| My maister Bukton, whan of Crist our kyng |
| Was axed what is trouthe or sothfastnesse, |
| He nat a word answerde to that axing, |
| As who saith, "No man is al trewe," I gesse. |
| 5 | And therfore, though I highte to expresse |
| The sorwe and wo that is in mariage, |
| I dar not writen of it no wikkednesse, |
| Lest I myself falle eft in swich dotage. |
| |
| I wol nat seyn how that yt is the cheyne |
| 10 | Of Sathanas, on which he gnaweth evere, |
| But I dar seyn, were he out of his peyne, |
| As by his wille he wolde be bounde nevere. |
| But thilke doted fool that eft hath levere |
| Ycheyned be than out of prison crepe, |
| 15 | God lete him never fro his wo dissevere, |
| Ne no man him bewayle, though he wepe. |
| |
| But yet, lest thow do worse, take a wyf; |
| Bet ys to wedde than brenne in worse wise. |
| But thow shal have sorwe on thy flessh, thy lyf, |
| 20 | And ben thy wives thral, as seyn these wise; |
| And yf that hooly writ may nat suffyse, |
| Experience shal the teche, so may happe, |
| That the were lever to be take in Frise |
| Than eft to falle of weddynge in the trappe. |
| |
| |
| 25 | This lytel writ, proverbes, or figure |
| I sende yow; take kepe of yt, I rede; |
| Unwys is he that kan no wele endure. |
| If thow be siker, put the nat in drede. |
| The Wyf of Bathe I pray yow that ye rede |
| 30 | Of this matere that we have on honde. |
| God graunte yow your lyf frely to lede |
| In fredam, for ful hard is to be bonde. |