| Whilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye |
| A worthy knyght, that born was of Pavye, |
| 35 | In which he lyved in greet prosperitee; |
| And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee, |
| And folwed ay his bodily delyt |
| On wommen, ther as was his appetyt, |
| As doon thise fooles that been seculeer. |
| 40 | And whan that he was passed sixty yeer, |
| Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage, |
| I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage |
| Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man |
| That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan |
| 45 | T'espien where he myghte wedded be, |
| Preyinge oure lord to graunten him that he |
| Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf |
| That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf, |
| And for to lyve under that hooly boond |
| 50 | With which that first God man and womman bond. |
| "Noon oother lyf," seyde he, "is worth a bene; |
| For wedlok is so esy and so clene, |
| That in this world it is paradys." |
| Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys. |
|
| Once on a time there dwelt in Lombardy |
| A worthy knight, born in Pavia, |
| 35 | And there he lived in great prosperity; |
| And sixty years a wifeless man was he, |
| And followed ever his bodily delight |
| In women, whereof was his appetite, |
| As these fool laymen will, so it appears. |
| 40 | And when he had so passed his sixty years, |
| Were it for piety or for dotage |
| I cannot say, but such a rapturous rage |
| Had this knight to become a married man |
| That day and night he did his best to scan |
| 45 | And spy a place where he might married be; |
| Praying Our Lord to grant to him that he |
| Might once know something of that blissful life |
| That is between a husband and his wife; |
| And so to live within that holy band |
| 50 | Wherein God first made man and woman stand. |
| "No other life," said he, "is worth a bean; |
| For marriage is so easy and so clean |
| That in this world it is a paradise." |
| Thus said this ancient knight, who was so wise. |
|
