The Canterbury tales
About this Item
- Title
- The Canterbury tales
- Author
- Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400
- Publication
- Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin
- 1957
- Rights/Permissions
-
Available at URL http://www.hti.umich.edu/c/cme/
This text has been made available through the Oxford Text Archive for personal scholarly use only. OTA number: U-1678-C
- Cite this Item
-
"The Canterbury tales." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/CT. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 7, 2024.
Pages
Page 116
Line 1287
Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf Line 1288
To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make? Line 1289
For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake; Line 1290
She nys nat wery hym to love and serve, Line 1291
Thogh that he lye bedrede, til he sterve. Line 1292
And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so, Line 1293
Of whiche he theofraste is oon of tho. Line 1294
What force though theofraste liste lye? Line 1295
Ne take no wyf, quod he, for housbondrye, Line 1296
As for to spare in houshold thy dispence. Line 1297
A trewe servant dooth moore diligence Line 1298
Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf, Line 1299
For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf. Line 1300
And if that thou be syk, so God me save, Line 1301
Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave, Line 1302
Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay Line 1303
After thy good and hath doon many a day. Line 1304
And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold, Line 1305
Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold. Line 1306
This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse, Line 1307
Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse! Line 1308
But take no kep of al swich vanytee; Line 1309
Deffie theofraste, and herke me. Line 1310
A wyf is goddes yifte verraily; Line 1311
Alle othere manere yiftes hardily, Line 1312
As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune, Line 1313
Or moebles, alle been yiftes of fortune, Line 1314
That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. Line 1315
But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal, Line 1316
A wyf wol laste, and thyn hous endure, Line 1317
Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure. Line 1318
Mariage is a ful greet sacrement. Line 1319
He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent; Line 1320
He lyveth helplees and al desolat, -- Line 1321
I speke of folk in seculer estaat. Line 1322
And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, Line 1323
That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght. Line 1324
The hye god, whan he hadde adam maked, Line 1325
And saugh him al allone, bely-naked, Line 1326
God of his grete goodnesse syde than, Line 1327
Lat us now make an helpe unto this man Line 1328
Lyk to hymself; and thanne he made him eve. Line 1329
Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve, Line 1330
That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort, Line 1331
His paradys terrestre, and his disport. Line 1332
So buxom and so vertuous is she, Line 1333
They moste nedes lyve in unitee. Line 1334
O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse, Line 1335
Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse. Line 1336
A wyf! a, seinte marie, benedicite! Line 1337
How myghte man han any adversitee Line 1338
That hath a wyf? certes, I kan nat seye. Line 1339
the blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye Line 1340
Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke. Line 1341
If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke; Line 1342
She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; Line 1343
Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel; Line 1344
She seith nat ones nay, whan he seith ye. Line 1345
Do this, seith he; al redy, sire, seith she. Line 1346
O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, Line 1347
Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous, Line 1348
And so commended and appreved eek Line 1349
That every man that halt hym worth a leek, Line 1350
Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf Line 1351
Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf, Line 1352
Or elles preye to God hym for to sende Line 1353
A wyf, to laste unto his lyves ende. Line 1354
For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; Line 1355
He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, Line 1356
So that he werke after his wyves reed. Line 1357
Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed, Line 1358
They been so trewe, and therwithal so wyse; Line 1359
For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, Line 1360
Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede. Line 1361
Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede, Line 1362
By good conseil of his mooder rebekke, Line 1363
Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke, Line 1364
For which his fadres benyson he wan. Line 1365
Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede, Line 1366
By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte, Line 1367
And slow hym olofernus, whil he slepte. Line 1368
Lo abigayl, by good conseil, how she Line 1369
Saved hir housbonde nabal, whan that he Line 1370
Sholde han be slayn; and looke, ester also Line 1371
By good conseil delyvered out of wo Line 1372
The peple of god, and made hym mardochee Line 1373
Of assuere enhaunced for to be. Line 1374
Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf, Line 1375
As seith senek, above and humble wyf. Line 1376
Suffre thy wyves tonge, as catoun bit; Line 1377
She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it, Line 1378
And yet she wole obeye of curteisye. Line 1379
A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye; Line 1380
Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe, Line 1381
Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe. Line 1382
I warne thee, if wisely thou wolt wirche, Line 1383
Love wel thy wyf, as crist loved his chirche. Line 1384
If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf; Line 1385
No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf Line 1386
He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee, Line 1387
Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee. Line 1388
Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye, Line 1389
Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; Line 1390
They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde, Line 1391
And namely upon the wyves syde. Line 1392
For which this januarie, of whom I tolde, Line 1393
Page 117
Line 1393
Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde, Line 1394
The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete, Line 1395
That is in mariage hony-sweete; Line 1396
And for his freendes on a day he sente, Line 1397
To tellen hem th' effect of his entente. Line 1398
With face sad his tale he hath hem toold. Line 1399
He seyde, freendes, I am hoor and oold, Line 1400
And almost, God woot, on my pittes brynke; Line 1401
Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke. Line 1402
I have my body folily despended; Line 1403
Blessed be God that it shal been amended! Line 1404
For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, Line 1405
And that anoon in al the haste I kan. Line 1406
Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age, Line 1407
I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage Line 1408
Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde; Line 1409
And I wol fonde t' espien, on my syde, Line 1410
To whom I may be wedded hastily. Line 1411
But forasmuche as ye been mo than I, Line 1412
Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen Line 1413
Than I, and where me best were to allyen. Line 1414
But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere, Line 1415
I wol moon oold wyf han in no manere. Line 1416
She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn; Line 1417
Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde I have ful fayn. Line 1418
Bet is, quod he, a pyk than a pykerel, Line 1419
And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. Line 1420
I wol no womman thritty yeer of age; Line 1421
It is but bene-straw and greet forage. Line 1422
And eek thise olde wydwes, God it woot, Line 1423
They konne so muchel craft on wades boot, Line 1424
So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste, Line 1425
That with hem sholde I nevere lyve in reste. Line 1426
For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Line 1427
Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is. Line 1428
But certeynly, a yong thyng may men gye, Line 1429
Right as men may warm wex with handes plye. Line 1430
Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause, Line 1431
I wol noon oold wyf han right for this cause. Line 1432
For if so were I hadde swich myschaunce, Line 1433
That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce, Line 1434
Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, Line 1435
And go streight to the devel, whan I dye. Line 1436
Ne children sholde I none upon hire geten; Line 1437
Yet were me levere houndes hand me eten, Line 1438
Than that myn heritage sholde falle Line 1439
In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle. Line 1440
I dote nat, I woot the cause why Line 1441
Men sholde wedde, and forthermoore woot I, Line 1442
Ther speketh many a man of mariage Line 1443
That woot namoore of it than woot my page, Line 1444
For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf. Line 1445
If he ne may nat lyven chaast his lyf, Line 1446
Take hym a wyf with greet devocioun, Line 1447
By cause of leverful procreacioun Line 1448
Of children, to th' onour of God above, Line 1449
And nat oonly for paramour or love; Line 1450
And for they sholde leccherye eschue, Line 1451
And yelde hir dette whan that it is due; Line 1452
Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother Line 1453
In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; Line 1454
And lyve in chastitee ful holily. Line 1455
But sires, by youre leve, that am nat I. Line 1456
For, God be thanked! I dar make avaunt, Line 1457
I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt Line 1458
To do al that a man bilongeth to; Line 1459
I woot myselven best what I may do. Line 1460
Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree Line 1461
That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen bee; Line 1462
And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed. Line 1463
I feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed; Line 1464
Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene Line 1465
As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. Line 1466
And syn that ye han herd al myn entente, Line 1467
I prey yow to my wyl ye wole assente. Line 1468
Diverse men diversely hym tolde Line 1469
Of mariage manye ensamples olde. Line 1470
Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn; Line 1471
But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, Line 1472
As al day falleth altercacioun Line 1473
Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, Line 1474
Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, Line 1475
Of whiche that oon was cleped placebo, Line 1476
Justinus soothly called was that oother. Line 1477
Placebo seyde, o januarie, brother, Line 1478
Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere, Line 1479
Conseil to axe of any that is heere, Line 1480
But that ye been so ful of sapience Line 1481
That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence, Line 1482
To weyven fro the word of salomon. Line 1483
This word seyde he unto us everychon: Line 1484
Wirk alle thyng by conseil, -- thus seyde he, Line 1485
-- And thanne shaltow nat repente thee. -- Line 1486
But though that salomon spak swich a word, Line 1487
Myn owene deere brother and my lord, Line 1488
So wysly God my soule brynge at reste, Line 1489
I holde youre owene conseil is the beste. Line 1490
For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf, Line 1491
I have now been a court-man al my lyf, Line 1492
And God it woot, though I unworthy be, Line 1493
I have stonden in ful greet degree Line 1494
Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; Line 1495
Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat. Line 1496
I nevere hem contraried, trewely; Line 1497
I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I. Line 1498
With that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable; Line 1499
Page 118
Line 1499
I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable. Line 1500
A ful greet fool is any conseillour Line 1501
That serveth any lord of heigh honour, Line 1502
That dar presume, or elles thanken it, Line 1503
That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. Line 1504
Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay! Line 1505
Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day Line 1506
So heigh sentence, so holily and weel, Line 1507
That I consente and conferme everydeel Line 1508
Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun. Line 1509
By god, ther nys no man in al this toun, Line 1510
Ne in ytaille, that koude bet han sayd! Line 1511
Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd. Line 1512
And trewely, it is an heigh corage Line 1513
Of any man that stapen is in age Line 1514
To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn, Line 1515
Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn! Line 1516
Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste, Line 1517
For finally I holde it for the beste. Line 1518
Justinus, that ay stille sat and herde, Line 1519
Right in this wise he to placebo answerde: Line 1520
Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye, Line 1521
Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye. Line 1522
Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse, Line 1523
Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse Line 1524
To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel. Line 1525
And syn I oghte avyse me right wel Line 1526
To whom I yeve my good awey from me, Line 1527
Wel muchel moore I oghte avysed be Line 1528
To whom I yeve my body for alwey. Line 1529
I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley Line 1530
To take a wyf withouten avysement. Line 1531
Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, Line 1532
Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe, Line 1533
Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe, Line 1534
A chidestere, or wastour of thy good, Line 1535
Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood. Line 1536
Al be it so that no man fynden shal Line 1537
Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, Line 1538
Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude devyse; Line 1539
But nathelees it oghte ynough suffise Line 1540
With any wyf, if so were that she hadde Line 1541
Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde; Line 1542
And al this axeth leyser for t' enquere. Line 1543
For, God it woot, I have wept many a teere Line 1544
Ful pryvely, syn I have had a wyf. Line 1545
Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf, Line 1546
Certein I fynde in it but cost and care Line 1547
And observances, of alle blisses bare. Line 1548
And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute, Line 1549
And namely of wommen many a route, Line 1550
Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf, Line 1551
And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf; Line 1552
But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho. Line 1553
Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do; Line 1554
Avyseth yow -- ye been a man of age -- Line 1555
How that ye entren into mariage, Line 1556
And namely with a yong wyf and a fair. Line 1557
By hym that made water, erthe, and air, Line 1558
The yongeste man that is in al this route Line 1559
Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute Line 1560
To han his wyf allone. Trusteth me, Line 1561
Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre, -- Line 1562
This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce. Line 1563
A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. Line 1564
I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd. Line 1565
Wel, quod this januarie, and hastow sayd? Line 1566
Straw for thy senek, and for thy proverbes! Line 1567
I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes Line 1568
Of scole-termes. Wyser men than thow, Line 1569
As thou hast herd, assenteden right now Line 1570
To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye? Line 1571
I seye it is a cursed man, quod he, Line 1572
That letteth matrimoigne, sikerly. Line 1573
And with that word they rysen sodeynly, Line 1574
And been assented fully that he sholde Line 1575
Be wedded whanne hym liste, and where he wolde. Line 1576
Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse Line 1577
Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse Line 1578
Of januarie aboute his mariage. Line 1579
Many fair shap and many a fair visage Line 1580
Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght, Line 1581
As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght, Line 1582
And sette it in a commune market-place, Line 1583
Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace Line 1584
By his mirour; and in the same wyse Line 1585
Gan januarie inwith his thoght devyse Line 1586
Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde. Line 1587
He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde. Line 1588
For if that oon have beaute in hir face, Line 1589
Another stant so in the peples grace Line 1590
For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee Line 1591
That of the peple grettest voys hath she; Line 1592
And somme were riche, and hadden badde name. Line 1593
But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, Line 1594
He atte laste apoynted hym on oon, Line 1595
And leet alle othere from his herte goon, Line 1596
And chees hire of his owene auctoritee; Line 1597
For love is blynd alday, and may nat see. Line 1598
And whan that he was in his bed ybroght, Line 1599
He purtreyed in his herte and in his thoght Line 1600
Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, Line 1601
Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklendre, Line 1602
Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse, Line 1603
Page 119
Line 1603
Hir wommanly berynge, and hire sadnesse. Line 1604
And whan that he on hire was condescended, Line 1605
Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended. Line 1606
For whan that he hymself concluded hadde, Line 1607
Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde Line 1608
That inpossible it were to repplye Line 1609
Agayn his choys, this was his fantasye. Line 1610
His freendes sente he to, at his instaunce, Line 1611
And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce, Line 1612
That hastily they wolden to hym come; Line 1613
He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some. Line 1614
Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde; Line 1615
He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde. Line 1616
Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone, Line 1617
And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone, Line 1618
That noon of hem none argumentes make Line 1619
Agayn the purpos which that he hath take, Line 1620
Which purpos was plesant to god, seyde he, Line 1621
And verray ground of his prosperitee. Line 1622
He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun, Line 1623
Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, Line 1624
Al were it so she were of smal degree; Line 1625
Suffiseth hym hir yowthe and hir beautee. Line 1626
Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf, Line 1627
To lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf; Line 1628
And thanked God that he myghte han hire al, Line 1629
That no wight his blisse parten shal. Line 1630
And preyed hem to laboure in this nede, Line 1631
And shapen that he faille nat to spede; Line 1632
For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese. Line 1633
Thanne is, quod he, no thyng may me displese, Line 1634
Save o thyng priketh in my conscience, Line 1635
The which I wol reherce in youre presence. Line 1636
I have, quod he, herd seyd, ful yoore ago, Line 1637
Ther may no man han parfite blisses two, -- Line 1638
This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene. Line 1639
For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene, Line 1640
And eek from every branche of thilke tree, Line 1641
Yet is ther so parfit felicitee Line 1642
And so greet ese and lust in mariage, Line 1643
That evere I am agast now in myn age Line 1644
That I shal lede now so myrie a lyf, Line 1645
So delicat, withouten wo and stryf, Line 1646
That I shal have myn hevene in erthe heere. Line 1647
For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere Line 1648
With tribulation and greet penaunce, Line 1649
How sholde I thanne, that lyve in swich plesaunce Line 1650
As alle wedded men doon with hire wyvys, Line 1651
Come to the blisse ther crist eterne on lyve ys? Line 1652
This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye, Line 1653
Assoilleth me this question, I preye. Line 1654
Justinus, which that hated his folye, Line 1655
Answerde anon right in his japerye; Line 1656
And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, Line 1657
He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, Line 1658
But seyde, sire, so ther be noon obstacle Line 1659
Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle Line 1660
And of his mercy may so for yow wirche Line 1661
That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche, Line 1662
Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf, Line 1663
In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. Line 1664
And elles, God forbede but he sente Line 1665
A wedded man hym grace to repente Line 1666
Wel ofte rather than a sengle man! Line 1667
And therfore, sire -- the beste reed I kan -- Line 1668
Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie, Line 1669
Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie! Line 1670
She may be goddes meene and goddes whippe; Line 1671
Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe Line 1672
Swifter than dooth and arwe out of bowe. Line 1673
I hope to god, herafter shul ye knowe Line 1674
That ther nys no so greet felicitee Line 1675
In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee, Line 1676
That yow shal lette of youre savacion, Line 1677
So that ye sue, as skile is an reson, Line 1678
The lustes of youre wyf attemprely, Line 1679
And that ye plese hire nat to amorously, Line 1680
And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne. Line 1681
My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne. Line 1682
Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere, Line 1683
But lat us waden out of this mateere. Line 1684
The wyf of bethe, if ye han understonde, Line 1685
Of mariage, which we have on honde, Line 1686
Declared hath ful wel in litel space. Line 1687
Fareth now wel, God have yow in his grace. Line 1688
And with this word this justyn and his brother Line 1689
Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother. Line 1690
For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be, Line 1691
They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, Line 1692
That she, this mayden, which that mayus highte, Line 1693
As hastily as evere that she myghte, Line 1694
Shal wedded be unto this januarie. Line 1695
I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, Line 1696
If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond Line 1697
By which that she was feffed in his lond, Line 1698
Or for to herknen of hir riche array. Line 1699
But finally ycomen is the day Line 1700
That to the chirche bothe be they went Line 1701
Page 120
Line 1701
For to receyve the hooly sacrement. Line 1702
Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nakke, Line 1703
And bad hire be lyk sarra and rebekke Line 1704
In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage; Line 1705
And seyde his orisons, as is usage, Line 1706
And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse, Line 1707
And made al siker ynogh with hoolynesse. Line 1708
Thus been they wedded with solempnitee, Line 1709
And at the feeste sitteth he and she Line 1710
With othere worthy folk upon the deys. Line 1711
Al ful of joye and blisse is the paleys, Line 1712
And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille, Line 1713
The mooste deyntevous of al ytaille. Line 1714
Biforn hem stoode instrumentz of swich soun Line 1715
That orpheus, ne of thebes amphioun, Line 1716
Ne maden nevere swich a melodye. Line 1717
At every cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye, Line 1718
That nevere tromped joab for to heer, Line 1719
Nor he theodomas, yet half so cleere, Line 1720
At thebes, whan the citee was in doute. Line 1721
Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute, Line 1722
And venus laugheth upon every wight, Line 1723
For januarie was bicome hir knyght, Line 1724
And wolde bothe assayen his corage Line 1725
In libertee, and eek in mariage; Line 1726
And with hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute Line 1727
Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route. Line 1728
And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this, Line 1729
Ymeneus, that God of weddyng is, Line 1730
Saugh nevere his lyf so myrie a wedded man. Line 1731
Hoold thou thy pees, thou poete marcian, Line 1732
That writest us that ilke weddyng murie Line 1733
Of hire philologie and hym mercurie, Line 1734
And of the songes that the muses songe! Line 1735
To smal is bothe thy penen, and eek thy tonge, Line 1736
For to descryven of this mariage. Line 1737
Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age, Line 1738
Ther is swich myrthe that it may nat be writen. Line 1739
Assayeth it youreself, thanne may ye witen Line 1740
If that I lye or noon in this matiere. Line 1741
Mayus, that sit with so benyngne a chiere, Line 1742
Hire to biholde it semed fayerye. Line 1743
Queene ester looked nevere with swich an ye Line 1744
On assuer, so meke a look hath she. Line 1745
I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee. Line 1746
But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may, Line 1747
That she was lyk the brighte morwe of may, Line 1748
Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce. Line 1749
This januarie is ravysshed in a traunce Line 1750
At every tyme he looked on hir face; Line 1751
But in his herte he gan hire to manace Line 1752
That he that nyght in armes wolde hire streyne Line 1753
Harder than evere parys dide eleyne. Line 1754
But nathelees yet hadde he greet pitee Line 1755
That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he, Line 1756
And thoughte, allas! o tendre creature, Line 1757
Now wolde God ye myghte wel endure Line 1758
Al my corage, it is so sharp and keene! Line 1759
I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. Line 1760
But God forbede that I dide al my myght! Line 1761
Now wolde God that it were woxen nyght, Line 1762
And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo. Line 1763
I wolde that al this peple were ago. Line 1764
And finally he dooth al his labour, Line 1765
As he best myghte, savynge his honour, Line 1766
To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse. Line 1767
The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse; Line 1768
And after that men daunce and drynken faste, Line 1769
And spices al aboute the hous they caste, Line 1770
And ful of joye and blisse is every man, -- Line 1771
Al but a squyer, highte damyan, Line 1772
Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day. Line 1773
He was so ravysshed on his lady may Line 1774
That for the verray peyne he was ny wood. Line 1775
Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood, Line 1776
So soore hath venus hurt hym with hire brond, Line 1777
As that she bar it daunsynge in hire hond; Line 1778
And to his bed he wente hym hastily. Line 1779
Namoore of hym as at this tyme speke I, Line 1780
But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne, Line 1781
Til fresshe may wol rewen on his peyne. Line 1782
O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth! Line 1783
O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth! Line 1784
O servant traytour, false hoomly hewe, Line 1785
Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe, Line 1786
God shilde us alle from youre aqueyntaunce! Line 1787
O januarie, dronken in plesaunce Line 1788
In mariage, se how thy damyan, Line 1789
Thyn owene squier and thy borne man, Line 1790
Entendeth for to do thee vileynye. Line 1791
God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo t' espye! Line 1792
For in this world nys worse pestilence Line 1793
Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence. Line 1794
Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne; Line 1795
No lenger may the body of hym sojurne Line 1796
On th' orisonte, as in that latitude. Line 1797
Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude, Line 1798
Gan oversprede the hemysperie aboute; Line 1799
For which departed is this lusty route Line 1800
Fro januarie, with thank on every syde. Line 1801
Hoom to hir houses lustily they ryde, Line 1802
Where as they doon hir thynges as hem leste, Line 1803
And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. Line 1804
Soone after than, this hastif januarie Line 1805
Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarye. Line 1806
Page 121
Line 1806
He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage Line 1807
Of spices hoote, t' encreessen his corage; Line 1808
And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn, Line 1809
Swiche as the cursed monk, daun constantyn, Line 1810
Hath writen in his book de coitu; Line 1811
To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu. Line 1812
And to his privee freendes thus seyde he: Line 1813
For goddes love, as soone as it may be, Line 1814
Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse. Line 1815
And they han doon right as he wol devyse. Line 1816
Men drynken, and the travers drawe anon. Line 1817
The bryde was broght abedde as stille as stoon; Line 1818
And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed, Line 1819
Out of the chambre hath every wight hym dressed; Line 1820
And januarie hath faste in armes take Line 1821
His fresshe may, his paradys, his make. Line 1822
He lulleth hire, he kisseth hire ful ofte; Line 1823
With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte, Line 1824
Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere -- Line 1825
For he was shave al newe in his manere -- Line 1826
He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face, Line 1827
And seyde thus, allas! I moot trespace Line 1828
To yow, my spouse, and yow greetly offende, Line 1829
Er tyme come that I wil doun descende. Line 1830
But nathelees, considereth this, quod he, Line 1831
Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be, Line 1832
That may bothe werke wel and hastily; Line 1833
This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. Line 1834
It is no fors how longe that we pleye; Line 1835
In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye; Line 1836
And blessed be the yok that we been inne, Line 1837
For in oure actes we mowe do no synne. Line 1838
A man may do no synne with his wyf, Line 1839
Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf; Line 1840
For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe. Line 1841
Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe; Line 1842
And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree, Line 1843
And upright in his bed thanne sitteth he, Line 1844
And after that he sang ful loude and cleere, Line 1845
And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere Line 1846
He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye, Line 1847
And ful of jargon as a flekked pye. Line 1848
The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh, Line 1849
Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh. Line 1850
But God woot what that may thoughte in hir herte, Line 1851
Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sherte, Line 1852
In his nyght-cappe, and with his nekke lene; Line 1853
She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene. Line 1854
Thanne seide he thus, my reste wol I take; Line 1855
Now day is come, I may no lenger wake. Line 1856
And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme. Line 1857
And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme, Line 1858
Up ryseth januarie; but fresshe may Line 1859
Heeld hire chambre unto the fourthe day, Line 1860
As usage is of wyves for the beste. Line 1861
For every labour somtyme moot han reste, Line 1862
Or elles longe may he nat endure; Line 1863
This is to seyn, no lyves creature, Line 1864
Be it of fyssh, or bryd, or beest, or man. Line 1865
Now wol I speke of woful damyan, Line 1866
That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere; Line 1867
Therfore I speke to hym in this manere: Line 1868
I seye, o sely damyan, allas! Line 1869
Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas. Line 1870
How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe may, Line 1871
Telle thy wo? she wole alwey seye nay. Line 1872
Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye. Line 1873
God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye. Line 1874
This sike damyan in venus fyr Line 1875
So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr, Line 1876
For which he putte his lyf in aventure. Line 1877
No lenger myghte he in this wise endure, Line 1878
But prively a penner gan he borwe, Line 1879
And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, Line 1880
In manere of a compleynt or a lay, Line 1881
Unto his faire, fresshe lady may; Line 1882
And in a purs of sylk, heng on his sherte Line 1883
He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. Line 1884
The moone, that at noon was thilke day Line 1885
That januarie hath wedded fresshe may Line 1886
In two of tawr, was into cancre glyden; Line 1887
So longe hath mayus in hir chambre abyden, Line 1888
As custume is unto thise nobles alle. Line 1889
A bryde shal nat eten in the halle Line 1890
Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste, Line 1891
Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste. Line 1892
The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon, Line 1893
Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon, Line 1894
In halle sit this januarie and may, Line 1895
As fressh as is the brighte someres day. Line 1896
And so bifel how that this goode man Line 1897
Remembred hym upon this damyan, Line 1898
And seyde, seynte marie! how may this be, Line 1899
That damyan entendeth nat to me? Line 1900
Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde? Line 1901
His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde, Line 1902
Excused hym by cause of his siknesse, Line 1903
Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse; Line 1904
Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye. Line 1905
That me forthynketh, quod this januarie, Line 1906
He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe! Line 1907
If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe. Line 1908
He is as wys, discreet, and as secree Line 1909
As any man I woot of his degree, Line 1910
And therto manly, and eek servysable. Line 1911
Page 122
Line 1911
And for to been a thrifty man right able. Line 1912
But after mete, as soone as evere I may, Line 1913
I wol myself visite hym, and eek may, Line 1914
To doon hym al the confort that I kan. Line 1915
And for that word hym blessed every man, Line 1916
That of his bountee and his gentillesse Line 1917
He wolde so conforten in siknesse Line 1918
His squier, for it was a gentil dede. Line 1919
Dame, quod this januarie, taak good hede, Line 1920
At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle, Line 1921
Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle, Line 1922
That alle ye go se this damyan. Line 1923
Dooth hym disport -- he is a gentil man; Line 1924
And telleth hym that I wol hym visite, Line 1925
Have I no thyng but rested me a lite; Line 1926
And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde Line 1927
Til that ye slepe faste by my syde. Line 1928
And with that word he gan to hym to calle Line 1929
A squier, that was marchal of his halle, Line 1930
And tolde hym certeyn thynges, what he wolde. Line 1931
This fresshe may hath streight hir wey yholde, Line 1932
With alle hir wommen, unto damyan. Line 1933
Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, Line 1934
Confortynge hym as goodly as she may. Line 1935
This damyan, whan that his tyme he say, Line 1936
In secree wise his purs and eek his bille, Line 1937
In which that he ywriten hadde his wille, Line 1938
Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore, Line 1939
And softely to hire right thus seyde he: Line 1940
And softely to hire right thus seyde he: Line 1941
Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me, Line 1942
For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd. Line 1943
This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd, Line 1944
And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me. Line 1945
But unto januarie ycomen is she, Line 1946
That on his beddes syde sit ful softe. Line 1947
He taketh hire, and kisseth hire ful ofte, Line 1948
And leyde hym doun to slepe, and that anon. Line 1949
She feyned hire as that she moste gon Line 1950
Ther as ye woot that every wight moot neede; Line 1951
And whan she of this bille hath taken heede, Line 1952
She rente it al to cloutes atte laste, Line 1953
And in the pryvee softely it caste. Line 1954
Who studieth now but faire fresshe may? Line 1955
Adoun by olde januarie she lay, Line 1956
That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked. Line 1957
Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked; Line 1958
He wolde of hire, he seyde, han som plesaunce, Line 1959
And seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce, Line 1960
And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth. Line 1961
But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth, Line 1962
How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle; Line 1963
Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle. Line 1964
But heere I lete hem werken in hir wyse Line 1965
Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse. Line 1966
Were it by destynee or aventure, Line 1967
Were it by influence or by nature, Line 1968
Or constellacion, that in swich estaat Line 1969
The hevene stood, that tyme fortunaat Line 1970
Was for to putte a bille of venus werkes -- Line 1971
For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes -- Line 1972
To any womman, for to gete hire love, Line 1973
I kan nat seye; but grete God above, Line 1974
That knoweth that noon act is causeless, Line 1975
He deme of al, for I wole hole my pees. Line 1976
But sooth is this, how that this fresshe may Line 1977
Hath take swich impression that day Line 1978
Of pitee of this sike damyan, Line 1979
That from hire herte she ne dryve kan Line 1980
The remembrance for to doon hym ese. Line 1981
Certeyn, thoghte she, whom that this thyng displese, Line 1982
I rekke noght, for heere I hym assure Line 1983
To love hym best of any creature, Line 1984
Though he namoore hadde than his sherte. Line 1985
Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte! Line 1986
Heere may ye se how excellent franchise Line 1987
In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse. Line 1988
Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon, Line 1989
That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, Line 1990
Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place Line 1991
Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace; Line 1992
And hem rejoysen in hire crueel pryde, Line 1993
And rekke nat to been an homycide. Line 1994
This gentil may, fulfilled of pitee, Line 1995
Right of hire hand a lettre made she, Line 1996
In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace. Line 1997
Ther lakketh noght, oonly but day and place, Line 1998
Wher that she myghte unto his lust suffise; Line 1999
For it shal be right as he wole devyse. Line 2000
And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon a day, Line 2001
To visite this damyan gooth may, Line 2002
And sotilly this lettre doun she threste Line 2003
Under his pilwe, rede it if hym leste. Line 2004
She taketh hym by the hand, and harde hym twiste Line 2005
So secrely that no wight of it wiste, Line 2006
And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente Line 2007
To januarie, whan that he for hire sente. Line 2008
Up riseth damyan the nexte morwe; Line 2009
Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe. Line 2010
He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh, Line 2011
He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh; Line 2012
And eek to januarie he gooth as lowe Line 2013
As evere dide a dogge for the bowe. Line 2014
Page 123
Line 2014
He is so plesant unto every man Line 2015
(for craft is al, whoso that do it kan) Line 2016
That every wight is fayn to speke hym good; Line 2017
And fully in his lady grace he stood. Line 2018
Thus lete I damyan aboute his nede, Line 2019
And in my tale forth I wol procede. Line 2020
Somme clerkes holden that felicitee Line 2021
Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he, Line 2022
This noble januarie, with al his myght, Line 2023
In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght, Line 2024
Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously. Line 2025
His housynge, his array, as honestly Line 2026
To his degree was maked as a kynges. Line 2027
Amonges othere of his honeste thynges, Line 2028
He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon; Line 2029
So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon. Line 2030
For, out of doute, I verraily suppose Line 2031
That he that wroot the romance of the rose Line 2032
Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse; Line 2033
Ne priapus ne myghte nat suffise, Line 2034
Though he be God of gardyns, for to telle Line 2035
The beautee of the gardyn and the welle, Line 2036
That stood under a laurer alwey grene. Line 2037
Ful ofte tyme he pluto and his queene, Line 2038
Proserpina, and al hire fayerye, Line 2039
Disporten hem and maken melodye Line 2040
Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde. Line 2041
This noble knyght, this januarie the olde, Line 2042
Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye, Line 2043
That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye Line 2044
Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket Line 2045
He baar alwey of silver a clyket, Line 2046
With which, whan that hym leste, he it unshette. Line 2047
And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette Line 2048
In somer seson, thider wolde he go, Line 2049
And may his wyf, and no wight but they two; Line 2050
And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde, Line 2051
He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde. Line 2052
And in this wyse, many a murye day, Line 2053
Lyved this januarie and fresshe may. Line 2054
But worldly joye may nat alwey dure Line 2055
To januarie, ne to creature. Line 2056
O sodeyn hap! o thou fortune unstable! Line 2057
Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable, Line 2058
That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge; Line 2059
Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge. Line 2060
O brotil joye! o sweete venym queynte! Line 2061
O monstre, that so subtilly kanst peynte Line 2062
Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse, Line 2063
That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse! Line 2064
Why hastow januarie thus deceyved, Line 2065
That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyved? Line 2066
And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his ye, Line 2067
For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen. Line 2068
Allas! this noble januarie free, Line 2069
Amydde his lust and his prosperitee, Line 2070
Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly, Line 2071
He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; Line 2072
And therwithal the fyr of jalousie, Line 2073
Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, Line 2074
So brente his herte that he wolde fayn Line 2075
That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn. Line 2076
For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf, Line 2077
Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf, Line 2078
But evere lyve as wydwe in clothes blake, Line 2079
Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make, Line 2080
But atte laste, after a month or tweye Line 2081
His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; Line 2082
For whan he wiste it may noon oother be, Line 2083
He paciently took his adversitee, Line 2084
Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon Line 2085
That he nas jalous everemoore in oon; Line 2086
Which jalousye it was so outrageous, Line 2087
That neither in halle, n' yn noon oother hous, Line 2088
Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo, Line 2089
He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go, Line 2090
But if that he had hond on hire alway; Line 2091
For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe may, Line 2092
That loveth damyan so benyngnely Line 2093
That she moot outher dyen sodeynly, Line 2094
Or elles she moot han hym as hir leste. Line 2095
She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste. Line 2096
Upon that oother syde damyan Line 2097
Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man Line 2098
That evere was; for neither nyght ne day Line 2099
Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe may, Line 2100
As to his purpos, of no swich mateere, Line 2101
But if that januarie moste it heere, Line 2102
That hadde an hand upon hire everemo. Line 2103
But nathelees, by writyng to and fro, Line 2104
And privee signes, wiste he what she mente, Line 2105
And she knew eek the fyn of his entente. Line 2106
O januarie, what myghte it thee availle, Line 2107
Thogh thou myghte se as fer as shippes saille? Line 2108
For as good is blynd deceyved be Line 2109
As to be deceyved whan a man may se. Line 2110
Lo, argus, which that hadde an hondred yen, Line 2111
For al that evere he koude poure or pryen, Line 2112
Yet was he blent, and, God woot, so been mo, Line 2113
That wenen wisly that it be nat so. Line 2114
Passe over is an ese, I sey namoore. Line 2115
This fresshe may, that I spak of so yoore, Line 2116
In warm wex hath emprented the clyket Line 2117
That januarie bar of the smale wyket, Line 2118
Page 124
Line 2118
By which into his gardyn ofte he wente; Line 2119
And damyan, that knew al hire entente, Line 2120
The cliket countrefeted pryvely. Line 2121
Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily Line 2122
Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde, Line 2123
Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde. Line 2124
O noble ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God woot, Line 2125
What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot, Line 2126
That love nyl fynde it out in som manere? Line 2127
By piramus and tesbee may men leere; Line 2128
Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal, Line 2129
They been accorded, rownynge thurgh a wal, Line 2130
Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte. Line 2131
But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte Line 2132
Were passed, er the month of juyn, bifil Line 2133
That januarie hath caught so greet a wil, Line 2134
Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye Line 2135
In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye, Line 2136
That in a morwe unto his may seith he: Line 2137
Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free! Line 2138
The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete; Line 2139
The wynter is goon with alle his reynes weete. Line 2140
Com forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn! Line 2141
How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn! Line 2142
The gardyn is enclosed al aboute; Line 2143
Com forth, my white spouse! out of doute Line 2144
Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf! Line 2145
No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf. Line 2146
Com forth, and lat us taken oure disport; Line 2147
I chees thee for my wyf and my confort. Line 2148
Swiche olde lewed wordes used he. Line 2149
On damyan a signe made she, Line 2150
That he sholde go biforn with his cliket. Line 2151
This damyan thanne hath opened the wyket, Line 2152
And in he stirte, and that in swich manere Line 2153
That no wight myghte it se neither yheere, Line 2154
And stille he sit under a bussh anon. Line 2155
This januarie, as blynd as is a stoon, Line 2156
With mayus in his hand, and no wight mo, Line 2157
Into his fresshe gardyn is ago, Line 2158
And clapte to the wyket sodeynly. Line 2159
Now wyf, quod he, heere nys but thou and I, Line 2160
That art the creature that I best love. Line 2161
For by that lord that sit in hevene above, Line 2162
Levere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf, Line 2163
Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf! Line 2164
For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees, Line 2165
Noght for no coveitise, doutelees, Line 2166
But oonly for the love I had to thee. Line 2167
And though that I be oold, and may nat see, Line 2168
Beth to me trewe, and I wol telle yow why. Line 2169
Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby: Line 2170
First, love of crist, and to youreself honour, Line 2171
And al myn heritage, toun and tour; Line 2172
I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste; Line 2173
This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste, Line 2174
So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse. Line 2175
I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse; Line 2176
And though that I be jalous, wyte me noght. Line 2177
Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght Line 2178
That, whan that I considere youre beautee, Line 2179
And therwithal the unlikly elde of me, Line 2180
I may nat, certes, though I sholde dye, Line 2181
Forbere to been out of youre compaignye Line 2182
For verray love; this is withouten doute. Line 2183
Now kys me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute. Line 2184
This fresshe may, whan she thise wordes herde, Line 2185
Benyngnely to januarie answerde, Line 2186
But first and forward she bigan to wepe. Line 2187
I have, quod she, a soule for to kepe Line 2188
As wel as ye, and also myn honour, Line 2189
And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour, Line 2190
Which that I have assured in youre hond, Line 2191
Whan that the preest to yow my body bond; Line 2192
Wherfore I wole answere in this manere, Line 2193
By the leve of yow, my lord so deere: Line 2194
I prey to God that nevere dawe the day Line 2195
That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may, Line 2196
If evere I do unto my kyn that shame, Line 2197
Or elles I empeyre so my name, Line 2198
That I be fals; and if I do that lak, Line 2199
Do strepe me and put me in a sak, Line 2200
And in the nexte ryver do me drenche. Line 2201
I am a gentil womman and no wenche. Line 2202
Why speke ye thus? but men been evere untrewe, Line 2203
And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe. Line 2204
Ye han noon oother contenance, I leeve, Line 2205
But speke to us of untrust and repreeve. Line 2206
And with that word she saugh wher damyan Line 2207
Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan, Line 2208
And with hir fynger signes made she Line 2209
That damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree, Line 2210
That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente. Line 2211
For verraily he knew al hire entente, Line 2212
And every signe that she koude make, Line 2213
Wel bet than januarie, hir owene make; Line 2214
For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al Line 2215
Of this matere, how he werchen shal. Line 2216
And thus I lete hym sitte upon the pyrie, Line 2217
And januarie and may romynge ful myrie. Line 2218
Bright was the day, and blew the firmament; Line 2219
Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent, Line 2220
Page 125
Line 2220
To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. Line 2221
He was that tyme in geminis, as I gesse, Line 2222
But litel fro his declynacion Line 2223
Of cancer, jovis exaltacion. Line 2224
And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, Line 2225
That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde, Line 2226
Pluto, that is kyng of fayerye, Line 2227
And many a lady in his compaignye, Line 2228
Folwynge his wyf, the queene proserpyna, Line 2229
Which that he ravysshed out of ethna Line 2230
Whil that she gadered floures in the mede -- Line 2231
In claudyan ye may the stories rede, Line 2232
How in his grisely carte he hire fette -- Line 2233
This kyng of fairye thanne adoun hym sette Line 2234
Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene, Line 2235
And right anon thus seyde he to his queene: Line 2236
My wyf, quod he, ther may no wight seye nay; Line 2237
Th' experience so preveth every day Line 2238
The tresons whiche that wommen doon to man. Line 2239
Ten hondred thousand (tales) tellen I kan Line 2240
Notable of youre untrouthe and brotilnesse. Line 2241
O salomon, wys, and richest of richesse, Line 2242
Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie, Line 2243
Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie Line 2244
To every wight that wit and reson kan. Line 2245
Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man: Line 2246
-- Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon, Line 2247
But of wommen alle foond I noon. -- Line 2248
Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse. Line 2249
And jhesus, filius syrak, as I gesse, Line 2250
Ne speketh of yow but seelde reverence. Line 2251
A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence Line 2252
So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght! Line 2253
Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght, Line 2254
By cause, allas! that he is blynd and old, Line 2255
His owene man shal make hym cokewold. Line 2256
Lo, where he sit, the lechour, in the tree! Line 2257
Now wol I graunten, of my magestee, Line 2258
Unto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght Line 2259
That he shal have ayen his eyen syght, Line 2260
Whan that his wyf wold doon hym vileynye. Line 2261
Thanne shal he knowen al hire harlotrye, Line 2262
Bothe in repreve of hire and othere mo. Line 2263
Ye shal? quod proserpyne, wol ye so? Line 2264
Now by my moodres sires soule I swere Line 2265
That I shal yeven hire suffisant answere, Line 2266
And alle wommen after, for hir sake; Line 2267
That, though they be in any gilt ytake, Line 2268
With face boold they shulle hemself excuse, Line 2269
And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse. Line 2270
For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen. Line 2271
Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his yen, Line 2272
Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily, Line 2273
And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, Line 2274
So that ye man shul been as lewed as gees. Line 2275
What rekketh me of youre auctoritees? Line 2276
I woot wel that this jew, this salomon, Line 2277
Foond of us wommen fooles many oon. Line 2278
But though that he ne foond no good womman, Line 2279
Yet hath ther founde many another man Line 2280
Wommen ful trewe, ful goode, and vertuous. Line 2281
Witnesse on hem that dwelle in cristes hous; Line 2282
With martirdom they preved hire constance. Line 2283
The romayn geestes eek make remembrance Line 2284
Of many a verray, trewe wyf also. Line 2285
But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so, Line 2286
Though that he seyde he foond no good womman, Line 2287
I prey yow take the sentence of the man; Line 2288
He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee Line 2289
Nis noon but god, but neither he ne she. Line 2290
Ey! for verray god, that nys but oon, Line 2291
What make ye so muche of salomon? Line 2292
What though he made a temple, goddes hous? Line 2293
What though he were riche and glorious? Line 2294
So made he eek a temple of false goddis. Line 2295
How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is? Line 2296
Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre, Line 2297
He was a lecchour and an ydolastre, Line 2298
And in his elde he verray God forsook; Line 2299
And if this God ne hadde, as seith the book, Line 2300
Yspared hem for his fadres sake, he sholde Line 2301
Have lost his regne rather than he wolde. Line 2302
I sette right noght, of al the vileynye Line 2303
That ye of wommen write, a boterflye! Line 2304
I am a womman, nedes moot I speke, Line 2305
Of elles swelle til myn herte breke. Line 2306
For sithen he seyde that we been jangleresses, Line 2307
As evere hool I moote brouke my tresses, Line 2308
I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, Line 2309
To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye. Line 2310
Dame, quod this pluto, be no lenger wrooth; Line 2311
I yeve it up! but sith I swoor myn ooth Line 2312
That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn, Line 2313
My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn. Line 2314
I am a kyng, it sit me noght to lye. Line 2315
And I, quod she, a queene of fayerye! Line 2316
Hir answere shal she have, I undertake. Line 2317
Lat us namoore wordes heerof make; Line 2318
For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie. Line 2319
Now lat us turne agayn to januarie, Line 2320
That in the gardyn with his faire may Line 2321
Syngeth ful murier than the papejay, Line 2322
Yow love I best, and shal, and oother noon. Line 2323
Page 126
Line 2323
So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon, Line 2324
Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie Line 2325
Where as this damyan sitteth ful myrie Line 2326
An heigh among the fresshe leves grene. Line 2327
This fresshe may, that is so bright and sheene, Line 2328
Gan for to syke, and seyde, allas, my syde! Line 2329
Now sire, quod she, for aught that may bityde, Line 2330
I moste han of the peres that I see, Line 2331
Or I moot dye, so soore longeth me Line 2332
To eten of the smale peres grene. Line 2333
Help, for hir love that is of hevene queene! Line 2334
I telle yow wel, a womman in my plit Line 2335
May han to fruyt so greet an appetit Line 2336
That she may dyen, but she of it have. Line 2337
Allas! quod he, that I ne had heer a knave Line 2338
That koude clymbe! allas, allas, quod he, Line 2339
For I am blynd! ye, sire, no fors, quod she; Line 2340
-- But wolde ye vouche sauf, for goddes sake, Line 2341
The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take, Line 2342
For wel I woot that ye mystruste me, Line 2343
Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh, quod she, Line 2344
So I my foot myghte sette ypon youre bak. Line 2345
Certes,quod he, theron shal be no lak, Line 2346
Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood. Line 2347
He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood, Line 2348
And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth -- Line 2349
Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; Line 2350
I kan nat glose, I am a rude man -- Line 2351
And sodeynly anon this damyan Line 2352
Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng. Line 2353
And whan that pluto saugh this grete wrong, Line 2354
To januarie he gaf agayn his sighte, Line 2355
And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte. Line 2356
And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn, Line 2357
Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn, Line 2358
But on his wyf his thoght was everemo. Line 2359
Up to the tree he caste his eyen two, Line 2360
And saugh that damyan his wyf had dressed Line 2361
In swich manere it may nat been expressed, Line 2362
But if I wolde speke uncurteisly; Line 2363
And up he yaf a roryng and a cry, Line 2364
As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye: Line 2365
Out! he gan to crye, Line 2366
O stronge lady stoore, what dostow? Line 2367
And she answerde, sire, what eyleth yow? Line 2368
Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde! Line 2369
I have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde. Line 2370
Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen, Line 2371
As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen, Line 2372
Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see, Line 2373
Than strugle with a man upon a tree. Line 2374
God woot, I dide it in ful good entente. Line 2375
Strugle! quod he, ye algate in it wente! Line 2376
God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen! Line 2377
He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yen, Line 2378
And elles be I hanged by the hals! Line 2379
thanne is, quod she, my medicyne fals; Line 2380
For certeinly, if that ye myghte se. Line 2381
Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me. Line 2382
Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte. Line 2383
I se, quod he, as wel as evere I myghte, Line 2384
Thonked be god! with bothe myne eyen two, Line 2385
And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so. Line 2386
ye maze, maze, goode sire, quod she; Line 2387
This thank have I for I have maad yow see. Line 2388
Allas, quod she, that evere I was so kynde! Line 2389
Now, dame, quod he, lat al passe out of mynde. Line 2390
Com doun, my lief, and if I have myssayd, Line 2391
God helpe me so, as I am yvele apayd. Line 2392
But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn Line 2393
How that this damyan hadde by thee leyn, Line 2394
And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest. Line 2395
Ye sire, quod she, ye may wene as yow lest. Line 2396
But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep, Line 2397
He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep Line 2398
Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly, Line 2399
Til that he be adawed verraily. Line 2400
Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe, Line 2401
Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse, Line 2402
First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn, Line 2403
As he that hath a day or two yseyn. Line 2404
Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while, Line 2405
Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile. Line 2406
Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene kyng, Line 2407
Ful many a man weneth to seen a thyng, Line 2408
And it is al another than it semeth. Line 2409
He that mysconceyveth, he mysdemeth. Line 2410
And with that word she leep doun fro the tree, Line 2411
This januarie, who is glad but he? Line 2412
He kisseth hire, and clippeth hire ful ofte, Line 2413
And on hire wombe he stroketh hire ful softe, Line 2414
And to his palays hoom he hath hire lad. Line 2415
Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad. Line 2416
Thus endeth heere my tale of januarie; Line 2417
God blesse us, and his mooder seinte marie! Line 2418