Comparison of Geoffrey Chaucer Physician's Epilogue to Geoffrey Chaucer

As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye —

What eyleth the man, so sinfully to swere?'

Our hoste answerde, 'O Iankin, be ye there?

Ther gan our hoste for to Iape and pleye,

Of frendes love that herte may devyse, [continues next]

That tonge telle or herte may devyse,

As ofte as matere occupyeth place,

eek they wolden refuse the attendaunce of hir advocats, and

taken hem-self to hir Iuges and to hir accusors. For which it

[continues previous] To Pandarus on kneës fil adoun,

This sely woman is so wayk, allas! [continues next]

[continues previous] This sely woman is so wayk, allas!

They been ful wrothe al day, as men may see.

That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. [continues next]

... the lawe of god with perfit consentinge of his reson; for ther-of is no doute, that it is deedly sinne in consentinge. For certes, ther is no deedly sinne, that it nas first in mannes thought, and after that in his delyt; and so forth in-to consentinge and in-to dede. Wherfore I seye, that many men ne repenten hem nevere of swiche thoghtes and delytes, ne nevere shryven hem of it, but only of the dede of grete sinnes outward. Wherfore I seye, that swiche wikked delytes and wikked thoghtes been subtile bigyleres of hem that shullen be dampned. More-over, man oghte to sorwe for hise ...

Y-coroned al with whyt, as men may see;

Y-coroned al with whyt, as men may see;

Wherfore I seye alwey, that day and night

As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune, [continues next]

[continues previous] Or moebles, alle ben yiftes of fortune, [continues next]

[continues previous] That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. [continues next]

same thing may I most digneliche iugen and seyn of alle the

yiftes of fortune that most plentevously comen to shrewes; of

A-cursed be the day which that nature [continues next]

[continues previous] Or moebles, alle ben yiftes of fortune,

[continues previous] Shoop me to ben a lyves creature!'

I dar wel seyn hir hadde lever a knyf

What sholde I mo ensamples heer-of sayn, [continues next]

Wel rather than they wolde defouled be? [continues next]

But he that hath misseyd, I dar wel sayn,

Men mighte it cleve, I dar wel sayn.

Hir forheed, frounceles al playn.

I dar wel sayn, in al that Troilus

Y-beten hath she hir-self so pitously [continues next]

[continues previous] Sith that so manye han hem-selven slayn

[continues previous] With bothe hir winges, til the rede blood

... whiche wommen, men seyn that "three thinges dryven a man out of his hous; that is to seyn, smoke, dropping of reyn, and wikked wyves;" and of swiche wommen seith Salomon, that "it were bettre dwelle in desert, than with a womman that is riotous." And sir, by your leve, that am nat I; for ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence and my gret pacience; and eek how wel that I can hyde and hele thinges that men oghte secreely to hyde. And soothly, as to your fifthe resoun, wher-as ye seyn, that "in wikked conseil wommen venquisshe men;" god woot, thilke ... [continues next]

Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh which a man is defamed; certes, unnethe may he restore the damage. Now comth manace, that is an open folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he threteth more than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme. Now cometh ydel wordes, that is with-outen profit of him that speketh tho wordes, and eek of him that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been tho that been nedelees, or with-outen entente of naturel profit. And al-be-it that ydel wordes been som tyme venial sinne, yet sholde men douten ... [continues next]

[continues previous] ... thinges dryven a man out of his hous; that is to seyn, smoke, dropping of reyn, and wikked wyves;" and of swiche wommen seith Salomon, that "it were bettre dwelle in desert, than with a womman that is riotous." And sir, by your leve, that am nat I; for ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence and my gret pacience; and eek how wel that I can hyde and hele thinges that men oghte secreely to hyde. And soothly, as to your fifthe resoun, wher-as ye seyn, that "in wikked conseil wommen venquisshe men;" god woot, thilke resoun stant here in no ...

[continues previous] Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh which a man is defamed; certes, unnethe may he restore the damage. Now comth manace, that is an open folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he threteth more than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme. Now cometh ydel wordes, that is with-outen profit of him that speketh tho wordes, and eek of him that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been tho that been nedelees, or with-outen entente of naturel profit. And al-be-it that ydel wordes been som tyme venial sinne, yet sholde ...

More than y-nough, so seydestow ful ofte;

And some han feyned ofte tyme, and tolde

Al this have I my-self yet thought ful ofte,

And more thing than thou devysest here.

Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister dere.' [continues next]

Heer may ye see, myn owene dere brother,

'Now Mabely, myn owene moder dere, [continues next]

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

Remembre yow, myn owene lord so dere,

Myn owene dere brother and my lord, [continues next]

'Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere, [continues next]

And fare-now wel, myn owene cosin dere,

By god, I wol nat paye yow but a-bedde.

Forgive it me, myn owene spouse dere;

... "our lord hath yeven it me, our lord hath biraft it me; right as our lord hath wold, right so it is doon; blessed be the name of our lord."' To thise foreseide thinges answerde Melibeus un-to his wyf Prudence: 'Alle thy wordes,' quod he, 'been sothe, and ther-to profitable; but trewely myn herte is troubled with this sorwe so grevously, that I noot what to done.' 'Lat calle,' quod Prudence, 'thy trewe freendes alle, and thy linage whiche that been wyse; telleth your cas, and herkneth what they seye in conseiling, and yow governe after hir sentence. Salomon seith: "werk alle thy ... [continues next]

This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother, [continues next]

And, god it wool, myn owene dere brother,

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

For-thy be glad, myn owene dere brother,

That day by day, myn owene herte dere,

Dwel rather here, myn owene swete herte!

For trewely, myn owene lady dere,

'Wher is myn owene lady lief and dere, [continues next]

Wel-come, y-wis, myn owene lady dere.' [continues next]

But welaway, al this nas but a mase; [continues next]

Y-wis, myn owene dere herte trewe,

[continues previous] This false theef, this Somnour, quod the Frere,

[continues previous] Up-on hir knees, he seyde in this manere,

[continues previous] Is this your wil in ernest, that ye seye?'

[continues previous] But though that Salomon spak swich a word,

[continues previous] This gentil monk answerde in this manere;

[continues previous] ... it me, our lord hath biraft it me; right as our lord hath wold, right so it is doon; blessed be the name of our lord."' To thise foreseide thinges answerde Melibeus un-to his wyf Prudence: 'Alle thy wordes,' quod he, 'been sothe, and ther-to profitable; but trewely myn herte is troubled with this sorwe so grevously, that I noot what to done.' 'Lat calle,' quod Prudence, 'thy trewe freendes alle, and thy linage whiche that been wyse; telleth your cas, and herkneth what they seye in conseiling, and yow governe after hir sentence. Salomon seith: "werk alle thy thinges by conseil, and thou ...

[continues previous] This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother,

[continues previous] If this were livinge only and non other.

[continues previous] 'Wher is myn owene lady lief and dere,

[continues previous] Wher is hir whyte brest, wher is it, where?

[continues previous] But welaway, al this nas but a mase;

I prey to god so yeve his soule reste!

I prey to god, so yeve him right good chaunce,

Devyse, I prey to god so mote it be.

'Twelf pens,' quod she, 'now lady Seinte Marie [continues next]

And for our othere frendes, god hem blesse!

A wyf! a! Seinte Marie, benedicite!

And crouched hem, and bad god sholde hem blesse,

And made al siker y-nogh with holinesse.

And seyde, 'Seinte Marie! how may this be,

God bless us and his moder Seinte Marie!

'By seinte Marie,' seyde this taverner, [continues next]

'O seinte Marie, benedicite!

[continues previous] So wisly help me out of care and sinne,

[continues previous] Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na-more.'

But wel I woot, that in this world gret pyne is. [continues next]

Wot noon of hit but ye?' He seyde, 'no.'

'Can he wel speke of love?' quod she, 'I preye,

Of which I can nought tellen no scripture; [continues next]

[continues previous] But wel I woot, that in this world gret pyne is.

Anon her herte gan to erme; [continues next]

For wel I woot, thou menest wel, parde;

[continues previous] But wel I woot a broche, gold and asure,

By corpus bones! I wol have thy knyf, [continues next]

[continues previous] And for that hir thoughte evermo

[continues previous] By corpus bones! I wol have thy knyf,

Now, have I dronke a draughte of corny ale, [continues next]

And notemuge to putte in ale, [continues next]

Whether it be moyste or stale, [continues next]

Or for to leye in cofre. [continues next]

And he bigan with right a mery chere

His tale anon, and seyde in this manere.

[continues previous] Now, have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,

[continues previous] By god, I hope I shal yow telle a thing

[continues previous] Whether it be moyste or stale,

Tel us som moral thing, that we may lere

Tel us a tale of mirthe, and that anoon;' —

In which ther be som mirthe or som doctryne.'

'It shal be doon,' quod Simkin, 'by my fay;

'I noot,' quod he, 'by god, and by seint Iohn! [continues next]

'Now dame,' quod he, 'by god and by seint Iohn, [continues next]

But thise demandes axe I first,' quod he, [continues next]

'That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse, [continues next]

'Sir,' quod the preest, 'it shall be doon, y-wis.'

He bad his servant fecchen him this thing,

[continues previous] 'I noot,' quod he, 'by god, and by seint Iohn!

[continues previous] 'Now dame,' quod he, 'by god and by seint Iohn,

[continues previous] But thise demandes axe I first,' quod he,

And gonne faste on Fame crye.

Right verraily, in this manere

Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe. [continues next]

Telle us som mery thing of aventures; — [continues next]

To speke wordis of ribaudye.

To vilayn speche in no degree

Lat never thy lippe unbounden be.

[continues previous] Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe.

[continues previous] Telle us som mery thing of aventures; —

'Tel us som mirthe or Iapes right anon.'

Som newe tydings for to lere: — [continues next]

Som newe thinges, I not what, [continues next]

For yit, paraventure, I may lere [continues next]

So graunte yow wele and prosperitee: [continues next]

For I wol gladly yelden hir my place, [continues next]

'Gladly, sir host,' quod he, 'I wol obeye [continues next]

Lat do him calle, and I wol gladly here; [continues next]

Sey what yow list, and we wol gladly here' —

And with that word he seyde in this manere —

Thanne seyde Gamelyn 'brother, y-wis, [continues next]

And we schulle ben at oon thou most me graunte this: [continues next]

'Thanne moten we graunte,' quod she, 'that this thing be [continues next]

[continues previous] Som newe tydings for to lere: —

[continues previous] Som newe thinges, I not what,

[continues previous] Som good ther-on, or sumwhat here

She thoughte, as good chep may I dwellen here, [continues next]

And graunte it gladly with a freendes chere, [continues next]

[continues previous] So graunte yow wele and prosperitee:

[continues previous] For I wol gladly yelden hir my place,

[continues previous] 'Gladly, sir host,' quod he, 'I wol obeye

[continues previous] Lat do him calle, and I wol gladly here;

[continues previous] And loke thou me blame but I graunte sone.'

[continues previous] Thanne seyde Gamelyn 'brother, y-wis,

Boece. 'I may nat,' quod I, 'denye it; but I mot graunte

[continues previous] thing that is swiche, certes, I may nat thinke.'

[continues previous] 'Thanne moten we graunte,' quod she, 'that this thing be

'I graunte hit yow,' quod she, 'y-wis.

But what art thou that seyst this tale,

[continues previous] She thoughte, as good chep may I dwellen here,

[continues previous] And graunte it gladly with a freendes chere,