|
Justinus, which that hated his folye, |
| Answerde anon right in his japerye; |
| 445 | And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, |
| He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, |
| But seyde, "Sire, so ther be noon obstacle |
| Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle |
| And of his mercy may so for yow wirche |
| 450 | That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche, |
| Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf, |
| In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. |
| And elles, God forbede but he sente |
| A wedded man hym grace to repente |
| 455 | Wel ofte rather than a sengle man! |
| And therfore, sire - the beste reed I kan - |
| Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie, |
| Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie! |
| She may be Goddes meene and Goddes whippe; |
| 460 | Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe |
| Swifter than dooth and arwe out of bowe. |
| I hope to God, herafter shul ye knowe |
| That ther nys no so greet felicitee |
| In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee, |
| 465 | That yow shal lette of youre savacion, |
| So that ye sue, as skile is an reson, |
| The lustes of youre wyf attemprely, |
| And that ye plese hire nat to amorously, |
| And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne. |
| 470 | My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne. |
| Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere, |
| But lat us waden out of this mateere. |
| The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde, |
| Of mariage, which we have on honde, |
| 475 | Declared hath ful wel in litel space. |
| Fareth now wel, God have yow in his grace." |
|
| Justinus, who so hated this folly, |
| Answered at once in jesting wise and free; |
| 445 | And since he would his longish tale abridge, |
| He would no old authority allege, |
| But said: "Sir, so there is no obstacle |
| Other than this, God, of high miracle |
| And of his mercy, may so for you work |
| 450 | That, before you have your right of holy church, |
| You'll change your mind on wedded husband's life, |
| Wherein you say there is no woe or strife. |
| And otherwise, God grant that there be sent |
| To wedded man the fair grace to repent |
| 455 | Often, and sooner than a single man! |
| And therefore, sir, this is the best I can: |
| Despair not, but retain in memory, |
| Perhaps she may your purgatory be! |
| She may be God's tool, she may be God's whip; |
| 460 | Then shall your spirit up to Heaven skip |
| Swifter than does an arrow from the bow! |
| I hope to God, hereafter you shall know |
| That there is none so great felicity |
| In marriage, no nor ever shall there be, |
| 465 | To keep you from salvation that's your own, |
| So that you use, with reason that's well known, |
| The charms of your wife's body temperately, |
| And that you please her not too amorously, |
| And that you keep as well from other sin. |
| 470 | My tale is done now, for my wit is thin. |
| Be not deterred hereby, my brother dear" - |
| But let us pass quite over what's said here. |
| The Wife of Bath, if you have understood, |
| Has treated marriage, in its likelihood, |
| 475 | And spoken well of it in little space - |
| "Fare you well now, God have you in His grace." |
|
