#  Test your reading of the Wife of Bath's Tale (Lines 857-1264) 

 



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**Translate each of bold-faced words in the following lines into clear modern English (it is best to write out your translation):**

867 That **serchen** every lond and every streem,  
  
878 Wommen may go **saufly** up and doun.  
  
887 Of which mayde anon, **maugree** hir heed,  
  
898 To chese wheither she wolde hym save or **spille**.  
  
909 A twelf-month and a day, to **seche** and **leere**  
  
911 And **suretee** wol I han, er that thou pace,  
  
922 But he ne koude arryven in no **coost**  
  
941 That we **nel kike**, for he seith us sooth.  
  
944 We wol been **holden** wise and clene of synne.  
  
950 Pardee, we wommen konne no thyng **hele**;  
  
965 But nathelees, hir thoughte that she **dyde**  
  
970 Doun to a **mareys** faste by she ran --  
  
989 And in his wey **it happed hym** to ryde,  
  
999 A fouler wight ther may no man **devyse**.  
  
1030 And afterward this knyght was **bode appeere**.  
  
1059 I woot right wel that swich was my **biheste**.  
  
1069 Sholde evere so foule **disparaged** be!"  
  
1120 For which we clayme to been of **heigh parage**,  
  
1136 Pryvee and apert thanne wolde they nevere **fyne**  
  
1142 Yet wole the fyr as faire **lye** and brenne  
  
1152 And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,  
  
1161 Which is a **strange thyng** to thy persone.  
  
1189 But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth **have**,  
  
1209 Were in no book, ye **gentils** of honour  
  
1216 Been grete **wardeyns** upon chastitee.

**Compare your translation with the page** [**glosses**](/glosses-quiz-wife-baths-tale-lines-iii857-1254) **for these lines.**