The Wife of Bath’s Tale
1 - In th' olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour,
In the old days of King Arthur,
2 - Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
Of whom Britons speak great honor,
3 - Al was this land fulfild of fayerye.
This land was all filled full of supernatural creatures.
4 - The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye,
The elf-queen, with her jolly company,
5 - Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.
Danced very often in many a green mead.
6 - This was the olde opinion, as I rede;
This was the old belief, as I read;
7 - I speke of manye hundred yeres ago.
I speak of many hundred years ago.
8 - But now kan no man se none elves mo,
But now no man can see any more elves,
9 - For now the grete charitee and prayeres
For now the great charity and prayers
10 - Of lymytours and othere hooly freres,
Of licensed beggars and other holy friars,
11 - That serchen every lond and every streem,
That overrun every land and every stream,
12 - As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
As thick as specks of dust in the sun-beam,
13 - Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures,
Blessing halls, chambers, kitchens, bedrooms,
14 - Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures,
Cities, towns, castles, high towers,
15 - Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes --
Villages, barns, stables, dairies —
16 - This maketh that ther ben no fayeryes.
This makes it that there are no fairies.
17 - For ther as wont to walken was an elf
For where an elf was accustomed to walk
18 - Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself
There walks now the licensed begging friar himself
19 - In undermeles and in morwenynges,
In late mornings and in early mornings,
20 - And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges
And says his morning prayers and his holy things
21 - As he gooth in his lymytacioun.
As he goes in his assigned district.
22 - Wommen may go saufly up and doun.
Women may go safely up and down.
23 - In every bussh or under every tree
In every bush or under every tree
24 - Ther is noon oother incubus but he,
There is no other evil spirit but he,
25 - And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
And he will not do them any harm except dishonor.
26 - And so bifel that this kyng Arthour
And so it happened that this king Arthur
27 - Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler,
Had in his house a lusty bachelor,
28 - That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver,
That on one day came riding from hawking,
29 - And happed that, allone as he was born,
And it happened that, alone as he was born,
30 - He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn,
He saw a maiden walking before him,
31 - Of which mayde anon, maugree hir heed,
Of which maiden straightway, despite all she could do,
32 - By verray force, he rafte hire maydenhed;
By utter force, he took away her maidenhead;
33 - For which oppressioun was swich clamour
For which wrong was such clamor
34 - And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour
And such demand for justice unto king Arthur
35 - That dampned was this knyght for to be deed,
That this knight was condemned to be dead,
36 - By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed --
By course of law, and should have lost his head —
37 - Paraventure swich was the statut tho --
Perhaps such was the statute then —
38 - But that the queene and other ladyes mo
Except that the queen and other ladies as well
39 - So longe preyeden the kyng of grace
So long prayed the king for grace
40 - Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place,
Until he granted him his life right there,
41 - And yaf hym to the queene, al at hir wille,
And gave him to the queen, all at her will,
42 - To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille.
To choose whether she would him save or put to death.
43 - The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght,
The queen thanks the king with all her might,
44 - And after this thus spak she to the knyght,
And after this she spoke thus to the knight,
45 - Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day:
When she saw her time, upon a day:
46 - "Thou standest yet," quod she, "in swich array
"Thou standest yet," she said, "in such condition,
47 - That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.
That of thy life yet thou hast no assurance
48 - I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me
I grant thee life, if thou canst tell me
49 - What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
What thing it is that women most desire.
50 - Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from iren!
Beware, and keep thy neck-bone from iron (axe)!
51 - And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon,
And if thou canst not tell it right now,
52 - Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon
Yet I will give thee leave to go
53 - A twelf-month and a day, to seche and leere
A twelvemonth and a day, to seek to learn
54 - An answere suffisant in this mateere;
A satisfactory answer in this matter;
55 - And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
And I will have, before thou go, a pledge
56 - Thy body for to yelden in this place."
To surrender thy body in this place."
57 - Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh;
Woe was this knight, and sorrowfully he sighs;
58 - But what! He may nat do al as hym liketh.
But what! He can not do all as he pleases.
59 - And at the laste he chees hym for to wende
And at the last he chose to leave
60 - And come agayn, right at the yeres ende,
And come again, exactly at the year's end,
61 - With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye;
With such answer as God would provide him;
62 - And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.
And takes his leave, and goes forth on his way.
63 - He seketh every hous and every place
He seeks every house and every place
64 - Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace
Where he hopes to have the luck
65 - To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost,
To learn what thing women love most,
66 - But he ne koude arryven in no coost
But he could not arrive in any region
67 - Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
Where he might find in this matter
68 - Two creatures accordynge in-feere.
Two creatures agreeing together.
69 - Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse,
Some said women love riches best,
70 - Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
Some said honor, some said gaiety,
71 - Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
Some rich clothing, some said lust in bed,
72 - And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.
And frequently to be widow and wedded.
73 - Somme seyde that oure hertes been moost esed
Some said that our hearts are most eased
74 - Whan that we been yflatered and yplesed.
When we are flattered and pleased.
75 - He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye.
He goes very near the truth, I will not lie.
76 - A man shal wynne us best with flaterye,
A man shall win us best with flattery,
77 - And with attendance and with bisynesse
And with attentions and with solicitude
78 - Been we ylymed, bothe moore and lesse.
We are caught, every one of us.
79 - And somme seyen that we loven best
And some say that we love best
80 - For to be free and do right as us lest,
To be free and do just as we please,
81 - And that no man repreve us of oure vice,
And that no man reprove us for our vices,
82 - But seye that we be wise and no thyng nyce.
But say that we are wise and not at all silly.
83 - For trewely ther is noon of us alle,
For truly there is not one of us all,
84 - If any wight wol clawe us on the galle,
If any one will scratch us on the sore spot,
85 - That we nel kike, for he seith us sooth.
That we will not kick back, because he tells us the truth.
86 - Assay, and he shal fynde it that so dooth;
Try it, and whoever so does shall find it true;
87 - For, be we never so vicious withinne,
For, be we never so vicious within,
88 - We wol been holden wise and clene of synne.
We want to be considered wise and clean of sin.
89 - And somme seyn that greet delit han we
And some say that we have great delight
90 - For to been holden stable, and eek secree,
To be considered steadfast, and also (able to keep a) secret,
91 - And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
And in one purpose steadfastly to remain,
92 - And nat biwreye thyng that men us telle.
And not reveal things that men tell us.
93 - But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele.
But that tale is not worth a rake handle.
94 - Pardee, we wommen konne no thyng hele;
By God, we women can hide nothing;
95 - Witnesse on Myda -- wol ye heere the tale?
Witness on Midas -- will you hear the tale?
96 - Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale,
Ovid, among other small matters,
97 - Seyde Myda hadde, under his longe heres,
Said Midas had, under his long hair,
98 - Growynge upon his heed two asses eres,
Two ass's ears, growing upon his head,
99 - The whiche vice he hydde as he best myghte
The which vice he hid as he best could
100 - Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte,
Very skillfully from every man's sight,
101 - That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it namo.
That, except for his wife, there knew of it no others.
102 - He loved hire moost, and trusted hire also;
He loved her most, and trusted her also;
103 - He preyede hire that to no creature
He prayed her that to no creature
104 - She sholde tellen of his disfigure.
She should tell of his disfigurement.
105 - She swoor him, "Nay"; for al this world to wynne,
She swore him, "Nay"; for all this world to win,
106 - She nolde do that vileynye or synne,
She would not do that dishonor or sin,
107 - To make hir housbonde han so foul a name.
To make her husband have so foul a reputation.
108 - She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.
She would not tell it for her own shame.
109 - But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde
But nonetheless, she thought that she would die
110 - That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde;
If she should hide a secret so long;
111 - Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte
She thought it swelled so sore about her heart
112 - That nedely som word hire moste asterte;
That necessarily some word must escape her;
113 - And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
And since she dared tell it to no man,
114 - Doun to a mareys faste by she ran --
She ran down to a marsh close by —
115 - Til she cam there hir herte was afyre --
Until she came there her heart was afire —
116 - And as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
And as a bittern bumbles in the mire,
117 - She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun:
She laid her mouth down unto the water:
118 - "Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,"
"Betray me not, thou water, with thy sound,”
118 - Quod she; "to thee I telle it and namo;
She said; "to thee I tell it and no others;
120 - Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two!
My husband has two long asses ears!
121 - Now is myn herte al hool; now is it oute.
Now is my heart all whole; now is it out.
122 - I myghte no lenger kepe it, out of doute."
I could no longer keep it, without doubt.”
123 - Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
Here you may see, though we a time abide,
124 - Yet out it moot; we kan no conseil hyde.
Yet out it must come; we can hide no secret.
125 - The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere,
The remnant of the tale if you will hear,
126 - Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it leere.
Read Ovid, and there you may learn it.
127 - This knyght, of which my tale is specially,
This knight, of whom my tale is in particular,
128 - Whan that he saugh he myghte nat come therby --
When he saw he might not come to that —
129 - This is to seye, what wommen love moost --
This is to say, what women love most —
130 - Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost.
Within his breast very sorrowful was the spirit.
131 - But hoom he gooth; he myghte nat sojourne;
But home he goes; he could not linger;
132 - The day was come that homward moste he tourne.
The day was come that homeward he must turn.
133 - And in his wey it happed hym to ryde,
And in his way he happened to ride,
134 - In al this care, under a forest syde,
In all this care, near a forest side,
135 - Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go
Where he saw upon a dance go
136 - Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo;
Ladies four and twenty, and yet more;
137 - Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne,
Toward the which dance he drew very eagerly,
138 - In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne.
In hope that he should learn some wisdom.
139 - But certeinly, er he cam fully there,
But certainly, before he came fully there,
140 - Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste where.
Vanished was this dance, he knew not where.
141 - No creature saugh he that bar lyf,
He saw no creature that bore life,
142 - Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf --
Save on the green he saw sitting a woman —
143 - A fouler wight ther may no man devyse.
There can no man imagine an uglier creature.
144 - Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse,
At the knight's coming this old wife did rise,
145 - And seyde, "Sire knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey.
And said, "Sir knight, there lies no road out of here.
146 - Tel me what that ye seken, by youre fey!
Tell me what you seek, by your faith!
147 - Paraventure it may the bettre be;
Perhaps it may be the better;
148 - Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng," quod she.
These old folk know many things," she said.
149 - "My leeve mooder," quod this knyght, "certeyn
"My dear mother," said this knight, "certainly
150 - I nam but deed but if that I kan seyn
I am as good as dead unless I can say
151 - What thyng it is that wommen moost desire.
What thing it is that women most desire.
152 - Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire."
If you could teach me, I would well repay you."
153 - "Plight me thy trouthe heere in myn hand," quod she,
"Pledge me thy word here in my hand," she said,
154 - "The nexte thyng that I requere thee,
"The next thing that I require of thee,
155 - Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght,
Thou shalt do it, if it lies in thy power,
156 - And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght."
And I will tell it to you before it is night."
157 - "Have heer my trouthe," quod the knyght, "I grante."
"Have here my pledged word," said the knight, "I agree.”
158 - "Thanne," quod she, "I dar me wel avante
"Then," she said, "I dare me well boast
159 - Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby;
Thy life is safe, for I will stand thereby;
160 - Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I.
Upon my life, the queen will say as I.
161 - Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle
Let's see which is the proudest of them all
162 - That wereth on a coverchief or a calle
That wears a kerchief or a hairnet
163 - That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche.
That dares say `nay' of what I shall teach thee.
164 - Lat us go forth withouten lenger speche."
Let us go forth without longer speech.”
165 - Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere,
Then she whispered a message in his ear,
166 - And bad hym to be glad and have no fere.
And commanded him to be glad and have no fear.
167 - Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght
When they are come to the court, this knight
168 - Seyde he had holde his day, as he hadde hight,
Said he had held his day, as he had promised,
169 - And redy was his answere, as he sayde.
And his answer was ready, as he said.
170 - Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde,
Very many a noble wife, and many a maid,
171 - And many a wydwe, for that they been wise,
And many a widow, because they are wise,
172 - The queene hirself sittynge as a justise,
The queen herself sitting as a justice,
173 - Assembled been, his answere for to heere;
Are assembled, to hear his answer;
174 - And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.
And afterward this knight was commanded to appear.
175 - To every wight comanded was silence,
Silence was commanded to every person,
176 - And that the knyght sholde telle in audience
And that the knight should tell in open court
177 - What thyng that worldly wommen loven best.
What thing (it is) that worldly women love best.
178 - This knyght ne stood nat stille as doth a best,
This knight stood not silent as does a beast,
179 - But to his questioun anon answerde
But to his question straightway answered
180 - With manly voys, that al the court it herde:
With manly voice, so that all the court heard it:
181 - "My lige lady, generally," quod he,
"My liege lady, without exception," he said,
182 - "Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee
"Women desire to have sovereignty
183 - As wel over hir housbond as hir love,
As well over her husband as her love,
184 - And for to been in maistrie hym above.
And to be in mastery above him.
185 - This is youre mooste desir, thogh ye me kille.
This is your greatest desire, though you kill me.
186 - Dooth as yow list; I am heer at youre wille."
Do as you please; I am here subject to your will.”
187 - In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne mayde,
In all the court there was not wife, nor maid,
188 - Ne wydwe that contraried that he sayde,
Nor widow that denied what he said,
189 - But seyden he was worthy han his lyf.
But said that he was worthy to have his life.
190 - And with that word up stirte the olde wyf,
And with that word up sprang the old woman,
191 - Which that the knyght saugh sittynge on the grene:
Whom the knight saw sitting on the green:
192 - "Mercy," quod she, "my sovereyn lady queene!
"Mercy," she said, "my sovereign lady queen!
193 - Er that youre court departe, do me right.
Before your court departs, do me justice.
194 - I taughte this answere unto the knyght;
I taught this answer to the knight;
195 - For which he plighte me his trouthe there,
For which he pledged me his word there,
196 - The firste thyng that I wolde hym requere
The first thing that I would ask of him
197 - He wolde it do, if it lay in his myghte.
He would do, if it lay in his power.
198 - Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght,"
Before the court then I pray thee, sir knight,”
199 - Quod she, "that thou me take unto thy wyf,
Said she, "that thou take me as thy wife,
200 - For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf.
For well thou know that I have saved thy life.
201 - If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey!"
If I say false, say `nay', upon thy faith!"
202 - This knyght answerde, "Allas and weylawey!
This knight answered, "Alas and woe is me!
203 - I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
I know right well that such was my promise.
204 - For Goddes love, as chees a newe requeste!
For God's love, choose a new request!
205 - Taak al my good and lat my body go."
Take all my goods and let my body go."
206 - "Nay, thanne," quod she, "I shrewe us bothe two!
"Nay, then," she said, "I curse both of us two!
207 - For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore
For though I am ugly, and old, and poor
208 - I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore
I would not for all the metal, nor for ore
209 - That under erthe is grave or lith above,
That under earth is buried or lies above,
210 - But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love."
Have anything except that I were thy wife, and also thy love."
211 - "My love?" quod he, "nay, my dampnacioun!
"My love?" he said, "nay, my damnation!
212 - Allas, that any of my nacioun
Alas, that any of my family
213 - Sholde evere so foule disparaged be!"
Should ever be so foully degraded!”
214 - But al for noght; the ende is this, that he
But all for naught; the end is this, that he
215 - Constreyned was; he nedes moste hire wedde,
Constrained was; he must by necessity wed her,
216 - And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
And takes his old wife, and goes to bed.
217 - Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,
Now would some men say, perhaps,
218 - That for my necligence I do no cure
That because of my negligence I make no effort
219 - To tellen yow the joye and al th' array
To tell you the joy and all the rich display
220- That at the feeste was that ilke day.
That was at the (wedding) feast that same day.
221 - To which thyng shortly answeren I shal:
To which thing shortly I shall answer:
222- seye ther nas no joye ne feeste at al;
I say there was no joy nor feast at all;
223 - Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sorwe.
There was nothing but heaviness and much sorrow.
224 - For prively he wedded hire on morwe,
For he wedded her in private in the morning,
225 - And al day after hidde hym as an owle,
And all day after hid himself like an owl,
226 - So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule.
So woeful was he, his wife looked so ugly.
227 - Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght,
Great was the woe the knight had in his thought,
228 - Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght;
When he was brought to bed with his wife;
229 - He walweth and he turneth to and fro.
He wallows and he turns to and fro.
230 - His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo,
His old wife lay smiling evermore,
231 - And seyde, "O deere housbonde, benedicitee!
And said, "O dear husband, bless me!
232 - Fareth every knyght thus with his wyf as ye?
Does every knight behave thus with his wife as you do?
233 - Is this the lawe of kyng Arthures hous?
Is this the law of king Arthur's house?
234 - Is every knyght of his so dangerous?
Is every knight of his so aloof?
235 - I am youre owene love and youre wyf;
I am your own love and your wife;
236 - I am she which that saved hath youre lyf,
I am she who has saved your life,
237 - And, certes, yet ne dide I yow nevere unright;
And, certainly, I did you never wrong yet;
238 - Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght?
Why behave you thus with me this first night?
239 - Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit.
You act like a man who had lost his wit.
240 - What is my gilt? For Goddes love, tel it,
What is my offense? For God's love, tell it,
241 - And it shal been amended, if I may."
And it shall be amended, if I can."
242 - "Amended?" quod this knyght, "Allas, nay, nay!
"Amended?" said this knight, "Alas, nay, nay!
243 - It wol nat been amended nevere mo.
It will not be amended ever more.
244 - Thou art so loothly, and so oold also,
Thou art so loathsome, and so old also,
245 - And therto comen of so lough a kynde,
And moreover descended from such low born lineage,
246 - That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde.
That little wonder is though I toss and twist about.
247 - So wolde God myn herte wolde breste!"
So would God my heart would burst!"
248 - "Is this," quod she, "the cause of youre unreste?"
"Is this," she said, "the cause of your distress?"
249 - "Ye, certeinly," quod he, "no wonder is."
"Yes, certainly," he said, "it is no wonder."
250 - "Now, sire," quod she, "I koude amende al this,
"Now, sir," she said, "I could amend all this,
251 - If that me liste, er it were dayes thre,
If I pleased, before three days were past,
252 - So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me.
Providing that you might behave well towards me.
253 - "But, for ye speken of swich gentillesse
"But, since you speak of such nobility
254 - As is descended out of old richesse,
As is descended out of old riches,
255 - That therfore sholden ye be gentil men,
That therefore you should be noble men,
256 - Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
Such arrogance is not worth a hen.
257 - Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
Look who is most virtuous always,
258- Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay
In private and public, and most intends ever
259 - To do the gentil dedes that he kan;
To do the noble deeds that he can;
260 - Taak hym for the grettest gentil man.
Take him for the greatest noble man.
261 - Crist wole we clayme of hym oure gentillesse,
Christ wants us to claim our nobility from him,
262 - Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse.
Not from our ancestors for their old riches.
263 - For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage,
For though they give us all their heritage,
264 - For which we clayme to been of heigh parage,
For which we claim to be of noble lineage,
265 - Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng
Yet they can not bequeath by any means
266 - To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng,
To any of us their virtuous living,
267 - That made hem gentil men ycalled be,
That made them be called noble men,
268 - And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.
And commanded us to follow them in such matters.
269 - "Wel kan the wise poete of Florence,
"Well can the wise poet of Florence,
270 - That highte Dant, speken in this sentence.
Who is called Dante, speak on this matter.
271 - Lo, in swich maner rym is Dantes tale:
Lo, in such sort of rime is Dante's speech:
272 - `Ful selde up riseth by his branches smale
`Very seldom grows up from its small branches
273 - Prowesse of man, for God, of his goodnesse,
Nobility of man, for God, of his goodness,
274 - Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse';
Wants us to claim our nobility from him’;
275 - For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme
For from our ancestors we can claim no thing
276 - But temporel thyng, that man may hurte and mayme.
Except temporal things, that may hurt and injure a man.
277 - "Eek every wight woot this as wel as I,
"Also every person knows this as well as I,
278 - If gentillesse were planted natureelly
If nobility were planted naturally
279 - Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne,
Unto a certain lineage down the line,
280 - Pryvee and apert thanne wolde they nevere fyne
Then in private and in public they would never cease
281 - To doon of gentillesse the faire office;
To do the just duties of nobility;
282 - They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
They could do no dishonor or vice.
283 - "Taak fyr and ber it in the derkeste hous
"Take fire and bear it in the darkest house
284 - Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous,
Between this and the mount of Caucasus,
285 - And lat men shette the dores and go thenne;
And let men shut the doors and go away;
286 - Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne
Yet will the fire as brightly blaze and burn
287 - As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde;
As if twenty thousand men might it behold;
288 - His office natureel ay wol it holde,
Its natural function it will always hold,
289 - Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye.
On peril of my life (I say), until it dies.
290 - "Heere may ye se wel how that genterye
"Here may you see well that nobility
291 - Is nat annexed to possessioun,
Is not joined with possession,
292 - Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun
Since folk not do behave as they should
293 - Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde.
Always, as does the fire, lo, in its nature.
294 - For, God it woot, men may wel often fynde
For, God knows it, men may well often find
295- A lordes sone do shame and vileynye;
A lord's son doing shame and dishonor;
296 - And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,
And he who will have praise for his noble birth,
297- For he was boren of a gentil hous
Because he was born of a noble house
298 - And hadde his eldres noble and vertuous,
And had his noble and virtuous ancestors,
299 - And nel hymselven do no gentil dedis
And will not himself do any noble deeds
300 - Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is,
Nor follow his noble ancestry that is dead,
301 - He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl,
He is not noble, be he duke or earl,
302 - For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl.
For churlish sinful deeds make a churl.
303 - For gentillesse nys but renomee
For nobility is nothing but renown
304 - Of thyne auncestres, for hire heigh bountee,
Of thy ancestors, for their great goodness,
305 - Which is a strange thyng to thy persone.
Which is a thing not naturally part of thy person.
306 - Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone.
Thy nobility comes from God alone.
307 - Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace;
Then our true nobility comes from grace;
308 - It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place.
It was not at all bequeathed to us with our social rank.
309 - "Thenketh hou noble, as seith Valerius,
"Think how noble, as says Valerius,
310 - Was thilke Tullius Hostillius,
Was that same Tullius Hostillius,
311 - That out of poverte roos to heigh noblesse.
That out of poverty rose to high nobility.
312 - Reedeth Senek, and redeth eek Boece;
Read Seneca, and read also Boethius;
313- Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is
There shall you see clearly that it is no doubt
314 - That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis.
That he is noble who does noble deeds.
315 - And therfore, leeve housbonde, I thus conclude:
And therefore, dear husband, I thus conclude:
316 - Al were it that myne auncestres were rude,
Although it is so that my ancestors were rude,
317 - Yet may the hye God, and so hope I,
Yet may the high God, and so hope I,
318 - Grante me grace to lyven vertuously.
Grant me grace to live virtuously.
319- Thanne am I gentil, whan that I bigynne
Then am I noble, when I begin
320 - To lyven vertuously and weyve synne.
To live virtuously and abandon sin.
321 - "And ther as ye of poverte me repreeve,
"And whereas you reprove me for poverty,
322 - The hye God, on whom that we bileeve,
The high God, on whom we believe,
323 - In wilful poverte chees to lyve his lyf.
In voluntary poverty chose to live his life.
324 - And certes every man, mayden, or wyf
And certainly every man, maiden, or woman
325 - May understonde that Jhesus, hevene kyng,
Can understand that Jesus, heaven's king,
326 - Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyvyng.
Would not choose a vicious form of living.
327 - Glad poverte is an honest thyng, certeyn;
Glad poverty is an honest thing, certain;
328 - This wole Senec and othere clerkes seyn.
This will Seneca and other clerks say.
329- Whoso that halt hym payd of his poverte,
Whoever considers himself satisfied with his poverty,
330 - I holde hym riche, al hadde he nat a sherte.
I consider him rich, although he had not a shirt.
331 - He that coveiteth is a povre wight,
He who covets is a poor person,
332 - For he wolde han that is nat in his myght;
For he would have that which is not in his power;
333 - But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth have,
But he who has nothing, nor covets to have anything,
334 - Is riche, although ye holde hym but a knave.
Is rich, although you consider him but a knave.
335 - Verray poverte, it syngeth proprely;
True poverty, it rightly sings;
336 - Juvenal seith of poverte myrily:
Juvenal says of poverty merrily:
337 - `The povre man, whan he goth by the weye,
`The poor man, when he goes along the roadway,
338 - Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye.'
Before the thieves he may sing and play.’
339- Poverte is hateful good and, as I gesse,
Poverty is a hateful good and, as I guess,
340- A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse;
A very great remover of cares;
341 - A greet amendere eek of sapience
A great amender also of wisdom
342 - To hym that taketh it in pacience.
To him that takes it in patience.
343 - Poverte is this, although it seme alenge:
Poverty is this, although it may seem miserable:
344 - Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge.
A possession that no one will challenge.
345 - Poverte ful ofte, whan a man is lowe,
Poverty very often, when a man is low,
346 - Maketh his God and eek hymself to knowe.
Makes him know his God and also himself.
347 - Poverte a spectacle is, as thynketh me,
Poverty is an eye glass, as it seems to me,
348 - Thurgh which he may his verray freendes see.
Through which one may see his true friends.
349 - And therfore, sire, syn that I noght yow greve,
And therefore, sir, since I do not injure you,
350 - Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve.
You (should) no longer reprove me for my poverty.
351 - "Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me;
"Now, sir, of old age you reprove me;
352 - And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee
And certainly, sir, though no authority
353 - Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
Were in any book, you gentlefolk of honor
354 - Seyn that men sholde an oold wight doon favour
Say that men should be courteous to an old person
355 - And clepe hym fader, for youre gentillesse;
And call him father, because of your nobility;
356 - And auctours shal I fynden, as I gesse.
And authors shall I find, as I guess.
357 - "Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old,
"Now where you say that I am ugly and old,
358 - Than drede you noght to been a cokewold;
Than do not fear to be a cuckold;
359 - For filthe and eelde, also moot I thee,
For filth and old age, as I may prosper,
360 - Been grete wardeyns upon chastitee.
Are great guardians of chastity.
361 - But nathelees, syn I knowe youre delit,
But nonetheless, since I know your delight,
362 - I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit.
I shall fulfill your worldly appetite.
363 - "Chese now," quod she, "oon of thise thynges tweye:
"Choose now," she said, "one of these two things:
364 - To han me foul and old til that I deye,
To have me ugly and old until I die,
365 - And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf,
And be to you a true, humble wife,
366 - And nevere yow displese in al my lyf,
And never displease you in all my life,
367 - Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
Or else you will have me young and fair,
368 - And take youre aventure of the repair
And take your chances of the crowd
369 - That shal be to youre hous by cause of me,
That shall be at your house because of me,
370 - Or in som oother place, may wel be.
Or in some other place, as it may well be.
371 - Now chese yourselven, wheither that yow liketh."
Now choose yourself, whichever you please."
372 - This knyght avyseth hym and sore siketh,
This knight deliberates and painfully sighs,
373- But atte laste he seyde in this manere:
But at the last he said in this manner:
374 - "My lady and my love, and wyf so deere,
"My lady and my love, and wife so dear,
375 - I put me in youre wise governance;
I put me in your wise governance;
376 - Cheseth youreself which may be moost plesance
Choose yourself which may be most pleasure
377 - And moost honour to yow and me also.
And most honor to you and me also.
378 - I do no fors the wheither of the two,
I do not care which of the two,
379 - For as yow liketh, it suffiseth me."
For as it pleases you, is enough for me."
380 - "Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie," quod she,
"Then have I gotten mastery of you," she said,
381 - "Syn I may chese and governe as me lest?"
"Since I may choose and govern as I please?"
382 - "Ye, certes, wyf," quod he, "I holde it best."
"Yes, certainly, wife," he said, "I consider it best."
383 - "Kys me," quod she, "we be no lenger wrothe,
"Kiss me," she said, "we are no longer angry,
384 - For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe --
For, by my troth, I will be to you both —
385 - This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.
This is to say, yes, both fair and good.
386 - I prey to God that I moote sterven wood,
I pray to God that I may die insane
387 - But I to yow be also good and trewe
Unless I to you be as good and true
388 - As evere was wyf, syn that the world was newe.
As ever was wife, since the world was new.
389 - And but I be to-morn as fair to seene
And unless I am tomorrow morning as fair to be seen
390 - As any lady, emperice, or queene,
As any lady, empress, or queen,
391 - That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
That is between the east and also the west,
392 - Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.
Do with my life and death right as you please.
393 - Cast up the curtyn, looke how that it is."
Cast up the curtain, look how it is."
394 - And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this,
And when the knight saw truly all this,
395 - That she so fair was, and so yong therto,
That she so was beautiful, and so young moreover,
396 - For joye he hente hire in his armes two.
For joy he clasped her in his two arms.
397 - His herte bathed in a bath of blisse.
His heart bathed in a bath of bliss.
398 - A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hire kisse,
A thousand time in a row he did her kiss,
399 - And she obeyed hym in every thyng
And she obeyed him in every thing
400 - That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng.
That might do him pleasure or enjoyment.
401 - And thus they lyve unto hir lyves ende
And thus they live unto their lives' end
402 - In parfit joye; and Jhesu Crist us sende
In perfect joy; and Jesus Christ us send
403 - Housbondes meeke, yonge, and fressh abedde,
Husbands meek, young, and vigorous in bed,
404 - And grace t' overbyde hem that we wedde;
And grace to outlive them whom we wed;
405 - And eek I praye Jhesu shorte hir lyves
And also I pray Jesus shorten their lives
406 - That noght wol be governed by hir wyves;
That will not be governed by their wives;
407 - And olde and angry nygardes of dispence,
And old and angry misers in spending,
408 - God sende hem soone verray pestilence!
God send them soon the very pestilence!
=Brian Ó Broin