| In Armorik, that called is Britayne, |
| 730 | Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne |
| To serve a lady in his beste wise; |
| And many a labour, many a greet emprise, |
| He for his lady wroghte er she were wonne. |
| For she was oon the faireste under sonne, |
| 735 | And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede |
| That wel unnethes dorste this knyght, for drede, |
| Telle hire his wo, his peyne, and his distresse. |
| But atte laste she, for his worthynesse, |
| And namely for his meke obeysaunce, |
| 740 | Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce |
| That pryvely she fil of his accord |
| To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord, |
| Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves. |
| And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves, |
| 745 | Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght |
| That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght, |
| Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie |
| Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie, |
| But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al, |
| 750 | As any lovere to his lady shal, |
| Save that the name of soveraynetee, |
| That wolde he have for shame of his degree. |
| She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse |
| She seyde, "Sire, sith of youre gentillesse |
| 755 | Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, |
| Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne, |
| As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf. |
| Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf -- |
| Have heer my trouthe -- til that myn herte breste." |
| 760 | Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. |
| For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye, |
| That freendes everych oother moot obeye, |
| If they wol longe holden compaignye. |
| Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye. |
| 765 | Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon |
| Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon! |
| Love is a thyng as any spirit free. |
| Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee, |
| And nat to been constreyned as a thral; |
| 770 | And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal. |
| Looke who that is moost pacient in love, |
| He is at his avantage al above. |
| Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn, |
| For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn, |
| 775 | Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne. |
| For every word men may nat chide or pleyne. |
| Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon, |
| Ye shul it lerne, wher so ye wole or noon; |
| For in this world, certein, ther no wight is |
| 780 | That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys. |
| Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun, |
| Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun |
| Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken. |
| On every wrong a man may nat be wreken. |
| 785 | After the tyme moste be temperaunce |
| To every wight that kan on governaunce. |
| And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght, |
| To lyve in ese, suffrance hire bihight, |
| And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere |
| 790 | That nevere sholde ther be defaute in here. |
| Heere may men seen an humble, wys accord; |
| Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord -- |
| Servant in love, and lord in mariage. |
| Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and servage. |
| 795 | Servage? Nay, but in lordshipe above, |
| Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love; |
| His lady, certes, and his wyf also, |
| The which that lawe of love acordeth to. |
| And whan he was in this prosperitee, |
| 800 | Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree, |
| Nat fer fro Pedmark, ther his dwellyng was, |
| Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas. |
| Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be, |
| The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee |
| 805 | That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf? |
| A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf, |
| Til that the knyght of which I speke of thus, |
| That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, |
| Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or tweyne |
| 810 | In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne, |
| To seke in armes worshipe and honour -- |
| For al his lust he sette in swich labour -- |
| And dwelled there two yeer; the book seith thus. |
| Now wol I stynten of this Arveragus, |
| 815 | And speken I wole of Dorigen his wyf, |
| That loveth hire housbonde as hire hertes lyf. |
| For his absence wepeth she and siketh, |
| As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh. |
| She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth; |
| 820 | Desir of his presence hire so destreyneth |
| That al this wyde world she sette at noght. |
| Hire freendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght, |
| Conforten hire in al that ever they may. |
| They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day |
| 825 | That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas! |
| And every confort possible in this cas |
| They doon to hire with al hire bisynesse, |
| Al for to make hire leve hire hevynesse. |
| By proces, as ye knowen everichoon, |
| 830 | Men may so longe graven in a stoon |
| Til som figure therinne emprented be. |
| So longe han they conforted hire til she |
| Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun, |
| The emprentyng of hire consolacioun, |
| 835 | Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; |
| She may nat alwey duren in swich rage. |
| And eek Arveragus, in al this care, |
| Hath sent hire lettres hoom of his welfare, |
| And that he wol come hastily agayn; |
| 840 | Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. |
| Hire freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake |
| And preyde hire on knees, for Goddes sake, |
| To come and romen hire in compaignye, |
| Awey to dryve hire derke fantasye. |
| 845 | And finally she graunted that requeste, |
| For wel she saugh that it was for the beste. |
| Now stood hire castel faste by the see, |
| And often with hire freendes walketh shee |
| Hire to disporte upon the bank an heigh, |
| 850 | Where as she many a ship and barge seigh |
| Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go. |
| But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo, |
| For to hirself ful ofte, "Allas!" seith she, |
| "Is ther no ship, of so manye as I se, |
| 855 | Wol bryngen hom my lord? Thanne were myn herte |
| Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte." |
| Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thynke, |
| And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke. |
| But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake, |
| 860 | For verray feere so wolde hir herte quake |
| That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene. |
| Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene, |
| And pitously into the see biholde, |
| And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde: |
| 865 | "Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveiaunce |
| Ledest the world by certein governaunce, |
| In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make. |
| But, Lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, |
| That semen rather a foul confusion |
| 870 | Of werk than any fair creacion |
| Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable, |
| Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable? |
| For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest, |
| Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest; |
| 875 | It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth. |
| Se ye nat, Lord, how mankynde it destroyeth? |
| An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde |
| Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde, |
| Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk |
| 880 | That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. |
| Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee |
| Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee |
| That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen, |
| Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen? |
| 885 | I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste, |
| By argumentz, that al is for the beste, |
| Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe. |
| But thilke God that made wynd to blowe |
| As kepe my lord! This my conclusion. |
| 890 | To clerkes lete I al disputison. |
| But wolde God that alle thise rokkes blake |
| Were sonken into helle for his sake! |
| Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere." |
| Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere. |
| 895 | Hire freendes sawe that it was no disport |
| To romen by the see, but disconfort, |
| And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles. |
| They leden hire by ryveres and by welles, |
| And eek in othere places delitables; |
| 900 | They dauncen and they pleyen at ches and tables. |
| So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde, |
| Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde, |
| In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce |
| Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce, |
| 905 | They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. |
| And this was on the sixte morwe of May, |
| Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures |
| This gardyn ful of leves and of floures; |
| And craft of mannes hand so curiously |
| 910 | Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely, |
| That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys |
| But if it were the verray paradys. |
| The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte |
| Wolde han maked any herte lighte |
| 915 | That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse |
| Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse, |
| So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce. |
| At after-dyner gonne they to daunce, |
| And synge also, save Dorigen allone, |
| 920 | Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone, |
| For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go |
| That was hir housbonde and hir love also. |
| But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde |
| And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde. |
| 925 | Upon this daunce, amonges othere men, |
| Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen, |
| That fressher was and jolyer of array, |
| As to my doom, than is the month of May. |
| He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man |
| 930 | That is, or was, sith that the world bigan. |
| Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve, |
| Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve; |
| Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys, |
| And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys. |
| 935 | And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, |
| Unwityng of this Dorigen at al, |
| This lusty squier, servant to Venus, |
| Which that ycleped was Aurelius, |
| Hadde loved hire best of any creature |
| 940 | Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure, |
| But nevere dorste he tellen hire his grevaunce. |
| Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce. |
| He was despeyred; no thyng dorste he seye, |
| Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye |
| 945 | His wo, as in a general compleynyng; |
| He seyde he lovede and was biloved no thyng. |
| Of swich matere made he manye layes, |
| Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, |
| How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle, |
| 950 | But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle; |
| And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko |
| For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo. |
| In oother manere than ye heere me seye, |
| Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye, |
| 955 | Save that, paraventure, somtyme at daunces, |
| Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, |
| It may wel be he looked on hir face |
| In swich a wise as man that asketh grace; |
| But nothyng wiste she of his entente. |
| 960 | Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente, |
| By cause that he was hire neighebour, |
| And was a man of worshipe and honour, |
| And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore, |
| They fille in speche; and forth, moore and moore, |
| 965 | Unto his purpos drough Aurelius, |
| And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus: |
| "Madame," quod he, "by God that this world made, |
| So that I wiste it myghte youre herte glade, |
| I wolde that day that youre Arveragus |
| 970 | Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, |
| Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn. |
| For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn; |
| My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte. |
| Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte; |
| 975 | For with a word ye may me sleen or save. |
| Heere at youre feet God wolde that I were grave! |
| I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye; |
| Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye!" |
| She gan to looke upon Aurelius; |
| 980 | "Is this youre wyl," quod she, "and sey ye thus? |
| Nevere erst," quod she, "ne wiste I what ye mente. |
| But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente, |
| By thilke God that yaf me soule and lyf, |
| Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf |
| 985 | In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit; |
| I wol been his to whom that I am knyt. |
| Taak this for fynal answere as of me." |
| But after that in pley thus seyde she: |
| "Aurelie," quod she, "by heighe God above, |
| 990 | Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love, |
| Syn I yow se so pitously complayne. |
| Looke what day that endelong Britayne |
| Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon, |
| That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon -- |
| 995 | I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene |
| Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene, |
| Thanne wol I love yow best of any man; |
| Have heer my trouthe, in al that evere I kan." |
| "Is ther noon oother grace in yow?" quod he. |
| 1000 | "No, by that Lord," quod she, "that maked me! |
| For wel I woot that it shal never bityde. |
| Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde. |
| What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf |
| For to go love another mannes wyf, |
| 1005 | That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh?" |
| Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh; |
| Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herde, |
| And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde: |
| "Madame," quod he, "this were an inpossible! |
| 1010 | Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible." |
| And with that word he turned hym anon. |
| Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon, |
| And in the aleyes romeden up and doun, |
| And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun, |
| 1015 | But sodeynly bigonne revel newe |
| Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe; |
| For th' orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght -- |
| This is as muche to seye as it was nyght -- |
| And hoom they goon in joye and in solas, |
| 1020 | Save oonly wrecche Aurelius, allas! |
| He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte. |
| He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte; |
| Hym semed that he felte his herte colde. |
| Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde, |
| 1025 | And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun, |
| And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun. |
| For verray wo out of his wit he breyde. |
| He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde; |
| With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne |
| 1030 | Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne: |
| He seyde, "Appollo, god and governour |
| Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour, |
| That yevest, after thy declinacion, |
| To ech of hem his tyme and his seson, |
| 1035 | As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe, |
| Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable eighe |
| On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn. |
| Lo, lord! My lady hath my deeth ysworn |
| Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee |
| 1040 | Upon my dedly herte have som pitee. |
| For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest, |
| Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best. |
| Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse |
| How that I may been holpen and in what wyse. |
| 1045 | "Youre blisful suster, Lucina the sheene, |
| That of the see is chief goddesse and queene |
| (Though Neptunus have deitee in the see, |
| Yet emperisse aboven hym is she), |
| Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir |
| 1050 | Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fir, |
| For which she folweth yow ful bisily, |
| Right so the see desireth naturelly |
| To folwen hire, as she that is goddesse |
| Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse. |
| 1055 | Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste -- |
| Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste -- |
| That now next at this opposicion |
| Which in the signe shal be of the Leon, |
| As preieth hire so greet a flood to brynge |
| 1060 | That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge |
| The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne; |
| And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne. |
| Thanne certes to my lady may I seye, |
| `Holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.' |
| 1065 | "Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me. |
| Preye hire she go no faster cours than ye; |
| I seye, preyeth your suster that she go |
| No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. |
| Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alway, |
| 1070 | And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day. |
| And but she vouche sauf in swich manere |
| To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere, |
| Prey hire to synken every rok adoun |
| Into hir owene dirke regioun |
| 1075 | Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne, |
| Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne. |
| Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke. |
| Lord Phebus, se the teeris on my cheke, |
| And of my peyne have som compassioun." |
| 1080 | And with that word in swowne he fil adoun, |
| And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce. |
| His brother, which that knew of his penaunce, |
| Up caughte hym and to bedde he hath hym broght. |
| Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght |
| 1085 | Lete I this woful creature lye; |
| Chese he, for me, wheither he wol lyve or dye. |
| Arveragus, with heele and greet honour, |
| As he that was of chivalrie the flour, |
| Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men. |
| 1090 | O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen, |
| That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes, |
| The fresshe knyght, the worthy man of armes, |
| That loveth thee as his owene hertes lyf. |
| No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf, |
| 1095 | If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute, |
| To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute. |
| He noght entendeth to no swich mateere, |
| But daunceth, justeth, maketh hire good cheere; |
| And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle, |
| 1100 | And of the sike Aurelius wol I telle. |
| In langour and in torment furyus |
| Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelyus, |
| Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon; |
| Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon, |
| 1105 | Save of his brother, which that was a clerk. |
| He knew of al this wo and al this werk, |
| For to noon oother creature, certeyn, |
| Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. |
| Under his brest he baar it moore secree |
| 1110 | Than evere dide Pamphilus for Galathee. |
| His brest was hool, withoute for to sene, |
| But in his herte ay was the arwe kene. |
| And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure |
| In surgerye is perilous the cure, |
| 1115 | But men myghte touche the arwe or come therby. |
| His brother weep and wayled pryvely, |
| Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce, |
| That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce -- |
| As yonge clerkes that been lykerous |
| 1120 | To reden artes that been curious |
| Seken in every halke and every herne |
| Particuler sciences for to lerne -- |
| He hym remembred that, upon a day, |
| At Orliens in studie a book he say |
| 1125 | Of magyk natureel, which his felawe, |
| That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe, |
| Al were he ther to lerne another craft, |
| Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft; |
| Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns |
| 1130 | Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns |
| That longen to the moone, and swich folye |
| As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye -- |
| For hooly chirches feith in oure bileve |
| Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve. |
| 1135 | And whan this book was in his remembraunce, |
| Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce, |
| And to hymself he seyde pryvely: |
| "My brother shal be warisshed hastily; |
| For I am siker that ther be sciences |
| 1140 | By whiche men make diverse apparences, |
| Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye. |
| For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye |
| That tregetours withinne an halle large |
| Have maad come in a water and a barge, |
| 1145 | And in the halle rowen up and doun. |
| Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun; |
| And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede; |
| Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede; |
| Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon; |
| 1150 | And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon. |
| Thus semed it to every mannes sighte. |
| "Now thanne conclude I thus: that if I myghte |
| At Orliens som oold felawe yfynde |
| That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde, |
| 1155 | Or oother magyk natureel above, |
| He sholde wel make my brother han his love. |
| For with an apparence a clerk may make, |
| To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake |
| Of Britaigne weren yvoyded everichon, |
| 1160 | And shippes by the brynke comen and gon, |
| And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two. |
| Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo; |
| Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste, |
| Or elles he shal shame hire atte leeste." |
| 1165 | What sholde I make a lenger tale of this? |
| Unto his brotheres bed he comen is, |
| And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon |
| To Orliens that he up stirte anon, |
| And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare |
| 1170 | In hope for to been lissed of his care. |
| Whan they were come almoost to that citee, |
| But if it were a two furlong or thre, |
| A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette, |
| Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette, |
| 1175 | And after that he seyde a wonder thyng: |
| "I knowe," quod he, "the cause of youre comyng." |
| And er they ferther any foote wente, |
| He tolde hem al that was in hire entente. |
| This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes |
| 1180 | The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes, |
| And he answerde hym that they dede were, |
| For which he weep ful ofte many a teere. |
| Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon, |
| And with this magicien forth is he gon |
| 1185 | Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese. |
| Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese. |
| So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon |
| Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon. |
| He shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer, |
| 1190 | Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; |
| Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye, |
| The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye. |
| He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes, |
| And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes. |
| 1195 | He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer, |
| Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver, |
| That with hir haukes han the heron slayn. |
| Tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn; |
| And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce |
| 1200 | That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce, |
| On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte. |
| And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte |
| Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two, |
| And farewel! Al oure revel was ago. |
| 1205 | And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous, |
| Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous, |
| But in his studie, ther as his bookes be, |
| They seten stille, and no wight but they thre. |
| To hym this maister called his squier, |
| 1210 | And seyde hym thus: "Is redy oure soper? |
| Almoost an houre it is, I undertake, |
| Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make, |
| Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me |
| Into my studie, ther as my bookes be." |
| 1215 | "Sire," quod this squier, "whan it liketh yow, |
| It is al redy, though ye wol right now." |
| "Go we thanne soupe," quod he, "as for the beste. |
| Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste." |
| At after-soper fille they in tretee |
| 1220 | What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be |
| To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne, |
| And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne. |
| He made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save, |
| Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have, |
| 1225 | Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon. |
| Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon, |
| Answerde thus: "Fy on a thousand pound! |
| This wyde world, which that men seye is round, |
| I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it. |
| 1230 | This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt. |
| Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe! |
| But looketh now, for no necligence or slouthe |
| Ye tarie us heere no lenger than to-morwe." |
| "Nay," quod this clerk, "have heer my feith to borwe." |
| 1235 | To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste, |
| And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste. |
| What for his labour and his hope of blisse, |
| His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. |
| Upon the morwe, whan that it was day, |
| 1240 | To Britaigne tooke they the righte way, |
| Aurelius and this magicien bisyde, |
| And been descended ther they wolde abyde. |
| And this was, as thise bookes me remembre, |
| The colde, frosty seson of Decembre. |
| 1245 | Phebus wax old, and hewed lyk laton, |
| That in his hoote declynacion |
| Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte; |
| But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, |
| Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn. |
| 1250 | The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn, |
| Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd. |
| Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd, |
| And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn; |
| Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn, |
| 1255 | And "Nowel" crieth every lusty man. |
| Aurelius in al that evere he kan |
| Dooth to this maister chiere and reverence, |
| And preyeth hym to doon his diligence |
| To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte, |
| 1260 | Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. |
| This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man |
| That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan |
| To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun; |
| This is to seye, to maken illusioun, |
| 1265 | By swich an apparence or jogelrye -- |
| I ne kan no termes of astrologye -- |
| That she and every wight sholde wene and seye |
| That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye, |
| Or ellis they were sonken under grounde. |
| 1270 | So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde |
| To maken his japes and his wrecchednesse |
| Of swich a supersticious cursednesse. |
| His tables Tolletanes forth he brought, |
| Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought, |
| 1275 | Neither his collect ne his expans yeeris, |
| Ne his rootes, ne his othere geeris, |
| As been his centris and his argumentz |
| And his proporcioneles convenientz |
| For his equacions in every thyng. |
| 1280 | And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng |
| He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove |
| Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above, |
| That in the ninthe speere considered is; |
| Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this. |
| 1285 | Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun, |
| He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun, |
| And knew the arisyng of his moone weel, |
| And in whos face, and terme, and everydeel; |
| And knew ful weel the moones mansioun |
| 1290 | Acordaunt to his operacioun, |
| And knew also his othere observaunces |
| For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces |
| As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes. |
| For which no lenger maked he delayes, |
| 1295 | But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, |
| It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye. |
| Aurelius, which that yet despeired is |
| Wher he shal han his love or fare amys, |
| Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle; |
| 1300 | And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, |
| That voyded were thise rokkes everychon, |
| Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon, |
| And seyde, "I woful wrecche, Aurelius, |
| Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus, |
| 1305 | That me han holpen fro my cares colde." |
| And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde, |
| Where as he knew he sholde his lady see. |
| And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right hee, |
| With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere, |
| 1310 | Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere: |
| "My righte lady," quod this woful man, |
| "Whom I moost drede and love as I best kan, |
| And lothest were of al this world displese, |
| Nere it that I for yow have swich disese |
| 1315 | That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon, |
| Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon. |
| But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne; |
| Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne. |
| But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe, |
| 1320 | Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe. |
| Repenteth yow, for thilke God above, |
| Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love. |
| For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight -- |
| Nat that I chalange any thyng of right |
| 1325 | Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace -- |
| But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place, |
| Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me; |
| And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye |
| To love me best -- God woot, ye seyde so, |
| 1330 | Al be that I unworthy am therto. |
| Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow |
| Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now -- |
| I have do so as ye comanded me; |
| And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see. |
| 1335 | Dooth as yow list; have youre biheste in mynde, |
| For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde. |
| In yow lith al to do me lyve or deye -- |
| But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye." |
| He taketh his leve, and she astoned stood; |
| 1340 | In al hir face nas a drope of blood. |
| She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe. |
| "Allas," quod she, "that evere this sholde happe! |
| For wende I nevere by possibilitee |
| That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be! |
| 1345 | It is agayns the proces of nature." |
| And hoom she goth a sorweful creature; |
| For verray feere unnethe may she go. |
| She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two, |
| And swowneth, that it routhe was to see. |
| 1350 | But why it was to no wight tolde shee, |
| For out of towne was goon Arveragus. |
| But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus, |
| With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere, |
| In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere: |
| 1355 | "Allas," quod she, "on thee, Fortune, I pleyne, |
| That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne, |
| Fro which t' escape woot I no socour, |
| Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour; |
| Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. |
| 1360 | But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese |
| My lif than of my body to have a shame, |
| Or knowe myselven fals, or lese my name; |
| And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis. |
| Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this, |
| 1365 | And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas, |
| Rather than with hir body doon trespas? |
| "Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse: |
| Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse, |
| Hadde slayn Phidon in Atthenes atte feste, |
| 1370 | They comanded his doghtres for t' areste |
| And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit, |
| Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit, |
| And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce |
| Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce! |
| 1375 | For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede, |
| Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede, |
| They prively been stirt into a welle |
| And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle. |
| "They of Mecene leete enquere and seke |
| 1380 | Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke, |
| On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye. |
| But was ther noon of al that compaignye |
| That she nas slayn, and with a good entente |
| Chees rather for to dye than assente |
| 1385 | To been oppressed of hir maydenhede. |
| Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede? |
| Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides, |
| That loved a mayden, heet Stymphalides, |
| Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght, |
| 1390 | Unto Dianes temple goth she right, |
| And hente the ymage in hir handes two, |
| Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go. |
| No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace |
| Til she was slayn, right in the selve place. |
| 1395 | "Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit |
| To been defouled with mannes foul delit, |
| Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee |
| Than be defouled, as it thynketh me. |
| What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf, |
| 1400 | That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf? |
| For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun, |
| She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun |
| Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye |
| Than any Romayn dide hire vileynye. |
| 1405 | Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself, allas, |
| At Rome, whan that she oppressed was |
| Of Tarquyn, for hire thoughte it was a shame |
| To lyven whan she hadde lost hir name? |
| The sevene maydens of Milesie also |
| 1410 | Han slayn hemself, for verrey drede and wo, |
| Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse. |
| Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse, |
| Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere. |
| Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere |
| 1415 | Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde |
| In Habradates woundes depe and wyde, |
| And seyde, `My body, at the leeste way, |
| Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may." |
| "What sholde I mo ensamples heerof sayn, |
| 1420 | Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn |
| Wel rather than they wolde defouled be? |
| I wol conclude that it is bet for me |
| To sleen myself than been defouled thus. |
| I wol be trewe unto Arveragus, |
| 1425 | Or rather sleen myself in som manere, |
| As dide Demociones doghter deere |
| By cause that she wolde nat defouled be. |
| O Cedasus, it is ful greet pitee |
| To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas, |
| 1430 | That slowe hemself for swich manere cas. |
| As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore, |
| The Theban mayden that for Nichanore |
| Hirselven slow, right for swich manere wo. |
| Another Theban mayden dide right so; |
| 1435 | For oon of Macidonye hadde hire oppressed, |
| She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed. |
| What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf, |
| That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf? |
| How trewe eek was to Alcebiades |
| 1440 | His love, that rather for to dyen chees |
| Than for to suffre his body unburyed be. |
| Lo, which a wyf was Alceste," quod she. |
| "What seith Omer of goode Penalopee? |
| Al Grece knoweth of hire chastitee. |
| 1445 | Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus, |
| That whan at Troie was slayn Protheselaus, |
| Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day. |
| The same of noble Porcia telle I may; |
| Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyve, |
| 1450 | To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive. |
| The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie |
| Honured is thurgh al the Barbarie. |
| O Teuta, queene, thy wyfly chastitee |
| To alle wyves may a mirour bee. |
| 1455 | The same thyng I seye of Bilyea, |
| Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria." |
| Thus pleyned Dorigen a day or tweye, |
| Purposynge evere that she wolde deye. |
| But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght, |
| 1460 | Hoom cam Arveragus, this worthy knyght, |
| And asked hire why that she weep so soore; |
| And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore. |
| "Allas," quod she, "that evere was I born! |
| Thus have I seyd," quod she, "thus have I sworn" -- |
| 1465 | And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore; |
| It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore. |
| This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse |
| Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse: |
| "Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?" |
| 1470 | "Nay, nay," quod she, "God helpe me so as wys! |
| This is to muche, and it were Goddes wille." |
| "Ye, wyf," quod he, "lat slepen that is stille. |
| It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day. |
| Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay! |
| 1475 | For God so wisly have mercy upon me, |
| I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be |
| For verray love which that I to yow have, |
| But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save. |
| Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe" -- |
| 1480 | But with that word he brast anon to wepe, |
| And seyde, "I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth, |
| That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth, |
| To no wight telle thou of this aventure -- |
| As I may best, I wol my wo endure -- |
| 1485 | Ne make no contenance of hevynesse, |
| That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse." |
| And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde: |
| "Gooth forth anon with Dorigen," he sayde, |
| "And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon." |
| 1490 | They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon, |
| But they ne wiste why she thider wente. |
| He nolde no wight tellen his entente. |
| Paraventure an heep of yow, ywis, |
| Wol holden hym a lewed man in this |
| 1495 | That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie. |
| Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie. |
| She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth; |
| And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth. |
| This squier, which that highte Aurelius, |
| 1500 | On Dorigen that was so amorus, |
| Of aventure happed hire to meete |
| Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete, |
| As she was bown to goon the wey forth right |
| Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight. |
| 1505 | And he was to the gardyn-ward also; |
| For wel he spyed whan she wolde go |
| Out of hir hous to any maner place. |
| But thus they mette, of aventure or grace, |
| And he saleweth hire with glad entente, |
| 1510 | And asked of hire whiderward she wente; |
| And she answerde, half as she were mad, |
| "Unto the gardyn, as myn housbonde bad, |
| My trouthe for to holde -- allas, allas!" |
| Aurelius gan wondren on this cas, |
| 1515 | And in his herte hadde greet compassioun |
| Of hire and of hire lamentacioun, |
| And of Arveragus, the worthy knyght, |
| That bad hire holden al that she had hight, |
| So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe; |
| 1520 | And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe, |
| Considerynge the beste on every syde, |
| That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde |
| Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse |
| Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse; |
| 1525 | For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: |
| "Madame, seyth to youre lord Arveragus |
| That sith I se his grete gentillesse |
| To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse, |
| That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe) |
| 1530 | Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe, |
| I have wel levere evere to suffre wo |
| Than I departe the love bitwix yow two. |
| I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond |
| Quyt every serement and every bond |
| 1535 | That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn, |
| Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born. |
| My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve |
| Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve, |
| As of the treweste and the beste wyf |
| 1540 | That evere yet I knew in al my lyf. |
| But every wyf be war of hire biheeste! |
| On Dorigen remembreth, atte leeste. |
| Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede |
| As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede." |
| 1545 | She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare, |
| And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare, |
| And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd; |
| And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd |
| That it were impossible me to wryte. |
| 1550 | What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? |
| Arveragus and Dorigen his wyf |
| In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf. |
| Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene. |
| He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene, |
| 1555 | And she was to hym trewe for everemoore. |
| Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore. |
| Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn, |
| Curseth the tyme that evere he was born: |
| "Allas!" quod he. "Allas, that I bihighte |
| 1560 | Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte |
| Unto this philosophre! How shal I do? |
| I se namoore but that I am fordo. |
| Myn heritage moot I nedes selle, |
| And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle |
| 1565 | And shamen al my kynrede in this place, |
| But I of hym may gete bettre grace. |
| But nathelees, I wole of hym assaye, |
| At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye, |
| And thanke hym of his grete curteisye. |
| 1570 | My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye." |
| With herte soor he gooth unto his cofre, |
| And broghte gold unto this philosophre, |
| The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse, |
| And hym bisecheth, of his gentillesse, |
| 1575 | To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt; |
| And seyde, "Maister, I dar wel make avaunt, |
| I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit. |
| For sikerly my dette shal be quyt |
| Towardes yow, howevere that I fare |
| 1580 | To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare. |
| But wolde ye vouche sauf, upon seuretee, |
| Two yeer or thre for to respiten me, |
| Thanne were I wel; for elles moot I selle |
| Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle." |
| 1585 | This philosophre sobrely answerde, |
| And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde: |
| "Have I nat holden covenant unto thee?" |
| "Yes, certes, wel and trewely," quod he. |
| "Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh?" |
| 1590 | "No, no," quod he, and sorwefully he siketh. |
| "What was the cause? Tel me if thou kan." |
| Aurelius his tale anon bigan, |
| And tolde hym al, as ye han herd bifoore; |
| It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore. |
| 1595 | He seide, "Arveragus, of gentillesse, |
| Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse |
| Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals." |
| The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als; |
| How looth hire was to been a wikked wyf, |
| 1600 | And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf, |
| And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence, |
| She nevere erst hadde herde speke of apparence. |
| "That made me han of hire so greet pitee; |
| And right as frely as he sente hire me, |
| 1605 | As frely sente I hire to hym ageyn. |
| This al and som; ther is namoore to seyn." |
| This philosophre answerde, "Leeve brother, |
| Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother. |
| Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght; |
| 1610 | But God forbede, for his blisful myght, |
| But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede |
| As wel as any of yow, it is no drede! |
| Sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound, |
| As thou right now were cropen out of the ground, |
| 1615 | Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me. |
| For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee |
| For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille. |
| Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille. |
| It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day!" |
| 1620 | And took his hors, and forth he goth his way. |
| Lordynges, this question, thanne, wol I aske now, |
| Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow? |
| Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende. |
| I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende. |