The Prologue

vigilies, and to processións, To preachings eke, and to these pilgrimáges, To plays of miracles, and marriáges, And weared upon me gay scarlet gites. These wormës, nor these mothës, nor these mites On my apparel frett them never a deal And know’st thou why? for they were used well. Now will I tellë forth what happen’d me: I say, that in the fieldës walked we, Till truëly we had such dalliance, This clerk and I, that of my purveyance I spake to him, and told him how that he, If I were widow, shouldë weddë me. For certainly, I say for no bobance, Yet was I never without purveyance Of marriage, nor of other thingës eke: I hold a mouse’s wit not worth a leek, That hath but one hole for to startë to, And if that failë, then is all y-do. [I bare him on hand he had enchanted me (My damë taughtë me that subtilty); And eke I said, I mette of him all night, He would have slain me, as I lay upright, And all my bed was full of very blood; But yet I hop’d that he should do me good; For blood betoken’d gold, as me was taught. And all was false, I dream’d of him right naught, But as I follow’d aye my damë’s lore, As well of that as of other things more.] But now, sir, let me see, what shall I sayn? Aha! by God, I have my tale again. When that my fourthë husband was on bier, I wept algate and made a sorry cheer, As wivës must, for it is the uságe; And with my kerchief covered my viságe; But, for I was provided with a make, I wept but little, that I undertake. To churchë was mine husband borne a-morrow With neighëbours that for him madë sorrow, And Jenkin, ourë clerk, was one of tho: As help me God, when that I saw him go After the bier, methought he had a pair Of leggës and of feet so clean and fair, That all my heart I gave unto his hold. He was, I trow, a twenty winter old, And I was forty, if I shall say sooth, But yet I had always a coltë’s tooth. Gat-toothed I was, and that became me well, I had the print of Saintë Venus’ seal. [As help me God, I was a lusty one, And fair, and rich, and young, and well begone: For certes I am all venerian In feeling, and my heart is martian; Venus me gave my lust and liquorishness, And Mars gave me my sturdy hardiness.] Mine ascendant was Taure, and Mars therein: Alas, alas, that ever love was sin! I follow’d