My husband was in London all that Lent; I had the greater leisure, then, to play, And to observe, and to be seen, I say,

But age, alas! that poisons every prime,

jolly as a pie.

450 Is it because you’d have my cunt alone? Why take it all, lo, have it every bit; Peter! Beshrew you but you’re fond of it!

Job’s patience

Yet tickled this the heart of him, for he Deemed it was love produced such jealousy.

Especially in bed had they mischance, There would I chide and give them no pleasance;

And all was false, but yet I took witness Of Jenkin and of my dear niece also.

You liken woman’s love to very Hell, To desert land where waters do not well. You liken it, also, unto wildfire;

Sir Ancient Fool, what ails you with your spies?

 You say, also, that if we make us gay With clothing, all in costliest array, 345 That it’s a danger to our chastity

You shall not be, although like mad you scold, 320 Master of both my body and my gold;

benedicite

A woman wise will strive continually To get herself loved, when she’s not, you see.

I will devote the flower of all my age 120 To all the acts and harvests of marriage.

God calls folk unto him in sundry ways, And each one has from God a proper gift,

I know well Abraham was holy man, And Jacob, too, as far as know I can; And each of them had spouses more than two; And many another holy man also.

Some would be armoured in a habergeon And in a breastplate, under light jupon; And some wore breast-and back-plates thick and large; And some would have a Prussian shield, or targe; 1265 Some on their very legs were armoured well, And carried axe, and some a mace of steel. There is no new thing, now, that is not old. And so they all were armed, as I have told, To his own liking and design, each one.

The tyrant, with the spoils of violent theft; The town destroyed, in ruins, nothing left. And saw I burnt the ships that dance by phares,

Was ever made in so small space of time;

Then he shall have Emilia to wive

You know yourselves she may not marry two,

Who to go hunting is so desirous, And specially of the hart of ten, in May,

Either I shall be dead or you shall die. 730 You shall not love my lady Emily, But I will love her, and none other, no; For I am Palamon, your mortal foe. And though I have no weapon in this place, Being but out of prison by God’s grace, 735 I say again, that either you shall die Or else forgo your love for Emily. Choose which you will, for you shall not depart.”

As he were mad, with face gone deathly pale,

leaping high like fire,

Or else win Emily to be his wife; This is the gist of his intention plain.

And at once he altered his array, Like a poor labourer in mean attire

Had never any man so much torture, No, nor shall have while this world may endure.

You lovers, now I ask you this question: 490 Who has the worse, Arcita or Palamon? The one may see his lady day by day, But yet in prison must he dwell for aye. The other, where he wishes, he may go, But never see his lady more, ah no. 495

Stripped of all hope and in so deep despair That there’s no earth nor water, fire nor air, Nor any creature made of them there is 390 To help or give me comfort, now, in this – Surely I’ll die of sorrow and distress; Farewell, my life, my love, my joyousness!

No more in Purgatory, but in Hell.

It’s each man for himself and not for other. 325 Love if you like; for I love and aye shall;

But I was wounded lately through the eye Down to my heart, and that my bane will be. 240 The beauty of the lady that I see There in that garden, pacing to and fro, Is cause of all my crying and my woe.

Her yellow hair was braided in one tress Behind her back, a full yard long, I guess.

That Emily, far fairer to be seen Than is the lily on its stalk of green,

Palamon and Arcita, day and night, Dwelt whence no gold might help them to take flight.

restored

And in his arms he took them tenderly,

To do the dead a shame and villainy, 85 Of all our husbands, lying among the slain, Has piled the bodies in a heap, amain, And will not suffer them, nor give consent, To buried be, or burned, nor will relent, But sets his dogs to eat them, out of spite.”

All we have lost our husbands at that town During the siege that round about it lay.

Thanks be to Fortune and her treacherous wheel,

But we beseech your aid and pity thus.

Or who has wronged you now, or who offended? Come, tell me whether it may be amended; And tell me, why are you clothed thus, in black?”

hat with his wisdom and his chivalry He gained the realm of Femininity,

Here in this inn, fitter for sport than now. Fain I’d make you happy, if I’d knew how. And of a game have I this moment thought 770 To give you joy, and it shall cost you not.

And as to manhood, lacking there was not. Moreover, he’s a very merry man,

In Southwark, at this noble hostelry Known as the Tabard Inn

And thus, with flattery and equal japes, He made the parson and the rest his apes.

buckler

Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face, All pimpled it was; his eyes were narrow As hot he was, and lecherous, as a sparrow; With black and scabby brows and scanty beard; 630 He had a face that little children feared.

There was no agent, herd, or servant who’d cheat; He knew too well their cunning and deceit;

Long were his legs, and they were very lean, And like a staff, with no calf to be seen. 595

Of masters had he more than three times ten,

But Christ’s own law, and His apostles’ twelve 530 He taught, but first he followed it himselve.

That never wolf could make his plans miscarry;

An overskirt was tucked around her buttocks large,

Who was somewhat deaf, it is a pity.

To speak of medicine and surgery; For he was instructed in astronomy. He cared for and saved a patient many times By natural science and studying astrological signs.

And he could roast and boil and broil and fry, And prepare a stew, and bake a tasty pie.

Filled with moral virtue was his speech;

But all that he might borrow from a friend On books and learning he would swiftly spend,

Yet strong he was as every champion. 240 In towns he knew the taverns, every one, And every good host and each barmaid too – Better than needy lepers and beggars, these he knew.

His throat was white as the lily flower I say

Graciously she reached for food to dine. And certainly delighting in good sport, She was very pleasant, amiable – in short.

modest was and coy

self-same

little birds make melody

April the sweet showers fall

By which he saw the vgly monster plaine, Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide, But th’other halfe did womans shape retaine, Most lothsom, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine.

But forth vnto the darksome hole he went, And looked in: his glistring armor made A litle glooming light, much like a shade,

Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag,

That greatest Gloriana to him gaue, That greatest Glorious Queene of Faerie lond,

nd all the way she wets with flowing teares:

All night she thinks too long, and often lookes for light.

Sad Vna downe her laies in wearie plight, And at her feet the Lyon watch doth keepe: In stead of rest, she does lament, and weepe For the late losse of her deare loued knight, And sighes, and grones, and euermore does steepe Her tender brest in bitter teares all night, All night she thinks too long, and often lookes for light.

To whom approching she to her gan call, To weet, if dwelling place were nigh at hand; But the rude wench her answer’d nought at all, She could not heare, nor speake, nor vnderstand; Till seeing by her side the Lyon stand,

A ramping Lyon rushed suddainly, Hunting full greedie after saluage blood; Soone as the royall virgin he did spy, With gaping mouth at her ran greedily,

In stead thereof he kist her wearie feet, And lickt her lilly hands with fawning tong, As he her wronged innocence did weet. O how can beautie maister the most strong, And simple truth subdue auenging wrong? Whose yeelded pride and proud submission, Still dreading death, when she had marked long, Her hart gan melt in great compassion, And drizling teares did shed for pure affection.

Was neuer Prince so faithfull and so faire, Was neuer Prince so meeke and debonaire; But ere my hoped day of spousall shone, My dearest Lord fell from high honours staire, Into the hands of his accursed fone, And cruelly was slaine, that shall I euer mone.

subiect to hard mischaunce,

louer

Did search, sore grieued in her gentle brest, He so vngently left her, whom she loued best.

Swain

vp

To wish you backe returne with foule disgrace, Yet wisedome warnes, whilest foot is in the gate, To stay the steppe, ere forced to retrate.

At last resoluing forward still to fare, Till that some end they finde or in or out, That path they take, that beaten seemd most bare,

 Errours den,

The sayling Pine, the Cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop Elme, the Poplar neuer dry, The builder Oake, sole king of forrests all, The Aspine good for staues, the Cypresse funerall.

Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, That lasie seemd in being euer last, Or wearied with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, The day with cloudes was suddeine ouercast, And angry Ioue an hideous storme of raine Did poure into his Lemans lap so fast, That euery wight to shrowd it did constrain, And this faire couple eke to shroud the[m]selues were fain.

As one that inly mournd: so was she sad, And heauie sat vpon her palfrey slow:

For soueraine hope, which in his helpe he had: Right faithfull true he was in deede and word, But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but euer was ydrad.

But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore,

gaue,

So pure and innocent, as that same lambe,

mightie

is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline.

Allegories

KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE, OR OF HOLINESSE. LO I the man, w

Chaunticlere

mighty king,

Now who bears the crown of thorn

But it is no wonder for a fool to run mad and through wiles of woman be won to sorrow.

‘For it is mine that you wear, that same woven girdle; my own wife gave it you, I know it well forsooth. Now, know I well your kisses and conduct too, and the wooing of my wife; I wrought it myself.

I have received a stroke in this place without strife, and if you offer another I’ll readily requite you and yield it you swiftly again – of that be you sure – as foe.

He leant down his neck, and bowed, and showed the white flesh all bare, as if he were no way cowed; for to shrink he would not dare.

nothing low;

What!

Though he be a stern fellow to manage, armed with a stave, full well does the Lord know His servants how to save.’

He has lived here of yore, and battled to great extent. Against his blows full sore, you may not yourself defend.’

But wild weather awoke in the world outside, clouds cast cold keenly down to the earth, with wind enough from the north, to flail the flesh. The snow sleeted down sharp, and nipped the wild; the whistling wind wailed from the heights and drove each dale full of drifts full great. The knight listened full well, as he lay in his bed.

Their hounds they then reward,

Then swiftly to the chapel took he his way, privately approached a priest, and there prayed him that he would enlighten his life and teach him better how his soul might be saved when he went hence.

‘I’ll no gifts, before God, my dear, at this time; I have none to give you, nor naught will I take.’

peerless princess

In heavy depths of dreaming murmured that noble, as one that was troubled with thronging thoughts, of how destiny would that day deal him his fate at the Green Chapel, where he must meet his man, bound there to bear his buffet without more debate

such as Christmas carols and dances new,

nor such flanks on a swine he’d not seen before. Then they handled the huge head, the knight gave praise,

‘Sir, if you be Gawain, it’s a wonder methinks, why one so well disposed always to good, knows not how to manage his manners in company, and if any teach you to know them, you cast them from mind. You have swiftly forgot what but yesterday I taught with all the truest tokens of talk that I could.’

The lady did not forget, to come to greet him too; full early she him beset to seek a change of mood.

‘And I give all this to you, Gawain,’ quoth the man then, ‘for according to covenant you may call it your own.’ ‘That is so,’ quoth the knight, ‘I say you the same: what I have worthily won this house within, shall with as good a will be worthily yours.’

48

Each man minded his, and those two minded theirs.

that other swathed with a wimple wound at the throat,

Several then seized his saddle, while he alighted, and then strong men enough stabled his steed.

Well was the water warm much wept from eyen, when that seemly sire spurred from the court that day.

on the inner half of his shield her image painted, that when he beheld her his boldness never failed.

with a light covering over the face-guard, embroidered and bound with the best gems on broad silken border, and birds on the seams, such as parrots painted preening between, turtle-doves, true-love knots,

comely ladies

For this Yuletide passed by, and the year after, and each season slips by pursuing another: after Christmas comes crabbed Lenten time, that forces on flesh fish and food more simple.

hewn

latched onto his lovely head, and lifted it so; and then strode to his steed, the bridle he catches, steps into stirrup and strides him aloft, and his head by the hair in his hand holds. and as steady and staunch him in his saddle sat as if no mishap had him ailed, though headless now instead.

letting it down lightly light on the naked, that the sharp of the steel sundered the bones, and sank through the soft flesh, sliced it in two, that the blade of the bright steel bit in the ground.

quoth

while so many bold men about you on benches sit,

by heaven you ask as a fool,

Sir courteous knight, if you crave battle bare, here fails you not the fight.’

ll studied that steed, and stalked him near, with all the wonder of the world at what he might do.

8

Then the first course came with crack of trumpets, with many a banner full bright that thereby hung; new noise of kettledrums and noble pipes, wild warbles and wide wakened echoes,

so busied him his young blood and his brain wild.

and the loveliest ladies that ever life honoured,

mirth

staunch

Dutifully, he cuts the knight’s head off in a single blow; then, the beheaded knight picks his head up and instructs Gawain to seek him out in one year and one day so that he may return the blow.

This story is told in alliterative verse, each stanza ending with a “bob and wheel” – that is, one short line (the bob) with a single stress, followed by four three-stress lines (the wheel) of which the second and fourth lines rhyme with the bob

I cannot choose that he should come to hurt or harm by me.

vassals

All men, old and young, looked willingly upon them, for fair they were to see.

Many amongst them grieved for the peril of a good knight in a strange land; others held that it were well for Launfal to suffer, because of the wish and malice of their lord.

traitor, and would slay him with the sword, by reason that he bragged of the beauty of his maiden, and roused the jealousy of the Queen.

Every day they came to his chamber, to know of his meat and drink, for much they feared that presently he would become mad.

smirch

The ladies of the Queen’s fellowship seemed but kitchen wenches to his sight, in comparison with the loveliness of the maiden.

Whiter she was than any altar lily,

he saw two damsels coming towards him; fairer maidens Launfal had never seen. These two maidens were richly dressed in kirtles closely laced and shapen to their persons and wore mantles of a goodly purple hue. Sweet and dainty were the damsels, alike in raiment and in face.

the King cried a great feast

In love they lived, till death they found;

Sure all were glad when they had heard; Quickly they led him in with glee, And bathed his face and shaved his beard And tired him as a king should be;

How the fair queen was rapt away Ten years agone, by fairy spell; And how the king the self-same day Had gone; none knew where he might dwell;

And when it ceased at last, “Thy fee,” The king exclaimed, ” for, harper mine, I love thy tender minstrelsy: Ask what thou wilt, and it is thine;

lond.

anear

” Alas ! alas ! ” he gan to cry, “Why will not death dispel my pain? Alas! alas! would I could die Now I have seen my love again. Alas, that I must live, who fain Would perish! for I dared not speak To her, nor she to me. Ah, vain Is life ; alas ! my heart will break ! ”

And then she wept as if to die,

well-accoutred

Now found he deserts bleak and brown

Upon their knees They knelt and made their woeful pleas, Beseeching him he would not go, Else were they desolate.

Beseeching

Alas! how woeful was his state!

For I have lost the fairest queen And sweetest lady ever born.

My doom no mortal man may share.

And blazed as brightly as the sun

fairy land

Into the orchard quick they go, And, fearful of what may befall, They lift and bear her to the hall And moaning on her pillows lay; Yet wild and heedless still of all Ever she strove to flee away.  

bewilderment

And out into the air of spring, To revel in a grove, and see The lovely blossoms bourgeoning, And linnets piping cheerily.

linnets

Singing with a merry mind

lay;

For a man should praise a prince whom he holds dear And cherish his memory when that moment comes When he has to be convoyed from his bodily home.

pyre

Almighty

but death owned him now, He would never enter his earth-gallery again

They shall walk bereft, bowed under woe,

that horde of seamen

Much as he wanted to, there was no way He could preserve his lord’s life on earth

His soul fled from his breast To its destined place among the steadfast ones.

A treasure-trove of astonishing richness, Wall-hangings that were a wonder to behold, Glittering gold spread across the ground, The old dawn-scorching serpent’s den 2760 Packed with goblets and vessels of the past, Tarnished and corroding. Rusty helmets All eaten away. Armbands everywhere,

To bestow this armor on my own son, 2730 Had it been my fortune to have fathered an heir And live on in his flesh.

No matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade His hand was too strong, the stroke he dealt (I have heard) would ruin it.

so every man must yield 2590 The leasehold of his days.

This fight is not yours, Nor is it up to any man except me To measure his strength against the monster Or to prove his worth.

The wisdom of age is worthless to him.

lie

skirmish

Part life from limb.

And so the son of Ecgtheow had survived Every extreme, excelling himself In daring and in danger, until the day arrived When he had to come face to face with the dragon.

Between the two of us will turn out as fate, Overseer of men, decides.

coffered