{"id":771,"date":"2019-03-28T17:55:35","date_gmt":"2019-03-28T17:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/epcc-britlit1\/?post_type=chapter&p=771"},"modified":"2019-07-22T15:23:53","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T15:23:53","slug":"771","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/epcc-britlit1\/chapter\/771\/","title":{"raw":"The Wife of Bath's Prologue (a selection)","rendered":"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue (a selection)"},"content":{"raw":"
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THE PROLOGUE<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\r\n'Experience, though noon auctoritee\r\nWere in this world, were right y-nough to me\r\nTo speke of wo that is in mariage;\r\nFor, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age,\r\nThonked be god that is eterne on lyve,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a05<\/span>\r\nHousbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve;\r\nFor I so ofte have y-wedded be;\r\nAnd alle were worthy men in hir degree.\r\nBut me was told certeyn, nat longe agon is,\r\nThat sith that Crist ne wente never but onis\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a010<\/span>\r\nTo wedding in the Cane of Galilee,\r\nThat by the same ensample taughte he me\r\nThat I ne sholde wedded be but ones.\r\nHerke eek, lo! which a sharp word for the nones\r\nBesyde a welle Iesus, god and man,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a015<\/span>\r\nSpak in repreve of the Samaritan:\r\n\"Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes,\" quod he,\r\n\"And thilke man, the which that hath now thee,\r\nIs noght thyn housbond;\" thus seyde he certeyn;\r\nWhat that he mente ther-by, I can nat seyn;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a020<\/span>\r\nBut that I axe, why that the fifthe man\r\nWas noon housbond to the Samaritan?\r\nHow manye mighte she have in mariage?\r\nYet herde I never tellen in myn age\r\nUpon this nombre diffinicioun;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a025<\/span>\r\nMen may devyne and glosen up and doun.\r\nBut wel I woot expres, with-oute lye,\r\nGod bad us for to wexe and multiplye;\r\nThat gentil text can I wel understonde.\r\nEek wel I woot he seyde, myn housbonde\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a030<\/span>\r\nSholde lete fader and moder, and take me;\r\nBut of no nombre mencioun made he,\r\nOf bigamye or of octogamye;\r\nWhy sholde men speke of it vileinye?\r\n\r\nLo, here the wyse king, dan Salomon;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a035<\/span>\r\nI trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon;\r\nAs, wolde god, it leveful were to me\r\nTo be refresshed half so ofte as he!\r\nWhich yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyvis!\r\nNo man hath swich, that in this world alyve is.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a040<\/span>\r\nGod woot, this noble king, as to my wit,\r\nThe firste night had many a mery fit\r\nWith ech of hem, so wel was him on lyve!\r\nBlessed be god that I have wedded fyve!\r\nWelcome the sixte, whan that ever he shal.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a045<\/span>\r\nFor sothe, I wol nat kepe me chast in al;\r\nWhan myn housbond is fro the world y-gon,\r\nSom Cristen man shal wedde me anon;\r\nFor thanne thapostle seith, that I am free\r\nTo wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh me.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a050<\/span>\r\nHe seith that to be wedded is no sinne;\r\nBet is to be wedded than to brinne.\r\nWhat rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileinye\r\nOf shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?\r\nI woot wel Abraham was an holy man,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a055<\/span>\r\nAnd Iacob eek, as ferforth as I can;\r\nAnd ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two;\r\nAnd many another holy man also.\r\nWhan saugh ye ever, in any maner age,\r\nThat hye god defended mariage\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a060<\/span>\r\nBy expres word? I pray you, telleth me;\r\nOr wher comanded he virginitee?\r\nI woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,\r\nThapostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede;\r\nHe seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he noon.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a065<\/span>\r\nMen may conseille a womman to been oon,\r\nBut conseilling is no comandement;\r\nHe putte it in our owene Iugement.\r\nFor hadde god comanded maydenhede,\r\nThanne hadde he dampned wedding with the dede;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a070<\/span>\r\nAnd certes, if ther were no seed y-sowe,\r\nVirginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe?\r\nPoul dorste nat comanden atte leste\r\nA thing of which his maister yaf noon heste.\r\nThe dart is set up for virginitee;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a075<\/span>\r\nCacche who so may, who renneth best lat see.\r\n\r\nBut this word is nat take of every wight,\r\nBut ther as god list give it of his might.\r\nI woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde;\r\nBut natheless, thogh that he wroot and sayde,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a080<\/span>\r\nHe wolde that every wight were swich as he,\r\nAl nis but conseil to virginitee;\r\nAnd for to been a wyf, he yaf me leve\r\nOf indulgence; so it is no repreve\r\nTo wedde me, if that my make dye,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a085<\/span>\r\nWith-oute excepcioun of bigamye.\r\nAl were it good no womman for to touche,\r\nHe mente as in his bed or in his couche;\r\nFor peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble;\r\nYe knowe what this ensample may resemble.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a090<\/span>\r\nThis is al and som, he heeld virginitee\r\nMore parfit than wedding in freletee.\r\nFreeltee clepe I, but-if that he and she\r\nWolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.\r\n\r\nI graunte it wel, I have noon envye,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a095<\/span>\r\nThogh maydenhede preferre bigamye;\r\nHem lyketh to be clene, body and goost,\r\nOf myn estaat I nil nat make no boost.\r\nFor wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,\r\nHe hath nat every vessel al of gold;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0100<\/span>\r\nSomme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.\r\nGod clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse,\r\nAnd everich hath of god a propre yifte,\r\nSom this, som that,--as him lyketh shifte.\r\n\r\nVirginitee is greet perfeccioun,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0105<\/span>\r\nAnd continence eek with devocioun.\r\nBut Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle,\r\nBad nat every wight he shold go selle\r\nAll that he hadde, and give it to the pore,\r\nAnd in swich wyse folwe hime and his fore.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0110<\/span>\r\nHe spak to hem that wolde live parfitly;\r\nAnd lordinges, by your leve, that am nat I.\r\nI wol bistowe the flour of al myn age\r\nIn the actes and in fruit of mariage.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/h1>\n
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THE PROLOGUE<\/span><\/h2>\n
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‘Experience, though noon auctoritee
\nWere in this world, were right y-nough to me
\nTo speke of wo that is in mariage;
\nFor, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age,
\nThonked be god that is eterne on lyve,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a05<\/span>
\nHousbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve;
\nFor I so ofte have y-wedded be;
\nAnd alle were worthy men in hir degree.
\nBut me was told certeyn, nat longe agon is,
\nThat sith that Crist ne wente never but onis\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a010<\/span>
\nTo wedding in the Cane of Galilee,
\nThat by the same ensample taughte he me
\nThat I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
\nHerke eek, lo! which a sharp word for the nones
\nBesyde a welle Iesus, god and man,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a015<\/span>
\nSpak in repreve of the Samaritan:
\n“Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes,” quod he,
\n“And thilke man, the which that hath now thee,
\nIs noght thyn housbond;” thus seyde he certeyn;
\nWhat that he mente ther-by, I can nat seyn;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a020<\/span>
\nBut that I axe, why that the fifthe man
\nWas noon housbond to the Samaritan?
\nHow manye mighte she have in mariage?
\nYet herde I never tellen in myn age
\nUpon this nombre diffinicioun;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a025<\/span>
\nMen may devyne and glosen up and doun.
\nBut wel I woot expres, with-oute lye,
\nGod bad us for to wexe and multiplye;
\nThat gentil text can I wel understonde.
\nEek wel I woot he seyde, myn housbonde\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a030<\/span>
\nSholde lete fader and moder, and take me;
\nBut of no nombre mencioun made he,
\nOf bigamye or of octogamye;
\nWhy sholde men speke of it vileinye?<\/p>\n

Lo, here the wyse king, dan Salomon;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a035<\/span>
\nI trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon;
\nAs, wolde god, it leveful were to me
\nTo be refresshed half so ofte as he!
\nWhich yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyvis!
\nNo man hath swich, that in this world alyve is.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a040<\/span>
\nGod woot, this noble king, as to my wit,
\nThe firste night had many a mery fit
\nWith ech of hem, so wel was him on lyve!
\nBlessed be god that I have wedded fyve!
\nWelcome the sixte, whan that ever he shal.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a045<\/span>
\nFor sothe, I wol nat kepe me chast in al;
\nWhan myn housbond is fro the world y-gon,
\nSom Cristen man shal wedde me anon;
\nFor thanne thapostle seith, that I am free
\nTo wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh me.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a050<\/span>
\nHe seith that to be wedded is no sinne;
\nBet is to be wedded than to brinne.
\nWhat rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileinye
\nOf shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
\nI woot wel Abraham was an holy man,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a055<\/span>
\nAnd Iacob eek, as ferforth as I can;
\nAnd ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two;
\nAnd many another holy man also.
\nWhan saugh ye ever, in any maner age,
\nThat hye god defended mariage\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a060<\/span>
\nBy expres word? I pray you, telleth me;
\nOr wher comanded he virginitee?
\nI woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
\nThapostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede;
\nHe seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he noon.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a065<\/span>
\nMen may conseille a womman to been oon,
\nBut conseilling is no comandement;
\nHe putte it in our owene Iugement.
\nFor hadde god comanded maydenhede,
\nThanne hadde he dampned wedding with the dede;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a070<\/span>
\nAnd certes, if ther were no seed y-sowe,
\nVirginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe?
\nPoul dorste nat comanden atte leste
\nA thing of which his maister yaf noon heste.
\nThe dart is set up for virginitee;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a075<\/span>
\nCacche who so may, who renneth best lat see.<\/p>\n

But this word is nat take of every wight,
\nBut ther as god list give it of his might.
\nI woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde;
\nBut natheless, thogh that he wroot and sayde,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a080<\/span>
\nHe wolde that every wight were swich as he,
\nAl nis but conseil to virginitee;
\nAnd for to been a wyf, he yaf me leve
\nOf indulgence; so it is no repreve
\nTo wedde me, if that my make dye,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a085<\/span>
\nWith-oute excepcioun of bigamye.
\nAl were it good no womman for to touche,
\nHe mente as in his bed or in his couche;
\nFor peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble;
\nYe knowe what this ensample may resemble.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a090<\/span>
\nThis is al and som, he heeld virginitee
\nMore parfit than wedding in freletee.
\nFreeltee clepe I, but-if that he and she
\nWolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.<\/p>\n

I graunte it wel, I have noon envye,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a095<\/span>
\nThogh maydenhede preferre bigamye;
\nHem lyketh to be clene, body and goost,
\nOf myn estaat I nil nat make no boost.
\nFor wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
\nHe hath nat every vessel al of gold;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0100<\/span>
\nSomme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.
\nGod clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse,
\nAnd everich hath of god a propre yifte,
\nSom this, som that,–as him lyketh shifte.<\/p>\n

Virginitee is greet perfeccioun,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0105<\/span>
\nAnd continence eek with devocioun.
\nBut Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle,
\nBad nat every wight he shold go selle
\nAll that he hadde, and give it to the pore,
\nAnd in swich wyse folwe hime and his fore.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0110<\/span>
\nHe spak to hem that wolde live parfitly;
\nAnd lordinges, by your leve, that am nat I.
\nI wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
\nIn the actes and in fruit of mariage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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