|
He taketh his leve, and she astonied stood, |
| In al hir face nas a drope of blood. |
| She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe. |
| "Allas," quod she, "that evere this sholde happe. |
| 635 | For wende I nevere, by possibilitee, |
| That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be. |
| It is agayns the proces of nature." |
| And hoom she goth a sorweful creature, |
| For verray feere unnethe may she go. |
| 640 | She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two, |
| And swowneth that it routhe was to see; |
| But why it was, to no wight tolde shee, |
| For out of towne was goon Arveragus. |
| But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus, |
| 645 | With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere, |
| In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere. |
| "Allas!" quod she, "on thee, Fortune, I pleyne, |
| That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne; |
| For which t'escape woot I no socour |
| 650 | Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour; |
| Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. |
| But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese |
| My lif, thanne of my body have a shame, |
| Or knowe myselven fals or lese my name, |
| 655 | And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis; |
| Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this |
| And many a mayde yslayn hirself, allas, |
| Rather than with hir body doon trespas? |
|
| He took his leave, and she astounded stood, |
| In all her face there was no drop of blood; |
| She never thought to have come in such a trap. |
| "Alas!" said she, "that ever this should hap! |
| 635 | For thought I never, by possibility, |
| That such prodigious marvel e'er might be! |
| It is against the way of all nature." |
| And home she went, a sorrowful creature. |
| For utter terror hardly could she go, |
| 640 | She wept, she wailed throughout a day or so, |
| And swooned so much 'twas pitiful, to see; |
| But why this was to not a soul told she; |
| For out of town was gone Arviragus. |
| But to her own heart spoke she, and said thus, |
| 645 | With her face pale and with a heavy cheer, |
| All her complaint, as you'll hereafter hear: |
| "Of thee," she said, "O Fortune, I complain, |
| That, unaware, I'm bound within thy chain; |
| From which to go, I know of no succour |
| 650 | Except only death, or else my dishonour; |
| One of these two I am compelled to choose. |
| Nevertheless, I would far rather lose |
| My life than of my body come to shame, |
| Or know myself untrue, or lose my name; |
| 655 | By death I know it well, I may be freed; |
| Has there not many a noble wife, indeed, |
| And many a maiden slain herself - alas! - |
| Rather than with her body do trespass? |
|
