情色书屋

THE WIFE OF BATH’S TALE
书名： 坎特伯雷故事集 作者： （英） 乔叟 本章字数： 296 更新时间： 2024-06-13 17:43:43

THE PROLOGUE

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:" thus said he certain;

What that he meant thereby, I cannot sayn.

But that I aske, why the fifthe ma

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

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 f

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

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

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'assembl

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

For, well ye know, a lord in his household

Hath not every vessel all of gold;

Some are of tree, and do their lord service.

God calleth folk to him in sundry wise,

And each one hath of God a proper gift,

Some this, some that, as liketh him to shift.* *appoint,distribute

Virginity is great perfection,

And continence eke with devotion:

But Christ, that of perfection is the well,* *fountain

Bade not every wight he should go sell

All that he had, and give it to the poor,

And in such wise follow him and his lore:* *doctrine

He spake to them that would live perfectly, —

And, lordings, by your leave, that am not I;

I will bestow the flower of mine ag

In th' acts and in the fruits of marriage.

Tell me also, to what conclusion* *end, purpose

Were members made of generation,

And of so perfect wise a wight* y-wrought? *being

Trust me right well, they were not made for nought.

Glose whoso will, and say both up and down,

That they were made for the purgatioun

Of urine, and of other thinges smale,

And eke to know a female from a male:

And for none other cause? say ye no?

Experience wot well it is not so.

So that the clerkes* be not with me wroth, *scholars

I say this, that they were made for both,

That is to say, *for office, and for ease* *for duty and

Of engendrure, there we God not displease. for pleasure*

Why should men elles in their bookes set,

That man shall yield unto his wife her debt?

Now wherewith should he make his payement,

If he us'd not his silly instrument?

Then were they made upon a creature

To purge urine, and eke for engendrure.

But I say not that every wight is hold,* *obliged

That hath such harness* as I to you told, *equipment

To go and use them in engendrure;

Then should men take of chastity no cure.* *care

Christ was a maid, and shapen* as a man, *fashioned

And many a saint, since that this world began,

Yet ever liv'd in perfect chastity.

I will not vie* with no virginity. *contend

Let them with bread of pured* wheat be fed,*purifie

And let us wives eat our barley bread.

And yet with barley bread, Mark tell us can,

Our Lord Jesus refreshed many a man.

In such estate as God hath *cleped us,* *called us to

I'll persevere, I am not precious,* *over-dainty

In wifehood I will use mine instrument

As freely as my Maker hath it sent.

If I be dangerous* God give me sorrow; *sparing of my favours

Mine husband shall it have, both eve and morrow,

When that him list come forth and pay his debt.

A husband will I have, I *will no let,* *will bear no hindrance*

Which shall be both my debtor and my thrall,**slave

And have his tribulation withal

Upon his flesh, while that I am his wife

I have the power during all my life

Upon his proper body, and not he;

Right thus th' apostle told it unto me,

And bade our husbands for to love us well;

All this sentence me liketh every deal.* *whit

Up start the Pardoner, and that anon;

"Now, Dame," quoth he, "by God and by Saint John,

Ye are a noble preacher in this case.

I was about to wed a wife, alas!

What? should I bie* it on my flesh so dear? *suffer for

Yet had I lever* wed no wife this year." *rather

"Abide,"* quoth she; "my tale is not begun *wait in patience

Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tun

Ere that I go, shall savour worse than ale.

And when that I have told thee forth my tale

Of tribulation in marriage,

Of which I am expert in all mine age,

(This is to say, myself hath been the whip),

Then mayest thou choose whether thou wilt sip

Of *thilke tunne,* that I now shall broach. *that tun*

Beware of it, ere thou too nigh approach,

For I shall tell examples more than ten:

Whoso will not beware by other men,

By him shall other men corrected be:

These same wordes writeth Ptolemy;

Read in his Almagest, and take it there."

"Dame, I would pray you, if your will it were,"

Saide this Pardoner, "as ye began,

Tell forth your tale, and spare for no man,

And teach us younge men of your practique."

"Gladly," quoth she, "since that it may you like.

But that I pray to all this company,

If that I speak after my fantasy,

To take nought agrief* what I may say; *to heart

For mine intent is only for to play.

Now, Sirs, then will I tell you forth my tale.

As ever may I drinke wine or ale

I shall say sooth; the husbands that I had

Three of them were good, and two were bad

The three were goode men, and rich, and old

*Unnethes mighte they the statute hold* *they could with difficult

In which that they were bounden unto me. obey the law*

Yet wot well what I mean of this, pardie.* *by God

As God me help, I laugh when that I think

How piteously at night I made them swink,* *labour

But, *by my fay, I told of it no store:* *by my faith,I held it

They had me giv'n their land and their treasor, of no account*

Me needed not do longer diligence

To win their love, or do them reverence.

They loved me so well, by God above,

That I *tolde no dainty* of their love. *cared nothing for*

A wise woman will busy her ever-in-one* *constantly

To get their love, where that she hath none.

But, since I had them wholly in my hand,

And that they had me given all their land,

Why should I take keep* them for to please, *care

But* it were for my profit, or mine ease? *unles

I set them so a-worke, by my fay,

That many a night they sange, well-away!

The bacon was not fetched for them, I trow,

That some men have in Essex at Dunmow.

I govern'd them so well after my law,

That each of them full blissful was and fawe* *fain

To bringe me gay thinges from the fair.

They were full glad when that I spake them fair,

For, God it wot, I *chid them spiteously.* *rebuked them angrily*

Now hearken how I bare me properly.

Ye wise wives, that can understand,

Thus should ye speak, and *bear them wrong on hand,* *make them

For half so boldely can there no man believe falsely*

Swearen and lien as a woman can.

(I say not this by wives that be wise,

*But if* it be when they them misadvise.)* *unless**act unadvisedly

A wise wife, if that she can* her good, *knows

Shall *beare them on hand* the cow is wood, *make them believe*

And take witness of her owen maid

Of their assent: but hearken how I said.

"Sir olde kaynard, is this thine array?

Why is my neigheboure's wife so gay?

She is honour'd *over all where* she go'th, *wheresoever

I sit at home, I have no *thrifty cloth.* *good clothes*

What dost thou at my neigheboure's house?

Is she so fair? art thou so amorous?

What rown'st* thou with our maid? benedicite,*whisperest

Sir olde lechour, let thy japes* be. *tricks

And if I have a gossip, or a friend

(Withoute guilt), thou chidest as a fiend

If that I walk or play unto his house.

Thou comest home as drunken as a mouse,

And preachest on thy bench, with evil prefe:* *proof

Thou say'st to me, it is a great mischief

To wed a poore woman, for costage:* *expense

And if that she be rich, of high parage;* * birth

Then say'st thou, that it is a tormentry

To suffer her pride and melancholy.

And if that she be fair, thou very knave,

Thou say'st that every holour* will her have; *whoremonger

She may no while in chastity abide,

That is assailed upon every side.

Thou say'st some folk desire us for richess,

Some for our shape, and some for our fairness,

And some, for she can either sing or dance,

And some for gentiless and dalliance,

Some for her handes and her armes smale:

Thus goes all to the devil, by thy tale;

Thou say'st, men may not keep a castle wall

That may be so assailed *over all.* *everywhere*

And if that she be foul, thou say'st that she

Coveteth every man that she may see;

For as a spaniel she will on him leap,

Till she may finde some man her to cheap;* *bu

And none so grey goose goes there in the lake,

(So say'st thou) that will be without a make.* *mate

And say'st, it is a hard thing for to weld *wield,govern

A thing that no man will, *his thankes, held.* *hold with his goodwill*

Thus say'st thou, lorel,* when thou go'st to bed,*good-for-nothing

And that no wise man needeth for to wed,

Nor no man that intendeth unto heaven.

With wilde thunder dint* and fiery leven** * stroke**lightning

Mote* thy wicked necke be to-broke. *may

Thou say'st, that dropping houses, and eke smoke,

And chiding wives, make men to fle

Out of their owne house; ah! ben'dicite,

What aileth such an old man for to chide?

Thou say'st, we wives will our vices hide,

Till we be fast,* and then we will them shew. *wedded

Well may that be a proverb of a shrew.* *ill-tempered wretch

Thou say'st, that oxen, asses, horses, hounds,

They be *assayed at diverse stounds,* *tested at various

Basons and lavers, ere that men them buy, seasons

Spoones, stooles, and all such husbandry,

And so be pots, and clothes, and array,* *raiment

But folk of wives make none assay,

Till they be wedded, — olde dotard shrew! —

And then, say'st thou, we will our vices shew.

Thou say'st also, that it displeaseth me,

But if * that thou wilt praise my beauty, *unless

And but* thou pore alway upon my face, *unless

And call me faire dame in every place;

And but* thou make a feast on thilke** day *unless**that

That I was born, and make me fresh and gay;

And but thou do to my norice* honour, *nurse

And to my chamberere* within my bow'r, *chamber-maid

And to my father's folk, and mine allies;* *relations

Thus sayest thou, old barrel full of lies.

And yet also of our prentice Jenkin,

For his crisp hair, shining as gold so fine

And for he squireth me both up and down,

Yet hast thou caught a false suspicioun:

I will him not, though thou wert dead to-morrow.

But tell me this, why hidest thou, *with sorrow,**sorrow on thee!*

The keyes of thy chest away from me?

It is my good* as well as thine, pardie. *property

What, think'st to make an idiot of our dame?

Now, by that lord that called is Saint Jame,

Thou shalt not both, although that thou wert wood,**furious

Be master of my body, and my good,* *property

The one thou shalt forego, maugre* thine eyen. *in spite of

What helpeth it of me t'inquire and spyen?

I trow thou wouldest lock me in thy chest.

Thou shouldest say, 'Fair wife, go where thee lest;

Take your disport; I will believe no tales;

I know you for a true wife, Dame Ales.'* *Alice

We love no man, that taketh keep* or charge *care

Where that we go; we will be at our large.

Of alle men most blessed may he be,

The wise astrologer Dan* Ptolemy, *Lord

That saith this proverb in his Almagest:

'Of alle men his wisdom is highest,

That recketh not who hath the world in hand.

By this proverb thou shalt well understand,

Have thou enough, what thar* thee reck or care*needs, behoves

How merrily that other folkes fare?

For certes, olde dotard, by your leave,

Ye shall have [pleasure] right enough at eve.

He is too great a niggard that will werne* *forbid

A man to light a candle at his lantern;

He shall have never the less light, pardie.

Have thou enough, thee thar* not plaine** thee*need **complain

Thou say'st also, if that we make us gay

With clothing and with precious array,

That it is peril of our chastity.

And yet, — with sorrow! — thou enforcest thee,

And say'st these words in the apostle's name:

'In habit made with chastity and shame* *modesty

Ye women shall apparel you,' quoth he,

'And not in tressed hair and gay perrie,* *jewels

As pearles, nor with gold, nor clothes rich.'

After thy text nor after thy rubrich

I will not work as muchel as a gnat.

Thou say'st also, I walk out like a cat;

For whoso woulde singe the catte's skin

Then will the catte well dwell in her inn;* *house

And if the catte's skin be sleek and gay,

She will not dwell in house half a day,

But forth she will, ere any day be daw'd,

To shew her skin, and go a caterwaw'd.* *caterwauling

This is to say, if I be gay, sir shrew,

I will run out, my borel* for to shew. *apparel, fine clothes

Sir olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen?

Though thou pray Argus with his hundred eyen

To be my wardecorps,* as he can best *body-guard

In faith he shall not keep me, *but me lest:* *unless I please*

Yet could I *make his beard,* so may I the. *make a jest of him*

"Thou sayest eke, that there be thinges three, *thrive

Which thinges greatly trouble all this earth,

And that no wighte may endure the ferth:* *fourth

O lefe* sir shrew, may Jesus short** thy life. *pleasant **shorten

Yet preachest thou, and say'st, a hateful wife

Y-reckon'd is for one of these mischances.

Be there *none other manner resemblances* *no other kind of

That ye may liken your parables unto, comparison*

But if a silly wife be one of tho?* *those

Thou likenest a woman's love to hell;

To barren land where water may not dwell.

Thou likenest it also to wild fire

The more it burns, the more it hath desire

To consume every thing that burnt will be.

Thou sayest, right as wormes shend* a tree, *destroy Right so a wife destroyeth her husbond;

This know they well that be to wives bond."

Lordings, right thus, as ye have understand,

*Bare I stiffly mine old husbands on hand,* *made them believe*

That thus they saiden in their drunkenness;

And all was false, but that I took witness

On Jenkin, and upon my niece also.

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