The Merchant's Prologue
1213: Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe 
1214: I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe, 
1215: Quod the marchant, and so doon other mo 
1216: That wedded been. I trowe that it be so, 
1217: For wel I woot it fareth so with me. 
1218: I have awyf, the worste that may be; 
1219: For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, 
1220: She sholde I yow reherce in special 
1221: What sholde I yow reherce in special 
1222: Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al. 
1223: Ther is a long and large difference 
1224: Bitwix grisildis grete pacience 
1225: And of my wyf the passyng crueltee. 
1226: Were I unbounden, also moot I thee! 
1227: I wolde nevere eft comen in the sanre. 
1228: We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care. 
1229: Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde 
1230: That I seye sooth , by seint thomas of ynde, 
1231: As for the moore part, I sey nat alle. 
1232: God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! 
1233: A! goode sire hoost, I have ywedded bee 
1234: Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee; 
1235: And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve 
1236: Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve 
1237: Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere 
1238: Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere 
1239: Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse! 
1240: Now, quod oure hoost, marchaunt, so God yow blesse, 
1241: Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art 
1242: Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part. 
1243: Gladly, quod he, but of myn owene soore, 
1244: For soory herte, I telle may namoore.

The Merchant's Tale
1245: Whilom ther was dwellynge in lumbardye 
1246: A worthy knyght, that born was of pavye, 
1247: In which he lyved in greet prosperitee; 
1248: And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee, 
1249: And folwed ay his bodily delyt 
1250: On wommen, ther as was his appetyt, 
1251: As doon thise fooles that been seculeer. 
1252: And whan that he was passed sixty yeer, 
1253: Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage, 
1254: I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage 
1255: Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man 
1256: That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan 
1257: T' espien where he myghte wedded be, 
1258: Preyinge oure lord to graunten him that he 
1259: Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf 
1260: That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf, 
1261: And for to lyve under that hooly boond 
1262: With which that first God man and womman bond. 
1263: Noon oother lyf, seyde he, is worth a bene; 
1264: For wedlok is so esy and so clene, 
1265: That in this world it is paradys. 
1266: Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys. 
1267: And certeinly, as sooth as God is kyng, 
1268: To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng, 
1269: And namely whan a man is oold and hoor; 
1270: Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor. 
1271: Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir, 
1272: On which he myghte engendren hym and heir, 
1273: And lede his lyf in joye and in solas, 
1274: Where as thise bacheleris synge allas, 
1275: Whan that they funden any adversitee 
1276: In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee. 
1277: And trewely it sit wel to be so, 
1278: That bacheleris have often peyne and wo; 
1279: On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse 
1280: They fynde, whan they wene sikernesse. 
1281: They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest, 
1282: In libertee, and under noon arreest, 
1283: Ther as a wedded man in his estaat 
1284: Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat, 
1285: Under this yok of mariage ybounde. 
1286: Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde, 
1287: For who kan be so buxom as a wyf? 
1288: Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf 
1289: To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make? 
1290: For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake; 
1291: She nys nat wery hym to love and serve, 
1292: Thogh that he lye bedrede, til he sterve. 
1293: And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so, 
1294: Of whiche he theofraste is oon of tho. 
1295: What force though theofraste liste lye? 
1296: Ne take no wyf, quod he, for housbondrye, 
1297: As for to spare in houshold thy dispence. 
1298: A trewe servant dooth moore diligence 
1299: Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf, 
1300: For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf. 
1301: And if that thou be syk, so God me save, 
1302: Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave, 
1303: Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay 
1304: After thy good and hath doon many a day. 
1305: And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold, 
1306: Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold. 
1307: This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse, 
1308: Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse! 
1309: But take no kep of al swich vanytee; 
1310: Deffie theofraste, and herke me. 
1311: A wyf is goddes yifte verraily; 
1312: Alle othere manere yiftes hardily, 
1313: As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune, 
1314: Or moebles, alle been yiftes of fortune, 
1315: That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. 
1316: But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal, 
1317: A wyf wol laste, and thyn hous endure, 
1318: Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure. 
1319: Mariage is a ful greet sacrement. 
1320: He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent; 
1321: He lyveth helplees and al desolat, -- 
1322: I speke of folk in seculer estaat. 
1323: And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, 
1324: That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght. 
1325: The hye god, whan he hadde adam maked, 
1326: And saugh him al allone, bely-naked, 
1327: God of his grete goodnesse syde than, 
1328: Lat us now make an helpe unto this man 
1329: Lyk to hymself; and thanne he made him eve. 
1330: Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve, 
1331: That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort, 
1332: His paradys terrestre, and his disport. 
1333: So buxom and so vertuous is she, 
1334: They moste nedes lyve in unitee. 
1335: O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse, 
1336: Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse. 
1337: A wyf! a, seinte marie, benedicite! 
1338: How myghte man han any adversitee 
1339: That hath a wyf? certes, I kan nat seye. 
1340: the blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye 
1341: Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke. 
1342: If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke; 
1343: She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; 
1344: Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel; 
1345: She seith nat ones nay, whan he seith ye. 
1346: Do this, seith he; al redy, sire, seith she. 
1347: O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, 
1348: Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous, 
1349: And so commended and appreved eek 
1350: That every man that halt hym worth a leek, 
1351: Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf 
1352: Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf, 
1353: Or elles preye to God hym for to sende 
1354: A wyf, to laste unto his lyves ende. 
1355: For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; 
1356: He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, 
1357: So that he werke after his wyves reed. 
1358: Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed, 
1359: They been so trewe, and therwithal so wyse; 
1360: For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, 
1361: Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede. 
1362: Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede, 
1363: By good conseil of his mooder rebekke, 
1364: Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke, 
1365: For which his fadres benyson he wan. 
1366: Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede, 
1367: By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte, 
1368: And slow hym olofernus, whil he slepte. 
1369: Lo abigayl, by good conseil, how she 
1370: Saved hir housbonde nabal, whan that he 
1371: Sholde han be slayn; and looke, ester also 
1372: By good conseil delyvered out of wo 
1373: The peple of god, and made hym mardochee 
1374: Of assuere enhaunced for to be. 
1375: Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf, 
1376: As seith senek, above and humble wyf. 
1377: Suffre thy wyves tonge, as catoun bit; 
1378: She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it, 
1379: And yet she wole obeye of curteisye. 
1380: A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye; 
1381: Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe, 
1382: Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe. 
1383: I warne thee, if wisely thou wolt wirche, 
1384: Love wel thy wyf, as crist loved his chirche. 
1385: If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf; 
1386: No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf 
1387: He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee, 
1388: Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee. 
1389: Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye, 
1390: Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; 
1391: They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde, 
1392: And namely upon the wyves syde. 
1393: For which this januarie, of whom I tolde, 
1394: Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde, 
1395: The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete, 
1396: That is in mariage hony-sweete; 
1397: And for his freendes on a day he sente, 
1398: To tellen hem th' effect of his entente. 
1399: With face sad his tale he hath hem toold. 
1400: He seyde, freendes, I am hoor and oold, 
1401: And almost, God woot, on my pittes brynke; 
1402: Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke. 
1403: I have my body folily despended; 
1404: Blessed be God that it shal been amended! 
1405: For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, 
1406: And that anoon in al the haste I kan. 
1407: Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age, 
1408: I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage 
1409: Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde; 
1410: And I wol fonde t' espien, on my syde, 
1411: To whom I may be wedded hastily. 
1412: But forasmuche as ye been mo than I, 
1413: Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen 
1414: Than I, and where me best were to allyen. 
1415: But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere, 
1416: I wol moon oold wyf han in no manere. 
1417: She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn; 
1418: Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde I have ful fayn. 
1419: Bet is, quod he, a pyk than a pykerel, 
1420: And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. 
1421: I wol no womman thritty yeer of age; 
1422: It is but bene-straw and greet forage. 
1423: And eek thise olde wydwes, God it woot, 
1424: They konne so muchel craft on wades boot, 
1425: So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste, 
1426: That with hem sholde I nevere lyve in reste. 
1427: For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; 
1428: Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is. 
1429: But certeynly, a yong thyng may men gye, 
1430: Right as men may warm wex with handes plye. 
1431: Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause, 
1432: I wol noon oold wyf han right for this cause. 
1433: For if so were I hadde swich myschaunce, 
1434: That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce, 
1435: Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, 
1436: And go streight to the devel, whan I dye. 
1437: Ne children sholde I none upon hire geten; 
1438: Yet were me levere houndes hand me eten, 
1439: Than that myn heritage sholde falle 
1440: In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle. 
1441: I dote nat, I woot the cause why 
1442: Men sholde wedde, and forthermoore woot I, 
1443: Ther speketh many a man of mariage 
1444: That woot namoore of it than woot my page, 
1445: For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf. 
1446: If he ne may nat lyven chaast his lyf, 
1447: Take hym a wyf with greet devocioun, 
1448: By cause of leverful procreacioun 
1449: Of children, to th' onour of God above, 
1450: And nat oonly for paramour or love; 
1451: And for they sholde leccherye eschue, 
1452: And yelde hir dette whan that it is due; 
1453: Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother 
1454: In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; 
1455: And lyve in chastitee ful holily. 
1456: But sires, by youre leve, that am nat I. 
1457: For, God be thanked! I dar make avaunt, 
1458: I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt 
1459: To do al that a man bilongeth to; 
1460: I woot myselven best what I may do. 
1461: Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree 
1462: That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen bee; 
1463: And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed. 
1464: I feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed; 
1465: Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene 
1466: As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. 
1467: And syn that ye han herd al myn entente, 
1468: I prey yow to my wyl ye wole assente. 
1469: Diverse men diversely hym tolde 
1470: Of mariage manye ensamples olde. 
1471: Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn; 
1472: But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, 
1473: As al day falleth altercacioun 
1474: Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, 
1475: Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, 
1476: Of whiche that oon was cleped placebo, 
1477: Justinus soothly called was that oother. 
1478: Placebo seyde, o januarie, brother, 
1479: Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere, 
1480: Conseil to axe of any that is heere, 
1481: But that ye been so ful of sapience 
1482: That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence, 
1483: To weyven fro the word of salomon. 
1484: This word seyde he unto us everychon: 
1485: Wirk alle thyng by conseil, -- thus seyde he, 
1486: -- And thanne shaltow nat repente thee. -- 
1487: But though that salomon spak swich a word, 
1488: Myn owene deere brother and my lord, 
1489: So wysly God my soule brynge at reste, 
1490: I holde youre owene conseil is the beste. 
1491: For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf, 
1492: I have now been a court-man al my lyf, 
1493: And God it woot, though I unworthy be, 
1494: I have stonden in ful greet degree 
1495: Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; 
1496: Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat. 
1497: I nevere hem contraried, trewely; 
1498: I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I. 
1499: With that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable; 
1500: I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable. 
1501: A ful greet fool is any conseillour 
1502: That serveth any lord of heigh honour, 
1503: That dar presume, or elles thanken it, 
1504: That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. 
1505: Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay! 
1506: Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day 
1507: So heigh sentence, so holily and weel, 
1508: That I consente and conferme everydeel 
1509: Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun. 
1510: By god, ther nys no man in al this toun, 
1511: Ne in ytaille, that koude bet han sayd! 
1512: Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd. 
1513: And trewely, it is an heigh corage 
1514: Of any man that stapen is in age 
1515: To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn, 
1516: Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn! 
1517: Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste, 
1518: For finally I holde it for the beste. 
1519: Justinus, that ay stille sat and herde, 
1520: Right in this wise he to placebo answerde: 
1521: Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye, 
1522: Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye. 
1523: Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse, 
1524: Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse 
1525: To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel. 
1526: And syn I oghte avyse me right wel 
1527: To whom I yeve my good awey from me, 
1528: Wel muchel moore I oghte avysed be 
1529: To whom I yeve my body for alwey. 
1530: I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley 
1531: To take a wyf withouten avysement. 
1532: Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, 
1533: Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe, 
1534: Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe, 
1535: A chidestere, or wastour of thy good, 
1536: Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood. 
1537: Al be it so that no man fynden shal 
1538: Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, 
1539: Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude devyse; 
1540: But nathelees it oghte ynough suffise 
1541: With any wyf, if so were that she hadde 
1542: Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde; 
1543: And al this axeth leyser for t' enquere. 
1544: For, God it woot, I have wept many a teere 
1545: Ful pryvely, syn I have had a wyf. 
1546: Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf, 
1547: Certein I fynde in it but cost and care 
1548: And observances, of alle blisses bare. 
1549: And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute, 
1550: And namely of wommen many a route, 
1551: Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf, 
1552: And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf; 
1553: But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho. 
1554: Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do; 
1555: Avyseth yow -- ye been a man of age -- 
1556: How that ye entren into mariage, 
1557: And namely with a yong wyf and a fair. 
1558: By hym that made water, erthe, and air, 
1559: The yongeste man that is in al this route 
1560: Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute 
1561: To han his wyf allone. Trusteth me, 
1562: Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre, -- 
1563: This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce. 
1564: A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. 
1565: I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd. 
1566: Wel, quod this januarie, and hastow sayd? 
1567: Straw for thy senek, and for thy proverbes! 
1568: I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes 
1569: Of scole-termes. Wyser men than thow, 
1570: As thou hast herd, assenteden right now 
1571: To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye? 
1572: I seye it is a cursed man, quod he, 
1573: That letteth matrimoigne, sikerly. 
1574: And with that word they rysen sodeynly, 
1575: And been assented fully that he sholde 
1576: Be wedded whanne hym liste, and where he wolde. 
1577: Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse 
1578: Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse 
1579: Of januarie aboute his mariage. 
1580: Many fair shap and many a fair visage 
1581: Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght, 
1582: As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght, 
1583: And sette it in a commune market-place, 
1584: Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace 
1585: By his mirour; and in the same wyse 
1586: Gan januarie inwith his thoght devyse 
1587: Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde. 
1588: He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde. 
1589: For if that oon have beaute in hir face, 
1590: Another stant so in the peples grace 
1591: For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee 
1592: That of the peple grettest voys hath she; 
1593: And somme were riche, and hadden badde name. 
1594: But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, 
1595: He atte laste apoynted hym on oon, 
1596: And leet alle othere from his herte goon, 
1597: And chees hire of his owene auctoritee; 
1598: For love is blynd alday, and may nat see. 
1599: And whan that he was in his bed ybroght, 
1600: He purtreyed in his herte and in his thoght 
1601: Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, 
1602: Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklendre, 
1603: Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse, 
1604: Hir wommanly berynge, and hire sadnesse. 
1605: And whan that he on hire was condescended, 
1606: Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended. 
1607: For whan that he hymself concluded hadde, 
1608: Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde 
1609: That inpossible it were to repplye 
1610: Agayn his choys, this was his fantasye. 
1611: His freendes sente he to, at his instaunce, 
1612: And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce, 
1613: That hastily they wolden to hym come; 
1614: He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some. 
1615: Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde; 
1616: He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde. 
1617: Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone, 
1618: And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone, 
1619: That noon of hem none argumentes make 
1620: Agayn the purpos which that he hath take, 
1621: Which purpos was plesant to god, seyde he, 
1622: And verray ground of his prosperitee. 
1623: He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun, 
1624: Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, 
1625: Al were it so she were of smal degree; 
1626: Suffiseth hym hir yowthe and hir beautee. 
1627: Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf, 
1628: To lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf; 
1629: And thanked God that he myghte han hire al, 
1630: That no wight his blisse parten shal. 
1631: And preyed hem to laboure in this nede, 
1632: And shapen that he faille nat to spede; 
1633: For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese. 
1634: Thanne is, quod he, no thyng may me displese, 
1635: Save o thyng priketh in my conscience, 
1636: The which I wol reherce in youre presence. 
1637: I have, quod he, herd seyd, ful yoore ago, 
1638: Ther may no man han parfite blisses two, -- 
1639: This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene. 
1640: For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene, 
1641: And eek from every branche of thilke tree, 
1642: Yet is ther so parfit felicitee 
1643: And so greet ese and lust in mariage, 
1644: That evere I am agast now in myn age 
1645: That I shal lede now so myrie a lyf, 
1646: So delicat, withouten wo and stryf, 
1647: That I shal have myn hevene in erthe heere. 
1648: For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere 
1649: With tribulation and greet penaunce, 
1650: How sholde I thanne, that lyve in swich plesaunce 
1651: As alle wedded men doon with hire wyvys, 
1652: Come to the blisse ther crist eterne on lyve ys? 
1653: This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye, 
1654: Assoilleth me this question, I preye. 
1655: Justinus, which that hated his folye, 
1656: Answerde anon right in his japerye; 
1657: And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, 
1658: He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, 
1659: But seyde, sire, so ther be noon obstacle 
1660: Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle 
1661: And of his mercy may so for yow wirche 
1662: That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche, 
1663: Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf, 
1664: In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. 
1665: And elles, God forbede but he sente 
1666: A wedded man hym grace to repente 
1667: Wel ofte rather than a sengle man! 
1668: And therfore, sire -- the beste reed I kan -- 
1669: Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie, 
1670: Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie! 
1671: She may be goddes meene and goddes whippe; 
1672: Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe 
1673: Swifter than dooth and arwe out of bowe. 
1674: I hope to god, herafter shul ye knowe 
1675: That ther nys no so greet felicitee 
1676: In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee, 
1677: That yow shal lette of youre savacion, 
1678: So that ye sue, as skile is an reson, 
1679: The lustes of youre wyf attemprely, 
1680: And that ye plese hire nat to amorously, 
1681: And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne. 
1682: My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne. 
1683: Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere, 
1684: But lat us waden out of this mateere. 
1685: The wyf of bethe, if ye han understonde, 
1686: Of mariage, which we have on honde, 
1687: Declared hath ful wel in litel space. 
1688: Fareth now wel, God have yow in his grace. 
1689: And with this word this justyn and his brother 
1690: Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother. 
1691: For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be, 
1692: They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, 
1693: That she, this mayden, which that mayus highte, 
1694: As hastily as evere that she myghte, 
1695: Shal wedded be unto this januarie. 
1696: I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, 
1697: If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond 
1698: By which that she was feffed in his lond, 
1699: Or for to herknen of hir riche array. 
1700: But finally ycomen is the day 
1701: That to the chirche bothe be they went 
1702: For to receyve the hooly sacrement. 
1703: Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nakke, 
1704: And bad hire be lyk sarra and rebekke 
1705: In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage; 
1706: And seyde his orisons, as is usage, 
1707: And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse, 
1708: And made al siker ynogh with hoolynesse. 
1709: Thus been they wedded with solempnitee, 
1710: And at the feeste sitteth he and she 
1711: With othere worthy folk upon the deys. 
1712: Al ful of joye and blisse is the paleys, 
1713: And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille, 
1714: The mooste deyntevous of al ytaille. 
1715: Biforn hem stoode instrumentz of swich soun 
1716: That orpheus, ne of thebes amphioun, 
1717: Ne maden nevere swich a melodye. 
1718: At every cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye, 
1719: That nevere tromped joab for to heer, 
1720: Nor he theodomas, yet half so cleere, 
1721: At thebes, whan the citee was in doute. 
1722: Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute, 
1723: And venus laugheth upon every wight, 
1724: For januarie was bicome hir knyght, 
1725: And wolde bothe assayen his corage 
1726: In libertee, and eek in mariage; 
1727: And with hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute 
1728: Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route. 
1729: And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this, 
1730: Ymeneus, that God of weddyng is, 
1731: Saugh nevere his lyf so myrie a wedded man. 
1732: Hoold thou thy pees, thou poete marcian, 
1733: That writest us that ilke weddyng murie 
1734: Of hire philologie and hym mercurie, 
1735: And of the songes that the muses songe! 
1736: To smal is bothe thy penen, and eek thy tonge, 
1737: For to descryven of this mariage. 
1738: Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age, 
1739: Ther is swich myrthe that it may nat be writen. 
1740: Assayeth it youreself, thanne may ye witen 
1741: If that I lye or noon in this matiere. 
1742: Mayus, that sit with so benyngne a chiere, 
1743: Hire to biholde it semed fayerye. 
1744: Queene ester looked nevere with swich an ye 
1745: On assuer, so meke a look hath she. 
1746: I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee. 
1747: But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may, 
1748: That she was lyk the brighte morwe of may, 
1749: Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce. 
1750: This januarie is ravysshed in a traunce 
1751: At every tyme he looked on hir face; 
1752: But in his herte he gan hire to manace 
1753: That he that nyght in armes wolde hire streyne 
1754: Harder than evere parys dide eleyne. 
1755: But nathelees yet hadde he greet pitee 
1756: That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he, 
1757: And thoughte, allas! o tendre creature, 
1758: Now wolde God ye myghte wel endure 
1759: Al my corage, it is so sharp and keene! 
1760: I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. 
1761: But God forbede that I dide al my myght! 
1762: Now wolde God that it were woxen nyght, 
1763: And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo. 
1764: I wolde that al this peple were ago. 
1765: And finally he dooth al his labour, 
1766: As he best myghte, savynge his honour, 
1767: To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse. 
1768: The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse; 
1769: And after that men daunce and drynken faste, 
1770: And spices al aboute the hous they caste, 
1771: And ful of joye and blisse is every man, -- 
1772: Al but a squyer, highte damyan, 
1773: Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day. 
1774: He was so ravysshed on his lady may 
1775: That for the verray peyne he was ny wood. 
1776: Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood, 
1777: So soore hath venus hurt hym with hire brond, 
1778: As that she bar it daunsynge in hire hond; 
1779: And to his bed he wente hym hastily. 
1780: Namoore of hym as at this tyme speke I, 
1781: But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne, 
1782: Til fresshe may wol rewen on his peyne. 
1783: O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth! 
1784: O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth! 
1785: O servant traytour, false hoomly hewe, 
1786: Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe, 
1787: God shilde us alle from youre aqueyntaunce! 
1788: O januarie, dronken in plesaunce 
1789: In mariage, se how thy damyan, 
1790: Thyn owene squier and thy borne man, 
1791: Entendeth for to do thee vileynye. 
1792: God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo t' espye! 
1793: For in this world nys worse pestilence 
1794: Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence. 
1795: Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne; 
1796: No lenger may the body of hym sojurne 
1797: On th' orisonte, as in that latitude. 
1798: Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude, 
1799: Gan oversprede the hemysperie aboute; 
1800: For which departed is this lusty route 
1801: Fro januarie, with thank on every syde. 
1802: Hoom to hir houses lustily they ryde, 
1803: Where as they doon hir thynges as hem leste, 
1804: And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. 
1805: Soone after than, this hastif januarie 
1806: Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarye. 
1807: He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage 
1808: Of spices hoote, t' encreessen his corage; 
1809: And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn, 
1810: Swiche as the cursed monk, daun constantyn, 
1811: Hath writen in his book de coitu; 
1812: To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu. 
1813: And to his privee freendes thus seyde he: 
1814: For goddes love, as soone as it may be, 
1815: Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse. 
1816: And they han doon right as he wol devyse. 
1817: Men drynken, and the travers drawe anon. 
1818: The bryde was broght abedde as stille as stoon; 
1819: And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed, 
1820: Out of the chambre hath every wight hym dressed; 
1821: And januarie hath faste in armes take 
1822: His fresshe may, his paradys, his make. 
1823: He lulleth hire, he kisseth hire ful ofte; 
1824: With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte, 
1825: Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere -- 
1826: For he was shave al newe in his manere -- 
1827: He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face, 
1828: And seyde thus, allas! I moot trespace 
1829: To yow, my spouse, and yow greetly offende, 
1830: Er tyme come that I wil doun descende. 
1831: But nathelees, considereth this, quod he, 
1832: Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be, 
1833: That may bothe werke wel and hastily; 
1834: This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. 
1835: It is no fors how longe that we pleye; 
1836: In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye; 
1837: And blessed be the yok that we been inne, 
1838: For in oure actes we mowe do no synne. 
1839: A man may do no synne with his wyf, 
1840: Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf; 
1841: For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe. 
1842: Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe; 
1843: And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree, 
1844: And upright in his bed thanne sitteth he, 
1845: And after that he sang ful loude and cleere, 
1846: And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere 
1847: He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye, 
1848: And ful of jargon as a flekked pye. 
1849: The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh, 
1850: Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh. 
1851: But God woot what that may thoughte in hir herte, 
1852: Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sherte, 
1853: In his nyght-cappe, and with his nekke lene; 
1854: She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene. 
1855: Thanne seide he thus, my reste wol I take; 
1856: Now day is come, I may no lenger wake. 
1857: And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme. 
1858: And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme, 
1859: Up ryseth januarie; but fresshe may 
1860: Heeld hire chambre unto the fourthe day, 
1861: As usage is of wyves for the beste. 
1862: For every labour somtyme moot han reste, 
1863: Or elles longe may he nat endure; 
1864: This is to seyn, no lyves creature, 
1865: Be it of fyssh, or bryd, or beest, or man. 
1866: Now wol I speke of woful damyan, 
1867: That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere; 
1868: Therfore I speke to hym in this manere: 
1869: I seye, o sely damyan, allas! 
1870: Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas. 
1871: How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe may, 
1872: Telle thy wo? she wole alwey seye nay. 
1873: Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye. 
1874: God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye. 
1875: This sike damyan in venus fyr 
1876: So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr, 
1877: For which he putte his lyf in aventure. 
1878: No lenger myghte he in this wise endure, 
1879: But prively a penner gan he borwe, 
1880: And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, 
1881: In manere of a compleynt or a lay, 
1882: Unto his faire, fresshe lady may; 
1883: And in a purs of sylk, heng on his sherte 
1884: He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. 
1885: The moone, that at noon was thilke day 
1886: That januarie hath wedded fresshe may 
1887: In two of tawr, was into cancre glyden; 
1888: So longe hath mayus in hir chambre abyden, 
1889: As custume is unto thise nobles alle. 
1890: A bryde shal nat eten in the halle 
1891: Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste, 
1892: Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste. 
1893: The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon, 
1894: Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon, 
1895: In halle sit this januarie and may, 
1896: As fressh as is the brighte someres day. 
1897: And so bifel how that this goode man 
1898: Remembred hym upon this damyan, 
1899: And seyde, seynte marie! how may this be, 
1900: That damyan entendeth nat to me? 
1901: Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde? 
1902: His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde, 
1903: Excused hym by cause of his siknesse, 
1904: Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse; 
1905: Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye. 
1906: That me forthynketh, quod this januarie, 
1907: He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe! 
1908: If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe. 
1909: He is as wys, discreet, and as secree 
1910: As any man I woot of his degree, 
1911: And therto manly, and eek servysable. 
1912: And for to been a thrifty man right able. 
1913: But after mete, as soone as evere I may, 
1914: I wol myself visite hym, and eek may, 
1915: To doon hym al the confort that I kan. 
1916: And for that word hym blessed every man, 
1917: That of his bountee and his gentillesse 
1918: He wolde so conforten in siknesse 
1919: His squier, for it was a gentil dede. 
1920: Dame, quod this januarie, taak good hede, 
1921: At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle, 
1922: Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle, 
1923: That alle ye go se this damyan. 
1924: Dooth hym disport -- he is a gentil man; 
1925: And telleth hym that I wol hym visite, 
1926: Have I no thyng but rested me a lite; 
1927: And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde 
1928: Til that ye slepe faste by my syde. 
1929: And with that word he gan to hym to calle 
1930: A squier, that was marchal of his halle, 
1931: And tolde hym certeyn thynges, what he wolde. 
1932: This fresshe may hath streight hir wey yholde, 
1933: With alle hir wommen, unto damyan. 
1934: Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, 
1935: Confortynge hym as goodly as she may. 
1936: This damyan, whan that his tyme he say, 
1937: In secree wise his purs and eek his bille, 
1938: In which that he ywriten hadde his wille, 
1939: Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore, 
1940: And softely to hire right thus seyde he: 
1941: And softely to hire right thus seyde he: 
1942: Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me, 
1943: For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd. 
1944: This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd, 
1945: And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me. 
1946: But unto januarie ycomen is she, 
1947: That on his beddes syde sit ful softe. 
1948: He taketh hire, and kisseth hire ful ofte, 
1949: And leyde hym doun to slepe, and that anon. 
1950: She feyned hire as that she moste gon 
1951: Ther as ye woot that every wight moot neede; 
1952: And whan she of this bille hath taken heede, 
1953: She rente it al to cloutes atte laste, 
1954: And in the pryvee softely it caste. 
1955: Who studieth now but faire fresshe may? 
1956: Adoun by olde januarie she lay, 
1957: That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked. 
1958: Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked; 
1959: He wolde of hire, he seyde, han som plesaunce, 
1960: And seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce, 
1961: And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth. 
1962: But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth, 
1963: How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle; 
1964: Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle. 
1965: But heere I lete hem werken in hir wyse 
1966: Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse. 
1967: Were it by destynee or aventure, 
1968: Were it by influence or by nature, 
1969: Or constellacion, that in swich estaat 
1970: The hevene stood, that tyme fortunaat 
1971: Was for to putte a bille of venus werkes -- 
1972: For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes -- 
1973: To any womman, for to gete hire love, 
1974: I kan nat seye; but grete God above, 
1975: That knoweth that noon act is causeless, 
1976: He deme of al, for I wole hole my pees. 
1977: But sooth is this, how that this fresshe may 
1978: Hath take swich impression that day 
1979: Of pitee of this sike damyan, 
1980: That from hire herte she ne dryve kan 
1981: The remembrance for to doon hym ese. 
1982: Certeyn, thoghte she, whom that this thyng displese, 
1983: I rekke noght, for heere I hym assure 
1984: To love hym best of any creature, 
1985: Though he namoore hadde than his sherte. 
1986: Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte! 
1987: Heere may ye se how excellent franchise 
1988: In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse. 
1989: Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon, 
1990: That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, 
1991: Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place 
1992: Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace; 
1993: And hem rejoysen in hire crueel pryde, 
1994: And rekke nat to been an homycide. 
1995: This gentil may, fulfilled of pitee, 
1996: Right of hire hand a lettre made she, 
1997: In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace. 
1998: Ther lakketh noght, oonly but day and place, 
1999: Wher that she myghte unto his lust suffise; 
2000: For it shal be right as he wole devyse. 
2001: And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon a day, 
2002: To visite this damyan gooth may, 
2003: And sotilly this lettre doun she threste 
2004: Under his pilwe, rede it if hym leste. 
2005: She taketh hym by the hand, and harde hym twiste 
2006: So secrely that no wight of it wiste, 
2007: And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente 
2008: To januarie, whan that he for hire sente. 
2009: Up riseth damyan the nexte morwe; 
2010: Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe. 
2011: He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh, 
2012: He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh; 
2013: And eek to januarie he gooth as lowe 
2014: As evere dide a dogge for the bowe. 
2015: He is so plesant unto every man 
2016: (for craft is al, whoso that do it kan) 
2017: That every wight is fayn to speke hym good; 
2018: And fully in his lady grace he stood. 
2019: Thus lete I damyan aboute his nede, 
2020: And in my tale forth I wol procede. 
2021: Somme clerkes holden that felicitee 
2022: Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he, 
2023: This noble januarie, with al his myght, 
2024: In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght, 
2025: Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously. 
2026: His housynge, his array, as honestly 
2027: To his degree was maked as a kynges. 
2028: Amonges othere of his honeste thynges, 
2029: He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon; 
2030: So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon. 
2031: For, out of doute, I verraily suppose 
2032: That he that wroot the romance of the rose 
2033: Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse; 
2034: Ne priapus ne myghte nat suffise, 
2035: Though he be God of gardyns, for to telle 
2036: The beautee of the gardyn and the welle, 
2037: That stood under a laurer alwey grene. 
2038: Ful ofte tyme he pluto and his queene, 
2039: Proserpina, and al hire fayerye, 
2040: Disporten hem and maken melodye 
2041: Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde. 
2042: This noble knyght, this januarie the olde, 
2043: Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye, 
2044: That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye 
2045: Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket 
2046: He baar alwey of silver a clyket, 
2047: With which, whan that hym leste, he it unshette. 
2048: And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette 
2049: In somer seson, thider wolde he go, 
2050: And may his wyf, and no wight but they two; 
2051: And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde, 
2052: He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde. 
2053: And in this wyse, many a murye day, 
2054: Lyved this januarie and fresshe may. 
2055: But worldly joye may nat alwey dure 
2056: To januarie, ne to creature. 
2057: O sodeyn hap! o thou fortune unstable! 
2058: Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable, 
2059: That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge; 
2060: Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge. 
2061: O brotil joye! o sweete venym queynte! 
2062: O monstre, that so subtilly kanst peynte 
2063: Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse, 
2064: That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse! 
2065: Why hastow januarie thus deceyved, 
2066: That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyved? 
2067: And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his ye, 
2068: For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen. 
2069: Allas! this noble januarie free, 
2070: Amydde his lust and his prosperitee, 
2071: Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly, 
2072: He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; 
2073: And therwithal the fyr of jalousie, 
2074: Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, 
2075: So brente his herte that he wolde fayn 
2076: That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn. 
2077: For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf, 
2078: Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf, 
2079: But evere lyve as wydwe in clothes blake, 
2080: Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make, 
2081: But atte laste, after a month or tweye 
2082: His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; 
2083: For whan he wiste it may noon oother be, 
2084: He paciently took his adversitee, 
2085: Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon 
2086: That he nas jalous everemoore in oon; 
2087: Which jalousye it was so outrageous, 
2088: That neither in halle, n' yn noon oother hous, 
2089: Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo, 
2090: He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go, 
2091: But if that he had hond on hire alway; 
2092: For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe may, 
2093: That loveth damyan so benyngnely 
2094: That she moot outher dyen sodeynly, 
2095: Or elles she moot han hym as hir leste. 
2096: She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste. 
2097: Upon that oother syde damyan 
2098: Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man 
2099: That evere was; for neither nyght ne day 
2100: Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe may, 
2101: As to his purpos, of no swich mateere, 
2102: But if that januarie moste it heere, 
2103: That hadde an hand upon hire everemo. 
2104: But nathelees, by writyng to and fro, 
2105: And privee signes, wiste he what she mente, 
2106: And she knew eek the fyn of his entente. 
2107: O januarie, what myghte it thee availle, 
2108: Thogh thou myghte se as fer as shippes saille? 
2109: For as good is blynd deceyved be 
2110: As to be deceyved whan a man may se. 
2111: Lo, argus, which that hadde an hondred yen, 
2112: For al that evere he koude poure or pryen, 
2113: Yet was he blent, and, God woot, so been mo, 
2114: That wenen wisly that it be nat so. 
2115: Passe over is an ese, I sey namoore. 
2116: This fresshe may, that I spak of so yoore, 
2117: In warm wex hath emprented the clyket 
2118: That januarie bar of the smale wyket, 
2119: By which into his gardyn ofte he wente; 
2120: And damyan, that knew al hire entente, 
2121: The cliket countrefeted pryvely. 
2122: Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily 
2123: Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde, 
2124: Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde. 
2125: O noble ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God woot, 
2126: What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot, 
2127: That love nyl fynde it out in som manere? 
2128: By piramus and tesbee may men leere; 
2129: Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal, 
2130: They been accorded, rownynge thurgh a wal, 
2131: Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte. 
2132: But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte 
2133: Were passed, er the month of juyn, bifil 
2134: That januarie hath caught so greet a wil, 
2135: Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye 
2136: In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye, 
2137: That in a morwe unto his may seith he: 
2138: Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free! 
2139: The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete; 
2140: The wynter is goon with alle his reynes weete. 
2141: Com forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn! 
2142: How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn! 
2143: The gardyn is enclosed al aboute; 
2144: Com forth, my white spouse! out of doute 
2145: Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf! 
2146: No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf. 
2147: Com forth, and lat us taken oure disport; 
2148: I chees thee for my wyf and my confort. 
2149: Swiche olde lewed wordes used he. 
2150: On damyan a signe made she, 
2151: That he sholde go biforn with his cliket. 
2152: This damyan thanne hath opened the wyket, 
2153: And in he stirte, and that in swich manere 
2154: That no wight myghte it se neither yheere, 
2155: And stille he sit under a bussh anon. 
2156: This januarie, as blynd as is a stoon, 
2157: With mayus in his hand, and no wight mo, 
2158: Into his fresshe gardyn is ago, 
2159: And clapte to the wyket sodeynly. 
2160: Now wyf, quod he, heere nys but thou and I, 
2161: That art the creature that I best love. 
2162: For by that lord that sit in hevene above, 
2163: Levere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf, 
2164: Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf! 
2165: For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees, 
2166: Noght for no coveitise, doutelees, 
2167: But oonly for the love I had to thee. 
2168: And though that I be oold, and may nat see, 
2169: Beth to me trewe, and I wol telle yow why. 
2170: Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby: 
2171: First, love of crist, and to youreself honour, 
2172: And al myn heritage, toun and tour; 
2173: I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste; 
2174: This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste, 
2175: So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse. 
2176: I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse; 
2177: And though that I be jalous, wyte me noght. 
2178: Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght 
2179: That, whan that I considere youre beautee, 
2180: And therwithal the unlikly elde of me, 
2181: I may nat, certes, though I sholde dye, 
2182: Forbere to been out of youre compaignye 
2183: For verray love; this is withouten doute. 
2184: Now kys me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute. 
2185: This fresshe may, whan she thise wordes herde, 
2186: Benyngnely to januarie answerde, 
2187: But first and forward she bigan to wepe. 
2188: I have, quod she, a soule for to kepe 
2189: As wel as ye, and also myn honour, 
2190: And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour, 
2191: Which that I have assured in youre hond, 
2192: Whan that the preest to yow my body bond; 
2193: Wherfore I wole answere in this manere, 
2194: By the leve of yow, my lord so deere: 
2195: I prey to God that nevere dawe the day 
2196: That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may, 
2197: If evere I do unto my kyn that shame, 
2198: Or elles I empeyre so my name, 
2199: That I be fals; and if I do that lak, 
2200: Do strepe me and put me in a sak, 
2201: And in the nexte ryver do me drenche. 
2202: I am a gentil womman and no wenche. 
2203: Why speke ye thus? but men been evere untrewe, 
2204: And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe. 
2205: Ye han noon oother contenance, I leeve, 
2206: But speke to us of untrust and repreeve. 
2207: And with that word she saugh wher damyan 
2208: Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan, 
2209: And with hir fynger signes made she 
2210: That damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree, 
2211: That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente. 
2212: For verraily he knew al hire entente, 
2213: And every signe that she koude make, 
2214: Wel bet than januarie, hir owene make; 
2215: For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al 
2216: Of this matere, how he werchen shal. 
2217: And thus I lete hym sitte upon the pyrie, 
2218: And januarie and may romynge ful myrie. 
2219: Bright was the day, and blew the firmament; 
2220: Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent, 
2221: To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. 
2222: He was that tyme in geminis, as I gesse, 
2223: But litel fro his declynacion 
2224: Of cancer, jovis exaltacion. 
2225: And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, 
2226: That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde, 
2227: Pluto, that is kyng of fayerye, 
2228: And many a lady in his compaignye, 
2229: Folwynge his wyf, the queene proserpyna, 
2230: Which that he ravysshed out of ethna 
2231: Whil that she gadered floures in the mede -- 
2232: In claudyan ye may the stories rede, 
2233: How in his grisely carte he hire fette -- 
2234: This kyng of fairye thanne adoun hym sette 
2235: Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene, 
2236: And right anon thus seyde he to his queene: 
2237: My wyf, quod he, ther may no wight seye nay; 
2238: Th' experience so preveth every day 
2239: The tresons whiche that wommen doon to man. 
2240: Ten hondred thousand (tales) tellen I kan 
2241: Notable of youre untrouthe and brotilnesse. 
2242: O salomon, wys, and richest of richesse, 
2243: Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie, 
2244: Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie 
2245: To every wight that wit and reson kan. 
2246: Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man: 
2247: -- Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon, 
2248: But of wommen alle foond I noon. -- 
2249: Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse. 
2250: And jhesus, filius syrak, as I gesse, 
2251: Ne speketh of yow but seelde reverence. 
2252: A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence 
2253: So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght! 
2254: Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght, 
2255: By cause, allas! that he is blynd and old, 
2256: His owene man shal make hym cokewold. 
2257: Lo, where he sit, the lechour, in the tree! 
2258: Now wol I graunten, of my magestee, 
2259: Unto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght 
2260: That he shal have ayen his eyen syght, 
2261: Whan that his wyf wold doon hym vileynye. 
2262: Thanne shal he knowen al hire harlotrye, 
2263: Bothe in repreve of hire and othere mo. 
2264: Ye shal? quod proserpyne, wol ye so? 
2265: Now by my moodres sires soule I swere 
2266: That I shal yeven hire suffisant answere, 
2267: And alle wommen after, for hir sake; 
2268: That, though they be in any gilt ytake, 
2269: With face boold they shulle hemself excuse, 
2270: And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse. 
2271: For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen. 
2272: Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his yen, 
2273: Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily, 
2274: And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, 
2275: So that ye man shul been as lewed as gees. 
2276: What rekketh me of youre auctoritees? 
2277: I woot wel that this jew, this salomon, 
2278: Foond of us wommen fooles many oon. 
2279: But though that he ne foond no good womman, 
2280: Yet hath ther founde many another man 
2281: Wommen ful trewe, ful goode, and vertuous. 
2282: Witnesse on hem that dwelle in cristes hous; 
2283: With martirdom they preved hire constance. 
2284: The romayn geestes eek make remembrance 
2285: Of many a verray, trewe wyf also. 
2286: But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so, 
2287: Though that he seyde he foond no good womman, 
2288: I prey yow take the sentence of the man; 
2289: He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee 
2290: Nis noon but god, but neither he ne she. 
2291: Ey! for verray god, that nys but oon, 
2292: What make ye so muche of salomon? 
2293: What though he made a temple, goddes hous? 
2294: What though he were riche and glorious? 
2295: So made he eek a temple of false goddis. 
2296: How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is? 
2297: Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre, 
2298: He was a lecchour and an ydolastre, 
2299: And in his elde he verray God forsook; 
2300: And if this God ne hadde, as seith the book, 
2301: Yspared hem for his fadres sake, he sholde 
2302: Have lost his regne rather than he wolde. 
2303: I sette right noght, of al the vileynye 
2304: That ye of wommen write, a boterflye! 
2305: I am a womman, nedes moot I speke, 
2306: Of elles swelle til myn herte breke. 
2307: For sithen he seyde that we been jangleresses, 
2308: As evere hool I moote brouke my tresses, 
2309: I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, 
2310: To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye. 
2311: Dame, quod this pluto, be no lenger wrooth; 
2312: I yeve it up! but sith I swoor myn ooth 
2313: That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn, 
2314: My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn. 
2315: I am a kyng, it sit me noght to lye. 
2316: And I, quod she, a queene of fayerye! 
2317: Hir answere shal she have, I undertake. 
2318: Lat us namoore wordes heerof make; 
2319: For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie. 
2320: Now lat us turne agayn to januarie, 
2321: That in the gardyn with his faire may 
2322: Syngeth ful murier than the papejay, 
2323: Yow love I best, and shal, and oother noon. 
2324: So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon, 
2325: Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie 
2326: Where as this damyan sitteth ful myrie 
2327: An heigh among the fresshe leves grene. 
2328: This fresshe may, that is so bright and sheene, 
2329: Gan for to syke, and seyde, allas, my syde! 
2330: Now sire, quod she, for aught that may bityde, 
2331: I moste han of the peres that I see, 
2332: Or I moot dye, so soore longeth me 
2333: To eten of the smale peres grene. 
2334: Help, for hir love that is of hevene queene! 
2335: I telle yow wel, a womman in my plit 
2336: May han to fruyt so greet an appetit 
2337: That she may dyen, but she of it have. 
2338: Allas! quod he, that I ne had heer a knave 
2339: That koude clymbe! allas, allas, quod he, 
2340: For I am blynd! ye, sire, no fors, quod she; 
2341: -- But wolde ye vouche sauf, for goddes sake, 
2342: The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take, 
2343: For wel I woot that ye mystruste me, 
2344: Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh, quod she, 
2345: So I my foot myghte sette ypon youre bak. 
2346: Certes,quod he, theron shal be no lak, 
2347: Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood. 
2348: He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood, 
2349: And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth -- 
2350: Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; 
2351: I kan nat glose, I am a rude man -- 
2352: And sodeynly anon this damyan 
2353: Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng. 
2354: And whan that pluto saugh this grete wrong, 
2355: To januarie he gaf agayn his sighte, 
2356: And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte. 
2357: And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn, 
2358: Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn, 
2359: But on his wyf his thoght was everemo. 
2360: Up to the tree he caste his eyen two, 
2361: And saugh that damyan his wyf had dressed 
2362: In swich manere it may nat been expressed, 
2363: But if I wolde speke uncurteisly; 
2364: And up he yaf a roryng and a cry, 
2365: As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye: 
2366: Out! he gan to crye, 
2367: O stronge lady stoore, what dostow? 
2368: And she answerde, sire, what eyleth yow? 
2369: Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde! 
2370: I have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde. 
2371: Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen, 
2372: As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen, 
2373: Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see, 
2374: Than strugle with a man upon a tree. 
2375: God woot, I dide it in ful good entente. 
2376: Strugle! quod he, ye algate in it wente! 
2377: God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen! 
2378: He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yen, 
2379: And elles be I hanged by the hals! 
2380: thanne is, quod she, my medicyne fals; 
2381: For certeinly, if that ye myghte se. 
2382: Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me. 
2383: Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte. 
2384: I se, quod he, as wel as evere I myghte, 
2385: Thonked be god! with bothe myne eyen two, 
2386: And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so. 
2387: ye maze, maze, goode sire, quod she; 
2388: This thank have I for I have maad yow see. 
2389: Allas, quod she, that evere I was so kynde! 
2390: Now, dame, quod he, lat al passe out of mynde. 
2391: Com doun, my lief, and if I have myssayd, 
2392: God helpe me so, as I am yvele apayd. 
2393: But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn 
2394: How that this damyan hadde by thee leyn, 
2395: And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest. 
2396: Ye sire, quod she, ye may wene as yow lest. 
2397: But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep, 
2398: He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep 
2399: Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly, 
2400: Til that he be adawed verraily. 
2401: Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe, 
2402: Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse, 
2403: First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn, 
2404: As he that hath a day or two yseyn. 
2405: Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while, 
2406: Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile. 
2407: Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene kyng, 
2408: Ful many a man weneth to seen a thyng, 
2409: And it is al another than it semeth. 
2410: He that mysconceyveth, he mysdemeth. 
2411: And with that word she leep doun fro the tree, 
2412: This januarie, who is glad but he? 
2413: He kisseth hire, and clippeth hire ful ofte, 
2414: And on hire wombe he stroketh hire ful softe, 
2415: And to his palays hoom he hath hire lad. 
2416: Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad. 
2417: Thus endeth heere my tale of januarie; 
2418: God blesse us, and his mooder seinte marie! 

The Merchant's Epilogue
2419: Ey! goddes marcy! seyde oure hooste tho, 
2420: Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro! 
2421: Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees 
2422: In wommen been! for ay as bisy as bees 
2423: Been they, us sely men for to deceyve, 
2424: And from the soothe evere wol they weyve; 
2425: By this marchauntes tale it preveth weel. 
2426: But doutelees, as trewe as any steel 
2427: I have a wyf, though that she povre be, 
2428: Nut of hir tonge, a labbyng shrewe is she, 
2429: And yet she hath an heep of vices mo; 
2430: Therof no fors! lat alle swiche thynges go. 
2431: But wyte ye what? in conseil be it seyd, 
2432: Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd. 
2433: For, and I sholde rekenen every vice 
2434: Which that she hath, ywis I were to nyce; 
2435: And cause why, it sholde reported by 
2436: And toold to hire of somme of this meynee, -- 
2437: Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare, 
2438: Syn wommen konnen outen swich chaffare; 
2439: And eek my with suffiseth nat therto, 
2440: To tellen al, wherfore my tale is do. 

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