FullReads

THE PROLOGUE

<1>

 

 Experience, though none authority*        *authoritative texts
 

 Were in this world, is right enough for me
 

 To speak of woe that is in marriage:
 

 For, lordings, since I twelve year was of age,
 

 (Thanked be God that *is etern on live),*      *lives eternally*
 

 Husbands at the church door have I had five,<2>
 

 For I so often have y-wedded be,
 

 And all were worthy men in their degree.
 

 But me was told, not longe time gone is
 

 That sithen* Christe went never but ones            *since
 

 To wedding, in the Cane* of Galilee,               *Cana
 

 That by that ilk* example taught he me,             *same
 

 That I not wedded shoulde be but once.
 

 Lo, hearken eke a sharp word for the nonce,*         *occasion
 

 Beside a welle Jesus, God and man,
 

 Spake in reproof of the Samaritan:
 

 "Thou hast y-had five husbandes," said he;
 

 "And thilke* man, that now hath wedded thee,           *that
 

 Is not thine husband:" <3> thus said he certain;
 

 What that he meant thereby, I cannot sayn.
 

 But that I aske, why the fifthe man
 

 Was not husband to the Samaritan?
 

 How many might she have in marriage?
 

 Yet heard I never tellen *in mine age*          *in my life*
 

 Upon this number definitioun.
 

 Men may divine, and glosen* up and down;           *comment
 

 But well I wot, express without a lie,
 

 God bade us for to wax and multiply;
 

 That gentle text can I well understand.
 

 Eke well I wot, he said, that mine husband
 

 Should leave father and mother, and take to me;
 

 But of no number mention made he,
 

 Of bigamy or of octogamy;
 

 Why then should men speak of it villainy?*  *as if it were a disgrace
 

Lo here, the wise king Dan* Solomon, *Lord <4>
I trow that he had wives more than one;
As would to God it lawful were to me
To be refreshed half so oft as he!
What gift* of God had he for all his wives? *special favour, licence
No man hath such, that in this world alive is.
God wot, this noble king, *as to my wit,* *as I understand*
The first night had many a merry fit
With each of them, so *well was him on live.* *so well he lived*
Blessed be God that I have wedded five!
Welcome the sixth whenever that he shall.
For since I will not keep me chaste in all,
When mine husband is from the world y-gone,
Some Christian man shall wedde me anon.
For then th’ apostle saith that I am free
To wed, *a’ God’s half,* where it liketh me. *on God’s part*
He saith, that to be wedded is no sin;
Better is to be wedded than to brin.* *burn
What recketh* me though folk say villainy** *care **evil
Of shrewed* Lamech, and his bigamy? *impious, wicked
I wot well Abraham was a holy man,
And Jacob eke, as far as ev’r I can.* *know
And each of them had wives more than two;
And many another holy man also.
Where can ye see, *in any manner age,* *in any period*
That highe God defended* marriage *forbade <5>
By word express? I pray you tell it me;
Or where commanded he virginity?
I wot as well as you, it is no dread,* *doubt
Th’ apostle, when he spake of maidenhead,
He said, that precept thereof had he none:
Men may counsel a woman to be one,* *a maid
But counseling is no commandement;
He put it in our owen judgement.
For, hadde God commanded maidenhead,
Then had he damned* wedding out of dread;** *condemned **doubt
And certes, if there were no seed y-sow,* *sown
Virginity then whereof should it grow?
Paul durste not commanden, at the least,
A thing of which his Master gave no hest.* *command
The dart* is set up for virginity; *goal <6>
Catch whoso may, who runneth best let see.
But this word is not ta’en of every wight,
*But there as* God will give it of his might. *except where*
I wot well that th’ apostle was a maid,
But natheless, although he wrote and said,
He would that every wight were such as he,
All is but counsel to virginity.
And, since to be a wife he gave me leave
Of indulgence, so is it no repreve* *scandal, reproach
To wedde me, if that my make* should die, *mate, husband
Without exception* of bigamy; *charge, reproach
*All were it* good no woman for to touch *though it might be*
(He meant as in his bed or in his couch),
For peril is both fire and tow t’assemble
Ye know what this example may resemble.
This is all and some, he held virginity
More profit than wedding in frailty:
(*Frailty clepe I, but if* that he and she *frailty I call it,
Would lead their lives all in chastity), unless*
I grant it well, I have of none envy
Who maidenhead prefer to bigamy;
It liketh them t’ be clean in body and ghost;* *soul
Of mine estate* I will not make a boast. *condition