Experience, though none authority Were in this world, is right enough for me To speak of woe that is in marriáge: For, lordings, since I twelve year was of age, (Thanked be God that is etern on live), Husbands at the church door have I had five— For I so often have y-wedded be— And all were worthy men in their degree. But me was told, not longë timë gone is, That sithen Christë went never but onës To wedding, in the Cane of Galilee, That by that ilk example taught he me, That I not wedded shouldë be but once. Lo, hearken eke a sharp word for the nonce, Beside a wellë Jesus, God and man, Spake in reproof of the Samaritan: “Thou hast y-had five husbandës,” said he; “And thilkë man, that now hath wedded thee, Is not thine husband:” thus said he certáin; What that he meant thereby, I cannot sayn. But that I askë, why the fifthë man Was not husband to the Samaritan? How many might she have in marriáge? Yet heard I never tellen in mine age Upon this number definitioún. Men may divine, and glosen up and down; 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 husbánd Should leave father and mother, and take to me; But of no number mentión made he, Of bigamy or of octogamy; Why then should men speak of it villainy?
Lo here, the wisë king Dan Solomon, I trow that he had wivës 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 wivës? No man hath such, that in this world alive is. God wot, this noble king, as to my wit, The first night had many a merry fit With each of them, so well was him on live. 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 weddë me anon. For then th’ apostle saith that I am free To wed, a’ God’s half, where it liketh