunes
Been ther none othere maner° resemblances no other kind of
That ye may likne° youre parables to, compare
370 But if a sely° wyf be oon of tho?° simple — one of those
Thou liknest eek° wommenes love to helle, You also compare
To bareyne lond, ther water may nat dwelle.
Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr;
The moore it brenneth,° the moore it hath desir burns
375 To consume every thyng that brent° wole be. burnt
Thou seyest, right as wormes shende° a tree, destroy
Right so a wyf destroyeth hire housbonde;
This knowe they that been to wyves bonde. —
Lordynges,° right thus, as ye have understonde, gentlemen
380 Baar I stifly° myne olde housbondes on honde I firmly swore
That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
On Janekyn, and on my nece° also. kinswoman
O Lord! the peyne I dide hem and the wo,
385 Ful giltelees, by Goddes sweete pyne!° pain
For as an hors I koude byte and whyne.° whinny
I koude pleyne,° and yit was in the gilt,° complain — in the wrong
Or elles° often tyme hadde I been spilt.° else — ruined
Whose that first to mille comth,° first grynt;° comes to the mill — grinds
390 I pleyned° first, so was oure werre ystynt.° complained — war stopped
They were ful glade to excuse hem blyve° quickly
Of thyng of which they nevere agilte° hir lyve. guilty
Of wenches wolde I beren hem on honde,° accuse them
Whan that for syk° unnethes° myghte they stonde. illness — hardly
395 Yet tikled I his herte, for that he
Wende° that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee!° knew — fondness
I swoor that al my walkynge out by nyghte
Was for t’ espye wenches that he dighte;
Under that colour° hadde I many a myrthe.° pretense — laugh
400 For al swich° wit is yeven° us in oure byrthe; all such — given
Deceite, wepyng, spynnyng God hath yive° given
To wommen kyndely,° whil that they may lyve. by their nature
And thus of o thyng I avaunte° me, brag
Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree,° every respect
405 By sleighte,° or force, or by som maner thyng, trick
As by continueel murmur or grucchyng.° complaining
Namely abedde° hadden they meschaunce:° in bed — bad luck
Ther wolde I chide,° and do hem no plesaunce; scold
I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde,° remain
410 If that I felte his arm over my syde,
Til he had maad° his raunson unto me; paid
Thanne wolde I suffre° hym do his necetee.° allow — foolishness
And therfore every man this tale I telle,
Wynne whoso° may, for al is for to selle; whoever
415 With empty hand men may none haukes° lure. hawks
For wynnyng° wolde I al his lust endure, the sake of winning
And make me feyned° appetit; pretended
And yet in bacon hadde I nevere delit;
That made me that evere I wolde hem chide.° scold
420 For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside,
I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord;° table
For, by my trouthe,° I quitte° hem word for word. honor — matched
As helpe me verray° God omnipotent, true
Though I right now sholde make my testament,° will
425 I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quit.° isn’t repaid
I broghte it so aboute by my wit
That they moste yeve° it up, as for the beste, must give
Or elles hadde we nevere been in reste.
For thogh he looked as a wood leon,° crazy lion
430 Yet sholde he faille of his conclusion.° to accomplish what he wanted
Thanne wolde I seye, ‘goode lief,° taak keep° my dear — care
How mekely looketh Wilkyn, oure sheep!
Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba° thy cheke! kiss
Ye sholde been al pacient and meke,
435 And han a sweete spiced° conscience, scrupulous
Sith° ye so preche of Jobes pacience. since
Suffreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche;
And but° ye do, certein we shal yow teche unless
That it is fair to have a wyf in pees.° at peace
440 Oon of us two moste bowen,° doutelees; bend
And sith° a man is moore resonable since
Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable.° tolerate suffering
What eyleth° yow to grucche° thus and grone? ails — complain
Is it for° ye wolde have my queynte° allone? because — “pleasing thing”
445 Wy, taak it al! lo, have it every deel!° every bit of it
Peter!° I shrewe° yow, but° ye love it weel; by Saint Peter! — curse — unless
For if I wolde selle my bele chose,° “pretty thing”
I koude walke as fressh as is a rose;
But I wol kepe it for youre owene tooth.° pleasure
450 Ye be to blame, by god! I sey yow sooth.’° tell you the truth
Swiche° manere wordes hadde we on honde. such
Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.
My fourthe housbonde was a revelour;° pleasure-seeker
This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour;° lover
455 And I was yong and ful of ragerye,° wantonnesse
Stibourn° and strong, and joly as a pye.° stubborn — magpie
How koude I daunce to an harpe smale,
And synge, ywis,° as any nyghtyngale, surely
Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn!
460 Metellius, the foule cherl,° the swyn, scoundrel
That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf,° took his wife’s life
For° she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf, because
He sholde nat han daunted° me from drynke! frightened
And after wyn on Venus moste I thynke,
465 For al so siker° as cold engendreth° hayl, certain — brings about
A likerous° mouth moste han a likerous tayl.° gluttonous — lecherous tail
In wommen vinolent° is no defence, — drunken
This knowen lecchours by experience.
But, Lord Crist! whan that it remembreth me° I remember
470 Upon my yowthe, and on my jolitee,
It tikleth° me aboute myn herte roote. pleases
Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote° good
That I have had my world as in my tyme.
But age, allas! that al wole envenyme,° poison
475 Hath me biraft° my beautee and my pith.° taken away — vigor
Lat go, farewel! the devel go therwith!
The flour is goon, ther is namoore° to telle; no more
The bren,° as I best kan, now moste I selle; bran
But yet to be right myrie wol I fonde.° try
480 Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde.
I seye, I hadde in herte greet despit° resentment
That he of any oother had delit.
But he was quit, by God and by Seint Joce!
I made hym of the same wode° a croce;° wood — cross
485 Nat of my body, in no foul manere,
But certeinly, I made folk swich cheere° so much cheer
That in his owene grece° I made hym frye grease
For angre, and for verray° jalousye. true
By God! in erthe I was his Purgatorie,
490 For which I hope his soule be in glorie.
For, God it woot,° he sat ful ofte and song, knows
Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong.° pinched him
Ther was no wight,° save° God and he, that wiste,° person — except — knew
In many wise, how soore I hym twiste.° tortured
495 He deyde° whan I cam fro Jerusalem, died
And lith ygrave° under the roode beem,° buried — supporting beam
Al° is his tombe noght so curyus although
As was the sepulcre of hym Daryus,
Which that Appeles wroghte° subtilly; crafted
500 It nys but wast° to burye hym preciously. is nothing but a waste
Lat hym fare wel, God yeve° his soul reste! give
He is now in his grave and in his cheste.° coffin
Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle.
God lete his soule nevere come in helle!
505 And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe;° villainous
That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe,° in a row
And evere shal unto myn endyng day.
But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay,
And therwithal° so wel koude he me glose,° moroever — please
510 Whan that he wolde han my bele chose,° “pretty thing”
That thogh he hadde me bete on every bon,
He koude wynne agayn my love anon.° immediately
I trowe° I loved hym best, for that° he believe — because
Was of his love daungerous° to me. hard to please
515 We wommen han if that I shal nat lye,
In this matere a queynte fantasye;° curious imagination
Wayte what thyng we may nat° lightly° have, not that — easily
Therafter wol we crie al day and crave.
Forbede us thyng, and that desiren we;
520 Preesse on us faste, and thanne wol we fle.° fly
With daunger oute we al oure chaffare;° faced with stinginess we spread out all our wares
Greet prees° at market maketh deere° ware, crowd — expensive
And to greet cheep° is holde at litel prys: too great a bargain
This knoweth every womman that is wys.
525 My fifthe housbonde, God his soule blesse!
Which that I took for love, and no richesse,
He som tyme was a clerk of Oxenford,
And hadde left scole, and wente at hom to bord
With my gossib,° dwellynge in oure toun; close friend
530 God have hir soule! hir name was Alisoun.
She knew myn herte, and eek° my privetee,° also — secrets
Bet than oure parisshe preest, so moot I thee!
To hire biwreyed° I my conseil° al. revealed — plans
For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal,
535 Or doon a thyng that sholde han cost his lyf,
To hire, and to another worthy wyf,
And to my nece,° which that I loved weel, kinswoman
I wolde han toold his conseil every deel.
And so I dide ful often, God it woot,° knows
540 That made his face often reed and hoot° red and hot
For verray shame, and blamed hymself for he
Had toold to me so greet a pryvetee.° secret
And so bifel° that ones in a Lente — it happened
So often tymes I to my gossyb° wente, friend
545 For evere yet I loved to be gay,
And for to walke in March, Averill, and May,
Fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys° — different tales
That Jankyn clerk, and my gossyb° dame Alys, good friend
And I myself, into the feeldes wente.
550 Myn housbonde was at Londoun al that Lente;
I hadde the bettre leyser° for to pleye, leisure
And for to se, and eek° for to be seye° also — be seen
Of lusty° folk. What wiste° I wher my grace lively — know
Was shapen° for to be, or in what place? destined
555 Therfore I made my visitaciouns
To vigilies° and to processiouns,° gatherings before holidays — parades
To prechyng eek,° and to thise pilgrimages, also
To pleyes of myracles, and to mariages,
And wered° upon my gaye scarlet gytes.° wore — robes
560 Thise wormes, ne thise motthes,° ne thise mytes, moths
Upon my peril, frete° hem never a deel;° devoured — not at all
And wostow° why? for they were used weel. do you know
Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
I seye that in the feeldes walked we,
565 Til trewely we hadde swich daliance,° such flirting
This clerk and I, that of my purveiance° foresight
I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he,
If I were wydwe,° sholde wedde me. a widow
For certeinly, I sey for no bobance,° boast
570 Yet was I nevere withouten purveiance° foresight
Of mariage, n’° of othere thynges eek. either
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 ydo.° done
575 I bar hym on honde° he hadde enchanted me, — convinced
My dame° taughte me that soutiltee.° mother — trick
And eek° I seyde I mette° of hym al nyght, also — dreamed
He wolde han slayn me as I lay upright,
And al my bed was ful of verray blood;
580 But yet I hope that he shal do me good,
For blood bitokeneth° gold, as me was taught. is a sign of
And al was fals; I dremed of it right naught,° not at all
But as I folwed ay my dames° loore,° mother’s advice
As wel of this as of othere thynges moore.
585 But now, sire, lat me se, what I shal seyn?
A ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn.
Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere,° bier (support for a coffin)
I weep algate,° and made sory cheere, constantly
As wyves mooten,° for it is usage,° must — custom
590 And with my coverchief° covered my visage,° handkerchief — face
But for that I was purveyed° of a make, prepared
I wepte but smal,° and that I undertake.° little — declare
To chirche was myn housbonde born a-morwe° carried in the morning
With neighebores, that for hym maden sorwe;
595 And Jankyn, oure clerk, was oon of tho.
As help me God! whan that I saugh hym go
After the beere,° me thoughte° he hadde a paire bier — it seemed to me
Of legges and of feet so clene and faire
That al myn herte I yaf° unto his hoold.° gave — control
600 He was, I trowe,° a twenty wynter oold, believe
And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth;° truly
But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.° young desires
Gat-tothed° I was, and that bicam° me weel; gap-toothed — suited
I hadde the prente° of Seinte Venus seel.° print — a birthmark
605 As help me god! I was a lusty oon,° lively one
And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon;° in a good situation
And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me,
I hadde the beste quoniam° myghte be. “whatchamacallit”
For certes,° I am al Venerien° certainly — controlled by Venus
610 In feelynge, and myn herte is Marcien.° controlled by Mars
Venus me yaf° my lust,° my likerousnesse,° gave me — desire — sexual desire
And Mars yaf° me my sturdy hardynesse; gave
Myn ascendent was Taur,° and Mars therinne. Taurus
Allas! allas! that evere love was synne!
615 I folwed ay myn inclinacioun
By vertu° of my constellacioun;° power — horoscope
That made me I koude noght withdrawe° hold back
My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.
Yet have I Martes mark° upon my face, red birthmark
620 And also in another privee° place. secret
For God so wys be my savacioun,
I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun,
But evere folwede myn appetit,
Al were he° short, or long, or blak, or whit; whether he was
625 I took no kep, so that he liked me,
How poore he was, ne eek° of what degree.° also — social rank
What sholde I seye? but, at the monthes ende,
This joly° clerk,° Jankyn, that was so hende, courtly — scholar
Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee;° ceremony
630 And to hym yaf° I al the lond and fee gave
That evere was me yeven therbifoore.° given to me before that
But afterward repented me ful soore;
He nolde° suffre° nothyng of my list.° would not — tolerate — wishes
By god! he smoot° me ones on the lyst,° hit — ear
635 For that° I rente° out of his book a leef,° because — tore — page
That of the strook myn ere wax° al deef. became
Stibourn° I was as is a leonesse, stubborn
And of my tonge verray jangleresse,° a true chatterbox
And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,
640 From hous to hous, although he had it sworn;
For which he often tymes wolde preche,
And me of olde Romayn geestes° teche; tales
How he Symplicius Gallus lefte his wyf,
And hire forsook° for terme of al his lyf, left her
645 Noght but for open-heveded° he hir say° bare-headed — saw
Lookynge out at his dore upon a day.
Another Romayn tolde he me by name,
That, for his wyf was at a someres game
Withouten his wityng,° he forsook hire eke.° knowing — too
650 And thanne wolde he upon his Bible seke
That ilke° proverbe of Ecclesiaste same
Where he comandeth, and forbedeth faste,° strictly
Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute. allow — roam
Thanne wolde he seye right thus, withouten doute:
655 “Whoso that buyldeth his hous al of salwes,° willow branches
And priketh° his blynde hors over the falwes,° rides — fields
And suffreth° his wyf to go seken halwes,° allows — shrines
Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes!”
But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe° I didn’t care at all
660 Of his proverbes n’ of his olde sawe,
Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be.
I hate hym that my vices telleth me,
And so doo mo,° God woot,° of us than I. do more — knows
This made hym with me wood° al outrely;° crazy — completely
665 I nolde noght forbere° hym in no cas. would not tolerate
Now wol I seye yow sooth,° by Seint Thomas, tell you the truth
Why that I rente° out of his book a leef, tore
For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
He hadde a book that gladly, nyght and day,
670 For his desport° he wolde rede alway; entertainment
He cleped° it Valerie and Theofraste, called
At which book he lough° alwey ful faste. laughed
And eek° ther was somtyme a clerk at Rome, also
A cardinal, that highte° Seint Jerome, was called
675 That made a book agayn Jovinian;
In which book eek° ther was Tertulan, also
Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys,
That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys;
And eek° the parables of Salomon, also
680 Ovides Art, and bookes many on,
And alle thise were bounden in o° volume. one
And every nyght and day was his custume,
Whan he hadde leyser° and vacacioun free time
From oother worldly occupacioun,
685 To reden on this book of wikked wyves.
He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves
Than been of goode wyves in the Bible.
For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
That any clerk wol speke good of wyves,
690 But if it be of hooly seintes lyves,
Ne of noon oother womman never the mo.
Who peyntede the leon, tel me who?
By god! if wommen hadde writen stories,
As clerkes han withinne hire oratories,° chapels
695 They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse
Than al the mark° of Adam may redresse. outward sign
The children of Mercurie and of Venus
Been in hir wirkyng° ful contrarius;° tendency — contrary
Mercurie loveth wysdam and science,
700 And Venus loveth ryot° and dispence.° partying — big spending
And, for hire diverse disposicioun,
Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun.
And thus, God woot,° Mercurie is desolat knows
In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat;
705 And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed.
Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
The clerk, whan he is oold, and may noght do
Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho,
Thanne sit he doun, and writ in his dotage° old age
710 That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage!
But now to purpos, why I tolde thee
That I was beten for a book, pardee!° by God
Upon a nyght Jankyn, that was oure sire,° master
Redde on his book, as he sat by the fire,
715 Of Eva° first, that for hir wikkednesse Eve
Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse,
For which that Jhesu Crist hymself was slayn,
That boghte us with his herte blood agayn.
Lo, heere expres of womman may ye fynde,
720 That womman was the los of al mankynde.
The redde he me how Sampson loste his heres:
Slepynge, his lemman kitte it with hir sheres; beloved — cut — scissors
Thurgh which treson° loste he bothe his yen.° betrayal — eyes
Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
725 Of Hercules and of his Dianyre,
That caused hym to sette hymself afyre.
No thyng forgat he the care and the wo
That Socrates hadde with his wyves two;
How Xantippa caste° pisse upon his heed. dumped
730 This sely° man sat stille as he were deed;° simple — dead
He wiped his heed, namoore° dorste° he seyn,° no more — dared — say
But “Er° that thonder stynte,° comth a reyn!” before — thunderclap
Of Phasipha, that was the queen of Crete,
For shrewednesse,° hym thoughte° the tale swete; depravity — it seemed to him
735 Fy! spek namoore° — it is a grisly thyng — no more
Of hire horrible lust and hir likyng. desire
Of Clitermystra, for hire lecherye,
That falsly made hire housbonde for to dye,
He redde it with ful good devocioun.
740 He tolde me eek° for what occasioun also
Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf.
Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf,
Eriphilem, that for an ouche° of gold broach
Hath prively unto the Grekes told
745 Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place,
For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.° bad fortune
Of Lyvia tolde he me, and of Lucye:
They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye;
That oon for love, that oother was for hate.
750 Lyvia hir housbonde, on an even late,
Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo;
Lucia, likerous,° loved hire housbonde so lecherous
That, for he sholde alwey upon hire thynke,
She yaf° hym swich° a manere° love-drynke gave — such — kind of
755 That he was deed er° it were by the morwe;° dead before — morning
And thus algates° housbondes han sorwe. always
Thanne tolde he me how oon Latumyus
Compleyned unto his felawe° Arrius friend
That in his gardyn growed swich° a tree such
760 On which he seyde how that his wyves thre
Hanged hemself for herte despitus.° hateful
“O leeve° brother,” quod this Arrius, dear
“Yif° me a plante of thilke° blissed tree, give — the same
And in my gardyn planted shal it bee.”
765 Of latter date, of wyves hath he red
That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed,
And lete hir lecchour dighte° hire al the nyght, have sex
Whan that the corps lay in the floor upright.
And somme han dryve nayles in hir brayn,
770 Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slayn.
Somme han hem yeve° poysoun in hire drynke. have given them
He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke;° imagine
And therwithal° he knew of mo proverbes moreover
Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
775 “Bet is,”° quod he, “thyn habitacioun it’s better
Be with a leon° or foul dragoun, lion
Than with a womman usynge for to chyde.”° used to scolding
“Bet is,”° quod° he, “hye in the roof abyde,° it’s better — said — wait
Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous;
780 They been so wikked and contrarious,
They haten that hir housbondes loven ay.”° — always
He seyde, “A womman cast hir shame away,
Whan she cast of hir smok”;° and forthermo, underwear
“A fair womman, but she be chaast° also, chaste
785 Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes° nose.” pig’s
Who wolde wene,° or who wolde suppose, know
The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?° pain
And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne° stop
To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
790 Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght° plucked
Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke° also
I with my fest° so took hym on the cheke fist
That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun.
And he up stirte as dooth a wood leoun,° mad lion
795 And with his fest° he smoot° me on the heed, fist — hit
That in the floor I lay as I were deed.° as if I were dead
And whan 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.° fainting — woke
800 “O! hastow slayn me, false theef?” I seyde,
“And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
Er° I be deed,° yet wol° I kisse thee.” before I’m dead — will
And neer he cam and kneled faire adoun,
And seyde, “Deere suster Alisoun,
805 As help me god! I shal thee nevere smyte.
That I have doon, it is thyself to wyte.° accuse
Foryeve it me,° and that I thee biseke!”° forgive me for it — beseech (beg)
And yet eftsoones° I hitte hym on the cheke, at once
And seyde, “Theef, thus muchel° am I wreke;° much — avenged
810 Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.”
But atte laste, with muchel° care and wo, much
We fille acorded by us selven two.
He yaf° me al the bridel in myn hond, gave
To han the governance° of hous and lond, control
815 And of his tonge, and of his hond also;
And made hym brenne° his book anon° right tho. burn — right away
And whan that I hadde geten unto me,
By maistrie,° al the soveraynette, control
And that he seyde, “Myn owene trewe wyf,
820 Do as thee lust° the terme of al thy lyf; you desire
Keep thyn honour, and keep eek° myn estaat” — also
After that day we hadden never debaat.
God helpe me so, I was to hym as kynde
As any wyf from Denmark unto Ynde,° India
825 And also trewe, and so was he to me.
I prey to God, that sit in magestee,
So blesse his soule for his mercy deere.
Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol heere.”
The Frere lough,° whan he hadde herd al this; Friar laughed
830 “Now dame,” quod° he, “so have I joye or blis, said
This is a long preable° of a tale!” introduction
And whan the Somonour herde the Frere gale,° shout
“Lo,” quod the Somonour, “Goddes armes two!”
A frere° wol entremette° hym everemo. friar — intervene
835 “Lo, goode men, a flye and eek° a frere° also — friar
Wol falle in every dyssh and eek° mateere. also
What spekestow° of preambulacioun? do you speak
What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun!
Thou lettest° oure disport° in this manere.” interfere with — entertainment
840 “Ye, woltow so,° sire Somonour?” quod the Frere; Yes, will you do so
“Now, by my feith, I shal, er that I go, before
Telle of a Somonour swich° a tale or two, such
That alle the folk shal laughen in this place.
Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe° thy face,” curse
845 Quod this Somonour, “And I bishrewe me,
But if I telle tales two or thre
Of freres,° er I come to Sidyngborne, friars
That I shal make thyn herte for to morne,
For wel I woot° thy pacience is gon.” know
850 Oure Hooste cride “Pees!° and that anon!”° quiet! — right now!
And seyde, “Lat the womman telle hire tale.
Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale.
Do, dame, telle forth youre tale, and that is best.”
“Al redy, sire,” quod she, “right as yow lest,° like
855 If I have licence° of this worthy frere.” permission
“Yis, dame,” quod he, “tel forth, and I wol heere.”

The Wife of Bath’s Tale

In th’ olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour,
Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
Al was this land fulfild of fayerye.
860 The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye,
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.° meadow
This was the olde opinion, as I rede;
I speke of manye hundred yeres ago.
But now kan no man se none elves mo,° more
865 For now the grete charitee and prayers
Of lymytours° and othere hooly freres,° mendicant friars — friars
That serchen every lond and every streem,
As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
Blessynge halles, chambres,° kichenes, boures, bedchambers
870 Citees, burghes,° castels, hye toures, boroughs
Thropes,° bernes,° shipnes, dayeryes° — villages — barns — stables
This maketh that ther ben no fayeryes.
For ther as wont to walken was an elf,
Ther walketh now the lymytour° hymself mendicant friar
875 In undermeles° and in morwenynges,° late mornings — mornings
And seyth his matyns° and his hooly thynges morning prayers
As he gooth in his lymytacioun.° territory
Wommen may go now saufly up and doun.
In every bussh or under every tree
880 Ther is noon oother incubus° but he, evil spirit
And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
And so bifel° it that this Kyng Arthour happened
Hadde in his hous a lusty° bacheler, lively
That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver;° hawking
885 And happed° that, allone as he was born, it happened
He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn,° in front of
Of which mayde anon,° maugree hir heed,° at once — against her will
By verray force, he rafte° hire maydenhed;° took — virginity
For which oppressioun was swich° clamour so much
890 And swich pursute° unto the Kyng Arthour, such demand for justice
That dampned° was this knyght for to be deed,° condemned — dead
By cours of lawe, and sholde han° lost his heed — should have
Paraventure° swich° was the statut° tho° — by chance — such — law — then
But that the queene and othere ladyes mo
895 So longe preyeden the kyng of grace,
Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place,
And yaf hym to the queene, al at hir wille, gave
To chese° wheither she wolde hym save or spille.° choose — kill
The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght,
900 And after this thus spak she to the knyght,
Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day:
“Thou standest yet,” quod she, “in swich array° such condition
That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.° security
I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me
905 What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
Be war,° and keep thy nekke-boon from iren!° careful — iron (axe)
And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon,° right away
Yet wol I yeve° thee leve° for to gon give — permission
A twelf-month and a day, to seche and leere° learn
910 An answere suffisant° in this mateere; sufficient
And suretee° wol I han, er° that thou pace,° pledge — before — go
Thy body for to yelden° in this place.” surrender
Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh;° sighs
But what! he may nat do al as hym liketh.° as pleases him
915 And at the laste he chees° hym for to wende,° chose — go
And come agayn, right at the yeres ende,
With swich° answere as God wolde hym purveye;° such — provide
And taketh his leve, and wendeth froth° his weye. goes out
He seketh° every hous and and every place searches
920 Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace,
To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost;
But he ne koude arryven in no coost° coast
Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
Two creatures accordynge in-feere.° agreeing with each other
925 Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse,
Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,° sexual desire
And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.
Somme seyde that oure hertes been moost esed
930 Whan that we ben yflatered and yplesed.
He gooth ful ny the sothe,° I wol nat lye. very near the truth
A man shal wynne us best with flaterye;
And with attendance,° and with bisynesse, attention
Been we ylymed,° bothe moore and lesse. captured
935 And somme seyen that we loven best
For to be free, and do right as us lest,
And that no man repreve° us of oure vice, reproach
But seye that we be wise, and no thyng nyce.° not at all ignorant
For trewely ther is noon of us alle,
940 If any wight° wol clawe us on the galle,° person — scratch us on a sore spot
That we nel kike,° for he seith us sooth.° will not kick back — tells us the truth
Assay,° and he shal fynde it that so dooth; Try
For, be we never so vicious withinne,
We wol been holden° wise and clene of synne. considered
945 And somme seyn that greet delit han we
For to been holden stable,° and eek secree,° considered steadfast — also discreet
And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
And nat biwreye° thyng that men us telle. betray
But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele.
950 Pardee,° we wommen konne no thyng hele;° by God — keep secret
Witnesse on Myda,° — wol ye heere the tale? Midas
Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale,
Seyde Myda° hadde, under his longe heres,° Midas — hairs
Growynge upon his heed two asses eres,
955 The whiche vice he hydde, as he best myghte,
Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte,
That, save° his wyf, ther wiste° of it namo.° except for — knew — no one else
He loved hire moost, and trusted hire also;
He preyede hire° that to no creature begged her
960 She sholde tellen of his disfigure.
She swoor him, nay, for al this world to wynne,
She nolde° do that vileynye or synne, would not
To make hir housbonde han so foul a name.
She nolde° nat telle it for hir owene shame. would not
965 But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde,° died
That she so longe sholde a conseil° hyde; secret
Hir thoughte° it swal° so soore aboute hir herte it seemed to her — swelled
That nedely° som word hire moste asterte;° necessarily — escape
And sith° she dorste° telle it to no man, since — dares
970 Doun to a mareys° faste by she ran marsh
Til she cam there, hir herte was a-fyre —
And as a bitore bombleth° in the myre, bittern (a bird) blooms
She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun:
“Biwreye me nat,° thou water, with thy soun,”° don’t give away my secret — sound
975 Quod she; “to thee I telle it and namo;° no more
Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two!
Now is myn herte al hool, now is it oute.
I myghte° no lenger kepe it, out of doute.” could
Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,° wait
980 Yet out it moot;° we kan no conseil° hyde. must (go) — secret
The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere,
Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it leere.° learn
This knyght, of which my tale is specially,
Than that he saugh he myghte nat come therby,
985 This is to seye, what wommen love moost,
Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost.° spirit
But hoom he gooth, he myghte nat sojourne;
The day was come that homward moste he tourne.
And in his wey it happed hym to ryde,
990 In al this care, under a forest syde,
Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go
Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo;° even more
Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne,° eagerly
In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne.
995 But certeinly, er he cam fully there,
Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste° where. knew not
No creature saugh he that bar lyf,
Save° on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf — except
A fouler wight° ther may no man devyse.° uglier person — imagine
1000 Agayn° the knyght this olde wyf gan° ryse, toward — began
And seyde, “Sire Knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey.
Tel me what that ye seken, by youre fey!° faith
Paraventure° it may the bettre be; maybe
Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng,”° quod she. know many things
“My leeve mooder,”° quod this knyght, certeyn° dear mother — surely
I nam but deed,° but if that I kan seyn dead
What thyng it is that wommen moost desire.
Koude ye me wisse,° I wolde wel quite° youre hire.”° inform — reward — effort
“Plight° me thy trouthe° heere in myn hand,” quod she, pledge — honor
1010 “The nexte thyng that I requere thee,
Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght,° power
And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght.”
“Have heer my trouthe,”° quod the Knyght, “I grante.” pledge
“Thanne,” quod she, “I dar me wel avante° boast
1015 Thy lyf is sauf; for I wol stonde therby,
Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I.
Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle,
That wereth on a coverchief° or a calle, hairnet
That dar° seye nay of that I shal thee teche. dares
1020 Lat us go forth, withouten lenger° speche.” longer
Tho° rowned° she a pistel° in his ere, then — whispered — message
And bad° hym to be glad, and have no fere. told
Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght
Seyde he had holde° his day, as he hadde hight,° stuck to — promised
1025 And redy was his answere, as he sayde.
Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde,
And many a wydwe, for that they been wise,
The queene hirself sittynge as a justise,° judge
Assembled been, his answere for to heere;
1030 And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.
To every wight° comanded was silence, person
And that the knyght sholde telle in audience
What thyng that worldly wommen loven best.
This knyght ne stood nat stille as doth a best,
1035 But to his questioun anon° answerde immediately
With manly voys, that al the court it herde:
“My lige lady, generally,” quod° he, said
“Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee° domination
As wel over his housbond as hir love,
1040 And for to been in maistrie hym above.
This is youre mooste desir, thogh ye me kille.
Dooth as yow list;° I am heer at youre wille.” like
In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne mayde,
Ne wydwe, that contraried° that he sayde, contradicted
1045 But seyden he was worthy han his lyf.
And with that word up stirte° the olde wyf, started
Which that the knyght saugh sittynge on the grene:
“Mercy,” quod she, “my sovereyn lady queene!
Er° that youre court departe, do me right. before
1050 I taughte this answere unto the knyght;
For which he plighte° me his trouthe° there, pledged — honor
The firste thyng that I wolde hym requere,
He wolde it do, if it lay in his myghte.° ability
Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght,”
1055 Quod she, “that thou me take unto thy wyf;
For wel thou woost° that I have kept° thy lyf. know — saved
If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey!”° faith
This knyght answerde, “Allas! and weylawey!° woe!
I woot right wel° that swich° was my biheste.° know very well — that — promise
1060 For goddes love, as chees° a newe requeste! choose
Taak al my good,° and lat my body go.” belongings
“Nay, thanne,” quod she, “I shrewe° us bothe two! curse
For thogh that I be foul,° and oold, and poore, ugly
I nolde° for al the metal, ne for oore, would not
1065 That under erthe is grave,° or lith° above, buried — lies
But if thy wyf I were, and eek° thy love.” also
“My love?” quod he, “nay, my dampnacioun!° damnation
Allas! that any of my nacioun° family
Sholde evere so foule disparaged be!”
1070 But al for noght; the ende is this, that he
Constreyned was, he nedes moste° hire wedde; must
And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,° maybe
That for my necligence I do no cure
1075 To tellen yow the joye and al th’ array° mangificence
That at the feeste was that ilke° day. same
To which thyng shortly answeren I shal:
I seye ther nas° no joye ne feeste at al; was not
Ther nas but° hevynesse and muche sorwe. was nothing but
1080 For prively° he wedded hire on the morwe,° secretly — in the morning
And al day after hidde hym as an owle,
So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule.
Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght,
Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght;° brought to bed
1085 He walweth° and he turneth to and fro. rolls
His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo,
And seyde, “O deere housbonde, benedicitee!
Fareth° every knyght thys with his wyf as ye? behaves
Is this the lawe of Kyng Arthures hous?
1090 Is every knyght of his so dangerous?° difficult
I am youre owene love and eek° youre wyf; also
I am she which that saved hath youre lyf,
And, certes, yet ne dide I yow nevere unright; surely — never did you wrong
Why fare° ye thus with me this firste nyght? act
1095 Ye faren° lyk a man had lost his wit.° behave — mind
What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it,
And it shal been amende,° if I may.” fixed
“Amended?” quod this knyght, “Allas! nay, nay! fixed
It wol nat been amended° nevere mo. fixed
1100 Thou art so loothly,° and so oold also, loathsome
And therto comen of so lough a kynde,° such a bad family
That litel wonder is thogh I walwe° and wynde.° roll over — twist
So wolde God myn herte wolde breste!”° burst
“Is this,” quod she, “the cause of youre unreste?”
1105 “Ye, certeinly,” quod° he, “no wonder is.” said
“Now, sire,” quod° she, “I koude amende° al this, said — fix
If that me liste,° er° it were dayes thre, pleases me — before
So wel ye myghte bere° yow unto me. behave well
But, for° ye speken of swich gentillesse° because — so much nobility
1110 As is descended out of old richesse,
That therfore sholden ye be gentil° men, noble
Swich° arrogance is nat worth an hen. so much
Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
Pryvee and apert,° and moost entendeth° ay whether alone or together — tries
1115 To do the gentil° dedes that he kan; noble
Taak hym for the grettest gentil man.
Crist wole we clayme of hym° oure gentillesse,° from him — nobility
Nat of oure eldres° for hire old richesse. ancestors
For thogh they yeve° us al hir° heritage, give — all their
1120 For which we clayme to been of heigh parage,° high birth
Yet may they nat biquethe, for no thyng,
To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng,
That made hem gentil° men ycalled be, noble
And bad us folwen hem° in swich° degree. ordered us to follow them — such
1125 Wel kan the wise poete of Florence,
That highte Dant,° speken in this sentence. is called Dante
Lo, in swich maner rym is Dantes tale:° Dante’s tale is in this kind of poetry
‘Ful selde° up riseth by his brances° smale very rarely — branches
Prowesse° of man, for god, of his goodnesse, nobility
1130 Wole° that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse;° — wants — nobility
For of oure eldres° may we no thyng clayme ancestors
But temporel° thyng, that man may hurte° and mayme. worldly — injure
Eek° every wight° woot° this as wel as I, also — person — knows
If gentillesse° were planted natureelly nobility
1135 Unto a certeyn lynage° doun the lyne, lineage
Pryvee and apert,° thanne wolde they nevere fyne° whether together or separately — cease
To doon of gentillesse° the faire office;° nobility — duties
They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
Taak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous
1140 Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous,° Caucasus
And lat men shette° the dores and go thenne;° shut — from there
Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne° blaze and burn
As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde;
His office° natureel ay° wol it holde, function — still
1145 Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye.
Heere may ye se wel how that genterye° nobility
Is nat annexed° to possessioun, joined
Sith° folk ne doon hir operacioun° since — behave
Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde.° according to its nature
1150 For, God it woot,° men may wel often fynde knows
A lordes sone do shame and vileynye;
And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,° be praised for his noble birth
For he was boren of a gentil° hous, noble
And hadde his eldres° noble and vertuous, ancestors
1155 And nel° hymselven do no gentil dedis,° will not — noble deeds
Ne folwen° his gentil auncestre that deed° is, nor follow — dead
He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl;° duke or earl
For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl.° scoundrel
For gentillesse° nys but renomee° nobility — reputation
1160 Of thyne auncestres, for hire heigh bountee,° goodness
Which is a strange thyng to thy persone.
Thy gentillesse° cometh fro God allone. nobility
Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse° of grace; nobility
It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place.
1165 Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius,
Was thilke° Tullius Hostillius, the same
That out of poverte° roos° to heigh noblesse.° poverty — rose — nobility
Reedeth Senek,° and redeth eek Boece;° Seneca — Boethius
Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede° is no doubt
1170 That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis.° deeds
And therfore, leeve° housbonde, thus conclude: dear
Al° were it that myne auncestres were rude,° although — not noble
Yet may the hye God, and so hope I,
Grante me grace to lyven vertuously.
1175 Thanne am I gentil,° whan that I bigynne noble
To lyven vertuously and weyve° synne. abandon
And ther° as ye of poverte me repreeve,° therefore — scold
The hye God, on whom that we bileeve,
In wilful poverte chees° to lyve his lyf. choose
1180 And certes° every man, mayden, or wyf, certainly
May understonde that Jhesus, hevene kyng,
Ne wolde nat chese° a vicious° lyvyng. choose — immoral
Glad poverte is an honest thyng, certeyn;
This wole Senec and othere clerkes seyn.
1185 Whoso that halt hym payd° of his poverte, considers himself satisfied
I holde° hym riche, al hadde he° nat a sherte.° consider — even if he had — shirt
He that coveiteth° is a povre wight,° covets — poor person
For he wolde han that is nat in his myght;° power
But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth have,
1190 Is riche, although ye holde° hym but a knave.° consider — peasant
Verray° poverte, it syngeth proprely; true
Juvenal seith of poverte myrily:
‘The povre° man, whan he goth by the weye, poor
Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye.’
1195 Poverte is hateful good and, as I gesse,
A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse;
A greet amendere° eek° of sapience° improver — also — wisdom
To hym that taketh it in pacience.
Poverte is this, although it seme alenge,° awful
1200 Possessioun that no wight° wol chalenge. person
Poverte ful ofte, whan a man is lowe,
Maketh his God and eek° hymself to knowe. also
Poverte a spectacle is, as thynketh me,° it seems to mr
Thurgh which he may his verray° freendes see. real
1205 And therfore, sire, syn° that I noght yow greve,° since — harm you
Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve.° reproach
No, sire, of elde ye repreve° me; reproach
And certes,° sire, thogh noon° auctoritee surely — no
Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
1210 Seyn that men sholde an oold wight° doon favour, person
And clepe° hym fader, for youre gentillesse;° call — nobility
And auctours shal I fynde, as I gesse.
Now ther ye seye that I am foul° and old, ugly
Than drede you noght to been a cokewold;° don’t worry about being a cuckold
1215 For filthe and eelde,° also moot I thee,° old age — as I may prosper
Been grete wardeyns° upon chastitee.° guardians — virginity
But nathelees, syn I knowe youre delit,
I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit.
Chese° now,” quod° she, “oon of thise thynges tweye:° choose — said — two
1220 To han me foul and old til that I deye,
And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf,
And nevere yow displese in al my lyf;
Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
And take youre aventure° of the repair° chances — crowd
1225 That shal be to youre hous by cause° of me, because
Or in som oother place, may wel be.
Now chese° yourselven, wheither that yow liketh.”° choose — whichever you please
This knyght avyseth hym° and sore siketh,° thinks about it — signs
But atte laste he seyde in this manere:
1230 “My lady and my love, and wyf so deere,
I put me in youre wise governance;
Cheseth° youreself which may be moost plesance, choose
And moost honour to yow and me also.
I do no fors° the wheither of the two; don’t care
1235 For as yow liketh, it suffiseth me.”
“Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie,” quod she,
“Syn I may chese° and governe as me lest?”° choose — as I like
“Ye, certes,° wyf,” quod he, “I holde it best.” certainly
“Kys me,” quod she, “we be no lenger wrothe;° angry
1240 For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe,
This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.
I prey to God that I moote sterven wood,° might die insane
But° I to yow be also good and trewe unless
As evere was wyf, syn° that the world was newe. since
1245 And but I be to-morn° as fair to seene in the morning
As any lady, emperice, or queene,
That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.° as you please
Cast up the curtyn, looke how that it is.”
1250 And whan the knyght saugh verraily° al this, truly
That she so fair° was, and so yong therto, beautiful
For joye he hente° hire in his armes two, took
His herte bathed in a bath of blisse.
A thousand tyme a-rewe° he gan hire kisse,° in a row — began to kiss her
1255 And she obeyed hym in every thyng
That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng.
And thys° they lyve unto hir lyves ende thus
In parfit° joye; and Jhesu Crist us sende perfect
Housbondes meeke, yonge, and fressh abedde,
1260 And grace t’ overbyde° hem that we wedde; outlive
And eek° I praye Jhesu shorte° hir lyves also — shorten
That wol nat be governed by hir wyves;
And olde and angry nygardes° of dispence, misers — spending
God sende hem soone verray pestilence!° true plague

Notes

Who peyntede the leon, tel me who?
In one of Aesop’s fables, usually known as “The Man and the Lion,” a man points to a picture (or, in some versions, a statue) of a man killing a lion, and considers it evidence that men are superior to lions. The lion replies that, if a lion had created the art, it would show the lion was superior. In The Wife of Bath’s Prologue the implication is that, “if wommen hadde writen stories,’ they wouldn&rsqo;t show women as evil.

This text has been prepared by Jack Lynch. You’re welcome to use it for non-exclusive and nonprofit purposes.