35        Lo, heere the wise kyng, daun Salomon;
                     Lo, (consider) here the wise king, dan Salomon;
    36        I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon.
                     I believe he had wives more than one.
    37        As wolde God it leveful were unto me
                     As would God it were lawful unto me
    38        To be refresshed half so ofte as he!
                     To be refreshed half so often as he!
    39        Which yifte of God hadde he for alle his wyvys!
                     What a gift of God he had because of all his wives!
    40        No man hath swich that in this world alyve is.
                     No man that in this world is alive has such (a gift).
    41        God woot, this noble kyng, as to my wit,
                     God knows, this noble king, according to my judgment,
    42        The firste nyght had many a myrie fit
                     The first night had many a merry fit
    43        With ech of hem, so wel was hym on lyve.
                     With each of them, so well things went for him in his lifetime.
    44        Yblessed be God that I have wedded fyve!
                     Blessed be God that I have wedded five!
    44a      [Of whiche I have pyked out the beste,
                     [Of which I have picked out the best,
    44b      Bothe of here nether purs and of here cheste.
                     Both of their lower purse (scrotum) and of their strongbox.
    44c      Diverse scoles maken parfyt clerkes,
                     Differing schools make perfect clerks,
    44d      And diverse practyk in many sondry werkes
                     And differing practice in many various works
    44e      Maketh the werkman parfyt sekirly;
                     Makes the workman truly perfect;
    44f       Of fyve husbondes scoleiyng am I.]
                     Of five husbands' schooling am I.]
    45        Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal.
                     Welcome the sixth, whenever he shall appear.
    46        For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chaast in al.
                     For truly, I will not keep myself chaste in everything.
    47        Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon,
                     When my husband is gone from the world,
    48        Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon,
                     Some Christian man shall wed me straightway,
    49        For thanne th' apostle seith that I am free
                     For then the apostle says that I am free
    50        To wedde, a Goddes half, where it liketh me.
                     To wed, by God's side (I swear), wherever it pleases me.
    51        He seith that to be wedded is no synne;
                     He says that to be wedded is no sin;
    52        Bet is to be wedded than to brynne.
                     It is better to be wedded than to burn.
    53        What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileynye
                     What do I care, though folk speak evil
    54        Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
                     Of cursed Lamech and his bigamy?
    55        I woot wel Abraham was an hooly man,
                     I know well Abraham was a holy man,
    56        And Jacob eek, as ferforth as I kan;
                     And Jacob also, insofar as I know;
    57        And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two,
                     And each of them had more than two wives,
    58        And many another holy man also.
                     And many another holy man also.
    59        Wher can ye seye, in any manere age,
                     Where can you find, in any historical period,
    60        That hye God defended mariage
                     That high God forbad marriage
    61        By expres word? I pray yow, telleth me.
                     By express word? I pray you, tell me.
    62        Or where comanded he virginitee?
                     Or where commanded he virginity?
    63        I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
                     I know as well as you, it is no doubt,
    64        Th' apostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede,
                     The apostle, when he speaks of maidenhood,
    65        He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon.
                     He said that he had no precept concerning it.
    66        Men may conseille a womman to been oon,
                     Men may advise a woman to be one,
    67        But conseillyng is no comandement.
                     But advice is no commandment.
    68        He putte it in oure owene juggement;
                     He left it to our own judgment;
    69        For hadde God comanded maydenhede,
                     For had God commanded maidenhood,
    70        Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede.
                     Then had he damned marriage along with the act (of procreation).
    71        And certes, if ther were no seed ysowe,
                     And certainly, if there were no seed sown,
    72        Virginitee, thanne wherof sholde it growe?
                     Then from what should virginity grow?
    73        Poul dorste nat comanden, atte leeste,
                     In any case, Paul dared not command
    74        A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste.
                     A thing of which his master gave no command.
    75        The dart is set up for virginitee;
                     The prize is set up for virginity;
    76        Cacche whoso may, who renneth best lat see.
                     Catch it whoever can, let's see who runs best.

    77        But this word is nat taken of every wight,
                     But this word does not apply to every person,
    78        But ther as God lust gyve it of his myght.
                     But where God desires to give it by his power.
    79        I woot wel that th' apostel was a mayde;
                     I know well that the apostle was a virgin;
    80        But nathelees, thogh that he wroot and sayde
                     But nonetheless, though he wrote and said
    81        He wolde that every wight were swich as he,
                     He would that every person were such as he,
    82        Al nys but conseil to virginitee.
                     All is nothing but advice to (adopt) virginity.
    83        And for to been a wyf he yaf me leve
                     And he gave me leave to be a wife
    84        Of indulgence; so nys it no repreve
                     By explicit permission; so it is not blameful
    85        To wedde me, if that my make dye,
                     To wed me, if my mate should die,
    86        Withouten excepcion of bigamye.
                     Without objection on the grounds of bigamy.
    87        Al were it good no womman for to touche --
                     Although it would be good to touch no woman --
    88        He mente as in his bed or in his couche,
                     He meant in his bed or in his couch,
    89        For peril is bothe fyr and tow t' assemble;
                     For it is perilous to assemble both fire and flax;
    90        Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble.
                     You know what this example may apply to.
    91        This is al and som: he heeld virginitee
                     This is the sum of it: he held virginity
    92        Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee.
                     More perfect than wedding in weakness.
    93        Freletee clepe I, but if that he and she
                     Weakness I call it, unless he and she
    94        Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
                     Would lead all their life in chastity.

    95        I graunte it wel; I have noon envie,
                     I grant it well; I have no envy,
    96        Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye.
                     Though maidenhood may have precedence over a second marriage.
    97        It liketh hem to be clene, body and goost;
                     It pleases them to be clean, body and spirit;
    98        Of myn estaat I nyl nat make no boost,
                     Of my state I will make no boast,
    99        For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
                     For well you know, a lord in his household,
  100        He nath nat every vessel al of gold;
                     He has not every utensil all of gold;
  101        Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.
                     Some are of wood, and do their lord service.
  102        God clepeth folk to hym in sondry wyse,
                     God calls folk to him in various ways,
  103        And everich hath of God a propre yifte --
                     And each one has of God an individual gift --
  104        Som this, som that, as hym liketh shifte.
                     Some this, some that, as it pleases Him to provide.

  105        Virginitee is greet perfeccion,
                     Virginity is great perfection,
  106        And continence eek with devocion,
                     And continence also with devotion,
  107        But Crist, that of perfeccion is welle,
                     But Christ, who is the source of perfection,
  108        Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle
                     Did not command that every one should go sell
  109        Al that he hadde, and gyve it to the poore,
                     All that he had, and give it to the poor,
  110        And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore.
                     And in such wise follow him and his footsteps.
  111        He spak to hem that wolde lyve parfitly;
                     He spoke to those who would live perfectly;
  112        And lordynges, by youre leve, that am nat I.
                     And gentlemen, by your leave, I am not that.
  113        I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
                     I will bestow the flower of all my age
  114        In the actes and in fruyt of mariage.
                     In the acts and in fruit of marriage.

  115        Telle me also, to what conclusion
                     Tell me also, to what purpose
  116        Were membres maad of generacion,
                     Were members of generation made,
  117        And of so parfit wys a [wright] ywroght?
                     And by so perfectly wise a Workman wrought?
  118        Trusteth right wel, they were nat maad for noght.
                     Trust right well, they were not made for nothing.
  119        Glose whoso wole, and seye bothe up and doun
                     Interpret whoever will, and say both up and down
  120        That they were maked for purgacioun
                     That they were made for purgation
  121        Of uryne, and oure bothe thynges smale
                     Of urine, and both our small things
  122        Were eek to knowe a femele from a male,
                     Were also to know a female from a male,
  123        And for noon oother cause -- say ye no?
                     And for no other cause -- do you say no?
  124        The experience woot wel it is noght so.
                     The experience knows well it is not so.
  125        So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe,
                     Provided that the clerks be not angry with me,
  126        I sey this: that they maked ben for bothe;
                     I say this: that they are made for both;
  127        That is to seye, for office and for ese
                     That is to say, for urination and for ease
  128        Of engendrure, ther we nat God displese.
                     Of procreation, in which we do not displease God.
  129        Why sholde men elles in hir bookes sette
                     Why else should men set in their books
  130        That man shal yelde to his wyf hire dette?
                     That man shall pay to his wife her debt?
  131        Now wherwith sholde he make his paiement,
                     Now with what should he make his payment,
  132        If he ne used his sely instrument?
                     If he did not use his blessed instrument?
  133        Thanne were they maad upon a creature
                     Then were they made upon a creature
  134        To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure.
                     To purge urine, and also for procreation.

  135        But I seye noght that every wight is holde,
                     But I say not that every person is required,
  136        That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde,
                     That has such equipment as I to you told,
  137        To goon and usen hem in engendrure.
                     To go and use them in procreation.
  138        Thanne sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
                     Then should men have no regard for chastity.
  139        Crist was a mayde and shapen as a man,
                     Christ was a virgin and shaped like a man,
  140        And many a seint, sith that the world bigan;
                     And many a saint, since the world began;
  141        Yet lyved they evere in parfit chastitee.
                     Yet lived they ever in perfect chastity.
  142        I nyl envye no virginitee.
                     I will envy no virginity.
  143        Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,
                     Let them be bread of pure wheat-seed,
  144        And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed;
                     And let us wives be called barley-bread;
  145        And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle kan,
                     And yet with barley-bread, Mark can tell it,
  146        Oure Lord Jhesu refresshed many a man.
                     Our Lord Jesus refreshed many a man.
  147        In swich estaat as God hath cleped us
                     In such estate as God has called us
  148        I wol persevere; I nam nat precius.
                     I will persevere; I am not fussy.
  149        In wyfhod I wol use myn instrument
                     In wifehood I will use my instrument
  150        As frely as my Makere hath it sent.
                     As freely as my Maker has it sent.
  151        If I be daungerous, God yeve me sorwe!
                     If I be niggardly, God give me sorrow!
  152        Myn housbonde shal it have bothe eve and morwe,
                     My husband shall have it both evenings and mornings,
  153        Whan that hym list come forth and paye his dette.
                     When it pleases him to come forth and pay his debt.
  154        An housbonde I wol have -- I wol nat lette --
                     A husband I will have -- I will not desist --
  155        Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral,
                     Who shall be both my debtor and my slave,
  156        And have his tribulacion withal
                     And have his suffering also
  157        Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf.
                     Upon his flesh, while I am his wife.
  158        I have the power durynge al my lyf
                     I have the power during all my life
  159        Upon his propre body, and noght he.
                     Over his own body, and not he.
  160        Right thus the Apostel tolde it unto me,
                     Right thus the Apostle told it unto me,
  161        And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.
                     And commanded our husbands to love us well.
  162        Al this sentence me liketh every deel" --
                     All this sentence pleases me every bit" --

  163        Up stirte the Pardoner, and that anon;
                     Up sprang the Pardoner, and that at once;
  164        "Now, dame," quod he, "by God and by Seint John!
                     "Now, madam," he said, "by God and by Saint John!
  165        Ye been a noble prechour in this cas.
                     You are a noble preacher in this case.
  166        I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas!
                     I was about to wed a wife; alas!
  167        What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere?
                     Why should I pay for it so dearly on my flesh?
  168        Yet hadde I levere wedde no wyf to-yeere!"
                     Yet would I rather wed no wife this year!"

  169        "Abyde!" quod she, "my tale is nat bigonne.
                     "Wait!" she said, "my tale is not begun.
  170        Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne,
                     Nay, thou shalt drink from another barrel,
  171        Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale.
                     Before I go, which shall taste worse than ale.
  172        And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale
                     And when I have told thee forth my tale
  173        Of tribulacion in mariage,
                     Of suffering in marriage,
  174        Of which I am expert in al myn age --
                     Of which I am expert in all my life --
  175        This is to seyn, myself have been the whippe --
                     This is to say, myself have been the whip --
  176        Than maystow chese wheither thou wolt sippe
                     Than may thou choose whether thou will sip
  177        Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
                     Of that same barrel that I shall open.
  178        Be war of it, er thou to ny approche;
                     Beware of it, before thou too near approach;
  179        For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
                     For I shall tell examples more than ten.
  180        `Whoso that nyl be war by othere men,
                     `Whoever will not be warned by (the examples of) other men,
  181        By hym shul othere men corrected be.'
                     Shall be an example by which other men shall be corrected.'
  182        The same wordes writeth Ptholomee;
                     The same words writes Ptholomy;
  183        Rede in his Almageste, and take it there."
                     Read in his Almagest, and take it there."

  184        "Dame, I wolde praye yow, if youre wyl it were,"
                     "Madam, I would pray you, if it were your will,"
  185        Seyde this Pardoner, "as ye bigan,
                     Said this Pardoner, "as you began,
  186        Telle forth youre tale, spareth for no man,
                     Tell forth your tale, refrain for no man,
  187        And teche us yonge men of youre praktike."
                     And teach us young men of your practice."

  188        "Gladly," quod she, "sith it may yow like;
                     "Gladly," she said, "since it may please you;
  189        But yet I praye to al this compaignye,
                     But yet I pray to all this company,
  190        If that I speke after my fantasye,
                     If I speak according to my fancy,
  191        As taketh not agrief of that I seye,
                     Do not be annoyed by what I say,
  192        For myn entente nys but for to pleye.
                     For my intention is only to amuse.

  193        Now, sire, now wol I telle forth my tale.
                     Now, sir, now will I tell forth my tale.
  194        As evere moote I drynken wyn or ale,
                     As ever may I drink wine or ale,
  195        I shal seye sooth; tho housbondes that I hadde,
                     I shall speak the truth; those husbands that I had,
  196        As thre of hem were goode, and two were badde.
                     Three of them were good, and two were bad.
  197        The thre were goode men, and riche, and olde;
                     The three were good men, and rich, and old;
  198        Unnethe myghte they the statut holde
                     Hardly might they the statute hold (pay the debt)
  199        In which that they were bounden unto me.
                     In which they were bound unto me.
  200        Ye woot wel what I meene of this, pardee!
                     You know well what I mean of this, by God!
  201        As help me God, I laughe whan I thynke
                     So help me God, I laugh when I think
  202        How pitously a-nyght I made hem swynke!
                     How pitifully at night I made them work!
  203        And, by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor.
                     And, by my faith, I set no store by it.
  204        They had me yeven hir lond and hir tresoor;
                     They had given me their land and their treasure;
  205        Me neded nat do lenger diligence
                     I needed not work hard any longer
  206        To wynne hir love, or doon hem reverence.
                     To win their love, or do them reverence.
  207        They loved me so wel, by God above,
                     They loved me so well, by God above,
  208        That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love!
                     That I reckoned little of their love!
  209        A wys womman wol bisye hire evere in oon
                     A wise woman will be constantly busy
  210        To gete hire love, ye, ther as she hath noon.
                     To get their love, yes, when she has none.
  211        But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond,
                     But since I had them wholly in my hand,
  212        And sith they hadde me yeven al hir lond,
                     And since they had me given all their land,
  213        What sholde I taken keep hem for to plese,
                     Why should I take care to please them,
  214        But it were for my profit and myn ese?
                     Unless it were for my profit and my pleasure?
  215        I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey,
                     I set them so to work, by my faith,
  216        That many a nyght they songen `Weilawey!'
                     That many a night they sang `Woe is me!'
  217        The bacon was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
                     The bacon was not fetched for them, I believe,
  218        That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe.
                     That some men have in Essex at Dunmowe.
  219        I governed hem so wel, after my lawe,
                     I governed them so well, according to my law,
  220        That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe
                     That each of them was very blissful and eager
  221        To brynge me gaye thynges fro the fayre.
                     To bring me gay things from the fair.
  222        They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire,
                     They were very glad when I spoke to them pleasantly,
  223        For, God it woot, I chidde hem spitously.
                     For, God knows it, I cruelly scolded them.

  224        Now herkneth hou I baar me proprely,
                     Now listen how well I conducted myself,
  225        Ye wise wyves, that kan understonde.
                     You wise wives, that can understand.
  226        Thus shulde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde,
                     Thus should you speak and accuse them wrongfully,
  227        For half so boldely kan ther no man
                     For half so boldly can there no man
  228        Swere and lyen, as a womman kan.
                     Swear and lie, as a woman can.
  229        I sey nat this by wyves that been wyse,
                     I do not say this concerning wives that are wise,
  230        But if it be whan they hem mysavyse.
                     Unless it be when they are ill advised.
  231        A wys wyf, if that she kan hir good,
                     A wise wife, if she knows what is good for her,
  232        Shal beren hym on honde the cow is wood,
                     Shall deceive him by swearing the bird is crazy,
  233        And take witnesse of hir owene mayde,
                     And prove it by taking witness of her own maid
  234        Of hir assent. But herkneth how I sayde:
                     Who is in league with her. But listen how I spoke:

  235        `Sire olde kaynard, is this thyn array?
                     `Sir old doddering fool, is this thy doing?
  236        Why is my neighebores wyf so gay?
                     Why is my neighbor's wife so gay?
  237        She is honoured overal ther she gooth;
                     She is honored everywhere she goes;
  238        I sitte at hoom; I have no thrifty clooth.
                     I sit at home; I have no decent clothing.
  239        What dostow at my neighebores hous?
                     What dost thou at my neighbor's house?
  240        Is she so fair? Artow so amorous?
                     Is she so fair? Art thou so amorous?
  241        What rowne ye with oure mayde? Benedicite!
                     What do you whisper with our maid? Bless me!
  242        Sire olde lecchour, lat thy japes be!
                     Sir old lecher, let thy tricks be!
  243        And if I have a gossib or a freend,
                     And if I have a close friend or an acquaintance,
  244        Withouten gilt, thou chidest as a feend,
                     Innocently, thou scold like a fiend,
  245        If that I walke or pleye unto his hous!
                     If I walk or go unto his house to amuse myself!
  246        Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous,
                     Thou comest home as drunk as a mouse,
  247        And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef!
                     And preach on thy bench, bad luck to you!
  248        Thou seist to me it is a greet meschief
                     Thou sayest to me it is a great misfortune
  249        To wedde a povre womman, for costage;
                     To wed a poor woman, because of expense;
  250        And if that she be riche, of heigh parage,
                     And if she be rich, of high birth,
  251        Thanne seistow that it is a tormentrie
                     Then thou sayest that it is a torment
  252        To soffre hire pride and hire malencolie.
                     To put up with her pride and her angry moods.
  253        And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
                     And if she be fair, thou utter knave,
  254        Thou seyst that every holour wol hire have;
                     Thou sayest that every lecher wants to have her;
  255        She may no while in chastitee abyde,
                     She can not remain chaste for any length of time,
  256        That is assailled upon ech a syde.
                     Who is assailed on every side.

  257        Thou seyst som folk desiren us for richesse,
                     Thou sayest some folk desire us for riches,
  258        Somme for oure shap, and somme for oure fairnesse,
                     Some for our shape, and some for our fairness,
  259        And som for she kan outher synge or daunce,
                     And one because she can either sing or dance,
  260        And som for gentillesse and daliaunce;
                     And some because of noble descent and flirtatious talk;
  261        Som for hir handes and hir armes smale;
                     Some because of their hands and their slender arms;
  262        Thus goth al to the devel, by thy tale.
                     Thus goes all to the devil, according to you.
  263        Thou seyst men may nat kepe a castel wal,
                     Thou sayest men may not defend a castle wall,
  264        It may so longe assailled been overal.
                     It may so long be assailed on all sides.

  265        And if that she be foul, thou seist that she
                     And if she be ugly, thou sayest that she
  266        Coveiteth every man that she may se,
                     Covets every man that she may see,
  267        For as a spanyel she wol on hym lepe,
                     For like a spaniel she will on him leap,
  268        Til that she fynde som man hire to chepe.
                     Until she find some man to buy (take) her.
  269        Ne noon so grey goos gooth ther in the lake
                     Nor does any goose go there in the lake, no matter how drab,
  270        As, seistow, wol been withoute make.
                     That, thou sayest, will be without a mate.
  271        And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde
                     And thou sayest it is a hard thing to control
  272        A thyng that no man wole, his thankes, helde.
                     A thing that no man will, willingly, hold.
  273        Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde,
                     Thus sayest thou, scoundrel, when thou goest to bed,
  274        And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde,
                     And that no wise man needs to wed,
  275        Ne no man that entendeth unto hevene.
                     Nor any man that hopes (to go) to heaven.
  276        With wilde thonder-dynt and firy levene
                     With wild thunder-bolt and fiery lightning
  277        Moote thy welked nekke be tobroke!
                     May thy wrinkled neck be broken in pieces!

  278        Thow seyst that droppyng houses, and eek smoke,
                     Thou sayest that leaky houses, and also smoke,
  279        And chidyng wyves maken men to flee
                     And scolding wives make men to flee
  280        Out of hir owene houses; a, benedicitee!
                     Out of their own houses; ah, bless me!
  281        What eyleth swich an old man for to chide?
                     What ails such an old man to chide like that?

  282        Thow seyst we wyves wol oure vices hide
                     Thou sayest we wives will hide our vices
  283        Til we be fast, and thanne we wol hem shewe --
                     Until we be securely tied (in marriage), and then we will them show --
  284        Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!
                     Well may that be a proverb of a scoundrel!

  285        Thou seist that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes,
                     Thou sayest that oxen, asses, horses, and hounds,
  286        They been assayed at diverse stoundes;
                     They are tried out a number of times;
  287        Bacyns, lavours, er that men hem bye,
                     Basins, wash bowls, before men them buy,
  288        Spoones and stooles, and al swich housbondrye,
                     Spoons and stools, and all such household items,
  289        And so been pottes, clothes, and array;
                     And so are pots, clothes, and adornments;
  290        But folk of wyves maken noon assay,
                     But folk of wives make no trial,
  291        Til they be wedded -- olde dotard shrewe! --
                     Until they are wedded -- old doddering scoundrel! --
  292        And thanne, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe.
                     And then, sayest thou, we will show our vices.

  293        Thou seist also that it displeseth me
                     Thou sayest also that it displeases me
  294        But if that thou wolt preyse my beautee,
                     Unless thou will praise my beauty,
  295        And but thou poure alwey upon my face,
                     And unless thou peer always upon my face,
  296        And clepe me "faire dame" in every place.
                     And call me "dear lady" in every place.
  297        And but thou make a feeste on thilke day
                     And unless thou make a feast on that same day
  298        That I was born, and make me fressh and gay;
                     That I was born, and make me happy and gay;
  299        And but thou do to my norice honour,
                     And unless thou do honor to my nurse,
  300        And to my chamberere withinne my bour,
                     And to my chambermaid within my bedchamber,
  301        And to my fadres folk and his allyes --
                     And to my father's folk and his allies --
  302        Thus seistow, olde barel-ful of lyes!
                     Thus sayest thou, old barrelful of lies!

  303        And yet of oure apprentice Janekyn,
                     And yet of our apprentice Janekin,
  304        For his crispe heer, shynynge as gold so fyn,
                     Because of his curly hair, shining like gold so fine,
  305        And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun,
                     And because he familiarly attends me everywhere,
  306        Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun.
                     Yet hast thou caught a false suspicion.
  307        I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed tomorwe!
                     I do not want him, though thou were dead tomorrow!

  308        But tel me this: why hydestow, with sorwe,
                     But tell me this: why hidest thou, bad luck to you,
  309        The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
                     The keys of thy strongbox away from me?
  310        It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee!
                     It is my property as well as thine, by God!
  311        What, wenestow make an ydiot of oure dame?
                     What, think thou to make a fool of the lady of the house?
  312        Now by that lord that called is Seint Jame,
                     Now by that lord that is called Saint James,
  313        Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood,
                     Thou shalt not both, though thou were crazy with anger,
  314        Be maister of my body and of my good;
                     Be master of my body and of my property;
  315        That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yen.
                     One of them thou must give up, despite anything you can do.
  316        What helpith it of me to enquere or spyen?
                     What helps it to inquire about me or spy?
  317        I trowe thou woldest loke me in thy chiste!
                     I believe thou would lock me in thy strongbox!
  318        Thou sholdest seye, "Wyf, go wher thee liste;
                     Thou should say, "Wife, go where you please;
  319        Taak youre disport; I wol nat leve no talys.
                     Enjoy yourself; I will not believe any gossip.
  320        I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alys."
                     I know you for a true wife, dame Alys."
  321        We love no man that taketh kep or charge
                     We love no man who takes notice or concern about
  322        Wher that we goon; we wol ben at oure large.
                     Where we go; we will be free (to do as we wish).

  323        Of alle men yblessed moot he be,
                     Of all men blessed may he be,
  324        The wise astrologien, Daun Ptholome,
                     The wise astrologer, Dan Ptolemy,
  325        That seith this proverbe in his Almageste:
                     Who says this proverb in his Almagest:
  326        "Of alle men his wysdom is the hyeste
                     "Of all men his wisdom is the highest
  327        That rekketh nevere who hath the world in honde."
                     Who never cares who has the world in his control."
  328        By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
                     By this proverb thou shalt understand,
  329        Have thou ynogh, what thar thee recche or care
                     If thou have enough, why should thou take note or care
  330        How myrily that othere folkes fare?
                     How merrily other folks fare?
  331        For, certeyn, olde dotard, by youre leve,
                     For, certainly, old senile fool, by your leave,
  332        Ye shul have queynte right ynogh at eve.
                     You shall have pudendum right enough at eve.
  333        He is to greet a nygard that wolde werne
                     He is too great a miser that would refuse
  334        A man to lighte a candle at his lanterne;
                     A man to light a candle at his lantern;
  335        He shal have never the lasse light, pardee.
                     He shall have never the less light, by God.
  336        Have thou ynogh, thee thar nat pleyne thee.
                     If thou have enough, thou need not complain.

  337        Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay
                     Thou sayest also, that if we make ourselves gay
  338        With clothyng, and with precious array,
                     With clothing, and with precious adornments,
  339        That it is peril of oure chastitee;
                     That it is dangerous to our chastity;
  340        And yet -- with sorwe! -- thou most enforce thee,
                     And yet -- bad luck to thee! -- thou must reinforce thy argument,
  341        And seye thise wordes in the Apostles name:
                     And say these words in the Apostle's name:
  342        "In habit maad with chastitee and shame
                     "In clothing made with chastity and shame
  343        Ye wommen shul apparaille yow," quod he,
                     You women shall apparel yourselves," he said,
  344        "And noght in tressed heer and gay perree,
                     "And not in carefully arranged hair and gay precious stones,
  345        As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche."
                     Such as pearls, nor with gold, nor rich cloth."
  346        After thy text, ne after thy rubriche,
                     In accordance with thy text, nor in accord with thy interpretation,
  347        I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat.
                     I will not do as much as a gnat.

  348        Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat;
                     Thou said this, that I was like a cat;
  349        For whoso wolde senge a cattes skyn,
                     For if anyone would singe a cat's skin,
  350        Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in;
                     Then would the cat well stay in his dwelling;
  351        And if the cattes skyn be slyk and gay,
                     And if the cat's skin be sleek and gay,
  352        She wol nat dwelle in house half a day,
                     She will not stay in house half a day,
  353        But forth she wole, er any day be dawed,
                     But forth she will (go), before any day be dawned,
  354        To shewe hir skyn and goon a-caterwawed.
                     To show her skin and go yowling like a cat in heat.
  355        This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe,
                     This is to say, if I be well dressed, sir scoundrel,
  356        I wol renne out my borel for to shewe.
                     I will run out to show my poor clothes.

  357        Sire olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen?
                     Sir old fool, what help is it for thee to spy?
  358        Thogh thou preye Argus with his hundred yen
                     Though thou pray Argus with his hundred eyes
  359        To be my warde-cors, as he kan best,
                     To be my bodyguard, as he best knows how,
  360        In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest;
                     In faith, he shall not keep me but as I please;
  361        Yet koude I make his berd, so moot I thee!
                     Yet could I deceive him, as I may prosper!

  362        Thou seydest eek that ther been thynges thre,
                     Thou said also that there are three things,
  363        The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe,
                     The which things trouble all this earth,
  364        And that no wight may endure the ferthe.
                     And that no one can endure the fourth.
  365        O leeve sire shrewe, Jhesu shorte thy lyf!
                     O dear sir scoundrel, Jesus shorten thy life!
  366        Yet prechestow and seyst an hateful wyf
                     Yet thou preachest and sayest a hateful wife
  367        Yrekened is for oon of thise meschances.
                     Is reckoned as one of these misfortunes.
  368        Been ther none othere maner resemblances
                     Are there no other sorts of comparisons
  369        That ye may likne youre parables to,
                     That you can use in your sayings,
  370        But if a sely wyf be oon of tho?
                     Without a poor wife's being one of them?

  371        Thou liknest eek wommenes love to helle,
                     Thou also compare women's love to hell,
  372        To bareyne lond, ther water may nat dwelle.
                     To barren land, where water may not remain.
  373        Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr;
                     Thou compare it also to Greek (inextinguishable) fire;
  374        The moore it brenneth, the moore it hath desir
                     The more it burns, the more it has desire
  375        To consume every thyng that brent wole be.
                     To consume every thing that will be burned.
  376        Thou seyest, right as wormes shende a tree,
                     Thou sayest, just as worms destroy a tree,
  377        Right so a wyf destroyeth hire housbonde;
                     Right so a wife destroys her husband;
  378        This knowe they that been to wyves bonde.'
                     This know they who are bound to wives.'

  379        Lordynges, right thus, as ye have understonde,
                     Gentlemen, right thus, as you have heard,
  380        Baar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde
                     I firmly swore to my old husbands
  381        That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
                     That thus they said in their drunkenness;
  382        And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
                     And all was false, but I took witness
  383        On Janekyn, and on my nece also.
                     On Janekin, and on my niece also.
  384        O Lord! The peyne I dide hem and the wo,
                     O Lord! The pain I did them and the woe,
  385        Ful giltelees, by Goddes sweete pyne!
                     Entirely guiltless (they were), by God's sweet pain!
  386        For as an hors I koude byte and whyne.
                     For like a horse I could bite and whinny.
  387        I koude pleyne, and yit was in the gilt,
                     I could complain, and yet was in the wrong,
  388        Or elles often tyme hadde I been spilt.
                     Or else many times had I been ruined.
  389        Whoso that first to mille comth, first grynt;
                     Whoever first comes to the mill, first grinds;
  390        I pleyned first, so was oure werre ystynt.
                     I complained first, so was our war ended.
  391        They were ful glade to excuse hem blyve
                     They were very glad to excuse themselves quickly
  392        Of thyng of which they nevere agilte hir lyve.
                     Of things of which they were never guilty in their lives.
  393        Of wenches wolde I beren hem on honde,
                     Of wenches would I falsely accuse them,
  394        Whan that for syk unnethes myghte they stonde.
                     When for sickness they could hardly stand.

  395        Yet tikled I his herte, for that he
                     Yet I tickled his heart, for he
  396        Wende that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee!
                     Believed that I had of him so great affection!
  397        I swoor that al my walkynge out by nyghte
                     I swore that all my walking out by night
  398        Was for t' espye wenches that he dighte;
                     Was to spy out wenches with whom he had intercourse;
  399        Under that colour hadde I many a myrthe.
                     Under that pretense I had many a mirth.
  400        For al swich wit is yeven us in oure byrthe;
                     For all such wit is given us in our birth;
  401        Deceite, wepyng, spynnyng God hath yive
                     Deceit, weeping, spinning God has given
  402        To wommen kyndely, whil that they may lyve.
                     To women naturally, while they may live.
  403        And thus of o thyng I avaunte me:
                     And thus of one thing I boast:
  404        Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree,
                     At the end I had the better in every way,
  405        By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thyng,
                     By trickery, or force, or by some such thing,
  406        As by continueel murmur or grucchyng.
                     As by continual grumbling or grouching.
  407        Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce:
                     Especially in bed they had misfortune:
  408        Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce;
                     There would I scold and do them no pleasure;
  409        I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde,
                     I would no longer in the bed abide,
  410        If that I felte his arm over my syde,
                     If I felt his arm over my side,
  411        Til he had maad his raunson unto me;
                     Until he had paid his penalty to me;
  412        Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee.
                     Then would I allow him to do his foolishness.
  413        And therfore every man this tale I telle,
                     And therefore this tale I tell to every man,
  414        Wynne whoso may, for al is for to selle;
                     Anyone can profit, for everything is for sale;
  415        With empty hand men may none haukes lure.
                     One can lure no hawks with an empty hand.
  416        For wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure,
                     For profit I would endure all his lust,
  417        And make me a feyned appetit;
                     And make me a feigned appetite;
  418        And yet in bacon hadde I nevere delit.
                     And yet in bacon (old meat) I never had delight.
  419        That made me that evere I wolde hem chide,
                     That made me so that I would always scold them,
  420        For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside,
                     For though the pope had sat beside them,
  421        I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord,
                     I would not spare them at their own table,
  422        For, by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word.
                     For, by my troth, I paid them back word for word.
  423        As helpe me verray God omnipotent,
                     As help me true God omnipotent,
  424        Though I right now sholde make my testament,
                     Though I right now should make my will,
  425        I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quit.
                     I owe them not one word that has not been avenged.
  426        I broghte it so aboute by my wit
                     I brought it so about by my wit
  427        That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste,
                     That they had to give it up, as the best they could do,
  428        Or elles hadde we nevere been in reste;
                     Or else had we never been at peace;
  429        For thogh he looked as a wood leon,
                     For though he looked like a furious lion,
  430        Yet sholde he faille of his conclusion.
                     Yet should he fail to attain his goal.

  431        Thanne wolde I seye, `Goode lief, taak keep
                     Then I would say, `Sweetheart, see
  432        How mekely looketh Wilkyn, oure sheep!
                     How meekly looks Willy, our sheep!
  433        Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke!
                     Come near, my spouse, let me kiss thy cheek!
  434        Ye sholde been al pacient and meke,
                     You should be all patient and meek,
  435        And han a sweete spiced conscience,
                     And have a sweet tender disposition,
  436        Sith ye so preche of Jobes pacience.
                     Since you so preach of Job's patience.
  437        Suffreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche;
                     Suffer always, since you so well can preach;
  438        And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche
                     And unless you do, certainly we shall teach you
  439        That it is fair to have a wyf in pees.
                     That it is fair to have a wife in peace.
  440        Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees,
                     One of us two must bow, doubtless,
  441        And sith a man is moore resonable
                     And since a man is more reasonable
  442        Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable.
                     Than a woman is, you must be able to bear suffering.
  443        What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone?
                     What ails you to grouch thus and groan?
  444        Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone?
                     Is it because you want to have my pudendum all to yourself?
  445        Wy, taak it al! Lo, have it every deel!
                     Why, take it all! Lo, have it every bit!
  446        Peter! I shrewe yow, but ye love it weel;
                     By Saint Peter! I would curse you, if you did not love it well;
  447        For if I wolde selle my bele chose,
                     For if I would sell my `pretty thing,'
  448        I koude walke as fressh as is a rose;
                     I could walk as fresh (newly clothed) as is a rose;
  449        But I wol kepe it for youre owene tooth.
                     But I will keep it for your own pleasure.
  450        Ye be to blame, by God! I sey yow sooth.'
                     You are to blame, by God! I tell you the truth.'

  451        Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde.
                     Such sorts of words we had in hand.
  452        Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.
                     Now will I speak of my fourth husband.

  453        My fourthe housbonde was a revelour --
                     My fourth husband was a reveller --
  454        This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour --
                     This is to say, he had a mistress --
  455        And I was yong and ful of ragerye,
                     And I was young and full of playfulness,
  456        Stibourn and strong, and joly as a pye.
                     Stubborn and strong, and jolly as a magpie.
  457        How koude I daunce to an harpe smale,
                     How well I could dance to a small harp,
  458        And synge, ywis, as any nyghtyngale,
                     And sing, indeed, like any nightingale,
  459        Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn!
                     When I had drunk a draft of sweet wine!
  460        Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn,
                     Metellius, the foul churl, the swine,
  461        That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf,
                     Who with a staff deprived his wife of her life,
  462        For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf,
                     Because she drank wine, if I had been his wife,
  463        He sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke!
                     He should not have frightened me away from drink!
  464        And after wyn on Venus moste I thynke,
                     And after wine on Venus must I think,
  465        For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl,
                     For as surely as cold engenders hail,
  466        A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
                     A gluttonous mouth must have a lecherous tail.
  467        In wommen vinolent is no defence --
                     In drunken women there is no defense --
  468        This knowen lecchours by experience.
                     This lechers know by experience.

  469        But -- Lord Crist! -- whan that it remembreth me
                     But -- Lord Christ! -- when I remember
  470        Upon my yowthe, and on my jolitee,
                     My youth, and my gaiety,
  471        It tikleth me aboute myn herte roote.
                     It tickles me to the bottom of my heart.
  472        Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote
                     Unto this day it does my heart good
  473        That I have had my world as in my tyme.
                     That I have had my world in my time.
  474        But age, allas, that al wole envenyme,
                     But age, alas, that all will poison,
  475        Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith.
                     Has deprived me of my beauty and my vigor.
  476        Lat go. Farewel! The devel go therwith!
                     Let it go. Farewell! The devil go with it!
  477        The flour is goon; ther is namoore to telle;
                     The flour is gone; there is no more to tell;
  478        The bren, as I best kan, now moste I selle;
                     The bran, as I best can, now I must sell;
  479        But yet to be right myrie wol I fonde.
                     But yet I will try to be right merry.
  480        Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde.
                     Now will I tell of my fourth husband.

  481        I seye, I hadde in herte greet despit
                     I say, I had in heart great anger
  482        That he of any oother had delit.
                     That he had delight in any other.
  483        But he was quit, by God and by Seint Joce!
                     But he was paid back, by God and by Saint Joce!
  484        I made hym of the same wode a croce;
                     I made him a cross of the same wood;
  485        Nat of my body, in no foul manere,
                     Not of my body, in no foul manner,
  486        But certeinly, I made folk swich cheere
                     But certainly, I treated folk in such a way
  487        That in his owene grece I made hym frye
                     That I made him fry in his own grease
  488        For angre, and for verray jalousye.
                     For anger, and for pure jealousy.
  489        By God, in erthe I was his purgatorie,
                     By God, in earth I was his purgatory,
  490        For which I hope his soule be in glorie.
                     For which I hope his soul may be in glory.
  491        For, God it woot, he sat ful ofte and song,
                     For, God knows it, he sat very often and cried out in pain,
  492        Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong.
                     When his shoe very bitterly pinched him.
  493        Ther was no wight, save God and he, that wiste,
                     There was no person who knew it, save God and he,
  494        In many wise, how soore I hym twiste.
                     In many a way, how painfully I tortured him.
  495        He deyde whan I cam fro Jerusalem,
                     He died when I came from Jerusalem,
  496        And lith ygrave under the roode beem,
                     And lies buried under the rood beam,
  497        Al is his tombe noght so curyus
                     Although his tomb is not so elaborate
  498        As was the sepulcre of hym Daryus,
                     As was the sepulcher of that Darius,
  499        Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly;
                     Which Appelles wrought skillfully;
  500        It nys but wast to burye hym preciously.
                     It is nothing but waste to bury him expensively.
  501        Lat hym fare wel; God yeve his soule reste!
                     Let him fare well; God give his soul rest!
  502        He is now in his grave and in his cheste.
                     He is now in his grave and in his casket.

  503        Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle.
                     Now of my fifth husband I will tell.
  504        God lete his soule nevere come in helle!
                     God let his soul never come in hell!
  505        And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe;
                     And yet he was to me the greatest scoundrel;
  506        That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe,
                     That feel I on my ribs one after another,
  507        And evere shal unto myn endyng day.
                     And ever shall unto my final day.
  508        But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay,
                     But in our bed he was so lively and gay,
  509        And therwithal so wel koude he me glose,
                     And moreover he so well could deceive me,
  510        Whan that he wolde han my bele chose;
                     When he would have my `pretty thing';
  511        That thogh he hadde me bete on every bon,
                     That though he had beat me on every bone,
  512        He koude wynne agayn my love anon.
                     He could win back my love straightway.
  513        I trowe I loved hym best, for that he
                     I believe I loved him best, because he
  514        Was of his love daungerous to me.
                     Was of his love standoffish to me.
  515        We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye,
                     We women have, if I shall not lie,
  516        In this matere a queynte fantasye:
                     In this matter a curious fantasy:
  517        Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly have,
                     Note that whatever thing we may not easily have,
  518        Therafter wol we crie al day and crave.
                     We will cry all day and crave for it.
  519        Forbede us thyng, and that desiren we;
                     Forbid us a thing, and we desire it;
  520        Preesse on us faste, and thanne wol we fle.
                     Press on us fast, and then will we flee.
  521        With daunger oute we al oure chaffare;
                     With niggardliness we spread out all our merchandise;
  522        Greet prees at market maketh deere ware,
                     A great crowd at the market makes wares expensive,
  523        And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys:
                     And too great a supply makes them of little value:
  524        This knoweth every womman that is wys.
                     Every woman that is wise knows this.

  525        My fifthe housbonde -- God his soule blesse! --
                     My fifth husband -- God bless his soul! --
  526        Which that I took for love, and no richesse,
                     Whom I took for love, and no riches,
  527        He som tyme was a clerk of Oxenford,
                     He was formerly a clerk of Oxford,
  528        And hadde left scole, and wente at hom to bord
                     And had left school, and came home to board
  529        With my gossib, dwellynge in oure toun;
                     With my close friend, dwelling in our town;
  530        God have hir soule! Hir name was Alisoun.
                     God have her soul! Her name was Alisoun.
  531        She knew myn herte, and eek my privetee,
                     She knew my heart, and also my secrets,
  532        Bet than oure parisshe preest, so moot I thee!
                     Better than our parish priest, as I may prosper!
  533        To hire biwreyed I my conseil al.
                     To her I revealed all my secrets.
  534        For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal,
                     For had my husband pissed on a wall,
  535        Or doon a thyng that sholde han cost his lyf,
                     Or done a thing that should have cost his life,
  536        To hire, and to another worthy wyf,
                     To her, and to another worthy wife,
  537        And to my nece, which that I loved weel,
                     And to my niece, whom I loved well,
  538        I wolde han toold his conseil every deel.
                     I would have told every one of his secrets.
  539        And so I dide ful often, God it woot,
                     And so I did very often, God knows it,
  540        That made his face often reed and hoot
                     That made his face often red and hot
  541        For verray shame, and blamed hymself for he
                     For true shame, and blamed himself because he
  542        Had toold to me so greet a pryvetee.
                     Had told to me so great a secret.

  543        And so bifel that ones in a Lente --
                     And so it happened that once in a Springtime --
  544        So often tymes I to my gossyb wente,
                     Since frequently I went to visit my close friend,
  545        For evere yet I loved to be gay,
                     For I always loved to be gay,
  546        And for to walke in March, Averill, and May,
                     And to walk in March, April, and May,
  547        Fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys --
                     From house to house, to hear various bits of gossip --
  548        That Jankyn clerk, and my gossyb dame Alys,
                     That Jankin the clerk, and my close friend dame Alys,
  549        And I myself, into the feeldes wente.
                     And I myself, into the fields went.
  550        Myn housbonde was at Londoun al that Lente;
                     My husband was at London all that Spring;
  551        I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye,
                     I had the better opportunity to amuse myself,
  552        And for to se, and eek for to be seye
                     And to see, and also to be seen
  553        Of lusty folk. What wiste I wher my grace
                     By amorous folk. What did I know about where my good fortune
  554        Was shapen for to be, or in what place?
                     Was destined to be, or in what place?
  555        Therfore I made my visitaciouns
                     Therefore I made my visitations
  556        To vigilies and to processiouns,
                     To religious feasts and to processions,
  557        To prechyng eek, and to thise pilgrimages,
                     To preaching also, and to these pilgrimages,
  558        To pleyes of myracles, and to mariages,
                     To plays about miracles, and to marriages,
  559        And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes.
                     And wore my gay scarlet robes.
  560        Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes,
                     These worms, nor these moths, nor these mites,
  561        Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel;
                     Upon my peril (I swear), chewed on them never a bit;
  562        And wostow why? For they were used weel.
                     And know thou why? Because they were well used.

  563        Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
                     Now will I tell forth what happened to me.
  564        I seye that in the feeldes walked we,
                     I say that in the fields we walked,
  565        Til trewely we hadde swich daliance,
                     Until truly we had such flirtation,
  566        This clerk and I, that of my purveiance
                     This clerk and I, that for my provision for the future
  567        I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he,
                     I spoke to him and said to him how he,
  568        If I were wydwe, sholde wedde me.
                     If I were a widow, should wed me.
  569        For certeinly -- I sey for no bobance --
                     For certainly -- I say this for no boast --
  570        Yet was I nevere withouten purveiance
                     I was never yet without providing beforehand
  571        Of mariage, n' of othere thynges eek.
                     For marriage, nor for other things also.
  572        I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek
                     I hold a mouse's heart not worth a leek
  573        That hath but oon hole for to sterte to,
                     That has but one hole to flee to,
  574        And if that faille, thanne is al ydo.
                     If that should fail, then all is lost.

  575        I bar hym on honde he hadde enchanted me --
                     I falsely swore that he had enchanted me --
  576        My dame taughte me that soutiltee --
                     My mother taught me that trick --
  577        And eek I seyde I mette of hym al nyght,
                     And also I said I dreamed of him all night,
  578        He wolde han slayn me as I lay upright,
                     He would have slain me as I lay on my back,
  579        And al my bed was ful of verray blood;
                     And all my bed was full of real blood;
  580        `But yet I hope that ye shal do me good,
                     `But yet I hope that you shall do me good,
  581        For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught.'
                     For blood symbolizes gold, as I was taught.'
  582        And al was fals; I dremed of it right naught,
                     And all was false; I dreamed of it not at all,
  583        But as I folwed ay my dames loore,
                     But I followed always my mother's teaching,
  584        As wel of this as of othere thynges moore.
                     As well in this as in other things more.

  585        But now, sire, lat me se what I shal seyn.
                     But now, sir, let me see what I shall say.
  586        A ha! By God, I have my tale ageyn.
                     A ha! By God, I have my tale again.

  587        Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere,
                     When my fourth husband was on the funeral bier,
  588        I weep algate, and made sory cheere,
                     I wept continuously, and acted sorry,
  589        As wyves mooten, for it is usage,
                     As wives must do, for it is the custom,
  590        And with my coverchief covered my visage,
                     And with my kerchief covered my face,
  591        But for that I was purveyed of a make,
                     But because I was provided with a mate,
  592        I wepte but smal, and that I undertake.
                     I wept but little, and that I affirm.

  593        To chirche was myn housbonde born a-morwe
                     To church was my husband carried in the morning
  594        With neighebores, that for hym maden sorwe;
                     By neighbors, who for him made sorrow;
  595        And Jankyn, oure clerk, was oon of tho.
                     And Jankin, our clerk, was one of those.
  596        As help me God, whan that I saugh hym go
                     As help me God, when I saw him go
  597        After the beere, me thoughte he hadde a paire
                     After the bier, I thought he had a pair
  598        Of legges and of feet so clene and faire
                     Of legs and of feet so neat and fair
  599        That al myn herte I yaf unto his hoold.
                     That all my heart I gave unto his keeping.
  600        He was, I trowe, twenty wynter oold,
                     He was, I believe, twenty years old,
  601        And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth;
                     And I was forty, if I shall tell the truth;
  602        But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.
                     But yet I had always a colt's tooth.
  603        Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel;
                     With teeth set wide apart I was, and that became me well;
  604        I hadde the prente of seinte Venus seel.
                     I had the print of Saint Venus's seal.
  605        As help me God, I was a lusty oon,
                     As help me God, I was a lusty one,
  606        And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon,
                     And fair, and rich, and young, and well fixed,
  607        And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me,
                     And truly, as my husbands told me,
  608        I hadde the beste quoniam myghte be.
                     I had the best pudendum that might be.
  609        For certes, I am al Venerien
                     For certainly, I am all influenced by Venus
  610        In feelynge, and myn herte is Marcien.
                     In feeling, and my heart is influenced by Mars.
  611        Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse,
                     Venus me gave my lust, my amorousness,
  612        And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse;
                     And Mars gave me my sturdy boldness;
  613        Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars therinne.
                     My ascendant was Taurus, and Mars was therein.
  614        Allas, allas! That evere love was synne!
                     Alas, alas! That ever love was sin!
  615        I folwed ay myn inclinacioun
                     I followed always my inclination
  616        By vertu of my constellacioun;
                     By virtue of the state of the heavens at my birth;
  617        That made me I koude noght withdrawe
                     That made me that I could not withdraw
  618        My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.
                     My chamber of Venus from a good fellow.
  619        Yet have I Martes mark upon my face,
                     Yet have I Mars' mark upon my face,
  620        And also in another privee place.
                     And also in another private place.
  621        For God so wys be my savacioun,
                     For as God may be my salvation,
  622        I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun,
                     I never loved in moderation,
  623        But evere folwede myn appetit,
                     But always followed my appetite,
  624        Al were he short, or long, or blak, or whit;
                     Whether he were short, or tall, or black-haired, or blond;
  625        I took no kep, so that he liked me,
                     I took no notice, provided that he pleased me,
  626        How poore he was, ne eek of what degree.
                     How poor he was, nor also of what rank.

  627        What sholde I seye but, at the monthes ende,
                     What should I say but, at the month's end,
  628        This joly clerk, Jankyn, that was so hende,
                     This jolly clerk, Jankin, that was so courteous,
  629        Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee,
                     Has wedded me with great solemnity,
  630        And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee
                     And to him I gave all the land and property
  631        That evere was me yeven therbifoore.
                     That ever was given to me before then.
  632        But afterward repented me ful soore;
                     But afterward I repented very bitterly;
  633        He nolde suffre nothyng of my list.
                     He would not allow me anything of my desires.
  634        By God, he smoot me ones on the lyst,
                     By God, he hit me once on the ear,
  635        For that I rente out of his book a leef,
                     Because I tore a leaf out of his book,
  636        That of the strook myn ere wax al deef.
                     So that of the stroke my ear became all deaf.
  637        Stibourn I was as is a leonesse,
                     I was as stubborn as is a lioness,
  638        And of my tonge a verray jangleresse,
                     And of my tongue a true chatterbox,
  639        And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,
                     And I would walk, as I had done before,
  640        From hous to hous, although he had it sworn;
                     From house to house, although he had sworn the contrary;
  641        For which he often tymes wolde preche,
                     For which he often times would preach,
  642        And me of olde Romayn geestes teche;
                     And teach me of old Roman stories;
  643        How he Symplicius Gallus lefte his wyf,
                     How he, Simplicius Gallus, left his wife,
  644        And hire forsook for terme of al his lyf,
                     And forsook her for rest of all his life,
  645        Noght but for open-heveded he hir say
                     Because of nothing but because he saw her bare-headed
  646        Lookynge out at his dore upon a day.
                     Looking out at his door one day.

  647        Another Romayn tolde he me by name,
                     Another Roman he told me by name,
  648        That, for his wyf was at a someres game
                     Who, because his wife was at a midsummer revel
  649        Withouten his wityng, he forsook hire eke.
                     Without his knowledge, he forsook her also.
  650        And thanne wolde he upon his Bible seke
                     And then he would seek in his Bible
  651        That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste
                     That same proverb of Ecclesiasticus
  652        Where he comandeth and forbedeth faste
                     Where he commands and strictly forbids that
  653        Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute.
                     Man should suffer his wife go wander about.
  654        Thanne wolde he seye right thus, withouten doute:
                     Then would he say right thus, without doubt:

  655        `Whoso that buyldeth his hous al of salwes,
                     `Whoever builds his house all of willow twigs,
  656        And priketh his blynde hors over the falwes,
                     And spurs his blind horse over the open fields,
  657        And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes,
                     And suffers his wife to go on pilgrimages,
  658        Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes!'
                     Is worthy to be hanged on the gallows!'
  659        But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe
                     But all for nothing, I gave not a hawthorn berry
  660        Of his proverbes n' of his olde sawe,
                     For his proverbs nor for his old sayings,
  661        Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be.
                     Nor would I be corrected by him.
  662        I hate hym that my vices telleth me,
                     I hate him who tells me my vices,
  663        And so doo mo, God woot, of us than I.
                     And so do more of us, God knows, than I.
  664        This made hym with me wood al outrely;
                     This made him all utterly furious with me;
  665        I nolde noght forbere hym in no cas.
                     I would not put up with him in any way.

  666        Now wol I seye yow sooth, by Seint Thomas,
                     Now will I tell you the truth, by Saint Thomas,
  667        Why that I rente out of his book a leef,
                     Why I tore a leaf out of his book,
  668        For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
                     For which he hit me so hard that I was deaf.

  669        He hadde a book that gladly, nyght and day,
                     He had a book that regularly, night and day,
  670        For his desport he wolde rede alway;
                     For his amusement he would always read;
  671        He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste,
                     He called it Valerie and Theofrastus,
  672        At which book he lough alwey ful faste.
                     At which book he always heartily laughed.
  673        And eek ther was somtyme a clerk at Rome,
                     And also there was once a clerk at Rome,
  674        A cardinal, that highte Seint Jerome,
                     A cardinal, who is called Saint Jerome,
  675        That made a book agayn Jovinian;
                     That made a book against Jovinian;
  676        In which book eek ther was Tertulan,
                     In which book also there was Tertullian,
  677        Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys,
                     Crisippus, Trotula, and Heloise,
  678        That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys,
                     Who was abbess not far from Paris,
  679        And eek the Parables of Salomon,
                     And also the Parables of Salomon,
  680        Ovides Art, and bookes many on,
                     Ovid's Art, and many other books,
  681        And alle thise were bounden in o volume.
                     And all these were bound in one volume.
  682        And every nyght and day was his custume,
                     And every night and day was his custom,
  683        Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun
                     When he had leisure and spare time
  684        From oother worldly occupacioun,
                     From other worldly occupations,
  685        To reden on this book of wikked wyves.
                     To read in this book of wicked wives.
  686        He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves
                     He knew of them more legends and lives
  687        Than been of goode wyves in the Bible.
                     Than are of good women in the Bible.
  688        For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
                     For trust well, it is an impossibility
  689        That any clerk wol speke good of wyves,
                     That any clerk will speak good of women,
  690        But if it be of hooly seintes lyves,
                     Unless it be of holy saints' lives,
  691        Ne of noon oother womman never the mo.
                     Nor of any other woman in any way.
  692        Who peyntede the leon, tel me who?
                     Who painted the lion, tell me who?
  693        By God, if wommen hadde writen stories,
                     By God, if women had written stories,
  694        As clerkes han withinne hire oratories,
                     As clerks have within their studies,
  695        They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse
                     They would have written of men more wickedness
  696        Than al the mark of Adam may redresse.
                     Than all the male sex could set right.
  697        The children of Mercurie and of Venus
                     The children of Mercury (clerks) and of Venus (lovers)
  698        Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius;
                     Are directly contrary in their actions;
  699        Mercurie loveth wysdam and science,
                     Mercury loves wisdom and knowledge,
  700        And Venus loveth ryot and dispence.
                     And Venus loves riot and extravagant expenditures.
  701        And, for hire diverse disposicioun,
                     And, because of their diverse dispositions,
  702        Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun.
                     Each falls in the other's most powerful astronomical sign.
  703        And thus, God woot, Mercurie is desolat
                     And thus, God knows, Mercury is powerless
  704        In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat,
                     In Pisces (the Fish), where Venus is exalted,
  705        And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed.
                     And Venus falls where Mercury is raised.
  706        Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
                     Therefore no woman is praised by any clerk.
  707        The clerk, whan he is oold, and may noght do
                     The clerk, when he is old, and can not do
  708        Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho,
                     Any of Venus's works worth his old shoe,
  709        Thanne sit he doun, and writ in his dotage
                     Then he sits down, and writes in his dotage
  710        That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage!
                     That women can not keep their marriage!

  711        But now to purpos, why I tolde thee
                     But now to the point, why I told thee
  712        That I was beten for a book, pardee!
                     That I was beaten for a book, by God!
  713        Upon a nyght Jankyn, that was oure sire,
                     Upon a night Jankin, that was master of our house,
  714        Redde on his book, as he sat by the fire,
                     Read on his book, as he sat by the fire,
  715        Of Eva first, that for hir wikkednesse
                     Of Eve first, how for her wickedness
  716        Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse,
                     All mankind was brought to wretchedness,
  717        For which that Jhesu Crist hymself was slayn,
                     For which Jesus Christ himself was slain,
  718        That boghte us with his herte blood agayn.
                     Who bought us back with his heart's blood.
  719        Lo, heere expres of womman may ye fynde
                     Lo, here clearly of woman you may find
  720        That womman was the los of al mankynde.
                     That woman was the cause of the loss of all mankind.

  721        Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres:
                     Then he read me how Sampson lost his hair:
  722        Slepynge, his lemman kitte it with hir sheres;
                     Sleeping, his lover cut it with her shears;
  723        Thurgh which treson loste he bothe his yen.
                     Through which treason he lost both his eyes.
  724        Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
                     Then he read to me, if I shall not lie,
  725        Of Hercules and of his Dianyre,
                     Of Hercules and of his Dianyre,
  726        That caused hym to sette hymself afyre.
                     Who caused him to set himself on fire.

  727        No thyng forgat he the care and the wo
                     He forgot not a bit of the care and the woe
  728        That Socrates hadde with his wyves two,
                     That Socrates had with his two wives,
  729        How Xantippa caste pisse upon his heed.
                     How Xantippa caste piss upon his head.
  730        This sely man sat stille as he were deed;
                     This poor man sat still as if he were dead;
  731        He wiped his heed, namoore dorste he seyn,
                     He wiped his head, no more dared he say,
  732        But `Er that thonder stynte, comth a reyn!'
                     But `Before thunder stops, there comes a rain!'

  733        Of Phasipha, that was the queene of Crete,
                     Of Phasipha, that was the queen of Crete,
  734        For shrewednesse, hym thoughte the tale swete;
                     For sheer malignancy, he thought the tale sweet;
  735        Fy! Spek namoore -- it is a grisly thyng --
                     Fie! Speak no more -- it is a grisly thing --
  736        Of hire horrible lust and hir likyng.
                     Of her horrible lust and her pleasure.

  737        Of Clitermystra, for hire lecherye,
                     Of Clitermystra, for her lechery,
  738        That falsly made hire housbonde for to dye,
                     That falsely made her husband to die,
  739        He redde it with ful good devocioun.
                     He read it with very good devotion.

  740        He tolde me eek for what occasioun
                     He told me also for what occasion
  741        Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf.
                     Amphiorax at Thebes lost his life.
  742        Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf,
                     My husband had a legend of his wife,
  743        Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold
                     Eriphilem, that for a brooch of gold
  744        Hath prively unto the Grekes told
                     Has secretly unto the Greeks told
  745        Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place,
                     Where her husband hid him in a place,
  746        For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.
                     For which he had at Thebes a sad fate.

  747        Of Lyvia tolde he me, and of Lucye:
                     Of Livia told he me, and of Lucie:
  748        They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye,
                     They both made their husbands to die,
  749        That oon for love, that oother was for hate.
                     That one for love, that other was for hate.
  750        Lyvia hir housbonde, on an even late,
                     Livia her husband, on a late evening,
  751        Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo;
                     Has poisoned, because she was his foe;
  752        Lucia, likerous, loved hire housbonde so
                     Lucia, lecherous, loved her husband so much
  753        That, for he sholde alwey upon hire thynke,
                     That, so that he should always think upon her,
  754        She yaf hym swich a manere love-drynke
                     She gave him such a sort of love-drink
  755        That he was deed er it were by the morwe;
                     That he was dead before it was morning;
  756        And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.
                     And thus always husbands have sorrow.

  757        Thanne tolde he me how oon Latumyus
                     Then he told me how one Latumius
  758        Compleyned unto his felawe Arrius
                     Complained unto his fellow Arrius
  759        That in his gardyn growed swich a tree
                     That in his garden grew such a tree
  760        On which he seyde how that his wyves thre
                     On which he said how his three wives
  761        Hanged hemself for herte despitus.
                     Hanged themselves for the malice of their hearts
  762        `O leeve brother,' quod this Arrius,
                     `O dear brother,' this Arrius said,
  763        `Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree,
                     `Give me a shoot of that same blessed tree,
  764        And in my gardyn planted shal it bee.'
                     And in my garden shall it be planted.'

  765        Of latter date, of wyves hath he red
                     Of latter date, of wives has he read
  766        That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed,
                     That some have slain their husbands in their bed,
  767        And lete hir lecchour dighte hire al the nyght,
                     And let her lecher copulate with her all the night,
  768        Whan that the corps lay in the floor upright.
                     When the corpse lay in the floor flat on its back.
  769        And somme han dryve nayles in hir brayn,
                     And some have driven nails in their brains,
  770        Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slayn.
                     While they slept, and thus they had them slain.
  771        Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hire drynke.
                     Some have given them poison in their drink.
  772        He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke,
                     He spoke more harm than heart may imagine,
  773        And therwithal he knew of mo proverbes
                     And concerning this he knew of more proverbs
  774        Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
                     Than in this world there grow grass or herbs.
  775        `Bet is,' quod he, `thyn habitacioun
                     `Better is,' he said, `thy habitation
  776        Be with a leon or a foul dragoun,
                     Be with a lion or a foul dragon,
  777        Than with a womman usynge for to chyde.
                     Than with a woman accustomed to scold.
  778        Bet is,' quod he, `hye in the roof abyde,
                     Better is,' he said, `to stay high in the roof,
  779        Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous;
                     Than with an angry wife down in the house;
  780        They been so wikked and contrarious,
                     They are so wicked and contrary,
  781        They haten that hir housbondes loven ay.'
                     They always hate what their husbands love.'
  782        He seyde, `A womman cast hir shame away,
                     He said, `A woman casts their shame away,
  783        Whan she cast of hir smok'; and forthermo,
                     When she casts off her undergarment'; and furthermore,
  784        `A fair womman, but she be chaast also,
                     `A fair woman, unless she is also chaste,
  785        Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose.'
                     Is like a gold ring in a sow's nose.'
  786        Who wolde wene, or who wolde suppose,
                     Who would believe, or who would suppose,
  787        The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?
                     The woe that in my heart was, and pain?

  788        And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne
                     And when I saw he would never cease
  789        To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
                     Reading on this cursed book all night,
  790        Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght
                     All suddenly have I plucked three leaves
  791        Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke
                     Out of his book, right as he read, and also
  792        I with my fest so took hym on the cheke
                     I with my fist so hit him on the cheek
  793        That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun.
                     That in our fire he fell down backwards.
  794        And he up stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
                     And he leaped up as does a furious lion,
  795        And with his fest he smoot me on the heed
                     And with his fist he hit me on the head
  796        That in the floor I lay as I were deed.
                     That on the floor I lay as if I were dead.
  797        And whan he saugh how stille that I lay,
                     And when he saw how still I lay,
  798        He was agast and wolde han fled his way,
                     He was frightened and would have fled on his way,
  799        Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde.
                     Until at the last out of my swoon I awoke.
  800        `O! hastow slayn me, false theef?' I seyde,
                     `O! hast thou slain me, false thief?' I said,
  801        `And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
                     `And for my land thus hast thou murdered me?
  802        Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.'
                     Before I am dead, yet will I kiss thee.'

  803        And neer he cam, and kneled faire adoun,
                     And near he came, and kneeled gently down,
  804        And seyde, `Deere suster Alisoun,
                     And said, `Dear sister Alisoun,
  805        As help me God, I shal thee nevere smyte!
                     So help me God, I shall never (again) smite thee!
  806        That I have doon, it is thyself to wyte.
                     What I have done, it is thyself to blame (you drove me to it).
  807        Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke!'
                     Forgive it me, and that I beseech thee!'
  808        And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke,
                     And yet immediately I hit him on the cheek,
  809        And seyde, `Theef, thus muchel am I wreke;
                     And said, `Thief, thus much am I avenged;
  810        Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.'
                     Now will I die, I may no longer speak.'
  811        But atte laste, with muchel care and wo,
                     But at the last, with much care and woe,
  812        We fille acorded by us selven two.
                     We made an agreement between our two selves.
  813        He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond,
                     He gave me all the control in my hand,
  814        To han the governance of hous and lond,
                     To have the governance of house and land,
  815        And of his tonge, and of his hond also;
                     And of his tongue, and of his hand also;
  816        And made hym brenne his book anon right tho.
                     And made him burn his book immediately right then.
  817        And whan that I hadde geten unto me,
                     And when I had gotten unto me,
  818        By maistrie, al the soveraynetee,
                     By mastery, all the sovereignty,
  819        And that he seyde, `Myn owene trewe wyf,
                     And that he said, `My own true wife,
  820        Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf;
                     Do as you please the rest of all thy life;
  821        Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat' --
                     Guard thy honor, and guard also my reputation' --
  822        After that day we hadden never debaat.
                     After that day we never had an argument.
  823        God helpe me so, I was to hym as kynde
                     As God may help me, I was to him as kind
  824        As any wyf from Denmark unto Ynde,
                     As any wife from Denmark unto India,
  825        And also trewe, and so was he to me.
                     And also true, and so was he to me.
  826        I prey to God, that sit in magestee,
                     I pray to God, who sits in majesty,
  827        So blesse his soule for his mercy deere.
                     So bless his soul for his mercy dear.
  828        Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol heere."
                     Now will I say my tale, if you will hear."


Beholde the wordes bitwene the
Somonour and the Frere


  829        The Frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this;
                     The Friar laughed, when he had heard all this;
  830        "Now dame," quod he, "so have I joye or blis,
                     "Now dame," he said, "as I may have joy or bliss,
  831        This is a long preamble of a tale!"
                     This is a long preamble of a tale!"
  832        And whan the Somonour herde the Frere gale,
                     And when the Summoner heard the Friar cry out,
  833        "Lo," quod the Somonour, "Goddes armes two!
                     "Lo," said the Summoner, "By God's two arms!
  834        A frere wol entremette hym everemo.
                     A friar will always intrude himself (in others' affairs).
  835        Lo, goode men, a flye and eek a frere
                     Lo, good men, a fly and also a friar
  836        Wol falle in every dyssh and eek mateere.
                     Will fall in every dish and also every discussion.
  837        What spekestow of preambulacioun?
                     What speakest thou of perambulation?
  838        What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun!
                     What! amble, or trot, or keep still, or go sit down!
  839        Thou lettest oure disport in this manere."
                     Thou spoil our fun in this manner."

  840        "Ye, woltow so, sire Somonour?" quod the Frere;
                     "Yes, wilt thou have it thus, sir Summoner?" said the Friar;
  841        "Now, by my feith I shal, er that I go,
                     "Now, by my faith I shall, before I go,
  842        Telle of a somonour swich a tale or two
                     Tell of a summoner such a tale or two
  843        That alle the folk shal laughen in this place."
                     That all the folk shall laugh in this place."

  844        "Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe thy face,"
                     "Now otherwise, Friar, I curse thy face,"
  845        Quod this Somonour, "and I bishrewe me,
                     Said this Summoner, "and I curse myself,
  846        But if I telle tales two or thre
                     Unless I tell tales two or three
  847        Of freres er I come to Sidyngborne
                     Of friars before I come to Siitingbourne
  848        That I shal make thyn herte for to morne,
                     That I shall make thy heart to mourn,
  849        For wel I woot thy pacience is gon."
                     For well I know thy patience is gone."

  850        Oure Hooste cride "Pees! And that anon!"
                     Our Host cried "Peace! And that right now!"
  851        And seyde, "Lat the womman telle hire tale.
                     And said, "Let the woman tell her tale.
  852        Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale.
                     You act like folk that are drunk on ale.
  853        Do, dame, telle forth youre tale, and that is best."
                     Do, dame, tell forth your tale, and that is best."

  854        "Al redy, sire," quod she, "right as yow lest,
                     "All ready, sir," she said, "right as you please,
  855        If I have licence of this worthy Frere."
                     If I have permission of this worthy Friar."

  856        "Yis, dame," quod he, "tel forth, and I wol heere."
                     "Yes, dame," he said, "tell forth, and I will hear."

  882        And so bifel that this kyng Arthour
                     And so it happened that this king Arthur
  883        Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler,
                     Had in his house a lusty bachelor,
  884        That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver,
                     That on one day came riding from hawking,
  885        And happed that, allone as he was born,
                     And it happened that, alone as he was born,
  886        He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn,
                     He saw a maiden walking before him,
  887        Of which mayde anon, maugree hir heed,
                     Of which maiden straightway, despite all she could do,
  888        By verray force, he rafte hire maydenhed;
                     By utter force, he took away her maidenhead;
  889        For which oppressioun was swich clamour
                     For which wrong was such clamor
  890        And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour
                     And such demand for justice unto king Arthur
  891        That dampned was this knyght for to be deed,
                     That this knight was condemned to be dead,
  892        By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed --
                     By course of law, and should have lost his head --
  893        Paraventure swich was the statut tho --
                     Perhaps such was the statute then --
  894        But that the queene and other ladyes mo
                     Except that the queen and other ladies as well
  895        So longe preyeden the kyng of grace
                     So long prayed the king for grace
  896        Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place,
                     Until he granted him his life right there,
  897        And yaf hym to the queene, al at hir wille,
                     And gave him to the queen, all at her will,
  898        To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille.
                     To choose whether she would him save or put to death.

  899        The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght,
                     The queen thanks the king with all her might,
  900        And after this thus spak she to the knyght,
                     And after this she spoke thus to the knight,
  901        Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day:
                     When she saw her time, upon a day:
  902        "Thou standest yet," quod she, "in swich array
                     "Thou standest yet," she said, "in such condition,
  903        That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.
                     That of thy life yet thou hast no assurance
  904        I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me
                     I grant thee life, if thou canst tell me
  905        What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
                     What thing it is that women most desire.
  906        Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from iren!
                     Beware, and keep thy neck-bone from iron (axe)!
  907        And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon,
                     And if thou canst not tell it right now,
  908        Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon
                     Yet I will give thee leave to go
  909        A twelf-month and a day, to seche and leere
                     A twelvemonth and a day, to seek to learn
  910        An answere suffisant in this mateere;
                     A satisfactory answer in this matter;
  911        And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
                     And I will have, before thou go, a pledge
  912        Thy body for to yelden in this place."
                     To surrender thy body in this place."

  913        Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh;
                     Woe was this knight, and sorrowfully he sighs;
  914        But what! He may nat do al as hym liketh.
                     But what! He can not do all as he pleases.
  915        And at the laste he chees hym for to wende
                     And at the last he chose to leave
  916        And come agayn, right at the yeres ende,
                     And come again, exactly at the year's end,
  917        With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye;
                     With such answer as God would provide him;
  918        And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.
                     And takes his leave, and goes forth on his way.

  919        He seketh every hous and every place
                     He seeks every house and every place
  920        Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace
                     Where he hopes to have the luck
  921        To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost,
                     To learn what thing women love most,
  922        But he ne koude arryven in no coost
                     But he could not arrive in any region
  923        Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
                     Where he might find in this matter
  924        Two creatures accordynge in-feere.
                     Two creatures agreeing together.
  925        Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse,
                     Some said women love riches best,
  926        Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
                     Some said honor, some said gaiety,
  927        Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
                     Some rich clothing, some said lust in bed,
  928        And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.
                     And frequently to be widow and wedded.
  929        Somme seyde that oure hertes been moost esed
                     Some said that our hearts are most eased
  930        Whan that we been yflatered and yplesed.
                     When we are flattered and pleased.
  931        He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye.
                     He goes very near the truth, I will not lie.
  932        A man shal wynne us best with flaterye,
                     A man shall win us best with flattery,
  933        And with attendance and with bisynesse
                     And with attentions and with solicitude
  934        Been we ylymed, bothe moore and lesse.
                     We are caught, every one of us.

  935        And somme seyen that we loven best
                     And some say that we love best
  936        For to be free and do right as us lest,
                     To be free and do just as we please,
  937        And that no man repreve us of oure vice,
                     And that no man reprove us for our vices,
  938        But seye that we be wise and no thyng nyce.
                     But say that we are wise and not at all silly.
  939        For trewely ther is noon of us alle,
                     For truly there is not one of us all,
  940        If any wight wol clawe us on the galle,
                     If any one will scratch us on the sore spot,
  941        That we nel kike, for he seith us sooth.
                     That we will not kick back, because he tells us the truth.
  942        Assay, and he shal fynde it that so dooth;
                     Try it, and whoever so does shall find it true;
  943        For, be we never so vicious withinne,
                     For, be we never so vicious within,
  944        We wol been holden wise and clene of synne.
                     We want to be considered wise and clean of sin.

  945        And somme seyn that greet delit han we
                     And some say that we have great delight
  946        For to been holden stable, and eek secree,
                     To be considered steadfast, and also (able to keep a) secret,
  947        And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
                     And in one purpose steadfastly to remain,
  948        And nat biwreye thyng that men us telle.
                     And not reveal things that men tell us.
  949        But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele.
                     But that tale is not worth a rake handle.
  950        Pardee, we wommen konne no thyng hele;
                     By God, we women can hide nothing;
  951        Witnesse on Myda -- wol ye heere the tale?
                     Witness on Midas -- will you hear the tale?

  952        Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale,
                     Ovid, among other small matters,
  953        Seyde Myda hadde, under his longe heres,
                     Said Midas had, under his long hair,
  954        Growynge upon his heed two asses eres,
                     Two ass's ears, growing upon his head,
  955        The whiche vice he hydde as he best myghte
                     The which vice he hid as he best could
  956        Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte,
                     Very skillfully from every man's sight,
  957        That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it namo.
                     That, except for his wife, there knew of it no others.
  958        He loved hire moost, and trusted hire also;
                     He loved her most, and trusted her also;
  959        He preyede hire that to no creature
                     He prayed her that to no creature
  960        She sholde tellen of his disfigure.
                     She should tell of his disfigurement.

  961        She swoor him, "Nay"; for al this world to wynne,
                     She swore him, "Nay"; for all this world to win,
  962        She nolde do that vileynye or synne,
                     She would not do that dishonor or sin,
  963        To make hir housbonde han so foul a name.
                     To make her husband have so foul a reputation.
  964        She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.
                     She would not tell it for her own shame.
  965        But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde
                     But nonetheless, she thought that she would die
  966        That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde;
                     If she should hide a secret so long;
  967        Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte
                     She thought it swelled so sore about her heart
  968        That nedely som word hire moste asterte;
                     That necessarily some word must escape her;
  969        And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
                     And since she dared tell it to no man,
  970        Doun to a mareys faste by she ran --
                     She ran down to a marsh close by --
  971        Til she cam there hir herte was afyre --
                     Until she came there her heart was afire --
  972        And as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
                     And as a bittern bumbles in the mire,
  973        She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun:
                     She laid her mouth down unto the water:
  974        "Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,"
                     "Betray me not, thou water, with thy sound,"
  975        Quod she; "to thee I telle it and namo;
                     She said; "to thee I tell it and no others;
  976        Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two!
                     My husband has two long asses ears!
  977        Now is myn herte al hool; now is it oute.
                     Now is my heart all whole; now is it out.
  978        I myghte no lenger kepe it, out of doute."
                     I could no longer keep it, without doubt."
  979        Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
                     Here you may see, though we a time abide,
  980        Yet out it moot; we kan no conseil hyde.
                     Yet out it must come; we can hide no secret.
  981        The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere,
                     The remnant of the tale if you will hear,
  982        Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it leere.
                     Read Ovid, and there you may learn it.

  983        This knyght, of which my tale is specially,
                     This knight, of whom my tale is in particular,
  984        Whan that he saugh he myghte nat come therby --
                     When he saw he might not come to that --
  985        This is to seye, what wommen love moost --
                     This is to say, what women love most --
  986        Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost.
                     Within his breast very sorrowful was the spirit.
  987        But hoom he gooth; he myghte nat sojourne;
                     But home he goes; he could not linger;
  988        The day was come that homward moste he tourne.
                     The day was come that homeward he must turn.
  989        And in his wey it happed hym to ryde,
                     And in his way he happened to ride,
  990        In al this care, under a forest syde,
                     In all this care, near a forest side,
  991        Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go
                     Where he saw upon a dance go
  992        Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo;
                     Ladies four and twenty, and yet more;
  993        Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne,
                     Toward the which dance he drew very eagerly,
  994        In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne.
                     In hope that he should learn some wisdom.
  995        But certeinly, er he cam fully there,
                     But certainly, before he came fully there,
  996        Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste where.
                     Vanished was this dance, he knew not where.
  997        No creature saugh he that bar lyf,
                     He saw no creature that bore life,
  998        Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf --
                     Save on the green he saw sitting a woman --
  999        A fouler wight ther may no man devyse.
                     There can no man imagine an uglier creature.
1000        Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse,
                     At the knight's coming this old wife did rise,
1001        And seyde, "Sire knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey.
                     And said, "Sir knight, there lies no road out of here.
1002        Tel me what that ye seken, by youre fey!
                     Tell me what you seek, by your faith!
1003        Paraventure it may the bettre be;
                     Perhaps it may be the better;
1004        Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng," quod she.
                     These old folk know many things," she said.

1005        "My leeve mooder," quod this knyght, "certeyn
                     "My dear mother," said this knight, "certainly
1006        I nam but deed but if that I kan seyn
                     I am as good as dead unless I can say
1007        What thyng it is that wommen moost desire.
                     What thing it is that women most desire.
1008        Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire."
                     If you could teach me, I would well repay you."

1009        "Plight me thy trouthe heere in myn hand," quod she,
                     "Pledge me thy word here in my hand," she said,
1010        "The nexte thyng that I requere thee,
                     "The next thing that I require of thee,
1011        Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght,
                     Thou shalt do it, if it lies in thy power,
1012        And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght."
                     And I will tell it to you before it is night."

1013        "Have heer my trouthe," quod the knyght, "I grante."
                     "Have here my pledged word," said the knight, "I agree."
1014        "Thanne," quod she, "I dar me wel avante
                     "Then," she said, "I dare me well boast
1015        Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby;
                     Thy life is safe, for I will stand thereby;
1016        Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I.
                     Upon my life, the queen will say as I.
1017        Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle
                     Let's see which is the proudest of them all
1018        That wereth on a coverchief or a calle
                     That wears a kerchief or a hairnet
1019        That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche.
                     That dares say `nay' of what I shall teach thee.
1020        Lat us go forth withouten lenger speche."
                     Let us go forth without longer speech."
1021        Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere,
                     Then she whispered a message in his ear,
1022        And bad hym to be glad and have no fere.
                     And commanded him to be glad and have no fear.
1023        Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght
                     When they are come to the court, this knight
1024        Seyde he had holde his day, as he hadde hight,
                     Said he had held his day, as he had promised,
1025        And redy was his answere, as he sayde.
                     And his answer was ready, as he said.
1026        Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde,
                     Very many a noble wife, and many a maid,
1027        And many a wydwe, for that they been wise,
                     And many a widow, because they are wise,
1028        The queene hirself sittynge as a justise,
                     The queen herself sitting as a justice,
1029        Assembled been, his answere for to heere;
                     Are assembled, to hear his answer;
1030        And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.
                     And afterward this knight was commanded to appear.

1031        To every wight comanded was silence,
                     Silence was commanded to every person,
1032        And that the knyght sholde telle in audience
                     And that the knight should tell in open court
1033        What thyng that worldly wommen loven best.
                     What thing (it is) that worldly women love best.
1034        This knyght ne stood nat stille as doth a best,
                     This knight stood not silent as does a beast,
1035        But to his questioun anon answerde
                     But to his question straightway answered
1036        With manly voys, that al the court it herde:
                     With manly voice, so that all the court heard it:

1037        "My lige lady, generally," quod he,
                     "My liege lady, without exception," he said,
1038        "Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee
                     "Women desire to have sovereignty
1039        As wel over hir housbond as hir love,
                     As well over her husband as her love,
1040        And for to been in maistrie hym above.
                     And to be in mastery above him.
1041        This is youre mooste desir, thogh ye me kille.
                     This is your greatest desire, though you kill me.
1042        Dooth as yow list; I am heer at youre wille."
                     Do as you please; I am here subject to your will."
1043        In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne mayde,
                     In all the court there was not wife, nor maid,
1044        Ne wydwe that contraried that he sayde,
                     Nor widow that denied what he said,
1045        But seyden he was worthy han his lyf.
                     But said that he was worthy to have his life.
1046        And with that word up stirte the olde wyf,
                     And with that word up sprang the old woman,
1047        Which that the knyght saugh sittynge on the grene:
                     Whom the knight saw sitting on the green:
1048        "Mercy," quod she, "my sovereyn lady queene!
                     "Mercy," she said, "my sovereign lady queen!
1049        Er that youre court departe, do me right.
                     Before your court departs, do me justice.
1050        I taughte this answere unto the knyght;
                     I taught this answer to the knight;
1051        For which he plighte me his trouthe there,
                     For which he pledged me his word there,
1052        The firste thyng that I wolde hym requere
                     The first thing that I would ask of him
1053        He wolde it do, if it lay in his myghte.
                     He would do, if it lay in his power.
1054        Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght,"
                     Before the court then I pray thee, sir knight,"
1055        Quod she, "that thou me take unto thy wyf,
                     Said she, "that thou take me as thy wife,
1056        For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf.
                     For well thou know that I have saved thy life.
1057        If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey!"
                     If I say false, say `nay', upon thy faith!"

1058        This knyght answerde, "Allas and weylawey!
                     This knight answered, "Alas and woe is me!
1059        I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
                     I know right well that such was my promise.
1060        For Goddes love, as chees a newe requeste!
                     For God's love, choose a new request!
1061        Taak al my good and lat my body go."
                     Take all my goods and let my body go."

1062        "Nay, thanne," quod she, "I shrewe us bothe two!
                     "Nay, then," she said, "I curse both of us two!
1063        For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore
                     For though I am ugly, and old, and poor
1064        I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore
                     I would not for all the metal, nor for ore
1065        That under erthe is grave or lith above,
                     That under earth is buried or lies above,
1066        But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love."
                     Have anything except that I were thy wife, and also thy love."

1067        "My love?" quod he, "nay, my dampnacioun!
                     "My love?" he said, "nay, my damnation!
1068        Allas, that any of my nacioun
                     Alas, that any of my family
1069        Sholde evere so foule disparaged be!"
                     Should ever be so foully degraded!"
1070        But al for noght; the ende is this, that he
                     But all for naught; the end is this, that he
1071        Constreyned was; he nedes moste hire wedde,
                     Constrained was; he must by necessity wed her,
1072        And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
                     And takes his old wife, and goes to bed.

1073        Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,
                     Now would some men say, perhaps,
1074        That for my necligence I do no cure
                     That because of my negligence I make no effort
1075        To tellen yow the joye and al th' array
                     To tell you the joy and all the rich display
1076        That at the feeste was that ilke day.
                     That was at the (wedding) feast that same day.
1077        To which thyng shortly answeren I shal:
                     To which thing shortly I shall answer:
1078        I seye ther nas no joye ne feeste at al;
                     I say there was no joy nor feast at all;
1079        Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sorwe.
                     There was nothing but heaviness and much sorrow.
1080        For prively he wedded hire on morwe,
                     For he wedded her in private in the morning,
1081        And al day after hidde hym as an owle,
                     And all day after hid himself like an owl,
1082        So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule.
                     So woeful was he, his wife looked so ugly.

1083        Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght,
                     Great was the woe the knight had in his thought,
1084        Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght;
                     When he was brought to bed with his wife;
1085        He walweth and he turneth to and fro.
                     He wallows and he turns to and fro.
1086        His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo,
                     His old wife lay smiling evermore,
1087        And seyde, "O deere housbonde, benedicitee!
                     And said, "O dear husband, bless me!
1088        Fareth every knyght thus with his wyf as ye?
                     Does every knight behave thus with his wife as you do?
1089        Is this the lawe of kyng Arthures hous?
                     Is this the law of king Arthur's house?
1090        Is every knyght of his so dangerous?
                     Is every knight of his so aloof?
1091        I am youre owene love and youre wyf;
                     I am your own love and your wife;
1092        I am she which that saved hath youre lyf,
                     I am she who has saved your life,
1093        And, certes, yet ne dide I yow nevere unright;
                     And, certainly, I did you never wrong yet;
1094        Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght?
                     Why behave you thus with me this first night?
1095        Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit.
                     You act like a man who had lost his wit.
1096        What is my gilt? For Goddes love, tel it,
                     What is my offense? For God's love, tell it,
1097        And it shal been amended, if I may."
                     And it shall be amended, if I can."

1098        "Amended?" quod this knyght, "Allas, nay, nay!
                     "Amended?" said this knight, "Alas, nay, nay!
1099        It wol nat been amended nevere mo.
                     It will not be amended ever more.
1100        Thou art so loothly, and so oold also,
                     Thou art so loathsome, and so old also,
1101        And therto comen of so lough a kynde,
                     And moreover descended from such low born lineage,
1102        That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde.
                     That little wonder is though I toss and twist about.
1103        So wolde God myn herte wolde breste!"
                     So would God my heart would burst!"

1104        "Is this," quod she, "the cause of youre unreste?"
                     "Is this," she said, "the cause of your distress?"

1105        "Ye, certeinly," quod he, "no wonder is."
                     "Yes, certainly," he said, "it is no wonder."

1106        "Now, sire," quod she, "I koude amende al this,
                     "Now, sir," she said, "I could amend all this,
1107        If that me liste, er it were dayes thre,
                     If I pleased, before three days were past,
1108        So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me.
                     Providing that you might behave well towards me.

1109        "But, for ye speken of swich gentillesse
                     "But, since you speak of such nobility
1110        As is descended out of old richesse,
                     As is descended out of old riches,
1111        That therfore sholden ye be gentil men,
                     That therefore you should be noble men,
1112        Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
                     Such arrogance is not worth a hen.
1113        Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
                     Look who is most virtuous always,
1114        Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay
                     In private and public, and most intends ever
1115        To do the gentil dedes that he kan;
                     To do the noble deeds that he can;
1116        Taak hym for the grettest gentil man.
                     Take him for the greatest noble man.
1117        Crist wole we clayme of hym oure gentillesse,
                     Christ wants us to claim our nobility from him,
1118        Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse.
                     Not from our ancestors for their old riches.
1119        For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage,
                     For though they give us all their heritage,
1120        For which we clayme to been of heigh parage,
                     For which we claim to be of noble lineage,
1121        Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng
                     Yet they can not bequeath by any means
1122        To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng,
                     To any of us their virtuous living,
1123        That made hem gentil men ycalled be,
                     That made them be called noble men,
1124        And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.
                     And commanded us to follow them in such matters.

1125        "Wel kan the wise poete of Florence,
                     "Well can the wise poet of Florence,
1126        That highte Dant, speken in this sentence.
                     Who is called Dante, speak on this matter.
1127        Lo, in swich maner rym is Dantes tale:
                     Lo, in such sort of rime is Dante's speech:
1128        `Ful selde up riseth by his branches smale
                     `Very seldom grows up from its small branches
1129        Prowesse of man, for God, of his goodnesse,
                     Nobility of man, for God, of his goodness,
1130        Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse';
                     Wants us to claim our nobility from him';
1131        For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme
                     For from our ancestors we can claim no thing
1132        But temporel thyng, that man may hurte and mayme.
                     Except temporal things, that may hurt and injure a man.

1133        "Eek every wight woot this as wel as I,
                     "Also every person knows this as well as I,
1134        If gentillesse were planted natureelly
                     If nobility were planted naturally
1135        Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne,
                     Unto a certain lineage down the line,
1136        Pryvee and apert thanne wolde they nevere fyne
                     Then in private and in public they would never cease
1137        To doon of gentillesse the faire office;
                     To do the just duties of nobility;
1138        They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
                     They could do no dishonor or vice.

1139        "Taak fyr and ber it in the derkeste hous
                     "Take fire and bear it in the darkest house
1140        Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous,
                     Between this and the mount of Caucasus,
1141        And lat men shette the dores and go thenne;
                     And let men shut the doors and go away;
1142        Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne
                     Yet will the fire as brightly blaze and burn
1143        As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde;
                     As if twenty thousand men might it behold;
1144        His office natureel ay wol it holde,
                     Its natural function it will always hold,
1145        Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye.
                     On peril of my life (I say), until it dies.

1146        "Heere may ye se wel how that genterye
                     "Here may you see well that nobility
1147        Is nat annexed to possessioun,
                     Is not joined with possession,
1148        Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun
                     Since folk not do behave as they should
1149        Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde.
                     Always, as does the fire, lo, in its nature.
1150        For, God it woot, men may wel often fynde
                     For, God knows it, men may well often find
1151        A lordes sone do shame and vileynye;
                     A lord's son doing shame and dishonor;
1152        And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,
                     And he who will have praise for his noble birth,
1153        For he was boren of a gentil hous
                     Because he was born of a noble house
1154        And hadde his eldres noble and vertuous,
                     And had his noble and virtuous ancestors,
1155        And nel hymselven do no gentil dedis
                     And will not himself do any noble deeds
1156        Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is,
                     Nor follow his noble ancestry that is dead,
1157        He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl,
                     He is not noble, be he duke or earl,
1158        For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl.
                     For churlish sinful deeds make a churl.
1159        For gentillesse nys but renomee
                     For nobility is nothing but renown
1160        Of thyne auncestres, for hire heigh bountee,
                     Of thy ancestors, for their great goodness,
1161        Which is a strange thyng to thy persone.
                     Which is a thing not naturally part of thy person.
1162        Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone.
                     Thy nobility comes from God alone.
1163        Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace;
                     Then our true nobility comes from grace;
1164        It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place.
                     It was not at all bequeathed to us with our social rank.

1165        "Thenketh hou noble, as seith Valerius,
                     "Think how noble, as says Valerius,
1166        Was thilke Tullius Hostillius,
                     Was that same Tullius Hostillius,
1167        That out of poverte roos to heigh noblesse.
                     That out of poverty rose to high nobility.
1168        Reedeth Senek, and redeth eek Boece;
                     Read Seneca, and read also Boethius;
1169        Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is
                     There shall you see clearly that it is no doubt
1170        That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis.
                     That he is noble who does noble deeds.
1171        And therfore, leeve housbonde, I thus conclude:
                     And therefore, dear husband, I thus conclude:
1172        Al were it that myne auncestres were rude,
                     Although it is so that my ancestors were rude,
1173        Yet may the hye God, and so hope I,
                     Yet may the high God, and so hope I,
1174        Grante me grace to lyven vertuously.
                     Grant me grace to live virtuously.
1175        Thanne am I gentil, whan that I bigynne
                     Then am I noble, when I begin
1176        To lyven vertuously and weyve synne.
                     To live virtuously and abandon sin.

1177        "And ther as ye of poverte me repreeve,
                     "And whereas you reprove me for poverty,
1178        The hye God, on whom that we bileeve,
                     The high God, on whom we believe,
1179        In wilful poverte chees to lyve his lyf.
                     In voluntary poverty chose to live his life.
1180        And certes every man, mayden, or wyf
                     And certainly every man, maiden, or woman
1181        May understonde that Jhesus, hevene kyng,
                     Can understand that Jesus, heaven's king,
1182        Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyvyng.
                     Would not choose a vicious form of living.
1183        Glad poverte is an honest thyng, certeyn;
                     Glad poverty is an honest thing, certain;
1184        This wole Senec and othere clerkes seyn.
                     This will Seneca and other clerks say.
1185        Whoso that halt hym payd of his poverte,
                     Whoever considers himself satisfied with his poverty,
1186        I holde hym riche, al hadde he nat a sherte.
                     I consider him rich, although he had not a shirt.
1187        He that coveiteth is a povre wight,
                     He who covets is a poor person,
1188        For he wolde han that is nat in his myght;
                     For he would have that which is not in his power;
1189        But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth have,
                     But he who has nothing, nor covets to have anything,
1190        Is riche, although ye holde hym but a knave.
                     Is rich, although you consider him but a knave.
1191        Verray poverte, it syngeth proprely;
                     True poverty, it rightly sings;
1192        Juvenal seith of poverte myrily:
                     Juvenal says of poverty merrily:
1193        `The povre man, whan he goth by the weye,
                     `The poor man, when he goes along the roadway,
1194        Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye.'
                     Before the thieves he may sing and play.'
1195        Poverte is hateful good and, as I gesse,
                     Poverty is a hateful good and, as I guess,
1196        A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse;
                     A very great remover of cares;
1197        A greet amendere eek of sapience
                     A great amender also of wisdom
1198        To hym that taketh it in pacience.
                     To him that takes it in patience.
1199        Poverte is this, although it seme alenge:
                     Poverty is this, although it may seem miserable:
1200        Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge.
                     A possession that no one will challenge.
1201        Poverte ful ofte, whan a man is lowe,
                     Poverty very often, when a man is low,
1202        Maketh his God and eek hymself to knowe.
                     Makes him know his God and also himself.
1203        Poverte a spectacle is, as thynketh me,
                     Poverty is an eye glass, as it seems to me,
1204        Thurgh which he may his verray freendes see.
                     Through which one may see his true friends.
1205        And therfore, sire, syn that I noght yow greve,
                     And therefore, sir, since I do not injure you,
1206        Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve.
                     You (should) no longer reprove me for my poverty.

1207        "Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me;
                     "Now, sir, of old age you reprove me;
1208        And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee
                     And certainly, sir, though no authority
1209        Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
                     Were in any book, you gentlefolk of honor
1210        Seyn that men sholde an oold wight doon favour
                     Say that men should be courteous to an old person
1211        And clepe hym fader, for youre gentillesse;
                     And call him father, because of your nobility;
1212        And auctours shal I fynden, as I gesse.
                     And authors shall I find, as I guess.

1213        "Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old,
                     "Now where you say that I am ugly and old,
1214        Than drede you noght to been a cokewold;
                     Than do not fear to be a cuckold;
1215        For filthe and eelde, also moot I thee,
                     For filth and old age, as I may prosper,
1216        Been grete wardeyns upon chastitee.
                     Are great guardians of chastity.
1217        But nathelees, syn I knowe youre delit,
                     But nonetheless, since I know your delight,
1218        I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit.
                     I shall fulfill your worldly appetite.

1219        "Chese now," quod she, "oon of thise thynges tweye:
                     "Choose now," she said, "one of these two things:
1220        To han me foul and old til that I deye,
                     To have me ugly and old until I die,
1221        And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf,
                     And be to you a true, humble wife,
1222        And nevere yow displese in al my lyf,
                     And never displease you in all my life,
1223        Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
                     Or else you will have me young and fair,
1224        And take youre aventure of the repair
                     And take your chances of the crowd
1225        That shal be to youre hous by cause of me,
                     That shall be at your house because of me,
1226        Or in som oother place, may wel be.
                     Or in some other place, as it may well be.
1227        Now chese yourselven, wheither that yow liketh."
                     Now choose yourself, whichever you please."

1228        This knyght avyseth hym and sore siketh,
                     This knight deliberates and painfully sighs,
1229        But atte laste he seyde in this manere:
                     But at the last he said in this manner:
1230        "My lady and my love, and wyf so deere,
                     "My lady and my love, and wife so dear,
1231        I put me in youre wise governance;
                     I put me in your wise governance;
1232        Cheseth youreself which may be moost plesance
                     Choose yourself which may be most pleasure
1233        And moost honour to yow and me also.
                     And most honor to you and me also.
1234        I do no fors the wheither of the two,
                     I do not care which of the two,
1235        For as yow liketh, it suffiseth me."
                     For as it pleases you, is enough for me."

1236        "Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie," quod she,
                     "Then have I gotten mastery of you," she said,
1237        "Syn I may chese and governe as me lest?"
                     "Since I may choose and govern as I please?"

1238        "Ye, certes, wyf," quod he, "I holde it best."
                     "Yes, certainly, wife," he said, "I consider it best."

1239        "Kys me," quod she, "we be no lenger wrothe,
                     "Kiss me," she said, "we are no longer angry,
1240        For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe --
                     For, by my troth, I will be to you both --
1241        This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.
                     This is to say, yes, both fair and good.
1242        I prey to God that I moote sterven wood,
                     I pray to God that I may die insane
1243        But I to yow be also good and trewe
                     Unless I to you be as good and true
1244        As evere was wyf, syn that the world was newe.
                     As ever was wife, since the world was new.
1245        And but I be to-morn as fair to seene
                     And unless I am tomorrow morning as fair to be seen
1246        As any lady, emperice, or queene,
                     As any lady, empress, or queen,
1247        That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
                     That is between the east and also the west,
1248        Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.
                     Do with my life and death right as you please.
1249        Cast up the curtyn, looke how that it is."
                     Cast up the curtain, look how it is."

1250        And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this,
                     And when the knight saw truly all this,
1251        That she so fair was, and so yong therto,
                     That she so was beautiful, and so young moreover,
1252        For joye he hente hire in his armes two.
                     For joy he clasped her in his two arms.
1253        His herte bathed in a bath of blisse.
                     His heart bathed in a bath of bliss.
1254        A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hire kisse,
                     A thousand time in a row he did her kiss,
1255        And she obeyed hym in every thyng
                     And she obeyed him in every thing
1256        That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng.
                     That might do him pleasure or enjoyment.

1257        And thus they lyve unto hir lyves ende
                     And thus they live unto their lives' end
1258        In parfit joye; and Jhesu Crist us sende
                     In perfect joy; and Jesus Christ us send
1259        Housbondes meeke, yonge, and fressh abedde,
                     Husbands meek, young, and vigorous in bed,
1260        And grace t' overbyde hem that we wedde;
                     And grace to outlive them whom we wed;
1261        And eek I praye Jhesu shorte hir lyves
                     And also I pray Jesus shorten their lives
1262        That noght wol be governed by hir wyves;
                     That will not be governed by her wives;
1263        And olde and angry nygardes of dispence,
                     And old and angry misers in spending,
1264        God sende hem soone verray pestilence!
                     God send them soon the very pestilence!