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Now wolden som men seye, paraventure, |
| 1080 | That for my necligence I do no cure |
| To tellen yow the joye and al th'array, |
| That at the feeste was that ilke day; |
| To whiche thyng shortly answere I shal: |
| I seye, ther nas no joye ne feeste at al; |
| 1085 | Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sorwe. |
| For prively he wedde hir on a morwe, |
| And al day after hidde hym as an owle, |
| So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule. |
| Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght, |
| 1090 | Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght; |
| He walweth and he turneth to and fro. |
| His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo, |
| And seyde, "O deere housbonde, benedicitee, |
| Fareth every knyght thus with his wyf, as ye? |
| 1095 | Is this the lawe of Kyng Arthures hous? |
| Is every knyght of his so dangerous? |
| I am youre owene love and youre wyf; |
| I am she which that saved hath youre lyf. |
| And certes, yet dide I yow nevere unright; |
| 1100 | Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght? |
| Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit. |
| What is my gilt? For Goddes love, tel it, |
| And it shal been amended, if I may." |
| "Amended," quod this knyght, "allas! nay! nay! |
| 1105 | It wol nat been amended nevere mo; |
| Thou art so loothly and so oold also, |
| And therto comen of so lough a kynde, |
| That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde. |
| So wolde God, myn herte wolde breste!" |
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Now, peradventure, would some men say here, |
| 1080 | That, of my negligence, I take no care |
| To tell you of the joy and all the array |
| That at the wedding feast were seen that day. |
| Make a brief answer to this thing I shall; |
| I say, there was no joy or feast at all; |
| 1085 | There was but heaviness and grievous sorrow; |
| For privately he wedded on the morrow, |
| And all day, then, he hid him like an owl; |
| So sad he was, his old wife looked so foul. |
| Great was the woe the knight had in his thought |
| 1090 | When he, with her, to marriage bed was brought; |
| He rolled about and turned him to and fro. |
| His old wife lay there, always smiling so, |
| And said: "O my dear husband, ben'cite! |
| Fares every knight with wife as you with me? |
| 1095 | Is this the custom in King Arthur's house? |
| Are knights of his all so fastidious? |
| I am your own true love and, more, your wife; |
| And I am she who saved your very life; |
| And truly, since I've never done you wrong, |
| 1100 | Why do you treat me so, this first night long? |
| You act as does a man who's lost his wit; |
| What is my fault? For God's love tell me it, |
| And it shall be amended, if I may." |
| "Amended!" cried this knight, "Alas, nay, nay! |
| 1105 | It will not be amended ever, no! |
| You are so loathsome, and so old also, |
| And therewith of so low a race were born, |
| It's little wonder that I toss and turn. |
| Would God my heart would break within my breast!" |
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