Comparison of Geoffrey Chaucer Merchant's Prologue to Geoffrey Chaucer

But that the quene and othere ladies mo [continues next]

So longe preyeden the king of grace, [continues next]

Both in repreve of hir and othere mo.'

'Ye shal,' quod Proserpyne, 'wol ye so;

The experience woot wel it is noght so; [continues next]

So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe, [continues next]

[continues previous] But that the quene and othere ladies mo

Shal wedded be un-to this Ianuarie.

I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie,

'No, by that lord,' quod she, 'that maked me! [continues next]

For wel I woot that it shal never bityde. [continues next]

'I trowe it wel,' quod she; 'for, as I trowe, thou ledest now [continues next]

Nat that I trowe to geten yow again, [continues next]

For wel I woot that it is al in vain, [continues next]

Ther is no wight that woot, I trowe so, [continues next]

Wher it bycomth; lo, no wight on it sporneth; [continues next]

[continues previous] The experience woot wel it is noght so;

[continues previous] So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe,

[continues previous] 'No, by that lord,' quod she, 'that maked me!

[continues previous] For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.

... his wyf; for there is nevere reste. And therfore seith Salomon, 'an hous that is uncovered and droppinge, and a chydinge wyf, been lyke.' A man that is in a droppinge hous in many places, though he eschewe the droppinge in o place, it droppeth on him in another place; so fareth it by a chydinge wyf. But she chyde him in o place, she wol chyde him in another. And therfore, 'bettre is a morsel of breed with Ioye than an hous ful of delyces, with chydinge,' seith Salomon. Seint Paul seith: 'O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre housbondes as ... [continues next]

[continues previous] 'I trowe it wel,' quod she; 'for, as I trowe, thou ledest now

[continues previous] For wel I woot that it is al in vain,

I woot wel that it fareth thus by me [continues next]

[continues previous] Ther is no wight that woot, I trowe so,

[continues previous] ... is nevere reste. And therfore seith Salomon, 'an hous that is uncovered and droppinge, and a chydinge wyf, been lyke.' A man that is in a droppinge hous in many places, though he eschewe the droppinge in o place, it droppeth on him in another place; so fareth it by a chydinge wyf. But she chyde him in o place, she wol chyde him in another. And therfore, 'bettre is a morsel of breed with Ioye than an hous ful of delyces, with chydinge,' seith Salomon. Seint Paul seith: 'O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre housbondes as bihoveth in god; and ...

[continues previous] I woot wel that it fareth thus by me

... manere of breches to hiden hir membres. There may ye seen that deedly sinne hath first suggestion of the feend, as sheweth here by the naddre; and afterward, the delyt of the flesh, as sheweth here by Eve; and after that, the consentinge of resoun, as sheweth here by Adam. For trust wel, thogh so were that the feend tempted Eve, that is to seyn the flesh, and the flesh hadde delyt in the beautee of the fruit defended, yet certes, til that resoun, that is to seyn, Adam, consented to the etinge of the fruit, yet stood he in thestaat of innocence. Of thilke Adam toke we thilke ...

Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn, [continues next]

I dar wel swere she took the beste! [continues next]

And I dar seyn and swere hit wel — [continues next]

And saylours, that I dar wel swere [continues next]

But trusteth wel, I swere it yow, [continues next]

For that man is unbore, I dar wel swere, [continues next]

That ever wiste that she dide amis. [continues next]

I dar not, ther I am, wel lettres make, [continues next]

[continues previous] Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn,

[continues previous] Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn,

[continues previous] I dar wel swere she took the beste!

[continues previous] And I dar seyn and swere hit wel —

[continues previous] And saylours, that I dar wel swere

[continues previous] But trusteth wel, I swere it yow,

But it were I, for I can, in a throwe, [continues next]

Reherce hir cas, unlyk that she can seye; [continues next]

[continues previous] For that man is unbore, I dar wel swere,

[continues previous] That it is short which that I to yow wryte;

[continues previous] I dar not, ther I am, wel lettres make,

Lo, Grenewich, ther many a shrewe is inne; [continues next]

It were al tyme thy tale to biginne.' [continues next]

But of hir tonge a labbing shrewe is she,

[continues previous] But it were I, for I can, in a throwe,

[continues previous] Reherce hir cas, unlyk that she can seye;

[continues previous] Lo, Grenewich, ther many a shrewe is inne;

And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two [continues next]

He seith, he can no difference finde [continues next]

Bitwix a man that is out of his minde [continues next]

[continues previous] And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two

[continues previous] Bitwix a man that is out of his minde

For filthe and elde, al-so moot I thee, [continues next]

Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee, [continues next]

[continues previous] For filthe and elde, al-so moot I thee,

[continues previous] Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee,

I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde, [continues next]

And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth; [continues next]

Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint Thomas, [continues next]

That we nil kike, for he seith us sooth; [continues next]

Assay, and he shal finde it that so dooth. [continues next]

I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me so.' [continues next]

This cursed craft who-so wol exercyse,

He shal no good han that him may suffyse;

Who-so his herte alwey wol leve,

Shal finde among that shal him greve'

And swoor hir ooth, by seint Thomas of Kent,

And seyde, 'I am adrad, by seint Thomas, [continues next]

He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint Thomas,

[continues previous] I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde,

[continues previous] And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth;

[continues previous] But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.

[continues previous] Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint Thomas,

[continues previous] Why that I rente out of his book a leef,

[continues previous] That we nil kike, for he seith us sooth;

'Ye,' quod our hoste, 'by seint Poules belle,

Ye seye right sooth; this monk, he clappeth loude,

[continues previous] Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente.

[continues previous] I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me so.'

[continues previous] It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. [continues next]

God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace! [continues next]

Wher dremes ben somtyme (I sey nat alle) [continues next]

... the smale poynt is cleped the Centre. And understond also that alle sterres sittinge with-in the zodiak of thyn Astrolabie ben cleped 'sterres of the north,' for they arysen by northe the est lyne. And alle the remenant fixed, out of the zodiak, ben cleped 'sterres of the south;' but I sey nat that they arysen alle by southe the est lyne; witnesse on Aldeberan and Algomeysa. Generally understond this rewle, that thilke sterres that ben cleped sterres of the north arysen rather than the degree of hir longitude, and alle the sterres of the south arysen after the degree of hir longitude; this is to seyn, ... [continues next]

[continues previous] It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.

[continues previous] God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!

[continues previous] God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!

[continues previous] Warning of thinges that shul after falle.

[continues previous] ... is cleped the Centre. And understond also that alle sterres sittinge with-in the zodiak of thyn Astrolabie ben cleped 'sterres of the north,' for they arysen by northe the est lyne. And alle the remenant fixed, out of the zodiak, ben cleped 'sterres of the south;' but I sey nat that they arysen alle by southe the est lyne; witnesse on Aldeberan and Algomeysa. Generally understond this rewle, that thilke sterres that ben cleped sterres of the north arysen rather than the degree of hir longitude, and alle the sterres of the south arysen after the degree of hir longitude; this ...

And pardee, yet can I more craft than he.' [continues next]

[continues previous] And pardee, yet can I more craft than he.'

His ship was rent so lowe, in swich manere, [continues next]

That carpenter ne coude hit nat amende. [continues next]

That al his craft ne coude his sorwe bete." — [continues next]

... whiche we be nat war as at this tyme. And as touchinge the fourthe point, that Tullius clepeth "engendringe," thou shalt considere, that this wrong which that is doon to thee is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys; and of the vengeance-takinge upon that wolde engendre another vengeance, and muchel sorwe and wastinge of richesses, as I seyde. [continues next]

[continues previous] His ship was rent so lowe, in swich manere,

After, to thenken on her sorwe. [continues next]

So whan [she] coude here no word [continues next]

[continues previous] That al his craft ne coude his sorwe bete." —

[continues previous] Right so fare I, unhappily for me;

[continues previous] ... war as at this tyme. And as touchinge the fourthe point, that Tullius clepeth "engendringe," thou shalt considere, that this wrong which that is doon to thee is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys; and of the vengeance-takinge upon that wolde engendre another vengeance, and muchel sorwe and wastinge of richesses, as I seyde.

[continues previous] So whan [she] coude here no word

'Heyt, now!' quod he, 'ther Iesu Crist yow blesse,

Sir monk, na-more of this, so god yow blesse! [continues next]

[continues previous] Sir monk, na-more of this, so god yow blesse!

Tel me that I shal axen yow a lyte. [continues next]

'Gladly,' quod she, 'sith it may yow lyke. [continues next]

... to hir conseilling, and fully affermed hir sentence. Thanne dame Prudence, whan that she saugh how that hir housbonde shoop him for to wreken him on his foos, and to biginne werre, she in ful humble wyse, when she saugh hir tyme, seide him thise wordes: 'My lord,' quod she, 'I yow biseche as hertely as I dar and can, ne haste yow nat to faste, and for alle guerdons as yeveth me audience. For Piers Alfonce seith: "who-so that dooth to that other good or harm, haste thee nat to quyten it; for in this wyse thy freend wol abyde, and thyn enemy shal the lenger ... [continues next]

I preye yow hertely, telle us somwhat elles,

Marie! ther-of I pray yow hertely!'

'Sir, I wol gladly telle yow: — [continues next]

[continues previous] And seyde, 'nece, I pray yow hertely,

[continues previous] Tel me that I shal axen yow a lyte.

But to no wighte he tolde his sorwes sore,

But of his owene honde he wroot ageyn,

[continues previous] 'Gladly,' quod she, 'sith it may yow lyke.

[continues previous] But yet I praye to al this companye,

'Ye wol,' quod he, 'myn owene peple dere,

'Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere,

I have,' quod he, 'on yow so greet a routhe,

[continues previous] ... he consented to hir conseilling, and fully affermed hir sentence. Thanne dame Prudence, whan that she saugh how that hir housbonde shoop him for to wreken him on his foos, and to biginne werre, she in ful humble wyse, when she saugh hir tyme, seide him thise wordes: 'My lord,' quod she, 'I yow biseche as hertely as I dar and can, ne haste yow nat to faste, and for alle guerdons as yeveth me audience. For Piers Alfonce seith: "who-so that dooth to that other good or harm, haste thee nat to quyten it; for in this wyse thy freend ...

For of good wille myn herte hit wolde, [continues next]

[continues previous] 'Sir, I wol gladly telle yow: —

Til I myn owene herte blood may see; [continues next]

'No, wis,' quod he, 'myn owene nece dere.'

'Now wel,' quod she, 'and I wol doon my peyne;

Lo, this mene I, myn owene swete herte.' [continues next]

Dwel rather here, myn owene swete herte! [continues next]

For trewely, myn owene lady dere, [continues next]

Y-wis, myn owene dere herte trewe, [continues next]

[continues previous] Noght "nede," and I wol telle how,

[continues previous] For of good wille myn herte hit wolde,

[continues previous] Til I myn owene herte blood may see;

[continues previous] For certayn, I wole deye as sone as he' —

[continues previous] Lo, this mene I, myn owene swete herte.'

[continues previous] Dwel rather here, myn owene swete herte!

[continues previous] For trewely, myn owene lady dere,

[continues previous] Y-wis, myn owene dere herte trewe,

[continues previous] I woot that, whan ye next up-on me see,