#  4.2 The Merchant's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue 

 



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### **The Merchant's Prologue**

*The Prologe of the Marchantes Tale*

1213 **"Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe**  
 "Weeping and wailing, grief and other sorrow  
1214 **I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe,"**  
 I know enough, on evenings and mornings,"  
1215 **Quod the Marchant, "and so doon other mo**  
 Said the Merchant, "and so do many others   
1216 **That wedded been. I trowe that it be so,**  
 Who are wedded. I believe that it is so,  
1217 **For wel I woot it fareth so with me.**  
 For well I know it fares so with me.  
1218 **I have a wyf, the worste that may be;**  
 I have a wife, the worst that can be;  
1219 **For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were,**  
 For though the fiend were married to her,  
1220 **She wolde hym overmacche, I dar wel swere.**  
 She would outmatch him, I dare well swear.  
1221 **What sholde I yow reherce in special**  
 Why should I tell you in detail  
1222 **Hir hye malice? She is a shrewe at al.**  
 Her high malice? She is a shrew in every way.  
1223 **Ther is a long and large difference**  
 There is a long and large difference  
1224 **Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience**  
 Between Griselda's great patience  
1225 **And of my wyf the passyng crueltee.**  
 And the extreme cruelty of my wife   
1226 **Were I unbounden, also moot I thee,**  
 Were I released (from marriage), so may I may prosper,  
1227 **I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare.**  
 I would never again come in the snare.  
1228 **We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care.**  
 We wedded men live in sorrow and care.  
1229 **Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde**  
 Try it whoso will, and he shall find  
1230 **That I seye sooth, by Seint Thomas of Ynde,**  
 That I say truth, by Saint Thomas of India,  
1231 **As for the moore part -- I sey nat alle.**  
 As for the greater part (majority) -- I say not all.  
1232 **God shilde that it sholde so bifalle!**  
 God prevent that it should so happen!

1233 **"A, goode sire Hoost, I have ywedded bee**  
 "A, good sir Host, I have been wedded   
1234 **Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee;**  
 These two months, and no more, by God;  
1235 **And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve**  
 And yet, I believe, he who all his life  
1236 **Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve**  
 Wifeless has been, though one would him stab  
1237 **Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere**  
 Unto the heart, could not in any way  
1238 **Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere**  
 Tell so much sorrow as I now here  
1239 **Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!"**  
 Could tell of my wife's cursedness!"

1240 **"Now," quod oure Hoost, "Marchaunt, so God yow blesse,**  
 "Now," said our Host, "Merchant, as God may you bless,  
1241 **Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art**  
 Since you know so much of that art  
1242 **Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part."**  
 Full heartily I pray you tell us part."

1243 **"Gladly," quod he, "but of myn owene soore,**  
 "Gladly," said he, "but of my own sorrow,  
1244 **For soory herte, I telle may namoore."**  
 For sorry heart, I can tell no more."

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## The Merchant's Tale 

*Heere bigynneth the Marchantes Tale*

1245 **Whilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye**  
 Once there was dwelling in Lombardy  
1246 **A worthy knyght, that born was of Pavye,**  
 A worthy knight, who was born in Pavia,  
1247 **In which he lyved in greet prosperitee;**  
 In which he lived in great prosperity;  
1248 **And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee,**  
 And sixty years a wifeless man was he,  
1249 **And folwed ay his bodily delyt**  
 And followed always his bodily desire  
1250 **On wommen, ther as was his appetyt,**  
 On women, where was his appetite,  
1251 **As doon thise fooles that been seculeer.**  
 As do these fools that are secular.  
1252 **And whan that he was passed sixty yeer,**  
 And when he was passed sixty years,  
1253 **Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage**  
 Were it for holiness or for dotage  
1254 **I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage**  
 I can not say, but such a great desire  
1255 **Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man**  
 Had this knight to be a wedded man  
1256 **That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan**  
 That day and night he does all he can  
1257 **T' espien where he myghte wedded be,**  
 To discover where he might wedded be,  
1258 **Preyinge oure Lord to graunten him that he**  
 Praying our Lord to grant him that he  
1259 **Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf**  
 Might once know of that blissful life  
1260 **That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf,**  
 That is between a husband and his wife,  
1261 **And for to lyve under that hooly boond**  
 And to live under that holy bond  
1262 **With which that first God man and womman bond.**  
 With which God first bound man and woman.  
1263 **"Noon oother lyf," seyde he, "is worth a bene,**  
 "No other life," said he, "is worth a bean,  
1264 **For wedlok is so esy and so clene,**  
 For wedlock is so easy and so pure,  
1265 **That in this world it is a paradys."**  
 That in this world it is a paradise."  
1266 **Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys.**  
 Thus said this old knight, who was so wise.

1267 **And certeinly, as sooth as God is kyng,**  
 And certainly, as truly as God is king,  
1268 **To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng,**  
 To take a wife it is a glorious thing,  
1269 **And namely whan a man is oold and hoor;**  
 And especially when a man is old and white-haired;  
1270 **Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor.**  
 Then is a wife the best part of his treasure.  
1271 **Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,**  
 Then should he take a young wife and a fair,  
1272 **On which he myghte engendren hym an heir,**  
 On which he might engender himself an heir,  
1273 **And lede his lyf in joye and in solas,**  
 And lead his life in joy and in pleasure,  
1274 **Where as thise bacheleris synge "allas,"**  
 Whereas these bachelors sing "alas,"  
1275 **Whan that they fynden any adversitee**  
 When they find any adversity  
1276 **In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee.**  
 In love, which is nothing but childish vanity.  
1277 **And trewely it sit wel to be so,**  
 And truly it is fitting to be thus,  
1278 **That bacheleris have often peyne and wo;**  
 That bachelors have often pain and woe;  
1279 **On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse**  
 On brittle ground they build, and insecurity  
1280 **They fynde whan they wene sikernesse.**  
 They find when they expect security.  
1281 **They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest,**  
 They live but as a bird or as a beast,  
1282 **In libertee and under noon arreest,**  
 In liberty and under no restraint,  
1283 **Ther as a wedded man in his estaat**  
 Whereas a wedded man in his estate  
1284 **Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat**  
 Lives a blissful and orderly life   
1285 **Under this yok of mariage ybounde.**  
 Bound under this yoke of marriage.  
1286 **Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde,**  
 Well may his heart in joy and bliss abound,  
1287 **For who kan be so buxom as a wyf?**  
 For who can be so obedient as a wife?  
1288 **Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf**  
 Who is so true, and also so eager   
1289 **To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make?**  
 To care for him, sick and well, as is his mate?  
1290 **For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake;**  
 For happiness or woe she will not forsake him;  
1291 **She nys nat wery hym to love and serve,**  
 She is not weary of loving and serving him,  
1292 **Though that he lye bedrede til he sterve.**  
 Though he lie bedridden until he dies.  
1293 **And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so,**  
 And yet some clerks say it is not so,  
1294 **Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho.**  
 Of which that Theofrastus is one of those.  
1295 **What force though Theofraste liste lye?**  
 What does it matter though Theofrastus wants to lie?  
1296 **"Ne take no wyf," quod he, "for housbondrye,**  
 "Take no wife," said he, "for managing the household,  
1297 **As for to spare in houshold thy dispence.**  
 As to economize in thy household expenditures.  
1298 **A trewe servant dooth moore diligence**  
 A true servant does more diligence  
1299 **Thy good to kepe than thyn owene wyf,**  
 To guard thy goods than thine own wife,  
1300 **For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf.**  
 For she will claim half part all her life.  
1301 **And if thou be syk, so God me save,**  
 And if thou be sick, as God may save me,  
1302 **Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave,**  
 Thy real friends, or a true servant,  
1303 **Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay**  
 Will take care of thee better than she that waits always  
1304 **After thy good and hath doon many a day.**  
 To inherit thy goods and has done so many a day.  
1305 **And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold**  
 And if thou take a wife unto thy household  
1306 **Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold."**  
 Full easily canst thou be a cuckold."  
1307 **This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse,**  
 This opinion, and a hundred things worse,  
1308 **Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse!**  
 Writes this man, may God his bones curse!  
1309 **But take no kep of al swich vanytee;**  
 But take no heed of all such foolishness;  
1310 **Deffie Theofraste, and herke me.**  
 Defy Theofrastus, and listen to me.

1311 **A wyf is Goddes yifte verraily;**  
 A wife is God's gift truly;  
1312 **Alle othere manere yiftes hardily,**  
 All other sorts of gifts certainly,  
1313 **As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune,**  
 Such as lands, rents, pasture, or right to use common land,  
1314 **Or moebles -- alle been yiftes of Fortune**  
 Or personal possessions -- all are gifts of Fortune  
1315 **That passen as a shadwe upon a wal.**  
 That pass like a shadow upon a wall.  
1316 **But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal:**  
 But doubt not, if I shall speak plainly:  
1317 **A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous endure,**  
 A wife will last, and in thy house endure,  
1318 **Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure.**  
 Well longer than thou will wish, indeed.

1319 **Mariage is a ful greet sacrement.**  
 Marriage is a full great sacrament.  
1320 **He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent;**  
 He who has no wife, I consider him ruined;  
1321 **He lyveth helplees and al desolat --**  
 He lives helpless and all desolate --  
1322 **I speke of folk in seculer estaat.**  
 I speak of folk in secular life.   
1323 **And herke why -- I sey nat this for noght --**  
 And hearken why -- I say not this for nothing --  
1324 **That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght.**  
 That woman is created for man's help.  
1325 **The hye God, whan he hadde Adam maked,**  
 The high God, when he had made Adam,  
1326 **And saugh him al allone, bely-naked,**  
 And saw him all alone, stark naked,  
1327 **God of his grete goodnesse seyde than,**  
 God of his great goodness said then,  
1328 **"Lat us now make an helpe unto this man**  
 "Let us now make a helper for this man  
1329 **Lyk to hymself"; and thanne he made him Eve.**  
 Like to himself"; and then he made him Eve.  
1330 **Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve,**  
 Here can you see, and hereby can you prove,  
1331 **That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort,**  
 That wife is man's help and his comfort,  
1332 **His paradys terrestre, and his disport.**  
 His earthly paradise, and his source of consolation.  
1333 **So buxom and so vertuous is she,**  
 So obedient and so virtuous is she,  
1334 **They moste nedes lyve in unitee.**  
 They must necessarily live in unity.  
1335 **O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse,**  
 One flesh they are, and one flesh, as I guess,  
1336 **Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse.**  
 Has but one heart, in prosperity and in distress.

1337 **A wyf! a, Seinte Marie, benedicite!**  
 A wife! A, Saint Mary, bless me!  
1338 **How myghte a man han any adversitee**  
 How could a man have any adversity  
1339 **That hath a wyf? Certes, I kan nat seye.**  
 That has a wife? Certainly, I can not say.  
1340 **The blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye**  
 The bliss that is betwixt them two  
1341 **Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke.**  
 There can no tongue tell, nor heart think.  
1342 **If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke;**  
 If he be poor, she helps him to work;  
1343 **She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel;**  
 She keeps his goods, and wastes not a bit;  
1344 **Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel;**  
 All that her husband desires, well pleases her;  
1345 **She seith nat ones "nay," whan he seith "ye."**  
 She says not once "nay," when he says "yea."  
1346 **"Do this," seith he; "Al redy, sire," seith she.**  
 "Do this," says he; "All ready, sir," says she.  
1347 **O blisful ordre of wedlok precious,**  
 O blissful order of wedlock precious,  
1348 **Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous,**  
 Thou art so merry, and also so virtuous,  
1349 **And so commended and appreved eek**  
 And so commended and approved also  
1350 **That every man that halt hym worth a leek**  
 That every man that considers himself worth a leek  
1351 **Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf**  
 Upon his bare knees ought all his life  
1352 **Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf,**  
 To thank his God that has sent him a wife,  
1353 **Or elles preye to God hym for to sende**  
 Or else pray to God to send him   
1354 **A wyf to laste unto his lyves ende.**  
 A wife to last unto his life's end.  
1355 **For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse;**  
 For then his life is set in security;  
1356 **He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse,**  
 He may not be deceived, as I guess,  
1357 **So that he werke after his wyves reed.**  
 Providing that he work according to his wife's advice.  
1358 **Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed,**  
 Then may he boldly bear up his head,  
1359 **They been so trewe and therwithal so wyse;**  
 They are so true and therewithal so wise;  
1360 **For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse,**  
 For which, if thou will act like a wise man,  
1361 **Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede.**  
 Do always as women will advise thee.

1362 **Lo, how that Jacob, as thise clerkes rede,**  
 Lo, how Jacob, as these clerks tell,  
1363 **By good conseil of his mooder Rebekke,**  
 By good counsel of his mother Rebecca,  
1364 **Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke,**  
 Bound the kid's skin about his neck,  
1365 **For which his fadres benyson he wan.**  
 For which his father's blessing he won.

1366 **Lo Judith, as the storie eek telle kan,**  
 Lo Judith, as the story also can tell,  
1367 **By wys conseil she Goddes peple kepte,**  
 By wise counsel she God's people kept,  
1368 **And slow hym Olofernus, whil he slepte.**  
 And slew that Holofernes, while he slept.

1369 **Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she**  
 Lo Abigail, by good counsel how she  
1370 **Saved hir housbonde Nabal whan that he**  
 Saved her husband Nabal when he  
1371 **Sholde han be slayn; and looke, Ester also**  
 Should have been slain; and look, Esther also  
1372 **By good conseil delyvered out of wo**  
 By good counsel delivered out of woe  
1373 **The peple of God, and made hym Mardochee**  
 The people of God, and made that same Mordecai  
1374 **Of Assuere enhaunced for to be.**  
 To be exalted by Ahasuerus.

1375 **Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf,**  
 There is no thing superior (in degree of virtue),  
1376 **As seith Senek, above an humble wyf.**  
 As says Seneca, above a humble wife.

1377 **Suffre thy wyves tonge, as Catoun bit;**  
 Submit to thy wife's tongue, as Cato bids;  
1378 **She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it,**  
 She shall command, and thou shalt submit to it,  
1379 **And yet she wole obeye of curteisye.**  
 And yet she will (seem to) obey by way of courtesy.  
1380 **A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye;**  
 A wife is keeper of thy household;  
1381 **Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe,**  
 Well may the sick man bewail and weep,  
1382 **Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe.**  
 Where there is no wife to keep the house.  
1383 **I warne thee, if wisely thou wolt wirche,**  
 I warn thee, if wisely thou wilt act,  
1384 **Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loved his chirche.**  
 Love well thy wife, as Christ loved his church.  
1385 **If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf;**  
 If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wife;  
1386 **No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf**  
 No man hates his flesh, but in his life  
1387 **He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee**  
 He nurtures it, and therefore I bid thee  
1388 **Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee.**  
 Cherish thy wife, or thou shalt never prosper.  
1389 **Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye,**  
 Husband and wife, however much men may jest or play,  
1390 **Of worldly folk holden the siker weye;**  
 Of worldly folk hold the secure way;  
1391 **They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde,**  
 They are so knit together no harm can there befall,  
1392 **And namely upon the wyves syde.**  
 And especially upon the wife's side.  
1393 **For which this Januarie, of whom I tolde,**  
 For which this January, of whom I told,  
1394 **Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde,**  
 Considered has, in his old age,  
1395 **The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete,**  
 The pleasing life, the virtuous quiet,  
1396 **That is in mariage hony-sweete,**  
 That is in honey-sweet marriage,  
1397 **And for his freendes on a day he sente,**  
 And for his friends on a day he sent,  
1398 **To tellen hem th' effect of his entente.**  
 To tell them the substance of his intention.

1399 **With face sad his tale he hath hem toold.**  
 With serious face his tale he has them told.  
1400 **He seyde, "Freendes, I am hoor and oold,**  
 He said, "Friends, I am white-haired and old,  
1401 **And almoost, God woot, on my pittes brynke;**  
 And almost, God knows, on my grave's brink;  
1402 **Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke.**  
 Upon my soul somewhat must I think.  
1403 **I have my body folily despended;**  
 I have my body foolishly wasted;  
1404 **Blessed be God that it shal been amended!**  
 Blessed be God that it shall be amended!  
1405 **For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man,**  
 For I will be, certainly, a wedded man,  
1406 **And that anoon in al the haste I kan.**  
 And that at once in all the haste I can (do it).  
1407 **Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age,**  
 Unto some maid fair and tender of age,  
1408 **I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage**  
 I pray yow, prepare for my marriage  
1409 **Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde;**  
 Right away, for I will not delay;  
1410 **And I wol fonde t' espien, on my syde,**  
 And I will attempt to discover, on my side,  
1411 **To whom I may be wedded hastily.**  
 To whom I may be wedded hastily.  
1412 **But forasmuche as ye been mo than I,**  
 But forasmuch as you are more than I,  
1413 **Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen**  
 You shall rather such a thing discover  
1414 **Than I, and where me best were to allyen.**  
 Than I, and where it would be best to ally myself (marry).

1415 **"But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere,**  
 "But one thing warn I you, my friends dear,  
1416 **I wol noon oold wyf han in no manere.**  
 I will no old wife have in any way.  
1417 **She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn;**  
 She shall not pass twenty years, certainly;  
1418 **Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde I have fayn.**  
 Old fish and young flesh would I gladly have.  
1419 **Bet is," quod he, "a pyk than a pykerel,**  
 Better is," said he, "a pike than a pickerel (young pike),  
1420 **And bet than old boef is the tendre veel.**  
 And better than old beef is the tender veal.  
1421 **I wol no womman thritty yeer of age;**  
 I want no woman thirty years of age;  
1422 **It is but bene-straw and greet forage.**  
 It is but dry bean-stalks and coarse fodder.  
1423 **And eek thise olde wydwes, God it woot,**  
 And also these old widows, God it knows,  
1424 **They konne so muchel craft on Wades boot,**  
 They know so much trickery on Wade's boat,  
1425 **So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste,**  
 Do so much harm, when they please,  
1426 **That with hem sholde I nevere lyve in reste.**  
 That with them should I never live in rest.  
1427 **For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis;**  
 For various schools make clever clerks;  
1428 **Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.**  
 A woman of many schools is half a clerk.  
1429 **But certeynly, a yong thyng may men gye,**  
 But certainly, one can guide a young thing,  
1430 **Right as men may warm wex with handes plye.**  
 Just as one can mold warm wax with hands.  
1431 **Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause,**  
 Therefore I tell you plainly, in brief,  
1432 **I wol noon oold wyf han right for this cause.**  
 I will no old wife have at all for this reason.  
1433 **For if so were I hadde swich myschaunce**  
 For if it so were that I had such bad luck  
1434 **That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce,**  
 That I in her could have no pleasure,  
1435 **Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye**  
 Then I should lead my life in adultery  
1436 **And go streight to the devel whan I dye.**  
 And go straight to the devil when I die.  
1437 **Ne children sholde I none upon hire geten;**  
 Nor any children should I upon her beget;  
1438 **Yet were me levere houndes had me eten**  
 Yet I would rather hounds had eaten me   
1439 **Than that myn heritage sholde falle**  
 Than that my heritage should fall  
1440 **In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle.**  
 In a stranger's hand, and this I tell you all.  
1441 **I dote nat; I woot the cause why**  
 I am not in my dotage; I know the cause why  
1442 **Men sholde wedde, and forthermoore woot I**  
 One should wed, and furthermore know I  
1443 **Ther speketh many a man of mariage**  
 There speaks many a man of marriage  
1444 **That woot namoore of it than woot my page**  
 Who knows no more of it than my servant boy knows   
1445 **For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf.**  
 For which causes man should take a wife.  
1446 **If he ne may nat lyven chaast his lyf,**  
 If he can not live his life chastely,  
1447 **Take hym a wyf with greet devocioun,**  
 Let him take him a wife with great devotion,  
1448 **By cause of leveful procreacioun**  
 For the sake of lawful procreation  
1449 **Of children to th' onour of God above,**  
 Of children to the honor of God above,  
1450 **And nat oonly for paramour or love;**  
 And not only for sexual passion or love;  
1451 **And for they sholde leccherye eschue,**  
 And so that they should abstain from lechery,  
1452 **And yelde hir dette whan that it is due;**  
 And yield their marital debt when it is due;  
1453 **Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother**  
 Or so that each of them should help the other  
1454 **In meschief, as a suster shal the brother,**  
 In distress, as a sister shall the brother,  
1455 **And lyve in chastitee ful holily.**  
 And live in celibacy full piously.  
1456 **But sires, by youre leve, that am nat I.**  
 But sirs, by your leave, that am not I.  
1457 **For -- God be thanked! -- I dar make avaunt**  
 For -- God be thanked! -- I dare make boast  
1458 **I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt**  
 I feel my limbs strong and sufficient  
1459 **To do al that a man bilongeth to;**  
 To do all that is proper to a man;  
1460 **I woot myselven best what I may do.**  
 I know myself best what I can do.  
1461 **Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree**  
 Though I be white-haired, I fare as does a tree  
1462 **That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen bee;**  
 That blossoms before the fruit is grown;  
1463 **And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed.**  
 And a blossom-filled tree is neither dry nor dead.  
1464 **I feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed;**  
 I feel me nowhere white-haired but on my head;  
1465 **Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene**  
 My heart and all my limbs are as green  
1466 **As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene.**  
 As laurel through the year is to be seen.  
1467 **And syn that ye han herd al myn entente,**  
 And since you have heard all my intention,  
1468 **I prey yow to my wyl ye wole assente."**  
 I pray you to my will you will assent."

1469 **Diverse men diversely hym tolde**  
 Diverse men diversely him told  
1470 **Of mariage manye ensamples olde.**  
 Of marriage many old examples.  
1471 **Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn,**  
 Somme blamed it, some praised it, certainly,  
1472 **But atte laste, shortly for to seyn,**  
 But at the last, shortly to say,  
1473 **As al day falleth altercacioun**  
 As every day altercation occurs  
1474 **Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun,**  
 Between friends in disputation,  
1475 **Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two,**  
 There befell a strife betwixt his two brothers,  
1476 **Of whiche that oon was cleped Placebo;**  
 Of whom that one was called Placebo;  
1477 **Justinus soothly called was that oother.**  
 Justinus truly was called that other.

1478 **Placebo seyde, "O Januarie, brother,**  
 Placebo said, "O January, brother,  
1479 **Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere,**  
 Full little need had you, my lord so dear,  
1480 **Conseil to axe of any that is heere,**  
 To ask counsel of any that is here,  
1481 **But that ye been so ful of sapience**  
 Except that you are so full of wisdom  
1482 **That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence,**  
 That it does not please you, for your high prudence,  
1483 **To weyven fro the word of Salomon.**  
 To deviate from the word of Solomon.  
1484 **This word seyde he unto us everychon:**  
 This word said he unto us every one:  
1485 **`Wirk alle thyng by conseil,' thus seyde he,**  
 `Do everything according to good advice,' thus said he,  
1486 **`And thanne shaltow nat repente thee.'**  
 `And then shalt thou not repent.'  
1487 **But though that Salomon spak swich a word,**  
 But though Solomon spoke such a word,  
1488 **Myn owene deere brother and my lord,**  
 My own dear brother and my lord,  
1489 **So wysly God my soule brynge at reste,**  
 As surely as God my soul may bring to rest,  
1490 **I holde youre owene conseil is the beste.**  
 I hold your own counsel is the best.  
1491 **For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf:**  
 For, brother mine, of me take this advice:  
1492 **I have now been a court-man al my lyf,**  
 I have now been a courtier all my life,  
1493 **And God it woot, though I unworthy be,**  
 And God it knows, though I am unworthy,  
1494 **I have stonden in ful greet degree**  
 I have stood in very high degree  
1495 **Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat;**  
 Among lords of very high rank;  
1496 **Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat.**  
 Yet had I never with any of them disagreement.  
1497 **I nevere hem contraried, trewely;**  
 I never contradicted them, truly;  
1498 **I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I.**  
 I know well that my lord knows more than I.  
1499 **What that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable;**  
 What he says, I consider it unshakably true;  
1500 **I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable.**  
 I say the same, or else something similar.  
1501 **A ful greet fool is any conseillour**  
 A full great fool is any counselor  
1502 **That serveth any lord of heigh honour,**  
 That serves any lord of high honor,  
1503 **That dar presume, or elles thenken it,**  
 That dares presume, or else think it,  
1504 **That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit.**  
 That his counsel should surpass his lord's judgment.  
1505 **Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay!**  
 Nay, lords are no fools, by my faith!  
1506 **Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day**  
 You have yourselves showed here to-day  
1507 **So heigh sentence, so holily and weel,**  
 Such high good judgment, so piously and well,  
1508 **That I consente and conferme everydeel**  
 That I consent and confirm every bit  
1509 **Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun.**  
 All your words and your opinion.  
1510 **By God, ther nys no man in al this toun,**  
 By God, there is no man in all this town,  
1511 **Ne in Ytaille, that koude bet han sayd!**  
 Nor in Italy, that could have spoken better!  
1512 **Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd.**  
 Christ considers himself by this counsel very well pleased.  
1513 **And trewely, it is an heigh corage**  
 And truly, it is a bold act  
1514 **Of any man that stapen is in age**  
 By any man that is advanced in age  
1515 **To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn,**  
 To take a young wife; by my father's kin,  
1516 **Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn!**  
 Your heart hangs on a jolly pin (is very merry)!  
1517 **Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste,**  
 Do now in this matter exactly as you please,  
1518 **For finally I holde it for the beste."**  
 For finally I consider it for the best."

1519 **Justinus, that ay stille sat and herde,**  
 Justinus, that always still sat and listened,  
1520 **Right in this wise he to Placebo answerde:**  
 Right in this manner he to Placebo answered:  
1521 **"Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye,**  
 "Now, brother mine, be patient, I pray,  
1522 **Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye.**  
 Since you have spoken, and hear what I say.  
1523 **Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse,**  
 Seneca, amongst other words wise,  
1524 **Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse**  
 Says that a man ought very carefully consider  
1525 **To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel.**  
 To whom he gives his land or his moveable possessions.  
1526 **And syn I oghte avyse me right wel**  
 And since I ought to consider very carefully  
1527 **To whom I yeve my good awey fro me,**  
 To whom I give my goods away from me,  
1528 **Wel muchel moore I oghte avysed be**  
 Well much more I ought to consider  
1529 **To whom I yeve my body for alwey.**  
 To whom I give my body for always.  
1530 **I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley**  
 I warn you well, it is no child's play  
1531 **To take a wyf withouten avysement.**  
 To take a wife without deliberation.  
1532 **Men moste enquere -- this is myn assent --**  
 One must inquire -- this is my opinion --  
1533 **Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe,**  
 Whether she be wise, or sober, or given to drink,  
1534 **Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe,**  
 Or proud, or else otherwise a shrew,  
1535 **A chidestere, or wastour of thy good,**  
 A scold, or waster of thy goods,  
1536 **Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood.**  
 Or rich, or poor, or else man-crazy.  
1537 **Al be it so that no man fynden shal**  
 Although it is so that no man shall find   
1538 **Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al,**  
 Any in this world that is perfect in everything,  
1539 **Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude devyse;**  
 No man, nor beast, such as men could imagine;  
1540 **But nathelees it oghte ynough suffise**  
 But nevertheless it ought enough suffice  
1541 **With any wyf, if so were that she hadde**  
 With any wife, (to learn) if it so were that she had  
1542 **Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde;**  
 More good personal qualities than her bad vices;  
1543 **And al this axeth leyser for t' enquere.**  
 And all this requires leisure to find out.  
1544 **For, God it woot, I have wept many a teere**  
 For, God it knows, I have wept many a tear  
1545 **Ful pryvely, syn I have had a wyf.**  
 Full privately, since I have had a wife.  
1546 **Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf,**  
 Praise whosoever will a wedded man's life,  
1547 **Certein I fynde in it but cost and care**  
 Certainly I find in it nothing but cost and care  
1548 **And observances, of alle blisses bare.**  
 And duties, of all blisses bare.  
1549 **And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute,**  
 And yet, God knows, my neighbors about,  
1550 **And namely of wommen many a route,**  
 And especially many a crowd of women,  
1551 **Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf,**  
 Say that I have the most steadfast wife,  
1552 **And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf;**  
 And also the meekest one that bears life;  
1553 **But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho.**  
 But I know best where my shoe pinches me.  
1554 **Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do;**  
 You may, for me, do just as you like;  
1555 **Avyseth yow -- ye been a man of age --**  
 Consider -- you are a man of advanced age --  
1556 **How that ye entren into mariage,**  
 How that you enter into marriage,  
1557 **And namely with a yong wyf and a fair.**  
 And especially with a young wife and a fair.  
1558 **By hym that made water, erthe, and air,**  
 By him that made water, earth, and air,  
1559 **The yongeste man that is in al this route**  
 The youngest man that is in all this company  
1560 **Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute**  
 Is busy enough to bring it about  
1561 **To han his wyf allone. Trusteth me,**  
 To have his wife alone. Trust me,  
1562 **Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre --**  
 You shall not please her fully years three --  
1563 **This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce.**  
 This is to say, to do her full pleasure.  
1564 **A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce.**  
 A wife requires constant attention.  
1565 **I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd."**  
 I pray you that you be not displeased."

1566 **"Wel," quod this Januarie, "and hastow ysayd?**  
 "Well," said this January, "and hast thou spoken?  
1567 **Straw for thy Senek, and for thy proverbes!**  
 Straw for thy Seneca, and for thy proverbs!  
1568 **I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes**  
 I would not give a bread basket full of herbs  
1569 **Of scole-termes. Wyser men than thow,**  
 For academic talk. Wiser men than thou,  
1570 **As thou hast herd, assenteden right now**  
 As thou hast heard, assented right now  
1571 **To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye?"**  
 To my purpose. Placebo, what say you?"

1572 **"I seye it is a cursed man," quod he,**  
 "I say it is a cursed man," said he,  
1573 **"That letteth matrimoigne, sikerly."**  
 "That hinders matrimony, certainly."  
1574 **And with that word they rysen sodeynly,**  
 And with that word they rise immediately,  
1575 **And been assented fully that he sholde**  
 And are agreed fully that he should  
1576 **Be wedded whanne hym liste and where he wolde.**  
 Be wedded when he pleased and where he would.

1577 **Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse**  
 Exaggerated imagination and constant thought  
1578 **Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse**  
 From day to day became fixed in the soul   
1579 **Of Januarie aboute his mariage.**  
 Of January concerning his marriage.  
1580 **Many fair shap and many a fair visage**  
 Many a fair shape and many a fair visage  
1581 **Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght,**  
 There passes through his heart night after night,  
1582 **As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght,**  
 As if one took a mirror, polished bright,  
1583 **And sette it in a commune market-place,**  
 And set it in a common market-place,  
1584 **Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace**  
 Then should he see full many a figure pace  
1585 **By his mirour; and in the same wyse**  
 By his mirror; and in the same manner  
1586 **Gan Januarie inwith his thoght devyse**  
 Did January within his thought imagine  
1587 **Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde.**  
 About maidens which dwelt nearby him.  
1588 **He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde.**  
 He knew not on which he might settle.  
1589 **For if that oon have beaute in hir face,**  
 For if that one have beauty in her face,  
1590 **Another stant so in the peples grace**  
 Another stands so in the people's good opinion  
1591 **For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee**  
 For her seriousness and her goodness  
1592 **That of the peple grettest voys hath she;**  
 That of the people greatest praise has she;  
1593 **And somme were riche and hadden badde name.**  
 And some were rich and had a bad reputation.  
1594 **But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game,**  
 But nevertheless, between earnestness and joking (in every way),  
1595 **He atte laste apoynted hym on oon,**  
 He at the last decided upon one,  
1596 **And leet alle othere from his herte goon,**  
 And let all others from his heart go,  
1597 **And chees hire of his owene auctoritee;**  
 And chose her by his own authority;  
1598 **For love is blynd alday, and may nat see.**  
 For love is blind always, and can not see.  
1599 **And whan that he was in his bed ybroght,**  
 And when he was in his bed brought,  
1600 **He purtreyed in his herte and in his thoght**  
 He portrayed in his heart and in his thought  
1601 **Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre,**  
 Her fresh beauty and her tender age,  
1602 **Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklendre,**  
 Her small waist, her arms long and slender,  
1603 **Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,**  
 Her wise self-control, her nobility,  
1604 **Hir wommanly berynge, and hire sadnesse.**  
 Her womanly bearing, and her seriousness.  
1605 **And whan that he on hire was condescended,**  
 And when he on her had decided,  
1606 **Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended.**  
 He thought his choice could not be bettered.  
1607 **For whan that he hymself concluded hadde,**  
 For when he himself had decided,  
1608 **Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde**  
 He thought each other man's wit so bad  
1609 **That inpossible it were to repplye**  
 That it would be impossible to reply  
1610 **Agayn his choys; this was his fantasye.**  
 Against his choice; this was his fantasy.  
1611 **His freendes sente he to, at his instaunce,**  
 His friends sent he to, at his request,  
1612 **And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce,**  
 And prayed them to do him that pleasure,  
1613 **That hastily they wolden to hym come;**  
 That hastily they would come to him;  
1614 **He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some.**  
 He would abridge their labor, one and all.  
1615 **Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde;**  
 He needs no more to travel about;  
1616 **He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde.**  
 He had decided on whom he would settle.

1617 **Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone,**  
 Placebo came, and also his friends quickly,  
1618 **And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone,**  
 And first of all he asked them all a favor,  
1619 **That noon of hem none argumentes make**  
 That none of them make any arguments   
1620 **Agayn the purpos which that he hath take,**  
 Against the purpose which he has taken,  
1621 **Which purpos was plesant to God, seyde he,**  
 Which purpose was pleasing to God, said he,  
1622 **And verray ground of his prosperitee.**  
 And true ground of his prosperity.

1623 **He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun,**  
 He said there was a maiden in the town,  
1624 **Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun,**  
 Who for beauty had great renown,  
1625 **Al were it so she were of smal degree;**  
 Even though she was of low rank;  
1626 **Suffiseth hym hir yowthe and hir beautee.**  
 Her youth and her beauty are enough for him .  
1627 **Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf,**  
 Which maid, he said, he would have as his wife,  
1628 **To lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf;**  
 To lead in ease and holiness his life;  
1629 **And thanked God that he myghte han hire al,**  
 And thanked God that he might have her entirely,  
1630 **That no wight his blisse parten shal.**  
 So that no one shall share his bliss.  
1631 **And preyed hem to laboure in this nede,**  
 And prayed them to labor in this need,  
1632 **And shapen that he faille nat to spede;**  
 And arrange that he fail not to succeed;  
1633 **For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese.**  
 For then, he said, his spirit was at ease.  
1634 **"Thanne is," quod he, "no thyng may me displese,**  
 "Then there is," said he, "nothing that can displease me,  
1635 **Save o thyng priketh in my conscience,**  
 Save one thing sticks in my conscience,  
1636 **The which I wol reherce in youre presence.**  
 Which I will tell in your presence.

1637 **"I have," quod he, "herd seyd, ful yoore ago,**  
 "I have," said he, "heard said, full long ago,  
1638 **Ther may no man han parfite blisses two --**  
 There can no man have perfect blisses two --  
1639 **This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene.**  
 This is to say, in earth and also in heaven.  
1640 **For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene,**  
 For though he keep him from the seven sins,  
1641 **And eek from every branche of thilke tree,**  
 And also from every branch of that same tree (of sin),  
1642 **Yet is ther so parfit felicitee**  
 Yet is there such perfect felicity  
1643 **And so greet ese and lust in mariage**  
 And such great ease and pleasure in marriage  
1644 **That evere I am agast now in myn age**  
 That ever I am frightened now in my old age  
1645 **That I shal lede now so myrie a lyf,**  
 That I shall lead now so merry a life,  
1646 **So delicat, withouten wo and stryf,**  
 So pleasing, without woe and strife,  
1647 **That I shal have myn hevene in erthe heere.**  
 That I shall have my heaven here in earth.  
1648 **For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere**  
 For since that true heaven is bought so dear  
1649 **With tribulacion and greet penaunce,**  
 With tribulation and great penance,  
1650 **How sholde I thanne, that lyve in swich plesaunce**  
 How should I then, who live in such pleasure  
1651 **As alle wedded men doon with hire wyvys,**  
 As all wedded men do with her wives,  
1652 **Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyve ys?**  
 Come to the bliss where Christ eternally lives?  
1653 **This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye,**  
 This is my dread, and you, my brethren two,  
1654 **Assoilleth me this question, I preye."**  
 Resolve this problem, I pray."

1655 **Justinus, which that hated his folye,**  
 Justinus, who hated his folly,  
1656 **Answerde anon right in his japerye;**  
 Answered straight away in his mockery;  
1657 **And for he wolde his longe tale abregge,**  
 And because he would his long tale abridge,  
1658 **He wolde noon auctoritee allegge,**  
 He would cite no authority,  
1659 **But seyde, "Sire, so ther be noon obstacle**  
 But said, "Sir, providing there be no obstacle  
1660 **Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle**  
 Other than this, God by his high miracle  
1661 **And of his mercy may so for yow wirche**  
 And of his mercy may so for you work  
1662 **That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche,**  
 That, before you have your rite of holy church (last sacrament),  
1663 **Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf,**  
 You may repent of the wedded man's life,  
1664 **In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf.**  
 In which you say there is no woe nor strife.  
1665 **And elles, God forbede but he sente**  
 And else, God forbid that he should not send  
1666 **A wedded man hym grace to repente**  
 A wedded man grace to repent himself   
1667 **Wel ofte rather than a sengle man!**  
 Well more often than a single man!  
1668 **And therfore, sire -- the beste reed I kan --**  
 And therefore, sir -- the best advice I know --  
1669 **Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie,**  
 Despair you not, but have in your memory,  
1670 **Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie!**  
 Perhaps she may be your purgatory!  
1671 **She may be Goddes meene and Goddes whippe;**  
 She may be God's instrument and God's whip;  
1672 **Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe**  
 Then shall your soul up to heaven skip  
1673 **Swifter than dooth an arwe out of a bowe.**  
 Swifter than does an arrow out of a bow.  
1674 **I hope to God, herafter shul ye knowe**  
 I hope to God, hereafter shall you know  
1675 **That ther nys no so greet felicitee**  
 That there is not so great felicity  
1676 **In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee,**  
 In marriage, nor never more shall be,  
1677 **That yow shal lette of youre savacion,**  
 That shall keep you from your salvation,  
1678 **So that ye use, as skile is and reson,**  
 Providing that you use, as is proper and reasonable,  
1679 **The lustes of youre wyf attemprely,**  
 The pleasures of your wife moderately,  
1680 **And that ye plese hire nat to amorously,**  
 And that you please her not too amorously,  
1681 **And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne.**  
 And that you keep yourself also from other sin.  
1682 **My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne.**  
 My tale is done, for my wit is thin.  
1683 **Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere,**  
 Be not afraid of this, my brother dear,  
1684 **But lat us waden out of this mateere.**  
 But let us wade out of this matter.  
1685 **The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde,**  
 The Wife of Bath, if you have understood her,  
1686 **Of mariage, which we have on honde,**  
 Of marriage, which we have in hand,  
1687 **Declared hath ful wel in litel space.**  
 Declared has full well in little space.  
1688 **Fareth now wel. God have yow in his grace."**  
 Now farewell. God have you in his grace."

1689 **And with this word this Justyn and his brother**  
 And with this word this Justin and his brother  
1690 **Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother.**  
 Have taken their leave, and each of them of other.  
1691 **For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be,**  
 For when they saw that it must necessarily be,  
1692 **They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee,**  
 They worked so, by sly and wise negotiation,  
1693 **That she, this mayden which that Mayus highte,**  
 That she, this maiden who May was called,  
1694 **As hastily as evere that she myghte**  
 As hastily as ever that she might  
1695 **Shal wedded be unto this Januarie.**  
 Shall wedded be unto this January.  
1696 **I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie,**  
 I believe it would be too long to delay you,  
1697 **If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond**  
 If I told you of every legal document and bond  
1698 **By which that she was feffed in his lond,**  
 By which she was endowed with his land,  
1699 **Or for to herknen of hir riche array.**  
 Or to hear of her rich array.  
1700 **But finally ycomen is the day**  
 But finally the day is come  
1701 **That to the chirche bothe be they went**  
 That to the church both are they went  
1702 **For to receyve the hooly sacrement.**  
 To receive the holy sacrament (of marriage).  
1703 **Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nekke,**  
 Forth comes the priest, with stole about his neck,  
1704 **And bad hire be lyk Sarra and Rebekke**  
 And commanded her to be like Sarah and Rebecca  
1705 **In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage;**  
 In wisdom and in faithfulness of marriage;  
1706 **And seyde his orisons, as is usage,**  
 And said his prayers, as is the usage,  
1707 **And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse,**  
 And makes the sign of the cross over them, and prayed God should them bless,  
1708 **And made al siker ynogh with hoolynesse.**  
 And made all secure enough with holiness.

1709 **Thus been they wedded with solempnitee,**  
 Thus are they wedded with solemnity,  
1710 **And at the feeste sitteth he and she**  
 And at the feast sits he and she  
1711 **With othere worthy folk upon the deys.**  
 With other worthy folk upon the dais.  
1712 **Al ful of joye and blisse is the paleys,**  
 All full of joy and bliss is the palace,  
1713 **And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille,**  
 And full of instruments and of foods,  
1714 **The mooste deyntevous of al Ytaille.**  
 The most delicious of all Italy.  
1715 **Biforn hem stoode instrumentz of swich soun**  
 Before them stood instruments of such sound  
1716 **That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun,**  
 That Orpheus, nor Amphioun of Thebes,  
1717 **Ne maden nevere swich a melodye.**  
 Made never such a melody.  
1718 **At every cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye**  
 At every course then came loud minstrelsy  
1719 **That nevere tromped Joab for to heere,**  
 That never trumpeted Joab to be heard,  
1720 **Nor he Theodomas, yet half so cleere**  
 Nor that Theodomas, yet half so clear  
1721 **At Thebes whan the citee was in doute.**  
 At Thebes when the city was in danger.  
1722 **Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute,**  
 Bacchus pours them the wine all around,  
1723 **And Venus laugheth upon every wight,**  
 And Venus laughs upon every person,  
1724 **For Januarie was bicome hir knyght**  
 For January had become her knight  
1725 **And wolde bothe assayen his corage**  
 And would test his spirit both   
1726 **In libertee, and eek in mariage;**  
 In liberty, and also in marriage;  
1727 **And with hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute**  
 And with her torch in her hand about  
1728 **Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route.**  
 Dances before the bride and all the company.  
1729 **And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this,**  
 And certainly, I dare right well say this,  
1730 **Ymeneus, that god of weddyng is,**  
 Hymen, that god of wedding is,  
1731 **Saugh nevere his lyf so myrie a wedded man.**  
 Saw never in his life so merry a wedded man.  
1732 **Hoold thou thy pees, thou poete Marcian,**  
 Hold thou thy peace, thou poet Martianus Capella,  
1733 **That writest us that ilke weddyng murie**  
 Who writes for us that same wedding merry  
1734 **Of hire Philologie and hym Mercurie,**  
 Of her, Philology, and him, Mercury,  
1735 **And of the songes that the Muses songe!**  
 And of the songs that the Muses sang!  
1736 **To smal is bothe thy penne, and eek thy tonge,**  
 Too small is both thy pen, and also thy tongue,  
1737 **For to descryven of this mariage.**  
 To describe this marriage.  
1738 **Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age,**  
 When tender youth has wedded stooping age,  
1739 **Ther is swich myrthe that it may nat be writen.**  
 There is such mirth that it can not be written.  
1740 **Assayeth it youreself; thanne may ye witen**  
 Try it yourself; then can you know  
1741 **If that I lye or noon in this matiere.**  
 If I lie or not in this matter.

1742 **Mayus, that sit with so benyngne a chiere,**  
 May, that sits with so benign a manner,  
1743 **Hire to biholde it semed fayerye.**  
 Her to behold it seemed an enchantment.  
1744 **Queene Ester looked nevere with swich an ye**  
 Queen Esther looked never with such an eye  
1745 **On Assuer, so meke a look hath she.**  
 On Ahasuerus, so meek a look has she.  
1746 **I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee.**  
 I can not describe to you all her beauty.  
1747 **But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may,**  
 But thus much of her beauty tell I can,  
1748 **That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May,**  
 That she was like the bright morning of May,  
1749 **Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce.**  
 Filled with all beauty and delight.

1750 **This Januarie is ravysshed in a traunce**  
 This January is ravished in a trance  
1751 **At every tyme he looked on hir face;**  
 At every time he looked on her face;  
1752 **But in his herte he gan hire to manace**  
 But in his heart he began to menace her   
1753 **That he that nyght in armes wolde hire streyne**  
 That he that night in arms would her strain  
1754 **Harder than evere Parys dide Eleyne.**  
 Harder than ever Paris did Helen of Troy.  
1755 **But nathelees yet hadde he greet pitee**  
 But nevertheless yet had he great pity  
1756 **That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he,**  
 That that same night he must offend her,  
1757 **And thoughte, "Allas! O tendre creature,**  
 And thought, "Alas! O tender creature,  
1758 **Now wolde God ye myghte wel endure**  
 Now would God you might well endure  
1759 **Al my corage, it is so sharp and keene!**  
 All my desire, it is so sharp and keen!  
1760 **I am agast ye shul it nat susteene.**  
 I am afraid you shall not be able to endure it.  
1761 **But God forbede that I dide al my myght!**  
 But God forbid that I did all my might!  
1762 **Now wolde God that it were woxen nyght,**  
 Now would God that it were become night,  
1763 **And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo.**  
 And that the night would last evermore.  
1764 **I wolde that al this peple were ago."**  
 I would that all this people were gone."  
1765 **And finally he dooth al his labour,**  
 And finally he takes all possible pains,  
1766 **As he best myghte, savynge his honour,**  
 As he best could, so far as good manners allowed,   
1767 **To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse.**  
 To hasten them from the dinner in subtle manner.

1768 **The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse;**  
 The time came that it was reasonable to rise;  
1769 **And after that men daunce and drynken faste,**  
 And after that men dance and drink deeply,  
1770 **And spices al aboute the hous they caste,**  
 And spiced cakes all about the house they passed,  
1771 **And ful of joye and blisse is every man --**  
 And full of joy and bliss is every man --  
1772 **Al but a squyer, highte Damyan,**  
 All but a squire, called Damian,  
1773 **Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day.**  
 Who carved before the knight full many a day.  
1774 **He was so ravysshed on his lady May**  
 He was so ravished on his lady May  
1775 **That for the verray peyne he was ny wood.**  
 That for the very pain he was nearly crazy.  
1776 **Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood,**  
 Almost he fainted and swooned where he stood,  
1777 **So soore hath Venus hurt hym with hire brond,**  
 So sorely has Venus hurt him with her torch,  
1778 **As that she bar it daunsynge in hire hond;**  
 As she carried it dancing in her hand;  
1779 **And to his bed he wente hym hastily.**  
 And to his bed he went hastily.  
1780 **Namoore of hym at this tyme speke I,**  
 No more of him at this time speak I,  
1781 **But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne**  
 But there I let him weep enough and complain  
1782 **Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne.**  
 Until fresh May will rue on his pain.

1783 **O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth!**  
 O perilous fire, that in the bedstraw breeds!  
1784 **O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth!**  
 O enemy in one's household, that offers his service!  
1785 **O servant traytour, false hoomly hewe,**  
 O servant traitor, false domestic servant,  
1786 **Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe,**  
 Like to the sly untrue adder in one's bosom,  
1787 **God shilde us alle from youre aqueyntaunce!**  
 God protect us all from your acquaintance!  
1788 **O Januarie, dronken in plesaunce**  
 O January, drunk with pleasure  
1789 **In mariage, se how thy Damyan,**  
 In marriage, see how thy Damian,  
1790 **Thyn owene squier and thy borne man,**  
 Thine own squire and thy servant from birth,  
1791 **Entendeth for to do thee vileynye.**  
 Intends to do thee villainy.  
1792 **God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo t' espye!**  
 God grant thee thy foe in thy household to espy!  
1793 **For in this world nys worse pestilence**  
 For in this world is no worse pestilence  
1794 **Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence.**  
 Than a foe in thy household always in thy presence.

1795 **Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne;**  
 The sun has completed his daily journey;  
1796 **No lenger may the body of hym sojurne**  
 No longer can its body sojourn  
1797 **On th' orisonte, as in that latitude.**  
 On the horizon, in that latitude.  
1798 **Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude,**  
 Night with its mantle, that is dark and rude,  
1799 **Gan oversprede the hemysperie aboute;**  
 Did overspread the hemisphere about;  
1800 **For which departed is this lusty route**  
 For which departed is this cheerful crowd  
1801 **Fro Januarie, with thank on every syde.**  
 From January, with thanks on all sides.  
1802 **Hoom to hir houses lustily they ryde,**  
 Home to their houses cheerfully they ride,  
1803 **Where as they doon hir thynges as hem leste,**  
 Where they attend to their affairs as they pleased  
1804 **And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste.**  
 And when they see their time, go to rest.  
1805 **Soone after that, this hastif Januarie**  
 Soon after that, this hasty January  
1806 **Wolde go to bedde; he wolde no lenger tarye.**  
 Would go to bed; he would no longer tarry.  
1807 **He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage**  
 He drinks mulled wine, claret, and strong white wine  
1808 **Of spices hoote t' encreessen his corage;**  
 With hot spices to increase his desire;  
1809 **And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn,**  
 And many a very fine aphrodisiac has he,  
1810 **Swiche as the cursed monk, daun Constantyn,**  
 Such as the cursed monk, Dan Constantine,  
1811 **Hath writen in his book De Coitu;**  
 Has written in his book "Concerning Intercourse";  
1812 **To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu.**  
 To eat them all he was not at all averse.  
1813 **And to his privee freendes thus seyde he:**  
 And to his private friends thus said he:  
1814 **"For Goddes love, as soone as it may be,**  
 "For God's love, as soon as it can be done,  
1815 **Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse."**  
 Have all this house emptied in courteous manner."  
1816 **And they han doon right as he wol devyse.**  
 And they have done right as he will command.  
1817 **Men drynken and the travers drawe anon.**  
 Men drink and draw the curtain (dividing the room) straightway.  
1818 **The bryde was broght abedde as stille as stoon;**  
 The bride was brought to bed as still as stone;  
1819 **And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed,**  
 And when the bed was by the priest blessed,  
1820 **Out of the chambre hath every wight hym dressed,**  
 Out of the chamber has every one gone,  
1821 **And Januarie hath faste in armes take**  
 And January has fast in arms taken  
1822 **His fresshe May, his paradys, his make.**  
 His fresh May, his paradise, his mate.  
1823 **He lulleth hire; he kisseth hire ful ofte;**  
 He lulls her; he kisses her full often;  
1824 **With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte,**  
 With thick bristles of his beard rough,  
1825 **Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere --**  
 Like to the skin of a shark, sharp as brier --  
1826 **For he was shave al newe in his manere --**  
 For he was all freshly shaved in his fashion --  
1827 **He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face,**  
 He rubs her about her tender face,  
1828 **And seyde thus, "Allas! I moot trespace**  
 And said thus, "Alas! I must do injury  
1829 **To yow, my spouse, and yow greetly offende**  
 To you, my spouse, and you greatly offend  
1830 **Er tyme come that I wil doun descende.**  
 Before the time comes that I will down descend.  
1831 **But nathelees, considereth this," quod he,**  
 But nevertheless, consider this," said he,  
1832 **"Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be,**  
 "There is no workman, whosoever he be,  
1833 **That may bothe werke wel and hastily;**  
 That can work both well and hastily;  
1834 **This wol be doon at leyser parfitly.**  
 This will be done at leisure perfectly.  
1835 **It is no fors how longe that we pleye;**  
 It does not matter how long we play;  
1836 **In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye,**  
 In true wedlock we two are coupled,  
1837 **And blessed be the yok that we been inne,**  
 And blessed be the yoke that we are in,  
1838 **For in oure actes we mowe do no synne.**  
 For in our acts we can do no sin.  
1839 **A man may do no synne with his wyf,**  
 A man can do no sin with his wife,  
1840 **Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf,**  
 Nor hurt himself with his own knife,  
1841 **For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe."**  
 For we have leave by the law to enjoy ourselves."  
1842 **Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe;**  
 Thus labors he until the day dawned;  
1843 **And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree,**  
 And then he takes a bit of bread soaked in fine claret,  
1844 **And upright in his bed thanne sitteth he,**  
 And upright in his bed then sits he,  
1845 **And after that he sang ful loude and cleere,**  
 And after that he sang full loud and clear,  
1846 **And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere.**  
 And kissed his wife, and acted lecherously.  
1847 **He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye,**  
 He was frisky as a colt, full of wantonness,  
1848 **And ful of jargon as a flekked pye.**  
 And full of chatter as a spotted magpie.  
1849 **The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh**  
 The slack skin about his neck shakes  
1850 **Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh.**  
 While he sang, so chants he and croaks.  
1851 **But God woot what that May thoughte in hir herte,**  
 But God knows what May thought in her heart,  
1852 **Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sherte,**  
 When she saw him sitting up in his shirt,  
1853 **In his nyght-cappe, and with his nekke lene;**  
 In his night-cap, and with his lean neck;  
1854 **She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene.**  
 She rates his playing not worth a bean.  
1855 **Thanne seide he thus, "My reste wol I take;**  
 Then said he thus, "My rest will I take;  
1856 **Now day is come, I may no lenger wake."**  
 Now day is come, I can no longer remain awake."  
1857 **And doun he leyde his heed and sleep til pryme.**  
 And down he laid his head and slept until nine.  
1858 **And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme,**  
 And afterwards, when he saw his time,  
1859 **Up ryseth Januarie; but fresshe May**  
 Up rises January; but fresh May  
1860 **Heeld hire chambre unto the fourthe day,**  
 Held her chamber until the fourth day,  
1861 **As usage is of wyves for the beste.**  
 As is the best usage of wives.  
1862 **For every labour somtyme moot han reste,**  
 For every labor sometime must have rest,  
1863 **Or elles longe may he nat endure;**  
 Or else long can he not endure;  
1864 **This is to seyn, no lyves creature,**  
 This is to say, no living creature,  
1865 **Be it of fyssh, or bryd, or beest, or man.**  
 Be it of fish, or bird, or beast, or man.

1866 **Now wol I speke of woful Damyan,**  
 Now will I speak of woeful Damian,  
1867 **That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere;**  
 That languishes for love, as you shall hear;  
1868 **Therfore I speke to hym in this manere:**  
 Therefore I speak to him in this manner:  
1869 **I seye, "O sely Damyan, allas!**  
 I say, "O innocent Damian, alas!  
1870 **Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas.**  
 Answer to my question, in this case.  
1871 **How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe May,**  
 How shalt thou to thy lady, fresh May,  
1872 **Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye nay.**  
 Tell thy woe? She will always say nay.  
1873 **Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye.**  
 Also if thou speak, she will thy woe reveal.  
1874 **God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye."**  
 God be thy help! I can no better say."

1875 **This sike Damyan in Venus fyr**  
 This sick Damian in Venus' fire  
1876 **So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr,**  
 So burns that he dies for desire,  
1877 **For which he putte his lyf in aventure.**  
 For which he put his life at risk.  
1878 **No lenger myghte he in this wise endure,**  
 No longer could he in this way endure,  
1879 **But prively a penner gan he borwe,**  
 But secretly a writing set he borrowed,  
1880 **And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe,**  
 And in a letter wrote he all his sorrow,  
1881 **In manere of a compleynt or a lay,**  
 In the manner of a poetic lament or a song,  
1882 **Unto his faire, fresshe lady May;**  
 Unto his fair, fresh lady May;  
1883 **And in a purs of sylk heng on his sherte**  
 And in a purse of silk which hung on his shirt  
1884 **He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte.**  
 He has put it, and laid it at his heart.

1885 **The moone, that at noon was thilke day**  
 The moon, that was at noon that same day  
1886 **That Januarie hath wedded fresshe May**  
 That January has wedded fresh May  
1887 **In two of Tawr, was into Cancre glyden;**  
 In two degrees of Taurus, was into Cancer glided;  
1888 **So longe hath Mayus in hir chambre abyden,**  
 So long has May in her chamber abided,  
1889 **As custume is unto thise nobles alle.**  
 As custom is unto these nobles all.  
1890 **A bryde shal nat eten in the halle**  
 A bride shall not eat in the hall  
1891 **Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste,**  
 Until four days, or three days at the least,  
1892 **Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste.**  
 Are passed; then let her go to feast.  
1893 **The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon,**  
 The fourth day completed from noon to noon,  
1894 **Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon,**  
 When the high mass was done,  
1895 **In halle sit this Januarie and May,**  
 In hall this January and May sit,  
1896 **As fressh as is the brighte someres day.**  
 As fresh as is the bright summer's day.  
1897 **And so bifel how that this goode man**  
 And so befell that this good man  
1898 **Remembred hym upon this Damyan,**  
 Remembered this Damian,  
1899 **And seyde, "Seynte Marie! how may this be,**  
 And said, "Saint Mary! how can this be,  
1900 **That Damyan entendeth nat to me?**  
 That Damian does not attend on me?  
1901 **Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde?"**  
 Is he always sick, or how can this happen?"  
1902 **His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde,**  
 His squires, who stood there beside,  
1903 **Excused hym by cause of his siknesse,**  
 Excused him because of his sickness,  
1904 **Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse;**  
 Which prevented him from doing his duties;  
1905 **Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye.**  
 No other cause might make him tarry.

1906 **"That me forthynketh," quod this Januarie,**  
 "I am sorry about that," said this January,  
1907 **"He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe!**  
 "He is a gentle squire, by my troth!  
1908 **If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe.**  
 If he died, it would be a harm and a pity.  
1909 **He is as wys, discreet, and as secree**  
 He is as wise, discreet, and as circumspect  
1910 **As any man I woot of his degree,**  
 As any man I know of his rank,  
1911 **And therto manly, and eek servysable,**  
 And moreover manly, and also willing to serve,  
1912 **And for to been a thrifty man right able.**  
 And to be a worthy man right able.  
1913 **But after mete, as soone as evere I may,**  
 But after dinner, as soon as ever I can,  
1914 **I wol myself visite hym, and eek May,**  
 I will myself visit him, and also May,  
1915 **To doon hym al the confort that I kan."**  
 To do him all the comfort that I can."  
1916 **And for that word hym blessed every man,**  
 And for that word every man blessed him,  
1917 **That of his bountee and his gentillesse**  
 That of his goodness and his graciousness   
1918 **He wolde so conforten in siknesse**  
 He would so comfort in sickness  
1919 **His squier, for it was a gentil dede.**  
 His squire, for it was a gentle deed.  
1920 **"Dame," quod this Januarie, "taak good hede,**  
 "My Lady," said this January, "take good heed,  
1921 **At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle,**  
 At after-dinner you with all your women,  
1922 **Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle,**  
 When you have been in chamber out of this hall,  
1923 **That alle ye go se this Damyan.**  
 That all you go see this Damian.  
1924 **Dooth hym disport -- he is a gentil man;**  
 Cheer him up -- he is a gentle man;  
1925 **And telleth hym that I wol hym visite,**  
 And tell him that I will him visit,  
1926 **Have I no thyng but rested me a lite;**  
 When I have done nothing but rested myself a little;  
1927 **And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde**  
 And hurry yourself, for I will wait  
1928 **Til that ye slepe faste by my syde."**  
 Until you sleep fast by my side."  
1929 **And with that word he gan to hym to calle**  
 And with that word he began to him to call  
1930 **A squier, that was marchal of his halle,**  
 A squire, that was master of ceremonies of his hall,  
1931 **And tolde hym certeyn thynges, what he wolde.**  
 And told him certain things, what he wanted.

1932 **This fresshe May hath streight hir wey yholde**  
 This fresh May has held straight her way  
1933 **With alle hir wommen unto Damyan.**  
 With all her women unto Damian.  
1934 **Doun by his beddes syde sit she than,**  
 Down by his bed's side sits she then,  
1935 **Confortynge hym as goodly as she may.**  
 Comforting him as graciously as she can.  
1936 **This Damyan, whan that his tyme he say,**  
 This Damian, when he saw his opportunity,  
1937 **In secree wise his purs and eek his bille,**  
 In a secret way his purse and also his letter,  
1938 **In which that he ywriten hadde his wille,**  
 In which he had written his desire,  
1939 **Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore,**  
 Has put into her hand, without (doing) more,  
1940 **Save that he siketh wonder depe and soore,**  
 Save that he sighs wonderfully deep and sore,  
1941 **And softely to hire right thus seyde he:**  
 And softly to her right thus said he:  
1942 **"Mercy! And that ye nat discovere me,**  
 "Mercy! And (I ask) that you not discover me,  
1943 **For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd."**  
 For I am dead if this thing be known."  
1944 **This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd**  
 This purse has she within her bosom hidden  
1945 **And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me.**  
 And went her way; you get no more from me.  
1946 **But unto Januarie ycomen is she,**  
 But unto January come is she,  
1947 **That on his beddes syde sit ful softe.**  
 Who on his bed's side sits full softly.  
1948 **He taketh hire, and kisseth hire ful ofte,**  
 He takes her, and kisses her full often,  
1949 **And leyde hym doun to slepe, and that anon.**  
 And laid him down to sleep, and that straightway.  
1950 **She feyned hire as that she moste gon**  
 She pretended that she must go  
1951 **Ther as ye woot that every wight moot neede;**  
 Where you know that every person must go by necessity;  
1952 **And whan she of this bille hath taken heede,**  
 And when she of this letter has taken heed,  
1953 **She rente it al to cloutes atte laste,**  
 She tore it all to pieces at the last,  
1954 **And in the pryvee softely it caste.**  
 And in the privy softly threw it.

1955 **Who studieth now but faire fresshe May?**  
 Who is perplexed now but fair fresh May?  
1956 **Adoun by olde Januarie she lay,**  
 Down by old January she lay,  
1957 **That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked.**  
 Who slept until the cough has him awaked.  
1958 **Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked;**  
 Straightway he prayed her to strip herself all naked;  
1959 **He wolde of hire, he seyde, han som plesaunce;**  
 He would of her, he said, have some pleasure;  
1960 **He seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce,**  
 He said her clothes got in his way,  
1961 **And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth.**  
 And she obeys, whether she wants to or not.  
1962 **But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth,**  
 But lest that prudish folk be with me wroth,  
1963 **How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle,**  
 How he worked, I dare not tell to you,  
1964 **Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle.**  
 Or whether she thought it paradise or hell.  
1965 **But heere I lete hem werken in hir wyse**  
 But here I let them work in their way  
1966 **Til evensong rong and that they moste aryse.**  
 Until bell for evening prayers rang and they had to arise.

1967 **Were it by destynee or by aventure,**  
 Were it by destiny or by chance,  
1968 **Were it by influence or by nature,**  
 Were it by astronomical influence or by nature,  
1969 **Or constellacion, that in swich estaat**  
 Or configuration of the stars, that in such a state  
1970 **The hevene stood that tyme fortunaat**  
 The heaven stood that time that it fortunate  
1971 **Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes --**  
 Was to present a petition concerning Venus' works --  
1972 **For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes --**  
 For every thing has time, as say these clerks --  
1973 **To any womman for to gete hire love,**  
 To any woman to get her love,  
1974 **I kan nat seye; but grete God above,**  
 I can not say; but great God above,  
1975 **That knoweth that noon act is causelees,**  
 That knows that no act is without cause,  
1976 **He deme of al, for I wole holde my pees.**  
 May he judge of all, for I will hold my peace.  
1977 **But sooth is this, how that this fresshe May**  
 But truth is this, how this fresh May  
1978 **Hath take swich impression that day**  
 Has taken such impression that day  
1979 **Of pitee of this sike Damyan**  
 Of pity for this sick Damian  
1980 **That from hire herte she ne dryve kan**  
 That from her heart she can not drive  
1981 **The remembrance for to doon hym ese.**  
 The thought to comfort him.  
1982 **"Certeyn," thoghte she, "whom that this thyng displese**  
 "Certainly," thought she, "whomever this thing may displease  
1983 **I rekke noght, for heere I hym assure**  
 I care not, for here I him assure  
1984 **To love hym best of any creature,**  
 To love him best of any creature,  
1985 **Though he namoore hadde than his sherte."**  
 Though he had no more than his shirt."  
1986 **Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte!**  
 Lo, pity runs soon in gentle heart!

1987 **Heere may ye se how excellent franchise**  
 Here can you see what excellent generosity  
1988 **In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse.**  
 In women is, when they carefully deliberate a matter.  
1989 **Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon**  
 Some tyrant is, as there be many a one  
1990 **That hath an herte as hard as any stoon,**  
 Who has a heart as hard as any stone,  
1991 **Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place**  
 Who would have let him die in the place  
1992 **Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace,**  
 Well rather than have granted him her grace,  
1993 **And hem rejoysen in hire crueel pryde,**  
 And rejoice in her cruel pride,  
1994 **And rekke nat to been an homycide.**  
 And care not to be a homicide.

1995 **This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee,**  
 This gentle May, filled full of pity,  
1996 **Right of hire hand a lettre made she,**  
 In her own hand a letter made she,  
1997 **In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace.**  
 In which she grants him her true grace.  
1998 **Ther lakketh noght oonly but day and place**  
 There lacks nothing but only day and place  
1999 **Wher that she myghte unto his lust suffise,**  
 Where she might satisfy his desires,  
2000 **For it shal be right as he wole devyse.**  
 For it shall be right as he will devise.  
2001 **And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon a day**  
 And when she saw her time, upon one day  
2002 **To visite this Damyan gooth May,**  
 To visit this Damian goes May,  
2003 **And sotilly this lettre doun she threste**  
 And craftily this letter down she thrust  
2004 **Under his pilwe; rede it if hym leste.**  
 Under his pillow; let him read it if he wishes.  
2005 **She taketh hym by the hand and harde hym twiste**  
 She takes him by the hand and hard him squeezes  
2006 **So secrely that no wight of it wiste,**  
 So secretly that no one knew of it,  
2007 **And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente**  
 And bade him be all healthy, and forth she went  
2008 **To Januarie, whan that he for hire sente.**  
 To January, when he for her sent.

2009 **Up riseth Damyan the nexte morwe;**  
 Up rises Damian the next morning;  
2010 **Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe.**  
 All passed was his sickness and his sorrow.  
2011 **He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh,**  
 He combs himself, he preens and neatens himself,  
2012 **He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh,**  
 He does all that his lady desires and pleases,  
2013 **And eek to Januarie he gooth as lowe**  
 And also to January he goes as humbly  
2014 **As evere dide a dogge for the bowe.**  
 As ever did a dog trained to hunt with an archer.  
2015 **He is so plesant unto every man**  
 He is so pleasant unto every man  
2016 **(For craft is al, whoso that do it kan)**  
 (For craft is all, whoever can do it)  
2017 **That every wight is fayn to speke hym good,**  
 That every one is eager to speak good of him,  
2018 **And fully in his lady grace he stood.**  
 And fully in his lady's favor he stood.  
2019 **Thus lete I Damyan aboute his nede,**  
 Thus leave I Damian going about his business,  
2020 **And in my tale forth I wol procede.**  
 And in my tale forth I will proceed.

2021 **Somme clerkes holden that felicitee**  
 Some clerks maintain that felicity  
2022 **Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he,**  
 Consists of delight, and therefore certainly he,  
2023 **This noble Januarie, with al his myght,**  
 This noble January, with all his might,  
2024 **In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght,**  
 In a respectable manner, as is suitable to a knight,  
2025 **Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously.**  
 Arranged for himself to live full voluptuously.  
2026 **His housynge, his array, as honestly**  
 His lodging, his clothing, as suitably  
2027 **To his degree was maked as a kynges.**  
 To his degree was made as is a king's.  
2028 **Amonges othere of his honeste thynges,**  
 Amongst others of his suitable things,  
2029 **He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon;**  
 He made a garden, walled all with stone;  
2030 **So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon.**  
 So fair a garden know I anywhere none.  
2031 **For, out of doute, I verraily suppose**  
 For, beyond doubt, I truly suppose  
2032 **That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose**  
 That he who wrote the Romance of the Rose  
2033 **Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse;**  
 Could not the beauty of it well describe;  
2034 **Ne Priapus ne myghte nat suffise,**  
 Nor Priapus could not be adequate,  
2035 **Though he be god of gardyns, for to telle**  
 Though he be god of gardens, to tell  
2036 **The beautee of the gardyn and the welle**  
 The beauty of the garden and the well  
2037 **That stood under a laurer alwey grene.**  
 That stood under a laurel always green.  
2038 **Ful ofte tyme he Pluto and his queene,**  
 Very often he, Pluto, and his queen,  
2039 **Proserpina, and al hire fayerye,**  
 Proserpine, and all their fairies,  
2040 **Disporten hem and maken melodye**  
 Amused themselves and made melody  
2041 **Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde.**  
 About that well, and danced, as men told.

2042 **This noble knyght, this Januarie the olde,**  
 This noble knight, this January the old,  
2043 **Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye,**  
 Such pleasure has in it to walk and play,  
2044 **That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye**  
 That he will no one allow to bear the key  
2045 **Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket**  
 Save he himself; for of the small gate  
2046 **He baar alwey of silver a clyket,**  
 He bore always of silver a latchkey,  
2047 **With which, whan that hym leste, he it unshette.**  
 With which, when he desired, he unlocked it.  
2048 **And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette**  
 And when he would pay his wife her marital debt  
2049 **In somer seson, thider wolde he go,**  
 In summer season, thither would he go,  
2050 **And May his wyf, and no wight but they two;**  
 And May his wife, and no one but those two;  
2051 **And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde,**  
 And things which that were not done abed,  
2052 **He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde.**  
 He in the garden performed and accomplished them.  
2053 **And in this wyse, many a murye day,**  
 And in this way, many a merry day,  
2054 **Lyved this Januarie and fresshe May.**  
 Lived this January and fresh May.  
2055 **But worldly joye may nat alwey dure**  
 But worldly joy can not always endure  
2056 **To Januarie, ne to no creature.**  
 To January, nor to any creature.

2057 **O sodeyn hap! O thou Fortune unstable!**  
 O sudden chance! O thou Fortune unstable!  
2058 **Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable,**  
 Similar to the scorpion so deceitful,  
2059 **That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge;**  
 That flatter with thy head when thou wilt sting;  
2060 **Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge.**  
 Thy tail is death, through thy poisoning.  
2061 **O brotil joye! O sweete venym queynte!**  
 O brittle joy! O sweet venom deceitful!  
2062 **O monstre, that so subtilly kanst peynte**  
 O monster, that so subtly can disguise  
2063 **Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse,**  
 Thy gifts under appearance of steadfastness,  
2064 **That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse!**  
 That thou deceivest both high and low (everyone)!  
2065 **Why hastow Januarie thus deceyved,**  
 Why hast thou January thus deceived,  
2066 **That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyved?**  
 Thou who had received him for thy closest friend ?  
2067 **And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his yen,**  
 And now thou hast deprived him of both his eyes,  
2068 **For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen.**  
 For sorrow of which he desires to die.

2069 **Allas, this noble Januarie free,**  
 Alas, this noble generous January,  
2070 **Amydde his lust and his prosperitee,**  
 Amid his pleasure and his prosperity,  
2071 **Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly.**  
 Is grown blind, and that all suddenly.  
2072 **He wepeth and he wayleth pitously;**  
 He weeps and he wails pitifully;  
2073 **And therwithal the fyr of jalousie,**  
 And with all this the fire of jealousy,  
2074 **Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye,**  
 Lest that his wife should fall in some folly,  
2075 **So brente his herte that he wolde fayn**  
 So burned his heart that he sincerely wished   
2076 **That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn.**  
 That some man both her and him had slain.  
2077 **For neither after his deeth nor in his lyf**  
 For neither after his death nor in his life  
2078 **Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf,**  
 Would he that she were neither lover nor wife,  
2079 **But evere lyve as wydwe in clothes blake,**  
 But ever live as widow in clothes black,  
2080 **Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make.**  
 Solitary as the turtledove that lost has her mate.  
2081 **But atte laste, after a month or tweye,**  
 But at the last, after a month or two,  
2082 **His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye;**  
 His sorrow abated, truth to say;  
2083 **For whan he wiste it may noon oother be,**  
 For when he knew it can not be otherwise,  
2084 **He paciently took his adversitee,**  
 He patiently accepted his adversity,  
2085 **Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon**  
 Except that, no doubt, he can not refrain  
2086 **That he nas jalous everemoore in oon;**  
 From being more jealous all the time;  
2087 **Which jalousye it was so outrageous**  
 Which jealousy was so excessive  
2088 **That neither in halle, n' yn noon oother hous,**  
 That neither in hall, nor in any other house,  
2089 **Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo,**  
 Nor in any other place, no longer,  
2090 **He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go,**  
 He would suffer her to ride or walk,  
2091 **But if that he had hond on hire alway;**  
 Unless he had a hand always on her;  
2092 **For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May,**  
 For which full often weeps fresh May,  
2093 **That loveth Damyan so benyngnely**  
 Who loves Damian so graciously  
2094 **That she moot outher dyen sodeynly**  
 That she must either die suddenly  
2095 **Or elles she moot han hym as hir leste.**  
 Or else she must have him as she wishes.  
2096 **She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste.**  
 She expects that her heart would burst.

2097 **Upon that oother syde Damyan**  
 Upon that other side Damian  
2098 **Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man**  
 Is become the most sorrowful man  
2099 **That evere was, for neither nyght ne day**  
 That ever was, for neither night nor day  
2100 **Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May,**  
 Could he speak one word to fresh May,  
2101 **As to his purpos, of no swich mateere,**  
 Regarding his purpose, of any such matter,  
2102 **But if that Januarie moste it heere,**  
 Without January's hearing it,  
2103 **That hadde an hand upon hire everemo.**  
 Who had a hand upon her always.  
2104 **But nathelees, by writyng to and fro**  
 But nevertheless, by writing to and fro  
2105 **And privee signes wiste he what she mente,**  
 And secret signs he knew what she meant,  
2106 **And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.**  
 And she knew also the aim of his plan.

2107 **O Januarie, what myghte it thee availle,**  
 O January, what might it thee avail,  
2108 **Thogh thou myghtest se as fer as shippes saille?**  
 Though thou could see as far as ships sail?  
2109 **For as good is blynd deceyved be**  
 For it is as good to be deceived when blind  
2110 **As to be deceyved whan a man may se.**  
 As to be deceived when a man can see.

2111 **Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondred yen,**  
 Lo, Argus, who had a hundred eyes,  
2112 **For al that evere he koude poure or pryen,**  
 For all that ever he could peer or pry,  
2113 **Yet was he blent, and, God woot, so been mo**  
 Yet was he deceived, and, God knows, so are others  
2114 **That wenen wisly that it be nat so.**  
 That confidently suppose indeed that it is not so.  
2115 **Passe over is an ese, I sey namoore.**  
 To overlook (trouble) is an advantage, I say no more.

2116 **This fresshe May, that I spak of so yoore,**  
 This fresh May, whom I spoke of formerly,  
2117 **In warm wex hath emprented the clyket**  
 In warm wax has made an impression of the latchkey   
2118 **That Januarie bar of the smale wyket,**  
 That January carried of the small gate,  
2119 **By which into his gardyn ofte he wente;**  
 By which into his garden often he went;  
2120 **And Damyan, that knew al hire entente,**  
 And Damian, who knew all her plan,  
2121 **The cliket countrefeted pryvely.**  
 The latchkey counterfeited secretly.  
2122 **Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily**  
 There is no more to say, but hastily  
2123 **Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde,**  
 Some wonder by this latchkey shall betide,  
2124 **Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde.**  
 Which you shall hear, if you will abide.

2125 **O noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God woot,**  
 O noble Ovid, full truth sayest thou, God knows,  
2126 **What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot,**  
 What trick is it, though (finding) it be long and painful,  
2127 **That Love nyl fynde it out in som manere?**  
 That Love will not find it out in some manner?  
2128 **By Piramus and Tesbee may men leere;**  
 By Pyramus and Thisbe can one learn;  
2129 **Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal,**  
 Though they were kept full long strictly in every way,  
2130 **They been accorded, rownynge thurgh a wal,**  
 They are agreed, whispering through a wall,  
2131 **Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte.**  
 Where no one could have found such a trick.

2132 **But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte**  
 But now to purpose: before eight days   
2133 **Were passed \[of\] the month of \[Juyn\], bifil**  
 Were passed \[of\] the month of \[June\], it happened  
2134 **That Januarie hath caught so greet a wil,**  
 That January has caught so great a desire,  
2135 **Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye**  
 Through incitement of his wife, to enjoy himself  
2136 **In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye,**  
 In his garden, and no one (there) but those two,  
2137 **That in a morwe unto his May seith he:**  
 That in a morning unto his May says he:  
2138 **"Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free!**  
 "Rise up, my wife, my love, my noble lady!  
2139 **The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete;**  
 The turtle dove's voice is heard, my dove sweet;  
2140 **The wynter is goon with alle his reynes weete.**  
 The winter is gone with all his rains wet.  
2141 **Com forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn!**  
 Come forth now, with thy dove-like eyes!  
2142 **How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn!**  
 How fairer are thy breasts than is wine!  
2143 **The gardyn is enclosed al aboute;**  
 The garden is enclosed all about;  
2144 **Com forth, my white spouse! Out of doute**  
 Come forth, my white spouse! Beyond doubt  
2145 **Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, O wyf!**  
 Thou hast me wounded in my heart, O wife!  
2146 **No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf.**  
 No blemish on thee knew I all my life.  
2147 **Com forth, and lat us taken oure disport;**  
 Come forth, and let us take our pleasure;  
2148 **I chees thee for my wyf and my confort."**  
 I chose thee for my wife and my comfort."

2149 **Swiche olde lewed wordes used he.**  
 Such old ignorant words used he.  
2150 **On Damyan a signe made she,**  
 To Damian a sign made she,  
2151 **That he sholde go biforn with his cliket.**  
 That he should go before with his latchkey.  
2152 **This Damyan thanne hath opened the wyket,**  
 This Damian then has opened the gate,  
2153 **And in he stirte, and that in swich manere**  
 And in he hurried, and that in such a way  
2154 **That no wight myghte it se neither yheere,**  
 That no one could either see or hear it,  
2155 **And stille he sit under a bussh anon.**  
 And quickly he sits still under a bush.

2156 **This Januarie, as blynd as is a stoon,**  
 This January, as blind as is a stone,  
2157 **With Mayus in his hand, and no wight mo,**  
 With May in his hand, and no one else,  
2158 **Into his fresshe gardyn is ago,**  
 Into his fresh garden has gone,  
2159 **And clapte to the wyket sodeynly.**  
 And closed the gate quickly.

2160 **"Now wyf," quod he, "heere nys but thou and I,**  
 "Now wife," said he, "here is no one but thou and I,  
2161 **That art the creature that I best love.**  
 That art the creature that I best love.  
2162 **For by that Lord that sit in hevene above,**  
 For by that Lord that sits in heaven above,  
2163 **Levere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf**  
 I had rather die on a knife  
2164 **Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf!**  
 Than thee offend, true dear wife!  
2165 **For Goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees,**  
 For God's sake, think how I thee chose,  
2166 **Noght for no coveitise, doutelees,**  
 Not for any greed, doubtless,  
2167 **But oonly for the love I had to thee.**  
 But only for the love I had to thee.  
2168 **And though that I be oold and may nat see,**  
 And although I be old and can not see,  
2169 **Beth to me trewe, and I wol telle yow why.**  
 Be to me true, and I will tell you why.  
2170 **Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby:**  
 Three things, certainly, shall you win thereby:  
2171 **First, love of Crist, and to youreself honour,**  
 First, love of Christ, and to yourself honor,  
2172 **And al myn heritage, toun and tour;**  
 And all my heritage, town and tower;  
2173 **I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste;**  
 I give it to you, draw up deeds as you please;  
2174 **This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste,**  
 This shall be done to-morrow before sun goes to rest,  
2175 **So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse.**  
 As God my soul may bring in bliss.  
2176 **I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse;**  
 I pray you first, to seal the contract, you kiss me;  
2177 **And though that I be jalous, wyte me noght.**  
 And though that I be jealous, blame me not.  
2178 **Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght**  
 You are so deeply imprinted in my thought  
2179 **That, whan that I considere youre beautee**  
 That, when I consider your beauty  
2180 **And therwithal the unlikly elde of me,**  
 And in addition to that the unsuitable old age of me,  
2181 **I may nat, certes, though I sholde dye,**  
 I can not, certainly, though I should die,  
2182 **Forbere to been out of youre compaignye**  
 Bear to be out of your company  
2183 **For verray love; this is withouten doute.**  
 For true love; this is without doubt.  
2184 **Now kys me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute."**  
 Now kiss me, wife, and let us roam about."

2185 **This fresshe May, whan she thise wordes herde,**  
 This fresh May, when she these words heard,  
2186 **Benyngnely to Januarie answerde,**  
 Graciously to January answered,  
2187 **But first and forward she bigan to wepe.**  
 But first of all she began to weep.  
2188 **"I have," quod she, "a soule for to kepe**  
 "I have," said she, "a soul to keep  
2189 **As wel as ye, and also myn honour,**  
 As well as you, and also my honor,  
2190 **And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour,**  
 And of my wifehood that same tender flower,  
2191 **Which that I have assured in youre hond,**  
 Which I have entrusted in your hand,  
2192 **Whan that the preest to yow my body bond;**  
 When the priest to you my body bound;  
2193 **Wherfore I wole answere in this manere,**  
 Wherefore I will answer in this manner,  
2194 **By the leve of yow, my lord so deere:**  
 By the leave of you, my lord so dear:  
2195 **I prey to God that nevere dawe the day**  
 I pray to God that never dawn the day  
2196 **That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may,**  
 That I do not die, as foully as woman can,  
2197 **If evere I do unto my kyn that shame,**  
 If ever I do unto my kin that shame,  
2198 **Or elles I empeyre so my name,**  
 Or else I damage so my name,  
2199 **That I be fals; and if I do that lak,**  
 That I be false; and if I commit that offense,  
2200 **Do strepe me and put me in a sak,**  
 Have me stripped and put me in a sack,  
2201 **And in the nexte ryver do me drenche.**  
 And in the next river have me drowned.  
2202 **I am a gentil womman and no wenche.**  
 I am a gentle woman and no wench.  
2203 **Why speke ye thus? But men been evere untrewe,**  
 Why speak you thus? But men are always untrue,  
2204 **And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe.**  
 And women have reproof of you always.  
2205 **Ye han noon oother contenance, I leeve,**  
 You have no other manner of behavior, I believe,  
2206 **But speke to us of untrust and repreeve."**  
 Except to speak to us of distrust and reproof."

2207 **And with that word she saugh wher Damyan**  
 And with that word she saw where Damian  
2208 **Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan,**  
 Sat in the bush, and she began to cough,  
2209 **And with hir fynger signes made she**  
 And with her finger signs made she  
2210 **That Damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree**  
 That Damian should climb upon a tree  
2211 **That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente.**  
 That loaded was with fruit, and up he went.  
2212 **For verraily he knew al hire entente,**  
 For truly he knew all her plan,  
2213 **And every signe that she koude make,**  
 And every sign that she could make,  
2214 **Wel bet than Januarie, hir owene make,**  
 Well better than January, her own mate,  
2215 **For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al**  
 For in a letter she had told him all  
2216 **Of this matere, how he werchen shal.**  
 Of this matter, what he must do.  
2217 **And thus I lete hym sitte upon the pyrie,**  
 And thus I let him sit upon the pear tree,  
2218 **And Januarie and May romynge myrie.**  
 And January and May roaming merrily.

2219 **Bright was the day, and blew the firmament;**  
 Bright was the day, and blue the firmament;  
2220 **Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent**  
 Phoebus has his streams of gold down sent  
2221 **To gladen every flour with his warmnesse.**  
 To gladden every flower with his warmness.  
2222 **He was that tyme in Geminis, as I gesse,**  
 He was that time in Gemini, as I guess,  
2223 **But litel fro his declynacion**  
 But little from his declination  
2224 **Of Cancer, Jovis exaltacion.**  
 Of Cancer, Jove's exaltation.  
2225 **And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde**  
 And it so befell, that bright morning-tide  
2226 **That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde,**  
 That in that garden, in the further side,  
2227 **Pluto, that is kyng of Fayerye,**  
 Pluto, that is king of Fairyland,  
2228 **And many a lady in his compaignye,**  
 And many a lady in his company,  
2229 **Folwynge his wyf, the queene Proserpyna,**  
 Following his wife, the queen Proserpine,  
2230 **Which that he ravysshed out of \[Ethna\]**  
 Whom he kidnapped out of Etna  
2231 **Whil that she gadered floures in the mede --**  
 While she gathered flowers in the mead --  
2232 **In Claudyan ye may the stories rede,**  
 In Claudian you can read the stories,  
2233 **How in his grisely carte he hire fette --**  
 How in his grisly chariot he fetched her --  
2234 **This kyng of Fairye thanne adoun hym sette**  
 This king of Fairyland then set himself down  
2235 **Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene,**  
 Upon a bench made of pieces of turf, fresh and green,  
2236 **And right anon thus seyde he to his queene:**  
 And right away thus said he to his queen:

2237 **"My wyf," quod he, "ther may no wight seye nay;**  
 "My wife," said he, "there can no one say nay;  
2238 **Th' experience so preveth every day**  
 The experience so proves every day  
2239 **The tresons whiche that wommen doon to man.**  
 The treasons which women do to man.  
2240 **Ten hondred thousand \[tales\] tellen I kan**  
 Ten hundred thousand \[tales\] I can tell  
2241 **Notable of youre untrouthe and brotilnesse.**  
 (That are) famous concerning your faithlessness and frailty.  
2242 **O Salomon, wys, and richest of richesse,**  
 O Solomon, wise, and richest of wealth,  
2243 **Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie,**  
 Filled with wisdom and with worldly glory,  
2244 **Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie**  
 Full worthy are thy words to (keep in) memory  
2245 **To every wight that wit and reson kan.**  
 To every one that wit and reason knows.  
2246 **Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man:**  
 Thus praises he yet the goodness of man:  
2247 **`Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon,**  
 `Amongst a thousand men yet found I one,  
2248 **But of wommen alle foond I noon.'**  
 But of all women found I none.'

2249 **"Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse.**  
 "Thus says the king that knows your wickedness.  
2250 **And Jhesus, filius Syrak, as I gesse,**  
 And Jesus, son of Sirak, as I suppose,  
2251 **Ne speketh of yow but seelde reverence.**  
 Speaks reverence of you but seldom.  
2252 **A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence**  
 A wild fir and corrupt pestilence  
2253 **So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght!**  
 Fall upon your bodies yet to-night!  
2254 **Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght,**  
 See you not this honorable knight,  
2255 **By cause, allas, that he is blynd and old,**  
 Because, alas, that he is blind and old,  
2256 **His owene man shal make hym cokewold.**  
 His own man shall make him cuckold.  
2257 **Lo, where he sit, the lechour, in the tree!**  
 Lo, where he sits, the lecher, in the tree!  
2258 **Now wol I graunten, of my magestee,**  
 Now will I grant, of my majesty,  
2259 **Unto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght**  
 Unto this old, blind, worthy knight  
2260 **That he shal have ayen his eyen syght,**  
 That he shall have again his eyes' sight,  
2261 **Whan that his wyf wold doon hym vileynye.**  
 When his wife would do him villainy.  
2262 **Thanne shal he knowen al hire harlotrye,**  
 Then shall he know all her harlotry,  
2263 **Bothe in repreve of hire and othere mo."**  
 In reproof of both her and many others."

2264 **"Ye shal?" quod Proserpyne, "wol ye so?**  
 "You shall?" said Proserpine, "will you so?  
2265 **Now by my moodres sires soule I swere**  
 Now by my mother's father's soul I swear  
2266 **That I shal yeven hire suffisant answere,**  
 That I shall give her sufficient answer,  
2267 **And alle wommen after, for hir sake,**  
 And all women afterwards, for her sake,  
2268 **That, though they be in any gilt ytake,**  
 That, though they be in any guilt taken,  
2269 **With face boold they shulle hemself excuse,**  
 With bold face they shall themselves excuse,  
2270 **And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse.**  
 And bear them down who would them accuse.  
2271 **For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen.**  
 For lack of answer none of them shall die.  
2272 **Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his yen,**  
 Although a man had seen a thing with both his eyes,  
2273 **Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily,**  
 Yet shall we women face it out boldly,  
2274 **And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly,**  
 And weep, and swear, and chide deceitfully,  
2275 **So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees.**  
 So that you men shall be as ignorant as geese.

2276 **"What rekketh me of youre auctoritees?**  
 "What do I care for your authorities?  
2277 **I woot wel that this Jew, this Salomon,**  
 I know well that this Jew, this Solomon,  
2278 **Foond of us wommen fooles many oon.**  
 Found of us women many a fool.  
2279 **But though that he ne foond no good womman,**  
 But though he found no good woman,  
2280 **Yet hath ther founde many another man**  
 Yet many another man has there found   
2281 **Wommen ful trewe, ful goode, and vertuous.**  
 Women full true, full good, and virtuous.  
2282 **Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous;**  
 Witness on them that dwell in Christ's house (heaven);  
2283 **With martirdom they preved hire constance.**  
 With martyrdom they proved their constancy.  
2284 **The Romayn geestes eek make remembrance**  
 The Roman histories also remind us  
2285 **Of many a verray, trewe wyf also.**  
 Of many a genuine, true wife also.  
2286 **But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so,**  
 But, sir, be not angry, even though it be so,  
2287 **Though that he seyde he foond no good womman,**  
 Though he said he found no good woman,  
2288 **I prey yow take the sentence of the man;**  
 I pray you take the meaning of the man;  
2289 **He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee**  
 He meant thus, that in perfect goodness  
2290 **Nis noon but God, but neither he ne she.**  
 There is no one but God, neither man nor woman.

2291 **"Ey! for verray God that nys but oon,**  
 "Ah! by him who is the only true God,  
2292 **What make ye so muche of Salomon?**  
 Why make you so much of Solomon?  
2293 **What though he made a temple, Goddes hous?**  
 Why though he made a temple, God's house?  
2294 **What though he were riche and glorious?**  
 Why though he was rich and glorious?  
2295 **So made he eek a temple of false goddis.**  
 So made he also a temple of false gods.  
2296 **How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is?**  
 How might he do a thing that more forbidden is?  
2297 **Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre,**  
 By God, however approvingly you gloss over his name,  
2298 **He was a lecchour and an ydolastre,**  
 He was a lecher and an idolater,  
2299 **And in his elde he verray God forsook;**  
 And in his old age he true God forsook;  
2300 **And if God ne hadde, as seith the book,**  
 And if God had not, as says the book,  
2301 **Yspared him for his fadres sake, he sholde**  
 Spared him for his father's sake, he should  
2302 **Have lost his regne rather than he wolde.**  
 Have lost his reign sooner than he would have wanted.  
2303 **I sette right noght, of al the vileynye**  
 I reckon all the villainy  
2304 **That ye of wommen write, a boterflye!**  
 That you of women write not worth a butterfly!  
2305 **I am a womman, nedes moot I speke,**  
 I am a woman, I must necessarily speak,  
2306 **Or elles swelle til myn herte breke.**  
 Or else swell until my heart breaks.  
2307 **For sithen he seyde that we been jangleresses,**  
 For since he said that we are chatterers,  
2308 **As evere hool I moote brouke my tresses,**  
 As ever whole I may enjoy my hair (remain alive),  
2309 **I shal nat spare, for no curteisye,**  
 I shall not cease, for any courtesy,  
2310 **To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye."**  
 To speak harm of him that would do us dishonor."

2311 **"Dame," quod this Pluto, "be no lenger wrooth;**  
 "My Lady," said this Pluto, "be no longer angry;  
2312 **I yeve it up! But sith I swoor myn ooth**  
 I give it up! But since I swore my oath  
2313 **That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn,**  
 That I would grant him his sight again,  
2314 **My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn.**  
 My word shall stand, I warn you certainly.  
2315 **I am a kyng; it sit me noght to lye."**  
 I am a king; it is not proper for me to lie."

2316 **"And I," quod she, "a queene of Fayerye!**  
 "And I," said she, "a queen of Fairy!  
2317 **Hir answere shal she have, I undertake.**  
 Her answer shall she have, I declare.  
2318 **Lat us namoore wordes heerof make;**  
 Let us have no more words concerning this;  
2319 **For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie."**  
 For truly, I will no longer contradict you."

2320 **Now lat us turne agayn to Januarie,**  
 Now let us turn again to January,  
2321 **That in the gardyn with his faire May**  
 That in the garden with his fair May  
2322 **Syngeth ful murier than the papejay,**  
 Sings full merrier than the parrot,  
2323 **"Yow love I best, and shal, and oother noon."**  
 "You love I best, and shall, and none other."  
2324 **So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon,**  
 So long about the garden paths is he gone,  
2325 **Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie**  
 Until he was come in front of that same pear tree  
2326 **Where as this Damyan sitteth ful myrie**  
 Where this Damian sits full merry  
2327 **An heigh among the fresshe leves grene.**  
 On high among the fresh leaves green.

2328 **This fresshe May, that is so bright and sheene,**  
 This fresh May, who is so bright and sheen,  
2329 **Gan for to syke, and seyde, "Allas, my syde!**  
 Began to sigh, and said, "Alas, my side!  
2330 **Now sire," quod she, "for aught that may bityde,**  
 Now sire," said she, "for whatever may happen,  
2331 **I moste han of the peres that I see,**  
 I must have some of the pears that I see,  
2332 **Or I moot dye, so soore longeth me**  
 Or I must die, so sore I long  
2333 **To eten of the smale peres grene.**  
 To eat some of the small green pears.  
2334 **Help, for hir love that is of hevene queene!**  
 Help, for her love that is of heaven queen!  
2335 **I telle yow wel, a womman in my plit**  
 I tell you well, a woman in my condition  
2336 **May han to fruyt so greet an appetit**  
 May have for fruit so great an appetite  
2337 **That she may dyen but she of it have."**  
 That she may die but she have some of it."

2338 **"Allas," quod he, "that I ne had heer a knave**  
 "Alas," said he, "that I do not have here a servant boy  
2339 **That koude clymbe! Allas, allas," quod he,**  
 That could climb! Alas, alas," said he,  
2340 **"For I am blynd!" "Ye, sire, no fors," quod she;**  
 "For I am blind!" "Yea, sir, no matter," said she;  
2341 **"But wolde ye vouche sauf, for Goddes sake,**  
 "But would you grant, for God's sake,  
2342 **The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take,**  
 The pear tree within your arms to take,  
2343 **For wel I woot that ye mystruste me,**  
 For well I know that you mistrust me,  
2344 **Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh," quod she,**  
 Then should I climb well enough," said she,  
2345 **"So I my foot myghte sette upon youre bak."**  
 "If I my foot might set upon your back."

2346 **"Certes," quod he, "theron shal be no lak,**  
 "Certainly," said he, "there shall be no lack,  
2347 **Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood."**  
 (Even if) I might you help with my heart's blood."   
2348 **He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood,**  
 He stoops down, and on his back she stood,  
2349 **And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth --**  
 And caught her by a branch, and up she goes --  
2350 **Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth;**  
nbsp; Ladies, I pray you that you be not angry;  
2351 **I kan nat glose, I am a rude man --**  
 I can not use circumlocutions, I am an unlearned man --  
2352 **And sodeynly anon this Damyan**  
 And suddenly at once this Damian  
2353 **Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng.**  
 Pulled up the smock, and in he thrust.

2354 **And whan that Pluto saugh this grete wrong,**  
 And when Pluto saw this great wrong,  
2355 **To Januarie he gaf agayn his sighte,**  
 To January he gave again his sight,  
2356 **And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte.**  
 And made him see as well as he ever could.  
2357 **And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn,**  
 And when he had recovered his sight again,  
2358 **Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn,**  
 There was never man of anything so happy,  
2359 **But on his wyf his thoght was everemo.**  
 But on his wife his thought was evermore.  
2360 **Up to the tree he caste his eyen two,**  
 Up to the tree he cast his eyes two,  
2361 **And saugh that Damyan his wyf had dressed**  
 And saw that Damian had treated his wife   
2362 **In swich manere it may nat been expressed,**  
 In such a manner it can not be expressed,  
2363 **But if I wolde speke uncurteisly;**  
 Unless I would speak crudely;  
2364 **And up he yaf a roryng and a cry,**  
 And up he gave a roaring and a cry,  
2365 **As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye:**  
 As does the mother when the child shall die:  
2366 **"Out! Help! Allas! Harrow!" he gan to crye,**  
 "Out! Help! Alas! Help!" he began to cry,  
2367 **"O stronge lady stoore, what dostow?"**  
 "O brazen crude lady, what dost thou?"

2368 **And she answerde, "Sire, what eyleth yow?**  
 And she answered, "Sir, what ails you?  
2369 **Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde.**  
 Have patience and reason in your mind.  
2370 **I have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde.**  
 I have helped you with both your eyes blind.  
2371 **Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen,**  
 Upon peril of my soul, I shall not lie,  
2372 **As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen,**  
 As I was taught, to heal with your eyes,  
2373 **Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see,**  
 Was no thing better, to make you to see,  
2374 **Than strugle with a man upon a tree.**  
 Than to struggle with a man upon a tree.  
2375 **God woot, I dide it in ful good entente."**  
 God knows, I did it in full good intent."

2376 **"Strugle?" quod he, "Ye, algate in it wente!**  
 "Struggle?" said he, "Yea, indeed in it went!  
2377 **God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen!**  
 God give you both a shameful death to die!  
2378 **He swyved thee; I saugh it with myne yen,**  
 He screwed thee; I saw it with my eyes,  
2379 **And elles be I hanged by the hals!"**  
 And else may I be hanged by the neck!"

2380 **"Thanne is," quod she, "my medicyne fals;**  
 "Then is," said she, "my medicine false;  
2381 **For certeinly, if that ye myghte se,**  
 For certainly, if you could see,  
2382 **Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me.**  
 You would not say these words unto me.  
2383 **Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte."**  
 You have some glimpse, and no perfect sight."

2384 **"I se," quod he, "as wel as evere I myghte,**  
 "I see," said he, "as well as ever I could,  
2385 **Thonked be God! With bothe myne eyen two,**  
 Thanked be God! With both my eyes two,  
2386 **And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so."**  
 And by my troth, it seemed to me he did thee so."

2387 **"Ye maze, maze, goode sire," quod she;**  
 "You are dazed, dazed, good sir," said she;  
2388 **"This thank have I for I have maad yow see.**  
 "This thanks have I because I have made you see.  
2389 **Allas," quod she, "that evere I was so kynde!"**  
 Alas," said she, "that ever I was so kind!"

2390 **"Now, dame," quod he, "lat al passe out of mynde.**  
 "Now, lady," said he, "let all pass out of mind.  
2391 **Com doun, my lief, and if I have myssayd,**  
 Come down, my dear, and if I have misspoken,  
2392 **God helpe me so, as I am yvele apayd.**  
 So God help me, I am very sorry.  
2393 **But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn**  
 But, by my father's soul, I thought to have seen  
2394 **How that this Damyan hadde by thee leyn,**  
 How this Damian had by thee laid,  
2395 **And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest."**  
 And thy smock had lain upon his breast."

2396 **"Ye, sire," quod she, "ye may wene as yow lest.**  
 "Yea, sir," said she, "you may think as you please.  
2397 **But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep,**  
 But, sir, a man that wakes out of his sleep,  
2398 **He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep**  
 He can not suddenly well take heed  
2399 **Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly,**  
 Of a thing, nor see it perfectly,  
2400 **Til that he be adawed verraily.**  
 Until he be fully awakened.  
2401 **Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe,**  
 Right so a man that long has blind been,  
2402 **Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse,**  
 Can not suddenly so well see,  
2403 **First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn,**  
 First when his sight is newly come again,  
2404 **As he that hath a day or two yseyn.**  
 As he that has a day or two been able to see.  
2405 **Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while**  
 Until your sight be settled a while  
2406 **Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile.**  
 There may full many a sight deceive you.  
2407 **Beth war, I prey yow, for by hevene kyng,**  
 Beware, I pray you, for by heaven's king,  
2408 **Ful many a man weneth to seen a thyng,**  
 Full many a man supposes to see a thing,  
2409 **And it is al another than it semeth.**  
 And it is entirely different than it seems.  
2410 **He that mysconceyveth, he mysdemeth."**  
 He that misunderstands, he misjudges."  
2411 **And with that word she leep doun fro the tree.**  
 And with that word she leaped down from the tree.

2412 **This Januarie, who is glad but he?**  
 This January, who is glad but he?  
2413 **He kisseth hire and clippeth hire ful ofte,**  
 He kisses her and embraces her full often,  
2414 **And on hire wombe he stroketh hire ful softe,**  
 And on her womb he strokes her full softly,  
2415 **And to his palays hoom he hath hire lad.**  
 And to his palace he has her led home.  
2416 **Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad.**  
 Now, good men, I pray you to be glad.  
2417 **Thus endeth heere my tale of Januarie;**  
 Thus ends here my tale of January;  
2418 **God blesse us, and his mooder Seinte Marie!**  
 God bless us, and his mother Saint Mary!

*Here is ended The Marchantes Tale of Januarie*

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

## Epilogue to The Merchant's Tale 

2419 **"Ey! Goddes mercy!" seyde oure Hooste tho,**  
 "Ah! God's mercy!" said our Host then,  
2420 **"Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro!**  
 "Now such a wife I pray God keep me from!  
2421 **Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees**  
 Lo, what tricks and craftiness  
2422 **In wommen been! For ay as bisy as bees**  
 Are in women! For always as busy as bees  
2423 **Been they, us sely men for to deceyve,**  
 Are they, us innocent men to deceive,  
2424 **And from the soothe evere wol they weyve;**  
 And from the truth ever will they deviate;  
2425 **By this Marchauntes tale it preveth weel.**  
 By this Merchant's tale it is well proven.  
2426 **But doutelees, as trewe as any steel**  
 But doubtless, as true as any steel  
2427 **I have a wyf, though that she povre be,**  
 I have a wife, though that she poor be,  
2428 **But of hir tonge, a labbyng shrewe is she,**  
 But of her tongue, a blabbing shrew is she,  
2429 **And yet she hath an heep of vices mo;**  
 And yet she has a heap of other vices;  
2430 **Therof no fors! Lat alle swiche thynges go.**  
 Thereof no matter! Let all such things go by.  
2431 **But wyte ye what? In conseil be it seyd,**  
 But know you what? In secret be it said,  
2432 **Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd.**  
 I sorely rue that I am unto her tied.  
2433 **For and I sholde rekenen every vice**  
 For if I should reckon every vice  
2434 **Which that she hath, ywis I were to nyce.**  
 Which she has, indeed I would be too foolish.  
2435 **And cause why? It sholde reported be**  
 And the cause why? It should reported be  
2436 **And toold to hire of somme of this meynee --**  
 And told to her by some of this company --  
2437 **Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare,**  
 By whom, it needs not to declare,  
2438 **Syn wommen konnen outen swich chaffare;**  
 Since women know how to display such wares;  
2439 **And eek my wit suffiseth nat therto**  
 And also my wit suffices not concerning this  
2440 **To tellen al; wherfore my tale is do."**  
 To tell all; therefore my tale is done."