|
"Experience, though noon auctoritee |
| Were in this world, were right ynogh to me |
| To speke of wo that is in mariage; |
| For, lordynges, sith I twelf yeer was of age, |
| 5 | Thonked be God, that is eterne on lyve, |
| Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve - |
| For I so ofte have ywedded bee - |
| And alle were worthy men in hir degree. |
| But me was toold, certeyn, nat longe agoon is, |
| 10 | That sith that Crist ne wente nevere but onis |
| To weddyng in the Cane of Galilee, |
| That by the same ensample, taughte he me, |
| That I ne sholde wedded be but ones. |
| Herkne eek, lo, which a sharpe word for the nones, |
| 15 | Biside a welle Jhesus, God and Man, |
| Spak in repreeve of the Samaritan. |
| "Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes," quod he, |
| "And thilke man the which that hath now thee |
| Is noght thyn housbonde;" thus seyde he certeyn. |
| 20 | What that he mente ther by, I kan nat seyn; |
| But that I axe, why that the fifthe man |
| Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan? |
| How manye myghte she have in mariage? |
| Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age |
| 25 | Upon this nombre diffinicioun. |
| Men may devyne, and glosen up and doun, |
| But wel I woot, expres, withoute lye, |
| God bad us for to wexe and multiplye; |
| That gentil text kan I wel understonde. |
| 30 | Eek wel I woot, he seyde, myn housbonde |
| Sholde lete fader and mooder, and take to me; |
| But of no nombre mencioun made he, |
| Of bigamye, or of octogamye; |
| Why sholde men speke of it vileynye? |
|
| "Experience, though no authority |
| Were in this world, were good enough for me, |
| To speak of woe that is in all marriage; |
| For, masters, since I was twelve years of age, |
| 5 | Thanks be to God who is forever alive, |
| Of husbands at church door have I had five; |
| For men so many times have married me; |
| And all were worthy men in their degree. |
| But someone told me not so long ago |
| 10 | That since Our Lord, save once, would never go |
| To wedding that at Cana in Galilee, |
| Thus, by this same example, showed he me |
| I never should have married more than once. |
| Lo and behold! What sharp words, for the nonce, |
| 15 | Beside a well Lord Jesus, God and man, |
| Spoke in reproving the Samaritan: |
| "For thou hast had five husbands," thus said he, |
| "And he whom thou hast now to be with thee |
| Is not thine husband." Thus he said that day, |
| 20 | But what he meant thereby I cannot say; |
| And I would ask now why that same fifth man |
| Was not husband to the Samaritan? |
| How many might she have, then, in marriage? |
| For I have never heard, in all my age, |
| 25 | Clear exposition of this number shown, |
| Though men may guess and argue up and down. |
| But well I know and say, and do not lie, |
| God bade us to increase and multiply; |
| That worthy text can I well understand. |
| 30 | And well I know he said, too, my husband |
| Should father leave, and mother, and cleave to me; |
| But no specific number mentioned He, |
| Whether of bigamy or octogamy; |
| Why should men speak of it reproachfully? |
|
