| 55 |
And certeinly, as sooth as God is kyng, |
| To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng, |
| And namely whan a man is oold and hoor; |
| Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor. |
| Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir, |
| 60 | On which he myghte engendren hym and heir, |
| And lede his lyf in joye and in solas, |
| Where as thise bacheleris synge allas, |
| Whan that they funden any adversitee |
| In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee. |
| 65 | And trewely it sit wel to be so, |
| That bacheleris have often peyne and wo; |
| On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse |
| They fynde, whan they wene sikernesse. |
| They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest, |
| 70 | In libertee, and under noon arreest, |
| Ther as a wedded man in his estaat |
| Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat, |
| Under this yok of mariage ybounde. |
| Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde, |
| 75 | For who kan be so buxom as a wyf? |
| Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf |
| To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make? |
| For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake; |
| She nys nat wery hym to love and serve, |
| 80 | Thogh that he lye bedrede, til he sterve. |
| And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so, |
| Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho. |
| What force though Theofraste liste lye? |
| "Ne take no wyf," quod he, "for housbondrye, |
| 85 | As for to spare in houshold thy dispence. |
| A trewe servant dooth moore diligence |
| Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf, |
| For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf. |
| And if that thou be syk, so God me save, |
| 90 | Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave, |
| Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay |
| After thy good and hath doon many a day. |
| And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold, |
| Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold." |
| 95 | This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse, |
| Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse! |
| But take no kep of al swich vanytee; |
| Deffie Theofraste, and herke me. |
|
| 55 | And certainly, as sure as God is King, |
| To take a wife, it is a glorious thing, |
| Especially when a man is old and hoary; |
| Then is a wife the fruit of wealth and glory. |
| Then should he take a young wife and a fair, |
| 60 | On whom he may beget himself an heir, |
| And lead his life in joy and in solace, |
| Whereas these bachelors do but sing "Alas!"' |
| When they fall into some adversity |
| In love, which is but childish vanity. |
| 65 | And truly, it is well that it is so |
| That bachelors have often pain and woe; |
| On shifting ground they build, and shiftiness |
| They find when they suppose they've certainness. |
| They live but as a bird does, or a beast, |
| 70 | In liberty and under no arrest, |
| Whereas a wedded man in his high state |
| Lives a life blissful, ordered, moderate, |
| Under the yoke of happy marriage bound; |
| Well may his heart in joy and bliss abound. |
| 75 | For who can be so docile as a wife? |
| Who is so true as she whose aim in life |
| Is comfort for him, sick or well, to make? |
| For weal or woe she will not him forsake. |
| She's ne'er too tired to love and serve, say I, |
| 80 | Though he may lie bedridden till he die. |
| And yet some writers say it is not so, |
| And Theophrastus is one such, I know. |
| What odds though Theophrastus chose to lie? |
| "Take not a wife," said he, "for husbandry, |
| 85 | If you would spare in household your expense; |
| A faithful servant does more diligence |
| To keep your goods than your own wedded wife. |
| For she will claim a half part all her life; |
| And if you should be sick, so God me save, |
| 90 | Your true friends or an honest serving knave |
| Will keep you better than she that waits, I say, |
| After your wealth, and has done, many a day. |
| And if you take a wife to have and hold, |
| Right easily may you become cuckold." |
| 95 | This judgment and a hundred such things worse |
| Did this man write, may God his dead bones curse! |
| But take no heed of all such vanity. |
| Defy old Theophrastus and hear me. |
|
