| 125 |
A wyf! a, Seinte Marie, benedicite! |
| How myghte man han any adversitee |
| That hath a wyf? certes, I kan nat seye. |
| The blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye |
| Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke. |
| 130 | If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke; |
| She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; |
| Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel; |
| She seith nat ones "nay", whan he seith "ye". |
| "Do this," seith he; "Al redy, sire," seith she. |
| 135 | O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, |
| Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous, |
| And so commended and appreved eek |
| That every man that halt hym worth a leek, |
| Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf |
| 140 | Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf, |
| Or elles preye to God hym for to sende |
| A wyf, to laste unto his lyves ende. |
| For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; |
| He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, |
| 145 | So that he werke after his wyves reed. |
| Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed, |
| They been so trewe, and therwithal so wyse; |
| For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, |
| Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede. |
|
| 125 | A wife! Ah, Holy Mary, ben'cite! |
| How may a man have any adversity |
| Who has a wife? Truly, I cannot say. |
| The bliss that is between such two, for aye, |
| No tongue can tell, nor any heart can think. |
| 130 | If he be poor, why, she helps him to swink; |
| She keeps his money and never wastes a deal; |
| All that her husband wishes she likes well; |
| She never once says "nay" when he says "yea." |
| "Do this," says he; "All ready, sir," she'll say. |
| 135 | O blissful state of wedlock, prized and dear, |
| So pleasant and so full of virtue clear, |
| So much approved and praised as fortune's peak, |
| That every man who holds him worth a leek |
| Upon his bare knees ought, through all his life, |
| 140 | To give God thanks, who's sent to him a wife; |
| Or else he should pray God that he will send |
| A wife to him, to last till his life's end. |
| For then his life is set in certainness; |
| He cannot be deceived, as I may guess, |
| 145 | So that he act according as she's said; |
| Then may he boldly carry high his head, |
| They are so true and therewithal so wise; |
| Wherefore, if you will do as do the wise, |
| Then aye as women counsel be your deed. |
|
