govern’d them so well after my law, That each of them full blissful was and fawe To bringë me gay thingës from the fair. They were full glad when that I spake them fair, For, God it wot, I chid them spiteously. Now hearken how I bare me properly.
Ye wisë wivës, that can understand, Thus should ye speak, and bear them wrong on hand, For half so boldëly can there no man Swearen and lien as a woman can. (I say not this by wivës that be wise, But if it be when they them misadvise.) A wisë wife, if that she can her good, Shall bearë them on hand the cow is wood, And takë witness of her owen maid Of their assent: but hearken how I said. “Sir oldë kaynard, is this thine array? Why is my neighëbourë’s wife so gay? She is honour’d over all where she go’th, I sit at home, I have no thrifty cloth. What dost thou at my neighëbourë’s house? Is she so fair? art thou so amoroús? What rown’st thou with our maid? ben’dicite , Sir oldë lechour, let thy japës be. And if I have a gossip, or a friend (Withoutë 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: Thou say’st to me, it is a great mischief To wed a poorë woman, for costáge: And if that she be rich, of high paráge, Then say’st thou, that it is a tormentry To suffer her pride and meláncholy. And if that she be fair, thou very knave, Thou say’st that every holour will her have; She may no while in chastity abide, That is assailed upon every side. Thou say’st some folk desire us for richéss, 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 handës and her armës 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. 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 findë some man her to cheap; And none so grey goose goes there in the lake, (So say’st thou) that will be without a make. And say’st, it is a hard thing for to weld A thing that no man will, his thankës, held. Thus say’st thou, lorel, when thou go’st to bed, And that no wise man needeth for to wed,