|
Heere may men seen, that dremes been to drede! |
| And certes, in the same book I rede |
| Right in the nexte chapitre after this - |
| 300 | I gabbe nat, so have I joye or blis - |
| Two men that wolde han passed over see |
| For certeyn cause, into a fer contree, |
| If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie, |
| That made hem in a citee for to tarie, |
| 305 | That stood ful myrie upon an haven-syde- |
| But on a day, agayn the even-tyde, |
| The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste. |
| Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste, |
| And casten hem ful erly for to saille, |
| 310 | But herkneth, to that o man fil a greet mervaille; |
| That oon of hem, in slepyng as he lay, |
| Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day. |
| Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde, |
| And hym comanded that he sholde abyde, |
| 315 | And seyde hym thus, `If thou tomorwe wende |
| Thow shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.' |
| He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette, |
| And preyde hym his viage for to lette, |
| As for that day, he preyede hym to byde. |
| 320 | His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde, |
| Gan for to laughe and scorned him ful faste. |
| `No dreem,' quod he, `may so myn herte agaste |
| That I wol lette for to do my thynges. |
| I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges, |
| 325 | For swevenes been but vanytees and japes. |
| Men dreme al day of owles or of apes, |
| And of many a maze therwithal. |
| Men dreme of thyng that nevere was, ne shal; |
| But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde |
| 330 | And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde, |
| God woot it reweth me, and have good day.' |
| And thus he took his leve and wente his way; |
| But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled, |
| Noot I nat why, ne what myschaunce it eyled, |
| 335 | But casuelly the shippes botme rente, |
| And ship and men under the water wente |
| In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde, |
| That with hem seyled at the same tyde. |
| And therfore, faire Pertelote so deere, |
| 340 | By swiche ensamples olde yet maistow leere, |
| That no man sholde been to recchelees |
| Of dremes, for I seye thee doutelees |
| That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede. |
|
| Here may men see that dreams are things to dread. |
| And certainly, in that same book I read, |
| Right in the very chapter after this - |
| 300 | I spoof not, as I may have joy and bliss - |
| Of two men who would voyage oversea, |
| For some cause, and unto a far country, |
| If but the winds had not been all contrary, |
| Causing them both within a town to tarry, |
| 305 | Which town was builded near the haven-side. |
| But then, one day, along toward eventide, |
| The wind did change and blow as suited best. |
| Jolly and glad they went unto their rest. |
| And were prepared right early for to sail; |
| 310 | But unto one was told a marvelous tale. |
| For one of them, a-sleeping as he lay, |
| Did dream a wondrous dream before it was day. |
| He thought a strange man stood by his bedside |
| And did command him, he should there abide, |
| 315 | And said to him: 'If you tomorrow wend, |
| You shall be drowned; my tale is at an end.' |
| He woke and told his fellow what he'd met |
| And prayed him quit the voyage and forget; |
| For just one day he prayed him there to bide. |
| 320 | His comrade, who was lying there beside, |
| Began to laugh and scorned him long and fast. |
| 'No dream,' said he, 'may make my heart aghast, |
| So that I'll quit my business for such things. |
| I do not care a straw for your dreamings, |
| 325 | For visions are but fantasies and japes. |
| Men dream, why, every day, of owls and apes, |
| And many a wild phantasm therewithal; |
| Men dream of what has never been, nor shall. |
| But since I see that you will here abide, |
| 330 | And thus forgo this fair wind and this tide, |
| God knows I'm sorry; nevertheless, good day!' |
| And thus he took his leave and went his way. |
| But long before the half his course he'd sailed, |
| I know not why, nor what it was that failed, |
| 335 | But casually the vessel's bottom rent, |
| And ship and men under the water went, |
| In sight of other ships were there beside, |
| The which had sailed with that same wind and tide |
| And therefore, pretty Pertelote, my dear, |
| 340 | By such old-time examples may you hear |
| And learn that no man should be too reckless |
| Of dreams, for I can tell you, fair mistress, |
| That many a dream is something well to dread |
|
