• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

And wyf , by cause of the swete I se wel , þt the word of Salomon , is sooth . he seith , þt wordes þt ben spoken discretly by ordi- nance , beth honycombes , for they yeue

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

No vyleyns word , to h#299; as ȝet spak he But at the laste , he seide vn to the wyf Dame qd he , god ȝeue ȝow right good lyf ȝe han here touched , also mot I the

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

and of worthynesse And strong of frendes , and of gret richesse This knyght a doughter hadde , by his wyf No children hadde he moo , in al his lyf Fair was this mayde , in excellent beautee A

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

sothe , of corñ mele And that a slye , and vsand for to stele His name was hoten , deignous Symkyn A wyf he hadde , comyn of noble kyn The persoū of the toun , hire fader was

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

wher , such an other man This noble kyng , this Tartre Cambiuscan Hadde two Sones , on Elfeta his wyf Of which the eldest hight , Algarsyf That other Sone , was called Camballo A doughter hadde , this

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

, and of worthynesse And strong of freendes , and of greet richesse This knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf , No children hadde he mo in al his lyf Fair was this mayde , in excellent beautee Abouen

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe , And bigynneth hir tale IN tholde dayes , of kyng Arthour Of which that Britons , speken greet honour Al was this land , fulfild of Fairye The Elf queene , with

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

soone as euere I may For yet alwey , the peple som what dredde Lest that the Markys , no wyf wolde wedde He graunted hem a day , swich as hym leste On which , he wolde be wedded

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

I thee Dame quod he god yeue yow right good lyf But atte laste , he seyde vn to the wyf No vileyns word , as yet to hym spak he Vp on the Somnour , but for honestee He

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

whilom called Mellibe . mihte riche be gatte vpon his wyf . þat called was . Prudence . a douht er which was cle ped Sapience . vpon adaie fel þat he for his disporte is went in to þe

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

, sore siketh That hath hire body , whan so þt h#299; liketh For to go loue , another mānes wyf What deynte , shulde a man han , in his lyf Late swich folies , from ȝoure herte slide

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

is wryten thus Al grece knoweth , of hire chastitee What seith Omere , of goode Penelopee Loo which a wyf , was Alceste qd she Than for to suffre his body vnberied be His loue , that rathere for

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

day , hir lyf How loth hire was , to ben a wykked wyf The sorwe of Dorigene , he told h#299; als Than that his wyf , were of hir trouthe fals Hadde leuere dye , in sorwe and

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

no loue , ne wyf I am þè wost ȝet , of thy companye A Maide , and loue huntyng and venerie And for to walken , in the wodes wyld And nat to ben a wyf , be with

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

, me best were to allien But oo thyng warne I ȝow , my frendes deere I wol noon old wyf haue , in no manere She shal nat passe , sextene ȝer certeyn Olde fyssh and ȝonge flessh ,

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

, than wot my page For which causes , man shulde take a wyf If he ne may nat , lyue chast his lyf Take h#299; a wyf , with gret deuocioū By cause of leueful , procreacioū Of children

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

shal lette , of ȝoure sauaciou So that ȝe vse , as skyl is and resou The lustes of ȝoure wyf , attemprely Take hem nat ofte , but mesurabely And that ȝe kepyn ȝow , eke , from other

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

ben Inne For in actes , we moun do no synne A man may do no synne , with his wyf Ne hurte hi self , with his owen knyf For we han leue , to pleye , as by

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

the ferther syde Pluto that is kyng , of fayrie And many a lady , in his companye Folwyng his wyf , the Quene of Proserpyne Ech after other , as right as a lyue While that she gadered ,

• The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales

haue , a ȝein , his eyen sight And whan that his wyf , wold don h#299; velanye Than shal he knowe , al hire harlotrye Bothe in repreef of hire , and othere moo ȝee shal qd Proserpyne ,