Section 6:
THE WIFE OF BATH'S TALE.
THE WIFE OF BATH'S TALE.
| THE PROLOGUE. <1> |
| Experience, though none authority* *authoritative texts |
| Were in this world, is right enough for me |
| To speak of woe that is in marriage: |
| For, lordings, since I twelve year was of age, |
| (Thanked be God that *is etern on live),* *lives eternally* |
| Husbands at the church door have I had five,<2> |
| For I so often have y-wedded be, |
| And all were worthy men in their degree. |
| But me was told, not longe time gone is |
| That sithen* Christe went never but ones *since |
| To wedding, in the Cane* of Galilee, *Cana |
| That by that ilk* example taught he me, *same |
| That I not wedded shoulde be but once. |
| Lo, hearken eke a sharp word for the nonce,* *occasion |
| Beside a welle Jesus, God and man, |
| Spake in reproof of the Samaritan: |
| "Thou hast y-had five husbandes," said he; |
| "And thilke* man, that now hath wedded thee, *that |
| Is not thine husband:" <3> thus said he certain; |
| What that he meant thereby, I cannot sayn. |
| But that I aske, why the fifthe man |
| Was not husband to the Samaritan? |
| How many might she have in marriage? |
| Yet heard I never tellen *in mine age* *in my life* |
| Upon this number definitioun. |
| Men may divine, and glosen* up and down; *comment |
| But well I wot, express without a lie, |
| God bade us for to wax and multiply; |
| That gentle text can I well understand. |
| Eke well I wot, he said, that mine husband |
| Should leave father and mother, and take to me; |
| But of no number mention made he, |
| Of bigamy or of octogamy; |
| Why then should men speak of it villainy?* *as if it were a disgrace |
| Lo here, the wise king Dan* Solomon, *Lord <4> |
| I trow that he had wives more than one; |
| As would to God it lawful were to me |
| To be refreshed half so oft as he! |
| What gift* of God had he for all his wives? *special favour, licence |
| No man hath such, that in this world alive is. |
| God wot, this noble king, *as to my wit,* *as I understand* |
| The first night had many a merry fit |
| With each of them, so *well was him on live.* *so well he lived* |
| Blessed be God that I have wedded five! |
| Welcome the sixth whenever that he shall. |
| For since I will not keep me chaste in all, |
| When mine husband is from the world y-gone, |
| Some Christian man shall wedde me anon. |
| For then th' apostle saith that I am free |
| To wed, *a' God's half,* where it liketh me. *on God's part* |
| He saith, that to be wedded is no sin; |
| Better is to be wedded than to brin.* *burn |
| What recketh* me though folk say villainy** *care **evil |
| Of shrewed* Lamech, and his bigamy? *impious, wicked |
| I wot well Abraham was a holy man, |
| And Jacob eke, as far as ev'r I can.* *know |
| And each of them had wives more than two; |
| And many another holy man also. |
| Where can ye see, *in any manner age,* *in any period* |
| That highe God defended* marriage *forbade <5> |
| By word express? I pray you tell it me; |
| Or where commanded he virginity? |
| I wot as well as you, it is no dread,* *doubt |
| Th' apostle, when he spake of maidenhead, |
| He said, that precept thereof had he none: |
| Men may counsel a woman to be one,* *a maid |
| But counseling is no commandement; |
| He put it in our owen judgement. |
| For, hadde God commanded maidenhead, |
| Then had he damned* wedding out of dread;** *condemned **doubt |
| And certes, if there were no seed y-sow,* *sown |
| Virginity then whereof should it grow? |
| Paul durste not commanden, at the least, |
| A thing of which his Master gave no hest.* *command |
| The dart* is set up for virginity; *goal <6> |
| Catch whoso may, who runneth best let see. |
| But this word is not ta'en of every wight, |
| *But there as* God will give it of his might. *except where* |
| I wot well that th' apostle was a maid, |
| But natheless, although he wrote and said, |
| He would that every wight were such as he, |
| All is but counsel to virginity. |
| And, since to be a wife he gave me leave |
| Of indulgence, so is it no repreve* *scandal, reproach |
| To wedde me, if that my make* should die, *mate, husband |
| Without exception* of bigamy; *charge, reproach |
| *All were it* good no woman for to touch *though it might be* |
| (He meant as in his bed or in his couch), |
| For peril is both fire and tow t'assemble |
| Ye know what this example may resemble. |
| This is all and some, he held virginity |
| More profit than wedding in frailty: |
| (*Frailty clepe I, but if* that he and she *frailty I call it, |
| Would lead their lives all in chastity), unless* |
| I grant it well, I have of none envy |
| Who maidenhead prefer to bigamy; |
| It liketh them t' be clean in body and ghost;* *soul |
| Of mine estate* I will not make a boast. *condition |
| For, well ye know, a lord in his household |
| Hath not every vessel all of gold; <7> |
| Some are of tree, and do their lord service. |
| God calleth folk to him in sundry wise, |
| And each one hath of God a proper gift, |
| Some this, some that, as liketh him to shift.* *appoint, distribute |
| Virginity is great perfection, |
| And continence eke with devotion: |
| But Christ, that of perfection is the well,* *fountain |
| Bade not every wight he should go sell |
| All that he had, and give it to the poor, |
| And in such wise follow him and his lore:* *doctrine |
| He spake to them that would live perfectly,— |
| And, lordings, by your leave, that am not I; |
| I will bestow the flower of mine age |
| In th' acts and in the fruits of marriage. |
| Tell me also, to what conclusion* *end, purpose |
| Were members made of generation, |
| And of so perfect wise a wight* y-wrought? *being |
| Trust me right well, they were not made for nought. |
| Glose whoso will, and say both up and down, |
| That they were made for the purgatioun |
| Of urine, and of other thinges smale, |
| And eke to know a female from a male: |
| And for none other cause? say ye no? |
| Experience wot well it is not so. |
| So that the clerkes* be not with me wroth, *scholars |
| I say this, that they were made for both, |
| That is to say, *for office, and for ease* *for duty and |
| Of engendrure, there we God not displease. for pleasure* |
| Why should men elles in their bookes set, |
| That man shall yield unto his wife her debt? |
| Now wherewith should he make his payement, |
| If he us'd not his silly instrument? |
| Then were they made upon a creature |
| To purge urine, and eke for engendrure. |
| But I say not that every wight is hold,* *obliged |
| That hath such harness* as I to you told, *equipment |
| To go and use them in engendrure; |
| Then should men take of chastity no cure.* *care |
| Christ was a maid, and shapen* as a man, *fashioned |
| And many a saint, since that this world began, |
| Yet ever liv'd in perfect chastity. |
| I will not vie* with no virginity. *contend |
| Let them with bread of pured* wheat be fed, *purified |
| And let us wives eat our barley bread. |
| And yet with barley bread, Mark tell us can,<8> |
| Our Lord Jesus refreshed many a man. |
| In such estate as God hath *cleped us,* *called us to |
| I'll persevere, I am not precious,* *over-dainty |
| In wifehood I will use mine instrument |
| As freely as my Maker hath it sent. |
| If I be dangerous* God give me sorrow; *sparing of my favours |
| Mine husband shall it have, both eve and morrow, |
| When that him list come forth and pay his debt. |
| A husband will I have, I *will no let,* *will bear no hindrance* |
| Which shall be both my debtor and my thrall,* *slave |
| And have his tribulation withal |
| Upon his flesh, while that I am his wife. |
| I have the power during all my life |
| Upon his proper body, and not he; |
| Right thus th' apostle told it unto me, |
| And bade our husbands for to love us well; |
| All this sentence me liketh every deal.* *whit |
| Up start the Pardoner, and that anon; |
| "Now, Dame," quoth he, "by God and by Saint John, |
| Ye are a noble preacher in this case. |
| I was about to wed a wife, alas! |
| What? should I bie* it on my flesh so dear? *suffer for |
| Yet had I lever* wed no wife this year." *rather |
| "Abide,"* quoth she; "my tale is not begun *wait in patience |
| Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tun |
| Ere that I go, shall savour worse than ale. |
| And when that I have told thee forth my tale |
| Of tribulation in marriage, |
| Of which I am expert in all mine age, |
| (This is to say, myself hath been the whip), |
| Then mayest thou choose whether thou wilt sip |
| Of *thilke tunne,* that I now shall broach. *that tun* |
| Beware of it, ere thou too nigh approach, |
| For I shall tell examples more than ten: |
| Whoso will not beware by other men, |
| By him shall other men corrected be: |
| These same wordes writeth Ptolemy; |
| Read in his Almagest, and take it there." |
| "Dame, I would pray you, if your will it were," |
| Saide this Pardoner, "as ye began, |
| Tell forth your tale, and spare for no man, |
| And teach us younge men of your practique." |
| "Gladly," quoth she, "since that it may you like. |
| But that I pray to all this company, |
| If that I speak after my fantasy, |
| To take nought agrief* what I may say; *to heart |
| For mine intent is only for to play. |
| Now, Sirs, then will I tell you forth my tale. |
| As ever may I drinke wine or ale |
| I shall say sooth; the husbands that I had |
| Three of them were good, and two were bad |
| The three were goode men, and rich, and old |
| *Unnethes mighte they the statute hold* *they could with difficulty |
| In which that they were bounden unto me. obey the law* |
| Yet wot well what I mean of this, pardie.* *by God |
| As God me help, I laugh when that I think |
| How piteously at night I made them swink,* *labour |
| But, *by my fay, I told of it no store:* *by my faith, I held it |
| They had me giv'n their land and their treasor, of no account* |
| Me needed not do longer diligence |
| To win their love, or do them reverence. |
| They loved me so well, by God above, |
| That I *tolde no dainty* of their love. *cared nothing for* |
| A wise woman will busy her ever-in-one* *constantly |
| To get their love, where that she hath none. |
| But, since I had them wholly in my hand, |
| And that they had me given all their land, |
| Why should I take keep* them for to please, *care |
| But* it were for my profit, or mine ease? *unless |
| I set them so a-worke, by my fay, |
| That many a night they sange, well-away! |
| The bacon was not fetched for them, I trow, |
| That some men have in Essex at Dunmow.<9> |
| I govern'd them so well after my law, |
| That each of them full blissful was and fawe* *fain |
| To bringe me gay thinges from the fair. |
| They were full glad when that I spake them fair, |
| For, God it wot, I *chid them spiteously.* *rebuked them angrily* |
| Now hearken how I bare me properly. |
| Ye wise wives, that can understand, |
| Thus should ye speak, and *bear them wrong on hand,* *make them |
| For half so boldely can there no man believe falsely* |
| Swearen and lien as a woman can. |
| (I say not this by wives that be wise, |
| *But if* it be when they them misadvise.)* *unless* *act unadvisedly |
| A wise wife, if that she can* her good, *knows |
| Shall *beare them on hand* the cow is wood, *make them believe* |
| And take witness of her owen maid |
| Of their assent: but hearken how I said. |
| "Sir olde kaynard,<10> is this thine array? |
| Why is my neigheboure's wife so gay? |
| She is honour'd *over all where* she go'th, *wheresoever |
| I sit at home, I have no *thrifty cloth.* *good clothes* |
| What dost thou at my neigheboure's house? |
| Is she so fair? art thou so amorous? |
| What rown'st* thou with our maid? benedicite, *whisperest |
| Sir olde lechour, let thy japes* be. *tricks |
| And if I have a gossip, or a friend |
| (Withoute guilt), thou chidest as a fiend, |
| If that I walk or play unto his house. |
| Thou comest home as drunken as a mouse, |
| And preachest on thy bench, with evil prefe:* *proof |
| Thou say'st to me, it is a great mischief |
| To wed a poore woman, for costage:* *expense |
| And if that she be rich, of high parage;* * birth <11> |
| Then say'st thou, that it is a tormentry |
| To suffer her pride and melancholy. |
| And if that she be fair, thou very knave, |
| Thou say'st that every holour* will her have; *whoremonger |
| She may no while in chastity abide, |
| That is assailed upon every side. |
| Thou say'st some folk desire us for richess, |
| Some for our shape, and some for our fairness, |
| And some, for she can either sing or dance, |
| And some for gentiless and dalliance, |
| Some for her handes and her armes smale: |
| Thus goes all to the devil, by thy tale; |
| Thou say'st, men may not keep a castle wall |
| That may be so assailed *over all.* *everywhere* |
| And if that she be foul, thou say'st that she |
| Coveteth every man that she may see; |
| For as a spaniel she will on him leap, |
| Till she may finde some man her to cheap;* *buy |
| And none so grey goose goes there in the lake, |
| (So say'st thou) that will be without a make.* *mate |
| And say'st, it is a hard thing for to weld *wield, govern |
| A thing that no man will, *his thankes, held.* *hold with his goodwill* |
| Thus say'st thou, lorel,* when thou go'st to bed, *good-for-nothing |
| And that no wise man needeth for to wed, |
| Nor no man that intendeth unto heaven. |
| With wilde thunder dint* and fiery leven** * stroke **lightning |
| Mote* thy wicked necke be to-broke. *may |
| Thou say'st, that dropping houses, and eke smoke, |
| And chiding wives, make men to flee |
| Out of their owne house; ah! ben'dicite, |
| What aileth such an old man for to chide? |
| Thou say'st, we wives will our vices hide, |
| Till we be fast,* and then we will them shew. *wedded |
| Well may that be a proverb of a shrew.* *ill-tempered wretch |
| Thou say'st, that oxen, asses, horses, hounds, |
| They be *assayed at diverse stounds,* *tested at various |
| Basons and lavers, ere that men them buy, seasons |
| Spoones, stooles, and all such husbandry, |
| And so be pots, and clothes, and array,* *raiment |
| But folk of wives make none assay, |
| Till they be wedded,—olde dotard shrew!— |
| And then, say'st thou, we will our vices shew. |
| Thou say'st also, that it displeaseth me, |
| But if * that thou wilt praise my beauty, *unless |
| And but* thou pore alway upon my face, *unless |
| And call me faire dame in every place; |
| And but* thou make a feast on thilke** day *unless **that |
| That I was born, and make me fresh and gay; |
| And but thou do to my norice* honour, *nurse <12> |
| And to my chamberere* within my bow'r, *chamber-maid |
| And to my father's folk, and mine allies;* *relations |
| Thus sayest thou, old barrel full of lies. |
| And yet also of our prentice Jenkin, |
| For his crisp hair, shining as gold so fine, |
| And for he squireth me both up and down, |
| Yet hast thou caught a false suspicioun: |
| I will him not, though thou wert dead to-morrow. |
| But tell me this, why hidest thou, *with sorrow,* *sorrow on thee!* |
| The keyes of thy chest away from me? |
| It is my good* as well as thine, pardie. *property |
| What, think'st to make an idiot of our dame? |
| Now, by that lord that called is Saint Jame, |
| Thou shalt not both, although that thou wert wood,* *furious |
| Be master of my body, and my good,* *property |
| The one thou shalt forego, maugre* thine eyen. *in spite of |
| What helpeth it of me t'inquire and spyen? |
| I trow thou wouldest lock me in thy chest. |
| Thou shouldest say, 'Fair wife, go where thee lest; |
| Take your disport; I will believe no tales; |
| I know you for a true wife, Dame Ales.'* *Alice |
| We love no man, that taketh keep* or charge *care |
| Where that we go; we will be at our large. |
| Of alle men most blessed may he be, |
| The wise astrologer Dan* Ptolemy, *Lord |
| That saith this proverb in his Almagest:<13> |
| 'Of alle men his wisdom is highest, |
| That recketh not who hath the world in hand. |
| By this proverb thou shalt well understand, |
| Have thou enough, what thar* thee reck or care *needs, behoves |
| How merrily that other folkes fare? |
| For certes, olde dotard, by your leave, |
| Ye shall have [pleasure] <14> right enough at eve. |
| He is too great a niggard that will werne* *forbid |
| A man to light a candle at his lantern; |
| He shall have never the less light, pardie. |
| Have thou enough, thee thar* not plaine** thee *need **complain |
| Thou say'st also, if that we make us gay |
| With clothing and with precious array, |
| That it is peril of our chastity. |
| And yet,—with sorrow!—thou enforcest thee, |
| And say'st these words in the apostle's name: |
| 'In habit made with chastity and shame* *modesty |
| Ye women shall apparel you,' quoth he,<15> |
| 'And not in tressed hair and gay perrie,* *jewels |
| As pearles, nor with gold, nor clothes rich.' |
| After thy text nor after thy rubrich |
| I will not work as muchel as a gnat. |
| Thou say'st also, I walk out like a cat; |
| For whoso woulde singe the catte's skin |
| Then will the catte well dwell in her inn;* *house |
| And if the catte's skin be sleek and gay, |
| She will not dwell in house half a day, |
| But forth she will, ere any day be daw'd, |
| To shew her skin, and go a caterwaw'd.* *caterwauling |
| This is to say, if I be gay, sir shrew, |
| I will run out, my borel* for to shew. *apparel, fine clothes |
| Sir olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen? |
| Though thou pray Argus with his hundred eyen |
| To be my wardecorps,* as he can best *body-guard |
| In faith he shall not keep me, *but me lest:* *unless I please* |
| Yet could I *make his beard,* so may I the. *make a jest of him* |
| "Thou sayest eke, that there be thinges three, *thrive |
| Which thinges greatly trouble all this earth, |
| And that no wighte may endure the ferth:* *fourth |
| O lefe* sir shrew, may Jesus short** thy life. *pleasant **shorten |
| Yet preachest thou, and say'st, a hateful wife |
| Y-reckon'd is for one of these mischances. |
| Be there *none other manner resemblances* *no other kind of |
| That ye may liken your parables unto, comparison* |
| But if a silly wife be one of tho?* *those |
| Thou likenest a woman's love to hell; |
| To barren land where water may not dwell. |
| Thou likenest it also to wild fire; |
| The more it burns, the more it hath desire |
| To consume every thing that burnt will be. |
| Thou sayest, right as wormes shend* a tree, *destroy |
| Right so a wife destroyeth her husbond; |
| This know they well that be to wives bond." |
| Lordings, right thus, as ye have understand, |
| *Bare I stiffly mine old husbands on hand,* *made them believe* |
| That thus they saiden in their drunkenness; |
| And all was false, but that I took witness |
| On Jenkin, and upon my niece also. |
| O Lord! the pain I did them, and the woe, |
| 'Full guilteless, by Godde's sweete pine;* *pain |
| For as a horse I coulde bite and whine; |
| I coulde plain,* an'** I was in the guilt, *complain **even though |
| Or elles oftentime I had been spilt* *ruined |
| Whoso first cometh to the nilll, first grint;* *is ground |
| I plained first, so was our war y-stint.* *stopped |
| They were full glad to excuse them full blive* *quickly |
| Of things that they never *aguilt their live.* *were guilty in their |
 lives* |
| Of wenches would I *beare them on hand,* *falsely accuse them* |
| When that for sickness scarcely might they stand, |
| Yet tickled I his hearte for that he |
| Ween'd* that I had of him so great cherte:** *though **affection<16> |
| I swore that all my walking out by night |
| Was for to espy wenches that he dight:* *adorned |
| Under that colour had I many a mirth. |
| For all such wit is given us at birth; |
| Deceit, weeping, and spinning, God doth give |
| To women kindly, while that they may live. *naturally |
| And thus of one thing I may vaunte me, |
| At th' end I had the better in each degree, |
| By sleight, or force, or by some manner thing, |
| As by continual murmur or grudging,* *complaining |
| Namely* a-bed, there hadde they mischance, *especially |
| There would I chide, and do them no pleasance: |
| I would no longer in the bed abide, |
| If that I felt his arm over my side, |
| Till he had made his ransom unto me, |
| Then would I suffer him do his nicety.* *folly <17> |
| And therefore every man this tale I tell, |
| Win whoso may, for all is for to sell; |
| With empty hand men may no hawkes lure; |
| For winning would I all his will endure, |
| And make me a feigned appetite, |
| And yet in bacon* had I never delight: *i.e. of Dunmow <9> |
| That made me that I ever would them chide. |
| For, though the Pope had sitten them beside, |
| I would not spare them at their owen board, |
| For, by my troth, I quit* them word for word *repaid |
| As help me very God omnipotent, |
| Though I right now should make my testament |
| I owe them not a word, that is not quit* *repaid |
| I brought it so aboute by my wit, |
| That they must give it up, as for the best |
| Or elles had we never been in rest. |
| For, though he looked as a wood* lion, *furious |
| Yet should he fail of his conclusion. |
| Then would I say, "Now, goode lefe* tak keep** *dear **heed |
| How meekly looketh Wilken oure sheep! |
| Come near, my spouse, and let me ba* thy cheek *kiss <18> |
| Ye shoulde be all patient and meek, |
| And have a *sweet y-spiced* conscience, *tender, nice* |
| Since ye so preach of Jobe's patience. |
| Suffer alway, since ye so well can preach, |
| And but* ye do, certain we shall you teach* *unless |
| That it is fair to have a wife in peace. |
| One of us two must bowe* doubteless: *give way |
| And since a man is more reasonable |
| Than woman is, ye must be suff'rable. |
| What aileth you to grudge* thus and groan? *complain |
| Is it for ye would have my [love] <14> alone? |
| Why, take it all: lo, have it every deal,* *whit |
| Peter! <19> shrew* you but ye love it well *curse |
| For if I woulde sell my *belle chose*, *beautiful thing* |
| I coulde walk as fresh as is a rose, |
| But I will keep it for your owen tooth. |
| Ye be to blame, by God, I say you sooth." |
| Such manner wordes hadde we on hand. |
| Now will I speaken of my fourth husband. |
| My fourthe husband was a revellour; |
| This is to say, he had a paramour, |
| And I was young and full of ragerie,* *wantonness |
| Stubborn and strong, and jolly as a pie.* *magpie |
| Then could I dance to a harpe smale, |
| And sing, y-wis,* as any nightingale, *certainly |
| When I had drunk a draught of sweete wine. |
| Metellius, the foule churl, the swine, |
| That with a staff bereft his wife of life |
| For she drank wine, though I had been his wife, |
| Never should he have daunted me from drink: |
| And, after wine, of Venus most I think. |
| For all so sure as cold engenders hail, |
| A liquorish mouth must have a liquorish tail. |
| In woman vinolent* is no defence,** *full of wine *resistance |
| This knowe lechours by experience. |
| But, lord Christ, when that it rememb'reth me |
| Upon my youth, and on my jollity, |
| It tickleth me about mine hearte-root; |
| Unto this day it doth mine hearte boot,* *good |
| That I have had my world as in my time. |
| But age, alas! that all will envenime,* *poison, embitter |
| Hath me bereft my beauty and my pith:* *vigour |
| Let go; farewell; the devil go therewith. |
| The flour is gon, there is no more to tell, |
| The bran, as I best may, now must I sell. |
| But yet to be right merry will I fand.* *try |
| Now forth to tell you of my fourth husband, |
| I say, I in my heart had great despite, |
| That he of any other had delight; |
| But he was quit,* by God and by Saint Joce:<21> *requited, paid back |
| I made for him of the same wood a cross; |
| Not of my body in no foul mannere, |
| But certainly I made folk such cheer, |
| That in his owen grease I made him fry |
| For anger, and for very jealousy. |
| By God, in earth I was his purgatory, |
| For which I hope his soul may be in glory. |
| For, God it wot, he sat full oft and sung, |
| When that his shoe full bitterly him wrung.* *pinched |
| There was no wight, save God and he, that wist |
| In many wise how sore I did him twist.<20> |
| He died when I came from Jerusalem, |
| And lies in grave under the *roode beam:* *cross* |
| Although his tomb is not so curious |
| As was the sepulchre of Darius, |
| Which that Apelles wrought so subtlely. |
| It is but waste to bury them preciously. |
| Let him fare well, God give his soule rest, |
| He is now in his grave and in his chest. |
| Now of my fifthe husband will I tell: |
| God let his soul never come into hell. |
| And yet was he to me the moste shrew;* *cruel, ill-tempered |
| That feel I on my ribbes all *by rew,* *in a row |
| And ever shall, until mine ending day. |
| But in our bed he was so fresh and gay, |
| And therewithal so well he could me glose,* *flatter |
| When that he woulde have my belle chose, |
| Though he had beaten me on every bone, |
| Yet could he win again my love anon. |
| I trow, I lov'd him better, for that he |
| Was of his love so dangerous* to me. *sparing, difficult |
| We women have, if that I shall not lie, |
| In this matter a quainte fantasy. |
| Whatever thing we may not lightly have, |
| Thereafter will we cry all day and crave. |
| Forbid us thing, and that desire we; |
| Press on us fast, and thenne will we flee. |
| With danger* utter we all our chaffare;** *difficulty **merchandise |
| Great press at market maketh deare ware, |
| And too great cheap is held at little price; |
| This knoweth every woman that is wise. |
| My fifthe husband, God his soule bless, |
| Which that I took for love and no richess, |
| He some time was *a clerk of Oxenford,* *a scholar of Oxford* |
| And had left school, and went at home to board |
| With my gossip,* dwelling in oure town: *godmother |
| God have her soul, her name was Alisoun. |
| She knew my heart, and all my privity, |
| Bet than our parish priest, so may I the.* *thrive |
| To her betrayed I my counsel all; |
| For had my husband pissed on a wall, |
| Or done a thing that should have cost his life, |
| To her, and to another worthy wife, |
| And to my niece, which that I loved well, |
| I would have told his counsel every deal.* *jot |
| And so I did full often, God it wot, |
| That made his face full often red and hot |
| For very shame, and blam'd himself, for he |
| Had told to me so great a privity.* *secret |
| And so befell that ones in a Lent |
| (So oftentimes I to my gossip went, |
| For ever yet I loved to be gay, |
| And for to walk in March, April, and May |
| From house to house, to heare sundry tales), |
| That Jenkin clerk, and my gossip, Dame Ales, |
| And I myself, into the fieldes went. |
| Mine husband was at London all that Lent; |
| I had the better leisure for to play, |
| And for to see, and eke for to be sey* *seen |
| Of lusty folk; what wist I where my grace* *favour |
| Was shapen for to be, or in what place? *appointed |
| Therefore made I my visitations |
| To vigilies,* and to processions, *festival-eves<22> |
| To preachings eke, and to these pilgrimages, |
| To plays of miracles, and marriages, |
| And weared upon me gay scarlet gites.* *gowns |
| These wormes, nor these mothes, nor these mites |
| On my apparel frett* them never a deal** *fed **whit |
| And know'st thou why? for they were used* well. *worn |
| Now will I telle forth what happen'd me: |
| I say, that in the fieldes walked we, |
| Till truely we had such dalliance, |
| This clerk and I, that of my purveyance* *foresight |
| I spake to him, and told him how that he, |
| If I were widow, shoulde wedde me. |
| For certainly, I say for no bobance,* *boasting<23> |
| Yet was I never without purveyance* *foresight |
| Of marriage, nor of other thinges eke: |
| I hold a mouse's wit not worth a leek, |
| That hath but one hole for to starte* to,<24> *escape |
| And if that faile, then is all y-do.* *done |
| [*I bare him on hand* he had enchanted me *falsely assured him* |
| (My dame taughte me that subtilty); |
| And eke I said, I mette* of him all night, *dreamed |
| He would have slain me, as I lay upright, |
| And all my bed was full of very blood; |
| But yet I hop'd that he should do me good; |
| For blood betoken'd gold, as me was taught. |
| And all was false, I dream'd of him right naught, |
| But as I follow'd aye my dame's lore, |
| As well of that as of other things more.] <25> |
| But now, sir, let me see, what shall I sayn? |
| Aha! by God, I have my tale again. |
| When that my fourthe husband was on bier, |
| I wept algate* and made a sorry cheer,** *always **countenance |
| As wives must, for it is the usage; |
| And with my kerchief covered my visage; |
| But, for I was provided with a make,* *mate |
| I wept but little, that I undertake* *promise |
| To churche was mine husband borne a-morrow |
| With neighebours that for him made sorrow, |
| And Jenkin, oure clerk, was one of tho:* *those |
| As help me God, when that I saw him go |
| After the bier, methought he had a pair |
| Of legges and of feet so clean and fair, |
| That all my heart I gave unto his hold.* *keeping |
| He was, I trow, a twenty winter old, |
| And I was forty, if I shall say sooth, |
| But yet I had always a colte's tooth. |
| Gat-toothed* I was, and that became me well, *see note <26> |
| I had the print of Sainte Venus' seal. |
| [As help me God, I was a lusty one, |
| And fair, and rich, and young, and *well begone:* *in a good way* |
| For certes I am all venerian* *under the influence of Venus |
| In feeling, and my heart is martian;* *under the influence of Mars |
| Venus me gave my lust and liquorishness, |
| And Mars gave me my sturdy hardiness.] <25> |
| Mine ascendant was Taure,* and Mars therein: *Taurus |
| Alas, alas, that ever love was sin! |
| I follow'd aye mine inclination |
| By virtue of my constellation: |
| That made me that I coulde not withdraw |
| My chamber of Venus from a good fellaw. |
| [Yet have I Marte's mark upon my face, |
| And also in another privy place. |
| For God so wisly* be my salvation, *certainly |
| I loved never by discretion, |
| But ever follow'd mine own appetite, |
| All* were he short, or long, or black, or white, *whether |
| I took no keep,* so that he liked me, *heed |
| How poor he was, neither of what degree.] <25> |
| What should I say? but that at the month's end |
| This jolly clerk Jenkin, that was so hend,* *courteous |
| Had wedded me with great solemnity, |
| And to him gave I all the land and fee |
| That ever was me given therebefore: |
| But afterward repented me full sore. |
| He woulde suffer nothing of my list.* *pleasure |
| By God, he smote me ones with his fist, |
| For that I rent out of his book a leaf, |
| That of the stroke mine eare wax'd all deaf. |
| Stubborn I was, as is a lioness, |
| And of my tongue a very jangleress,* *prater |
| And walk I would, as I had done beforn, |
| From house to house, although he had it sworn:* *had sworn to |
| For which he oftentimes woulde preach prevent it |
| And me of olde Roman gestes* teach *stories |
| How that Sulpitius Gallus left his wife |
| And her forsook for term of all his |
| For nought but open-headed* he her say** *bare-headed **saw |
| Looking out at his door upon a day. |
| Another Roman <27> told he me by name, |
| That, for his wife was at a summer game |
| Without his knowing, he forsook her eke. |
| And then would he upon his Bible seek |
| That ilke* proverb of Ecclesiast, *same |
| Where he commandeth, and forbiddeth fast, |
| Man shall not suffer his wife go roll about. |
| Then would he say right thus withoute doubt: |
| "Whoso that buildeth his house all of sallows,* *willows |
| And pricketh his blind horse over the fallows, |
| And suff'reth his wife to *go seeke hallows,* *make pilgrimages* |
| Is worthy to be hanged on the gallows." |
| But all for nought; I *sette not a haw* *cared nothing for* |
| Of his proverbs, nor of his olde saw; |
| Nor would I not of him corrected be. |
| I hate them that my vices telle me, |
| And so do more of us (God wot) than I. |
| This made him wood* with me all utterly; *furious |
| I woulde not forbear* him in no case. *endure |
| Now will I say you sooth, by Saint Thomas, |
| Why that I rent out of his book a leaf, |
| For which he smote me, so that I was deaf. |
| He had a book, that gladly night and day |
| For his disport he would it read alway; |
| He call'd it Valerie,<28> and Theophrast, |
| And with that book he laugh'd alway full fast. |
| And eke there was a clerk sometime at Rome, |
| A cardinal, that highte Saint Jerome, |
| That made a book against Jovinian, |
| Which book was there; and eke Tertullian, |
| Chrysippus, Trotula, and Heloise, |
| That was an abbess not far from Paris; |
| And eke the Parables* of Solomon, *Proverbs |
| Ovide's Art, <29> and bourdes* many one; *jests |
| And alle these were bound in one volume. |
| And every night and day was his custume |
| (When he had leisure and vacation |
| From other worldly occupation) |
| To readen in this book of wicked wives. |
| He knew of them more legends and more lives |
| Than be of goodde wives in the Bible. |
| For, trust me well, it is an impossible |
| That any clerk will speake good of wives, |
| (*But if* it be of holy saintes' lives) *unless |
| Nor of none other woman never the mo'. |
| Who painted the lion, tell it me, who? |
| By God, if women haddde written stories, |
| As clerkes have within their oratories, |
| They would have writ of men more wickedness |
| Than all the mark of Adam <30> may redress |
| The children of Mercury and of Venus,<31> |
| Be in their working full contrarious. |
| Mercury loveth wisdom and science, |
| And Venus loveth riot and dispence.* *extravagance |
| And for their diverse disposition, |
| Each falls in other's exaltation. |
| As thus, God wot, Mercury is desolate |
| In Pisces, where Venus is exaltate, |
| And Venus falls where Mercury is raised. <32> |
| Therefore no woman by no clerk is praised. |
| The clerk, when he is old, and may not do |
| Of Venus' works not worth his olde shoe, |
| Then sits he down, and writes in his dotage, |
| That women cannot keep their marriage. |
| But now to purpose, why I tolde thee |
| That I was beaten for a book, pardie. |
| Upon a night Jenkin, that was our sire,* *goodman |
| Read on his book, as he sat by the fire, |
| Of Eva first, that for her wickedness |
| Was all mankind brought into wretchedness, |
| For which that Jesus Christ himself was slain, |
| That bought us with his hearte-blood again. |
| Lo here express of women may ye find |
| That woman was the loss of all mankind. |
| Then read he me how Samson lost his hairs |
| Sleeping, his leman cut them with her shears, |
| Through whiche treason lost he both his eyen. |
| Then read he me, if that I shall not lien, |
| Of Hercules, and of his Dejanire, |
| That caused him to set himself on fire. |
| Nothing forgot he of the care and woe |
| That Socrates had with his wives two; |
| How Xantippe cast piss upon his head. |
| This silly man sat still, as he were dead, |
| He wip'd his head, and no more durst he sayn, |
| But, "Ere the thunder stint* there cometh rain." *ceases |
| Of Phasiphae, that was queen of Crete, |
| For shrewedness* he thought the tale sweet. *wickedness |
| Fy, speak no more, it is a grisly thing, |
| Of her horrible lust and her liking. |
| Of Clytemnestra, for her lechery |
| That falsely made her husband for to die, |
| He read it with full good devotion. |
| He told me eke, for what occasion |
| Amphiorax at Thebes lost his life: |
| My husband had a legend of his wife |
| Eryphile, that for an ouche* of gold *clasp, collar |
| Had privily unto the Greekes told, |
| Where that her husband hid him in a place, |
| For which he had at Thebes sorry grace. |
| Of Luna told he me, and of Lucie; |
| They bothe made their husbands for to die, |
| That one for love, that other was for hate. |
| Luna her husband on an ev'ning late |
| Empoison'd had, for that she was his foe: |
| Lucia liquorish lov'd her husband so, |
| That, for he should always upon her think, |
| She gave him such a manner* love-drink, *sort of |
| That he was dead before it were the morrow: |
| And thus algates* husbands hadde sorrow. *always |
| Then told he me how one Latumeus |
| Complained to his fellow Arius |
| That in his garden growed such a tree, |
| On which he said how that his wives three |
| Hanged themselves for heart dispiteous. |
| "O leve* brother," quoth this Arius, *dear |
| "Give me a plant of thilke* blessed tree, *that |
| And in my garden planted shall it be." |
| Of later date of wives hath he read, |
| That some have slain their husbands in their bed, |
| And let their *lechour dight them* all the night, *lover ride them* |
| While that the corpse lay on the floor upright: |
| And some have driven nails into their brain, |
| While that they slept, and thus they have them slain: |
| Some have them given poison in their drink: |
| He spake more harm than hearte may bethink. |
| And therewithal he knew of more proverbs, |
| Than in this world there groweth grass or herbs. |
| "Better (quoth he) thine habitation |
| Be with a lion, or a foul dragon, |
| Than with a woman using for to chide. |
| Better (quoth he) high in the roof abide, |
| Than with an angry woman in the house, |
| They be so wicked and contrarious: |
| They hate that their husbands loven aye." |
| He said, "A woman cast her shame away |
| When she cast off her smock;" and farthermo', |
| "A fair woman, but* she be chaste also, *except |
| Is like a gold ring in a sowe's nose. |
| Who coulde ween,* or who coulde suppose *think |
| The woe that in mine heart was, and the pine?* *pain |
| And when I saw that he would never fine* *finish |
| To readen on this cursed book all night, |
| All suddenly three leaves have I plight* *plucked |
| Out of his book, right as he read, and eke |
| I with my fist so took him on the cheek, |
| That in our fire he backward fell adown. |
| And he up start, as doth a wood* lion, *furious |
| And with his fist he smote me on the head, |
| That on the floor I lay as I were dead. |
| And when he saw how still that there I lay, |
| He was aghast, and would have fled away, |
| Till at the last out of my swoon I braid,* *woke |
| "Oh, hast thou slain me, thou false thief?" I said |
| "And for my land thus hast thou murder'd me? |
| Ere I be dead, yet will I kisse thee." |
| And near he came, and kneeled fair adown, |
| And saide", "Deare sister Alisoun, |
| As help me God, I shall thee never smite: |
| That I have done it is thyself to wite,* *blame |
| Forgive it me, and that I thee beseek."* *beseech |
| And yet eftsoons* I hit him on the cheek, *immediately; again |
| And saidde, "Thief, thus much am I awreak.* *avenged |
| Now will I die, I may no longer speak." |
| But at the last, with muche care and woe |
| We fell accorded* by ourselves two: *agreed |
| He gave me all the bridle in mine hand |
| To have the governance of house and land, |
| And of his tongue, and of his hand also. |
| I made him burn his book anon right tho.* *then |
| And when that I had gotten unto me |
| By mast'ry all the sovereignety, |
| And that he said, "Mine owen true wife, |
| Do *as thee list,* the term of all thy life, *as pleases thee* |
| Keep thine honour, and eke keep mine estate; |
| After that day we never had debate. |
| God help me so, I was to him as kind |
| As any wife from Denmark unto Ind, |
| And also true, and so was he to me: |
| I pray to God that sits in majesty |
| So bless his soule, for his mercy dear. |
| Now will I say my tale, if ye will hear.— |
| The Friar laugh'd when he had heard all this: |
| "Now, Dame," quoth he, "so have I joy and bliss, |
| This is a long preamble of a tale." |
| And when the Sompnour heard the Friar gale,* *speak |
| "Lo," quoth this Sompnour, "Godde's armes two, |
| A friar will intermete* him evermo': *interpose <33> |
| Lo, goode men, a fly and eke a frere |
| Will fall in ev'ry dish and eke mattere. |
| What speak'st thou of perambulation?* *preamble |
| What? amble or trot; or peace, or go sit down: |
| Thou lettest* our disport in this mattere." *hinderesst |
| "Yea, wilt thou so, Sir Sompnour?" quoth the Frere; |
| "Now by my faith I shall, ere that I go, |
| Tell of a Sompnour such a tale or two, |
| That all the folk shall laughen in this place." |
| "Now do, else, Friar, I beshrew* thy face," *curse |
| Quoth this Sompnour; "and I beshrewe me, |
| But if* I telle tales two or three *unless |
| Of friars, ere I come to Sittingbourne, |
| That I shall make thine hearte for to mourn: |
| For well I wot thy patience is gone." |
| Our Hoste cried, "Peace, and that anon;" |
| And saide, "Let the woman tell her tale. |
| Ye fare* as folk that drunken be of ale. *behave |
| Do, Dame, tell forth your tale, and that is best." |
| "All ready, sir," quoth she, "right as you lest,* *please |
| If I have licence of this worthy Frere." |
| "Yes, Dame," quoth he, "tell forth, and I will hear." |
| Notes to the Prologue to the Wife of Bath's Tale |
| 1. Among the evidences that Chaucer's great work was left |
| incomplete, is the absence of any link of connexion between the |
| Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale, and what goes before. This |
| deficiency has in some editions caused the Squire's and the |
| Merchant's Tales to be interposed between those of the Man of |
| Law and the Wife of Bath; but in the Merchant's Tale there is |
| internal proof that it was told after the jolly Dame's. Several |
| manuscripts contain verses designed to serve as a connexion; |
| but they are evidently not Chaucer's, and it is unnecessary to |
| give them here. Of this Prologue, which may fairly be regarded |
| as a distinct autobiographical tale, Tyrwhitt says: "The |
| extraordinary length of it, as well as the vein of pleasantry that |
| runs through it, is very suitable to the character of the speaker. |
| The greatest part must have been of Chaucer's own invention, |
| though one may plainly see that he had been reading the popular |
| invectives against marriage and women in general; such as the |
| 'Roman de la Rose,' 'Valerius ad Rufinum, De non Ducenda |
| Uxore,' ('Valerius to Rufinus, on not being ruled by one's wife') |
| and particularly 'Hieronymus contra Jovinianum.' ('Jerome |
| against Jovinianus') St Jerome, among other things designed to |
| discourage marriage, has inserted in his treatise a long passage |
| from 'Liber Aureolus Theophrasti de Nuptiis.' ('Theophrastus's |
| Golden Book of Marriage')." |
| 2. A great part of the marriage service used to be performed in |
| the church-porch. |
| 3. Jesus and the Samaritan woman: John iv. 13. |
| 4. Dan: Lord; Latin, "dominus." Another reading is "the wise |
| man, King Solomon." |
| 5. Defended: forbade; French, "defendre," to prohibit. |
| 6. Dart: the goal; a spear or dart was set up to mark the point of |
| victory. |
| 7. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and |
| silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and |
| some to dishonour."—2 Tim. ii 20. |
| 8. Jesus feeding the multitude with barley bread: Mark vi. 41, |
| 42. |
| 9. At Dunmow prevailed the custom of giving, amid much |
| merry making, a flitch of bacon to the married pair who had |
| lived together for a year without quarrel or regret. The same |
| custom prevailed of old in Bretagne. |
| 10. "Cagnard," or "Caignard," a French term of reproach, |
| originally derived from "canis," a dog. |
| 11. Parage: birth, kindred; from Latin, "pario," I beget. |
| 12. Norice: nurse; French, "nourrice." |
| 13. This and the previous quotation from Ptolemy are due to |
| the Dame's own fancy. |
| 14. (Transcriber's note: Some Victorian censorship here. The |
| word given in [brackets] should be "queint" i.e. "cunt".) |
| 15. Women should not adorn themselves: see I Tim. ii. 9. |
| 16. Cherte: affection; from French, "cher," dear. |
| 17. Nicety: folly; French, "niaiserie." |
| 18. Ba: kiss; from French, "baiser." |
| 19. Peter!: by Saint Peter! a common adjuration, like Marie! |
| from the Virgin's name. |
| 20. St. Joce: or Judocus, a saint of Ponthieu, in France. |
| 21. "An allusion," says Mr Wright, "to the story of the Roman |
| sage who, when blamed for divorcing his wife, said that a shoe |
| might appear outwardly to fit well, but no one but the wearer |
| knew where it pinched." |
| 22. Vigilies: festival-eves; see note 33 to the Prologue to the |
| Tales. |
| 23. Bobance: boasting; Ben Jonson's braggart, in "Every Man in |
| his Humour," is named Bobadil. |
| 24. "I hold a mouse's wit not worth a leek, |
| That hath but one hole for to starte to" |
| A very old proverb in French, German, and Latin. |
| 25. The lines in brackets are only in some of the manuscripts. |
| 26. Gat-toothed: gap-toothed; goat-toothed; or separate |
| toothed. See note 41 to the prologue to the Tales. |
| 27. Sempronius Sophus, of whom Valerius Maximus tells in his |
| sixth book. |
| 28. The tract of Walter Mapes against marriage, published |
| under the title of "Epistola Valerii ad Rufinum." |
| 29. "Ars Amoris." |
| 30. All the mark of Adam: all who bear the mark of Adam i.e. |
| all men. |
| 31. The Children of Mercury and Venus: those born under the |
| influence of the respective planets. |
| 32. A planet, according to the old astrologers, was in |
| "exaltation" when in the sign of the Zodiac in which it exerted |
| its strongest influence; the opposite sign, in which it was |
| weakest, was called its "dejection." Venus being strongest in |
| Pisces, was weakest in Virgo; but in Virgo Mercury was in |
| "exaltation." |
| 33. Intermete: interpose; French, "entremettre." |
| THE TALE. <1> |
| In olde dayes of the king Arthour, |
| Of which that Britons speake great honour, |
| All was this land full fill'd of faerie;* *fairies |
| The Elf-queen, with her jolly company, |
| Danced full oft in many a green mead |
| This was the old opinion, as I read; |
| I speak of many hundred years ago; |
| But now can no man see none elves mo', |
| For now the great charity and prayeres |
| Of limitours,* and other holy freres, *begging friars <2> |
| That search every land and ev'ry stream |
| As thick as motes in the sunne-beam, |
| Blessing halls, chambers, kitchenes, and bowers, |
| Cities and burghes, castles high and towers, |
| Thorpes* and barnes, shepens** and dairies, *villages <3> **stables |
| This makes that there be now no faeries: |
| For *there as* wont to walke was an elf, *where* |
| There walketh now the limitour himself, |
| In undermeles* and in morrowings**, *evenings <4> **mornings |
| And saith his matins and his holy things, |
| As he goes in his limitatioun.* *begging district |
| Women may now go safely up and down, |
| In every bush, and under every tree; |
| There is none other incubus <5> but he; |
| And he will do to them no dishonour. |
| And so befell it, that this king Arthour |
| Had in his house a lusty bacheler, |
| That on a day came riding from river: <6> |
| And happen'd, that, alone as she was born, |
| He saw a maiden walking him beforn, |
| Of which maiden anon, maugre* her head, *in spite of |
| By very force he reft her maidenhead: |
| For which oppression was such clamour, |
| And such pursuit unto the king Arthour, |
| That damned* was this knight for to be dead *condemned |
| By course of law, and should have lost his head; |
| (Paraventure such was the statute tho),* *then |
| But that the queen and other ladies mo' |
| So long they prayed the king of his grace, |
| Till he his life him granted in the place, |
| And gave him to the queen, all at her will |
| To choose whether she would him save or spill* *destroy |
| The queen thanked the king with all her might; |
| And, after this, thus spake she to the knight, |
| When that she saw her time upon a day. |
| "Thou standest yet," quoth she, "in such array,* *a position |
| That of thy life yet hast thou no surety; |
| I grant thee life, if thou canst tell to me |
| What thing is it that women most desiren: |
| Beware, and keep thy neck-bone from the iron* *executioner's axe |
| And if thou canst not tell it me anon, |
| Yet will I give thee leave for to gon |
| A twelvemonth and a day, to seek and lear* *learn |
| An answer suffisant* in this mattere. *satisfactory |
| And surety will I have, ere that thou pace,* *go |
| Thy body for to yielden in this place." |
| Woe was the knight, and sorrowfully siked;* *sighed |
| But what? he might not do all as him liked. |
| And at the last he chose him for to wend,* *depart |
| And come again, right at the yeare's end, |
| With such answer as God would him purvey:* *provide |
| And took his leave, and wended forth his way. |
| He sought in ev'ry house and ev'ry place, |
| Where as he hoped for to finde grace, |
| To learne what thing women love the most: |
| But he could not arrive in any coast, |
| Where as he mighte find in this mattere |
| Two creatures *according in fere.* *agreeing together* |
| Some said that women loved best richess, |
| Some said honour, and some said jolliness, |
| Some rich array, and some said lust* a-bed, *pleasure |
| And oft time to be widow and be wed. |
| Some said, that we are in our heart most eased |
| When that we are y-flatter'd and y-praised. |
| He *went full nigh the sooth,* I will not lie; *came very near |
| A man shall win us best with flattery; the truth* |
| And with attendance, and with business |
| Be we y-limed,* bothe more and less. *caught with bird-lime |
| And some men said that we do love the best |
| For to be free, and do *right as us lest,* *whatever we please* |
| And that no man reprove us of our vice, |
| But say that we are wise, and nothing nice,* *foolish <7> |
| For truly there is none among us all, |
| If any wight will *claw us on the gall,* *see note <8>* |
| That will not kick, for that he saith us sooth: |
| Assay,* and he shall find it, that so do'th. *try |
| For be we never so vicious within, |
| We will be held both wise and clean of sin. |
| And some men said, that great delight have we |
| For to be held stable and eke secre,* *discreet |
| And in one purpose steadfastly to dwell, |
| And not bewray* a thing that men us tell. *give away |
| But that tale is not worth a rake-stele.* *rake-handle |
| Pardie, we women canne nothing hele,* *hide <9> |
| Witness on Midas; will ye hear the tale? |
| Ovid, amonges other thinges smale* *small |
| Saith, Midas had, under his longe hairs, |
| Growing upon his head two ass's ears; |
| The whiche vice he hid, as best he might, |
| Full subtlely from every man's sight, |
| That, save his wife, there knew of it no mo'; |
| He lov'd her most, and trusted her also; |
| He prayed her, that to no creature |
| She woulde tellen of his disfigure. |
| She swore him, nay, for all the world to win, |
| She would not do that villainy or sin, |
| To make her husband have so foul a name: |
| She would not tell it for her owen shame. |
| But natheless her thoughte that she died, |
| That she so longe should a counsel hide; |
| Her thought it swell'd so sore about her heart |
| That needes must some word from her astart |
| And, since she durst not tell it unto man |
| Down to a marish fast thereby she ran, |
| Till she came there, her heart was all afire: |
| And, as a bittern bumbles* in the mire, *makes a humming noise |
| She laid her mouth unto the water down |
| "Bewray me not, thou water, with thy soun'" |
| Quoth she, "to thee I tell it, and no mo', |
| Mine husband hath long ass's eares two! |
| Now is mine heart all whole; now is it out; |
| I might no longer keep it, out of doubt." |
| Here may ye see, though we a time abide, |
| Yet out it must, we can no counsel hide. |
| The remnant of the tale, if ye will hear, |
| Read in Ovid, and there ye may it lear.* *learn |
| This knight, of whom my tale is specially, |
| When that he saw he might not come thereby, |
| That is to say, what women love the most, |
| Within his breast full sorrowful was his ghost.* *spirit |
| But home he went, for he might not sojourn, |
| The day was come, that homeward he must turn. |
| And in his way it happen'd him to ride, |
| In all his care,* under a forest side, *trouble, anxiety |
| Where as he saw upon a dance go |
| Of ladies four-and-twenty, and yet mo', |
| Toward this ilke* dance he drew full yern,** *same **eagerly <10> |
| The hope that he some wisdom there should learn; |
| But certainly, ere he came fully there, |
| Y-vanish'd was this dance, he knew not where; |
| No creature saw he that bare life, |
| Save on the green he sitting saw a wife, |
| A fouler wight there may no man devise.* *imagine, tell |
| Against* this knight this old wife gan to rise, *to meet |
| And said, "Sir Knight, hereforth* lieth no way. *from here |
| Tell me what ye are seeking, by your fay. |
| Paraventure it may the better be: |
| These olde folk know muche thing." quoth she. |
| My leve* mother," quoth this knight, "certain, *dear |
| I am but dead, but if* that I can sayn *unless |
| What thing it is that women most desire: |
| Could ye me wiss,* I would well *quite your hire."* *instruct <11> |
| "Plight me thy troth here in mine hand," quoth she, *reward you* |
| "The nexte thing that I require of thee |
| Thou shalt it do, if it be in thy might, |
| And I will tell it thee ere it be night." |
| "Have here my trothe," quoth the knight; "I grant." |
| "Thenne," quoth she, "I dare me well avaunt,* *boast, affirm |
| Thy life is safe, for I will stand thereby, |
| Upon my life the queen will say as I: |
| Let see, which is the proudest of them all, |
| That wears either a kerchief or a caul, |
| That dare say nay to that I shall you teach. |
| Let us go forth withoute longer speech |
| Then *rowned she a pistel* in his ear, *she whispered a secret* |
| And bade him to be glad, and have no fear. |
| When they were come unto the court, this knight |
| Said, he had held his day, as he had hight,* *promised |
| And ready was his answer, as he said. |
| Full many a noble wife, and many a maid, |
| And many a widow, for that they be wise,— |
| The queen herself sitting as a justice,— |
| Assembled be, his answer for to hear, |
| And afterward this knight was bid appear. |
| To every wight commanded was silence, |
| And that the knight should tell in audience, |
| What thing that worldly women love the best. |
| This knight he stood not still, as doth a beast, |
| But to this question anon answer'd |
| With manly voice, that all the court it heard, |
| "My liege lady, generally," quoth he, |
| "Women desire to have the sovereignty |
| As well over their husband as their love |
| And for to be in mast'ry him above. |
| This is your most desire, though ye me kill, |
| Do as you list, I am here at your will." |
| In all the court there was no wife nor maid |
| Nor widow, that contraried what he said, |
| But said, he worthy was to have his life. |
| And with that word up start that olde wife |
| Which that the knight saw sitting on the green. |
| "Mercy," quoth she, "my sovereign lady queen, |
| Ere that your court departe, do me right. |
| I taughte this answer unto this knight, |
| For which he plighted me his trothe there, |
| The firste thing I would of him requere, |
| He would it do, if it lay in his might. |
| Before this court then pray I thee, Sir Knight," |
| Quoth she, "that thou me take unto thy wife, |
| For well thou know'st that I have kept* thy life. *preserved |
| If I say false, say nay, upon thy fay."* *faith |
| This knight answer'd, "Alas, and well-away! |
| I know right well that such was my behest.* *promise |
| For Godde's love choose a new request |
| Take all my good, and let my body go." |
| "Nay, then," quoth she, "I shrew* us bothe two, *curse |
| For though that I be old, and foul, and poor, |
| I n'ould* for all the metal nor the ore, *would not |
| That under earth is grave,* or lies above *buried |
| But if thy wife I were and eke thy love." |
| "My love?" quoth he, "nay, my damnation, |
| Alas! that any of my nation |
| Should ever so foul disparaged be. |
| But all for nought; the end is this, that he |
| Constrained was, that needs he muste wed, |
| And take this olde wife, and go to bed. |
| Now woulde some men say paraventure |
| That for my negligence I do no cure* *take no pains |
| To tell you all the joy and all th' array |
| That at the feast was made that ilke* day. *same |
| To which thing shortly answeren I shall: |
| I say there was no joy nor feast at all, |
| There was but heaviness and muche sorrow: |
| For privily he wed her on the morrow; |
| And all day after hid him as an owl, |
| So woe was him, his wife look'd so foul |
| Great was the woe the knight had in his thought |
| When he was with his wife to bed y-brought; |
| He wallow'd, and he turned to and fro. |
| This olde wife lay smiling evermo', |
| And said, "Dear husband, benedicite, |
| Fares every knight thus with his wife as ye? |
| Is this the law of king Arthoures house? |
| Is every knight of his thus dangerous?* *fastidious, niggardly |
| I am your owen love, and eke your wife |
| I am she, which that saved hath your life |
| And certes yet did I you ne'er unright. |
| Why fare ye thus with me this firste night? |
| Ye fare like a man had lost his wit. |
| What is my guilt? for God's love tell me it, |
| And it shall be amended, if I may." |
| "Amended!" quoth this knight; "alas, nay, nay, |
| It will not be amended, never mo'; |
| Thou art so loathly, and so old also, |
| And thereto* comest of so low a kind, *in addition |
| That little wonder though I wallow and wind;* *writhe, turn about |
| So woulde God, mine hearte woulde brest!"* *burst |
| "Is this," quoth she, "the cause of your unrest?" |
| "Yea, certainly," quoth he; "no wonder is." |
| "Now, Sir," quoth she, "I could amend all this, |
| If that me list, ere it were dayes three, |
| *So well ye mighte bear you unto me.* *if you could conduct |
| But, for ye speaken of such gentleness yourself well |
| As is descended out of old richess, towards me* |
| That therefore shalle ye be gentlemen; |
| Such arrogancy is *not worth a hen.* *worth nothing |
| Look who that is most virtuous alway, |
| *Prive and apert,* and most intendeth aye *in private and public* |
| To do the gentle deedes that he can; |
| And take him for the greatest gentleman. |
| Christ will,* we claim of him our gentleness, *wills, requires |
| Not of our elders* for their old richess. *ancestors |
| For though they gave us all their heritage, |
| For which we claim to be of high parage,* *birth, descent |
| Yet may they not bequeathe, for no thing, |
| To none of us, their virtuous living |
| That made them gentlemen called to be, |
| And bade us follow them in such degree. |
| Well can the wise poet of Florence, |
| That highte Dante, speak of this sentence:* *sentiment |
| Lo, in such manner* rhyme is Dante's tale. *kind of |
| 'Full seld'* upriseth by his branches smale *seldom |
| Prowess of man, for God of his goodness |
| Wills that we claim of him our gentleness;' <12> |
| For of our elders may we nothing claim |
| But temp'ral things that man may hurt and maim. |
| Eke every wight knows this as well as I, |
| If gentleness were planted naturally |
| Unto a certain lineage down the line, |
| Prive and apert, then would they never fine* *cease |
| To do of gentleness the fair office |
| Then might they do no villainy nor vice. |
| Take fire, and bear it to the darkest house |
| Betwixt this and the mount of Caucasus, |
| And let men shut the doores, and go thenne,* *thence |
| Yet will the fire as fair and lighte brenne* *burn |
| As twenty thousand men might it behold; |
| *Its office natural aye will it hold,* *it will perform its |
| On peril of my life, till that it die. natural duty* |
| Here may ye see well how that gentery* *gentility, nobility |
| Is not annexed to possession, |
| Since folk do not their operation |
| Alway, as doth the fire, lo, *in its kind* *from its very nature* |
| For, God it wot, men may full often find |
| A lorde's son do shame and villainy. |
| And he that will have price* of his gent'ry, *esteem, honour |
| For* he was boren of a gentle house, *because |
| And had his elders noble and virtuous, |
| And will himselfe do no gentle deedes, |
| Nor follow his gentle ancestry, that dead is, |
| He is not gentle, be he duke or earl; |
| For villain sinful deedes make a churl. |
| For gentleness is but the renomee* *renown |
| Of thine ancestors, for their high bounte,* *goodness, worth |
| Which is a strange thing to thy person: |
| Thy gentleness cometh from God alone. |
| Then comes our very* gentleness of grace; *true |
| It was no thing bequeath'd us with our place. |
| Think how noble, as saith Valerius, |
| Was thilke* Tullius Hostilius, *that |
| That out of povert' rose to high |
| Read in Senec, and read eke in Boece, |
| There shall ye see express, that it no drede* is, *doubt |
| That he is gentle that doth gentle deedes. |
| And therefore, leve* husband, I conclude, *dear |
| Albeit that mine ancestors were rude, |
| Yet may the highe God,—and so hope I,— |
| Grant me His grace to live virtuously: |
| Then am I gentle when that I begin |
| To live virtuously, and waive* sin. *forsake |
| "And whereas ye of povert' me repreve,* *reproach |
| The highe God, on whom that we believe, |
| In wilful povert' chose to lead his life: |
| And certes, every man, maiden, or wife |
| May understand that Jesus, heaven's king, |
| Ne would not choose a virtuous living. |
| *Glad povert'* is an honest thing, certain; *poverty cheerfully |
| This will Senec and other clerkes sayn endured* |
| Whoso that *holds him paid of* his povert', *is satisfied with* |
| I hold him rich though he hath not a shirt. |
| He that coveteth is a poore wight |
| For he would have what is not in his might |
| But he that nought hath, nor coveteth to have, |
| Is rich, although ye hold him but a knave.* *slave, abject wretch |
| *Very povert' is sinne,* properly. *the only true poverty is sin* |
| Juvenal saith of povert' merrily: |
| The poore man, when he goes by the way |
| Before the thieves he may sing and play <13> |
| Povert' is hateful good,<14> and, as I guess, |
| A full great *bringer out of business;* *deliver from trouble* |
| A great amender eke of sapience |
| To him that taketh it in patience. |
| Povert' is this, although it seem elenge* *strange <15> |
| Possession that no wight will challenge |
| Povert' full often, when a man is low, |
| Makes him his God and eke himself to know |
| Povert' a spectacle* is, as thinketh me *a pair of spectacles |
| Through which he may his very* friendes see. *true |
| And, therefore, Sir, since that I you not grieve, |
| Of my povert' no more me repreve.* *reproach |
| "Now, Sir, of elde* ye repreve me: *age |
| And certes, Sir, though none authority* *text, dictum |
| Were in no book, ye gentles of honour |
| Say, that men should an olde wight honour, |
| And call him father, for your gentleness; |
| And authors shall I finden, as I guess. |
| Now there ye say that I am foul and old, |
| Then dread ye not to be a cokewold.* *cuckold |
| For filth, and elde, all so may I the,* *thrive |
| Be greate wardens upon chastity. |
| But natheless, since I know your delight, |
| I shall fulfil your wordly appetite. |
| Choose now," quoth she, "one of these thinges tway, |
| To have me foul and old till that I dey,* *die |
| And be to you a true humble wife, |
| And never you displease in all my life: |
| Or elles will ye have me young and fair, |
| And take your aventure of the repair* *resort |
| That shall be to your house because of me,— |
| Or in some other place, it may well be? |
| Now choose yourselfe whether that you liketh. |
| This knight adviseth* him and sore he siketh,** *considered **sighed |
| But at the last he said in this mannere; |
| "My lady and my love, and wife so dear, |
| I put me in your wise governance, |
| Choose for yourself which may be most pleasance |
| And most honour to you and me also; |
| I *do no force* the whether of the two: *care not |
| For as you liketh, it sufficeth me." |
| "Then have I got the mastery," quoth she, |
| "Since I may choose and govern as me lest."* *pleases |
| "Yea, certes wife," quoth he, "I hold it best." |
| "Kiss me," quoth she, "we are no longer wroth,* *at variance |
| For by my troth I will be to you both; |
| This is to say, yea, bothe fair and good. |
| I pray to God that I may *sterve wood,* *die mad* |
| But* I to you be all so good and true, *unless |
| As ever was wife since the world was new; |
| And but* I be to-morrow as fair to seen, *unless |
| As any lady, emperess or queen, |
| That is betwixt the East and eke the West |
| Do with my life and death right as you lest.* *please |
| Cast up the curtain, and look how it is." |
| And when the knight saw verily all this, |
| That she so fair was, and so young thereto, |
| For joy he hent* her in his armes two: *took |
| His hearte bathed in a bath of bliss, |
| A thousand times *on row* he gan her kiss: *in succession* |
| And she obeyed him in every thing |
| That mighte do him pleasance or liking. |
| And thus they live unto their lives' end |
| In perfect joy; and Jesus Christ us send |
| Husbandes meek and young, and fresh in bed, |
| And grace to overlive them that we wed. |
| And eke I pray Jesus to short their lives, |
| That will not be governed by their wives. |
| And old and angry niggards of dispence,* *expense |
| God send them soon a very pestilence! |
| Notes to the Wife of Bath's Tale |
| 1. It is not clear whence Chaucer derived this tale. Tyrwhitt |
| thinks it was taken from the story of Florent, in the first book of |
| Gower's "Confessio Amantis;" or perhaps from an older |
| narrative from which Gower himself borrowed. Chaucer has |
| condensed and otherwise improved the fable, especially by |
| laying the scene, not in Sicily, but at the court of our own King |
| Arthur. |
| 2. Limitours: begging friars. See note 18 to the prologue to the |
| Tales. |
| 3. Thorpes: villages. Compare German, "Dorf,"; Dutch, |
| "Dorp." |
| 4. Undermeles: evening-tides, afternoons; "undern" signifies the |
| evening; and "mele," corresponds to the German "Mal" or |
| "Mahl," time. |
| 5. Incubus: an evil spirit supposed to do violence to women; a |
| nightmare. |
| 6. Where he had been hawking after waterfowl. Froissart says |
| that any one engaged in this sport "alloit en riviere." |
| 7. Nice: foolish; French, "niais." |
| 8. Claw us on the gall: Scratch us on the sore place. Compare, |
| "Let the galled jade wince." Hamlet iii. 2. |
| 9. Hele: hide; from Anglo-Saxon, "helan," to hide, conceal. |
| 10. Yern: eagerly; German, "gern." |
| 11. Wiss: instruct; German, "weisen," to show or counsel. |
| 12. Dante, "Purgatorio", vii. 121. |
| 13. "Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator"—"Satires," x. 22. |
| 14. In a fabulous conference between the Emperor Adrian and |
| the philosopher Secundus, reported by Vincent of Beauvais, |
| occurs the passage which Chaucer here paraphrases:—"Quid |
| est Paupertas? Odibile bonum; sanitas mater; remotio Curarum; |
| sapientae repertrix; negotium sine damno; possessio absque |
| calumnia; sine sollicitudinae felicitas." (What is Poverty? A |
| hateful good; a mother of health; a putting away of cares; a |
| discoverer of wisdom; business without injury; ownership |
| without calumny; happiness without anxiety) |
| 15. Elenge: strange; from French "eloigner," to remove. |
