me. He saith, that to be wedded is no sin; Better is to be wedded than to brin. What recketh me though folk say villainy Of shrewed Lamech, and his bigamy? I wot well Abraham was a holy man, And Jacob eke, as far as ev’r I can. And each of them had wivës more than two; And many another holy man also. Where can ye see, in any manner age, That highë God defended marriáge By word express? I pray you tell it me; Or where commanded he virginity? I wot as well as you, it is no dread, Th’ apostle, when he spake of maidenhead, He said, that precept thereof had he none: Men may counsél a woman to be one, But counseling is no commandëment; He put it in our owen judgëment. For, haddë God commanded maidenhead, Then had he damned wedding out of dread; And certes, if there were no seed y-sow, Virginity then whereof should it grow? Paul durstë not commanden, at the least, A thing of which his Master gave no hest. The dart is set up for virginity; 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. 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 virginitý. And, since to be a wife he gave me leave Of indulgence, so is it no repreve To weddë me, if that my make should die, Without exceptión of bigamy; All were it good no woman for to touch (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 fraïlty: (Frailty clepe I, but if that he and she Would lead their livës all in chastity), I grant it well, I have of none envý Who maidenhead prefer to bigamy; It liketh them t’ be clean in body and ghost; Of mine estate I will not make a boast.
For, well ye know, a lord in his household Hath not every vessel all of gold; Some are of tree, and do their lord servíce. 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. Virginity is great perfectión, And continence eke with devotión: But Christ, that of perfection is the well, Bade not