From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Wife of Bath's Tale, lines 1052-1078

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Wife of Bath's Tale
lines 1052-1078: The fulfilment of the knight's promise

	And with that word up stirte the olde wyf,
	Which that the knyght saugh sittynge in the grene.
	"Mercy," quod she, "my sovereyn lady queene,
1055	Er that youre court departe, do me right.
	I taughte this answere unto the knyght,
	For which he plighte me his trouthe there,
	The firste thyng I wolde of hym requere,
	He wolde it do, if it lay in his myght.
1060	Bifor the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght,"
	Quod she, "that thou me take unto thy wyf,
	For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf.
	If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey!"
	This knyght answerde, "Allas and weylawey!
1065	I woot right wel that swich was my biheste!
	For Goddes love, as chees a newe requeste!
	Taak al my good, and lat my body go!"
	"Nay, thanne," quod she, "I shrewe us bothe two!
	For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore,
1070	I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore,
	That under erthe is grave, or lith above,
	But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love."

	And with that word up started the old wife
	Whom he had seen a-sitting on the green.
	"Mercy," cried she, "my sovereign lady queen!
1055	Before the court's dismissed, give me my right.
	'Twas I who taught the answer to this knight;
	For which he did gave his word to me, out there,
	That the first thing I should of him require
	He would do that, if it lay in his might.
1060	Before the court, now, pray I you, sir knight,"
	Said she, "that you will take me for your wife;
	For well you know that I have saved your life.
	If this be false, say nay, upon your fay!"
	This knight replied: "Alas and welaway!
1065	That I so promised I will not protest.
	But for God's love pray make a new request.
	Take all my wealth and let my body go."
	"Nay then," said she, "beshrew us if I do!
	For though I may be foul and old and poor,
1070	I will not, for all metal and all ore
	That from the earth is dug or lies above,
	Be aught except your wife and your true love."

	"My love?" quod he, "nay, my dampnacioun!
	Allas, that any of my nacioun
1075	Sholde evere so foule disparaged be!"
	But al for noght, the ende is this, that he
	Constreyned was, he nedes moste hir wedde;
	And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.

	"My love?" cried he, "nay, rather my damnation!
	Alas! that any of my race and station
1075	Should ever so dishonoured foully be!"
	But all for naught; the end was this, that he
	Was so constrained he needs must go and wed,
	And take his ancient wife and go to bed.