Answer the following questions based on The Things They ...
The Franklin’s Tale (from the Canterbury Tales) by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Franklin’s Prologue
lines 1-20: The Franklin apologizes for his vulgar language
The prologe of the Frankeleyns tale.
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| Thise olde gentil Britouns in hir dayes | These ancient gentle Bretons, in their days, |
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|Of diverse aventures maden layes, |Of divers high adventures made great lays |
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|Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge; |And rhymed them in their primal Breton tongue, |
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|Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe, |The which lays to their instruments they sung, |
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|5 |5 |
|Or elles redden hem, for hir plesaunce. |Or else recited them where joy might be; |
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|And oon of hem have I in remembraunce, |And one of them have I in memory, |
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|Whiche I shal seyn, with good-wyl, as I kan. |Which I shall gladly tell you, as I can. |
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| But sires, by cause I am a burel man, | But, sirs, because I am an ignorant man, |
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|At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche, |At my beginning must I first beseech |
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|10 |10 |
|Have me excused of my rude speche. |You will excuse me for my vulgar speech; |
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|I lerned nevere rethorik, certeyn; |I never studied rhetoric, that’s certain; |
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|Thyng that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn. |That which I say, it must be bare and plain. |
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|I sleep nevere on the Mount of Parnaso, |I never slept on Mount Parnassus, no, |
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|Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero. |Nor studied Marcus Tullius Cicero. |
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|15 |15 |
|Colours ne knowe I none, withouten drede, |Colours I know not, there’s no doubt indeed, |
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|But swiche colours as growen in the mede, |Except colours such as grow within the mead, |
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|Or elles swiche, as men dye or peynte. |Or such as men achieve with dye or paint. |
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|Colours of rethoryk been me to queynte, |Colours of rhetoric I find but quaint; |
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|My spirit feeleth noght of swich mateere; |My spirit doesn’t feel the beauty there. |
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|20 |20 |
|But if yow list, my tale shul ye heere. |But if you wish, my story you shall hear. |
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The Franklin’s Tale
lines 21-52: About a knight, his wife and their marriage
Heere bigynneth the Frankeleyns tale.
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| In Armorik, that called is Britayne, | In old Armorica, now Brittany, |
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|Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne |There was a knight that loved and strove, did he |
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|To serve a lady in his beste wise; |To serve a lady in the highest wise; |
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|And many a labour, many a greet emprise, |And many a labour, many a great emprise |
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|25 |25 |
|He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne. |He wrought for her, or ever she was won. |
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|For she was oon the faireste under sonne, |For she was of the fairest under sun, |
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|And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede |And therewithal come of so high kindred |
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|That wel unnethes dorste this knyght for drede |That scarcely could this noble knight, for dread, |
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|Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his distresse. |Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress. |
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|30 |30 |
|But atte laste, she for his worthynesse, |But at the last she, for his worthiness, |
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|And namely for his meke obeysaunce, |And specially for his meek obedience, |
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|Hath swiche a pitee caught of his penaunce, |Had so much pity that, in consequence, |
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|That pryvely she fil of his accord |She secretly was come to his accord |
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|To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord, |To take him for her husband and her lord, |
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|35 |35 |
|Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves- |Of such lordship as men have over wives; |
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|And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves, |And that they might be happier in their lives, |
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|Of his free wyl he swoor hir as a knyght, |Of his free will he swore to her, as knight, |
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|That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght, |That never in his life, by day or night, |
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|Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie |Would he assume a right of mastery |
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|40 |40 |
|Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hir jalousie, |Against her will, nor show her jealousy, |
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|But hir obeye and folwe hir wyl in al |But would obey and do her will in all |
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|As any lovere to his lady shal, |As any lover of his lady shall; |
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|Save that the name of soveraynetee, |Except the name and show of sovereignty, |
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|That wolde he have, for shame of his degree. |Those would he have, lest he shame his degree |
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|45 |45 |
| She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse | She thanked him, and with a great humbleness |
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|She seyde, “Sire, sith of youre gentillesse |She said: “Since, sir, of your own nobleness |
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|Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, |You proffer me to have so loose a rein |
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|Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne, |Would God there never come between us twain, |
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|As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf. |For any guilt of mine, a war or strife. |
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|50 |50 |
|Sir, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf, |Sir, I will be your humble, faithful wife, |
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|Have heer my trouthe til that myn herte breste.” |Take this as truth till heart break in my breast.” |
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|Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. |Thus were they both in quiet and in rest. |
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lines 53-94: About love and marriage, freedom and bondage
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| For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye, | For one thing, sirs, I safely dare to say, |
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|That freendes everych oother moot obeye, |That friends each one the other must obey |
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|55 |55 |
|If they wol longe holden compaignye. |If they’d be friends and long keep company. |
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|Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye; |Love will not be constrained by mastery; |
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|Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon |When mastery ‘comes, the god of love anon |
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|Beteth hise wynges, and farewel, he is gon! |Beats his fair wings, and farewell! He is gone! |
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|Love is a thyng as any spirit free. |Love is a thing as any spirit free; |
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|60 |60 |
|Wommen, of kynde desiren libertee, |Women by nature love their liberty, |
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|And nat to been constreyned as a thral; |And not to be constrained like any thrall, |
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|And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal. |And so do men, if say the truth I shall. |
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|Looke who that is moost pacient in love, |Observe who is most patient in his love, |
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|He is at his avantage al above. |He is advantaged others all above. |
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|65 |65 |
|Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn, |Patience is virtue high, and that’s certain; |
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|For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn, |For it does vanquish, as these clerks make plain, |
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|Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne. |Things that oppression never could attain. |
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|For every word men may nat chide or pleyne, |One must not chide for trifles nor complain. |
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|Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon, |Learn to endure, or else, so may I go, |
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|70 |70 |
|Ye shul it lerne, wherso ye wole or noon. |You’ll have to learn it, whether you will or no. |
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|For in this world, certein, ther no wight is |For in this world, it’s certain, no one is |
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|That he ne dooth or seith som tyme amys. |Who never does or says sometimes amiss. |
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|Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun |Sickness, or woe, or what the stars have sent, |
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|Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun |Anger, or wine, or change of temperament |
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|75 |75 |
|Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken. |Causes one oft to do amiss or speak. |
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|On every wrong a man may nat be wreken; |For every wrong one may not vengeance wreak; |
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|After the tyme moste be temperaunce |Conditions must determine temperance |
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|To every wight that kan on governaunce. |In all who understand good governance. |
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|And therfore hath this wise worthy knyght, |And therefore did this wise and worthy knight, |
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|80 |80 |
|To lyve in ese, suffrance hir bihight, |To live in quiet, patience to her plight, |
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|And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere |And unto him full truly did she swear |
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|That nevere sholde ther be defaute in here. |That never should he find great fault in her. |
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| Heere may men seen an humble wys accord! | Here may men see an humble wise accord; |
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|Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord, |Thus did she take her servant and her lord, |
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|85 |85 |
|Servant in love, and lord in mariage; |Servant in love and lord in their marriage; |
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|Thanne was he bothe in lordship and servage- |So was he both in lordship and bondage; |
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|Servage? Nay, but in lordshipe above, |In bondage? Nay, but in lordship above, |
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|Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love- |Since he had both his lady and his love; |
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|His lady, certes, and his wyf also, |His lady truly, and his wife also, |
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|90 |90 |
|The which that lawe of love acordeth to. |To which the law of love accords, we know. |
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|And whan he was in this prosperitee, |And when he was in this prosperity, |
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|Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree, |Home with his wife he went to his country, |
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|Nat fer fro Pedmark, ther his dwellyng was, |Not far from Penmarch, where his dwelling was. |
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|Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas. |And there he lived in bliss and all solace. |
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lines 95-105: The knight leaves his wife and goes on a campaign
|95 |95 |
| Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be, | Who could relate, except those that wedded be, |
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|The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee |The joy, the ease, and the prosperity |
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|That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf? |That are between a husband and a wife? |
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|A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf, |A year and more endured this blissful life, |
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|Til that the knyght of which I speke of thus, |Until the knight, of whom I’ve spoken thus, |
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|100 |100 |
|That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, |Who at Kayrrud was called Arviragus, |
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|Shoop hym to goon, and dwelle a yeer or tweyne, |Arranged to go and dwell a year or twain |
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|In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne, |In England, which was then known as Britain, |
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|To seke in armes worshipe and honour- |To seek in arms renown and great honour; |
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|For al his lust he sette in swich labour- |For his desire was fixed in such labour; |
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|105 |105 |
|And dwelled there two yeer, the book seith thus. |And there he lived two years, the book says thus. |
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lines 106-138: Arviragus’ wife Dorigen mourns after his departure
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| Now wol I stynten of this Arveragus, | Now will I hold from this Arviragus, |
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|And speken I wole of Dorigene his wyf, |And I will speak of Dorigen his wife, |
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|That loveth hir housbonde as hir hertes lyf. |Who loved her husband as her heart’s own life. |
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|For his absence wepeth she and siketh, |For all his absence wept she and she sighed, |
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|110 |110 |
|As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh. |As noble wives do at a lone fireside. |
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|She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth, |She mourned, watched, wailed, she fasted and complained; |
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|Desir of his presence hir so destreyneth, |Desire for him so bound her and constrained, |
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|That al this wyde world she sette at noght, |That all this wide world did she set at naught. |
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|Hir freendes whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght, |Her friends, who knew her grief and heavy thought, |
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|115 |115 |
|Conforten hir in al that ever they may. |Comforted her as they might do or say; |
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|They prechen hir, they telle hir nyght and day |They preached to her, they told her night and day |
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|That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas! |That for no cause she killed herself, alas! |
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|And every confort possible in this cas |And every comfort possible in this pass |
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|They doon to hir, with all hir bisynesse, |They gave to her, in all their busyness, |
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|120 |120 |
|Al for to make hir leve hir hevynesse. |To make her thus put by her heaviness. |
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| By proces, as ye knowen everichoon, | With passing time, as you know, every one, |
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|Men may so longe graven in a stoon, |Men may so long with tools engrave a stone |
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|Til som figure therinne emprented be. |That thereon will some figure printed be. |
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|So longe han they conforted hir, til she |And so long did they comfort her that she |
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|125 |125 |
|Receyved hath by hope and by resoun |Received at last, by hope and reason grown, |
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|The emprentyng of hir consolacioun, |Imprinted consolations as her own, |
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|Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; |Whereby her sorrow did somewhat assuage; |
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|She may nat alwey duren in swich rage. |She could not always live in such a rage. |
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| And eek Arveragus, in al this care, | And, then, Arviragus, through all her care, |
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|130 |130 |
|Hath sent hir lettres hoom of his welfare, |Had sent her letters home, of his welfare. |
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|And that he wol com hastily agayn, |And that he would come speedily again; |
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|Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. |Otherwise had this sorrow her heart slain. |
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| Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake, | Her friends saw that her grief began to slake, |
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|And preyde hir on knees, for Goddes sake, |And prayed her on their knees, for dear God’s sake, |
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|135 |135 |
|To com and romen hir in compaignye, |To come and wander in their company |
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|Awey to dryve hir derke fantasye. |And drive away her gloomy fantasy. |
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|And finally she graunted that requeste, |And finally she granted that request; |
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|For wel she saugh that it was for the beste. |For well she saw that it was for the best. |
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lines 139-192: Dorigen’s friends provide games and comfort
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| Now stood hir castel faste by the see; | Now stood her castle very near the sea, |
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|140 |140 |
|And often with hir freendes walketh she |And often with her good friends wandered she |
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|Hire to disporte, upon the bank an heigh, |For pleasure on the cliffs that reared so high, |
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|Where as she many a ship and barge seigh |Whence she saw many a ship and barge go by, |
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|Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go. |Sailing their courses where they wished to go; |
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|But thanne was that a parcel of hir wo, |But that was part and parcel of her woe. |
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|145 |145 |
|For to hirself ful ofte “Allas,” seith she, |For to herself full oft, “Alas!” said she, |
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|“Is ther no ship of so many as I se |“Is there no ship, of many that I see, |
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|Wol bryngen hoom my lord? Thanne were myn herte |Will bring me home my lord? Then were my heart |
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|Al warisshed of hisse bittre peynes smerte.” |Recovered of its bitter pains that smart.” |
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| Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thynke | At other times there would she sit and think, |
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|150 |150 |
|And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke; |And cast her two eyes downward from the brink. |
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|But whan she saugh the reisly rokkes blake, |But when she saw the grisly rocks all black, |
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|For verray feere, so wolde hir herte quake |For very fear her heart would start aback |
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|That on hire feet she myghte hir noght sustene. |And quake so that her feet would not sustain |
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|Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene, |Her weight. Then on the grass she’d sit again |
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|155 |155 |
|And pitously into the see biholde, |And piteously upon the sea she’d stare, |
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|And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde: |And say, with dull sighs on the empty air: |
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| ”Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveiaunce | ”Eternal God, who by your providence |
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|Ledest the world by certein governaunce, |Leadest the world with a true governance, |
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|In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make. |Idly, as men say, do you nothing make; |
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|160 |160 |
|But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, |But, Lord, these grisly, fiendish rocks, so black, |
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|That semen rather a foul confusioun |That seem but rather foul confusion thrown |
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|Of werk, than any fair creacioun |Awry than any fair world of your own, |
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|Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable, |Aye of a perfect wise God and stable, |
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|Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable? |Why have you wrought this insane work, pray tell? |
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|165 |165 |
|For by this werk, south, north, ne west ne eest |For by this work, north, south, and west and east, |
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|Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest. |There is none nurtured, man, nor bird, nor beast; |
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|It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth, |It does no good, to my mind, but annoys. |
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|Se ye nat, lord, how mankynde it destroyeth? |See’st you not, Lord, how mankind it destroys? |
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|An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde |A hundred thousand bodies of mankind |
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|170 |170 |
|Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde; |Have died on rocks, whose names are not in mind, |
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|Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk |And man’s a creature made by you most fair, |
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|That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. |After your image, as you did declare. |
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|Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee |Then seemed it that you had’st great charity |
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|Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee |Toward mankind; but how then may it be |
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|175 |175 |
|That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen, |That you had wrought such means man to destroy, |
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|Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen? |Which means do never good, but ever annoy? |
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|I woot wel clerkes wol seyn, as hem leste, |I know well, clerics gladly do attest, |
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|By argumentz, that al is for the beste, |By arguments, that all is for the best, |
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|Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe, |Though I can never the real causes know. |
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|180 |180 |
|But thilke God that made wynd to blowe |But O you God who made’st the wind to blow, |
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|As kepe my lord; this my conclusioun. |Keep you my lord! This is my argument; |
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|To clerkes lete I al this disputisoun- |To clerks I leave disputing on what’s meant. |
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|But wolde God, that alle thise rokkes blake, |But O would God that all these rocks so black |
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|Were sonken into helle for his sake! |Were sunken down to Hell for my lord’s sake! |
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|185 |185 |
|Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere!” |These rocks, they slay my very heart with fear.” |
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|Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere. |Thus would she say, with many a piteous tear. |
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| Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport | Her friends saw that to her it was no sport |
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|To romen by the see, but disconfort, |To wander by the sea, but discomfort; |
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|And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles; |And so arranged to revel somewhere else. |
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|190 |190 |
|They leden hir by ryveres and by welles, |They led her along rivers and to wells, |
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|And eek in othere places delitables; |And such delightful places; and told fables, |
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|They dauncen, and they pleyen at ches and tables. |They danced, and they played at chess and tables. |
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lines 193-216: A feast in the garden
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| So on a day, right in the morwe tyde, | So on a day, all in the morningtide, |
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|Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde, |Unto a garden which was there beside, |
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|195 |195 |
|In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce |Wherein they’d given command that there should be |
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|Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce, |Food and whatever else was necessary, |
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|They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. |They went for pleasure all the livelong day. |
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|And this was in the sixte morwe of May, |And this was on the morning sixth of May, |
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|Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures |And May had painted with his soft warm showers |
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|200 |200 |
|This gardyn ful of leves and of floures, |This garden full of foliage and of flowers; |
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|And craft of mannes hand so curiously |And work of man’s hand had so curiously |
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|Arrayed hadde this gardyn trewely, |Arrayed this lovely garden, truthfully, |
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|That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys, |That never was another of such price, |
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|But if it were the verray Paradys. |Unless it were the very Paradise. |
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|205 |205 |
|The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte |The scent of flowers and the fair fresh sight |
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|Wolde han maked any herte lighte |Would have made any heart dance for delight |
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|That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse |That ever was born, unless too great sickness |
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|Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse; |Or too great sorrow held it in distress; |
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|So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce. |So full it was of beauty and pleasance. |
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|210 |210 |
|At after-dyner gonne they to daunce |After their dinner all began to dance, |
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|And synge also, save Dorigen allone, |And sing, also, except Dorigen alone, |
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|Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone |Who made alway her same complaint and moan. |
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|For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go |For him she saw not through the dancing go, |
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|That was hir housbonde, and hir love also. |Who was her husband and her love also. |
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|215 |215 |
|But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde, |Nevertheless, she must a time abide, |
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|And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde. |And with good hope held, let her sorrow slide. |
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lines 217-258: Aurelius the squire’s hidden love for Dorigen
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| Upon this daunce, amonges othere men, | Amid these mazes, with the other men, |
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| | |
|Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen |There danced a squire before this Dorigen, |
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|That fressher was, and jolyer of array, |That was more blithe, and prettier of array, |
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|220 |220 |
|As to my doom, than is the monthe of May. |In my opinion, than the month of May. |
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|He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man |He sang and danced better than any man |
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|That is or was, sith that the world bigan. |That is, or was, since first the world began. |
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|Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve, |Therewith he was, description to contrive, |
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|Oon of the beste farynge man of lyve; |One of best conditioned men alive; |
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|225 |225 |
|Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys, |Young, strong, right virtuous, and rich, and wise, |
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|And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys. |And well beloved, and one to idealize. |
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|And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, |And briefly, if I tell the truth withal, |
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|Unwityng of this Dorigen at al, |Unknown to Dorigen - nay, least of all - |
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|This lusty squier, servant to Venus, |This pleasant squire, servant to Queen Venus, |
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|230 |230 |
|Which that ycleped was Aurelius, |The name of whom was this, Aurelius, |
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|Hadde loved hir best of any creature |Had loved her best of anyone alive |
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|Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure; |Two years and more (since she did first arrive), |
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|But nevere dorste he tellen hir his grevaunce, |But never dared he tell her of his state; |
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|Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce. |Without a cup he drank his draught of fate. |
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|235 |235 |
|He was despeyred, no thyng dorste he seye |He had despaired, for nothing dared he say, |
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|Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye |Except that in songs he would somewhat betray |
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|His wo, as in a general compleynyng. |His woe, as of a general complaint; |
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|He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no thyng, |He loved, but none loved him, though he went faint. |
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|Of swich matere made he manye layes, |Of such a subject made he many lays, |
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|240 |240 |
|Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, |Songs and complaints, rondels and virelays, |
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|How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle, |How that he dared not his deep sorrow tell, |
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|But langwissheth, as a furye dooth in helle, |But languished, as a fury does in Hell; |
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| | |
|And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko |And die he must, he said, as did Echo |
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|For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo, |For her Narcissus, daring not tell her woe. |
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|245 |245 |
|In oother manere than ye heere me seye, |In other manner than you hear me say |
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|Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye, |Dared he not unto her his woe betray; |
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|Save that paraventure som tyme at daunces, |Except that, perchance, there would be times at dances, |
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|Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, |Where young folk honoured all that makes romances, |
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|It may wel be he looked on hir face, |It may well be he looked upon her face |
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|250 |250 |
|In swich a wise as man that asketh grace; |In such wise as a man who sued for grace; |
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|But nothyng wiste she of his entente. |But nothing knew she of his love’s intent. |
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|Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente, |Nevertheless it chanced, before thence they went, |
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|By cause that he was hir neighebour, |Because it happened he was her neighbour, |
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|And was a man of worshipe and honour, |And was a man of worship and honour, |
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|255 |255 |
|And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore, |And she had known him in the time of yore, |
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| | |
|They fille in speche, and forthe moore and moore |They fell to talking; and so, more and more, |
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| | |
|Unto this purpos drough Aurelius. |Unto his purpose drew Aurelius, |
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|And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus: |And when he saw his time addressed her thus: |
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lines 259-270: Aurelius reveals his love for Dorigen
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| ”Madame,” quod he, “by God that this world made, | ”Madam,” said he, “by God who this world made, |
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|260 |260 |
|So that I wiste it myghte your herte glade, |So that I knew it might your sad heart aid, |
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|I wolde that day that youre Arveragus |I would, that day when your Arviragus |
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|Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, |Went overseas, that I, Aurelius, |
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| | |
|Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn. |Had gone whence never I should come again; |
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|For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn, |For well I know my service is in vain. |
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|265 |265 |
|My gerdoun is but brestyng of myn herte. |My reward is the breaking of my heart; |
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|Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte, |Madam, have pity on my pains that smart; |
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|For with a word ye may me sleen or save. |For with a word you may slay me or save, |
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|Heere at your feet, God wolde that I were grave, |Here at your feet would God I found my grave! |
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|I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye, |Time to say more, at present naught have I; |
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|270 |270 |
|Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye.” |Have mercy, sweet, or you will make me die!” |
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lines 271-280: Dorigen rejects Aurelius’ love
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| She gan to looke upon Aurelius: | So then she looked upon Aurelius: |
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|“Is this youre wyl!” quod she, “and sey ye thus? |“Is this your will?” asked she, “And say you thus? |
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|Nevere erst,” quod she, “ne wiste I what ye mente. |Never before have I known what you meant. |
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|But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente. |But since, Aurelius, I know your intent, |
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|275 |275 |
|By thilke God, that yaf me soule and lyf, |By that same God Who gave me soul and life, |
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|Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf, |Never shall I become an untrue wife |
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|In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit. |In word or deed, so far as I have wit: |
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|I wol been his to whom that I am knyt. |I will remain his own to whom I’m knit; |
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|Taak this for fynal answere as of me.” |Take this for final answer as from me.” |
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|280 |280 |
|But after that, in pley thus seyde she, |But after that she said thus, sportively: |
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lines 281-297: To receive her love, Dorigen demands the impossible from Aurelius
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| ”Aurelie,” quod she, “by heighe God above, | ”Aurelius,” said she, “by God above, |
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|Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love, |Yet would I well consent to be your love, |
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|Syn I yow se so pitously complayne. |Since I hear you complain so piteously, |
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|Looke, what day that endelong Britayne |On that day when, from coasts of Brittany, |
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|285 |285 |
|Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon, |You’ve taken all the black rocks, stone by stone, |
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|That they ne lette shipe ne boot to goon, - |So that they hinder ship nor boat - I own, |
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|I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene |I say, when you have made the coast so clean |
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|Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene, |Of rocks that there is no stone to be seen, |
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|Thanne wol I love yow best of any man, |Then will I love you best of any man; |
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|290 |290 |
|Have heer my trouthe in al that evere I kan.” |Take here my promise - all that ever I can.” |
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| ”Is ther noon oother grace in yow?” quod he. | ”Is there no other grace in you?” asked he. |
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| ”No, by that lord,” quod she, “that maked me; | ”No, by that Lord,” said she, “Who has made me! |
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|For wel I woot that it shal nevere bityde; |For well I know that it shall ne’er betide. |
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|Lat swiche folies out of your herte slyde. |Let suchlike follies out of your heart slide. |
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|295 |295 |
|What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf |What pleasure can a man have in his life |
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|For to go love another mannes wyf, |Who would go love another man’s own wife, |
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|That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh?” |That has her body when he wishes it?” |
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lines 298-322: Aurelius goes and the feast continues
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| Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh, | Deep sighs Aurelius did then emit; |
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|Wo was Aurelie, whan that he this herde, |Woe was Aurelius when this he heard, |
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|300 |300 |
|And with a sorweful herte he thus answered. |And with a sorrowful heart he thus answered: |
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| ”Madame,” quod he, “this were an inpossible; | ”Madam,” said he, “this were impossible! |
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|Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible.” |Then must I die a sudden death and fell.” |
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|And with that word he turned hym anon. |And with that word he turned away anon. |
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|Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon, |Then came her other friends, and many a one, |
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|305 |305 |
|And in the aleyes romeden up and doun, |And in the alleys wandered up and down, |
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|And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun, |And nothing knew of this decision shown, |
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|But sodeynly bigonne revel newe, |But suddenly began to dance anew |
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|Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe, |Until the bright sun lost his golden hue; |
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|For th’orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght - |For the horizon had cut off his light; |
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|310 |310 |
|This is as muche to seye as it was nyght - |This is as much as saying, it was night. |
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|And hoom they goon in joye and in solas, |And home they went in joy and with solace, |
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|Save oonly wrecche Aurelius, allas! |Except the wretch Aurelius, alas! |
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|He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte; |He to his house went with a woeful heart; |
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|He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte; |He saw he could not from his near death part. |
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|315 |315 |
|Hym semed that he felte his herte colde; |It seemed to him he felt his heart grow cold; |
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|Up to the hevene hise handes he gan holde, |Up toward Heaven his two hands did he hold, |
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|And on hise knowes bare he sette hym doun, |And on his bare knees did he kneel him down |
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|And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun. |And in his raving said his orison. |
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|For verray wo out of his wit he breyde; |For very woe out of his wits he fled. |
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|320 |320 |
|He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde: |He knew not what he spoke, but thus he said; |
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|With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne |With mournful heart his plaint had he begun |
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|Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne |Unto the gods, and first unto the sun. |
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lines 323-373: Aurelius pities himself and asks the gods for help
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| He seyde, “Appollo, god and governour | He said: “Apollo, governor and god |
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|Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour |Of every plant, herb, tree, and flower in sod, |
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|325 |325 |
|That yevest after thy declinacioun |That givest, according to thy declination, |
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|To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun, |To each of them its time of foliation, |
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|As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe, |All as thy habitation’s low or high, |
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|Lord Phebus, cast thy mericiable eighe |Lord Phoebus, cast thy merciful bright eye |
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|On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn. |On wretched Aurelius, who is lost and lorn. |
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|330 |330 |
|Lo, lord, my lady hath my deeth ysworn |Lo, Lord! My lady has my swift death sworn, |
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|Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee |Without my guilt, save thy benignity |
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|Upon my dedly herte have som pitee. |Upon my dying heart have some pity! |
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|For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest, |For well I know, Lord Phoebus, if you lest, |
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|Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best. |You can thus aid me, save my lady, best. |
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|335 |335 |
|Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse |Now vouchsafe that I may for you devise |
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|How that I may been holpen and in what wyse. |A plan to help me, telling in what wise. |
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| ”Your blisful suster, Lucina the sheene, | ”Your blessed sister, Lucina, serene, |
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|That of the see is chief goddesse and queene, |That of the sea is goddess chief and queen |
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|(Though Neptunus have deitee in the see, |(Though Neptune is the deity in the sea, |
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|340 |340 |
|Yet emperisse aboven hym is she), |Yet empress set above him there is she). |
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|Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir |You know well, Lord, that just as her desire |
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|Is to be quyked and lightned of youre fir, |Is to be quickened and lighted by your fire, |
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|For which she folweth yow ful bisily, |For which she follows you right busily, |
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|Right so the see desireth naturelly |Just so the sea desires, and naturally, |
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|345 |345 |
|To folwen hir, as she that is goddesse |To follow her, she being high goddess |
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|Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse. |Both of the sea and rivers, great and less. |
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|Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste - |Wherefore, Lord Phoebus, this request I make - |
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| | |
|Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste, - |Without this miracle, my heart will break - |
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|That now next at this opposicioun |That at the time of your next opposition, |
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|350 |350 |
|Which in the signe shal be of the Leoun, |Which will be in the Lion, make petition |
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|As preieth hir, so greet a flood to brynge |To her that she so great a flood will bring |
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|That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge |That full five fathoms shall it over-spring |
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|The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne, |The highest rock in Armoric Brittany; |
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|And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne. |And let this flood endure two years for me; |
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|355 |355 |
|Thanne, certes, to my lady may I seye |Then truly to my lady may I say: |
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| | |
|‘Holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.’ |‘Now keep your word, the rocks are gone away.’ |
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| | |
| Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me, | ”Lord Phoebus, do this miracle for me; |
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| | |
|Preye hir she go no faster cours than ye. |Pray her she run no faster course, being free- |
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|I seye, preyeth your suster that she go |I say, Lord, pray your sister that she go |
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|360 |360 |
|No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. |No faster course than you these next years two. |
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|Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alway; |Then shall she be even at the full alway, |
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|And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day; |And spring-flood shall endure both night and day. |
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|And but she vouche sauf in swich manere |And save she vouchsafe, Lord, in such manner |
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|To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere, |To grant to me my sovereign lady dear, |
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|365 |365 |
|Prey hir to synken every rok adoun |Pray her to sink, then, every rock far down |
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|Into hir owene dirke regioun |Into that region dark and cold, her own, |
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|Under the ground ther Pluto dwelleth inne, |Under the earth, the place Pluto dwells in, |
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|Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne. |Or nevermore shall I my lady win. |
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|Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke, |Thy temple in Delphi will I, barefoot, seek; |
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|370 |370 |
|Lord Phebus; se the teeris on my cheke, |Lord Phoebus, see the tears upon my cheek, |
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| | |
|And of my peyne have som compassioun!” |And on my pain be some compassion shown.” |
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| | |
|And with that word in swowne he fil adoun, |And with that word in swoon he tumbled down, |
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|And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce. |And for a long time lay there in a trance. |
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lines 374-392: Arviragus returns home
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| His brother, which that knew of his penaunce, | His brother, who knew all his suppliance, |
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|375 |375 |
|Up caughte hym, and to bedde he hath hym broght. |Found him, and took him, and to bed him brought. |
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|Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght |Despairing in the torment of his thought, |
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|Lete I this woful creature lye; |Let I this woeful fellow-creature lie, |
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|Chese he for me wheither he wol lyve or dye. |To choose, for all of me, to live or die. |
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| | |
| Arveragus, with heele and greet honour, | Arviragus, with health, in honour’s hour, |
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|380 |380 |
|As he that was of chivalrie the flour, |As he that was of chivalry the flower, |
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| | |
|Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men. |Came home again, with other gentlemen. |
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| | |
|O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen! |O happy are you now, my Dorigen, |
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| | |
|That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes, |Who have your pleasant husband in your arms, |
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| | |
|The fresshe knyght, the worthy man or armes, |The vigorous knight, the worthy man-at-arms, |
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|385 |385 |
|That loveth thee, as his owene hertes lyf. |That loves you as he loves his own heart’s life. |
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| | |
|No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf |Nothing he chose to question of his wife |
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| | |
|If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute, |If any man had said, while he was out, |
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|To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute, |Some words of love; of her he had no doubt. |
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|He noght entendeth to no swich mateere, |He tended not that way, it would appear, |
| | |
|390 |390 |
|But daunceth, justeth, maketh hir good cheere, |But danced and jousted, made for her good cheer; |
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| | |
|And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle, |And thus in joy and bliss I let them dwell |
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| | |
|And of the sike Aurelius I wol telle. |And of love-sick Aurelius will I tell. |
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lines 393-456: Aurelius’ brother knows a cure
| | |
| In langour and in torment furyes | In weakness and in torment furious |
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| | |
|Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelyus, |Two years and more lay wretched Aurelius |
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|395 |395 |
|Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon; |Before foot on earth he went - aye, even one; |
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|Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon, |For comfort in this long time had he none, |
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|Save of his brother, which that was a clerk. |Except from his brother, who was a good clerk; |
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| | |
|He knew of al this wo and al this werk; |He knew of all this woe and all this work. |
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| | |
|For to noon oother creature, certeyn, |For to no other human, ‘tis certain, |
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|400 |400 |
|Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. |Dared he his cause of illness to explain. |
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| | |
|Under his brest he baar it moore secree |In breast he kept more secret his idea |
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| | |
|Than evere dide Pamphilus for Galathee. |Than did Pamphilius for Galatea. |
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| | |
|His brest was hool withoute for to sene, |His breast was whole, with no wound to be seen, |
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| | |
|But in his herte ay was the arwe kene. |But in his heart there was the arrow keen. |
| | |
|405 |405 |
|And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure |And well you know that of a sursanure |
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| | |
|In surgerye is perilous the cure, |In surgery is difficult the cure, |
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| | |
|But men myghte touche the arwe, or come therby. |Unless they find the dart or take it out. |
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|His brother weep and wayled pryvely, |His brother wept, and long he sought about |
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|Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce |Till at the last he called to remembrance |
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|410 |410 |
|That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce, |That while he was at Orleans in France - |
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|As yonge clerkes, that been lykerous |For many young clerks are all ravenous |
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|To reden artes that been curious, |To read of arts that are most curious, |
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|Seken in every halke and every herne |And into every nook and cranny turn |
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|Particular sciences for to lerne, - |Particular strange sciences to learn- |
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|415 |415 |
|He hym remembred, that upon a day |He thus recalled that once upon a day, |
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|At Orliens in studie a book he say |At Orleans, while studying there, I say, |
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|Of magyk natureel, which his felawe, |A book of natural magic there he saw |
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|That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe - |In a friend’s room, a bachelor of law |
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|Al were he ther to lerne another craft, |Though he was there to learn another craft, |
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|420 |420 |
|Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft; |Which book he’d privately on his desk left; |
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|Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns, |And which book said much of the operations |
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|Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns |Touching the eight and twenty variations |
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|That longen to the moone, and swich folye |That designate the moon, and such folly |
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|As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye, - |As is, in our days, valued not a fly; |
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|425 |425 |
|For hooly chirches feith in oure bileve |For Holy Church provides us with a creed |
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|Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve. |That suffers no illusion to mislead. |
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|And whan this book was in his remembraunce, |And when this book came to his remembrance, |
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|Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce, |At once, for joy, his heart began to dance, |
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|And to hymself he seyde pryvely, |And to himself he said in privacy: |
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|430 |430 |
|“My brother shal be warisshed hastily; |“My brother shall be healed, and speedily; |
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|For I am siker that ther be sciences |For I am sure that there are sciences |
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|By whiche men make diverse apparences |Whereby men make divers appearances, |
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|Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye; |Such as these prestidigitators play. |
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|For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye |For oft at feasts, have I well heard men say |
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|435 |435 |
|That tregetoures withinne an halle large |That jugglers, in a hall both bright and large, |
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|Have maad come in a water and a barge, |Have made come in there, water and a barge, |
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|And in the halle rowen up and doun. |And in the hall the barge rowed up and down. |
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|Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun; |Sometimes there seemed to come a grim lion; |
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|And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede, |And sometimes flowers sprang as in a mead; |
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|440 |440 |
|Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede, |Or vines with grapes both red and white indeed; |
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|Somtyme a castel al of lym and stoon; |Sometimes a castle built of lime and stone; |
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|And whan hem lyked, voyded it anoon, |And when they wished it disappeared anon. |
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|Thus semed it to every mannes sighte. |Thus seemed these things to be in each man’s sight. |
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| Now thanne conclude I thus, that if I myghte | ”Now, then, conclude I thus, that if I might |
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|445 |445 |
|At Orliens som oold felawe yfynde |At Orleans some old school-fellow find, |
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|That hadde this moones mansions in mynde, |Who has these mansions of the moon in mind, |
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|Or oother magyk natureel above, |Or other natural magic from above, |
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|He sholde wel make my brother han his love; |He could well make my brother have his love. |
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|For with an apparence a clerk may make |For with a mere appearance clerks may make |
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|450 |450 |
|To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake |It seem in man’s sight that all rocks that break |
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|Of Britaigne weren yvoyded everichon, |The seas of Brittany were removed, so |
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|And shippes by the brynke comen and gon, |That right above them ships might come and go, |
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|And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two. |And in such wise endure a week or two; |
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|Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo; |Then were my brother cured of all his woe. |
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|455 |455 |
|Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste, |For she must keep the word she gave at feast. |
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|Or elles he shal shame hire atte leste.” |Or he’ll have right to shame her, at the least.” |
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lines 457-480: The two brothers leave for Orleans and meet a clerk
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| What sholde I make a lenger tale of this? | Why should I longer speak of this event? |
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|Unto his brotheres bed he comen is, |He to the bedside of his brother went, |
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|And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon |And urged him eagerly to get him gone |
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|460 |460 |
|To Orliens that he up stirte anon, |To Orleans; he started up anon |
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|And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare |And forward on his way at once did fare |
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|In hope for to been lissed of his care. |In hope to be relieved of all his care. |
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| Whan they were come almoost to that citee, | When they were come almost to that city, |
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|But if it were a furlong or three, |Perhaps two furlongs short of it, or three, |
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|465 |465 |
|A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette, |A young clerk walking by himself they met, |
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|Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette, |Who, in good Latin, heartily did greet, |
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|And after that he seyde a wonder thyng: |And after that he said a wondrous thing. |
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|“I knowe,” quod he, “the cause of youre comyng.” |“I know,” said he, “the cause of your coming.” |
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|And er they ferther any foote wente, |And before a farther foot the brothers went, |
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|470 |470 |
|He tolde hem al that was in hire entente. |He told them all the soul of their intent. |
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| This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes | This Breton clerk asked after school-fellows |
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|The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes, |Whom he had known through former suns and snows; |
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|And he answerde hym that they dede were, |And he replied to this that dead they were, |
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|For which he weep ful ofte many a teere. |Whereat he wept, for sorrow, many a tear. |
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|475 |475 |
| Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon, | Down from his horse Aurelius leaped anon, |
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|And with this magicien forth is he gon |And onward with this wizard he was gone |
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|Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese. |Home to his house, where he was put at ease. |
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|Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese. |To him there lacked no victuals that might please; |
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|So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon |So well appointed house as was that one |
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|480 |480 |
|Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon. |Aurelius in life before saw none. |
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lines 481-500: The clerk shows his magical power
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| He shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer, | He showed him, before he went to supper here, |
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|Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; |Forests and parks full of the dim wild deer; |
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|Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye, |There saw he harts of ten with their horns high, |
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|The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye. |The greatest ever seen by human eye. |
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|485 |485 |
|He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes, |He saw of them a hundred slain by hounds, |
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|And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes. |And some with arrows bled, with bitter wounds. |
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|He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer, |He saw, when vanished all were these wild deer, |
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|Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver, |Some falconers by river flowing clear, |
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|That with hir haukes han the heron slayn. |Who with their hawks had many herons slain. |
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|490 |490 |
| Tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn; | And then he saw knights jousting on a plain; |
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|And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce |And after this he did him such pleasance |
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|That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce, |That he showed him his lady in a dance |
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|On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte. |Wherein he also joined, or so he thought. |
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|And whan this maister that his magyk wroughte |And when this master who this magic wrought |
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|495 |495 |
|Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two, |Saw it was time, he clapped his two hands, lo! |
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|And farewel! al oure revel was ago. |Farewell to all! the revels out did go. |
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|And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous, |And yet they’d never moved out of the house |
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|Whil they saugh al this sighte marveillous, |While they saw all these sights so marvelous, |
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|But in his studie, ther as his bookes be, |But in his study, where his books would be, |
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|500 |500 |
|They seten stille, and no wight but they thre. |They had sat still, and no one but they three. |
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lines 501-510: The clerk invites the two brothers for dinner
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| To hym this maister called his squier, | Then unto him this master called his squire, |
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|And seyde hym thus: “Is redy oure soper? |And asked him thus: “Is supper ready, sir? |
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|Almoost an houre it is, I undertake, |Almost an hour it is, I’ll undertake, |
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|Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make, |Since I bade you our evening meal to make, |
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|505 |505 |
|Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me |When these two gentlemen came in with me |
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|Into my studie, ther as my bookes be.” |Into my study, wherein my books be.” |
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| ”Sire,” quod this squier, “whan it liketh yow, | ”Sir,” said this squire then, “when it pleases you |
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|It is al redy, though ye wol right now.” |It is all ready, though you will right now.” |
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|“Go we thanne soupe,” quod he, “as for the beste. |“Then let us eat,” said he, “for that is best; |
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|510 |510 |
|Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste.” |These amorous folk must sometime have some rest.” |
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lines 511-530: An agreement on the vanishment of the black costal rocks
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| At after-soper fille they in tretee | After the supper they discussed, they three, |
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|What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be, |What sum should this said master’s reward be |
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|To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne, |For moving all rocks Breton coasts contain |
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|And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne |From the Gironde unto the mouth of Seine. |
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|515 |515 |
| He made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save, | He played for time, and swore, so God him save, |
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|Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have, |Less than a thousand he would not have, |
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|Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon. |Nor eagerly for that would take it on. |
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| Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon, | Aurelius, with blissful heart, anon |
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|Answerde thus: “Fy on a thousand pound! |Answered him thus: “Fig for a thousand pound! |
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|520 |520 |
|This wyde world, which that men seye is round, |This great wide world, the which, men say, is round, |
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|I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it. |I’d give it all, if I were lord of it. |
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|This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt. |The bargain is concluded and we’re knit. |
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|Ye shal be payed trewely, by my throuthe! |You shall be truly paid, sir, by my troth! |
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|But looketh now for no necligence or slouthe |But look you, for no negligence or sloth, |
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|525 |525 |
|Ye tarie us heere, no lenger than to-morwe.” |Delay no longer than tomorrow morn.” |
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| ”Nay,” quod this clerk, “have heer my feith to borwe.’ | ”Nay,” said this clerk! “upon my faith I’m sworn.” |
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| To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste, | To bed went this Aurelius and undressed, |
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|And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste; |And well-nigh all that night he had his rest; |
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|What for his labour and his hope of blisse, |What of his labour and his hope of bliss |
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|530 |530 |
|His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. |The pain had left that woeful heart of his. |
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lines 531-552: The two brothers and the wizard go back to Brittany
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| Upon the morwe, whan that it was day, | Upon the morrow, when it was full day, |
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|To Britaigne tooke they the righte way, |To Brittany took they the nearest way, |
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|Aurelius and this magicien bisyde, |Aurelius, with this wizard at his side, |
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|And been descended ther they wolde abyde. |And thus they came to where they would abide; |
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|535 |535 |
|And this was, as thise bookes me remembre, |And that was, as the books say, I remember, |
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|The colde, frosty sesoun of Decembre. |The cold and frosty season of December. |
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| Phebus wax old, and hewed lyk latoun, | Phoebus was old and coloured like pale brass, |
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|That in this hoote declynacioun |That in hot declination coloured was |
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|Shoon as the burned gold, and stremes brighte; |And shone like burnished gold with streamers bright; |
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|540 |540 |
|But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, |But now in Capricorn did he alight, |
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|Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn. |Wherein he palely shone, I dare explain. |
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|The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn, |The bitter frosts, with all the sleet and rain, |
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|Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd; |Had killed the green of every garden-yard. |
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|Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd, |Janus sat by the fire, with double beard, |
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|545 |545 |
|And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn. |And drained from out his bugle horn the wine. |
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|Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn, |Before him stood the brawn of tusked swine, |
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|And “Nowel” crieth every lusty man. |And “Noel!” cried then every lusty man. |
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| Aurelius, in al that evere he kan, | Aurelius, in all that he could plan, |
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|Dooth to his master chiere and reverence, |Did to this master cheerful reverence, |
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|550 |550 |
|And preyeth hym to doon his diligence |And prayed of him he’d use all diligence |
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|To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte, |To bring him from his pains that so did smart, |
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|Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. |Or else with sword that he would slit his heart. |
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lines 553-588: The wizard performs his conjuring: the black costal rocks are vanished
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| This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man, | This subtle clerk such ruth had for this man, |
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|That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan |That night and day he sped about his plan, |
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|555 |555 |
|To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun, |To wait the proper time for his conclusion; |
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|This is to seye, to maken illusioun |That is to say, the time to make illusion, |
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|By swich an apparence or jogelrye - |By such devices of his jugglery - |
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|I ne kan no termes of astrologye - |I understand not this astrology - |
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|That she and every wight sholde wene and seye |That she and everyone should think and say |
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|560 |560 |
|That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye, |That all the Breton rocks were gone away, |
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|Or ellis they were sonken under grounde. |Or else that they were sunken underground. |
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|So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde |So at the last the proper time he found |
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|To maken hise japes and his wrecchednesse |To do his tricks and all his wretchedness |
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|Of swich a supersticious cursednesse. |Of such a superstitious wickedness. |
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|565 |565 |
|Hise tables Tolletanes forth he brought, |For his Toletan Tables forth he brought, |
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|Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought, |All well corrected, and he lacked in naught, |
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|Neither his collect ne hise expans yeeris, |The years collected nor the separate years, |
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|Ne his rootes, ne hise othere geeris, |Nor his known roots, nor any other gears, |
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|As been his centris and hise argumentz, |As, say, his centres and his argument, |
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|570 |570 |
|And hise proporcioneles convenientz |And his proportionals convenient |
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|For hise equacions in every thyng. |In estimating truly his equations. |
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|And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng | The eighth sphere showed him in his calculations |
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|He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove |How far removed was Alnath, passing by, |
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|Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above |From head of that fixed Aries on high, |
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|575 |575 |
|That in the ninthe speere considered is. |That in the ninth great sphere considered is; |
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|Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this. |Right cleverly he calculated this. |
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| Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun, | When he the moon’s first mansion thus had found, |
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|He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun, |The rest proportionally he could expound; |
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|And knew the arisyng of his moone weel, |And knew the moon’s arising-time right well, |
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|580 |580 |
|And in whos face and terme, and everydeel; |And in what face and term, and all could tell; |
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|And knew ful weel the moones mansioun |This gave him then the mansion of the moon- |
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|Acordaunt to his operacioun, |He worked it out accordingly right soon, |
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|And knew also hise othere observaunces |And did the other necessary rites |
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|For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces |To cause illusions and such evil sights |
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|585 |585 |
|As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes;- |As heathen peoples practised in those days. |
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|For which no lenger maked he delayes, |Therefore no longer suffered he delays, |
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|But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, |But all the rocks by magic and his lore |
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| | |
|It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye. |Appeared to vanish for a week or more. |
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lines 589-630: Aurelius goes to Dorigen and tells her he has done the impossible
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| Aurelius, which that yet despeired is, | Aurelius, who yet was torn by this, |
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|590 |590 |
|Wher he shal han his love, or fare amys, |Whether he’d gain his love or fare amiss, |
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| | |
|Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle. |Awaited night and day this miracle; |
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|And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, |And when he knew there was no obstacle, |
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|That voyded were thise rokkes everychon, |That vanished were these black rocks, every one, |
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|Doun to hise maistres feet he fil anon, |Down at the master’s feet he fell anon |
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|595 |595 |
|And seyde, “I woful wrecche, Aurelius, |And said: “I, woeful wretch, Aurelius, |
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|Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn, Venus, |Thank you, my lord, and Lady mine Venus, |
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|That me han holpen fro my cares colde.” |That have so saved me from my dreadful care.” |
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|And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde |And to the temple straightway did he fare, |
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|Where as he knew he sholde his lady see, |Whereat he knew he should his lady see. |
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|600 |600 |
|And whan he saugh his tyme, anon right hee |And when he saw his opportunity, |
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|With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere |With fluttering heart and with an humble cheer |
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|Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere. |He greeted thus his sovereign lady dear. |
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| ”My righte lady,” quod this woful man, | ”My own dear lady,” said this woeful man, |
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|“Whom I moost drede and love as I best kan, |“Whom I most fear and love best, as I can, |
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|605 |605 |
|And lothest were of al this world displese, |And whom, of all this world, I’d not displease, |
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|Nere it that I for yow have swich disese |Were it not that for you I’ve such unease |
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|That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon, |That I must die here at your feet anon, |
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|Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon; |I would not tell how I am woebegone; |
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|But, certes, outher moste I dye or pleyne, |But I must either die or else complain; |
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|610 |610 |
|Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne. |You slay me, for no crime, with utter pain. |
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|But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe, |But on my death, although you have no ruth, |
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|Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe. |Take heed now, before you break your promised troth |
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|Repenteth yow for thilke God above, |Repent you, for die sake of God above, |
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|Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love. |Before you kill me, because it’s you I love. |
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|615 |615 |
|For madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight - |For well you know your promise apposite; |
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|Nat that I chalange any thyng of right |Not that I challenge aught, of my own right, |
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|Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace - |In you, my sovereign lady, save your grace; |
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|But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place |But in a garden, in a certain place, |
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|Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me, |You know right well what you did promise me; |
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|620 |620 |
|And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye |And in my hand you plighted troth,” said he, |
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|To love me best - God woot ye seyde so, |“To love me best, God knows you promised so, |
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|Al be that I unworthy be therto. |Howe’er I may unworthy be thereto. |
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|Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow, |Madam, I say it for your honour’s vow |
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|Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now, - |More than to save my heart’s dear life right now; |
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|625 |625 |
|I have do so as ye comanded me, |I have done all that you commanded me; |
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|And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see. |And if you will, you may well go and see. |
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|Dooth as yow list, have youre biheste in mynde, |Do as you please, but hold your word in mind, |
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|For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde. |For quick or dead, as you do, me you’ll find; |
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|In yow lith al, to do me lyve of deye, |In you lies all, to make me live or die, |
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|630 |630 |
|But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye!” |But well I know the rocks are vanished, aye!” |
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lines 631-658: Dorigen pities herself that she has fallen for the trap
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| He taketh his leve, and she astonied stood, | He took his leave, and she astounded stood, |
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|In al hir face nas a drope of blood. |In all her face there was no drop of blood; |
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|She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe. |She never thought to have come in such a trap. |
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|“Allas,” quod she, “that evere this sholde happe. |“Alas!” said she, “that ever this should hap! |
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|635 |635 |
|For wende I nevere, by possibilitee, |For thought I never, by possibility, |
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|That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be. |That such prodigious marvel e’er might be! |
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|It is agayns the proces of nature.” |It is against the way of all nature.” |
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|And hoom she goth a sorweful creature, |And home she went, a sorrowful creature. |
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|For verray feere unnethe may she go. |For utter terror hardly could she go, |
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|640 |640 |
|She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two, |She wept, she wailed throughout a day or so, |
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|And swowneth that it routhe was to see; |And swooned so much ‘twas pitiful, to see; |
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|But why it was, to no wight tolde shee, |But why this was to not a soul told she; |
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|For out of towne was goon Arveragus. |For out of town was gone Arviragus. |
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|But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus, |But to her own heart spoke she, and said thus, |
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|645 |645 |
|With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere, |With her face pale and with a heavy cheer, |
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|In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere. |All her complaint, as you’ll hereafter hear: |
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| ”Allas!” quod she, “on thee, Fortune, I pleyne, | ”Of thee,” she said, “O Fortune, I complain, |
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|That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne; |That, unaware, I’m bound within thy chain; |
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|For which t’escape woot I no socour |From which to go, I know of no succour |
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|650 |650 |
|Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour; |Except only death, or else my dishonour; |
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|Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. |One of these two I am compelled to choose. |
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|But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese |Nevertheless, I would far rather lose |
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|My lif, thanne of my body have a shame, |My life than of my body come to shame, |
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|Or knowe myselven fals or lese my name, |Or know myself untrue, or lose my name; |
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|655 |655 |
|And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis; |By death I know it well, I may be freed; |
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|Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this |Has there not many a noble wife, indeed, |
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|And many a mayde yslayn hirself, allas, |And many a maiden slain herself - alas! - |
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|Rather than with hir body doon trespas? |Rather than with her body do trespass? |
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lines 659-670: An example about Phido’s daughters who have committed suicide
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| Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse, | Yes, truly, lo, these stories bear witness; |
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|660 |660 |
|Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse, |When thirty tyrants, full of wickedness, |
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|Hadde slayn Phidoun in Atthenes, at feste, |Had Phido slain in Athens, at a feast, |
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|They comanded hise doghtres for tareste, |They gave command his daughters to arrest, |
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|And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit, |And had them brought before them, for despite, |
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|Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit, |All naked, to fulfill their foul delight, |
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|665 |665 |
|And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce |And in their father’s blood they made them dance |
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|Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce! |Upon the pavement - God give them mischance! |
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|For which thise woful maydens ful of drede, |For which these woeful maidens, full of dread, |
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|Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede, |Rather than they should lose their maidenhead, |
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|They prively been stirt into a welle |Unseen they all leaped down into a well |
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|670 |670 |
|And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle. |And drowned themselves therein, as old books tell. |
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[lines 671-686: Other examples about women who prefer suicide rather than being dishonoured]
[lines 687-710: Roman examples about women who prefer suicide rather than being dishonoured]
[lines 711-748: Greek examples about women who prefer suicide rather than being dishonoured]
lines 749-761: Dorigen tells her husband Arviragus about her dilemma
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| Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye, | Thus Dorigen went on a day or so, |
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|750 |750 |
|Purposynge evere that she wolde deye. |Purposing ever that to death she’d go. |
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|But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght |But notwithstanding, upon the third night |
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|Hoom cam Arveragus, this worthy knyght, |Home came Arviragus, this worthy knight, |
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|And asked hir why that she weep so soore. |And asked her why it was she wept so sore. |
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|And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore. |And thereat she began to weep the more. |
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|755 |755 |
|“Allas!” quod she, “that evere I was born. |“Alas!” cried she, “that ever I was born! |
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|Thus have I seyd,” quod she, “thus have I sworn” - |Thus have I said,” quoth she, “thus have I sworn” - |
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|And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore, |And told him all, as you have heard before; |
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|It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore. |It needs not to re-tell it to you more. |
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|This housbonde with glad chiere in freendly wyse |This husband, with glad cheer, in friendly wise, |
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|760 |760 |
|Answerde and seyde, as I shal yow devyse, |Answered and said as I shall you apprise: |
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|“Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?” |“Is there naught else, my Dorigen, than this?” |
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lines 762-778: Truth is the highest thing that man may keep
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| ”Nay, nay,” quod she, “God helpe me so, as wys, | ”Nay, nay,” said she, “God help me, as it is |
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|This is to muche, and it were Goddes wille.” |This is too much, though it were God’s own will.” |
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|“Ye, wyf,” quod he, “lat slepen that is stille. |“Yea, wife,” said he, “let sleep what’s lying still; |
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|765 |765 |
|It may be wel paraventure yet to-day. |It may be well with us, perchance, today. |
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|Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay. |But you your word shall hold to, by my fay! |
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|For God so wisly have mercy upon me, |As God may truly mercy have on me, |
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|I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be |Wounded to death right now I’d rather be, |
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|For verray love which that I to yow have, |For sake of this great love of you I have, |
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|770 |770 |
|But if ye sholde your trouthe kepe and save. |Than you should not your true word keep and save. |
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|Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe.” |Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.” |
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|But with that word he brast anon to wepe |But with that word began he then to weep, |
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|And seyde, “I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth, |And said: “I you forbid, on pain of death, |
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|That nevere whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth, |That ever, while to you last life and breath, |
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|775 |775 |
|To no wight telle thou of this aventure - |To anyone you tell this adventure. |
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|As I may best, I wol my wo endure, - |As I best may, I will my woe endure, |
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|Ne make no contenance of hevynesse, |Nor show a countenance of heaviness, |
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|That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse.” |That folk no harm may think of you, or guess.” |
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lines 779-790: Dorigen is sent away to fulfil her promise
and the Franklin warns his audience not to draw a conclusion yet
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| And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde; | And then he called a squire and a maid: |
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|780 |780 |
|“Gooth forth anon with Dorigen,” he sayde, |“Go forth anon with Dorigen,” he said, |
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|“And bryngeth hir to swich a place anon,” |“And bring her to a certain place anon.” |
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|They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon, |They took their leave and on their way were gone. |
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|But they ne weste why she thider wente, |But nothing knew of why she thither went |
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|He nolde no wight tellen his entente. |Nor would he to a soul tell his intent. |
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|785 |785 |
| Paraventure, an heep of yow, ywis, | Perhaps a lot of you will certainly |
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|Wol holden hym a lewed man in this, |Hold him a wicked man that wilfully |
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|That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie. |Put his wife’s honour thus in jeopardy; |
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|Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie; |Listen to the tale, before you upon her cry. |
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|She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth, |She may have better luck than you suppose; |
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|790 |790 |
|And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth. |And when you’ve heard all, let your judgment close. |
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lines 791-805: Dorigen meets Aurelius and says she has come to fulfil her promise
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| This squier, which that highte Aurelius, | This squire I’ve told you of, Aurelius, |
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|On Dorigen that was so amorus, |Of Dorigen he being so amorous, |
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|Of aventure happed hir to meete |Chanced, as it seems, his lady fair to meet |
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|Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete, |In middle town, right in the busiest street, |
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|795 |795 |
|As she was bown to goon the wey forth-right |As she was going forth, as you have heard, |
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|Toward the gardyn, ther as she had hight. |Toward the garden where she’d pledged her word. |
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|And he was to the gardyn-ward also, |And he was going gardenward also; |
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|For wel he spyed whan she wolde go |For he was always watching when she’d go |
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|Out of hir hous to any maner place. |Out of her house to any kind of place. |
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|800 |800 |
|But thus they mette, of aventure or grace |But thus they met, by chance perhaps or grace; |
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|And he saleweth hir with glad entente, |And he saluted her with good intent, |
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|And asked of hir whiderward she wente. |And asked her, now, whither it was she went. |
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|And she answerde, half as she were mad, |And she replied, as if she were half mad: |
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|“Unto the gardyn as myn housbonde bad, |“Unto the garden, as my husband bade, |
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|805 |805 |
|My trouthe for to holde, allas! allas!” |My promise there to keep, alas, alast” |
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lines 806-836: Aurelius discharges Dorigen
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| Aurelius gan wondren on this cas, | Aurelius then pondered on this case, |
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|And in his herte hadde greet compassioun |And in his heart he had compassion great |
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|Of hir and of hir lamentacioun, |On her and her lamenting and her state, |
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|And of Arveragus, the worthy knyght, |And on Arviragus, the noble knight, |
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|810 |810 |
|That bad hire holden al that she had hight, |Who’d bidden her keep promise, as she might, |
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|So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe; |Being so loath his wife should break with truth; |
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|And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe, |And in his heart he gained, from this, great ruth, |
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|Considerynge the beste on every syde |Considering the best on every side, |
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|That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde |That from possession rather he’d abide |
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|815 |815 |
|Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse |Than do so great a churlish grievousness |
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|Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse; |Against free hearts and all high nobleness; |
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|For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: |For which, and in few words, he told her thus: |
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| ”Madame, seyeth to your lord Arveragus, | ”Madam, say to your lord Arviragus |
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|That sith I se his grete gentillesse |That since I see his noble gentleness |
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|820 |820 |
|To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse, |To you, and since I see well your distress, |
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|That him were levere han shame - and that were routhe - |That he’d have rather shame - and that were ruth - |
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|Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe, |Than you to me should break your word of truth, |
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|I have wel levere evere to suffre wo |I would myself far rather suffer woe |
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|Than I departe the love bitwix yow two. |Than break apart the love between you two. |
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|825 |825 |
|I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond |So I release, madam, into your hand, |
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|Quyt every surement and every bond, |And do return, discharged, each surety and |
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|That ye han maad to me as heer biforn, |Each bond that you have given and have sworn, |
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|Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born. |Even from the very time that you were born. |
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|My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve |My word I pledge, I’ll never seek to retrieve |
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|830 |830 |
|Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve, |A single promise, and I take my leave |
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|As of the treweste and the beste wyf |As of the truest and of the best wife |
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|That evere yet I knew in al my lyf.” |That ever yet I’ve known in all my life. |
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|But every wyf be war of hir biheeste, |Let every wife of promises take care, |
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|On Dorigen remembreth atte leeste! |Remember Dorigen, and so beware! |
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|835 |835 |
|Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede |Thus can a squire perform a gentle deed |
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|As wel as kan a knyght, with outen drede. |As well as can a knight, of that take heed.” |
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lines 837-848: A happy end for Dorigen and Arviragus
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| She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare, | Upon her bare knees did she thank him there, |
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|And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare, |And home unto her husband did she fare, |
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|And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd; |And told him all, as you have heard it said; |
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|840 |840 |
|And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd |And be assured, he was so pleased and glad |
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|That it were inpossible me to wryte. |That ‘twere impossible of it to write. |
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|What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? |What should I further of this case indite? |
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| Arveragus and Dorigen his wyf | Arviragus and Dorigen his wife |
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|In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf, |In sovereign happiness led forth their life. |
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|845 |845 |
|Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene. |Never did any anger come between; |
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|He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene, |He cherished her as if she were a queen; |
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|And she was to hym trewe for everemoore.- |And she to him was true for evermore. |
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|Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore. |Of these two folk you get from me no more. |
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lines 849-862: Aurelius goes to the wizard to fulfil his promise
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| Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn | Aurelius, whose wealth was now forlorn, |
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|850 |850 |
|Curseth the tyme that evere he was born. |He cursed the time that ever he was born; |
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|“Allas,” quod he, “allas, that I bihighte |“Alas!” cried he, “Alas! that I did state |
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|Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte |I’d pay fine gold a thousand pounds by weight |
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|Unto this philosophre! How shal I do? |To this philosopher! What shall I do? |
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|I se namoore but that I am fordo; |I see no better than I’m ruined too. |
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|855 |855 |
|Myn heritage moot I nedes selle |All of my heritage I needs must sell |
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|And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle, |And be a beggar; here I cannot dwell |
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|And shamen al my kynrede in this place, |And shame all of my kindred in this place, |
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|But I of hym may gete bettre grace. |Unless I gain of him some better grace. |
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|But nathelees I wole of hym assaye |And so I’ll go to him and try, today, |
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|860 |860 |
|At certeyn dayes yeer by yeer to paye, |On certain dates, from year to year, to pay, |
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|And thanke hym of his grete curteisye; |And thank him for his princely courtesy; |
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|My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye.” |For I will keep my word, and I’ll not lie.” |
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lines 863-886: Aurelius tells the wizard about his financial constraint and repeats what happened
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| With herte soor he gooth unto his cofre, | With sore heart he went then to his coffer, |
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|And broghte gold unto this philosophre |And took gold unto this philosopher, |
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|865 |865 |
|The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse, |The value of five hundred pounds, I guess, |
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|And hym bisecheth of his gentillesse |And so besought him, of his nobleness, |
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|To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunte, |To grant him dates for payment of the rest, |
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|And seyde, “Maister, I dar wel make avaunt, |And said: “Dear master, I may well protest |
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|I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit. |I’ve never failed to keep my word, as yet; |
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|870 |870 |
|For sikerly my dette shal be quyt |For certainly I’ll pay my entire debt |
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|Towareds yow, how evere that I fare, |To you, however after I may fare, |
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|To goon a begged in my kirtle bare! |Even to begging, save for kirtle, bare. |
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|But wolde ye vouche sauf upon seuretee |But if you’d grant, on good security, |
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|Two yeer or thre, for to respiten me, |Two years or three of respite unto me, |
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|875 |875 |
|Thanne were I wel, for elles moot I selle |Then all were well; otherwise must I sell |
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|Myn heritage, ther is namoore to telle.” |My heritage; there is no more to tell.” |
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| | |
| This philosophre sobrely answerde, | Then this philosopher soberly answered |
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|And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde, |And spoke in this wise, when these words he’d heard: |
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| | |
|“Have I nat holden covenant unto thee?” |“Have I not fairly earned my promised fee?” |
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|880 |880 |
| ”Yes, certes, wel and trewely,” quod he. | ”Yes, truly, you have done so, sir,” said he. |
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| ”Hastow nat had thy lady, as thee liketh?” | ”Have you not bad the lady at your will?” |
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| ”No, no,” quod he, and sorwefully he siketh. | ”No, no,” said he, and sighed, and then was still. |
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| ”What was the cause, tel me if thou kan?” | ”What was the reason? Tell me if you can.” |
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| Aurelius his tale anon bigan, | Aurelius his tale anon began, |
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|885 |885 |
|And tolde hym al, as ye han herd bifoore, |And told him all, as you have heard before; |
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|It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore. |It needs not I repeat it to you more. |
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lines 887-916: The wizard discharges Aurelius and the Franklin asks his audience who was most generous
| | |
| He seide, “Arveragus of gentillesse | He said: “Arviragus, of nobleness, |
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|Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse |Had rather die in sorrow and distress |
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|Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals;” |Than that his wife were to her promise false.” |
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|890 |890 |
|The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als, |He told of Dorigen’s grief, too, and how else |
| | |
| | |
|How looth hir was to been a wikked wyf, |She had been loath to live a wicked wife |
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| | |
|And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf, |And rather would that day have lost her life, |
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| | |
|And that hir trouthe she swoor, thurgh innocence, |And that her troth she swore through ignorance: |
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|She nevere erst hadde herd speke of apparence. |“She’d ne’er before heard of such simulance; |
| | |
|895 |895 |
|“That made me han of hir so greet pitee; |Which made me have for her such great pity. |
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| | |
|And right as frely as he sente hir me, |And just as freely as he sent her me, |
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|As frely sente I hir to hym ageyn. |As freely sent I her to him again. |
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| | |
|This al and som, ther is namoore to seyn.” |This is the sum, there’s no more to explain.” |
| | |
| | |
| This philosophre answerde, “Leeve brother, | Then answered this philosopher: “Dear brother, |
| | |
|900 |900 |
|Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother. |Each one of you has nobly dealt with other. |
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| | |
|Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght; |You are a squire, true, and he is a knight, |
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|But God forbede, for his blisful myght, |But God forbid, what of his blessed might, |
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|But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede |A clerk should never do a gentle deed |
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|As wel as any of yow, it is no drede. |As well as any of you. Of this take heed! |
| | |
|905 |905 |
|Sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound, |Sir, I release to you your thousand pound, |
| | |
| | |
|As thou right now were cropen out of the ground, |As if, right now, you’d crept out of the ground |
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|Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me; |And never, before now, had known of me. |
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|For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee |For, sir, I’ll take of you not one penny |
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| | |
|For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille. |For all my art and all my long travail. |
| | |
|910 |910 |
|Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille, |You have paid well for all my meat and ale; |
| | |
| | |
|It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day.” |It is enough, so farewell, have good day!” |
| | |
| | |
|And took his hors, and forth he goth his way. |And took his horse and went forth on his way. |
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| | |
|Lordynges, this questioun wolde I aske now, |Masters, this question would I ask you now: |
| | |
| | |
|Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow? |Which was most generous, do you think, and how. |
| | |
|915 |915 |
|Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende, |Pray tell me this before you farther wend. |
| | |
| | |
|I kan namoore, my tale is at an ende. |I can no more, my tale is at an end. |
| | |
Heere is ended the Frankeleyns Tale
Notes: Characters:
Arveragus – He is a brave Knight who seeks a wife that will enter into a marriage where both parties show patience to each other.
Dorigen – She becomes Arveragus’ wife who is unhappy when her husband is away.
Aurelius – He is a wealthy neighbor who harbors a secret love for Dorigen.
Summary – There was once a Knight named Arveragus in the land of Brittany. He was brave and prosperous and he wished to make his life complete by taking a suitable wife. He decided to marry a fair maiden named Dorigen, provided she would make a vow with him that they would respect each other and practice patience towards each other’s behavior and words.
After they were married, the Knight had to travel to distant lands in order to obtain more wealth. In his absence, his wife Dorigen soon became depressed and mourned her husband’s absence. She felt lonely in her castle on the coast of rocky France and she would spend many an hour contemplating life while gazing at the waves crashing on the rocks at the foot of the cliff. Her wealthy neighbor often invited her to join in the parties that he hosted, but she always refused until one day in May she was persuaded to attend a picnic.
Aurelius, the neighbor, decided he would confess his love for Dorigen, but she repelled his advances. However, he was persistent and in a joke, she said should would agree to his advances if he could remove all the rocks from the coast of Brittany. Despondent, Aurelius prayed to Apollo to send a flood to cover the rocks. Eventually, Arveragus returned home and husband and wife were happy again in each other’s company.
Meanwhile, Aurelius’ brother new of a man who had deciphered a book of magic and on payment of ‘1,000 would cast a spell that would clear the coast of rocks. The deed was performed and Aurelius asked Dorigen to keep her promise. She was much grieved at this outcome and confided in her husband what had happened. The noble Knight told his wife that she must keep her promise even though it was made in jest, and this would deeply grieve and wound him. However, Aurelius, hearing of the sacrifice and nobility of Arveragus could not force himself to take Dorigen, and he sent the woman back to her husband.
Aurelius then found that he did not have enough gold to pay the ‘1,000, but the brother’s friend, learning that the bargain was not completed, forgave Aurelius the debt.
The Franklin poses the question at the end – Who was the finest gentleman in the story?
Interpretation – We again have the repeating theme of a three-way love affair in this story, mirroring those that have gone before as in the Knight’s Tale and the Miller’s Tale.
Chaucer now seems to provide a mid course between what the Wife of Bath advocated, where a woman has complete sovereignty over a man, and the Clerk’s Tale where a woman should be completely subservient. Unlike these two tales, the Franklin’s Tale has a thread of nobility running through it and all the characters portrayed.
Here we have the wife refusing to be unfaithful whilst the husband is away, but she feels duty bound to keep a promise even though it was spoken in jest. Her husband insists that she should keep her promise, and then finally the neighbor refuses to hold Dorigen to the oath that she made.
So, in conclusion, everybody has been respectful and honest to everybody else.
The moral of the tale therefore, is that one noble deed performed will lead to another, and then another. In this way, good overcomes evil.
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