The Canterbury Tales · The Wife of Bath’s Tale · The Tale 2018 (2/2)

“And whereas ye of povert’ me repreve,2109

The highë God, on whom that we believe,

In wilful povert’ chose to lead his life:

And certes, every man, maiden, or wife

May understand that Jesus, heaven’s king,

Ne would not choose a virtuous living.

Glad povert’2110 is an honest thing, certáin;

This will Senec and other clerkës2111 sayn.

Whoso that holds him paid of2112 his povért’,

I hold him rich, though he hath not a shirt.

He that covéteth is a poorë wight

For he would have what is not in his might.

But he that nought hath, nor covéteth t’ have,

Is rich, although ye hold him but a knave.2113

Very povért’ is sinnë, properly.2114

Juvenal saith of povert’ merrily:

The poorë man, when he goes by the way,

Before the thievës he may sing and play.2115

Povért’ is hateful good;2116 and, as I guess,

A full great bringer out of business;2117

A great amender eke of sapience

To him that taketh it in patience.

Povert’ is this, although it seem elenge,2118

Possessión that no wight will challénge.

Povert’ full often, when a man is low,

Makes him his God and eke himself to know:

Povert’ a spectacle is,2119 as thinketh me,

Through which he may his very2120 friendës see.

And, therefore, Sir, since that I you not grieve,

Of my povert’ no morë me repreve.

“Now, Sir, of eldë2121 ye reprevë me:

And certes, Sir, though none authority2122

Were in no book, ye gentles of honoúr

Say, that men should an oldë wight honoúr,

And call him father, for your gentleness;

And authors shall I finden, as I guess.

Now there ye say that I am foul and old,

Then dread ye not to be a cokëwold.2123

For filth, and eldë, all so may I thé,2124

Be greatë wardens upon chastity.

But natheless, since I know your delight,

I shall fulfil your wordly appetite.

Choose now,” quoth she, “one of these thingës tway,

To have me foul and old till that I dey,2125

And be to you a truë humble wife,

And never you displease in all my life:

Or ellës will ye have me young and fair,

And take your áventure of the repair2126

That shall be to your house because of me⁠—

Or in some other place, it may well be?

Now choose yourselfë whether that you liketh.”

This knight adviseth2127 him, and sore he siketh,2128

But at the last he said in this mannére;

“My lady and my love, and wife so dear,

I put me in your wisë governance,

Choose for yourself which may be most pleasance

And most honoúr to you and me also;

I do no force2129 the whether of the two:

For as you liketh, it sufficeth me.”

“Then have I got the mastery,” quoth she,

“Since I may choose and govern as me lest.”2130

“Yea, certes wife,” quoth he, “I hold it best.”

“Kiss me,” quoth she, “we are no longer wroth,2131

For by my troth I will be to you both;

This is to say, yea, bothë fair and good.

I pray to God that I may stervë wood,2132

But2133 I to you be all so good and true,

As ever was wife since the world was new;

And but2134 I be to-morrow as fair to seen,

As any lady, emperess or queen,

That is betwixt the East and eke the West,

Do with my life and death right as you lest.2135

Cast up the curtain, and look how it is.”

And when the knight saw verily all this,

That she so fair was, and so young thereto,

For joy he hent2136 her in his armës two:

His heartë bathed in a bath of bliss,

A thousand times on row2137 he gan her kiss:

And she obeyed him in every thing

That mightë do him pleasance or liking.

And thus they live unto their livës’ end

In perfect joy; and Jesus Christ us send

Husbandës meek and young, and fresh in bed,

And grace to overlive them that we wed.

And eke I pray Jesus to short their lives,

That will not be govérned by their wives.

And old and angry niggards of dispence,2138

God send them soon a very pestilence!