|
Mariage is a ful greet sacrement. |
| He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent; |
| He lyveth helplees and al desolat, -- |
| 110 | I speke of folk in seculer estaat. |
| And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, |
| That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght. |
| The hye God, whan he hadde Adam maked, |
| And saugh him al allone, bely-naked, |
| 115 | God of his grete goodnesse syde than, |
| "Lat us now make an helpe unto this man |
| Lyk to hymself"; and thanne he made him Eve. |
| Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve, |
| That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort, |
| 120 | His paradys terrestre, and his disport. |
| So buxom and so vertuous is she, |
| They moste nedes lyve in unitee. |
| O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse, |
| Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse. |
|
| But marriage is a solemn sacrament; |
| Who has no wife I hold on ruin bent; |
| He lives in helplessness, all desolate, |
| 110 | I speak of folk in secular estate. |
| And listen why, I say not this for naught: |
| It's because woman was for man's help wrought. |
| The High God, when He'd Adam made, all rude, |
| And saw him so alone and belly-nude, |
| 115 | God of His goodness thus to speak began: |
| "Let us now make a help meet for this man, |
| Like to himself." And then he made him Eve. |
| Here may you see, and here prove, I believe, |
| A wife is a man's help and his comfort, |
| 120 | His earthly paradise and means of sport; |
| So docile and so virtuous is she |
| That they must needs live in all harmony. |
| One flesh they are, and one flesh, as I guess, |
| Has but one heart in weal and in distress. |
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