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The 聽 Wife of Bath's Tale: Fragment III (Group D)

The Wife of Bath tells the story of her five marriages. She summarizes that the first three husbands were old and rich, which allowed her to not have to work hard to please them and gain their love and treasures. The last two husbands were younger and she had to work hard to gain their love and devotion through her skills in the bedroom. She argues that marriage and sexuality are natural and God-given.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
62 views27 pages

The 聽 Wife of Bath's Tale: Fragment III (Group D)

The Wife of Bath tells the story of her five marriages. She summarizes that the first three husbands were old and rich, which allowed her to not have to work hard to please them and gain their love and treasures. The last two husbands were younger and she had to work hard to gain their love and devotion through her skills in the bedroom. She argues that marriage and sexuality are natural and God-given.

Uploaded by

Is Montaña
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Fragment III (Group D)

The Wife of Bath's Tale


PROLOGUE
"Experience, though no authority
Were in this world, would be enough for e
!o spea" of woe that arried life affords#
$or since % was twel&e years of age, y lords,
!han"s be to God eternally ali&e, '
Of husbands at the church door %(&e had fi&e
)%f % ha&e wed that often legally*,
+nd all were worthy en in their degree,
-ut % was told not &ery long ago
!hat as but once did .esus e&er go /0
!o a wedding )in 1ana, Galilee*,
-y that exaple he was teaching e
!hat only once in life should % be wed,
+nd listen what a sharp word, too, was said
-eside a well by .esus, God and an, /'
%n a reproof of the 2aaritan3
(4ow you ha&e had fi&e husbands,( .esus said,
(-ut he who has you now, % say instead,
%s not your husband,( !hat he said, no doubt,
-ut what he eant % ha&en(t figured out# 50
$or % ust as", why is it the fifth an
Wasn(t husband to the 2aaritan6
7ow any en was she allowed to wed6
%n all y years %(&e ne&er heard it said
Exactly how this nuber is defined# 5'
8en ay surise and gloss how it(s di&ined,
-ut % expressly "now it(s not a lie
God bade us to increase and ultiply99
!hat noble text % well appreciate,
% also "now the Lord said that y ate :0
2hould lea&e for e his father and his other,
-ut entioned not one nuber or another,
4ot bigay nor yet octogay,
Why should en spea", then, disappro&ingly6
"Loo", here(s the wise "ing, lordly 2oloon3 :'
% do belie&e his wi&es were ore than one,
Would that the Lord peritted e to be
Refreshed as half as often as was he,
+ gift fro God he had for all his wi&es,
4o an will e&er ha&e such in our li&es, ;0
God "nows, this noble "ing, if % a right,
7ad any a erry bout on that first night
With each of the, he was so uch ali&e,
+nd God be blest that % ha&e arried fi&e,
Of which % ha&e pic"ed out the &ery best, ;;+
-oth for their hanging purse and for their chest,+s any different schools a"e perfect
clerks,
2o practice that(s di&erse in sundry wor"s
Will a"e a perfect wor"an certainly#
$i&e9husband schooling(s done the sae for e, ;;$
!he sixth is welcoe when he coes along# ;'
% won(t be "eeping yself chaste for long,
$or when one husband fro this world is gone
2oe 1hristian an will wed e early on99 $or as the Apostle says, then % a free
!o wed in God(s nae when it pleases e, '0
%t(s no sin to be arried, he has said,
$or if you(re burning, better to be wed,
What do % care if fol"s spea" e&illy
Of curs d Laech and his bigay6
+ holy an was +braha, % "now, ''
+nd .acob, too, as far as that ay go,
<et each with ore than two wi&es cae to dwell,
Li"e any other holy en as well,
+nd where in any age can it be said
!hat God on high forebade that we be wed =0
-y any word express6 Please answer e,
Or when did he coand &irginity6
% "now as well as you, for there(s no doubt,
When aidenhood the +postle spo"e about
7e said he had no precept, !o be sure, ='
+ woan ay be counseled to be pure,
-ut counsel and coandent aren(t the sae,
!o lea&e it to our >udgent was his ai,
$or if God did coand &irginity,
!hen arriage he condened concurrently# ?0
+nd surely if no seed were e&er sown,
$ro where then would &irginity be grown6
Paul wouldn(t dare coand, would least in&o"e
+ thing on which his 8aster ne&er spo"e,
+ pri@e is set up for &irginity3 ?'
Who runs the best ay ha&e it, let us see,
"-ut not for all is this word seen as right,
%t(s only as God wills it in his ight,!he +postle was a &irgin, well % note#
-ut nonetheless, although he said and wrote A0
!hat he wished e&eryone would be as he,
%t was but to ad&ise &irginity,
7e allows % be a wife, if that(s y place,
%n his indulgence, so it(s no disgrace
!o arry if y latest ate should die99 A'
Without the (bigay( that soe would cry,
(%t(s best a an should not a woan touch(#
7e eant in bed or on the couch or such,
%n ixing fire and tinder danger lies#
What this exaple eans you reali@e, B0
+nd that(s the su3 he held &irginity
Was better than to wed in frailty,
)% call it (frailty( unless the two
Would chaste reain till both their li&es were through,*
"% grant it well, but en&y % do not, B'
!hat aidenhood ay be the better lot,
%n soul and body soe li"e being clean,
+nd % can a"e no boasts, -ut ha&e you seen
+ong possessions that the nobles hold
%f each and e&ery &essel is of gold6 /00
2oe are of ser&ice though they be of wood,
%n sundry ways God calls us to his good,
Each by his own God9gi&en gift sustained,
2oe this, soe that, as hea&en has ordained,
"+ great perfection is &irginity, /0'
+nd continence aintained de&otedly#
-ut 1hrist, who of perfection is the well,
Cid not bid e&eryone to go and sell
+ll that he had and gi&e it to the poor
+nd thereby follow hi# no, this was for //0
!he ones desiring to li&e perfectly99
+nd by your lea&e, y lords, that isn(t e,
$or %(ll bestow the flower of y life
%n all the acts and fruits of being wife,
"+nd tell e for what reason, if you can, //'
Were organs ade for reproducing an
Who(s ade in such a wise and perfect way6
!hey were not ade for nothing, safe to say,
Gloss o&er whoso will, tell all creation
Our little things both are for urination, /50
+nd that they(re ade so different in detail
2o we can "now the feale fro the ale
+nd for no other reason99you say (4o(6
Experience "nows well it isn(t so,
!hat learned en % not pro&o"e to oath, /5'
% ean to say that they were ade for both99
!hat is, both for relief and for our ease
!o procreate, so God we not displease,
Why else should en into their ledgers set
!hat e&ery an yield to his wife her debt6 /:0
+nd how can he pay this eoluent
Unless he use his siple instruent6
!hat(s why upon all creatures these are set,
!o urinate and also to beget,
"-ut % don(t say that e&eryone possessing /:'
EDuipent such as this as % was stressing
8ust go and use it for engendering,
Lest chastity be held a worthless thing,
1hrist was a &irgin though shaped as a an,
+nd any a saint since this world first began /;0
7as also li&ed in perfect chastity,
% don(t begrudge the their &irginity#
!hey(re bread fro finest wheat, so be it said,
+nd let us wi&es be "nown as barley bread,
+nd yet with barley bread, as 8ar" can tell, /;'
Was any a an by .esus nourished well,
%n such estate as God calls each of us
%(ll perse&ere, %( not fastidious,
%n wifehood % will use y instruent
+s freely as y 8a"er has it sent, /'0
%f % hold bac", God bring e iseryE
8y spouse shall ha&e it day and night, when he
Cesires he ay coe forth and pay his debt,
%(ll ha&e a husband99%( not Duitting yet99
+nd he will be y debtor and y sla&e, /''
+nd in the flesh his troubles will be gra&e
+s long as % continue as his wife#
$or % will ha&e the power all y life
O&er his body, % and ne&er he,%t(s >ust as the +postle said to e /=0
+nd bade the lo&e us well, which % ust say+re teachings to y li"ing all the way,"
!he Pardoner spo"e up iediately,
"4ow dae, by God and by 2aint .ohn," said he,
"+s a noble preacher on the case you(ll pass, /='
% alost wed a wife, but then, alas,
Why buy it with y flesh, a price so dear6
%(d rather not get arried, not this year,"
"+bide," she said, "y tale is not begunE
4o, you(ll be drin"ing fro another tun, /?0
-efore %( through, that tastes uch worse than ale,
+nd when %( finished telling you y tale
Of tribulation "nown to an and wife99
Of which %(&e been an expert all y life
)!hat is to say, of which %(&e been the whip*99 /?'
!hen a"e your choice whether you would sip
$ro this sae tun that %( about to broach,
-e wary lest too near it you approach,
%(ll tell you good exaples, ore than ten,
(Whoso would not be warned by other en, /A0
-y hi shall other en corrected be,(!hese words were written by Ptolemy,
<ou(ll find it if you read his Almagest,"
"Cae, if you will, % prayerfully reDuest,"
!he Pardoner said, "that >ust as you began /A'
!ell us your tale and do not spare a an
+nd of your practice teach us younger en,"
"%f you desire, %(ll do so gladly, then,"
2he said, "-ut first % pray this copany,
%f % should spea" as it ay fancy e, /B0
Will not be too upset by what % say,
$or y intent is nothing but to play,
"8y lords, % now will offer you y tale,
%f e&er % ay drin" of wine or ale,
%(ll tell the truth on husbands that %(&e had, /B'
+s three of the were good and two were bad,
!he three en who were good were rich and old,
%ndeed were scarcely able to uphold
!he contract binding the, -y God abo&e,
<ou "now exactly what %( spea"ing of, 500
2o help e God, % laugh to thin", all right,
7ow pitifully % ade the wor" all night,
!hough, by y faith, it eant not uch to e#
!hey ga&e e so uch of their treasury
% didn(t need to practice diligence 50'
!o win their lo&e or show the re&erence,
$or they lo&ed e so well, by God abo&e,
!hat % put little &alue in their lo&e,
!he woan(s wise who(s busy till she(s won
!he lo&e she wants, or she(ll be left with none, 5/0
-ut since % had the wholly in y hand
+nd they had gi&en to e all their land,
Why should % pay the heed and try to please,
Unless it were for profit and for ease6
-ut by y faith, % wor"ed the for so long 5/'
!hat any a night they sang a plainti&e song,!he bacon wasn(t fetched for the, % "now,
Li"e for soe en in Essex at Dunmow,
% go&erned the so strictly by y law
!hat each of the was happy to a flaw 550
!o bring e bac" soe nice things fro the fair,
+nd glad when % would spea" with pleasant air,
$or God "nows % would chide the spitefully,
"4ow hear how well % bore yself, and see,
!he wise aong you wi&es who understand, 55'
7ow you should spea"3 accuse the out of hand,
!here(s no an who can falsely swear and lie
+s half as boldly as a woan, %
Con(t say this to those wi&es already wise,
2a&e when they(&e ade ista"es99then % ad&ise 5:0!hat she who "nows what(s
good for her and bad
8ust pro&e the chough has gone star" ra&ing ad
+nd call as witness her assenting aid,
4ow listen to y typical tirade3
"(Old sluggard, you would ha&e e dress this way6 5:'
Why does y neighbor(s wife ha&e fine array6
2he is so honored e&erywhere she goes#
% sit at hoe, % ha&e no nifty clothes,
What are you up to at y neighbor(s house6
%s she so fair6 2o aorous are you, spouse6 5;0
What do you whisper with our aid6 +h, bless eE
2ir Lecher, will you stop your treacheryE
<et if % ha&e a confidant or friend
%n innocence, you chide e to no end
%f % so uch as wal" into his house, 5;'
<ou coe hoe >ust as drun"en as a ouse
+nd preach upon your bench, -ad luc" to youE
<ou say to e that it(s a ighty rue
!o arry one who(s poor, for the expense#
+nd if she(s rich and highborn, you coence 5'0
!o tal" about the torent and the folly
Of suffering all her pride and elancholy,
+nd if she(s fair, you thorough "na&e, you say
!hat e&ery lecher wants her right away,
!hat she(ll not long in chastity abide 5''
When she(s assailed on each and e&ery side,
"(<ou say that soe desire us for our fortunes,
2oe for our loo"s, soe for our good proportions,
+nd soe because she either sings or dances,
2oe for her noble blood and flirty glances, 5=0
7er hands and ars so graceful99without fail
+ll go right to the de&il by your tale,
<ou say that en can(t "eep a castle wall
!hat(s swared upon as long, that it will fall,
"(%f she loo"s foul, then you declare that she 5='
Will lust for e&ery fellow she ay see,
Leap on hi li"e a spaniel in a trice
Until she finds the an who(ll pay her price,
%n all the la"e there(s not one goose so gray
!hat it will be without a ate, you say, 5?0
<et it(s a hard thing, you would ha&e it "nown,
!o ha&e what no an willingly would own
)<ou say it, loafer, when you go to bed*,
+nd that a wise an has no need to wed
4or any an whose ai is hea&en(s wonder, 5?'
8ay lightning and a bolt of wildest thunder
1oe brea" your withered nec" with fiery stro"eE
"(<ou say a house that lea"s, and also so"e,
+nd wi&es who scold, cause en to run away$ro their own hoes, +h, benedicite
5A0
What ails such an old fellow so to chide6
"(<ou say we wi&es all of our &ices hide
Until we wed, and then we let the show,
!he pro&erb of a rascal who % "nowE
"(<ou say the ox, the ass, the hound, the horse 5A'
+t &arious ties are tested, as, of course,
+re bowls and basins ere a buy is ade,
+nd spoons and stools, and other household trade
Li"e pots and clothes, and other such array#
-ut enfol" ne&er test their wi&es, you say, 5B0
!ill they are wed99old dotard, ne(er do wellE99
+nd then we show our &ices, so you tell,
"(+nd it displeases e, you also say,
%f you don(t praise y beauty all the day
+nd aren(t fore&er poring on y face 5B'
+nd calling e "fair dae" in e&ery place#
%f you don(t hold a feast upon the day
When % was born, dress e in rich array#
%f you don(t honor with all due respect
8y nurse and chaberaid, nor dee select :00
+ll of y father(s "infol" and allies99
<ou say it, you old barrel full of liesE
"(+nd our apprentice .en"in, by his hair99
!hose curly, golden, shining loc"s so fair99
+nd by the fact he sDuires e where % go, :0'
Gi&es you a false suspicion, Findly "now
% wouldn(t want hi if you died toorrow,
"(-ut tell e this, why hide )be it your sorrowE*
!he "eys fro e that loc" your chest6 %(ll tell
<ou this, your property is ine as well, :/0
+ % an idiot li"e soe other daes6
% tell you by that lord they call 2aint .aes,
<ou won(t be99you can ra&e ad in the woodsE99
8aster of both y body and y goods#
<ou(ll forgo one, % tell you to your eye, :/'
What help is it to as" around and spy6
% thin" that you would loc" e in your chest,
!o say, "Go where you please, wife," would be best,
"7a&e fun, % won(t belie&e tales told in alice,
$or % "now you to be a good wife, +lice," :50
We lo&e no an who "eeps such watchful eyes
On where we go, our liberty we pri@e,
"(+bo&e all en ay he ost blessed be,!hat wise astronoer Ptoley,
Who wrote this pro&erb in his Almagest3 :5'
"7e has uch higher wisdo than the rest
Who doesn(t care who has the world in hand,"
+nd by this pro&erb you should understand
!hat if you ha&e enough, why should you care
7ow errily soe other people fare6 ::0
$or by your lea&e, old dotard, of y stuff
!onight you surely will ha&e Duite enough,
7ow great a niggard is he who refuses
+ candlelight fro the lantern that he uses#
7e(d ha&e no less light than he did before, ::'
<ou ha&e enough, so don(t coplain for ore,
"(+nd if in finest clothes, you also say,
%n >ewelry and other fine display,
We dress oursel&es, we ris" our chastity#!o bac" up what you say, you Duote to e
:;0
!he following in the +postle(s nae3
"1lothes chastely ade with proper sense of shae
%s what your woen(s dress should always be99
4o fancy hairdos, no bright >ewelry
Li"e pearls and gold, nor other rich array," :;'
+bout your text and rubric, let e say
%(d follow the as uch as would a gnat,
"(<ou also say that % a li"e a cat,
$or if soebody singes a cat(s fur
2he(ll be content to stay inside and purr, :'0
-ut if her fur is slee" and fine she(ll stay
%nside the house not ore than half a day#
-efore the dawn can brea" she(s to her calling,
2he(s showing off her fur and caterwauling99
%n other words, 2ir Rascal, if well dressed :''
% run out to be sure %( well assessed,
"(Old fool, what help to you are all your spies6%f you as"ed Argus with his hundred eyes
!o be y bodyguard99what better easure699
7e(d guard e only if it were y pleasure# :=0
+s % ay thri&e, %(d really twea" his beardE
"(<ou also spea" of three things to be feared
$or troubling all the earth, and that for sure
!he fourth one there(s no an could long endure,
2ir Rascal dear, ay 1hrist cut short your life, :='
$or still you preach and say a hateful wife
%s one of these isfortunes, 2ir, are there
4o other things to spea" of and copare
%n telling all your parables6 8ust you
+lways include a poor wife ere you(re through6 :?0
"(<ou also li"en woan(s lo&e to hell,
!o barren land without a strea or well,
+nd also to a wildly raging fire99
!he ore it burns, the stronger its desire
!o consue all that will burn, <ou say to e :?'
!hat >ust as little wors destroy a tree
+ wife destroys her husband, "!hey ha&e found
!his to be true, those who to wi&es are bound,"(
"8y lords, >ust so, as you now understand,
% accused all y old husbands out of hand :A0
Of saying such while they were drun", +nd all
Was false, but as y witnesses %(d call
On .en"in and y niece to say, (%t(s so,(
O Lord, the pain % ga&e the and the woeE
!heir guilt6 -y God(s sweet grief, they hadn(t any# :A'
+nd yet >ust li"e a horse %(d bite and whinny,
1oplaining well when % yself had guilt,
$or they(d ha&e "illed e had the beans been spilt,
Who coes first to the ill is first to grind#
%(d be first to coplain, and always find :B0
Our war was Duic"ly o&er99gladly they
Repented things they didn(t do or say,
On wenches % would gi&e the repriand
When they were so sic" they could hardly stand,
"<et each was tic"led in his heart to see :B'
What he thought was such lo&e for hi in e,
% swore that all y wal"ing out by night
Was >ust to "eep his wenches in y sight,
With that excuse % had e lots of irth,
$or we are gi&en such "een wits at birth ;00
!o cheat and weep and spin# these God will gi&e
!o woen naturally long as they li&e,
2o one thing % can spea" of boastfully,
!he one who cae out best was always e,
-y sleight or force, or by soe other thing ;0'
Li"e long coplaint and constant bic"ering,
Especially in bed were they undone,
$or there %(d scold the and deny the fun#
% would no longer in the bed abide,
Once % could feel his ar upon y side, ;/0
Until he paid his ranso as he ust99
!hen % would suffer hi to do his lust,
+nd so to e&ery an % tell this tale3
Gain what you can, for e&erything(s for sale,
+nd no haw" by an epty hand is lured, ;/'
$or profit all his lust % so endured
+nd feigned for hi a lusty appetite#
%n bacon, though, % ne&er too" delight,
+nd that is why % would fore&er chide,
$or e&en had the pope sat down beside ;50
!he there, % wouldn(t spare the at the table,
!o pay bac" word for word % was so able,
2o help e God who is onipotent,
Were % to a"e right now y testaent
%(d owe the not a word that(s not repaid, ;5'
% did this by the wits that % displayed
2o that they had to gi&e up and be bested
Or else we ne&er would ha&e finally rested,
!hough li"e a raging lion he would loo",
<et he would fail at e&ery tac" he too", ;:0
"!hen % would say, (Good dear, >ust ta"e a peep
+t how ee"9loo"ing Wil"in is, our sheep#
1oe here, y spouse, and let e "iss your chee"#
<ou should always be patient, always ee",
+nd ha&e a good an(s conscience, as so uch ;:'
<ou li"e to preach of patient .ob and such,
-e always patient, since so well you preach99
%f not, a lesson we will ha&e to teach,
7ow fair it is to ha&e a wife in peace,
$or there(s no doubt that one of us ust cease# ;;0
2ince woan(s less reasonable than the ale,
<ou ust therefore be patient, What can ail
<ou, husband, that so uch you gripe and groan6
%s it y thing6 <ou(d ha&e it yours alone6
Why, ta"e it all, here, ta"e it e&ery bit, ;;'
-y Peter, curse youE such a lo&e for it,%f % were selling soe of y belle chose
% then could wal" fresh9loo"ing as a rose,
-ut % will "eep it for your own sweet tooth,
<ou are to blae, by God, and that(s the truth,( ;'0
"!he words we(d ha&e were always of that sort,
+nd now on y fourth husband %(ll report,
"+ re&eler was husband nuber four,
!hat is to say, he had a paraour,
+nd % was young and wanton, passionate, ;''
+s >olly as a agpie, obstinate
+nd strong, 7ow % could dance to a sall harp, too,
+nd sing li"e any nightingale can do
When % had drun" a draught of good sweet wineE
8etellius, that dirty churl, the swine, ;=0
Pic"ed up a staff and too" his spouse(s life
$or drin"ing wine, %f % had been his wife,
7e ne&er would ha&e daunted e fro drin"ingE+nd after wine, on !enus %(d be
thin"ing,
$or as surely as cold engenders hail ;='
+ lustful outh will ha&e a lustful tail,
+ tipsy woan is without defense,
+s lechers "now by their experience,
"-ut Lord 1hristE when it all coes bac" to e,
Reebrance of y youth and >ollity, ;?0
%t wars the coc"les of y heart, !oday
%t still does y heart good that % can say
%(&e had the world, what tie(s been ine to pass,
-ut age that poisons e&erything, alas,
-ereft e of y beauty and y pith, ;?'
Well, let it go, the de&il go therewithE
!he flour is gone, there is no ore to tell#
!he bran as best % can % now ust sell
+nd stri&e to be as erry as before,
+nd now %(ll tell of husband nuber four, ;A0
"% had within y heart a great despite
!hat he in any other too" delight,
% paid hi bac", by God and by 2aint .oyce,
With a hard staff fro wood of his own choice#
4ot with y body, not by sinful eans, ;A'
-ut entertaining fol"s in erry scenes,
% ade hi fry in his own grease till he
Was Duite consued with angry >ealousy,
-y God, on earth % was his purgatory,
$or which % hope his soul is now in glory, ;B0
God "nows how often he would sit and sing
While his shoe pinched hi, such a painful thing#
$or there was none sa&e God and e who "new
!he any torents that % put hi through,
7e died when % cae fro .erusale# ;B'
-eneath the rood9bea where we buried hi,
7is tob was surely not as finely done
+s was great Fing Carius(s, the one
-uilt by +pelles with such s"ill and taste,
+ costly burial would ha&e been a waste, '00
8ay he fare well and God gi&e his soul rest,
$or he(s now in his gra&e, his wooden chest,
"Of husband nuber fi&e % now will tell,
God grant his soul ay ne&er go to hellE
+nd yet he was to e the &ery worst# '0'
% feel it in y ribs fro last to first
+nd always will until the day % die,-ut in our bed he was so fresh and spry,
!o gloss away so able, hea&en "nows,
Whene&er he was wanting y belle chose, '/0
!hat though each bone he(d beaten was in pain,
+t once he(d win bac" all y lo&e again,
% swear % lo&ed hi best of all, for he
Was always playing hard to get with e,
We woen ha&e99the truth, so help e God99 '/'
%n this regard a fancy that is odd#
!hat which we can(t get in an easy way
%s what we(ll cra&e and cry for all the day,
$orbid us soething and then we(ll desire it,
-ut press it on us and we(ll not reDuire it, '50
With coyness we trade in our affairs#
Great ar"et crowds a"e ore expensi&e wares
+nd what(s too cheap will not be held a pri@e,
!his e&ery woan "nows if she is wise,
"8y husband nuber fi&e, God bless his soul, '5'
% too" for lo&e, no riches were y goal,7e once had been an Oxford cler", but then
7ad left school and gone hoe, and boarded in
Our town with a good friend of ine, the one,
God bless her soul, whose nae was +lison, ':0
2he "new y heart, each of y secrets well,
8uch better than the parish priest, %(d tell
7er e&erything, disclosing to her all#
$or had y husband pissed upon a wall
Or done soething that could ha&e cost his life, ':'
!o her and to another worthy wife99
+nd also to y niece, who % lo&ed well99
7is e&ery secret % would fully tell,
God "nows, % did this so uch, to his dread,
%t often ade his face get hot and red, ';0
7e felt ashaed, but blaed hiself that he
7ad told to e so great a pri&ity,
"%t so befell that one tie during Lent,
+s often to this close friend(s house % went
)+nd % so lo&ed to dress up anyway ';'
+nd ta"e y wal"s in 8arch, +pril, and 8ay
$ro house to house, to hear what tales were spun*,
!his cler" naed .en"in, y friend +lison,
+nd % yself into the eadows went,
8y husband was in London all that Lent, ''0
2o % had uch ore leisure tie to play,
!o see and to be seen along the way
-y lusty fol"s, 7ow could % "now when there
Would coe good fortune eant for e, or where6
+nd so % ade y &isits, %(d attend '''
Religious &igils and processions, wend
With pilgris, hear the serons preached# also
!o iracle plays and weddings % would go,
!he clothes that % would wear were scarlet bright#
!here ne&er was a wor or oth or ite, '=0
+s % ay li&e, could bring to the abuse,
Co you "now why6 !hey always were in use,
"%(ll tell you now what happened next to e,
%(&e said we wal"ed into the fields, we three#
+nd there we really had a chance to flirt, '='
!his cler" and %, 8y foresight to assert,
While we were tal"ing % suggested he,
%f % wound up a widow, arry e,
$or certainly99% say it not to boast99
Of good pur&eyance % ha&e ade the ost '?0
%n arriages and other things as well,
+ ouse(s heart(s not worth a lee" in hell
%f he has >ust one hole for which to run,
$or if that one hole fails then all is done,
"% ade pretense that he enchanted e '?'
)8y other taught to e this subtlety*#
% dreat of hi all night, % also said,
+nd dreat he slew e as % lay in bed,
8y bed as full of blood as it could be,
(-ut still % hope that you(ll bring good to e, 'A0
$or blood beto"ens gold, or so %( taught,(
+nd all was false, for %(d been dreaing naught,
% only followed all y other(s lore
)On that as well as on a few things ore*,
"+nd now, sirs99let e see, what was % saying6 'A'
+haE by God, % ha&e it, no ore straying,
"When y fourth husband lay upon the bier,
% wept, of course, grief9stric"en to appear,
+s wi&es ust do )the custo of the land*,
+nd hid y face with the "erchief in y hand, 'B0
-ut as %(d be pro&ided with a ate,
% wept but little, % can truly state,
"4ow as y husband to the church was borne
!hat orning, neighbors went along to ourn,
With our cler" .en"in being one, +s God 'B'
8ay help e, when % saw hi trod
-ehind the bier, % thought that he had feet
+nd legs as fair as e&er % could eet,
+nd all y heart was then in his dear hold,
7e was, % thin", then twenty winters old, =00
+nd % was forty, telling you the truth#
-ut % ha&e always had a coltish tooth,
Gap9toothed % was, and that was for the best#!he birthar" of 2aint Genus % possessed,
2o help e God, % was a lusty one =0'
+nd fair and rich and young and full of fun#
+nd truly, as y husbands said to e,
% had the finest what(s9it there could be,8y feelings coe fro Genus and y heart
%s full of 8ars# for Genus did ipart =/0
!o e all of y lecherousness and lust,
+nd 8ars ga&e e a hard and sturdy crust,
8y ascendant sign was !aurus, 8ars therein,
+las, alas, that e&er lo&e was sinE
$or % ha&e always followed inclination =/'
-y &irtue of y taurine constellation#!hat ade e so that % could not deny
+ good fellow y Genus chaber, %
2till ha&e the ar" of 8ars upon y face
)+nd also in another, pri&ate place*, =50
+s truly as the Lord is y sal&ation,
8y lo&e was ne&er by discriination#
% always catered to y appetite,
!hough he be short or long or blac" or white,
% didn(t care, >ust so he pleasured e, =5'
7ow poor he was or what was his degree,
"What shall % say except, when that onth ended,
!his >olly .en"in who % thought so splendid
7ad arried e idst great solenity,
% ga&e hi all the land and property =:0
!hat e&er had been gi&en e, +nd yet
%t was thereafter uch to y regret#
Of nothing that % wanted he would hear,
-y God, he struc" e so once on the ear
)-ecause % tore a page out of his boo"* =:'
!hat it went deaf fro that one blow it too",
-ut % was stubborn li"e a lioness
+nd lashed hi with y tongue without redress,
+nd %(d go wal"ing as %(d done before
$ro house to house )though % would not, he swore*, =;0
$or which he oftenties would start to preach
!o e, Old Roan stories he would teach,
Li"e how 2iplicius Gallus left his wife,
$orsa"ing her the reainder of his life,
-ecause he caught her loo"ing out the door =;'
One day bareheaded99that and nothing ore,
"+ Roan, too, he told e of by nae
Whose wife had gone out to a suer(s gae
Without his "nowledge# he forsoo" her too,
+nd then he(d go and search his -ible through ='0$or a pro&erb of
Ecclesiasticus
Wherein he gi&es a fir coand to us3
4o an should let his wife go roa about,
+nd after that he(d Duote without a doubt3
(Whoe&er builds his house by using sallows =''
+nd goes and pric"s his blind horse o&er fallows
+nd lets his wife see" any shrine one hallows
%s worthy to be hung upon the gallowsE(
-ut all for naught, for % cared not a straw
$or all his pro&erbs or for his old saw, ==0
%(d not correct yself by his ad&ices,
% hate a an who tells e of y &ices,
+nd so do ore of us, God "nows, than %,
2o ad with e this ade hi he could die,
-ut % would not forbear in any case, =='
"%(ll tell you, by 2aint !hoas, face9to9face
!he reason % tore fro his boo" a page,
Why he ga&e e a deaf ear in his rage,
"7e had a boo" that he read night and day
$or his auseent, 7e would laugh away =?0
+t this boo", which he called (Galerius
+nd !heophrastus,( with its &arious
2elections3 there was once a cler" in Roe,
+ cardinal whose nae was 2aint .eroe,
Who wrote a boo" against .o&inian# =?'
!his boo" also contained !ertullian,
1hrysippus, !rotula, and 7eloise,
+n abbess who once li&ed near Paris# these+long with parables of 2oloon
+nd "#id(s Art99the boo"s were any a one, =A0
+nd all of the in this one &olue bound,
+nd day and night he always could be found,
When he had leisure or was on &acation
$ro any sort of worldly occupation,
Reading soe passage about wic"ed wi&es, =A'
Of the he "new ore legends and ore li&es
!han of the best of wi&es in 7oly Writ,
%t is ipossible, no doubting it,
$or any cler" to spea" soe good of wi&es
Unless it deals with saints, their holy li&es# =B0
4o woan not a saint he(s "indly to,
Who painted, though, the lion, tell e who6-y God, if woen e&er wrote soe stories
+s cler"s ha&e done in all their oratories,
!hey would ha&e told of en ore wic"edness =B'
!han all the sons of +da could redress,1hildren of Genus and of $ercury
7a&e always wor"ed in great polarity#
$or 8ercury lo&es wisdo, science pure,
While Genus lo&es good ties, expenditure, ?00
-ecause their dispositions are di&ergent,
One(s descendant, the other one eergent#
2o 8ercury, God "nows, has desolation
When Genus has in Pisces exaltation,
+nd Genus falls when 8ercury is raised, ?0'2o by no cler" is woan e&er
praised,
!he cler", when he is old and cannot do
$or Genus any wor" worth his old shoe,
Will in his dotage sit and write of how
+ woan cannot "eep her arriage &owE ?/0
"4ow let e tell the reason why % say
!hat % was beaten for a boo", % pray,
One night this .en"in, who was y fifth sire,
Was reading in his boo" beside the fire,
7e read of E&e, who by her wic"edness ?/'
7ad brought all of an"ind to wretchedness,
!he reason .esus 1hrist hiself was slain
!o bring us bac" with his heart(s blood again,
(Of woen here expressly you ay find
!hat woan was the ruin of all an"ind,( ?50
"7e read to e how 2ason lost his hair,
2heared by his istress, sleeping unaware,
+nd how by this he lost both of his eyes,
"7e read then to e99% will tell no lies99
Of Ce>anira, she who was to blae ?5'
!hat 7ercules had set hiself aflae,
"7e left out not a whit about the woe
!hat 2ocrates( two wi&es caused hi to "now#
When Hantippe poured piss upon his head,
!he hapless an sat there as still as dead, ?:0
!hen wiped his head and dared not to coplain,
-ut said, (Ere thunder stops, there coes a rain,(
"!he tale of Pasipha %, the Dueen of 1rete,
$or cursedness he thought was really sweet,
$ie on itE %(ll not spea" in any easure ?:'
+bout her horrid lust, her grisly pleasure,
"Of 1lytenestra, who for lechery
-rought to her husband death by treachery,
With greatest fer&or then to e he read,
"7e told e, too, the circustance that led ?;0
+phiaraus at !hebes to lose his life#
8y husband had a legend of his wife
Eriphyle, who for a brooch of gold
7ad gone in secret to the Gree"s and told
Of where her husband had his hiding place, ?;'
$or which he et at !hebes with sorry grace,
"7e told of Li&ia, Lucilia too,
Who ade their husbands die, albeit true
One was for lo&e, the other was for hate,
$or Li&ia, one e&ening &ery late, ?'0
Ga&e poison to her husband as a foe#
-ut lecherous Lucilia lo&ed hers so
!hat, so he ight fore&er of her thin",
2he ga&e hi such a lo&e potion to drin"
!hat he was dead before the orning sun, ?''
+nd therefore husbands always are undone,
"7e told e then how one Latuius
1oplained one day to his friend +rrius
!hat growing in his garden was a tree
On which, he said, his wi&es )who nubered three* ?=0
7ad hung thesel&es out of their hearts( despite,
2aid +rrius, (Cear brother, if you ight,
Gi&e e a cutting fro that blessed tree,
+nd in y garden planted shall it be,(
"Of later date, of wi&es to e he read ?='
Who soeties slew their husbands while in bed,
!hen with their lechers screwed the night away
While flat upon the floor the bodies lay,
2oe others would dri&e nails into the brain
While they were sleeping, that(s how they were slain, ??0
2till others ga&e the poison in their drin",
Of e&il ore than any heart can thin"
+bout he read, and he "new ore pro&erbs
!han in this world there(s growth of grass or herbs,
(%t(s better that your dwelling place,( said he, ??'
(With a foul dragon or a lion be
!han with a woan who is wont to chide,
7igh on the roof it(s better to abide
!han with an angry wife down in the house,
Each wic"ed and contrary to her spouse, ?A0
!hey hate all that their husbands lo&e,( 7e(d say,
(+ woan casts all of her shae away
When she casts off her soc",( 7e(d further tell,
(+ woan fair, if she(s not chaste as well,
%s li"e a golden ring in a sow(s nose,( ?A'
Who could ha&e thought, whoe&er would suppose
!he woe and torent that was in y heart6
"+nd when % saw that he would ne&er part
With reading in this curs d boo" all night,
!hree lea&es all of a sudden % tore right ?B0
Out of his boo" while he was reading it,
!hen with y fist % ga&e his chee" a hit
+nd he fell bac"wards right into the fire,
7e >uped up li"e a lion full of ire
+nd with his fist he hit e in the head, ?B'
+nd % lay on the floor then as if dead,
+nd when he saw how stilly there % lay,
7e was aghast and would ha&e run away,
-ut then at last out of y swoon % wo"e,
(O false thief, ha&e you slain e6( then % spo"e, A00
(<ou(&e urdered e for all y land, that(s why,
<et let e "iss you now before % die,(
"!hen near he cae and "nelt down by y side,
+nd said, (Cear sister +lison, y bride,
2o help e God, %(d ne&er hit y dae# A0'
$or what %(&e done you are yourself to blae,
$orgi&e e, % beseech you and iplore,(
+nd then % hit hi on the chee" once ore,
(!his uch % a a&enged, O thief,( % said,
(% can no longer spea", %( nearly dead,( A/0
"-ut in the end, for all we suffered through,
We finally reached accord between us two,
!he bridle he put wholly in y hand
!o ha&e coplete control of house and land,
+nd of his tongue and hands as well99and when A/'
7e did, % ade hi burn his boo" right then,
+nd when % had by all y astery
!hus gained for yself all the so&ereignty99
When he had said to e, (8y own true wife,
Co as you please the balance of your life# A50
Feep your honor as well as y estate(99
$ro that day on we ne&er had debate,
% was as true as any wife you(d find
$ro %ndia to Cenar", and as "ind,
2o help e God, and he was so to e, A5'
% pray that God who sits in a>esty
Will bless his soul for all his ercy dear,
4ow % will tell y tale if you will hear,"
The Wife of Bath's Tale
%n the old days of Fing +rthur, today
2till praised by -ritons in a special way,
!his land was filled with fairies all about,
!he elf9Dueen with her >olly little rout A=0
%n any a green field often danced, %ndeed
!his was the old belief of which % read#
% spea" of any hundred years ago,
-ut now such el&es no one is seeing, 4o,$or now the prayers and charitable desires
A='
Of limiters and other holy friars
Who wander all the land, by e&ery strea,
+s thic" as spec"s of dust in a sunbea,
!o bless our halls, chabers, "itchens, bowers,
-oroughs, cities, castles, lofty towers, A?0
Gillages, granaries, stables, dairies,
7a&e ade sure that no longer are there fairies,
$or where there once was wont to wal" an elf
!here(s wal"ing now the liiter hiself,
Early and late, to gi&e his auspices, A?'
2ay atins and his other offices,
Go all about the liit where he(s found,
4ow woen ay go safely all around#%n e&ery bush and under e&ery tree
7e is the only incubus, and he AA0
Won(t do a thing except dishonor the,
%t happened that Fing +rthur had with hi
+ bachelor in his house# this lusty li&er,
While riding fro his haw"ing by the ri&er,
Once chanced upon, alone as she was born, AA'
+ aiden who was wal"ing99soon forlorn,
$or he, despite all that she did or said,
-y force depri&ed her of her aidenhead,
-ecause of this, there was such claoring
+nd such deand for >ustice to the "ing, AB0
!his "night was all but nubered with the dead
-y course of law, and should ha&e lost his head
)Which ay ha&e been the law in that ilieu*,
-ut then the Dueen and other ladies too
Prayed so long that the "ing ight grant hi grace, AB'
Fing +rthur spared hi for at least a space#
7e left hi to the Dueen to do her will,
!o choose to sa&e or order the to "ill,
!he Dueen then than"ed the "ing with all her ight,
+nd after this the Dueen spo"e with the "night B00
When she saw opportunity one day,
"$or you," she said, "things stand in such a way
<ou can(t be sure if you(re to li&e or not,
%(ll grant you life if you can tell e what
%t is that woen ost desire, -eware B0'
!he iron ax, your nec"bone now to spareE
+nd if you cannot tell e right away,
%(ll gi&e you lea&e, a twel&eonth and a day,
!hat you ay go to see", that you ight find
+n answer that is of sufficient "ind, B/0
% want your word before you ta"e a pace3
<ou(ll bring yourself bac" to this &ery place,"
!his "night with sorrow sighed, was full of woe,
What could he do6 4ot as he pleased, and so
!o go away was what he finally chose, B/'
!o coe bac" when his year was at its close
With such an answer as God ight pro&ide,
7e too" his lea&e and forth he went to ride,
7e sought in e&ery house and e&ery place
%n hopes he could secure the proised grace B50
-y learning that which woen lo&e the ost,
-ut he did not arri&e at any coast
Where he could find two people on the atter
Who ight agree, if >udging by their chatter,
2oe said that woen all lo&e riches best, B5'
While soe said honor, others >olly @est,
2oe rich array# soe said delights in bed,
+nd any said to be a widow wed#
2oe others said that our hearts are ost eased
When we are flattered and when we are pleased99 B:0
+nd he was nigh the truth, if you as" e,
+ an shall win us best with flattery#
With uch attendance, char, and application
1an we be caught, whate&er be our station,
2oe said our lo&e to which we all aspire B:'
%s to be free to do as we desire,
With no reproof of &ice but with the rule
!hat en should say we(re wise, not one a fool,
$or truly there is none aong us all
Who, if a an should claw us on the gall, B;0
Won(t "ic" for being told the truth# he who
Coes an assay will find out that it(s true,
-ut though we ay ha&e &ices "ept within,
We li"e to be called wise and clean of sin,
+nd soe say that we ta"e the ost delight B;'
%n "eeping secrets, "eeping our lips tight,
!o >ust one purpose stri&ing to adhere3
4ot to betray one thing that we ay hear,
!hat tale(s not worth the handle of a ra"e,
We woen can(t "eep secrets, hea&en(s sa"eE B'0.ust loo" at 8idas99would you
hear the tale6
"#id, aong the trifles he(d detail,
2aid 8idas had long hair, for it appears
!hat on his head had grown two ass(s ears,
!his defect he had tried as best he ight B''
!o "eep well as he could fro others( sight,
+nd sa&e his wife there was none who could tell,
7e lo&ed her uch and trusted her as well
+nd prayed that not one li&ing creature she
Would e&er tell of his defority, B=0
2he swore she(d not, though all the world to win,
-e guilty of such &illainy and sin
+nd a"e her husband ha&e so foul a nae,
!o tell it would as well bring her to shae,
-ut nonetheless she all but nearly died, B='
2o long to ha&e a secret she ust hide,
2he thought it swelled so sorely in her heart
2oe word fro out of her was bound to start#
+nd since she dared to tell it to no an,
Cown close beside a arsh the lady ran99 B?0
2he had to rush, her heart was so afire,
!hen li"e a bittern booing in the ire,
2he put her outh down to the water, saying,
"Water, a"e no sound, don(t be betraying,
$or % will tell this to no one but you, B?'
8y husband has long ass(s ears99it(s trueE"
2he thought, "8y heart is cured now, it is out#
% couldn(t "eep it longer, there(s no doubt,"
2o as you see, we ay awhile abide
-ut it ust out, no secret we can hide, BA0
)+s for the tale, if you would hear the rest,
Read O&id, for that(s where you(ll learn it best,*
!his "night of who y tale is all about,
When seeing that he couldn(t find it out99
!hat is to say, what woen lo&e the ost99 BA'
$elt in his breast already li"e a ghost#
$or hoe he headed, he could not so>ourn,
!he day had coe when hoeward he ust turn,
+nd in this woeful state he chanced to ride
While on his way along a forest side, BB0
+nd there he saw upon the forest floor
2oe ladies dancing, twenty9four or ore,
!oward these dancers he was Duic" to turn
%n hope that of soe wisdo he ight learn#
-ut all at once, before he(d gotten there, BB'
!he dancers disappeared, he "new not where,
7e didn(t see one creature bearing life,
2a&e sitting on the green one single wife,
+n uglier creature no ind could de&ise,
!o eet hi this old wife was to arise, /000
+nd said, "<ou can(t get there fro here, 2ir Fnight,
What are you see"ing, by your faith6 %t ight
Well be to your ad&antage, sir, to tell#
Old fol"s li"e e "now any things, and well,"
"Cear other," said the "night, "it is for sure /00'
!hat % a dead if % cannot secure
What thing it is that woen ost desire,
%f you could teach e, gladly % would hire,"
"Gi&e e your word here in y hand," said she,
"!he next thing % reDuest you(ll do for e /0/0
%f it(s a thing that lies within your ight,
+nd % will tell you then before it(s night,"
!he "night said, "7ere(s y oath, % guarantee,"
"!hen certainly % dare to boast," said she,
"<our life is safe, for %(ll be standing by# /0/'
Upon y life, the Dueen will say as %,
Let(s see who is the proudest of the all,
With "erchief or with headdress standing tall,
Who shall deny that which % ha&e to teach,
4ow let us go, no need to a"e a speech," /050
2he whispered then a essage in his ear
+nd bade hi to be glad and ha&e no fear,
When they had coe to court, the "night declared,
"%(&e coe bac" to the day, and to be spared,
$or % a now prepared to gi&e reply," /05'
!he noble wi&es and aidens stood nearby,
+nd widows too )who were considered wise*#
!he Dueen sat li"e a >ustice in her guise,
+ll these had been assebled there to hear,
+nd then the "night was suoned to appear, /0:0
$ull silence was coanded in the court
2o that the "night ight openly report
!he thing that worldly woen lo&e the best,
7e stood not li"e a beast at one(s behest
-ut Duic"ly ga&e his answer loud and clear, /0:'
With anly &oice that all the court ight hear,
"8y liege and lady, generally," said he,
"What woen ost desire is so&ereignty
O&er their husbands or the ones they lo&e,
!o ha&e the astery, to be abo&e, /0;0
!his is your ost desire, though you ay "ill
8e if you wish, %( here, do as you will,"
4o wife or aid or widow in the court
2aw fit to contradict the "night(s report#
!hey all agreed, "7e(s worthy of his life," /0;'
+nd with that word up started the old wife,
!he one the "night had seen upon the green,
"8ercy," she said, "y so&ereign lady DueenE
-efore your court departs, grant e y right,
%t(s % who taught this answer to the "night, /0'0
$or which he ga&e a solen oath to e3
!he first thing % reDuest he(d do for e
%f it(s a thing that lies within his ight,
-efore the court % therefore pray, 2ir Fnight,"
2he said, "that you will ta"e e as your wife# /0''
$or well you "now that % ha&e sa&ed your life,
%f % spea" falsely, by your faith accuse e,"
!he "night replied, "+las, how woes abuse eE
% "now % ade the proise you(&e expressed,
$or lo&e of God, please choose a new reDuest, /0=0
!a"e all y goods and let y body go,"
"4o, dan us both thenE" she replied, "$or though
% ay be ugly, elderly, and poor,
%(d gi&e all of the etal and the ore
!hat lies beneath the earth and lies abo&e /0='
%f only % could be your wife and lo&e,"
"8y lo&e6" he said, "4o, rather y danationE
+lasE that there is any of y nation
Who e&er could so foully be disgraced,"
-ut all for naught, the end was that he faced /0?0
1onstrainent, for he now would ha&e to wed
+nd ta"e his gray old wife with hi to bed,
4ow there are soe en who ight say perhaps
!hat it(s y negligence or else a lapse
!hat % don(t tell you of the >oyous way /0?'
%n which the feast too" place that &ery day,
%(ll answer briefly should the Duestion fall3
!here wasn(t any >oy or feast at all,
.ust lots of sorrow, things went grie&ously,
7e arried her that orning pri&ately, /0A0
!hen all that day he hid >ust li"e an owl,
2o woeful, for his wife loo"ed really foul,
Great was the woe the "night had in his head
When with his wife he(d been brought to the bed#
7e tossed and then he turned both to and fro, /0A'
7is old wife lay there siling at hi, though,+nd said, "Cear husband, benedicite
+cts e&ery "night toward his wife this way6
%s this the law of great Fing +rthur(s house6
%s e&ery "night of his so distant6 2pouse, /0B0
% a your own true lo&e and %( your wife
+nd %( the one as well who sa&ed your life,
+nd % ha&e ne&er done you wrong or spite,
Why do you treat e so on our first night6
<ou act >ust li"e a an who(s lost his wit, /0B'
What is y guilt6 $or God(s lo&e, tell e it,
+nd it shall be aended if % ay,"
"+ended6" as"ed the "night, "Whate&er way6
!here(s no way it could e&er be aended,
<ou are so old and loathsoe99and descended, //00
!o add to that, fro such a lowly "ind99
4o wonder that % toss and turn and wind,
% wish to God y heart would burst, no lessE"
"%s this," she said, "the cause of your distress6"
"Why, yes," said he, "and is there any wonder6" //0'
2he said, "% could aend the stress you(re under,
%f you desire, within the next three days,
%f you(ll treat e ore "indly in your ways,
"-ut when you tal" about gentility
Li"e old wealth handed down a faily tree, ///0
!hat this is what a"es of you gentleen,
2uch arrogance % >udge not worth a hen,
!a"e hi who(s always &irtuous in his acts
%n public and in pri&ate, who exacts
Of hiself all the noble deeds he can, ///'
+nd there you(ll find the greatest gentlean,
1hrist wills we clai nobility fro hi,
4ot fro our elders or the wealth of the#
$or though they gi&e us all their heritage
+nd we clai noble birth by parentage, //50
!hey can(t beDueath99all else theirs for the gi&ing99
!o one of us the &irtuous way of li&ing
!hat ade the nobles they were "nown to be,
!he way they bade us li&e in li"e degree,
"7ow well the poet wise, the $lorentine //5'
4aed Cante, spea"s about >ust what % ean,
+nd this is how he rhyes it in his story3
(Of en who clib their faily trees for glory,
$ew will excel, for it is by God(s grace
We gain nobility and not by race,( //:0
4o, fro our elders all that we can clai
+re teporal things such as ay hurt and ai,
"+ll "now as %, that if gentility
Were soething that was planted naturally
!hrough all a certain lineage down the line, //:'
%n pri&ate and in public they(d be fine
+nd noble people doing what is nice,
1opletely free of &illainy and &ice,
"!a"e fire into the dar"est house or hut
-etween here and 8ount 1aucasus, then shut //;0
!he doors, and all en lea&e and not return#
!hat fire will still reain as if the burn
Were being watched by twenty thousand souls,
%ts function will not cease, its nature holds,
On peril of y life, until it dies, //;'
"Gentility, you then should reali@e,
%s not a"in to things li"e property#
$or people act with uch &ariety,
4ot li"e the fire that always is the sae,
God "nows that en ay often find, for shae, //'0
+ lord(s son who(s in&ol&ed in &illainy,
Who prides hiself to ha&e gentility
-ecause it happens he(s of noble birth,
With elders &irtuous, of noble worth,
-ut ne&er tries to do a noble deed //''
4or follow in his dead ancestors( lead,
%s not a noble, be he du"e or earl#
$or bad and sinful deeds >ust a"e a churl,
2ir, your gentility is but the fae
Of your ancestors, who earned their good nae //=0
With Dualities Duite foreign to your own,
Gentility can coe fro God alone,
2o true gentility(s a thing of grace,
4ot soething that(s beDueathed by ran" or place,
"$or nobleness, as says Galerius, //='
1onsider !ullius 7ostilius3!hough poor, he rose to noble heights, Loo" inBoethius or
&eneca, and when
<ou do, don(t doubt the truth of what you read3
!he noble is the an of noble deed, //?0
+nd so, dear husband, thus % will conclude3
%f it(s true y ancestors were so rude,
<et ay the Lord, as % do hope, grant e
!he grace to li&e y life ost &irtuously#
$or %( a noble when % so begin //?'
!o li&e in &irtue and a&oid sin,
"$or po&erty you scold e, -y your lea&e,
!he God on high, in who we both belie&e,
1hose willfully to li&e a poor an(s life#
+nd surely e&ery an, aiden, or wife //A0
1an understand that .esus, hea&en(s Fing,Would not choose sinful li&ing, %t(s a thing
Of honor to be poor without despair,+s 2eneca and other clerks declare,
!o be poor yet contented, % assert, //A'
%s to be rich, though ha&ing not a shirt,
!he one who co&ets is the poorer an,
$or he would ha&e that which he ne&er can#
-ut he who doesn(t ha&e and doesn(t cra&e
%s rich, though you ay hold hi but a "na&e, //B0
!rue po&erty(s been sung of properly#
+s .u&enal said of it, (8errily
!he poor an, as he goes upon his way,
%n front of e&ery thief can sing and play,(
%t is a hateful good and, as % guess, //B'
+ great prooter of industriousness,
+ source of greater wisdo it can be
$or one who learns to bear it patiently,
!hough it see wearisoe, po&erty is
Possession none will ta"e fro you as his, /500
Po&erty often a"es a fellow "now
7iself as well as God when he is low,
Po&erty is an eyeglass, % contend,
!hrough which a an can see a truthful friend,
% bring no har at all to you, therefore /50'
Co not repro&e e, sire, for being poor,
"$or being old you(&e also fussed at e#
<et surely, sire, though no authority
Were in a boo", you gentleen select
2ay en should treat an elder with respect /5/0
+nd call hi father, by your courtesy,
% thin" % could find authors who agree,
"%f % a old and ugly, as you(&e said,
Of cuc"oldry you needn(t ha&e a dread#
$or filthiness and age, as % ay thri&e, /5/'
+re guards that "eep one(s chastity ali&e,
-ut nonetheless, since % "now your delight,
% shall fulfill your worldly appetite,
"1hoose now," she said, "one of these two3 that %
-e old and ugly till the day % die, /550
+nd be to you a true and huble wife,
One ne&er to displease you all your life#
Or if you(d rather, ha&e e young and fair,
+nd ta"e your chance on those who will repair
!o your house now and then because of e /55'
)Or to soe other place, it ay well be*,
1hoose for yourself the one you(d rather try,"
!he "night ga&e it soe thought, then ga&e a sigh,
+nd finally answered as you are to hear3
"8y lady and y lo&e and wife so dear, /5:0
% lea&e to your wise go&ernance the easure#
<ou choose which one would gi&e the fullest pleasure
+nd honor to you, and to e as well,
% don(t care which you do, you best can tell,
What you desire is good enough for e," /5:'
"<ou(&e gi&en e," she said, "the astery6
!he choice is ine and all(s at y behest6"
"<es, surely, wife," said he, "% thin" it best,"
"!hen "iss e, we(ll no longer fight," she said,
"$or you(&e y oath that %(ll be both instead99 /5;0
!hat is to say, %(ll be both good and fair,
% pray to God % die in ad despair
Unless % a to you as good and true
+s any wife since this old world was new,
1oe dawn, if %( not as fair to be seen /5;'
+s any lady, epress, any Dueen
Who e&er li&ed between the east and west,
!hen ta"e y life or do whate&er(s best,
Lift up the curtains now, see how it is,"
+nd when the "night had truly seen all this, /5'0
7ow she was young and fair in all her chars,
%n utter >oy he too" her in his ars#
7is heart was bathing in a bath of bliss,
+ thousand "isses he began to "iss,
+nd she obeyed in each and e&ery way, /5''
Whate&er was his pleasure or his play,
+nd so they li&ed, till their li&es( &ery end,
%n perfect >oy, +nd ay 1hrist .esus send
Us husbands ee" and young and fresh abed,
+nd then the grace to outli&e those we wed# /5=0
% also pray that .esus shorten li&es
Of those who won(t be go&erned by their wi&es#
+s for old niggards angered by expense,
God send the soon a ighty pestilenceE

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