• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

melodye Thāne fel it thus , þt to the parissh Chirche Cristes owen werk , for to werche This good wyf went , on an haliday Hire forhede shon , as bright as ony day So was it wasshen ,

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

hire ligeaunce Thus endith Donegild , with myschaunce The sorwe that this Alla , nyght and day Maketh for his wyf , and for his child also There is no tonge , that it telle may But now wol I

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

ne she nyl sey Of hire estate , though she shulde dey He bryngeth hire to Rome , and to his wyf He ȝaf hire , and hire ȝong sone also And with the Senatour , she lad hire lif

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

ferforth , as his conyng , may suffise The morwe cam , and Alla gan h#299; dresse And eke his wyf , this Emperour to mete And forth they ryde , in ioye and in gladnesse And whan she saw

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

that he sat vp oon a tree Which signyfied , he shulde an hanged be Lo heere Andremacha , Ectoris wyf That day þt Ector , shulde lese his lif She dreemed , on the same nyght byforñ How þt

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

falle , in Ialous rage Lat maken with this water , his potage And neuere shal he more , his wyf mys triste Though he the Sothe , of hire defaute wiste Al hadde she taken Preestes , two or

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

bought was , thilke cursed vilenye Corrupt was al this world , for glotonye Adam oure fader , and his wyf also Fro Paradys , to labour and to woo Were dryuen , for that ice , it is no

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

, moun they lerne loore Of boldnesse , whan she woxen is a wyf And ȝe Maistresses , in ȝoure olde lyf That lordes doughtres , han in gouernaunce Ne taketh of my wordes , no displesaunce Thenketh that ȝe

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

in his blod a lye She was I fostred , in a Nonnerye For Symkyn nolde no wyf , as he said But she were wel norisshed , and a mayd To sauen his estate , of ȝemanrye And she

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

a non Til þt the Millere , spurned at a ston And doun he fel bakward , vp on his wyf That wyst no thyng , of this nyce stryf For she was falle a slepe , a litel wyght

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

þt euery wyght , were swich as he Al nys but counseille , to virginitee And for to be a wyf , he ȝaf me leeue Of indulgence , so is noon repreeue To wedde me , if that my

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

we nat god displeese Why shulde men ellis , in here bookes sette That man shal ȝelde , to his wyf hire dette Now wher with shuld he make , his paiement If that he ne vsed , his seely

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

thou hast supposed To be my wyf , that oother feithfully Shal be myn heir , as I haue ay supposed Thou bare hym , in thy body trewely At Boloigne , haue I kept hem priuely Taak hem agayn

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

In reste and pees , after his fader day And fortunat was eek in mariage Al putte he nat his wyf , in greet assay This world is nat so strong it is no nay As it hath been ,

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

alle othere cures , leet he slyde And eek he nolde , and that was worst of alle Wedde no wyf , for noght þt may bifalle Oonly that point his peple bar so soore That flokmeele on a day

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

that thou vouche sauf what so bityde Thy doghter wol I take , er þt I wende As for my wyf vn to hir lyues ende Thou louest me , I woot it wel certeyn And art my feithful ,

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

a collacioū , and wostow why ; For I wol axe , if it hir wille be To be my wyf , and reule hir after me And al this shal be doon , in thy persence I wol noght

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

dore , and after that cam she And to the peple , he seyde in this manere This is my wyf quod he , þt standeth heere Honoureth hir , and loueth hir I preye Who so me loueth ,

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

Deth may noght make no comparisou Vn to youre loue , and whan this Markys say The constance of his wyf , he caste adoun Hise eyen two , and wondreth þt she may In pacience , suffre al this

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

seye , he bad they sholde countrefete The popes bulles , makynge menciou That he hath leue , his firste wyf to lete As by the popes dispensaciou To stynte rancour and dissenciou Bitwixe his peple and hym , thus