#  5.2 The Franklin's Prologue and Tale 

 



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### The Franklin's Prologue 

*The Prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale*

709 **Thise olde gentil Britouns in hir dayes**  
 These old noble Bretons in their days  
710 **Of diverse aventures maden layes,**  
 Of diverse adventures made lays,  
711 **Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge,**  
 Rhymed in their first Breton tongue,  
712 **Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe**  
 Which lays with their instruments they sang  
713 **Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce;**  
 Or else read them for their pleasure;  
714 **And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,**  
 And one of them have I in remembrance,  
715 **Which I shal seyn with good wyl as I kan.**  
 Which I shall say with as good will as I can.

716 **But, sires, by cause I am a burel man,**  
 But, sirs, because I am an unlearned man,  
717 **At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche,**  
 At my beginning first I you beseech,  
718 **Have me excused of my rude speche.**  
 Have me excused for my rude speech.  
719 **I lerned nevere rethorik, certeyn;**  
 I learned never rhetoric, certainly;  
720 **Thyng that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn.**  
 Thing that I speak, it must be bare and plain.  
721 **I sleep nevere on the Mount of Pernaso,**  
 I slept never on the Mount of Parnassus,  
722 **Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero.**  
 Nor learned Marcus Tullius Cicero.  
723 **Colours ne knowe I none, withouten drede,**  
 Colors know I none, without doubt,  
724 **But swiche colours as growen in the mede,**  
 But such colors as grow in the field,  
725 **Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte.**  
 Or else such as men dye or paint.  
726 **Colours of rethoryk been to me queynte;**  
 Colors of rhetoric (figures of speech) are strange to me;  
727 **My spirit feeleth noght of swich mateere.**  
 My spirit feels nothing of such matter.  
728 **But if yow list, my tale shul ye heere.**  
 But if you wish, you shall hear my tale.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

## The Franklin's Tale

*Here bigynneth the Frankeleyns Tale*

729 **In Armorik, that called is Britayne,**  
 In Armorica, that is called Brittany,  
730 **Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne**  
 There was a knight that loved and worked hard  
731 **To serve a lady in his beste wise;**  
 To serve a lady in his best manner;  
732 **And many a labour, many a greet emprise,**  
 And many a labor, many a great chivalric exploit,  
733 **He for his lady wroghte er she were wonne.**  
 He wrought for his lady before she was won.  
734 **For she was oon the faireste under sonne,**  
 For she was the fairest of all under the sun,  
735 **And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede**  
 And also moreover come of such noble ancestry  
736 **That wel unnethes dorste this knyght, for drede,**  
 That this knight hardly dared, for fear,  
737 **Telle hire his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.**  
 Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress.  
738 **But atte laste she, for his worthynesse,**  
 But at the last she, for his worthiness,  
739 **And namely for his meke obeysaunce,**  
 And namely for his meek submission,  
740 **Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce**  
 Has taken such a pity on his suffering  
741 **That pryvely she fil of his accord**  
 That privately she agreed with him  
742 **To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,**  
 To take him for her husband and hir lord,  
743 **Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves.**  
 Of such lordship as men have over their wives.  
744 **And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves,**  
 And to lead the more blissfully their lives,  
745 **Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght**  
 Of his free will he swore her as a knight  
746 **That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,**  
 That never in all his life he, day or night,  
747 **Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie**  
 Should take upon himself any mastery  
748 **Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie,**  
 Against her will, nor show her jealousy,  
749 **But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al,**  
 But obey her, and follow her will in everything,  
750 **As any lovere to his lady shal,**  
 As any lover to his lady should,  
751 **Save that the name of soveraynetee,**  
 Except for the appearance of sovereignty,  
752 **That wolde he have for shame of his degree.**  
 Which he would have to avoid bringing shame on his status (of knighthood).

753 **She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse**  
 She thanked him, and with full great humbleness  
754 **She seyde, "Sire, sith of youre gentillesse**  
 She said, "Sir, since of your nobility  
755 **Ye profre me to have so large a reyne,**  
 You offer me to have such freedom from restraint,  
756 **Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne,**  
 And would God that never between us two,  
757 **As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.**  
 Through my fault, should be either war or strife.  
758 **Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf --**  
 Sir, I will be your humble true wife --  
759 **Have heer my trouthe -- til that myn herte breste."**  
 Have here my pledge -- until my heart bursts (until I die)."   
760 **Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.**  
 Thus are they both in quiet and in peace.

761 **For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye,**  
 For one thing, sirs, I dare say confidently,  
762 **That freendes everych oother moot obeye,**  
 That friends must obey each other,  
763 **If they wol longe holden compaignye.**  
 If they will long hold company.  
764 **Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye.**  
 Love will not be constrained by mastery.  
765 **Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon**  
 When mastery comes, the God of Love immediately  
766 **Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon!**  
 Beats his wings, and farewell, he is gone!  
767 **Love is a thyng as any spirit free.**  
 Love is a thing free as any spirit.  
768 **Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee,**  
 Women, by nature, desire liberty,  
769 **And nat to been constreyned as a thral;**  
 And not to be constrained like a slave;  
770 **And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal.**  
 And so do men, if I shall say the truth.  
771 **Looke who that is moost pacient in love,**  
 Look who is most patient in love,  
772 **He is at his avantage al above.**  
 He is in the best position, superior to all.  
773 **Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn,**  
 Patience is a noble virtue, certainly,  
774 **For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn,**  
 For it vanquishes, as these clerks say,  
775 **Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne.**  
 Things that rigor should never attain.  
776 **For every word men may nat chide or pleyne.**  
 One may not chide or complain for every word.  
777 **Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon,**  
 Learn to suffer, or else, as I may walk (I swear),  
778 **Ye shul it lerne, wher so ye wole or noon;**  
 You shall learn it, whether you want to or not;  
779 **For in this world, certein, ther no wight is**  
 For in this world, certainly, there is no person   
780 **That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys.**  
 Who does not sometime do or speak amiss.  
781 **Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun,**  
 Ire, sickness, or the position of the stars,  
782 **Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun**  
 Wine, woe, or changing of the balance of bodily humors  
783 **Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken.**  
 Causes (one) very often to do or speak amiss.  
784 **On every wrong a man may nat be wreken.**  
 On every wrong a man can not be avenged.  
785 **After the tyme moste be temperaunce**  
 There must be moderation suitable to the occasion   
786 **To every wight that kan on governaunce.**  
 By every person who knows about governance.   
787 **And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght,**  
 And therefore has this wise, worthy knight,  
788 **To lyve in ese, suffrance hire bihight,**  
 To live in ease, promised her forbearance,  
789 **And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere**  
 And she to him full truly did swear  
790 **That nevere sholde ther be defaute in here.**  
 That never should there be fault in her.

791 **Heere may men seen an humble, wys accord;**  
 Here may men see a humble, wise accord;  
792 **Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord --**  
 Thus has she taken her servant and her lord --  
793 **Servant in love, and lord in mariage.**  
 Servant in love, and lord in marriage.  
794 **Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and servage.**  
 Then was he both in lordship and servitude.  
795 **Servage? Nay, but in lordshipe above,**  
 Servitude? Nay, but in lordship above,  
796 **Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love;**  
 Since he has both his lady and his love;  
797 **His lady, certes, and his wyf also,**  
 His lady, certainly, and his wife also,  
798 **The which that lawe of love acordeth to.**  
 The which accords to the law of love.  
799 **And whan he was in this prosperitee,**  
 And when he was in this happy state,  
800 **Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree,**  
 Home with his wife he goes to his country,  
801 **Nat fer fro Pedmark, ther his dwellyng was,**  
 Not far from Pedmark, where his dwelling was,  
802 **Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas.**  
 Where he lives in bliss and in pleasure.

803 **Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be,**  
 Who could tell, unless he had been wedded,  
804 **The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee**  
 The joy, the ease, and the happiness  
805 **That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf?**  
 That is between a husband and his wife?  
806 **A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf,**  
 A year and more lasted this blissful life,  
807 **Til that the knyght of which I speke of thus,**  
 Until the knight of whom I thus speak,  
808 **That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus,**  
 That was called Arveragus of Kayrrud,  
809 **Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or tweyne**  
 Prepared himself to go and dwell a year or two  
810 **In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne,**  
 In England, which was also called Britain,  
811 **To seke in armes worshipe and honour --**  
 To seek in arms good reputation and honor --  
812 **For al his lust he sette in swich labour --**  
 For he set all his desire in such labor --  
813 **And dwelled there two yeer; the book seith thus.**  
 And dwelled there two years; the book says thus.

814 **Now wol I stynten of this Arveragus,**  
 Now will I stop (speaking) of this Arveragus,  
815 **And speken I wole of Dorigen his wyf,**  
 And I will speak of Dorigen his wife,  
816 **That loveth hire housbonde as hire hertes lyf.**  
 Who loves her husband as her heart's life.  
817 **For his absence wepeth she and siketh,**  
 For his absence she weeps and sighs,  
818 **As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh.**  
 As do these noble wives when it pleases them.  
819 **She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth;**  
 She mourns, stays awake, wails, fasts, complains;  
820 **Desir of his presence hire so destreyneth**  
 Desire of his presence so presses upon her  
821 **That al this wyde world she sette at noght.**  
 That all this wide world she reckoned as worth nothing.  
822 **Hire freendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght,**  
 Her friends, who knew her gloomy thought,  
823 **Conforten hire in al that ever they may.**  
 Comfort her in all that ever they can.  
824 **They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day**  
 They preach to her, they tell her night and day  
825 **That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas!**  
 That she slays herself without cause, alas!  
826 **And every confort possible in this cas**  
 And every comfort possible in this case  
827 **They doon to hire with al hire bisynesse,**  
 They do to her with all their concern,  
828 **Al for to make hire leve hire hevynesse.**  
 All to make her leave her sadness.

829 **By proces, as ye knowen everichoon,**  
 In the course of time, as every one of you knows,  
830 **Men may so longe graven in a stoon**  
 One may so long engrave on a stone  
831 **Til som figure therinne emprented be.**  
 Until some figure is imprinted upon it.  
832 **So longe han they conforted hire til she**  
 So long have they comforted her until she  
833 **Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun,**  
 Received has, by hope and by reason,  
834 **The emprentyng of hire consolacioun,**  
 The imprint of their consolation,  
835 **Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage;**  
 Through which her great sorrow began to be relieved;  
836 **She may nat alwey duren in swich rage.**  
 She can not always continue in such passionate grief.

837 **And eek Arveragus, in al this care,**  
 And also Arveragus, in (the midst of) all this care,   
838 **Hath sent hire lettres hoom of his welfare,**  
 Has sent her letters home (telling) of his welfare,  
839 **And that he wol come hastily agayn;**  
 And that he will come hastily again;  
840 **Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn.**  
 Or else this sorrow would have slain her heart.

841 **Hire freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake**  
 Her friends saw her sorrow began to slacken  
842 **And preyde hire on knees, for Goddes sake,**  
 And prayed her on their knees, for God's sake,  
843 **To come and romen hire in compaignye,**  
 To come and walk about in company,  
844 **Awey to dryve hire derke fantasye.**  
 Away to drive her dark imagining.  
845 **And finally she graunted that requeste,**  
 And finally she granted that request,  
846 **For wel she saugh that it was for the beste.**  
 For well she saw that it was for the best.

847 **Now stood hire castel faste by the see,**  
 Now her castle stood close by the sea,  
848 **And often with hire freendes walketh shee**  
 And often with her friends she walks  
849 **Hire to disporte upon the bank an heigh,**  
 To amuse herself upon the bank on high,  
850 **Where as she many a ship and barge seigh**  
 Where she saw many a ship and sailing vessel  
851 **Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go.**  
 Sailing their course, where it pleases them to go.  
852 **But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo,**  
 But then was that a portion of her woe,  
853 **For to hirself ful ofte, "Allas!" seith she,**  
 For to herself full often, she says "Alas!",  
854 **"Is ther no ship, of so manye as I se,**  
 "Is there no ship, of so many as I see,  
855 **Wol bryngen hom my lord? Thanne were myn herte**  
 Will bring home my lord? Then would my heart be  
856 **Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte."**  
 All cured of its bitter, sharp pains."

857 **Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thynke,**  
 Another time there would she sit and think,  
858 **And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke.**  
 And cast her eyes downward from the brink.  
859 **But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake,**  
 But when she saw the grisly black rocks,  
860 **For verray feere so wolde hir herte quake**  
 For sheer fear her heart would so quake  
861 **That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene.**  
 That on her feet she could not sustain herself.  
862 **Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene,**  
 Then would she sit down upon the green,  
863 **And pitously into the see biholde,**  
 And piteously stare into the sea,  
864 **And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde:**  
 And say right thus, with sorrowful, cold sighs:

865 **"Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveiaunce**  
 "Eternal God, who through thy foreknowledge  
866 **Ledest the world by certein governaunce,**  
 Leads the world by sure governance,   
867 **In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make.**  
 Men say you make nothing in vain.  
868 **But, Lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake,**  
 But, Lord, these grisly fiendish black rocks,  
869 **That semen rather a foul confusion**  
 That seem rather a foul confusion  
870 **Of werk than any fair creacion**  
 Of work than any fair creation  
871 **Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable,**  
 Of such a perfectly wise and stable God,  
872 **Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable?**  
 Why have you created this unreasonable work?  
873 **For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest,**  
 For by this work, south, north, nor west, nor east,  
874 **Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest;**  
 There is no benefit to man, nor bird, nor beast;  
875 **It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth.**  
 It does no good, to my understanding, but does harm.  
876 **Se ye nat, Lord, how mankynde it destroyeth?**  
 See you not, Lord, how it destroys mankind?  
877 **An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde**  
 A hundred thousand bodies of mankind  
878 **Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde,**  
 Have rocks slain, although their names are forgotten,  
879 **Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk**  
 And this mankind is so fair a part of thy work  
880 **That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk.**  
 That thou made it like to thine own image.  
881 **Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee**  
 Then it seemed you had a great love  
882 **Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee**  
 Toward mankind; but how then may it be  
883 **That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen,**  
 That you make such means to destroy it,  
884 **Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen?**  
 Which means do no good, but always cause trouble?  
885 **I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste,**  
 I know well clerks will say as they please,  
886 **By argumentz, that al is for the beste,**  
 By logical reasoning, that all is for the best,  
887 **Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe.**  
 Though I can not know the causes.  
888 **But thilke God that made wynd to blowe**  
 But that same God that made wind to blow  
889 **As kepe my lord! This my conclusion.**  
 Keep my lord! This is my conclusion.  
890 **To clerkes lete I al disputison.**  
 To clerks I leave all disputation.  
891 **But wolde God that alle thise rokkes blake**  
 But would God that all these black rocks   
892 **Were sonken into helle for his sake!**  
 Were sunk into hell for his sake!  
893 **Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere."**  
 These rocks slay my heart for fear."  
894 **Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere.**  
 Thus would she say, with many a piteous tear.

895 **Hire freendes sawe that it was no disport**  
 Her friends saw that it was no pleasure  
896 **To romen by the see, but disconfort,**  
 To roam by the sea, but discomfort,  
897 **And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles.**  
 And decide to amuse themselves somewhere else.  
898 **They leden hire by ryveres and by welles,**  
 They lead her by rivers and by springs,  
899 **And eek in othere places delitables;**  
 And also in other delightful places;  
900 **They dauncen and they pleyen at ches and tables.**  
 They dance and they play at chess and backgammon.

901 **So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde,**  
 So on a day, early in the morning-tide,  
902 **Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde,**  
 Unto a garden that was there nearby,  
903 **In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce**  
 In which they had made their arrangement  
904 **Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce,**  
 For victuals and for other provisions,  
905 **They goon and pleye hem al the longe day.**  
 They go and amuse themselves all the long day.  
906 **And this was on the sixte morwe of May,**  
 And this was on the sixth morning of May,  
907 **Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures**  
 Which May had painted with its soft showers  
908 **This gardyn ful of leves and of floures;**  
 This garden full of leaves and of flowers;  
909 **And craft of mannes hand so curiously**  
 And craft of man's hand so skillfully  
910 **Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely,**  
 Had adorned this garden, truly,  
911 **That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys**  
 That never was there garden of such worth  
912 **But if it were the verray paradys.**  
 Unless it were the true paradise.  
913 **The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte**  
 The odor of flowers and the fresh sight  
914 **Wolde han maked any herte lighte**  
 Would have made any heart light  
915 **That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse**  
 That ever was born, unless too great sickness  
916 **Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse,**  
 Or too great sorrow held it in distress,  
917 **So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.**  
 It was so full of beauty with pleasure.  
918 **At after-dyner gonne they to daunce,**  
 After dinner they go to dance,  
919 **And synge also, save Dorigen allone,**  
 And sing also, save Dorigen alone,  
920 **Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone,**  
 Who made always her complaint and her moan,  
921 **For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go**  
 For she did not see him on the dance go  
922 **That was hir housbonde and hir love also.**  
 Who was her husband and her love also.  
923 **But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde**  
 But nonetheless she must a time abide  
924 **And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.**  
 And with good hope let her sorrow slip away.

925 **Upon this daunce, amonges othere men,**  
 In this dance, among other men,  
926 **Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen,**  
 Danced a squire before Dorigen,  
927 **That fressher was and jolyer of array,**  
 Who was more lively and more gaily dressed,  
928 **As to my doom, than is the month of May.**  
 As to my judgement, than is the month of May.  
929 **He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man**  
 He sings, dances, passing any man  
930 **That is, or was, sith that the world bigan.**  
 That is, or was, since the world began.  
931 **Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve,**  
 Therewith he was, if one should him describe,  
932 **Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve;**  
 One of the most handsome men alive;  
933 **Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys,**  
 Young, strong, very valiant, and rich, and wise,  
934 **And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys.**  
 And well beloved, and held in great esteem.  
935 **And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal,**  
 And shortly, if I shall tell the truth,  
936 **Unwityng of this Dorigen at al,**  
 Unknown by this Dorigen at all,  
937 **This lusty squier, servant to Venus,**  
 This lusty squire, servant to Venus,  
938 **Which that ycleped was Aurelius,**  
 Who was called Aurelius,  
939 **Hadde loved hire best of any creature**  
 Had loved her best of any creature  
940 **Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure,**  
 Two years and more, as was his fate,  
941 **But nevere dorste he tellen hire his grevaunce.**  
 But he never dared tell her his grievance.  
942 **Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce.**  
 Copiously he drank all his penance (suffered intensely).  
943 **He was despeyred; no thyng dorste he seye,**  
 He was in despair; he dared say nothing,  
944 **Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye**  
 Except in his songs somewhat he would reveal  
945 **His wo, as in a general compleynyng;**  
 His woe, as in a general lament;  
946 **He seyde he lovede and was biloved no thyng.**  
 He said he loved and was in no way loved in return  
947 **Of swich matere made he manye layes,**  
 Of such subject matter made he many lays,  
948 **Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes,**  
 Songs, complaints, roundels, virelays,  
949 **How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,**  
 (Saying) how he dared not his sorrow tell,  
950 **But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle;**  
 But suffers as a fury does in hell;  
951 **And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko**  
 And he must die, he said, as did Echo  
952 **For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo.**  
 For Narcissus, she who dared not tell her woe.  
953 **In oother manere than ye heere me seye,**  
 In other ways than you hear me say,  
954 **Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye,**  
 He dared not reveal to her his woe,  
955 **Save that, paraventure, somtyme at daunces,**  
 Except that, by chance, sometimes at dances,  
956 **Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces,**  
 Where young folk observe their customs (of courtship),  
957 **It may wel be he looked on hir face**  
 It may well be he looked on her face  
958 **In swich a wise as man that asketh grace;**  
 In such a manner as a man that asks for grace;  
959 **But nothyng wiste she of his entente.**  
 But she knew nothing of his intent.  
960 **Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente,**  
 Nonetheless it happened, before they went away,  
961 **By cause that he was hire neighebour,**  
 Because he was her neighbor,  
962 **And was a man of worshipe and honour,**  
 And was a man of good reputation and honor,  
963 **And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore,**  
 And (she) had known him for a long time,  
964 **They fille in speche; and forth, moore and moore,**  
 They fell in speech; and forth, more and more,  
965 **Unto his purpos drough Aurelius,**  
 Unto his purpose drew Aurelius,  
966 **And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus:**  
 And when he saw his time, he said thus:

967 **"Madame," quod he, "by God that this world made,**  
 "Madame," he said, "by God that this world made,  
968 **So that I wiste it myghte youre herte glade,**  
 Providing that I knew it might gladden your heart,  
969 **I wolde that day that youre Arveragus**  
 I wish that day that your Arveragus  
970 **Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius,**  
 Went over the sea, that I, Aurelius,  
971 **Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn.**  
 Had went from where I should never have come back.  
972 **For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn;**  
 For well I know my service is in vain;  
973 **My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte.**  
 My reward is but the breaking of my heart.  
974 **Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte;**  
 Madame, have pity upon my bitter pains;  
975 **For with a word ye may me sleen or save.**  
 For with one word you may me slay or save.  
976 **Heere at youre feet God wolde that I were grave!**  
 Here at your feet would God that I were buried!  
977 **I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye;**  
 I have now no opportunity to say more;  
978 **Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye!"**  
 Have mercy, sweet, or you will make me die!"

979 **She gan to looke upon Aurelius;**  
 She did look upon Aurelius;  
980 **"Is this youre wyl," quod she, "and sey ye thus?**  
 "Is this your desire," said she, "and say you thus?  
981 **Nevere erst," quod she, "ne wiste I what ye mente.**  
 Never before," she said, "Did I know what you meant.  
982 **But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente,**  
 But now, Aurelius, I know your intention,  
983 **By thilke God that yaf me soule and lyf,**  
 By that same God that gave me soul and life,  
984 **Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf**  
 I shall never be an untrue wife  
985 **In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit;**  
 In word nor deed, so long as I have my wits;  
986 **I wol been his to whom that I am knyt.**  
 I will be his to whom that I am knit.  
987 **Taak this for fynal answere as of me."**  
 Take this for my final answer."  
988 **But after that in pley thus seyde she:**  
 But after that in play thus she said:

989 **"Aurelie," quod she, "by heighe God above,**  
 "Aurelius," she said, "by high God above,  
990 **Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love,**  
 Yet would I grant you to be your love,  
991 **Syn I yow se so pitously complayne.**  
 Since I see you so piteously lament.  
992 **Looke what day that endelong Britayne**  
 On whatever day that from end to end of Brittany  
993 **Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon,**  
 You remove all the rocks, stone by stone,  
994 **That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon --**  
 So that they do not prevent ship nor boat to go --  
995 **I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene**  
 I say, when you have made the coast so clean  
996 **Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene,**  
 Of rocks that there is no stone seen,  
997 **Thanne wol I love yow best of any man;**  
 Then will I love you best of any man;  
998 **Have heer my trouthe, in al that evere I kan."**  
 Have here my pledged word, in all that is in my power."

999 **"Is ther noon oother grace in yow?" quod he.**  
 "Is there no other grace in you?" he said.

1000 **"No, by that Lord," quod she, "that maked me!**  
 "No, by that Lord," she said, "that made me!  
1001 **For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.**  
 For well I know that it shall never happen.  
1002 **Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde.**  
 Let such follies pass out of your heart.  
1003 **What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf**  
 What pleasure should a man have in his life  
1004 **For to go love another mannes wyf,**  
 To go love another man's wife,  
1005 **That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh?"**  
 Who has her body whenever he pleases?"

1006 **Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh;**  
 Aurelius very often bitterly sighs;  
1007 **Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herde,**  
 Woe was Aurelius when he heard this,  
1008 **And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde:**  
 And with a sorrowful heart he thus answered:

1009 **"Madame," quod he, "this were an inpossible!**  
 "Madame," he said, "this would be an impossiblity!  
1010 **Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible."**  
 Then I must die of sudden horrible death."  
1011 **And with that word he turned hym anon.**  
 And with that word he turned away immediately.  
1012 **Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon,**  
 Then came her other friends many a one,  
1013 **And in the aleyes romeden up and doun,**  
 And in the garden paths roamed up and down,  
1014 **And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun,**  
 And knew nothing of this business,  
1015 **But sodeynly bigonne revel newe**  
 But suddenly began to revel anew  
1016 **Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe;**  
 Until the bright sun lost its hue;  
1017 **For th' orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght --**  
 For the horizon has bereft the sun of its light --  
1018 **This is as muche to seye as it was nyght --**  
 This is as much to say that it was night --  
1019 **And hoom they goon in joye and in solas,**  
 And home they go in joy and in pleasure,  
1020 **Save oonly wrecche Aurelius, allas!**  
 Save only wretched Aurelius, alas!  
1021 **He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte.**  
 He to his house is gone with sorrowful heart.  
1022 **He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte;**  
 He sees he can not escape from his death;  
1023 **Hym semed that he felte his herte colde.**  
 He thought that he felt his heart grow cold.  
1024 **Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde,**  
 Up to the heaven his hands he did hold,  
1025 **And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun,**  
 And on his bare knees he set himself down,  
1026 **And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun.**  
 And in his delirium said his prayer.   
1027 **For verray wo out of his wit he breyde.**  
 For utter woe out of his wits he suddenly went.  
1028 **He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde;**  
 He knew not what he spoke, but thus he said;  
1029 **With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne**  
 With piteous heart he has begun his complaint   
1030 **Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne:**  
 Unto the gods, and first unto the sun:

1031 **He seyde, "Appollo, god and governour**  
 He said, "Apollo, god and governor  
1032 **Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour,**  
 Of every plant, herb, tree, and flower,  
1033 **That yevest, after thy declinacion,**  
 That gives, according to thy height (in the sky),  
1034 **To ech of hem his tyme and his seson,**  
 To each of them its time and its season,  
1035 **As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe,**  
 As thy astronomical position changes low or high,  
1036 **Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable eighe**  
 Lord Phoebus, cast thy merciful eye  
1037 **On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn.**  
 On wretched Aurelius, who is as good as lost.  
1038 **Lo, lord! My lady hath my deeth ysworn**  
 Lo, lord! My lady has sworn my death   
1039 **Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee**  
 Without guilt, unless thy kindness  
1040 **Upon my dedly herte have som pitee.**  
 Upon my dying heart have some pity.  
1041 **For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest,**  
 For well I know, lord Phoebus, if you wish,  
1042 **Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best.**  
 You can help me best (of anyone), except for my lady.  
1043 **Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse**  
 Now grant that I may tell you  
1044 **How that I may been holpen and in what wyse.**  
 How I may be helped and in what manner.

1045 **"Youre blisful suster, Lucina the sheene,**  
 "Your blissful sister, Lucina the bright,  
1046 **That of the see is chief goddesse and queene**  
 Who of the sea is chief goddess and queen  
1047 **(Though Neptunus have deitee in the see,**  
 (Though Neptune have godly dominion in the sea,  
1048 **Yet emperisse aboven hym is she),**  
 Yet empress above him is she),  
1049 **Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir**  
 You know well, lord, that just as her desire  
1050 **Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fir,**  
 Is to be kindled and ignited by your fire,   
1051 **For which she folweth yow ful bisily,**  
 For which she follows you very attentively,  
1052 **Right so the see desireth naturelly**  
 Just so the sea desires naturally  
1053 **To folwen hire, as she that is goddesse**  
 To follow her, as she that is goddess  
1054 **Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse.**  
 Both in the sea and rivers great and small.  
1055 **Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste --**  
 Wherefore, lord Phoebus, this is my request --  
1056 **Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste --**  
 Do this miracle, or make my heart break --  
1057 **That now next at this opposicion**  
 That now at this next opposition (of the sun and moon)  
1058 **Which in the signe shal be of the Leon,**  
 Which shall be in the sign of the Lion,  
1059 **As preieth hire so greet a flood to brynge**  
 Pray her so great a high tide to bring  
1060 **That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge**  
 That five fathoms at the least it rise above  
1061 **The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne;**  
 The highest rock in Armorican Brittany;  
1062 **And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne.**  
 And let this flood-tide endure for two years.  
1063 **Thanne certes to my lady may I seye,**  
 Then certainly to my lady may I say,  
1064 **`Holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.'**  
 `Keep your promise, the rocks are away.'

1065 **"Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me.**  
 "Lord Phoebus, do this miracle for me.  
1066 **Preye hire she go no faster cours than ye;**  
 Pray her that she go at no faster speed as you;  
1067 **I seye, preyeth your suster that she go**  
 I say, pray your sister that she go  
1068 **No faster cours than ye thise yeres two.**  
 At no faster speed as you for these two years.  
1069 **Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alway,**  
 Then shall she be fully even with you always,  
1070 **And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day.**  
 And spring flood will last both night and day.  
1071 **And but she vouche sauf in swich manere**  
 And unless she agree in such manner  
1072 **To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere,**  
 To grant me my sovereign lady dear,  
1073 **Prey hire to synken every rok adoun**  
 Pray her to sink every rock down  
1074 **Into hir owene dirke regioun**  
 Into her own dark region  
1075 **Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne,**  
 Under the ground, in which Pluto dwells,  
1076 **Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne.**  
 Or never more shall I win my lady.  
1077 **Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke.**  
 Thy temple in Delphi I will barefoot seek.  
1078 **Lord Phebus, se the teeris on my cheke,**  
 Lord Phoebus, see the tears on my cheek,  
1079 **And of my peyne have som compassioun."**  
 And on my pain have some compassion."  
1080 **And with that word in swowne he fil adoun,**  
 And with that word he fell down in a faint,  
1081 **And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce.**  
 And for a long time he lay in a trance.

1082 **His brother, which that knew of his penaunce,**  
 His brother, who knew of his suffering,  
1083 **Up caughte hym and to bedde he hath hym broght.**  
 Caught him up and to bed he has him brought.  
1084 **Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght**  
 Despaired in this torment and this thought  
1085 **Lete I this woful creature lye;**  
 I leave this woeful creature lying;  
1086 **Chese he, for me, wheither he wol lyve or dye.**  
 Let him choose, for all I care, whether he will live or die.

1087 **Arveragus, with heele and greet honour,**  
 Arveragus, with well-being and great honor,  
1088 **As he that was of chivalrie the flour,**  
 As he that was of chivalry the flower,  
1089 **Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men.**  
 Is come home, and other worthy men.  
1090 **O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen,**  
 O blissful art thou now, thou Dorigen,  
1091 **That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes,**  
 That hast thy lusty husband in thine arms,  
1092 **The fresshe knyght, the worthy man of armes,**  
 The vigorous knight, the worthy man of arms,  
1093 **That loveth thee as his owene hertes lyf.**  
 That loves thee as his own heart's life.  
1094 **No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf,**  
 He not at all desired to be suspicious,  
1095 **If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute,**  
 If any person had spoken, while he was away,  
1096 **To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute.**  
 To her of love; he had of it no fear.  
1097 **He noght entendeth to no swich mateere,**  
 He pays no attention to any such matter,  
1098 **But daunceth, justeth, maketh hire good cheere;**  
 But dances, jousts, makes her good cheer;  
1099 **And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle,**  
 And thus in joy and bliss I let them dwell,  
1100 **And of the sike Aurelius wol I telle.**  
 And of the sick Aurelius I will tell.

1101 **In langour and in torment furyus**  
 In suffering and in hellish torment  
1102 **Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelyus,**  
 Two years and more lay wretched Aurelius,  
1103 **Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon;**  
 Before he could set a foot on the ground;  
1104 **Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon,**  
 Nor had he any comfort in this time,  
1105 **Save of his brother, which that was a clerk.**  
 Except from his brother, who was a clerk.  
1106 **He knew of al this wo and al this werk,**  
 He knew of all this woe and all this suffering,  
1107 **For to noon oother creature, certeyn,**  
 For to no other creature, certainly,  
1108 **Of this matere he dorste no word seyn.**  
 He dared say any word of this matter.  
1109 **Under his brest he baar it moore secree**  
 Under his breast he bore it more secretly  
1110 **Than evere dide Pamphilus for Galathee.**  
 Than ever did Pamphilus for Galathee.  
1111 **His brest was hool, withoute for to sene,**  
 His breast was unhurt, in outward appearance,  
1112 **But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.**  
 But in his heart ever was the sharp arrow.  
1113 **And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure**  
 And well you know that for a wound healed only on the surface  
1114 **In surgerye is perilous the cure,**  
 In surgery the treatment is perilous,  
1115 **But men myghte touche the arwe or come therby.**  
 Unless one could touch the arrow or grasp it.  
1116 **His brother weep and wayled pryvely,**  
 His brother wept and wailed secretly,  
1117 **Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce,**  
 Until at the last he remembered,  
1118 **That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce --**  
 That while he was at Orleans in France --  
1119 **As yonge clerkes that been lykerous**  
 As young clerks that are eager  
1120 **To reden artes that been curious**  
 To read arts that are arcane  
1121 **Seken in every halke and every herne**  
 Seek in every nook and every cranny  
1122 **Particuler sciences for to lerne --**  
 To learn specialized branches of learning --  
1123 **He hym remembred that, upon a day,**  
 He remembered that, one day,  
1124 **At Orliens in studie a book he say**  
 At Orleans in a study hall he saw a book  
1125 **Of magyk natureel, which his felawe,**  
 Of natural science, which his fellow,  
1126 **That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe,**  
 Who was at that time a bachelor of law,  
1127 **Al were he ther to lerne another craft,**  
 Although he was there to learn another craft,  
1128 **Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft;**  
 Had covertly left upon his desk;  
1129 **Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns**  
 Which book spoke much of the operations  
1130 **Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns**  
 Concerning the eight and twenty stations  
1131 **That longen to the moone, and swich folye**  
 That belong to the moon, and such folly  
1132 **As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye --**  
 As in our days is not worth a fly --  
1133 **For hooly chirches feith in oure bileve**  
 For holy church's faith in our belief  
1134 **Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve.**  
 Does not allow any illusion to grieve us.  
1135 **And whan this book was in his remembraunce,**  
 And when this book was in his remembrance,  
1136 **Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce,**  
 Straightway for joy his heart began to dance,  
1137 **And to hymself he seyde pryvely:**  
 And to himself he said secretly,  
1138 **"My brother shal be warisshed hastily;**  
 "My brother shall be cured speedily;  
1139 **For I am siker that ther be sciences**  
 For I am sure that there are sciences  
1140 **By whiche men make diverse apparences,**  
 By which men make diverse illusions,  
1141 **Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye.**  
 Such as these subtle illusionists play.  
1142 **For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye**  
 For often at feasts have I well heard say  
1143 **That tregetours withinne an halle large**  
 That illusionists within a large hall   
1144 **Have maad come in a water and a barge,**  
 Have made come in a water and a barge,  
1145 **And in the halle rowen up and doun.**  
 And in the hall row up and down.  
1146 **Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun;**  
 Sometimes a grim lion has seemed to come;  
1147 **And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede;**  
 And sometimes flowers spring as in a field;  
1148 **Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede;**  
 Sometimes a vine, and grapes white and red;  
1149 **Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon;**  
 Sometimes a castle, all of mortar and stone;  
1150 **And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon.**  
 And when they pleased, they made it suddenly disappear.  
1151 **Thus semed it to every mannes sighte.**  
 Thus it seemed to every man's sight.

1152 **"Now thanne conclude I thus: that if I myghte**  
 "Now then conclude I thus: that if I might  
1153 **At Orliens som oold felawe yfynde**  
 At Orleans find some old fellow  
1154 **That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde,**  
 Who had these moon's stations in mind,  
1155 **Or oother magyk natureel above,**  
 Or other natural science beyond that  
1156 **He sholde wel make my brother han his love.**  
 He should well make my brother have his love.  
1157 **For with an apparence a clerk may make,**  
 For with an apparition a clerk may make it seem,  
1158 **To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake**  
 To man's sight, that all the rocks black  
1159 **Of Britaigne weren yvoyded everichon,**  
 Of Brittany were removed every one,  
1160 **And shippes by the brynke comen and gon,**  
 And ships by the shore come and go,  
1161 **And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two.**  
 And in such form endure a week or two.  
1162 **Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo;**  
 Then my brother would be cured of his woe;  
1163 **Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste,**  
 Then must she by necessity keep her promise,  
1164 **Or elles he shal shame hire atte leeste."**  
 Or else he shall shame her at the least."

1165 **What sholde I make a lenger tale of this?**  
 Why should I make a longer tale of this?  
1166 **Unto his brotheres bed he comen is,**  
 Unto his brother's bed he is come,  
1167 **And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon**  
 And such encouragement he gave him to go  
1168 **To Orliens that he up stirte anon,**  
 To Orleans that he leaped up immediately,  
1169 **And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare**  
 And on his way forth then is he gone  
1170 **In hope for to been lissed of his care.**  
 In hope to be relieved of his care.

1171 **Whan they were come almoost to that citee,**  
 When they had come almost to that city,  
1172 **But if it were a two furlong or thre,**  
 Not more than two or three furlongs,  
1173 **A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette,**  
 A young clerk roaming by himself they met,  
1174 **Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette,**  
 Who in Latin politely greeted them,  
1175 **And after that he seyde a wonder thyng:**  
 And after that he said a wonderful thing:  
1176 **"I knowe," quod he, "the cause of youre comyng."**  
 "I know," he said, "the cause of your coming."  
1177 **And er they ferther any foote wente,**  
 And before they went any foot farther,  
1178 **He tolde hem al that was in hire entente.**  
 He told them all that was in their intention.

1179 **This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes**  
 This Breton clerk asked him about fellows  
1180 **The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes,**  
 Whom he had known in old days,  
1181 **And he answerde hym that they dede were,**  
 And he answered him that they were dead,  
1182 **For which he weep ful ofte many a teere.**  
 For which he wept very often many a tear.

1183 **Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon,**  
 Down off his horse Aurelius alighted straightway,  
1184 **And with this magicien forth is he gon**  
 And with this magician forth he is gone  
1185 **Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese.**  
 Home to his house, and put them well at ease.  
1186 **Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese.**  
 They lacked no foods that might please them.  
1187 **So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon**  
 So well appointed a house as this one was   
1188 **Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon.**  
 Aurelius in his life saw never a one.

1189 **He shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer,**  
 He showed him, before he went to supper,  
1190 **Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer;**  
 Forests, parks full of wild deer;  
1191 **Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye,**  
 There he saw harts with their high horns,  
1192 **The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye.**  
 The greatest that ever were seen with eye.  
1193 **He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes,**  
 He saw a hundred of them slain by hounds,  
1194 **And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.**  
 And some bled because of bitter wounds from arrows.  
1195 **He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer,**  
 He saw, when these wild deer were removed,  
1196 **Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver,**  
 These hunters with falcons upon a fair riverbank,  
1197 **That with hir haukes han the heron slayn.**  
 That with their hawks have slain the heron.

1198 **Tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn;**  
 Then he saw knights jousting in a plain;  
1199 **And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce**  
 And after this he provided him such pleasure  
1200 **That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce,**  
 That he showed him his lady in a dance,  
1201 **On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte.**  
 In which he himself danced, as he thought.  
1202 **And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte**  
 And when this master that wrought this magic   
1203 **Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two,**  
 Saw it was time, he clapped his two hands,  
1204 **And farewel! Al oure revel was ago.**  
 And farewell! All our revel was gone.  
1205 **And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous,**  
 And yet moved they never out of the house,  
1206 **Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous,**  
 While they saw all this marvelous sight,  
1207 **But in his studie, ther as his bookes be,**  
 But in his study, where his books are,  
1208 **They seten stille, and no wight but they thre.**  
 They sat still, and no person (was there) but these three.

1209 **To hym this maister called his squier,**  
 This master called his squire to him,  
1210 **And seyde hym thus: "Is redy oure soper?**  
 And said to him thus: "Is our supper ready?  
1211 **Almoost an houre it is, I undertake,**  
 Almost an hour it is, I declare,  
1212 **Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make,**  
 Since I ordered you to make our supper,  
1213 **Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me**  
 When these worthy men went with me  
1214 **Into my studie, ther as my bookes be."**  
 Into my study, where my books are."

1215 **"Sire," quod this squier, "whan it liketh yow,**  
 "Sir," said this squire, "when it pleases you,  
1216 **It is al redy, though ye wol right now."**  
 It is all ready, even if you want it right now."  
1217 **"Go we thanne soupe," quod he, "as for the beste.**  
 "Go we then to sup," said he, "as is the best (to do).  
1218 **Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste."**  
 These amorous folk sometime must have their rest."

1219 **At after-soper fille they in tretee**  
 At after-supper they began to discuss  
1220 **What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be**  
 What sum this master's payment should be  
1221 **To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne,**  
 To remove all the rocks of Brittany,  
1222 **And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne.**  
 And also from Gironde to the mouth of Seine.

1223 **He made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save,**  
 He raised difficulties, and swore, as God may him save,  
1224 **Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have,**  
 Less than a thousand pounds he would not have,  
1225 **Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon.**  
 Nor would he go gladly even for that sum.

1226 **Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon,**  
 Aurelius, with blissful heart, at once  
1227 **Answerde thus: "Fy on a thousand pound!**  
 Answered thus: "Fie on a thousand pounds!  
1228 **This wyde world, which that men seye is round,**  
 This wide world, which men say is round,  
1229 **I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it.**  
 I would give it, if I were lord of it.  
1230 **This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt.**  
 This bargain is fully concluded, for we are agreed.  
1231 **Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe!**  
 You shall be paid truly, by my pledged word!  
1232 **But looketh now, for no necligence or slouthe**  
 But look now, for no negligence or laziness  
1233 **Ye tarie us heere no lenger than to-morwe."**  
 You delay us here any longer than to-morrow."

1234 **"Nay," quod this clerk, "have heer my feith to borwe."**  
 "Nay," said this clerk, "have here my faith as a pledge."

1235 **To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste,**  
 To bed is gone Aurelius when it pleased him,  
1236 **And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste.**  
 And well nigh all that night he had his rest.  
1237 **What for his labour and his hope of blisse,**  
 What for his labor and his hope of bliss,  
1238 **His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse.**  
 His woeful heart of suffering had relief.

1239 **Upon the morwe, whan that it was day,**  
 Upon the morrow, when it was day,  
1240 **To Britaigne tooke they the righte way,**  
 To Brittany took they the direct route,  
1241 **Aurelius and this magicien bisyde,**  
 Aurelius and this magician beside him,  
1242 **And been descended ther they wolde abyde.**  
 And are arrived where they would stay.  
1243 **And this was, as thise bookes me remembre,**  
 And this was, as these books remind me,  
1244 **The colde, frosty seson of Decembre.**  
 The cold, frosty season of December.

1245 **Phebus wax old, and hewed lyk laton,**  
 Phoebus grew old, and colored grayish silver,  
1246 **That in his hoote declynacion**  
 That in his hot declination (in summer)  
1247 **Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte;**  
 Shone like burnished gold with bright rays;  
1248 **But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte,**  
 But now in Capricorn he alights down,  
1249 **Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn.**  
 Where he shone full pale, I dare well say.  
1250 **The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn,**  
 The bitter frosts, with the sleet and rain,  
1251 **Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd.**  
 Have destroyed the green in every garden.  
1252 **Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd,**  
 Janus sits by the fire, with double beard,  
1253 **And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn;**  
 And drinks the wine from his buffalo horn;  
1254 **Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn,**  
 Before him stands meat of the tusked boar,  
1255 **And "Nowel" crieth every lusty man.**  
 And "Noel" cries every lusty man.

1256 **Aurelius in al that evere he kan**  
 Aurelius in all that ever he can  
1257 **Dooth to this maister chiere and reverence,**  
 Provides for this master entertainment and reverence,  
1258 **And preyeth hym to doon his diligence**  
 And prays him to work diligently  
1259 **To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte,**  
 To bring him out of his bitter pains,  
1260 **Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte.**  
 Or with a sword he would slit his heart.

1261 **This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man**  
 This subtle clerk had such pity for this man  
1262 **That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan**  
 That night and day he worked as fast as he can  
1263 **To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun;**  
 To seek a time for his astronomical operation;   
1264 **This is to seye, to maken illusioun,**  
 This is to say, to make illusion,  
1265 **By swich an apparence or jogelrye --**  
 By such an appearance or conjurer's trick --  
1266 **I ne kan no termes of astrologye --**  
 I know no technical terms of astrology --  
1267 **That she and every wight sholde wene and seye**  
 That she and every person should believe and say  
1268 **That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye,**  
 That the rocks of Brittany were away,  
1269 **Or ellis they were sonken under grounde.**  
 Or else they were sunk under ground.  
1270 **So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde**  
 So at the last he has his time found  
1271 **To maken his japes and his wrecchednesse**  
 To make his tricks and his wretched deeds  
1272 **Of swich a supersticious cursednesse.**  
 Of such a superstitious cursedness.  
1273 **His tables Tolletanes forth he brought,**  
 His astronomical tables of Toledo he brought forth,  
1274 **Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought,**  
 Accurately corrected, nor was there anything lacking,  
1275 **Neither his collect ne his expans yeeris,**  
 Neither his tables of single years nor of twenty-year periods,  
1276 **Ne his rootes, ne his othere geeris,**  
 Nor his dates for calculations, nor his other apparatus,  
1277 **As been his centris and his argumentz**  
 Such as are his table of distances and his angles for calculation  
1278 **And his proporcioneles convenientz**  
 And his table for computing motions (of the planets)  
1279 **For his equacions in every thyng.**  
 For his divisions of the sphere in every detail.   
1280 **And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng**  
 And by his eighth sphere in his working  
1281 **He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove**  
 He knew full well how far the star Alnath was shoved  
1282 **Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above,**  
 From the head of that fixed Aries above,  
1283 **That in the ninthe speere considered is;**  
 That in the ninth sphere is observed;  
1284 **Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this.**  
 Full subtly he calculated all this.

1285 **Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun,**  
 When he had found his first position of the moon,  
1286 **He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun,**  
 He knew the remnant by astronomical tables,  
1287 **And knew the arisyng of his moone weel,**  
 And knew the arising of his moon well,  
1288 **And in whos face, and terme, and everydeel;**  
 And in which planet's face and term (zodiacal divisions), and everything;  
1289 **And knew ful weel the moones mansioun**  
 And knew full well the moon's position  
1290 **Acordaunt to his operacioun,**  
 In accordance with his operation,  
1291 **And knew also his othere observaunces**  
 And knew also his other observations  
1292 **For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces**  
 For such illusions and such evil practices  
1293 **As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes.**  
 As heathen folk used in those days.  
1294 **For which no lenger maked he delayes,**  
 For which no longer he made delay,  
1295 **But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye,**  
 But through his magic, for a week or two,  
1296 **It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.**  
 It seemed that all the rocks were away.

1297 **Aurelius, which that yet despeired is**  
 Aurelius, who is yet in despair   
1298 **Wher he shal han his love or fare amys,**  
 Whether he shall have his love or fare badly,  
1299 **Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle;**  
 Waits night and day for this miracle;  
1300 **And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle,**  
 And when he knew that there was no obstacle,  
1301 **That voyded were thise rokkes everychon,**  
 That every one of these rocks were removed,  
1302 **Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon,**  
 Down to his mistress' feet he fell at once,  
1303 **And seyde, "I woful wrecche, Aurelius,**  
 And said, "I woeful wretched, Aurelius,  
1304 **Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus,**  
 Thank you, lord, and my lady Venus,  
1305 **That me han holpen fro my cares colde."**  
 Who have helped me out of my deadly cares."  
1306 **And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde,**  
 And to the temple he has held forth his way,  
1307 **Where as he knew he sholde his lady see.**  
 Where he knew he should see his lady.  
1308 **And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right hee,**  
 And when he saw his time, immediately he,  
1309 **With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere,**  
 With fearful heart and with full humble manner,  
1310 **Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere:**  
 Has saluted his sovereign lady dear:

1311 **"My righte lady," quod this woful man,**  
 "My true lady," said this woeful man,  
1312 **"Whom I moost drede and love as I best kan,**  
 "Whom I most dread and love as I best know how,  
1313 **And lothest were of al this world displese,**  
 And am of all this world most reluctant to displease,  
1314 **Nere it that I for yow have swich disese**  
 Were it not that I for you have such distress  
1315 **That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon,**  
 That I must die here at your feet right now,  
1316 **Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon.**  
 I would tell nothing of how I am beset by woe.   
1317 **But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne;**  
 But certainly either I must die or complain;  
1318 **Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne.**  
 You slay me guiltless for sheer pain.  
1319 **But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe,**  
 But though you have no pity on my death,  
1320 **Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe.**  
 Think carefully before you break your pledged word.  
1321 **Repenteth yow, for thilke God above,**  
 Repent, for that God above,  
1322 **Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love.**  
 Before you slay me because I love you.  
1323 **For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight --**  
 For, madam, you know well what you have promised --  
1324 **Nat that I chalange any thyng of right**  
 Not that I claim any thing as a right  
1325 **Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace --**  
 From you, my sovereign lady, except for your good favor --  
1326 **But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place,**  
 But in a garden yonder, at a particular place,  
1327 **Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me;**  
 You know right well what you promised me;  
1328 **And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye**  
 And in my hand you pledged your word  
1329 **To love me best -- God woot, ye seyde so,**  
 To love me best -- God knows, you said so,  
1330 **Al be that I unworthy am therto.**  
 Although I am unworthy of it.  
1331 **Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow**  
 Madam, I speak it for your honor  
1332 **Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now --**  
 More than to save my heart's life right now --  
1333 **I have do so as ye comanded me;**  
 I have done as you commanded me;  
1334 **And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see.**  
 And if you agree, you may go see.  
1335 **Dooth as yow list; have youre biheste in mynde,**  
 Do as you please; have your promise in mind,  
1336 **For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde.**  
 For, living or dead, right there you shall find me.  
1337 **In yow lith al to do me lyve or deye --**  
 In you lies the power to make me live or die --  
1338 **But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye."**  
 But well I know the rocks are away."

1339 **He taketh his leve, and she astoned stood;**  
 He takes his leave, and she astounded stood;  
1340 **In al hir face nas a drope of blood.**  
 In all her face was not a drop of blood.  
1341 **She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe.**  
 She never expected to have come in such a trap.  
1342 **"Allas," quod she, "that evere this sholde happe!**  
 "Alas," she said, "that ever this should happen!  
1343 **For wende I nevere by possibilitee**  
 For I never supposed by possibility  
1344 **That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be!**  
 That such a wonder or marvel could be!  
1345 **It is agayns the proces of nature."**  
 It is against the laws of nature."  
1346 **And hoom she goth a sorweful creature;**  
 And home she goes a sorrowful creature;  
1347 **For verray feere unnethe may she go.**  
 For sheer fear she can hardly walk.  
1348 **She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two,**  
 She weeps, wails, all one day or two,  
1349 **And swowneth, that it routhe was to see.**  
 And swoons, that it was pitiful to see.  
1350 **But why it was to no wight tolde shee,**  
 But why it was she told to no person,  
1351 **For out of towne was goon Arveragus.**  
 For Arveragus had gone out of town.  
1352 **But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus,**  
 But to herself she spoke, and said thus,  
1353 **With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere,**  
 With face pale and with full sorrowful manner,  
1354 **In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere:**  
 In her complaint, as you shall after hear:

1355 **"Allas," quod she, "on thee, Fortune, I pleyne,**  
 "Alas," said she, "on thee, Fortune, I complain,  
1356 **That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne,**  
 That without warning hast wrapped me in thy chain,  
1357 **Fro which t' escape woot I no socour,**  
 From which to escape I know no help,   
1358 **Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour;**  
 Save only death or else dishonor;  
1359 **Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese.**  
 One of these two I am compelled to choose.  
1360 **But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese**  
 But neverthelees, yet I would rather lose  
1361 **My lif than of my body to have a shame,**  
 My life than of my body to have a shame,  
1362 **Or knowe myselven fals, or lese my name;**  
 Or know myself false, or lose my good name;  
1363 **And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis.**  
 And with my death I may be free from blame, indeed.  
1364 **Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this,**  
 Has there not many a noble wife before this,  
1365 **And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas,**  
 And many a maid, slain herself, alas,  
1366 **Rather than with hir body doon trespas?**  
 Rather than do sin with her body?

1367 **"Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse:**  
 "Yes indeed, certainly, lo, these stories bear witness:  
1368 **Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse,**  
 When thirty tyrants, full of cursedness,  
1369 **Hadde slayn Phidon in Atthenes atte feste,**  
 Had slain Phidon in Athens at the feast,  
1370 **They comanded his doghtres for t' areste**  
 They commanded (the guards) to seize his daughters   
1371 **And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit,**  
 And bring them before them as an insult,  
1372 **Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit,**  
 All naked, to fulfill their foul delight,  
1373 **And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce**  
 And in their father's blood they made them dance  
1374 **Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce!**  
 Upon the pavement, God give them misfortune!  
1375 **For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede,**  
 For which these woeful maidens, full of dread,  
1376 **Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede,**  
 Rather than they would lose their maidenhood,  
1377 **They prively been stirt into a welle**  
 They secretly have leaped into a well  
1378 **And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle.**  
 And drowned themselves, as the books tell.

1379 **"They of Mecene leete enquere and seke**  
 "They of Messene had (people) search out and seek  
1380 **Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke,**  
 Fifty maidens of Sparta also,  
1381 **On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye.**  
 On whom they would do their lechery.  
1382 **But was ther noon of al that compaignye**  
 But there was none of all that company  
1383 **That she nas slayn, and with a good entente**  
 That she was not slain, and with a good intent  
1384 **Chees rather for to dye than assente**  
 Chose rather to die than assent  
1385 **To been oppressed of hir maydenhede.**  
 To be deprived of her maidenhood.  
1386 **Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?**  
 Why should I then be afraid to die?  
1387 **Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides,**  
 Lo, also, the tyrant Aristoclides,  
1388 **That loved a mayden, heet Stymphalides,**  
 That loved a maiden, called Stymphalides,  
1389 **Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght,**  
 When her father was slain on a night,  
1390 **Unto Dianes temple goth she right,**  
 Unto Diana's temple she goes directly,  
1391 **And hente the ymage in hir handes two,**  
 And seized the statue in her two hands,  
1392 **Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go.**  
 From which statue she would never go.  
1393 **No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace**  
 No person could pull her hands away from it   
1394 **Til she was slayn, right in the selve place.**  
 Until she was slain, right in the same place.

1395 **"Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit**  
 "Now since maidens had such disdain  
1396 **To been defouled with mannes foul delit,**  
 To be defiled by man's foul delight,  
1397 **Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee**  
 Well ought a wife rather herself slay  
1398 **Than be defouled, as it thynketh me.**  
 Than be defiled, as it seems to me.  
1399 **What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf,**  
 What shall I say of Hasdrubale's wife,  
1400 **That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf?**  
 That at Carthage deprived herself of her life?  
1401 **For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun,**  
 For when she saw that Romans won the town,  
1402 **She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun**  
 She took her children all, and leaped down  
1403 **Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye**  
 Into the fire, and chose rather to die  
1404 **Than any Romayn dide hire vileynye.**  
 Than any Roman did her a dishonor.  
1405 **Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself, allas,**  
 Has not Lucretia slain herself, alas,  
1406 **At Rome, whan that she oppressed was**  
 At Rome, when she was raped  
1407 **Of Tarquyn, for hire thoughte it was a shame**  
 By Tarquin, for she thought it was a shame  
1408 **To lyven whan she hadde lost hir name?**  
 To live when she had lost her good name?  
1409 **The sevene maydens of Milesie also**  
 The seven maidens of Miletus also  
1410 **Han slayn hemself, for verrey drede and wo,**  
 Have slain themselves, for sheer dread and woe,  
1411 **Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse.**  
 Rather than folk of Galatia should rape them.  
1412 **Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse,**  
 More than a thousand stories, as I guess,  
1413 **Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere.**  
 Could I now tell concerning this matter.  
1414 **Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere**  
 When Habradate was slain, his wife so dear  
1415 **Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde**  
 Herself slew, and let her blood pour  
1416 **In Habradates woundes depe and wyde,**  
 In Habradate's wounds deep and wide,  
1417 **And seyde, `My body, at the leeste way,**  
 And said, `My body, at the least,  
1418 **Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may."**  
 There shall no person defile, if I can (help it)."

1419 **"What sholde I mo ensamples heerof sayn,**  
 "Why should I tell more examples concerning this,  
1420 **Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn**  
 Since so many have themselves slain  
1421 **Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?**  
 Well rather than they would be defiled?  
1422 **I wol conclude that it is bet for me**  
 I will conclude that it is better for me  
1423 **To sleen myself than been defouled thus.**  
 To slay myself than be defiled thus.  
1424 **I wol be trewe unto Arveragus,**  
 I will be true unto Arveragus,  
1425 **Or rather sleen myself in som manere,**  
 Or rather slay myself in some manner,  
1426 **As dide Demociones doghter deere**  
 As did Demotion's daughter dear  
1427 **By cause that she wolde nat defouled be.**  
 Because she would not defiled be.  
1428 **O Cedasus, it is ful greet pitee**  
 O Scedasus, it is a very great pity  
1429 **To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas,**  
 To read how thy daughters died, alas,  
1430 **That slowe hemself for swich manere cas.**  
 Who slew themselves for a similar sort of cause.  
1431 **As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore,**  
 As great a pity was it, or well more,  
1432 **The Theban mayden that for Nichanore**  
 The Theban maiden that for Nichanore  
1433 **Hirselven slow, right for swich manere wo.**  
 Slew herself, exactly for such sort of woe.  
1434 **Another Theban mayden dide right so;**  
 Another Theban maiden did exactly the same;  
1435 **For oon of Macidonye hadde hire oppressed,**  
 Because one of Macedonia had raped her,  
1436 **She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed.**  
 She with her death avenged her maidenhood.  
1437 **What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf,**  
 What shall I say of Nicerates' wife,  
1438 **That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf?**  
 That for a similar case deprived herself of her life?  
1439 **How trewe eek was to Alcebiades**  
 How true also to Alcebiades was  
1440 **His love, that rather for to dyen chees**  
 His lover, who chose rather to die   
1441 **Than for to suffre his body unburyed be.**  
 Than to allow his body to be unburied.  
1442 **Lo, which a wyf was Alceste," quod she.**  
 Lo, what a wife was Alcestis," she said.  
1443 **"What seith Omer of goode Penalopee?**  
 "What says Homer of good Penelope?  
1444 **Al Grece knoweth of hire chastitee.**  
 All Greece knows of her chastity.  
1445 **Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus,**  
 By God, of Laodomia is written thus,  
1446 **That whan at Troie was slayn Protheselaus,**  
 That when at Troy Protheselaus was slain,  
1447 **Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day.**  
 No longer would she live after his day (i.e., death).  
1448 **The same of noble Porcia telle I may;**  
 The same of noble Portia I can tell;  
1449 **Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyve,**  
 Without Brutus she could not live,  
1450 **To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive.**  
 To whom she had entirely given her heart.  
1451 **The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie**  
 The perfect wifehood of Arthemesie  
1452 **Honured is thurgh al the Barbarie.**  
 Honored is through all heathendom.  
1453 **O Teuta, queene, thy wyfly chastitee**  
 O Teuta, queen, thy wifely chastity  
1454 **To alle wyves may a mirour bee.**  
 To all wives may be a mirror.  
1455 **The same thyng I seye of Bilyea,**  
 The same thing I say of Bilia,  
1456 **Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria."**  
 Of Rhodogune, and also Valeria."

1457 **Thus pleyned Dorigen a day or tweye,**  
 Thus Dorigen complained a day or two,  
1458 **Purposynge evere that she wolde deye.**  
 Intending ever that she would die.  
1459 **But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght,**  
 But neverthelees, upon the third night,  
1460 **Hoom cam Arveragus, this worthy knyght,**  
 Home came Arveragus, this worthy knight,  
1461 **And asked hire why that she weep so soore;**  
 And asked her why she wept so bitterly;  
1462 **And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore.**  
 And she began to weep, ever the longer (she wept) the more (she wept) .   
1463 **"Allas," quod she, "that evere was I born!**  
 "Alas," said she, "that ever I was born!  
1464 **Thus have I seyd," quod she, "thus have I sworn" --**  
 Thus have I said," said she, "thus have I sworn" --  
1465 **And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore;**  
 And told him all as you have heard before;  
1466 **It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore.**  
 There is no need to repeat it to you any more.  
1467 **This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse**  
 This husband, with cheerful demeanor, in a friendly manner  
1468 **Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse:**  
 Answered and said as I shall tell you:  
1469 **"Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?"**  
 "Is there anything else, Dorigen, but this?"

1470 **"Nay, nay," quod she, "God helpe me so as wys!**  
 "Nay, nay," she said, "So help me God!  
1471 **This is to muche, and it were Goddes wille."**  
 This is too much, even if it were God's will."

1472 **"Ye, wyf," quod he, "lat slepen that is stille.**  
 "Yes, wife," he said, "let sleep that which is still.  
1473 **It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day.**  
 It may be well, perhaps, yet to day.  
1474 **Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay!**  
 You shall keep your pledged word, by my faith!  
1475 **For God so wisly have mercy upon me,**  
 For as surely as God may have mercy upon me,  
1476 **I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be**  
 I had well rather be stabbed   
1477 **For verray love which that I to yow have,**  
 For sheer love which I to have for you,  
1478 **But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save.**  
 Than you should (do anything but) keep and save your pledged word.  
1479 **Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe" --**  
 One's pldged word is the highest thing that one may keep" --  
1480 **But with that word he brast anon to wepe,**  
 But with that word he immediately burst into tears,  
1481 **And seyde, "I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,**  
 And said, "I you forbid, upon pain of death,  
1482 **That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,**  
 That never, while thy life or breath lasts,  
1483 **To no wight telle thou of this aventure --**  
 Thou tell any person about this adventure --  
1484 **As I may best, I wol my wo endure --**  
 As I best can, I will my woe endure --  
1485 **Ne make no contenance of hevynesse,**  
 Nor make any outward appearance of sadness,  
1486 **That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse."**  
 That folk may believe or guess anything harmful concerning you."

1487 **And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde:**  
 And forth he called a squire and a maid:  
1488 **"Gooth forth anon with Dorigen," he sayde,**  
 "Go forth right now with Dorigen," he said,  
1489 **"And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon."**  
 "And bring her to such a place quickly."  
1490 **They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon,**  
 They take their leave, and on their way they go,  
1491 **But they ne wiste why she thider wente.**  
 But they knew not why she thither went.  
1492 **He nolde no wight tellen his entente.**  
 He would no person tell his intention.

1493 **Paraventure an heep of yow, ywis,**  
 Perhaps a heap of you, indeed,  
1494 **Wol holden hym a lewed man in this**  
 Will consider him a foolish man in this  
1495 **That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie.**  
 That he will put his wife in jeopardy.  
1496 **Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie.**  
 Listen to the tale before you cry out about her.  
1497 **She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth;**  
 She may have better fortune than it seems to you;  
1498 **And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth.**  
 And when you have heard the tale, judge.

1499 **This squier, which that highte Aurelius,**  
 This squire, who was called Aurelius,  
1500 **On Dorigen that was so amorus,**  
 On Dorigen who was so amorous,  
1501 **Of aventure happed hire to meete**  
 By chance happened to meet her   
1502 **Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete,**  
 Amidst the town, right in the busiest street,  
1503 **As she was bown to goon the wey forth right**  
 As she was about to go the way directly  
1504 **Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight.**  
 Toward the garden where she had promised (to go).  
1505 **And he was to the gardyn-ward also;**  
 And he was going toward the garden also;  
1506 **For wel he spyed whan she wolde go**  
 For well he spied when she would go  
1507 **Out of hir hous to any maner place.**  
 Out of her house to any sort of place.  
1508 **But thus they mette, of aventure or grace,**  
 But thus they met, by chance or luck,  
1509 **And he saleweth hire with glad entente,**  
 And he salutes her cheerfully,  
1510 **And asked of hire whiderward she wente;**  
 And asked her where she went;  
1511 **And she answerde, half as she were mad,**  
 And she answered, as if she were half mad,  
1512 **"Unto the gardyn, as myn housbonde bad,**  
 "Unto the garden, as my husband commanded,  
1513 **My trouthe for to holde -- allas, allas!"**  
 My pledged word to keep -- alas, alas!"

1514 **Aurelius gan wondren on this cas,**  
 Aurelius began to wonder about this case,  
1515 **And in his herte hadde greet compassioun**  
 And in his heart had great compassion  
1516 **Of hire and of hire lamentacioun,**  
 Of her and of her lamentation,  
1517 **And of Arveragus, the worthy knyght,**  
 And of Arveragus, the worthy knight,  
1518 **That bad hire holden al that she had hight,**  
 Who commanded her to keep all that she had promised,  
1519 **So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe;**  
 So hateful to him it was that his wife should break her word;  
1520 **And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe,**  
 And in his heart he took great pity on this,  
1521 **Considerynge the beste on every syde,**  
 Considering what would be best in every respect,  
1522 **That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde**  
 That he would rather yet refrain from his desire  
1523 **Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse**  
 Than do so great a churlish despicable act  
1524 **Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse;**  
 Against generosity and all nobility of character;  
1525 **For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus:**  
 For which in few words he said thus:

1526 **"Madame, seyth to youre lord Arveragus**  
 "Madam, say to your lord Arveragus  
1527 **That sith I se his grete gentillesse**  
 That since I see his great graciousness  
1528 **To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse,**  
 To you, and also I see well your distress,  
1529 **That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe)**  
 That he would rather have shame (and that would be a pity)  
1530 **Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe,**  
 Than you should thus break your pledged word to me,  
1531 **I have wel levere evere to suffre wo**  
 I would well rather suffer woe always  
1532 **Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.**  
 Than I should break apart the love between you two.  
1533 **I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond**  
 I release you, madam, into your hand I return  
1534 **Quyt every serement and every bond**  
 Freely every pledge and every bond  
1535 **That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn,**  
 That you have made to me before now,  
1536 **Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.**  
 Since that time when you were born.  
1537 **My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve**  
 I pledge my word, I shall never reprove you   
1538 **Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve,**  
 For any promise, and here I take my leave,  
1539 **As of the treweste and the beste wyf**  
 Of the truest and the best wife  
1540 **That evere yet I knew in al my lyf.**  
 That ever yet I knew in all my life.  
1541 **But every wyf be war of hire biheeste!**  
 But let every wife beware of her promise!  
1542 **On Dorigen remembreth, atte leeste.**  
 Remember Dorigen, at the least.  
1543 **Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede**  
 Thus can a squire do a gentle deed  
1544 **As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede."**  
 As well as can a knight, without doubt."

1545 **She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare,**  
 She thanks him upon her bare knees,  
1546 **And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare,**  
 And home unto her husband she is gone,  
1547 **And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd;**  
 And told him all, as you have heard me say;  
1548 **And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd**  
 And be you sure, he was so well pleased  
1549 **That it were impossible me to wryte.**  
 That it would be impossible for me to write.  
1550 **What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte?**  
 Why should I write longer about this matter?

1551 **Arveragus and Dorigen his wyf**  
 Arveragus and Dorigen his wife  
1552 **In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf.**  
 In perfect bliss lead forth their life.  
1553 **Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene.**  
 Never again was there any anger between them.  
1554 **He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene,**  
 He cherishes her as though she were a queen,  
1555 **And she was to hym trewe for everemoore.**  
 And she was to him true for evermore.  
1556 **Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore.**  
 Of these two folk you get of me no more.

1557 **Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn,**  
 Aurelius, that all his expenditure has forfeited,  
1558 **Curseth the tyme that evere he was born:**  
 Curses the time that ever he was born:  
1559 **"Allas!" quod he. "Allas, that I bihighte**  
 "Alas!" said he. "Alas, that I promised  
1560 **Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte**  
 Of refined gold a thousand pounds of weight  
1561 **Unto this philosophre! How shal I do?**  
 Unto this scientist! What shall I do?  
1562 **I se namoore but that I am fordo.**  
 I see no more but that I am ruined.  
1563 **Myn heritage moot I nedes selle,**  
 My heritage I must of necessity sell,  
1564 **And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle**  
 And be a beggar; here I may not remain  
1565 **And shamen al my kynrede in this place,**  
 And shame all my kin in this place,  
1566 **But I of hym may gete bettre grace.**  
 Unless I can get a better grace (favor) from him.  
1567 **But nathelees, I wole of hym assaye,**  
 But nonetheless, I will try him, (offering)  
1568 **At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye,**  
 At specific days, year by year, to pay,  
1569 **And thanke hym of his grete curteisye.**  
 And thank him for his great courtesy.  
1570 **My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye."**  
 My word I will keep, I will not lie."

1571 **With herte soor he gooth unto his cofre,**  
 With a sore heart he goes unto his money box,  
1572 **And broghte gold unto this philosophre,**  
 And brought gold unto this scientist,  
1573 **The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse,**  
 The value of five hundred pounds, I guess,  
1574 **And hym bisecheth, of his gentillesse,**  
 And him beseeches, of his nobleness,  
1575 **To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt;**  
 To grant him days (on which to pay) the remnant;  
1576 **And seyde, "Maister, I dar wel make avaunt,**  
 And said, "Master, I dare well make boast,  
1577 **I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit.**  
 I failed never of my pledged word as yet.  
1578 **For sikerly my dette shal be quyt**  
 For surely my debt shall be repaid  
1579 **Towardes yow, howevere that I fare**  
 To you, even though I have  
1580 **To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare.**  
 To go a-begging in my bare tunic.  
1581 **But wolde ye vouche sauf, upon seuretee,**  
 But if you would agree, upon my promise,  
1582 **Two yeer or thre for to respiten me,**  
 To grant me a respite for two years or three,  
1583 **Thanne were I wel; for elles moot I selle**  
 Then I would be well; for otherwise I must sell  
1584 **Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle."**  
 My heritage; there is no more to tell."

1585 **This philosophre sobrely answerde,**  
 This scientist soberly answered,  
1586 **And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde:**  
 And said thus, when he heard these words:  
1587 **"Have I nat holden covenant unto thee?"**  
 "Have I not kept my agreement with thee?"

1588 **"Yes, certes, wel and trewely," quod he.**  
 "Yes, certainly, well and truly," said he.

1589 **"Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh?"**  
 "Hast thou not had thy lady as it pleases thee?"

1590 **"No, no," quod he, and sorwefully he siketh.**  
 "No, no," said he, and sorrowfully he sighs.

1591 **"What was the cause? Tel me if thou kan."**  
 "What was the cause? Tel me if thou know how."

1592 **Aurelius his tale anon bigan,**  
 Aurelius his tale immediately began,  
1593 **And tolde hym al, as ye han herd bifoore;**  
 And told him all, as you have heard before;  
1594 **It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore.**  
 There is no need to repeat it to you again.

1595 **He seide, "Arveragus, of gentillesse,**  
 He said, "Arveragus, of his nobility,  
1596 **Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse**  
 Had rather die in sorrow and in distress  
1597 **Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals."**  
 Than that his wife would be false of her pledged word."  
1598 **The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als;**  
 The sorrow of Dorigen he told him also;  
1599 **How looth hire was to been a wikked wyf,**  
 How loathfull to her it was to be a wicked wife,  
1600 **And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf,**  
 And that she would rather have lost her life that day,  
1601 **And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence,**  
 And that her word she swore through ignorance,  
1602 **She nevere erst hadde herde speke of apparence.**  
 She never before had heard tell of illusion.  
1603 **"That made me han of hire so greet pitee;**  
 "That made me have for her such great pity;  
1604 **And right as frely as he sente hire me,**  
 And right as freely as he sent her to me,  
1605 **As frely sente I hire to hym ageyn.**  
 As freely I sent her to him again.  
1606 **This al and som; ther is namoore to seyn."**  
 This is the entire matter; there is no more to say."

1607 **This philosophre answerde, "Leeve brother,**  
 This scientist answered, "Dear brother,  
1608 **Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother.**  
 Every one of you did nobly to the other.  
1609 **Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght;**  
 Thou art a squire, and he is a knight;  
1610 **But God forbede, for his blisful myght,**  
 But God forbid, for his blissful might,  
1611 **But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede**  
 That a clerk could not do a gentle deed   
1612 **As wel as any of yow, it is no drede!**  
 As well as any of you, it is no doubt!

1613 **Sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound,**  
 Sir, I release thee from thy (debt of a) thousand pounds,  
1614 **As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,**  
 As if thou right now were crept out of the ground,  
1615 **Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me.**  
 Nor never before now had known me.  
1616 **For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee**  
 For, sir, I will not take a penny from thee  
1617 **For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille.**  
 For all my craft, nor anything for my labor.  
1618 **Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille.**  
 Thou hast paid well for my living expenses.  
1619 **It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day!"**  
 It is enough, and farewell, have good day!"  
1620 **And took his hors, and forth he goth his way.**  
 And took his horse, and forth he goes his way.  
1621 **Lordynges, this question, thanne, wol I aske now,**  
 Gentlemen, this question, then, will I ask now,  
1622 **Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow?**  
 Which was the most free, as it seems to you?  
1623 **Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende.**  
 Now tell me, before you farther go.  
1624 **I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende.**  
 I know no more; my tale is at an end.

### *Heere is ended the Frankeleyns Tale*he

*The Prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale*

709 **Thise olde gentil Britouns in hir dayes**  
 These old noble Bretons in their days  
710 **Of diverse aventures maden layes,**  
 Of diverse adventures made lays,  
711 **Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge,**  
 Rhymed in their first Breton tongue,  
712 **Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe**  
 Which lays with their instruments they sang  
713 **Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce;**  
 Or else read them for their pleasure;  
714 **And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,**  
 And one of them have I in remembrance,  
715 **Which I shal seyn with good wyl as I kan.**  
 Which I shall say with as good will as I can.

716 **But, sires, by cause I am a burel man,**  
 But, sirs, because I am an unlearned man,  
717 **At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche,**  
 At my beginning first I you beseech,  
718 **Have me excused of my rude speche.**  
 Have me excused for my rude speech.  
719 **I lerned nevere rethorik, certeyn;**  
 I learned never rhetoric, certainly;  
720 **Thyng that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn.**  
 Thing that I speak, it must be bare and plain.  
721 **I sleep nevere on the Mount of Pernaso,**  
 I slept never on the Mount of Parnassus,  
722 **Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero.**  
 Nor learned Marcus Tullius Cicero.  
723 **Colours ne knowe I none, withouten drede,**  
 Colors know I none, without doubt,  
724 **But swiche colours as growen in the mede,**  
 But such colors as grow in the field,  
725 **Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte.**  
 Or else such as men dye or paint.  
726 **Colours of rethoryk been to me queynte;**  
 Colors of rhetoric (figures of speech) are strange to me;  
727 **My spirit feeleth noght of swich mateere.**  
 My spirit feels nothing of such matter.  
728 **But if yow list, my tale shul ye heere.**  
 But if you wish, you shall hear my tale.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

## The Franklin's Tale

*Here bigynneth the Frankeleyns Tale*

729 **In Armorik, that called is Britayne,**  
 In Armorica, that is called Brittany,  
730 **Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne**  
 There was a knight that loved and worked hard  
731 **To serve a lady in his beste wise;**  
 To serve a lady in his best manner;  
732 **And many a labour, many a greet emprise,**  
 And many a labor, many a great chivalric exploit,  
733 **He for his lady wroghte er she were wonne.**  
 He wrought for his lady before she was won.  
734 **For she was oon the faireste under sonne,**  
 For she was the fairest of all under the sun,  
735 **And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede**  
 And also moreover come of such noble ancestry  
736 **That wel unnethes dorste this knyght, for drede,**  
 That this knight hardly dared, for fear,  
737 **Telle hire his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.**  
 Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress.  
738 **But atte laste she, for his worthynesse,**  
 But at the last she, for his worthiness,  
739 **And namely for his meke obeysaunce,**  
 And namely for his meek submission,  
740 **Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce**  
 Has taken such a pity on his suffering  
741 **That pryvely she fil of his accord**  
 That privately she agreed with him  
742 **To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,**  
 To take him for her husband and hir lord,  
743 **Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves.**  
 Of such lordship as men have over their wives.  
744 **And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves,**  
 And to lead the more blissfully their lives,  
745 **Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght**  
 Of his free will he swore her as a knight  
746 **That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,**  
 That never in all his life he, day or night,  
747 **Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie**  
 Should take upon himself any mastery  
748 **Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie,**  
 Against her will, nor show her jealousy,  
749 **But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al,**  
 But obey her, and follow her will in everything,  
750 **As any lovere to his lady shal,**  
 As any lover to his lady should,  
751 **Save that the name of soveraynetee,**  
 Except for the appearance of sovereignty,  
752 **That wolde he have for shame of his degree.**  
 Which he would have to avoid bringing shame on his status (of knighthood).

753 **She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse**  
 She thanked him, and with full great humbleness  
754 **She seyde, "Sire, sith of youre gentillesse**  
 She said, "Sir, since of your nobility  
755 **Ye profre me to have so large a reyne,**  
 You offer me to have such freedom from restraint,  
756 **Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne,**  
 And would God that never between us two,  
757 **As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.**  
 Through my fault, should be either war or strife.  
758 **Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf --**  
 Sir, I will be your humble true wife --  
759 **Have heer my trouthe -- til that myn herte breste."**  
 Have here my pledge -- until my heart bursts (until I die)."   
760 **Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.**  
 Thus are they both in quiet and in peace.

761 **For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye,**  
 For one thing, sirs, I dare say confidently,  
762 **That freendes everych oother moot obeye,**  
 That friends must obey each other,  
763 **If they wol longe holden compaignye.**  
 If they will long hold company.  
764 **Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye.**  
 Love will not be constrained by mastery.  
765 **Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon**  
 When mastery comes, the God of Love immediately  
766 **Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon!**  
 Beats his wings, and farewell, he is gone!  
767 **Love is a thyng as any spirit free.**  
 Love is a thing free as any spirit.  
768 **Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee,**  
 Women, by nature, desire liberty,  
769 **And nat to been constreyned as a thral;**  
 And not to be constrained like a slave;  
770 **And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal.**  
 And so do men, if I shall say the truth.  
771 **Looke who that is moost pacient in love,**  
 Look who is most patient in love,  
772 **He is at his avantage al above.**  
 He is in the best position, superior to all.  
773 **Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn,**  
 Patience is a noble virtue, certainly,  
774 **For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn,**  
 For it vanquishes, as these clerks say,  
775 **Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne.**  
 Things that rigor should never attain.  
776 **For every word men may nat chide or pleyne.**  
 One may not chide or complain for every word.  
777 **Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon,**  
 Learn to suffer, or else, as I may walk (I swear),  
778 **Ye shul it lerne, wher so ye wole or noon;**  
 You shall learn it, whether you want to or not;  
779 **For in this world, certein, ther no wight is**  
 For in this world, certainly, there is no person   
780 **That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys.**  
 Who does not sometime do or speak amiss.  
781 **Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun,**  
 Ire, sickness, or the position of the stars,  
782 **Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun**  
 Wine, woe, or changing of the balance of bodily humors  
783 **Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken.**  
 Causes (one) very often to do or speak amiss.  
784 **On every wrong a man may nat be wreken.**  
 On every wrong a man can not be avenged.  
785 **After the tyme moste be temperaunce**  
 There must be moderation suitable to the occasion   
786 **To every wight that kan on governaunce.**  
 By every person who knows about governance.   
787 **And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght,**  
 And therefore has this wise, worthy knight,  
788 **To lyve in ese, suffrance hire bihight,**  
 To live in ease, promised her forbearance,  
789 **And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere**  
 And she to him full truly did swear  
790 **That nevere sholde ther be defaute in here.**  
 That never should there be fault in her.

791 **Heere may men seen an humble, wys accord;**  
 Here may men see a humble, wise accord;  
792 **Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord --**  
 Thus has she taken her servant and her lord --  
793 **Servant in love, and lord in mariage.**  
 Servant in love, and lord in marriage.  
794 **Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and servage.**  
 Then was he both in lordship and servitude.  
795 **Servage? Nay, but in lordshipe above,**  
 Servitude? Nay, but in lordship above,  
796 **Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love;**  
 Since he has both his lady and his love;  
797 **His lady, certes, and his wyf also,**  
 His lady, certainly, and his wife also,  
798 **The which that lawe of love acordeth to.**  
 The which accords to the law of love.  
799 **And whan he was in this prosperitee,**  
 And when he was in this happy state,  
800 **Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree,**  
 Home with his wife he goes to his country,  
801 **Nat fer fro Pedmark, ther his dwellyng was,**  
 Not far from Pedmark, where his dwelling was,  
802 **Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas.**  
 Where he lives in bliss and in pleasure.

803 **Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be,**  
 Who could tell, unless he had been wedded,  
804 **The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee**  
 The joy, the ease, and the happiness  
805 **That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf?**  
 That is between a husband and his wife?  
806 **A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf,**  
 A year and more lasted this blissful life,  
807 **Til that the knyght of which I speke of thus,**  
 Until the knight of whom I thus speak,  
808 **That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus,**  
 That was called Arveragus of Kayrrud,  
809 **Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or tweyne**  
 Prepared himself to go and dwell a year or two  
810 **In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne,**  
 In England, which was also called Britain,  
811 **To seke in armes worshipe and honour --**  
 To seek in arms good reputation and honor --  
812 **For al his lust he sette in swich labour --**  
 For he set all his desire in such labor --  
813 **And dwelled there two yeer; the book seith thus.**  
 And dwelled there two years; the book says thus.

814 **Now wol I stynten of this Arveragus,**  
 Now will I stop (speaking) of this Arveragus,  
815 **And speken I wole of Dorigen his wyf,**  
 And I will speak of Dorigen his wife,  
816 **That loveth hire housbonde as hire hertes lyf.**  
 Who loves her husband as her heart's life.  
817 **For his absence wepeth she and siketh,**  
 For his absence she weeps and sighs,  
818 **As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh.**  
 As do these noble wives when it pleases them.  
819 **She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth;**  
 She mourns, stays awake, wails, fasts, complains;  
820 **Desir of his presence hire so destreyneth**  
 Desire of his presence so presses upon her  
821 **That al this wyde world she sette at noght.**  
 That all this wide world she reckoned as worth nothing.  
822 **Hire freendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght,**  
 Her friends, who knew her gloomy thought,  
823 **Conforten hire in al that ever they may.**  
 Comfort her in all that ever they can.  
824 **They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day**  
 They preach to her, they tell her night and day  
825 **That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas!**  
 That she slays herself without cause, alas!  
826 **And every confort possible in this cas**  
 And every comfort possible in this case  
827 **They doon to hire with al hire bisynesse,**  
 They do to her with all their concern,  
828 **Al for to make hire leve hire hevynesse.**  
 All to make her leave her sadness.

829 **By proces, as ye knowen everichoon,**  
 In the course of time, as every one of you knows,  
830 **Men may so longe graven in a stoon**  
 One may so long engrave on a stone  
831 **Til som figure therinne emprented be.**  
 Until some figure is imprinted upon it.  
832 **So longe han they conforted hire til she**  
 So long have they comforted her until she  
833 **Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun,**  
 Received has, by hope and by reason,  
834 **The emprentyng of hire consolacioun,**  
 The imprint of their consolation,  
835 **Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage;**  
 Through which her great sorrow began to be relieved;  
836 **She may nat alwey duren in swich rage.**  
 She can not always continue in such passionate grief.

837 **And eek Arveragus, in al this care,**  
 And also Arveragus, in (the midst of) all this care,   
838 **Hath sent hire lettres hoom of his welfare,**  
 Has sent her letters home (telling) of his welfare,  
839 **And that he wol come hastily agayn;**  
 And that he will come hastily again;  
840 **Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn.**  
 Or else this sorrow would have slain her heart.

841 **Hire freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake**  
 Her friends saw her sorrow began to slacken  
842 **And preyde hire on knees, for Goddes sake,**  
 And prayed her on their knees, for God's sake,  
843 **To come and romen hire in compaignye,**  
 To come and walk about in company,  
844 **Awey to dryve hire derke fantasye.**  
 Away to drive her dark imagining.  
845 **And finally she graunted that requeste,**  
 And finally she granted that request,  
846 **For wel she saugh that it was for the beste.**  
 For well she saw that it was for the best.

847 **Now stood hire castel faste by the see,**  
 Now her castle stood close by the sea,  
848 **And often with hire freendes walketh shee**  
 And often with her friends she walks  
849 **Hire to disporte upon the bank an heigh,**  
 To amuse herself upon the bank on high,  
850 **Where as she many a ship and barge seigh**  
 Where she saw many a ship and sailing vessel  
851 **Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go.**  
 Sailing their course, where it pleases them to go.  
852 **But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo,**  
 But then was that a portion of her woe,  
853 **For to hirself ful ofte, "Allas!" seith she,**  
 For to herself full often, she says "Alas!",  
854 **"Is ther no ship, of so manye as I se,**  
 "Is there no ship, of so many as I see,  
855 **Wol bryngen hom my lord? Thanne were myn herte**  
 Will bring home my lord? Then would my heart be  
856 **Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte."**  
 All cured of its bitter, sharp pains."

857 **Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thynke,**  
 Another time there would she sit and think,  
858 **And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke.**  
 And cast her eyes downward from the brink.  
859 **But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake,**  
 But when she saw the grisly black rocks,  
860 **For verray feere so wolde hir herte quake**  
 For sheer fear her heart would so quake  
861 **That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene.**  
 That on her feet she could not sustain herself.  
862 **Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene,**  
 Then would she sit down upon the green,  
863 **And pitously into the see biholde,**  
 And piteously stare into the sea,  
864 **And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde:**  
 And say right thus, with sorrowful, cold sighs:

865 **"Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveiaunce**  
 "Eternal God, who through thy foreknowledge  
866 **Ledest the world by certein governaunce,**  
 Leads the world by sure governance,   
867 **In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make.**  
 Men say you make nothing in vain.  
868 **But, Lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake,**  
 But, Lord, these grisly fiendish black rocks,  
869 **That semen rather a foul confusion**  
 That seem rather a foul confusion  
870 **Of werk than any fair creacion**  
 Of work than any fair creation  
871 **Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable,**  
 Of such a perfectly wise and stable God,  
872 **Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable?**  
 Why have you created this unreasonable work?  
873 **For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest,**  
 For by this work, south, north, nor west, nor east,  
874 **Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest;**  
 There is no benefit to man, nor bird, nor beast;  
875 **It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth.**  
 It does no good, to my understanding, but does harm.  
876 **Se ye nat, Lord, how mankynde it destroyeth?**  
 See you not, Lord, how it destroys mankind?  
877 **An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde**  
 A hundred thousand bodies of mankind  
878 **Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde,**  
 Have rocks slain, although their names are forgotten,  
879 **Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk**  
 And this mankind is so fair a part of thy work  
880 **That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk.**  
 That thou made it like to thine own image.  
881 **Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee**  
 Then it seemed you had a great love  
882 **Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee**  
 Toward mankind; but how then may it be  
883 **That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen,**  
 That you make such means to destroy it,  
884 **Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen?**  
 Which means do no good, but always cause trouble?  
885 **I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste,**  
 I know well clerks will say as they please,  
886 **By argumentz, that al is for the beste,**  
 By logical reasoning, that all is for the best,  
887 **Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe.**  
 Though I can not know the causes.  
888 **But thilke God that made wynd to blowe**  
 But that same God that made wind to blow  
889 **As kepe my lord! This my conclusion.**  
 Keep my lord! This is my conclusion.  
890 **To clerkes lete I al disputison.**  
 To clerks I leave all disputation.  
891 **But wolde God that alle thise rokkes blake**  
 But would God that all these black rocks   
892 **Were sonken into helle for his sake!**  
 Were sunk into hell for his sake!  
893 **Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere."**  
 These rocks slay my heart for fear."  
894 **Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere.**  
 Thus would she say, with many a piteous tear.

895 **Hire freendes sawe that it was no disport**  
 Her friends saw that it was no pleasure  
896 **To romen by the see, but disconfort,**  
 To roam by the sea, but discomfort,  
897 **And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles.**  
 And decide to amuse themselves somewhere else.  
898 **They leden hire by ryveres and by welles,**  
 They lead her by rivers and by springs,  
899 **And eek in othere places delitables;**  
 And also in other delightful places;  
900 **They dauncen and they pleyen at ches and tables.**  
 They dance and they play at chess and backgammon.

901 **So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde,**  
 So on a day, early in the morning-tide,  
902 **Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde,**  
 Unto a garden that was there nearby,  
903 **In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce**  
 In which they had made their arrangement  
904 **Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce,**  
 For victuals and for other provisions,  
905 **They goon and pleye hem al the longe day.**  
 They go and amuse themselves all the long day.  
906 **And this was on the sixte morwe of May,**  
 And this was on the sixth morning of May,  
907 **Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures**  
 Which May had painted with its soft showers  
908 **This gardyn ful of leves and of floures;**  
 This garden full of leaves and of flowers;  
909 **And craft of mannes hand so curiously**  
 And craft of man's hand so skillfully  
910 **Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely,**  
 Had adorned this garden, truly,  
911 **That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys**  
 That never was there garden of such worth  
912 **But if it were the verray paradys.**  
 Unless it were the true paradise.  
913 **The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte**  
 The odor of flowers and the fresh sight  
914 **Wolde han maked any herte lighte**  
 Would have made any heart light  
915 **That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse**  
 That ever was born, unless too great sickness  
916 **Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse,**  
 Or too great sorrow held it in distress,  
917 **So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.**  
 It was so full of beauty with pleasure.  
918 **At after-dyner gonne they to daunce,**  
 After dinner they go to dance,  
919 **And synge also, save Dorigen allone,**  
 And sing also, save Dorigen alone,  
920 **Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone,**  
 Who made always her complaint and her moan,  
921 **For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go**  
 For she did not see him on the dance go  
922 **That was hir housbonde and hir love also.**  
 Who was her husband and her love also.  
923 **But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde**  
 But nonetheless she must a time abide  
924 **And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.**  
 And with good hope let her sorrow slip away.

925 **Upon this daunce, amonges othere men,**  
 In this dance, among other men,  
926 **Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen,**  
 Danced a squire before Dorigen,  
927 **That fressher was and jolyer of array,**  
 Who was more lively and more gaily dressed,  
928 **As to my doom, than is the month of May.**  
 As to my judgement, than is the month of May.  
929 **He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man**  
 He sings, dances, passing any man  
930 **That is, or was, sith that the world bigan.**  
 That is, or was, since the world began.  
931 **Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve,**  
 Therewith he was, if one should him describe,  
932 **Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve;**  
 One of the most handsome men alive;  
933 **Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys,**  
 Young, strong, very valiant, and rich, and wise,  
934 **And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys.**  
 And well beloved, and held in great esteem.  
935 **And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal,**  
 And shortly, if I shall tell the truth,  
936 **Unwityng of this Dorigen at al,**  
 Unknown by this Dorigen at all,  
937 **This lusty squier, servant to Venus,**  
 This lusty squire, servant to Venus,  
938 **Which that ycleped was Aurelius,**  
 Who was called Aurelius,  
939 **Hadde loved hire best of any creature**  
 Had loved her best of any creature  
940 **Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure,**  
 Two years and more, as was his fate,  
941 **But nevere dorste he tellen hire his grevaunce.**  
 But he never dared tell her his grievance.  
942 **Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce.**  
 Copiously he drank all his penance (suffered intensely).  
943 **He was despeyred; no thyng dorste he seye,**  
 He was in despair; he dared say nothing,  
944 **Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye**  
 Except in his songs somewhat he would reveal  
945 **His wo, as in a general compleynyng;**  
 His woe, as in a general lament;  
946 **He seyde he lovede and was biloved no thyng.**  
 He said he loved and was in no way loved in return  
947 **Of swich matere made he manye layes,**  
 Of such subject matter made he many lays,  
948 **Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes,**  
 Songs, complaints, roundels, virelays,  
949 **How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,**  
 (Saying) how he dared not his sorrow tell,  
950 **But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle;**  
 But suffers as a fury does in hell;  
951 **And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko**  
 And he must die, he said, as did Echo  
952 **For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo.**  
 For Narcissus, she who dared not tell her woe.  
953 **In oother manere than ye heere me seye,**  
 In other ways than you hear me say,  
954 **Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye,**  
 He dared not reveal to her his woe,  
955 **Save that, paraventure, somtyme at daunces,**  
 Except that, by chance, sometimes at dances,  
956 **Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces,**  
 Where young folk observe their customs (of courtship),  
957 **It may wel be he looked on hir face**  
 It may well be he looked on her face  
958 **In swich a wise as man that asketh grace;**  
 In such a manner as a man that asks for grace;  
959 **But nothyng wiste she of his entente.**  
 But she knew nothing of his intent.  
960 **Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente,**  
 Nonetheless it happened, before they went away,  
961 **By cause that he was hire neighebour,**  
 Because he was her neighbor,  
962 **And was a man of worshipe and honour,**  
 And was a man of good reputation and honor,  
963 **And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore,**  
 And (she) had known him for a long time,  
964 **They fille in speche; and forth, moore and moore,**  
 They fell in speech; and forth, more and more,  
965 **Unto his purpos drough Aurelius,**  
 Unto his purpose drew Aurelius,  
966 **And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus:**  
 And when he saw his time, he said thus:

967 **"Madame," quod he, "by God that this world made,**  
 "Madame," he said, "by God that this world made,  
968 **So that I wiste it myghte youre herte glade,**  
 Providing that I knew it might gladden your heart,  
969 **I wolde that day that youre Arveragus**  
 I wish that day that your Arveragus  
970 **Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius,**  
 Went over the sea, that I, Aurelius,  
971 **Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn.**  
 Had went from where I should never have come back.  
972 **For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn;**  
 For well I know my service is in vain;  
973 **My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte.**  
 My reward is but the breaking of my heart.  
974 **Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte;**  
 Madame, have pity upon my bitter pains;  
975 **For with a word ye may me sleen or save.**  
 For with one word you may me slay or save.  
976 **Heere at youre feet God wolde that I were grave!**  
 Here at your feet would God that I were buried!  
977 **I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye;**  
 I have now no opportunity to say more;  
978 **Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye!"**  
 Have mercy, sweet, or you will make me die!"

979 **She gan to looke upon Aurelius;**  
 She did look upon Aurelius;  
980 **"Is this youre wyl," quod she, "and sey ye thus?**  
 "Is this your desire," said she, "and say you thus?  
981 **Nevere erst," quod she, "ne wiste I what ye mente.**  
 Never before," she said, "Did I know what you meant.  
982 **But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente,**  
 But now, Aurelius, I know your intention,  
983 **By thilke God that yaf me soule and lyf,**  
 By that same God that gave me soul and life,  
984 **Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf**  
 I shall never be an untrue wife  
985 **In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit;**  
 In word nor deed, so long as I have my wits;  
986 **I wol been his to whom that I am knyt.**  
 I will be his to whom that I am knit.  
987 **Taak this for fynal answere as of me."**  
 Take this for my final answer."  
988 **But after that in pley thus seyde she:**  
 But after that in play thus she said:

989 **"Aurelie," quod she, "by heighe God above,**  
 "Aurelius," she said, "by high God above,  
990 **Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love,**  
 Yet would I grant you to be your love,  
991 **Syn I yow se so pitously complayne.**  
 Since I see you so piteously lament.  
992 **Looke what day that endelong Britayne**  
 On whatever day that from end to end of Brittany  
993 **Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon,**  
 You remove all the rocks, stone by stone,  
994 **That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon --**  
 So that they do not prevent ship nor boat to go --  
995 **I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene**  
 I say, when you have made the coast so clean  
996 **Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene,**  
 Of rocks that there is no stone seen,  
997 **Thanne wol I love yow best of any man;**  
 Then will I love you best of any man;  
998 **Have heer my trouthe, in al that evere I kan."**  
 Have here my pledged word, in all that is in my power."

999 **"Is ther noon oother grace in yow?" quod he.**  
 "Is there no other grace in you?" he said.

1000 **"No, by that Lord," quod she, "that maked me!**  
 "No, by that Lord," she said, "that made me!  
1001 **For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.**  
 For well I know that it shall never happen.  
1002 **Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde.**  
 Let such follies pass out of your heart.  
1003 **What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf**  
 What pleasure should a man have in his life  
1004 **For to go love another mannes wyf,**  
 To go love another man's wife,  
1005 **That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh?"**  
 Who has her body whenever he pleases?"

1006 **Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh;**  
 Aurelius very often bitterly sighs;  
1007 **Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herde,**  
 Woe was Aurelius when he heard this,  
1008 **And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde:**  
 And with a sorrowful heart he thus answered:

1009 **"Madame," quod he, "this were an inpossible!**  
 "Madame," he said, "this would be an impossiblity!  
1010 **Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible."**  
 Then I must die of sudden horrible death."  
1011 **And with that word he turned hym anon.**  
 And with that word he turned away immediately.  
1012 **Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon,**  
 Then came her other friends many a one,  
1013 **And in the aleyes romeden up and doun,**  
 And in the garden paths roamed up and down,  
1014 **And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun,**  
 And knew nothing of this business,  
1015 **But sodeynly bigonne revel newe**  
 But suddenly began to revel anew  
1016 **Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe;**  
 Until the bright sun lost its hue;  
1017 **For th' orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght --**  
 For the horizon has bereft the sun of its light --  
1018 **This is as muche to seye as it was nyght --**  
 This is as much to say that it was night --  
1019 **And hoom they goon in joye and in solas,**  
 And home they go in joy and in pleasure,  
1020 **Save oonly wrecche Aurelius, allas!**  
 Save only wretched Aurelius, alas!  
1021 **He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte.**  
 He to his house is gone with sorrowful heart.  
1022 **He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte;**  
 He sees he can not escape from his death;  
1023 **Hym semed that he felte his herte colde.**  
 He thought that he felt his heart grow cold.  
1024 **Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde,**  
 Up to the heaven his hands he did hold,  
1025 **And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun,**  
 And on his bare knees he set himself down,  
1026 **And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun.**  
 And in his delirium said his prayer.   
1027 **For verray wo out of his wit he breyde.**  
 For utter woe out of his wits he suddenly went.  
1028 **He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde;**  
 He knew not what he spoke, but thus he said;  
1029 **With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne**  
 With piteous heart he has begun his complaint   
1030 **Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne:**  
 Unto the gods, and first unto the sun:

1031 **He seyde, "Appollo, god and governour**  
 He said, "Apollo, god and governor  
1032 **Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour,**  
 Of every plant, herb, tree, and flower,  
1033 **That yevest, after thy declinacion,**  
 That gives, according to thy height (in the sky),  
1034 **To ech of hem his tyme and his seson,**  
 To each of them its time and its season,  
1035 **As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe,**  
 As thy astronomical position changes low or high,  
1036 **Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable eighe**  
 Lord Phoebus, cast thy merciful eye  
1037 **On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn.**  
 On wretched Aurelius, who is as good as lost.  
1038 **Lo, lord! My lady hath my deeth ysworn**  
 Lo, lord! My lady has sworn my death   
1039 **Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee**  
 Without guilt, unless thy kindness  
1040 **Upon my dedly herte have som pitee.**  
 Upon my dying heart have some pity.  
1041 **For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest,**  
 For well I know, lord Phoebus, if you wish,  
1042 **Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best.**  
 You can help me best (of anyone), except for my lady.  
1043 **Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse**  
 Now grant that I may tell you  
1044 **How that I may been holpen and in what wyse.**  
 How I may be helped and in what manner.

1045 **"Youre blisful suster, Lucina the sheene,**  
 "Your blissful sister, Lucina the bright,  
1046 **That of the see is chief goddesse and queene**  
 Who of the sea is chief goddess and queen  
1047 **(Though Neptunus have deitee in the see,**  
 (Though Neptune have godly dominion in the sea,  
1048 **Yet emperisse aboven hym is she),**  
 Yet empress above him is she),  
1049 **Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir**  
 You know well, lord, that just as her desire  
1050 **Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fir,**  
 Is to be kindled and ignited by your fire,   
1051 **For which she folweth yow ful bisily,**  
 For which she follows you very attentively,  
1052 **Right so the see desireth naturelly**  
 Just so the sea desires naturally  
1053 **To folwen hire, as she that is goddesse**  
 To follow her, as she that is goddess  
1054 **Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse.**  
 Both in the sea and rivers great and small.  
1055 **Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste --**  
 Wherefore, lord Phoebus, this is my request --  
1056 **Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste --**  
 Do this miracle, or make my heart break --  
1057 **That now next at this opposicion**  
 That now at this next opposition (of the sun and moon)  
1058 **Which in the signe shal be of the Leon,**  
 Which shall be in the sign of the Lion,  
1059 **As preieth hire so greet a flood to brynge**  
 Pray her so great a high tide to bring  
1060 **That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge**  
 That five fathoms at the least it rise above  
1061 **The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne;**  
 The highest rock in Armorican Brittany;  
1062 **And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne.**  
 And let this flood-tide endure for two years.  
1063 **Thanne certes to my lady may I seye,**  
 Then certainly to my lady may I say,  
1064 **`Holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.'**  
 `Keep your promise, the rocks are away.'

1065 **"Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me.**  
 "Lord Phoebus, do this miracle for me.  
1066 **Preye hire she go no faster cours than ye;**  
 Pray her that she go at no faster speed as you;  
1067 **I seye, preyeth your suster that she go**  
 I say, pray your sister that she go  
1068 **No faster cours than ye thise yeres two.**  
 At no faster speed as you for these two years.  
1069 **Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alway,**  
 Then shall she be fully even with you always,  
1070 **And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day.**  
 And spring flood will last both night and day.  
1071 **And but she vouche sauf in swich manere**  
 And unless she agree in such manner  
1072 **To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere,**  
 To grant me my sovereign lady dear,  
1073 **Prey hire to synken every rok adoun**  
 Pray her to sink every rock down  
1074 **Into hir owene dirke regioun**  
 Into her own dark region  
1075 **Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne,**  
 Under the ground, in which Pluto dwells,  
1076 **Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne.**  
 Or never more shall I win my lady.  
1077 **Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke.**  
 Thy temple in Delphi I will barefoot seek.  
1078 **Lord Phebus, se the teeris on my cheke,**  
 Lord Phoebus, see the tears on my cheek,  
1079 **And of my peyne have som compassioun."**  
 And on my pain have some compassion."  
1080 **And with that word in swowne he fil adoun,**  
 And with that word he fell down in a faint,  
1081 **And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce.**  
 And for a long time he lay in a trance.

1082 **His brother, which that knew of his penaunce,**  
 His brother, who knew of his suffering,  
1083 **Up caughte hym and to bedde he hath hym broght.**  
 Caught him up and to bed he has him brought.  
1084 **Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght**  
 Despaired in this torment and this thought  
1085 **Lete I this woful creature lye;**  
 I leave this woeful creature lying;  
1086 **Chese he, for me, wheither he wol lyve or dye.**  
 Let him choose, for all I care, whether he will live or die.

1087 **Arveragus, with heele and greet honour,**  
 Arveragus, with well-being and great honor,  
1088 **As he that was of chivalrie the flour,**  
 As he that was of chivalry the flower,  
1089 **Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men.**  
 Is come home, and other worthy men.  
1090 **O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen,**  
 O blissful art thou now, thou Dorigen,  
1091 **That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes,**  
 That hast thy lusty husband in thine arms,  
1092 **The fresshe knyght, the worthy man of armes,**  
 The vigorous knight, the worthy man of arms,  
1093 **That loveth thee as his owene hertes lyf.**  
 That loves thee as his own heart's life.  
1094 **No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf,**  
 He not at all desired to be suspicious,  
1095 **If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute,**  
 If any person had spoken, while he was away,  
1096 **To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute.**  
 To her of love; he had of it no fear.  
1097 **He noght entendeth to no swich mateere,**  
 He pays no attention to any such matter,  
1098 **But daunceth, justeth, maketh hire good cheere;**  
 But dances, jousts, makes her good cheer;  
1099 **And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle,**  
 And thus in joy and bliss I let them dwell,  
1100 **And of the sike Aurelius wol I telle.**  
 And of the sick Aurelius I will tell.

1101 **In langour and in torment furyus**  
 In suffering and in hellish torment  
1102 **Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelyus,**  
 Two years and more lay wretched Aurelius,  
1103 **Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon;**  
 Before he could set a foot on the ground;  
1104 **Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon,**  
 Nor had he any comfort in this time,  
1105 **Save of his brother, which that was a clerk.**  
 Except from his brother, who was a clerk.  
1106 **He knew of al this wo and al this werk,**  
 He knew of all this woe and all this suffering,  
1107 **For to noon oother creature, certeyn,**  
 For to no other creature, certainly,  
1108 **Of this matere he dorste no word seyn.**  
 He dared say any word of this matter.  
1109 **Under his brest he baar it moore secree**  
 Under his breast he bore it more secretly  
1110 **Than evere dide Pamphilus for Galathee.**  
 Than ever did Pamphilus for Galathee.  
1111 **His brest was hool, withoute for to sene,**  
 His breast was unhurt, in outward appearance,  
1112 **But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.**  
 But in his heart ever was the sharp arrow.  
1113 **And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure**  
 And well you know that for a wound healed only on the surface  
1114 **In surgerye is perilous the cure,**  
 In surgery the treatment is perilous,  
1115 **But men myghte touche the arwe or come therby.**  
 Unless one could touch the arrow or grasp it.  
1116 **His brother weep and wayled pryvely,**  
 His brother wept and wailed secretly,  
1117 **Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce,**  
 Until at the last he remembered,  
1118 **That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce --**  
 That while he was at Orleans in France --  
1119 **As yonge clerkes that been lykerous**  
 As young clerks that are eager  
1120 **To reden artes that been curious**  
 To read arts that are arcane  
1121 **Seken in every halke and every herne**  
 Seek in every nook and every cranny  
1122 **Particuler sciences for to lerne --**  
 To learn specialized branches of learning --  
1123 **He hym remembred that, upon a day,**  
 He remembered that, one day,  
1124 **At Orliens in studie a book he say**  
 At Orleans in a study hall he saw a book  
1125 **Of magyk natureel, which his felawe,**  
 Of natural science, which his fellow,  
1126 **That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe,**  
 Who was at that time a bachelor of law,  
1127 **Al were he ther to lerne another craft,**  
 Although he was there to learn another craft,  
1128 **Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft;**  
 Had covertly left upon his desk;  
1129 **Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns**  
 Which book spoke much of the operations  
1130 **Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns**  
 Concerning the eight and twenty stations  
1131 **That longen to the moone, and swich folye**  
 That belong to the moon, and such folly  
1132 **As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye --**  
 As in our days is not worth a fly --  
1133 **For hooly chirches feith in oure bileve**  
 For holy church's faith in our belief  
1134 **Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve.**  
 Does not allow any illusion to grieve us.  
1135 **And whan this book was in his remembraunce,**  
 And when this book was in his remembrance,  
1136 **Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce,**  
 Straightway for joy his heart began to dance,  
1137 **And to hymself he seyde pryvely:**  
 And to himself he said secretly,  
1138 **"My brother shal be warisshed hastily;**  
 "My brother shall be cured speedily;  
1139 **For I am siker that ther be sciences**  
 For I am sure that there are sciences  
1140 **By whiche men make diverse apparences,**  
 By which men make diverse illusions,  
1141 **Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye.**  
 Such as these subtle illusionists play.  
1142 **For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye**  
 For often at feasts have I well heard say  
1143 **That tregetours withinne an halle large**  
 That illusionists within a large hall   
1144 **Have maad come in a water and a barge,**  
 Have made come in a water and a barge,  
1145 **And in the halle rowen up and doun.**  
 And in the hall row up and down.  
1146 **Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun;**  
 Sometimes a grim lion has seemed to come;  
1147 **And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede;**  
 And sometimes flowers spring as in a field;  
1148 **Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede;**  
 Sometimes a vine, and grapes white and red;  
1149 **Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon;**  
 Sometimes a castle, all of mortar and stone;  
1150 **And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon.**  
 And when they pleased, they made it suddenly disappear.  
1151 **Thus semed it to every mannes sighte.**  
 Thus it seemed to every man's sight.

1152 **"Now thanne conclude I thus: that if I myghte**  
 "Now then conclude I thus: that if I might  
1153 **At Orliens som oold felawe yfynde**  
 At Orleans find some old fellow  
1154 **That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde,**  
 Who had these moon's stations in mind,  
1155 **Or oother magyk natureel above,**  
 Or other natural science beyond that  
1156 **He sholde wel make my brother han his love.**  
 He should well make my brother have his love.  
1157 **For with an apparence a clerk may make,**  
 For with an apparition a clerk may make it seem,  
1158 **To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake**  
 To man's sight, that all the rocks black  
1159 **Of Britaigne weren yvoyded everichon,**  
 Of Brittany were removed every one,  
1160 **And shippes by the brynke comen and gon,**  
 And ships by the shore come and go,  
1161 **And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two.**  
 And in such form endure a week or two.  
1162 **Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo;**  
 Then my brother would be cured of his woe;  
1163 **Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste,**  
 Then must she by necessity keep her promise,  
1164 **Or elles he shal shame hire atte leeste."**  
 Or else he shall shame her at the least."

1165 **What sholde I make a lenger tale of this?**  
 Why should I make a longer tale of this?  
1166 **Unto his brotheres bed he comen is,**  
 Unto his brother's bed he is come,  
1167 **And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon**  
 And such encouragement he gave him to go  
1168 **To Orliens that he up stirte anon,**  
 To Orleans that he leaped up immediately,  
1169 **And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare**  
 And on his way forth then is he gone  
1170 **In hope for to been lissed of his care.**  
 In hope to be relieved of his care.

1171 **Whan they were come almoost to that citee,**  
 When they had come almost to that city,  
1172 **But if it were a two furlong or thre,**  
 Not more than two or three furlongs,  
1173 **A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette,**  
 A young clerk roaming by himself they met,  
1174 **Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette,**  
 Who in Latin politely greeted them,  
1175 **And after that he seyde a wonder thyng:**  
 And after that he said a wonderful thing:  
1176 **"I knowe," quod he, "the cause of youre comyng."**  
 "I know," he said, "the cause of your coming."  
1177 **And er they ferther any foote wente,**  
 And before they went any foot farther,  
1178 **He tolde hem al that was in hire entente.**  
 He told them all that was in their intention.

1179 **This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes**  
 This Breton clerk asked him about fellows  
1180 **The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes,**  
 Whom he had known in old days,  
1181 **And he answerde hym that they dede were,**  
 And he answered him that they were dead,  
1182 **For which he weep ful ofte many a teere.**  
 For which he wept very often many a tear.

1183 **Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon,**  
 Down off his horse Aurelius alighted straightway,  
1184 **And with this magicien forth is he gon**  
 And with this magician forth he is gone  
1185 **Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese.**  
 Home to his house, and put them well at ease.  
1186 **Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese.**  
 They lacked no foods that might please them.  
1187 **So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon**  
 So well appointed a house as this one was   
1188 **Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon.**  
 Aurelius in his life saw never a one.

1189 **He shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer,**  
 He showed him, before he went to supper,  
1190 **Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer;**  
 Forests, parks full of wild deer;  
1191 **Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye,**  
 There he saw harts with their high horns,  
1192 **The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye.**  
 The greatest that ever were seen with eye.  
1193 **He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes,**  
 He saw a hundred of them slain by hounds,  
1194 **And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.**  
 And some bled because of bitter wounds from arrows.  
1195 **He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer,**  
 He saw, when these wild deer were removed,  
1196 **Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver,**  
 These hunters with falcons upon a fair riverbank,  
1197 **That with hir haukes han the heron slayn.**  
 That with their hawks have slain the heron.

1198 **Tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn;**  
 Then he saw knights jousting in a plain;  
1199 **And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce**  
 And after this he provided him such pleasure  
1200 **That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce,**  
 That he showed him his lady in a dance,  
1201 **On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte.**  
 In which he himself danced, as he thought.  
1202 **And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte**  
 And when this master that wrought this magic   
1203 **Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two,**  
 Saw it was time, he clapped his two hands,  
1204 **And farewel! Al oure revel was ago.**  
 And farewell! All our revel was gone.  
1205 **And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous,**  
 And yet moved they never out of the house,  
1206 **Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous,**  
 While they saw all this marvelous sight,  
1207 **But in his studie, ther as his bookes be,**  
 But in his study, where his books are,  
1208 **They seten stille, and no wight but they thre.**  
 They sat still, and no person (was there) but these three.

1209 **To hym this maister called his squier,**  
 This master called his squire to him,  
1210 **And seyde hym thus: "Is redy oure soper?**  
 And said to him thus: "Is our supper ready?  
1211 **Almoost an houre it is, I undertake,**  
 Almost an hour it is, I declare,  
1212 **Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make,**  
 Since I ordered you to make our supper,  
1213 **Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me**  
 When these worthy men went with me  
1214 **Into my studie, ther as my bookes be."**  
 Into my study, where my books are."

1215 **"Sire," quod this squier, "whan it liketh yow,**  
 "Sir," said this squire, "when it pleases you,  
1216 **It is al redy, though ye wol right now."**  
 It is all ready, even if you want it right now."  
1217 **"Go we thanne soupe," quod he, "as for the beste.**  
 "Go we then to sup," said he, "as is the best (to do).  
1218 **Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste."**  
 These amorous folk sometime must have their rest."

1219 **At after-soper fille they in tretee**  
 At after-supper they began to discuss  
1220 **What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be**  
 What sum this master's payment should be  
1221 **To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne,**  
 To remove all the rocks of Brittany,  
1222 **And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne.**  
 And also from Gironde to the mouth of Seine.

1223 **He made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save,**  
 He raised difficulties, and swore, as God may him save,  
1224 **Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have,**  
 Less than a thousand pounds he would not have,  
1225 **Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon.**  
 Nor would he go gladly even for that sum.

1226 **Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon,**  
 Aurelius, with blissful heart, at once  
1227 **Answerde thus: "Fy on a thousand pound!**  
 Answered thus: "Fie on a thousand pounds!  
1228 **This wyde world, which that men seye is round,**  
 This wide world, which men say is round,  
1229 **I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it.**  
 I would give it, if I were lord of it.  
1230 **This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt.**  
 This bargain is fully concluded, for we are agreed.  
1231 **Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe!**  
 You shall be paid truly, by my pledged word!  
1232 **But looketh now, for no necligence or slouthe**  
 But look now, for no negligence or laziness  
1233 **Ye tarie us heere no lenger than to-morwe."**  
 You delay us here any longer than to-morrow."

1234 **"Nay," quod this clerk, "have heer my feith to borwe."**  
 "Nay," said this clerk, "have here my faith as a pledge."

1235 **To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste,**  
 To bed is gone Aurelius when it pleased him,  
1236 **And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste.**  
 And well nigh all that night he had his rest.  
1237 **What for his labour and his hope of blisse,**  
 What for his labor and his hope of bliss,  
1238 **His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse.**  
 His woeful heart of suffering had relief.

1239 **Upon the morwe, whan that it was day,**  
 Upon the morrow, when it was day,  
1240 **To Britaigne tooke they the righte way,**  
 To Brittany took they the direct route,  
1241 **Aurelius and this magicien bisyde,**  
 Aurelius and this magician beside him,  
1242 **And been descended ther they wolde abyde.**  
 And are arrived where they would stay.  
1243 **And this was, as thise bookes me remembre,**  
 And this was, as these books remind me,  
1244 **The colde, frosty seson of Decembre.**  
 The cold, frosty season of December.

1245 **Phebus wax old, and hewed lyk laton,**  
 Phoebus grew old, and colored grayish silver,  
1246 **That in his hoote declynacion**  
 That in his hot declination (in summer)  
1247 **Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte;**  
 Shone like burnished gold with bright rays;  
1248 **But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte,**  
 But now in Capricorn he alights down,  
1249 **Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn.**  
 Where he shone full pale, I dare well say.  
1250 **The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn,**  
 The bitter frosts, with the sleet and rain,  
1251 **Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd.**  
 Have destroyed the green in every garden.  
1252 **Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd,**  
 Janus sits by the fire, with double beard,  
1253 **And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn;**  
 And drinks the wine from his buffalo horn;  
1254 **Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn,**  
 Before him stands meat of the tusked boar,  
1255 **And "Nowel" crieth every lusty man.**  
 And "Noel" cries every lusty man.

1256 **Aurelius in al that evere he kan**  
 Aurelius in all that ever he can  
1257 **Dooth to this maister chiere and reverence,**  
 Provides for this master entertainment and reverence,  
1258 **And preyeth hym to doon his diligence**  
 And prays him to work diligently  
1259 **To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte,**  
 To bring him out of his bitter pains,  
1260 **Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte.**  
 Or with a sword he would slit his heart.

1261 **This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man**  
 This subtle clerk had such pity for this man  
1262 **That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan**  
 That night and day he worked as fast as he can  
1263 **To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun;**  
 To seek a time for his astronomical operation;   
1264 **This is to seye, to maken illusioun,**  
 This is to say, to make illusion,  
1265 **By swich an apparence or jogelrye --**  
 By such an appearance or conjurer's trick --  
1266 **I ne kan no termes of astrologye --**  
 I know no technical terms of astrology --  
1267 **That she and every wight sholde wene and seye**  
 That she and every person should believe and say  
1268 **That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye,**  
 That the rocks of Brittany were away,  
1269 **Or ellis they were sonken under grounde.**  
 Or else they were sunk under ground.  
1270 **So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde**  
 So at the last he has his time found  
1271 **To maken his japes and his wrecchednesse**  
 To make his tricks and his wretched deeds  
1272 **Of swich a supersticious cursednesse.**  
 Of such a superstitious cursedness.  
1273 **His tables Tolletanes forth he brought,**  
 His astronomical tables of Toledo he brought forth,  
1274 **Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought,**  
 Accurately corrected, nor was there anything lacking,  
1275 **Neither his collect ne his expans yeeris,**  
 Neither his tables of single years nor of twenty-year periods,  
1276 **Ne his rootes, ne his othere geeris,**  
 Nor his dates for calculations, nor his other apparatus,  
1277 **As been his centris and his argumentz**  
 Such as are his table of distances and his angles for calculation  
1278 **And his proporcioneles convenientz**  
 And his table for computing motions (of the planets)  
1279 **For his equacions in every thyng.**  
 For his divisions of the sphere in every detail.   
1280 **And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng**  
 And by his eighth sphere in his working  
1281 **He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove**  
 He knew full well how far the star Alnath was shoved  
1282 **Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above,**  
 From the head of that fixed Aries above,  
1283 **That in the ninthe speere considered is;**  
 That in the ninth sphere is observed;  
1284 **Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this.**  
 Full subtly he calculated all this.

1285 **Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun,**  
 When he had found his first position of the moon,  
1286 **He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun,**  
 He knew the remnant by astronomical tables,  
1287 **And knew the arisyng of his moone weel,**  
 And knew the arising of his moon well,  
1288 **And in whos face, and terme, and everydeel;**  
 And in which planet's face and term (zodiacal divisions), and everything;  
1289 **And knew ful weel the moones mansioun**  
 And knew full well the moon's position  
1290 **Acordaunt to his operacioun,**  
 In accordance with his operation,  
1291 **And knew also his othere observaunces**  
 And knew also his other observations  
1292 **For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces**  
 For such illusions and such evil practices  
1293 **As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes.**  
 As heathen folk used in those days.  
1294 **For which no lenger maked he delayes,**  
 For which no longer he made delay,  
1295 **But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye,**  
 But through his magic, for a week or two,  
1296 **It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.**  
 It seemed that all the rocks were away.

1297 **Aurelius, which that yet despeired is**  
 Aurelius, who is yet in despair   
1298 **Wher he shal han his love or fare amys,**  
 Whether he shall have his love or fare badly,  
1299 **Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle;**  
 Waits night and day for this miracle;  
1300 **And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle,**  
 And when he knew that there was no obstacle,  
1301 **That voyded were thise rokkes everychon,**  
 That every one of these rocks were removed,  
1302 **Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon,**  
 Down to his mistress' feet he fell at once,  
1303 **And seyde, "I woful wrecche, Aurelius,**  
 And said, "I woeful wretched, Aurelius,  
1304 **Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus,**  
 Thank you, lord, and my lady Venus,  
1305 **That me han holpen fro my cares colde."**  
 Who have helped me out of my deadly cares."  
1306 **And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde,**  
 And to the temple he has held forth his way,  
1307 **Where as he knew he sholde his lady see.**  
 Where he knew he should see his lady.  
1308 **And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right hee,**  
 And when he saw his time, immediately he,  
1309 **With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere,**  
 With fearful heart and with full humble manner,  
1310 **Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere:**  
 Has saluted his sovereign lady dear:

1311 **"My righte lady," quod this woful man,**  
 "My true lady," said this woeful man,  
1312 **"Whom I moost drede and love as I best kan,**  
 "Whom I most dread and love as I best know how,  
1313 **And lothest were of al this world displese,**  
 And am of all this world most reluctant to displease,  
1314 **Nere it that I for yow have swich disese**  
 Were it not that I for you have such distress  
1315 **That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon,**  
 That I must die here at your feet right now,  
1316 **Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon.**  
 I would tell nothing of how I am beset by woe.   
1317 **But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne;**  
 But certainly either I must die or complain;  
1318 **Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne.**  
 You slay me guiltless for sheer pain.  
1319 **But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe,**  
 But though you have no pity on my death,  
1320 **Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe.**  
 Think carefully before you break your pledged word.  
1321 **Repenteth yow, for thilke God above,**  
 Repent, for that God above,  
1322 **Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love.**  
 Before you slay me because I love you.  
1323 **For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight --**  
 For, madam, you know well what you have promised --  
1324 **Nat that I chalange any thyng of right**  
 Not that I claim any thing as a right  
1325 **Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace --**  
 From you, my sovereign lady, except for your good favor --  
1326 **But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place,**  
 But in a garden yonder, at a particular place,  
1327 **Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me;**  
 You know right well what you promised me;  
1328 **And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye**  
 And in my hand you pledged your word  
1329 **To love me best -- God woot, ye seyde so,**  
 To love me best -- God knows, you said so,  
1330 **Al be that I unworthy am therto.**  
 Although I am unworthy of it.  
1331 **Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow**  
 Madam, I speak it for your honor  
1332 **Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now --**  
 More than to save my heart's life right now --  
1333 **I have do so as ye comanded me;**  
 I have done as you commanded me;  
1334 **And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see.**  
 And if you agree, you may go see.  
1335 **Dooth as yow list; have youre biheste in mynde,**  
 Do as you please; have your promise in mind,  
1336 **For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde.**  
 For, living or dead, right there you shall find me.  
1337 **In yow lith al to do me lyve or deye --**  
 In you lies the power to make me live or die --  
1338 **But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye."**  
 But well I know the rocks are away."

1339 **He taketh his leve, and she astoned stood;**  
 He takes his leave, and she astounded stood;  
1340 **In al hir face nas a drope of blood.**  
 In all her face was not a drop of blood.  
1341 **She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe.**  
 She never expected to have come in such a trap.  
1342 **"Allas," quod she, "that evere this sholde happe!**  
 "Alas," she said, "that ever this should happen!  
1343 **For wende I nevere by possibilitee**  
 For I never supposed by possibility  
1344 **That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be!**  
 That such a wonder or marvel could be!  
1345 **It is agayns the proces of nature."**  
 It is against the laws of nature."  
1346 **And hoom she goth a sorweful creature;**  
 And home she goes a sorrowful creature;  
1347 **For verray feere unnethe may she go.**  
 For sheer fear she can hardly walk.  
1348 **She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two,**  
 She weeps, wails, all one day or two,  
1349 **And swowneth, that it routhe was to see.**  
 And swoons, that it was pitiful to see.  
1350 **But why it was to no wight tolde shee,**  
 But why it was she told to no person,  
1351 **For out of towne was goon Arveragus.**  
 For Arveragus had gone out of town.  
1352 **But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus,**  
 But to herself she spoke, and said thus,  
1353 **With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere,**  
 With face pale and with full sorrowful manner,  
1354 **In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere:**  
 In her complaint, as you shall after hear:

1355 **"Allas," quod she, "on thee, Fortune, I pleyne,**  
 "Alas," said she, "on thee, Fortune, I complain,  
1356 **That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne,**  
 That without warning hast wrapped me in thy chain,  
1357 **Fro which t' escape woot I no socour,**  
 From which to escape I know no help,   
1358 **Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour;**  
 Save only death or else dishonor;  
1359 **Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese.**  
 One of these two I am compelled to choose.  
1360 **But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese**  
 But neverthelees, yet I would rather lose  
1361 **My lif than of my body to have a shame,**  
 My life than of my body to have a shame,  
1362 **Or knowe myselven fals, or lese my name;**  
 Or know myself false, or lose my good name;  
1363 **And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis.**  
 And with my death I may be free from blame, indeed.  
1364 **Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this,**  
 Has there not many a noble wife before this,  
1365 **And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas,**  
 And many a maid, slain herself, alas,  
1366 **Rather than with hir body doon trespas?**  
 Rather than do sin with her body?

1367 **"Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse:**  
 "Yes indeed, certainly, lo, these stories bear witness:  
1368 **Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse,**  
 When thirty tyrants, full of cursedness,  
1369 **Hadde slayn Phidon in Atthenes atte feste,**  
 Had slain Phidon in Athens at the feast,  
1370 **They comanded his doghtres for t' areste**  
 They commanded (the guards) to seize his daughters   
1371 **And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit,**  
 And bring them before them as an insult,  
1372 **Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit,**  
 All naked, to fulfill their foul delight,  
1373 **And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce**  
 And in their father's blood they made them dance  
1374 **Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce!**  
 Upon the pavement, God give them misfortune!  
1375 **For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede,**  
 For which these woeful maidens, full of dread,  
1376 **Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede,**  
 Rather than they would lose their maidenhood,  
1377 **They prively been stirt into a welle**  
 They secretly have leaped into a well  
1378 **And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle.**  
 And drowned themselves, as the books tell.

1379 **"They of Mecene leete enquere and seke**  
 "They of Messene had (people) search out and seek  
1380 **Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke,**  
 Fifty maidens of Sparta also,  
1381 **On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye.**  
 On whom they would do their lechery.  
1382 **But was ther noon of al that compaignye**  
 But there was none of all that company  
1383 **That she nas slayn, and with a good entente**  
 That she was not slain, and with a good intent  
1384 **Chees rather for to dye than assente**  
 Chose rather to die than assent  
1385 **To been oppressed of hir maydenhede.**  
 To be deprived of her maidenhood.  
1386 **Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?**  
 Why should I then be afraid to die?  
1387 **Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides,**  
 Lo, also, the tyrant Aristoclides,  
1388 **That loved a mayden, heet Stymphalides,**  
 That loved a maiden, called Stymphalides,  
1389 **Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght,**  
 When her father was slain on a night,  
1390 **Unto Dianes temple goth she right,**  
 Unto Diana's temple she goes directly,  
1391 **And hente the ymage in hir handes two,**  
 And seized the statue in her two hands,  
1392 **Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go.**  
 From which statue she would never go.  
1393 **No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace**  
 No person could pull her hands away from it   
1394 **Til she was slayn, right in the selve place.**  
 Until she was slain, right in the same place.

1395 **"Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit**  
 "Now since maidens had such disdain  
1396 **To been defouled with mannes foul delit,**  
 To be defiled by man's foul delight,  
1397 **Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee**  
 Well ought a wife rather herself slay  
1398 **Than be defouled, as it thynketh me.**  
 Than be defiled, as it seems to me.  
1399 **What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf,**  
 What shall I say of Hasdrubale's wife,  
1400 **That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf?**  
 That at Carthage deprived herself of her life?  
1401 **For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun,**  
 For when she saw that Romans won the town,  
1402 **She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun**  
 She took her children all, and leaped down  
1403 **Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye**  
 Into the fire, and chose rather to die  
1404 **Than any Romayn dide hire vileynye.**  
 Than any Roman did her a dishonor.  
1405 **Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself, allas,**  
 Has not Lucretia slain herself, alas,  
1406 **At Rome, whan that she oppressed was**  
 At Rome, when she was raped  
1407 **Of Tarquyn, for hire thoughte it was a shame**  
 By Tarquin, for she thought it was a shame  
1408 **To lyven whan she hadde lost hir name?**  
 To live when she had lost her good name?  
1409 **The sevene maydens of Milesie also**  
 The seven maidens of Miletus also  
1410 **Han slayn hemself, for verrey drede and wo,**  
 Have slain themselves, for sheer dread and woe,  
1411 **Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse.**  
 Rather than folk of Galatia should rape them.  
1412 **Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse,**  
 More than a thousand stories, as I guess,  
1413 **Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere.**  
 Could I now tell concerning this matter.  
1414 **Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere**  
 When Habradate was slain, his wife so dear  
1415 **Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde**  
 Herself slew, and let her blood pour  
1416 **In Habradates woundes depe and wyde,**  
 In Habradate's wounds deep and wide,  
1417 **And seyde, `My body, at the leeste way,**  
 And said, `My body, at the least,  
1418 **Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may."**  
 There shall no person defile, if I can (help it)."

1419 **"What sholde I mo ensamples heerof sayn,**  
 "Why should I tell more examples concerning this,  
1420 **Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn**  
 Since so many have themselves slain  
1421 **Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?**  
 Well rather than they would be defiled?  
1422 **I wol conclude that it is bet for me**  
 I will conclude that it is better for me  
1423 **To sleen myself than been defouled thus.**  
 To slay myself than be defiled thus.  
1424 **I wol be trewe unto Arveragus,**  
 I will be true unto Arveragus,  
1425 **Or rather sleen myself in som manere,**  
 Or rather slay myself in some manner,  
1426 **As dide Demociones doghter deere**  
 As did Demotion's daughter dear  
1427 **By cause that she wolde nat defouled be.**  
 Because she would not defiled be.  
1428 **O Cedasus, it is ful greet pitee**  
 O Scedasus, it is a very great pity  
1429 **To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas,**  
 To read how thy daughters died, alas,  
1430 **That slowe hemself for swich manere cas.**  
 Who slew themselves for a similar sort of cause.  
1431 **As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore,**  
 As great a pity was it, or well more,  
1432 **The Theban mayden that for Nichanore**  
 The Theban maiden that for Nichanore  
1433 **Hirselven slow, right for swich manere wo.**  
 Slew herself, exactly for such sort of woe.  
1434 **Another Theban mayden dide right so;**  
 Another Theban maiden did exactly the same;  
1435 **For oon of Macidonye hadde hire oppressed,**  
 Because one of Macedonia had raped her,  
1436 **She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed.**  
 She with her death avenged her maidenhood.  
1437 **What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf,**  
 What shall I say of Nicerates' wife,  
1438 **That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf?**  
 That for a similar case deprived herself of her life?  
1439 **How trewe eek was to Alcebiades**  
 How true also to Alcebiades was  
1440 **His love, that rather for to dyen chees**  
 His lover, who chose rather to die   
1441 **Than for to suffre his body unburyed be.**  
 Than to allow his body to be unburied.  
1442 **Lo, which a wyf was Alceste," quod she.**  
 Lo, what a wife was Alcestis," she said.  
1443 **"What seith Omer of goode Penalopee?**  
 "What says Homer of good Penelope?  
1444 **Al Grece knoweth of hire chastitee.**  
 All Greece knows of her chastity.  
1445 **Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus,**  
 By God, of Laodomia is written thus,  
1446 **That whan at Troie was slayn Protheselaus,**  
 That when at Troy Protheselaus was slain,  
1447 **Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day.**  
 No longer would she live after his day (i.e., death).  
1448 **The same of noble Porcia telle I may;**  
 The same of noble Portia I can tell;  
1449 **Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyve,**  
 Without Brutus she could not live,  
1450 **To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive.**  
 To whom she had entirely given her heart.  
1451 **The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie**  
 The perfect wifehood of Arthemesie  
1452 **Honured is thurgh al the Barbarie.**  
 Honored is through all heathendom.  
1453 **O Teuta, queene, thy wyfly chastitee**  
 O Teuta, queen, thy wifely chastity  
1454 **To alle wyves may a mirour bee.**  
 To all wives may be a mirror.  
1455 **The same thyng I seye of Bilyea,**  
 The same thing I say of Bilia,  
1456 **Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria."**  
 Of Rhodogune, and also Valeria."

1457 **Thus pleyned Dorigen a day or tweye,**  
 Thus Dorigen complained a day or two,  
1458 **Purposynge evere that she wolde deye.**  
 Intending ever that she would die.  
1459 **But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght,**  
 But neverthelees, upon the third night,  
1460 **Hoom cam Arveragus, this worthy knyght,**  
 Home came Arveragus, this worthy knight,  
1461 **And asked hire why that she weep so soore;**  
 And asked her why she wept so bitterly;  
1462 **And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore.**  
 And she began to weep, ever the longer (she wept) the more (she wept) .   
1463 **"Allas," quod she, "that evere was I born!**  
 "Alas," said she, "that ever I was born!  
1464 **Thus have I seyd," quod she, "thus have I sworn" --**  
 Thus have I said," said she, "thus have I sworn" --  
1465 **And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore;**  
 And told him all as you have heard before;  
1466 **It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore.**  
 There is no need to repeat it to you any more.  
1467 **This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse**  
 This husband, with cheerful demeanor, in a friendly manner  
1468 **Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse:**  
 Answered and said as I shall tell you:  
1469 **"Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?"**  
 "Is there anything else, Dorigen, but this?"

1470 **"Nay, nay," quod she, "God helpe me so as wys!**  
 "Nay, nay," she said, "So help me God!  
1471 **This is to muche, and it were Goddes wille."**  
 This is too much, even if it were God's will."

1472 **"Ye, wyf," quod he, "lat slepen that is stille.**  
 "Yes, wife," he said, "let sleep that which is still.  
1473 **It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day.**  
 It may be well, perhaps, yet to day.  
1474 **Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay!**  
 You shall keep your pledged word, by my faith!  
1475 **For God so wisly have mercy upon me,**  
 For as surely as God may have mercy upon me,  
1476 **I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be**  
 I had well rather be stabbed   
1477 **For verray love which that I to yow have,**  
 For sheer love which I to have for you,  
1478 **But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save.**  
 Than you should (do anything but) keep and save your pledged word.  
1479 **Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe" --**  
 One's pldged word is the highest thing that one may keep" --  
1480 **But with that word he brast anon to wepe,**  
 But with that word he immediately burst into tears,  
1481 **And seyde, "I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,**  
 And said, "I you forbid, upon pain of death,  
1482 **That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,**  
 That never, while thy life or breath lasts,  
1483 **To no wight telle thou of this aventure --**  
 Thou tell any person about this adventure --  
1484 **As I may best, I wol my wo endure --**  
 As I best can, I will my woe endure --  
1485 **Ne make no contenance of hevynesse,**  
 Nor make any outward appearance of sadness,  
1486 **That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse."**  
 That folk may believe or guess anything harmful concerning you."

1487 **And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde:**  
 And forth he called a squire and a maid:  
1488 **"Gooth forth anon with Dorigen," he sayde,**  
 "Go forth right now with Dorigen," he said,  
1489 **"And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon."**  
 "And bring her to such a place quickly."  
1490 **They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon,**  
 They take their leave, and on their way they go,  
1491 **But they ne wiste why she thider wente.**  
 But they knew not why she thither went.  
1492 **He nolde no wight tellen his entente.**  
 He would no person tell his intention.

1493 **Paraventure an heep of yow, ywis,**  
 Perhaps a heap of you, indeed,  
1494 **Wol holden hym a lewed man in this**  
 Will consider him a foolish man in this  
1495 **That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie.**  
 That he will put his wife in jeopardy.  
1496 **Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie.**  
 Listen to the tale before you cry out about her.  
1497 **She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth;**  
 She may have better fortune than it seems to you;  
1498 **And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth.**  
 And when you have heard the tale, judge.

1499 **This squier, which that highte Aurelius,**  
 This squire, who was called Aurelius,  
1500 **On Dorigen that was so amorus,**  
 On Dorigen who was so amorous,  
1501 **Of aventure happed hire to meete**  
 By chance happened to meet her   
1502 **Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete,**  
 Amidst the town, right in the busiest street,  
1503 **As she was bown to goon the wey forth right**  
 As she was about to go the way directly  
1504 **Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight.**  
 Toward the garden where she had promised (to go).  
1505 **And he was to the gardyn-ward also;**  
 And he was going toward the garden also;  
1506 **For wel he spyed whan she wolde go**  
 For well he spied when she would go  
1507 **Out of hir hous to any maner place.**  
 Out of her house to any sort of place.  
1508 **But thus they mette, of aventure or grace,**  
 But thus they met, by chance or luck,  
1509 **And he saleweth hire with glad entente,**  
 And he salutes her cheerfully,  
1510 **And asked of hire whiderward she wente;**  
 And asked her where she went;  
1511 **And she answerde, half as she were mad,**  
 And she answered, as if she were half mad,  
1512 **"Unto the gardyn, as myn housbonde bad,**  
 "Unto the garden, as my husband commanded,  
1513 **My trouthe for to holde -- allas, allas!"**  
 My pledged word to keep -- alas, alas!"

1514 **Aurelius gan wondren on this cas,**  
 Aurelius began to wonder about this case,  
1515 **And in his herte hadde greet compassioun**  
 And in his heart had great compassion  
1516 **Of hire and of hire lamentacioun,**  
 Of her and of her lamentation,  
1517 **And of Arveragus, the worthy knyght,**  
 And of Arveragus, the worthy knight,  
1518 **That bad hire holden al that she had hight,**  
 Who commanded her to keep all that she had promised,  
1519 **So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe;**  
 So hateful to him it was that his wife should break her word;  
1520 **And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe,**  
 And in his heart he took great pity on this,  
1521 **Considerynge the beste on every syde,**  
 Considering what would be best in every respect,  
1522 **That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde**  
 That he would rather yet refrain from his desire  
1523 **Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse**  
 Than do so great a churlish despicable act  
1524 **Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse;**  
 Against generosity and all nobility of character;  
1525 **For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus:**  
 For which in few words he said thus:

1526 **"Madame, seyth to youre lord Arveragus**  
 "Madam, say to your lord Arveragus  
1527 **That sith I se his grete gentillesse**  
 That since I see his great graciousness  
1528 **To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse,**  
 To you, and also I see well your distress,  
1529 **That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe)**  
 That he would rather have shame (and that would be a pity)  
1530 **Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe,**  
 Than you should thus break your pledged word to me,  
1531 **I have wel levere evere to suffre wo**  
 I would well rather suffer woe always  
1532 **Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.**  
 Than I should break apart the love between you two.  
1533 **I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond**  
 I release you, madam, into your hand I return  
1534 **Quyt every serement and every bond**  
 Freely every pledge and every bond  
1535 **That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn,**  
 That you have made to me before now,  
1536 **Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.**  
 Since that time when you were born.  
1537 **My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve**  
 I pledge my word, I shall never reprove you   
1538 **Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve,**  
 For any promise, and here I take my leave,  
1539 **As of the treweste and the beste wyf**  
 Of the truest and the best wife  
1540 **That evere yet I knew in al my lyf.**  
 That ever yet I knew in all my life.  
1541 **But every wyf be war of hire biheeste!**  
 But let every wife beware of her promise!  
1542 **On Dorigen remembreth, atte leeste.**  
 Remember Dorigen, at the least.  
1543 **Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede**  
 Thus can a squire do a gentle deed  
1544 **As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede."**  
 As well as can a knight, without doubt."

1545 **She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare,**  
 She thanks him upon her bare knees,  
1546 **And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare,**  
 And home unto her husband she is gone,  
1547 **And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd;**  
 And told him all, as you have heard me say;  
1548 **And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd**  
 And be you sure, he was so well pleased  
1549 **That it were impossible me to wryte.**  
 That it would be impossible for me to write.  
1550 **What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte?**  
 Why should I write longer about this matter?

1551 **Arveragus and Dorigen his wyf**  
 Arveragus and Dorigen his wife  
1552 **In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf.**  
 In perfect bliss lead forth their life.  
1553 **Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene.**  
 Never again was there any anger between them.  
1554 **He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene,**  
 He cherishes her as though she were a queen,  
1555 **And she was to hym trewe for everemoore.**  
 And she was to him true for evermore.  
1556 **Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore.**  
 Of these two folk you get of me no more.

1557 **Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn,**  
 Aurelius, that all his expenditure has forfeited,  
1558 **Curseth the tyme that evere he was born:**  
 Curses the time that ever he was born:  
1559 **"Allas!" quod he. "Allas, that I bihighte**  
 "Alas!" said he. "Alas, that I promised  
1560 **Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte**  
 Of refined gold a thousand pounds of weight  
1561 **Unto this philosophre! How shal I do?**  
 Unto this scientist! What shall I do?  
1562 **I se namoore but that I am fordo.**  
 I see no more but that I am ruined.  
1563 **Myn heritage moot I nedes selle,**  
 My heritage I must of necessity sell,  
1564 **And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle**  
 And be a beggar; here I may not remain  
1565 **And shamen al my kynrede in this place,**  
 And shame all my kin in this place,  
1566 **But I of hym may gete bettre grace.**  
 Unless I can get a better grace (favor) from him.  
1567 **But nathelees, I wole of hym assaye,**  
 But nonetheless, I will try him, (offering)  
1568 **At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye,**  
 At specific days, year by year, to pay,  
1569 **And thanke hym of his grete curteisye.**  
 And thank him for his great courtesy.  
1570 **My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye."**  
 My word I will keep, I will not lie."

1571 **With herte soor he gooth unto his cofre,**  
 With a sore heart he goes unto his money box,  
1572 **And broghte gold unto this philosophre,**  
 And brought gold unto this scientist,  
1573 **The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse,**  
 The value of five hundred pounds, I guess,  
1574 **And hym bisecheth, of his gentillesse,**  
 And him beseeches, of his nobleness,  
1575 **To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt;**  
 To grant him days (on which to pay) the remnant;  
1576 **And seyde, "Maister, I dar wel make avaunt,**  
 And said, "Master, I dare well make boast,  
1577 **I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit.**  
 I failed never of my pledged word as yet.  
1578 **For sikerly my dette shal be quyt**  
 For surely my debt shall be repaid  
1579 **Towardes yow, howevere that I fare**  
 To you, even though I have  
1580 **To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare.**  
 To go a-begging in my bare tunic.  
1581 **But wolde ye vouche sauf, upon seuretee,**  
 But if you would agree, upon my promise,  
1582 **Two yeer or thre for to respiten me,**  
 To grant me a respite for two years or three,  
1583 **Thanne were I wel; for elles moot I selle**  
 Then I would be well; for otherwise I must sell  
1584 **Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle."**  
 My heritage; there is no more to tell."

1585 **This philosophre sobrely answerde,**  
 This scientist soberly answered,  
1586 **And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde:**  
 And said thus, when he heard these words:  
1587 **"Have I nat holden covenant unto thee?"**  
 "Have I not kept my agreement with thee?"

1588 **"Yes, certes, wel and trewely," quod he.**  
 "Yes, certainly, well and truly," said he.

1589 **"Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh?"**  
 "Hast thou not had thy lady as it pleases thee?"

1590 **"No, no," quod he, and sorwefully he siketh.**  
 "No, no," said he, and sorrowfully he sighs.

1591 **"What was the cause? Tel me if thou kan."**  
 "What was the cause? Tel me if thou know how."

1592 **Aurelius his tale anon bigan,**  
 Aurelius his tale immediately began,  
1593 **And tolde hym al, as ye han herd bifoore;**  
 And told him all, as you have heard before;  
1594 **It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore.**  
 There is no need to repeat it to you again.

1595 **He seide, "Arveragus, of gentillesse,**  
 He said, "Arveragus, of his nobility,  
1596 **Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse**  
 Had rather die in sorrow and in distress  
1597 **Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals."**  
 Than that his wife would be false of her pledged word."  
1598 **The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als;**  
 The sorrow of Dorigen he told him also;  
1599 **How looth hire was to been a wikked wyf,**  
 How loathfull to her it was to be a wicked wife,  
1600 **And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf,**  
 And that she would rather have lost her life that day,  
1601 **And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence,**  
 And that her word she swore through ignorance,  
1602 **She nevere erst hadde herde speke of apparence.**  
 She never before had heard tell of illusion.  
1603 **"That made me han of hire so greet pitee;**  
 "That made me have for her such great pity;  
1604 **And right as frely as he sente hire me,**  
 And right as freely as he sent her to me,  
1605 **As frely sente I hire to hym ageyn.**  
 As freely I sent her to him again.  
1606 **This al and som; ther is namoore to seyn."**  
 This is the entire matter; there is no more to say."

1607 **This philosophre answerde, "Leeve brother,**  
 This scientist answered, "Dear brother,  
1608 **Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother.**  
 Every one of you did nobly to the other.  
1609 **Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght;**  
 Thou art a squire, and he is a knight;  
1610 **But God forbede, for his blisful myght,**  
 But God forbid, for his blissful might,  
1611 **But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede**  
 That a clerk could not do a gentle deed   
1612 **As wel as any of yow, it is no drede!**  
 As well as any of you, it is no doubt!

1613 **Sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound,**  
 Sir, I release thee from thy (debt of a) thousand pounds,  
1614 **As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,**  
 As if thou right now were crept out of the ground,  
1615 **Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me.**  
 Nor never before now had known me.  
1616 **For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee**  
 For, sir, I will not take a penny from thee  
1617 **For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille.**  
 For all my craft, nor anything for my labor.  
1618 **Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille.**  
 Thou hast paid well for my living expenses.  
1619 **It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day!"**  
 It is enough, and farewell, have good day!"  
1620 **And took his hors, and forth he goth his way.**  
 And took his horse, and forth he goes his way.  
1621 **Lordynges, this question, thanne, wol I aske now,**  
 Gentlemen, this question, then, will I ask now,  
1622 **Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow?**  
 Which was the most free, as it seems to you?  
1623 **Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende.**  
 Now tell me, before you farther go.  
1624 **I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende.**  
 I know no more; my tale is at an end.

*Heere is ended the Frankeleyns Tale*