|
Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere, |
| I weep algate, and made sory cheere, |
| 595 | As wyves mooten, for it is usage- |
| And with my coverchief covered my visage; |
| But for that I was purveyed of a make, |
| I wepte but smal, and that I undertake. |
| To chirche was myn housbonde born amorwe |
| 600 | With neighebores that for hym maden sorwe; |
| And Janekyn oure clerk was oon of tho. |
| As help me God! whan that I saugh hym go |
| After the beere, me thoughte he hadde a paire |
| Of legges and of feet so clene and faire, |
| 605 | That al myn herte I yaf unto his hoold. |
| He was, I trowe, a twenty wynter oold, |
| And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth, |
| But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth. |
| Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel, |
| 610 | I hadde the prente of Seinte Venus seel. |
| As help me God, I was a lusty oon, |
| And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon, |
| And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me, |
| I hadde the beste quonyam myghte be. |
| 615 | For certes, I am al Venerien |
| In feelynge, and myn herte is Marcien. |
| Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse, |
| And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse. |
| Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars therinne, |
| 620 | Allas, allas, that evere love was synne! |
| I folwed ay myn inclinacioun |
| By vertu of my constellacioun; |
| That made me I koude noght withdrawe |
| My chambre of Venus from a good felawe. |
| 625 | Yet have I Martes mark upon my face, |
| And also in another privee place. |
| For God so wys be my savacioun, |
| I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun, |
| But evere folwede myn appetit, |
| 630 | Al were he short, or long, or blak, or whit. |
| I took no kep, so that he liked me, |
| How poore he was, ne eek of what degree. |
|
| When my fourth husband lay upon his bier,
| | I wept enough and made but sorry cheer,
| | 595 | As wives must always, for it's custom's grace,
| | And with my kerchief covered up my face;
| | But since I was provided with a mate,
| | I really wept but little, I may state.
| | To church my man was borne upon the morrow
| | 600 | By neighbours, who for him made signs of sorrow;
| | And Jenkin, our good clerk, was one of them.
| | So help me God, when rang the requiem
| | After the bier, I thought he had a pair
| | Of legs and feet so clean-cut and so fair
| | 605 | That all my heart I gave to him to hold.
| | He was, I think, but twenty winters old,
| | And I was forty, if I tell the truth;
| | But then I always had a young colt's tooth.
| | Gap-toothed I was, and that became me well;
| | 610 | I had the print of holy Venus' seal.
| | So help me God, I was a healthy one,
| | And fair and rich and young and full of fun;
| | And truly, as my husbands all told me,
| | I had the silkiest quoniam that could be.
| | 615 | For truly, I am all Venusian
| | In feeling, and my brain is Martian.
| | Venus gave me my lust, my lickerishness,
| | And Mars gave me my sturdy hardiness.
| | Taurus was my ascendant, with Mars therein.
| | 620 | Alas, alas, that ever love was sin!
| | I followed always my own inclination
| | By virtue of my natal constellation;
| | Which wrought me so I never could withdraw
| | My Venus-chamber from a good fellow.
| | 625 | Yet have I Mars's mark upon my face,
| | And also in another private place.
| | For God so truly my salvation be
| | As I have never loved for policy,
| | But ever followed my own appetite,
| | 630 | Though he were short or tall, or black or white;
| | I took no heed, so that he cared for me,
| | How poor he was, nor even of what degree. |
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