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A good WIF was ther, OF biside BATHE, |
| But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. |
| Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt, |
| 450 | She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. |
| In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon |
| That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon; |
| And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, |
| That she was out of alle charitee. |
| 455 | Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; |
| I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound |
| That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. |
| Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, |
| Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe. |
| 460 | Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. |
| She was a worthy womman al hir lyve: |
| Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, |
| Withouthen oother compaignye in youthe, - |
| But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. |
| 465 | And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem; |
| She hadde passed many a straunge strem; |
| At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, |
| In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne. |
| She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye. |
| 470 | Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. |
| Upon an amblere esily she sat, |
| Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat |
| As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; |
| A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, |
| 475 | And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. |
| In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe. |
| Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, |
| For she koude of that art the olde daunce. |
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There was a WIFE of BATH, or a near city, |
| Who was somewhat deaf, it is a pity. |
| At making clothes she had a skillful hand |
| 450 | She bettered those of Ypres and of Ghent. |
| In all the parish there was no wife to go |
| And proceed her in offering, it is so; |
| And if one did, indeed, so angry was she |
| It put her out of all her charity. |
| 455 | Her head-dresses were of finest weave and ground; |
| I dare swear that they weighed about ten pound |
| Which, on a Sunday, she wore on her head. |
| Her stockings were of the finest scarlet red, |
| Tightly fastened, and her shoes were soft and new. |
| 460 | Bold was her face, and fair, and red of hue. |
| She'd been respectable throughout her life, |
| Married in church, husbands she had five, |
| Not counting other company in youth; |
| But thereof there's no need to speak, in truth. |
| 465 | Three times she'd travelled to Jerusalem; |
| And many a foreign stream she'd had to stem; |
| At Rome she'd been, and she'd been in Boulogne, |
| In Spain at Santiago, and at Cologne. |
| She could tell much of wandering by the way: |
| 470 | Gap-toothed was she, it is the truth I say. |
| Upon a pacing horse easily she sat, |
| Wearing a large wimple, and over all a hat |
| As broad as is a buckler or a targe; |
| An overskirt was tucked around her buttocks large, |
| 475 | And her feet spurred sharply under that. |
| In company well could she laugh and chat. |
| The remedies of love she knew, perchance, |
| For of that art she'd learned the old, old dance. |
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