The Tale + 

In oldë dayës of the king Arthoúr, + 

Of which that Britons speakë great honoúr, + 

All was this land full fill’d of faërie; + 

The Elf-queen, with her jolly company, + 

Danced full oft in many a green mead. + 

This was the old opinion, as I read; + 

I speak of many hundred years ago; + 

But now can no man see none elvës mo’, + 

For now the great charitý and prayéres + 

Of limitours, and other holy freres, + 

That search every land and ev’ry stream, + 

As thick as motës in the sunnë-beam, + 

Blessing halls, chambers, kitchenës, and bowers, + 

Cities and burghës, castles high and towers, + 

Thorpës and barnës, shepens and dairies, + 

This makes that there be now no faëries: + 

For there as wont to walkë was an elf, + 

There walketh now the limitour himself, + 

In undermelës and in morrownings, + 

And saith his matins and his holy things, + 

As he goes in his limitatioún. + 

Women may now go safely up and down, + 

In every bush, and under every tree; + 

There is none other incubus but he; + 

And he will do to them no dishonoúr. + 

And so befell it, that this king Arthoúr + 

Had in his house a lusty bachelér, + 

That on a day came riding from rivér: + 

And happen’d, that, alone as she was born, + 

He saw a maiden walking him beforn, + 

Of which maiden anon, maugré her head, + 

By very force he reft her maidenhead: + 

For which oppressión was such clamoúr, + 

And such pursuit unto the king Arthoúr, + 

That damned was this knight for to be dead + 

By course of law, and should have lost his head; + 

(Paráventure such was the statute tho), + 

But that the queen and other ladies mo’ + 

So long they prayed the king of his grace, + 

Till he his life him granted in the place, + 

And gave him to the queen, all at her will + 

To choose whether she would him save or spill. + 

The queen thanked the king with all her might; + 

And, after this, thus spake she to the knight, + 

When that she saw her time upon a day. + 

“Thou standest yet,” quoth she, “in such array, + 

That of thy life yet hast thou no suretý; + 

I grant thee life, if thou canst tell to me + 

What thing is it that women most desiren: + 

Beware, and keep thy neck-bone from the iron. + 

And if thou canst not tell it me anon, + 

Yet will I give thee leavë for to gon + 

A twelvemonth and a day, to seek and lear + 

An answer suffisant in this mattére. + 

And surety will I have, ere that thou pace, + 

Thy body for to yielden in this place.” + 

Woe was the knight, and sorrowfully siked; + 

But what? he might not do all as him liked. + 

And at the last he chose him for to wend, + 

And come again, right at the yearë’s end, + 

With such answér as God would him purvey: + 

And took his leave, and wended forth his way. + 

He sought in ev’ry house and ev’ry place, + 

Where as he hoped for to findë grace, + 

To learnë what thing women love the most: + 

But he could not arrive in any coast, + 

Where as he mightë find in this mattére + 

Two creatures accordíng in fere. + 

Some said that women loved best richéss, + 

Some said honoúr, and some said jolliness, + 

Some rich array, and some said lust a-bed, + 

And oft time to be widow and be wed. + 

Some said, that we are in our heart most eased + 

When that we are y-flatter’d and y-praised. + 

He went full nigh the sooth, I will not lie; + 

A man shall win us best with flattery; + 

And with attendance, and with business + 

Be we y-liméd, bothë more and less. + 

And some men said that we do love the best + 

For to be free, and do right as us lest, + 

And that no man reprove us of our vice, + 

But say that we are wise, and nothing nice, + 

For truly there is none among us all, + 

If any wight will claw us on the gall, + 

That will not kick, for that he saith us sooth: + 

Assay, and he shall find it, that so do’th. + 

For be we never so vicioús within, + 

We will be held both wise and clean of sin. + 

And some men said, that great delight have we + 

For to be held stable and eke secré, + 

And in one purpose steadfastly to dwell, + 

And not bewray a thing that men us tell. + 

But that tale is not worth a rakë-stele. + 

Pardie, we women cannë nothing hele, + 

Witness on Midas; will ye hear the tale? + 

Ovid, amongës other thingës smale, + 

Saith, Midas had, under his longë hairs, + 

Growing upon his head two ass’s ears; + 

The whichë vice he hid, as best he might, + 

Full subtlely from every man’s sight, + 

That, save his wife, there knew of it no mo’; + 

He lov’d her most, and trusted her also; + 

He prayed her, that to no creature + 

She wouldë tellen of his disfigúre. + 

She swore him, nay, for all the world to win, + 

She would not do that villainy or sin, + 

To make her husband have so foul a name: + 

She would not tell it for her owen shame. + 

But natheless her thoughtë that she died, + 

That she so longë should a counsel hide; + 

Her thought it swell’d so sore about her heart, + 

That needës must some word from her astart; + 

And, since she durst not tell it unto man, + 

Down to a marish fast thereby she ran, + 

Till she came there, her heart was all afire: + 

And, as a bittern bumbles in the mire, + 

She laid her mouth unto the water down. + 

“Bewray me not, thou water, with thy soun’,” + 

Quoth she, “to thee I tell it, and no mo’, + 

Mine husband hath long ass’s earës two! + 

Now is mine heart all whole; now is it out; + 

I might no longer keep it, out of doubt.” + 

Here may ye see, though we a time abide, + 

Yet out it must, we can no counsel hide. + 

The remnant of the tale, if ye will hear, + 

Read in Ovíd, and there ye may it lear. + 

This knight, of whom my tale is specially, + 

When that he saw he might not come thereby⁠— + 

That is to say, what women love the most⁠— + 

Within his breast full sorrowful was his ghost. + 

But home he went, for he might not sojourn, + 

The day was come, that homeward he must turn. + 

And in his way it happen’d him to ride, + 

In all his care, under a forest side, + 

Where as he saw upon a dancë go + 

Of ladies four-and-twenty, and yet mo’, + 

Toward this ilkë dance he drew full yern, + 

The hope that he some wisdom there should learn; + 

But certainly, ere he came fully there, + 

Y-vanish’d was this dance, he knew not where; + 

No creaturë saw he that bare life, + 

Save on the green he sitting saw a wife⁠— + 

A fouler wight there may no man devise. + 

Against this knight this old wife gan to rise, + 

And said, “Sir Knight, hereforth lieth no way. + 

Tell me what ye are seeking, by your fay. + 

Paráventure it may the better be: + 

These oldë folk know muchë thing,” quoth she. + 

“My levë mother,” quoth this knight, “certáin, + 

I am but dead, but if that I can sayn + 

What thing it is that women most desire: + 

Could ye me wiss, I would well quite your hire.” + 

“Plight me thy troth here in mine hand,” quoth she, + 

“The nextë thing that I require of thee + 

Thou shalt it do, if it be in thy might, + 

And I will tell it thee ere it be night.” + 

“Have here my trothë,” quoth the knight; “I grant.” + 

“Thennë,” quoth she, “I dare me well avaunt, + 

Thy life is safe, for I will stand thereby, + 

Upon my life the queen will say as I: + 

Let see, which is the proudest of them all, + 

That wears either a kerchief or a caul, + 

That dare say nay to that I shall you teach. + 

Let us go forth withoutë longer speech.” + 

Then rowned she a pistel in his ear, + 

And bade him to be glad, and have no fear. + 

When they were come unto the court, this knight + 

Said, he had held his day, as he had hight, + 

And ready was his answer, as he said. + 

Full many a noble wife, and many a maid, + 

And many a widow, for that they be wise⁠— + 

The queen herself sitting as a justíce⁠— + 

Assembled be, his answer for to hear, + 

And afterward this knight was bid appear. + 

To every wight commanded was silénce, + 

And that the knight should tell in audience, + 

What thing that worldly women love the best. + 

This knight he stood not still, as doth a beast, + 

But to this questión anon answér’d + 

With manly voice, that all the court it heard, + 

“My liegë lady, generally,” quoth he, + 

“Women desire to have the sovereignty + 

As well over their husband as their love, + 

And for to be in mast’ry him above. + 

This is your most desire, though ye me kill, + 

Do as you list, I am here at your will.” + 

In all the court there was no wife nor maid, + 

Nor widow, that contráried what he said, + 

But said, he worthy was to have his life. + 

And with that word up start that oldë wife + 

Which that the knight saw sitting on the green. + 

“Mercy,” quoth she, “my sovereign lady queen, + 

Ere that your court departë, do me right. + 

I taughtë this answér unto this knight, + 

For which he plighted me his trothë there, + 

The firstë thing I would of him requere, + 

He would it do, if it lay in his might. + 

Before this court then pray I thee, Sir Knight,” + 

Quoth she, “that thou me take unto thy wife, + 

For well thou know’st that I have kept thy life. + 

If I say false, say nay, upon thy fay.” + 

This knight answér’d, “Alas, and well-away! + 

I know right well that such was my behest. + 

For Goddë’s lovë choose a new request: + 

Take all my good, and let my body go.” + 

“Nay, then,” quoth she, “I shrew us bothë two, + 

For though that I be old, and foul, and poor, + 

I n’ould for all the metal nor the ore, + 

That under earth is grave, or lies above, + 

But if thy wife I were and eke thy love.” + 

“My love?” quoth he, “nay, my damnatión, + 

Alas! that any of my natión + 

Should ever so foul disparáged be.” + 

But all for nought; the end is this, that he + 

Constrained was, that needs he must her wed, + 

And take this oldë wife, and go to bed. + 

Now wouldë some men say paráventure, + 

That for my negligence I do no cure + 

To tell you all the joy and all th’ array + 

That at the feast was made that ilkë day. + 

To which thing shortly answeren I shall: + 

I say there was no joy nor feast at all, + 

There was but heaviness and muchë sorrow: + 

For privily he wed her on the morrow; + 

And all day after hid him as an owl, + 

So woe was him, his wifë look’d so foul. + 

Great was the woe the knight had in his thought + 

When he was with his wife to bed y-brought; + 

He wallow’d, and he turned to and fro. + 

This oldë wife lay smiling evermo’, + 

And said, “Dear husband, benedicite, + 

Fares every knight thus with his wife as ye? + 

Is this the law of king Arthoúrë’s house? + 

Is every knight of his thus dangerous? + 

I am your owen love, and eke your wife, + 

I am she, which that saved hath your life, + 

And certes yet did I you ne’er unright. + 

Why fare ye thus with me this firstë night? + 

Ye farë like a man had lost his wit. + 

What is my guilt? for God’s love tell me it, + 

And it shall be amended, if I may.” + 

“Amended!” quoth this knight; “alas, nay, nay, + 

It will not be amended, never mo’; + 

Thou art so loathly, and so old also, + 

And thereto comest of so low a kind, + 

That little wonder though I wallow and wind; + 

So wouldë God, mine heartë wouldë brest!” + 

“Is this,” quoth she, “the cause of your unrest?” + 

“Yea, certainly,” quoth he; “no wonder is.” + 

“Now, Sir,” quoth she, “I could amend all this, + 

If that me list, ere it were dayës three, + 

So well ye mightë bear you unto me. + 

But, for ye speaken of such gentleness + 

As is descended out of old richéss, + 

That therefore shallë ye be gentlemen; + 

Such arrogancy is not worth a hen. + 

Look who that is most virtuous alway, + 

Prive and apert, and most intendeth aye + 

To do the gentle deedës that he can; + 

And take him for the greatest gentleman. + 

Christ will, we claim of him our gentleness, + 

Not of our elders for their old richéss. + 

For though they gave us all their heritage, + 

For which we claim to be of high parage, + 

Yet may they not bequeathë, for no thing, + 

To none of us, their virtuous living + 

That made them gentlemen called to be, + 

And bade us follow them in such degree. + 

Well can the wisë poet of Florence, + 

That hightë Dante, speak of this senténce: + 

Lo, in such manner rhyme is Dante’s tale. + 

‘Full seld’ upriseth by his branches smale + 

Prowess of man, for God of his goodness + 

Wills that we claim of him our gentleness;’ + 

For of our elders may we nothing claim + 

But temp’ral things that man may hurt and maim. + 

Eke every wight knows this as well as I, + 

If gentleness were planted naturally + 

Unto a certain lineage down the line, + 

Prive and apert, then would they never fine + 

To do of gentleness the fair offíce; + 

Then might they do no villainy nor vice. + 

Take fire, and bear it to the darkest house + 

Betwixt this and the mount of Caucasus, + 

And let men shut the doorës, and go thenne, + 

Yet will the fire as fair and lightë brenne + 

As twenty thousand men might it behold; + 

Its office natural aye will it hold⁠— + 

On peril of my life⁠—till that it die. + 

Here may ye see well how that gentery + 

Is not annexed to possessión, + 

Since folk do not their operatión + 

Alway, as doth the fire, lo, in its kind. + 

For, God it wot, men may full often find + 

A lordë’s son do shame and villainy. + 

And he that will have price of his gent’ry, + 

For he was boren of a gentle house, + 

And had his elders noble and virtuoús, + 

And will himselfë do no gentle deedës, + 

Nor follow his gentle ancestry, that dead is, + 

He is not gentle, be he duke or earl; + 

For villain sinful deedës make a churl. + 

For gentleness is but the renomée + 

Of thine ancéstors, for their high bounté, + 

Which is a strangë thing to thy persón: + 

Thy gentleness cometh from God alone. + 

Then comes our very gentleness of grace; + 

It was no thing bequeath’d us with our place. + 

Think how noble, as saith Valerius, + 

Was thilkë Tullius Hostilius, + 

That out of povert’ rose to high nobless. + 

Read in Senec, and read eke in Boece, + 

There shall ye see express, that it no drede is, + 

That he is gentle that doth gentle deedës. + 

And therefore, levë husband, I conclude, + 

Albeit that mine ancestors were rude, + 

Yet may the highë God⁠—and so hope I⁠— + 

Grant me His grace to live virtuously: + 

Then am I gentle when that I begin + 

To live virtuously, and waivë sin. + 

“And whereas ye of povert’ me repreve, + 

The highë God, on whom that we believe, + 

In wilful povert’ chose to lead his life: + 

And certes, every man, maiden, or wife + 

May understand that Jesus, heaven’s king, + 

Ne would not choose a virtuous living. + 

Glad povert’ is an honest thing, certáin; + 

This will Senec and other clerkës sayn. + 

Whoso that holds him paid of his povért’, + 

I hold him rich, though he hath not a shirt. + 

He that covéteth is a poorë wight + 

For he would have what is not in his might. + 

But he that nought hath, nor covéteth t’ have, + 

Is rich, although ye hold him but a knave. + 

Very povért’ is sinnë, properly. + 

Juvenal saith of povert’ merrily: + 

The poorë man, when he goes by the way, + 

Before the thievës he may sing and play. + 

Povért’ is hateful good; and, as I guess, + 

A full great bringer out of business; + 

A great amender eke of sapience + 

To him that taketh it in patience. + 

Povert’ is this, although it seem elenge, + 

Possessión that no wight will challénge. + 

Povert’ full often, when a man is low, + 

Makes him his God and eke himself to know: + 

Povert’ a spectacle is, as thinketh me, + 

Through which he may his very friendës see. + 

And, therefore, Sir, since that I you not grieve, + 

Of my povert’ no morë me repreve. + 

“Now, Sir, of eldë ye reprevë me: + 

And certes, Sir, though none authority + 

Were in no book, ye gentles of honoúr + 

Say, that men should an oldë wight honoúr, + 

And call him father, for your gentleness; + 

And authors shall I finden, as I guess. + 

Now there ye say that I am foul and old, + 

Then dread ye not to be a cokëwold. + 

For filth, and eldë, all so may I thé, + 

Be greatë wardens upon chastity. + 

But natheless, since I know your delight, + 

I shall fulfil your wordly appetite. + 

Choose now,” quoth she, “one of these thingës tway, + 

To have me foul and old till that I dey, + 

And be to you a truë humble wife, + 

And never you displease in all my life: + 

Or ellës will ye have me young and fair, + 

And take your áventure of the repair + 

That shall be to your house because of me⁠— + 

Or in some other place, it may well be? + 

Now choose yourselfë whether that you liketh.” + 

This knight adviseth him, and sore he siketh, + 

But at the last he said in this mannére; + 

“My lady and my love, and wife so dear, + 

I put me in your wisë governance, + 

Choose for yourself which may be most pleasance + 

And most honoúr to you and me also; + 

I do no force the whether of the two: + 

For as you liketh, it sufficeth me.” + 

“Then have I got the mastery,” quoth she, + 

“Since I may choose and govern as me lest.” + 

“Yea, certes wife,” quoth he, “I hold it best.” + 

“Kiss me,” quoth she, “we are no longer wroth, + 

For by my troth I will be to you both; + 

This is to say, yea, bothë fair and good. + 

I pray to God that I may stervë wood, + 

But I to you be all so good and true, + 

As ever was wife since the world was new; + 

And but I be to-morrow as fair to seen, + 

As any lady, emperess or queen, + 

That is betwixt the East and eke the West, + 

Do with my life and death right as you lest. + 

Cast up the curtain, and look how it is.” + 

And when the knight saw verily all this, + 

That she so fair was, and so young thereto, + 

For joy he hent her in his armës two: + 

His heartë bathed in a bath of bliss, + 

A thousand times on row he gan her kiss: + 

And she obeyed him in every thing + 

That mightë do him pleasance or liking. + 

And thus they live unto their livës’ end + 

In perfect joy; and Jesus Christ us send + 

Husbandës meek and young, and fresh in bed, + 

And grace to overlive them that we wed. + 

And eke I pray Jesus to short their lives, + 

That will not be govérned by their wives. + 

And old and angry niggards of dispence, + 

God send them soon a very pestilence! + 